Christmas, a time for family, friends and the gift of giving.
And this year, a soul, once joyful and bright, has gone dim, perhaps a miracle will save her future…
“Twilight!” AJ shouted in Twilight’s ear and she jumped a little.
“AH! Geeze, what do you want AJ?” Twilight asked.
“That’s what ya say after ya’ll have been ignoring yer friends for weeks? Twilight ah’m worried about ya, everyone’s worried,” Applejack said.
“I get that, in fact I have heard via text countless times, when will you guys understand I have work to do!?” Twilight said before returning to her tomes.
“This ‘work’ has been goin on fer months Twi, ah’m starting to wonder if you care about those books Princess Twilight sent you more than us,” AJ said.
“Well at least my books listen when I talk,” Twilight said.
“...Ah get it… well, ah’ll leave ya to yer new obsession, come find us when yer ready to snap out of it,” Applejack said.
“Thanks,” Twilight said as AJ shook her head and left.
Applejack walked out of Twilight’s apartment and walked to her other friends who were waiting.
“Any luck?” Fluttershy asked.
“Same as usual,” Applejack said dissapointedly.
“I don’t get it, ever since she discovered the possibilities of magic in this world it’s like the only thing that matters to her anymore,” Rainbow said crossing her arms.
“P-Perhaps when she finishes-” Fluttershy said.
“She’s been at it for months, and it’ll be the end of her life by the time she snaps out of it.” Rainbow growled before she started marching towards her door.
“Rainbow? What are you doing?” Fluttershy asked.
“I’m going to take those books away and burn them,” Rainbow said.
“No!” Fluttershy and Pinkie got in front of her.
“Get out of the way guys,” Rainbow said.
“We can’t let you do that, she’ll hate us for sure if you do that,” Fluttershy said remembering when Rarity tried to take away Twilight’s magic books and she got violent.
“Girls, I want the Twi we know back, and If I have to deal with a few nasty looks then so be it,” Rainbow said.
“No Rainbow, violence isn’t the answer,” Pinkie said “b-besides, she Pinkie Promised she’d be done soon…” Pinkie said.
“She’s not the Twilight we remember,” RD said begrudgingly “You’ll do it sooner or later,” Rainbow said marching away.
“Let’s get moving,” Rarity said as the others left.
“...” Fluttershy looked back at the window and saw Twilight still glued to her books.
“Please come back to us Twilight,” Fluttershy said before trudging through the snow back to her friends.
“I’m just saying Twilight, you need to consider their feelings too,” Spike said from his doggy bed.
“Not you too Spike, I thought you had my back on this,” Twilight said.
“I did, three weeks ago, but now your just obsessed with this stuff, maybe pony magic isn’t as possible in this world,” Spike said.
“I will prove that wrong, even if have to sit in this chair for the rest of my life!” Twilight said.
“But what about your friends?!” Spike barked.
“Spike, if your not going to help me then give me some quiet time,” Twilight said, not looking at him.
“...I’m worried Twilight…” Spike whimpered.
“...” Twilight turned the page and Spike sighed before laying down and going to sleep.
Three days before Christmas Eve
Twilight threw a book at a wall making Spike wake with a yelp.
“Darnit! Why isn’t this working?! I gathered the right ingredients!” Twilight sighed sounding stressed.
Spike opened his mouth but decided against it, not wanting to get her mad at him.
As Twilight resumed her work a note slid under her doorway and footsteps walked away from her door.
“Huh?” Spike said before he walked over and picked the message up in his mouth and brought it to Twilight.
“Spike, not now,” Twilight sighed.
“Itsh from Sunshet” Spike said through the envelope.
“Ugh…” Twilight grabbed the message wondering what it was this time and she opened it and saw a picture of her and her friends along with a note.
Twilight’s face softened when she saw her friends briefly but she just set it aside and read the message.
“What does it say?” Spike asked.
“...it’s an invite to a class party on Christmas,” Twilight wrote something and slid it back in the envelope and handed it back to Spike.
Curious Spike pulled the note out… and saw a ‘No thanks’ on it.
“Twilight! They invited you, can’t you take a break from your books long enough to-”
“No Spike, I’m near a breakthrough, I know it, I can’t afford any unnecessary distractions,” Twilight said.
“Do you realize you just called your friends an ‘unnecessary distraction’? What’s wrong with you?” Spike asked.
“What’s wrong with me? I’m going to revolutionize the concept of magic in this world just like the Twilight of the Pony world and EVERYBODY keeps getting in my way! This is my dream!” Twilight said firmly.
“Friends used to be your dream…” Spike sniffled.
“...You can go, but I’m sure they’ll understand,” Twilight said returning to her work.
“Take this to heart Twilight, one of these days you’ll find yourself all alone… and you’ll have nobody to blame but yourself,” Spike said bitterly before turning to leave.
“I’m going to improve everyone's lives with this discovery, you’ll see!” Twilight said before returning to her work muttering angrily.
Christmas Eve
Twilight was walking home from the coffee shop, muttering.
“Stupid clerk, kept speaking on and on, some of us have discoveries to make,” Twilight said.
Twilight heard voices and she turned and spotted Sunset and Rarity walking and talking.
A part of her wanted to go see them, her study nights have been lonely ever since she drove Spike away… but her desire to be the first to discover real magic in the human world quashed it and she continued home.
Then she heard a whisper behind her.
“Huh?” Twilight turned and saw… nothing “Hmm…” She continued walking home.
Twilight entered her empty apartment, Spike having been picked up by Fluttershy the other day.
“I’m a good person, Spike hardly ever get’s to go to parties, this will be an opportunity for him,” Twilight said.
“But you won’t be there,” The whisper came again and Twilight spun to see nothing.
“Ok, if someone is pranking me I’m demanding they stop, not in the mood,” Twilight said.
No response…
“....” Twilight finished making herself some lunch and she took it and her mocha upstairs.
She reentered her room and locked the door before resuming her studies.
“Ok, the studies of non-magical beings and how they utilize their own form of magic,” Twilight read aloud on her computer.
Repent
“Huh?” Twilight turned to see her empty room “Spike if your the one messing with me i swear i’m cutting off your bacon kibble,” Twilight said getting up and she poked her head through the door… nothing.
Twilight sighed and returned to her chair…
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Twilight stiffened as she heard the knock at the door, she ran to the door and opened it.
Nobody…
“Alright, I’m putting my foot down, whoever’s messing with me, just know I have a taser!” Twilight shouted before slamming her door and locking it again.
She returned to her seat and got out her taser, feeling admittedly a little nervous.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
“Oh for pete’s sake, GO AWAY!” Twilight shouted.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
“I said go AWAY!” Twilight said.
…KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Twilight began to get scared and grabbed her taser.
“I-i’m warning you whoever you are, I’m armed!” Twilight said making her taser crackle.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
“GO AWAY!” Twilight shivered out.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
“I’LL CALL THE POLICE!” Twilight said reaching for her phone.
CRASH
Her door exploded and she took cover and peeked out at her would be assailant.
“H-hello?...” Twilight whispered.
“Whoo! Bout time,” A strange voice said and when the dust cleared… a certain unusual creature was standing there…
“Wh-who…what-” Twilight shivered out.
“Oh hello human version of a curtain purple princess, I don’t know if you ever heard of me but my name is Discord,” Discord said with a smile.
“D-Discord?... as in the strange anomalous creature in Eq-Equ-Equestria?” Twilight stuttered out.
“Indeed, I get this may come as shocking, but I suppose you’ve never seen a Draconequus before, let alone one as handsome as me.” Discord said.
“...Was there something in that mocha?...” Twilight wondered.
“No my dear Twilight, i’m here and present, and I do belive it is time to get down to the brass tacks, shall we?” Discord said.
“Stay back!” Twilight shivered out pounting the taser at him.
“Hmm… i’ve heard of these devices, let me try,” Discord said before walking into the taser and letting himself get electrocuted… except he didn’t seem to be in pain.
“Ah, I see, well if we’re done,” Discord grabbed the taser.
“Hey!” Twilight complained as he ate it.
“Quite the tingle,” Discord chuckled.
“My brother gave me that!” Twilight complained.
“Yeah, speaking of your brother, when’s the last time you chatted with him?” Discord asked.
“....What does that have to do with anything?” Twilight asked with her arms crossed.
“Oooh… it’s worse than I thought, listen here tiny human, I am here to warn you,” Discord said.
“Of?” Twilight asked.
“The Three Ghosts of Christmas,” Discord said leaning in on her.
“The three ghost’s of Christmas? Do you mean the Christmas Carol? That’s just a story, a fairy tale,” Twilight said looking annoyed.
“Their not, and their coming for you Twilight Sparkle, expect the first one soon,” Discord said.
“...I get it now…” She said.
“Really?” Discord said.
“I’m dreaming, that’s the only explanation, or maybe I slipped on ice on the way here and hit my head, and i’m in a coma,” Twilight said.
Discord facepalmed and smacked her.
“OW! What was that for?!” She asked.
“That hurt? Guess it isn’t a dream,” Discord said looking annoyed.
“Uncalled for, look, can you repair my door and get out of here, I have work to do,” Twilight said.
“That’s the thing with you isn’t it, you’ve become obsessed with magic, more than the Princess Twilight, to the point your friends are just minor annoyances to you now,” Discord said.
“Ugh, can you stop, I will go back to my friends when I have my answer,” Twilight sighed.
“I thought that way once too you know, that I didn’t need a friend, but then Fluttershy taught me otherwise, she taught me that friendship is magic, you lost your perception of it, but now you can get it back, or you can drown yourself in your work until your all alone with nopony to be by your side,” Discord said.
“...I got that speech already from Spike, now can I get back to work or are we going to waste more time here-” Twilight was shoved back into her chair.
“I’m not kidding around Twilight, this isn’t a joke, it’s your last chance! Don’t waste your life alone as I did, go to your friends!” Discord said.
“And if I say no?” Twilight defiantly said.
“Then, I have no choice but to do… this,” Discord said before he grabbed her by her shirt and held her out the window.
“Aaah!” Twilight looked down and saw the steep three-story drop, bad time to mention she lives in an apartment right now…
“STOP STOP! I’LL DIE!” Twilight cried.
“You wanna be saved, ask your books to save you!” Discord laughed before he began to loosen his grip.
“DON’T! DON’T LET GO!” Twilight yelled.
“You can still be saved Twilight, don’t forget that!” Discord said before letting her go and she fell.
“AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!” Twilight fell towards the ground…
And landed in her chair…
“Huh?!” Twilight looked around and saw she was back in her room, the door wasn’t destroyed and the weird snake thing was gone.
“....What the?...” Twilight said.