//------------------------------// // 20 - Wrapping Up Winter // Story: Slice of Velvet and Pear // by David Silver //------------------------------// Twilight smiled as she gazed out the window. A steaming cup of tea lifted to her lips, glowing with her magic as she sipped gently. It was a snowy and quiet day. "You can get so much reading done in the winter." "This is a fact," agreed Moon emphatically. "Even Spike." She gestured her head at the dragon, reading a comic cozily in his bed. "But the book I want to read is difficult to open." Twilight perked an ear at that. "Hm? Did I leave a book locked?" She hopped down in search of the rogue book, but it was nowhere to be seen. Moon realized quickly she had spoken poorly. "I will state my feelings plainly." "Please do." Twilight aborted her search to face Moon fully. "What's on your mind?" "You." Twilight retreated half a step. "M-me? I'm right here." "You are." Moon Dancer didn't argue that statement of fact. "But I have romantic feelings towards you that I fear are not reciprocated. Not informing you is failing to improve the situation, so I am telling you. By the rules I have read, you can then either progress to the next stage in a relationship, or I can be told to regress a stage. Which is it?" Twilight sank to her haunches. "I... appreciate your honesty." She rubbed at her cheek softly. "And... I... don't know... I'm still unsure about the whole Applejack situation. And now this?" She sagged a little. "This must be an extremely unsatisfying answer." "It is, in many ways, better than I feared." That got a curious look from Twilight. "You haven't denied me. You simply haven't accepted me. There is a difference." Spike peeked up from his bed. "If you two start kissing..." Well, he wasn't sure what he'd do, but he'd sure do it! Twilight darkened rapidly at Spike's words. "And there is the problem. When you ask me 'do I want to kiss Moon Dancer?', the first thought is 'Well, sure, she's a friend.' But I'm imagining a peck on the cheek, not... the rest." "I have extremely minimal knowledge of kissing." Moon nodded firmly. "We are equally uninformed. We could learn?" Spike began to snicker at the logic presented. Which didn't help Twilight at all. "I! You know... Winter is approaching its end." Moon skewed an ear. "Correct." "Winter Wrap Up will be upon us soon." Twilight sat up, bringing her hooves together firmly. "Have you considered how you'll help?" "They don't pre-assign positions?" Moon inclined her head. "Like in Canterlot?" "Well, yes and no." Twilight wobbled her hooves. "Mostly ponies join other ponies with similar skills. There's animal patrol, harvest patrol, bird patrol (That's a pegasus-only one), crafts, and ice. Not to mention general snow removal." "You speak from experience." Moon leaned closer. "You have participated before then?" "In Ponyville? Quite a few times." Twilight started for the door. "In fact, I'm going to check in with Applejack right now. Helping her is how I tend to do it." It was only when the door closed that Moon realized her mistake. "Was that intentional?" She looked to Spike. "We are still in an uncertain state." Spike shrugged emphatically. "I know who my marefriend is, but she picked me, so I got off lucky in a way I guess. Um, either way, good try. She can't say she doesn't know now." Moon let out a slow 'hm' of a noise. "I will accept at least that. Thank you, Spike." "I didn't know mares could have girlfriends." Moon considered her next words. Her upbringing of Spike was a task she took seriously. Applejack was out in the fields. The apples were not there to be tended, in the snow and all. That didn't mean she was absent of other chores. She was wielding a huge set of cutting tools at the end of a long stick, clamping her teeth to bring them together as she pruned at the sleeping trees, humming a melodic tune as she went. "Winter pruning?" asked Twilight as she came closer. "Hm? Hey Twi! Yeah. Best time to cut back so trees kin grow their best. Ya know the deal." Twilight did know the deal, her magic reaching to help pluck at less healthy branches, so the tree's energy would go in more productive directions. "I should apologize." "Fer lendin' a hoof? Shoot, wish ponies 'offended' me like that more often." She laughed softly, not realizing how more open to assistance she was than she could have otherwise been. "Seriously, what fer?" "I did something wrong, a while ago." Twilight waved a hoof even as her glowing horn continued to pull and pluck at branches. "I walked up to you and asked some... awkward questions. You brushed me off, and now I realize exactly how awkward you had to feel. It's awful! And I did that, so... sorry." Applejack hiked a dubious brow high. "Ain't mad yer seein' the mistake ah things, but yer bein' awful shady about the specifics there, sugar cube. Ah don't brush you off fer much." It was in that instant that she remembered the rare time she did. "Oh! Oh... Right..." She squinted at Twilight suspiciously. "That mean you've put that aside?" "It means..." Twilight went quiet, focusing instead on the pruning, or at least delaying the answer. "It means I don't know where I am, and neither do you, and that's alright. I know we're friends, and I want to keep that, no matter what." She suddenly hurried to Applejack's side, throwing a leg over her withers. "And if we stayed there forever, that isn't a bad ending at all." Applejack's tension melted in a warm smile, leaning back against Twilight. "Now there's a thought ah can't rightly argue. But yer not gonna leave me wonderin' are ya? Who went marchin' up on mah Twi and's makin' moves on her?" Twilight burst into airy laughter, dancing away from Applejack. "It's not like that! She's a friend too, of both of us, come to think. I'm not even mad at her, just... I didn't expect it, which is how I imagine now you felt when I did it to you." "Ain't fun." Applejack snorted softly. "And that was just... a day. Felt like everypony fer miles suddenly wanted to know about mah love life." She rolled her eyes. "Which ain't a thin' ah even got, 'less you count family love. Got plenty of that." She grabbed Twilight much as Twilight had grabbed her moment's before. "Come here, cous!" The two laughed, then got back to the vital work of tending the orchard. The feelings between them seemed clear for the time being. Pear Butter sipped from the fragrant apple tea. "Ah have some news ah've been hidin' from you." Velvet had her hooves together, her cup floating in her magic. "Well, now that you've gone and said that, you have to finish. That's just how that works. Out with it!" "Your daughter said something quite interesting to me before." Velvet's eyes half-closed. "Something you're still hiding, and looking so smug about." She thrust a hoof. "Vile mare! Don't hide things about my filly from me." "Is that any way to talk about your sister?" Pear stuck out her tongue defiantly. Velvet's defiance turned to confusion. "Sister? We're--" "Twilight reasoned we're so close, we're practically sisters." Pear sipped from her cup gently. "And, seeing as we're sisters, I am her aunt." She inclined her head at Velvet. "I accepted, of course. Such a delightful niece." Velvet began to giggle, unable to hold it in. "I have a sister?!" She brought her hooves down on either of Pear's shoulders. "Which means... I also have a niece, and a nephew! Night Light is going to lose his little mind redoing all the family charts." She sat back, hoof at her cheek. "I can't wait to see the look on his face." "Howdy, Miss Velvet." Big Mac was just passing past. "Headin' out ta help in the fields." Velvet's magic snapped around the red stallion. "Nothin' doin'!" Now, he could have broke free. Velvet was not Twilight, and even if she was, holding a stallion against their wishes with their hooves on the ground? Not an immediately easy task. Big Mac just wasn't fighting it. "Young stallion, you will address me as 'aunt' from now on." Pear Butter laughed into her tea, almost knocking it over. "You heard the mare. Don't refer to family like that." "Um..." Big Mac tilted his head at Velvet. "Yes... Aunt?" He glanced between the two. "There ain't no unicorns in the Apples, mom." "That don't mean she can't be family." Pear crossed her arms. "Ain't claimin' it's a blood thing, but 'the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb,'" she quoted from a book somewhere. "We're tightly packed, family or not. So ah'm proud to call Velvet a sister." Velvet swatted Pear's shoulder. "Speaking of that! I have a perfect winter thrill. I hope you're ready." "No, not even a little." Pear set her cup down carefully and nudged it and its saucer away. "But we're gonna do it anyway. What madness are you dragging me on this time?" Big Mac left the two giddily chatting mares behind. Scheming mothers was a thing to scoot away from, so far he could tell. "Huh." Spike was washing dishes. "So anycreature can like anycreature else, um, if they want?" "Basically, yes." Moon was seated nearby, using her magic at times to lend some assistance in the process where her better height proved advantageous. "So long as both are adults of clear thinking, it's only up to the two of them if they want to like each other or not." "Huh... Wait, I'm not... you know... an adult." He hiked a thumb at himself. "Does that make... what I'm doing off?" "No! No no no." Moon shook her head vigorously. "I apologize. As a developing hatchling, you are expected to explore these feelings and experiment with such social bonds with others of similar developmental maturity." She raised a hoof. "But! It would be wrong if you were to become involved with someone beyond that scope." Things became quiet a long moment. "Oh..." Spike looked over his shoulder. "Is that why Twilight... you know... shot me down?" Moon's ears perked, only to slowly wilt. "You are not an adult, as you just pointed out. To become involved with you would be taking advantage, and inappropriate for her. So, yes, that is why. It's not because she doesn't like you. She does, a lot, but she keeps that within the parameters allowed by the societal agreements. So--" "So she's my aunt, not a potential girlfriend... got it..." He sighed, but a little smile formed. "Thanks, Moon... I get it... more than before. I appreciate it." Moon scootched up just behind Spike and put her arms around him, hugging him gently from behind. "I am trying my best to be a good caretaker, Spike. I apologize for my mistakes and hope you can forgive them." Spike tensed in her grip. "Mistakes? I mean... Moon... You..." He threw away the wet rag he had been holding, flopping with a wet splat against the spigot of the sink. "Moon! I love you, um, as a sister. You've been there for me, practically like a mom. You never backed away, even when I was being gross." He stuck out his tongue at that. "You're not making mistakes. You're being awesome!" He threw his hands up and apart. "So thanks. Don't expect me to forgive you, because I won't. I can't forgive something that doesn't need forgiving." Moon drew Spike all the closer, nuzzling into his neck. "My little drake. By the way, what got you in the habit of cleaning the dishes?" "Huh? I saw you doing it. And if you can do it, I can help too, right?" Moon smiled at that. "That was much the reason I did it. I didn't want to impose too harshly on Twilight's generosity." "Right?!" He laughed, grabbing the rag to get back to cleaning. "She's already doing so much for us, having us here in her library. The least we can do is help clean up." "Exactly so." Moon touched her cheek to his. "I'm glad I don't have to mention it then. Let's work together to make this place clean by the time she returns." "On it!" And the two got to work. The dishes were the start, not the end. Books were put away and dusted. Windows were cleaned and floors were swept clean. Twilight would return to a clean library. Cloud Kicker nodded at Applejack and Amethyst Star. "This is the year." "This is the year," echoed Amethyst. "Gonna wake up all the animals nice and bright. But they can't do that without--" "The plants will be ready," assured Applejack with a firm nod. "Rest assured." "This is the year," repeated Cloud Kicker. "We'll get the clouds busted and the birds moving." Their hooves met in the center, a communal cheer erupting as they broke up to do their part, leading their respective teams to hopeful victory. Moon walked through the snowy wonder land that was slowly being transformed into spring. "This is not like Canterlot." "Nope." Spike shook his head from atop Moon. "They don't even have things for me to do." Moon turned an ear. "The lack of foal activities is curious, but not terminal." "I suppose not." Spike shrugged softly. "I can still help you." He hugged Moon from behind and above. "So what are you gonna do?" "I'm not certain." Moon slowly turned in place. "I wasn't assigned a position." "Huh." Spike curled his fingers under his chin. "A talented unicorn like you? You'd think they'd want you on the job." "But no assignment came." Moon spotted another unicorn and started that way. "Rarity. What should I be doing?" Rarity quirked an ear up. "Well, I'm helping fashion bird nests." She gestured to the line of pretty bird nests she had made so far. "Give them nice little places to rest in. How does that sound, dear?" "Art is not my specialty." Despite that, Moon began grabbing supplies that were littered about. "Two pi ar squared," she grumbled to herself as she labored to assemble them. "How is that?" She set down the perfect half sphere. It was, in some ways, an amazing piece. It was, on the other, completely absent of features other than being perfectly round. Rarity could but stare at the creation. "Dear... You... may have neglected a vital step." She tapped at the perfectly smooth top of the half sphere. "Where is a bird supposed to sit, let alone place their lovely little eggs?" Moon looked back and forth between what she had made and the examples Rarity had made. "Ah! What is the desired wall width? I can determine the diameter of the void." She nodded, looking confident in her abilities. Spike gently tugged at Moon's mane. "I don't think this is your ideal job." "What would be better suited?" She went as Spike directed her, leaving Rarity to continue with her task. Applejack and Twilight were marching side by side. Twilight's horn was glowing with the effort of keeping her progress steady, but she had a lot of practice making magic and brawn work in harmony instead of magic overwhelming the other. They were singing the song of the end of winter, the entire field alive with other ponies equally as busy with their plowing work to clear away the snow that didn't need to be there anymore. Twilight and Applejack both wore a bright green vest, as befit the plant team, which they were on. "Y'all doin' great," called out Applejack with a great smile. "We'll have the fields woke up in no time!" Twilight looked aside at her floating clipboard. "The field is on schedule. The orchard is next. We're on schedule and will be ready on time." "That's news ah'm glad to hear." Applejack nodded firmly, pressing herself forward a little harder. "Now, you finish this line." She pointed with her snout ahead. "But then break off and--" "Move to the orchard, got it." The two were in sync, the words only re-affirming things. "I'm so glad you came up." Velvet swatted the backside of Pear. "You've only done Winter Wrapup in Ponyville, haven't you?" "Only place." Pear nodded a little stiffly. "It isn't that different, is it? A city's got to get the same things done in the end, ain't that right?" "Mostly...." Velvet circled a hoof in the air. "First we get our assignments." Pear angled an ear. "Assignments?" "Oh, yeah." Velvet grabbed Pear with one arm, and her husband with the other. "We'll be a team, promise that, but we still have to check in and get an official assignment." "I love this part," eagerly agreed Night Light. "The city is great at timely assignments. Princess Celestia wouldn't have it any other way for one of her holidays." "Let's do it!" Velvet started forward, half dragging the two ponies along with her. "Hope we get roof patrol again." Night flinched with a little chuckle. "Once was enough for that." "That sounds like a pegasus kinda thin'." Pear looked aside at Night. "They'd send two unicorns?" Velvet snorted at the idea. "It's amazing what a unicorn can get done if they really put their head into it." She released Pear to tap herself beside her horn. "Literally. Don't worry, you're with us. We'll be fine!" Night shook his head slowly. "Sorry for the confusion, Miss Butter, but Canterlot is over 80% unicorns. We have to assume that a unicorn can get most things done, or nothing would get done." "Huh." She tapped at her chin. "You have a point there. Ponyville's the same fer earth ponies, come to think. Earth ponies still join all the teams willy nilly if they're confident fer it." "That's the spirit." Velvet pumped her free hoof in the air. "And you're an earth pony that's confident for anything!" Pear laughed with a strained voice, not entirely in agreement. "Ah'll do mah best." "And we'll be with you." Velvet slipped around and knocked Pear into Night, trapping her between the two unicorns. "You're with friends." Pear smiled at that. "That does help." They arrived not at the castle, but a lesser seen mayoral office. The princess couldn't be bothered for every single little city function. That was why she hired skilled ponies to help. Ponies like Fancy Pants and Raven Inkwell, who were both working hard to get ponies assigned and off on their jobs. They arrived at Raven's line, before the secretary that looked them over. "Hm." She directed a floating quill at Pear Butter. "New immigrant?" Velvet drew Pear closer. "This is a friend, from Ponyville. She'll be working with my husband and I." "Hm, yes." Raven's eyes darted across the team of three. "I will have to default to assuming you're all earth ponies for abilities." Night Light flashed a bright smile. "No roof duty then?" "No roof duty," echoed Raven, bringing her clipboard closer to scan over. "We have room for decoration removal. They were better this year, but hearth's warming decorations are still present. They must be removed, 100%. Are you up for the task?" Velvet thrust up a hoof. "We're on the case! Not a single festive bauble will survive our righteous fury." "Try not to damage them." Raven made a few quick notes. "They will be used again next year. Place them in a box for storage." "Aw." Velvet turned away. "We have our task. Let's get to it." Pear smiled a little more easily. "Helping clear the trash sounds doable. Ah'll lend a hoof to that, no problem." "There's more to it." Night nodded with memory. "Some of them get stuck in the strangest places." He reached up to tap beside his horn. "Have no fear. Leave those to us. You concentrate on the ones closer to the ground. We'll get this done!" Velvet whooped. "Now that's the spirit. Team Twilight Night--" Pear bumped against her. "Oh! Right, hm." She tapped at her chin. "Team... Velvet Butter Night! Yeah, that rolls off the tongue. Advance!" With the team name settled, they marched forward to search all the out of place hearth's warming decorations, placing them in a box with magic, hoof, or lips depending on where they were hiding. Canterlot would be on time. A pity Ponyville could not make the same claim. Mayor Mare was trying to calm the populace while also berating them on another year with the deadline looming large, likely to be missed. Moon advanced. "Is there not a pony in charge of this?" She looked to the mayor directly. The mayor's ears flickered. "I am not 'in charge' of Winter Wrap Up. I am in charge of the town as a whole." She spread her hooves out to encompass the town vaugely. "This effort has leaders for each of the three teams." She began to tap her hooves. "Tree, Clouds, and Animals." She began pointing around. "As specified by the vests." Moon could see the different colors of the different teams, but... "Somepony has to be at the top." She nodded firmly. "Or this is the result." She pointed at the mayor accusingly. "Are you not prepared for that position?" Mayor Mare sagged in defeat. "I've tried that before, Moon Dancer. It's not that easy." "Then we need a different leader." She tapped at her chin. "Which of the three teams is most organized?" Ponies began to look at each other with confusion. Which team was the least of a disaster. Applejack raised a hoof. "Mah team's got its ducks in a row, even if we ain't got no ducks." She lowered the hoof to point at Twilight. "An' it's all thanks to this mare right here. She could organize an avalanche in the middle of it fallin' an' ah ain't even jokin'." Twilight went a bright red at the compliment. "AJ! I'm not that--" "Nuh-uh." Applejack shook her head. "Ain't standin' fer it. Yer the best organizer ah know. Ah'd put you in charge of team tree if ya'd let me, but every year, ya say--" "I'm just a librarian," completed Twilight, fidgeting in place. "A librarian that knows exactly where thin's need to be." She tapped Twilight on the snoot. "So get out there and get to sortin'!" Moon nodded at the exchange. "I second Twilight's nomination for leader of this task." A third was shortcoming, the crowd becoming a chorus of cheers. They would give Twilight a chance at being the head organizer, seemingly ready to do so with or without her leave. Thankfully, Twilight gave in. "All right, all right!" She waved her hooves flatly. "I'll do my best. I'll need you all to tell me what is left to be done, what is off track, and who's available to do it." The activity shifted as ponies reported to Twilight. Ponyville would get its act together, with friendship, and the keen eye of a librarian keeping things from getting out of order. Moon smiled, watching it. "I didn't find a place I belong." She looked aside at Applejack. "Have you any suggestions?" "Hm." Applejack tapped at her chin softly. "Ya got a real precise way ah thinkin'. Reckon ya'd do real good with Twilight, makin' sure ponies keep to the orders she gives." "Hm." Moon inclined her head slowly. "I will ask Twilight." And off she went. There was no Spike on her back, having fled off to other pursuits, as children are known to do. Twilight perked her ears at Moon. "Moon Dancer, you want to help me?" She pointed at herself. "I'd be delighted to have a helping hoof. But that would be a waste of your talents." She waved the idea away. "You are very talented with magic. Stick to that. Study and use spells to keep ponies ahead of schedule." Moon perked at that. "I would be delighted, but isn't that against tradition?" Twilight waved it away. "I'm in charge, and I said it's alright, so..." Moon nodded at that logic. "A new tradition is made." She trotted off, ready to employ her magic for the betterment of the effort.