Sewing and Scares
Fuzzy staggered into the bedroom, horn flaring with gold light as she slipped her saddlebags off and half collapsed to the floor with a sigh. That didn’t relax Twilight's grip on her neck one bit, as the smaller unicorn held firm and snored faintly, drooling into Fuzzy’s silver mane.
At that moment, she was even more thankful that she’d grown taller, since it meant she could see the pillows from where she was and pull them down. All it took was a brief tug of her magic to snag the softest pillow, arrange it on the rug for maximum fluff, and snuggle her aching legs up to it for some quality nap time. Relaxing into the soft fluff, Fuzzy could see the various family photos on shelves, protected zealously by tiny guard ponies meticulously painted gold and white by Shining Armor.
She remembered the first, a picture of two tiny ponies in an old mare’s lap. When Evening Star whispered a wish and held her out to a wide-eyed Twilight, telling the tiny filly that ‘Princess Fuzzy’ would protect her.
Another picture was from months later, during Hearth’s Warming with extended family. Twilight was still tiny, her warm scarf wrapping around both plushie and pony as presents were passed out. As the last was given out, Twilight had snuggled her and asked her mother to tie a ribbon into Fuzzy’s hair so she had a present too.
The spark...
The third was from two years after that day. Shining Armor was on his back, tongue out and making a goofy face while Twilight was posed on Fuzzy’s back, caught mid-cheer at having defeated him in the imaginary battle they’d fought. The difference in size was noticeable with Fuzzy, now large enough that Twilight could stand on her back and not topple over, and it hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“So, did you ask your mother why her doll is growing?”
“I did. She just smiled and said “How curious.”. I’m pretty sure it’s some enchantment she’s made but I don’t know if removing it is a good idea, let alone where to start.”
“Twilight is rather attached to her little princess, she practically treats it like a sister. Besides, she’ll probably grow out of it once she makes some friends at kindergarten.”
Glass eyes watched as time and again, her Twilight tried to reach out. Struggling to make friends with the other colts and fillies until she used books and the stories within to hide from cruel laughter.
On and on the pictures went in a slideshow of Twilight and Fuzzy’s growth. The plushie was glad once she was tall enough to stand protectively over her friend, albeit with help. Just the right size for a small purple unicorn to huddle up to when cold or scared, with a fluffy chest that Twilight could snuggle into when her headaches started or her panic attacks began.
When the rest of her family was busy, when even Cadance or Shining Armor couldn’t stop to listen, Twilight had always had her plushie to talk to.
Fuzzy let the memories fall away when she felt hooves shift, her passenger crawling up to share the pillow, yawning as the events of the morning caught up.
The day had been far longer than they expected and it had all started with a visit to an old friend of Night Light’s who had ‘a talent for dresses.’
* * * * *
Fuzzy peeked over the carriage window sill, watching the streets of Canterlot rumble by. There was so much to fill her senses, from the crisp morning air broken by bird calls to the soft clip-clops of the stallions pulling the wagon. A scattering of ponies were already out and about, some tending to small gardens and hedges, others leaving their homes to go to work.
She ducked down as the carriage trundled past a small group gathered around a coffee cart, then tentatively peeked back up once curious eyes were no longer observing her. The unease in her belly continued to spin unabated despite the relative tranquility of her surroundings. While nothing had happened yet, the tales she’d read informed her that the mode of transport they were using was highly likely to be stopped by bandits or carried off by a dragon. If she kept a close watch, maybe she could spot them first and alert Night Light.
He’d had some odd expressions on his face when she warned him about the risks of carriages, though the stallion pull team had laughed. Maybe they were experienced at fighting off brigands? Another glance out the window didn’t reveal any burly thugs with eye patches, though one pony did have a monocle…
A classic sign of villainy second only to a goatee.
“Dad, can we stop at the library on the way home? We finished ‘Smart Cookie and the Serial Thread’ last night.” Twilight pulled the book from the saddlebag on Fuzzy’s back then tossed her head to get some of her purple mane out of her eyes. “Shiny said he saw a series we might like to try, too.”
“We have a few books waiting to pick up.” Fuzzy lifted a letter from her saddlebag in a faint golden aura then slipped it back inside for safe keeping.
“I’m sure we can swing past on the way home, girls. I wanted to see if they had that new Germane cookbook after all.” Night Light brushed back Twilight’s mane. “You need another trim. How are you going to be able to look up at the sky with hair down to your nose shetland style?”
Fuzzy smiled softly as the pouting purple pony climbed up her back to escape her father’s grasp, “I don’t like the mane pony. She smells weird. Besides, I can tie it back like Cadance.”
“Yes, but you want to look your best for when you go to school, don’t you?” Night Light countered, smiling as he pointed out the window to the majestic towers of the palace. “Princess Celestia’s new student probably shouldn’t look like she just crawled out of bed on her first day- which reminds me! Fuzzy, dear. We’re getting you fitted for clothes too.”
That got Fuzzy’s attention and the platinum unicorn tilted her head in confusion. “But I have all those clothes in the closet. A whole chest of them, actually. I’ve been dressed as a doctor, a noble lady, even a guard once, although...” Fuzzy thought for a moment. “I’ve outgrown them, haven’t I?”
“In any case, play clothes don’t make for a respectable presentation. Velvet and I agreed that you should have some seasonal gear and a nice dress for formal occasions.” The stallion patted his saddlebags. “It’s also a tradition in this family that new beginnings need new outfits and that goes for both of you.”
A moment passed as he blinked in realization. “Wait, is that why Shining was complaining that someone had adjusted all his straps?”
Fuzzy found the outside world much more interesting at that point while Twilight just giggled into her ear. “Will there be a lot of crowds?”
“Not for a while yet, that’s why we left early.” His calm voice soothed the tension in her belly. “Don’t worry. Hemming Way’s an old friend. She’ll get you and Twilight kitted out without a problem.”
“Oh. What’s she like?” Visions of an old mare, wise and powerful, filled her mind.
“Hm? Hemming Way? She’s... interesting.”
*
A bell rang cheerfully as they entered the store, soft carpet crushing beneath Fuzzy’s hooves as she looked around the colorful store at the many, many things there were to behold. Banners hung from the ceiling in places with pictures of cities and ponies in strange and unusual outfits. Ponyquins posed in places to show off several styles of dresses and suits. One wearing a flowing, frilly attire, another in thin cloth that almost shimmered in the light, while a third was draped with a vibrant purple robe.
“Woah…the books never mentioned anything like this,” Fuzzy wondered, slowly realizing what Night Light had meant by ‘play clothes.’ The costumes she and Twilight had crafted worked well with a little imagination but compared to what she could see…
“They only like to talk about questing for some magical robe or suit of armor.” Twilight grumbled and brushed past her, eyeing a rather pretty scarf. “Usually made by some wise old pony.”
“Did a wise old pony make these too?”
A faint pattering of hoof steps was their only warning as a cheerful “Non!” rang out from a mare who’s red dress seemed to be half ruffles and bows.
"Ah, Night Light, mon chou ! Viens, entre ! Ça fait du bien de te revoir. Et tu as amené ta belle jeune fille - oh, et qui est-ce ?" Fuzzy watched as the pastel yellow unicorn greeting them wrapped her hooves around Night Light and kissed his cheeks, ignoring his spluttering. Once she was done teasing Night Light, she leaned down to smile at Twilight and Fuzzy. "Mon chou, tu ne m'as jamais parlé d'une autre fille?!”
Fuzzy shared a glance with Twilight, earning a shrug and ear twitch.
The mare’s eyes locked onto her when Fuzzy looked back. The piercing gaze made tension inside her belly twist again as old hazel eyes examined her from nose to tail, and an odd feeling of being naked began to bloom in Fuzzy’s chest. “Hello?”
“Ah, wonders and awe… you have such interesting eyes, but no expression? Non, the expression is all in the eyes! I’ve never seen it before…but it won’t stop me from making you look fantastique.” Drifting along behind the chattering and smiling mare came a swarm of sewing needles, measuring tapes, and bundles of thread that had Fuzzy and Twilight backing away.
The weight of Twilight’s old saddlebags tugging at her sides seemed to mount as the passage from Clever Cookie’s latest book came to mind.
‘The mare laughed and spoke, her voice haunting and beautiful even as she gushed about her latest work, how it was sure to win her first place in the art gallery competition. Her victim tried to fight free even as ribbons pulled the struggling hero closer, needles flashing as they began to sew. “Especially”, the witch sneered, “since the main competitor will be my center piece!”
Just like the book said! They weren’t at the last chapter reveal yet, but that didn’t stop Fuzzy from giving the strange mare her best defiant look, posed like the heroes on all of Twilight’s book covers.
“Hemming-” Night Light tried, only to get a petite hoof pressed against his nose and the mare’s full attention.
“Non! You have one darling fille I barely see, and now you have two! I thought we were good friends, but to hide such beauty from moi?” Hemming glared at him for a moment before chuckling brightly. “You should visit more- why, I bet your darlings here don’t even remember me! Though I thought you had a fine stallion of a son..”
Obviously, this was some kind of enchantress, because there were even pony statues in the store window! Their glassy eyes looking out at the world they could never touch again, their smiles stitched into place. It was disturbingly similar to the book and sent a shiver down Fuzzy’s back.
She could almost hear them whispering and didn’t want to think about the similarities she once had with them.
In the book, Cookie had run for help which was as good a plan as any in Fuzzy’s opinion. So she slowly crept for the door, the slight pressure of Twilight huddling behind her kept her focused. She didn’t know this witch and she wasn’t about to let her do anything to her friend.
A floorboard creaked under hoof, doubtlessly giving them away but Fuzzy readied herself to act.
“Chéri!” Hemming Way was up close to them again, almost nose to nose with Fuzzy while Night Light rubbed his face with a hoof, obviously trying to shake off the spell the unicorn mare had cast.
“Ah… plan B!” Fuzzy had read enough books with Twilight to know what to do when the sneaking plan failed and spun, scooping up her petrified purple pony pal with a startled yelp and dashing for the door-
*thump!*
*
Twilight held the ice pack in place on Fuzzy’s head with a hoof, and inspected the groaning unicorn's slightly squashed nose. “Well you didn’t break it or mom would have freaked out. Doctor Twilight says ice cream and sleep should fix it.”
“Like when Shining broke his leg climbing that tree?”
“Pretty much, yeah, but he didn’t get ice cream.” She curled closer, hugging her platinum friend. “You forgot that step one of Plan B is making sure the door is open, didn’t you?”
Fuzzy sulked. “In the books, the doors never shut themselves.”
“I am so sorry, dears. I forget how flighty some ponies are.” Hemming Way continued her apology by offering hot cups of cocoa to soothe any lingering fears while her measuring tapes floated around.
Night Light stuck his head up from behind a rack of clothes where he had taken cover. “I did warn you, remember?”
Hemming rolled her eyes at him. “Yes, yes. That’s in the past now. Making these two look magnifique is the present.”
After the apologies and proper introductions were given, Fuzzy contented herself with sulking over her cocoa and watching Hemming Way decorate Twilight with one outfit after another, each rejected in turn as they argued about comfort and style. She didn’t understand it herself but Fuzzy did make sure the cloud of tailoring supplies didn’t suddenly try to make Twilight one with the dress.
*
Night Light was relieved when at last the sketches were sketched, the measurements taken and the mock-up dresses put aside. Even more so when they were all sensible, tasteful and affordable. Velvet’s tastes could be… eclectic to the point of eye watering.
Though that one skimpy outfit he had spotted did show some promise. ‘How to get her to wear it…’
“They’ll be ready for you before the term starts, so you’ll be truly dazzling!” Hemming Way danced on the spot, yellow mane bouncing along. “Oh, and Night Light, here’s that nice little number you were eyeing for Velvet.”
Fuzzy and Twilight watched in amusement as he took the offered bundle, blushing through his fur.
“Can we see?” Twilight’s curiosity got the best of her.
“Er- no. That would be, just... no. It’s boring adult clothes, nothing interesting at all.”
Purple and gold eyes stared up at him and the muffled giggles of his old school friend alerted Night Light that help wasn’t coming from that corner.
Alarms went off in his head warning him of curious fillies and unguarded packages. “Ask your mother when you’re older.” ‘There. Sorted.’
* * *
The visit to the library was routine by comparison.
Fuzzy followed the prancing form of Twilight who was humming happily and making a beeline straight to the new additions table. With her new perspective, she wasn’t quite sure what to expect but the building felt remarkably mundane, smelling of ink and gardenias, and lacking in old scholarly ponies or floating candles.
In fact, it looked rather a lot like the study back home and the elderly librarian at the main desk wore a simple vest instead of the story mandated voluminous robes. Another look around failed to spot any conveniently displayed signs of ominous tomes or ancient relics.
She almost felt lied to. There wasn’t even a library mascot.
“Fuzzy, push this for me!” A book cart was thrust into her hooves and purpose returned, Twilight tugging her along to browse the rows of books. They wandered from one section to the next, from history to adventure, picking out the sequels to the titles they’d read and debating over new choices.
Arctic Crunch’s book, a story of surviving an expedition into the frozen north, was approved while Lunar Dash’s ‘authentic’ tale of flying to the moon met with rejection. The artwork on the cover was nice, though.
Fuzzy felt more relaxed as they perused the shelves, quite glad that the library was mostly deserted.
“Oh, what about this one? Or that one- oh, I can’t decide. Can we get both? Wait, pull that one down for me!” Twilight almost danced around while Fuzzy pulled the cart loaded with their finds.
One after another, interesting novels, guides and manuals joined the ‘check out’ pile until a slightly bemused librarian found them. “So that's where my book cart went. How about we get those checked out and you can come back once you’ve read what you have, hmm?”
*
At the front counter, Night Light looked up from his newest volume on Germane baking techniques and bit his lip to stop from chortling when Fuzzy pulled the groaning cart up to the desk. Twilight sat atop her back and began to pass one book after another to the librarian, who dutifully stamped each and passed them back, whereupon Twilight would slip the borrowing approved book into Fuzzy’s saddlebags.
All carried out with great care and attention, though Fuzzy and her bags looked a little strained by the end of it.
* * *
Family: a group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit.
The line in the dictionary failed to mention where living plush dolls fitted in. “Vexatious.”
“Welcome to the family, Princess Fuzzy Sparkle.”
Golden eyes read the entry again as she savored the memory, feeling the same soft warmth fill her chest as she picked up a picture frame beside her, the three ponies captured in that moment staring back at her.
“Evening Star…”
A much smaller Twilight beaming at the camera, hooves wrapped around one of Evening Star’s, the tired looking mare’s smile equally bright. Between them was a plush doll, familiar golden eyes watching the world pass by.
Fuzzy knew distantly that she should have stayed that size, just big enough for a tiny filly to hug, then hold as time passed, but something inside her ached at the idea of being left on a shelf while Twilight grew up.
She turned the pages of the dictionary while thinking, flipping back and forth until a purple hoof held it in place.
“I miss her too.” Twilight curled up against her, snuggling up to her chest fluff and making the warmth inside Fuzzy flare all the more. “What were you looking for in the book?”
“It’s not important.” Not quite a lie but it was bothering her, like an itch in her horn.
“Fuzzy?” Twilight’s voice was small and vulnerable, making the taller unicorn pull her close, protective instincts tingling.
“I’m scared.” Fuzzy looked down at sparkling purple eyes, felt their horns brush and the words spilled out. “You’re going away to that school and... part of me is worried I’ll end up sitting on a shelf and just…”
She trailed off, unable to hide her feelings as purple and gold magic sparked between their horns.
“Silly Fuzzy.” Without waiting for a response, Twilight nuzzled into her chest and continued, “I’m scared too. I’m going to be meeting whole classrooms of new ponies all at once, and my family won’t be there to help when things go wrong.”
Fuzzy pulled her friend close, “Do you have to stay at the School? I could learn the path there so even if Velvet or Night Light doesn’t have time, I could get you.”
“Mom said that was too dangerous, but I have a plan. And!” Twilight’s voice was firm, the same tone she used as a princess when they acted out scenes from their books. “You should call her ‘Mom’ too.”
* * *
“Good to see Slim Jim’s updated their menu, this pasta tastes great! How’s yours, Twilight?”
Twilight Velvet looked up from her glass of wine, eyeing her friends across the table. They were so different in personality and characteristics, and yet had an unbreakable bond. After all, Garden Party was a messy pegasus just as bright as a yellow dandelion, while Opal Dust had never been seen in public without his suit coat perfectly clean and pressed. A casual glance in public would never lead one to believe they were married, especially since Opal was a unicorn, and mixed marriages were somewhat rare, even more so considering his family’s views, but Velvet had seen the couple in private and if nothing else, their five children showed the depths of their affection for each other.
She needed her old friends' company at this time, but friends made it difficult to hide deep thoughts when they knew you so well. Still, the pause in their quiet conversation pulled her from her musing. “What?”
“Did the wine try to hide something from you? You’re glaring at it like it owes you answers,” Garden Party wondered, the buttercup yellow pegasus making a mess of her own pasta dish.
“I’m fine.”
“Uh-huh.” Opal Dust snorted, the speckled unicorn waggling a hoof in the air. “We’re not a pair of colts, Velvet.”
“Really, I am.”
Garden Party and Opal Dust exchanged looks, their twitching ears and subtle changes of expression conveying a conversation all their own before the pair turned back to their life-long friend. “You’re eating normal, so it’s not another foal.”
“Red wine means things with your stallion are good.” Garden tapped her own glass.
“You’re not looking at the clock, so you’re not expecting company at home.” Opal noted dryly.
“So spill.”
“Am I a bad parent?” The words slipped out, good wine aiding their escape, but Velvet’s hooves were too late to stop them as her friends stared in shock.
“My daughter had a surge during her School entry exam- a surge at her age!- and now her plush doll is a walking, talking pony. I… how bad could my little girl’s childhood be that she needed to bring her imaginary friend to life? Did I push her too hard? Was I not around enough?”
Opal signaled the waiter for another bottle before replying. “Velvet, dear. We love you and we’d help you rob a bank or bury a body, but you’ll need to start from the beginning on this one.”
“Well, it started when I was wearing this tight little number and Night Light couldn’t keep his hoo-”
“Velvet!”
* * *
“Did you get the legal records?”
“Sure. Used the staff door, slipped in and out of the records room without a hitch and got the address of this cute little secretary there too. Hey, think I should get an assistant of my own?”
“You need a minder.”
“Pfft. You need a mare. Anyway, the secretary had quite a nice rump, wore glasses and she sounded well educated-”
“Scotch, please.” Cold Case grumbled, trying not to touch the floor of his brother’s office. He was still trying to get the scent of cigars out of his clothes from the last visit. “I need those old rulings to build my case and proving that a construct isn’t a pony is a start.”
The grubby unicorn didn’t pause. “--and are you sure you’re not interested? Mother will be disappointed- she really wants grandfoals you know?. Maybe if you got a mare and took that stick out of your a-”
“Scotch!”
“-ss you’d focus less on what you want more on what you’ve- Oh fine, be that way. Turns out, put on a janitor’s hat, wear the right ID card and they don’t look twice.”
“Excellent.” He looked around. “Where are they?”
“Oh. There were quite a few files, so I had Cold Rocks drop the box off at your place- don’t worry! I know you like to dress it up in your part of town, so I told her to wear something nice.”
“Scotch…”
“Oh, wasn't Mother dearest going to visit you later today?”
Cold Case left at a gallop while cursing his brother. The last thing he really needed was his mother meeting the ornery earth pony and deciding she was ‘suitable’.
* * *
They sat together in the garden, watching the sun set in a brilliant array of colors but its warmth paled compared to the simple peace of the moment.
Twilight listened to her brother talk about the aftermath of the party with his Academy squad mates, a small part of her mind jotting down every word while the rest of her just basked in his presence. She could see his passion in every gesture and wave of his hoof, and hear the excitement that burbled up when he commented about the antics of his friends.
A pang of longing spiraled her heart but she pushed it back down.
Nearby, Fuzzy was spread out on the grass and frowning at a manual as she slowly assembled a small telescope that claimed to be able to see the Mare of the Moon. Twilight wasn’t sure the packaging was honest though, since she doubted the Mare had such a goofy smiling face.
“We never found out where Capstone got his hooves on that Stalliongrad stuff, but I swear it was eating through the shot glass. I don’t remember what it tasted like, either.” Shining Armor chuckled to himself then blinked and nudged her. “Please don’t tell Mom.”
“Heh!” Twilight tried to follow his tale and smile, but like Fuzzy, her brother could always tell when something was wrong. Was she shivering?
“Feeling nervous about tomorrow?”
“Kind of?” She didn’t want to worry them about her headaches or returning night terrors. The way food refused to settle. Going to the magic school? It was a dream come true! She’d make her family so proud of her.
Shining Armor frowned and turned to her, his bright blue eyes full of a brother’s love and support. “Twi…?”
Twilight caved. “Yes! Oh my gosh, yes. I’m worried about the classes- what if I mess up and they laugh or- or what if I lose control and turn everyone into potted plants again! Princess Celestia might change her mind and- and I’ve even read Wavering Thought’s ‘Changing Checklists’ and-”
With every word, the tendrils of panic spread through her chest. Her mind could not help but bring up everything that could go wrong, old nightmares long forgotten, fears for her future, causing her breath to catch with every hammering heartbeat. Her horn wreathed itself in violet flames as her magic instinctively surged into protective action, but that only made the agony spiking in her head flare even harder.
Two pairs of limbs wrapped around her as her best friends held her tight, their heartbeats giving her mind an anchor until the panic attack passed and she could return the hug. Fuzzy’s horn brushed against hers, the painful excess of magic slowly fading away while Shiny fussed over her, both unicorns talking about nothing and giving Twilight time to calm down and process.
In good time, Fuzzy made a supply run to bring back a cup of hot cocoa to ‘help her sleep’ and she could feel it working. Her eyes felt so heavy even after the afternoon nap.
“Bedtime soon, Twily. Long days and long nights make for a bad start to big pony school,” Shiny said with a yawn of his own, missing her smile.
Twilight wasn’t quite ready to let the moment end though as the first stars peeked through the fading light. “On one condition. You gotta tell me the names of all the stars like Dad used to.”
Shining glanced at the sky then back to her with a look of understanding and she could see the feeling reflected in his bright eyes. “That might take a while. Why don’t you cuddle up and point them out so I don’t miss any.”
She smiled, shuffling over until his leg hugged her protectively to his chest. This close, Twilight could feel the steady thrum of his heart, each beat soothing the lingering fears of her mind.
A glimmer of gold magic heralded the arrival of a blanket that wrapped around her, a corner wiping away hot tears. “Need to keep warm too.” Fuzzy fussed, snuggling up with her telescope in hoof to sandwich the smaller mare between her best friends.
"So, where should I start?" Shining's warm voice tickled her ear, making everything twitchy.
Twilight nickered softly, gesturing vaguely at the myriad of stars slowly appearing. "That bright one over there."
Tomorrow could wait a little longer.