Estoc took the last few steps down into the lab. A few minutes ago, one of the recruits had rushed to him with a message from Professor Spell Nexus that demanded his immediate attendance. “Here I am, Professor. What is so important this very morning?” It was Hearth’s Warming Eve, and with this festive day, the capitol was filling with ponies like every year. Many just came to spend the holidays with their families, others just to see the town that shaped Equestria to what it is today, and of course, a lot of them to see the play in the castle. It was the last event that always caused Estoc to lose a lot of time and patience. The guards needed their schedules, the guides through the castle had to be organized, and the general security still had to be enforced. In short, it was the worst day of the year for him.

“We have a breakthrough! We have a breakthrough!” The old white unicorn with his heavily ruffled grey mane nearly bounced over to him like a little foal. “We managed to activate the staff!” Estoc looked around in the room. On one of the desks laid the staff his guards had found next the human. According to the reports of the princess and the other Bearers, he had used it to fight against them. Additionally, Princess Twilight had reported that, when he struck her with it, something literally tried to suck the magic out of her body but didn’t manage to achieve its goal.

In front of the desk another, younger, unicorn laid on the ground and was in the process of being treated by a soldier from the med team. “What happened to him?”

“My assistant got lucky. When he tried to levitate the staff to show it to me, he suddenly collapsed after a few seconds. I believe the staff stripped him of his magic.” Estoc stepped closer to the heavily breathing unicorn and the medic.

“The professor is right, Captain,” she reported. “It looks like a large amount of his magic got stripped from him. He shows all the classic signs of magical exhaustion.” Estoc nodded.

“Well done, Cadet… uhm.” Even after years as Captain, he still couldn’t see through the magical armors. All he knew was that he was dealing with a pegasus mare from the med team. It was often embarrassing to him that he ended up addressing his soldiers with their wrong name. How Shining Armor managed to get their names right every time was a mystery to him.

“Iron Heart, sir.”

“Good. Iron Heart, bring him to the infirmary.” The soldier saluted and heaved the unconscious assistant onto her back. “Professor, did the incident give us any new results?” Estoc wanted to write at least something positive in his report.

While the soldier left the lab through the stairs, the old stallion searched on his desk until he found a clipboard and levitated some glasses onto his muzzle. “Well, the weapon was definitely made by ponies. The interesting thing is that it doesn’t look like it was designed to be used by us. Also, it is extremely old. A bit over a thousand years maybe.”

“Why would a pony build such a dangerous weapon for a human?” His gaze shifted towards the staff. Even with a few meters between them, he could feel how the staff was literally soaking in magic like a sponge.

“Well, Captain Estoc, I don’t know how proficient you are in the Equestrian history, but you surely have heard about the Sibling War, right?” Estoc nodded. “Then you should now there was only one pony that allied with the humans who had the knowledge and the skills to build such a thing.”

Wrapped up deeply in thoughts about what the professor just told him, Estoc left the lab again. If it were up to him, the staff would be destroyed, and its remains should be thrown in the endless grotto underneath the castle, but that decision was not his to make. All he could do was ensure that the lab was placed under quarantine, so that there wouldn’t be any more injured like the assistant of Spell Nexus.

For this reason, his destination was the barracks of the Royal Guard now. The few that were still there were technically on holidays already, but that had to be postponed. Since he wasn’t paying attention on his way, he stumbled into somebody. “Sorry.”

The two maids gave him a friendly nod and snickered as they continued their way. For a moment, he wondered why they were in such a good mood but quickly waved it off as the result of the holiday spirit. But when further down in the hallway he met more snickering maids he got curious. Was there a spot on his armor? Did something stuck to his flank? But there was nothing of that sort. Then Estoc heard somepony giggle again, this time from the hallway that led to the servant quarters. He rushed to the next crossway and saw clearly what was causing this fuss.

Two young recruits stood underneath one of the many arches of the hallway and placed a mistletoe above their heads. It was a plant that kept its green color even in the deepest winter and represented the hopes of the first settlers that came to Equestria. They were few, and so it became the custom to kiss everypony who stood underneath one of them.

“Attention!” Estoc snapped, and the two young stallions immediately let go of the chamber maids they were just kissing. Not very loyal partners either as they disappeared quickly down the hallway. “What do you think you are doing there?”

The sweat that ran down their faces from underneath their helmets was clearly visible. “Sir! Being on guard, sir!” Estoc eyed the two of them shortly and sighed. He was young once too, but with his captain back then, even before Shining Armor, this would have been punished by a month’s unpaid leave. But he needed every stallion that was still in the castle.

“You two are reporting to Professor Spell Nexus in the basement immediately! You have to guard something, and may Celestia help you. If I see one of you up here again before your shift is over, I’m hanging the mistletoe above a latrine and then your tongues can come to a real use for once.” Both nodded quickly.

“Move!” With rattling armor, the two recruits ran off, nothing more than a slightly rolled up carpet showed of their existence. “Right! Now down with you,” he said, glaring at the mistletoe that hung above his head.

Estoc turned to offending item, intending to be rid of it, when he suddenly heard a voice behind him. “Good morning, captain.” Confused, he turned around and met a familiar face.

“Ah, a wonderful morning to you too, Miss Rarity. What brings you down here?” The unicorn stepped closer and grinned sheepishly.

“Well, my parents took my little sister onto one of their journeys. They spend a few days skiing in Eagleland. So I thought I could go on a little walk through the castle and visit Twilight later, since it is so cold outside now.” He could understand the sentiment; he didn’t miss his every morning walk. “And you, Captain? Not with wife or foals?”

“I’m married to my job, Miss.” At his words, she took a step closer to him.

“Oh, what a shame. I hope your job won’t get jealous.” Before he could ask what she meant, she gave him a quick peck on his lips. Estoc only blinked in confusion, and when he snapped back into reality, he could only see Lady Rarity, with the mistletoe in tow, quickly disappearing in the hallway.

Thiemo walked next to Lyra through the corridors of the castle. The first thing he noticed were all the decorations. The otherwise quite plain red tapestries with golden borders were decorated by wreaths with crossed sugarcanes. Some sort of red lametta hung down from the plants, and he could swear he saw a mistletoe hanging underneath one of the arches. He was also certain that it had been snowing outside, clearly visible by its remains on the outside of the windows. Of course, there was one question that shot through his mind. “Don’t tell me you’re celebrating Christmas!” he yelled over the thundering sounds of hoofsteps on marble. Behind them, six guards in full regalia marched behind them, making it significantly harder for the two to maintain a conversation.

“Christmas? Never heard of that. Is that a holidays of the humans?” Thiemo had the feeling that the guards were making their steps louder on purpose.

“At least where I’m coming from. Once a year, the family gathered around a decorated fir tree, some juicy animal would be served for the feast, and then we pray to some fat guy in red clothes. He watched every child all year long, and if they were nice, they can go to certain stores in town to sit on his lap where he can paw them without any questions being raised. In return, the kids can tell him what they would like as a reward.” It took a lot of effort to not burst down into laughter at Lyra’s horrified expression. “And if they weren’t nice, they get thrown into his large bag and coal is made out of them.”

“Stop! That’s scary. What kind of parents would give their kids to such a monster?” The steps of the guards got quieter. Apparently, Thiemo had also gained their curiosity.

“The same sort that tell their children that there is an almighty being watching them their whole lives who would let their souls burn in eternal flames if ever they do something wrong.” He couldn’t laugh much about what he just said; he had had those same things drilled into him when he was younger. “But now I’m curious. What exactly are you celebrating?”

“Well, Hearth’s Warming Eve of course. The union of the three pony tribes in friendship and harmony,” Lyra explained. She seemed very relieved for the change of the subject. “Thousands of years ago, the three tribes fought against each other. Their hatred and anger awoke evil spirits called windigos that brought cold and everlasting winter. When the population of the three tribes began to dwindle, they decided to search for new land, not knowing that the windigos would follow them as long as they kept on fighting. All three tribes found the land we call Equestria nowadays at the same time, but it took years for peace to settle down. It was not until the everlasting winter came again that a few of each race acknowledged the danger. Their leader was Clover the Clever, pupil of Star Swirl the Bearded. He was one of the most powerful unicorns who ever lived, at least if you only count the mortal ones. Compared to the princesses….”

Lyra drifted off from the subject, and Thiemo stopped listening to her. Somehow, this all seemed familiar to him. “Oh shit. I’m in pony America!” he suddenly shouted. “Although it is worse here. Not even America worships itself so much that they dedicated an entire season to their founding.”

“Amarerica?” He had to use the English word for the country since there was no translation for it. Apparently, Lyra had learned something in the time she spent with his translations.

“A country consisting out of a bunch of smaller countries or states, as they called them. Originally a colony, but they joined together to rebel against their kingdom to free itself from their sovereignty. Making a big fuss about their day of foundation every year. Thinking they are the best thing that has ever graced planet Earth.”

“And you think we’re just like Amarerica?” Thiemo nodded.

“Maybe not quite as bad. Or have you ever conquered a country under false pretence to gain their natural resources?” Lyra looked at him bewildered and shook her head. “Changes nothing about the image Equestria has abroad. You have pegasi stationed all over the world to manage the weather. If you wanted to, you could threaten every country to withdraw them and leave them to their destiny. Then there is your army….” He put the last word in quotation marks and nodded towards the guards behind him. “Known and feared all over Albion. I don’t get why, now that I’ve seen them in action. The only one who seems at least a little bit competent is Captain Stick-in-his-butt.” A lot of the guards changed their grim faces from being insulted to a smirk. “And then you puff up your princesses like they would be living gods or something like that. I’ve met Miss OCD; she’s powerful, no doubt. But not a god.”

“Is that really how Equestria is seen from the outside?” Lyra asked quietly. Thiemo nodded. “Well, I can’t say anything about Princess Twilight, or Princess Cadence and her daughter Skyla, but Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are thousands of years old, immortal. They move the sun and the moon. We ponies look up to them and they guide us with kindness and wisdom. What else should they be if not gods?”

Thiemo stopped. “Wait a second… you really think they control the sun and the moon?” Doubtful, he turned around to the guards, who all nodded. “Gawd bless ‘Questria!” He barked out a laugh. The guards who apparently didn’t understand a single word of English gave Lyra a questioning look.

“Soarin, you lazybones, where are you?” Rainbow stepped through the door of her more than large and comfy house. After her acceptance into the Wonderbolts, she had just flown it over to Canterlot and tied it at a landing stage she had erected at the mountain herself. It was something that had caused her troubles with the municipality, the post office, and her captain. A Wonderbolt was supposed to be a model and should abide by all laws and regulations.

“In the shower, Dashie!” a voice from the upper levels shouted. Content, she put down her saddlebags with the shopping, and carefully pushed them behind the couch. She would need them later tonight. First of all, she had to do something she hated just as much as being disturbed from a nap - cooking. They had thought about spending the evening at a restaurant first, but they wouldn’t get their rest there. Many others would have the same ideas, and it wasn’t helpful that the two of them were celebrities. Soarin as a veteran of a well-known group and she, also as a member of this group, and also as a Bearer of an Element. So the pegasi decided to make it a relaxing evening and let the other ponies celebrate Hearth’s Warming.

Rainbow tied an apron with clear signs of mishaps around her chest and opened the large freezer. “Well… maybe I should have bought more than whipped cream and chocolate sauce.” An old cheese loaf, an open bottle of milk of unknown age, and limp vegetables was all that was in there. But at least that was more than she had back in her time of living alone. Back then, she usually ate with Pinkie at Sugarcube Corner or with the others at the usual little café. Today it was the cafeteria in the Wonderbolt’s stadium where she didn’t even had to pay. Not that the food was something that special, but it was filling and healthy. Something she learned to care about.

Carefully, she took out the cheese. The front side still looked almost edible, but the backside was covered by a large green mold. She scrunched her nose and quickly threw it in the trashcan underneath the sink. Afterwards, she washed her hooves.

Now there was only the milk left. Cautiously, she opened the cap of the glass bottle and immediately, a rotten smell came out of it. “Yep, definitely a case for the sink.” She turned the bottle upside down over the sink but nothing happened. The milk clumped and stuck in the bottle. Rainbow rolled her eyes and threw the bottle out of the window. It was the mountain’s problem now.

“Bleh… Dashie? What smells so badly?” Soarin came into the large kitchen with a towel on his back and a wet mane that clung at his side.

“I got rid of the garbage from the fridge,” she replied and hung her apron up. Something that would be the best for all. “In a few minutes it should be better.” She trotted over to her coltfriend, and they exchanged a quick a kiss. Rainbow would have never thought she would be this way one day, but that was before she had fallen in love. “Unfortunately, nothing’s left… besides me.” She circled her hoof over his chest. “Maybe we should just go for the main course?” The light twitch in his wings was answer enough for her. She kissed him again, but this time an uncomfortable feeling joined in. Rainbow pulled her head back, and in the next moment, her cheeks fluffed up. She ran past a confused Soarin and threw the bathroom door shut behind her.

“Hey Dashie? Are you alright?” she heard Soarin ask through the closed door while she hung over the toilet. “Maybe the smell was too much for you?”

“I’ve smelt worse! Diamond Dogs for…” She didn’t get to complete her sentence as her lunch took the emergency exit. She wondered what it could be. She didn’t feel sick.

“It’s only afternoon, Dashie. Maybe you should go see a doctor.” She rolled her eyes.

“I’m fine, it’s just my stomach.” She was almost never sick. Maybe the usual bugs when she was a filly now and then. It was hard for pegasi to catch the flu or anything like that, being naturally resilient against cold. Twilight said it had something to do with a system but Rainbow obviously hadn’t paid attention. No, she only called in sick when she was in heat. Two times a year like every mare. Usually at the start of spring and the end of summer.

End of summer?

Her following curse was drowned in her breakfast that met her mouth for the second time.

Author's Notes:

Merry Christmas!

And thats it. Act 6 was our little Christmas gift to you guys. Next chapter as usual every Tuesday.
That would be New Year's Eve in this case. Hope you enjoy your holidays, because I will. I'm at my parents right now and we're about to have dinner with the whole family. Roulades, with potato and red cabbage. A typical German meal (and also my all time favorite) ^^

Thanks to Gron for translating this chapter.
Special thanks to JBL for proofreading and editing.

Editor’s note: All I have to say is: