A Heart Warming Eve Carol

by Lighting Ace

First published 22nd of December, 2021

A story told a million times already and a million times to come. A prince, 3 ghost and a lesson to repeant before he is gone.

Ever since the first Hearts Warming eve, there has been a special Canterlot celebration, one that all of the children in Equestria wait for with eager anticipation.

On this day, the Princesses of Equestria throw a party in their home to celebrate such a joyful occasion. A spectacular party where everyone is more than welcome as long as they don't have any evil intentions. Such a party serves as a reminder of the things that came to pass and how a strong friendship beat back what would have been an inevitable demise.

Yet the prince of Canterlot was anything but joyful. Truth be told, he hated the celebration in question. Because if not of a noble or royal line, to him, they were not worth his time or attention, and so with a scowl in his face and a cold soup in his hoof, each year, he avoided the festivities and waited for them to pass.

Not this time, though, as a warning will be issued, and three spirits will show him his current path and what is in the end to such an infuriating brat.

In Seach For Equinity (Grammarly Check)

"For the last time, Aunt Celestia, my answer is no!" A furious Blueblood march into his room shaking off the excess snow in his back while putting away a scarf and top hat from his neck and head respectively "I already accepted the fact that you and Aunt Luna had that nonsensical tradition of throwing a party to everyone in Equestria no matter their social class or background to basically invite them to steal us blind. But now you also expect me to mingle with them too?! Oh no, I draw the line there" He tells with an accusing hoof at her.

"But you used to love this party" Celestia remained calm and tried to appeal to his better version before looking at his fireplace and levitating a picture of her and him as a little colt, with her lifting him up into the air while he was halfway done eating a candy cane. "Don't you remember how much fun we used to have back then? You didn't have any problem going play with other children, and even playing a prank or two, you even loved some of the candies and treats they always shared with you. You never once cared where they came from. Don't you want to experience that joy again? You could even show your aunt Luna the ropes, she is still adapting to this kind of social event and could really use your help" She pleaded showing him the picture.

"What is the matter auntie? Your star pet is too busy that day? Or is this more of a pity favor?" He looks at her with malice, as she gasps in horror.

"Blueblood I thought we were clear, I never was, or am I intended to replace you," She says offended.

"Did you? Then answer me this, where did I fit in on your grand plan once she takes over the throne, huh? What did you envision for me? Did you even think of me once?"

She only remains quiet and looks down "Yeah, that is what I thought"

"I had faith you will achieve autonomy by now!" Celestia talks starting to get angry "Blueblood I can't just keep holding your hoof and trace your actions all your life!"

"I know, you are too busy holding Twilight's"

"Twilight achievements and decisions were all her own and no one else's! Something you are still too afraid to try for the looks of things''

"Oh I'm not afraid of taking decisions of my own as well auntie, you left me no choice after you choose her over me." He sniffs once and clears a tear from his eyes before starting to walk away "Now if you excuse me, some of us have work to do!" Blueblood mentions with a glare before heading to his desk and start working on a pile of papers Celestia hadn't noticed before. Curiously she levitated one page and inspected the content. "These are rejection forms I haven't signed yet"

"Any royal can sigh and it will be valid and you always keep them piling up until the last day" Blueblood starts to work without looking. "I know this guy's auntie, and trust me, it better get this over quickly before they pester you for another year for a…pool landscape? By the stars, some ponies are just weird this time of the year" He mentions relaxing a little bit

"You…you want to help me ease my workload?" Celestia is surprised and slightly touched by his actions.

"What? You don't trust me with this either? Because I swear auntie if you take this from me too I…" Before he could finish Celestia surprised him with a kiss on his forehead "I knew there was a heart in you" She whispered please by his actions.

"Whatever" He just grumbles and goes back to work as she nods. "Just think about it ok? I know what happened but if you could just give it another chance I…I miss you there" Celestia tells in pity making him stop.

"I will think about it" Blueblood finally relent making her smile as she leaves

"I only ask for one try nephew, just one and you will see how much fun it can really be" She pleads one last time before leaving the photo next to him as she closes the door behind her.

The prince stopped working and looked at the picture as well "I miss it too auntie" He confessed to himself that no one is working before his gaze hardened and resumed working "But I promised myself never to repeat that mistake. Never again."

With a sigh, the prince decided to go back to his work and let it absorb his attention as time flew by without him noticing until a grumble on his guts announced to him of his impending hunger as well as how the sun had already set and it was now night time. Not only that but some laughter in the distance made him aware of what he was dreading since this morning. A 'before' party was in progress, meaning the elements were in the castle and among them Twilight Sparkle, the last pony he ever wanted to see right now.

Just ignore everything, get your soup, and get back. There is no way you will stumble into her. The prince convinces himself as the hunger finally made him abandon his job and venture outside his room in search of the kitchen in what he hopes will only be a couple of minutes. Unfortunately, destiny seemed to have other plans for him because just when the kitchen was in reach the source of his bad mood stepped outside of it with a soda at hoof and looked directly at him, freezing both ponies in place, as an awkward silence filled the room.

"Ah…eh hi?" Twilight tried to make small conversation as she wanted to search for a way to break the tension, as Blueblood only keep staring at her emotionless

"Thief" He replied with half a nod, teasing Twilight as he resumed his march inside the kitchen where he tried to look for all the ingredients for his meals as quickly as possible.

With a sigh, Twilight managed to recover and look at him again "Blueblood this is getting ridiculous, it made sense when we were kids but this temper tantrum of yours has gone far too long. Don't you think it's time to just let it go?"

"Oh I don't know, would you let it go if I have taken your mother from you for the last 20 years!?" He half yells in rage stopping making his meal.

"I didn't steal anything! Princess Celestia always has you in her heart. Even when you became such a melodramatic brat!" She counters equally angry.

"Oh, that is rich coming from the mare with the wings and the title" He rolled his eyes sarcastically before taking his bowl of soup. "My aunt and I were happy before you came along, the second you became her student I turned invisible, do you have any idea how does that feels? To compete with the 'prodigy' with the 'hero' with the princess of Equestria?" He spat the last part full of venom.

She gasps, getting angrier. "You are blaming me for saving Equestria? Especially since all you do since I have known you, is sit around and expect everyone to just love you just because of your title and nothing more. Maybe the princess would put more attention in you if you were nicer to others and don't use ponies as doormats''

"You don't know anything about me! In fact, I'm assuming that kind of claim must have come from that incident with that strange friend of yours with purple mane, right? Tell me Sparkles, you would prefer I just had let her treat me like a trophy?"

"Excuse me?" Twilight asks taking aback by that

"You tell me, aren't you too supposedly friends? Or better yet, answer me this, what was her intention exactly? How was she planning to get to know me better once we met? Or she merely thought that I would simply swoop her hooves right away? That I will be unable to take my eyes off her, the second I see her? Or did she simply expect me to propose after meeting her for exactly one hour?"

"Ah well…she mentions a dance…and maybe some mingling, she didn't say propose right away I…Rarity would never have considered you a trophy!"

"So you don't deny it then?" He chuckled and shook his head "Is this actually your best counter? A basically: 'No, she isn't? That is the best you can do? By all the stars the nobles will eat you alive!" He smirks as he marches away "Well maybe that could be for the better, watching you crash and burn might be some poetic justice for stealing my family, my home, and my life. You deserve way worse but I will take what I can get. Now if you excuse me, my dinner is getting cold"

Before she could have anything else to reply he was already about to exit the kitchen when some astral blue changes sealed the entrance blocking his advance.

"Really Sparkles? You are that petty as to resort to magic just to have the last word?" Blueblood turned to look at her but she only shook her head and trembled as she slowly backed away. "That is not me, that is not me!" She tells while slowly hiding as the sounds of chains moving catch the prince attention as he sees what Twilight saw and start to back away too the moment he saw the silhouetted of a pony with a series of chains wrapped all over his body starting to fade throw the door while moaning in sorrow, before crashing into the floor with a wet thump as his body break and shatters like glass.

A hideous smell of putrid flesh soon bath the entire room and both royals had to cover their nose and close their eyes in an attempt to block as much of the horrible smell until it all just simple banish like it was never there, and peeking up from their hiding place saw that everything was back to normal.

"In the name of my aunt, what just happened? Sparkle if this is your doing I swear..."

"I told you it wasn´t me! I…I don't know what that was but magic definitely wasn't involved"

"Oh good another of your crazy adventures then" He grumbles as he resumes his exit "I better getaway before you drag me alooooone!" Without looking a ghost chain grabbed around his lower left hoof and yanked him back dragging him into the floor until he was suspended in the air.

"Blueblood!" Twilight tries to help but another chance grabs her right-wing and does the same as she ends up back to back with him, as the ghost reappears in front of the two.

"Blue…Blood" He gargles as his body reforms until they see the face of Blueblood on the ghost, surprising both as he lets them go and he points a cracking hoof at his counterpart. "You must listen to what I had to say, and heed my warning"

"Wha…who are you?! And why are you wearing my face?!" The prince demanded with fear in his voice as he crawled back away from the specter, Twilight soon positions herself between the two with a green face doing what she can to ignore the rotting smell, as she erects a shield around the two.

"This does not concern you, Princess, you are free to go if my presence produces you such discomfort," The ghost tells Twilight, stopping his moments but she remains strong.

"Blueblood ask you a question, who are you? And why are you hunting him?" She charges her horn ready to attack. "Cancel your spell and show us your real face"

Keeping silent the ghost at first just simply remain still until he lift his hoof and in one swipe destroy his face as if it was shattered glass showing a putrid green goo that made the smell even worse and make the royals flinch and jump back from both the scare and disgust, as well as making Twilight lose her focus and cancel her spell.

Reforming his appearance the ghost speaks up once more. "There is no mask to hide my face Princess what you see is what I have become" He then looks at Blueblood and drag him forward with his chain so he can see him better "And what you will be if you don't repent"

"Wha…what? You mean to tell me you are…M…Me?!"

"Indeed, as true as each snowflake is unique, a thousand worlds exist for each and every thought there has been. As such I'm the worse outcome to the like of us my twin"

"Wait, you are a Blueblood of another world then?" Twilight chips in interest.

"Indeed, Princess one who is now doomed to walk throws out the multiverse wearing the sins I committed while alive for all of eternity," He says referring to the chains, his cracking body, and oozing goo. "Cursed to be shackled by chains into this body filled with the bile that was my own grudge and anger, as it breaks and cracks under the weight of my own pride and the futility of such, " He tells in pity looking down.

Taking the opportunity the Prince tries to tippy-toe his way out of the kitchen only to see the screaming image of his counterpart in front of him making him back away in a hurry completely terrified. "Heed my warning Blueblood! These same chains of mine are forging inside your soul as well!" He declares in anger as he wraps the chains around him. Twilight tries to help but her magic and action only result in her hoof being entangled too.

"Please, let me alone! Why are you telling me this?!" Blueblood pleaded, completely terrifying.

"Because even though it far too late for me, there is yet time for you, an opportunity for you to change and break the cycle of doom and hate that has fallen on uncountable versions of us, to be more than just a footnote and become a pony worthy of been call a Prince," He tells sorrowful as he approaches the two "I have spoken with those that might help you realized the errors of your way and as such tonight you will be haunted by 3 ghosts whose advice might be the only thing that could be able to save you"

"Wait, 3 ghosts? Like the Heart Warming ghost?!" Twilight asks, getting excited as a smile creeps on her face much to Blueblood confusion "Like the Heart Warming Tail? Is that what this is? What will this be all about? "

"Indeed princess but do not be foul by childhood illusions, no this is in no way the story you grew up with. This is a version closer to the original book" He mentions with an expressionless face

"Original book? What do you…?" Before she could ask the ghost screeched once more and wrapped the chains around the two "Pay attention to the ringing of a bell Prince for each ring will announce the arrival of each spirit, repent and change your ways Blueblood, look for your fellow mare and stallion. Be kind to thy neighbor, let others into your heart. Don't let this be your destiny, burn my image into your mind. This will be the only warning you will have!" He tosses the two into a chair before flying away dragging him for the ride at max speed.

"This isn't how the story goes, this isn't how things are supposed to go!" Twilight yells in both fear and confusion until they both reach a nearby window where they stop with a sudden thump only to be horrified by the image in front of them.

Millions of ghosts flew all over the skies of Canterlot with various weird contraptions moaning and screaming in sorrow begging to end their suffering, not only that but alongside them were versions of Blueblood and Twilight and even the main six and Princess Celestia.

"Please! I'm sorry, let me help you" The ghost of Celestia plead making Blueblood scream in terror, catching the attention of all the ghosts as the chains of the royals dissipate.

Before anyone could react, all the ghosts rush to them and drag him into a spectral wave until finally, they reach Blueblood room leaving everything in silence once more, and allow the royals a moment to breathe and calm their terrifying hearts, as they slowly look up at one another and utter one single sentence simultaneously.

"What the h…?!"

Author's Notes:

Happy Holidays! Everyone, hope you all have are in good health, please enjoy this small little treat of mine in celebration of the festivities.

Ghost Of Heart Warming Past (Grammarly Check)

"This is bad, this is bad!" Blueblood continues to pace back and forward "The castle is going to be haunted now? Tonight of all days? Do you have any idea of what kind of image that can project?" Blueblood turns to look at Twilight who gives him a deadpan

"Tell me you are joking"

"Our citizens, mare! Think about them, would you?!" He grabs her by the shoulders and starts shaking her up "Canterlot Castle is supposed to be a symbol of Equestria wealth and prosperity, what kind of message do you think it will give if ponies find out it is haunted?! What image will project to other countries?! As rulers, we need to project security and harmony, and a ghost will ruin all that the second it says boo!"

"Ok, ok! I get it!" Twilight pushes him away and fixes her mane a little. "You don't want to ruin your image of the perfect prince, got it" She look at him with annoyance "Although you had to admit that ghost kind of had a point"

"What?!" He looks at her in disbelief

"I mean you could at least make the effort to be a bit nicer. It is not that hard either, Starlight and Tempest could help you learn how, and I have another friend that went to way worse things than you and turns out ok in the end. Besides, isn't this a bit exciting!? The Heart-Warming Ghosts Blueblood! The ghost of the story! They are real, and they want to help you! They could even show you how Equestria was in the old days and even the very first Heart Warming party!" She exclaimed enthusiastically as Blueblood gave her a deadpan.

"You drank at the party, did you?"

Her comment crash her enthusiasm down as she looked at him with a deadpan "Sure you can be grumpy pants too if you want" She sigh in disappointment before turning away "Don't worry as usual I and the princesses will take care of this so you can go back to your bruting…"

"NO!" Blueblood all of the sudden rushed and close the door with force before Twilight could exit surprising her as he get close to her face with a glare "You will not get my aunts involved in this mess"

"What?" She is taken aback by that sudden change in him as he backs away.

"All year long my aunts have been busting their FLANKS off ensuring prosperity and wealth for all of Equestria, this is supposed to be their day off, this and tomorrow are supposed to be the only days they don't need to worry for any crazy shenanigans, fixing the messes you six get themselves into or having to be the princess of Equestria. I will not let you take that away from them, not this time, you hear me? This is their day off. PERIOD."

"You…you don't want them to stress over the holidays?" Twilight asks in surprise but with a smile slowly creeping on her face "Blueblood that is very nice of you to…"

"Don't!" He interrupts her as he slowly backs away "Spare me the speech" He moves ahead and opens the door "We will deal with this problem ourselves, now let go! There must be something on how to deal with these things in the royal library"

"You are right, if there is something that could help us it could be there" Twilight nods and follows behind "Can we include my friends at the very least?"

"I thought this was supposed to be a party for them too, but sure be a horrible host if you want" Blueblood grumbled, still angry at the situation he was tossed in, yet Twilight decided to ignore his snarky remark, chalking up to stress as they walked through the hallway.

A couple of hours later, Blueblood and the mane six were turning the library upside down trying to find any answers. Naturally, the royal sisters were understandably confused as to why suddenly Twilight needed all of their help but when Blueblood step in and told Princess Celestia he needed a moment to talk to them, they got the impression that he intended to make the effort to be nicer and let them go without much of an issue.

"Nothing in this one either Twilight" AJ sighs and puts the book back.

“Oh, I found this old busting team with a specialty in the supernatural” Pinkie lift a book with the image of a ghost pony with a denies symbol on top of it flipping throw its books “But they dissolve years ago, according to this. No dice” She shrugs and tosses the book away

"Keep looking! There is not much time left" Blueblood yells with urgency earning a collective glare from the mares.

"Remind me again why are we helping this brat Twilight?" Dash flew closer to the Princess with a raised eyebrow.

"Because he needs our help, and even though he is insufferable we can't simply turn a blind eye on his time off need, especially when the ghost warns me that this time 'it will be closer to the original book' whatever that means"

She inches closer to Rainbow to whisper "Plus it will be a great opportunity to aid him into changing his ways too"

Rainbow from her part only crosses her frontal hooves and gives her a deadpan look "You only want a jolly ride on a Heart Warming Carol experience do you?"

"It can be both things!" Twilight defends herself with a blush.

"Glad to hear you find joy in my misery Sparkles" Blueblood sends her a death glare as she is startled from being found out.

"More than misery I say you got exactly what you deserved" Rarity stood up "You are lucky Twilight is kind enough to offer her help even when you don't deserve it, the least you could do is show some consideration and stop whining for five seconds! Will it kill you to be nice?!"

"Yeah, I even find it hard to believe all that story if it wasn't Twilight who told us about it. If those ghosts wish to teach you a lesson I say you should let them" Applejack adds

"Come on girls let's not fight" Pinkie gets in between the two "It's almost Heart Warming even. Don't worry Bluey, we understand that you are scared so we will be right here for you the moment the spirits comes"

"D-D-Do we have to?" Fluttershy manages to stutter in complete terror gulping and looking around not liking the idea of facing a ghost whatsoever.

"I have a better idea, hey Princess you want to take my place and deal with the ghosts? Be my guest, use that fancy alicorn magic of yours and turn me invisible or something so the ghosts don't have a choice but to mess with you instead of…"

"…I'm afraid that is not how things work Blueblood" A high-pitched child voice interrupts the Prince in time for the first ringing of a grandfather clock at the far side of the room. The room is left quiet and darker as everyone slowly turns to the left of the room where a semi-translucent figure of the white-yellowish colt was reading a Heart Warming Even Carol "Still, points for creativity it might have work"

The child continues casually passing the pages until laughing and closing the book "Boy what a fanfic, I mean cancel the celebration altogether? Geez, overkill much everypony? That is not how the story goes, they even got our descriptions wrong" The child finally look at everyone as they gasp when they found the colt's eyes void of pupils and instead illuminating with their yellow light, as his mane and tail seems to made of a dull out the fire of the same color, he was wearing a wreath with small yellow candles as a crown a brown vest on top of a white shirt and some small round reading glasses. Picking a big candle cap half his size he approached the group.

"But still it was a nice interpretation I like the first ghost on it, even if she was missing the cap and all that" He giggle as everyone look at the arrival with wary looks

"Ah sorry but you are…?" Blueblood took a tentative step forward

"Isn't it obvious?" When there was no reply he sighs in disappointment "Fine let just keep to the script then, hello everypony! I'm the ghost of Hearth's Warming Past."

"Ah no you are not, last I remember the ghost of Warming Past wasn’t exactly on fire or looked anything like that, why do you like that anyway?" AJ raised a hoof in confusion only for the kid to appear next to her startle the poor mare in the process

"Fair enough, creative liberties on describing me and all that, but well that is how symbolism works, right? To answer your question, my body resembles that of an old flame from things that are behind us, like a candle finding its final sparks before melting away" He clarified before looking around "Aww and you are making new friends Blueblood? It's like the old band is back together only this one is way better than the first''

"Don't!" Blueblood eyes wide at the comment as he was engulfed in fury "Don't you dare mention those two-timing silver tongue snakes!" He tries to grab the kid only for him to face throw.

"I'm afraid that is not how it works either Blueblood, the past is the past and what happens can't be erased…hmm maybe with a time travel spell but besides that it can't be changed" His tone turns sober "And I'm here to remind you of what was forgotten and lost, as painful as that might be" He turns to the mane six "You can come too but I should warn you now, it not gonna a be pretty"

They all look at one another until Twilight step forward with determination "We are ready"

"What?! No, we are not ready. I'm not gonna do this!" Blueblood tried to complain but the kid already launch into him

"Sorry Blueblood it is happening, so one friendly advice? Hold tight!" He chuckles once again before springing giant wings from his wax body as he grabs Blueblood hoof and flies the two out of the window with the main six giving chase. Twilight, Dash, and Fluttershy use their wings while the princess uses her magic to create a bubble and carry the rest of her friends.

"This isn't it happening, this isn't it happening, this isn't it happening!" The Prince keeps his eyes clenched in terror while chanting the same thing.

"Oh come on Blue at the very least enjoy the view, few are the ones that have the opportunity to see a sunrise backward" The child commented and as he slowly opens his eyes the Prince found the night sky quickly turning into dawn and the land recovering their freshly blanket of pure white snow as they seem to turn around and return to the castle where nothing seems to have changed as the kid brings them all back to the library "We are here"

"That is it? We just spin around in place" Dash complains until the kid smirks "Did we?"

"Blueblood can you pass me the sugar?" A feminine voice calls in the distance that the prince immediately recognized "That voice, no it can't be…mom?"

"Mom!" The mane six exclaim as the prince walks out of the library and into the kitchen as his march soon turns into an exciting throat with the rest following until they reach their destination. There in the kitchen was a unicorn mare with light blue fur and the same golden mane and tail that Blueblood had with a crown with stars as a cutie mark. Currently cooking something with the aid of a four-year-old Blueblood who passes the sugar as she pats his head and they chuckle as they continue to make a soup.

“How long until it is ready, mom?” The child Blueblood question with wonder as she chuckles

“Soon Blueblood, like anything else in life the sweetest and best result comes with some love, dedication, and of course…” She boop his nose leaving a flour mark on his snout “…patience”

“Mom, why do you always make this soup for Heart Warming Eve?”

“Mostly tradition I say. This is no ordinary soup sweetie, it belonged to my dear old mom, who was passed on by her dad, and who passed it from his aunt, and so on and on. It is an old family recipe that one day it will be passing on to you”

Taking a spoon she took a scoop and gave it a taste licking his lips as she let him take a sip as well “It's delicious!”

“And you know why it makes it so special, and yummy?”

“Sugar!” He exclaim lift the whole mug of it ready to pour it until his mom laughed and took it away with her magic

“Close but no. What makes it extra special is the love you pour into making it” She grabs his shoulders with both hooves “Listen to me my sweet little angel, legend has it that this recipe was made the very first year after Equestria was founded. It is the love and understanding for your neighbor that gives it flavor which makes it our family tradition” She let him go and started to stir the dish.

“Throw it we remember what we learned that fateful night and how a strong and loving heart can warm the coldest of days. As long as you keep that love in you this soup would taste like the sweetest of treats”

“Oh I see…but the spoons of sugar help too, right?”

She laughs again and pats his head lovely “It sure does Bluey, it sure does”

The scene was enough to choke the Prince as he choked and cleared a tear from his eyes. "Take a good look Blueblood" The child appeared in front of him and pointed at the scene "Back then things were far easier wasn't it?"

"Yeah, growing up without a dad wasn't easy but mom was always there for me. Helping on the castle as my aunty secretary, she was a super mom" He smiles in remembrance.''To this day I don't know how she keeps doing it, but she always had time for me, auntie, and her job. Our family wasn't big but it was whole and rich"

The entire place is filled with warm and festive lights emanating from the mare in question as the group moves away from the kitchen, and pass throw rooms when the three enjoy dinner together, playing board games, studying the stars and talking with the moon, and entertaining noble guest local and international laughing and playing around, all sorts of sports even when getting dirty and muddy none seems to bother.

"Mom always knew how to make the castle feel like a real home" Blueblood keep reminiscent as the time went by and place her hoof on a picture of her "Just her presence was enough to brighten the mood of everyone, especially at parties"

"Do you see how easy it can be? How a simple act of kindness could make everything brighter? If the pretense of superiority deprives you of the joy of life, what is the point in holding on to it?" The child points at the Heart Warming party where his family was all wearing ugly sweaters while making a toast as everyone laughed and raised their glasses into the air.

"I don't remember any of this, why did Princess Celestia never tell me about all these parties?" Twilight ask intrigued

"Believe it or not the world does not revolve around you Sparkles!" Blueblood shot her a death glare "This was a private event, meant for only our closest friends. We have the right of life outside our royal duties and before you march in and demand to make it public it meant something…a moment that I used to look out for"

Soon the lights on the hallways die down and everything becomes colder as he clenches his eyes while the front door of the castle opens with his mom patting his head with some suitcases at hand.

"Do you have to leave mom? Can't it wait?"

"It's just some small drizzle Blueblood, don't worry I will be back in time for the party"

"I will have our soup ready by then mom!" He tells in excitement as she chuckles

"Just remember not to put all the sugar on it this time ok?" He nods as she waves goodbye, and the door closes filling the room in silence.

No words were needed as AJ slowly approach the sobbing Prince and pat his back "Didn't know you were on the same club partner, you don't need to say anything else"

He just remains quiet subbing briefly before advancing again with a glared "Just…don't bring it up, you might know how much it hurts. But at least you have your siblings, your grandma, your entire and numerous family for you, right?"

He points at a grieving Celestia hugging a disheartened Blueblood "After that day I only had my auntie left"

"Blueblood I didn't know, I'm so sorry" Twilight looked at him in melancholy as he advanced.

"No, you don't none of you do" He marches with more determination until the child stops him "So deep runs the scar of betrayal that you wish to ignore the hoof of kindness?"

"Leave me alone!" He looks away in irritation.

"They are not them Blueblood and you know it."

The children get angry and his flame grows brighter as the scenery changes once more as he holds his head "Please I don't want to remember this event"

"Yet you keep it vividly as a medal to your heart, a lesson of a dark face in the world. If you truly wish to let it pass it needs to be spoken. Deny it and it will only increase its pain"

"Blueblood…what exactly happened in the past, that makes you so wary of letting any pony inside your heart? Who hurt you?" Fluttershy pleads as everything changes to a grand galloping gala, with mirrors all over the dance floor.

Sighing in defeat he only stands up "Might as well tell since you are gonna a see it anyway" He glare at the earth pony mare with chocolate brown fur and golden mane talking with a group of ponies "Epona and her band of goons and leeches"

"Oh you should see his face, the innocent naive little prince, signing a check for billions like it was a candy" Epona boost in confidence as everyone laugh

"Oh Epona you are so bad" One of her friend's comment

"Hey, some pony needs to take the candy from the baby isn't it?"

"Don't you feel at the very least bad for tricking the Prince so much?" Another mare question with a raised eyebrow more out of curiosity than genuine pity.

"Please the brat has his life all sort it up for him, he has the castle, the princesses, and the fame and glory, he will not miss sharing some of his allowances right?" They all laugh and clink their cups ignoring how not too far hiding behind a table a young Prince just heard their conversation and promptly starts to hold back tears.

"Life became way colder after my mom was gone. Auntie Celestia tried her best of course but well she is the ruler, of course, she didn't have much time for me, even less after losing her star secretary. I never hold it against her, it wasn't her fault and I wasn't going to add even more pressure to something so grim already so…" He looks at a mirror of him reading books of the economy on top of others like laws, and other things. "I started to learn what exactly my mom did. Wanting to understand how the world of high classes tic and what would a princess need to run it smoothly I was determined to make my mom proud stepping into her hoofsteps, she was my hero and nothing would have made me prouder than to keep her legacy alive"

The mirrors show him gradually grasping the concept of a secretary, aiding the princess in what he can and a relief Celestia patting his head at the improvement he was making.

"I even tried to ignore the constant reminders of a certain purple thief" He doesn't look back but Twilight flinches when she sees a picture of Blueblood with a drawing but Celestia was focusing on Twilight lessons with her head buried in a book.

"It thought it was part of her job I had nothing to worry about it"

"You don't have anything to worry about…"

"But then it started, one day she starts to pay less attention to me and got to talk more about her star pupil, then it became a week, then a month and then no matter what I do or try EVERYTHING always had to revolve around her star pupil and all the progress she made and how much she needs help making friends or a report or anything, never having any spare time to even say hi" He starts to get increasingly angry, before taking a deep breath.

"I try to ignore it, tell myself I was overreacting, and focus on being just like my mom, being kind to others, and listening to their needs. That is how I meet Epona a local farmer starting her business in Canterlot with a group of ponies wishing the same"

He looked at another mirror showing them kneeling and pleading for help as he smiled and like her mom did his best to aid the poor farmers and nobles in what they needed until they reached the party. "I was a fool for trusting them, of course, I wasn't nothing but a bank account to them, taking advantage of my kindness and generosity for their agenda!"

The mirrors crack as his gaze turns colder. "That night I learned an important lesson. The blind trust would only get you hurt, and to survive in this cruel cold world you must strike for the kill" The mirrors shatter and the girls gasp when they see Epona and her group soon been tricked and owned by Blueblood as he used all his tricks to swingle all of their money and force them to work for him as he keeps glaring at them when they beg for mercy with tears of their eyes.

"Looks like you were the punchline then" Blueblood coldly replied to Epona as he was on his knees and whisper on her ears "Try to make a fool out of me again and I will not stop until you are a beggar on the street"

He turns around and marches away "If you want your money back then get out, and don't you dare ever step a foot on my house EVER again"

The girls are all left cold by his actions as he sighs and keeps his gaze glued to the ground

"Blueblood just because some ruffians manipulated you doesn't mean everyone is like that" Rarity finally spoke up "Yes what they did was indeed horrible and they deserved to be punished but don't you think you went a bit too far?"

"I don't want to hear it from a gold digger"

She gasps in horror "How dare you…!"

"No! Rarity not this time before you get all high and mighty in my case on how I made your night miserable and mess up your dress. Ask yourself this. Did you EVER consider my feelings that night?"

"Of course I did! I only wanted to meet you, to get closer to becoming…"

"…my bride and then the princess of Equestria right?" He interrupts him with a deadpan look

"Well at some point but are you going to argue about any filly dream like it a bad thing?"

"Je like that is even a question, you think you are the only mare that has tried that stunt before?" He showed him various mirrors of other faceless mares trying to seduce Blueblood, only to end up tricking him, breaking up by the most ridiculous of excuses, or pressuring him into marriage.

“What do you mean you don’t have any power in the royal court?”

“Come on sweetie, aren’t you a prince when are you gonna a get out of your flank and rescue me from a dragon or shower me with poems and flowers every day, I demand tulips”

“What? I’m dating the prince! I should be walking on petals everywhere I go!”

All of these memories only helped to harden even more his heart as his smile turned less genuinely and it became nothing but a mask to hide his interior fury

"Over and over again I have had my heart broken by mares like you, wanting nothing else but to date a prince only to find that their 'happily ever after is not what they were expecting. That none of them were attracted to me, you never loved me Rarity you were in love with the idea of dating a prince"

He turns around "Just another more snake trying to use me"

They all remain quiet at his claim "I will say this, I'm sorry for using you as a shield. Even if I was just trying to swat you away that went too far, that was a neat dress you got yourself, but I'm not gonna a apologize for my actions"

"Blueblood I swear I wasn't trying…" Rarity stops herself "…just because you were hurt doesn't give you the right…Applejack food was delicious, admit it!"

"I will admit it was…but I can't condemn what you were doing, at the end of the day you are all just like Epona"

He glares at the child "There! Are you happy!? I say it, now stop this torture! I can't take it anymore"

"A trauma left you wary of everyone, feeling betrayed when only trying to emulate your mom. If your past is torture there is no one to blame for it other than yourself. You could have chosen patience and kindness. But instead decided to drown in anger and paranoia"

“Enough!”

“The pain that resides in your heart, makes me wonder what hurts the most, those failed romances? The betrayal of those that claim to be your friend?”

“I say shut up”

“Or the idea that deep in your heart you know how if your mother could see you now she would only be able to turn away and weep in silence?”

“SHUT UP!” In a fit of rage, Blueblood grabs the candle cap and used to smothers the child as it turns to smoke and chock everyone in a thick, deep fog that makes them all cough and go temporarily blind with only fog in front of them. When it cleared everyone was back at the Blueblood room.

"Is it over?" Dash looks around.

"This sure was not the Hearts Warming Eve carol I remember" Applejack comment

"Blueblood" Fluttershy tries to put her hoof on his back as he was holding back tears "I'm sorry…"

"…don't!" He interrupted her immediately "Don't start pitying me now, you have no idea how cold it can get when you can't trust anyone. How lonely it feels to be reminded that you were left behind or be reduced to the prince to use and then discard"

"…if you only let us help you then maybe?" Fluttershy insist but he marched to his bed

"Just leave me. If you care for me, then leave me alone…please"

The girls exchange glances before ever so slowly they decided to march away from the room and close the door behind them. It wasn't until he was alone that he searched his nightstand for a picture and looked at the image of his mom holding her newborn baby that he openly wept in silence until finally fell asleep.

The Ghost Of Heart Warming Present (Grammarly Check)

After drinking some hot chocolate to calm their nerves the mane six gather around near the kitchen to try and think of a plan.

"So…ghosts are real then. Don't get me wrong this is nothing we can't kick their flanks if needed to be but still never imagine we actually would be facing an actual ghost from a children's book" Dash mentions trying to lighten the mood after some uncomfortable silence.

"I'm not sure if we should even stop them Dash" Applejack argues "I mean sure they are way different than the story we all read but at the end of the day I think they are trying to help" She sighs and stare at her mug "And geez talk about heavy, I always thought that guy was just spoiled and bratty, never imagine he had suffered so much"

"I can't help but feel partially at fault here" Twilight sat down dejectedly "I mean this is Moondancer all over again if I have only not been so focused on my books…"

"...I will stop you right there Twilight dear" Rarity stops her with a glare "True his past was sad but you didn't do anything wrong. The only pony to blame for him turning into such a brute is himself and no pony else"

"Well…Princess Celestia could have tried to spend a bit more time with him" Applejack mentions in sorrow "I mean he was vulnerable, after his mom and I know for experience that at that moment is when you needed your family the most if she truly just focus on her job well…after been betray like he did I wouldn't blame him as much"

"Yeah, I'm not much for revenge but that Epona mare seems to me that she kind of brought it on herself and he gave her the money back…right?"

The mares all looked at one another and realized something was missing "Ah, has anyone seen Fluttershy and Pinkie?" They start to look around after finding their respective mugs on the floor and the mares in question are nowhere to be seen, in time to hear a bell tower ring again in the distance.

Moments Earlier

The knocking on the door awoke the prince followed by the faint scent of cocoa as he slowly rose from he slowly rose to his bed in confusion “Blueblood?” The faint voice of Fluttershy tells him everything he needs to know as he grumbles and lays down once more. “Can we come in?”

“Go away”

“Come on Bluey!” Pinkie suddenly appears under his sheet startling him as he jumps out of the bed and sits on the ground while Fluttershy walks inside “We brought you milk and cookies. Who could say no to that”

She offer a tray with the treats as he eyed her suspiciously before looking at them “That is chocolate milk”

“Is that a yes then?”

Fluttershy lightly pushes Pinkie away and her heart sank once she sees his bloodshot eyes, which tells her how he has been crying as he tries to glare at the two.

“How many times do I have to tell you to just leave me alone?”

“No,” She tells with finality

“What?” He looks confused as she approaches and grabs one of the cups and sits on the bed.

“You need a friend more than ever, and after what we saw I can’t simply stay idle knowing a pony suffers as you do. No matter how mean you are. So if Discord can change his ways I have complete faith that you can too and if you don’t have any friends then I will be yours, and that is final. So no I’m not going anywhere”

“Yeah, no pony should spend Heart Warming alone and grumpy in the dark” Pinkie brings him into a hug “That is just sad, please at very least let us help you spook those ghosts as you asked us in the first place” She gives him pleading eyes making him sigh in defeat.

“You two are as stubborn as a…” He takes a sniff at the cookies and eyed them carefully before taking one “Fine…but only because these are good” He starts to nibble at them “Where did you buy them?”

“I made them silly!” Pinkie quickly replied “Would you like to know how? We can cook them together if you wish”

He just remain silent as he eyed her warily before looking away “I will think about it”

"I will take that as a yes~"

Fluttershy from her part starts to smile when she notices a small smile forming on the corner of his mouth until they all hear the second bell ringing and lookup.

“Here we go again” Blueblood sigh and they await the arrival as everything is deadly silent until Pinkie starts to hear some laughter “There you go Bluey, just laugh it off” Pinkie cheers at him.

“That…isn’t me” The group eyes wide when they hear laughing coming from a door on the far corner where they see light from the other side. “Enter Blueblood!” Someone call for him from the other side of the door

“Oh, is that your closet Bluey?” Pinkie asked as they slowly made their way toward the door.

“No, there wasn’t even a door there before” He confesses and he tentatively opens the door immediately blinding the group from the light as it lightly pulls them in toward a ballroom full of the festivities decoration, toys, and musical instruments playing jingles and songs of the festivities, with walls seemly made of light lighting the room even more at the beat of the song, and in one corner brimming with presents and a giant abundance of foods and treats of all kind with a giant bulky red earth pony with a green thick robe a wreck crown with fruits on and a big brown beard, mane and tail while holding a torch that seems to be the source of light which upon close inspection they discover that it was, in reality, a horn of abundance emanating light from its base, sitting on top of the pile laughing his head off until he spots the tree.

“Come, my friends, come join and know me better” The stallion called them to come closer, lighting the mood as they slowly made their way toward him shielding their eyes.

“I’m the ghost of Heart Warming Present” He announced in between fits of laughter “Tell me, young prince, do you still hold resentment towards the likes of me and my siblings?”

“I…I’m sorry, I don’t follow, or recall ever meeting any other ghosts before” He confesses not wanting to anger the giant pony in front of him

“Never? Have you not walked forth in the past with all of my siblings, they have told me stories of you as the youngest of the family, stories of how you both enjoyed this day in earnest until you turn your back on them for so long”

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to or even recall, do you have, many siblings?”

“Hmm, I don’t know. It depends on how many you define as many” he cracked another joke “Is more than two thousand, consider ‘many’?”

“More than two…!? Y-Yes” He tells in shock

“Two thousand and twenty-two to be precise…and still counting,” He tells without any sarcasm leaving the ponies in the room cold as he laughs again.

“Wow and I thought Applejack had a big family” Pinkie whistle in surprise

“And yet there is plenty of food for everyone on the table to have their fill, with enough to go around including you, should you wish to join,” he says, offering him a silver plate with all sorts of treats that Pinkie was about to take a bite until Fluttershy stopped her.

“Ah s-spirit I just noticed, you have a sheet but not a sword, why is that?” Blueblood points out once his eyes adjust to the light and as to realize it himself the spirit grabs the garment and peek at the hole in it

“So it seems” He let it go and shrug “Peace on the world, and goodwill toward all”

At the mention of that Blueblood can’t fill a pang of guilt as the words of the past still echo in his mind, the declaration on how disappointed his mother would be, hurting him the most as he looks down in shame.

“Spirit please let just… let us just move on with this, show us what you came for”

“So eager are you to start the festivities?” He questioned before laughing with force “So am I! Come to my friends, touch my robe” He grabs and raises the golden belt on it which extends in golden glitter until it is at arms reach from everyone.

The prince hesitated before looking at his companions “You don’t need to follow if you want. This…is my problem”

Rather than answer Fluttershy simply grab the belt “I told you we are not going anywhere”

“We are here for you” Pinkie nods and grabs the robe too

“Such kindness and positivity, are you gonna deny them again young prince?” the spirit questions with a raised eyebrow as he shakes his head and smiles a little silently thank them and grab the robe.

The moment he does, golden glitter exudes from it and reduces the pile of the feast until the spirit was sitting next to them as he rises while laughing. Taking his horn of abundance closer he blows on it and golden dust is spread all over the room disintegrating the decoration and erasing the floor beneath the too, scaring the prince and pegasus who hug each other and hold into the spirit for dear life as Pinkie look at this with fascination

“Cool”

To their horror they see the floor beneath his room as if they were looking at a transparent window as the spirit and Pinkie keep laughing, shaking everything he began to stir the room using his horn and move the entire place around like a chariot until they were outside the castle.

“Weee, this is amazing! Hey Spirit, can I have a turn next?” Pinkie look at him with fascination as he laugh and shake his head “Maybe when all things are well and done Pinkie, but as for now, we are on a mission” He smiled as they see the snow all around him and relaxing a bit the prince smile looking at children playing a snow fight with intrigued.

“Quite the view”

“Indeed, many can claim to see things from the clouds as your friend can attest” The spirit points at Fluttershy “But few are the ones granted a view of the fruits of goodwill and kindness throw out the land” The Spirit continues and brings them both to a tour not only around Canterlot but throw out the world seeing Cloundale, Ponyville, Appaloosa and more. Seeing ponies enjoying the festivities in various ways and gathering to share gifts or enjoy a delicious meal.

“It…quite beautiful actually, kind of familiar even” Clearing a tear the prince holds his chest

“Oh? Tell me, young prince, do any of these scenes remind you of something?”

“Yeah I think it does, I think that is how Heart Warming Eve used to feel, but kind of different. But I thought…no it impossible, it has been gone for so long now”

“Gone? Or just forgotten?” He questioned him with a raised eyebrow yanking the room with force making the prince trip and then look at the spirit “Listen to me Blueblood, sadness, and joy are a chain that needs one another to exist. From loss, we can celebrate what once was, as well as teach us what makes it rich and whole and what we can earn from them. To wallow in self-pity is to blindfold yourself. Light can’t be seen by those set on ignoring it. The joy of the heart is an ever-changing flame, that can warm the soul as long as you are willing to look for it. Remember that”

“...Yeah I will” Blueblood nods in shame looking down as Fluttershy helps him stand up.

The spirits continue their tour as they return to Canterlot reaching the bottom district reserved to the farms where he poured some of his gold to open the rooftop of a fairly big house.

“I imagine this place hold some kind of significance spirit”

“It the residence of the one that wrong you in the past”

“What?!” They all look at him like he just sprung a second head as he smirks and points down so they can see for themselves how Epona was busy preparing quite the feast with her fanciest of dress, helped by four of her children’s

“There that is the last one mom” The oldest call.

“Excellent, then we only need to wait”

“Oh please I can’t wait for everyone to come, this smell delicious” Another filly call smelling a soup as Epona push her back laughing at her antics, "Be patient Tiffa”

“Epona? What…what happened to her?” Blueblood questions in astonishment "She seems so…happy and kind? But that is impossible!"

“What is the matter, young prince?” The spirit points at the feast as more of the friends of Epona arrived as well as her husband, all of them, the previous ponies that tried to use him for their nefarious agenda in the past.

“Aren’t we deserving of a chance for redemption? Isn’t every pony right to atone for their misdeeds”

“But her…all of them, they were just vile snakes only looking for an easy bite,” He tells with boiled blood.

“And now their hearts have morphed into something brighter and beautiful” He turns to him in surprise “Indeed in the past, these ponies were responsible to turn your back on my siblings, but it was the scare you gave them, that force them to see the worth of their actions as well as the fruit of an honest humble labor”

“I can’t believe it, I never imagine they could truly changed”

“How could you know? As you burned every card they send your way, on the assumption they only wanted to try to hurt you once more. And yet they still tried” He points at a reserved empty chair with a plate ready to be used even if all the guests have arrived yet "An atone soul seaking for forgiveness for those they hurt the most, aren't they worth at the very least a chance to say their peace?"

“Every pony has the potential to change Blueblood” Fluttershy approach “If only you give them a chance, you would be surprised of what they can become”

“But if I lower my guard…”

“Indeed, it is always uncertain what might happen, how power can change someone for the worse as much as it can for the better, but that is why it calls hope” He grants him a big grin as he starts to notice how his hair was turning gray

“Life can't just be weighed down by the mistakes of our past. Doesn’t it?”

“No, I suppose it can't.” He looked down in disappointment at the group having fun, barely recognizing the ponies he once hated so much and feeling envious of how they obtained a much richer and happy life than he once had.

“How can this be possible, why? Why are they the ones that got their happy life, after what they did?”

“I believed there was a mare that could answer that much better, don't you think?” He raised an eyebrow before lifting his horn and spinning it around with force swallowing the group on a golden tornado until they appeared in Luna's room as Celestia was talking with her.

“Blueblood says he might come to the party this time”

Sighing Luna finishes putting on her regalia before looking at her sister “Sister why do you keep bringing that pony each holiday. Despite your claims, does it matter if he assists or not?”

“Luna he is our nephew”

“So you claim but ever since my return, at best he has been another staff member, and at worse a leech on the pretense to be blood-related”

“Luna!”

“I’m sorry Tia but it needs to be said, you claimed that he is part of our family but he has been anything but that. Just closing himself in his room, holding grudges against your pupil for the decision her ruler has made. Refusing to listen to reason, or anyone else other than his mirror for that matter”

“Remind me of a mare that I made the mistake to ignore until it was too late” Celestia confesses in shame making Luna pause.

“That was a low blow sister”

“I’m only saying, despite our clashes he is still a good pony on the inside, and after what happened to you. I…I don’t want things to repeat, I still have hope we all can be a family”

She sighs and shakes her head “I will trust your judgment sister, but you have to understand, there is only so much you can do for stubborn ponies like him. If worse came to pass, then I’m afraid there will be an option”

Celestia remains quiet but with a single tear she nods understanding what she was implying, leaving the prince speechless

“It makes you think doesn’t it?” The spirit stood in front of him as everything went dark once more “You got another aunt, don't you? Someone you could have possibly connected so much as she needed help. Someone that would have easily placed all her attention on you. And now she only is wary of what you can be capable of becoming”

“I get it, I was bratty”

He huffed in annoyance “No Blueblood you are past bratty by this point young prince, this is just plain insensitive, stubborn, and grumpy”

Pinkie notices how his mane was now completely gray and he looks thinner now.

“Spirit, what is happening to you?!”

“My existence is brief Pinkie, I can only exist for a total of one day, and the time is almost over. It will end when the clock reaches midnight” He points at giant bell towers emerging from the fog and surrounding them like a clock as the sound of the time starts to grow stronger.

In the distance as they see nothing but fog underneath their feet and the cold night with a full moon on top of their heads.

“But before I depart there is one last warning I must issue. Tell me, young prince, can you hear them?”

The Spirit ask cryptically as silence start to invade the place, the prince could hear slow growling coming from the spirit and more specifically the base of his robe where he saw a small hoof sticking out.

“Y-Yeah what is that spirit?”

Rather than answer, he unrobes himself and shows the tree, two small, rachitic and dirty kids, one a colt and the other a filly growling at them and causing them to flinch and take a step back.

“Engrave them into your mind Blueblood, those are the imps nibbling at your ear” He used his horn to illuminate them better “The colt is Ignorance and the filly is Want. They are the voices that keep you close off from everyone, the demons on your shoulder that keep telling you to remain in misery, beware them both”

“S-Spirit please put them away I don’t want to see them anymore” The prince begged as he looked away in both fear and disgust feeling like he remembered their touch before.

With an emotionless face, he covers them once more “There, you don’t have to see them anymore. They are now invisible to the naked eye but don’t fool yourself, young prince, they are still there, ever-present, ever waiting” The bell towers then start to ring, and going clockwise one by one each of the twelve starts to crumble and fall after their fulfill their duty. As it happens the spirit body start to turn gray and turn to dust and sand

“My time is coming to its end, I must be going” With each ringing, the wind starts to pick up and he starts to resemble more a golem of sand. “And I’m afraid this is the end of the road for you two too” He raised his horn at the mares who also turn translucent

“What no! We are not going anywhere. Especially with the final ghost…” Fluttershy and Pinkie tried to plead but he had none of them and blast them with a torrent of sand that send them flying before they could do anything Fluttershy desperately tries to fight and reach out for the prince hoof as he remain stuck by the sand keeping him in place.

“I’m sorry but it's beyond my hooves now. For this…” He sends them away before looking at Blueblood “...you must march alone” The spirit keep laughing until his face turns to sand and the remaining of his body collapsed under his weight as the wind becomes stronger and carries all the sand that once was he away into the distance finally freeing him but now leaving him alone with one last black tower in front of him still announcing the time

The mares meanwhile were flung into the four winds until eventually, they spot the door throw which they enter and re-appear in Blueblood room just in time for Twilight to try to open the door resulting in them tackling the group and startle them before it was shut down tight once again.

“Fluttershy, Pinkie what just happened?” AJ is the first to recover as they stood up in alarm "Was that the ghost of the past? Is he the door, where is Blueblood?"

“In there" Fluttershy points at the door without skipping a beat "We just saw the ghost of the present come and go and…the final ghost!" Her eyes widen as she stares at Twilight in alarm "Twilight we need to go in there, the final ghost is in there with Blueblood. He is gonna a be at the mercy of the Windigoes!"

Ghost Of The Heart Warming Yet To Come (Grammarly Check)

While hugging himself and rubbing his arms around the Prince try to gather as much heat as possible from the ever so increasingly cold as he looks around the place for the final ghost to appear with the ticking of the clock and the visual of his breath as his only companion.

Suddenly something caught his eyes and when he turned to look down he notices his own shadow beginning to extend and morph until it was big enough from an imposingly tall and extremely thin alicorn to the point he almost thought he was looking at a skeleton with skin and fur attach emerge from the abyss that was his shadow. His fur was white as ashes, and a flowing black mane and tail dark as coal, wearing a gray and ragged cloak

“S-Spirit, are you the ghost of the Hearth's Warming Eve yet to come?” Blueblood asks with a shaky voice as the pony merely nods briefly.

“Oh, Spirit of all you are certainly the one I fear the most b-but I know you intend to help me on this journey into a world of shadows and echoes of the things that will or might come to pass, so please let us just be on our way. Show me what departs me on the future”

Blueblood start to walk but the spirit just remain still in his place never losing sight of him always glaring with his piercing gaze

“W-Well? L-let go, we are wasting time aren’t we?”

After some awkward silence, the spirit finally react as he rises his bony wings, before all of the sudden rushings at him at top speed turning into crows that scare him and make him lose his balance as the floorboards beneath him crack and crumble under his weight and tumble him into oblivion hitting a set of stone stairs until he reaches the base of them, finding himself on an unknown location in the middle of Canterlot where a group of nobles was happily discussing in front of the ghostly prince

“The old brat finally crock” One of the nobles, a much older Jet Set comments with a laugh to his peers.

“Ha, who would have thought, I was under the impression that cockroaches would outlive us all. Do you know what caused it in the end?”

Jet only shrug “Who cares, the important thing is that he is gone and Canterlot finally got rid of his biggest headache”

"Not to mention the biggest obstacle for our agenda, it's open season again boys!"

“Here, here” They all cheer while laughing as the Prince continues to look at them with curiosity as the spirit appears next to him.

“Something is for sure, that would be the cheapest funeral ever, do you think there would be anyone that would assist?”

“I bet half of Canterlot if the option of spitting on his face is on the table” they all laugh before leaving

“Such cruel cold words, spirit please tell me it isn’t me, tell me at the very least I mean something more than vile for even one pony” Blueblood plead to the spirit who extend his massive wings and cover him on it changing the view to a church where a silent Celestia keep her head down on an empty room with a coffin in front of her until the sounds of clops alert her and looking back saw her sister looking at them once ex-ruler of Equestria in pity.

“Luna you came” She offered her weak smile to her sibling as she stood up.

“For you sister and nothing more” She stopped in front of her “It's over Tia. You are only wasting time now, and this has just turned ridiculous, see reason already Tia not a single pony will come for him” She points at the coffin making her sign and keeping her head low.

“You are right sister, by the heaves I beg I plead that at the very least there would be one pony else” She choke and sniff holding back tears “I suppose in the end this was just wishful thinking”

“Let us depart this gloomy place sister you already made your peace”

“Not yet” She shake her head as she approach the podium, "Some pony should share some words it the least I could do for him now” She turn back “Would you listen to this final worlds sister”

Signing Luna approach a bench and sit down “If it brings you peace of mind, then go ahead sister speak your peace”

“Thank you” Clearing her throat the ex-royal addressed the empty room pretending that there was an audience to hear him out. “As you all know Blueblood was my dearest nephew, I know how loving him could have been difficult but deep inside he always was a good pony looking after the well-being of Canterlot. Working behind the scenes he always kept vigilant and tried his utmost to lighten the weight of my job as the ruler of Equestria. Never expecting recognition, and only asking for some attention in return”

Stopping with a trembling lip she had difficulty continue “Now that he is gone I finally realized what his plead were, how blind I end up becoming in the search of my successor, and no matter our difference I will…I will miss him so much…now my only plea is…is that he…he can rest in peace with the rest of his family”

Unable to watch idly, Luna approaches Celestia and starts consoling her as Celestia openly weeps on her shoulder embracing her sibling for dear life.

“I see enough spirit, just take me away from this” Blueblood turns away and starts to throat away from the church trying to ignore the cries of her aunt behind him and holding back tears on how heartbreaking the whole scene was until he hit a wall and rubbing his nose he looks up to see the castle in disarray, the spirit appear behind him once more.

“The castle! What happened? What did Sparkle do to my home!?”

The spirit turns to his left and point at the distance where the image of a much older Twilight talking with nobles with shadow faces and malevolent grins on them as she sighs some documents, blindly

“W-What is she doing!? No you idiot, they are tricking you, they are just pretending to look after friendship to fill their pockets!” He yells at Twilight after reading some of the most outrageous documents but it was to no avail as they keep laughing until the image is gone.

“Why can’t she see?! Nobles are cobras experts on pretense and lies, master of persuasion and sealing deals, just because someone claims it has good intention doesn’t mean they have them” He grab the spirit robe but he turns to crows and block his view as more images of deals like this keep happening, not only local but international as more and more individuals start to find ways to fool the princess and her friends over and over again.

Finding important documents in Blueblood room he keeps safe and secured in the event of any emergency, toss and burn away by a disinterest Twilight who lost any interest in knowing anything about him and only wanted to get rid of all of his stuff.

“There are a million and one ways to sweeten a horrible deal, isn't there no one that taught her the dangers of nobility? How does the crown hold the weight that she must be prepared to take hard decisions?!”

The terrorized prince ask once the sequence of events stop and the spirit re-appear in front of him as he merely shook his head and show him the memory they have early that day

“...By all the stars the nobles will eat you alive!" He smirks as he marches away "Well maybe that could be for the better, watching you crash and burn might be some poetic justice…”

“My wish” In shock Blueblood can only kneel at the revelation “It became a reality, I saw the dangers, how she needed my help to teach him the world she will rule, but my anger, my resentment. It blind me to the reality she was heading”

He keeps his gaze down “I could have helped, I could have prevented this horror” The spirit appears in front of him with neutrality as he grabs his robe once more

“Please tell me spirit, tell me they can overcome this trial, and learn” His horn shone and everything swirled around the two until they were on top of a hill of a cemetery next to his tombstone in the distance, words leaving his body as his blood froze.

Equestria lies in misery with the rich and poor division more than pronounce with a hill with lights was seen in glamour while the rest of the place was reduced to poverty
“No, NO! She couldn’t! Twilight would never let things become this bad, she wouldn’t!” He remains stoic and unresponsive, pointing at a banner of a food chain with her as the mascot giving him all the answers he needed.

“No” He weep holding his head “Without someone to guide her, nobles just keep chip away power from her, until she lost all control until the crown lost all meaning, she has been reduced to nothing more than a puppet”

The spirit nods and starts to walk away “Please tell me this isn’t real spirit. Tell me that what you are showing me is the things that can happen and not the things that will happen. Tell me is not too late that there is still time for me to teach her how to tight her hold when needs to be” He plead grabbing tight on his robe

The wind around him starts to pick force as the spirit shoves him away and points at him.

“Wh-What is its spirit?” He pleads only to find a chain on his hooves extending until it envelops his body and attaches him into a ground full of broken glasses where he could see ponies talking but no sounds were heard. In the distance, the crack of a whip and yells of pain fill him with terror as he watches silhouettes of ponies in chains like his marching endlessly carrying a heavy carriage with an unrecognizable cloaked bipedal figure hitting them with a whip with thorns on its body

“Is this what departs me at the very end? Hold down by the chains I forge in the past seeing others lived on while I’m unable to hear a single thing?” He looks up in resignation as the Spirit nods and walks away

“No spirit, please don’t leave me here. I swear I will change please give me a chance, please let me prove to you that I can be better”

He pleads on deft ears as the spirit leaves with the wind, as he could not do anything else but kneel and weep under the punishment of his past misdeeds.

“…blood “

“Huh?”

“Blue…blood” Looking up the Prince saw a dim golden light covered by all the wind calling for him as he stood up and start rushing to it as best as he could under the weight of his chains who he had no choice but drag with him

Moments Earlier

“Come on Twilight, isn't there anything here we can use?” Pinkie tells her with urgency, showing her the book with the story, on the pages of the final ghost.

“I’m sorry Pinkie but this is no longer the story we know. None of the ghosts have been acting as the original book says, and they seem far scarier. For all, we know there might not even be Windigos to where the final ghost is taking Blueblood”

“Plus wasn’t in the end kind of implying everything was a dream or the ghost made it look like one?” Applejack points out “Something that is no longer the case consider well…we kind of hitch a ride into this too”

“But there must be something we can do, they…they could take him away for realsies this time” Pinkie continue

“They wouldn’t go to that extreme…right?” Fluttershy asks for confirmation from Twilight but she was so deep in thought to notices

“Come on everypony if anything else we can always use the elements right? Yeah I mean the door is still there, let's just summon them, blast a hole and yank back Blueblood back” Rainbow suggested.

“That could be it” Twilight nodded and was preparing her horn when a thud startled the group and looked ahead they saw the ghost of the past smiling at them “You wish to aid that lost soul?”

“Yes, please mister ghost help us” Fluttershy plead as he nods

“There might be something you can do, but the decision must be unanimous” Everyone turn to look at Rarity as she looks at them

“What?” She keeps exchanging glances between the group

“Rarity, you want to help him too…right?” Pinkie grinned at her with pleading eyes, as she sighs.

“While I’m still angry at him for that dreadful evening!” She stops her hoof before stepping up “I’m not without part of the fault there, in part he was right, I was just chasing a simply fillies dream of dating a prince and no pony should endure witnessing their demise like that” She nods and smile at the ghost “It unanimous Mr. Ghost of the Past, we wish to help”

“An act of kindness toward one who has strayed from the path. Such warmness is enough to melt what once was cold” He pass them the book “Used that, and this beacon spell to form a light so your friend might find his way back home” He disappear in time for Twilight to finish memorizing the spell and they form a circle

“You heard him girls just focus on wishing to bring him back and call for him. I will guide the spell”

They all nod and close their eyes as they hold hooves while Twilight charges her horn. A golden aura soon envelops their body and shoot a bean of gold light that blast throws the door and into a raging blizzard

“Blueblood!”

“Bluey”

“Hey partner, are you there?!”

“Blueblood we are here if you hear us say something!”

All of them start to yell in search of the elusive Prince until they start to hear the faint sounds of chains in the distance.

“Here…, please…help” He weakly calls as he drags himself toward them with the chains growing in size and length turning his escape into a struggle to move.

Happy they try to rush toward him but the wind starts to pick up speed and push them back, preventing them from moving too much.

“Everypony straight line!” Applejack commands and they place themselves behind Twilight fighting the wind as she extends her hoof toward him “Blueblood quick! Grab my hoof”

“Twilight I’m so sorry I should have known better, it was not your fault, it wasn’t anyone fault I shouldn’t have called you a thief” He apologies as the ice started to form all over his body

“There will be time for that later now grab my hoof!”

He reaches out trying to grab hold of her but the spirit once more appears behind the prince as magic is used to pull him back the chain retracting toward a spectral chariot where more condemned souls were waiting.

“No! It…it still not my time, please spare my spirit, let me prove to you. I can change” The chains keep yanking at him trying to rip his skin yet he continues his endeavor as the Spirit grows to the side of a giant and his looming eye approaches the prince as he finally opens his mouth, his skin melting and leaving only his eyes and ah scary skeleton.

“Are you truly determined?”

“Yes! Yes I will be better, I will work hard to be like my mom, kind and understandable patience and caring just please don’t take me away, spirit please give me a chance, please!”

The moment he finally reaches Twilight hoof and grabs firmly on it there is an intense flash to white the blind everypony present and mute the wind as everything is swallowed by darkness.

Gasping from the air, everyone stood up with a startle and blinked in surprise as the group realized how they were back at the library with thousands of books scattered all around them.

“What…just happened?” Rarity is the first to ask

“Was everything…a dream?” Fluttershy is next to speak.

“We all fall asleep without realizing at the same time? Wake up simultaneously from a nightmare and most likely have the same dream?” AJ question in perplexion as Twilight raised the book that started it all.

“It's just like at the end of the story but…that was supposed to keep things ambiguous if this thing actually happens, then how? When?” The princess continues to process the whole ordeal.

“Wait, did we go back in time?” Dash point at a grandpa clock “I didn’t check before but I’m pretty sure barely any time has passed since we began”

They keep questioning until a laugh catches their attention and looking back they see the prince holding his head as he laughs earnestly “Who cares what happened?! We are alive” he grinned at them “And more importantly we are just in time to celebrate Heartwarming Eve!” He rises to his hoof and rushes to Twilight.

“Princess words aren’t enough to tell you how sorry I’m for all these years. I should have had more faith in my aunt decision and now I see how right was her decision” He kneel in front of her “No one is worthier of holding the crown than you, your majesty”

“O-Ok no need for dramatics either” Twilight chuckled nervously with some blush of embarrassment as she patted his head. “But thank you for that Blueblood if you still wish I would love for us to start again”

“Nothing would make you happier your…”

“Ah!…” Twilight raised a hoof “…we can start by dropping the honorifics, it makes me kind of uncomfortable when my friend used them on me”

He blinked a couple of times “We can be friends?”

“Yeah! Why not!” Pinkie surprises him by bringing him into a hug using one of her hoofs “You can never have too many friends! Oh, we are making so many cookies now!”

"Pinkie I…would love that yeah, but before there is another thing I most do more of before the party starts"

The rest laugh and nod having an idea of what he means.

Epilogue (Grammarly Check)

With the party in full swing, the Prince comes up to the kitchen with some trays of his famous soup to spread the treat with the help of Pinkie as he keeps wishing everyone a happy Heart Warming Eve.

“Here you go auntie” He smile as he give Celestia and Luna their soups “Oh Blueblood I’m so happy you decided to assist this year” Celestia was practically in tear as she enjoy her dish while Luna look at it suspiciously before taking a sip.

“Yeah what an unusual sudden change of heart, where did you say you learn to make this again?”

“Luna” Celestia reprint her sister for her suspicious

“It ok auntie, she has all the right to doubt me, that is why I suggest to run any spell and scan on me to make sure I wasn’t an impostor or under some kind of mind control or have any malicious intent”

“Luna!”

“Well, somepony needed to do it!” She kept looking at him “And I still am not sure I understand. how do you have such a vivid nightmare without me noticing…and share it with the main six to boot?”

“Maybe it wasn’t a dream after all” He smirks at her only adding question until he laughs “But it's ok and to answer your first question it is an old family recipe, that I’m particularly proud of, it might not be as good as mom's but I always try to get as closer to it as possible”

“What are you saying? Blueblood this tastes wonderful!” Celestia compliments with a big grin as he chuckles a little and lean closer “The secret is that I add an extra spoon of sugar”

The comment makes them both laugh until he looks at Luna “Auntie, I know we haven’t started on the right hoof, and you have all the rights to be so wary of me, but this whole experience has taught me so much, and give me a huge perspective on a lot of things, of a lot of wrongs that I need to fix. Starting to get to know the auntie I used to chat with while I was but a toddler”

“What are you talking about?” Luna looks confused at him as he blinks and turns to Celestia

“You never told her about the nights we spent talking to the moon and writing letters to it?”

The comments gain the attention of Luna as she sends a small glare at her sister “No, she didn’t”

“Jeje ops must have slipped my mind” Celestia laugh nervously having been caught, red hoof

“It's ok we can talk with that about it too, in fact, I would love to get to know more about you aunt Luna I bet you have some incredible stories of the past that I have been dying to hear and I would love to help you with modern times if you would let me”

For her part, Luna looks at him with neutrality until she smiles “I pretty much would love that nephew thanks for your assistance”

“No auntie” He surprises her with a hug, “Thank you for giving me a second chance”

Smiling more warmly she returned the gesture “Well, I’m kind of an expert when it comes to second chance and atonement.

“This is so great” Celestia turned this into a group hug “We can finally be a family all together!”

He laughs and breaks the hug “Just like we used to it, and don’t worry aunt Celestia I already know how to gain autonomy, but for now, if you excuse me, I have to talk real quick with Twilight Sparkle, see you later for the ugly sweater picture”

“Of course! We will wait for you” Celestia nods as they see him depart as he keeps a big grin on his face stopping when in the corner of his eye he sees a pony about to steal the silver way. “That would be 500 bits for the silver way or a week on the dungeon buster, your call” He calmly says pretending to grab a piece of breath “Mind putting the spoon back where you find it, hmm?”

He keeps smiling calmly at the pony as the royal guard start to approach making the thief sweat bullets and put it back “that is what I thought”

“Huh, well I must say, our nephew knows when to tight the hoof when the times calls upon it” Luna look the whole thing develop with intrigue as she smiles and nods “I like him”

Celestia laughs and rolls her eyes “Oh goodie what monster did I just unleash into Equestria?”

“Oh hardy har har sister, you are hilarious” Luna reply sarcastically

Looking for Twilight Blueblood finally found her on a table with the rest of her friends “Twilight!”

“Blueblood, you have to tell us how you made this soup. This is delicious!” Rainbow exclaim practically licking the bowl clean, as he laughs and shakes his head “Sorry Rainbow Dash, it's an old family recipe, the only way I would tell you if you become part of the family”

She starts to pounder and looks at the empty plate “Can I be an honorable member?”

“Sorry, it is reserved to only my wife and kids”

She stays quiet and starts to hum in thought

“By the stars are you actually considering it?!” Applejack look at Rainbow in shock

“N-No! I’m just saying…it is a very good soup” They all share a laugh as Dash looks away with an intense blush on her face.

“But in all seriousness, there is something I need to discuss with you Twilight, with all of you for that matter”

“What is Blueblood?” Twilight raised an eyebrow in intrigue.

“While I have no doubt you would make a great ruler with your friends acting as…sorry I still not sure what could be the perfect term, will you be like elite knights or…?”

“We haven’t ironed out all the details yet darling, so what were you saying?” Rarity answers before moving her hoof so he can continue

“Right well, while I’m sure you would do a good job, the visit of the 3 ghosts made me realize that unfortunately none of you are exactly prepared to deal with the nobility, not like I have at the very least”

“You mean what happened to you with Epona and her friend's partner?”

“Precisely I know you mean good and a lot of those ponies have genuinely good intention but unfortunately even when honest they can still approach you with malice some way or another”

“Je yeah right, we have deal with worse after confronting Cozy Glow” Dash dismisses his concern

“And that was a great feat to be sure but I am afraid I have to point out that: A) you didn’t defeat her exactly, your students did and that was mainly because she didn’t account for them. B) you took her trap, hook line, and sinker and C) and I can’t stress this enough Cozy Glow is an amateur compared to the truly despicable and clever masterminds I deal and eat for breakfast daily, especially among nobility” He tells them without any hint of sarcasm.

“I’m worried for you Twilight, for all of you, my auntie prepared you for lots of things but politics and schemers were the one thing she omitted and it is kind of important to know how to deal with them. But I can teach you, or even better I can offer you my help facing them too. Please let me stay by your side like an advisor of some sort, it will be my honor to assist you in anything you might need when facing the high society and the dangers they can bring”

The girl exchanged worried glances before talking with him again “While we appreciate the gesture, I think you are overreacting just a tinsy bit Blueblood, true we haven’t dealt with this kind of situation besides Cozy Glow but I have full confidence in my abilities dealing with the public even nobility”

He sigh in disappointment and shake his head “I didn’t want to resort to this but it looks you might need an example”

“An…example?” AJ raised an eyebrow

“Je sure let's do a test so you can see how prepared we are all” Dash boosts in confidence as he looks at them with neutrality

“Fair enough then as a warning I will show you, how a well-spoken noble can make you all put on a prench maiden dress and clean the attic, without you realizing what happen”

“What?!” Dash looked at him in anger in shock

“Oh! Are we playing dress-up then? Can we wear mustaches too?” Pinkie tells in excitement as Fluttershy can only blush and look away at the mental image.

“Are you afraid of me proving my point?” Blueblood raised an eyebrow and smirked at Dash, increasing her anger.

“Oh ok you ask for it, bring it on Blueblood do your worst” She flies to him until their snout touches and pokes his chest. “You prove to us that high society is as dangerous as you think it is and I'll be the first one to sigh on your lessons on how to drink tea 'properly' and look fancy all the time”

“Dash!” They all complain about her boosting

“That is not what I’m offering, I’m extending my help on ways for you to spot schemers, persuasion nobles, and well-spoken liars”

“Eh pretty much the same, but when we prove that there is nothing to be afraid you will drop it and we can think of something else you can help us out” She shrugged “We are not gonna over our friend out of his house either once Twilight take over, so don’t sweat it dude”

He smiles and nods “If that is what it takes then so be it” he sighs in disappointment as she flies back and he breathes in and out of throw his nose gently before stretching his neck briefly and wetting his lips for a moment all the while closing his eyes as to prepare himself mentally, until he was ready and look up at them with a smile as he takes a deep breath and finally spoke.

“How did he do it?” Dash asks in astonishment as the next thing she knows she was carrying a cardboard box and with the rest of her friends they were all cleaning the castle attic while wearing prench maid uniforms just as Blueblood claimed. Her friends have been equally confused and shock at the develop minus Pinkie who was happily cleaning while wearing a pink small mustache.

"Right now my major concern is finding out I'm kind of like this dashing outfit," Rarity tells with an intense blush.

"Should I will be worried I find it kind of comfy?" Fluttershy admits with a small voice taking an occasional glance at the prince before looking ahead once he sees at her

"Nope I'm having the same thought over here Fluttershy" Applejack agrees with her

"It normal, this is the uniform used by mares that need to work and move around a huge castle at the very least 5 hours per day, of course, it needs to be comfortable and easy to move around with" Blueblood explains

“But anyway now you see what I’m saying? A well-trained noble in the arts of persuasion could get you to do whatever they please and you wouldn’t even notice, not unless you know the clues into what to look” He raised an eyebrow and tried not to sound so smug at his clear victory.

The very next day Blueblood was granted the official post of royal advisor to Princess Twilight Sparkle and as promised he aided both the current and next ruler of Equestria guiding them on a bright new tomorrow, showing them the robes and getting closer to them.

And in turn Twilight and her friends were more than happy in helping him solve his issues and put to rest unfinished work.

Taking a deep breath he stared at the front of him before looking to his right to a grinning Pinkie “Is this really necessary Pinkie?”

“Come on Bluey! You remember what Ghost of Present says, we all have the right of a second chance, even them” She points at the door. “They want to reach out to you. And you are way smarter now to be tricked again. Besides, I will be right next to you”

“And so would I” Starlight nods with a smile from his other side “Believe me I have been on your horseshoes before, so I know how much it helps to have some backup for this type of confrontation”

Sighing again he nods once and looks ahead of him once more “Ok here we go” He bravely knocks on the door.

Days later, the Prince was introduced to more ponies like him that went to a rough patch thinking they could connect one way or another. Including Sunset Shimmer, Tempest, and even Discord, all who just as she suspected manage to hit it off with relative ease as Discord keeps thinking of ideas for adventures for all of them to get into.

“Ok I know you are joking now”

“No I’m serious here, I think you could have what it takes to turn old Chrissy around”

“Discord, she turned down Starlight, what makes you think I would fare any better?” Blueblood question with a deadpan as they all were currently playing cards.

“She fails because she was offering friendship, I say you could success because you could offer something different” He smirks at the “Plus I wasn’t referring exclusively to you alone” He, Sunset, and Tempest blink a couple of times before looking at one another “Come on guys let's be real here. We all know that as nice as Twilight is, she can be pretty naive direct and has a bit of a tunnel vision”

They ponder and slowly nod at the claim “But you on the other hand, well I would say you are all pretty good in your respective arts. And if not say it directly friendship she might listen, hmm?”

They stay quiet for a moment until Blueblood breaks the silence and asks what they all were thinking “What exactly do you have in mind?”

As for Celestia, moved by his story and realizing the errors of her actions decided to get a more active role with her family and invite him over to more activities with her sister as they continue to grow closer and even on occasion took joy in teasing each other wondering when would they seek that special pony for them, keeping the spirit of Heart Warming Eve in their hearts and never letting it die down again.

20 years later

“Dad! Dad hurried up!” A filly pegasus with white fur, some freckles on her face, a slightly raspy voice, and a golden long and slightly curly mane and tail similar to Rarity style, marched inside the kitchen as a more adult and tall Blueblood with an imposing beard was finished preparing his famous soup. “We are gonna a be late”

He chuckled and put the lid up as to address his kid “Calm down Nimbus I’m coming” They both exit the kitchen as the filly lands on his back “Does everyone already arrive?”

She nods rapidly to Aunt Twilight, brought mom and the rest of the aunties from Ponyville just so they wouldn’t be late and they told me that they will spend the night here in the castle, they are all waiting for you in the dining room”

“Ja it will not be a party without the mane six, I suppose” He laugh and shake his head as they advance

“Say, dad, why do you always only make that yummy soup on Heart Warming Eve?” She asked innocently clinging to his neck

“Oh, that is quite the story, tell me Nimbus have you ever wondered what exactly makes my soup taste so good?"

"Is it the spoons of sugar? She asks innocently making him laugh

Well, that certainly helps, I will tell you after dinner ok?”

Author's Notes:

Happy Holidays everyone! And my god bless us all!