//------------------------------// // Part 2: A Spirit’s Present // Story: Starlight In Snowfall Land // by TheSuperTransformerFan //------------------------------// Snowfall opened her eyes to see herself back in her house with the cauldron. She didn’t know what to do now, as she looked around for her, now realizing why she had been this way. “Starlight?” She asked, looking around. “Where are you? What am I supposed to—“ “Right here!” The future Pony said from behind her, making her ancestor scream and turn around in shock. She hyperventilated for a few seconds before recollecting herself. “Don’t do that!” Snowfall said, pointing at her. “You really scared me!” “Sorry.” Starlight apologized. “I’m still here, though.” This made Snowfall let out a sigh of relief. “Warn me where you pop up next time.” She said, as they both met back up, only to walk into a box they didn’t notice. They both looked up, and were a little confused to see a giant present inside. “A present?” Starlight asked in confusion. “What’s a present doing in your house?” Snowfall shrugged, as Starlight pulled the ribbon off, as the box immediately sprung open, making the two mares jump back. “Snowfall Frost!” a voice said from inside the box, as a silhouetted pony popped out. Starlight’s ears perked up, and her eyes widened as she knew that exact voice. “That voice! It can’t be! Could it?” she wondered. The figure emerged from the shadows to reveal a pony that Starlight had known really well. Her mane was bubbly and pink, and she was in a yellow robe! Even her coast was pink! She even had a candy wreath on her head. “It is I, the Spirit of Hearth's Warming Presents!” She announced. “What the?!” Snowfall asked. “PINKIE PIE?!” Starlight gasped, as the party pony lookalike saw and gasped at the two ponies. “What the?! TWO SNOWFALL FROSTS?!” She gasped, trying to comprehend the picture in front of her. “What in the wide wide world of Equestria is going on here?” “Uh, that’s Starlight Glimmer.” Snowfall said, pointing to the surprised pony. “She’s my sister. Her parents are out of town…WAY out of town!” “Oh!” The spirit said, upon seeing her. “I guess that makes sense.” Starlight was still taken aback by the pony’s sudden appearance. “Pinkie? I didn’t think you’d be here!” She said surprised, and a little excited. “How did you even get here?” The spirit was confused, however upon hearing the name. “Sorry. Never heard of a ‘Pinkie Pie’.” She said, as she pondered. “But, she does sound like a cool pony, and so does the name.” She turned back to them. “As I said, I am the Spirit of Hearth's Warming Presents!” “Um, don't you mean "Present", like the time?” Snowfall asked, confused. “No!” The spirit said to her, handing her a various pile of festive items. “Toys, Hearth's Warming doll... Here, want a cupcake?” Starlight excitedly gobbled up the cupcake. “Fine, Presents.” Snowfall said, grumpy. “All of the pointless things ponies waste their time on.” “Hey, I don’t think they waste time on those things!” Starlight shot at her, her behavior, defensive. “Oh, You Two!” The spirit told her. “It’s not what the gift is that matters, it's what the gift means!” “It doesn't mean anything.” Snowfall disagreed. “It's just stuff!” “I beg to differ.” Starlight said. “Exactly what she said!” The party spirit said, as she got out a few toys and items out of nowhere. “Sometimes a cupcake means I love you! Or a toy means Hi, how're you doing? Sometimes a book means Your mane looks amazing! And sometimes a scarf means...” she put the scarf on her neck. “Well, a scarf usually means you look cold. That one's easy.” “I don't understand anything you're saying.” Snowfall said, a little confused at this. “Well, that’s Pinkie for you.” Starlight told her, smirking. “She is pretty random.” Snowfall just sighed in exasperation. “Y’know, one thing I love about travelling is that you run into ponies you know!” “I’m going to be in for a rough ride for this, aren’t I?” Snowfall asked. Starlight nodded, as they noticed the spirit’s tail went twitching. “Pinkie, What's happening to you?!” Starlight asked, rushing over to her. “My Spirit of Hearth's Warming Presents Sense is going off!” She answered to them. “That means a song is coming on!” She grabbed the two ponies excitedly, as Starlight beamed in excitement. “Oh, I knew that was what she was going to say!” She squealed. “Another song?” Snowfall asked, as she nodded, making her sigh, as the Spirit pushed them out the door, as Starlight got up and cartwheeled into town, as the party spirit kicked off her song. Pinkie’s Present [Pinkie Pie] Take a look at everything around you! All the smells that surely will astound you! Open up your heart, it will surround you, In the magic of Hearth's Warming Eve! Apparently, as the spirit sung, the song became so catchy, that it made Starlight herself dance right by her double’s side, as Snowfall just sighed. [Pinkie Pie] The little things that make it better! Little ponies spreading cheer… Give a toy, a hug, a sweater! Memories that last all year! As Snowfall tried to walk away, the party spirit came up to her on both sides, taking her by surprise. Starlight just smiled, as she hummed the song as well. [Pinkie Pie] The present's always filled with presents, Large, medium, and small. Sometimes the most important things… Aren't very big at all! She made a few tap dancing shoes appear on a colt’s feet, as he excitedly tap danced with the spirit. Starlight was happy, and interested to see what looked like her friend dance. “Excuse me, but I couldn’t help but notice that you’re dancing, and I really love it. If you don’t mind, could I give it a go?” She asked. The spirit nodded, as it, Starlight, and the colt tap danced synchronized, and they smiled as they did so. They then went to a nearby house that was all lit up, which had a party going on in there. Snowfall watched the scene unfold, as the spirit not only sung, but Starlight piggybacked on her vocals. [Pinkie Pie] What a party, there's so much to see here! Can't believe you didn't want to be here! You'd have had a blast, I guarantee here! This is the spirit of Hearth's Warming Eve! [Starlight Glimmer] Cider's flowing, this is living… Come on and feel the beat! Life is better when you're giving… Each time you do it feels so sweet! [Pinkie Pie] The present's always filled with presents… So come on, open your eyes! Spend time with ponies just like you, And watch your spirits rise! [Starlight Glimmer] The present's always filled with presents! Take a look around! [Pinkie Pie] The reason for the holiday… Is quite easily found! [Both] Yes, the reason for the holiday…. Is quite easily found! And the reason is to be with your friends! “And the reason is to be with your friends!” The pupil sang, and giggled. “Oh, that song was great! I could sing that one for hours!” The spirit hugged her, and ruffled her mane, and frankly she was so excited, that she didn’t care at all. “Trust me…the holiday is THAT good!” She said to her, as Snowfall walked up. They all saw that the party was in full swing. Everyone was embracing each other’s company, sipping on cider, and listen to music. It was a nice warm feeling inside, as Snowdash flew to a few of her friends, which oddly enough to Starlight, looked just like two of her friends…Fluttershy and Rarity! She was quite surprised to even see them at a place like this! She thought about to going in, and was about to do so when she slammed into the window, and fell back on her butt. She got back up, and rubbed her head. “Oh, I forgot we don’t have the ghosting spell on us anymore.” She groaned. “Silly Starlight.” The party spirit giggled. “Why would you be a ghost in the present?” “Good point.” Starlight admitted. All three of them watched the party unfold. “Snowdash!” The Rarity lookalike greeted her happily, as she and the Fluttershy lookalike came to her. “Hey, Merry.” Snowdash said happily, and a little sad at the same time. Right away, both ponies could tell something didn’t feel right with her emotions. “Why, whatever is the matter, darling?” Merry asked with concern. “Was it the eggnog?” Flutterholly asked, nervously. “Oh, I knew I put in too much cinnamon!” “Oh, no, the eggnog was awesome, Flutterholly.” Snowdash said to them. “I'm just mad at somepony who was complaining about how awful Hearth's Warming Eve is.” She glared through the window as the three ponies’ outside widened their eyes. Now, who could THAT be? “I don't suppose that pony's name starts with Snow?” Merry asked, as if she knew. “And ends with Frost?” Flutterholly finished the question. Outside, Starlight sighed in relief. “At least they didn’t ask if started with Star, and ended with Glimmer.” Starlight said, jokingly to them, as Snowfall just stayed confused, while The party spirit giggled. “That’s the one!” Snowdash confirmed, catching the attention of everyone in the room. “She said Hearth's Warming Eve is just an excuse to party, and we would all be better off spending time working to make Equestria a better place.” Everypony booed at her response, as Starlight outside cringed with her ears flopping. “Yeesh. Tough crowd.” She whispered. “Tell me about it.” The party spirit agreed, as Snowfall could only feel a little remorse for not being so jolly earlier to her assistant. “What does Snowfall think a better Equestria looks like?” Merry asked Snowdash. The Rainbow Dash lookalike responded by doing her mane like Snowfall’s or Starlight’s when she ran her town. “Ponies working hard, learning, and using their abilities for the benefit of Equestria.” she firmly replied, as her friends just giggled. Starlight was shocked as she saw this, and almost growled. “Hey, I do NOT sound like that!” She said, crossing her arms. She eventually, glared over to window to watch more of the party. Snowfall, however, watched a few foals racing around happily, and giggling. “It looks like we've got everything on Snowfall's list right here.” Merry said from inside, smiling. “I think a perfect Equestria looks a lot like a Hearth's Warming Eve party.” Flutterholly agreed, as the curtains shut, as they resumed their party. Outside, Starlight was thunderstruck to see her friends…or what looked like them, and was even more surprised to see them talk about her double, as she turned to see Snowfall bowing her head down. She put a hoof on her shoulder, and smiled. Snowfall looked at her, and smiled weakly. “Me too!” The Pinkie Pie spirit said happily to them, as she then switched to sadness. “Too bad it's going to be the last one ever! Ever! Ever! Ever!” She droned until she was out of the sight of both Starlights. Now, both ponies were now nervous, as they didn’t know what would happen, and that this would be the last year of Hearthswarming! They each had questions. “Wait, Pinkie! What do you mean this is the last one?! What's going to happen?!” Starlight asked. Suddenly, Starlight felt a chill unlike no other, as she hugged herself for warmth. They then both noticed large wintery like clouds enveloping the whole city, and she was immediately frightened. “And, why are we so chilly all of a sudden?” Snowfall asked her, as she hugged herself as well. “I don’t know.” Starlight said, as they were about to be enveloped by the winter clouds. “But, I have a feeling we’re about to find out!” The clouds were coming, and something bad was going to happen. And, no matter the outcome, the two ponies braced themselves, preparing for the worst.