I was playing Santa Hooves
Down on Hearth's Warming Eve
When a filly of three or four
Sat on my knee
I asked her what her name is
And would Santa do for you
She said, “My name is...:
Buddy’s eyes opened wide when he saw the laser blast coming at him, moving to dodge the blast in time. Panting, he brought out his whip and threw it at the gun that was in front of him and pull it away, letting it fire at its companion and destroying it. For a few brief seconds, he prayed that meant that the scenario was over; however, the sound of a buzzsaw at his back quickly threw that hope away. Jumping away with inches to spare, he watched as the saw was blocked by a staff, “Off your game today?” Artie asked, smiling warmly.
“N-no, just a little distracted. Today is kind of special and I-” a rocket quickly interrupted him as it sped towards him. Turning away from the blast, he sighed when Artie blocked the hit by spinning his staff in a circle.
Artie breathed slowly, watching as the wind from his staff blew away the flames. Then he looked to Buddy, “Special? Want to talk about it?”
“Um, no. IT wouldn’t be anything you are interested in,” Buddy said, getting up and looking around the training room. “Where are the others.”
Artie looked around, watching and listening to the fighting that took place around them,” You know Dyno and Myte, really focused on each other. Starla is busy keeping to Lighting, and Rhymey.”
Artie paused as he heard a loud, “Drill Quill” coming from above as Rhymey blasted some combat droids.
“Showing off, as usual,” Artie frowned as he watched the other unicorpian continue to fight in his training session.
Buddy got up, and nodded softly, “Artie...do you ever wish we were, you know, more like them?”
“Like the Equestrians?” asked Artie as he looked around them, and sighed as he responded. “You are thinking of how well they did some of these courses?”
“By working together, those six accomplished this course in five minutes!” Buddy shouted. “We work alone and we take about an hour to complete it! They,” Buddy sighed as he could hear the last explosions from the attacks of Lighting and Starla, “Just do it so differently than us.”
Artie looked at Buddy oddly, cocking his head to the side, “You saying that you want to fight with friendship, and have us work together?”
“I...I don’t know. I get-” a loud buzzer interrupted Buddy before he could finish. Smiling, he quickly demorphed and began to walk to the door.
“And where are you going?
Our results are showing?” asked Rhymey, looking at Buddy with a frown.
Buddy waved Rhymey off, “End of my shift. Which means I have some stuff to do. Talk later.”
“What does be mean stuff to do?
Just where is going to?
And today of all days.
Surely he is not celebrating the Equestrian ways.
Not if he has lost family
It would be shameful indeed.”
Artie shook his head and walked out, “Whatever it is, it’s his business.”
“Come on guys,” Lighting said, shaking his head and walking out of the training room, “We have things to do.”
(eight years ago)
“Mr. Rose, I am sorry to inform you,” said the officer as he looked away, “But, your aunt and uncle are dead. They died in a car accident an hour ago.”
Buddy shook his head in shock at the news, and lowered his head. Breathing slowly, he asked, “A-and what about Daphne? Is she alright?”
“Yes,” the officer said, “They pushed her out of the cart just before the train hit them. They...didn’t make it.”
“Where is she now?” Buddy asked.
The officer looked into the side room and nodded, “She’s in there, waiting for the orphanage to pick her up.”
My name is Daphine Dill
And I was born on a Holiday
I don’t know who my family is
Now that they’ve gone away
All I want now
Is for someone to take me home
Does anybody want a little girl
All their own.
Buddy looked at the cold and empty room, to the sleeping Daphine. Letting out a breath and smiling in sympathy, he said, “I’ll take her.”
(present day)
Buddy walked through the streets of Ponyville, listening to the sound of crunching snow beneath him. While the town was busy rolling up its streets for the night, it still had the feel of a small town ready to welcome all who would visit them. There was a calm feeling about the place, one that he had come to appreciate ever since he had come to live in the town.
As the sounds of the townsponies hit his ear, one conversation in particular caught him. It was a discussion between a father and daughter about all of the things she wanted for Hearth’s warming. It made him smile a little, thinking about someone else he loved that much as he walked into the store, “Excuse me, I heard you were selling findings from the Unicorpia ruins for cheap?”
“Yep, just making the last few sales. Why, ya want something?” asked the unicorpian, smiling and showing his perfect teeth.
Buddy nodded, “Yes, I want that doll. It’s kind of special.” he said pointing to an old, ratty,doll that was made out of straw and hemp. It’s red hair was made of yarn and resembled a little unicornpian. “For me.”
“Well, sure...but, what this raggedy thing?” The unicorpian asked as he handed the doll to Buddy.
“Trust me-”
(8 years ago.)
Well, all I could say was
that Santa would do the best he could
I set her down and held her
“Now you remember to be real good.”
She said “I will,”
Turned and waved bye
I was glad that she couldn’t
See old Santa cry.
“A gift? But...” Daphine said, looking down at she saw the box in her hand.
Buddy knelt with his cousin and put a hand onto her shoulder, “Look, I know it’s been tough without your parents. I miss your aunt too. But maybe...we can still have a family here.” Buddy smiled warmly as he looked to his little cousin.
Opening her package, Daphine smiled when she looked at the doll, “It’s cute.”
“Yeah, Starfleet doesn't pay much, but I hope-” he was interrupted by a hug from Daphine.
Tearfully, Daphine said, “I love it Buddy.”
Buddy sighed at the mention of his real name, and wanted to correct her. Instead, he just smiled and hugged her back.
Early Hearth’s Warming morning
I got up and called the phone
And made arrangements
With the local children’s home
They told me it would be alright
To pick her up today.
And now my little one
No longer has to say.
(Present day)
“Happy Hearth’s warming, Daphine,” said Buddy, handing the old doll to his little cousin.
“But, I thought Grand ruler always said-”
Buddy looked down at her, faking being hurt, “ Now, Daphine, who runs this house. Grand Ruler, or your old man?”
“You,” giggled Daphine, jumping up and wrapping her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Buddy.”
“I wish you would call me father, just once,” Buddy thought to himself. Just as an explosion rang out across the land. Curious, Buddy carried his cousin to the window and smiled. The brightest rainbow star that they had ever seen flowed across the land, letting all who looked at it, gaze in wonder.
It was not just our three protagonists who saw the beautiful rainbow star. There were others, some who were feeling miserable and lonely. Such as Pinkie Pie, sitting in the doctor’s room as she was being evaluated. Looking out to the world, she smiled at she saw the exploding star expanding outwards. A wide grin formed on her face as she looked out, seeing something that renewed the fires of hope in her heart, “Thanks Dashie.”
Or even Fluttershy, who sat in her hut, being lectured by Rhymey about the perils of Hearth’s Warming and why they shouldn’t celebrate. As she listened, her mind was too focused on a beautiful star that flowed out from the center of town. A warm smile graced Fluttershy’s lips.
A young mother, alone with her two daughters ad missing her husband. A musician, who was afraid of losing her lover. A teacher, who wanted to gain loss knowledge back. A Carrot Farmer who is afraid for her home, and a weather mare, who wanted something better for her brother. These five also saw the beautiful rainbow, unaware that the coming year would bring a new world of adventure to their lives. Also unaware, was the student of Luna, who was busy performing a show with a magician that she despised. She saw the rainbow and smiled, knowing that soon, she would be on the adventure of a lifetime.
Also, elsewhere, in Luna’s secret getaway in Whitetail woods, she heard a knocking on the door. When the princess opened it, the rainbow star was unleashed, revealing a young mare with purple skin and a grey mane, “Twilight?” Luna whispered as she looked on the mare’s face.
“I am sorry princess, but I am not Twilight Sparkle. She is dead,” the mare said, looking away. “My name is...” there was a brief pause in her voice before she said, “Shining Spark.”
“I see,” Luna said, sitting back and looking at her, “And what would bring you to my secret hiding spot?”
“I heard on the grapevine, that you are planning a rebellion,” Spark said, “I want to help you.”
“Well, I can’t trust just anypony with this,” Luna said. “Perhaps you would like to be a training partner for my student, Trixie Lulamoon. If you like, you can even have a code name: Shining Magic or Bright Spark, they seem nice.”
“I think I might use a codename, once in awhile. Until I get to know the others,” Spark said.
“Good,” Luna said, smiling, “Spark...I think this might the beginning of a wonderful adventure.”