Hearths Warming Tasks

Applejack and Rainbow Dash found themselves saddled with another task that was anything but cheerful: retrieving every single holiday wreath in town.

“So let me get this straight,” Rainbow Dash said, hovering cross-legged above the cart of supplies. “One of the wreaths in town is cursed by... Something." She shot a glare at Applejack. "It’s alive and we have to haul away all of them?”

Mayor Mare nodded. “It’s the safest option. The curse makes the wreath seem normal until it… doesn’t. The princesses say we can't risk leaving it on someone’s door. Once you’ve collected all the wreaths, we'll burn them. It's the only way to be sure."

Applejack adjusted her hat with a sigh. “Sounds simple enough. Grab a wreath, toss it in the cart.”

“Oh, it’s never that simple,” Rainbow muttered, eyeing a pile of charred wreathes, one of which had tried to eat her.

Mrs. Cake greeted them warmly, and handed them a decorated nicely wreath. “I’m glad you’re taking precautions, dears, but are you sure this is necessary? I’ve had this wreath for years.”

“Better safe than sorry,” Applejack carefully placing it in the cart.

Just as they turned to leave, Pinkie Pie popped out of nowhere, clutching three wreaths of her own.

“Pinkie, why do you have so many wreaths?” Rainbow tilted her head in confusion.

“In case of a wreath emergency, duh! Here, take these too!” Pinkie tossed them in the cart, and Rainbow barely dodged one that seemed to wiggle in the air.

Rarity dramatically opened the door, a cup of tea in her magical grip. “Darling, I must insist you handle my wreath with care. It’s a one-of-a-kind design—not to mention positively brimming with artistic integrity.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes and reached out for it. “Yeah, yeah, artistic integrity. Just hand it over.”

But Rarity wasn’t about to let them leave so quickly. “While you’re here I have made you new Christmas outfits for all the help you're giving everyone!"

Applejack groaned and shook her head. "Rarity, we don't really have time for..." Rainbow Dash herself was raising a hoof to object as well until they were interrupted by Rarity.

"Also they're bite proof."

After a long pause they both sighed and Rainbow Dash with her head hanging. "Nevermind that. Just bring them out."

Rainbow Dash pulled at the hood of her reindeer outfit, grumbling while she glared at Applejack. Applejack herself was perfectly happy in her larger red coat, it was quite warm and pretty. "I think she had a favorite."

Applejack chuckled and gave a shrug. "I think it's more the theme, you are the flyer." Rainbow Dash had to not in recognition that that might have been the logic. Though she still thought it was just plain old favoritism.

The wreath on Fluttershy’s door seemed normal, she wasn't here, and none of the animals seemed to have any objections to them taking the wreath, a welcome change from most houses.

As they turned though they heard someone call out, though thankfully not in protest. "Well hello there." They turned around to see a large antlered reindeer coming around the back of the house, a guest of Fluttershy they guessed. He gave Applejack a nod but quickly made his way over to Rainbow Dash. "Might I say I didn't expect to find another of my kind around... Oh."

Rainbow Dash blew a part of her rainbow colored main out of her eyes. "Yeah, it's a holiday costume."

The reindeer cleared his throat. "Well then, don't let me keep you! Good work on your bringing of wreathes!"

"Collecting."

"Collecting of wreathes!" He turned and trotted back around the house, muttering "strange tradition."

By the time they reached the Town Square, the cart was nearly overflowing with wreaths. Applejack tugged it along easily, grinning at Rainbow Dash who had insisted that she take a turn pulling and Applejack do the retrieving. Sadly she had decided to do that close to the end, where the cart was far too heavy for her to pull effectively. She (of course) could pull it, but she couldn't pull it as fast as Applejack.

“This is ridiculous,” Rainbow Dash grumbled. “We’ve got half the town’s wreaths, and not one of them has tried to eat us yet. Are we sure this curse is even real?”

As if in answer, a low growl rumbled from the cart.

Applejack sighed. “That didn't happen to be your stomach, did it?"

“Uh, nope.”

Suddenly, one of the wreaths sprang to life, its green foliage twisting into thorny tendrils. It launched itself from the cart, hissing and snapping, trying to attack the back of the pony that was pulling it. Though it just got a mouth full of coat and both Applejack and Rainbow Dash had to pause for a moment. "Wow. I didn't expect the coat to be that... Effective."

Rainbow Dash nodded, her own thoughts equally impressed. "Yeah, I mean Rarity does things pretty, but I guess we don't give her enough credit for doing things well either."

Applejack grinned. "Ya got that right. I mean that hat she made me lasted for a few years."

Rainbow Dash nodded. "We should probably stop by to thank h..." Her sentence was interrupted by a surprised yelp. It hadn't gotten through the coat, but it was a bit of a pinch at time. "Oh right! Demon wreath!"

Rainbow Dash grabbed it and pointed it away from them... Then stood there. "Uh... What now?"

Rainbow Dash sighed, holding the wreath still. They had tried tied it up, putting it under something, and all kinds of things. This thing was able to crawl out, chew out, or fight out of everything they did to it. They hadn't had time to start a fire but they would have to figure out how to do that.

Applejack blinked in surprise as a friend she hadn't been expecting showed up. "Autumn Blaze, what're you...

Autumn Blaze grinned as she was wreathed in dark fire. "Plot device."