Spike is going to get a kiss from Rarity this year, he just knows it – and the mistletoe he just put over the front door is going to help him do just that. But when Twilight lets Rarity into the castle in his place, Rarity believes that Twilight is trying to get a kiss from one of her friends. Too bad Twilight has no idea what Rarity is talking about.

And when Spike answers the door after Sweetie Belle shows up to join her big sister for the Hearth Warming party, he finds his trap backfiring as he gets a kiss from the wrong unicorn.

Now Rarity is pestering Twilight about her love life and Spike can’t get away from the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Where did it all go wrong?

Sunset Shimmer has no place to go for Christmas. Although she says she doesn’t mind, the truth is she's already feeling very lonely. Seeing her friend in distress, Fluttershy steps up and invites Sunset to spend Christmas with her family. But there’s something Fluttershy isn’t telling Sunset - something she hasn’t told any of their friends.

Author’s Note: I am aware of IDW’s ‘Equestria Girls Holiday Special’ comic, but this story disregards it in favor of exploring my own ideas.

You know that feeling? You know, the feeling that you get when you realize you've forgotten something that is very, very important? It is 10:32 p.m. on Hearth's Warming Eve, and Twilight Sparkle has just gotten that feeling...

It's almost Hearth's Warming Eve, and everypony is looking forward to spending the holiday season at home with their families. Everypony, that is, except Scootaloo. Her two best friends are about to learn that sometimes friendship is the best gift you can ever give.

This story is a sequel to The Cloudsdale Report

  Twilight’s got her nose stuck in a book. Sunset wants to go see the rest of their friends.

  Things snowball from there.

Highlighted in FimFiction's Feature Box from December 19 to December 22, 2016!
Featured on Equestria Daily on Christmas Eve of 2016!

Historian’s Note: Set in the Wavelengths Timeline where the Sonic Rainboom never happened, Tactics of Snowbound Unicorns is a stand-alone tale that occurs about six weeks after the events in the Applications Trilogy.

Cast: Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, Moon Dancer, Minuette, Cheerilee, Coco Pommel & Coloratura
Co-Starring: Raven & Philomena

Stories set in the Wavelengths Timeline in chronological order:

Origins Arc
The Alchemy of Chemistry
Bards of the Badlands
Grading on a Bell Curve
Habits of the Equestrian Phoenix
How Not To Use Your Royal Prerogative

Applications Arc
The Application of Unified Harmony Magics
Princess Celestia: A Brief History
The Cloudsdale Report

Dreamers Arc
Tactics of Snowbound Unicorns
A Study in Chaos Theory
Teahouses of Saddle Arabia
As the Raven Flies

Cover Design by Amber Spark
Dark Snow Background by Grim-S-Morrison
Christmas Sunset Shimmer by MoHawgo
Double Diamond Cutie Mark by Pixelkitties
Sunset Shimmer Cutie Mark By Millennial Dan
Text, coloring, snowballs and snowball magic aura effects by Amber Spark

Beta Reader & Editor Credits
Ebon Quill - Quest Designer & Worldbuilding Writer on The Manehattan Project
Little Tinker - Master of Systems at Poniverse & Scripting Engineer on The Manehattan Project
Beltorn - Commenter-at-Large on FimFiction
Painted Heart

Special Thanks:
Quill Scratch & Beltorn - For a last-minute tweaks to the synopsis!

Word Count: 3,800 words
Version: 3.5

There's nothing worse than feeling alone during the holidays, something that Scootaloo is all to familiar with. She knows that she has no family to celebrate with, save for a mother so drunk off cider she doesn't realize her daughter's heartbreak.

This is the filly's reality- the harsh card fate has dealt her. But this Hearth's Warming Eve, as she treks home through the brisk air all by herself, a certain rainbow-maned pegasus will show her the true meaning of family.

Cover image by Mickeymonster on DA: Mickeymonster/

Edited by DJ GarV the Expert

On Hearth’s Warming Eve, the reluctant Night Guard Pumpernickel has been assigned an escort mission in the northern part of Equestria that will take him away from his wife, friends and family for all of the night.

And he will remember it forever.

Based on the long standing tradition of the U.S. Air Force escorting Santa Claus on Christmas Eve to ensure his flight across North America is unhindered. Starting in 1955 by way of a wrong number, it has grown into an international program where the nations of the world unite in a spirit of peace and friendship for one night. You can track the jolly old reindeer by way of the Norad Tracks Santa website. Even though it does not show Equestria, all good little colts and fillies can be assured that Luna’s Night Guard are hard at work on this special night.

Editing assistance by TheMaskedFerret, and Tek

Merry Hearth’s Warming to all, and to all a Good Night.

The last day of school has all but come and gone. Rainbow and the others have left to prepare the holidays with their families, leaving Sunset all by herself. Ready to spend another Christmas alone, Sunset exits CHS only to be greeted by a familiar face. Someone that comes bearing a gift Sunset never thought she'd receive.

In fact, it might just be the most important gift of Sunset's life.

This story was featured on the front page of FiMFiction on the 25th of December, rising to 1st on the feature box on the 26th of December.

Cover art is done by baekgup

Cover edit (adding the words and editing so it look like a story cover) gifted to me on Christmas by Novel Idea

Edit (26/12/2016): In my haste to get this ready by Christmas, I neglected to mention that Warming A Hearth in Another World by Flutterpriest was one of the inspirations behind this tale. I always try to give credits where they're due but this one slipped through the cracks, sorry!

Princess Twilight brings Sunset Shimmer an unexpected gift from Equestria. A Hearth's Warming Story.

Narration by Razor Reviews

When her plans for the holiday hit a disappointing bump, Spike invites Rarity to spend Hearth's Warming Eve and Hearth's Warming with him and Twilight. A warm, if somewhat dysfunctional and amusing pair await her. And in the end, maybe she'll get what she needs this year.

Sparity

Cover by: chelseasnow