> Hearth Warming's Crusaders Carol
>  by Lethrael
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A Baked Apple means I love you.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	This is a story about families and what they mean to the three fillies we all know and love. If you want to know, who I might be. I would rather tell but show you. But let us don't waste the time. We will first visit.

A Baked Apple means I love you.

Scootaloo laid silently under her blankets and snuggled into the pillow with a quiet whimper. It seemed her dream wasn't any kind of pleasant and she fought it. She turned over, pushed away the blanket with her fast passing hooves and tried to run away from her nightmares. As she get loose of the whole blanket we saw something different on her flank, simply a blank spot. And it seemed, that the little filly is much smaller, than usually. Could it be?

“Sh, Scootaloo.”
A soft tone raised and a gentle wing comforted the filly. The orange feathers were just a little bit brighter, than the fillys own colour. It caressed warmly over the tousled mane and calmed her down. Scootaloo nuzzled herself into the wing with a relieved sigh and mumbled something in it. A hoof picked up the blanket and tucked it gently around the little filly in the bed. A light red mane get in our spot and we saw a young mare, who smiled calm down on her daughter. The mare, a pegasus obviously nuzzled the filly with her cheek and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
“It will be alright.
I'm here for you.
Sleep tight, while I'm preparing the best meal for you.”
The filly smacked halfway in expectation and the other way in remembrance of previous meals. Another relieved sigh found its way out of her mouth and she snuggled deeper into her pillow.

We shall let the filly sleep peacefully, didn't we?
So let us follow the mare instead.

The mare, in colour and behaviour the mother of that little filly, looked to her for the last time and tiphooved out of the little room. She didn't close the door shut, but leaved the door a jar. So she could spot, if her filly needed her again. Now with proper light, we should easily see how she looked like and where we have been. But as time went by, the mare didn't held still for us, instead was moving to the next door. She moved through a real small corridor with two other doors, one of them closed on the right side and the other one open. 
This room was a kitchen, tiny but cosy, as we could easily see by the old black oven.  The fire in it was warming the tiny room and filled it with dancing lights. The mare wandered into the room and looked around. Her purple eyes searched out every spot and furniture there. First the small table in front of her get her attention, her wing wiped gently over the two chairs on both sides. Both were facing each other and the one much smaller stood direct next to her. She looked to the left and to the afore mentioned oven came in sight, on its chimney were hanging two knitted Hearths Warming dolls and on it's hot plate stood a small pot. A silent sigh escaped the mare and she lifted the lid and sniffed on the boiling matter in it. She grimaced as nothing, not even the simplest taste reached her tongue. The bubbling mess of grey and a little bit yellow was all she was able to get. Barley, pea, leek and one old carrot. Like everyday. Nothing famous, nothing tasty, nothing worth of celebration, but a meal.

The mare sighed and covered the pot again. She glanced over the rest of the kitchen, small wooden closets a cupboard with just one book, who laid down sideways to held two dangling Hearths Warming socks. Both were slightly filled. The mare clinched her teeth and took one step to the next furniture an old huge sideboard with rusty holds. She creaked the left door of it open and looked over the interior. Pots, well aged but clean,  two cups, one of them tinier and slightly damaged and two wooden bowls. She lifted off and flapped her wings slowly to get to the highest board, there laid a present packed in a very cheap brown paper and secured just with cord.  She took it very carefully with both hooves and pressed it against her chest.
“I hope so, you like it.
Even when it's just something you have to put together on your own.”

She placed the gift under the hanging little sock from her filly. The mare closed the left door and opened the right. The void in this cupboards were only fighting back by three objects, two shrivelled apples and one tiny bowl with almond slivers. She placed all three on the table and sighed again as she closed the door. Like every Hearths Warming they would make one tasty thing to celebrate.
A simple baked apple. 

Often she wished for more support, for a husband, for a family, but wishes didn't come true down in Manehatten. At least not for a single mother. She sighed again and started to prepare the apples. Soon a yawning filly entered the kitchen and the mare smiled gently to her.
“Good morning and a happy Hearths Warming, honey.”
“Good morning Mummy and a happy Hearths Warming too.
Uh, do we do Baking Apples again?”
The filly beamed in excitement and the mare nodded with a more hesitant smile.
“I'm afraid, we run out of honey or sugar.
I'm so sorry.”
The mares head drooped a little bit and she apologized, but the filly shrugged it of.
“Nah. I love them anyway.
And I love to make them with you Mummy.”
The beaming joy of the filly filled the mare and her smile widened again. Just now the filly spotted the brown present under the sock and her own smile widened more. Her eyes were starting to shine in excitement and she bounced on the place.
“Is that my present?”
Her happiness sounded clearly in her voice and her mother nodded.  The filly rushed past her and lifted the present very carefully.  First she looked at it, then she tried to shake it, but the mare laid a wing on her head and fondled her gently.
“You know the deal, honey.
First the apples, 
then the meal 
and finally the presents!”

The filly pouted, but set the present down. She nodded and looked over her back.  She grabbed one small package from her back and laid it beside her present. The smile returned quickly, as she climbed on her chair, turned over and hugged her mum.
“I love you Mummy!”
She burst out and the joyful answer filled her with a warmth inside.
“I love you too, honey.
And I always will.”

So this is a past worth to remember, don't you think?
Nevertheless we have to move on. 
So we left the memories of a filly behind and are entering an even more joyful present.
> A Bow, a Pot, a Dice, a Hat, nothin' fancy we have to get.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Bow, a Pot, a Dice, a Hat, nothin' fancy we have to get.

Apple Bloom moaned in frustration, why was that so difficult. Last year she had get Applejack for a present and she had exactly known what gift suited her. The year before that she had get Granny Smith and had made her a nice picture. And she loved it a lot. But this year, this year she had to make a present for her brother, her everday quiet, everday happy or not, alright everday contented brother. 
“What does he like to get?
Come on girl, you've to know him.
Maybe I'd ask Applejack what he...
No, that's just pity.
It means, I don't know him.
It means I don't care for him.”

She moaned again in frustration and lifted her head. She rolled her eyes. The lantern dangled in front of her but it didin't lightened her. Above of the light Apple Bloom spotted the questioning face of her friend.
“Any kind of idea yet?”
Scootaloo inquired, but the earth pony on the thinking spot frowned and shook her head.
“No! I'm the worst sister ever.”
She pressed her ears against her head and drooped.
“No you don't
Maybe a nice piece of cloth.
How about a...uhm scarf?”
Sweetie Belle tried to suggest, with a slight squeak, but a loud twin exclamation brushed over her.
“A scarf usually means you looked cold!”
“And I don't want to tell him that!”
Just now Apple Bloom realized, there was another voice and all three fillies looked surprised out of the window. A wide grinning Pinkie Pie stood outside on the balcony and waved.
“What in tarnation.”

Pinkie bounced in the room and giggled. She leaned down to Apple Bloom and nuzzled her a little.
“Hello there...
I've heard you need an idea for a present.
So I searched far and wide to help you out.
First I thought it would be great for AJ to visit the 
Appletree Auction in Applewood.”
Pinkie snorted and started to repeat the same words over and over. Finally she pulled herself together and started over.
“Appletree Auction Applewood..
This is really good.
But I thought it through and what about Bloomberg, 
what if she treated it like a kind of unfair treatment for...hm...hm...hm...”

Apple Bloom didn't know, how she could stop Pinkies blabbering, other than to put a hoof in her mouth.
“I didn't get Applejack to make her a present. Instead...”
Pinkie Pie grabbed her hoof an pulled it out of her mouth. She took a deep breath and started again.
“Uh then Granny Smith right?
I bet she likes one of your...hm...hm...hm.”
Again Apple Bloom stuck her hoof in Pinkies mouth and interrupted her blabbering. She shook her head and frowned.
“No! I've to make a present for Big Mac. And it's real hard to. 
I just don't know what he real likes and I should know!”
Pinkie smiled softly and laid a hoof gently on Apple Blooms lips to calm her freak out. She mumbled something incomprehensible through the hoof and Apple Bloom freed her finally .
“I've said you shouldn't be worry.
It isn't important what gift you give him. 
Just give it with all your love and it will sure be...Oh!”
Her ears were flapping twice, her tail was frequently waving and her left back hoof was drumming a quick beat. Something like a Hearth's Warming song.
“Uh I sense a new present emergency.
I've to go.”
And in a puff of smoke she disappeared. Scootaloo looked down and she was just puzzled about Pinkies quick disappearing. Sweetie Belle was kind of silenced from the whole scenery and looked rather silly. Apple Bloom closed the open mouth of her little unicorn friend with one hoof and smiled.
“As long, as I give it with love, uhm...”

Before we can hear her solution and are ruining our delight, we should move forward a little bit.

Welcome to a transition with a smouldering red fireplace. We see a little bit of ember, orange and just a spot in the darkness. But an orange hoof reawaked the fire with a few new logs and smooth blowing. Bright yellow flames were licking over the new material and lightened the scenery. The whole four Apple family members were laying on warm woollen blankets around the fireplace. Everyone, besides Applejack had a mug full of warm cider in the hoof. The last Apple placed herself on the last free spot between Granny and Apple Bloom. She fondled the little filly on her left with a hoof and took a mug of cider for herself. She raised it high.
“For family far and wide.
Happy Hearth's Warming Eve everypony.”
Every Apple joined in her exclamation and were raising their mugs.
“For family far and wide.
Happy Hearth's Warming Eve.”
Apple Bloom took a sip and sighed nervously. Now was the time for the gift exchange and she just didn't know, if she had picked the right present. What if Big Mac didn't like it? First she would get her own present, like every year. But this year she couldn't enjoy it as usual. Her eyes were wandering over every present and stayed finally on her own. The other three looked so good and big and hers was just a small piece of red, what should she say if he didn't like what she had made. She put the mug on the ground with a nervous shiver. Granny cleared her throat, smiled gently and stood slowly up. She went to the presents and looked directly in Apple Bloom's worrying eyes.

“Usually we used to pick up our presents and unpacked it one after another .
But we thought, that today we might do it different, right youngins?”
Applejack and Big Mac nodded and smiled to a confused Apple Bloom.
“Eyupp.”
Granny took one step closer, picked her present, hold it against her chest and laid it finally in front of her.
“We all know, what kind of trouble you have to pick the right present. And...”

Apple Bloom blushed heavily and interrupted the calm speech.
“I just want to showin' my love for you Big Mac. 
I just want makin' a good present and...”
Big Macintosh took her in a gentle hug and muzzled her with his cheek.
“I don't need any kind of present to know that.
You're my sister and you'll always love me.”
Apple Bloom sighed relieved and smiled wide, as she pressed herself tighter into the hug. She closed her eyes and laid her face against her big brothers strong chest.

“You're our best little present, you know.
We're so proud of you and of what you have accomplished the last year.”
Applejack tousled her mane and joined in the hug too. Granny was watching the hug and eyed up every one of her grandchild's. She smiled with a sigh and glanced shortly in the cracking fire.
“You can be proud of your child's, littl' tarte.
They all become great ponies.”

So two happy moments of past and present were finished and only one Cutie Mark crusader is left of.
Now prepare yourself for...
> Silent
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Granny Belle, where're you?”
We're following an enthusiastic running and yelling aquamarine unicorn foal in a room full of pictures and books. His pink wild mane was flowing around as he speeded up. He even bounced over the ground with huge jumps, very concerned not to step over the lines between the slaps. He looked around, his green eyes gleamed in joy, but as he spotted his grandmare finally he stopped, frowned and silenced fearfully.

Sweetie Belle drifted through old and sometimes long gone friends. Her old body trembled, as she trotted slowly through her old clubhouse on Sweet Apple Acres. How long ago had she visit this place? Of course the grandfoals from Applejack were using it as an exploration place and had redesigned it a lot. But both the wooden marks of Gabby and the crystals of the four Cutie Mark Crusaders had found a place of honour in it. When have she met the two for the last time? Usually they were meeting every other month, but the last meeting was cancelled by Apple Bloom. She was sick. Sweetie shook her head tiredly as a warm hoof laid down on her wrinkled flank. Her eyes behind the glasses lifted and she saw through a curtains of tears. She saw a warm smile from one of oldest remaining friend. The dark Alicorn of the dreams and nights, slightly aged, but in comparison to her untouched by the passing of time, was standing beside here and greeted her with a light bow.
“Somepony needs you in the waking world, Sweetie.
It is time to wake up and to create a nice memory for somepony.
So...”

“Please wake up.
Please Granny Belle!”
A colts voice woke her up. He sounded distraught and tearfully. She opened her tired eyes and tried to find out, where he was, but she could only see a wooden celling above her. She laid in a bed, in her bed, as she recognised the blankets. Somepony touched her face with a shivering small hoof and the little colts voice trembled as he spoke up again.
“She laid on the floor in the library and patted.
Is my Granny okay?”
A calm and well known voice answered.
“I'm afraid she...”
Another voice joined in and tried to lift up the foal.

“You know kiddo.
Sometimes we old mares are getting real tired and quick out of breath. 
You shouldn't worry. 
Go back to the party, would you?”
Sweetie know this voice too. It was her oldest friend. Yes the old pegasus with the orange coat, moderate wings and purple eyes, but grey mane now leaned over her and a smile glanced shortly on her aged face. She turned the head from Sweetie with her wing, so she could see her youngest grandfoal. He hugged her with his small hooves and she tried to return the favour, but her hooves didn't follow her order. He let loose and trotted slowly out of the room.

“What happened?”
Sweetie voice sounded quietly like a whisper and Scootaloo sighed. She took a deep breath and looked away with a small shiver on her body. She suppressed tears.
“I'm afraid you're dying.”
The well known voice returned and a purple light moved her. She was lean against her pillow in a more sitting way, so she could see, which pony else was in the room.
“Princess Twilight?
You're here?”
The alicorn sighed gently and her eyes were tearing up now. Her body didn't look like one day older, as she was as Sweetie was just a filly. She lifted a hoof and wiped away the tears.
“I have too. You knew me.
If the first Cutie Mark Crusader passed out to a new adventure 
I must be there to present the last farewell.”
Tears were streaming down on Twilights face now and she turned around. Scootaloo took another deep breath and put an old hoof on Sweeties side.
“I always thought, I would be the first as always. 
But why would you want to beat me?”
First she smiled, but the last words come out like sops and Scootaloo pressed her eyes shut. She muzzled her friend and buried her face in her coat.
“Apple Bloom is on the way. But she isn't here till tomorrow.
I'm sorry.”
Her mumbled excuse didn't bother Sweetie, but another thing did.
“I don't wont to!
I want to stay just for one more day.
It's Hearth's Warming Eve for crying out loud!”
Sweetie sounded fearful, worried and angry at the same time.  Sure she had prepared herself for this day, but this wasn't fair. She put her hoof around her crying old friend and faced Twilight. The alicorn took a deep breath and wiped away more tears.
“This isn't in my power. Or in any others.
We can't decide not to die.
Death hadn't have any kind of decency for holidays.”

Sweetie sighed calmly and nodded. She sounded even calmer than before.
“How fast would it be?
And does it hurt?”
Twilight shook her head and moved closer to the bed.
“At least there I can comfort you.
It wouldn't hurt.
And I think it would happen within the next hour or two.”
Her voice faded away, as she started to sop and cry again. Sweetie nodded slowly and took deep breath. She caressed gently over the grey mane of her friend and shook her.
“Scootaloo, I need a favour.
Would you call out for Swift Water.
I want to tell him a last story.
About our adventures.”
Scootaloo nodded and wiped her tears away. She strengthened herself and took a deep breath. Finally she flapped her wings and flew as fast as she could out off the door.

“...and so we were secured by the strongest friend of ours. 
Fluttershy was a real tough pony, besides her calm and nice kind of behaviour.”
The young colt looked at her astonished and joyfully, as she finished the story. He yawned and muzzled himself in Sweetie embrace.
“I love your stories, Granny Belle.
Will you tell me one more tomorrow?”
Sweetie sighed and lifted the young foal with her magic. It sparkled and faded away, but Twilight joined quickly in and took over the filly.
“I'm afraid, I'm not able to.
You see. Granny has to take a long nap and won't awake for...”
Sweetie couldn't finished her sentence, the tearing eyes of her youngest grandfoal were to much.  She heard his low voice.
“But I really want to.”
Twilight sighed and took the colt in a tight hug.
“I will tell you every story I know about your Granny.
I promise.”
Sweetie smiled thankfully to her, as she brought the weeping foal out of the room. Scootaloo sighed and stepped closer.
“I know, I can't make you stay, even if I want to.
Farewell Sweetie Belle.
Please greet Rainbow Dash. 
She has to be patient for just a little while.
Oh Sweetie, I will miss you.”
The old Cutie Mark Crusaders shared a final hug, as a galloping pace sounded from the corridor. A great young red stallion burst into the room and laid an old earthpony gently on the ground.
“Am I too late?”
Apple Bloom questioned as she saw the two friends. Scootaloo shook her head and raised her hoof.  The old mare stepped closer and joined in the hug for the last time. Sweetie Belle whispered.
“This is a good present for you, isn't it?
I will miss you too, Scootaloo and you Apple Bloom.
I will search for Rainbow, I will find her and tell her.”
Sweetie Belle felt the warmth in the hug and leaned her face against the shoulders of her friends. She nodded away into a light slumber.

She trotted through very old memories. The dream meeting from the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but this time Luna spoke different.
“You don't think I would miss this?
I never thought, that you will be the first 
I have to give the final dream!”
Luna smiled, but paused and shivered visible. Her eyes were tearing up a little bit and she sighed.
“It's okay.
I think I'm ready.”
Luna shook her head and yelled.
“But I'm not.
I don't want it.
You shouldn't leave us.
But there is nothing I can do, besides this.
Farewell and sleep tight my friend.”
She gave Sweetie a hug, but after a few moments her body become transparent and the sides of the dream turned into white light.
“What happens?”
Sweetie Belle voice faded, as Lunas horn lightened up and her dream changed. She saw her friends, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom as fillies again and her own body was changing into one of a filly too. Both friends were waving at her and smiling bright.
“Sweetie Belle, your comin'?
We want to go to Sugarcube Corner and...”
Sweetie smiled and ran to them. Luna stayed behind, as the little filly galloped away from her and her dream vanished with her.
“I give you your happiest memories for your final dream Sweetie. 
Dream happily.
This is my last present for you!”
The black alicorn started to weep and turned away.

Well this is it.
Past, Present and future.
Three fillies and three ghosts.
May the fire of friendship be in your hearts.
Happy Holidays.