12 Days Before Winter Wrap Up, Year 2 of Sororal Rule
Cotton has welcomed me with open arms, which was a surprise and a pleasure. Her letter had been brief, and seemed rather blunt, but in person she’s just as lovely as always. She confided that she had been in a rush to respond to my letter because she wanted it to go out the same day she received mine; little Whimsy will be coming home for Spring Break, and she wanted me settled in before then. I’m absolutely elated that Cotton wants me to get to know her family.
It’s been difficult to hide by the wayside all these years. Father and Mother used to be so proud of their Dandy, Cotton and Candy. Dandy was a few years older, and Father had already begun to teach him all about being a high society stallion, and what it meant to be a Mane of Manehattan. Mother, disappointed that all her foals were earth ponies, but a proud mother nonetheless, often took Cotton and I to Canterlot, and we were proud to be her lovely twins. Mother taught us all about social maneuvering, and we were masters of the craft long before Cotton earned her cutie mark. In fact, she earned her mark (a sprig of cotton) during one such maneuver. Something about fabrics and a production deal with a young designer. It was a gamble that paid off, and Cotton was ecstatic. A year later, and I made my last public appearance as a Mane heir. Two years after Cotton’s cuteceañera I was contacted by Equus, and since then my family and I slowly but surely drifted apart. It’s good to see that distance melt away.
Tomorrow we’ll be going out on the town, and we’ll spend our time window-shopping. Cotton can’t wait to go out in as-yet-unreleased Rarity originals. What she doesn’t yet know is that I had a special dress commissioned. A unique, one-of-a-kind Rarity gown, perfect for the Gala, or any other high-society event. I hope she’s pleased with it.
10 Days Before Winter Wrap Up, Year 2 of Sororal Rule
Cream Puff came home just this evening. Cotton told me that he doesn’t often get to see Whimsy, with her off in Canterlot for school. He greeted me politely enough, though he looked like the travel had been hard on him, and frankly, he may not know who I am. The train ride from Stalliongrad is a long one. He had been there on business, and from what I’ve been reading in the papers and hearing from Cotton, it’s been quite the profitable venture. I’ll be sure to hear more about it in the morning and over the next few days.
I still haven’t presented Cotton with my commission from Rarity. I’m hoping to give it to her on the first day of spring, for Manehattan always holds one of the largest balls in Equestria for the holiday; the Dawn of Spring Masquerade is dwarfed only by Canterlot’s Springtime Ball. Oh, how I have missed the Masquerade! Dramatic masks and darling gowns, dashing gents on display in well-fitted suits and tuxedos, maneuvering and manipulating at its finest, all abound! Even dyed manes and coats come into fashion, if only for a night. While I still lived in Manehattan, after the Equus scandal had hushed a bit, the ball was my safe haven. Gowns that covered cutie marks and identities acceptably unknown. The Masquerade was impossible to enter if one was anything less than a true member of high society. I had personally rubbed hooves with Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis, though at separate balls, and long before they met each other. He always was quite ambitious for a stallion. Much like Cotton’s late husband, Luna rest his soul.
Cloud Puff had truly been an admirable stallion. A progressive ahead of his time, he was both an excellent social opponent and an outspoken leader of the masculist movement. As the earth pony son of a pegasus socialite, he had his work cut out for him. I do miss Cloud. He and Cotton stayed in touch with me the longest.
I really should be off to sleep. I’ve a long day tomorrow if I hope to get to know Cream. I haven’t seen him since he was but a colt, no more than a year old.