Hope for the Holidays Part 3

It was a busy morning at New Ponyville. Ponies wandered about their daily lives as if they had no care in the world. Holiday decorations covered the town in a festive spirit. A giant tree stood at the middle of the square. Fresh hot food was lined up for hungry stallions and mares to purchase. Toys were lined up for colts and fillies to enjoy. Everyone seemed happy and content.

But at the docks of the town, a light reddish-orangish earth pony mare with a purple-magenta braided mane walked off the ship with a pair of saddlebags on her back. She breathed in the sea air before she made her way forward.

“SUNNY!” Someone yelled. “SUNNY STARSCOUT! OVER HERE!”

Sunny Starscout turned to her right to see Pipp Petals and Zipp Storm run up to the young mare. Behind her ran two others: An earth pony stallion with light amber coat and a moderate/brilliant turquoise mane, and a unicorn mare with a grayish mulberry coat and a curly moderate cornflower blue/cobalt blue mane. On top the stallion’s back was a green male baby dragon.

“PIPP ZIPP!” Sunny Starscount waved as Pipp, Zipp and their companions approached her. “When I heard about what happened at Zephyr Heights, I feared the worst.”

“It’s okay,” Zipp Storm said before turning her head to her companions. “Hitch and Izzy also feared what could have happened to all of us. Even little Sparky Sparkaroni was worried for us.”

“What matters is that we’re all together,” Sunny Starscout said before turning to the stallion. “Especially you, my old friend Hitch Trailblazer.

The stallion known as Hitch approached Sunny. Both touched their chest with their right hoof before tapping each other respectively as the baby dragon clapped his hands with excitement.

“Hoof to heart,” Sunny and Hitch said.

“Glad you could make it to New Ponyville,” Hitch Trailblazer said.

“I couldn’t have missed it for all of you, and for my teacher Twilight Sparkle,” Sunny Starscout said.

“I can’t believe you are good friends with the legendary Twilight Sparkle,” The unicorn mare said as she ran up and rubbed her head on Sunny’s side. “I bet she’s one of the bestest alicorns in all of Equestrian history.”

“It’s not just that, Izzy,” Sunny laughed. “She’s also friends with Princess Sunset Shimmer and Princess Wanda Young, the adopted daughters of Princess Celestia.”

“And we’re good friends with her,” Pipp Petals said, pulling Zipp Storm to her.

As Zipp gently pulled herself away from her sister, Sunny Starscout directed her gaze towards the stairs leading out of the pier and towards the gigantic town. But as she was about to take one hoof forward, she heard Hitch clear his throat

“Off in such a hurry?” Hitch asked.

“I am,” Sunny said. “And I apologize for being that rude, Hitch. After all, Twilight Sparkle is expecting me at the castle, and I heard they’re preparing for this…Christmas celebration.”

“Oh it’s a hoot,” Izzy Moonbow said, bouncing towards the staircase. “In fact, we should all go together.”

“Why not?” Sunny said. “Now come on. Let’s go meet up with Twilight Sparkle and the other princesses.”

Sunny Starscout ran towards the staircase in a hurry with Hitch, Izzy, Pipp and Zipp following from behind, and Sparky riding atop of Hitch. The five ponies ran up the stairs before coming to a stop.

“By the way,” Sunny said. “Is Misty around?”

“She is,” Pipp Petals said. “And she’ll join us a little later.”

“That’s good,” Sunny said. “Wouldn’t want her to miss it for the world. Besides, what could go wrong?”

As Sunny Starscout took a few steps forward towards the street, a twin-tailed unicorn mare holding a bag of socks ran into the earth pony, knocking them down and scattering socks everywhere.

“OWW!” Sunny cried.

“Oh my gosh,” Pipp cried. “Sunny. Starlight. Are you both alright?”

“Uggh, I’m fine,” Sunny said as she got up and saw the twin-tailed lavender mare.

“Oh my gosh,” The unicorn mare said as she struggled to pick up the socks. “I’m so sorry about that. Please forgive me.”

But Pipp and Zipp flew up to the unicorn mare and began to pick up the socks for her.

“Don’t worry about it, Starlight Glimmer,” Pipp said. “Besides, the last thing we need is for you to misplace those socks.”

“You’re Starlight Glimmer?” Sunny Starscout said. “Izzy told me all about you.”

“Yep,” Starlight said. “That’s me. The pony who accidentally broke Santa.”

“You broke Santa?” Sunny asked, confused.

“Oh silly,” Izzy Moonbow said, grabbing both Sunny Starscout and Starlight Glimmer before pulling them both to her. “She didn’t break Santa. Last year, on her first sock run, Starlight Glimmer accidentally sneezed down our Christmas Tree, and she ran off with some guilt in her heart.”

“And I took a balloon to travel to the North Pole, thinking I was banished from New Ponyville for my accident,” Starlight said. “Thankfully, Wanda Young and Santa Claus made things all the better.”

“So, what was this Santa Claus like?” Sunny asked.

As Starlight Glimmer pulled herself away, she picked up a few more socks and stuffed them back in the bag.

“He’s a jolly great guy,” Starlight said. “Really understanding as well. He even has nine reindeer, one of which has a shiny nose named Rudolph. Oh, and we also met this miner named Yukon Cornelius and…”

“Did someone call my name? Well I’m glad you did, Starlight. And I’m also glad you made some new friends.” Everyone turned to their right to see Yukon Cornelius wave to the ponies.

“Hi Mr Cornelius,” Starlight waved back. “Glad to see you.”

“Glad to see you as well,” Yukon Cornelius said. “Been out west exploring the great wilderness. But unfortunately, I had to come back home thanks to that gosh darn earthquake.”

“Earthquake?” Pipp Petals said as her eyes shrunk down. “You don't mean the one like in Zephyr Heights?”

“Fraid so, Pippy,” Yukon Cornelius said. “I thought the Tempest Winter Storms were bad enough. But these quakes are something else. And they aren't just a massive seismic fissure, they're completely unnatural.”

“That's what I'm afraid of,” Pipp said as she shook nervously.

“Sis, get ahold of yourself,” Zipp said as she grabbed Pipp Petals.

“I can't take this anymore,” Pipp Petals cried. “I've got to fly out.”

But as soon as Pipp Petals pulled herself away from Zipp Storm, she bumped into a small filly, knocking them to the ground and causing gold coins to fly out of a sack and onto the ground.

“Oww,” Pipp Petals. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.”

“It's okay. I didn't see you at all. That's my bad.” Pipp Petals looked at the filly, who frantically picked up her gold coins and put them in her sack. Every pony plus Yukon Cornelius looked at the filly in question.

“I've never seen your face before,” Zipp Storm said. “Who are you?”

“Oh me?” The filly said as her wings swept the fallen coins into a pile. “My name is Cozy Glow.”

“Cozy Glow,” Starlight said. “What an interesting name. Mine is Starlight Glimmer.”

“And mine is Sunny Starscout,” Sunny said as she held her hoof out. “Nice to meet you.”

Cozy Glow paused for a moment and looked up at the six ponies, Sparky Sparkaroni and Yukon Cornelius. Especially at Sunny holding her hoof out.

“Uhh, nice to meet you,” Cozy Glow said awkwardly as she slowly held her hike out.

Sunny Starscout grabbed Cozy Glow's hoof and shook it in respect. Cozy stood there for a moment before looking down at her hoof.

“This means we're friends now,” Sunny Starscout said.

“We….we are?” Cozy Glow said.

“Yeah,” Sunny Starscout said.

Cozy Glow slowly picked herself up before she reached down and slowly picked up what’s left of her gold coins before putting them back in her bag. But during that time, Zipp Storm walked up to Sunny and began to whisper in her ear.

“There is something rather odd about her,” Zipp whispered.

“What’s odd about that?” Sunny whispered back. “She’s obviously a young child who just moved to New Ponyville.”

“It’s not that,” Zipp whispered. “Something about her essence feels different, like she’s not like any pony we’ve known in our life.”

The moment Cozy Glow placed her last coin in her bag, she fastened a small rope to her waist and tied the bag to it. Then she turned back to the older ponies.

“So Cozy,” Sunny said. “I’m on my way to the palace to meet with my mentor Princess Twilight Sparkle. I bet you’re famished. Would you like to come with us, meet her and get a bite to eat?”

“Oh would I?” Cozy Glow said, her hooves shuffling in excitement. “Oh boy. I hope you ponies have some delicious, flame-broiled meat.”

“Meat?” That one word caught Sunny, Izzy, Pipp, Zipp, Hitch and Starlight off guard. Their eyes shrunk down while Sparkly cheered randomly and Yukon Cornelius just chuckled.

“Wait. You eat meat?” Starlight asked.

“Why not?” Cozy Glow said. “After all, my mommy and daddy raised me on meat.”

“A pony eating meat,” Yukon Cornelius laughed. “Now I’ve seen everything.”

“Uhh, little Cozy,” Izzy said. “You sound like the first pony who does eat meat, because all of us are vegetarians, which includes the princesses.”

“Oh,” Cozy Glow said, sounding disappointed. “I guess….no meat.”

“Don’t you worry,” Sunny said, placing her arm around Cozy Glow. “Maybe Princess Twilight Sparkle could offer you something besides meat. What do you say about that?”

“Really?” Cozy Glow said. “Oh I can’t wait to see it.”

“Well come with us,” Izzy Moonbow said. “After all, we’re late for an important date.”

As Starlight grabbed what’s left of her socks and shoved them in her bag, she walked alongside Sunny Starscout, Cozy Glow and Yukon Cornelius as they made their way down the streets with Hitch, Sparky, Izzy, Pipp, and Zipp following from behind. But Pipp, still nervous about Cozy Glow, inched her head towards her sister Zipp.

“This is rather bizarre,” Pipp whispered to Zipp. “A pony who eats meat.”

“No kidding,” Zipp whispered back. “Even I was caught off guard by this Cozy Glow.”

“I don’t know if I can trust her,” Pipp whispered. “What if she tries to eat us?”

“Even I don’t think ponies are capable of cannibalism,” Zipp whispered back. “Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?”

But as Zipp Storm ended her sentence, everyone paused over the sound of a mare crying in despair, followed by a pair of sinister laughs.

“That sounded like Misty Brightdawn,” Sunny Starscout said. “Did something happen to her?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Hitch said as Sparky growled. “And those other ponies sound like Suri Polomare and her stooges.”

“Those no good troublemakers,” Yukon Cornelius snarled as his moustache curled up in anger. “Ever since they came to New Ponyville, they’ve been nothing but trouble for some of the more innocent ponies. Even Princess Wanda was driven mad by them.”

“I think I know where Misty is,” Hitch said, pointing his hoof down the street. “We need to get up to her and drive Suri and her henchponies away from Misty.”

“Then what are we waiting for,” Sunny shouted. “Let’s go save her.”

“I’m right with you, Sunny,” Pipp said, flapping her wings in a frenzy.

Without a second thought, everyone ran down the street as fast as possible, bypassing concerned citizens who were last focused towards the cries of Misty Brightdawn.

Moments later, the group arrived near the castle and their jaws dropped in horror. In front of them, Misty Brightdawn struggled to grab her butterfly ornament that was dangling above her head by a magic aura. Nearby, an earth pony mare name Suri Polomare laughed at the poor unicorn mare while an unicorn stallion named Ace kept the ornament levitated with his magic, and a pegasi mare named Blue Monsoon blew gusts of wind with her wings to knock Misty off balance.

“GIVE THAT BACK!” Misty cried as she struggled to grab the ornament.

“What’s wrong, Musky Boreyawn?” Suri laughed. “Can’t get your precious trinket?”

“Or maybe she can’t take a stand against us,” Blue Monsoon laughed. “What a pathetic little snowflake.”

“I MEAN IT!” Misty shouted as Blue Monsoon continued to wreck into Misty’s balance with the gusts of wind from his wings. “I DON’T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU THREE BULLIES!”

But as Misty took a giant leap towards the ornament, Ace pulled the trinket back with his magic before holding it close to his head.

“So you really want this piece of trash, eh?” Ace said. “Well go FETCH!”

Flicking his head as face as possible, Ace threw the ornament to his right as high as he could. Misty tried to run towards the ornament, only for Blue Monsoon to knock her down with a powerful blast of wind from her wings. Misty collapsed onto the ground as she helplessly watched the ornament fall to the ground.

“NOOOOOOO!” Misty shouted.

But before the ornament landed, Sunny Starscout reached out and grabbed the butterfly ornament with her wings. She breathed a sigh of relief as Hitch, Zipp, Pipp and Starlight marched over to Suri, Ace and Monsoon. Sparky, perched on Hitch’s back, snarled at the trio.

“What’s the big idea picking on Misty again?” Hitch shouted as Sparky growled at the three ponies.

Izzy signaled to Misty Brightdawn, who ran up to the rest of the group. Before she could speak, Sunny held the butterfly ornament out and gave it to the shy unicorn.

“Sunny,” Misty said. “You came to New Ponyville.”

“I did, old friend,” Sunny said as Misty took back her ornament. “And I came to see ponies like you and my mentor Twilight Sparkle.”

“Thanks,” Misty said before Sunny gave her a small hug.

But as Misty and Sunny embraced each other, Hitch kept his eyes on Suri Polomare, Ace and Blue Monsoon, who marched up towards the stallion. On his back, Sparky growled at the three troublemakers.

“Still acting like a snowflake to us, huh?” Suri laughed before noticing Sparky. “Maybe you should be better off keeping your pet dog on a leash.”

“He’s not a dog,” Hitch shouted. “He’s my son. And he’s just like Twilight and Sunset’s close friend: Spike.”

“Those princess wannabes?” Blue Monsoon laughed. “They couldn’t fly to save their own lives.”

“For your information,” Zipp shouted. “Both princesses are far better flyers than you’ll ever be. Or maybe you should realize that Sunset Shimmer is a better Wonderbolt than you’ll ever be, Baboon.”

“WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?” Blue Monsoon shouted, her teeth clenched in anger.

Blue Monsoon leaped at Zipp Storm, bracing her right hoof back. But before she could swing, she was stopped in mid-air by Ace, who pulled her back in.

“That’s enough, Monsoon,” Suri Polomare said as Ace pulled Blue Monsoon close to him. “We’re here to put these ponies in their proper place.”

“Proper place?” Sunny Starscout said as she let go of Misty. “Didn’t Princess Twilight Sparkle say that we should embrace each other in the magic of friendship?”

Looking at Sunny Starscout, Suri Polomare laughed out loud before directing her gaze back at the young mare.

“You must be Silly Snorescout,” Suri laughed.

“That’s Sunny Starscout,” Sunny snarled.

“Starscout, Snorescout, what’s the difference,” Suri said. “And you’re still following that buffoon of a princess? No wonder you’re such a failure of a snowflake.”

“So what if I am?” Sunny said, glaring at Suri. “Even snowflakes have unique forms that you wouldn’t understand.”

“Typical Snorescout,” Suri Polomare said. “If I were in charge of this town, ponies would abandon this kind of idea and embrace a far more selfish ideology.”

But as Sunny snorted at Suri’s words, the snobby earth pony took notice of Starlight Glimmer, who quickly hid behind Yukon Cornelius..

“Well well well,” Suri said. “If it ain’t Princess Wanda’s favorite Mary Sue.”

“Just leave us alone,” Starlight cried. “We never did anything bad to you.”

“Oh sure you did,” Suri Polomare laughed. “You chose to embrace that monkey of a princess.”

“Now you see here,” Yukon protested. “I’ve just about had it with you harassing other ponies for your pleasure. In fact, if it weren’t for that stunt you pulled outside of this fine city about a month ago, you and your troublemaking cronies would have stayed banished from New Ponyville. You’re far more dirty than a lump of coal.”

“My my,” Suri laughed. “Did I get under the old man’s skin?”

Yukon Cornelius’s face turned a bright red as his moustache curled up in a tight wad. But before he could say anything, Suri took notice of Cozy Glow and simply walked past the prospector.

“Well well well,” Suri said, looking down at Cozy Glow. “I didn’t know foalsitting was in your job description.”

“For your information, she’s new to this town and her name is Cozy Glow,” Pipp Petal said.

“Cozy Glow,” Suri said as she, Ace and Monsoon looked down at the little pegasi filly. “Aww. Did the little filly lose her mommy and daddy?”

“FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I STILL HAVE MY BROTHERS BY MY SIDE!” Cozy Glow yelled. “SO DON’T MESS WITH ME OR TALK ABOUT MY MOMMY AND DADDY!”

“Oh my,” Suri said, amused by Cozy Glow’s tantrum. “Did I upset a little filly like you? Would you like your wittle foal bottle?”

“For your information miss meanie pants,” Cozy Glow said. “I….eat….MEAT!”

Suri, Ace and Monsoon paused for a moment before looking at each other. Then, they all broke down into laughter.

“A meat eater?” Suri laughed. “Her? What a joke.”

“What does she think she is?” Ace said. “A wolf?”

“What kind of freak even eats meat to begin with?” Monsoon laughed. “She should be in a zoo, not on the street.”

Cozy Glow looked peeved as her face turned beet red. In an instant, Hitch stood in front of Cozy Glow, glaring down the three bullies all while Sparky snarled at them..

“That’s just about enough,” Hitch said, holding out his sheriff badge. “You better take your game and leave before I give you a reason to lock you three up.”

“Alright alright, we’ll leave,” Suri laughed. “But I would keep that freak on a leash. Who knows if she decides to eat other ponies.”

Suri Polomare, Ace and Blue Monsoon laughed as they walked down the street, leaving everyone else behind, especially an angry Cozy Glow.

“A…freak?” Cozy Glow snarled. “She….called me….a freak?”

But in an instant, Starlight Glimmer grabbed Cozy Glow and held her close by with Izzy Moonbow hugging the filly from behind.

“Don’t let her words get you down,” Starlight said. “She scares me easily as well. But I focus more on my friends to get me through.”

“Starlight’s right,” Izzy Moonbow said. “Besides, aren’t we due to meet with the Princesses at New Ponyville Palace?”

Cozy Glow slowly calmed down as she looked up at Izzy Moonbow.

“The Princesses?” Cozy Glow asked. “What are they like?”

“Well two are alicorns like Princess Celestia and Princess Luna,” Izzy said. “The third one is a human, and she’s a real tech wizard. Some compare her to a legendary tech master who could build a power suit in a cave with a box full of scraps.”

“She could?” Cozy Glow said. “Well I’d like to meet these princesses.”

“Well we shouldn’t keep them waiting,” Sunny Starscout said. “After all, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump towards the palace.”

As Cozy Glow got down from Starlight and Izzy’s hug, Sunny Starscout directed the little filly towards the palace nearby.

“Wow,” Cozy Glow said. “That must be nicer than the palace where I lived it.”

“Wait,” Sunny said. “A palace? Does that make you a…Princess?”

“It's a long story,” Cozy Glow said. “But I’ll explain it when we meet these princesses.”

“Then what are we waiting for? A boatload of random events that make no sense to the story?” Izzy Moonbow laughed. “Come on. Let’s go meet the princesses.”

Racing off as fast as they could, Sunny Starscout, Izzy Moonbow, Hitch Trailblazer with Sparky Sparkaroni on his back, Pipp Petals, Zipp Storm, Misty Brightdawn, Starlight Glimmer, Cozy Glow and Yukon Cornelius ran towards the palace. Misty quickly turned her head to Hitch as she ran as fast as possible, holding onto her ornament as close as possible.

“I want to thank you and the others for helping save me from that meanie Suri and her gang of meaner meanies,” Misty said

“No worries, Mist,” Hitch said. “Besides, I think you’ll be safe at the palace with the Princess three.”

But as the group ran, Yukon Cornelius directed his attention towards Cozy Glow, who looked excited to meet the princesses.

“I wonder if this filly is the one from Centauria,” Yukon thought to himself. “After all, I’ve heard tales about a little filly that was adopted and raised by King Vorak Highstaff and Queen Lillian Hayden of Centauria.”

But nearby, Suri popped her head out from behind a building that she walked off to. Ace and Blue Monsoon also followed suit.

“Still have your eye on those losers, boss?” Blue Monsoon asked.

“Oh I just have this urge to want to eavesdrop on those buffoons,” Suri Polomare responded. “After all, one good heckling deserves another.”

“So what do you think they’re up to?” Ace asked.

“Oh I know,” Blue Monsoon said. “They’re putting together a party to watch a couple of cute doggies and their adventures.”

“WHO ASKED YOU?” Suri shouted before she smacked Blue Monsoon across the face.

“Oww,” Blue Monsoon said. “But I like the doggies.”

“Enough already,” Suri Polomare said, causing Blue Monsoon to back up.

Suri Polomare turned her attention towards the castle where Sunny Starscout and her friends made their way in. She lets out a slight chuckle before turning back to Ace and Blue Monsoon.

“Right now, we’re going to overhear everything that comes out of that grand foyer,” Suri said. “And since the guards are a no show, this will be as easy as taking candy from a baby. We’ll find out what they’re up to, and give them a big enough disaster that they will never forget.”

To Be Continued

Author's Note

So not only is the entire G5 Mane Six in this fanfic, but also the more jerkish villains of the story.

FiM fans will recognize Suri Polomare. I decided to do away with any positive traits and just make her a spiteful bully that is truly meant to be hated.

Anyone who saw My Little Pony Tales recognizes Ace as one of the worst characters. Like with Suri, I took out all positive traits about this character and just made him far more enjoyable to hate. Oh and I made him a unicorn so we could have an Earth Pony/Unicorn/Pegasi trio.

Blue Monsoon, who I wanted to call Wind Razor, is an OC I created to serve as the Pegasi of the terrible trio.

The next part will finally bring in Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer and my OC Wanda Young. Stay tuned.