Hearth's Warming Strife Chapter 1 Holiday Stress
With snow falling onto the ground, covering every inch of Ponyville including a cottage outside of the village where some animals slept through what looked like a blizzard. Down the way a friendship castle had been covered with snow as the Mane 6 sat in their chairs bored.
"So I'm guess we're not celebrating Hearth's Warming this year?" Dash started.
Fluttershy didn't say a word and Applejack had her hat below her face.
Twilight spoke up next.
"Not really, being that we never celebrated Hearth's Warming when we were younger"
"Darling, it has been a while since Sweetie Belle had a proper Hearth's Warming" Rarity said next.
All the girls made grumbles to low for each other to hear.
"Maybe we can head to that ice cream parlor down by Fluttershy's house," Pinkie sat up in her normal perky self.
"Capital idea Pinkie Pie I think some ice cream will ease our worries," Rarity agreed with the party pony's idea.
"In this weather? It's like negative 20 degrees outside," Dash complained showing the snow outside.
"So? We fought Sombra in the snow and no pony was complaining not even you," Applejack interjected moving her hat up.
Dash let out a disgruntled pout, crossing her arms in disapproval.
Applejack smiled victorious.
"Ok you two that's enough" Twilight used her magic to separate them.
Fluttershy put on her multi colored scarf walking towards the door.
"You all want ice cream or what?"Fluttershy asked ready to go.
The girls put on their winter clothing then trotted outside with a slight wind gust, not enough to make it horrible to walk by.
"Brr this is cold," Pinkie said shivering.
"Man I hope this snow lets up soon because I'd like to fly," Dash used her wings to keep warm.
Twilight agreed, flying in this weather would prove to be dangerous but it would be Rarity who spotted an ice cream parlor that was still open in this bad weather.
The bell dinged as a worker came down to the front desk to greet these strange mares entering this place in this kind of severe weather.
"Hello girls what can I do for you?" he asked.
"We'll all just have hot chocolate please," Twilight said nicely.
"Coming right up," The worker went to the back to make some hot cocoa.
Dash looked out the window sighing.
"Granny Smith don't want Applebloom to set up the Hearth's Warming Tree after the incident," Applejack rubbed the back of her neck nervously.
"Yea the fire department were very opinionated about that," Twilight said laughing nervously.
"Well you know it wasn't her fault, she kinda brought in hot lights that combusted into a fire" Fluttershy silently said.
The worker came back out carrying a tray of hot chocolate before setting it down in front of them.
"Thank you," Pinkie thanked the kind stallion before he walked away.
"Oh my stars this looks delicious" Rarity smelled the aroma coming from her hot chocolate.
"Well here's to another Hearth's Warming," Dash raised her glass.
They all did the same thing and drank their hot cocoa.
All of a sudden the mane 6 started to fade away despite their sudden shock.
Applejack Flashback - 12 years old
Snow fell underneath AJ's nose as she opened her eyes to see a farmhouse up ahead.
"What in tarnation?" Applejack's voice sounded softer shocking the country girl.
My voice, what the hell happened to my damn voice? Applejack's eyes widened looking up at snow.
She looked around for her friends by calling out their names but no answer.
"Oh man where are you guys?! What happened to me?" Applejack's eyes widened looked up at the snow.
Just looking at the farmhouse, the lights were on with a door hanging open. Applejack walked in and saw a lit up tree with presents all around that.
She picked up a small one wrapped in red paper and a green bow on it.
I guess this is for me Applejack opened the present feverishly wanting to know what it is.
Inside the present was a picture of her mother and father standing beside her.
"Mamma and Papa," Applejack started to tear up looking at her family photo.
Setting the picture down, she then trotted upstairs into her old bedroom as a sudden memory came into view.
"Mamma have I been a good girl this year?" Young Applejack asked with a smile.
"Of course my darling," Her mother answered kissing her forehead.
AJ's younger self gave a yawn with her mother singing a soft lullaby to put her daughter to sleep.
The memory faded and Applejack looked down with tears burning down her already hot cheeks.
"Mamma...I'm sorry I wish you both were here," Applejack pleaded curling up in a ball crying.
After what seemed like an hour, the country girl stood up wiping her tears and trotted over to her old bed that still stood after all these years.
Feeling out the wooden frame of it brought back good and not so good memories when her parents were still here for Hearth's Warming.
"After everything that happened to me I still manage to make my parents proud," Applejack smiled through new tears that flowed down her face.
She almost decided to leave but something shiny caught her eye.
A wooden music box became visible in the distance, as soon as Applejack turned to look at it the box played a soothing tune that entered Aj's ears. When the music stopped, she trotted up to the box and looked around for some sort of clue.
She happened to spot a little slip of paper sticking out from the music box.
Unfolding the paper Applejack's eyes widen when the paper read the lyrics to a famous song titled You are my Sunshine one of her favorite lullabies.
She closed her eyes and imagined her mother singing that lullaby to calm the county mare down in order to sleep well.
I love you Mamma and Happy Hearth's Warming