Chapter 1: Warming Up and Blanket Madness
In the land of Equestria, ponies of all kinds trotted on all fours living their lives. Earth ponies who helped prepare food and were strong, pegasus ponies helped with creating the weather and other dangers in the air, and the univorns used their magic to help do daily tasks. The ruler, a pony of power and wisdom of all three pony types, Princess Celestia, a white pony who was full grown, with wings and a magic horn raised the sun, and helped rule the land. Along with her blue sister Princess Luna who helped ponies in their dreams, the two ponies helped Equestria be a better place.
Princess Celestia even had a student that she helped train; a purple unicorn named Twilight Sparkle, along with her assistant Spike - a baby purple and green dragon who could walk on his back legs. Celestia had ordered them to move to a town called Ponyville, to make friends. That unicorn was quite the book worm before making friends. Eventually, she made friends and the group of them helped solve many problems. This eventually allowed Twilight to become an alicorn herself and get her very own castle. Twilight was now the Princess of Friendship.
It had been quite some time since Twilight's friend Rainbow Dash - a light cyan blue pegasus who was a great flyer but was stubborn as heck - had accidentally caused a giant snowball to hit Ponyville after creating it at the weather factory in Cloudsdale. Cloudsdale was where pegasus ponies lived, and now that giant snowball had turned Ponyville into a winter kingdom! All because Rainbow didn't want her pet tortoise Tank to hibernate. She was able to get over it though, but the snowy aftermath was stll in progress. It was only three months since the winter takeover.
In her library, Twilight flipped through yet another page of one of her books, reading the content of the words within. As she did so, her mind was focused on the words in front of her. She was reading about the legendary unicorn Starswirl talking with Princess Luna, their conversation about stars, feelings and dreams was amazing! What could be more interesting than reading about two famous ponies-
"TWILIGHT!!!" came a scream from the front door of the castle. Twilight jumped and turned her head to the library door before openning it, and running off in the direction of the scream. As she ran, she could hear heavy breathing.
"Twilight?" a familiar voice asked. Twilight turned her head to see Rainbow Dash. She was breathing heavily, shivering, and wrapping herself in her hooves. She had on her winter clothing, but she was still cold.
"Rainbow Dash!" the alicorn exclaimed with concern. She ran over to her friend, wrapping her wing around her for protection. They carefully trotted through the castle to get to the fireplace.
"Rainbow Dash! Why are you so cold? What happened?!" Twilight asked as the two ponies entered the spare relaxing room, made for relaxing on cold Hearth's Warming Nights. Twilight helped the cyan pegasus take off her clothing, and had her lie down on a cushion near the fireplace. Twilight grabbed a checker-patterned blue, green, and red blanket, and put it on her. After lighting a match, Twilight put it in the fireplace, and let the fire get started.
"I-I was flying over here to see you. Wanted to just hang out. But the weather is colder than normal. Looks like my decision to stop winter came back to bite me back. I've been helping to fix the weather machine, but it still needs work. Sorry," Rainbow Dash explained as she tried to get warm.
"Well, at least you're taking responsibility for your actions. Besides, the weather pegasus ponies did say the weather could change on a whim since the machine is only some-what fixed. So, it's not too surprising. Would you like some hot cider?" Twilight replied. Rainbow's eyes lit up as she nodded fiercely. She would love some hot chocolate right now!
"Okay. I'll be right back!" the alicorn replied happily as she headed towards the kitchen. Once her purple friend was gone, Rainbow Dash wrapped herself more in the blanket, the warmth from the fire now starting to reach her hooves. As she sat quietly, she started to think about Twilight, and how nice it was that she was getting warm inside the Crystal castle.
'It sure was nice of Twilight to let me stay here. I mean, I thought it wouldn't be so cold, but sheesh! Wow, did It get cold after leaving the factory! Should have worn a coat though ... oh well. I got one here. Still, Twilight helped me out when I needed it, and she didn't judge me. And even if she was reading a book, she stopped when I called out to her. She's so kind, willing to do anything for her friends, she's passionate about books and her other interests, always thinking of everything and improvising when she can't. She's just so awesome!' Rainbow Dash thought to herself. As she thought more about her alicorn friend, Rainbow Dash felt a soft, warm, passionate feeling towards The Princess of Friendship. The cyan pegasus felt like she was on cloud nine for some reason. Twilight was just an awesome pony, and friend. She would do anything to help out her-
'Whoa! Wait a minute! Was I really thinking about Twilight like that?! I mean we're friends ... but, come on! I can't like Twilight that much, can I?' Rainbow Dash told herself as she thought about all the qualities she liked about the purple alicorn. As if on cue, her friend walked back into the room with the hot chocolate levitated by her magic. She also levitated a cup for herself as well. Rainbow Dash held the cup of chocolate and took a sip.
"Mmmmm. Thank you Twilight," the cyan pegasus said, after feeling the warm, delicious liquid go down her throat and warming her body.
"You're welcome Rainbow. Anyways, want to just talk?" Twilight replied. Rainbow Dash nodded and they started discussing different topics about Daring Do, activities they were involved in, and other such matters. They eventually finished their hot cider and after Twilight put the cups away, she returned to the relaxing room. However, now she was starting to get cold!
"Hey Rainbow, do you mind sharing the blanket?" Twilight asked kindly. Even though she could levitate a blanket over, why do so when Rainbow could just share the one available?
"Of course," the cyan pegasus replied, opening up the blanket so the alicorn could slip beside her. Twilight happily did so, wrapping the blanket around herself. However, as they sat together, wrapped up in the blanket by the fire, Rainbow was starting to hog the blanket a bit.
"Rainbow, I know you're cold, but I need the blanket too!" Twilight tried to reason, starting to push some of the blanket over to her side.
"Well I was outside longer so I need to stay warm!" Rainbow Dash retorted, tugging the blanket back. Twilight groaned, then pulled. Rainbow Dash groaned, then pulled. It soon turned out neither pony would own most of the blanket and it became a tug of war for who needed most of the blanket! Twilight, Rainbow, Twilight, Rainbow - it lasted a good few minutes!
"I'm cold Twilight!" Rainbow Dash stated, tugging harder on the blanket.
"Well I need it too! I can't get warm if you won't share it!" commented Twilight as she too tugged on the blanket.
The blanket stretched as the two ponies kept fighting over it's precious warmth. Suddenly, the fight came to an end! Twilight used her magic to pull the blanket in her direction to try and get it from Rainbow, but in the process, pulled a bit too hard.
"Wahoooo!" Twilight exclaimed in surprise as both she and the blanket flew backwards off the cushion! Rainbow landed on the pillows with a soft "Oof!", Twilight' magic stopped, and she landed on the floor! The alicorn slowly sat up just as the checker-patterned blanket floated right on top of her, covering her from horn to tail. Rainbow tried to not laugh seeing her buddy stuck under the blanket. She looked both adorable and funny.
"Ahhh! What the? - AHHHHHHHH! Ohhh! Grrrr! Help! Rainbow Dash! Help! I can't see!" Twilight cried out, now flailing about under the blanket, unable to get out. Rainbow smirked, but could't escape laughing.
"Hahahahaha! You look like a ghost, Twilight! Hahahaha!" Rainbow Dash laughed, seeing her friend covered in the blanket. After struggling for a while, -without Rainbow's help no less - Twilight levitated the blanket upward by it's corners. No big deal, she would just get the blanket off herself!
"WAAAAAHOOOOOO!" screamed the alicorn as she was lifted up into the air! Unfortunately, she was also upside down, still tangled up under the blanket. Rainbow's eyes widened as she also smiled.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" the cyan pegasus burst out laughing, rolling around on the floor. Watching Twilight struggle under the blanket, magically hanging upside down was just too funny! Twilight continued to struggle, until she thought of the only option left. Her horn glowed bright purple, then ...
POOF! Twilight teleported out of the tangled blanket, letting it fall before letting out a gasp.
"Rainbow!" Twilight yelled, but was too late! The checker-patterned blanket, still in a tangled mess fell, onto the blue pegasus!
"HHAHAHAHAHA! Twilight, can I - AHHHHHHHHHHHH! Ah! Help! Twilight?! What' going on?!" Rainbow shrieked as the blanket landed on top of her! The pegasus tried to stand up and shake the blanket off but it wouldn't budge!
"AHHHHHHHHH! Grrrr! Twilight! Get me outta here!" Rainbow shouted desperately, frantically trying to get out of the tangled blanket. Twilight couldn't help but giggle.
"Why? You look kind of adorable as a blanket ghost! Besides, I thought you were the one who wanted the blanket?" Twilight replied, a smile going across her face.
"Not like this! Please Twilight! Get this thing off of me!" Rainbow Dash retorted, still tangled and trying to get out. She was now blindingly roaming the room like a real blanket ghost.
"Hold on Rainbow Dash, I'm right here!" the alicorn said as she flew over to her buddy.
"Where? I can't see!" Rainbow responded, her voice muffled under the fabric. Twilight put her hoof carefully over her 'ghost' friend's shoulder.
"Right here. Just stay still," Twilight replied before taking her hoof off and using her magic to carefully get the blanket untangled, and off of the cyan pegasus.
"Phew! Thank you Twilight. I'm sorry I didn't share and got us into this blanket mess," Rainbow apologized.
"Apology accepted. Now, lets just sit in front of the fire and get warm together," Twilight replied as she levitated the blanket as the two friends walked on all fours back to the fireplace. Twilight carefully wrapped the blanket around them. They sat still for a while, each pony lost in thought. After an hour had passed though, Twilight saw Rainbow looked sad.
"Rainbow Dash, what's wrong? Did I hurt you somehow?" Twilight asked cautiously, putting a hoof on her friend's shoulder.
"No. You didn't Twilight. It's just, - I know I was grieving Tank hibernating, but now that I see all the damage I have done, what was I thinking?! I practically have turned Ponyvile into Winter every time one season ends. Spring, then Winter, Summer then half of Summer is Winter! I feel terrible! Didn't want to cause nature to go all wack-a-doodle! I just wanted to spend time with Tank!" Rainbow Dash admitted, now realizing the severity of her actions during Winter last year ... of rather lack of Winter for her case. She sighed, lowering her head in sadness. Twilight immediately put a hoof over the cyan pegasus's shoulder.
"Rainbow Dash, I know how upset you must feel, but you are making things better. I know it doesn't seem like it now, but you're doing the right thing. Once the Weather ponies and you get the weather machine working again, the weather will return to normal. Besides, all our other friends are learning to deal with these adjustments as well as every pony. No pony could have predicted this outcome would happen. Not even you. Trust me Rainbow Dash, things WILL get better. But for now, we can only do what we can for the time being. No pony can go change the past on a whim. Not even Starlight could do that! Every time she did, it only ended in disaster. Still, I'm proud of everything you're doing," Twilight replied. Rainbow looked up at her friend and hugged Twilight. Twilight happily returned the hug.
"Thank you Twilight, I really needed to hear that. Thank you," Rainbow Dash responded happily. Both ponies smiled as they embraced, enjoying their friendship.
This is nice. Twilight helping me, getting me chocolate and a blanket, she's such a good friend! Rainbow Dash thought passionately.
Rainbow is so kind, awesome, easy to talk to, and can be quite a softy at times, Twilight thought sweetly.