Happy Hearths Warming Eve, day, uh whatever
"How could she that, that total, intolerant, spiteful, jerk!" Clover the Clever screamed as she paced around the room alphabetizing the books for the fifth time this evening. There was something about the putting of things in order that made her happy. "How could she just spring this on me? She just shows up out of the blue and says hey grab my things and start moving. How, how." She screamed her frustration at the top of her lungs.
"Intolerable, unforgivable, juicy?" Clovers nearly jumped out of her skin as a creature completely covered in dark brown burlap appeared. It's face was completely hidden as were all of the rest of it. In fact it seemed that the only thing under that burlap cloak was nothing but shadows. "Insolent, stupid." It continued to offer up adjectives two glowing blue motes appeared underneath the cloak where the things eyes should have been.
"Star Swirl is not here," Clover said taking deep breaths trying to calm down.
"Oh, you don't say." The mute blue orbs never left Clover. "I would never have noticed." A white smile joined the two blue eyes. "You look upset, want to go and have some fun? We'll go to the future and mess everything up. It'll be great."
"No thanks. I'm already upset with Princess Platinum for demanding that I leave the country, so I can carry all of her junk for her, I have absolutely no desire to leave with you, on account that I hate you." She pointed a hoof at the phantom. "You are a complete jerk, spiteful, hateful, and above all unlovable. The last time you were here you tried to burn the house down."
"Guilty as charged, and I do admit last time mistakes were made," the phantom said. "However, I assure you I thought that the liquid was highly flammable instead of only slightly flammable. Now will you come with me. It'll be fun." The phantom floated up to her side.
"No!" Clover answered. "Literally everything you said is more reason for me not to go with you."
"Well you know what; potato, your arguments are void." Then a shadow latched itself on to her and the two of them descended into the floor.
***
Daring Do took a sip of hot cinnamon peppermint tea, as she looked over the twelve newest pages of her most recent manuscript. It was a good start. Full of action recounting her latest victory over Smar-Zon a twisted Zebra witch doctor, who was no more. This one was sure to be another best seller. "I should probably leave out the part were I literally kick him into Tartourus," She mussed to herself. "Maybe he just fell in, or something like that. Still he finally got what he deserved." She yawned and stretched out her for hooves and wings. She looked into her cup of tea and finished the it in a quick gulp, and walked up the stairs to her bedroom.
It was a good size for the small cottage that she lived in, the large queen sized bed only took up a tenth of the room. next to it was her night stand where she put her hat down. Along the walls were mementos of all her many adventures, arrows of lost pony and zebra tribes. A feather from an old griffon friend held in a shadow box case. Under it was a diamond mandicors statue with golden wings and tail. Next to that was the staff of Smar-Zon, and in the corner was a crib which had never been used. Which began a whole other wall dedicated to her many adventures. She yawned, as she pulled her covers over her. Daring Do soon fell into a blissful dreamless sleep.
"I told you I didn't want to go," Clover said stepping into the little cottage that the shadow specter had lead her to.
"And for the fifty-third time I told you potato. Ergo facto everything you say is void, so would you please quit your constant never ending whining, and enjoy the trip." The specter shut the door quietly and proceeded to kindle the fire using random books.
"What do you think you're doing!"
"Ah I remember when burning books actually meant something to me," the phantom reminisced. "But really you should be quite. Breaking and entering is just as much a crime in the future as it was in the past."
"This isn't your house? I thought this was your house." The phantom flipped through the pages of one of the books, and upon finding nothing in the pages let out a heavy sigh, and tossed it into the fire pit to join the others. "Would you please quite burning those books." The phantom flipped through another book, searching through the pages.
"Ah, finally, that's where she put it." The phantom slid a photo into its sleeve, then placed the large blue book back on to the shelve. "Now that I'm done with that what were you complaining about."
"That's it I'm going."
"Yeah, that would be a good idea." Daring Do looked down at the small unicorn with an expression between contempt and amusement. From where she stood on the stairs the supporting wall blocked her view of the cloaked phantom. "You're not even here to fight are you?" she asked studying Clover's plain close, and lite form. "Sorry but I don't have any Hearths Warming cheer to give. You should go back to whatever town you came from."
"Hearths Warming cheer?" Clover asked, the unfamiliar words being the only things to register beyond the fact that the cottage which was on the ground was owned by a pegasus pony.
"Nope I'm afraid that I can't just let her leave." The phantom rose half way out of the floor to meet Daring Do at eye level. Daring Do had come face to face with monsters before. It was a part of her job, but there was something different about the thing that was looking at her. She didn't scream, her heart kept a steady beat, but something on a more base level in her mind nearly broke, as the pale blue eyes bore into her own.
"What did she mean by Hearths Warming cheer?" The question was just random and weird enough to distract Daring from the staring contest with the shadowy creature.
"Opps spoilers." The phantom turned around still halfway in the stair case. "That's actually why you're here." The phantom vanished, reappearing out of the wall behind her. "You see you didn't want to go on that trip with Princess Platinum, so I brought you to the future to show you the true meaning of Hearths Warming Eve, Day, not really sure, doesn't matter." The phantom floated around in front of her white smile shinning brightly in the void under the hood.
"Who and what the hay are you two?"
"Oh well this is Clover the Clever." The phantom gestured to the light framed unicorn. "And as for me, well, hmm." The phantom paused seemingly stumped. "It doesn't matter. I'm cursed, so whatever words work, right?"
"Right, you expect me to believe that, that unicorn is the Clover the Clever, and you're what, some roaming geist?" Daring half jumped half glided down the stares. Her features hardened when she saw what her two uninvited guest had used to start the fire. "My books!" Her eyes cast a momentary frantic gaze at the book shelf. They instantly hunted down the blue bound dictionary, and filled with relief. "Alright whichever one of you is responsible for using my personal library-"
"Tisck tisck. You don't want to start negative emotions, with me. The second you hate me is the second that I win." The phantom thrust his arm into Clover's side. It turned to smoke, as it went through her. "See cursed, and cursed forever given the no touchy rule stacks, and I am for all points to the affirmative, unlovable."
"Oh I promise I won't hate you while I'm pounding you to dust," Daring said her wings shooting out from her side, as she took a battle stance.
"Trust me, if fervent deathbed prayers and ceaseless tears are any indication of how well that will work, you'll be getting really acquainted with your wall." The phantom chuckled.
"So unlovable not even family could stand you, huh?" Daring's taunt hit something. The phantom's eyes instantly went to a deep red, and the smile thinned to a menacing crescent.
"You know Daring, as I was tossing you books into the fireplace. I couldn't help but noticing that one of your many adventures never made it to the presses." The blood ran cold in Daring's veins. "Your first one a matter of fact. Which is quite the shame given it would be such the best seller. The romance, the action, the tragedy." The phantom pressed. Daring's eyes becoming pin pricks staring off into space. Clover looked between the two of them not sure how to derail what was happening, and not sure if she could. "Something broke in you that day, what was it, again? Your sense of adventure, no? Your witty and indomitable spirit, no?"
"I get it," Daring whispered.
"You will." The phantom's eyes slowly faded back to the dull blue they were before, and the glowing smile vanished back into the shadowy depths.
"Are the two of you-" Clover began
"Let's go to our next stop before this can be resolved." Shadows erupted from the floor and in an instant the three of them were gone.
***
The wind was blowing so hard that the snow fell at a 75 degree angle. Clover the Clever and Daring Do ran as fast as they could into the closest building. The doors opened automatically, allowing the two of them to run in without stopping. Both of them shivered and rubbed themselves as the tried to warm themselves. Clover watched as the doors opened again, as a burlap cloaked pony shaped thing came through them.
"H-How do do do they do th-tha-thattt?" Clover stared at the doors in amazement. there was no magic being used here, and yet the doors still knew when to open, and then they opened. Both of those would require a ton of different spells to make work, none were present. It was somehow doing it on its own. Without Magic!
"H-h-how do do you n-not n-n-know how sl-slid-ing do-ors work?" She glared at the Phantom who had taken a more pony like shape for the time being. He slowly walked through the doors as though this were just any other day. "And wh-why wh-ere we in a bl-izz-ard?"
"Well I needed to cool of from our conversation." The Phantom walked right past the two of them sparing neither a second glance as he walked up to the counter. It was then that the two of them realized that they were in a hospital. "Hello I'm here for Dr. Anisalgia."
"And the three of you are?"
"I'm no long allowed to lie." The nurse raised her eyebrow. "So, the horn head is Clover the Clever, the pissy Pegasus is Daring Do, and I am a nightmarish creature beyond your ability to fathom. Now can you please call Dr. Anisalgai and tell him to meet me in the document room."
"Oh." The nurse's eyes lite up with comprehension. "So, your the stallion from Canterlot. I'm glad to see ponies dressing up to cheer up the children. You should have gotten more coordinated, a Daring Do, Clover the Clever, and Ghost of Hearths Warming future, not a single full story there to be had."
"Stallion isn't exactly the right word, but you at least get the idea." The phantom answered choosing to ignore everything else. "Oh and drop horn head off at the foal wing; she needs to learn the meaning of Hearths Warming." He followed the nurse down the hall, and beckoned the two mares to come as well.
After leaving the phantom at the record room the nurse dropped the two mares off in the foal wing. The foals had all been mesmerized by their famous visitors, and only after the nurse returned for lights out two hours later did either of them get a break from the constant questions.
"I'm getting a distinct sense of Déjà vu." Daring looked around the halls. "I don't know why." She paused after each word as if the answer was on the tip of her tongue, "But I'v-" She froze staring at a wall that was at the end of the hall way. "No. No, no no no no." She backed away her eyes starting to become wet.
"What's wrong?" both the nurse and Clover asked.
"There, there used to be an operating room right there." Daring pointed a shaky hoof at the wall.
"I wouldn't know I've only been here for two years." The nurse tried to console Daring. Whose eyes had refocused on something coming around the corner.
"Why would did you bring me here?"
"I assure you before the end of the night you'll know why. Also this is going to be your best night Ev-veR" The phantom emphasized. Shadows swirling around the hall. "But the fun train doesn't stop here choo-choo next stop SMILE Headquarters."
***
A hornless Clover the Clever and wingless Daring Do were both bound by shadows in the corner of the Administrator's office. The both of them were in time out while the Phantom searched through a file cabinet, on the other side of the room. Both of them had taken great offence when he had tried to spread Hearths Warming cheer, so naturally they had to sit down and cool off.
Clover's outburst could be more or less forgiven, given it was her first time, and the tradition of handing out Hearths Warming concussions with a wooden bat to SMILE agents, was an oddly strange and specific tradition that he had just made up. Daring however should have known better and her outburst must have been because she wanted the first one.
"Oh this looks promising, Operation Foal Napping." The Phantom sighed as he flipped through the pages of the operation. "Nope." He tossed it to the floor. "I understand Daring that you wanted the first of the traditional SMILE Hearths Warming concussions." He continued searching through the cabinet. "It's just I need you sober and completely conscious for the night to go as planned. Oh, here's one. Operation Stop Birthday Party."
"What are you going on about?" Daring fought against her shadowy restraints. The Phantom groaned and tossed the documents to the floor. "And what are you looking for?"
"The final nail in the coffin, metaphorically speaking of course. Oh they didn't." The Phantom danced in place a second before pulling out a folder. "Operation Party Pooper. Someone is getting banished to oblivion for this. Sunny butt is going to flip her lid." He laughed as he put it in his cloak, shut the drawer, and opened the one underneath it.
"You mean that, that violent display was a Hearths Warming tradition?" Clover asked confused, he had to be messing with her from what the foals at the hospital said Hearths Warming was about friendship of the three pony races, songs, and presents.
"It is now, oh I think this might be it. Operation Clip the Stork." The phantom flipped through the document. "Yes it is finally. Alright let's go two more stops, and then we're done. Well I'm done anyways."
***
They appeared in a small hamlet, Daring spotted Canterlot on the mountain in the distance. This must have been Ponyville then. She got up and started walking away.
"Daring darling where do you think you're going."
"Home I suspect the wing removal magic you used will wear off naturally after a few hours, maybe a couple of days." She continued walking not even looking over her shoulder.
"It was under F," the phantom said. What is he going ranting about now? What was under F. Her entire world came to a screeching halt. "Glad I've got your attention your precious photo is safe I've been keeping really good care of it. This is your one chance If you want it back. You don't have to say anything just nod if you're going to start cooperating again." Her head went up and down twice. "Good. I don't need the two of you to come with me the mayor already has the documents on hoof. She and I will stop by our next stop and get everything prepared, and then I'll come, and get the two of you. Just stay put. Oh and here's your wings and horn back. Behave now." In an instant he vanished in to the ground.
"What's a photo?" Clover asked putting a hoof on the distraught. Daring pulled away.
"Don't," she said through shallow breaths, "I appreciate the gesture, but don't, not right now." Thirty minutes passed. Clover said and did nothing, except wonder what a photo was, and why she cared so much about this Pegasus. She didn't even care this much for unicorns, let alone feather brained pegasi. Finally Daring had calmed down enough to talk. "A photograph is a way to take an expert picture instantly. Without having to use unicorn magic."
"What's it a picture of?"
"It's personal, private, and my baby, and he-" She was starting to shake. "It's." She struggled trying to tell Clover.
"It's alright, why you don't have to tell me." What the heck is going on why do I care I shouldn't even be in this time frame. What on Equus am I doing. "You can't let him see that he gets to you. Trust me he loves getting to ponies." Daring nodded.
"You really sound like her. I had my doubts." Clover tilted her head. "I thought you were some wacko that broke out of a psych ward, but you really are Clover the Clever, aren't you."
"How'd you find out?" she asked with a laugh.
"Because you care." Clover coughed. "I don't think I've ever meet a pony so much like the Clover the Clever, of legend as you." They spent the next hour just talking and joking. Daring trying to keep her mind off of the fact that, that creature had foal napped her baby.
"Are the two of you ready to go? One last stop and you're both free to go home. I'll even drop you off, Clover," the Phantom said rising from the ground. Wearing his ponyesque disguise.
"Give me the baby back first."
"You're in no place to make demands, but I'll tell you what. If you knock on the door to the house we're going to, and the pony inside answers it for you then it's all yours. And we're done no more." Daring raised an eyebrow. "What it's the last thing that I need to teach Clover here the true meaning of Hearths Warming." With that the phantom departed with a grin, neither saying nor listening to another word.
He lead them to a small little house near the edge the town. He glided to the side of the door, and motioned for Daring to step up. She glared at him before obliging. "I do this, and you will give me back my baby." The Phantom crossed the left part of his chest. Which would contain a heart if he had one. Daring nodded and knocked on the door. The three of them stood there and waited for five minutes staring at the wooden door. "Is this a joke?"
"I, she might be in the little filly's room, and may have not heard you the first time. Try again." Again Daring knocked on the door three times. This time a little louder. The door didn't open. In fact none of them could even hear a call coming from the other side. It may as well have been vacant or abandoned. "One second." He leaned half way through the door. They heard talking his voice and another, soon after they also heard the sounds of somepony running away from the door. He pulled back out of the door. "Do either of you know how to comfort an emotionally distraught filly?" He looked between the two of them. "Never mind forgot who I was talking too."
"Give me my baby. I'm leaving."
"You're more than welcome to leave," The Phantom gestured. "But I said that you had to knock and she had to answer she didn't answer so no picture for you."
"What!"
"No one cares. Now if you don't mind I have a filly to interrogate." The Phantom walked right through the door and started calling to the little filly. He was half way to the stairs that lead to the second floor when Daring kicked in the front door. The thunderous crash roared through the house. "You are making my day very difficult you little brat," The Phantom continued his rant at the filly who from the sound of a door slamming had closed herself into her room.
"You monster give her back!" Clover came in just in time to see Daring's body sail through the Phantom as though he were nothing but a smoky mirage and slam into the wall leaving a decent dent in the wall. He just laughed and started up the stairs. He had just arrived at the top when Daring slammed a chair through his mist body. The wood splintered and shattered as it met the floor with a loud bang.
"I did tell you the curse stacked didn't I?" Daring screamed and lunged at him in a desperate and futile attempt to tackle him to the ground. Instead of hitting him she just flew through him as before. He only laughed. He tried the door. "Locked," He sighed and stepped through as though it wasn't even there. Daring soon broke the door in, Clover right behind her. The Phantom was screaming at the fill who was curled up into a ball under her covers. "Do you know how difficult you're making tonight you stupid, worthless, feather brained, unloved." He stopped himself a moment to late. A bolt of lightning appeared from no where and striking him sent him into the wall with a howl of pain.
"Just go away, please leave me alone, I, didn't, I'm not," the filly continued to babble under the covers.
"It took four weeks to get everything, and you drop the ball literally at the finish line." The Phantom spat, as Daring tried to smash him to paste, to no avail. Clover who had been repairing the door just stood in shock that something had actually hurt the horrid geist.
"I know, I know, I don't deserve it, just go."
"I'd say something, but I'd get another lash for all my trouble." The Phantom lay there glaring at the filly and catching his breath. He completely ignored Daring who continued to stomp the floor.
"Give me back my baby."
"I don't have your photograph." Daring stopped, "I gave it to her." He pointed to the sobbing blankets on the bed. "You want it you can have it."
"You're lying."
"For what point?" he spat back. Daring walked carefully over to the babbling balled up blankets.
"Hey there kid." The blankets let out an exceptional louder whimper. "Shhh, it's okay, you're alright," she said in the most motherly tone she could. "I'm sorry I tore up your house I'll pay for the damages. Okay, but you have a picture of a-"
"I know which one it is." The filly's hoarse voice cut her off. "It's this one right. Here you can have it back. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She pushed the photo out of the blanket being sure not to let even the tip of her hoof leave her safe little bubble.
"It's okay kid." Daring took the picture.
"Oh for the love of." The Phantom grabbed the blankets and ripped them off of the balling filly. Some of the paper work that had been with her under the covers flew on to the floor. Daring's picture joined them as she stared at the little orange filly. Her heart stopped. Daring's eyes darted between the filly on the bed and the six week premature, orange foal with stubby wings, in the photograph, which lay at her hooves. Her haunches hit the floor.
"What, what kind of joke is this?" She looked at the Phantom. Who was busy picking up documents.
"Joke it's the classical Operation Clip the Stork joke silly." He dropped the manila folder at her hooves. "You know the one; where the star Pegasus operative of SMILE gets preggers and decides to retire. Only her superiors don't take kindly to that, so when she gets hit in the belly by a nasty zebra witchdoctor, and has a premature birth, they switch the foal with a lifeless life sized dummy. It's a classic. I'm surprised you didn't see it coming. Isn't it freaking hysterical?"
"You're lying." Not even she sounded like she believed it.
"The proof is laying at your hooves, but I've got everything: doctor's reports, you'll see major inconsistencies, school records, court orders, orphanage records, tax forms, the list doesn't end." Daring look at the filly's large reddened eyes.
"I, when I, I couldn't open the door." Scootaloo broke into unintelligible sobbing. Daring breaking down as well gabbed the filly and pulled her into a huge. I'm never letting go.
"Isn't that nice?" The Phantom asked Clover, who watched with tears in her eyes. "A mother and daughter being reunited after eight long years, Don't you want to be at least simiresonsable for that? This is after all a most sincere meaning of Hearths Warming." The two of them vanished into shadows.
***
"Clover," Star Swirl the Bearded called as he entered his house. Clover looked up. "You don't need to worry I talked to Princess Platinum, and made quite clear how far she had over stepped you don't have to go if you don't want to."
"That's alright sir, I've actually had time to think. And I know that the benefits out way the cost. I'm actually looking forward to going on the trip now. I can't wait to meet my friends." And for the first time in weeks she laughed from the heart.