Hoopy's Notebook

by Hoopy McGee


Very Nearly the Best Present Ever

“Okay, time for presents!” Mom said. Then she had to repeat it, because all the colts and fillies were still running around like idiots and Topaz wanted to just smack them all. It took a few minutes, but everypony finally settled down, and she was finally able to start opening her gifts.

Present after present was torn into. Buttons and bows, hoof-bands and hair bands were common from the fillies. Notebooks, pens and pencils from the colts, who absolutely refused to buy “girly things”. Each gift giver was given a sincere, if slightly terse, thank-you, and their present was put on the table with their card. Topaz could barely avoid trembling with excitement as the time to open the biggest present, the one from her parents, came closer and closer.

And then, at last, it was time. After having to wait nearly forever, her mother finally levitated down the big box. It was wrapped with paper that had both Celestia’s and Luna’s cutie marks on it, which, as far as Topaz was concerned, was proof that her parents had actually listened to what she’d wanted for her birthday for once.

Topaz took her time with it, relishing the wait as she carefully peeled off the paper. Her patience was rewarded when the last of the paper was whisked away, revealing the Pretty Pony Princess Palace Playset (with realistic Princess Celestia and Luna figures included) underneath. Unlike the others, this present didn’t get put up on the table. Oh, no. This present required her immediate and undivided attention.

So she opened the box, completely forgetting about her guests, who eventually wandered off to do their own things.

She took out the Palace first, a highly abbreviated scale model of the actual palace at Canterlot. She took a moment to savor the detailed exterior and to exclaim over the golden accents and sweeping spires. The playset opened up to reveal a tiny replica of Princess Celestia’s actual throne sitting on its dias, with a red carpet leading up to it. Topaz studied it for a moment before setting it aside.

The carriages (pegasus charioteers sold separately) came out next. First, Celestia’s white and gold carriage, then Luna’s done in shades of dark blue, purple and black. Topaz took a moment to admire them before parking them outside of the palace.

Finally, it had come down to the last of the smaller boxes inside of the largest one. Too eager for magic, Topaz reached out with her hooves and took the lid off of the box that had Princess Celestia’s cutie mark on top... and stopped, confused.

The box was empty.

Heart thudding, Topaz checked the larger box to see if the princess figure had somehow fallen out. There was nothing. A wave of despair washed over her, even as she reached for the other small box that was marked with Luna’s cutie mark.

It, too, was lacking its princess.

Topaz burst into tears knowing that this, right here, was the worst that life could ever possibly be. If she hadn’t been so upset, she might have noticed the bit-sized hole in the back of the large box, as if something—or somepony—had dug their way out of it.

~~*~~

Unnoticed by the anypony at the birthday party, two tiny ponies hid out amongst the dust bunnies underneath the sofa. They watched in silence as the birthday filly’s heartbroken sobs were soothed away by her mother, who promised to go to the store right away and complain to the manager regarding the missing princess figures.

“Discord is going to pay for this,” Princess Celestia stated in a voice as cold and hard as iron.

“What was it you said to him, Celly?”

“Not now, Luna.”

“Oh, yes,” Luna said, ignoring her. “I remember, now. ‘I never had a birthday party as a filly. I sometimes wish I knew what one was like’.”

“Not now, Luna!”

Luna looked away and snickered into a fetlock.

“Of course you find this funny,” Celestia grumbled. “He didn’t turn you pink.”