//------------------------------// // Not to Be Confused With Hearth’s Summer Sun Celebration Day // Story: Happy NightHearts Wrap Up Day // by RhetCon //------------------------------// Twilight pushed through a crowd of ponies, quickly trying to reach the castle doors. Barely keeping up was Spike, trailing just behind her and doling out the apologies that she’d failed to give. No one could really blame her, though. She was so focused on keeping all her thoughts from falling through her mind that taking on even one more thought would have caused her entire mind to collapse. When the two finally reached the door, Twilight pulled it open just enough to squeeze through. Spike slipped in afterwards and pulled the large crystal doors shut. He put his back against it then slid onto his butt. “Rough day, huh?” Twilight spared a small grunt in response as she stood in the hall. “And planning is supposed to be your thing. To think this could’ve happened.” “I don’t know” said Twilight desperately. “I cannot believe I became so lax with my schedule!” “Hey, maybe it won’t be so bad,” proposed Spike. “I mean, maybe people are okay with losing a few holidays a year.” “We aren’t okay with losing a few holidays a year!,” said the large crowd outside in unison. “Wow,” said Spike. “We really need to get the walls of the castle soundproofed.” A unicorn came barrelling down the hallway, only coming to a stop in front of Twilight. Starlight took a few moments to catch her breath before handing a large ball of papers to Twilight. She dumped them on the floor before her. “What’s all this?” asked Twilight. She picked one up at random, ripped off the top, and pulled out the handwritten letter out. “Where da Hearth’s Warming at?” “It’s hate mail,” answered Starlight, finally catching her breath. “It’s been coming in since this morning. Everyone is really pissed, Twilight. What do we do?” “Some of these are really weird,” said Spike, opening one. “What does ‘get rekt skrub i’ll 360 no scope u’ mean? They barely used any grammar or spelling…” A large bang rang out, something fast blurring past Spike’s head. He looked in the direction it came from, and found a small hole in the door. “Darn it!” yelled somepony outside. “I always miss!” They gasped. “Maybe if I jump from on top of that ridge!” The pitter-patter of their hooves slowly died. Everyone was silent for a few seconds. Then, a small crack rang out. “Darn falling damage!” “Was that.. was that Button Mash?” asked Spike. “I-I think we might need to relocate.” “The library,” said Twilight definitively. “Not only is it easier to think, but we’ll be safe from… whatever that just was.” Everyone nodded in agreement and continued down the hall. A set of large, crystal doors symbolized the entrance to the library. Twilight pushed it open and found it just the way she left it. Once the doors were closed, the three could no longer hear the crowd. Before them were hundreds of bookshelves, stretching on both sides infinitely. It also spanned forward so far that darkness enveloped the ends. “Whoa,” said Starlight. “Where they heck are we?” “We’re in my personal library,” said Twilight, walking down the forwardmost corridor. “Think of it like we’re in a different dimension. Nothing outside those doors can get in. We should be safe for now.” “We still need a solution to our current problem,” said Starlight. “What are we going to do about the holidays?” “I need more time to think…” said Twilight. “What exactly brought this on?” “Well…” started Spike. After a quick thought he shrugged. “Technically, you got super drunk—” “I was a little tipsy!” exclaimed Twilight. “Like, two flagons at the most!” “Lightweight,” murmured Starlight with a chuckle. “—and forgot to do any planning for this year’s holidays,” finished Spike. “I don’t know about you, but ‘I was drunk’ and ‘Discord’ sound reeeeally similar right about now.” “Discord sounds like a good option,” said Twilight. “Now… what are we going to do about it?” “Wait, wait,” said Starlight. “I just noticed. Ponyville leaves all it’s planning work up to one person? Sounds pretty stupid to me.” “Okay, so maybe it was a stupid decision in hindsight, but once I planned for an entire nation to move under Equestrian soil with both hooves tied behind my back.” “But you have a horn,” pointed out Starlight. “Blindfolded!” corrected Twilight. “Okay, I guess—” “While playing Scrabble!” “Yeah, I get—” “IN SPACE” Starlight facehooved and dropped it. “Girls,” said Spike. “We’ve still got trouble. We have 3 holidays to celebrate in the span of 1 day.” “Seriously!?” asked Starlight, bewildered. “So, not only did you not plan ahead, you waited until the end of the deadline? This isn’t like you, Twilight.” Twilight stopped walking down the hallway which the three had been traversing mindlessly for the past few minutes. She turned around and faced Starlight, walked over to her and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Listen to me, Starlight. I will only say this once.” Starlight was quiet. Twilight was suddenly serious. Her eyes bored into Starlight’s. Her forehead was slightly creased. “A very intelligent, very well known wizard told me this one day. He told me that, no matter what, I was to follow this simple motto, because it will get me out of any sticky situation possible while also justifying my actions in a respectful and coherent manner. Do you know what that motto is?” “N-No,” stuttered Starlight. “W-What is it?” Twilight moved close to Starlight’s ear and whispered the phrase into her ear. “Y.O.L.O.” Starlight’s curiosity died in an instant and a frown donned her face. “Why are we friends again?” “That’s the spirit!” said Twilight, walking back toward the door. It miraculously appeared before the three, allowing Twilight to reach it much quicker than she left it behind. She pushed it open and reached the front door. She opened it with magic, letting the rioting crowd know that she was about to address them. She amplified her voice and began. “Hello everypony! I have a solution!” “Honey, there’s… there’s something I want to tell you...” “Yes? Remember, you can tell me anything in the world.” “I’m… I’m…” “You’re? You’re?” “Not actually a bloodsucking vampony.” The mare removed her mask, revealing her real face. “I’m actually just a mare. I hope we can still have pig blood cake together.” “Oh dear,” said the stallion. He took his mask off as well. “I am also normal. Now, we can be normal together!” “We can finally be a normal couple!” said the mare, embracing the stallion. “Now, we shall celebrate our new life by paying off our debts to society by helping to shovel the entirety of northeast Equestria out of the crippling snow.” A tear fell from the stallion’s eye. “I wouldn’t want to do anything else.” The couple galloped away happily, both of them carrying their industrial size shovels. “See Starlight?” asked Twilight, who was floating over the couple as they spoke. “Everything worked out in the end.” Starlight rolled her eyes. She was levitating herself right next to Twilight. “What about the fact that we indicted Discord for a crime he didn’t commit—” “Shh…” whispered Twilight. “—About 3/4ths of Equestria is covered in near kilometers of snow—” “Shh…” repeated Twilight. “And the fact that you’re carrying another flagon of cider, just to put the irresponsibility cherry on the top of this cupcake?” “Oh, Starlight,” said Twilight with a swig. “Making ants out of skyscrapers.” Starlight facehooved again. “I need better friends.”