There are many events and ponies that have made me who I am today. My friends, the princesses, and the events since I first traveled to Ponyville have all had a profound effect on making me the mare I am today, but none so much as my parents. You’ve all heard the stories of heroic moments and conflict, but it is the quiet moments that can often give us our shape. Today, I would like to share one of those stories in hopes that time will neither fade nor tarnish it.
It was a day much like any other day. I was in the living room playing librarian with Smarty Pants. He was so silly. For somepony named Smarty Pants, he sure couldn’t keep his books in on time. I was constantly forced to assess him a late fee. At any rate, Dad walked by and noticed one of the books I was playing with. I was always very careful with them, so Dad didn’t mind me playing with the family library, so long as I stayed away from his collection of old books.
“Hello Miss Twilight, may I borrow this one?” Dad said as he picked up a copy of 1001 Fun Family Activities by Blazing Trail.
“Why certainly, sir,” I pretended to stamp the card and record it on my charging ledger. Papa often took me with him to the library to check out books. I couldn’t read very well yet, but he’d always check out a book for me and we’d read it at night before bed.
“Thank you very much,” he mussed my mane a little.
“You’re very welcome Papa,” I said with a smile.
“Camping…camping… Here it is.” Dad flipped through the book as he slipped onto the couch.
“Whatcha looking at Papa?” I looked up at him.
“I’m just reading a little chapter on camping. I want us to have some fun before you get too old to have some good memories with Momma and I,“ Papa said, welcoming me to sit with him. The book was littered with full color illustrations and camp site suggestions. It was detailed and very thorough in the description of everything one should have ready to have a good camping trip.
“That’ll never happen Papa,” I nuzzled against him and he softly patted me on the head.
“Oh, soon enough you’ll start school and have so many friends that you won’t have time for Mom and I,” he turned to a page on pitching a tent and starting a campfire.
About that time, the clip clop of hooves raced toward the door. Opening it wide, he started to dash inside, but was met with a stern look from our mother.
“Just where do you think you’re going mister?” she said sternly at the mud soaked brother of mine.
“The guys want to see that stone spearhead I found the other day,” he said, making it obvious he wants to get by her by his body language, bobbing to and fro.
“How did you get so filthy?” She looked him up and down.
“We found this hole in the park on the way home and we made a foxhole out of it. It was still a little wet from last night’s rain, so we got a little muddy,” he shook his hoof off to the side a little.
“Dinner is almost ready, so wash up,” she said, pointing at the kitchen.
Shining Armor began to walk inside towards the bathroom, but Mom put a stop to it and pointed to the hose to knock off the majority of the mess.
“Can I at least go back after dinner?” he said , pleading.
“No, the other colts will be going home too,” she replied, the stern edge in her voice fading.
Defeated, he made his way to clean up and Mom left a towel for him near the porch.
“Looks like I’m already a little late with your brother, but we can still treasure these times,” he said with a soft smile that I’ve only seen a hoof full of times. There was something very bittersweet in it. Maybe I’ll understand it better if I ever have foals of my own someday.
Dinner was Mom’s specialty, hay loaf and applesauce. All of us gathered around the table, Mom plated some and we began to eat. Shining Armor kept making faces at me from across the table, which earned him a stern look from Papa.
“You’re mother and I have discussed it, and we have decided to go camping next weekend.” Papa said, clearing his throat.
“Alright!” Shining Armor shouted through a mouth full of food.
“Sorry,” he said after swallowing the bite, realizing what he did.
“We’ll be going to Winsome Falls, and camping in the woods nearby, so don‘t make any plans next weekend, Shining” he laughed.
“I wouldn’t dare!” he seemed to perk up from his bath.
The next weekend we took a train down to the forest. Each of us was loaded down with as much as we could carry. We weren’t going to be on very long, so we didn’t check our luggage. We must have been quite the sight to those on the train. I tried to load my saddlebags with books for Papa to read to me, but he said to only pick one book, so I picked my favorite, Busy Bee Visits the Library by Seedling Quill.
When we arrived at the park, Papa rented a cart and had me sit with the supplies as he and Shining took turns pulling it. The cart’s rhythmic clip clop slowly rocked me to sleep.
Momma gently nudged me awake. Papa had already unloaded all of the equipment and I was the last thing in the cart. I looked up at the clouds and could see the source of the falls sitting just above the tops of the trees. It was beautiful.
Hopping out, I saw Papa pitching the tent. He struggled and finally it looked to be up, but then the poles fell in on each other. I giggled and he wiped his brow, a little frustrated.
He checked on the book again as I held up one of the poles. It was somewhat unwieldy, but he managed to get it right before I could drop it. Momma and Shining already had the tent for Shining and I pitched. My brother was in the Colt Scouts and knew exactly how to set it up in no time.
After dinner, we all made ready for bed. Papa doused the fire and sat down with me in my tent. I was snuggled up in my sleeping bag with Smarty Pants by my side. Shining Armor was reading a magazine he brought about some sport; I can’t remember which one. Papa had lit a lantern so we could all see. He picked up my book and began to read to me.
“Busy Bee was terribly busy. She needed to bake a honey cake for her friend Abeegail’s birthday, but she didn’t know the recipe! She looked all over the house, but could not find a single book with the recipe. She was so worried, but then an idea came to her…” with that the lantern went out.
“What happened Papa? Papa?” I panicked in the dark tent, clutching Smarty Pants tight.
“It’s alright Twilight. The lantern just ran out of batteries,” he tapped the battery case. The tent was now filled with light from a bright little ball hovering above Papa’s head.
“Next time, I’ll pay the extra for the good brand,” he grumbled under his breath.
“How did you do that, Papa?” I asked him.
“Did I never show you this spell?” he asked quizzically
“Uh-uh“ I shook my head.
“It‘s the family spell Twily,” Shining Armor concentrated for a moment and his orb appeared floating around, emitting a pretty rose light.
“He’s right. It‘s a spell that has been passed down my family for generations,” his gestures became big and exaggerated for comedic effect. Well, they were as big and exaggerated as the tent would allow.
“Picture a really happy thought… Okay, you’ve got it?” Papa began to explain.
“Got one,” I thought of how happy I was at that very moment to be camping with everyone. I wasn’t fond of camping as much as being with everyone.
“Okay, now I want you to try to push that thought and let it go up your horn,” I did as I was asked. At first, it was a little reluctant, but before long I could see the light from my horn through my closed eyes. I opened them and the little orb danced around making the room twice as rosy.
“That’s my little filly,” Papa said, stroking my mane gently.
“This spell is also why we have names with light in them,” Shining spoke up, eager to explain.
"That’s right,” father started again, “it’s a tradition that goes back to the beginnings of the kingdom. Our ancestors watched over Canterlot as part of the Royal Guard. Our ancestors would use that light to see if any intruder dared come near when they were out on patrol.”
“What’s an ancestor?” I asked, my eyelids getting a bit droopy.
“It’s like… your parents and their parents and their parents’ parents,” Shining Armor added with approval from Papa. I yawned happily under the light.
“Well, I think that’s quite enough excitement for one night. Sleep well little ones. I love you both.” Papa said as he slipped out quietly.
“Do you want me to teach you how to make it go away?” Shining asked me as he turned off his little light and rolled over.
“No, I like a little light. Besides, I can’t read in the dark and I want to finish my book.” I tried my best to read. I couldn’t quite do it yet, but I had heard Papa read it so many times that I almost had it memorized.
“Night, Twily. Don’t stay up too late,” he yawned and seemed to fall asleep.
I had reached the third of fourth page when a terrible screech of an owl pierced the tent. I squirmed into my sleeping bag as deep as I could burrow and shook furiously with fear. I must have woken my brother up with all my commotion, because he stroked the top of my head through the bag.
“Don’t worry Princess, I will protect you,” he used the most masculine voice he could muster. I peeked up from the bag and he was standing there appearing as strong and vigilant as he could, imitating his heroes, the Royal Guard. I had almost drifted back to sleep, but something caught the corner of my eye.
“Shining!,” I pointed at the now prominent cutie mark emblazoned on him.
“Whoa!,” he almost yelled.
“Shh,” I put my hoof over my lips,” Let‘s wait until tomorrow to show them. They’ll be so surprised!”
Not long after that, I drifted off to sleep, though I can’t imagine my brother slept very well with all the excitement.
To this day, whenever I use that spell, I always think of Papa and the gift of reading and love he gave me… as well as Shining Armor’s goofy happy face when he found his mark.
