Nicholas & The Crystal Star

It was cold, the wind was strong, hurling the snow around Nicholas, making it hard to make out anything around him. His skin felt like pins and needles were pricking him, making it throbbing and aching. His skin became numb, and he felt an uncomfortable tingling sensation.

Step by step Nicholas made his way forward, his eyes narrowing so they were not irritated by the strong winds and snowflakes. He was tired, he was cold, and soon enough he fell onto his knees. Nicholas panted, trying to find the will to keep moving, where he was going he had no idea, he just knew he could not stay here.

Still there was nothing he could do, his body refused to move an inch. Nicholas was convinced he was going to die here, frozen in some wasteland, alone and unknown from any of his friends. He looked up, his body shaking from the cold. Suddenly he thought he heard something, something other than the wind. It sounded strange, like a neigh sound.

He looked up, and if he was not already cold, then it now felt like his blood turned to ice. Before him a strange figure was standing, looking at him. It was not a pony, nor was it human, it looked more like a giant pony, even bigger than Celestia. It had a ghost figure, like he could see the outlines of it, but still had no real physical form.

Nicholas had never seen anything like it, and he knew it was looking at him, he could feel those glowing blue eyes staring directly into his very core. He felt weak, like everything was being stripped away. Soon he came to realize that the ghostly figure was not alone, there were more of them. They had surrounded him, hovering above him like a group of hungry crows.

This was it, he thought, this was going to be the end of him.

Just as everything seemed hopeless, a burst of light suddenly came to life behind him. The light was warm, and it seemed to scare the ghostly creatures, as if the light was banishing them. The creatures screamed, fleeing deeper into the snow storm, leaving Nicholas alone and unharmed.

He started to feel warm, like whatever had appeared behind him was not only spreading light, but also radiating warmth. The wind seemed to calm, and the snow suddenly no longer bothered him. His body regained feeling, and it wasn't long before Nicholas could stand back up on his own two feet, feeling every inch of himself again.

Slowly he turned, facing whatever had banished the creatures and warmed him up. He had expected that he had to shield his eyes from the light, but he found no need. The light was gentle, yet strong, but it did not hurt to look at. When Nicholas looked to where the light was coming from, he found the most beautiful crystal he had ever seen in his life.

It looked like a star, glowing with all kinds of colors. Some parts were green, others were blue, yellow, pink and even red. The colors seemed to become physical in a sense, like vague rainbows, moving out into the air all around him. As he gazed upon the crystal, he felt himself drawn to it, like it was calling to him.

Step by step Nicholas moved towards it, and the closer he got, the better he felt, stronger, lighter, warmer, like his whole being became energized by some sort of force flowing through him. Finally he was close enough, the light was strong, but still didn't hurt his eyes. The crystal star just hovered there, a few meters above ground like if it was waiting for him.

Nicholas reached out with his hand, and as he did, time seemed to slow down, the snowflakes became still, like the world around him paused. His eyes were fixed on the crystal star, and for a moment, he thought he heard something, whisper, something was speaking to him, but he could not hear, he could not understand.

His hand touched the star, and-

"That's when I wake up." Nicholas sighed, ending his tale. He looked at the ponies gathered in his living room, all of them looking spellbound, but then disappointed that his tale had abruptly come to an end. "I've had the same dreams for weeks now, and each time I have it I feel like something is calling to me."

Twilight was utterly fascinated by this, dreams could feel real, but this seemed like something else. "Maybe princess Luna could help." She suggested. "Maybe she could watch over your dreams tonight?"

The others nodded their heads, all seeming to agree with the sensible suggestion. Nicholas however, shook his head. "Princess Luna is still getting used to this new time, and she has not fully regained her powers." Twilight looked at him, her puzzlement and surprise clear on her face. Nicholas chuckled. "I can't use magic, but that doesn't mean I can't learn about it." There was a pause, and Nicholas took his time gathering his thoughts. Then he continued. "Besides, I don't think this is a nightmare, and I rather have her focus on helping others. No, I know what I must do."

"You do?" Asked Fluttershy.

"Yes, I must find whatever is calling me." The room became utterly silent, only the crackling of the fireplace broke that silence. The six ponies looked at him, shocked and surprised. Applejack more so than anypony else.

"Darling, don't you think you're jumping to conclusions, there is less than two weeks to Hearth's Warming Eve." Rarity warned, and the others nodded.

"Yeah, besides, you don't even know where you're going!" Rainbow pointed out. "You can't just go off like that."

The human just shrugged. "This is something I have to do. I don't know the final destination, but I have a sense of my direction." Standing up, he walked over to his fireplace, looking into the fire as if trying to find answers that would satisfy them. "I have to go north, I know something is there, calling to me."

Applejack watched her friend, he was being serious, he was really going to leave to go look for this star thing. Her expression became stern. "Then I'm comin' with you!"

Now everyone, including Nicholas looked surprised at Applejack. Nicholas looked deep into the farmer's eyes, and she looked right back into his. Looking back, Nicholas should not be surprised she was going to offer him help. She had always stood by him, like he had with her, so of course this would be no exception.

Even so, he did not want to drag her away from her family, especially if he was wrong about the whole thing. He opened his mouth to argue against it, but just before the words could leave his mouth, a voice called out. "Tá sneaiceanna anseo, Santa!"

Everybody jumped a little at the sudden interruption, and looking over they spotted a group of elves carrying trays with cups, tea, and snacks. Nicholas nodded at the elf leading the group and thanked him. "Go raibh maith agat, Fuzzle."

The elf bowed, and as they placed everything on the coffee table, Nicholas's eyes returned to Applejack's. He could see the determination behind them, sensing her telling him she wasn't going to back down, and there was nothing he could say that was going to stop her.

Not wanting to appear rude, Nicholas put on a smile and gestured to the cakes and tea. "Now, enough of all this gloomy stuff. Let us enjoy ourselves, please, help yourselves."

The others exchanged glances, all of them unsure about dropping the topic of him leaving. He was their friend, and he was clearly troubled. None of them wanted him to go out on his own, but what if this really just was a bad dream? With none of them wanting to be rude, they decided to drop the matter for now, deciding they had time to discuss this in depth at a later point.

For now they all gathered, got their tea, ate some cake and had a good time. Applejack kept an eye on Nicholas, he was not a liar, but she knew him well enough to know he would try to find a way to leave without her. Not because he did not trust her, but in an effort to protect her. No matter what, she wasn't going to drop this, and she wasn't going to allow him to wander off on his own.

After tea and cake, the group decided it was time to head home. Nicholas said he had a lot to do, and they didn't want to be a bother, even though it was clear he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts. None of them spoke as they trotted down the same path they used to come out here.

It was Fluttershy who took the chance and said what they were all thinking. "He's really going to leave, isn't he?"

There was a pause, both in their trotting, but also in the conversation. Rarity was the first to reply, though be it somewhat hesitantly. "I... I don't know darling, he seems very convinced about this whole thing, but surely he would not leave with less than two weeks to Hearth's Warming Eve?" The white unicorn asked, looking to the others for reassurance, but there was none to be found.

Twilight was perhaps the most skeptical one of the group, but that was only because she didn't know Nicholas as well as her friends did. Still, she had an open mind, and she was not one to dismiss something like this. The dream he had described seemed much more than a simple dream or nightmare, and the creatures he had seen, they worried her too, as it was clearly worrying everypony else.

She didn't know anything about this crystal star Nicholas had seen, but she was convinced that the creatures he had seen were windigos. They were winter spirits that fed off of the fighting and hatred between others and created blizzards and freezing weather. They had nearly destroyed Equestria thousands of years ago, and they were nearly all gone now. Hearth's Warming marked the day of the unification, and the day ponies drove off these spirits, lifting a winter that would have lasted maybe forever.

What was the connection? Of course, maybe there was no connection at all, and this was just a simple nightmares of a human. Looking around, Twilight could see, especially on Applejack, that the question had crossed their minds, but none of them seemed convinced.

"Listen girls." Applejack said, looking determined. "I don't know about any crystal star, or winter spirits, heck I don't even know if Nicholas is right or not. What I do know is that he is going to leave, and I'm not going to let him go off alone."

Rainbow grinned. "Buck no! If there's adventures to be had, and dangers needed to be faced, then he's not going to do it alone!"

"Yeah! We are going on a Hearth's Warming adventure!" Pinkie agreed, bouncing up and down.

Fluttershy and Rarity looked at one another, trying to see what the other was thinking. They both smiled, gave each other a nod, and looked to the others. "Yes, you're right Applejack. We can't leave Nicholas on his own, friends should stick together."

"I don't think so either.." Fluttershy added.

The five mares then turned their attention to Twilight, who still hadn't voiced her opinions on the matter. She was still unsure what to think, but she certainly was not going to let her friends go off into potential danger alone. So she smiled and gave them a nod too. "I agree, if he is going to go then we should be with him. I just don't know what Spike will say.."

"Hmmmm..." Spike hummed as he looked over the still blank scroll in front of him.

Apple Bloom sighed, along with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. "Spike, there must be something that you wish for?"

"Hold on, I'm thinking!" Spike replied.

This was his first Hearth's Warming in Ponyville, and unlike Twilight he had heard about Nicholas. Spike was still a baby dragon, though he acted more like a teenager at times. Despite how mature he could act however, he did still get that child like excitement when it came to gifts.

He didn't want to admit it in front of Twilight or the others, but the cutie mark crusaders had managed to convince him to try and write a letter to Nicholas, telling him his wish. He kept thinking about it, but he was still not sure what to write. Then, suddenly it came to him, and he put the pen to the paper.

The music started, and the CMC looked around as they felt the song magic work through the air.

"Jolly old St. Nicholas, lean your ear this way,
Don't you tell a single soul what I'm gonna say.
Hearth's Warming is coming soon, now, you dear old man,
Whisper what you'll bring to me, tell me if you can."

"Jolly old St. Nicholas,
Whatcha gonna bring to me?"

"Is it a stash of gems that I can eat all day and night?
Or is it a diamond ring that I can give to Rarity?"

"When the clock is striking twelve and I'm fast asleep,
Down the chimney broad and black, with your pack you'll creep.
All the stockings you will find hanging in a row,
Mine will be the shortest one, you'll be sure to know."

"Scatta.boop boop, badda-do bap ba!
Come and give me those Christmas presents!"

"Scoolity-boop, scootily-boop, scootily-boop ba!
Don't make me wait no more."

"Babba-doop boop,
Give me some presents!
Doodle-oop boop daddila boop ba!
Scabba-doo, scabba doo,
Come give it to me, Santa, yeah!"

"Pinkie Pie wants a candy hat and Applejack wants to cook.
Rainbow wants a lightning chain and Twilight wants a book.
Rarity wants a set of lace and Fluttershy wants a nest.
Now choose for me, dear Santa Claus, what you think is best."

"Jolly old St. Nicholas,
Whatcha gonna bring to me?
Jolly old St. Nicholas,
Whatcha gonna bring,
Whatcha gonna bring to meeeeee?"

"Scattily-doo, scattily-doo, scattily-doo wow!
Yeah!"