The Hearths Warming Journey

by DeadlyKDPonys

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad, Original Character, Adventure, Discord, Main 6
Length: 4196

HoofCliff Asylum is celabrating Hearth's Warming. An 8 year old filly gets a present from the mom she hasn't seen. However that gift will lead her on a magical journey.

HoofCliff asylum is not the most brightest place, everypony knows that. However during Hearth's warming eve, the employees tries their best to cheer up the patiens. Even their youngest patient. Deadly KillerDiamond. A 8 year old filly who suffers from a rare and dangerous Magic illnes.

(Let me tell you it's not the nicest when you're locked in a highly secured and supervised room when you're just a flly!)

During this Hearth's warming, Deadly recieves a present from her mother. The mother she hasn't seen in what seems like forever. The present is a Necklace. She's happy to see something from her mother and can sleep with a smile on her face.
But will that smile quickly form into a frown?

(Slight AU. I'll explain when the time comes)

Published 2017-12-15 21:10:07 UTC
Last updated 2017-12-19 14:12:07 UTC

{1} The Gift

Author's Note

Ok, Before you read this i have to admit. I didn't write this chapter very good. BUT IT WILL GET BETTER! I promise!!

{1} The Gift

Heath's warming is supposed to be a time for happy times with your Family.
However there are somponies who doesn't get to feel that happiness.
Like the Ponies of Hoofcliff Asylum, Especially it's youngest patient.
Deadly KillerDiamond was hurt by her own family when they sent her to the Asylum.
The Employees has tried despratly to help her, but no results yet.
Though, this Hearth's warming will be different for Young Deadly

The Hallway of the Asylum started to fill up with ponies in a line, on their way to the Dining area. Amongst the Ponies was a young Unicorn filly. Crimson red fur, bright red mane and tail and blue eyes. She wasn't paying attention and bumped into somepony. They Turned to see the Filly. She looked down.
"I'm sorry" She mumbled. The pony stood there, slightly nervous.
"Oh don't be, Deadly. Though you should pay attention to where you're going" They said. The filly, Deadly didn't make eye contact as she made a sound of understanding and started to walk again.

Deadly reached the dining area and sat down at her usual spot. She was a little excited about today. They were going to have a Hearth's Warming dinner. She waited at her spot, a few ponies starts to sit down at the seats around her. When they looked over at The filly they tried to make a small conversation.
"So, Deadly, did you sleep well last night?" A mare pegasus asked. Deadly looked over at the mare. A Small smile forming.
"It was better then most nights" She said. That was actually reliving for the ponies to hear.

The patients of the Asylum knows about Deadly and tries to care for her. Being the first Filly to be sent to Hoofcliff she will have a difficult Fillyhood. Then the ponies saw that servant ponies was on their down the line, giving the patients their meal. Then they heard a voice comming through the Speakers.

Alright, Everypony. When you're finnished eating, you'll be going to Activity Room, except you, Deadly.
You'll be going straight to your room, Security is already there waiting for you

Deadly's eyes widden. Even the other patients was a bit suprised by that.
"That's not fair, it's not even close my bedtime yet!" The filly said, pouting. She then sighed and started eating.

Deadly walked in the hallway on the way to her room. Her nightgown being dragged across the floor by each step. The filly didn't understand why she had to leave to her room earlier then normal, her bedtime wasn't before another 2 hours. She then noticed the security ponies at the end of the hallway. They looked in her direction and then started unlocking her door.

Deadly's room was the most heavily guarded and most supervised in the entire Asylum. She dislikes it. Being born with a rare Magical illness is not fun and games. When the door opened the filly steps inside her room that is decoraded to look like a normal Filly's room. A normal filly, something she'll never be. The ponies stepped in the room aswell.

"Now, Deadly, you have been called here because Mr. Hoofcliff wanted to give you something" The first one said. Deadly looked over at them, confused.
"Give me something? What is it?" She asked. The Security ponies looked at eachother and then the second pony pulled out a wrapped up pacakge. It was wrapped in a colored saprkly paper and was tied with a red band. The filly carfully lit up her horn, a purple aura started to cover the package as she levitated it towards her. She placed in front of her in the bed and was about to unwrap it until she noticed a note on the package. It read:

Deadly, My dearest daughter

I hope this gift will give you a happy hearth's warming.
I wish i could be there for you,
I wish i would be able to get you out,
However i can't
I dream of the day we'll reunite

-Your mom

The filly started getting tears in her eyes. She hasn't heard from her mother since she was sent to the asylum. A real happy smile started to form on her face as she started to unwrap the package. Inside was something quite beautiful. A necklace. An orange star formed gem on it too. Deadly lifted it up and put it around her neck. It matched her nightgown. She looked over at the security ponies.

"Can you tell Mr. Hoofcliff to send a letter to my mom from me?" She asked, actually happy. The ponies looked at eachother and nodded.
"We can do that, Deadly. May we ask, Do you want to go to be early tonight?" The second one asked. Deadly thought about it. Then smiled and nodded.
"Sure, i'll go to bed, i'm quite tired" She said. She removed the remains of the package away from her bed and crawled under the covers. The security ponies was on their way out.
"Sleep peacfully, Deadly" They said and locked the door.

Now Deadly was alone in her room. Normally she didn't like to be alone in the giant room, but tonight was different. With the necklace around her neck, it felt like her mother was by her side. Deadly misses her mother, she knew it wasn't her fault that she was sent here. The filly would of course forgive her mother. However the question was, would she forgive Her? Even if they'd reunite, Deadly would still be sick. She'll still have the illness. She'll never be normal.

Though that's what she thinks. No matter what she says and what she thinks, She's still a child and still has the mindset of a child. That would include a wild imagination. Deadly wasw now sleeping soundly, a smile on her face thinking about her mother. Still, Will that smile remain there for long? Then suddenly and mysteriously, in the darkness of Deadly's room.

The Necklace began to glow a warm orange color.

{2} The Fight

Author's Note

Ok, here comes the AU part. You see Discord will be in this story, but not really. Throughout the rest of the story, Deadly is in a Fantasy the reason why in the last chapter i wrote 'She's still a child, and has the imagination of a child'. Though she's never met Discord she has been hearing stories about him.
Oh yeah forgot to mention the main thing. He's an evil king in Deadly's fantasy.....Shocker. Ok now that you get that Let's move on.

(Took also inspiration from The nutcracker story, but it's not the main focus)

{2} The Fight

Ding Dong

The clock has striked midnight. The clock's chimes echoed through the hallways. Though did not disrturb the little filly sleeping peacufully in her comfy bed. In her hooves was a Fox plushie, She had named him Foxy [Don't hate me] Her room was dark and silent. The only source of slight was that of her window, and the glow comming from her necklace.

Then the necklace shot a beam at the wall, still not disturbing the filly. The beam opened a small portal in the wall. Out came an army of...Diamond dogs? Mouse sized Diamond Dogs. Following them was a Mismatched creature. A Draconaquis. He was wearing a misstiched cape with a Gem. He was also wearing a crown upon his head.

"Alright, where is that amulet" He asked, looking around the room. He then heard one of the diamond dogs bark.
"Up there, my lord" They said. The Mismatched creature looked up to see an Orange star gem, hanging from the bed side. He smirked.
"Well, then, Grab it!" He commanded. The dogs saluted and went over to the bed. They climbed on top of eachother to reach the gem. When the last one was up, they were about to grab the gem until they saw the face of a pony, sleeping. To the dog the pony was gigantic and their breath caused the dogs to fly backwards. The Diamond dogs all fell to the floor. Their Lord began to get angry.

"What was that?" He asked, darkly. The dogs instantly sat up.
"We apolagise, Lord Discord, but the amulet is being weared by a pony. Who's currently sleeping" One of them explained. The Lord, Discord growled at that, he just thought the dogs was just lazy or stupid and decided to take matters into his own hands.

He used his magic and then became bigger. He almost hit the ceiling even. Though when he reached the size he then noticed it. The amulet was being weared by a unicorn filly. He certanly did not expect this.
"My mage did say that the amulet was going to be found in a 'Insane Hospital', And here is a filly, living in this hospital" He said to himself. Though he shrugged.
"No matter" He said, reaching his claw out to grab the amulet. However when he got close, the amulet sapped him. He almost groaned in pain, but he didn't want to wake up the filly. He noticed the Filly stirr, but no signs of waking up.

When the pain dimmed, Discord growled. Of course would the amulet be enchanted. He moved his attention towards the sleeping filly. He actually began thinking that she was a little adorable. He shook his head at that thought. He began thinking of something. Then a wicked girn formed on his face.
"If we can't take the Amulet from the Filly. Then we have to take the filly along with Amulet!" He said. He was about to take the filly until somethign bit his ear.
"Ouch!" He yelped. The thing biting him let go and landed on the bed. It was the Fox plushie. However the Fox was more of a pony, a unicorn, He had sowrd hanging from his belt. Discord growled at the plushie.
"Who are you?" He asked. The plushie guarded the filly, but kept his eyes on the creature.
"I would be Foxy, my name being given by this young filly, i've been enchanted to protect her and i will not let you put a finger on her" He said. Foxy used his magic to pull out the sword.
"If you're gonna take Young Deadly, then you have to kill me" He said.

Discord snickered at that. Foxy glared at the Draconaquis, What was he laughing at?
"Well, killing you would be easy , considering i am 10 times bigger then you" Discord said. Foxy seemed offended by that.
"Size doesn't matter, beast!" He said. Discord was almost couldn't keep the laughter in.
"Let me make this fair, shorty" The Mismatched creature said, snapping his fingers. Discord staretd to shrink to his 'Mouse' size again. Then, ignoring the short comment, Foxy charged at him.

Discord managed to dodge though. And the Fight begins. Foxy was determined to keep this monster away from his caretaker. Though he was worried the fighting would wake her up. For now his objective was to fight this beast. Foxy kept on charging the Draconaquis, but he kept on dodging him and even used his powers to slow him down a little. This kept on going and going.

Foxy started to lose his energy. He can't fail his caretaker now. He was braught to life to protect her. He shook his head to snap out of it and kept on fighting.
Unfortunatly All the noise made Deadly start to wake up. She opened her eyes slowly. 'What's all this noise? Is it morning already?' She thought. When her vision cleared, she noticed going on down at the floor. She peaked from the edge of the bed to be suprised that there were small dogs in armour? And they were pinning a tiny pony to the floor?
Deadly rubbed her eyes, she couldn't belive what she was seeing. When she opened her eyes again, the tiny creatures were still there.
'Have i already gone insane? Or have i always been insane? I don't even know anymore' She thought. She then started to notice the tiny pony's features, they almost recembled that of a fox. That made something clicked in her head. She looked around her bed. She couldn't find her Fox plushie. That must mean that tiny pony down there must be her plushie.

She also noticed the mismatched creature standing infornt of her plushie. He spoke up.
"Well, then little fox, even though i was looking forward to maybe future fights i think this is the end for you" The creature said. Deadly's eyes widden. He was gonna kill Foxy?! Well she couldn't just lay there and watched. She at up in her bed, catching the attention of her plushie and the dogs. Of course the mismatched creature had his back facing her. He looked at the dogs in cofusion.

"What?" He asked. Before he knew it he was grabbed by a crimson hoof. He turned his head to face the filly who he thought was still sleeping. He started into her intense blue eyes.
"What are you doing with Foxy?" Deadly asked, glaring. Discord had no words, though being grabbed by a clearly grumpy filly is not something you think would happen to you.
"I will not let you hurt my plushie!" The unicorn said, shaking Discord vilontly in her hoof. She was clearly angry and Discord didn't want to be known as the king who got beaten up by a filly, he needed to make her stop.
"Why don't you pick on somepony your own size?!" She asked. Then it clicked for Discord. He snapped his fingers and everything black for Deadly.

Once she opened her eyes she saw that her room had become gigantic. She looked around and noticed that her plushie and the dogs had gotten bigger too. No wait that's not right, everything hasn't gotten bigger. She turned to see the Mismatched creature towering over her.

She had gotten Smaller!

Now she was a filly in his perspective. Deadly's eyes were wide and she started to shake. Discord chuckled at the scared filly.
"Looks like tables have turned, Little filly" He said. Deadly started to step away, but Discord only stepped closer to her.
"Now why don't you be a good little filly and come with me" He told her. Terror striked the filly. He was gonna fillynap her?! She instantly started to run as fast as she could. Her heart starting to beat quickly. Discord started to chase her causing the filly to panic even more.
She reached the dollhouse Mr. Hoofcliff gave on her birthday. She ran to the second floor and hid under a table that had a cloth covering the openings. Her heart was beating like crazy, she tried her best to calm down.

'Calm down, Deadly, you can't loose control over your emotions, not now, this is a bad time to loose it. Control your emotions' She told herself. She then heard Discord comming inside the dollhouse.
"Oh Young Filly, Where are you? Why don't be a good little girl and come to me" He called out. Deadly was scared out of her mind, she is completley defenseless, she's not able to use her magic, she can't call out to anyone. What is she going to do?

She then heard Discord entering the room she was hiding in. She kept quiet. There was complete silence. She could sense Discord was leaving.
"Well, if you're not comming out then i'll kill your little plushie friend" He said. Deadly let out a squeak and quickly went silent, praying he didn't hear it. It was silent. Too silent.
"There you are!" Discord said, lifitng up the table cloth revealing Deadly. The shrieked and tried to get away, but Discord Grabed her by her mane and pulled her towards him. Deadly tried to get out of it, but she wasn't strong enough.
Discord then lifted her up and kept her close to him, then began taking her away.

Deadly tried to get out of the creatures hold, but to no avail. They had reached the spot where The dogs were still having Foxy pinned to the floor. The plushie was shocked to see the filly in that monsters hold.
"Young Deadly!" He called out. Deadly looked at her plushie, tears started to form in her eyes.
"Foxy! Help me!" She begged her Plushie friend. Foxy threw Discord a death Glare.
"I won't let you take Deadly away!" He said, trying to get up, but couldn't manage. Discord grinned.

"Looks like you will let me take her away" He said, chuckling. He then Felt the filly...Shaking? He looked over at Deadly. She was shaking, but not only that, she was also crying, she held her head with her hooves then her eyes started to flicker different colors. Foxy gasped. He knew what that meant.

The filly squeezed her eyes shut and then she let out a ear piercing shriek, It was so strong it caused Discord and the dogs to fly across the room. However Foxy wasn't effected, although he did need to block his ears. Then the screams dimmed and Deadly fell to the floor in Pain. Foxy quickly ran over to her side to see if she was ok. She was in pain, she was breathing hevily, but other than that she was ok. Foxy noticed that Discord and the Dogs quickly ran to the portal, Retreating.
Foxy sighed in relief.

His caretaker was safe for now.

{3} The Path

Deadly slowly opened her eyes to see her plushie, still a pony looking down at her concerned. Foxy relaxed knowing his caretaker is okey.
"Deadly, You're Okey" He said, reached a hoof out to her. The Filly took his hoof slowly and carfully got up. She rubbed her head.
"I haven't expirenced that since before i came to HoofCliff" She said. She looked around and noticed she was still small. She frowned in concern and looked over at her plushie.
"What am i gonna do Foxy? I'm still small. How will i get big again?" She asked. Foxy sighed and went over to hug his caretaker. Deadly was suprised, she noticed that even if he looked like a pony, Foxy felt still like a plushie. On instinct she snuggled into him.
"I promise, Deadly, you will return to your normal size. However right now you have to remain this way, we have a very important mission ahead of us" Foxy explained, letting go of Deadly. The unicorn looked at him confused.

"Important Mission? What do you mean?" She asked. Foxy turned around, looking at the Portal that was still open.
"You wanna know why that mosnter was after you?" He asked, still not facing Deadly. The filly's eyes widden as she recalled what happened. A missmatched creature was after her, but why? She came over to Foxy's side.
"I want to know, why was he after me? Why did he want to take me?" She asked, Started to shake a little at the memory of being chased by that creature. Foxy looked over at Deadly and quickly pulled her in an embrace toc calm her down.

"The reason he was after you was because of that" He explained, Pointing at the neckalce around Deadly. The young Filly looked down at her necklace in confusion.
"Why would he want this? This was a gift from my mother" She said. Foxy shook his head.
"That was actually supposed to be a gift from the queen, maybe it somehow got to your mother's hooves" He said. He noticed that he shouldn't have said that as Deadly's eyes started to fill with tears.
"Are you saying this Neckalce isn't really from my mother?" She asked. Foxy's eyes widden. He didn't want to make his caretaker cry. The plushie held Deadly thighter.

"No, No, No, That's not what i'm saying. I'm saying that Your mother must have found the Necklace and found it to be a great gift to give to you. It was SUPPOSED to be the queen's gift to you, but it turned into your mother's gift for you" Foxy explained, letting go to look at Deadly's face. That explaination Made Deadly feel a little better.
"But what is so important about this necklace?" She asked. Foxy Let her go.
"Well, it is the amulet of Imaginy. It is The most powerful object in the land of Fantasies" He explained. Deadly looked at her plush confused.
"Land of Fantasies? Is that where that portal leads to?" She asked, pointing at the portal. Foxy nodded.

"That monster, Discord has currently taken over and is keeping the queen captive, his reign will last forever if we don't use the power of the amulet to stop him. The queen feels that you can carry such a task and has enchanted me to life to keep you safe" He explained. Deadly's eyes widden.
"What?! But i'm just a kid! I can't fight for an entire kingdom! I can't even decide if i wanna wake up in the morning!" She said. Foxy knew she was right, she's still a child and an unstable one too. She might have another Emotion Attack while being put under so much preasure.

This is no task for a child, but it was the queen's descision. Foxy sighed.
"I know, Deadly, You're still a child, but if the queen belives that you can pull through this, then so do i and so should you" He said. Deadly was unsure of what to do. She doesn't want to go thorugh with this, it will be dangerous. Then something click in her head.
'Wait, what would mommy say if she was here? She would say, That even if this path you take will be difficult and dangerous , everypony is counting on you and belives in you, and that will give you strength. That's what she would want, she would want me to prosceed' She thought.

Deadly may not have seen her mother since she came to Hoofcliff, but she has gotten letters from her. In her mother letters, she's so kind hearted and gentle, and she wrote once that she wanted to raise her to help other ponies in need. She wanted to raise her to not only think about herself, but of the other ponies around her.
Of course, that couldn't happen.
Though this is a time where ponies are in need, this is a time to not only think about herself, but the others around her. That's what her mother would want.

Deadly smiled at the thought. She looked over at Foxy
"Ok, Foxy, I will stop that beast once and for all" She said, now determined. Foxy smiled and started leading the way to the portal. Deadly followed with confidence, but she would be lying if she said she wasn't worried. Though she knew she was doing the right thing.
They reach the portal and Foxy was the first to step a hoof in. He looked over at Deadly.
"Do not worry, it doesn't hurt" He said and stepped through the portal. Deadly hesitantly stepped a hoof in. Foxy was right it didn't hurt. The filly took a deep breath and stepped into the portal.

Deadly looked around to see she was in a cave. She looked over to some light, it was where the entrance to the cave was apearently. There stood Foxy, gesturing to Deadly to come over. She walked over to him and looked outside. She was amazed. It was a beutiful forest, something that could have come from her dreams. They don't call it the land of Fantasies for nothing.
She then noticed a castly in the disntance that didn't seem to match with the rest of the envoirment. Even at that far distance. She could tell it was similiar to something she wished wasn't here.
"Foxy, is that..?" She trailed off, pointing at the castle in the distance. She din't need to finnish as Foxy nodded his head.
"Yes, That is Discord's castle. This place is the Land of Fantasies, but Discord's powers is the Ophisite. He's powers come from fear, nightmares, Things from your world you fear and twisted into something worse. That castle is based of exactly what you think it is" He explained. Deadly's irises shrink in fear.

"The Castle is of Hoofcliff Asylum"

Author's Note

There we go! I'm not sure if i'll be able to finnsih this before christmas, but does it matter? Anyways, Yes the 'Land of Fantasies' is formed from Deadly's wishes, dreams and imagination. So the castle is formed from the Horrible place she Fears living in.
It's like, in the eyes and mind of a child, The Asylum is like a Torture facility.
Maybe i Should have added the 'Dark' Tag to this story. Probably should.

Anyways, If you guys are curious about Deadly's Illness, I will gladly explain, just comment! Ok, See ya next Chapter!