Diamond Tiara is kidnapped by Krampus. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon must save her.
Diamond Tiara has been redeemed in the eyes of the fillies and colts of Ponyville, but there is someone else that isn't so forgiving. Krampus, the evil punisher of naughty ponies during Hearths Warming, has come to whisk Diamond Tiara away to Tartarus and only Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon can rescue her.
It was three days till Hearths Warming Eve and four young fillies were riding back from the train station having just seen their friend off to the Pie rock farm with her family.
"I really wish Apple Bloom could have stayed here for Hearths Warming," said Scootaloo her little wings buzzing and creating a chill wind behind her as she sped to Sugarcube Corner. "It's going to be kinda boring without the big Apple party this year"
"You've got a point Scoots," said Sweetie Belle her scarf flapping in the breeze as they sped through the town. "But, you know that there will be plenty of fun at my house. You are still coming over for dinner tonight, right?"
"Yeah, me and my family wouldn't miss it," said Scootaloo. "It was really nice of Apple Bloom to give us these gift certificates to Sugarcube Corner. I can't wait to get a triple peppermint dark chocolate hot chocolate with extra sprinkles and whipped cream. What about you guys?"
"I'm going to get a cherry-changa sundae with extra syrup," said Diamond Tiara. "What about you Spoon?"
It had been about a month since Diamond had realized the error of her ways and decided to try helping others rather than just looking out for herself. There had been some strained dinners that first week after she had stood up to her mother, but eventually Spoiled Rich noticed her daughter was genuinely happy for once. So she decided that if her daughter wanted to mingle with the, what she saw as, inferior masses than far be it from her to get in the way of her daughter’s choices. Now Diamond was finally starting to make friends with the other students at Ponyville Elementary. Everypony seemed to really be enjoying the new and improved Diamond Tiara and her grades had even begun to come up a bit.
"I think that sounds like a great idea. I'm going to go with that too" said Silver Spoon her silver braid wrapping around her front as the four finally stopped in front of the famous confectionery wonderland.
The cupcake that sat at the top had been wrapped in green and red lights that made it look like sprinkles were covering it. The posts were wrapped in what appeared to be edible wrapping paper, making them look like two giant candy-canes were holding up the roof.
As the four fillies walked in they were surprised to see almost the entire town inside the bakery. Flapping her wings to try gain elevation above the sea of ponies and see what was happening at the counter, Scootaloo saw Mr. and Mrs. Cake were frantically writing down orders and bustling in and out of the back room. She watched as Mr. Cake would walk into the kitchen with a stack of orders and come out a few minutes later carrying several varying types of sweets or drinks. He would then place the foodstuffs down on the counter and turn right around and, taking the next stack of orders from his wife would repeat the whole process over again.
“What’s it look like?” asked Sweetie Belle once Scootaloo landed back down.
“The entire place is packed,” Scootaloo responded. “What’s going on? It’s not that chilly outside”
Suddenly a voice called out from above them: “It’s Pinkie Pie’s fault. She gave everypony in town a gift card
The fillies looked up and saw Rainbow Dash hovering above the sea of ponies. She was dressed in a Santa Hooves coat with matching hat. She even had a beard over her muzzle which clashed horribly with her blue coat and rainbow mane. Scootaloo saw her idol and almost busted up laughing.
“Watch it squirt,” Rainbow said threateningly. “I could say that you four are here to take over from us if you don’t watch it”
The fillies looked around and noticed all of Rainbow’s friends, minus Pinkie and Applejack, were walking through the shop dressed in some kind of holiday outfit each carrying trays of sweets to the tables. Rarity was dressed as Mrs. Hooves, while Fluttershy and Twilight were dressed as reindeer. Looking through the legs of the customers they saw Spike was dressed as an elf.
“I’m honestly surprised that Rarity is letting you walk around wearing that outfit Rainbow,” said Sweetie Belle looking at her sister carry over a tray of some kind of hot drink to a table where Lyra and Bon-bon sat.
Sweetie Belle looked back at the polychromatic Pegasus. “I thought she would never let a friend make such a horrible fashion choice.”
“I only allow such horrible clashing of colors when I’m the one who made them. Besides Rainbow won the drawing for who got to be Santa Hooves this year,” Rarity said while walking over to the group by the door having heard her name and seeing her sister and her friends. “You should really know me better than that dear Sweetie Belle.”
“What do you mean ‘It’s Pinkie Pie’s fault’?” asked Silver Spoon nervously. “And what are you all doing here?” She and Diamond felt a little out of place whenever their friends’ sisters would show up, considering how much hurt they had caused the Crusaders.
“Since she has to go back to the rock farm this year, she gave everypony in town a gift card for the shop and they all decided to use them today” Rainbow said. “Of course, the fact that Pinkie gave them out today before she left and that they expire tonight might have something to do with this mad rush”
“They always help out at the shop during the Hearths Warming season,” explained Sweetie Belle. “When we first formed the Crusaders we tried to help out. I think there are still some burn marks in the kitchen that Mr. Cake hasn’t been able to get rid of yet”
“Honestly, I’m relieved that you three finally got your Cutie Marks,” Rarity chuckled. “Now you won’t be going all over town destroying everything in sight trying to make them appear, and I don’t have to pay for damages anymore”
“I hear that Rarity,” Rainbow said. “Anyway, what do you four want to eat?”
After the fillies had given their order and cards they walked over to an empty table. In no time at all, Twilight walked over with their treats.
“Triple peppermint dark chocolate hot chocolate with extra sprinkles and whipped cream?” Twilight asked lifting the chocolate indulgence of the tray with her magic.
“Here” said Scootaloo licking her lips at the sight of the whipped cream and sprinkles.
“Two Cherry-changa sundaes with extra sauce?” Twilight said next.
“Those are for me and Spoon, Princess Twilight” said Diamond Tiara. She had heard the story of how the treat had come into being but had never tried one.
“You can just call me Twilight, you know,” Twilight said as she placed the treats down in front of the two earth ponies. “Then the large Frosted Cinnamon Roll milkshake must be for you Sweetie Belle?”
“Yep,” Sweetie Belle chirped. Ignoring the weird looks her friends gave her for ordering something cold, she said “This is so nice that we can all be together and enjoy a treat”
The others agreed with her and dug into their respective sweets.
After they had finished and Fluttershy had come by and deposited their dishes in the tray the four ponies walked out into the cold winter air.
Silver Spoon shivered “How long were we in there? It feels like it’s minus ten degrees”
“I’m not sure Spoon,” said Scootaloo clicking her helmet in place. “Do you girls want a ride home? It’s on the way to Sweetie’s house”
“Sure, thanks for the offer Scootaloo” said Diamond Tiara.
After the others had loaded into the wagon attached to the back of her scooter, Scootaloo took off. She didn’t go as fast as before because she had heard from Rainbow that if you work too hard after having a lot of sugar you could end up falling asleep and she definitely didn’t want that to happen tonight. Sweetie Belle’s family’s parties were always exciting and lots of fun. Approximately ten minutes later she stopped in front of the Rich mansion. Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara climbed off the wagon and said their goodbyes.
“We should get together tomorrow and go Hearths shopping,” suggested Diamond Tiara. “How about at 10:00 we meet in the square?”
Everypony agreed to that so she and Spoon walked towards her house and the party that was most likely already taking place inside. Tiara never really enjoyed her parent’s parties for the guests but she found it more enjoyable to sit with Silver Spoon, watching and laughing at all the high society wannabes who would cozy up to her parents.
When the two earth ponies had gone inside, Scootaloo started up her wings and took off towards Sweetie’s house. After another five minutes she arrived in front of the two story house.
“This is going to be so exciting,” Sweetie Belle said as they walked in through her front door. “My mom says that she invited all of my sister’s friends and that Twilight has a special surprise for the two of us.”
After about twenty minutes, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and all the others walked into the living room. They had all taken off their outfits and were chatting about the day.
“Did you see how many ciders Berry Punch ordered?” Rainbow Dash was saying. “I mean, I love cider as much as the next pony…ok more than the next pony, but come on! I’m surprised she was able to stay awake after her 10th one”
“Now, now, Rainbow Dash,” chided Rarity. “If you seriously think we would continue to feed Berry Punch’s habit of getting drunker than a griffon on a bender, you seriously don’t know the Cakes as well as you think. There was not a drop of alcohol in any of those ciders”
“Oh,” said Rainbow Dash. “Well that’s better. At least she won’t get so drunk she forgets she’s an earth pony and try to fly by leaping off the roof of gazebo”
Rarity and Sweetie Belle’s parents came out of the kitchen carrying trays of food.
“Alright everypony,” Twilight said. “I’m going to tell you all, and particularly you Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, a scary Hearths Warming story”
Twilight’s horn glowed with magic as she snuffed out all the candles and dim the lights in the room. While she did this, Rarity pointed her horn, which began to glow with a blue light, at the fireplace and with a whoosh a fire started burning.
“This is the story of Krampus” Twilight said scarily.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo shivered at the change in Twilight’s voice. They never did enjoy scary stories, especially the ones that Rainbow had told during the campout at Winsome Falls. After the camping trip, Scootaloo had admitted to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle that she was terrified of the Olden Pony and Headless Horse. But it had been through those stories, and some help from Princess Luna, that she had finally gained a sister in Rainbow Dash. However they were still scared of scary stories.
“Over a thousand years ago,” Twilight began, “Nightmare Moon was banished, causing Celestia to create the E.U.P guard to help maintain peace and harmony in Equestria.”
Rainbow Dash and Rarity walked over and sat next to the Crusaders. Rainbow put an arm around Scootaloo and drew her close, while Rarity did the same to Sweetie Belle. Both fillies nestled into their sister’s coats and continued listening to Twilight’s story.
“One of the main duties of the E.U.P,” Twilight continued, “was to maintain the gate to Tartarus, which held the greatest enemies to harmony ever. One such enemy was a satyr who was sealed hundreds of years earlier by Starswirl the Bearded. The satyr was banished to Tartarus for abducting hundreds and hundreds of young colts and fillies. His name was Krampus”
As Twilight told the story her horn began to glow and a viewing screen appeared on the coffee table in the center of the room. The screen depicted the banishing of Nightmare Moon and the assumption of control over both the Sun and the Moon by Celestia. Sweetie Belle recognized the scene from the book Twilight had shown the Crusaders during their studies with her. The next image showed the gates of Tartarus, which appeared to be made of black stone topped with glowing black orbs. From these orbs, tendrils of magic came out and connected, forming a portal through which the land of Tartarus was visible. Standing by the pillars was Cerberus, the guard dog of the prison world.
“Krampus, you see, was a result of the magic that gave Santa Hooves immortality. Since he was connected to Santa Hooves, Krampus shared the characteristics we attribute to the jolly old pony, including the ability to see all the foals in the entire world, and to know if they were misbehaving or not. However, Krampus and Santa Hooves differed in how they dealt with good and bad foals. Santa Hooves would simply not visit the naughty ponies and only bring presents to the good ones. But Krampus…”
A picture of Starswirl the Bearded and Santa Hooves appeared on the table, then changing to the image of a satyr. The image displayed what appeared to be a six foot tall satyr not counting the horns. The horns looked to be about eighteen inches in length and they protruded from the side of his head just above the ears. The body of Krampus was covered in black, coarse hair. He had six inch long fangs and a red tongue.
“Krampus would steal the foals who had not been visited by Santa Hooves and take them to his castle far in the north of Equestria, near the border with Yakyakistan. There he would make them do all kinds of chores and punish any who tried to escape”
The image changed again to show a stone castle with high walls surrounded by snowy mountains and next to a large frozen lake. As the ponies gathered continued to watch the image, they saw a large sleigh come flying across the lake. It was pulled by eight deer-like creatures that all wore wooden masks with gruesome expressions on them. In the front of the sleigh sat Krampus, a large whip in his hand with which he would urge the deer onward toward his castle. As the sleigh entered a cave at the base of the castle the image changed to a long line of colts and fillies, chains around their necks and legs, all marching through a large dark corridor.
“Krampus kept all the fillies and colts until their cutie marks appeared. Then he would enjoy a feast made up of the young ponies. Those who he took that already had their marks, he would just eat. Starswirl knew he had to stop this monster before every filly and colt could be taken and eventually eaten. So he traveled to Krampus’s castle and tried to capture the monster. Starswirl was able to overcome the satyr and banished Krampus to Tartarus for his crimes”
The image now showed Starswirl approaching Krampus’s castle. The next image showed Krampus fighting with Starswirl and finally Starswirl chaining Krampus and hurling the satyr through the portal of Tartarus.
“Krampus is still there, dreaming of the day where he’ll finally escape and continue punishing all the bad fillies and colts,” Twilight concluded, “so remember, be good or else Krampus may come for you!”
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle each felt a touch on her shoulder and turned to see who it was. Standing right behind the couch on which they sat were two tall robed and hooded figures. The fillies could see protrusions from the top of the hoods like horns. The hands were clawed like Spike’s but the nails were much too long for a baby dragon. Scooaloo and Sweetie Belle both screamed at the tops of their lungs.
“AAAAHHHHH,” they yelled, “Krampus! We’ll be good, Krampus! Please don’t eat us!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both let go of their sisters and clung instead to each other.
Suddenly the lights came back on and revealed that the two figures were in fact ponies standing on their back legs. The two removed their hoods and the fillies saw that what they had taken to be horns turned out to actually be used rolls of paper towels. Then the fillies recognized the two that had scared them almost too death. It was their fathers. Everypony busted up laughing at the fillies reaction, everypony that was, except the fillies in question.
“You almost gave me a heart attack, Dad” Scootaloo said glaring at her father, Ice Maker.
“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle fumed, “you know how much we dislike scary stories. What was the point of all this?”
“Well Sweetie,” chuckled Magnum, “it’s a tradition to tell this story to young ponies on the first Hearths Warming after they earn their cutie marks”
“Yeah, squirt,” Rainbow said pulling Scootaloo into a hug and giving her a noogie, “We all heard this story from our parents and we decided that it would be fun to tell it to you two together”
“Gyahh,” Scootaloo groaned trying to escape the older pegasus’s attack, “Does everypony tell this story?”
“Almost,” Twilight chimed in, “the basic story is the same but there are some discrepancies depending on who tells it. In some stories, Krampus leaves behind a lump of coal at the houses he visits and in others he just gives the parents a list of all the foals’ wrongdoings and he lets the parents punish the foal”
“It’s designed as a warning to colts and fillies to make sure they behave throughout the year,” Rarity explained, “years ago, ponies used to dress up as Krampus and run through towns scaring little foals, but Celestia put a stop to that practice when it started causing youngsters to start having horrible nightmares”
“So it’s not real?” asked Scootaloo.
“Nope,” Rainbow said, “and besides, just like I told you that night in Whitetail Woods, if there really was a Krampus, I could totally take it on”
Rainbow huffed on her hoof and rubbed it on her chest as if she was polishing something. The others rolled their eyes and smiled at their friend’s show of bravado.
“Now that the story is out of the way,” Magnum said, “let’s eat”
Everypony agreed with this and they all walked into the kitchen. Inside the kitchen MayBelle and Skater Rink, Sweetie Belle's and Scootaloo's respective mothers, had been hard at work making food for all the guests while Twilight had been telling the story. They had a large selection of food to choose from, including Equestrian pancakes, hay burgers, and hearths cake.
After they had eaten, they sang some Hearth Warming songs around the fire. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle blushed when Rarity and Rainbow raised their mugs of Sweet Apple Acres cider and said, “To Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. We are all immensely proud of you both for discovering your talents. We hope you remember to always look at the good in others and remember that we're proud of you both”
After they had all toasted the two young fillies, the party ended. Scootaloo’s parents kissed her goodnight and left the party having been talked into letting their daughter spend the night at Sweetie’s house. They were soon followed by Twilight, Rainbow and all the rest.
“My goodness, look at the time. Alright you two,” said MayBelle, “it’s time for good little fillies to be in bed”
MayBelle and Magnum kissed their youngest daughter and sent them upstairs to bed. After Sweetie’s bedroom door closed, Magnum and MayBelle began cleaning up the kitchen. Thankfully, they had had the foresight to use paper plates and cups so they just had to throw trash away. Magnum lifted the full trash bag out of the can and carried it outside. As he placed the bag in the trash can, Magnum didn’t notice the massive sleigh that flew across the night sky on its way towards the heart of Ponyville.
Sunlight streamed into Sweetie Belle’s room, momentarily blinding the two fillies as they rubbed their eyes. Once their eyes had adjusted to the light, they heard Sweetie Belle’s mother calling for them.
“Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, come on you two slowpokes,” MayBelle called, “your breakfast is getting cold. It’s your favorite Sweetie, haycakes”
Upon hearing that their favorite breakfast food was waiting for them, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle tore out of the room and down the stairs. The two fillies sped past Magnum, on his way to get cleaned up after breakfast, and entered the kitchen at a full gallop.
“Whoa,” chuckled Magnum, “I guess some ponies didn’t get enough to eat last night. You two should be careful or Krampus might decide that two little fillies don’t need any more fattening up”
The two fillies didn’t hear him, being already absorbed in making their haycakes so sugary that even Pinkie Pie would only be able to eat a bite or two. As they ate MayBelle cleaned up the kitchen.
“So,” Maybelle asked as she put the frying pan away, “what are your plans for today girls?”
“We’re going to meet up with Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara and do some Hearths Warming shopping” Sweetie Belle explained, her mouth full of haycake and maple syrup.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, young filly,” said MayBelle reproachfully, “but I am glad you two as well as Apple Bloom have been able to bury the hatchet, you could say, with those two”
“Yeah, we just never actually bothered to find out why Diamond Tiara was so mean to us,” Scootaloo stated, “it was just because her mother taught her to always think about improving her social status. Silver Spoon just felt sorry for her. That’s why she always went along with Tiara”
“Well, I’m still proud of you both” MayBelle said turning to lift the plates the fillies had been eating from, “what time are you meeting them?”
“Around 10:00,” said Sweetie Bell, “we’ve got plenty of time, don’t we?”
Scootaloo glanced at the clock hanging above the sink.
“Not really,” Scootaloo said slowly, “It’s already a quarter to ten! We gotta get going”
“Horseapples!” Sweetie exclaimed.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo jumped down from the table and ran into the hall, threw on their scarves, and threw the door open.
“Thanks for breakfast mom” Sweetie Belle called as she jumped into the wagon behind Scootaloo’s scooter. Scootaloo hopped onto the scooter, clipped on her helmet, and started up her wings. With a buzz, the two fillies tore out of the yard and took off towards Ponyville square.
“Those two are always in such a hurry, aren’t they dear?” asked MayBelle her husband as she came into the living room with two cups of coffee.
“When you’re young, you think there’s all the time in Equestria to smell the roses later” Magnum responded taking one of the cups and taking a sip.
Scootaloo sped through Ponyville, she wove in and around the buildings on the route she had chosen from Sweetie’s house to the square, narrowly avoiding the denizens of the town. Thankfully, most ponies knew the sound of Scootaloo’s wings by heart and were able to dive out of the way just in time to prevent being mowed over by the little orange Pegasus.
A few minutes later, Scootaloo ceased her buzzing and came to a stop in the center of Ponyville square.
“10 seconds flat” Scootaloo smirked, imitating one of Rainbow Dash’s catchphrases.
“Not quite, Scootaloo,” Sweetie Belle said, shaking her head at her friend’s obsession with Rainbow Dash, “do you see Silver Spoon or Diamond Tiara anywhere?” The square was filled with ponies of all kinds walking in and out of stores and carrying bags filled with presents. There was a group of young fillies and colts with their muzzles pressed against the glass of a toy shop, ogling the toys within.
“There’s Silver Spoon,” said Scootaloo, pointing towards where the silver earth pony sat on one of the many benches around the square. Silver Spoon waved, climbed down, and started walking over to them, “I don’t see Tiara anywhere though”
“Maybe she’s running a little late,” Sweetie Belle suggested as Silver Spoon approached, “hey Spoon, have you seen Diamond today?”
“No,” Silver Spoon answered, “I saw her last night at her parents Hearths Warming party and we agreed she would come over to my house before we came to meet you girls, but she never came over. I’m a little worried honestly”
“We can head over there and see if she’s just running a little behind or if she got sick last night” Sweetie Belle suggested.
“Sounds like a good idea,” Scootaloo said handing Silver Spoon a helmet, “hop on and we’ll go check it out together”
The three fillies hopped onto the scooter-wagon and Scootaloo drove out of Ponyville square. As they approached the Rich mansion, the three fillies noticed a large collection of police ponies were milling around the house, taking pictures and talking with the staff. They noticed Filthy Rich, Diamond’s father, was talking with what appeared to be the head police pony.
As they came up they heard him say “No, I don’t have any business enemies or ponies of a less than scrupulous nature that would take her. I always do my business legally and without causing any harm to others”
“Well if you think of anything, please let us know” the officer, a light brown earth pony with a sandy mane, said.
“Mr. Rich,” Silver Spoon said, as the police pony walked away to meet with the other officers, “What happened here? Did something happen to Diamond Tiara?”
“Oh, hello Silver Spoon” Filthy Rich said turning to the three fillies, “yes, I’m afraid something has happened to Diamond Tiara. It seems she’s been foalnapped”
“WHAT!?” exclaimed the three fillies loudly.
“Yes, it seems that after she went to bed, somepony broke in and abducted her from her bed,” Filthy said, close to tears, “the only clue they found was a lump of coal on the floor of her room” Sweetie Belle’s ears perked up at this, “they’re taking it in to be analyzed to try and find out where it might have come from”
“Let us know if there’s anything we can do, sir” said Sweetie Belle
The three fillies turned and walked back towards Scootaloo’s scooter. Once they were outside of the gates, Sweetie Belle turned to the other two and said, “I think I know who took Tiara”
“Who, and why didn’t you say anything?” Scootaloo and Silver Spoon asked her.
“Because, I don’t think any adults will believe me,” Sweetie Belle said. She took a deep breath and said, “I think it was the satyr creature we heard about last night, Scoots. I think it was Krampus”
Scootaloo and Silver Spoon looked at her as if Parasprites had just flown out of her ears.
Meanwhile, several hundred miles away, beyond the reaches of the Crystal Empire, a massive sleigh flew across a frozen lake. In the front, holding the reins in one clawed hand, was a large satyr. Every few seconds he would crack the large black whip he held in his other hand at the creatures pulling his sleigh, urging them on faster and faster towards his fortress. In back of the sleigh was a large bag, and inside the bag was a very scared little filly.
Diamond Tiara had gone to bed the night before with the plan to wake up around 8:00 the next morning. Around 11 pm, she had been awoken by a jingling and scratching noise that seemed to be coming from just outside her window. Thinking it was a cat that had gotten stuck up a tree, Tiara had climbed out of bed and walked over to the window to take a look. She glanced outside and, upon not seeing anything in the trees or on the snow covered ground outside her window, had turned around to head back to bed. That was when she heard the jingling and scratching again. Resolving to find out what was making the noise she turned around again.
There, on the windowsill, lit up by the light of the moon, was a satyr. It stood watching her with large red eyes that seemed to glow like embers. It was wearing a large red coat with several bells on it. Diamond realized that this was what had been causing the jingling noise.
“Who are you?” she had asked, “what do you want?”
The satyr lifted its clawed hand and pointed straight at her.
“I want you” it said in a deep threatening voice, grinning with a mouth full of sharp, pointy teeth. Suddenly it was standing right in front of her, inside her room.
Diamond Tiara had tried to scream, but the satyr grabbed ahold of her and tossed her into its sack. With a cackle, the satyr turned and leaped through the window, onto the sled that was just below the window, and tossed the sack into the back of the sleigh. Tiara then heard the crack of a whip and the next thing she knew she had felt the sleigh start to move.
“What are you going to do to me?” Tiara remembered asking, to which the satyr had responded, along with another cackle,
“Why, my sweet little filly, I’m going to eat you”
Reeling from this terrible revelation, Diamond Tiara blacked out.
Scootaloo and Silver Spoon both started laughing at Sweetie Belle’s suggestion. Sweetie Belle stood there waiting patiently for her friends to stop chuckling.
“You really believe that old mare’s tale about the evil stealer of foals?” chuckled Silver Spoon, “I heard that scary story last year and calling it scary is being more generous than your sister, Sweetie”
“Yeah,” said Scootaloo, finally getting her laughter under control, “They told us last night that it wasn’t real”
“They also said that the Krampus would sometimes leave a piece of coal,” said Sweetie Belle, “and that he visits the naughty ponies before Santa Hooves. Both of those things happened here, and well, and don’t take this the wrong way Spoons,” Sweetie looked at the grey earth pony, “Diamond Tiara hasn’t exactly been good, at least until a couple of months ago”
“Yeah, but she’s different now,” Scootaloo said, “she hasn’t been mean since then. Why would something like Krampus come and take her away?”
“Maybe because he’s escaped from Tartarus and since she was mean for a long time before that, he’s doing what he thinks is best” Silver Spoon suggested.
“That could be it,” Sweetie Belle said, “remember Tirek? He escaped when Cerberus got loose and it took him a couple of years before he could begin causing trouble. Maybe the same thing happened with Krampus”
“If that’s so then what will happen to Diamond Tiara?” Scootaloo asked, “according to the story, Krampus eats the fillies and colts he takes that already have their cutie marks”
“Then that means Krampus is going to eat her!” exclaimed Silver Spoon.
Diamond Tiara came awake with a jolt. She was laying on a cold floor made of what appeared to be stone. The walls were also made of stone except for one wall which was taken up by rows of bars from floor to ceiling. Near the top of the opposite wall was a small window with bars on it as well. Light was shining through it down into her cell. She suddenly remembered being taken by that satyr and fainting when it said it was going to eat her but she guessed that must have been hours ago judging by the amount of light streaming in.
“Where in Equestria am I?” she asked nothing in particular.
You’re in a cell in Krampus’s castle” came a voice from outside her bars.
Diamond Tiara jumped at the strange voice. Looking around she glanced through the bars and saw that there was another cell across from her. Inside sat a young Pegasus colt. He appeared to be about the same age as her. His coat was a light grey color with a blue mane. His cutie mark was of a miniature tornado.
“Who are you?” asked Diamond Tiara, “Where did you say we were?”
“My name’s Dust Devil,” said the young colt, “I’m from Manehatten, and you’re in Krampus’s castle. Didn’t you ever hear of Krampus?”
Diamond Tiara remembered the story her parents had told her and Silver Spoon last year about the creature who would steal and punish naughty ponies. They had laughed it off then because they thought it was just something her parents had made up. Now, she was forced to acknowledge that her parents didn’t make it up. There really was a creature who would steal and eat the naughty ponies in Equestria, and he had taken her.
“What’s going to happen to us?” Diamond asked Dust Devil.
“What do you think's going to happen?” Dust Devil sneered, “He’s going to cook us up and eat us! Hopefully he’ll start with you and be too full to worry about me”
“Are you calling me fat?” Diamond Tiara snarled.
“No,” said Dust Devil, leering at her, “that would be an insult to fat ponies. At first I thought Krampus made a mistake and foalnapped a little piggy instead”
“Leave her alone, Dust Devil,” came another voice from the left wall of Tiara’s cell, “from what you told me before this little filly arrived, your teasing is what got you here in the first place”
“Who are you?” Diamond Tiara asked, “What did you do to get taken?”
“Name’s Windy Night,” came the voice, “don’t mind Dust Devil. He just acts like that because he’s scared. I’m from Clousdale. I guess I’m here because I’ve always ignored my parents. A couple of nights ago, we were supposed to go to the Hearths carol but I snuck out of my house to visit my coltfriend. That was when Krampus took me”
“How old are you two?” Diamond Tiara asked.
Dust Devil huffed, crossed his arms, and looked away from her. Windy Night answered for him.
“He’s ten years old. I’m 15,” she answered, “How old are you?”
“Nine,” Tiara said, “My name’s Diamond Tiara. I’m from Ponyville”
“Ponyville, eh?” Windy Night said, “That means you must know Princess Twilight”
“Yeah, some of my friends are sisters of her friends,” Diamond Tiara said thinking about her new friends.
“So,” said Scootaloo, “all we’ve got to do is travel farther north than anypony has been, break into an evil satyr’s castle, rescue Diamond Tiara before she gets eaten, and hightail it home before Krampus catches and eats all four of us. Did I leave anything out?”
The three of them were sitting in the crusaders' clubhouse discussing what they were going to do. They had all simultaneously agreed to check out Sweetie’s idea and try to figure out what happened to Diamond Tiara. They knew they had to act fast, because Diamond Tiara’s disappearance wouldn’t stay secret for long. Once it came out that she had vanished, no parent in Ponyville would let them out of their sight.
“That’s about it,” Sweetie Belle said, “That sounds pretty easy, honestly”
“Are you serious?” Silver Spoon asked, shocked at the unicorn’s sense of simplicity, “What exactly are you saying will be easy? The traveling? Or maybe it’s the breaking in? No, I know, it’s the escape”
“We’ll figure that stuff out when we get there,” Sweetie Belle said nonchalantly, “right now I’m more worried about what our parents are going to say. We can’t just say we’re going to an evil satyr’s castle and ask if there’s anything they want us to bring back”
“True, although,” Scootaloo said, her face lighting up with an idea, “we could use that as an excuse for not being home at a reasonable hour. We could say that we’re playing Krampus and that we’re going to spend the night in the clubhouse”
“Hey, that’s a great idea Scoots,” said Sweetie Belle, “but, instead we’ll be traveling north and rescuing Tiara before Hearths Warming”
“So, we’ll all meet at the train station in an hour,” Scootaloo said confidently, “and then we’ll be off to save Tiara from the evil clutches of the Krampus”
“Well,” said Windy Night from her cell, “you were definitely a mean little filly, weren’t you, Tiara?”
It was night. Diamond Tiara had just finished telling the two Pegasi all the horrible things she’d done to her fellow classmates. She had felt, since the others had shared why they had been taken, she should as well. She learned that Dust Devil, apparently, had been extremely rude to others, including his own parents. He wouldn’t do his homework and when questioned about it, he would lie to their faces, he threw away all his vegetables during dinner, and he would even steal money from his parents to spend on gum and comic books.
She also learned that so far it was only the three of them that had been foalnapped. This confused all three of them. Why would Krampus, who knew about all bad fillies and colts, only take three? They didn’t have much time to ponder because soon they heard the scraping and jingling that told them that Krampus was coming down to the dungeons.
A few seconds later, Krampus walked into the view of the three young ponies. He was wearing the same large red coat that Diamond Tiara had seen him in last night. As he approached, Tiara saw that the scratching noise came from his long tail as it slid along behind him. He was carrying a large platter, upon which were three glasses of water and three loaves of bread. He placed each plate and glass in front of each of the three foals. Dust Devil and Windy Night reached for their food without complaint and Tiara imitated them. As she ate Diamond Tiara decided to try and get some information out of the creature.
“Excuse me, Mr. Krampus, sir,” Tiara said
Krampus turned to look at her as she spoke.
“Why did you only take three of us?” she asked, “Surely there were more than just three bad ponies in all of Equestria”
“Absolutely, there were,” said Krampus, his voice low and menacing, “but I don’t need to take all of them this year”
“What do you mean ‘this year’?” asked Windy Nights
“I suppose, since I’ll be eating you all tomorrow night, I can tell you some things. It won’t matter anyway,” Krampus began, “I was sealed in Tartarus for over 1500 years. When Cerberus escaped several of us saw it as our chance to finally be free of that wretched prison that those blasted sisters had banished us to. Only two of us managed to gather the necessary energy needed to escape: myself and Tirek. He came to me wanting to make a blood pact and, as long as I got free from that wretched prison, I agreed to help him escape. We managed it just before that unicorn returned with Cerberus. We both knew the requirements of our pact: so long as we continued to drain the life of others, we would be free”
Krampus got up to leave, but Diamond Tiara tried to get one last piece of information.
“Why did you say you were going to eat us tomorrow?” she asked as the satyr started walking away.
“Because, otherwise I will be sealed again in Tartarus after come Hearths Warming” he said.
After Krampus had left, Diamond Tiara heard Windy Night’s voice.
“Why did you ask him those questions?”
“Because,” Diamond Tiara answered, “now we know his weakness”
An hour after the fillies had left the clubhouse, they met up at Ponyville station. Each of them had saddlebags stuffed with all kinds of items. Sweetie Belle had been in charge of gathering up thick hats and scarves for them to wear, while Silver Spoon had been put in charge of getting the food. Scootaloo, being much more outdoorsy than the others, had been put in charge of gathering the equipment they might need. While the other two went over everything they had brought, Silver Spoon went and bought three tickets to the Crystal Empire.
“We’re in luck,” said Silver Spoon, when the others had joined her on the platform, “This is the last train that’s going to the Crystal Empire for the season. They’re closing the station for the holidays”
“Wow, that is lucky” said Scootaloo as they boarded the train and gave their tickets to the ticket pony.
“We’re finally off to Krampus’s castle, girls,” said Sweetie Belle, “I sure do hope everything goes fine”
The train carrying three young fillies on a mission to rescue their friend began to pull out of Ponyville station. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon all took their seats while the train picked up speed.
“How long do you think it will take to get there?” Silver Spoon asked Sweetie Belle
“The trip to the Crystal Empire should only take about a couple hours,” Sweetie Belle said, “when Spike, Scoots, Apple Bloom, and I went there while pet sitting we left around 2:00 and got there by 4”
“How much farther is it from the Crystal Empire to Yakyakistan?” asked Scootaloo, lowering her voice as the ticket checker came through checking tickets of everypony who he’d missed before the train left, “I just hope it isn’t already too late for Tiara”
All three of them became subdued after that. What would they do if they went all that way, just to find out Diamond Tiara had been cooked and eaten by Krampus. Approximately ten minutes the food cart pony came by and they each ordered a hayburger with salad.
“Diamond Tiara always liked eating hayburgers,” said Silver Spoon sadly, “I don’t want… to lose… one… of my… best friends”
Tears began to drip, then pour down Silver Spoon’s face. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle scooted closer to her and Sweetie Belle put her right arm around her while Scootaloo draped her left wing over both Sweetie’s arm and Silver Spoon’s back.
“She was my very first friend,” Silver Spoon said between huge sobs, “We’ve always been together. We even got our cutie marks at the same time, just like you three. The cute-cenẽra where you three met was actually for both of us”
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at each other. They had never known that Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara had such a profound connection. It was just as profound as the connection the crusaders shared. Scootaloo still got a tingle down her spine when she thought of the moment when they had gotten what they had so long wished for.
“It’ll be okay Spoon,” said Sweetie Belle, “you’ll see, we’ll rescue Tiara before Krampus can eat her and then we’ll all come back home. We’ll be heroes”
“I hope you’re right,” sniffled Silver Spoon, taking her glasses off and wiping her eyes on her arm, “sorry I lost it. I’m just so worried about her”
At this point the food cart pony came back with their salads and hayburgers. She noticed the unicorn and Pegasus had an arm and wing over the earth filly, who, judging by the redness of her eyes, looked like she had just been crying. As she handed out the food, she asked the three if everything was okay.
“Yes,” Sweetie Belle said, “She just doesn’t do very well around Hearths Warming”
“Oh,” said the food pony, “that’s too bad. If there’s anything I can help with, let me know” She started to walk away.
“Do you know how long it would take a pony to walk from the Crystal Empire to Yak Yakistan?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“It would take about ten days to walk there,” the food pony said
The three fillies became crestfallen at this news. It seemed they wouldn’t make it after all.
“But,” said the food pony, “ever since relations improved between Equestria and Yak Yakistan they’ve been able to build a rail line from the Empire to the capital of Yak Yakistan. Ever since, it only takes about 6 hours depending on the conductor and time of year”
“Really!” the three fillies yelled, “That means we’ll be able to make it”
“Make what?” the food pony asked, “Is there something happening in Yak Yakistan?”
“Oh…um…uh,” stuttered Scootaloo, “we’re doing a report on it for school, yeah that’s it, we have to learn about a place outside of Ponyville and we chose that place”
The food pony seemed unconvinced but decided to not question the fillies anymore.
“Well,” she said, “We’ll be at the Crystal Empire station in about an hour. Where were you three planning to stay?”
“We hadn’t thought of that,” Silver Spoon said, “I guess we can stay at an inn. I hope we have enough bits for that”
“You know,” said the food pony, “Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor recently passed a bill that says all ponies under a certain age can stay anywhere for free”
“That’s wonderful,” Sweetie Belle said, “now we won’t have to worry about finding someplace to stay tonight”
The rest of the train ride continued without incident. The three fillies were feeling extremely hopeful and confident they would be able to save their friend. That is, until the train finally pulled the station outside the Empire. Standing on the platform were at least half a dozen crystal pony royal guards, along with Princess Cadence and her husband Shining Armor. Upon seeing this greeting committee, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Silver Spoon all ducked under their seats.
“Alright you three,” Cadence called, “we know you’re on this train, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon.” The three fillies jumped. “We’ve already gotten word from Ponyville that you three boarded this train. We promise not to punish you. Your families just asked us to keep you safe until tomorrow, at which time we’ll be escorting you back home”
“If you knew my sister, you’d know that that amounts to a death sentence for me” called Sweetie Belle, “she’ll skin me alive and use my fur for her next outfit”
They heard a snicker and a ‘Hush’ from Cadence. They were then enveloped in a blue aura and lifted out from under the seats. They were carried through the window of the train and deposited in front of the rulers of the Crystal Empire. The two were standing looking at the three fillies dressed in Hearths Warming sweaters, which Sweetie Belle recognized as her sister’s design.
“Up you three get,” said Cadence, her pink fur matching the color of the sweater. There were blue sapphire buttons down the front that matched her magic aura color, “We’ve been asked to make sure you three are comfortable tonight. Will you make sure that their saddle bags are brought up to the castle?”
This question was directed to the royal guards, who promptly saluted and marched into the train to retrieve the fillies’ belongings. Cadence and Shining Armor took up flanking positions on either side of Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle with Silver Spoon in the middle. As they walked past the brochures detailing the different train routes and times of departure, Sweetie Belle’s horn began to glow a faint green color as one of the brochures lifted up and floated after the group.
The march to the castle took approximately ten minutes and the sun had set by the time they reached the castle doors. As soon as they were inside, pony servants came up and removed the coats from the monarchs’ and led them all down the hall towards the dining room. There they enjoyed a simple vegetable stew with rolls. While they ate Sweetie Belle asked, “How did you know we were on the train? We thought we had boarded it sneakily enough”
“You’ve got to be sneakier then,” Shining Armor chuckled, “As soon as the train pulled out of the station, the ticket pony went to tell your families what you were doing and where you were going. After that it was a simple matter for Twilight to send us a letter through Spike. They asked us to meet you at the station and then bring you home tomorrow. We’re going to send them a letter after supper”
Once they had finished eating, Cadence and Shining Armor sent the three fillies to get ready for bed while they sent the letter to Ponyville informing their families that the three little ponies were safe and would be back home the next day.
After they had been tucked into bed for the night, Sweetie Belle lifted up the brochure she had kept hidden since their arrival. She then used her magic to light the candles in their room.
“Ok girls,” she said, “according to this pamphlet I got from the station, the only train to Yak Yakistan leaves at 6:00 tomorrow. That means we’ll have to sneak out of here early tomorrow. My suggestion is we just stay up all night. We can sleep on the train tomorrow”
The other two agreed to this and they sat down and started playing card games to help keep themselves awake.
As the sun began to rise above the mountains, Diamond Tiara opened her eyes and looked around. Remembering where she was and what would happen to her later that day she began to cry.
“Oh brother,” came the voice of Dust Devil from across the hall, “don’t start crying again. It makes you look pathetic”
“I told you to leave her alone Dust Devil,” came Windy Night’s voice from the cell next door, “Did you forget what today is? It’s Hearths Warming Eve. Krampus is going to cook us up and eat us tonight. If she wants to cry, let her cry”
“Thanks, Windy” said Diamond Tiara.
“tch, whatever” grumbled Dust Devil
Scootaloo peeked her head through the bedroom door and glanced up and down the corridor. Seeing nopony in sight she turned to the other two.
“Ok,” she whispered, “the coast is clear. This is probably our best chance to get to the station and on the train to Yak Yakistan”
Quietly, the three rescuers snuck out of the bedroom and down the hall towards the stairs. They didn’t see anyone standing at the bottom so they tiptoed down the stairs and across the foyer. Sweetie Belle’s horn began to glow as the doors became incased in a pale green light and swung silently open. Outside Luna’s moon hung near the horizon. Night was almost over and the rescuers needed to get the station as quick as possible.
To help stay inconspicuous, they had grabbed cloaks from the closet in the room before leaving. They threw the cloaks over their saddlebags as they walked warily down the steps and towards the train station. They didn’t see anypony as they walked but they took no chances. As soon as they were clear of the view from the castle windows they broke into a gallop and sped towards the station.
They didn’t stop until they reached the ticket teller and had bought their tickets to Yak Yakistan. As the three boarded the train, each one suppressed a yawn. They took their seats and promptly fell asleep.It seemed like only minutes later that the train came to a jarring halt. Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon fell out of their seats and landed on the floor with a thud while Scootaloo continued sleeping.
Groaning and stretching their stiff muscles, Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon got off the floor and shook Scootaloo awake.
“Wake up Scoots,” said Sweetie Belle while Silver Spoon got their luggage down from the racks above the seats, “it looks like we’re in the Yakistani capital”
