A/N: Hello everyone, this is a request for retro-mania on fanfiction net. I do requests sometimes, but only if I'm feeling motivated so sorry if I turn down your request. That being said, hope you enjoy the story! It takes inspo from the 'So Weird' episode Fountain. Not that I've watched So Weird before but the requester wanted me to take reference from it so…
Hearth's Warming Eve, one of Equestria's most momentous holidays. The mane 6 - and Spike - were in Canterlot to celebrate the said holiday. They traversed through the mall, carols playing all around. Decorations were plentiful, wreaths hanging, trees dressed up, ponies shaking little bells. Despite that, the mane 6 were not so excited for the holiday, having been drained by their regular busy lives.
"Ugh, I'm so tired," Rainbow Dash groaned, stretching her wings.
"Tell me about it," Applejack agreed, adjusting her hat.
"Hearth's Warming is such a drag sometimes - oh, I don't mean to sound horrible," Rarity agreed, "but I think we'd all rather have a spa day!"
It was a fact - the mane 6 were not particularly enthused about the holiday.
Twilight couldn't help but nod in agreement, passing some noisy carollers. She scowled when she noticed a vendor that looked a little too similar to a certain draconequus.
"Hmm…" she narrowed her eyes, approaching the vendor.
"Hello, hello, my little ponies!" he waved. "Come, come!"
"Discord," Twilight glared at him.
"What are you doing here?" Rainbow Dash sneered, flying over to the draconequus.
"Celebrating the holiday, of course!" Discord scoffed, offering some hot cocoa.
"We're not in the mood for any of yer stupid games, Discord," Applejack told him.
Pinkie Pie devoured her hot cocoa, while the others were a little more cautious.
"So good…" Pinkie Pie fell over, chocolate staining her mouth.
"What are you really doing here, Discord?" Spike asked.
"Well…" Discord popped up right beside Twilight and Spike, "I was planning to show you… something very special, this Hearth's Warming."
"And what would that be?" Twilight asked, pushing him away.
Discord just let out a cackle. "Now, now, that would spoil the surprise! Enjoy your drinks."
He snapped his claws. Suddenly, the scene changed - the mane 6 were teleported to an open field of icy wind. There were a few caves up ahead, as well as some old buildings.
"Where in Equestria are we?" Applejack demanded.
Discord's voice echoed above. "Why not take a stroll and find out?"
Twilight, for some reason, felt a little… odd. She gazed over herself. She was smaller, her horn shorter, her wings bunched up.
"... hold on…" Fluttershy whimpered, observing her body. "Are we…"
"Younger?!" Everypony finished.
"Oh, yes," Discord giggled, "just a little fun Hearth's Warming surprise!"
"TURN US BACK NOW!" Rainbow Dash zoomed towards him.
Discord simply vanished, causing her to crash into a pile of snow.
"Looks like we're stuck in another one of his games, y'all," Applejack sighed.
The ponies perked up, heading some unfamiliar voices.
"What's going on now?!" Rainbow Dash asked.
The mane 6 and Spike followed the voices, reaching a snowy cave. Twilight gasped in surprise.
"Wait, this is…" she trailed off.
It was indeed the cave from the very first Hearth's Warming. The mane 6 spotted a group of familiar ancient ponies.
"Discord took us back to the first Hearth's Warming?!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
Rarity gasped. "Darling, I need to check how to style my mane during these times!"
"What is your end goal here, Discord?!" Twilight looked around.
"He's gone…" Fluttershy sighed.
"Here we go again," Spike groaned.
The gang spotted the ancient ponies - Clover the Clever, Smart Cookie, Commander Hurricane, Chancellor Puddinghead, Princess Platinum, and Private Pansy.
"No way!" Rainbow Dash shouted, her voice breaking. "It's really them!"
The group of ancient ponies danced around and sang, the fire of friendship blooming between them.
"It's even more gorgeous in person!" Rarity gushed.
The ancient ponies faced the mane 6. There was a moment of tense silence.
"Who in Celestia's name are you all?!" Commander Hurricane demanded.
"It's the real Commander Hurricane!" Rainbow Dash gasped. She cleared her throat. "Sir! It's a great honour to meet you, sir!"
She grimaced; her voice was so squeaky.
"Chancellor Puddinghead!" Pinkie Pie jumped up.
"Strange pink fellow earth pony!" Chancellor Puddinghead grinned, shaking her hoof.
Rarity and Princess Platinum admired each other's manes, while Fluttershy and Private Pansy somehow managed to scare each other. Meanwhile, Applejack and Smart Cookie simply shared a knowing gaze.
"You… you're one of those alicorns!" Clover the Clever gazed at Twilight's wings. "Just like those two sisters!"
"Luna and Celestia…?" Twilight gasped.
Suddenly, the blizzard began picking up. Wind and snow raced through the area.
"Wait, what's happening now?!" Applejack asked.
"WHEEE!" Pinkie Pie jumped up.
"Hold on, everypony!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
Twilight tried to use her magic, but everything went white…
The ponies and their dragon accomplice opened their eyes. They were in an old town - more modern than their previous destination, but old compared to the present - Hearth's Warming decorations everywhere. Now they were even younger. Jolly celebrations were everywhere, which did not distract from the age regression.
"Augh, we're teens!" Rainbow Dash cursed.
"Not a time I want to remember…" Applejack muttered.
"Ugh, my mane!" Rarity whimpered. Fluttershy hid behind her.
"Everypony, look!" Twilight shouted.
Ahead, the ponies saw a grumpy pony amongst the midst of cheerful grins.
Spike narrowed his eyes. "Is that…"
"Snowfall Frost?!" the mane 6 gasped.
Snowfall Frost heard her name, pecking up. She began to trot towards the group.
"SHE'S COMING OVER!" Pinkie Pie cried. "QUICK, PRETEND WE'RE INVISIBLE!"
She froze in the spot, in an odd position. Snowfall Frost tilted her head.
"Um…?" she asked. "Can I help you fillies…?"
The mane 6 looked at each other, before back at her.
"Let me guess, you hate Heartswarming," Rainbow Dash grunted.
"Hate it?" Snowfall gasped. "Well… I used to… but not anymore. Thanks to all the amazing friends I've made, I realised that Heartswarming is a wonderful time to spend with friends and family."
The ponies just stared at her.
"YEAH!" Pinkie Pie cheered. "That's what I'm talking about, everypony!"
"I've never seen you around here before," Starlight tilted her head. "Who are you all?"
"Just some…. visitors," Twilight got out.
"Uhhh, okay," Snowfall made a face. "Well, little fillies, you're welcome to join in our Heartswarming party!"
"I'm not little," Rainbow Dash huffed.
"She's a lot nicer than I thought she'd be…" Spike uttered. He yawned, slipping onto Twilight's back.
"We got lucky," Applejack replied. "We met her at the end of the tale."
Suddenly, the wind began picking up again. Everypony held onto the ground, but to no avail. Spike groaned, having been woken up from his nap.
"NOT AGAIN!"
Twilight gasped, sitting up. She stared at the teeny wings on her back.
"The ground is so low down…" Fluttershy murmured.
Rainbow Dash flew into the air. "Still got it!"
"I shan't even bother with my mane!" Rarity squeaked.
The snow was piled up. The young fillies - and teeny Spike - walked through yet another festive town. The group spotted none other than Celestia herself. She was seated at a long table, surrounded by piles of food. Ponies laughed and cheered.
"FOOD!" Pinkie Pie raced ahead, facepalming into a pie.
"Your highnesses!" Twilight squeaked.
Celestia eyed the group of fillies, grinning.
"Hello there, my little ponies," she said. "Come sit, have some food! I'm glad I got to stop by for a Hearth's Warming."
The ponies sat at the table. Twilight sat next to Celestia, eyeing her future teacher with wonder.
"Where are all of you from?" Celestia asked. She noticed Twilight's wings, and tilted her head. "Hold on… an alicorn?"
The mane 6 went silent.
"You sure are an interesting bunch," Celestia noted. "Who are you fillies?"
"Well… we're from the future," Twilight admitted, "and we're normally much older than this."
"I see," Celestia's eye twinkled. "Something does feel different about you ponies. I have a feeling that you'll need to find your own way back."
"Seriously?" Twilight asked, annoyed. She blinked. "Sorry, your highness."
"It's quite alright, young filly," Celestia chuckled. "For now, why not enjoy the holiday?"
"We could all use a break…" Twilight helped herself to a fruit tart. "I guess we don't get Hearth's Warming that often."
Suddenly, the wind picked up once more. The mane 6 cried out, as everything went white…
"Aw, look at how cute you all are!" Discord teased.
The mane six were not much older than toddlers.
"Discord, turn us back now!" Twilight ordered.
"What was that, tiny?" Discord put a paw to his ear.
"Discord!" the ponies began to cry.
Discord chuckled, before disappearing once again.
Twilight's horn lit up. Of course, baby unicorns were just as powerful as their adult counterparts, however their magic was far less… tamed. Alicorn babies, even more so.
Twilight's horn lit up, carrying the rest of her friends. Baby Spike screamed; the tiny dragon couldn't even form words. She lifted up various decorations as well; groups of ponies shouted out in horror. Bells rang out; cakes were flying through the air.
"I can't…." she cried out. "I can't stop it!"
Magic exploded a pie, drenching a few innocent civilians. A table broke in half; desserts spilled everywhere.
"Twilight!" Everypony shouted.
"I'm sorry!" Twilight cried out. "This is really bad!"
She sobbed, as her friends surrounded her. The toddlers sobbed and screamed. Their words failed as more tears came rushing through.
"We're all here!" Applejack told her. "Friends!"
Another flaming heart appeared above the friends, keeping them safe from the icy wind. Everything flashed white…
The ponies gasped. They were back in the present at last.
"My mane!" Rarity gushed, hugging her mane.
"It's finally over!" Rainbow Dash spread her wings in delight.
Spike groaned, falling asleep on Twilight's back. Unfortunately, the dragon was still fairly young, even in the present.
"Oh hp?" Discord appeared, chewing on a candy cane. "So you finished, little ponies?"
"What was all that for?!" Applejack demanded.
"Now, come on, dear friends," Discord chuckled. "You can't think of the lesson you all learned?"
The ponies glared at him.
"Ugh, you're no fun," he slumped back.
"We learnt to appreciate the holidays…?" Fluttershy suggested.
"Close enough," Discord shrugged. "Thanks for trying, dear Fluttershy."
The ponies - save Fluttershy - continued glaring at Discord, who got into a sleigh, and rode off into the night.
"That was… kinda fun, actually," Fluttershy admitted.
"Y'know what, yer right," Applejack agreed, "I'm lookin' forward to the holiday now!"
"Hey, me too!" Rainbow Dash joined in.
The others chattered in agreement.
"Come on, everypony!" Pinkie Pie cheered. "Hearth's Warming's not over yet!"
The other ponies grinned, nodding at each other.
"Let's go, y'all!" Applejack cheered.