Shining Twilights

Canterlot was beautiful in the winter. The snow over the ground was soft and cool and the air was moist. Ponies took their carts downtown to sell their warm beverages like cider, butter-beer, and hot chocolate. Stores were decked with tinsel and completely stocked for townsponies to buy gifts for loved ones for Hearth’s Warming. Ponies wearing long silky scarves and big furry coats walked the streets as colts and fillies tried to bite into the large candy canes. Canterlot was perfect.

Little bookish Twilight Sparkle loved the scenery, taking her time walking home from the castle each day to her uncle’s shop. She would burst open the doors, scents of cinnamon and leathery books and scrolls filling her snout. His house was adjacent a joint business called “Tycoon’s Scrolls, Books, and Sugary Goods.” She would spend her time there after school while her parents worked.

The building looked like an old Tuscoltny building. It had large stones holding it up and a clay colored roof. This time of year, it was covered in lights and there was a picture of an elfpony in the window that had a speech bubble coming out of its mouth. “Welcome to Santa Hoof’s Workshop!”

The 13-year-old filly let the warmth and happiness of the shop take over her body. Without any friends, this was the one place she called home.

“Welcome back Twilight!” smiled a young mare called Soft Cover. She had eggshell white fur and a dark brown mane that was pulled back into a tight bun. Her tail was a different story. It was a long, thick, wavy thing that liked to swing to the beat of whatever song was playing at that moment. She was very calm and wise but also very serious.

“Tell us about your day!” smiled another young mare whose name was Hard Cover. Unlike her older sister, she was loud, proud, and always making someone smile. She had a dark gray coat with a blue and black mane and tail. Her tail was the same coarse thing as her sister’s but her mane was spiked up like the Wonderbolts. Also unlike her sister, she was a pegasus and not a unicorn.

The unicorn filly and the mares all gathered around the counter. As Twilight’s hooves touched the glass, she saw all of the warm pastries under it. There were chocolate cupcakes, éclairs, cookies, donuts, you name it! When was the last time I ate anyway?

Noticing her hunger, Hard Cover pulled out a bag of jelly beans as Softie got a bottle of water out of the fridge. “Are you excited about the dance tonight?” asked the younger mare.

“Sort of,” said Twilight swishing her beverage. “Nopony has asked me… And I wanted Shining Armor to!”

Hardie smiled while the other one looked at the filly thoughtfully. “Twilight, he is twenty-two years old. Nine years older than you. Do you really like him?”

“Lighten up sis!” laughed the pegasus slapping her unamused sister on the back. “Twilight, my husband is ten years older than I am and we love each other very much!” She extended her wing to reveal a golden ring.

Twilight sighed and put her head on the table. ‘I just don’t know what to do…”

Hard Cover got a determined look on her face. “You get dressed. The dance is in five hours. When you’re ready, we’ll do your makeup!”
“Can you bring makeup into the shop? And my dresses are at my house!” Twilight said, lifting her head up.
“We bring makeup in here all the time! Or, at least, she does. And with our salary, we can go across the street and buy you a dress!” Soft smiled.

“Let’s go then!”
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After an hour of trying on dresses, the girls thought they found the one. Twilight stepped out with a brilliant rose colored dress. It was nothing big, just and evening gown, but boy was it spectacular.

“Twilight! You look awesome!” screamed Soft Cover. Noticing the stares of other customers, she sat back down and began to blush furiously.

The filly also blushed at the compliment, but was taken out of her trance by Hard yanking at her hoof. “Things to do, ponies to see, dear!”
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Makeup… Didn’t go as well as dress-shopping. Twilight wasn’t use to makeup, so she kept squirming. Things got in her eyes and it was all a big mess. After a long, long time, Twilight had some makeup on that didn’t make her look like an emo or a crazy person.

Twilight’s eyelashes were curled and black with mascara and she wore violet eye shadow to match her eyes. She looked stunning.

Looking at the clock on the wall, Soft smiled. “Just in time for the dance.”
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The filly kicked her hooves nervously on the carriage ride that Celestia had arranged for her student. What if he doesn’t think I’m pretty? What if he forgets who I am? Twilight didn’t think that was true. She talked to him almost every day. What if he thinks my dress is ugly? What if I trip or something? The filly was extremely nervous and was hyperventilating. Twilight was about to explode until a stallion from the front of the carriage yelled out, “We’re here!”

Twilight slowly stepped out of the carriage, smiling at her destination. Canterlot Castle, home of Princess Celestia. A big banner flowed at the top of the gate, reading, “Canterlot Ball.” She slowly looked around, looking for a certain white stallion. He must be inside! Twilight never really cared about anything other than books, but she loved Shining Armor. Twilight slowly trotted to the stairway. She saw many of the ponies waiting outside eyeing her dress, but she kept her eyes on the prize. Twilight felt the stones under her foot and smelled the mulled spice boiling from the sidelines. She saw millions of ponies and rose bushes side-by-side next to the big, iron gate. She heard ponies chattering, music from inside the castle, ponies being announced to the ball. All of her senses stopped as her hooves no longer touched the stones, but a marble floor. A stallion soon yelled something out.

“Miss Twilight Sparkle!”