//------------------------------//
// Ch. 5- The Morning After 
// Story: A Hearth's Warming Miracle 
// by XFangHeartX 
//------------------------------//

Morning came, and with it brought Hearth's Warming Day. At the Castle of Friendship, everypony was still asleep, even as the sun rose slightly over the snowy hills. It wasn't a surprise, really, considering the fact that everypony had witnessed the birth of little Miracle Star, and the excitement had left them exhausted.

However, their slumber was soon interrupted when they heard a loud scream of delight coming from Apple Bloom.

"Everypony, wake up!!" she called out. "Wake up and look at what's under the tree!!"

"Ugh..." Applejack groaned as she raised her head. "Apple Bloom, quiet down, will- huh?!"

To everypony's surprise...there were even more presents under the tree than there were last night!

"W-where did all these presents come from?!" asked Twilight.

"Merry Mare!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "She must have come and visited us last night!"

"Yeah, look!" Scootaloo added as she held up an empty plate. "The carrots we left for her are gone!"

"She DOES exist!" Pipsqueak cheered.

"So, what do we do now?" asked Moonlight.

"What do you think?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Everypony grab a present!"

Soon, everypony in the room did just that, hurrying to open all the presents they had gotten. As they did, Apple Bloom looked over at Moonlight before she handed her a present.

"Here, Moonlight," she said. "You got somethin' from Merry Mare, too."

Moonlight opened her present and gasped happily upon seeing it was a set of new paintbrushes.

"Wow!" she exclaimed. "Just what I wanted! How did she even know?!"

"She's kinda mysterious, that way," Scootaloo replied, holding some new ice skates and a hockey stick.

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle agreed, holding a new Princess Pony doll. "We just say thank you for the presents and leave it at that."

"Hey, everypony!" Rainbow Dash called as she opened the door, revealing that the snow was now at least at 5 inches. "We can all go home, now!"

Upon hearing that, everypony in the room cheered before they began to head out the door. As they left, Twilight, Spike, Starlight, and Moonlight went to see their guests off as they headed out into the snow.

"Goodbye, everypony!" Twilight called. "Thanks for coming!"

"See you later!" Moonlight added.

"Get home safely!" Spike exclaimed.

"Be careful!" Starlight chimed in.

"Thank you so much for inviting us, Princess Twilight," said Crystal while she held baby Miracle Star in her foreleg and Cobalt stood beside her. "I know the party could've gone a bit better, though."

"Oh, it's no problem," Twilight replied.

"You know," Rarity started, wearing a glittery light blue scarf to match her eyes, "I actually wouldn't mind getting snowed in like that, again."

"Actually, I wouldn't mind it either," Fluttershy agreed, wearing a lime green scarf around her neck. "I hope we do it again for Hearth's Warming, next year."

"Really?" Starlight asked.

"Well, as long as nopony fights again," said Applejack.

"And even if you do," Tempest began, "you all know who will be there to straighten things out."

"Yep, and that's you!" Pinkie added before she gasped. "Ooh! I gotta hurry and get home! I still have to send my Hearth's Warming cards to my parents, Maud, Limestone, and Marble at the rock farm!"

With that, she soon hopped away.

"Thank you for setting everypony down last night, Tempest," Twilight said.

"It's the least I could do," Tempest replied. "After all, you went through all this trouble, just to bring everypony together, and I know you hated to see them arguing. Think of it as returning the favor."

All four unicorns, plus Spike, laughed at this.

"See you later, Tempest," Starlight said. "Hope you get home, safely."

"I'll manage," said Tempest as she left with Crystal, Cobalt, and Miracle. "See you next Hearth's Warming!"

"See you next Hearth's Warming!" called Twilight.

"Bye-bye, Tempest!" Moonlight waved. "Oh, and Mr. and Mrs. Cascade! And Miracle Star!"

"Well, Twilight," Spike started, "another happy Hearth's Warming!"

"Yeah," Twilight agreed. "And I bet next year will be even better."

As everypony headed home for the holiday, up in the sky, a Pegasus mare sat on a cloud, watching them with a content smile on her face. She had a mint green coat and a white mane and tail that had a few gray streaks, she wore a red cape that had two jingle bells attached to the front, and on her flank was a cutie mark with two jingle bells and holly leaves. She chuckled before she looked out behind her, revealing her dark blue eyes, before she gave a wink, then flapped her wings and flew away, making her bells jingle with each flap.


THE END