Chivalry Reborn

Please take note:

The following chapter is NOT part of the main storyline, but has occurred after the introductory arc of the story. Winston Flash is now living in Ponyville of Equestria after being thrown into it for two days. The following events take place during the two weeks between the end of the second day in Ponyville, and the start of the second arc. Please enjoy this piece of crap I call a fanfic holiday special.

The rookie author,

Brucelee41126

Special Holiday Chapter:

And a Hearth-y New Year

It’s snowing for a change here in Equestria. I walked through the snow through the park slowly, marching to keep the snow out of my deep Brown boots. I’m outfitted in a thick black coat with matching sweatpants and topped off with a red scarf around my neck, mouth and nose and my black cabbie hat. I pulled at my white woolen gloves to cover my wrist fully. It was late to notice, but it really was winter in Equestria.

I stopped, puffing out a small ball of warm air into the cool air, watching it disappear. Man, it got cold here fast… I looked up towards the small town of Ponyville. The buildings were delicately decorated with white powder, and some had small icicles hanging on the sides. Almost everyone is working inside, due to the weather, but I could still see the occasional pony trotting around town. To think I live here now.. I started to think about how I’ve come to this place and how well I’ve adapted.

It’s been two whole days since I’ve come to Equestria, taking an unexpected and almost random skydiving lesson; and I can effectively say that I both hate and love this place. On one hand (or hoof, if you consider I’m the only real human here) almost everybody here is kind and is pleasant to me. I kind of enjoyed how everyone had a job and everyone seemed happy. On the other hand, however, this place doesn’t make a lick of sense to me still. These are taking horses, for crying out loud. They have unicorns and pegasi walking about, and the latter controls the weather, while two princesses control the sun and moon! Oh, and let’s not forget there are other creatures like dragons hanging about.  This place was just……weird to say the least.

Well whatever, I could forgive all of the bad stuff, because today is December 23rd: the day before Christmas Eve. ‘Tis the season of love and giving, after all. I glanced at my wristwatch to look at the time. 10:30 A.M. I should probably get going to Twilight Sparkle’s library then. She said she and the others had something to talk to me about.

I looked back up at the snow-covered village, returning my march to my destination. Wonder what she wants this close to the holidays…

“….”

I stared at Twilight and all of her friends with a very bleak look in my eyes.

“So….” I started, still looking at the lot of them in disbelief, “you’re leaving town for Christmas eve and are coming back Christmas Day..”

“Yes.” Twilight confirmed what I said, nodding with a smile on her face. “And like I told you before, it’s Heath’s Warming.”

“Whatever.” I shook my head, pulling off my glasses to rub at my eyes. “Anyway, you all are leaving, to…?”

“Ta perform a play in Cant’rlot,” Applejack popped in the reason this time.  “‘cause of the request from Princess Celestia ‘erself Twilight got in the mail yesterday evenin’.” She tipped her hat up slightly, before finishing. “Which is an honor in itself, so  we cain’t refuse.”

I pulled my fingers away from my eyes for a second to look at AJ with a questioning look. “….Why not just use normal actors?” Why the hell would Celestia have six little ponies with a dragon perform a play? That’s at least a little questionable…

“That’s the strange part, darling.” Rarity replied, putting a hoof to her chin. “She didn’t say exactly why she has chosen us, but seeing that it is a royal request, it would be quite rude to simply ignore this.”

I placed my glasses back on their perch on the bridge of my nose as the fashionable unicorn finished. “And just what does this have to do with me?”

“Because, silly!” Pinkie Pie giggled, bouncing to my side. I have no idea exactly how she got behind me, or where that jiggle bell sound was coming from every time she hopped, but seeing how this pink mare was the very definition of random, I just stopped trying to put logic into anything that involved her. ...She smells like peppermint, instead of the usual cotton candy today. Does she change that on purpose!?   “You need to be in charge of this year’s annual HEARTH’S WARMING PARTY!!!”

She leaped into the air as she said those last three words, landing on my head.

“Oof! Hey!” I stumbled slightly, but I kept balance. She actually wasn’t as heavy as one would expect from a pony that seemed to eat nothing but candy all the time. “Why not have the Cakes do it!?”

“Pfffft! Those two would make an okay party! But I want somepony to throw a super-duper-awesome party, like I never left!”  She flicked her hoof dismissing my suggestion to get out of the duty, before gripping my face on both sides.

She got in my face, before continuing. “Something I think YOU can do, Flashy!” Her eyes somehow moved out of her sockets, and almost pressed against mine as she empathized on me doing this; no one else. Yep. Forever scarred. That ain’t natural even for this place.

“Ugh!” I jolted back at the sudden approach of her pupils in my face, pulling her off. “Alright, alright! I-I get it!” I stammered slightly, still a little shocked at the sudden action. “Just don’t do that again!”

“YAY!” Pinkie clopped her hooves together in glee at getting me to accept her job.  I felt like I just got hustled.

“Bah….” I grumbled, setting her down. I stood back up, feeling oddly tired all of a sudden. “Anything else you all want to ask..?”

All of them looked to the side thinking, before glancing at one another and then shaking their heads at me.

“Most of us will have out businesses closed on the holidays.” Twilight explained. At least THAT’s normal.

“Most of the animals in the forest are hibernating…” Fluttershy murmured as she always did, “so I’m sure nothing will happen while we’re away…”

“Good to hear.” I clicked the tip of my shoe against the library floorboards, thinking for a moment. Because I already know this party is gonna be hard as hell to do. How am I supposed to throw a “Pinkie Party” anyway…? I’ve only been to one, for God’s sake.

My eyes shift to the pink party mare, still giving that ever-present smile of hers.  “Pinkie, you think you could give a me a list of what to put out for this party?” I asked her for some advice.

“Oh, yeah sure!” Pinkie yipped, hopping to nearby table. She gripped a pen in her hoof, and then began writing a list at an unusually high rate.”You need a ton of things to make it extra- extra special! First you need, balloons, LOTS of balloons! Then you need-“

“-and then finally you need to sing a carol for everyone to sing along with!” Pinkie finished, as she skipped beside me in front of the others.

“A carol…?” I echoed her last bit of advice, looking at her slightly confused.

The train that was headed for Canterlot was just up ahead. Pinkie wrote and spoke to me about what to do for the big party to make sure everyone could reach the train in time, and I could get all the information I needed to make the party happen. Let’s not forget bidding the girls a safe trip as well.

“Yeah!”  She bounced extra high to show how much she meant it. “What Hearth’s Warming isn’t complete without a carol!?” Mine. I mentally countered her remark.

“Fine,” I sighed in defeat, “I guess I could sing a classi-“

“AND,” Pinkie butted in, her tail spinning for a second. “It has to be original, just like all of my songs!” She had a very serious look on her face, one that’d I never really expect to see from her.

“Um….alright.” I stepped back, a little startled by her sudden change in mood. “It’ll be original, I swear.”

“Cross your heart and hope to fly…?” She eyed me skeptically.

But I CAN fly, technically… I bit my tongue for second, shutting up my head’s voice before repeating her “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick your cupcakes in my eyes.” I raised my right hand, completing the promise.

“Great!” She switched back to her old bubbly self, hopping onto the train. “Bye, Flashy-Lashy Winston!”

The rest of the group followed behind her onto the locomotive, each carrying a saddlebag on their backs. Shortly after the doors closed, and the horn went off

“We’ll be back around midnight on Hearth’s Warming morning!” Twilight called from one of the windows.  “Make sure nothing happens while we’re gone!”

“Don’t worry about it!” I shouted back, bidding them all farewell. “You just worry about doing well in that play of yours! I’ll see you at the party!”

I could see them all way back at me, as they disappeared into the white horizon.

“Okay, now then.” I muttered to myself, looking down at the quite thick, folded up party list. Pinkie told the Cakes that she’s letting me into her party storage in the back, so I guess I’ll have to set up there.

“It’s just a party for Christmas….I mean, Hearth’s Warming…?” I shook my head. “Whatever. This’ll be easy.”

I turned around from the train station, and began walking towards the Sugarcube Corner. “Nothing can possibly go wrong.”

I sat down in my chair, wiping the sweat from my brow. I’ve been working all day long inside the bakery, making sure everything was here for what Pinkie wanted to be present at the party. The Cakes let me into the backroom with no quarrels, and pointed out the closet which Pinkie used to keep all of her things.

I glanced back behind me, at the mountain of items that was seeping from the small space. Seriously, it seemed like she had hammerspace in the blasted room, there were so many things stuffed in there! You name it, it was probably there. I could see maracas, fake joke glasses, buzzers, kitchen utensils, and I’m pretty sure that’s an accordion poking out of the side. I was worried about having to clean it up, but the Cakes just waved it off, saying that they would get it later. Just how long those were those two around Pinkie Pie, is a question I think I’d rather not learn the answer to.

I turned to the list in front of me. I once more shifted my eyes through the top section of the list.

Balloons: I found three packs in the closet; I should be fine for those. Check.

Snacks: I asked the Cakes if they could serve the food for this party. I wasn’t too proud of my baking ability. Check.

Punch: I’ll do that myself tomorrow afternoon before the party. All the ingredients all here. Check

Party games: I THINK I have an old game of Twister in my own closet back home. I’ll bring it here tomorrow. Check

An Original song about Hearth Warming: ………………….

I paused, holding my pencil at the small box next to the last thing on the list. I had no idea what I would sing at the party. I could sing without making people cover their ears in disgust, but I wasn’t much of a songwriter. I’ll have to think this through when I get home.

I slipped out of my chair, walking towards the back door. I swung my coat back on, bending over to strap my coat back on. “Mrs. Cake!” I called to the owner of the shop. “I’ll be going home now. Gotta think of some lyrics for this song Pinkie wants me to sing!”

“Alright, dearie!” Mrs. Cake called back from the register out front, in a warm and kind hum. “Best of luck on your song!”

“No worries,” I answered her, a smirk on my face, as I slung my scarf around my neck. “How hard can it be?” I pulled my gloves onto my hands, before opening the door to the whistling wind and  cold snow, homebound.

“We wish you a Merry Hearth- DAMNIT!” I shouted, correcting myself of a crappy line for my song for the miilionth time.

Thunk

“Uuuugggggghhhhh!” I groaned in exasperation. My forehead fell into my palms, my arms resting on my desk for support.  I couldn’t think of a decent song to sing at the party, and it’s already almost 11 at night! I’ve been home since about 4 in the afternoon, so there’s no excuse!None! Zip!

“Why is this so damned hard!?” I growled in frustration. I roughly scratched at my head. Pinkie Pie could make a song about ANYTHING, and make it work. Why can’t I make one stupid song about Hearth’s Warming!? If I make it too much like a Christmas song, not only will I be ripping off a classic, but I’ll also confuse all the ponies listening with possible things that probably don’t exist in this world!

“Maybe I should just quit and cancel the party…” I sighed deeply. It was sounding like a really good idea. I have no song, and chances are no one really trusts me properly yet.

FOR-EV-VEEEEEEER~

“What was that…?” I turned around, hearing something strange in the wind. Not a single thing was out of place. The back of the room was lit the light from the ceiling, and nothing seemed to be poking out in a strange manner.

“….” I turned back to my desk, pulling my knife closer to me. On second thought, I can’t let Pinkie down. I promised her! I can’t just drop it now!

With my resolve now renewed, I bopped the side of my head with a little power. It was a ritual that I always did when I had a difficult assignment in school or at the newspaper club and had to kick my mind into overdrive. I picked my pencil back up, starting to write on a new sheet of paper.

“OH GOD, CUPCAKES IN MY EYES!” I shocked up from my slumber in a shock, screaming something bizarre. “GET IT OUT!”

I glance around myself slowly. I was still in my room, at my desk. I must have fallen asleep writing the party song. I glanced at my watch for the time. 7:20 A.M. I still have until three until the party that  Pinkie Prearranged was supposed to begin.

I slowly turned my head towards the desk, hoping that I had the task done. There, a sheet of paper that, besides a small sliver of dribble read:

Holiday Song

By Winston Flash

….

BAM

I slammed my head into the desk, hitting my forehead on the keyboard a little.

I didn’t do a damned thing, except title it. I didn’t move my head at all. I didn’t feel like moving period. I was a failure at making a song, and because of that, I failed Pinkie on her small little request for Christmas.

It was then that the speakers on my computers started playing a familiar tune

Oh the first day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me:

A  partridge in a pear tree~

I blinked, looking up at my computer screen. Itunes was open, it’s window showing it was set on radio. It was on the Christmas station, and was playing The Twelve Days of Christmas, an old classic that I loved as a kid.

I stared at the screen, with a blank expression on my face, listening to the music.

….

DING

“Ohhhhh” I cooed at the thought I was having, picking up my pencil with a spark in my eye. “Iiiideaaaaa!”  I began writing the thoughts that sparked into my head, pausing to listen to the actual song every now and again. Thank you, iTunes. You just might have saved my pride yet!

I sat on the sidelines in Sugarcube corner, watching the party I had set up over the course of the day since about eleven o’clock. Everything seemed to be going just fine. All the ponies seemed to be enjoying  the party so far.

All the ponies came in, worried about the possibility that I messed everything right from the get-go, but seemed to have brightened up to notice that I had basically mimicked Pinkies way of setting up a party atmosphere. Red and green balloons were hovering all around the room, with some of my old Christmas lights around the door and windows. I had even managed to hang up Pinkies banner that read “HAPPY HEARTH’S WARMING” that was in big red letters with a green background.

The game of Twister went better than I had anticipated as well. All the ponies were curious on how to play, and once I taught them how, they were playing it on their on, giggling and laughing, as others watched, also enjoying the simple game.

All the ponies seemed to have taken an enjoyment to punch I made. I even decided to make some egg nog my mother taught me how to make when I was still a lad. The ponies eyed it curiously for a moment, but when one of them actually said it was really good, everyone went over to try some. Heck, some even came over to me to say how well I had done with the drinks.

Though, the light purple earth pony that has been giggling ever since she came to the party kind of had me worried. The way she stumbled over, hugged me, and then rubbed her head against my cheek, whilst saying that I sure knew how to “brew some good cream” was pretty much strange to say the least. Not to mention she reeked of something. It wasn’t beer or wine, but judging from the tint or rose on her cheeks, she was obviously intoxicated. I was going to keep an eye on her, but she seems to be under the eyes of another earth pony, with a magenta coat, and a mix of pinks in her mane.

I glanced at my watch, checking the time. 11:40 P.M. I guess it’s time… I mentally prepared myself for this moment for hours, but I still felt pretty nervous. I moved through the crowd, waving at the occasional pony, before coming to the light brown grand piano that was across from the front desk of the store.

I placed the small sheet on sheet music onto the stand above the keys, sighing to myself. I glance at the top of the paper for a moment. Twelve Days of Christmas sheet music. It wasn’t exactly original, but at least the lyrics will be my own.

I breathed in deeply, picking up a small glass along with a metal fork. I slowly tapped the fork against the it, letting the sound bounces freely.

Ding, ding, ding, diiiiing.

Everypony stopped chatting with each other, turning their heads to the source of the sound. All their eyes locked onto me, standing next to the piano. I gulped to myself, grasping at my voice. Man, it sucks being the shy guy at times…

“Hello, everypony,” I announced clearly to the crowd, smiling to the best of my ability. “As you’ve probably been told, Pinkie Pie left to go perform a play in Canterot this Hearth’s Warming.” I pushed yet another knot in my throat before pressing on. “So, to make sure you all still enjoy the holidays, I was asked to host this party instead.”

All the mares, fillies, colts, and stallions blinked and kept looking at me. They must have known what I was getting at. I coughed once lightly to keep myself from choking from the pressure. “So, because the Party Pony herself said it can’t be done without it, I made a song for you all.”

I teeter-tottered from toes to my heels for a moment. Silences are so very deadly, I swear they are.  “It’s my own version of a popular song from my world back on Earth.” I looked to the side. I can’t take looking at these ponies anymore. “I personally call it The Twelve Days of Hearth’s Warmth, I hope you all enjoy it. Feel free to sing along.”

I finished my small speech on a slightly hasty note, pulling out the seat in front of the piano, and sitting down. I move my fingers above the keys slowly, remembering my piano lessons I got back in elementary school. My hands feel like they just got out of the damned sauna. Okay Winston, Home row keys, you were the best of that class, and you type all the time, this WILL NOT be hard.

I slowly began playing the introduction to the song, shifting my focus away from the crowd watching. As I began to reach the first lyrics of the song, I steadied my breathing slowly, letting the words from my new song come from my mind.

“On the first day of Hearth’s Warmth,

Some ponies sent to me:

A big party for Pi-inke Pie~”

“Not done yet~” I sing those words as I play the repeating bridge. I felt like I was somewhere else now. But I simply pushed through and moved onto the next verse.

“On the second day of Hearth’s Warmth,

Some ponies sent to me:

Two Rainbooms,”

“and a big party for Pi-inkie Pie~” Applebloom sung along with me, her accent seeming to have disappeared.

I chuckled to myself, turning to look at the other ponies. “You all sing too!” I urged with a grin, before going back to the song.

“On the third day of Hearth’s Warmth,

Some ponies sent to me…”

“And a big party for Pink-ie Pie~” All of our voices sung in joyful harmony, as we reached the end of the eleventh cycle of the song.

“One last verse, everypony!” I called everyone to attention, hearing the faint sound of the creaking of a door behind me in response. “Ready?”

“Ready!” All of the partygoers were now singing along, whether it be mare or stallion, adult or child. It was really quite the feeling doing this. Without a second’s pause in the song, I started the last verse, letting the others sing after me.

“But on the last day of Hearth’s Warmth,

Some ponies sent to me:

“Twelve animals snoring”

"Eleven tasty cupcakes

Ten apples bucked

Nine sparkling gowns

Eight magic scrolls

Seven fillies playing,

Six mares of friendship,”

“FIIIIIIIIVE HUGE MUFF-IIIIIINS~!” Only Derpy sang this line. Everypony giggled for a moment, before moving on.

“Four large textbooks,

Three Wonderbolts,

Two Rainbooms….” I shifted in my seat, all of us ready to end the song.

“AND A BIG PARTY FOR PIIII-INKIE PIIIIIIE~”

“Ladies and Gentlecolts, the Elements of Harmony!” I turned from my seat at the piano to wave my hand towards the front door. There stood the six beloved mares, standing in pleasant awe at the song they walked in on.

Everypony applauded with a thunderous cheer, but no one could beat the ones that Pinkie yelled. She hopped over the crowd and dived right into me, hugging me to the point I think I turned blue as soon as she had her grip around my neck.

“You did it, Flash!” She yelled with much glee, “You really made a special song of your own!”

“Well….–ack!- I did promise you that I’d have it done…” I smiled weakly under her grasp, lightly tapping her side to let me go.

“Whoops,” she giggled once again, releasing me from her chokehold, “sorry.”

“Ya-huh” I shook my head, breathing in slowly. “As long as everypony has a nice Christmas.”

“You mean Hea-“ Twilight started.

“Who cares. It’s the holidays.” I stopped her midsentence, resulting her pouting at me.

Applejack chuckled to herself tilting her hat up. “Still hard ta believe y’all managed all this on yer own.” She commented.

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash concurred, “Wasn’t this hard to set up without any help?”

“Oh, it’s was nothing with a little help from Mrs. Cake.” I wave over to the light blue baker as I said that, her and Mr. Cake waving back with a smile.

“In any case, all’s well that end’s well.” I said that with a nod, closing my eyes to finally relax.

“H-hey….” Fluttershy broke my relaxation, speaking up for once when she didn’t really need to. “Wh-what’s that?”

I open my eyes, looking up…..Oh my, is that a mistletoe…? The hanging piece of tree couldn’t have been anything else. THEY HAVE THOSE HERE TOO!? *CRAP!***

My face suddenly began to heat up slowly, realizing the situation. I looked back down towards the six mares before me. All of them had a noticeable blush on their faces, except Pinkie Pie, who simply tilted her head to the side slightly. Rainbow, and Twilight were both looking at the ground sheepishly, while Rarity was trying to play it off with a sophisticated cough. It wasn’t working. Applejack tilted her hat over her face to try to hide it, while Fluttershy was shaking in her hoofs, red as can be.

“So, uh…” I began, starting to turn away from them all. I need to get the hell outta here. Now. “Yeah….Merry Hearth’s Warmi-MMN!”

Right as I turned my back to the six close friends, that same drunken pony pushed herself against me again, this time pressing her muzzle to my lips.

My brain shut down for a second, as I just stood there, eyes as wide as plates.

“Dat was shome grape singin’ there, slick!” She slurred most of her words with a big unsteady smile. “Consider dat a zank you present for being such a nice and cute host!”  She finished her reasoning for doing what she did by holding her forelegs out, now standing purely on her hindlegs.

“Oh my goodness, I am so sorry!” The darker toned pony moved in from the crowd, a panicking look on her face. “She didn’t mean to do what she did, I swear!” She apologized feverishly, grabbing her now wobbling friend by the waist, dragging her off. “You’re going straight home, Berry!”

“AND A HAPPEH NEW YEAAAAR!”The drunkard known as Berry shouted, as they both disappeared into the streets outside.

I was still standing there, Processing what had just happened. I…I just got kissed….by a pony….A FUCKING PONY…

“PFFFFFFFFFTWAH!!!” I loudly spat, sticking out my tongue and wiping my mouth desperately with my shirt sleeve.

I could hear laughter come from behind, as the girls must have just gotten out their state of shock as well.

Confound these ponies. I thought to myself. They make me do the craziest things on holidays.