Immediately after Winterbolt gave Frosty the Snowman and his family magic amulets to prevent them from melting and hinting to Borealis that she was the princess of the Northern Lights foxes, the combined groups of friends decided to head back to Santa's castle and get his permission to leave the North Pole and help the Circus by the Sea get back on its feet.
But one thing was made clear to Sunny Starscout and the rest of her friends... the way secrets and shocking events were popping up, this Unity Quest may be their most complex and difficult yet.
Once they reached the castle, the group (aside from Frosty's family) took an audience with Santa and explained everything that had happened, and expressed their desire to help with the circus until the end 4th of July celebration. “Well,” Santa told the group, “I'm delighted you're all going for a summer holiday, but… I never heard of any icy fairy godfather.”
“You should have seen him, sir!” Izzy exclaimed excitedly. “He told Bori that she was a Northern Lights fox princess and everything!”
“I wish I had,” Santa admitted before thinking for a moment. “Who could he be? Hmm… well, I guess I'm… just being overcautious.”
“Overcautious about what?”
Everyone turned to see Violet Frost and Comet trot into the room, causing Santa to chuckle. “Violet Frost and Comet! I wasn’t expecting you back so soon.”
“We decided to come back and spend some more time with the ponies before they had to go back to Equestria,” Comet explained, “but… what were you guys talking about? What icy fairy godfather?”
“Oh, man, where do we even start?” Cocoa asked. “Well, as it turns out, this icy fairy godfather gave Frosty and his family magic amulets so they could go to the seashore with us to save the Circus by the Sea…”
“...and then,” Hitch added as he held Sparky, “he told Borealis that her grandmother was a queen of the Northern Lights foxes!”
“And if our hunch is right,” Zipp concluded, “Nora was the last queen after Borealis was born, and that makes her--”
“The crown princess of the Northern Light foxes,” Borealis interrupted, sighing. “And that means if anything DID happen to Mom… I need to take over as queen when I’m older.”
Comet and Violet Frost sat their with wide eyes by the time the three ponies and Borealis got done explaining, but Violet was the first to say anything, ending the silence. “Wow... that-- that is a LOT to process.”
“I know! I mean, I always knew that I was destined for greatness if I had Rudolph by my side as my best friend,” Borealis said, “but… being a future queen of a colony of foxes that I don’t even know is still out there?! Wow… I’m just-- phew, sorry, guys… I’m still a little winded.”
“We totally get it,” Pipp reassured the fox cub. “Yeah!” Misty agreed. “This is a lot for any of us to wrap our heads around.”
“But, you can worry about taking over as queen after we find your mom,” Zipp told her. “Which… I honestly hope it will be soon.”
Borealis sighed, ears pinning. “...so do I…”
“Well, it sounds like all of you could use a break from all this,” Santa said before warmly chuckling. “Uh, you-you all go on and ha-have a wonderful time.”
Everyone cheered in excitement-- the circus might actually have a fighting chance now!
However, Frosty had a thought, causing him to stop during the cheering. “Just one thing.”
“W-What’s wrong, Frosty?” Sunny asked in concern. “It’s too bad Snowfall and the kids have to miss the 4th of July fireworks,” Frosty said with a sigh. “But half a vacation's better than none, I guess.”
“No… you’ve got a point,” Violet told the snowman. “Kids should be able to see fireworks-- I don’t know what I’d do if the auroricorns weren’t able to see the Aurora Flares.”
“Violet, you’re absolutely right,” Santa said before trying to think of an idea that could work for everybody.
XXXXXXXX
But, they were all unaware that Twitch, Allura and Winterbolt were using the Eye of Snow to spy on them again. “And now,” said Winterbolt, “to entwine them just a bit more into a morass from which they will never escape. Ha ha ha…”
But before Winterbolt could make a movement, Allura got an idea of her own. “Winterbolt, do you think I could do what you did earlier for myself?”
“But of course!” Winterbolt gladly invited, handing her a lump of snow. “Now, just whisper your idea, and blow the snow onto the eye.”
Allura thought for a moment before muttering something into the snow, making it sparkle before blowing it onto the eye and sending it into Santa’s head.
XXXXXXXX
After the snow with Allura's idea entered his mind, Santa immediately had a thought. “Mama and I will fly my sleigh down for the 4th,” he explained to the group. “We'll pick up Frosty and family just before the fireworks finish and whisk back up to the North Pole by the time the last one fades.”
“And… I think it might be fun for me and Comet to go with you,” Violet Frost spoke up. “We’ve never been to a circus before, and it might be good to bring some new experiences to Starlight Ridge.”
“Oh-ho, that’s pawsome!” Borealis exclaimed. “What a neat idea,” Frosty agreed. “I can’t believe it!” Cocoa squealed in excitement. “Brand new friends, Rudolph, Frosty, and-and now Santa!”
“Why,” Milton picked up the circus poster, “this-- this really will be the greatest show in the-- in the universe!”
Everyone laughed and cheered at this, excited for the adventure ahead just as Milton began to sing the same song Crystal sang to Frosty earlier.
Milton: Everything I've always wanted
You are "everything I've always wanted"
And I'll never let you go
I will take deserted byways
Dusty roads or cement highways
Follow you through rain, or sleet, or snow
During the song, everyone went out to the newly-upgraded hot-air balloon with a much larger basket for all the non-flyers to ride in, and the balloon slowly lifted off the ground as Santa, Mrs. Claus, the elves and some of the animals waved farewell to the group as they set off.
Milton: In my wildest dreams I never dreamed
I'd find somebody I would love
Much more than I could ever show
“See you in a few days!” Santa called out with a hearty laugh as the balloon flew further and further away, causing Borealis and the ponies to wave farewell in response.
Milton: You are everything I've always wanted
More than anything, and if there's any doubt
Well, now you know
XXXXXXXX
During the circus ride, Snowfall had Borealis on her back as they looked around at their changing environment, since they were getting farther and farther away from the North Pole. “Wow… there sure is a lot less snow here than there is back home,” Snowfall said, glancing around. “If Frosty, Crystal and the twins didn’t have those amulets, it’d be Slush City!”
“Tell us about it,” Hitch panted, wiping his forehead. “Man, it is HOT!”
“Don’t worry about that,” Cocoa said as she passed out ice pops. “These oughta cool you down until we get to the circus grounds.”
“Mmm… polar-berry! My favorite!” Comet said in delight as he tasted his ice pop. “How’d you make this?”
“Borealis gave me some polar berries to try the last time Milton and I were at the North Pole,” Cocoa explained, “and I’ve been experimenting ever since, trying to find the perfect flavors.”
“Mmm… good marketing idea!” Pipp said as she slurped her strawberry and banana ice pop. “I should totally try and make new Mane Melody products.”
“So, what other acts were you thinking of us doing for the circus, dears?” Crystal asked Cocoa and Milton. “Well… I was thinking that you and your family could do some good old-fashioned belly whopping-- you know, a snowman’s special talent,” Cocoa said in thought. “And then, after that, I thought maybe Dazzle could perform, but we’ll just have to adjust the schedule in case--”
“Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa!!!” Borealis interrupted with wide eyes. “...Dazzle? By any chance, you’re not referring to THE Dazzle Harmony… a-are you?”
“Actually, yeah,” Cocoa nodded, smiling. “She and I have been friends since we were fillies. When I found out she was in town for the 4th, I asked her to come and perform at the circus, and she agreed-- as long as we still get to spend some time together.”
“...oh… my… SNOWBALL!!” Snowfall squealed, rushing toward her and allowing Borealis to fall off her back. “How did Bori not tell me you were a friend of DAZZLE Harmony?!!!”
“Ugh… because I didn’t know until now?” Borealis reminded her best friend. “That’s why I asked, remember?”
“...oh… heh, right.”
“Uh… call me confused,” Izzy whispered to Frosty and his family, “but… who’s Dazzle Harmony?”
“She’s a super famous singer that Snowfall and Bori are obsessed with,” Chilly explained, causing Snowfall to gasp dramatically. “We are NOT obsessed!” she said, huffing and turning away. “We’re just heavily involved with her social media.”
“Yeah!” Borealis agreed. “It’s not our fault her voice is as pure as an angel and she should be worshiped!”
The others glanced at her strangely, causing Borealis to blush and giggle. “Just kidding…”
“Well, we’re really excited to meet her and the other performers of the circus,” Violet said. “Maybe Comet and I can help by making some aurora flares!”
“That sounds great, Violet!” Milton said before he looked down below the balloon. “Hey, look, everyone! We’re almost there!”
Everyone looked down to see the seashore coming into view, greenery all around them and all around the nearby town as well. “Oh, Frosty,” Crystal said in awe, “it’s lovely!”
“Oh!” Chilly pointed to the circus grounds below. “Look down there!”
“It’s the circus!” Milly cheered. “Uh-huh,” Misty nodded. “It looks like they’re setting up the circus tents. We better get down there and lend them a helping hoof.”
“Aye aye, Captain Misty!” Sunny saluted and pulled a cord, pulling the balloon down just before they all hid in the basket as the balloon went down.
XXXXXXXX
Back on the ground, the head of the entire circus, Lilly Lorraine, who wore a cowgirl-styled outfit, was directing the rest of the circus staff on what to do to set up the tent. “Come on, you guys!” she said encouragingly. “Let’s get this tent up!”
That’s when her daughter, Lanie, the same girl who was on the circus poster, spotted Milton and Cocoa’s balloon getting lower and lower toward the ground. “Oh, Mama, look! It’s Cocoa and Milton!”
“YAY!!!” cheered the other circus employees as the balloon continued to descend. “Hi, Laine!” Milton waved alongside Cocoa. “Hi, Ms. Loraine!” Cocoa greeted, and Laine found herself once again enamored by Milton… the exact same feelings she had when they first met. “Oh, Mama, isn't he wonderful? He's the greatest ice cream man in the world.”
“Oh, forget him, honey,” Lily told her daughter, clearly not impressed with Milton. “There's one thing life's taught me. You can't live on banana splits.”
Slowly, the balloon made it to the ground, and Cocoa hopped out of it in order for their friends to make their grand entrances. “Laine, look who we got for the show!” Milton said happily. “Some new Equestrian friends, real auroricorns, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman!”
“In person!” the ponies, auroricorns, Rudolph and Frosty said as they and the others revealed themselves, with Rudolph’s nose glowing brightly. “Well, I’ll be! Uh… YAHOO!!” Lily fired a shot from her pistol, catching many of the ponies offguard. “Oh, Mama, we’ll be a hit!” Laine told her mother. “What do you think of Milton now?”
“Maybe I was wrong,” Lily admitted. “Milton's like the butter pecan he sells. A little nuts but mighty yummy! Wahoo!”
Borealis yelped as Lily fired another gunshot, but was able to calm down rather easily to see Milton and Laine rush to each other, still madly in love. “Oh, Laine,” Milton smiled warmly. “Now everything will turn out alright.”
“Rudolph and Frosty?” asked Laine. “I can’t believe it!”
“And,” Izzy said, “we’ve got Santa Claus coming too!”
“Santa too? What an idea for a closing act!” Lily fired her pistol again. “Print more tickets!”
“Why, it's just like Christmas is coming early this year,” Laine spoke, holding Milton close to her. “Oh, Milton, everything is just perfect now.”
Then, Laine and Milton shared a passionate kiss, causing Borealis and Snowfall to gag, but then giggle at their own actions. That’s when Borealis suddenly realized something, and tapped on Lily Lorraine’s leg. “Um… Ms. Lorraine? Not to be rude or anything, but… is Dazzle Harmony here by any chance? Me and my friend Snowfall are kinda huge fans of hers.”
“She’ll be outside to help us soon, kid,” Lily told her with a wink. “In fact… she should be coming out of that tent over there to give us a sneak preview just about now!”
At that moment, some backup dancers emerged from a small tent as creepy-styled music began to play. Then, at that moment, a gorgeous green unicorn with amber eyes, a purple, blue and pink mane and tail and a cutie mark of three music notes leapt out of the tent before starting to sing an upbeat song.
We go together, yeah
Better than birds of a feather, you and me
We change the weather, yeah
I'm feelin' heat in December when you're 'round me
That’s when Dazzle started walking around, letting everyone get a good look at the rising unicorn pop star, even sparing a flirty look at Comet and Hitch.
I’ve been dancin' on top of cars and lookin' for where you are
I follow you through the dark, can't get enough
You're the medicine and the pain, the tattoo inside my brain
And, baby, you know it's obvious
I'm a sucker for you, yeah
Say the word and I'll go anywhere blindly
I'm a sucker for you, yeah
Any road you take, you know that you'll find me
I'm a sucker for all the subliminal things
No one knows about you (about you), about you (about you)
And you're makin' the typical me break my typical rules
It's true, I'm a sucker for you
Four, three, two, one, let's get it
Ooh, ooh
Borealis and Snowfall danced along with Dazzle and the backup dancers to their hearts' content while everyone cheered for Dazzle and her performers as the song continued.
There was no doubt about it, though-- Dazzle Harmony was impressive.
Don't complicate it, yeah
'Cause I know you and you know everything about me
I can't remember, yeah
All of the nights, I can't remember when you're 'round me
I've been dancin' on top of cars and lookin' for where you are
I follow you through the dark, can't get enough
You're the medicine and the pain, the tattoo inside my brain
And, baby, you know it's obvious
I'm a sucker for you, yeah
Say the word and I'll go anywhere blindly
I'm a sucker for you, yeah
Any road you take, you know that you'll find me
I'm a sucker for all the subliminal things
No one knows about you (about you), about you (about you)
And you're makin' the typical me break my typical rules
It's true, I'm a sucker for you
Everyone cheered wildly as the unicorn pop star bowed at the end of her performance, and Pipp, Snowfall and Borealis eagerly approached her with Frosty and Rudolph. “That… was… hoof-tacular!” Pipp told her excitedly. “I’ve never seen such intricate dance moves like those before!”
“Aww, thanks!” Dazzle giggled before gasping. “Aren’t you Pipp Petals? One of those famous Equestrians from the Talent Star finale?”
“That’s me! And my friends are just over there,” Pipp pointed at her friends, who waved in response. “And this is Borealis and Snowfall Cane, two of your biggest fans, and these are--”
But before Pipp could finish, Dazzle recognized the wintry celebrities and gasped. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman?! I-I can’t believe it! I’m such a huge fan!”
“Thanks, it’s nice to meet you too,” Frosty shook her hoof before Snowfall squealed. “I can’t believe we’re actually talking to you! ‘Sucker’ is absolutely one of our favorite songs!”
“Yeah! We know all the words and all the dance moves by heart!” Borealis agreed. “Ask Rudolph-- he usually listens to your songs with me.”
“Heh, yeah, I guess that’s true,” Rudolph said with a smile. “Well, now that the introductions are over,” Zipp said, “I think we need to help with the rest of the set-up; the circus has to make it big if it wants to stay up and running, you know!”
XXXXXXXX
“Now we got something to work for!” Lily told everyone as they kept pulling the tent into position. “Come on with that tent! Heave ho ho ho! Heave ho ho ho!”
“What’s with the ‘ho ho ho’?” asked one of the clowns in confusion. “Well, it is Christmas,” said Lily with a smile. “Isn’t it?”
That’s when Lily began to sing a heartwarming song that got everyone smiling and thinking of the winter holidays… even though it was 100 degrees or more.
Lily: Christmas in July seems early
For a holly holiday
In this world of hurly burly
We need this everyday
Remember, you should have the Christmas spirit
Only for the whole year through
Everyday is just like Christmas
As long as I'm with you...
Everyone nodded in agreement to the statement and began to talk and converse... and yet, they all remained completely oblivious to the dangers that were ahead of them.