Child of the Fog

by Renaissance Muffins

Morning 2

Pinkie again, woke up to meet the sun as it barely left the horizon. The fog hung low and nearly blanketed the entire village. Pinkie wandered around with a spring in her step, carrying with her supplies for a surprise picnic she was having later that afternoon. It was for a pony's birthday, one who sold products for the Cakes to cook with. They had a lot to thank the old stallion for and have periodically given him some of their confectioneries in return.

It was during her trek through the thicker part of the fog that she had to stop and squint her eyes to see any further in the fog. Vaguely, she could make out familiar shapes moving around, but something was off about them. They moved stiffly and their legs appeared to poof into smoke with every step. Then one looked in her direction, revealing ghostly white eyes that pierced through the veil of fog. Stunned, Pinkie couldn't help but stare back and wonder what the figure wanted from her. Soon the figure stopped staring at her and approached with closed eyes without a word. It walked around her, still cloaked in fog, leaving its full figure undefined and mysterious. Then it slinked away into the fog, without shifting a single blade of grass.

Perturbed, Pinkie rushed toward the direction she thought Twilight's castle was in. Her instinct would treat her right because soon, she started to see the faint shimmer of the sun bounce off of the brilliant crystal castle. She found the main entrance and let herself inside, closing the door behind her. Leaving the basket of goodies on the her chair at the map table, Pinkie moved on to find Twilight to explain to her what had happened. She went to her room to find Twilight wasn't there but her covers tossed aside. The only other place she could be this early was the library, eating breakfast there like she always has.

That's exactly where she found her. She had a different book this time, a different breakfast as well. Twilight greeted Pinkie with a tired hello and mentioned the heavy fog that blanketed all of Ponyville. Pinkie began to tell her about the fog creature that circled around her earlier. It wasn't scary, as she internally sang her favorite little song about giggling at ghosts. Pinkie went on to describe the glowing eyes and how the creature moved about. How it seemed to melt into the fog and become one with it.

Twilight said that legends usually have some sort of basis in reality. However, they're usually greatly exaggerated, but in a world of magic where just about anything is possible. For the fog from the legend to show up here is a mystery. Perhaps there was something they wanted to do with Pinkie. What it could be was also a mystery. Twilight asked if Pinkie had been struggling with anything recently. Pinkie answered that she barely struggles with anything, aside from keeping spectacular secrets. Like the time Shining Armor told her that Cadance was pregnant.

Twilight laughed about that, recalling how she felt when she first learned she was going to be an aunt. Aside from that, she had been looking into other books that may have stories about the fog in them, but it was relatively difficult to find anything at all. Perhaps delving into other supernatural books might have something on the matter. It would take some to find anything, if there was.

Pinkie decided to hop out of the castle, leaving Twilight to her research. Upon exiting the castle, she saw that the sky was dark and gray. She thought that maybe it was the fog lifting up and moving on from Ponyville. So that it may settle down elsewhere. Still, she wondered what it was doing here, of all places. As Pinkie descended the steps and stepped onto the grass, she began to hear the whispers of voices strange and haunting. Their words were muddled and skewed. As quick as the voices came, they left.

When she looked around, she saw a small white orb of light, floating around like a firefly. It blinked like one too. When she approached, a series of other lights fired up, signaling her to follow them. Pinkie, letting her curiosity get the better of her, decided to follow the lights. What she came upon at the end of these lights, was a beautiful pegasus. Her coat a pale purple with her wings taking on a darker shade on the outer half of her wings. Her mane and tail, like the fog itself, appeared to be boundless and unending. It was a dull white but a hint of green kept it from appearing like proper fog should. Pinkie admired her eyes as she approached, clearing the flog out from around her. Like the rest of her, her eyes were a dull yellow, but they appeared brighter than anything else. Perhaps it was accentuated by the dark, pale, purple eye shadow she had as well.

Pinkie began to notice the dozens of glowing eyes surrounding them, how they closed one by one and lowered as they did so. All of them varied in height and size and Pinkie began to wonder how they came to be and how many there truly were. Then the tall mare spoke, regally and softly. “Pinkie, you're here now because we see you bring great joy to many. We, regrettably, have very little experience in this matter.”

“Why's that?” Pinkie asked, dismayed by such a travesty.

“Although we have lived for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. All most of us have ever known is our work. I, myself, have forgotten the feeling. Even now, the only moment of joy I can remember was my last birthday before discovering my true purpose in life.” She looked away from Pinkie and closed her eyes, quickly recalling the memory. Looking back at Pinkie, she continued speaking, eyes forelorned, “Pinkie, as the Element of Laughter, we ask of you to teach us what it means to feel joy once again.”

Pinkie thought quickly, mentally shifting around her schedule to see what she could and could not do. In two days time, she was free to do whatever she wanted to for that day. Cheerfully, Pinkie answered, “Sure. Just, um, could you tone down the amount of fog you've got going on here?”

“Certainly.” The pegasus answered. “We will be rewarding you appropriately, of course.”

“Is there anything specific you all would like? Doesn't seem like cake would be at the top of the list.” Pinkie questioned humorously.

The mare laughed softly which reminded her of Fluttershy's short and soft giggles. “Cake is desirable, but I'd be the only one able to eat it. My children are like ghosts; lost and forever wandering. As such, we travel throughout the world, helping out effortlessly with small things that can make a world of difference. We ensure the fog rises in the morning, despite what some may think. The sunrise is always a familiar and comforting site to us.”

She paused, recalling another memory. “You remember the story Twilight told you earlier, correct?” Pinkie nodded. “We gifted him that golden lily and it remains there to this day, giving life to its surroundings year round. We shall gift you one as well.”

“Why's that?”

“Simply our appreciation, is all.” the mare smiled. “I suppose I should give you my name, at least; it is Morning Fog. Should make it more... official should the need to know arise.”

“Of course, Miss Morning! I'll certainly remember that and in two days I'll have everything ready for all of you.”

“Thank you. I'll clear up the fog a bit for your lunch with your companion, don't worry.” She closed her eyes and let the fog close in around her. Eventually, the fog began to crawl away from Pinkie and settled into a bowl created by a grouping of hills.

Pinkie carried on with the rest of her day, brimming with thoughts about what to do about the party she would throw for Miss Fog and her subjects. What confetti would she use, what would she make to eat, how would she teach them joy? Perhaps by teaching Morning, her subjects would understand it as well. Even after having the appreciation picnic with the old stallion and tucking herself in for the night, she continued thinking about it.