5 Grass Moon 1008

The house where Magic and her mother Daygleam lived was located near the centre of the town, just like most houses that weren’t farms, and it was made of wood painted in soft blue and pink hues, reminding Flurry a little of the Crystal Empire.

Maybe that’s why I like it so much.

She was sitting on the soft carpet. Daygleam laid opposite her, with Magic curled up against her side.

‘’Thank you for coming, Flurry,’’ Daygleam said cheerily. ‘’I know Magic’s happy to see you.’’

‘’Yeah,’’ the filly in question softly added. ‘’I am.’’

Flurry smiled. ‘’It’s nice to be here.’’ She looked around. ‘’It reminds me of my old home.’’

‘’The Crystal Empire?’’ Flurry nodded. ‘’Well, if you ever get home-sick, you can always come here.’’

‘’Thanks,’’ Flurry chirped.

‘’Flurry?’’ Magic suddenly asked, her magenta eyes peering intensely at Flurry. ‘’When is your birthday?’’

‘’Uhhh…’’ Flurry rubbed her chin. ‘’10th of Grass Moon.’’

‘’That’s in five days.’’

What?

‘’Oh.’’ Flurry glanced at the calendar on the wall. Indeed it was. ‘’I guess.’’

Daygleam and Magic were now both looking at her. ‘’What do you want as a present?’’ Daygleam asked.

That was a very good question. And Flurry did not have an answer for it. She shook her head. ‘’I dunno.’’

Daygleam frowned. ‘’Well, I’ll see about getting you something-’’

‘’What’s the party going to be like?’’ Magic interrupted loudly. ‘’Can I come?’’

Party?

‘’I…’’ She hadn’t ever had other foals at her birthday party before. Just her family, and her family’s friends. ‘’Sure.’’

‘’Yay!’’ Magic cheered. ‘’Thanks a lot! What are we gonna be doing?”’

Quick, think of something. ‘’Uh…’’

‘’I think Flurry doesn’t know that yet, sweetheart,’’ Daygleam said, eyes twinkling. ‘’But I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun regardless.’’

‘’Y-yeah,’’ Flurry stammered. ‘’Sure.’’

If Daygleam noticed Flurry’s lie, she didn’t comment on it. Magic didn’t either, just smiling and nodding. ‘’Well, if you need tips, just ask!’’ she said.

‘’Okay…’’ Flurry agreed tentatively.

What could they even do for her birthday? Flurry’s birthday last year was the only one she could even vaguely remember, and it had just been her parents and other family, plus some of her family’s friends, all gathered together in the Crystal Palace. They hadn’t done anything unique.

She had to talk to Mom and Dad about that.

|-x-X-x-|

5 Grass Moon 1008

‘’A birthday party,’’ Emerald repeated.

Star nodded. ‘’We have to organize one. Flurry’ll like it, and it’ll help connect with the other foals. Aside from Berry, Lily and Magic, she doesn’t really have many friends yet.’’

That was true, Emerald had to admit. Flurry was clingy to them; Daygleam getting her for a playdate with Magic at Daygleam’s home was the first time she was in Sunville alone.

‘’Does Flurry even know her birthday is in five days?’’ Emerald wondered aloud.

‘’Probably not,’’ Star admitted, like it was the simplest thing in the world. ‘’Which will make the surprise even better.’’

‘’You have something planned.’’ It wasn’t a question, it was a statement.

‘’Yes.’’ A smile crept up Star’s lips. ‘’It’s nothing big. We’re going to wake her up early and surprise her with breakfast with her friends. Then, I’ve arranged for the weather to be nice and sunny, so we can go and spend the day at the beach.’’

That didn’t sound too terrible. ‘’Let me guess: I’ll be making the breakfast?’’

‘’If you want to. I’m willing to do it as well,’’ Star offered. ‘’There are a few recipes I’d want to make again.’’

‘’By all means,’’ Emerald acquiesced. You could have offered it earlier though. Another thought came to her, and her eyes narrowed. ‘’What do you mean, arranged the weather?’’

Star chuckled. ‘’A discrete message to Manebourne’s Weather Management Bureau was all it took to get some sun for coming Monday.’’

Emerald blinked. ‘’You rescheduled the weather for this entire region so Flurry could have a rainless birthday?’’

‘’Yup.’’

Emerald shook her head. ‘’That is crazy,’’ she said. She’d never even dream of asking for different weather for any reason; certainly not for a birthday. The idea of just going to the weather bureau and doing so was absurd.

I wonder if Star is aware how insane it is that things like this are casual for him.

‘’Don’t worry,’’ Star suddenly said, ‘’I just told the head of the bureau that I would like it to be sunny on Monday above my home, and in return for a favour she agreed.’’

‘’What was the favour?’’

Star shrugged. ‘’Just have to take her out for dinner once. I told her I wasn’t really interested, but she insisted, and what is one dinner?’’

There was something about the underhoofedness and the casualness with which Star described said underhoofedness that rankled something in Emerald. Maybe it was her sense of fair play, but changing the weather for an entire region, causing unknown consequences, just so Flurry could have sun on her birthday? Where was the fairness in that?

‘’And when,’’ Emerald ground out, ‘’will this dinner be?’’

‘’Saturday the 15th,’’ Star replied cautiously, before raising an eyebrow at her. ‘’Did I say something wrong?’’

I’m not going to point out the obvious.

Emerald huffed, then turned around and walked away. It was time to get Flurry from Daygleam’s home anyway, and that would be Emerald’s very flimsy excuse if Star came after her.

He didn’t, for which Emerald was grateful. She looked behind her as she reached for the door, to see Star still sitting on the couch, having taken a book from somewhere and beginning to read it.

Well, Emerald wouldn’t bother him about it. She opened the door and began to walk to Daygleam’s house.

Fifteen minutes it took her to get there, and Daygleam was already waiting outside for her. Emerald couldn’t help but be a little surprised by that. They had agreed on roughly this time, true, but still.

Flurry and Magic were still talking animatedly, while Daygleam watched over them with a smile. As Emerald approached, Daygleam cleared her throat and said, ‘’Flurry, your mother’s here.’’

Flurry turned to look at Daygleam, then saw Emerald. ‘’Hi mommy!’’

‘’Hello sweetheart,’’ Emerald said. ‘’Did you have a nice afternoon?’’

Flurry nodded excitedly. ‘’It was very nice! Magic’s house is very beautiful!’’

‘’Thank you, sweetie,’’ Daygleam said with a tip of her head. For a moment, Emerald was captivated by that face, with an oh-so-entrancing smile.

Oh no.

Emerald quickly shook herself. That was not good. Not good at all.

‘’That’s good,’’ Emerald said quickly. ‘’Shall we go then?’’

‘’Okay, mommy!’’ Flurry gave Magic a parting hug, and then gave Daygleam a hug too after a few seconds of hesitation, before walking over to Emerald’s side and nuzzling her leg. ‘’Let’s go! Bye Magic, bye Daygleam!’’

‘’Bye Flurry!’’

‘’Goodbye Flurry!’’

As they walked back through Sunville to their home, Emerald looked sideways at Flurry. ‘’So what did you do?’’

‘’We played together!’’ Flurry replied. ‘’Magic has a lot of toys, ‘cause Daygleam makes them herself!’’

Emerald did not know that, but it did explain the wooden figure Daygleam had for a cutie mark. It also explained where all the toys in Sunville came from, as getting any from a store was pretty much impossible when they were a five hours drive away from any place that would have a toy store.

Perhaps she makes other toys as well- No.

‘’Mommy, why are you blushing?’’

Oh fuck.

‘’It’s nothing, sweetie,’’ Emerald assured hastily, before Flurry could get any ideas. ‘’I was just… thinking.’’

‘’About what?’’

‘’Things.’’

‘’What things?’’

‘’Things that aren’t for little fillies.’’

‘’I’m not little!’’ Flurry protested. ‘’I’m gonna be four in a couple of days!’’

So she knew? That made this easier and harder at the same time.

‘’Yes, that’s true,’’ Emerald agreed. ‘’What would you like to do on your birthday?’’

Flurry’s face scrunched up in thought. ‘’I dunno,’’ she admitted after a few seconds. ‘’I tried coming up with something, but…’’

‘’That’s alright,’’ Emerald said. After a moment, she added, ‘’Why don’t you let Star and me come up with something? We’ll do something nice, I promise.’’

‘’Okay,’’ Flurry accepted after a moment of what appeared to be intense thought. ‘’I can’t wait!’’ she squealed, before giving Emerald a quick hug. ‘’Thank you, mommy!’’

Emerald gave her a hug back. ‘’No problem, sweetheart.’’

Now to plan a birthday party. And try to forget about Daygleam’s smile while she was at it.

|-x-X-x-|

7 Grass Moon 1008

‘’Sounds nice,’’ Berry said.

They were sitting in the garden slash farmland of Berry and Lily’s family. Flurry wasn’t really sure where the garden ended and the farm began, but it didn’t really matter.

‘’Yeah,’’ she agreed. ‘’I’m wondering what the surprise will be though.’’

‘’Don’t worry about it,’’ Lily said. ‘’It’ll be fun, and that’s the most important thing.’’

Lily’s right.

‘’I guess.’’ Flurry let out a quiet sigh, before looking around. ‘’So, what are we gonna do?’’

‘’We could play hide and seek again?’’ Berry offered.

Lily shook her head. ‘’Done that too much already.’’

Berry huffed. ‘’Says you.’’

‘’Do you know any other games?’’ Flurry asked before the argument could spiral into something more heated.

‘’Yeah,’’ Berry replied. ‘’I know something.’’ She grabbed a bunch of leaves with her hoof and threw them at Lily.

What.

Lily batted the leaves away, before gathering some leaves herself and throwing them at her sister. As Lily had grabbed a bunch of wet grass along with the leaves, her projectiles stuck to Berry’s coat.

‘’Oh, it’s on!’’ she cried out, before pouncing on her sister. Flurry watched in astonishment as the two rolled through the grass, scuffling with each other. After a minute, Berry stood on top of her sister, grinning down at her.

‘’I win,’’ she proclaimed grandly.

‘’... fine,’’ Lily huffed after a moment. ‘’Now get off me.’’

‘’Uh-uh.’’

‘’Get off me, please.’’

‘’Better.’’ Berry jumped off her sister’s barrel and smiled at Flurry. ‘’Wanna do it too?’’

‘’Uhh…’’ What had just happened? Flurry hadn’t ever heard or seen someone do this. Then again, these were her first friends, and Flurry didn’t have a sister. Was this just something sisters did with each other?

‘’It’s fun,’’ Lily added, having stood back up.

They do look like they had fun.

But they were also very dirty now. There were leaves and grass stuck in their mane, coat and tail, and Flurry thought she even saw a small abrasion on Lily’s left foreleg.

She’d never really gotten dirty before - snow melted pretty quickly, after all - So she didn’t know what Mom and Dad would say if she got back home looking like that. Would they get mad?

‘’Flurry?’’

She was reminded that she’d been silent for a time. ‘’Okay, sure,’’ she decided. ‘’I’ll try it.’’ And she already had an idea of what she could do.

‘’Great!’’ Berry beamed at her. ‘’How do you-’’

Flurry lifted up a bunch of leaves with her magic and dumped them on the heads of the other two fillies. She couldn’t help but giggle as they sputtered and shook themselves clean again, clearly surprised by her sudden and unexpected action. Just like she’d intended.

‘’Good one,’’ Lily complimented after she’d gotten the leaves out of her mouth, spitting them out onto the ground.

‘’What more can you do with that?’’ Berry jumped in, pointing at her horn.

Flurry’s face scrunched up in thought. ‘’Well… I can make a light, lift stuff up, and create a bubble, like this.’’ She focused for a moment, then a light yellow bubble appeared around her. It’s light was as comforting and soft as always.

‘’Wow!’’ both fillies breathed.

‘’That’s really cool!’’ Berry said, clearly awed and impressed. ‘’Can it stop things?’’

‘’Yeah,’’ Flurry said. ‘’Try to touch it.’’

Berry reached her hoof forward and did as Flurry had said. ‘’That tingles,’’ she declared, before pulling her hoof back again.

‘’Is it hard to do?’’ Lily asked.

Flurry shook her head. ‘’No. I can keep it up for very long.’’

‘’How long?’’

Ehh… ‘’Very long.’’ They didn’t need to know that she didn’t know how long herself.

Lily mulled over that for a moment, before nodding. ‘’Okay. Still cool.’’

‘’Yeah,’’ Berry agreed, before sighing wistfully. ‘’I wish I could do that.’’

Flurry didn’t really know how to reply to that. After a moment of awkward silence, she shrugged. ‘’Sorry,’’ she apologized sheepishly.

‘’It’s alright.’’ Berry smiled reassuringly. ‘’I’m thirsty though.’’

Flurry’s stomach rumbled, and her throat felt a little parched. ‘’Yeah.’’

‘’Well, let’s go back to the house then,’’ Lily decided.

That was fine with Berry and Flurry both, and they walked back to the house. Inside, the siblings’ dad, a large dark red stallion called Ground Trotter, made them a nice lunch: oatmeal with fresh hay and apples from the trees around the farm.

As they sat at the dinner table inside the house, eating and talking, Flurry’s mind wandered to the table, of all things. In her parents’ house, the table was large enough for eight people, and it was made of light brown wood, polished finely.

Flurry remembered that there were symbols of gold carved into the edge of the table. When she had asked about them, Dad had explained that they were simply decorative; little details he liked to add to things he owned. Flurry had gone looking for them afterwards, and found similar-looking symbols inscribed above the hearth. Not anywhere else though, but she hadn’t looked in Dad or Mom’s rooms, or in the basement.

‘’How do you like the food, Flurry?’’

It took her a moment to answer Ground’s question. ‘’It’s very nice, sir.’’

The stallion grinned. ‘’I told you, call me Ground. And that’s good to hear. Makes me proud.’’

Flurry wasn’t sure what she could say to that, so she just nodded.

‘’Oh, Flurry?’’ Lily suddenly asked, looking up from her plate with wide, excited eyes. ‘’Can you show daddy that thing you did?’’

What thing? It took Flurry a moment to understand, and then she nodded. The bubble appeared around her once again.

Ground whistled through his teeth. ‘’Hoo-ey. That looks mighty impressive.’’

‘’It can keep out stuff too!’’

‘’Don’t throw anything.’’ There was something about the speed with which Ground said that that made Flurry think Berry throwing things was a common occurrence.

Berry sulked and huffed, but did not throw anything, thankfully. For that, Flurry was thankful.

She dropped her bubble, continuing with her food. It was some really good food, after all.

|-x-X-x-|

10 Grass Moon 1008

The first thing Flurry did when she woke up was look at the little clock next to her bed. It had become a thing she just did.

10 o’clock.

That wasn’t late or early. Flurry had a bedtime, but she didn’t really have a wake-up time. She just woke up whenever she did. Sometimes Mom or Dad woke her when it was getting late, but otherwise they let her sleep as long as she wanted.

Flurry threw the covers off herself and slid out of the bed. Her stomach demanded food, and Flurry was going to give it just that.

But first, she grabbed Whammy. Couldn’t leave without him, after all. When she had placed him safely upon her back - after she had given him a hug and a nuzzle, of course - Flurry opened the door of her room and took a peek outside.

The curtains were all still closed, including the big one that kept the light out from the stairway. That was strange. Usually, Mom or Dad were up by now, and they always opened the curtains-

‘’SURPRISE!’’

Flurry shrieked as ponies appeared all around her.

‘’Happy birthday, Flurry!’’ Mom appeared in sight and immediately wrapped her in a hug.

Flurry was so stunned it took her a moment to react, and then she hugged Mom back. ‘’I…’’ She didn’t know what to say.

She had totally forgotten it was her birthday!

Dad swept into view just as Mom let her go. ‘’Happy birthday, sweetheart.’’ And he gave her a hug that was just as strong as Mom’s had been.

Flurry smiled brightly at him and Mom both. ‘’Thanks-’’ She wanted to say more, but was interrupted as Lily, Berry and Magic all dogpiled onto her.

‘’Happy birthday!’’ they all cried into her ear. And before Flurry could respond, she was dragged down to the ground floor, into the living room, where a pile of presents stood next to the hearth.

‘’Open them up!’’ Berry cheered on.

Flurry hadn’t ever seen so many presents stacked together. Not on Hearthswarming Eve, and not on any of her birthdays. She had to crane her neck to see the top of it.

Wow.

Tentatively, Flurry reached out and grabbed the nearest present, a rectangular thing wrapped in bright yellow paper.

‘’That’s mine,’’ Mom informed her. ‘’Go on, open it.’’

Flurry tore the paper away with her magic and gasped at what she saw.

A pink and white summer jacket, neatly wrapped up and with buttons made of some gleaming material Flurry didn’t recognize. The shade of pink used reminded Flurry of her mother’s coat.

‘’Thanks, mommy,’’ she said as she looked up. ‘’I really like it.’’

‘’That’s great to hear, sweetheart.’’ Mom smiled down at her. ‘’Can you try it on? I think I got your size right, but…’’

‘’Sure thing!’’ Flurry chirped, before putting the jacket on with her magic. It was very soft and light; perfect for summer, in other words.

‘’That’s a really cool jacket,’’ Berry said, and Lily nodded along with her.

‘’My turn!’’ Dad announced as he swept into view, holding a green and blue package with his magic. ‘’Go ahead, sweetheart.’’ And he hoofed his gift to her.

Flurry opened it and gasped again.

‘’A book?’’ Magic asked, tilting her head.

‘’Indeed,’’ Dad replied. ‘’This is the Friendship Journal, one of the few versions that Twilight hornwrote herself. She gave it to me, and I’m giving it to you now, Flurry.’’

Flurry wanted to thank him, but then she remembered something. ‘’But I can’t read,’’ she said dejectedly.

‘’That is the second part of my gift,’’ Dad said. ‘’If you want, I’ll teach you how to read and write.’’

Read and write?

‘’Really?’’ Flurry looked up at Dad , eyes wide.

Dad lowered his head, looking Flurry right in the eyes. ‘’Really.’’

Flurry was overwhelmed with gratitude. ‘’I…’’ Tears sprang to her eyes. All of this, for her? Everywhere she looked, she saw people smiling at her.

‘’Hey.’’ Dad’s voice drew her attention back to him. ‘’Is everything alright?’’

Was it?

Flurry nodded regardless. ‘’Thank you, daddy.’’ She reached forward and gave him a hug, which he warmly returned.

‘’Do me next!’’ Berry suddenly appeared in Flurry’s view.

Still smiling, Flurry allowed herself to be dragged away.

It’s a good day.

In the end, she got nearly two dozen presents. Aside from her adoptive parents and her friends, she also received gifts from her friends’ parents, mainly toys and candy. From Lily and Berry, she had gotten some hoof-made wooden toys, and from Magic she had gotten a book that Dad had taken one look at and then declared brilliant.

A small package had arrived as well, from Mr Jet Set and his wife, Upper Crust. In it had been a letter from them congratulating her with her birthday, as well as a photobook showing the sights of New Mareland. Flurry had skimmed it, and she had seen a couple of places that looked really nice to visit.

Dinner wasn’t in the house, but in the garden instead. Sandy and Ground had moved a table large enough to seat everyone next to the pond, and Dad had made sure there were chairs for everyone, though most people chose to sit on the grass instead.

From the trees hung lamps, glowing softly, coating the pond and gardens around it in a pleasant light that drove away the darkness.

Flurry herself was sitting on the edge of the pond, together with the other foals of Sunville. They were playing with her new toys while eating the candy Flurry had been given and drinking the sweet lemonade someone had made. Flurry didn’t know who, but she had heard that the lemonade was self-made, and it tasted very nice.

‘’Flurry?’’

She looked away from her toys and saw Dad approaching her. ‘’Hi daddy.’’

Dad’s horn was glowing and next to him floated a letter, held in his magic. ‘’This letter just arrived,’’ he explained.

Flurry tilted her head. ‘’Who’s it from?’’

‘’Your aunt.’’

‘’Auntie Twilight?’’ Flurry asked for clarification. ‘’What did she write?’’

‘’Well, I haven’t read it yet,’’ Dad said. ‘’Do you want me to read it to you?’’

Flurry glanced around. Berry, Lily and Magic were all looking and listening intently, but most of the other foals were still playing and not focusing on them.

She nodded. ‘’Sure.’’ She shifted a little so she was more comfortable.

Dad gently opened the letter and held it before him. ‘’Ahem. Dear Flurry, congratulations on your birthday. I’m sorry I can’t send you any presents or be there with you. I hope that wherever you are, you’re being taken good care of by people who care for you. Unfortunately, I can’t write to you more: I have no idea where you are, and I can’t tell anyone where I am right now, for safety reasons. But never forget that I love you, Flurry. Signed with love, your aunt Twilight.’’ Dad then pulled something else out of the letter. ‘’It’s a picture. Here,’’ he levitated both items over to Flurry.

Who took them with her own magic as gently as she could manage. She couldn’t read what the letter said, of course, but the picture said enough.

Auntie Twilight stood in the centre, smiling at the camera. Uncle Spike stood next to her, smiling and waving. Auntie Twilight’s friends stood around the pair, smiling as well, and they had all signed their signatures onto the back of the pictures, Flurry discovered as much when she flipped the picture around.

‘’I’ll…’’ she looked up to see Dad hesitate. ‘’I’ll see if I can find some way to contact Twilight safely, let her know we’re alright.’’

That would be so cool!

Flurry missed her auntie. Not as much as her parents, but she still missed her. Uncle Spike too, and Uncle Sunburst, and Grandma and Grandpa, and-

Before she knew it, Dad had drawn her into a hug. Only then did Flurry realize she was crying. She buried her face in his coat and took some deep breaths.

‘’It’s okay,’’ Dad said softly, and she felt his magic stroke her back. ‘’I miss them too.’’

Flurry didn’t respond verbally, instead deciding to hug him back. Dad’s coat wasn’t as soft as her birth mother’s, but softer than her daddy’s rough coat or Mom’s smooth but thicker one. Dad also didn’t have her father’s muscles, nor did he have her mother’s soft flesh. It was, all in all, very nice.

The moment after Dad had let her go from his hug, her friends rushed towards her and gave her a hug as well, and just like Dad’s one Flurry eagerly returned it.

‘’Thanks,’’ she whispered.

Magic nuzzled her face. ‘’It’s what friends do.’’

And Flurry found she couldn’t object to that.

|-x-X-x-|

10 Grass Moon 1008

Flurry had made some good friends.

‘’They’re good for each other,’’ Daygleam suddenly said.

Emerald barely suppressed a yelp. When had she gotten here? ‘’They are,’’ she acknowledged a moment too late.

Daygleam turned to face her. ‘’My Magic is a little shy,’’ she admitted. ‘’It’s good to see her opening up a little.’’

‘’Flurry’s pretty shy too,’’ Emerald put in.

‘’Was she always?’’ Daygleam asked.

‘’Not as much, but yes.’’

‘’Huh.’’

A little silence fell between them as they watched the foals. The party was slowly winding down. No one had left yet, but they soon would, once the foals had finally tired themselves out.

‘’Hey…’’ Daygleam smiled shyly, before leaning in closer. ‘’What say we have our own little celebration?’’

What.

Emerald’s breath caught in her throat. ‘’W-what do you mean?’’

Daygleam tilted her head and smiled in a way that could only be seductive. ‘’I think you get what I mean, dear.’’

The way she said ‘’dear’’ made Emerald shiver a little. ‘’S-sure,’’ she agreed, eyes darting to Flurry. ‘’Right now, or…?’’

‘’Hmm… that might be a problem,’’ Daygleam admitted. ‘’Maybe not today then. But why don’t you come by my home tomorrow evening?’’

‘’I would like that very much,’’ Emerald managed to say.

Daygleam smiled, then leaned in even closer and pressed a chaste kiss against Emerald’s cheek. ‘’It’s settled, then.’’

‘’Y-yes.’’ Emerald shakily nodded, before turning her attention back to the foals.

She was definitely going to need something tonight.

Author's Note

(Edited on 9-10-2021)