//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 - Winter Wrap Up // Story: Guardian of Legends - Unity // by The Hero of Harmony //------------------------------// Golden Oak Library - Ponyville Early Morning Day before Spring Three months of winter has passed, the new year has begun recently, but like most things in life it has to come to an end. Today was a special day for those in Ponyville, as it marks the final day of winter before the coming of spring the next day. It is early in the morning, rather chilly, Celestia hasn't raised the sun as of yet. Both Spike and Twilight were asleep in their beds, with Spike snoring peacefully. Suddenly, as if an internal alarm clock goes off, Twilight wakes right up with a happy sounding gasp, as she gets out of bed excited. "Spike, wake up. Wake up, wake up, it's Winter Wrap Up day!" She exclaimed while giving a soft nuzzle on Spike's cheek and smiling brightly at the baby dragon. Spike stirs awake, half asleep as he looks tiredly at Twilight. "Huh? Mommy?" Spike uttered. "Winter Wrap Up!" Twilight replied, passing an annoyed look at the baby dragon, and zips off the bed. Spike groans and falls back to sleep. "You're not my mommy." Twilight rushes over and turns the lights on, as she goes and gets things straightened up, fixing a nearby picture frame on the wall. "Spike, the first day of spring is tomorrow, so everypony in Ponyville needs to clean up winter. Now help me get ready." She explained, as she hops into her yellow boots. "Clean up winter...?" Spike asks from under his blanket as he sits up. "Who cleans up winter? Don't they just use magic to change the seasons like they do in Canterlot?" He asked, looking down at Twilight, who was trying to get her saddle on her back. "No Spike, Ponyville was started by Earth ponies, so for hundreds of years they've never used magic to clean up winter. It's traditional." Twilight happily explained to Spike as she got the saddle on. Only for it to come right off and hit the floor, leaving Twilight to sigh. Spike simply scoffs at the very notion of no magic being used to change winter. "It's ridiculous. No magic... Fuh." He grumbled as he ends up trying to fall back to sleep under his covers. Twilight ignored him, as she got her saddle back on, tightening it so it would stay on. She then grabs her pink striped scarf off its hanger and proceeds to grab her checklist that was resting on the wall. "Okay, let's see: scarf, check; saddle, check; boots, check; Spike refusing to get up and going back to sleep..." She looked up and seeing him doing just that. "...Check." She finished as she checked it off the list. "It's a good thing I'm so organized, I'm ready." She then heads to the door and opens it up, and happily tells the world she was ready. "Bright and early!" Twilight then looks around and saw that it wasn't even light out yet and still night as the crickets chirped. She then sheepishly chuckles. "Oh... maybe a little too early." She said to herself, looking a bit embarrassed. Silver's House - Ponyville Outskirts Half an hour later Silver has been awake for nearly half an hour. He decided to get his morning routines done before heading to town to help with Winter Wrap Up. Having grown up in Canterlot, he was only familiar with magic being used to change the season from winter to spring, but during his studies as a colt he read up on some historical events in several parts of Equestria with Winter Wrap Up being one of them. It fascinated him that ever since the founding of Ponyville, earth ponies would deal with cleaning up winter in a very literal sense just in time for spring. A tradition, even after hundreds of years and as unicorns settled down in Ponyville, magic hasn't been used and had to be done manually. He knew that everyone in town would be doing their part in getting rid of the snow, waking the animals in hibernation and clear the skies for the sun to melt the snow, as well as prepare for the spring harvest. "Okay, doing my morning run, come back for five minute break, and then break onto a full gallop to town to get my vest to help out the other earth ponies with plowing the fields for the harvest and removing other excess snow in different parts when needed." Silver said as he listed off his tasks in his mind. "At least I can get a nice warm-up and the blood pumping for when the fun begins later in the morning... I know I should see this as something fun and helping another pony out, it would make good training for the body considering the amount of labor that will be involved..." He added before grabbing his cloak, and while not necessary, his Mythril Sword, sliding it into its scabbard and fastening it on its loop belt that hung on his side. While it seemed unorthodox, he figured he could use it to help break away some ice that might be a bit harder to get rid of or hardened snow. Since he wasn't using it as a weapon, it would act as his personal tool and having something made of mythril would greatly helped if the regular tools that most ponies will be using won't cut it, as it is a strong metal and won't rust easily. With that, having a hearty breakfast that was surely going to keep him going until the end of the day, he heads out the door, closing it and began his morning run down the road toward town. Ponyville Town Center An hour later An hour passed and the sky was slowly beginning to light up, as the moon began its descent to make way for the sun. Silver arrives in town, already seeing several ponies out and getting prepared. Operations to commence Winter Wrap Up would begin at 7 AM exact, so it would give everyone enough time to arrive at the town center, receive their vests and discuss their course of action. "Rarity! Morning!" Silver called out as she approached the white mare, donning a tan vest, who gives him a welcomed smile and waves. "Good morning, Silver dear! You appear to be all ready for the day.~" Rarity replied. He nods with a soft smile. "You know it. At this point I'm used to it, though I been up since five doing my normal morning routines. Figured it would help loosen me up and get the blood going. Figured a young sophisticated mare like yourself wouldn't be a morning pony." He said chuckling. Rarity just waves her hoof, chuckling back. "Oh quite the contrary dear. Considering I can be up all night on my orders, or end up going to bed early and waking up earlier so I can get a head start on any orders, I am quite accustomed to early mornings. Besides, today is the most important day for all of Ponyville so it is good to know there are a lot of ponies in such high spirits to get started on bring spring in." Rarity explained, as she passes out a few vests to some ponies. "Then again, I do wish to relax and sleep in every once in awhile should I not be terribly busy." She added. "I guess I can relate. Even though I don't do much anything else aside from training or coming to hang out with you and the others, I suppose it is in the blood of a stallion the need to sleep in because we want to. Me though? Been doing the same routine for six years now, kind of hard to break the habit at this point in time." Silver grinned. "Well, I suppose you wish for your vest dear? You are with the plant team under Applejack, so here you are Silver dear.~" Rarity gives Silver a green vest with yellow linings on the collar and sleeves with a small patch of a leaf on one side and a star on the other. Strangely, unlike the other plant vests which all had a more lighter green to them, Silver's vest was a bit more of a forest green. He manages to slide the vest, and looks to Rarity. "Well... how is it?" He moves around. "Perfect darling! I must say, that color of green seems to mesh better with you than the normal vest color, hence why I made a small exception to you. And with you cloak on, it does seem to give you a bit more flair. Whose to say one can't look fashionable while working hard labor?~" Rarity said, smiling softly. "Aw Rarity, you didn't have to go through that trouble. I would've been fine with the normal vest color too, but it's the thought that counts. Thanks." Silver said with a gracious nod. "Oh it was no trouble at all darling. Now then, if you excuse me Silver dear I need to gather a few more boxes of vests. I wish you best of luck for today.~" Rarity said, waving before she turns and heads inside the Town Hall to get more crates filled with more vests. Silver waves back and decided he still had time before they began. He decided to go around, talking to the other ponies who all waved and greeted him as he went passed them. He looks around and sees Rainbow Dash, with several other pegasi and all donning blue vests, that appeared to be talking as well as stretching their wings. He then heads over to Dash, calling out to her. "Hey Dash!" Silver greeted, as she trots over to her. "Yo Silver! Glad to see you made it!" Rainbow Dash greeted back, as the two gave a hoof bump. "Miss a good time to strengthen the body a bit by doing some good old fashioned labor?" He just shrugs, giving a playful smirk. "Wouldn't miss it in the world." Both laugh. "Oh yeah! I always look forward to this time of year, specially since it gets my blood pumped and these wings of mine going faster." Dash said as she points to her wings that she was currently flapping to strengthen them up. "Heh, what I said to Rarity after getting my vest. I been up since five and just did my morning run to and back from town before coming back for real to get ready. Seeing as this is gonna be an all day effort, I need to be in my prime and at full capacity." Silver then clapped his hooves together before touching the ground. "I've been up since five also! Gave me time to fly around to get a feel for the cool morning before we begin moving all the clouds away for the sun to shine down on the snow to melt. You know, we have to do some morning runs if you are up for that sometime! Granted, I'd be leaving you in the dust if that is the case, but it would be nice to have another pony to work out in the morning." Dash gloated. "Who says it had to be a race, Rainbow Dash? But yeah if you ever feel up too it, we can plan out some routes to take in the morning, just to change it up a bit. Just don't leave behind for too long or I might just get lonely." Silver chuckles. They both chuckled. "Yeah, that sounds great Silver. Anyway, I better go see how my team are doing before we get to work. I'll talk to you later!" Dash then shoots off into the air, as she goes to meet with her team. "Later Dash!" Silver called out before seeing her gone. He decides to go over toward fields near Sweet Apple Acres where several members of the plant team were at, alongside Applejack overseeing the team captain. "Well mornin' Silver! Glad to see ya up and about dis early." Applejack greeted Silver as he waves. "Same to you AJ. I guess everything is going smoothly right now?" Silver asks. Applejack nods. "Ya betcha! We have the carts with all the seeds prepared and the plows ready to go. Nice of ya to help the team out by the way. We could use all the earth ponies we can get!" She grinned, bumping him with her elbow. He chuckles. "Think nothing of it, friend. A little manual labor never hurt anypony, since I see it as part of strengthen my body a bit more. Sure everything will go as smooth as butter." Silver said as he looked out to the other earth ponies doing last minute checks on supplies and the equipment. Applejack just scanned with him before replying and chuckling. "Heh, I like the way ya think pardner. Now, let me just discuss wit ya what is gonna be goin' on..." For the next few minutes, the two discussed what he was going to be doing and how to help the other ponies out. He then asked where Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were at, and Applejack tells him Pinkie was part of the weather team and needed to help melt the ice down at the lake with the other earth ponies there by ice skating, and Fluttershy was part of the animal team and was charged with helping waking all the animals in their dens from hibernation and to clean out their homes. "Actually, thinking about it, have you seen Twilight and Spike? Didn't she say they were going to partake in this as well?" Silver asked. "She sure is, and like ya, it would be their first time in helpin' out. But since I haven't seen her, she is likely still at the library. Heh, maybe she woke up earlier than normal because of the excitement of helpin' change the seasons." Applejack mused. "Typical Twilight." Silver thought, as he chuckles. 6:58 AM The sun had just appeared from the horizon and everyone was gathered at the town center awaiting for Mayor Mare to officially commence Winter Wrap Up. Twilight, with Spike in tow and still tired, galloped as quickly as she could to the square where all the residence were waiting. She couldn't contain her excitement, as she goes past several ponies all wearing their colored vests. "Those must be the team vests Rarity designed. Blue for the weather team, green for the plant team, and tan for the animal team. I wonder which team vest I'll be wearing." Twilight pointed out. Spike, however, was still half asleep and just gave her a half-heart response. "I'll take a blue vest, same color as my blankie, which I think I hear calling my name. 'Spike! Spike! Come to bed!' Ugh, it's too early..." The unicorn simply ignored him, as he falls back to sleep. Soon, they reach the town center as Mayor Mare comes up to the front of the building and addresses everyone there. Silver was standing at the very front, and didn't notice Twilight hopping up into the air, excited, trying to hear the Mayor speak. "Thank you, everypony, for being here bright and early. We need every single pony's help to wrap up winter, and bring in spring." Everyone in the crowd cheered loudly, stomping their hooves to the ground, as the Mayor continues. "Now, all of you have your vests, and have been assigned to your teams, so let's do even better than last year, and have the quickest Winter Wrap Up ever!" The crowd erupts in cheers again, clearly psyched up to get underway. "Oh, this is so exciting." Twilight said to herself, smiling brightly. Mayor Mare finishes her speech simply by saying, "All right everypony, find your team leader, and let's get galloping!" The crowd then starts to disperse as they all go to their respective teams, Silver heading over to where Applejack's group was located with the other earth ponies and not noticing Twilight looking around. She then looked around at the different groups and started to get confused as to what to do. "Oh gosh, where should I go? I'm not sure where I fit in. What exactly does everypony do?" She asked herself. (Twilight) (Applejack) (Pinkie Pie) (Rainbow Dash) (Fluttershy) (Rarity) (Silver) Three months of winter coolness And awesome holidays We've kept our hoovsies warm at home Time off from work to play But the food we've stored is runnin' out And we can't grow in this cold And even though I love my boots This fashion's getting old The time has come to welcome spring And all things warm and green But it's also time to say goodbye It's winter we must clean How can I help? I'm new, you see What does everypony do? How do I fit in without magic? I haven't got a clue! 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! Bringing home the southern birds A Pegasus' job 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 Its warmth and beauty will glow! Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! Let's finish our holiday cheer Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! 'Cause tomorrow spring is here Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! 'Cause tomorrow spring is here 'Cause tomorrow spring is here! Little critters hibernate Under the snow and ice We wake up all their sleepy heads So quietly and nice We help them gather up their food Fix their homes below We welcome back the southern birds So their families can grow! Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! (Winter, winter) Let's finish our holiday cheer Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! (Winter, winter) 'Cause tomorrow spring is here Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! (Winter, winter) 'Cause tomorrow spring is here 'Cause tomorrow spring is here! No easy task to clear the ground Plant our tiny seeds With proper care and sunshine Everyone it feeds Apples, carrots, celery stalks Colorful flowers too We must work so very hard It's just so much to do! Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! Let's finish our holiday cheer Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! 'Cause tomorrow spring is here Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! 'Cause tomorrow spring is here 'Cause tomorrow spring is here 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 wanna belong so I must Do my best today, Do my best today! Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! Let's finish our holiday cheer Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! 'Cause tomorrow spring is here Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up! 'Cause tomorrow spring is here 'Cause tomorrow spring is here 'Cause tomorrow spring is here! Twilight continues to wander about town, trying to figure out what exactly she should do and which team she should help. So far, most of the teams already had a large grasp on their tasks, yet Twilight didn't want to feel useless and wanted to help clean the season up without relying on her magic. "Everypony belongs to a team. What should I do? Where should I go?" She asked Spike. Before he can get an answer, the two spot Rainbow Dash as she commands her team to get ready to head off for their next task. She figured her friend could help her out and asked what Dash was doing, before replying that she was sending her team to lead the birds who flew south for the winter back north, to where they were. She asked if she could help with moving the clouds, but Rainbow Dash reminded her that she had to have wings to do that, and proceeds to take off with her team, leaving Twilight and Spike behind. While Spike wanted to continue to sleep through the whole affair, Twilight was determined to help out in some way and do her part. She then goes to see Rarity, who told her she could help make birds' nests for the birds that flew back from the south so they have a place to live and lay their eggs during the spring. Thinking the task would be simple, Twilight obliged and began to make one birds' nest, though despite her best efforts and Rarity's instructions, her birds' nest turned out to be a flop. Rarity offers to help fix it up for her, but Twilight and Spike just end up moving on, leaving a soon to be confused and frustrated Rarity behind as she tends to Twilight's 'birds' nest'. The two then find Pinkie Pie down at the lake, who explains that she was helping slice the frozen lake into chunks of ice so that the pegasi part of the weather team can move the clouds away and let the sun begin the process of melting the ice . Twilight offers to try helping Pinkie out, but she never learned how to ice skate and ends up sliding all over the lake and eventually crashes into Pinkie and Spike. Pinkie tries to cheer her up, but it only further saddens Twilight as she is unable to find a place to help partake Winter Wrap Up. Pinkie suggested that Fluttershy might need help awaking up the small animals and she could see her, to which Twilight does do, after trying to get off the ice, much to Spike's amusement. Eventually, Twilight and Spike find Fluttershy as part of the animal team, and she tells them that her job is to ring a bell to wake the small critters up from hibernation, but with so many warrens and dens to do, Fluttershy feels she won't have enough time to wake up all the animals. Twilight offers her help, much to Fluttershy's relief, and thinking it was simple to do, she rings her bell to wake up a small den, only to find a bunch of snakes in it, causing her to freak out and end up crashing backwards into a larger den full of bats, running out and crashing into a tree, and for a bee's hive to land on her head and proceeds to get stung a lot. She blindly runs into a den and crashes, which turns out to be filled with a couple skunks and thus gets sprayed on. Spike helps Twilight home and gives her a tomato bath to wash the stench off her, as well as deal with the bee stings on her face and head. She sighs deeply. "All this Winter Wrap Up stuff is a lot harder than it looks." Spike, scrubbing her back, rolls his eyes before responding in an annoyed tone. "Right, because there's no magic. Why don't you just use magic, Twilight, and get it done the right way?" Spike asked. Twilight just shoots her reply back in an irritated tone. "No, Spike, I have to do it the traditional way. Ponyville has never needed magic to wrap up winter." Spike then points out to her. "Well, they never had you here before, either. Think how much quicker they could wrap up winter with your magic." Twilight still doesn't budge on her answer. "No, no, no! I'm gonna find some other way that I can help out if it kills me." She then grunts as she resides back into the tub a bit. After all that was done, the two head to the fields where Applejack was yelling out to two ponies in particular. "Keep pushin', Caramel. That's it, Bumpkin. I know it's hard work, but you guys are doin' great. Yee-haw! Specially you Silver, keep at it!" Applejack cheered, as Silver, Caramel and Bumpkin all smiled and signaled back in acknowledgement. The two approached the apple farmer. "Hey, Applejack. How's everything going? " Twilight asked. "Howdy Twilight and Spike. Just dandy. A little slow startin', but peachy all the same. There's a lot of ground to clear, ya hear? We can't even start the plantin' and the waterin' until we git all these heap a' snow hightailed outta here." Applejack explained. "Fer being younger than most of the other stallions, Silver is really pullin' his own weight. Dun think that pony has even slowed down since he started." Surely enough, Silver looked as though he was going for a brisk jog, as he passes a couple of the other members, who just watched him go like it was nothing. It only caused them to try to catch up with the younger stallion. "So Silver joined your team?" Twilight asked as she watched. "Sure did. He said was thinkin' this was more of trainin' than anything else, really. Been up since five this mornin' apparently, and all that runnin' said he did has been keepin' him goin'. Dun think he broke a sweat either." Applejack remarked. "Still, even wit him going like the Friendship Express, we still have a lot of ground to cover." She added dejectedly. "Well, I'd like to help." Twilight said plainly, causing Applejack to look at her with a raised brow. "Well, I... I dunno Twilight." Twilight shook her head and puts her hoof down. "Just give me a chance." Applejack looks at her, and thinks for a minute. She then shrugs. "Well, I never turn down a hard worker, but..." Applejack began, but only sees Twilight struggling to even move the plow. "Think of how much quicker they could wrap up winter with your magic." Thinking back to what Spike said earlier. Twilight adamantly refuses to use her magic, but considering she has no options left and this was really the only other place she could help, she sighed. "I could use a come-to-life spell. Hwww... Here goes..." Twilight quickly casted the spell on the whole plow, and slowly she began to move as the blow moved. Applejack looks and just blinks and raises one brow, suspicious. Spike, on the other hand, just grins brightly. "Hmm. She's awful strong for such a little pony." Applejack remarked. "That's my girl, following my advice." Spike said proudly, causing Applejack to stare at him confused. "And what in tarnation does that mean?" She asked raising her voice. Spike just chuckles nervously, but they then see Twilight beginning to move a bit faster than normal. "Uh-oh. Slow down. Slow down!" She yelled quietly, but was beginning to move too quickly. Silver, who was just going about, sees Twilight move right past him, causing him to leave his mouth gaping open. "Twilight...? How are you moving so fast? Slow down!" He yelled. Twilight was struggling to keep up with the plow and starts zig-zagging all over the field causing the other ponies plowing to move out of their path and causing more piles of snow, one pony managed to crash into as Twilight zipped by. Silver then stops his plow and hops out as he gallops after. "Hang on Twi! I'm coming!" He shouted, chasing after her, hoping over the plows and snow mounds, as she takes out his Mythril Sword which he still had on him as he plowed. Twilight was then heading straight for Applejack and Spike, both whose eyes bug out. "INCOMING!" Spike shouted as both he and Applejack tried to move out of the way. Silver then leaps up, as he then chucks the Mythril Sword like a spear hard enough it impales the ground and stays there. The plow collides with the sword, but rather than drag it up or run it over, it literally stopped the plow in its tracks, causing Twilight to shoot out of the thing and crash into Applejack and Spike. The plow then stops trying to move as the magic around it disappears. "Phew... Knew that would come in handy." Silver wipes his brow, as he goes over and pulls the blade out with his mouth, which easily slides out for him, and sticks his sword back in its scabbard. He then goes over to the three. "Are you three alright?" Silver asked worriedly. "Ow..." Spike muttered. "Ugh..." Applejack muttered. Twilight groans. Silver goes and helps the three up. "Well, couldn't been worse. Least I was able to stop it from plowing into you two. But Twilight..." Silver said as he looks to the unicorn. "What happened? I know you are not the strongest pony physically, but... the only way you would've been able to move that plow in the first place was to use magic." Silver deduced, causing Twilight to wince. Applejack then gives a scowl to her friend. "Nuts, Twilight, you used magic." She said in an angered tone. Twilight's ears flatten as she looked the other way. She knew she shouldn't have done this, all she wanted to do was help. And now she messed things up big time. "That's not how we do it 'round here, Twilight, and especially not on MY FARM!" Applejack yelled furiously. Silver and Spike just took a step back, and Twilight's eyes began to water. "Well, see, I just wanted to..." Twilight spoke softly, only to begin to whine. She then gallops off, sobbing as the other ponies watch her go, clearly disappointed. "Twilight! Wait!" Spike yelled as he ran after her. Applejack then frowns for what she did, feeling guilty for having to yell at Twilight like that. "Oh shoot..." Applejack muttered. "I better go find her. Sorry AJ, but this is more important at the moment. You are going to have to try to get this done without me in the meantime." Silver simply said in a calm tone as he turns around and gallops off in the direction Spike went. Applejack sighs and mulls over what she did. Ponyville Town Center Afternoon Back in town, Twilight was quietly sobbing to herself inside a bush. Spike was standing just a few feet from her trying to coax her to come out. "Come on, Twilight. Come on out." Spike said, pleadingly. "I'm a winter mess up..." Twilight said quietly. "Well you're good at a lot of things, just not nest-making, ice-skating, animal-waking, snow-clearing..." Spike pointed out. Twilight simply whines more. "Thanks a lot for making me feel so much better..." She replied. Spike sheepishly smirked. "That is what I am here for sister..." "Twilight!" Silver yelled in the distance. "...Silver?" Twilight said from her spot. "Silver! Over here, dude!" Spike yelled as he waves him over. Silver slows down, panting a bit. "There you are. Twilight, are you alright?" Silver asked. "I'm just fine, Silver... I basically just ruined everypony's hard work." Twilight spat. "Come on, Bookie. I know you aren't one to just give in that easily. Okay, you messed up a bit... it happens. You simply just wanted to help everypony out in your own way... granted it was the way you weren't suppose to do it, but it was progress... I guess?" Silver said, rubbing his head. "Well I didn't want to use magic, but Spike kept on insisting I use a little bit of it just to speed Winter Wrap Up along." Twilight rebuted. Silver then looks at Spike, raising his brow. "Hehehe... heh..." Spike just chuckles nervously, as he stares away from Silver. "Rainbow Dash, y'all on the weather team need to melt the rest of the snow here on the ground and the trees, pronto." Applejack yelled as Rainbow Dash heard her and complied. "Got it!" Dash replied. Before she can go though, Fluttershy stopped her. "Wait. My poor little animals' homes will get flooded if the snow melts too fast." Fluttershy replied hastily. "Got it." Dash understood, but again, Applejack stops her. "I'm tellin' you, Rainbow, you gotta melt that snow now." "No, you simply must wait." Fluttershy spoke up. Dash was getting slightly annoyed by this. "Okay..." She muttered. Applejack and Fluttershy begin yelling 'stop' and 'go' to the point Dash tells them to make up their minds. Ponies begin to gather, as Mayor Mare approaches the group. "Oh! What in Equestria are all you arguing about? This sort of silliness is why we were late for spring last year, and the year before that, and the year before that." She reminded. Silver, Spike, and Twilight who pops her head out of the busy, tilted her head. "...Say what?" Silver asked deadpanned. "Did she say late?" Twilight asked. Mayor Mare continues speaking. "I was hoping my amazingly inspirational speech would urge everyone to do better than last year, but now it looks like we're going to be later than ever. I mean just look at this catastrophe. The ice scorers made the ice chunks too big to melt. The nest designer is horrendously behind, we need several hundred, and she's only made one." They all look at Rarity, who has been working on the same birds' nest that Twilight made earlier, and is already frustrated to tears. Spike and Silver look at Twilight, who simply lowers her head back into the bush, ashamed. "And don't get me started on all the clouds in the sky, the icicles on the trees... This isn't good, not at all!" Mayor Mare spat out. Ponies slowly begin showing their frustration as well and slowly start to bicker. "And it's gonna be all to pieces disastrous if we can't get our seeds all planted!" Applejack interjected. "Chillax Applejack, we're bustin' our chops as fast as we can." Rainbow Dash reasoned, before Fluttershy spoke up again. "No, not fast, we have to wake animals slowly." The three friends start arguing with each other, as Big McIntoish and Caramel Apple walk over to where her younger sibling was at. She already had a feeling why Caramel looked remorseful. "Dun tell me... Caramel lost the grass seeds again?" She asked. "Eeeyup." Big Mac replied annoyed. "Ditzy Doo accidentally went north to get the southern birds!" Rainbowshine said, flying in. Rainbow Dash just sighed deeply. "Oh that featherbrain. Didn't she learn her lesson last year when she went west?" Now everyone began complaining and arguing, as Silver, Spike and Twilight can only watch. "Stop this at once. We don't have time to argue. It's almost sundown. Spring is going to be late again. Another year of scandal and shame. If only we could be more organized." Mayor Mare yelled out. The moment Twilight heard the word organized, she gasped and grinned brightly. She then looks to Spike. "Spike! Get my checklist and clipboard, STAT!" Spike looks at her and nods. "Eh, yes, ma'am!" Spike replied and ran off to the library as fast as he can. Silver looks at Twilight, grinning. "You have plan don't you?" Silver asked. Twilight nods, smiling a bit. "Definitely." Twilight approaches the group. "Stop everypony!" She yelled, but everyone continued yelling. "Hey! Everypony stop for a moment!" She yelled again, but still nothing. Silver frowns as he goes past Twilight, signaling to give him a second. He finds Pinkie, arguing, but manages to get her attention and she just stops and looks to Silver. She tilts her head and grins and pulls something out of her mane and gives it to him. He nods, thanking her and Pinkie grinned brightly, before going back to arguing. Silver then goes up to the front of the Town Hall, where he holds up an airhorn. Nopony notices, but then he lets it go off and holds it like that for about five seconds. This causes all the ponies to jump in surprise and shut up instantly as they looked up at Silver with a look of, 'what the hay was that for?' "Good that worked out well. Now that we have you undivided attention, Twilight Sparkle! You now have the floor!" He said motioning toward her, who just giggled and approached the group. "Thank you Silver Guardian. Now then everypony, I know you all want to complete your jobs on time, but arguing is no way to go about it. What you need is organization, and I'm just the pony for the job." Twilight said in confidence. Everypony looked at each other and murmured as Spike returns with the checklist and clipboard. She then makes a checklist as explains to everypony what they should focus on where, when, and what to do. The teams all dispersed and got to work as Twilight, Spike and Silver look at each other and grinned. First they started on working on making the birds' nest. Several ponies, like Big Mac, carted in more hay, straw and ribbons for Rarity and several other ponies in the animal team. They got to work on making several hundred nests in a span of an hour. Before they realized it, they were finished with the tasked, and have the team start setting up the nests in all the different trees around and outside Ponyville. Next, the ice scorers all learned that they should skate and cut the ice in a crisscross pattern, which would help speed the process of get the ice cut in small enough pieces for the sun to melt. They just had to await for the pegasi team for their part. Third, Applejack instructs the earth ponies, lead by Silver in the center plow, to plow a pathway and a second set of ponies would plant the seeds while moving along the path. Applejack and Twilight watch and hoofbump each other in satisfaction. Then, they move over to Fluttershy's group and Twilight devised a method of hanging up several bells above every warren and den there was and have it all pulled by one rope. Fluttershy does so and all the bells ring at the same time as the animals all begin to come out of their little dens and warrens. After seeing Twilight hug a tree branch from seeing the colony of snakes slither by and as the animals move out, Fluttershy signals the bird to call for Rainbow Dash's team to begin moving the clouds out. Moving in together as one, they were able to fly through the gray clouds and blow enough force to get any snow that was stuck in trees off and soon enough, the sun comes back and begins to melt all the snow, as well as the ice down by the lake and rivers. Work continued into the night, as every earth pony continued to plow the hillsides with more seeds and bring more hay and straw. Most were shown to be exhausted, but knew they had to finish this by tomorrow, even Spike started to help out. The following day, all the birds from the south have made back north thanks to the weather team and all managed to find their new nests. At the same time, they began the process of watering all the seeds that were planted using large water wagons. And with that, the final task on the checklist was checked off. Everyone relished in what they accomplished as butterflies fluttered about, the animals were out and about, birds chirping, turtles and fish can swim freely. It was the very image of spring, and it was all thanks to Twilight's organizational skills. Everypony looked toward Ponyville, seeing their hard work paid off. Twilight was pleased with herself. "Well done Twilight... well done." Silver said as he walks up beside her and pats her back looking out. "I must agree Twilight. Spring is here! On time! And we have you to thank for it. If it weren't for your organizing skills we would still be arguing." Mayor Mare said as everyone all agreed in unison. Twilight just blushed, grinning proudly. "It was a team effort, after all." Twilight replied. Mayor Mare nods. "And since you helped every team, we have an official vest for you. We give you the title, 'All-Team Organizer'." A vest that showed each color of the three teams was given to Twilight as she slips it on, admiring her accomplishment, as everyone cheered. "Gosh, I don't even know what to say. Thank you, everypony." Twilight nodded. And the news everyone was waiting for. Mayor Mare turns around to the crowd, with a proud smile. "And hereby I declare that winter is... wrapped up on time!" Everyone cheered loudly and congratulated each other for their hard work. Applejack then looks out and starts chuckling. "Spike's sure gonna be in for a hog-sized surprise when that last piece a' ice melts." She said grinning, as they see Spike out in the lake, on a small piece of ice, asleep. Everyone began laughing. Silver then looks at Twilight and grins. "Should I...?" He asked. "Please." Twilight said grinning. "You got it." He then slips his cloak and vest off, as well as resting his sword with Twilight. He then gallops off toward the lake and dives in, surprising everyone, Twilight just grinning. Was the water still cold? Oh yes. Did Silver mind it? Not at all. He just swam out there as he pulls the small piece of ice that Spike was sleeping on back to shore. Not once did the baby dragon stir. "WOAH! That is a rush! Yes, it was still a bit freezing, but it was so worth it." Silver screamed as he shakes the water off him. He then goes to get his cloak and uses it to dry off before wrapping around him. Everyone just laughed and cheered for that amazing stunt. Golden Oak Library - Ponyville Night With that, Winter Wrap Up has come to a close, and Spring has begun. Later that evening, Spike was writing Twilight's letter to Princess Celestia, on what she learned from all of this. Dear Princess Celestia, Winter Wrap Up was one of the most special things I've ever been a part of here in Ponyville. It helped me to learn we all have hidden talents, and if we're patient and diligent, we're sure to find them, and as always, with good friendship and teamwork, ponies can accomplish anything. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle "How was that Spike?" Twilight asked, but didn't receive a response. "Spike?" She asked again, but finds the baby dragon already asleep. All she could do was laugh quietly. "Oh, Spike..." She said with a heartwarming smile. She decides to pick the baby dragon up and calls it a night as she tucks Spike to bed, and puts the fire out in the fireplace, before heading to bed herself. After working endlessly through the day and night to get spring to arrive on time, she passed out into a deep slumber. Silver's House - Ponyville Outskirts Night Meanwhile, Silver was laying in his bed, as he was reading a book detailing using magic through artificial conduits like crystals. He then thinks for a moment, as he yawns, and decides to turn in as well. He sets the book down on his nightstand, as he shuts the lights out and looked out his window at the clear night sky. "...Meh, I'm just gonna sleep in tomorrow. I earned it." Silver said quietly and closed his eyes and drifted off for much needed rest.