Sunset woke up in a cold sweat and looked at the clock, it was just before 1:00 a.m. She must have fallen asleep and had a terrible nightmare. She could still remember everything. Had it really been a dream? It was so real and detailed and another ghost had really appeared to her.

Sunset quickly dismissed the thought, her head must have been playing tricks on her. She must have been subconsciously thinking about it the whole time and the moment she fell asleep, all her inner turmoil had been released.

Oh man, Sunset crawled over to her little fridge in the corner to take out a nice cold bottle of water. Her whole body felt completely dehydrated, as if she really had been on a journey across her past.

When she opened the fridge door, she was met by a powerful snowstorm that swept her away with loud laughter. “Ho ho ho ho ho!” echoed through Sunset's room.

Sunset landed in a small snowdrift, but to her surprise she wasn't cold and the snow didn't melt. In fact, it didn't feel like snow at all. Sunset let the white powder run through her hand. Artificial snow.

The renewed sound of raucous laughter caught her attention; in front of her, in the middle of her room, which was now covered in artificial snow, lights, treats and toys, a big fat man had appeared. Sunset looked around in amazement, her first reflex was her baseball bat, but she couldn't possibly find anything in this chaos. In fact, she wasn't even sure if this was still her room, it seemed bigger with all the stuff lying around.

“Grab it, grab it my child!” thundered the man's powerful voice.

Sunset scowled, “Let me guess you're the second ghost, right?”

“Oh yes, that's me! My name is Saint Nicholas the XIII, the spirit of Christmas Present!” the man announced.

Only now did Sunset realize who was standing in front of her.

“Seriously? Santa Claus?” she mocked Nicholas.

Not only the name, but also the whole appearance was like that of Santa Claus, a figure that people had invented to give their children a magical mythical figure who brought them presents at Christmas, but only if they were good, of course. Nobody was supposed to get the idea that they were loved unconditionally.

Nicholas had a long white beard, wore a fluffy red cloak with white fur on it and was over all chubby, only his cap was missing, instead a wreath of fir branches adorned his head. He carried a large goblet in one hand and a leg of goose in the other, no wonder he had weight problems, Sunset thought.

“Ho ho ho ho, I wouldn't call myself one, but I'm flattered that the people of Earth have made him in my image. That always makes my Christmas celebrations over the last few years even sweeter!” said Nicholas happily.

Sunset looked around disapprovingly and, to her annoyance, she had to resist the urge to eat some of the treats in front of her. And then, all of a sudden, that fabulous smell of honey oat cookies hit her nose, making her jump immediately.

“Ho ho ho it seems to me that a little Christmas cheer has entered your body!” Nicholas said.

“No!” protested Sunset, ”It's just that pungent smell!”

“Oh yes, I can see where it's coming from, this determination, this will! What a shame that there's no joy!” sighed Nicholas after his initial euphoria.

“That's too bad,” Sunset replied bored, ”Can't we keep this short and get it over with quickly? I don't have much nerve right now and I'm really thirsty. You...” before Sunset knew it, she was whirled into the air and placed at a richly laid table in front of her, a carafe of water pouring into a goblet that was offered to her.

“Thanks,” Sunset grumbled to herself and drank the water in large gulps.

“Oh, what do I have to hear, thanks?” Nicholas rubbed his ear with his finger.

Sunset knew it had been a mistake but she had manners and she certainly didn't want anyone to think she owed them anything.

“Yes, I may be the personification of evil for you ghosts, but I still have some manners. But don't think you'll get more than that,” Sunset made clear.

“More than that?!” Nicholas exclaimed, completely overwhelmed, ”Oh Sunset, a thank you is the best thing you can get!”

“I see.” Sunset looked at her fingernails, bored, ”I could think of 20 things that are far better.”

“Ho ho ho, but maybe that's only because you've never heard a thank you from the depths of a heart!” Nicholas tried to convince her.

“Well, if you say so.” Sunste stood up, ”So you're the ghost of Christmas present, what do you want to show me Celestia lying all alone in her dark room crying again? Boo hoo I'm so unhappy because I treated Sunset badly, boo hoo.” Sunset faked tears with her hands, ”The act worked once, a second time is just embarrassing! And you can see my Christmas live right here. So thank you very much for your visit and the delicious water, but I don't think you can really show me anything of value to me.” Sunset smiled wryly and waved it off.

Sunset's expression quickly faded as Nicholas piled up in front of her with a raging voice, growing taller like a mountain with every word!

“So much knowledge and cunning in your head, but your heart is cold and so you can't imagine anything but that! Don't worry Sunset I promise I will show you something you didn't expect!”

With these words, everything in the room began to turn into a whirlwind and circle around them until they were both completely enveloped by it. Sunset let out a loud scream and before she knew it, they were outside in the open. Sunset looked around in amazement.

“Isn't this Sweet Apple Acres?” the question slipped out of her mouth.

“Yes!” Nicholas, now back to normal, answered her.

“And what are we doing here, you want to show me how Applejack's family has fun. Yay, I get it, everyone is pretending to have fun except me. Lesson learned, can we go now?” Sunset was already moving in the other direction but Nicholas didn't give her a glance, Sunset was slowly wishing Candlelight back.

Nicholas and Sunset made their way to the window of the farmhouse through which they could see a large party. Everyone there seemed to be having a great time, it was almost as if half the school was there. Let them have their fun, next year it would be over again.

“I suppose...” Sunset continued.

“Yes, they can't see us,” Nicholas confirmed.

Sunset looked bored through the window, looking for something funny, but everyone was just acting childish, talking and dancing. How dull.

“Isn't that your friend Pinkie Pie back there?” Nicholas pointed to the girl with the puffy pink hair.

“Pinkie is not my friend!” Sunset clarified energetically.

“Oh yes, there was something.” Nicholas scratched his chin, ”But she still invited you to her Christmas party tomorrow, didn't she?”

“So what?” Sunset replied, annoyed.

“That's rather nice of her, isn't it?” Nicholas followed up.

“Yes, super nice or super annoying!” Sunset turned the tables.

“Ho ho ho.” Nichola laughed, ”She looks like she's having a lot of fun. Let's go inside and hear what she has to say.”

Sunset didn't have time to object before Nicholas started moving and she dutifully followed. For a moment, Sunset had considered just walking away, but then she remembered how creepy the guy could be and thought it best to be at least a little cooperative.

They strolled through the crowds and although Sunset was invisible she tried to avoid people, it was a strange feeling to walk through someone else. It was somehow different from stepping through a wall. When they reached Pinkie Pie, they saw her standing with Applejack and praising her party.

“This really is a great Christmas party Applejack! I just hope my party tomorrow is just as good!” said Pinkie Pie, sipping excitedly from her drink.

“Ah it's nothin’ Pinkie I know how much effort ya always put into yer parties, we both know ya'll go the extra mile tomorrow!” Applejack told her, although her tone sounded restrained.

“Thanks Applejack. I just wonder if Sunset will come too.” Pinkie said nervously.

Applejack's expression darkened: “So ya really invited her, did ya?”

Pinkie looked puzzled: “Yes, of course you don't?”

“Sunset Shimmer is the last person Ah want to see here at mah party. Ah'm glad she hates Christmas and Ah don't have to worry that she might not just turn up here anyway!” Applejack's voice was full of resentment.

Very nice thought Sunset, Applejack was much like Rainbow in that regard her temper was her downfall. That and her stubbornness when it came to being accused of lying or being lied to. This had made it easy to manipulate her and turn her against her friends. Which made Sunset think it was weird that she was talking to Pinkie Pie and that she was invited to the party. Actually, the two of them had nothing to do with each other anymore thanks to her.

“But Applejack, it's Christmas! You invited me too,” Pinkie tried to convince her.

“Are ya seriously comparin’ yerself to Sunset right now?” Applejack snapped at Pinkie.

“No, I'm just saying. Christmas is such a magical time and it brings out the best in people. I thought when Sunset opened up to that...” Pinkie's voice had become melancholy.

“Open up to that?!”, Applejack snapped, ”Sunset Shimmer is the meanest girl in the school, before she opens up to anyone Ah'll clean the pigsty for a year.”

Applejack seemed to have realized that her temper had gotten the better of her and looked embarrassed.

“Ah'm sorry Pinkie, Ah just don't want ya to get yer hopes up. It's really nice that you're getting’ so involved, but the fact is ya should pray that Sunset doesn't show up to yer party tomorrow. It's better that way, believe me!” Applejack's voice was suddenly loving and conciliatory. Sunset almost threw up.

“But no one should be alone at Christmas, Applejack. Not even Sunset,” Pinkie replied.

The words didn't sit well with Sunset. Applejack was right about every single word she had said and yet Pinkie gave a damn about her, why?

“Why?” Nicholas also muttered. Sunset looked at him in amazement, had he had the same thought as her?

“I'll tell you why. Because Pinkie has a big heart and loves to spread joy around her, the thought that on this day of love and happiness there is someone who is unhappy hurts her a lot.” Nicholas' voice was full of maudlin sentimentality.

Sunset simply couldn't resist the urge: “If you ask me, it's idiotic and weak, I could take advantage of her really well if I wanted to. Lucky for her that I'm so nice,” Sunset grinned.

“Yes, what luck,” said Nicholas, sobered.

“Oh man Pinkie, ya really are beyond help,” Applejack confirmed with a smile, “But here's a toast to the spirit of Christmas!” Applejack raised her glass and Pinkie did the same, adding, ”And a toast to Sunset, may she have a great Christmas!”

Applejack suddenly pulled back her glass. “WHAT?!” she blurted out, ”Ah'm not toasting that snake in the grass!”

“Oh come on Applejack, it's Christmas, there's no harm in it,” Pinkie tried to convince her sweetly.

“But ya only make a toast if ya mean it. And Ah'm not wishing Sunset a Merry Christmas,” Applejack made clear.

“Not even a tiiiiiny bit?” Pinkie leaned forward.

“No!” said Applejack vehemently.

“Not even a very, very itsy bitsy bit?” Pinkie moved her thumb and forefinger very close together so that there was only a wafer-thin gap of air between them.

Applejack scowled: “Well, at least Ah hope she doesn't freeze to death somewhere miserable.”

“There you are!” Pinkie rejoiced, ”I knew you had the spirit of Christmas in you! Here's to Sunset!” Pinkie exclaimed and Applejack toasted, muttering grumpily and barely audibly, ”Here's to Sunset!”

Sunset should have been happy that these two idiots were actually toasting her, but a sense of confusion won out over her. Pinkie was deluded, of course, and Christmas brought out the worst in her, but after all Applejack had said, why was she toasting Sunset too?

“Well, if you ask me, they'd be two great friends! And I think if you went to their parties and behaved yourself, they'd be happy too,” Nicholas shared his assessment.

“Of course, who wouldn't be happy to have tamed the ruler of the school. As soon as Christmas is over, their festive mood will be gone anyway. It's all just a big hypocrisy!” Sunset reminded herself.

“I didn't expect anything else from you Sunset, but I can't wait to hear what you have to say about our next stop!” Nicholas' voice sounded happily refreshed as everything around them began to spin again. After all, Sunset thought to herself, this way of traveling was far more pleasant than what Candlelight had done.

When the whirlwind had stopped, they were in front of the Canterlot Youth Welfare Center and Sunset already knew which way the wind was blowing.

“Wow, so you want to show me the equivalent of my orphanage in this world. News flash I don't care if it's super happy in there or not. This place sucks!” Sunset spat at Nicholas. But he just pointed his finger in front of him.

“What? ...” Sunset's breath caught in her throat. Rainbow Dash was standing at the front door of the youth center, visibly out of breath and waiting for someone.

“I know Rainbow Dash doesn't live in the youth home, what is she doing here?” Sunset wanted to know.

“Just watch,” Nicholas instructed her, who was spellbound by the scene.

“Heeeey!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed happily as she got down on her knees and hugged someone. Sunset couldn't see who it was yet.

“How is my favorite sports cannon doing on this most festive of days!” Rainbow had lifted the person up and spun it through the air.

“Hahaha I'm really looking forward to tonight!” Sunset couldn't recognize the voice, strange, ”Thank you for letting me spend Christmas with you Rainbow.”

“Of course you are!” Rainbow assured her, ”You're practically part of the family Scoots!”

Scootaloo?! But ...

“I guess you didn't know that Scootaloo lives in the youth home, did you?” Nicholas sobered up.

Sunset was at a loss for words, she really had had no idea.

“Thank you very much!” Rainbow called into the youth center, “I'll bring her back in three days!” The door closed behind Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo.

“Hey Scoots.”, Rainbow started sheepishly, ”I'm sorry I'm here so late, I wanted to get you your favorite cocoa, but unfortunately that didn't work out so well. I...” Rainbow didn't get any further, Scootaloo had fallen around her neck and said, ”Oh thank you Rainbow! That's not bad at all. I think this is going to be the best Christmas ever for me either way!”

Why was this child so happy, Sunset wondered, remembering the look on her own face as a filly. She probably just didn't know any better. But unlike her, Sunset didn't know if Scootaloo was really coping, after all, she had a bad leg that she couldn't walk on properly and that other children made fun of. Like her, Sunset swallowed.

“Hey Scoots, how about I take you on my shoulders and carry you the way?” Rainbow asked, already bending her knees with joy.

Without saying a word, Scootaloo jumped up happily and the two of them began to run off, happily singing a Christmas carol.

But unlike her, Scootaloo also had a friend who stood by her side, Sunset thought to herself, unable to look away.

“You weren't expecting that, were you?” Nicholas asked, already knowing the answer.

Sunset remained silent and continued to watch Rainbow and Scootaloo as the snow gradually blocked her view.

“Well, I'll show you what happens next,” Nicholas continued as the snowstorm raged around them, revealing a shabby old tenement when it cleared.

Sunset looked puzzled; her boiler room might have made a better impression. The area looked run-down, the plaster was peeling off the walls and every house looked desolate and abandoned. And in the midst of this desolation, Rainbow and Scootaloo arrived, still singing, and approached the front door of the apartment building. Rainbow didn't even have to unlock the door, it just stood open. Nicholas and Sunset followed them into the stairwell, which they climbed agonizingly slowly due to Scootaloo's limping leg. They had to go all the way up to the second floor, where Rainbow finally got out her key and put it in the lock.

“Rainbow lives here?” Sunset slipped out.

“Yes, it looks like your research has a few gaps,” Nicholas stated.

“This place is an absolute dump! I could never have imagined that Rainbow would be poor,” Sunset continued in amazement.

“Why should you?” Nicholas asked soberingly, ”You never really took the time to get to know her or observe her.”

“But Rainbow is so self-confident, ambitious and full of life, how is that possible when her life looks like this?” Sunset wanted to know.

“Well, apart from the joie de vivre, you two seem quite similar to me and, if I remember correctly, you come from a much more modest background,” Nicholas replied.

Anger rose up in Sunset and she wanted to say something back, only to realize that she couldn't. That bearded bastard was right, where someone came from didn't necessarily mean how someone should be. Still, it sat right across Sunset's face that these two girls could be so happy despite their predicament.

“We're here!” Rainbow exclaimed as they entered the apartment.

The apartment was as expected lackluster, a small kitchenette in the living room with a couch, TV and small dining table and another room, which was probably Rainbows. So that meant the parents slept on the couch?

And then they really had the nerve to keep a guest here for Christmas. Sunset looked expectantly at Scootaloo, wondering how she would react, but she was happier than Sunset could believe. About everything, that she was allowed to sleep with Rainbow, that there was a miserable Christmas tree in the corner of the living room, the smell of stale cookies, the sparse presents under the tree. It looked as if this really was the best Christmas ever for her.

“What's that?” Sunset slipped out at the sight of the festive feast.

The Dashs had put on sausages with potato salad.

“They can't be serious, my meal was even more princely,” Sunset scoffed.

“And yet,” Nicholas said, ”they don't seem to care. They enjoy their company and having each other.”

Sunset knew he was right and it annoyed her.

“Hey Scoots, how are things going with you and your friends at school?” Rainbow suddenly wanted to know over lunch.

“Really great! We'll probably do something after the holidays too!” Scootaloo replied cheerfully.

“She's lying,” Sunset said.

“Huh?” Nicholas looked at her in astonishment.

“I thought you knew everything,” Sunset teased.

“Everything that matters, yes. But not everything per se,” Nicholas explained brusquely.

“Anyone who lies and manipulates as much as I do can easily recognize a lie, especially when it's so obvious,” Sunset said heavily.

“Tell me ghost, what will become of Scootaloo?” Sunset's voice had taken on a tone she didn't recognize herself. Why did she even care?

“Why do you care about that?” Nicholas also wanted to know, ”She's just some disabled girl, isn't she?”

That wretched dog, he knew everything. But the words had hit Sunset and she could hardly hide it.

“Please, I need to know!” begged Sunset.

“If her fate doesn't change, then I see an empty chair and no more laughter in this room,” Nicholas revealed to her.

“Because they're celebrating somewhere else, aren't they? In a better apartment with...” Nicholas interrupted her.

“You know what it means Sunset.” his voice had suddenly gone deep and dark as it darkened around them.

“What's happening?” Sunset asked in a panic.

“It's time for me to go Sunset. So take my advice now!” Nicholas' voice had become full and strong again, like the last roar of a storm, ”Live in the present Sunset! Every day you decide anew who you want to be! It's never too late to change and become the pony you want to be!”

With that, Nicholas disappeared, leaving Sunset in the dark.

Author's Note

As it fits the theme at St. Nicholas Day. The new chapter. I hope you enjoyed it so far and stay tuned for the last two chapters the next weeks.