Element Substitutes: A Hearth's Warming Tale
Tirek didn’t know what was worse, being trapped in Tartarus or living with Spike and Gabby in the “Castle of Friendship”, as they called it.
“Hey Tirek, can you hang those banners over the doorways?” Spike asked.
Tirek silently cursed under his breath, “Yeah, sure. I’ll get them.”
He and Gabby was the only ones who could reach the top of the doorway, but Gabby was currently hanging decorations from the ceiling. So that left Tirek to cover the doorways.
What it a hard job to do? No. What it as tiring as can be? Yes.
Either Spike has some unresolved issues with Twilight, or the Tree of Harmony just likes seeing Tirek suffer. Tirek had a gut feeling that it was somewhere in the middle, and it worried him.
“So,” Spike started, “are you guys ready for the party tonight?”
“Yes!” Gabby exclaimed, “This is my first one and I’m so excited!”
“I guess.” Tirek grunted, “Are you sure you all want me to join tonight?”
“Yes.” Spike and Gabby said in unison.
“It's your first Hearth’s Warming, like me!” Gabby exclaimed, “You will join us at tonight’s party and that is final!”
“We’re friends aren’t we?” Spike asked.
“We are.” Tirek admitted.
Spike nodded happily, “Besides, we did tell you that you’re invited.”
“I know, it’s just…” Tirek hung his head.
Spike sighed. “Tirek, we already forgave you. You know that.”
“I know you all forgave me, and I appreciate it. I honestly do. It’s just that, that…”
“You can’t forgive yourself.” Gabby finished for him. “You feel you don’t deserve to be forgiven.”
The silence that hung in the air was deafening.
“Yes, that. That’s it.” Tirek whispered softly.
Gabby shook Tirek’s shoulder, snapping him back into reality.
“That’s another reason we want you to join us tonight.” Gabby said solemnly, “Being alone with thoughts like that isn’t good for your mental health. Trust me on this.”
Tirek nodded his head. “I do… I’m sorry for worrying you two.”
After taking a moment, Spike smiled, “Alright then! Let’s finish decorating!”
Tirek grinned as he watched Spike and Gabby charge at the decorations with renewed vigor.
“You all are willing to give me a second chance, even if I don’t deserve it.” Tirek whispered under his breath. “That’s why I plan on making this the best Hearth’s Warming that I can.”
He sighed, turning to finish hanging the banners. “I promise.”
“Is it time to exchange gifts yet?” Gabby asked for the twelfth time that night.
“Not yet!” Angel Bunny replied with a huff. “As I said earlier, we’ll start the gift exchange when everycreature is ready!”
“I’m ready if you all are.” Spike said, looking around at the other party goers.
“Ah’m ready.”
“Me too!”
“Let’s do this!”
“Sure, I guess.”
“Whatever.”
“Yay!”
Spike chuckled, “It’s decided then. It’s time! Everycreature grab your gifts!”
Tirek watched Spike, Gabby and the Cutie Mark Crusaders rush toward the pile of presents. Tirek laughed upon hearing Angel’s complaint.
“Geez, you all are acting like foals.”
“That’s because they are Angel.”
“I know! I’m just wondering why they are not ‘acting like adults’ anymore.”
“Because they need this Angel. As much as you and I do.”
“Yeah… your right. As much as I hate to admit it, we need this. Just one day to let our problems melt away.”
“Come on Angel, let’s-”
“COME ON YOU TWO!” Scootaloo yelled, “WE’RE WAITING ON YOU!”
“Alright! Alright, we’re coming!” Tirek yelled back, before joining everycreature at the (once) present pile. “So, who is going first?”
"Oh! Me! Me!" Gabby shouted, holding a flat and rectangular box. "My gift was for Applebloom!"
"Hurry up and open it already!" Scootaloo shouted, eagerly seeking to see what lay inside.
"Ah am! Ah am!" Applebloom shouted, as she tried to open her gift. "There! Now ma gift is...is..."
Applebloom stared at her gift, a orange ribbon with white polka dots, and began to tear up.
Gabby froze, "...Do you not like it?"
Scootaloo looked like she wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Applebloom.
"Ah do, it's just... Ah just guess Ah'm not over it like Ah thought Ah was."
"I don't think this is something you can get over, Applebloom." Sweetie said, softly.
"Ah know, but Ah thought it wouldn't hurt this bad."
An uncomfortable silence hung in the room, only interrupted by Scootaloo.
"Ok, sentimental value aside, why a ribbon?"
"If Ah was to take a guess, it's fer the same reason sis wore her Stetson. To honor family."
Gabby nodded, seeming lost in thought. "Yeah, do you... like it?"
"Yah, thank ya Gabby."
After a brief hug, Applebloom grabbed a large box that was wrapped in red wrapping paper and handed it to Spike.
"Ah hope ya like ma gift, Spike."
"I'll more that likely will."
Spike finished tearing through the wrapping paper, and found two gifts inside. A small cache of gems and a few vials of... something.
"What's in the vials?" Spike asked, curiously.
"It's some medicine Ah brewed with Zecora. It's suppose to help with upset stomachs."
"Yeah, that tends to happen to me a lot." Spike admitted, sheepishly. "Thank you Applebloom."
Spike and Applebloom shared a quick hoof-bump, and Spike grabbed the present that was sitting besides him.
The present was white, with a purple ribbon and bow. Easily the best looking present among the rest that laid unopened.
"Uh, my present is for you Sweetie Belle." Spike said nervously.
"Having second thoughts, Spike?" Sweetie Belle teased. "Are you afraid that I'm not going to like it?"
"No! No, I just, er…"
"I'm just kidding Spike! Now, what did you get me...?"
Sweetie finally tore through the last bit of the wrapping paper, and slowly began to open the lid.
Once again, silence hung in the room as Sweetie Belle pulled out a small doll from the box.
"That looks like..." Applebloom began.
"Rarity." Scootaloo finished.
Sweetie Belle hugged the doll tightly as tears began to stream down her face.
"Thank you, Spike. I-I... I love it."
"Think nothing of it."
Tirek and Gabby looked at each other, realizing what just happened. Spike's crush was no secret to them. But the thought of him giving up the doll never crossed their minds.
Sweetie Belle shuddered before moving a big, plain looking box in Gabby's direction. "My gift, my gift is for... Gabby."
Gabby pulled out a big, brown satchel. "Thank you Sweetie Belle, for the..."
"It's ah satchel!" Applebloom exclaimed. "It holds things!"
"I would advise you to not put food into it. That tends to end poorly." Tirek pointed out.
"I'll keep that in mind." Gabby replied.
"Um, guys? She doesn't have anything to put into the satchel." Angel pointed out. "What's the point in giving it to her if she can't use it?"
"It's fine Angel." Gabby responded quickly. "I'll just find things to put onto it. Thank you, again, Sweetie Belle."
"So who's next?" Spike asked, trying to break the awkward tension. "Because it looped between us four, so that leaves Scootaloo, Angel and Tirek."
"I'll go next." Angel huffed. "My gift is for Scootaloo. My gift is going to be the best gift of the night!"
He handed Scootaloo a rolled up poster, grinning evilly as he did so.
Tirek thought it was a little odd that Scootaloo didn't call out that her gift was for Angel, leaving Tirek without receiving a present. But, after Angel's boast, he really couldn't blame her.
"Yeah, right. Whatever you got me isn't- GASP! HOW DID YOU GET THIS?!"
"What is it?" Gabby asked, horribly confused. "And why has it made her so excited?"
"It's ah signed Wonderbolt Poster, and it has been signed by all of da Wonderbolts!" Applebloom exclaimed. "Angel, how did ya get this?"
"I asked Celestia." Angel replied smugly. "Also, it is missing a signature."
"Yeah it is! Rainbow Dash's!"
"And if you'll notice the big open space at the bottom..."
Scootaloo ran over and hugged Angel, ignoring his cries of protest as she began it to cry.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
"Alright! Alright! Get off of me already! Geez!"
"Sorry. My present is for Angel. It may not be as good as yours, but it sure will be a close second."
"I somehow doubt that."
Angel's gift was just inside the flat, rectangular box that Scootaloo had given him. Surely nothing she had could...
Scootaloo snickered, "What do you think Angel? Do you like it?"
"Carrots. Of course that's what you get me." Angel said, staring at the carrots. Not even bothering to look up at Scootaloo. "My gift is still better though."
Everycreature laughed at that.
"Angel will be Angel." Scootaloo said, chuckling.
"I guess so." Spike replied.
"Alright, now that all of the presents are-" Tirek began.
"Not all of the presents have been given out yet." Spike interrupted. He turned toward the others, "Are you guys ready?"
"Yeah!" Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Gabby shouted in unison.
"Sure, whatever." Angel replied.
"What are you-?" Tirek's eyes narrowed, "I see, very clever. I guess two can play at that game then!"
Tirek walked over toward the map table to bring out the envelope he had hidden earlier, and saw Gabby fly to the chandelier to pull out whatever she had hidden there.
Nocreature made a sound as Gabby and Tirek stared each other down. Neither moved, as if waiting for the other to make the first move.
"It seems we're at an impasse." Tirek said coolly. "I suggest a trade. What say you?"
Gabby's eyes narrowed, "I accept!"
"Good." Tirek said, before cracking up.
Everycreature else began laughing too. That was good. It sure beat the heavy atmosphere.
Tirek took a deep breath to calm himself. "There is something in there for all of you."
"Alright." Spike replied. "But how about you open yours first?"
Tirek chuckled, "Okay. Now what do you all get me?"
He looked at what Gabby handed him. One was a card that his friends had signed, while the other...
"To: Tirek. From: Scorpan."
"How did you all get this?" Tirek asked in shock.
"We asked Princess Celestia for help!" Applebloom answered.
"I-I don't know what to say."
"You could start with 'Thank you!'" Angel retorted.
Spike nudged him with his elbow, "What? You know I'm right!"
"Now not the time, Angel." Spike shot back.
"Fine."
"So, Tirek... what do you think?" Gabby said hesitantly.
"It's a surprise, that's for sure. But, thank you all. I... appreciate it. Now, why don't you all open what I got you."
"What about your-" Scootaloo started before being interrupted by Applebloom.
"It's ah family matter Scoots, it's be if we leave it be."
"Okay. So who is going to open the gift that Tirek gave us?"
"Oh, me! Pick me!" Gabby shouted.
"You may want to open it over the table." Tirek advised.
He chuckled as he saw Spike and the others rush to sit at the table to explore the contents of his gift.
"Hurry up and open it Gabby!" the CMC exclaimed in unison.
"Yeah, I really wanna know what Tirek got us." Spike chimed in.
"We're about to find out!" Gabby sang, as she opened the envelope.
"Oh, they're photos!" Spike exclaimed. "Spread them out on the table!"
"Wait!" Scootaloo yelled, "Look at who they're photos of!"
Tirek smiled as recognition grew on their faces.
Spike looked up at him, "How'd you-"
"Princess Celestia." Tirek said with a grin, "So I take it you enjoyed my gift?"
"Guys! There's a photo with all of us in it!" Gabby chirped.
Tirek looked at Angel, "It looks like she has something to put in her satchel after all."
Angel didn't reply, he was staring at the picture of Fluttershy that was in front of him. "How did you get this? This isn't in her cottage."
"From her parents. Many of those came from their parents, other relatives, or were from newspapers." Tirek explained. " I hope you enjoyed-"
Tirek was interrupted by everycreature hugging him.
"Et tu, Angel?"
Tirek chuckled. He wasn't sure how if this is how he wanted this to play out, but he wouldn't change it if he could.
Tirek was restless. He hadn't opened the letter from his brother yet. However, he didn't know why. Was he afraid that Scorpan would never forgive him? No, that's not in Scorpan's nature. Was he afraid that it was a formal dismissal? Maybe, but he didn't think it was.
Was he afraid that Scorpan forgave him?
…
…
...Yes.
"Why would he forgive me after everything I done to him. I don't deserve his forgiveness."
"It's still what he would do. He never gave up on you, even at your worst. Besides, you've actually reformed! You are no longer blinded by your ambition, if anything he wants to support you!"
"Then why isn't he here then!?"
"...You know why."
Tirek sighed, "I do. Alright, you win. I'll read the letter."
Tirek slowly opened the letter, his hands were shaking while he did so.
Finally he managed to unfold it so he could read it.
Dear Brother,
I'm sorry I can't come see you in person! I've been busy with royal duties and such since I came back. So, I barely have any free time!
I heard you you had broken out of Tartarus to seek your ambition, as you call it, and was defeated by Discord. Are you hurt? Please tell me that you are well!
I also heard you gave up your pursuit of power, and I'm happy to hear that! That path changed you for the worst, and I'm glad you managed to find your way back!
...I'm just sorry I can't be there to help you through it. I know it's not much, but I'm cheering for you!
Sincerely,
Your Brother Scorpan
"I don't to have a brother like you." Tirek sighed. "No, you don't deserve a brother like me."
Tirek looked back to his bed, that feeling of restlessness was as strong as ever. He sighed, "Welp, I should at least write back. Though I'm going to pay for it in the morning though."
With that, Tirek grabbed a quill and a began to write.
Author's Note
Finally! I've finished it!
I'm not a seasoned writer, so this was hard for me to write. But I'm glad I managed to finish it in time for Christmas!
Feedback is greatly appericated. Merry Christmas! 
