Walking in the air
#4 of A winter wonderland
Journal of Mark Robertson
Monday night, four days after the running of the leaves.
For the last few days, I have been in a state of perpetual euphoria. I left the train station with my heart pounding, my mind racing with conflicted thoughts and ideas, all tending towards joy. After reflection, I consider Winter kissing me to have been perhaps the best thing in my life, certainly the best thing since I found myself in Equestria. All day I sit behind my desk hardly taking notice of the ponies coming and going. My mind is a million miles away, even when serving a customer. I swear I jumped three feet in the air today when a delivery pony knocked on the desk to get my attention. I feel like I'm walking on air, just gliding along, buoyed by my own happiness.
That feeling of walking on air is soon to be all too real, because today, Winter asked me to join her for dinner at her place, and I agreed before learning that she (naturally) lives in Cloudsdale, and I will therefore need to drink a cloud-walking potion, which she very helpfully had already bought. She looked so happy that I hadn't the heart to tell her I don't do well with heights. I am writing this at my desk, with the innocuous bottle containing the potion safely in my sock drawer. Previously it was on the desk, but I couldn't have it sitting there, like a malevolent idol taunting me with its presence any longer. I should finish now, and get to bed, the next time I write, I will have either embarrassed myself in front of the mare I love or I'll have risen to the occasion and conquered my basophobia.
Wednesday, morning, heavy rain and a bitterly cold wind.
Well, I'm not dead, but I certainly feel like I stood on the edge of eternity last night. After a less than restful night, work was hell, and I did very little the whole day.
I closed the shop at five, just the same as every other day, before making my preparations for my date. By seven O'clock I was showered & dressed in a woollen turtle-neck and jeans over thermal underwear and my best fur lined (from rabbits who willingly shaved in summer to keep cool)winter boots and a thick wool lined cloak to finish the ensemble. I checked myself in the mirror one last time before I left. My dark brown hair was neatly combed, my teeth, including my crooked left canine were all white as could be and my hazel eyes were clear and free of sleep or bags under them. I had already arranged for a skytaxi - which is exactly what you think it is, a taxi in the sky. It arrived barely a momment after I locked the door behind me. I arrived outside Winter's home at a little after half past seven, and drank the potion in one gulp before gingerly steeping out onto the cloud with just one foot. I must have looked ridiculous, as I withdrew my foot before I could put any weight on it several times before summoning the courage to plant my foot firmly on the cloud. Once it was clear I wasn't going to plummet to my death, I paid the stallion who had very patiently put up with my antics, and headed down the path to Winter's front door. Walking on cloud is a unique experience, hard to put into words, but I'll try. It's like very soft, or springy ground, or as if the soles of your shoes are made of a soft, yet resilient foam. Each foot step caused me to sink in an inch or so, yet the cloud sprang back instantaneously.
Just as I was wondering how exactly you knocked on a door made of cloud, Winter opened the door
'Hey, you're early!' she complained, though she was clearly happy to see me.
She had dressed for the occasion in a nice little red dress, and she had changed her manestyle. Her silky silvery grey mane was now swept back into a sort of wave, with a solitary lock curving forward. It reminded me somewhat of the Sydney opera house, but far more elegant.
I replied that I wanted to surprise her.
'Consider me surprised. Come in!' she replied, stepping aside.
Her home was small, but cosy (I suppose all small homes are cosy) with all the usual household items - with the exception that all the furniture was made out of clouds.
She led me into her living room which had some very soft looking cloud sofas, and a large cabinet full of awards and with dozens of photographs.
'I have to go finish preparing the dinner, wait here, and make yourself at home OK?' she asked, before heading through an archway framed by Greek style pillars.
I took the opportunity to examine the cabinet, and to my surprise, most weren't for educational achievements, but for childhood competitions such as "Cloudsdale primary school snowman building champion" and "All Equestria junior figure skating championship - second place" as well as what on Earth might be called "workplace excellence awards".
On the lower portion were various photos, but pride of place was given to a large portrait of Winter in academic garb, grinning broadly & clutching a degree of some sort, flanked by two ponies who, judging by their appearance must be her parents. Just as I was examining this picture, she called out that dinner was ready. I turned to see her trotting into the room.
'Oh hey, you didn't have to stay standing, you can sit on the clouds. You won't fall through.' she said with a titter.
'I was just examining all these awards, They're pretty impressive!' I replied.
'Yeah, I was something of an over-achiever when I was a filly. I always did well in science & in sports. Mostly winter sports because I just loved getting out there and actually experiencing it you know?' she said, her voice positively bursting with barely contained enthusiasm.
'Well, I'm more of a reading books sort of guy, but I can certainly relate to the idea of wanting to throw yourself into what you love.' I told her
'You do?' she asked, clearly not expecting that reply.
'Absolutely! A few years before I found myself here, I went to a monastery in Germany for a month, just so I could experience what writing was like for medieval monks.'
'What's a "Monk", I'm going to assume that they're some type of Human, and not related to Monkeys?'
'No you're right they're Humans, though come to think of it, Brother Anslem...' I stopped myself short, banishing the humorous, but unflattering caricature of the monk who had been so supportive of my efforts to create a historically accurate copy of the gospel of Luke.
'Ahem, anyway, should we have dinner? I'd hate to think of your cooking going to waste.' I said, hastily changing the topic.
'Ah! I'd almost forgotten!' she exclaimed before dashing back to the kitchen.
Dinner turned out to be a most excellent nutloaf, and for once, I didn't at all mind the absence of meat.
After dinner, we sat on her couch, making idle small talk, and I have to admit, it was pleasant having her her small body so near to mine. Eventually, my eye settled on the large photo on the cabinet that I had noticed earlier.
'Hey Winter, that photo over there, are those your parents?' I asked
'Huh? Oh yeah, that's my mum and dad! That was taken when I graduated from Canterlot University! They were so proud of me for getting my doctorate!
'Wait what?'
'My doctorate! I graduated in the top 5 per cent of my class.'
'You're a Doctor?' I blurted out, I had no idea she was so well educated.
'I sure am! Bachelors degree in applied meteorology, my Masters was all about snow, and my doctoral thesis was on achieving random snow distribution via carefully managing snowflake type ratios in each snowfall. I showed how to get an uneven covering, you actually have to ensure a certain mix of snowflake types, which is counter-intuitive, because... sorry, I'm rambling.' she trailed off, blushing. How do ponies blush through fur? I asked myself for the billionth time.
'No no, It's actually really interesting. I love learning more about my girlfriend.' I said
She visibly perked up at hearing me call her my girlfriend.
'Hey, Mark?' she asked in a small voice
'Yeah Winter?'
'Do you maybe, want to stay the night?' she asked scuffing the floor with a forehoof.
This was it, she wanted to take our relationship to the next level what was I to say?