Chapter 3.5: Hearth's Warming Day
Warning: There are very suggestive themes ahead, I would recommend an age of 17+, but really, who actually even follows age restrictions on the internet anyhow…?
The crying of two familiar babies could be heard over the festive music through a festively decorated room.
"Somebody shut those babies up! My goodness, they're such a racket." Aria Blaze complained, covering her ears.
"Oh, don't be like that sis! They're just hungry!" Sonata cheerfully said, taking 2 milk bottles and stuffing it in their mouths. They sucked happily, calming down. "See?"
"Why do the babies have to stay here? Why can't we just leave them in the room with the children, for the Sun's sake?" Aria groaned.
"You don't just leave babies without adult supervision, silly!" Sonata said, in a mother-like tone.
"Whatever… You're barely mentally older than those three anyway." Aria grumbled, taking a sip of the glass of wine that sat on the table.
"Cheer up Aria, it's Hearth's Warming Day!" Sonata said happily.
"Oh, she's just a bit sour that 'ol pink girl got one over on her." Adagio said, poking at Aria's wrapped forearm. Aria swatted away Adagio's arm, and huffed.
Starlight walked into the room, and sniffed the air, the aroma of tasty treats making her smile.
"Well aren't you three having fun?" Starlight said, walking into the room and taking a seat. She leaned back in the chair, sighing in relief. "Isn't it nice to have a day off from doing evil and stuff?" Starlight asked.
Adagio chuckled in response, pouring her a glass of wine. "Sure is. Wonder if they made any progress on finding us?" Adagio questioned.
Starlight shrugged, sipping the wine. "Beats me."
"Oh. My. Goodness! It's Hearth's Warming Day and we've made absolutely no progress on finding them!" Twilight said frantically, rubbing her hair rapidly, pacing around the room.
"Chill, Twilight. Celestia and Luna said they'd handle it. We do have to go to Tartarus after all, and speak with this Aperture fellow." Rainbow-Dash said, floating above her.
"Try and enjoy the party, Cadence tried hard to set it up, y'know." Applejack said, putting her hand on Twilight's shoulder.
"I just don't understand why we're not doing something now!" Twilight said, calming down slightly.
"Oh, don't you worry none, sugarcube. Celestia and Luna promised to help us while we recovered, and I'm sure they will. Besides, you're the last one that needs to recover, and then we can leave. Doctor said you should be fine by tomorrow." Applejack said, patting her shoulder.
Pinkie Pie tapped Twilight's chest, to which she responded with a hiss, due to Trixie's knee to her chest. She then slapped her back, making Twilight hiss more, this time from the impact to the wall.
"We can't do anything while you're like that, you silly billy!" Pinkie said playfully, taking a bite out of a brownie.
Twilight frowned at her slightly, not approving of her way of showing her that she couldn't do anything yet.
"Pinkie, how many of those have you had? We don't want you to have another sugar-rush." Rarity said, shivering. "All those… Dirtied dresses…!" Rarity mumbled, holding herself.
Applejack laughed, patting Rarity on the back for comfort.
"What? I only had 13!" Pinkie said, chuckling.
All of the Mane Six chatted in the room, as Celestia and Luna walked in. Pinkie ran over to greet them, in hyper mode.
"So glad you could make it! Here!" Pinkie said, putting plates of cake in both of their hands, with a fork in each. "Get comfortable!" Pinkie said, zooming off to put on some music.
While others chatted, Celestia walked over to a rather nervous-looking Twilight. "Something the matter, my pupil?" Celestia asked, sitting next to her.
"It's already Hearth's Warming Day, and we've made no progress on finding them! Celestia, I don't mean to sound rude, but what exactly have you been doing these last few days?" Twilight asked.
"Oh you know, handling the school; I've appointed Ms. Harshwhinny as assistant principal…" Celestia said, laying back in a relaxing manner, bobbing her head to the music.
"Is that all?" Twilight asked impatiently. Celestia smiled at her.
"I also invited Zecora over, since you wanted to talk to her. Sunset Shimmer is also visiting from her dimension to help us in the search for Trixie and the rest." Celestia said. "Oh, and I also prepared your things for the trip to Tartarus, essentials and such." She said nonchalantly. "All overnight, might I add?" Celestia stated.
Twilight breathed a sigh of relief, calming down. "Great, so when are they arriving?" she asked.
"Tonight, to this party. Along with Zecora." Celestia said. Twilight hugged Celestia suddenly.
"Thank you so much Celestia! I'll try to enjoy myself until they arrive then… Then we can actually discuss some plans for that trip to Tartarus." Twilight said, donning a frown on her face as she thought.
"And then we can enjoy Hearth's Warming, like we're supposed to?" Celestia asked.
"And then we can party, yes." Twilight smiled.
[In an entirely new corporeal world]
Six figures sat in the room, lively with chatter. The area resembled Twilight's mansion greatly. The room was decorated with skulls, crimson-glittering laces, torn and ravaged sheets, dark lighting, and other dark-themed things of the sort. In the middle of the room, was a small fountain with red liquids pouring from it. Sinister, slow, and eerie music played, but was catchy nonetheless.
Only 3 of the figures could be clearly seen. Two were recognized as Flutterbat and Diane, and the other resembled Rainbow-Dash, but her skin steamed, and crimson streaks were apparent all over her body. Her skin, just as Rainbow-Dash's when under the Dark influence, glowed a light-pink.
"Why are we here again? Now that the Tantabus freed us, shouldn't we be making quick work of the real world?" the one resembling Rainbow-Dash said, as she got up, heat noticeably resonating from her.
"Now, now, Perfidious. Let it wait a bit, hm? It is Hearth's Warming Day, after all…" Flutterbat said, sipping a glass of red liquid.
She folded her legs. "Even we must enjoy such events, don't you agree, Diane?" she asked. Diane frowned slightly.
"I'd rather be shedding blood, but a celebration with you works out too." Diane said, drinking her own glass of red liquid.
"So, when is it exactly that we shall regroup in the real world?" Perfidious asked.
A girl with Twilight's hair cackled in response to her question. Her hair was messy, and covered her the upper half of her face. Her smile was twisted and made her seem more than crazy. She sat in a throne, decorated elegantly with red-painted skulls.
"Soon, yes, soon… The time isn't right, though. For now, let us celebrate our escape from the nightmares." She said, biting into a crunchy skull-shaped treat.
"Why exactly are we letting her lead us anyway? She always seems like she's off her noggin." The one representing Applejack spoke.
"She may not look it, but she is the smartest and most logical one here." Flutterbat said, switching her crossed legs. She then glanced over at her. "That also makes her the most dangerous…" Flutterbat thought to herself, taking another sip out of the glass.
"Besides… We wouldn't quite let you lead us, Duplicity. You'd lie to us faster than Diane here would slash a throat." Perfidious spoke, picking up a glass of red liquid. The liquid noticeably bubbled in her hands.
"Aren't you one to speak? I may be deceitful, but there is none as disloyal as you." Duplicity spoke.
Perfidious grunted, gulping down her boiling drink, then smashing the glass into a sharp edge. "What was that?" she asked. Duplicity sat there, calmly eating her velvet-cake with her fork.
"Now, now… Let's enjoy the party folks. Everyone loves a good fight, but now's the time for celebration!" spoke a chalk-white skinned girl, resembling Rarity.
"Not now, Umbra. I feel like somebody has a little too much to say." Duplicity spoke, growling.
In an instant, the glass in Duplicity's hand shattered, making her hand bleed.
All eyes turned to the culprit; the girl resembling Twilight.
"Enjoy the party, hm? You wouldn't want to anger me." She spoke, only her lips being seen; her hair still covered her face.
Duplicity frowned, and simply wiped wrapped her hand up with a piece of cloth she tore from her pants.
"Told you… Nightmare isn't a pretty ordeal when she gets angry." Umbra spoke.
"A toast, ladies." Nightmare spoke, raising her glass of red liquid, and walking up to the other five.
"To what?" asked the others, holding up their glasses as well.
"To the beginning of a new end… The real world shall feel terror!" Nightmare declared, as she parted the hair from her face, revealing one crimson eye, and the other a pure sky blue. Her smile was twisted in a crazy, deranged manner.
*Clink!*
All tapped their glasses with one another, and took a drink.
The room was chatty, and surprisingly festive for room filled with villains.
"Hah! You wouldn't believe the look of hopelessness that farm girl got after she realized it was over for her." Adagio laughed, drinking more wine. She was noticeably getting more influenced.
"I met a really cool girl, but now I think she hates me." Sonata said, sobbing and throwing her head into Aria's lap.
Aria rolled her eyes. "And now you see why Sonata's not allowed to have any alcoholic content." Aria sighed, as Sonata sobbed into her thighs.
Starlight laughed, sipping out of her glass, and taking a bite of cake. "I see. How peculiar." She said, a smile on her face.
Trixie opened the door to the room, and all eyes fell on her, silence filling the room.
Trixie awkwardly walked to the coat stand and removed her galaxy-themed blue jacket. She sat down next to the other four, and poured herself some wine, taking a sip. The quietness of the room got to her.
"Oh come on you guys, lighten up. Even I can take it easy on a holiday." Trixie said, slicing herself some cake.
"Really? You, taking it easy? You literally became the most ruthless person I know overnight, Trixie." Starlight said.
Discord materialized within the room; he wore a formal black-and-white tuxedo with a black tie. "Oh, you'll find her to be quite the delight, actually." He said, slicing a piece of cake, and taking the whole cake, leaving back just the slice. Adagio glared at Discord, who shrugged.
"No worries, I came prepared." Trixie smiled, reaching into a bag by her feet, and pulling out a plate of new cake.
"In dedication to our newfound power!" Trixie said, in a triumphant laughter, as everyone, save for Discord, took another slice of cake.
The room returned to its chatty banter, a night of festivities waiting ahead.
[In the room a few doors down from theirs]
"What!? They kidnapped us?!" Applebloom squeaked. The injured parts of her body were covered in bandages treated with ointments to help the burns heal.
"We've gotta get outta here!" she yelled, banging on the door and pulling at the knob.
"Don't bother." Sweetie Belle spoke solemnly. "Whole place is sealed with some super powerful magic." She explained, sitting on the ground hopelessly.
Scootaloo and Spike ate hungrily at the treats that were left on a short table in the middle of the room for them.
"C'mon you two, cheer up and join us, the food's great!" Spike said, with a full mouth.
"Yeah, come on!" Scootaloo encouraged, biting into a piece of blueberry pie.
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle glanced at each other, then walked over to the short table.
"At least they're not 100% heartless…" Sweetie Belle mumbled, biting into a cake and smiling.
Applebloom took a bite out of some Apple pie. "I guess we can make this work…" she said, in an unsure manner.
The Mane Six plus the two Principals all chatted, enjoying treats and the sorts. Twilight seemed to have finally calmed down a bit, a smile on her face as well as she chatted.
"So, how do you guys think the little ones are doing?" Rarity questioned.
Applejack hummed. "Well, they're not completely heartless, I don't think they'd have guts to truly make a child suffer, despite the injuries on Applebloom." She stated. "I mean, they were nice enough to allow us a day off." She concluded.
The others nodded in agreement.
The doors to the room swung open, and a white-haired girl with black stripes and ebony-colored skin walked in. Her hair was in a subtle Mohawk which extended into straight hair, touching her shoulders. On her forearms, neck, and feet were extravagant decorative gold bracelets, loops, and necklaces. She had an African vibe about her.
She was followed by the lady that they all knew as Sunset Shimmer.
Twilight was the first to greet them, running up to them and shaking both of their hands excitedly.
"Zecora, Sunset Shimmer, it's been a while!" Twilight said excitedly, receiving a hug from Sunset Shimmer. The others got up to greet as well.
"Yes, it is good to you as well, Twilight; I'm quite glad that I could attend this party tonight." Zecora smiled.
"Twilight, it's been forever! So, I assume these are your dimension's Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow-Dash, Applejack, and Rarity, huh?" Sunset asked, shaking each of their hands.
"You betcha!" Applejack laughed. "So you're the one who got our favorite Alicorn mixed up in some otherworldly stuff, huh?" she said, in a playful banter.
"Oh that?" Sunset said, waving it off. "Nah, I'm done with that stuff now. Actually, the main reason I came is because my old mentor," Sunset Shimmer began, walking over to Celestia's side. "Good 'ol Celestia invited me to help out." Sunset finished. Her face dropped from its happy mood.
"You know, Twilight, Celestia informed on what's going on here… I didn't think that you had so much evil here. I can't stay for long, because my dimension needs me too, but I will do what I can while you and your friends seek Aperture within the depths of Tartarus." Sunset explained.
"I am eternally grateful, Sunset. Thank you." Twilight sighed. She then turned to Zecora. "So… Zecora, why exactly does Trixie Lulamoon possess the Alicorn Amulet?" Twilight asked, curious as to how it got out of her care.
"You see, Twilight, it was night like this; except that it was not as festive, and things were amiss." Zecora began, as focus turned to her.
"One fair night, I handled my endeavors; the amulet shook and rumbled, causing a tremor. I studied it within my hut, trying to figure out what could be making it go amuck. Behold, the very same Trixie Lulamoon, blasted my door down with a large 'kaboom!' Struggle as might, I was no match for her in a fight. The Amulet, however, was locked and sealed; furious as she would be, I knew it was the Amulet I would never reveal. However, after a devastating claw to my chest," Zecora spoke, pausing to lift up her shirt, showing 3 long scars across her chest. "and a threat to slash up the rest, I quickly found the fear needed to confess." Zecora explained.
Twilight sighed. "So she's been at this for a while, huh…? Why didn't you inform us Zecora?" Twilight asked.
"Injured, beaten, and within deep forestation, one of the hardest things to achieve is communication." Zecora said, looking down.
"Zecora, was she an Alicorn at the time she confronted you?" Principal Celestia asked, drinking another cup of apple cider.
"If she was, I would not know; under her cloak, everything was hidden below." Zecora replied.
"If that Amulet was reacting like that at the same time as her appearance, I'd say that she was an Alicorn… But where? Where would she have gained the means to transcend?" Twilight questioned herself out-loud.
"Alright, alright, enough of the boring stuff, hm? I like to spend my Hearth's Warming Day with a little more celebration, y'know?" Rainbow-Dash said, yawning.
"Agreed." Rarity said, as Fluttershy nodded in agreeance as well.
"Alrighty then, it's settled. Say, who's ready for some good cider?" Applejack asked, digging into a large bag, and taking out 3 cases of one-dozen apple-cider. The case read "Hard Cider".
"Um, Applejack, aren't we a bit young for that stuff?" Twilight asked.
Applejack smiled, and winked at Twilight. "Tonight, we're as old as we want to be." She laughed hardily.
"Actually-" Principal Celestia began, planning to deny them, but Luna held her shoulder.
"Let them have this night, Sister. You yourself told them in the Hospital that these events would force them to mature. Let this be their first night of maturation, hm?" Luna compromised. Celestia sat back in her chair, slowly nodding in agreement.
"I suppose you are right, Sister. I will allow them this luxury." She replied.
"Alright girls! It's time for the real party!" Applejack said excitedly, popping open a bottle of Hard Apple Cider, as it fizzed over.
Sonata laid in Aria's lap, now asleep with a drunken tiredness. Aria was asleep herself, her elbow on the table, and her head in the palm of her hand. Adagio fell asleep lounging on the couch. Trixie and Discord were the only ones awake.
They each poured yet another glass of wine, and toasted, each taking a drink.
"You are quite the holder of alcohol, Trixie. I picked up the strongest wine I could find too, how is it that you're not drunk yet?" Discord questioned, his words slightly slurred.
"Oh no, I am damn hammered." Trixie responded, giggling in an almost uncontrollable manner.
"I just don't act much differently." She said, crossing her legs.
"You certainly are more pleasant when under the influence." Discord said, as he downed his glass.
Trixie downed hers as well. "Well, Discord… It was fun, but I think now, I'll just…" Trixie said slowly, as she fell over on her back, snoring.
Discord laughed, as he picked up the half-full bottle of wine, walking over to the nearby door, and leaving the room. "Lightweights." he mumbled, walking down the hall.
He went a few doors down, to check on the younger ones, and found them all snoring on the floor, messy with frosting, and the area trashed.
"Ah, such good, chaotic kids." Discord sighed, closing the door and magically sealing it once again.
He returned to the former room, going over to the window, only slightly tipsy.
He took a large swig from the bottle, and wiped his mouth, staring out into the night with a smile. He looked at the great town of Equestria, lit through the night. It had grown much from the rural area it used to be. Although it was still very small and quaint, it had come a far way.
Discord's smile turned more sinister, as his beady red eyes glowed.
"Small communities grow great through Harmony. Great ones fall to pieces, through Discord." He recited, stuffing his hand into the pocket of his suit, bringing the bottle to his lips once again.
Sunset sat and talked with Celestia, catching up, both sipping on bottles of hard apple cider. Principal Luna and Zecora sat not too far away, speaking of Arcane magic and the sorts over bottles of hard cider as well. The room was transferring through shades of different colors, and was very dimly lit, with the occasional flash of colors on selected areas, via the cliché disco-ball at the top of the room.
The Mane Six, having only just having actual alcohol, were faring a bit more hectically.
First off, Applejack was slow-dancing with Rarity in the middle of the room, in quite a sloppy manner as well, under the influence of the content in their drinks. Rarity grinned at Applejack.
"Y-you know… You're ashually pretty cute for a rough 'ol farm girl…" Rarity said, leaning closer. Applejack slightly scrunched her face at the smell of alcohol, but didn't care much, as she was influenced herself. She pulled her close and spoke lowly.
"You're not sho' bad yourself, sugarcube" Applejack said, in a slur. Suddenly, both tripped over each other, with Rarity landing on top of Applejack.
Rarity grew a seductive grin, and grabbed Applejack's collar, pulling her lips closer with a tug…
…
Pinkie Pie was talking to Fluttershy hyperactively farther off in the room. She was taking swigs of the hard apple cider, giggling uncontrollably.
"P-Pinkie Pie, I think you've had enough…" Fluttershy said, barely even affected by her drink, considering she only had a few sips out of the bottle.
"I think you've had too little!" Pinkie Pie said, grabbing the bottle out of her hand.
"Down the hatch!" Pinkie Pie said in a total-hyper active manner, shoving the tip of the bottle into Fluttershy's mouth and emptying the contents in, as Fluttershy was forced to swallow.
Fluttershy ejected the bottle from her mouth, coughing as some of the liquid drained from the corner of her lip.
Pinkie Pie calmed down, watching the liquid leak down her mouth.
"You've gotta a little something there…" Pinkie Pie said with a suggestive voice, tackling a detesting Fluttershy down onto the ground.
"P-Pinkie Pie...!" Fluttershy gasped, her face pink, as Pinkie crawled over her in a suggestive manner, a devious smile on her face.
Pinkie Pie only chuckled and leaned down towards Fluttershy, slowly closing the distance between their lips.
…
Twilight calmly sipped at her hard apple cider, only slightly tipsy, as she read a book titled, "The Depths of Tartarus", written by Starswirl the Bearded himself.
Suddenly, Rainbow-Dash came hobbling over, clearly drunk. "Hey, Twi… What're you, up to?" Rainbow-Dash asked, barely managing to take a proper seat by Twilight.
Twilight scrunched her face, waving her hand. "Gosh Rainbow, you reek of alcohol!" Twilight said, not taking her eyes off the pages of the book.
"And you reek of sexy." Rainbow-Dash said smoothly, smiling at Twilight.
Twilight blushed deeply. "Um… What?" Twilight squeaked, looking up beyond her book.
"Did I shtutter? I alwaysh did find the nerdy typesh real cute, y'know..." Rainbow-Dash said, with a drunken smirk. Rainbow-Dash leaned towards Twilight, as Twilight backed away, standing up and finding her back on the wall.
"Nuh-uh Rainbow-Dash, you're under the influence and-!" Twilight began, but in an instant, Rainbow-Dash had planted her hand on the wall beside Twilight's head, pinning her to the wall.
Twilight's went silent.
"Come on, we can have a little fun, hm?" Rainbow-Dash said, licking her lips.
"U-uhh…!" Twilight stuttered and stammered, overwhelmed by her flirting.
Twilight's face went entirely red, as she could feel Rainbow-Dash's hand touch the part of her thigh that was just below the edge of her skirt.
Rainbow-Dash brought her face close to Twilight, enjoying her small, uncontrolled breaths, with a smirk.
Twilight no longer cared for the horrible smell of alcohol, caught in her own little world, experiencing her first bit of intimate action.
Rainbow-Dash chuckled, as she rubbed her thigh, and brought their lips closer, as Twilight closed her eyes and dropped her book…
[Back into 'that' corporeal world]
Flutterbat, Diane, Perfidious, Duplicity, Umbra, and Nightmare all sat at one table, enjoying glasses of red liquid and meat. Nightmare was at the end of the table, in a luxurious crimson cushioned seat, that resembled the throne. In the middle of the table was a large velvet cake with crimson-colored frosting on it. All ate and talked in a lively-manner.
Flutterbat held up her glass, and hit with a fork three times, issuing silence. All eyes turned to her.
"Let us all celebrate in honor of our reawakening! Let us enjoy ourselves in celebration of the very last night our pathetic catalysts will enjoy. But most of all, let us enjoy the reincarnation of our one and only leader, Queen Nightmare!" Flutterbat said, raising her glass high, as the others raised their glasses as well, in a toast, all except for Nightmare.
The others cheered, but silenced themselves, as they noticed Nightmare do nothing but stare at Flutterbat, her face hard to read. Flutterbat gulped, her arm still held high in the toast. Her facial features were still arranged in a way that hinted at derangement, but her overall emotion was impossible.
She then held her glass high, closing her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened them, revealing the sky-blue and crimson-red orbs, and her lips twisted into that familiar deranged smile, as she giggled in a surprisingly calm manner.
"Couldn't have said it better myself…" she said, as thunder struck, and lightning flashed by the window.
[The scene drew out here, all that could be seen was Nightmare in the eerie, dimly lit room, half of her face lit, revealing her facial features that screamed "deranged". Her legs were crossed, and she smiled crazily directly at the camera. The other five all had on sinister features as well, staring down towards the camera, with Flutterbat's features being far more subtle.]
~~~ Author's Note ~~~
Okay, so I am uploading this at around 10:00PM, on the night of Christmas... I meant to upload earlier, but I had an entire change of the plot, and so, decided to go with my new ideas, that's why it is being uploaded late. Nonetheless, it is still a Christmas special, since it is on the night of Christmas! ^-^
To all my non-Christians, Happy Holidays to you! =)
Here are somethings I should clarify, as things will easily get confusing, as I introduced four new names...
The one resembling Pinkie Pie - Pinkamena Diane Pie, aka "Diane".
The one resembling Fluttershy - "Flutterbat"
The one resembling Twilight - "Nightmare"
The one resembling Rarity - "Umbra"
The one resembling Applejack - "Duplicity"
The one resembling Rainbow-Dash - "Perfidious"
Well, that's all for now! I tried to make this chapter in a different tone, to make it feel special in at least some way. It's not really meant to feel festive (as I find it hard to do such a thing, with their families being kidnapped and all, it's hard to make circumstances where they would be 100% festive), but is rather meant to be something different and interesting (yet still completely canon to the story), a turn from my regular writing, so I hope you enjoyed that difference.
If you didn't enjoy it, however, enjoy the quickness in my upload time, haha! Just messing guys, take it easy, and hope you all enjoy, continue to enjoy, and/or are enjoying your Holidays! Mega T22 out; till next time everypony.
PS: These will be one of the very few times my chapters are under my minimum word count of 10,000 words... On many special occasions, they will either be much below, or much above that, so don't get used to short chapters like this. I will return to my 10,000+ word chapters.
