A Hearth's Warming Deed

Hearths Warming Eve Eve - 12:15pm

"Spike!" Twilight shouted for him as she struggled with the tree out of the cellar, 'Where has he gotten too now' she didn't like it when he disappeared, as she depended on him around the library it would often make her worry about him and the current task at hand, especially at a stressful time of year like this. Although this wasn't entirety through being over controlling, this was as ever, her natural way of over worrying in place of getting everything as it should be.

The tree-house was nicely stocked up for the winter, enough to last three moons at least! The pantry was filled with all the basic necessities as well as a delightful array of festive foods; cakes, mince pies, muled wines, cheeses, scrumptious styles of bread, jars of jams and cranberry sauces, sacks of potatoes and varied vegetables. Great jars of lentil beans, herbs and conglomerations of spices stacked along the upper shelves and a small rack containing a few bottles of port and sherries. On another shelf were cake decorating kits, tins of tiny coloured pieces and boxes of icing. Below were large sacks of flour and draws containing every type of culinary item a pony would need for good cooking session! On the mantelpiece above the fireplace stood a bottle Twilight received from Applejack, a special Hearth's Warming blend of cinamon-apple cider brewed personally by the apple family. The fire burned quietly underneath, with the odd soft crackle as the tinder broke under the embers and the flames, although it was bitterly cold outside, it provided enough heat to warm up the whole house to a comfortable and adequate temperature.

She began heaving the tree up from the steps below, tugging at the very top branches with a firm grip, while trying not to tear any of the foliage off. Suddenly footsteps appear from just outside the front door. "Coming!" Spike burst through the door making Twilight jump thus loosing her grip with the tree, and it slid back down to the cellar quicker than she had dragged it up. "Spike" be careful, you scared me!" She exclaimed,

"Oh sorry Twilight, I was just over at Rarity's, she gave me this bag of gems, wanna try one?" said Spike In between mouthfuls of gems

"Er no thanks, I need to get this tree up. Can you help me?" She said in a husk voice as she regained her strength at another attempt on the tree.

"Sure, ill be right with you, I just need to write a quick Christmas card to thank Rarity, she is so kind to me, maybe she'll even kiss me under the mistletoe this year". Spike said as he walked up the stairs, hearts appearing from out of the top of his head while scoffing his face with gem after gem.

"But Spike!" he was gone, Twilight was not best pleased, but she none the less went back down the cellar and began to pull it back up to the living room. With a final, yet calculatedly careful heave, she managed to pull it out without damaging it. 'Phew that went without a hitch, now to put it up' she thought.

Spike was up in his room, still eating the gems as he wrote his card. Suddenly one of the gems caught a glimmer of the light through the window, and began to shine different colours. Spike looked at the back of the packaging which said that some of the gems were made to sparkle different colours when held in direct light. 'This must have been why she chose them for me' Spike thought as he leapt out of his chair, running down the stairs he screams "Twilight Twilight, look what these can do!". But he didn't look where he was going as he missed the last step sending him skidding towards Twilight and the tree, sending gems flying all over the room from out of the bag. "Spike watch out!" she said as it all began to take place as if in slow motion in her mind. Spike glided at high speed across the floor just as the lavender pony could get out the way, CRASH! "Spike are you okay?"

"Hmmuuh, huh" "Yeh, im. Uuughh!" He squealed as he saw the aftermath of his blunder. "Twilight I am so sorry", she looked over towards the fireplace, the tree had been snapped in half.

A sort of reaction began to build up in Twilights mind, although she did everything she could to contain it, it was one of those angers that subtlety boils within you, lurking in the shadows unseen from their conscious selves, ready to ensnare their mind in fury. "Spike..." "Why do you always have to be so clumsy?" She thought back to the time she first met spike, he was just a tiny baby dragon back then, they had been through so much together and as close friends they grew together. What was frustrating to Twilight was that these types of things kept happening, despite their growth, and although she gave him the benefit of the doubt most of the time as its really such a minor thing. She also thought that it would help her if he grew up just a little so things like this didn't happen so often, as if she didn't remind him enough already. 'He should know me by now, why is he saying sorry again and again when he just goes the same thing again and again', "Why Spike, couldn't you see what I was doing already and all your concerned with are those sweets!" Her voice began to build up momentum, more and more as she lectured him until finally she was yelling. "Why can't you just grow up and maybe you will be less careless, look at the tree, do you know how long that took to find!??"

"I'm sorry, im sorry, im so sorry". "Well saying sorry over and over again just takes away its meaning", "If you really want to be useful, go and fetch some firewood for me" "And don't let me see you doing that again, you really upset me this time Spike", "now there's some kindling up by sweet apple achres, go up there and fetch some this instant!" The little Dragon walked meekly out of the tree-house, not hearing the last few sentences that were uttered as all that rang through his mind was 'He was useless'. With his head bowed and without realising what direction he was going, the way he felt he might as well never deserve to go back.

It was getting dark in Ponyville, nearing around 4pm on the eve of Hearth's Warming eve, the wardens who patrolled the town were lighting the lanterns in the lantern holders with long candle like torches. Twilight could see one of them illuminating one of the lanterns by the bakery Pinkie Pie works at, she pondered over the recent incident that happened and after some contemplative reflection, felt that maybe she had over stepped the mark. 'I always boss him around, and make him feel like he is useless, I'm supposed to care for him and yet I am ever more careless with my caring than he is with his clumsiness!' She was getting more and more worried as the hours past, it was now nearing 7pm. The lavender pony had had enough, and got her coat from the hanger and headed straight over to Applejacks house. She galloped over to Sweetapple Achres and wrapped on the door, a few moments later. Applebloom showed up to greet Twilight from round the back of the barn, "howdy Twilight, are ya here to see Applejack?" she said as she looked up at her with her usual bright gleaming eyes. The Apple family were having a family dinner as they had all travelled over like they do each from all over Equestria for Hearths Warming, it really reminded Twilight of that sense of family. But only added to her sinking feeling that she hadn't been all that nice to one of hers.

"Yes, please, Spike hasn't returned home, do you know if he swung by here?"

"Erm I'm not sure, but come with me my sister will know more" "Are ya excited for Hearth's Warming?" Twilight wasn't feeling all that ready for small talk given her current grievances, but nevertheless didn't want to panic the little filly

"Yes, certainly me and Spike were just setting up the tree in my house when he kinda accidentally broke it".

Applejack appeared through the opening of the barn, "Heya Twilight, what can I be doing ya for?" said Applejack.

"I sent spike here in search of more firewood, but he hasn't returned home yet, have you seen him?" Twilight replied with a worried expression "

Er, no he hasn't been up this way at all, I thought he was with you" She said.

"He was, but we had an argument, well actually I wasn't very nice and shouted at him, ohh I hope he hasn't run away", tears started welling up in her face.

"Oh my Twilight, we better round up the others and see if they have seen him" said Applejack trying to reassure Twilights ever growing concerns. But no sooner had the earth pony finished her sentace, Rainbow-Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie came rushing down from on top of the hill opening to the entrance of the farm. "Twilight, Applejack!" Rainbow-dash cried as she came whooshing towards the barn, Twilight began to feel somewhat comforted to see her friends all together as this would save time in rounding them up. But this also only added to her stress as what could be so urgent that they all knew where she was?

Rainbow-Dash panting, in between breaths managed to utter, "There's.. there's a violent snowstorm... headed for Ponyville...it will be here in the next two days".

"Just take it easy sugercube, deep breaths now" said applejack, "and just tell us what's happening".

"There was an urgent weather meeting at Cloudsdale this afternoon, some of the pegasi who control the clouds to prevent them from over frosting during the winter season had fallen ill, and because there was no pony else qualified enough, less experienced pegasi were charged with looking after it as best they can. Unfortunately the winds drawn down from the north were too strong and have resulted in a blizzard, all residents in Ponyville have been advised to stay at home and barricade the doors and windows." Rainbow-Dash said in a moderately controlled panic.

"That's mighty awful but why do they need to go to all that trouble, wouldn't Princess Celestia and or Luna normally help with this kinda problem?" Applejack contested

"But Applejack that's just it, Celestia and Luna are over in the Crystal empire visiting Cadence, even if we could get a message to them they wouldn't be able to get back here in time to do anything" Twilight said only realising herself the gravity of the situation was far worse than once anticipated.

"Where's Spike, is he okay, he was only with me earlier on this morning!?" Said Rarity.

"Oh my I hope Spike is okay" said Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie was looking over at the hill as Suddenly Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle ran over to the group, "Hi Scootaloo, hi Sweetiebelle, don't suppose you have seen Spike recently?" said Applebloom.

"Spike, er yeh I saw Spike about an hour ago, headed in the direction of the Everfree Forest, we shouted over to him but he didn't hear us" Said Sweetiebelle" Twilight sprang up, the look from her face changing as he gains more control over the assessment of the situation.

"Okay girls, with this storm headed in, time is running out, we can't afford to waste any more, lets head out", "if we split up we can cover much more ground, If no one has found Spike by 10pm, then all meet back at the edge of the Forest side closest to Ponyville". The main six galloped out of the farm headed in the direction of the Everfree forest, the cutie mark crusaders watched at the gang disappeared over the brow top of the hill.

"Spike, Spike, where are ya buddy" Yelled Rainbow as his voice bouncing off the trees and off the dense forest floor" "Can ya see anything Fluttershy?" She asked.

"No, sorry nothing" Fluttershy said feeling disappointed, Pinkie Pie and Applejack where scanning the undergrowth and shouting as loud as they could. Although the forest was a dangerous place to be, especailly when it is dark, however during the winter months the more extreme and dangerous creatures of the forest go into hibernate, and anything that could pose any threat to them could easily be dealt with. But no sign of the little dragon anywhere. Rainbow-Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Applejack all returned to the edge of the forest just on the outskirts of the forest, "Found anythin?" Applejack asked,

"Nothing, just a whole big pile of nada" Pinkie Pie said in her usual alleviated happy go lucky party voice,

"Quit foolin around Pinkie Pie, this aint no time to be pulling jokes" Applejack said to her in a stern voice. "Now where are the others?"

"Well they should be here any moment, if we wait they'll turn up for sure" Pinkie Pie replied. The remaining four waited and waited, the time was getting on for nearly one in the morning, but still no sign of Twilight and Rarity.