//------------------------------// // Winter Woof Up // Story: Twilight gets a Puppy // by TDR //------------------------------// Twilight Gets a Puppy By TDR Winter Woof Up [Four months after Pinkie Pie's Birthday, Golden Oaks Library] Twilight's eyes snapped open with a start, Her room was still dark, still silent. She could hear the snores of Spike down the hall. The contractors had added a few rooms to the top floor of the library and had filled in some of the basement rooms to balance the new weight. After the incident at the beginning of Winter, neither of her brothers were that comfortable sleeping in the basement any more. Honestly the repair and recovery was mostly painless, it didn't even take Rahs that long to return to some semblance of normal. He still seemed to be waking up at odd hours sometimes but those were getting fewer and further between. He had also evidently started a new job given how much time he was spending at the Guard post in town with the new commander there. What ever it was was evidently strenuous as he was building up a bit of muscle. That had been a nightmare and a half as well. Not because of Rahs this time, but because of the new post commander. And not because of his being a Thestral. Twilight had already begun prepping for the town to watch that video again as well as making pamphlets to keep them from trying to stake the 'vampire pony'. Thankfully Comet Tail was often seen out during the day killing those rumors, though she had noted that Barnyard Bargains had been sold out of garlic for a few days at first, as well as durians, but no loss there. No the problems came about because he was a young, single, exotic looking, stallion, with a job in the Guard, in a town chock full of single mares. There had been brawls. Comet Trail seemed unaware of what was going on over him and was simply enjoying the attention he was getting. Though as far as any one knew he wasn't dating any one yet. These thoughts ran through Twilight's mind unbidden as she tried to recall why she had woken up like this. None of her new wards were tripped, from the sound of it Spike was still asleep as likely was Rahs. How either of them slept though the log sawing of her little brother she had no idea. She had a sound dampener spell on her room and she still heard him clearly. She sat up in bed shaking her mussed up mane and trying to get it to settle back down out of the rat trap it had become. Perils of a long mane, but she still liked it long after all the compliments she used to get from it. She rolled out of bed with a small groan as she looked to the window, realizing she had covered it to keep heat in her room, why was she awake with a feeling of anticipation.....? “AHHH!” Twilight gasped finally remembering what was going on. The purple mare zipped across the room quickly, brushing her mane into some semblance of order before bursting out of her room and scurrying down the new hall to her brothers rooms pounding on the doors. Rahs yanked open the door after a moment, his ears perked as he whipped his gaze around trying to figure out what the danger was. Twilight had to stifle a small laugh as she saw him in the heart patterned shorts that Cadence had gotten for him for Hearths Warming. She didn't know if the white and red patterned things were supposed to be a joke or not, but Rahs had adopted them as his sleeping attire. “Woof?” Rahs demanded, the points of light at the tips of his ears and tail lighting up the area around him with a silvery glow. It was enough to see the Theater poster of Beauty and the Beast he had put on his door, as well as the books and theater props he decorated his room with. It also showed the irregular patterns in the fur of his right arm. His navy fur was faded in patches where the scars were and it left his arm looking like it was a brindle. The doctor said that would fade further once his summer coat came in, but that would still be a few months away. “What? No, no danger, it's Winter Wrap up day!” Twilight said excitedly. Rahs looked down at her, looked down the hall to the window at the end of it that still showed it was pitch black out side before looking back at his sister. His ears flattened and he stepped backward closing the door in her face. “BORK!” “Hey! Well someones grumpy.” Twilight pouted. “Well Spike's excited for it at least!” She turned pushing open the door to her younger brothers room across the hall. A small night light illuminated the room, less because Spike was scared of the dark and more so he wouldn't trip over anything if he had to get up in the middle of the night. Spike's room was packed with comics, comic memorabilia, O&O books, various terrain props, and a ton of miniatures. Twilight had been unaware that Spike had insurance at all. Evidently Nit Pick had somehow convinced him it was a good idea to have renter's insurance and was collecting fees from him since they first moved in almost, despite him being too young to have a need for it and Twilight already having the library covered. After his room was destroyed he went to cash in for damages to his collections and Nit Pick attempted to weasel out of paying because of his age, claiming they needed a parent or proper guardian to pay out to. Suffice to say when a near in tears Spike explained what was going on, and that he couldn't replace his things, Nit Pick had a few visitors. He attempted to weasel out of paying Rahs when he showed up because despite his paperwork listing him as Spike's Guardian, there was no legal record of his birth certificate on any file which made him an illegal immigrant and ineligible to receive a payout. The next time Rahs showed up however it was with Twilight who had just binged on every law book in the library plus the entire six part tome of Spike's insurance terms and conditions, that she had gone over to fight the issue. Unfortunately Nit Pick had prepared for that and had fandangled a number of policy loops in order to lead someone of Twilight's skill in circles. The final time Spike and Rahs went to see Nit Pick it was with Princess Luna, who brought along Dr. Choppy. Despite all the skill Nit Pick could bring to bear, he was woefully unprepared to deal with Princess Luna brandishing an ax as large as he was, one that had somehow obtained a doctorate. He was also fully unprepared for an ancient law that allowed renegotiation of unpleasant contracts through a trial by combat. Spike being too young to be the one fighting, named the Princess as his proxy. In the end Spike was paid the entire sum owed, plus a sizable bonus for his trouble, and a 'please don't sue' agreement. Nit Pick was reassigned to a desk job somewhere when it came to light he was attempting to swindle a minor. Unfortunately, no one thought to monitor what Spike spent his bits on. Hence the room packed with comics and gaming products. Luna warned of possible hoarding instincts taking over , but Spike didn't seem any different, aside from reading more, even if it was just comics and O&O rulebooks.. “SPIKE, SPIKE, Get up, get up!!!” “It's Saturday, no school.” muttered Spike rolling over and burying his head under his Power Pony pillow. “It's actually Friday, but yes there is no school it's Winter Wrap Up Day!” Twilight smiled. “ The first day of Spring is tomorrow. Come on I have a check list of everything to get ready for it, boots, scarf , winter coat!” “Wrap up winter?” Spike grumbled as Twilight refused to leave him as she bounced around like Pinkie Pie on the only spot of bare floor in the room. “ Who wraps up winter? Don't they just use magic like in Canterlot. “Nope, Ponyville was started as a earth pony settlement so they've always done it with no magic, plus living this close to the Everfree forest there might be all sorts of problems with the massive amount of power needed to change the season. So it's all done by hoof!” “Well all I have are claws, so I guess I can stay in bed.” Spike grumbled. Twilight's horn flashed and a check list and quill appeared in the air before her. She quickly checked off a box that read' Spike says something snarky and goes back to sleep'. “Well now that that's out of the way.” Twilight grinned running off back into her room. “And close the door!!” Spike yelled after her. “Also on the list!””Twilight called. “Me saying it or you doing it!?” “The former!” Rahs yawned as he stepped out of his room, reaching over to close Spike's door and getting a muffled thanks. He then headed down stairs with a grumpy expression and a sizable pink bathrobe and bunny slippers, a gift from Shining Armor this time, also meant to be a joke that Rahs still used. He lumbered down the stairs as Twilight fussed around with her list and her winter clothes upstairs. He yawned loudly plopping down on the couch in the rooms semi darkness. “Hah also on the list was that you would get up before I left.” Twilight beamed checking that off. “It's a good thing I’m so organized.” “Bork.....” Rahs grumbled reaching up to take the list and quill from the air. “Hey, I warned you yesterday we were going to get up early today, don't blame me.” Twilight pouted readjusting her coat as she noticed Rahs writing on the bottom of the list. “Oh adding something for yourself, that's fine, that list is all checked off and I'm ready to go start winter wrap up!” Twilight sang throwing open the door and looking out into the pitch blackness and the empty streets. “What?” Twilight blinked as Rahs walked over to her showing the item he had on the list. 'Twilight wakes up way too early, annoys her brothers, and still has to wait three more hours before winter wrap up starts.' Rahs grinned as he checked off the box next to that item, as Twilight just grumbled and shut the door.