"No, I prefer Skellington. He's nicer than Slender." says Scootaloo. Having returned from my visit with her Uncle, I find myself completely overwhelmed by the filly's excitement. Even Rainbow Dash, who doesn't really like me that much seems to be happy enough. I soon learn that Scootaloo told Rainbow Dash all she knew about me, and the latter decided I wasn't that bad after all. That in turn elicited some excitement followed by a declaration from the chromatic pegasus; saying she would visit often. The excitement rose from there.
"Yeah, Jack Skellington's an all-time favourite of everypony! Plus, that name would be perfect for the upcoming holiday." Rainbow Dash jumps in.
"Wait, what holiday is that?" I ask. At first, my answer is a pair of giggles that make my heart flutter (if I had one. Skull Joke!). Then they inform me of the holiday the book of Jack Skellington is about. "That's coming up? How far off is it?!" I ask. I hadn't realised what time of the year it was.
"About a week from today." Rainbow Dash replies.
I grow wide-eyed (If I had eyes. Skull Joke!). "Uh-oh! I hope there's still time." I say.
"Time for what?" Scootaloo asks.
"To set things right. I need to redecorate if I'm going to Celebrate Hearth's Warming with you." I reply. I watch as Scootaloo's eyes widen and light up with realisation.
"Does that mean I get to spent Hearth's Warming with you?" she asks in desperation. I look over to Rainbow Dash who seems happy watching Scootaloo come to the brink of bursting with excitement.
"Is there another cute and adorable filly that I care about standing around here?" I respond. As expected, she bursts into joyous cheer, jumping and buzzing around the place. "And I do hope that you will be joining us, Miss Dash." I add, watching as the chromatic pegasus turns her attention to me.
"Huh?" she asks rather dumbly.
"I know a Hearth's Warming isn't really complete without a Family setting, and I think you'd play that role perfectly for her." I say, motioning towards Scootaloo.
I find it interesting to see the expressions on a pony's face when a situation like the one I'd placed Rainbow Dash in, is placed upon them. I find I can see what they're thinking. Dash was no exception. I could tell she was beginning to doubt her abilities as a role model for Scootaloo. Could she be a mother-figure to her? Is she what that filly needs? Would she want me to be a mother to her? What would be involved in such a task? She thought all these things, and the last thought made me smile. Would she love me? As she thinks these things through, Scootaloo leaps at the two of us, bringing us together in a group hug. Of course a real family is what she wants. Of course she'd love you. And of course you'd be a good role model for her. No worse that her Uncle. I try to communicate to Dash as we look at each other; her with a nervous smile on her face, and me with... teeth.
"This is gonna be the best Hearth's Warming EVER!!!" she yells, the sound echoing through the halls. I chuckle and wrap an arm around the filly and another around Dash who seems to have been in another train of thought. The latter starts, that train breaking.
"Of course it is, Scootaloo. You'll be spending it with the real Jack Skellington, and the fastest flyer in Equestria, Miss Rainbow Dash. How could it get better than that?" I ask.
Having made arrangements for Scootaloo to stay with Rainbow Dash for the time being, I found myself left with three days alone to prepare everything for the big night. With what I could remember of Hearths Warming, I managed to find some old banners sporting individual colours of the holiday. I also found an old saw, which could be used for cutting down a tree. Where I'd find a tree suitable for the festivities in this forest was beyond me. I'd wound up asking Miss Dash.
All in all, having cleaned up some old things, as well as stolen festive accessories, such as cracker-jacks and decorations for the tree, things looked good. I left the star down so Scootaloo could put it up herself when the time came. I'd set up the table with plates, chairs, cutlery, it looked like a miniature feast without the food, which was cooking away nicely in the kitchen which I'd miraculously managed to revive. Thank goodness for Magic.
The place was clean, the table was set, there was enough food to feed a dozen ponies, and strangely enough, there were enough places for a dozen ponies too. It was the smallest table I could find. I even had presents ready for when my little family arrived.
As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. I straighten myself out, having had the time to stitch closed the openings on my suit. I casually canter up to the door and prepare to open it. As I do so, I'm met with a surprise. "Happy Hearth's War...ming?"
Not only were Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo present, but a select group of ponies as well. "Sorry, Jack. I told the girls I wasn't going to be spending the holiday with them and they began to follow me around, demanding an answer. I thought I lost them, but Pinkie's like a compass that points to suspicious ponies." Dash says, sounding guilty. I notice that Scootaloo is with two more fillies around her age. I recognise them as her friends from school.
"That's...alright, Miss Dash. Um... there's plenty of room for everypony here. Certainly enough food. Come on in. Just leave your torches and pitchforks outside." I say, stepping aside to let everypony in. Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash enter first, followed by a purple alicorn with dexterous eyes. A smal purple and green dragon, Scootaloo's friends, an orange Earth pony with a strange hat I'd never seen before, but kind of wanted. A White unicorn with a mane that seemed to suit her. A yellow pegasus who shied away from my gaze. A little white rabbit that rode on the pegasus' back. Then a large red stallion who gave me the look as if to say he was watching me.
I could have sworn there was one more. I look outside for the last one, but see nothing. Maybe she decided to go home? I shrug and close the door. Turning to my entourage of guests, I find myself assaulted by pink.
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, but you can call me Pinkie. I've never seen you before, but I heard about you from the ponies in Ponyville. Are you really a monster? You don't look like a monster, just a well-dressed skeleton. I don't see why everypony's afraid of you. Can we be friends? I'm friends with everypony, and I often throw parties for new friends. By the way, I like what you've done with your party, though it's missing confetti, but that might be more of a casual party or birthday kind of thing. Confetti wouldn't really work with this holiday, so I guess it's okay as it is..."
I interrupt the pink pony by placing my finger against my lips and gently shush her. She obeys and starts to blink as if she'd just been smacked in the face. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Pinkie Pie. My name is Jack Skellington; Scootaloo has dubbed me as such, therefore; I go by that name. I take it, Miss Dash that these are your close personal friends?" I ask, turning to Dash. She nods, still flabbergasted that I managed to shush Pinkie Pie.
"Yeah. You've already met Pinkie Pie. How did you do that, anyway?" She asks.
"You have to know at what point in a rant to use it." I reply.
"Okay... Anyway, this is Twilight. She's an egghead, all into books and stuff." Dash continues.
"Says the second number one fan of the 'Daring Do' series." Twilight counters.
"This is Rarity. She's a fashion designer by trade. Fluttershy's the one hiding up in the chandelier. This is Applejack, her big brother Macintosh, a.k.a. Big Mac. Their little Sister, Applebloom and her's and Scootaloo's friend, Sweetie Belle, who's Rarity's sister. Spike's the little Dragon next to Twilight. And...Fluttershy's pet bunny, Angel." she concludes. I whistle (somehow) at the number that had entered my hall. Thank goodness I cooked enough.
"So, Jack. Tell us; what are your intentions towards Scootaloo here?" I hear a voice call over.
"Twilight, don't do this now." Rainbow Dash interrupts.
"Really, Rainbow. You should be wondering this yourself. From what I've heard, Scootaloo's been taken from her Uncle, who claims to have been threatened by a Jack Slender. Know anything about that, Jack?" Twilight asks. Before I have a chance to reply, Rainbow Dash speaks to me.
"I'm sorry about this, Jack. I didn't bother explaining the situation to them." she says.
"It's alright, Miss Dash. I'll play along. But I have a question for you all. You followed Miss Dash and Scootaloo here to spend Hearth's Warming with them. You must have noticed how happy Scootaloo was to be coming here, no?"
"Yes?" Twilight replies with uncertainty.
"And when her Uncle mentioned my little scare tactic, did you happen to smell alcohol on his breath? I know I did, and I don't even have a nose." I continue.
"Skull joke!" Scootaloo chimes in before continuing with her dinner. I give a little chuckle at that.
"We... noticed his boozed breath, yes." Twilight replies again.
"Now, extrapolate his state of mind and compare it with Scootaloo's joy at coming here of all places. What would that suggest?" I ask her.
"That she doesn't like being with her Uncle?" Twilight replies. I notice that she's realised her argument was about to be invalidated.
"And a filly would only dislike being with immediate family members if those family members were being abusive, which was an obvious situation to me fro the very beginning, and I'm only a week out of my coffin. So the question I propose to you all is this; If I could see that she wasn't happy, then you all should have seen it too. And if so, why didn't any of you act sooner?" Of course, Rainbow Dash was exempt from my question as Scootaloo was always happy around her. And her school friends wouldn't know better. "I caught two of her class mates whipping this poor filly with a dog leash relentlessly, for Celestia's sake!"
By now, everypony, except Rainbow Dash have their heads lowered in shame. "You ask me what my intentions toward Scootaloo are? I'll tell you. I intend to make sure nopony hurts her like that again. If you're all really that worried about her, I suggest you do the same. Happy Hearth's Warming, everypony!" I raised my glass to the shamed crowd and took a sip. I caught the liquid in a magical stomach I'd erected for the occasion.
"Here, here!" Scootaloo added, raising her own glass. Rainbow Just remained silent and took a sip of her own beverage.
"So, Miss Twilight. What is it you do exactly?" I ask.