twilightpony | Fall's Farewell

I got up bright and early this morning, "bright" in the figurative sense since Luna wasn't due to lower the moon for about another hour. I figured I'd have plenty of time to get some breakfast before heading out to join Pinkie and the rest of the ponies on the Whitetail Woods run. It's the Running of the Leaves day! I had a lot of running, raking and critter caring ahead of me and I figured a good breakfast would be essential to keeping me on an even trot. I left Spike undisturbed and still sound asleep in his basket, closed the bedroom door and headed to the kitchen. I heard the clatter of dishes down the hall and the sweet aroma of cooking pancakes. I didn't expect Starlight Glimmer to be up this early. Or to cook pancakes without burning a few. It wasn't her.

I entered the kitchen to find that Pinkie had let herself in and had cooked breakfast for both of us! The pancakes were stacked twelve high on the table and more were on the way. I guessed the extra pancakes would be in case of pancake emergencies. I was a bit sore that Pinkie had again beat me to my own front door again, and this time, even to my own kitchen! But those pancakes really smelled good, and after four days of morning runs, I found that I was ravenous! I got out the syrup, apple jelly, butter, plates for four, and I put on the kettle for tea. Pinkie flipped a pair of pancakes (she had two griddles going at once) and turned to say: "Alfalfa oat pancakes! Breakfast of champions!" So they were. My book on long distance running stated that a diet rich in alfalfa, third cut hay and oats was essential in offsetting the caloric and protein requirements of the long distance runner. I went to fetch a flake of third cut hay. On the way I bumped into a bleary eyed Starlight Glimmer. She mumbled that she thought she smelled pancakes, so I nudged her toward the kitchen.

Sated and full of pancakes, we left Starlight Glimmer with the dishes and I went to rouse Spike on our way out. He wouldn't want to miss out on a pancake breakfast. I packed a few cold pancakes and a bunch of oat bars in my saddle bags and left them by the door on our way out. Pinkie and I stepped out into the dawn light.

It wasn't as cold this morning as it had been a few mornings ago, but there was still a touch of frost on the ground. Pinkie was running au naturelle, so I left my scarf and headband at home. We trotted off into town and went to the town center for Mayor Mare's pep talk and to join our herd. There we saw Rainbow Dash and Applejack in with the north woods runners and Fluttershy, Amethyst Star and Rarity rallying the critter care team. It was well past sunup before we had our numbers pasted to our flanks and we had cantered over to the starting line. Spike was there to officiate the start of the race. All the teams started at the same time, but their finish was dictated by the length of the circuit they were running. The sheer number of ponies running together causes the deciduous effect to spread far and wide through the woodlots, but having a few teams on different paths ensures clearing all the trees around Ponyville. If the leaves don't fall, more winter snow gets trapped by the branches. The snow laden branches then get too heavy and they break. Spike gave us the ready, get set call, and we were off and running!

Pinkie and I ran by the book, pacing ourselves until the last two furlongs where we sped up to a full gallop and sprinted to the finish line. We passed a lot of ponies but there were some really good runners in our group. I came in fifth again. Pinkie came in fourth. It's still funny to see the looks of shock on the faces of the exhausted ponies we galloped past on our way to the finish.

After catching our breath, we went to join the ponies raking up the fallen leaves, swinging by the castle on the way so I could collect my saddle bags. Pinkie and I shared a few oat bars. The rest of the day was spent raking leaves, rounding up critters, distributing supplies to the animal care team, and checking checklists. Then Cloudsdale's clouds arrived, laden with snow. Our day was over, I invited all my friends over to the castle for an early supper and we got inside just before it started snowing really hard. White-out conditions.

After supper, full of rich Ponyville hay and hot chocolate, we stepped out into a world gone white. The weather ponies had already cleared the clouds so above our heads the stars twinkled and at our feet countless hoof-made snowflakes glittered in the moonlight. I called for a Winter Moon Festival, with just the six of us, to celebrate the beginning of three months of rest, and to celebrate our Princess of the Night. There are also meteors galloping the skies tonight. We got out the picnic blanket, a bunch of horse blankets, and some snacks. Rarity found some candles.

We found a good spot in a field and spread our picnic blanket. Rarity stamped holes in the snow to shelter the candles and we huddled together and passed the snacks. It was very peaceful. While the land slumbered under a blanket of white and Luna's sky sparkled, we counted shooting stars.

Autumn is over. Winter began today.