Tick Tock, Tick Tock. It just happens all the same. We live our lives, ignoring that every moment we're on this earth the clock is ticking away at the seconds until we leave it. As I look at the stars, I wonder why we even bother. We work so hard to make this world a better place, and what's it for? The ponies that come after us? Who will enter this world, try to better it, and die all the same? The stars I see every night will outlast us all, and they'll be there for generation after generation after generation to see. And so the cycle continues.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock. Another day will pass us by, and it will be the same thing. We'll all rise to meet the new day, smile as we see our friends, and laugh at all their jokes. We'll go home, relax with our spouses, enjoy our children, and go back to bed. We'll sleep in our spouses' embrace, and wake up to meet a new day. And so the cycle continues.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock.
"Mind if Ah join you, Twi?"
I snap out of my depressing train of thought and smile at my husband. Mac has grown to appreciate the night sky as much as I do in the years that we have been married, and his company is always welcome while stargazing.
"Of course you can, Mac." I rest my head against Mac's side as he sits down.
"It's beautiful, ain't it Twi?"
"Yeah, it really is." I shift my head to look up at my husband. He' much more of a thinker than he ever lets on, and I know he'll enjoy pondering the meaning of life with me. "Mac, you ever wonder why we're here?"
"Huh?"
"You ever wonder why we're here?" I ask again. "I mean, I'm looking at the night sky and seeing the same set of stars that Starswirl the Bearded looked at more than a thousand years ago. And how many generations have come and gone since then? We only get a brief period of time to live, and we spend it trying to make things better for the generation that comes after us. Once we're gone, our children will just repeat the process. It seems kinda pointless, don't you think?"
Big Mac looks quizzically at me.
"What got ya thinking 'bout that?"
"Not sure. I guess it's just a curiosity. I never thought about it much while I was growing up with the Princess. I mean, she'll live forever, but the rest of us won't. One would think that the rest of us would be able to as well."
I watch Big Mac quietly ponder my question. I don't know what it is, but I always find it endearing to watch him so deep in thought.
"Well, Ah really don't have a good answer fer that Twi. All Ah know is that Ah want this world ta be the best it can be fer Velvet in there."
I look back toward the farmhouse that I call home. More specifically, towards the room that housed my daughter, Velvet Apple. The room that Mac and I shared every night. Just thinking about her makes me smile.
"That's what I'm talking about, Mac. Making this world the best it can be for her is all I think about her when I conduct any form of research now. And someday, she'll be doing the exact same thing. Whether she's working here on the farm, in a lab somewhere, or in whatever other career she'll end up in. She'll be doing everything she can to make the world a better place for the next generation."
I notice Mac hasn't moved his eyes from the direction of our room. I smile. As much as I was questioning our purpose, Velvet really made it feel worthwhile. But feeling worthwhile wasn't enough for me. I need more.
"Ah suppose that we just need to enjoy what we have while we have it. Ah know Ah sure have been enjoying life more since ya came inta it."
I can't help blushing. I love it when he says things like that. We share a nuzzle in the moonlight.
"You know I can't just leave it at that, Mac."
Mac sighs. I giggle.
"Ah know, Twi. One o' these days Ah'll get ya ta stop using that brain o' yers all the time."
I let out a small chuckle.
"Maybe. If anypony can it's you."
"Yer not gonna come inside 'till you find some answer, are ya?"
"Probably not."
"In that case, Ah'll be right back with some coffee. Time ta settle in fer the long haul."
I watch Mac get up and make his way inside. I count myself as lucky that I had found him. And that I have the opportunity to raise a beautiful foal with him. Hopefully someday she'll give me some grandfoals to play with. And so the cycle continues.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock. I return my gaze to the night sky. Luna had outdone herself this time. The moon was more beautiful than I had ever seen it. It's luminescent glow lights the farm as if it were Celestia's sun. It's funny. Earlier I was telling my husband that we were looking at the same stars that Starswirl the Bearded looked at, and I ignored the fact that it's the same moon as well. And we're walking on the same ground as he and everypony of his time walked on. And like us, they spent their lives paving the way for the next generation to come and do the same. And so the cycle continues.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock. I look at the beautiful world around me. I take in the scent of the apple orchard that resides in my front yard. The trees that will, like the stars, moon and earth around me, will still be there when I pass. I wonder how many generations of the Apple family will work these same fields and expand this farm. I wonder if they'll enjoy it as much as my husband does. I wonder if they'll make this farm prosper and use it to feed Ponyville for centuries to come. I wonder how many generations will live in this same farmhouse that I call home. And so the cycle continues.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock. I hear the door creak open and my husband steps outside with a tray bearing to mugs firmly gripped in his mouth. He gently sets it down and takes a seat next to me. I lift the mug with my magic and bring it to my mouth.
"You always make it just right for me."
"That's 'cause Ah always know just how ya want it."
"Yeah, you do."
"So, let's get solvin' yer little mystery here. Ya wanna know what our point is on this world, right?"
"Yeah. I mean, it just doesn't seem to make sense. Take the trees in your orchard for example. They will live longer than you and they'll live longer than me. And every generation that sees them after us is going to look at them as what they are. Apple Trees. Nothing more. Yet they'll be here for generations to come, while we'll be gone in just a few years. Seems a little backwards, doesn't it?"
Mac looks at his orchard. He nods as I give him my example. I can see he's thinking of a response, and I wish only that he would think faster. Despite the image of the simple farmpony that he makes for himself, he truly is the wisest stallion I have ever known.
"Maybe that's it Twi."
Now I'm confused. And irritated. I hate it when he confuses me. He's the only pony other than Pinkie Pie who can.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, yer tellin me that these trees are gonna outlive us, and everypony who comes after us is gonna see them as nothin' more than trees. Now, we ponies may not have the most time on this world, but we do have a greater opportunity to make a difference than anything else this world has ta offer. Maybe our purpose is just that: make a difference while we can."
"Hmm...I guess that makes sense..."
"But Ah can see it ain't enough fer ya."
"Of course not." I say as I press farther into Mac. It's starting to get cold and his torso is a steady source of warmth for me. He lifts a leg and wraps it around my back.
"Ever think ya might just think too much, Twi?"
"Of course not."
Mac sighs. He does that a lot when he's trying to get me to let my brain relax for a bit. I'm sure he has a point, but telling me to relax my brain is like telling Princess Luna to raise the sun. I laugh again. He joins in. He does have a point. It feels great to just enjoy a moment and not think about it. And there I go thinking again. Maybe it would do me some good to shut my brain off for a while. I hear crying from inside, followed by an irritated groan from Applejack.
"Mac! Twi! Velvet wants ya!"
Mac and I get up and head inside. We get to Velvet's crib and I lift her out of it. I set her down on our changing board and Mac is already prepared with a diaper and some baby powder. We get Velvet changed and I gently coax her back to sleep. I always hold her in my forehooves when I get her to sleep. There's something about actually holding her that means everything to me. I can never bring myself to hold her with my magic. Although I don't mind using my magic to throw the dirty diaper away, and Mac has no qualms about leaving that task to me. It's fair enough I guess. I hear Velvet begin snoring softly against my shoulder, and I carefully set her back into her crib. Mac and I just stand in front of her crib and watch her sleep. We can't bring ourselves to leave for a while. She's so beautiful when she sleeps. We know that one day she'll grow up and be just like us, but at this moment we definitely aren't looking forward to it. I smile as I think of Velvet sharing this moment with her own husband someday. I feel a drop against my snout. I look up and see Mac trying to force himself not to let his emotions literally come pouring out in tears of joy, and it's clear that he's failing. I feel my own set of tears welling in my eyes. The moment really is beautiful. Then it hits me. This is what it's like when I shut my brain off and just enjoy the moment. I think I can get used to it.
"So, back outside?" Mac asks.
"No...I think the bed sounds nicer than porch."
"Ah like that idea...Yer eyes are prettier than the stars anyway."
I try to fight back a blush, but I fail. Mac chuckles. He always enjoys making me blush. We curl up in bed and gaze into each other's eyes. I close mine and rest my head against his. I let myself forget about the ticking clock for a while. It's easy when I'm with him. For a moment, it seems that time stands still.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock. The alarm rings, jolting me awake. I hit the alarm and roll out of bed. Mac grunts and follows suit. Velvet begins to cry from her sudden, and quite frankly rude awakening. I pick her up and calm her down. I set her on my back and carry her to the kitchen. I get her bottle ready with my magic. I feed her and then myself. I put her in her carrier and kiss Mac before I head to the Library to start my day. It's just like every other day. And so the cycle continues.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock. I slowly make my way through Ponyville on my way to the Library. As usual, Applejack walks with me with her stall in tow. We talk and laugh. Applejack makes faces at Velvet and they both laugh. I smile. Applejack loves Velvet just as much as the rest of us. One day she hopes to be an inspiration to Velvet, somepony who can show her where true strength of character comes from. She'll have that chance as Velvet grows, and Velvet will do the same for her niece or nephew someday. And so the cycle continues.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock. I walk into the library and Spike is already checking out a book to an early arrival. I smile when I see who it is.
"Hey Rainbow. Picking up the new Daring Do novel, huh?"
Rainbow Dash turns around. That confident glint that makes her who she is can be seen in her eyes. It had only grown more obvious since her marriage to Spitfire and the adoption of Scootaloo. Having a family sure treated her better than I had ever thought it would. Then again, it treated me pretty well to.
"Hay yeah. I pre-ordered it for a reason, Twi. I'm diving right into it as soon as I get off work."
"If Spitfire doesn't bring about some more intimate entertainment first."
"Psh. I can multitask."
I can't contain my laughter at the thought of Rainbow trying to read through sex. My sudden uproar scares Velvet and she begins to cry. It doesn't take long to calm her down.
"Well, I gotta go. Big storm we're making today. I'll catch ya later, Twi! See you round, Spike!" Rainbow shoots out the door, giggling like an excited fangirl as she does so. It reminded Twilight of their younger days when Rainbow was obsessed with her dream of one day becoming a Wonderbolt.
"Good morning Spike. How are you today?"
"Good. How about you Twi?" Spike's voice has grown deeper with his age. He's only grown a little larger than Big Mac, but that's only because he hasn't ever become a greedy dragon.
"Well Velvet's been relatively quiet this morning, so I guess it's been a pretty good start. Velvet, are you going to say hi to your uncle Spike?"
Velvet giggles as Spike tickles her with a claw. Spike draws me in for a hug. I return the gesture. I set Velvet down in her playpen as Spike and I get the library ready for the rest of the day. Velvet has a surge of magic. I count myself lucky to be as powerful with magic as I am. Unicorn foals are difficult when they have their surges of magic. I place a barrier around the playpen, allowing her to use her magic as she pleases while she plays. Spike and I spend the day talking and checking out books. At five in the evening we close the library and make our way to the basement to do some research before I head home. It's what we do every weekday. It's a routine we both enjoy. And so the cycle continues.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock. I find myself again sitting on the front porch of the farmhouse at Sweet Apple Acres. It's a cool night, and the stars again look beautiful. The weather team isn't having the storm until tomorrow, so I still get to enjoy the stars for one more night. Stars that I know will outlast me. Stars that I know someday Velvet's children will be gazing at. I hear the door creak open and Mac sits down next to me. And so the cycle continues.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock. I relax as I lean into Mac. We haven't spoken yet, but I know one of us will break the silence soon. I decide it should be me.
"Mac, what if there isn't any single purpose to living? What if we're just supposed to enjoy it while we have it?"
"Ya mean exactly what Ah've been trying ta get ya ta do?" He replies. His smug grin is playful, but I'm still a little surprised by it. I chuckle.
"Yeah Mac, exactly like what you've been trying to get me to do. I still don't like that answer."
"Twi, if Ah know anything about life, it's that it is what we make it. Don't matter who ya are, what ya do or what ya go through. Life don't mean anything if we don't make something out of it. But what ya make outta life is yer choice. Life's purpose is yers to decide. There isn't any real answer."
I scrunch my nose. I hate that answer, but it makes sense. That confuses me even more. Things that have no answer and still make sense should only be a result of Pinkie Pie. Not serious questions. I guess it really doesn't matter. Mac is right. My life's purpose will be what I make of it. I won't save anything from here on out. I may only have a short time on this world, but I'm going to make the most of every moment of it. I hear crying coming from inside the house.
"Mac! Twi! Velvet wants ya!" And so the cycle continues.