What you Don't Need to See
What you Don't Need to See
Snowdrop shivered as the cool midnight breeze, plus the low room temperature went through her. Even with a thick jacket, she could still feel the coldness surrounding her. She gently laid down the half-finished snowflake on the table in front of her. She looked around before letting out a sigh; even without the ability to see, she knew that she was the only pegasus left in the factory.
Snowdrop usually gets busy after winter ends. All of the snowflakes she, and the other pegasi made had already melted after the last batch had been sprinkled down throughout Fillydelphia at the last day of winter. And it was worth it. Another year of making tons and tons of snowflakes, just to make winter more grand.
"I guess I need to go home now," the blind mare murmured as she got up from her seat. She headed towards the door, hanging the winter coat on a nearby coat rack, revealing her sky blue coat. As soon as she exited the factory, the glistering stars were already displayed in the sky, accompanied by Luna's moon in the middle. And it gave off such a calming atmosphere. The night sky was always a great masterpiece to Snowdrop, even if she couldn't see its beauty through her eyes.
She took a moment to enjoy the calming breeze, before spreading her wings and then taking off.
The night was peaceful. No noise was to be heard, except for the wind brushing against her ears and the flapping noise her wings was giving off. At times like this, can put a foal to sleep in just minutes without effort. And yes, it was truly to enjoy.
Snowdrop closed her eyes, enjoying the cool wind and the peaceful night. Until suddenly, her ears twitched as it picked up a noise, not made by her wings or the winds. No, it wasn't noise... but music. It made its way inside of her ears, wrapping it gently like a warm blanket.
Snowdrop stopped for a moment in the middle of the air, seeking for the source of the music. Her eyes looked down; all she could see was darkness. And yet she flew down slowly, since the sound came from below. She slowly descended from the sky; the music getting stronger and stronger. As her hooves gently touched the ground, she looked to her front.
In front of her, the entrance of the shop. Lights could be seen from the window display, but she could not see it. Through the closed doors, she could hear it very well; how well if she could go inside, and just... listen and relax.
Snowdrop took several cautious steps towards the wooden door in front of her, with one of her foreleg out to reach. After she felt the wooden material, and a door knob upon her hooves, she tried planting an ear. She closed her eyes as she listened to the sound carefully; the rhythm, the tone, the pitch, everything she heard from the beautiful music.
Out of curiosity: She wanted to go beyond the door in front of her. It took her a moment before agreeing with herself to enter the building. She took a step inside, feeling the warm wooden floor on her hooves. She hadn't noticed what she was doing (which was trespassing) until she heard the music stopped.
"S-s-sorry to dis-disturb somepony," Snowdrop stammered out as she tried to walk away.
"That's okay," a stallion replied.
Snowdrop stopped as soon as she heard somepony's reply.
"I'm just practicing. Nothing important. Feel free to look around in the store; we got all sorts of instruments."
Knowing that she was now standing inside of an instrument store, and not trespassing: She let out a sigh of relief. Good thing that I'm not trespassing she thought to herself. The music suddenly continued.
"What for?" the curious mare asked as she walked slowly towards the source of the sound. "Are you going to play for something?" she added.
"Well... as a matter of fact: Yes." The stallion stopped playing. "The store owner's funeral is going to be held tomorrow, and I'm going to play a song for her. Courtesy of her own son..." he chuckled silently.
"Oh..." Snowdrop's eyes turned to the pony in front of her. "I'm sorry to hear about that." She tried to give her best comforting smile, hoping that she didn't threw her aim off at smiling.
"No need to apologize, it's not your fault. Learned that everypony has their time." His eyes closed as he returned the smile, before turning back to the piano.
The music started playing, bringing Snowdrop in a euphoric state. The music was so simple, yet for her. The meaning was deep.
The music reminded her about her fillyhood: Like when she was in school, being bullied by her classmates. It reminded her every detail about it. And the time when her mother, the most special pony in her life, told her to be strong. She embraced every word her mother told her. It was her source of inspiration. If it weren't for her mother and her encouragements, she would've lost hope. And yet, here she was. From a blind filly, into a beautiful mare she was now.
A tear started to form on her right eye. But before it could go down to her cheek, it stopped as the music also stopped. She wiped her eyes with a foreleg. As soon as she moved her foreleg away, she heard the stallion.
"Here, I have a handkerchief," he reached out his hoof towards the mare with the handkerchief.
"Oh-uh... no thanks," Snowdrop refused as she gave him a sheepish smile.
"I see," he smirked as he placed his handkerchief on top of the keyboard. "Well, it does get emotional when I play the piano." He placed another chair beside him. "Take a seat." Tapping on the wooden chair, Snowdrop tried to find the source.
"Thanks," Snowdrop murmured as she carefully rested her haunches on the chair.
"My name's Pico," he introduced. "So, what's a pegasus doing here? Looking for an instrument?"
"Oh no, I just came across. And it's... um... Snowdrop," she answered, timidly.
"Oh, so you're the one who created the snowflakes," Pico replied, impressed as the mare sitting beside him was one of Luna's closest friends.
"Yes," Snowdrop nodded.
"Sorry if I didn't recognize you. Not much details were said when the news came into our little town." The two shared a chuckle. "But I have to say: I do love your snowflakes. Ever since it started, me and my mother usually spends Hearth's Warming Eve outside. Waiting for the snowflakes to fall. It became a special bond."
Snowdrop felt happy, knowing that she had not only made something new, but also made somepony happy.
"But in the end, all of the snowflakes we had collected would just melt away." Pico frowned. "I'm really going to miss those time."
Even without the vision to see the sad curve the stallion's mouth was forming, she felt the depresing radiant it was giving out. And she just couldn't take it when somepony frowns. It reminds her... well... it reminds her of her. More specifically, the times of her when she was being sad.
"How about I visit the funeral and bring a snowflake for your mother. I bet it would bring back some fond memories."
"You're making it sound like you're offering a treat to a strange colt." He chuckled. "But sure. Wouldn't mind another guest attending the funeral. Just come by to the store tomorrow afternoon. It would make my mother very, very happy. Specially a visit from somepony like you."
The compliment made Snowdrop blush. She giggled slightly as she looked away to her other side, slightly. The light above made her eyes glistened, making Pico focus on the slightly obliterated pupils of Snowdrop's.
"What's with your eyes?" he leaned in closer to Snowdrop. As soon as she felt the hot breath on her face, she backed away slightly.
"It's um–" Snowdrop cleared her throat "–birth deficiency."
"So you're blind?"
Snowdrop nodded.
He hadn't noticed it the whole time, thinking that it was just his eyes again from staring at the keyboards for too long. Or he was just ignorant.
I really need to get myself some glasses, he thought to himself. "Sorry if I hadn't notice it right away. Sometimes I get a little ignorant." He scratched the back of his head as he gave out a sheepish smile. "Anyways, I guess it's true," Pico whispered.
"What's true?" Snowdrop raised her eyebrow.
"Not all ponies are created perfect." He chuckled quietly. "I guess you're too perfect, that something's meant to be removed from you."
"Oh..." she frowned as she looked at the keyboards in front of her, even without the knowledge of it.
"Hey-hey, I'm just jesting." Pico waved his hooves, dismissively. "And it's a compliment. I mean, you know that you're almost as perfect. You're creative and smart, because you created snowflakes. Tough because you went through your life, even with birth defects. It's rare to see a mare like you."
Again, Snowdrop blushed, accompanied by her soft smile on her face.
"I bet there are tons of stallions courting you."
"Oh-um... not really..."
"Oh come on. I'm sure there are at least three."
"Well, I do have a co-worker one time. But I know he's just kidding."
"See? I told you." He gave Snowdrop a friendly nudge on the shoulder, making the mare gasp slightly out of surprise. The two shared a slight chuckle, until the clock that was hanging from the wall, along with the stringed instruments behind them, 'rang'.
"Didn't notice that the time was going too fast," he murmured as he stared at the clock, knowing it was already at nine.
"What was that?" Snowdrop asked as she looked back, trying to find the source of sound.
"That was just the clock." Pico stretched out his forelegs, trying remove the aching feeling for playing the piano for too long. As much as he hate to admit it: Music wasn't really his specialty. He only ground himself on it, since both of his parents were fond of music, while he's more into numbers. After years of being taught by her mother to play the piano, alas, it finally paid off.
"Oh that reminds me. Best be on my way home." She got off from her chair, hesitantly.
"Here, let me help you." He got off from his seat. Standing beside Snowdrop, he offered his hoof to her, But without the ability to see, she only stared at her front, waiting for him to offer a hoof. "Um... Snowdrop..."
"Oh-oh... sorry, I didn't notice your hoof." Snowdrop waved her hoof to her front, until she finally found his. Pico did nothing, but to only chuckle silently at her.
With Snowdrop holding onto his hoof, they both walked slowly towards the door. She felt a bit nervous, being escorted by a stallion. She can't help but only to stare down on the floor. While she was too busy staring down, she didn't notice that the stallion beside was too busy staring at her.
I feel sorry for her, Pico thought to himself. If somepony was to be blind, then it should not be her. Or anypony else. The look on the mare's face was heart melting. The innocence in her eyes was something special for to see. The sad curve her mouth was forming was something that makes you want to change. The stallion snapped back into his senses, as his snout had been planted on the door. The irony.
"Are you okay?" Snowdrop asked after she had heard the loud 'THUD'.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied as he rubbed his snout gently with his other hoof, easing the pain. The two got out of the store, and then exchanged their goodbyes with each other. Snowdrop took off, while Pico went towards the door. But before he could get inside.
"Um... Pico," Snowdrop called out. He turned to the mare, who's now back on the ground. "Can you tell me where South is?" she gave out a sheepish smile.
"Oh... it's right there." Pico pointed to the left of the store. He stared at Snowdrop, who had just tilted her head slightly. He suddenly wrapped his hoof around Snowdrop's neck, making the mare gasp. "Like I said: if your home's towards the south, then just fly ahead in this direction." He lifted Snowdrop's head with his hoof, and then turned it twenty degrees to the left. "Are you even sure you can make it back to your place alone while in your condition?"
The question rang inside of Snowdrop's mind. "S-sure. I-I know my way back," she answered with a smile of confidence.
"Okay, um... sorry I doubted you. May Luna's stars guide you back home safely."
Snowdrop just nodded as she took off into the sky. As soon as the pegasus was out of sight, Pico went back inside the store. He shut the door behind him, making sure it was locked. He went towards the piano, examining it carefully.
"Mommy!" the colt yelled as he made his way towards the instrument store. "Mommy! Mommy!" he repeated as he came from the doors.
A mare stood in front of the counter. She turned to the colt as it rushed towards her.
"Mommy," he called out one last time as he stood in front of the counter. The mare greeted him with a warm smile, caressing his mane, gently.
She opened her mouth, and then tried to ask, "How was your day?" but sadly, no voice came out of her mouth. But the colt used to living with her mute mother, he knew what she was asking.
"Fine," he answered, sadly. "Hey. mom, am I adopted?"
The mare gave her son a deadpanned look. She shook her head slightly; her red colored mane swaying to her motions. She lifted both of her hooves, shaking them in midair, saying the word 'Where' in a different way. She pointed his son with a hoof. In one jerk movement, she swiped the air. One last thing: She pointed a hoof towards Pico's forehead.
"My classmates asked me why my cutiemark is different from both you and dad." He glanced over his flank, seeing the symbol 'π'. "I mean, both you and dad have a cutiemark that is related to music, while I don't." He let out a sigh as he looked down on his hooves.
Melody, not wanting to see her own flesh and blood with a frown, she placed a hoof on Pico's chin. She raised the head of her son, slightly, enough for an eye-to-eye contact. She gave him a comforting smile, before nuzzling him. She moved away from the counter, heading towards an instrument covered with a huge, brown blanket.
Pico followed her mother as soon as he saw her gesturing at him. He stood in front of the instrument, trying to peek on it sow that he could specifically know what it was. Not waiting any longer, Melody removed the cloth, revealing a piano.
Pico's eyes widened as he saw the grand instrument. Its black case, glistening with the lights. The cover of the keyboard was raised, showing its polished keys. A smile formed on the colt's face. He turned to his mother, who was now placing two stools in front of the piano.
Melody smiled at her son as she gestured at him to sit down beside her. Pico wasted no time, rushing to take a seat. The keys of the pianos were at eye level. He couldn't wait for his mother to play him a song, for it's always heaven when his mother plays an instrument.
But instead of Melody playing, Pico felt her mother hooves above his own. Her mother guided his hooves on the keys of the piano, telling which one to press. A simple low key, going higher and higher by passing moment. It's not what you call music, but to Pico, it's more than just music.
He looked up to his mother, who's staring at the piano keys. A smile on her face reassures him that she was indeed the only mother he knew and loved. "Thanks Mommy," Pico whispered, "I love you..."
Pico wiped the single tear that had formed on his eye, before lowering the cover of the piano keys. And with that, he went inside of the door beside the counter.
Snowdrop's eyes were closed as she remembered the sweet melody that wrapped her ears earlier. Humming the sweet tune as she flew in a straight direction.
It would make my mother very, very happy. Specially a visit from somepony like you.
She suddenly opened her eyes as the statement showed up in her head. "The sta-no, I mean Pico, wants me to come to her mother's funeral tomorrow afternoon," she murmured. "I don't think I can go. There's still a lot of work to be done. And-and I don't know how to get back to the store." She let out a sigh. "Why did I made another random promise?" she questioned herself.
"Snowdrop, where are you going!?" Primrose, or Snowdrop's mother, yelled as soon as she saw her daughter, flying past their house.
"Oh-ha?" Snowdrop stopped, turning around as she heard her mother's voice. "Sorry, I didn't see that I was flying past our home," she called out as she slowly flew back.
"You really need to be careful," Primrose warned as she met her daughter in midair, "or else, you might not notice that you were already flying north instead of south." They both landed in front of their cloud home. "Maybe it's better for me to meet you in the weather factory before you leave."
"Oh, no need, mother. I just didn't really noticed." She gave her mother a sheepish smile.
"Okay. I trust you, but I'm just being careful. I don't want my little filly getting lost." Primrose hugged her daughter.
"Oh, mom." Snowdrop returned the hug.
"Now let's go inside of the house, and have a dinner." The two went inside of their home, closing the door behind them.
