//------------------------------//
// S1 E11: Winter Wrap Up (What If?) 
// Story: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic What If?: Volume 15 
// by SuperPinkBrony12 
//------------------------------//

Ever since moving to Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle had come to learn that there were many things done differently in the small town compared to the city of Canterlot. A town primarily populated by earth ponies even with a sizable population of pegasi and unicorns, and even non-pony creatures like donkeys and mules was inevitably going to be different from Canterlot (which was almost exclusively populated by unicorns).

One of the things that Ponyville did differently was the way in which it handled the four seasons. As Twilight and her baby dragon Spike had come to learn, Ponyville didn't handle the seasons or the changing of them like the unicorns in Canterlot did. Ponyville opted for a more "traditional" approach. And that approach even applied to the most difficult transition of them all: The changeover from winter to spring.

Although the unicorn had picked up a few things here and there on how this process would be done, she was still very excited at the prospect of getting to witness (and more importantly take part in) such a process for herself. So it was that, on the day winter was slated to end to make way for spring, Twilight made sure to wake up bright and early. So early, in fact, that Celestia's sun had not yet risen. It was still dark out.

But when Twilight's alarm clock went off at its scheduled time, the studious unicorn woke up with a start! She could barely contain her excitement as she gasped! "It's time!" She then jumped out of her bed, turning her attention to the small basket in which Spike was still slumbering. "Spike, wake up. Wake up, wake up, it's Winter Wrap Up day!" She giddly proclaimed!

Spike slumbly and sleepily stumbled awake as he muttered. "Mommy?"

Twilight giggled. "No, Spike. Winter Wrap Up!"

"You're not mommy," Spike grumbled. "Why'd you have to wake me up so early? Couldn't this wait?"

Alas, the unicorn with a light purple coat was far too excited to listen to a word her baby dragon was saying as she turned on the lights in the downstairs portion of The Golden Oak Library. She then jumped into the air and landed on a set of yellow boots to cover all four of her hooves. "I told you before, Spike. I even marked it on the calendar and everything. The first day of spring is tomorrow, so that means everypony in Ponyville needs to clean up winter today. Now come on, help me get ready."

The little dragon was not pleased to be flooded with light when he'd been trying to go back to sleep. And perhaps because of that he grumpily replied. "No. I want to sleep," Then he snorted. "Who in their right mind just cleans up winter? Why don't they just use magic to change the seasons? You know, like they always did in Canterlot. No mess, no wait, no fuss."

Twilight was quick to offer up the explanation. "Spike, you know and I know that Ponyville was founded by earth ponies and not unicorns. Every city and town in Equestria does things differently, and this is no exception. Since earth ponies were the ones who lived here for the longest time, changing the seasons by magic was impossible. It's always been a tradition to clean up winter the old fashioned way. That means no magic. Or at least, no unicorn magic." As she spoke, she struggled to use her hooves to put on a light blue saddle with white fur all around it.

Spike watched the display of Twilight's uncoordinated hooves trying to slip a saddle on the old fashioned way. It was like a foal trying to learn how to walk all by themselves. "It's ridiculous. Asking unicorns not to use their magic is like asking a dragon not to breathe fire. So what if it's tradition? That doesn't mean it's a good tradition. It sounds like a rather silly one if you ask me." Then he sighed and rolled over in his basket, closing his eyes as he went back to sleep.

Twilight Sparkle didn't reply. She just used her mouth to grab a silk scarf colored two shades of pink, and wrapped it around her neck nice and tight. She then smiled as she admired her form in the mirror, before turning her attention to a small checklist she had made for herself for just this occasion. "Okay, let's see here:" She said to herself as her eyes scanned the list from top to bottom. "Scarf, check. Saddle, check. Boots, check. Spike refusing to get up and going back to sleep, check," She then rubbed her hooves together in delight. "Good thing I'm so organized."

Swelling up with confidence and pride, the unicorn mare's smile grew so wide it looked like it could fall off her face at any second. "Okay, I'm ready!" She told herself! "Bright and early!" But as soon as she stepped out into the cold, early morning of winter, she realized a mistake that she'd made. She'd started her preparations too soon, the sun wouldn't be up for at least another hour and there was nopony else around. Blushing, she commented. "Oh... maybe a little too early."

All the same, Twilight was looking forward to her first ever Winter Wrap Up. She wasn't sure what exactly she'd end up doing, but whatever she was going to do she was determined to do it to the best of her ability. She had no way to know that the role she would come to play in this particular Winter Wrap Up would be extremely important, and uniquely suited to her.



When at last the sun did come up, Twilight roused Spike from bed and placed him on her back. Then she set off for the middle of town, right in front of town hall. For that was where everypony in Ponyville was gathering.

As Twilight drew near, she could see ponies wearing different colored vests: One a sort of icy blue, another a forest green and another a light brown. And each vest had a different symbol on it: The blue one had a cloud, the green one had a plant and the brown one had a bunny. She could now remember having learned about these vests before. "Ah yes, those must be the team vests Rarity designed," The unicorn said with a smile. "Blue for the weather team, green for the plant team and tan for the animal team. Ooh! I wonder which team vest I'll be wearing?"

"You haven't figured that out yet?" Spike asked.

Twilight quickly shook her head as the studious unicorn confirmed. "You can't just pick which team you want to be on, Spike. This isn't a volunteer sort of thing. It's mandatory. Everypony in Ponyville has to help out. You get placed on a team based on what you're good at," Then she glumly admitted. "I didn't get a whole lot of time to research what each team is supposed to do. I have only a few vague ideas."

Spike let out a yawn. "Well, I'm sure you'll find what team you're supposed to on before long. And knowing you, you'll be the best member that team's ever seen. Still don't see why you had to wake me up so early."

The unicorn brought up a hoof to shush the baby dragon on her back. "Mayor Mare is speaking." She whispered.

And indeed, Mayor Mare was giving a speech. She wasn't wearing a vest herself, but she still smiled as she adjusted her glasses and spoke to the gathered crowd of vest wearing ponies big and small alike. "Thank you, everypony, for being here bright and early. We need every single pony's help to wrap up winter, and bring in spring," She paused as the crowd cheered, waiting for the applause to die down. "Now, all of you have your vests, and have been assigned to your appropriate teams. So let's do even better than last year, and have the quickest Winter Wrap Up ever!"

Twilight could hardly believe her eyes as she saw how enthusiastic everypony seemed to be. "This is so exciting! I can't wait to take part!" She told Spike while taking great care not to be overheard (she didn't want to interrupt Mayor Mare).

Mayor Mare then gave the only instructions she felt were needed, telling the crowd. "All right everypony, find your team leader, and let's get galloping!"

The crowd obeyed, everypony splitting off into their assigned groups to carry out their designated tasks. However, Twilight was watching the whole thing not with enthusiasm, but the slightest bit of anxiety. Her lack of prior knowledge aboue this day was now a problem. She had to resist the urge to bite her lip as she told Spike. "Oh gosh, where should I go?" Then she pondered as she brought a hoof to her chin. "What does everypony do?"





Twilight Sparkle was really regretting not having learned about Winter Wrap Up sooner (or doing more research on it after she had found out about it). She paced back and forth near the town square. She hadn't moved an inch from that spot even after everypony else had dispersed to carry out their assigned tasks.

Spike was fast growing impatient with the unicorn's indecision. "Come on, Twilight! Just pick a team already! I'm sure you'll fit in no matter which team you join. You're gonna look silly just standing there while everypony else is working hard."

Twilight started to chew on her mane a little bit, that's how nervous and anxious she was. "I just can't decide, Spike. How do I know what I'm good at if I've never tried it before? I've never dealt with weather, crops or animal hibernations. And I can't just poof back to my library and waste time looking for books. That's not gonna help anypony."

The little dragon all but put a claw to his face and groaned in frustration. "If you're really that unsure, why not just go up to Mayor Mare and ask her what she thinks you should do? She's probably already figured it out for you. After all, we've been living in her town for months now. No way she hasn't thought about what role you'd play."

Twilight paused in her pacing as the realization of the obvious solution hit her square in the muzzle. A blush formed on her cheeks. "Gosh, Spike. That was so obvious, I never even thought of it. Of course Mayor Mare will know! I should've just asked her in the first place," She then flashed a sincere smile at him. "What would I ever do without you, Spike? Sometimes, I feel like you're the only one who really understands me."

"Hard not to when I've been by your side for almost as long as I can remember," Spike pointed out. "Now go on, go ask Mayor Mare and figure out just what she wants you to do. And something tells me she'll be okay with you using your magic, it's who you are."

But Twilight didn't hear that last part. She was already on her way to see Mayor Mare. And was it her imagination, or was the mayor all but waiting for her? Had the old mare been expecting Twilight to be conflicted and unsure? Was she perhaps pyschic or something?

Mayor Mare turned to face Twilight with a smile on her face, briefly adjusting her yellow glasses and the collar around her neck before she spoke. "Ah, Twilight. You're just the pony I've been waiting for."

"I am?" Twilight blinked in confusion. "But I haven't been assigned a team yet. I don't even know what team I should be on. Spike seems to think you could tell me that, and he's probably right."

Mayor Mare chuckled. "Twilight, I have a special job just for you. I've heard about how well organized you are. And don't tell anypony I told you this, but I think your talent for organization and leadership surpasses that of anypony's I've ever known, even mine."

The studious unicorn still found herself confused by what the mayor was saying. "I am pretty well organized. But I don't see how that can be a job for Winter Wrap Up. Are you saying you want me to be a team captain?"

The earth pony mayor shook her head from side to side. "I've already got trusted ponies leading the three teams. Each of them have proven they're highly qualified for the job and quite competent at it," Then she explained. "What I need your help with is overseeing the teams."

"Why is that?" Twilight pondered.

Mayor Mare frowned and unhappily confessed to the unicorn. "Because Winter Wrap Up is a disorganized mess. It's been like that for as long as I've been mayor, and even before then. I've been trying again and again to sort things out and get winter wrapped up on time. But no matter what I try and no matter how early I set the starting time, things always get out of control and winter ends up lasting longer than it needs to. That's why I need your help. I need somepony I can trust to take an honest, in-depth look at every part of Winter Wrap Up and tell me what we're doing wrong."

Twilight blinked slowly in uncertainty. "How am I supposed to do that, exactly?"

Mayor Mare explained further. "Just spend a little time with each of the three teams. See if you can find any problems that they're having trouble dealing with it, or anything they seem to not be doing a good job of. There's got to be areas where they can improve. But I don't want to make it seem like I don't trust them to do what I ask them to do," She blushed a bit as she admitted. "I know we don't really have a vest for this kind of position. I'm sure I could get Rarity to make one just for you for next Winter Wrap Up. But you're really the only pony I can think of who can carry out this task. Will you help me, please?"

The studious unicorn was never one to turn down a request for help, especially when she knew what it was she was supposed to be doing. So she extended a hoof to Mayor Mare, smiling. "I'll do whatever I can to help, Mayor Mare. Just tell me where to go and what you want me to do. I am yours to command."

The earth pony mare with a light brown coat happily shook Twilight's hoof as she said in response! "Oh thank you, Twilight! I know you won't let me down!" Then she cleared her throat and instructed. "Why don't you start by observing the weather team? It seems like they're always the first ones to complain to me about a problem during Winter Wrap Up."

Twilight brought her hoof up in a salute and vowed. "Will do, Mayor Mare!" And she raced off towards the first pony she could spot who was wearing a blue colored vest: Rainbow Dash!





Rainbow Dash was unaware that Twilight was approaching her as she just went on barking out orders to various pegasi also wearing the blue vests. "All right team, you're clear for takeoff." She told them, watching as the other pegasi unfolded their wings in preparation for their ascent into the skies.

It was at this moment that Twilight chose to make herself known, opting to call out to the rainbow maned pegasus mare. "Hey, Rainbow Dash! You got a minute?"

Rainbow spun around and locked eyes with Twilight, suspecting nothing. "For you, Twilight, always. Just make it quick, I gotta make sure everypony stays on task. Let's just say that last year a certain feather brained pegasus who shall not be named decided to fly north to get the southern birds. They're called the southern birds for a reason."

"I said 'My bad'!" An unfamiliar voice called out from afar, sounding sincerely apologetic for the mishap.

Rainbow Dash sighed. "See what I'm dealing with?" She told Twilight. "Little mistakes like that can really add up. Bad enough I have ponies getting on my case for taking too long to move clouds, or melting snow too soon."

"I don't suppose there's anything I could do to help?" Twilight offered. "Maybe I could clear some of the clouds, or even direct the pegasi on which way to go?"

Rainbow chuckled and snickered. "Think you're overlooking something pretty obvious, Twi."

A quick glance to her side was all the unicorn needed to realize the mistake she'd just made, and she struggled to keep from blushing. "Oh, right. No wings," She then added. "I mean, I've been reading about spells that can temporarily grant wings. I think. I know I saw something about them briefly once, but I can't remember where."

The rainbow maned pegasus shook her head from side to side. "Even if you could give yourself wings, Twilight, I don't think you'd be much of a help. Having wings and knowing how to use 'em are two different things. It's not like you can just jump off the first cloud you see and expect them to work."

The studious unicorn reluctantly nodded. She knew nothing about flying, so she was going to take the word of somepony well versed in it. It would be no different than if Rainbow Dash were asking her about how unicorn magic, concentrated into a horn for spell casting, was supposed to work. Still, she all but pleaded. "Are you sure there's nothing I can do to help you out? Not even just a little bit?"

At that, Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her chin as she contemplated something for about a second or two. Then she told her friend. "Well, we do have spots on the weather team for non-pegasi. But if you want to know more, you should talk to Pinkie Pie. Those spots are practically a team all by themselves, a team within a team or something like that," Then she declared. "Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta get up there with the other pegasi and start trying to supervise. Catch ya later, Twi!" And with a flap of her wings, she took to the skies and was soon out of sight.





A short time later, Twilight (with Spike in tow) happened to spot Pinkie Pie down by a frozen lake. She was all alone, yet she wore a blue vest that clearly indicated she was part of the weather team.

Curious to know more about this placement and what exactly the pink party pony was supposed to do, Twilight made her way down to the lake's edge to have a chat with her energetic friend. As she did so, she could see that Pinkie was wearing ice skates on each of her hooves. The earth pony skated one way and then another with the greatest of ease, almost as if she'd done it all before.

When Pinkie's beautiful blue eyes caught sight of Twilight, however, she ceased in her glorious skating and carefully made her way over to the unicorn. "Hi, Twilight!" Pinkie Pie called, flashing a bright smile like she always did. "Did Rainbow Dash send you here to help me?"

"Help you with what?" Twilight questioned. "Practicing your ice skating moves? You seem to be doing pretty well all by yourself."

Pinkie Pie giggled. "Of course I am, Twilight. I've been doing this since I was an itty-bitty little-wittle Twinkie-Pinkie. Helps that I had a really good teacher, but then again we Pies have always had a knack for ice skating. Seems to run in the family," Then she explained. "It's because I'm such a good ice skater that they designated me a lake scorer. That means I cut up the ice with my skates, leaving lines for the rest of the weather team to follow. And that way, when other ponies come here to break up the ice, it'll be easy as pie."

Twilight's dark voilet-purple eyes quickly saw the lines Pinkie had just mentioned. They seemed a bit "sloppy" for lack of a better term, but they did seem to roughly follow a pattern of some sort. "So I can see. How very clever," She commented. "But there's a lot of lakes and ponds to cut lines in. It must be very demanding work."

Pinkie nodded and shook her head up and down a few times. "Don't I know it? It may be fun, but it seems to take me all day just to get the job done. And then I always end up having to re-do it anyway for some reason," Then she gasped as an idea struck her! "Hey, I know! You could help me, Twilight! Things'll be much easier with two of us skating on the ice."

Spike nervously sought to add his own two bits to the idea. "I don't know about that. Twilight's never really ice skated before."

But Twilight brushed off the concern with a hoof. "I'm sure I can learn, Spike. If Pinkie Pie can do it, how hard can it really be?"

"Famous last words." Spike commented even though he knew Twilight had already made up her mind.

Luckily for Twilight, a spare pair of ice skates had been left by the frozen lakeside for her to put on. And although it was hard for her to do so without her magic, she managed to find a way. Brimming with confidence, she slowly stepped out onto the frozen lake itself to join her friend. However, it was at precisely that moment that the unicorn was made aware of her lack of experience. "Uh-oh, maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all." She commented as she froze right on the spot, terrified that the slightest movement would cause her to fall.

Spike wasn't about to let Twilight back out so easily. He slowly came up behind her and gave her a push. "You said you wanted to be helpful. Now get out there!"

Pinkie Pie tried desperately to bark out instructions to Twilight to get the unicorn to gain control! "Twilight, steer! Steer!"

Twilight tried to follow, but her lack of experience and lack of knowledge about how ice skating worked caused her to lose control. She crashed straight into Pinkie Pie while screaming at the top of her lungs! And the two slid across the ice until they crashed into a snow bank! Fortunately, neither was hurt (aside from a wounded pride on Twilight's end).

The studious unicorn immediately kneeled down to take off her ice skates with her teeth. "I think I'll leave the ice skating to the professionals, Pinkie." She glumly replied.

"Ah, cheer up, Twilight," Pinkie sympathetically spoke up. "You did a great job for your first time around. I'm sure my first time was just as wobbly and bobbly and crasheriffic as yours."

"Really?" Twilight Sparkle hopefully asked.

But Pinkie then truthfully admitted. "Actually, no. But did it make you feel better when I told you otherwise?"

A long sigh escaped Twilight's lips as she admitted. "A little bit, I guess. Still, I did learn a thing or two from this. But it seems you have everything well in hoof here, Pinkie. So I'll just leave you to it."

"Hey, if you're looking for something to do, why not help Fluttershy with the animals?" Pinkie Pie pointed out. "She's not far from here. And she's always saying she could use a few extra hooves. Hard to believe she doesn't wanna be captain of the animal team. Can't think of anypony who's more qualified about critters than her."

The unicorn mare's face lit up with joy upon hearing that suggestion! "Of course, that's a great idea! I do need to observe the animal team, after all." And she set off to do just that.





Fluttershy wasn't too far from Pinkie Pie's location. She was on a hilltop where it was possible to see a whole bunch of animal nests that were not fully covered up by the snow. "Wake up, my little sleepy heads," She called as she poked her head into one such burrow, leaving her back exposed to Twilight and Spike. "Hope you all had some wonderful dreams and restful hibernation, but it's time to get up now. Spring is coming. You don't wanna miss that."

And then Fluttershy backed out of the burrow as a family of hedgehogs emerged, all of them yawning and rubbing their eyes.

"Aww, how cute." Twilight commented as she made her presence known to Fluttershy.

The animal loving pegasus wasn't startled or surprised in the least to see Twilight and Spike, despite the fact that she'd had no way of knowing that they would be coming to see her. "It is, isn't it?" She smiled. "This is just one thing the animal team does for all the little critters around Ponyville. And that's why I'm part of it. It means I get to see all my little critter friends again after their long, winter naps."

"So, is there a reason why you don't lead the animal team?" Spike questioned the pegasus. "Sounds like you know more about critters than anypony else around these parts. Heck, it seems like you always have animals hanging around your cottage."

Fluttershy just smiled. "I know my limits. I'm not much of a leader, not with my shyness. I'm much more at home with critters than I am with ponies. And ordering other ponies around, even just when it comes to helping animals, it's not something I like to do. It's okay, though. I know Sparkler makes a great leader: Not just for the animal team but in general. She's pretty well organized and knows how to make ponies listen to what she has to say."

Twilight couldn't help but comment. "Sounds kind of like me, actually. In fact, organizing and listening are kind of what I'm supposed to be doing right now."

Fluttershy nodded. "I already know. Everypony knows by now. Word travels pretty quickly when Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie know things. You're here to see how things are coming along with the animal team and if I need any help," She then let out a sigh. "And I could most certainly use some help," She waved a hoof out over the hillside. "There's so many warrens and dens. But I have to wake up the animals before spring gets here. It always seems like it takes forever to do that, and I have to keep telling the weather team that I'm not ready for them to melt the snow."

The studious unicorn mare then proposed. "Well why don't I help you out, just a little? Maybe things will go faster with two of us."

The animal loving pegasus smiled at her friend. "Could you? That would be grealty appreciated, if you're sure you're up to it. Let's just say that not all of my animal friends who hibernate are as friendly and cuddly as those hedgehogs I just woke up."

Suspecting nothing, Twilight let out a slight laugh and then grabbed a bell with her teeth. "Nonsense," She said as she brought the bell into her hoof. "It can't be any harder than ice skating. And who doesn't love cute little animals?" She promptly rang the bell and called out. "Wake up little friends, wherever you are. Spring is coming."

Twilight didn't have to wait long to find out what animal she'd woken up. Emerging from the den in front of her was a trio of snakes, all of them hissing quite audibly. Immediately, the unicorn jumped back in fright! "Snakes!" She cried as she all but jumped into the air! "Fluttershy, why didn't you warn me?!"

"I tried to!" Fluttershy called as she watched Twilight quickly back away from the snakes, bumping up against a tree and causing a beehive to fall on the unicorn. And to make matters worse, the unicorn then backed right into a den of skunks and was promptly sprayed by them.

It was only after all these unfortunate events occurred that Fluttershy was able to approach Twilight. The smell didn't bother her like it probably might have bothered somepony else. She quickly removed the beehive, relieved to see that Twilight wasn't hurt. "Don't worry, Twilight," She gently reassured her friend. "I have just the thing to get rid of that skunk spray. I always carry some in case of an emergency." Then she trotted over to a small pack she had left lying on the ground, opened it up, and took out a strange colored bottle of some sort.

A few sprays of the bottle's contents worked like a charm in getting rid of the foul odor that had clung to Twilight. "I think I'll leave the waking of the animals to you, Fluttershy," She remarked. "Only you could not be bothered by snakes, and skunks and Celestia knows what else!"

The animal loving pegasus simply trotted over, patting Twilight with a hoof to reassure her. "It's okay, Twilight. You did your best," And then she suggested. "If you're looking for something to do while you're helping Mayor Mare, why not go see Rarity? She's got a task that should be right up your alley. And you won't even need to use magic."





As it turned out, Rarity was also part of the animal team. But her task didn't involve working with animals directly. Instead, she had set up a not so small stand outside her boutique. Said stand being filled to the brim with twigs, branches and even some ribbons for decoration.

Twilight and Spike slowly approached her, Twilight being concerned that some of the skunk spray might not have been removed after all. Fortunately, when she heard no remarks from Rarity about a bad smell, Twilight knew she had nothing to fear in regards to a lingering odor.

Rarity looked up as she briefly paused in her work. It was clear to pony and dragon that the fashionista was using the twigs and branches to make nests for birds. She smiled upon seeing her friends. "Twilight, Spike. What a nice surprise. No doubt, you're here to see how things are coming along on my end."

Twilight firmly nodded her head. "Yes, Rarity. After what I've been through with Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, I could use something less... well... exciting."

The young fashionista just smiled again and motioned a hoof to Twilight. "Well, why not join me for a bit in creating Ponyville's finest birds' nests?"

"What for?" The studious unicorn pondered.

Rarity was delighted to explain. "It's simple. When the weather team guides the birds back north for the spring, they'll need a place to live and lay their eggs. Hence the nests. Naturally, I see fit to give each nest a little extra charm. Ribbons are quite safe for the birds."

Twilight trotted over and sat next to Rarity as Spike watched. "Sounds easy enough," But Twilight then frowned upon noticing the clutter before her. "Although, it looks like things are quite... messy here."

"Unfortunately, it can't be helped," Rarity admitted. "As much as I detest such clutter except for when it's in my workshop, it's like this every year. And trying to sort it out takes too long. The nests are what's important, not the materials used to make them."

Reluctantly, Twilight let out a sigh as she had to resist her urge to sort out the assortment of twigs, branches and ribbons before her. "Alright. Just tell me how to make a nest."

The unicorn with a coat the same white as the still yet to be melted snow around her was happy to oblige. She tried her best to walk her fellow unicorn through the nest making process to the best of her ability. "Okay. Now... uh, take some of that straw and hay over there, and a little bit of branch," When she saw that Twilight could do without any trouble, she instructed further. "Now, weave them through there, yes."

But it wasn't long before Twilight found it difficult to weave everything together into a suitable nest. A few beads of sweat worked their way down her face by the time she was done. And when she looked at what her hooves had led her to create, she and Rarity both had to agree that it didn't look anything like a proper nest. It was a mess of straw, hay, twigs, branches and ribbons.

Spike couldn't resist making the remark. "That nest needs to be condemned!"

"Spike!" Rarity scolded the little dragon. "It's fine for a first attempt. It's not that bad, really," She then let out a nervous chuckle as she declared. "Maybe the birds could use it as a..."

But Spike interrupted and grumpily remarked. "-An outhouse? Otherwise, the only place that nest is going is right into the trash."

Twilight sighed again as she stood up, trying not to look ashamed. "Sorry, Rarity. I guess I just don't have the hang of it like you do. I guess you never realize how much you depend on your magic until you can't use it."

Rarity tried her best to speak sympathetically to Twilight. "Oh come now, Twilight. I secretly use a little bit of my magic from time to time while making the nests. I'm not ashamed to admit my hoof-to-eye coordination isn't what it could be. There's a reason why I wear those glasses while I sew, you know. It's not merely a fashion statement."

The studious unicorn only shook her head. "It seems like I can't do anything if I'm not using my magic, Rarity. And I don't wanna ruin a Ponyville tradition just because I'm not used to not relying on my magic. It's probably for the best I kick that habbit now before it really becomes a problem," Her mood improved somewhat as she then added. "Besides, Mayor Mare still needs me to check on the plant team. I'm sure Applejack will have something she'll need my help with."





Twilight and Spike soon found their way over to Applejack, who was overseeing a bunch of earth ponies on a patch of land near Sweet Apple Acres. And the farm mare was currently busy barking out orders to the various ponies working on her team. "Keep pushin', Bon Bon. That's it, Berry Punch. And you too, Carrot Top. I know it's hard work, but you gals are doin' great. Yee-haw!" All the while, she was standing next to a cart that contained various seeds, with each seed type labeled accordingly with a small picture on top of the soil.

"Hey, Applejack," Twilight greeted. "How's everything going? Anything you need help with?"

Applejack turned and smiled as she spoke to Twilight. "Well, things are goin' about as well as they could be given what I've got to work with. We were a little slow to start, but now everythin's just peachy more or less," She then gestured a hoof to the ground in front of her as she explained. "There's a lot of ground to clear, ya hear? We can't even start the plantin' and the waterin' until we get all these heaps a' snow hightailed outta here."

Twilight's eyes scanned the ground. She was surprised to see how little progress was being made despite how many earth ponies there seemed to be pushing plows to and fro. Considering she had up to this point only seen ponies working alone on their assigned tasks, the fact that one team had multiple ponies working on one task and had little to show for it was concerning to say the least. "Is there a reason why you haven't cleared more land by now?"

Applejack frowned ever so slightly as she confessed. "Guess there's no use tryin' to hide it. Fact is, Big Mac was supposed to help us out. But I sent him to help Caramel and make sure he doesn't lose the grass seeds again, like he always seems to do," She then pointed a hoof to an unused plow sitting all by itself on top of a hill. It seemed a bit bigger than the other plows, though. "Unfortunately, my brother always ends up doin' the lion's share of the work when it comes to clearin' the ground. And I reckon it'll be a while still before he and Caramel get back."

Immediately, the gears in the unicorn's head began to turn as an idea came to her. "How 'bout I take your brother's place on that plow? I'm pretty sure I can get it moving," Under her breath, however, she uncertainly added. "I think."

Applejack wasn't so convinced. "Well, I... I dunno Twilight. I'm never one to turn down a hard worker, but..."

Twilight didn't bother to wait for Applejack to finish her sentence. Instead, the studious unicorn mare carefully trotted up to the massive plow and tried to push it. She pushed, and pushed and pushed. But it didn't seem like the plow wanted to move even an inch. It was as if its wheels were glued to the ground or something. Yet Twilight didn't want to give up. "Come on, stubborn thing!" She grunted as she pushed even harder, her face turning red from the effort.

Applejack was alarmed by what she was seeing! So alarmed, in fact, that she started running up to Twilight's location while she tried to shout! "Twilight, stop!"

Alas, the warning came too late for Twilight to heed it. She made one more big effort, and finally managed to get the plow to move. "Yeah!" She cheered for all of a second, before she saw that the plow was moving down the hill at an alarmingly fast rate! And try as she might, she couldn't get it to slow down!

"TWILIGHT!" Applejack and Spike both shouted with concern!

"I... can't... stop!" Twilight screamed in horror as she found herself rolling down the hill with the runaway plow! "Out of my way!" She shouted as she just barely swept past the other plow working ponies! She didn't stop until the plow hit a huge snow drift at the base of another hill, the snow promptly falling on both plow and pony with an audible thump.

Fortunately, by the time Applejack and Spike reached Twilight's location, the unicorn had long since poked her head up from the pile of snow that she'd been buried in. She wasn't hurt, but she was upset if the tears in her eyes were any indication. "I just wanted to... " She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.

Applejack was on the scene in a heartbeat, pulling her friend free. "Twilight, what in tarnation were you thinkin' tryin' to move that big plow all by yourself?!" She scolded! "I know you wanted to be helpful, but you could've gotten hurt. Then you'd be of no help to anypony!" In a more gentle tone of voice she then added. "If you really wanna be on the plow team, that's fine. I reckon there's a spare plow around here somewhere that you can borrow. We always seem to be short a pony or two."

But Twilight was in no mood to hear her farm friend's proposal. She just trotted off, trying in vain to fight off the tears.





Spike soon caught up with Twilight as the unicorn sat on a hilltop, overlooking Ponyville from afar and how everypony down there seemed to be having no trouble at all carrying out their assigned tasks. "Twilight, come on!" He pleaded with her. "Don't be so hard on yourself."

Twilight just sniffled. "I'm a winter mess up, Spike. It seems like I can't do anything right: Ice-skating, animal-waking, nest-making, snow-clearing, you name it."

Spike immediately came over and put a claw around Twilight's neck to comfort her. "That's just crazy talk, Twilight. You're good at a lot of things. Nopony becomes an expert at something the first time they try it. Besides, Mayor Mare gave you that special job for a reason."

"Yeah, she did it just to get me out of the way so I can't mess everything up for everypony else!" Twilight bitterly remarked. "I wanted to prove that I could do things without using my magic. But all I proved is that without my magic, I'm no help to anypony at anything. Even Rarity is helpful without her magic, I'm not. What would happen if magic just disappeared all together? I'd be nothing! I'd be a nopony!"

Spike snorted and rolled his eyes! "You're not a nopony, Twilight! And Mayor Mare didn't give you that job because she thought you were useless! Everypony has their own role to play in helping Ponyville clean up winter. We just haven't found your exact role yet," He then gently reassured her. "Take it from someone who knows who you are and what you're like. You can do so many wonderful things, magic or no magic. You're still helpful in your own way. Don't focus on what you can't do, focus on what you can do."

The dragon's words were slow to sink in for the studious unicorn. But once she had time to think over them, she realized that it was no use feeling sorry for herself. She still had a job to do. So, with a renewed vigor flashing in her eyes, Twilight stood up and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I guess I at least owe it to Mayor Mare to report back to her and tell her what I've managed to find out," She told Spike. "Thanks for making me feel better. It's weird to have you comfort me after all the times I did it for you."

Spike just smiled and played it off like it was no big deal. "That's what I'm here for, sister. Glad to see you're back to being the confident Twilight I know and love," He then hopped onto Twilight's back. "Now come on! We've wasted enough time here. Mayor Mare's sure to be expecting us."

And indeed, Mayor Mare was. In fact, given the anxious and troubled look on her face, it seemed like she had been ready to start pacing the floor. So it was of great relief to the aged earth pony when she saw Twilight and Spike fast approaching. "Oh, Twilight. Thank goodness. I didn't expect you to be gone for so long."

"Well, you would not believe the kind of day I've been having, Mayor Mare," Twilight explained to the best of her ability. "Despite the... mishaps, however, I managed to obtain a lot of data that I'm sure you'll find useful. And with your permission, I'd like to discuss my suggestions on how all three teams can improve their operations."

"Really?!" Mayor Mare asked as her eyes went wide! "And here I was worried spring would be late again, as it was last year, and the year before that and the year before that. I was hoping my amazingly inspirational speech would urge everyone to do better than last year. But it seems that it takes more than just a speech or changing the start time."

Twilight nodded. "It's a start. But if winter's going to be wrapped up properly and on time, everypony will need to be better organized."

Mayor Mare smiled sincerely. "Whatever your suggestions are, Twilight, I'm sure they'll be just what the town needs. It seems I made the right choice in appointing you to be team overseer. We might just have to make that role official."

"Let's get winter wrapped up before we talk about things like that," Twilight insisted as she then told Spike. "Spike? I trust you've been keeping notes about what we saw today?"

Spike nodded back. "Had a feeling you'd need notes." And he unfolded a long scroll.

Twilight smiled and then looked to Mayor Mare. "Okay. Let's get down to business!"





Thanks to Twilight's detailed observations, it was a simple process to get the weather, plant and animal teams to streamline their operations and avoid costly mistakes. Before the sun had set on Ponyville that day, winter had officially been wrapped up and spring had arrived.

Everypony was relieved and proud of this development, but none moreso than Mayor Mare who all but found herself at a loss for words! "I can't believe it. Spring is here! On time!" She said to Twilight when the work had ended. "And we have you to thank for it, Twilight."

Twilight only modestly replied. "Don't thank me. It was a team effort."

Mayor Mare nodded. "True. But you helped every team. And that's why I'm proud to officially give you the title of 'All Team Organizer'!" As she spoke, Mayor Mare saw Rarity float over a special vest that was a blending of the three different teams' vests.

The vest was fitted onto Twilight, and she beamed with pride as she proudly wore it for all to see. "Gosh, I don't even know what to say. Thank you, everypony."

Mayor Mare smiled. "It's the least we can do, Twilight. And if you ever want a permanent job working for me and helping me sort out the clutter in things, you have only to ask," Then she cleared her throat. "But for now, it is with great pleasure that I officially declare that winter is... wrapped up on time." And with that, everypony cheered! And Twilight and Spike cheered the loudest of all!

Twilight especially had reason to feel proud of herself. She'd found a way to contribute to Winter Wrap Up and without needing to use her magic to do so.

That evening, when Twilight and Spike returned to the Golden Oak Library to rest after their busy day, Twilight quickly instructed. "Spike, take a letter, please. I know what I want to write to Princess Celestia for this week's friendship lesson."

Spike immediately retrieved a quill and a scroll. "I'm ready when you are, Twilight."

Clearing her throat, the unicorn dictated the letter she wanted sent. And it went like this:

Dear Princess Celestia,

It's natural to feel proud of your talents and your gifts. But sometimes, you can feel like those aren't enough or that they're not what others are looking for. It can be hard to see what you're good at when you focus on what you're not good at.

Nopony's meant to do everything, however. There will always be things you can do that others can't, and things others can do that you can't. It's nothing to be ashamed of, and it shouldn't cause you to doubt yourself. You may be surprised by what you can contribute to the world just by being you, by just doing what you do best.

There's nothing wrong with learning new things, but it's important not to expect perfection right away. It often takes time to truly master something, and patience can be just as important as hard work.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

Then, with a puff of fire breath from Spike, the letter was sent on its way.

As for Twilight, she was already looking forward to next year's Winter Wrap Up. Now that she knew what she could do to help, she was certain she could get winter wrapped up even quicker next time.