After my adventure with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Twilight and I continued to spend the next few weeks researching ways for me to return to Shadow Moses. Although we made some small progresses – Twilight recalled a spell which could temporarily send someone back in time, for example – it still didn’t look as though I would return any time soon. Although I had somewhat adapted to Ponyville by now, I was still clinging to Twilight’s theory that time between our dimensions would pass at different rates, and that I could still complete my mission on Shadow Moses when I returned.
It was evening, and I was currently reading through Star Swirl the Bearded’s Abridged List of Master Spells: Volume Thirteen in the main part of the library. As I idly flipped past the description of how to properly cast an amniomorphic spell, the door of the library opened and Twilight entered. She had left several hours ago to attend a meeting of some sort with the mayor of Ponyville.
“Good evening, Snake,” she greeted me as she slipped off her saddlebags. “How goes the research?”
“Still no progress, unfortunately.” I marked where I was up to with a bookmark (Twilight had been enraged back when she had caught me using a dog-ear to mark my page), and closed the book. I’d been reading for several hours now, and it was getting tedious. “How many of these Abridged Lists did you say there were?”
“Eight more, off the top of my head.” As she spoke, Twilight levitated a carrot out of a small bag, and began to eat it. Evidently she hadn’t eaten at the meeting.
“Eight, huh? Better hope that one of them has this dimensional transport spell we’re looking for.” Until otherwise proven, I was going to assume that Psycho Mantis had somehow physically transported me to Equestria, as opposed to all of this happening in my head. As twisted as his mind was, I couldn’t see why he would be focusing his mental powers on making me think that I was in this land of colourful, talking ponies.
Twilight continued to tell me about the meeting whilst I continued to flip through the Abridged List, only half-listening to her. From what I could gather, there was some sort of event coming up which Twilight was assisting the mayor in organising.
“…and so anyway, in the end we decided that it would probably be best if Cloudchaser went to get the southern birds this time. And then it was all over, and I came back here!”
“Southern birds, huh?” I asked, only catching part of her speech.
I heard Twilight yawning whilst trotting over to the bathroom to brush her teeth, now that she had eaten and finished telling me about her meeting. Once she was done, she came out and asked, “Snake? Are you planning on going to bed anytime soon?”
“Huh? No, I was planning to stay up late again.” The past few nights I had stayed up reading into the early hours of the morning, trying to get the most out the books. Twilight gave me a funny look.
“You do realise that we’ll all have to be up early tomorrow morning, don’t you Snake? It’s Winter Wrap Up!”
“Winter…Wrap Up?” I’d never heard of it before.
“Snake! I mentioned it less than a minute ago!” She had? “It was the whole point of meeting with the mayor – my role in Winter Wrap Up is All-Team Organiser!” I inwardly sighed, knowing now that whatever this was, I wouldn’t be able to get out of it if Twilight was the organiser.
“All-Team Organiser… so what do you organise?” Twilight gave an exasperated sigh.
“I organise all of the ponies into the different teams, and from there their team leaders give them jobs. I also co-ordinate all of the different teams to make sure that they don’t get in each other’s way and that everypony gets their jobs done on time!” I took a moment to process all of this.
“Okay… so what exactly are the teams all doing? What’s the point?”
“To wrap up winter, of course!” she replied. I grimaced. I didn’t like where this was going. “How do you change the seasons where you come from? Do you use magic, like they do in Canterlot?”
“What? No, the seasons change on their own on Earth – we just have to wait.” Twilight had been a bit exasperated, but at this, her look changed to shock.
“The… the seasons change on their own?” I nodded. “And does the weather… always change on its own?”
“Of course it does – humans can’t control the weather like the pegasi can. Haven’t you read about that in any of your books?” Twilight shook her head before giving a small shiver of what seemed to be horror.
“No offence Snake, but it sounds creepy. Sort of like the Everfree Forest…” She had calmed down a bit now that she understood why I hadn’t heard of Winter Wrap Up. “Anyway, tomorrow we’ll have to be up early to help, and- oh my gosh! Snake!”
“What?!” This was getting frustrating – this whole Winter Wrap Up thing was sounding more and more stupid to me.
“I haven’t put you down for a job tomorrow – you weren’t on the list of the local residents, so I didn’t think about it!” Although I showed no outside reaction, this sounded good.
“Not on the list, huh? Guess I’ll stay here and keep r-”
“You can’t stay here all day, Snake!” Twilight interrupted. “You have to set a good example to all of the town’s ponies – some of them are still a bit unnerved around you.” I decided not to mention to Twilight that the majority of the town could go rot for all I cared.
“I can’t really set an example if I haven’t got a job to do, can I?” I asked. I had no idea what wrapping up winter would involve, but I didn’t want any part of it, and this was a good excuse not to participate. This made Twilight think for a minute.
“You’ll just have to find a job to volunteer for whilst I try to find you something,” she finally said. “I did at my first Winter Wrap Up, and that’s how I ended up with the job of All-Team Organiser!” I grimaced again.
“Twilight, I really don’t think that I’m suited to-”
“Snake! Please please please please…” Twilight was jumping up and down on the spot a little – apparently she really wanted me to help.
“Okay, fine,” I finally said. It didn’t look like there was a way out of this.
“Great!” Twilight replied happily. “I’ll have to get up a bit earlier than you tomorrow to go over some last minute details and help organise some things before everypony gets there, but I hope to see you at the town hall for the mayor’s speech at nine o’clock sharp!” Now that I had agreed to help, she was even more excited about Winter Wrap Up than before. I just hoped that there was some sort of husky-sledding job I could help with…
Twilight went to bed soon after that, and after another hour of fruitlessly researching spells, I followed suit.
===================
The next morning, Spike and I got up early, as Twilight had suggested, and got ready for the day’s work after eating breakfast. As Twilight had said, she had woken up earlier than us to help with some last minute details, and was no longer in the house. I was hoping that she could find the time to assign me a job, because I sure didn’t want to have to walk up to different ponies and offer to help them with their work.
“So… what’s your job for Winter Wrap Up?” I asked Spike to break the silence. He was looking incredibly tired from the early start.
“I normally just get asked to help with small jobs here and there,” he answered after a yawn. “Winter really makes me tired.” It made sense, I supposed, seeing as how he was somewhat reptilian. I was barely noticing the cold myself – I was used to weather just as bad as this, if not worse, back in Alaska.
Ten minutes later, we were heading down to the town hall, as Twilight had asked us to. A large crowd of ponies were already gathered around it, in addition to the pegasi who were flying above the crowd. I spotted Rainbow Dash flying around impatiently, although as she was focused on the podium at the town hall, she didn’t see me. Each pony was wearing a vest which was coloured either blue, green, or tan – to protect them from the cold, I presumed.
“Spike! Snake! Over here!” I looked in the direction the voice was coming from to see Pinkie Pie waving a hoof, inviting us to join her. Fluttershy and Rarity were also standing with her. All three of them were wearing vests, just like the rest of the crowd. Spike and I headed over to the group.
“Kept you waiting, huh?” I said to them. “Any sign of Applejack?” I already knew that Rainbow Dash was in the air, and that Twilight was up on the town hall stage somewhere.
“As she is the leader of the plant team,” Rarity began, “she is back on her farm, organising everything for when the rest of the team join her.”
“Plant team?” This was the first that I’d heard of it. “So what jobs do you all –”
“Thank you everypony, for being here bright and early.” Up on the podium, the mayor had started her speech to the crowd. I stopped what I was saying to listen to her. “Most of you should be familiar with how Winter Wrap Up works by now – your vests determine your team, and your team leader shall give you instructions in how you can help wrap up winter.” It suddenly occurred to me that the vests the ponies were all wearing only came in three colours, meaning there were three teams.
“If there are any problems, you should report them to your team leader, who in turn will inform Twilight Sparkle –” the mayor gestured to Twilight, who was standing behind her a little bit, wearing a vest incorporating the colours of all three teams “- the All-Team Organiser. I think that’s all I have to say, so let’s all get started! Good luck everypony!” As the mayor finished her speech, the ponies all cheered, before dispersing to their different leaders.
Spike stayed with Rarity and Fluttershy, who were apparently part of the animal team, as I walked up to the podium where Twilight was talking with the mayor. The mayor had more or less said to report any problems to Twilight, and I was hoping to catch her before she got flooded with demands. I stepped up onto the stage, and opened my mouth to speak to speak to Twilight.
“Three months of winter coolness, and awesome holidays!” Huh? I turned around at the sound of Rainbow Dash, who was … singing, apparently.
“We’ve kept our hoovsies warm at home, time off from work to play.” And now Pinkie Pie had spontaneously joined in. Well, that wasn’t too surprising. Most of the crowd were watching the ponies sing, as though they had been expecting this.
“But the food we’ve stored is runnin’ out- ” wait, where had Applejack come from? “- and we can’t grow in this cold.” This was getting weird now.
“And even though I love my boots, this fashion’s getting old.” I turned back to Twilight as Rarity added in a line. I had no idea why those four ponies had suddenly burst into song, but I was hoping that that would be the end of it.
“Twilight, I –”
“The time has come to welcome spring, and all things warm and green –”
“Twilight! What the hell is going –”
“But it’s also time to say goodbye,” continued Twilight, either not noticing me or not caring. “It’s winter we must clean.” I sighed, and reluctantly followed Twilight as she trotted from the stage and through the crowd, singing all of the way. I was starting to regret agreeing to help with Winter Wrap Up.
“Now I can help – not new you see,
I have got a job to do!
How do I fit in with my planning?
I’ll organise all of you!” As Twilight finished her last line, I caught up to her, and reached out a hand to tap her on the shoulder.
“Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!” I jumped in surprise as all around me, the crowd suddenly burst into song. I winced. Not only was this weird, it was incredibly saccharine. As the crowd sung what sounded like a chorus, I looked to see whether there was a unicorn standing some distance away casting a spell over them – but there didn’t seem to be one. As weird as it was, this must have all been rehearsed and practiced.
“Bringing home the southern birds, a Pegasus' job begins – ” I looked up to see Rainbow Dash singing once more “- and clearing all the gloomy skies, to let the sunshine in. We move the clouds, and we melt the white snow.” I was still following Twilight, who in turn had been following Rainbow Dash with the rest of the crowd. As Rainbow Dash continued singing, Pinkie Pie suddenly joined her.
“When the sun comes up its warmth and beauty will glow!” As the crowd started singing the chorus again, I tried to get Twilight’s attention for a second time, but failed. I had to admit though – the song was pretty catchy. At least the ponies could sing well.
By now, the crowd had reached an area surrounded by trees, small hollows in the ground which I assumed were some sort of animal burrows, and snow, naturally. Rarity had somehow beaten the crowd here, and was assembling what looked to be birds’ nests out of raw materials.
“Little critters hibernate, under the snow and ice –” she began.
“ – We wake up all the sleepy heads,” continued Fluttershy, who was standing by one of the hollows, “so quietly and nice.”
“We help them gather up their food, fix their homes below!” I had thought that Rarity would have been above singing, but it looked as though I was wrong.
“We welcome back the southern birds –” started Fluttershy, before being joined by Rarity in the next line:
“So the families can grow!” Maybe seeing them helping the animals reminded me of my huskies back in Alaska. Maybe I had just spent too long in Ponyville, and I was growing accustomed to all of this. Or maybe my first guess was right, and a unicorn somewhere nearby was casting a spell to make every pony burst into song. But whatever the reason was, I found myself grinning as the song continued.
Just as the chorus was being wrapped up, I suddenly felt an urge. I don’t know what could have brought it on… but I got a sudden burst of emotion. Without warning, I felt ready to express all of my feelings about the Shadow Moses mission, and about what I was supposed to be doing.
“No easy task to fight the ‘HOUNDs,
They’ve got a Hind D.
With my SOCOM and FAMAS,
I will make them bleed.
Psycho Mantis, Liquid Snake,
Vulcan Raven too.
I must stop so many guards,
It’s just so much to do!” I faltered slightly on the last line as I realised what I was doing. Embarrassed, I looked around to see whether any pony had noticed my singing, but I seemed to be in the clear. They were all singing along to their own song, cheerful and oblivious to what I had just been singing about. Up ahead, I could hear Twilight Sparkle singing on her own again, surrounded by a crowd of ponies. I had no idea why she was allowed a solo part, but I assumed that it had something to do with her being the All-Team Organiser.
“Now that I’ve planned what they all do,
I have found my place.
And helped with all of my heart,
Tough task that I once faced.
I can assist without my magic,
Help the Earth pony way!
I wanna belong so I must,
Do my best today,
Do my best today!” The other ponies picked up the rest of the song for what I assumed was one last time as I approached Twilight. I really wanted to talk to her, and find out what sort of job I could do.
“Twilight! I need to speak to you!” The rest of the ponies had finally finished singing their song, and I wanted to get this over with before any other ponies approached her.
“Oh, hello Snake. What did you think of the song?” Twilight smiled as I approached. The crowd was spreading into their individual teams now that the song had been finished.
“The…song?” I took a moment to think before answering. “Yeah, it sounded pretty good,” I replied, deciding not to tell her that it had moved me to singing myself.
“Excellent! A good song always helps get everypony in the mood for Winter Wrap Up!” Well, that explains that, I thought. “Did you manage to find a job to help with?” she asked.
“No, and that’s why I’m coming here now – since you’re the All-Team Organiser, I figured you could get me a job.”
“I suppose I could help,” Twilight replied, “but we’ll have to go back to my office at the town hall – I’ll need to look through the paperwork to see what you’re suited for.” I had been hoping that Twilight would simply suggest a job on the spot, but I supposed that this would do.
Unfortunately, when we reached the town hall, we found a few dozen ponies all standing outside, all of them apparently having been waiting for Twilight to arrive. I had no idea what they were doing here rather than working in their teams, but once they noticed Twilight arriving, they came over and started bombarding her with questions.
“Twilight! Where do I need to go if I’m part of the animal team?”
“Who’s my leader, again?”
“Should I really be on the weather team if I’m not a very good flier?” The questions kept bombarding her without giving her a chance to respond – not that that stopped her from trying. Within moments Twilight was talking to the group of ponies, answering questions and asking her own frantically.
“Just find the rest of your team! Applejack! Has anypony seen my quill? No, there are other jobs to help with! No, you don’t have to help if you’re sick! I need scissors! Sixty-one!” As she was slowly pushed into the town hall by the ponies, she turned to me. “Sorry Snake, it looks like you’ll be on your own for now. I’ll try to help you if I get a chance!”
I grimaced. That would be just my luck. I sighed and started walking over to where Rarity and Fluttershy had been earlier, deciding that offering them help would be as good a start as any. Once I reached the area, I found Rarity weaving nests as she had been earlier.
“Good morning to you, Snake!” she greeted me. “Has Twilight assigned you to help with the nest-making?” I shrugged.
“I haven’t got a specific job at the moment, but it sounds as good as anything else. What can I help you with?”
“If you take these materials here, I’ll show you how to weave it together correctly. You should find this fairly easy, since you have hands rather than hooves,” Rarity replied. I knelt down next to her and started dividing up the materials into individual groups. “Oh, and Snake, by the way?” Rarity asked as I was about to start.
“Yeah, Rarity?” I was unprepared for what she said next.
“That was very good of you to join in our singing earlier. I rather liked your improvised lyrics!” I winced. Damn. Rarity had heard me.
“… Please, let’s not mention this again,” I finally answered.
In the debriefing room, Colonel Campbell was shaking his head slowly at Snake.
“Snake…” he started.
“Yeah, Colonel?” Snake replied.
“Please don’t sing again. Ever. I don’t think my ears could handle that punishment again.” Before asking Snake to continue, he added another note to the piece of paper he had hidden below the table – Likely tone-deaf as a result of being in proximity to too many grenades. Under no circumstances should Snake be allowed to sing.