//------------------------------// // Chapter LI: Hearth's Warming Eve // Story: Astral Aegis // by Silvak //------------------------------// As I stared out the window, I questioned the decision that ponies should decide the day to day weather as I saw yet more snow coming from the skies. Pinkie Pie, the Apple family, and I were seated in a train as we were making out way to Pinkie's family rock farm. Apparently due to the possible that Pinkie might be a distant cousin to the Apple family, they decide that it was a good idea for both families to spend Hearth's Warming together. I was just half-listening to the story behind the holiday, eventually tuning out the discussion as I questioned the wisdom to make it snow just for a holiday, when I felt someone poking my side. Looking at the source, I saw Apple Bloom looking at me as she asked, "Hey Aether, did you have any alien holidays like Hearth's Warming?" Silence overcame our part of the train car, as everyone in our little group had their eyes shrinking as my eyelids start to lower slowly at Apple Bloom's question. Apple Bloom's innocent smile slowly faded as her eyes darted nervously from side to side. "No, there weren’t really any holidays to celebrate back from where I came from. Or, at least, there were none that those of my wealth could afford to celebrate." That caused Apple Bloom to let out an embarrassed chuckle before replying, "Oh. Sorry for bringin' that up." "Oh, don't be sorry, everyone's reactions was enough to make up for the bad memories," I countered before smirking at everyone, only for them to let out their own chuckles. "Because I really like being the center of attention in regards to my past." That stopped the chuckles as everyone just froze, while I just stared at the lot for a second before a Pinkie stick out a hoof with a muffin on it. "Chocolate muffin?" she simply said with a wary smile. I just eyed her for a moment before grabbing the muffin and stuffing it into my mouth. "Thanks mom," I simply replied after I swallowed my treat, before resuming watching the landscape through the window as everyone let out a sigh of relief. Still, it was surprising that one of the Crusaders finally asked me a personal question about my past life, though maybe they were more interested in the various alien things I knew than my own life. After our little train ride finally came to an end, we came out, greeted by Maud, before she led us to the rock farm. I had some ideas on what a rock farm would work in this world, only for it to be blown away by the sheer amount of crystals on said 'farm'. I then wondered why someone would call this a rock farm, when a crystal farm would be more appropriate. The only thing that make it seem like a ‘rock farm’ was the giant egg-shaped rock. "This place looks amazin'!" Applejack said, as the two Pie sisters were approaching the farmhouse's front door, before opening it to let out an elderly couple that I assume were my adopted grandparents. Following them was a greyish purple mare with a grey mane that had a look that... rather reminded me of myself when I looked in a mirror on one of my off days. I spotted another mare somewhat coming out of the house, one that had a grey coat and a dark grey mane, but she stopped from either nervousness or shyness before Pinkie dragged her out. "Come on, everypony! Meet my super-mega-fun-derful family! Everypony, meet everypony!" Pinkie exclaimed, as we all started to approach each other, with the exception of the mare who was evidently fairly shy, since she instead ran away from us to hide behind a crystal. Granny Smith and couple, who I overheard were called Igneous Rock Pie and Cloudy Quartz, were talking to each other when the purplish grey mare came up to Apple Bloom. "Gaze into the eyes of Limestone Pie. Ma and Pa may own this rock farm, but I keep it running. Cross me and—" the mare started to say before Pinkie got in front of her. "Aye aye, Captain Grumpy! No one's gonna mess with your precious mine!" Pinkie said as she pushed Limestone away. "Or Holder's Boulder," Limestone said as she knocked Pinkie's forelegs off her. Letting out a sigh, Pinkie zipped over to the giant rock before announcing, "Everypony stay away from Holder's Boulder." She then return to Limestone's side as she asked, "There, you happy now?" who responded by looking away. "She kinda reminds me of you when you're angry, Aether," Apple Bloom whispered to me. Giving her a look for a moment, I replied, "Gee, thanks Apple Bloom," before spotting Applejack approaching the shy mare, only for Pinkie to suddenly zipped to the mare's side. "This is Marble Pie, my baby sister who's only a few minutes younger than me, but she'll always be a baby to me, isn't that right? She's so excited to meet everypony! Oh, and she wishes you all a happy Hearth's Warming!" Pinkie exclaimed, as I tilted my head at the thought that Pinkie had a twin sister. While she told me many things about her family, or rather, our family since she adopted me, it was sort of hard to keep track of it since she only told me once and said it in a mad rush. I watched as Apple Bloom headed over to join her sister, before looking over the rest of my adopted family before I heard Pinkie letting out a whistle. "Attention!" Pinkie announced, causing me to turn my head in the direction of her voice to see her standing on top of Holder's Boulder. "What'd I say about the boulder‽" Limestone said as she rushed forward with the rest of the Pies. "I'll just be a second. Everypony get settled in! There's plenty of room upstairs. And then it's time for Hearth's Warming Eve dinner!" Pinkie declared, before I shrugged as I join everyone as we headed inside. While the Apple family went upstairs to unpack, Pinkie decided it was a good time for me to be formally introduced to the Pie family as they were preparing dinner. "So, thou is the filly that our daughter Pinkamena has adopted," Igneous said, while Quartz was working on rock soup. I hope it was just a name and not literally rock soup, else I would feel sorry for the Apple family. "Yes, I am, so that would make me your adopted granddaughter and you my adopted grandfather, right?" I replied, inwardly hope that they accept me instead of kicking me out into the cold to Pinkie's probable dismay. "I am uncertain, for thou is an alien, too, if what Pinkamena wrote to us and what Maud told to us is correct," Igneous responded, which explained to me why Limestone was giving me a stink eye while Marble was hiding behind Maud. "Um... yes it's correct? Though biologically, I'm entirely a pony, and there's no chance of me returning to my former species. Ummm... is this going to be a problem?" I asked tentatively. Instead of replying, Igneous just stared into my eyes for a moment, before finally stating, "I trust in my daughter's judgement, and hence I welcome you to the Pie family." I was about to let out a sigh of relief at the proclamation when Limestone added in, "But you better not be up to something. If one hair was harmed on Pinkie's mane, I swe—" "If someone actually harmed mom, they would be facing my wrath," I said as I interrupted Limestone, causing her to scowl at me for that before raising an eyebrow at me. "Your wrath?" "Yes, my wrath. And while I may be still a filly, I am capable of punishing ponies that dare try to harm my mom. Just go to Ponyville and ask Starlight Glimmer, she'll give you a full account on how vengeful I can be," I answered, causing everyone to stare at me before looking at Pinkie, who only let out a mild giggle. "Aether is a bit... overprotective with me," Pinkie explained, causing everyone to stare at me again. "Hey, I was an alien pony that was an adult prior to coming to this world, and I'm experiencing a more proper foalhood than the one I had before," I announced, only to be greeted with more silence, before Quartz finally spoke up. "Umm... oh, dinner is ready. Pinkamena, would thou kindly inform the Apple family that it is time for dinner?" Well, I feel sorry for the Apples for sure now, I thought to myself as I looked down at a bowl of rock soup, which consisted of a green liquid and a rock. The Apples were seated at one side of the table with the Pies on the other, with Igneous and Quartz at one end while Pinkie and Applejack was on the other. I was seated at the edge with Maud to my right and Pinkie to my left. Applejack was voicing out her family's apprehensiveness towards the meal served, while I only raised an eyebrow at Pinkie who was remaining cheerful, while she downed her meal in one go. That was when Applejack gave me a look, to which I only shrugged and down my soup in one go too, though I didn't eat the rock. It really wasn't that bad, but I guess it was terrible in Applejack's opinion, based on the look she had after drinking her soup. That only caused the rest of the Apples to look at me in surprise at how I wasn't affected by the taste. They had clearly never tried the paste. "Are you sayin' that rock is a Hearth's Warmin' doll?" Applejack asked, as we were all in the bottom of some quarry, chipping away at some rocks that we were suppose to make into our Hearth's Warming dolls. Considering that the Pies were an earth pony family, I decided to hold the pickaxe given to me in my forehooves, which raised quite a few eyebrows but no one really said anything. Sure, this would take a while for some of us, but at least we end up with dolls that have a much greater chance of long-term survival. Though, I don't think the Apple family would agree with me. Right after the doll making session, Pinkie started the game of finding some weird rock that was hidden away somewhere. Everyone was placed on teams, with the exception of Limestone who was judge and me, since Pinkie cited that the missions that I have been on in my past life would give me an overwhelming advantage. I had to agree, I was well practiced in finding my objective as fast as possible, so I could spend the rest of the time in hiding till the return portal appears. "So... how are you the judge when everyone is just trying to find the 'weird rock', Aunt Limestone?" I asked, causing Limestone to turn her grumpy face towards me. "Cause I hid the rock," Limestone explained in a gruff tone. Whelp, that tears it, if she's going to be grumpy to me, I'll be grumpy to her, I thought to myself as I scowled back at Limestone, who in turn deepened her own scowl. "What do you think you're doing?" "What do you mean?" I replied in a dry tone. "Are you trying to copy me to annoy me? You better not," Limestone answered as her glare hardens. "No, I'm not copying you. You're not the only pony with a foul temper." "Oh really? You think I have a foul temper?" Limestone shot back, her face taking on a more angry expression. "Yup, but before you get more mad, I just like to speak out my mind in a honest way. Besides, I should know about foul tempers, since a lot of folks have claimed that I'm meanest pony they’ve ever met. Though that's mostly my recruits... did mom tell you about my current career?" "She did, though I still find it hard to believe. So what do you do, tickle your 'recruits'?" Limestone asked, to which I know that she's just trying to provoke me. "Bees," I simply answered, causing Limestone to be confused. "Bees?" "Yes, bees. Where I have my recruits covered in bees while only wearing goggles, to protect their eyes," I explained, causing Limestone to recoil in horror. "Then there's throwing rocks at them, rocks that are usually my size or bigger; zapping them with lightning, to even shooting them with stunning, painful magic as an educational supplement. Need I go on?" "Okay, you're a sadistic pony," Limestone said with a roll of her eyes. "Yes, a sadistic pony that will strap anyone to a chair and torture them if they so much as make my mother, or others that I care for, feel sad," I replied. "Well, I'll give you that at least," Limestone muttered. "Hey, I would like it if I get along with the rest of my family, if you would accept me, that is," I declared, causing Limestone to looking at me with a judging look. "You don't seem to be that bad for an alien pony, and if Ma and Pa accepted you into the family, than I guess I could accept you too. But no touching Holder's Boulder, even with your magic," Limestone said as her grumpy expression soften a bit. Giving Limestone a mock salute, I replied, "Thank you for accepting me into the family, and I will follow your orders, madam," causing her to shake her head in disbelief. "You really do take after Pinkie, even if you're adopted." "I'll take that as a compliment, thank you very much." After Pinkie Pie found the rock, which was oddly a drawing of a rock, we all went to bed. Which, in my case consisted of me going to bed with all the Pie sisters, where I ended up being hugged by Pinkie Pie like the first night I spent with her, to Limestone's amusement. In the morning, Pinkie jumped out of bed with so much joy that I ended up hitting my head in the ceiling. Which also included my horn, resulting in it being comically stuck in the ceiling for a bit, before Maud pulled me down, since Pinkie ran off to wake the others before noticing my predicament. However, her joy came to a screeching halt when we came outside to see the farm covered in decorations that reminded me of the ones at Ponyville. Apparently this was Applejack's plan when she declared that we're having Hearth's Warming, 'Apple family-styled'. The Pies were less pleased though. "Pinkamena Diane Pie! Truly thou cannot favor this madness!" Igneous said. "Well, I wanna be one big family!" Pinkie replied, looking conflicted that bothered me deeply, though I couldn't do a thing since this was a family issue. "But what about what we usually do‽" Limestone respond, more angry than usual. "I, um, well, I-I don't know!" Pinkie cried out, tears coming to her eyes. "Don't make me choose!" she said before actually starting to cry. Applejack was starting to show regret for her actions, though she seem to want to go along with her plan when she explained, "I didn't mean to cause a fuss... Why don't we just open presents around the flag pole? It'll be fun, you'll see!" "Excuse me. You planted your pole on a fault line," Maud declared as she was inspecting the flag pole, when suddenly a crack appeared from it, spreading right over to Holder's Boulder. To our mutual shock, mine included, we watched crack cause the land to break apart, which led to the boulder falling off the cliff side. The entire Pie family, me included again, went over to edge to see that the boulder had landed at the bottom of the quarry. After the sight, I think Limestone voiced out what most of the Pie family was thinking. "Nooooooooooooooo!" Off behind us, I could hear something else breaking and falling down, before Applejack croaked out, "Oh boy."