Chapters The Ghost of Silver Spoon
Diamond Tiara glanced at the old clock and her frown deepened.
"He's late." she muttered before adding another coal to the small fire.
Diamond and Silver's Jewelry Shop was well known as one of the best stores in Manehatten. However, now it was just Diamond who ran the business ever since Silver Spoon passed away seven years ago. Yes, it was just Diamond and her co-worker who was now five minutes late.
Suddenly, the door creaked open and a young stallion trotted inside. Brown spots covered his body and his eyes were brimmed with joy; for it was almost Hearth's Warming Eve.
"You're late Pipsqueak." Diamond stated flatly.
"Sorry Ms. Tiara but you see I was stuck in-" Pipsqueak began, only to shut his mouth when Tiara raised her hoof.
"I don't want to hear your excuse, just go and sort the cinnamon rubies from the cherry rubies." She commanded.
The stallion nodded his head and trotted over to a glossy pine table with bags of gems on top. Then, with a heavy sigh he picked up a bag and dumped all of it's treasures onto the table.
"Miss Tiara?" Pipsqueak asked while trying to determine weather the ruby he was holding up was cinnamon. "Can I please have Hearth's Warming Eve off?"
Diamond Tiara looked up from her papers and shook her head. "I am not paying you to sit around all day doing nothing."
"You don't have to pay me." Pip argued.
The mare placed a hoof upon her chin and thought for a moment. "Fine, but you'll have to work double shift on Friday."
Pipsqueak nodded his head happily and continued to work.
A couple minutes later the door once again opened and two slim unicorns walked inside. However, Diamond paid no mind to them until one cleared his throat.
"What do you want?" she snapped, causing the two to take a step back.
"Miss I am Flim"
"And I am Flam"
"And we were wondering if you would like to give a donation to the On the Streets foundation." Flim explained.
"This organization gives homeless ponies shelter and warm food, which would be an excellent gift this holiday." Flam piped up, though his focus was more on the piles of rubies.
"Bah humbug." Diamond replied, "Why would I give to those lazy street rats?"
"STREET RATS!?" both brothers shouted in union.
"Yes, why I bet all those ponies you see on the streets are just too lazy to get a job. So they decide to steal from ponies who actually work to make a living." she informed.
The two unicorns just stood there with their moths aghast. Never in their wildest years have they ever came across such a mean pony before. So with quick haste, they galloped out of the shop and ran as far away from Diamond and Silver's shop as they could.
"Good riddance," the mare huffed before shifting her gaze to Pipsqueak, "Once you're done start sorting out the emeralds."
"Y-yes ma'am." Pip gulped.
Hours past and soon it was closing time. Diamond hopped from her chair and followed her employee out into the streets of Canterlot. Then, once she made sure her shop was locked, they went their separate ways.
Diamond Tiara trotted through a brightly lit neighborhood until she came to a gloomy, three story house. Unlike the other houses, this one had no lights or a welcome sign. Instead it's windows cast an eerie shadow that even gives the most fearsome pony chills.
The mare walked slowly up the steps and unlocked the door before going inside. Once inside, the mare maneuvered her way upstairs until she came to a door with a money sign. Then, with a grin, she opened the door and turned on the lights.
The grand bedroom had oak floors, plain white walls, and a bed covered in pink and purple blankets. Beside it was a yellow dresser. other then that, there were no other pieces of furniture.
Diamond trotted to her bed and slid underneath the warm covers. Then, with a yawn, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
That is until she heard the bedroom door opened with a bang.
The mare jumped out of bed and stared at the open door. "Who's there?" she questioned.
"It is I." an all too familiar voice cried out.
"S-Silver Spoon?" Diamond Tiara whispered. Her mouth went dry and her body was shivering. How could her friend and business partner be alive?
"Indeed." Silver Spoon replied before walking into the bedroom.
Iron chains snaked around her transparent body. Her eyes were covered by broken glasses and a blue scarf was draped across her neck.
"Wh-what, how, who?" Diamond stuttered, only to be silenced by Silver's ghost.
"I have come to show you want will become of you." the ghost explained.
"H-how did you become l-like this?" Diamond questioned.
Silver rattled her chains which caused a loud ringing, even louder then the old clock tower. "I became like this because I was greedy and selfish; just like you. These chains you see before you I have built ever since I was three. Every selfish and greedy discussion I made added another iron ring to my chain."
"But you were the best business partner I've ever had! You were also one of the most wealthiest mares in Canterlot!" Diamond cried.
"Business, all I ever thought about was business." Silver sneered, "Because of business I turned cold. Instead of being with my family I stayed away from them like the flue because of business."
The ghost took a hefty sigh and gave Diamond a cold hard gaze. "In order to prevent you from becoming me, you will be visited by three ghosts. The first will arrive when the clock strikes one, the other two of the next day, and the last ghost will arrive at the stroke of three of the third day."
"Can I call in a sick day?" Diamond squeaked.
"This is for your own good." Silver Spoon replied before walking out the door. Her chains dragging across the floor.
The mare tried to run after the ghost, however she grew drowsy and soon Diamond felt her eyelids close.
The Ghost of Hearth's Warming Present
Diamond Tiara opened her eyes slowly and took a deep breath. The smell of freshly baked cookies, bread, and mashed potatoes made her stomach rumble. Smiling, she jumped up from her...floor?
"I must've fallen from my bed." the mare muttered to herself before following the heavenly aroma.
It led her towards the bathroom. Then, ever so slowly, she turned the doorknob and walked inside.
Inside there was a grand chandelier that hung from the ceiling. Red and greed couches laid underneath it, and a simple oak wood coffee table was filled with soft sugar cookies drenched in white icing, juicy fruit, creamy mashed potatoes with coffee brown gravy, and freshly baked bread.
"Ah, so you're finally awake!" exclaimed a pleasantly sweet voice.
Diamond shifted her head to a small radio where an eagerly awaiting filly stood. She had a snowy white coat, emerald eyes, and a curly purple and pink mane and tail. A simple red and green striped cloak covered her back, while a crown made of holly leaves decorated her head.
"I am the ghost of Hearth's Warming Present!" bellowed the small ghost. "But since that name is really long, just call me Sweetie Belle."
The mare just simply nodded, dumbfounded at how Sweetie Belle managed to fit all this stuff into her small bathroom.
Sweetie noticed her expression right away and laughed sheepishly. "Heh, sorry about the mess. I'll clean in up later, but right now we need to go!" She quickly grabbed Diamond's hoof and ran head first into the bathroom wall. Diamond screamed and closed her eyes tightly, already contemplating on how bad this was going to hurt.
"We're here, you can stop screaming now." the ghost informed.
Diamond Tiara opened her eyes and stared in confusion at the scene before her. They were in a small room with a sad looking fireplace, and five worn out chairs sitting around it. The floors Diamond realized, was just a dirt floor, and the walls were just pieces of wood. No insulation whatsoever. Curious, she looked up at the ceiling and found that it was made out of cracked stone.
"Who's house is this Sweetie Belle?" Diamond Tiara asked.
Before the spirit could reply, there was a familiar voice followed by hoofsteps. Diamond shifted her gaze to Pipsqueak walking into the small room, a mare with a curly red mane and tail followed behind, and a tiny colt rode on top of her head.
"But mommy, I don't want to go to bed!" cried the colt. He tried to fly away, but alas his wings were still too weak to hold him up.
"Candy Cane, you need to get your retht." the mare informed.
"Maybe he could stay up just a little Twist." Pipsqueak replied sheepishly. In truth, he needed his son so they can get to his wife's stash of peppermint treats she keeps in the cupboards. They're too high for him, but if Candy Can stood atop his head then maybe...
"And you need your retht too Pipthqueak." Twist stated before lifting up her son and placing him on one of the chairs. Now that Diamond examined it more, she found that there was a blanket on the chair.
"Good night Candy Cane." Pipsqueak whispered before draping the worn out blanket over his son.
"Thweet dreamth." Twist said before blowing out the small fire.
"Sweetie Belle, why do they live in such a poorly made house?" Diamond asked once her worker and his wife left.
"It's the only house they could afford with what you're paying him. Twist could get a job, but she has to stay home and tend to Candy Cane." the filly explained.
"Why?"
"Candy Can got the Feather Flu two months ago and it left him very weak and fragile. Not to mention it doesn't help that they practically live in a barn."
"Why can't they take him to the doctors?"
"Because it costs money, money that they simply do not have."
Diamond Tiara gazed at the small colt and bit her lip. "W-what will happen to him?"
"If the future does not change, I see one less chair by the fire place." Sweetie Belle replied before taking the mare's hoof and walking into another wall.
Love Lane, or as Diamond likes to call it Homeless Town. Even though this is still an illusion, the sight of hundreds of dirty bodies made the mare want to puke.
"Why did you bring me here?" she asked.
"Just look." the filly replied happily.
Frowning, Diamond looked around the street. Ponies in rags were leaning against grimy walls, while dusty fillies played hoof ball with half a tennis ball. She still didn't understand why the spirit brought her here, that is until she heard it. The ponies that were mumbling were actually singing a holiday song. And as she gazed at the broken and bordered up houses, she found that holly and broken lights were hung by the windows.
Diamond Tiara stood there aghast, how could these ponies be happy when they have nothing?
"I always had an interest in these types of ponies. Here they are, singing and decorating for the holiday, yet they have no warm houses or hot meals waiting for them." the spirit said thoughtfully.
The mare nodded her head in agreement. She always thought that these ponies were nothing but pests, but now these pests seem to have something she lacked for twenty years. Hearth's Warming spirit.
Sweetie Belle produced a silver stopwatch from her cloak and frowned. "Would you look at the time!" she placed the watch back in her cloak and shook Diamond's hoof, "It was nice meeting you, but I've gotta go!"
Then in the speed of light, the ghost vanished. Diamond Tiara cried out for her to come back, for she didn't know how to get back home. However, the sound of thunder forced her to be quiet and rain washed the scene before her away.
The Ghost of Hearth's Warming Future
Diamond Tiara walked slowly through the darkness. The storm subsided, but now the quietness was beginning to bother her.
"Hello, can anypony here me!?" she shouted.
Suddenly, there was a light as bright as the sun and the mare closed her eyes tightly. When the light subsided, she slowly opened her eyes and let out a low whistle.
Standing before her was a small, orange pegasus filly. She had a short magenta mane and tail, and stormy purple eyes. The ghost wore a jet black cape, a jet black baseball hat, and held out a piece of paper.
Diamond Tiara gazed at the paper. "Hello, my name is Scootaloo. However, I am also known as the Ghost of Hearth's Warming Future."
Once she was done reading, Scootaloo lifted her front hooves to the darken sky. Suddenly, droplets of colorful rain drops rained down upon them and created a familiar scene before them.
They stood in a small street dusted with snow. Ponies were out in about, wishing each other a happy holiday; while fillies and colts were running through the streets, their pockets full of holiday cash that their families gave them.
However, amongst all the cheer, there were two well dressed ponies sipping coffee at a cafe.
"Thought she'd never die." said a blue pegasus mare.
"Do you know what they're going to do with her money?" questioned an orange stallion with a rich blue mane and tail.
"It'll probably go to his worker, First Base." the mare answered.
"Or she'll probably be buried with it." First Base joked.
"Scootaloo, who are they talking about?" Diamond asked.
The ghost rolled her eyes before walking away. Confused, the mare followed suit.
Through the narrow streets they went, past the decorated houses and carolers. Deeper and deeper they went, past the first, middle, and third classes. They didn't stop until they came to a small, run down building. Diamond's hair stood on end and every fiber in her body told her bolt. However, Scootaloo grabbed her hoof in an iron grip and led her inside.
"So, what do you have for old Joe?" asked an old, tan unicorn.
"Ah have her dresses Joe." a mare wearing a cowboy hat replied before giving the stallion a stack of dresses.
"How did they get my dresses?" questioned Diamond Tiara.
"Still in tact. I'll give you twenty coins, fifteen gold and five silver." Joe informed.
"Well um, I have her bed curtains." a timid yellow pegasus piped up.
Joe took the pegasus' bundle and looked the blue curtains over. "Ten coins, five silver and five bronze."
"Ghost, sh-show me Pipsqueak's house." Diamond commanded. She was curious as to see what her employee was doing. However, most of all she wanted to see how her death would've affected him.
Scootaloo nodded and commanded the colored rain to pain a different scene.
They stood in a familiar living room. However, there was only four chairs sitting by the fire. Diamond gazed to the left and saw Pipsqueak playing a board game with two other fillies. Even though he was smiling and laughing, she could see that his eyes didn't sparkle like they always did.
"Dinner time!" Twist called.
The two fillies shouted in glee and dragged their father to a worn out table were Twist was waiting. Each plate had half a biscuit and a poor excuse for a salad. However, the family didn't complain and they began to eat their holiday meal.
"Tho I heard the newth that Diamond Tiara finally died." Twist piped up, trying her best to start a conversation. "Heard it wath becauthe of the flu."
"Did you get her money dad?" a tan filly with brown curly hair asked.
"No, I did not Chocolate." Pipsqueak replied, trying his best to put on a smile.
"Are you going to visit her grave?" questioned a light brown colt with a red mane and tail.
"Yes, I still have something to say to her that I never got the guts to say." The stallion answered.
"Scootaloo, could you take me to my...grave?" Diamond begged.
The ghost nodded her head and once again called upon the rain.
While the rain was painting the next scene.
The graveyard was surprisingly well kept. There was soft green grass, statues of important ponies, and every tombstone had either a candle or flowers from family members. Well, all but one.
Diamond and Scootaloo trotted over to the tombstone. There was no flowers, no candles, and the lack of hoofprints meant that no pony has visited her.
The mare was about to ask the ghost for no more, but the sound of hoofsteps stopped her. Slowly, she turned her head and saw Pipsqueak trotting slowly over to her grave. A single white rose held in his mouth.
"My favorite color." Diamond whispered.
When he stood over his boss's grave, he set the rose on the ground and stepped back.
"Diamond, I just wanted to thank you for giving me a job. I know that people think that you're mean and bossy, but I've always thought differently. I've seen that longing look you always gave when Ponyville was brought up. So, I always knew that you had a soft side, you just never show it because the city life has hollowed you out." Pipsqueak took a deep breath and shifted his gaze to the heavens. "I just hope that wherever you are, you're happy."
Diamond Tiara felt her legs grown weak. She's been the worst boss if all of Equestria, yet here Pipsqueak is visiting her grave.
"No more Scootaloo, I-I've seen enough." she whispered.
The Ghost of Hearth's Warming Future nodded and produced an iron pan from her cape. The mare tried to flee, but she was too slow and the pan came crashing down upon her head.
Then, her vision went black.
Diamond Tiara opened her eyes and quickly jumped to her hooves. She then jumped off of her bed and threw a window open. A colt was underneath her window and tried to flee, however Diamond's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"You there, what day is it today?" Diamond shouted.
"H-Hearth's Warming Eve." he stuttered.
I'm not to late! The mare thought to herself happily. "What is your name son?"
"Tim."
"Well a Merry Hearth's Warming to you Tim!"
Tim just stood there with his mouth hung opened like a foal. Did Diamond Tiara, the meanest pony in Manehatten, just wished him a Merry Hearth's Warming? Shaking his head, the colt just gave a goofy smile and headed off to find his friends.
The mare quickly opened her vault and took out five sacks of coins. Then she shoved them deep into her coat pocket and headed downstairs. She needed to change to future. For Pipsqueak's family's sake and her own.
Ponies stared at the new Diamond Tiara. She was humming a holiday tune, giving out money to beggars on the street, and buying the most unusual things like toys, fruit, and mini pies.
"Mommy, what has happened to Tiara?" questioned a blue filly.
"I don't know, but I think it suits her." the blue mare replied.
"Merry Hearth's Warming!" Diamond cried out in joy.
"You too!" the mother and her daughter called out happily.
The new mare nodded happily at the two before turning the corner and disappearing from view.
Soon she arrived at her destination. Taking a deep breath, she hid the goodies behind her back and knocked on the door.
"Coming!" Pipsqueak's voice called.
When the door opened, Pipsqueak's eyes widened and every hair on his body stood on end. "M-Miss Tiara, w-what are y-you doing here?"
"Pipsqueak," Diamond replied with a frown, "I am very disappointing in you."
"Honey, who are you talk to?" Twist asked happily, but when she saw who was at the door her cherry nature soon turned deadly.
"What are you doing here?" her voice was dark and threatening.
Diamond gulped, trying her best not to show fear. "I came by to tell your husband how very disappointed I am that you're celebrating this fine holiday with no fruit."
Twist and Pipsqueak took a step back, giving Diamond the perfect chance to pull out a grand fruit basket and pie plate from her back.
"These are for you." The mare explained happily.
"Thank you Ms. Tiara!" Pipsqueak beamed while taking the food from her hooves and rushing back inside.
"Come in, come in." Twist commanded.
The mare nodded gratefully and trotted inside their small home. She saw the same five chairs by the fireplace and saw three fillies playing a board game. They soon looked up however, and when they saw the basket of fruit and plate of pies on the table, their faces brightened up and they quickly galloped over to get a better look.
"Would you like to thay for dinner? Pipthqueak if taking the kidth to look at lightth and I could uthe another pair of hooveth." Twist suggested.
"I'd love to." Diamond replied happily.
Soon it turned to nightfall and the two mares were setting the table when Pipsqueak arrived with the kids. After they all got situated and food was past around, Diamond Tiara stood up from her chair and called for attention.
"I'm not very good with specious, so I'll make it quick." she cleared her throat and began. "First I want to apologize for how rude I have been to your father and husband. So to try and make it up, I've decided to give Pipsqueak a ten percent raise."
While the two colts and filly didn't know what a raise was, their parents cried out in cheer.
"Now we can get Candy Cane medicine to make him all better!" Pipsqueak exclaimed.
"You mean I'll finally get better?" Candy Cane asked.
"Yeth." Twist answered while giving her son a little nuzzle on his head.
"Too Diamond Tiara!" Pipsqueak shouted while raising his glass.
"To Diamond Tiara!" his family shouted.
After dinner, the children where playing their board game while the adults were cleaning up. Twist was washing the dishes, while Pipsqueak and Tiara were cleaning the table and putting the leftover food away.
"Ms. Tiara, can I ask you a question?" the stallion asked while giving his wife a plate.
"What would you like to know?" Diamond replied while putting the leftover pies in the refrigerator.
"How did you know where I lived?" he questioned.
"I'd like to know ath well." Twist piped up.
Diamond Tiara stopped what she was doing and blushed. "Oh, somepony showed me."
Author's Note
That is a good question. How come Bob Cratchit never asked Scrooge how he knew where he lived?
The Ghost of Hearth's Warming Past
Diamond Tiara let out a groan and opened her eyelids slowly.
"Was I dreaming?" she muttered under her breath.
"Nope." a southern voice replied.
The mare quickly shot up and looked around her room. She was in her bed and the moonlight cast a gloomy glow in her bedroom. Diamond heard a laugh and shifted her eyes to a glowing filly.
The filly's body was a soft yellow, and her mane and tail were the richest of reds. A giant green and red stripped bow laid atop her head, while a snowy white cape decorated in holly and mistletoe was draped across her back.
"W-who a-are you?" the mare stuttered.
"Ta ghost ov Hearth Warming Past, though ya can call me Apple Bloom." the spirit replied happily.
Diamond Tiara was about to say something, however she thought better of it. This has got to be a dream, because she'd never sleep in a whole day! Much less before lunch time. Plus, everypony knows that ghosts don't exist. Well, she doesn't believe anyways.
"Now come on, ah wanna show ya something." Apple Bloom explained.
Slowly, Diamond scampered out of bed and trotted slowly over to the awaiting ghost. If this was her dream, better see what this ghost wants right?
With a satisfying nod, Apple Bloom stomped onto the wood floor as hard as she could and the room began to dissolve. Diamond cried out for her to stop, but that only made the filly's smile grow.
Soon the dark, cold bedroom was replaced with a dirt road and a small town filled with ponies in good spirits. Some were decorating trees or creating snow ponies; while others were baking holiday treats. Fillies and colts were playing in the snow and getting scolded by their mothers, or trying to sneak some baked goods that were cooling by an opened window.
"Remember tis place?" the ghost asked.
"Know it!? I lived here for nineteen years!" the mare exclaimed. "Why there's Carousal Boutique, Sugar Cube Corners, and the Golden Oak Library!" her eyes were gleaming with joy and excitement. For it's been ten years since she's been to Ponyville.
"Follow me." commanded Apple Bloom.
"But what if we're seen?" questioned the mare.
"This is all just an illusion, shadows of the past." the filly informed.
So the two trotted through the streets of Ponyville, admiring all the Hearth Warming decorations, before stopping at an old mansion. It had stone walls decorated in tinsel, tree decorations hanging the tall pine trees that stood guard, and a mistletoe hanging underneath the front door.
"Ya lived in quite ah fancy house." observed the ghost.
"Hearth Warming Eve was my father's favorite holiday of the year." Diamond whispered.
Suddenly, a small group of ponies caroling trotted gleefully towards the mansion. Diamond sidestepped out of their way and as they came to the door, an old brown stallion opened it with a big smile on his lips.
"That's father!" exclaimed the mare.
Just as she said that, a small pink filly with a tiara atop her head came to her father's side. Now, once the carolers finished, both the filly and the stallion stomped their hooves on the ground before the stallion cried out, "That was fantastic! Oh fantastic in deed! Why don't you all come in and have some hot chocolate? It's cold outside and your throats must be sore."
And with a shout of glee, the carolers entered the mansion, thanking the kind stallion.
"You're father was quite the gentlecolt." Apple Bloom said. "So tell me Tiara, how did you grow so cold?"
The mare shuffled her hooves, "I-I guess I've grown cold over the years. Living in Manehatten and all, I've grown to become harsh."
Apple Bloom gave a quick nod before breaking into a gallop. Confused, Diamond gave chase to the ghost.
They came to the richer part of Ponyville. The streets were lined with clean, festive shops and houses all decorated for Hearth Warming Eve. Then, with a grin the ghost and her partner entered into a jewelry shop.
Inside there were rows upon rows of rubies, emeralds, crystals, and sapphires of different colors, shapes, and sizes. All encased in sparkling glass. Behind one of these rows was a pink unicorn mare with a two toned purple mane and tail. Her crystal blue eyes gleamed with joy as she hummed a holiday song.
"Why there's Cookie Crumbles! Spirit, I'll have you know that she was one of the kindest bosses I've ever had!" Diamond Tiara cried out in joy.
"Diamond! Dinky!" Cookie Crumbles called out.
Suddenly, a now teenage Diamond trotted out behind a red velvet curtain. A unicorn mare with a pale purple coat followed close behind her.
"Since it's Hearth Warming Eve tomorrow, I've decided to close a few minutes early." Cookie explained merrily.
The two teens cried out in glee at their boss's words. Then, as fast as they could, the mares quickly began cleaning the store. From dusting the blue carpet, to making sure that the gems all sparkled when it by light.
Once they were done, Cookie wished them all a happy Hearth Warming and the three mares set off in their own ways. Though, now before Diamond and Dinky could say their goodbyes to their boss.
"Well?" Apple Bloom asked as the two went outside.
"Well what?" Diamond questioned.
"Well tis iz ta end fer me." the filly informed before producing a wooden bat from her cloak.
Diamond took a step back in alarm. "W-what are y-you doing?"
"Goodnight Diamond!" The ghost of Hearth Warming sang before hitting Diamond's head with the bat.
Then, everything went dark.