Spike and Twilight go for a morning walk through the snow-covered hills near Ponyville.

Reading by Midnight29

Limestone Pie is having her first Hearth's Warming away from home, meeting the parents of her marefriend, Spitfire. Still, with both mares known for their fearsome bellows and commanding personalities, chances of a quiet holiday are rather slim.

Written for Short-tale for Jinglemas 2022

Starlight isn't a child person. But Sunburst is.

She was not good enough for him.

That was the thought that stabbed through her mind as she watched Sunburst play with Flurry Heart, gently playing with the toddler in front of him, seeming enamored by him as they together danced around the Hearths Warming tree, the younger filly leading her husband around and pointing at the ornaments she put up.

Starlight was never like that with young kids.

Or what it means to be a parent.

(Jinglemas story for XP45)

EDIT: Featured?! Didn't expect this - and second in the box! So surprised. Thank you!

For the longest time, Celestia had spent Hearth's Warming Eve the same way.

Alone.

Well, at least until a certain purple filly comes along.

The mighty Dragon Lord Ember slips away for an hour, to meet up with her secret mate.

Contains: two newly-installed world leaders who don't really know what they're doing, and some wistful escapist cuddling.

Honorable Mention, CategoricalGrant's CuddleFic Contest 2018-19!
Featured on Equestria Daily, 14^th July 2019
_{One of Equestria Daily's 35 Fanfics to Read for Dragon Day, July 2020}

Reviews
Recommended, PresentPerfect Fic Recs
4* (Recommended), Louder Yay
9/10, My Little Reviews & Feedback
9.5/10 (Headpat Worthy), Nailah's Reviewer Mansion

Fifteen is ancient for a dog, and Spike's starting to feel it: sounds and scents getting a little muffled, a little soreness in his hips, a gnawing little pain in his stomach that he hasn't told Twilight about even though it's been getting steadily worse the past few months.

In Equestria, though, according to Twilight, a fifteen-year-old dragon is still considered a child. And as she's been pointing out for the past five or six years, the portal to Equestria is right across town...

My entry in FanOfMostEverything's A Most Delightful Ponidox contest, this story didn't finish in the Top Eight.

Ever since Smolder revealed her affinity for the fashionable and cute to Ocellus, they've had secret tea parties where Smolder gets to indulge her interests and Ocellus gets to feel trusted. Symbiosis in action!

At their special Hearth's Warming secret tea, Ocellus notices that Smolder is acting strangely. She has no idea how deep the problem goes.

Written for Level Dasher for Jinglemas 2021

Rarity, highly successful owner of her own fashion line, stumbles upon some problems designing the newest sets of evening garments for the next Grand Galloping Gala. Will her husband Spike be able to help her overcome her tribulations?

Title Picture cropped from an image by Amostheartman.
This story has a continuation which is also most definitely NSFW and rated mature - it's mostly just Rarity and Spike joyfully consummating their marriage.

As the sun sets on another day in the magical land of Equestria, an era sets along with it. One of the last remaining participants of a bygone age rests idly, bracing themselves to face whatever lies beyond this mortal coil.

Twilight Sparkle is no stranger to death. As an alicorn, one of the immortal rulers and protectors of Equestria, she's seen many dear friends come and go over the countless years. But through it all, there was one confidant she could always find solace in: Spike, her faithful dragon assistant and adoptive little brother.

Alas, not even dragons, long-lived as they are, can endure forever. Now, with mere hours remaining before Spike leaves this world for the next, the time has come for Twilight to bid farewell to the first and last of her very best friends.

Written by TheAncientPolitzanian
Inspired and preread by The Red Parade
Edited by Lord Regulus (A.K.A. Rego)
Cover Art: FiM S9E09 "Sweet and Smoky"

"Excuse me while I go and feel wistful in a corner." –Astrarian

Princess Celestia spends time taking care of a familiar sick little filly, and along the way, learns a lesson mothers - blood or not - all one day learn.

Took inspiration from Melt, go check it out - it was adorable!

Featured No.2 on 22/08/21, and No.1 on 23/08/21! Thanks guys!