Sunset Shimmer doesn't Celebrate Christmas, causing the others to consider her a Scrooge, until there's an unexpected visitor.
Sunset Shimmer is just struggling to recover from the Fall Formal and just trying to make means meet. However, the others, unaware of her financial situation her friends consider her a Scrooge for not donating to the school's food drive. However, during a Christmas Assembly, Sunset Shimmer's former caretaker shows up with a promise to send the school three spirits to show them why Sunset Shimmer wasn't a Scrooge.
Sunset pulled her jacket tighter across her body shivering as the icy cold wind worked its way into the rips and holes leftover from The Fall Formal. She had been meaning to buy a new one before it started to snow, but now that she wasn't stealing lunch money her paycheck just wasn't enough. She just couldn't work enough hours and go to school at the same time.
"Sunset," a voice called out across the snow covered front lawn of the school, as a pink blur bounced its way over to her, "Sunset Shimmer," the voice called out again, slowing the bouncing enough for her to see that the bouncing pink blur was actually Pinkie Pie, wearing a thick puffy pink coat about the same color as her hair and holding a plate of cookies, "I made Christmas Cookies," she announced, "Try one."
Sunset glanced at the plate of cookies and then up into Pinkie Pie's bright blue eyes. Pinkie blinked, "Well."
Sunset fidgeted, this was Pinkie Pie, one of the girls that Princess Twilight had said would help teach her about Friendship Magic, on the other hand though, this wouldn't be the first time she had been offered tainted goods in the past few months, although it was the first time that anyone actually gave her the food, all the rest of the time they just leave them at her locker.
"Come on," Pinkie insisted, basically shoving the plate in her face, "I know you want to."
"What's wrong with them?" the words were out of Sunset's mouth before she even knew that she had opened her mouth.
Pinkie's face dropped at the same time Sunset's face started to burn, "Pinkie I'm so sorry, I..." Sunset shook her head, she needed to say something to cover up her slip up. She had got to learn to watch what she said around others, even if they don't.
"Pinkie," a melodious voice asked as Rarity and Rainbow Dash arrived, "Whatever is the matter Darling?"
"Sunset asked what was wrong with my cookies!" Pinkie cried as she turned to look at her friends.
"She did what!" the rainbow haired athlete demanded giving the red head a harsh glare, not unlike the ones she was subjected to daily anyways.
"I didn't mean it like that I..."Sunset stummered, "I don't even like Christmas Cookies." she blurted out.
The three other girls stopped and stared at her in disbelief, "You don't like Christmas Cookies?!!" Pinkie exclaimed.
Sunset almost let out a sigh of relief they had, at least for the moment, forgotten about her earlier comments about the cookies.
"How can you not like Christmas Cookies?" Pinkie demanded.
Sunset shrugged, deciding that she must break away from Pinkie and her two friends before she froze to death in the bitter cold.
Rainbow Dash cut her off however, "So if you don't like Christmas Cookies, what kind of holiday treats do you like."
"I don't celebrate the Holidays," Sunset insisted, "Now if you don't mind," she stepped around Rainbow Dash and somehow made it to the door without being intercepted.
"What do you mean, 'You don't celebrate?"' Pinkie's voice echoed out behind her, causing Sunset to flinch, her previous comment was forgotten, but she wasn't sure it had been worth it.
Sunset stopped, her hand on the door, "Never seen the point," she confessed as the school bell started a stampede that the four at the door had to quickly step out of the way of.
"That's the most Scroogest thing I've ever heard," Pinkie exclaimed, "Well, besides Bah Humbug, but still."
Sunset glanced at the pile of can goods against the wall of Mr. Cranky's classroom, the schoolwide food drive sure had been a success this year. Although she bet that the extra credit incentive that some of the teachers gave them might have helped as well as a promised pizza party for the whole school if they collect more cans than Crystal Prep. Figured that they didn't care enough to help the poor and homeless enough to donate the food just to help. No it had to be for extra credit and a competition with Crystal Prep.
Mr. Cranky looked up from his desk, "Sunset, I've noticed that you haven't turned in any cans for extra credit," he said, loudly, so that the whole class could hear, "I don't need to tell you that you need the extra credit to past this class. Your grades have dropped drastically since the Fall Formal."
"I'm sorry Mr. Cranky, donating food is just something that I can't do at the moment," Sunset muttered.
"Ah thought ya changed," a new voice called out as Applejack entered the classroom, "But Ah guess Ah was wrong."
Sunset groaned, great first Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, now Applejack thought that she was faking as well, "Pinkie already told me I'm acting like a Scrooge."
"Well Ya are," Applejack commented, shaking her head, "But Ah guess a Zebra can't change its stripes."
Yeah, as if I haven't heard that one before, Sunset thought crossly as she slipped into her seat, Sometimes I don't know why I keep trying.
Applejack slid into a seat next to Fluttershy in the auditorium, "Hiya Fluttershy, how's things going?"
Fluttershy beamed up at her friend, "Great, Mom and Dad have rented this little cabin up on the mountain and we're going skiing and I can't wait to see all the little creatures."
AppleJack smiled, "Ah have family coming from Manehatten, I can't wait to see them, Ah haven't seen Babs since she and Apple Bloom where in Kindergarten."
"Hey Fluttershy, AppleJack," Rainbow Dash said, sliding into the seat next to them, "How's it going?"
They didn't get much chance to talk as Pinkie and Rarity showed up, "Have you seen Sunset?" Pinkie asked, "She wasn't in Art this afternoon."
"She was in Science this morning," AppleJack said, "Mr. Cranky was talking to her about extra credit."
"Maybe she's in the nurse office," Fluttershy suggested, "She didn't look that good when I saw her during Math this morning."
"I was thinking about inviting her to my Gingerbread party," Pinkie said, "I thought maybe it would spark some Christmas Spirit in her."
"She was acting kind of Scroogy," AppleJack agreed.
"And she said she didn't celebrate Christmas," Pinkie insisted, "Who doesn't Celebrate Christmas?"
A loud screeching noise silenced them as Principal Celestia tapped on the mike, "Hello everyone," she said, "I want to thank you all for your help with our school's food drive and all of those who worked so hard to put this little assembly together."
There was a thick mist bellowing around the stage, moving slowly towards the bleachers, causing the students to whisper and squirm, this wasn't part of any of the practices.
The fog was getting thicker and thicker, there was a strange laughing noise as the fog dissepated. There on the stage was an Unicorn whose pale red pelt was clear, "Well hello Everypony," she said brightly, "I have to admit that this is unusual. Usually they would send us to one pony, not to a room full of Humans, is that what you're called, but that's what the higher ups wanted, so that's what I'll do."
"Excuse me..." Vice Principal Luna asked, approaching the ghostly Unicorn, "But who are you."
The ghostly Unicorn laughed, "I guess that's another thing that's different, none of you know me, I'm Rosethorn, I was an orphanage caretaker at an orphanage in Manehatten, in Equestria. I'm the closest thing to a family Sunset ever had, which is why I'm here.
"You seem so caught up with your own holiday plans and helping the greater good, you never even think that one of your own might be struggling." Rosethorn snapped, whipping her gray mane around, "That's why I'm sending three spirits to you. They'll be able to explain what's going on with Sunset Shimmer better than even she could."
"Why are you visiting us," Rainbow Dash demanded, "Sunset Shimmer's the Scrooge."
"Perhaps she isn't a Scrooge," Rosethorn said softly looking past the assembled students and staff, "Perhaps she just needs a little more help and understanding from you."
"What are you talking about?" Pinkie demanded, "She doesn't even celebrate Christmas."
"I'll let the Spirits explain all that," Rosethorn insisted, "The Spirit of Hearthwarming Past should be here in about three minutes. I leave you in her good hands.
"That was Freaky Deaky," Pinkie Pie announced as the fog dissipated.
"I still don't understand why that pony showed up here," Rainbow muttered, "Sunset isn't here."
"She said that the Spirits that she was sending could help us understand Sunset better," Fluttershy said through a veil of pink hair.
"I say that the accusation is unfounded," Rarity insisted, dabbing at her face with a handkerchief, "If we have treated Sunset unfairly it's not to be mean. That girl is just impossible to get to know. Every time I so much as say Hi to her, she runs off."
The lights flickered overhead, as a strange, high pitched voice, snickered, "I can see why Sunset can be hard to get to learn."
Everyone turned around, a small pony with wings was floating above the stage, "Hi," the little pony stated, "I'm the Spirit of Hearthwarming Past," she giggled.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie is confused. What is Hearthwarming?"
"When you Humans celebrate Christmas, we ponies celebrate Hearthwarming, a celebration of when the three pony tribes united to form Equestria."
"Oh..." Pinkie Pie said, "That's what Sunset meant when she said she doesn't celebrate Christmas. She celebrates a different Holiday. I should have thought of that." Pinkie giggled.
"I suggest that you all stand up," the Spirit of Hearthwarming Past insisted.
The school disappeared around them as tall buildings sprung up around them and snow started to fall upon them, Ponies of all shapes and colors started to trot past them. Among the crowd was an eerily familiar red flanked unicorn with a picture of a rose on her flank, along with several smaller ponies around the size of the Spirit of Hearthwarming Past, although some of them were smaller and some were bigger.
"Behold, Sunset Shimmer's past," the Spirit of Hearthwarming Past said, sweeping a wing around them.
"If this is Sunset's past, where is she?" Applejack demanded.
"Watch," came the simple reply as the Spirit pointed towards Rosethorn, who was trying to get about twenty young colts and fillies to line up properly so that she could do a headcount, behind her was a large archway that read Central Park.
"Come on My Little Ponies," Rosethorn called out, "Grab your buddy, yes Rose I see, Crimson Sprint, stop pulling Rose Gem's tail, it isn't polite."
Rosethorn finally had the ponies paired up into two straight lines, "Right," she said, "Now let's head home, shall we?"
"I don't want to go home," one of the colts spoke up.
"I don't either," a filly cried out, which lead to several more cries of protest.
"My, my," Rosethorn gasped out, "what silly ponies, have you forgotten what tonight is? We must get back to the Orphanage and decorate the tree, don't we? Tomorrow is Hearthwarming."
With that, the younger ponies trotted off down the street. following Rosethorn down the street weaving through the crowds of ponies singing songs and ringing bells at every corner. They walked in silence, every once in a while pausing to listen to the festive sounds around them until they had gone about five blocks when a new sound was added to the melody, the sound of the wailing of a young infant.
"What's that?" Rosethorn demanded, looking around, "Stay here My Little Ponies." Rosethorn ordered, before stepping away down a dark alleyway. There was a strong breeze and suddenly the school was crowded into the narrow alleyway as well as Rosethorn followed the sound of crying towards a dumpster that looked very much like the large dumpsters found behind a large establishment in their own world.
The lid to the dumpster was enveloped in a pink glow, before lifting up allowing Rosethorn to peer inside, "Sweet Celestia!" she exclaims, the pink glow around her horn vanished as the lid dropped down leaving the dumpster open. Once more her horn glowed pink, and a tiny foal appeared out of the dumpster, wrapped in an old newspaper.
There was a loud deflating noise as Pinkie Pie's curly hair suddenly went straight as she noticed the red and gold-colored mane, "Sunset was thrown away," she squeaked in disbelief.
There was a kaleidoscope of colors as the scene changed, now they were in some sort of cafeteria, large tables filled with plates filled the room. Ponies of various ages crowded around them.
A young filly entered the room, her pale yellow coat and bright red and gold hair revealing her identity to the invisible watchers. Sunset Shimmer glanced around the room, clearly looking for a spot to sit, when a voice called out over the general hubbub of children talking, "Sunset Shimmer, over here."
Sunset smiled brightly as she trotted over to one of the tables and squeezed herself in between two other fillies that were about her age, "Hi Mystic Glow, hi Holly Wreath," she said as she wriggled her way in between a unicorn filly with a white pelt and pastel color hair and an Earth Pony with a pale green pelt and bright red hair.
"Watch it pest," a growl came from down the table.
"You better be," a bigger colt snapped, "Or I'll..."
"Shh... Rosethorn," another filly hissed, as the room falls silent as Rosethorn entered the room and stood up at the front.
"Good Evening My Little Ponies, " she said brightly, "Happy Hearthwarming Eve," she exclaimed, to reach she was greeted with a chorus of greetings back, "As you well know, today is also the birthday of two very special fillies." Rosethorn continued, "It's Holly Wreath's six birthday and Sunset Shimmer is five today."
Sunset Shimmer and the Earth Pony next to her beamed as there was a loud cheer, and the whole orphanage sang to them, and then it was over, several older ponies arrived at their table and dished them food, a small scoop of carrots, and a small scoop of some sort of mush.
"So Mystic," Holly called out, leaning over Sunset, "You excited about tomorrow?"
"Of course I am," the unicorn insisted, "Are you Sunset?"
Sunset nodded her head, licking her lips, "Uh-huh, think about it, berry porridge for breakfast instead of plain old porridge."
"Fresh bread instead of day-old bread for lunch," Holly added.
"And hot apple pie with dinner," Mystic added with a sigh, "I wish every day was Hearthwarming."
"Rosethorn said that if it was every day, it wouldn't be special anymore," Sunset said, "She even said that we'll get tired of the oranges."
"Tired of the oranges never," Holly exclaimed, "That's the best part of Hearthwarming."
By now the food was gone and the three fillies were trotting up a staircase and down a long hallway that was lined with doors, the Humans following silently behind, as the three of them entered one of the rooms. It was tiny with barely enough room for a bed and desk.
Obviously, the three ponies weren't interested in sleeping as they all jumped onto the bed, and Sunset pulled back the curtain over the bed to peer outside, "Look you can see the stars tonight," she exclaimed, "The pegasi are clearing the sky."
The other two scrambled over to her, with a giggle, "Let's make a wish." Mystic giggled.
As the three little fillies watched the pegasi remove the clouds from the sky the door opened and a fourth little pony limped in. This one was a pegasus with a light blue mane and a light green pelt, "It's almost lights out." she announced, flapping her little wings slightly to help her climb onto the bed.
"We know that Lily," Sunset said, pointing out the window with her muzzle, "But the wishing star is out."
Lily placed her front hooves on the window sill with the others, "Which one is the wishing star?"
"The brightest star in the sky," Mystic explained, "But if the Mare in the Moon hears your wish it won't come true so don't say anything out loud."
All four ponies were silent for a moment, before the door opened once more, this time revealing Rosethorn, who smiled at them, "It's time for bed My Little Ponies," she said softly as the four fillies dropped down onto the bed and, after squirming around a little, made themselves comfortable on the bed, Mystic and Holly at the head, and Sunset and Lily at the foot.
Rosethorn smiled at them, dropping a thin blanket over them before saying good night and blowing out the candle.
"She had friends?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, "Who would have thought." "They didn't have much food," Applejack noted. "And they're sharing a bed," Rarity pointed out, "And that blanket is little more than a rag." "The Orphanage where Sunset Shimmer grew up was overcrowded and underfunded, there wasn't enough beds or food for everyone, which was why the extra treats on Hearthwarming were very much appreciated." The Spirit Explained. "But what happened to her friends?" Fluttershy whispered.
The room blurred once more, this time revealing a tree was decorated with popcorn and cranberry strands. A slightly taller Sunset Shimmer entered the room, "Rosethorn," she called out before letting out a loud cough, "Rosethorn!"
The older Unicorn dropped the popcorn strand she was working with and rushed to the filly's side, "Sunset, what are you doing up?" she asked, gently laying a hand on the filly's forehead.
"Lily's gone," Sunset rasped, "I've looked everywhere for her and I can't find her. And nobody will tell me where she is!" she cried before erupting into a coughing fit, "They took her away and they won't tell me where they took her."
"You should be in bed," Rosethorn insisted, urging the filly towards the stairs, "Come on, I'll tuck you in."
"But where's Lily?" Sunset insisted, "Did she get adopted and not tell us?"
"No Honey," Rosethorn insisted, "Lily went to the Greener Pastures, to be with her mommy and daddy."
"Why didn't she tell me," Sunset asked, coughing once again, "I would have gone with her."
Rosethorn didn't respond to that, as she opened the bedroom door and lead Sunset in. Mystic Glow was tucked tightly into the bed, her chest heaving as she fought to breathe. Rosethorn sighed as she tucked Sunset into the bed. There wasn't anything more they could do. Princess Celestia had been informed of the illness that was running amok of the orphanage and that it had already claimed three orphans' lives. Until she sent them financial aid there was nothing that they could do.
The room darkened and a candle was lit as Sunset slept fitfully, Until finally, she sat up in bed, "Mystic Glow your hooves are cold." she insisted as she weakly tried to push her bedmate over in between coughs.
However, Mystic Glow didn't respond at all, in fact, her limbs just kind of flopped around, causing Sunset to panic even more, "Rosethorn," she cried out, jumping out of bed only for her legs to give out beneath her, "Rosethorn!"
The School remained silent as Rosethorn rushed into the room and after examining Mystic Glow, draped the blanket over the body and took Sunset with her out of the room.
The Students were silent, the only sound was Pinkie's hair deflating again as she gasped out,"That's horrible, two of her friends dying around Hearthwarming and her birthday."
Sunset Shimmer was older now, about seven and she was standing in the middle of a line of foals as older ponies stopped to talk to them. She had been interviewed by at least two dozen potential parents. Someone had to take her home today. She'll get a proper Hearthwarming, and enough to eat. It would be wonderful. Slowly she noticed that the line was thinking out some and she looked around. Several others, Rose Gem, Crimson Streak, and Twinkle Toes among them were leaving with their new parents.
"Aren't you precious," a kind looking Stallion said, "Don't you think so dear?" he asked, looking to a pretty mare.
"Thank you," Sunset said blushing.
"I don't know dear," the mare said, "I heard that unicorn foals need special training to learn how to use their magic."
"I know how to use my magic!" Sunset exclaimed, "Watch." with that she pulled building blocks closer to her, stacking them carefully into a tower.
When she was done she looked up to see the couple leaving with Holly Wreath.
"Holly Wreath?" she called out, "Where are you going?"
"Home with my new parents," Holly exclaimed.
After a while, the potential parents all disappeared and while there were still several orphans, the number had decreased significantly. Rosethorn appeared then looking them over, "I'm sorry we weren't able to have parents for all of you, but don't worry," she smiled brightly, "There's plenty of oranges for you."
Rosethorn walked over to a tree that was decorated with oranges, popcorn, and cranberries and started to take the oranges down, one by one, and handing them to the remaining orphans with a Happy Hearthwarming.
"Sunset Shimmer was devastated that day," The spirit explained as Sunset stared sadly at the orange, "She had hoped so much to be adopted only to get passed up because of her magic. That was when she started training and applied for a scholarship to The School of Magic. Her magic was never going to be the reason that she was passed up ever again."
This time when the kaleidoscope of color settled the hallway they found themselves in was white and bright not the dark dingy hallway of the orphanage.
Sunset Shimmer was sitting at a window seat watching a beautiful white alicorn playing with a soft pink one with a longing gaze. She wished she could join in with them, but she didn't want to intrude. At least this year she had gotten a real Hearthwarming Present, an enchanted journal that she could use to go over lessons with Princess Celestia when she was busy elsewhere.
"Sunset," a deep voice called out as a young stallion with a blue mane appeared, dressed in the uniform of the Castle guards, "What are you doing here?"
"Shining Armor," Sunset gasped, blushing, Shining Armor was just a cadet in training, but being questioned by the Royal Guards just made her seem awkward, "I'm just...uh..."
Shining Armor chuckled, "I'm surprise you haven't gone home for the break like everyone else?"
"I don't have a home," Sunset said, "The Orphanage that I grew up in shut down after the Caretaker passed away."
"What about your friends," Shining Armor asked.
"Who has time for friends?" Sunset demanded with a huff, "They'll just leave you in the end."
"You know, my parents are out of town and I have my little sister with me, she's about your age."
"I don't need Charity," Sunset snarled, jumping down and stomping down the hall.
When the keliedoscope of color once more settled the students and staff of CHS found themselves back in the auditorium and The Spirit of Hearthwarming Past had vanished.
Everyone started to talk to one another about what they had seen. Pinkie Pie, her hair still flat, sighed, "That was so sad, she didn't have parents, and two of her best friends died, and..." Pinkie trailed off as she accepted a handkerchief from Rarity.
"She didn't want to make any friends because her friends at the Orphanage all left her," Rarity added.
"No wonder we haven't been able to get close to her."
The school was conversing silently among themselves, discussing what they had just saw, obviously Sunset Shimmer had had a tough life in her own world, and had had no one that she could turn to. No wonder she didn't think twice about jumping through the portal to their world.
"That is just so said," Pinkie insisted, blowing her nose loudly, "She probably was jealous of our friendship when she came here."
"That must be why she broke us up," Applejack agreed.
"But she claims that she's changed," Rainbow Dash pointed out, "Yet she is still acting all scroogy."
"Change is a hard thing to under go," a new, strange voice explained, "And just because you change doesn't mean that the world changes, or your circumstances."
Everyone turned around looking before to see where the source of the voice was coming from. On the stage stood a powerful looking stallion with a stopwatch on it's flank.
"I am the Spirit of Hearthwarming Present," He announced, "I will show you what the Season of Hearthwarming, or Christmas as you call it, is like for Sunset Shimmer."
Sunset Shimmer shivered as she entered through the back door of the soup kitchen, leaning against the door with a sigh of relief.
"Shouldn't you be in school?" a voice asked as a pale skined male with blue hair stepped out of the shadows.
"I'm ditching," Sunset said with a shrug, "All I'm missing is the Holiday Assembly, and I don't see the point of it."
"So," the man said, glancing at the girl as she walked over to the large sink and started to watch her hands, "I take it that school hasn't improved."
Sunset shook her head, "Most of the kids are horrible to me," she insisted, "I get ambushed on the way to school, they steal my homework, and I'm still getting those death threats shoved in my locker."
"What does Principal Celestia says about this?" the man asked as he hefted a twenty pound bag of potatoes onto a large table.
"Nothing," Sunset said, drying her hands on a towel and grabbing an apron from one of the hooks, "She doesn't know."
The man gave Sunset a look, "You know, you should tell her, I might be a Crystal Prep Alumni, but I happen to be dating Celestia's niece, she doesn't put up with bullying."
"That's easy for you to say Shining Armor, you weren't voted Biggest Meanie three years in a row," Sunset grumbled, slumping down at the table, and grabbing a peeler and potato.
"Teenagers can be cruel," Shining Armor insisted, picking up a potato and peeler as well, "But the important thing is you are trying to change."
"Not that they give me much of a chance," Sunset muttered, swiping the peeler angrily across the potato, "Even my so called friends keep throwing my past into my face," she sighed, "and they wonder why I don't open up to them, as if I'm going to give them more ammunition."
Shining Armor sat his peeled potato down and reached for another, "Have you talked to them about how you feel when they bring up you past mistakes?"
Sunset snorted, "No, besides it doesn't matter, today was my last day of school anyways."
"So you really are dropping out," Shining Armor asked, "I really hoped that I talked you out of that."
"I have that job offer at the factory," Sunset pointed out, "Benefits, enough in a paycheck to actually get a place of my own, I won't have to rely on soup kitchens and food banks to survive anymore."
"But you're throwing away your future."
"I threw my future away a long time ago," Sunset insisted, with a shrug as she picked up another potato.
The two fell silent as they made their way through the bag of potatoes.
"You know," Shining Armor said at last, "I have a sister around your age, attends Crystal Prep, but she doesn't have many friends, maybe I can introduce you?"
Sunset smiled softly while she shook her head, "I don't have many good experience with friends, it's less painful not to have any."
"How so?" Shining Armor asked as he got up to get a large pot, a couple of cutting boards and knives.
"If I don't have any then I don't have to worry about being left behind again," Sunset shrugged, setting down the last potato, "I guess I'm just so use on being on my own, having no one I could trust that I can't bring myself to trust others."
Shining Armor placed the pot of potatoes on the stove, "Well we'll miss you," he insisted, "you're our most reliable volunteer that we have."
Sunset smiled, "I'll still make time to come volunteer," she promised, as she grabbed a small box with her name on it, "Uh," she said as she removed her apron and grabbed her jacket, "Happy Hearthwarming, or Merry Christmas, or whatever," she said, rolling her eyes, before heading out the door again before she could hear Shining Armor reply.
"I thought she didn't celebrate Christmas or anything," Pinkie exclaimed looking around, "But she willingly wished that man a happy holiday."
"Pinkie, Darling, she celebrates Hearthwarming, not Christmas," Rarity pointed out.
"She seems more relaxed there than she does at school," Fluttershy said.
"No wonder if what she said to Shining Armor was true," Principal Celestia said, "I assure you, once this is done, I'm going to investigate that."
"Maybe I shouldn't tease her about becoming a raging she demon," Rainbow said blushing deeply at that.
"If you are quite done we can keep going," the spirit of Hearthwarming Present interupted
As the scene settled around the students and staff of CHS, they could see that they were at the mall late at night as snow fell heavily from the sky. The door closest to them opened and Sunset Shimmer stepped outside pulling her ragged jacket closer to her body as she hurried across the parking lot.
If it wasn't for the magic that bound the invisible observers and Sunset together they would have lost her in the snow as she walked briskly for twenty blocks, every once in a while dodging into an alleyway to allow someone to drive or walk past without spotting her. After a while she raced across the tracks to the poorer section of town. Here she really worked hard not to be spotted, walking through alleyways, using backstreets, and double backing a bit, until finally she arrived at an old abandoned warehouse. In the dim light of the moon which had broke through the cloud cover at that moment the students could see a sign saying that the building was scheduled to be removed three years ago. Obviously everyone had simply forgot about it.
Sunset slipped through a gap in the fence, running through the gravel pit, and up to a small side door which for some reason was not bolted shut. She glanced around, and not seeing anyone, slipped inside soundlessly, the onlookers following.
Once inside the building, Sunset headed upstairs into what had obviously been the main office and let herself in. It was obvious that someone lived there, there was a pile of blankets in lieu of a bed in the corner and there was an electric heater and microwave sitting next to an extension cord.
Sunset carefully blew into her hands, stomping her feet to get feeling into them and glanced wistfully at the electric heater, the room was chilly, but either she plugged in her heater or her microwave, and she hadn't eaten anything yet today, she was starving.
With a heavy sigh she plugged in the microwave, and opened a cardboard box that looked suspiciously like the one she took out of the soup kitchen, pulled out a cup of noodles and a waterbottle. She prepared the noodle cup with the water and stuck it in the microwave to cook.
As it cooked she walked over to her bed, and grabbed the top most blanket, it wasn't nearly as thread bear as some of the others, and only had one hole in it. She wrapped it carefully around her. She needed to shower, but that would have to wait until the morning when the truck stop by the high way opens.
Finally the microwave dinged, alerting her that her food was ready she walked over, unplugged the microwave, plugged the electric heater in, and turned it on. She sat close to the heater as she ate to stay room, and soon found herself nodding off. Which made sense it was almost midnight and she had gotten up at six that morning.
Before she knew what was happening she feel asleep, wrapped in an old quilt next to an electric heater.
The room faded into darkness and when light once more was introduced, the students found them back in the auditorium.
"This just will not do," Rarity pretty much snarled, causing anyone near her to turn to look at her, "Her living conditions are deplorable!" she insisted, "There has to be something we can do."
"There is," Celestia said, "If she had just came to me or my sister, there are several programs we could have gotten her involved in."
"Applejack?" Apple Bloom called out, working her way through the crowd to her sister, her friends close behind her, "You don't think the Spirit of Hearthwarming Future is as scary as the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come right?"
"We'll find out soon enough," Rainbow said, pulling Scootaloo into a hug, "He's next."
The lights of the auditorium flickered before turning off, plunging them into pitch blackness. Several of the students reached out and clung to their neighbor as a thick fog rolled through the walkway. A low pitch maniacal laugh filled the room, seemingly coming from everywhere yet nowhere at the same time.
Apple Bloom clung to her older sister as Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo clung to Rarity and Rainbow Dash.
"Well well well," a deep echo voice called out, "What do we have here?"
Several of the other students clung to each other, as a tall figure dressed in a cloak appeared on the stage, "A bunch of humans who claim to know the magic of friendship, yet can't offer it to the one person who needs it the most."
"I assume that you're the Spirit of Hearthwarming Future?" Vice Principal Luna asked, stepping forward onto the stage.
"Yes, I am," the creature said, "Shall we get going?"
The room disappeared around them as a new location formed. Large smokestacks rose up into the sky spewing pollution into the sky. Several workers rushed through the grounds, wearing the same blue coveralls, before splitting apart as they reached the large parking lot, calling out to one another as they climbed into their cars and drove off.
That was all but one, a young woman with flaming red and gold hair walked out of the factory with her hands in her pockets and her shoulders hunched. The slush under her feet splashed up around her, soaking her feet as she made her way to the parking lot, slipping a little on a patch of black ice right next to an old broken down car.
Sunset drooped down onto the steering wheel, resting her pounding head down on it. Her whole body ached, and her chest felt like an elephant was sitting on it. She grimaced as a deep hard cough tore its way out of her throat. The Factory would be closing down for the holidays, hopefully, she would be able to recover enough by the time it was time to return to work that she could actually keep up with the demands.
After simply seating there, in her car, for several minutes, Sunset turned the car on and pulled out of the lot.
Rarity couldn't believe how horrible Sunset looked and it wasn't because nobody could look good in coveralls. There were bags under her eyes, her yellow skin had somehow taken on a green tint to it, and her hair had lost its lustrous glow, "What's wrong with Sunset?" she asked.
"Equestrians aren't used to the pollution that you humans seem to like pouring into the air," The Spirit of Hearthwarming Future insisted, sticking out a claw-like hand from his cloak, "She doesn't have the immunity to the poisonous stuff that you guys have. It affects her worst than the others."
The students fell silent, the spirit didn't need to spell out what he was talking about, they could see it themselves. Working at the factory was slowly killing Sunset Shimmer.
Sunset Shimmer slowly entered the small one-bedroom apartment that she had moved into last winter after she received her first paycheck from the factory. Her neighbors were fighting again, their shouting shoving white-hot knives into her skull, and she knew that it would only get worst if she called them out for it.
She opened her fridge and peered inside, but the sight of the food just made her feel queasy so she shut it again. She walked over to the worn-out couch and plopped down, not bothering to turn the TV on but just sat and stared at it.
She had thought that the factory job offer had been the answer to all of her problems. She no longer had to deal with bullies or being reminded of her past. She was earning enough money to afford her own place, so she now had food on the table, a roof over her head, and warmth during the cold winter months. Plus she worked so much overtime that she didn't have time to make friends and nobody bothers her by trying to be friendly.
However, the constant ache of her chest, the cough that had appeared six months ago and had not gone away. Her constant headaches, and loss of appetite. She bet if she did run into someone from High School they wouldn't even recognize her...
The lights suddenly flared into life causing the students to blink in confusion, they were back at the school.
"Discord? What are you doing?" a soft voice called out, echoing through the room.
The voice was familiar, so familiar that all of Fluttershy's friends turned to look at her.
Fluttershy shook her head, "It wasn't me."
"Fluttershy," the Spirit of Hearthwarming Future called out, sounding surprised, "What are you doing here?"
"You weren't at the Hearthwarming party, so I thought I'll stop by and see how you are doing?"
"Well as you can see, I'm perfectly fine," The Spirit sounded hurried as if he didn't want whoever had interrupted him to find out what he was doing, "Thank you for your concern, I'll see you for tea Hearthwarming afternoon."
"Discord what are you doing?" This time the other Fluttershy sounded a little cross as if she had walked in on someone with their hand in the cookie jar.
The Spirit of Hearthwarming Future or Discord as the mysterious disembodied voice of Fluttershy had revealed sputtered for a moment before letting out a deep sigh, "I'm helping Sunset Shimmer make friends by recreating the Hearthwarming Carol, now if you excuse me, I need to get back to showing them Sunset Shimmer's future if they don't start being nice to her."
"Does Sunset Shimmer know that you're interfering?" The other Fluttershy asked.
"Well, no," Discord said, "But I thought I'll lend a helping hand from one reformed villain to another."
"What exactly have you been up to?" Fluttershy asked sweetly.
"Well if you must know," Discord said, "I had Sunset Shimmer reveal to her so-called friends that she doesn't celebrate Christmas and they totally freaked out and called her a Scrooge, a horrible insult at this time of year, I assure you."
"Discord?" There was a sharpness to Fluttershy's voice now that made everyone look uneasily at the teenager version.
"Okay, so I might have altered her friends' responses a little bit as well."
"Discord, how could you? You can't just go about playing with other ponies willy nilly like that."
"But they aren't ponies, they're humans."
You know what I mean," Fluttershy snapped, "You can't alter what anyone is going to say for your own amusement, nor can you reveal things from Sunset's past without her permission."
"I was just trying to help," Discord insisted, "I figured that if her schoolmates knew about her past and current situation they wouldn't pick on her so much."
"I know that you meant well Discord, Fluttershy said softly, "But next time you should talk to Sunset and Twilight before you interfere."
"I'll do that," Discord said, removing his cloak before snapping his fingers allowing the students and staff of Canterlot High to be released from the trance he had put on them.
Sunset glanced around before carefully pulling her scarf away from her neck, she was sweltering but if her adoptive mother or her friends saw her not bundled up to the tee in the snow they would freak out. For some reason, they got really possessive and overprotective of her about a year ago. Something that she suspected had to do with Discord if Princess Twilight's apology for his interference was anything to go by.
"Sunset," a loud voice called out across the snow-covered front lawn of the school as a pink blur bounced its way over to her, "Sunset Shimmer!"
"Hey Pinkie Pie," Sunset smiled brightly at her pink friend who finally slowed down her bouncing enough for Sunset to actually see her, holding a plate full of cookies.
"I made Christmas Cookies!" she shouted eagerly, then her eyes went round as she let out a gasp, "Oh Sunset, I forgot, I'm sorry."
"Forgot what?" Sunset asked, arching an eyebrow, sometimes her friends still did things that confused her, even after being friends for almost a year.
"You don't celebrate Christmas," Pinkie said blushing, "And here I am offering to share my Christmas cookies."
Sunset managed to smile, "I might not celebrate Christmas, but," Sunset leaned forward as if she was going to reveal a big secret, "I love your cookies."
With that Sunset snatched one of the decorated cookies from the plate and took a bite out of it, "You outdid yourself this time Pinkie, this cookie is amazing."
"Thanks," Pinkie said, taking a skipping step towards the school, before freezing mid-skip, turning towards Sunset, "I'm hosting a Gingerbread Party at Sugarcube Corner tonight. It's kind of a Christmas Party so I didn't think you wanted to come, but since you like cookies."
"It sounds like fun," Sunset said with a laugh, "I'll ask my mom, but you know how overprotective she is."
"Yeah," Pinkie said a little subdue, Sunset Shimmer's adoptive mother, Principal Celestia, had sent her to the nurse's office because she was sneezing during class, despite it being home ec and the fact that half the class had sneezed because Pinkie Pie had accidentally tossed the sprinkles into the flour causing it to go everywhere, including up several students noses.
"Good morning Darlings," a melodious voice called out as Rarity walked up to them, "Oh, dear, Sunset you seemed to have forgotten your scarf." With that, she pulled off her backpack and started to ruffle through it, no doubt to find a spare scarf.
"No, no, Rarity," Sunset insisted, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the scarf that she had took off, "It's right here, I just took it off because I was hot."
"Hot," Rainbow Dash echoed, shoving her hands in her pocket for warmth, "How could you be hot when it's freezing out here?"
Sunset shrugged, "My new coat is a lot warmer than my old jacket," she explained, "and honestly you get used to the cold when you only have one small electric heater to heat up a whole warehouse."
Sunset almost wished she hadn't said anything at the look of alarm the others gave each other, "Things are a lot better this year," she insisted, "Thanks to you guys," she paused, "Well you and Mom."
"So are you celebrating Hearthwarming this year?" Rainbow asked, "That's what it's called right?"
"Yes," Sunset said, "And I am, but I'm also celebrating Christmas this year with my family," she announced, "For the most part a lot of the traditions are the same, we decorate trees, sing songs, and give presents. Christmas has stockings and Santa Claus, while Hearthwarming has dolls on the hearth and you hang the flag up."
"Dolls?" Pinkie Pie asked, "Why do you put dolls on the hearth?"
Sunset frowned, "I don't really know," she confessed, "I just know that we always put our dolls on the heath at the orphanage for Hearthwarming. I think it's to remind us that true warmth comes from our friends and love ones or something like that."
The trilling of the school bell interrupted the conversation, causing the four friends to start to run towards the school, they would have to walk fast if they want to drop their stuff off at their locker before first hour.
Sunset smiled as she placed the can goods she had brought to the large pile against the door to Ms. Cheerilee's classroom, the school food drive was a success from what she could tell. Sure the teachers had all offered the extra credit incentive again as well as the competition with Crystal Prep, even if they were friendly with the other school, it did not mean that they weren't going to crush them.
A light purple hand snaked out, placing a can next to hers, "I'm surprised you aren't turning it in for extra credit," Sunset said, beaming up at the owner. This world's Twilight Sparkle was definitely her best friend. She understood the lure of magic, the pain of dark magic, and the pain of being alone.
"I would have but Mr. Cranky informed me that I already have a hundred and twenty percent in his class."
"You could give me your extra credit," Sunset offered, "I have a B-"
"If you needed the Extra credits, why didn't you turn your cans in for points?" a new voice asked as AppleJack put down a large case of applesauce.
Sunset shrugged, "I only donated here because Mom and Aunt Luna really wants to win that Pizza Party this year. They were even considering breaking into Crystal Prep and stealing their food! We already took a large case to the kitchen that I volunteer at."
"Ya talking about our principal, right?" Applejack asked.
Twilight and Sunset both nodded their heads, as Twilight added, "trust me, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna are very different outside of school. I once got stuck on a roller coaster with Principal Celestia and it was eye-opening."
Sunset rubbed her forehead shaking her head, "You should see them during family game night, both of them cheat."
Overhead the bell rung alerting them that they needed to get to class before they were marked tardy. Sunset waved to her friends as she hurried down the hall. Things had changed during the past year. She had a family that cared for her, and amazing friends. She was happy now, something that she hadn't been in a long time. For the first time since she was a young filly, she couldn't wait for Hearthwarming.