Jedishy

Winter Bolts head ducked down a little bit at the question. It was something he hated to think about. The arguments, the scoldings, always feeling like he didn't measure up. He knew they meant well most of the time. But no matter how hard he tried to explain he just could not get them to understand. They had even scolded him at his uncles' memorial service for making it snow even though he knew his uncle would have loved to see one more snowfall with him. After that scolding and the lecture about a lack of proper work he just left before dawn and had only written them once or twice. He had gotten one response letter and then silence. So he had figured they preferred his absence and decided to only visit if he had news for them. " I used to. But they never understood that I am not like them. I might be a skilled weather pony if they gave me the chance but any mistakes hurt their reputation with Manehattens upper crust. So they wanted me to get into something more out of sight and quietly respectable. I just could not deal with salad fork goes on the right Winter Bolt, why have you not found a nice mare to settle with Winter Bolt, manual labor is unbecoming your station son... any longer. So after my uncle passed we argued, I left and I have not returned since. They have not even written to me in the last year or so. The way I see it there is less for them to be embarrassed by the less I show myself." Honey Leaf looked up and her eyes grew wide. The sight of her son with Equestrian royalty was so shocking as to seem a prank. She excused herself from her current conversation with the Mayor and headed towards them. As she grew close a tinge of sadness haunted her features. She seemed to be bracing herself for something as she approached. Her son was so much bigger then she remembered him. He appeared to have matured a lot in his travels. But the news she must pass on was not something age made any easier. She bowed low to Princess Luna and then looked her son in the eyes so as to get this over with. " Winter ... honey your father has passed. I tried to find out where you were so I could tell you the news myself but you move around so much.... He had been on his final project trying to view some star that he could only see from the Yaket Mountain Range. There was an accident and they could not get your father out in time. I'm so sorry honey we could not find you and so we had a small ceremony next to your Uncle Spring Steps marker. " She nuzzled him but Winter Bolt felt numb. Sure they had fought. Sure his father annoyed him. But Comet Tail was always supposed to be there to lecture him. There was always supposed to time to fix things. Lack of food and shock caught up with him. He swayed on his hooves and looked faint. Staggering slightly he accidentally bumped Princess Luna before bracing himself. He stood there as if frozen while Honey Leaf looked at Princess Luna with a small smile. " My son is stronger then he seems Princess and despite our differences, I get the feeling you have something important in mind for him. I also know he will want to rush home with me. But that won't fix things. He needs to sort this out on his own. In time I will send him his fathers letters and some of his inheritance but I know as all mothers do that he is not ready for that. I also know that whatever you have in mind is the key to his fulfillment. Can you please watch over him and pass on this letter when he recovers?" The older mare bows and passes the Princess a letter that contains both her and her late husband's writing. She then slips away knowing that Winter Bolt always did the best processing these things with friends rather than family. She loved her son and understood him better then he knew. With a mothers intuition and the perspective of age, she trusted her sons' fate to the Princess she knew he admired for so long.

At the mention of the various food Winter Bolts' stomach let out a loud rumble. His ears folded a little in embarrassment but he grinned sheepishly in spite of himself. His mind wandered to all the places mentioned and suddenly his eyes light up like a Hearths Warming Eve fire. He could think of one food he had traveled back to a two to try again and he just had to have it if could. "Princes, does this party happen to have the cheese covered hay fries that they make in Fillydelphia? Also if the Apple family is making some of the food I would love one of their fritters. Oooh, I hope you have tried them. I only had one once in Appleloosa when I was working a field for some friend or relative of theirs out that way. But it was so good even after being sent from Ponyville. Speaking of Ponyville ya know I think its the one part of Equestria that Ive never set hoof in?" He looked around finally feeling more relaxed at Gala and started to see that many of the ponies he met in his travels were in attendance. What astonished him were how many were smiling and giving little waves or nods of greeting. He was starting to feel a bit confused as he had always messed up something for these ponies. Be it upending apple carts or burying a town in too much snow. But it appeared that none held a grudge. He tried to smile back and wave feeling a bit overwhelmed but the sudden feeling of acceptance. The range of emotions that ran across his muzzle were almost comical from a quizzical crease to elated smiles. He seemed to be cycling through them faster then they were walking. Then straight ahead of him was his mother Honey Leaf was talking to the Mayor of Manehatten. She seemed slightly older then he remembered with more grey around her muzzle. Seeing her made Winter Bolt Flinch reflexively half expecting a scolding on sight. But hunger won over fear and he turned to Luna "Princess that is my mother over by the food tables. I suppose I should say hello before grabbing some food. Its been a while since I have been home. Not since my Uncle Spring Steps passing in fact."

With a whinny of laughter, Winterbolt remembered the only time he had overindulged in drink. It was in some small town farm between Ponyville and Fillydelphia. He had been invited to partake in some of the hard cider from that year's crops after helping the local weather patrol clear the sky. Not realizing his limits he had a few too many cups and ended up sleeping in a haystack before waking to a terrible headache and flying crookedly into the barn doors. That had made for a long walk home to visit his Uncle. With a slight frown, he realized how many of his happy memories revolved around Spring Step. " I wouldn't mind a drink or two. It might relax me a bit. But I've never been much of a party pony so Ill have to be careful. Then again I can't recall the last party I've been to so that could explain my lack of experience." With his consistent traveling and failure to give other ponies, a chance Winter Bolt had spent nearly every birthday since he left home camped out in some remote location between towns. He only remembered he missed it when one of his parents' letters with a few bits in it reached him each year. Thinking about his parents he wondered how they were doing. If his mothers' research on zap apples had ever gone anywhere and if his father was enjoying his retirement from Manehattens astronomers guild. He would have to remember to try to write them before he left Canterlot. "Princess do you think we might get something to eat before we find our way to the drinks table?" He was suddenly feeling the impact of traveling for a full day to get here and then spending most of his remaining bits to get a room. Sure he could always message his parents and they would find a way to get him some bits. But he was so dead set against that, that he never asked them for so much as a blanket since he left home. His stomach rumbled and he felt woozy on his hooves for a moment. Shaking his head he cleared the fog and prepared to find a bite to eat.

Winter Bolt thought of all the different ponies he had encountered and considered his view on the party with a slight frown. He did not want to come off as insulting but he was never comfortable in such settings. Yet as he silently contemplated the faces he had seen they had all been full of joy and excitement. Could he really put down an event that was clearly special to so many? Just because he had been given a negative view of such parties from youth did not mean that they felt that way to everypony else. With a slight sigh he looked up and spoke without worrying about how he might sound. " Well Princess it seems to make everypony but me happy to be at such parties. Which has to mean that there is something good to all of this. But for me it just makes me aware of how much I dont fit in. So many rules and expectations of behavior. How to dress, how to eat, how to speak to the ponies that matter. Its all just a cluster of rules that always confused me. Ever since I was a colt I embarrassed my parents at parties and in high society in general. So even if the common pony folk are here it just reminds me of that." With the truth out there Winter Bolt wondered if he had done it again. Messed up something else and so he would have to move on. Not that he had anywhere to go. There was hardly a town in all of Equestria that he had not set hoof in and bungled something. Never anything as bad as his first winter storm but always something. Or a string of small something. Had any pony been given the chance to tell him he would know that it never really bothered anypony. But not wanting to face rejection he always flew out of town as mysteriously as he arrived. So he thought far worse of himself then anypony he had ever met. Its amazing the damage two well-meaning but distant parents could do with just a few scoldings.

Stuff like this turns my stomach. Its thugs thinking that because they do not like something they have the right to cause damage to other people and property. This sort of thing makes me want a walled city that they can just be dropped off in and left to fend for themselves.

Winter felt both a twinge of happiness and yet a sinking feeling at the words of Princess Luna. He knew too well how it felt to never be given a chance. To always be judged by your past but to never be seen for the deeds you do to make up for it. No pony in the upper crust of Manehatten ever gave him a chance either. He was always Winterbolt the clumsy, Winter Bolt the unrefined. Her words touched the reason for his wandering at its core. He was moved deeply and a sort of kind sadness overtook his features. "Princess I can understand how you feel. Nopony ever lets my past go either. At least in Manehatten. They always assume I'll mess something up. Even when I am getting pleading letters to help kick off a scheduled storm or fix a slow start or wrap up to winter. If only ponies would actually get to know you. I think they fear you because they fear the dark for some silly reason. I have traveled from one side of Equestria to the other and I dont understand how nopony has come to see the beauty of a cool night. The moon flickering over the mountains of Appleloosa , the night breeze making ripples across the Winsome Falls, even the golden twilight shining between the buildings of Manehatten. It's all beautiful if you look for it. But so many ponies are so worried they cant open their eyes...." Realizing he was rambling about his travels Winter Bolt trailed off blushing a bit. He scuffed his hoof against the gravel of the garden path. He hadn't meant to ramble about his travels and how much the night had meant to him to royalty. He just felt so free around Princess Luna that he could speak all the hidden thoughts that normally only found a voice in his dreams. Then he wondered silently if she knew all this already. She was the Princess of the Moon and guardian of dreams after all. He tilted his head and wondered if there was more to this invitation then just a simple thank you. With the fear and self-doubt fading Winter Bolts' natural talkativeness and desire to be helpful were coming out. He was torn between gabbing the Princesses ear off and hanging onto her every word. It was like finding a place in Equestria for the first time. Only that place was somepony and that pony happened to be royalty.

As soon as Lunas' wing touched him all embarrassment, fear, or self-doubt fled Winter Bolt like a snow dusting at the start of winter wrap up. His wings relaxed from his body slightly and his muscles once taut with stress relaxed. When his bliss addled finally registered the words being spoken to him Winter Bolt let out a soft chuckle and shook his head gently. No Princess I dont have any other duties. The last responsibility I had was finishing apple bucking a south field for a few bits in Appleosa. I finished that up and made my way to Canterlot as soon as I got the invitation." He was so happy to be accepted by some pony, any pony. He couldn't even find it in himself to be embarrassed that he did hard labor most years just to get by. Nor by the fact that currently, he had his last two bits in his saddlebag back at his room. Right now he felt he could take on the world and that no matter what came he could handle it. He had not felt this way since the day he got his cutie mark. Despite what the Princess said he would always credit her faith in him for giving him the courage to ignore his grounding and going to help with winter in Manehatten anyhow. All though his parents did scold the horseshoes off him for causing a blizzard that canceled school for all the colts and fillies. His little game almost impacted the mayors' dinner for some important pony that was due in town that week too. But it hadn't mattered. The smiles of the young ponies and the appearance of his cutie mark had made it all worth it. Plus he had found out that he could whip up a storm that even experienced weather ponies had trouble stopping. The memory made him chuckle out loud garnering further scornful noises from the wealthy benefactor that whose name Winter Bolt couldn't even recall at the moment. But none of that registered. He was too happy. His sapphire necklace caught a bit of light and almost seemed to sparkle at the young ponies happiness. Finally coming out of his own head he looked at Luna with a small smile. " Princess, I do not wish to sound ungrateful but what made you invite me? I'm nopony.... heck I'm not even allowed to help with winter in Manehatten anymore after earning my cutie mark. That storm earned my mark and a place in the Manehatten Tribune for shutting down some rather important events. I am a vagabond that has no home and messes up things most places I got. That is why I've never settled down. I mess things up for everypony anywhere I go. I mean even helping in Appaloosa I managed to almost flatten my employer when I tried to use a bit of wind to help get the apples down and to market faster. Its why I leave every town and city I visit. I always mess something up. What could somepony as important as you want with a nopony like me? " He was so happy to be here. So happy to be speaking honestly to somepony that seemed to care that despite the sadness that the words might have conveyed he was smiling. He spoke with earnest curiosity. Not the normal trepidation and sadness that would accompany the realities of why he never settled anywhere.

Hearing a soft voice speak his name Winter Bolt looked to spot Princess Luna only a foot or two at most in front of him. He backed up out of shock but remembering his manner he managed to turn it into a clumsy bow that brought an all to familiar snicker from his mothers' benefactor that had somehow weaseled his way closer as the crowd parted for the Princess. Winter Bolt's ears flattened at the sound that had often been followed by a talking to at the hooves of his father. He loved is father Comet Tail dearly but far too often had some petty breach of an unknown rule of etiquette gotten him in trouble. All of this passed the across the young ponies features in a millisecond. Being naturally quick of mind and body his emotions flew just as rapidly as he did when he took to the sky. Mustering his dignity he bowed deeper and spoke clearly so as to ensure he was heard. " Very well Princess Luna. I thank you for inviting me to the Gala. How did your invitation even manage to find me out near the Appleloosan wilds? " He flinched inwardly about mentioning his wandering so publicly. But it's not like it was any big secret. He was a well known among the Manehatten upper crust for his vagabond nature. Its not like he could pretend that he did not roam as he did. Why would he even want to? No not with his Princess. She would get his honesty. Even if he worried it made him look bad he could never hide anything from the only other pony to support his dreams. When he lost his uncle she became the only soul in Equestria that he had taken comfort it. Funny what one talk a decade ago could do for a pony. Standing from his bow Winterbolt was not sure if he should look her directly in the eyes. Which was the proper manner in which to engage one of Equestrias rulers? He thought about it for just a moment. He remembered Princess Luna's return and how it felt to be an outcast. Gathering his wits he smiled with a warmth that he rarely managed when dealing with others. The true care he had for his Princess showed through and he whispered softly. " Thank you for the guidance, Princess. I got my cutie mark that same week. "

Winter Bolt managed to find his voice and let out a soft " Yes Sir" Headed in the direction he was pointed the Pegisis made his way into the gardens. Seeing many a pony had decided to enjoy the rare opportunity to see the famed gardens of the palace. He weaved in and out of the crowd until he could start to see the pond that the guards must have meant. As he got closer his movement slowed as if the reality of who he was about to meet was setting in. He tried to calm his nerves. He had met the Princess once before. She had been so kind to him encouraging him not to give up on his dreams of sharing winter joy with everypony. That was the same week he got his cutie mark. He could just start to hear what he thought was Princess Luna when he saw the solid mass of ponies. He knew he had to be close but how to get through? Looking for an opening he almost hid in the foliage of the garden when he spotted a pony that he knew from one of his parent's many parties. This particular pony had always been rude to him but he could never say anything in return as he was a huge benefactor for his mother. He had the bits to fund over half of Honey Leafs research into botany. Knowing his mother if she were here she would likely be in the garden as would his father to see the night sky. Ducking out of sight Winter Bolt found his way around the edges of the crowd. He could now see the Princess talking to a few ponies at the center of the large circle near the pond. He slid closer being sure to keep his wings tightly tucked to avoid bumping anypony. As he got right up to the edge of the crowd he realized he had no idea of the official protocol for addressing a Princess or introducing himself. He was unsure if he should interrupt as he was expected. Or is there somepony he should talk to so as to be announced and brought forward. The formalities of these sort of events always made him feel caged in. Looking up at the clear night sky he longed to spread his wings and take to the clouds. At least there nopony would judge his clothing or speech. He didnt have to worry about formal greetings or guards warning him to not seem threatening. Heck even hungry the clouds were better then a party full of fancy foods he was not even sure if he'd like. Maybe he could ask Princess Luna for some advice on how to find his place in all of this. If only he could figure out how to greet her without being rude or cutting off some important guest or dignitary. Because with all the common ponies around there were still plenty of ponies of influance that he could upset. Other than making it snow that was his one true talent.

Nodding to the guards Winter Bolt took a deep breath and stepped forward and into the Gala. Why was Princess Luna was eager to see him? Why on earth would royalty want to mingle with him? His parents' friends could barely cover their disdain for his vagabond lifestyle. They always greeted the topic of his connection to his parents with pity at best or disgust at worst when it came to the distinction between the two worlds they lived in. So why on earth would royalty want to mingle with a homeless pony that does odd jobs to get by? His head spun around and around with reasons dismissing them as fast as he came up with them. He was so lost in through he had not even noticed how deeply into the Gala he had wandered until the scent of the food tables hit him. As he reached the food his stomach growled and he was tempted to grab a bite to eat. But he had no idea of the etiquette here. Did he mingle first and then find Princess Luna? Would it be rude to keep his hostess waiting? Could his stomach handle any food even if eating first was not rude? Would the fact that he had to choose between his room near here to accept the invite and eating dinner the night before impact him? This was why he wandered so often and took joy in simply helping with the weather.... snow he understood. Politics and other ponies not so much. Deciding at the very least to get a small glass of cider to get some sugar for energy and to not have a parched muzzle in case he was expected to talk a lot he walked down to the end of the row of tables. Carefully he filled a small cup with cider and started to sip it. This had to be the best cider he had ever tasted... he let out a soft whinny of enjoyment as he took a deeper sip of the drink. Starting to relax a little he looked around and saw that the guards were right. The place was filled with ponies that he would have seen anywhere in Equestria not just in the Manehatten elite circles. At the very least this made him feel a bit better. He wondered if anyone he knew from his wanderings were here. Then he remembered he ought to seek out the Princess first. Looking around he spotted the lavender armored Lunar guard. But he could not spot the Princess. Was she over there or where these guards set for another function at the Gala? Should he approach them or wait to be called? Not wanting to upset the Princess he so admired he started forward slowly looking around hoping to spot some sign that he was in the right place. He moved past many a pony before he got close enough to the guards that he thought he could be heard. Their cat-like eyes were even more imposing than the regular guard out front. He hesitated to speak up but knew that he could not dally all night. So he took a breath and mustered his courage to ask where he ought to go....

Winter Bolt stepped out of the carriage flexing his wings a bit. The crowds and glitter of the event were foreign to him. As a habitual traveler, he was not used to dressing up at all never mind finding himself with the upper echelons of Equestrian elite. His outfit was simple and if his parents saw it they would be sure to give him the withering looks of disapproval he always got when he was not as wound up as they are about appearance and approval. He wore the simple silver and sapphire necklace his uncle Spring Step had given him when he got his cutie mark. Other than that he had bought a sharp looking vest in a deep black with silver trim to offset his light blue and that was it. He knew it very possible for his parents to be at the Gala as they were important ponies in their field and often got tickets for one reason or another. He feared seeing them as not only did he not want comments about his simple outfit. But worse he had not been home since his uncles passing and did not wish to face the questions about his life that he always heard when he got home. He stood off to one side watching one of the ponies he shared a carriage with speak to a guard. He did not know if he could go in. But could he leave? I mean a princess of Equestria had invited him. Should he not at least pay his respects to her for that? He had always loved the Royalty of Equestria ever since Princess Luna had encouraged him to not give up on his dreams in a nightmare he was having about never being able to help with winter again. It was her advice that had set him roaming to find the place she believed he had.... Taking a deep breath he stepped towards the guard with his invitation out. He knew that he would be uncomfortable in what he always deemed his parents world. But he trusted the Princesses had a reason for inviting them all.

They can be crispy or not. It does not matter. So long as its a taco shaped its a taco. That is from my Mexican father. Now in Mexico, most people prefer non fried tacos and they do not put rice or beans. But rather just meat and veggies like tomato. However, that is a preference not law. The comparison stands as its comparing foods that have many spins or takes on them but are not fake.

Have you tried gifts of choloroform and duct tape? Doc I have insomnia what do I do

Aaah well for next time then lol

I highly suggest you use them. They soften, straighten, keep neat, and prevent split ends. Never mind that they smell great. I suggest BadAss Beard Care or Grave before shave personally.

Funerals are a way to grieve those we lost. They are for the living not the dead. Its a time to process the fact that you wont see them again ( at least not in this life if you believe in that sort of thing ). So no funerals are far from pointless.

Bro have you tried beard products at all?

Im not. Its that simple. I am dangerously overweight for my size and am working on diet and exercise. Replacing smoking with comfort food was just as bad for my health. Now I gotta pay the price to fix it.

I use resistance bands and body weight exercises for strength training. My cardio is HEMA and Lightsaber training.

Its a pain being the oldest. When your parents are busy you become defacto parent for your younger siblings. When times get hard you have to be the understanding one because you are the oldest. I had to run the house when my mom had cancer and my dad worked triple shifts to pay the bills. So trust me I get it.