The Wendigo's Curse: Ch. 1

      Spitfire drove away from the two story home in a large neighborhood. Rainbow’s mother Firefly beamed stepping out of the door with a light jacket. She waved for the three to hurry to the house.

     "Get in, get in, you'll catch you deaths out here!" Firefly called out taking a bag from Fluttershy to help the family enter the house. "Oh and watch your step, it’s very icy to the door."

     Rainbow smirked. "Do I smell turkey off your jacket?" She asked excitedly.

     Firefly winked. "Of course, dinner will be ready soon.” She gasped seeing Harmony looking to her. “Oh my and this is Harmony! My goodness you have gotten so big!" Firefly said wrapping her arm around Harmony hugging her tight. "Where's Windy Belle?" She asked curiously looking for the missing girl.

     "She had a change in plans." Rainbow replied. “She won’t be with us this year.”

     "Aww, on Hearths Warming?" Firefly asked disappointed.

     "She has a girlfriend." Harmony added reaching the door.

     "Oh ..." Firefly said a touch worriedly. "Well good for her then." She said smiling. "As long as she's happy and safe, I have no worries."

     "Safe?" Fluttershy asked.

     "Oh yes, didn't you hear. The storm of the century is being tracked right now." Firefly said with worry as she opened the door.

     "Storm?" Rainbow asked curiously. "I could've sworn there weren’t anything big for a while."

      Firefly nodded motioning for Harmony to slip inside the house first. "Well it just popped up. Odd thing really.” She said confused as Rainbow and Fluttershy entered the home. “Blaze honey, they’re here!" Firefly called into the house as she shut the door behind her. An older man with graying rainbow hair stood up from his chair to greet them.

     "Ah, if it isn't my little Rainbow!" Rainbow Blaze exclaimed hugging his daughter in a tight hug. "I missed you, Sweetie."

     “Missed you too, Dad." Rainbow replied feeling him kiss her on the head. Blaze grinned seeing Fluttershy.

     "Ah Fluttershy look at you! Radiant as ever." He said smiling as Fluttershy blushed harshly by the complement.

     "Thank you. It's very nice to see you too."

     Blaze looked over to see Harmony pull off her scarf. "Ah and here's the little runt!" He laughed joyfully as Harmony grinned walking over to hug him. "How are you little one? You have grown so much since we last saw you."

     "Doing great!" Harmony said smiling.

     “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." Firefly called from the kitchen. Blaze smiled then looked down seeing the bags the three brought in. He reached down taking a bag and two suitcases.

     "Here, let me help you ladies with your bags. Harmony you can sleep in Rainbow’s old room. And Tiger will ... Hey, where’s Tiger?" Blaze asked using his nickname for Windy.

     "Not here.” Rainbow replied pulling off her coat and scarf as Fluttershy was untying her snow boots. “She's with someone else for the holidays." She tuned and blinked seeing her father trying to climb up the stairs with their bags.

     "Aw, well. I'm going to have a good talking to her later." He said with fake stern as he chuckled. "Hope this someone is worth missing our old holiday movie marathon!" He called taking two bags and started up the stairs.

     "Dad, wait! Let me take those!" Rainbow called out rushing after him.

     "Bah, I might be old but not weak, Dash."

     "Dad, seriously!" Rainbow exclaimed as the two bickered up the stairs.

      Fluttershy giggled behind her hand. She turned to the kitchen seeing Firefly getting plates out of the cupboard. "Firefly, do you need some help with dinner?" She called walking into the kitchen.

      “Oh yes! Thank you, Fluttershy.”

      Harmony stood in the entryway looking between the sitting room, with the comfortable chairs and couch to sit in. The stairs, which will lead to her room for the visit. And then the kitchen, where her mother and grandmother are doing the finishing touches before serving the delicious smelling dinner.

     Harmony chose the sitting room and walked into the small room. She noticed the medium sized television set to see an old classic holiday cartoon playing. She walked over the warm hearth to see it all covered in decorations for the holidays. She reached up at the hearth to find a very old sewn doll, it was messy pony with rainbow hair. Harmony smiled softly stroking the dusty locks that resemble hair.

     She winced suddenly feeling a sharp burn in her hand and dropped the doll. She winced pressing her thumb over the burning spot. Once the burning went away, she wiping her eyes and removed her thumb to see the strange blot shape in the palm of her hand. She stared at the mark with worry, she then noticed a orange-ish tinge on her skin outside the blot like shape in her hand.

     She jumped hearing the door shut upstairs and hearing her mother and grandfather speak. She looked down finding her mother’s old doll and quickly picked it up and set the pony shaped doll back on the hearth. She quickly pulled down her long sleeve over her hand then turned grinning seeing her mom and grandfather come down the stairs arguing.

     "Dad seriously, I can handle it." Rainbow exclaimed.

     "You three are our guests, Rainbow. When will you understand that?" Blaze snapped back.

     Harmony rolled her eyes and smiled.

     "Dinner is ready everyone.” Firefly called. She turned seeing Harmony. “Harmony, would you be a dear and help me set the table?" Firefly called. Harmony nodded rushing over to help her grandmother with the table. The burning mark in her hand became a distant memory.


     In the heart of Canterlot, Windy Belle sat in her car tapping her thumb on the stirring wheel with a sigh. She turned looking at the radio faintly hearing a pop singer singing a holiday classic. She sighed turning away to look up at the sky seeing snowflakes landing on her windshield.

     It felt weird not being able to be with her family for the holidays. Every year even when she moved out, she always took the time off to spend the week with her family during the holidays. She wondered if her family was alright or how her grandparents were with her not there. It would be hard not to see her grandparents again after a decade.

     She looked around her seeing cars slowly drive by in a slow crawl. She turned seeing people bundled up in thick coats and scarves to keep warm from the cold. She looked at the glowing time on the radio to see the time being six in the evening. She had been waiting for the last ten minutes on her passenger who had to drop into a package pick up store to pick up some gifts that she ordered.

     Windy turned and smiled seeing her girlfriend rush out of the shop carrying medium sized boxes. She smiled seeing her dressed in a nice coat with boots, over her head was a knitted cap covering most of her pink head and earmuffs over her ears. Windy reached under the wheel to pull the lever for the trunk to open. She looked up at the rearview mirror watching Starchaser quickly stuff the wrapped packages into the trunk and shut it.

     Windy sighed thinking how lucky she was knowing Starchaser for the last three years. First they were coworkers. Starchaser being a scientist’s assistant and Windy being a simple aid and tour guide. They became close friends very quickly and then started dating. And this will be the first time Windy gets to meet Starchaser’s parents and for the holidays to boot. Just thinking about meeting them made Windy nervous. She didn’t want to make the wrong impression to her girlfriend's parents. From the talks they shared, Windy knew that Starchaser’s birth mother Twilight will probably be the hardest to sway.

     Windy jumped when the passenger door opened and Starchaser stepped into the car shivering and slamming the door shut.

     "Sorry, that took longer than planned." She said apologetically rubbing her hands together.

     Windy shrugged. "Nah that's fine. It's closer to Hearths Warming Eve. A bunch of packages are coming in and such. And there will be a line." She said winking. She reached over taking on of Starchaser’s cold hands. “Wow, your hand is like an ice cube!” Windy exclaimed laughing as Starchaser smiled.

     “Your hand is very warm.” She replied softly. After a long moment Windy frowned worried.

     "You think your family will accept me?"

     "Of course." Starchaser replied squeezing her hand. "They'll love you."

     Windy smiled. "I hope so."

     Suddenly there was a high beeping noise from the radio. Windy turned up the volume of the radio hearing the report.

     "This is a message from the Equestrian Weather Service. There is a Severe Blizzard warning in the areas of, Cloudsdale, Canterlot, Ponyville, Hoofington, and Appaloosa. Warning this is a message from the Equestrian Weather service. Officials advise everyone in the warning area to take precautions of a severe blizzard."

     Windy turned down the volume dial biting her lip worried. She had been hearing about the big blizzard all day, she watched the weather forecast every day this week and there was no mention of this blizzard until this morning.

     Starchaser noticed Windy’s worried expression. "I'm sure your family made it to their destination." She said smiling softly, but frowned seeing Windy's worry.

     "Yeah, I know they’ll be fine." Windy said smiling at her. "So ready to go?"

     "Yes I am, are you?" She asked grinning.

     Windy winked. "Born ready." She whispered leaning over to kiss her girlfriend on the cheek then began their drive deeper into the city.

     Windy followed Starchaser's directions through the crowded streets of Canterlot. It took them twenty minutes to leave Main Street to turn to a street filled with apartment buildings. Windy pulled into a parking space and set the car to park. She lingered her hand over the keys in the ignition then stopped, leaning back into her seat. Starchaser looked to her with concern.

     "What if they don't like me?" Windy asked curiously. "What if I'm too much?" She asked worriedly. Starchaser smiled leaning over to kiss her on the cheek stroking hair.

     "You worry too much. Believe me, I told my parents about you and they're excited to see you."

     "But what if they don't like that ... we're together?" Windy asked worriedly.

     Starchaser sighed thinking. "Windy, no matter what my parents think about you, you’re special to me. Even if they don't like you, which I seriously doubt it, then nothing will change our relationship."

     Windy frowned at the answer. Starchaser chuckled. "Well come on! You got to help me with the gifts. I even got a special one for you." She added smiling mischievously, poking Windy's nose before stepping out of the car with a squeal. "Geez Louise! Its freezing!" She exclaimed closing the door behind her. Windy sighed still frowning as she flipped the lever to open the back trunk.

     "I'm not worried about us." She whispered watching her. "I'm worried about your family." She pulled out the keys turning off the car and stepped out to help with the bags and walked over to the massive building before them.

     The two took the elevator up to the fifth floor of the ten story apartment building. Windy followed Starchaser to the door at the end of the hall. Starchaser pulled out her keys and found the apartment key and unlocked the door.

     "Knock, Knock!" She called opening the door. "Mother, Mama!" She called letting Windy pass her before shutting the door.

     "Is that my little Star!" Windy blinked hearing the high pitched voice.

     "Which-?" Windy whispered.

     "Mama, Pinkie Pie." Starchaser whispered and smiled seeing the pink haired woman peak out a room and smiled.

     “Starchaser!" Pinkie exclaimed hugging her tightly. "Ooh I missed you sooo much!"

     Starchaser chuckled with difficulty but was able to hug her mother in return.

     "Oh and who is this? Is this the girl I've been hearing so much about?" Pinkie asked releasing her daughter to let her breathe.

      "Oh um Mama I was hoping to introduce her later when the whole family is around. Are Agate and Uncle Spike here?"

     "Oh yes!" Pinkie replied. "Spike left to grab some last minute groceries for us and Agate was able to make it here after his classes in college. He’s finishing up the decorations in the sitting room."

     "Great!" Starchaser replied. "Windy will be in my room with me if that's alright?"

     Pinkie looked between the two of them and giggled with an exaggerated wink. "Eeyup! No trouble with me. Here let me help you with a few of these things"

     Starchaser shook her head. "Oh we got it Mama, you can take the gifts over to the hearth." She said holding the packages for Pinkie to take.

     "Of course, dinner will be ready soon." Pinkie said winking before walking away.

      Windy blinked surprised. "You warned me she was different ... I didn’t think she was that different." Starchaser chuckled shoving her seeing Windy’s cheeky grin.

     "Shut up." Starchaser snarled playfully. "Come on, follow me."

     Windy followed her down the hall then turned into another hall seeing three different doors. Starchaser opened her bedroom door and entered the small room. "Here we are." She declared as she shut the door. Windy lowered their bags to the floor by the dresser. Windy smirked seeing a plushy purple unicorn with blue hair sitting on the dresser. She grabbed the plush recognizing it from a familiar children’s show.

     "My Little Pony?" She asked playfully as Starchaser blushed snatching the old toy away.

     "Hey, it was a gift from my mother." She said placing the unicorn back on its spot on the dresser. "Don't mess with Twinkle." Starchaser added a touch threatening. It would have worked if it weren't for the smile of mirth on her face. Windy whistled the all too familiar tune. Starchaser shoved her shoulder causing her girlfriend to snicker.

      "Cute room for a five year old." Windy playfully jabbed snickering.

     "Oh shut up you!" Starchaser whispered reaching down to grab a few of her things from her bag. Windy smiled wrapping her arms around Starchaser's middle. Starchaser stood up turning to her and smiled.

     "I think it's cute." Windy whispered truthfully. Starchaser blushed and smiled.

     "You pushover." The two joined into a long loving kiss, until the door opened. The two quickly separated as the intruder entered the room.

     "Star?" A young man called peeking into the room and blinked seeing Windy Belle. He was a tall man with spiked reddish hair and yellow eyes. "Oh hi Windy, nice to see you again." He said walking into the room.

     Windy cleared her throat rubbing the back of her neck. "Hey Agate, how're classes?"

     Agate Quartz is Starchaser’s adopted cousin. Windy met him on a number of occasions when he visits Starchaser at work. Before Starchaser and Windy dated, Starchaser would ask for Agate to drive her back to her apartment since she lived close to the college he was studying at. Windy and Agate don’t talk much but just simple waves or nods in greeting.

     "Doing great." He replied hugging his cousin. "How about you guys? Still working together?" He asked looking between them.

     "Oh yeah." Windy said smiling. Starchaser chuckled.

     "I’m glad you’re doing well." She said smiling softly.

     "Well dinner's ready. Thought I would see you two before Aunt Twi did." He said with a frown. "Good luck with that."

     Starchaser frowned. "What's wrong?"

     Agate shrugged. "I don’t know. Since Dad and I got here Aunt Twi’s been distracted." He said sticking his hands into his pockets.

     "Is she alright?" Starchaser asked worriedly.

     "Sure she is, it's just she keeps saying that something isn't right and stares out the window." He said shrugging.

     Starchaser blinked bewildered. "Hmm, that's unlike her. Are she and Mama having problems?"

     "Hell no!" Agate said shaking his head. "They're great. But from what my dad got from Pinkie, she's been nervous all day."

     "Was it a bad time coming?" Windy asked worriedly.

     "Nonsense!" Agate said smirking. "They’ve been excited to meet you." Starchaser smiled pulling off her jacket and folded it on her bed. "Well let's go then." She said taking Windy's hand and pulled her out of the room.

     The two followed her cousin to the main room where the hearth was nice and decorated with stockings hanging on the hearth with cute little handmade dolls. Windy smiled seeing one of them looked like Starchaser.

     There was a knock on the door. The three turned to see Twilight open the door and beam.

     "Shining!" She exclaimed happily hugging the man outside the door.

      Starchaser gasped in surprise. "Uncle Shining!"

     "Uncle?" Windy gulped with worry.

     "Hey everyone!" Shining Armor called as a woman and two teens walked into the apartment. "Happy holidays!" He called out as Starchaser walked over to help the woman with the gifts.

     "What are you all doing here?" Starchaser asked surprised.

     Starchaser's aunt Cadence chuckled. "Well we were here for a special conference so we decided to come over for the holidays."

      "I didn't know." Starchaser said with worry turning to see her mother beam.

      "He called three days ago asking to join our gathering." Twilight replied. She turned to see her nephew and smiled. "Oh Gallant dear, hello!" Twilight greeted hugging her tall nephew. "And who is this?"

      Gallant blushed turning to the girl on her arm beaming with a blush.

     "Oh this is Lucky. I hope it's alright that I invited her."

     Twilight shook her head about to speak until Pinkie popped in from behind Twilight scaring her.

      "Well of course she's invited! The more the merrier!"

      Twilight smiled softly at her. "Please come in. Agate dear, would you please help our guests into the sitting room."

     "Sure." Agate said leading everyone to the room.

     Windy though was biting her lip with worry. Starchaser turned to her to give her the same worried frown. Windy wasn't expecting so many people here. She was only expecting Starchaser’s parents here, not the whole family. Starchaser too was nervous. She walked over to Windy patting her shoulder.

     "Well, I guess there are more people than we thought."

     Windy gulped loudly rubbing her neck. "I might be getting cold feet."

     "Starchaser." The two turned to see Twilight walk over. "Why don't you and your friend come into the sitting room and get comfortable." She said smiling softly. Windy gulped and smiled in return.

     "Thank you, ma'am." She said quickly.

     Twilight blinked surprised then smiled. It's rare to see such mannerisms from people Windy's age nowadays, it's a nice surprise for the woman. "Want hot chocolate or eggnog?" She wondered.

     "Hot chocolate, please." Windy replied as Starchaser nodded.

     "Same, thank you Mother." She said taking Windy's hand leading her into the sitting room where the room was already filling with the entire family. Pinkie Pie thought for a moment.

     "Radio or TV?" She asked indicating the small radio on a shelf or the TV in the corner.

     "Oh turn on the radio." Shining Armor called. "Just like the old days."

     Pinkie giggled. "Couldn't agree more." She said turning on the radio and finding the right station to listen to classic holiday songs. She heard the door bell and jumped up.

     "Oh, that must be Spike!" She called out rushing to the door. Gallant scooted to the side patting the couch beside him. Starchaser walked over and sat down next to him as Windy sat next to her. Gallant held out his hand to her.

     "Gallant Shield. And you are?" He asked.

     "Windy Belle." She replied shaking his hand.

     "Nice to meet you."

     Windy nodded. "Likewise."

     "Starchaser, I never heard of your friend." Gallant said turning to his cousin.

     "We're co-workers at the Observatory."

     Gallant looked to Windy curiously. "In what field?"

     Windy blushed rubbing the back of her head. "Well at the moment, until I get a degree, I work as a spokesperson for the school tours. When there's nothing like that around, I work as a slave."

     Starchaser snorted slapping Windy's arm. "Oh shut up you." She turned to Gallant. "She's an aid when she's not called downstairs. So we often times bump into each other during work."

     Gallant nodded thinking. "I see." Lucky nodded smiling softly.

     "What about you Gallant?" Windy asked curiously. "What do you do?"

      Gallant smirked. "I'm a guardsman. Just got leave for the holiday."

      Windy nodded. "Like working here or abroad?"

     "Here, like my father." He replied smiling. "I’m a sergeant."

     Windy blinked. "Wow, and your dad?

     "He's a captain. I'm hoping to reach that status soon."

     Starchaser smiled softly noticing her cousin and girlfriend as making conversation and she could tell Windy was staring to calm down from her recent worry.

     "Drinks everyone!" A male voice called as a tall man with green hair walked in carrying one tray with steaming drinks. "Who ordered hot chocolates?" Starchaser raised her hand and grabbed Windy's and held it up. Spike walked over handing Starchaser her drink as Windy took hers.

     "Thank you." Windy said smiling as Spike grinned.

     "I'm Spike, and you are?"

     "Actually," Starchaser interrupted. "I would like to introduce her once everyone’s settled."

     Windy gulped with worry again as she blew into her drink trying to distract herself. Spike winked.

     "Gotcha. Got four more mugs. Agate has the eggnog." Spike called as he passed around the rest of the mugs as Agate came over to pass around glasses of eggnog.

     Pinkie pulled Twilight into the sitting room and winked to Star. Star cleared her throat standing up.

     "May I have your attention?" Windy groaned blushing harshly. "I'll like to introduce my plus one so to speak. This is Windy Belle." She introduced as Windy stood up shaking slightly with nerves.

     "Hello," She said smiling though she was terrified. Pinkie beamed as others smiled in greeting.

     "Also," Starchaser said a touch scared as she took Windy's hand. "We're dating."

     The room went silent. Twilight cleared her throat. "Dating?" She asked surprised.

      Starchaser blushed. "Yes Mother. I know I have said I didn't have any time but ... Windy came around and well ... I couldn’t ask for a better friend." Twilight thought for a moment opening her mouth to say something before someone else suddenly interrupted.

     "Wait a second," Spike said standing up. "How long have you two known each other?"

      Windy blushed and could see Starchaser's uncle Shining Armor look at her with the same scrutinized look. No doubt these two men are probably considered Starchaser's father figures and care about her.

     "For the last two years." Windy replied before Starchaser could.

     "What's your job?" Shining Armor asked as Cadence slapped her hand to her forehead shaking her head.

     "I work as an aid at the Canterlot Observatory. I also work as a tour guide for school kids that visit the observatory. I'm assigned to Starchaser's floor and we've been talking a lot and then we became friends." She replied quickly. Starchaser was impressed as she smiled.

     "Those are basic paying jobs but what are you planning on doing for your future?" Spike asked next. Agate rolled his eyes drinking his eggnog.

     "I'm still in the process of get my bachelor’s degree in meteorology." This surprised the two men in the room even Twilight and Cadence were surprised. They all didn't think Windy, by the way she appeared, looked serious for meteorology.

      Starchaser smiled. "Last summer we went to Hoofington and went storm chasing." She said smiling. "We saw how many tornados?"

     "Ten." Windy said smiling. She frowned seeing the shocked look on Twilight’s' face. "But we kept a very safe distance." She said quickly her smile wavering.

     "Did you see the EF5 that brushed a Hoofington suburb?" Gallant asked excitedly until he saw his father's scowl.

      "Oh yeah!" Windy replied without thinking. Starchaser slapped her arm to shut her up.

     Twilight cleared her throat. "Well this was a surprise. Um I was about to say before Pinkie brought me in here that dinner is ready. Pick a plate and eat it like a buffet. Enjoy." Everyone stood up nodding as they rushed one by one into the kitchen. Twilight stopped Starchaser by grabbing her arm.

     "Can we talk?" She asked. Starchaser nodded turning to Windy with a shrug as she was dragged to the other hall to talk in private.

     Windy sighed softly with worry. Agate walked over patting Windy’s shoulder. "Come on buddy, let's get some grub. Pinkie can cook a mean turkey."

     Windy nodded as she followed him to the kitchen to get some dinner.