Hands appeared, and Rarity found herself standing in an old-fashioned estate, filled with activity. A girl about her age was staring into a snow globe, wearing a simple dark pink dress, her long blonde hair pulled back in a simple hairstyle. An older man in a sharp suit was constantly checking his pocketwatch as a woman who appeared to be a maid was decorating the giant tree in the corner. A young boy in a green suit was busy playing with his toy soldiers, occasionally sneaking glances at the cookie ornaments. They all appeared to be in a loop, doing the same tiny movements, like they were animatronics in a theme park attraction. Only they didn't look like animatronics. They all looked human to Rarity. It was like they were waiting to continue moving.
"YAH!" Applejack fell on top of Rarity.
"Applejack! You nearly killed me!" Rarity exclaimed as they both got up.
"Sorry about that," Applejack blushed with embarrassment.
"GERONIMO!" Pinkie squealed as she and Twilight appeared.
"Where are we?" Twilight pushed her glasses up her nose.
"It looks like we're in the movie!" Pinkie grinned as Sunset and Rainbow Dash plopped to the floor.
"We're in the movie?" Fluttershy squeaked.
"We're in the movie!" Pinkie started jumping for joy as the older man caught sight of them.
"You girls are too early for the party!" the man yelled at them, causing the attention of the girl staring at the snow globe. "I'm afraid you'll have to leave!"
"Leave?" Pinkie asked. "But we just got here!"
"Grandfather, stop!" the girl said, and all eyes turned to her (well, the young boy was at the ornament box for some reason. "Why do they have to leave if they're early?"
The Equestria Girls just stared at the old man--the girl's grandfather.
"Well, then," the grandfather said, checking his pocketwatch. "Clara, we must finish decorating before the rest of the guests arrive."
"Yes, grandfather," Clara said, stepping away from the snow globe and turning to a wrapped box and started opening it.
"Hey there," Applejack said, walking up to her. "I know it's Christmas and you wanna know what you got, but shouldn't you wait until it's actually Christmas morning?"
Clara stared at the strange girl with the cowgirl boots and freckles.
"This isn't a gift," Clara said, unfolding the tissue, revealing an ornament shaped like a ballerina. She walked over to the tree and delicately hung it.
"This came from my mother," Clara said, turning to the maid, who looked at the ornament in curiosity. "The Christmas I saw my first ballet."
The maid turned to the gingerbread house.
"Oh, I just realized I never caught your names," Clara said, turning to the group. "I'm terribly sorry about that."
"It's totally okay!" Pinkie said. "I'm Pinkie Pie, and these amazing friends of mine are Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Sunset Shimmer, Rarity, and Twilight Sparkle!"
She pointed to each girl as she introduced them, and they all shyly waved.
"Oh my, a girl wearing pants?" Clara gasped, turning to Rainbow Dash.
"I think she's gone mad," she whispered to Sunset.
"Pinkie, what decade is this movie set in?" Sunset asked.
"Somewhere in the 1800s, I believe," Pinkie said. "I know it's in that century."
"I'm sorry, what do you mean by movie?" Clara asked.
"We're in the movie," Pinkie shrugged.
"Yeah, I don't think they're aware that they're characters in a film," Twilight whispered.
"Oh dear," the maid said. "The mice got into the Christmas boxes."
Clara picked up a cookie ornament, with one of its legs bitten off.
"You haven't seen Tommy anywhere, have you?" she asked the maid.
"And we cut to the back of the couch aaand..." Pinkie said.
"And what?" Applejack asked.
"Leave this one to me," Pinkie said, strolling behind the couch, where the boy--Tommy--was munching on more cookie ornaments. "Over here, Clara!"
Clara leaned over the top of the couch and snatched the cookie out of Tommy's hand.
"Hey!" he protested.
"Mystery solved," Clara said. "How did you know that?"
"I watched the movie," Pinkie replied, then knelt down and pulled out a cookie, handing it to Tommy. "Think fast, kid."
"Wha--how did you do that?" Tommy asked.
"It's Pinkie Pie, don't question it," Sunset said.
"Might as well wipe off the frosting before the mice take a bite out of you," Clara teased, wiping off some of the frosting that had been on Tommy's face, who slapped her hand away.
"You don't tell me what to do," Tommy countered.
"Siblings," Applejack said. "I can relate."
"Well, in that case," Clara said, turning back to Tommy, "I can just tell grandfather that you're okay with a bath."
That sent Tommy running away.
"You have siblings?" Clara asked Applejack.
"A younger sister and an older brother," Applejack replied. "We live with my Granny Smith."
"What about your parents?" Clara asked, and everyone but Applejack sucked in a breath. Applejack froze, staring at the floor.
Pinkie slid up to Clara.
"They died when she was a toddler," she whispered. "Not really a topic we talk about."
"I'm sorry then," Clara said. "I didn't know."
"I guess I'll let it slide, since you apparently are a character in a movie," Applejack said, suppressing a weak smile.
None of them said anything for a while, and Clara and the maid went to work on decorating the house when the door opened, revealing a woman with warm brown hair and wearing a vibrant red dress.
"Clara," the woman said, and Clara turned. They both embraced.
"Aunt Drosselmeyer!" Clara exclaimed. "I thought you weren't coming this year!"
"Wasn't he an uncle in the ballet?" Twilight pushed her glasses up her nose.
"It's called a movie adaptation," Rainbow Dash said. "Obviously they're gonna screw stuff up."
"And who are these girls?" Aunt Drosselmeyer asked, turning to the Equestria Girls.
"These are my new friends," Clara said. "They are Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack."
"Hello, girls," Aunt Drosselmeyer said as the grandfather walked into the room.
"Always conspiring against me," he grunted when he saw Drosselmeyer.
"Don't worry," she said. "I'll wait until after the party before I cause any mischief."
Rainbow Dash perked up at that.
"Where did you go this time?" Clara asked, taking Drosselmeyer's arm. "I want to hear all about it."
"Well, let's see," Drosselmeyer said.
"I'm coming with you," Rainbow Dash said. "If there's chaos, I wanna help cause it."
Drosselmeyer smirked at her.
"Well," she said. "I met an emperor and hiked the Great Wall of China."
"You did what now?" Twilight perked up at that now. "That's amazing!"
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't fill Clara's head with your stories," the grandfather grunted. "Just because you travel the globe instead of staying put like a sensible person."
"There's a world full of wonder out there, uncle," Drosselmeyer replied. "Clara deserves to experience them."
That's when the clock on the far wall started chiming.
"Your guests are waiting," Drosselmeyer said.
"Some people never change," she said once he walked away. "But we can always hope."
She started leading Clara away, and the Equestria Girls hurried to follow.