The Christmas Addition

In most cases it is believed that a being is either inclined to the morning hours, or finds them to be about as comfortable to awake in as a pit of snakes.  In Twilight Sparkles professional opinion, having spent countless days studying whether she really was or was not a morning pony, a schedule can be adjusted and the morning can be something of a pleasure;  Even when the sun has not risen yet.

It was one such morning as this that Twilight Sparkle found herself staring out the window near her bed. The snow drifted to and fro, occasionally sticking to the frost that had gathered in a thin film over the glass and wood. Though Twilight was often known for bouts of semi-consciousness otherwise known as ‘being in deep thought’, this was something of a different case.

In Twilights current thought process there was but one thing happening instead of the everyday birds nest of idea’s and algorithms.  Outside the window she was not seeing the street the way it was now, but instead the way it was over two years ago.

Two years ago, weeks before her very first Winter Wrap Up, before she had even heard about the tradition in her new home, walking beside Spike the dragon and carefully picking their way through the snow drifts and over the icy cobblestones.  This is what occupied her mind, an afternoon long since past. With a sigh she turned away from her window and donned a scarf. The sounds of clattering pots, pans, and the whoosh accompanying dragons breath bid her to continue her trek down the stairs and to the threshold of the kitchen.

Standing at the mouth of the beast so to speak was nerve wracking for Twilight even when no problem was immediately recognizable. Without fail she knew how to create one when one was not there, she was magic after all.

Like many other times this was not just a figment of her imagination either. With a small spark and a flash all of the dishes that were currently in use froze and Spike turned around in mild confusion.  With a spatula still dripping pancake batter he places his scaled fingers on his hips in consternation and speaks, “Hey, Twilight, whats up?” The spatula moving to point at the cookware still free floating in her magic.

For a moment it seemed that she wouldn’t speak as Twilights jaw continued to work itself open and closed.  Finally after a few passing ticks of the clock she answered in a small, quiet voice unlike that of the normally lecture prone librarian, “I thought that maybe it would be nice if we went out for breakfast. Give you a break from your chores for today and maybe enjoy the weather?” The statement came out as a question and even more timid then it had started.

Spike was an early riser even among early risers and he knew Twilight like the back of his scaled hand.  It goes without saying that if anyone knew Twilights tells, it was Spike the dragon. His vast knowledge of his purple housemate was put to good use as he eyed her critically while setting down the spatula.

“Whats on your mind Twi?” It was even spoken as it came out of Spikes mouth, but to Twilight, who visibly recoiled, it was white hot with danger. She didn’t have her head straight yet and the last thing she needed was a meltdown before she could get her points across. ‘Whatever they are’ thought Twilight. She took a moment and swallowed her apprehension before speaking, however, as she was opening her mouth she clamped it back closed and let loose a bodily sigh. Her shoulders slumped and she slowly sank down until she was sitting, still half in, half out of the kitchen proper.

For a few moments Spike imagined he could almost hear the snow falling outside of their home. As if reading Spikes mind the first word out to break the silence was from Twilight, he felt uneasy at its tone.

With barely an audible voice she shattered the silence, “Home.”

Spike flinched at how easily the silence had returned before moving forward a few paces, almost reaching an arm out to Twilight though he was nowhere near close enough to touch her yet. “What about our home Twilight? What’s wrong? What’s going on?” His tone panicked, and his thoughts rampaging through the darker corners of his mind, Spike had no way of reigning in the dark cloud that was forming over this pristine day.

“This…. Is… Is this your home Spike?” The question had barely left her mouth when Spike found his voice, “Whats happening?! What do you mean is this my home? I’ve lived here for almost three years with you, where else would I belong Twilight?” And just like that she shuddered and Spike finally noticed the small splotches dotting the floor and ran the short distance to Twilights warmth.

“What is happening, what’s wrong,” He shook her lightly, carefully like she might break, “Twilight you have to tell me!” for all his effort he felt her foreleg closer around his back and pull him closer. The embrace was tight and needy and Twilights quiet trembling threatened to well over and break, whines and the occasional long sob already breaking through as her grip tightened.

“I..Spike are you home here with me? Is this where you belong?” She squeezed him tight and continued after controlling her breathing, “I…Celestia, me, we took you from whatever life you would have had. How do you know I belong here with your family out there Spike!?” As her voice raised Twilight finally broke and the wails could surely be heard from the street, Spike, nor Twilight, cared.

The young dragon ran his fingers through Twilights mane, softly scratching down her back and rubbing at her spine while holding her around the neck with his other arm. In a moment of clarity he was reminded of his first holiday season in Ponyville.  He had made a comment to Twilight and she had gone quiet. He had begun to wonder if he needed to contact their friends and the princess about it when Winter Wrap Up had been brought up and Twilight had launched headlong into the fray. He had thought she was fine after that, better for whatever had happened had passed.

With the utmost care he moved her face to his so they could see eye to eye for a moment and held Twilight firm before speaking softly, “Twilight? Do you want to know the truth?” She looked up into his eyes and for a moment he could see a shimmer of doubt, perhaps even a faint glimmer of hope, and he knew she was listening.  She nodded and Spike pulled her gently into a hug, his arms around her neck and body pressed tight to her chest.  After what seemed like the blink of an eye Spike loosened his grip but did not let go, looking at Twilight and smiling.

With one hand he caressed her face and gave her a small kiss on her cheek. “Twilight, you are my family. Nothing will ever change that. I will grow beside you for the rest of your life and we will always watch out for each other because that’s what family does. I would never go looking for something that I already have here, and even if I did, never in all the years I will ever live, would I ever find a family as good as the one that I have been given in you.”

Twilight was happy to say that it was inconclusive. If every morning could go as this one had, she could indeed call herself a morning pony. She collected herself and she and Spike exchanged a few more comforting words between each other before embracing again and heading back for the kitchen to quickly clean up.

Both now wearing scarves and Spike with a pair of small boots, made their way out the front door in time to see a rainbow streak fly fast over their heads and a team of earth ponies pulling a carriage down towards Main Street. They walked side by side sharing what warmth the morning’s events had brought them and heading in the general direction of a small coffee and sandwhich shop near the center of town.

As the unlikely family strolled down the snowy streets the overhanging lights turned off for the day and a small wind blew loose snow in beautiful arcs across every surface. One errant breeze send a smattering of the powder into the cracked open door of the library where most of it was quickly neutralized by the floors anti moisture spell. A few flakes, however, found themselves still aloft and floating towards the only book still open in the libraries den.

On the open pages was several pictures painstakingly places, decorated, and forever enshrined with more meaning than most would ever know. One picture showed five friends posed together, another showed a very luckily timed picture of two princess, four pieces of cake, Pinkie Pie, and a very, very unfortunate royal guard. On the other page, a piece of Spike’s shell was pressed flat and forever preserved beside the last picture on the page, A photograph taken by Celestia of the first evening Spike had stayed with Twilight in her castle apartments. Curled up on her forelegs, Twilights head resting between his flexible back spines.

This book will eventually close, and it is on this thought that similarly this little peek into the lives of our friends must also.