And Peace On Earth
Outside, the snow was starting to come down heavier as the sun sank and night began to fall. Starlight sat at the castle’s window, watching each flake as it drifted below the windowsill and out of sight before refocusing on a new flake.
“Something on your mind?”
Starlight jumped slightly and her head shot around to look behind her. Twilight stood there with a sheepish smile before joining her next to the window.
“Yeah, just… thinking about some things,” Starlight admitted, turning back to the falling snow.
“Any specific sort of things?” Twilight gently prodded. “Things that might be worked out better if you talked about them?”
Starlight smiled softly, but it quickly fell. “It’s about Chrysalis… I keep thinking about her being out there, without a hive, without a home, in the middle of winter. Just… did I do enough?”
A gentle hoof rested on her shoulder. “I think you did all that you could for her, Starlight,” Twilight said.
“It doesn’t feel like I did.” Starlight huffed, watching as her breath steamed up the window.
“Some creatures can’t be redeemed,” Twilight said. “I think, in the situation you were in, you tried your hardest to help her. She didn’t want to be helped.”
“Yeah, well… that doesn’t make me feel any better,” Starlight replied, her gaze falling. “A part of me is convinced I could’ve done more.”
Twilight thought for a moment, watching Starlight’s defeated look, before a knowing smile crossed her muzzle. “What I think you could use is a change of scenery,” she said.
Starlight looked to her, an eyebrow arched. “Oh, really?”
Twilight nodded. “It’s still a few days until Hearth’s Warming. What if you paid Sunset a visit? Maybe see how Juniper Montage is doing over there since you last saw her.”
Starlight glanced back out the window at the falling snow and then back to Twilight, before giving a defeated smile and a slight smile.
“Fine. Probably better than moping around the castle.”
The following day, Sunset leaned against the statue out front of Canterlot High School, watching the cloudy sky overhead. The way her breath puffed out as steam told her that it was likely going to snow. It was only a shame Earth didn’t have the certainty of Pegasus-controlled weather.
The back of the statue’s base glimmered, catching her attention. She reached out in time to catch Starlight as she stumbled through and before she could fall forward onto all fours.
“Whoa, I gotcha,” Sunset said, helping her steady upright.
Starlight flashed her a brief, grateful smile. “Thanks. Not really accustomed to walking on two legs, no,” she admitted.
“Twilight told me you were coming through,” Sunset explained. “Princess Twilight, that is.”
“Uh huh.” Starlight rubbed her arm, looking up at the school.
“Something the matter?” Sunset asked.
“I’m… I’ve been thinking about a villain recently, one I couldn’t reform back in Equestria. Her name is Chrysalis. She’s out there now in the dead of winter without any home or any friends at all and… I feel like I could’ve done more.”
Sunset nodded, a sympathetic look on her face. “I… sort of know the feeling. But hey, I don’t think you did that bad a job with Juniper at the mall. And I’m sure a Christmas present would be a great idea while you’re visiting.”
Starlight smacked her forehead and groaned. “I didn’t even think about getting her a present…” she muttered.
Sunset smirked. “Then I guess it’s a good thing we’re going to the mall. Besides, I don’t think a pony gift would be that great for a human.”
Starlight nodded. “Lead the way.”
As the two left the statue, heading towards the nearby bus stop, Starlight frowned. “Wait… what’s ‘Christmas’?”
“It’s what the humans call Hearth’s Warming,” Sunset replied. “You’ll see at the mall.”
The mall was alive with hundreds of people, many of them last minute shoppers. Some parents were there with their kids to go see Santa, or ride around in the little train that did laps around the mall’s first floor.
Sunset and Starlight stepped out of Binder’s Books, the latter carrying a small gift bag she had picked up inside.
“I think she’s going to like it,” Sunset remarked.
“She sure seemed into… film when I was last here,” Starlight replied, glancing down at the bag. “Now, where’s the theater?”
Sunset stopped and pointed up. To Starlight’s surprise, they were right out front of it, not too far from the bookstore.
“Huh. Convenient,” Starlight remarked as they stepped inside.
The theater was nearly as crowded as the mall outside. Long lines clogged the concession stands and ticket booth. The lobby was a mess of trampled litter and spilled concessions.
That’s where they found Juniper, sweeping up a pile of popcorn into a long handle dustpan. She looked up when she noticed two sets of shoes near the spill and blinked in surprise.
“Sunset? Starlight?” she asked.
“Hey Juniper, we thought we’d come by and see how you were doing,” Sunset said with a wave.
Starlight cleared her throat. “Uh, yeah. Seeing as it was so close to the holidays, I figured I’d swing by and see how you were doing too,” she said, forcing a nervous grin.
“Well, it’s nice to see you,” Juniper said, resuming her sweeping. “I’ve been doing well, actually. My uncle’s finally forgiven me, but boy did I get a scolding.” She huffed.
“Yeah?” Sunset asked.
“He told me there’s no easy way into movies, no shortcuts and all that,” Juniper explained, sweeping the last of the popcorn flakes into what seemed to be a nearly full dustpan. “Especially not the way I did it, stealing and all.”
Sunset gently elbowed Starlight and nodded. Starlight blinked once before realization dawned on her.
“Oh, well, it’s a good thing I got you this then,” she remarked, offering her the gift bag. “Figured since it was so close to Hearth—I mean, Christmas, I’d bring you a gift,” she said.
“Aw, thank you!” Juniper set the broom and dustpan to lean against a nearby trash can and took the bag, rummaging through the haphazard tissue paper Starlight has used for wrapping.
She finally fished out a hardcover book and gasped as her eyes skimmed the title. “’Pullblock’s Book of Filmography’! I’ve been looking for a copy of this!” she exclaimed.
Starlight opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off when Juniper pulled her into a tight hug.
“Thank you so much!” Juniper said.
“No problem,” Starlight grunted, chuckling as Juniper released her.
Her eyes were drawn to the marquee over the ticket booth. She was unfamiliar with Christmas—and the majority of human things, to be honest—so the titles eluded her.
“Juniper, what’s showing here at the movie theater?” she asked.
“Oh, they’re doing reruns of old Christmas movies for the holidays. It’s actually been quite popular,” Juniper explained, turning to the marquee. “My personal favorite is A Christmas Carol, if you’re looking for recommendations.”
“I think we have some more time before we have to leave, right, Starlight?” Sunset asked with a smirk.
Starlight shrugged and returned the smile. “Sure. Why not?”
“Oh good. There’s a showing in a few minutes, actually,” Juniper said, tucking the book back in the bag and picking up her cleaning tools. “I’m gonna go put this away with my stuff in the break room. Thank you again for the gift!”
Starlight and Sunset waved after Juniper as she struggled not only to carry her load, but squeeze through the crowd to get behind the counter. The two then turned to the ticket booth, standing at the back of a long line.
“You know,” Starlight remarked as she and Sunset stepped back up to the portal. It was hours later, and dusk was setting in with a harsher chill. “That movie was really insightful. Kinda reminds me of A Hearth’s Warming Tale, now that I think about it.”
Sunset nodded. “It really does, except it doesn’t involve magic,” she added.
“It also got me thinking. Maybe… maybe there still is hope for Chrysalis. I helped Juniper, and she bounced back, so maybe there’s still a chance for her too. It just isn’t the right time yet.”
“Hope’s important,” Sunset said with a nod. “Anything’s possible with it, and maybe a little friendship.” She rubbed her chin, eyes darting away as her mind wandered.
She was broken from her thoughts by a close hug as Starlight pulled her in. “See you sometime soon, I hope,” Starlight said.
“Yeah, you too. Have a Happy Hearth’s Warming,” Sunset replied as they pulled apart.
“And you, a… Happy Christmas?” Starlight shrugged and the two shared a giggle before she departed.
Left alone to her thoughts, Sunset’s mind wandered back to her train of thought. Maybe Starlight was right, maybe it was all about hope, friendship… and the right time.
Sunset had thought her idea was going to be impossible. She hadn’t known where to look long before, much less now. But to her surprise, Pinkie Pie had provided the answer to her dilemma and given the information she sought.
So as night set in and the snow began to fall, Sunset found herself standing outside an unassuming apartment building on Canterlot’s west side. Struggling to balance the stack of three presents in one arm’s grip, she reached out and knocked on the door.
It took a few moments for the door to open, the light shining from inside shadowing a large mass of curly hair. Adagio Dazzle crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes in the doorway. Behind her, Sunset could see Aria and Sonata peeking around a corner to see who it was.
“What are you doing here?” Adagio snapped.
“Well… it’s Christmas. Or, Hearth’s Warming, whichever you celebrate,” Sunset said, offering a soft smile as she held up the stack of gifts. “And I brought you three presents.”
Adagio’s eyes narrowed further, letting out a snort of air from her nostrils that quickly turned to steam. Her eyes darted around Sunset to their surroundings before she let out a sigh. “Fine. Come in,” she mumbled, stepping back inside.
Sunset smiled, stepping inside to a groaning Aria and a grinning Sonata and shutting the door behind her.