Dusk sprung out of bed on the day he had marked on his calender, eagerly downing a quick breakfast, wrapping his scarf around his neck, jamming his trilby on his head and dashed out of the door, in time to see the sun breaking over the horizon. He always prided himself in being on time and he certainly wasn't going to be late for this special occasion.
Nearing the centre of town, he spotted a large crowd of ponies already gathered there, as the Mayor took her place upon the wooden stage to make her address. Everypony was wearing the designated vests of the teams, assigning their them their roles... except for Dusk and one other, who he spotted just arriving on the scene and galloped to join her. Her already excited smile grew even wider at the sight of him.
"Dusk! On time as always," she remarked happily. "Isn't this exciting? It's Winter Wrap Up day!"
"It certainly is," he agreed. "I feel a little out of place without... you know, a vest but... I feel better knowing that, hopefully, we can both find our place."
"With our intellects combined, I'm sure we will," she replied with a laugh.
"Well I'm glad... you two are so excited... it's too early..." Spike yawned from Twilight's back.
"Oh, come on Spike, try and get into the spirit of this," encouraged Dusk.
"Yeah, yeah..." He yawned again. "I think Canterlot has the right idea for the seasons... you know how they do this Dusk? It's nuts!"
"No magic, if I remember correctly." He turned his attention back to Twilight. "This is going to be tough for you, I suppose."
"It will be a challenge, yes. But I like a challenge. Now, I wonder which vest I'll be wearing..."
Dusk smiled and listened as the Mayor gave a bolstering speech, to do even better this year than last year and to make this the 'best Winter Wrap Up ever,' which made everypony cheer. All the while, Twilight was bouncing up and down like a filly, trying to get somepony's attention.
Trying to hold in a laugh, Dusk marvelled at how excited she was about this. He was too, but she was really wanting to go that extra mile in whatever way she could. Spike was just watching tiredly, his eyelids drooping.
After the Mayor had finished, the crowds dispersed to join their respective team leaders, leaving himself, Twilight and Spike teamless. Dusk and Twilight proceeded to look rather helplessly towards the groups, trying to find somewhere that might suit their talents.
"Oh my gosh, where should we go?" Twilight asked.
"I admit, I feel at a loss too. For one thing, we don't really know anything about the different roles..."
"You're right. What exactly does everypony do?"
"I think we're about to find out..." Dusk looked towards his other friends, as a music began to play.
Three months of winter coolness
And awesome holidays
We've kept our hoovsies warm at home
Time off from work to play
But the food we've stored is runnin' out
And we can't grow in this cold
And even though I love my boots
This fashion's getting old
Twilight led the way, taking them towards a good spot, where they might see all of the respective teams going about their specific tasks, to learn about how they might fit into the process.
The time has come to welcome spring
And all things warm and green
But it's also time to say goodbye
It's winter we must clean
Dusk, feeling swept up the song, took over.
How can we help? We're new, you see
What does everypony do?
How do we fit in without magic?
We haven't got a clue
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here!
They both looked to the sky, to see the weather team going about their assigned roles, lead by Rainbow Dash, breaking the clouds and letting the warm sun grace their skin after so long in winter.
Bringing home the southern birds
A Pegasus' job begins
And clearing all the gloomy skies
To let the sunshine in
We move the clouds
And we melt the white snow
When the sun comes up
Its warmth and beauty will glow!
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here
'Cause tomorrow spring is here!
Looking down, Dusk pointed to where he could see the animal team at work, Fluttershy among their number, but led by a pony Dusk didn't know. They watched as returning birds flew happily around them, bringing a joyful smile to Dusk's features, as one nestled in his hat briefly.
Little critters hibernate
Under the snow and ice
We wake up all their sleepy heads
So quietly and nice
We help them gather up their food
Fix their homes below
We welcome back the southern birds
So their families can grow!
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here
'Cause tomorrow spring is here!
Gazing off to the vast, open fields, they watched the plant team go to work, with strong stallions operating snow ploughs or raking up the snow, while others set to work planting the seeds they needed for food. Applejack led this team, as Dusk knew she would.
No easy task to clear the ground
Plant our tiny seeds
With proper care and sunshine
Everyone it feeds
Apples, carrots, celery stalks
Colorful flowers too
We must work so very hard
It's just so much to do!
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here
'Cause tomorrow spring is here!
They had what they needed now: they knew about all of the roles that each team played, what they did to bring in spring. Now, as he sang the last few notes together with Twilight, Dusk had to find his place among it all, to do his very best to bring in spring.
Now that we know what they all do
We have to find our place
And help with all of our hearts
Tough task ahead we face
How will we do without oue magic
Help the Earth pony way
We wanna belong so we must
Do our best today,
Do our best today!
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
Let's finish our holiday cheer
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here
Winter Wrap Up! Winter Wrap Up!
'Cause tomorrow spring is here
'Cause tomorrow spring is here
'Cause tomorrow spring is here!
"Well," said Dusk breaking the brief silence, "everpony has a place to belong, so let's get started before they bring in spring without us."
"Hey, there goes Rainbow Dash!" Twilight pointed, as a gust of wind swept past them. "Let's see if we can help her!"
"Twilight, wait, think for a moment." She seemed to be getting a little too swept up in it. "The weather team are all Pegasus ponies for a reason. Unless you're er... secretly an alicorn, I don't think there's much we can do there... not that I'm saying you're stupid, or anything..."
"Oh, right yeah..." She giggled a little. "It's okay Dusk, you make a good point..."
Dusk soon thouht of something, hoping to make her fee better. "I know! Carousel Boutique isn't too far from here. Maybe Rarity is doing something there."
"Yeah, good idea. Let's go."
Pleased that she hadn't taken his statement negatively, they trotted off to the fashion store, shaking Spike awake as he tried to take a nap. They may have ruled out one team, but that still left plenty of others to choose from and find a place in, so Dusk wasn't disheartened.
Twilight seemed to be a different story. He hoped that what he said hadn't made her upset, but she did look sad that they couldn't help with the weather. She wanted to do her part so badly, that Dusk really felt for her. She always applied her best to everything she did, and he was sure that she, at least, would find somewhere to fit in without her magical talents.
"It'll be okay, Twi," he consoled. "Sure we can't move the clouds around, but there's still so much to see. You'll see, you and I will find somewhere... if not me, then you at least..."
"Yeah... yeah, you're right." She smiled appreciatively at him, as they neared their desitnation. "Thanks Dusk, I needed that. You'll find a place too, I'm sure of it."
"Nice to know you have confidence in me, when I never do," he replied.
"Well, somepony has to." They both chuckled, as they halted before the fashion pony. "Rarity, please tell me there's something, anything I... well, we can help you with," she added, glancing at Dusk.
"We, eh?" Rarity's eyes seemed to twinkle for a moment, before giving a smile. "Well, how would you two like to help create Ponyville's finest birds' nests?"
"Birds' nests?"
"Why yes." She gestured to all of the materials around her, and to a completed nest. "When the weather team guides the birds back north for the spring, they'll need a place to live and lay their eggs."
"That's a fine nest, Rarity," Dusk remarked, as she gave him a grateful smile. "But... I don't think I can be much help here..."
"Oh, Dusk, whatever makes you say that?"
"I was never much good at arts and crafts, I can barely do anything with my magic, let alone my hooves." He inclined his head politely. "Thank you, but I'll try something else... but I'm sure Twilight would love to help, right Twi?"
"Well, if you're sure." She looked pityingly at Dusk, before turning to her friend. "Well, Twilight? Would you like to try your hoof at a nest?"
Would I? Yes!" She gave Dusk an appreciative look. "Where do I begin?"
Dusk and Spike stood back and watched, as Twilight was given the materials to get started. She organised them nicely and set to work, Rarity providing direction where she could. However, she had some difficulty with hoof dexterity, so that the finished result wasn't exactly... well... neat...
There! It looks just like... yours." Her face fell when she saw her's and Rarity's were in no way alike. "Oh my..."
"That nest needs to be condemned," Spike decided at once.
"Spike!" Dusk snapped at him. "She tried her best, nopony can fault her for that."
"Exactly Dusk." Despite her assurance, she didn't exactly look too sure herself. "Besides Spike, it's not so bad, ah, maybe birds can use it as a..."
"An outhouse?"
"Spike,please stop that! You're not helping!" Dusk snapped again, feeling awful at how forlorn his friend looked.
"Yes, Spike really..." She gave him a disapproving look, then approached a flushed Twilight. "It's just fine. It's just a little rough around the edges. Let me lend you a hoof..."
As Rarity set to work, attempting to repair the damage, Dusk walked up to Twilight, who looked thoroughly ashamed of herself. Doing his best to cheer her up, he gave her a gentle nudge and his best smile, trying to say, without words, that she had done her best to try. She returned it weakly, grateful at his attempt. When it became clear that Rarity wasn't going to be done quickly, they left her to it to try and find somewhere else to fit in.
"Well, that could've gone better," Spike said when they were away.
"Spike, come on..." Dusk turned to Twilight, who was hanging her head in shame. "It wasn't that bad... it was... well, it was-"
"A complete disaster." She sighed, but smiled anyway. "It's okay Dusk, I'm fine now. I think I saw Pinkie at one of the lakes, let's go and see what she's doing..."
"Good idea. And... Twi?" She lifted her head up. "Okay, so neither of us are much good with nest making. At least you tried. Chin up Twi, there's a place for you here somewhere, I can feel it."
"Thank you Dusk." Giving him a smile that made him feel so warm, he could probably melt the snow, they approached the frozen lake.
As promised, there was their pink partying friend, wearing ice skates and dancing gracefully on the ice, as easily as anypony else would be walking. At first, Dusk didn't see the point of this activity, but then he noticed that she was cutting lines in the ice in specific chunks. It didn't take him long to figure it out from there.
"Helooooooo Twilight aaaaaaand Dusk! Wheeeeeeee!" She spun in a rapid circle at this.
"Wow Pinkie Pie, you're quite the skater. Probably the best skater I've ever seen," praised Twilight.
"No arguements from me," Dusk agreed. "You take to ice as easily as a Pegasus pony does to the sky, Miss Pie."
"Hey, that rhymed!" She giggled as she halted before them. "Thanks guys, I've been doing this since I was an itty-bitty little-wittle Twinkie-Pinkie. Just comes natural. Which is probably why they designated me the lake scorer. I-"
"You use your skates to carve out chunks of the ice so they break along the lines, therefore making it easier for when the Pegasus ponies bring out the sun to melt the lakes," Dusk said at once. He then realised he'd cut her off and felt a little embarrassed.
"How does he do that? He's psychic, I tell you," she murmurer to Twilight, who sniggered.
"It's certainly a clever system, figured out by a clever pony." Dusk flushed as she giggled again. "Well you sure have a lot of work ahead of you, there's quite a few lakes in Ponyville..."
"Ha, tell me about it. Hey, Twilight, wanna help me out?"
"Would I?"
"Come on, put on those skates over there. I bet you'll be a natural too."
"Okay. Wish me luck Dusk." She trotted over to the skates, leaving Pinkie with Dusk.
Pinkie seemed to suddenly remember him, and looked apologetic when she saw he'd been left out
"Sorry Dusky, I only have one spare pair of skates. Do you wanna take mine, so you can try?"
"It's fine Pinkie. I'd probably be terrible anyway... I'll watch Twilight and you, offer moral support," he decided.
"Okie-dokie-lokie." She skated off again, as Twilight finished putting on her own skates.
As soon as she set hoof on the ice, however, her legs started to wobble like jelly, like she was about to collapse at any moment. But Dusk had promised to be supportive, so he stayed close-by, just in case he needed to stop her falling.
"Uh... maybe on second thought..." She slipped a little, as Dusk caught and righted her. "Thanks..."
"What are you talking about? You said you wanted to be helpful," pointed out Spike.
"Now get out there." He moved to push her, but Dusk held him back, gesturing that he should handle this.
"He's right Twi. Just get out there, and do your best. I'll cheer you on... I might as well be slightly useful..."
"Okay... okay... I can do this. Dusk, a little push please?"
"Certainly... good luck..." He gave her a gentle push, just enough to get her going.
Watching from the edge of the ice, it became quite clear to the male unicorn that Twilight wasn't a great shakes at skating. Even though Pinkie tried her best to give pointers and Dusk offered his best support, she had no control over her movements, skidding and swerving uncontrollably.
The final nail in the coffin came when she skated rapidly towards Pinkie, crashed into her and then both of them hit Spike, who had wandered onto the ice, causing them to crash in a heap by the side of the ice, as Dusk hurried over to help them.
"Ha ha, you are a natural, Twilight. A natural disaster." Spike guffawed at the whole thing, but stopped when Dusk kicked a bit of snow in his face, proceeding to lift Twilight to her hooves.
"Twilight, you did a great job your first time around," Pinkie said, shaking herself down. "I'm sure my first time was just as wobbly and bobbly and crasheriffic as yours."
Really?"
Pinkie looked unsurely, before admitting: "No." She realised how sad Twilight looked and put on a bright grin. "But did I make you feel better?"
"Mm-hmm, yeah, I guess," Twilight said.
"I think you'll be super awesome at something that keeps your hoofs on the ground. You too Dusky," she added. "I know, Fluttershy could probably use your help with the critters."
"Well... I'm pretty good with little animals." She looked more hopeful, turning to face Dusk with a smile. "Dusk, you are too. We could find our place there!"
"I er... I suppose I am, yes... yes, let's go and help her. Woah, watch it!" He caught her again, as Twilight started to slide off again.
Helping her out of her skates before she crashed again, they proceeded to where all of the animal burrows in Ponyville were, hearing the pleasant sound of a ringing bell as they approached.
For the first time, Dusk felt confident about this Winter Wrap Up business. He had, after all, helped Fluttershy put these animals in hibernation in the first place. He was sure he would be a dab-hoof at waking them up as well. From what he could see, it looked simple enough.
They saw Fluttershy with her head down one of the burrows, stepping back as a pair of hedgehogs yawned and awoke, waddling out into the open. It was an adorable sight, to see them awake again from their long sleep.
"Awww, how cute," cooed Twilight.
"Aren't they?" Fluttershy looked after them, like a caring mother. "This is my favorite task the whole season, when I get to see all my little animal friends again."
"Uh, what's "hibernation"?" Spike asked curiously.
"It's a natural stage of animals in winter," Dusk explained. "They go into a non-active state by sleeping, to conserve energy, because there's so little food growing in winter. By eating less by sleeping, they can keep the energy they have to keep their bodily functions going until, of course, they wake up in spring."
"Hey... I definitely like the idea of hibernation, uh, except for the "eat less food" part."
"You would," Dusk chuckled. "Anyway, can Twilight and me lend a hoof Fluttershy? We need to find our places in Winter Wrap Up and you do have a lot of warrens and dens to clear, by the look of it..."
"Oh yes, that would be wonderful!" She gave them a pair of bells to get started. "Just ring them to wake up the animals, and coax them out... gently though..."
Splitting up to take separate dens, Dusk approached his first and rang his bell over the entrance, the sound echoing down below. Hoping that would be enough, he peered inside as something stirred.
"Wakey wakey down there," he called out. "Spring is here, so shake a leg."
He stepped back as a family of fluffy white rabbits hopped out, stretching and yawning. When they finished, they gave little smiles at Dusk, which he returned with a tip of his hat and hopped off to find some food.
He'd done it. He'd actually helped and it worked! This was definitely Dusk's task in Winter Wrap Up, waking up the critters. It was so easy and so rewarding, seeing their little faces. Twilight would manage this as well, so they could both join in with it. He wondered how she would be-
"AGH! SNAKES, SNAKES!" He whipped around to see her backing away from the yawning reptiles.
"Twilight, look out!" He warned her too late, as she backed into a burrow.
Screaming again, she was chased out by a flock of screeching bats, galloping head first into a tree. A beehive was dislodged from the impact, landing on her head as she ran around blindly. Dusk rushed forward to try and help, but she ran straight into another den, waking up the skunks that had been sleeping inside. Dusk heard her groan in pain from inside.
"Spike, get back to the library and get some tomato soup and some baking soda," Dusk ordered, peering into the warren.
"Odd time to be thinking about eating, isn't it?" Spike asked.
"Believe me, I have no intention of eating it..." Hoping the bees weren't still angry, he ventured down to pull out his friend.
Back at the library, they proceeded to treat Twilight for her injuries. After removing the bee stings, Dusk had applied baking soda to the wounds, as well as some for himself. There had still been a few of the stinging insects left when he'd pulled her out.
Spike and Dusk then placed her in a wooden bath with tomato soup in it, a remedy that would at least mask the smell of the skunk spray. They would have to apply a different treatment later, possibly a spell to cancel out the stench, which was so strong both Dusk and Spike had clothes pegs on their noses. Even then, Dusk's eyes were watering from the smell.
"All this Winter Wrap Up stuff is a lot harder than it looks," commented Twilight, as Spike brushed her mane.
"Right, because there's no magic," pointed out Spike. "Why don't you just use magic, Twilight, and get it done the right way?"
"No, Spike, I have to do it the traditional way," she insisted firmly. "Ponyville has never needed magic to wrap up winter."
"Well, they never had you here before, either. Think how much quicker they could wrap up winter with your magic."
"Spike, drop it," Dusk said. "We need to do this their way, by their rules. Twilight respects that, and so do I."
"Precisely. I'm gonna find some other way that I can help out if it kills me." She turned to Dusk. "Besides, you seem to have found a place just fine. Fluttershy said you weren't even scared by the snakes."
"Well... there was no reason to be, they were harmless. But still... do you really think I... fitted in there?"
"Of course, you were great with the animals," she praised. "I told you that you would, didn't I?" Now that you've found your place here, I'm sure to find mine!"
"That's the spirit Twilight!" He grinned, scrubbing her ears. "There's still the plant team to go to, you can head there... once we're done getting rid of Odour Le Skunk, it really doesn't suit you..."
"I didn't think so," she laughed, in spite of herself. "You don't have to worry about me, just go and get your vest once we're done."
"Okay... I didn't want to feel like I was leaving you alone..."
"You won't be. You found your place, and I'm proud of you. You'll be a great addition to the animal team, I know it."
"Thanks, Twi... sorry that you can't join me."
"Don't be, it's no problem."
"When you two are done, can we get this over with?" Spike said irritably. "This peg is hurting my nose..."
Dusk chuckled a little, returning to cleaning up his friend, with a little bit of a blush to his cheeks now
It took them a full half an hour to get rid of the stench and even then there was a little bit left. Waving goodbye to his fellow librarians, Dusk found the leader of the animal team, proudly donned his own tan vest, took a bell and worked with Fluttershy to awaken the animals. He could at least do it with pleasant company.
"I'm so glad that you're helping me here Dusk," she said happily. "And that you fit in somewhere."
"Me too Fluttershy," he replied. "I just hope Twilight can find her place..."
"Don't worry, I'm sure she will. She's very clever, so she's bound to."
"Yes, she will..." He grinned at her. "Now then, these animals aren't going to wake themselves. Let's get to it!"
"Right. Come on, this way..."
It was a very pleasant activity, as Dusk did his best to wake up all of the critters, including raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, snakes, bats and many many more, as well as leaving baskets of food out for them and fixing up their homes, but he preferred just waking them up.
Despite Fluttershy's assurances, Dusk couldn't help but be concerned for Twilight. The only tasks that remained were with the plant team, which required strength and stamina... something she didn't really have. But, she was quite determined to help out in anyway, so Dusk had faith in her. She would succeed... she had to.
But it seemed that, no matter how quickly they were moving, there always seemed to be more warrens, more animals to rouse from their sleep. Dusk feared that they wouldn't get them all done in time for the rest of the teams... and he was right.
They got a signal from a Pegasus pony, meaning that it was time for them to clear the clouds so the sun could melt the snow. Fluttershy and Dusk, knowing that they weren't ready yet, hurried back towards town to stop Rainbow leading her team off before it was too late. Thankfully, they made it.
"Rainbow Dash, y'all on the weather team need ta melt the rest of the snow here on the ground and the trees, pronto," Applejack was saying.
"Got it!" She was about to fly off when-
"Stop no! We're not ready yet!" Dusk shouted.
"He's right. My poor little animals' homes will get flooded if the snow melts too fast," Fluttershy warned.
"Got it." Dusk breathed a sigh of relief, until...
"Ah'm tellin' ya Rainbow, ya gotta melt that snow now."
"No, you simply must wait," Fluttershy cried.
"Okay..." Rainbow and her team were starting to look confused. Pretty soon, it descended into chaos
"Go."
"Stop."
"Go."
"Stop."
"GO!"
"STOP!"
"Ugh! Make up your minds!" She yelled in frustration.
"Oh! What in Equestria are all you arguing about?" The Mayor had realised what was going on, and looked furious. "This sort of silliness is why we were late for spring last year, and the year before that, and the year before that."
Dusk could only watch as the full extent of the disaster hit them. The ice chunks were too big, Rarity was behind on nest-making, the animal team was going too slowly, the plant team needed to get their seeds in the ground, somepony had lost their seeds, a pegasus pony had gone the wrong direction. It was close to sundown, at this rate winter would be late again.
Setting his mind to work, Dusk began to think, drowning out the arguing ponies around him. It was complete and utter chaos, they needed organisation, efficiency, direction. They needed... they needed...
"Of course, that's it!" He shouted aloud. Everypony stopped arguing and looked at him like he'd gone mad.
"Uh... what's it?" Applejack asked unsurely.
Dusk became embarrassed from his outburst. "Oh um... just an... an idea..."
"And what might that be?" asked the Mayor. "If you have something to say, now is the time to say it, for we certainly need all the help we can get."
Dusk, at first, was silent and didn't want to say anything for fear of looking like a fool. But then he saw the expectant, supportive expressions of his friends and decided that he might as well say it.
"Well, it;s just..." He cleared his throat and gathered what little confidence he had. "We can't afford to argue, we don't have the time. We need somepony to organise us, somepony who can use her skills to make sure we can work together to bring in spring on time. We need... we need..."
"Who? Come on, spit it out already!" demanded Rainbow.
"Okay... we need Twilight Sparkle." Everypony fell silent at this and Dusk was already starting to feel stupid for suggesting it. Who um... last saw her?"
"Right here." There she stood, Spike by her side with a quill and checklist. "Great minds think alike, it seems."
"Well, yours at least..." He looked around at them, trotting over to his friend and regaining lost confidence. "You want to listen to anypony... listen to her. Go ahead, Miss Sparkle."
"Thank you, Dusk," she said, as he took his place by her side. "I know you all want to complete your jobs on time, but arguing is no way to go about it. Dusk is right. What you need is organization, and I'm just the pony for the job."
Feeling even more bolstered than when the Mayor gave her speech, Dusk set to work with whatever modifications that Twilight made to the process... and she did not disappoint.
With her in charge, the tasks went ahead a lot more smoothly. Rarity was able to catch up on the nests that she had failed to make, with assistance from everypony else on the animal team, the ice scorers were able to cut the ice into much more manageable chunks for be melted when the sun came up and the snow cleaners worked in sync with the seed planters, ensuring quicker planting of their food.
They also implemented a much more efficient waking system, whereby several bells could be rung at once to wake up multiple critters at the same time. It worked extremely well, as Dusk proudly rang one of the bell systems in place. He tipped his hat to a few snakes that slithered by, one of them politely bowing in return. Twilight, however, ran to hide up a tree until they passed. Dusk even used a colour flash of his own to signal the weather team to move the clouds.
They did this in seconds, even managing to sweep away some more snow in a wind cyclone they created, allowing the sun to stream down over Ponyville. As the snow and ice began to melt, Dusk was reassigned to the plant team, as was everypony else on the animal team, to help plant the remaining seeds and water those already planted, as well as transporting food around. While doing this, he caught Twilight's eye in the midst of it all, the two of them exchanging proud smiles with one another.
By the time the rest of the weather team returned with the southern birds, everything was ready. The rivers were flowing again, animals were at play, the bird nests had been completed and everything that was warm and green had returned to the land. They had done it. Spring was on time. Dusk was standing beside Twilight, gazing over the town at all of their hard work, as the Mayor joined them, along with everypony else in town.
"I can't believe it. Spring is here! On time! And we have you to thank for it," she said proudly. "If it weren't for your organizing skills we would still be arguing. It seems your friend Dusk's faith wasn't misplaced."
"Ai-yup," said Big Macintosh, making everypony laugh while Dusk blushed a little from the praise he received, which was added to with a warm smile from Twilight.
"It was a team effort," Twilight reminded them.
"And since you helped every team, we have an official vest for you. We give you the title, "All-Team Organizer!"" A vest with every team colour was presented to her by Rarity, as she glowed with pride.
"Gosh, I don't even know what to say. Thank you everypony. Especially you, Dusk. You never lost faith in me."
"Not once," he said truthfully. "After all, somepony has to."
"And hereby I declare that winter is... wrapped up on time!" The townsponies cheered at the declaration, as Dusk and Twilight shared a hoof-pound and a smile.
"Spike's sure gonna be in for a hog-sized surprise when that last piece a' ice melts," Applejack pointed out, seeing him asleep in the middle of a lake, sparking more laughter.
When the crowd dispersed, it was just Dusk and Twilight left, still wearing their team vests, as well as still feeling proud.
"Well Twi, we did it. Even me," he said proudly. "Once again, I'm in a job in which you're in charge, as is the natural order." She giggled at that. "I'm proud of you, and you did it without magic."
"I'm proud of you too, Dusk," she said sincerely. "Two Canterlot ponies finding their place in Winter Wrap Up. Not bad, I'd say. Do you think we should wake Spike up?"
"I don't know... he did make all of those jibes at you and I've not quite forgiven him yet," he said slyly. "Besides, a little water never hurt anypony."
"If you say so," she giggled. "I want you to come back to the library when he wakes up, I want you to hear my report to the Princess."
"I'd be glad to. My holiday's over anyway."
"So it is. That means it's back to work now, so I expect you tomorrow on time," she ordered in a mock authoritative tone.
"You know me, Twi," he replied smartly. "I'll be there on time... just like spring this year."
He gazed proudly up at the clear blue sky, as the sun streamed on his face, happy and satisfied that he had played his part in wrapping up winter, along with all of his friends. Spring was here, a new beginning... time to see what it held in store for him.