The Only Chapter
All three regions of Equestria that are known all experience the seasons. Every season to be exact, from the pollen allergy inducing spring, to the super hot summers with cool thunderstorms, to the colorful and chilly fall, and to the brisk and snowy winters.
Winter in Maretime Bay was always a little intense. Huge snowstorms would always come to the beach town, often laying multiple inches of soft powder. While this was nice for a season, it sometimes got a little overwhelming. The town was able to handle it in the end, always finding new ways to help cope with clearing the snow.
This winter was rather tame, currently with about an inch of snow on the ground. The temperature never went above 20oF, resulting in everypony to wear the proper attire. While the Earth ponies always wore clothing, the Pegasi and Unicorns were lucky to not do so. Their fur grew a little bit more fluffy, almost unnoticeable to another. But the little bit of difference really did the trick. Pipp Zipp and Izzy rarely wore winter clothing, apart from the usual scarf or mittens to stop the snow from making their hooves from going cold.
Hitch and Sunny had the short end of the stick here.
The five were currently outside at the Maretime Bay Cafe, enjoying coffee, hot chocolate, and warm pastries. Sunny wore a heavy black winter coat, the inside having thick fur in order to help cope with the cold. Her whole body was wearing a black jumpsuit that tightly clung to her body that went all the way from her rear hooves, up to her neck. A light silver scarf was wrapped around her neck, as well as a color matching beanie with a white fluff ball at the top of it. She was comfortable.
Hitch… was still cold. He wore the highest grade of snow gear. It was very similar to sunny. He also wore a black near skin tight jumpsuit, a heavy white winter coat, a black scarf, and as well as a color matching beanie with a black fluff ball. At the bottom of his hooves were small rubber pads. He looked as if he was ready to face a blizzard.
The other three mares wore simple scarfs, with Izzy wearing a beanie.
They sat in silence, sipping on their hot drinks, occasionally taking a bite into their pastries.
“So guys,” Izzy started, “Are we all ready for tonight’s Hearth’s Warming Eve party?” The other ponies nodded their heads yes.
Tonight was much more special than previous events. It would be just the five of them at the Brighthouse, enjoying music, food, sweet treats, eggnog, and other various spiked concoctions. The Brighthouse was decorated to the tee, with various lights accenting the building in beautiful colors. A tree was in the middle of the Brighthouse, wearing ornaments from all the regions of Equestria. At the top of the tree, was a different ornament. After Sunny showed it to the other four ponies, they all agreed that it was perfect. The colored ornament of Twilight Sparkle in Alicorn form stood at the top of the tree, standing on her rear legs, posing in a beautiful fashion. The rest of the Brighthouse on the inside featured multiple ambient lights from Bridlewood, and other various golden ornaments from Zephyr Heights.
“Don’t forget to bring your presents!” Izzy added. They had arranged for each pony to have a present for one another, Hitch having a present for Sunny, Sunny for Pipp, Pipp for Izzy, Izzy for Zipp, and Zipp for Hitch.
After the group dispersed to get ready for the party, Hitch and Pipp stayed at the table to finish up their drinks. “Hitch, you look freezing.” Pipp remarked, laughing at his expense.
“Har har, at least the coffee helps.” He said, taking a huge sip of coffee, warming his insides right up. Pipp only giggled.
As day turned into dusk, the couple made their way to the Brighthouse. Hitch barely made it being so cold, as he only wore an aquamarine scarf in order to look less ridiculous. Pipp wore a purple scarf to compliment her hair, and boy oh boy did it make her look adorable.
When entering the Brighthouse, the sweet smell of baking, and fresh pine filled the two’s noses. The Brighthouse had every light on, with Hearth’s Warming inspired music playing in the background. The three mares that lived there were all in the kitchen chatting away. They all turned and smiled to see the two ponies at the main door. Hitch couldn’t’ve been more relived to be in a heated room. He went and set down his and Pipp’s presents at the living room coffee table with the other three. When he made it to the kitchen, he stood next to Sunny. Pipp was across from him with Zipp and Izzy.
As the night went on, they all chatted away about what has been happening in the past week, and how they were getting ready for the big storm approaching in the next few days. The food was eventually gone, and so did the sweets and pastries, and eventually the eggnog, and spiked drinks. Hitch decided not to drink tonight. A few months back during Nightmare Night, he learned that Izzy went overboard with the drinks, and decided to sit this one out. Pipp wasn’t fairing too well with the drinks this time. She was definitely under the influence, being way more touchy, her filter nonexistent. Zipp had to cover her mouth a few times in order to stop her from talking about more private things about herself and even Hitch. All Hitch did was laugh, yet was also embarrassed when something about him slipped out of Pipp, causing the other three mares to be shocked.
It was now nearing midnight, and Hitch and Pipp were sitting at a small table near a window of the Brighthouse. A small flurry was taking place outside. Pipp was on her phone, responding to her fans, and Hitch was just sitting there, admiring the girl in front of him. She looked so happy when responding to her Pippsqueaks. After her little incident with a fan way back before she knew Hitch, Pipp had learned how to respond them. Gone were
the DMs, and onto a new way, such as using the ‘ask me a question’ feature on her story, and responding to comments on her posts. A genuine smile was on her face as she scrolled and tapped away.
Suddenly, a jingling sound could be heard next to them. It was Zipp, holding a plastic stick, and at the top of it, which hung over Hitch and Pipp, was a mistletoe. Behind Zipp was Sunny and Izzy, both smirking, which told Hitch what they wanted. Pipp suddenly also looked up and then over to Zipp, who nodded her head over to Hitch. Pipp rolled her eyes and smiled. Leaning up out of her chair over to Hitch, grabbing him by his scarf, locking him into a kiss. Due to her lack of sobriety, it was not the most neat of kisses. Hitch was surprised, no doubt, but he soon closed his eyes and continued the kiss. The three mares all made an ‘aww’ sound as they saw for the first time, Hitch and Pipp sharing a real kiss. They didn’t really show and public displays of affection, often just a quick peck on the cheek held them over till they got back home. Of course that’s where the real fun for them took place. Their sex life was not dull at any point. Hitch being as the safe stallion he was, always took precautions when it came to sex, but was eventually shot down by Pipp, explaining that she trusted Hitch.
When the two separated, a loud smooch sound emitted from the two from the sloppy kiss. Hitch only blushed as Pipp just smiled towards him.
A few moments later, the silence was broken by the clock on the wall dinging softly, announcing it was midnight. It was now Hearth’s Warming.
“Well, I think it’s about time Hitch and I go back home.” Pipp said, smiling at the sound of disappointed sighs coming from her left.
As Hitch and Pipp got ready to leave, they said their final goodbyes, and headed out into the cold. The snow was now coming down faster. It wasn’t too bad, but it seemed that the snow storm was coming faster than expected.
When they reached 10X Maretime Bay, The snow had already added a noticeable amount to the already accumulated snow on the ground.
When getting up to the apartment, the two were met with red ambient lighting, romantic music playing softly. Hitch looked around. ‘Pipp must’ve set all this up on her phone on the way back.’
He turned around to see Pipp locking the door, now walking towards him. He would’ve gladly had fun with her tonight, if it wasn’t for her one mess up of a step towards him. She stumbled forward slightly and to the left. She didn’t fall, but it was the classic sign of drunk. Hitch wasn’t one to take advantage, even if Pipp always said that she wanted him. She always came up with the argument of that, and that they were together, and it’s not being taken advantage of if she wants it and they are in said relationship. But she lost every time when Hitch reminded her that she wouldn’t do so when the roles were reversed.
After her stumble, she looked at Hitch in embarrassment. “I swear Hitch I’m fine. I know what I’m doing.” She was smiling, ears flat, knowing it wasn’t going to work.
“C’mon, let’s get to bed.”
Pipp’s ears perked, “And have-“
“No!” Hitch interupted her with a slight yell, smiling brightly on the verge of laughing. Sometimes Pipp really could be funny.
As they got to the bed, Hitch helped Pipp into her side, then getting to his. As he got into bed, he looked over to his marefriend, who stared right back, eyes half lidded, giving him a look he knew all too well.
“Come on Hitch, let’s have a little fun on Hearth’s Warming Eve? Please?”
“Oh my stars Pipp it’s not Hearth’s Warming Eve anymore!” Hitch almost laughed uncontrollably.
“Even better.” Pipp responded, making her way under the covers. Hitch immediately sat up and grabbed her.
“No no no sweetheart not tonight okay?”
Pipp moaned in protest, but didn’t fight. “No fun.” She murmured in a child like tone.
As Hitch got Pipp to lay back down, she turned away and backed straight into him, right where he didn’t want her to back into. Hitch just let that part happen, as she didn’t do anything more. They sat in silence until Pipp suddenly took a deep breath in.
“I love you Hitch, forever.”
Hitch sat there for a while, just holding Pipp. She told him that before, but this time it hit him differently. She said it with such realism. She meant every word. ‘She’s the one.’
“I love you so much Pipp.” Hitch responded, placing a kiss on the side of her cheek, earning a smile, and a small laugh.
Morning arose, and the wow was it bright in the room. Hitch forgot to lower the blinds, resulting in light pouring in. Not only that, but he seemed to have forgotten to turn off the music too, as soft Hearth's Warming tunes were coming out of the speakers above. It was only 8 a.m. and it was very bright out from the amount of powder on the ground. It was still snowing, and hard, almost impossible to see. Hitch was awoken by Pipp stretching.
“Morning Pipp” She turned to see Hitch, smiling down at her. She smiled back, going up for a kiss. “You want breakfast?”
“Of course babe. But wait here okay? I got something I wanna show you before that.” Pipp got up and out of the bed, going over to their closet. She then returned with a very small white box. She climbed back onto the bed, took a deep breath, and gave it to Hitch, a small bit of hesitation in her actions.
He opened it, and he did not expect to see this at all.
In front of him, was life changing. He was at a loss for words. Actually, that’s true. Words couldn’t describe how he was feeling. He never thought he’d see this for a very long time. Was this real? His eyes widened, mouth falling open. Pipp just waited for his response. She got progressively more nervous as she waited for his response. Hitch was near motionless. He just kept staring, occasionally getting ready to react, but stopping. Pipp’s ears drooped, worrying something might go wrong.
“H-…Hitch?”
This finally got the stallion out of his own world.
“Y-… Pipp, you’re… pregnant?”
Pipp was so nervous, all she could do was swallow, and nod yes.
Hitch suddenly got up and out of the bed, which alarmed Pipp. “W-wait Hitch, I can explain. It’s yours and I-I-I erm, I am in the very early stages… we can abort if you aren’t ready!”
Hitch wasn’t listening, we went into his closet and into the dresser where some clothing for more cold events lay. Now Pipp really started to panic, tears starting to form in her eyes. “Hitch please talk to me. I can’t lose you. Please, don’t leave me-“ Pipp was cut off, tears about ready to fall, when Hitch turned around with a black box in his hoof.
“Wha…” Pipp mumbled.
“Pipp, I’d never leave you. I… I have to admit that I was not expecting this at all any time soon. I wasn’t even planning to give this to you for at lease another year, but this news has made my mind up about you.”
Hitch opened the box, a simple gold necklace, with a beautiful green diamond hung on it.
Pipp’s mouth dropped. “Pipp, you’ve not only given me just about everything I was missing in life. You have made me possibly the happiest pony in Equestria, and I wouldn’t trade any of this for anything else.”
Hitch took the necklace, undid the clasp, and put it around Pipp’s neck.
“Pipp Pedals, if you say yes, you will have not only completed my life, but given me purpose to keep going. And the fact that you are carrying my foal right now, and decided to tell me rather than just abort it, and we aren’t even married, tells me that you are the one for me. You always have been Pipp, there’s no doubt in my mind about that. But this, this solidifies my reasons for making you my forever special somepony.”
The tears flowed down the mares cheeks. “Pipp Pedals, will you marry me, and make me one hundred and ten percent complete in life?”
The princess nodded yes, kissing the sheriff of Maretime Bay.
When they separated, Hitch gave Pipp a hug, running his hoof on her back as she audibly cried tears of joy.
After a few moments, Pipp pulled away, Hitch letting go of her.
“Yes Hitch, I will marry you. I want to be there to see the stallion I’ve helped become who he is today, as you did for me.”
Now it was Hitch’s turn to smile at his newly engaged lover.
After a few seconds of sharing loving looks, Pipp decided to bring up the obvious. “Well, what now?”
Hitch smiled again. “We’ll do what we always do, take on the day ahead of us… together.”
Pipp had more tears, going in for another kiss.
They now had a lot of explaining to do.