//------------------------------//
// Return to Ponyville 
// Story: Living in Equestria 
// by Blazewing 
//------------------------------//

Thursday dawned, bright but cold, and the four of us were up and about once again. Twilight said we could take another walk around to make sure there was nothing we’d missed, but we’d have to check out of the hotel in time to catch the noon train for Ponyville. With that in mind, while the others went off by themselves I hastened to try and find a shop serving anything Daring Do related that I could apply the remainder of my funds to. I held onto the hope that a new day meant a change in inventory, a last-minute chance to grab something before it was too late.

Unfortunately, luck was not kind to me even today. The results were just the same as yesterday: either sold out, or too expensive for me to be able to afford. I would have gladly paid all I had left to get that one last present, but it was no good. Dead ends cropped up everywhere I went in my search, and I was forced to return to the hotel in gloomy spirits. After all the careful planning and steady gathering of gifts, to miss out on the perfect one for one of the sweetest ponies I knew was a devastating blow to my conscience. 

“What’s the matter, Dave?” Moonlight asked, when we had met back up again.

“Nothing,” I said. “Just...sad that we’ve gotta go so soon. I like Canterlot.”

“Oh, me too,” said Moonlight, breathlessly. “It’s wonderful! I’m so glad I came along!”

Her cheerful smile made my heart hurt even more, when I thought of not finding anything for her.

We packed up our purchases and belongings (Twilight had to levitate what Rainbow and Moonlight couldn’t carry on their own, though I could handle my own stuff), checked out of the hotel, and headed for the train station. My mind was still so abuzz with my broodings that I didn’t catch what the others were saying all the way there. We were just entering the station when I caught what Twilight was telling Rainbow.

“-The six of us in the Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant, just like last year!”

I stopped, my heart giving a sudden jolt. What had Twilight meant by that? ‘In the pageant, just like last year’? The girls had taken part in a holiday pageant? I didn’t remember hearing anything about it before. Was she saying they’d be taking part in it again? That would be really neat to see! I’d love to see how they performed in front of an audience, especially if they’d already done it before. Pinkie would probably be a laugh a minute on stage.

A thrill of panic ran through me as I had a sudden thought. If Pinkie had been a part of it too, and Twilight was talking about them performing in it again, that would mean she’d be spending the Eve in Canterlot, getting ready for it, and that would mean I’d run the risk of having Marble and Limestone coming for nothing! They’d come to Ponyville while their sister was all the way up in Canterlot! There wouldn’t even be time to write to them and warn them! What was I going to do?! Of all the worst things that could happen, this was-

“Dave!”

I was snapped out of my fevered thoughts by Rainbow Dash’s voice.

“Come on, dude! The train’s about to go!”

She was indicating an open train car, and I numbly hurried to join her, Twilight, and Moonlight inside. We found some empty seats and sat down, just in time. The train’s whistle blew and, with a lurch, it rolled out of the station, back towards Ponyville.

The three girls were talking animatedly about what they had seen or done in Canterlot, but I still sat in a state of profound internal distress. The idea of Pinkie being away from home when I was intending to surprise her with a visit from her sisters was one I hadn’t considered...and now something like this popped up! As usual, nobody ever told me anything, even back home! I was heartily sick of it, not just because I was left out of the loop, but because important news was always sprung on me out of nowhere, catching me off guard. What was I going to do now?

“What’s up with you?” Rainbow asked, dragging me out of my thoughts. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“Nothing,” I said, hastily.

“It’s lack of sleep again, isn’t it?” Twilight asked, peering into my face. “Honestly, Dave, holiday stress is hitting you hard, among all of the other things weighing on you. You deserve a good night’s sleep as much as anypony.”

“Er, yeah, I suppose,” I said, meekly. Then, deciding to throw caution to the wind, I asked, “Twi, you know how you were talking about a...a Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant?”

“Yes?”

“Well, I don’t remember hearing anything about it before.”

“Oh?” asked Twilight. “I guess it just never crossed my mind until now. Last year, Princess Celestia asked the girls, Spike and me to play parts in the yearly Hearth’s Warming pageant in Canterlot. It was a really fun experience!”

“Of course it was,” said Rainbow, proudly, “when you’ve got such an awesome cast.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, and Moonlight giggled.

“It was fun, you say?” I asked, casually. “So fun you’d want to do it again?”

“Certainly,” said Twilight, brightly.

(Here it comes…)

“Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen this year.”

(...Wait, what?)

“Beg pardon?” I asked, hardly daring to breathe.

“While we were out today, I received a letter from the director of the Canterlot theater, saying that he would love for us to reprise our roles from last year, if we could. I had to turn him down, however, as we just have so much to do, and it was such short notice. It’s a shame, but we can’t even go see it this year. I know I wouldn’t have minded seeing who would take our places.”

“But, let’s be honest, Twi,” said Rainbow, rubbing her hoof against her chest smugly, “it’s no wonder they’d want us back. After all, who could hope to play Commander Hurricane as well as I did?”

“No one, Rainbow,” said Twilight, with a kind of playful sarcasm in her voice.

So that’s what it had been about. If I’d been paying attention, I wouldn’t have thrown myself into such an internal panic. They were just talking about the pageant itself, not about actually being a part of it. That meant Pinkie would be most likely sticking around in Ponyville for the holidays after all. A warm wave of relief spread over me, and I let out an unconscious sigh that went unnoticed. I knew I’d better change the subject before I betrayed my needless worries.

“Moonlight?”

“Mm?” asked Moonlight, as Rainbow took out Daring Do and the Cave of Nightmares.

“I was wondering if you could help me with something.”

“Anything!” she said, eagerly.

“Well, Sparkler Hooves is going to be assisting with a new project that could benefit all of Equestria: a restaurant for dragons.”

“Ohh, is that what you two were talking about when she came over?”

“Exactly.”

“Whoa-whoa, what’s this?” Rainbow asked, looking stunned. “This is the first I’ve heard of any dragon restaurant!”

Twilight, however, looked pleased.

“So the pony-dragon negotiations are being squared away at last?” she asked.

“Looks like it,” I said.

“Wonderful!” said the studious unicorn. “I can only imagine how happy Princess Celestia must be about this!”

Rainbow still looked agog, but I went on,

“She wants to call it the ‘Brimstone Lounge’. It’ll serve gem-based foods, and I was thinking I could make her a sign for it, with a catchy slogan or something. You’ve got a knack for them, Moonlight, so I wonder if you could lend a hoof.”

“Sure!” said Moonlight. “Just give me some time to think of some. Maybe something will come to mind while we’re reading. Rainbow?”

Rainbow shook her head rapidly, probably to clear her senses.

“Er, yeah, right, sure.”

But as she spread the book out between us, I heard her mutter ‘Dragon restaurant. It’s gonna be gigantic!’


***


As the train wound back toward Ponyville, the three of us remained engrossed in the Daring Do book. Twilight, for her part, was reading another book: Maresfield Park by Jane Hossten, and seemed deeply invested in it herself. From time to time, Moonlight would mutter something to herself, as if testing how it sounded to her. I guessed she was trying to think of slogans for the Brimstone Lounge, and sure enough, she paused reading long enough to rattle some off for me.

“‘The Brimstone Lounge: Jewels and Gems Galore’! Or maybe, ‘The Brimstone Lounge: Fine Dragon Dining’!”

“I like those,” I said, grinning. I’ll have to remember one of them.”

When at last the train pulled into the Ponyville station, there was some difficulty in deciding who should hold onto the book, as we hadn’t finished it during the return. Rainbow volunteered almost immediately, but fell into a sullen silence when Twilight reminded her that her track record for borrowing books from the library wasn’t too admirable; she was apt to rereading them constantly, thus keeping other ponies wanting to read them waiting. Feeling charitable, I offered to hold onto it, and allowed Rainbow and Moonlight to come by whenever they wanted to read it with me. This settled the matter, and even Rainbow seemed satisfied. The four of us separated for our homes, Moonlight and I walking together. I had resolved to get everything that was destined for Canterlot sent out as soon as possible, as I wasn’t sure how soon it would get there. Why on Earth hadn’t I brought it all with me? All the time I spent wandering Canterlot, I could have arranged to have the stuff sent to the princesses, to Ironmane, to the council. Ah well, there was still time for that, but when I thought of all the work the mailponies had to do, I again thought of Derpy and the effect it might be having on her.

Moonlight and I split up at our doorsteps, but before I had grabbed the doorknob, she called over to me. 

“I’ve got it! ‘The Brimstone Lounge: Diamond Quality Dragon Delectables’!”

“That’s good too!” I called back. “Thanks, Moonlight!”

As soon as I was inside, I proceeded to wrap up and label my new purchases, writing out cards to go with them. I felt as if an immense load had lifted from my shoulders as I stepped back to observe the ever-growing pile of gifts. I’d gotten just about everything I had planned for. All that was missing were what I had commissioned from Rarity and...what I had been unable to buy for Moonlight. The remembrance of that weighed on me still, but it would have been melodramatic of me to linger on it eternally. There was still time, after all. I’d just have to make some compromises or alterations to my original plans.

Now, all I had to do was deliver the princesses’ and the council’s gifts. A basket of practical jokes, a pillow, a concert ticket, a jumbo bag of candy, and the cards that went with them weren’t too tiresome a load for me, though still a bit cumbersome for one trip. I was just stepping out when, by chance, as it seemed, Derpy came flapping over to me, her mailbag slung across her back.

“Hi, Dave!” she said, cheerily. “Off to the post office?”

“Yeah,” I said. “How is it down there, Derpy?”

“Mad,” said the mailmare, grimly. “Ponies waiting for their packages, complaining about damages or waylaying, foals crying, fighting over the one pen at the counter. I heard Rarity was there earlier making a fuss over that pen, screaming about why we don’t stock more. How should I know why?” she asked, crossing her forelegs. “I’m just a mail carrier.”

“So, would it be ‘mad’ for me to go down there now?” I asked, tentatively.

“I’d say so,” said Derpy. “If you want, you could hand them to me and I’ll deliver them there for you.”

“You’d do that for me? Seriously?”

“Is this the face of a mare who’d lie to you?”

Derpy’s cross-eyed yet gentle face was certainly not the look of a liar, so I smiled and gratefully handed her the wrapped gifts.

“Just remember who they’re addressed to,” I warned.

“Oh, don’t worry,” said Derpy, waving an airy hoof. “I’m just taking them down there. The pegasi who deliver to Canterlot will be able to sort that out.”

“Thanks, Derpy,” I said.

“Anytime, friend,” said Derpy, kindly. “See ya!”

With that, she flapped off back toward Ponyville, her bag now full, but doing nothing to slow her down. That pony was truly unflappable to be able to perform her job during such a hectic time of year. I vaguely remembered her breakdown over her split mailbag, when I had gotten to know her more. Hopefully she didn’t have to worry about something like that again.

I was about to head back inside when I heard a familiar, sophisticated voice calling out to me.

“There you are, darling! I’m so glad you’re home!”

It was Rarity, levitating several boxes in her unicorn’s aura. It astounded me how she was able to keep a hold on so many, floating about her like planets around the Sun in a model of the solar system. As she got closer, I saw, to my disquiet, that she looked quite weary, and her beautiful eyes had a tired look to them.

“Hi, Rarity,” I said. “What have you got there?”

“The clothing you commissioned of me,” she said, brightly. “And a little something for you too.”

“Awesome! Rarity, you truly are a mistress of the tailoring arts!”

“Flatterer,” said Rarity, modestly.

“Please, come in,” I said. “You can set them down inside, and maybe I could get you some hot chocolate. You look exhausted.”

“Why, thank you, dear,” she said. “I can’t stay long, but I’d like that very much.”

I bowed her graciously inside, whereupon she entered and looked around. It was, truth be told, the first time she had come inside my home, and I felt a little embarrassed for its slight disorder when I considered what her standards might be.

“Oh my,” she said, setting the boxes down. “What a charming home you have. It feels very cozy.”

“You’re too kind,” I said. “It’s not much, since I don’t have too much furniture. Still, please have a seat, and I’ll get the chocolate started.”

Rarity settled herself down on the sofa, and I went to get the kettle started. When I finally returned, I found her still gazing about at the minimally, but reasonably, furnished living room. I handed her a cup, which she gratefully accepted, before sitting beside her with my own.

“Rarity,” I said, after she had taken a preliminary sip, “I’m sorry I had to put you through so much bother, especially during such a busy time of year. It can’t have been easy for you.”

“Oh, tut,” tsked Rarity, gently. “You really need to stop apologizing so much, darling. You don’t have to worry about anything, I promise you. I’m used to long hours at the sewing machine. Your projects have been nothing new to me.”

She took another sip, then went on,

“Hearth’s Warming is a busy time for us all, Dave, and you have certainly not been idle, I daresay. I assure you, there is nothing to feel guilty about. You needn’t worry about my father’s jersey, either. I’ll take care of delivering it, under your name, of course.”

I couldn’t help smiling at her for this. This had to have been the umpteenth time I had worried that my clothing requests would prove stressful to her, only to be told I was being a worrywart. I couldn’t really help feeling this way, but it still felt good to know Rarity understood how I was feeling.

“Thanks, Rarity,” I said. “You’re truly hardier than you look.”

Rarity grinned in a pleased way and said, with a toss of her curls,

“Just because a flower may look dainty does not mean her roots are not tough.”

“Very well said. I had the feeling you were made of sterner stuff, but I also didn’t want to ask more than a lady should be tasked with.”

“Oh, you’re so sweet,” said Rarity. “I have a feeling your fellow bowlers and Derpy will be very pleased with what you asked for.”

“Oh, as to that,” I said, “if it’s a Rarity-made, there’s no doubt.”

Rarity beamed, and the tired lines under those sapphire eyes seemed to vanish for the moment.

“How much do I owe you, by the way?” I asked. “I’ve still got some bits left after my shopping spree, but I could dip a bit into my stipend if need be.”

“Nothing too troubling,” said Rarity, in a tone that suggested she felt a little uneasy about how much she was about to pronounce her duty worth. “Is 30 bits all right?”

“I might have just that,” I said, in a triumphant tone, and dug my bag of bits out.

Reaching around, I extracted, bit by bit, 30 little gold coins and laid them in front of Rarity. Only a few lingered still at the bottom of the bag, looking very sad all by themselves.

“Thank you, darling,” said Rarity, pocketing the bits with her magic, then taking another sip of her hot cocoa. “I do appreciate you allowing me to come in, but I’m afraid I must be off. I’ve got some last-minute preparations to make before the Eve. I’m visiting my parents and Sweetie Belle at their home, and some projects will need to be properly scheduled.”

“I understand,” I said. “I hope you have a great time.”

“Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the same with your-”

She stopped abruptly, her cup halfway to her lips. I could grimly comprehend her blunder: she had very nearly forgotten that I had no relations to visit here in Equestria. It wasn’t a very happy thought, but it was true. She set her cup down and looked at me contritely.

“Dave, I’m so sorry,” she said. “It was thoughtless of me to even suggest…”

“It’s ok, Rarity,” I said, in a calm tone. “I’m not angry. I’ve long come to terms with that fact, even if it doesn’t make me very glad to do so. I’m lucky and grateful to have you ponies around to get me through times like this.”

Rarity smiled in an almost maternal way and placed her gentle hoof atop my hand. I couldn’t help feeling that, at times, she really did feel like a doting mother or aunt, though she couldn’t really be more than a few years older than me at most. I didn’t want to confirm by asking, as age could be a sensitive issue for some. A few moments later, she withdrew her hoof and drained her cup.

“Thank you very much for the cocoa, darling,” she said, setting it down and rising onto her hooves, “but I must dash.”

“Let me walk you out, then, milady,” I said, getting up in turn. “But before you leave, I have something for you.”

Rarity looked quite interested as I got up and went to my secret stash of gifts. Her eyes widened even more as she saw me bring out the wrapped bolt of silk, though I wondered if she had already guessed what it could be, and accepted it in her hooves with a look of glee.

“Why, Dave, thank you!” she said. “You’re so thoughtful...Oh, now I’m going to be all of a dither waiting for Hearth’s Warming to open it. You do spoil me so,” she added, giggling.

“I hope it’ll be to your liking when you do open it, Rarity, as it was with you in mind that I sought it out.”

I walked her to the door and held it open as she stepped out into the cold once again, her gift now held in her telekinesis.

“Ta-ta, Dave!” she called over her shoulder, though I then heard her mutter under her breath, “Perhaps just a peek...No, Rarity! You mustn’t!”

“Adieu!” I reciprocated, watching her until she was out of sight.

When I had closed the door again, I looked at the neatly-wrapped boxes she had brought. Each was labelled for either Derpy or a member of the bowling team, but one was addressed to me from her and Sweetie Belle. It was gonna be a pain to have to wait and see what it was, but I was sure it’d be worth it. Besides, I could just imagine the gleeful look on Rarity’s face when she unwrapped the bolt of silk.


***


“‘The Brimstone Lounge: Diamond Quality Dragon Delectables’...Yes, that’s it. She’ll love it.”

I had once considered becoming an artist, a cartoonist, to be precise, but soon came to realize that doodling was more of a hobby rather than an occupational pursuit. Still, I was decent with a pencil, pen, or paintbrush, though my task required patience and care.

It was evening now, and I had spent the day making my house look nicer for the arrival of Marble and Limestone, since I wasn’t sure how early they’d be here on the Eve. After which, using some white cardboard, I had painstakingly painted, in red paint, the aforementioned slogan. This was just a prototype; if Sparkler liked this and gave the OK on it, then we could move on to the final design. I carefully set it aside so the paint would dry. 

Nearly everything had been taken care of now, but two questions rang through my mind: what could I do about Moonlight, and how would I distribute all of these gifts? Would I have to just carry them around in a bag and hand them out to each recipient in the street? Maybe I could haul them around in a cart, if the Apples would let me borrow one. Yes, that made sense. With this thought, I got ready for bed and my last day of work this week.

Thursday, December 22


***


The next day at work passed pleasantly enough. Bon Bon and Lyra told me all about their visit to the latter’s parents, after I’d filled them in on my excursion to Canterlot. Mr. and Mrs. Heartstrings, as Bon Bon had said, were as good-natured as their daughter, and were thankfully patient towards her eccentricities. Both were also musically inclined. Mr. Heartstrings had been a guitar player in his youth, but settled to teaching it in his older years. Mrs. Heartstrings had been the source of Lyra’s wonderful singing voice, and was still very charming to listen to these days. Bon Bon added, out of earshot of Lyra, when she had gone to the restroom, that it was her uncle Lute, the one who had been sick with Goronide Bolezn in the past, who shared Lyra’s enthusiasm for what other Equestrians deemed ‘fairy tales’, like humans and seaponies. He had been at the house when they visited.

“And how did he react when Lyra told him one of her friends is a human?” I asked.

“Lute was over the moon about it,” said Bon Bon, unable to restrain an amused smile at the recollection. “He said he’d been waiting for the day to prove he wasn’t just being batty. He and Lyra started doing this dance he said he’d been practicing for just such an occasion. He wasn’t allowed to gloat too long, though, but he seemed satisfied.”

“That’s good,” I said. “Pride in being right’s one thing, but it doesn’t help to rub it in somepony’s face.”

“Exactly.”

She paused, then said, in a gentler tone,

“Dave, it’s going to feel a lot different without you helping out after the holidays are over. Of course we’ll call you in if we need an extra hoof, or hand, in your case, but we’ll miss having you in every week.”

“I know,” I said, regretfully. “I’ve had a lot of fun helping out, and it was my pleasure to lend you some assistance. I’ll still drop by to visit when I can, and I hope we’ll still be on for piano lessons.”

“Of course, dude,” said Lyra, who had just come back. “Somepony’s gotta train you up to be the next Buckthoveen.”

“What, are you gonna make me deaf to boot?” I asked, sardonically.

“Sacrifices for genius’s sake are sometimes necessary,” said Lyra.

“Lyra!” chided Bon Bon.

“I’m kidding, Bonnie.”

I couldn’t help chuckling. I was gonna miss working alongside these ponies, even if it wasn’t going to be the last I ever saw of them. I wondered what I should do afterwards, who else might need some hired assistance. Maybe I should check the Express for help wanted ads. 

Regardless, the rest of that work day passed normally, and when it was time to head home, we bid each other a happy Hearth’s Warming.

“See you bright and early Monday!” said Bon Bon.

“Hopefully there’ll still be a lot of ponies who have a hankering for some holiday candy,” said Lyra.

“Like you?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yep!” said Lyra, sticking her tongue out cheekily.

“Well, before we part, ladies, I’ve got some things for you.” 

I’d had the idea to bring Lyra and Bon Bon’s gifts with me to work, stowed inside my jacket, and now I handed them out to the two. Lyra turned hers over in her magic, trying to guess what it could be by shaking it. I couldn’t suppress a grimace at this; what if she damaged the antique inside by doing that? Bon Bon thankfully had more sense, and merely stowed hers away with a smile.

“Thank you, Dave,” she said. “This was very sweet of you.”

“Yeah, man, thanks!” said Lyra. “Just wait until you see what we-”

“Lyra…” said Bon Bon, in a warning tone. “Don’t go giving too much away.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

“Well, then, good night, ladies, and Happy Hearth’s Warming.”

“You too!” they said in unison, and we parted.

It was a crisp, cool evening, the air scented with pine, wood fires, and the wafts of baking from open windows. There was no snow falling, but a fine layer lay on the ground, crunching beneath my boots. Times like this made it difficult to worry about anything, and though I still thought about what I should do for Moonlight, I wasn’t going to let it turn into a stress frenzy. I’d figure something out, hopefully.

Friday, December 23