A Hearth's Warming Carol

Little time passed before the distant clock tower struck two.  Twilight awoke from her brief nap as the caroling bells resonated in her bed chamber.  Climbing out from under the covers, the princess knew that the next spirit would soon be upon her.  Yet as she looked about the room, utter silence left her thinking it might indeed be a dream.  Just as she is about to turn in for the night, a yellow glow creeps under her door.  Light shines from the hall, beckoning her to come out.  Cautious, she reaches a hoof for the doorknob and turns it.  The door swings open and she is met by the barrel.  An explosion of confetti blasts her through the wall of her chamber, sending her spiraling into the main hall.  She crashes onto the crystal table, but the blow is softened.

Something sticky clings to her, making it difficult for her to squirm to her hooves.  Lifting a wing, she finds the substance oozing from her feathers.  The brown sludge drips back into a golden bowl.  Twilight Sparkle brings it up to her lips as she takes a taste.  It is sweet.

“Chocolate pudding?” she wonders to herself, tasting it once more just to make certain.

Looking around, she finds that the table has been covered with a similar assortment of tasty treats.  Cookies and candies tower over her as they construct a miniature Equestria.  She is awed by the sugary architecture, Twilight steps closer to observe it.  She feels her hoof squish.  Pink frosting splatters onto her snout, which she licks up.  The taste is so familiar, a sweet rush of nostalgia for a bakery shop she has not gone to long ago.

A smile reaches across her face, “This is the Cake’s frosting.”

“Indeed it is, Twilight Sparkle,” she hears a high-pitched, yet familiar voice.

One of the thrones that once belonged to the Friendship Council has taken up residence at the table filled with sweets.  Engraved in the crystal are three balloons floating side-by-side.  The emblem matches the cutie mark of the pony sitting there, though it is covered by a festive green robe.  Puffy pink hair sprouts from her head, while a wreath with candles have been fashioned into a hat.

“Pinkie,” Twilight walks through frosting and chocolate to her friend.  “What are you doing here?”

“Well isn’t it obvious, silly?” Pinkie Pie beams.  “I am-oh wait, I am doing this wrong.”

From seemingly nowhere, Pinkie Pie pulls a book onto the table, and opens it up.  She flips through the pages, her eyes fluttering through the words.  Turning another page, she pushes her snout against the written word, her eyes glued to a few words.  With a satisfied nod, she slams the tome shut, showing the golden words, “A Christmas Carol” written on the cover.  Tossing it away, she fixes her wreath hat and takes a deep breath.

“Come in and no me better pony,” she bellows.

“Uh, Pinkie, I am already in.”

“Well I knew that, but Charles wants me to do this right.”

“Who’s Charles?”

“Charles Dickens,” Pinkie Pie points, “He’s right there.”

Twilight turns and sees a toothless alligator is sitting right next to her.  The reptile is dressed in a suit and top hat while a quill is clenched between its gums.  Sitting in front of it, the gator a parchment with ink and frosting splattered all across it.  It stares blankly with eyes as big as saucers, until its tongue slithers out and laps up a bit of frosting before shooting back inside its mouth.

“That’s Gummy,” Twilight Sparkle points out.

“I know that,” Pinkie gets real close to Twilight’s ear, “But he doesn’t know that.”

“Okay,” the princess rolls her eyes, “What are you doing here?”

“Well isn’t it obvious?  I am the Ghost of Hearth’s Warming Present.”

“So you are the spirit I am supposed to meet?”

“Yep,” Pinkie answers.  “So come in and know me better pony.”

“I am already here!”

“Isn’t Hearth’s Warming amazing,” Pinkie Pie jumps up and tackles Twilight into the cookie version of the castle.  “You get to be with family, open presents, and have amazing traditions!”

“Well, Pinkie,” Twilight pushes her friend away.  “I never really found the holiday all that amazing.  It has excellent history, but I don’t see why it is celebrated like it is.”

“Don’t worry, Twilight,” Pinkie Pie gives her friend a great big hug.  “When we are done, you will see.”

Jumping on the table, Pinkie Pie begins to vibrate, her whole body shaking violently.  Then all of a sudden, she stops and wiggles her nose.  Twilight suddenly feels a cold wind against her back as they are transported outside.  Sun shines down upon them while fresh snow dances down from the gray clouds.  All around them, ponies are out and about in Ponyville, greeting each other with warm wishes.  Fillies run through the snow, filling the air with laughter.

“Pinkie,” Twilight observes, “Why does every-pony seem so happy?  Don’t they realize that Equestria is on the verge of collapse?”

“Of course they do, Twilight,” the spirit answers, “But for a day, they can put it aside.  It is the same every year.  No matter what sadness is going on, ponies use Hearth’s Warming as a way to put it all aside and just smile.  I guess you could say it is meant to turn a frown upside down.”

Twilight thinks on that explanation, “Wow, Pinkie, I never really thought of it that way before.”

“That’s the spirit,” she smiles.  “Well I guess I’m the spirit.”

“Hey, Pinkie, do you think you could show me what my brother is up to?”

The candles in Pinkie Pie’s wreath turn from white to red as flames combust magically on the wicks.  Warmth envelops both of them as the outside weather is barred by the great walls inside the castle of the Crystal Empire.  Twilight finds her brother, Shining Armor, and his wife, Cadence, entertaining guests.  Among them are Discord, Cranky and Matilda, and even a giant sea snake by the name of Steven Magnet.  The group has gathered around her brother and is laughing as he wraps up a story.

“Oh my,” Steven Magnet sighs with a flashy wave of his hand, “That has got to be the funniest story I have heard.  But anyways, boys and girls, I think it is about time we really have some fun.”

“Like what?” Cadence asks.

“Games of course, honey” the sea serpent smirks.

“I hate games,” Cranky mutters.

“I love games,” Matilda ignores her husband.

Pulling Pinkie aside, Twilight asks, “Do ponies often play games on Hearth’s Warming?”

“Of course they do, silly.  My family has a fun game we play every year called Holder’s Roller.  That is where we roll Holder’s Boulder from the mines back to the house.  Maud loves it…”

Twilight puts a hoof over Pinkie’s mouth as she sees the others have started with their little game.  Her brother has taken center of the circle of them.  Shining Armor rubs his muzzle as he mulls over a few thoughts, but then makes a nod to one.

“Okay, I am thinking of an animal,” he announces.

“Is it found on a farm?” Cranky asks.

“No.”

Stephen Magnet says, “So it is in the city?”

“It is often.”

Cadence wonders, “Is it a dog?”

“No.”

“What about a cat?” Discord says, turning into one of the fluff balls.

“Good try, but no,” Shining Armor answers.

Matilda gives it a try, “A cuddly mouse?”

“No,” he shakes his head.

“Wait,” Discord turns back into his normal mish-mash self.  “Is this an unwanted creature?”

“You could say that.”

What follows is uproar among them, each of the players spouting every possible pest and parasite that lingers in Equestria.  Getting into the spirit, Twilight shouts out an answer, even though her brother does not hear or see her at all.  Yet at every beast or bird they toss his way, Shining Armor rejects each one as the correct answer.

Finally his wife comes up with an idea, “If it is an unwanted creature that often lives in the city, but it is not any of them.  Then it can only be Twilight Sparkle.”

“Yes,” Shining says with laughter rupturing from his mouth.

Everyone else at the party joins in on the laughter.  Twilight looks over to see Pinkie Pie rolling around on the ground.  The princess’ ears droop as she turns to walk away.  Pinkie stops her giggling when she sees her friend distraught.  Racing over to her, she puts a hoof on Twilight as the princess sheds a tear.

“Hey, don’t pay attention to them,” Pinkie tries to be encouraging.

“No, they’re right to be that way,” Twilight wipes away her teary eyes.  “I have been cold to them recently.  I’ve made them feel unwanted too.”

“Well, why don’t we see another family celebrating the holiday?”

“Do we have to?”

“I think you will like seeing this family.”

Wiggling her nose, the two of them are transported clear across Equestria.  Snow falls less compared to the northern lands.  Frost crawls along the bark of barren apple trees as hundreds are left to the harsh wintry weather.  Off in the distance is a red barn that has a head of white snow sitting on its sloped roof.  Nearby is a small house.  Occasionally, smoke puffs out of the chimney, showing signs of an otherwise abandoned looking farm.  Pinkie Pie motions Twilight toward the window.  The princess beckons and peers inside.

An older pony works diligently in the kitchen, making the food for a meager feast.  Despite her age, she dashes around with youthful speed.

“What are we doing at Sweet Apple Acres?” Twilight wonders.

“We are here to see Apple Jack,” Pinkie Pie looks in the window.  “Look how wrinkly she has gotten.”

“Pinkie Pie, that’s Granny Smith.”

“Oh, so it is.”

As observers, they must watch the elderly pony work her way about the kitchen, finishing up the food that makes up the supper.  Just as dusk hits, the door opens and three more join her.  Leading is a powerful stallion with a coat of red.  Soot and sweat covers his body as he staggers in before collapsing on the floor with a grunt.

“Did we make up yesterday’s quota?” Granny Smith asks him as she stirs a bowl of dough.

“Nope,” Big Mac mutters.

Following the powerful, yet worn out stallion is a familiar pony carrying a little filly on her back.  Apple Jack is drenched in sweat, but does not look quite as worn out as Big Mac.  Riding on her big sister’s back is Apple Bloom, looking more fatigued than both her siblings combined.  The little filly lets out a ragged cough before slumping off of her big sister, hitting the floor with a limp thud.

“What’s wrong with all of them?” Twilight asks.

“Didn’t you know?” Pinkie Pie asks.  “They’re like this every day because of you.”

“Me?” Twilight Sparkle glances back into the room, “But I only ask for enough food rations to feed the soldiers.  I’ve seen Apple Jack buck more apples than what I ask for.”

“She gets to rest after that,” Pinkie points out.  “You have had them going day after day with little rest.”

“I had no idea…”

“I mean they had to spend the day off you did give them to make up for the demands you had yesterday.”

Inside the Apple home, Granny speaks up, “Well I guess it doesn’t matter.  Come on ponies, pull up a chair.  I worked to whip you up a fantastic feast.”

“Boy howdy,” Apple Jack happily obliges, “I am so hungry I bet I could eat an Ursa-Major right about now.”

“Yep,” Big Macintosh adds.

“What about you, Apple Bloom?” Granny Smith asks the filly who takes to her seat last.

“I am not that hungry,” Apple Bloom coughs.

“You should’ve seen her, Granny,” Apple Jack smiles, “When Big Mac and me were worn out she just kept on working.  I have never seen a filly so strong before in my life.”

“Well she is an Apple after all,” Granny gives a wrinkly grin.

“She is a remarkable filly,” Twilight Sparkle says from outside.

Suddenly, the princess hears Apple Jack say, “I would like to toast Princess Twilight as founder of the feast.”

“The founder of the feast indeed,” Granny Smith scoffs, “That friend of yours has gotten so pig-headed that she has forgotten how she became a princess in the first place.  If she were here I’d tell her that among other things.”

“Granny, not now,” Apple Jack sighs.  “Let us just enjoy ourselves.”

“Oh, I guess you’re right,” Granny answers glumly.

Pinkie Pie nudges closer to the princess, “Well Twilight…”

“I guess I have started to stray away from everyone,” she comes to realize.  “I pushed you all away because I didn’t want to feel that horrible pain I felt with Celestia and Luna passed away.”

“Well,” Pinkie Pie smiles, “We are always here for you, Twilight.”

Before the princess can speak, she hears Apple Bloom say, “Celestia bless us, everyone.”

Twilight turns to the window just as the young filly is overcome with a fit of coughing.  Among the spittle, little droplets of red hit the floor.  The Apple family rush to her aid, making sure she is alright.  Unable to stop the coughing, they carry her out of the kitchen and off to her room.  Twilight never takes her eyes off of Apple Bloom, even as her surroundings turn to black.

In the abyss, she turns to Pinkie, “What do you see in Apple Bloom’s future?”

“It is a haze to me,” Pinkie says, glancing to the same leather bound book as before.  “But I see a chair in the corner and a crutch without an owner.  If these events go unchanged, the filly will die.  But then, if she is meant to die, she better do it.  There is no room in this kingdom for uselessness.”

It is like a dagger to the heart as she hears her own words thrust at her, making Twilight quiver.  Looking to Pinkie Pie, she sees that her friend looks more like a pink Granny Smith than her usual bubbly self.

“Pinkie, what is happening to you?”

“I am afraid that my time is growing short,” she says with a toothy smile.  “My life as a spirit is almost extinguished.  It is a shame too.  I really wanted to throw a party tonight.”

“Pinkie, please don’t leave,” Twilight tears up at the sight of her aging friend.  “You have taught me so much.  I feel like with a bit more time…”

“Twilight,” Pinkie Pie puts up a hoof, “My time with you is almost up.  It shall end on the final stroke of midnight.”

The bells begin to toll.

“Only one spirit remains,” she continues.

In the distance the clock tower continues its ominous caroling.  Twilight feels cold as the land returns to them.  Under the light of the moon, she has returned to the graveyard from earlier that day.  Two tomb markers cast large shadows below.  The clock strikes for the eighth time.

“Do you mean the future?” Twilight asks.

Pinkie Pie gives a nod as she starts to fade, “Go forth, and know him better pony.”

The final stroke of midnight gongs like a thunderous roar, as Pinkie Pie’s body turns into twinkling snowflakes.  Her laughter fills the empty space, as the last happiness in the cemetery fades from existence.  Twilight Sparkle is alone once more.  Glancing about the cemetery, she turns her eyes upon the sister’s graves.  As the shadows twist in the pale light, they start to rise from the earth.  The princess backs away as a figure leaps from the shadowy oblivion.  Floating before her comes a cloaked pony.  The fringe of the cloth writhes as if it were imbued with life.

Twilight feels fear lump in her throat, “Are you the Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Yet to come?”

Without a word, the spirit lowers their hood…