Disclaimer: I do not own "My Little Pony", the toys/ characters and
everything else belongs to Hasbro.
Dream Valley was covered in a thick layer of snow, icicles hung from the balconies and turrets of Dream Castle and layers of ice covered the moat and streams. Love Letter was gently cantering towards the castle carrying a roll of posters. She dodged the baby ponies having a snowball fight outside the Lullaby Nursery and waved at Peachy and Truly who were supervising.
"What's she doing?" Baby Blossom asked Baby Glory watching the white adult blend into the snow as she hurried away. "They're getting ready for the Midwinter Ball," the small unicorn replied, "Love Letter's in charge, Mama says I'm old enough to stay up for it this year- I can't wait!" As Love Letter reached the castle drawbridge two well aimed snowballs disturbed the two babies and they rejoined the fight.
Love Letter shook her mane once she reached the entrance hall to remove a few loose flakes of snow; she then looked around in pride at the sight that met her eyes. Over the past few days the castle had been transformed into a glittery wonderland, a perfect setting for the extravagant Ball that Love Letter had planned. Garlands of holly and ivy wound down the banisters of the stairs and round the doorways. Two massive fir trees had been brought inside and Twilight and Galaxy had covered them with small magically shining stars. A silk canopy was looping from the ceiling that had also been decked with lights by the talented unicorns. Love Letter walked over to a corner of the hall where one lavender unicorn was tossing her tail and stamping her hooves in frustration.
"Having problems Powder?" Love Letter cheerily asked the grumpy looking unicorn. "These swan sculptures just look wrong, not realistic, and it's not helping that my work area is in the vicinity of the kitchens, everything's melting before I can magically fix them." Powder grumbled. Love Letter regarded the exquisite sculptures, Powder was one of the best artists in Ponyland and her ice sculptures were very sought after, however her temperamental artistic nature often made her overly critical of her work. "They're wonderful Powder, no one else could do such fantastic work," she tried to placate the other pony. "And, I'll try and sort out another work area so you have less melting problems."
"Did I hear someone say melting problems?" came a voice from the stairs. A gust of freezing air rushed past the two ponies and turned a few drips from Powder's sculptures into ice as they fell and they tinkled on the stone as they landed. Love Letter and Powder spun around to see an icy green Clydesdale whose very breath was sending the gust of freezing air towards them. Ice Crystal stopped and sent a charming smile towards the earth pony and unicorn.
"Oooh, Ice Crystal, thank you so much." Love Letter gushed and coyly flicked her hair as the Mountain Boy Pony regarded the castle entrance hall. Powder also sent him a winning smile- her artistic strop forgotten.
"Glad to help. I suppose I'll see you both at the ball tonight." Ice Crystal started walking towards the door, obviously a bit embarrassed by all the attention he was receiving.
"And who are you taking to the ball Ice Crystal?" Love Letter trotted across the hall to block his path.
"Taking?" The Clydesdale stopped and looked at Love Letter in puzzlement.
"Yes, you know, as your date. Your dancing partner." Love Letter opened her eyes in shock amazement, "Surely a handsome pony like you has someone to go with."
"Well, erm. you know I was just thinking of going with a group of friends, not actually. with. anyone.in particular." Ice Crystal was desperately trying to sidestep around the manically grinning Love Letter.
"Oh no that won't do at all, will it Powder?" Love Letter turned to the unicorn who shook her head deliberately. "EVERYONE will be coming with SOMEONE you see Ice Crystal. It would be a shame for you to be left out."
Ice Crystal was just about to protest that really he wouldn't feel that left out when Love Letter suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, I've just had a little idea!" Ice Crystal's heart sank. "Why don't you let ME find you someone as a date, I'm sure there are lots of suitable ponies. And I'll make a very sensible choice and it saves you any bother at all!"
Ice Crystal had a feeling that Love Letter had been planning something like this all along, and he knew that he had to find a way out. "Well, really Love Letter that's very kind but. but.I'd really like to do the asking myself." Ice Crystal wondered where the words came from.
"Oh," Love Letter looked very taken aback, "But do you have anyone in mind to ask?"
"Actually, yes, I do." Ice Crystal took his chance to walk past the small earthling and towards the door. "I'll go and ask her now!"
Love Letter however was not going to give up, turning around she delivered her final challenge. "But if by sunset you still don't have a date, will you go with the person that I choose for you?"
Ice Crystal stopped and looked back at her, "You're on." He then walked firmly out of the castle front doors, letting them slam forcefully behind him.
"Well, how interesting, I think that Ice Crystal really does have someone that he'd like to ask. And no guesses for who that is." Love Letter slyly said to Powder.
"Who?" Powder said in amazement.
"Why you of course Powder darling, he obviously couldn't look in your direction comfortably just now, I think he has a bit of a crush on you. And you two would be so sweet together, what with you both being able to manipulate snow and ice. Oooh, next year we could have a winter wedding for you!" Love Letter was beginning to get carried away with her new project.
Powder began to protest. "But, I don't think he does Letter! He said that he was just going to ask her now. And surely he would have just asked me on the spot."
"Oh no," Love Letter was adamant, "He only said that because he was too shy to ask you in front of me- he is much more romantic than that. And I think that he really wanted me to ask you for him in the first place. You'll see, at sundown he won't have asked anybody and so he can go with you. It'll be so sweet and he will be so happy that I chose you. Anyway, the preparations for the Ball won't do themselves. I'll meet you just before sundown and we'll go and find Ice Crystal together." Love Letter sent Powder a radiant smile and headed into the castle ballroom.
Dream Valley was covered in a thick layer of snow, icicles hung from the balconies and turrets of Dream Castle and layers of ice covered the moat and streams. Love Letter was gently cantering towards the castle carrying a roll of posters. She dodged the baby ponies having a snowball fight outside the Lullaby Nursery and waved at Peachy and Truly who were supervising.
"What's she doing?" Baby Blossom asked Baby Glory watching the white adult blend into the snow as she hurried away. "They're getting ready for the Midwinter Ball," the small unicorn replied, "Love Letter's in charge, Mama says I'm old enough to stay up for it this year- I can't wait!" As Love Letter reached the castle drawbridge two well aimed snowballs disturbed the two babies and they rejoined the fight.
Love Letter shook her mane once she reached the entrance hall to remove a few loose flakes of snow; she then looked around in pride at the sight that met her eyes. Over the past few days the castle had been transformed into a glittery wonderland, a perfect setting for the extravagant Ball that Love Letter had planned. Garlands of holly and ivy wound down the banisters of the stairs and round the doorways. Two massive fir trees had been brought inside and Twilight and Galaxy had covered them with small magically shining stars. A silk canopy was looping from the ceiling that had also been decked with lights by the talented unicorns. Love Letter walked over to a corner of the hall where one lavender unicorn was tossing her tail and stamping her hooves in frustration.
"Having problems Powder?" Love Letter cheerily asked the grumpy looking unicorn. "These swan sculptures just look wrong, not realistic, and it's not helping that my work area is in the vicinity of the kitchens, everything's melting before I can magically fix them." Powder grumbled. Love Letter regarded the exquisite sculptures, Powder was one of the best artists in Ponyland and her ice sculptures were very sought after, however her temperamental artistic nature often made her overly critical of her work. "They're wonderful Powder, no one else could do such fantastic work," she tried to placate the other pony. "And, I'll try and sort out another work area so you have less melting problems."
"Did I hear someone say melting problems?" came a voice from the stairs. A gust of freezing air rushed past the two ponies and turned a few drips from Powder's sculptures into ice as they fell and they tinkled on the stone as they landed. Love Letter and Powder spun around to see an icy green Clydesdale whose very breath was sending the gust of freezing air towards them. Ice Crystal stopped and sent a charming smile towards the earth pony and unicorn.
"Oooh, Ice Crystal, thank you so much." Love Letter gushed and coyly flicked her hair as the Mountain Boy Pony regarded the castle entrance hall. Powder also sent him a winning smile- her artistic strop forgotten.
"Glad to help. I suppose I'll see you both at the ball tonight." Ice Crystal started walking towards the door, obviously a bit embarrassed by all the attention he was receiving.
"And who are you taking to the ball Ice Crystal?" Love Letter trotted across the hall to block his path.
"Taking?" The Clydesdale stopped and looked at Love Letter in puzzlement.
"Yes, you know, as your date. Your dancing partner." Love Letter opened her eyes in shock amazement, "Surely a handsome pony like you has someone to go with."
"Well, erm. you know I was just thinking of going with a group of friends, not actually. with. anyone.in particular." Ice Crystal was desperately trying to sidestep around the manically grinning Love Letter.
"Oh no that won't do at all, will it Powder?" Love Letter turned to the unicorn who shook her head deliberately. "EVERYONE will be coming with SOMEONE you see Ice Crystal. It would be a shame for you to be left out."
Ice Crystal was just about to protest that really he wouldn't feel that left out when Love Letter suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, I've just had a little idea!" Ice Crystal's heart sank. "Why don't you let ME find you someone as a date, I'm sure there are lots of suitable ponies. And I'll make a very sensible choice and it saves you any bother at all!"
Ice Crystal had a feeling that Love Letter had been planning something like this all along, and he knew that he had to find a way out. "Well, really Love Letter that's very kind but. but.I'd really like to do the asking myself." Ice Crystal wondered where the words came from.
"Oh," Love Letter looked very taken aback, "But do you have anyone in mind to ask?"
"Actually, yes, I do." Ice Crystal took his chance to walk past the small earthling and towards the door. "I'll go and ask her now!"
Love Letter however was not going to give up, turning around she delivered her final challenge. "But if by sunset you still don't have a date, will you go with the person that I choose for you?"
Ice Crystal stopped and looked back at her, "You're on." He then walked firmly out of the castle front doors, letting them slam forcefully behind him.
"Well, how interesting, I think that Ice Crystal really does have someone that he'd like to ask. And no guesses for who that is." Love Letter slyly said to Powder.
"Who?" Powder said in amazement.
"Why you of course Powder darling, he obviously couldn't look in your direction comfortably just now, I think he has a bit of a crush on you. And you two would be so sweet together, what with you both being able to manipulate snow and ice. Oooh, next year we could have a winter wedding for you!" Love Letter was beginning to get carried away with her new project.
Powder began to protest. "But, I don't think he does Letter! He said that he was just going to ask her now. And surely he would have just asked me on the spot."
"Oh no," Love Letter was adamant, "He only said that because he was too shy to ask you in front of me- he is much more romantic than that. And I think that he really wanted me to ask you for him in the first place. You'll see, at sundown he won't have asked anybody and so he can go with you. It'll be so sweet and he will be so happy that I chose you. Anyway, the preparations for the Ball won't do themselves. I'll meet you just before sundown and we'll go and find Ice Crystal together." Love Letter sent Powder a radiant smile and headed into the castle ballroom.
