//------------------------------// // How the Drak Stole Hearth's Warming // Story: Dr. Discord's Seussiful Equestrian Adventure // by AtomicMuffin //------------------------------// Hello, friends! Thank you for joining us for another whimsical adventure. I just want to take this time to wish you a Merry Christmas. If you celebrate a different holiday or no holiday at all, then I simply wish you all the love and happiness that we should be striving to spread all year. Anyway, go ahead and give this a listen to get you in the mood... Without further ado, let's see what Discord is up to. Snow fell gently on the small town of Ponyville. Each tiny flake drifted softly to the ground, sparkling in the light of the brilliantly lit town below. This was no ordinary night. Oh no, tonight was Hearth's Warming Eve. The night before one of the biggest holidays of the year. Hearth's Warming was a time to spend with friends and family, celebrating love and cooperation. The ponies below would sing songs, tell stories, give gifts, eat delicious food, and the whole town was decorated extravagantly. And all the little colts and fillies would barely sleep a wink as they waited eagerly for Santa Hooves' annual visit. An enormous pine tree dominated town square. It was even taller than City Hall! It was wrapped with lights, tinsel, and shiny orbs. And sitting proudly at the very top was a single gold star. It was a time for joy, and all of the ponies below were laughing and making their way through the town. Yes, all the ponies below were happy, but that says nothing of the creatures above... Discord paced on a cloud which was lightly dropping snow upon the town. He glared at the tree, and the lights, and the wreaths on the doors. The singing, the dancing, and the sales in the stores. But he gazed most intently at the ponies down below. "Hello, Muffin," he sighed. Happy Hearth's Warming Eve, Discord. What are you doing up here? He swept his paw, indicating the world below. "Isn't it beautiful. Everypony is so happy and excited." His pleasant words were betrayed by the bitterness in his voice. You see, Discord had been encased in stone for 1,000 years. During that time, he had seen 1,000 Hearth's Warmings go by. He remained in the garden, cold and forgotten. He had received no presents. Sung no songs. The world rejoiced in their friendship and harmony, while he was left with neither. Buried under a a layer of snow. "Thanks for the recap, Muffin. I really needed to remember that," he grumbled as he rolled his eyes sarcastically. He didn't want to show it, but this year was worse than any of the others. This time he had friends, but they had forgotten him. Not a single gift or invitation. Not even a card to show that they remembered him. He wasn't just alone, he was abandoned. "You really aren't helping," Discord snapped. Duly chastened, the writer apologized, I'm sorry, Discord. Nobody should to be alone on Christmas. Though I find it hard to believe that Celestia forgot about you. She even remembered to send me a card this year- He stopped as Discord went ramrod straight, "What did you just say?" Celestia sent me a card this- "No, no, no. The part before that." I said I was sorry. Discord shook his head, "Not that part either. What was that bit in the middle?" The writer raises his eyebrow quizically. Nobody should be alone for Christmas? "Yes, that! Where have I heard that word before? Christmas? Christmas? Aha!" he shouted and with a snap of his tail a small book popped into existence and fell into his outstretched claw. Discord grinned as he flipped through the book. His grin grew wider and wider with every turn of the page. Soon it grew so large that it couldn't fit on his face any more, but it kept growing until his muzzle sagged from the effort of keeping it attached. Then he got an idea! An awful idea! DISCORD GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA! "Oh this WILL be fun." He stepped onto a protruding segment of cloud and jumped on it like a diving board before executing a perfect swan dive falling toward the town below... Discord dives toward the small town, but then he stops about halfway down. "Hold on," he said, as he stroked his bearded chin. "I'll need an accomplice if I want to win." "But who could I turn to, this late in the night?" He paced in thin air and pondered his plight. He snapped his claw and laughed in delight. "I just need an old friend who is fluffy and white!" With a twist and a hoot, he soared through the sky, and startled a few pegasi as he quickly shot by. This night is going to be sweet as pure honey! It's been too long since I visited dear Angel bunny. In no time at all the cottage appeared. Nopony was home, or so it appeared. He expertly slithered down Fluttershy's chimney, and emerged in a room that was lit, but just dimly. Curled up on the couch, which he used for a bed, Little candied carrots danced in his head. Discord swiped a veggie as quick as a hawk. He bit a large bite and quipped, "What's up dock?" Angel bunny jerked quickly awake and glared angrily at the overgrown snake. What did he do to deserve such a fright? Especially on this most peaceful night? "Angel, my friend! On a night such as this why are you alone? Is there something amiss?" Angel studied the spirit from his tail to his snout, and he wasn't quite sure what this was about. "Don't look so surprised. We've already made amends. I thought we were now the closest of friends." Angel raised a single bushy white brow. Discord had done no such thing until now. They were not friends! No, not even close! The very idea was revolting and gross. Discord feared that the bunny wouldn't buy it, but he had a new trick. Now he should try it. "I've got a big box of carrots already marked with your name. All you must do is help with my game." Angel was no fool. He took pride in that, but at heart he was regrettably fat. His eyes gleamed brightly at the thought of his prize, and they widened to an unbelievable size. He jumped excitedly in excitement and glee, but his bounce landed him straight in the tree. Amidst needles and lights, and a bright glowing star a tiny white bunny looked completely bizarre. With a flick of his tail, Discord plucked him right out, but he didn't let go. He just kept to his route. With no warning or word, much to Angel's disdain, he shot back up the dark chimney again. They burst through the top with a puff of black smoke. Angel let out a cough, lucky he didn't choke. "Fluttershy left you alone. They all left me too. So let's teach them a lesson. I know what to do. A daring adventure nopony would believe! I propose, dear Angel, we steal Hearth's Warming Eve!" No sane pony would entertain such a whim, but if anyone could do it, it would certainly be him. Angel scratched his head, all deep in thought. Finally he shruged. Sure, why not? "Excellent, Angel! I'm glad you agree! You'll be rewared for working with me. But the book mentioned something that might cause delay. It seems that we both have an angle to play." With a snap of his claw, Angel donned a top hat. It was big and heavy. He didn't like that. Discord looked like a ghost, weighed by heavy iron chains. "Ebeneezer Scrooge!" he cried, and against them he strains. Pst... Discord. Wrong story! "Spoil sport," he pouted as he clicked his claws and he returned to his usual form. Only this time he was wearing a bright red coat and a hat with a little white bob at the end. Angel gasped to see that his cute button nose was now bright red, and two small deer antlers emerged from his head. Heh heh. Jackalope. Nice touch. "Come on, my friend, we have much work to do!" And all the excitement kindled his excitement anew. He grabbed the poor bunny, whose eyes widened in fright, and tore off laughing into the still night. All the windows were dark. Quiet snow filled the air. All the ponies were dreaming sweet dreams without care. Discord slunk stealthily past the now silent square. For the first stop of the night, was nowhere near there. Near the edge of the town, sat a small cozy house. Here there lived a small family, a stallion and his spouse. They had a small daughter, a pegasus filly. But Discord didn't know that. He didn't need to really. He tore off the garlands and the wreath from the door, and he stuffed them in bags which he would soon fill with more. He flew through the chimney as he had done before. Thanks to his slim frame it wasn't much of a chore. This time was different, much to his ire. In the hearth below, roared a warm toasty fire. It was too late to stop, so he crashed into the flames. He jumped out cursing, calling it rude names. He patted his coat to put himself out, but he wasn't expecting a cute little shout. A filly stood in the doorway, her eyes growing wide. It was too late to run, and there was nowhere to hide. "Santa Hooves," she asked, "Is it really you?" With a sigh of relief, he said ,"Why yes, Scootaloo!" It was a small miracle that his disguise worked so well. But then, it was no surprise, that SHE couldn't tell. "Why don't you go to sleep, so I can get to my work," He said, barely containing his smirk, "I'm really on a tight schedule, you see. There are so many presents to put under the tree." "S-sure, you got it," she squealed with delight, and she rushed to her room and turned out the light. Angel tapped his foot impatiently on the hard wooden floor. "Oh, put a carrot in it," Discord responded, quite sore. He stuffed all the decorations deep in his sack, even the tree didn't give him much flak. Discord glared at the fire, and he angrily swore, "This time, I think I'll just use the door." Angel hopped alongside him, as he lugged the huge bag. If that was one house, this night would be a real drag! One house after another, they quickly tore through stealing presents and trimmings. Some old and some new. Nothing could stop him, all went to plan. Hearth's Warming would be over, before it even began! No presents, no trees, no glint, and no lights. No holiday meals (that would start a few fights!) No bells and no tinsel, no flowers or fun. Discord had stolen them all before the rise of the sun. He stood at the top of his monstrous pile, and he wore on his face, a big greedy smile. "We did it, Angel! It's all gathered here! Now nopony will celebrate when the day draws near! There will be tears from the children, and maybe fights will break out. Oh, this kind of what chaos is what I'm all about!" Angel shook his head, and he peered out at the town. From on top of their mountain, it was a long, long way down. A mountainous trove balanced on a tall mountain top. A simple hard shove, and the whole thing would drop. Angel didn't want that. It wasn't worth the greed. He tugged on Discord's coat to beg and to plead. "Don't tell me you're going soft on me now?" He asked as he raised a bushy grey brow. Angel looked at him pleadingly, with his cute bunny eyes, and the most adorable expression Discord had come to despise. To answer his plea, he pulled out TNT. Discord scattered the bombs through the things that he took, and he pulled out a detonator from some obscure nook. He strolled down the mountainside, whistling a tune. Angel chased after, trying to stop the crazy loon. He paused on an a rocky ledge near the top, and chuckled smugly up on the outcrop. "Take that, ponies!" he was grinch-ish-ly humming. "They're finding out now that now Hearth's Warming is coming! They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do! Their mouths will hang open a minute or two Then ponies down in Ponyville will all cry BOO-HOO! "That's a noise," grinned Discord, "That I simply MUST hear!" So he paused. And Discord put a hand to his ear And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. It started in low. Then it started to grow... Discord reeled with his feet in the snow. He gasped in surprise, "How could this be so?!" He had taken everything! Not a single item was spared! And yet they sang together, as if nopony cared! He paced on the rock, until it was pounded to gravel. How could they be happy with no gifts to unravel? "Discord! Where are you?" Called a voice that was gentle and kind. "Angel! Mamma's worried about you!" it piteously whined. Fluttershy was calling, and she sounded worried and sad. The sound of it broke his heart... just a tad. He popped up next to her with a snap of his claw, and he held out poor Angel in his lion's paw. Fluttershy "eeped" in fear then gave a gasp of surprise. Seeing them both brought tears to her eyes. She rapped them both up, in a tight loving hug, and Discord felt strange... it was so warm and snug. "You both had me worried! Why would you both just run away? I got lucky Harry bear say you coming this way. Although he wasn't very happy to be woken from his nap." She said as she let little Angel sit on her lap. "Why were you looking for us? Didn't you have something else to do?" "Well, there's a party at Twilight's, but you were invited too." Discord was dumbfounded, he received no such call. At least, he didn't think he did... he doesn't read them all... "But what about the missing holiday swag?" Discord asked, careful not to brag. "That's very unfortunate," Fluttershy said with a frown, "But something like that won't slow us down. All our friends are together, and that's what matters most. That's the true meaning of Hearth's Warming, nothing else comes close." Discord teared up a little. Her words did more than just stun. He gripped his head and cried, "Oh, what have I done!?" He grabbed his two friends and launched quickly up to the top of the mount. He would fix all of it, on that she could count! With his magic he loaded the bags on a sleigh, and with a quick shove, they set on their way. Fluttershy wondered what the sacks would contain, but she had a nagging feeling it was best to refrain. They picked up speed, and Fluttershy cowered in fear As the small town of Ponyville quickly drew near. With a slide and a skid, they pulled to a halt. And Discord looked guilty, for he was clearly at fault. Ponies young and old, crowded tight in the square. Some wore confusion, others wore a stern glare. Discord dismounted the sleigh to settle the score while Fluttershy shook, curled in a ball on the floor. "As you all may have guessed, I took all your trimming and tack, but I have returned to give it all back. I had forgotten what this holiday was really about. And even my very best friends I did doubt." A trio of fillies shouted with a harmonic chime, "It's okay Discord. We'll forgive you this time." With a blinding flash everything went back where it was and the whole town was cheering, with excitement abuzz. Pinkie barreled forward as the crowd quickly parted and she cheered, "Let's get this party started!" They danced, and they sang, and gave gifts, and more! And Discord remembered something he hadn't before. Hearth's Warming didn't come from a store. Hearth's Warming, indeed, meant a whole lot more. Discord, I think you forgot to change Angel back. "Psh, you worry too much. Fluttershy thinks he looks adorable. I'll only make him suffer for the rest of the day." How generous of you, I say sarcastically, But didn't we forget something else. They heard a voice in the distance call, "Hey, this looks like one of those explosive thingies in the cartoons!" Another replied, "Do'ya reckon if we push it, somethin'll explode?" A third voice responded, "It's worth a shot!" "On three. One!" "Two!" "Three!!!" "Cutie Mark Crusader's Demolition Experts, YAY!!!" "MUFFIN, QUICK DO SOMETH-"