"Earth ponies are numbskulls!" Prism shouted.
"Unicorns are snobs!" Cherry Pie hollered.
"Pegasi are brittle!" Gemstone snapped.
Every pony groaned and put their hooves to their heads.
"It's brutes, Gem!" Prism exclaimed. "Brutes!"
The white unicorn filly with the blue mane blushed. "Sorry! I can't help it if I have trouble reading the script!"
"Alright, every pony!" Cheerilee called as she walked onstage. "I think that's enough rehearsal for today. I have a few notes. Cherry, you were hilarious. Raspberry, don't be so nervous while narrating. Blueberry, act less cheerful. Smart Cookie is the level-headed earth pony, not the crazy one. Kicks, remember that you're playing shy, timid Private Pansy, not Commander Hurricane. Prism, great job. I would like you to go over lines with Gemstone before tomorrow."
Prism nodded with a smile. Since Gemstone was dyslexic, she needed help with her reading and Prism was more than happy to lend one of her best friends a hoof.
"Remember, kids!" their teacher announced. "The pageant is next week, so practice at home and make sure all your lines are memorized! Be careful going home! The weather's been rough lately."
As they changed out of their costumes and into their scarves and hats, Prism turned to Gemstone.
"You're doing great, Gem!" she complimented. "You were practically born to play Princess Platinum!"
The unicorn sighed. "If only I can get my lines right."
"Hey, don't worry about it. I'll come by later and help you. Right now I gotta get home and write a letter to my parents."
"Are they coming for Hearth's Warming?" Raspberry Pie inquired.
"Yeah! They even said they would be here in time for the pageant! Finally, I get to show them something that'll make them proud!" She grumbled under her breath. "And I get to show Thunder and Lightning that I'm not useless."
"Rainbow Junior!"
The pegasus filly looked up to see an orange pegasus mare with a wild purple mane standing in front of the stage.
"There's Aunt Scootaloo," Prism said to her friends. "See ya guys tomorrow!"
"Bye!" her friends waved.
Prism leapt off the stage and landed beside her favorite pony in the world.
"Hey, RJ!" Scootaloo greeted, ruffling the filly's multi-colored mane. "How are rehearsals going?"
"Great!" Prism replied excitedly. "Mrs. Cheerilee says I'm the best Commander Hurricane she's ever seen!"
Scootaloo laughed. "Your mom won't be so happy to hear that."
The filly's face fell. "Why not?"
"She played Commander Hurricane in the Hearth's Warming pageant, and I don't think she'll like it to find out her own daughter is better than her."
She playfully poked the filly and they both giggled. Prism's parents were Wonderbolts and were away a lot, so Scootaloo would often take care of her and the twins. Because the twins usually spent their time with each other, Prism and Scootaloo had become very close. Unfortunately, Scootaloo was part of a rock band, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, so she would sometimes go away too, which meant they would all stay with Thunder and Lightning Dash's friend, Screwball. What Prism loved most about Hearth's Warming, was that no pony had to be away and they could all spend the holidays together.
When they had reached their cloud home, Scootaloo lifted Prism onto her back and carried her up to the sky. Once she was on her hooves, Prism immediately rushed inside and to her desk. She had promised her parents to write every single detail of what was happening while they were gone, and she wanted to get it all down before she forgot.
Dear Mom and Dad,
The Hearth's Warming Eve pageant is next week and I know I'm going to make you proud! Playing Commander Hurricane is so much fun, and I'm glad I get to boss Kicks around while doing it. Gemstone is a great Princess Platinum, though her dyslexia is making it hard for her to learn her lines. I'm helping her later today. Cherry is so funny being Chancellor Pudding Head, I can hardly keep a straight face onstage! It's weird seeing Blueberry act all snarky while playing Smart Cookie, but then again, I always thought she was the smartest of the Tri-Pies. Raspberry says she keeps getting stage fright, but I know she's going to be an awesome narrator. Who knows? We might just get our cutie marks in acting!
I can't wait for you guys to come home next week! It seems like forever since we were last together! I hope you can make it okay, because I hear the pegasi up in Fillydelphia made one heck of a snowstorm last night and ponies say it might find its way down here. But I know a little snow could never stop you guys!
You don't have to get me any presents. Really. All I want for Hearth's Warming is for us all to be together as a family. Well, that and my cutie mark. And for my wings to grow.
Your daughter and biggest fan,
Prism
When Prism reached the post office, she nearly dropped her letter as her mouth fell open. Derpy was hanging the closed sign on the door.
"Closed?" Prism said.
Her letter fell again as she spoke and she had to catch it with her hoof.
"Sorry, Prism," Derpy said with a shrug. "With all the snow spreading from Fillydelphia, I can't deliver any air mail."
"But I have to get this letter to Mom and Dad!" Prism insisted.
"I'm sorry, but that's the way the muffin crumbles, sometimes."
As the gray pegasus walked away, Prism tried to think of what she should do. She first went to Sweet Apple Acres, hoping that Spike could deliver the letter with his magic breath. She knocked on the door, but instead of Spike, Applejack answered.
"Hey there, Sugar," she said with a smile. "What brings you up here?"
"Hi, Auntie Applejack," Prism greeted. "Is Uncle Spike here? I have to get this letter to Mom and Dad."
"Oh, I'm sorry, hon. He just left with the kids to go gift shoppin'. They should be back in a few hours, if ya wanna wait."
"A few hours?! But I want to get this letter to them now!"
Applejack tapped her chin. "Well, Twilight might be able to send the letter, but she's in Canterlot right now, spendin' Hearth's Warming with her folks. Hey! Maybe Discord can get the letter to Rainbow and Soarin!"
Prism grinned. "Yeah! Why didn't I think of that?"
"Ya shouldn't be goin' into the Everfree Forest alone though." Applejack grabbed her scarf off the coat rack. "I'll come along with ya."
Mothball stared curiously at the string of popcorn he was holding.
"So...we just hang this on the tree?" he inquired.
"Yup," Screwball said as she wrapped the garland around the tree. "Just like we did with the lights."
"But why is it made of popcorn?"
"I have no idea! That's what I love about the garland!"
The changeling gazed up at the ten-foot-tall tree. Unlike most Hearth's Warming trees, this one was purple. He knew in this house, things were always chaotic, but he wondered why a pine tree was a holiday symbol. He had heard the story of Hearth's Warming, and it had nothing to do with trees. Actually, there was a lot of stuff he did not understand about the holiday, as he had never celebrated it before. His mother, Queen Chrysalis, never let him.
Now that he was living with Screwball's family, he could do whatever he wanted. He knew from the excited expression on his marefriend's face that Hearth's Warming meant a lot to her and he did not want to screw it up for her.
"I have a feeling I'm never going to get this holiday," Mothball declared.
"Don't be so nervous, MB," Screwball said. "After all, it's Zany's first Hearth's Warming too."
As if on cue, the gray foal with pink hair and red eyes appeared on the top of the tree. Screwball gasped in horror.
"Zany, get down from there!" she cried as she flew up to her little brother. "Mom would have a fit if she knew you were sitting on top of the tree!"
"Zany?!" Fluttershy called as she flew into the room. "Kids, have you seen...?"
She sighed in relief when she saw the infant in his sisters hooves. Fluttershy flew up to them and cradled her son in her hooves.
"Oh, don't scare me like that again!" she insisted.
"At least he didn't teleport to the Arctic Circle this time," Mothball said with a shrug.
As Fluttershy continued to cuddle her baby, Discord appeared behind her.
"Oh, Fluttershy!" he said in a sing-song voice.
The pegasus gasped as his tail waved a bushel of mistletoe in her face. Fluttershy rolled her eyes.
"Do we have to do this every second of every day?" she asked.
"Come on, my dear!" Discord insisted. "You know it's my favorite part of the season!"
Mothball raise an eyebrow. "I don't get it."
Screwball giggled. "Just watch."
Discord closed his eyes and puckered his lips, still waving the mistletoe. His wife smiled deviously as an idea formed in her head.
"Oh, alright," she said.
She held out Zany so that his lips would meet his father's. Discord opened his eyes and shrieked.
"No fair!"
"Hey," Fluttershy smirked. "I could have grabbed one of the animals."
Screwball and Mothball laughed while Discord pouted.
"How are you kids doing on the tree?" Fluttershy inquired.
"We were just putting up the garland," Screwball said and then turned to Mothball. "Then we'll put up the ornaments and candy canes and then the star. Then we can finally put the presents underneath!"
Mothball stiffened. "Presents?"
"Yeah! On Hearth's Warming Day, we gather around the tree and exchange gifts!" She nudged him in the side. "Wait until you see the gift I got you! You're going to love it!"
"Presents?" the changeling said again.
Screwball blinked. "You did remember to get me a present, right?"
"I...I...of course I did! It's amazing! You're going to be impressed! It's a..."
"Don't tell me now! That'll ruin the surprise!"
All heads turned as the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Screwball insisted.
"No," Discord said, holding his daughter by the head. "I'll get it. You kids work on the tree."
Discord floated over to the front door and opened it.
"Why if it isn't Honest Applejack!" he exclaimed. "And Rainbow Dash Junior! Fluttershy's over there by the tree."
"Actually," Applejack said, "Prism wanted to see you."
He blinked. "Me? Well, that's a first."
"You see, Uncle Discord," Prism said, pulling her letter out of her saddle bag, "I need you to deliver this letter for me."
Discord crossed his arms. "What do I look like? A mail pony?"
"But you don't understand! I need to get this to Mom and Dad, but Derpy closed the post office! Please, Uncle Discord?"
He sighed. "Okay, but only because you said please."
He levitated the letter out of the filly's mouth and to his claw. He blew green fire and it dissolved into air.
"I've actually been wanting to do that for a while," Discord smirked.
Prism smiled. "Thanks, Uncle Discord!" She flung her forelegs around his serpentine body. "Happy Hearth's Warming!"
The draconequus blinked. No matter how many times it happened, he could never get used to hugs, nor being called 'Uncle.'
"Uh...Happy Hearth's Warming," Discord said, slowly returning the filly's hug.
As Prism trudged towards Carousel Boutique, she spotted her friends the Tri-Pies. The three fillies had their faces pressed against the window of the toy shop.
"Hey, guys," she said, walking over to them. "What you looking at?"
"That!" they all replied, tapping on the glass
Displayed in the window was a long, shiny red sled. Its name was branded in silver on the side.
"The Rosebud 3000!" the triplets sighed simultaneously.
"It's the fastest sled ever!" Cherry chimed.
"It's built for three and has its own brakes!" Blueberry exclaimed.
"And it's shiny!" Raspberry piped.
"It is a cool sled," Prism observed. "I'm guessing that's what you guys want for Hearth's Warming."
"You bet!" Cherry replied. "Our old sleds are all small and rickety!"
"Not to mention we can't ride on either of them together," Raspberry said.
"With the Rosebud 3000," said Blueberry, "we can all fit in one sled and be the fastest fillies in the snow!"
"And Mommy and Daddy are going to get it for us!" Cherry insisted.
"How can you be sure?" Prism asked.
"We've been dropping hints!" Raspberry replied.
"Uh..." the pegasus uttered. "Have you guys looked at the price tag?"
"Come to think of it," Blueberry pondered, "no, but it can't be that...HOLY MOLY! That's a lot of bits!"
The triplets sighed sadly.
"There's no way Mom and Dad can afford that!" Cherry lamented.
"Aw, don't be glum, you guys," Prism said. "Maybe you can ask some pony else for the sled."
"Nah," Raspberry shook her head. "We don't want any pony to spend more money on us than their own foals. That wouldn't be fair."
"Uncle Discord could always make you that sled."
"That would just be copyright infringement," Blueberry pointed out.
"Then why not ask Santa Hooves?"
The Tri-Pies gasped.
"Oh my gosh!" Raspberry exclaimed. "Why didn't we think of that?! Of course Santa will get us that sled!"
"We've been good all year!" Cherry declared.
"And Santa won't get in any trouble with copyright laws," Blueberry added. "Because he's Santa!"
"We'll write a letter to Santa on this notepad I always carry with me!" Raspberry said, bringing out said notepad.
Prism chuckled. "Well, looks like you guys are busy then. Oh, you should know that Derpy closed the post office, but you can get Uncle Discord to send the letter. I just sent a letter to Mom and Dad with his help. He'll also get it there faster."
"You're right!" Raspberry exclaimed. "Let's get over there right now!"
Before Prism could say another word, the triplets were off in a flash.
"What do you get your marefriend for Hearth's Warming?" Mothball asked Discord.
"Well," the draconequus replied, "last year I made Fluttershy a garden of ice sculptures made in her image."
The changeling looked at him wearily. "Yeah, sure. I've been taking ice sculpting lessons since I was two. That'll be a snap!"
Discord smirked. "You've really gotten the sarcasm down! I've taught you well!"
"I'm serious, sir! This is my first Hearth's Warming with Screwball and I have to get her the perfect gift!"
"You could try carving her name on the moon, though you might run into some trouble with Luna."
"Yeah, in case you haven't noticed, I can't do that kind of stuff!"
"Well, it is my daughter you're trying to please. Remember, she can get whatever she wants with the wave of her hoof. You have to wow her!"
He stopped when the doorbell rang.
"Glad we had this talk, son," Discord said, patting the changeling on the head.
"Thanks," Mothball groaned. "I feel so much better."
As soon as Discord opened the door, a streak of blue, pink and red bolted by.
"Hey, Uncle Discord!" the Tri-Pies greeted.
"Ah!" Discord said, instantly smiling. "My three favorite fillies! How's it going?"
"We wanted you to deliver a letter!" Blueberry explained.
The draconequus groaned. "Seriously? What is this? Discord Delivers the Mail Day?"
"It's a letter to Santa!" Cherry chimed.
"See?" Raspberry said, holding up her notepad. "I wrote it on our way over here!"
Discord scoffed. "Aren't you fillies a little old for that Santa stuff?"
The triplets blinked in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Raspberry asked. "You're never too old for Santa! So are you going to send this letter or what?"
"You're kidding, right?" the draconequus laughed. "I can't send a letter to some pony who doesn't exist!"
Raspberry's face fell. "What?"
"Uh oh!" Blueberry exclaimed. "Uncle Discord's a non-believer!"
"I don't believe it because it's not real!" Discord insisted. "There is no Santa Hooves!"
"What are you talking about?" Cherry said. "There is too a Santa Hooves!"
"Come on! A pony who travels around the world in one night with flying reindeer?"
"You make it rain chocolate milk from cotton candy clouds!"
"Yes, but that's me! I'm telling you, I've lived thousands of years, have been to the North Pole and have never seen a Santa Hooves!"
"If there's no Santa Hooves," Blueberry retorted, "then who's been leaving us those presents in our stockings?"
"Hate to burst your bubble, kids, but your parents got you those presents. Santa Hooves is just something adults made up to get their foals to behave all year."
Raspberry stared at the draconequus with wide, disbelieving eyes. Her notebook slid out of her hoof.
"Yeah, right!" Cherry exclaimed. "You're just a cynical, non-believing, grumpy pants!"
"We don't need this," Blueberry declared. "We'll find another way to send our letter to Santa!"
As they were about to go out the door, they realized something was missing. They turned around to see Raspberry staring at her notebook on the ground.
"You coming, sis?" Blueberry called.
"Huh?" Raspberry said. "Oh, sure."
The magenta filly walked passed her sisters with her head down.
"Uh, Raspberry?" Cherry asked. "Didn't you forget something?"
"No," Raspberry uttered. "Let's just get going."
As she trotted out the door, Blueberry and Cherry glanced at each other.
"Uh oh," they said.