Minty Image

Auroras are not supposed to appear this far south, and Twilight knew it. And such she continued to stand there, noodleing the strange occurrence; after her friend Rainbow Dash had left, promising to return "faster than lightning" if she was needed.

"Ok... Twilight think. What causes Auroras?" Twilight asked herself, trying to remain calm -- despite the loud voice in her gut crying for her to do otherwise. Though, she gained quite a bit of control of her fears and anxieties since the whole Smarty Pants debacle; she still sometimes suffered with them. It didn't help that since her ascension, she had been suffering from a condition Celestia had nicknamed "Divine Intuition".

"Ok... Causes of auroras, think Twilight: Particles affecting the planet's magnetic field.... Unlikely, it wouldn't cause an explosion, and it usually only happens in the high atmosphere, or much further north."

"The refraction of solar radiation off Equestria's magnetic field... Still too far south." She continued, getting concerned.

"Ok, could it be interference by a solar body? Except, I'd have seen a rogue solar body; and it still wouldn't explain that explosion Rainbow saw." She said, her mind starting to race... Why did this thought trail give her a migraine? (it was like something in her subconscious didn't want her going down this rabbit hole.)

"Ok... relax, I don't want any more of those migraines. It's because my mind is racing.... Ok... Think Fetlock Holmes, if you eliminate all the logical possibilities... Interference from another dimension? Once again, no explosion. And I would've heard from the Princess if that were the case." She said, her mind threatening to race again, and her "divine intuition" was beginning to act up, on top of everything else.

"Magic?" Actually that made sense, but what could produce anywhere near that level of magic? Even fully powered up with all the pony magic in Equestria (including the 4 princesses), Tirek couldn't even produce enough magic to do what she just saw.

"Ok, do what the princess taught you, Twilight: give in to your divine intuition...." She thought, trying to calm her thoughts.

"Once the visions start, then kick in your magic training. Detect the source of the magic..." Unfortunately, as soon as she started to close in onto the nature of the magic, she received an unimaginable migraine, that almost floored her.

"Ok... Haven't had one... like that since the night before my brother's wedding.... Maybe I should get the other princesses to help me on this one...." She thought, struggling to stay up (almost fainting at least twice), until the pain finally started to pass. "No... The others are busy, and I can handle this. I just need to get home, get something to help with this migraine, and then get some books." She thought, her head still throbbing, presumably from her failed magic detection attempt.

********

"Minty!! Minty!!!! MINTTYYYYYY!!!!!!!" Pinkie was still screaming at the top of her lungs. As her balloon was being carried away by the stout and regal pegasus.

Behind her, A beam of green light shot up from the gully, forcing every pony to cover their eyes.

Pinkie just about lost it for the 7th or 8th time that day: "No!!! Minty is down there!!! We have to rescue her!!!" She screaming, snorting and stomping (going, once again. feral).

Star Catcher was just about to respond, when the beam of light slowly dimmed. With a smile, she replaced her original, planned statement, with a new statement: "Consider it done."

As everyone got closer, the smoke finally started to clear; revealing a sight that one couldn't believe, had one not seen it themselves: the gorge was gone, replaced with a crater. The water that had once formed a lake at the bottom of the gorge, instead flowed around the edges of the crater, creating an island at the bottom center of the crater.

"Shall we see how your friend is doing?" Star Catcher asked the pony in the basket she was carrying (now shaking like a leaf.)

"Minty please don't be broken! Please don't be broken!" Pinkie begged, as if pleading with a higher power.

Poor Pinkie was, at first, too terrified to look. She was probably more terrified of what laid before her, then anything else she had ever been afraid of. Even messing up her next party by burning the cookies (she occasionally had this "cookie dream", where she was trying to prepare for a party, and ruined everything -- including the cookies). Definitely, more so then that time with the campfire story (you know the one where Rainbow Dash told that storm story -- and what was worse was that this time she knew that even if the nightmare went away, her friend might not be there!)

"Minty please don't be broken!!!" She pleaded again (thinking of all the parties she would make to make up for whatever she had done wrong.) At first, she didn't want to look (she really, really, didn't want to look); but, in the end, curiosity got the better of her.

At first glance, she was relieved: "Oh Minty, you're ok!" As she saw a pair of green legs and hooves, and a three mint symbol. Unfortunately, her joy was short lived as she began to get closer, and could see her friends barrel, arms and head.

"Oh dear darling! The poor darling!" Rainbow Dash chimed in first. "She looks like she's in very bad shape." Rainbow continued, noticed that, instead of Minty's normal green barrel, she had a green band around a greenish black barrel, and a pair of misshapen wings (and don't forget the holes in her legs and hoofs -- I'm sure Rainbow Dash won't.)

"Oh no!! Minty's broken!! We have to do something!!!" Pinkie shrieked, looking at her friend's face (still complete with giant, pitch black muzzle), and the horrifying bump on her head (also known of as a horn -- a crooked horn, thank you.)

"Oh Dear... Pinkie, you and I need to help her." Rainbow said, taking charge. "The rest of you darlings: find a place to land, the winds are much too strong to stay out in, darlings." Rainbow Dash cautioned.

"Oh dear Pinkie, we may need to prepare for the worse." Rainbow said, in her calmest voice. As she, and Pinkie, started to land their balloons in the freshly made crater.
"Minty, are you... feeling dashing, darling?" Rainbow Dash asked.

After a few seconds, Pinkie started to whimper (suppressing the urge to weep), when she heard a pained laugh and a voice: "Heya... Pinkie... Did we find Santa yet?"

Pinkie's face lit up (probably brighter then the glow of the, now broken, Here Comes Christmas Candy Cane.) "Don't worry about it Minty, we just need to get you somewhere safe." She said, with her usual laugh (forced, of course -- don't worry.)

"Star Catcher and Cloud Climber, darlings. Help me take..." Shouted Rainbow Dash, Looking around for a minute, before seeing some of the mint pony's balloon left. "This balloon... Help me slip it under Minty, darlings." She continued. "Be extremely careful darlings, she's fragile (like a rainbow darling.)" Rainbow said, the wheels in her head turning. "Make sure she won't budge, she mustn't be moved or slid. It would make her condition worse."

Pinkie, Rainbow, and friends, took great care in slipping the balloon under their wounded friend (yeah this was not such a great idea, but the only other choice was leave her there to... Well.... Ehem... -- and that wouldn't be rainbows darling, rainbows!)

"Star Catcher, help us find a place to land, if you could. It's unsafe to stay out in these winds, darling."

"Consider it done." Star Catcher replied. And the trip was back on.

"Don't worry Minty!" Pinkie said, with a chuckle, looking down at her friend being carried (very carefully) on the fragments of her broken balloon, carefully strung out between Pinkie and Rainbow Dash's baskets.

********

"Dear! Twilight's back!" Shouted an exuberant Twilight Velvet, to her husband.

"So, how did your sky watching session go?" Asked Twilight Velvet, of her daughter. "Did you get to see Neighly Bop's comet?" She ask eagerly, before noticing her daughter holding her head.

"Are you ok dear?" She asked, with apprehension. "You look ill!" She exclaimed, with concern.

"Yeah mom, I'm fine. It's just a little headache, nothing to be too worried about." Twilight responded.

"Little headache? It looks like more than 'a little headache'... Oh dear... But I thought you had got past those after Luna expelled that horrible Queen Chrysalis. And now there they are again." She said, with dismay. "If you want, I can call doctor Hoof back in for you. He did such wonders getting your mane and coat back into shape after whatever awful thing that horrible Chrysalis did to you! (To this day, Twilight never forgotten the horrible shedding. And it took 6 months for it all to grow back.)"

"Mom! I'm fine, besides I'm more worried about Equestria right now mom! Look outside the window just to the west of the Crystal Empire, and tell me what you see?" Twilight responded.

"Wow it's beautiful. I can't say I've seen an aurora this far south, though. Is that what I'm supposed to see?" Velvet asked.

"That's just it. There isn't supposed to be any auroras this far south, and Rainbow said it was preceded by an explosion." Twilight said, clarifying the situation.

"That IS interesting dear." Her father said as he finally arrived. "And I'm sure you will get to the bottom of it, but first let's get something to eat. Your brother and his wife are dropping by in a few minutes, and your mother has spent hours trying to get everything perfect!" He continued, with a reassuring smile.

"Speaking of Tirek." He said, with a chuckle as a knocking was heard at the door. "I'll get it." He said.

Unfortunately, at the door was not Shining armor and wife, but instead a smiling Celestia.

"Your majesty!" He said, bowing as low as he could. "To what do we owe the honor of your visit?" He asked.

"What, I can't enjoy a little time with my faithful student, a fellow princess of Equestria, and this, her lovely family?" She said, with a warm smile and a waving motion.

Just behind her, trying to poke his head through the door, was a scowling Prince Blueblood. And he was none too happy about the sky exploding and ruining his garden party! "Aunty, please go and tell that lazy brat to go ahead and fix the sky! That aurora is ruining our view of the Faust constellation!"

Celestia, just rolled her eyes at the childishness of her "nephew" (52 times removed -- though possibly more than that, Celestia lost count at some point.) And said, with a smile (and a well hidden smirk) "Fine! I'll talk to Twilight."

"You do that aunty, and tell that lazy good for nothing to do something! Like zap it with their rainbow power, or something!" Blueblood said, with a scolding tone.

"Ok but you'll have to sit out here with Twilight's family." (Truth be told, despite his outbursts, he kind of had a childhood crush on the mare. Apparently her extended family and his family had some kind of feud of sorts going on, though -- feuds... Nasty dirty business, and Blueblood hated dirty...)

"Gulp.... Hello Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle..."

"Hello Blueblood."

********

"Star Catcher, darling. The winds are not getting better darling, why don't we park here?" Rainbow Dash asked of her majestic friend.

"I'm sorry, but it just wouldn't be safe to park here, especially with Minty like she is." Star Catcher calmly replied.

"Maybe we should try Santa's new workshop?" Minty asked, with a pained giggle.

"Santa's new workshop, darling?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yeah that big scary crystally building over there." Minty replied. "That's got to be Santa's new workshop!"

"Oh no, I don't think that's Santa's workshop Minty." Pinkie replied, with a giggle. "That screams more spooky wizard, than Merry Christmas!"

"No thanks! there are no rainbows in giant scary crystally buildings, darling!" Rainbow Dash replied.

"Wow, that sounds like what you told me about my walk in the forest!" Pinkie Replied, giggling again.

"Because forests don't have any rainbows either, darling, thank you!" Rainbow replied, with indignation.

"'Sides dudes. I think that's Santa's workshop over there!" Sunny Daze, interjected.

And it truly was, even the second time. All mystical, and Christmassy. The giant bear, the elf shoes, the whole nine yards. It truly was a magical holiday themed utopia (just don't say that to the elves, they wouldn't agree, just watch all those Christmas specials from the 80s if you don't believe me.)

All the ponies could do was watch in awe.

"Hey that must be where the elves live!" Said Sparkleworks, pointing to a building shaped like a pair of elf shoes.

"And that must be where they make cookies!" Remarked an astonished Triple Treat.

"And they make their own sugar?" Said Sweetberry in surprise, normally she used berries to sweeten her baked goods.

Others began to chime in, seeing sites such as the workshop, and Santa's house.

Sadly, in the middle of their mirth the situation began to weight on everyone.

"So 'Dash, you think we're gunna be able to find Santa? Or you think... Mintyee will...." Sunny began to say, fighting to keep her lip from quivering at the thought of her friend's fate.

"And what do we do if he isn't home?" Asked Cotton Candy, pulling along side. "We might not have a Christmas this year, and worse..."

"I'd rather not think about it, darlings. If need be, we'll come up with something dashing. And I'm sure Santa will be home, darlings!" Rainbow started replied, being very careful not to be heard by her passenger below.

"What's... everyone talking about?" Minty asked, wheezing a little.

"Oh.. nothing darling." Rainbow lied. "We just were anxious to see Christmas Xanadu, darling! And we were just hoping you could join us."

"I hope he's there, I don't like the look of that bump on Minty's head, and when did she get really for real pegasus wings?" Sparkleworks joined in as everyone started to park. "And why do they look so messed up?" Sparkleworks shook for a second, in fear. "And what's wrong with her arms and hands?" She continued, her frown growing.

"I don't honestly know darlings, and trying to think about why makes my head hurt, darlings." Rainbow replied, carefully setting her balloon down so as not to disturb her, or Pinkie's passenger.

"Now if you don't mind, we'll be off finding Santa, for Minty." Pinkie chimed in, with a laugh. Looking for a second at the pony (thing) below; begging to see Santa. "Ok Minty, we'll bring you too." She replied, with a smile and a chuckle.

Sadly, the answer came when Rainbow Dash, looked at the door. And not a very helpful one.

"It's a note, darlings." Rainbow said.

This, of course, forced everyone to join in: "It's a note!"

"Yeah, it's definitely a note. It's definitely an important note!" Thistle Whistle said, sarcastically, whistling at the end.

"Very funny darling, let me read what it says." Rainbow replied.

Rainbow Dash's eyes moved up and down the paper she was holding in her hoofs, which were squishing like she had invisible palms. Before her expression dropped like a lead balloon (and not the one the MythBusters got off the ground, either). "Darlings, he says he's not home, that he's sorry he missed us, and that he will be back Christmas morning!"

"Great! Just great!" Thistle Whistle said, whistling at the end. "We came all this way for nothing, and Minty is looking worse than ever!"

At that point, the mint pony chimed in, as best she could; crying, as much from sadness and pain. "Santa is gone! I'm so sorry. I ruined Christmas for everyone! I didn't mean it! it was an accident!" She choked out.

"Oh, darling, we know!" Rainbow Dash replied.

"We know Minty!" Sparkleworks said, joining in.

"And you and Thistle are more important to us anyway. We'll have other Christmases, but we can't find another you." Sweetberry joined in the encouragement session.

Star Catcher started to speak, disappearing a little against the snow: "Minty, you came all the way up here to give us back our Christmas. You've brought us to the most magical place of all. Don't feel guilty."

"Do you mean the North Pole?" Sunny Daze asked.

"No your heart." Star Catcher continued. Carefully pointing to the mint green ponies heart (without touching it, of course.)

At this, the ponies did what they always did, and gathered together for a good hug. Many of them needed it, as the melancholy was getting the worst of them.

Strangely as they did, a light strong light glowed, not just around them, but also the castle back home.

"Guys! Minty's glowing!" Pinkie said, looking at the sick pony below her glowing eerily in tune with the light being let off.

The ponies all gathered around to see their friend glowing, looking more like herself.

"Did we just imagine that whole bump and wing thing?" Pinkie asked, rubbing her eyes with her hoofs.

"It's a Christmas miracle!" Sweetberry chimed in, before making the mistake of touching their friends arm; who immediately winced in great pain.

"Oh dear darlings, her breathing is better, but she's still broken!" Rainbow said, with dismay. "We have to get back to Ponyville!"

"Look everyone, the clouds are clearing up." said Thistle Whistle. "And the wind is stopping!"

"That's odd, darlings, I have deja-vu; but I don't recall Minty being so badly hurt." She said, shaking her head to clear out the errant thoughts.

"Well now that the clouds are clearing up. Maybe we should head back home? It's still Christmas, and Minty needs help!" Pinkie said, trying to maintain her positive attitude (this was something she always strived for, for some reason, to be the voice of optimism.) "I bet 'cha 'the wisest pony in the land' can help!"

"Consider it done." Replied Star Catcher, starting an odd song about Christmas, for some reason.

********

"So Twilight, you saw an explosion? and then?..." Celestia started asking.

"Rainbow Dash saw the explosion, but we both saw the aurora." Twilight corrected.

"Ok, fair enough. So your 'divine intuition' started acting up at that point, correct?"

"Yes, correct." Twilight replied.

"Did you try to detect the magic and it's source?"

"Yes, but the moment I did, I started getting a horrific migraine, probably the second worst I've ever had." Twilight said.

"Next to the one right before the wedding?"

"Correct, it was almost as bad; no sooner did I start trying to sense the source of the magic, then I was almost floored by an immeasurable headache." Twilight said. "It was like something inside me didn't want to know the source of the phenomenon."

To which the princess stood there with a dour expression, before looking away. "I'm sorry Twilight, I failed you back there."

"What do you mean princess? Do you know what caused the explosion?"

"No Twilight, the wedding. I failed to see what was happening right before my eyes. If Queen Chrysalis had taken you away the night before, or would have been devoting her forces to conquest (and feeding) instead of silly triumphs... You and your brother would have been long gone (and she still parishes to think what would have happened to Applejack's brother.)" Celestia said, walking towards the edge of the balcony. "

"Strange thing is... Part of me tells me that was the plan, at least it originally was. I don't know what changed her mind, though I'm glad it did." Twilight responded, contemplatively.

"That day I learned of the student I betrayed, and almost lost another...." Celestia lamented. "And you two are not the only ones I've failed..." She thought, with a sigh. "Nevertheless... It's Hearth's Warming Eve, no more of this sadness. Let's see if I have more luck detecting the source of this magic." She said, leaving her mouth a jar; and lowering herself into a squat, with her front legs bent and back legs fully extended, as if listening to the wind talk (which was odd, considering her element was the sun.)

"You were right, it's definitely magic alright. And a lot of it...." Celestia continued. "What could produce that much magic though? Even Tirek couldn't produce that much magic." Celestia said, standing in the same position. "Twilight, we may be dealing with a very powerful dark entity here. Nevertheless, I want you and your family to enjoy your Hearth's Warming Day, so I'll be conferring with Luna to determine what course of action to take. But I may need you gathering some data for me from your library, and possibly the forbidden archives at our old castle (thank goodness Tirek left the golden oaks alone, otherwise we would have needed a #savetree.)" Celestia finished, before starting back into the house.

"I'm sorry princess, but you are hiding something from me, I can sense it." Twilight said, trying to avoid sounding unruly. "You have an idea what happened, but don't want to share for some reason."

"As I said before, my faithful student and friend. I want you to enjoy Hearth's Warming Day. Besides what I sensed made no sense. The amount of magic given off would make Queen Chrysalis look like a gnat, even with all your brother's love."

"What do you mean Celestia?"

"I'm coming in, I brought my favorite kind of cake. You should join us Twilight for dinner Twilight; your brother and Cadance are just arriving now!"

********

"Look. I can see Ponyville!" Pinkie shouted, enthusiastically. The whole trip had been a real bummer for her (and everyone else for that matter.)

The good news was that the tree was there to greet all the returning ponies. And the glow from the Here Comes Christmas Candy Cane was visible to guide them home.

"Wait, darlings, wasn't the tree toppled?" Triple Treat asked, "And didn't Minty wreck the candy cane?" She continued.

"Sorry...." Said Minty, gurgling as much as she was coughing.

"That's ok Minty..." Pinkie said, chuckling to hide her dismay; before a light turned on in her head. "Hey, she did!... You don't think?" Pinkie trailed off.

The tree was covered with ornaments, and socks filled with goodies.

"Minty, are those your socks?" Pinkie asked, inquisitively (she could have sworn... Nah...)

"Minty, darling, your socks? How darling of you..." Rainbow chimed in. "I know how much you liked them, is must have been a big sacrifice for you."

"Hey... dudettes, didn't Minty leave those inside? I remember waking up, just after the tree crashed, and I noticed there was one of Mintyee's socks hanging from my mantel." Sunny Daze.

"Hey! that's right!" Pinkie said again, recalling just after their little conversation, earlier that night.

"Wow! Thanks Minty!" Sparkleworks finally chimed in, herself. "You put some great gifts in these socks!" Looking at a candy cane, and a small sparkler that she pulled out of the sock.

"Gee... Wiz! Thanks guys!" She said, before coughing again furiously. "But I didn't put anything in the socks! (except for their brushes; some though, she just left on the mantel.) They were just empty socks! And I couldn't have filled them; because I was at the North Pole, remember?." She continued.

"Then it must have been Santa." Star Catcher said. With everyone else quickly joining in as well.

"But that means... That Santa found his way here anyway? Maybe it wasn't the Here Comes Christmas Candy Cane that allowed him to find his way here but..." Pinkie said, stopping when she noticed something in her sock (didn't she get the green and yellow polka dotted sock?) "Hey! Santa left us a note." She continued, preparing to read the note out loud.

"Ahem.... I'm sorry Minty isn't feeling well, I gave something to your friend, Kimono, that should help. P.S. I like the sock idea. I hope she doesn't mind if I use it again next year... Santa." Pinkie said, scanning for missing words. "Oh and... P.P.S: Ho Ho HO! Merry Christmas."

"Santa left us something?" Rainbow asked, her hope finally coming back. "How positively dashing! We should go see our friend Kimono then, darlings!" Rainbow continued before looking at Pinkie. "Would you help me transport Minty, Pinkie darling? But remember, she's fragile like a rainbow!"

********

"What do you mean I'll have to leave the day after Hearth's Warming Eve, egghead? You promised me I'd get a few more days. I have Wonderbolts Derby tickets for Friday with Lord West Wind!" Rainbow said, fuming, her arms crossed. "I was going to clean up! Maybe get something nice for the half-pint!"

"Oh you mean. Winning the heart of Lord West Wind?" Rarity asked, hiding a smirk. "And I thought you didn't like that kind of thing."

"Shut up!" Rainbow screamed, looking peeved.

"Relax Rainbow! She was just being catty 'cuz she wanted more time to attend some hoity toity gala." Applejack replied. "Faust knows, I wanted to attend apple con Canterlot this year!"

"I do not!" Rarity denied, eliciting a smirk from the farm pony.

"'Course not sugar cube." Applejack replied. "You just wanted to 'sell your product' is all."

"Somewhere my previous self is walking around." Said Pinkie, whooshing around at high speeds. "And she's sad, and..." She said, gasping for a second. "I'm not there to cheer her up!!!"

"You got any idea what the hey she's talking about?" Rainbow asked, getting a chorus of head shakes from the other ponies. "And you wanna know where Twilight is? She said she would explain all of this."

"Hey anyone know where Discord went?" Rainbow asked, looking suspicious. "Fluttershy?"

The yellow pegasus with the triple butterfly cutie mark, simply apologized under her breath. "Sorry... I haven't seen him since the sky exploded."

"Say again sugar cube?" Applejack asked, trying to be as soft as possible as to get her friend's attention.

"I'm sorry, I haven't seen him since the aurora. We were having a picnic together with some of Celestia's animals and all of a sudden he got all serious and walked off. And he looked all sad too..." Fluttershy continued.

"Discord? Serious? I never thought I would hear those two words together!" Rainbow Dash responded, laughing at her own joke.

"Yeah, he's never all serious, he's more like whoosh, let me do something random... and fun!!!" Pinkie responded.

"And anyone still seen where the hey the princesses are?" Rainbow reiterated.

Right on queue four princesses entered the room.

"Sorry about that guys. Celestia wanted to share the details with me first." Twilight confessed, with a frown. "Do you want to explain it, or shall I princess?" She asked, her teacher.

"Allow me this time, my little pony." Celestia started. "Earlier this evening, some kind of magical disturbance."

"Twilight and I have both attempted to detect the source of the anomaly, and I have discovered something interesting while doing so.

"I believe we have more changeling activity. Powerful changeling activity! Making what Queen Chrysalis did at Shining Armor's wedding look like child's play." Celestia said, giving everyone a minute for her statements to sink in.

"Queen Chrysalis? You mean that hombre that tried to kidnap Twilight and tried to change my brother into a monster like them?" Applejack asked. "Good thing she relented at the last minute and decided to tie him up instead. Otherwise I perish to think what would'a happened to him... Might've, himself, become one of those nasty buggers. You mean she got some kinda upgrade after that whole Secretariat Comet incident?"

"Yes, but I believe that she's not what caused the aurora last night, and that the one who did is much more powerful then Chrysalis ever was." Celestia responded. "Why they have acted now, we don't know. It may be that they were forced to defend their lives, or are now making a move for control of the hive. We don't know." She said, hiding a frown. "And neither one can end well, my little ponies."

"Therefore Luna and I wish for you to return the day after Hearth's Warming Day to Ponyville, and begin preparing defenses for another possible changeling attack." Celestia continued her dissertation.

This was not good news for the ponies, as they had narrowly averted disaster last year when Chrysalis tried to replace all the ponies in Ponyville with her hive; for another attempt at Twilight (yeah, she said it was to talk, till she tried to steal Twilight's power, and they all perish to think what she was planning for Apple Bloom, and friends.) Why she was so fascinated with Twilight, though, they never knew.

"Twilight will be spending most of her time in our old castle in the archives, as well as her library looking for any information we can find on the hive, and its origins." Celestia continued. "Because, up until now we always assumed there was, but one hive. Now if it was possible there is another Queen, then there may be another hive. Or we may be dealing with a rogue agent; something we believed impossible, until now."

"Hey that's good and all princess, but I've got non-redeemable tickets for the Wonderbolts Derby! (She was going to clean up at betting and win something for the squirt, like she said earlier -- at least that's what she told herself as she was planning an addition to her house!)"

"I'm aware of your date with Duke West Wind. But fear not, I've informed him already that I need you for vital royal business. I've already purchased three tickets for next month's Wonderbolts Derby in Cloudsdale (one for Dash, one for Lord West Wind, and one for Scootaloo -- of course.)"

"You mean THE Wonderbolts Derby. THE big one?" Asked Rainbow Dash, her wings fluttering slightly with excitement.

"Do not worry my little ponies, I am already planning on how to make it up to the rest of you (she's thinking AppleCon South, and maybe getting some new outfits for royal events from a certain store.) You are dismissed, have a merry Heath's Warming Day." Celestia said, waving cheerfully. "Does anyone want cider? or maybe bakes goods." She said, calling for her royal guards, to bring in a delightful spread.

********

"Kimono, darling, could you do me a favor and COME OUT HERE!!!" Rainbow said, in a shrill voice. "We need you, darling. Minty has gone and hurt herself, quite badly this time, and I..." She said, as she started to sob (Pinkie was on the verge of doing the same, but was trying desperately not to.)

"Hello, my friends." Said a smiling Kimono as she walked out, under the rotunda. "Isn't it a little late for a visit?" She asked. "Santa's letter warned me that you might pay me a visit though..." She continued.

"Oh thank goodness, darling, our friend Minty has hurt herself really bad; and, even though she's looking better then she was, and the darling's condition is starting to get dire again..." Rainbow, reiterated.

Kimono just nodded, before stepping over next to the minty pony. "Hello my friend. How do you feel?"

"Sore..." Minty said, with a burdened chuckle.

"Let me take a look my friend." Kimono said, before looking over the green pony; tapping her in a couple of places. "What have you done to yourself my friend?" She asked, rhetorically.

"She went to find Santa, because she broke the Here Comes Christmas Candy Cane. But she ran off before I could tell her I was going to join her..." Pinkie started sobbing. "And then she crashed her balloon, and fell into a lake..." She continued before she just ran off. "I'm sorry Minty!!! I failed you!!!" Crying loudly as she sped off, into the distance.

Minty shuddered a little bit... As did Rainbow...

"Oh, my friend. It would seem that your friend Pinkie cares, a lot, for you." Kimono said to Minty. "Don't worry, I'll get Pinkie in a minute. Santa gave me something that should, at least, buy us some time." She continued, bringing out purple sock, that had been left on her mantel.

"What is it, Kimono darling?" Rainbow asked Kimono, as she looked at the odd colored, bubbling, liquid in the bottle. "Is this what Santa mentioned in his letter?"

"It is, Rainbow. The wind tells me that this potion increases the life force of the one drinking it." Kimono responded.

"What does that mean, darling?" Rainbow asked, looking puzzled.

"It means, Rainbow, that she should feel better. The problem is, unfortunately, with her injuries it will only keep her condition stable." Kimono continued. "And to make matters worse, I have but three doses: one for tonight, and two others."

"Well, darling, can't you get more?" Rainbow asked.

"Unfortunately, Rainbow, I cannot. Breezie sneezes, and rainbow berries, I have plenty. But I haven't any heart's desire, though I'm sure it's a flower; and I don't even know what an ali-corn (she said, pronouncing it phonetically) even is, though I guess it's some kind of bird. And I can't find reference of either in any book in the Ponyville library." Kimono said, looking somber.

"Then, darling, I shall find it!" Rainbow replied. "I know everything about rainbows, darling, and I know a pony who knows everything about flowers." Rainbow said, thinking out loud. "And spike!!!" She remembered. "Maybe it's in one of his books?"

"Unfortunately, Spike won't be back until the day after Christmas, and I worry if we have to travel far to get the ingredients." Kimono cautioned. "Though I wouldn't leave tonight, as I believe the winds will pick up again." She said, stooping down for a second into an odd position: her mouth gaping open, and her front legs bent. "The wind says that tomorrow will be easier to travel. 'Plus it's easier to travel by light instead of dark.'" Quoting wisdom to her friend.

"Now, my friend, please drink. This should help." Kimono asked, of her green friend. "I promise, I made sure to add some peppermint." She said, carefully giving some of the bubbling potion to the weakened pony.

"Wow! It does taste like peppermint!" The mint pony said, suddenly sounding a lot better. "Thanks Kimono!"

"You are welcome my friend." Kimono responded, before looking over to Rainbow Dash.

"This reminds me of the day I first met you." Kimono said, nostalgically. "She didn't look very good that night either. Though neither did you or Pinkie..."

"Oh, darling, I think you're imagining things. I've lived here a long time. Why I remember that time... Who was that darling again, darlings? Sweetberry? First came to Ponyville. Yes, I, Pinkie, Scootaloo, and her sister: Cherry Blossom? Were playing dress up and then a storm... No that can't possibly be right..." Rainbow said, holding her head. "Perhaps I need to call it a night, darling, it is late after all. And a lady needs her darling sleep, darlings."

"But of course." Kimono replied. "I shall retire then to the library, and see what I can find and...."

"HOLD EVERYTHING!!!" Pinkie screamed. "I get another letter from Santa, in my sock!"

"Another letter?" Rainbow and Kimono both asked at once, looking at each other. "How do you know it's from Santa?"

"Well, for one thing, it says 'Ho! Ho! Ho!' at the bottom, see!" Said Pinkie, pointing to some writing at the bottom of the letter.

"What else does it say, darling?" Rainbow asked.

"Well...." Started Pinkie. "It says: 'Dear Pinkie, I forgot to give this to you earlier. My bad. I hope this map will be of use to you. Consider it a second Christmas gift from me for my best helper ever. Santa.'"

"But I have one question." Pinkie said: "I don't recognize any of this writing. How is Santa sure it's a map?"

"Let me take a look?" Asked, the wisest pony in the land. "Interesting, it looks like it is a map, but I don't understand any of this writing. It looks like Hieroglyphics. How indeed?"

"Hmm..." Rainbow puzzled. "Maybe, that darling Puzzlemint could help. She loves this kind of thing, darlings."

"We could, but she might be in bed already." Kimono said. "Maybe we should look at this tomorrow...."

"Wait, darlings, are you sure you can't read this? it says Lady Rainbow pretty clearly up here." Said Rainbow Dash, pointing at a couple of symbols at the top.

"Hmmm... Lady Rainbow." Pinkie responded. "Sounds like a pirate name, is this a treasure map. And what does a treasure map have to do with Minty?" Pinkie continued, sitting for a second to think.

"Oh, I doubt it, darlings. But I can only imagine if she was, darlings. She must have been some kind of fashionable pirate, looting fashion shops up and down the French coasts." Rainbow said. "But no, I don't think so darlings.... And this circled word is... Can... Ter.... Lock.... Canterlock. I wonder...." She said, before she stopped dead with a splitting headache.

"You ok Rainbow Dash?" Pinkie asked, breaking from her thoughts.

"Oh I'm fine, darling." Just a little headache. "But I don't know why. But I'm sure we can find this alicorn bird there. And maybe someone that knows something about Heart's Desire..." Rainbow said, taking a minute to message her head with her hoofs (squished into a funny shape, don't worry.)

"Oh then, we should probably bring Wysteria, since she knows everything about everything about flowers. Oh and Star Catcher too, if any pegasus can get us there, she can!" Pinkie said, her head slightly tilted, at a thoughtful angle.

"But, I must figure out the beginning of this darling map first, darlings." Rainbow said, scanning up and down. "Ok... hmmm..."

"Wait Rainbow, I've seen that before." Pinkie said pointing at a spot on the map. "That's that spooky chrystally place."

"And so this circle must be us, darlings. Oh wasn't Santa darling enough to help us out with our starting point, darlings!" Rainbow said, feeling quite chipper. "We'll start out in the morning, Minty, Wysteria, you and myself." She said motioning to Pinkie.

"Isn't travelling dangerous? especially when you are broken?" Asked Pinkie to Rainbow, showing concern.

"No I agree, darling. But we don't know how long it will take to get to this Canterlot and back, and we've only got potion for two days. I fear we have no other options." Rainbow said, looking down at the map, so as not to face the obvious. "Good news is that I think this is south darlings, and we should be good to go tomorrow morning first thing. Till then, good night darlings."

"Wait Rainbow, which balloon will we be taking?" Pinkie asked.

"Why the big one with the balloons attached at the top." Rainbow replied.

"And at the bottom?" Pinkie asked, knowingly.

"Yes, it's the only one we have that can safely seat three ponies and with a strong pegasus, like Star Catcher pulling, we can seat four. "Now good night, darlings." Rainbow said as she left, the way she came.

"Wish for the best, my friend." Kimono said, to a peacefully sleeping Minty. "Tomorrow will bring either great fortune, or great catastrophe (and only a limited amount of Christmas mirth, sadly.)"

********

"Your Majesty, s...." Said a very strange looking changeling colt, staring at a very large throne, on which stood a changeling monarch.

"Don't call me that, Solanaceae, just call me majesty. Or high exalted one!" The changeling on the throne hissed.

The room was dark to begin with as it was chosen in one of the lowest points in the hive. And for this meeting everything was done by candle light. Except that fewer lights were chosen then necessary, making the room quite dark. Except for the throne that was lit up with a black light giving it an eerie effect.

"Tell me foal." The 'High and exalted one' said, inquisitively. "Any word on this evening's astronomical event?" He asked, looking at the young colt, whose head was unnaturally bald, completely lacking a mane (something uncommon even among changelings).

"Your highness, a few of our scholars, and a couple of scientists might have found something out. Right before they met an unfortunate demise." The young colt said, looking genuinely sad. "The explosion, was definitely caused by magic, and a lot of it. The aurora is interference from another dimension."

"Tell me Solanaceae, does this mean we might have new allies?" Changeling lord asked, with genuine glee.

"No my lord, it was changeling magic."

"Changelings from another universe?" Their majesty said, their countenance turning sour, not liking where this was going.

"Except the signature was from our universe." Solanaceae responded, as the changeling monarch flew into a rage, picking up a life sized statue of themselves and throwing it against a wall, completely smashing it (and the wall too).

"Are you telling me, there's another changeling around. One with enough magic to smash a hole in a dimensional barrier? And it's not from another dimension? Do you want to try again? Solanaceae?"

"I'm sorry ... majesty. But it's the truth."

"Do you know what level of magic would be required for such a feat?"

"Yes, ... exalted one, such a level of magic would make Celestia look like a gnat. Only a Changeling Princess, Queen, or King could produce such magic."

"... And if they aren't from another world then..." The started gnashing their teeth again, picking up a knife with their magic. "Do you still want to go with this line of reasoning?" The changeling monarch replied.

"Yes, your majesty, I earned my position as the head of your league of assassins by my wit and perceptivity. And this is what I believe the truth to be."

"WRRRRRAAAARRRRRR!!!!!" The changeling monarch roared, sending the knife within inches of the young colt. Before breathing in to calm themselves down. "You are lucky that my plans are so close to fruition." They continued. "Only one pony could have done this then."

"You mean... The lady?"

"Yes. But how she survived after your predecessor assured me of her death, I will not know; I suppose she is slippery after all. Solanaceae! You must rectify this mistake for the good of the hive. She will only act as a cancer to hive unity and purpose."

"Of course, my ...." A low growling could be heard, as Solanaceae quickly corrected himself. "Majesty..." As he quickly excused himself to return to his duties.

"Remember colt of what will happen if you fail." The changeling monarch hissed.

"I will be reduced back to being a drone?"

"You wish your fate would be so fortunate colt... No... it will be much worse, and much more final. Remember this!" The changeling Monarch cautioned.

"He should be glad... That his predecessor was more successful with Princess Larva.... Otherwise I might be needing a new set of assassins."