Apples and Tiaras

Hearth's Warming Eve. Equestria's version of Christmas.

Way back when, it was to celebrate the unity of the 3 pony tribes and Equestria's founding. and like with Jesus and Christmas, the holiday evolved to include the pony version of Santa Claus and presents, very crummy specials, and even visits from the Snow Leopard and Reindeer villages in the arctic.

well, every town gets a visit, except for one this year. that is Trottingham.

it is in the middle of a most terrible blizzard brought on by Windigoes, who were lured to Trottingham by Applebloom's, Tiara's, and Green Star's little bout these past few months. the Blizzard has been going on for a good couple of weeks.

nobody in town was not prepared for a blizzard, however. they live close to the arctic so they all figured Windigoes would hit the town sooner or later. all of the buildings, even the ones used by the homeless, are stocked up for a month long blizzard with generators, food, and blankets.

ZIm's place was crowded with all of his friends having been stuck there for 2 weeks and the cabin fever is starting to get to some of them. among them are Applebloom's relatives; her dragon Uncle Spike and his 5 year old hybrid daughter Fire Ruby. 10 people in a 2 story house? sounds very much like a scenario out of Full Stable.

a series of tarps flapped in the wind, holding the snow back as best it could. the tarps are protecting Helios, who is too big to be inside the house. he's not cold; thanks to the fire in his stomach, he can weather the weather.

the door from the kitchen opened and a bundled up Applebloom walked out. "How you doing, Helios?"

the Crystal Dragon growled. he's been though worse.

Applebloom dragged a slab of meat out with her and put it in from of him. "Here's lunch." she looked at the flapping tarps, sighed and saw down. "I hope this storm lets up soon. everyone's starting to feel the pressure of being trapped for 2 weeks." Helios growled in acknowledged. he knows the feeling. he barely has enough room to move around so he's feeling more cramped then the rest of them.

Applebloom got up and patted Helios on the neck. "Well... hope it ends tomorrow, right?" she went back into the house, closing the door as she did.

"(..... sorry we can't be home for Hearth's Warming Eve, Rarity. this storm has been murder on all of us. but we're still doing fine. we have enough supplies to last a couple more weeks. hopefully this storm will let up be then. give Filigree my love and tell Applejack that Applebloom is doing fine.

Love, Spike.)"

Spike finished up the latest letter for home. done, he closed the letter and sent it on it's way the way he does best. He's dealing with this imprisonment fine. it's Fire Ruby that's starting to go crazy. thank goodness there's all these movies and still broadcasting tv channels, otherwise she'd have gone berserk.

he got up, stretched, and headed downstairs.

The TV blared a news report from a tv station in the nearby city of Maredrid played. years ago, it was destroyed in the Winter War, turning the city into a crater. the residents who survived have returned and rebuilt, with the Changelings that destroyed the city helping. they're still rebuilding but they got the big stuff done already, such as the suburbs and the big important buildings such as city hall. the male gryphon, who always lead all news segments, and the female earth pony reported on this little situation.

"...the entire city of Trottingham has been under the weather lately as a powerful snow storm moved into the area, blanketing the city in deep, deep snow."

"indeed. according to witnesses and letters from the inside of the storm..." everyone in the house looked to Spike. obviously, the letters are from him. "...Windigoes have besieged the city in a large and violent blizzard brought on by a little feud between two individuals inside the city. and for those who don't know, Windigoes are attracted to disharmony and discord and these two have been both of these for the past 5 months."

they all looked to Applebloom with course expressions, who had just come back in. she chuckled nervously. "At least they didn't mention our names."

"...it's highly likely that the Windigoes will continue to besiege the city until the end of winter. hopefully, the citizens of Trottingham can survive until then."

Breeze switched the tv off and sighed. "This is not how i expected how to spend Hearth's Warming Eve; trapped in a house for weeks."

Fire Ruby groaned. "I know. i had some good presents waiting for me back home; this Haystaion 4 with the new Transformares video game."

Spike looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "How did you know about that?" Ruby squeaked. oh, she's busted. "That game was hidden deep in your mother's closet. not even Filigree knew about it until today."

Ruby made a annoying noise for a small moment, then made a small squeaking noise as she moved her lips to the side. "I..... better go check on Helios." she turned and sped out of the room.

Spike groaned and pinched his eyes. "that girl's gonna be the death of me."

"It was peachy being her babysitter as well." Applebloom said with a huff. "The kid was like a little demon."

"And you know that from personal experience, Applebloom?" Rise asked before taking a drink of her hot cocoa.

Personal Experience? "What do you mean by that, High Rise?"

"Weren't you a little demon yourself? i mean, that would explain a lot."

Oh, no. this cannot be good. it made everyone else back up in fear. "Why would i be a demon when i was a kid?"

Rise scoffed. "Well, look at what you and Star brought on us."

she can't be suggesting what she is suggesting. "Are you saying i brought on this blizzard?"

"... well, look at the facts." Cannon said, chiming in. "You and Star were having a little war going on for quite some time now. and it only got more worse when you starting going out with Tiara."

Now Tiara got pissy. "What do you saying, that it's our fault?" She angrily asked.

"Look at the evidence!" Rise and Cannon said in unison.

"It wasn't their fault." Blade said. "It was Green Star's fault." Snowdrop nodded in agreement.

"Oh, sure, blame the Gryphon." Zim said. "it was mostly Applebloom's fault anyway!"

"ZIM!" Applebloom exclaimed.

"He's right!" Breeze said. that made Blade's mouth drop. he's actually agreeing with them? "IF Applebloom had just stayed home in Ponyville, this whole mess could've been avoided."

He's actually saying that? Breeze, Rise, Cannon, and Zim, her own cousin, are actually saying that?! Applebloom couldn't believe this. "You can't blame this all on me! Green Star shares at least 3/4 of the blame with his sadistic attitude and him closing down my practice; before i even had a chance to open it, mind you!"

"That doesn't change the fact!" the 4 opposing Applebloom exclaimed.

"Yes it does!" 'Bloom, Tiara, Snowdrop, and Blade exclaimed back.

both groups began to argue like a certain government, with neither side even bothering to listen. the arguing definitely got on Spike's nerves. he gets enough of this back home when the town yells at Pinkie, Marble, and Cotton for inexplicably starting parties. and when Rarity and Applejack have their world-famous arguments about cleanliness. even Filigree and Peppy don't want to be a part of that. but this... this is just insane.

it got so on his nerves, he dipped into his feral side a bit, got between the groups, and breathed green fire as he roared. "Enough!" he yelled. that made both groups shut up. "This is asinine and you know it! We're all just antsy because we've been stuck in this house for a couple weeks and you all know that!"

both groups just stood there, staring at each other intently. Applebloom angrily scoffed then went upstairs. "you think you know somepony, then something like this happens!" she stopped halfway and looked back. "I wish i had better friends! and a much better cousin!" she stormed up, not wanting to be near them.

Tiara angrily looked back to her friends then headed up after her Marefriend.

Rise angrily closed her eyes and scoffed. "I know i'm right."

Spike groaned with a sigh and pinched his eyes. Faust... these ponies are just going to be the death of him. everyone was so disgruntled, they couldn't bare to look at each other again.

this little episode was witnessed by a little hybrid, who saw the whole thing. not long after it was over, she ducked out of the kitchen and into the backyard with Helios.

she sat down next to the dragon and sighed. "Be glad you didn't hear that, Helios." she sadly said, something that wasn't her character. he did, actually. "I never saw them so angry at each other. and i know Mom and Aunt Applejack argue, but nothing on this level. I never thought grown-ups could act like that." Helios bit down onto the bone, stripping the last of the meat off. "And all before Hearth's Warming Eve, too. this is suppose to be a happy time, not... this."

she leaned back on the dragon, feeling down. Nobodies supposed to be upset around Hearth's Warming Eve. it's just... unneeded. true, she could blame the Windigoes but that's only part of the problem.

that's when it hit her; a delicious idea so good, it made her giggle. "That'll work."

Night quickly fell on the town, though with all that snow, it's hard to tell the difference. Applebloom angrily sulked, not being able to sleep. Her own cousin is blaming this whole mess on her, when it's Green Star who's at fault for all this, not her. at least Tiara believes that it's Star as well.

she sighed then looked to her left at Tiara's sleeping form. as much as she hates to admit it, the blame is to be separated into 3; Applebloom, Green Star, and Tiara. it was thanks to the 3 of them that this blizzard is raging across the city.

Applebloom sat up for a moment, doing nothing except thinking. maybe this was all her fault. maybe she was to blame for this. she got out of bed and headed for the window. she opened the curtains and looked at the raging blizzard outside.

Tiara mumbled as she rolled over, leg stretched out to wrapped around Applebloom's. when it met with nothing expect bedsheets, it woke her up. she noticed that her marefriend wasn't there. she got up and saw her standing at the window, looking out at the blizzard.

"Applebloom... what are you doing up?"

'Bloom heard her voice and looked back. "What are you doing up?"

"I woke up. duh." Tiara got out of bed and headed over to her. she noticed that Applebloom wasn't looking to well. "Are you okay?"

Applebloom closed her eyes and sighed. "No... no i'm not." she said in a course voice. "maybe... maybe Zim and the others are right. maybe this whole mess is my fault."

Tiara shook her head. "Don't say that, 'Bloom. this blizzard isn't your fault. My friends would've gone and done a little war with Green Star themselves, making this come by their own hands. er, hooves. plus, Green Star is one of the most mean Gryphon's out there. he alone could've brought this on."

Applebloom sadly looked to the floor then to Tiara. "then why do i feel so guilty?"

Tiara got close and nuzzled up next to her. "Because Zim and the others have you convinced that it is. and it's not. it's Green Star's for egging us all on. this goes back to him."

Applebloom isn't so sure. all of them really got to her. and she remembers what Green Star said; if she stays, he'll do something horrible to Tiara and she doesn't want that. she gently shoved Tiara away and walked to the door.

"Coming here... it was a mistake..." she sadly said. "As soon as this blizzard lets up... i'm going home..." she opened it and headed out.

Tiara's heart sank a bit. "Applebloom... i don't want you to leave..." she walked to the door to go after her, but stopped before her hoof touched the knob. Applebloom's mind won't change this easily. it's gonna be too hard. she had to deal with the sources of the problem.

The windows were baked with what sun broke though the blizzard. everyone was feeling crummy from last night. they all said some things they didn't mean to say. they are just so tired of being locked up. and none of them wanted to see Applebloom. it was going to be a tough day. add that it's Hearth's Warming Eve and this is just the worst day ever. but they can't be locked in their rooms all day. they'll have to confront her sooner or later. better to do it sooner.

they were barely out of their doors when Tiara cornered them. "What the hell is wrong with all of you!?"

"What do you mean?" a sleepy Rise asked.

"Yesterday! when you all said that Applebloom shouldn't have come to Trottingham!?"

oh... that. "Well, not all of us were against her." Snowdrop said.

"I know that! i'm talking to those who were! Especially you, Zim! You're her cousin! why would you say such things to your own family!?" that hit him close to home.

well, she doesn't need to her coffee now. "We.... we didn't mean it." Rise said. "We're just on edge because to this blizzard. we want out."

"I know the feeling but i'm not going to snap at a friend who worked hard to get where she is!" Tiara exclaimed. "and now thanks to you all, Applebloom is seriously considering moving back to Ponyville! thanks to you all!" oh... they didn't want that. "For the first time in my life, i got something special and now you all of you are running her out of town!"

"We... we didn't mean for that to happen."

"Well, it's happening! now go and apologize before she does something stupid!"

the bathroom door opened. "No need." Applebloom said as she walked out. practically everyone stiffened.

"How... how long have you been in there?" Cannon asked.

"All night, crying at what you guys said last night!" She exclaimed loudly. "How could you all say that to me? especially you, Zim? we're family and you agree with all of them that i'm to blame for all this!?" Zim didn't respond. this was not what he wanted to happen. either way, it gave her her answer. "I see. as soon as this blizzard lets up, i'm going home! hope your all happy!" she stormed downstairs.

Tiara angrily looked back to her so-called friends then went after her.

"Applebloom, we didn't mean anything by it." Rise said. Applebloom stormed into the living room, kicking the door shut on Tiara. it missed her by a few inches but it did scare her. she never saw Applebloom like this, not even when they were fillies.

she opened the door and went after her again. "Applebloom, listen, th--" they all walked into the living room where Applebloom was. they saw something they didn't quite expect.

as it had been very dismal, ZIm didn't have time to put up Hearth's Warming Eve decorations. so imagine his surprise as he walked in, seeing the entire living room decorated for the holiday. streamers, sparkling lights, stockings, even a Douglas Fir from out back, covered in lights and decorations.

they didn't have to wonder who could've done this. the culprit was sound asleep on the couch, holding a streamer in her clawed hooves.

Spike smiled, walked over, and lightly shook her shoulder. "Ruby?" the dragon/pony hybrid stirred and woke up. "Did you do all this?"

Ruby sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because everyone was arguing and being mean. no one should do that on Hearth's Warming Eve. it's a time to be happy, right?"

that's right. they all completely forgot that this was Hearth's Warming Eve; a time to be happy and joyous. all this arguing and fighting has gotten to them. it also made Applebloom remember a promise she made to her niece. a promise that she would always be as happy as her. and apologetic.

fortunately, Rise beat her too it. "Applebloom... i'm sorry for what i said. i'm just so tired of being so cooped up, i had to lash out at someone. sorry you were on the receiving end."

"Ditto." Zim, Cannon, and Breeze said.

Applebloom closed her eyes and smiled. "I forgive you. i wasn't exactly being pleasant myself."

"Guess we all forgot what it's like to be happy." Snowdrop said. "With what happened these past few months, i guess we all forgot to smile and laugh. we should really try and smile more often."

Applebloom softly chuckled. "You sound like my aunt Pinkie Pie. she wants everyone to smile as well." she closed her eyes again. she opened them and looked to her friends. "Glad i ran into you guys. guess we all needed some perspective."

"Yeah." Rise looked over to the kid. "Thanks for setting this up, Ruby. really helped us." Ruby closed her eyes and smiled with a giggle.

then something happened they didn't suspect. Sunlight shone though the windows. "Sun?" curious, Blade went to the door and opened it. the sunlight hit them all with a sudden shine, making them cover their eyes. it'd been two weeks since they saw it so it was understandable. when they looked, they saw something that made them gasp.

the blizzard had stopped last night and the sun shown on a snow covered Trottingham. the snow shimmered in the morning sun, making it sparkle. and it wasn't just the city. the surrounding countryside, up to 30 miles, was covered in 10-feet high snow.

everyone gasped in awe! "Whoa!" this was the most beautiful thing they ever saw.

"Wait. what happened to the Windigoes?" Snowdrop asked.

Breeze shrugged. "erh, something must've happened to them. maybe the princess' got some free time and took care of them. or maybe they moved on by themselves."

"Well, i know it wasn't us." Rise said. "we just made up. storm and monsters causing it can't go in just a few seconds."

"Who cares?" Tiara fell down into the snow and sighed. "I'm just happy to stretch and be out of that cramped house."

"You ain't the only one." Applebloom said as Helios flew overhead.

Tiara snickered and pulled her marefriend down. "Not exactly the best Hearth's Warming Eve. but as long as it's with you, i'm good." Applebloom smiled and kissed her on the snout.

a sudden snowball hit the both of them in the head, ruining the moment. they looked in the direction it came from and saw Ruby bounced a snowball in her hooves. "You gonna lay there and be all lovey dovey or are you gonna play?"

'Bloom and Tiara looked at each other and snickered evilly.

time to get some revenge. snowball style.

and after it was done, Tiara would go and have a 'word' with the bank.