//------------------------------//
// The Past 
// Story: The Equestria Girls in a Christmas Carol 
// by Catlovingmermaid 
//------------------------------//

"That was Freaky Deaky," Pinkie Pie announced as the fog dissipated.

"I still don't understand why that pony showed up here," Rainbow muttered, "Sunset isn't here."

"She said that the Spirits that she was sending could help us understand Sunset better," Fluttershy said through a veil of pink hair.

"I say that the accusation is unfounded," Rarity insisted, dabbing at her face with a handkerchief, "If we have treated Sunset unfairly it's not to be mean. That girl is just impossible to get to know. Every time I so much as say Hi to her, she runs off."

The lights flickered overhead, as a strange, high pitched voice, snickered, "I can see why Sunset can be hard to get to learn."

Everyone turned around, a small pony with wings was floating above the stage, "Hi," the little pony stated, "I'm the Spirit of Hearthwarming Past," she giggled.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is confused. What is Hearthwarming?"

"When you Humans celebrate Christmas, we ponies celebrate Hearthwarming, a celebration of when the three pony tribes united to form Equestria."

"Oh..." Pinkie Pie said, "That's what Sunset meant when she said she doesn't celebrate Christmas. She celebrates a different Holiday. I should have thought of that." Pinkie giggled.

"I suggest that you all stand up," the Spirit of Hearthwarming Past insisted.




The school disappeared around them as tall buildings sprung up around them and snow started to fall upon them, Ponies of all shapes and colors started to trot past them. Among the crowd was an eerily familiar red flanked unicorn with a picture of a rose on her flank, along with several smaller ponies around the size of the Spirit of Hearthwarming Past, although some of them were smaller and some were bigger.

"Behold, Sunset Shimmer's past," the Spirit of Hearthwarming Past said, sweeping a wing around them.

"If this is Sunset's past, where is she?" Applejack demanded.

"Watch," came the simple reply as the Spirit pointed towards Rosethorn, who was trying to get about twenty young colts and fillies to line up properly so that she could do a headcount, behind her was a large archway that read Central Park.

"Come on My Little Ponies," Rosethorn called out, "Grab your buddy, yes Rose I see, Crimson Sprint, stop pulling Rose Gem's tail, it isn't polite."

Rosethorn finally had the ponies paired up into two straight lines, "Right," she said, "Now let's head home, shall we?"

"I don't want to go home," one of the colts spoke up.

"I don't either," a filly cried out, which lead to several more cries of protest.

"My, my," Rosethorn gasped out, "what silly ponies, have you forgotten what tonight is? We must get back to the Orphanage and decorate the tree, don't we? Tomorrow is Hearthwarming."

With that, the younger ponies trotted off down the street. following Rosethorn down the street weaving through the crowds of ponies singing songs and ringing bells at every corner. They walked in silence, every once in a while pausing to listen to the festive sounds around them until they had gone about five blocks when a new sound was added to the melody, the sound of the wailing of a young infant.

"What's that?" Rosethorn demanded, looking around, "Stay here My Little Ponies." Rosethorn ordered, before stepping away down a dark alleyway. There was a strong breeze and suddenly the school was crowded into the narrow alleyway as well as Rosethorn followed the sound of crying towards a dumpster that looked very much like the large dumpsters found behind a large establishment in their own world.

The lid to the dumpster was enveloped in a pink glow, before lifting up allowing Rosethorn to peer inside, "Sweet Celestia!" she exclaims, the pink glow around her horn vanished as the lid dropped down leaving the dumpster open. Once more her horn glowed pink, and a tiny foal appeared out of the dumpster, wrapped in an old newspaper. 

There was a loud deflating noise as Pinkie Pie's curly hair suddenly went straight as she noticed the red and gold-colored mane, "Sunset was thrown away," she squeaked in disbelief.



There was a kaleidoscope of colors as the scene changed, now they were in some sort of cafeteria, large tables filled with plates filled the room. Ponies of various ages crowded around them.

A young filly entered the room, her pale yellow coat and bright red and gold hair revealing her identity to the invisible watchers. Sunset Shimmer glanced around the room, clearly looking for a spot to sit, when a voice called out over the general hubbub of children talking, "Sunset Shimmer, over here."

Sunset smiled brightly as she trotted over to one of the tables and squeezed herself in between two other fillies that were about her age, "Hi Mystic Glow, hi Holly Wreath," she said as she wriggled her way in between a unicorn filly with a white pelt and pastel color hair and an Earth Pony with a pale green pelt and bright red hair.

"Watch it pest," a growl came from down the table.

Sunset shifted uncomfortably, "Sorry Twinkle Toes."

"You better be," a bigger colt snapped, "Or I'll..."

"Shh... Rosethorn," another filly hissed, as the room falls silent as Rosethorn entered the room and stood up at the front.

"Good Evening My Little Ponies, " she said brightly, "Happy Hearthwarming Eve," she exclaimed, to reach she was greeted with a chorus of greetings back, "As you well know, today is also the birthday of two very special fillies." Rosethorn continued, "It's Holly Wreath's six birthday and Sunset Shimmer is five today."

Sunset Shimmer and the Earth Pony next to her beamed as there was a loud cheer, and the whole orphanage sang to them, and then it was over, several older ponies arrived at their table and dished them food, a small scoop of carrots, and a small scoop of some sort of mush.

"So Mystic," Holly called out, leaning over Sunset, "You excited about tomorrow?"

"Of course I am," the unicorn insisted, "Are you Sunset?"

Sunset nodded her head, licking her lips, "Uh-huh, think about it, berry porridge for breakfast instead of plain old porridge."

"Fresh bread instead of day-old bread for lunch," Holly added.

"And hot apple pie with dinner," Mystic added with a sigh, "I wish every day was Hearthwarming."

"Rosethorn said that if it was every day, it wouldn't be special anymore," Sunset said, "She even said that we'll get tired of the oranges."

"Tired of the oranges never," Holly exclaimed, "That's the best part of Hearthwarming."

By now the food was gone and the three fillies were trotting up a staircase and down a long hallway that was lined with doors, the Humans following silently behind, as the three of them entered one of the rooms. It was tiny with barely enough room for a bed and desk. 

Obviously, the three ponies weren't interested in sleeping as they all jumped onto the bed, and Sunset pulled back the curtain over the bed to peer outside, "Look you can see the stars tonight," she exclaimed, "The pegasi are clearing the sky."

The other two scrambled over to her, with a giggle, "Let's make a wish." Mystic giggled.

As the three little fillies watched the pegasi remove the clouds from the sky the door opened and a fourth little pony limped in. This one was a pegasus with a light blue mane and a light green pelt, "It's almost lights out." she announced, flapping her little wings slightly to help her climb onto the bed.

"We know that Lily," Sunset said, pointing out the window with her muzzle, "But the wishing star is out."

Lily placed her front hooves on the window sill with the others, "Which one is the wishing star?" 

"The brightest star in the sky," Mystic explained, "But if the Mare in the Moon hears your wish it won't come true so don't say anything out loud."

All four ponies were silent for a moment, before the door opened once more, this time revealing Rosethorn, who smiled at them, "It's time for bed My Little Ponies," she said softly as the four fillies dropped down onto the bed and, after squirming around a little, made themselves comfortable on the bed, Mystic and Holly at the head, and Sunset and Lily at the foot.

Rosethorn smiled at them, dropping a thin blanket over them before saying good night and blowing out the candle.

"She had friends?"  Rainbow Dash exclaimed, "Who would have thought."
"They didn't have much food," Applejack noted.
"And they're sharing a bed," Rarity pointed out, "And that blanket is little more than a rag."
"The Orphanage where Sunset Shimmer grew up was overcrowded and underfunded, there wasn't enough beds or food for everyone, which was why the extra treats on Hearthwarming were very much appreciated." The Spirit Explained.
"But what happened to her friends?" Fluttershy whispered.




The room blurred once more, this time revealing a tree was decorated with popcorn and cranberry strands. A slightly taller Sunset Shimmer entered the room, "Rosethorn," she called out before letting out a loud cough, "Rosethorn!"

The older Unicorn dropped the popcorn strand she was working with and rushed to the filly's side, "Sunset, what are you doing up?" she asked, gently laying a hand on the filly's forehead.

"Lily's gone," Sunset rasped, "I've looked everywhere for her and I can't find her. And nobody will tell me where she is!" she cried before erupting into a coughing fit, "They took her away and they won't tell me where they took her."

"You should be in bed," Rosethorn insisted, urging the filly towards the stairs, "Come on, I'll tuck you in."

"But where's Lily?" Sunset insisted, "Did she get adopted and not tell us?"

"No Honey," Rosethorn insisted, "Lily went to the Greener Pastures, to be with her mommy and daddy."

"Why didn't she tell me," Sunset asked, coughing once again, "I would have gone with her."

Rosethorn didn't respond to that, as she opened the bedroom door and lead Sunset in. Mystic Glow was tucked tightly into the bed, her chest heaving as she fought to breathe. Rosethorn sighed as she tucked Sunset into the bed. There wasn't anything more they could do. Princess Celestia had been informed of the illness that was running amok of the orphanage and that it had already claimed three orphans' lives. Until she sent them financial aid there was nothing that they could do.

The room darkened and a candle was lit as Sunset slept fitfully, Until finally, she sat up in bed, "Mystic Glow your hooves are cold." she insisted as she weakly tried to push her bedmate over in between coughs.

However, Mystic Glow didn't respond at all, in fact, her limbs just kind of flopped around, causing Sunset to panic even more, "Rosethorn," she cried out, jumping out of bed only for her legs to give out beneath her, "Rosethorn!"

The School remained silent as Rosethorn rushed into the room and after examining Mystic Glow, draped the blanket over the body and took Sunset with her out of the room.

The Students were silent, the only sound was Pinkie's hair deflating again as she gasped out,"That's horrible, two of her friends dying around Hearthwarming and her birthday." 




Sunset Shimmer was older now, about seven and she was standing in the middle of a line of foals as older ponies stopped to talk to them. She had been interviewed by at least two dozen potential parents. Someone had to take her home today. She'll get a proper Hearthwarming, and enough to eat. It would be wonderful. Slowly she noticed that the line was thinking out some and she looked around. Several others, Rose Gem, Crimson Streak, and Twinkle Toes among them were leaving with their new parents.

"Aren't you precious," a kind looking Stallion said, "Don't you think so dear?" he asked, looking to a pretty mare.

"Thank you," Sunset said blushing.

"I don't know dear," the mare said, "I heard that unicorn foals need special training to learn how to use their magic."

"I know how to use my magic!" Sunset exclaimed, "Watch." with that she pulled building blocks closer to her, stacking them carefully into a tower.

When she was done she looked up to see the couple leaving with Holly Wreath.

"Holly Wreath?" she called out, "Where are you going?"

"Home with my new parents," Holly exclaimed.

After a while, the potential parents all disappeared and while there were still several orphans, the number had decreased significantly. Rosethorn appeared then looking them over, "I'm sorry we weren't able to have parents for all of you, but don't worry," she smiled brightly, "There's plenty of oranges for you."

Rosethorn walked over to a tree that was decorated with oranges, popcorn, and cranberries and started to take the oranges down, one by one, and handing them to the remaining orphans with a Happy Hearthwarming.

"Sunset Shimmer was devastated that day," The spirit explained as Sunset stared sadly at the orange, "She had hoped so much to be adopted only to get passed up because of her magic. That was when she started training and applied for a scholarship to The School of Magic. Her magic was never going to be the reason that she was passed up ever again."




This time when the kaleidoscope of color settled the hallway they found themselves in was white and bright not the dark dingy hallway of the orphanage.

Sunset Shimmer was sitting at a window seat watching a beautiful white alicorn playing with a soft pink one with a longing gaze. She wished she could join in with them, but she didn't want to intrude. At least this year she had gotten a real Hearthwarming Present, an enchanted journal that she could use to go over lessons with Princess Celestia when she was busy elsewhere.

"Sunset," a deep voice called out as a young stallion with a blue mane appeared, dressed in the uniform of the Castle guards, "What are you doing here?"

"Shining Armor," Sunset gasped, blushing, Shining Armor was just a cadet in training, but being questioned by the Royal Guards just made her seem awkward, "I'm just...uh..."

Shining Armor chuckled, "I'm surprise you haven't gone home for the break like everyone else?"

"I don't have a home," Sunset said, "The Orphanage that I grew up in shut down after the Caretaker passed away."

"What about your friends," Shining Armor asked.

"Who has time for friends?" Sunset demanded with a huff, "They'll just leave you in the end."

"You know, my parents are out of town and I have my little sister with me, she's about your age."

"I don't need Charity," Sunset snarled, jumping down and stomping down the hall.




When the keliedoscope of color once more settled the students and staff of CHS found themselves back in the auditorium and The Spirit of Hearthwarming Past had vanished. 

Everyone started to talk to one another about what they had seen. Pinkie Pie, her hair still flat, sighed, "That was so sad, she didn't have parents, and two of her best friends died, and..." Pinkie trailed off as she accepted a handkerchief from Rarity.

"She didn't want to make any friends because her friends at the Orphanage all left her," Rarity added.

"No wonder we haven't been able to get close to her."