25 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐂𝐔! || FMS Writing Challenge

DAY ONE: Snowman

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AU: Rainbow Quest Aftermath

Characters: Clover (OC), Green Leader

Story Status: Complete

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Snow was a rare sight in a place such as the new Green Kingdom. Many of the population had never seen such a sight as white flakes trickling from the sky, covering the ground far below.

   For young Clover, it was a phenomenon he found wonder in.

   The green steve was not the youngest of his kind, but he was among the many to witness the first falls as winter steadily approached. Only the elder green steves of the kingdom had lived long enough to recall memories of when they first experienced the chill of snow. The memories held the blissful warmth of happiness as they remembered building stacks of snow called "snowmen," and throwing small spheres of the frozen water at each other in a mock battle.

   Of course, they were too old to participate in such activities now, but they found amusement in watching the younger steves follow in their footsteps.

   Clover happened to be one of them.

The young steve was among the first to rush out of his house at the sight of the snowfall. He was also met by a harsh gust of cold air, but the fascination for what fell like gentle rain around him dulled his senses.

Clover outstretched a palm. His shamrock-green eyes focused in on the snow before him, especially when one landed on his hand. He frowned as it melted upon contact, but curiosity kept him going.

He took another step away from his home. Then another, and another, until he began to make his way towards the middle of the kingdom. More steves were gathered there, just as amazed by the snow as Clover himself was.

Near the crowd stood the Green Leader, who smiled faintly as he watched his people interact with the new change in weather. He himself had not expected snow to fall in such a coastal area, but it was a welcome change, nonetheless.

The leader's eyes scanned over the steves now, as if searching for one in particular. When he found his target, he beckoned them over. He needed to chat with him, after all.

"Enjoying the weather, Clover?" Green Leader asked as his apprentice joined him by his side. The younger steve took to mirroring his leader, watching out and over the other steves before them.

"It's fascinating," Clover remarked, his attention diverted to nearby snow falling every so often, "I didn't think I'd ever get to see it in person. I've only heard of it from the older green steves."

Green Leader chuckled. "I never expected snow to fall in an area as warm as this, but with the cold of winter approaching, I shouldn't be surprised."

Clover couldn't help but glance at the ocean just beyond the stretches of their kingdom. The majority of it was built over the water body, and it was their major trade route with the other kingdoms.

"If the ocean freezes over, trade might be slowed down." The apprentice pointed out. He looked back at his mentor, who had begun to let a smile slip. "We might have to go on rations for a few months."

Green Leader couldn't hold back his smile anymore. "Good. You're thinking like a leader, but the ocean is too large to freeze over completely. With the tropical climate, no cold weather can accomplish such a thing."

"Oh..." Clover diverted his gaze. He should've known that. "What duties do I have today?"

"None."

Clover looked up. "What?"

"It's not everyday you get to experience snow. That's why I'm giving you the day off to enjoy it with everyone else."

The younger steve couldn't help but grin. "Thank you, Leader."

Said being returned the grin with a nod. "Go have fun; I can tell how excited you are."

   Clover nodded eagerly, then dashed off to join his people in a snowman-creating competition. Despite not winning it, then getting pelted in snowballs, a smile still shown on his face. His laughs mingled in the air alongside everyone else's.

   Seeing his apprentice laughing and enjoying himself reminded the Green Leader of when he was that young. It brought back the days where he didn't have the responsibilities he had now, or even when he was an apprentice. He would do just what Clover was doing on these rare days: create snowmen and have snowball fights.

   The nostalgia also brought about a feeling of remorse. Those days preceded the Dark Times, and even the era of the First Hero, despite how short-lived it was. It was those days that felt so simple, so easy, compared to the present.

   But now, though, peace had finally returned. No more threats had arisen, and hopefully never will again. Perhaps those simple days could return with the coming Christmas season...

   With his thoughts coming full circle, the Green Leader made the return to his home. He still had work to do, anyways.