Now this was an event I never thought would happen. Every year in Ponyville, they celebrate an event known as “Winter Wrap-Up”. The event basically is about the citizens of Ponyville cleaning up all the snow to prepare for the coming of Spring. It's an interesting event because, originally the event was mostly celebrated with only earth ponies, but now even unicorns and pegasi celebrate this event too. I wasn't sure what to expect but, it happened like any other day. I was strolling through town, some snow fell down from the roofs of buildings and such, the winter season was ending soon and the spring season would begin. Indeed some days in winter their were no snow, but it had that chilly feeling in the winter season when you trotted outside.
“Cold as ever,” said Anim, his breath visible from the cold.
I trotted down the road, looking around and seeing that everypony was busy shovelling snow away... but more than usual. There wasn't much snow, but everypony seemed to worked more harder than they usual are. Heading to the town square, I see Twilight talking to Mayor Mare, once she was done speaking to her, Twilight noticed me coming to her. “Oh Anim, good your here. Could I ask you a favor?” asked Twilight.
“Sure Twinkles, what you want me to do?” said Anim.
When Twilight moved to her saddlebags, she pulled out a blue vest and levitated it to me. “Uhm, what's this?” Anim asked.
“Oh right, you don't know. Today's Winter Wrap-Up, it's when the ponies of Ponyville clean up all the snow and ice, and prepare the coming of Spring. There are three groups, the ones wearing the green vests job is to focus on the animals. Tan vests focus on plants, while finally blue vests focus on the weather,” said Twilight.
Staring at the vest, it looked like I was going to work with the weather team. “So who's in the weather team again?” Anim asked.
“Well Rainbow and Pinkie are, I guess you could help out Pinkie,” said Twilight, pointing where to go.
Following Twilight's directions, I found myself in front of a frozen lake. Pinkie was busy skating on it. “I didn't knew you skate Pinks!” shouted Anim.
Pinkie stopped immediately, turning around to meet Anim on the ground. “Oh hey Anim, yeah I learned to skate ever since I was a filly. So your helping me and Rainbow huh,” said Pinkie.
“Sure am, so what you want me to do?” Anim asked.
“Well before you help... do you know how to skate?” asked Pinkie.
I was confused by the odd question by Pinkie. I had encountered certain ice related situations before, but skating wasn't much an issue with me. “I suppose so, how come?” Anim asked.
“Well, a few years or so... Twilight tried to help all of us with Winter Wrap-Up, but it didn't go so well for her. Instead she became lead organizer and planner for most events now, like this one,” said Pinkie.
“Twilight isn't the type to do work, but she isn't the type to give up either. It wouldn't surprise me she'd led this event or future ones,” said Anim.
Pinkie laughed how right I was. Going back to her work, she told me we needed to weakened the ice by skating on top of the ice to make small incisions to make the ice into smaller pieces. Carefully sliding onto the ice, I remembered that I wasn't in my usual body and had some difficulties. Adjusting to the already difficult skates, I was able to skate freely on the ice. “Hey, this ain't so bad,” said Anim.
I skated for a few minutes, and once I was done, some pegasi picked up the ice pieces and placed them somewhere. “Thanks for the help Anim, maybe you can help Rainbow next,” said Pinkie.
Once I was done where I was, I headed toward to my next objective. On the way there, I met a familiar face. “Well, nice to see you helping out Trixie,” said Anim.
“Since Trixie is now staying here, Trixie might as well join the town's events,” said Trixie.
“So, who's group you in?” Anim asked.
“Trixie is helping out with caring the animals. Once Trixie completes her task, everypony will praise Trixie for caring all animals everywhere!” said Trixie, making a pose.
“Well you go do that, have a good time... little star,” said Anim, quickly running away.
“I SAID FOR YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT!” Trixie shouted.
Once I got a good distance away, I continued to search for Rainbow. Looking around, I heard snoring coming from a near by tree. “I wonder,” said Anim, approaching the tree.
I stood near the tree and looked up, small flakes of snow trickled onto my nose as I saw a blue wing laid on the tree's trunk. Climbing the tree, I met eye to eye with Rainbow, me being me I do what any reasonable pony would do... spook her. I inch closer up to her face, being careful not to fall or break the branch off. Once I'm near her enough, I heard her snoring and then I began my little scare. “Hey Dashie, wakey wakey,” whispered Anim.
Rainbow wouldn't budge waking up, so I did one thing sure to wake anypony up... I inched towards one of her ears... and I blew on it, the rest is history. “GAHHHHHH!” screamed Rainbow.
Instantly waking up, Rainbow's head slams toward the branch above her. Rubbing the bump on her head, she looks towards me with an annoyed glare. “ANIM, WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?” shouted Rainbow.
“Sorry Dash, but aren't you supposed to be clearing the clouds or something?” Anim asked.
“Yeah about that... when I arrived, nopony came. It seemed all the members for the weather team are either sick because of some flu or promised to help out with the other groups. Serious, I may be awesome but I can't do all the work alone!” said Rainbow, complaining.
I see what Rainbow's situation is on her end. Since I'm on the same group she's on I decide to help out with her dilemma. “Maybe I can help,” Anim said, getting off the trunk.
“And how you going to do that?” Rainbow asked.
“I got my ways. Now come on, we got some skies to clear up!” Anim said, trotting away.
Once I got to the spot that Rainbow and the weather team were supposed to clear, I stand in position and prepare a prototype spell of mine. Now the spell is unstable but can work for this situation, all I need to do is imagine I'm flying. “I'm flying through the air... I have wings... I can fly,” said Anim, repeating this phrase.
Once Rainbow arrived, she found me chanting a strange phrase and was probably weird out. “Er Anim, what in Equestria are you doing?” said Rainbow.
I was too busy chanting too respond but when I got to a certain point... I knew my spell worked. Looking down... I was levitating myself. “HECK YEAH, I DID IT!” Anim shouted raising both hooves.
“Wait you can fly!” said Rainbow, bewildered from my levitating.
“Indeed I can, now let's get to cleaning!” Anim said, zooming to the sky.
“Hey no fair!” Rainbow shouted, following behind.
We both began clearing all the clouds in the vicinity. Rainbow with her extreme flying skills and speed, and my quick maneuverings and precise shots with my magic. It took a while... I think some hours ago, but we finished soon enough and took our deserved break. “Now that... was awesome,” said Rainbow.
I nod in response and laid down, relaxing on the grass. “So Anim, when did you learn to do that?” Rainbow asked.
“Well I had some free-time to do it... now, are we done clearing all that snow,” Anim said.
Rainbow looked around as well as me too. When we got a good sight of town, nearly all the snow had been cleared and some of the animals and plants had returned. The only parts that weren't cleared were some of the roofs, Sweet Apple Acres, and Fluttershy's cottage. “Well I better check on Pinkie, see yeah Anim,” said Rainbow.
“See yeah!” Anim said, watching Rainbow leave. Once Rainbow left, I decided to take a long rest on the dry patch of grass I cleared earlier. When I woke up, I found another familiar face staring at me. It was Angel, Fluttershy's pet bunny I believe. When I first met him, he sure was the trouble maker, but we both made an equal understanding of one another, he was free to do what he wanted and he didn't disturb me and Fluttershy when I visited her. “Well hello Angel, good morning... or is it afternoon now?”
Angel stared at me with an annoyed glare, but looked up and went off. I heard a soft voice nearby, and it too was familiar. Looking up, I see Fluttershy looking for Angel with a trail of little ducklings following her. “Oh Angel... where are you?” said Fluttershy.
“Hey Flutters,” said Anim.
“Oh Anim, did you see where Angel went off to?” asked Fluttershy.
“Not sure Fluttershy, say what are you doing on Winter Wrap-Up by the way?” Anim asked.
“Oh, well I'm helping waking all the animals, but when I went to go to Angel's hole he wasn't there. I went to look for him if his already awake,” said Fluttershy.
“I see...” said Anim.
“But anyway, are you suppose to help with Pinkie and Rainbow?” asked Fluttershy.
“Ah yes, well I did help them already. I'm simply taking a break,” said Anim.
“Oh... okay. But when your done, I heard Rarity is having trouble with making the nests for birds. Applejack too also needs help,” said Fluttershy. “Well I need to go back finding Angel, bye Anim.”
Waving goodbye to Fluttershy, I decide to get off my lazy butt and see Rarity. Following a trail of scattered straw, I find Rarity trying to make a nest only to throw it away. “Ohhh, this won't do! Come on inspiration, where are you?” said Rarity, talking to herself.
“Do you need any assistance?” said Anim.
“Oh Anim, I didn't see you there. Well I have been having some trouble with these nests,” said Rarity.
“What's the problem? Are they not good,” said Anim.
“It's not that... it's just... when I look at them all... they all look the same don't they?” Rarity asked.
I looked at the nests and Rarity was right, they do look similar. All the nests were, made from the same material, straw. “Maybe you should try another material,” said Anim.
“Another... material?” said Rarity, thinking of the idea too.
Rarity thought for this a moment, and went off to get something. When she came back, she came with some sticks, string, wool, and other assortments. “Anim I think your on to something,” said Rarity, combining the items.
Once she put them all together, she created an odd but interesting nest. A bird flew onto the nest and, nestled right into it without any problems. “The bird loves it! Thank you Anim, now I must find more material to make new nests!” said Rarity, running off.
I watched Rarity heading to get more material. I decided to see Applejack next, and when I did she was busy planting some seeds into the ground, I wasn't sure what her issue was. I approached her if she needed any help. “Hey AJ, need any assistance with that?” Anim asked.
“Nah, but I could sure use some help if you could move that thing,” said Applejack, pointing toward a snow plow.
The snow plow was the only one near the area, the other ones were off somewhere else. “Who was suppose to move this one?” Anim asked.
“Big Mac, but his helping out cleaning the farm, and since I'm busy nopony could use the thing... but you could do me a favor, then maybe...” said Applejack continuing.
“I gotcha, one snow plow being moved coming up!” said Anim.
When I settled into the snow plow, I began moving it around to move some snow. Indeed it was heavy but I lifted heavier objects before. Once I got myself moving it a steady pace, I looked around to see I did a well done job. Most of the area was good and cleared of snow and other obstacles. “Done with the snow plow, anything else that needs to be done?” Anim asked.
“Oh done already, well could you help with planting these seeds,” said Applejack.
I grabbed a bag and continued to plant a seed in each hole at a time. Once done with that, I buried each hole and watered them a little. Now finished wit that, I asked Applejack for anymore work. “Nah, I think you helped me clear most off my list, I can handle everything else for now,” said Applejack.
Done helping with everypony I went to head off... but something was... missing. “What did I forget?” Anim asked himself.
Going back what I did today, Fluttershy was the only pony I didn't helped yet. Going to where I last saw her, Fluttershy was busy caring for the other animals, but still looking for Angel. “Still looking for him,” said Anim.
“Oh hello Anim, did you help everypony already,” said Fluttershy.
“Indeed, I could help you if you want me to,” said Anim.
“Oh... well I suppose so, if your not busy now,” said Fluttershy.
“Nah, come on let's find that bunny,” said Anim, searching.
Once I began helping Fluttershy we checked every nook and cranny. But no matter what we did, we couldn't find him, whatever Angel was up to, it wasn't something I was going to be happy about once I found him. “Where is that bunny?” Anim thought.
“I found him!” shouted Fluttershy.
I went to where Fluttershy was, she was near a hole far from where we were originally looking. Angel sat at the far end of the hole, not moving an inch. “Oh Angel please come out,” said Fluttershy.
Angel simply gave Fluttershy a thump of his feet and looked away. I knew me and Angel have a truce but seeing Fluttershy this worried crossed my limit. I knelt down, looking through the hole. “Hey Angel, if you can hear me, I'll care for you for the rest of the month, deal!” Anim shouted.
After a few minutes later, Angel came out and gave me a stern look. I gave him one back and I knew that was a promise I wouldn't break. Angel went up to Fluttershy and extended his arms toward Fluttershy, and in response she picked him up. “Thank you Anim, but are you really going to care for him, he can be a hoofful you know,” said Fluttershy.
“Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Let's go back to town now,” said Anim.
Once me and Fluttershy returned back, most of the town was cleaned up and was ready for Spring. Everypony was happy with this and celebrated, Twilight of course congratulated everypony for the hard work. “Thank you everypony for helping with this year's Winter Wrap-Up!” announced Twilight.
When Twilight got off the podium, the mayor took her place. I approached Twilight and congratulated for a good speech she did. “Nice speech, so now were done... do we wait now?” Anim asked.
“You could say that I suppose... say Anim, you helped with everyponies problem this Winter Wrap-Up, maybe next year you could help organize it,” said Twilight.
“I could... I could,” said Anim. When I finished speaking with Twilight, I noticed Pinkie wasn't here with us. “Hey... does anypony know where Pinks is at?” Anim asked.
Everypony shrugged when they heard something behind them. Turning around, it was Pinkie... except her tongue was stuck to a piece of ice. Pinkie spook in a garbled voice, but I could tell what she was trying to say. “Don't worry Pinkie, I'll get Spike to help you,” said Anim.
When I came back with Spike, he shot a small fire into the piece of ice. Once it melt, Pinkie began speaking normally. “Thanks Anim, I knew tasting the ice was a bad idea,” said Pinkie.
“Why did you had a piece of ice on your tongue anyway?” Twilight asked.
“Well, I spilled some of my juice on some ice, and I thought maybe I could get the taste from the ice... and I was right... except when I moved my tongue, the ice was stuck too it,” said Pinkie.
Everypony laughed, as well as Pinkie too. Today was an enjoyable experience maybe next time will be better for everypony... and hopefully Pinkie doesn't try to taste more ice in the future.