“The fire of friendship lives in our hearts
As long as it burns, we can not drift apart!
Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few

Laughter and singing will see us through!
Will see us through~
We are a circle of pony friends
A circle of friends, we'll be 'til the very end~ “

That was amazing! Rarity and her friends were singing the wonderful Hearth's Warming Eve ballad 'Circle of friendship' on the stage. Their beautiful voices, all these colorful decorations,
golden bells which were aiding the song with their sweet tinkling and the slowly falling snow outside of the huge windows... everything was just stunningly beautiful! Everypony was so touched of the atmosphere, they began to hug each other, laughing and some were even crying.
Even Scootaloo, Applebloom and myself lay our hooves onto each others shoulders.
Hearth's Warming Eve truly was the best time of the year ever! Rarity looked so stunningly wonderful in her princess Platinum dress, just like the rest of the gang... well except for Twilight and her simple brownish robe. Well, she was Clover the Clever after all- a magician apprentice who weren't that rich that time. Besides that, she really played her role very well.
Everypony on stage were bowing down for the last time, then the curtain got closed and the fancy dressed guests were cheering and stomping with their hooves on the ground.
Even from down here, we could see and hear both princesses clapping their hooves of the balcony above. Princess Celestia seemed to be very amazed, just like princess Luna and even prince Blueblood. The lights got dimmed and most of the guests were already leaving, besides us of course. We wanted to visit the cast backstage to congratulate them for this outstanding show.
“Uff.” I gasped. Suddenly I realized that Applebloom kept pressing me against her chest, tighter and tighter each second.
“Uhm... Applebloom? Would you mind-?” Scootaloo gasped, too. Applebloom suddenly shaked her head and let go of us again.
“Woah, sorry girls... ah was just passed out for a while ah guess.” She hesitantly answered with a smile. Applebloom acted kinda weird since a few weeks and it didn't changed a bit. Sometimes she seemed to be totally sunk in thoughts, sometimes she mumbled strange stuff... hm, maybe it was nothing. I guess she was just very touched this time, just like everypony else in this theatre.
“You alright Applebloom?” Scootaloo asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“... I was just wondering. Well, come on girls! Let's get backstage!” Scootaloo jumped on the stage and disappeared behind the curtain.
“Yay, wait for us Scootaloo!” I followed her right away.
“Applebloom, may we talk to you for a moment?” Huh? That sounded like-
“P-princess Celestia? Princess Luna?” What did the princesses want from Applebloom? I sneaked back to the side of the red curtain and peaked through a small gap nearby. Princess Celestia and Luna were standing right in front of Applebloom, their faces marked with concerns.
“How are you doing little Applebloom? Is everything alright?” Luna kindly asked.
“Yeah sure, ah'm fine. Why?”
“Are you sure? You know you can talk to us if something worries you.”
“Okaaaay, thank you your highness.” Applebloom slowly answered. All three remained silent for a few seconds, but then Celestia went up to Applebloom and lowered her head. Celestias eyes were now on the same level as hers, looking deeply inside without moving.
“Tell me little Applebloom, is there anything... anything that seemed strange yet very familiar to you? Something deep inside, maybe a voice or something similar?” Celestias stare was cold
but also worried and caring at the same time. Applebloom fell back on her flank, still staring into her violet eyes like if she was hypnotized.
“Ah... ah don't- ” She silently mumbled, until Celestia cut her short.
“Think Applebloom, it's very important! It's still inside of you right? You can hear her...”
“You scare me princess.” Applebloom said with a shaky voice.
“Sister! That's enough, maybe it's better the way it is.” Luna interrupted. Celestia slowly closed her eyes and raised her head again.
“I'm sorry Applebloom, please forgive me.” Applebloom started to smile a bit and nodded.
“It's okay princess, ah could never be mad at you.” Celestia smiled and turned around while Luna was already walking out of the theatre hall.
“Come on sister, you still have to create a sunny day for tomorrow!” Luna said.
“I'm coming Luna dear.” Suddenly Applebloom's expression grew weird. She stared to the ground, her eyes looked slightly drifted away.
“... sunny... town...” She mumbled with a strange voice. Celestia and Luna stopped moving and turned around. Shocked and speechless they were staring on Applebloom.
“What was that Applebloom?” Celestia asked with big opened eyes, but Applebloom
remained quiet.
“Tia... does that mean-” Luna tried to ask.
“We have to go, come Luna!” She turned around again and walked away very fast. Applebloom shaked her head and looked confused into the princesses direction.
“Huh? Uhm princess? Where are you going?” But they didn't answer, instead they flew away into the night sky.
“That was weird. Whatever, ah hope ah didn't miss Applejack and the others!” She was just about to jump at the stage, so I quickly hid myself behind the scenery. She ran past me without even
noticing that I was listening the whole time.
“Applebloom? What's wrong with you? And what is this 'sunny town?” Did she mean a
sunny-town?” I kept watching her running around the corner leading into the changing rooms.
I didn't knew what to do by now, so I decided to keep it our, no my little secret.

“We should be so honored that princess Celestia chose us! She must really think we exemplify
what good friends are!” Twilight proudly said. Ah was so glad that everythin' went as planned even though Twilight seemed to be totally wired up at first. When she came to the rehearsals, she was always shakin' like a rattlesnake. Besides that she kept forgettin' her text right in the middle of the scenes. First ah thought she would leave the group, but thanks to her mysterious new friend she finally made it to overcome her stagefright. Ah never saw her friend, everythin' ah knew 'bout her was her name, which was... darn, ah forgot it.
Whatever, ah was very happy for Twilight and smiled along with the others.
The show was done, the day almost over and we already brought our scratchy costumes back into the dressing rooms again. Everypony else like the stagehooves or helpers were already cleanin' up the stage and takin' off the decorations. Some of them already left the theatre, probably to continue the Hearth's Warmin' Eve celebration inside of the Canterlot Castle along with the princesses.
It surely would be pretty glamorous, fancy and all that stuff, so nothin' for this earth pony. Ah wanted to celebrate this day the way it should be celebrated- At home together with the rest of mah family like every year. Applebloom already told me she would visit me backstage after the show.
A few minutes already passed, so ah decided to walk a bit in her direction so ah could just
pick her up.
“Please...”
“Huh?” What was that? A filly-like voice? It felt like it got whispered right into mah ear. I turned around, but all ah saw was Carrot top who was already leavin'. Besides that ah knew Carrots voice and it definitely wasn't hers.
“... protect her!” The voice seemed to be shaky, like she was scared or nervous. Ah continued lookin' around, but couldn't find out it's origin.
“... they're here... you have to leave!” Suddenly ah noticed somethin' at the other side of the window to mah left. It looked like a small silhouette , a filly?
“What the-”
“Please!” Suddenly the windows smashed open, ice cold wind and a huge wave of snowflakes were rushin' into the big room. Ah closed mah eyes, protectin' them with one of mah hooves to evade the snow. They were the same windows like before when we got ready for the theatre play, was that just a coincident? When the snow lowered ah opened mah eyes again and looked back up to the window were the silhouette was standin'. Outside was nothin' but snow, no filly anywhere.
Were ah hallucinatin'?
“Applejack! I thought you closed all the windows!” Rarity angrily said. Well, actually ah did but it somehow opened again for whatever reason. Hey wait a minute! Why did ah get the fault for that? Rainbow Dash could fly! She could've closed the big windows with ease! Ah turned around and faced Rarity to tell her just that.
“Don't blame me! Rainbow Dash should have flown up there and shut it! After all she's got wings!”
Rainbow Dash, who was just flyin' above our heads, placed her hooves against her hip and began
to make a frown.
“Why do I always have to do all the high-up chores?” Rainbow flew down to Twilight and pointed her hoof right onto her horn.
“Why can't Twilight use her magic for a change?” She continued. Everypony gathered 'round and started to argue. Nopony wanted to be blamed, so we almost simultaneously kept on arguin' for a couple of minutes.
“Why shall I use my magic for something that trivial? You could close the window by flying in a few seconds!” Twilight angrily answered.
“So what? You could do that without even moving a single hair!”
“Why does Rainbow Dash has to close the window just because of her wings? What about Fluttershy? She has wings too, or am I mistaken?” Pinkie interjected.
“Excuse me? You know that I can't fly that well, Rainbow Dash is way better than me! Besides that,
what about you and Rarity? You two could have closed it too, right?” Fluttershy confidently answered.
“She's right Pinkie! Don't blame Fluttershy alone!” Ah aided.
“Me? Closing that cold, dirty window? Oh for goodness sake I can't believe you actually want me to do something like that!” Rarity snooty denied.
“You can use magic too you kn-” Just when the discussion began to grow bigger a frightening growl echoed through the room. Everpony was like paralysed, silently watching each others with big shocked eyes.
“You know what? I've got it!” Rainbow hesitantly said. Shortly after she flew over to the windows and closed them with a slightly 'click'. We looked at each others again and began to laugh.
Lookin' back, this was more than just silly. Arguin' with your best friends, especially at
Hearth's Warmin' Eve, was just stupid!
“Rainbow Dash!” That sounded like-
“Yo Scootaloo, what are you doing here?” Rainbow Dash grinned while slowly hoverin' back down to the ground. Scootaloo stopped right in front of her, brightly smilin' and starin at her with big shiny eyes.
“Your performance was just awesome Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow raised her head and posed
as chesty as possible.
“Thank you Scoot, but it wasn't my performance, it was me! Without me as an actor, the whole theatre play would have probably failed badly!” Oh you gotta be kiddin' me!
“Hi Scootaloo.” Fluttershy kindly said.
“Where are Sweetie Belle and Applebloom?”
“They're right behind... me?” She turned around, her eyes confusingly searchin' for her lost friends.
“Uhm, maybe they got lost on the way here?”
“They're still in front of the stage.” An unknown female voice answered. All of us were lookin'
into the direction of the approached voice, which seemed to come from the other end of the room.
A strange green pony was standin' there right next to the back entrance. Who in tarnation was that?
A visitor? A new pony? Or just somepony from Canterlot ah haven't met before? She came closer to our small group, her face decorated with a big smile.
“Leeeaaaaaf!” Twilight yelled. She ran up to her and began to hug the new pony.
“Twily you were amazing!” They knew each other?
“Thank you! But to be honest, I could've never ever made it without your help!” Twilight was so full of glee, it wasn't that big of a surprise that everypony was slightly confused too besides me.
“Who's that?” Probably one of the best questions Pinkie ever made.
“Oh sorry girls, may I introduce you to my new friend- Three Leaf. She's one of the new
ponies who came here a few days ago.” New ponies? A few days ago? What did ah miss?
Leaf went into the middle of our group and began to giggle.
“Yes, she's right. We've lost our homes during an incident a few weeks ago. Luckily we soon
found my little Twily over here and her little dragon friend, who really helped us out by bringing us here. Like she said, my name's Three Leaf and I'm very pleased to meet you all!” An incident?
Ah didn't knew what to say, but somehow did that new pony made me feel strange.
“Three Leaf? Oh! Then you surely know Gray, too! ... right?” Pinkie overanxiously said.
“Did I just heard my name?” Another unknown voice?
“GRAAAAAAY!” Pinkie jumped into the same corner where Leaf was standin' a few minutes
ago, but this time there was another strange new pony. A grey colt to be certain.
She jumped him to the ground, huggin' him the same way Twilight did with Leaf.
“Graaay!”
“Pinkiiiiie!” Both began to giggle. Ah guess the word 'weird' would've been a bit too underrated for this situation. To cap it all- three other new ponies were followin' through the back entrance.
“Oh my, it's pretty dusty in here.” A snobbish white mare said while holding up her long red mane.
“Starlet dear, over here!” Even Rarity knew one of the new ponies?
“Roneo!” Fluttershy squeaked.
“Fluttershy, nice to see you again!”
“Yo Dashstar!” A strong looking colt yelled.
“Yo Gladstone pal! Did you saw my awesome performance?” Everypony were meetin' up with their new friends, talkin', laughin' and huggin'. Everypony was so busy cheerin' with their new friends, that ah felt kinda cut out. Like a rotten apple, layin' inside of a basket full of sweet delicious ones.
“Applejack!” Hm? Ah turned around and looked down. It was mah lil' sister Applebloom, brightly smilin' and jumpin'.
“You were just amazing!”
“Hehe thanks Applebloom.” Ah looked over mah shoulder, watchin' mah cast away friends, still talkin', laughin'... ignorin' me. Ah normally wanted to ask them to come celebratin'
Hearth's Warmin' Eve at Sweet Apple Acre... but ah guess they had better things to do this year.
“Come on sis, let's go home.” I lifted her up and sat her onto mah back, slowly walkin' out of the room. Applebloom looked confused and switched her eyes between me and the others.
“What's with the rest? I thought we wanted to celebrate with our friends, like every year.”
It broke mah heart, but ah didn't wanted to disturb the others. Besides that, the new ponies were a
bit too sketchy for mah taste.
“Not this year. Sorry, Applebloom.”
Applebloom remained silent, but ah could feel her getting' sad.
Ah'm really sorry.

... please...

... protect her...

The wind was getting colder, the moon blocked by the silent clouds high up in the sky. The snow kept falling from above, landing on the dead ground like a feather, joining their friends to become a beautiful blanket of ice, resting on the landscape called Equestria. Underneath this wonderful snowy white, there was a big threat growing, day by day... waiting for the moment to consume all life this land had to give. My worst fear was about to become reality, even though I hoped it wouldn't.
Foolish me, why didn't I stop that before it even started?
Sitting on top of the third highest mountain of Equestria, I watched the life of the ponies in Ponyville. I saw many things, many ponies, creatures... legends.
I could see Ponyville, unaware of the incoming danger, resting right underneath my hooves. The Canterlot castle, majestically sitting on the top of everything, holding the mightiest beings this world had to give. And in the east of them all, I saw the Everfree Forest. Many legends were born
in this cursed forest, some died in there.
The world hasn't changed, it was still so full of sorrow and distrust, hate and envy...
And now they're back, claiming the one thing they could never get.

“My dearest daughter, I hope you can save them... before it's too late.”
“Don't worry my dear friend, everything will fall into place once the time has come.” She answered with a warm smile.
“You were always by my side, that's why I'll trust you. But tell me... you know your fate, do you?”
“Yes, I'm well aware of that.” Even though she always used to be confident and optimistic,
her eyes filled with grief and concernes.
“And you still want to stay with that decision?”
“I will. I owe it to my subjects and my sister.” A sacrifice for the public good, not everypony would be able to make such an decision with that kind of confidence she had.
“... you're a brave and kind hearted mare, you know that? Whatever happens, I wish you all the
luck Equestria can offer. I have to leave now, but we'll see again some day princess.”
The world around me began to fade, along with the snow, the light and the only friend I would follow even into the depth of nothingness itself.

“Yes... some day. Thank you, my friend.”