Rise of the Element Gang, Book 2: Friendship Adventures

by Power of Six


Chapter 2: Happy Hearth's Warming

Chapter 2: Happy Hearth’s Warming

I hurriedly placed the last stream of tinsel above my home, making sure that everything was ready. My tree was up in the living room, fully decorated and lit, with presents for the girls and the guys rested underneath. Streams of tinsel and sparkling red and gold hung from the ceilings and staircase. Cushions were good to be sat on, the table with drinks and appetizers were looking good to eat, the gramophone had a collection of holiday records.

I was reasonably sure that it would be okay. After all, I was working together with the best party planner in Ponyville, who had very kindly offered to help me organize this little get-together.

“Pinkie, how do you think this looks?” I called to her in the kitchen.

She stuck her head out, her hoof holding a wooden spoon and mixing some cupcake mix. At least she would be able to get them right.

“Looks fun, festive, and fantastic! Just like I’ve already told you, Dusk, it’s fine.” she assured me. “You gotta calm down. It’s gonna be great!”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry. It’s just…” I paused for a few seconds. “This is the first party I’ve ever hosted, in my first Hearth's Warming in Ponyville, for the first friends that I’ve ever had, both from Canterlot and here. Living with Shield and the others, I didn’t really need to host a party before, honest. Just organize. I just…want it to go well.”

“It’ll go great, trust me. Now, I’ve cupcakes to bake. Be out in a bit, they’re almost ready!” She hurried back into the kitchen, as I tried to calm myself.

Despite how nervous I felt about it, I was still looking forward to having everypony around to my home. I’d never had guests before. Unless you call roommates and some random mares that Leon would bring home guests. The rest of the girls and the guys wouldn’t be arriving for another half an hour as they were still spending time with their own families first. I had already sent a card and presents to my own family in Canterlot, received one back, so I was fine where that was concerned. As Twilight’s parents were also in Canterlot, she said that she would be arriving earlier than the others with Spike. Maybe once she was here, I would calm down a little.

I was waiting for about fifteen minutes, moving restlessly around the room. First, I paced around the living room, then sat twitching on the couch, moved to the window to gaze out, then back to the couch again. I was trying, but I just couldn’t stop feeling so anxious as I was now twiddling with my hat. It was when I resumed pacing that Pinkie came back in with her finished treats.

“You keep that up, you’ll pace a trench into the floor. That would be handy to take cover for a pillow fight though, so maybe keep it up. We can get a head start!”

“No, I, uh…I think I’ll stop.” I agreed, halting my pacing. "Thanks again for your help with the decorations.”

“Happy to help!” she replied brightly, setting the cakes on the table.

Hatching on an idea, I retrieved a present from under my tree, wrapped in pink paper with a dark pink bow. I levitated it to Pinkie, whose smile became even brighter.

“Ooh, ooh, a present! I love presents! Thank you, Dusky!” She tore off the paper and looked inside. “Oooh, a party planner! This'll be handy for if I forget about a party, then I can look in it and be like ‘ooh, I have a party to do!’”

“I hoped you would like it.” I said quietly. “You do, don’t you?”

“Uh-huh! Sure I do! Thanks, Dusk! Now, here’s yours.” She whipped out her own present and gave it to me.

I gazed at the box, glowing inside. My first Hearth's Warming present from a friend...I carefully undid the bow, opened the lid and pulled out a book entitled How to Plan a Perfect Party.

“Do ya like it?” Pinkie was still smiling. “I knew you liked reading, so I wanted to get you a useful book, so I thought ‘what could be useful?’ Then, I saw this and I knew it was perfect, in case you wanna plan anymore parties and I won't be able to help y…”

She was cut off as I hugged her gently, by way of showing my gratitude for her thoughtfulness that she had put into her gift. She gladly returned it, gave me another bright smile and hopped onto the couch, flicking through her new planner.

No sooner had she done so, then there was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it.”

I approached the door slowly, did my best to control my breathing, made sure my hat was on straight, and opened it. The instant that I did, my feelings of unease and worry just melted away as I was hugged by my best friend.

“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Dusk.” Twilight greeted when she released me. “Nice hat.”

“Thanks, Twi. Happy Hearth’s Warming.” I said to her. “You too, Spike.” I added to the dragon, who gave me a high claw.

“Hey, Dusk, great to see you. Hey, do I smell cupcakes?” He hurried into the living room, as Twi-light looked after him.

“Well, that’s Spike for you.” she remarked.

“What can you do? Here, let me get your things.” I levitated her scarf and boots, hanging them up near the door.

“Thank you, Dusk.” she said, her cheeks a little red.

“Don't mention it.” My own cheeks heatened up slightly too. “This way, if you please.”

“What a lovely home, Dusk. You’ve really decorated it well.” she commended. “Trying to make a good first impression?”

“You know me, Twi.” I replied sheepishly. I let her take a seat next to Pinkie, whilst I took a cushion on the floor.

Spike, who had helped himself to a cupcake and some punch, joined me as Pinkie joyously showed Twilight the gift she had received. Twilight, again, commended me for the idea of trying to organize Pinkie, at which I had joked that would be quite impossible. Five minutes later, there was another knock at the door, more gentle and dignified sort of knock.

As I guessed, it was my cousin Rarity who was next to arrive. She too commented on the effort I had gone to decorate my home, though with a more detailed eye, one that only she could possess. She was shown into the living room, where Spike proceeded to stare longingly at her and engage in shy conversation. Me and Twilight exchanged looks, but said nothing.

After the arrival of the fashion pony, the next was her complete opposite and a certain stallion to match. Applejack, wearing tinsel around the brim of her Stetson, and Dog, wearing a Hearth’s Warming reave around his neck, were happy to be there, having already spent some time with members of her family. She said that my home rather reflected me, the pony who lived in it: modest, a little shy, but pleasant and welcoming. Dog said I really did outdo myself. Touched by their honesty, I poured them some punch, in time to hear a loud crash outside.

A quick look showed a long skid in the snow and a blue Pegasus pony shaking snow out of her mane with an orange Earth pony doing the same: Rainbow had crashed attempting to land again and crashed into Shield, who no doubt had a more gently landing. This certainly didn’t dampen their spirits, however, as they gave me a tight hug, Shield rustled up my mane and Rainbow, just for fun, played keep away with my hat for a while. Still laughing by the time I snatched it back and jammed it on my head, the last guests arrived, though one of them with her gentle knock being shyer with Leon along with her.

Fluttershy actually asked nervously to make sure she had the right house, that she wasn’t too late. I always seemed to be able to reassure her, with my own friendly voice and tonight was no different. Leon did the same. When she heard all of her friends, she quickly relaxed, wishing me a kind “happy Hearth's Warming”, even plucking up the nerve to give me a quick hug, before joining the proceedings. Leon even wished me “happy Hearth’s Warming” and gave me a punch in the arm.

“Well, that’s everypony.” I announced, as I too joined them. “Thank you all very much for attending this little get-together. This is my first Hearth's Warming in Ponyville and you've all helped to make it…special for me so…thanks.”

“Glad to be a part, sugarcube.” Applejack said happily. “Now, get on in here, be a good host.”

I did so, placing on a record as I did. At first, they just passed the time with some idle chit-chat, or else dancing to the music or helping themselves some food and drink. I, not wanting to be left out, got myself in a conversation with Rainbow Dash as she gulped down her glass of punch.

“Awesome party so far, Dusky.” she remarked. “Not bad for your first one.”

“Thanks, Dashie.” I responded. “Glad it was able to meet your high standards.”

She chuckled, then beckoned me in closer. “So, you know it’s the Flyer's Competition coming up in Cloudsdale, right?”

“Coming up? It’s not for a good few weeks in spring, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but I gotta get the practice in. I have to if I wanna prove I’m the best. So, have you given any thought to my proposal?”

“You mean…the one where we incorporate my talent into your routine?” I asked to confirm.

“Exactly. It’s all fine, zooming around boring old clouds, but your magic will give me that extra little bit of pizazz, liven it up a little, you know?” She stood back expectantly. “So, have you decided?”

“Yes and…” I let her wait, before giving her a grin. “I accept…as long as I don’t have to go in front of all of those ponies.”

“Don’t worry, you won’t.” she assured me casually. “Great! I knew you would! Now, it's gonna need precision and right timing on your part. I’ll be doing the flying, you’re gonna be on the side, but you’re still important. Can I count on you?”

“Of course you can. I’ll need to find something that’ll let me join you in the clouds though.” We then looked over to Shield as he was talking with Dog. “Out of everypony here, Shield and Fluttershy are the only ones who can walk on clouds.”

“We’ll deal with that when we come to it. Now, let me talk you through my ideas so far.”

I let Rainbow voice her plan to win the Competition while I listened intently. I knew I would be able to work with Rainbow around my own work in the library, but I still felt a little nervous at the prospect of the contest. I’d never been in anything like that before, never had anypony rely on me so much…and my talent…I’d never that many ponies see it before…not since the Equestria Games incident…

Still, I could deal with that later. For now, Rainbow was counting on me for my help and I would only be too glad to give it. Plus, seeing Cloudsdale would be an interesting experience to say the least.

As part of a tradition, we all stood together and raised our voices in singing a Hearth’s Warming carol, reminding ourselves of the ideals and values that Equestria had been built on that brought us all together. As I belted out the lyrics, I was reminded of how proud I always felt whenever I heard the carol being sung, how much I had hoped to one day understand them…now I truly could.

After we had done that, we played a new game that Pinkie had thought of, one that used my power. The girls and the guys split into two teams, with me being neutral. I started the shape as a formless blob, while the others had to try and guess what I was making with it, with more details being added with each guess. Obviously, points were awarded for correct guesses. Needless to say that I was thoroughly enjoying myself with this game.

It was Twilight, Fluttershy, Leon, Applejack, and Dog on one team and Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Shield on another with Spike announcing clues, if the girls and guys requested them from what I was making, the two having already confided in what shape to make. Each team had two clues on each round they had to help them along. The scores were currently tied with this being the deciding round.

“That's a good one.” Spike remarked quietly, as they finished discussing. “Right. Deciding round, ladies and gentlecolts. Good luck!”

I started with the formless blob of this round, green in color.

“Is it a plant?" Twilight asked first.

“Is it a cake?" Pinkie asked quickly.

“No and no.” Spike said. “Pinkie, just ʹcause you guessed right on the first round with that doesn’t mean you’ll get right this time.”

“Mm, had to try.” she shrugged, still smiling, as I added another detail: a pointed tail.

“This looks like an animal.” Fluttershy said eagerly. “Let me see, pointed tail… is it a manticore? Unless…anypony else has another idea?”

“Nope, that sounds like a good guess to me.” Applejack agreed.

“Yeah, there’s a lot of animals with pointed tails and I can’t really pick which one.” Leon said, supporting the cowpony.

“Hmm…let’s see here…” Rarity conferred with her own team. “We shall guess that it’s a chimera.”

“No, wrong again.” Spike noted that, as I added a long neck with a pointed head at the end.

“Ooh, it's a lizard, I bet it is!” Rainbow yelled at once.

“A snake perhaps?” Dog suggested.

“No, but you’re getting there.” Spike gave me a quick wink as I added clawed feet.

“Aw, come on, how can it not be a lizard?” Rainbow sat in a huff on the couch, as Pinkie and Rarity exchanged confused looks.

“Spike, can we have a clue?” Twilight asked.

“Sure. This creature can be helpful.” he said simply, his eyes twinkling.

“Hm…a helpful creature.” Rarity considered thoughtfully. "This shall take some consideration…”

“Hm…” Twilight had her signature look for thinking, then her eyes brightened. “I’ve got it! It’s a dragon!”

“Correct! Twilight’s team wins!” Spike announced.

In celebration, I added the dragon’s wings, set it flying above the girls, and had it shoot a long stream of fire, before making it vanish in a flash of light. After everypony stopped clapping, I pulled out their presents from under the trees, levitating to each of them in turn.

I felt so good, so rich inside at the sight of their faces glowing when they saw that, the pony they had just welcomed into their lives, had been so thoughtful to buy them gifts. I just sat back as they opened up their presents one by one. Spike was the first to tear his open.

“A gem stash!” Spike’s mouth watered at the sight of them. "They look so…delicious…”

“Well, how 'bout that? A new pair-a galoshes." Applejack pulled out the yellow boots. “My old pair have seen better days, I guess.”

“Well, I’ll be. A basket saddle.” Dog said, putting on his new saddle. “Thanks, Dusk. Now I can carry the apples I buck.”

“Awesome! The Greatest Moments of the Wonderbolts!” Rainbow flicked eagerly through the pages. “It even has photos from their first show!”

“Really?” Shield said as he went looking into his copy. “You’re the stallion, Dusk!”

“Oh, my, what a lovely hoof-crafted wooden rabbit.” Fluttershy marveled at the sculpture.

“Yeah. Leon helped me out with it.” I said to her. “He managed to get one little rabbit to allow me to carve it’s likeness into it. So you can consider this a gift from him and me.”

“Oh…thank you, L-Leon. I really appreciate it.” Fluttershy said nervously to Leon.

“No problem, Flutters.” Leon said with a gentle smile.

Fashion through the Ages, marvelous!” Rarity looked through the pages of the book. “This should give me some great ideas. Really? They wore those in the eight-hundreds?”

A Revised Magical Theory! Now, I can finally replace that copy of New Magical Theory in the library.” She beamed at me. “How did you know I needed this?”

“What can I say? I must be psychic.” I replied with a wink to Pinkie. “I’m glad that you like them.”

“Sure do. Now, it’s your turn.” she said, reaching to pull out a present.

The girls and guys swiftly returned the favor, bringing out their own gifts for me with two pairs sharing one as a gift for me. That warm feeling now the same as a fire, I wiped a happy tear away as I proceeded to open my own gifts from them.

Applejack and Dog had, once again, made me some of the Apple family’s apple pie that they knew I loved, placing it in the fridge for later. Fluttershy had bought me a book entitled The Cutest Critters in Equestria, which I had to assure her was a wonderful gift that I would pursue later. Leon got me a Poké Flute. Rarity had made me a new scarf that looked exactly like the one I’d lost in the forest, except with my cutie mark on it this time. Rainbow and Shield had made me a sort of cloud sculpture in a glass box in the shape of a Pegasus pony. Twilight had bought me Daring Doo and the Changeling Swarm, the latest in the series that I didn’t own.

“Thank you all so much.” I said sincerely. “This has been…this is great.”

“Come on, Dusk.” Shield said to me, that smile he and the others had still on his face. “Don’t start crying on us now.”

“There’s still one more present in there, Dusk.” Twilight’s eyes seemed to shine as she said this. “Open the book.”

Curious, I turned over the cover. A flash of gold caught my eye as something fell out. Some kind of book mark? I levitated it to my face as it glowed even brighter. It was a ticket to the…to the… Was I reading this right?

“…the Grand Galloping Gala?” I felt my jaw drop and my eyes widen. The guys were just as shocked as me. “You got me a ticket…to the Grand Galloping Gala?”

“Mm-hmm. And we also got ones for Leon, Shield, and Dog.” Twilight said as she handed the guys three more tickets.

“Really?” Leon said, surprised.

“Looky there!” Dog said in the same motion.

“All right!” Shield said, excited.

“Isn’t it awesome? Now all of you can come with us!" Rainbow exclaimed as she wrapped her arm around Shield.

“All of you? B-b-b-but these tickets cost a small fortune. How did you afford even a single one, let alone six or even ten for that matter?”

“Eleven, I’m coming too.” Spike pointed out quickly.

“Well, we all have tickets to attend the Gala, but then I realized that you didn’t have one.” Twilight explained. “So, I wrote to the Princess to see if she could provide another and she gladly obliged. It just wouldn’t have felt right, leaving you behind. And we know how much you want the others there, so I managed to ask for three more tickets.”

“Oh, right.” I said, feeling better now. “I suppose being a princess protégée has its perks then.”

“It does, yes.” she giggled. “Now then, Rarity, is it ready for him to try on?”

“Oh, yes! I even have the others’ ready for them!” She immediately shot up. “Come on, everypony, I want you all to see this.”

“See what?” I asked unsurely, slipping on my new scarf.

“Yeah and what do you mean ‘others’ ready for them?” Shield asked her as he, Dog, and Leon joined me, all three just as unsure as I was.

“Why, I’m talking about your suits for the Gala, dearie. Seeing how you four are coming with us, I took it upon myself to design a perfect outfit for each of you. Come along now.” she ushered, leading us out of my house and off to the Carousel Boutique.


Twilight’s view

The stage that Rarity had used for our fashion was set up at the Boutique when we arrived. Even though Hoity Toity wasn’t going to be coming this time, Rarity still wanted give Dusk the chance to show himself off, if he so pleased, like we still had the fashion show. He had even asked Shield and the others to join him for when they presented themselves in their new suits as they would put on their own fashion show for me and my friends. I had noticed his eyes sparkle at the mention of that as he had gone to change into it and I knew he had something in mind.

Waiting with the rest of my friends in the customer section of the Boutique, I reflected on how much I had enjoyed myself at Dusk’s party. He really had gone out of his way to try and make and good first impression with his first party. I noticed that he usually went out of his way anyway. Friendship really had made a difference in his life…just like it had done with me.

Returning myself to the here and now, I wondered how he would look in his suit, what kind of job Rarity had done on it. Just as much as the others, of course. She had, of course, done wonderful work on the gowns for herself and the rest of us, but I’d never really seen her work on clothes for a stallion, let alone four. In my opinion, there wasn’t a lot things you could do with a suit compared to a dress. But, then again, this was Rarity we were talking about. I was sure she'd done great.

“Ooh, this is exciting!” Pinkie remarked. “Just too bad he and the guys missed the fashion show. I bet that would’ve been great.”

“I don’t know. Dusk mentioned that he doesn’t really like standing in front of a crowd.” I noted. “I don’t think he would have liked that much.”

“Oh, well.” she shrugged. “You really know him well, don't ya?”

“Well, he is my friend, Pinkie, and he works at the library with me and Spike. That’s kind of to be expected.”

“I know. That’s so great. Two good friends working together, it makes work so much more fun. Unless you work at Sugarcube Corner, then it’s fun all the time!” She beamed at me. “Did ya like spending time with Dusk?”

For some reason, I found myself blushing at the question, like there was another meaning be-hind it. Had Pinkie noticed the way I acted around Dusk? She could be rather uncanny with things like this.

“What…what do you mean by that?”

“I mean do you like hanging out like friends do, ya know?” Pinkie looked curiously at me. “What did you think I meant?”

“Oh, um…nothing.” I cast off those thoughts, for now. “Well, yes, I do.”

“Ahem, if I could have everypony’s attention?” Rarity had emerged onto the stage. "Our friends are ready to present themselves. Spike, the lights please.”

“Of course, m’lady.” he bowed, closing the curtains and switching off the lights, as Rarity left the stage.

At first, there was darkness. Then, a purple, flower petal-shaped form appeared. This was followed by orange, pink, white, blue, and cream, so that they formed a multi-colored circle. Then three orbs of white, green, and light blue formed around it.

Then suddenly a boulder appeared to the left of the circle of petals. After so, there was a thunder clash and a storm cloud formed above, flashes of red, blue, and white appear upon it. Then, in one quick strike, a red, white, and blue bolt of lightning came down and struck the boulder, causing it to burst in a flash of light. When the light faded, Shield was now standing there, wearing a red and blue tie divided by a section of white in the middle and a tuxedo with that matched Rainbow Dash’s dress with an orange undershirt and a white jacket with a red right cuff, a blue left cuff, and his cutie mark pinned to it.

Then it began to rain, the raindrops landing on a figure and sliding down to create a unique pattern on it. After a while, the rain stopped and Leon was revealed, wearing a blue suit of similar style to Fluttershy’s dress, having a blue stream-like pattern and lines of raindrop lining on it. Then a butterfly with a raindrops pattern on its wings appeared, flew down to lean, and rest upon the front of his collar, becoming a tie in the shape of his cutie mark.

Then it began to gently snow, the snow doing the same to another figure that appeared, creating a winter pattern on it. With a single snowflake landing on the front of the figure, the snow stopped and revealed Dog wearing a formal violet western outfit with white cuffs and snow pattern lining on his jacket, his cutie mark on his brooch.

The three of them gave us proud smiles as the stood in front of the circle of petals, Leon and Dog on one side, Shield on the other. Then it turned a shade of dark blue, glowing brighter so we had to shield our eyes a little. When it exploded in a light flare, the colors soared around the room, as a trilby hat floated in the air above…and Dusk stepped out of the blue orb.

He was dressed in a black, silk suit, with dark blue pinstripes moving vertically down. A white undershirt displayed a dark-blue velvet tie, that sparkled against the lights playing around him, the scroll of his cutie mark pinned to his lapilli. His mane was more neatly parted, his horn aglow with magic, both of which were covered up as the trilby came to rest neatly on his head. Giving us, his audience, a shy smile as Dusk show finished and we all applauded.

As I clapped my own hooves, I was surprised at how different he looked. Although I might never say this out loud, I did think he looked very…well, handsome.

“Rarity, y’all have done it again.” Applejack complimented. “And Dusk, Dog…why, ya clean up like shiny new pennies.”

“Yeah, you clean up nice, Dusky. You too, Shield. Those are cool looks for you.” Rainbow remarked.

“It really is a nice look on you, Dusk.” Fluttershy kindly said. “You as well, Leon.”

“Don’t they look absolutely smashing?” Rarity stepped smartly beside Dusk. “I’m sure that our male chaperones will be the eye of every other stallion at the Gala.”

“I hope not. I don’t like being stared at.” he pointed out shyly, still smiling at Rarity. “Thank you, Rarity. These are wonderful pieces of work you've done.”

“It was no trouble at all, darling. At least you didn’t ask for about a dozen different alterations.” Her eyes flickered to us as we laughed a little at the memory of the fiasco.

“And, to the rest of you…” He tipped his hat again. “Thank you all again, for this…this had been the best Hearth's Warming Day ever.”

“Best Hearth’s Warming Day ever so far.” Pinkie bought up, as we all laughed again.

I too couldn’t help but smile as Dusk and the others stepped down to let us look them over. He truly had enjoyed this holiday and I was glad I was here to play my part in doing so.