A Tender Touch Of Snow
Epilogue
Previous ChapterA Tender Touch of Snow
A story by Duskhoof, Edited by Synesisbassist & AmorousArts
Epilogue
Hearth’s Warming morning had come at last.
Twilight watched her young drake friend Spike hurry around excitedly with the Hearth’s Warming gifts he’d opened the night before. He’d gotten a bunch of Power Pony comic books and a pair of big-headed bug-eyed statue versions of Hum Drum and Masked Matter-Horn, a lot of new clothes that made him look even more dashing than ever and the biggest jar of gem cakes he’d ever seen.
His last present from Twilight was held back until the end and nudged over to him when he was done watching her open her gifts from him (a new quill and ink set with over twenty colored inks to choose from, some scarves and a self-cleaning rotating whiteboard/chalkboard) to his surprise. He’d opened it to discover a readily prepared and stylish wall chart but with the loud clanging of drink tankards and pony chatter that night he hadn’t actually heard her explanation of what it was or meant.
As he brought his other items to show and tell about with their gathered friends and family, he reached that particular one and stopped.
“Err, Twilight? Remind me again what this is?”
“It’s clearly a schedule, dear,” Rarity commented over her first cup of Earl Grey. Pinkie Pie bounced out in front of her, nearly causing her to spill it.
“NO! It’s a remastered game of chess with 36 new squares and ONE HUNDRED PIECES THAT YOU CAN DRAW ON!”
“It’s none of that,” Rainbow Dash sniggered overhead, “it’s a training regime, you’ve got to start working off that puppy fat, little buddy.” She prodded his belly playfully, which he grumpily flailed away before giving a concerned looked to Twilight, asking if that was true. She chuckled fondly and shook her head, cheeks reddening.
“Nothing like that at all! It’s a bucket list, Spike.” She trotted over and took one of the magnetized squares and a pen, showing him, “I realized we’ve been so caught up in doing the things I’ve needed to do that we’ve neglected a lot of things you’ve wanted to do. I’m going to make sure I have more time for my special little assistant.” She nuzzled him lovingly and gave a sweet sigh, but could still see he and a few others were still confused.
“It works like this; what’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do? Anything at all in Equestria but it has to be something you’ve never done before, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” She expected him to say that he wanted to meet the actors of the Power Ponies live show or see Equestria’s biggest gem, something she expected the little, beloved dragon she knew so well to say.
“I want to drive the Friendship Express!” She started to gleefully say that she knew he’d want to do that, yet stopped herself quickly. She HADN’T expected that.
“The… The train?” She checked she hadn’t misheard, only to see him nod and giggle bashfully.
“Sure, I’ve always wanted to pull the whistle, Twilight, ya didn’t know that?”
“I… I guess not,” she confessed, shrugging it off slowly, “you’re full of surprises, Spikey-Wikey. Okay, so we put that on this board,” she drew the train to the best of her ability on the chip and put it in the first square, “and then we make sure you get to do it one day! If we do all one-hundred things, then you get to think of another one hundred things for us to do.”
“Wow… So you’re really gonna fix it that I’ll drive the Friendship Express someday?” He asked with growing excitement, almost squealing when she nodded. He threw his arms around her in a loving hug and thanked her wildly. Cupid’s spell was given new kindling as she felt him press against her and she sighed, stroking him leisurely and peacefully.
“I’m glad you like it, Spike. I hope you fill it up real soon so we get to have a lot of adventures together,” she added, circling her wing with a hoof.
“We can all help, darling!” Rarity beamed, setting down her cup, “there may be things my contacts can help you accomplish or Fluttershy’s animal friends…” Fluttershy nodded hastily.
“...And there’s an Apple family member in almost every state an’ country if y’all need a place to stay on y’journeys!” Applejack called. The friends excitedly murmured about all the possibilities and for once, just this once, Twilight was almost jealous that this thing couldn’t be an experience for just her and Spike. Something they could grow and bond over, maybe even-
“Twilight, sweetie,” her mother called suddenly as she started to daydream, waking her from her thoughts. She looked over curiously and saw Twilight Velvet raise a gift still in its wrapping from underneath the tree. “It looks like you missed one. It’s got your name on the tag.”
“Oh. Well, that’s strange. I don’t remember seeing one.” She got up and broke away from the others, trotting over to take the present from her mom in her magic and lightly nuzzling her. “Thanks, Mom.”
She turned the tag but found no clue as to who the gift had come from, only that it was indeed addressed to her. As Mrs. Velvet went into full motherly/ grandmotherly mode and ensured everyone was being fed, watered and entertained, Twilight Jr. turned her attention to the wrapping and nipped at a lifted fold, pulling it to tear away the glittered covering. Inside was a square box the size of her head and a note. She unfolded the letter and gasped as she recognized Celestia’s coat of arms instantly, spreading it open to read it.
“Dear Twilight Sparkle,
I know I told you not to read dusty old books, however, I have decided to go back on my word on this occasion.
I hope this particular one shows you just how much you’ve come to mean to me, too.
Your proud teacher and friend,
Princess Celestia.”
She read the letter a few times, smiling brighter each time she ran over the words. Then, touched and more curious than ever, Twilight refolded the letter and put it down, taking the cardboard lid of the keepsake box and lifting it. She found a bundle cloaked in yellow velour and helped it out of the case, uncovering it. Within she discovered a book almost similar to the old journal that had caused her so many problems a week ago and she wondered whether Celestia was trying to share more secrets with her. She undid the lace keeping the pages and the cover flat, turned the leather hardback up and gulped.
The notes on that primary page spelled it out for her.
“~The first volume of memoirs of Princess Celestia, regarding her pupil Twilight Sparkle.”
Then, beneath that;
“Now, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight released the breath she was holding with a shudder of emotion and turned the leave over, reading the opening paragraph of the book her tutor wrote and documented on her.
“Twilight Sparkle. If everypony had an enigma to solve in this day and age, then she is undoubtedly mine. From the moment I met her, I knew there was something special about her and it was not her magical prowess that inspired me to grant her a place as my personal student. There is something about her that I cannot put my hoof on yet that tells me she is going to be vital to me and Equestria. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that I’d feel unsafe not taking this gamble on her, regardless of my mistakes in holding faith in my last promising pupil.
She has studied under me for some time and soon I will have to decide where I shall send her for her to benefit from the wider world. Yet, I am scared that she might forget me and move so far that I am unable to follow her. However, for her good, I will find her a place that I know she will flourish and build new friendships in. I am considering Ponyville, as it is a thriving rural town with a lot to offer her young mind. I will set her tasks there and believe in her because her heart is pure even when her mind is distracted by her studies. She never dismisses a chance to help somepony older or younger than her and she always has time to teach her lesser skilled peers.
I know that wherever Twilight Sparkle goes next and what she does, she will not let me down. Ponies may have chosen long ago to trust in me, but it is in Twilight Sparkle that I place my own trust. I look forward to seeing what she does next.”
“Hey, Twilight?” The Princess of Friendship lifted her head and looked over, Spike gesturing to her parents, family, and friends readying the table for their Hearth’s Warming dinner. “You want a bit longer to read your new book?” She looked down at it, then back up, before finally shaking her head and hovering it away to place on an empty lectern.
“No, it’s fine, Spike. I’m coming.” She got back up from the Hearth’s Warming tree and cupped him in her wing, holding him happily against her shoulder as they walked the short distance to the table.
“What is it about, anyway?” He asked nosily, glancing up at her. She thought about the best way to describe it and smiled at the only word that came to mind.
“Memories, Spike. Memories.”
~Until we meet again...~
Author's Note
I wrote this story as a thank you to a lot of people who've bolstered me and encouraged me to keep writing, told me that one day I'll be noticed and given me the greatest gift of all; Friendship.
If you've read, liked, or commented on one of my stories, then thank you so much. If you've helped me, edited for me, sang to me (yeap, that happens), talked to me, befriended me or done anything at all to keep me going then you guys are the salt of the earth to me.
Lastly but not least, Thank you to Syn and AA for believing in this story, editing it for me and making sure I saw it through to the end. Y'all deserve a drink for putting up with me, but I hope you'll settle for me saying I think the world of the pair of you, the favor will ALWAYS be returned. Just, ask :3
All this leaves me to say to you is, have a cracking 2019. I hope this is your year.
2018 has certainly been mine.
I love you all more than words can say.
Always, All Good Things,
Your Friend, Follower and Encourager,
Duskhoof.