//------------------------------// // Hearthswarming Play // Story: Fear Me, for My Name is Twaith! // by Michael Hudson //------------------------------// “Achoo!” Twilight turned her head to the sound, having just finished putting a bowtie onto Spike, who was also in a small suit, designed by Rarity for the narrator of the play. All of the costumes had been made by the slightly overworked mare, though she kept denying that she was overworked. Now though, Twilight might have proof. She floated towards the back where her friend should be changing. “Rarity, was that you?” The white mare stretched out her neck, her normally curly mane having been straightened so as to fit her role better. She turned to the sound and saw Twilight floating there. She thought quickly, picking up her blush and waved it. “I just used a bit too much and it went up my nose. That’s all.” Twilight bit into her cheek before mentally shrugging and floating over. “I like your robe. Grandma did always like to wear earthy colors. That, or it was her excuse as to why she didn’t wear nicer things.” Rarity blinked as the wraith before her giggled, and tilted her head. “Wait, Sunset always told us you were old, but Clover the Clever was your grandma?” Twilight nodded as she landed. “Yeah, though I didn’t know her well. My mom usually liked me to keep my distance from her, even when she came to visit our little hut. She was definitely a great mage though, and one of Celestia’s closest advisors. Well, at least, until she began to go a touch off the deep end.” Rarity held a hoof up to her mouth, before swallowing hard and frowning a touch. “I’ve… I’ve always wondered about this play being true. It doesn’t include the princesses, but it includes one of their closest advisors. Not only that, but it’s supposedly the founding of Equestria. Did… did they tell this tale when you were a filly?” Twilight blinked for a few moments before looking down. “I… I don’t think so. From what I can remember, Equestria was founded by the princesses after they beat back Discord’s madness.” She rubbed her chin for a moment, watching as Rarity looked down. Soon her hooves came together and she nodded to herself. “I think I might know why though.” Rarity glanced up. “Wh-Achoo!” A hoof was almost immediately in the white mare’s face as Twilight glared. “I’ll tell you my thought, but only if you admit that you worked too hard on all of this and got a cold.” With a roll of her eyes, Rarity hid the thanks in her eyes for Twilight not realizing that her whole body felt like it was frozen; she was that warm. “Yes, the last few days have been rough, and I did catch something. The show must go on though.” Her heart spasmed slightly as she noticed Twilight’s downwards glance, and she let out a slight sigh. “I promise not to push it too hard, okay?” Twilight looked up before she pretended to scratch the back of her head. “Fine. I’ll even still tell you the thought I had.” She floated up, small figures of Celestia, Luna, and Discord appearing. “The old tale was simple and short. The two princesses, using the absolute force of harmony, fought back the chaos that had corrupted the land, and its god Discord was forced to stone, where he would never move, never cause chaos. Once the two had recovered, they went to the recovering ponies and promised them safety and harmony. The ponies agreed, and so Equestria began.” She floated back down, the figures going away. “What might be missing there?” Rarity put a hoof to her forehead, pretending to think as she checked to make sure she wasn’t getting too warm. “I suppose a sense of epicness?” Twilight cocked her head and shrugged. “That’s part of it. The other might be the lack of other ponies. Nowhere in there are the citizens of Equestria a part of their country; they were just in the right place at the right time. With your tale, it’s because of them that this country exists, and that helps ponies bond together, instead of simply worshipping the already amazing princesses.” Before Rarity could agree, Sunset poked her head through the curtains. She wore a large, platinum crown, having won the role by the simple logic of being the royal representative for Ponyville, rather than a fashionista. Her eyes narrowed at Rarity after spotting Twilight being there as well and hissed out, “Places. We go on in five.” Rarity’s eyes widened as she held up a hoof. The cowl of the robe was soon thrown over her head, and she broke into a sprint for the stage while Twilight yelled, “Break a hoof!” ======+++++====== Trixie sat beside Twilight, the two of them high above the stage as they moved into the final scene. Both were considered the effects ponies, and the whole room began to chill as Twilight’s horn glowed. At this point, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity were in an authentic ice cave, built in a matter of minutes by Twaith between acts. She had tried to say they shouldn’t, but Rarity wanted the play to be as authentic as they could get it, so she knew the three down there must be freezing. “Get your fire prepped Trixie. They’ll probably really be needing it when the time comes.” Trixie nodded, watching as the scene played out. The silence being broken, the three beginning to speak while ice came closer and closer to them. Twilight narrowed her eyes as Rarity began her first tale. Her voice was much weaker than it had been before, and she could tell that the unicorn was trembling. Her essence bristled at the sight, and she bit into her cheek. A glance came from the kitsune beside her, before Trixie’s voice slipped in between them. “When the fire comes, would you like a flash of light too? I don’t think Rarity is doing so well.” Twilight frowned as she tapped the railing in front of them. She was worried for her friend, but if they removed Rarity, it might just end up causing issues as far as the ending went. An idea formed in her mind though, and she slowly nodded. “Yeah, I would really appreciate if you did that.” The ice began to slide onto the ponies as a flame appeared between the three of them. It was Applejack who was speaking now, and she stumbled on her words as Rarity panted, her body lowering more and more with each passing line she had to whisper. As the ice touched their necks, the light of the flame became close to that of a small sun, blinding all watching. Twilight moved fast, black balls of magic attaching themselves to different parts of the hall as she grabbed Rarity and teleported them both to the back. She watched as Rarity breathed in and out for a few moments, before looking up and seeing Trixie nodded to her. Twilight nodded back, her words already chosen. The black balls in the other room sparked, and began broadcasting. “I am the spirit of the windigos. Because of your heartfelt compassion for one another, I will leave. Your lesson has been learned, and friendship restored. After so long though, I do not wish to see such a vile state return, so I have taken your pretty white mare-” Sunset grit her teeth backstage, wondering where Twilight and Rarity had gone. “-and my brothers and I will be transforming her into something that you may all rally around. Soon they will come, and soon they will help you with what may come next.” Twilight’s horn glowed one more time, and Celestia had to throw a blanket over her popcorn munching sister before everypony saw the filly princess. She smiled widely, acting like she knew this was coming, while also wishing Twilight could have warned her in any way. Twilight soon heard Spike giving the end narration, his own mind working fast enough to get out about the same message, while also acting like her speech right then was not improvised. A sigh was able to escape the wraith, and she turned to her friend who was holding onto her. Twilight nuzzled Rarity back, smiling to herself as she waited for everypony else to come to the backroom, but also enjoying the time with the fellow unicorn who was so close to her. Outside the window, a small bit of frost came over it, and a small, blue filly pointed at the wraith. A gray mare with pink hair floated outside with the windigo. No pony would recognize her for the thousand year old spirit she is, trapped here by the way she tried to leave. At least now it gaze her the warm sight of her little filly so happy. “So that’s your daughter? She's very pretty.” Ghastly Aura nodded, a spectral tear coming down her face. “Yes, yes she is. I’m… I’m just happy that she has made friends, even after my mistake.” The small filly put a hoof against Ghastly’s side, her vacant, white and ice blue eyes shining in the night. “Why don’t you go say hi?” A smile crossed Ghastly’s face as she shook her head. “No Snowdrop, I can’t. I chose what my privileges were with her when I used that stupid spell that made her into this." Snowdrop hugged the other mare tight. “If it counts for anything, she looks like the type that would forgive you.” “I know,” Ghastly spoke softly as she turned away, the voices of Twilight's friends growing louder in her ears,, “but it is not she who needs to forgive me first.” She glanced up one more time and whispered, “Happy Hearthswarming my little one, may it be happier than any I gave you in your seclusion.”