Nyx's Hearts and Hooves Day: A New Heart's New Joy

That whole night, Stardust had been packing all his possessions. Toiletries, personal supplies, pictures, books, everything he owned into a few small boxes. For once in his time there, he had been glad that he had to get an apartment, for while that limited what he could own, that limit reduced the time to pack it all up. All that had remained outside a box or already in the carriage outside was a feather mattress he had used for sleep. He had woken up slightly early, despite his heavy eyelid's protests, to go and put all his boxes onto his rented transport. In the middle of his working, a familiar face came around, though it wasn't the hungover stallion of last night.

"I see what Clear said is true, then," Fancy Pants said sadly, "you really are returning to your old home." The night before, Fancy Pants had heard the news from a clearly drunken Clear Crystal. He hadn't believed it to be so, but the sight he had walked on made it difficult to deny. "Are you sure you can't stay a little while longer? Surely it's not as if you will be blocked out if you don't leave tomorrow."

"Actually, I will. Don't you remember?" Stardust asked, lifting boxes horn aglow, "The pegasi have the final snowstorm of winter planned for the mountainside in two days time, and they are gonna be making it one heck of a doozy. The train won't even have time to make it back to Canterlot once it makes the rounds, since it takes a whole day just to get off the mountain." He released the large box on top of a disassembled bed. "Besides, I had told auntie weeks ago I'd be there on Monday, and she has a tendency to panic if something that is planned is late."

"I see," Fancy Pants sighed, "It can't be helped. It won't ever be the same without you here. You are truly an amazing friend, something rare to find in Canterlot. It is such a shame we will never again meet."

"Aw, come on. You know that's not true." Stardust laughed. "I know as well as anypony in this town you've had a lot of business back at my hometown. I remember last time you were there, you were gone for a whole month. Trust me, we are going to have plenty of time to spend together," he paused. "You are to swear that you will never tell Clear I said that while he's drunk."

Fancy Pants gave a calm chuckle, "Do not worry. However, speaking of friends, there has been something I have been meaning to ask you for quite some time. I ask you do not think me rude."

"Fancy, your definition of rude is burping within thirty hooves of somepony. Trust me when I say nothing you tell me I could possibly take as 'rude'."

"Well," Fancy Pants cleared his throat, "as I said, it's been on my mind for some time, but you aren't the most... sociable of ponies I've met."

Stardust cocked an eyebrow, "What do you mean? I'm sociable."

"Not very. Normally, you would just be cooped up in your room studying. The only ponies I've ever seen you carry a conversation on with other your teachers were Clear and I. And again, even at my Garden Parties, you will just sit in the corner, with a book or some form of study material at hand, only saying hello to ponies I have to bring over to you to introduce, and even then that's all you say."

Stardust just sighed at this, "Listen, it's not good to get to attached to a place, especially one that you don't plan on staying at. I've known ever since I came to Canterlot I'd be moving back once I finished my studies. I shouldn't have any reason to not want to."

"I... suppose that makes sense. But still. It is not healthy to do nothing but study. One needs to go out and see the world, not just read of it. And what of love? Every stallion needs a good mare or stallion in their life, and that's not going to happen with"

Stardust gave an annoyed groan that interrupted the wealthy stallion, "Again with this? Look, I appreciate that you worry about me, but I just don't have time for stuff like that. I'm gonna be getting a lot of work from the Royal Astronomical Research Center, and I mean a lot, and I'll just barely have enough time  to spend with the friends and family I already have. The last thing I need is a marefriend taking up that."

"Besides," he continued, "who would go with me? I was in the astronomy club back at high school. The music I listened to was considered 'marely'. I was a total wimp with glasses!" he sighed after he finished his list. "Love and romance just isn't for everypony, Fancy."

"Maybe, but I can tell that isn't the case with you. True, you may not be the best looking pony in Equestria. Or Canterlot. Or Trottin Street. Or"

"Get to the point" Stardust deadpanned.

"Ah, oh, um, yes, quite." Fancy Pants chuckled, giving a slight cough, "but you are both a well-mannered and kind stallion, who not only majored but topped in both psychology an astonomy. And if you are worried about looks, think of how you traded in your glasses for a pair of  contacts, and you have bulked up as of late. I'd say that any mare would be lucky to be with you. You are truly, oh how are the children saying it these days, a 'rockin' and a rollin' party king'?"

Stardust began to laugh on the verge of hysteria, "Ah, Fancy. It's just adorable the way you try. And thank you, really, for caring but the couple's life just isn't for me. Being a bachelor is where it's at! No learning to talk sweet, no wasting bits on chocolates and roses. No going through daddy's 'So, what are your true intentions with my daughter' interrogation." he explained, lowering his voice to imitate a stallion not in his very early 20's for the latter.

Fancy Pants simply rolled his eyes, "I swear, you have been listening to far to many of Clear's stories. Not all relationship's can be like that. Most mares will only care that you care for them."

"Look, we can either debate this all day, or you could help me with the boxes so we can get to our game of golf with Clear on time." a sneer began to form. "Although, I can understand why you'd want to stall. I've been constantly beating since I got here, I doubt you'd want Clear to be added to the list of ponies I've embarrassed you in front of."

Fancy Pants gave a competitive smile, one that not even Stardust had ever seen, before he began to take a few boxes inside his own magic and levitate them into the carriage. "By the way," Fancy Pants added as a footnote, "earlier you mentioned your auntie, did you not?"

"Um, yes, I did. What of it?"

"Well, I don't know, it's just strange. Not once in the five years you have been here did you ever tell us anything about your old family and friends other than their names. It'd be nice to here about your old life. Besides," he added, "I plan on visiting the moment the snowstorm goes out, so I would very much like to know what to expect."

Stardust chuckled, "Yeah, that does seem pretty fair. Well, like you already know, my auntie's name is..."

"...yx? Nyx? Come on, sweetie. Rise and shine," Twilight spoke softly. She was kneeling beside Nyx's basket bed, who's owner was slowly drawing herself out of sleep to the voices beckoning, wincing at the sudden assault of sunlight upon her eyes. Beside her was the Smarty Pants doll given to her by Twilight, and immediately adjacent to her bed was all the baseball ticket and trinkets she had received the day prior.  She grumbled as her eyes became relatively used to the light, receiving a  giggle from her mother. "Come on, wake up. Its nine o'clock. Pinkie and Pipsqueak will be here soon."

"Mmmm, huh?" Nyx asked sleepily, her eyes moved slowly to the grandfather clock behind Twilight, immediately going into a rushed panic to get the clothes she was given and scurry to the bathroom after taking in the right angle the clock's hands formed upon the face. "Oh, no. Oh, no! Mommy, why didn't you wake me up earlier? I'm going to not be ready when they get here!" The black filly squeaked as a hot shower hit her, quickly reaching for the knob to lower the temperature."

"I've been trying to get you up for the past half-hour." Twilight said as she rolled her eyes, "It's your fault for staying up so late. I told you you should finish all of your homework, not Smarty Pants'."

"She had a big essay she needed to get done!" Nyx protested through the stream of water and soap running out of her hastily shampooed mane, "I couldn't help it!"

"Well, you just get dry off and get dressed and I'll go get breakfast ready."

"Is Spike still asleep? Why isn't he doing it?"

"Spike had to go to Canterlot for something. He won't be back until Monday." Twilight explained, her voice slowly beginning to become inaudible. Nyx reasoned that Twilight had gone downstairs, and that saying anything more would just be talking to the water on her coat. She hopped out of the shower, and quickly dried off. After which, she took her shirt and hat in her mouth, and hopped up to the sink so to be in front of the mirror. She decided not to go into the time wasting procedure of styling her mane once she got into her green shirt, reasoning that she'd only get it messy again after she put on the hat. She took the cap in her mouth by the sun-guard,  flicking her head so that it could loop-de-loop through the air and onto her head, and...

Nothing. It was just pitch black, save for a small layer of light that peaked out from just under her nose. The cap was too big! Nyx gave an annoyed grumble as she removed the cap and rotated it to the Velcro side, tightening it to the smallest it could be. With another flip, it slipped onto her head.

And still nothing. The light peeked in slightly more, but there still wasn't any actual visibility. Even after tilting up the sun-guard it was difficult to see. Almost at the edge of her nerves, she tried putting it backwards, having the sun-guard lightly touching the back of her shirt. Finally, she had been able to actually look herself in the mirror.

"Wow. This is awesome!" Nyx exclaimed in a hushed voice. She swiveled herself in different angles to admire her appearance in the mirror, taking a keen note to the tuft of hair popping out between the gap in the Velcro strap and the rest of the cap. And, unlike her old disguise, it was something she chose and enjoyed to wear. "I look so cool!"

I bet Pipsqueak'll think you look cool, too. Maybe even cute.

Nyx blushed and giggled as she made her way to the bedroom for her ticket and miscellaneous. "Oh, come on, Pipsqueak would never think I'm... wait," she darted her head to the sides, "Who said that?"

"Nyx!" Twilight yelled from downstairs, "Come get breakfast! Pinkie and Pip will be here any minute!"

"Aah! Coming!" the black filly replied in a panic as she made her way down the stairs, a giant green hoof in her mouth."

Twilight hummed as she flipped the glowing pan, releasing the two eggs held in it to the air before they returned sunny side down. These'll be good for her energy she thought while she slid the thoroughly scrambled breakfast from the levitating pan to a plate. If this going to be like what Pinkie Pie has us do, she'll need it. "Nyx, come get breakfast!" she called to upstairs, "Pinkie and Pip will be here any minute."

"Aah! Coming!" she heard her daughter say panicked. To Twilight's amazement, no sooner than did she get the plate to the table did she see Nyx sitting at the exact chair, and no sooner than did she put down the plate did Nyx begin to dig in.

She's always so panicked if she's late for something. Just *where** does she get that?* Twilight took a look at her daughter, and when the form of how she wore Shining Armor's old baseball cap hit her, she began to chuckle.

"What's so funny, mom?"

"I'm just impressed, Nyx," the lavender mare explained. "You haven't even seen a game yet," she motioned to the cap, "and already you're wearing that like my baseball nerd of a big brother would.

Nyx gulped down the remainder of her eggs before speaking, "Really?"

"Yes, really. He would go to every game that was possible, even if it meant deviating from my perfect schedule I had made at the beginning of the month. But that's besides the point, you look very nice."

"Thanks mommy." Nyx giggled.

"Now then you have everything you need? You've got your ticket?"

Nyx rolled her eyes at the constant reminders, "Of course I do," she reached for a pocket on the side of her shirt that held the ticket in a space that practically spoke it was designed for holding tickets. "See?" she asked as she flashed the stub.

"OK, good." Twilight stared up at the small coo-coo clock that hanged above the sink. nine twenty-nine, the face read. after a few more ticks of the second hand it shifted to nine thirty, and at the exact time, almost as it was waiting for that specific time to arrive, a knock came at the door. Nyx took no waste of time to safely deposit her dishes in the sink and run to answer the door.

A very eager pink mare stood on the outside, wearing a shirt similar to Nyx's, as well as a strange cap that bore two cups, one on each side, which had straws dangling near her face. She also had her saddle bag on her back, which had five green hooves in it in addition to to a small bit bag ringed to the strap. "Heya, Nyxie!" Pinkie squealed, "are you ready for some funa-fun-fun at your first ever baseball game?" An eager nod and a farewell wave at Twilight was all the mare needed before they began to run off, a quiet slam of the door showing they weren't to be back soon.

Twilight let out a calm sigh, and walked over to the bookshelf immediately adjacent to her marked Myths and Legends and picked up a dust cloth. She took up a random book off her shelf, and began to dust the blue cover. After she was certain not a grey speck remained upon it, she went to the portion of the shelf it had sat upon and went off to dust it. This had been Twilight's new way to spend her now exceedingly large allowance of free time. Princess Celestia, despite Twilight's protest, had as of late cut down her workload from the mountains of papers and forts of books it normally was. The princess had reasoned that between her friends and her now required duty of mothering Nyx, she would simply be too overworked to have any free time to herself. But now, Twilight was under-worked, and had nothing but mind numbing cleaning to spend time upon when even reading for pleasure came to be a bore. It also seemed rather pointless, considering all the time that as of late Nyx would spend out with her friends, such as their regular sleepovers. Thankfully, the princess had, after some convincing allowed Twilight to letter her as part of her studies the magics of maternal love, though that was more out of a desperate desire for something to do than actual caring of the magics involved.

A few now sparkling shelves later, a quiet knock came at the door that broke Twilight out of her trance, causing her to drop the book that was in her aura. She shook her head back into reality, and stared at the door. Why is somepony *knocking***, she wondered. True, this was her house, but it was also the Ponyville library, and nopony had ever in her history of being there had knocked when the library was open. When she brought the door ajar, however, all her question became answered. "Oh, hey there, Fluttershy."

"Um, h-hello, Twilight." the canary mare quietly chimed back. "I-I just was wondering if you could help me with a little problem I have."

"Well, of course I can. I'm just cleaning up right now, so"

"Oh," Flutttershy said in a hush before cringing away, "I'm sorry, I didn't know that you were busy. I can always come back tomorrow or"

Twilight waved a dismissive hoof and giggled, "It's fine Fluttershy, really. Frankly, I am glad you came here, I need something to do. Spike is in Canterlot and Nyx is out with friends, so I am here alone with practically nothing to do! Just give one quick second."

"Oh, OK. take your time."

With that, Twilight began a clean up of her cleaning. She lifted the dusty cloth from the ground and guided it to a small basket also filled of cloth waiting to be washed at the side of the sink. She then went to the book that had been earlier dropped and set to return it to it's proper place. Twilight, then, however, caught a glimpse of the title upon the spine, and suddenly her stomach began to twist, the left part of her chest brought a steady beat of pain, and a tear began to run down her cheek. Nyx of the Night the spine read. It took Twilight a moment to figure it out, but she finally realized what had was the cause of her emotional torment. Her Nyx had grown. It was a sentence that, beforehand, Twilight had looked down upon as silly and redundant. Of course the child would continue to grow, it was a part of nature. What was there to cry or feel sad about?

These thoughts, however, were something that she had before Nyx had come into her life. It meant more than she was simply she was moving from age nine to age ten, or just leveling up a grade in school. It meant that she would eventually no longer need Twilight, and that realization had given her a sudden and strange sensation in her throat that made it difficult to swallow. Perhaps this is the feeling her mother had felt when Twilight was moving into Celestia's school, and that she would rarely ever see her daughter, now. And Twilight had simply brushed off her feelings and the extended hug she was given as being overly dramatic.

Even more entered her mind after that. When was the last time Nyx had even asked for a bedtime story, the last time she'd pretty pleased for that one last chapter before the candle was snuffed out, and slumber was invited to take her? The last time since that barrage of question after question came at Twilight since Nyx wanted to know even more about something she learned or read? The last time that...

"Umm, T-Twilight," Fluttershy asked nervously, "a-are you sure this isn't a bad time? I mean it, this isn't something that I need help with now."

Twilight snapped herself away from the edge of the hole of terror she almost fell into, and wiped a hoof at her eye. "I'm fine, really, Fluttershy." she reassured as she levitated the book up to the shelf. "Now, then, what is it that you need?"

"Oh, well, um, actually, it's over at my cottage. I can explain on the way. If that's OK, I mean."

"Of course it is. Please, lead the way."

"What do you mean, Nyxie's ticket isn't any good?" Pinkie Pie asked in a desperate confusion. The walk over to the stadium was surprisingly uneventful. All that had ever really happened on the way there was an impossible to follow conversation between Pipsqueak and Pinkie about random names and decimals. It was similar to how, in Nyx's opinion, to how Rainbow Dash and Twilight would talk about Daring Do. That, however, Nyx could understand, having read the books herself, and she could even join into the conversation. What they were talking about, however, was to Nyx nothing more than senseless gobblygook. Afraid to ruin the obvious fun they were having, and in just plain fear of embarrassing herself, Nyx had simply found a pebble on the road to entertain herself with, kicking it with her forehoof as they walked along. However, when they finally arrived, Nyx was beginning to wish she was the tiny pebble, for it was not getting stared at angrily.

"It's not the ticket that isn't any good," the ticket mare explained, glaring at Nyx, "its that that isn't any good."

"What are you talking about," Pinkie growled, "I payed good bits for this ticket, and you can't just say no to it, got that."

"Look, kid," the mare sighed, "I can give you a refund for the ticket, but I am not gonna risk that thing blowing up this entire stadium, and everypony in it, just because the game didn't go the way she wanted."

"But that's ridicu"

"It's OK, Pinkie," Nyx interrupted, sighing, "I don't want you guys to ruin your own day just because of me. I'll just go home."

"But Nyx," Pipsqueak protested.

Pinkie Pie drooped her head for a moment before lifting it in determenation, "Alright, lady, listen up!" she demanded. "I don't care what you say, Nyx is gonna be going to this game, and I have a ticket for her right here!"

"Kid, don't you listen? We've got a right to reject any and all customers if we give a refund for the ticket, and that's exactly what I'm doin'. So, I'm gonna say it one more time, I'm not letting it in."

"You will let her in!"

"I won't let it in!"

"You will let her in!"

"I won't let it in!

"You won't let her in!"

Wait, what? Nyx cocked an eyebrow.

"I will let it in!"

What's going on?

"You won't let her in!"

"I will let it in in!"

"I'm telling you she won't be going to this game!"

"Yeah, well it'll be going to this game whether you like it or not!" The now enraged mare swiped the ticket out of Pinkie's hoof, punched a hole in it to show it was accepted, and shoved it straight back at Pinkie Pie.

The pink mare merely shrugged, "OK, suit yourself. Come on Pip, Nyx, let's go!" she arced with her hoof. Though still slightly confused as to what had just happened, Nyx followed the pair into the stadium, leaving behind a baffled ticket mare.

"Fillies and gentlecolts," a large voice echoed throughout the stadium, "Welcome to the Ponyville sports stadium! Today we have the match between bitter rivals Baltimare Orioles and Ponyville Packers!" The crowd began to scream, holler, yay, and boo all at the same time as two groups of ponies, largely earth ponies or pegasi, made their way to the circumference of the stadium. The stadium, by the standards set by places such as Manehatten or Canterlot, was not very large, only able to fit around three or four hundred ponies. To Nyx, however, the stadium was a giant just waiting to crush her like an ant. There were so many ponies, some that Nyx couldn't even recognize. Pipsqueak said that was because sometimes ponies from the city that was playing would go to the games and support their team.

"Now, before we commence, please rise now for Equestria's National Anthem, sung by Lyra Heartstrings of our own Ponyville." A roar of excitement came from the half of the stadium Nyx sat upon, and even Nyx was a part of it. Lyra, and her marefriend, Bon Bon, were two of the nicest adult ponies she had met in Ponyville on her own, and good friends to her.

Lyra had one day, before the... situation that caused Nyx to lose her magic, come into the library searching for an old book that was filled with sheets of music. Originally, Nyx had been hiding behind the check-out counter in her disguise from the strange mint mare, but a sound suddenly came from in the middle of the main wing. She looked out from the desk to see a strange stringed golden object caught in her magic. Slowly she had approached the mare, and when she arrived, she was greeted very warmly and, upon a simple request, was shown and taught all there was to know, short of playing, the stringed instrument apparently called a lyre (Which to Nyx's embarrassment, took time to explain wasn't an instrument that didn't tell the truth.)

Eventually, she had also been introduced to Bon Bon, who had also taken a quick liking to Nyx, and would sometimes sneak to Nyx candies behind Twilight's back. When she had learned, about the two's relationship, apparently she was the first to be told, a whole new stream of questions had begun to overflow her mind and mouth, though for some reason Bon Bon wouldn't allow Lyra to answer some, her only reason she'd give was that she'd go "to in depth". Even after the troubling events of the past year, Lyra and Bon Bon would still go and talk to her.

After her reminiscing of the past, Nyx decided to try and wave, but stopped, wondering if the mint mare would even see her. An arc of a wave back, one that Nyx recognized all too well, quickly answered her question. After Lyra walked out onto the center of the field, where a megaphone attached to a metal stand so Lyra could sing into it stood, she took out her lyre from the saddlebag on her side, and began to sing.

Blessed bodies of the Heavens

Sun and Moon of greatest light

Bathe us in your warm embraces

Shield us with your peerless might

Help us to stand firm as mountains

Doing right and shunning wrong

May we find our strength in friendship

Unite our herd as one group strong.

Kindness save our herd from sorrow

Laughter lift us through the day

Honesty shall purge our anger

Generous we'll be in our ways

Loyal to our roots remain us

Day by day the magic swells.

Love and tolerance shall lead us

O'er the seas and hills and dells.

In brotherhood we stand together

In sisterhood may we find grace

The Sun and Moon shall ever guide our

Never ending pony race!

Why should we fear threats of discord

Standing now all here as one?

We shall find our strength in friendship

Herd unite as one group strong

There was a brief moment of quiet before an amazing round of applause began. By the time it had died down, Lyra had left the center of the field and the megaphone left the field. "Again, Thank you Lyra Heartstrings!" the unseen stallion called from a megaphone, "And now, without further ado, let's Play Ball!"