//------------------------------// // Present // Story: A Twilight Christmas Carol // by Aether Spark //------------------------------// Twilight walked towards her home and entered, sitting down with the books she brought on that horrid taxi ride. “Maybe if I am lucky, the ghosts will just stop at Past,” Twilight said sitting down, honestly thinking about what Past said, crudely said, she did have some points… maybe apologies are in order next time she sees Spike… “I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with taking the occasional break, besides, I had some new theories I wanted to try out,” Twilight said. She went on to do another few hours of work before her stomach rumbled. “Ugh… stupid hunger… I suppose a burger could help me,” Twilight decided to take a break and she donned her jacket again and made her way to the nearest burger joint, a McDonald's. As she made her way outside her room she noticed that the sun was already setting. “Wow, time flies when you're busy,” Twilight chuckled as she took a step and she stepped on something. “Huh?” Twilight looked down and saw another envelope “,,,” Twilight picked it up and opened it. And in it was a picture of her and her friends along with a message saying… Dear Twilight It’s very unfortunate that you couldn’t pry yourself from your work long enough to visit, but we’ll deliver your presents to your doorstep tomorrow, even if you’re alone, don’t think we’ve given up on you, your our friend, and we hope you have a Merry Christmas. Love Sunset Shimmer “...I’m sorry girls…” Twilight said honestly wanting to consider Past’s words… but she just shook her head “There’s always next time, I’m sure they would understand,” Twilight said before walking on… Not noticing a pair of hoof steps behind her. “How disappointing…”     “Huh?” Twilight turned and saw no sign someone was behind her, this time she was suspicious and she hurried ahead. Twilight was walking home having just had her Quarter Pounder and she’s ready to resume work. “Now if I regulate the theory of magic to fractions I get…” Twilight mumbled… not noticing the street lights turning off, one after another until the one she was under turned off. “Huh?” Twilight said looking around at the suddenly pitch-black neighborhood “Hello?....” Twilight said nervously. “Heeeelllllloooo!” Twilight hears a cheery female voice and spins to see… Pinkie Pie?  Also as a pony? “Not again…” Twilight said backing up as she bounced up to her. “No need to fear Twilight! I am the ghost of Christmas present, but you can call me Present! I like that name because it makes me sound like a gift,” Present cheered. “Gee look at the time, I should get going,” Twilight tried to walk away but when she turned she was face to face with a floating Present. “Ooooohnonononononononononononoooo, you can’t leave, not when we have work to do,” She said sweetly, with a hint of aggression… “Look lady, I’ve had a bad day, can we-” “YOUR COMING OR ELSE!” Presents voice warped all of a sudden. “Ok…” Twilight meeped. “Yay! Follow meee!” Present bounced away. “Weird…” Twilight reluctantly followed her. Present led Twilight to a tree. “Ok dearie, go behind it,” Present said. “What? What’s behind it?” Twilight asked. “What fun is there in telling, go see!” Present said. “No, you tell me what it is,” Twilight said. “See!” Present said. “Tell!” Twilight rebutted. “See!” Present said. “Tell!” Twilight rebutted. “See!” Present said. “Tell!” Twilight rebutted. “See!” Present said. “Tell!” Twilight rebutted. “Tell!” Present said. “See!” Twilight rebutted. “Tell!” Present said. “See!” Twilight rebutted. “Tell!” Present said. “See!” Twilight rebutted. “Tell!” Present said. “See!” Twilight rebutted. “Tell!” Present said. “SEE!” Twilight rebutted loudly. “Alright then go see!” Present said. “Fine!” Twilight said walking behind the tree… and getting kicked by Present who swung from the upper branches. “Surprise!” Present giggled. “Ooof!” Twilight groaned as she laid on a… carpet? Getting up she muttered “How did I fall for that…?” Twilight asked. Present popped up next to her. “Because silly, I’m more clever than you are!” Present giggled. “You!” Twilight tried to grab her but she bounced away. “Now now, don’t be a testy Twiley,” Present said before stepping out of the way of Shining Armor who walked in. “Shiny?” Twilight stood but he ignored her “Shiny, speak to me,” Twilight said. “He can’t hear or see you Twilight, remember?” Present said. “Oh yeah…” Twilight said before Cadance walked in and she saw her carrying Flurry Heart. “Ok everyone, let’s get this show on the road,” Cadence said, looking around Twilight could see some people she knew and some she didn’t. “They live all the way in Seattle, how did we get there?” Twilight asked. “Time travel is Past and Future’s thing, teleporting is mine,” Present said. “Pwesents!” Flurry cheered. “Not yet sweetie, we should get game night out of the way,” Cadence said before turning on a quiz game on her phone. “Alright, the topic is animals,” Cadence said putting the phone to her head so she wouldn’t see. “Alright, their a small critter,” An older man said. “Their names quite uncommon,” A woman said. “Their name rhymes with small fart,” Shining said with a chuckle. “Aardvark,” Cadence said. “Shining! That was too big of a hint,” Twilight’s cousin said. “Next next!” Cadence said and the phone screen said duck. “Oh come on this is easy,” Twilight said. “Water fowl!” Shining said. “There’s a season named after them,”  “Goose?” Cadence said. “Oh come on Cadance,” Twilight said exasperatedly. “Look at the fun they're having, they don’t know many people here but they invite others to have fun, you could learn from them,” Present said. “I get that, but this is there, I can’t be in two places at once,” Twilight said. “Maybe not, but listen,” Present said. “For wha-” “I heard Twilight’s cooped up again,” Shining said as the game was put away. “Huh?” Twilight said. “She really has let herself fall down the rabbit hole with her studies on ‘magic’” An older man said. “I know, but I’m worried, she can’t waste her life on the study of something like this,” Shining said. “Shining’s worried about me now? Oh come on, I can’t help my curiosities,” Twilight said. “Sure you can, like this!” Present suddenly bucked Twilight and she fell back. Twilight landed against the wall of a charity center. “Ow! Why?” Twilight asked. “Because,” Present said looking around at the various dresses. “Why are we in this place now?” Twilight demanded. “This is the charity place your friends donated to this year, and they did it out of the kindness of their hearts… you on the other hand had your head in a book the whole time, now someone goes without a fuzzy sweater,” Present said as the workers arranged things. “It’s my decision to donate, right?” Twilight said. “Not the point, your friends donated because they felt kind, you didn’t because you seem to only care about your studies into finding a way to integrate magic into this world, which proves that your refusing to see the bigger picture here,” Present said. “Let me guess, I need to ‘donate’ my time a little more to my friends?” Twilight asked. “More than a little, your choice to spend everyday reading and writing out research over being with friends, even once in a while shows that you won’t see their side of it, tell me, what if it was reversed, and none of your friends had any time for you anymore? You’d be depressed, wouldn’t you?” Present said. “I… guess,” Twilight said before she was grabbed by her shoulder and pulled down. “Then do it!” Present then pushed her down. “Ow!” Twilight grunted as she landed at the bottom of the stairs and Present trotted down them. “Why did you do that?” Twilight asked. “Sometimes a foolish person needs a slap to wake up,” Present said doing just that. “Touch me again… see what happens,” Twilight threatened getting up. “You don’t scare me, Future does,” Present said before trotting away. “What?” Twilight said following her into the room and seeing her friends, including Sunset and Spike. “Alright, guess this one,” Sunset said doing a pantomime of hopping around. “Is it… a rabbit?” Fluttershy asked. “No a kangaroo!” Pinkie said. “I’m thinking a frog,” Spike said before his ears perked. “Nope, it’s a three-legged race,” Sunset said. “How could we get that?” AJ said. “Think you can do-” “Bark bark bark bark!” Spike barked. “Huh? Spike? What is it?” Fluttershy asked. “Somethings, off… it might just be nerves though,” Spike said sitting down. “Forgot that dogs can sense me,” Present said with a hum. “Why are we here?” Twilight asked. “To see what your missing,” Present said. “I brought cocoa guys!” Flash Sentry said walking in with cocoa. “He’s here too?” Twilight asked. “Uh yeah, he’s Sunset’s boyfriend these days,” Present said. “I don’t-” “Twilight would have loved this game…” Spike said suddenly. “Huh?” Twilight said seeing Spike looking glum again. “Remember Spike, it’ll be only a matter of time before she comes out of this and remembers she has friends,” RD said. “I know, I just miss her, ever since magic came into her life, it’s all she thinks about, I miss her…” Spike said. “Spike…” Twilight said. “Spike, you don’t have to worry, someway somehow we’ll snap her out of it,” Pinkie said. “I know, but… I may have made things worse…” Spike said. “How?” Sunset asked. “I told her if she continues, she’ll be all alone one day, I think she’s mad at me now,” Spike said. “If she is, than ah’ll be mad at her fer not seein the point you were trying to make,” AJ said. “I just miss her, the way we used to play, she’d bring me to school, she’d treat me like I exist, now it just seems I’m there to be an annoyance, i’m sorry to bring down the mood girls, but… i miss her,” Spike said. “Oh Spike,” Fluttershy said hugging him. “Don’t worry girls, I’ll be she’ll be done soon,” Pinkie said. “Don’t count on it…” Spike said. “Spike…” Twilight said. “You see how miserable he is? He misses you and you’ve done nothing to prove he still matters to you,” Present said. “...Spike…” Twilight said wanting to go to him. “And yet…” Present grabbed her ear and pulled her close. “Ow!” Twilight said. “You have a chance to make it right, so get moving!” Present said before shoving Twilight down. “Ooof!” Twilight landed in the snow, as she got up she looked around and saw herself back at her home. “Ugh… ENOUGH!” Twilight said standing up “I get it ok!? I’m a selfish person! I love magic, it makes me feel happy, why do I have to be vilified for it?” Twilight shouted as someone walked past and hurried along as the seemingly crazy lady shouted at nobody in particular. After Twilight had exhausted her rage she just looked upset. “I get it… my studies are ruining my friendships… I’ll… go see them after I test a theory on my work and pack my things… is that good enough?” Twilight asked. No response from nothing… “Figured…” Twilight said going back to her apartment… not noticing her shadow was that of a pony…