The following morning, Twilight and her friends emerged from the portal, with Starlight holding onto Flurry Heart. Lucky for them, it stopped snowing last night, only a couple inches of snow rested on the ground, as such, the sidewalk was not unduly slippery.
Unfortunately for Spike, it’s been far too long since the last time he turned into a dog. “Everything didn’t really change when the Sirens left.” He said, looking at Canterlot High.
“Well, if only you actually came along, you would catch on.” Princess Twilight replied, putting her coat on.
When Rainbow Dash got up after coming into the Mirror World, she saw a bus in the distance where her human counterpart was helping her friends with the packing. “Looks like we’re here just in time.” She pointed with her friends, turning to the Rainbooms.
“I don’t see Water Lily or her family.” Starlight focusing on the bus.
“They’re probably still packing up while taking their own car.” Twilight turned to Starlight. “They still don’t know we’re coming along, or me at the very least.”
“Hey, they always expect surprises during Hearth’s Warming.”
Twilight and her group made their way to the Rainbooms and their bus. After Human Twilight placed the luggage and outfits inside, she came out of the door with her Spike coming along. “Is there gonna be-”
“Yes, I’m sure there will be other animals at Dimondia Town for you to play with.” Human Twilight said, cutting off her dog.
As Spike stepped out of the bus, he saw Princess Twilight and the others coming closer. But his attention was attracted to their dog, who is the same as he is, but not completely. He shakes his tail while rushing up to his counterpart, only for Fluttershy to pick him up.
“Please save your energy.” She responded while Spike resisted. “Understand that he isn’t a dog like you.”
“He’s still too thrilled to wait, we still have two hours until we get there.” Sunset replied as she saw Princess Twilight. “You're here just in time.”
“Like every other time in the past?” The princess giggled. “It’s no longer a problem when I’m prepared.”
“And friends.” Starlight added as she had Flurry Heart head inside the bus. Soon, Human Dash came out with a huge smile on her face.
“Knew there was a chance my other self would return.” She squealed.
“If it isn't today, it would never be at all.” Pony Dash giggled.
“You girls get back into the bus, we’re almost done packing up.” Sunset offered. “It would be better to save the excitement for when we get there.”
“Sorry.” Human Dash blushed. “Still can’t believe she’s the only one allowed here.”
“It would be a possibility, but let’s not take too big of a risk.” Princess Twilight said.
As everything’s taken care of, everyone got inside the bus with Big Mac behind the wheel. When Princess Twilight sat next to Sunset Shimmer, she saw the Cutie Marks Crusaders, Granny Smith, and Trixie in the back.
“Is Applejack’s grandmother gonna spend time with the elderly people?”
“She isn’t always available for making food, you know.” Sunset smiled. “But I don’t blame Applejack for bringing her family along for the ride.”
“What about the Cutie Mark Crusaders?”
Upon hearing the question, Rarity from the other side poked on Twilight’s shoulder. “My sister’s gonna do festival services so she can earn some cash for herself.” She answered.
“Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are also willing to help in the same way.” Applejack added. “But about thirty minutes before our performance, their time will be up.”
Twilight never gets what the Cutie Mark Crusaders' purpose in this world was, since Cutie Marks don’t exist in this world. Then again, every place she went to didn’t need magical requirements. “I know the real reason they’re doing it is to do good deeds for Hearth’s Warming.”
“We all do good deeds, it makes everything about this holiday perfect.” Sunset added. “Then again, we’re getting a head start by heading there, so we should expect what deeds are coming our way.”
Big Mac drove out of the parking space while looking through the GPS. Dimondia Town is located in the west, a few hours away from Canterlot City. Even if the Rainbooms did go on tour to go to different countries, they can’t imagine what the citizens would feel, including a princess with her friends tagging along.
Over the next hour and a half, Big Mac drove on the highway, to the interstate exit that leads to his destination. Aside from the two Rainbow Dashes and Pinkie Pie sleeping, they spend their time on their phones or do sightseeing from their windows. The Princess Of Friendship waited patiently like a princess would behave. Even her plans with Sunset aren’t made up but once she sees the festival itself, she’ll do anything to give her the time she deserves.
“Man, there's so much snow here.” Starlight said, looking through her window.
“It must’ve snowed harder than in our neighborhood.” Sunset commented.
“Even some of the tree stumps are torn up.” Applejack added.
“Man the blizzard really hates this mother nature of the forest.” Pinkie added.
“Even the Everfree Forest never had blizzards like this.” Fluttershy added.
When the Princess Of Friendship saw the snow outside, she couldn’t even describe it. Ponyville didn’t have this many blizzards to cause mountains of snow changing ponies day. “Do you think the people of Dimondia Town always shovel before the Hearth’s Warming Festival even starts?” She asked, turning to Sunset.
“They have at least two snowplow tracks, and they clear up their front yards, if that
ever happens to me, I’ll let everyone as soon as I step outside.” Sunset responded.
They then heard the bus slowing down with Big Mac parking by the side of the road. “Big Mac, why did you stop?” Granny Smith standing up from her seat.
“Yeah, what gives?” Dragon Spike popping his head up. Big Mac didn’t respond after he saw what’s in front of him. He opened the bus door, without saying a word, allowing the Rainbooms to check it out for themselves.
When they got out, they witnessed ten vehicles parked with close to twenty people on the road. The group saw what was going on from the front, but they needed a better look to negotiate. Twilight and Sunset went through the group while noticing Water Lily’s family from the left. Once they went past the final car, they saw the issue. Multiple large trees fell on the road after the blizzard from last night.
The Princess Of Friendship didn’t believe it at first, but with a huge roadblock in the traffic, she became disappointed. “I’ve had this problem before, but this feels very out of nowhere.” She spoked.
“We can still move these.” Sunset pointed. “Applejack can lift these. Applejack!” She turned back only for the country girl to see the problem.
“These trees caused this traffic jam huh?” She went past her friends.
“It won’t take long for you to move them.”
“Better for us and better for cityfolk.” As Applejack uses her powers of strength to lift one of the trees. Human Twilight along with others saw the roadblock of trees but her attention was glued to the strumps. With five of the trees closer to each other, they we’re holding off a huge pile of snow from the hill. Even after they were tempered over, they’re still connected from the ground.
When Applejack tried to pull one of the trees, a few flakes from the pile fell, but also a few trees from a higher hill. “Applejack, stop right now!” Human Twilight called.
“What?”
“If you pull or even tear the trees from the stump, an avalanche may happen.”
The country girl saw what’s above the hill and decided to place the tree on the ground. It was impossible to avoid it and if it happened, it would take up more time to move the trees. “I would believe you for a second if we only saw the other side.”
Fluttershy uses her geode to grow her wings from her back as she flies over the crowd. She saw the road cleared up without anything in the way, but there’s no way the crowd can get to their destination.
“Anything over there?” Starlight asked.
“No, but we can’t just carry each car over this roadblock.” Fluttershy landed on the ground.
“You're right.” Starlight added. “There’s gonna be more cars, even from the other side.”
When they saw Victoria on the phone, she immediately hung up while turning to the other citizens. “I’ve just called woodsman people who'll be on their way to handle this. Unfortunately it would take longer until the road is cleared up.”
The citizens signed in disappointment while the Rainbooms couldn't even catch a break. After packing over the last few weeks, their holiday has come to a screeching halt. “Well look on the bright side, at least it wasn’t corrupted magic this time.” Pinkie smiled.
“Yeah, like that will ever leave Mother Nature the way it should be.” Rarity said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
Another car parked behind the Rainbooms bus with two grown teens coming out. When they saw the crowd gathering up due to the roadblock, they didn’t bother to see the problem.
“Really!?” Izzy Moonbow cried. “After all that shopping and planning, we end up with a dead end?!”
“Izzy, I didn’t think this would happen.” Sunny Starscout replied. “I’ve got a text from Hitch that he already arrived at Dimondia town last night. We should’ve taken his word.”
“If only we never did our shopping last night, we wouldn’t be in this predicament!”
Soon everyone including the Rainbooms headed back to their vehicles only for Sunset to see two girls in the middle of the road. “You might as well celebrate Hearth’s Warming somewhere else.” She spoked while walking past them.
“But we don’t have backup plans!” Izzy cried.
“What can we do?” Human Dash looking straight to the teen. “It’s impossible to get there by now.”
With more of the Rainbooms walking past her, the two teens caught their attention on the two Twilights. When the princess gave her speech last year, they got the information from their classmates at school.
“Hey, I remember her…” Sunny said, pointing at the Princess. “Are you Twilight Sparkle?”
Upon hearing her name loud and clear, Princess Twilight opened her eyes. “Yes, I am.”
Izzy is shaking in happiness to meet one of the most famous people or in this case, famous ponies on this holiday. “I can’t believe this is actually happening!”
“Don’t you think it’s worth getting thrilled while the road is blocked?” Human Twilight responded.
“At this point, playing with my other self doesn’t seem worth it anymore.” Doggy Spike lowered his head.
“No offense but you need to consider-“ Dragon Spike gets cut off by Princess Twilight who also picks him up.
“The point is, we were going to Dimondia town for the Hearth’s Warming festival.” She said nicely. “So if your offering to take a selfie with me, right now is the time.”
“Wait.” Sunny stopped her best friend before taking out her phone. “There could be a way to get to Dimondia on foot.”
“Really!” Pinkie Pie popping by Izzy after overhearing.
“What do you mean by that!?” Sunset heading back before she got inside the bus.
Sunny took out her phone while pulling out her map. “I’ve been on this road a few times and I’ve seen multiple trails up ahead.” She pointed at three open trails with different directions on the way. “They will lead to our destination in just about…” She checked her watch. “Almost three hours.”
The Princess Of Friendship and her counterpart turned around and saw the roadblock again. If it’s possible to get there in time before the festival ends, they might be able to get back to their old schedule.
“That could work.” The Princess smiled.
“Everyone stop!” Sunset shouted to the citizens before they started up their vehicles. “If one of you has anywhere to be that’s over that roadblock, there are trails that could get you there!”
Victoria while holding onto Water Lily, head back to the Rainbooms, including Lily Pad. “Perfect!” She cheered. “It’s impressive there’s a chance we can get there way before the sun sets!”
“But wait.” Lily wondered. “There’s three trails, what trail should we take?”
Just when the entire group was rejoicing, they almost forgot about that. “Ohh...I know for sure we’re gonna have differences, one out of three trails could be a tough choice.” Human Twilight taken into consideration.
“We can’t just agree on going on one trail.” Applejack chimed in.
The group thinked about what trail they should take. And to make matters even worse, they have to carry their gifts and supplies in order to perform at the festival.
“Okay.” Princess Twilight coming up with a solution. “If we’re gonna pick one of the three trails, we need to split up.”
“Can’t agree more than that.” Sunset said, rolling her eyes.