As the sun came down, taking its light and warmth with it, the last rays beamed across the land and reflected off the fresh snow. It made the land glow with a gentle light. The sky was a beautiful pastel painting that streaked across the horizon in colors of red, orange, and even purple. Not to be outdone though; the moon, only half full, was beginning to rise over the horizon, bidden to start its personal journey. It seemed to glow with an almost ethereal light and appeared too eager to rise into the soon to be night sky.
One unicorn took in all these sights with eyes of wonder and awe as she rarely took the time to stand outdoors and watch the sunset anymore. Her face was usually buried in some sort of book, or carrying out a task for somepony somewhere for something. It was rare that she stopped and took a moment to see the world around her, and at the moment it was nothing less than breathtaking. The land and sky joined to created a masterpiece that would only last for these fleeting moments, and was already shifting into something new.
“Wow.”
That single word came out as a sigh of cold air that quickly dissipated into the fading light of day. Its ice crystal and vapor though, carried the weight of Twilight Sparkle’s amazement into a sudden wind that blew across the land, as if that lone word could sum the entire experience. The frigid air made the lavender unicorn squeak in surprise and try to draw herself closer for warmth. She shivered in her boots and huddled down, caught off guard by the biting gust that played with her mane and tail, causing them to float softly in the air. The cold wasn’t horrible, and the worst of it could be staved off with boots and a scarf, but the wind still carried a sharp edge to it.
The wind had its fun and passed after a moment, letting the unicorn attempt to regain some of her previous warmth. She stamped her hooves and buried her muzzle into her scarf, letting her warm breath and soft fabric heat her face. She smelled cookies on her breath, and Twilight giggled into the scarf, remembering the baked goods her little assistant had forced her to eat before setting out earlier. Spike was always strange, acting completely aloof one moment, and then sick with worry the next, but Twilight loved that little dragon.
It has only been a few days ago that Twilight had been jumping around the library, smiling as wide as her cheeks could sustain. She had exclaimed in a high voice that she would be going out for the night, and had studying and research to do. Spike had given her his usual flat stare, and sighed. He appeared to be mostly uninterested in the affair, only making the comment about how he would be able to get a decent night's sleep for once.
Twilight had laughed at his comment, use to his jabs by now, and began grabbing books from the shelves and losing herself in them. She had schedules to plan and checklist to compile, and one sarcastic dragon was not going to keep her from her tasks. Come day of the appointment however, Spike had shown a very different attitude. Instead of lazying about and griping, he busied himself making sure Twilight had her boots and gloves, making sure she looked her best, and even made her an extra snack to help stave of the cold for a while. The biggest surprise had came as Twilight was leaving, and had stop to give her assistant an affectionate nuzzle goodnight before heading out for the evening.
“You be safe okay?”
Twilight was taken in surprise at his words, and not without reason. Spike had a vehement distaste, with a certain white unicorn being the exception, for anything considered “touchy-feely” or “mushy.” So to hear those words from him almost brought a tear to Twilight’s eye. She held it back though, electing to bring her scaly brother close with a hug and held him tightly as she whispered to him in turn.
“I will be.”
They had released each other there, with Spike leaving her with one lingering look before closing the library door. Twilight would have like to hold him like that for a much longer time, but she had an appointment to keep and wanted to arrive fifteen minutes before the actual meeting. That meant leaving the library at least twenty-five minutes before the appointed time according to her schedule. She had checked and double checked so she was sure of her calculations. She had intended to triple check it as well, but stopped herself with a gentle mental rebuke. After the incident with Future Twilight, she had decided to cut out some of her more redundant habits with planning out her days.
It had been a hard pill to swallow, but after her first few panic attacks and subsequent meltdowns, her efforts had definitely blossomed into something tangible. Not only had it made many things in her daily life more stress free, Twilight had fallen in love with reading all over again. It was so much better without the burden of half a dozen schedules and checklists running through her mind at the same time. She could take her time and thoroughly enjoy every written word, and relish every flip of a page. Covering her mouth with a hoof to stifle a giggle, Twilight remembered when she had actually taken a moment to take a new book and gingerly sniff at it, taking in that unique freshly printed book smell.
As much as she loved her books and reading, it was something else that was claiming the majority of her attention at the moment. It was the reason she was standing idly in the park for the past ten minutes, watching the sun slip below the horizon as the evening slipped into the hour of twilight. According to her research, the park was one of the most suitable meeting locations for something like this, and Twilight could not but marvel at how correct that was. No matter which way she turned, the place could only be described as scenic.
Trees with no leaves, but covered with a layer of snow that laid there so quietly it seemed to be sleeping on the branches. The ground was covered with the same white powder, turning the normally green fields and hills into a smooth and unwrinkled blanket of winter. Even the frozen pond played its part to making the scene almost surreal, with its icy surface adding a frosty countenance to the undisturbed snow.
In that majesty, Twilight stood, a lavender pony surrounded by field of white, letting the last rays of the sun warm her before slipping into the cold night. She found herself holding her breath constantly and had to release it with awestruck sighs and murmurs of wonders. Every time she exhaled though, Twilight feared that it would somehow break this painting she was in, as if silence was the only thing holding it together. It remained though, letting Twilight engrave the land in her memory.
That silence was shattered as Twilight discovered that she was too taken in with scenery. The sudden ringing of a bell nearly made her jump out of her boots in shock, and she nearly lost her balance. She stayed on her feet though, and with a frantic heartbeat, she looked to the left and right trying to locate the source of the still reverberating interruption. After taken a moment to swallow her heart she realized sheepishly what the sound was and where it had come from.
After all it had rang six times, each peal an announcement to those who could hear it.
The bell at the town hall had rang to mark the top of the hour as it always did, which was something Twilight was usually familiar with and had come to expect in her small town. She was just a little too absorbed in the land and her upcoming meeting to realize that fact. With the bells sounding out and knocking her out of her reverie, Twilight noticed that a few ponies moving through the park as well.
They carried torches and were slowly and methodically lighting the many lampposts that adorned the park and Ponyville as a whole. It was more as if the process was a sacred ritual than a mere town duty. Each pony walked somberly towards each post, not rushing, but not taking their time either. They held their torches out in front of them; the small flame darting and ducking along with the movement of their bearers. To Twilight, it was hypnotic to watch, and found herself watching them move along from lamppost to lamppost, bringing a little more light to Ponyville with every stop.
Twilight had to shake her head and clear her thoughts. She was getting absorbed far too easily. The ringing of town hall’s bells also meant something else. Six o’clock was the time of the meeting, and now that time had passed. Normally anypony being late would have sent Twilight into a frantic, mane frizzing panic attack, but her studies had shown that “being late” was one of the factors that one had to account for in this type of situation. With Twilight being the careful planner that she was, her schedule already allocated time for somepony running behind.
One of the lamplighters moved past Twilight with their careful gait, having to take care not to slip on the icy paths or snow. As he passed, the lamplighter turned to Twilight and with a smile, bowed his head in greeting to the unicorn. Twilight grinned sheepishly, slightly embarrassed by the show of respect, but lifted a hoof and waved at the pony in a more laid back and friendly manner. Some ponies only knew her as the “Savior of the Kingdoms x3” and “Protégé to the Princess” instead of Twilight Sparkle, Ponyville librarian. The thought saddened her slightly as she watched the lamplighter raise the torch in one hoof, placing the flickering flame against the lamppost's wick.
She didn’t need all that recognition and fame. She had a wonderful mentor, an amazing family, and the five best friends a mare could have. Frankly, that is all she really wanted, besides a library of ancient texts and scrolls. Twilight could admit she was gifted, but she wasn’t only those gifts and deeds. She was Twilight Sparkle; a friend, sister, librarian, and egghead.
She chuckled at the last title, small clouds of vapor escaping into the night. The lamplighter had moved on, and Twilight scooted closer to the freshly lit lamppost for the extra warmth. It wasn’t an inferno, but the fire let heat drift lazily onto her backside, which was more than enough to fend off the dropping temperature. Twilight murmured in contentment at the extra heat, letting her eyes drift shut for a moment.
In that moment, she heard the sound of snow being crushed beneath somepony’s hooves, and rather quickly at that. It was coming closer to her, and Twilight could also hear the sounds of somepony’s panting as they ran. It came out in short but deep breaths and kept in time with the sounds of snow being crushed beneath hooves. Twilight smiled to herself, keeping her eyes shut and imagining the scene before her.
The sounds of the hooves stopped when they could only be a few feet away, although the labored breathing continued. The panting turned into gulps of air as the mystery pony tried to regain whatever composure they might have had before bounding across a blanket of snow. It was a moment before a new sound emerged, broken up by gasps for breath.
“I’m…I’m sorry I’m late…did…did you wait long?”
Twilight’s smile tugged at the corner of her mouth; her eyes still closed, and she moved forward a pace where she knew the source of the panting was standing. Feeling the heat radiating off their body, she brushed against them with an affectionate nuzzle.
“No, I just got here.”
Twilight marked that line off the checklist. Everything was going as planned according to the checklist of “Having the Perfect Date.”
Muffins, Mail, and Mothers
It was peaceful in the room of a certain mare early one morning. There was no movement except the slight rise and fall of a lump underneath a blanket on the bed. It was mostly silent as well, with the only sound being the ticking of a clock resting on a bedside table. It did its given task, mindlessly counting the seconds off with a tick, its hands always traveling in a continuous circle that never sped up or slowed down. Its minute hand was reaching the zenith of its journey, and when the hand struck twelve, it would be able to perform it one other duty.
The minute hand reached twelve, and the silence was broken by the alarm clock coming to life with an abrupt clatter. The sound fractured the peace, causing the lump under the blanket to twist and turn in response to being disturbed. The clock paid no mind though as it shook and rattled its way across the bedside table, its alarm pushing it closer towards the edge. Before it could take a tumble to the floor, a grey hoof and leg reached out from under the blanket and took hold of the thundering machine and drew it under the blankets. A moment later the ringing stopped as quickly as it had started, and the hoof emerged with it again, placing it at its customary place on the bedside table.
With quiet restored to the room, the mare under the blankets sat up finally and let the cover slip down off her chest. Underneath was one of Ponyville Postal Service Pegasi, the mare known to friends, family, and co-workers as Derpy. The grey pegasus blinked sleepily and yawned, her mouth opening wide as she covered her mouth with one hoof and raised the other to the ceiling in a quick stretch. She held that position for a few seconds before letting both hooves drop to the bed again with a soft thud.
With a quick jerk, Derpy kicked the rest of the blanket off of her and swung herself out of bed, gingerly placing all four hooves on the floor as to not make too much racket. Derpy almost tip-hoofed her way to the bathroom that was connected to her room and shut the door behind her slowly and carefully, taking every precaution that it made as little noise as possible.
Once inside the bathroom though she relaxed, her shoulder slumping and her ears fell back slightly. She was the only one awoke at the moment, and she would prefer to keep it that way. No sense in the others having to be up when they didn’t have to be. Here in her bathroom, she could take some liberties though. The morning sun was bathing the room with soft light, even though Derpy knew there was still snow on the ground from last night's small blizzard so it couldn’t be that warm outside.
Turning to the mirror above her sink, Derpy whispered,
“Good morning, Derpy.” It responded at the same time, bringing a smile to the mailmare’s lips.
That smile turned into a giggle as she watched one of her eyes roll around for a moment and then snap back to a normal position in her head. That eye had a mind of its own and would move wherever and whenever it willed throughout the day, but it rarely lasted more than a few minutes. Derpy long ago got used to suddenly losing her perception while doing tasks or functions. It had taken longer to get to the names that had come with it as well, but Derpy had prevailed, armed with nothing more than a sheepish smile and cheerful personality.
The pegasus picked up a manebrush and pull it down through her dandelion mane a few times, muttering under her breath as she fought to get out the worst of the snarls that came from her bed head. Soon enough it was in a much better state, and Derpy placed the brush back on the counter. Looking at her mane, she nodded her approval at her style. It was not the height of fashion and society, but it suited her, and that’s what mattered. She picked up her tooth and toothpaste next, applying a generous amount of the gel to the brush and scrubbing vigorously at her teeth in small circles. No one was going to accuse this pony of having poor hygiene. A minute later, and she rinsed and spit into the sink letting the water run as she smiled into the mirror looking over her appearance. It was perfect.
Derpy turned off the water and dried her face and hooves with a towel that was hanging nearby. She left the bathroom and her bedroom quietly, imagining the consequences of what would happen if she didn’t sneak by. As she slipped down the hallway, plastered against one wall, she stopped at another doorway. This door was already open and Derpy took a moment to take a peek inside.
This was her daughter’s room. It wasn’t extremely well furnished, but it was cozy. Two beds were set up in the room with each accompanied by a desk and bookshelf at the side. It was easy to tell where one-half of the bedroom ended, and the other began as her little Dinky’s drawings and toys covered the floor and wall on her side, while Sparkler's half was more reserved, with only a couple piece of crumbled up a paper littering hers.
In her hoof was a fairly large muffin with red and blue berries sticking in it, it smelled heavenly even cold. Derpy made a batch last night and set them aside for her breakfasts. Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and the Cakes may be all great bakers, but no one could outdo Derpy when it came to muffins. Each bite was like eating a cloud that exploded with sweet flavor, and on more than one occasion Derpy had been asked to sell her recipes. Each time, Derpy had stubbornly refused, and many ponies have left dejected or mumbling curses under their breath. These muffins were for the enjoyment of eating something good, not profit.
With the kitchen cleared and muffin acquired Derpy tip-hoofed out the kitchen, past the living, and to the front door. She placed each hoof slowly with not one movement out of place; the floor to the front was notorious for squeaking in protest at the slightest weight. Derpy had been doing this for a while now and knew where each of traitors laid in wait. Avoiding them was a breeze to the mailmare, and she made it to the front door undiscovered. There her saddlebags hug on a pedestal, and Derpy flipped them onto her back soundlessly with a practiced ease. She then opened one flap and set her muffin inside the satchel, closing it again and was about to turn her attention to the front door when something caught her eye.
There was something else on the hook though, a scarf and a note attached to it. Derpy took the note in hoof and read it quickly before her eye decided to play a trick on her.
It’s getting cold, and it’s even colder in the sky. So stay warm with this scarf. I made it, and Dinky said she put a spell on it so you won’t get cold. Hope it helps.
Love,
Dinky and Sparkler
Derpy sniffed once, feelings of love and affection almost overwhelming her. If they had she would have taken the day off and tackled those two in bed, not letting them go until she cuddled them into the mattress. She couldn’t do that though, it wasn’t cheap raising two girls on her own, and she needed every bit she could. Still, she took an extra moment to wrap the scarf her neck. It was grey and pink, and frayed at the end, but Derpy wouldn’t have traded it for Equestria.
“Bye Dinky, bye Sparkler. Momma loves you.” And with that gently closed the door behind her.
In their room, Dinky and Sparkler, each opened one eye and looked at each other sleepily.
“Sparkler?”
“Yeah Dinky?”
“Momma’s silly.”
“I know, but I still love her.”
“Me too.”
