//------------------------------// // Hearth's Warming Day, Day // Story: The Story of Crepuscularity Sparkle: a Hearth's Tale of learning Friendship // by The P Co //------------------------------// When the day broke, Crepuscularity jumped out of bed with a rejuvenated energy in her heart. It was Hearth's Warming Day, wait... was it? She had stayed up an awful long time... Bursting out onto her balcony, she looked down and saw Little 'Loo walking past, and called out to her, "HEY YOU, Little 'Loo!" she called down. "GAH! Oh, Miss Sparkle, hello, what has you up so early?" the poorly pegasus asked, worried for backlash. "What day is it?" the rich unicorn demanded, though trying to sound nicer than normal "Why it's Hearth's Warming Day of course, though some hearths are too poor to be warmed on the outside, everypony's hearts are warm inside," the filly recited the tale. "Y'know, Little 'Loo, I always kinda liked you, listen up," the lavender unicorn levitated over her key ring and tossed it down to the orange pony, "Take this and open my front door, I'm changing my whole life around, all in this one day!" the business mare cheered, levitating over a scroll and pencil. Okay, let's see, fix up things with Little 'Loo, working on it, Profit Spotter, the Cake family, the Apple Family, everypony in town. She was going to have as much Faust-damn fun as she could with this redemption. Rushing down stairs, she grabbed her tophat and suit jacket just as Little 'Loo opened the front door. "Quickly filly, remove those grubby clothes, put these on!" she said, not waiting for a response as she tore the ragged cap and dirty sweater off of the pegasus, shoving her own fancy clothes into the filly's grasp. "Are you sure?" Scootaloo asked as she put on the new clothing, it was a lot warmer and more comfortable than her old stuff. "Sure I'm sure, now come on, I need to be generous!" she grabbed the pegasus up and placed her on her back, galloping off with various money pouches in tow. Bursting into the bank, which still had a few ponies present, though they were cleaning the place, Crepuscularity shouted, "Fill these bags with my money, please!" she asked politely. A few minutes of stumbling and stuttering from the janitors later, and she had huge bags of bits. "Okay, time to get a bit silly here, because being silly is something that I really need to get a dosage of," the older pony said, throwing Little 'Loo up onto a low-lying cloud, "Take this half of the bits and rain money onto the poor, I'll do the 'buying stuff' part, oh I feel a blazing warmth in my soul, the deathly chill of my heart is no more!" she felt very warm as she ran past the tiny pegasus, off to the market district. Her whole body felt warm, as warm as her heart was right now. Everypony was surprised to see the richest mare in the world. running through the streets like a psychopath, wearing nothing but her pajamas, shouting "I'M CHANGING MY WAYS!" to practically everypony she passed. She bought everything from everypony managing a stand, then gave everypony the food she just paid them to get. "Take the money, and the food, eat heartily this Hearth's Warming Day, 'tis a gift from the NEW Crepuscularity Sparkle, take from it to your hearts' content!" she cried out, emptying hundreds of bits into the hooves of the merchants. Everypony looked to her, then to the money, then back to her, then they took the money and food and left. Crepuscularity's smile only got wider when she saw how happy she had made everypony, she received many 'thank you's, not of desperate gratitude, but of genuine gratitude. She galloped to the place where many homeless ponies often sat around and talked. "Hello dear ponies in need, I, Crepuscularity Sparkle, am changing my ways, take this money and live well from it, 'tis a gift from me on this Hearth's Warming Day," she announced, dropping the last of the bags of money to the usually sad ponies. She ran back to the bank to fill up on bits again, then went to her checklist. "Let's see, first up now, Profit Spotter," she read, before rushing out again and to her offices. Unlocking the doors and throwing them open, she ran up the stairs and to the room she remembered was occupied by Profit and her sister Sweetie Belle. "HELLO PROFIT AND BELLE!" she announced her presence with a mighty shout that reverberated throughout the room. The indigo maned mare and her two-tone maned little sister looked up from their game of chess and plates of oats to see the richest mare in the world, in nothing but her pajamas, looking like she just ran a marathon, and carrying huge bags of money. "Profit, I am changing my ways. I need to be more honest to you, you have faithfully served my business empire for fifteen years, half of my business life. I am sorry that I only gave you a measly four bits, here is the rest of what you deserve, and from now own, your wage is tripled!" the lavender unicorn threw down the bag, the bits inside spilling out like sand. "Let's see," Profit muttered as she began magically counting the money, "That's...... four THOUSAND BITS?" she exclaimed in surprise. "Yes, that is everything you have earned from me, take it with gratitude, I must be on my wa-" she was cut off by a worried 'oh no' "Oh no, I forgot, darling, my parents are travelling here by train. They said they would be here," she paused to look at the clock, "...a half-hour!" "Don't worry, I shall teleport us to the train station," Sparkle assured, before her magic flared up and the three unicorns disappeared. The ponies at the train station were startled when a loud *ZHAOW* sound from the ending point of a teleportation rang out, depositing Crepuscularity Sparkle, her advisor Profit Spotter, and her advisor's litter sister Sweetie Belle. "When does the next train arrive?" the stripe-maned CEO demanded. "GAH! I-I-it wil-l--l-l ar-r-rive as s-soon-n-n a-a-as y-you want it, miss-s-s-s Sparkle," the conductor stuttered. "I want it to arrive within the next few minutes," she commanded. "It will surely do so, I-" the stallion was cut off by a ringing in his pocket, "I'm sorry, let me see who- OH, that's the conductor aboard the train, I need to take this," he excused himself, taking a few steps away. Sparkle watched him mutter a few things, then turn back to her, "The train will be delayed, a stray storm cloud crashed into it and shut off almost all of the equipment on board, their conductor was lucky that her cellphone wasn't affected, so she could tell me. The ETA has been pushed back from 'a few minutes from now' to 'hopefully before tomorrow', it's really bad," the conductor lamented, somewhat saddened by this development. "Give me the phone, now!" the rich pony wasn't going to have this bullshit 'train got EMP'd and can't run' nonsense, she put the phone to her head and began. "Hello, what's the hold-up? Give it to me straight and simple," she asked calmly. "Train, not working, sorry, it gonna be late," the somewhat butchered equish came through very clearly and simply. Sparkle lowered the phone, looking at the ground, muttering, "I'm going to be different, I'm going to be polite, I'm going to be.... ah to tartarus with it I can make up for it in a bit," she groaned, raising the device back up to her head. "*ahem* What the buck did you just bucking say to me, you little foal? I'll have you know that I graduated top of my business class in Harsvard University, and have established ownership over ninety nine point ninety nine percent of the world, and have over three hundred trillion confirmed bits in profits. I am masterfully educated in monopolistic business techniques and am the richest thing on this planet. You may be little more than a train conductor, but I will see to it that you will be well set for the rest of your life if you get off of your questionably-sized flank and get that train to Ponyville within the hour, mark my bucking words down on a piece of parchment. Do you think this is a game? I am Crepuscularity Sparkle herself, I own everything, as we speak the Princesses Celestia and Luna come to me to pay to keep their positions as princesses," she paused as indeed the alicorn sisters descended to the platform and bowed before her, dropping a large bag of money at her hooves. "Madam Crepuscularity, this week's pay-" Celestia was cut off by a hoof gently placing itself on her mouth. "Shhhhhh, the adults are talking," the lavender unicorn shushed, before turning back to her call, "Right, where was I? Oh yes, they pay to keep their positions as princesses, but I am sending them to fix your train now," she gestured for the princesses to move, whispering 'go, forget the money and get that train running, if you do, you can keep you positions for a whole year without payment, go now!' before going back to her call, "So you better prepare for them, because they will make that steel box of an oily bucker move like the wind. You'd practically be already here by now. Just so you know, I own every place, and every thing, all across the seven hundred different countries. Not only am I in possession of uncountable wealth, but I am also changing my life and being loyal, acting kindly, giving generously, speaking honestly, and allowing laughter, all of this will flow through me like magic through my horn. If only that storm cloud knew what unholy retribution it would have received by shutting down your train, it would have stayed the buck away. Unfortunately it couldn't, it didn't, and now sunbutt and moongirl are on the way to fix it. I will cast 'Haste' on that thing and the paint will peel off of it, oh wait it's already here. Wow, okay, yes I see you, alright, bye." the pajama-clad mare hung up and returned the cellphone to the conductor on the platform. "We did it, Miss Sparkle," the white and blue pair called out from on top of the train. "Thanks kiddos, I'll be leaving then, see you next year." the lavender pony waved goodbye, grabbing the money bag and galloping off to give it to more ponies in need. Approaching the orphanage, she found Scootaloo hovering above the empty money cloud. "Did you make it rain?" the mare queried. "I made it rain on them pones." the filly answered. "Good, come on, every orphan's getting a great meal today!" the unicorn used her magic to throw open the doors to the ratty building. Several badly dressed and relatively thin fillies and colts jumped at the noise. "Hello, my little ponies, I have come bearing good will to all. I have been changing my life today, and one of my many improvements is that I shall find homes for all of you!" the rich widow proved her philanthropy by brandishing several folders, each containing many documents about families who would love to have a little one join them. Blooming stepped out of her office with a yawn, having ended up sleeping in there after a late night of number crunching and paper signing, "What's with all the noise? Oh, hello Miss Sparkle, did you need something?" she was too tired to act afraid, and the wide smile the unicorn held made her a lot less threatening. "Yes, take this money and these papers, use the money to buy a big feast and split the rest evenly amongst the foals and yourself, these documents detail excellent families who want a little filly or colt in their home. I implore that both of these things be done posthaste, anyways, I need to head to my usual merchants and give them a few apologies, arrivederci!" she trotted off, dropping an extra paper at Blooming's hooves. The paper was a form dictating that Crepuscularity was adopting Scootaloo, signed and dated by the both of them. ~Some time later~ "...and each time her hooves touched me, it felt like a fire of comfort had been ignited on the spot, oh if only you could have seen Seasonal, she was so beautiful, she actually had similar colors to you, Scoots," the now-jolly mare reminisced, already calling Scootaloo by pet names. "Wow, she sounds like she was really amazing, I wish I could have met her," the orange filly wished as her wide eyes of wondering were filled with images of the dearly departed pegasus. "Yes, I wish I could see her again, but oh how fate is a cruel monster, and thus we were torn apart by the hooves of an anonymous being, but the day still breaks, the sun still rises and burns bright, as does the moon gently illuminate the night, the stars shine, the grass grows, the snows fall, time carries on, and I am willing to carry on with it." something happened just then... Everything was silent, even for only ten or so seconds, everything was silent. No chattering, no clopping of hooves, no words, no clatters or clacks or thuds or anything. No tinkling laughter haunting her anymore. That once angelic sound that had plagued her for a long, cruel, painful decade of insanity and darkness, it had been silenced, replaced with a gentle, silent, smiling face. Then the sounds from the outside came back in, this time more gentle sounding, more vivid, more real, it was all real, it was all 'the now', it was all glorious. She saw the whole world in a new light, the muted tones and drab, depressing grays replaced with bright hues and orderly grays that kept the harmony of it all. "I feel amazing, come, Scoots, come with me, we shall stop this incessant snowing," she vowed, charging full gallop towards the weather team office building. ~Some time later~ The weather ponies had turned her down, saying that they would have cleared the sky if they could, but they couldn't, so they wouldn't. She brushed off the word "can't" with little more than a laugh, asking what made them unable to do this task. Apparently, they lacked the necessary pony-power to do it, if they had two or three more pegasi, then the snow could be gone in a jiffy. Giving up the task with a small frown, Crepuscularity made her way to the bakery. Once there, she immediately dug the Cake couple out of debt, explained her goals and change of heart, and paid them ten times over for what she had received the previous day, and told them to bake up what they could for a large dinner for all. "We're sorry, Miss Sparkle, but we don't have the supplies for any more food today," they lamented, looking at the ground and sniffling in sadness. "That is unfortunate, WAIT! Actually, I remember that I had a very large cake and a very large pie at home, I formally invite you two to join me for dinner," she offered, receiving two furiously nodding heads in response, "Alright, my place, six PM, we're having a big group dinner, bring what you can!" she shouted as she galloped off towards Sweet Apple Acres. ~A few minutes later~ The Apple family agreed to join her for dinner, and bring a few extra things, because a really big cake and a really big pie wasn't going to satisfy the large group. Crepuscularity did a headcount, herself, Scootaloo, Profit Spotter and Sweetie Belle, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith, that was nine ponies, a large group indeed. Trotting home with her recently adopted daughter in tow, Sparkle's wide smile never faltered, and the warmth in her heart never flickered. She was at peace, at harmony with herself and the past, present, and future. Many hours of games and fun between the unicorn mare and the pegasus filly passed, it was a good time, a genuinely good time. Dinner came around and everypony ate heartily, there was no food coma, no thieves, no out-of-control fire, Crepuscularity had done it, she had banished the coldness from her heart and the evils from her mind. She had reclaimed sanity and learned the magic of friendship. *knock knock knock* rang out from the door, and standing behind that door was Thunderlane, one of the Ponyville weather ponies, a bowl of salad balanced on his back, "I hope I'm not late to join. I know that I'm kinda inviting myself to your little party, but I've nopony to spend Hearth's Warming with, if you would allow it, can I come in?" he nervously asked, though his anxiety faded away when the mistress of the house smiled at him. "Of course, the more the merrier, come in, come in, get out of that pesky cold," she insisted, waving him in and brushing some snow from his form. "Oh yeah, about the cold, sorry to say this now, but it'll be months before the weather team can clear the clouds, snow clouds are always the hardest to get rid of. I said this earlier, but if we had three or four more ponies, then it would be a lot easier," he apologized, waiting for a response as he quickly gulped down his salad. "Bah humbug, I've ceased to care about the cold, it doesn't bother my anymore, enjoy yourself, let loose and unwind, we're all good friends here, aren't we?" the lavender hostess queried, receiving several nods of genuine approval. It was nice knowing that ponies agreed with her not because who she was on the outside, but who she was on the inside. "I think almost all of us know that feeling, sonny, if we had another set of hooves at the Acres, we'd be right set and fine," Granny Smith empathized, putting an elderly green hoof on the pegasus' shoulder. "Same here, you poor thing, if me and my husband had our own extra set of hooves at the Corner, we'd be good off as well," Cup Cake agreed, putting her blue hoof on the dark gray stallion's other shoulder. "Alright, come on everypony, I think it's time to gather around the fire and tell Hearth's Warming stories," the rich unicorn announced, directing everypony to the living room area. She saw that the three ponies in need of physical help were still standing in a group, frowning at their misfortune of lack of help, though a hint of a smile at their current situation of good company. "Come on you three, maybe after a few days of looking, I or you will find some ponies to help you in your plights, but for now it's time for stories, so get your flanks in he-" she was cut off by a sudden knocking. *knock knock knock* came from the door, and Crepuscularity threw the doors open to see who stood upon the other side. Three adorable little fillies, looking like they belonged at the orphanage, were standing on the other side, looking up at her with youthful, yet very judgmental eyes. A very tiny cyan pegasus with a short rainbow colored mane poking out of her dark green toboggan, a dark green sweater that was possibly wet clung to her torso, and a diaper on her rear showed that she was either extremely young, or poorly raised. A not-so-tiny pink earth pony, with a darker pink mane in a frizzled mess, her black jacket and purple scarf were visibly stained with dirt and a few pieces of rock, her light blue eyes were filled with wonder and passion. A large, probably a young teenager, orange earth pony, a brown Stetson capping her blond mane kept in pigtails, and a brown and green coat kept her torso warm. "Hello, Miss Crepuscularity Sparkle," they greeted simultaneously. The lavender unicorn backed away from these pint-sized abominations, "You, I know exactly who you are!" she accused, grabbing the doors with her magic and trying to slam them shut. Passion Action and Red Harvest merely put their hooves up and stopped the mahogany barriers from closing, showing surprising strength. Aurora Pass deadpanned as she and her fellow ghosts dropped the façade and turned back into adults, frowning at how the living unicorn backed away from them. "Listen, we're not here to collect your soul or something, we're here because you passed," the cyan mare explained, removing her pacifier and diaper as her companions threw down their respective feather headpiece and bloodstained harvesting scythe. "You're here for what?" Crepuscularity asked in disbelief. "Let me explain. This might take a while, so can we come in?" the ghost of the past asked. "Um, okay, come on in," Sparkle agreed, leading the three employers and three ghosts to her living room. The introductions were made, albeit in a very awkward scene that couldn't bear to be written, and Aurora Pass, the ghost of the past, sat down and began her explanation. "Alright, so here's the story," she began, the fire blazing behind her as she started explaining her and her fellows' presences.