//------------------------------// // Hearth's Warming // Story: The Doctor Explains the Christmas Truce // by Crimson_Moon //------------------------------// Three months after the Storm King ravaged the land of Equestria and the ponies of the land; Unicorn, Pegasus, and Earth Pony alike, were still slowly recovering. Most cities were burned to ash, only the amber glow of timber still aflame the remaining traces of shops and homes all throughout. By what the scholars now refer to as "The Storm-King's Conquest" the hardest cities hit included many landmarks that brought hope and kindness to the hearts and minds of all beings, pony and otherwise. One such city was the noble capital of Canterlot, whose streets of ivory once shone as bright as Princess Celestia's sun, now nothing more than a dull ashen grey. This is where a Timelord dubbed The Doctor, whose role helped save many a world, sits by an open fire along with all his friends in the ruins of the Royal Castle's Banquet Hall. It was Hearth's Warming Eve, a time meant for joy and celebration! Needless to say, morale was low. Their first real defeat... he internally sighed. They'll never recover at this rate. Around him were friends he grew to know personally. Even his newly beloved, Derpy Hooves, was shaken by the ordeal. On their adventures following her temporary stone imprisonment, she had grown more daring. She took cold and calculated risks, analyzing situations and taking the best course of action, a new trait that terrified him to say the least- It reminded him too much of himself... Shaking his head of such thoughts, he stole his gaze away from Derpy and set them upon the bearers to the Elements of Harmony, sans Twilight, most of their smiles save Pinkie's were hollow and held no true emotion. *chuckles* It seems even in dark times, Pinkie's smile is still genuine! A sobering enigma amidst the sea of depression, to say the least. Starlight Glimmer surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, was coping well. Given her background in villainy, the most she probably felt was guilt, and a possible reminder of how escalated it could've gotten if she failed to heed Twilight Sparkle's words. What worried him the most though is the lack of empathy she showed to the surrounding ponies. A mental note was left for now. There is a time for everything, and her behavior is something for another time... It was just then that the doors to the hall opened to reveal the Princesses save for Cadence, who was at the moment dealing with her own city and problems. Celestia, Luna, and the recently dubbed Princess of Friendship Twilight Sparkle, were all coming back from a meeting with the dignitaries that represented the Dragon Lands as well as Griffon-stone: Dragon Lord Ember and Council Chairgriff Gilda. Everyone perked up when they saw their friend enter. Even Derpy was broken from her robotic behavior to share a smile with the Royal Sisters. The first to speak was Applejack. "So, how'd the meeting go with our neighbors?" A hopeful smile on her face. Twilight shone a smile back, happy to see her friends. "It went as well as it could have." Her smile faded. "It seems they're recovering for the most part. Dragon Lord Ember said most of the volcanoes of the Dragon Lands were sucked dry to feed the Storm King's dreadnoughts the firepower they needed." "Oh" was all the farm pony said in response. "However," Twilight continued. "most of her people were able to jumpstart the dormant ones, so it looks like they're able to recover and have offered help aid us in relief efforts!" A cacophony of cheers rang out in response to that. "W-what about the Griffons?" Rainbow Dash questioned, concerned for her friend Gilda's home. "Are they recovering too?" Princess Luna intervened this time, trotting slowly to Dash. "I'm afraid 'tis worrisome for your friend's homeland, young Pegasus." Her words killed the hopeful fire in Rainbow's rose eyes. "Her people are a very hardy race, naught but the scattered remnants of their military were the only ones to take up arms and defend. Their lands were in decay before the attack, I'm afraid they will not be lending much aid to us." "W-well, what about the Hippo eagle-pony things we met? A-aren't they helping them rebuild?" Tears were now forming in the cyan mare's eyes. Luna spoke softly, lest she make the pony suffer more. "Aye, but even a polished stone yields to the eroding wind. Their recovery to what they once were began long before the Storm King, and even though the Hippogriffs remember what noble a civilization and proud race they were, it will take decades before they are able to be of use to anypony, despite what their pride is telling them." She sighed. "What of you, Doctor? You've been quiet for quite a while now." Celestia spoke up, her radiance still shining brightly despite the circumstances. "You have seen the damage caused for yourself, what do you think we should do?" Ah. He was waiting for that question. No matter how many wars he has seen, how many battles fought, the question that still bothered him despite his experience. He knows his friend though, she wouldn't ask that question again unless it was for a reason. "What should you do?" He smiled at all the demure and broken spirits that surrounded him. "Enjoy Hearth's Warming Eve of course!" "W-what?" she replied, perplexed. It seems I still have a lesson to teach, even to one of the wisest and oldest among these creatures! He couldn't help but chuckle at the situation. This type of sorrow, lowered morale; it reminds me of Christmas Day, 1914. Suddenly, it struck him. A solution to their misery has just surfaced, now I need to show them the power of Humanity! He stood up. "Come and follow, my little ponies, I have a story to share, and this one involves scenery!" He began to trot off, hoping they would follow out of curiosity. "How?" Someone spoke. He turned his head, stopping his trot towards the TARDIS. "How can you be so cheerful?!" Fluttershy stood, shaking to the bone with anger and frustration. "Don't you get it?! We lost! Game over, Equestria was finally torn to pieces!" she yelled, tears streaming down her muzzle in torrents. "W-we don't have a home, we don't have our h-happy ending like we always do! ...We d-don't have h-hope." she fell to her knees once more. "W-we lost." She began sobbing uncontrollably. "Shh, shh. Don't cry." Derpy held Fluttershy close, comforting the poor mare. Drying her tears, she continued. "He has a reason. I've known him long enough to know that by now." She turned Fluttershy's head to meet her eyes. "Trust me." She turned to the Doctor and gave him a knowing nod of the head. They all began to get up to follow the strange Timelord. "Follow me, and I will tell you the tale of the Christmas truce."