I was being shaken. I clawed my way up from sleep to see Twilight over me, an almost manic grin on her face.
“Sunset, wake up!” she said, her shaking stopping as she saw my eyes crack open. “It’s Christmas!”
I groaned sleepily, reaching up to pat her shoulder. “I’m up, I’m up,” I mumbled. As she slid to the side, I sat up and wiped some sleep from my eyes and ran a hand through the bed head I had acquired overnight.
“Come on!” she said, almost skipping to the door in her bright yellow pajamas. “Everyone else is already downstairs!”
I oozed out of bed, stumbling along behind my enthusiastic love down the stairs. Night Light met me at the foot of the stairs with a steaming mug of coffee.
“You’ll need this,” he said. He looked sleepy as well. “She was up and going at six thirty.”
I sipped the brew, finding it a strong and bracing. It could have used a touch of sugar, but I’m certain it would wake me up soon. I smiled at him and nodded my thanks.
Twilight had hunkered down by the presents, sorting them into piles. Cadence and Shining Armor were on the couch, sleepy but happy as they helped. I frowned when I saw that there were six piles of gifts.
“These are yours, Sunset,” Twilight said happily as she slid the last of three gifts over my way.
“ I don’t understand,” I said, a little worry sneaking into my voice. “I didn’t realize I had to shop for gifts for everyone.”
“We realized that,” Cadence said. “But we figured that trying to keep that one happy and safe would be our gift for this year.” She nodded at Twilight.
I looked at the gifts, one from each of the couples and one from Twilight. I could feel a knot in my heart, one that I hadn’t expected. I thought at most Twilight and I would trade gifts, but I hadn’t expected to get a gift from anyone else. Sure, the girls and I had agreed to all get together for New Years, but a personalized gift from people, that was something that I hadn’t actually had lately. Between Hearth’s Warming with my sisters and now this, this could possibly be the most heart-warming holiday I’ve had since I had left home. It reminded me of holidays with Mom and Celestia, of the fun days with my sisters.
It felt like home.
“Sunset,” Twilight Velvet said softly. “It’s your turn.”
I shook my reverie off, noting that Twilight had already torn into a package revealing a very thick tome that she was already engrossed in. I noted the title and smiled; A Compendium of Mythological Creatures. I wonder how much of it would be the truth and how much myth.
I picked up the largest package, tearing the wrapping and opening the box to reveal a thick sweater weaved in the colors of my cutie mark, alternating the red and yellow in soft waves. The material was soft and warm. I glanced at the tag, seeing that it came from Cadence and Shining Armor.
"This is wonderful, thank you," I said to the pair. As I pulled the sweater on to beat back some of the early morning chill, I saw the gift opening continue through the circle, revealing the gifts for the parents and elder Sparkle child. I hunched down in the sweater, enjoying its cozy warmth. Then I saw Twilight pick up the package in green wrapping paper and I felt my heart clench in nervousness.
She opened it to see a violet-colored crystal pendant, about the size of a peach pit set in a silver collar. It had six points to its star shape and gleamed with its highly polished facets. Inside were the images of both myself and her, and depending on the angle viewed from we were either in our pony forms or our human ones.
She lifted it from the box, a braided set of fine metal links trailing. She looked at it and tilted it from side to side, examining the two sets of images. I saw her eyes get a little misty. I also heard cooing from the other two women in the room.
“How did you do this?” Twilight asked. “This much crystal would be incredibly difficult to laser engrave and I don’t see any joint lines,”
“You’re thinking too much in this world, Twilight,” I said. “That is entirely Equestrian crafted by some of our closest friends.” I nodded towards the box. There should be a card inside, too,”
She shuffled the soft wadding inside and pulled out a folded bit of parchment and scanned it, smiling.
“You got all of them to sign it?” she giggled.
“Seemed only fair,” I said.I looked down and picked up the package from her. “My turn, if I understand the tradition correctly.”
I saw her excitement and nervousness as I tore the wrapping paper to reveal a small velvet box. I cracked it open and there was a locket inside, shaped almost precisely like my cutie mark. I opened it up, seeing the space inside for photos. I glanced at her with a smile, feeling a little more emotional than I normally would. Underneath was a receipt for a photo session on January third. I picked it up to hold it and felt something on the back. I turned it over and saw initials engraved on the smooth gold, followed by the date of we returned from Equestria the first time.
I don't really recall much after we melted into a hug, as far as gift giving goes. but I do remember spending the day watching silly cartoons with Twilight, Cadence, and Shining Armor I helped with the cooking with Twilight Velvet and discussing differing science theories between the two worlds with Night Light, Twilight chiming in from time to time with questions.
And enjoying the sense of family.