//------------------------------// // The Unexpected Guest (Hearth's Warming Special) // Story: Timberjack: Season 1 - Heart of Oak // by True Edge //------------------------------// Ten years ago, Canterlot, Hearth's Warming Eve The pegasi had outdone themselves this time, and Canterlot gleamed in the light of the rising moon, frosted with a fine layer of white snow, turning each building into a decorative cake. Ponies wandered the streets, smiling and laughing, singing carols and heartsongs, shopping and eating. Even the baleful stare of the Mare in the Moon, mostly hidden behind the clouds anyway, could not put a stop to the cheer and merriment of the best season of the year; Hearth's Warming Eve. One family, comprised of four ponies and a single, small, infant dragon, trotted through the streets together, their bellies full of food, and their hearts full of love, for each other, and for this great city they called home. Night Light and Twilight Velvet walked along, close together, the mare leaning against the stallion's side, both smiling good naturedly, the baby Dragon, Spike, holding onto her mane from where he rode on her back, giggling at the snow hitting his scales and melting, as they watched their son, Shining Armor, teasing his little sister, Twilight Sparkle. Shining had just turned sixteen the month before, and was already developing into quite a strapping young stallion, if still a bit gawky in the legs. He was currently holding a book in his magic, reading aloud the back of the cover, while Twilight, only eight, hopped about beneath. "'. . . .Hoofings' Radiation, which exudes from inside of them.' Gee, Twily, don't you think this is a little too advanced for you?" Shining finished, smirking down at the filly, who pouted, glaring up angrily at him. "It is not! Understanding the universe is important! Black Holes are a magical anomaly, and understanding how they work can prevent who knows what kind of bad things from happening!" She exclaimed, pouting. "Shining." Velvet said, and her son turned, meeting her eye, and she lifted her eyebrow. "Give her back the book." She said, and Shining Armor rolled his eyes, but smiled, passing the filly the book in his magic, and tousling her mane with his hoof. "You're such a nerd, Twily." He said, and she looked up from the book, which she'd been coddling in her hooves, scowling and lifting an eyebrow in a fair imitation of their mother. "So, how's that new set of O&O figurines, huh, Shiny?" She asked, and he blushed, eyes going wide, before he started laughing. Twilight soon fell into giggles with him, and the family continued on their way through the snow. They had started Hearth's Warming Eve off with a trip into the upper districts of Canterlot, just below the great, white walls of the castle, where Twilight had been attending classes at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns for a few months, now. The filly was still full of pride at that accomplishment, and her parents weren't far behind her. However, today was not about Twilight's accomplishments alone, so much as it was about the family, being together. They had a late brunch, and then gone shopping. While they all had gifts waiting for them back home, it was something Velvet liked to do, to give the foals (Sixteen or not, Shiny would always be her little colt) a chance to buy something for themselves. Twilight, of course, had bought herself a new book, and Shining had stopped in a Comic Book shop and purchased a new set of figurines for his game, along with a comic he said was for Spike, for when he got older. They had then gone to the Hearth's Warming pageant, in the Uptown Theater, and from there had gone out for lunch. They were now on their way home, winding down the roads of the Merchant District, towards the row of bridges that led down to the Upper Residential District of the city, where the better off families lived. Once they'd arrived at the family home, they would eat dinner, finish their Heath's Warming dolls, sit and tell stories, sing songs, play games and each get to open one of their gifts early. It was their tradition, and Velvet loved it. She loved her family, loved being with them and seeing them have fun and enjoy themselves. Even if, sometimes, she did feel like they did the same old, same old every year. She was a mare who loved adventure, and trying new things. She craved it, almost as much as she craved her grandma's pineapple upside down cake, but that was another matter. No matter how stale their little tradition might sometimes feel, the one thing that never got old was seeing how happy it made her family, how warm it made her feel to see them all there, together, playing and laughing, and how- "AND STAY OUT!" The loud, obnoxious sounding voice broke Velvet from her thoughts, and she and the rest of her family all stopped, looking up in surprise, as a figure landed roughly in the snow in front of them, becoming half buried in the drift of white powder. Spike gave a low gurgle in his throat at the sight, pointing and grinning. At the side of the street, a shopkeep stood in the doorway of his business, shaking a hoof dramatically. "Dirty Thief!" He snapped, before catching the eye of the family, and specifically the disapproving glare Velvet was throwing at him. Blanching, he stepped back inside quickly and slammed the door shut. Turning back to the snow drift in front of them, the family saw a pale, dirty flank, marked with a cutie mark that looked like the sun wearing a fancy costume mask. It wiggled back and forth, as the pony attempted to extricate themselves from the snow. The tail was long and tousled, held in a ragged, unkempt braid, and it seemed so dirty, that it was hard to tell what color it was supposed to be, though Velvet got the sense of a warm color, under all the filth. Whoever the pony was, they needed a bath, desperately. As they watched, a pair of wings popped out of the snow drift, the same pale color as the fur of the pony's flank, though again, Velvet got a sense of a darker, warmer color, towards the edges of the primary feathers. Finally, wings beating, the pony pulled themselves free, revealing a pegasus mare, mane worn in what might have been a stylish cut, when Velvet was a teenager. A single narrow braid, as ragged as her tail, hung down the left side of her head, from behind her ear, from which hung a blue feather, dangling from a simple earring. Her mane, as well, near the feather was dyed blue, just a couple of locks, a small splash of color, though it was washed out and covered by dirt and grease, like the rest of her. She staggered back, flapping her wings a moment, before turning with a grim smile and waving at the shop she'd been thrown out of. "And a Happy Hearth's Warming to you, as well, you-" She cut herself off when she noticed the family standing and watching her. Her voice was . . . odd. Not unpleasant, far from it, its warm, deep tones setting a relaxed, gentle tone that held an undercurrent of strength. It sounded like the voice of a mother, somepony you could trust. What made it odd was, near as Velvet could tell, this pony looked to be in her twenties, far too young for such a voice. The stranger was continuing, while backing away slowly. "Sorry, sorry, folks, I will be on my way. Sorry to disturb your night." She said, catching Shining Armor's eyes, the young stallion glaring at her as though she were a snake. "He said you were a thief." Shining said, and Velvet rolled her eyes. Here we go again; Soon-to-be Guardspony Shining Armor, out to prove his mettle against any and all violators of the law, bane too all criminal scum everywhere. "Is that true?" The mare bit her lip and smiled sheepishly. "Well, sir, you see . . . It has been a while since I last ate . . . And, I don't exactly have a lot of bits . . . or any, really." "That's not an excuse for theft!" Shining said, taking a step forward, and Velvet decided that was enough. "Shining Armor." She said, simply. She didn't raise her voice, shout or yell. She didn't need to. At the sound of his mother's voice saying his full name, Shining froze up, ears laying down against his head and tail tucking up between his legs. He turned his blue eyes on her, blushing. "Mooooom!" He said, gesturing at the mare, who stood, awkwardly in the snow. "She's a criminal!" "She's homeless, Shining Armor! Some ponies aren't as lucky as we are, and sometimes that's not through any fault of their own!" Velvet said, finally raising her voice a bit, making her son cringe back slightly, glancing around to see several ponies had stopped and were staring. Velvet, meanwhile, turned and took a gentle step towards the stranger. "I'm sorry about him, he thinks a guard is supposed to punish everypony who breathes wrong on the law." She said, holding out her hoof. "My name is Twilight Velvet, dear. What's yours?" The pegasus glanced between the mare and her son, before smiling softly and reaching out, bumping hooves with her. "No need to apologize. I've met the sort, before, and it's fine. I'd rather have a guard that's a bit too zealous, than one who doesn't care." She said, before lifting an eyebrow. "Twilight, hm? That's an old name, with a lot of history. Mine's Golden Feather. A pleasure to meet you, and I'd love to stay and chat and all, but sadly, I must be going, I'm afraid. Lots to do, laws to break. You know." She said, directing the last to Shining, who clenched his jaw and frowned, even as the pegasus winked at him. Twilight Velvet, however, was frowning in concern. "Dear, do you have any place to stay? It's getting colder, you know." "Dearest?" Night Light said from beside her. "Maybe we should talk about this?" He said, lifting an eyebrow, and Velvet turned slowly, lifting both brows in response. He frowned, and she thinned her mouth. Clearing his throat, he nodded, stepping back and looking away, and she turned back to the pegasus, accepting his surrender gracefully. Golden Feather now found it her turn to frown, even as she spread her wings slightly. "I . . . I'm sure I can find somewhere, there's a few places I can check, and besides . . . I'm a pegasus. We don't get cold like other ponies." She said, biting her lip, uncertainty in her eyes. Velvet nodded. It was true, pegasi magic made it so the flying ponies did not suffer the effects of extreme cold like others, a trait meant to aid them in surviving flight at 20,000 feet in the air. That said, though, Velvet already had her mind made up. "Nonsense, dear! You're coming back home with us." "Mom!" "Velv!" Shining Armor and Night Light both exclaimed at once, but the mare ignored them. The pegasus stammered in front of her, eyes wide, letting her get a good look at the warm, soft rose colour they possessed. "Um, well, I, er . . . I-I couldn't, Mrs. Velvet! That would . . . No, I really couldn't impose, like that!" "No imposition, dear!" Velvet said, smiling widely now as she grabbed the pegasus in her magic, pulling her along while Spike giggled and wiggled a claw at the wide eyed mare in greeting. "What sort of pony would I be if I left some poor soul to freeze and starve on Hearth's Warming Eve?! Why, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. Come along! It's not far!" Through all of this, Twilight Sparkle had barely glanced up from her book, too engrossed in reading about the mysteries of the Event Horizon to care about another of her Mom's thrill seeking shenanigans. The walk back to the family home was not a long one, but throughout the trip Shining Armor's eyes had not left their unexpected guest, as the pegasus chatted with his mother, asking about Spike, and then showing some interest in Twilight Sparkle, and her accomplishments. Something Shining had noticed had him frowning, and, first opportunity he had, he slipped into the conversation, with a question. "That's a nice necklace you've got on. Where'd you get it?" He asked, eyes running down to the pony's neck. 'Necklace' may have been an understatement: A large, golden trapezoid hung from a chain, close in to the pegasus' neck, three shining emeralds set in the material, which had already required Velvet to keep an eye on Spike, as on several occasions he had tried to reach down for the gems. The pegasus blinked and glanced down, while Twilight Sparkle looked up from her book, eyes flicking to the necklace. "Shining." Twilight Velvet said, in a warning tone, though her eyes also flickered to the necklace, as though just noticing the fine craftsponyship that had gone into it. The pegasus, Golden Feather, lifted one wing in a placating gesture, smiling slightly. "It's alright, Mrs. Velvet. It's not an unfair question." She said, before sighing through her nose, reaching up with one hoof to lift the necklace up slightly, looking down at it. She glanced up, meeting Shining's eyes, and he was captured by the weight in her rosy gaze. "This was a gift, from . . . Somepony I thought I could trust." She said, the last holding a bitter tone, underlaid with a deep sadness. "Turns out . . . my faith was misplaced." "That's very old." Twilight said, and the adults turned to look at the filly, who was levitating her book beside her while staring at the necklace with a frown. "I read a book on old jewelry. I've never seen anything like that before." She said, before glancing up at the sound of the pegasus' chuckle. A frown crossed the filly's brow, briefly, as she stared at the mare, who cleared her throat, glancing away. Golden Feather got her smile under control and glanced back to the filly. "That doesn't surprise me, young Miss Sparkle. As you said, it's very old, and from a . . . place, far from here." She said, and Twilight tilted her head, storing her book in her saddlebags. "Who gave it to you?" She asked, and Golden Feather glanced at her again, seeing a flicker of deep seated curiosity in the filly's eyes. Taking a breath, the pegasus smiled, eyes going distant as she thought. "A Queen." She said, and the family all turned and stared at her. "A . . . Queen?" Velvet asked, eyes going a bit wide, while Shining and his father shared an eyeroll. Twilight simply frowned harder. "But . . . There aren't any Queens in Equestria." The filly said, and the pegasus blinked, looking at the filly closer, before tipping her head back, lifting an eyebrow, smiling slightly. "That's true. But as I said, this is from a place far from here, a long way from Equestria. There are many places in Equus that do not follow our laws, and nor should they." She said, in a lecturing tone, making Velvet think of a teacher, speaking to a student. "Alright, everypony, we're here." Night Light said, interrupting Velvet's thoughts as he turned to head down the walk to the family's grand, old, three story town house. Night Light's family was an old one, in Canterlot society and, while not technically part of the Nobility, they had a lot of money and influence, though her husband rarely spoke to those connections his father and grandfather had cultivated. Velvet ushered them all inside, before beginning to dish out orders. "Nighty, Shiny, dears, help get the table set up. Twilight, go put up your book and bags, and make sure Spike is settled. Golden Feather . . . " She turned, lifting an eyebrow at the bemused looking pegasus mare, who turned to her with a smile. "Be a dear and . . . No offense, but, could you go upstairs and take a shower, please?" She asked, looking apologetic, but only a little. Golden Feather dipped her head, blushing slightly, and nodded. "Of course, Mrs. Velvet. I s'pose, if you're going to do this for me . . . that's the least I can do. It . . . Might take a bit, to get all of this off, though." She said, frowning as she looked up at the clock, seeing that it was nearly six p.m. Twilight Velvet simply nodded, smiling. "That's alright, dear, we understand. We won't start without you! And, please, just call me Velvet." She said, patting the mare on the wither lightly, getting a hesitant smile in return, before the mare headed off upstairs, following Velvet's directions to the bathroom. Around half an hour later, as the last dish of roast cauliflower and eggplant left the oven and was being settled into the table, and a bit after the sun had set outside, the scent of orange shampoo drifted into the dining room drawing the gaze of the family. Twilight tilted her head, looking up fro mwhere she was straightening Spike's bib, while Night Light choked on the piece of cauliflower he'd snagged from the platter. Shining simply stood, staring, mouth hanging open. Velvet smiled widely, eyes shining. The pegasus, fur still ruffled from drying, stood in the doorway, wings working to reattach the golden choker necklace around her neck. Her fur was the color of buttermilk, while her mane and tail, which hung loose from their braids, still damp in places, were the rich golden color of wheat under the setting sun, all but for that single lock, by her left ear, which was the warm color of a clear summer sky. Her eyes sparkled like garnets, or dew covered roses, in the warm light of the dining room. Golden Feather finally looked up and stopped, eyeing the four ponies who were either actively or subtly staring at her. A small smile quirked up one side of her mouth. "What?" She asked, and Velvet snorted. "Don't you be coy, MIssie! You look stunning! Just ask my husband, who's trying very hard not to stare at you. Or my son, who's failing miserably to do any such thing, even though he already has a marefriend!." Night Light choked again, while Shining suddenly snapped his eyes away from the mare, looking to his hooves as though they were the most interesting things in the world. "Why does daddy keep choking like that?" Twilight asked, frowning in concern. "Because he's a lovable idiot, dear." Velvet said, reaching out a hoof to pat her husband's back, grinning from ear to ear the entire time. Golden Feather blushed, looking down at the ground and shaking her head. "Oh, am I? I don't . . . Really think so." She said, though her smile belied her words, as she brushed her damp mane and the little blue feather on her earring aside. Velvet chuckled. "Whatever you say, dearie. Come alonmg and sit! We don't want the food getting cold, now do we?" The unicorn mare said, still smiling as she ushered them all to seats at the table. Dinner started with an awkward silence, Golden Feather smiling down at her plate, while Night Light and Shining Armor paid very close attention to their food, one worrying about his mother telling his marefriend he'd been staring at another girl, and the other wondering how comfortable the couch was going to be, tonight. Velvet, meanwhile, was smirking, while Twilight kept her eyes on their guest. "Where are you from?" The filly asked, face serious, and Golden Feather looked up, lifting her eyebrows at the question. Twilight Velvet smiled, nodding. "Yes, dear, why don't you tell us a bit about yourself?" She said, latching on to the icebreaker offered by her little daughter. Bless her curiosity, if only it wouldn't get her in trouble so often. Golden Feather cleared her throat, swallowing the bite of cauliflower she had in her mouth, and shrugged. "Well . . . I was born in Fillydelphia, if that's what you're asking. But, as for where I call home . . . I guess that's Canterlot, now, and has been for a while." "Sounds like you've been all over." Night Light spoke, also grateful for the change of subject. Golden Feather nodded. "More than you know." She said, smirking slightly. "Where have you been?" Twilight asked, the filly sitting forward in her seat, eyes wider and starting to shine in that way that the family had grown to know and fear. Her curiosity was in full gear, and it would be like battling Cerberus itself to pull it back down. "Twilight, perhaps that's too personal of a question." Velvet said, sternly, but was surprised by the pegasus chuckling and waving a wing. "No, no, it's fine. There are no bad questions, only bad answers." Golden Feather said, sitting back in her seat, taking another bite of food, as she seemed to mull the question over. Finally, she swallowed, and nodded. "I've been all over Equestria, and beyond, little one. From the north lands of Yakyakistan, to the south, in Abyssinia, and over the sea to Griffinstone and the Dragonlands." She said, and the filly's eyes went wide. "Were you an explorer?" She asked, leaning foward, and the pegasus bobbed her head back and forth. "At times. Explorer, mercenary, spy, scholar. . . " She said, and Velvet gasped. "A spy?!" She asked, and the pegasus nodded. "Oh, yes. Of course, I can't tell you about that." GOlden Feather chuckled, only to be interrupted by a snort. "Oh, of course!" Shining Armor said, glaring at the mare. "You're awfully young, to've done all that, aren't you?" "Shining!" Velvet snapped, and the colt turned on her, shaking his head. "Mom! This is clearly all bull . . . crud." He said, gulping at her warning glare, and quickly changing out the curse for something else. "Look," he continued, "she's obivously lying! She's just some scam artist trying to con you!" Velvet snorted. "And?! So waht if some of it's not true, Shining Armor? Isn't it part of the season to tell tales? And, as for her being a scam artist, I think such a pony would choose a story a bit more believable, don't you?" "What? But, I-" SHining stammered, looking to his father for help, but Night Light, long versed in how best to deal with his wife's advernturous streak, simply shrugged. "She has a point, son." He said, smiling, and Shining shook his head. "Well, I'm not eating at the table with somepony like this!" He said, standing up, and Velvet frowned, mouth turning down, before a soft voice spoke. "Cadet Shining Armor." Golden Feather said, and the colt stopped, looking at her, frowning. "You have no reason to trust me. I acknowledge this. But, I do promise you that I have no ill intent towards you, or your family. You have my word, and that is worth a lot to me." The mare said, meeting the stallion's eyes. Shining stared at her for a long moment, jaw clenching, while a tense silence settled over the table. Velvet's mouth turned down at the corners, and she bit her lip. She didn't mean for anything like this to happen. SHe wasn't an idiot, it was obvious that the pegasus wasn't being honest with them, or at least not completely. Still, there was something about her that put the unicorn at ease, something that reminded her of being a foal in her mother's arms. Still, she didn't want anypony upset! This was supposed to be a night of fun and happiness, of the family coming together! And now her stupid need for adventure had led her to doing something she shouldn't have! She felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes as she fought to keep from crying at the table. She saw Shining Armor glance over at her, and ducked her head, trying to hide the state she was in, though too late. The colt frowned, before he sighed. "Fine. Fine . . . But I don't trust you!" He said, slowly sitting back down, and throwing a glare at the pegasus while Velvet looked up at him, reaching up to wipe her eye with a corner of her napkin. Golden Feather nodded. "That's fine, Shining Armor." She said, before tipping her head up with a smile. "I sense a great future for you, in the guard . . . if you survive basic training, that is." She said, chuckling, before looking over at Velvet and frowning, reaching out a wingtip to brush away a bit of moisture from under the older mare's eye. "I am sorry, Velvet. I shouldn't have come here." She said, frowning down at her plate. "No, no, I should . . . I shouldn't have-" Velvet started, before being interrupted by Shining Armor. "No, Mom. You're just being you, and I wouldn't want it any other way. I'm sorry." He said, looking at his mother, guilt and worry in his eyes, and Velvet reached out a hoof, and he touched it with his, smiling at her, while Golden Feather watched them both, a warm smile on her face, making her rosy eyes sparkle. After dinner was finished, the family and their unexpected guest, moved into the living room, where a fire was crackling, the logs enchanted to burn a deep,rosy pink color, like the Fire of Friendship from the story. They gathered together and pulled out their Hearth's Warming Dolls, Shining sitting beside Twilight on the floor, while Velvet and Night Light occupied twin recliners and Golden Feather took a seat on the couch. The family was putting the final threads through their dolls, to put a final touch to them before placing them on the mantle. Golden Feather watched as Shining Armor alternated between working on his doll, teasing Twilight about the off center mane on hers, and helping his little sister with the stitch line. He caught Golden Feather staring, a small, melancholy smile on her face, and frowned. He glanced at his mother, and cleared his throat, mouth tightening a bit, and made to turn back to his sister and ignore the pegasus. Twilight, however, had noticed his distraction, and now noticed Golden Feather watching them. "What is it, Miss Golden Feather?" She asked, and the pegasus took a breath, blinking her eyes and shaking her head slightly. "Oh . . . Nothing." She said, trying to smile reassuringly, though it still had sad edge to it. She waved one wing, sighing. "You two . . . you jsut remind me of my foalhood." She said, sitting back into the couch and sighing softly again. Night Light spoke up, now. "What did your family do, for Hearth's Warming Eve, then, Golden Feather?" He asked, and the mare pursed her lips, before clearing her throat. "Much the same as you, I suppose. We followed our tradtions. Every family has their own little eccentricites about it, isn't that so?" She said, and he nodded. "I suppose so. We like to open a gift tonight, for instance, and I've met ponies who would look at me aghast at the idea." He said, chuckling, and the mare smiled. "Exactly." SHe said, before looking up as Velvet stood, and the rest of the family did too, each of them using their magic to lift their dolls up to rest on the mantle. Each one a little, simple cloth doll representation of the family members, Twilight's looking a little rough around the edges, the mane not quite centered right, and one button eye a bit looser than the other. This must have been her first time doing it herself. After that they all sat again, smiling, even Shining Armor starting to look more relaxed, as each of them lit their horns and pulled a single gift from beneath the tree. Twilight's was a large, rectangluar package, wider and taller than it was thick. Book shaped, one might say. Golden Feather smiled, looking at it, before the filly began to tear the package off with her magic. As the wrapping came off, the cover of the book came into view, a hardback depicting a copy of an old portrait of Princess Celestia, standing regally on the balcony of Canterlot Castle, overlooking her kingdom below. The title, emblazoned above the image, read 'The Life and History of Princess Celestia Sol Invicta, and her Harmonius Equestria, by Gilded Tongue'. Twilight lit up like a lamp, leaping up and squealing in surprised glee, thanking everypony in the room, until she found the one responsible, which turned out to be her brother. SHe leaped over, clinging to him, almost in tears from her happiness, and he held her tightly, smiling brightly. Golden Feather, for her part, smiled at the display of joy, but kept glancing at the book with a small frown, her upper lip curling slightly. Shining Armor noticed. "You have a problem, Golden Feather?" He asked, eyes hard while he frowned, and the mare blinked, looking up at him as everypony turned their eyes on her. "Oh . . . No. Not at all." She said, "I just . . . Don't care much, for such forms of literature." SHe said, glancing away. "Well . . . It's not your book, is it?" Shining said, narrowing his eyes ,and the mare nodded, giving a sour smirk. "No. It is not." She said, though now Twilight was looking up at her, aghast. "But . . . But . . . But this is history! And it's about Princess Celestia, and she's the best Princess ever!" She exclaimed, tipping her chin up, bottom lip stuck out and trying her best to look stern. As such, she, along with everypony else, was taken aback by the surprise burst of laughter that came from the pegasus mare. It did not last long, just a brief, though loud cackle of shocked humour which which bordered on mania, then she had herself under control, but for a tremble in her lip and a glitter in her eyes. "What?" Twilight asked, frowning in confusion, and the mare held out a wing while she wiped a tear from her cheek. "Oh, nothing, nothing . . . I just . . hehe . . . I'm sure Celestia would appreciate the compliment, dear Twilight, though she might disagree with you . . . As for it being history. . . ." She sat forward, reaching out a wing and laying a single primary feather on the cover of the book. "Always remember, Twilight . . . There is a difference, between what really happened, and what HIstory tells you. Afterall, somepony had to write all these books . . . and they were rarely unbiased in their views." Twilight frowned up at her, then down at the book, then glared up at her again. "A book wouldn't lie! Why would they write it down if it's not what happened!?" She exclaimed, lower lip trembling again, and Shining stepped up beside her, putting his hoof on her shoulder. His angry scowl was mirrored in the depths of the stern expressions on the faces of Night Light and Twilight Velvet. Golden Feather took a breath and leaned back, smiling softly. "What do I know?" She said, sadly. "I'm just a homeless pony, invited in on a whim by your mother. You shouldn't listen to me." She said, looking at Shining Armor and his protective hoof around his little sister's shoulders, and Twilight's grim grip on the book, intelligent eyes troubled, as she looked at the golden mare. Golden Feather sighed, smiling a bit wider, a melancholy edge to it. "You two remind me of my sister and I." She said, softly, before her eyes truned down, brows arching, and she stood, turning and walking out of the room without another word. The family sat, staring after her, Velvet biting her lip, looking upset, while Night Light rubbed her shoulder. Shining snorted, looking towards his sister. "Good riddance, right si-" He was interrupted by the filly jumping up, book left laying, as she ran after the pegasus mare, to the sound of her family yelling after her. "Wait!" Twilight called out as she ran out the front door of the house, seeing the mare stopping in the middle of the walk, wings spread. THe pegasus turned, catching teh filly's eyes, and slowly foled her wings, turning to face her as the young unicorn trotted up, coming to a stop a few paces away, in the snow. "Twilight! Get back in here!" Shining Armor yelled, coming out of the door, horn already glowing. "Twilight Sparkle, you listen to your brother!" Night Light said, sternly, jsut behind his son, only for both of them to have their ears grabbed in a cerise aura, and tehy were yanked to a gasping halt, as Twilight Velvet stepped out from behind them, looking at them and shaking her head in disappointment. She turned a smile on her daughter and nodded, though she was still frowning lightly. "Go on, sweetie." She said, and Twilight swallowed hard, turning back to meet the eyes of the stranger. They stood for a moment, staring into each others eyes, the young filly frowning slightly as something pecked at the back of her mind. Something . . . familiar, about that rosy gaze. Finally she shook it off, and took a deep breath, biting her lip and looking down at her hooves. "I'm sorry, Ms. Golden Feather. I didn't mean to upset you, and I shouldn't have snapped like that. It wasn't polite." Golden Feather took a breath of her own and let it out, gently. "It's alright, Twilight. You were only standing up for what you believe in. Don't ever stop doing that." She said, smiling down at the filly, who looked up at her, smiling back slightly, before she frowned again. "You've got a sister?" She asked, remembering the last thing the mare had said, before the argument had boiled over again. She watched as the mare's face fell slightly, eyes going distant and sad, and her breath caught. "Is . . . Is she . . . dead?" She asked, hesitantly. Golden Feather looked up, blinking, and smiled slightly. "No . . . So far as I know, at least . . . She's still alive." She said, taking another deep breath, this one less steady than the last as she let it out, looking up into the dark, cloud filled sky above. "She's just . . . a long way away from here. I . . . I haven't seen or spoken to her in a . . . very long time." She said, blinking again as she looked back down to the little filly. "Why not?" Twilight asked, frowning, and the mare thinned her mouth, looking thoughtful. "We . . . Had a falling out. I . . . used to drag her along on my adventures, when she just wanted to sit at home and read a book. I never had time for book learning, back then." She said, taking a breath. "You . . . You're not that old, though." Twilight said. "Thank you!" Shining said from behind her, only to be silenced with a grunt from his mother's elbow in his ribs. Golden Feather smirked slightly, shrugging. "Things are not always as they seem, Twilight Sparkle. I'm older than I look." She said, smiling kindly down at the filly. "Oh." Twilight said, looking thoughtful, before turning her eyes back up to the mare. "So, where is she? Your sister? Why haven't you spoken to her? Will you see her again?" The mare took another breath, shaking her head slightly, eyes downcast. "A very long way away, someplace I can't go. That's why I can't speak to her. As for that . . . " She lifted her eyes up, looking the filly over for a moment, before smiling slightly and meeting her eyes. "I'm hopeful, that I might see her again, soon." Her face fell again slightly. "I just . . . I don't think she'll be very happy to see me, though. I . . . To put it simply, Twilight, I was not a very good sister." SHe looked up, at Shining, where he stood behind his sister, and back down to the filly, smiling sadly again. "It's very special, the relationship you have with your brother, Twilight. Don't ever let anything come between you and it, either of you. Even if it seems harmless, or more important . . . Nothing in this life, nothing can be more important, and nothing can cause more harm than that which would separate siblings who are so close." She said, eyes glistening with tears for a moment, before she looked down, turning away slightly. She stopped, Shining gasping, as Twilight ran forward and hugged her leg. Golden Feather froze, looking down at the filly in shock, as Twilight looked up at her, eyes sad, but also smiling. "I'm sure everything will be alright, Ms. Golden Feather, and if you apologize to her, I'm sure she'll forgive you!" She said, eyes glistening, and Golden Feather bit her lip, eyes tearing up again, before she gently hugged the filly back, smiling sadly. "I hope you're right, Twilight. I hope you're right." She said, softly, before slowly breaking the hug adn stepping away. "I've taken up all of your time enough. I should go." "But, it's so cold!" Twilight said, shivering as though just now realizing she was standing out in the weather without any coat or anything. Golden Feather smiled, ruffling her mane gently. "Don't worry about me, little one. I have a place or two to stay that are nice and warm." She looked up as the other members of the family, led by Twilight Velvet, stepped up alongside the filly, looking at her with various expression, though it was mostly guilt. "Thank you all, for your hospitality, and for dinner." The pegasus said, her smile matched by Velvet and Twilight Sparkle's. "I jsut wished I'd gotten to have dessert!" She said, chuckling lightly, and Velvet tilted her head, smirking, as her horn lit. With a pop of displaced air, a spare saddlebag appeared in the air, tied off and bulging slightly, floating in the unicorn's aura. "Here, dear. Let others know, if you can, that while we only have so much, if anypony out there needs help, we're willing to do what we can." She said, smiling again as the pegasus mare donned the saddlebag across her barrel. "Thank you, Velvet." She said, smilign warmly, before she hugged the mare. "You're a good mother, and have a great family, truly." SHe said, softly. "Your son's going to go far, in the guard, I promise." She said, patting her back, before she stepped back, giving everypony there a final look. "Keep reading, Twilight Sparkle. Study, learn, and most importantly, seek to understand what you learn." She said, nodding her head, before turning and, with a beat of her wings, taking off into the snowfilled sky above, quickly disappearing from view of the family below. . . . Snow fell softly from the heavy, dark clouds above, which were kept under control by roving patrols of weather pegasi. The ponies of the Hearth's Warming weather team were some of the most skilled that Cloudsdale produced and were paid triple to work on the night before the festival. Theirs was a time honored and ageless tradition, to make certain the ponies of Equestria had a white Hearth's Warming. For a city as large as Canterlot, it took quite a large team to manage, and often times Canterlot Weather Control had to bring in extra wings to help out. As such, one more pony that none of the locals knew was not something of much note, and one set of golden edged wings made use of this to blend in with the clouds and snow, as she flew above the city, angling herself higher and higher. Thoughts of the night ran gently through her mind as she arched her way up, catching drafts and currents that even some of the most skilled fliers would have had a hard time finding. Things had gone south of planned, right after the shopkeep had caught her snagging a little bit of fruit cake off the shelf. She'd only wanted a taste! Still, she supposed . . . she probably could have waited. Fruit cake wasn't even her favorite, anyway. Then . . . The Sparkles were there. Her fortune in this could not be ignored, and it made her wonder if more than mere luck had been a factor in it. Twilight Velvet inviting her to their home had been a shock, but a welcome one. Getting a glimpse into that family's dynamic and home life was a treat she had not expected, when heading out that afternoon. Twilight Sparkle . . . She really was special. Her cutie mark would have shown that, no matter what. Marks depicting celestial objects were rare, and often denoted great magical talent, be it in the practice or study of such. However, Twilight's mark was even more interesting to certain parties. A great, six pointed star, surrounded by a ring of other, smaller stars, and overlaying and even larger one. . . . . The stars shall aid in her escape . . . The mare turned her attention back to the world around her as the structure of the castle formed out of the clouds ahead of her, just a few dozen yards away. With a deft tilt of her wings, as of one who had been flying for many, many years, she turned her body, gliding along the surface of the building so close she could have reached out and touched the whitewashed stone with her hooves. She twisted midair, feeling the cold bite of the freezing winter wind through her fur, felt it whipping her mane and tail, and smiled, grinning broadly while she cheered to the heavens above and the earth below. She had not felt so joyous in a very long time, but now, for the first time in a long while. . . . She twisted again, coming in low, and landed nimbly on a snow covered balcony, by a partially open door. Inside the room, a fire crackled warmly, greeting her as she slipped inside and shook herself like a wet dog, flinging bits of snow onto the floor to melt, before idly kicking the door shut with one rear hoof. She paused briefly in front of the fire, laying the package from Twilight Velvet down on a nearby table, while shaking her wings out and basking, warming herself, before she turned and trotted over to a painting on the wall. She lifted it off, revealing a blank, mahogany wall paneling behind. Setting the painting aside, she turned and stretched up, slightly, pressing one forehoof against a small section of broken panel. The section shifted, and then slid in with a faint click, and a section of wall roughly seven feet tall and four feet wide loosen and slowly swung inwards at her push. She smiled slightly and stepped inside the old, walk in safe, trotting past portraits, gilded caskets, gem encrusted crowns and old stone tablets, to stop before a small, slightly dusty glass case which was empty. She pressed another button, disarming the alarm on the case, and then carefully lifted the glass free, revealing the dark, velvet covered form of a dispaly stand for a necklace. She reached up, slowly, and took the necklace off, holding it in her hooves, so it was still in contact with her body. She stared down at it, at the glittering facets of the emeralds, set into the face of the gold plated piece of steel. The craftsponyship was exquisite, but, as young Twilight had (surprisingly) noted, foreign to how such things would have been made in Equestria. As she stared at it, her mind drifted back, to a warm summer day, in an open field of flowers, by a burbling brook. To the heat of the sun on her back, in her mane and flowing from her pores. The heat turning to fire, scorching the flowers, grass and the very dirt itself to ash. To the screaming. . . . "I thought you got rid of that." A calm, deep, stoic voice with a posh, Trottingham accent spoke from behind her, and she jumped so hard she nearly dropped the necklace and tripped over a display case of rare coins nearby. Spinning around, she saw the figure of an Earth Pony stallion, with a dark auburn coat and white mane and tail, along with a neatly trimmed pair of sideburns, staring at her over the frames of his half moon spectacles. He was wearing a proper looking bowtie around his neck, and his cutie mark was of a quill over a desk. Blowing out a harsh breath, the mare rolled her eyes, standing up to her full height, which put her about eye level with his chest. "Oh, Writing Desk! You should really not go around scaring ponies like that! You could give them a heart attack!" She chided, and she thought she saw the briefest of smirks lift up one corner of his mouth, before his face returned to its usual stoic mask. "I hardly think I need worry about that, Your Majesty." He said, quirking an eyebrow. Snorting, she turned back to the case, cliutching the amulet in one hoof and, with a focus of her will, triggered the spell that lay within. The emeralds glowed, then lit up with green fire, which raced up from the amulet, over the mare's hoof and leg, across her neck and head, and down her back, until she was engulfed in roiling, emerald flames. For his part, Writing Desk barely blinked, as the fires died down and left standing before him, looking slightly disheveled but smiling triumphantly, Her Royal Majesty, Princess Celestia Sol Invicta, ruling monarch of Equestria. Shaking her wings slightly, the Princess turned, magic lifting the amulet and placing it gently upon the stand, before she closed the display case back. Turning with a breath, she looked down at the steward, and pursed her lips. Something about his impassive features managed to impart a sense of dissappointment, such as to make a father blush. "Oh, come on, Desk, you can't begrudge me a bit of fun on Hearth's Warming Eve, right?" She asked, poking him in the chest with a primary feather, before skipping past him, humming. This did manage to break the stallion's impeccable facade, a slight frown furrowing his brow as he turned to follow his Princess out of the vault, which she promptly shut behind him. "Pardon me, Your Majesty, but . . . if I may be so bold as to say, you see quite a bit more . . . cheerful, tonight, than is often the case." He said, and she looked at him once more, thoughtfully. "Do I? Am I really so dour, all the time, Desk?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow, and he cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable, and she positively beamed, internally, of course. "Well, no, Your Majesty! Of course not! I simply meant . . . erm . . . Well, you hardly spend your time skipping about in such a way. What . . . May I ask, what happened out there?" He asked, frowning again at her, and she took a breath, a warm smile on her face as she walked over, looking down at the crackling fire. "I had a splendid visit with a most . . . wonderful family. Certainly, it caused a . . . bit of chaos, perhaps, but only a little! And it let me see . . . " She paused for a moment, eyes glowing in the firelight, while the stallion watched on, seemingly impassive, but waiting on baited breath for her to continue. Finally, she blinked her eyes and turned, looking up at him, and her smile warmed more. "How is little Raven, Desk?" She asked, and he blinked at the change of topic. "Er . . . She's well, Your Majesty! Or, um, as well as any filly her age, I suppose?" He said, non-plussed, and she bit her lip, stifling a grin, before walking over and patting his shoulder with a wing. "You have a wonderful family, Writing Desk . . . Speaking of . . . shouldn't you be at home, right now?" She asked, lifting her brow and giving him a concentrated look, very similar to that of a mother about to chastise her youngest foal. He cleared his throat. "Yes! Yes, I simply had some paperwork that-" "-COuld have waited for the end of the week, Desk." She finished, and watched him deflate, slightly. She shook her head, smiling. "You have served me well, and I have no doubt you will continue to do so for many moons yet to come, but right now . . . it is Hearth's Warming, Writing Desk! Go home to your family! Work will wait." She said, patting his withers again before stepping away, to the still open balcony door, her breath fogging slightly in the cold air blowing in. "Erm . . . Yes. Of course, Your Majesty." He said, bowing his head. "Have a Happy Hearth's Warming, Marm." He finished, bowing again, before stepping out of the room, seeing his Princess once more lost in thought, as she stared out of the window. Outside, the city danced gaily with lights of every hue, and bonfires were being lit to celebrate the season, while the sound of many voices rose on the air, singing carols and hymns of old. And above, for the first time that night, the pegasi began clearing away some of the cloud cover, letting the moon shine down upon the city, making the snow glitter and shine like diamonds in her light. The face of the Mare in the Moon looked down upon them, and no doubt made some foals, and even older ponies, feel a shiver of thrill or fear at the legend of Nightmare Moon. But one pony looked upon that grim visage with a different emotion, one she had not allowed in her heart in a long time. One spawned by the warmth of friendship, and family, and a renewed since of joy in all such things. One that lit as a fire in her heart, warming her soul from the bottom up until she could not help but smile up at the face in the moon, a face who's true self she had not seen in nearly a millennium. For the first time in a long, long time, Celestia allowed herself to Hope. A while later, when she opened the gift from Velvet, her mood only improved upon finding a delicious looking slice of pineapple upside down cake. If only there had been more than one.