A/N: Just a note for you before you start reading. My version of Snowdrop, isn't totally blind, but on the verge of being unable to see anything.

Chapter 2: Snowdrop

Artemis ran and ran, passing servants, guards, and visiting dignitaries and citizens until he skidded to a stop in front of a large stone archway to the royal private gardens. The garden had many trees, few bearing fruit like apples and pears, others provided shade or had flowers and/or nut daggling from the branches. Plants of various sizes, smells, colors, and flowers were in groups around the place, with roses being the dominate flower around. Stone and shell formed pathways around the garden, while sand surrounded a large pond with a fountain in the middle of it. He took a few calming breaths before walking like a royal should. He smiled when he saw his long time friend sitting by the pond, her hand in the water.

He cleared his throat, but gasped when Snowdrop turned around and looked at him. The last time he saw Snowdrop, she was a shorter, fragile version of her, but now she was taller more confident than when he last saw her, she didn't have the extra bangs going in her silvery white hair, but had more framing her face, and her eyes were still the same pale aqua blue color . But now, she had grown a bit, probably still shorter than him. She lost some of the baby fat in her cheek but still had some, giving it a slight round feature. And she still had the same innocent eyes, but there was something about those eyes that made Artemis wanting to continue to stare deeply.

Snowdrop smiled and launched herself at the young prince, "Artemis!" She laughed as she and Artemis fell to the ground. "Oops, hehe...my bad."

Artemis laughed, "Well this calls for punishment...by tickling!" Snowdrop squealed and laughed as Artemis tickled her.

"Aaarrrrtttteemmmisssss! Stop...stop! I'm sorry! Hahaha!"

Artemis stopped his assault and pulled the laughing girl up to her feet before hugging her. "I missed you so much Little One."

Snowdrop blushed, but smiled at her nickname. She missed Artemis so much. She hugged back and said, "I missed you too Prince of Shadow."

They pulled apart and Artemis dragged Snowdrop back to the pond, "You have to tell me everything since we last seen each other. I heard from the early bird that you got your cutie mark, what is it?!"

Snowdrop chuckled and pulled down the right side of her skirt to show a cutie mark of beautiful snowflake. "It's a Snow cutie mark. What do you think Artemis?"

Artemis smiled, "That's great Khione." Her smile turn nostalgic, "I haven't heard anyone call me that for a while. Why do you call me that?"

Snowdrop smiled as she took off her shoes and dipped her feet into the pond, "It's because...well you raise the moon, so why not? Afraid of a girly name like Luna?" she asked with a quirk of her brow and a cheeky smirk. "And why do you call me, Khione?"

Artemis chuckled softly as he shook his head. "No, I was just curious. I call you Khione because it means Goddess of Snow" He also took off his boots and dipped his feet into the pond, sighing in bliss as the cool water hit his tried feet.

Snowdrop chuckled, "You know, your feet would not be so tired if you had not run all the way here."

Artemis blushed, a rare and wonderful sight in Snowdrop's book, and said, "Well I was happy and excited to see you again. It's not a big deal, I would run an entire marathon if I knew you where waiting on the other end. It's been too long my friend since we have been face-to-face." Snowdrop agreed and flopped on the ground, feet still in the water. Artemis looked at her with a smile before he did the same and the two talked until 3 in the afternoon when Snowdrop's mother came looking for her.

Artemis sighed happily as he watched Snowdrop leave the garden before flying up to his bedroom balcony. "I'm so happy! I can't believe Snowdrop is living here! This is so awesome!"

"I'm glad you think so Artemis," Solaris said as he stood up from Artemis's bed.

"Brother what are you doing here?" Artemis asked as he stepped into his bedroom. It wasn't filled with a lot of stuff; a desk with chair, wardrobe with a chest of draws on it's right, a bookshelf that took up one of the walls, a door that lead to his bathing chambers, table for two with a chest board on it, a closet filled with different games he collected when he was younger, and finally a queen size post bed with dark blue drapes with stars and a nightstand on either side of the bed. He didn't want a lot in his room, he didn't think he needed much then that or to be as fancy and elegant as Solaris's with gold trim and made with the finest of woods. He was fine with normal things.

Solaris just shrugged, "I wanted to see how things were with Snowdrop. I know I'm a bit busy but I just wanted to know."

Artemis nodded, that feeling of hate was coming back but also another that wasn't mentioned before...abandonment. A long time ago Solaris and Artemis were very close, but when Solaris took on more control of Equestria he had less and less time for Artemis. Artemis felt alone, but he still had Snowdrop until she had to go home, then he would feel really alone.

"Things went well and I'm looking forward to having Snowdrop here," he said as he took a seat in his desk chair.

"Good, but now remember that Snowdrop does have a job."

Artemis was confused; they had forgotten to talk about why Snowdrop was here and what he was going to do here. "And what is that? She has a snowflake cutie mark now. I don't see her doing anything then amusing herself with ice making snow designs."

Solaris chuckled and shook his head, "No, that's not what she is doing. She is here to create and instruct the Flyer's from Clouds Dale."

Artemis gasped, "Isn't she still to young for such responsibility? I thought we decided to wait till she graduated?"

Solaris nodded, an emotionless face was on, "Yes we did, but she needs all the help she can get. Her disability will not give her enough speed and time to create enough snowflakes for winter. Beside she is the only Flyer that has an eye for even the smallest snowflake"

Artemis nodded; he had forgotten that she was blind and that her designs would create the snowflakes for next winter. To Artemis, Snowdrop was his only friend that understood him and his night. She let the prince be himself when he needed to, so the prince was really upset hearing that the girl had much pressure in creating the snowflakes.

Artemis sighed sadly and said as he looked away from his older brother, "I understand Brother."

Solaris sighed too, the face was still on as he spoke, "Please don't be upset. It's for the best of everyone. Now I have to go, the citizens in a town called Ponyville need me there. They are having a celebration to thank me for giving them the land they need to start up a farm. You're more then welcome to come." He walked over to the door and opened it, but waited for Artemis's answer.

Inside Artemis wanted to roll his eyes, but he reframed himself from doing that and declined, "No thank you brother. I have a few things to handle and I would like to take a nap." Solaris nodded and left without another word. Artemis growled, "And why should I go to a celebration all about you? You are nothing!"

He sighed and lay down on his bed. "I shouldn't be like this, but why does he get all the praise and love! What about me? I deserve it too! I'm just as important as he is! Without me who would raise the moon? Without the precious moon, what would happen to the tides and flow of water? It's just not fair!" He closed his eyes and breathed, trying to focus his thoughts on something else. He smiled when they turn to Snowdrop. "At least I have Snowdrop again. I missed her so much and those eyes of hers. Why couldn't I stop staring at them? I mean...yeah they are the same innocent eyes that I remember, but something about them that just...pop with beauty. She's certainly gotten beautiful and I could just listen to that voice talk and laugh all day. To watch those eyes sparkle with her innocence and laughter, those beautiful eyes. (Sigh) That would be nice. Beautiful isn't enough to describe them. Amazing, stunning even!" He sighed again as he felt peaceful and his heart beat a bit faster as he continued to think about Snowdrop.

He scrunched his face at those thought, "What is this? What am I feeling? It's warm and I don't feel miserable, but happy?" He gasped and opened his eyes, "No...I can't be feeling like that...I mean she's a Flyer! I'm a Prince! Stupid Artemis! You can't be feeling like that. It's just your imagination; you are not having a crush over that girl! You're just happy to see your friend again, nothing else!" He sighed for the umpteenth time today and put his pillow over his face. "I just need to sleep and focus on getting the people to love me too and spend time with my friend. Nothing else!" He nodded to himself and did what he said he would before taking a quick nap.