private A New Life: Manehattan Story

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

She sniffed. "Why did you wake up so early? Other than maybe visiting my mum, we don't really have any plan for today, right?"

 

 

He hated lying, even if it was minor, but he had to in this case...

 

"No, not much, though I was thinking I would go out for a small walk before we start the day off. While you're in the bathroom getting ready, I think it's fair that I get to do some sight-seeing." He smiled innocently once more. "This is Manehattan after all. One place I've never been until these last few days. Will you be okay alone for a short while?"

 

On the inside, he could feel himself getting very, very excited about his master plan. If he was lucky, or cocky, he could probably propose by this afternoon.

 

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

"No, not much, though I was thinking I would go out for a small walk before we start the day off. While you're in the bathroom getting ready, I think it's fair that I get to do some sight-seeing." He smiled innocently once more. "This is Manehattan after all. One place I've never been until these last few days. Will you be okay alone for a short while?"

 

"Um, sure." Winterglade was a bit doubtful on why Fender would want to go alone. One of the possibilities is that he would go to visit her father for a second time, but for what? She knew more than anypony else that her father was as stubborn as a brick at the bottom of the dam. She wanted to go along with him, but ultimately decided that if Fender wanted a time for himself, best she could do was to believe him.  she slid to step down from the bed. "Just promise me to be careful, all right? And... Can you buy some lunch while you're at it?"

[Fender 1,283]

"Just promise me to be careful, all right? And... Can you buy some lunch while you're at it?"

 

He smiled at her concern. "I will. I'll be back before you know it, and I'll have some lunch in store." He said proudly. 

 

He walked out of the inn, the front desk mare winking at him in acknowledgement, him chuckling in excitement. It took him only a few minutes to find the restaurant the mare told him about, then headed into the building to the left of that.

 

He saw an older mare running around frantically talking to people about planning birthdays, and saw a familiar young mare and her mother, the two who had seen him flirt with Winterglade at the market. He and the mares exchanged a wave. A stallion nearby was talking to his freind about how good-looking one of the mares in the room looked. The place seemed quite busy. He approached the mare who was running around between her clients, and politely asked her the question: "Do you plan weddings?" She stopped, dead in her tracks, and turned to him immediately. She beamed, "Did you say wedding?" She was practically putting her face against his, "Uh, yeah, well...it won't be for a little while, I still have to propose." He grinned defensively. "This is lovely! I cannot tell you how long I've waited to do a wedding again!" her eccentricity almost bothered Fender; almost, because he felt it too. "Yeah well...is there anything I should do when I propose...like, get her something? I'm new to this..." He blushed slightly, in embarrassment. She slowed down now, "Well, you're a nice fellow, a bit naive mind you, but nice. I'll be completely honest with you...there is not a single item in Equestria that can tell her how much you love her, but there is just one pony who can. That's you. Now, you don't have to have some huge speech- though that might help- you just need to get the point across to her that you love her, that's it."  she grew a mischievous grin, "Now if she's smiling, and bawling, and saying she loves you, you know you've done it right." Fender's face blankened, and the mare laughed at him heartily. "Now, you just go propose...and leave the wedding planning to me." "Right, uh, I'll do that...I'll be back later." He said with a slightly uneasy voice, "Oh and you can bring her along too!" the mare said, as Fender was walking out. Outside, he heard somepony shout the word "Wedding" inside, and some staff members cheer. Fender couldn't help but think they were slightly crazy, and himself crazy for not being as excited. "I guess I just gave them some work they enjoy or something..." he mumbled to himself.

 

After around an hour of just walking around the city, pondering what he would do, he needed to stop to exhale some of the stress. He hated not knowing what to do. Didn't everypony? Well, he did. He had to do something... "Hot Wing! Oh...Celestia...I hope he's okay with this." 

 

He flew to Winterglade's family's residence and caught Hot Wing just outside, "Hot Wing! Wait!" He called as he got to him. "I need help."

Edited July 14, 2013 by Becker (Fender)

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

He smiled at her concern. "I will. I'll be back before you know it, and I'll have some lunch in store." He said proudly.

 

Winterglade chuckled and waved a parting hoof. It looked like Fender was beaming at the prospect of something. What could it be? She locked the door when Fender trotted out and turned to inspect the room. The fruit leftover was still there, and the bed sheet could really use some cleaning. After what happened on it last night, she would be surprised if it wouldn't smell funny later. She blushed and bounced gleefully to the bed and started pulling it off. She still couldn't believe what had happened last night. She was expecting it wouldn't be before a year before she can experience such thing, but the goddess of fortune smiled at her.

 

Oh well, time to get washing, thought Winterglade as she made her way to the laundry, bringing along her the dirty bed sheet and a soap bar.

 

***

 

Hot Wing was about to start his day by spoiling himself with some algae buns when Fender suddenly flew in out of nowhere

 

 

 

He flew to Winterglade's family's residence and caught Hot Wing just outside, "Hot Wing! Wait!" He called as he got to him. "I need help."

 

Hot Wing tensed. This early in the morning, his mind still reeled from the dream he had last night. He quickly turned and dashed to Fender, worry in his face. "What is it? Did something happened to my sister!?"

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

He quickly turned and dashed to Fender, worry in his face. "What is it? Did something happened to my sister!?"

 

 

"What? No! Not yet anyway..." He grinned uneasily, and inhaled largely, "...I want to propose to Winterglade." he breathed out the sentence very quickly. "But holy cow, I just don't know how to do it...I take pride in my own charm, but I just feel like there's nothing I haven't said yet...I want to make this special for her."

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

"What? No! Not yet anyway..." He grinned uneasily, and inhaled largely, "...I want to propose to Winterglade." he breathed out the sentence very quickly. "But holy cow, I just don't know how to do it...I take pride in my own charm, but I just feel like there's nothing I haven't said yet...I want to make this special for her."

 

Hot Wing was literally mere fraction-second away from dishing out a good punching when Fender said 'not yet anyway,' but he recoiled back when Fender continued. He wanted to propose his sister. It was indeed a good news, the thought of seeing his youngest sibling in a wedding dress drove the stallion to the brink of tearful smile.

 

"Fender," Hot wing held back an urge to cackle maniacally. He stepped closer and patted him over the shoulder. "You want to propose my sister? That's wonderful! If her letters are to be believed, seeing you standing real close is already special enough for her. No need for anything fancy, lest you will only end up freaking her out."

 

Hot Wing tapped his chin. He was not exactly the best stallion when it came to marriage stuff, heck he was still struggling to keep his own relationship afloat. "I'm not sure on how a stallion should proceed on the proposing stuff. You should try to ask my other sister, Autumn Glow. I'm sure you still remember her from the night before-"

 

"Marriage??"

 

Hot Wing let out an uncharacteristic yelp when Autumn Glow's head suddenly appeared from below the cloud. The mare was sporting an almost manic grin. "Please tell me I didn't misheard. Fender is going to propose my little snow?" Hot Wing nodded once. The mare squeed loudly as if she had just won a lottery. "Oh Luna this is priceless! Come with me, we have a lot to do!" Autumn Glow jumped out of her cloud cover and forcefully yanked Fender from his hooves, dragging him into the window on the far end of the house. Her own private room.

 

Autumn Glow dumped Fender on her bed while she quickly disappeared into a huge closet. The bedroom was surprisingly spacious, what few furniture were spaced evenly in the room. Other than a huge jug of water in the middle and the large closet near the door, it was unremarkable in every way. "Pay no mind to whatever Hot Wing said to you, he can't even convince is marefriend that he's not a serial killer. You will have to look your best when proposing to my sis. Only the greatest clothes!" She flew out from the closet, carrying a black tuxedo that seemed to shone an unworldly sheen under the sunlight. She shove it to Fender and dove back to the closet. "Suit up and try it. Oh gosh I hope that fits you," she said from inside the closet.

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"Fender," Hot wing held back an urge to cackle maniacally. He stepped closer and patted him over the shoulder. "You want to propose my sister? That's wonderful! If her letters are to be believed, seeing you standing real close is already special enough for her. No need for anything fancy, lest you will only end up freaking her out."   Hot Wing tapped his chin. He was not exactly the best stallion when it came to marriage stuff, heck he was still struggling to keep his own relationship afloat. "I'm not sure on how a stallion should proceed on the proposing stuff. You should try to ask my other sister, Autumn Glow. I'm sure you still remember her from the night before-"

 

Fender took in whatever information he could until...

 

 

 

"Marriage??"

 

 

His face blankened. He didn't dislike Autumn, though her pushiness and eccentricity had a tendency to be bothersome.

 

 

 

"Oh Luna this is priceless! Come with me, we have a lot to do!" Autumn Glow jumped out of her cloud cover and forcefully yanked Fender from his hooves, dragging him into the window on the far end of the house. Her own private room.

 

 

There was nothing he could do to resist, he swore this mare had the strength of an adult dragon...

 

 

 

"Pay no mind to whatever Hot Wing said to you, he can't even convince is marefriend that he's not a serial killer. You will have to look your best when proposing to my sis. Only the greatest clothes!" She flew out from the closet, carrying a black tuxedo that seemed to shone an unworldly sheen under the sunlight. She shove it to Fender and dove back to the closet. "Suit up and try it. Oh gosh I hope that fits you," she said from inside the closet.

 

 

Fender had no comment about what she said about Hot Wing, when he started trying the Tuxedo on, in fear that Autumn may bite him if he didn't, he noticed it was snug...a bit too snug, he had to force it off of him. "Yeah, that's not exactly fitting very well. Hey Autumn, don't get me wrong, it's nice...but I want to surprise her." Then the thought hit him like a light turning on, "OH! I've got something, nothing too incredibly fancy, but I think she might like it...how do you feel about making it snow?" Before the mare could answer, he continued "Think about it....make it snow a bit on part of the streets, I could lead her out...and..." His heart sort of fluttered a bit, realizing what he was going to end up doing, "...propose marriage to the most wonderful mare in existence!" He wanted to facehoof, realizing that might've hurt Autumn's feelings, but he was too caught up in his idea. "What do you think?"

[Starshine 16,334]

Deep inside the closet, Autumn Glow hummed to herself as she rummaged through her collection of hats. Bowlers, fedoras, stetsons, berets, aviators, even turbans and what looked to be upside-down top hats. Some had claimed that her collections were a bit too much, now she had spent more than a minute drowned between them, the mare had to agree that maybe those ponies were right. She was fishing out a fancy bowler hat when Fender spoke.

 

 

 

"Yeah, that's not exactly fitting very well. Hey Autumn, don't get me wrong, it's nice...but I want to surprise her."

 

Autumn Glow trotted out, bowler hat hung on her snout. She pouted slightly when Fender said that the tux didn't fit very well with him. She had saved that particular piece of clothing just for this exact moment. Now she had to had that suit refitted.

 

 

 

hen the thought hit him like a light turning on, "OH! I've got something, nothing too incredibly fancy, but I think she might like it...how do you feel about making it snow?" Before the mare could answer, he continued "Think about it....make it snow a bit on part of the streets, I could lead her out...and..." His heart sort of fluttered a bit, realizing what he was going to end up doing, "...propose marriage to the most wonderful mare in existence!" He wanted to facehoof, realizing that might've hurt Autumn's feelings, but he was too caught up in his idea. "What do you think?"

 

"That sounds wonderful! Fantastic!" Autumn Glow swooned and clapped her forehooves together, the fancy bowler now on the top of her head. She was glad that Winterglade had picked a stallion who had an eye for this kind of thing. "But... I don't think we can make it snowing in a city block without upsetting those weather goons in Cloudsdale, not to mention nopony in this family but Winter can make any snow. Hot Wing's is a search light, mine is a torch, father and mother are pulleys and rain waters. Don't let Winty's punches fool you, nopony can match her in the term of snowmaking." She pointed to her cutie mark, a lit torch titled slightly to the front. The plan was too gorgeous to be cancelled, it was a big match with her sister's cutie mark after all, but the lack of any snowmaker wouldn't make it easy. Hard, but not exactly impossible. She would have to pull some strings to make it happen. "Eh, don't worry about it! I can get some friends of mine to make the snow for you. Do you have any exact date on when you would propose her?"

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"Eh, don't worry about it! I can get some friends of mine to make the snow for you. Do you have any exact date on when you would propose her?"

 

 

"Well, good, good. Actually...I was hoping for...today." He really hoped she could pull through with this. "Hey, and...do you think you can pull together your family, whoever of it you can, and come along to watch? I love an audience." He grinned. It was short notice, but he hoped it could come together, he was almost completely confident that nothing could go wrong.

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

"Well, good, good. Actually...I was hoping for...today." He really hoped she could pull through with this. "Hey, and...do you think you can pull together your family, whoever of it you can, and come along to watch? I love an audience."

 

The fancy bowler hate fell from Autumn Glow's head. She blinked a few times, seemingly in doubt on what she had just heard. "Uh... Today? As in this day today? Before the midnight?" she stuttered. She paused for a few moments before galloped out of the room in panic. She came back with her mother in tow and a bedazzled Hot Wing, his saddlebag's content spilled all over the place. Before anypony could say anything Autumn Glow yelled, "It's today! The proposal, oh Celestia I need to tell Golden Patch and others. She can help with the snow!" before flying away to Celestia knows where. Morning Mist stood there in silence, partially in disbelief and amazement.

 

Morning Mist chuckled to herself. Her eldest daughter can be quite a handful at times. She looked at Fender and the tuxedo near him and smiled. "Are you sure that you are ready? There is no need to rush such important decision, you know," she said softly. Next to her, Hot Wing grunted as he righted himself onto his hooves.

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"Are you sure that you are ready? There is no need to rush such important decision, you know," she said softly.

 

 

"Well, it's not entirely rushed..." He smiled, "...I've dreamt of this moment for my entire life...and dreamt of it even more in the past month, and even more-so in the past few days." His heart fluttered once again, his brain screamed "What are you doing?!" while his heart screamed, "You know exactly what you're doing!" And he did know what he was doing...but, "Well, to answer your question, I don't think I could ever be ready for this." At this point his heart was pounding, he took a deep breath, and slowed himself. A confident smile grew across his face, "I may not be prepared, but by Celestia, I am going to give this everything I've got." He walked to the side of Morning Mist, "I hope to see you there. For now though, I've gotta go...I promised Winterglade lunch soon. Just tell Autumn to come get us when everything is ready...just keep it a surprise." Fender winked, and began walking out. "Besides," he called back, "I have to think of a good proposal speech!" and with that, he left.

 

He headed straight for the Pegasus-owned restaurant next to the planner building, grabbed some sandwiches, and headed straight back to the inn. Halfway there, he checked to make sure he didn't have any of Autumn's wardrobe on him...he didn't, which was good, frankly...it'd be hard to explain clothes when he practically never wore them. When he got back, the front desk mare, who by now looked like she had taken a small break and had a nap, motioned for Fender to come to her. "Hey again, what's up?" "What did the planner say?" "That I should probably start by proposing, a no-brainer, so that's exactly what I'm gonna do in a bit, but keep it on the hush." He winked. The mare giggled excitedly, "When I see you two leave, I'm gonna go on break, I want a front row seat." Fender chuckled, "See you there then."

 

When Fender worked his way back into the inn room, he called out "Room service! Lunch is served!" in his fake royal voice, with the dumbest grin he thought he had ever had on.

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

"Well, it's not entirely rushed..." He smiled, "...I've dreamt of this moment for my entire life...and dreamt of it even more in the past month, and even more-so in the past few days."

 

... "Well, to answer your question, I don't think I could ever be ready for this." At this point his heart was pounding, he took a deep breath, and slowed himself. A confident smile grew across his face, "I may not be prepared, but by Celestia, I am going to give this everything I've got."

 

Morning Mist could see that Fender, strong his words might be, doubt was clear in his tone. Morning Mist was contemplating to tell him to post pone his plan to later date, but the stallion's eyes... they spoke of great resolution. She couldn't help but to feel elated.

 

 

 

  He walked to the side of Morning Mist, "I hope to see you there. For now though, I've gotta go...I promised Winterglade lunch soon. Just tell Autumn to come get us when everything is ready...just keep it a surprise." Fender winked, and began walking out. "Besides," he called back, "I have to think of a good proposal speech!" and with that, he left.

 

"Very well, I'll inform her about the plan," Morning Mist said. She waved a hoof as Fender flew away to fetch her daughter. She sighed. She had never expected her youngest foal to find a special somepony before her older siblings. Life work in a mysterious ways. Hot Wing cleared his throat and motioned his head to the other stallion in the room. Morning Mist only smiled impassively at the elder stallion, whom only shrugged and walked away, uncaring.

 

***

 

 

 

When Fender worked his way back into the inn room, he called out "Room service! Lunch is served!" in his fake royal voice, with the dumbest grin he thought he had ever had on.

 

Winterglade was busy chewing on an errant strand of mane in front of her face when Fender called in. The bed sheet was finally clean, she felt reluctant to step down from the downy fabric. She chuckled. "Damnit, Fender, you sounds like a misplaced Royal Guard." She opened the door, peering outside. "So, how's the trip?"

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"Damnit, Fender, you sounds like a misplaced Royal Guard." She opened the door, peering outside. "So, how's the trip?"

 

 

He had a hard time hiding how ecstatic he felt, but he repressed some of it. "Great, just great." he said as he walked in, "I've got sandwiches for us." He slid the bag holding the sandwiches off of his neck, then picking it up with his mouth and setting it on the bed...which he notices looked a good bit cleaner, and now had no sort of inn-smell on it...or any others. He almost blushed, but focused his mind elsewhere. "So, let's eat, shall we? I've had a good little stroll and a bit of flying, I could use a bite." He took their sandwiches out of the bag, and then tried to throw a random subject into conversation. Though, for Fender, it may not be entirely random. "Hey, you wonder if Corkscrew is ever gonna try his chances with Fluttershy?" he smiled at the thought of his freind from Ponyville, and let out a small laugh at the thought that maybe whenever Fender and Winterglade got back, they'd see Corkscrew and Fluttershy holding hooves. He started working his way through the sandwich.

[Starshine 16,334]

Winterglade was delighted. Sandwich! Just about time, too, she was dying in hunger. Well, not literally anyway. She quickly dove in and snatched a sandwich before promptly ate it. "You didn't grab a bite while you're out?"

 

 

 

"Hey, you wonder if Corkscrew is ever gonna try his chances with Fluttershy?" he smiled at the thought of his freind from Ponyville

 

The memory of what they did last night wandered back into her mind. Winterglade laughed heartily, a faint blush on her cheeks. "I'm not sure, it's been a while since we heard anything from that yellow pegasus. But yeah, it's not impossible. Maybe we can do a double date?" She chuckled. It felt like just yesterday she had met Corkscrew and others, looking for a lost cat. That was the first time she had heard Fender singing something. "I'm kind of wondering what he and others are doing in Ponyville. That town reeks of chaos."

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"I'm not sure, it's been a while since we heard anything from that yellow pegasus. But yeah, it's not impossible. Maybe we can do a double date?" She chuckled. It felt like just yesterday she had met Corkscrew and others, looking for a lost cat. That was the first time she had heard Fender singing something. "I'm kind of wondering what he and others are doing in Ponyville. That town reeks of chaos."

 

 

"A double date, huh? Well, hopefully everything will be in order when we get back," he chuckled, "whenever that is." 

 

"Wow...what if when we come back, we're married, or engaged. Corkscrew will have a heart attack!" he grinned at the thought of seeing his freind's reaction to he and Winterglade.

 

"So, any extra plans for today?" he asked innocently.

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

"A double date, huh? Well, hopefully everything will be in order when we get back," he chuckled, "whenever that is."

 

Winterglade nodded. Hopefully nothing was wrong back in Ponyville. It wouldn't be so nice to get home and see their house lay in ruin thanks to a rabid mare. She had planned to return home after a week, which is... four days from now.

 

 

 

"So, any extra plans for today?" he asked innocently.

 

She swallowed her sandwich whole. "If it's not a problem, I would like to visit my mother. But if you have any other plan, we can go with that instead." There was a loud knock from the door. "A moment! Let me answer that." She slid down the bed and trotted to the door. A colt cheerfully greeted her and quickly offered her a box of rice biscuit. Winterglade wasn't interested but the colt kept pushing her.

 

While Winterglade was occupied with the colt, a small piece of paper materialized in front of Fender with a small puff of green magic. The paper read, 'Everypony has been informed. Snow team ready. I'm outside the window.' True to the paper, there was a pair of perked cerulean ears and a bright green horn.

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

While Winterglade was occupied with the colt, a small piece of paper materialized in front of Fender with a small puff of green magic. The paper read, 'Everypony has been informed. Snow team ready. I'm outside the window.' True to the paper, there was a pair of perked cerulean ears and a bright green horn.

 

 

Fender couldn't help but grin at the brilliance, he nodded toward the window, and hid the paper under the bed. He quickly finished his sandwich, and went to the door to confront the colt "Hey, thanks buddy, but we're fine." He nodded politely, and gave a quick wink. This was choreographed quite nicely, he had to give them that. "By the way, Winterglade, I almost forgot...I've got something to show you." He smiled, "Mind taking us out to the street?"

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

Hey, thanks buddy, but we're fine." He nodded politely, and gave a quick wink

 

The colt looked honestly disappointed, but nevertheless glad. He gave Fender a wide grin before excusing himself and galloped to the lobby. Winterglade closed the door and rolled her eyes. "Boy scouts. I'm almost wondering that he actually get paid for each sales."

 

 

 

"By the way, Winterglade, I almost forgot...I've got something to show you." He smiled, "Mind taking us out to the street?"

 

"Um... sure." She was rather unsure on how Fender could have anything to show her when he hadn't left the room. She trotted out of the room and looked around for the colt. Maybe that little demon had something to do with it. "What do you want to show me?"

 

 

 

OOC: the moment you left the room, there will be a very localized snowfall around the inn.

 

A bush full of giggling mares at the side of the street is a bonus.

 

 

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"What do you want to show me?"

 

 

"You'll see," He started leading them outside, and when the door opened, a gentle snowfall came down on top of them. Fender couldn't deny that he was nervous, and the little flutters his heart made throughout the day had now grown to a constant flutter residing in his chest. He lead them out into the middle of the street, ponies around them in nearly every direction...Winterglade's family, Autumn Glow's freinds, strangers, even the front desk mare was watching now. When they were in the street, and the snow was creating a blanket on the ground now, Fender stopped them and turned to face Winterglade head on. He took one of her hooves in his own, and began his speech...which was almost entirely unplanned, but he grew confidence when the moment arrived.

 

"Winterglade, may I just tell you how much of a pleasure it is to be by your side for even a moment of my day?" he began, "Every day I get to wake to the most beautiful, most wonderful mare in all of existence.  I couldn't imagine my life without you. If I didn't have you, Winterglade, I would probably still be on the edge of Ponyville...living the same boring day over and over. You make every day amazing, and make my life extraordinary. I want that feeling to last forever, and for me to be able to give it back." His heart was pounding harder than ever before, his confident smile still worn though, he just had to speak the words now: "Winterglade. Will you marry me?" he asked, in a soft, hopeful voice.

 

While he was confident, he still thought this was rather rushed, he felt like he was about to explode waiting for her answer.

[Starshine 16,334]

Winterglade dutifully followed Fender as he led her outside. Strangely the receptionist mare was nowhere to be seen. Her line of thoughts quickly interrupted as a single snow made its way to her snout. Her brain nearly short-circuited from the shock. "S-Snow...?"

 

The snowfall was soft, covering the immediate surrounding area by a layer of pristine snow. It wasn't supposed to be snowing for at least a couple of weeks, but what surprised Winterglade more was the gathered crowd. Her mother, her sister and brother, the receptionist mare, and at least a dozen of strangers, half of which she could vaguely remember as Autumn's colleagues. Her mind whirred to an overdrive trying to discern what was going on here. Fender said he wanted to show something, but... what? Either way, she couldn't help but to start blushing under the crowd's eyes. Fender took one of her hooves, she almost squeaked in surprise.

 

 

 

"Winterglade, may I just tell you how much of a pleasure it is to be by your side for even a moment of my day?" he began, "Every day I get to wake to the most beautiful, most wonderful mare in all of existence. I couldn't imagine my life without you. If I didn't have you, Winterglade, I would probably still be on the edge of Ponyville...living the same boring day over and over. You make every day amazing, and make my life extraordinary. I want that feeling to last forever, and for me to be able to give it back." His heart was pounding harder than ever before, his confident smile still worn though, he just had to speak the words now:

 

Winterglade held her breath. She was flattered that somepony thought so highly of her. She had spent a huge majority of her life being yet another insignificant pony in the whole Equestria, but Fender had given her a new meaning. Without him, Celestia knows where she would've end up right now, and without an anchor such as he, there was a painfully good chance that she would never heard anything about her mother. She gulped, anxious.

 

 

 

"Winterglade. Will you marry me?" he asked, in a soft, hopeful voice.

 

The crucial word. The one that would truly seal her fate. Winterglade closed her eyes. She had been thinking, dreaming, about this very moment since the first night Fender started to sleep under one roof with her, yet hearing it spoken still felt so overwhelming. She wanted it, no, she needed it, very much so, but why did she feel this crippling doubt? She had been used to run and escape from any kind of crisis or danger, it seemed surreal to finally settle down and let somepony else dictate her life for her. She was, in a sense, scared.

 

"I..." Winterglade opened her eyes and met Fender's own. She remembered. It was in that gaze she finally, after almost three years of running, found true peace. After all of those lonely nights and insecurity, she was finally belong. She felt so stupid for doubting Fender, even for an instant. She let out a heartily laugh and walked closer to hug Fender, a single tear rolled down her cheek. "There is only one possible answer, you silly! Of course I would love to be yours."

 

***

 

On the side, Autumn Glow and most other mares swooned. A couple of younger mares bounced in place, ecstatic to get to see this kind of event by firsthoof account. On the left side Morning Mist leaned to her son for support, she beamed at the lovely couple in the middle of the crowd. "It's such a wonderful thing, isn't it?" she asked. Hot Wing only grunted in response. "Say, when will you propose that cute unicorn from before?" At this Hot Wing balked, he could only stutter indignantly until Autumn Glow stepped in.

 

"Shuush! There will be another time for that, for now, it's their time," Autumn Glow motioned to Winterglade and Fender. Morning Mist pouted but ultimately agreed to drop the subject. Hot Wing looked thankful, but it was cut short when Autumn Glow, with leery eyes, said, "I'll give you six months before I finally glue your flank up with your little pup."

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"There is only one possible answer, you silly! Of course I would love to be yours."

 

 

At this, Fender was on the verge of exploding with ecstasy, but he contained himself...at least a little bit. He jumped up and hugged Winterglade, and playfully knocked them both into the snow. He couldn't help himself, the amount of happiness he felt, mixed with the relief of the tense moment's passing was just amazing. "I'm proud to call this mare my fiance!" He called out to the crowd around them. He picked them both up, lowering his voice to a quiet, yet firm tone, he said "So, what do we do next? Lead on, love." He grew a very, very wide smile. So wide he thought he might end up hurting his cheeks, but he couldn't do anything about it. He was too happy not to smile at this point.

[Starshine 16,334]

Winterglade yelped when Fender knocked her down to the snow. She couldn't help but to chortle like it was going out of style. Her snout hurts, but it only add to her mirth. The snow blanket felt particularly soft, so far there was only a few pegasi could make snow like this. She looked at the clouds above. Peering from the edge of the clouds, there were three pegasi mares, all wearing the unique snow division coat. Winterglade recognized two of them as her old friends back then when she was still working there. She excitedly waved a hoof to them and yelled, "thank you for the snow!"

 

 

 

"I'm proud to call this mare my fiance!" He called out to the crowd around them.

 

The crowd cheered as one, one mare could be seen blowing a party horn overhead. Winterglade simply puled Fender for a quick kiss. Autumn Glow was dancing some sort of a weird dance with a very hesitant Hot Wing. One of the ponies even pulled out a camera, Winterglade quickly hid behind Fender, but her father appeared out of nowhere to smack the camera loose. Winterglade mouthed, "thanks," but the elder stallion simply retreated back into behind the crowd.

 

 

 

"So, what do we do next? Lead on, love." He grew a very, very wide smile.

 

"I... don't know?" Winterglade said, a bit confused. She didn't really know what should a mare do in this occasion. The day was still young, going back to bed wouldn't be an option until much later. Her cheeks flustered.  "Um, we can always take my family to lunch. I guess whatever you want to do right now will do. Anyhow, where did you get this many ponies?"

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"Um, we can always take my family to lunch. I guess whatever you want to do right now will do. Anyhow, where did you get this many ponies?"

 

 

"Well, I'm sure a lot of them are strangers...then a bit more of them know Autumn, she helped set this up...then, the front desk mare pretty much watched me plot this out, and then there's your family." he chuckled, "I suppose we could go to your family's house to celebrate. C'mon, let's go talk to them." Fender lead them both over to the group of ponies, and approached Autumn Glow and Hot Wing first, "Hey, thanks for helping me do this Autumn." he smiled politely.

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

"Well, I'm sure a lot of them are strangers...then a bit more of them know Autumn, she helped set this up...then, the front desk mare pretty much watched me plot this out, and then there's your family." he chuckled, "I suppose we could go to your family's house to celebrate. C'mon, let's go talk to them."

 

"Autumn Glow?" Winterglade remarked, eyes widened in surprise. While she knew that her older sister knew some important ponies, it's still surprising to hear that the mare had managed to get this many ponies gathered in a short time. She chuckled, her sister was always a total nuts when it comes to parties or celebrations. "I really have to repay her sometime in the future."

 

 

 

Fender lead them both over to the group of ponies, and approached Autumn Glow and Hot Wing first, "Hey, thanks for helping me do this Autumn." he smiled politely.

 

Some of the crowd slowly dispersed, but it did nothing to dampen the happiness among the pegasi. Autumn Glow playfully slapped Fender's shoulder with a loud smack. "Congrats, big boy! Now you're the part of family!" Autumn Glow cheered, on which Hot Wing agreed. She held his head closer to Fender and whispered, "you still have to wear the tuxedo on the ceremony, and that's final."

 

Morning Mist trotted nearby, she hugged Winterglade. "Congratulation to you too, my dear, it seems you've found yourself the right stallion." Winterglade only laughed sheepishly and returned the hug, smiling apologetically. Morning Mist caught the air, she shook her head and pressed her forehead to Winterglade's. "Don't you mind it. You've given this old mare another reason to smile today."

 

Not too far away, Cypher observed over everypony. He hadn't said anything since Autumn Glow forcefully dragged him from his favorite cushion. He sighed. There was nothing he could to here, soon what left of his role as Winterglade father would be to bring the mare to Fender's waiting hooves in the coming ceremony. Silently he walked away and flew back to his house.

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"Congrats, big boy! Now you're the part of family!"

 

 If anyone asked him what that sentence meant to him, he would tell of one that put an ache in his heart. A lovely ache, but still an ache. "Part of...the family." While Winterglade would always mean the most to him, he had to admit that feeling like he was a part of a family meant a lot as well.

 

 

 

She held his head closer to Fender and whispered, "you still have to wear the tuxedo on the ceremony, and that's final."

 

Fender shook the feelings off, now was not the time.

 

"If I must." Fender nodded with a sarcastic tone, but smiled politely to show whatever he could that he was only joking.

 

"Well, it doesn't have to be a big celebration or anything...but perhaps we could all do something together? The day is still in its early stages."