Morning, that polarizing time of the day when half the ponies in Equestria jumped cheerfully out of bed to attack the day head on while the other half swore that Princess Celestia purposely set the sun at just the right angle in the sky to shine through even the darkest and most tightly drawn shades and curtains and shine right in their eyes. Of course, sometimes the Princess had help. Star Shine moaned and ducked his head deeper into the covers as Twilight Sparkle threw open the curtains on their bedroom window.
"With as many late night study sessions as you have, how in Equestria are you a morning pony?" Star Shine groaned from under the covers.
"I'm not always a morning pony, like for instance if I had stayed up late studying, I would probably still be in there with you." Twilight said as she approached the bed.
"I wish you were. This bed is so much more comfortable with you to cuddle with." Star Shine said as he pulled the covers down off of his head and wiggled his eyebrows.
Twilight started laughing as she witnessed the display. "Oh Celestia, you're terrible."
"That's not what you s-" Star Shine never got to finish his sentence as a lavender ball of energy flung the door open and bounced onto the bed.
"Morning Mommy, morning Daddy." Twinkle Star said as she came to a hard stop on the bed, causing Star Shine to wince.
"Twinkle Star, what have I said before about jumping on the bed?" Twilight admonished her daughter as she approached the bed.
"Twinkle Star, we do not jump on the bed when mommy is in bed." the little filly said in her best grown-up voice.
Star Shine gave his fiance a flat look. Twilight chuckled before she corrected her daughter, "We don't jump on the bed, period. Ok, Twinkie?"
"Ok, mommy."
That being settled, Star Shine proceeded to gather his daughter up into a hug from behind. "So, Twinkie, what has you so excited this morning?"
"The weird lady that delivers the letters said she needed you daddy." Twinkle Star giggled as her father hugged her. Twilight and Star Shine looked at each other for a second.
"Must be something from the Mages Society." Twilight shrugged.
"I wonder what they could want. My next report on the Everfree isn't due for a few more weeks." Star Shine said as he let go of his daughter and started to get out of bed.
"Only one way to find out." Twilight said as she started for the door out of the room. With Star Shine and Twinkle Star following her, Twilight descended the stairs into the main living area of their apartment above the library.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, they were greeted to the smell of breakfast cooking. Hearing the three ponies descending the stairs, Spike poked his head out of the kitchen. "Morning everypony." He called. A chorus of Mornings answered him. "Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. Oh and Ditzy is down in the library. She has a letter that Shiner has to sign for."
"Spike, you know I hate that nick name, right?" Star Shine said as he approached the stairs to go down into the library.
"I know, that's why I keep saying it." Spike said as he sauntered back into the kitchen.
Twilight helped her daughter get ready for breakfast. After a moment, Spike came back into the room holding a platter with three omelets in his claws. Twilight took the platter from him with her magic and placed it in the center of the table. "Wow, Spike, it smells great."
"Clover omelets. Easy to make, impossible to resist." Spike said with a small bow.
Twinkle Star giggled while Twilight said, "You've really out done yourself, Spike. Thank you." Then Twilight looked at the platter. "And what will you be having?"
"Just two rubies; I've put myself on a diet."
"Wow, Spike, that's very grown up of you."
"Thank you, Twilight." Spike started tapping the side of his head with a claw as if deep in thought. Then he looked Twilight in the eyes, "So how much of my pooch belly do you think I have to lose before Rarity will start to notice?"
As Twilight was shaking her head, Star Shine reentered the living area, a letter held in front of him in his magic. "Say, Twine, are you doing anything tomorrow night?"
"Not that I can think of, why?"
"Because Walking Stick is retiring from the Society at a banquet tomorrow night, and he has requested both of us to attend.
"Really, I have always wanted to go to a Mages Society event."
"Didn't you ever go when you where studying under Princess Celestia at the palace?"
"No, at first I was too young, then after the whole incident with Twink, I...Oh no, we'll need to find a sitter for Twinkle Star for while we're gone."
"Not to say I won't help you but I've only been in Ponyville for two weeks, and except for Pinkie's welcome party, I haven't been able to really get to know anypony yet."
Later that morning, after breakfast and her usual preparations for any task, she saw Star Shine off to explore the Everfree forest. She walked Twinkle Star to school and after the filly had met up with her friend Ruby Scepter and an earth pony colt Twilight knew as Mill Stone, Twilight set out to find a foal sitter for Twinkle Star. her first stop was at Sugar Cube Corner. She had put Pinkie Pie at the top of her list because of her success she had watching the cakes very energetic an opinionated foals. Walking into the store, she was met with a familiar voice, "Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner, oh hi Twilight."
"Good morning, Pinkie."
"What brings you by?"
"I was wondering if you're free tomorrow night. I need somepony to watch Twinkle Star for me."
Pinkie got a sadden look to her face, "Oh sorry Twilight. I would love to but I've already promised the Cakes I would watch the twins for them while they cater for the mayor."
"That's alright Pinkie. You were the first pony I've asked."
"I'm sure you'll find somepony super terrific to watch Twinkie for you," Pinkie called as Twilight exited the bakery.
Twilight's next stop Fluttershy's cottage. "Fluttershy, are you home?" She called out.
The yellow mare in question stepped out from the other room. "Good morning, Twilight. What can I do for you?"
"I saw how well you handled the Cutie Mark Crusaders and I was wondering if by chance you could watch Twinkle Star for me?"
"I would love to." Fluttershy exclaimed. "When do you need someone to watch her?"
"Tomorrow night."
"Oh no!"
"Let me guess, you can't."
"Sorry Twilight, but I already promised Angel I'd fix him a super terrific feast for being super terrifically good yesterday." As Fluttershy said this, Angel fixed Twilight with an 'Back off, she's mine!' look.
Twilight, not wanting to draw the little bunny's wrath, slowly backed up. "I didn't realize you had such pressing plans. I'll just go and get out of your mane then." After she had passed thru the door, she slammed it and quickly ran away from Fluttershy's cottage.
Fluttershy looked at her pet, "Was it something I said?" She asked him. Angel gave her a shrug before hopping away with a smug smile in his face.
Running away from Fluttershy's cottage lead Twilight to the gates of Sweet Apple Acers. Twilight walked through the front gate determined to find her farming friend. After all, Applejack practically raised her little sister. Walking into the barn, she didn't find Applejack, but instead found her rather large brother, Big Macintosh. She cautiously approached him, because in truth, Big Mac's sheer size somewhat intimidated her. She did her best to suppress it, because a noble unicorn like herself should not have to be intimidated by... Twilight mentally squashed that thought. Just because she was a unicorn, and a very gifted on at that, was no reason to harbor such thoughts. She made a mental note to give her uncle High Brow a stern talking to the next time she saw him.
"Hello Big Macintosh." Twilight called out from the door to the barn. Big Mac lifted his head away from whatever he was doing, and turned to face her.
"Mornin' Miss Sparkle." He tipped his head.
"And a good morning to you too. I was looking for Applejack. Is she around right now?"
"Eenope." He shook his head.
"Well, do you know when she'll be around?"
"Not till day after tomorrow. Is their somethin' ya want me to tell 'er?"
"No, thank you any way. I was just inquiring about her plans for tomorrow night."
"Well, alright then." And Big Mac returned to what he was doing.
A few minutes after Twilight disappeared from the barn door, Star Shine and a chess board shimmered into sight. Big Mac wiped his brow, "Whew, that was a close one."
Star Shine gave him a look with one eyebrow cocked up, "So tell me again just why you're trying to hide the fact that you're good at chess from your family?"
As Twilight walked back on the main road towards Ponyville, she came to a lone mailbox on the side of the road with no house near it. Knowing better, she looked up into the sky and saw the surprisingly artistic home on Ponyville's number one athletic Pegasus and captain of the local weather patrol, Rainbow Dash.
After a moment of staring at the cloud house, Twilight shook her head and started down the road again. "No!" was all she said before she continued down the road.
Twilight was sitting at an outdoor table at one of the town's cafes eating a lovely sandwich, when she noticed foals running down the street. Looking at the position of the sun, Twilight deduced that her impromptu tour of her friend's house's had lasted most of the day. Quickly finishing her lunch, Twilight trotted over to the school to escort her daughter home.
As she approached the school house, she saw her Twinkle Star with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "Hey, there's your mom." Apple Bloom called as she noticed Twilight.
"Hey girls, is something wrong?"
"No, Twinkle Star said that she was waiting for you so we decided to give her some company," Scootaloo answered Twilight.
"Thank you very much. Sorry if I seem to be running off, but I need to talk to Rarity."
"We were going over to Rarity's too. We could walk with you."
As they arrived at the boutique, Twilight opened the door for the Crusaders and her daughter. Hearing the door chime, Rarity came out from her work room, "Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where - oh it's just you girls. Oh and Twilight, what a pleasant surprise."
"Hi Rarity." The girls called as they sat down and waited for Rarity and Twilight to finish.
"Good afternoon Rarity."
"To what do I owe this visit to?"
"Star Shine and I have to go to Canterlot tomorrow night and I need somepony to watch Twinkle Star."
"And your asking me. I apologize Twilight, but Thursday night is when I get my weekly deep tissue message. It is an appointment I simply cannot break. You understand, right?"
"Yes, I guess." Twilight said with a sigh.
"Why can't we do it?" Sweetie Bell chimed in.
"What?" Both Rarity and Twilight asked in unison.
"Really?" Apple Bloom asked as well.
"Yah, just think about it. A foal sitting cutie mark," Scootaloo said as she rubbed her hooves together.
"Are you sure you girls can handle it?" Twilight asked the group.
"Of course we can, 'cause we are the Cutie Mark Crusaders," Scootaloo answered for the group.
"Are you girls really sure ya want to do this?" Apple Bloom asked her peers.
"Come on Apple Bloom, with the three of us, how hard can it be." Scootaloo put her foreleg around Apple Bloom's shoulders.
Apple Bloom looked as if she was going to refuse, but after a moment, a look of defeat crossed her face. "Fine, I'm in."
"Well, if you girls are sure you can handle the responsibility, be over at the library by six o'clock."
"We'll be there." Sweetie Bell squeaked up.
"Cutie Mark Crusaders foalsitters, Yay!" Came two ecstatic, and one much less ecstatic cheer.