//------------------------------//
// 18. Fun in the Winter 
// Story: EqG Tales: Monster High Edition 
// by Brian Sheil 
//------------------------------//

"Are the three of y'all just going to sit there crying?" Applejack asked. She sees her sister, Apple Bloom, sitting on the couch with tears in her eyes.
"I can't help it, sis." Apple Bloom answered sadly. "Me and my friends were going to the ice skating rink for some fun since it's Winter."
"Just as we were going in," Sweetie Belle continued, "that bully, Babs Seed, lied about the three of us, and had the guards kick us out!"
Scootaloo wiped the tears from her eyes. "At least Rarity was there to take us home. Now, we have nothing to do!"
Applejack feel bad for the three girls being double crossed like that. "I'm sorry about that, girls. But, there's still fun to have during Winter. There's plenty to do outside. There's plenty of snow, you know."
Apple Bloom was still upset. "What kind of fun can we have outside?"
Granny Smith came into the room. "Applejack, someone is here to see ya."
In steps a sky blue skinned girl with glittery white hair with colorful streaks. Her outfit is a glittery dress with colorful angles and fuzzy boots. Applejack knows who it is. "Howdy, Abbey!"
"Hello, Applejack." The visitor greeted. The two girls embraced with a warm hug.
"Oh my goodness." Sweetie Belle said. "I heard of this person. She's Abbey Bominable. A real ice maiden."
"I guess this weather is her kind of environment." Apple Bloom said.
"Of course, Apple Bloom. Abbey is the daughter of the Yeti."
Scootaloo got shocked. "The Yeti?!"
"Yes, young one." Abbey replied. "The Yeti. Also known as the abominable snowman."
"That's probably where you got your name."
"You might say that."
"So, what brings you here to Sweet Apple Acres,  Abbey?" Applejack wondered.
"I heard what happened to your sister and her friends." Abbey explained.  "It's not right to be thrown out for no reason."
"You got that right, Abbey." Apple Bloom said sadly.
"I was just telling them that there's stuff to do outside." Applejack explained. "But, they don't believe it."
Abbey soon looked at the three sad girls. "Is that so? Well, with my help, Applejack and her brother, Big Macintosh, will prove you girls wrong."
The three girls looked skeptical. Outside, the girls are on top of a snowy hill, sitting on sleds. Abbey Bominable is with them.
"Riding down a hill like this on sleds is always fun during the Winter." Abbey said.
"We hope you're right." Sweetie Belle said with concern.
The girls prepared as Abbey gave them the signal. "Ready, GO!"
They pushed themselves until they are going down. As they slide down the hill, they felt a rush they never thought they would have. As they hit the bottom of the hill, they got very excited.
"That was awesome!" Scootaloo shouted. "I never thought we'd have fun without video games."
Sweetie Belle brushed the snow off her coat. "You said it. Going down the hill was quite an adrenaline rush!"
At a frozen pond, the three girls practiced their ice skating. Applejack, Big Mac, and Abbey watch them carefully.
"I'm glad the pond is frozen enough for ice skating." Applejack said.
"Eeyup." Big Mac added.
"It's good to see those girls with smiles on their faces." Abbey replied.
Soon, the three girls made snow sculptures. Apple Bloom carved up a walrus. Scootaloo crafted a basic snowman. And, Sweetie Belle carved a likeness of Monster High's school crest.
"Wow!" Apple Bloom said. "You even got that skull right."
"I got a pretty good memory about the symbol of Monster High." Sweetie Belle explained.
Granny Smith then approached the three girls. "How about coming in for some hot chocolate? Applejack, Abbey, and Big Mac are waiting inside."
"Sure thing, Granny." Apple Bloom replied.
"I'm starting to get chilly myself." Scootaloo added. "Let's go."
Inside, everyone enjoyed hot chocolate by a nice warm fire.
"Next time we gather, let's have Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara join us." Sweetie Belle suggested.
"Good idea." Apple Bloom replied. " There is one other thing about winter we could all get involved with."
"Yeah." Scootaloo said. "Snowball fights!"
The girls had a good laugh as Applejack, Big Mac, and Abbey relaxed with their own mugs of hot cocoa.
"It's good to see those girls feel much better." Applejack said.
"Eeyup." Big Mac added. "This makes up for the loss they had earier."
"Friends," Abbey announced as she raised her mug, "here's to a grand, fun filled winter."
Applejack and company raised their mugs, saluting the fun that Apple Bloom and her friends had.