Runaway

Back in New Hoofland Moonflower, Lavender Snowstorm and all of Nisha’s other mares-in-waiting were sitting together crying. Moonlight Snowflake was also there, bawling her eyes out. She dried her tears when she heard a knock on the door. Moonlight trotted over and opened the door to see an icy blue coated frail old pegasus pony who embraced her.

The old mare whispered in Moonlight’s ear, “Time to go home my little snowflake.”

Moonlight looked at her mother, “Ok mum, I just need to visit Wish first.”

She smiled at her daughter, “I’ll meet you outside then.”

Moonlight watched her mum walk away for a moment before flying in the opposite direction. When she reached the young princess’ room she could hear her crying. Moonlight slowly opened the door to see a filly the same age as Wish hugging her as an adult unicorn mare packed up her toys. The young filly hugging Wish had a dark grey coat and black mane with a streak of rainbows in it and rainbow markings wrapped around her front leg. Judging from her rainbow eyes & the additional rainbows on her horn, the filly was Spectra, Wish’s mare-in-waiting who was a spectrum pony. Moonlight knew the unicorn mare sorting toy behind them was Wish’s daytime foalsitter, Winter Heart. Her mane was a long curly violet mass that she wore in a ponytail and her coat was pale blue. She was a few years younger than Moonlight but they were still reasonably close friends. Wish ran towards Moonlight as soon as she saw her, giving her a hug while continuing to cry for they were the two ponies closest to the lost princess in New Hoofland.

“You two alright there?” Winter’s special talent was cheering ponies up so she was always trying to brighten the days of everypony in the palace and hated to see ponies who were sad.

She tried to pat the crying filly’s back but Wish flung her hoof away.

“No!” Wish sobbed. “You didn’t even know Nisha!”

Tears flooded from her eyes so Moonlight began to stroke her back, “Its ok Wish. Nisha will come back soon.”

“What if she doesn’t? Or if she’s hurt?!”

“She’s a full grown mare and the future queen of New Hoofland, she can take care of herself. In fact I remember her once saying she knew a healing spell.”

“You miss her too, don’t you Moony?” Wish’s tears stopped as she looked up into the mare’s eyes with eyes that were bigger than they usually were.

There was a catch in Moonlight’s throat as she held back her tears for the sake of the foal, “Everypony misses her Wish, but you’re the only pony who could possibly miss her more than me, and that’s only because you’re her sister.”

Wish hugged her in empathy and Moonlight hugged her back. They sat there for a while before somepony knocked on the door.

“That must be the substitute foalsitter,” Winter Heart went to answer the door.

Wish broke free of the hug, “Why isn’t Moonlight looking after me like she normally is?”

Winter Heart froze, “As both Moonlight and Nisha helped look after you at night time, it might bring up some painful memories. For both of you.”

“Oh, right,” Wish walked back towards her friend. “At least Spectra & I are having a sleep over.”

“Yeah!” Spectra jumped up and hugged her friend who quickly began to cheer up instantly reflecting her friend’s excitement.

Moonlight & Winter Heart giggled and began to walk out to the garden. Along the way they chatted about things from life without Nisha to what the weather will be tomorrow, Moonlight tearing up every now and then. They chatted until they found Moonlight’s mother, Frostbite, sitting on a bench along the pathway in the royal gardens. Moonlight wiped her tears and took to the air followed by her mother

“See ya later Moonlight,” Winter chanted to her now flying friend.

Moonlight looked back at Winter Heart smiling, “See ya, Winter.”

They both grinned and went their separate ways.