> Meticulous Tree > by Jhoira > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > SURPRISE! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunburst frowned up at the Hearthswarming Tree as he tilted his head. Tapping his muzzle as he considered it. Starlight poked her head into the room and rolled her eyes. "Sunburst! Have you still not decorated the tree?" Continuing to tap his muzzle in contemplation, Sunburst shook his head. "No. I still can't decide which side would be best..." Starlight's head dropped and she groaned lowly. "Suuuuunbuuuuurst... The party is in an hour!" Nodding again, Sunburst as he slowly used his magic to turn the tree with his magic. "I know, and that's why we need this perfect!" Starlight sighed and shook her head, mumbling to herself. "I should have just asked Trixie..." As she walked away, she had other things to do, and could only hope that Sunburst sped up. Coming back half an hour later and could only groan as Sunburst had move on from staring, on onto measuring. He was measuring the angle of the tree and it's branches. "Sunburst..." Sunburst grinned as he looked the tree up and down. "I know! Who hadn't thought of measuring the tree for the perfect viewing presentation!" He took notes as he ran the protractor around the tree. Starlight could only stare for a few moments before shaking her head and walking over, starting to take out the decorations for the tree. She could at least get them ready while Sunburst was being neurotic. "Even if you're right, no one is going to be looking that close Sunburst!" She smiled as one of the decorations was taken from her and slowly floated up to the tree, hooking on a branch. Though the approval quickly turned to exasperation as Sunburst now spent his time measuring around the new decoration on the tree. "You see, Starlight, it's very important to get them to reflect the light perfectly." Though it was slow, Sunburst had at least started to decorate the tree. Starlight sighed and just reduced herself to give Sunburst the decorations. "Do you, maybe, want to go put up the wreath and I'll finish up the tree?" Starlight smiled her best smile but Sunburst shook his head. "But I've already made so much progress measuring this!" Starlight could only roll her eyes but smile a little at how ridiculous Sunburst could be when he was left to do things on his own. She could only keep passing him the decorations and hope that they made it in time. Starlight couldn't do anything besides roll her eyes good naturedly as she watched Sunburst beam next to his decorated tree. She shook her head as she walked over and nudged him in the side. "Proud of yourself, are we?" Sunburst nodded and beamed, smiling widely at Starlight. "Oh! Yes! I'm getting tons of compliments on how good the tree looks." Starlight snickered gently Sunburst frowned. "What?" Starlight grinned and shook her head again. "Nothing, just glad you're so happy with it." And she didn't mention the fact that Trixie was directing people to go compliment Sunburst on his tree. Now Starlight did agree that with all the measuring and everything the tree did look good. Not as good to justify the hour and a half, but still, it looked good. Motioning out to the crowd of teachers and students Sunburst looked to his co-headmare. "So, after the holidays should we start a new class?" Though Starlight wasn't supremely interested in chatting about work on their vacation, now she was curious to which new class Sunburst was talking about. "What class?" "The class about how to properly decorate a Hearth's Warming tree." Starlight smirked but Sunburst wasn't finished. "And you can do one about how to pass up decorations. You're an expert in that." Starlight laughed for a moment before she froze, frowning and looking at her mate. "Wait... Did you spend an hour and a half...?" Sunburst chuckled a bit and grinned widely. "To make a joke during the party? You said what you wanted most was a surprise, after all." After a long moment of staring Starlight couldn't help but laugh, this time louder, and more genuinely mirthfully. She shook her head slightly and nudging him again. "Clever, you did surprise me! You don't usually have such a dry wit." Sunburst raised himself up and nodded in pride. "Oh yes, you see I read about it in an ancient script on how to surprise others." Starlight still shook gently with her suppressed giggles. Even when he was acting out of character, he was completely in character. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Never change you silly." Waving a hoof Sunburst couldn't help but try and play up the part a little more. "I already have changed. For I, the great and powerful..." The statement was interrupted by a "HEY!" from across the room. Sunburst smiled a little sheepishly as he corrected himself. "I, the great and... Wise Sunburst have mastered the ability to surprise my mate, upon her request." Frowning as she saw a flaw in his logic. "Ahh, but there's one issue there." Sunburst frowned and shook his head. "But... You asked me to and I surprised you, how is that not what you wanted." "Don't worry, it's perfectly what I wanted." Starlight patted Sunburst on the shoulder to make sure that he understood she was just teasing. "But, if you're only surprising when I ask you to be, that's not really surprising now, is it?" Nodding and looking up to the side, Sunburst thought. "Hm... I shall have to do more surprising without you asking me to." Starlight smiled and nodded, patting him again on the shoulder. "That'd be fun. Now I need to go do more greetings, I hope everyone likes your tree." She could only smile as she started off into the crowd. It was a celebration, and she should say greet everyone. "Hey! Starlight!" Starlight looked over at Sunburst as he called to her, grinning as he then yelled. "SURPRISE!" And jumped out the window...