The night sky drew in pretty fast and everyone was asleep apart from one woman. She had started her usual routine of the stables, cleaning out the hay, feeding the animals and talking to them. Just as she was about finished, someone called her.

"Apple Jack, can we borrow you for a moment?"

"This better be good," Apple groaned, following a little person into another room.

The room they entered seemed to be packed full of most of the staff that worked there.

"As you all know Christmas is on the verge of falling this year," Someone announced.

Everyone moaned and groaned at the speech.

"Well we have managed to find something or should I say someone who might be our saviour," The person smiled, and then they turned to Texan, waving her over.

"Look I said I don't want to get involved, I'm happy working in the barn,"

"You're the only ancestor of Santa Clause and we think you would be perfect for this job,"

"Granny Smith, I've told you whatever it is..." Apple jack go cut off.

"Granny Smith looked into the snow globe and gave it a shake, and then turned back to her granddaughter, "We need you to help this girl to make her believe in Christmas."

A girl appeared in the globe she looked to be in her 20's. She looked really well dressed and walked with her head up high. She held it that high she didn't see the person kneeling on the floor. The girl then found herself falling to the floor.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't see you there," the girl told her co worker who was now looking at her annoyed.

She then stood up and shook the embarrassment off.

Apple jack stared in confusion, "You want me to help her. I'm sorry but she's passed my help."

"We need to save Christmas for the children," Granny argued.

"Apple crossed her arms and stood her ground, "No way."

Without the Texan knowing, a sparkle of dust started to form around her and then she disappeared, reappearing on the train.

"How the hell did I end up here?" Apple thought annoyed.

oOo

"Hey Rarity, how are you feeling this morning?" A colleague asked.

"I'm ok, just starting to feel the winter rush," Rarity sounded exhausted.

"Don't you mean the Christmas rush?" her colleague corrected.

The girl just got a glare from Rarity. She had just started her first shift on the front counter of the bakery. A massive queue now formed.

"Next order up, three trays of party buns," Rarity called.

"That's mine," a pink haired girl confirmed, "Could I get a few more sweets on the top?"

"Of course, that'll just take about 10 minutes," Rarity confirmed.

"That's fine, oh and could you take a little icing off of two of the buns," the pink haired customer finished.

"Anything else,"

"Come on, there's others waiting, like me," a rainbow haired girl moaned.

The next customer came forward, "Could I get a fruit cake but lay off the icing,"

"Would you like a drink with that?" Rarity asked.

"No that's it thanks," the girl said waiting for the total.

"With less icing that comes to £15.80," Rarity totalled up.

"Um excuse me, could someone help me," a Texan girl interrupted.

"Rarity turned to her, annoyed and gestured to the customers lined up waiting, "You see this. It's called a queue get to the back of it."

"But..., you need to save Christmas," Apple mumbled to herself getting pushed aside by the sports girl.

"Finally, could I just get a brownie to go," the rainbow haired girl asked. She then stepped aside and waited.

oOo

Apple jack decided to wait while Rarity's shift had finished. She had a job to do and that's what she was going to do. She sat down on a bench just opposite the shop. A few hours had passed and she noticed the baker trying to get out of the shop with a lot of baggage. It was the perfect opportunity for her.

The Texan pretended to be looking at something and then bumped straight into Rarity, all her stuff when flying onto the floor.

"I'm sorry," Rarity apologised.

"It's my fault I should have been looking," the Texan told her, helping the young woman collect her stuff, "Do you want me to help you take this stuff to your car?"

"No, I'll be fine," Rarity grumbled still not looking up.

"Look it's not like I'm doing anything and it'll be my pleasure to help someone out. Call it my good deed for the day," Apple gave her an honest smile.

"Well if you insist," Rarity then looked up to see the face she wasn't expecting. "You, no actually I change my mind. I don't want help from a cucumber, I mean a queue cutter."

Apple just looked at her confused.

"You know what, it doesn't matter. I don't need to explain myself to you,"

Rarity then gathered her stuff up and walked off. Apple Jack was about to leave when she noticed something on the floor in the exact place Rarity was once stood.

oOo

Rarity had just decided to order a pizza for tea. She was too tired to make something herself. Then before they were due to deliver, she headed over to gab her purse from the bedroom. She didn't like messing about with money at the door.

"I could have sworn I put my purse in my bag," Rarity thought to herself.

Rarity then tried downstairs, but no luck. She started to strip the house down just to find it, nothing. It had just vanished or had it.

"I hope that isn't the pizza man," She thought to herself on hearing the doorbell ring.

Opening the door she was shocked to see the girl from earlier who was now standing on her doorstep.

"What are you doing here?"

"Returning your purse," Apple jack held it out for the young woman to grab

"You stole my purse," Rarity accused.

"No I found. You left it back there when you ran off in a huff," Apple started to explain. "You know what it doesn't matter. Why should I explain myself to you?"

Applejack gave the girl a smile showing her two could play at her game. All she got for her troubles was a door slammed in her face.

oOo

Apple jack had tried but not quite concord Rarity. She had decided to call it a day and not bother anymore with the girl. Instead she tried to find her way back home.

"What are you doing," A voice shouted.

Apple Jack turned around but couldn't find anyone. Then she looked down and noticed a couple of elves walking beside her.

"Oh, it's you," Apple Jack rolled her eyes, "Why should I bother with her? She will never change."

"Time is ticking. If you don't do this, there won't be a Christmas," One of the elves explained, tapping his watch.

"Who cares, I'm tired of it,"

"Think of all the children out there that believe in Christmas. You're ruining their dreams,"

Apple Jack stopped and turned her back to the elves not wanting to listen to them. They took the hint and disappeared.

oOo

Rarity was pondering back at home about everything that had happened. She started to feel bad for the girl after all she was only trying to return her purse.

"Come on Rarity stop sulking," she thought to herself.

Rarity then grabbed her coat and opened the door. Ready to head out for a walk but she didn't get chance, instead something on her doorstep seemed to stop her.

"What are you doing back here?" Rarity asked shocked.

Apple didn't say anything instead she just averted her eyes to the floor. They both just stood there quiet.

"Look I wanted to say," they both started breaking the silence.

They gave each other a smile and then Rarity offered for the other girl to speak first.

I just wanted to say, I'm sorry for interrupting you when you were working," Apple Jack apologised.

"No. It should be me apologising I was the one that should have gave you a chance," Rarity then stepped aside, "Do you want to come in?"

oOo

Rarity and Apple Jack had talked for hours and hours that night. Three weeks had passed and both girls seemed to be hitting it off. Rarity wasn't as stressed at work and Apple Jack realised there was more to life than working.

"Hey, want to hit the club tonight?" Apple Jack asked her new friend.

"Yeah that'll be nice, I mean it's only a few days till Christmas," Rarity agreed.

"Pick you up at 6pm," Apple gestured.

Rarity just nodded and then both girls went their separate ways.

Before the baker went home she nipped into a shop near to where she worked.

"Isn't this a surprise, you haven't been in here since you were 12," the woman greeted.

"Well it just so happens I want an outfit made for a friend of mine. She works on a farm, about two inches taller than me and she puts her job first," Rarity described.

"Well I should have one finished for you by Christmas Eve," The woman confirmed.

"Ok, I'll see you then,"

oOo

"I can't believe you did that for me," Rarity came in a little tipsy.

"Careful," Apple steadied her friend, "I'll go make a coffee and you can sit."

It wasn't long before Apple returned with two cups of coffee and just after she downed the whole cup, Rarity looked to be sobering up.

"Thank you for this," Rarity held cup up.

"It's nothing," Apple waved her off.

"No, I mean it," Rarity placed a hand on her friends arm. "I want to tell you something, I stopped believing in Christmas at 6 years old,"

"Why?" Apple asked confused.

"Every Christmas I wrote a list out for santa caluse and I got at least one thing on there. Well this one Christmas eve, I heard a noise so I went downstairs and saw Santa clause with my own eyes. He noticed me looking and ushered me closer that's when it all started. He said some people don't get what they want because the future is much more important, heed my words. The locket holds all the answers. What really did it for me is the next morning I opened my presents and all that I had received was a locket," Rarity kept fidgeting with something around her neck the whole time.

"You mean that one," Apple jack pointed towards the thing her friend was playing with. "Why do you still wear it?"

"To be honest I don't know. I think a part of me never hated him,"

Apple felt really bad for this girl. She had come here in means of not really befriending her, but she felt they had really connected.

"I need to tell you something. You're not going to like," Apple confessed.

Rarity looked at her confused. Then a smile came across her face.

"Whatever it is I'm sure it's not important,"

"Actually our friendship depends on it," Apple placed her hand on top of Rarity's.

Rarity listened to every word that came out of her friend's mouth. When the Texan finally finished, Rarity started to laugh not been able to take in what she had just heard.

"Wait your serious," Rarity asked gobsmacked, she slowly slid her hand away from Apples, stood up and started to pace around the room. "I can't believe you lied to me."

"I know and I'm sorry," Apple tried to reason with her friend.

Rarity stopped pacing. Listening to the words been spoken, "I can't accept that."

Apple stood up to face her friend but she turned away not been able to face a liar.

"Just go," Rarity whispered.

"Please," Apple pleaded.

"I said get out," she now shouted.

oOo

Rarity heard the door close and then let the tears she was holding back, fall. She looked up at a photo of her and Apple Jack. The one they had taken on their first night out. Rarity had decided to put it up above the fireplace so every time she looked at it would remind her of their time together. There smiling faces stared back at her they looked really happy, like best friends. She picked up the photo and held it over the fire. Apple jacks words started to replay n her head.

"The time we spent together was more magical than it has been with anyone else. You've opened my eyes to what pure friendship could be. Before I met you I had no faith in humanity. The next bit I have to tell you relies on only what you think. Whether you believe or not, I need to tell you this as you deserve the truth. I come from a place far away from here, some people call it a myth, and you may know it as the North Pole. It's no joke. I am the 30th Dynasty of St Nicks. It was no accident that we met, I needed your help. You see you hold the key to saving Christmas but believe this, our time we spent together I really was your friend and I really need your help.

Rarity loosened her grip on the picture and let it fall from her hands right into the fire. Along with Apple Jacks last speech. Christmas depends on you, I depend on you.

oOo

Apple jack stood walked out on to the doorstep of Rarity's house but couldn't bring herself to move.

"What are you doing out here? You should be in there making her believe," an elf explained popping out of nowhere.

Something suddenly hit Apple jack and she then ran off.

"Meet me back home," Apple jack shouted back.

Rarity couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened. She was about go to bed when a knock was heard on her door. Opening it she found her ex best friend standing there.

"Oh, it's you," Rarity said, slamming the door.

Apple jack put her foot in the way to stop it from closing, "Wait I need to show you something. Give me one more chance and if you still don't want to know I'll leave you alone."

"You really hurt me back there. I thought you were really genuine," Rarity explained, sadness clearly heard in her voice.

"I know I have a long way to go to make amends and that's why I'm starting now," Apple gestured for her friend to follow.

Rarity opened the door and did as she was told.

"What am I supposed to be impressed at?" Rarity folded her arms.

Apple Jack was about to open her mouth when Rarity continued.

"You've gone out, bought a slay and Reindeers just to prove your telling the truth,"

"You see them," Apple

"Of course I do there stood right there."

"That means you believe," Apple broke the news excitedly feeling her friend coming around.

No offence, but you're going to have to do better than that," Rarity turned back to her house.

"Open the locket and think back to that night. You'll realise I was the one who came to you that night, you didn't see Santa you saw a girl in Santa's clothing trying to follow in her predecessors footsteps. I was the reason you stopped believing in Christmas. You asked for a best friend for Christmas and you got one. It's just I wasn't meant to be unwrapped until now."

Rarity ran back into her house, Apple felt disappointed she didn't know what else to do. She didn't expect the younger girl to come back out.

"I couldn't leave without this," She held up the photo she dropped in the fire. She pulled it out the second she had dropped it in leaving only the corner to burn.

"Want to help me deliver some presents?"

"Try and stop me," Rarity gave her a reassuring smile.

Apple got up into the sleigh and held her hand out for Rarity to grab onto. Once they were ready, off they went on their way. Rarity realised she hadn't opened the locket. She now new now was the right time to open it. Inside was a picture of this moment, they were sat in the sleigh together.

"You still owe me millions of apologies,"

"It's ok, we've got time," Apple pulled her friend in closer.