Merry Regiftmas
Holiday Wrap-Up
It had been a long flight to the Badlands while carrying the tattered gift box, with one brief detour into the Bandlands, because the changeling could not read a map. But despite poor directions and a horde of changelings trying to jump him when he landed, the guard was headed back to Canterlot at a good clip. Without the box, he made much better speed, probably encouraged by the occasional glance behind him and the possibility of changeling pursuit.
Darkness had engulfed the land by the time he made it back to Canterlot, to a nearly empty castle and a curious Lunar princess who received his report. She nodded when he described his day and delivery trail, and thankfully did not laugh. Well, too much. Then she clapped him on the shoulder, thanked him for being such a good guard, and gave him two extra days off for the holiday before vanishing into her private chambers where he suspected a mug of hot chocolate and a warm sister awaited.
It took little time for the guard to visit the barracks, peel out of his armor, and place it in his locker. Writing the report took a little longer, but he had the place all to himself, since he had missed the traditional Dismissing Of The Guards Except For A Few Volentold. Hearth’s Warming tradition put only a few guards on duty in the mostly closed castle, which he had thought was his posting today, due to his lack of relatives, marefriends, or other activities to occupy his Hearth’s Warming.
This holiday sucks.
On his way out of the castle, he gave one of the lucky guardstallions a sharp salute and continued on his way back to his apartment, trying not to think of the double-overtime he was missing, or the hungry pit in his belly. The castle kitchens were closed, nothing in town was open, and his own pantry was a little thin in the holiday cheer department. Canned beets and canned cranberry sauce was about all he expected.
Or at least until he opened his apartment door and saw the takeout containers sitting on his kitchenette table.
“Cheesy broccoli poppers,” he murmured, popping one of the delectable bits into his mouth and luxuriating in the sweet burst of flavor. “Beet bites, chocolate-dipped alfalfa cubes, apple crumble. Princess Luna must have snuck these over here while I was in the barracks.”
He ate happily until he was comfortably full and put the considerable leftovers in the icebox for later. It made his long day a lot more like the holiday season was supposed to be, and made him give a yawn as he walked over to close the blinds over the window.
The open window, which he was certain had been locked when he left for work.
“Hello?” he called out while backing up so his rear was against the window and crouching down in a combative pose. “Princess Luna, are you still in here? I appreciate the food, but—”
“Luna didn’t bring you dinner,” called out a voice from his bedroom. “I did.”
He crept forward through his apartment and peeked into the bedroom where the voice had come from. The light was on, showing a bright pink pegasus sprawled out over his bed, wearing nothing but a silver ribbon and tied up with a bow.
The guard looked in astonishment for a few moments before asking quietly, “Changeling?”
The ‘pegasus’ nodded. “I didn’t think it was fair that everypony else got a present and you didn’t. So I stopped by the last open shop in the market, picked up some food for you, and slipped into something a little more comfortable.” She paused. “Well, aren’t you going to come over here and unwrap your present?”
It took a little thinking before the guard smiled. “I have two days off.”
The changeling smiled back. “Sounds good to me. Happy Hearth’s Warming.”