Hearth's Warming Eve

by Darkswirl


The First Day

THE LAND BEFORE, PEGASOPOLIS, SUNSET

"This damned blizzard has been going on all day! I'll have those unicorn's heads if I get the chance!" Commander Hurricane shouted in frustration.

The blizzard had indeed been going on all day, and at first Commander hurricane had made her way through the snow laden clouds to their small weather factory intent of skinning everypony in their alive.

However, when she learned that it was not infact her ponies that were controlling the weather, her anger was replaced with pure hatred.

"How DARE those snobby unicorns think they can take over our skies like this! This is an act of war! Sergeant Thunderstorm," the commander screamed, and a dark coated pegasus quickly flew over.

"Y-Yes, C-Commander..?" the sergeant stammered, partly due to the cold and partly because his leader was billowing with rage.

"Ready the able troops; the unicorns will fall before dawn!"

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THE LAND BEFORE, UNICORNICUS, SUNSET

"Cavalry, charge!" Commander Hurricane yelled over the sounds of battle.

Her pegasi had already clashed with the unicorn forces at the gate, but having wings made it easy to scale the walls into the courtyards beyond.

"Sergeant Thunderstorm, on me! We're ending this battle now!" Commander hurricane said through gritted teeth as she flew off towards the castle.

Sergeant Thunderstorm reluctantly followed after her, clutching his shortsword in his mouth firmly and dodging stray bolts of magic.

He didn't like war, despite he and his race being bred for it.

In fact, it was the only thing he hated besides Commander Hurricane herself.

Alright, so he didn't really hate Commander Hurricane, he just really really really really really really really disliked her. She was a stunning leader, both physically and mentally, but her hot head and eagerness to battle would eventually lead to her downfall.

He sighed and pushed his doubts out of his head, instead loyally following after his leader.

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"How...How DARE you invade my home and slaughter my ponies!" Princess Platinum said as he horn flared, ready to fire a deadly bolt of magic at the pair of pegasi that had fought their way to her quarters.

"My father will hear about this, you filthy ruffia-" she continued, but was suddenly tackled to the ground my the pegasi commander.

"He wont hear a thing since you'll be dead!" Commander Hurricane challenged as she raised her sword to strike the final blow.

Before the blade fell, however, Princess Platinum let loose her magic and knocked the sword out of the mouth of her oppressor; sending it flying across the room and clattering at the hooves of a nervous pegasi sergeant.

"Sergeant Thunderstorm, bring me my sword!" Commander Hurricane spat out as she wrestled with the unicorn princess, struggling to hold her down.

"You will do no such thing you barbarian!" Princess Platinum shouted, gripping the sword with her magic and tossing it out the opened window.

While the two leaders wrestled each other back and forth, Sergeant Thunderstorm simply stood helplessly at the door to the room.

He had a leader he was loyal to and orders to follow, but at the same time all of this could have been avoided if the leaders simply talked to and trusted each other!

He let out a groan and proceeded to bash his head against the door in frustration before a band of unicorn guards began noisily making their way up the stairs.

"Sergeant, order the retreat!" Commander Hurricane said in frustration as she dashed out the window, leaving Sergeant Thunderstorm to follow close behind.

"This isn't over, you barbaric pegasi! My father will retaliate and everything you know will crumble!" Princess Platinum screamed through the storm, her voice being drowned out as the blizzard intensified.

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THE LAND BEFORE, EARTH, SUNSET

"Not surprising if you ask me." Smart Cookie heard another secretary say.

"It was bound to happen eventually, although I am curious as to who did what to provoke them."

"Who cares? If both races drive each other out then it's better for us earth ponies. More food for our already starving fillies; and this weather wont help one bit."

"Do I have to remind you that the unicorns bring the sun and the moon out, and that either helps or hinders our crop growth? And need I add on that the pegasi control the weather which in turn can also affect our crops? You two better watch your mouths; we're all ponies here and it'll do nothing but harm to speak poorly about each other." Smart Cookie said as she butted herself into the conversation.

"The pegasi sure seem to be doing a good job with the weather. Gee, I'm so looking forward to eating icicles for dinner tonight." the pony said as he rolled his eyes.

Smart Cookie grumbled in frustration and left the two biased earth ponies to spew their hate around.

Besides, she had work to do and slaking off like that could get her into trouble.

"Uh, Chancellor Puddinghead, sir?" Smart Cookie asked as she tapped her hoof against the door to the Chancellor's office.

There was no answer from the happy-go-lucky earth pony as his secretary pushed open the door and stepped in.

"Uh, sir...?" she started confusedly.

"Uh? Oh, Smart Cookie. Sorry I didn't hear you. I was too busy watching the best play I've ever seen! Come look at this!" Chancellor Puddinghead said cheerfully as he only briefly turned his head from the window.

As Smart Cookie took up a space next to the Chancellor, her stomach churned in agony.

Outside the window and quite a ways up the mountain lay the small kingdom of Unicornicus.

Having looked out this window any other day, Smart Cookie would have seen nothing out of the ordinary.

But today, she could clearly see black specks hovering in the sky above the castle as green and blue bolts of magic were hurled from the ground at them.

The pegasi had attacked the unicorns!

"Isn't it wonderful? With both races gone we can keep all of our food and be a thriving nation once again!" Chancellor Puddinghead said gleefully.

"But Chancellor, who would raise the sun and the moon then? Or control the weather to get rid of this blizzard?" Smart Cookie said in disbelief.

The Chancellor laughed quietly to himself and turned to his secretary.

"Who controlled the sun and the moon before there were unicorns? And you can't honestly tell me that there are pegasi all over the world controlling every single cloud and storm, can you?" he said softly, with a slight mocking tone as he poked at her apparent inability to think as he did.

Smart Cookie suppressed a glare and trotted out of the room.

"My apologies, your chancellorness. I hadn't thought about that." she whispered through gritted teeth.