The following day, fairly early in the morning, Fluttershy and Applejack stepped off the train in a field area next to a waterfall that could easily be mistaken to be a rainbow. “Ever time I run out of ideas for Hearth’s Warming gifts I come to the Rainbow Falls Hearth's Warming Craft Fair. You can find the perfect presents for anybody.” the druid said as the two walked off the station’s platform to a site of many booths and stalls not too dissimilar in structure to the ones that were in Magiville the day before. That being said many things were on sale that the two noted were not in Magivillie.
Applejack took a breath as she took a good long look at everything from the station, “Hopefully, for a certain dragon.” the paladin said with a weak smile. She then turned to Fluttershy, “Maybe we should split up?” she offered. Fluttershy nodded in agreement. “Meet back here in a couple of hours?” Applejack asked. Fluttershy nodded and the two parted ways.
Within half an hour, as Fluttershy was at a stand with Wonderbolt fan-creations a man with a large brown mustache dressed in an ugly sweater of two shades of green with a set of glasses and a green winter hunting hat ran by her “Oh, no! There's only a few left!” he shouted.
The voice sounded familiar but Fluttershy couldn’t place it as she was drawn to where he was headed with a fair other people that were chattering in slight excitement as they all headed to a stand, there was a man with gray hair and mustache behind the stand, dressed in a gray short sleeve button shirt, black pants and a red vest with glasses. “Ladies and gentlemen, we want you all to have the best holiday your bits can buy! But there are only a limited number left!”
Fluttershy couldn’t place it, but the man behind the stand also sounded familiar, yet her curiosity got the better of her, “Limited number of what?” she asked as she flew up.
The man behind the stand turned his focus to Fluttershy, “Ma’am, you seem like someone looking for a gift for a special friend.” Fluttershy nodded as she approached. “A friend who wouldn't want to miss out on the must-have gift everybody is talking about?” he asked as Fluttershy was drawn in.
Fluttershy rubbed her chin, “She certainly wouldn't wanna miss out on that.” she replied after a second of thought.
The man smirked as there was a glimmer in his eye as he remembered Fluttershy, which Fluttershy didn’t seem to note. “A truly awesome friend who deserves something twenty percent cooler than any other gift out there?” he asked as if he was reading Fluttershy.
“That sounds just like her!” Fluttershy declared in excitement as if she had found what she was looking for as she was the stand of the booth, her hands on the bar.
The man smiled as he reached under the bar, “Well, look no further! This is it! Holly the Hearth Warmer!” he declared as he pulled out a box.
“Ooh! Ooh! How much does it cost?!” Fluttershy asked as she found the perfect gift for Rainbow this year.
The man smirked, as if he got Fluttershy, hook, line, and sinker, “How much do you have?”
As Fluttershy was drawn into the pitch for the doll, in Yakyakistan, the orks were piling old wooden things to be smashed into what looked like a large pile for a massive bonfire. After one ork threw an old stool on to the pile, “Yojan!” bellowed Prince Rutherford at the last ork to throw an item on the pile. The prince then Is that good angle for optimal smashing?!” The other ork, Yojan, whimpered as he stepped aside. Prince Rutherford shook his head and was about to sigh when his eyes were covered by a pair of human hands.
“Guess who!” challenged the owner in her fun-loving way.
Rutherford had a hearty chuckle, “Honorary ork, Pinkie Pie.” He said as he got her off his back. “Good to see Pink Haired Human,” he said as the two hugged.
As they ended the hug, Pinkie smiled at her royal friend, “Good to see you too, Rutherford,” she then turned to the take in her surroundings as she noted the Winter Solstice observance of the orks was underway, “I am sorry if I am interrupting Snilldar Feast,” she apologized.
Rutherford gave a deep laugh, “Pink Haired Human, honorary ork, all orks welcomed to Snilldar Feast.” he said as he patted her on the head. He then did a quick take before leaning in to whisper into Pinkie’s ear, “Please tell Prince Rutherford that Pinkie not here to give Yona school work to be done over break?”
Pinkie giggled before she took a step back and then patted Rutherford on his shoulder, “Oh, Prince Rutherford, I am not here for Yona. I need your help."
Rutherford then gave a deep laugh in relief, "Then Honorary Ork came to the right place, how can Princes Rutherford help Pink Haired Human?"
Pinkie took a second to formulate her question, “Can you tell me where to find…” she trailed off as she put on her ‘honorary ork helm’ from her hair, “best gift ever?!” she shouted in a clear but affectionate imitation of the works way of speaking. Her voice echoed for what seemed to be miles.
As the echo died, there was a cawing of crows while everyone looked to Pinkie. Rutherford cleared his throat before he took Pinkie by the hand, “Not here! Follow this way!” he said in a whispered before he pulled Pinkie into his hut. Once inside he shut the tent, Rutherford turned to Pinkie and whispered, “Prince Rutherford about to tell honorary ork friend something very top secret.”
Pinkie grabbed a stool and leaned in, paying as much attention as can be to the words she was about to hear, “Honorary ork friend listening.” she replied.
Rutherford took a deep breath, Pinkie could tell that he didn’t want to say this, and telling her this was a sigh of greatest trust between him and her, “Orks not best at giving gifts.” he whispered, fast and soft enough so that only Pinkie could hear. The jester’s mouth dropped in shock as she gasped. Rutherford took another stool and sat next to her, “Rutherford know! It hard to believe!” he said as he placed his hand on Pinkie’s shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. Pinkie sighed as her hair started to deflate and her skin dulled a shade or two. Rutherford got up and went to a chest as he looked for something. After a few seconds, he returned to the stool with a scroll. “But, no worry, honorary ork. Prince Rutherford has good news.” he then unrolled the scroll showing that it was a map from Yakyakistan to the very northern tip of the world. At the tip was a stylized cabin surrounded by evergreens, patches of grass and hot springs. Above the cabin was a stylized rendering of an aurora borealis. As Pinkie accepted the map, “Best gift-givers up northern pass, where sky shimmers and glows. There, secret gift giver grove. Only ork princes and pink honorary ork know.” Rutherford informed as he traced the path on the map to the grove.
Pinkie pulled out a piece of paper and pen, made a copy of the map on it, rolled up and returned the original map, nodded and left the hut. She had her mission, to find the Gift Givers.
As Pinkie left Yakyakistan on her quest to find the Gift Givers of the Grove, Rarity stood in line at the Magiville post office front desk. She rang the little bell on the counter and waited until Brighteyes, dressed in the Mystican mailperson blue uniform, came to the front, “Oh, hi, Rarity. How can I help you?” Brighteyes asked as she greeted Rarity.
Rarity cleared her throat, “I know the post office is extraordinarily busy, but I expected a package today, and I was wondering where that might be.” Rarity asked as she tried to get to the heart of the matter.
Brighteyes nodded before she picked up a list for deliveries, “Let’s see, orders place by Rarity, can I get you family name, just to make sure?” Brighteyes asked.
Rarity sighed, “Crumbles-Flanks,” she stated reluctantly.
Brighteyes then looked at the list, after a while, “Here we go! It was delivered earlier today to Sweet Apple Temple.” the muffinmancer informed with a smile on her face.
Rarity blinked at that information in shock and horror, “What?!” she asked in shock, “It was supposed to be delivered to my Boutique!” the enchantress declared.
Brighteyes blinked at the Rarity’s reaction in utter confusion, “Um... okay... but... you see there was a note that said it was for Applejack, and she is at Sweet Apple Temple.
Rarity wanted to growl and tear the place apart, but she took a deep breath which she let out slow. “That is quite right, Brighteyes, indeed the package, or more accurately the contents of the package is for Applejack,” Rarity emphasized that Brighteyes, and by extension the Mystical Postal service, was correct about the final destination of the item, “but I will be delivering it,” she informed, as it was her task to give it to Applejack. “Because it’s my Hearth’s Warming gift from me to her.” she elaborated.
Brighteyes then gasped at the realization, “What if she opens it?!” the mail-woman panicked at the mistake that was made. “It shouldn't go to Sweet Apple Temple!” she said before noticed that there was something off in the address that the package was delivered to. Brighteyes pulled out a magnifying glass and started to re-read, “Oh! Wait!” she said while she read. Once she read the text, she lowered the glass, “It went to Sweet Acorn Orchard instead!” she said and had a slight laugh as a relief and then sighed, “That's a relief.” she then sighed.
Rarity was about to shout but she stopped herself and took a calming breath, “Brighteyes, darling, might I inquire as to why is that a relief?!” she asked as she tried to have her ire not take over.
Brighteyes shook her head with a smile, “Because Applejack's not in Sweet Acorn Orchard,” the mail-woman informed. At no time had Rarity want to facepalm so bad, but such actions were not becoming of a lady. Brighteyes saw Rarity’s tension, “Do you want me to get the package and deliver it to your home?” she asked as she wanted to make amends for the error.
Rarity sighed, “That will not be necessary,” she said as she placed a piece of paper in front of Brighteyes, “If you wouldn’t mind giving me the address for Sweet Acorn Orchard, then I’ll collect the package myself. If that’s not too much to ask?” Rarity requested. Brighteyes shook her head and jotted done the address and directions to Sweet Acorn Orchard. Once she finished it. “Thank you, darling and Happy Hearths’ Warming to you and yours.” Rarity said as she took the piece of paper and left the post office.
As Rarity left to catch the next train that would take her to Sweet Acorn Orchards, Rainbow was going from shop to shop with Discord just over her shoulder as she went from store to store. As Rainbow stopped at one of the stores, she gave a massive grin as she looked into the window. Before Rainbow entered the store, “Oh, goodness, no.” he declared. Rainbow groaned with a clear ‘ugh!’ before she flew over towards the next shop, the Magiville Spa. It was the last place for Rainbow to visit. “Even worse!” Discord said as his face occupied the face of a ‘patron’ on a sign with flowing golden hair
Rainbow pulled her hair before she took off her winter cap and threw it to the ground, “Oh for the love of...come on!” Rainbow shouted. She then pointed to the spa, “You and I both know Fluttershy would love a spa day!” she declared, everything with Discord had gone on long enough.
Discord appeared as his human form, “Really?” he asked. “Love the stress of deciding which treatment to get?” he asked as he pointed out Fluttershy’s often indecision on such things. “Love worrying that she's not relaxing enough?” he asked as Fluttershy is known to overthink about relaxing. “Or relaxing too much?” he carried on. “And what about all those sweet animals she's left alone?!” he pointed out that the sheer number of animals that often looked to Fluttershy for care or help. “So much to worry about, and all because of you.” he finished as he pointed out the possible short-sightedness of the Rainbow’s gift.
Rainbow picked up her hat and took three breaths as she tried to calm herself, but Discord was really pushing her buttons. “She's Fluttershy! Everything makes her worry!” Rainbow shouted as she was nearing the end of her wits.
Discord jumped into the air, “Now you sound like somebody who knows her!” he declared as if he was cheering her on.
Rainbow covered her face and groan. She then lowered her hands and pointed at Discord, “Well, if you're such an expert on Fluttershy, what did you get her?” she asked electing to make Discord put his money where his mouth is.
Discord gasped and clutched his chest, “Oh, and you honestly expect me to tell you what I got Fluttershy so that you can one-up me?” he asked as if hurt. He shut his eyes and crossed his arms, “Well, I have half a mind to stop you entirely.” he said as his left half vanished as he turned away from Rainbow.
Rainbow turned her back to Discord, “Good!” she shouted back and started to walk away. “Please stop helping me! I'm begging you!” she declared.
Discord’s left half re-manifested and his eyes darted in a slight panic. However in less then a second he had an idea, “Well, I suppose I could tell you what my backup present was.” he said
“Great.” Rainbow groaned her tone was unmistakably saturated with sarcasm. “Still helping.”
Discord rubbed his chin, “It would've made a lovely addition to her animal sanctuary.” he said as he tried to get Rainbow to turn back, “But you have to be the fastest person in Mystica to even have a chance of—” he was cut off faster than he expected as Rainbow was in right in his face.
“I am the fastest person in Mystica! If there’s some fast animal out there that Fluttershy would love, I’m calling it! Dibs!” she declared.
Discord gave a closed-eyed smile as he took Rainbow’s hand, “If you insist.” he said and snapped his fingers and the two were teleported away.
As Discord had snapped Rainbow and himself from Magiville, Twilight was in the library of the Castle of Friendship, she had many books open and scattered around with many chalkboards full of writing, two of which had van diagrams. One of the chalkboards had Flash’s Aura Mark to denote that she attempted to find the perfect gift for Flash, the other had Pinkie’s and for the same purpose. The van diagram for Flash was mostly full of question marks. Pinkie’s, however, had one circle with Pinkie’s Aura Mark, a few grains of sugar, and a package. Twilight sighed as she turned from Flash’s board, “Sorry, Flash, but I am drawing a blank.” she took a breath and looked at Pinkie’s board, “Now, the ideal gift for Pinkie Pie needs to be A – unique, B – specific to her personality, and C – food-based. What is a unique food that just screams Pinkie? Cupcakes? Nah, too ordinary.” she said as she was finally narrowing on the target.
“Cookies? Nope. Pies? Pastries? Pudding?” she listed off then paused before she gasped. “Wait!” she declared as she thought back to the last thing she listed. “Puuuuuuuuuuuudding!” her voice echoed as she had her eureka. She swiftly picked up a book on the first Hearth’s Warming. Once she found the recording of the first feast, "After defeating the Windigos, the Earthborn, Skyborn, and Magicborn nations prepared the first Hearth's Warming meal together. Chancellor Puddinghead made a pudding so delicious, legends were written about it!" she read. She looked up from the book with a massive grin on her face, “This is it! Puddinghead’s Hearth’s Warming Pudding! Unique, totally Pinkie, the most incredible dessert ever!” Twilight then turned the page and her eyes widen in terror.
As Twilight was flipping through the pages, Flash opened the door to the library, “Hey, honey, I know you’ve been up all night but Spike and I could use some…” he trailed off as he saw Twilight throw the book she was reading to the side.
“Where's the recipe?!” she shouted and then dove into the other books in the library, in search of the recipe for Puddinghead's Hearth’s Warming Pudding.
Flash slowly stepped back and before he cautiously closed the door, “Nevermind, we got it.” With the door shut, “Shining wasn’t kidding, Twily-nanas is real.” he whispered before he left to get back to the decorations.
As Twilight was panicking in her search for the recipe, back in Rainbow Falls, Applejack was going from stand to stand, booth to booth and still finding nothing. She sighed as she sat down next to a stand. “You seem to be at a loss.” came the voice of a man. Applejack turned to see a man with purple hair combed back with the side cut closer than the hair on the top of his head, with blue eyes dressed in a brown heavy leather jacket and blue pants.
Applejack’s mouth dropped over, “Dirk Thistleweed,” she muttered barely audible as her face went red.
The recently identified Dirk chuckled, “I was hoping for a low profile, but that’s me.” he said as he offered his hand to Applejack.
“I am Jackapple…” Applejack then covered her mouth and face as she caught her mistake and wanted to hideaway.
Dirk only smiled, “So Miss Applejack?” he asked. Applejack nodded as she still hid her face. “So looking for a Hearth’s Warming gift?” he asked, another nod from the red delicious face Applejack. “Can I help?”
Applejack removed her hands but had a hard time looking him in the eye, “Yah see, Ah got this friend t’at’s basically meh little brother, he likes comics, Ogres & Oubliettes,” the paladin listed as she tried to regain some small fraction of dignity.
Dirk smiled and had a small chuckle, "Well I think I got a few things." he then turned the stand they were at. "My roommate and I are thinking of moving out of our apparent in Manahattan.”
Applejack laughed, “Ah’ve family there, you two could each buy your own houses in Magiville and be mortgage-free in a could of years.” She then looked at the stand, “Ah take it, ya’ll trying to get rid of stuff yah don’t need.”
Dirk rubbed the back of his neck, “Yeah, needed to clean out my room. Let’s see, he like comics.” Dirk said to himself as he tried to reorganize his stand to find what he was looking for, He then pulled out a small stack of comic books in their protective plastic covers. “Well, I got these.”
Applejack looked at them, “This is the…” she trailed off as she looked at each issue. She then started to laugh, “The ten-issue run of Detective Mary Allen, when Milli-Second lost her power. Spike’s been looking all over for this run,” Applejack then reached into her coin purse before she felt the comics pushed into her chest. Applejack then looked up to see Dirk smile.
“Happy Hearths’ Warming,” he said with a smile.
Applejack smiled as before she hugged and kissed Dirk before leaving, “God bless you!” Applejack shouted as ran away not unlike a schoolgirl that managed to kiss the cheek of the most popular boy in school. With the comic in hand, Applejack returned to the spot for her reunion with Fluttershy. She wondered if this was how it felt to be on cloud nine. It wasn’t that Soarin was … well, there just wasn’t the spark in their relationship that was there the night of the first Grand Gala. It wasn’t from a lack of trying, but … Applejack sighed, “Ah guess it’s time to let everyone know.” she said to herself.
“Tell everyone what?” came the voice of Fluttershy as the druid seemed to sneak up on her.
The paladin cried as she fell to her back startled at the surprise. “Where did you come from?” she asked as she got to her feet.
Fluttershy looked around, “Um, shopping?” she answered as a question. Applejack then saw the box that Fluttershy held, “Aah! What is that?!” she asked in horror as she pointed to what her friend had.
Fluttershy showed her purchase, it was a doll that looked like something Apple Bloom might have stitched together in an hour after a fever dream, after two too many bottles of ciders after not sleeping for four days as a rough proof of concept for a homunculus that the young artificer considered making. Fluttershy smiled, “She’s Holly the Hearth's Warmer doll. Isn't she sweet?” she asked as she looked to the paladin happy with herself. Fluttershy then press the center of the doll’s belly, ‘I love being an expensive toy!’ came the voice of the man who sold the doll.
Applejack could only gag at first, “Are you really sure that was a good gift for Rainbow?” the paladin asked. “Apple Bloom wouldn’t even use that for spare parts.”
Fluttershy gave a huff, “Applejack, it's the must-have gift of the season. And in short supply.” she said before four sets of people walked by with at least two apiece. Applejack gave Fluttershy a bemused look. Fluttershy could only laugh nervously in response.
Applejack took a breath, “How much did that set you back?” she asked. Fluttershy started to open her mouth but stopped as she shut her mouth and looked down in shame. Applejack shook her head, “Ah’ll add the cost for your ticket home tah yah tab.” the paladin said as she reached into a pocket of her sweater and pulled out a small book with Fluttershy’s Aura Mark and an open field.
Fluttershy smiled weakly, “Thanks.”
Applejack then took the box and looked at the doll, “Somethin' about this here doll seems fishy.” she then gagged and covered her nose as she handed it back to Fluttershy, “And I ain't just talkin' about the smell of that plastic. Where'd you get it?” the paladin asked as she regained her sense of smell. Fluttershy pointed to the booth where she purchased the doll. The paladin slid to behind the tent of the booth and saw the man that Fluttershy followed to the booth in the first place with a small chart with more dolls. The two watch and saw inside the tent. In it was Flam as he took off his hat and fake mustache. The other man was Flim who was putting on a wig and mustache.
Applejack stepped back and turned to Fluttershy, “Flim and Flam!” the paladin exclaimed. “How did they... ?” she started to ask, “Tirek, when he drained my magic it must have ended my curse on them,” she said as she brought her palm to her forehead. The paladin then groaned as she turned back to the tent, “What are those two snake oilers up to now?!” Little knowing that she had dropped the comics that she got for Spike when she rejoined Fluttershy.