//------------------------------// // The First Day in Moskva // Story: A Christmas to Remember // by TwiPON3 //------------------------------// "Okay," Autumn said, "Other than the GUM, where do we need to go and when?" "Well," Seth replied, "Which way to Red Square? Even with the heater all the way on full-blast in this Škoda, I need a better jacket. All in favor?" "Aye," came two simultaneous replies. "Alright," Seth said as Autumn gave him directions. "What's The GUM?" "Oh, dear Celestia," Sunset said in awe. "Before we leave to go to the hotel," Autumn said, "Let's do our Christmas shopping here." "Agreed," Sunset and Seth said in awe. They all began to walk to the various stores, starting out with getting their coats before putting theirs from home in the Citigo. "It feels weird, wearing a fur coat that comes to my knees," Sunset said, "The hat feels a little weird, too." "We both had one from last year, but they must've got lost when we moved from Brooklyn," Autumn said, "You actually get used to them after a short time." "This is a lot warmer than my leather jacket," Sunset said, "I hope you wouldn't be offended if I wear this more than the leather one." "Not at all," Autumn said as they all went back in. "A few of our cousins from the DDR, the GDR, East Germany, Sunset, are super-interested in cosmonauts. Would you like to help with the shopping?" "Sure," she said with a smile, "What's a cosmonaut?" "Astronaut." Over the course of the next couple of hours, the trio did shopping for their family in Moskva (Moskva, Moskau, Moscow. I don't think I left anything out), but something compelled Sunset to call one of her former-friends. "Mind if I take a few minutes?" "Sure," Seth replied, "Go right ahead." Sunset found a bench and sat down while she set up her Skype and opened a videochat with Fluttershy. "Hi, Fluttershy." "Oh Sunset! Thank goodness you're okay! Where are you? Zecora said you're in 'The Soviet Land', but I don't know where that is." "The USSR. We're actually in Moscow. Are you okay?" "I'm fine. How are you?" "Well, I'm weirded out by the fact that we're not in the US anymore, but it's a different kind than when I came to Earth from Equestria." "How so?" "Well, to make a long story short, I was adoped Christmas Eve, and earlier, Seth, one of the two people that adopted me, lipped off to an officer. Autumn, his cousin, was getting a big kick out of it too. The cop seemed to be... hostile, especially since we just crossed the street in the wrong place. I think they only paid about eight dollars on the street, mostly because they just laughed the guy off." "Oh my..." "It was actually pretty funny, thinking about it now. Anyway, I have to go," she said, ending the skype call. "How'd it go," Seth said, both cousins going up to Sunset, loaded with bags. "Good." "I think we should start to the hotel and get some shuteye," Autmn said. "Yeah. It is getting pretty late." "I need to make a call right quick," Seth said, dialing a number. "Hallo?" "Mitzi?" "Seth! You und Autumn made it to die Sowjetunion fine?" "Yeah. Are Alex and Arnold there with you?" "Nein. They are still in der Bundesrepublik Deutschlands when I called last, though- oh, sie just came in!" "We're about to leave The GUM to go to our hotel. Can I talk to Aunt Natasha or Uncle Ivan?" "Just one minute," she turned from the phone, "Aunt Natasha, Seth und Autumn are here... Ja, he wants you. Seth waited a minute in silence as we went out and tried to fit everything in the Škoda. "Privet." "Aunt Natasha we won't have time to come by tonight, but we'll be there first thing in the morning. Is Mitzi and Alex staying with you?" "Da. You get cosmonaut book for Arnold, da?" "Yeah, I made sure," Seth said smiling as Aunt Natasha laughed somewhat, "On a more serious note, is it okay that we brought someone with us?" "Da! It Christmas and Novyy God. Of course it okay! I want it to be surprise for Vladislav. He flying in from Omsk, will get here at 01:00. I guarantee he going to enjoy addition to family. Also, Liz is here from London. She staying until January 10." "Ahrighty. I'll see you first thing in the morning." "Proshchay." After they loaded up our Christmas, they headed back to the hotel where they unpacked. "I'll set my alarm for 5:30, if that's okay with you." "Fine by me," Autumn said. "Thanks again, you two, for doing this," Sunset added with a yawn, "I guess we'll just get up early to bathe?" "Sure," Seth said as the three got in their beds and almost immediately fell asleep.