Holiday tidings

It's Hearth's Warming Eve in my Equestria Dreamscape. And just like in the series the Mane Six were asked earlier in the year by Princess Celestia to put on the pageant at Canterlot Castle. So after squeezing many rehearsals into their busy schedules, they found themselves one night backstage preparing for the performance. It had been a lot of hard work for all but for Applejack it had been a particularly rough time with everything going on with Applebloom. Still the farm pony had stuck with her practice and was not about to let the team down.

The pageant was not at the symphony hall where Petina, Carousel and I saw Octavia, [link] or at the Civic Auditorium where we saw Scratch. [link] Instead it was held at the palace proper in one of the old hall where the pageant has been held for centuries. This gave the whole event a certain sense history and tradition, but it also meant that one was dealing with a building that was centuries old and full of the "character" that older structures acquire. Like windows that won't stay closed. Still most of the ponies in the production just smiled and got along as best as they could.

What weighed on many ponies minds was the fact that the Two Sisters were not present for this year's Hearth's Warming Eve pageant. An event that Celestia has intended for almost every year since her and Luna first arrived in Equestria. Instead this winter evening found her and Luna up north on the frontier between Equestria and land the of Dragons, as they attempted to keep a border conflict from escalating into a full blown war. The sisters had drafted a letter and had sent it via Spike that was read to the audience before the performance. The Two Sisters wished everypony a joyous holiday and hoped that they were with family, loved ones and close friends. It was a touching piece but it just made their absence more pronounced, and many pony turned and looked back at the darkened Royal Box where Celestia usually sat. It also seem bitterly ironic that Luna's first Hearth's Warming Eve since her return had to be spent effectively on the front line of a war zone. The papers were still reporting that negotiations were continuing, but their was more than one tale of Equestrian forces and artillery engaging dragons from the north.

Still the show must go on. My household had been able to get tickets for the performance as guests of the cast. Unfortunately Granny Smith was too old to make the trip and AJ was not sure that bringing Applebloom up to Canterlot would be a good idea given her current condition. So Big Macintosh and the rest of her family had stayed in Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack planned to catch the last train out Canterlot after the performance so she could be home to celebrate the holiday with her family. Much to Twilight's alarm Rainbow Dash volunteered Twilight's parents home as great place for everyone else to gather the next day for the Hearth's Warming Feast. This resulted in a frantic series of letters between Twilight and her parents to make certain this would be okay and that there were enough provisions for the gathering. What really worried Twilight more than the sudden number of unexpected guests to the dinner was the fact that Rainbow Dash had also invited Myself, Petina and Carousel to. I could almost see poor Twilight hyperventilate as she imagined all the ways her parents meeting Petina could go wrong. Petina noted that purple unicorn mare was quite adorkable when she was flustered.

"The way her brow gets all scrunched up when she's upset is just so cute!" Said Petina gleefully. Probably best that Twilight was not around to hear that comment.

Fortunately there were no hitches with the pageant, or the reception afterwards, and Applejack was able to catch her train on time. My household had gotten a room in an hotel in Canterlot called the Green Elm. Our original plan had been to spend the night then return to Ponyville on the train the next day. We had made plans for a small feast at our own cottage, but that plan was now on hold. The next morning found us tidying ourselves up to make a good first impression with Twilight's parents. Even Petina agreed to be a polite, proper guest and not give Twilight's parents any regrets about her moving to Ponyville with all those strange, rural ponies. So early in the afternoon we found ourselves standing on the Sparkle's front steps in the snow. After some brief introductions, and removal of our coats, hats and cape we found ourselves standing in the main parlor of the Sparkle's home. It was a bit awkward at first but Twilight's parents took things in amazingly good stride. The Sparkle's home had that feeling of a comfortable middle-class Victorian dwelling. It was like I was standing in the middle of a Masterpiece Theater episode. The rest of the remaining gang was already there.

It was about three in the afternoon when there was an unexpected knock at the door. Mr Sparkle went to the door and opened it to find a fiery orange and red pegasi stallion with brilliant red-gold eyes standing there. The pegasi was of middle age but was in excellent physical condition although he had obviously been flying for quite awhile. He wore a winter flight survival vest that bore the markings of a Captain in the Royal Guard. His flight goggles still had frost on them.

"Good afternoon. Can I be of assistance to you?" Asked Mr. Sparkle.

" Is Twilight Sparkle here?" Asked the pegasi with gruff voice. "I have a letter to deliver to her in person. It is from the Royal Sisters."

Twilight's father took the flyer into the living room with where the rest of us were playing games and snacking on roasted chestnuts.

"Twilight dear." Said her father. "This stallion has just arrived with a letter for you from the Royal Sisters." That brought every conservation to a halt in an instant. Rising from her cushion on the floor Twilight went over to the stoic stallion. There was something about him that made him seem familiar.

"Thank you for bringing this letter to me personally sir." Said Ponyville's librarian. She had a quizzical expression on her face. "Although I don't understand why they did not send it via regular post or magically to my assistant Spike." The young dragon looked from his pile of buttered chestnuts for a moment before continuing to devour them at an amazing rate.

"Can't say m'am." Said the stallion bluntly. "All I know is that I was pulled off patrols yesterday morning and personally assigned by the Two Sisters to deliver this parcel to you as quickly as possible."

Both Rainbow Dash and I were really staring hard at the pegasi now. We both knew we'd met him before. Before we could say anything he looked at me and spoke. "Hello Brick, good to see you're still in flying and in one piece."

"Captain Firewing!" Both Dash and I exclaimed almost in unison. "Why are you playing mail pony?" Asked Rainbow Dash. "Why aren't you white anymore!?" Was my question.


Firewing just smiled at our inquiries. "Delivering the mail is just one of the less glamorous facets of being a pegasi in Royal Guard." Growled the stallion. "And what's the were the matter with you Brick! Were you just born yesterday?" Barked the Captain. "The official armor that all pegasi wear in the Royal Guard has a magical enchantment on it that makes the wearer appear white, or did you actually think we only recruited white pegasi for the service? That sure would eliminate a lot of potential candidates for no good reason."

Yep, it was Firewing.

Without his full plate armor on I could see that his cutie mark was a flaming wing. "I'd love to stay and chat but I am needed back up north immediately." He then reached into his left pannier and produced a parcel wrapped in a waterproof cover. There was a Royal Seal on the clasp and even I could tell there was many magical spells laid upon it. He handed it over to Twilight and then had her sign a ledger he was carrying. With his business finished he turned to go. "Good night everypony." He paused for a moment longer then added. "Happy Hearth's Warming." Then he left.

Twilight looked at the Mane Six present and at Petina and I. "Father can I use your study for awhile?" Both her parents nodded. Celestia's protege looked over at Carousel. "I don't to mean to be rude but do mind staying here for a while we have a meeting in other room?"

Carousel smiled and nodded. "it is no problem. Just more chestnuts for Spike and I!"

With that issue resolved we retired to the study. Twilight quickly figured out how to open the parcel. Inside was a letter from both Celestia and Luna. Twilight read the letter then passed it around for us to read. The royal sisters were growing very concerned about Applebloom's situation but they were unfortunately committed to affairs up in the north. Since the truth potion had not produced the results they had hoped for Luna had proposed another solution to finding out what was truly afflicting the little filly. However it was not without risks, and would require a bit of study from Twilight to do it. Sealed in the parcel were instructions to teach Twilight how to cast the dream-walking spell that Luna had used on Petina and I back in the garden one day when Celestia insisted on getting a better understanding of us. Twilight looked at the spell and started muttering beginning immediate practice of the spell if she was to have any success. She probably would've started writing up a study schedule for herself right then and there, but her mother called out that dinner was ready.

We were all just settling down at the table for dinner when the there was another knock on the front door. Befuddled Mr. Sparkle once again went to answer it. A few minutes later he returned with the most curious mixture of annoyance, confusion, and alarm on his face. behind we could make out the silhouette of a hooded pony "Twi dear." Asked her father. "You have um, ah…"

Before he could finish his sentence the hooded figure behind Mr. Sparkle step forward into the light and pushed back their hood. It was Zecora. Her usually sleepy smile was nowhere to be found in its place there was a look of deadly seriousness. She looked around the table and sighed. "I have followed the wrong track and have not found Applejack!"

Twilight rose from her place at the table. "Zecora?" There was confusion and fear in Twilight's eyes. "What brings you to Canterlot on night like this, and why do you seek Applejack?"

The zebra mare hung her head. "I sent a letter to my elders in my homeland as you requested. Last night a diplomatic pegasus courier arrived at my hut in the forest with their reply. The news is…." The zebra stopped and looked around the table and realized she did not want to discuss this in front of Twilight's parents. "something that I don't want to speak about in public. Sorry, but I believe what I have to say is not appropriate for the dinner table."

Twilight looked at her parents. Mrs. Sparkle just sighed and smiled and her daughter. "Dear do you and your friends want to go back into the study and talk to Zecora there? I can bring your meals in on trays." She turned and casted a serious eye at Zecora. "And unless I am wrong I'm going to guess that you have not yet eaten today. Am I correct?"

The zebra smiled. "Perceptive are you for I have been traveling nonstop to reach you."

Mrs. Sparkle shook her head. "Very well. Follow Twilight and her friends down the hall. I'll bring you a plate to."

Zecora smiled and bowed. "Thank you." With that we hastily got up from the dinner table and headed toward the study. Sorry I meant for this dream to be all in one posting but a lot happened so I am splitting it up into two parts. To be continued.