//-------------------------------------------------------// Holiday Warmth from Bookend -by Brian Sheil- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Happy Holidays from EAH //-------------------------------------------------------// Author's Note With the holiday coming, I figured to write a short, but fascinating, holiday story. Happy Holidays from EAH It was a nice crisp day in Canterlot. The weather is a bit nippy, but not too cold. Inside the home of Filthy and Spoiled Rich, a grand celebration is underway. Dressed in their fancy best, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are enjoying themselves. "It sure is nice of Diamond Tiara to let us come to this party." Sweetie Belle said happily. Scootaloo looks at herself in a mirror. "I don't usually get fancy. But, for the Christmas season, I can make an exception." "That's the spirit!" Apple Bloom was drinking a cup of hot chocolate when Diamond Tiara approached her. "Having fun, AB?" Diamond asked. "I sure am." Apple Bloom replied happily. "Thanks for letting me and my friends join you today." "Friendship has no bounds, Apple Bloom. This is a step in the right direction." The two girls hugged each other, Outside, a snobbish looking man and woman looked at the manor. Suddenly, they ran up to the house. They opened the door and rushed in. Sounds of yelling and hitting can be heard. The sounds can be heard by those walking outside the house. At that moment, the CMCs were thrown out of the house. A male snobbish voice was heard. "You gossip mavens are not welcome here! Now, BEAT IT!" The three girls ran away with tears in their eyes. As they walk down the streets, they cried softly. "Gossip mavens?" Scootaloo said angrily. "Our days as Anon-a-miss are over!" "I know." Apple Bloom replied as she tries to wipe away her tears. "I felt so embarrassed." Suddenly, Sweetie Belle receives a message on her smartphone. It reads, Sweetie Belle, you and your two companions are cordially invited to a holiday celebration at the Grand Canterlot Ballroom. You'll meet very special people there. You don't want to miss this party. "Guys, I think somebody wants us to join some party at the Ballroom." Sweetie Belle informed. "As in the Grand Canterlot Ballroom?" Apple Bloom wondered. "That's right." "It's better than doing nothing." Scootaloo added. "Let's go." The three girls went off. Diamond Tiara watches from her room. "I wonder what snapped them out of their depression?" The girls soon made their way to the Grand Canterlot Ballroom. There, socialite Hoity Toity was there at the front door. "Greetings, young ladies of the Cutie Mark Crusaders." Hoity Toity said elegantly. "I see you got the invitation." "Hello, Mr. Hoity Toity." Sweetie Belle replied. "Thank you for inviting us." "Actually, I didn't invite you here." "I did." Said the voice of another elegant man. The girls saw a man with red hair and mustache wearing a fancy blue suit. Apple Bloom suddenly knows who it is. "I think I've heard of ya. You're Milton Grimm. Aren't you?" "That's correct, Miss Bloom." Grimm answered. "Whoa!" Scootaloo gasped. "This guy is the Headmaster of Ever After High!" "You guessed correctly, Scootaloo." "So, you sent us the invitation." Sweetie Belle said. "Why?" "I recently got a call from Filthy and Spoiled Rich about the three of you being tossed out of their humble abode. My guess, somebody remembered the infamous Anon-a-miss conspiracy." "I guess so." Apple Bloom said sadly. Grimm soon gave her a small hug. "Don't despair, my friends. That's why you're here. We of Bookend are having a holiday party in this grand place. I figured you three would like to join us." After thinking about it, the girls made a decision. "Headmaster Grimm," Sweetie Belle replied, "we'll join you!" "Excellent!" Grimm cheered. "Then let's go in. It's a bit cold out here." The Cutie Mark Crusaders followed Hoity Toity and Grimm inside the building. They were impressed with the winter decorations and whole atmosphere. Apple Bloom smelt some mint in the air. "Smells like peppermint around here." A tray was rolled out with a variety of cookies on a plate. Some of which do have peppermint. Avid baker, Ginger Breadhouse was pushing the cart. "Cookies, girls? They are fresh out of the oven." The girls took one cookie each. Apple Bloom got a chocolate cookie with peppermint stripes, Scootaloo took a traditional gingerbread man, and Sweetie Belle has a decorated sugar cookie. "Thanks, Ginger." Scootaloo said as she takes a bite. "Hey! These are good." "I try my best." Ginger replied. "I want to make tasty treats for everybody without following my story." "That's what Raven Queen told us." Sweetie Belle said. As Ginger leaves, Farrah Goodfairy rolls her own cart and addresses the girls. "Anybody want some hot chocolate to warm up?" The girls each take a cup before sitting in one of the tables. Apple Bloom replied to the maiden. "Thank you, Farrah." Farrah soon gave Sweetie a small kiss on the cheek. The girls were shocked to see that. "Why did she kiss you?" Scootaloo asked. "Because when I had a bad day," Sweetie Belle answered. "Rarity called in Farrah Goodfairy to help me." As the day rolls on, the trio feels relaxed. Music played by Melody Piper fills the air. Outside the booth, Vinyl Scratch gave Melody a thumbs up. "Keep up the good work, Melody." Scootaloo listened to a little guitar playing by Sparrow Hood. After he was finished, Scoots applauded him. "That was cool, Sparrow." "Thanks, Scoots." Sparrow replied. "You should hear me and Rainbow Dash play together." At another table, Apple Bloom was talking to Raven Queen. "So, you and your two pals got tossed out of Diamond Tiara's house. Huh?" Raven wondered. "I'm afraid so, Raven." Apple Bloom said sadly. "Probably because of our faulty past." Apple Bloom started to tear up. Raven took out a tissue to wipe the tears from her eyes. "Please, don't cry. This is why you three were invited here. So that you won't feel left out." The farm girl soon felt better. "Thanks, Raven. I needed that." The two girls soon hugged each other. Apple White watched the scene and feels good about. "I guess being a rebel at Ever After High does have it's advantages." Sweetie was talking to former vicious vixen, Courtly Jester. "So, you used to be a meanie like Sunset Shimmer was." Sweetie said. "Huh, Courtly?" "You heard right, Sweetie." Courtly answered. "But, after some time in Wonderland prison, I was given a chance to redeem myself." Madeline Hatter soon came to the scene. "And, she's been doing good ever since." The girls from Wonderland high fived each other. The girls continue to enjoy themselves. They were soon approached by Gus and Helga Crumb. "Enjoying yourselves?" Helga asked. "We sure are." Apple Bloom replied. "The treats Ginger cooked up are tasty." "Helga and I were scared of Ginger at first." Gus admitted. "Since we're the children of Hansel and Gretel, we thought Ginger would be like her mother: The Candy Witch." "But, thanks to Raven Queen and celebrity chef, Jack Horner," Helga continued, "our views of Ginger were changed." At that moment, Photo Finish showed up. "Who would like to pose for a picture?" All five youngsters nodded and sat still to have their picture. Photo liked what she saw and took a picture. "I'll be sure to make copies for you folks." A cute looking bunny wearing a top hat hopped over to the girls just as Gus and Helga left. "Hey, little fella." Sweetie Belle said, petting the bunny. "You look so cute." Suddenly, the bunny transformed to reveal Bunny Blanc. "Always expect the unexpected, girls." Bunny said happily. This shocked the three girls. As did the sudden appearance of Kitty Cheshire. "Bunny is right." Kitty added. "We of Ever After High are full of surprises." "I guess you're right, Kitty." Scootaloo said. "No wonder Pinkie Pie likes you." Later, the party was winding down. And, the girls left the ballroom to head for home. A minute later, Rarity showed up in a limo. "Ready to head for home, dearies?" Rarity asked. "What brings you here, sis?" Sweetie Belle wondered. "Lizzie Hearts called me when this event was ending." Lizzie soon stepped out to meet up with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "I figured you three are getting tired. So, I called Rarity to pick you up." The girls soon went into the limo, and were taken back home. Days later, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo met Apple Bloom at Sweet Apple Acres as they each received a picture of themselves posing with Gus and Helga Crumb. They relax with cups of hot chocolate. "Here's to a hopeful happy holiday." Apple Bloom said proudly. The girls raised their glasses to salute their magical night. In another room of the house, Applejack and Big Mac watched footage of the holiday party from the ballroom. This footage was no doubt courtesy of Blondie Locks. "Blondie sure got some good footage." Applejack said. "Eeyup!" Big Mac replied. "Our sister and her friends looked like they had a good time." Outside the area, the snobbish duo who threw the girls out of Diamond Tiara's house watched the footage. "I don't understand." The man said. "Why haven't those brats put out their gossip?" "Maybe they have changed." The woman replied. "I think we've been too hard on them." "Perhaps you're right. Let's head out before someone sees us and think we're going to attack Apple Bloom." The snobbish pair slowly went away, knowing to keep their distance. Looks like they won't bother the Cutie Mark Crusaders for a while. THE END