//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: The Family of the Season // by CartoonNerd12 //------------------------------// "And where are you going in such a hurry?" Sunset asked. "Back to Marendelle." Snow Pea started to go forward, but the older unicorn held her hoof out to stop her. "Whoa, there. Somehow, I don't think your parents would like that very much and just think how sad every pony would be if you weren't here on Hearth's Warming Eve." "But I'm a monster! My powers… I'm putting everyone in danger!" Sunset frowned, "Snowy, you are nothing of the sort…" She sighed, "You are no doubt aware of the story of how I suddenly became your aunt?" Snowy nodded, "Mommy said you were kidnapped when you were a baby and you had no idea you were a princess and Grandma Tia and Grandpapa's memories were stolen so they couldn't remember you… But Aunt Twilight saved you from some pony and now here you are." Sunset gave a small smile and wrapped a hoof around her, leading her to an empty room that had a balcony overlooking the kingdom. "Well, Snowy, that some pony was named Starlight Glimmer and she raised me to think my parents abandoned me…" "What?!" "Oh, yes. She told me my parents just left me in the middle of woods where she found me. Of course, I found out later that was a lie. The point is… I grew up feeling lonely… It was just me and her for a while until she hired Double Diamond, Night Glider, Sugar Belle, and Party Favor. With their company, I felt happy, but I was still forced to stay in the manor no matter what. I escaped one night with their help and that's how I met Twilight and your aunts. I didn't meet your mother until I was locked in my tower room when I sent a message asking for help." "Why are you telling me all this?" "So you can understand that isolating yourself from your loved ones is not a good idea." She started singing, "As you go through life you'll see there is so much that we… don't understand… And the only thing we know is things don't always go the way we planned… But you'll see every day that we'll never turn away when it seems all your dreams come undone… We will stand by your side filled with hope and filled with pride… We are more than we are… We are one!" she took a pause before singing out, "Family, family, we are one…" She gestured Snowy to join her and they both sang, "Family, family, we are one…" Snow Pea sang, "If there is so much I must be… Can I still just be me? The way I am…? Can I trust in my own heart? Or am I just one part… of some big plan…?" Sunset sang, "Even those who are gone are with us as we go on… Your journey has only begun… Tears of pain, tears of joy… One thing nothing can destroy… Is our pride deep inside… We are one!" They both sang, "Family, family, we are one… Family, family, we are one…" Sunset finished singing, "We are one, you and I… We are like the earth and sky… One family under the sun… All the wisdom to lead… All the courage that you need… You will find when you see… We are one!" Snow Pea gave her a confused gaze. Sunset merely smiled, "It's hard to understand now, but hopefully you'll realize how much you mean to your family… Don't think of yourself as any less… Okay?" Snowy was still unsure, but she smiled and nodded. Sunset said, "Come on. Let's go find your Grandma Tia. Maybe she has an idea of how to control your powers better." They left the room. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight took a deep breath before she knocked on the suite door and her sister answered. "Oh. It's you." "Pinkie…" "No, no. I understand that Screw Ball was better at the auditions, never mind that Cotton had worked hard all night long trying to carry on the tradition set by her mother before her." The alicorn sadly looked at her, "Oh, Pinkie, there was a reason I had to do it…" Her brow furrowed up in bewilderment, "There is?" "The advisors and I agreed that Screwy and Cotton were both good for the role, but I knew I needed Screw Ball distracted because with her powers, she could have led the kids to the Hearth's Warming gifts. It was imperative to keep her busy with a leading role in the pageant. I'm sorry I disappointed my niece like this, but I had to do it." Pinkie gave a deep sigh before she let Twilight into the room and they sat on pillows. "I was pretty upset at you… but given your explanation, I understand… Besides…" She gave a small laugh, "I could never stay mad at any of my sisters, not after all we been through…" She gave a tiny smile. Twilight returned it, "Thank you, and again, I'm really sorry, but it was necessary." Pinkie just nodded. "There's also another thing I came to talk to you about." "Yes?" "Rarity and Fancy asked Flash and me if we could perform in their Hearth's Warming Carol skit with them and they told me who their other casting choices were. They want you and Cheese to be in it, but they're not sure how to approach it after everything that's happened with Cotton…" "What kind of roles do they want us to play?" "Well, they think you should play the Ghost of Hearth's Warming Present and Cheese would be Fezziwig." "Hmm…" The pink pony pondered on this before she let out a huge smile, "I would love to! And I know Cheese would love playing his part, too!" Twilight beamed, "Thank you. I will tell Rarity that we got two new players. And if you like, we could give Cotton a role too to make up for…" Pinkie shook her head, "No, Twilight. Let her heal from this and isn't she supposed to be Screw Ball's understudy?" "True, but the chances of something happening to Screwy is very slim. You know she has her father's immune system." "Yeah, but it never hurts to be prepared." Twilight giggled, knowing how true that was. Meanwhile, most of the family was in the theatre looking over stuff in the prop room. Shining Armor and Cadence were going over boxes with their daughter's help. "What are we looking for?" Skyla asked. Cadence explained, "We're trying to find objects to go with our skit." "Right," said Shining. "From that story we read, we want to find some things that would work well for us." On the other side of the room, Rainbow was digging around with her husband and son watching until she emerged with a small black helmet and armor. "Ah-ha! Here it is! My old costume!" She blew dust off the helmet before setting it on Whirl's head. "How does it feel?" "Awesome." he smirked. Not far off, Applejack and Rarity were introducing the trio to Ra-Ra. "More sisters?" Ra-Ra glanced at her old friends. Applejack giggled, "Mom and Dad adopted them after Rare, Dash, and I presented them." "You see," started Apple Bloom, "we were just orphans working in the castle. I was a kitchen maid under AJ's care." "I was a maid for Rarity." said Sweetie Belle. "And I was Rainbow Dash's assistant with her outdoor activities." pointed Scootaloo. "Amazing…" Ra-Ra was impressed. "So you were just three maids until the King and Queen took you in as princesses, and…" She gazed at Sweetie Belle, "you eventually became a queen?" Sweetie blushed, "Long story." Ra-Ra sat herself down, "I would like to hear it." Sweetie started telling the story as Scootaloo noticed her husband and kids were going through a box she knew well. She went over to them. "I see you found my things from past Hearth's Warming Eve performances." "Did we ever." Rumble chuckled as he took out a small pink tutu, "I take it this was from that dance you told me about?" "'Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy', yes." She took the tutu and saw how much she'd grown since then. Skater gestured, "So you and Daddy are going to do ballet on stage?" Roller gazed at their dad, "Isn't that going to be girly for you?" Rumble face-hoofed while his wife guffawed away. Shining and Cadence were still looking when Skyla came across a golden harmonica and locket. She presented them to her parents. "Will these do?" Her parents stared at the objects before letting out huge grins. "They're perfect!" Cadence took them with her magic. Shining used his aura to grab the harmonica and blew into it, causing everyone around them to look. A sweet tune came out of the tiny instrument. "I didn't know you played the harmonica, Daddy." Skyla mentioned. Cadence tried to surpass a giggle, "Neither did I." "My grandpa used have a harmonica just like this. He would let me borrow it and taught me how to play it." Cadence nuzzled his head, "That's so sweet." "Could you teach me, Daddy?" "Well… I could try." He moved the harmonica close to his daughter, "Press your lips together and blow." Skyla did as he instructed and a loud screech came out, causing everyone around her to cringe, even her parents. Cadence, in a quick magical move, grabbed the harmonica away, "Okay, that's enough music lessons for today. Let's go find your grandma and watch her raise the moon." "Yay!" Skyla bounced as she left the room with her parents right behind her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celestia was in her suite with her daughter and granddaughter. As Sunset explained to her mother, Snow Pea's powers were becoming stronger and needed help in handling them right. From what the former queen of Canterlot heard from the filly's mother in the throne room, she reckoned Sunset was right. The tall alicorn faced the young filly, "Snow Pea, my darling, you are now aware that your powers come from an unusual source. The Windigos, as you know, are part of Equestrian history. They are the reason that Equestria came to be, after all. Their magic was fueled by fear, anger, and distrust. They are a force of nature and very little is known about them. Why they would choose you to harness snow and ice powers is beyond our knowledge from the time you were born." "Especially since you were born on a tropical island. You should have been gifted with tropical powers." Sunset joked, but Snowy failed to see the humor. Celestia said, "With every year that you grow, your powers will get stronger and you must tame these abilities. From now on, we shall train you to do that." Snowy's eyes widened, "You… you will?" Her grandmother smiled at her, "Of course, my darling. I remember training your Aunt Twilight, your Aunt Rarity, and even your own mother." "Really?" "Really. Because like you are now, your mother had a difficult time using the unicorn magic inside her. It took us a while, but your grandfather and I managed to help her. I bet the same can be said for you." She smiled, recalling her memories of teaching a young Sweetie Belle. At one point, she was trying to lift a broom off the floor, but it got out of control and Sombra had to duck from getting hit. "Could… could you really teach me?" Snow's eyes gleamed at the thought of being taught by her grandmother. "Of course, and I promise you will get a better handle on your gifts." Snow Pea smiled. "And I'll be helping." said Sunset as she smiled up to her mother, who returned the smile. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cotton sat alone in her room until a knock happened and a voice called out. "Cotton?" Recognizing who the voice belonged to, she scowled and yelled out, "Go away!" Twilight called back, "Cotton, please… You and Screw Ball really did a great job in the auditions. I was upset that I had to choose between the two of you, but with you as the understudy, it'll be important for you to attend rehearsals and copy every move Chancellor Puddinghead. If something happens to Screw Ball, then you'll have to go on in her place." Cotton's eyes widened to this information. There was silence as Twilight, Pinkie, and Cheese waited in anticipation to hear what the reaction would be. To their surprise, Cotton slowly opened the door and her head peeked out. "So… if Screwy can't go on stage, then… I can play Chancellor Puddinghead?" The grown-ups nodded, but Cheese quickly pointed out, "But that's only if Screw Ball gets sick or breaks her leg for real at the show." "Right," said Pinkie. "But you have to watch every move she makes in case there's ever the strangest thing that you will be needed on that stage." Cotton slowly nodded her head as she thought, There's still a chance for me after all… A smirk came on her face.