//------------------------------// // Morning 4 // Story: Child of the Fog // by Renaissance Muffins //------------------------------// The fourth morning, sunshine once more. Pinkie awoke, feeling as if something was watching her from outside her bedroom window. She stared outside before opening it and peering around. There was a difference this morning, compared to the others; the fog had receded. Condensed itself to a single area. It sat motionless on a hilltop just outside of the ville and vaguely, she could make out Morning's figure in the center of it all. Closing the window, Pinkie stretched her legs and back and neck. Made sure her mane and tail were in the perfect cotton candy shape. Made small jokes in the mirror for practice, testing how effective they would be. Feeling ready for the day, Pinkie strutted out her door and out of the bakery. Making her way toward the hill, Twilight met her halfway. It was unexpected, but Pinkie didn't mind. Twilight found more information on Morning Fog. An anthology of journal entries that revolved around sightings and and interactions with her. There was one thing that stuck out amongst all of them: emotions. Morning Fog was always trying to capture feeling to teach her children. They always seemed to state that her reason was that she had forgotten how those feelings felt. Twilight added that the golden lilies that Morning Fog gave out did exactly what was described in the first story she read. Good luck would be abound for Pinkie, but she questioned why she would give it to Pinkie in the first place. Furthermore, she never recalled the anthology of journals being in her library before. Perhaps Morning Fog was calling out to Twilight as well, only in a more subtle way. What if it was all a trap? Was there some other purpose? Twilight's mind rattled with questions and hypotheticals. Pinkie asked Twilight to come with her, saying that it might be easier to find out if she simply came along. So she did and the two ventured into the thick fog that cloaked the tree line on the hill. Entering the fog was strange. It was warm and cold at the same time, but it was also wet. Pinkie lead Twilight to the center of the fog, the peak of the hill where Morning Fog sat patiently, waiting, expecting. “Ah, so you both came. Good.” “Both? I thought you wanted just me.” Pinkie answered with slight confusion. “Joy is good to express with friends that are close to you, is it not?” Pinkie nodded. “Laughter, kindness, and friendship. These are three things that can bring joy. There are other things that can bring joy: a good story, growth, and dedication.” Morning Fog brought a hoof to her heart, lowered her head and continued, “All of these were things that we've forgotten – that I've forgotten, after hundreds of years of living. I'm sure you remember that, Pinkie.” Morning raised her her head and looked at Twilight, “Twilight, you've read various tales I've left for you in the books I snuck into your library. I have slowly been collecting those emotions I've asked for all to create the golden lilies that I've left behind. Magic, as you know, is strongly influenced by emotion and thought.” Twilight nodded in agreement. “It was all to create the golden lilies. These Children of the Fog you see around you.” She paused, letting the eyes of her children open with their bright and glowing eyes. Twilight and Pinkie both glanced around, then to each other, then looked back at Morning. “They're collections of the emotions I've gathered and this fog is how it has manifested. I'm not really sure why they have eyes and their behavior reminds me of children curiously exploring. They... seem to talk to me as well. It's strange and yet, comforting at the same time.” Morning Fog changed the topic. She asked what Pinkie had learned about joy. Pinkie described to her memories that made her feel the most joyful. Described moments that made her happy. Even moments that were, bittersweet. When sadness met with happiness, hand in hand. She shared a the story when her and Twilight first met and the party that she threw for her. Twilight shared in her story there, pointing out moments that were big points in the party. Even if it was slightly embarrassing. Pinkie even told a couple of good puns, which Morning Fog smiled at. She didn't seem to laugh easily but it was clear she understood the joke. Twilight then told a story of her own that brought her joy. When she began to teach Starlight Glimmer her friendship lessons after getting trapped up in her own time traveling spell. Other incidents involved small things, like organizing her books, reading fantastic tales of adventures in far away lands. She told of several events where she and all of her friends helped out the Yaks after an avalanche. Something that made everyone happy in the long run. Even though Pinkie had trouble trying to figure out what to do, the problem was eventually solved. Morning Fog was intrigued and asked Twilight to tell another story if she didn't mind. Pinkie suggested the day when they found out Princess Cadance was pregnant with Shining's baby. Twilight gladly told that story, recalling how happy she was to her that she was going to be an aunt. She also told the story of the first time she had to babysit her and the lesson she had learned about babysitting Flurry Heart. Twilight then asked if Morning Fog if she had any memories that she cherished. Morning Fog sat a moment, recalling her memories. “I suppose it was when I first learned how to make the golden lilies. My mother had one planted in the garden, but I never saw it. One day, she taught me how to make my own. These lilies weren't flowers you could just plant, they had to be created. Crafted from from emotions straight from the heart.” Morning's face turned blank, passive, unreadable. “My mother created one for me. I named it, nurtured it, kept it in a vase on my desk. I was so happy at the time.” She sighed longingly, “I hadn't noticed the changes in my mother at first, but as time went on, I found out why she changed so much. Why she seemed like a shell of her former self for the longest time. When one creates a golden lily, it takes away all and any emotion the caster uses to create it.” Twilight interjected, concern washing over, “That's just like changeling magic. Only, they used to feed on love, not every emotion.” “I know. I found this out when I had created my own for a farmer who had cared for not only his crops, but a number of small gardens as well. It was also then, that I discovered doing so eliminated the fog.” Morning replied. “You're still going to give us both lilies despite what's going to happen to you?” Pinkie asked, her ears drooped. “Yes.” “You can't stay?” Pinkie asked, all puppy-eyed. “I cannot. I have a feeling that I am needed elsewhere soon. I'll be sure to visit.” Morning spread her wings, straightened up her back, and closed her eyes. The fog shifted, crawling towards a small orb of light that began to form just in front of her muzzle. Slowly, the fog began to go from a slight breeze, to a strong wind that could knock over Pinkie and Twilight. The light became blindingly bright as more fog collapsed into the orb. Twilight and Pinkie both covered their eyes as their manes fluttered with the gusting wind. A few moments later, the light began to dim, the wind stopped. Twilight and Pinkie both opened their eyes to see the fog had cleared and before their front hooves, sat two golden lilies. They looked up to see Morning Fog barely visible. “Morning... are... are you okay?” Twilight worriedly asked. “That... took a bit more out of me than I thought it did.” Morning's face was like stone, remaining unchanged at the dark humor. “I'm sure I'll be fine, it'll just take some time.” Pinkie added to the joke, “If you vanish, you'll be mist.” It was a few moments of silence before Morning Fog snickered. Some remnant of emotion remained. When she stopped, she became slightly more visible. “Take those lilies, you two. Plant them, water them, and make sure they get plenty of light. They'll bring about good luck for years to come. Whether it be large or small and they will only effect a certain area.” “Are you sure about this?” Twilight asked. Morning nodded. “Thank you.” Pinkie followed up, “Thank you, Morning. Be sure to come back and visit again!” “I promise.” Morning replied. “And now, I must go to other places.” Morning then began to walk away, wandering toward the mountains to the west. Twilight and Pinkie looked at each other and didn't speak another word for the next few minutes. They went back to the castle, wordlessly. They contemplated what to do with their lilies.