Magiville had a fair but noticeably growing amount of snow as many shops and booths were open as the residents were all about exchanging the many items for sale often for bits but every so often another good that the booth or shop owner wanted or service to be called upon. Among the partons, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity, all three dressed for the winter wonderland around them, were going from booth to shop to shop to booth. All three seemed to be in a slight panic. Unbeknownst to them barreling down the main street came Twilight flying in more… apparent panic, followed by Spike with one of Twilight’s mile-long checklists. While the trio was able to dodge Twilight, they were all caught and entangled in the checklist.
Rainbow was the first to speak, after a couple of grunts, as the three struggled and managed to get out of their predicament, “Do we wanna know why you're wrapping up everybody in town?” she asked feeling like she was made a present without a say.
Spike turned and tried to roll the checklist up so that it wouldn’t entangle anybody else, “It’s not wrapping paper.” he pointed out bluntly, not that the explanation was needed. “It’s a to-do list,” he informed before he pointed in the direction of Twilight as she teleported to be in front of a booth, levitated a few items, gave the owner a few coins and teleported again to another booth.
Twilight continued this pattern as she said in front of one booth selling ... “Two of these!” and then “Three of those!” at a booth selling electric Hearth Warming lights, and then at a booth selling scrolls of parchment, “I'm gonna need ten of those! Just in case!” she said before she paid for the scrolls and teleported to the next booth on her list.
Rarity, once she was freed attempt to reach out to Twilight, “Twilight, darling, are you all right?” she asked the demigod as she, Fluttershy and Rainbow joined Spie.
“Sure!” Twilight answered not looking towards her friends, her gaze on the goods at the booth she was at, which was mostly baked goods, namely cakes. As she picked up one of the cakes, “Just-grabbing-a-few-things-do-I-need-this-no-that's-silly-I-need-eight!” she said in an unmistakable panic, not as fast for all that she said to be considered a single word in it of itself, but it was too fast to be separate words. She then started to hyperventilate.
As if on cue, Applejack, who wore a green sweater over her normal garb and Pinkie Pie, who was wearing her winter gear, walked up and joined the gathering of their friends.“Hey, y'all!” Applejack said as she greeted the group for herself and Pinkie. As she noticed that Twilight was not with them and that everyone was looking at something, “What's everybody—?” she started to ask before she turned to see Twilight in her panic shopping. “Ohhh,” she said as she connected all the dots. “Traditional holiday meltdown?” she asked for a confirmation. Everyone else gave an “Uh-huh.” Applejack nodded before took a small breath, “Ah got this.” she whispered before she walked up to the hyperventilating princess. Once she was right next to Twilight, she the paladin spoke calmly and quietly “Hey, Twilight. How's your day?” she asked not unlike a mother seeing her child panicking for no reason.
Twilight turn to Applejack, “I got way behind grading the last exams before the break, and Cadance and Shining Armor are coming here with Flurry Heart for Hearth's Warming Eve, which is my first with Flash as my fiance, and I haven't started decorating, and I don't know what to get any of you, and—!” the princess listed off at an alarmingly fast rate as her panic started to set in.
“Stop!” Applejack ordered as she covered Twilight’s mouth. As the paladin removed her hand, “Take a deep breath.” Twilight then inhaled deeply. “Hold it,” Applejack added, which Twilight did for a second. Applejack then placed her hand on Twilight’s shoulder, “Now let it out sloooooooooowwww…” the paladin continued as she said ‘slow’ as if she too was giving a long exhale. Twilight then slowly exhaled. Once she finished, “Nod if you feel calmer.” Applejack instructed. Twilight reluctantly nodded. Applejack then beckoned the rest over “Now, I think I have a few ideas that might help. First, whatever you haven’t graded you’ll have to hold off on grading until the day after Hearth’s Warming. Second, Hearth’s Warming Eve is two days away so ask Flash to help with the decorations, teach him the traditions he’s marrying into and have him teach you what traditions you’re marrying into. And whatever you don’t get done when Shining and Cadance arrive, ask them to help.” Twilight sighed but agreed.
Just then the rest joined the. “Now for my third idea, and this is to help with the…” the paladin trailed before she looked to the others, namely Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow. “Last minute shopping.” Everyone looked at the paladin attentively, “What if we change up how we give gifts this year and do a Hearths’ Warmin' Helper?” she suggested.
Pinkie raised her hand, “Question, what's a Hearths’ Warming Helper?” the jester asked the question on hers and everyone else’s mind at the concept.
Applejack had a small smile and shook her head slightly, “You see, whenever the whole Apple family got together for Hearths Warming Eve, there were just so many of us, it didn't make sense for everybody to buy everybody gifts.” the paladin provided an antidote to convey the point.
“So how does it work?” Pinkie followed up.
Applejack took off her hat, “Well, we'd put our names in a bowl, jar or hat…” she started.
“Ooh, a game of chance!” Pinkie cheered in excitement. She leaned in and rubbed her hands “Tell me more.” she added with a grin.
Applejack rolled her eyes at her friend's antics, she then continued, “...then we'd each pull a name from, but keep it a secret.” she said as she reached into her hat as if to act out the process.
Pinkie pulled out a notepad and pencil and was jotting everything Applejack was saying, “A dash of mystery. Good. Good.” she added.
Applejack then put her hat back on, “And instead of buyin' everybody a present, you just get one for the person you picked from the hat.” she finished explaining the basic principles of the practice.
As every one of their group seemed to nod as they agreed to the idea. However, “Wait. So instead of lots of presents, I only buy one of you a present?” the cotton candy haired member of the heptad. “What kind of game is this?!” she shouted in protest at the idea. Everyone just shook their heads.
Rarity spoke up first, “I’ve just finished my commissions for the year and having to purchase only one gift for us seven would save time.”
Spike started to hover as he clasped his hands and seemed to look up in the sky as if he was in a dream, “And you could get the person who you pick something nice.” he sighed.
Everyone gave an eye-roll at Spike’s action before Rainbow cleared her throat which got Spike to stop. “The less shopping, the better.” Rainbow argued and reasoned in favor of the idea, “In!” she declared.
Fluttershy gave a nod after a couple of seconds in thoughts, before she turned to the stressed demigod, “Will that help, Twilight?” the druid asked.
Twilight looked at her friends and then at the list she had made, she then nodded before she confessed, “I was stressed about shopping.”
Everyone then turned to Pinkie and waited for her response. Pinkie gave a distinctively reluctant sigh, “Fine.” she mostly groaned, “I will only buy one present for my secret Hearths’ Warming Helper buddy.” she consented with her nose held up and her eyes closed, as if her dislike of only getting one gift for one of her closest friends wasn’t already immutable.
“Yah mean whom the Hearth’s Warming Helper of.” Applejack clarified as she took off her hat again and held it out. If her friends got the correction, they didn’t express it. “Now we just need to put everybody's name in…” Applejack then paused, “Except for Rarity.” Everyone gave the paladin a ‘huh’, “We all know that if Spike doesn’t draw Rarity he’s gonna ask if he can trade, which he can do if the person who drew Rarity is okay with the trade, and this is Spike we’re talkin’ about, so…” stopped as she allowed the rest to think. They all then gave an ‘Oh.’ as it clicked. Spike then rolled the scroll to get to the blank bottom, took a pencil and wrote his name, Pinkie’s, Applejack’s, Fluttershy’s, Twilight’s, and Rainbow’s names. He then ripped it off the scroll and ripped each of the names from each other and folded each piece of paper before he placed them in the hat. Applejack then covered the opening of hat. “Y'all ready?” she asked. The rest nodded and she then shook up the hat a few times. She then removed her hand, “No peekin'.”
Everyone, sans Spike, then reached into the hat with their eyes closed and pulled out a name. Pinkie was the first to open her eyes and see her names. “So excited! Aah! Too excited! I don't wanna give anything away!” she cheered before she zipped away with a ‘Wheeee!’
As the others pocketed their pieces of paper, “When will the gift exchange occur?” Rarity asked.
Everyone was in thought, “How about Twilight's castle on Hearth's Warming Eve? We can do that as Twilight’s, and Spike’s one gift on Hearth’s Warming Eve tradition thing.” Rainbow offered as she started to hover.
Everyone nodded in agreement, “That's perfect!” Applejack declared. “I’ll just Pinkie when I get back to the Temple. Pinkie and I can spend the evenin' with y'all and the next mornin' with our families!” the paladin informed as she pocketed her name. “
As Twilight pocketed her name and looked at her to-do list and smiled, “And thanks to all of you, I should be ready to celebrate by then!” she declared with this new change to her schedule which seemed to lighten her load.
“Oh, this is so exciting!” Fluttershy said as she pocketed her name and everyone head off.
Later that day, back in Twilight’s castle, Twilight and Spike had finished most of their non-present shopping. “And now all we need to do is finish the decorations, help you find your gift for Rarity and my secret person and finish preparations for Shining, Cadance, and Flurry,” Twilight said as the two returned to the entrance of the castle and noted that Hearth’s Warming decorations were very much still in disarray. Twilight then sighed, “I forgot.” Then there was a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it,” Spike said as he flew over to the door and opened it to show Flash, dressed in a black leather jacket. “Hey Flash.” the dragon said as he stepped aside to let the sentry in.
“Hey Spike,” Flash said as he entered, “I know I’m early, but I…” he trailed off as he saw the state of affairs. “Wow…” he whistled in disbelief before he turned to Twilight, “I know that you got caught up in grading but this…” he trailed off as he pointed to the chaos of the scene. “Not even Discord would make such a mess.”
Twilight rolled her eyes, “Thanks.” her bemusement was inescapable. “Would it be too much to ask for some help?”
Flash shook his head, “Hey, I’ve already helped finished this at the barracks, why not here.” he added with a shrug. He then took off his jacket, but not before he pulled out some papers and handed them to Spike, “Oh, here’s the sheet music for the song you asked for.” he informed the dragon. Spike accepted the papers and started to read them, however, he seemed to be confused at some it.
Spike turned to Flash, “You changed some of the lyrics.” the dragon stated.
Flash rubbed the back of his head and neck, “Well, what you wrote wasn’t gonna fit the meter and beat you wanted to use and since you failed to specify to whom the song was for…" Flash trailed off. "You didn't give me much to work with."
Spike sighed, "Well, hopefully, Rarity will like it." Spike then rolled the papers together and wrote 'My Room' and was about to exhale his message sending fire on it before he turned to Flash. "Say Flash, now that you know it's for Rarity…"
"Not in time for Hearth’s Warming," Flash cut Spike off. Spike sighed and then blew the fire on the rolled paper as it was sent to his room. Flash then turned took out of his jacket what looked to be a box about the size of most books wrapped like it was a gift. “And Happy Hearth’s Warming,” he said as he gave it to Twilight.
Twilight accepted it with a smile, "Thank you…” she trailed off before she remembered something. The revelation caused her to open her eyes wide in terror. “Um… I got a couple of things to do…” she said as she started to take a couple of steps back.
“You forgot to get Flash a gift.” Spike deadpanned as he whispered into Twilight’s ear. Twilight could only laugh nervously. Spike rolled his eyes, “I’ll keep him busy, just don’t forget about your gift as a Hearth Warming Helper.” the dragon offered. Twilight kissed Spike on his cheek and headed to the castle’s library to figure out what to get both her person and Flash.
After she left, Flash turned to Spike, “She does know that since she and I are engaged there is a foolproof gift she can give me?” the sentry asked the dragon.
Spike shrugged his shoulders, “Sometimes her skull is a thick as the books she reads.” Spike commented.
Flash and Spike then started to put up the decorations, “So she’s a Hearth’s Warming Helper this year?” Flash asked.
“Yeah, so are AJ, RD, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity,” Spike informed.
“It would be funny if she got Pinkie.” Flash joked.
Inside the library, Twilight got a chalkboard, and pulled out the piece of paper with her person’s name on it, “Sorry Flash,” she then looked at her piece of paper and it was revealed to be ‘Pinkie’, “I bet you have the perfect idea to get both Flash and as a Hearth’s Warming Helper.”
As Twilight commented on her person, the scene changed to the room in Sweet Apple Temple that Pinkie and her sisters were sharing, Pinkie flopped onto the bed,(after being briefed by Applejack) “I have no idea what to get as a Hearths Warming Helper!” she declared. In the room were her sisters, who had just finished unpacking and such.
Maud and Marble turned to Limestone, the eldest sister then groaned before she walked up to the bed, “There's a pile of presents right there.” Limestone said as she pointed to a stack of presents that were in the room to be placed under the tree in the living room of Sweet Apple Temple, “Pick one, and you're done.” she compounded as she picked up one that had Twilight’s name. “Here, you already have this for Twilight.”
Pinkie got up from the bed and turned “That was when I was getting all of my friends matching harmony Hearth's Warming hats!” Pinkie said before she took the gift from Limestone and put it back in the pile, “Now it's just Twilight!” she cried before she started to sob. “I can't give one person a matching present with nothing to match it! I need something special for only her!” Pinkie declared before she then sighed.
Limestone groaned and turned to face the other two Pie sisters, “You want to make things harder for you then you have to, be my guest, I’m punching out!” she then huffed before she walked over to Maud, “You’re up if you want it.”
Maud then spoke up, “I've got it.” she said in her deadpan tone as she walked up to pinking.
Pinkie got up and turned to Maud, “I don't think Twilight likes rocks as much as you do, Maud.” the jester pointed out.
Maud then picked up a present that fitted in the palm of her hand right, “Don't rock it 'til you try it.” she said before the box opened like a jack in a box to show a rock on a spring with a boing sound. This caused Marble to giggle, and a small smile on Limestone that none of her sisters saw. Pinkie did smile, but as her eyes looked down it was clear that she was not moved. Maud then shrugged her shoulders and looked at Marble.
Marble rubbed her chin for a second and then gasped with wide eyes before she rushed over and started to whisper into Pinkie’s ear. As Pinkie heard each word that her younger twin was saying, her eyes started to widen and an open mouth smile formed. Pinkie then gasped as she turned around to hug Marble. “You are a genius!” Pinkie declared. “I’ve been thinking about this the wrong way I need to be excited that this is my biggest holiday challenge I've ever faced!” She hugged Marble again with a cheer as she prepared to leave, “And I am up to it, I know I'm good at gift-giving, but am I the best at gift-giving?” she asked as she rubbed her chin before she exited the room.
“Who would say they're the best at gift-giving?” Limestone asked cutting to the matter, “That's ridiculous.” she added as she leaned against the wall.
Marble then in a barely audible whisper said “Orks?” she asked.
Pinkie then turned back to face her sisters, “Marble, you're right! Orks would say they're the best at gift-giving!” she declared. “If anybody knows what to do, it's them!” she said as she brought her fist into the palm of her hand and then dressed to travel. “I gotta go to Yakyakistan! I’ll be back for the day of Heart’s Warming Eve! Thanks! These Pie sister talks are the best!” she then gave each of her sisters a smooch on their cheeks and left.
Maud noticed that Limestone didn’t rub her cheek, “You left Pinkie’s kiss on.” Maud commented.
Limestone shrugged, “It’s Hearths’ Warming,” she said as if it was nothing, “But if your boyfriend says ‘Well Technically or Actually or whatever, he won’t be seeing the new year.”
“I’ll make sure he understands,” Maud replied in her deadtone voice, but there was a slight hint of fear.
Limestone then turned to Marble, “Now you might be okay that Sugar Bell is here, but if Big Mac doesn’t get his priority straits he won’t have a tail to move, like a cedar or otherwise.” Marble gave a scarred ‘Mhmm.’ with a nod.
As Twilight was trying to figure out the best gifts for Pinkie and Flash, and Pinkie was en route to the train station, Rainbow and Fluttershy were walking among the stores. “Okay, what about your favorite food?” Rainbow asked as she leaned towards Fluttershy’s side as they looked a food stand.
“Ooh. I couldn't pick just one.” Fluttershy said as she turned to Rainbow as she slightly shut her eyes as if she wanted to not cry, “What if it hurt the other foods' feelings?” she asked with a faint hint of her heart starting to slightly break.
Rainbow rolled her eyes with a small groan, “Riiiiight…” she trailed off. She then took a small breath, “But there's gotta be something you really, really like.” she tried to ask and get information from Fluttershy.
“I really, really like…” Fluttershy trailed off as she started to think for a couple of seconds. “Everything!” she declared with excitement like some burden was removed from her shoulders. She then looked squarely at Rainbow and tilted her head slightly, “Why do you ask?”
Rainbow looked with her eyes three times in a clear panic, “Juuuust getting gift ideas.” she started before she realized she needed more, but she had no idea how to throw off that she wasn’t asking Fluttershy about Fluttershy, “Uh, for my person. Who isn't you.” the second part she said way too quickly for it to be true. She then paused for too long before she tried to ask a different question, or ask a different way, “So, uh, is there anything you don't like?”
Fluttershy held her chin with her hand and thought for a second, “Hmmm…” she replied. “Not liking things!” the druid answered her friend with a closed-eyes closed-mouth smile. Rainbow then groaned and flew off. Fluttershy waved goodbye “I hope that helped!” she shouted to her friend. Fluttershy then opened her eyes and sighed. “Sorry Rainbow,” she said as she took out her piece of paper, which had ‘Rainbow Dash’ written on it. “But I can’t shop for you if you’re always by my side.” She then pocketed the piece as she looked down.
“Hey Fluttershy,” came Applejack’s voice as the paladin approached her. “You finally got Rainbow to dash,” she commented.
“And everyone thinks that Spike has the subtlety of a freight train.” The druid replied as she sighed as she confessed to the paladin. “I don’t know if I can shop in town.”
Applejack sighed, “Well, my plans for Spike’s gift fell through, the comic I preordered was canceled before publication at the last minute.” The paladin then kicked the ground.
Fluttershy gave a ‘hmph’ for a second and then gasped as she had an idea, “I think I have a solution,”
Applejack gave a shrug and nod, “Why not?” she asked rhetorically.
Fluttershy smiled, “Met me at the train station tomorrow morning.” the druid said before she started to fly off. Applejack only shook her head before heading home.
At one of the stores, about an hour after leaving Fluttershy in frustration, as the sun was starting to set, Rainbow exited one with a candelabra with three candles on it, “Candle. Great. Whatever. Fluttershy-shopping done.” she said in a cross of boredom, frustration, and annoyance as if she was just done with the day.
“Ugh. You can't honestly be serious.” came Discord’s voice as his face appeared on the main candle of the candelabra.
Rainbow’s eyes shot wide open and three the candelabra as she screamed, “Ghost candle!” the candelabra Discord hit a wall with a thud.
After landing on the ground Discord changed to his ‘tamed’ human form, “Oh, Dashie, Dashie,” he started with a ‘tutu’. “A candle is what you buy when you have no idea what to get somebody.” the avatar of chaos said as he picked up the candelabra and gave it Rainbow as the elementalist landed next to him.
Rainbow groaned as she accepted the candelabra, “What do you want, Discord?” she opted to not deal with formalities with Discord.
Discord vanished in a poof before he reappeared dressed in large red pants, a red shirt, a fake beard, and a red hat with white truffles and a bell in his hand, “Fluttershy told me about this Hearth's whatever-it's-called.” he informed as he rang the bell. He then leaned to be in Rainbow’s face, “I may not be invited, but I wanted to make sure she gets a quality gift.” he said as he picked up a garbage can and opened it.
Rainbow snorted in clear irritation, “I tried asking her what she likes,” she informed, “but she likes everything.” the elementalist groaned.
Discord shook his head, “Well, she says that, but her real friends know what she actually likes.” the lord of chaos commented as if he was the master on the subject of being friends.
Rainbow hovered right up to Discord’s face, “I've known her a lot longer than you have.” she countered in what was clearly an attempt to assert her own mastery and her relationship with Fluttershy.
Discord then poofed a flock of sheep as he held a hoop for them to jump through, with himself dressed no too dissimilar from a Ringmaster, “Then you must surely know that lit candles around adorably flammable animals make her nervous, don't you?” he asked as the sheep jumped throw the hoop bleating all the while.
Rainbow groaned as she threw the candelabra away and started to fly away, “Fine. I'll get her something else.” she bemoaned.
As she was flying home, Discord, dressed in a long red scarf, a brown helmet and google like the ones worn by the Wonderbolts with a small steering wheel in his hands, “Perhaps I'll tag along to steer you in the right direction.” he joked as he turned to his right and caught Rainbow Dash in the air.
“Whoa!” Rainbow shouted before she managed to break free from Discord. “Fine you can tag along, meet me at my place in the morning, I need to get some sleep,” the elementalist said before she started to fly home. Discord had a small chuckle and smirk on his face as he watched Rainbow leave.
About the same time as Rainbow was heading home, Flash and Spike had finished about half of the decorating. “That’s enough for today,” Flash said as the two stopped. “Should we check on Twilight?” Flash asked as he turned to the
Spike shook his head, “Her and research, not even Celestia can pull her from it.” Flash took a few seconds to think and in the end nodded. “How about I show you to your guest room?” Spike asked. Flash nodded and the two then headed off to bed.