//------------------------------// // A Hearths Warming Play (Christmas Special) // Story: Fleetfire // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Rainbow trotted into the rec room with a paper in her hooves. "Hey, what's that?" High Winds asked "My script for Ponyville's Hearths Warming Eve play. Twilight suggested we put on A Hearths Warming Tale." "Because it's a nice change from the usual play?" Sun Chaser suggested "No, because it's her favorite Hearths Warming Eve story." Rainbow replied. "So, are you a Spirit? Or Snowfall Frost!?" Surprise asked eagerly "I'm Snowdash. Starlight's playing Snowfall Frost. Rarity is going to be Merry and Fluttershy's Flutterholly. AJ is the Spirit of Hearths Warming Past and Pinkie's the Spirit of Hearths Warming Presents." Rainbow explained "You're missing one Spirit." Blaze said "Yeah, what about the Spirit of Hearths Warming Yet to Come?" Lightning Streak asked "Twi's still casting for that role. She's directing. You want to come and watch rehearsal?" Rainbow asked "Sure, why not?" Spitfire shrugged. The next day, Rainbow led them down to Ponyville. They landed near the Friendship School, where there was a stage. Ponies were standing outside, talking. "Alright everypony, let's get on with rehearsal. Places!" Twilight came up with a copy of the script in her hooves. "We're making it a musical because Twi likes the songs the Spirits sing in the story." Rainbow explained as Starlight took to the stage and began singing the start of Snowfall Frost's song: Goodbye to the Holiday. "So, who's your favorite Spirit? Mine's Presents, obviously!" Surprise asked to her friends. "I like the latht Thpirit betht." Fleetfoot replied "The Spirit of Hearths Warming Yet to Come?" Wave Chill asked, and Fleetfoot nodded "Why? She's all doom and gloom." Sun Chaser said "Actually, she wath only that way becauthe she wath showing Thnowfall what would happen if she catht her thpell. The future wathn't actually thuppothed to be like that. Tho really it wath thuppothed to be not all 'doom and gloom'." Fleetfoot replied, as Twilight passed by. "That's surprisingly insightful Fleetfoot." Twilight commented. "I feel inthulted." Fleetfoot said "Oh, sorry, I wasn't trying to be rude. By the way, we need somepony to make the winter snow for the Spirit of Hearths Warming Yet to Come's scene. Since you have ice magic..." "I'd be happy to help, ath long ath I don't actually have to get on thtage." Fleetfoot agreed "Why?" High Winds asked "I can't go onthtage with my lithtp. Ethpecially if I'd have to show my face. Then everypony would know a Wonderbolt hath a lithp." Fleetfoot replied "You won't have to go onstage, no. Why don't you come backstage with me and I'll show you where to stand for the play." Fleetfoot kissed Spitfire lightly on the cheek before following Twilight. Fleetfoot was taking a break from putting snow on the stage and was sitting with her friends out by the stage. "Bet you can't recite the Spirit of Hearths Warming Past's whole song." Rapidfire told Misty. "You'd win that bet." "Oh come on, it's not fun unless you challenge me!" "I can thing the Thpirit of Hearthth Warming Yet to Come'th thong." "Prove it." Rapidfire challenged "Fine." Fleetfoot stood up, took a breath, and began to sing. "I see a cold wind blowing through I see days neither fun nor free I see a future caused by you-" "You can sing that?!" Twilight had come out from backstage, startling them by appearing behind the group. "Um, y-yeah." Fleetfoot responded "Why?" "Nopony I auditioned today had any singing voice at all. Well, except Sweetie Belle, but she's already playing Young Snowfall and isn't tall enough for the role. Could you play the Spirit of Hearths Warming Yet to Come. Please?" Twilight asked "I told you, I can't-" "Fleetfoot, this is Ponyville. Nopony will care. Besides, the coustume has a hood. You won't have to show your face at all. Please, I need you, either nopony wants the part or they can't sing. You can sing and you mentioned it's your favorite Spirit. Please!" Twilight begged. Fleetfoot sighed and shook her head. "You're not going to let me win thith, tho...okay." "Thank you!" Twilight cried, hugging her before turning back to the stage and gesturing to Spike. She was likely telling him to cancel the auditions. "Are you sure Fleet?" Spitfire asked "Not entirely. But there will be a lot of foalth there, Twilight can't let them down, neither can I." On the day of the play, Fleetfoot had to leave in early evening to head to Ponyville. "Good luck hon." Spitfire said, pecking Fleetfoot on the cheek. Fleetfoot nuzzled her gratefully. "You guyth are coming, right?" "Wouldn't miss it. I'll drag the others there by their tails if I have to." Fleetfoot giggled and kissed her gently. "I have to go. Thee you after the play, love you." Fleetfoot then left the Captain's room, flying out of HQ. "Okay, good final dress rehearsal everypony! AJ, remember to keep the lasso on your left so the audience doesn't see it until you swing it at Snowfall. Rarity, make sure your makeup is perfect before you step onstage, your character doesn't have a compact mirror. Alright everypony, curtain in ten, places! Places!" Twilight said, and they all took their positions. Fleetfoot leaned out to see her friends landing in the bleachers. Rainbow trotted up behind her to look as well. The Wonderbolts were making room for the foals to sit in front. Spitfire was watching the curtains eagerly, face shining. Fleetfoot smiled and wanted to wave, but couldn't. "Fleetfoot, Rainbow, get away from the stage! Well, not you Rainbow, you're on in a minute." Twilight said The play went as planned, with Fleetfoot occasionally stepping forward to add her magic. She created the Windigos that swooped around the stage while "Snowfall" brewed her potion. Then, while Pinkie gave her eerie warning, Fleetfoot made the fog out of finely made snow. "Okay Fleetfoot, you're on." Twilight whispered. Fleetfoot took a deep breath to calm herself, pulled up her hood, and stepped onto the stage as Pinkie bounced off. "Who are you?" Starlight (Snowfall) asked to Fleetfoot, who tried her best to look intimidating. "I am the Thpirit of Hearthth Warming Yet to Come." Fleetfoot (the Spirit) replied "Are you here to show me what future Hearths Warming Eves are like?" Starlight asked hopefully "No. For there are no more Hearthth Warming Eveth for me to show." Fleetfoot replied "W-why not?" Starlight stammered "You will succeed in erathing the holiday, ath you wished." Fleetfoot said harshly, leaning forward to put her face near Starlight's "And what happens?" Starlight asked, tone indicating dreading the reply. That was Fleetfoot's cue. She took a breath and sang, turning away so she was slightly facing the backdrop of the frozen village "I see a cold wind blowing through I see days neither fun nor free/" Fleetfoot whipped back around and pointed at Starlight "I see a future caused by you/" Starlight backed away, to where the "cliff" was supposed to be. Fleetfoot flicked her hoof and cold air shot up at Starlight. "I see a path not meant to be~" Fleetfoot turned away and Starlight followed her. "The future should be filled with magic~" Fleetfoot raised her hooves and made a ball of ice blue light emerge. Another reason Twilight had wanted her for the role. Her magic could truly represent the Spirit's powers. "Dreams and wishes, brought to life~ Fleetfoot sent her magic forward, willing it to take form. It now was a mare and stallion dancing together, like in the story. "But the days ahead are dark and tragic No time for hope when all is strife/" Fleetfoot waved her hoof through the magic, and it disappeared. She turned to Starlight, stalking around her while glaring at the mare. "Whatever might have been All the dreams that ponies share Because of you, Snowfall Frost, Now the Future is a cold Nightmare~!" Fleetfoot backed up and extended her wings through the holes Rarity had made for them in the costume. She used the unfurling of her wings as a cover for her true intentions. Wind picked up on the stage, and images of two Windigos swooped across the stage. "W-Windigos? They aren't real, it's just a little filly's story!" Starlight cried "They are all too real Thnowfall, and your actions will allow them to return. The future of Equestria shall be bathed in a blanket of eternal thnow!" Fleetfoot cried, backing slowly off the stage as she made the snowy wind pick up, distracting the audience to give her time to leave. "No! I never meant for this to happen! I didn't understand! I didn't see how important Hearth's Warming Eve was! Please, spirit! I haven't cast the spell yet! Is there still time?! I'm sorry!" Starlight yelled. Fleetfoot quickly sent the snow breezing off the stage with the wind. Twilight changed the background with her magic at the same time. "Good job Fleetfoot. Are you willing to remove your hood for the bows and final song?" Twilight asked "That actually wathn't ath bad ath I thought it would be, tho, why not?" Fleetfoot asked, smiling. They waited until the play had ended and the curtains closed. The others of the main cast all ran onstage to join Rainbow, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Starlight. The curtains re-opened and Starlight stepped forward. She began to sing. "Hearths Warming Eve is filled with presents Some take you by surprise A story shared by your good friends That makes your spirits rise~ Sometimes you just let go of the past/" Applejack stepped forward and removed her hat, taking a bow. "Enjoy the present while it lasts/" Pinkie jumped forward, smiling and bowing. "Don't fear the future that's to come/" Starlight had wanted to add that to the song so Fleetfoot could have a place in the song to take her bow. She slid one foreleg forward and curled her other under her chest, bowing regally. "I guess mother's posture lessons finally came in handy." Fleetfoot thought When Fleetfoot stood again, the hood on her costume fell back. Some ponies in the crowd gasped, but Fleetfoot didn't care. They were still clapping for her, and they didn't seem to care that she had spoken with a lisp during her part. "Maybe I was worried for no reason." Fleetfoot thought, smiling back at the crowd. "Really it's not that much to ask With good friends by your side/" Rainbow, Rarity, and Fluttershy all bowed, then Starlight started the others off. "Now's the time to celebrate/" They all sang together for the rest of the song "Hearths Warming Eve is here once again! All together feeling great Hearths Warming Eve is here once again Can't hardly wait We'll party 'till late Our favorite date- Hearths Warming Eve is here once a- Happy, happy Hearths Warming Eve Happy, happy Hearths Warming Eve Hearths Warming Eve is here once again!" They all took one more bow and then headed offstage as the curtains closed again. "Great job everypony, that was fantastic!" Twilight called. Fleetfoot and Rainbow came out from backstage to find their friends waiting for them. "You guys were great!" Soarin said, nuzzling Rainbow, who blushed. "Thanks Soarie." she said, kissing his cheek "You were amazing Fleety." Spitfire told her, and Fleetfoot smiled "Thankth honey." Fleetfoot replied. Spitfire leaned in and gave her a kiss. Fleetfoot pressed into it. "Save for the mistletoe lovebirds." Blaze joked, and they broke apart. "Thorry." Fleetfoot mumbled "Ignore them. Come on Bolts, let's head to HQ." Spitfire nuzzled Fleetfoot as they took off. "Happy Hearths Warming Fleetfoot." "You too Thpitfire. I love you." "Love you too Fleety."