Pinkie Pie stood in front of Sugarcube Corner, waiting for her friends to arrive. From what had happened on this day, it seemed she had been successful in her mission. She gave herself a pat of the back - literally - and waited some more. In the store, which had been cleaned after the celebrations, the clock struck midnight.
As soon as the bells rang, the wind picked up. In front of her, the air warped and a great whooshing noise could be heard. When the crimson carriage finished materializing, Pinkie grinned and knocked on the door, which swung open a few seconds later. She walked in the spacious room and walked up the stairs of the platform to find a stallion and a donkey drinking hot chocolate and smiling at her.
"So boys, how'd it go?" she asked, leaning on the boards of the glass pillar.
"Oh, it went quite well, actually. Although I'm really too old for this," said Cranky Doodle, grumbling and rubbing his legs.
"Nonsense, Cranky old mate, you look smashing! They loved you out there, you make a great Santa! Plus, I'm way older than you, so...yeah," chuckled the stallion, putting down his cup.
"Whatever you say, lad, whatever you say. Mind dropping me off?"
"Not at all, Cranky. Say hi to Matilda for me, will ya?" he replied, operating the machinery in front of him. The room shook as it always did, then went quiet again. Cranky Doodle walked out the doors, and went down the steps to stand in front of his house. The stallion followed him, clad in his black coat, and faced the donkey.
"Will do. You know, lad, I won't lie: I didn't like you that much after last time. But I have to admit: you really made a change for that kid, and for me too. So thanks," said Cranky, holding out a hoof.
"Anytime, Cranky Doodle, anytime. And thank you too," he said, with a warm smile.
The donkey nodded, and went back inside to find his beloved. The stallion sighed, breathing in the cool air, and returned to his home to find Pinkie Pie looking at him with a warm smile of her own.
"What? Is there something on my face again?"
"No, no, it's not that. I just really appreciate what you did for us today."
"What're you talking about? That was all you and Cranky, I did nothing," he mumbled, flicking switches and pulling levers.
"You changed history for us, Doctor. That's not nothing."
"And you went out of your way to cheer up a child who had lost a bit of his sense of wonder. And that, Pinkie Pie, is way up there with some of the good stuff I've done. You could have just asked me to change history and make them forget, but no: you saved their faith. That, is something wonderful," said the stallion, walking with her over to the doors.
"Anything for a smile, Doc. Just one thing..."
She opened the doors and looked up to see that the crimson carriage was gone, replaced with a bright white bulb and a blue frame.
"What is it?" asked the Doctor, slightly confused.
"Nothing, it's just...if that disguise thingy is fixed, why did you make it look like your box again?"
The Doctor paused at this, looking at Pinkie Pie with a stoic face.
"Because that box is special to me, and I'd like to leave it at that."
"Say no more, I won't pry into your biz. Thank you Doctor, for everything you've done tonight," she said giving him a hug and a peck on the cheek.
"Same goes for you," he replied, returning the hug with a blush.
"But, wait a minute: how are you spending your Hearth's Warming?"
"Oh don't worry, I've gone something planned in about...three hundred years ago...ish," he said, looking at his pocket watch. She looked at him for a few seconds, then giggled.
"Alrighty then. Come back if you want to," she said, and walked back into her store. He watched her go, and closed his doors. He looked around his room, listening to the clickety-clack of the gears, the hiss of the steam, and the constant humming noise that sounded throughout the ship.
"Yeah, I'm fine..." he mumbled, wiping his face with his hooves. He sat there, staring into the blue pool of crystals for a few minutes, until he laughed and shook his head.
"Blimey Pinkie, you've done it again."
He stepped out of the TARDIS, locked it, and saw that the door to Sugarcube Corner had the OPEN sign turned to face him. He pushed it open silently, and saw Pinkie sitting at a table illuminated by a candle with a pot of hot chocolate, two mugs, and a plate of biscuits.
"We're going to get fat from all these treats, Pinkie," he chuckle, sitting in front of her.
"Fat, schmat. You're always running and I'm Pinkalicious, so hush up and drink up," she said while pouring him a cup. He took it, said thanks, then raised the cup towards her.
"To you, Pinkie Pie, for saving Hearth's Warming and our cranky Santa."
"To us, Time Turner. To us," she giggled, giving his cup a small clink before drinking the chocolatey drink with him.
'Cause all I really need, is a smile, smile, smile ♪, she sang to herself, looking at the smiling Doctor as he wiped a corner of his eye with a sleeve.