The Breezies weren't sure when it began or how it started, but when it came, they all felt its effects.
It started off small—flowers weren't growing as fast as they should, the soil was getting harder to work with, and there was a crispness to the air that wasn't there before, even when they'd gone to help Rarity last fall. Being a resourceful sort, the Breezies decided to simply work twice as hard.
Every Breezie put her back (and wings) into their work to ensure flowers grew when they should, that Breezie Blossom was as warm as they could make it, and that their flower and mushroom homes were well protected from anything bad that could happen.
And, for a while, it worked.
But the cold didn't let up, and the problems steadily worsened.
"Tiddlywink, look," cried a lavender Breezie poking at a drooping rose stem. "I went out to take my morning shower and the leaf was dried up!"
"Tra-La-La, check this out! I buried these seeds last week but they're not growing at all," shrieked a white Breezie, prodding the ground with her shovel.
"Hey, Zipzee, it's getting awfully cold, don't you think," asked an orange Breezie, hurriedly flapping her wings to keep warm.
Day after day, more and more complaints and worries were voiced, and the air grew colder still. The Breezies did their best to adapt to the changes, gathering many small flowers to use instead of larger ones, and trying to stimulate the seeds that were still growing.
Despite the attempts to maintain a sense of normalcy, Breezie Blossom was getting colder by the day. The cold wasn't just in the air or soil anymore, either. All the inhabitants could feel it—a worrying sort of chill that spread even to their wings and antennae, along with a strange fatigue. Some Breezies fell asleep mid-flight and had to be carried to their homes, and others simply snuggled in their flower petal beds much longer than normal.
Yet even these problems were put on hold by taking shifts, with temporary watches in case someone nodded off or didn't show.
Then came a problem that the Breezies couldn't ignore or work around.
One still morning, a scream pierced the cold air.
"Help! My house has shriveled up," sobbed Azalea Bloom.
Zipzee, Tiddlywink, and Tra-La-La flew to see what was wrong—and what they saw made all three Breezies gasp in horror.
The giant tulip that Azalea Bloom had called her home—the kind that many Breezies called home—had begun to wither away, leaving a dry, rust-colored shadow of a flower behind.
Zipzee flew to the top of the flower and sniffed experimentally, for once hoping her allergies would kick in. But the shriveled tulip was scentless, and when she tried to open it to examine it further, pieces of it crumbled against her hooves.
"…I don't know what's going on," Zipzee admitted, "but until we find out what's happening, you're welcome to stay at my house. If you want, we'll help you move your bed."
"That's so selfless of you, Zipzee," Tiddlywink remarked, impressed by her friend's generosity. "If you want, you can stay at my house, Azalea Bloom," she offered.
"No, she can stay at mine. It's no trouble! Really," Tra-La-La chimed in.
The three Breezies thought, then smiled and clasped antennae, creating tri-colored clouds of magic and pollen. "Then it's settled—together it is!"
"You can stay at all our houses until we can help you find a new flower, Azalea Bloom," Zipzee decided.
The blue Breezie pulled all three of them into a hug and went to check her belongings—and then let out a big yawn.
"So sleepy," Azalea Bloom mumbled, managing to catch herself just before hitting the ground.
Zipzee's reassuring smile turned into a frown as she saw her friend shakily fly off.
Small flowers, like those used in Breezie parades, could hopefully be replaced even with all that was going on. But large flowers and mushrooms like the kind that they lived in… If they all shriveled like that tulip had, the Breezies would all be homeless. And what was with these bouts of tiredness? It had been getting colder, but…
As she pondered over what to do, an icy wind passed through Breezie Blossom. The little pony shivered.
"We need to figure out what's happening, and fast," Zipzee decided.
####
Moving Azalea Bloom out was a strenuous task. It took all day, and while Zipzee, Tiddlywink, and Tra-La-la had agreed to visit Ponyville to ask about what was happening, the three of them also agreed to do it the following morning when they weren't so tired.
Morning came early for Breezie Blossom, but Zipzee was late getting up. She shivered a bit under her blanket, wiped at her eyes with a hoof, then slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Was it her imagination, or did her house seem a bit weightier than before? The room seemed colder and a bit more compact, as if under stress, but the door, at least, seemed fine.
Zipzee fluttered to the door and pushed.
It didn't budge.
"Why won't it open," she muttered, pushing harder.
With a jolt, the door popped open, and Zipzee flew headfirst into a mound of cold, white crystals that had gathered outside; she gasped from the sudden shock. Zipzee pushed out of the white substance and gasped. Whatever this stuff was, it was cold, heavy, and all over Breezie Blossom—even their houses! It looked like the entire place had been painted white. Her own rose's stem was sagging from the added weight, and Zipzee feared that if any more pressure was added the flower might break.
Carefully, the little Breezie fluttered to the top of the flower and pushed at the substance with a hoof. It gave a little, but there was too much for one Breezie to move alone. Zipzee knew that she would need help.
"Tiddlywink! Tra-La-La! Help," she called, anxiously flying to her friends' houses—and even more anxiously noting the presence of the same cold stuff blanketing their flowers as well. This wasn't good at all.
Tiddlywink poked her head of out a window. "What's-"
A pile of the stuff falling on her head interrupted her. Shivering, the purple Breezie flew in a circle to keep herself warm. "W…what is this stuff!?"
"I…" Zipzee frowned, putting a hoof to her head in thought. Something about it felt familiar, but…she couldn't place it. "I don't know," she said finally.
Tra-La-La, covered in the substance, flew up to her friends in a panic. "This stuff is so cold I can barely fly! We need to get to Ponyville right now!"
Zipzee and Tiddlywink nodded. "Let's go then—together," they said, clasping antennae once more.
The rest of Breezie Blossom was the same as it was near their houses—cold, windy, and covered in the mysterious stuff. But as they reached the outskirts, the Breezies noticed the landscape changing almost immediately—outside their flowery home it was warm, even hot, and beautiful flowers dotted the landscape. The sun and scent of flowers rejuvenated them briefly. Zipzee sniffed at one and promptly sneezed, sending her flying back into her two friends.
"Are you alright," asked Tiddlywink.
Zipzee nodded. "I think it's my summer allergies," she guessed.
That made Tra-La-La frown.
"But if it's summer out here, why is Breezie Blossom so cold? As far back as I can remember it's always been…"
She yawned.
"…Warm and sunny!"
Zipzee didn't know the answer to that question either. "Let's keep moving," she decided. "Whatever this is, I'm sure the ponies can help."
####
Ponyville was as sunny and warm as its outskirts, and the residents were eager to help their little friends. Sweetberry offered them rainbowberry cake and milk after the long flight, Wysteria gave them some of her prized flowers to help them stay awake, and Sunny Daze regaled them with stories of surfing and summer fun. When they had rested enough, every pony that was able gathered at the town square to listen to the Breezies' story.
"Breezie Blossom has been getting colder and colder," Tiddlywink began.
"It got to the point where our houses started to fall apart," Tra-La-La continued.
"And when we woke up this morning, Breezie Blossom was covered in this cold white stuff," Zipzee finished.
"Cold white stuff," the ponies said at once. The Breezies nodded.
Then Skywishes gave a bright smile. "Oh! You mean snow!"
"Snow?" asked Zipzee.
"Yes, yes, yes! Snow," said Razzaroo, flicking her tail.
The Breezies were confused. "What is snow," asked Tiddlywink.
"You don't know about snow," Pinkie Pie asked, raising an eyebrow. Then she brightened. "Oh, that's right! You weren't here two winters ago—not that I blame you with the Here-Comes-Christmas Candy Cane crisis and all."
"What's winter," Zipzee interrupted.
"Whoa. You don't know about winter, too," asked Sunny Daze in disbelief.
"Well…we know about spring, summer, and fall—mostly from visiting you," Zipzee explained. "And we've heard you talking about winter sometimes. But Breezie Blossom is warm all year round, and no one ever told us what winter is."
Rainbow Dash stepped forward with a toss of her mane. "Allow me to explain!"
The Breezies waited anxiously.
"Winter is a time when the world gets colder, darling. There's less daylight, snow begins to fall, and—"
"Snow is cold,"interrupted Minty. "But it's not like it's bad! You get to drink hot cocoa, sing holiday songs, snuggle up by a fire, wear the warmest pair of minty green socks you can find, and all sorts of other stuff!"
Rainbow Dash seemed a bit put off. "May I continue?"
Minty nodded, sheepish.
"As I was saying, snow covers the land, and flowers and trees…well, they go to sleep until spring arrives."
"Why would they do that," asked Tra-La-La.
Rainbow Dash thought, troubled.
"Because they need their rest, darling. It's just something that happens every year—well, every year in Ponyville, at least. But it's summer here, and from what you've told us I don't think Breezie Blossom has ever had snow before…"
She was interrupted by the sound of a cleared throat. Master Kenbroath Gilspotten Heathspike, known commonly as Spike the Dragon, stepped forward, concern evident on his face.
"Rainbow Dash, if I may," added Spike. "You said that during winter the flowers go to sleep until spring. Given that the Breezies are very connected to their flowery home, perhaps their tiredness and fatigue are connected to the state of Breezie Blossom and its flowers."
Rainbow Dash gasped. "B-but that can't be, Spike, darling. If that were true, then all the Breezies would…"
"Go to sleep," Zipzee finished with a contented, dreamy yawn. Her eyes began to close, and she began to flutter this way and that before landing safely in Wysteria's mane.
"Oh my," Wysteria said, gently pulling the little Breezie out and cupping her in her hooves. "She's sound asleep!"
Tiddlywink and Tra-La-La soon fell asleep as well. They landed, tangled together, in Sweetberry's outstretched hooves. The pony held them with the practiced care that comes from a lifetime of baking sweets. "Hey? Breezies?"
There was no response except the relaxed, deep breathing associated with the heaviest sleep.
"They're all asleep! Oh, darlings, what do we do," cried Rainbow Dash, who was beginning to panic.
"The only thing we can do, Rainbow Dash," said Pinkie Pie. "We have to help them out!"
At that, all the ponies in Ponyville, despite their worry, were rejuvenated. Helping came naturally to them, and even if they didn't know what was causing this localized, sudden winter, they had ideas to make life easier for the Breezies until a solution could be found.
"The first thing we have to do is go to Breezie Blossom and find the other Breezies. If they're asleep, we'll need to take them here to get them away from the cold," Pinkie Pie declared. "Skywishes, Razzaroo, and Sparkleworks, can I count on you three to help?"
"Got it," the three ponies said in unison.
"I'll give them some of my biggest socks to help them stay warm," Minty offered. "They're not quite as big as flowers, but they should be able to snuggle up!"
"I'll prepare some of my most beautiful flowers for them to lay by," said Wysteria. "The scent of something familiar should at least give them good dreams, and it might help them wake up a little!"
"I'll, like, get the biggest mirror I can find. If I can reflect the light towards their home, maybe that can help warm up Breezie Blossom," Sunny Daze said with confidence.
"Better make it a smaller mirror," said Pinkie Pie. "You don't want to start a fire. As for me, I'll try and find someone who might know anything about this."
"But who would know, darling," asked Rainbow Dash. "Spike, do you have any ideas?"
The dragon thought, then smiled. "Ah ha! Maybe it's the Snow Queen! She arrives in her icy carriage and—wait, no, that's just a story. ...I'm afraid I don't know," Spike finished.
"It's okay, Spike. If you can think of anything, let us know," Wysteria said kindly. "Though I wonder...maybe there is a story like what's happened."
Sparkleworks grinned. "If there is, maybe it can give us more ideas on how to fix it!"
"And we all know who loves stories," Minty said. "There are two ponies who do! Storybelle, who has her story club meetings, and...Kimono."
Every pony gasped at the mention of Kimono—except Spike, who had never met her before. "Kimono?" Spike asked.
"Kimono is the keeper of all precious pony legends and lore," explained Razzaroo. "She lives on the outskirts of town! Says it's better for thinking. She's known as the wisest pony in the land."
"She sounds delightful," Spike said happily. "Perhaps we should split up. One of us can visit Storybelle, and the other can visit Kimono."
The ponies had a plan. Now they had to carry it out.
Pinkie Pie gave her friends her brightest, pinkest smile. "Together, I'm sure we can do something about what's happened—and if not, we'll do our best."
Every pony in town cheered. "We'll do our best!"
None of them had any idea that, at this very moment, they were being watched by the source of the Breezies' calamity.
####
Somewhere dark, dank, and dreary—somewhere long forgotten—six figures gathered around a crystal pool. Reflected in it was an image of Ponyville. To the side sat an easel; upon it was an image of Breezie Blossom as it was now—completely covered in snow. The pool's image shifted, and the two matched.
The only creature different from the others spoke first, clearly amazed.
"You sure know your stuff about this painting thing! Remind me to never make you angry, 'cause I don't think even I could've made it that cold for that long."
The artist sighed, worried.
"Was it really that good? It took longer than normal because I had to use long brush strokes. Everything had to be perfect!"
A pat on her shoulder and a voice like music brought comfort.
"Don't worry. Your painting was great. We went for the smallest of them, and it worked perfectly."
There was a raucous, rowdy giggle from one of them.
"Can you believe those Breezies didn't know about winter? Who doesn't know about winter!? I used to play in winter every day, before...before..."
She trailed off, sounding suddenly, deeply heartbroken. A new voice, older, tried to change the subject.
"It's not easy to know about something you've never experienced before, sis. Relax, alright?"
The youngest one there—still only a child—frowned.
"I feel kinda bad for them…but, I guess we are bad, so…"
The older sister sighed, trying to remain focused.
"So, what do we do now?"
This time the creature answered.
"We follow the Master's plan, of course! Oh boy, I can't wait! We'll go out first, into Ponyville. Then you two head to Unicornia. Then you two—"
A sigh interrupted her.
"We know. I've been practicing my song for weeks now."
The artist spoke up.
"Do we head out right away, then?"
A voice, long, low, and deep, reverberated through the air and into their minds. Everyone there shuddered.
"Head out when you feel the time is right—but remember this. They are not your friends."
Starsong, Sweetie Belle, Cheerilee, Scootaloo, Toola Roola, and Whimsey Weatherbe all nodded.
"…Understood, Master," they said at once.
"Good."