Very Merry Hearth's Warming Day

   In a small field, full of dull dirt, overhung by a gloomy sky, a small filly stood.  Her coat was a light gray, while her straight, orderly mane was a few shades darker.  At the moment, she was pushing a rock with her nose, rolling it towards the North field.

   The fields were full of rocks.  Big rocks, little rocks, round rocks, rocks that weighed a ton, rocks, rocks, rocks.  The little filly didn’t understand what the point of it was.  She she’d asked her father, he’d told her, “Inkavinia, you’ll understand when you’re older.”  Inkie didn’t think that was quite fair.  Just because she was the youngest didn’t mean she should be kept in the dark.

   She’d never said such a thing, though.  Father didn’t like it when they spoke out of line.  Just for asking that question, she’d gotten a spanking.  Father was very strict about everything.

   Nopony ever smiled at the farm.  There was nothing to smile about.  Not during work, not during supper, not during schooling. Just frowning.  Or, in Inkie’s case, a flat line.  She figured that, if she didn’t smile, she didn’t have to frown, either.

   Inkie finally saw the faint line that marked the border of the fields.  Sighing, she rolled the rock over the line, and raised her head to stretch.  However, she was greeted with an unexpected sight.

   A few metres to the left, she saw another filly.  This filly had a rock too, but what stood about her was, well, her.  Sharply contrasting with her surroundings, her coat and mane were pink.  A dull pink, of course, but the color was rare enough on the rock farm for it to be special.

   Just then, the filly noticed her, and raised her head.  Her eyes were a dull blue, but still contained the tiniest hint of a smile.  “Hi, Inkie.”

   Inkie smiled back, on the inside.  “Hi, Pinkie.”

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   “Woah, woah, wait a second!”

   Octavia looked up as Vinyl recoiled in surprise.  The stunned unicorn shook her head.  “Your sister is Pinkie Pie?!”

   “I told you you’d know her.”

   “How could I not?  She’s the Element of Laughter!  One of the most widely known ponies in Equestria!”

   “Well, obviously.”

   Vinyl shook her head again, taking a deep breath.  “So, let me get this straight.  You used to be a rock farmer.”

   “Yep.”

   “Your sister is Pinkie Pie.”

   “You already said that.”

   “It’s a big deal, okay?  And your real name is... Inkavinia?”

   “That’s mostly correct.”

   Vinyl rubbed her temples.  “Then why is your name Octavia?”

   “It’s complicated.”

   “How...”  Vinyl suddenly stopped.  “Wait a second.”  She looked at her roommate.  “Wait a second!”  She clapped her hooves together.  “I’ve got it!”

   “‘Got it’?  Got what?”

   Vinyl put her hooves again Octavia’s cheeks and stared into her eyes.  “We can go and see your sister for Hearth’s Warming!”

   Octavia blanched.  “W-what?”

   Vinyl dropped her face and threw her hooves up.  “It’s perfect!  We can go on the train to Ponyville and surprise her, and you guys can catch up.”

   “I-I’m not quite sure that’s the best idea, Vinyl.”

   “Of course it is!  When was the last time you saw her?”

   “The Grand Galloping Gala.”

   “Did you actually talk to her?”

   “Well, no.”

   “Then it doesn’t count.  C’mon Octy!” Vinyl pleaded.

   “Well...” Octavia trailed off.  Vinyl stared at her, and pouted.  Mentally, Octavia facehooved.  Ugh, she’s doing the puppy dog thing.

   Meanwhile, Vinyl had moved into phase two.  She lowered her head, and looked up at Octavia.  Her bottom lip stuck out, and quivered ever so slightly.

   Now Octavia actually facehooved.  “Vinyl-”

   “Pwease, Octy?”

   “That’s not fair, you know I can’t fight that!”

   “Pwetty pwease?”

   “I refuse to-”

“Pweease?”  Vinyl’s had had lifted slightly, and her magenta eyes were wide open, shimmering with unshed tears.

   Octavia gave in.  “Oh, fine!  We’ll go!”

   Instantly, Vinyl leaped up and cheered, before grabbing Octavia’s wrist and dashing to the door.  “Now let’s go!”

   “But what about my bowtie?”

   “No time!”

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   A bowtie, a grumpy Vinyl, and twenty minutes later, they stood on the train platform with their tickets.  Octavia stuck her tongue out while she straightened the accessory on her neck.

   “Ah, don’t be so smug.  I had to go back and get my glasses,” Vinyl grumbled, not really angry.

   “Whatever you say, Vinyl.”

   “Yeah, yeah.  Oh look, the train’s here!”  Sure enough a whistle signaled the locomotive’s arrival.  It pulled into the station with a squeal, and opened its doors as soon as it stopped.

   The conductor leaned out of an opening and shouted, “All aboard!”  Quickly, everypony began swarming towards the doors, the two musicians included.

   After being swept in on the wave of passengers, Vinyl and Octavia walked towards the rear of the train.  They found an empty compartment near the back of their car, and got settle in.  A few minutes later, the train started off once again.

   It took a minute for Vinyl to distinguish Octavia’s shaking from the train’s rumble.  She lifted her opaque glasses, and nudged the shivering pony.  “Octy,” she whispered.  “You okay?”

   Octavia shook her head, and scooted closer.  “N-no.  I’m nervous.”

   “What’s wrong?”

   Octavia took a deep breath, and leaned into the DJ’s side.  “I haven’t talked with my sister since we were fillies.  It’s obvious that she’s changed.

   “You see, when I saw her at the Gala, I couldn’t have  talked to her if I’d tried.  By the time everything ended, I couldn’t find her anywhere.  She seems so happy and bouncy now.  But that isn’t what makes me scared of meeting her.”

   “What is?”

   “Well, something happened back at the rock farm.  Pinkie wasn’t always so cheery.  Really, she was gloomier than I was.”

   “Really?  I wouldn’t have expected that.”

   “Yes, yes.  Things were different back then.  I think Pinkie was probably the least happy pony out of all of us.  But then, one morning, something changed.”

   “What do you mean?”

   “Well, we woke up, and Pinkie wasn’t in the house...”