//------------------------------// // Shaky Hearths // Story: Sunny Knight: a Pony's Tale // by TheothersideofSunny968 //------------------------------// Sunny could hardly contain himself as he walked through town. Everywhere he looked, street corners, shops, ponie's houses, even the ponies themselve's were all decked out for the holiday they called 'Hearths warming' day. Decorations of red and green, maroon and velvet ribbons and bows hung elegantly. And the part that Sunny was most touched by was the white powdery stuff that had hit the ground just last week. The yellow stallion remembered when the weather team was working on setting up for winter, placing clouds specifically in certain areas, filling them to the brim with a heavy load of snow flakes. He had never seen so many pegusi working together on the weather in one place. And then, the morning after that, when he had awoken, he saw the trees and fields coated in that beautiful white stuff. That day he had spent playing with Applejack, Big Mac, Twilight and the rest in the snow. Even Spike had gotten in on it when they built forts out of snow for the snowball fights. Then Applejack shows Sunny something new, sledding! Rushing down the snow covered mountain side, that was just on the boarder of Ponyville, was absolutely amazing! The first time he had done it, Sunny was a little less then eager to try it, and ended up holding onto Applejack for dear life as they both zoomed down the steep mountain. But by the time the two had reached the bottom, Sunny's nerves had began to relax and he was ready to go up and do it again. Applejack was really eager too, with her cheeks bright red and a small smile on her face. And they weren't alone. Thunder Lane, now fully recovered, and Flitter had grabbed their own respective boards, and were sliding down together as Rainbow Dash slid past them, standing up in her sled like a surf board, creating waves of snow as she showed off some tricks. Even Octavia and her DJ friend had down up and got in on the fun. She asked to join Sunny in a few rides down the mountain, and Sunny couldn't be more then happy to share that with his friend. Although she had wished he had clung to her the way he had with Applejack. But still, Octavia would cherish the thrill and rush she received from the sled ride that she got to share with Sunny. After a full day of fun in the snow, the entire Apple family, accompanied by Pinkie Pie and Sunny, had sat down in the farm house with large mugs of hot chocolate and warmed up. "This has been the most fun I've had in a long time" Sunny said as he took another sip of his hot chocolate. "Even more then the birthday we've had for the twins a month ago?!" Pinkie asked, exasperated. "Because we did have pin the tail on the pony and some really, really good cake!" Sunny chuckled and he put a hoof on the slightly upset pink party pony. "It's not that Pinkie.... It's something different.... Like... Like I remember something..." This sent a chill down Applejack's spine. She had been working with her friends to try and find out who Sunny actually was and where he came from, but after a while, he had just become a part of the family. Applejack remembered how she felt about almost losing him when Chrysalis came and posed as his 'mother'. She felt like she was going to lose him, and although Applejack felt guilty for feeling that way, she still didn't want to lose him. She gulped and asked the yellow stallion "you, ugh... Rememberin somethin', sugar cube?" Sunny stared out the window at the light falling snow, as if trying to see through the storm inside of his own mind. Something seemed so familiar about the cold, white substance. "I remember.... Feelings." Everypony seemed confused by his statement, looking around at each other for answers as the yellow unicorn continued to stair out the window. Apple Bloom broke the silence when she repeated the last word Sunny spoke " ugh... Feelings?" "What kinda feelings, sugar cube?" Applejack extended the question. "A mixture...." Sunny replied, closing his eyes trying to concentrate. As he did a smile grew on his face. "Joy, happiness, content, comfort.... And..." Everypony remained silent, waiting for him to finish. Well, one pony didn't like waiting and grabbed the yellow stallion by his muzzle and tore him away from the window to stair him in the eye as her muzzle was inches from his. "What feelings?!" Pinkie Pie screamed at the now frightened stallion that she had in her hooves. "Are you nervous? Excited? Nervicited?!" "I-I-I don't know! I've never felt this way before" Sunny answered honestly, any and all connections he was feeling from the snow was then overtaken by the mare who was still inches from him. "Let him go, Pinkie" Applejack asked, her tone low and forlorn. "Oh! Sorry!" Pinkie awkwardly chuckled, realizing she was over doing it. She brushed him off as she shot him a smile and hopped back into her spot beside Apple Bloom, filling up her mug and taking another up of her hot chocolate. "Well, sugar cube" Applejack said as she put on a small grin and locked eyes with the shaken yellow stallion. "Maybe you'll remember more when we go visit Pinkie's family tammarow." "I am sooooo excited!" Pinkie began, a huge smile on her face as her eyes nearly doubled in size. "The Apples and the Pies! Together! Under one roof! For a Hearths warming celebration!" The idea actually had Sunny feeling nervous, but he still smiled as Pinkie and Applejack talked back and forth about the holiday. Sunny had never met any of Pinkie's relatives before. He read in his copy of 'the elements of harmony' that Pinkie came from a rock farm, that she had 3 other sisters and her two parents, one of the sisters being a monotone mare named Maud. But other then that, and reading about when Maud came to town, Sunny had no idea what to expect. By the next morning, Sunny had packed his saddle bags for the occasion, gathering a scarf, a few spell books to read if he had the moment (Twilight kept him on a strict schedule), and his basic toilet treats. As he finished packing he turned and saw a familiar red stallion standing at the door way. "Hey" was all Big Mac said as he looked over at Sunny. "Hey Big Mac" Sunny returned the greeting. "What's up?" "You ok?" He asked, cutting strait to the point. That was Big Mac for you. Sunny was about to answer immediately but stopped and sighed, adjusting his Stetson had again. "I'm just a little worried.... What if Pinkie's family doesn't like me?" "That all?" Big Mac sounded surprised as he entered Sunny's room. "Is there more to be worried about?!" Sunny asked, worry thick in his voice as his heart began to race. "Eh'nope" Big Mac replied with a smile as he put a hoof on Sunny's shoulder. "If that's all yer worried about, ya'll be just fine. Have ya ever met anypony who didn't like ya?" Sunny thought for a moment. "Those three jerks from the weather factory?" "An' no pony likes them either" Big Mac countered. "Ya'll do just fine. Just be yerself." Sunny smiled at that, feeling glad that Big Mac was such a cool guy, always calm and collected. Sunny happily held out a hoof to the red stallion, who met it with his own hoof for a hoof bump. "Thanks Big Mac" Sunny said to the muscular farm stallion. "Anytime, Sunny" the big red stallion smiled back with his reply, then casually left to do how own packing. Sunny, Apple Bloom, Granny and Big Mac made their was through town, planing to meet Applejack and Pinkie at the train station. The two best friends had gone to wish their other friends a happy Hearths Warming before they left, since they wouldn't be around until after the holidays. After purchasing their tickets, the Apple family an Sunny waited at the station for several moments for Applejack and Pinkie. After several minutes, Sunny turned to the rest of the group "if ya'll want, ah can wait here for them. Ya can all get situated and warm inside." "Oh! An' we can all get snacks too!" Apple Bloom added, jumping up and down, eager to taste the savory sweets Hearths Warming had to offer. "If yer sure" Granny said as she and her two grandchildren boarded the train. Sunny stood there, looking around at all the decorations, the ponies dressed up for the holiday and most importantly, all the white, soft snow. Something else began to seep inside of Sunny as he stood there looking at the fluffy, white snow. He ran his hoof through a small pile of it and held it in the cup of his hoof, starring at it for a moment. Then it happened. A memory! He remembered being cold, but being warmed up by a fire, surrounded by a lot of huge, fluffy pillows. He was young, the world around was so much bigger then him. It was cold outside. He had played in the snow that day, all day. And, and.... There was a voice... A soothing, motherly voice. It was singing to him... The words were muffled... But he could just barley make out a rhythm. "Oh no! My glasses!" A filly's voice broke Sunny from his memory. He then peered over at a little grey filly, with a light grey, braided mane and tail, looking down with teary eyes at a pair of glasses that rested on the ground, broken at the base where it rested on the muzzle. The yellow stallion walked over to the almost crying fully and looked at the broken glasses. "What happened?" She sniffles, but never looked away from her glasses. "My mommy got me these designer glasses as an early Hearthswarming gift, she had saved up forever to get them, and I tripped and... And..." As the little fully was on the verge of tears, Sunny levitated the broken pieces up. Twilight had taught him a spell that could repair such small things as long as all the pieces were there, but he had never attempted it before. Something deep down inside told him to do it now, not basing this off of knowledge or experience. More like, he felt he could do it because he could 'feel' he could do it. He closed his eyes and focused, not only thinking about repairing the glasses as the magical force flowed through his horn, but also the love and meaning that went into the gift. The heart warming image of a mother working hard to get her daughter the perfect gift filled the yellow unicorn with strength he never imagined. There was a flash of green light, and there, floating between Sunny and the little grey filly were the glasses, sparkling and whole like they were new! Sunny smiled as he gently places the glasses back on the muzzle of the little filly who's eyes were almost as wide as her smile, she seemed to almost glow herself. "There you go, now be a little more-" The yellow stallion was interrupted by a warm hug as the little filly jumped at him, her hooves trying desperately to wrap around him as she repeated "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Sunny was slightly taken back by the filly's actions, but smiled happy as he out a hoof on the little filly's head. "You are very welcome, young one." As the grey filly with the braided mane waved back to Sunny as she dashed off home, Applejack and Pinkie were just coming into view. Sunny smiled and waved then down as the train's whistle screamed, signaling that all passengers needed to board. As all three of them boarded the train, Sunny took one last glance back at Ponyville, eager and excited to be meeting new possible friends. The Pie family.