Author's note
To Billy Arratoon, no, that story isn't on hold, just certain fanmakes.

Guest, for Gold Heart, you may be on to something here. Okay then.

Chapter 1: Skating Mess

The story really begins a year ago in the ballroom as everything is rusty during the winter season. Soarin', a colt thanks to the spell, flew into the ballroom looking for any sight of the Demon Pony (AKA Ben Mare). Ever since he rescued Twilight, Spike and Nyx from the Houndoom, the master and the purple unicorn has gotten closer. The gang hopes for them to fall in love in order to break the spell.

Soarin' looks out the window while the CMC, Applejack, Rainbow and Pinkie came in; all of them are either babies or young foals. Apple Bloom asks in concern, "Where could our master done be at?"

"Ben is hard to find but at least he's activate more since he saved our friends the other night." Sweetie said in agreement.

"Land's sakes, we must've searched every last corner." Applejack said in concern.

"You know, I am beginning to think that he isn't in the castle at all." Caramel, who join in on the search, said as he came over to his friends; Where is the Demon Pony?

"I know where he is! He's outside right now which we will find after Soarin' and Rainbow wipe the dust off the window!" Pinkie exclaims happily.

"Don't be foolish. How would you know that?"

Rainbow and Soarin' wipe the dust off a window nearby and look through it, the filly exclaims in amazement, "There he is!"

"Outside, look," Soarin' exclaims as the others look through the window with him and Rainbow. Sure enough, there's the Demon Pony walking on the ice outside.

"Told ya," Pinkie exclaims to the disbelief Caramel; this filly Earth pony confuses him sometimes.

"Wonderful, there he is!" Applejack exclaims with a smirk.

"We got no time to waste! We must find a way to get them together!" Caramel exclaims in determination. If the servants can get the master and Twilight together for a certain amount of time, hopefully love will emerge and break the spell once and for all.

"Well, come on! Love cannot wait!" Soarin' exclaims as he and the others head off to look for Twilight ASAP.

"You think she could be the one?" Sweetie asks the others hopefully.

"Right, can Twilight really break the spell? Because I don't wanna go through baby hood just to be my regular age again," Scootaloo said in concern. The last thing that the foal wants to get through the aging process again just to get out of diapers!

"I knew that Twilight is the one when I first saw her." Soarin' said confidentially.

"Right, if anyone can reach our master, Twilight could." Applejack said in agreement. "'Dat sugarcube got such a kind soul."

"Plus, her looks doesn't hurt as well!"

"Watch it; you're mine, lover boy!" Rainbow remarks to Soarin' with a smirk, causing the CMC to giggle happily.

"Wait up, wait for me!" Caramel exclaims as he catches up with his friends. The colt doesn't want to be left out!

---

Twilight is walking upstairs and down the hallway with Nyx and Spike. The dragon spoke up, "Man, today seems rather...old and boring."

"Come on, no it isn't. Today is a cool day." Nyx said to Spike with a smile. "Tomorrow is a special day, right mommy?"

Before Twilight could answer, a familiar group arrives in front of her, Caramel crashed against the wall. Pinkie giggles, "Hi Twilight!"

"Howdy Twilight! Good 'ta see yew on 'dis here day!" Apple Bloom exclaims with a smile.

"Hey, everypony," Twilight said to the servants with a smile. "Apple Bloom, Sweetie, Scootaloo, do you know what day it is?"

"Huh...well, it isn't Tuesday..."

"Right and it isn't a leap year." Sweetie said in concern.

"Sweetie, Apple Bloom, today is December 24!" Twilight giggles to the two foals in amusement. "You know, the day before Hearth's Warming Eve!"

"Right and you know what that means!" Nyx exclaims with a smile. "That means..."

"That it is a beautiful day, one that is great for a morning stroll!" Soarin' said, changing the conversion while he begins to escort Twilight, planning on taking her outside.

"Huh? But don't you know what tomorrow is?"

"No need to worry your head about it, Nyxsie." Pinkie said, a bit nervous for some reason.

"Anyway, yyup; Nothing starts a day like taking a walk on 'de grounds." Applejack said with a smile, wanting to get Twilight to the Demon Pony already.

"Right, or if yew could go ice-skating," Apple Bloom said in agreement.

"As well as fresh air and exercise," Caramel said, bending over but yelps upon hearing a freak in his back. "Err, moderation of course."

"Let me guess: the Demon Pony is outside, right?" Spike whispers to the CMC with Nyx listening in.

"Yeah, but it's a surprise. No telling." Scootaloo whispers right back to Spike.

"Yeah, we want to get our curse broken and this must be done right." Sweetie said in agreement.

"Alrighty, everypony, come on; 'De great outdoors awaits!" Applejack exclaims while Twilight took some ice skating shoes from nearby.

"Well, some ice skating could do me and Nyx some good." Twilight said with a smile. "And I got better on my ice skating lately. Thanks, Pinkie Pie!"

"No problem, Twilight!" Pinkie exclaims happily. The foal Earth pony has helped Twilight in the ice skating thing and now the purple unicorn is doing better.

"Right, let's go!" Apple Bloom giggles eagerly.

JJB88 grins as he help Twilight put on a winter coat. The purple unicorn said, "Thanks, JJ. Come on, Nyx!"

Nyx giggles as Twilight opens the door to begin the morning stroll outside. The two were walking through the snow when they spot the Demon Pony nearby, skating on the ice. Twilight notes how he is having a bit of difficulty in doing so.

"Morning," Twilight giggles to the Demon Pony; the monster turns and frown at her...though he is secretly blushing. Ever since he first met Twilight and saved her, he is having major feelings for this purple unicorn. But the Demon Pony was worried that Twilight made not look past his appearance.

Suddenly the Demon Pony yelps as he slips and fell right onto the ice. The Demon Pony gave out a low growl as a result.

"Oh, are you all right?" Twilight asks in concern as she and Nyx slid onto the ice to see if the Demon Pony is okay.

The Demon Pony got up, looking embarrassed by what happened. He said, "Well, I fell and landed on my...err, on the ice, yeah..."

"Well, the ice is slippery."

"Right, very slippery."

"Come on, today is a perfect day for ice skating." Nyx said while she and Twilight put on their ice-skating shoes on. The Demon Pony of course, just crosses his upper forelegs frowning a bit.

Soarin's group is watching the scene with Spike said, "Man, hopefully Twilight can get that guy to have fun and not be a total grump around this time of year."

"Come on, Twilight and Nyx can get through to the master." Sweetie said hopefully.

"Nyx is right, it's a perfect day. Come on." Twilight said as she and Nyx begins to ice-skate. The Demon Pony just stood there, watching. "Come on."

"Forget it." The Demon Pony protests stubbornly. He isn't in a mood for ice-skating.

"Come on, Mr. Demon Pony." Nyx said cheerfully to the Demon Pony. "Don't be a grumpy pony. Come on and join me and mommy! Have some fun!"

The Demon Pony hesitates as he looks to his servants. Soarin' motions his master forward while saying, "Come on, master, go for it! It might be fun!"

"Yeah," The CMC cheers wildly to the Demon Pony happily. He looks back at Twilight, smiling a bit. Perhaps the master of the castle could have some fun after all...

Soarin's group rush to the bridge to get a better view of the couple. Twilight begins to instruct the Demon pony as she said, "Come on. Try it out like so." The purple unicorn shows the creature how to skate slowly. "See? That's easy!"

The Demon Pony nods as she begins to do as Twilight is saying, very slowly and almost slip a few times. Applejack grins as she said, "Yahoo! Looks like 'dis may work."

"Right, nothing can go wrong now." Pinkie giggles happily. Looks like Twilight and the Demon Pony are on their way of becoming more than just friends.

---

In the West Wing by the Demon Pony's room is a secret room where a pipe organ is playing slowly yet gloomy. Two little foals are watching the one playing the organ. One of them is a colt that had a bright yellow coat and wings; he had a red mane, a green tail, silver grey eyes and a teddy bear cutie mark. His name is Dexter.

The other pony is a filly who was a Pegasus just like Rainbow Dash and she had a bright yellow coat and wings, a light pink mane and tail, light blue eyes and a wing shaped cutie mark. Her name is Fluttershy, Dexter's filly-friend.

Now the one playing the organ is a creature with horse-like head, a right deer antler, a left goat horn, a fang, a beard, a lion right arm, an eagle's claw on the left, a lizard right leg, a goat left leg, a bat right wing, a Pegasus left wing, a snake tail and tongue, and different sized pupils. He is called Discord, the composter for Ben Mare's court until the curse.

Discord continues playing and finishes his masterpiece. The two Pegasi applaud as Dexter calls out, "Bravo, bravo; encore!"

"Oh, you two approve?" Discord asks the Pegasi ponies with a smile.

"Oh yes, very magnificent." Fluttershy said meekly. "Of course, the music is sad and gloomy...but you did put your heart into it...that is if you have a heart...I think."

"Oh, you are too kind. Come on, it's only an opera..." Discord then plays a very low booming tune, causing grass windows to break. The creature laughs, "To bring the whole castle down; ha ha ha!"

"Oh...that is...nic."

"Any chance there is a part for a piccolo as well as flute?" Dexter asks Discord hopefully. "I mean, if it's not too much trouble, Discord. We always wanted to have a part in your music and such."

"Hmmm, I believe I do have something like those." Discord said thoughtfully. He plays a light tune, causing green notes to come out of the organ and float to a chest, bringing out what appears to be some music notes. "Of course, solo for Dexter and Fluttershy, in B-flat."

"Oh my...that sounds wonderful!" Fluttershy exclaims with a squee. "Why, imagine how wonderful Dexter and I would sound when we perform to everypony."

"Right, I would do anything for a solo." Dexter said with a sigh. If Discord has a good solo for him and Fluttershy, the colt wants them so well.

"Oh yes, of course...but you must earn them to do so." Discord said as he slams the chest shut. "Now then, my friends, during my performance, I couldn't help but hear laughter outside. Please good friends and take a look-see, will you?"

The two ponies fly over to a window and look outside to see Twilight, Nyx and the Demon Pony, laughing while having fun. Fluttershy smiles while saying, "Wow. Would you look at that?"

"Really; Perhaps I might. How about I go over and..." Discord begins to say as he looks like he himself is about to move. But the dragon creature yelps and for a good reason: he is chained to the wall. "Well look at this, it appears I'M CHAINED TO THE WALL!"

"Oooh, sorry, sorry; Hee hee; Anyway, the master Ben Mare is skating."

"Skating? And why would he do that of all times?"

"Oh, because of that pretty mare holding his hoof with that little foal skating with them." Dexter explains to Discord with a smile.

"Wait, hang on. You mean Twilight Sparkle and that little Nightmare Moon lookalike?" Discord asks angrily and annoyed. He hates those two. Ever since Twilight and Nyx has shown up, the Demon Pony spend his attention on the two...attention that the monster believes belong to him.

"Yes, they acted so much like a family." Fluttershy said. Her eyes widen, getting a bit excited. "What if Twilight falls in love with Ben? Then the spell will be broken! Most of us can be our normal adult and child forms...and you will be a pony again! And we will be free forever and ever! Isn't that wonderful?"

However, Discord doesn't seem to share Fluttershy's excitement. In fact, he is furious. The creature blare his organ loudly, causing the two Pegasi to scream. Dexter asks his boss nervously, "Don't like the idea?"

"Please, trust me. Being a pony or growing up is so overrated. Before the curse happened by Princess Celestia, the master shows no need for my particular brand of genius. But now...the master needs my melodies to feed my tormented soul, making me his confidant and best friend. Plus, I can make any chaos I want in this form."

Discord laughs as he made chocolate rain appear, sending out chocolate onto the two ponies making them yelp a bit. Then the villain growls furiously, "And I am not going to let some...purple unicorn ruin everything for me now! Dexter, Fluttershy, make sure that this blossoming love withers on the vine."

"Right, Discord." Dexter said. He prepares to leave but notice that Fluttershy isn't moving. "Fluttershy? Aren't you coming?"

"Oh, I don't know. Twilight and Ben looks so happy together...it wouldn't be right if we break them up or cause something bad to happen." Fluttershy said meekly. "I mean, Discord probably doesn't want to be a pony again...but I want to be my mare self again. I don't know..."

"Fluttershy, there's two things you must remember: 1, I am both your and Dexter's boss and you do as I tell you. And two, unless you don't want that flute solo with Dexter's piccolo one, YOU TWO GO OUT THERE AND START BREAKING LOVE NOW!" Discord snaps furiously at the two Pegasi.

Discord slams on his organ again, causing the two foals to yelp in fury as they run off to do as their maestro wanted. Their boss can be so scary when he's angry!

---

Twilight smiles, watching the Demon Pony, ice-skating very good at last. The master skates around Twilight a few times while exclaiming, "Hey, I think I got it now!"

Twilight giggles a bit. Nyx smirks mischievously as she skates in front of the Demon Pony, saying, "Betcha you can't catch me, nah nah!" This causes the master to smirk mischievously right back.

"Oh, here I come, little Nyx; Ready or not!"

The Demon Pony skates after Nyx who laughs as he caught her, tossing the filly onto his back. Twilight smiles as she skates next to the Demon Pony, the trio laughs, having fun as if being a parents having fun with their child.

During this time, Dexter and Fluttershy arrive at the bridge where Soarin's group is still watching. The male yellow Pegasus exclaims, "Hey, down in front, we want to see! Let me see, we wanna watch too!"

"Oh, well, if you don't want to move, I don't mind." Fluttershy said meekly. Then she sneezes without warning. The others turn and shush her, not wanting Twilight and the Demon Pony to be disturbed, "Oops, sorry."

"It's no problem, Fluttershy! It's cold out here." Pinkie said with a giggle.

"Oh, this is promising." Caramel said with a grin as he watchesTwilight, the Demon Pony and Nyx having fun. "They are like a family out there."

"Right, but for the two older ones...there is something in the air; could it be love?" Soarin' ask with an eager smile.

"Oh yeah, I hope so." Rainbow said with a smile. Everything is going so well for these two.

"Love; Oh dear, we gotta stop them!" Fluttershy exclaims in worry. She hates to do this but the filly doesn't want to anger Discord further should she and/or Dexter doesn't do anything to try to stop the love from happening.

"I will stop them!" Dexter exclaims as he jumps onto the stair railing, sliding down it before flying off, sliding right into the fountain.

"Huh? Now what is 'dat colt there doing?" Applejack asks puzzled, noticing Dexter on the ice.

"Probably wanting to skate too; I sure want a chance after this." Spike remarks in amusement while watching the fun occurring.

Dexter slides on the ice, going pass the Demon Pony, Twilight and Nyx before sliding down on the ice. The pony gasps as he saw the mare and creature ice-skating together with Nyx on the Demon Pony's back. The master is holding hooves with Twilight as the trio skate pass him.

"No, no, stop!" Dexter exclaims frantically. He grabs the Demon Pony by the fur and pulls on it. Of course, this causes him to rip some parts of the coat right off.

Of course, in the progress, the trio yelps as they end up sliding fast, crashing right into a pile of snow nearby. The ones on the bridge cringe a bit while Pinkie exclaims, "Wow! I just love doing that! Know what I mean?"

"Better check to see if they're okay." Rainbow said as the servants and Spike came over to check on Twilight, Nyx and the Demon Pony.

Twilight pants a bit as she and Nyx stood up while the Demon Pony shakes the snow that he was covered. During the progress, Dexter was thrown off his master as he crashed into a tree where Fluttershy flew over to check up on him.

Despite what happened, Twilight smiles as she lay down on the snow to make a snow angel, much to the Demon Pony and Nyx's notice. As the mare got back up, the master did the same thing.

"What do you think? It's a Christmas angel." Twilight said while motioning to her own snow angel that she made in the snow.

"It looks good, mommy. How about yours, Mr. Demon Pony," Nyx ask the Demon Pony with a smile.

Of course, when the Demon Pony looks to see his own snow angel, he gave out a big frown at what he made. The creature growls as he saw that his own 'snow angel' is an awful shape of something...terrible.

"That isn't an angel...but a shadow of a monster." The Demon Pony growls while frowning. In rage, the monster roars and hits the snow to get rid of the shadow monster, making Twilight and Nyx yelp a bit.

"Oh dear," Fluttershy said as she and Dexter saw what the Demon Pony's doing. "I think we made him mad."

"Well, at least Discord will be proud of us." Dexter said to Fluttershy meekly. "Maybe now, he wouldn't be so mean to us anymore, right?"

"Oh, I hope so..."

Twilight and the others watch the Demon Pony stomping back to the castle in anger still. Spike asks Twilight in concern, "Twilight? Are you all right?"

"Ugh, I don't know why I bother anymore." Twilight groans as she flops down onto the snow. She sighs, "Now that Demon Pony is worst than before. I may have to give up."

"Shucks; don't worry. Don't lose hope yet, Twilight." Applejack assures Twilight gently. "Things will git better."

"Right, mommy; so the ice-skating thing didn't end very well," Nyx said to Twilight in agreement. "Give it a chance and who knows? He may get better soon enough."

Twilight sighs, hoping that Nyx and Applejack are right. But how can she when the Demon Pony is acting more grumpy...especially when Hearth's Warming Eve is tomorrow?

Author's note
Hoo boy, just when Twilight, Nyx and the Demon Pony are having fun, Dexter and Fluttershy, both reluctantly, ruin things on Discord's orders. In the next chapter, Twilight decides to have Hearth's Warming Eve at the castle, planning on a gift for the Demon Pony who forbids it. The purple unicorn and Nyx plans on getting the servants to help regardless. Read, review and suggest.