You’ve done it. Truly this is the zenith of comfiness that is achievable by man.

A day off from work, with nothing on the agenda except relaxation.
A recliner positioned in front of your bay window to watch the snowfall from your nice, warm house.
A fire crackling in the fireplace to provide said warmth.
A cozy blanket wrapped around you, and...
A mug of perfectly prepared coffee in your hand.

You let out a contented sigh as the sound of the fire calms you while you watch the dancing snowflakes outside. It’s only 7:30 in the morning and already this day is perfect. You hear some shuffling from behind you, followed by a bang and a groan as Sun Horse rolls off the couch and into the floor, then struggles to pull herself to her hooves; her standard morning wake-up routine.

“Your coffee’s on the table,” you say without looking away from the falling snow.

She grunts in response, taking slow, labored steps to retrieve the sacred elixir before trotting over to sit beside you in front of the window. You both take sips periodically as you wordlessly watch the snowfall together, but soon enough, after about 10 minutes or so of quiet reflection, two tired, not-quite-awake magenta eyes turn their attention to you.

“What are you thinking about, Anonymous?”

“Nothing,” you state simply, turning your head to meet her gaze as she tries to blink the sleepiness away. “You’ve lived for how long, now, and you don’t know to never ask a guy that question yet?”

A bit of a smile seems to lift some of the tiredness from her countenance.

“Oh, is it the same with human stallions as it is with ponies? How curious. But do you really expect me to believe that there are no profound thoughts behind that contemplative expression you’ve had for a while now?”

“Yes, I expect you to believe it because it’s true. I spend almost every waking moment thinking about stuff. To not have to think about anything is like a vacation to me, and the same is true for a lot of guys, so don’t act surprised when you ask us what we’re thinking during moments like these and we say ‘nothing’.”

Celestia nods. “I can certainly understand the sentiment, and I’ve been told similar things by stallions in the past...” She moves her muzzle to whisper in your ear, “...but I still don’t quite believe it, my little human.”

She pulls her head back and you turn to face her again. Her now barely hidden smile is the perfect complement to her still-tired eyes and untamed bed-mane, which attempts to wave in the astral breeze in seemingly every direction at once. An unbidden smile of your own begins to form at the funny but familiar sight.

“You can have your secrets, though. I won’t pry on your day off,” she says with a yawn as she trots away toward the bathroom. “Enjoy your non-contemplative contemplating.” You turn back to the window as the sound of hooves ascending the stairs fades away.

Okay, so she got you there. You actually were thinking about something. A spergy purple alicorn, to be precise.

It’s been over a month and a half since she appeared before you in Canterlot, and since then absolutely nothing has happened. Seriously. Even the weird attempts to annoy you from Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy have completely stopped.

You know you should be happy. These last 45 days have been great; possibly the best since you came to Equestria thanks to your always-entertaining roommate Sunbutt. And for a while, you’d sort of convinced yourself that maybe she had given up... maybe she’d finally realized that it was never going to work, that it wasn’t worth the effort, and that she should just move on.

But a sinking feeling of terror has slowly been clawing at the back of your mind over the last few days over something Twilight said that night. She told you the two of you would be married in two months. That deadline is rapidly approaching, and with each day that passes your feeling of dread grows.

You spoke to Celestia at length about your encounter with Twilight the day after, and she reassured you once again that you had nothing to fear. You want to believe that, you really do, but Twilight sounded so certain...

The fire pops as a log shifts and you nearly jump out of your skin. You’re just being paranoid, Anon, and you’re wasting your day off worrying about something you have no control over anyway. Best to just forget about it and enjoy the moment.

You pull the blanket around you even tighter and resume watching the falling snow. It’s only a light snowstorm now, but it’s been scheduled to escalate into a blizzard later. You heard from Pinkie yesterday that the blizzard was some kind of odd last minute weather schedule change, but hey: if it’s on your day off, you’re not gonna complain. Just more time for indoor relaxation, after all!

Settling back in your chair, you let those thoughts drift out of your mind and become indistinguishable from the rest of the world like the falling snowflakes outside, and soon your greatest concern is whether or not to abandon your cozy place for another cup of coffee.

You place a bookmark in your Daring Do novel and hop off the couch to tend the fire. A quick glance at the clock reveals that it’s almost noon.

“Anonymous? We’re out of cupcakes...” a worried voice calls from the kitchen. You turn to see a wavy multicolored mane peek from around the edge of the doorframe followed by a dejected-looking Sun Horse.

“Maybe we wouldn’t be if you limited yourself to two a day like we talked about,” you reply.

She scoffs. “You and I both know that’s completely unreasonable. We need to go and pick some up from Sugarcube Corner before they close due to the weather.”

“We? Oh no. You want ‘em? You go get ‘em, Roomie. I am not going outside in that mess.”

You turn to the window and your hunch is confirmed. Looks like the blizzard’s started while you were enjoying your book. To your surprise, Celestia leaps through the door and over the couch to stand in front of you, swishing her tail with excitement.

“Don’t be that way... it’ll only take a minute!”

You sigh and rub your eyes. “It’ll only take you a minute to teleport over there, buy some, and teleport back. I don’t see why you need me for this.”

She steps back and hangs her head. “Oh... I see. So the stories of Anonymous, the mighty human who braved the elements to conquer many mountains in his home world and overcame many of Equestria’s own trials were all exaggerations... I suppose I should’ve known...”

The dejected pony’s poor acting causes you to grin. For the second time today, her silliness has put a smile on your face, if only for a moment.

“This isn’t about cupcakes at all. You just want to go out and play in the snow.”

Somewhat surprised, she turns back to you, ears folded down and sporting a slight blush. “...Am I that transparent?”

“Yes. You’re a big girl; you don’t need me to chaperone you out there.”

“But what fun is it if you’re not there with me?” she whines. “Don’t be such a stick-in-the-mud, Anonymous, it’s only a trip to Sugarcube Corner and back. Think of it as an adventure! Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘It’s the journey, not the destination’?”

“I’d argue that both are important, and I’ve gone on one too many journeys for your sake already.” You walk over to the window to find that it’s half-covered by a snow drift. “Look, it’s already over a foot deep out there. I don’t have any snowshoes and it’s so fresh I’ll sink right in. I don’t really feel like slogging my way through a mile of deep snow on my day off.”

Celestia giggles. “Is that all you’re concerned about? You really should pay better attention to the resources you have available, Anonymous. The solution to this problem is right in front of you,” she declares as she proudly puffs up her chest.

Oh, right... sometimes it’s easy to forget that this silly horse is actually a goddess with immense magical power at her command. You suppose she could transmute some random items into snowshoes for you, or cast a spell to allow you to walk on top of the snow without falling through. Or maybe she’ll just bypass the problem entirely and blaze a path all the way there with magical fire. Given all that, it might actually be nice to get out of the house today, and after a bit of thought you’re almost looking forward to it.

Better not let her know that, though, or you’ll never hear the end of it, so you heave out an exaggerated sigh and mutter, “All right, fine...”

With a sly smile, Celestia’s horn shines with its familiar golden hue. Before you know what’s going on, you’ve been dressed in your shoes, hat and winter jacket. You chuckle at her enthusiasm and follow her to the front door.

“So, what’s your plan?” you ask as she trots in place.

Her smile doesn’t falter. “It’s simple, Anonymous. Honestly, I’m not sure why you didn’t come up with this yourself earlier, considering all those tales you’ve told me of your world.”

In a single, smooth motion, she lies down near the doorway and presents her back to you.

“Now, from what you’ve said, neither of us have really done this before, but it can’t be too difficult. I promise I’ll go slowly until we’re both better accustomed to it. You have nothing to fear, and if worse comes to worst the snow will help cushion your fall...”

Your brain just stopped. Is she really...?

“Uh... I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this...” you say, nervously rubbing the back of your neck.

The alicorn turns her head back and huffs at you in annoyance. “Why? What’s the problem? I know I’m not built like one of your Earth horses, but I’m not as fragile as I look!”

You raise your hands in defense. “No, no, it’s not that, it’s just... how do I put this... it’s weird. Horses back on Earth are one thing, but you’re practically my best friend...”

A goofy smile spreads across her face when she hears those words.

“...and friends don’t usually ride each other through town unless there’s a lot of alcohol involved. And really, one or both of us being drunk for this is an even worse idea, so maybe we should just—”

“Nopony will see us!” she exclaims. “The blizzard outside will prevent it, and you can dismount once we get close to Sugarcube Corner. Please, Anonymous...”

And there it is. The look that can cause you to give in to any demand or forgive her for anything. Let’s be honest here... you never really stood a chance against her in the first place, did you Anon?

You take a few steps and straddle Celestia’s broad back. Oh god, this is awkward...

“Are my legs okay over your wings like this?”

She huffs. “It’s fine, I won’t need them and it helps to deter me from using them as a crutch for balance.” You grab on to whatever you can as she stands, then slowly walks in a circle near the entryway to get used to the feeling of having you there.

“See? This isn’t so bad. It’s actually quite fun!” Celestia says as she turns her neck to partially face you. “I think we’re ready, don’t you?”

All you can manage is a nod as the door swings open courtesy of a magical aura and the two of you step into the blizzard. You close your eyes and shield your face with an arm to prevent the swirling snow from blinding you. With your sense of sight gone, all you can perceive is the sound and bite of the chilling winter wind along with the motion of Celestia’s body as she takes cautious steps through the snow. You hold on to her mane for dear life with your one free hand, the cold already starting to numb your fingers.

And then it all stops. The cold, the wind, the sting of driving snow on your face. Instead, Celestia’s gentle voice rings out in the newfound silence, “It’s safe to open your eyes now.”

You lower your arm and tentatively open one eye... and the amazing sight before you takes your breath away.

“Wow...”

It’s like being in an inside-out snow globe. An invisible magical sphere surrounds you, keeping the blizzard at bay. The falling snow cascades around the barrier in a mesmerizing chaotic dance. The chilling wind no longer reaches you and the sound of the storm is muted. You can barely see anything past the barrier... it’s as if you’ve stepped outside the world itself and into a place created for the two of you alone.

Your grip loosens as you turn your gaze downward and are treated to another spectacle. Celestia’s mane and tail cast a soft light of their own which is reflected upon the snow on the ground in a rainbow of pastel colors that shift and shimmer like the aurora borealis. The overwhelming beauty is such that you have to move your hands to her withers and lean forward a bit to avoid sliding off in a trance...

Celestia takes your motion as a cue to continue and she begins a slow trot forward through the snow. The invisible barrier follows her unwaveringly and the only sound is the soft crunch of snow as each hoof finds its place.

“Do you want to know a secret, Anonymous?” she asks.

You nod your head in reply, too slack jawed to say anything, but then realize she can’t see the gesture since she’s facing forward.

“Sure.”

“I’ve... always been a little self-conscious about my stature in relation to other ponies. In my youth, I had quite a growth spurt that never seemed to slow, and before I knew it I was looking down upon all my peers, many of whom teased me relentlessly over it. After all, no stallion wants a mare so much taller than himself. My concern over it faded with age, but it never really went away, and to this day I wonder if it was partly why so many ponies found me unapproachable when I was a Princess.”

You’re not sure what to say in response, so you simply trail a hand up and down the side of her neck in reassurance while she speaks.

“When you told me of the horses of your world, and of the relationship they’ve had with your kind for thousands of years... I knew I wanted to try this with you. Even though we’re just walking together, something about this feels right. Do you feel it too?”

Yeah... you do. It’s tough to put into words. You initially thought this would be uncomfortably weird, but now that it’s actually happening it stirs a variety of surprising emotions within you.

She wants to carry you. And you want to be carried. That’s the basic transaction that’s taking place, but there’s so much more beneath it that you can’t even begin to describe. The trust you place in one another for something like this makes you feel connected to Celestia on a primal level that you’ve never felt with anyone else. The movement of her muscles as she walks reassures you that she’s there for you, just as your weight upon her back reassures her that you’re there for her.

You swallow once to try to find your voice and say the first thing that comes to mind.

“Faster.”

Her ears twitch. If you could see the wide smile that plays across her face in that moment you’d probably be nervous. Instead, you feel a rush of excitement as her trot turns into a canter, then a slow gallop.

You’ve never ridden a horse in your life, let alone bareback, but your body seems to know what to do. You pull yourself forward and center your weight where it needs to be. Handfuls of her plentiful mane become your reins. Your legs move above her wings, freeing them, and she flutters them a bit before resisting the urge and snapping them back to her sides.

The snow kicks up with each impact of her hooves as your bodies begin to move as one. She’s like water underneath you and you feel as if you’re flying. Beyond her ears and horn the blizzard parts and moves aside with ease as if it were in awe of the two of you.

But all too soon you catch the silhouette of Sugarcube Corner in the distance and you pull back on her mane to slow her. She responds immediately, coming to a stop twenty feet from the entrance, just far enough that the two of you are still obscured from any onlookers by the blizzard.

Celestia carefully lies down in the snow and you reluctantly stand, then kneel in front of her. You’re both panting with exhilaration, and without thinking you take her muzzle in your hands and stroke it affectionately while telling her, “We’ve gotta do this more often.”

She pulls away, cheeks flush, but her eyes still find your own.

“Yes, that was even better than I imagined. I’m glad for this body now, because it allowed us to share this with one another... something special only for us.” She leans her head forward again, back into your waiting hands. “I think I can find an out of the way place where we can practice...”

“Practice what? Bowling? Jump rope? Calligraphy? Oh! Oh! Wait, were you guys... salsa dancing?! Mmmm... salsa...”

You and Celestia both scream and cling to one another. There, standing near the edge of your sphere of safety, is Pinkie Pie dressed in a festive winter hat and stockings, a bounce in her step and a box balanced atop her back.

“Pinkie... please, please, PLEASE don’t sneak up on me like that,” you plead. “I don’t think my heart can take it!”

The pink pony bounces over to you and places an ear to your chest. “Oh Non-non, I’m no clockmaker but your ticker’s tockin’ just fine!” She hops over to Celestia and repeats the gesture. “Celly’s is too! Say, it almost sounds like they’re in sync...”

The two of you share a quick glance but turn away from each other before anything is said.

“But that’s not why you’re here! And it’s not why I’m here, either! Wait, why am I here...? Oh yeah!” She turns and presents the wrapped box to you. “Special delivery!”

“What’s this?” You carefully take the box and open the lid to find a dozen freshly baked and frosted cupcakes inside.

“How did you know?” Celestia asks, her eyes glimmering at the sight of the tasty treats as she tries to stealthily lick her lips.

Pinkie giggles. “Oh, I had a twitch or two! Plus I figured Non-non would miss me on his day off, so it was only a matter of time before you guys came by!” She winks at you. “I wish I could stay, but I’ve gotta get back to help Mr. and Mrs. Cake close up shop. The storm’s real bad today! You guys should head back too...”

Celestia stands and stretches. “Yes, now that we have what we came for, I think that would be wise. Let’s go, Anonymous.”

You pat Pinkie’s back as you rise. “Thanks, Pinkie. Say hi to the Cakes for me.”

“I will.” She nods a little less enthusiastically than usual, then turns to leave but hesitates and looks back over her shoulder. “Hey Non-non, I... had another twitch too. I think it might be important.”

Long ago, you learned to trust Pinkie’s premonitions or face the consequences, so your interest is immediately piqued. You lean back down as she rises on her hind hooves to whisper in your ear, “Snow isn’t the only thing that’s gonna fall today, Non-non. You should get Celly home.”

She hops back down, then bounds beyond the barrier’s edge and disappears into the blizzard. You watch the spot where she vanished and scratch your head.

“Well that was ominous...”

Celestia trots up beside you. “Something the matter?”

“I’m not sure, but I think we should get home as fast as we can. You up for it?”

She grins and circles you once before lying down in the snow. “Our only limit is what you’re able to handle.”

Securing the box of cupcakes close to your chest, you straddle her back again and the two of you are off like the wind.