//------------------------------// // Morning Fritters // Story: Generous Gifts // by BlazzingInferno //------------------------------// Spike squinted in the morning sunlight. Only one hill still stood between him and Sweet Apple Acres, a hill that’d been transformed into a mountain of snow that clung to his feet like molasses. A freezing cold wind blew across the hill, instilling in him the exact opposite feelings that’d accompanied last night’s party. Instead of basking in the warmth of home, friends, and future romance, worry chilled him to the core. What if Applejack wouldn’t trade with him, or even admit she’d drawn Rarity’s name? What if she really hadn’t, and he was trekking out here for nothing? Worries aside, he still had to try. He’d been trying for years, in one form or another, and at last Rarity seemed to be taking notice. He couldn’t let some dumb gift exchange ruin the last few months of sharing long glances over tea and longer walks through Ponyville. “I’m getting you that sewing machine for Hearth’s Warming Eve, Rarity, if it’s the last thing I—” “Howdy, Spike!” Spike spotted Applejack on top of the hill just as he lost his footing and fell backward. The snow, for all the trouble it was to walk through, at least made for a soft landing. He stared up at the sky from his new vantage point, the start of an impromptu snow angel, and listened to Applejack’s approaching hoofsteps. She stared down into the dragon-shaped impression he’d made and grinned. “Still working on your snow legs?” “Being short doesn’t help… Can’t I just melt myself a path? The grass will grow back… eventually.” “How about I offer you a lift instead?” Spike picked himself up, brushed the lingering snow off his scales, and climbed onto her back. The snow mountain he’d been attempting to scale didn’t look so formidable from up here. “Thanks, AJ. I was actually coming to the farm to see you.” “Good, ’cause that’s where we’re headed.” A few minutes later, Spike was seated at the Apple family kitchen table with his hands held up to the heat of the stove. “Thanks for the ride, Applejack. It feels so good to get in out of the cold.” Applejack had her head buried in the pantry. “Nothing to it, Spike. How about a little snack to warm up those scales? You look colder than an apple in an icicle.” “That sounds great, I…” Without even thinking, he looked over her shoulder at what he assumed would be the current selection of snacks. Instead, he saw a disturbing amount of empty space. The shelves weren’t bare, but compared to the usual almost-overflowing nature of the Apples’ pantry, they might as well have been. “On second thought, I’m good. I… uh… I had a really big breakfast.” “We ain’t starving, if that’s what you’re thinking.” “S-starving? Why would I think—” Applejack shut the pantry door. “I know you’re trying to be nice and all, but you’re not leaving this house without some warm food in your belly. We ain’t so hard up that we can’t treat a guest right.” Spike raised a claw to start an objection, despite having no idea how to voice one. All he could think of was the nearly bare shelves in the pantry. Applejack smiled. “How about we make something fresh? It’ll heat up the house, and I bet everypony else could use a little something, too. You in the mood for fritters? Brown betties? Pie? I guarantee they’ve all got about the same number of apples in ’em.” Spike touched his claws together. “That all sounds good… can I at least help you bake?” “Heh. Last time I let you do that, you just about wrecked the kitchen.” “I-I was just overenthusiastic! I cook for Twilight all the time. I’ll do exactly what you tell me!” She nodded. “Fritters it is.” Hours full of prep work flew by. Spike found himself leaning over a bowl of batter with a whisk in hand and the heat of the oven at his back. Behind him, Applejack was pulling the third tray out of the oven. He should’ve known that Applejack wouldn’t stand for making two fritters, or even a dozen. By his count they’d prepared twenty so far, and there was still plenty of batter left. Applejack slid a plate across the counter toward him. Spike eyed the fritter’s golden brown crust and breathed in the sugary, mouth-watering scent. “That looks amazing, AJ!” She passed him a fork next. “Well don’t just stand there staring, let me know how it tastes. I’ll finish up with the batter.” Spike handed her the bowl, took the fork, and dug in. “Wow, it tastes amazing, too! I’ve never had one fresh out of the oven before.” “I reckon a bunch of ponies down at the market haven’t either. Soon as we’re done here, I’m gonna run ’em all down there and see if I can sell out before they get cold.” “I’d buy one. I’d buy three.” “Not eating all the product yourself is half the battle, sugarcube. So… there’s a reason I was out in the snow looking for you. It’s about the big gift exchange we’re doing and… can I count on you to keep a secret under your hat?” Spike paused to swallow. “Sure. I was going to ask you if you wanted to tr—” “Because I drew Twilight’s name. What in tarnation am I supposed to get a Princess for Hearth’s Warming Eve?” “You… got Twilight?” “I can’t just make everypony some apple vittles like I normally do. I gotta find something special for just Twilight that I can actually afford.” Spike just stared at her. She paused her mixing and waved a hoof in front of his eyes. “That’s where you’re supposed to come in, sugarcube. You got any bright ideas?” He blinked. “For… For Twilight?” “You feeling okay?” He blinked again and thought back to the bare pantry shelves. Securing Rarity’s name would have to wait. “Okay… I can help. Getting Twilight a present is easy.” “Not when you’re on my budget it isn’t.” “Trust me, it is.” “I’m all ears, Spike.” He clasped his hands together and looked around the room. Everything here, from floor to ceiling, looked homemade or at least home-repaired. “The thing about Twilight is that she really loves gifts that say a lot about the pony they came from. Back when we were living in Canterlot, the only gifts Twilight ever wanted from Princess Celestia were getting to spend extra time talking with her, or for some dusty old book from her study.” “I hate to break it to you, sugarcube, but I’m fresh out of magic books. I haven’t ruled Equestria for so much as a day, either.” “That’s not what I mean. Twilight wanted that stuff because it was special to Celestia, and that made it special to Twilight. What Twilight really loves isn’t books, it’s learning and getting closer to ponies while she does it. That used to be just Celestia and the ancient ponies she’d read about, but now it’s all of us. She’d love something related to Ponyville or Earth Pony history. Just find some dusty heirloom and explain why it’s important; she’ll go nuts.” Applejack pushed the bowl aside. “Wow. That’s… not what I expected at all, Spike. Thanks!” Spike dragged his fork against his now-empty plate and gave a deep sigh. “You’re welcome.” “What’s wrong, sugarcube? You just saved me a whole lot of worry, not to mention bits.” “I didn’t think you had Twilight’s name. I came out here so I could trade you for Rarity.” Applejack laughed. “I guess I can’t blame you for wanting that. Sorry I don’t have her name, but if I read all our friend’s reactions right, I think I could point you in the right direction.” Spike jumped up. “Really? You know who has Rarity’s name?” Applejack cocked an eyebrow and smiled. “I reckon I do.”