Twilight Sparkle, her sisters, Princess Cadance, and Shining Armor stepped out onto the balcony.
The queen of Canterlot tried to announce, “Hear ye! Hear-“
“FLU-GEL-HOOORRRN!”
The royals turned towards Pinkie, who was blowing her flugelhorn. She saw that they were glaring at her and she shrugged, “What? This thing is so much fun.”
After the royals rolled their eyes, Twilight cleared her throat and resumed announcing, “Hear ye! Hear ye! The royal family declares that the Crystal Faire will now commence!”
The crowd of ponies, crystal or otherwise, cheered as the Faire began.
Much of the Canterlot family volunteered to work at the booths of their choosing. Applejack and Apple Bloom gave out delicious treats such as corn-on-the-cob and crystal berry pie, and Cheese Sandwich was giving out balloons and balloon animals to the kids. Fluttershy oversaw the petting zoo while Rarity made elegant hats for the customers. Pinkie Pie acted as the Faire clown and Rainbow Dash held jousting tournaments with Scootaloo and Rumble. Fancy Pants was a judge for various contests and Twilight and Flash oversaw the whole festivity with Cadance and Shining Armor. The rest of the family took the kids around the Faire.
Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle had once been orphans before they were adopted by Celestia and Sombra. When the time came for a competition to win the prince of Marendelle’s hoof, they were obliged to participate. Sweetie Belle won, but her prize was something far more precious than a chance to become Queen of Marendelle: Prince Button Mash’s heart. Her adopted sisters got consolation prizes, though: their true loves. The colts who accompanied the three princesses on their trip won the hearts of two of them. All three couples decided to stay in Marendelle and raise their own families.
Sweetie Belle was sad that her husband was too busy to attend the Crystal Faire, but she was determined to have a good time with her two daughters, Snow Pea and Little Button. Snow Pea was the spitting image of her mother, save for the brown eyes and the French braid, and Little Button was also like their mom except for the red-brown mane and the Earth pony gene she inherited from her father. This was the first time the girls had ever attended the Crystal Faire. Little Button had no trouble having fun at the Faire, but Sweetie’s other daughter was a different story. Ever since she was born, Snow Pea had behaved every bit like the regal heir she was…maybe too much. She was afraid of socializing with other ponies her age and preferred to keep close in the company of her family. It was all because she had snow powers.
Snow Pea might’ve been born on the warm island of Marendelle, but she had magic unlike anything ever seen in a royal member of Marendelle. Her mother was the first unicorn co-ruler of the kingdom – considering that Snow Pea’s father’s side was all Earth ponies - but the heir to the throne felt like she was different…too different. Her snow and ice magic was unpredictable, so that was why she kept to herself mainly. She wanted to be like her mother, so she resolved to practice using her magic on occasion. Thanks to tutoring from her Aunt Twilight, her mother, and her grandmother, she felt just a bit more confident in her powerful abilities.
Little Button jumped up and down while she excitedly asked, “What can we do now, Mommy? Can we go on the big wheel one more time?”
Sweetie Belle chuckled, “We will, but I want to show you something first. I think you’re going to like this.”
She led her girls to the dais. The princesses’ eyes widened when they saw the Crystal Heart up close for the first time.
Snow Pea gasped, “The Crystal Heart?”
Sweetie Belle nodded as she smiled, “They say that it reflects whatever is in your heart and can show you the future.”
Little Button beamed, “Really?”
“Mm-hmm. But you know what? You always have the power to change your future.”
Snow Pea asked, “But how?”
“By changing yourself for the better.” Sweetie gave a wink, causing her eldest daughter to blush. She then ushered them, “Go on. Take a look. You might never know what you find.”
The two fillies peered into the Crystal Heart. Little Button saw herself all grown up and helping young ponies. Snow Pea, however, saw a different picture. She saw herself as an adult and taming the flurries and sleet on top of a snow-covered rise. She looked mainly like her mother, but she still retained those warm brown eyes that denoted her kind personality. What really struck Snow Pea was that there were strange, horse-like beings in the wind and that her older self looked…happy.
What were those strange beings? Were they Windigos, like the ones Snow Pea’s parents told her about? It was because of these unearthly creatures that she didn’t take much pride in her gifts. She felt like a freak, so she repressed them for as much as possible. She remembered the last time she used them out in the open…
Snow Pea had been only four and Little Button was two. She wanted to show her sister how much fun wintery stuff could be. She led Little Button outside and conjured up snow just for the two of them. They had fun for a while until Snowy decided to freeze the lagoon. However, since her magic was still in the developing stages, she only froze about half of the water. The sisters skated alongside the ice until LB accidentally slid over the edge. Thankfully, the younger sister had grabbed the edge of the ice to keep from drowning.
After hearing Little Button’s shrieks, the girls’ parents came to rescue her. They knew that it was an accident and that it was not Snow Pea’s fault, but Snowy felt like it was. The incident was not unseen by others, however. For days, the townsponies gossiped about the heir and her powers. One day, one word had reached Snow Pea’s ear: Windigo.
When she returned to the castle, Snow Pea asked her parents, “Mommy? Daddy? What’s a Windigo?”
Button Mash and Sweetie Belle exchanged nervous glances when they knew that the day had come to explain something to their daughter.
Her mother calmly said, “Windigos are creatures of the wind. They create snow and winter weather. They’re…the reason you have snow powers.”
Snow Pea’s eyes widened with shock and she asked, “Am I a Windigo?”
Button shook his head and chuckled softly, “No, sweetheart. Your powers are from the Windigos, but you are our daughter, 100% pony.”
Snow Pea took comfort in his words, but she was worried about how others would think of her from now on. Her family members were the only ones who would accept her for who she was. From that day on, she would never use her powers ever again except for training and only when she needed to.
“So, did you see anything interesting?”
The sisters and Sweetie Belle turned around in surprise to see Sunset Shimmer!
The girls both cried, “Aunt Sunny!”
The princesses ran into Sunset’s open arms and embraced her. Little Button smiled, “Aunt Sunny, I saw me all growed up!”
Sunset gasped playfully, “Did you?”
LB nodded, “Uh-huh! And I was helping little ponies like me!”
The amber mare smiled, “Well, I’m sure you will be a great princess someday.” She turned to Snow Pea and asked, “What about you, Snowy? What did you see?”
Snow Pea’s eyes flickered to the side as she stuttered, “Well…um…I was…using my powers…and I was…happy.”
Sunset knew that Snow Pea was uncomfortable with her gifts, so she said, “You don’t sound happy.”
Snow Pea hung her head for a moment before looking back up at Sunset with glistening eyes. She said, “Can’t I change my future like Mom said? I can change myself for the better. I don’t understand why I would be happy with my powers.”
Sunset sensed that Snow Pea was troubled by what she saw, so the amber unicorn went to Sweetie Belle and whispered, “Would it be okay if I took a walk with Snow Pea?”
Sweetie Belle nodded, “Of course. Besides Button and me, you’re the only pony she’ll listen to. You two share a special bond. If there’s anypony she’ll confide in, it’s you.”
“I’ll help Snow Pea in any way I can. You may be the Queen of Marendelle, but in my eyes, you’ll always be my sister.”
The adult sisters embraced before Sunset took Snow Pea in her company.
Spike and Soarin’ took Apple Jewel, Whirl Wind, and Screwball to the Twirl-a-Whirl. After a few turns, only the Pegasi colts opted to keep going on the ride. Spike, on the other hand, sent the girls to the food stand while he went to the nearest bathroom.
“Hey, y’all!” Applejack greeted them. “How were the rides?” She looked around and asked Apple Jewel, “Where is your pa, Jewel?”
Apple Jewel responded, “The Twirl-a-Whirl made him sick, so he went to the bathroom.”
Applejack chuckled, “Yep. That sounds like your pa, all right.”
Screwball sighed, “I wish mine was here.”
Apple Bloom comforted, “Gee, Screwy, I’m sorry your dad ain’t here to enjoy the Faire with ya.”
“Yeah, but he’d think that it’d be boring. Knowing Dad, he’d try to liven things up a little.”
Apple Jewel giggled, “Yeah. Most of what he does is funny. Hey, you have the same powers as he does. Can you spice up the Faire like he would?”
Applejack protested, “Whoa there, little fillies! I don’t want you causing trouble for the rest of the folks here.”
Apple Bloom pleaded, “Please, big sis? Screwball won’t cause any trouble. Let me watch her the whole time.”
Applejack knew she couldn’t refuse the now-wide and glistening eyes of the fillies and AB. She groaned, “Fine, but y’all better not make too much trouble, ya hear?”
They all nodded, “We promise!” Then, they all dashed off.
Applejack sighed, “What am I gonna do with those three?”
Pipsqueak was chaperoning Apple Butter, Roller Blade, and Skater. Apple Butter, like Snow Pea, was the spitting image of her mother, Apple Bloom. What set the filly apart, though, was the brown spot she inherited from her father. Roller Blade and Skater both inherited their coat color from their mother, Scootaloo, but RB also had her mane color while Skater’s mane was jet-black like that of her father, Rumble. The twins both had violet eyes closely resembling their father’s.
Apple Butter gasped, “Daddy! Can we go in there?”
She pointed to a purple tent with a sign that read “THE AMAZING GOLDEN MIST! HAVE YOUR FORTUNE TOLD FOR ONLY 12 BITS! SHE WILL NOT DISAPPOINT!”
This caught the twins’ attention and they turned to their uncle, pleading, “Please? Can we?”
Pipsqueak smiled, “Of course we can. They're just simple fortunes, nothing more.”
The foursome entered the dim interior of the tent. The inside was lit only by candles and a shining crystal ball. Just then, in a puff of smoke, a unicorn mare with a pale apple green coat, a luminous vivid orange mane with brilliant yellow streaks, and brilliant raspberry eyes appeared out of the mist.
She said in an entrancing and silky voice, “Greetings. I am Golden Mist, the one and only. I am here to read your fortunes and, if you desire it, show you the future. Bits first, please.”
Pip gave her exactly 12 bits per pony and Mist looked at the coins in absolute shock. She gasped, “Why…these are…marked with a royal seal!”
“I know,” Pip nodded. “I am Prince Pip.” He gestured to his daughter, “This is my daughter, Apple Butter.” Then, he gestured to the twins, “And these are my niece and nephew, Skater and Roller Blade.”
“Oh, this is a great honor, Your Highness. I never expected my tent to be graced by royalty. Perhaps the children would like to hear the wise words of Golden Mist?”
The children nodded and agreed in excitement, “I wanna see my future! I want my fortune! Will my wildest dreams come true?”
Pip calmed down the fillies and colt, “Now, now, now. Let’s see what Golden Mist can do about your requests. After all, we don’t want to burden the poor mare, do we?”
Mist sang angrily, “Don’t you disrespect me, stallion! Don’t you derogate or deride…”
She continued singing in a calmer voice, “You’re in my world now, not your world…and I got friends on the other side…”
Just then, an eerie echo sang out of nowhere, “She’s got friends on the other side…”
Mist clarified, “That’s an echo, Highnesses. Just a little something that I learned in Alexandraya, little parlor trick. Don’t worry.”
She resumed singing, “Sit down at my table…Put your minds at ease…If you relax, it will enable me to do anything I please…I can show your future…I can change it round some, too…I’ll look deep into your heart and soul…You have a strong soul, don’t you, Prince Pip? Make your wildest dreams come true…
“I got powders, I got potions, I got things I have never tried…and I got friends on the other side…”
The mysterious echo once again sang out, “She’s got friends on the other side…”
Golden Mist continued singing, “The ball, the ball, the ball will tell…the past, the present, and the future, as well…The ball, the ball, just you see…Take a little trip into your future with me…” She put her horn to the crystal ball and emitted a vivid amaranth aura until the ball responded to the glow.
She sang, “Now you, Prince Pip, were once a poor young colt…to any call for help, you’d always bolt…” She said to Pip, “I hear you’re still the same helper to this day.” She resumed singing, “You longed for a quest, but your funds were low…You then married a little princess for love instead of dough…” She told Pip, “You’re lucky to have a daughter who’s the spitting image of her mother, huh?”
Apple Butter scoffed, “Hardly.”
Golden Mist said, “That brown spot got you down? Always worrying that you will never find true love because of it? Well, little filly, I got just the answer.” She chuckled and then sang, “It’s beauty, it’s beauty, it’s beauty you need…and when I look into your future, it’s beauty that I see…”
She turned to the twins in disgust and sang, “On you, royal twins, I don’t want to waste much time…You’ve been fighting all your life…You’ve been fighting for your mother and your father and your cousins…And if you were dating, it would be just one more strife…But in your future, the two I see…are exactly the ones you always wanted to be…”
As the children left the tent in excitement, Pip turned to Golden Mist and said, “Thank you, miss. You’ve made the children very happy.”
Golden Mist then stopped him, “Oh, just before you go…” She pulled out a red crystal charm and sang, “Take this gift. Come on now, won’t you take a small, precious gift?” Pip hesitantly took the charm and wore it. A broad, malicious smile spread across Mist’s face as she continued to sing, “Yes! Are you ready?”
Suddenly, the red crystal glowed and encased Pip in its devilish aura. The prince found he could not move despite his struggles.
The echo rang out, “Are you ready?”
Mist then opened a chest as she sang, “Are you ready?” An eerie yellow green glow radiated from within the chest and the unicorn pulled out a hoofheld mirror. She continued singing, “Transformation Central!”
The echo sang, “Transformation Central!”
Just then, Golden Mist’s light raspberry irises turned green as she sang, “Reformation Central!”
“Reformation Central!”
“Transmogrification Central! Can you feel it?”
As soon as Mist held up the mirror, black smoke shot out of the mirror and surrounded Pip.
The unicorn sang, “You’re changing, you’re changing, you’re changing, all right! I hope you’re satisfied.”
The mirror then pulled the smoke into it as Mist finished, “But if you aren’t, don’t blame me…You can blame my friends on the other side!”
Mist cackled while the echo sang, “You got what you wanted!”
Another, more feminine, echo sang out, “But you lost what you had!”
Golden Mist then shushed, “Hush!”
Amidst the happy crowd of festival attendees, Sunset and Snow Pea talked amongst themselves.
Sunset asked, “So, Snow Pea, how’s your training coming along?”
Snow Pea said, “Okay, I guess. Mom, Grandma Tia, and Aunt Twilight have been helping me control my powers more.” She then sighed, “But, to be honest, I’m not even sure I want snow magic.”
“I know it may not be easy to have powers like yours, but you know what? You’re special just the way you are.” She then began to sing, “I can see it when you’re feeling low…You can’t hide that from me…You’re no roan or palomino…so why keep trying to be? ‘Cuz you’re more than that…You love dogs and cats…I wish you could see the you I see…
“I say find your spark, celebrate it…Make your mark, serenade it…All those larks should have somepony like you…And if what you are is a strange you doesn’t mean you should change you…Only means you should change your point of view…
“Niece of mine…you are just fine…To thine own self be true…Your know-how’s the cat’s meow…It’s how I know you’re you…You don’t need the bows or tiara…Bid your woes sayonara…Smell this rose or daisy before you go…
“When you tell a tale, you enchant them…Spirits sail when you help them…When you wail, we’ll help you get through your woe…There is not one hair of you that I would rearrange…I love you the way you are and that will never change…That will never change…”
Sweet Pea embraced her aunt and smiled, “Thank you for making me feel better, Aunt Sunny.”
Sunset wrapped a hoof around her niece and chuckled, “No problem, kiddo.”
“Step right up! Toss the hoop on one of these bottles! Only five bits!”
The two girls turned towards the voice and found that it came from an Earth pony in a booth. The vendor had an arctic bluish white coat, a light arctic blue mane with moderate persian blue stripes in a ponytail, and moderate raspberry eyes. She saw Sunset and Snow Pea and said cheerfully, “Hey, you two over there! How would you like to play this game of chance? Only five bits.”
Sunset asked Snow Pea, “How about it, kiddo? Should we try it?”
Snow Pea nodded, “Uh-huh.”
“Then let’s have some fun.”
The vendor shook Sunset’s hoof and said, “I’m so glad you came by today. I’m So - Uh, Sea Wave. I can guarantee you that this game of chance is 100% fair.” Secretly, she had rigged the game so that nopony would win. However, her jaw dropped when she saw the coins Sunset gave to her. She gasped, “You’re…royalty?”
Sunset nodded, “Yep. Snow Pea and me both.”
Sea Wave squealed with excitement, “EEEEE!!! Ohmigosh, ohmigosh!” She pointed to Sunset, “You’re a princess!” She then pointed to Snow Pea, “And you’re a princess! Can I please have your autograph? It would mean a lot to me!”
“Sure,” Sunset nodded. When Sea Wave pulled out a blank piece of paper and some ink, Sunset and Snow Pea inked their hooves and pressed them onto the paper. “Here you go,” she said as she gave back the paper.
Sea Wave jumped up and down as she held the autograph. She squealed, “Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Snow Pea asked, “Uh, aren’t you going to let us play the game now?”
Sea Wave cried, “Oh, right! Dumb me, getting so star-struck about two princesses. Go ahead, kid – I mean, your Highness. Take your lucky shot.”
She was afraid that the princesses would be displeased if either of them lost, so she ducked behind the curtain and activated the amulet around her neck. When the red crystal glowed, Snow Pea’s hoop successfully landed on the neck of one of the bottles.
The young princess cheered, “Woo-hoo! I won, Aunt Sunny! I won!”
Sea Wave emerged from the curtain and said, “Congratulations, little filly! And for that, you deserve a prize!” She then pulled out a dark blue-green box with a yellow question mark on it. “Here you go. One bona-fide mystery box.” She then asked Sunset, “How about one for you too, Your Highness?”
Sunset answered humbly, “Oh, well, I’m sure one mystery box is enough.”
Snow Pea pleaded, “Please, Aunt Sunny? I want you to have one like I do. I don’t want you feeling left out.”
Sunset couldn’t ignore the glistening puppy eyes Snowy now showed. She sighed and smiled, “All right. Whatever makes you happy, kid.” She offered five more bits to Sea Wave, but the vendor refused.
The Earth pony said, “Oh, you don’t have to pay twice. Consider this a freebie for the autograph you gave to me. Fire away, princess!”
“Wow, that is so generous of you! Rarity would be so proud. But you don’t have to call me ‘princess’. You can call me ‘Sunset Shimmer’ and my niece ‘Snow Pea’.”
“Of course. Whatever you say.” She ducked behind the curtain again and activated her amulet. Like Snow Pea, Sunset got a hoop on one of the bottles.
Snow Pea cheered, “Way to go, Aunt Sunny!”
The vendor then pulled out another mystery box similar to the one Snowy got. She said, “Here you are! Now you both have matching mystery boxes. Isn’t that sweet or what?”
Sunset said, “Not as sweet as your generosity. Thank you for a great time.”
As the two princesses walked away, Snowy looked back and waved, “Bye!”
Just then, the trumpets sounded. Sunset gasped delightfully, “The tribute to the Crystal Heart is about to begin! Come on, let’s go!” Both girls laughed playfully as they ran towards the dais. There, a large crowd of ponies had begun to amass.
Snow Pea grunted, “Aunt Sunny, I can’t see!”
Sunset said, “Hang on, kiddo. I’ve got an idea.” She placed the two mystery boxes on top of each other and placed Snowy on top. “There. How’s the view up there?”
“Much better! Thanks, Sunny!”
“No problem, Snowy.”
On the other side of the dais, Apple Bloom ushered Apple Jewel and Screwball amidst the large crowd. She lifted Jewel onto her head while Screwy just floated up into the air to get a better view.
Apple Jewel remarked, “Lucky.”
Princess Cadance then marched up to the Crystal Heart and announced, “Fillies and gentlecolts, thank you all for being here today. It is such a momentous opportunity to gather around the Crystal Heart and see it in pure beauty. I understand that many of you are here to see it for the first time.” She winked at her second cousins, who giggled softly. “Today, be strong for kindness, for friendship, for love. Put all the light and goodness within yourselves into the Heart.”
Every pony smiled as they thought of happiness and wonder. Within mere moments, the entire floor lit up before that light was absorbed into the Crystal Heart. The magical item then spun around rapidly until it shot a light into the palace. In turn, the castle emitted pink, yellow, and blue rays of light into the sky. The ponies all cheered when they saw the amazing spectacle.
Snow Pea was very glad to see it for the very first time. But suddenly, the warmth that radiated through her when she saw the lights turned a deep freeze. Since she had snow and ice powers, the cold didn’t bother her at all, whether it was a cool summer breeze or a cold bath. But this was different. It felt like she just dived headfirst into the coldest sea in the Arctic. She shivered and lied down on the boxes that she stood on.
Sunset noticed this and asked in concern, “Snowy? Are you all right?”
Snowy managed to shiver, “I…I don’t…kn-know…I’ve…n-n-never been this…c-c-cold before…”
Sunset put Snow Pea on her back and said, “Let’s get into the palace and get you help.”
Something strange also happened to Screwball, but not in a cold sense. A few moments after the castle emitted its radiant lights, her ears were overcome by an unearthly shrieking. It frightened and cut through her at the same time. She could barely concentrate on hovering when she put her hooves to her ears. Apple Bloom and Apple Jewel saw that Screwy was lowering herself, but they were surprised to see a look of torture on her face.
Jewel asked in a scared tone, “Screwy, are you okay?”
Apple Bloom said, “Talk to us, lil’ filly!”
But Screwball had curled up on the floor while trying to quiet the strange and scary screaming in her ears. She whimpered, “Please…Make it stop…”
AB turned to Jewel and said, “We need to get her inside!” She then grabbed Screwy and rushed both nieces into the castle.