//------------------------------// // Hearthswarming Eve // Story: Fear Me, for My Name is Twaith! // by Michael Hudson //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash set herself down just behind the little orange filly that was waiting for her. Winter had come pretty late for the town of Ponyville, but the light snow on the ground still made Rainbow stop her breathing, not wanting to ruin the surprise. Scootaloo merely kept humming though, unaware of the blue pegasus behind her. Rainbow grinned, keeping her wings spread. With one, strong wingbeat, she pushed all the snow between them forward, bowling over Scootaloo. Rainbow howled as she saw the pile of snow rustled, and Scootaloo’s tail flicked back and forth from the snow. She relented pretty quickly though, and helped her little filly get out. “Right on time squirt, just like I promised.” Scootaloo beamed at Rainbow while getting the top of her head gently rubbed. She had set up the day today, and Rainbow could remember the unbelievable excitement that she had when she said yes. Of course, nothing would have stopped her from stopping by, not when she had been busy getting ready for this year’s Hearthswarming play in Canterlot. Of course, Scootaloo’s ticket was still tucked into her primary feathers, but those didn’t matter. “So, what’s the plan? Sledding, snowball fight, what?” Scootaloo bit into her cheek as she glanced to the side. “Well, actually, if you wouldn’t mind, I was hoping that maybe you could come back to the orphanage with me. With the flu outbreak recently, the nurses haven’t been able to set up the decorations and I know you could make the whole place look awesome!” Rainbow jumped into the air, hovering with her legs crossed in what she called the old thinking position. While it didn’t sound like the funnest thing in the world, it wouldn’t be unheard of. Unfortunately, she remembered the lackluster donated lights from last year, and there was no way she was going to live with those if she was putting them up. A smile spread over her face as she nodded. “Meet me at the orphanage squirt, I need to get somepony.” Scootaloo furrowed her brow, but before she could ask, Rainbow had already taken off. ======+++++====== Rainbow lifted one of the shimmering garlands up, ignoring the frost that gave it that very shimmer. Looking out, she could see Twilight nodding, before she put the pin into the wood for it. Beside her was her little squirt, stuck inside a mess of lights that now counted Scootaloo as a part of it. Behind them were the other kids currently at the orphanage who were playing with the undead manticore. She kind of felt bad for it, as it was completely taken down by the about seven little ponies. “So, what’s next?” Rainbow gently flapped her way down, before setting herself down beside Scootaloo. “Well, lets see. We have garlands with dark frost on them, you ripped a tree right out of the Everfree,” “Was I not supposed to?” Scootaloo waved a hoof from within her entrapment. “I don’t see anything wrong with it.” “Me neither. However, I think that’s enough time in there for you Scoots. Twilight, can you help?” Twilight pointed to the tree in corner, still bare of ornamentation. “Over there, right?” Rainbow slightly nodded as she looked for the end of the cord. “Yeah, at least for this set. I just wish they were some color besides white.” Scootaloo nodded in agreement, right as a black aura came to the end right in front of her face. A choked squeal escaped the ball of plastic and fuzz as the lights shot forward, Twilight’s magic working both ends so as to get rid of the knots while they hung themselves. Rainbow watched the blinding speed of the lights, making sure to keep an eye on the orange blur that was hanging on for her life. Twilight jumped slightly when Rainbow leapt into the air, catching Scootaloo just after she was launched. The wraith let out a low whistle, before a slight touch of crimson touched her essence. “Oh, um, whoops.” Rainbow shrugged, slowly letting Scootaloo down. “I knew I could do it, don’t worry. I’m just impressed that you were able to hold on for so long squirt, good job.” Twilight smiled to herself as she watched Rainbow ruffle Scootaloo’s mane, and drifted over while the orange filly went to tell the others that they could start putting decorations onto the now glowing tree. “So, what are Scootaloo and you? Is she your…” She frowned for a moment, knowing that Rainbow was maybe ten years older than the little filly. Rainbow raised an eyebrow, before realizing what Twilight meant, and she raised a hoof as she chuckled. “Oh, no, never! Just isn’t in my plans. Nah, I’m just someone she likes to hang out with, and seeing her smile feels good, so I make sure to make time for her every now and then.” The blue pegasus gave Twilight a large grin, before realizing an odd burning sensation in her cheeks. Twilight smiled back, her tail flicking back and forth, before she tapped her muzzle. “Wait, isn’t that your excuse for usually making time for me?” Rainbow blinked again, before seeing the star for the tree, and thanking for any sort of escape from the conversation. She let her wings out, before shooting forwards and picking it up. With one bounce she came back and picked up Scootaloo, who was now holding the star. It took the little filly a few moments to figure out what was going on while the two spun around the tree, but she had it by the time they got to the top. Rainbow almost dropped the filly when she saw Twilight waiting for them. She merely smiled though, before grabbing Scootaloo by the barrel as well. Hanging between them, Scootaloo blinked. Something felt… weird. Scootaloo blinked, wondering why tears felt like they were trying to come to them. She wasn’t sad though, and no one else was. She looked from the bright green eyes of Twilight, who beamed at her once they made eye contact, to the magenta eyes she had gotten closer and closer to for the past few years Those were matched by a grin, and a tear began coming down her face. Rainbow began tilting her head, and opened her mouth. She had noticed the oddness too, and Scootaloo didn’t want to risk everything getting weird. Twilight was blissfully unaware of all of this, even when the little filly in her hooves pushed forward and almost dropped the star as it was placed. Rainbow bit into her cheek, but decided to ignore the oddity as she flew closer, nuzzling into Scootaloo’s cheek as the star sprang to life. “Happy Hearthswarming squirt.” Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief as she nuzzled back. “Happy Hearthswarming Rainbow.” For the rest of the night, the three enjoyed carols, rides on Fluffy, and games with the other foals that resided in the orphanage. Nurse Redheart came during the festivities, and was amazed at the decorations put up, though was suspect that the ice was supposedly not going to melt. At least, until Twilight waved her hoof through her face. When the night came though, Scootaloo began walking towards the front door with a long yawn. “So, I’ll see you when you get back to Ponyville?” A flap was what met her in response, and she saw Rainbow’s wing in her peripheral. Tucked between two of them were a set of papers, and she bit into her lip, before biting into the slips. Looking at them caused her jaw to go slack as Scootaloo simply stared. “And, to sweeten the deal, I can stay the night, so we can have breakfast together before going to the train.” Scootaloo spun around, her eyes shining. “R-really?” Rainbow nodded, before looking away, her tail swishing behind her. “I’ll even cuddle you, but only if you don’t tell anypony, okay?” She got no response to her question as the filly tackled her to the ground. The two of them laughed as they rolled on the ground, and Twilight watched from above. One the two were in bed though, Twilight floated to the side of the mattress, holding her hooves up as she pretended to swallow. “Um… can, can I join you two?” Rainbow thanked the darkness as a crimson blush came over her cheeks. “B-but you don’t need any sleep.” “That doesn’t mean I don’t need snuggles!” Scootaloo felt her heart almost skip a beat at the playful banter, her tail involuntarily swishing behind her as she looked between the mare she respected above any other, and the cute one that was by far the most interesting thing she had ever met. Then again, a nice wraith was pretty hard to beat. She held her hooves out. “I… I would love you to stay with us!” Rainbow stayed quiet for a moment, before taking in a deep, shaking breath. “Well, you heard the kid, but… don’t think this means anything, okay?” Twilight nuzzled against Scootaloo’s stomach before wrapping her hooves around the both of them. “Thank you Scootaloo. And Rainbow Dash, why would it? It’s not like close friends can’t snuggle all night from time to time.” Rainbow Dash thanked everything she could think of, including Discord, for Twilight’s innocence as the three went to sleep.