A Hearth's Warming Carol

A northern wind brings a chill in the air, while snowflakes flutter from the swollen clouds hanging in the pale sky.  Ponyville is blanketed in white as winter begins to come to the town.  Mares and colts alike are bundled up to keep the cold at bay.  The little fillies are finding merriment in the weather, having snowball fights and building snow-ponies.  From afar a colt enjoys himself watching their play.  Dressed in a heavy coat and red scarf, he keeps himself warm even as a gust runs through his mane.  The sudden crunching in the snow makes him turn his head.  Seeing someone approach, a smile curls upon his lips.

“Oh my, we have a visitor.  Welcome, welcome to this humble town.  I am Gearspring, local inventor and keeper of rare, exciting tales.  Why is it so bustling in Ponyville, you ask?  Why, it is nearly Hearth’s Warming.  Just a few years ago, a great happening changed the lives of every pony here.  It was all thanks to the spirits of Hearth’s Warming.  You don’t believe me, you say?” he laughs. “Well then, traveler, please take a seat.  I have quite the tale to tell you…”

…

The princesses were dead, to begin with.  Not all, mind you, just Celestia and Luna.  Still, there was no question about their deaths.  The Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, attended them in their final moments.  I only mention this to make it clear that this is a fact.  Moon and Sun were gone from this world.  It must be understood, or else nothing I can say further can be wondrous.

Our story begins in the graveyard just outside Canterlot.  Among the snow covered tombstones, Twilight Sparkle stands over a pair of coffins that are ready to be lowered into the ground.  It is her alone that attends this ceremony, save for a few guards that are there to assist in the burial.  Now you may find it queer that the two most beloved princesses would be so alone in this final act.  I assure you, it was not their doing.  With her teacher and friend gone, it seemed that Twilight could not endure the pain of loss.  She hardened her heart.  Thus, it would be her alone to watch the two sisters be placed in their final resting place.  A cloak drapes over her body to keep the bitter chill away from her.  Beside the princess is a clergy.

“Would you like to say any final words?”

Twilight remains silent, only motioning the guards to lower the bodies into the ground.  Without another utterance, she whirls around and storms off from the cemetery, her cloak fluttering in the wind.  Pink light envelops the princess as she teleports to her castle.  The palace has been dreary as of late.  From the tallest tower, the flag of the sister princesses is flown at half-mast in honor of their untimely deaths.  Staring up at it, Twilight Sparkle sheds not a tear for her mentor and friend.  Instead, she storms into the front gate, carrying the weight of Equestria upon her back.

In the main chamber, the Princess of Friendship takes her place upon her throne.  Guards gather in the hall, standing sentry to protect one of the few princess that they have left to rule them.  As per her orders, the thrones belonging to the others had been removed, shaped to raise hers up so that she may rule like her predecessors.  Finding her seat, she looks down upon the soldiers, finding not a friendly face among them.  It is exactly as she hopes to see in her castle.  Turning to her left, she finds a burly colt dressed in plated mail far too small for him.  He graciously bows before taking his place at the foot of her throne.

“Send the first one in,” she says to him with, ice carrying with her words.

Stepping up to her throne is the farm pony from Sweet Apple Acres.  With her head hung low, she is shoved before the princess.  Apple Jack looks up at her old friend, but finds no warm smile.  It is as if she were looking at a stranger.

Removing her hat, she looks up at Twilight, “How are you feeling, Sugar Cube?”

“You will address the princess with respect,” the burly colt bellows, causing Apple Jack to jump and drop her hat.

“That is enough,” the princess interrupts.  “Correcting formalities is such a waste of time.  Now tell me, what is it that you need?”

“W-Well, your highness, it is about the farm.  Your sudden request for crops has put us in a big bind.”

Twilight is unamused, “With the death of Celestia and Luna, there are a number of groups trying to usurp control.  The soldiers of Equestria must be fed well in order to keep stability.”

“And I understand that, princess,” Apple Jack turns her eyes toward the ground, “But you are putting too much of a demand on us.  Big Mac has been working day and night, and little Apple Bloom has come down with a mighty nasty fever.”

“I understand that it is a high order, but it is a necessary sacrifice, for the good of the nation.”

“Yes, your highness,” Apple Jack shies back, but before she is escorted out, she adds, “I have one request then, your highness.”

Twilight raises a curious brow, “And what is that?”

“Well, you see Hearth’s Warming is tomorrow.  And with the labor you have given us recently, I would like to have the time off to spend for the holiday.”

“Out of the question,” Twilight answers.  “Time is of the essence in this sort of affairs.  Wasting even a second of time for something as frivolous as Hearth’s Warming is detrimental to our safety.”

“If I may be frank, sugar-ah-I mean princess,” Apple Jack says.  “The enemies that you are worried about will probably be celebrating too.  ‘Sides, it isn’t good for morale to keep these good hear guards away from their families.”

“You dare expect her highness to take advice from a lowly farmer?” the burly colt barks.  “It may seem that you could well be a spy for someone intending to usurp her majesty.”

“Please,” Apple Jack pleads, “I would never lie to you, sugar cube.  You know that to be true.”

“Guards,” he barks to his fellow soldiers, “Seize this traitor.”

“Stop,” Twilight Sparkle shouts.  Everyone freezes, waiting on bated breath the princess to speak.  “There is truth in what she tells.  Very well, I will allow you and your kin to celebrate the holiday upon the morrow.  However, I expect you at work all the earlier the following day.”

“Yes, yes of course,” Apple Jack bows to the princess, backing out of the throne room.  Before leaving, she adds, “Thank you, your highness.  And a Happy Hearth’s Warming to you.”

“Beg my pardon, your highness,” the colt says, “But is it alright to trust that one?”

“I have known her for quite some time,” the princess answers.  “Among the few I would believe would not lie to me, she is one.  Besides, a number of my generals voiced similar concerns.  I had already planned on giving the soldiers a day’s rest.”

“You are most generous, your highness.”

“Indeed,” she says sarcastically.  “Send in the next pony.”

Shining armor comes galloping in unannounced, striding down the hall as his violet armor shines in the torchlight.  Rushing past the guards, he stops beneath the throne belonging to his little sister and his princess.  Siblings aside, he gives a respectable bow taking someone of his rank aside.  Picking his head back up, he looks her in the eye, as he waits for her approval to speak.  She nods.

“News from the frontlines?” she asks.

“Yes, your majesty,” he answers.  “The major cities of Equestria are with you now.  Only a few outlying towns remain rebellious to your rule.”

“Then we shall crush them all under hoof,” the burly colt speaks up.  “You have done well in service of the queen.  You may return to your post.”

“Pardon for speaking out of line, General Eisenhoofer,” Shining says, “But I do have other business here with my sister.”

“The queen is most busy, Colonel Armor,” the general replies with a furrowed mane.  “You can speak with her later.”

“It will only take a moment,” he pushes the colt aside.  Stepping up the stairs to her throne, he stops halfway as Twilight holds out a hoof stopping his ascent.  “Twighly, Cadence and I have been worried about you.”

“I am perfectly fine, brother,” she answers.  “I have been preoccupied running the kingdom.”

“Yes I know.  Still, it would be good to see you every now and again.  You may be the princess, but you are still my sister.”

Twilight pauses before saying, “Is that all you wish to discuss with me, brother?”

“Oh, there is the matter of tomorrow…”

“I have already decided to let the troops have their holiday.  You may return to the Crystal Empire to see your wife and daughter.”

“That isn’t what I was going to say,” he corrects her.  “Cadence and I want you to come to the empire to join us in celebrating Hearth’s Warming.  We know Dusk would love to see her Aunt Twighly.”

“I cannot.”

Shining Armor is shocked, “But why?”

“I am too busy.”

“Running a kingdom?”

“Yes, running a kingdom!” she answers, her temper flares.  “I cannot make merry on the morrow, because an entire kingdom rests upon me to keep it safe.  In fact, I loathe such a holiday of such self-centeredness.  I pray upon Celestia that every pony that speaks a Happy Hearth’s Warming be stuffed in their own sugared cake, and boiled in a bat of apple cider.”

“Well, Twighly,” Shining backs away, “I must say that I do honor your feelings.  And as my princess I cannot force you to come.  However, as your older brother I insist that you come.  You have not been yourself since Celestia became sick.  The others have told me you have kept yourself shut up in the castle.  You even sent spike away to live with the other dragons.”

“I made these decisions for the good of the nation,” she glowers.  “I do not have time for friendships anymore when every pony out there depends upon me to keep all matters of monsters away from our borders.  Even Spike was too much to handle.  It was best for him to be with his own kind.”

“You mean best for you,” Shining Armor says, his words as sharp as a sword.

“Enough,” she stamps her hoof.  “Guards, escort the colonel out of my presence.”

Two colts grab Shining on either side of him.  Yet as they are about to drag him out, he knocks their hoofs away and shows himself to the door.  He makes it a point to slam it as two other.  A pair of Pegasi flies toward the throne.  Well, one actually takes flight, the younger of the two rides in on a scooter.  Touching down, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo stand before the princess.

“Twilight,” Rainbow says with a confident smile.  “During this time of year, we are going around asking for bits for the poor and less fortunate.  As the Princess of Friendship, we would no doubt expect a generous portion be contributed by you.  How much shall we expect?”

“Nothing,” is Twilight’s answer.

“Oh, you want to keep it a secret,” Rainbow Dash says.  “But really, how many bits.”

“None,” Twilight repeats herself.  “We are already near the breaking point fighting the insurrections in Equestria, I have nothing to offer.  Yet, if the poor are truly in need, a number of the royal coffers go to dungeons and poor houses running.  You may send them there.  I assure you they will be well fed.”

Scootaloo is appalled at the notion, “But, but, some would rather die!”

“If they want to die, they’d better do it,” Twilight Sparkle loses her temper.  “I have no sympathy for those who refuse to lift a hoof to better Equestria.  They should just roll over and die like the vermin they are.  Now, be gone!”

A spell has the two of them being blown back as if by some great gale.  In the hall, the soldiers must cower to avoid being swept up along with Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash.  The door is flung open and the two Pegasus are tossed out into the snow.  Twilight Sparkle looks to her guards and sees the fear in their eyes.

“I have seen enough for today,” she says, climbing off her throne.  “All of you; leave me.  Rest up tomorrow, and prepare to move out the next day.”

The crystal blue palace empties, leaving her the only pony left in its cold, lonely walls.  Leaving the throne room, she trots down a dimly lit hallway.  With the rest of the castle empty, she only has candles burning down this corridor.  Further down the hallway, she catches the sound of wind hissing.  It carries a strange sound, almost like the wailing of some-pony.  Twilight pays it no mind.  Deeper down the hall, she hears the cry again, become louder.

Twi…light…Spark…le…

“Whose there?” she ignites her horn to search down either side of the hall.  There is no answer, nor any figures that may have tried to hide in the shadows.  Silence returns to her in an eeriness.  Uneasy, she moves to a brisk pace to her bed chamber.  At the entrance are twin doors, each with a diamond shaped knob.  As she reaches for it, they start to shift and twist.  Horror-struck, they take on a ghastly, yet familiar form.  A pair of sisters guards her bed.

“P-P-Princess Celestia, P-Princess Luna,” her voice quakes.

They answer her with a harmony of ghostly wails.  It echoes through the hall, building in volume until the entire castle is filled with their deathly choir.  Unable to endure their song, she pushes through the door and shuts it behind her.  In her bedroom, she begins to pace back and forth.

“No, no, this isn’t real,” she tells herself.

The faint sound of rattling makes her stop.  Looking up, two ponies fall from the ceiling, only to be stopped short.  Their bodies dangle lifelessly as they hang from chains that ensnare them.  One is a white alicorn, with a mane of rainbows.  The other is smaller than her sister, black as the night with a moon cutie mark.  Backing to the door, Twilight looks upon the bodies, and lets out a squeak of fear when the chains start to rattle.  Eyes that had rolled to the back of their heads return to stare down at her.

“Twilight,” the older sister speaks.

“No, you can’t be real,” Twilight shakes her head.  “Neither could you.”

“Do you doubt your senses?” the princess of the night asks.

“Of course,” Twilight Sparkle answers.  “The senses can be altered by a bit of undigested food.  I could be hallucinating from some spoiled oats.”

To make her believe, the sister princesses drop from their hanging place.  The chains that cling to their body fall with a loud thud.  Celestia walks over to her pupil and puts a hoof on her shoulder.  Twilight can feel the icy touch of death emanating from her beloved teacher.  No doubt that Luna is the same.

“What are you doing here?” she asks.

“We have come to warn you, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna answers.

“Warn me?” she asks.  “Is there some sort of terrible enemy coming?  Is it a task only I can hope to complete?”

“No, it’s nothing like that,” Celestia answers.  Suddenly the chains start to pull her away from Twilight.  She tries to fight it, but it is no use.  The metal drags her back to her sister’s side.

“Then what is it?” Twilight demands, “And what is with these awful chains.”

Luna speaks, “These were forged in life, as a symbol of our acts.  We may have preached the idea of love and friendship, but we only sought isolation.  If you do not change the path you are headed, we fear you will carry one as well.”

“Celestia,” Twilight turns with tears in her eyes.  “Speak comfort to me.  What must I do?”

“Tonight, you shall be visited by three spirits,” Celestia says, her tone dark and icy.

“More ghosts,” she says wearily.  “I think I have had enough of a haunting for one night.”

Luna is about to speak when the chains begin to pull them.  Both she and Celestia struggle, but the hands of fate are too strong for even two god-like alicorns to fight back.  They are dragged further away, down into the depths.  Digging their hooves into the stone floor, they look one last time upon their dear friend.  Celestia offers one final plea.

“Twilight Sparkle,” she sheds tears.  “Please take their teachings to heart.  You must avoid the fate we must endure.  Please, I beg of you, change!”

The two sisters disappear in a mist of ice.  Not a trace is left of the ghosts of her fallen teachers.  Twilight Sparkle climbs in to bed, alone once more.