“Hey Applejack!” I called out to the farm mare. It was a cold day, though not as cold as it had been. Winter was coming to a close very soon, after all.

“Howdy, Yang” she responded. “How’s that smoker workin’ for ya?”

“A bit too well. We can’t keep up with the demand, and that’s with it at full capacity. Might have to raise prices again on smoked food to keep things under control there. Anyways, could you build the shelter for my bike tomorrow?”

“Ah’d be happy to, but Winter Wrap Up is tomorrow, and even with Twilight’s organization skills making things go smoothly, it still takes all day to do it.”

“Oh yeah, the manual season changes. And that’s a thing everyone participates in, right?”

“Yep. Ah can’t think of how you could help though. The best thing Ah can think of is helping Rarity make nests for the birds, but she’s already got enough ponies helping her there. Aside from that, Ah got nothing. You might want to ask Twi about what you can do.”

“Sounds good. Thanks, A.J.”

“No problem, sugarcube.”

“Hey, Twilight, how can I help with Winter Wrap Up?”

“Well, you can- wait, you’re actually asking how you can help?”

“Yeah. Am I not supposed to ask?”

“No, I’m just surprised you did, given your history with the cold. It doesn’t change the plan anyways.”

“Really?”

“We follow the same plan every year, which I have refined to perfection for Ponyville, focusing on a restaurant first so everyone has a place they can get lunch at. Since the Carne Den got about 80% of the votes from the cleanup crews this winter, we’ll be starting there, though the fact that you don’t open until 3 is a bit troublesome.”

“So you’d like me to open sooner tomorrow?”

“If you can, yes. 11 AM would be ideal, noon at the latest. Before you object, here’s the plan: the snow around the Carne Den will be cleared out, then the clouds will be parted to let the sun through. It should be up to 65 degrees around there by 10. I’ll come by to help clean up and prepare the patio, and since tomorrow is Friday, well, I’m sure you’d like to get back behind the grill again, yes?”

“It has been a while, yeah.” I missed grilling on the patio.

“So how about I come by around 9 to help with everything? If need be, I can also wake you up.”

“Sounds like a plan. Oh, I’d better go write out the order form so I get the big meat shipment that came on time yesterday.”

“You love that any time delivery, don’t you?”

“I’ve got a special rate of 8 bits per delivery for how much I use it.”

I was on the edge of THE TRANQUILITY when Twilight barged in the next morning. “Alright Yang, it’s time to get up!”

“Five more minutes” I mumbled back.

“Nope. The snow’s already been cleared from around here, the temperature’s about to break 50 degrees, and you need to get ready for the grill.”

“Fine, fine.” I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. “There’s just one issue first.”

“And that would be?”

“Asada’s got me in a bear hug.” Asada, who had taken to treating me like a big pillow at night, had grown quite a bit over the winter. She was still smaller than me, but not by nearly as much as when I saved her. “Cat-on-lap rules apply here.”

Twilight walked over to the bedside and began working her magic, freeing me from the bear hug and tossing me on the floor, enchanting a pillow for warmth, and replacing me with it. “There you go. Now go ahead and get ready for the day. I’ll make sure the patio’s clean, dry, and ready to go.”

I got off the floor, stretched, got my work clothes, and took a shower. I could already feel that the house was warmer than it had been in the last week, and that made me happy.

When I stepped out onto the patio, I did not feel the cold I had come to reflexively brace for during winter. I breathed in the warmer air and felt incredibly good. My desire for summer weather wasn’t fulfilled, but it was helped by the change.

“Looks like someone’s enjoying the fresh air” Twilight said.

“It’s finally not cold, for one thing” I responded before really looking around. “And the patio’s clean and clear. Almost like it never snowed here at all.”

“Basic levitation and heat spells. That’s all I used to get everything clean and ready.”

“Very nice. So, breakfast for two?”

“Make it four to be safe. You, me, Spike, and Asada.” Twilight teleported a small bit pouch to her side. “One order of steak, bacon, and apples for me and two barbecue baked potatoes with burnt ends and bacon for Spike, please.”

I started up the grill, and while it was getting warm, I went inside to get the ingredients for Twilight’s order, along with all the things I needed for a breakfast burger with barbecue sauce for me, and one steak sandwich for Asada.

While the steaks were cooking, Asada came downstairs, saw the food being cooked, and sat down next to Twilight. Not long after that, Spike got teleported in. “Where?” He sniffed the air and looked around. “Oh yeah. This is going to be the breakfast of breakfasts. Hey Yang?”

“Yeah Spike?” Since I couldn’t exactly bake the potatoes on the grill, I cut them in half to cook them.

“Can I help you out here today? I’ve got nothing to do otherwise.”

I thought it over for a moment. “Twilight?”

“I’m fine with it” Twilight said.

I turned back to Spike after tossing some bacon on the grill and putting the burnt ends on the skillet with my burger to heat up. “Can you handle fast paces and multiple orders at once?”

“I wouldn’t be Twilight’s #1 assistant if I couldn’t” Spike boasted. “And I actually have served food like this before. Orders, drinks, everything. Admittedly only three times, but I have done it before.”

“Alright, I’ll let you on for today. Get familiar with the path to the drinks and navigating the patio before I’m done with breakfast.” Almost as soon as I’d finished the sentence, Spike got started on the assigned task. “He’s dedicated.”

“He’s set his mind to it” Twilight said.

A few minutes later, breakfast was done. Spike had brought out drinks for all of us while the food was finishing up, and even took the food there as well, setting every plate in front of its rightful consumer and leaving mine at an empty spot, which I soon occupied. “Spike, you’re hired for today.”

“Really?” he happily asked.

“Yep.” I started on my breakfast burger and everyone started on their food as well. Aside from Asada, we would need the energy to get through the day.

“Oh, one more thing” Twilight said around a mouthful of bacon. “Since basically all of Ponyville is going to come here for a meal today, which I wouldn’t be surprised if that wasn’t a regular thing already, and accounting for the staff count, the teams will come in overlapping shifts. Each break period is 45 minutes long, so you’ll see ponies coming and going in 15 minute intervals.”

“You’ve really got this down to a science, don’t you?”

“The Ponyville plan has been refined to perfection, after all.” The proud smile on her face lasted for a few seconds before she started eating her steak.

The first guests were from the snow removal teams, and they looked tired. At the same time, they were smiling. Whether it was because they were on break or that the grill was open again, I didn’t know, nor did I find myself really caring. I was happy enough just to be back outside in the pleasant weather and grilling.

Spike, to his credit, was doing quite well when the crowd picked up. He was on top of the drink orders, and showed no sign of stopping or tiring. The thought crossed my mind to let him work for me on grill days in the future, considering just how well he was performing.

“So you opened the grill today, huh?” Gilda suddenly asked from beside me.

“Yep. It’s my way of contributing to Winter Wrap Up.”

“Oh really?”

“Try to name one pony who doesn’t like at least one thing from here.”

“Those, what, 28 nobles that are after you?”

“From Ponyville.”

Gilda tapped her chin in thought. “Rarity was the first to come to mind, but she does like our plain loaded baked potatoes with a side salad. I’ve never seen her eat meat here before, though. Then there’s Fluttershy, and let me tell you, that girl can eat a rare bacon wrapped steak like it’s nobody’s business and somehow still have that innocent look to her.”

“Wow. I didn’t know Fluttershy liked that.”

“Not surprising, since you hide away in the kitchen so often. What does she usually get out here?”

I looked back through my memories as I tended to the food on the grill. “Three or four veggie skewers with burnt ends in them and a light amount of cheese. No bacon. Is there anyone else you can think of that doesn’t like the Carne Den?”

Gilda contemplated the question for a bit. “No, but I don’t know everyone that lives here either.”

“Fair point.”

Spike ran past us with a tray of fresh drinks for some guests. “Since when did he work here?”

“He just started today, and he’s doing really well. I’m thinking of hiring him to help on the grill days.”

“Sounds like something Brew would like.”

“Yep.”

“Well, I’ll go back to getting the dining area ready for the day.”

“Thanks.” The conversation’s end came at the perfect time as a burger finished cooking at that moment. I put it on a bun, added the toppings for it, and brought it out to the stallion who ordered it.

After the snow removal teams were done, the farming and animal teams started coming in for their breaks. The inside was also starting to have its own groups of guests, mostly foals with nothing better to do than have a late lunch. There were a few guests inside that had already had a meal on the patio as well, which was fine with me.

The farming and animal teams, like the snow removal team, were happy when they came to the patio. Also like the snow removal team, I didn’t care if they were happy because they were on break or that the grill and patio were open again. The idea did cross my mind that it could have been both reasons, which sounded more plausible than either one on their own.

After about the sixth group of animal and farming teams came through, Twilight showed up again. “Hey, Yang. How’s Spike doing?”

“Excuse me, Twilight. Got drinks coming through” Spike said as he came out with a tray of drinks.

“He’s doing great” I answered. “Little guy hasn’t stopped, spilled, or messed up once. And he doesn’t seem to be getting tired either.”

“Well, that’s good to hear” Twilight said. “One well done steak and grilled veggie sandwich, please.”

“Six bits, please.” As I put Twilight’s steak on the grill, she paid and sat down at one of the nearby tables, where she visibly relaxed a bit.

“So, long day?”

“Yeah, but winter’s nearly wrapped up once again. And after we’re done, most of us like to gather by the castle to watch Canterlot get rid of their snow.”

“How do they do it?”

“They magically blast most of it away and then let the remaining bits melt over the next couple days.”

“That sounds lazy.”

“It kind of is, but in their defense, they don’t have to worry about helping the animals or preparing to grow crops. That being said, they always wait until the end of the day for some reason. I didn’t understand why when I was a filly, and I still don’t understand it as a princess.”

“I’m usually a late riser and I don’t get it either.” I flipped Twilight’s steak over. “Then again, I’m usually busy well into the night, so I have an excuse there.”

“That’s not an excuse, it’s a proper reason. Sleep is important, after all. Oh, idea!” Twilight summoned a notepad and quill, wrote something down, and dispelled them. “I promise I’ll tell you what it is later.”

“Alright.” I put a standard spread of vegetables on the grill as the steak got closer to being well done. While that was finishing up, I got a plate and some bread ready.

Just as I finished putting the sandwich together, a thought crossed my mind. Before I gave Twilight her food, I asked her a question. “Twilight, if the Carne Den was the place everyone voted on for lunch, and the plan was to have the grill open for said lunches, why didn’t you send me a letter or something?”

Twilight’s face grew to be one of realization and mild frustration. “I knew I forgot something. I didn’t even write it out.”

“Too used to not having to do it?” I set the plate down in front of Twilight.

“Yeah, something like that, since Sugarcube Corner has been the one for so long. Thank goodness you stopped by ahead of time.”

“Yeah, that is lucky.” I went back to the grill just in time to get a veggie kebab order.

I closed the patio a few hours after sunset, when traffic to the area finally stopped. Before heading back in, I decided that a break was in order for both Spike and myself. “Baked potato with burnt ends, Spike?”

“Yeah.” Spike was sitting down at a nearby table, the same one Twilight sat at before. “Those things are awesome.”

I started cooking one of the potatoes for him while putting a steak on for myself. “Yeah, they are. So, how was your first day here?”

“Pretty good, though I did feel out of place without a uniform like everyone else.”

“Talk to Rarity about that. She made all the uniforms here.”

“I’ll do that on Monday. So, how did I do?”

“Very well. I didn’t see you mess up or spill anything once, and you just kept going. You’re hired for Fridays out here.”

“Yes! Thanks, Yang.”

“I’ll just leave a note for Brew later tonight that you’re part of the team now. You can work here every Friday for the grill, right?”

“Oh yeah. I’ll just have to request the weekend guards to show up on Fridays at the castle in my stead. Easy enough.”

“Sounds good. If you can show up at 2:30, that would be awesome.”

“Can do.”

It didn’t take much longer for our food to finish, and we ate in a comfortable silence. The day had been good, and the business was even better. Winter was done with, and spring was off to a very good start.

Author's Notes:

Finally, we're done with the cold and snow. It wasn't a fun season to write about with Yang basically turtling herself away in the kitchen most of the time.