Twinkling Through The Dark

There is always a sense that winter had a magic of its own. The cold, and sometimes unforgiving wind would always bring the ponies of Equestria together. Either by a roaring hearth, warm eggnog, or simply the joy, warmth and comfort of each other’s company, ponies always seemed to enjoyed winter.

The start of December was always a wonderful time for Princess Twilight Sparkle. For this was the time in which the principality would send out ponies to the four quarters of Equestria to find unicorn foals who processed greater than normal potential in raw magic ability. Every year, ponies would be sent to different areas to seek outstanding fillies and colts for Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns in the royal capital of Canterlot.

Although Twilight had been only performing this crucial task for 4 years, she had always had great joy in helping foals for whatever reason, either helping them in learning, tending to them in times of sickness, or looking after her new niece. This year, she has been assigned to the area around Unicorn Range, northwest of Ponyville. It would be a day flight, however the weather was set to be quite harsh, high gales, -20oC temperatures and near blizzard conditions and although Twilight was a lot stronger in her flying abilities than when she started flying, she couldn’t handle the extreme weather conditions. So she had to trot all the way there, a 4 day journey.

Twilight awoke so early, Celestia had not even raised the sun yet, fortunately, it was a full moon and that would help a lot with helping her early on. Spike was up with her, helping Twilight going through her checklist and packing all of the provisions and equipment for the trip.

“Saddle Bags and pack, check!”

“Tent, check!”

“Tent Pegs, check!”

“Sleeping bag, check!”

“Sleeping mat, check!”

“Cooking pots and utensils, check!”

“Water canteen, check!”

“Scarf, winter shoes, snow goggles and hat, check, check, check and quadruple check!”

“Food from Applejack, Pinkie and Fluttershy, check!”

“Um Twilight?”

“Yes Spike?”

“Do you have a heavy coat?” Spike had forgot to point out that Twilight had never got a new heavy coat since becoming a princess. Twilight cleared her wardrobe and finally found one that fit. However, it did not have any wing slits but it this weather, it would be better if her wings didn’t end up as ice blocks. Also this one was special, a gift from Shining Armour; a Royal Guard issue heavy coat intended for the guards as they escorted the princess, even in the harshest winters, it would keep her warm. Twilight always preferred functionality over form, sometimes to Rarity’s dismay. Also it was one of the few personal items that survived after her original home was destroyed.

As Twilight trotted down the main foyer, she was surprised that her friends had come to see her off, even Rarity who has a thing for her beauty sleep. They were all visibly tired, even Pinkie Pie but they would do anything for their friend.

“Hi girls! You all came here at this time of the morning just to see me off?” Twilight asked, surprised that they would all come to see her go just for royal duties.

“Yep! Sure did Twi!” Applejack answered and the others nodded in acknowledgement. “You might just see it as another job but we won’t see you for over a week. So we wanted to see you before you head off.” Applejack went on explaining that they would miss her.

“Don’t worry Twilight! I will throw you a welcome back home party when you come back!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed in her hyperactive tone. Of course you will! Twilight thought to herself.

“Are you not going with Twilight, Spike?” Fluttershy asked.

“Not this time for I and Starlight have to look after the castle while Twilight is gone.” Spike answering Fluttershy’s question although tomorrow night was ‘guy’s night’.

“Speaking of Starlight, where is she? Shouldn’t she also be here, if we could get up to greet you Twi, she should also.” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“Rainbow Dash! You don’t need to be so rude! I’m sure Starlight probably has a good reason for being still asleep.” Fluttershy said scolding at Rainbow’s remark.

“What?” Rainbow said as the others just stared at her.

“Starlight had just come back from the Crystal Empire yesterday afternoon.” Twilight said explaining Starlight’s absence. The weather has been so bad that train services have been stopped in several different regions, including cutting off all train access to the Crystal Empire. So Starlight had to trot all the way there and back. She had been away for a month with Sunburst studding magic together and spending time with Flurry Heart.

“She’s completely exhausted, and when Starlight got back to Ponyville, she was shaking and shivering so hard, she could rival Pinkie in the power of vibration!” Twilight went on to say. “I’m pretty sure no pony can match me Twilight you crazy mare!” Pinkie said while giving Twilight a little nudge.

“Isn’t Sunburst coming over for Hearth’s Warming soon darling?” Rarity asked. For she had noticed that those two were spending more and more time together as of late.

“Yes he is Rarity, he’s staying for two weeks. Why do you ask?” Twilight was a little confused but had a hint where this conversation was going.

“It’s just that those two are starting to act, how to say this, more than ‘just good friends’. Because I personally think that it’s getting to the point where I’m need to think of a good formal dress for Starlight if she needs to get one for dining out if you know what I mean darling” Rarity said trying to word her answer in a way that Twilight understood what she was going on about but trying to put some tact into it.

“Rarity, I’m the Princess of Friendship, not love. If there was anything going on between Starlight and Sunburst, I’m sure Princess Cadance knows about it.” Twilight bluntly said. Although she herself couldn’t help but see that the nature of Starlight’s relationship to Sunburst changing to the point where it was no longer platonic. It was little things like if they were studding in the library alone, they had a hard time keeping each other’s eyes off from one another, the awkward blushing if they got a little too close together or said something out of place. Twilight was now deep in thought when Rainbow Dash broke her concentration.

“Hey, egghead! Are you in there?” Rainbow said while waving her hoof in front of Twilight’s face.

“Sorry, anyways I have to get going. I’ll see you girls soon!” Twilight said as she hugged the others before trotting out of the castle.

“Bye Twilight! Take care now!” Shouted the girls as Twilight headed out of town. However, Pinkie Pie in her excitement decided to open the doors to shoot her party cannon in which the wind burst into the castle and the others struggled to close the massive doors. After struggling for 5 minutes, they finally got the doors shut. Then the girls proceeded to glare at Pinkie, who in response she gave an awkward smile. Then the girls herd yelling coming down the foyer.

“Hey is Twilight still here? I just wanted to say g... yawn... goodbye before she left!” Said a very tired Starlight wearing a lavender purple dressing gown.

“Sorry sugarcube, you just missed her.” Applejack said.

“Oh, Ok. I just want to… to say….” Starlight mumbled before passing out and started snoring on the floor. Fluttershy went with Spike to set up Starlight’s bed with Rarity behind them with a sleeping Starlight in her telekinetic grip. Meanwhile Applejack was holding her anger and frustration back as Rainbow was down on the floor laughing her head off as she heard Starlight mumbling about Sunburst in her sleep. Rainbow stopped as she opened her eyes and saw an angry Applejack giving her a death glare and realising she had gone too far.