//------------------------------//
// Ongoing 
// Story: Society as We Know It 
// by Comma Typer 
//------------------------------//

"I could help you with whatever else you want," Calca Ream said.
"What else do I want?" Blue Alarm asked back.
"Well, you're here for more than just to relax, but I could give you a good book to read, or maybe I could show you one of my friends here—well, everypony here is my friend, but you know what I mean." A scunched up face. "You changelings know what we mean by that, right?"
"I think we've been out long enough to know what your pony expressions mean," he said.
She nodded, smiling. "It's been nice chatting with you—" standing up, out of the chair "—but, I have more to cater to." A look at the crowd there—quiet and polite—and a look back at Blue Alarm. "You sure you're gonna think about it?"
A raised eyebrow, a lifted cheek. "Yeah."
"Splendid! Have a wonderful Hearth's Warming time here!"
And she walked away, already transitioning into pleasant greetings with those who had just entered—"Good morning, Glacieral!" A gasp. "Why, you've grown! When was the last time I saw you—just four years ago? And, look at you!" She carried a foal—already able to fly about properly with his wings as he escaped from her grasp, prompting her to gasp.
The father—wearing a tie, nervously eyeing the foal flying about—said, "Time has flown by so quickly. Sorry we couldn't keep in touch—it's been hectic juggling between taking care of a new family and guarding a big museum in Vanhoover."
No words as he finally caught his child and brought him down before closing the door, stopping the chilling wind from coming in.
"Really?" Calca Ream said in a skeptical way—aimed at him like an anxious detective. "You don't say!" She looked behind him, peeking about. "Uh, where's Sectored Plate?"
"Ah, you're looking for my wife!" he said, pointing a hoof about. "She's busy collecting the snowflakes as usual. She was ecstatic during our first winter in Vanhoover—up North, you know, tons of snow."
Calca Ream looked at the foal, examining him under his father's embrace. "Does he have his cutie mark?"
"You're too eager to see him grow up, huh?" He smiled. "The moment he gets it, I'll tear up."
"That honest about it, huh?" she said back, mimicking his accent before laughing. "Come on, Glacieral. You're better than that!"
"Better than telling the truth?" he retorted with a playful attitude.
Trenderhoof, still in his disguise, glanced at the two talking there, and coughed before taking another sip of water.
Blue Alarm went out of his seat and hovered over the carpets and the rugs, buzzing along until he landed in front of a fireplace.
There was the fire with neatly-cut logs burning. The fire was a warm yellow, its heat refreshing as he extended his hooves, stretching his forelegs out at it.
The pony beside him—stallion with ruffled mane, stuffed in thick clothes—took an odd look at him. Then, a shrug as he continued stretching his hooves out at the fire, too.
The changeling turned to him as they sat on the rug. "What can you say about fireplaces?"
"Uh, me?" the pony said, pointing to himself, leaning away. "I don't know. They're cool."



Inside the Castle of Friendship, the long hallways with their carpets of dark purple stretched on to great lengths, accommodating many more ponies as they partied on. A phonograph played some Hearth's Warming carols loud enough to be heard all around as Vinyl Scratch tapped her hoof impatiently beside it, glaring at it.
A single fireplace stood alone, decorated and swarmed with wreaths and ribbons and robes and fabric and flowers. Framed in brick, a pot of apple cider was bubbling on, a pegasus stirring the ladle around  while serving a short line of ponies ready with their drinking mugs. A basket of coal and barrels upon barrels of apples lay beside the fire.
The Hearth's Warming tree in the middle of the hallway was huge, humongous. Bedecked with the typical ornaments and the like—spheres, lights, ribbons, stars, stockings, hanging gifts, pictures and images of friends from everywhere—this tree also, like other Hearth's Warming trees, had a ring of gifts around it, growing and growing as more and more ponies placed their gifts there—with labels on there, a great many of which had the receipient's name but not the giver's.
The rest of the hallway had been fitted to match the occasion. Crystal columns dressed like candy canes, doors headed by wreaths of green, walls brightened up by wires of colorful lights, even the balconies were furnished with twisting ribbons.
As Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane flew about—donning their Wonderbolt uniforms and wowing the foals as they cheered on—and as Fluttershy helped the rabbits, ducks and beavers eat their own food on their own small table at their own Hearth's Warming feast; and as Pinkie Pie was talking with Vinyl Scratch, pointing at a DJ station just ahead—a smile looming on the musician's face—and as Applejack hauled in a train of wagons filled with heaps of fresh apple dishes that hungry ponies scarfed down in a jiffy; and as Rarity, with her glowing horn, further decorated the halls with fancy banners; and as Spike was busy with helping himself to Applejack's delicacies (with Applejack smiling at him)—
Starlight and Twilight stood a good distance away from the tree, watching as the pile of gifts increased.
"I was wondering," Starlight said, "is Hearth's Warming celebrated by just us ponies?"
"Not really," Twilight replied. "Other societies celebrate Hearth's Warming—or, at least, the winter in general. While they don't say 'Hearth's Warming' per se, there are festivities. Well, except for the yaks—it's always winter there but they don't mind."
Starlight looked on at the tree.
Twilight looked at her—a concerned face on the alicorn. "Is there anything you have in mind, Starlight?"
She sighed. "I was thinking that maybe I should throw a party with my friends. Trixie's easy—she has a big magic tour leading up to Hearth's Warming proper, but I think she will be available by then. The others, however..."
"They're occupied, I guess," Twilight said.
"Maud is opening up, but she has plans to spend the day on a mining expedition. Sunburst has to fulfill his duties as the Crystaller and take care of Flurry Heart—she and her family would be ecstatic with the party in the Empire over there. Thorax is going to be swamped up with handling his own winter celebration in the hive, and Discord—"
"—is unpredictable so no one knows," Twilight finished.
Starlight let out another sigh, scratching her mane and crinkling it up.
"Spike's free," Twilight said. "I'm free." She pointed at herself.
"Yeah, but you're...how am I supposed to say this?"
Twilight closed her eyes and nodded. "Don't worry, Starlight. You don't have to say it. I understand—you just can't stand spending the entire morning reading a book with me."
"Probably."
Twilight smiled. "Different strokes for different folks. But, you can at least try inviting them. Maybe they'll change their schedules just to suit a friend like you."
Starlight smiled back.
Then, Twilight's smile was gone. "I'm curious, though. What are you going to do at your Hearth's Warming party?"
"Oh, just a few ordinary things like sipping cocoa and baking pies and, I don't know—I could be having magical competitions with Trixie and Sunburst just like you and I had when we used to be student and teacher!"
"Yeah..." Twilight said, her voice trailing off though keeping up a smile.
"Maud and Thorax could make an entertaining play on their own—"
"What, a play?!"
"—and, since Discord is, well, you know, chaotic, we can leave it to him to surprise us—maybe make upside-down side-ways muffins or something just because it's Hearth's Warming!"
Twilight let out a nervous laugh. "I only hope that he doesn't flood Ponyville with tables...again."