//------------------------------// // Holiday Folktales, Part 2 // Story: Good Times in Equestria: Thomas’s First Hearth’s Warming Eve // by GoebelTron //------------------------------// Later on, Twilight came back with more hot cocoa, and then gave the mug to Thomas and then sat down on the sofa, until he leaned back towards her again and then she continued the story, “Okay, so where did we leave off? Oh, right! Now, get ready, sweetheart. This is where things get interesting.” She then cleared her throat, and then continued the story. “Anyway, Snowfall was all set to cast her spell so that it would erase the Hearth’s Warming season for all time. When suddenly, a voice from the hearth caught her attention." “Ya sure ya wanna go through with this, Snowfall?” an unfamiliar voice asked, seemingly originating from the bubbling cauldron resting above the hearth. “Huh?! Who’s there?! Who said that?!” Snowfall nervously asked, feeling a little on the edge from her encounter earlier with Mr. Dickson. Just then, there was a huge seeming apple shaped bubble that rose up, and then a huge puff of smoke appeared, revealing a light grayish blue earth pony mare with western attire that looked like a dress and sweater vest and tuxedo shirt into one, winter boots that looked like mittens on her front hooves, two pigtails on her mane, and a stetson hat on her head. “The Spirit of Hearth's Warmin' Past, that's who. And you and me have got to have us a little chat,” she said, rising out of the cauldron and appearing in front of Snowfall. “A spirit?!” Snowfall exclaimed, before recalling Mr. Dickson’s warning from earlier. While giving out a suspicious look, Snowfall stared at the spirit. “I didn't cast any spirit summoning spell. What are you doing here?” She then remembered something, “Wait. Don’t tell me you’re that so-called spirit whose coming was foretold to me.” “Yep. Right as rain, sugarcube,” the spirit chuckled while she phased right through Snowfall, causing her to shiver as she felt she’d been hit by a cold gust of wind from outside. “And to answer your question, it’s really simple. You don't think a spell like that would get by without some powerful forces noticin'? You've got our attention, Snowfall Frost, and we've got some pretty strong opinions on this spell of yours ya got yourself brewin’.” “Wait a minute. "We"?” Snowfall asked, not knowing who the Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Past was referring to. Snowfall’s suspicions suddenly seemed to be confirmed a moment later, before the spirit turned around to her, “Yep. The other spirits. But don’t worry. They'll be along in a bit. For now, it's just you and me. So, let’s get a move on. We got a ton to see and barely any time to see it.” Snowfall felt her top hat landing on top of her head. “Beg your pardon. Sorry to disappoint you, spirit, but I'm not going anywhere. I've got a spell to cast, and I don't need a history lesson about Hearth's Warming Eve, so thank you.” The spirit then pushed the study window open, “We aren't goin' to the past to learn about the holiday. We're goin' to learn about you.” She then spun and threw her lasso at Snowfall, until she felt it land onto her. “I’ll explain when we get there. Now, hold on tight, because it's gonna be a bumpy ride." Snowfall yelped as she found herself being pulled by The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Past, who was leading her right towards the window, and then wailed feeling certain she would fall and die. Suddenly, as if by magic, not only did she fall before finding out she was flying like the spirit who had her tied up by the rope around her stomach, she didn’t feel the winter wind biting her, since it no longer seemed to bother her. It was as if she didn’t even exist at all. While they were traveling through time to the past, The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Past started to sing as she led Snowfall along. As a young thing, life sure is somethin' You go makin' choices large and small Always growin' like a seedlin' And playin' is like dreamin' And before you know it, big and tall And every little bitty choice you make Sends you down a path to who you are today So let's take a little trip down memory lane And see just what the past has to say After a few seconds of warping travel, Snowfall and the spirit touched down lightly onto the snow covered ground. But things have changed. They were no longer in the hustle and bustle of Canterlot that was before Hearth’s Warming Day. They were now clearly in a small tree-filled countryside village, with snow covering the branches of each tree. The only trace of civilization in this remote area that they both could find was a small schoolhouse that seemed to be brand new, but had not clearly existed about just a moment ago. “Now, tell me this, Snowfall Frost,” The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Past asked. “Does this place ring a bell to you?” Snowfall carefully examined the building while looking around and taking in every single little detail. The chalkboard, the shelves full of books, the desks, the floorboards, all the windows, and the brick walls. Everything about them all to her seemed absolutely familiar to her. “I... I don’t believe it! I remember this place!” she exclaimed happily. “This is the old schoolhouse I used to go to when I was but a little filly!” Just then, Snowfall heard some childlike giggles, and after turning her head, she saw herself but as a little filly with the most innocent looking eyes like hers, her mane styled in two short pigtails. The filly Snowfall wore a grayish blue puffy sleeved and truffle skirted schoolgirl shirt with red stripes along with a bandanna on her neck, and a white collar and sleeve cuffs with red stripes, and a matching skimmer hat with a red ribbon on the back, and white frilly tube socks with black dress shoes on her hind legs. “Aw, look how cute you were. Looks like you're not too upset it's Hearth's Warming Eve either,” the spirit said with a coo in her voice. “Yeah, but it’s been so long,” Snowfall replied. She then saw her younger self playing with her friends from childhood, which were a bluish white pegasus filly with a light grayish blue mane and tail and grayish bluish purple eyes, a grayish purple unicorn filly with a yellow mane and tail and yellow eyes, and a light aqua greenish white unicorn filly with a purple mane and tail and grayish purple eyes. They each were dressed up for the cold weather with matching hats, boots and scarves. “I assume you know those three?” The spirit asked. “It’s been a long time, but I think I kinda remember the good times I used to have with them, even when we were excited about the holidays,” Snowfall replied. “Yep. But problem is they can’t see or hear ya since we’re invisible, but not physically since we can still see each other and we’re only observin’ everythin’. That's the rules for visitin' the past, ya can look but don't touch. Messin' with the past's a big penalty, meaning all kind of bad things can happen even if ya have good intentions to do so.” Snowfall nodded in reply, meaning she now understood. “Now let's see where and when that all changed, shall we?” The seeds of the past They grow pretty fast Just look at who you were back then The seeds, as they grow Look what they can show Reveal the truth time and again The scene then changed, and now the young Snowfall was inside the classroom hanging decorations. Until all of a sudden, she hung an ornament on a grouchy unicorn stallion who had a scowling frown on his face, and who seemed to have a little space between his nose and mouth. He had greenish gray fur, wore a dark black coat with two buttons, his eyes were a disapproving blackish purple color, and a disheveled mane and tail that hung limp against his body. “Just what do you think you're doing, Snowfall?” he asked in a bitter tone. “Slacking off again, are we not?” “No! Of course not. I’m just decorating the classroom for Hearth's Warming Eve, Professor Flintheart!” Young Snowfall replied. “Ah yes, I see the holiday has come once again,” Professor Flintheart remarked, as he began using his dull dark purple magic aura to lift the star shaped ornament off his horn. “And for you, I see that seems to be an excuse to foolishly neglect your lessons. If I were you, I wouldn’t waste my time with the holiday, not if you truly wish to be successful in life.” “What do you mean, Professor?” Snowfall asked innocently. “Don’t you celebrate the holiday with family and friends too?” “I have no family, or friends, and let’s just say that you’re the only pony who’s ever so much taken an interest in what I have to say. Where this school not so desperate for teachers, they’d want nothing to do with an old stick in the mud like me,” Professor Flintheart grumbled. “So let me ask you something, Snowfall. You said you wanted to learn to be a powerful unicorn, did you not?” “I do!” Snowfall replied happily. “And do you somehow remember what is the way that one becomes a powerful unicorn?” Professor Flintheart asked his student. Snowfall then cleared her throat, “Work hard, learn, and use your skills to better Equestria. You say that all the time.” “Ah, yes. I see my ways are not entirely lost in the current generation after all. But a pity it is that the rest of your classmates are as big a bunch of nitwits as I usually have to teach such a lesson or two towards,” Professor Flintheart commented, holding out the ornament from before. “But tell me. How do these help you to learn magic?” “Oh, I want to be strong enough to stop windigos and help ponies!” Snowfall eagerly replied. To her surprise, Professor Flintheart coldly looked at her. “Snowfall, I’m so very disappointed in you. I thought you of all ponies would know the truth.” “About what?” Snowfall asked. “You see, I’ve never met a windigo in all of my life, and neither has anypony else,” Professor Flintheart lectured. Snowfall’s heart sank, realizing why hadn’t anypony ever told her this before. “But... but...” she stammered. “What about the tale of Equestria’s founding, and how the three tribes came together to fend off the windigos?!” “Please don’t embarrass yourself, Snowfall,” Professor Flintheart scolded in a bitter tone. “That's just a story we tell little ponies. The three tribes did unite, but not over some make believe ice horses that don’t exist! Real magic takes time to learn, not just something you can do just to put off for a silly nonsense holiday.” He then proceeded to use his magic and shattered the ornament into a million tiny pieces. Poor Snowfall could feel her little heart breaking in a similar way, until her eyes were filled with tears. Pushing the box of decorations towards Snowfall, Professor Flintheart turned his back on the filly and coldly told her, “So, do you see now? There’s no time for fun and games if you wish to be as powerful as any other unicorn or even Starswirl the Bearded. It's your choice, Snowfall. Spend your time learning to become a powerful unicorn or play with your toys and make nothing of yourself.” And then with that, he departed from the room, leaving Snowfall all alone with her thoughts and broken heart, while the present Snowfall and The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Past then watched the terrible scene unfold as the young Snowfall made the fateful decision to turn her back on the holiday that had once brought her great happiness. Then some distress, words so careless Standin' there, you don't know what to do Feelin' helpless, you can't make it hurt less So you go and change your point of view They then saw her friends run up to the window to say hello, but Snowfall glared at them, and shut the curtains in front of them, leaving them concerned about their friend. Snowfall then tossed the decorations into the waste bin, and then started studying magic, as she felt sad and angry in between. And in that moment, though you didn't know it Your defenses set up walls you built to last Leading to the pony you've become today And the spell you're about to cast It all comes from your past The seeds of the past We grow up so fast Some hurts never go away The seeds, as they grow This we can't let go All tied to this one holiday Present Snowfall was feeling guilty about how she felt from her professor’s lecture, and how it twisted her holiday spirit into waste, and then she and the spirit moved onto another memory. They saw themselves in an old Hearth’s Warming party at a big barn. There were ponies dancing and having fun with music playing, and lots of ponies were having either apple cider or eggnog, and eating holiday hors d'oeuvres. They then saw her younger self sitting outside the barn reading books and studying magic, and wearing a dress that seemed formal enough. “I recognize this. It’s an old Hearth’s Warming party I went to, but I had no choice but to go, since I needed somewhere quiet to study magic,” Snowfall said. “Yep. But do you remember what happened before that?” The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Past asked. “I think it’s happening right about... now!” Snowfall said, as she pointed at a golden orangish yellow unicorn stallion with a red mane and tail, and a beard, and he was wearing a aqua blue sweater vest with a coral blue tie and a white tuxedo shirt. “Snowfall Frost, I assume?” he asked, as Snowfall looked at him. “Uh-huh. Who are you?” Snowfall asked. “I’m Curtis Stellar,” he replied. “Uh... nice to meet you,” Snowfall replied. “Say, I kinda like your dress, but are you okay out here by yourself?” Curtis asked. “Oh, this? Well, I kinda needed a break from home, so I’d wear something formal enough, but I came here to study a little more,” Snowfall replied. “Interesting. Studying magic, I see,” Curtis said, until he thought of an idea. “Hey, why don’t you save the studying for later, and come dance with me? I’ll show you how.” Snowfall then thought for a moment, and then smiled nervously at him before taking his hoof as they walked inside the barn and joined the party and danced together, until they saw each other as friends and study partners. The present Snowfall and the Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Past smiled warmly at the younger versions of themselves dancing together. “Ya made a good decision right there, Snowfall. I’m proud of ya,” The spirit said. “Thanks, Spirit. But I wish I could take back what happened after that,” Snowfall said. “I agree with ya. Why don’t we go see?” The spirit asked, and then she led Snowfall to another year, which is where they saw Curtis packing up a wagon full of luggage. They then saw the young adult Snowfall rushing outside. “Curtis! Curtis, wait!” she called out. “What are you doing?! You’re leaving me?! I thought we were friends!” “We are. I’m just moving out somewhere, probably Ponyville or something,” Curtis said. “Did I do something wrong?” Snowfall asked, with tears in her eyes. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong. I just got accepted to a college in magic, so I’m moving to the designated town to go there,” Curtis said. “But I’ll write to you if I have the time.” Snowfall and Curtis then hugged each other, and then Curtis got into the carriage and as it went off to the train station, Snowfall never saw him again, as she walked home with tears in her eyes feeling heartbroken. Present Snowfall had been watching the entire scene unfold, and she had tears in her eyes as well as she felt her heart breaking again from all that suffering. Turning to the Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Past, she looked at her both sadly and angrily, “Why, Spirit?! Why did you show me this?! Why are you tormenting and torturing me like this?!” “Hey, now it ain’t my doin’, Snowfall Frost,” The spirit replied with a shake of her head. “I told you before, these are only projections of your past. So obviously, you’ve had a history of bad memories associated with the holiday. And the only way y’all can move on from ‘em is to confront ‘em. Besides, ya really think that castin’ a spell to erase the holiday from existence will magically make all that pain and sufferin’ go away? I’d suggest ya think about it first.” Snowfall growled and gritted her teeth, narrowing her eyebrows in anger, along with tears in her eyes. “Please, spirit! Show me no more! Leave my sight at once! I closed the door on my past long ago and for good reason, but I really don’t enjoy having it reopened again!” The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Past sighed heavily with unwillingness, and then reluctantly obliged with disappointment and felt unamused with her tone, “Very well, Snowfall. If that’s what you wish. But don’t forget, there are still two more spirits you have yet to meet with momentarily. So I’d say both of them have some advice that’s worth listenin’ to. Hopefully, you’ll heed their advice before to late.” Snowfall nodded, and then she was lost in the blackness everywhere and then she felt the light going out. Twilight then saw Thomas crying into her fur and hugging her hoof, and then she put the book down for a moment and hugged her nephew. “Shhhhhh... There, there, sweetheart. Did that upset you?” Thomas nodded, and then he hugged his aunt as she placed both her hooves around him and then hummed a soft melodic lullaby for him. “Mind if I refill our mugs and fix the fire?” Starlight asked, and then Twilight nodded in reply and then as Starlight left, she continued to him the tune to her nephew.