Yes i know Christmas Charol with ponies. But no pony is going to tell Mr. Dickens

Right? ;)

-Vespi

You’d think that the Elements of Harmony would unite ponies; but over time friendship like everything else shatters. Twilight’s tale was no different, she at once in her belief was a naïve little filly; now she had learned her lesson and knew what was more important in life.

Twilight Sparkle marched to her library; trudging her way through the snow and sleet that dogged Ponyville. She had lived here for most of her life; except for her younger days when she lived with her parents, but both of which were sadly long gone.

Twilight didn’t even bother to open the door; she just magically clanged the doorbell; things had changed in Ponyville over the years. Things had gotten bigger, for a start. The impoverished looking shacks had now transformed into myriad masses of more civilized looking buildings. Ponyville was also blessed with an enlarged display of culture and commerce; it looked like Fillydelphia 60 years ago; full of ponies.

The door opened with a loud creak; Twilight looked in to see her young apprentice Vanilla Swirl standing outside; her customary smile out.

“Hello mam need some help with those?” She asked

Twilight didn’t even answer she just levitated her groceries onto Vanilla who barely managed to levitate them all in the door; she had no choice. She knew if she dropped the smallest egg or a droplet of milk Twilight would reprimand her and if Twilight was in a bad move even fire her.

“Boy! Do you mind if I have one mam?” Vanilla Swirl said; eyeing one of Pinkie Pie’s cupcakes; Twilight had to admit even after all the years and all the loss Pinkie still loved to bake.

“I’d rather you not” Twilight said in a grumpy voice. Twilight had a lot to be distressed about; she had no family left, no friends, just her library and her books. She never bothered to marry or even date; all she cared about were those books of her.

“Get back to work!” Twilight ordered; Vanilla ran back to her station. Twilight agreed to tutor the young filly, who it seems has abnormal magic talents. Speaking of magic Twilight couldn’t help but grimace at the calendar; it was almost Hearth’s Warming Eve. Twilight hated the day with such passion many ponies would believe she was insane. Twilight used her magic to yank off several months from the calendar. Instead of it being December 23rd it was February 19th in Twilight’s mind.

“Hey man, Twilight man” Vanilla said shyly peeking out from her book. “If it doesn’t mean that much to you; if you don’t mind, mam please.”

“I guess you want the whole day then” Twilight muttered; in her mind the 25th was a working day like the 24th or the 26th.

“If you do not mind mam” Vanilla said

“Frankly I’d prefer you wouldn’t” Twilight said in a constables voice “Hearth Warming Day is just like any other day; you don’t gain anything from it, what is the point then?”

“Well it’s just my friends, and my family we are having a dinner you see”

“Well it doesn’t take all day to eat dinner now does it?” Twilight said

“But please mam, its Hearth Warming Day! Everypony has somewhere to go and some pony to meet”

Twilight had to cut her off “Vanilla Swirl if you want to keep this apprenticeship I advise you keep your mouth closed and your eyes on the books, back to work!”  At the sentence about Vanilla’s “Situation” the young filly just burrowed her head back into the book silently reading to herself.

Another hour dragged on by before Twilight heard a sprightly tapping from the door; there was only 1 pony in all of Equestria who could be so happy to see Twilight; Pinkie Pie.

Twilight walked to the door; and opened it. Pinkie Pie took no time to bounce right in and shake Twilight’s hoof with a smile “Merry Hearth Warming Eve Twilight!” She said; even after all the years for the most part Pinkie Pie’s vitality and pink hair stayed intact.

“Why is it so merry Pinkie?” Twilight winced “We are just another year old and no better off”

“Well its Heart Warming Eve silly!” Pinkie Pie said giggling “Everypony loves Heart Warming Day”

“I don’t” Twilight said

“Really why?” Pinkie Pie said hanging her head to the side, turning her smile upside down.

“Pinkie we are both growing too old for this world ;before long we will be in the ground” Twilight said; although Pinkie hid her age behind her smile and pink hair Pinkie knew her time was coming too.

“What do you mean a secret underground cavern?” Pinkie Pie said “Like the ones the diamond dogs had? The Diamond dogs that kidnapped Rarity?”

“Ahh Rarity, a mighty shame she is not here to hear that” Twilight said “Her snobbishness would of really lightened the mood” Rarity, AJ, Dashie, Fluttershy; one by one several years ago they passed 1 by 1, Twilight always assumed that Pinkie or herself would be next.

“Yea sure is sad” Pinkie Pie said, still frowning “Well wanted to just drop by happy Hearth Warming Eve!”

“Pinkie…” Twilight growled

“Come on Twilight! Lighten up it is Hearth Warming Eve!” Pinkie Pie said; Twilight turned around to see her apprentice stifling a smile.

“Well then farewell Pinkie” Twilight said

“Happy Hearth Warming Eve!” Pinkie Pie said, before exiting, closing the door behind her. Twilight turned around

“What are you staring at? Get back to work!”

At the annual time of 7 Vanilla Twist left; the door shutting behind her. Twilight was alone; how she longed for her little brother Spike; but she knew that that would never happen again.

Twilight had fallen asleep at maybe 9ish when she heard a thumping on the floor.

“Spike?” Twilight murmured aimlessly in the dark; the thumping continued, increasing in tone as it worked its way to the door. Then for a moment stopping like the heart of a dead pony, thumping 1 second silent the next.

The door flew open, nosily slamming on the door stopper. Twilight panicked and shrouded her face under the covers; what is it that is in my room? Twilight thought, she couldn’t tell if the intruder was walking, or Twilight was hearing her heartbeat in her ear.

“Twilight” The voice murmured; good god who was that! She knew the voice from somewhere!

“R-Rarity?” Twilight said; her head still under the covers. The suspect yanked the covers off of Twilight’s bed, exposing her body.

“Twilight Sparkle, do you know what Friendship is? The magic you taught me!?” Rarity said; Twilight now had a close view of the Apparition. It was Rarity alright; even in death Rarity’s pure white skin and intricate purple hair were both exemplary. But that was impossible! Rarity was dead!

“You are dead! How is this!?” Twilight said

“Twilight Sparkle; you were once a strong and nice mare; but now you are a mere shadow of your younger self; what had happened?”

“I grew smarter! I didn’t need friends! I knew my priorities!” Twilight said her voice a mere whimper

“Twilight I am here to change you for the better; you will meet 3 more of your friends very soon; in fact in the next 3 days you will meet your forgotten friends. The ones you once cherished, but now vilify. The ones you once loved, but now regret.”

“They didn’t understand me! No pony did!” Twilight said

“Nonetheless I am here to help you; listen to the guidance of your forgotten friends and seek their wisdom; if you do so we may all benefit in the afterlife.” Twilight waited a second

“But; you were a good mare! What did you do wrong?”

“Well remember that party with Lucky7 and… well it doesn’t matter! Ghosts, wisdom, enlightment. Chop chop!”  It was Rarity all right

Before Twilight could respond she felt a blinding light; she removed her head from the pillow and looked in her room; empty. Rarity was gone.

But what did she mean about her 3 friends? What did she mean about wisdom?

Next Chapter: Stave 2 Estimated time remaining: 10 Minutes