//------------------------------// // "Charming" // Story: The EK // by Magi Tail Welkin //------------------------------// Down at the North-Eastern Windmill, the cockerel sounded, waking up most of Ponyville, including the Waterbury Family in their new hilltop residence of the Tree Chimneys. The foals sat down to breakfast. The kitchen door opened and Mrs Waterbury came in with a big smile on her face and a hot baking tray with something steaming within it carried with her magic. Stone’s mouth watered and he asked, “What’s that Mummy?” Scribble stopped at the head of the tabled and excitedly answered “Pie!”, the Foal repeated amazed and Mrs Waterbury took a sniff and answered again “Apple pie.” And she put it on table. “Apple pie for breakfast?” Autumn asked, “Then we’re not poor after all.” Mrs Waterbury’s face faltered “This is the supper we should have had, I found it this morning in that little room that we thought was a cupboard, as it turns out it’s a cold room, like a massive refrigerator.” She sat down “So Mr Eyes wasn’t so bad after all.” She took the knife. A knock came from the door. Mrs Waterbury got up and went to it. Firelight got out of her chair and started cutting the pie up. Scribble opened the door. A Pegasus stallion, with a white coat, wavy two-tone black mane and tail, gold eyes, and a cutie mark of a telescope, stood there. Scribble smiled “Good morning, can I help you?” “I hope so Madam, I’m Starry Eyes.” “Oh, do come in. We’ve just been talking about you.” “Thanks,” he stepped in and explained “Sorry I couldn’t be here when you arrive I was up in Cloudsdale.” “Oh, why so?” “I’m a Wonderbolt Reserve.” “Really?”, he nodded “But I did arrange things with Pinkie Pie and Applejack.” He looked at the table “I see you found the supper Applejack supplied,” he frowned “Funny time to have it though.” Scribble explained, “Oh I see.” He went to the broom cupboard and pulled out a borrow with his wings “We’ll I’d better get started on this job, I’m saving up for a new telescope.” “Oh?” “My special talent is astronomy and a little astrology.” He then started grumbling “I’m still kicking myself for not noticing those four stars moving on the Summer Sun Celebration Nightmare Moon returned. Still, thank Celestia Princess Twilight and her friend got things sorted out.” After breakfast, the foal went out to explore the local area. The ran along a long field and stopped at wooden fence. The looked down and saw the railway line. The stood at the top of an embankment close to a tunnel. A whistle sounded from within at and a train steamed out. A six coupled tender engine, meaning six driving wheels, with a smart green livery. The foals watched from the fence as it thundered past, it disappeared behind some trees and before long it’s five couched left their view as well. Firelight spoke first “It was like a great dragon tearing by.” Autumn turned to the tunnel “A dragon’s house looks like that tunnel.” Stone smiled “I never thought we’d ever get close to a train as this.”, Firelight smirked “Better than toy engines, isn’t it?”, Stone looked back to the tracks “Don’t know. It’s different. It seems so odd to see all of a train, it’s so tall, I’ve always seen them cut in half by platforms.” Autumn spoke up “I wonder if that train is going to Canterlot? Canterlot’s where Daddy is.” Firelight turned to her “We don’t know that Autumn.” “He might be.” Firelight considered. Then she and her siblings climbed over the fence and walked down the embankment to the lineside. Stone looked down the track to the tunnel, but he stayed on the side of the line. The fillies decided to stay off the tracks as well. The followed the stretch of rails and then they saw the station. Stone continued for a few steps then looked back as his sisters, before quickening his pace toward said station, the fillies caught up. They stepped onto the platform and continued walking. Stone stopped at a face and peered over. A pile of coal with a white line stood behind it, and behind the pile a brick wall with a hole in it leading to the fields on the hill. A bell sounded and they continued exploring the station. No-pony seemed to be getting any train. Stone checked the waiting room, empty, so he returned to his sisters. They then looked through the window of the Station Master’s House. Not his actual house, more the reactional building for the station staff, the main rooms being the Station Master’s Office, the tea room and the bedroom upstairs for the Night Porter. In the window of the office they saw a pony leaning on a chair with a copy of the Equestria Daily covering his face, no doubt the station master slept. The headline of the paper grabbed the foal’s attention ‘Buckminster Baddy Banged-up by Bard.’ A bell rang again and the Station Master jumped awake. He pulled the paper off his face and grabbed his hat. He scrambled out of the door and turned to the crossing gates. Stone spoke up “How do you do?”, the station master turned “What?” “How do you do?” Stone repeated. “How do.” The station master responded, his back hooves twitched. Stone asked, “Can I ask you a couple of question?”, the station master grabbed his pocket watch “Well, that does depend on what they are, I can’t spend all day in conversation with the junior public.” He started shuffled down the platform but kept his eyes on Stone “Now what are they?” “Well,” Stone called down “firstly what’s that white line on the coal heap for?” “That’s to tell how much coal there in case any-pony steals it.” He shuffled closer to the gates “Second question please.” “Do you know anything about engines?” “Do I know anything about engines? Why?” “Because I’ve got one.” “Got one? What gauge?” he called back. “Oh, I don’t know anything about gauges.” He held up his hooves to about the length of his model “It’s about this big. It’s brass. And it blew up!” “It blew up?” He turned to the gates “Just excuse my young sir I’ve a lot to do because the signal pony’s having his tail cropped at the Day Spa. And Perks must be about it.” He galloped to the gates. “Perks?” Stone frowned “Who’s Perks?” At the gates the Station Master looked offend “Me sir, I’m Perks!” he then quickly proceeded to open the for gates with the speed and dexterity of a silent film comedian. Perks rushed over to the levers of the points and pushed one back into place with the others before pulling another toward him. He then pulled out his pocket watch from his waistcoat and grinned as a whistle sounded “Right on time.” “What is?” Stone called. As a train approached Perks pointed “This here’s on time. The Bridle City Express.” A large black tank engine with six large coupled wheels at the front followed by a single pair of trailing wheels steamed through with four coaches. When it left, Stone looked back to Perks “Why is it going so slowly Mr Perks?” Perks returned the signal levers back into their original position and looked up “Well, it’s mostly up hill to Bridle City Port, isn’t it?”, he then went to the gates at a slower pace not with any through trains scheduled for a long while. Autumn looked to her siblings “That trains headed to Bridle City, it’s an important place, maybe Daddy’s there.” Firelight smiled softly “Perhaps Autumn.” In their bedroom, the fillies shared their bed. Firelight heaped on another blanket. With most of her face under the sheets Autumn spoke up “I don’t think we’re going to enjoy being poor, you know? Being cold at night and all that.” Firelight slipped into the sheets “Try to imagine it as an adventure. All sorts of thing might happen, Mother could write about it, write a book, you never know. We won’t always be poor Autumn, I’m sure.” “Alright, goodnight.”, Firelight turned the light off with her magic “Goodnight.” And she rolled onto her side. A moment’s pause and then Autumn spoke her mind, very much like her father “Still cold though.” In her room, Scribble sat in bed with a writing desk. She manoeuvred her quill with her magic and spoke out her story “…lightly on the cheek.” She coughed before continuing “One of the stallions, in a bowler hat opened the door. Father did not turn away from Mother when the stallion did so. But left without a word.” She levitated the page and carefully put it next on the pile with the others. She put the quill into the inkwell before she rubbed her hooves covered by socks. She coughed again. Took out the quill and started on a new page. Next morning the foals went down to the end of the field to the fence. They could hear a train coming. Autumn spoke “Why don’t we ask the next train to take our love to Daddy?” Stone snorted “Trains don’t carry people’s love, they’d be above that.” “Yes, they do.” Autumn replied, “If you domesticate them first.” She then looked back at them “I wonder why Daddy hasn’t written to us?” “Mummy says he’s too busy. He’ll write soon she says.” “Well,” Autumn said “Why don’t we wave anyway? Three waves won’t matter, we won’t miss them.” A whistle took their attention. Out of the tunnel came a tender engine. Painted with handsome maroon livery with polished metal and cooper fixtures. A four-wheeled front bogie and two pairs of large driving wheels. It pulled three coaches, the only at the back looked like a dining or an observation coach with large windows and comfortable seats seat before tables. The foals smiled and started waving. The train passed with no-pony initially taking notice, except one. Sitting at the back of the special couch, a mature and strong built, blue coated Unicorn with a fine flowing mane of white, a compass rose cutie mark, dressed in a waistcoat and multiple frilled red cravat, looked up from his newspaper and saw the three of them, his smirked and folded his newspaper so to waved it at them as he passed. Then with them behind him he smiled “Charming,” he said before reopening his newspaper “Charming.” He started reading again. At night Stone readied himself, dressed in black he stuffed his pillow under his sheets. Switched his light off and quietly went to his before. An owl hooted outside his window. Slowly and surely, he descended the starts and carefully traversed the kitchen to the door. He opened it and exited into the night. Once he shut the door to the Three Chimneys he galloped through the yard and down the field to the wall beside the station. He carefully inched through the hole in the wall and stepped onto the top of the coal heap. He took of his woollen hat and started loading lumps of coal into it. On the station platform Perks shut the door to his office. Stone’s back hoof lost it place and slipped onto his stomach. Some of the coal slipped and rumbled off. The small rockslide caught Perk’s attention. Stone leaped through the hole and ran off, disturbing a cat, it meowed. Perks shook his head and walked off “About time they had that tom seen to.” Stone meanwhile ran to up the hill back home. At breakfast Mrs Waterbury address the others “The coal in the little shed has held up good Flame.”, Flame being to more common nickname for Firelight, Mrs Waterbury put her daughter’s breakfast down and continued “There was hardly any yesterday when I looked.” Firelight said digging in and suggested “Well, we’ve only had one fire.” Mrs Waterbury replied, “I know, but I would swear there was more than when we arrived.” She turned back to the cooker and Firelight responded, “That’s silly.” Stone gulped “Of course it’s silly.” He put his spoon down and rubbed his hoof on his trousers. Once more at the coal heap Stone took lump after lump, this time he used an old pram he found left in a narrow street of Ponyville while exploring the town. Having filled it up he started pulling it up the hill. He wished he did have magic, then he could see where to go and merely drag the pram behind him by whatever colour aura he possessed. As he near the yard of the Three Chimneys one of the back wheels of the pram hit a fallen piece of branch and it came off. The coal split. Stone hastily grabbed what he could carry and rushed to the little shed. Lobbed the lump in then turned back and jumped backwards into the wall in shock. Firelight and Autumn stood there, his eldest sister spoke “So it’s you Stone.” “It’s me what?” “It’s you who’s been putting the coal in the shed, but where from Stone for Celestia’s sake?” “From the coal heap, of course, they’ve got stacks of it there.” “But that’s stealing!” “Wasn’t stealing, it was mining. I took it from the top, that’s mining not stealing. If it was, all the miners in the world would be in jail.” “Oh Stone.” Firelight said shaking her head. Autumn repeated, exactly. Firelight looked back at her sister a little confused, but then returned to her brother “We’ll have to take it all back.” “What?” Stone exclaimed “All of it.” Firelight repeated, and then Autumn repeated it. Stone sighed and turn to the shed “Can’t be anything wrong in trying to keep your own Mother warm, that can’t be wrong.” “It’s alright Stone.” Autumn said, “At least we can burn the evidence.”, Firelight turned to her sister and gave her a truly stern look. Mr Perks fumed at them, Stone most of all “Look at you. So smartly dress and all. Poorer ponies have to scrimp and save for coal, you’re lucky you came here to Ponyville, not somewhere like the Hollow Shades.” “No,” Stone said “at our other house we always had fires when it was cold, and usually woodfires, or gas in the breakfast room. But now Mother says we’re too poor to have fires now.” “Stone.” Firelight said sternly. Mr Perks raised an eyebrow. Sounds of hooves caught their attention. At the door to the office stood a white Earth Pony with a white coat deep reddish pink mane, stick out from underneath his golden armour walked in “You called Mr Perks?” “Yes, sir Mr Blade.” He explained about the robbery “But young master Stone here says their now poor.” Chrome Blade sighed “Actually they are.”, Perks blinked and Chrome explained about Mrs Waterbury having to letting off house staff and then the arrangement with Princess Twilight to relocate them to Ponyville, Chrome then looked at the colt “Now, are you sorry?” “Yes, but Mother’s gets ill easily when she gets cold.” “Ah, so it wasn’t selfish, desperate times call for desperate measures.” He turned back to Perks “I’ll explain this to Mrs Waterbury, but I don’t think this calls for any drastic punishment. A day or two’s grounding.”, Perks nodded “Thanks for coming Mr Blade.” “That’s what the Guard is for.” He turned back to the foals “Come on I’ll take you home. But remember, stealing is stealing however you do it”, they nodded and followed the Guard-pony. A few days later Stone, having finished his grounding ran from town up to the Three Chimneys. Firelight and Autumn currently sat in the Schoolhouse being taught by Miss Cheerilee, Stone having been grounded for most of the day couldn’t attended today. The colt ran up to the door with a paper bag on his back. He stopped at the door and would have knocked but it opened and Starry Eyes look ready to leave in a bit of a rush. But Stone stopped him and give him the bags “Here we are Starry I’ve got the buns for tea.” “Buns?” Starry said taken him in hoof. Stone nodded “Mummy sold her story and…” he stopped when the Pegasus looked down worried, “Mr Eyes what’s the matter?” “It’s your mother master Stone she’s very poorly, she can’t get out of bed, you’d better go to the hospital and get either Doctor Horse or Nurse Redheart, preferably both.” “Right.” Stone turned and galloped back the way he came. The door shut behind him and he shouted back “Don’t let her die Mr Eyes!” He almost stumbled as he reached the crossroad into town. Suddenly he stopped remembering, he didn’t know the way to Ponyville General Hospital. Then he heard the trundle of a cart, he turned and smile, Mr Cipher and his post cart, he would know the way, he cupped his hooves over this mouth “Mr Cipher!”, the Reformed Changeling Post-stallion stopped “Yes, Stone?” “How do I get to the hospital?” “I’ll be passing it on my route, hope on.” He glanced at his passenger “Give the colt some room Riolu.”, the bipedal canine nodded and shuffled to give stone some room. Once on Cipher gave slammed his reins down and the cart took off as fast as it could. Once they reached the hospital Stone jumped off and ran into the reception. He almost collapsed at the desk. The mare at the desk leaned over “Can I help you?” “Yes,” Stone said in between gasping breaths “Mrs Waterbury, Three Chimneys, very ill, Mr Eyes said, call Doctor Horse, or Nurse, Redheart.” The mare nodded “Doctor Horse is busy, but Nurse Redheart is available.” She pressed the speaker “Nurse Redheart report to reception, Nurse Redheart wanted at reception.” She pointed to one of the chair “Wait there until she arrives.”, Stone nodded and sat down, his legs twitched and he glanced about. “You wanted me.” A voice said, Stone turned and saw a mare standing at reception. White coated, pink mane and tail, blue eyes, and a cutie mark of a red medical cross with a pink heart in each corner. She wore a nurse's cap with emblem of the same design as her cutie mark. Stone blinked and spoke up “Are you Nurse Redheart.”, the mare turned “Yes?”, the receptionist explained, the nurse’s eyes widen, she walked up to Stone “Come with me, I’ll get my equipment and then we’ll get to the Three Chimneys as quickly as possible.” The foals and Starry Eyes waited outside the door to Mrs Waterbury’s room. The clock tower struck, the bang sounded ominous. The door opened and Nurse Redheart came out “It’s the flu, nothing fatal. But she’ll have to stay in bed, I’ll come back as often as possible, but I can’t stay, so,” she turned to Firelight and grinned “In my absence, you’ll be Head Nurse.”, Firelight nodded, Redheart grinned “Good, I’ll send down some medicine, keep a good fire going and some strong herbal tea the moment the fever goes.” She pulled out a list “She can have the grapes now and the soda water, and maybe a bottle of cider to warm her up and make her sleepy.” She handed the list to Firelight who nodded. Nurse Redheart smiled and opened the door “You can go in and see her now.”, Firelight nodded “May I have the list?”, Redheart nodded and gave it to her. Redheart closed the door, she noticed Autumn’s sad expression “Don’t worry dear, your sister’s Head Nurse, but you can be Matron.”, Autumn grinned widely “Thank you.” In the bedroom, Scribble read the list and gave a sad chuckled “Nonsense I can’t afford all that. I haven’t an idea in my head for a story so there won’t even be bun for tea for quite some time.” She gave list back to Firelight. “No,” Firelight said, “I O N.” “Are you sure?” Autumn asked. Three fouls stood in the coal shed, white sheet strung up and held in stretched out. Paint on in large black letter ‘LOOK OUT AT THE STAT…’, Autumn took the brush from Firelight and finished the word station, she stepped back “There! That should do it. Look out at the station.” Firelight smirked “Definitely one of you best works Vincent van Colt.” The maroon locomotive with the special couch steam out of the tunnel. The blue Unicorn look out of the window and blinked. He saw the colt who waved with the two fillies at the fence point with his hoof to the cloth with ‘Look out at the Station.’ Painted on, he didn’t know quite what to make of it. The train started to slow and he heard Perk call out “Ponyville Station. Ponyville.” He got out of his chair and went to the open window of one of the doors. He peered out. One of the fillies ran along the platform, several of the passengers in the coaches in front looked out as well. The filly spotted him and rushed up “Oh, I thought I’d missed you, you are the stallion who waves to us aren’t?” “Yes, my dear I wave.”, she gave him a letter and said sweetly and desperately “Oh, please take this, we chose you because you had such a kind face…” “Mind the gap please Miss.” Perks said getting her to move back, he nodded to the blue Unicorn “Sir.” He turned to the guard “Right away Mr Mikado.” “Thank you, Mr Perks.” Mikado blew his whistle and flew his flag. He hopped into the open door at the back of the coach and shut the door behind him. The driver blew the engine whistle and pulled the regulator, the locomotive pulled away. As it did the filly wave to the blue Unicorn, he waved back before ducking back into the coach and taking his regular seat. He glanced at the filly running out of the station before he opened the letter. Finely written it read ‘Dear Sir. Forgive us for asking this of you but we have little alternative in our current state of affairs. Our Mother has become dreadfully ill and we are unable to afford the necessaries to help her recover as recommended by Nurse Redheart. We humbly ask if you would be kind enough to be the patron of our needs. You appear a kind soul and thus we hope you are so. Enclosed is a list of the recommended items. Please sir, she is the only parent with us at this moment in time. Signed Firelight, Autumn and Stone Waterbury.’ “Waterbury?” the stallion mutter, the name sounded familiar. But what kind of gentle-colt would he be if he didn’t help a sick mother and a trio of desperate children. He read the list and smiled, he would do some shopping in Canterlot during his lunch break, have the items sent to Ponyville Station and have Perks deliver them. In the early evening, Perks, in his best suit and hat, must look smart when going to see a sick lady, his mother always said, slowly pulled the cart with wicker basket up the pathway from the station, up the hill to the Three Chimneys. He stopped at the wall dividing the field and the roadway. Unhooked himself and took the basket in both forehooves. Walked up to the gap in the wall, but at the height he carried it the basket hit the wall. He lifted it up onto the top of the wall and ducked under. Too small. Took his head off and put it on top of the basket. Even still, quite a squeeze. On the other side, he put his hat back on his head. Grabbed the basket and trudged to the door. He kicked at the door. It opened and Stone smiled “Good evening.” “Evening.” Perks said try to shuffle into the narrow doorway. The fillies came rushing up and help him get the basket through. With the basket on the floor he stood up and properly addressed the three “Good evening, the name’s Perks, but I believe we’ve met.” “Yes,” Stone said, “you were busy because the signal-pony was having his tail cropped in the spa.” Perks nodded “Yes, even busier now because he slipped on a bit of water floor and broke his daft leg.” He pointed to the basket “The Director asked me to fetch this up straight away.” Firelight narrowed her eyes “The Director?” “Yes, Lord Blue Moon, the Viscount Boxer, he’s Chair of the Board of Directors of the Equestrian Nation Railway, the gentle-colt on the 9:15 train.”, the foals’ eyes widened. Stone stuttered his response “Thank you very much, Mr Perks. I’m very sorry but I don’t have any money to pay for your services like Father does.” Perks held up his hoof “Stop that please. I wasn’t thinking about any money. I just came to say how very sorry I am to hear your Mom is unwell, and to ask her how she finds herself this evening. Oh, and I’ve,” he took his hat off and pulled out from inside it, a small bunch of flowers “I’ve brought her a small bit of sweetbriar rose,” he took a sniff “very sweet to smell. Money indeed.” He turned to Stone, the colt spoke “I’m sorry about the money.” “No offence taken, just to show it, I’ll, have a look at that little blown up brass engine of yours.” Stone smiled widely and ran to his room. The fillies started to move the basket, Perks gave them a hoof. Then Stone rushed back with the little toy, Perks blinked at the state “That’s it?” He took the loose pieces from Stone’s hoof “A bit of a mess, isn’t it? Still I’m see what I can do, I may need to talk with Doctor Time Turner. Good Evening.”, the foals said his goodbyes and he left. Blue Moon looked expectantly at the window, a couple of days ago, he gave the Waterbury foals a basket full not only of what they requested for the health of their mother Mrs Scribble Waterbury, but after recalling who they indeed were he took the liberty of supplying them with few luxuries he no doubt knew they missed. He even wrote so in his letter to them, he could still remember the words ‘Dear Firelight, Autumn and Stone. Here are the things you want. Your mother will want to know where they came from, so please ask her to forgive me for taking the liberty of allowing myself a great pleasure. Yours Sincerely, Blue Moon, the third Viscount Boxer, Chair of the Board of the Equestrian National Railway.’ They passed the waving point and he smiled and waved. The Waterbury foals stood waving next to another sheet with ‘She is well, thank you.’ Painted on it. It made his heart warm. Mrs Waterbury spoke sternly to her children “So that is an end to it.”, they nodded. Scribble continued “Now listen, it’s quite true that we are poor, but we shall have enough to live if I have ideas for stories. But you mustn’t go about telling ponies about our affairs it isn’t right and you must never, never, never ask strangers to give you things. Always remember that.” “Yes Mummy.” They said solemnly together. Scribble went to her desk “I shall write to Viscount Boxer and I shall tell him that I didn’t approve, I will thank him too of course, for his kindness, but it’s you that I don’t approve of, not the Viscount, he’s been extremely kind, you can give my letter to your Mr Perks to give to him.” She went to the door, just before she closed it she readdressed them once more “We won’t say any more about it.” And she shut it, almost in a slam. Stone didn’t turn to his sisters but uttered “Isn’t see marvellous when she’s angry?” Nurse Redheart walked down the streets of Ponyville on her day off from the hospital. She came up to the bridge and found Firelight sitting beside it at the river. She called down “Hello head nurse.” Firelight looked up and smiled “That’s funny, I was thinking about you. I want to talk to you Nurse.” “Your mother’s not worse I hope?” “No, but…” “Come on.” The nurse walked onto Firelight’s side of the bridge “We’ll go for a walk.”, Firelight got up and joined the nurse. As they slowly walked on a scenic route towards the Three Chimneys Firelight explained “It’s rather hard you see, to explain because of what Mother said.” “What did your mother say?” “She said I wasn’t to tell every-pony that we’re poor. But you’re not every-pony, aren’t you?” “Not at all. Well?” “Well I know doctors and nurses are expensive, but Mr Eyes said his nurse,” she glanced at Redheart, the nurse smirked and Firelight continued “only costs him a bit a week because he belongs to a club.”, Redheart nodded “Yes?” “Well, could we join your club to please? The same as Mr Eyes?”, the nurse’s eyes widened and she became silent for a moment or two. Firelight grew concerned “You aren’t cross with me, are you?” “Cross?” Nurse Redheart said as a smile grew on her face “Why would I be cross with you? You’re a very sensible young mare. Don’t you worry, I’ll sort it out with your mother, even if I have to make a special, brand new club just for her.” They stopped at the door to the Three Chimneys and Firelight smiled with a nod went to the door. Once the door shut Nurse Redheart made her way round the back. In the kitchen, Autumn and Stone, dressed more finely than usual walked up to her “Flame,” Autumn said in an exact and almost scripted voice “you’re to tidy yourself up in here.” She presented a ribbon “Here’s a new ribbon for you.” A little bell rang, Stone and Autumn glanced to the door “There that’s to show the surprise is ready, when the bell rings again you can come into the dining room. Come on Stone.” And the two younger falls walked up past her. Alone Firelight starred unsure at the ribbon, then realisation dawned on her “Of course.” She rushed to a mirror and took her apron off, her light purple dress would be suitable but she needed to tie the ribbon to her mane. She just did so when the bell rang again. She started to trot to the dining room, then stopped and began walking. She opened the door. In the room stood her mother, siblings, Mr Eyes, Mr Perks and Nurse Redheart. A table sat in the middle with a cake. “Happy Birthday Firelight.” They said together. Firelight didn’t know what to think, bittersweet would be the best description. She stepped in and passed every-pony who gave her a present of some kind. Two little books from Nurse Redheart and Mr Eyes. A brooch of buttercups from her mother. Stone held out the cake with its lit candle “I helped Miss Pie bake it.” He said. Firelight tried to blow the candle out but couldn’t. Autumn gave her a crown of flowers “Happy Birthday Lanky.” She said before hugging her. “She was beautiful as a butterfly…” Perks sang as he presented her with flowers “Proud as a Queen… Was pretty little Polly Perkins… Of Hoofington Green.” He flourished his hat and held up a glass of cider “Many happy returns.” “Thank you.” Firelight said with tears in her eyes, she turned to Autumn “Lanky indeed.” She chuckled. Stone whispered, “I hope you enjoy the cake.”, Firelight nodded “It looks lovely, thank you very much.” She walked up to her mother and whispered, “Wouldn’t have Daddy have loved this?”, Mrs Waterbury’s face quivered slightly before she nuzzled her daughter. After the party, Perks wen to the door “Thank you very much Mrs Waterbury.” He called “Have a goodnight. Goodnight Firelight, happy birthday!” and he walked back to town laughing. On her bed and Autumn’s bed, her sister already under the sheets, Firelight looked over her presents, then she looked around for the brooch. She realised she left it in the dining room so went to get it. She entered and immediately found it. She turned to leave when she heard a deep sob and she looked up. He mother sat in a chair by the fireplace looking up at the picture of Mr Waterbury sitting on the mantelpiece. Firelight took a step forward, but then she turned back and headed to her room wondering what caused her mother to weep.