"Do you think Dizzy will like her gift?"
Ponyville lay swaddled in snow. White drifts covered everything from rooftop to sidewalk. When the pegasi scheduled a snowfall, they certainly didn't skimp on it. They'd done their best to clear the streets, but the snow still covered Pinwheel's hooves. She and Pale Hoof strolled down the snow covered sidewalks, flakes still fluttering around them. Though the largest portion of the snow had already fallen, light flurries still swirled in the air. Flakes collected in the crannies of Pale Hoof's skull. A red-wrapped package sat on Pinwheel's flank. All day, they'd been combing the shops for the perfect gift. Hearth's Warming was right around the corner. Although most of the shops were closed for the blizzard, Rarity's boutique stood open in spite of the snow. That was where they'd found the gift – a wooly knit scarf, perfect for a pegasus flying around in the cold. Pale Hoof watched Pinwheel as they waded through the snow.
"WHY WOULD SHE DISLIKE IT? IT IS A FINE SCARF." He asked, shaking the snow from his skull. He sent a spray of ice flying into Pinwheel's face. Pinwheel blinked, eyes watering. A long, green scarf hung around his neck, tied in a knot like a noose.
"I don't know…" Pinwheel sighed, ears drooping, "Dizzy's still mad at me, I think."
"WHY?"
"Because I'm hanging around with you, that's why." Pinwheel answered. Pale Hoof said nothing, "We haven't talked since…you know, that night where you dragged me around Ponyville."
"SHE IS RIGHT TO FEAR ME. I AM DEATH."
Pinwheel looked around at the ponies in the square. Everywhere she looked, ponies were ambling through the snow. Some carried shopping bags. Others just wandered around enjoying the frosty scenery. No pony so much as glanced at Pale Hoof. They gave him a wide berth. Pinwheel could stretch out all her legs and still not touch anypony. She caught a filly gazing wide eyed at Pale Hoof, but the filly's mother quickly pulled her away. A deep frown tugged at Pinwheel's mouth. The blue mare turned in place, looking at all the ponies swerving to avoid them. "Why is everypony still scared of you?" Pinwheel muttered, "You've been here for months."
"THEY HAVE GOOD REASON. WHAT MORTAL WOULD NOT FEAR DEATH?"
"But you're a good colt. You aren't that scary…" Pinwheel replied, turning to look at Pale Hoof. His skull head grinned down at her. She could see right into the back of his head. The shadows within his skull were deep and cold, like the shadows at the bottom of the sea. Suppressing a shudder, Pinwheel turned back around, "Well, maybe you're a little scary, but Twilight and her friends aren't afraid of you."
"TWILIGHT AND HER FRIENDS FACED DOWN THE EVIL INCARNATION OF A NIGHT GODDESS."
Pinwheel's ears dropped. "Right…They're pretty brave ponies, aren't they?" Straightening up, Pinwheel stamped the ground, "We'll just have to show everyone what a nice and helpful colt you are. They need to know you're not some bloodthirsty zombie pony."
"AND HOW DO YOU PROPOSE WE DO THAT?"
Just then, the Mayor stepped out of the central pavilion. In her teeth, she clenched a stack of flyers. Trotting to the town bulletin board, she began to pin the flyers up. There were three – one printed on light green paper, one printed on blue, and one printed on brown. Pinwheel's eyes lit up. Beckoning Pale Hoof, she crossed the square to meet the mayor. The mayor finished pinning the flyers as Pinwheel approached. She turned suddenly. Catching sight of Pale Hoof, the mayor gasped sharply and tumbled back against the bulletin board. The force of her impact sent flyers tumbling everywhere. Pinwheel snatched hold of the Mayor's green scarf and helped her to her feet. "Sorry, Ms. Mayor. Didn't mean to scare you."
The mayor huffed, smoothing her mane back with a hoof. "It's nothing, I'm fine. But honestly, Pale Hoof shouldn't go sneaking up on people from behind."
Pinwheel grinned apologetically. "Sorry."
Meanwhile, Pale Hoof strolled around the square, picking up the dropped flyers. Shuffling through them telekinetically, he examined the print. "WINTER WRAP UP? WHAT IS THIS?" He asked, dropping the stack of flyers at the Mayor's feet. Stooping, the Mayor picked them up.
"It's a tradition." The Mayor replied, pinning the flyers to the bulletin board again, "Everypony in Ponyville signs up for a team and together, we wrap up Winter. We have to start sign up early so we can prepare in advance."
"CURIOUS. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION PONIES USED MAGIC TO CHANGE THE SEASONS."
"They do that in Canterlot." The Mayor answered, "But we prefer it the old fashioned way."
Pinwheel grinned up at Pale Hoof. "Dizzy's a team leader with Rainbow Dash this year. Maybe we can get you on the Weather team, Pale Hoof. You're good at controlling the weather, right?"
"I SUPPOSE."
"Then you'd be a perfect asset for the weather team!"
"Wait, hold on now." The mayor interjected, "No magic for Winter Wrap Up."
Pinwheel stared at the Mayor. "Pale Hoof isn't magic."
"I BELIEVE SHE WAS ALLUDING TO MY OTHERWORLDLY REAPER ABILITIES."
Pinwheel flushed. "Oh. Well…it's true he has some weird powers, yeah, but he'll keep them in check for Winter Wrap Up." Pinwheel glanced sidelong at Pale Hoof, "Isn't that right?"
"I SUPPOSE."
The Mayor frowned at Pale Hoof, rubbing her chin with a hoof. "Well…I suppose I could put your name down for the weather team, but you'll have to check with one of the team leaders." She cracked a nervous smile, "To be honest, we've never had a pony of your…abilities sign up for Winter Wrap Up. There's nothing in the town charter about Reapers."
"I DARE SAY THERE ISN'T." Pale Hoof answered.
Pinwheel grinned at the Mayor. "He'll be a big help, you'll see." Tugging on Pale Hoof's scarf, Pinwheel pulled him down the street toward Dizzy's house. Mr. Breezy stood outside his fan shop, sweeping the snow off the front step. When he saw Pale Hoof approaching, he immediately dropped his broom and dashed inside. Pinwheel smiled sheepishly at him through the window. Frost shaded the glass as Pale Hoof passed by.
The stairs up to Dizzy's apartment were slick and icy. Pinwheel nearly slipped trying to climb them. Finally, at the top, she knocked on the door. Dizzy hung a wreath on the door in honor of Hearth's Warming Eve – a green, bristly thing with shiny red baubles. Inside, a light flicked on. Dizzy appeared at the door seconds later, beaming and wearing her favorite jingly Hearth's Warming hat. "Happy Hearth's Warming!" She chimed, but her smile faded as soon as she saw Pale Hoof, "Oh…it's you."
"Hi, Dizzy!" Pinwheel reached back and picked up the package resting on her flank, "Happy Hearth's Warming."
Dizzy stared sourly at Pinwheel. "Not to sound rude, Pin…but what are you doing here?" She glanced up at Pale Hoof, her scowl deepening, "And what's HE doing here?"
Pinwheel dropped the package at Dizzy's feet. "Just dropping off a Hearth's Warming gift for my friend."
"Oh. Thanks." Dizzy picked up the gift and took it inside. Ears back, Pinwheel peeked into the apartment. Setting the gift on her coffee table, Dizzy peered back at Pinwheel, "Is that it?"
"Well, uh…I do have one small request." Pinwheel flushed.
"I'm listening."
Pinwheel scuffed her hooves on the welcome mat. "See…Princess Celestia tasked me with teaching Pale Hoof how to get along with mortals. But the problem is that everypony is so scared of him." Pinwheel glanced up at Dizzy. Dizzy stared at her impassively, "I was thinking maybe that if he helped out with Winter Wrap Up this year, everypony would see that he's not such a bad colt after all."
Dizzy's eyes hardened. "'Not such a bad colt'? Pinwheel, do you even KNOW who you're talking about?" She glared pointedly at Pale Hoof, "I watched this colt murder my best friend and drag her body through the streets! He's a freak, Pinwheel! Everyone is right to be scared of him!"
Pinwheel groaned. "That was months ago! He didn't know any better!" She argued, "Come on, Dizzy. For Princess Celestia."
"I don't care what Princess Celestia said. I know what I saw."
Pinwheel growled. "Stop being so stubborn!" Sighing, Pinwheel squeezed her eyes shut, "All I want is your permission for Pale Hoof to be on the Weather Team. That's all. If he doesn't work well, you can kick him off."
Dizzy grimaced. "Fine. But only because we're friends, Pinwheel. And if he messes up or hurts anyone, even a little bit, he's off the team."
Pinwheel nodded. "Thank you."
Rarity stood outside the central pavilion in Ponyville square. On the steps of the pavilion sat three large boxes, all filled to brimming with colorful vests – blue for the weather team, brown for the animal team, and green for the planting team. All around, ponies were lining up to receive their vests. One by one, Rarity lifted them out of their boxes and helped ponies into their vests. Pinwheel and Pale Hoof waited toward the back of the Weather Line. Pinwheel shuffled her hooves nervously in the snow. Pale Hoof peered down at her with his eyeless sockets.
"NERVOUS?" He asked.
"A little."
The line moved fast. Soon enough, they were at the front. Rarity beamed as they approached. "Good morning, Miss Pinwheel, Mister Pale Hoof!" She chimed, digging through the box of blue vests, "Let me tell you, Pale Hoof, I was absolutely delighted when I heard you were on the weather team. I think this blue will look absolutely fabulous on you. Ah, here we are!" She pulled an oversized blue vest from the bottom of the box and levitated it over to Pale Hoof. Lifting his hooves, Pale Hoof slipped in to the vest. It fit snugly over his chest. Rarity smiled, "A perfect fit! Now you can be helpful AND fashionable! Oh, Pinwheel, what team are you on, dear?"
Pinwheel ducked her head, grinning. "Uh, the 'Pale Hoof Monitoring' squad?"
Rarity giggled, "Unfortunately, I don't have any vests for that team. But here." Digging through the weather team box, Rarity tossed Pinwheel a vest, "That blue goes perfectly with your eyes, don't you think?"
Pinwheel slipped into the vest. "Thanks, Rarity."
"Nonsense. Everypony should have one of my fabulous vests." Rarity replied, "Weather team is assembling over there. Hurry now. The opening ceremonies begin in a few minutes!"
The weather team stood gathered by the fountain. Mostly pegasi, they hovered ten feet off of the ground, clumped so tightly together that it was a wonder they had room to flap their wings. Rainbow Dash eyed the group with an expression of grim determination. "All right, team! We're going to make this year the BEST Winter Wrap Up in history!" Dash announced, beating her chest with a hoof, "I want us to be faster than all the other teams combined! We're going to CLEAR that sky, BRING HOME those birds, and SHOVEL that snow! Any questions?"
A yellow pegasus raised her hoof. "Uh…who's doing what again?"
Rainbow Dash covered her face with her hoof. "Non fliers go with Pinkie Pie to help score the ice. Half of you come with me to bring the birds in. The other half has cloud duty with Dizzy. Is that clear?"
"Uh, which half does what?"
Rainbow Dash groaned. "We'll figure it out later!" She growled. Noticing Pale Hoof, she dropped down to the ground, "Well, here's our special guest this year! I don't see any wings on you, buddy, so it's ice duty for you!" Pale Hoof stared silently at Rainbow Dash. Then, with a sudden crackle of green lightning and a burst of darkness, bony wings erupted from his back. The shadowy membrane holding his wings together was shifting and translucent, like smoke. Rainbow stumbled back, landing squarely on her rump. The pegasi gathered above stared in wide eyed silence. Standing up, Rainbow Dash brushed herself off. "Well! Uh…Cloud duty, then?"
"Awwww, but Mister Spookypants and I could have so much fun!" Pinkie Pie groaned. She sat perched on the side of the fountain, licking the icicles formed by the frozen water.
"Geez, Pinkie Pie! You're not making this any easier!"
Pinwheel inched forward. "Uh, I'm going to need to stay with Pale Hoof."
Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. "Come on, guys, stop making this so hard!" Dash grimaced, "Here's how it's going to go. Non fliers on the ice, fliers with me and Dizzy. It's not THAT HARD. Spooky guy, you're a flier, so you come with me. And that's final!"
Before Pinwheel could open her mouth to object, the Mayor's voice rang out over the crowd. Slowly, everypony turned toward the pavilion. "Welcome, everypony, to Ponyville's one hundred and fifty first Winter Wrap Up!" Applause rumbled through the square. The sound of clopping hooves echoed across the earth, "Now, all of you have your vests, and have been assigned to your teams, so let's do even better than last year, and have the quickest Winter Wrap Up ever!" Whinnies and cheers roared across the crowd. Pinwheel glanced up at Pale Hoof. He stood, silent as ever, staring out over the heads of everypony in the square.
"Do you think you can handle being by yourself?" Pinwheel whispered, leaning close to Pale Hoof.
"I AM NOT A CHILD, PINWHEEL. YOU DO NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ME." Pale Hoof answered. His booming voice shook the cobblestones beneath their feet. A few nearby ponies yelped in surprise, "I WILL HANDLE THIS TASK EASILY. YOU SHALL SEE."
Pinwheel smiled. "I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't keep holding your hoof like this." She sighed, "You know I'm just looking out for you."
"AND I KINDLY IMPLORE YOU TO RELAX."
"Right…"
Once the applause died down, the Mayor spoke again. "All right, everypony, find your team leader, and let's get galloping!"
Rainbow Dash leapt into the air at the Mayor's word. "Come on, Weather Team, let's move!" She pointed sharply at her pegasi, "Get those southern birds! Go, go! The rest of you, take out those clouds! Then we'll start on the snow!" She whirled about to face Pale Hoof, "All right, Spooky, get up in the air and start clearing out the clouds over Ponyville."
"IT SHALL BE DONE." Pale Hoof stretched his great wings, bigger than even Princess Celestia's, and, with a frigid blast of wintry wind, leapt into the air. He spiraled up into the air over Ponyville, bursting through the cloud layer. Rainbow Dash frowned critically, then nodded. Looking down, she pointed at Pinwheel.
"Pinkie Pie will have your skates."
"I really should stay and make sure he's all right." Pinwheel answered, shuffling her hooves.
"Come on, if you don't help break up the ice, Pinkie will be the only one!" Rainbow complained, "Just go get your skates. I've got to go get those southern birds." Stretching her wings, Rainbow Dash turned and raced off into the sky. All around her, the ponies were leaving with their teams. The animal team had already dashed off into the nearby woods. The plant team was heading off down the road toward the farms. Pinwheel stood alone in the square. She caught sight of Pinkie Pie bouncing off toward the lake.
"Hey…Hey, Pinkie! Wait for me!"
"All right, Pinny! As this year's designated ice cutter, it's my job to break the ice so that it melts nice and even!" Pinkie Pie announced as she sailed across the ice. Pinwheel watched her as she skated back and forth across the pond. Pinkie cut criss crosses all over the surface of the pond, leaving deep lines in the snow covered ice. Pinwheel struggled to get her ice skates laced, the laces falling haphazardly out of her mouth, "That's not how you tie it, silly!"
"Sorry…these are just a little hard to tie without magic." Pinwheel replied, the laces dropping from her mouth, "You're really the only pony cutting up the ice?"
"Been doin' it for years!" Pinkie replied, performing an effortless spin on the ice, "It's nice to have help, though!"
"It just seems like a really big job for one pony."
"It is, but I don't mind!" A sudden burst of thunder and lightning rumbled over Ponyville. The noise was loud enough to shake the snow from the nearby branches. Pinkie Pie let out a yelp and fell, legs flailing, onto the ice. Both ponies turned to look up at the sky. Over Ponyville, the clouds had suddenly turned black – darker than any storm clouds Pinwheel had ever seen. Strange arcs of green lightning crackled through the darkness, casting an unholy pallor over Ponyville's rooftops.
A chill, which had nothing to do with the cold, ran up Pinwheel's spine. Quickly, she kicked off her skates. "Sorry, Pinkie. I need to get back to Ponyville."
"No worries! You go take care of Mister Spookypants!" Pinkie answered cheerfully, righting herself. Leaving the skates there at the pond's edge, Pinwheel hurried back toward Ponyville. Rainbow Dash and Pale Hoof hovered some fifty feet over the square. Explosions of thunder and lightning crackled around them, so loud that Pinwheel could barely make out what Dash was saying. Even so, Pinwheel didn't need to hear her to know she was yelling.
"—just what do you think the Weather Team's ABOUT? I mean—," A loud crack of thunder drowned Dash's voice, "—we're supposed to be CLEARING the clouds, not making more!"
"Rainbow Dash!" Pinwheel yelled. Rainbow Dash paused in her yelling. Spotting Pinwheel, she dropped to the ground.
"This is all YOUR fault!" Dash growled, poking Pinwheel in the chest, "Your dumb coltfriend made a big thunderstorm! It's going to take hours to clear all this out!"
Pale Hoof dropped down smoothly beside Pinwheel, his bony wings folding into nothingness. "I AM A REAPER, NOT A WEATHER MAKER. I CANNOT HELP HOW YOUR WORLD REACTS TO ME. THE ATMOSPHERE SIMPLY ALTERED ITSELF TO SUIT MY PRESENCE." Rainbow Dash stared at him blankly.
"He didn't mean to." Pinwheel translated.
"Well, whatever! Go help Fluttershy or Applejack! The weather team has enough work cleaning all this up!" Rainbow Dash barked. Then, spreading her wings, she vanished in a blur.
Pinwheel looked up at the thunderstorm roiling overhead and sighed. Turning toward Pale Hoof, she tried to smile. "Looks like we're switching teams."
"PERHAPS WE SHALL GO SEE WHAT THE ANIMAL TEAM IS UP TO."
Pinwheel's grin faded. "I don't think animal duty is really your style, Chuckles."
"THEN PERHAPS THE PLANT TEAM IS IN NEED OF MY ASSISTANCE."
Though months had passed since the incident, Pinwheel couldn't help picture Applejack's face back when Pale Hoof accidentally killed her tree. "I don't know. You're a bit challenged when it comes to working with…anything alive."
"PINWHEEL, I AM DOING MY BEST TO HELP OUT LIKE YOU ASKED."
"I know, I know," Pinwheel sighed. Overhead, the pegasi were kicking the supernatural storm clouds out of the sky one by one. Giving Pale Hoof a smile, she gestured for him to follow her, "There's something you can do to help, I know."
Rarity, after handing out the team vests, had set up near the edge of the square with a table. Strewn across the table were bits of straw, ribbon, and sticks. All alone at the nest making table, Rarity stood fretting over a badly mashed up nest. Smiling, Pinwheel made a beeline for the table. Nest making didn't involve handling living materials – the perfect thing for Pale Hoof to do. "Hey, Rarity!" Pinwheel called. Rarity didn't even glance up from her nest, "Rarity?"
"Oh. Excuse me for not saying hello, dear." Rarity looked up from her mess of a nest, her smile trembling, "I'm just trying to fix this little nest here. It's rather difficult, so if you don't mind…"
"Uh, Pale Hoof and I could help out, if you like…" Pinwheel offered.
"Thank you, dear, but I'm certain I can handle it. I just—" Rarity forcefully mashed the nest, "—need to—" She grunted in frustration, "—fix this nest!"
Pinwheel and Pale Hoof looked on as Rarity struggled with the nest. Finally, the white unicorn let out a discouraged sob, slamming her hooves down on the table. Pinwheel frowned deeply. "Uh…" Pinwheel began, scuffing her hoof against the cobblestones, "Are you SURE you don't need help?"
Rarity forced a smile. "Of course not, dear! I handle the nests every year." She glanced around, "Fluttershy's off waking the animals. Perhaps you could help her."
"If you say so."
"All right now…" Fluttershy began. She and Pale Hoof stood next to a snowy rabbit warren, "You need to wake the animals slowly. Just be gentle and they'll come right out." Hiding her face behind her long mane of pink hair, Fluttershy gestured to the rabbit warren. Pinwheel looked at Pale Hoof, then back at Fluttershy. Kneeling down, Pale Hoof peered into the dark warren. He gripped Fluttershy's animal bell in his teeth.
"So…he just needs to ring the bell, right? He doesn't have to touch them?" Pinwheel asked.
Fluttershy nodded. "Oh no…I know about Mr. Pale Hoof's condition. I wouldn't give him a job he couldn't do, no sir." She replied softly.
Pinwheel smiled. "Good. Well, Pale Hoof, give the bell a ring." Pale Hoof glanced up at Pinwheel, then nodded silently. With a twist of his neck, he rang the bell. A loud, echoing boom, resonating up from the very depths of the earth, reverberated in the bell. The ground beneath their feet cracked.
Fluttershy let out a little squeal of fright, diving behind Pinwheel for protection. Peeking out from around Pinwheel's legs, she peeked up at Pale Hoof. "Um…maybe you should let me get this one."
"NONSENSE. THE RABBITS ARE SURELY AWAKE NOW." Pale Hoof unhinged his jaw and tendrils of darkness unfurled from his throat. The dark coils probed the rabbit warren, finally dragging three shivering bunnies out into the open. The bunnies were wide eyed, their small bodies trembling. "SEE? ALL AWAKE." Pale Hoof dropped the rabbits at Fluttershy's feet, where they huddled together shaking.
Fluttershy let out a tiny gasp, sheltering the bunnies with her hooves. Timidly, she peeked up at Pale Hoof. "Um…maybe…you should go help Applejack…"
"No way, no how is that creepy colt touchin' mah plants!"
Applejack stared daggers at Pinwheel and Pale Hoof. They all stood on a ridge where, below, the plant team cleared the fields and started plowing. A wheelbarrow, stocked full with tiny packets of plant seeds, stood next to her. Pinwheel covered her face with her hoof. "Can't you let him plow the fields or something? He just wants to help."
"Y'all think ah've forgotten what he did t' mah tree?" Applejack barked, "We need all these plants t' make food fer the comin' months! Ah ain't gonna let him sabotage our crops!"
"He's not TRYING to sabotage anything, he's – "
Applejack lowered her head, pawing the ground like a bull about to charge. "Now, lookie here, Pinwheel, I know y'all like Pale Hoof an' all, but I won't have him touchin' mah crops. So y'all look for work somewhere else, ya hear?"
Pale Hoof and Pinwheel found themselves, once again, back in the square. The pegasi had cleared most of the supernatural thunderclouds and had moved on to shoveling the snow from the rooftops. With giant snow shovels, they pushed massive sheets of snow off the rooftops and into the streets. As Pinwheel strolled with Pale Hoof down the sidewalk, she was nearly waylaid not once, but twice by a pegasus knocking snow off the rooftops. Dodging the falling mounds of snow and icicles, Pinwheel let out a groan. "How can we show everyone you're a good colt if no one will let you help?"
"PERHAPS IT IS A LOST CAUSE, THEN. IT IS NO LOSS TO ME, THOUGH. DEATH NEEDS NO APPROVAL." Pale Hoof answered. A mound of snow, pushed off the roof by an overzealous pegasus, came suddenly crashing down on top of Pinwheel. The snow buried Pinwheel head to hooves. Letting out a roar of frustration, Pinwheel clawed her way free. She sat, brooding, atop the pile of snow.
"Maybe it is a lost cause! Maybe I can't show everyone you're a good colt. Maybe—"
A gentle voice cut off Pinwheel's ranting. "Are you all right?" Pinwheel and Pale Hoof turned to see Twilight, clipboard floating beside her and Spike riding on her back. Twilight trotted over to the sidewalk where Pinwheel sat, still half buried in snow. "I saw that snow fall on you, Pinwheel. Are you hurt?"
Pinwheel shook her head. "I'm all right."
"Good! We need everyone we can to help wrap up Winter!" Twilight replied cheerily. Pinwheel frowned. Noticing Pinwheel's sour expression, Twilight's grin faded, "What's wrong?"
"No one will let Pale Hoof help wrap up Winter." Pinwheel answered, "I promised Princess Celestia I'd teach him how to get along with others and I thought Winter Wrap Up would be a great way to help him, but no one's letting us join their team!"
"Why not? I'm sure there's plenty of things he can do to help!"
Pinwheel shook her head. "Pale Hoof…isn't good with living things. And when he tried to clear out the clouds, he just made the weather worse."
Twilight rubbed her chin with a hoof, peering critically at Pale Hoof. Turning away, she looked through her checklist. Suddenly, a smile bloomed on her face. "You know, Pale Hoof, I bet you have a great memory." She beamed at him, "Am I right?"
"I CAN REMEMBER THE NAMES AND FACES OF EVERYPONY I HAVE CLAIMED."
"See? That's what I call an excellent memory!" Twilight levitated a copy of her checklist over to him, "Why don't you go around and check to make sure everypony's doing their job? Since you remember everyone's names, it should be easy. The Mayor said we need to get Winter Wrap Up organized and you and I are just the ponies to do it!"
Pale Hoof looked over the list. "A SIMPLE ENOUGH TASK."
Pinwheel craned her neck, trying to get a look at the list. She grinned. "Twilight, you're a genius."
Twilight blushed. "Well, I wouldn't want to brag."
"Looks like you'll get to help out after all, Pale Hoof!" Pinwheel cheered, grinning up at Pale Hoof.
Pale Hoof gazed down at Pinwheel, then back at the list. "PERHAPS INDEED." Telekinetically rolling the list, Pale Hoof straightened up, "IF PINWHEEL WISHES ME TO BE HELPFUL, THEN I SHALL. COME, THEN. WE HAVE MANY PONIES TO MONITOR."