//------------------------------// // Wrapping Up Winter // Story: Life in Equestria: Holidays with Toby // by APoeticHeart //------------------------------// As winter was drawing to a close the ponies of Ponyville were getting prepared for Winter Wrap Up, the time of year where earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns come together to perform certain tasks in order to welcome in the season of spring. Such tasks include clearing away all of the snow that blankets the fields for seeds of seasonal crops and flowers to be planted in the soil. Another task was for some ponies to work together to wake up the many animals from their hibernation, and this was Fluttershy’s favorite to perform. While the towns’ ponies were already starting on their given duties, she was inside her cottage preparing breakfast for her son. She was fixing Toby a plate of scrambled eggs, a piece of toast, and a glass of orange juice. After she finished fixing his breakfast, she placed the plate and glass on a serving tray, and carefully picked up in her forelegs to hover upstairs to her bedroom. When she reached the top of the stairs, she smiled warmly at the child sleeping peacefully under the covers. “He is so cute when he is sleeping,” she thought as she hovered to the bed and lowered herself onto her haunches as she placed the tray on the side table while being cautious of his eyeglasses. She turned to look at his sleeping form and leaned into nuzzle at his cheek. “Toby sweetheart, it is time to wake up and eat some breakfast,” she spoke softly. He stirred a little and let out a yawn as he blinked his eyes open. Fluttershy reached over to gently grasp the brim of his eyeglasses between her teeth and placed them in his hands. He gave her a soft smile as he put them on. “Good morning Momma.” “Good morning sweetie, are you hungry?” She reached over and grabbed the tray with her forelegs. “I fixed you some scrambled eggs with toast and orange juice.” Toby sat up in the bed laying his back up against the pillow and head board. “Mm... that looks good Momma,” he said with a big smile as Fluttershy carefully placed the tray in his lap. “I am glad sweetheart,” she gave him a warm smile and leaned over to give him a kiss on his forehead. “Toby, would you like to help Momma today during Winter Wrap Up?” He looked up from his plate as he took a swallow of his bite of food. “What is Winter Wrap Up Momma?” “Well sweetheart, Winter Wrap Up is when all ponies come together to prepare for spring,” she gave him a warm smile. “Each of us are given tasks to perform, and my favorite one is waking up the animals from their hibernation,” she gave a squee causing her son to let out a giggle. He finished another bite of his breakfast as he smiled brightly “oh, that sounds fun Momma. I would like to help you.” She gave him a bright smile. “That is wonderful Toby, I know you are going to enjoy your first Winter Wrap Up." She reached up with a foreleg and rubbed at his shoulder. She trotted over to her dresser and pulled out a brown vest with the silhouette of a bunny on the flank. Toby looked at it curiously and finished another bite of his food before speaking "oh, that is a pretty top Momma." "Thank you sweetheart. This is the color vest all the ponies who work together to wake the animals wear. The ponies who help prepare the fields for crops and flowers wear green vests, and the ponies who help clear away the snow wear blue vests." She gave him a warm smile as she put the vest on. After a few minutes, Toby finished his breakfast and Fluttershy gently took the tray from his lap with her forelegs as she hovered in the air. “I will just be downstairs getting these dishes washed while you get dressed for today, okay sweetie?” He gave her a soft smile and nodded ‘okay Momma.” She returned the smile and turned to hover downstairs to the kitchen. Toby climbed out of the bad and stretched his arms and legs before walking over to the chest in front of the bed to get out his clothes for the day. He decided to get the fall themed outfit Rarity made for him on the day he got adopted. He came walking downstairs as he saw his mom getting her saddlebags ready by putting a small broom in one pocket and a silver bell in the other. She looked to see him and smiled warmly "are you ready sweetie?" "Yes Momma." He walked up to her as she leaned down on her forelegs for him to climb up onto her back. She smiled back at him and turned to open the door and trot outside. She sighed softly as soon as they stepped outside "Mm... what a beautiful morning, isn't it Toby?" He sighed as well as he took a deep breath of the cool morning air. "Oh, yes it is Momma," he smiled softly as he hugged her neck as she started trotting toward Ponyville. When they entered into town Toby looked all around at the ponies working hard and singing a song with Fluttershy starting to follow along. (The song "Winter Wrap Up" belong to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and it's writers and creator Lauren Faust) While everypony were singing, Fluttershy took her son to one of the many burrows that housed the hibernating critters. She leaned down on her forelegs to let him climb off her back and gave him a warm smile. She reach over to the pocket of her saddlebag that held the bell and uncovered the flap to pull it out. She held it in her foreleg and looked down at Toby. "Okay sweetie, we use this bell to wake up the sleeping animals so they can come out and greet the day. Would you like to try it Toby?" He smiled up at her and nodded "okay Momma." She carefully placed it in his hand and he leaned down to ring the bell. " Hello little ones, it is time to wake up," he spoke softly as a family of squirrels came scurrying out. They stretched their arms and paws letting out soft yawns. They smiled up at the child and Fluttershy chittering happily. Fluttershy smiled softly down at the squirrels "hello you cute little ones. Would you all like something to eat while we clean out your home?" They nodded as one of the ponies that were helping along with waking the animals up provided a basket of nuts, berries, and fresh green leafy vegetables "here you go. A nice healthy meal and you will have a nice clean home in just a bit." Toby smiled as the squirrels went over to the basket and started nibbling on the food. He moved his head rhythmically as he listened to the song everypony were singing. Fltutershy reached over to the other pocket of her saddlebags and pulled out the broom. She looked down at her son "now Toby, we need to clean out their home so it can be cleaned for spring. Just watch me do it first sweetie, then... um... if you would like you can clean the other homes, okay?" He nodded as he watched her get closer to the burrow, peeked her head in, and swept the broom back and forth cleaning away the dust and dirt. He looked up at her as she finished cleaning out the squirrels' home "oh, that looks easy Momma. I would like to clean out the other animals' homes." She smiled warmly down at him as she turned to the family of squirrels who finished off the green leafy vegetables first leaving the nuts and berries "okay little ones, all clean now. You can go in," she let out a squee. The squirrels chittered happily and started taking out the remaining food into their home. Toby waved at them as he went back in. "Goodbye little squirrels, I hope you have a good spring." "I am sure they will sweetheart," Fluttershy rubbed at his back with a forehoof. "Now, let us go and wake up the other animals, okay?" He nodded and climbed up on her back and they wen to another burrow. Fluttershy trotted around to each burrow waking up the animals while allowing Toby to clean out their homes. Her heart was filled with pride as she watched her son showing such care in cleaning out the homes of all the critters and also helping to feed them their food. After the two finished their task of waking up all the hibernating animals, Fluttershy and Toby looked to see that all of the snow was gone and fresh green grass could be seen. Celestia's sun shone brightly against the clear blue sky as it showered rays of light over the land causing Toby to smile brightly. Fluttershy looked up at the sun letting out a soft sigh "well sweetheart, it looks like we got done waking up all the animals in time, because spring is here." She turned back to look at the child on her back and nuzzled at his cheek. "It is very pretty Momma," as he hugged her neck and looked all around to see butterflies of many colors fluttering along and flowers starting to bloom. Fluttershy smiled as she reached up to touch her forehoof to the back of his hands as he hugged her neck. "Yes it is sweetheart, yes it is." She let out a soft sigh as she sat on her haunches as they looked out at the land of Ponyville from their home atop of the hill. Toby let out a soft sigh of his own as he smiled softly at the scene before him. "I enjoyed my first Winter Wrap Up Momma. It was fun waking up all the animals, cleaning their homes, and giving them food." "You made your Momma proud today sweetie. You did a wonderful job Toby, and I love you," she reached over to give him a kiss on the forehead. He nuzzled his cheek against hers "I love you too Momma." They smiled brightly at each other then turned back to the beautiful image of spring bestowed upon Ponyville. Meanwhile in the badlands, the Diamond Dogs were walking upon the barren land of red dirt and clay. "Boss, my paws are aching, can we please stop?" The low-pitched Fido asked. "Yea Rover, we have been walking for ages it seems," the small Spot said with an annoyed sigh. "Neh.. would you shut you overgrown puppies!" The ringleader of the trio, Rover yelled at the two as he smacked at them with the back of his paw. While they were walking the sound of hissing came from all directions which caused Fido and Spot to jump. "W-what was that Rover?" Spot asked in a whisper. "Yeah boss, there is something not right about this place," Fido agreed as he swallowed deeply looking around as the echo hissing noises got louder. "Neh.. will you two please shut..." Rover cut himself off when out from nowhere a group of changelings surrounded the three. Spot and Fido both yelped as they embraced each other and started shaking. Rover saw this and shook his head "you two are nothing but a pair of overgrown puppies. Get a hold of yourselves." He focused on the surrounding changelings and raised his arms "we wish to see your queen," he announced as the changelings inched closer to them both on the ground and from above. They were hissing louder and growling until they turned all their head at once at the sound of an elegant yet sinister voice. "Who dares to trespass on our land, our home?" As the queen of the changelings, Queen Chrysalis came trotting out of a dark cave within the place. She sneered at the sight of the Diamond Dogs, but held a hoof up in the air. "Calm yourselves my children, let us not feast on these foul beasts just yet," she gave an evil grin as she trotted up to them. She stood tall and loomed over the trio as she looked down at them with her eyes furrowed in curiosity mixed with anger. "Why do flea-bitten mutts such as you three have any reason to come here to the badlands, and speak with me?" Rover spoke for the other two as he bowed his head to the dark queen. "Your most beautiful highness, my name is Rover, and these are my associates, Fido, and Spot," he motioned at the two with his paw. "And together we are known as the Diamond Dogs." They two nervously shook as they bowed their heads as well "h-hello your highness," they spoke in unison. "Well, obedient dogs I give you that," she looked down at them barely amused. "Now tell me what business do you have coming to such a horrid place like this?" She quirked an eyebrow and stood firm. "Well, you see your highness, me and my associates have a proposition for you," Rover raised his head to look up at her. Chrysalis chuckled slyly as she stomped her hoof. "A powerful queen such as me do not make deals with low life forms such as mutts like you. Now get your flea-ridden carcasses off our land or I shall have my children feast on your sorry tails until there is nothing left but bones." She turned to trot back into her cave. The changelings smiled evilly as they targeted in on the three as Spot and Fido clenched each other tighter. "Goodbye my old friend I will miss you," Spot told Fido. Fido replied "I will miss you too pal." They both started sobbing until Rover smacked them with his paw. "Neh.. shut up!" He shouted at the two as he turned back to look at Chrysalis "WAIT! Your highness, we have news about some ponies that you might be familiar with." Chrysalis stopped just outside the entrance of the cave and turned around slowly. "Stop my children," she spoke to them as they immediately stopped and backed away from the three. "What ponies do you speak of?" Rover stepped forward "ponies that serve the princesses of Equestria your highness." He bowed his head. Chrysalis felt herself boil with anger, but calmed herself with an evil smirk. "Oh, really?" They nodded at her as she thought to herself. "I have waited for a long time to get my revenge on that goody good Princess Celestia and her faithful subjects, and now I might just have it. However, I may have to listen to these three mongrels." She took a deep breath as she looked at them. "Okay, please come into my humble abode and we may discuss this important "news" you three have for me." She turned back toward the cave and trotted in. Slowly, but surely the Diamond Dogs followed with the changelings following closely behind. A wicked laugh could be heard throughout the entirety of the badlands.