In a flash of light, Sunset Shimmer and Discord appeared in the middle of the road. They looked and recognized the city they are in.
"Canterlot," Sunset Shimmer gasped. "You brought me to Canterlot?"
"More or less," Discord replied.
"Hey, I know that pony," Sunset Shimmer said pointing at an Earth pony with a green mane. "That's Silver Lining. I haven't seen that optimist in forever."
"And you're still not," Discord said. "I'm accessing your memories to create this illusion. This is the past. Everything you see is just a flashback. You can't touch them nor can you alter anything. No pony can see or hear you.."
"Why would you..." Sunset Shimmer asked.
"Come on," Discord scoffed. "You wouldn't tell me what your problem is with the holidays, so I decided to go to where it all started."
"Well, why did you bring me," Sunset Shimmer asked.
"'Cause you're a Scrooge," Discord said. "That's someone who doesn't like Christmas. It's from a story in..."
"I know," Sunset Shimmer said. "I've read the story before."
"Then you know that it's necessary for me to bring the Scrooge with me," Discord said. He looked and saw holiday decorations and snow in the background. "It looks like every pony is getting things ready for Hearth's Warming Eve. Tell me, where were you in this time?"
"I guess I was..." Sunset Shimmer said looking at the castle behind her.
"Say no more," Discord said.
Suddenly, Sunset Shimmer and Discord floated up to the air and through the Canterlot Castle windows. They went through room to room until they found a bedroom.
"I know this place," Sunset Shimmer said. "This is where I slept back when I was taught by Princess Celestia."
"Ironically, this is also where Twilight Sparkle slept after you were gone," Discord said. "And look who it is."
Discord pointed at a unicorn popping her head from under the covers. Her red mane was all messed up and she rubbed her eyes.
"That's..." Sunset Shimmer gasped. "That's me. That's actually me!"
"Like looking in a mirror, huh," Discord asked. "Well, a human-to-unicorn mirror, anyway."
Suddenly, the unicorn Sunset Shimmer widened her eyes and gasped. "IT'S HEARTH'S WARMING EVE! IT'S HEARTH'S WARMING EVE!"
Suddenly, a guard entered the room.
"Ah, Sir Fairsalot, head of the guard," unicorn Sunset cheered. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!"
"Happy Hearth's Warming Eve to you too, Ms. Shimmer," Sir Fairsalot said. "Mame, your father sent a bunch of gifts ahead. Bring them in, guards!"
The door opened and half a dozen colts appeared with a bunch of gifts.
"Rich dad, huh," Discord asked.
"Yeah," Sunset Shimmer answered.
"Ooh," unicorn Sunset said. "I can't believe it! This is great! I can't wait to thank dad when he gets here!"
"Well, that's the bad news," Sir Fairsalot said nervously. "Something came up at your father's work. He can't make it."
"What," unicorn Sunset gasped. "On Hearth's Warming Eve?" She sighed and turned her head away. "Sir Fairsalot, lock the doors and don't let anyone in. I prefer being alone now."
"All right, Ms. Shimmer," Sir Fairsalot said. "I've got to introduce the new guard, Shining Armor, to the rest of us. I have the feeling he'll make it someday." The guards left the room.
"He was right, wasn't he," Discord asked.
"Of course, he was," Sunset Shimmer said. "You saw Shining Armor. He's head of the guard now."
"Not about Shining Armor," Discord said. "I'm talking about your father."
"Oh, right," Sunset Shimmer said. She sighed. "Yeah, my dad has been having a hard time working by himself ever since my mom... Well, it's how it's been like every Hearth's Warming Eve ever since I enrolled in Princess Celestia's school." She looked at her past self and began to tear up. "I barely got any quality time with my dad. I didn't know what to do during that time."
The past Sunset Shimmer sniffled and began to sing a song.
"If there's one thing to learn in the world
It's to never rely on anyone else
The most reliable ponies can abandon you
And you're forced to look out for yourself
Listening to your hooves when you walk
Making the only sound
Imagine how heartbreaking it must be
With no pony else around
United, we stand. Divided, we fall
Why does everyone leave me
This is the holiday for joy
So why am I not happy
Where is the dad who's there for his girl
Where can I find some love in the world
There's no one left there for meeeeeeeee"
Sunset Shimmer and Discord watched the young unicorn approached a mirror and started to sob. The present Sunset Shimmer approached her past self and sang along.
"United, we stand. Divided, we fall
Why does everyone leave me
This is the holiday for joy
So why am I not happy"
"Where is the dad who's there for his girl," Sunset Shimmer sang.
"Where can I find some love in the world," past Sunset sang.
"There's no one left there for meeeeeeeeee," both sang.
The past Sunset Shimmer covered her face with her hooves and cried. The present one almost cried too before Discord held up a box of tissues.
"Dry up, kid," Discord said. "We've got another stop to make."
"Haven't you tormented me enough," Sunset Shimmer asked.
"You're asking if I, the Spirit of Chaos, have given you enough bad moments," Discord asked. "Have you met me?"
"Just tell me there's no more," Sunset Shimmer said. "You got what you wanted."
"On the contrary," Discord said, "I said I wanted to see why you hated Christmas. Sure, this is scarring, but it's not enough. Let's go a little further in time."
The scenery changed. Instead of a castle, Canterlot High appeared. The two of them were inside Ms. Cheerilee's class room.
"Hmm," Discord said looking out the window. "The weather doesn't look like Christmas. If I didn't know any better, I'd say this is..."
"November," Sunset Shimmer gasped. "This is the end of November! Discord, do you have any idea what you've done?!"
"What's the matter," Discord asked. "Everything looks fine." He pointed at the past Sunset Shimmer sitting in her desk. "See, there you are."
"Students," Cheerilee announced. Everyone turned their attention to her. "I'd like to introduce a new student that'll be joining the class. Come on in."
The classroom door opened and a teenage boy with a black jacket and blue hair entered the class. When past Sunset saw him, she widened her eyes with a smile and rubbed her chin.
"This is Flash Sentry," Ms. Cheerilee said. "He's from out of town and he's in a band. So everyone, try to make him feel welcome."
"I get it, now," Discord said. "After class, you put the moves on him, didn't you?"
"I wouldn't say that," Sunset Shimmer said. "Okay. Yes, I invited him to dinner so I could show him around the town. We've been in a relationship since, but after a month, Flash Sentry broke it off for no reason."
"A month," Discord asked. "Hang on."
Suddenly, the scenery changed. A party was held in the Canterlot High gym. Christmas music was played and everyone was celebrating.
"Oh, no," Sunset Shimmer gasped. "YOU BROUGHT ME HERE!"
"I had to see if my suspicion was correct," Discord said. "I mean, you can't blame me if you just refuse to open up to your friends."
"You are not my friend," Sunset Shimmer snapped. "You are nothing more than a hurtful, parasitic, brain-twisting, heartless abomination who doesn't care who he hurts!"
"HEY," Discord shouted. "I am not... heartless. No need to be a Scrooge about it."
"STOP CALLING ME A SCROOGE," Sunset Shimmer said. "I AM NOT A SCROOGE! THE LAST THING I WANT IS TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS! AND NOW, THE LAST THING I NEED IS TO HAVE YOU IN MY LIFE!"
"WHAAAAT?!"
Everyone looked at where the scream was heard. Past Sunset Shimmer and Flash Sentry were standing by the punch bowl. Flash Sentry had a nervous face while past Sunset was very angry.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WANT TO END THINGS RIGHT NOW," past Sunset Shimmer shouted.
"Look, Sunset, I'm sorry," Flash Sentry said. "If you would just let me explain."
"Explain what," past Sunset Shimmer shouted, "That you're heartless!"
"It's not that at all," Flash Sentry said.
"I have given you the best month of my life," past Sunset Shimmer shouted. "I have been a wonderful girlfriend to you. I just cannot believe you're going to leave me... DURING THE HOLIDAYS!"
"I didn't say I was going to leave you," Flash said. "I just don't think we should go out anymore. We can still hang out friendly in Christmas. This break-up doesn't mean we can't be friends."
"YES, IT DOES," past Sunset Shimmer shouted angrily. "CHRISTMAS IS NEVER FRIENDLY!"
Suddenly, the past Sunset Shimmer grabbed a punch-bowl and slammed it on top of Flash's head. She then ran off while Flash's friends were drying Flash Sentry off. Discord and Sunset Shimmer watched everything.
"See what you've done," Sunset Shimmer growled. "I forgotten how much I hated Christmas and all you did was remind me."
"You didn't even hear out why Flash Sentry had to break up with you," Discord said.
"I didn't need to," Sunset Shimmer said.
"No, the old you didn't need to," Discord corrected. "If you really have changed, then maybe you can hear him out now. Look for yourself."
Sunset Shimmer saw Flash Sentry talking to his friends.
"Well, good riddance," one friend said. "I told you that you should've left her a few weeks ago."
"Flash, why did you end things with her," another friend asked.
"She wanted me to forget about you guys," Flash Sentry said. "She said that I should be paying more attention to her."
Sunset Shimmer widened her eyes and felt a heavy feeling in her chest.
"Really," the first friend asked.
"Yes," Flash Sentry said. "And that's when I realized that it may not matter what my friends think of my girlfriend, it does matter what my girlfriend thinks of my friends."
"Well, don't worry, buddy," the second friend said. "I'm sure you'll find another girl someday."
"Yeah," Flash Sentry said. "Maybe someday."
The scenery changed. The Christmas party began to fade away. In a few seconds, everything in sight was pitch black, except for Sunset Shimmer and Discord. The draconequus looked at the girl.
"Was he right," Discord asked. "Did you really ask him to leave his friends?"
"Well... yeah," Sunset Shimmer said. "But that was the old me."
"So why are you still upset about it," Discord asked. "Why are you so angry every Christmas that passed?"
"Well... I suppose it's because I don't know how to be relieved of it," Sunset Shimmer said. "How does anyone?"
"Well," Discord said. "I suppose we'll have to look at the present and find out." Without warning, the draconequus snapped his eagle claw and the two of them disappeared in a flash of light.