Twilight Sparkle travels to Manehattan to visit and cure a sick friend. She tends to go by hoof instead of the train, but then some obstacles and problems had to be faced along her journey.
"Please guys, I want to go by hoof instead of the train. I just want to learn how to travel and take care of myself". "But Twilight, it's dangerous and cold out there. You'll freeze to death when you're out there." "Don't worry guys, I won't get hurt or anything. I'll be fine".
Twilight knew she had to do this on her own, helping a friend was important. She just couldn't let her down at all, she reassured her that she will get better. Ways of curing her was going to be a new challenge, a challenge that was going to be a risk worth taking. 'I know I can do this, I know I can. Horn, don't fail me now'. She gives everything she got, no matter what the task is, even no matter how difficult it is. She knew she had to do it, she just had to....or else?
The Beginning Of The Journey By: Sango-Blazer Skies
It was a cold, stormy night, only the tiniest speck of light could be shown through this darkness that falled. Nothing was here, but the cold winter snow caused by the mighty windigos. Even I, Twilight Sparkle couldn’t face it. Almost everything in my path has been perished, no matter how many times I got closer to something, something chases me back out. If this were to happen again, I’d consider myself a coward for going into the snow alone. I was foolish to come out here.
Just as I was walking, I looked around to see if there was some shelter. The village I had currently passed through had all the rooms already booked and full, so I couldn’t stay in the Inn. As long as I stay in the snow, I will never survived anything so harsh. I only had some matches, an ax, a sword, some rope (in case I got lost in the mountain), some clothes, and some harvesting tools.
Only if I could survive through this harsh weather a little longer, than nothing would overcome me and my dead body. My friends have all remained in Ponyville while I wandered off alone. Maybe no one will come for me, I’m such an idiot. This is what my friends always told me.
“Twilight, no matter where you go…..You will always be right here, in our hearts”.
I was so caught in my thoughts that I didn’t notice that while I was walking, I stumbled into a log cabin. A log cabin, in the middle of the winter woods, that’s not scientifically possible. I looked at the cabin from the outside, it seemed as if no one had stayed in for years. I walked up to the front door, and gave a knock on the door. I waited for a bit, but it seems that nopony opened the door at all. I opened the door, and what a surprise, it was unlocked.
I went inside, seeing that the place was nicely furnished for the winter. If my friends were here, they would love to see this place. I remember seeing the picture of the same log cabin in one of my books back in Ponyville, this cabin was built years ago, who knows when. There wasn’t an exact date to when this cabin was first here, but I didn’t even care. I putted my stuff down and jumped on the sofa, gosh it was so comfy. I then found some wood right by the fireplace, so I used my magic to lift the wood into the chimney. I then used a match that I brought with me to light it, I even had to make sure I was being careful of the heat.
This cabin was so comfy, and very quiet, it felt like I wanted to stay here forever. But if I stayed here forever, my friends would be sad that I didn’t come back. I just knew I had to remain loyal to them, there’s no other choice I have. The only way I stayed in touch with my friends was by Lulamoon Chat, it’s the ideal social media my friends and I use to stay in touch. I did remember bringing my laptop with me, but good thing it didn’t freeze while I was walking in the storm.
I took my laptop from its case, and took out the charger. I hold the charger with my magic and went to find an outlet to plug it in to. But, the only outlet I could find was right by the fire place. So I decided to plug in there anyway. I placed the charger into the slot of my laptop, then headed into the kitchen to make myself some hot chocolate. After I was done, I went to sit on the sofa to relax and keep warm by the fire. It was a good thing I brought some books with me to read, or else I wouldn’t have anything to do.
With the cause of all this weather, I would never find my way back home to Ponyville. I told my friends that I would be traveling to Manehattan by hoof, but Rainbow told me it was a crazy idea. She was right, I could never do something crazy like that.
Flashback
I was in the library, there was a strange silence caused by some of my friends. “Guys, I will be going to Manehattan pretty soon. I have to visit a cousin that lives there and she is really really sick”. Applejack gave me a pat. “Listen sugarcube, we understand how much this is important to you. And we hope you come back home soon, we’ll be waiting for you. And remember, we still be here for you in here”. They pointed to their hearts as a sign of care and friendship.
“Um……….Twilight, how long will you be gone? If you’re gone………….we would surely worried about you”, Fluttershy told me sadly.
“Listen Flutters, I’ll be fine”, I reassured her. “Everything is going to be fine while I’m gone”.
The butterscotch mare just walked away sadly. “Hope so”.
“Are you going yet?” Pinkie asked, worried.
“Pinkie, I’m not leaving yet. I’m leaving tomorrow”. I noticed that Pinkie’s expression was surprised and worried at the same time, I couldn’t tell why she was like this, it isn’t like her at all. The Pinkie Pie I knew was always hyper and random, not shocked about just a little situation.
I still remember that day, the day I had to leave my friends, it feels like it was just yesterday. That was the day I left them for Manehattan to take care of a friend. Well, the friend that I’m talking about is Coco Pommel, she was the mare that use to work for the mare that wanted to win Fashion Week, that mare’s name is so hard to remember. Whatever her name was, I never wanted to remember it. My wings opened as I was still in thought, which surprised me. I just folded my wings back into their original position.
As I sleep through this silent night, I always know that Jesus is always there to guide me no matter what. Even if I am away from where I live. Cause no matter where I am he’s always there to watch over. As I look far into the distance, I would imagine that there’s still a star up in that starry night sky. As I fall asleep in this beautiful night made by Luna, I would dream, dream of home. No matter----what.
The times are tough, but tomorrow I must head towards the next town, it’s only a few meters away. And if I ever make it home from Manehattan, it would be a pleasure to back to where I belong, home in Ponyville. It’s time to turn out the light, the story continues til the next day. But now it’s time for me to rest. I will tell more of my adventures later, but now I must turn out the light.
With just a blow of the candle, this would be the best night to sleep in. Even though it’s dark out, I wouldn’t mind at all. With the stars in the night sky, I’m not afraid of anything. As I go to sleep, I should dream the dreams I wish to dream, not some horrible nightmare. If I did then, I would have trouble having a good night’s sleep. Please Luna, make the stars as bright as possible, then I won’t be afraid.
But the night is still young, I can’t go to sleep. I just want to look at the stars all night, but I can’t. As my mom always told me, I need to sleep well. I yawn as I fall asleep, please, please make this an occasion that I won’t forget, please don’t. I doze off, not making a sound. I hope this adventure won’t end until I come home to Ponyville, for now, I wish all a good night; it’s time to turn out the light.
What a beautiful morning to wake up in, I never had the intention to waking up to a Sun that was this bright. Oh well, duty calls for me to wake up early. Besides, I haven't made a plan to when I should be heading out anyway. Maybe I should just sit down and relax for a bit and maybe read a book, that should keep my mind off me thinking about heading out again. I turned on the tv as usual and see what was new playing and all, I hoped they could report about the upcoming few days.
As I laid on the couch staring at the television for at least a minute, I got thirsty. I took off the blanket that was covering me and my entire body, and headed into the kitchen to make myself a warm drink. As I was doing that, I decided to write an entry in my diary before I decided to do anything else.
December 4th Dear Diary,
As you know, it's a very lovely morning to stay in for awhile. Just before I turn the tv's channel to the news channel, I thought it would be a good idea to write an entry in here. This past day for me has been stressful, going through a storm by myself wasn't easy. I had to avoid fallen tree branches, broken sticks, rocks, anything that could get in my way as I head into my grandfather's cabin. I guess I could get that thought out of my head now, since it only happened yesterday the day I got here safe sound.
It was freezing out, everything from the mountains and to the rest of Equestria. If the storm becomes more harsh, then I would have to stay in the cabin for another night or more. I might have to stay there for years, away from my friends, away from the home I once knew. My castle in Ponyville. But that fear will never come to past and I know that, and coming to the thought of it , it's time that I get back to what I was doing. A hot drink isn't going to make itself, I have to be able to make it. HmmmMmmm! And if I could write more for this entry, then I would need more inspiration. Oh well.
Twilight Sparkle
Wow, after writing a lot my thoughts down onto one page isn't easy. From what I could expect out of my diary entries, I'd say that this is the first written entry. For me, it's not like have big brain or something, that is particularly insane. No pony have a brain almost the size of a mini hot air balloon, that is also down right silly if you ask me. Okay, now back to the kitchen I go since I'd only turned the channel to a tv show network. And the news doesn't start til 10:30, I still got some time on my hand.
If I miss out on an important news update, well I'm going to be screwed. Not sure what the theme of weather is actually going to be like. Will it still have the harsh blizzard again? I hope not, cause I'm going to be scared to death if that happens. But I'll eventually figure it out soon enough, once I turn the channel to the news. And eventually I'll be able to head out once more, and my grandfather's cabin, is almost like near the next town or village.
One hour passed, and it was already 10:00 in the morning. I shouted out loud," What?! It's 10 already, how can that be possible?!"
I rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a mug from the cupboard, and the hot chocolate powder from a box. I then holded the cup with my magic and filled the mug with the already boiled hot water (which I boiled a few minutes ago) and poured it into the mug. I could smell it, the fresh scent of chocolate and marshmallows, ah, what a scent.
Oh my! The clock, how could I forget that it's almost time to change the channel? It was 10:25 on the clock when I looked up, but this only happened because I was still busy zoning out into space again. If Rainbow were here, she'd know what would be going on with me when I was still in thought. All this time, how could I have been so distracted? My mind was so clouded with thoughts that I never was paying attention to the time, oh silly me. It's just that sometimes it's hard to concentrate on what I'm doing, I hope that it won't again.
I quickly turned on the television and turned to the news, then I turned to the clock to see what time it was. "Oh, it's around 10:27. I made it just in time to watch the news".
Once I turned on the t.v, I immediately went through 13 channels til I could find the news network. While I was browsing through the channels, almost every show I saw had different time showings. Damn, I missed my favorite teen sitcom comedy! It started showing last night and now I missed it because I was too tired yesterday to even do anything else. And it was good thing my alarm didn't go off, or else I wouldn't be able to wake up at the right time to do anything.
Unlike Rainbow Dash, I'm not that of a sport or anything. I like being me, and if I were to have wings like her then she would have to teach me how to fly. And she would have to be my flying coach, and Dash was the expert flyer of the "Mane 6" as we friends called our group. We're very well known in Canterlot and had saved Equestria from destruction more than once, and we gained our new power through our friendship and wielded the Elements of Harmony.
I still remember those times, the day I was so shy to meet my friends and I had a little trouble talking to them at first glance. I said to himself. "The fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends, but the opposite's true. The friendship's I've made here are true." Alright Twilight, this is no time to space out! The news is about to start, don't threaten yourself to do anything else.
Soon the news turned on and I almost freaked out because I didn't realized that I turned up the volume. Gosh, what's wrong with me? I always thought that I was the only one who was like this, but now I'm acting like Dash all over again. Oh, for Pete's sake, I shouldn't be acting like this I'm a grown-up mare. No matter how many times I tell myself to get over it, acting like somepony else again, it feels like I just do it again. I'm gonna kill myself for that if it ever happens again.
I think to myself. "Okay, the news is still playing, so I should be able to listen to what the reporter is saying." Now I'm really zoning---out.
Rainbow Dash, the fastest pegasus in all of Ponyville, there are many things that I really want to say about her. But with her schedule being tight, she's been going to flight practices at the Wonderbolt's HQ and taking her sweet time. Being a member of the wonderbolt's reserve isn't easy, there's intense work-outs she has to practice on her own, flying obstacles......what else was it to her? Together, my friends and I have befriended three of the members: Soarin, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot. One of the three main flyers of the group, they're fast, energetic, and really hyped about what they accomplish.
But now that there with Rainbow Dash, she wouldn't be alone. With winter in season, they have to stay in and take a really long break from a tiring training. Hearth's Warming Eve is coming up, and my friends are probably starting to arrange decorations up, no wonder the blizzard is harsh during this time of year. I'll have to get use to it, me being alone by myself isn't a choice, it's a decisive plan of course. Got a few more days til the holidays, and then I can move with my journey.
Really? Did my friends think that they were that crazy about me wandering off on my own like this? I knew that I was a coward for doing this, but it's the right thing to do and my own personal decision. Okay, maybe I should find a fir tree that is just the right size for the cabin, definitely that this house needs a good fir tree. Then I'll hang up a stocking right above the fire place, all the decorating that I need is in the cabin. I go into the closet and find a box full of hearth's warming decor! Wow, just wow! As I held the box, a note falls out of the box. Who's it from? Dr. Hooves?
Chapter 3 This Doesn't Sound Right By: Sango-Blazer Skies
I was about to go ahead and decorate the fir tree, then I noticed this note dropped from the box of decorations I found in the closet. I wondered, 'Where did this note come from?' I put the box of ornaments on the floor and levitate the note towards me. I didn't realize the note was from an old science classmate of mine back in college. I look at the name printed on the piece of paper, it said Dr. Hooves. I remember him crystal clear, we were old classmates, friends, and study partners. We even attended Canterlot University together. It has been so long since I last saw him. Now, he lives in Ponyville. After my journey to Manehattan is over, I might visit him.
I open the note with my magic to see what the note said. Maybe what he wrote on the piece of paper is something interesting. I hope. But, there's no worries.
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
By now, my friend, you received the fir tree decorations I sent you. These decorations to me, are very special. I had this box from when I was a little colt, it was given to me by your grandfather Twilight. Okay, you may not realize why I wrote this note to you. However, I wrote it to you for a reason Twi. It's to tell you how much your grandfather means to you, he left these decorations to me for safekeeping when he gave it to my family. Since our families were so close, it's been passed down from one pony to another for generations. Your grandfather thought it was time for you have his decorations, consider it as a gift from him to you.
Your grandfather passed away 2 months ago, 2 months before you began this journey to his cabin. Every furniture in the cabin was left for you use Twilight, even for guests as well. He was too sick Twilight, I'm very sorry for your loss. I should have told you sooner about his passing, forgive me for not telling you sooner.
Your friend, Dr. Hooves
I cried a little after reading the letter, this letter from him was so touching. It felt like the very touching words were about to slip right off this paper. I put the letter aside and went back to decorating the fir tree. I took out some ornaments from one of my grandfather's old boxes of Hearth's Warming Eve decorations. As I used the last of the ornaments from one of the boxes, I began to wonder what my friends were doing for Hearth's Warming Eve.
In Ponyville
Twilight's friends were in the library decorating the fir tree. For the tree, they used red and green ornaments big and small. Rarity levitated round green-striped ornaments and put it onto the spots next to the red ornaments.
Rarity looks at her friends with a sulking face. Tears began to spread across the mare's face, with every tear that dropped, more tears streamed from her eyes.
Fluttershy faced her fashion-loving friend with concern. She rubbed her friend's shoulder. "Rar, what's wrong? You know you can tell me, I'm here for you". Rarity didn't say a word and just cried her tears onto Fluttershy's shoulder. Fluttershy let her friend cry into her fur, even though her fur was starting to be filled with the mare's dripping tears.
"Rarity, you're going to have to tell me what's wrong. Otherwise I won't know what's going on". After a second, Rarity finally puts her face up from the butterscotch mare's shoulder.
Tears were still streaming down from Rarity's eyes. "It's.....just.....that......Hearth's Warming Eve......is not the same without Twilight around".
Fluttershy pats her friend's shoulder. "I understand Rar. I understand".
Applejack, Rainbow, and Pinkie hear Rarity's crying. They put down the ornaments they were holding in their hooves and back into their boxes. The three mares who were helping to finish decorating the fir tree rushed over to help their crying friend. They each had concern looks on their faces.
Rainbow's eyes begin to tear. "I feel the same way Rares".
"There there sugar cube, it will be alright", Applejack said, as she went to sit next to Fluttershy.
Rarity's tears began to dry up. She uses her magic to take a tissue from the tissue box next to her. She slowly wipes the remaining tears just dripping in the middle of her cheeks.
"Feel better?" Fluttershy asked her friend.
"Yes Fluttershy, I'm fine now. Thank you", Rarity said, as she got up.
"Girls, do you think this doesn't sound right?" Pinkie asked, as she and other girls let go from their cuddled embrace.
"What doesn't sound right Pinkie? I don't know what you're talking about", Rainbow said, as she faced her.
Pinkie took out an ornament that she was keeping in her mane and continued. "Well, how I am I gonna explain this to you Dashie? Um....you know how it's strange that Twilight never told any of us who this friend she was going to go see in Manehattan?"
Rainbow nodded in agreement. "Okay, continue".
"I'm with Pinkie on this one", Applejack chimed in.
"Count me in", Fluttershy said, as she joined in with Applejack.
"I get the feeling that this friend she is visiting happens to know us. What do you think girls?"
"Coco Pommel?" the other girls said at the same time.
Pinkie nodded. "Yes".
After their conversation, the girls continued decorating the fir tree with the remaining ornaments they had. After a couple of minutes, the other girls were done decorating the fir tree with red and green ornaments. They sit down at the comfy pillows that were laying on the floor of the castle, and began to take sips of from their cups of hot coco. Rainbow Dash, on the other hoof, took out the last ornament from the box, a pony angel wearing a white dress, flew to the top of the tree and placed it at the highest point of the tree itself. Finally, the tree was all decorated with a pony angel as the center piece.
It was going to be a lonely for the main 5, without their alicorn friend by their side.
Narrator: While Twilight's friends had to spend Hearth's Warming without her, the alicorn herself seems to enjoy her stay in her grandfather's cabin. Still, the mare herself knew she had to continue her journey to Manehattan.
I look out the window of the gray sky, the blizzard stopped. 'Should I stay in my grandpa's cabin a little longer?', I thought to myself. My grandpa's cabin didn't feel like home at all, he never decorated it. He left it feeling lonely before his death. A little voice inside my head was telling me to decorate it, give it life. So, I went with my gut and searched around the house for anything that was left in storage for years. My grandpa told me when I was filly that his cabin had an attic. An attic filled with really valuable treasures and many other items.
I left the living room and went down a small hallway with six empty bedrooms. I turned the knobs on the doors of each bedroom, they were unlocked.
'That's strange. Why are these bedroom doors unlocked?'
'When my grandfather was here, he always left them locked. He never invited any guests to his cabin only because this place meant so much him. He vowed to never share this home he build with his own four hoofs to any wandering travelers, unless it was strictly necessary'.
I went into every bedroom one by one, all the rooms were completely empty and plain. There were no picture frames, beautiful decor, wallpaper, nothing. It felt like these rooms were not meant to be used to stay in. Only if my grandfather gave this cabin a bit more love, then these bedrooms won't feel so plain. "Why do these rooms have to be so plain?!" I muttered out loud without thinking. I walk around the sleeping area again, thinking of how I would be able to decorate the rooms. 'Should I paint the rooms? The walls brown colors are just to boring to look at. But, what color should I paint the walls?’
I walked from the cabin’s sleeping quarters and went to find a linen closet. I was certain that my grandfather constructed a linen closet right by the bathroom. I walked a couple more steps until I arrived at the bathroom. BINGO! There was a linen closet right by the bathroom. I walked towards the door of the closet, used my magic to open the door, the closet itself revealed to have not only neatly folded towels. But also, unlabeled boxes of some items I've never seen before. I levitate the items with my magenta aura onto the floor, I carefully peel the tape on one of the boxes to open the top, inside was a note for me written by my grandfather. The note was folded neatly and written on fancy looking paper.
On the front, it labeled:
To my dearest Twilight Sparkle.
I unpeeled the fir tree sticker that was sealing the note. Once I threw away the sticker in the bathroom's wastebasket, I unfolded the paper with my magic to reveal cursive writing. Now I realized something, whenever my grandfather use to write me notes or letters, he always wrote in cursive. I admired the fancy paper, it was printed with fancy swirls on the four corners of the paper itself.
I began to read the note.
Dear Twilight,
By the time you are reading this note, I have already passed on. Note that I am proud of you for becoming a truly amazing pony, a Princess. The expectations of being a leader is an overwhelming responsibility, I understand. If you were wondering who told me about your coronation. Well, both of your parents did before they came to make final visits to see me.
About this box I stored away in the linen closet, let me give you a hint; inside this box you opened, you can easily spot small packaging foam. Under all this packaging foam, there are multiple items. I'm not going to spoil the surprise in this note or tell you what's in the box either. Open up the box to find out more.
I love you, my faithful Twilight Sparkle. Have a happy Hearth's Warming Eve!
Your grandfather, Night Dusk.
After I read the letter, I was curious to see what was inside this brown box I opened. I took out all the packaging foam and under all of it was six wrapped presents for not only myself. But also for my five best friends. Not only that, there was also a book on Ancient Equestrian Spells & Sorcery, a jumbo jewelry kit, six fun board games, and a new set of writing quills. I was surprised at the Hearth's Warming Gifts.
'Grandfather, why did you have to do all of this while your heart was still unstable?'
I wondered why he did all this? Maybe I'll find the answer to my own question until lunch time. My journey will continue till then.
‘ My grandfather, my father’s father, did all this Hearth’s Warming Eve shopping when he knew he had a heart disease?’ I thought.
When grandpa was alive, he always did Hearth Warming Eves shopping in a variety of places in Equestria: Manehattan, Vanhoover, Ponyville, and Canterlot were his ideal spots. He loved shopping for quality gifts - fancy or not. How would I describe the previous gifts he purchased, during the busy winter holidays prior? They were unique, memorable, and worth keeping.
But what was underneath all that wrapping paper? What did he get for each of my friends? I wondered.
Grandpa always had a special innate ability when it came to gift giving, he knew immediately what somepony wanted for any occasion. He always followed the philosophy: “It’s better to give than to receive”. Even always forgot every Hearth’s Warming to purchase himself something. ‘Oh Grandpa’.
I transferred my mind back to reality to the coffee table I am sitting above. I am on the sofa relaxing with a bowl of oatmeal, topped with blueberries and strawberries as my lunch. My drinks: hot coco and a separate cup of hot water. I am cozy with holiday socks on my hooves - lined with small white stripes and painted snowflakes. After I finished my delicious oatmeal, I put the bowl down and began to bring the cup of hot coco towards me with my horn.
“Mmm, this hot coco is to die for”, I said out loud to nopony in particular. It brought back a memory of young me waiting for Grandpa Dusk to finish making hot chocolate on Hearth’s Warming Eve night.
December 24th, 2001 Night of Hearth’s Warming Eve
A five year old Twilight Sparkle is seen with her older brother Shining Armor, their parents Velvet and Night Light, decorating the fir tree with unique homemade ornaments. Night Dusk was watching his two grandkids from afar- with a smile - as he was making his family hot chocolate in the kitchen. He mixed the usual ingredients: coco powder, warm milk, and a special touch; fir tree-shaped marshmallows.
Fifteen minutes later, he levitates the six cups of freshly hot coco onto a tray - as he walked from the kitchen to the living room.
Young Shining and Twilight’s ears perked as they ran to their Grandpa. “Yay, hot coco! It’s starting to get cold in our house anyways”, both siblings said in unison.
Shining Armor and Twi levitated two cups of hot chocolate from the tray. Both siblings closed their eyes as they slowly took a sip, embracing the taste of the “special touch” added to sweet holiday concoction. ‘Mmm, fir tree-shaped marshmallows’. Both of them thought.
Flashback fades.
The last time I witnessed my Grandpa ever making hot coco for Shining Armor and I was at age 5. Reminiscing it again, I tried my best to fight back my tears - tears were streaming down my face like light waterfalls. I slowly wiped these streams away from my muzzle with my hoof.
I finished my lunch - the bowl is empty, the cup of hot water is halfway finished. But the hot chocolate is still unfinished with more sips to come. I got up from my position on the sofa, and began my way from the vast living room to the spacious cabin’s kitchen. When I arrived, I levitated the finished bowl of oatmeal into the sink and soaked it with hot water and dish soap.
After scrubbing and rinsing my bowl and laying it onto the dish rack, I let my eyes wonder at the almost decorated living room. I raised my eyebrow. “What could possibly be missing in this holiday set up?” The tree was already filled with assorted ornaments of every color, a red ribbon for glamour, red and green LED lights. But what is it missing? Assorted ornaments, check ; one red ribbon, check; red green LED lights, check. 'Wait, that's it. Wrapped presents'.
The beautifully wrapped presents from Grandpa Night Dusk that were boxed up before my arrival. It must still be lying in the linen closet, waiting for me to retrieve it from its dark abyss. The first linen closet was in a built-in room below the staircase. Luckily the door to the closet was still closed.
When I was done washing the dishes, I decided to reheat the hot chocolate - it became cold by the time I was done dishwashing. The kitchen had a mug heater on the counter, I can use that to reheat my cold hot chocolate. I levitated my cold cup of coco onto the mug heater and plugged it in with my magic. Once the heater was plugged in, I turned it on using my hoof - the on-off switch was on the left side of it.
While my hot coco was being reheated, I left my position from the sink to the closet below the staircase. When I got there, I immediately opened the door with my horn. Then used my hoof to pull the switch on the light - with the only light source coming from a single bulb hanging on the closet's ceiling.
'Grandpa's design of this closet sure is old school' I thought.
I peered into the staircase closet, turned my head left to right to look at the shelves mounted sturdily on the wall. The wall shelves only contained extra towels, ten stacks of wooled & yarn blankets, additional soaps for the bathroom, luffas, and four rolls of holiday wrapping paper. 'Okay, where did I put that box with my friends' gifts?' I already looked left and right. However, when I looked down, the box was nowhere to be found.
I left it in the linen closet upstairs all this time, and I thought I was a studious pony. I was so occupied with my thoughts during lunch that I completely forgot the location of the gift box for my friends. I was in such a ruffle.
-Upstairs in the cabin-
After I trotted this cabin's twenty flight of stairs, I arrived at the desired linen closet next to the bathroom. 'Yes, made it'. I panted, feeling very out of breathe. I had always knew that the stairs were my worse nemesis as a filly. Whenever I walked a flight of stairs back in Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, those flights of stairs I encountered felt like the mountain I would never climb. But enough about stairs, let's go get my friends' gifts.
I arrived at the second floor of the cabin, and walked to the linen closet next to the bathroom. I opened the closed door with my horn lit with its usual magenta aura. As the door slowly opened, I casted a locator spell to help me track the placement of the nicely wrapped gifts. It took me thirty seconds to utilize the use of spell properly. I kept my horn alit as I closed my eyes, and concentrated on the spell more.
Eventually, I heard a slight crackle from my horn. 'The gifts must be close, I'm getting warmer'. As I got warmer, my horn began to crackle much louder. "I think I found it", I said.
My friends' gifts were still located at the very bottom of the closet, thank the lord it stayed untouched! The rest of the shelves housed extra home items needed for the six bathrooms in the cabin.
I lifted the heavy box of their gifts with my magic and decided I was gonna carry it back downstairs. And that's what I did. I closed the door to the closet and headed down the hall that led back to the row of stairs.
I arrived downstairs eventually with the heavy box with everyponys' gifts. The box was slightly heavy, but I did not have too much trouble carrying it. I set it down beside the half completely decorated fir tree and took each gift out one by one. The first wrapped present contained rainbow wrapping paper on its exterior, along with a red - green ribbon neatly tied on top. I flipped the box upside down, to see if there was anything else embedded on top; there was an embroidery of Rainbow Dash’s cutie mark, at the very bottom of the ribbon.
I gasped softly, as I was also in shock at the stunningly wrapped gift. “Wow, how did Grandpa manage to wrap Rainbow’s gift so nicely?” I didn’t want to use this spell, but I had to. I casted a gentle see - ray spell on the present, desiring to know what was inside. As the spell took a second to take effect, it revealed presents to even blow Dashie’s mind; it contained the latest Daring Do book (Daring Do and The Forbidden Cloud City), a new pair of rainbow mittens, two yellow - lightning streaked sweat shirts with a blue lining the sides and hood and an empty picture frame designed with her cutie mark atop.
"This is the most well, thought out present I had ever witnessed", I said. "I wonder what else everypony got."
I set aside Rainbow's presents, and moved on to Applejack's next. Her gift was wrapped in paper, adorned with apples all over, atop a white background. I levitated AJ's gift towards me and used the same spell. The see - ray spell took effect once again, revealing something as special as Dash's gift; a red bandana scarf patterned with tiny polka dots, one window sticker with three red apples and an empty photo album.
I thought. 'Grandpa, you really outdone yourself again. How do you do this?'
It was time to move on to Rarity's gift. For the third time, I use the same spell I performed on my other friends' presents prior. What could Grandpa Night Dusk possibly get for some pony as fashion forward as Rarity? Her gift was wrapped in paper with white diamonds and a purple background. Through the spell, the inside of the box showed me something unique as Rarity was herself. These were the items it contained: one limited edition mane curler (non heated), a hair clip with a white diamond atop it, and a white diamond charmed along a gold stainless steel chain.
"These are the most thoughtful gifts ever", I said.
Lastly, I decided to use the see - ray spell on Pinkie and Shy's gift at the same time. As the spell took its effect for the last time, the two boxes in my magic grasp revealed items as special as both of those mares. For Fluttershy's present, there was a green turtleneck sweater, a pink butterfly hair clip, a nature guide on Equestria's animals, and a whistle. Whatever Grandpa purchased for Fluttershy, all these items were deemed useful.
Pinkie Pie's gifts were more surprising, to say the least. Grandpa Dusk bought her an event planner - customized with an outer pink cover, with her cutie mark on the front; a special designed pen, in pink, also with her cutie mark - for her to write down party ideas; and a jigsaw puzzle.
My mind was blown away. No words can express how heart felt these gifts truly are. I wish my Grandpa was still alive to see the smiles he would put on my friends' faces. Each gift represented the pony it belonged to. But one question remains. How was he able to do all this two months before he passed away?
I had already set down all my friends' gifts to the side. But where was mine? What did Grandpa give me for Hearth's Warming Eve? I almost teared, I feared Grandpa may have forgotten about me.
As I was stacking my friends' gifts underneath the fir tree's skirt, an unknown force pushed the box (originally containing my friends's gifts) down unexpectedly - making me jump. I peered around the living room to see who it might be, but no pony or creature was present.
"Is any pony there?", I hollered out, frightened.
I shrugged slightly and got up from where I sat opening my friends' gifts earlier. I shoved the box gently, out of sight from the half decorated tree, to see another letter, laying on the floor, that would answer this one question: "How was he able to do all this, two months before he passed away?"
I lifted the fancy parchment of paper towards me from the floor and began to read.
To my dear granddaughter,
This is Grandpa Night Dusk, writing to you for the last time before I perish from this world. I knew you were wondering about how I was able to purchase all those gifts for your friends. And, did you think I had forgotten about you? My own grand baby, of course not. Your gift is waiting for you at your final destination, in Manehattan, where Coco Pommel is.
Coco is still ill with the flu and bedridden. Her fever is still high at this moment, but I have faith that you can bring her the medicine she needs to be healed of that horrible sickness.
The gifts that I had purchased, with all my saved up bits, are either from my brief trip around our cities or were made by me. The nature guide book I bought for your friend Fluttershy, is from a bookstore in Canterlot. The rainbow mittens, Daring Do book, and wonderbolt hoodie are items I bought in Cloudsdale for Rainbow Dash at a local shop that sells many merchandise of various vendors. The homey gifts for Applejack were made with my own sewing/crafting materials I had laying around the cabin. The presents that were for Rarity, such as the mane curler, hair clip, and necklace are from a store in Manehattan (which I forgot the name to).
For Pinkie Pie, her gifts are from a stationery store in Ponyville that sells mainly sofas and quills. But luckily, the owner decided to add additional products to sell.
Now, to answer your question about how I was able to purchase all these items before my passing. Well, I had some help from that foal hood friend of yours. Which, I can tell that he is like another brother to you. Dr. Hooves. He helped me when I was handicapped - riding on a wheelchair - to take me to all those places to buy all those Hearth's Warming gifts for your friends.
If you were wondering about how I knew each of your friends' dislikes/likes, I had some help from your former mentor: Princess Celestia. I was out in Canterlot in November to talk to her about what your friends liked. Unfortunately, Dr. Hooves had to wheel me into the castle in my wheelchair. You had a wonderful mentor, Twilight.
I end this letter with a goodbye, and that I will always be with you in spirit. Remember the box that fell down unexpectedly, that was me Twilight.
I wish you an eventful Hearth's Warming!
Yours truly and forever, Night Dusk.
I put down the letter, shocked, that it answered my one question. He was fighting a heart disease, but at the same time, he went out of his way to do all this for me. I am so touched. Thank you Grandpa!
Now that I got an opportunity to curiously look at my friends' gifts, my hot coco must be done warming up.
By the time I had finished my cup of reheated hot chocolate, the day transitioned to being less bright. The sun never showed because it was winter. Clouds of various types still covered the blue sky, mostly dark gray in color. Hearth’s Warming Eve was three weeks away, and I stayed in Grandpa’s cabin for one day, going on two. Unfortunately, the weather still did not calm itself down. The blizzard was still going about.
Earlier, Grandpa's letter had answered that one question regarding my friends' presents. Not only that, he also revealed in his letter that the "unknown force" pushing down that brown box was his spirit. I wish I had the ability to see his sprit with a third eye, it would've came in handy. One fact I read about the spirit world, is that entities - as such - choose not to reveal themselves until ready. Whether to a loved one such as a grand child.
How did his soul have a will of its own, and knock down that box to get my attention? As much as I desired to have this answered, there is more on my plate at this moment. My friends' presents, finding a flu medication for Coco Pommel, and this blizzard. I'm feeling like a mess. I looked down to the living room floor, ears down, and closed my eyes in despair. When I did this, my horn unexpectedly glowed at its own will.
With my eyes closed, all I could see was a blackhole within the abyss.
'Twilight Sparkle. Remember to pray in times of doubt, sorrow and when you feel to have no hope.' An anonymous voice said, within the darkness of my closed eyes.
' Huh? Who are you?' My conscious asked.
'I am Christ, your Lord and Savior. I am here inside your thoughts, Twilight'.
'How did you get into my thoughts?'
'Never underestimate your faith, it can do many great things in your life. I am a heavenly spirit, I can do many wonders.'
'I know you, dear Lord. I just feel so hopeless. On this journey, I pray that your light will be there to guide the way to my destination. That CoCo Pommel may be healed from her flu with your healing hoof' Twilight Sparkle's conscious said again.
'I will bestow my healing hoof upon her until you arrive at Manehattan. I wish you the best on your adventure'. The glow in my horn dimmed.
I was shedding tears of sorrow. These were no tears of joy nor doubt, because this three week adventure had taken a toll on me. My eyes were still shut, as tears continued to drip down my face. I’m in prayer.
As the voice of Jesus eventually faded away from my mind, including my conscious. I slowly was able to open my eyes back up. My eyes were red from crying while in prayer, which normally doesn't happen to me when I did this with my family. When my horn glowed, it was a sign indicating Christ was present - not physically - but spiritually. I admired myself, for having the courage to pray alone. But it's not the same inner peace you feel when you pray with family.
My eyes ran out of tears to cry, as my tear gap did dry up after awhile. When I was a filly, I always felt crying was a sign of weakness. But it isn't, it's a sign that the emotional wound will heal with time. That things will improve, get better.
'Thank you, Lord Almighty!'
I smiled softly, feeling relieved I was no longer shedding waterfalls. I finally was able to open my eyes, still slightly red from crying.
I sat on the brown sofa and turned my head to the window in the near distance. The six square window, was approximately four to six centimeters away from where I was sitting. I am by the fireplace, feeling warmed up after drinking a reheated hot chocolate. The view of the flame, burning within the chimney, gave me a sense of comfort I hadn't felt since I was little. As I sat on the brown sofa, with the finished hot coco mug on top of the coffee table, I couldn't help but think about my parents.
What could Mom and Dad be doing right now? I wonder.
I made the decision to cast locatum visualis, a spell I learned in the School of Magic in my early teens. Locatum Visualis is casted in times of dangerous emergencies or used to see the activities of other ponyfolk. Say for example, you desire to see what dear activities your mother and father are involving themselves in, then this is a charitable moment to seize and make use of locatum visualis.
I closed my eyes for the second time, lit my horn with it’s usual magenta aura, and solely concentrated my thoughts only on Mom and Dad. To utilize the use of this spell, I had to think of the ponies I was searching for in my core memory.
I desire to know what mother and father are doing during the winter season, in Canterlot.
My horn glowed magenta as I took the time to let the spell take course. A warm sensation of magic surrounded me as I closed my eyes to concentrate on locatum visualis. The usual background of the cabin's living room slowly disappeared as the spell finally took its effect. I felt the euphoria of white glowing orbs coming toward me. The white glowing orbs then quickly multiplied to form an overlapped oval. Once the site of the living room disappeared, I saw the most wondrous site I had ever seen.
Through the spell, it revealed a white tower with many countless windows. I recognized the building right away, it was my former foal hood residence.
Mother. Father. What are you both doing to prepare for the holidays? I began to wonder.
In the Sparkle residence, Twilight Velvet and her husband, Night Light are decorating their fir tree with assorted holiday ornaments of red, green and gold. The couple decide to spend the holiday by being in each others' company, along with a very special visitor, all the way from Ponyville.
Their oldest child, Shining, is celebrating Hearth's Warming this year in the Crystal Empire with his family. But for their youngest child, Twilight, both parents are unaware of the self voyage she is on.
"Nighty, honey. We know that Shining Armor is celebrating with Cadence this year. But what about Twilight, do you know what she's doing for Hearth's Warming?" Velvet asks her husband.
As her husband is decorating the fir tree with a unique looking ornament, he levitates the special ornament from the intended spot he wanted to decorate, to reply to his wife. "No Vel, I do not have the slightest idea of what our little girl is doing. Maybe she's spending the holidays with her friends. Why?"
Night Light then levitates the unique looking ornament next to a hoof-made gold ornament, with the initials ND painted in the center. He and his wife continue gathering additional ornaments from a brown box labeled in black permanent marker: "Father's Hearth's Warming decorations, personally hoof-made." As both of them continue decorating the tree, top to bottom, an earth pony with a tan coat is seen rolling a four wheeled cart holding three cups of hot chocolate.
Freshly hot, made by yours truly, Dr. Hooves.
Hooves is currently visiting the Sparkle's residence in Canterlot. Unbeknownst to the Sparkles, their only daughter is staying in Night Light’s father’s cabin he hoof built. Plus, with Dr. Hooves keeping them company, they were safe from the enchanted blizzard of the winter woods.
'Should I tell them about what Twilight is doing?'
'Don't, it'll make her mom and dad worry for her. Let them spend the Hearth's Warming together that they deserve'. A mysterious voice whispers in his mind. Hooves brushes off the thought and focuses on serving the hot chocolate he prepared.
By the time hot chocolate is ready and still steaming hot, Night Light and Velvet are about halfway done with tree decorating. The loving couple turn their heads to the tan coated stallion and glance at the hot chocolate - still steaming - right before their eyes.
“Hot chocolate is ready!” Hooves hollers out, as he rolls the cart further towards the fireplace. Night Light and Velvet get up from where they sat excitedly, as their eyes glitter with delight at the site of the fir tree porcelain mugs filled with hot chocolate.
"Turner, how did you manage to prepare hot coco in the nick of time?" Night Light says, still trying to contain his excitement.
"It only took me fifteen minutes and ten seconds exactly to prepare this holiday concoction for the three of us", Time Turner says, as he grabs a cup for himself.
"You can do mental math?" Velvet chuckles, as she begins to sip from her cup.
"Yeah, I taught myself mental math when my own mother and father were too busy to pay attention to me.." he says, hesitantly after taking a sip from his cup, "my mother, Astra Torch, is a unicorn who creates spells related to time travel and to see beyond the living. While my father, Tobias Turner is a traveling biology teacher. He was never around too much to raise me because of his job. I was pretty much raised by you guys growing up, along with a close family friend who divided her time between work and her own family", he says, as Time Turner looks down sadly. Before taking a sip of his coco.
Velvet puts her drink down, then heads by Time Turner's side to comfort him, as the stallion sheds tears. "I know Astra, I know she wouldn't just abandon you without having her own intentions. When you were growing up Turner, her own role as a spell creator took up most of her time, which explains why she wasn't around so much. I'm sorry if your own mother's actions made you feel this way for such a long time. You were only seven when she started not being around much". She then gives him a loving hug.
"As for your father, Tobias. He never payed much attention to your passion for science and technology. He too was caught up in his own work as a teacher, traveling to different universities in Equestria teaching Biology. I can comprehend where you were coming from", Night Light says, as he soothes a hoof comfortingly on Time Turner's back.
"My parents may have been long time friends with you. But they weren't able to provide me with the love I truly desired, which was to love me as I am. Both mom and dad couldn't provide me with that kind of love because they were workaholics. They were both married to their work".
All Night Light and his wife could do is listen intently. They give him one more quick hug before letting go of their embrace from him.
"My wife and I love you like you're a part of the Sparkles family. You may not be our biological child, but we love you as much as Twilight loves you as a second brother", Night Light says affectionately. He and his wife then nuzzle him lovingly before going back to sip their hot coco.
'My long time friend is visiting my family in Canterlot?!' My mind was about to go into shock.
The wondrous ability this spell possesses was the ability to hear what others are saying. I can hear them chatting about Turner's past with his parents. I use to love spending time with them when they were not too caught up with work. I missed Astra Torch teaching me teleportation techniques as a filly, and Tobias teaching me so many wonderful facts about our world's ocean animals.
In general, I missed his parents' presence with mine. Our parents were friends, and are still friends to this day. They've only been major workaholics. Hoove's parents rarely paid their attention to their own son when we were growing up. But this incident only happened behind closed doors.
The surrounding of the spell revealing my parent's activity began to dissipate. I need not worry, they were doing just fine with my brother - from - another - mother. Eventually, the spell revealing what was once the tower faded out of sight.
As I look back at where I am now, I am on the floor of Grandpa's living room looking at one at the medium looking sized windows at the blizzard. I wondered. 'When will this blizzard die down?'
I had prayed earlier that Coco be healed from the flu, but I also wonder, what else did I forget to pray for? That second prayer will be for the next day. What's more important right now is this blizzard, when will this thundering weather calm itself down?
An inner realization eventually hit me. This cabin, hoof built by Grandpa Night Dusk, is built in the enchanted winter woods. That explains the bizarre blizzard, it acts upon its own will. But why?
