My Little Pony: Friendship Was Magic

Chapter 2: Hearth's Warming Eve

It was Hearth's Warming Eve in Ponyville and everypony was in their yearly festive mood, as usual. Applejack and Pinkie were waiting at the with the apple family to wait for the train to the Pie Family's house. They considered going to their house every Hearth's Warming. Rarity was creating lots of presents in her boutique with the help of her sister, Sweetie Belle, by wrapping up the presents. They soon took a break and hung up their Hearth's Warming dolls.

In Canterlot, Twilight and Spike were letting all the guards decorate the whole entire castle. Of course, they helped as well by setting out cookies for everypony. Spike was hanging up stockings and Hearth's Warming dolls.

''Thank you, Flash Sentry,'' Twilight said. ''Thank you for helping us out to decorate the castle. It was very generous of you. You can do your job now.''

''Of course, your highness.'' He bowed before walking away.

''Everything looks great, Twilight,'' said Spike. ''I get why Princess Celestia asked you to rule over Equestria.''

But when he said that, everything felt queasy but he instantly and simply just shook it off.

Twilight smiled. ''Thanks, Spike. I have to decorate this castle for the princesses visit and because it is Hearth's Warming Eve, of course.''

''Right!'' he exclaimed. ''When are they coming exactly?''

''They said they will be returning to Canterlot in the afternoon,'' she replied, ''not sure at exactly what time, though.''

''Hm,'' he mumbled, ''I thought you were known as the Great Team Organiser.''

''Thank you so much for helping me decorate my cottage, Discord.'' Fluttershy smiled. ''This was very sweet of you.''

The draconequus let out a collective sigh and put on a upon his face. ''No problem, my dear.''

Fluttershy examined the expression upon his face he had on and noticed a that didn't look real. She wondered why he wasn't happy on such an important and exciting day. It's the day where everypony get along with their friends and families and celebrate the defeat of the windigos. Although, he is not a pony, but still...why isn't he happy?

She had never seen him sad before...well, that is not entirely true. She had seen him sad when he betrayed her and her friends or felt sensitive about ponies judging their friendship but she thought she had cleared everything by now. What could possibly be the issue this time? All he has to keep him happy is right in front of him: Chaos and his friends. Come to think of it, Discord hasn't been like himself ever since he confessed his feelings to her.

Maybe...just maybe...he doesn't love her anymore? No, that can't be it! He loves her and both of them know it!...but then why is he sad?

''Um...are you okay, Discord?'' she asked.

Discord's head shot up and his ears perked up to the sound of her lovely and graceful voice.

''Yeah...I'm alright,'' he said. ''Why do you ask?''

''I recognise that you have on,'' she replied. ''What's wrong, Discord? You can tell me anything and if it is anything personal, I won't tell anypony.''

He opened his mouth but said nothing for a while. He then let out a collective sigh and started letting words out of his mouth.

''You know how you and your friends are having vivid dreams and nightmares?''

The yellow pegasus nodded gently in response. He carried on.

''I also had nightmares and I still do...I never said anything because I didn't want anypony to think me as a coward.'' He swayed his head in shame.

Fluttershy replied with an assuring hoof on his shoulder. ''What was the nightmares about?''

He lifted his head so that their eyes could meet.

''Well...at first, it wasn't that bad and I just shook it off of my shoulders, but then it had gotten worse. I dreamt about immortality being a curse now because of me having friends now...I don't want to lose you, you mean a lot to me, Fluttershy. The only pony who truly understood me and wanted to be my friend.''

''I-I...I also dreamt about how if I gave you immortality, you would hate me forever as you will see your friends die so when I tried doing that, you stopped me. I had to change you into a mortal again, in my dreams.''

Fluttershy was in awe. ''Oh, Discord, I am so sorry you had those dreams and...I don't think I have explained my dreams to you either.'' She let out a deep before she could continue. ''You see...I had dreams about immortality and death as well, but that is not the only things I dreamt about.''

Discord tilted his head in confusion and for her to carry on.

''Before I go on, I must ask you a question.''

''Sure,'' he replied. ''Go ahead.''

''Do you think Twilight should be a leader? I mean, do you think there should be a leader in friendship groups?''

Discord was not expecting that type of question. He didn't know how to answer. I mean, he had always hated Twilight because she was annoying and kept getting all the glory...but he never really had put much thought into leadership in friendship groups before. He never had friends before but he always had believed that there should only be a leader for countries and kingdoms to provide resources and guidance.

He just let out a small response:

''I...I never really put much thought into this but I always thought that leaders should only be for countries and kingdoms.'' He turned his head towards her. ''Why do you ask?''

''Well...I believe the same thing too,'' she responded. ''I don't like how she gets all the glory. I mean, it is like she is better than everypony with her new fancy powers, title, wings, etc. We made her how she is today and taught her many friendship lessons, whereas we get nothing in return?''

''Sure, she also taught us and stuff, but...she is a princess and we are not. I don't like that and there shouldn't be a leader in friendship groups.''

''You...but I...I felt that way about her ever since she became into an alicorn princess but I never said anything because I thought you would be disappointed in me by disrespecting your friend but you just disrespected yours so that's okay?'' He huffed.

''Well...it is not called disrespecting when you are just simply stating the truth and your opinion.'' The yellow pegasus scootered on closer towards him and touched his paw. ''Discord, I wouldn't be mad at you for stating your opinion. We are friends...well,'' she blushed and cleared her throat. ''Anyways, you should always tell me your feelings to me.''

He smiled at her. ''Thank you, my dear Fluttershy. That really means a lot to me.''

The two couple hugged, but it didn't last long as a bunny hopped onto Fluttershy's back and pulled her tail to get her attention. Fluttershy pulled away from the draconequus and turned her attention towards the white bunny. He was pointing towards the other animals that were looking awfully sick.

Fluttershy gasped in horror.

She flew on over towards her animals and exclaimed:

''How did this happen?''

Angel sent a death glare to the draconequus. Discord raised his thick white eyebrows and realised he was being accused of this. He placed his paw to his chest to seem offended and innocent.

''Why must everypony be accusing me of such things?'' he asked. ''You really think I would do such a thing like this? To my dear good friend, Fluttershy, as well. Why, I-''

He was suddenly caught off by a yellow hoof ruffling his body.

''We don't blame you, Discord. But how did this happen is what I want to hear.''

Discord ruffled his white goatee to think of a reasonable explanation for this, but he was interrupted by a sudden light. The draconequus and the yellow pegasus both closed their eyes as the light was flashing on their eyes. As soon as they opened it back again, they saw a tall pink pegasus pony figure with green mane.

''Who are you?'' the two couple said together in unison.

Angel was amazed at this beautiful masterpiece. This beautiful pony. Who could she be? Even if she did intrude on their home, he made her beauty let that slide.

''Fluttershy,'' the figure started to say, ''I am here to warn you and to give you something.''

The yellow pegasus tilted her head in confusion.

''How do you know my name and what do you mean by that?''

''Fluttershy,'' she said, ''I am the Goddess of Nature but not for long, anyway. You may be wondering what has caused the sickness of the animals.'' She gestured over towards the sick critters.

Fluttershy glanced at them and turned her gaze back to the pony again.

''That was me,'' the pony stated. ''I have simply given up my component of nature and I want to hand them over to you. I haven't been a Goddess ever since...you will soon find out why. But as soon as I hand you over my component, I want you to use that to take care of Equestria and all the animals. Good luck to you, my little pony.''

The figure soon drifted away into thin air and left a pink component floating mid-air so the pegasus could grab it. Discord examined the brooch and slowly brushed out Fluttershy's mane so he could place the brooch in her mane. The yellow pegasus raised her eyebrows in confusion. What was he doing?

''What are-''

She was suddenly interrupted when a spark ignited in front of her and floated her up mid-air. She then landed on the ground to see a pink cape attached to the back of her. Discord widened his eyes in amazement.

''YOU ARE OFFICIALLY THE NEW...'' He mumbled over words until he got the right words to describe Fluttershy's new job. ''Protector of Equestria?''

''But I already am?''

He chuckled nervously, which Fluttershy thought was a bit cute.

Meanwhile, as the apple family and Pinkie Pie approached to the Pie Family's , they knocked on the door and just a few seconds, there was a grey tall male figure standing bluntly.

Pinkie Pie gasped. ''MUD BRIAR!'' She wrapped her hooves around the stallion's neck. He slowly lifted his hoof to pat her on the back.

''Yes,'' he said monotonously. ''It is quite glad to see you here, Pinkie Pie, and so for the apple family.''

In the doorway, a grey mare with dull purple hair stood beside him.

She greeted with monotonous in her tone, as well. ''Hello, Pinkie Pie and Applejack.''

Pinkie Pie pulled away from the stallion and wrapped her forelegs around Maud's neck, as well.

''Come inside,'' the stallion said. ''We have lots of fun things to celebrate.''

Before they went inside, Applejack turned to her family to whisper.

''Listen, y'all. Remember what happened last time? Let's try and make this the best Hearth's Warmin' ever. Not just for us, but for Pinkie. I mean, just look at that smile on her face!'' She gestured over to the pink pony, who was talking with Maud and her boyfriend in a cheerful mood.

''Relax, AJ,'' Granny Smith said calmly. ''Put your hooves inside the zap apple jam jar and we will turn this holiday into a wick-of-a-spinning.'' The old mare laughed as she trotted on inside.

Big Mac, Sugar Belle and Apple Bloom followed behind her. Applejack sighed and joined them as well.

They were all sitting quietly at the table eating fresh sweet rose and drinking apple cider to digest the product in their stomachs. The room was quite and all you could hear was people munching on their food and...Pinkie Pie pouring the entire apple cider jar into her mouth.

Pinkie Pie slowly placed the jar back onto the table again and let out a pensive sigh. Applejack saw this action and raised an eyebrow.

''Is anythin' the matter, Pinkie Pie?''

''Huh?'' Her head perked up to meet the southern pony's eyes. ''No...nothing is wrong.'' She placed her whole face on the plate.

Applejack stared at her and then glanced at the audience looking at them. She let out a nervous chuckle and dragged herself and her friend out the room to have a conversation.

Meanwhile, Sugar Belle stared carefully at the rock in her bowl of soup. Big Mac saw this movement and stopped his mid-way to prevent him to it.

''Is everythin' alright, Sugar?'' he asked kindly.

Sugar Belle looked at her beloved and slowly glanced over at his plate. She saw that his food wasn't rock at all, like hers. In fact, it was something delicious...something she thought she would have for Hearth's Warming.

''Y-Yeah...everything is fine. It's just that...this rock soup-''

''Oh, my bad,'' Pinkie Pie's father apologised and handed her over a plate of hot sweet rose just like her husband. ''I forgot you don't eat rocks like us.''

''It is quite alright,'' Sugar Belle said politely before digging into her food.

''Alright, Pinkie Pie,'' said the southern pony. ''Mind tellin' me what just happened out there?''

The pink pony sighed. ''I am sorry, AJ. It's just that...I've been having those nightmares again lately and...they just won't budge!'' She groaned as she pouted on the ground and aggressively knocking the floor with her head.

Applejack sat beside her and gave her an assuring hoof, which had caused her to stop.

''You are havin' those nightmares again too?'' she said. ''I thought I was the only one! But...I didn't want to say anythin' because I didn't want to be a bother.''

Pinkie Pie looked directly at her green emerald eyes seriously and asked her:

''AJ, can I ask you a question?''

''Uh...sure?''

She let out a deep before she could speak. ''How do you feel about Twilight being a leader and having all the glory?''

''Oh...uh...is that what ya wanted to talk to me 'bout?''

''Well...my dreams were about unfairness and I want to make it clear that you had the same dream as me.''

''Well...uh...I don't like it one bit because...it is not fair! There shouldn't be a leader in friendship groups! Equestria is supposed to be equal and there is a leader in friendship groups? How in the world does that work? I thought leaderships were only meant to be for kingdoms and countries!''

She continued. ''We made Twilight how she is today and taught her everythin' 'bout friendship and we get nothin' in return and she does? Why, that doesn't even make a lick of sense!''

Pinkie Pie chimed in. ''I get what you mean, Applejack.''

''You do?!''

''You see...ever since Twilight has came to Ponyville, I loved her because she was so fun to play with but now that she is an alicorn...everything just seems to be about her now. What about us? The ones that made Twilight how she is today? Aren't we that important to Equestria? We literally saved it by her side! Countless times! Sure, Twilight gives us credit but what is that going to do? We don't get anything!'' Pinkie Pie curled up on the ground.

Applejack was about to say something but got interrupted when they met a spark ignited between them. They looked at it curiously but then it expanded and got brighter. They closed their eyes to get rid of the brightness. When they opened their eyes again, they saw a beautiful figure pony with red and green mane standing before them.

''Applejack and Pinkie Pie,'' she called, ''I have came here to say that Equestria is in a some sort of a crisis.''

Pinkie Pie let out an exaggerated gasp, whereas Applejack just simply asked:

''What sort of a crisis? And who are you?''

The pony continued, ''I am the Goddess of Rhythm and thus it is my duty to take care of Equestria, as well of my sisters.''

''Sisters?'' Applejack and Pinkie Pie said at the same time in unison.

''Yes,'' she replied. ''I believe one of my sisters have already given up her component to Fluttershy, which is why I am here. I am here to give up my components and hand them over to you.''

Applejack's mouth was in agape, whereas Pinkie Pie fainted on the ground but quickly bounced back up.

The Goddess of Rhythm quickly got to the point as she didn't have much time to chit-chat. She twirled herself in the air and magically conjured up two components from her mane and handed them over to the two ponies, who were still in shock, on the ground. She then slowly disappeared into thin air.

''Ooh!'' Pinkie Pie exclaimed. ''It is shiny and pretty.''

''But...what are these?'' the cowgirl asked.

''Duh!'' the pink pony spat. ''Haven't you been listening to that Goddess? She said that she had given up her components, just like her sister, and handed it to us.''

''Yes, but...why?''

Pinkie Pie shrugged. ''Speaks to me.''

She took a clear look of the blue component in her hoof and noticed it had a clip. She gently shoved her poofy mane to the side so she could place the brooch in her mane. Applejack followed this movement.

They both magically floated up into the air and came back to the ground to see a blue and green cape worn on their backs.

''Awesome!'' exclaimed Applejack.

''Yeah,'' Pinkie Pie said, ''I think Rainbow Dash suits to say that word more than you do.''

The cowgirl rolled her eyes in annoyance.

''Okay, so now what?''

''Is everything okay?''

The two ponies looked behind them as the door slammed open and saw ten ponies standing beside it with worried expressions.

''We heard a lot of noises,'' Apple Bloom blabbered on until she saw her sister and her cousin both wearing capes and brooches. She gazed up upon them with amazement and twinkles in her eyes. ''Ooh! What is that?''

Applejack and Pinkie Pie both glanced at each other and then back at the filly.

''It's a long story,'' said the southern pony.

''Well,'' Granny Smith said, ''we got the whole time to hear this story!'' She slapped her on the back and gave a laugh. The adults groaned in annoyance.

Author's Note

I don't know what I did with this story, y'all! I thought that I was never going to finish this story but here I am! I finally got an idea of what to write so here you go, I guess...I hope you enjoyed it?