//------------------------------// // Act 1: Lighten up // Story: Friendship is Failure #14: A Hearths Warming Carol // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// ACT ONE When Twilight got back to Friendship Castle, she quickly summoned all her friends to the map chamber. Not just to go over the preparations for the Hearths Warming festivities that night, but to discuss about Miser Stash. “I’ve heard about that old coot.” said Applejack “They say he hasn’t celebrated Hearths Warmin’ in about forty years. All he ever does is work his tail off and hardly smiles at all.” Rarity gasped in shock, and looked as though she felt dizzy and wanted to faint-- she was just being overdramatic. “What?!” snapped Pinkie Pie “Not celebrated in forty years? That is just… just…” she didn’t know whether to feel enraged, shocked, or burst out crying. It was Twilight who felt more shocked than ever and now she was more than convinced that Miser needed some cheering up this season. “Maybe we should invite him to the Hearths Warming party tonight?” suggested Fluttershy, “That is… if it’s not a bad idea?” “No, no, that’s a great idea.” said Twilight “I was going to suggest the same thing. I think he could use a bit of cheer and joy.” The others all agreed, especially Starlight Glimmer, remembering how she used to be a grump and how Twilight didn’t give up on her and helped her see the light. “I’ll send the invitation to him in person.” she said. “Right.” agreed Twilight “The rest of us better get ready for the big party. I have to go meet my relatives at the Train Station.” Rainbow Dash leapt up from her seat fluttering like crazy “This party is going to be AWE-SOME… I CAN’T WAIT FOR IT!” Spike couldn’t wait for it either, especially as he looked under the big Hearth’s Warming tree and saw a tiny gift he had wrapped himself. It was small, and tagged “To Rarity… with love from Spike.” It was a beautiful diamond necklace with a heart shaped ruby in the middle on a golden star pendant. The day he saw it in the shop window, he knew it would look beautiful on her. So he saved up his jewels from his personal stash for months, and worked twice as hard round the castle, and at the School of Friendship to earn more jewels for his allowance. He even did odd jobs for other ponies around Ponyville for even more until he was able to buy the necklace. He decided he couldn’t wait any longer, and wished to give her the gift tonight, at the party. “Spike…?” Rarity said to him, making him jump. “What’s that you have?” “Oh, this… oh, um…” he quickly hid the gift behind his back and out of her sight so she wouldn’t see. “Well, it’s… it’s, um…” Rarity gave him a silly look, “Now, Spike, I know it’s tempting, but really you should wait until tomorrow morning to open your present.” Spike felt relieved his surprise wasn’t spoiled, and he casually put the gift back under the tree, “Yeah… how silly of me.” Rarity giggled at how she he looked and then walked off, and Spike waited until it was time to leave for the party, and he grabbed the gift back and took it with him. Once at the party, located in town square, he placed the gift under the giant central tree, where many other gifts lay, from other ponies to other ponies. It was a mighty big stack. Twilight had not yet arrived, as she was still at the train station to meet with her family, and as for Starlight, she didn’t know where Miser Stash lived, but she correctly assumed he’d still be at the bank, despite it being closed. The doors were not yet locked, and so she just went inside herself, and found Miser STILL working. She knocked quietly at the open door of his office. “We are closed.” he said not even looking up at her. Starlight was warned about his attitude, and refused to be deterred so easily and walked into the office. “I have merely come to invite you to the Hearths Warming gathering, on behalf of Princess Twilight Sparkle.” Miser sighed, “I thought I had made it perfectly clear to others I wish NOT to participate in such pointlessness.” Starlight was starting to feel maybe it be best to just leave him alone, but knowing Twilight taught her to never give up encouraged her to keep trying, “Why do you hate Hearths Warming so much?” she asked him. Miser stopped writing, and very slowly looked up at her, sending shivers down her spine, “…Please just leave me in peace.” Starlight knew she had struck a nerve, and that there was some reason he hated Hearths Warming, something very bad. “If you come to the party, perhaps my friends and I can help you with what bothers you.” Miser only shook his head “No one can help me. What’s done is done. I am too old for change, and would like to spend my life in peace. This is the final time I will ask you, please leave!” Starlight refused to budge, and while Miser could have called security, he remembered he and Starlight were the only ones in the bank. “You shouldn’t be here like this.” said Starlight “Look at you; you’re working all alone, and on the holidays too. You won’t have anyone to do business with anyway. So why keep at it?” Miser looked more annoyed than ever. “Every year at December 24th, I am given that same, poor excuse… but seeing as I am the only one who understands that, and seeing as there is no other way to be rid of you…” he paused “…Very well, I shall come with you.” Starlight smiled, “You won’t regret this.” Miser did not agree one bit. Back at the party, Twilight had arrived along with her parents, Shining Armor, Princess Cadance, and Baby Flurry Heart. “Wow!” exclaimed Shining Armor as he looked up at the huge tree. It wasn’t lit up yet as it wasn’t quite sundown, but just looking at it was a beautiful sight. “You outdid yourself, Twily.” Twilight blushed, “Well, I can’t take all the credit. Almost every pony in town helped.” “Yes, but you helped organize everything.” said Cadance. Velvet Sparkle and Night Light smiled proudly at their daughter, and Twilight did feel produ with herself. The party had begun, and there were all kinds of winter sports-- hockey, snow-pony building contests, ice skating, tobogganing-- Rainbow Dash sure enjoyed all that. “MAKE WAY FOR THE QUEEN OF THE HILL!” she shouted as she sledded down a hill “YAHOO!!!” The food was delightful as well, Pinkie Pie practically stuffed her face, and still wanted more and more. “It’s Hearths Warming-tastic!” she cheered with glee. Fluttershy merely had a glass of eggnog, and was about to raise it to her lips when… “Hey! Watch it!” the glass practically said, and Fluttershy gasped in shock as she dropped the glass to the ground, and it changed into Discord. “Hey! You nearly shattered me there.” Fluttershy breathed in relief, “I wish you wouldn’t scare me like that, but I told you I was ready to leave and you weren’t.” “Yeah, well… I’m here now; so, Happy Hearths Warming.” and he handed her a candy cane “I promise, no surprises.” “Aww… thank you.” Discord blushed. Starlight had arrived at the party with Miser Stash. He looked as grouchy as ever and was smoking a cigar. “Here we are.” said Starlight. “Yes,” grumbled Miser “Now, goodbye.” And he turned to walk away. “Wait a minute!” snapped Starlight “What do you mean “Goodbye?” What about the Party?” “What about it?” sneered Miser “I told you I would come with you, I never agreed to actually attending the party.” Starlight tried to protest when Twilight came over with her family, “What’s going on here?” and then she saw, “Oh, Miser Stash… glad you decided to come.” Miser didn’t look a bit please, “Bah!” he snorted which shocked everyone. “Hey, there’s no need to be such a grump.” said Night Light. “I agree,” said Velvet “It’s Hearths Warming; a time to be happy.” Miser was starting to lose his cool, “Maybe for you, but to me… Hearths Warming is a waste of time.” The entire grounds went silent, and practically every eye in the area was focused on Miser. Angrily, he threw his lit cigar in the direction of the large tree with the presents under it… “You heard me!” growled Miser “I have no desire to be part of the cheer and joy! Goodnight and Good riddance to you all!” Flurry Heart began to cry at Miser’s yelling. Cadance comforted her, but she was very annoyed with Miser, but it was her husband and Twilight who confronted him; stepping in front of his way. “You’re not going anywhere, pal!” sneered Shining Armor “Not until you apologize!” Twilight agreed, “All we wanted to do was give you a good Hearths Warming, but you’ve done nothing but grouch at us, insult us, and you’ve showed hardly any courtesy at all!” Many of the ponies and others in the crowds cheered Twilight on; agreeing with what she said. Even Starlight was growing cross, “We invited you out here so you could try to have a nice night, and believe me, you need it!” she growled at Miser “I was once like you; I didn’t care who liked me or hated me, but in the end, because I had heart enough to try, I made friends and I changed for the better. Now why won’t you!” Miser scoffed, “Ha! You claim you were like me, and perhaps you were, but in the end, you wouldn’t understand even if you tried. None of you would!” He walked off in a huff, and no one tried to stop him feeling it was better he go, though maybe ponies taunted out to him, “Good luck being a horrible pony!” “You sick old coot!” “Do the world a favor and drop dead!” Twilight felt that last one was a bit harsh and over the top, but she, too, was enraged and felt perhaps Miser wasn’t worthy of her help at all. She wanted to have a good Hearths Warming and spend time with her friends and family. So, the festivities continued, and everyone tried their best to forget about Miser and his attitude. Pretty soon, the sun was setting, and it was nearly time for the annual lighting of the tree to commence, and Spike was growing anxious to give his gift to Rarity, and he could see it sitting on the massive pile of gifts under the large tree. Before he could go over and get it through, “Spike…?” Rairty said surprising him once again. “Oh, um… Hi, Rarity. Enjoying the party?” “Yes, very much, thank you… and you…?” “I’m having great time.” Spike replied, but he was feeling rather awkward inside, like he was about to fall flat on his face. He really wanted to give Rarity her gift now, if he only had it on hand instant of putting it under the tree. Rarity suddenly looked up above her head, up on the lamppost. “Oh, look…” Spike looked up too and spotted the mistletoe. Both of them blushed, but even Rarity couldn’t resist the honoring of tradition and she leaned her cheek down softly to Spike. Spike gasped very faintly, but he summed up his courage and leaned in close, puckering his lips, getting closer to contact, when… “Hey you two…!” Applejack called, making Rarity lean upright again and causing Spike to miss and fall flat in the snow, much to his annoyance. “…They’re gonna light up the tree. Shake a leg!” “Oh my!” cried Rarity “It’s the most splendiferous thing in the entire gathering.” And she galloped merrily off, while Spike pulled himself up from the snow, annoyed but still excited. Mayor Mare took the stand as the crowds huddled around. “Welcome, one and all, to the annual lighting of the Hearths Warming tree.” The crowd cheered, and then hushed again as Mare continued, “This year, we are more than honored to be in the presence of not only Princess Twilight Sparkle, but joining us from the Crystal Empire are Princess Cadance and Shining Armor.” More cheers followed. “Therefore, it has been decided, that they three of them shall have the honor of lightning the tree.” Even more cheers followed, and Mare let the trio of ponies have the stand near the big read switch that would light the tree, while Twilight’s folks and starlight looked after Flurry Heart on the sidelines. Twilight gazed back and forth at her brother and at her sister-in-law. All three of them placed their hooves on the switch, and then the countdown began. Everyone in the crowd counted from ten to zero… and the switch was flicked, and the tree lit up… …IN FLAMES!! Everyone began to scream and panic as the entire tree became one blazing inferno. “RUN!!!” shouted Shining Armor. Everyone began to dash far from the tree as the fires spread, catching the large groups of gifts under the tree. “NO…!!” Spike cried as he could see his gift to Rarity still on the pile. He wanted to go save it, but Rarity held him back, “No, Spike! It’s too dangerous!” “But my gift…!” The fire brigade was on the job almost at once, and Twilight, Cadance, Shining Armor helped with their magic, to cast a cooling spell to douse the flames. Discord helped too by changing into a huge rain cloud, “Time to rain on this parade!” he thundered as he unleashed a strong downpour. The fire was put out before it could spread any further, but the tree was history, too badly damaged. It and all the decorations were burned to ash, and all the presents beneath the tree, completely destroyed-- melted all together, and shattered like ice pieces. Every single creature was shocked, horrified, and many of the children were very sad and began to cry at the loss of the tree and the presents. Pinkie Pie cried too “They’re gone!” she sobbed “THEY’RE ALL GOOOOOOOOONNNNNE!!!” Fluttershy had tears in her eyes, but she was too shocked to cry. “I don’t believe it!” said Applejack. “It’s totally totaled.” added Rainbow Rarity gawked at the horrible mess, but Spike was even more hurt felt than she was. He stared grimly at the pile of blackened, melted, and shattered gifts, feeling that his gift to Rarity was certainly melted somewhere into the massive mess. Seeing it was a diamond necklace, it could have survived due to diamonds being strong, but even still there was no way to find it or get to it now. Poor Spike, he broke down sobbing softly, “No… and after everything I went through!” Anyone else who placed a gift under the tree felt equally as devastated, sore, and outraged. Twilight’s parents and Flurry Heart were safe, and they rendezvoused with Twilight and the others. “Are you all okay?” asked Night Light. Physically, they were all fine, but they were all just beyond words of sad and horrified, especially Twilight “What happened?” she growled “How did the tree just burst into flames like this?!” That was something everyone wanted to know, and just then Miser Stash arrived on the scene, “What happened here?” he asked. Suddenly, as everyone took just one look at him, they all remembered what had happened-- how he threw his lit cigar right at the tree! “He did it!” “He wrecked Hearths Warming!” “GET HIM!!” and an angry mob formed all around him before he could even question anyone. “Wait! Stop!” shouted Miser, but no one seemed interested in what he had to say. Even Twilight and her royal relatives were extremely cross with him! “Miser Stash!” growled Cadance “For the mindless destruction of public property, I proclaim you under arrest! GAURDS!!” she thundered, and her royal escort guards came and apprehended him, trying Miser up tightly and hauling him away. Twilight took one last look at the miserable pony as he was hauled away, “I hope you get what’s coming to you, you sick, twisted monster!!” Miser could only growl back at her, “This is the thanks I get after everything I’ve done… I HOPE YOU ALL SUFFER FOR THIS!!! YOU AND YOUR STUPID HEARTHS WARMING…!!” While many of the crowd wanted to go after him and punish him themselves, given that things were already bad enough as they were, and Miser was hauled away, they didn’t have the strength to do it either. The festivities were partially over, and everyone thought it best to return home, with their hearts broken and their minds spinning in circles with anger and depression! Twilight finally broke down and cried. “Oh, Twily…” her brother said as he held her tightly. Cadance joined in, and the rest the family, as well as Twilight’s friends just sat where they were, gawking at the ruined tree and gifts.