Pipsqueak Plod and the Quest for Crackers
Pipsqueak Plod and the Quest for Crackers
The schoolbell clanged out, ringing over and over as if shouting in an attempt to be heard over the clamour of the playground. It rang out over the whizzing of snowballs overhead, pelting against unsuspecting colts and fillies who giggled and squealed before returning fire. It rang out over the metallic ringing of slides and swing-sets, played on by foals who knew as well as anyone that the best way to keep warm in the winter was to have fun with it. It rang out over the laughing and joking of friends who met up as they filed through the door, and over the sniffling of cold noses and stomping of snow-covered boots.
Eventually all the foals filed in and left the cold world outside – and a deep, slushy puddle in the hallway. As they filed into their seats, their teacher took her place at the front of the classroom, greeting them warmly enough to chase off the last dregs of cold.
“Hello again, colts and fillies!” She said, a bright smile on her face. “Did everypony enjoy Recess? Some 'brrrrrrrr'isk exercise?” She pantomimed a shiver, and grinned even wider at her own joke. Not all the foals felt the same, though: Some giggled politely, some were genuine, and others merely pulled a face. One even booed in a joking tone. Nevertheless they all answered:
“Yes, miss Cheerilee!”
“Well, I'm glad to hear it!” Cheerilee said, still chuckling a bit at her pun. “I hope you didn't work yourselves up too much, though; I'd like to pick up right back where we started with our Hearth's Warming lesson.” She trotted up to an easel by the blackboard and tapped on the paper. “Now just as a refresher, can anypony remind us of the six noteworthy figures of the first Hearth's Warming?”
A young filly, pink coated and purple maned, piped up from the middle of the class. “Well, duh,” she snorted. “Everypony can. We've only heard this story like, a million times since we were babies!”
“Oh really?” Cheerilee said, smiling even wider – and perhaps just a tad tighter. “Then perhaps you could tell us, Diamond Tiara?”
The filly blinked, suddenly looking a bit less blasé. “Whu? Uh... I mean, is it really necessary? Everypony knows...”
“I'm sure not everypony,” Cheerliee said evenly. “After all, not everypony in our class are Equestrians. What about Pip? I'm sure he hasn't had as much time to learn them as the rest of us, have you Pip?” She turned to the colt in question, a tiny, speckled thing of a pony, hardly visible over his desk.
Pipsqueak furrowed his brow. “Well,” he squeaked, obviously concentrating hard, “Mmm... I know there's... General Hurricane? An'... Private Posey?” He began to tap along his hooves, counting them off in his head. “An' Clover the, uh... somethin', and a counselor? An'... there's two more...” He shrugged, apparently unable to come up with any more, and rested his chin in his hooves.
“Diamond Tiara?” Cheerilee asked as she turned back to the filly, who jumped. Clearly, Diamond thought she had gotten off the hook. “Do you think you can tell Pip?” She gestured to her desk and a sly smile. “There's a candy cane in it for both of you if you can.”
Diamond harrumphed, but rubbed her nose, slipping into thought. “Um, it was Clover the Clever,” she said. “And she was with Princess Platinum... and the Counselor was... no... chancellor?” She squinted with concentration and nodded. “Chancellor Puddingpop, and Smart Cookie!” She sat up straight and beamed, delicately straddling the line between cheerfully proud and insufferably smug.
“Ooh, so close,” Cheerliee said, “but it's actually Chancellor Puddinghead. Still, I think you've both earned your candy canes!” She took the jar off her desk and held it out. Pip immediately dashed out of his seat to grab it with a whoop and a laugh, but Diamond Tiara got up in a hunch, trying to hide her face – or more precisely, her blush – from the class. She slunk up quickly, grabbed the candy cane, and slunk back as fast as she could – not that it stopped some snickering from the class.
Cheerilee returned to her easel, intent on moving on from the event. Perhaps before anyone had a chance to tease, or perhaps simply to get as much information into their little heads as she could manage before the next break.
“So,” she said, flipping over a page on the easel, “we know who the six founders were, and why they were important to Hearth's Warming, but can anypony tell me about the important figures who came after?” She smiled out at the class, clearly hopeful but just as clearly not expecting much from her students. The class hummed and hawed, looking at one another to see if anypony had the faintest clue of what Cheerilee was talking about.
“No?” Cheerilee asked, nudging subtly to the candy cane jar on her desk. “Nopony has any ideas?” A few more moments of silence confirmed, and Cheerilee chuckled. “Well, that's alright,” she said. She took out a point and tapped the easel with it, springing into a lecture.
“After the six founders came to Equestria, and had the First Hearth's warming, there was a lot of work to do,” she said. “After all, while we tend to focus on them they were far from the only settlers who came down from the Frozen North. A lot of our most famous craftsponies and magicians first gained notoriety during the months after. For example:” She tapped the picture on the easel, a depiction of an enormous brown stallion rolling a massive keg, “This rather large fellow was named, appropriately, Stout! Before the migration he was a brewer of drinks, but during the first winter there was no way for him to make his usual fare, so he decided to make a new drink to celebrate their new home, using locally-found ingredients. Would anyone care to hazard a guess at what that drink was?”
There was another murmuring among the class, this one slightly less confused. In the middle of the room, a hoof shot up. “It was eggnog!” the colt said happily.
“That's right!” Cheerilee said with a happy clap. “Stout brewed the first batch of eggnog. Of course, it was a little bit different from the eggnog we drink today. The old recipe still exists, but most ponies who've had it say it isn't quite as good as what we drink.” She flipped over to the next page, this time revealing a young mare holding a bush of bright red berries.
“Now, this one I think some of you will recognize,” Cheerilee said. “The secret, you see, is in the bush!” She tapped the easel again, this time focusing on the berries.
A few more hooves went up this time, including Diamond Tiara's, who nearly fell out of her seat her hoof had gone up so fast. “That's holly!” She said. “My mom grows it! It's all over our backyard.” She sat back in her seat, smiling to herself, and there was no doubt this time that it was smug. Her expression changed, however, when Cheerilee answered her.
“Oh, no, I'm afraid not,” Cheerilee said. Diamond Tiara coughed and spluttered, but Cheerilee continued before the filly could speak up. “It's actually Mistletoe. Both the bush, and the pony, who found that a sprig of it could ward off Timberwolves – so, everypony kept some close to their homes. Husbands and wives would hang it in the doorway and wait for their special someponies to return safe. That's why whenever two ponies are under the mistletoe, they kiss!”
A raucous chorus of boos, bleaughs and pulled faces came out of the students as they all tried to show one another up in just how disgusting they thought kissing was. All except Diamond Tiara, who was still blushing crimson and fuming silently in her seat, and Pip, who was too busy sucking happily on his candy cane.
“So you see,” Cheerilee said once the class had calmed down, “There were a lot of very important figures among the Hearth's Warming colonists, and not just the founders! In fact, most of our Hearth's Warming traditions were based on those first few winters, and the discoveries that ponies made. Ooh!” She clapped suddenly, perking up in an only slightly rehearsed manner. “I have an idea: Why don't we all say our favourite Hearth's Warming traditions, and we can all learn together where they came from first?”
The class seemed quite pleased with this idea, as nearly a dozen hooves popped into the air from colts and fillies all over the class. Miss Cheerilee grinned and waved her hoof vaguely, making a show of deciding who to pick.
“How about...” she said, mulling over her choices, “Sweetie Belle?
“I love Hearth's Warming Carols!” Sweetie Belle said with a chirp. “Did they all come from the songs the founders sang in the cave?”
Cheerilee chuckled. “Somehow, I'm not surprised,” she said. “Well, a lot of the traditional carols are from that night in the cave, yes. A lot of them, however, are songs that the settlers sang to each other as they worked on building their new home. The original songs are pretty much lost, but you can tell which ones were work songs by the tune – they're usually steady and heavy, like drumming. A few of them are even stories about those first few years.” She looked up, surveying the crowd again. “How about you, Snails?”
“I, uh, like the cartoons!” the colt said, tapping his hooves on the desk, a bit embarrassed by the admission.
Cheerilee chuckled. “Well, those are a bit less traditional,” she said. “However, a lot of them are based on old stories. And of course, cartoons as a whole were inspired by old puppet shows, so... in a way, they were traditional puppet shows! Truffle? What's your favourite Hearth's Warming tradition?”
“I like trying with my family to try and figure out who invented that thing where they stuff a salad inside a pepper, and then stuff that inside a pumpkin!” chimed a plump grey colt from the back. He tapped his hooves together and added, “And then we all have a real Hearth's Warming Dinner.”
Cheerilee laughed. “I think that's more of a family tradition, dear,” she said. “I'm afraid you've got me wondering, now, though. Did you ever happen to discover who made it?”
Truffle shook his head and shrugged, frowning. “It is a mystery to all of us,” he said.
“Oh, well,” Cheerilee said. “Maybe you'll find out some day.” She turned her attention back to the class, many of whom had let their hooves drop. Perhaps out of tiredness, or perhaps because their favourite traditions had already been explained. “Does anypony else have a Hearth's Warming Traditions they particularly like?”
“Ooh!” Pip shouted suddenly, throwing his hoof up. His over hoof fumbled to keep his candy cane, now completely stripped of any red, from touching the desk. “I have one! My favourite part of Hearth's Warming is breaking Hearth's Warming Crackers with my Papa!”
The class fell into a silence. It hadn't been overly loud before, but whatever subtle sounds there had been fell away until the slow howl of the wind could be heard from outside. The only sound, if it could be called that, was a sort of audible confusion; the sound that cocking one’s head to the side might make, if it made sound.
“Like...” Scootaloo said, slowly, “The kind you put in soup? Is soup the Hearth's Warming thing?”
“No no,” Pip said, switching the candy cane to his other hoof and waving it with no real sense of direction. “You know, They're the little... toy things! You leave out a great big sock by the bed, an’ then when you wake up on Hearth's Warming Morning there's a Cracker in it.” He paused, and furrowed his brow, suddenly looking quite worried. “You have Crackers, don't'cha?”
The class looked around at one another. It was Diamond Tiara who spoke up first, apparently unafraid to be blunt. “Uh, no?” she said, sounding halfway between amused and confused. “They come in a sock? That's so weird.”
“Nuh-uh!” Pip said, propping himself up on his desk. “Crackers are like, the best! You get together with your family, an’ one pony grabs each end and pulls, an’ they go pop!” He momentarily took up his hooves to pantomime an explosion, almost losing his balance. “An' then the pony who gets the longer end opens it up, an’ there's a toy inside, an’ a joke!” He paused. “I mean, the jokes aren't really good. But the pop is fun, an’ the toys are fun!”
“That sounds even weirder,” Diamond Tiara snorted. “Who even puts them in the sock?”
“Uncle Tannenbaum,” Pip said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“Oh!” said Cheerilee, having apparently decided it would be wise to interject before things got more heated. “Your uncle brings them? So it's a family tradition, then?”
Pip shook his head, the interjection not having done much to settle him down. “Uncle Tannenbaum isn't my Uncle, he's everyone's uncle! He brought the Hearth's Warming to Trottingham, an’ to Furheim an’ Fancee! Every Hearth's Warming he comes while you're sleeping and gives you Crackers and presents!”
“So some guy comes into your house while you're asleep and gives you stuff?” Diamond Tiara asked, folding her hooves. “Yeah, okay. That sounds real.”
“Hey!” Pip shouted. “Uncle Tannenbaum is so real!”
“How's he get into your house, then?” Truffle asked.
“Magic, obviously,” Pip said with a harrumph. “He's got magic, you know, Hearth's Warming powers! He comes every year to my house, and there's always stuff in my sock on Hearth's Warming morning!”
“Ah dunno, Pip,” Applebloom spoke up. “Ah hate to say it, but Diamond Tiara may be right. If Tannenbaum is the guy who brought Hearth's Warming to Trottingham, how can he still be around givin' out presents 'n stuff?”
Pip huffed. “Celestia is still alive, isn't she? And she's supposed to be like, a thousand and twenty... four years old!”
Applebloom blinked. “Oh yeah,” she said. “Ah guess you're right.”
“That's not the same,” Diamond insisted with a smirk.
Pip turned back to her, squinting sidelong. “Why not?” he asked, suspicious.
“Because Princess Celestia is real” She answered. Beside her, Silver Spoon giggled, and the two hoof-bumped.
“Shut up!” Pip shouted, looking ready to jump on his desk. “Uncle Tannenbaum is real! He probably just doesn't come to your house cause... cause... cause you stink so bad he doesn't wanna get near you!”
Diamond Tiara's expressions turned from one of pride to one of disgruntled rage in an instant, and she made a sound like a rat being strangled. She leaned forward in her seat and opened her mouth to shout when she was cut off by Cheerilee stomping down hard.
“Alright!” Cheerilee shouted in a tone more exasperated than angry. “That's enough, the both of you. Diamond Tiara. Just because something is different from what you've experienced, doesn't make it any worse. I think crackers sound lovely,” she added, turning to Pip.
Pip beamed as hard as he could at Diamond Tiara. “Yeah!” he said, the point in his voice impossible to miss. “They're great!”
“However!” Cheerilee continued, her tone turning harsh again, enough so for Pip to shrink back. “Pip, no matter how much Diamond Tiara hurt your feelings, there's no reason to hurt her feelings back. Now, I want both of you to apologize.”
The two foals glanced at each other across the classroom. Diamond Tiara narrowed her eyes and frowned at Pip. Pip, for his part, glowered back in a sulk.
“It's in the Hearth's Warming Spirit, you know,” Cheerilee said, her voice softening a bit. “Goodwill towards ponies.”
The foals fidgeted a bit, but neither said anything just yet. Each was waiting for the other pony to make the first move, say the first apology. To admit that they were the wrong one.
“If I don't hear an apology out of you two in the next thirty seconds,” Cheerilee said, the softness draining back out of her voice, “You'll both stay behind after classes, and I'll call your parents to tell them you disrupted class with a silly fight.”
“... m'sorry,” Diamond Tiara mumbled, folding her hooves and looking away from Pip. The colt grumbled a bit, staring at his hooves.
“... me too,” he said.
Cheerilee sighed and visibly relaxed. “Good,” she said. “Now then. There were a lot more ponies who were important in the months following the Hearth's Warming, although not all of them have their own traditions...”
***
“There you are, boys,” Tealove said, setting down a cup of tea in front of Pip and a stallion sitting next to him. The peculiar speckle of the stallions coat marked him as Pip's father, an enormously stout pony with a thick, wooly beard and a broad smile full of warmth.
Pip mumbled a half-hearted thank you and pulled the cup of tea towards himself. He slurped at it and perked up a bit, but not much. Tealove paused, and took a moment to peer around the tea shop. It was getting on in the day, and there weren't many customers left.
“What's the matter, Pip?” Tealove asked, taking a seat at their table. “You're usually a bit more chipper for your evening tea.”
Pip merely sighed, and his father shook his head.
“'Aven't been able to get a word out of him since I picked 'im up from school,” The burly stallion said. “Iffin it's to do with the look Miss Cheerilee gave when I was there, I think he mighta gotten in trouble, but I can't tell one way or another.” He shrugged.
“... Didn't get in trouble,” Pip mumbled through his tea mug. His father gave a barking laugh.
“Oop, there we go,” Pip's father said with a laugh. “Right in time to prove me wrong. So what's eatin' you, lad?”
“Hearth's Warming,” Pip grunted.
“Oh, I know what you mean, dear,” Tealove said, only a hint of sarcasm in her voice as she patted her not inconsiderable belly. “So many sweets just laying around, and finding their way into my mouth! I'm fit to burst within a month! And of course, the weather, and the music... oh, it's just dreadful. Far too nice. Don't you agree, Peeler?”
Pip's father chortled, scratching his beard. “Oh, yes,” he said. “I didn't know there were so many cookies in the world, but you know everybody wants to thank the police this time of year, and it'd be rude not to... not to mention the Mince Pies. Oh! The Mince Pies. Something so rich shouldn't be legal, if I had my way. Have to go out and eat every one! Keep 'em out of the way of innocent civilian's, y'see.” He tapped his broad nose for good measure, but Tealove's grin had faded into a look of confusion.
“Mince Pies?” she asked. “Sorry, I... think you've lost me.”
It was Peeler's turn to look confused, now. “Whot?” he asked, blinking so heavily it was almost audible. “You know, Mince Pies? Little tart things, sweet fruits and raisins and whatnot?” Tealove merely shrugged, and Peeler gaped. “Co',” he said simply. “You don't 'ave Mince Pies? Whot kind of a country is this, then?”
“They don't have anything!” Pip cried suddenly, throwing out his hooves. “They don't have Mince Pies, an' they don't have stockings, an' they don't 'ave crackers! They don't even 'ave Uncle Tannenbaum!” He harrumphed as loudly as he could, and buried his nose in his teacup with a sullen slurp.
“Brother of yours?” Tealove asked Peeler. She was clearly not confident in her assessment, and winced slightly when Peeler shook his head.
“'E brought 'Earth's Warming to Trotting'am,” Peeler said. “'E's... kinnof a big deal. Flies ‘round while the foals are sleepin’ an’ leaves gift’s for ‘em. I don't expect it'd be as big 'ere, but... still.” He hummed, resting his chin on his hoof and sipping from his tea, just as Pip had done.
In spite of the pair's obvious discontent, Tealove couldn’t help but be amused by their similarities. Like father, like son indeed. “Well, you know,” she said, pouring a cup of tea for herself from the pot and taking a moment to check on how much there was left, “we still do have plenty of Hearth's Warming things in Equestria... we may not have an uncle who comes and gives us presents, but we still give them to each other. And we may not have Mince Pies, but we have pumpkin pies and sugar cookies.” She chuckled. “And of course, we do have crackers, you know.”
“Ones whot you pull on and the go 'bang'?” Peeler asked, pantomiming a small explosion with his hooves.
“Oh,” Tealove said. “Er... no, I can't say that we do. We just have the regular kind you put in your soup...”
“They're not really that sort've cracker, Tealove,” Peeler said with a shrug. “They're more like a toy, y'see? It's a little game – two ponies grab one end each and give it a yank, an' 'oever comes away with the biggest 'alf gets the prize inside.” He reached over and rubbed Pip's back, who was still sulking, if less so. “Pip an' I play 'em every year. 'Course, I'd give 'im the prize every time any’ow. I was always more of an eats stallion, rather than a toys stallion... I always ‘ave me pies... or 'ad, I guess, now...” He sighed, but straightened up. “Well!” He said, trying his best to sound chipper, though his success was dubious at best. “It's alright, you know? Those old things may've been nice, but I'm sure there's plenty new things we can get up this Hearth's Warming, eh Pip?” He patted his son's back and smiled his biggest, warmest smile.
“I guess,” Pip said. He wanted to agree, but his heart wasn't in it, and if he'd learned anything from his Papa it was to be honest – and that he couldn't get away with lying if he tried. Papa always said dishonesty was the first step on a road to crime.
His Papa was right, of course. About the crime as well, but mostly about the Hearth's Warming. He'd already seen so many things in Equestria already that he loved. If Hearth's Warming was anything like Nightmare Night it was sure to be a treat, and he'd never seen so much snow in his life. Just the other day Sweetie Belle had taught him how to make a snowmare, and he'd had his first snowball fight with Snips, Snails and Scootaloo.
Even so, a Hearth's Warming without Crackers? It just didn't seem right. He'd always played crackers with his Papa, and his Papa had always had Mince Pies. It hardly seemed like a Hearth's Warming at all. Pip peered up sadly at his Papa, who was sipping his own tea. Peeler sighed into his mug, but smiled as he caught Pip's eye.
“Buck up, Pip,” Peeler said. “We'll find plenn'y to do, I'm sure.”
“Mhmm,” Pip said with a sigh of his own.
“Actually,” Tealove said all of a sudden, picking up a menu off the table and flipping through it, “I've been thinking of adding some seasonal treat to the snack menu lately.” She peered up over the menu, a faint hint of a blush on her cheeks. “I'm going to be heading into Canterlot this weekend, and I'm sure I could something there to make a Mince Pie... do you happen to know what's in them?”
Peeler perked up, setting down his teacup. “Oh!” He said. “Think you could? Well, they start with raisins...”
Pip himself blinked. He was vaguely aware of his Papa and Tealove talking to one another, but as they spoke his mind drifted off. He thought about Canterlot. He had only been there once with his Papa, just to see the sights, but he remembered it being enormous. He remembered malls that took up entire blocks. Several of them, in fact. They had never gone in, but he imagined that they must have had dozens – no, hundreds of shops inside. He racked his brain, trying to think of what all those shops could be for, but for the life of him he couldn't think of more than fifteen different kinds of shops, and some of those had crackers.
Surely to goodness, he thought, there must be one shop in Canterlot that would have a cracker in it! Equestria had ponies from all over the world. There were at least two Trottinghamites, and if there were two there must be more, and where there were Trottinghamites there must be crackers. Pip grinned internally, pleased with his own reasoning, and a plan began to form. He cupped his teacup in his hooves, burying his nose in it to keep his grin from showing as Peeler and Tealove discussed Mince Pie recipes and he waited for his moment to strike.
“... An' then I'm not quite shore 'ow it's done, I'm afraid...” Peeler said, shrugging.
Tealove shook her head with a smile, and scribbled a few ingredients on a notepad. “Well, that's alright,” she said. “I'm sure there'll be a baker who knows a thing or two, or I can pick up a cookbook or something.” She flipped the notebook shut and smiled a big, warm smile at the pair. “Thank you so much, Peeler. I'm sure plenty of ponies who'll love the chance to try something from Trottingham.”
Peeler laughed and tapped his nose. “Well, I know fer' sure there's one pony 'oo'll be 'appy to 'ave a few.”
Tealove giggled. “Well, I'll be sure to save a few for you one way or another,” she said. “If I even need to. I get the feeling I'll be seeing you around... maybe even more than usual, if such a thing is possible.”
“Iffin it is, we'll be sure to find out, now won't we?” Peeler said with a wink, grinning wider. The pair chuckled at one another, and Pip saw his opportunity.
“Miss Tealove!” Pip said, leaning over the table all of a sudden.
Tealove leaned back, shocked by Pip's sudden speaking up, and blinked. “Yes, dear?” she asked.
Pip leaned further over the table, trying not to look too conspicuous. “Well, I was thinkin'... if you're goin' to Canterlot this weekend to shop... could I come with you?”
Tealove relaxed a bit and leaned back into the table. “Well... why do you ask?”
“I could help you with shopping!” Pip said. He caught his Papa's eye, who was glancing at him sidelong, and shrunk down a bit. “And, uh,” he added, “I... wanna get a gift for Papa, but there aren't many shops around Ponyville...” That much was true, at least. The crackers were only fun because he played them with his Papa, and he knew his Papa felt the same. The cracker was for both of them.
“Well, that's sweet of you to offer, dear,” Tealove said, smiling a bit. “I wouldn't mind having a bit of a helper with me. Does seem like it'll be a lot to get, and a nice, strong stallion like yourself would be helpful... but I think you'd better ask your Papa, not me.” She turned to look at Peeler, who was scratching his beard contemplatively. “What do you think, Peeler?” she asked. “Do you think Pip could come along with me this weekend?”
“Well,” Peeler said, tapping his chin and leaning back in his seat. “Well, well... th'lad's plenny responsible, of course. Knows 'is way aroun' a city. Mind you, Canterlot's a mite bigger than Bridol. Still, you know I trust you with 'im... still, I was 'opin to go shoppin' with you myself sometime.”
“We still can,” Pip said, speaking quick to keep his Papa from thinking on it too much. “This is a gift for you, though. So it's gotta be a secret.”
Peeler and Tealove exchanged a glance. “He's got a point,” Tealove said.
“’E does at that,” Peeler conceded with a nod. He gave his beard another contemplative scratch and hummed. “Well,” he said after a while, “Alright. I suppose you've a point, Pip. I think I can trust you to be safe in the city with Tealove. I'm fine with you goin' with 'er.”
Pip giggled excitedly and jumped up to give his Papa a hug. “Thank you, Papa!” he said. “Thank you so much. You'll see, I'll get you the best present ever!”
Peeler chortled and wrapped Pip in a hug. “Oh, I'm sure you will, Pip,” he said. “Anythin' I get from you's sure to be more'n enough.” He set Pip down and tapped the colt's nose. “But,” he said, his tone turning serious. “While you're in the city with Miss Tealove, you stick close to her, hear now?” he said. “I trust you inna city, but Canterlot's new to you, an' it's a windy place. I don' want you getting' lost inna crowd an' losin' sight of 'er.”
Pip smiled. “I know, Papa. I'll stay with 'er.”
“An' if you do get lost...” Peeler continued, nodding his head to encourage Pip to continue.
“I'll find a guardspony and talk to 'im,” Pip finished, rolling his eyes and smiling. “An' I'll tell 'im that I'm lost, and that I was with Miss Tealove, and I'll stay with him until we find 'er.”
“Good lad, good lad,” Peeler said with a chuckle. “An' you won't be talkin' to strangers?”
“No, Papa,” Pip said with a nod.
“Well, don't you worry about it, Peeler,” Tealove said, resting her chin in her hooves and smiling warmly at the pair. “I'll keep a close eye on him. And anyways, it looks like you've raised yourself a plenty clever foal, there.”
Peeler smiled. “Ah, I suppose I 'ave, 'aven't I?” he said. He ruffled Pip's mane and set the colt down. “An' that's why I trust 'im in the city with you. Now!” He patted his thigh and peered up at the clock. “I'm sure Tealove wants to be closing up for the night, so why don't we finish our tea, hmm?”
“Okay, Papa,” Pip said, picking up his cup and drinking the last few sips.
Tealove looked up at the clock as well, and then around at the few straggling customers. Most seemed to be finishing, and a few were even pulling on their coats and scarves. “Looks like you're right,” she said. “I'll have to gather and wash all the cups...” She turned back to the pair and smiled. “You colts have a great night. I'll see you,” she added, tapping Pip's nose, “This weekend. Unless I see you earlier, of course.”
“Oh, I'm sure you will,” Peeler said, setting down his empty teacup. “Looks like it's gonna be a plenny cold week. A nice cup'll be just the trick to warm us up.” He grinned at her, rubbing his mane and somehow looking a bit bashful. “You 'ave yourself a nice night now, Tealove. Cheers!”
“Bye miss Tealove,” Pip said, giving her a small wave. “I'll see you soon.”
***
An enormous steam engine pulled into Central Canterlot Station, slowing to a stop between a pair of long, tiled platforms. Smoke billowed up from the smokestack and steam hissed off the quickly cooling metal. Steam and smoke both rose up to the peaked glass ceiling, fogging it up as they sought out the few open panes.
There were a dozen more platforms spread out through the wide-open terminal, housing trains that went out to all across Equestria. Whether the destination was days away or merely miles, all rails went through Canterlot. Each and every one of them was full to the brim with ponies bundled up tight, all carrying stacks of boxes and bags. Many had suitcases as well, trailing along behind them or piled on trolleys.
As the steam engine slowed to a halt and the steam whistle blew, ponies began filing out into the crowds. Tealove stepped out as well, stumbling a bit as a particularly large stallion walked past her. She turned back and reached into the train.
“Here we are, dear!” she said, picking Pip up off the train and setting him back down on the platform. “Canterlot station. Did you enjoy the train ride?”
The colt was bundled up in a thick, knitted green-and-silver scarf. So thick in fact that he had to wad it down to speak. “Uh-huh!” he said with a grin. “There were lots of trains in Trottingham, but I never went on many. They're neat. Bumpy, though...” He rubbed his flank and stretched out his hind legs.
Tealove covered her mouth, trying to stifle a giggle. “They are a bit, aren't they?” she asked. “Well, fortunately for us the best way to work that off is a nice walk!” She patted Pip's back, and the two broke into a gentle stride as they wove through the crowds. “The market I go to is nearby,” she said. “And fortunately, indoors this time of year. Bit brisk out there, aheh. There's plenty of other shops in there too, so I'm sure you can find something nice for your Papa. What sort of a present were you looking for?”
“Weeeell...” Pip said, rolling his head a bit. He debated internally whether he should mention the crackers specifically. On the one hoof, two heads were better than one when looking for something. On the other, though, he was worried she might think he was looking just for himself. That wasn't true, of course. He shook his head a bit. “I wanna get somethin' that'll remind him of Trottingham,” he said. That was certainly true. “I know Ponyville is our 'ome now, but I think Trottingham is still our 'ome too... an' I think it's okay to remember it.”
Tealove smiled as they walked out of the station, pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders. “I think you're right, Pip,” she said. “That sounds like a lovely gift idea. Though, aheh, I'm afraid I can't say how much help I'll be. I wouldn't really be able to find anything that feels like it's from Trottingham.”
“That's alright, Miss Tealove,” Pip said with a grin. “I'll know what I'm looking for when I see it!”
“Well, good,” Tealove said, grinning back at him. “I'll trust your judgment on that, then! Be sure to let me know if you see anything while we're looking... but if you don't mind, I'd like to pick up the ingredients for the Mince Pies first, okay? You can look around while we're shopping.”
“Okay!” Pip said, nodding. “That sounds good.” It sounded perfect, in fact. While they were shopping he would scout around, looking for any shop that might have what he was looking for, and whenever he could he would try to sneak a peek inside. He grinned to himself, and if his hooves were free he would have rubbed them together excitedly. Everything was working out just as he'd expected. He and his Papa would be sharing Crackers on Hearth's Warming, no doubt about it.
Tealove and Pip chatted happily as they walked through the curving, slanting streets, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. Canterlot had been wonderful the last time Pip had been there, but in the winter it was beautiful. The white of freshly fallen snow mingled with the marble towers and lined the tightly-packed brick buildings, sending the whole scene glittering brightly. The lights in the windows and the colorful shopfronts added an accent to it all. In fact, the entire city looked like it had been pulled directly out of a Hearth's Warming catalogue, right down to the couples enjoying cups of coffee, their breath steaming every bit as much as the hot drink.
It was only a few minutes before Pip and Tealove arrived at the mall, and Pip gaped at the sight of it. He had seen a few malls from a distance on his last visit, but never up close.
It seemed so much more enormous, standing in the courtyard. There were three enormous buildings, each bridged to another by a long, roofed walkway. The buildings reminded Pip of a courthouse that his Papa had taken him to once, back in Trottingham: enormous marble pillars holding enormous domed ceilings above enormous steps, which lead up to enormous doors thrown open wide. It seemed like two dozen ponies could stand shoulder to shoulder and walk through those doors – and indeed, it seemed like they were trying.
Ponies filed in and out of all three buildings constantly. They walked along the walkways and cut through the courtyard. Like everywhere else in the city, snow blanketed it all. The red, green and pale yellow lights that snaked up the pillars cast an almost ethereal glow over it all even in the early afternoon. It seemed almost like a dream to look at it.
“Wooooow,” Pip said, his devious plan momentarily forgotten in genuine awe of the building. “This is for shopping!?”
“That's right,” Tealove said with a chuckle. “In the summertime the courtyard is filled with even more shops from the farmers at the base of the mountain. They sell all kinds of fruits and vegetables, which is why I like to come here.”
“Wow,” Pip said again. His head swiveled too and fro as he tried to take in all the sights at once. “In Trottingham we 'ave markets too... but they're always outside the cities. Only rich ponies'd go shopping in a place like this.”
Tealove laughed. “Well, I'm certainly no rich pony,” she said. “I think I'd prefer those little markets. Your Papa tells me that that they always showed up when there are festivals on.”
“Uh-huh,” Pip said with a nod. “They're fun! We have to watch out, though. Papa says that for every ten normal ponies, there's at least one crook!”
Tealove frowned. “Well, that sounds... less fun,” she said.
“It's okay,” Pip said, smiling up at her. “I learned how to spot them and to keep away! So it never bothered me.” He jutted out his chin in an imitation of his father and quoted, “They'll steal th'teef right out yer' mouf, so you just don' smile at 'em!”
Tealove still appeared concerned, but she couldn't help but smile in spite of herself. Pip hardly needed to do any work to imitate his father, and the attempt was nothing if not comical. “Well, alright,” she said. “I'll trust you to be on criminal spotting duty, then. Hopefully we won't be running into any, though.”
Pip grinned and stood up straight. “Don't you worry, Miss Tealove!” he said. “I'll spot 'em a mile away!” He frowned internally, however. Looking out for crackers was one thing, and looking out for criminals was another, but both at once? He wasn't sure he could do it. He bit his lip as Tealove looked away, trying to figure out just how much he could get away with slacking off on the criminal watch. He turned an eye to the crowd, scanning it quickly.
Most of the ponies genuinely appeared to be there for shopping. They all moved quickly along their way, scarcely giving one another a thought, except perhaps for to apologize to one another for a quick collision or standing in one anothers' way. Even as they moved inside the eastern building, Pip couldn't for the life of him spot anypony who looked the least bit suspicious. He smiled. For a moment, it seemed like he would be able to not pay attention for thieves at all.
Then, through the crowed, a glimpse of pink caught his eyes. Pip blinked, wondering if he was perhaps seeing things. He looked back, and sure enough he saw another flash of pink. As they approached and the crowd parted he saw more and more. A familiar cutie mark, a glint of shining metal and sparkling gemstones. The crowd parted, and their eyes met: It was Diamond Tiara. Both her and Pip's eyes bulged, and both pulled a face. Pip winced back.
“So we'll stop by the baker's first and get some pie flour...” Tealove said before jumping suddenly as Pip winced back. “Pip!” she said. “Are you alright?”
“I see a criminal,” Pip answered, his voice flat.
Tealove's head snapped up to where Pip was looking, searching for who or what he might be talking about. After a moment though her eyes settled on Diamond Tiara, whose own eyes were still bugged wide. “Oh,” Tealove said. “Is that one of your classmates?” She paused for a moment before a sudden, knowing smile crept across her lips. “Ooooh, I see,” she said with a chuckle. Pip looked up at her and frowned, but she continued. “Let me guess, she's stolen something from you? You're growing up a bit more poetic than your father, you know.”
Pip blinked at her. “What?” he asked. “No, she didn't take anything.” He looked back and diamond Tiara and huffed. “She's just.... hmmf.” he shrugged his scarf higher until it covered his frown.
“Mmmmhm,” Tealove said, obviously unconvinced. “Well, she happens to be 'hmmf'ing her way into the bakery I need to visit, so I guess you two will have plenty of time to catch up while I'm shopping.”
“What!?” Pip asked, his voice croaking and his head popping up out of his scarf. He looked back Diamond Tiara, whose expression seemed to be getting more panicked and shocked as Pip and Tealove approached.
As they drew near Pip saw that Diamond Tiara was with a brown stallion with a curly black mane – her father, he supposed. That was a small relief, at least. Pip doubted Diamond would be too mean with her father there... but he wasn't completely sure of it. Pip and Diamond Tiara eyed each other warily as both pairs entered the bakery.
Tealove chuckled and gave Pip a gentle nudge. “Why don't you say hello, dear?” she asked. “I'll be in here for a while anyhow, you know.”
Pip snorted again, digging his face back into his scarf. Diamond apparently heard her as well, as she gasped in disgust at the idea, causing her father to look up from the packages of shortening he was comparing.
He stared at his daughter, following her view to Pipsqueak. “Oh,” he said, “Say, Diamond, isn't that a friend of yours from school?”
Diamond opened her mouth to object, but Filthy continued. “Right, he's the foal from Trottingham, isn't he? His father's on the police force.” He peered back down at the packages. “Why don't you go and talk to him? I'm afraid I won't be very good company for a while... I'll have to decipher what your mom's talking about with these things... don't know why we can't just use the stuff I get in at Barnyard Bargains...” He trailed off, muttering to himself about salt and sugar and appearing to weigh the packages in his hooves.
Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes, but apparently this was not the first time something like this had happened, as she took a few half-hearted steps away from Filthy Rich and towards Pip before setting herself down and glowering at him. Pip, for his part, glowered back from behind his scarf.
“What are you doing here?” Diamond Tiara asked, bile dripping from her voice.
“What are you doing here?” Pip asked right back, sticking his tongue out at her. He looked back over his shoulder. Tealove had slipped deeper into the bakery, though she continued to look over her shoulder at him. She caught his eye and waved with a smile. Pip turned back to Diamond Tiara and continued his glower.
“I asked you first,” Diamond hissed.
“What does that have to do with anythin’?” Pip asked. He stopped for a moment to consider that he himself had not hissed. Instead he pulled down his scarf and made a rude face at her before pulling it back up.
Diamond Tiara was taken aback, and leaned back as well. “Ugh!” She said. “You are so weird. It means you have to answer the question first. That's just polite.”
“What do you know about polite?” Pip asked. “Anyways,” he continued, cutting off Diamond Tiara from another offended growl, “I'm here to get a present for my Papa. Miss Tealove took me into the city while she's lookin' for Mince Pie ingredients.”
“What's a Mince Pie?” Diamond asked. “Is it another weird Trottingham thing?”
“It's not 'weird',” Pip said. “It's a pastry, an’ it's really great, just like other Trottingham stuff!” He folded his hooves. “It's a fruit pie with berries an' raisins an' nuts an'... well...” he frowned. “Well, I don' like 'em very much, but my Papa does!”
Diamond Tiara smirked, counting this as a success. “Uh-huh,” she said. “I knew it sounded gross. It's probably some old pony thing, like... prunes, or something.”
“Ew!” Pip said. “They're definitely not like prunes! There's lots of young ponies who like them. Just, y'know... not me.” He sunk his head deeper into his scarf, trying to avoid Diamond Tiara's smug gaze.
“Whatever,” she said, smirking wider. “Hearth's Warming stuff in Equestria is way better. We have gingerbread and sugar cookies instead of weird, gross fruit cakes, and we have cool games instead of... whatever you did in Trottingham.” She slowed a bit, and her smile turned slowly from smug to cruel. “Way better than those stupid crackers, or whatever.”
Pip's head popped back out of his scarf, but he didn't say anything. He merely opened his mouth, making garbled noises and contorting his face into furiously confused expressions. He had known it would be coming. He had known to expect it from the moment he had seen her. Even so, it still struck him like somepony had stomped on his hooves “Whoo, why,” he spluttered. “Why, you... you...”
Diamond Tiara leaned back, her expressions returning to it's usual smugness as she folded her hooves. She began to inspect her hooves as Pip spluttered.
“Oh,” the colt spluttered, yanking up his scarf. “Wha'd'you know?” he snapped. “You don't even know anythin' about your own Hearth's Warmin' stuff! You don' even know the difference between holly and mistletoe!”
It was Diamond Tiara's turn to splutter now. Her face turned beet red and her expression contorted into a deep scowl. “Why you little twerp!” She hissed, fighting to keep her voice anything under a scream. “I do know the difference between holly and mistletoe, it's Miss Cheerilee who doesn't! holly is red! mistletoe is white!”
Pip felt a bit guilty at using such a cheap trick to make her angry, but at the same time it felt a bit good to get back at her, and he showed it. “Yeah right,” he said. “I'm sure you know better than the teacher. Just like how you knew the names of the six founders, right?”
Diamond Tiara hopped up her her hooves, jabbing one at Pip's nose. “Listen, Pipsqueak,” she snapped, “I know what I'm talking about, and I'll prove it to you!”
“Oh yeah?” Pip asked, staring at the hoof inches away from his nose. “How're you gonna do that?”
Diamond Tiara grabbed Pip by the foreleg, hoisting him up off the ground. She dragged him through the bakery heedless of his protests until they came upon Filthy Rich. While they had been talking he acquired two more packages of shortening and a tub of margarine.
“Daddy?” Diamond Tiara asked, catching her father's attention.
“Yes, Diamond Tiara?” Filthy Rich asked as he looked up. “And... Pip, right?”
“Um,” Pip said, still trying to steady himself after being dragged along by Diamond Tiara, “Yeah. Pip Plod... nice to meet you.” He extended a hoof politely.
Filthy Rich chuckled and shook Pip's hoof around his many packages. “Nice to meet you, Pip,” he said. “What can I do for you two?”
“Pip and I were talking,” Diamond Tiara said, putting on her sweetest face, “And we thought that, if we stuck together, we could get our own shopping done while you're here shopping for Mom! That way I can get a gift for her, and for you without you seeing!” She smiled so wide Pip wondered if her face would crack, and batted her eyelashes at Filthy Rich. She was unreal, Pip decided.
Filthy Rich rubbed his chin. “On your own? I dunno, Pumpkin. It's pretty busy in here. Dangerous for a filly to be off on her own... I wouldn't want you to get lost.”
“I wouldn't be alone!” Diamond Tiara insisted. She pulled Pip tight against herself, shushing him as he grunted. “I'd have Pip with me! He's from Trottingham, and there's loads of big cities there. Where did you say you were from, Pip?”
“Um, Bridol?” Pip said, glancing sidelong at Diamond Tiara. “It's pretty big, I guess... I-”
“See?” Diamond Tiara said, cutting him off. “And his Dad's a cop! He knows his way around crowds like noponies business. I'll be completely fine with him!”
Filthy raised an eyebrow at this. “You think you could find your way around in these crowds, young stallion?” he asked. “I'd be entrusting my daughter's safety to you.”
Pip rubbed his neck. “Well sir,” he said, “I guess I could? We could set up a place to meet up later, like...”
“Right back here!” Diamond Tiara said. “We won't be long at all, so I'm sure we'll be done before you are, and we'll be right back!”
Filthy Rich rubbed his chin again. “Well... alright,” he said. “But if you do get lost, or you can't make it back in time, you both head to the center of the courtyard, alright? If I don't see you back here in 45 minutes then I'll head out there and meet you. You know where that is?”
“Uh-huh!” Diamond Tiara said. She skipped over to hug her father. “Thank you, Daddy! We'll be back right away, promise!”
Filthy Rich chuckled and hugged her back. “Of course, Pumpkin,” he said. “You be good now, and be careful. Does Pip's guardian know you'll be going?”
Pip opened his mouth to say that she didn't, but Diamond Tiara, once again, spoke over him. “We're gonna go tell her right now,” she said, once again dragging Pip along with her. Once again she ignored anything he had to say until they found Tealove through the crowd.
“Miss Tealove?” Diamond Tiara asked. Tealove looked up from a package of dried fruit slices and back at the pair. Her face brightened as soon as she saw Diamond Tiara's foreleg hooked around Pip's.
“Well hello, dear,” she said. “You must be Pip's friend from school. What can I do for you?”
“That's right,” Diamond Tiara said, still not giving Pip a chance to speak. “Pip and I were talking, and we thought that we could do our shopping together, so we wouldn't bother you or my Daddy. Would you be okay with us going off for a bit?”
Tealove blinked. “Well, I don't know about that,” she said. “I promised Pip's father that I wouldn't let him out of my sight... I don't want you two getting lost without anypony to watch you, especially not in these crowds.”
“Oh, you have nothing to worry about,” Diamond Tiara said, smiling and waving a hoof. “I come to this mall all the time; I know it like the back of my hoof! I promise, we won't get lost. There isn't much to do. We can be right back here in no time at all, you won't even know we're gone.”
“Are you sure?” Tealove asked. “I know you said that you didn't really know what you wanted to get your Papa just yet?”
“I'm sure we'll be able to look at plenty of stuff on the way,” Diamond Tiara assured her. “And if we don't, we're planning on meeting my Daddy out in the center of the courtyard in forty-five minutes if it takes too long, so we can meet you there too?”
Tealove hummed, tapping her chin. “Weeeeeeell,” she said, “I guess that's alright... I trust you, Pip. You knew your way around Bridol, so I suppose you'll be able to handle a mall. Just be careful, alright?”
“We will, don't worry,” Diamond Tiara said. “Thank you so much, Miss Tealove!” With that she was off again, dragging Pip along behind her. Pip strained against the pull, but Diamond Tiara was deceptively strong. He flailed out a hoof for help, but Tealove seemed to take it as a wave, and waved back as they disappeared into the throng.
It was a moment before Pip was able to recover, but when he did he dug in his heels, finally managing to stop himself, and Diamond Tiara, in their tracks. Diamond Tiara sighed and rolled her eyes.
“Oh what is it?” She asked impatiently.
“You lied to them,” Pip said. He jabbed a hoof at her but, unable to think of anything more accusatory to say, simply waggled it aggressively.
“No I didn't,” Diamond Tiara said, swatting his hoof away and tugging him into motion again. Pip trotted after her closely, if begrudgingly. “I told them we were gonna get some gifts, and be back soon. If you would hurry up, we will be!”
“We're not getting gifts, though,” Pip retorted. “Where are we even going?”
“We're going to a flower shop,” Diamond Tiara said, rolling her eyes again. “Ugh, Celestia. I'm going to prove to you that holly is red! And then I'm gonna buy some poinsettia seeds for my mom.”
Pip blinked. “Wait, you’re actually are gonna buy a gift there?”
“Duh,” Diamond Tiara said. “I am actually here to get my mom a present, you know. You're the one who's so determined to be wrong.”
Pip pulled a face at her while she wasn't looking, quickly hiding his face behind his scarf when she glared back at him.
“I heard that one,” she said. “You weirdo.”
“I'm not weird,” Pip insisted, trotting a bit faster to pull up beside her. They had left the eastern building now, and were quickly approaching the center of the mall. “You're weird. You can't hear me make a face!”
“I can when you make noises,” Diamond Tiara said. She mimicked his face. “Blyeeeeeeh! See?”
“ I didn't make a noise,” Pip insisted. “At least not like that one. I just made a little noise. It was more like...” he made another face at her, “Nyah!”
Diamond Tiara reeled back in shock. “Yeah,” she said after she recovered. “Like that. Just try and keep that thing in your mouth? We're here, and I don't want you grossing up the flowers.”
“Huh?” Pip asked, looking up at the shop. He blinked, surprised at the sheer size of the place. It was set deep in the back of the main building, expanding out into a greenhouse. A wall of heat struck Pip as they walked inside, and he felt himself instantly began to sweat. Both he and Diamond tiara started to unwind their scarves. “Wow,” Pip said. “This place is big.”
“Yeah,” Diamond Tiara said. “I've been here before. There's like a hundred different flowers, including mistletoe and holly.”
“Then how are you gonna prove which one is which?” Pip asked, narrowing his eyes at her.
“Because they've got labels, duh,” Diamond Tiara said. “They're in the back, together.” She lead him through a winding path of flowers, following various signs lit up with Hearth's Warming lights, until they found an enormous stand along the back glass wall... filled to the brim with poinsettias. A few ponies milled around the stand, inspecting flowers or looking at packets of seeds.
Diamond Tiara frowned deeply. “At least, they were here last year...” She huffed and looked around the small clearing they were in. For a moment she turned away from the stand and took a few steps away, appearing as though she was going to go back into the store, before she pointed at a nearby pony. “Hey, you,” she said.
The pony she was referring to didn't move for a while. In fact, it seemed like he was entirely unaware that anypony had spoken to him. He was enraptured by the poinsettias, gently brushing their leaves and arranging them just so. Diamond Tiara huffed and trotted up to him, tapping his shoulder.
Finally the stallion looked up, standing up straight, and Pip stepped back in shock. The stallion was enormously tall and shrouded in a thick, heavy overcoat, and though Pip couldn't quite be sure, he thought the stallion was bone thin as well. His fur was a deep, brassy yellow that shimmered when he moved, and his mane was a wild, unkempt bush of deep green spikes, almost like a head of pine needles. Indeed, as he moved Pip thought he could smell a faint scent of pine around the stallion.
“Vat?” the stallion asked, a thick Furheim accent immediately apparent. “Ah... vat?”
Diamond Tiara simply stared at him, her expression somewhere between confusion and horror. “What?” she asked.
The two ponies stared at each other for a while. An air of confusion hung thick around them as Pip looked back and forth. After a long moment he realized that Diamond Tiara simply hadn't understood his accent.
“He asked what you want,” Pip told her, leaning in.
Diamond Tiara blushed, shooing him away. “I-I knew that,” she said. She turned back to the stallion, looking perhaps a bit less aggressive than she had before. “Have you seen the holly and mistletoe plants?” she asked. “They were here last year.”
The stallion looked down at the stand. “I vas not here last year,” he said. “Scho I vould not know. Why are hyu lookink for holly und mistletoe? It is poison, hyu know. Shctrange plants for Hearth' Warmink. I have never underschtood.”
Diamond Tiara's expression was contorted into one of sheer concentration “I don't... they're traditional,” she said. “Have you seen them or not?”
The stallion rubbed his chin. “Hy might have,” he said. “Zey har togezher. Closch to ze front of ze schtore, tucked to ze left. You muscht have missed them on hyour way here.” He shrugged, turning back to the poinsettias. “Many ponies do not know what zey are lookink for, when zey look for mistletoe or holly.”
“Wh... well, I do,” Diamond Tiara said. She didn't seem as upset to be corrected as she normally did, though perhaps it was simply the confusion over his accent. Then again, in spite of his size the stallion's slow, gentle demeanor was calming to watch, Pip thought.
“I know what holly looks like,” Diamond Tiara continued, “But he doesn't.” She gestured to Pip. “So I'm proving to him that I did know what they look like.”
The stallion nodded slowly as Pip rolled his eyes “I schee,” the stallion said. “Well. It isch good to learn.”
“Even if they are poison?” Diamond Tiara asked, a bit smugly. The stallion smiled, though Pip thought the smile seemed a bit disappointed, for some reason.
“Yes,” he said. “Even if zey are poison.” he turned back to the flowers and hunched his shoulders. “Anyvay. Hyu will find hyor plantsch out front.”
Diamond Tiara blinked, but nodded. “Well, thanks,” she said, sounding a bit offended. Pip turned to leave but Diamond Tiara grabbed his shoulder. “Not yet,” she said. “We're here anyways, I might as well get the seeds for my mom.”
“Oh, right,” Pip said. “I forgot about that.” He frowned at her, and took a seat as she looked at the seeds. He buried his face in his scarf. In all the excitement of being dragged around by a bossy jerk, he'd completely forgotten about looking for the crackers. “I didn't see anything for my Papa while we were walking here,” he said. “Are we gonna have time to look for it?”
Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes and sighed. “We passed like, twenty stores one the way here. What are you even looking for, if you didn't see anything?”
Pip folded his hooves and turned away from her. “I'm gonna get him Hearth's Warmin’ Crackers,” he said.
“Ugh!” Diamond Tiara shouted, throwing up her hooves. “I guess we're not gonna have time, because you should know by now we don't have those in Equestria! Why do you care so much? They're just a dumb game.”
“An' I told you, they're not dumb!” Pip shouted back, whipping around to face her. “I always played Crackers with my Papa! Every year at Hearth's Warming we'd open our stockin’s an' presents an' then we'd have lunch, an' then we'd go out to the festivals! An' then when we got back from the festivals and we played Crackers, an' then Papa had his Mince Pies! But everythin' is different here!”
Vaguely, Pip was aware that his face was hot, and that Diamond Tiara no longer looked so angry. “Yeah, Equestria is great an' all,” he said, not quite so angry anymore himself, “but... it's not the same. We spent the whole Hearth's Warmin’ together, Papa an' me... an' crackers were special. I just... wan' us to have that again.” He sighed, and his shoulders went slack. “I mean, I wan'... him to have that, too. I know he always says that bein' a policeman is different in Equestria. So I wan’ him to have somethin’ from Trottingham again.”
Diamond Tiara and Pip were both silent for a while. Pip rubbed his shoulders and pulled his scarf tighter around his neck in spite of the heat in the greenhouse. Diamond Tiara simply stared – at least until a long, thin hoof plucked the bag of seeds out of her hooves.
Diamond Tiara jumped, her head snapping to the source of the hoof. It was the tall stallion again.
“Not zese ones,” the stallion said slowly. “The flowersch are for hyour mother, yesch? You vant flowersch zat vill grow big, flowersch zat vill grow vibrant. Zose scheeds are too old. Zey vill grow too veak.” He set the seeds back in the stand and took out another packet. “Take zese inschtead. Zey vill grow much stronker.”
“Huh?” Diamond Tiara asked, blinking at the stallion. “What?”
“He said they'll grow better,” Pip said. “Do you really not understand his accent? I know it's real' thick, but...” He paused, and lowered his head a bit bashfully. “Er, sorry mister,” he added. The stallion smiled.
“I know how I schound,” he said. “Sche is not the only Ekwestrian who has diffikulty understandink me.”
Diamond Tiara blushed and looked away. “We aren't all Trottinghamites,” she said. “You've probably heard it before. I've never met anypony from Furheim before.” Nevertheless, she took the packet he was offering. “Thanks,” she said, adding a bit of edge to it almost as an afterthought.
The stallion smiled at her, much happier this time, and turned to Pip. “I remember Hearth' Varmink Crackersh,” he said. “Zey have come from Furheim, did hyu know? Zey har... intereschtink. Goot to play viz family. I have seen them only vonce in Ekwestria, but now I do not remember. I hope hyu will have goot luck in finding them, younk vun.” He nodded deeply at Pip before turning back to the flowers.
“Um, thanks mister,” Pip said, nodding back. The stallion didn't respond, or move at all. Pip stared at him for a while, but aside from arranging the flowers gently, the stallion still didn't move.
“Pip,” Diamond Tiara said. Pip looked back at her. She was winding her scarf around her neck again, and she jerked her head in the direction of the exit. “Come on, let's go,” she said.
“Er, right,” Pip said. “Sorry.” He got up and trotted over to her, only glancing back at the stallion. He wasn't quite sure why, but he shrugged as they walked back into the winding flower shop. They walked in silence for a while until they arrived back at the front. It took only a moment of looking around before Diamond Tiara jabbed her hoof to a small stand beside the register.
“There,” she said with something of a mix of confidence and impatience. “Mistletoe and holly!” She trotted up to the stand with Pip following closely after, and she tapped on the signs. Sure enough, the holly was indeed a bright red berry, and the mistletoe was a pale, milky white.
“Huh,” Pip said. “I guess you're right.” Part of him wanted to be grumpy that she was right, somehow, but he couldn't find it in him. The memory of the strange stallion at the poinsettia stand had already faded from his mind, but he still felt oddly calm. What he did remember, though, was the mention of crackers. Near or not, somepony had seen a Hearth's Warming Cracker in Canterlot, and that must mean that Pip could find some too.
Diamond Tiara tutted, rolling her eyes. “Well, fine,” she said. “Mope about it if you want to. The point is, I was right.” She left him staring at the bushes and trotted to the counter, placing the seeds in front of the cashier. She peered back at Pip as the cashier swiped the seeds through and as she dropped a few bits on the counter. “So what's your problem now, anyways?” she asked. “We're still gonna go and look for your cracker things. That weird guy even said that he'd seen them around before, so you might even be able to find some.”
Pip looked back at her. “Huh?” he asked, blinking. “Oh, yeah... yeah, I guess so.” he tucked his nose into his scarf and shook his head a bit. “It's nothin',” he said. “Jus' thinkin'... uh... are we gonna have enough time to find the crackers?”
Diamond Tiara walked passed him and tucked the seeds into her scarf. “Well, we won't if you don't hurry up,” she said. “Come on, I've got the flowers.
Pip jumped up and ran after her. He staggered for a bit as they left the greenhouse and the warmth within, being plunged back into the relative cold of the open mall, but soon recovered and pulled up alongside Diamond Tiara.
The two walked silently through the central building, visiting shop after shop, stand after stand, but to no avail. Nothing even vaguely resembling crackers appeared in any store they visited. The more stands they visited, the more Pip dug his face into his scarf, and the more distressed he began to feel.
“Uuuuuuugh!” Pip said, yanking down his scarf. They had been to almost every store in the central building, and they had been walking for almost a full half hour. “We haven't seen anythin'.”
“We've seen plenty,” Diamond Tiara snapped. “But no, you're set on those crackers. I've seen like, a dozen things my daddy would have loved.”
Pip glowered at her. “Then how come you didn't get those for him?” he asked, sticking out his tongue.
“I already got Daddy a present,” Diamond Tiara said. She shook her head, shoving open the door to the walkway connecting the buildings. “I don't know why I expected that we would find anything.”
Pip walked out after her, shrugging his shoulders at the cold. “That stallion said he saw some,” he replied. “Didn't he?”
“Yeah,” Diamond Tiara replied, nodding begrudgingly. “But he was just, like, some weird old guy. How do we even know he knew what he was talking about? I don't even know if we understood what he was saying!”
“Maybe you didn't,” Pip said. “Anyway, you believed him about those seeds, right? He said they would grow up strong, an' you believed 'im.”
Diamond Tiara blinked. “I guess,” she said, sounding almost surprised. “I hope he was more right about them than he was about those crackers, at least. There's obviously nothing around. Heck – why do you even think you'll find one in a store? You said that that Tannenbaum guy gives them out!” She threw her hooves up. “We've been wasting our time! He probably gets elves to make them for him or something stupid like that!”
“Don't be dumb,” Pip said. It was his turn to roll his eyes now. “Only babies believe in elves.” Diamond Tiara stopped and stared flatly at him, but Pip didn't notice. “”He makes them, yeah, and the stores sell the leftovers. He doesn't have elves make them, though...”
“Okay, so what?” Diamond Tiara asked. “Does he just magic them up with his Hearth's Warming powers, or something?” She waggled her hooves in a vague imitation of magic, pulling a mocking face. She stopped though when she realized that Pip was no longer paying attention to her. The colt's focus was on the pathway in front of them.
In spite of the hustle and bustle inside the buildings, there was nopony else outside. Not for the cold, either. It was unusually warm. Warmer than it had been earlier that day, despite the sun having begun to creep down in the sky, and there wasn't so much as the faintest hint of a breeze. In the distance the faint murmur of a crowd could be heard, but as Diamond Tiara stopped beside Pip, it was almost silent, save for an almost audible glimmer of Hearth's Warming lights strung up along the columns holding up the roof of the walkway, and for a soft chirping.
“Swallows,” Pip said. “Swallows bring him the toys, and the jokes, and the wrappin' paper. That's what Papa told me. He told me that they give 'im the stuff for the crackers, an' then he gives 'em a place to roost in the winter.”
“Swallows migrate,” Diamond Tiara said. He tone was matter-of-fact, but her expression told a different story, her brow furrowed in deep confusion.
“That one didn't,” Pip replied every bit as matter-of-factly. They both stared at the walkway, where a lone swallow hopped along the ground.
The bird seemed to amble across the walkway, pecking at stones here and there. It hopped through the small snowdrifts that had formed along the walkway, leaving trailing footprints, and even flying between longer hoofstrides left by the shoppers. It seemed almost as though it was playing, bored by waiting for somepony. Pip felt himself start to grin, and without thinking he reached out and nudged Diamond Tiara.
“That's a swallow,” he said.
“Yeah,” Diamond Tiara said, swatting his hoof away and staring sidelong at him. “I think I can see that Pip, thanks. What is it doing up here this late in the year?”
“Waiting!” Pip declared happily. For the first time since Diamond Tiara had dragged him off he felt excited again. The swallow was perfect!
“For what?” Diamond tiara asked with a shout. She threw a hoof to the courtyard, gesturing wildly at the piles of snow. “Winter's already here! It should have been gone weeks ago! Did a pegasus forget to show it the way south? Or is it just dumb?”
The swallow's head snapped up at her, it's head tilting as though it couldn't believe what it had heard.
“No,” Pip said, shaking his head. “Don't you get it? It's waiting for us!” He hopped towards it, and the swallow hopped back. It didn't fly away, however.
“That's crazy,” Diamond Tiara said. “It can't be waiting for us! It doesn't even know us! Why would it be waiting for a couple of foals going shopping?”
“Because it knows,” Pip said, exasperated. “It knows that we're looking for crackers! It must be here to help us!” He turned back to the sparrow. “Isn't that right... Geordie? I'mma call you Geordie!”
The sparrow chirped loudly, hopping up and down. Pip grinned.
“See?” he said.
Diamond Tiara stared at him like he had asked the colour of the sky. “No?” She said, dumbfounded. “I knew you were weird, but this is crazy. It's a bird. It doesn't have a stupid name, and it's certainly not here to show us to any dumb crackers. And anyways, what's this we? I'm not looking for crackers, you are.”
“But you said you'd help me find them,” Pip pointed out, poking a hoof at her accusingly. “Are you going to go back on your promise?”
“I didn't promise to follow a bird,” Diamond Tiara said, sitting down and crossing her hooves. “It's not gonna take you anywhere. We're just gonna take too long to get back to the bakery, and Daddy and Tealove are gonna be worried about us, and then we'll get in trouble.”
The swallow chirped and hopped towards Diamond Tiara, fluttering its wings aggressively. She shuffled away from it, and Pip trotted to her side.
“Come on Diamond,” he said. “You promised you'd help me look for crackers! I know Geordie is gonna help us find them, I just do! An' it won't take long, I promise! Papa said Uncle Tannenbaum's sparrow's are the fastest birds there ever were! He'll get us there in no time, I promise.” He clasped his hooves together and smiled pleadingly at her.
“I'm not a grown up, you know,” she said, staring down her nose at him. “Just because I'm older than you doesn't mean that expression is gonna work on me.”
Pip smiled even wider at her, and put a little bit of pout in his eyes. “Pleeeeeeeeease?” he asked. Diamond Tiara just stared at him. For the longest time they simply stared at one another, Pip growing gradually more and more puppy-eyed, and Diamond Tiara's expression growing steadily more and more forced and pained. After a time she began to quiver.
“Fine!” Diamond Tiara exploded, stomping her hooves down. “Celestia, how do you do that? Fine, I'll follow your dumb bird! But as soon as we go wherever it takes us, we're coming right back here, you got that?”
Pip shouted with glee, hopping in circles around the swallow. “Yes!” He shouted. “Yes, yes, haha!” He giggled and laughed to himself, only stopped by a barrage of angry chirping from the bird. “Oh,” he said, pausing. “I think he wants you to call him Geordie. And apologize for calling him dumb.”
Geordie nodded in agreement with Pip, giving a short, matter-of-fact chirp and folding its wings.
Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes and sighed a long-suffering sigh. “Fine,” she said. “I'm sorry I called you dumb, Geordie. Now can we go?”
The swallow nodded again, and took a few hops to the left off the path. Diamond Tiara and Pip both got to their hooves and followed after it. After taking a moment to check they were on its tail, Geordie took flight.
Pip broke into a run, Diamond Tiara following suit soon after. Geordie was flying behind the mall, circling around behind the central building – a task much easier for a flier. Both foals struggled to run through the thick blanket of snow, wading as deep as their knees in some spots. Each time one would stumble though, the other would slow to keep pace, or pull the other along
It took some doing, but they finally managed to circle around the enormous building. The snow was not as deep in the building's lee, light enough that Pip was able to concentrate on where they were going, rather than just where he was putting his hooves. Geordie had lead them to a gigantic staircase that wound down a steep hill. The swallow flew in place over the first few steps, cheeping excitedly.
Diamond Tiara approached the hill, looking a bit shaky on her hooves. As Pip followed her it was clear why: the snow was packed tight and thick, adding an unsettling slickness to the steps, especially as Pip peered down them. They wound on for what seemed like miles, leading to a large, wide-open platform below. From the looks of things there were quite a few ponies down there mulling about, but between the distance and the few trees growing out of the hill it was impossible to tell just how many, or what they were up to.
Pip looked up at Geordie. “What's down there?” he asked.
Geordie peeped and chirped excitedly, bobbing up and down in the air.
“It's not like you can understand him,” Diamond Tiara said, leaning gently over the hill. “I guess there's probably some kind of shop or something down there? Maybe they have the crackers there, I guess...” She paused, then turned her head and cocked an ear. “Do you hear something from down there?”
Pip paused and cocked an ear to the platform below. He closed his eyes and concentrated. After a while, he began to hear the soft hint of a drum. It was hard to make out, but the beat seemed a bit familiar. Pip's brow knitted with concentration and the longer he listened, the more familiar it seemed. Suddenly, it clicked.
“Oh!” Pip said, his eyes snapping open. “I remember that song!” He began to trot down the steps as quickly as he dared for their slickness.
“What?” Diamond Tiara asked, starting down after him. She paused to look down at her hooves between each step, barely keeping up with Pip's comparatively less cautious pace. “I've never heard that song before in my life. What is it?”
“Every year in Bridol there was a parade before Hearth's Warmin',” Pip explained, pausing on a landing before hopping onto the next flight of stairs. “An' at the front of the parade before all the Hearth's Warmin' stuff, there was always floats and marches from Furheim and Fancee. That's the song the Fancee marchers always played!”
Diamond Tiara stopped on the landing, her legs wobbling with something between nerves and relief. “So it's a military thing?” she asked. She crept towards the next flight of stairs, but couldn't quite bring herself to step down it yet.
“No, no,” Pip said, shaking his head. “There was military stuff, but that was later, an' all three were together. This was like, Hearth's Warmin’ Music! I think a long time ago the military bands made up songs to play on Hearth's Warmin'!” He had begun moving sideways down the stairs now, on the final flight of stairs. He paused and looked back up at Diamond Tiara. “Hey, how'd you know that Fancee is--” His breath caught in his throat as he saw Diamond Tiara further up the stairs.
Her hoof slipped out from beneath her. All at once the world seemed to slow down and to speed up, every detail happening all at once, yet each framed in excruciating detail. He watched as Diamond Tiara's limbs flailed around beneath her as she struggled to recover, to no avail. Pip himself tried in vain to move, but the slick steps kept him locked in place and threw off his balance. Geordie chirped madly as Diamond Tiara came careening down the steps and plowed into Pip. The two tumbled and slid down the rest of the stairs in a jumble of legs and shouts, winding up in a pile on the platform below.
Pip groaned loudly, struggling to move. He scrambled at the cobblestone platform with his front hooves, but barely budged an inch. “Diamond,” he groaned, “I can't move my back legs.”
Behind him, Pip could hear Diamond Tiara jolt and move without any real sense of direction. “What!?” she asked, a surprisingly genuine concern in her voice. “You're hurt? Can you still feel them?”
“I'll be able to when you get off me!” he shouted, struggling to kick his hind legs. He pulled his scarf off of where it had landed over his eyes and looked back at Diamond Tiara, who was staring at him with an impressively unimpressed expression.
The filly shifted her position, sitting more solidly on Pip's back. “You know, I think I like it here,” she said. “Dorks’ huge butts make good seats.”
“I don't 'ave a huge butt!” Pip shouted, squirming underneath her. “You 'ave a huge butt, an’ it's crushing me!”
Diamond Tiara folded her hooves and shifted herself into position more. “Well, I guess you're gonna have to deal with that,” she said, sticking out her tongue at him. “Unless you want to apologize.”
“For what?” Pip shouted back at her. He'd stopped struggling, but he still kicked his legs idly every so often. “You're the one who crashed into me!”
Diamond Tiara's face reddened, and she stuck her nose in her scarf to hide an even more embarrassed frown. “W-well,” she stammered and spluttered, “It's your dumb bird who dragged us down here. Anyways, there's no reason to act like you're hurt, you weirdo. If I brought you back with broken legs I'd never hear the end of it! I'd be grounded for until I was like, Celestia's age!”
Pip opened his mouth to bark back at her again when he was interrupted by a stifled laugh. He blinked and looked in the direction of the laugh. It was a stallion, clean cut but roughly dressed, who Pip imagined must have been the source of the song, by the snare drum in his lap if not by the stiffness and military air of his posture.
The stallion snickered, passing a pair of drumsticks from one hoof to the other. “I s'pose you two are alright, then?” he asked. He had a soft Eastern-Trottingham accent, the sort one might pick up by living in a place for a while but not having been raised there. “Nopony's hurt?”
Diamond Tiara clambered off of Pip, still trying to hide her blushing from the watching drummer. Pip himself slowly got to his hooves. He slipped a bit on the slick snow, but eventually both foals were on their hooves, adjusting their scarves.
“I'm alright,” Pip said as he tucked his scarf up on his neck.
Diamond Tiara brushed a bit of loose snow off her shoulder, nodding. “We're fine,” she said. She scowled up at the staircase. “Somepony should really salt those things.”
Pip blinked peered over at her. “Salt them?” he asked. “Are you gonna eat them?”
“You rather just did,” the drummer pointed out, gesturing up at the staircase.
“No,” Diamond Tiara said, glaring back and forth between the two. “I mean like, putting rock salt on them so nopony slips. What, don't they salt things in Trottingham?”
“I dunno,” Pip said, scratching his head and staring up at the steps. “There was never really much snow in Bridol.”
“How can you not have snow?” Diamond Tiara asked, shaking her head at him. “You've been going on about Hearth's Warming this whole time, and you don't even have snow?”
“So?” Pip asked, leaning back defensively. “I 'aven't been talkin' about snow, I've been talkin' about crackers.”
“They did have snow in the east,” the drummer pointed out helpfully. “I was never in Bridol much, though.”
Pip blinked. He looked as though every thought in his head had dropped out all at once, only to be replaced by one, rather singular, thought. He turned to the drummer and grinned, prancing forward a few steps. “You're from Trottingham, mister?” he asked.
“Well, not from there,” the drummer said, shrugging a bit apologetically. “I did live there for a while, though, on guard duty for military co-operation.” He straightened up and drummed a quick military beat on his snare.
Pip grinned, looking back at Diamond Tiara and at Geordie, who had taken to perching on Diamond Tiara's tiara. “See?” he said. “Geordie led us right to it!” He plopped himself down, grinning at the drummer. “So you went to Trottingham, and then you came back?”
“That's right,” the drummer said with a nod. “Decided I didn't much care for being a guard anymore, so I came home and, well, now I play music. How about you, lad? What brings you to this side of the sea?”
Pip bobbed his head. “Well... I dunno all of it, but my Papa said that it'd be better for me to grow up here, an' it'd be safer an' easier to be a police pony.”
The drummer nodded. “I suppose he's probably right,” he said. “How're you liking our fair country?”
Pip shrugged, tucking his face into his scarf. He heard Diamond Tiara approaching from behind him. For a brief moment he considered insulting it, but that wouldn't have been true. In fact, he didn't even really want to for Diamond Tiara's sake. “It's okay,” Pip said. “It's kinda neat, actually. I've made lots of friends, an' there's lots of cool stuff.” He peered over at Diamond Tiara, who was smiling. Strangely, she only looked a little bit smug. “I do miss a lot of stuff from Trottingham, though,” Pip continued.
The drummer nodded. “I know the feeling,” he said. “I only lived in Trottingham for a few years, but there's a lot of things that I miss. Made some good friends there. Even in the Fancee armies, which I was told was a bit of a no-no.” He laughed as he caught a glimpse of Pip's mock-disgust, but continued. “I enjoyed my time there... well, for the most part. I'll tell you one thing: They had great parades and music. I marched in a few myself, actually.” He grinned. “Say, I'll tell you what: How 'bout I play a nice Trottingham drum song, just for us all here, huh?”
Pip's face lit up. “That sounds great!” he said.
“We can't be here too long, you know,” Diamond Tiara pointed out.
Pip looked over at her and sighed. “Come on, it won't take long,” he said. “And this is obviously where Geordie wanted us to be, right Geordie?”
Geordie chirped loudly and flapped his wings, causing Diamond Tiara to duck under him. “Alright, alright,” she said. “I guess it's not a huge deal if we hear one or two songs, as long as we get on with it as soon as we're done.”
“Well, it's settled then!” the drummer said with a laugh. He straightened up on his stool and his wrists loosened. He had the look of a stallion so entirely confident in what he was doing it had become more reflex than anything. “I'm sure you'll remember this one, lad,” he said.
The drum beat was slow at first, almost like a military march. The drummer rolled his sticks softly across the drum once, then again, and a third time. With each repeat the rhythm became faster and the pauses between them shorted until it was a single tune, soft and distant, almost soulful. Pip didn't quite recognize it – aside from the speed, it sounded like almost any other marching beat he'd heard before, and he'd never really been able to tell them apart.
As it went on though, the drumming became less regular as the drummer shifted from a beat to a tune. Though the music was still soft and quiet, some of the soulfulness dropped away, replaced by something happier. Pip could feel it in his belly, slowly working it's way up into his chest. The music arced up and down, steadily growing in intensity.
The drummer had closed his eyes, and a small crowd from the platformer had gathered around to play him listen. The music was loud enough now to be heard by all around, and Pip was starting to recognize it. There was a telltale sort of pa-rum-pum-pum-pum to it that ran through Pip – and a few of the ponies in the crowd, from the sounds of things.
“I think I know this song,” Diamond Tiara murmured from beside Pip. Her brow was knit tight in concentration. “How do I know this song?”
Pip was tapping his hooves to the tune, swaying along with the song. He smiled. “I know it,” he said. “It was a soldier's song before it was a Hearth's Warmin’ song, Papa told me. That the three tribes played for Uncle Tannenbaum when he came out of the longhouse.” He grinned wide. “They always played it in the parades, and ponies danced along with it.” He hopped up to his hooves. “I'll show you!”
The crowd backed up a bit, giving Pip a bit of space as he tapped along to the music. The drummer had opened his eyes as well, laughing at Pip as the young colt tried his best to remember all the steps. It wasn't a cruel laugh, though Pip was by no means an excellent dancer. It was a laugh of joy and of nostalgia. He sped up the tune, and several ponies in the crowd had begun to tap along. Even Geordie was chirping to the beat, hopping up and down on Diamond Tiara's tiara and fluttering her wings.
In spite of herself, Diamond Tiara laughed at the antics even as she tried to duck under Geordie. The swallow flew off of her and over to Pip, flying in circles around him to the tune of the drum, almost as if it was dancing with Pip. Pip grinned wide at Geordie, laughing and changing the rhythm of his dance to circle around it. He looked over at Diamond Tiara, grinning even wider. “It's easy!” he said.
Diamond Tiara, who had been smiling peacefully for a while, suddenly snapped back. “What?” she asked. “Oh, I... no, I don't really know how...”
“Neither do I!” Pip said with a laugh. “I just remember how it looked!” He spun around in time with a drum roll, nearly tipping himself over, and the crowd chuckled happily. “See? It's really simple!” He danced over to Diamond Tiara, hooking his hoof around hers and pulling her into the middle.
She resisted at first, mumbling excuses and complaints that were lost in the music and the laughter of the crowd. Between the slickness and Pip's momentum, though, Pip eventually managed to bring her into the center of the circle along with Geordie. The music kept on getting quicker and quicker, and any hint of wistfulness was gone now. The song was pure and joyful, happy and rolling, and before too long even Diamond Tiara seemed to be moving with the beat. It was only a few more pa-rum-pum-pum-pums before she too was grinning wide, dancing with Pip and Geordie in a wide circle as the crowd and the drummer looked on. On and on they danced for what seemed like ages, though it was likely no more than mere minutes. They danced until their legs were sore and their breaths short.
Eventually the song came to a climax with a series of quick rolls and sharp taps, and Pip, Diamond Tiara, and Geordie all stopped dead in a circle around one another with one last big bang of the drum. The crowd around them burst into applause – even the drummer tucked his drumsticks under his foreleg to applaud them. He laughed heartily and rubbed a hoof through his short-cropped mane, and tossed a small cap out onto the floor in front of him.
One by one ponies from the crowd came up, dropping two or three, or some even five, bits into the cap. It wasn't long before it was brimming with gold bits. Pip simply blinked at it, wondering what he was doing, but Diamond tiara looked shocked. She dug into her scarf, pulling out a few bits and some loose change, and approached the hat.
The drummer waved a hoof. “Oh no,” he said. “None from you two, I wouldn't dream of it. Shoot, you two pretty much deserve a cut of all this.”
“A cut of what?” Pip asked, tightening his scarf again after the dancing had shaken it loose. “What do you mean?”
“He's a busker,” Diamond Tiara said, cocking a confused eyebrow at Pip. “A street performer. This is how he makes money.” She waved a hoof right back at the drummer. “I wouldn't... I mean, I couldn't. You earned all that, we were just... playing around in front of you.”
The drummer laughed and shrugged. “Well, maybe,” he said. “But I still think you two helped, so I can't accept anything from you.”
“Zhen I schall provide a bit for zhem,” a voice said from behind in the crowd. Pip and Diamond Tiara looked back to the source of the voice: the stallion from the flower shop. He emerged from the crowd – Pip could scarcely imagine how he had hid among a crowd of ponies he stood head and shoulders above – and trotted up to the hat, dropping in a hoof-full of bits.
“Zat vas a delightful sonk,” he said. “It has been too lonk since I have heard it.” He smiled slightly. “A bit different zhan I remember, but time marches on, does it not?”
The drummer laughed and leaned over his drum. “I suppose it does,” he said. “Though you look younger than I do, so I don't know where you get off saying that.”
The stallion smiled a bit wider now. “I have heard zat a lot,” he said. “Ze mares in my life tell me zat I haff an excellent coat.” He gestured almost mockingly to his bronze-coloured fur, and gazed back at the already-dissipated crowd, and his smiled faded. “It vas goot to hear it again, even if I do not like ze context,” he said. “But zat is no reflektion on hyour skills. Hyu are an eksellent drummer, sir.”
The drummer nodded. “Thank you, sir,” he said. “Don't you like Hearth's Warming?”
The tall stallion snorted. He slowly took a seat beside the drummer, reaching into his overcoat and pulling out a small golden flask. He took a deep swig from it before saying, “Hearth' Varmink. Ziss is how Hearth' Varmink is celebrated now.” He waved a hoof at the crowd. “Zhey schtick arount to feel goot, zhen leave. In my day, Hearth' Varmink vass about beink locked up in a lonkhouse viss ze zree worscht basctardsch in hischtory, und hafink a goot time of it all anyvay.” He took another swig from his flask before tucking it away.
The drummer laughed, and almost in spite of himself the tall stallion chuckled as well. “I do not mean to put down hyour muschik of course,” he said. “Hyu play wonderfully, unt I zink ze muschik zis time off year isch nice... so many memories. It iss ze listeners.”
“Oh, I don't know,” the drummer said, transferring the bits from his cap into a larger container. “Ponies are always more generous this time of year.”
“Yez,” the tall stallion said, taking another swig from his flask. “Zhat is ze problem. Hearth' Varmink isch about hope. It is about hopink for zhe nekst year to be better, unt zhat ve vill be better for vun another.” He peered over at Pip and Diamond Tiara, rubbing his chin. “It isch hope zhat a flower vill grow stronk in ze sprinktime, or zhat hyu unt hyour fazher vill enjoy vun another's company. But zhey do not care. Zhey come, unt feel gut, unt leaf. Zhey are no more generous zhis year zhen ze next.” He sighed, taking another drink. “It isch all traditions, no feelink.”
Pip felt his neck grow warm. “W...” he piped up a bit slowly, drawing all eyes to him, “well... I don't... think so?” he said.
“Hyu do not?” the tall stallion asked, raising an eyebrow.
Pip shuffled his hooves. He was vaguely aware of Diamond Tiara beside him, nudging him to stop, but he carried on. “I think, a lot of ponies might not know what the traditions mean, exactly,” he said, “An' maybe they kinda forget them... but I think it's still important to 'em.” He looked down and shuffled his hooves more, scraping away the snow beneath him. “Like... I don't know much about why we play crackers, but I still like to do it 'cause it's with my Papa. I mean... a lot of traditions are like, a million years old, so...” he shrugged and stared at his hooves. He was unaware of the tall stallion staring contemplatively at him, and of Diamond Tiara glaring back at the tall stallion in a silent challenge. This went on for a while before Diamond Tiara spoke up.
“Anyways,” she said, “we don't have time to sit around talking philosophy.” She nudged Pip and gestured to one of the few shops that had been set up across the platform. “Let's get those crackers and get back to the mall before Daddy and Tealove start worrying about us. We're probably gonna have to meet them in the courtyard.”
The drummer blinked. “You've found crackers?” he asked. “I remember those things from Trottingham, but I haven't seen any back here. It's a shame, they were kinda fun.”
“Well,” Pip said, turning to look at Geordie, “Geordie led us down here. I thought that he was... showin' us to some crackers?” He stood up and looked around the platform. “Wha... are they not selling any here?”
Diamond Tiara got to her hooves as well, looking over at the shops. “What do they even look like? Little tubes, right? Those... are clothes stands, I think...”
Pip dashed over. Diamond Tiara was right. They were clothing stands to the last, with one sole exception: A jewelry stand. Pip's heart crashed down in his gut. For a while he simply stared at the shops, his knees near buckling under the weight of his disappointment. Eventually, though, he stood up and walked back over to Diamond Tiara. “There's nothing there,” he said. He looked up at Geordie and frowned.
Geordie peeped defensively, but Diamond Tiara shooed it away. “Well,” she said, rolling her shoulders. “I'm sure you'll find one eventually. But we've gotta get back up, now.” She coughed and rubbed her leg. “I really don't want to make Daddy worry...”
“I am schorry you did not find anyzink, younk vun,” the stall stallion said, standing up. “I vish you luck. Unfortunately, Ziss isch my schtop.”
Diamond Tiara froze. “Your stop?” she asked. She turned around, looking at where they had come from. Though there were trees at the back of the platform as ever, the staircase was gone, replaced by a few steps up to a street. “Wha...” she said, “What? How the heck did that...” she whipped around to stare at the drummer. “How did that happen?” she demanded.
The drummer looked between her and the street. “Uh, this is a mountain car,” he said. As he spoke, ponies began to file off the steps and onto the street. “It circles around this district to a few different stops... didn't you know?”
“No!” Diamond Tiara shouting, whirling around again. “I... how far is it between stops? Where are we?”
The drummer winced. “Well, it's a few miles, usually,” he said. “But the way the streets go... I mean, you'd pretty much have to walk double in order to get back to where you came from. We started moving a few minutes ago... I guess you didn't noticed while you were busy dancing and all...”
“But we're going back, right?” she asked. He voice sounded choked. “This is just gonna go back to the mall?”
The drummer shook his head sadly. “It goes around the entire district,” he said. “It won't be back at the mall for hours... that's why it stays at one station for a while, to make it easier on ponies who need to catch it.” He shrugged vaguely. “Sorry, guys...”
Diamond Tiara's expression changed several times in the next few moments, though she never spoke save for a few strangled sounds. First she looked confused, then afraid. Finally her expression contorted into one of anger, and she turned to glare at Pip and Geordie, who had settled on pip's shoulder.
“You!” she barked, jabbing her hoof at the pair. “This is your fault! You and that stupid bird!” She marched over to Pip and jabbed his chest. He pulled back and Geordie took to the air again. “You're the one who dragged me down here! And now we're Celestia knows where in the middle of the city, miles away from Daddy, and he's probably out of his mind worrying, and, and...” for a brief moment she looked afraid again, before returning to anger and jabbing his chest again. Pip backed away and stammered wordlessly, but he couldn’t look her in the eye. He couldn’t look anywhere but down at his hooves.
“And all for some stupid game!” Diamond Tiara continued. “Ugh, I should have never listened to you! I shouldn't even have showed you the mistletoe and holly, I should have just ignored you in the bakery!” She threw up her hooves. “I should have known something like this would have happened! Nothing ever works out when I leave it to somepony else!” She started walking in a circle, fuming to herself as much as anyone else now.
“And that dumb stallion!” she snarled. “This is his fault too, putting those stupid ideas in your head... I'll bet he's never seen a cracker here! I'll bet he said he did just to mess with you, that... cranky old jerk! Who did he think he was, looking down at us like that... he heard us say we needed to be back, but he didn't say anything!” She screamed with frustration, stomping her hoof. “He's not even here anymore so I can yell at him,” she shouted.
Pip looked up from his hooves. Sure enough, the tall stallion had disappeared. Even the drummer was looking around, having missed the stallion's leaving. Pip wasn't sure how that made him feel. He felt cold and hollow, but he thought it was probably the knowledge that he had gotten the two of them lost in the middle of the city. He should say something, he knew, but what could he say? So he just let Diamond Tiara rant and fume. At least, until they felt the platform beneath them jerk forward suddenly.
Both foal's heads shot up to the steps. The station, hidden and tiny as it was, was beginning to slip away. Geordie began chirping sharply, and the swallow flew over to the staircase leading off the platform. It flapped frantically, motioning for Pip and Diamond Tiara to get off.
The foals took his meaning immediately, neither one wanting to be stranded further out in the city. They got to their hooves and bolted for the steps, though the actual platform had slipped away. They would have to jump for it.
Diamond Tiara stalled at the steps, her eyes lingering on the quickening stone and metal of the sidewalk the platform had attached to. Pip however gave it no heed. Using the steps as a ramp he launched himself off the moving platform, barely making it up onto the sidewalk with a tumble. He scrambled to his hooves and began to chase after the platform again. Without a word he stuck out his hoof to Diamond Tiara, who took it just as silently. She jumped and Pip hauled, and both foals landed on the sidewalk as they had on the platform: In a rolling heap of hooves and grunting.
They came to a stop after only a few bounces, but Pip stayed laying there underneath Diamond Tiara and staring up at the sky. There was already a hint of orange along the horizon, he could see. It must be mid-afternoon by now.
Diamond Tiara grumbled under her breath as she picked herself up off of him. If Pip had cared to hear it, he might have been able to make out her thanking him, but he didn't. He felt miserable. Diamond Tiara had been right, after all. They were lost, terribly lost, and it was all his fault. His gut felt even colder than the snow on his back.
“M'sorry,” he mumbled, putting a hoof over his eyes. He heard Diamond Tiara shuffling around for a minute, then she stopped.
“Well, you should be,” she said finally. Her tone was harsh and bitter. “Honestly, you seriously thought a dumb bird was going to help you find something that doesn't exist here? Geordie couldn't even find his way south, and every bird knows south.” She snorted, and it sounded like she was shaking her head. “Honestly,” she said. “Where even is this? I've never been here before. I didn't even know Canterlot had something like this.”
Pip uncovered his eyes and peered up. The sidewalk they had landed on appeared to be a back street with only a few alleys leading to the main street. Buildings loomed all around them, casting a shadow over the entire station, which didn't help it look better at all. Most of the track was rusted and dingy, and what little snow had managed to fall along the overshadowed sidewalks had long since turned into a half-melted brown sludge.
“Oh,” Pip said, sitting up and brushing himself off. “We 'ad these back in Bridol... it's a servant's line. They go all 'round the middle of the city to take ponies to their jobs where nopony can see 'em.” He frowned. “My Papa never told me why, but I don't think he liked them. He did say never to go near them, though.”
“Well, good for us,” Diamond Tiara said, rolling her eyes. “Your dad can get mad at us too. Why doesn't he want us to be here?” She glanced at the ground and backed out of a dull brown puddle. “Eugh... I mean, aside from the fact that it's gross.”
“He said that a lot of criminals hang out there,” Pip said. “'cause they're desperate and don't like rich ponies, he said.”
Diamond Tiara's expression went blank and the colour drained out of her face. “Wh-” she said, her eye twitching faintly, “then why are we here!?” She turned to run, then paused and looked back at Pip. Seeing that the colt was, apparently, not moving, she grabbed his foreleg and hauled him to his feet. “Come on!” she yelled, nearly dragging him out of the alleyway. It wasn't until they were out on the main street that she stopped, looking back at the alley with paranoia in her eyes.
The pair sat on the street corner, watching in confused, concerned silence at the ponies who passed by. Nopony stopped to look at them, perhaps not even seeing them. Nopony took a moment to wonder why two children and a swallow were out on their own.
At least, Diamond Tiara watched. Pip stared at his hooves. He felt cold, and it was more than just the breeze that was whipping down from the mountain top. He wrapped his hooves around himself and rubbed his forelegs, fighting back a sniffle. He hadn't a single idea where they were. He probably wouldn't have even if he had known anything about Canterlot. The buildings all looked the same, all gleaming white and tall spires. The snow made it even worse. They were well and truly lost, and if he hadn't been so excited to find the crackers they wouldn't have been here.
He could have just waited, he thought. He could have gone right back to Tealove, and they could have gone looking together. They would have been plenty of places to find them – he had only even looked at one of the three buildings in the mall. He groaned quietly and covered his eyes with his hooves. Who was he kidding? There were no crackers. Diamond Tiara was right.
Before he could sulk further he felt Geordie settle on his shoulder and chirped musically. The little sparrow nuzzled itself into Pip's cheek. For a while Pip resisted, trying his best to ignore it, but Geordie was both aggressive and persistent in its affections. It wasn't long before the ticklish feathers started Pip giggling. “Stoooop,” he said, rubbing his eyes. Geordie continued to chirp and peep, evidently not willing to stop until Pip was happy again. Pip giggled, trying to pull away from Geordie.
“Well I'm glad you're happy,” Diamond Tiara said with a snort. “Doesn't change the fact that we're lost.”
Pip stopped, and hung his head again. Even Geordie seemed to deflate. “I'm sorry,” Pip said.
“Yeah,” Diamond Tiara replied, looking away from him. “Well, we've been over that. It doesn't exactly help, does it? You're the one who knows about cities, why didn't you know what that thing was?”
“Well...” Pip said, shrugging his shoulders, “I did say my Papa didn't want me to go near them...”
“Well you still knew what it was after we were on it!” Diamond Tiara said, throwing up her hooves. “Celestia! Didn't you get moved ahead a grade? I kinda thought that meant you'd be smart. Smart enough to know your way around a city, you know, living in one your whole stupid life!”
Pip was less sad now, and a good deal more irritated. He could feel Geordie fluttering on his shoulder, perhaps trying to calm him down, but he didn't pay attention. “I am smart,” he said. “Smarter than you at least, I at least know that all cities aren't the same! Canterlot is a lot different than Bridol. It's on a mountain, we don't even get mountains in Trottingham! How am I supposed to know anything about a city I've never even been to?”
“Well I don't know!” Diamond Tiara said with a snarl. “I thought maybe you'd have a bit of sense better than to drag us off following a stupid bird!”
Geordie chirped and flapped its wings in offense, but Diamond Tiara simply glowered and carried on. “Not to mention,” she said, “Dragging us down a cliff of icy steps onto a cart for bums and thugs!”
“You're the one who followed me!” Pip shouted back. “Why bother, if you think I'm so dumb?”
“I don't think you’re dumb, you dork,” Diamond said, rolling her eyes, “I just said I thought you were supposed to be smart! I guess that doesn't mean you have any sense, though. Celestia, now that I think of it I don't think I've heard one word of sense come out of your mouth that didn't start with 'Moi Pawpaw'.” She put on a mocking face to go with the mocking accent. “I wish he were here instead of you, he might actually be able to do something here!”
“Yeah, well...” Pip said, digging his face into his scarf and turning away, “he's... not here...” his head snapped up again and tapped his head. “But he is up here!”
Diamond Tiara stared sidelong at him as Pip clambered to his hooves.
“The first thin' my Papa said to do if I ever got lost,” he explained, “was to go find a guardspony! He said that they'd know their way around the city, and if I was lost they'd help me find my way!” He looked left and right until he spotted a mare walking past. “Hey miss!” he said, waving to her.
The mare slowed and blinked at him. She looked between him, Geordie, Diamond Tiara and the alleyway they had come out of. “Oh,” she said, frowning more than a little. Her eyes darted back and forth. “Um... oh dear...” She began to dig into her purse hastily, producing a few bits. “I'm very sorry,” she said, “I can't really help much, but...”
“Huh?” Pip asked, staring at the bits. He turned back to Diamond Tiara and the alleyway, and scratched his head. “Oh no,” he said. “We're not...” He coughed and covered his mouth, repeating what he'd heard from his father before: “I appreciate it, miss, but there's ponies need it more than me.” He paused and tapped his hooves. “Um,” he continued, “Actually, me and uh, my...” he looked back over his shoulder at Diamond Tiara. “Well, we're lost,” he said, tapping his hooves. “I kinda got us separated from the grown-ups we were with, and, well, we need to find a guardspony station so they can help us find them. Do you know where one's nearby?”
“Oh!” the mare said, looking visibly relieved. She put the bits back in her purse and clutched it close to her side. “Well, you're in luck, actually,” she said. She looked around a bit; there were very few ponies around. “There's one quite nearby, actually,” she said. “It's not very big, but they'll be able to help you find your parents again quickly. At the very least, they can take you to a better guardshouse. It's about two blocks up that way,” she pointed down the street opposite the alleyway, “Then you take a left and go another block. And, between you and me,” she added as she leaned in to Pip and lowered her voice, “I'd be quick about it. This isn't really the best neighborhood, and it won't be long before it's dark...” She laughed a bit sheepishly. “To be honest, for a minute there I thought we were trying to... well, never mind,” she said. She laughed, waving a hoof. “Anyways, you run there quick, alright? If you do, you'll find your parents before dinner time, I'm sure.” She smiled sweetly and straightened up.
Pip grinned. “Thanks, miss!” he said. “We'll be sure to be quick.” He looked back at Diamond Tiara again and added, “I don't think I'll be having a good time of it if we're out much longer...”
The mare giggled, and patted Pip's head. She spared a smile for Geordie as well, who chirped and puffed up its feathers proudly. Pip stuck out his tongue at the bird, and waved goodbye to the mare before turning back to Diamond Tiara.
In spite of everything, the pink filly almost looked impressed. “So you actually found a guardspony station?” she asked. “What, just like that?”
Pip shrugged. “I don't think it was 'just like that',” he said. “But yeah! It's practically just around the corner!”
“Well, great,” Diamond Tiara said, standing up and pulling her scarf tighter around her shoulders. Her tone was still frosty, but somehow Pip felt sure that she was grateful. A little bit. Maybe.
“Anyways,” she continued, “What was that last little bit she whispered to you? When she leaned in. I didn't catch it.”
“Oh, really?” Pip asked with a blink. “Well, she said... uh...” he paused, thinking it over. Diamond Tiara had almost panicked when she'd heard that criminals sometimes hung out on worker's railways. His Papa was a police officer, and Bridol wasn't always a nice city. He'd grown up understanding crime – or at least, that it existed around him – but now that he thought of it, he didn't think that Diamond Tiara did. He chewed his lip for a moment, and decided not to tell her. After all, they'd be out of here soon, right? It's not like it would be a big deal. “Nothing serious, really,” he said. He tucked his head into his scarf, trying to hide a blush he did not have. “She just asked if you were my marefriend, is all.”
Diamond Tiara pulled perhaps the worst face he'd ever seen anypony pull. “Yeugch!” she said. “Definitely not.” Pip couldn't be offended; he felt much the same.
“Anyway, we should go,” he said. “Tealove an' your dad are probably worried sick, we shouldn't keep them waiting.”
Diamond Tiara shook her head, still trying to chase the thought of being Pip's marefriend away, but agreed. “Yeah,” she said. “Let's get out of here and... ugh. Just get this day over with.” With that she stalked off in the direction the mare had pointed out, leaving Pip to dash after her.
They didn't talk as they walked. Despite feeling a bit better about himself, he felt that that was fair. He didn't especially blame Diamond Tiara for being mad at him, and she wasn't a friendly pony at the best of times. Or so he had thought, at least. She had managed to be almost nice to him, today. He wondered why, and peered over at Geordie, who was flying between the two of them. He wasn't sure if the little swallow would have any answers It didn't seem to be the case, judging from Geordie’s rather distraught expression, but he felt like keeping tabs on the bird. He wasn't quite sure why, but something still felt... special, about Geordie. The swallow was following instead of leading now, certainly, but it was still with them when a normal bird – even one who had somehow forgotten the fly south – would have wandered off somewhere.
Still, Geordie wasn't doing anything of particular note, and as a young colt's mind is wont to do Pip's began to wander. He gazed around at the scenery. If this was truly a bad neighbourhood, as that mare had said, Pip wondered what a good neighbourhood would look like. Canterlot was likely no younger than Bridol, but it looked so much fresher, somehow. Perhaps it was the snow, so abundant and thick, coating the ground like frosting on a cake or a gingerbread house. In fact, Pip thought at he looked around at the icicles and drifts on the edges of rooftops, if the stone of the buildings was brown instead of white it would look like they were standing in the middle of a gingerbread village. Even those few lights that had begun to show in dimming daylight looked like little sweets strung along candy cane lampposts. It was delicious just to imagine. Pip hummed to himself as he thought of it, licking his lips. Perhaps a bit of Gingerbread would be something to look for if the crackers didn't work out...
Pip's mood fell almost instantly. Even if there were crackers somewhere in Canterlot there was no doubt he'd be unable to get them now. Tealove would probably want to go straight home once he found her again. Frankly, he wasn't sure he wouldn't want to as well. If he didn't get them, though, what would he do with his Papa on Hearth's Warming day? Go see Tealove for a cup of tea, certainly. And Papa's mince pies, too. Presents, perhaps? Those would be nice... but would they really be something to do with Papa? Maybe if he got a game... no. He shook his head and held it up high. He breathed deeply, steeling his resolve. No, it had to be crackers. He played crackers with his Papa on Hearth's Warming, and that was that. He smiled to himself, and to Geordie as the swallow drifted back and nestled into his scarf.
“Hey,” Diamond Tiara called over her shoulder, interrupting Pip's thoughts, “how many blocks did that mare say that we have to walks before we turn?”
“Huh?” Pip asked, blinking. “Umm, she said two I think?”
“Thr-ugh!” Diamond Tiara said, rolling her eyes. “Well you could have said something when we passed that point two blocks ago!” she said. “I thought you were leading the way.
Pip tucked his head down defensively again. “W-well,” he said, “You were in front...”
Diamond Tiara sighed and grumbled again. She turned around and stopped. “Uh-oh,” she said.
“Huh?” Pip asked, turning around as well. He only had to look for a moment to pick it out. “Oh...” he said softly. “Big kids.”
A pack of ponies was trotting towards them, ponies of all sorts. There were about a dozen of them, most wrapped in thick, if ratty, coats, hats and scarves, making it almost impossible to tell any sort of tribe. One thing was for certain, though: even the youngest of them looked at least two or three years older than Pip.
“Hey!” the colt at the head of the pack called out. He was an enormous pony with just a nub of horn peeking out from under a thick toque. “You two don't look like you're from around here!”
Pip and Diamond Tiara peered at each other. Even if Diamond Tiara didn't know for sure that this was a bad neighbourhood, Pip was certain she knew as well as him was was going on here.
“No,” Pip said after a moment. “We aren't.”
The big colt smirked. “I didn't think you were. You look lost.” He turned to his friend and waggled his eyebrows. “Oy fink yore on the wong side of th'pond, olde chap!” he jeered.
Pip rolled his eyes and tried to peer around the group. This was nothing new to him. In fact, he'd probably heard worse from Diamond Tiara. She had at least gotten the accent closer. He hoped they would be able to circle around the group and make it to the police station. Diamond Tiara, however, had other ideas.
“Oh, nice material smart guy,” she said, walking past Pip, who stared at her dumbfounded. “You get that from the back of a cereal box? Or from some two-bit comedian desperately trying to make it off the radio?”
The colt just gawked at her for a while, amazed that somepony had dared to speak back. Diamond Tiara simply stared at him with fire in her eyes. For a long minute everypony simply stared at one another until the big colt's friend nudged him.
The big colt snarled and scooped up a hooffull of snow. He started to pack it with his magic and sneered, “You two shouldn't be wandering around in our neighbourhood. I think you shoulda stuck with the rest of the stuck ups!” With that he hurled the snowballed, smacking Pip square in the face.
Pip wasn't sure what to do for a moment. The snowball stuck to his face, numbing the sting from the impact. Geordie leaped out from Pip's scarf and cheeped furiously, flitting this way and that. Sadly the swallow's rant was cut short by another snowball whizzing past. Then another, and another.
Wave after wave of snowballs whizzed through the air, raining down on the trio. It was all Geordie could do to dodge around them and avoid being knocked out of the sky. Pip and Diamond Tiara were not so fortunate. They were pelted with a seemingly endless array of snowballs until they were sopping wet and stinging all over.
“Augh!” Diamond Tiara shouted, covering her head with her hooves. She danced this way and that, looking for some sort of cover, but was unable to find anything. Pip grabbed her foreleg and hiked his scarf up.
“Run!” he shouted, pulling her away from the group. The two started to run, Geordie following after them, and the group of older foals followed close after. The volume of snowballs lessened a little Pip thought, but there must have been more than a few unicorns and pegasi in the group as it didn't slow down much. Snowballs still landed all around them and smacked into their backs, and he heard dull shouts chasing them.
He didn't pay attention to where they were going. He just wanted to get away from the snowballs. His eye hurt horribly where the first snowball had hit, throbbing so hard he could feel it echoing through his entire head. The snowballs on his back stung as well. His entire body hurt, and the running wasn't helping too much. They had been running for blocks now. His lungs were on fire, and he could feel his legs beginning to fail. Vaguely, he was aware that Diamond Tiara was beginning to stumble as well.
They turned a corner and Diamond Tiara paused just long enough to point out a park. “Over there!” she said. Pip followed her hoof and realized that she wasn't simply pointing out the park, but a large snowfort somepony had made.
Pip nodded, and they bolted for it. They weaved between trees weakly as they made their way through the park, taking off a bit more pressure, and before long they both dived – or in Pip's case, tumbled – over the wall of the fort.
Pip crumpled behind the wall, pressing himself up against it as another volley of snowballs flew over head, accompanied by a careening Geordie. The swallow crashed into a pile of snow, and Pip grabbed him and pulled him in just in time to avoid the last few balls.
There was a lull and a strange silence then. Save for Pip and Diamond Tiara gasping for breath and moaning slightly there was hardly a sound.
Pip shifted slightly and grunted. “Ouch...” he said. “Ow, ow...” he reached up and touched his eye. It stung immensely just to brush it. He winced, and sniffled.
Diamond Tiara looked over at him and grimaced. Apparently his eye looked every bit as bad as it felt. She backed tighter against the wall, looking distinctly uncomfortable. After a while she asked, “Haven't you ever been in a snowball fight before?”
Pip shook his head. “One,” he said, aware that his voice was trembling a bit, “but it wasn’t anything like this…” He sniffed again and swallowed, trying to settle it. “We got a little bit of snow in Bridol, but never this much. I've seen snowballs, but not...” he waved his hooves limply, “this.”
Diamond Tiara frowned and sighed. Slowly, ever so slowly she got to her hooves and peeked over the wall. “Well,” she said, “they aren't this bad usually... usually. I think they're dumb, but there's at least ponies on your side, usually.” Pip saw her eyes dart this way and that. “I think... maybe they left?”
Pip clambered to his hooves as well, even slower than Diamond Tiara. He had to stand on the tips of his hooves in order to peek over the wall, and could barely see anything. The first thing he did see, though, was the tail of a coat disappearing behind a tree.
“No,” he said, his voice weak, “they're still out there. I think they're just hidin'.” He squinted, and as he peered around he could see a flash of movement here and there kicking up the lighter, fresher snow. He pointed them out. “There's some over behind those trees, an' two to the left of us, an' a few over to the right, too... I think we're bein' surrounded.”
“Great,” Diamond Tiara said with a sigh. She rubbed her head and took off her Tiara, tucking it into her scarf. “These foals are persistent...”
“Well, you did kinda insult them,” Pip pointed out. He didn't mean to, but there was a clear edge to the statement.
Diamond Tiara bunched her shoulders as if trying to sink down into her scarf. “Yeah, well,” she said. “They started it. It's not my fault their skin is so thin.”
Pip snorted. This time he was wise enough not to say it out loud, but he would wager that that was what she told herself whenever she insulted anypony.
“There,” Diamond Tiara said, snapping Pip out of his sulk.
“More foals?” he asked, poking his head out over the top again.
Diamond Tiara shook her head. “No,” she said. “Well, maybe, knowing our luck today. But I think I can see the street from here... I think if we can get into a store or something, they won't follow us.”
Pip looked in the direction she had pointed out. She was right, he realized. There was definitely something out there, but through the trees it was hard to tell what it was. For all he knew it could be a house, and that probably wouldn't be any good at all. Then, an idea struck him.
He leaned down in front of Geordie, who had taken to resting on a plush snowbank and preening. “Geordie!” he said, catching the swallow's attention. Geordie peeped, and settled up a bit higher in the snowbank. “Geordie,” Pip continued, “you can fly! Can you fly above the trees and figure out what kind of buildings are around us?”
“You're talking to the bird again,” Diamond Tiara said flatly. “After everything that's happened, you're – of course you're talking to the bird! Why am I even surprised?” She groaned and covered her face with her hooves. Geordie bristled indignantly, but ignore her.
The little bird jumped up from its bed in the snowbank and saluted with a wing. With a quick shake of its feathers Geordie was away, sailing towards the treetops. It flew high enough that Pip lost sight momentarily, before coming spinning back down to earth.
Geordie peeped and chirped excitedly, flapping its wings to the east and hopping in the same direction.
“There must be something good over there!” Pip said with a grin.
“Well, whatever it is it's probably better than here,” Diamond Tiara said, muttering, “Even if it probably is just bird seed or something dumb”. She peeked her head out of the fort and took a few steps, only to be chased back in by a volley of snowballs from all side. “Cripes!” she shouted. “Celestia, they really do have us surrounded...” She frowned in concentration for a moment before gathering up a snowball. Pip watched silently as she took off her tiara and tucked it in her scarf. She held her snowball at the ready, and crept up the fort wall.
“Hey, meathead!” she shouted. There was silence for a while before a voice called back. Pip slunk up the wall beside Diamond Tiara, peeking out. In the distance he could see the big unicorn, apparently the leader, poking his nose out from behind a big old oak.
“What?” the unicorn demanded.
“I wanna talk about surrender!” Diamond Tiara replied, earning a confused look from Pip. She saw it, but merely smirked. “Get ready,” she whispered.
The unicorn stuck his head out further, a broad grin spreading across his face. Finally, he took a step out. “Alright,” he called out. “Come out a-”
He was interrupted by Diamond Tiara's shout of effort. She leaped over the wall, hurling the snowball with all her might. It sailed straight and true, seeming to slow down the world in its flight. Finally after what seemed like forever it landed, smack dab on the unicorn's face with a resounding splat.
A few snickers echoed out through the park. Diamond Tiara waved for Pip to run madly, but Pip was frozen. The unicorn's face had turned beet red, and he was making a sound like a boiling tea kettle.
“That's it!” he shouted as his horn lit up. A pile of snow from all around him condensed together, packed tight by his magic. “This one has a rock in it!” He yelled again, scraping his hoof along the ground.
“Run!” Diamond Tiara shouted, scrabbling into a gallop as the unicorn started to pull back the massive snowball. Pip slid down from the wall, spurred into action by the sheer size of the thing. He was vaguely aware that a few of the unicorn's friends were telling him to stop, but that wasn't going to stop Pip from running. No more than it would stop the big unicorn from throwing, it seemed.
The snowball started to whip in a tight, fast circle. A few globs fell off from the speed of it, but the magic kept it packed tight. Pip strained his legs to run, barely keeping stride with Diamond Tiara, but he was still worn out from the marathon to the park. He gritted his teeth and pushed as hard as he could.
The snowball flew. It flew so fast Pip could scarcely track it, only enough to know it was headed squarely for Diamond Tiara. His heart leapt into his chest. Geordie seemed to scream as much as a bird could and Diamond Tiara's face went pale.
If time had slowed down during Diamond Tiara's snowball's flight, it stopped now. The snowball seemed to hang there, suspended in midair for the trio to watch and behold. To consider how bad it would hurt when it hit one of them.
As it hung longer however, Pip realized that it truly was stopped. Or at least, slowed down. All at once he became aware of his scarf flapping around his neck. Snow rushed across the ground and whipped and curled in the currents of air, arcing in bizarre and arcane patterns. The gust was so powerful it stopped the snowball in its tracks. Another gust sprung up, even more powerful that the last. It felt like a torrent shot straight past Pipe and at the snowball, carrying with it a miniature hurricane of snow and pine needles. So powerful the was wind that the snowball reversed, sailing back to its sender and bouncing harmlessly off his face.
The unicorn was well and truly stunned now, staring at the intact snowball at his hooves. All around the park laughter erupted as foals came out of hiding to discuss in shock what had just happened. All except Pip and Diamond Tiara, who took the opportunity to run. Even if the big kids seemed in better spirit, neither of the two wanted to risk reminding them that they existed.
The bolted through the park side by side, bursting out onto the street. Pip skidded across slush and Diamond Tiara dodged a stallion with his nose tucked in a newspaper as they both leaped across the street. Geordie flew ahead, leading them to what he had found: an enormous department store, packed to the gills with Hearth's Warming decorations.
“Perfect!” Diamond Tiara said. She dodged past a charity collector outside, throwing open the doors and holding one for Pip. “Hurry up!” she said. “Before those knuckleheads back there get the first clever idea of their lives. They won't bug us in here, but it's even better if they don't see us go in.”
Pip nodded and dashed inside. The warmth of the store hit him like a wall, and it was only then that he realized just how chilly it had gotten outside. He chanced a look back out the door as Diamond Tiara and Geordie slipped in after him. There was a vivid tinge of orange in the sky now, outlining the thick, dark clouds that had begun to form. The shadows had begun to grow long as well. Day was fading fast, and any hint of warmth with it.
Geordie landed on the edge of Pip's scarf as the door closed with a jingle, ruffling its feathers and nuzzling into Pip's neck for warmth.
“You should hide him,” Diamond Tiara said. She produced her tiara from insider her scarf and placed it back on her head, adjusting it daintily. “I don't think they'd want a wild animal flying around in their store.
“Huh?” Pip asked. He peered down at Geordie, and frowned. “Well.... I don't think Geordie is wild? But I guess you're right.” As if on cue, Geordie hopped inside Pip's scarf, snuggling deeply between his neck and the fabric. After just a moment Geordie had completely disappeared, with only a happy, muffled peep to betray the swallow's location.
Diamond Tiara smirked, though it was rather humourless. She trotted a bit further into the store, milling in front of a directory.
“So what now?” Pip asked, trotting up to her. “I guess just wait until those kids are gone? How're we gonna know when they've left?”
“I'm just looking,” she answered, sounding a bit far off, “if they have a pharmacy.”
Pip cocked an eyebrow. “Um. How come?” he asked.
“Have you seen – well no, of course you haven't seen yourself,” Diamond Tiara replied. She rolled her eyes. “I'm not going to walk into a guards station with you looking like that,” she said. “Your eye is practically swollen shut! I'll get blamed for it if we go in now... they must have something to take down the swelling.”
Pip blinked. Now that he thought of it, the eye where the snowball had hit did feel a bit puffy. He reached up to touch it and winced away. It stung enormously just to touch. In fact, he wasn't even sure if he had touched it or just put his hoof near it. One way or another it hurt something fierce, and the more he came down from the adrenaline of the snowball fight the worse it hurt.
“Ow,” he whimpered. “I don't think I like snowball fights.”
“I guess you are smart, then,” Diamond Tiara said. She turned away from the sign, adjusting her tiara one last time. “Or at least smarter than most of the colts your age. Snowball fights are stupid. All you get is cold and hurt.” She paused, and smirked. “Though pegging that bully was pretty fun.”
Pip smiled. “It was a good throw!” he said. “I didn't know you could throw like that.”
“Well,” Diamond Tiara said, bobbing her head as she started to walk, “Daddy made me take softball a few years ago. He said a 'team effort' would be good for me.” She stuck out her tongue and grunted. “I managed to weasel out of it after a few months by saying my shoulder was hurting, but I managed to work up a good arm while I was there.”
Pip trailed after her and squinted through his good eye. “So you lied to him?” he asked.
Diamond Tiara stared sidelong at him. “Third floor,” she said, leading them towards an escalator. “I didn't lie. Throwing a softball all day hurts your shoulder! Anyways,” she added, “I didn't hear you complaining about me enjoying knocking that colt's block off.” She smirked. “I suppose your Dad didn't have anything to say about enjoying other ponies getting hurt.”
Pip sunk his head into his scarf and blushed. “Well...Papa wouldn't have liked it,” he admitted. “Buuuut... I think if they're tryin' to hurt us first, maybe it's okay?”
Diamond Tiara smiled and gave an exaggerated shrug. “Hey, makes sense to me,” she said.
Pip smiled, but forced a frown. “Well, shoot,” he said. “I guess I'd better stop!”
“Hey!” Diamond Tiara laughed, shoving him playfully. “It's not my fault I'm right.” The escalator deposited them on the second floor and they trotted around to the next escalator up. “How does your eye feel, anyway?”
Pip winced. He had almost forgotten the pain coming from it, but being reminded of it sent a throb through his entire head. “Painful,” he said. He lifted his hoof to touch it again, but Diamond Tiara smacked it down.
“Well, then don't do that,” she said. They had arrived on the third floor now and she led him around, deeper into the store. Pip sunk his head down and trailed after her. The pharmacy wasn't too far away from the escalator, just in front of a large picture window. Diamond Tiara led Pip in between the aisles, staring at the shelves and muttering to herself. In the meantime, Pip stared out the window.
What light there had been had already faded. Pip could see lamplighters wandering down the street below, lighting the streetlamps and casting an orange glow over the city. The snow reflected the light, making it almost as bright as daytime, though the creeping shadows around corners and down alleyways left a sense of gloom over it all.
“It's so late already,” Pip said, resting his head against the window. “Miss Tealove must be worried sick.” He peered over his shoulder and saw Diamond Tiara staring at him. It wasn't quite a glare. If anything she just looked... disappointed. She turned back to the shelf, tapping a couple of bottles before grabbing one.
“Here,” she said, spinning the top off.
Pip balked, forgetting the street lights below. “You can't -” he shouted before quickly lowering his voice to a whisper. “You can't do that!” he said. “It's stealin'!”
“No it isn't,” Diamond Tiara said, rolling her eyes. “I'll pay for it later. It's only a couple of bits anyways, it's not like they'll miss it.” She scooped up a bit of the contents onto her hoof. “It's just a cream to help with the swelling. Now come over here.”
Pip shuffled his hooves, looking this way and that to see if anypony was nearby. There didn't seem to be. Even the register was empty, the clerk apparently on break, or perhaps having simply decided they had better things to do than watch an empty department. His eye was still throbbing mercilessly, and if she was sure they would would pay for it...
“Okay,” he said quietly, stepping away from the window.
“Good,” Diamond Tiara said, pushing him to a sitting position. She pressed the cream into his face. It stung horribly, and it felt like she'd shoved an ice cube into his eye.
“Yeow!” He helped, pulling back.
“Don't be such a baby, Pip,” Diamond Tiara said, rolling her eyes. “you're the one who's so worried about ponies seeing this, so try not to let everypony in the store know we're doing it, okay?”
“It stings,” Pip said, looking away and shrugging. Diamond Tiara pulled his head back to face her and pressed the cream into his eye again – holding him steady this time.
“You took at least twice as many snowballs as me,” she said as she worked, rubbing the cream into the swollen flesh, “and I didn't hear you complaining then. I don't see how this can be any worse.”
Pip wanted to object again, but his eye was already started to feel better – or at least, to hurt less. The cream numbed the area around his eye, dulling the pain. He could no longer feel himself blinking, but he decided it was a fair tradeoff for being able to think through a throbbing head again. “...Alright,” he admitted. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome,” Diamond Tiara said matter-of-factly. “Feeling better?”
Pip nodded silently. Diamond Tiara nodded and closed up the cream. “Now,” she said, “I guess we'd better go find somepony so we can pay for this...” She looked at the register and tutted. “Who just leaves a pharmacy open?” she demanded. “Some foals could just wander in and start taking medication.”
Pip stared at her, and she stared back. For a moment they were silent.
“Well, whatever,” she said, waving her hoof. “Let's just find somepony else.”
The pair trotted out onto the store's main floor, and Pip blinked. Between his jeering with Diamond Tiara and the pain of his eye he hadn't bothered to look around the store on the way up, but now that he had he was amazed he'd let himself miss it. The ceiling was high above them, at least fifteen feet high, and was hung with sparkling garlands of gold and silver tinsel. It draped in arcs along the walls and hung down from the center of the ceiling in an artfully-arranged sort of chandelier, accompanied by shiny red and green ornaments.
The chandelier hung over the centerpiece of the room, a wide clearing amidst all the various departments. Cotton and paper had been piled up carefully in the center along with almost an entire forest of fake evergreens. The whole thing weaved in a circle around a sheet of reflective paper, imitating a snowy path around a pond. In the center of the pond was a small island, home to four ponies. From a distance Pip wasn't sure what they were doing, but as they walked closer he realized that they were singing in time with the music. As they came closer still he realized that the music wasn't playing over speakers, but from a small blue stallion sitting peacefully behind the display, playing the songs on his guitar.
The whole scene was draped in red and green. The workers, scuttling about from shelf to shelf and helping out the shoppers, all wore red aprons to compliment to green draped over all the shelves. A bit of false snow had made its way here and there between the aisles as well to top everything off. It gleamed and shone so brightly you might think you were looking at the sun, or at least a brilliant star.
“Woooow!” Pip said in awe, his face lighting up almost as much as the Hearth's Warming scene itself.
“Didn't you have Hearth's Warming scenes in stores in Trottingham?” Diamond Tiara asked. Pip looked over to her with a scowl ready, but even she had a glimmer of happiness in her eyes.
Pip kept on grinning. “We did,” he said, “but this is still real' pretty!” He rubbed his bad eye, hardly even feeling a sting. “We had huge trees an' big, fake presents, an' Uncle Tannenbaum was in every store with a choir of birds!”
Diamond Tiara peered down at him. “Swallows migrate, Pip,” she said.
Pip shrugged. “I didn't say they were swallows,” he said. “I know they go south. They always used sparrows an' stuff. To make it seem more real, for the littler kids.”
This earned another stare from Diamond Tiara, but she giggled almost in spite of herself. “Well,” she said, “this is still really pretty, even if there isn't any Uncle Tannenbaum.”
“Who says you don't have an Uncle Tannenbaum!” A booming voice said from behind them. Both Pip and Diamond Tiara whipped around to see an enormous, round stallion staring down at them. His coat was the colour of a fir trees, and his thick beard and mane stuck out all around him like a bush. “I'm right here!” he said.
Diamond Tiara stared at him, blinking. Pip blinked as well, but for a rather different reason. “You're not Uncle Tannenbaum,” he said flatly.
The stallion looked as though somepony had put a hoof out in front of him while he was dancing. He coughed, rubbing his suspenders. “Oh,” he said. “Hrum. I'll admit, I've put on a bit of weight, but uh...”
“Uncle Tannenbaum is taller, too,” Pip pointed out. “Like, super tall.”
The stallion shrugged. “Well, alright, fair enough,” he said. “I'll admit, I didn't expect to meet a lad from Trottingham. Not very common, you see. I am, however, named Tannenbaum. I also happen to be the owner of this fine establishment!” He offered his hoof to the pair, who shook it happily. He had a heavy, warm grip, the sort of grip that spoke of easily-offered friendliness and cheer.
The pony called Tannenbaum reached up and scratched at his beard. “Now, can I help you young foals with anything?” He looked around. “Where are your parents?”
Pip winced a bit, and it wasn't his eye that hurt this time. That was another thing he'd almost forgotten about in all the excitement. The way it had been darkening it was probably pitch black outside now, and all he could imagine was Tealove searching for him through the snow.
“They're in another department,” Diamond Tiara said quickly, snapping Pip out of his forming funk. “They said we could look at toys while they did the shopping.” She lifted up the bottle of cream. “But my, uh, brother got hurt and I wanted to buy this for him,” he eyes flicked to Pip. “There's nopony in the pharmacy, though,” she said, “so we're looking for a cashier?”
Tannenbaum looked disturbed by this. “Nopony in the pharmacy? Well now,” he said, “It looks like I'll be having to have a talk with somepony... but yes, a register! Let's find you a register.” He patted Pip's back, gesturing to the nearest department. “We'll have this fine young fellow here ring you up.”
Tannenbaum trotted in front of Pip and Diamond Tiara, who fell in line behind him. Pip shot Diamond Tiara a look, who cut him off before he could say anything.
“I know, I know,” she whispered. “That one was a lie. Two foals alone in a store this close to Hearth's Warming, no parents around? He'll think we're shoplifters for sure. I'll bet that's why he talked to us.”
Pip grimaced and looked up at the stallion in front of them. “We're not crooks!” he murmured.
“Of course not,” Diamond Tiara replied. “And keep your voice down, if he hears you talking about it...” She suddenly smiled wide and innocently as Tannenbaum turned around.
“Here we are,” he said with a heavy chortle. He placed the cream on the counter in front of a large stallion, who smiled down at Diamond Tiara and Pip and silently rang it through.
Pip leaned against the counter, frowning to himself. He supposed, in this case, it was alright to go along with the lie. Better to lie than to have somepony think he was a thief, right? After all, they weren't. Diamond Tiara was paying for it right now, digging the bits out of her scarf.
While he watched, he felt his own scarf start to wriggle. His eyes bulged as he heard a peep and he looked down just in time to see Geordie's head starting to poke out. The swallow's head zipped this way and that, tiny black eyes popping wide as they took in all the sights and sounds of the store.
Even before he caught Diamond Tiara's near-toxic look Pip had put a hoof over Geordie's head, pushing the little bird back down. “Geordie, Shh!” Pip whispered, putting a hoof over his mouth to muffle his voice. “You can't be out here! Animals aren't allowed.”
Geordie ruffled its feathers furiously, but eventually settled back down into Pip's scarf. Pip could still see the tip of the bird's head, eyes darting this way and that, but for the time being Geordie seemed to willing to stay put.
Pip sighed in relief, but paused. The department store owner had taken back the cream and was handing it down to Diamond Tiara.
“There you are young miss,” he said with a wide grin. “Anything else I can help you with this evening?”
Pip looked up around the store. Just within his view he could see a department for toys, a department for music and musical instruments, a department for books and, of course, a pharmacy. He recalled a department for clothes on the ground floor, and at least one or two ponies carrying groceries. This store was four stories high. It must have taken up a whole block! The more he thought of it, the wider he began to grin. Perhaps getting lost wasn't so bad – somewhere, in all of this, there must be a cracker. Even just one, single cracker.
“Hey mister,” Pip said over top of Diamond Tiara. “You're not from Equestria, are you?”
Tannenbaum blinked. “Well, no,” he said. “At least not originally. I was born in Furheim, though I've lived here most of my life.” He rubbed his suspenders and smiled. “Why do you ask?”
“Well,” Pip said, shuffling his hooves and trying to hide his excitement, “you know about Uncle Tannenbaum. An', this is my first Hearth's Warming in Equestria, an' I was wondering...” he jumped up, no longer able to contain his excitement. “Do you have any Hearth's Warming crackers?”
Tannenbaum laughed, slapping his broad belly. “Crackers!” he said. “Now there's something I haven't thought in an age and a half. The little tubes that you pull on, yes?”
“That's right!” Pip said with a nod. “An' they go pop! An' there's a prize an' a joke inside!”
“Yes, that's the one,” Tannebaum said with a nod. He rubbed his beard and hummed to himself. “Hmm... crackers, crackers, crackers... well you know, they're not very common around here...”
Pip's smile faded a bit, and his eyes cast downwards. “Well,” he said, “yeah... I've heard that. An' I haven't seen any at all this year...”
“Yes, I know that feeling,” Tannenbaum said sadly. “In fact, that's exactly why I tried selling some myself a few years back.”
“Really?” Pip asked, his face lighting up again. “So you have them?”
“Weeeell, they didn't sell very well,” Tannenbaum admitted. But, I didn't have the heart to just throw them out... it was a few years back, but I think I might still have a few laying around in the back. Tell you what, why don't you and your sister go listen to some caroling, and I'll run to the back and check if any are left?”
“That sounds great!” Pip said, hopping up and down in his excitement. This was fantastic! After all that had happened that day, good news was exactly what he needed. He was practically dancing as Tannenbaum trotted off to the back, leaving him alone with Diamond Tiara. “Did you hear that, Diamond?” he asked. “We're gonna get the crackers after a-” His voice caught in his throat as he opened his eyes and saw Diamond Tiara's face.
If her expression had been toxic before, it was downright caustic now. Her little blue eyes bore a hole straight through Pip, staring deep inside of him. Pip shrunk back from the gaze, but it seemed like for every inch back he moved, Diamond Tiara moved an inch forward.
“What,” she asked, enunciating the word very clearly, “was that?” Strangely, her face didn't seem to move when she spoke, locked in an expression somewhere between anger and exasperation.
“U-um,” Pip stammered. “Well... it's just, we're in a really big store, an'... an' that Pony knew about Uncle Tannenbaum, an' he had a bit of an accent, an', uh...” He swallowed, taking another step back from her. She stepped after him. “Well, I just sorta figured, maybe he'd at least know where there were some crackers?”
“Are you still hung up on those?” Diamond Tiara hissed. She jabbed his chest. “Did you forget how we wound up here? He could have helped us get back to our families!”
Pip shrunk back. “But, you said that we shouldn't tell him we were lost,” he said. “'Cause he'd think we were crooks...”
“Before, sure,” she said, clenching her teeth. She held up the cream and continued, “But now that we bought something, he might listen to us!”
Pip winced, realizing that she was probably right. He swallowed. “W-well,” he said after wracking his mind for a moment, “He'll still be back! In just a minute. An' then we can ask him!” He swallowed again, feeling a bit more confident. “You said that when you got your flowers, we could go find a gift for my Papa. Well... we still didn't find a gift, so I'm just tryin' to keep our deal!”
Diamond Tiara covered her eyes. “Pip, that was... a long time ago,” she said. “Don't you think things have changed by now?”
“No,” he said, slowly at first. Then more confidently. “No, I don't think so. I think this is fair. I didn't want to go see the flowers with you in the first place! I think you're just tryin' to get out of your side of the deal. I've been with you this whole time helpin' you, I think I should get to do somethin' for myself. An' for my Papa.”
“With -” Diamond Tiara started, but stopped herself. “Okay,” she said after a moment. “Okay. You know what? It doesn't matter. He'll be back soon. Then we can get out of here, and I can get back to Daddy. And you can have your dumb crackers.”
“They're not dumb,” Pip said, bunching up his shoulders. His expression had turned foul now as well, scowling deeply behind his scarf.
Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. “Celestia, whatever,” she said. “Look, he told us to go wait by the carolers, he obviously wants us to be somewhere ponies will see us so we can't steal anything. So let's go so he doesn't think we're crooks, okay?”
“Fine!” Pip said, turning towards the carolers. “I like carolin'. I wanna go listen.”
“Great,” Diamond Tiara said, rubbing her eyes. “I like carols too. Let's just listen to them, then, okay?”
The pair trotted out of the department in a sulking silence, making their way to circle of fake snow and the scene within it. They stuck close together, though whenever one caught the other's eye they would look away in a huff. When they finally reached the caroling area Diamond Tiara sat leaning up against a pile of cotton, snuggling herself back into it until it nearly enveloped her. Pip made a face at her and turned to sit on the other side of the circle.
“Get back here, you weirdo,” Diamond Tiara said.
“Why?” Pip said, glowering at her over his shoulder. “So you can yell at me more?”
“So that that old guy doesn't get suspicious if he comes back and one of us is nowhere to be seen?” she said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Especially the kid with the doofy accent and the bird in his scarf.” She sniffed. “Yelling at you is optional.”
Pip snorted, but as much as he hated to admit it she had a point. “I've been keeping Geordie hidden,” he pointed out as he took a seat. At least he had that to refute her. She simply rolled her eyes and sighed, snuggling deeper into the cotton. Pip imitated her, folding his forelegs and harrumphing.
If nothing else, the thick cotton provided a comfortable seat from which to listen to the music. In spite of his sour mood it sounded wonderful – in fact, perhaps even more because of his mood it sounded wonderful. It was a lot different from the Hearth's Warming music he was used to. A lot of it was very chipper and upbeat. Not that Trottingham's Hearth's Warming music was dour – at least, not most of it – but these sounded somehow more modern. Every now and then a slower, older sounding song would be sung, even one or two he recognized. For the most part though, every new song that guitar player started was new to him, fresh. If nothing else, it all fit the warmth of the scenery. In a way it was like another light in the store. Or rather, another light inside Pip. He knew, of course, that the store would be every bit as bright without it, but he wondered if it would feel as bright without the music, or if some unidentifiable sort of light would be lost. It already looked brighter than when he had first sat down.
Pip sighed, peering over at Diamond Tiara. He was still upset with her, but the anger wasn't hot anymore. The fire in his belly had turned cold and it churned to think of her. He wondered if what he said had hurt her. What did it matter to him, though? She was just a bully. She thought that his traditions – things he had grown up with, things he kept close to his heart and remembered fondly – were stupid. Even during the rest of the year, she had made fun of his accent, or for being moved up a grade – she made fun of him for being smart! How strange was that? She was just a bully.
A bully who had agreed to help him find crackers for his Papa, though. And who had followed him and Geordie, even though she obviously didn't want to. She'd even picked a fight with another bully who was making fun of him, and put herself at risk so he could run away. Pip sighed again, deflating a bit and hiding deeper into his scarf as he looked at Diamond Tiara again. She looked irritated, but no longer angry. She looked tired.
The carolers were starting a new song. The tune was soft and gentle, a mix between sweet and sad. It sounded like snow falling. The carolers hummed wordlessly along to the guitar, and the tenor slowly started to sing.
“Said the night wind to the little lamb,
do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
do you see what I see?”
Slowly, Diamond Tiara began to bob her hooves. For a moment Pip thought she might be getting impatient – Tannenbaum had been gone for a long time, after all. The longer he watched though, the more he began to realize that she was bobbing along to the beat.
“... I don't know this song,” Pip said quietly.
Diamond Tiara opened her eyes and peered over at him. “What?” she asked.
“This song,” Pip repeated. “I've never heard it before. Do you know what it is?”
Diamond Tiara sat up a bit more. She seemed a bit conflicted, somehow. “Well... yeah,” she said. “It’s called 'Do You Hear What I Hear'. You've really never heard of it? Do you not have Hearth's Warming music in Trottingham?”
Pip shook his head. “We do,” he said. “It's different, though. Most of the songs are really old. Silent Night, Good Queen Ponedragon, Away in a Longhouse... there's a few new ones, but it's mostly, well... traditional stuff... I like this, though. It's pretty.”
“Uh-huh,” Diamond Tiara said. She smiled a bit. “It's funny,” she said, “I've heard of some of those. Are you sure they aren't Equestrian?”
Pip pulled a face, but Diamond Tiara carried on before he could say anything. “We have old songs too,” she said, “but they're always so slow and boring. I like this kind of music... I especially like this song.”
Pip tilted his head. “How come?” he asked.
Diamond Tiara rubbed her mane. “Well – I don't know,” she said. “My Mom and Daddy... they fight sometimes. Not bad, they just argue. Mom says Daddy is working too much, Daddy is stressed... things just happen, you know?” She shrugged. “This is the first song we play during the Hearth's Warming season. Always. It's about the season starting, kinda, and how we should be good to each other during it, and try not to fight. ‘Cause there are more important things than what’s making us fight.” She looked over at Pip again, and looked a bit sad. “They never fight during Hearth's Warming. No matter how stressed they get – and my Mom gets stressed – they never fight.” She leaned forward, wrapping her forelegs around her knees.
“I was really mad at that stallion,” she said. “When he said that ponies don't really care, I mean. That they're just trying to be nice because they think they're supposed to. If they didn't want to be nice, they wouldn't. I think it's just... hard to be nice all year round. I think they just need to be reminded now and again, is all. That's why I like this song.”
Pip blinked at her. Out of all the answers he could have expected, he didn't think that was one of them. “W-wow,” he said, leaning back into the cotton. They listened to the rest of the song together in silence, letting the music wash over them. For a little while, no matter how fake it looked, the caroler's scene felt real. “That was really pretty,” he said when it was over.
Diamond Tiara nodded slowly. She seemed to be in a better mood, even smiling a little. Neither pony could quite bring themselves to apologize to the other, but in a way it felt unnecessary. They had both said things they regretted in their frustration, and it was understood. “That guy sure is taking a long time, huh?” she said, looking back over the cotton mound.
“This store is huge,” Pip said, throwing his hooves wide. “If he's checkin' in the back for what could be in here, he must have to look all over! I think it's okay, though. I don't mind listenin' to music some more.”
Diamond Tiara frowned a bit. “Well... me either,” she said, “But I do wanna get back to Daddy before he decides to ground me until I'm his age.” She rubbed her neck. “Oh well. The music is nice.”
Pip nodded. He felt a wriggling against his neck, and tucked down his scarf a bit. “Hey,” he said, “do you think we could let Geordie out a bit? Not like, out in the open, but maybe just not hide him? I don't think he likes bein' cooped up so much.”
“Huh?” Diamond Tiara asked as though she'd forgotten about the swallow. “Well... I dunno. I still don't think it's a good idea for him to be seen...”
“He'll just sit inside my scarf,” Pip insisted. “I'll just give him a little bit of room to breath an’ stick his head out, is all.” He loosened his scarf more, and Geordie's head popped out. The little bird was practically gasping for air, just barely not chirping. “See?”
Diamond Tiara still frowned, but leaned back. “Well, fine,” she said. “I guess as long as he stays in there.”
Pip settled back into the cotton as well and turned back to the carolers. They had started up another song. It was another one that Pip didn't recognize, but he liked it. It was a quick and chipper tune that Pip soon found himself bobbing his head along to.
Geordie seemed to be bobbing along as well. Pip could feel the little bird's soft feather's bristling against his neck, up and down, up and down. Pip looked down at Geordie and smiled wide.
It was then he realized, however, that Geordie wasn't dancing with the tune. In fact, it didn't seem to be paying attention at all. Its head zipped this way and that. It seemed like it was trying to take in the whole store at once, eyes wide with – joy? Excitement?
Pip giggled. Geordie had probably never been inside a store before. The swallow must have been astounded by all their was to see. In truth, Pip was no longer sure if Geordie was one of Uncle Tannenbaum's swallows. It hadn't done much leading since it took them down to the platform, and even if it had it hadn't done much good in finding a cracker - but even if it was, Pip imagined that Uncle Tannenbaum's home had a rival in this place.
Geordie leaned a bit out of Pip's scarf, and Pip lifted a hoof to gesture the bird back. “Careful, Geordie,” he said quietly, “we don't want anypony to see you... Diamond Tiara thinks that they won't like a wild animal in the store.”
Geordie spared Diamond Tiara only a momentary glance, puffing up its chest, before it drifted back to looking around the store. Its gaze was less excited now, though. If Pip had been paying attention he might have noticed it looked almost torn. He was not, though: he had turned back to the carolers, content that Geordie had leaned back into his scarf. So he did not notice the bird's torn look. Neither did he notice the glint of gold and silver that caught Geordie's eye. He didn't notice Geordie's look turn from torn to careful, and then to crafty, or the bird adjusting its wings slowly. What he did notice, however, was Geordie taking off.
The swallow burst out of Pip's scarf like a silent shot, and Pip's heart leaped in his chest. He jolted forward as though he could catch Geordie, but the bird was long gone by the time he could react, weaving through the crowd with amazing speed.
Even more amazingly, Geordie seemed to swoop and dive his way to the jewelry department without alerting a single pony. Pip was frozen where he sat, watching as Geordie hopped along the floor, dodging between sets of hooves as he made his way to a small counter. There he hopped up and towards a small box with a set of earrings: one silver set with a ruby, and the other gold set with an emerald. Somehow Pip's heart seized even more as he realized that Geordie was going to take the earrings.
“Diamond!” Pip hissed, covering his head with his hooves.
Diamond Tiara looked over, cocking an eyebrow at him questioningly rather than speaking. Already her face was concerned, and she leaned in. Pip pointed to Geordie, and Diamond Tiara followed his hoof. Her face blanched.
“That bird -” she snapped, slapping a hoof over her mouth. She shot him a look that said all that need to be said, and he gave the most apologetic, what-could-I-do shrug he could muster in response. He chewed his lip, and she ran her hooves through her hair.
As one, both Pip and Diamond Tiara struggled their way out of the soft cotton and leapt to their hooves, dashing across the store. In mere moments they were in the jewelry department – moments in which Geordie had already grabbed the earrings. Both froze, eyes flicking around wildly. Nopony had noticed yet – not even the cashier Geordie was less than a meter away from, who stared lazily in the opposite direction.
“G... Geordie!” Pip hissed under his breath. Diamond Tiara looked at him, but seemed to get the idea. She looked around for a moment before crouching down, out of view under the display counters.
“Geordie!” she joined in. “Here Geordie... uh... who's a good bird? Here birdie, birdie...”
“Come here, Geordie,” Pip said. He tugged down his scarf, padding it down into a little nest. “Come on, come in here!”
Geordie tilted its head, blinking at the pair. The swallow hopped forward to the edge of the counter, earrings still in its mouth.
“That's right!” pip said, smiling and nodding.
“No!” Diamond Tiara almost shouted, fighting to keep her voice low. Her head still whipped this way and that, perhaps more frantically than before. “Leave the earrings there! Drop them!”
“Oh! Right,” Pip said. “Leave the earrings, Geordie, then come here!”
Sadly it was too late. Geordie swooped off the counter, sailing over to the pair with the earrings in tow. The bird looked terribly proud, and Pip though it was a small blessing that its mouth was too full to chirp. Not that it mattered.
“I've gotta put these ba-” Was all Pip managed to get out, trying to take the earrings from Geordie, before he felt a heavy hoof come down on his back.
“Well,” the owner of the hoof said. “Well, well.” Pip turned around slowly, and groaned. It was Tannenbaum, the shop owner. “What are you two doing?”
“U-uh...” Pip said, looking over at Diamond Tiara.
“Wh... this isn't what it looks like,” She said quickly.
“Then what is it?” Tannenbaum asked.
“We – we saw that bird fly in, and we saw it was gonna take these earrings, so we wanted to stop it!”
“So it's just a wild bird, then?” Tannebaum asked, raising an eyebrow. He looked sympathetic, but far from taken in.
“That's right!” Diamond Tiara said, nodding and giving her most innocent of smiles.
“He's not wild,” Pip cut in. Diamond Tiara's smile faded instantly.
“Pip, shut up” she shrieked.
“So you do know the bird,” Tannenbaum said flatly.
“No!” Pip lied, waving his hooves. “I-I mean, it's just, he went right for those earrings, maybe, uh, somepony trained him to, uh...” Tannenbaum clearly didn't believe him. “He's not ours!” he insisted.
“Where are your parents, colt?” Tannenbaum asked.
Pip looked down. “Uh, my Papa... well, I'm in the city with a friend, but uh, she's... not...” He looked over at Diamond Tiara, who looked like she was about to break down.
“My Daddy,” she said, “he owns a store! In, in Ponyville. We went off alone together – me and Pip – and we got... we're not...”
Tannenbaum sighed, shaking his head. “I wanted to believe you, you know, lad,” he said. “I really did look for those crackers. Must have gotten rid of the last of them years ago.”
“W-what?” Pip asked. It was merely a drop in the flood of panic at this point, but the words struck him like a gong regardless. Even here – here, with everything he could imagine in a single store, with an owner who knew what they were – who remembered them – no crackers.”
“Security!” Tannenbaum bellowed. “We have a pair of shoplifters here!”
A pair of sturdy-looking stallions appeared through the throng, starting to make their way over to Pip and Diamond Tiara. Tannenbaum put a hoof on both their backs, holding them in place.
“No, wait!” Diamond Tiara said, struggling beneath the hoof. “Please, Mister Tannenbaum, we're lost! We're just lost, and we came in here to get away from some bullies, and we just want to get back to our parents. Please, just let us call somepony?”
Tannenbaum ignored her, though. The security stallions arrived, each one picking up one of the foals. Diamond Tiara struggled against their grip, but Pip accepted his fate mutely. It was pointless anyways – despite all her efforts Diamond Tiara couldn't budge the stallion holding her.
They were carried down to the first floor, where the security guards took them to the front door and shoved them outside, closing it tight behind them. Diamond Tiara hollered for them to let her back in, to help, but the guard barred the door from her and stared down from them watchfully. After a long time Diamond Tiara finally moved, walking away from the door. It took all of Pip's remaining energy to stand up and walk after her before she spun around on him.
“YOU!” She shrieked, kicking snow at Pip. He pulled back, barely shielding himself. “Leave me alone!” Diamond Tiara continued. “Just... leave me alone!”
“W-what?” Pip asked with a blink. “But... what?”
“You... you and that stupid bird!” She scooped up a hooffull of snow and pitched it, only just missing Geordie, who chirped angrily at her.
“Shut up!” She screamed back at the swallow. “This is all your fault! Both of you! Why did I ever follow you? Why did I think it was a good idea to follow a dumb foal and some stupid animal!” She stomped in a circle, raving almost to herself as much as at Pip and Geordie.
“Celestia!” she said. “What were you thinking? You thought that bird was – what, magic? It's a bird Pip! A dumb bird! It wasn't even smart enough to find its way south for the winter like it was supposed to! You thought it was going to help you find something that isn't even here? We don't have crackers in Equestria in Pip, because they're stupid! They're a stupid, dumb game for babies, and we're lost because you just can't let them go!”
Pip backed up defensively. Her words were laced with venom and ice, so vile that it felt like they stung his skin when she spoke. “This... this isn't my fault!” he shouted back.
“Not your fault?” she asked, dumbfounded. “Not your fault? Look around, Pip: how is this not your fault? How is any of this not your fault!?” She threw her hooves wide at the dark city. “We wouldn't be out here if it weren't for you wanting to follow some bird you saw because you thought it was special! I'd be with my Daddy, and you'd be with that mare, and we'd both be happy, and I wouldn't have to deal with some stupid kid!”
“Well I wouldn't have seen Geordie if you hadn't dragged me off to see the flowers!” Pip shouted back. He had forgotten the crackers entirely now. He was mad. Furious. How dare she blame him for all this? It's not like he'd known that platform would take them away from the mall. It's not like he wanted to get them lost. “Why would I want to see stupid old flowers? I can see them anywhere! We have a pot at home! You're the one who dragged me off to see them. At least you followed me down to the platform on your own, that's your fault!”
“Well if I had known you wanted to go on a tour of Canterlot's slums I never would have followed you!” Diamond Tiara shouted, scooping up another snowball and throwing it at Pip. It hit his bad eye. He screamed and grabbed at it, and for a moment Diamond Tiara almost looked sorry, but Pip didn't care.
“Stop it!” he screamed, clutching at his eye. “Just... just stop it! Why are you always so mean to me!?” He felt tears welling up behind his eyes, but he fought them back. “Why are you so mean to everypony? You never do anything but yell, and bully! You act like you know everything, like you're in charge, but you don't know anything at all! You're just a big, dumb bully. You're just like those big kids!”
Whatever hint of regret Diamond Tiara had had was gone now, and her fury was back. “I'm not like them!” she said. “What would being nice get me? Would anypony listen to me? Would they do what I tell them? I'm mean because that's how ponies listen to you Pip, it's how ponies follow you! Where would we be if I hadn't gotten you back on track, huh? We'd be even more lost! Or still getting beaten up by some knuckleheaded foals who put rocks in snowballs!”
“More lost!?” Pip asked, astounded. “I'm the one’oo figured out where we were! I'm the one’oo figured out to go to a guardhouse! Nopony listens to you when you're mean, they just hate you! I hate you, an’ so does everypony else! All I wanted was to do was get a present for my Papa! I just wanted Hearth's Warmin’ for us to be like it always had been, but you ruined everything! You... you... Bint!”
Diamond Tiara didn't say anything. Her mouth hung open loosely. For the longest time the only sound was the howling of the wind, until finally Pip hear Diamond Tiara sniff a bit. He wasn't sure, but he thought her eyes had a wet gleam to them.
“You didn't want a present for your dad, Pip.” she said venomously. “You wanted a present for you. You're just a selfish baby.” She turned away from him and started to walk. She didn't bother to turn around as she said, “Don't follow me Pip. I'm going to go find a guardhouse by myself. Just... go follow your bird. Follow your fake magic bird, and go find your fake Tannenbaum.”
She walked away. Pip simply watched. Her words hung in the air like ice, freezing him solid. Watching was all he could do as she walked away from him, turned the corner, and disappeared.
For the first time, Pip became aware that it was cold. It was horribly, desperately cold, colder than it had ever gotten in Trottingham. It bit through him and chilled him to the bone. He pulled his scarf tighter around his neck and shoulders, but try as he might he couldn't stave it off. He shivered, and finally observed the night.
Darkness had fallen while they were in the store, as he had thought it would. The only hint of light came from the lamps now, casting a pale orange glow over the world. Even the light of the moon and stars was missing, shrouded by thick clouds that were no less than black as pitch in the night.
As Pip looked more he realized that the lamps weren't the only source of light, at least. There were other lights as well, Hearth's Warming lights strung up on the exteriors of buildings and along the trees. Fairy Lights, they were called in Trottingham. Just Hearth's Warming lights here. The rainbow of colours added something to the scene, he supposed, but he couldn't say what. Green and red and orange lights glinted off the thick snowflakes that drifted down, and the world nearby was as bright as the most beautiful day. The distance though, shrouded by the downfall, was dark. Only a few glimmering lights in the distance told of a world beyond Pip's bubble of colour. It was dark, Pip was cold, and he was alone.
No, not completely alone. There was still Geordie, who hopped at Pip's feet. It ruffled its feathers, never quite looking Pip in the face. After a long silence, Geordie peeped quietly. It sounded almost like an apology.
“... Okay, Geordie,” Pip said dumbly. He found it difficult to speak. There was a great lump in his throat that any words had to fight their way past, and even the small sound was almost painful as it croaked through. So Pip simply stared down at the snow in silence.
Geordie chirped again, hopping closer. The swallow rubbed against Pip's leg, perhaps trying to comfort him. If that was the case, though, it didn't work. Pip still didn't move. Snow was beginning to pile on his shoulders now.
Geordie chirped once more, much louder this time and bristled its feathers out. With a huff it took flight, hovering in front of Pip's face and chirping at him.
“Geordie...” Pip said, “I don't understand bird. I think... I think I was wrong. I don't think I can help you go where you need to.” He looked around. “I don't even know what to do for me, now. I don't think any guardsponies will want to help a thief...” He sighed, slowly pulling himself to his hooves. “I just... I just wanna go home, Geordie. I'm sorry...”
Geordie flew after him, flying into his face and chirping again, but Pip ignored the bird. His eyes were glassy and hollow. He didn't see Geordie, or anything at all. He simply walked, not caring where he went. Geordie followed him for a moment, but when it became clear Pip didn't have any sense of direction in mind, the bird swooped down and grabbed the dangling tail of Pip's scarf.
It took all the little swallow's might, tugging on the tail of the scarf against Pip, but Geordie eventually managed to pull Pip around the other way. The colt still didn't look up or seem to notice anything around him. Geordie gave a long-suffering trill and seemed to shrug its wings before setting flapping again.
It took only a few short tugs to set Pip walking, now. They walked back past the department store and beyond, into the infinite blackness of the snowstorm. Thick snowflakes caught in Pip's mane and piled on his back and scarf. No matter how thick the drifts on him got he didn't respond or care, he simply walked, turning only when Geordie tugged on his scarf. The bird had a permanent grip on it now, leading Pip along like the scarf was a leash and Pip was a puppy.
The wind howled. Even if Pip had been willing to walk on his own, Geordie would have needed to lead him. The snow was falling heavier now, so heavy that a pony could scarcely see their hoof in front of their face. The Hearth's Warming lights provided a bit of visibility, but any further away than Geordie was from Pip they were no more helpful than the stars, mere pinpricks in the blackness.
Still they walked – or in Geordie's case, flew – for what seemed like hours. The wind bit and nipped, enough so that it started to shake Pip out of his funk. It was far, far colder than anything he'd experienced in Trottingham. He began to shiver, rubbing his forelegs. He still moved as Geordie pulled him, though, following the swallow's lead up streets and down roads, before finally turning down a narrow alleyway.
The tall buildings around them stopped the snow, at least. The sudden shock of it was enough to bring Pip the rest of the way out of his funk, and he looked up. “Geordie?” he asked dumbly.
The swallow didn't respond, still tugging him onward. Pip looked down the alleyway, and realized there was a soft orange glow at the end of it. Geordie must be leading him towards... something, he realized. It was only a few meters until he found out, now. Geordie pulled him onwards, nearly dragging him.
They rounded the corner, and Pip blinked. The light came from a fire, lit inside an honest-to-goodness fire pit. There, surrounded on all sides by high stone buildings, was what appeared to be a campsite. Four or five tents were erected around the walls, shielding blankets and thick piles of cardboard and foam from what little snow had managed to make it down through the buildings.
A half-dozen ponies were sitting around the campfire, and they turned to look at Pip as he walked into the opening. One of the apparent campers gawked, and Pip gawked back. It was the drummer from the platform earlier that day.
“... Lad?” The drummer asked. “What are you doing here?”
“I, uh...” Pip stammered. “I... couldn't find Tealove...” he looked down. “I'm still lost... but... what are you doing here?” He looked around. “You're not camping in a city, are you?”
A few of the ponies around the fire looked at one another with bemused, if somewhat sad, expressions. The drummer rubbed his neck.
“Ah, well...” he said, “No. Not quite. I... well, we live here.” he gestured around to the tents. “Be it ever so humble...” He turned around on his log so he was no longer looking over his shoulder. “But, lad... didn't you find any leads? You're further away from the mall now that you were before, that's for sure. Didn't you go to the guards?”
Pip shook his head. “We tried...” he said. He plodded over to the fire, and the drummer shifted over for him. “Some bullies chased us away,” he said as he sat down. “An' now a shop owner thinks I'm a crook, so I don't think I can go to the guards.” He sighed, and looked around the faces by the fire. It was just a skim at first, but he stopped and turned back. Across the fire from him was another familiar face: The tall stallion from the flower shop and the platform.
The tall stallion stared impassively at him, moving only to brush his bushy mane out of his face. In fact, he seemed to give more regard to Geordie than Pip. “You vere caught schtealink?” he asked, voice solemn.
“No,” Pip said, shaking his head. “Geordie... he took something. We were tryin' to put it back when they caught us, an' they threw us out without listenin'...”
The tall stallion nodded. “Geordie... zhat vas not zhe filly's name, vas it?”
Pip shook his head again. “N-no,” he said. “Geordie is...” he gestured to the swallow beside him, who was very deliberately not looking at the tall stallion.
“I schee,” the stallion said. He shifted his shoulders, and Pip noticed that he was sitting straight and tall, unlike the other ponies by the fire, who were all slumped over. It gave the scene a strange effect, as though the tall stallion were sitting on a throne before his courtiers. He reached a thing hoof into his overcoat and produced the golden flask Pip had seen him drink from on the platform. “Hyere,” he said, offering it over the fire. “Hyu schould drink zis. It vill make hyu feel varm.”
Pip accepted the flask and unscrewed the cap. A strong smell struck him almost instantly, burning at his nostrils. He took a deep drink from it, and winced as the hot taste of sherry washed over his tongue. The stallion was right, though. He did feel warmer. He offered the flask back to the stallion, who took it and took a drink himself.
“Unt…” the stallion said, tucking the flask away in his overcoat, “vere isch zhe filly?”
The question hit Pip like a shot. He swallowed, and found himself speaking through a lump in his throat again. “I-I... she left,” he said. He suddenly felt cold in spite of the fire, and his rubbed his forelegs tightly. “After they kicked us out of the shop... she left. She said she didn't want to see me anymore, an' she said... lots of mean things. We both did. Then she left, an'... an'...”
“Easy, lad,” The drummer said, putting a hoof on his shoulder. “No need to say it all at once, you can take it slow.”
Pip became aware suddenly that a few tears had begun to stream down his face. He sniffed deeply, rubbing them away and nodding.
The tall stallion turned his gaze down to Geordie. “Geordie,” he said, struggling a bit with the word, “Isch a schtrange name for a girl swallow... schtill. It isch not a terrible name,” he said. As if beckoned, Geordie flew away from Pip and landed on the tall stallion's outstretched hoof. He murmured something under his breath in Furheimian, and Geordie seemed to nod.
“Geordie is a girl?” Pip asked. “How can you tell?”
“I schtudied zhem once,” he said simply. “I found I have... an affinity for zhem. Zhey are funny birds, swallows. Fickle. Easily distracted. It isch schtrange, that one followed hyu all zhis way. Schee must care for hyu. Both of hyu.” He lifted his hoof and Geordie flew off of it, flapping up higher and higher, circling through the clearing until she reached the top of the buildings and disappeared from view.
“... I guess not,” Pip said sadly. He sighed, looking back down to the fire.
The ground was silent for a while, but after a while Pip felt a hoof on his back. It was the drummer. “Lad?” he asked. “What happened that made you and the filly split up? It's not really safe for a little filly to be out on her own this late... and you two seemed close.”
Pip huffed for a moment, but couldn't bring himself to keep it up. “We weren't... really close,” he said. “She usually made fun of me in class an' stuff, but...” he shook his head. “She said it was my fault we were lost, an' she'd be better off without me. She said we were only out here 'cause of me, an' cause I followed Geordie... she said that I only wanted the crackers for myself, an' not for my Papa. She said I was selfish, and that's why we were lost.” He fought back tears and rubbed his eyes, but a strangled sob managed to sneak out anyways. The Drummer sighed and patted his back.
“Don't take it to heart, lad,” he said. “She was probably just frustrated... I'm sure she didn't mean it.”
“Well if she didn't, she should have,” Pip said. “She was right.” He shoved his face into his hooves and moaned. “She was right. I was selfish. I didn't really want those crackers for Papa, I just wanted them 'cause... 'cause I didn't like ponies makin' fun of me for ‘em. I wanted to show the foals in class how cool they were, an'...” he sniffed, but forced himself to keep talking. He was telling himself every bit as much as he was telling the ponies around the fire, learning the words as he said them aloud. “An', I wanted to be back in Trottingham.
“I like Equestria, I do, but... it's not the same. I wanted to have Hearth's Warming like I always did, with Papa. I loved Hearth's Warmin’ with him, an' I didn't want that to change. I wanted to play crackers with him, but not for his sake... for mine. Diamond Tiara was right about me... I'm just a selfish baby.” He wiped his eyes again, but it didn't stop the tears coming down.
“I don't care anymore,” he said. “I don't care if I ever see another stupid cracker again... I just wanna go home, an' see my Papa.”
A silence fell over the ponies around the fire. For a long time, only the snapping and crackling of the fire itself could be heard. After a while though, one of the other ponies spoke up.
“... I have a daughter,” he said. “Down in Los Pegasus. Every Hearth's Warming we would go camping in the San Palomino... but when she grew up, I got work up here, and I went north... and then the work fell through. Now I can't get a ticket back south to see her...” he scratched a wiry, scraggly beard. “I dunno how I'd face her if I even could get down there, now,” he said. “But I'd give anything to see her just the same.” He gestured to the tent behind him and said, “I wouldn't even want to go camping. Had enough of that for a lifetime... I just wanna look at her again. I wanna see her and tell her I love her, and that I'm proud of her.”
“My dad,” another pony spoke up. She gave a halfhearted laugh. “He was a railway worker... one year we got into a bit of a fight, and I ran away. I felt like he didn't spend enough time at home... I left on the trains he worked. Figured I'd give him one chance to notice me. Never heard from him since. I'd love to see him again and apologize. I was just a stupid kid back then... I had no idea how hard he was working, for the both of us.”
“My brother out east,” piped a third. “He's a complete tool, but it's Hearth's Warming, right? When we were kids we'd always fight while making a gingerbread house... at this point I'd love to fight with him.”
So it went around the circle, with each pony telling a story. Each had a regret, or somepony they missed. It was strange; each of them laughed at their stories, and everypony laughed along with them, but there was no mistaking the sadness in their words when they spoke. Finally, it came around to the drummer, who was tapping idly on his drums.
“... I went out to Trottingham ages ago,” he said. “I made a lot of good friends over there, but... I was never sure what to expect. Trottingham is a different country from Equestria...” he gestured vaguely to a large scar on his leg. “I can't go back to Trottingham, now. Can't do any sort of work... and I don't want to be a guard anymore anyways. I've seen far too much. Too much for a lifetime. But, if there was one thing that could bring me back into it, it'd be my friends in Trottingham.” He sighed and beat a slow tune on his drum. “I remember crackers, yeah,” he said. “And dancing, and music, and food... but I just think about them. I wonder how they're all doing, and if any of them wound up like me... I have regrets, yes.” He looked down at Pip and smiled faintly. “I don't think we should worry about those things on Hearth's Warming, though. I don't think it's selfish to miss doing things with the ones you love.”
“Maybe,” Pip said. The tears had stopped now, but he still sniffled as he dried his face. “I guess... I can still do things with Papa. Or I could at least, if I can get back to him...” he sighed. “I hope he isn't worried about me... an' I hope Diamond Tiara found her dad too... I hope she's okay.”
“I didn't,” a voice said from behind the group. “And I'm cold, and tired, but fine.”
The group turned around again, Pip with them this time. His face lit up with a grin, and he bounded off the log. “Diamond!” He shouted, running over to her and throwing his hooves around her neck.
“Whoa, hey!” Diamond Tiara said. She moved as if to shove him off, but paused, and eventually hugged him back. “I'm glad you're okay too, Pip,” she said. “I’m glad I found you.”
“How did you get here!?” Pip asked. “How did you find it?”
Diamond Tiara laughed awkwardly and opened her scarf. Geordie popped out and chirped happily. “Ah, a little bird told me,” Diamond Tiara said. “He wouldn't leave me alone until I followed... after a while I figured maybe it was something to do with you, since he'd been hanging around with you this whole time… guess he’s good at finding stuff after all. Is everything alright?”
“Yeah,” Pip said. He paused, and turned his eyes down. “I... no, it isn't. I'm sorry, Diamond Tiara.” he sighed, and shrunk his head down into his scarf. “You were right. I'm sorry I got us both lost, an' I'm sorry that I kept us from getting' found again.”
Diamond Tiara looked down herself. “No... I'm sorry,” she said. “I shouldn't have said those things to you. I know you were trying to help... sometimes I just get... frustrated, or angry, when I can't make things go the way I want them to. And I take them out on other ponies.” She smiled a bit. “I think I'm a bit of a brat.”
Pip smiled back. “I think I am, too,” he said. “So... maybe that's okay.” He looked down at Geordie and smiled. “And thank you too, Geordie,” he said.
Geordie chirped a happy reply and hopped out of Diamond Tiara's scarf. She flew over to the tall stallion, who was getting slowly to his hooves.
“Goot,” he said with a nod. “I am glad hyu are both back hyere safe.” He reached into his overcoatcoat and pulled out his flask. “Hyere,” he said. “You schould drink from zhis. You vill feel zhe cold less.”
“Huh?” Diamond Tiara asked. “Aren't you the guy from the flower shop? And the mountain train?”
“Amonk ozher zhinks,” the stallion replied, shaking the flask. “Drink up.” Geordie gave a reassuring chirp as she settled in on the stallion's shoulder.
Pip took the flask from him and unscrewed it. He took another drink, and passed it along to Diamond Tiara who had only a sip before gasping and pulling a face.
“Eugh!” she said, rubbing her tongue. “What is that stuff?”
“Scherry,” the stallion replied, taking the flask back. He offered Pip another drink, who took it gratefully.
Diamond Tiara shot Pip a look. “You've been giving me crap for lying all night,” she said with a laugh, “And here you are drinking.”
Pip stuck out his tongue as he returned the flask to the tall stallion. “It's different,” he said. “He offered. An’ my Papa gives me a drink of sherry at Hearth’s Warmin’ every year anyways.”
“Where I am from, it isch rude to deny hoscpitality,” The tall stallion said as he tucked the flask away. “Now, hyu both vait here. I vill be back schortly.” With that he left the clearing, his cloak curling in the wind behind him. Only a few small pine needles were left as a sign he'd ever been there at all.
“...Who was that stallion?” Diamond Tiara asked the crowd. A few of the ponies looked around at one another, and shrugged.
“We don't know,” the drummer said. “He just showed up and asked if we had anything to spare...” he smiled and shrugged. “We don't have much, but I think all of us know what it's like to be cold and alone, ‘specially this time of year. So we invited him to sit by the fire, at least. Never even learned his name.”
“I'll have to ask when he gets back,” Diamond Tiara said. “I... I think Daddy'll want to help him a bit.” She looked back at the group and fished into her scarf. “I want to thank all of you,” she said. “For keeping Pip safe while I was... away.” She pulled out a few bits, and to the last pony they shook their heads or waved a hoof.
“We won't take money from a filly,” One said. “Wouldn't be right. Use it to buy somepony important to you a nice gift.”
Pip and Diamond Tiara exchanged a glance, and Pip reached into his scarf as well. “I was gonna buy a cracker with this,” Pip said as he pulled out a few bits of his own. “But I don't think I'm gonna anymore. I think instead, I'm gonna help Tealove make Mince Pies for Papa.” He slipped the bits into Diamond Tiara's hoof with her own, and Diamond Tiara offered them again.
“You helped Pip,” she said. “He's... he's my friend, I think. So that makes you my friends.”
Pip smiled at her and nodded. “She's right,” he said. “An' you're helpin' her now, so you've helped my friend, too.”
There was some humming and hawing among the group, until the oldest of them snorted. “Oh, let's just take the foals money; they're offering.” He waved to the pair and gestured some of the other ponies to make room. “Come on, you two. Drop it in the tin and come have a seat. You're not gonna get any warmer standing in the cold there. We don't know when that tall fella'll be back.”
Pip and Diamond Tiara did as they were beckoned, sitting down side-by-side among the homeless ponies. They warmed their hooves by the fire as the snow fell overhead. Pip shivered, but the wind didn’t feel so cold as before.
“Here,” Diamond Tiara said, unwinding her scarf.
“Oh, no,” Pip said. “I'm not gonna take your scarf! I'm cold, but it's not that cold.”
“Of course you're not, doofus,” Diamond Tiara said. “Take off your scarf. We'll share them.”
Pip stared at her, confused, until she reached over and pulled his scarf off. Diamond Tiara wrapped her scarf around both herself and Pip, then wrapped his scarf over top of it. When she was finished the two were practically tied together, perfectly protected. “There,” she said. “Perfect.” Pip looked up at her, and smiled. She looked content, without even trying to hide it.
“Play us a song, Tin,” a mare said, passing the drummer his sticks. “While we’re waiting.”
The drummer called Tin smiled, and winked at Pip and Diamond Tiara. “Alright,” he said. “I've got one that was pretty popular today...” He rolled his drumsticks across the drum, setting up a soft, steady pa-rum-pum-pum-pumming, and everypony around the fire smiled.
So it went. Tin played on his drum and all the ponies danced or laughed or smiled. Diamond Tiara and one of the other ponies even started to sing along. The evening wore on, and though with the sun down so early it was difficult for Pip to tell, but the heaviness of his eyes felt like the night was beginning. Certainly it was still getting colder, and in spite of the fire he still felt the cold wind blowing through him. He leaned in closer to Diamond Tiara and yawned, and she leaned back.
A soft “Awwww,” was heard. Diamond Tiara frowned, looking out challengingly at the crowd, but her look of challenge turned into one of confusion. Pip looked out as well, and he could see why. None of the ponies in front of them could have been the ones to coo, their expressions were all stunned. It must have come from behind them.
“Truly, a Hearth's Warming scene,” a deep mare's voice said, and it did indeed come from behind them. “It shall almost be a shame to break it up to return you to your kin.”
Pip and Diamond Tiara turned around, struggling a bit with their scarf situation, but eventually managed to look to the source of the voice.
“...Princess Luna?” Pip asked. Diamond Tiara simply balked. There, standing right in front of them as if it was the most normal thing in the world, was the Princess of the Night. The tall stallion stood beside her, but Pip realized that something about him had changed. His coat, previously tight and ratty, now flowed in some unseen breeze, shimmering with a million colours in the light. He seemed to stand taller and prouder than he had before, and his brassy coat shone like it had been burnished. He looked every bit as grand and regal as the princess.
“Yes, Pip, it's me,” Luna said with a smile. “It is good to see you again, though I wish the circumstances were better. However, when Prost told me you were here...” she shook her head. “He told me what happened. Are you both well?”
“Um... yes,” Pip stammered. Diamond Tiara didn't speak, still stunned at being in the presence of a princess, and... Pip turned to the tall stallion. “Are... are you really Prost?” he asked. “King Prost?”
“Yes,” Prost said, bowing his head slightly, “zhat his one of my names.” His voice still had a heavy Furheim accent, though it was no longer quite so thick or incomprehensible. “I apologize for lyink to you both. You understand why I could not be honest?”
“Y-yeah,” Pip said with a nod. “I think. But... what are you doing here? What about Furheim?”
“Furheim has many ministers,” Prost answered. He took on a long-suffering expression, adding, “Many, many... many ministers. It vill be quite alright for a few days while I visit...” He lowered his head. “As for vhy I am here... I admit, I am ashamed...” he sighed and breathed deeply.
“It vas Luna's suggestion, at first,” he said. “You see, lately, I have had... doubts.” He slid his hoof along the ground. “I have had doubts about Hearth's Varming. Vhen I first saw the Hearth's Varmink, before the map of today vas formed, it lit a fire in my soul. I had to spread the vord. I travelled so far, for so lonk, and then... that lonkhouse. Three months in a lonkhouse. The smell!” He almost laughed. “Ah, but vhen ve emerged ve vere the best of friends. Ve spread the word of the Hearth's Varmink to everypony we could find, and thinks ver good.
“But... it has been so, so many years now. The things ve did back then, when ponies do them now... it is not the same. It made me furious to see all of this, all these ponies followink tradition blindly, not understandink what it really meant.”
He sighed, looking up at the sky. “Luna suggested that I come here, vhere ponies vould not recognize me so easily, and I should vatch them. At first, I admit, I thought it vas foolish, but she convinced me. So I came, and I went amonkst the ponies... and then I saw you, at the flower shop.” He looked back down at Pip and Diamond Tiara, and smiled wide. “I heard you speak of crackers, and gifts, and I thought you knew. I thought, perhaps you could show me what I needed to see. Show me a pony who understood the traditions. So I sent a little helper to follow you.” Geordie poked her head out from behind his collar and chirped happily.
Pip winced back, and looked down. “I guess I didn't help much, huh...” he said. “I don't know anything about crackers at all... an' I was still just being selfish.”
“Perhaps,” Prost admitted. “Yet, you learned otherwise. You followed your traditions in the vay they meant to you… and made, perhaps, new traditions.” He gestured to Diamond Tiara, who seemed to have recovered a bit. “Vatchingk you, keepink you safe, I learned as vell. It vas I who did not understand, Pip. I looked at traditions as I knew them, and expected to see what I had always seen... but things change. The traditions there not lost, they vere changed. Changed, by the ponies who lived them.” He smiled. “They are not mine, anymore. They are yours. Yours, and your Papa's, and your friend's... everypony's. A traditions means no more zhan zhe ponies who keep it.” He trotted forward and placed a hoof on Pip's shoulder. “You know it vhas not crackers, but playink vith your Papa, yes? It Vhas never crackers, but playink. Never Mistletoe, but love. Never Eggnog, but good cheer.” His smile was the warmest, fullest smile Pip had ever seen, so warm that Pip felt like he might never be cold again.
“Thank you, Pip,” he said. “Thank you for learnink, so I might remember. Come now... there are two more ponies who need hope tonight. Tealove and Filthy Rich wish desperately to see you again.” He smiled. “I vould vager it is vhat they vant for Hearth's Varmink the most.”
“You know where they are?” Diamond Tiara asked.
“I see everypony beneath the stars,” Luna said, stepping forward.
“And I, everypony vith hope in their hearts,” Prost added. “I think betveen us, ve should have no problem findink them.” He started to unwind Pip and Diamond Tiara's scarves. “Each of us vill take one of you to your guardians,” he said. “So I suggest you said your goodbyes.”
Pip nodded and turned to Diamond Tiara. He rubbed his foreleg awkwardly, and opened his mouth to speak, but Diamond Tiara punched his foreleg gently.
“I'll see you in school on Monday, you dork,” she said. “Go see Tealove.” She smiled, and Pip smiled back. The two hugged, and when they released their embrace Diamond Tiara went to Luna, and Pip to Prost.
“King Prost?” Pip asked as Prost scooped him up and began to float.
“Hmm?” Prost asked.
Pip shimmied a bit in Prost's forelegs. “You said Prost was just one name... do you have another?”
Prost chuckled. “Of course,” he said with a smile. “Do you not know? I am your Uncle Tannenbaum.”
***
Pip sat on the floor of his living room, waiting patiently while his Papa fixed three cups of tea. On the couch sat Tealove, looking a bit awkward but smiling just the same. After all the tears and worries that had accompanied Tealove finally finding Pip again on that night, he had been insistent that Tealove join them for Hearth's Warming. Not that she or his Papa had particularly objected to it.
Still, as his Papa returned with his platter of tea mugs, handing one out to each of them, Pip felt happy. At the end, he decided, this is what he had wanted from Hearth's Warming. It was likely what his Papa had wanted as well, judging by how close to Tealove he sat. Pip smiled, watching the snow fall outside as he sipped his tea.
“Well?” Peeler asked, taking a sip himself. “Not gonna open your stocking, lad?”
“Hmm?” Pip asked, blinking. “Oh, right! Sorry Papa... guess I forgot, heh.”
“‘Bout presents?” Peeler asked. He shook his head with a laugh. “Maybe you need t’finish your tea an’ get a head on your shoulders, eh lad?”
Pip giggled. “No Papa, I'm fine,” he said. He reached into a large, thick sock, grasping for the first toy or piece of candy he could find. His hoof brushed something, and he paused. It felt familiar. He pulled it out hurriedly, and gasped.
“Well now!” Peeler said, leaning forward. “That's a surprise. Where did that come from?” He smiled and peered at Tealove, who merely looked confused.
“What is it?” she asked, staring at the tube in Pip's hooves.
“It's a cracker,” Peeler said. “But... if you didn't get it...” he turned back to Pip and scratched his head.
“There's a note,” Pip said, grinning. He knew where it was from, even before he flipped open the note.
Pipsqueak,
The cracker is one of the oldest traditions of Hearth's Warming in Furheim, something that has been present from the very beginning: It represents me. The toy is my body, the joke my spirit, and the wrapping my cloak.
Each of the three tribes' representatives wished to know who I was, so that one of them might offer me hospitality. I refused, however, as I would not rebuke the other two, nor have them rebuke me. At the end of those months in the longhouse when I finally removed my cloak, my tribe did not matter. All three could share in my company.
Crackers were not meant to be a competition, but something to share in. Each pony could hope for something, but in the end the contents would be something everypony could enjoy.
Your Friend,
Tannenbaum.
Pip closed the note and grinned. “Here, Papa,” he said, holding out one end. Peeler chuckled in spite of his confusion and grabbed the end. Both ponies pulled with all their might, and the cracker snapped open with a loud bang. Tealove whooped in surprise, nearly dropping her tea, and Pip and Peeler both laughed.
“Terribly sorry, terribly sorry,” Peeler said, patting Tealove on the shoulder. “I should ‘ave warned you how loud they could be.
“That's... quite alright,” Tealove said, patting her heart. “Goodness, though. It's just a noisemaker?”
“Nope,” Pip said. “There's a joke, too.” He dumped the cracker out into his hoof, resulting in a small slip of paper, which he picked up and read.
“Why wouldn't the bird believe somepony had made a nest for her?” he asked.
Peeler grinned and rolled his eyes. “Why?” he asked.
“Because,” Pip read, leaning in, “She thought it was too hard to... Swallow.” The three laughed, and were happy.
Author's Note
A huge thank you to Japanese Teeth, Mezzaphore, Applelight Limited, and Sereg for taking the time to proofread this monstrosity, and an especially big thanks for Japanese Teeth, Mezzaphore, Applelight, and Mio for helping me to figure out what traditions America doesn't have and Britain does, in pretty large part inspiring the fic before you.
And thanks to you, reader, for reading through this whole thing. I hope that you and yours enjoy creating and living out your own special traditions. Happy Holidays!
