Twinkling Through The Dark

Twilight’s rehabilitation was difficult at first, she couldn’t get anywhere without assistance for the first few days. Stairs were impossible to traverse for she would be out of breath in a single flight of stairs and her ability in lifting anything telekinetically was on par with new born foals. However, things started to improve to the point where by the end of the week, not only Twilight was capable of navigating unaided, but she could levitate herself for extended periods.

On the 17th of December Twilight was discharged from the hospital, although she had been told not to try advanced magic like teleportation or transmutation for the next few months without working up to it and being unable to fly conventionally for the next few weeks. Although after that, she just had to check in to Ponyville General Hospital to finish her rehabilitation. Twilight was just about to trot out when one of the nurses called out to her.

“Princess Twilight wait! You forgot your belongings! You don’t want to freeze out there!” the nurse said while carrying her Scarf, winter shoes, hat, snow goggles, saddle bags and her heavy coat, which had been cleaned to remove the blood stains from the inside layer.

“Thanks! I don’t even remember coming in with these.” Twilight said, for she had no memory of any of the events that led her to entering the village.

“Oh you didn’t, Mr. Cirrostratus brought them in after you were admitted. They were already cleaned and maintained when he brought them to us.” The nurse explained to Twilight as she gave her the equipment and clothing. As Twilight donned her clothing, Dr. Healthshield came out to bid her safe travels. Twilight thanked him and all of his staff for taking care of her and she finally trotted outside for the first time in nearly a fortnight.

So this is Starlight’s home village. Twilight thought to herself after recognising the distinctive architecture of the buildings when she was shown in the flashback by Starlight. Reminds me of Ponyville for some reason. Twilight continued to think as she approached the post office, for she had to send very important letters out.

As she entered the post office, she was amazed how quickly some pony came out to serve her. Twilight reckoned that it was a small town and not too many ponies were using it at any one time.

“Good afternoon, your highness. How may I have the honour of serving you?” The mail director asked Twilight as he trotted towards the service desk.

“I have a few letters I need to be sent out. The first is for Princess Cadance in the Crystal Empire, the second is for Princess Luna in Canterlot and the final letter is for my assistant, Spike at my home in Ponyville. I request that these letters be sent ASAP, if that is possible.” Twilight requested as she handed over the three letters.

“We won’t be able to airmail these directly from here unfortunately, Princess Twilight. For the weather is too severe, however, we can deliver them by road until the mail pony gets to a relay station where weather permits airmail and we’ll request that it delivered at all haste.” The mail director explained to Twilight.

“That’s no problem, sir.” Twilight said as she gave the bits for postage.

“We’ll get these letters out before tomorrow, your highness.” Said the mail director just before Twilight left the post office. As Twilight walked past a row of shops, she walked past a bookshop. And Twilight being Twilight, she could not resist going inside. Although Twilight had been to plenty of bookshops before, this one felt different. Hard wood shelving was packed to the full with books on subject’s ranging from basic magic for foals, to the complete history of Equestria, to more practical items for any aspiring chemist or scientist. There were so many books scattered in boxes it was hard to get anywhere. Twilight then stumbled on a large hardcover book titled: Up and Beyond: The Ultimate Guide to Kiting sitting on a crystal table. I’m sure Starlight would love this for a Hearth’s Warming present! Twilight thought to herself as Starlight’s love of kiting was matched by Twilight’s love or reading.

“Is any pony there?” Twilight heard a call from around the corner. She then came across a middle aged unicorn stallion with a white coat, cyan made and tail, green eyes and Cutie Mark with a book shooting out a watch, test tube and stars. “Princess Twilight? Welcome to my humble book and magic shop! My name is Steller Clockwork, and how may help you your highness?” Steller introduced himself.

“Oh, Twilight is fine, I just prefer you not to address me by my title.” Twilight said before realising she got asked a question. “Just out of curiosity, how much does this book cost?” Twilight said while pointing to the book on kiting she just saw.

“Um, let’s see, oh its 500 bits.” Steller said as he found the price tag, thinking that the princess might reconsider due to the expense, but it showed how little he knew of Twilight when it came to her friends and love of books.

“I’ll take it! My friend and student will absolutely love this.” Twilight said as a look of glee and excitement was plastered all over her face.

“Your friend likes kiting?” Steller said as the two ponies trotted over to the till.

“You bet! If she isn’t studding, or out and about on chores, she’s got at least one kite flying if the winds are right.” Twilight said as she remarked how seeing Starlight kite flying with the joy and happiness it brought her reminded Twilight of herself when she was reading anything of great interest.

“Kind of reminds me of my daughter. She loved kiting from an early age. It would keep her happy for hours… on…. on.” Steller just stopped and started getting emotional as if this conversation was reopening an old memory.

“Are you alright?” Twilight asked, looking a bit concerned.

“I’m, I’m fine… Just thinking of some of the happiest moments from years ago. Don’t need to drag you in my personal problems. Oh, here’s your book. I hope it brings a smile into your friend’s heart”

“Thank you, Steller. Just by any chance, do you know of anywhere I can book a room for the next few days?” Twilight asked for she had no clue where she was going to stay for the next few days. She tried to ask Cirrostratus if she could stay, however he and Sunswirl were organising the preparations for the Hearth’s Warming Eve celebrations. Twilight understood the pressure of such a job and knew her presence would overcomplicate things.

“Oh, go to the Unicorn Range Hotel. It’s run by my wife and our home is next to it. If you would like, I’m about to close the shop for the day, I can take you there if you require some help.”

“That would be greatly appreciated. Oh I was just wondering, why is there so many books and boxes all over your shop?” Twilight pointing out the cluttered store.

“Oh, we just have waaaaay too much stock on hand. The weather hasn’t helped with sales even though we are in the middle of holiday season. But I will sell this stock off once the weather improves. For my sales are quite high given were we are.” Steller explained that the extreme weather has affected his sales although he did seem unfazed by the mess surrounding him.

“Oh I know that feeling. I can still remember those cold and dark nights trying not to trample over boxes of lamps and candles in dad’s shop in Canterlot when I was a filly.” Twilight remarked how she got used to this while helping her father in his Lamp and Candle store.

“I loved that store, heck if I was ever in Canterlot, I would always stop by to get my candles and lamps from there. Sure it’s a long trip for something as mundane as lighting, but it’s just…. wait a minute, you’re Night Light’s daughter?” Steller said with a sense of shocked realisation. “I knew he had two foals, but I didn’t know one was an alicorn.” Steller said questioning how could she be the way she is without much publicity.

“Actually, I was born a unicorn, studied under Princess Celestia, finished Starswirl the Bearded’s masterpiece, which apparently according to my friends, got myself killed completing it but then I was resurrected as an alicorn.” I can’t believe I just summed up my whole life in a single sentence. Twilight said before thinking how wired that she could sum up her whole life so easily.

“I really need to get in touch with your father, I haven’t spoken with him in years. We were great friends from when we were foals if you wanted to know.” Steller looking back.

“I wonder why he’d never spoke about you before.” Twilight questioned.

“Oh, he was never a talkative pony, especially about his friends. He preferred reading over socialising.” Steller went on remaking on Night Light’s more introverted personality.

“Well isn’t that ironic, considering that his daughter became the Princess of Friendship, although that ‘reading over socialising’ thing was so true for most of my life. Hmm like father, like daughter I guess.” Twilight said with a small laugh. “I will tell dad that you said hello whenever I meet up with him next.” Twilight said.

“Well, it’s getting late. How about we continue this wonderful conversation on the way to my home?” Steller said to Twilight as he was closing shop.

“Sure, besides, I haven’t really got the geographical awareness of this village to really get anywhere without help.” Twilight said with a sheepish grin.

Oh, she truly is Night Light’s daughter. Steller thought to himself as Twilight obviously picked up her father’s habit of explaining the simple with very technical terms and expressions. As Twilight and Steller Clockwork were leaving the shop, the wind started to pick up and it was getting harder for Twilight to trot through the snow.

The path towards Steller’s home was uphill climb, into the wind. Steller looked behind and saw the princess struggling to make any headway, so he came back down and helped Twilight along at a pace she could keep. Once the two ponies arrived on the front porch, Twilight got a breathtaking view of the whole village as Steller’s home overlooked the whole town.