We're Going to the Carnival!
Author's Note
This chapter is told again in third person. However, the pronouns used are based of the ponies they follow. For example, Snow is a young kid here so we refer to the parents as Mom and Dad and seeing toys as living things. When it shifts to more of Shining Armor's perspective who is older, we have more intelligent description, such as recognizing things as inanimate objects.
BONUS
Origin of how Spike got his name
We're Going to the Carnival!
Snow had been so excited all day today and for the past few days. He hopped all around to and fro around their house. The excitement was just too much. Dad told him that they were going to the carnival on Saturday. Snow didn't know what Saturday was so he had been thinking every day they were supposed to go which led to him getting sad but this morning Mom told him that they were going to go to the carnival that day! He just knew they were going! He knew it!
Shining armor sat at the table, eating his crackers when he saw his little brother bounce around the place excitedly. Smiling and sneaking up to his sibling who held his eyes closed and grinning while dancing. "BOO," pouncing towards the colt inches away. Snow squeaked and flew backwards, hitting his head on the wall.
His brother teased, "Aw I'm sorry but you shoulda' seen yourself, squirt, it was driving everypony mad!" Poking playfully at the kid's side.
Snow didn't show how hurt his head was but he was to happy still and too dizzy to care, "We're going to the fair, Shining! We're going to the fair!" Standing on hind legs to lean his front hooves on him and look up.
"No, it's not the fair, that's little. We're going to the Summer Sun Celebration!" He explained, "It only comes one time every year and is super awesome. Me and Twily have gone twice already. You were too little to go but now you get to hang out with the big kids!" Holding his hoof up for Snow to high-five. The tiny colt cranked back his neck to look up at his older brother's hoof. Raising his little blue arm and swinging it uncoordinatedly, missing the hoof. He was getting really dizzy again and couldn't really aim for his target. Shining took his arm and helped him get it. When Snow was able to high-five his brother he started jumping up and down again.
Shining Armor exclaimed, "Good job, buddy!!! Gimme another!" Snow was so happy and tried his best at it again. This time, he was able to after a few tries. And then he kept smacking his hoof in his brother's excitedly that he got it. Shining gleamed joy and loved holding his hoof up for him. Snow really likes his big brother. When it's hard to talk, he can always play with him. Same with his sister, Twilight. She wasn't home right now. Neither were their parents. They were taking Twilight to Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. It was a big deal. That's where all of the great unicorns started out as and it was the most important thing to Twilight to be one too.
Shining Armor was a unicorn too. In fact, the whole family was a bunch of unicorns. Except for Snow though, he was a pegasus. He was kind of the black sheep in the family but he wasn't old enough to realize it yet. The Sparkle's on both the mother's and father's side had a long history of magical ability so nopony really knew who had the pegasus ancestor. Not that being a pegasus was a good thing for Snow. His wings were fragile and delicate. Plus he always seemed to be constantly off-balance. The doctors didn't diagnose this to be an issue connected with a mental handicap, although in their examination they did realize Snow showed signs of autism. As he began talking... well not so much talking. Just, at the time he should've been talking, doctors were able to determine that he in fact will be a sufferer of this illness for the rest of his life. They calmly told his family that they should watch out for him and to be extra friendly to him especially while he is young. The parents and kids agreed to it but it quickly became just Shining Armor and Twilight who loved him. Not to say the parents were intentionally neglecting their child, they were just preoccupied managing a family of five living a lavish lifestyle in Canterlot.
At this time, Shining Armor is nine years old, Twilight is six, and Snow is four. All of the kids were as happy as they could be. The next few years of innocence and unity will fade out before they know it.
For now, the two brothers played with each other without a care to anything but the Summer Sun Celebration. Snow kept mashing his tiny hoof on his brother's until his arm got tired. When he sat down on the ground and hugged himself, Shining said, "Hey, wanna play outside? I'll help you do the monkey bars!"
"HUH HUH" Snow let out with joy and reached up for his brother to pick him up. Shining Armor got down close to the floor and Snow climbed on top of his back. They raced through to the kitchen and then to their backyard. They had a very impressive playset. It was a full playground in their backyard. There was a swing-set, a jungle gym, a red roundabout, the monkey bars, and tall plastic castle with three slides that were place at the lowest point to the highest. But Snow's most favorite part was the sandbox. It was okay if he fell in there and the sand felt so good to sit on and play with. He could also play with things like shovels and toys, although he didn't much like the toys his parents got for him.
Shining Armor knelt to let the kid roll off. Just as Snow landed on the grass, Shining said, "Race you there!" then bolted off. Snow forgot where they were going and excitedly held up his arms for balance and waddled to the sandbox. He climbed up onto the wooden frame of the sandbox and took the biggest jumped he could into the sand. It made a big splash and got many grains all over the items left inside the box. He looked at all of the little figures sticking out of the dunes. He realized that he was a giant. He wasn't small at all! He was ginormous! Bigger than a house! Stretching his arms out to the sky and they turned into big wings. When he roared the ponies all got scared and ran away. But he started laughing and thought to himself, "Don't worry! I'm a friendly giant! And I'll protect all of you!" Then all of the little ponies were happy and they all wanted to hug him.
Shining Armor just watched while he saw his brother do crazy things. First, Snow fell off the wooden frame, face-first into the sand then gathered sand in scoops and threw it all over the place. Then he started giggling at all of Shining Armor's action figures and went, "RAAAAWRrrr..." He laughed even more then spread out his arms and got another mouth full of dirt, pressing his face gentle in the sand between his dopey legs.
The big brother quietly laughed and walked slowly up to the box. But then something caught his attention, "Uh-oh." He hurried over to his little brother who was now holding and hugging their sister's doll, Smarty Pants. He stopped behind the wooden frame and nervously clicked his hooves together. He didn't want to hurt his little brother so he made an attempt to get him to play with a different thing, "Oh hey, do you want to play with my- er... OUR toys instead of that girls' doll?" He picked up a wonderbolt character and a big tough boxing stallion.
"No. I like her," Snow snuggled closely with his sister's doll.
"Oh... um." Shining Armor clicked his hooves some more nervously. Taking a deep breath and looking at the screen door their parents could pop out of. "H-How about. Um," looking left and right and behind for a different thing Snow liked. Then he saw the castle and smiled, "Hey! Wanna go to the top of the castle? You love going up there!"
This got Snow's attention and he opened his mouth, happy, and lowering the doll from his grasp. Shining Armor jumped onto the opening, and nodded, "I'll race ya' there!"
Snow quickly got up and started waddling with his tiny legs towards the castle. Shining Armor sighed with relief and followed him. He didn't actually race this time to make sure he gets there. Snow fell at the first step of the castle then excitedly crawled up the steps. His brother followed closely, making sure he wouldn't fall too much or even go under the safety-rail and fall off the castle. When they got to the top, Snow let out a happy sounding squeal.
Shining put his hooves over the rail and looked out into the distance of Canterlot. Snow pressed his face between the rails and held onto the bars at Shining Armor's knee height, he looked like a toddler. The big brother saluted the real castle in the distance and called out, "This is our kingdom, Snow! You and me are royalty! Do you like our castle? I do!"
"I'm a princess!" Snow shouted at the world proudly.
"Yep yep, Snow, you're a-" Shining Armor caught himself and quickly corrected, "Uh-uh, don't you mean a prince, Snow? No wait, you're the king!" He continued, "The king of all of Equestria!"
"I'm a pretty princess!!!" He bounced up and down very quickly.
His brother's ears went down at his failure. He honestly wished Snow could be a pretty princess but his parents knew less about this kind of him even at his age, and were way less accepting. "Um... y-yeah, Snow. You're a pretty princess..." Sadly setting his head down on the rail.
Snow noticed that his brother was upset and looked up at him. Tapping twice on his leg. Shinning looked down at his little brother who just looked up questioningly with an innocent stare. "Oh... it's nothing, Snow. I'm just kind of tired," feeling guilty for taking advantage of his brother's inability to read emotions properly. Snow believed it and waived his hoof up, trying to find coordination until it finally found Shining Armor's leg. His brother smiled and held his little hoof and Snow led him down the steps. Shining Armor noticed the middle slide as they passed it and smiled. Picking up his little brother and jumping down the slide. At first Snow got scared but then liked it and started laughing.
They popped out of bottom and landed on the grass. Snow laughed really loud and started clapping his hooves on the grass. Both got scared but more surprised when they saw a purple little filly in front of them, feet away on the grass. Twilight just stared at them with a smile ear to ear and literally shaking with joy.
"Twilight!" Snow got up and hugged his big sister. Shining Armor looked at his brother then his sister. She looked like she was about to burst.
"Um... Twi-" Shining started then got interrupted.
Twilight squealed out loudly then started jumping up and down, in the same way their little brother was earlier when Shining Armor was eating. Snow joined in by clapping his hooves on the ground like he did a moment ago. Shining Armor cooked his head to the side and waited for the news. Then he remembered what she was doing at the school and let out an excited gasp.
Twilight burst out, "I got accepted into the school! I'm going to be a talented unicorn!"
Shining applauded, "Wow, I knew you could do it, Twily!"
"Oh, but that's not all..." she hummed then thrusted her flank up in the air to the side so they could all view. Her purple flank now had a beautiful image of a kind of bright crystal surrounded by little speckles. Her big brother's jaw dropped open.
Snow said, "Oooh pretty cutie picture, Twilight," and roughly patted her on the butt where her new mark was. Twilight got embarrassed and swung her flank away.
Shining Armor just couldn't believe his sister not only got into an exclusive magic school but even has proof of her incredible talent to show off. Twilight did just that and proud held up her set of cutie marks, out of her little brother's reach who wanted to touch the pretty picture.
Shining Armor gathered his words, "...Wow, Twilight. That's amazing!"
"And that's not even the best part! We have a new family member!" Twilight gestured to her side but nopony was there. She looked curiously around for him. Shining Armor looked around, even more curious.
Snow ran out towards the door. His brother and sister saw then headed there too. In the doorway, sat a purple baby dragon. He sat there with a smile and looked at them. Snow got to there first and smiled at the new friend, "Hi!" Sitting next to him.
Twilight smiled and stopped to look at the two. Shining armor slowed down then stopped. He tilted his head to the side, " Where did you get him?" Looking at the purple dragon who now sat at their home.
Twilight walked up proudly and raised her chin, "I hatched him! From his egg! That was my entrance test. They said that we can keep him!"
Shining took a minute to observe the little character's interactions with Snow. "Huh... That's pretty cool! A little dragon. What's his name?"
"I haven't thought of one yet. I wanted to name him Little Smarty Pants but mom said no."
The two watched their tiny brother play with the new dragon in the doorway. They both wanted to go inside and squeezed by to get in. The baby dragon's eyes followed them as they went by. Snow focused on touching all of the parts of the dragon. The sister and brother made their way into the kitchen then the living room, trying to find their parents.
"Where did they go?" Shining asked.
"They said they needed to go in their room to move their bed before we go. They said not to disturb them."
Shining Armor frowned. They left them alone every day for at least an hour to 'move things around' in their room. Their room never looked any different later though. Remembering that made him try to figure out again the mystery of what they do. Luckily though he found a box of tools that morning when they left and put a hole in their door to see what they do in there.
"SHINING ARMOR" Twilight yelled at him. He jolted and burst out of his thought bubbles. Twilight nudged, "Did you hear me? I asked what you guys did here."
Her brother shook his head of the remaining thoughts, "Oh, we just had snacks then played around. That's basically it. Oh, you left your Smarty Pants doll in the sand box again."
"You leave your action figures in there!" She reminded. "Wait, I don't play with her in the sand box. I always keep her in my room."
"Oh, well then I guess Snow..." he stopped then lowered his head.
Twilight didn't understand what was going on yet and just shrugged, "Yeah, I'll get it."
Just as Twilight began to leave, a high pitched scream screeched throughout the whole house. They ran into the kitchen as fast as they could. Snow sat at the doorway crying and holding his hoof. Twilight ran up to him to see what was the matter. "What's wrong, my poor baby?" Snow put his right hoof on her. Twilight held it up then looked at the other side. A small stream of blood went down his arm, "OUCH! What gave you this cut?" She asked concerned.
"SPIKE!" Snow cried out, pointing at the sharp green spikes on the dragon's back.
Twilight held him close and pet him while Shining Armor got the bandages. He made sure to be very gentle while he wound it around his brother's hoof. Twilight wiped the tears away off of his soft blue face. Shining, finishing his task, went to the cupboard. There was a glass jar full of a dozen lollipops. It was originally there for all of the kids but eventually Shining Armor and Twilight started using it whenever Snow hurts himself.
Shining got a big red one and took it over to Snow who was still crying. When Snow saw it his crying began to slow down to snivels as he took the lollipop and sucked on it. Soon he stopped and sat there peacefully.
Twilight softly rubbed away his tears while hugging him. Shining Armor took a deep breath of relief. He gets worked up when his family is hurt but he can always get back down. The three ponies and the dragon stayed there for a few minutes until the little brother wanted to play again. He happily reach his bandaged arm around the dragon but kept careful of his sharp ends.
Shining Armor looked at his brother's curious, tiny hoof. His eyes trailed off to the dragon then its spikes. His eyes rest there for a moment. Twilight calmly sat and stroked Snow's hair. Shining kept looking and adjusting himself to get comfortable and sat down. Still looking.
"Hey, Twilight?" He said. Twilight raised her head and gave her attention. He kept looking at the dragon, "What if you name him Spike?"
"Spike?" Twilight asked then looked over at the dragon. Tilting her head in thought, still petting Snow. "Spike... Maybe. Let's try it and see if it sticks."
The four kids played in Shining Armor's and Snow's room. They built a fort out of all the pillows in the upper class house which was a lot of pillows. They had been playing a game they all loved, although it was much more fun now that they had a real dragon. Twilight was the princess who was being held prisoner by the dragon at the top of the castle. Snow had to get to the top of the stairs made of pillows to rescue the damsel in distress. Shining Armor was keeping Snow away by throwing pillows at him to stop his climb to the top. The ground was covered in pillows so even if Snow got blasted in the face, he safely landed on the ground. He falling, he even jumped off because it was like flying then landing on a cloud. It was even funner to jump from the top of a castle after rescuing the fair maiden.
"HELP ME HELP ME! The DRAGON has me!" Twilight called out.
Snow was equipped with his mighty sword and slashed away the giant fire balls the dragon sent down at him. It wasn't easy to climb up the steep slope to the ruined castle but he wasn't scared of a mean dragon! Another fiery orb shot down at him. He raised his left hoof quickly and slashed away the burning rock. It came too close though and hit his arm. He lost hold of his sword and his weapon fell. Down it went into the cloudy abyss.
The knight cursed the dragon and continued his venture up the mountain. Many more fire balls came down from the top. Some he was able to avoid while others struck him. The brave knight did not lose his grasp on the mountain nor did he stop his climbing. The dragon desperately rained down all of its force to stop the climber from reaching the top. Under the hailing of fire and ash, the warrior nearly fell but was able to regain his hold of the vertical slope just as his weight started to fall away from the wall. He bravely went on through the storm up to the last few feet before he reached the plateau.
The knight went over the last rock and got to his hooves. He was tired from his epic climb but the quest had just started now. The dragon roared loudly and released fire onto the sky. The helpless princess sat behind the beast, chained by her hands to the ground, "Help me, brave knight!" She called out. He reached to his side and took out a dagger. The dragon made fierce breathing in preparation to fight, fire come out of its nostrils.
The blue stallion charged up at the dragon as it screamed at him and raised its claws. The knight ducked under its swing. The mad beast stood up and turned quickly, turning its tail and swooshing it after him. he jumped onto the giant appendage and climbed up to its back. The monster snarled and opened its wings, trying to get rid of the rider. The knight got to behind its head. Holding on, he raised up the sharp dagger and drove it down into the beast's skull. "Ow!" It shouted. The warrior took out the blade and made many more attacks. "Ow! OW ! OW STOP!" it snarled.
Shining Armor ran around in circles trying to get Snow off of his back. His little brother held on by pulling his mane while he jabbed Shining with a fork. Twilight giggled as she watched the two battle each other in a silly way. Spike sat there sucking the end of his tail while he watched the horses going crazy. Shining's head jerked back and he went to his knees when Snow pulled harder on his hair. The colt started crying from pain as he tried to reach behind to the thing on his back, "STOP! s-STOP! P-PLEASE SNOW THE GAMES OVER! OW!" Snow didn't quite realize what he was doing and giggled, fighting the imaginary monster.
Their sister realized that her brother was really getting hurt and was actually crying. She tried using her magic to lift one of the pillows in their fire ball pile. The cushion glew with a purple aura as it lifted from the ground. She launched it towards them, aiming at Snow but instead hit them both in the head and they went fell over off the stairs. The brothers crashed into each other and brought down many parts of the structure as they rolled down the castle.
The squishy stair case came down behind the, as they crashed landed to the bottom. When several parts of it well to dead weight, a large portion of the fort came down too. Twilight reacted quickly and picked up Spike, scooting to the back of the top area that did not collapse.
The eldest of them laid on the floor on top of some pink pillows and ached in pain, holding the back of his head. Snow laughed really loudly at the sight of the collapsed pillows and shouted up at the deserted filly, "HI TWILIGHT!"
The pony poked her head over the edge from high in the air. Snow cranked his head all the way back to look up at his sister and laughed happily.
The door of their room opened with a loud squeaking. Their mother forced away the pillows on the floor blocking her entrance. She looked at her two sons on the ground then up at her daughter on top of a ridiculously high stack of pillows putting her next to the high ceiling. "Where did you kids find all of these pillows?" Raising an eyebrow and making a disgusted face up at the mess of her intended decorations. Her eyes fell back down at her sons. Now she noticed that Shining was hurt. "What happened, Shiny?" Velvet lowered down to him to see where it was on his head.
He rolled over and got up, stumbling on the pillows, "Nothing, I'm okay, mom. We just kinda... uh," he pointed up at Twilight, " She got stuck up there." The mom saw the collapsed part. Sighing, her horn lit and a cushion on top started to glow. Twilight and Spike both were lifted up and hovered down to the ground.
Snow tripped over the cushion and hugged his sister's front hooves she leaned on. The mom stepped in, Shining Armor's heart sank. She picked up the colt off the ground by his ear and he started screaming. She held him suspended in the air as he whined and began choking from crying, Shining almost got up to help him. "I told you not to get all gooey all over ponies, didn't I? Why did you not listen? Do you think I'm stupid? Why did you do that bad thing?" She hissed at the child.
Snow's tears ran down his face and neck. "m-momma... stop... I sorry I did bad..." He broke out sobbing as his ear stretched out more and tried to grab the magic holding it but it was fruitless. She let go and he fell on the ground. He brought his knees in and held his head down. The mom just shook her head and looked at his older brother. Shining held his head down too but still looked at her. "Why do you let your little brother act like that? And in front of me too." Shaking her head in disappointment and looking between her two boys. Then she looked at Twilight who shrunk down with a scared posture, "Twilight is the only filly in this house. Boys are going to be boys and girls are going to be girls. You, Shining Armor will make sure you teach that to this young one."
The mom stayed there and started talking to her filly about her dragon. Twilight stayed nervous but cautiously answered her questions. Luckily, the mom was done giving her attention to the colts who were hiding under the pillows on the floor, sobbing like fillies according to her book.
Shining Armor got to the point he was able to manage his crying to stop mostly when their dad came in. Shining quickly popped up out of the hiding spot and casually covered up his little brother who was sobbing uncontrollably. Night Light grinned when he came in without noticing the scared look on his son or see Snow and went to the mother to hear her conversation with his filly.
"So where are we going to keep Spike?" Velvet asked
Twilight glanced down at the floor then at her brother, "uh-uh... In-in my room. If that's okay." Saying through her stutters but maintaining a neutral attitude.
Mr. Sparkle looked at his wife who also looked at him. He shrugged and she turned back to her daughter with her head tilted, "Uh, yeah sure. That will be fine. I'll get him some of our cozy blankets to lay out until we can get him a bed," she looked at the clock and motioned to it to her husband. They both turned to the door and walked out. Velvet told her, "Take a book about dragons with you for the carriage ride so we can see what he eats. We have to go get ready to go to the Summer Sun thing you want to go to."
Shining Armor rose up to get ready. His mom stopped briefly, "Oh, not you. You're grounded until you can learn to teach your family respect."
The boy bit his lip angrily but contained himself, "What-what about..."
"Oh he's grounded too. Only good little boys can come. Don't think I can't see him under that pile crying instead of apologizing to me." She began exiting, "I hope you two have a wonderful time while we're gone. Put all of these pillows back where you found them. Come on, Twilight, let's go." She left.
Twilight looked out the door sadly. She didn't want to be punished too so she got her book and left. Twilight avoided eye contact with her brothers as she went.
Shining Armor stood there, starring at the direction their mom left. He held an expression of disorganized thoughts and rage. His blood boiled for a time until he let go as best he could with long breaths. Now that they were out of the house he gave them to the count to thirty to let them get far. He eyes drooped and he looked down at the little lump on the floor close to him. Slowly he got down and lifted a pillow up. Snow was scrunched in a tiny blue ball facing away from the light.
"Hi, buddy..." he spoke gently. Snow didn't move except for jerking during cries and whimpering. Shining Armor's heart shrunk. He felt so sad and sat there on a pillow. He gave in to what he knew was right and went in Twilight's room. He returned holding a rag doll in his mouth. getting back down to where he sat and poked under the pillow again. "Here's Smarty Pants. She wants to make you feel better. I'll just set her right here." Setting it down close to his brother then lowered the pillow over him.
Sitting back down where he was just for a moment. Holding his forehead because of a massive headache, "Good god.." he muttered. A full minute passed before he moved again. He got up to started picking up the mess. This was good. He could think about something else in peace and not piss anyone off. The colt gathered matching ones he could find in the big mess and returned them to their spots throughout the house. It felt like carrying a lake with one scoop at a time over to a crater to make a new lake. It wasn't that bad though, it's better than the soul-crushing cleaning all day long and he could have peace while they were away. He began to cheer himself up reminding himself that he would be able to take the blunt of it as the oldest and the other kids could feel much safer. He wished for the best years for all of them.
Episode 1 - Moon Dancer's Party
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?"