ACT FOUR
“What is going on here?!” snapped Starlight “The people in the audience can hear you! I’ve had to send out the Hearth’s Warming Dancers to drown you out!”
The ladies disregarded her and while they lowered their voices, Rarity spat “All my life you have done nothing but upstage me!
“Me?!” protested Glitter, “What about you? You’re the one who keeps bragging in my face. “My family” this! “My Family” that! I get it that you have a family. Why are you doing this to me all the time?! I only came here tonight because Princess Celestia invited me to partake in these festivities. How could I let her down?”
“Humph!” grunted Rarity “If it hadn’t been for Celestia inviting you, you probably would have just stayed at home or working with your “Fancy dress business”
“What?”
“I know you! You’ve hardly ever spent much time at Hearth’s Warming doing anything? And I don’t see you having any fun or joy with a family. All you do is work-work-work! It’s like your Fancy Dress Business is more important to you than anything else!”
Now Glitter felt heart-struck, “So that’s it? That’s all you see in me? You think I’m nothing more than just an over-obsessed workaholic?”
“That’s what you tell every-pony you’ve ever met! It’s even written here in your magazines!” She held up a copy and showed her the exact quote. “I guess I am a bit of a workaholic. I’m too busy to really celebrate Hearth’s Warming.”
“Those are your words, Glitter Glitz. What do you have to say about that?” and she turned away with her nose high in the air, while Glitter looked really hurt as she hung her head low and shut her eyes really tight to keep herself calm from what she was about to say.
“This is what I have to say… I lied about all that workaholic stuff!
I was an only child, and my parents died on Hearth’s Warming Eve when their coach skidded off the road and into ravine.
I never forgot that, and I also never forgot my sweet fiancé, Twinkle light-- may he rest in peace! He died of pneumonia before we could ever marry! I wanted a family, I wanted to share in the same joys you had, Rarity… but no! All I had was my Fancy Dress Business! which I managed to start using the money my parents left to me in their will!”
Rarity’s eyes bulged and her mouth hung open.
“So now you know!” said Glitter “How can I celebrate Hearth’s Warming when it means so much sadness to me?”
Rarity never knew all this, and she felt extremely bad with herself now, but as she turn to try and find a way to apologize it was no good. Glitter levitated her crown off, and gave it to her, “Here! I’m too upset to go on now. Not that it matters. I have no one to share the holidays will anyway.”
With that, she headed out the backstage door and out into the cold and snowy night, while all Rarity could do was hang her head very low in shame.
“You are a very inconsiderate pony!”
Rarity knew that voice and turned to see Princess Celestia looking disappointingly at her. Twilight and the others were there too, and they looked just as cross with her, even Spike and Sweetie Belle.
“I… I didn’t know.” Rarity said in deep regret “I suppose I never asked. I was too busy judging, and I let my own jealousy get the best of me.”
Celestia shook her head pitifully at Rarity. “Twilight told me about your feud with Glitter Glitz, and while I’m not making excused for the way the both of you behaved tonight… do you know why I asked Glitter that she take part in the pageant this year?”
Rarity shook her head honestly, and Celestia informed her “Because I knew of the troubles she felt, and I thought maybe I could help her realize that Hearth’s Warming doesn’t have to be all that bad, and she can still take part of something grand to show she’s really alone.”
Twilight stepped forth, “Rarity, not every-pony is as happy as many are on Hearth’s Warming. Some don’t celebrate because they don’t feel like celebrating, maybe for the same Glitter doesn’t celebrate it.”
Rainbow agreed, “There’s lots of Wonderbolts on the force who lost many friends and loved ones in the service. Some of them still celebrate Hearth’s Warming, but others just don’t feel like it because they miss their friends too much.”
Fluttershy looked down heavily, “If any of my friends were gone, I don’t think I could celebrate it, but I’d still try.”
“Me too.” added Pinkie.
Applejack then spoke, “Rarity, we all remember something you seem to have forgotten. Hearth’s Warmin’ is about thinkin’ of others, not just yourself. We all need to think of others, and how some ponies ain’t got it as good as we do.
Granny Smith makes her giant Hearth’s Warmin’ feast, and whatever we can’t finish we donate the poor.”
Spike stepped forth, “Even I donate some jewels from my own collection and allowance to help the sick and the homeless. Even if I can’t do much, at least thinking about them shows consideration.”
Rarity finally began to recollect this feeling of understanding. She herself remembered how she donated to charities, and knitted scarves and mittens for poor ponies. Now she felt even more remorseful than ever.
She levitated the crown into Twilight’s possession, “Here… some-pony else play the role of the Princess. I have a lot of thinking to do.” and then she went off.
Starlight shook her head pitifully, “What do we do now?” she asked.
Twilight volunteered to play the Princess. “I know all the lines. I can do it.”
“Thank you, Twilight.” said Celestia “Now if you’ll all excuse me. I must write a letter to Glitter Glitz. Her behaviour tonight was equally as bad, but I do wish to extend my sympathies.”
She went off, and the gang sighed.
Nevertheless, the play continued, and while the crowds were surprised to see Twilight replacing Glitter as Princess Platinum, Starlight merely announced, “Due to a sudden emergency that came up, Glitter Glitz was forced to leave. Princess Twilight Sparkle shall fill the role of Princess Platinum.”
They did not wish to explain the spat, feeling both Rarity and Glitter had been through enough that evening, but whatever happened next between the two would be entirely up to them!