Spindle and Feathers
Soft morning light filled the bedroom as Fuzzy pulled aside the curtain and peered out at the world outside. The lawn and garden glittered with dew and she stopped to appreciate the moment and look about, to take in details she’d never seen or really understood.
The night had passed and she felt odd, the hollow feeling receding but her body was sluggish and heavy, like mud in the winter. Maybe if she focused...
A light breeze danced in the trees, inviting the branches to sway and play with it, the flowers in the garden bobbing about while bees began their morning work. Past the Sparkle family grounds, Canterlot itself seemed to be waking as she could already see ponies going about their day. The postal service pegasi flitting around, saddle bags bulging with mail and packages while others pulled carts or wagons.
Her horn glimmered as she carefully opened the window, letting the chilled air seep in and bring the smell of a new day.
At least, Fuzzy hoped that was true. So far her nose hadn’t done anything new besides itch.
On the bed behind her, the mound of blankets stirred as the filly beneath grumbled at the fresh air, a hoof pulled the covers tighter as a rumble echoed through the room. Fuzzy crept up and peered into the nest Twilight had made in her sleep, ears dipping back as the purple filly’s belly let out an angry noise.
Something within wanted freedom, roaring to the world its demands for food and threatening to start on any unlucky pillow within reach.
“Twilight?” Fuzzy poked the grumbling belly with her nose “It’s morning. You always have breakfast in the morning.” She nuzzled higher, prodding the beast awake only for Twilight to latch onto her ear and begin gumming it. “Ah! Twilight, wake up! I’m not a gingerbread pony!” Memories of her ears being gnawed on in nights past flashed through her mind and Fuzzy wobbled as she tried to free herself.
‘Grouugurgle’
Hoofsteps at the door grabbed her attention as Night Light nudged the door open. “My word! Was that my darling filly making that noise?” He stepped into the room, a grin on his face turning to outright laughter at the looks Fuzzy was giving his daughter’s grumbling belly while Twilight’s forehooves held her tight.
Fuzzy’s gold eyes turned to him, worry in her voice. “Help! I think she ate a monster in our sleep and it’s trying to escape- or it’s possessed her and now she wants to turn everypony into her puppet! Just like in Smart Cookie and the Gingerbread Pony. We’re only on chapter seven, so I don’t know how to banish it yet!”
Night Light didn’t hide his amusement when Twilight’s belly gurgled in response. Fuzzy growled back, ear ridged. “Oh, don’t worry about it, Fuzzy. I’ve had plenty of experience dealing with this particular beast. But why don’t I save you from being her next meal, hm?”
“Please do! I’m not as soft as I used to be and- ah!” The unease in her own belly churned as Night Light reached in and ruffled Twilight’s mane. Fuzzy’s ear came free as the purple pony mumbled a protest and batted at the unwanted attention.
A soft glow spread over her as Twilight floated free of her nest and drifted to Night Light’s back, gripping on like a lilac limpet.
Night Light smiled at Fuzzy, horn aglow as she slowly transformed the nest back into a bed again. “The doctor said Twilight might eat more after a surge like yesterday, so I’m not surprised her belly is complaining or she’s chewing on things again.” He nuzzled the platinum unicorn, missing the surprised expression on her face. “Good morning by the way, Fuzzy. Would you like to come help me with breakfast?”
“I… ” Fuzzy opened her mouth to answer but when nothing came forth, she glanced at Twilight, wondering what she should do. Routine would have her waiting for Twilight to eat before coming to fetch her for their trips to the park or library, if she didn’t have school that day.
‘But that was… before.’
“If you aren’t sure, or your leg is sore, you can stay here. Maybe catch a nap without the purple pony eater to worry about.” Night Light waited patiently, watching Fuzzy wrestle with something she’d never had before.
A choice that didn’t include Twilight? No! She…
Nightlight was waiting for her to decide- to make her own decision.
The thought was alien and strange to Fuzzy. “I… Twilight will be right there with us?”
“Of course.”
“Then… I’d like to help. Smart Cookie says that food brings a… f-family together. I don’t think I can be what I was anymore… but maybe being something new will be okay too?” A warmth settled inside her chest as Night Light smiled at her, the stallion reached over to give her a brief hug.
“Come on then,” He said brightly, walking slow enough for Fuzzy to keep up. “Let's go feed the beast in her belly so she can wake up properly and greet the new day.”
She paused at the doorway, glancing back at the window and the morning light outside. “A new day…ah! I’m coming!”
Shining ambled down the stairs with a yawn, the scent of eggs and toast beckoned him onwards to the kitchen where he could hear his father talking to somepony. It took him a moment to place the voice that replied.
“Now we’ve added the strawberries, we flip it over, like so! No- watch how I hold it. See? Not too much magic in your grip or you overdo it again.”
Stepping into the kitchen, Shining saw Twilight sitting at the table, horn covered in balm and snoring into a half eaten pancake, while his father had roped Fuzzy into helping him at the counter. The smaller mare was balancing carefully on a seat and consulting a cookbook as Night Light guided her through the art of pancakes. “Let that one cook a little more, then we’ll mix up more batter.”
“Add another thirty counts...look for browning…”
“Good morning, everyone.” Shining Armor sat next to his sister, mussing her mane and earning a muffled squeak in protest. “I see you have a new assistant.”
“Yes, my first choice is testing the new ‘pancake pillow’ so I’m using the new alternative.”
Shining snickered as Twilight’s eyelids opened enough for her to glare at him. “How’s that working out?”
“Only two floorcakes so far. She’s got a surprisingly good grip. Must run in the family.”
The smell of butter and toast reached Shining’s nose and he pried the juice jug from his sister’s hooves. “Is Mom going to be joining us?”
“Browning? Check. Now to turn it…”
Night Light grimaced and shook his head. “She got called in early this morning to deal with some odd reports on a moon cult. She’s going to take the opportunity to sort out some other paperwork while she’s at the palace, too.” His magic floated a plate loaded with eggs and toast over to his son while he helped Fuzzy with the complex process of flipping a pancake.
“Turn with the plate and use the pan to catch- eep! Caught. Much better than last time.”
The batter in her mane spoke of some less than successful attempts, but the platinum mare was almost dancing on her forehooves as she worked.
Shining chuckled as he dug in, enjoying his father’s cooking. In less than a month, he’d be off to the Royal Academy of Canterlot for the next stage of his guard officer training and he had no illusions that their cooks preferred quantity over taste.
“Is this okay?” Fuzzy’s unblinking eyes looked up anxiously, ears threatening to droop as she awaited judgement.
Night Light ‘hrm’ed as she offered a slightly misshapen pancake for inspection, letting her fidget before handing down his decision. “Not bad for the first attempt.”
Her smile could have lit the room and Night Light chuckled, ruffling her mane before looking back to his son.
“I know you probably had plans, but would you and Fuzzy be able to entertain Twilight today? I have the Astrological Society pulling my tail to get observations on some odd star movements that can probably wait a few years, but they insist are vitally important.”
“Twilight? I have a new pancake for you. You need to eat so you can recov- ow! That’s my ear- ow! Help!”
Shining Armor knew his father was much more a night owl than most other ponies and often napped during the day so he could spend time with his family. “That’s okay. I’ll see if Cadance is free and we can go for a picnic in the park. If not, we’ll go to the library instead.”
Night Light grinned at him, a knowing glint in his eyes. Then he reached over to save Fuzzy from his daughter. A spoon dripping with honey floated past her nose and Twilight gave up the captive ear to catch the sweet smelling treat instead.
“Could you see if the library has the new Smart Cookie book?” Fuzzy spoke up as she wiped syrup and honey from Twilight’s muzzle with a cloth, then she replaced the smooshed pancake. A fork floated up in a faint glow of purple only for Fuzzy’s gold to carefully catch it. “No magic, remember? For two weeks.”
“But I wanna use magic… ‘m a unicorn…”
Twilight’s tired grumble left a smile on Shining’s face. “Yes, and good little unicorns eat their breakfast and take their medicine.”
Cadance was delighted to join them in the park for lunch, taking the opportunity to favor Shining Armor with a peck on the cheek that left him blushing while Twilight covered her eyes and complained. “Eww! No kissy faces!”
Fuzzy watched silently when Cadance took that as a challenge and leaned in, lips puckering. Twilight squealed and jumped away, the pink alicorn chasing the laughing unicorn while Shining Armor unpacked plates and sandwiches from the basket he’d brought.
“Does this mean Twilight is better?”
“Huh?” Shining responded eloquently, glancing at the oddest member of his family. “Oh, no. She’ll probably crash and sleep for the afternoon after she’s eaten. If anything, this is good for her.”
“Should I help her?” Fuzzy kept her eyes on where Twilight had lost the race and been caught, legs flailing as Cadance tickled her with her wingtips until begging was heard.
“Do you want to?”
She hesitated. This was time for Cadance and Twilight, wasn’t it?
“Fuzzy! Help! Aaahaha- stooop!” The call to arms was heard and Fuzzy marched to join the battle, being particularly careful of her leg cast. She wasn’t sure how she was going to help but maybe just being there would be enough.
*
The battle had ended in a surprise mutual surrender to Princess Fuzzy after she found a mud puddle, threats of muddy coats causing the ‘Loving Hearts’ and ‘Booktopia’ empires to crumble, helped by Shining announcing that ‘muddy ponies don’t get lunch.’
“The Princess gave you homework?” Twilight eyed the thick textbook in Cadance’s hooves.
“She sure did. Flying is great and I got my weather licence, but my horn casting courses are kicking my flank. Severe Snap alone wants twelve pages by next week on intermediate duelling spells and common counters.” Cadance grumbled, leaning against Shining who was trying not to blush more than he already was.
Twilight and Fuzzy glanced at each other before looking back to Cadance. “Can we look?”
“Sure. Look all you want. It’s pretty advanced for what you’ve learned so far though.”
They weren’t listening anymore, not with a new textbook to read.
“Thaumaturgical equations? Fuzzy, which book did we see that in?”
“Bright Spark’s ‘Treatise on Magic’. But he referenced Sun Shimmer’s ‘Beginner’s Guide’ a lot.” Fuzzy shook her head. “And he can’t draw a straight line either.”
“Don’t we have Sun’s book at home? It sounds familiar.” Twilight flicked over another page, her horn glimmering briefly before Fuzzy nudged her and took over page duties.
“Yes. It had the horn exercises you needed to stop the headaches.”
Cadance let out a puff of amusement as her plan played out successfully, watching the pair read her textbook. She wasn’t going to tell them it was one she’d already finished and she was far more curious in how Twilight was treating her ex-plushie and how the platinum unicorn was responding.
‘She doesn’t even notice she’s making suggestions on her own, or coming up with her own ideas.’
A pink wing stretched around Shining, pulling his muzzle closer as she began her own lesson plan.
There was one new lesson for the Sparkle family to learn for the day, however.
“Dad?”
Night Light turned the page of his new recipe book. “Hmm? Yes, Twilight?”
“What setting do you use for Fuzzy? Mom says we got muddy and muddy ponies don’t get dessert.”
He scribbled down a note. Some of the new Prench cuisine was giving him ideas and his hooves were itching to experiment. “Oh, uh… I used the light cycle with one cup of detergent. Good for delicates.”
“Thanks, Dad!”
Yes, he might just be able to top Butter Toast at the next bake off and take the blue ribbon! That would wipe that smug smile off her-
Night Light stopped and replayed the conversation before sprinting for the laundry. “Twilight, wait!”
Ten minutes later they managed to extract a dripping Fuzzy from the machine, and he ran a bath for the pair while explaining that, no, ponies do not go in the washing machine.
“Fuzzy is a pony now. Ponies use a bathtub.”