Upon a Snowy Hearth's Warming
Upon a Snowy Hearth's Warming
by Gallifrey
Edited by Reevsie and shad0wstalker
The lavender unicorn took another glance at the Canterlot shop window, shaking in her horseshoes. Her breath rose in an icy mist before her as she snorted impatiently.
Oh for pony's sake, why is there so much to choose from?! she lamented in her mind, consulting her list for the seventh time.
"Let's have another look at this," she grumbled, levitating the parchment before her eyes.
Checklist for Hearth's Warming Shopping in Canterlot
Buy tree
Check Bought last week
Cinnamon candles
Check
Buy food for Hearth's Warming meal with Spike
Check
Buy friends gifts
Check
Buy logs for fire
Get these in Ponyville, or my back will break
Buy tasteful lights for library
It was at the last note that Twilight's nose scrunched up. What qualified as 'tasteful?' Looking at the window, all the lights seemed terribly garish to the young unicorn's eyes. With a small sigh, she entered the shop and approached the counter. There was no-one there.
Twilight looked around and saw a small gold bell to her left.
Ding!
"One moment!" came a male voice from somewhere behind the counter. "Ah, how can I help you, Miss?" asked an older stallion with a greying mane, having popped up from seemingly nowhere.
"Good morning," said Twilight, "I-I'm looking for some Hearth's Warming lights."
"Well you came to the right place," he chuckled.
"Yes, I was wondering if you had any tasteful ones," she said without thinking.
"What are you trying to say?" asked the stallion, frowning and looking slightly hurt.
"I-I mean, what I can see in the window just isn't my thing," she stammered, running a nervous hoof through her mane. "Do you happen to have anything with holly or pinecones perhaps?"
"As a matter of fact we do!" said the stallion, perking up and rummaging under the table. Twilight saw his silver mane bob about, then he straightened up.
Twilight's eyes sparkled as she beheld a pile of pinecones arranged into the shape of a Hearth's Warming tree; not only that, but also holly branches with lights of red and green.
"Ooh! These are gorgeous! And so tasteful! I'll take them!"
"Excellent choice, Miss, that'll be a hundred bits please."
Twilight did a double take, but then shrugged and handed the stallion a chunky golden coin.
"Thank you," she said, when he proffered a bag to her.
"Have a happy Hearth's Warming!"
"You too, sir!"
Twilight left the establishment, back into the chilly Canterlot air. She looked up at the silver alligator sky and her brow furrowed.
Looks like snow's on its way.
With a gentle smile, the unicorn trotted to the train station, laden with heavy, yet tasteful bags.
Goodness, she thought with a chuckle, if I'm not careful, I'll turn into Rarity!
---------------
"Luna, are you sure you know what you're doing?" asked Celestia uneasily.
"Of course we are, sister!" came Luna's muffled voice from an enormous pile of tangled lights.
"How in my name do you intend to straighten all this out?" asked the alabaster alicorn, prodding some of the knots with a royal hoof, brows furrowed.
"With magic of course!" Luna exclaimed, poking her head out. The blue mare's horn began to glow as she levitated the huge tangle above their heads. Celestia watched in amazement as the cords did indeed begin to unravel. Eventually, the room was full of many, many straight lines of cable, with a smug Luna sitting demurely in the centre of it all.
"Luna, my dear, you have bought enough lights to decorate the Moon!" Celestia said with wide eyes.
Luna giggled.
"I thought I'd go all out for this year," she said happily.
"Just how much did all this cost?"
"Let's just say it's good for our economy..." said Luna vaguely, not meeting her sister's eye.
"Remind me why I put you in charge of decorating the Castle again?" asked the Princess of the Sun wearily, putting a hoof to her head.
Luna fluttered over to her.
"Because, all you do," she said, booping her sister on the muzzle, "is put a wreath on every door in the Castle and leave it at that."
"It's festive, is it not?"
"Well of course, but that is hardly the point, sister of mine."
"And the point is, pray tell?" asked Celestia wearily, knowing the answer.
"It's all so incredibly boring!" said Luna, Celestia silently mouthing the words along with her, which elicited a grin from the blue alicorn. "I mean, you have to show some enthusiasm! This is one of our most important celebrations after all."
"I know Luna, but I thought it was modest, this however," she indicated to the lights, "this will make the Castle visible from the Crystal Empire for pony's sake!"
"And a glorious sight it shall be!" rallied Luna, "Let the whole Kingdom marvel in the beauty!"
Celestia shook her head as Luna, with a manic glint in her eye, began leading the cords outside to decorate the Castle.
"Oh, and sister?!" called Luna, as Celestia made to retire to her chambers to catch up on some reading.
"Yes?"
"This is just the start of what we have in store!"
And with a happy hum, Princess Luna set to work decorating her beloved home.
-----------------
Twilight Sparkle jumped off the train, which was a rather poor decision, considering how much snow was falling. Almost falling flat on her flank, she wobbled about the platform until she regained her hoofing. She poked a hoof in the snow, judging it to be about three inches thick and, with much more caution, began her journey back to her home at the library.
Ponyville had become a town worthy of a postcard, a picturesque scene of wintery perfection. A thick layer of snow had covered every surface in alabaster sheets, subduing all other colour, lancing icicles hung from roofs, and foals were building snowponies in the streets.
Twilight wanted to look at it forever. It was also cold however, and her scarf just wasn't cutting it. Shivering, the mare eventually made it home, relishing the warmth that washed over her body.
"Spike! I'm home!"
There was no answer.
"Oh for goodness sake," she muttered under her breath. "Spike! Are you asleep again?!"
The unicorn slipped off her saddlebags and traipsed up the stairs to her toasty bedroom, to find a small bundle of blankets and dragon in her bed. Twilight rolled her eyes and nuzzled him awake.
"Spike," she said sternly but not unkindly, "you've got to start adhering to a regular sleep pattern."
"Aher- what now?" asked the sleepy dragon.
"Stop sleeping in the day," said Twilight briskly.
"But I can't help it when it's so cold!" he complained.
"Cold? It's not cold."
"Twi, you're warm blooded."
"Yes, well..."
It was at this point that Twilight realised she had not bought any firewood on her way home, having been so distracted by the pretty scenery.
Why do I bother making lists if I don't pay attention to them?
"Oh I'm sorry Spike," she said, ears folding to her head, "I forgot to buy more firewood, but don't worry, I'll go and get some now while I still have my clothes on."
---------------------
Twilight hauled the heavy bags through the door with her magic; despite the frigid air, she was sweating lightly. Spike however was right: it was beginning to grow cold inside the library even by her standards.
The little dragon sat happily around the fire once it was crackling merrily, while Twilight set up her new decorations in the library windowsills and over the fireplace itself.
Singing a festive song to herself, Twilight scampered around, double checking everything on her extensive checklist, right down to the traditional small golden bowl of cranberry sweets situated on a small stand by her door.
Satisfied that everything was in order, she slumped down in her armchair near the fire and turned on her wireless. Spike was still by the fire, eating a bowl of gemstones. Twilight closed her eyes in contentment, and started switching off, ready to enjoy a relaxing evening by the fire, maybe with a nice book.
However, this was not to be. The mare heard a knock at her door.
"Who could that be?" she asked.
Spike shrugged, crunching loudly on an emerald.
With a small sigh, the purple unicorn got up and plodded to her door. Upon opening it she saw a certain pink pony pawing at the wreath upon her door.
"Heya Twilight," she bubbled, "I'm inviting the girls for a gathering at my place, wanna come with?" She started dancing on her hooves.
"Your place? Pinkie, don't you live in the attic at the Corner?"
"Uh huh," she said, nodding enthusiastically. She noticed the sceptical look upon the bookish mare's face and added, "It's a really big attic ya know."
"Huh, if you say so. Sure I'll come, lemme get my scarf and boots on though."
"No problem!" she chirped, watching the mare telekinetically put her scarf on. "I really like your decorations by the way, Twilight, they're super pretty."
"Why thank you Pinkie, no-one else has said so yet," she said pointedly, so that it carried inside to where Spike was.
Pinkie merely giggled.
"C'mon, let's get going before we get freezeriffic!
---------------
The Princess of the Sun licked a hoof and slowly turned the page of a weighty novel she was reading in bed. Celestia had been looking for a good, long story to read when the tome caught her eye in Waterhooves, Canterlot's prominent book store. The book featured a picture of mint green unicorn wearing a grey hoodie and was named Background Pony.
Celestia sniffed slightly at the plight of the poor protagonist, but the spell of the book was broken by a scuffling sound outside her windows. Reluctantly tearing her eyes from the page, she looked through the glass in her bedroom window to see a flying Luna hanging up lights.
Approaching the windows, the alabaster mare opened one a crack.
"Luna, I'm trying to read."
Luna looked nonplussed.
"And I'm trying to decorate, what is thy point?"
Celestia shook her head and decided to let it drop.
"How is your decorating going?"
"Really well! We have finished the West Wing, Aurora Tower, the Great Hall and now both our bedrooms."
Celestia was actually impressed with how fast Luna had performed.
"Oh my, you'll have the whole Castle finished in an hour!"
"That's the plan!"
"Don't forget the tree in the Great Hall either."
"Tree?" asked the puzzled mare.
Luna was understandably unfamiliar with the concept of a Hearth's Warming tree, the tradition having begun about six hundred years ago. The Princess of the Night had of course been... absent during this time.
"Yes, nowadays, ponies have a Hearth's Warming tree which they decorate with small glass ornaments. I usually have one beside the throne."
"It sounds very odd to me."
"Yes, well, just don't forget the tree."
"We won't, sister."
"Good," said the alicorn as the first fluffy flakes of snow began to fall. "Luna, aren't you cold at all?" she enquired.
"Not at all 'Tia, when you're flying for as long as this, you tend to stay nice and warm, not that you would know," she teased, beating her wings rapidly to emphasise her point.
"Hey! I fly sometimes!" Celestia protested,
"Pffft, hardly! When was the last time you went for a good flight?"
Celestia's face scrunched up in concentration.
"I, um..."
"You need to take care of yourself sister, I don't want you getting all pudgy on me now."
Before Celestia could retort, Luna flew off, giggling. The Sun Princess snorted and returned to her bed and the book that tugged on her heartstrings so.
-----------------
Twilight Sparkle took a gracious sip of her frothy caramel cappuccino with cream.
“Pinkie Pie, this is amazing!” she said happily, unaware of the moustache of froth coating her upper lip.
“I must admit that it looks absolutely divine, darling,” agreed Rarity, who was lounging on Pinkie’s bed, taking dainty sips of warming mulled wine.
The Elements of Harmony were gathered in Pinkie Pie’s warm, cosy attic. True to her word, the room was a lot more spacious than one would imagine, even if the ceiling was a little low, but everyone’s agreed that it just added to the intimacy.
“Aw yeah! I win again!” yelled Rainbow Dash, startling Fluttershy, who was sitting next to Rarity on the bed.
“Consarnit! This ain’t fair RD, you’ve had way more practise than me!”
“Are you still playing that thing?” asked Twilight, peering over at the strange new technology before her. “What’s it called again?”
“The Ponybox 360!” declared the blue speedster, stroking the black console proudly. “And it is sex-aaaayyy!”
“Yeesh, get a room why don’t ya?” said Applejack, rolling her eyes.
Rarity peered closer at the video game console.
“Rainbow dear, isn’t this your Hearth’s Warming gift from your parents?”
“Yuh-huh,” said the pegasus, eyes fixed on the screen in front of her.
“But it isn’t Hearth’s Warming until tomorrow! You can’t possibly-"
“Rares, you know who yer talkin’ to, right?” said Applejack.
“Yeah, like I’m gonna do something like wait. Nuts to waiting!"
Rarity sighed and took another sip of wine. “I suppose that means you’ve opened my gift already too?” she said resignedly.
“You bet- thanks by the way, it’s looks great on my wall!”
“It’s perfectly fine, darling.”
Twilight sat back in her chair, and quietly observed the scene before her. A smile crept across her face. This is what true friendship was all about, she decided: a group of friends spending a comfortable afternoon together in company. Her eyes drifted to the window, where snow was gently building up on the old wooden panes. It was one of those impossible, beautiful moments, where everything, for one glorious fleeting minute, was perfect.
“I want a go!” squealed Pinkie, breaking Twilight out of her reverie.
“You think you can beat me, Pinks? Hah, bring it on!”
Twilight blinked as a pink blur sped across the room to pick up a controller.
“We’ll see about that!” she chirped merrily, “Now what does this do?”
Rainbow grinned smugly as Fluttershy kindly began to explain what the various buttons did.
Applejack sauntered over to where Twilight and Rarity were sitting.
“And this is the trigger to kill them dead,” Fluttershy concluded, sitting back up with a demure smile.
“Howdy gals,” she said with a smile, a mug of apple cider in her hoof. “I saw your lights Twi, when I passed by the library on my way over here; it’s good to see you’re finally brightening the place up come Hearth’s Warming.”
“I know,” said the mare sheepishly, “I would’ve done last year but I was far too busy panicking over the pageant we were performing.”
“Ah yes,” said the cowpony nostalgically, “we did good in the end though.”
“I particularly enjoyed the part where I was dominant,” said Rarity. Applejack started guffawing loudly. “Wait, that came out wrong. Very wrong.”
“Hey, I ain’t gonna judge your tastes Rares,” said a sniggering Applejack as Rarity started blushing.
“Oh I get it!” said Twilight suddenly, which merely caused Applejack's laughter to increase.
The lavender unicorn took a moment to take magical hold of Applejack’s cider before she spilt it all over Pinkie’s bedroom carpet.
“What’s going on?” came Pinkie’s voice, not taking her eyes off the game, “Am I missing out on some fun?”
“Oh it’s nothing,” managed Applejack, her voice strangled, “just that our Rarity is a dominatrix now!”
Rainbow Dash’s wings fluffed up slightly, much to her distress, but thankfully all eyes were now on Rarity.
“Please Applejack, it’s not funny!” protested an indignant white unicorn, who was doing a bad job of concealing her grin.
Pinkie Pie’s eyes swivelled back to the game and she pressed a few buttons.
“Wheeeheee! I won! I won!”
“Pinkie! That’s not fair, I wasn’t looking!”
“C’mon, you would’ve done the same, Dashie!”
Rainbow Dash harrumphed and crossed her forelegs.
“Can I at least have a mince pie to cheer me up?” she asked the pink mare.
“You don’t have to tell me twice!”
“I… didn’t?” said Rainbow, puzzled, but her words fell on deaf ears, Pinkie was already gone.
--------------------
“This shall be a spectacle the likes of which Equestria has never seen!” said Luna triumphantly, admiring her labours proudly. “Oh, I must show ‘Tia!”
Trotting happily through the snow and frost, the Princess entered the Great Hall, this was her centrepiece as far as she was concerned: great streams of tinsel and paper snowflakes hung from the ceiling, all adorned in twinkling lights. A long mahogany table had been placed in the centre of the hall, with golden plates, bowls and goblets laid on top. Luna had spared no detail, for every free space on the table had been taken up by a cracker. She was most proud of the trees, two giant spectacles either side of the throne. The midnight alicorn was still mystified as to the purpose of the practice, but she had done as Celestia had asked, and decorated the trees with pretty glass baubles.
“Oh! ‘Tia’s going to love this!” she squealed, bouncing up the stairs to Celestia’s bedchambers. She knocked lightly on the heavy wooden doors.
“Sister? Are you awake?”
“Indeed I am,” came a voice from inside, “come in.”
Luna flung open the doors and all but begged Celestia to look at her masterful decorations.
“Please please please have a look! We think it looks fantastic, but your opinion is always most welcome.”
“Very well, let’s have a look at what my little sister has done,” the white alicorn said, hiding her trepidation behind a poker face she had perfected over the millennia.
Taking a sip of water from a crystal glass, Celestia rounded the corner to the Great Hall and immediately spat the water back out again, in a distinctly unregal manner.
"I knew you'd like it!" said Luna, mistaking Celestia's silence and water spitting for stunned amazement.
"Like it, I... Luna, are those apple trees?"
"Yes! Do you like the decorations?"
"Luna, when I said decorate a tree, I- never mind, let's have a look at these baubles."
The duo trotted to the tree and Celestia examined it closely. All the baubles were little figures of Celestia, which the Princess didn't know whether to find endearing or not.
"The other tree has baubles of me!" said Luna enthusiastically.
"Luna, this is-"
"Pull one of the crackers with me!" she said playfully, grabbing one from the table, not that it was lacking.
Celestia eyed the small cracker Luna had in her muzzle.
"Very well." she conceded, grasping it in her mouth.
Celestia was never sure exactly what happened, other than that she had been standing up with a cracker in her mouth one second, and lying spread eagled on the floor with a soot covered face the next.
"Haha! Isn't this fun?! I do like fun!"
"I noticed," the elder alicorn grumbled, picking herself up and dispelling the soot with a quick burst of magic.
"But you know what is even more fun?"
"I dread to think," said Celestia weakly, sneezing violently. Opening her eyes again she saw the room was missing a Luna.
"Lunes? Where are you now?"
"Out here, sister!" came her voice from outside.
The alabaster mare followed her sister's dulcet tones and stepped down the marble stairs to join her.
"Ah ah! Before you turn around, 'Tia, close your eyes."
"You haven't even turned them on yet," she countered.
"I know, but it's the... what's it called... tradition is it not, to cover one's eyes before a surprise these days?"
"I suppose so," said Celestia slowly, obliging and wondering whether Luna might have at least done the lights right. She heard a crackle of electricity as Luna presumably pushed two of those big plug things together.
"You can open your eyes now!" said Luna cheerfully.
Celestia's jaw dropped.
After the initial shock of being almost blinded, and getting over the fact that nearly every inch of the Castle was festooned in bright lights, the effect it gave was rather nice. Granted, this symphony, or rather cacophony of light would shine far beyond even the Crystal Empire, but what a light it was.
"I..." stammered the Sun Princess.
"Yes?"
"I..."
"Yeeeeeees?
"I... dread to think of the bill for this..."
----------------
"I do not!" Twilight insisted, blushing fiercely from the bed.
"If you don't," said Rainbow slyly, an evil glint in her eye, "then why do you insist on coming to every Wonderbolts' show with me?"
"I don't know," said Twilight with mock concentration, "Maybe because I enjoy them?"
"Yeah, because you can't get enough of Soarin's sexy ass in that flight suit!" said Rainbow Dash, rolling around on the floor laughing.
"So, you think it's sexy do you Rainbow?" asked Twilight, stopping Rainbow Dash's laughter dead in its tracks.
"Ah don't think it's just Soarin' neither," added Applejack, throwing fuel on the fire.
"What do you mean?" asked Fluttershy, feigning innocence and trying her hardest not to smile.
"What ah mean is that I'll wager a season's worth of apple cider that Rainbow always gets a look at Spitfire's rear end when she can."
Applejack gave the blue mare a smug glance.
"Th-that's not true!" stammered Rainbow Dash, her cheeks betraying her by flushing red.
"Darlin', ya shouldn't lie to the Element of Honesty."
"This isn't fair! I'm supposed to be teasing here!"
"That isn't how friendship works," said Rarity, "you ought to know that by now, Rainbow dear."
"Of course not!" squealed Pinkie, "Friendship is about having fun, eating pizza together, talking and laughing!"
"We're gettin' off the point here, this is about Rainbow wanting to give it to Spitfire."
"And Twilight wanting it off Soarin'!" Rainbow reminded them all. "Celestia knows she needs to get laid!"
"Celestia doesn't know, I-" Twilight began, "Oh no, you meant as a figure of speech didn't you..."
"Boom! And we're back in business!" Rainbow said, laughter beginning anew. She looked at an unhappy Twilight and realised she might be pushing her luck. "Aw, c'mon Twi, you know I've been setting up those dates for you, don't ya?"
The unicorn's memory flickered back to the local stallions Rainbow Dash had attempted to introduce Twilight to.
The speedy pegasus had Twilight's best interests at heart, but sometimes her judgement was... a bit off. Twilight remembered her first date, with Twilight Sky, a stallion Rainbow had chosen purely on the basis that their names were similar.
Noteworthy had been a much better suitor; Twilight found his love of music quite fascinating, to a point, the problem being that he just wouldn't stop and give her a word in edgeways, and he also harboured a rather unhealthy obsession for tubas.
Caramel was another poor decision on Rainbow's part, mostly because it turned out he was gay.
And Thunderlane definitely had not been Twilight's cup of tea; the mare craved more... intellectual discussion than who was winning the National Hoofball league tables this week.
"How could I forget?" said Twilight wearily.
"Yeah well..." said the speedster slowly, choosing her words carefully, "I just might be able to wrangle it with Soarin' the next time I see him."
Twilight's ears perked up.
"R-really?"
"Yuhuh, now don't tell me you don't want it."
"I- uh... thank you Rainbow."
"No probs," said the pegasus waving a casual hoof.
There was a sudden flash outside the window. Pinkie's head swivelled several dozen degrees more than it ought to to look out of the window.
"What's going on out there?" she asked, approaching the doors that led to a balcony on the roof.
The others ceased their conversations and followed the pink mare outside, where she was now making snow angels.
"Um, what are we supposed to be looking at?" asked Fluttershy.
"Beats me," said Pinkie, rolling around in the snow, "I just do what the author tells me to do."
"What author?" asked a perplexed Rarity, "Pinkie, why are we out here in the cold? My mane will get split ends!"
"I think it might have something to do with that mahoosive light over there," said a hovering Rainbow Dash, pointing to the distance.
"Hang on! That's Canterlot!" exclaimed Twilight. "What in Equestria is going on out there?!"
"You don't think anything... bad is going on do you?" asked Fluttershy fearfully, the light shining in her wide eyes.
"Let's find out," said Pinkie, whipping out a set of binoculars from nowhere.
"See anythin', Pinks?" asked Applejack.
"I can see..." Pinkie twiddled the focus, "the Castle- it looks like it's under attack by fireflies!"
"I suspect they're Hearth's Warming lights," said Twilight dryly.
"That's a hell of a lot of lights then," observed Rainbow.
"May I have a look, Pinkie?" asked Twilight.
"Sure!"
"No, definitely lights," the studious mare concluded, "though it is weird, Celestia never puts lights up, and I sincerely doubt it'd be more than the rest of the kingdom combined if she did!"
"That's by the by, Twilight, the fact is, that's exactly what's she's done," said Applejack logically.
"Or Luna," suggested Rarity.
"Mmmm," Twilight agreed. "Celestia could have put Luna in charge... it would make sense."
"So now we know we're not under attack, can we admire it?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Speak for yourself!" said Rarity, "As fabulous as it may be, if I stay out here any longer my hair will be a disaster!"
Applejack rolled her eyes. She reared up to rest her front hooves on the balcony's railings.
"It is mighty purdy," she remarked, "heck, everything is," she added, looking at the snowy Ponyville around her under the silver shower the Moon was providing.
However, one by one, the mares began to succumb to the cold, in favour of a warm and cosy attic, all except Twilight, who was still gazing out into the distance.
"You coming in Twi?" asked Rainbow at the door.
"I will in a minute, I'm just doing some thinking."
"When aren't you thinking?" grinned Rainbow.
Twilight gave her a small smile then turned back.
The mare heard the door to the balcony click quietly behind her and she pondered upon what the royal sisters were up to right now as she stared longingly at the Castle. It had been so very long since she had last seen her mentor: they'd both been so busy as of late.
"Good evening, my faithful student," came a familiar voice from behind her, causing Twilight to start violently. She turned around to see the graceful form of her teacher flutter down and land on the balcony. She would have blended perfectly with the snow, but her coat was so white it made the powder look almost grey by comparison.
"Princess Celestia!" cried Twilight, approaching and nuzzling her affectionately. "This is most unexpected, is everything okay?"
The alicorn smiled warmly.
"Everything is fine, my dear Twilight, I thought I'd come and see you before Hearth's Warming. It has been nearly two months since we last met, quite a stretch wouldn't you agree?"
"Oh yes! Of course. It has been a while, how are you?" asked Twilight.
"As good as ever I can assure you, though I fear I cannot say the same of the Castle as of late. Have you been keeping well? Apart from that cold you had last week; I remember you writing it in one of your letters."
"Yes, I'm all better now, thank you," said the mare. "And about the Castle, I've never seen you put up lights before, was it Luna?"
Celestia smiled placidly. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"
Princess Luna floated down from on high.
"Aww, look at you two!" she said, a wide grin on her face.
"Lunes," said Celestia levelly.
"Makes me wish I had some... mistletoe."
Twilight blushed furiously while Celestia simply frowned up at her sister.
"Oh wait! I do!" she said, conjuring some from thin air and hanging it over them.
"Play nice, Luna," said Celestia in a slightly bored voice, "you're embarrassing her."
"We jest!" said Luna, throwing the mistletoe over her shoulder and landing beside them. "We also heard your query, Twilight Sparkle, and yes, it was I who decorated the Castle this year, what do you think?"
"I-I've never seen anything like it," said Twilight truthfully.
Celestia snorted, but managed to pass it off as a violent sneeze.
Twilight, ever the observant mare, noticed something odd about the two alicorns.
"Um, why are your hooves floating on top of the snow?" she asked inquisitively.
The sisters exchanged glances.
"We're in your daydream, Twilight," said Celestia, as though it was obvious.
Twilight blinked.
"What? But, I thought it was only Luna who could do that?"
"Yes, in night dreams, or nightmares for that matter, but as Princess of the Day, I can visit your daydreams, you see?"
"But's it's night already," said Twilight, waving a hoof at the darkness as if it wasn't clear enough.
"Yes, which is why Luna can visit too."
"But what about-"
"My dear Twilight," said Celestia, stroking Twilight's mane with a smile, "I sometimes forget how you love to ask questions, but accept this for now, I will explain to you the nuances of our dream walking abilities another time."
"We came to wish you a happy Hearth's Warming," said Luna happily, "and ask that you extend our greeting to your friends also."
"But of course!" said the eager unicorn. "Did my presents to you both reach you?"
"They did indeed," said Celestia, "did yours?"
"Yup!"
The dreamscape around them blurred slightly and came back into focus.
"I feel that this encounter approaches its end," said Luna, looking to her sister, who nodded.
"As much as we all would like to talk more, we must depart," said Celestia, "I'll send a letter for you to come up to the Castle soon, perhaps for New Year's, we have more than enough crackers to go around."
Luna beamed like a lighthouse.
"I'd love to come up, I'll see you soon," Twilight said, hugging them both.
"Indeed you will," said Luna, giving her a friendly wink while Celestia gave Twilight her timeless smile.
"Twi? You comin' in?" asked Applejack, "You'll catch yer death if you're not careful."
Shivering, Twilight gave her head a little shake.
"I suppose I should, it is really cold out here."
Warmth swept over the bookish unicorn as she re-entered the house, and she saw all her friends wrapped up in colourful sleeping bags, even Rainbow and Pinkie, who were still playing video games together. Even though the pink pony had a bed, she didn't want to feel like she was missing out.
"Sleeping bags already?" she asked, perplexed.
"You were out there a good twenty minutes, Twi," said a chuckling Applejack, "it's past midnight already."
"Which technically makes today Hearth's Warming!" Pinkie yelped, springing up and grabbing all her friends into a group hug, "Woah woah!"
Pinkie lost her balance and all six mares tumbled in a heap, laughing, wishing each other a happy Hearth's Warming, or trying at least, Twilight had to blow Fluttershy's mane out of her face lest she get a mouthful of hair, and Rainbow Dash was far too preoccupied not impaling her tummy on Rarity's horn.
"Does this mean we can open presents?!" asked Pinkie excitedly, bouncing up and down.
"Not until mornin'," said Applejack, rolling her eyes, "don't do a Dash now."
"Hmmph," was all Dash had to say.
"Aw, okay," said Pinkie, getting back into her sleeping bag. "Another game Dashie?"
"You bet!"
Twilight smiled as she snuggled back into her bag, closing her eyes in contentment, or as much contentment as the circumstances allowed, she was behind Pinkie and Rainbow, and the unicorn's eyes flew open every time they hollered over victory or defeat. The faint scent of apples met Twilight's nose as Applejack slid into her own sleeping bag next to her, and she soon heard her gentle snoring as she began drifting off to sleep.
Eventually, even Pinkie and Rainbow decided to call it a day. Twilight's eyes opened as she flicked off the light with her magic, leaving just one candle lit near her.
"Goodnight everypony!" said Pinkie in a loud whisper.
"Night," came Rainbow's voice, scratchy even in whisper.
"Goodnight," said Rarity and Fluttershy together.
"G'nigh'," said a half-asleep Applejack into her pillow.
"Goodnight girls," said Twilight gently, blowing out the candle and letting herself be swept away into the sweetest of dreams.
The End