//------------------------------// // The Eighth Day // Story: Hearth's Warming Eve // by Darkswirl //------------------------------// ???, SUN-UP "I am surprised they made it this far." Lunarias whispered bitterly. "Dear sister, they simply kept their distance and moved forward. We must do something to force them together. Starswirl has told me he has selected his student and trained her in the short time he had left, so we will move on with the plan." Celestiar replied as they watched the three races converge in the valley below. "Call forth the Wendigos." --- --- --- ???, SUN-UP "Go find your own land, the pegasi were here first and you know it!" Commander Hurricane shouted as she challenged the unicorn band that had arrived. "Is all your kind know war and lies? It is quite obvious that the unicorns lay hoof here before your disgrace of a race, Commander Hothead!" Queen Platinum shot back. "Now now, let's all at least try and be civil here. We still have seen no sign of the alicorns so let's just split back up and keep heading south." Chancellor Puddinghead suggested. "Keep your snout shut before I jab a spear in there to keep it shut!" The pegasi leader shouted; her nostrils flaring as she drug a hoof against the dirt in a threatening gesture. As the three races prepared for a battle, not a single pony noticed the gentle snowfall start and the cold winds blow in. --- --- --- "Wassss it not enough?" the large white stallion asked, unamused as he stood before the twin sisters. "Twas not," Celestiar began. "As the three races took separate paths and hath just recently reunited thy bodies and hatred." "Then we will ssssstir up another ssssstorm. But be aware, foalishhhhh alicornsssss, thisssss marksssss the end of our ssssside of the agreement... the ghostly stallion spoke before turning and galloping back up into the sky despite the lack of wings on his body. --- --- --- "Liar!" Queen Platinum screeched as she dodge the flying pegasus commander. It was a fight between the two as every other pony simply watched in horror and awe. "We unicorn would never stop as low as that!" Queen Platinum continued before she was tackled to the ground by a furious pegasus. As Commander Hurricane tilted her head to the side and in turn raised her sword, a sudden explosion sounded from the skies above and all eyes turned up. "FOALISH WHELPS!" Princess Lunarias boomed as she slowly descended from the storm clouds above; her mane flicking around like some demonic dark blue fire. "HATH THOU NOT HEARD A SINGLE WORD THAT HATH COME FROM OUR MOUTH? LOOK TO THE SKIES THOU FOALISH MORTALS! LOOK TO THE SKIES AND SEE WHAT THOU HATH BROUGHT FORTH TO THIS LAND AS THOU DID THY OTHER!" The ponies below began to let their eyes wander away from the devilish princess, instead focusing on the dark grey clouds that slowly but surely were letting loose a torrent of chilling snow and wind. "THOU ALL HATH BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE, A CHANCE THOU ALL THREW SO WILLINGLY AWAY! AND NOW, FOR THY INSOLENCE, THY FAMILIES AND FRIENDS SHALL SEE NEVER ANOTHER SUNRISE!" the Princess cackled before taking refuge from the ferocious storm above the clouds and leaving the ponies to their fate. The three races of ponies stared in horror all around them as the ground became buried beneath snow that rose to the ponys' chests and all plant life was absorbed and killed by the white terror. But the leaders of the three races were more attentative than their fearful others and quickly noticed a rather large looking cave only a few gallops off. Rallying their ponies, the struggle for survival soon became a race against time and the other races as each breed of pony rushed towards the safety of the cave. --- --- --- "We were here first, this is our cave!" Commander Hurricane shouted, thrusting her snout in front of the unicorn Queen. "As it were, you are trespassing in unicorn territory! I demand that you leave immediately!" Queen Platinum replied coldly. "This cave is already inhabited by the earth ponies!" Chancellor Puddinghead chimed in. Smart Cookie groaned and smacked her hoof against her forehead in frustration. The cave was obviously big enough for all of them, so why couldn't they share it? Was it really a matter of space as the leaders thought, or was it simply because they were just so used to fighting? Sighing and surveying all the ponies that had sought shelter in the cave, Smart Cookie noticed a peculiar purple coated unicorn facehoofing as well. More scouting produced a black coated pegasus who seemed to be shying away from his own kind. Maybe I'm not the only one who just wants all this fighting to stop... Smart Cookie thought to herself, slowly trotting over to the unicorn side of the cave. As she approached, Smart Cookie was mildly surprised that no attempts were made to block her path. Probably because all eyes and ears were still turned to the screaming leaders. "I don't see what sense they think there is in fighting anymore. This cave is obviously big enough for all of us." Smart Cookie whispered, trying to sound friendly. A soft smile spread across her face as the unicorn turned to greet the brave earth pony. "Exactly! Ponies are dead and dying because of this fighting and nopony seems to want to want to change anything. My name is Clover the Clever, by the way." the unicorn responded warmly. "There's a scared looking pegasus over in the next group who looks like all he wants is peace as well. Care to join me in paying him a visit?" Smart Cookie asked. Once again, no attempts were made to block the two drastically different looking ponies from "invading" the other race. When they had reached the curled up and whimpering pegasus, a gentle hoof jab got him to poke his head out from under his hoof. "W-What are you two doing here? I don't think you're supposed to be on this side of the cave..." he whimpered. "My name is Clover the Clever, and this is Smart Cookie. We couldn't help noticing how scared you looked. All you want is peace between the three races too, right? the unicorn asked, offering a hoof to help the pegasus up. Thunderstorm stared at that purple hoof for a long while before looking back up to the unicorn, a weak and unsure smile on her snout. Thunderstorm took her hoof and hauled himself up. "So...What are we going to do?" Thunderstorm asked softly. "Starve to death..." Smart Cookie said, looking away from the group and focusing on the entrance. As the other two ponies turned to see what had captivated their new friend, they gasped in horror as they saw the last few inches between the thick ice and cold ground close. "We're...We're trapped in here forever?!" Thunderstorm whispered in utter terror. Neither of the ponies answered him as their eyes turned to the ceiling, watching the ice slowly descend the wall and close in on the ponies. The ponies that were busy watching the fight escalate never even took notice as their bodies became slowly trapped in ice casings. Pulling Thunderstorm by his tail to the center of the cave as the trio slowly backed away from the advancing ice, the three leaders turned to their companions and let loose their rage for interrupting; only to be quickly covered in ice. "I guess this is it..." Clover the Clever whispered sadly. "Why couldn't they just open their eyes and see?" Smart Cookie said to herself. Thunderstorm just silently cried to himself as the cold ice began to envelope the trio of new friends, slowing only when it reached Clover the Clever's horn. Suddenly, the entire cave burst into flame; slowly but surely melting away all the ice and leaving her two friends gazing in amazement up at her. The three leaders were the last to thaw, shaking their heads in pain and confusion before looking around. "What...What the hay happened? Why are we all in this cave?" some voices began wondering. Commander Hurricane, Chancellor Puddinghead and Queen Platinum all exchanged a look that sent shivers up along Clover the Clever, Thunderstorm, and Smart Cookie's spines. They soon realized, however, that the hatred that burned in their hearts was not shining through their eyes as it usually did. Instead, the trio only saw pained sadness as the three leaders began slowly approaching each other. The next few steps would change the fate of every race forever. --- --- --- "I'm sorry." all three leaders said at once, much to everypony's surprise. As the cave fell hushed, Commander Hurricane was the first to move forward. The pegasi warriors dropped their weapons and their mouths in shock as the war thirsty pegasus wrapped her hooves around the three leaders; pulling them into a friendly hug. Both the earth pony and unicorn races eventually did the same as their respective leaders returned the gesture warmly. "Perhaps I was wrong..." Chancellor Puddinghead said heartfeltly. "Perhaps there is a future for all of us; together in peace.". That was enough for the earth ponies as they jumped onto their hind hooves and cheered. "And I apologize for declaring war on your ponies, Commander Hurricane. Perhaps we unicorn can learn that we are not better than any of the other races. We are all equal in our hearts." Queen Platinum admitted. The unicorns looked around confusedly before a single stomp of approval was heard amongst their numbers. This soon lead to every unicorn in the cave shouting their approval with their hooves. "I should be the one apologizing, Princess Platinum. I led the attack that started our whole 'war' just because I thought you created snow..." Commander Hurricane said nervously. The three let out small, nervous laughs before being interrupted by a mysterious cracking noise. As ever head and hoof turned towards the ice-blocked entrance, a small crack began jutting its way up along the center until it simply shattered and opened the way to the land outside. --- --- --- Despite being inside the cave for a mere few minutes, the sun seemed blinding bright in the sky before Smart Cookie realized and pointed out that the snow clouds were gone and the land was clear of the white madness that had plagued them for so long. Their resulting cheer quickly hushed itself, however, as they realized that the twin alicorns stood before them all. An awkward silence covered the clearing as the dark blue alicorn hid her face under her hood and the white alicorn smiled warmly. "Well done, all of thee. Thou hath bested thy own demons and driven off the cold, bringing the fire of friendship to everypony's hearts. Thou all hath done as we hath commanded, and for such loyalty we reward thee with this land: The land of Equestria. May thou all learn from each other the meaning of peace and friendship as a means to never return to the past. We start anew here, Equestrians! For peace, prosperity, and a future for generations to come!" Celestiar shouted happily as the crowd cheered once more. Through the chaotic yet peaceful cheer of the ponies, a single pegasus pressed herself closely to a blushing, black coated pegasi. The era of war and hatred had finally ended, and the ponies could begin anew under the protective rule and guidance of the fabled alicorn sisters.