Element of Faith

You know the drill, I hate this as much as everybrony else. Don't steal Fairy Wishes and you shall see another day. I have not stolen the Mane 6 and company.

Walking to Town Hall bright and early, I made sure the straps on my brown vest just a slightly darker shade than my coat fit right. Winter Wrap Up was today and I am assigned to work on the baskets with Rarity. Hopefully we would finish today and not have to work overtime tomorrow.

It was difficult without using magic, but I was fine with it. Some good old work the hooves never hurt.

Nearly everypony was gathered for the Meeting. Mayor Ivory Scroll stood atop the stage and prepared to give the speech.

“Thank you everypony, for being here bright and early! We need every single pony's help to Wrap Up Winter and bring in Spring.”

The crowd cheered, some pegasi flew over the crowd before re-joining the crowd.

“Now all of you have your vests and have been assigned to your teams. So least do even better than last year and have the quickest Winter Wrap Up Ever!”

The crowd cheered louder, myself included, to try and Wrap Up Winter. We had always been a day or more late and sometimes had to call for outside help.

But pray Celestia not this year.

“Alright everypony… find your Team Leader and lets get galloping!” Mayor Ivory Scroll cheered.

Trotting over to the Animal Care group leader, Sparkler, I listened as she instructed the Animal Wakers (Fluttershy helped in that area, not surprising) and sent of Rarity and myself to make the nests.

That's when the song began.

“Three months of Winter coolness

And awesome holidays!” Rainbow Dash sang.

“We kept our hoovzies warm at home

Time off from work to play!” Pinkie Pie sang.

“But the food we stored is runnin' out

And we can't grow in this cold.” Applejack sang.

“And even though I love my boots

This fashion's getting old!” Rarity sang, showing off her beautiful yellow boots.

Looking over, I noticed Twilight without a vest, trotting around town with Spike on her back.

“The time has come to welcome Spring,

And all things warm and green,

But it's also time to say good-bye

It's Winter we must clean

How can I help I'm new you see,

What does everypony do?

How can I fit in without magic

I haven't got a clue!” Twilight sang.

“Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up

Let's finish our Holiday Cheer!

Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up

'Cause tomorrow Spring is here! (Cause tomorrow Spring is here!)”

Rarity and I headed in the direction of the Boutique, where the Nest Building Station was made. Both of us eager to finish in time this year.

“Bringing home the southern birds

A pegasus jobs begins

And clearing all the gloomy skies

To let the sunshine in

We move the clouds

And we melt the white snow

When the sun comes up

It's warmth and beauty will glow!” Rainbow Dash, Weather Leader sang.

The town went thru another chorus as the nest supplies arrived at Rarity's. I got to work, quickly putting one together.

“Little critters hibernate

Under the snow and ice.” Rarity sang next to me.

“we wake up all their sleepy heads

So quietly and nice.” I heard Fluttershy sing.

“Help them gather up their food

Fix their homes below!” I sang.

“We welcome back the southern birds

So their families can grow!” The Animal Team sang.

The town entered another chorus, I was carefully putting together the nest to Rarity's Perfection (she tended to take mine once it was done to add some finally changes) and get started on the next within the hour.

“No easy task to clear the ground

Plant our tiny seeds

With proper care and sunshine

Everypony it feeds

“Apples, carrots, celery stocks

Colorful flowers too!

We must work so very hard

It's just too much so do!” Applejack and her team sang.

Another chorus went around, I could clearly hear Pinkie at one point.

“Now that I know what they all do

I have to find my place!

And help with all of my heart

Tough task ahead I face

“How will I do without my magic?

Help the Earth Pony way

I gotta belong so I must to my best today

To my best today!” Twilight sang.

Another chorus went around, everypony cheering and doing their tasks. I could hear Twilight sing the last of it as the music faded away.

I quickly got to work on the nest, making it look pretty with the streamers, sticks and hay. Glancing at all the piles of nesting materials, I knew it was going to be a long day.

It was just about an hour after the song that anything interesting  happened.  Rarity and I had only been having small talk during that time, talking about her sister Sweetie Belle (whom she claimed was a slight annoyance, and somehow manages to liquify toast), that cat that has some kind of vendetta against me and my art, how our respective businesses are going and what would look nice on the basket.

As I finished my first nest (I’d been practicing since last year) I noticed Twilight and Spike approaching. Spike looked a little tired and Twilight looked like she was about to freak-out from the boredom.

“Rarity, Fairy Wishes, please tell me there’s something , anything I can help you with?” Twilight asked while Spike stared at the three now completed nests. I carefully took a few more sticks from our pile to get started on the third.

“Well, how would you like to help create Ponyville’s Finest Bird Nests?”  Rarity asked our friend.

“Birds Nests?” Twilight asked.

“Of course!” I cheered,  “when the Weather Team guides the birds back north for spring they’ll need a place to live and lay their eggs. For as long as I’ve been in Ponyville that job has gone to Rarity and myself, we could sure use a helping hoof.”  Twilight and Spike nodded, giving happy looks to the two already done.

“Wow mares, those two are really beautiful!” Twilight complemented. Rarity and I had colorfully laced some of the streamers into the nests and made fancy red ribbons to show off their newness.

“Oh why thank-you most sincerely.” Rarity said, giving Twilight a knowing look. “Would you like to try your hoof at a nest?”

Twilight looked like we just asked if she wanted to own every book on the planet.

“Would I?!” The purple unicorn cheered. “Yes! Where do I begin?” Twilight looked at all the piles of hay and sticks to be used later.

Rarity lifted one of the baskets in her true blue magic (yes, I believe that is the shade) and poured out the contents in front of Twilight. I watched half-intently so I could focus on my basket.

In the short amount of time, Twilight had organized the supplies. I believe she  did it size, type and space.

“Now, weave them thru there. *boing* Yes! Uh...take some ribbon, yes! No, not there...umm...”

Watching as Twilight tried her hardest to make the nest, I merely listened at this point. It sounded like she had a whole zoo or one of Pinkie’s animal noise makers.

“There!” Twilight finally cheered. “It looks just...like...yours.”

“That nest needs to be condemned!” Spike said in an almost foal-like manner.

“Oh, Spike! It’s not so bad!” Rarity tried.

“It’s certainly better than most ponies on their first tries!” I commented, trying to boost her spirits.

“Spike, it’s just fine. It’s just a little rough around the edges.” Rarity gently shooed Twilight from the table we had set up, working now to try and fix the nest as I added another streamer to mine. Twilight gave us a semi-confident smile that started to fade as Rarity tossed away streamers and sticks from the broken nest.

Something tells me I’ll be working alone for a while.

“Sorry Twilight, good luck with finding your place!” I cheered. Twilight only nodded before walking off with Spike.

Eight hours had passed, so far we had created, umm...I had created fourteen nests, Rarity being at a total of one. I had tried telling Rarity to just put that nest aside so we could get the others done, that it could be used later when we had more nests, but Rarity refused. I swear sometimes that mare is more stubborn than Applejack!

It was around this point, when ponies had shown up and organized our piles. Hay in one pile, sticks in another, streamers in another. It was easier also when other ponies came to help. That, and Rarity giving up on her nest.

Soon we had piles of nests! Tens of piles! While Rarity went to work on them, I was helping others place the nests in the trees. I could almost hear the music from the Winter Wrap Up song playing as all this was done.

Once a majority of the nests were placed, I noticed Spike checking something off a checklist. I guess Twilight put her organizing skills to good use.

Overhead I saw the pegasi make a tornado of clouds, nearly taking all the snow and ice with it. It felt so good to feel the spring sun on my coat. The Mayor had also asked Rarity to make another vest, one just a little different from the rest so I was asked to help make the last of the baskets.

I don’t remember the last time I actually got some rest the night of Winter Wrap Up.

The next morning as the last of the snow melted and animals began to play along the fresh grass, the town of Ponyville gathered just outside of town to see Spring arrive.

“I can’t believe it!” Mayor Ivory Scroll cheered. “Spring is here! On time! And we have you to thank for it.” I noticed Twilight standing next to the Mayor, overlooking the town as well. “If it weren’t for your organizing skills we would still be arguing!”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac agreed.

The whole town laughed at the sentence.

“It was a team effort.” Twilight said, still being oh so humble.

“And because you helped every team we have an official vest for you.”

Rarity trotted up, holding a best with brown borders and blue and green sides. When it was placed on Twilight, she glowed for a small second. As it faded, I could see the vest on Twilight.

“I don’t even know what to say. Thank you everypony!” Twilight cheered.

“And hereby I declare that Winter is...Wrapped Up On Time!”

The town went into hysterics, cheering like they had never cheered before.

“Spike sure gonna be in fer a hog sized surprise when that there last piece of ice melts.” Applejack added.

The group laughed as they noticed the dragon sleeping on a piece of ice, floating out in the lake.

Of course, later a thought came to me.

Wasn’t it summer just last week?