//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The magic of the Ferris Wheel // by Akataja //------------------------------// The first hearths warming eve rarity could remember was when she was four years old. She remembered how her little filly hooves were not able to walk through the snow and how her father took her on his back. It was so nice to feel his body heat while the snowflakes fell in silence and left the smallest cool little kisses on her back and her flank. Her little filly eyes sparkled with joy, as she gazed up and down the streets decorated with colorful lights and traditional decorations. All the ponies around them have been wearing their best clothing as all of them walked the path to Sweet Apple Acres. The traditional hearths warming play was over and the annual party was held in the apple-families barn. There were so many ponies and so much food and music! Rarity never had imagined a barn could be so warm and comfy and fun. But she was also a bit scared of all these people, so she held to her mother until she meet up with another mare. “Buttercup! It’s so nice to see you.” “Cookie! Get here sugar cube.” The two mares hugged each other for a short moment. “Thanks for arranging this party Darling, it’s beautiful.” Rarities mom had said “It wasn’t me alone, all of the family helped and also some of the other Ponies from town.” said the mare with the orange mane. She looked at Rarity, while the little marshmallow filly tried to hide behind her mother’s leg. “Is that Rarity!? How could you have grown so much?” She said with a smile. Rarity just smiled and blushed, but she was too shy to answer. “The last time I have seen you, you were as small as a green apple.” She seemed to be a very friendly pony and Rarities mom gave her a little nudge. “T-thank you, ma’am, for inviting us.” Said the little marshmallow in the cutest manner “this party is really fun a-and, you… you look really beautiful?” Rarity hadn’t much experience in talking to grown-ups. “Awww, she’s so polite and well behaved.” Buttercup had to smile again. “You should play with my daughter, maybe she can learn something from you.” She looked around “Ah! There she is! AJ! Come over here.” A filly around Rarities age walked over to them, she had orange fur and blonde mane. Rarity blushed as she saw her, she hadn’t had much chance to make many friends yet, she also had no siblings, so getting in contact with other fillies was still something new to her. But as she appeared she felt the urge to smile and to do something, It was like her hooves started to move on their own as she walked over to her. “Howdy, my name is Applejack.” “My name is Rarity. I like your mane, so long and golden!” Applejack blushed a little and smiled at Rarity, it was an honest smile, only for her “Do you want to play with my new dolly? My Granny made it for me and it has a real mane to comb!” Rarity looked back at her mother “Can I mommy? Can I please?” Cookie Crumble looked over to Buttercup. She was very careful about Rarity, she was her first filly and worried something could happen. “hey, Cookie, let's walk over to Mayor Mare, she tells the funniest stories after she had two glasses of Grannies special cider. Let the fillies play together, no worries, there are apple ponies all over the farm to look out for them.” Cookie looked back at her daughter, it would be the first time to let her go to play with someone, and it was also the first time she wanted to leave her mother's side… this was healthy, right? Also, she really wanted to get some of that cider. She gave her daughter a soft nod “Go and have some fun little marshmallow.” She nuzzled her daughter before the two fillies runoff. Rarity couldn’t remember much more details of that night, they played with AJ’s doll and had fun. Then AJ’s big brother and cousin showed up, to steal the dolly! Applejack and Rarity had to chase them and fight them with water balloons and this was even more fun! She also remembered taking a real warm bath with AJ and her mom and spending the night at the acres. It was her first night sleeping in another bed and somehow sharing a bed with Applejack was fun. They cuddled close under the blanket and told each other so many important little filly secrets until they finally fall asleep. Rarity didn’t know much about friendship and relationships and so on, but on this Hearths Warming Eve, she made a friend.