//------------------------------// // Marley's Ghost // Story: A Hearth’s Warming Tail - Extended Edit. // by UltraSonicRainboom //------------------------------// Lunamoon Marley (played by Trixie) was dead to begin with. As dead as a doornail. There is no doubt about that. One of Marley’s only friends was alive and well on this fine Hearth’s Warming Eve, but she wouldn’t call Hearth’s Warming fine, and she wasn’t well. For this pony was none other than Snowfall Frost, a powerful unicorn who hated Hearth's Warming Eve. It all began many moons ago in Canterlot. Every home in Canterlot was filled with holiday spirit. Every home... except one. It was said of Snowfall that she was almost as studied as Star Swirl the Bearded. Almost, since everypony knows that Star Swirl was an expert at everything from transfiguration, dimensional calibration, teleportation, levitation, and so much more! The point is, Snowfall was also a powerful unicorn. She wanted to be perfect. Anything that got in the way of that was a waste of time. On this Hearth’s Warming Eve, she was attempting a powerful magic spell to turn a rock into solid gold, when she was interrupted by the sound of loud ringing holiday bells outside, which made her lose her focus. “Well, that batch is ruined.” Said Snowfall Frost (played by Starlight Glimmer). She called for her loyal assistant. “Snowdash!” Snowdash (played by Rainbow Dash) came flying in the room fast with her pegasus wings. “What do you need?”, she said. “Get this mess cleaned up. Those foolish ponies were ringing those blasted bells outside the window and I lost my concentration!” said Snowfall. Snowdash said under her breath to herself as she was sweeping the mess with a broom “whoa, ponies actually enjoying Hearth's Warming Eve. Where did they get that crazy idea?” “Today is nothing to celebrate,” said Snowfall Frost. “Hearth's Warming Eve is a menace. A dangerous day for all of Equestria.” Snowdash then replied “dangerous?! It's awesome! It's the day we remember how unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth ponies came together in friendship to defeat the windigos!” “That silly legend is the problem! Telling everypony that ‘singing songs and being nice’ will solve anything? I've spent years studying magic, and that's not how it works.” “I think you might be missing the point,” said Snowdash. There was then a knock on the door. “Ug. Who is it now?” Said Snowfall Frost, irritated and more interruptions to her studies. “I’ll get it!” Said Snowdash as she flew to the door in a flash. She then opened the door, and Snowdash knew who it was. They both walked upstairs back to where Snowfall Frost’s office was (they were in the second floor of the building before.) “Snowfall Frost! It’s your niece Starshine!” Said Snowdash in a loud voice to get the attention of Snowfall Frost, who was busy looking at her spell book. “Happy Hearth’s Warming!” Said Starshine to Snowfall Frost (played by Twilight Sparkle). Snowfall Frost then said to Starshine “‘Happy Hearth’s Warming?’ Hearth’s Warming is only a pointless holiday where ponies make excuses to get out of work. Anyway, why are you here?” Snowdash started to walk away to let the ponies talk to each other, and she went back to sweeping the room. Starshine said to Snowfall Frost “I came to invite you to the family Hearth’s Warming party! I know you’ve never come before, but we would still love to have you! You can meet the family!” Snowfall Frost gave a small chuckle, as if he was mocking her niece. “Why did you ever get married?” There was a couple seconds of silence, because Starshine didn’t expect that comment, and then she said “Because I fell in love.” Snowfall Frost then said to her niece. “'Because you fell in love?' That's the only thing sillier than a happy Hearth's Warming. Love is all humbug and doesn’t have any significance to life. Working hard, and using your skills to better Equestria, now that’s what’s important.” Snowfall then started to ignore her niece and got back to working on her spells. Starshine then said to Frost “but everyone is so excited to meet you. If you just saw the family during Hearth’s Warming-” Snowfall Frost then interrupted her niece “‘During Hearth’s Warming’? Anyone who has “happy Hearth’s Warming” on their lips should be cooked with their own meal and buried alive. Let you keep Hearth’s Warming in your way, and I’ll keep it in mine.” Starshine then said “Hearth’s Warming is a wonderful time of year, a time for giving, being thankful, and being with our family, and those we love. And even though it has never put a bit in my pocket, I say that Hearth’s Warming has done me good and I say God bless it!” Snowdash then said in the other side of the room where she was sweeping “yeah! Preach it!” Snowfall Frost then said angrily to Snowdash “And how would you like to spend Hearth’s Warming in the unemployment line!?” Snowdash then got scared and went back to sweeping the room. Suddenly, there was another knock on the door. “I’ll get it…again.” Snowdash said, but this time not flying as fast as she was before. A moment later, Snowdash entered the room again, this time with another pony, whose eyes were looking in two different directions (it’s Derpy). Derpy said to Snowfall Frost “Hello, I am from the feed the homeless organization, and I was wondering if you wanted to give a donation during this generous time of the year.” Starshine said to Derpy “Well that’s great! You should really ask Mrs. Frost for a big donation, she is a very generous pony!” “My dear niece!” Said Snowfall Frost. Derpy then walked in front of Snow Frost. “There are so many ponies and creatures out there who don’t have any homes to stay in for Hearth’s Warming. How much do you want to donate?” “Nothing.” said Snowfall. “You wish to remain anonymous?” “I wish to be left alone!” Starshine then interrupted the conversation awkwardly saying “Well, uh, Aunt Frost, I think it’s best that I better be leaving now. But before I go I just want to wish you a happy Hearth’s Warming and a happy new year!” Snowdash said to Star “Happy Hearth’s Warming Starshine” “Happy Hearth’s Warming Snowdash” said Starshine back to Snowdash. Snowfall Frost replied to her niece with an annoyed “bah humbug!”, then Starshine left the room and building and started to go back to her family’s party. Snowfall Frost was busy looking at her spell book, ignoring everything around her. Derpy was still in the room, awkwardly still waiting for a donation. She cleared her throat and said “Now miss, about the…donation?” There was a small pause of silence, and then Snowfall Frost said to Derpy. “Very well. I know what the poor need. They need homes. There are plenty of store houses and prisons available, so the poor must go there.” Derpy then gasped and said “but some would rather die!” “If they’d rather die then they better do it, and decrease the surplus population!” There was a moment of silence, as Derpy was so shocked at the statement. Derpy said “oh my…” under her breath, and then she said “okay, I’m sorry I ever bugged you. I think I’ve taken enough of your time. I’ll see myself out.” She then walked out of the room and out of the building. Snowfall Frost then said angrily to Snowdash “ugh! These ponies don’t get it! What really matters. Work hard, learn, and use your skills to better Equestria. That's a worthy goal for any pony. [sarcastically] But, by all means, if you want to go home early, ignore all of the work you have, and spend the rest of the day enjoying a pointless holiday, by all means do it!” Snowdash looked kind of puzzled after all that just happened. She wasn’t sure if Frost was being sarcastic or not. “So…are you saying I can leave early if I wanted to?” “Ugh...Sure…why not? But if you’re going to leave, be here all the earlier the next morning!” “We’ll actually boss, I was wondering if I could have some time off tomorrow? For Hearth's Warming?” Snowfall Frost looked annoyed. “Really?” She said. “How much time off were you wanting?” Snowdash became a little nervous, and said "well, the whole day?" "What?!" Said Snowfall Frost. Snowdash, still nervous, said "I promise that I'll show up for work earlier and stay longer the day after Hearth's Warming!" Snowfall, knowing that she probably couldn't get Snowdash to work on Hearth's Warming said "okay fine! But you better keep that promise!" Snowdash then said "Okay! Sweet! Will do!” then she flew out of the building in a flash to spend the rest of the day with her family. Snowfall Frost looked outside and saw all the ponies enjoying the holiday, “Ugh! I hate Hearth's Warming Eve! All of Equestria would be better off if we just skipped the day altogether.” Snowfall then started to sing: (Listen to the song and watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25QfedqeafQ) “Happy Hearth's Warming, they say in the street Happy Hearth's Warming, they think they're so sweet Words said so often that they lack any meaning Why should I join in when I could be intervening? Everypony loves this cursed holiday But would they be better off with it out of the way? Well, okay Say goodbye to the holiday With my magic, I'll erase it The greatest gift that I give today And everypony will have to face it No more little games for you to play After you say goodbye to the holiday Goodbye, Hearth's Warming, you had a good run Goodbye, Hearth's Warming, it's over, you're done Finally set free from your forced celebrations No need to reply to your trite invitations Calendar shorter by a single day Is my magic up to the test? Time to see, I can't delay Say goodbye to the holiday Prepare the spell, no hesitation All memory shall fade away See Equestria's new transformation No more shall anypony say Happy Hearth's Warming... [sinister laughter] ...after today! After today…” "Once the spell is cast, all of Equestria will be better off, and they'll have me to thank for it!” Said Snowfall Frost to herself. Snowfall was all set to cast her spell that would erase Hearth's Warming Eve for all time. Then suddenly, she heard loud slow footsteps coming from upstairs. “Ugh! Snowdash, I thought you already left!” But it wasn’t Snowdash. The steps continued, getting closer and closer, and louder and louder. Snowfall could also hear what sounded like chains dragging in the ground with the footsteps. “Hello? Who’s there?” She said, now starting to get a little bit scared. The intruder spoke with a loud and echoey voice. “It is I.” The pony who the voice belonged to started to enter the room. “The great and powerful Lunamoon Marley!” Snowfall Frost looked shocked and scared. “Lunamoon Marley? But, you died years ago!” “Your eyes do not deceive you. It is me.” Marley said, then Snowfall gave a reply. “Likely story. I know there is no such thing as ghosts, so it can’t be you.” Marley said to Frost “Why do you doubt your senses?” “Because I know that they can deceive you in so many ways. You can just be a hallucination, or a spell that somepony is casting to try to scare me. You could be from a piece of bad food. Yes. There is more gravy than a grave about you!” “‘More gravy than a grave’? Really Snowfall? You never were great with jokes were you? Anyway, I came to warn you.” “Warn me? Of what?” Said Snowfall. “Of this, these chains that I’m in! We had some great times together Snowy, but it was all meaningless! Because we were so into our work, and refused to show love to any pony, I am now in these chains and being tormented for all eternity in Tartarus!” Snowfall looked scared now, as she started to believe that it really was her friend. “Humbug! This can’t be true!” Luna moon Marley replied “oh but it is! You wear such a chain yourself! It’s on your neck, and it will choke you for all of time if you cast that spell! But there is hope! You will be haunted tonight by three spirits!” Snowfall became more scared. “Haunted?! I’ve had enough of that!” “These spirits are the only hope for you to get out of the same chains that I am in!” Lunamoon Marley replied, then she started to disappear, and as she vanished, she said “expect the first ghost when the bell tolls one!” Then as she said the last word, she was gone to return back to Tartarus. Snowfall Frost was in shock. She was spooked after what she just saw, so spooked that the spell that she was so eager to cast was not even on her mind anymore. Part of her still thought it might have just been a hallucination still, and it was getting pretty late, so Snowfall Frost started to go to bed. She got in bed and said to herself "humbug" in a way to say that she doesn't want to believe what she just saw, so she tried to deny it all as she fell asleep, even though she knew she probably couldn’t fall asleep after seeing the ghost of her friend.