Chapter 1: That Time of Year
It is that time of the year in Equestria: Hearth's Warming Eve, the greatest time where ponies can celebrate friendship, family, love, etc. The celebration of when three tribes from centuries ago have finally put their difference aside to found Equestria. It was said that the ruler of each one, whose hatred and greed fill their hearts, has change their ways to put aside their difference.
But sometimes though, legends can be not always be true.
It's been a while since the events involving Trixie Lulamoon and the Alicorn Amulet (some ponies are surprised that Celestia ordered her guards not to chase Trixie despite her involvement with Lorcan, her previous escape from the guards and how she is wanted for questioning in the villains' jailbreak). The ponies have put up decorations, singing carols, etc. Even the Cakes are making their annual Hearth's Warming Eve cookies.
The Mane Six, Ben, the CMC along with Nyx and Phobos are singing together with Time Turner, Derpy, Big Macintosh, Cheerilee and some more ponies, one of them mentioned how Time Turner was drinking Listering (much to his embarrassment).
Fluttershy giggles happily while saying, "I enjoy this time of the year, don't you?"
"Eeyup!" Big Macintosh remarks with a smile. "Ah done enjoy it too."
"Well, thanks for the caroling everypony! Time for us to head on home and enjoy our Hearth's Warming Eve," Twilight said with a smile. The gang soon celebrates as they head on to either go home or do their own thing. The Mane Six, the CMC, Ben, Nyx and Phobos are heading home themselves. "I got to say, I enjoy doing that."
"Yeah, man, I can't wait. Hearth's Warming Eve is almost here." Rainbow said eagerly while stretching a bit. "And it couldn't come any sooner. We have to deal with problems after Tirek like King Sombra, the Pinkie clones and Trixie."
"Hey, folks! We done got a card fro' Babs Seed in Manehattan!" Applejack exclaims as she shows a Hearth's Warming Eve card, "Made it herself."
"Did she mention about the Manehattan over there and her bullying problem?" Nyx ask Applejack curiously.
"Eeyup; She is dealing wit' 'dat there problem right an' already she is getting some members."
"We got the presents gotten for our friends and each other, we sang the carols and the whatnot." Ben said with a pleased look on his face. "Also, mom, Aunt Luna and the rest of the family is coming to visit. I got to say, I am pretty looking forward to this time of year."
"Who knew that long ago Equestria was founded when the three tribes of ponies were fighting one another?" Sweetie asks her friends with a smile.
"Eeyup, an' how those ruling ponies were filled wit' hatred an' greed in their hearts but 'de warm magic filled their hearts." Apple Bloom said with a nod.
"Right; And Clover the Clever, Smart Cookie and Private Pansy help one another in those cold times!" Scootaloo exclaims happily. "I like how they redeem their rulers."
Some ponies feel a bit uneasy about the 'redeeming parts'. The play seems to state that Princess Platinum, Commander Hurricane and Chancellor Puddinghead has been freed from their icy prisons, but the truth is that they all perished. Regardless their advisers were able to form Equestria and made peach with one another.
The pageant in Canterlot was alternated because the real demise of the rulers was too sad and dramatic for young fillies and colts.
The ponies yelp as they got hit by snowballs. The heroes glare at Diamond Tiara who was the culprit, taunting, "Merry Hearth's Warming Eve, losers; Shame that Trixie didn't bother to chase you all out when she had the chance."
"Diamond Tiara, buck off now!" Spike snarls at Diamond Tiara.
"What are you gonna do about-" Diamond Tiara was cut off as Spike grab her, his eyes now green slits. Mane Six are shocked as they are slowly reminded of Lorcan.
"I should punish you for the remark...but since it's Hearth's Warming Eve, I will let you off this one time...now get lost."
Diamond Tiara was let go, the bully gulps as she gallops away in fear. Rarity in concern said, "Spike; was that necessary?"
Spike, calming down, said, "Sorry, Rarity, but she was asking for it...plus, I guess I am still upset over the incident with Trixie."
"Oh, relax, Spike. I'm sure when push comes to shove, Trixie will be better than ever." Twilight said with a chuckle. "But let's not talk about the past for now; Time for the present."
"Which is Hearth's Warming Eve," Phobos remarks with a laugh. "Oh, I cannot wait for the presents and the candy!"
"You and your wants, Phobos," Nyx said then she begins to shiver. "Brrr, is it getting more colder than ever?"
"It's Hearth's Warming Eve, Nyx." Pinkie said to Nyx happily as more snow begins to blow in. "You got to expect a whole lot snow to come in during this time of year."
"Yeah...I guess it's nothing unusual."
"You know, it's funny. We didn't schedule for a snow blizzard today." Rainbow said puzzled while glancing at the snow clouds gathering. "You don't think it's Wendigos, do you?"
"No, those only appear if ponies are fighting...and I don't see any, unless you count Diamond Tiara." Rarity explains to Rainbow.
"Come on, let's get going." Twilight said, shivering some more as she and her friends head on off.
Unknown to the trio, three voices are heard laughing or yelling as if something is about to happen...
Golden Heart at Canterlot Castle looks worried as he saw the snow storm coming in at Ponyville via the balcony of his room. The alicorn mumbles, "Something terrible's about to happen...Pinkamena and my friends may need my help on this..."
Golden Heart then gallops off the balcony and flew off, preparing himself for the worst.
Things in Ponyville got even more chilly than the snowy wasteland. Sweetie shivers in the Carousel Baroque.
"Brrr! Sis, is it getting cold in here?" Sweetie asks Rarity who is working on a dress nearby.
"Look, I will set fire to some wood; that should warm us up, Sweetie." Rarity assures her sister with a smile.
"Okay, Rarity." Sweetie said as she smiled back.
Rarity prepares to use her magic to make a fire, but looks confused as her horn begins to turn to ice.
"What the hay?" Rarity asks confused. "That never happened before."
"Oh...how about we go to Twilight's and see if she can help?" Sweetie suggested to her sister.
"Maybe," Rarity said as she heads to the door, planning on visiting the library. But upon opening it, the white unicorn's eyes widen in shock and alarm as there is a ice wall in the way, "What?! We're iced in!"
"What," Sweetie yelled in shock.
"Uh...Rainbow, I still think it's not fair that you do this to me every Hearth's Warming Eve." Derpy said with a pouty look as Rainbow and Scootaloo is chaining up the Pegasus pony.
"Come on, Derpy! It's tradition! We locked you in the bath tub so you won't make a mess!" Rainbow exclaims to Derpy with a smile. "You always love it."
"Not really." Derpy whines to Rainbow a bit. "Can I at least be let out of the bath tub this year?"
"Come on, don't fight tradition!" Rainbow exclaims. Suddenly the mare yelps as she shivers some more like mad. "Hey, those Pegasus ponies need to cool off the snowstorm! I'm trying to lock up Derpy here!"
Suddenly, snow icicles hit the ground, making the Pegasus ponies yelp in shock. Scootaloo exclaims in shock, "Bad choice of words, Rainbow Dash!"
The mares scream as a high wind blow them across the area, Derpy, still chained up, fell to the ground. Rainbow got up while yelling, "Get to shelter! Something tells me that this is no original Pegasus pony like snowstorm!"
Rainbow and Scootaloo dash off though Derpy is having trouble moving. The mare calls out, "Uh, Rainbow, Scootaloo? I'm still chained up. Hello?"
The Apples' farm got hit by the madness. Their apples are growing big and snowballs the size of boulders are trapped their homes like mad.
"What 'de Sam Hill is going on?!" Applejack asks in shock and alarm. "Did Discord get loose again?"
"It can't be! He was defeated!" Apple Bloom exclaimed in shock.
"Huh?" Big Macintosh yelps as a huge snow like tornado is spinning around. "Look out!"
The siblings got out of the way in time as the tornado knocks down their barn. Applejack looks alarmed as she heard laughter coming from it.
"Does 'dat sound...like Pinkie Pie 'ta yew?" Applejack asks her siblings in concern.
"'Dat laugh does sound familiar." Apple Bloom said.
"I hope it isn't Trixie. Once is enough." Big Macintosh said in concern.
In the library, Twilight glances out the window, seeing it coming down hard. The mare said, "We better seal the library up. We got one nasty blizzard."
"Wait, have you seen Nyx?" Ben ask in concern, noting that Nyx is nowhere in sight.
"She went outside to play." Phobos remarks as he roll on some sort of ball, "Haven't seen her back."
"Darn, I gotta go out and get here." Ben said as he goes outside into the storm. "You three get this place sealed up. We don't want to be snowed in."
"We're on it, Ben." Spike said with a nod.
Ben goes out into the snow, shivering a bit. His daughter is out here...somewhere...
"Hey, can someone tell me where I am?" Nyx ask in concern while trying to find her way home. "Hello?"
Familiar evil laughter is heard, making Nyx nervous as she asks, "Who's there?"
"My, my, you do not remember me? How typical," A familiar alicorn in dark armor appears, making Nyx gasps in shock and fear.
"Nightmare Moon," Nyx gasps upon seeing her, "But how?! I was reformed and..."
"I am the darkness that came from your heart, Nyx." Nightmare Moon said with an evil hiss. "And now, you will know that you don't belong here, we both don't."
"No! That can't be true! I defended Ponyville from all the Everfree Forest creatures and redeemed myself! I'm not Nightmare Moon anymore! I belong here with Mommy, Daddy, Phobos and Spike!"
"Oh, tsk, tsk. And yet, if I recall right, you left Boris to his fate, no one bother calling you out when you destroyed the sun that could've restored their leaves...I heard some folks called you 'Mary-Sue'." Nightmare Moon taunts the terrified Nyx some more. "And let's not forget your possession by Tirek not so long ago."
"No! Stop it!" Nyx cried in terror.
"You are always Nightmare Moon and you always were, ruling Equestria, bringing forth Eternal Night! That is your destiny!" Nightmare Moon hisses causing Nyx to cry some more.
Of course, Nyx didn't see a ghost laughing sinisterly behind herself...
"Nyx, Nyx, where are you?" Ben calls out as he looks around for his daughter. Just then he spots a familiar mare nearby, her horn is glowing, "Twilight?"
"What are you doing out here?" Twilight demands to Ben, much to his confusion.
"I came out here to find our daughter." Ben explains to Twilight. "Don't you remember? I..."
"'Our daughter'; don't be stupid! Why would I want to share Nyx with a loser like you?" Twilight taunts to Ben, much to his shock. Did his love just insult him?
"Loser," Ben asked in shock and confusion.
"Right, I only bother hanging with you because I felt sorry for you. Face it, I only belong to one stallion and one in particular." Twilight said with an evil smirk.
Ben looks shocked as a familiar stallion appears, holding Twilight while saying, "Face it, Ben! She's right!"
"Boris!" Ben exclaims in anger. He charges at Boris but end up going right through him. "I don't know what you did to Twilight but..."
"I did nothing! She came for me on her own free choice!" Boris remarks to Ben sinisterly. "You have all the powers of the Triforce Element but you can't even have true love. And you thought that was a shocker? Check this out!"
Ben gasps as Boris and Twilight...kiss and not caring that they're doing it in front of him! The stallion screams in horror, "No, no, NOOOO!"
The stallion has no idea of a familiar ghost laughing nearby as well.
"Run for it," Fluttershy screams in worry as she and her animal friends rush to the safety of Sugarcube Corner. The mare and her friends jump in, dodging a huge snowball, "Made it!"
"Can you come back later? I'm having some trouble with some toys right now!" Pinkie exclaims. Fluttershy looks confused as she and her animal friends saw the pink pony throwing pies at some toys...that are attacking her and the Cakes.
"Why are you fighting toys?" Fluttershy ask Pinkie in confusion.
"Oh, they were presents for Pound and Pumpkin but they came to life and gone crazy!" Pinkie explains as she smashes a toy with a mallet.
"Oh, dear, please stop, toys." Fluttershy plead to the toys but yelps as a Jack in the Box throws a ball at her. "Oh, dear, that isn't nice."
Angel nods as he and the animals quickly attack the toys, knocking them down. Fluttershy sighs a bit.
"Be careful not to break them too much! I still have to give them to the twins!" Pinkie calls out to the animals.
"Pinkie Pie," A voice exclaims in annoyance as the Apples came in, Applejack looking upset. "What 'de hay were yew thinking? Spinning around an' trashing our barn like 'dat?"
"What are you on about?" Pinkie protests to Applejack innocently. "I was here the whole time, fighting these toys."
One doll tries to hit Big Macintosh but he steps on it, remarking, "Yep, looks like unicorn magic."
"Don't pin it on us!" Rarity protests as she and Sweetie came into the shop. "My sister and I were locked in by ice and snow! What are those Pegasus ponies doing?!"
"We weren't doing nothing," Rainbow protests as she and Scootaloo came into the place. "We were busy chaining up Derpy when the weather went nuts! I betcha you unicorns did this."
"Don't you go blaming us," Rarity exclaims angrily as some of the ponies begin to argue with one another.
"Stop it...stop it..." Fluttershy said meekly, but her friends continue arguing as to whose fault it is. The mare frowns then takes a deep breath, "STOP IT!.!.!.!"
The ponies stop their arguing, look surprised. Fluttershy, calming down, explains, "Don't fight. This is the kind of arguing that caused the three tribes of long ago to fight along one another. We are friends; we shouldn't have to fight like this."
The arguing ponies felt bad for their arguing. Pinkie said, "Awww, I feel like a heel. Sorry for arguing about your kind, Rarity."
"Rainbow Dash, I'm truly sorry for accusing your Pegasus kind." Rarity said with a sigh of regret.
"And I'm...wait, how come no one accused the Earth ponies yet?" Rainbow asks a bit puzzled.
"Can we git 'ta another subject right now?" Applejack asks in concern. "Like how 'dis whole madness started in 'de first place?"
The ponies pause to think then Apple Bloom realizes something, making her ask, "Wait, has anyone seen Twilight, Ben, Nyx an' our dragon friends?"
Twilight looks worried. She and the dragons got the library sealed up but Ben and Nyx hasn't come back yet. The unicorn heads out to find any traces of them.
"Ben, Nyx? Where are you two?" Twilight ask in concern as she looks around the blizzard. 'Ben; Nyx!"
"And what are you doing here?" An angry familiar voice spoke up, making Twilight surprised. Nearby is none other than her teacher and aunt in law Celestia who is glaring at her.
"Oh, Princess Celestia; I didn't know that you were coming here. Have you seen Ben and Nyx?"
"Doesn't matter because I have come to take you out of Equestria! You have failed, Twilight!"
Twilight looks shocked and alarmed. Did her teacher just say that she 'failed'? The unicorn trembles as she asks, "Failed? What do you mean?"
"You should've told me about Trixie having the Alicorn Amulet before but you didn't and almost fooled Equestria to slavery." Celestia said sternly to her student. "You have lost your loved ones foolishly and worst yet, you let some dragon beat your test. You don't deserve to be my student and therefore...will pay the price."
"Celestia, wait, that's...wait a minute..."
Twilight felt like this is too familiar: she recalls how the unicorn fears how she herself will fail her test and be abandoned by Celestia...via the dark magic from one of King Sombra's traps back in Equestria.
Twilight frowns as she stood up, remarking, "Nice try, but I know that this isn't real. I remember how this happened to me before...you're not Celestia, you're an illusion and I know how to deal with you!"
Twilight's horn glows as 'Celestia's' eyes widen in horror. The unicorn shoots out a blast as the fake one screams before disappearing from sight. Twilight nods and quickly moves, hoping to find Ben and Nyx.
Sure enough, Twilight found Ben first...looking betrayed at seeing what appear to be her and Boris making out. The unicorn cringes in disgust, that sight has gotta go. Twilight's horn glows as she fire a blast at the fake her and Boris, getting rid of the illusion.
"What?" Ben asks confused as she turns to see the real Twilight, smiling to him, "Twilight?"
"Yeah, it's me, not that fake me. Where's Nyx?" Twilight ask Ben in concern.
The parents heard some screaming and rush to the direction. They saw Nyx being at the mercy of...Nightmare Moon? No, Twilight knew that it's another illusion created by whoever is behind this.
"Nyx," Twilight screams as she fires her spell at the fake Nightmare Moon.
"What; Noooooo," 'Nightmare Moon' screams as the spell hits her, dissolving her away. Nyx kept on crying some more as her parents rush up, Twilight hugs her.
"Nyx, it's okay. Nyx, it's not real. The illusion is not right."
"It's not?" Nyx ask while sniffing in sadness. "But...it felt so real, it was the darkness that..."
"It is not real!" Twilight insists to Nyx and Ben, much to their notice. "Look, Nyx, what you saw was your own fear coming to life. You feared that ponies will never see you as Nyx but rather as that evil force Nightmare Moon. But that isn't true...and you cast away that evil to be who you really wanted to."
"Yeah...you're right. I was scared about that."
"And Ben...that illusion you saw wasn't me or Boris. It was your own fear, you feared of losing me to that creep Boris."
"I was scared...that you would reject me, Twilight...and end up in that jerk's hooves. As well as being with me to..." Ben begins to say while shedding some of his own tears but Twilight nuzzles him a bit.
"I will never go to Boris, Ben. I love you too much to do that. Plus, that unicorn was a criminal and a hater of Earth ponies, why would I hang around somepony like that?" Twilight points out to Ben with a smile, making her love smile right back.
"Yeah, you're right...but Twilight...how did you know that..."
"Ben, remember? This dark magic is like one of King Sombra's traps back in the Crystal Empire! What we experienced is illusions created by dark magic, only 10 times fold."
"Twilight," A group of voices are heard. Twilight, Ben and Nyx saw Spike and Phobos on Rarity and Applejack's back as the rest of the Mane Six and some of the ponies rush towards them.
"Thank goodness you're all right." Spike said with a sigh of relief. "When you didn't come back..."
"Twilight, something is going on!" Rainbow exclaims with a frown. "Someone is trying to make us fight like the three clans by using the weather."
"And using toys! How dare they?!" Pinkie asks angrily and disgusted. "Toys are for fun, not for weapons!"
"As well as using cheap tricks," Apple Bloom remarks with a scoff. "Ah hate it when 'dat happen, it's like being captured by Queen Chrysalis all over again!"
"I know, someone has been using illusions of our worst fears against us." Ben explains, recovering what his worst nightmare. "I think whoever it is is behind the bad weather and going ons."
"You think it may be Trixie again?" Dinky Doo ask in concern.
"Don't be ridiculous. Zecora has buried that amulet thing!" Scootaloo exclaims to Dinky with a frown. "Trixie doesn't have enough power to do this stunt."
"If so...then who..."
Suddenly evil laughter is heard as everypony looks alarmed. Sure enough, three spiritual essences came down to Ponyville, much to their notices.
"Is that who's responsible for this?" Sweetie asks in worry and alarm. "This is bad like how Rarity uses one of her mannequins to break down the icy door!"
"Don't remind me of what I must do." Rarity said with a shiver of fear.
Soon the essences got their forms, turning into three familiar ponies...at first glance, they look like Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie...but at another glance, the trio are in the costumes from the Hearth's Warming Eve play.
"Arrragh; Ghosts," Fluttershy gasps as she hid behind some of her friends.
Diamond Tiara roll her eyes while snapping to Fluttershy, "Oh, mare up, you wimp!"
"Do I have to burn you?" Spike snarls to Diamond Tiara making her yelp in fear.
"No..."
"Then shut up!"
"Ugh, I can't believe it. We are this close to making another civil war...which I would've won by now." The Rainbow Dash lookalike remarks in annoyance.
"Hey, my illusions would've made them turned against one another!" The Rarity lookalike snaps to the Rainbow one in annoyance. "It's not like your dumb weather powers can do better!"
"Shut up!"
"You both shut up! I'm in charge, I am!" The Pinkie Pie lookalike exclaims madly to the other two ghosts, making the living ones look at them oddly.
"Who are these rip offs of Rainbow, Rarity and Pinkie Pie?" Ben asks Twilight who looks shocked and alarmed.
"I know them...they're Princess Platinum, Commander Hurricane and Chancellor Puddinghead!" Twilight exclaims making the ponies gasp in shock and alarm.
