Twilight's Sister

Snow got up to his hooves and started running in place to try to burn off the energy of anticipation. Nowadays this wasn't the best idea because of his parents but it was going to be so much fun soon that he couldn't contain it and began leaping from the left to right, up the stairs. Twilight was going to be coming home any minute now. Peering out the window of his room out to the streets of Canterlot. No purple unicorn in sight yet.

His slender hooves stayed up on the glass window for balance. His little nose moved back and forth as he glanced left and right around the streets for his big sister. This was the stallion every day that he heard his sister was coming home. She had been living in an old but grand observatory. She could spend all day reading the observatory's library and not come close to hitting a fraction of the knowledge in the room. She was also able to get to school everyday now that she was much closer to the queen's palace.

Snow wasn't stupid, he could understand this. It was just really hard at first when she left. Actually, it's been hard on him. But he couldn't be thinking about this sad stuff now, his sister is coming! His rump wobbled left and right as his brain filled with ideas then he got away from the window and ran downstairs.

His big brother was downstairs, looking at a painting they had. They got it from a local shop a while back but it must have been painted by an extremely high class individual as the perspective was on a patio garden that showed part of the castle by the walkway which was over a deep slope, overlooking Canterlot below which was a mile high from the base of the mountain. It had always been a mystery as to who painted it since there was no signature. There was the possibility the princess made it but then how would it have found its way to a public shop in Canterlot?

Snow came crashing down the stairs and slipped against the polished tiles on the ground. He hit against the wall but scrambled to keep himself up. Shining Armor looked at the big colt who was dizzily running at him. Snow stopped running a couple of feet from him and looked at the ground saying nothing. Trying to get his head to look up at him but he would always shy away and look back at the floor or the wall. His little lungs panted in and out as he caught his breath and started smiling at the floor.

This childlike excitement of his always cheered up Shining Armor. "Are you excited for Twilight," The big brother smiled. Snow oddly smiled more and timidly held his head down, looking at the right, still panting. This made Shining so happy. He loved seeing it when his little brother would start being happy. The best part was that he always knew Twilight would make him happy.He just had to hug his brother.

Snow timidly welcomed the hug and tried to put arms on him too but he could barely reach around. Snow broke it early to start jumping around again, "Twilight's coming! Twilight's coming!"

Shining Armor smiled contently and and joined his little brothers parade, hoping behind him and copying his moves, "Twilight's coming! Twilight's coming!" He was getting even more excited now for the party too.

Three mares marched proudly to go find their friends. Colgate, Twinkle, and Lemon Hearts were the ponies and were on a task to gather up everypony they knew to the premature celebration of the Summer Sun Celebration, sort of like a spontaneous 'Summer Sun Celebration Eve'. They had nearly everypony on their list.

"Who's checking the candy shops?" Colgate asked.

Lemon Hearts cut of Twinkle before she could answer, "Stop asking that! For the last time, nopony is in a candy shop right now. They're all either preparing their homes for an all-night party or leaving their home to go to that pony's party!" Gesturing her hoof out to indicate all ponies going to one place.

"I know..." Colgate sighed, "I just wanted some candy."

"Colgate, please, as soon as we find everypony, we can go back to the party," Twinkle started started, "Moon Dancer will have set up by then and you can have your candy."

Colgate sighed yet again and looked at the ground. Everypony knew about the celebration already and those who wanted to go were already probably there almost. The only pony who didn't know was Twilight Sparkle. She was always on the move so there wasn't really any time their friends could have told her. Either way, they had told Twilight's brothers about the party so if the mares couldn't find Twilight, the ones at her home could retrieve her. It was actually Twilight whom they were primarily looking for.

Colgate made dying horse noises and rolled her head around. The other two just walked on, ignoring the whining filly in a mare's body. Lemon Hearts looked to the streets down on the left. They were heading towards the river where Twilight usually likes to read at when she goes outside. Just as they went up, over a small hill they found their friend, Twilight walking towards them.

Twinkle saw her first, "There you are, Twilight! Moon Dancer is having a little get-together in the West Castle Courtyard. You wanna come?" The three ponies leaned their heads towards her.

Twilight looked at them blankly then glanced down at the strange book sticking out of her side pouch, "Oh... Sorry girls, I got a lot of studying to catch up on." Offering them an awkward apologetic smile then bolting off passed them.

The group of girls were surprised by the unicorn's answer and watched the pony running off in the distance she quickly covered.

Twinkle was the first to express her annoyance. "'Does that pony do anything except study?" she sighed and looked at Lemon Hearts. Lemon looked at her for the answer, Twinkle continued, "I think she's more interested in books than friends..."

Snow and Shining Armor had begun walking to the party much earlier than they planned. They were told to go when the sun began to set in case Twilight went to their house but they didn't want to miss on the fun, knowing Twilight was most likely told and probably already there. As they walked they passed several worker ponies, setting up firework cannons along the edge of Canterlot, overlooking a vast valley. The celebration was to be held at a rural town down there. The brothers stopped occasionally to look at the equipment and ask the pyrotechnic engineers about how the magical devices worked.

Snow was very afraid of explosions since they were really loud but he loved the shimmering colors out in the night sky. Shining already knew most of his little sibling's questions from hearing him stutter and whisper them so he helped by asking the stallions himself. Snow always perked up and smiled happily when he heard the men answer his questions.

The last sun before the Summer Celebration hovered high up over them in the afternoon day. It was pleasantly cool with still a warm feeling. Snow was hoping most of the rest of the way as they headed to the courtyard just under the castle.

It seemed much more grand as they drew closer and they were awed by the grand architecture. It boggled Shining Armor's mind that his own sister was actually studying here. Snow on the other hand felt that this was where his sister had always belonged and he held his head up high feeling like an important some-pony for knowing her.

The party came into view as they passed around the corner. The first pony to be seen was Moon Dancer. She was keeping herself busy by micromanaging the decorations. The second pony was a blue mare who had her face deep in a bowl of little candies. Her colors were somewhat similar to Snow's but much brighter. Other ponies looked at her strangely as the walked passed and participated in the various games.

Quiet but excited giggles released out of Snow as he looked around at all of the games and other colorful things. Shining Armor paid more attention to the party guests, eyeing at mares as they walked on by. They all giggled and he flashed a flirty smile at them. Snow walked close to him with his mouth opened in happy awe.

While Shining Armor faded into the crowds behind, Snow walked up to a table with lots of presents curiously. This didn't seem like a birthday party... or maybe it was, he couldn't tell. He inspected the labels on them to see whom they were all for. To his surprise, they all did have a common name but it wasn't who they were for. All of the presents were from Moon Dancer to everyone else. There was Lyra's name and Derpy's... Octavia's and Daisy's...

Lemon Hearts snuck up to Snow while he counted all of the presents. "RAWR!" She pounced and scared the colt right off his hooves. Snow made a nervous murmur sound and tried to get under the table. Lemon Hearts drug him back out and he shyly looked at the grass. She broke the ice, "What's up, Snow? I haven't seen you since you came to... Uhm," she tried to remember. "What was it you were here for again?"

Snow got back up and looked around nervously, "Uh-uh... It was because my brother was un... He was trying out for... uh..." He knew but it was hard to speak to a pony he hardly knew.

Luckily this was enough to jog Lemon Heart's memory, "Oh yeah! Shining Armor was here a week ago wanting to join the Royal Guard! Did you guys here back from anyone?"

Snow felt uncomfortable and went back to counting presents. Lemon Hearts held her hooves together by her cheek as she looked back at Shining Armor, "He sure is a great stallion, don't you think? The only real one I've seen in a long time. All the other guys are getting too wimpy but he's always been..." Looking back at Snow. "Uh... sorry..."

Snow hadn't cared, he knew what she meant and he even agreed. Lemon Hearts walked off.

Before long a familiar voice came behind. "Hey there, booger" his ears perked up. It was Cadence! He jumped in for a hug, "Hi Cadence!"

"I haven't seen you in forever! How are you?" She cheerfully asked.

He had bigger questions, "WHERE- uh... w-w-where have you been?!" Looking directly upward to make eye contact with the tall mare.

"Oh I've been at the castle. Aunt Celestia's been having special plans for me..." pausing to tease at her friend's interest, "Not that it's even worth talking about..."

Snow skipped in place with excitement as he tried to tie words together. "what... w-What plans?"

Cadence was happy to get him out of his shell. "I'm gonna be a princess!" She excitedly flailed her wings out.

Gasping, "R-REALLY???"

Nodding proudly, "Yep yep! I knew you guys were going to be here and I wanted to tell all of you in person." She suddenly realized his siblings weren't around and looked, "Hey, where's Shining Armor and Twilight at? It's been even longer since I last saw your sister..."

His brother was actually sneaking up to the pink pony from her other side. Snow giggled secretly while he watched. Cadence grinned to herself as she heard Snow and saw what was happening. In a flash of a pink burst, Shining Armor appeared in front of her and immediately got jumped on by the big mare. "Heya, knuckle-head!" mashing a hoof on Shining.

He laughed, "Hey, Cadence, I haven't seen you since yester- LAST WEEK!" He interrupted himself nervously and looking at Snow. "Hehe, yeah at my interview with the princesses for becoming a guard!"

Cadence held his hoof. Snow just smiled and didn't suspect a thing, "I haven't seen you since you babysat me a while ago! Do you still babysit Twilight?"

"No, she's grown up remember?" she asked.

"Oh yeah hehe," he forgot. The three of them all started to wonder where Twilight was. While they looked for her, they saw some ponies approaching Moon Dancer.

The proud host smiled at her three friends while she sat at the food table. Colgate was the first, "Hey, Moon Dancer! Look at this spread, huh?" seeing the great job she did with preparing the table.

"Thank you so much for coming," Moon Dancer greeted.

Twinkle continued, "Of course, we wouldn't miss one of our best friend's parties." Shining Armor, Snow, and Cadence all started coming up to the new group.

Moon Dancer asked the question the three were already thinking, "Is Twilight coming?" to the girls. They all broke eye contact with her, not wanting to answer. Snow excitedly ran up to join. When nopony answered Moon Dancer she sadly said, "Oh. Okay..." She stared down to the floor.

Snow still smiled, not knowing what was meant. Colgate stepped in, "Hey, we'll still have fun, right?"

Moon Dancer sighed, "sure" and left her spot at the table, passing Snow without interaction. He curiously glanced at her then to her friends. Everypony still felt uncomfortable to the question, including Shining Armor and Cadence. Snow kept looking around for the answer, "Where is Twilight?" Avoiding him, some of the other ponies walked away. "She's coming, right?" he looked back at his brother and old babysitter.

Cadence came up to him and assured, "Don't worry, Snow. You know how absorbed she can be into with her studying. What else could she be possibly doing right now anyway?"