//------------------------------// // 26~Hearths Warming Eve // Story: Youngblood // by Centurion Pike-Wall //------------------------------// December 24th, 3095 Imperial Calender (1522 AD) Scootaloo's house "When are Mom and Dad getting here?", Rainbow asked, adjusting her short, red dress. Scootaloo shook her head, pinning the simple brass earrings in her ears. "Nervous?" "No", Rainbow said. "I just want to get this over with." After a bit of silence, Rainbow sighed, shaking her head. "Look. You know my opinion on them." "Course I do", Scootaloo said, moving her head to get a better view of her head in her bathroom mirror. "But you don't have to interact with them. Keep your distance, I'll make sure they keep their distance." "Thanks, sis", Rainbow said. She reached into her small toiletries bag, pulling out a small, black plastic packet and a brush. "Now, you done in there? If I have to go, I'll at least look good." "The Great Rainbow Dash, wearing make-up?", Scootaloo teased, backing away. Rainbow snorted, pulling opening the packet and beginning to apply a blush slightly darker than her coat. "Sis. I'm still a mare. Hell, I used to go on secret spa trips when I still lived here." "Really?", Scootaloo asked, turning her head in surprise. "Yeah", Rainbow said. "Where did you think I disappeared to on Monday? Never thought I'd see Aloe with that Con-artist, but I digress. Yeah, I like to look pretty sometimes. What of it?" "Nothing", Scootaloo said. "Just not like you, I guess." "Whatever", Rainbow said. "Just go make sure the others are ready." Scootaloo pushed past the door out of her, heading downstairs. In her living room, the others were all waiting, working on a puzzle. Well, except for Castus, who was keeping an eye on Ignis Tempestus and Speed Streak. The Pryhans were all wearing formal clothing; Catalia was wearing a simple green dress while the others were wearing white shirts, vests, and ties. Rumble, looking up from the puzzle, asked, "You guys know you're over-dressed, right? I mean, I don't think anypony will be wearing anything." "Are you familiar with the phrase, 'Dress to impress'?", Depressi asked. "Plus", Castus said. "No offense, but it's freezing out there! The extra layers should help." "That's reasonable", Scootaloo said. A knock on the door interuppted the conversation. Moving to the door, Scootaloo opened it before a warm smile came over her face. "Mom! Dad!" "Hello, honey!", Bow Hothoof said, pushing her away from the door as he wrapped his wings around her in a hug. Windy Whistles followed in behind him, shutting the door and asking, "So, where's my Dashie?" "Here, mom", Rainbow said coming down the stairs. "You know, you don't have to call me that. Especially in public." "Not a chance", Windy said, hugging her. "I missed you." "Good to see you too, mom", Rainbow said, returning it. "Now, are we gonna get this over with?" "I guess so", Rumble said, grabbing a beanie he had set down next to him. "Scoots. I'll take Speedie, you take the presents?" "Got it", Scootaloo said. As she scooped up the several boxes and placed them on her back, she saw Rainbow slide a few small items into her cloak. "What're those?" "What, you thought I didn't bring anything?", Rainbow said. "They're for Twilight and her family." "That's our daughter", Bow said. "Thanks, dad", Rainbow said, before tightening the clasp on her cloak and letting out a deep breath. "Alright. Let's get this over with." +++++~+++++ Depressi knocked on the door of the Golden Oaks Library. After a few seconds, Shadowlock answered the door, wearing a green and red sweater instead of his usual brown cloak. He said, "Oh, hey! Happy Hearths Warming!" "Happy Hearths Warming", Scootaloo said. "Well, don't just stand in the cold", Shadowlock said. "Come in. You can set any presents below the tree upstairs. We'll do the Sparkle 'Open one before Hearths Warming Day' in a bit." "Isn't that... cheating?", Castus asked. Shadowlock said, "I mean, I guess? It's Twi's family's tradition." The group entered into the main floor of the library, noticing several other ponies mingling around a small punch table and a few games. As the Pryhans hung up their cloaks, Catalia asked Shadowlock, "How'd the present thing even come about?" "I don't know", Shadowlock said. "I'm the fiction book nerd, as it's been said." Rainbow said, "Alright. Everyone enjoy themselves as best you can. I'll keep an eye on Ignis." As the others split up, spreading out around the room, Rainbow looked down at her infant daughter, smiling ever so slightly. "Can't be too bad, right? Come on, let's go find some foals your age." +++++~+++++ Catalia went over to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, a small smile on her face. She said, "Salve, Amicus", drawing their attention away from the game they were playing. "Oh, hey Catalia", Cherry said, springing up and rushing over to her, dropping something as she did so. "This is perfect! Catalia, meet Rising Dawn. Rising Dawn, Catalia!" Cherry pointed at a light grey colt with a curved horn and black mane with blue streaks sat opposite from Catalia. He said, "Oh, hi." "Salve", Catalia said. "Y-your name sounds familiar." "Well, I'd imagine so", Rising said. "Mom and dad aren't exactly ones for blending in." Grace said, "Oh, for... his parents are Celestia and Sombra. Really, Rising. Why do you play these games?" "For the record, I only do them around you", Rising said. "And only because it's funny." "A-ave, Princeps", Catalia said, bowing her head and saluting him. Rising straightened up, waving his hoof in an upward motion and said, "Rise." As Catalia did so, he laughed, knocking aside a small stack of cards that sat in between him and Styx. "Oh, I've always wanted to do that." Catalia said, "R-right. So, what're you guys doing?" "Playing Monopony", Silver said. "Rising brought it with him." "Monopony?", Catalia asked, peering over Fritters shoulder. The foals sat around a white and blue cardboard board, with small squares outlined in black around the outside border of it. Each of the foals had a small collection of cards and plastic bits next to them, while a few of the spaces had small plastic markers on them. A collection of small tin icons were placed around the boxes, while each box had a small name and the picture of a building. Catalia didn't need to read the names to know what the game was. "It's... a knockoff of Capitale Lucra?" "A knockoff of what?", Styx asked. "Capitale Lucra", Catalia said. "It means 'Capital Gains'. It's a Pryhan board game." "I... guess it is then", Rising said. "Is that a problem?" "No", Catalia said as she pushed up her glasses with a smile. "This is actually the only board game I'm good at." "Well alright then", Fritter said. "We'll start over. Come on." "Whyyyyy!?", Cherry said. "We can just deal her in." "Y'all don't wanna do it cause ya got Bridleway", Fritter said. Cherry smiled sheepishly and giggled, but nodded. The foals gave Rising the bits and cards, who shuffled them around and put them back in the plastic bins. As he he gave the bits to Styx, Catalia noticed how both foals looked awkwardly at one another, a blush on their faces. Grace whispered, "You noticed it too?" "What?", Catalia asked. "Styx has a crush", Grace whispered in a singsong voice. "Alright, roll for initiative", Styx said. +++++~+++++ "So dear, how do you like school in Ponyville?", Princess Cadence asked her daughter. DJ skirted around the edge of her, Flurry, and Shining Armor, heading for the snack table. He grabbed one of the green, red and white cookies, sniffing it before tearing off a chunk. As he chewed, he heard Flurry ask, "It's fine. Ponies are nice, the weather's nice, and I don't have your soldiers on every corner or in every bush." "Oh, that's good to hear", Cadence said. "But, are you sure you don't want to come back for the next semester? I mean, Glamour misses you, and you know that Professor Moondancer always loved you in her class." "Mom, Moondancer hates me", Flurry said. "I mean, remember when I put her hair down? She went ballistic." As the two of them spoke, DJ heard someone clear their throat. Looking over, he saw Shining Armor looking at him with a sheepish smile. "Sorry. I was trying to get your attention, but you didn't seem to notice." DJ tapped the scar on his brow, right below his milky white right eye. He said, "I am... I can't see out of this eye. Didn't see you." "Right", Shining said. "I was just told that I shouldn't touch you without your permission, and-" "It is fine, Princeps", DJ said. "Now, you need something?" "Oh, right. Well, your mom told me that you were a Gladiator?", Shining asked. DJ nodded. "School team for about two years. Why?" "Well, I was just wondering if I could ask you a few questions", Shining said. "You see, I got a pony in the Empire asking about starting up a Gladiatorial Team for the Empire." "Really?", DJ asked, genuine interest poking through his usual quiet indifference. "I didn't know the Empire did any sort of marshal sports." "Well, the natural born citizens-the ones around during the Sombrian era-do enjoy a good joust", he said. "But, no. Nothing like you guys have." "So, who's proposing the team? Immigrant?", DJ asked. Shining shook his head. "No. I met with the pony who proposed it. She's a native. Not a Crystal Pony, but still says she's a native." "Really", DJ asked. "What's she like?" "Well, she really likes the Pryhans", Shining said. "She's a bit... abrasive, but she's not that bad of a pony. Fights ok too, albeit a bit stiffly, I guess." DJ flicked his good eye towards Flurry Heart and Cadence, who had migrated over towards the tree with the glowing purple bonfire. DJ said, "Ok." Shining nodded and said, "Alright, so how many ponies need to be on it to qualify?" "At least two", DJ said. "My team is fourteen, and it's recommended in the School League to have at least ten, but two is the minimum. And if the lower the number, the more types of styles they need to be versed in to apply to fight certain opponents." +++++~+++++ Rainbow Dash spotted Apple Bloom sitting on a stool in a corner of the main floor. Next to her was a multi-colored plastic wall, mild babbling coming from inside. Trotting over, Rainbow peered over the edge of it to see it was filled with several foal-friendly toys. Speaking of foals, she saw four of them inside, playing with the toys. One was her niece, who was trying to squeeze a circle into a square peg on one of the plastic shapes blocks. The next was a young dragoness with dark purple scales, a light green underbelly, and blue spines who was bouncing a blow-up ball against the far wall. Another was a silver colt with a white mane that had pink streaks, who was building with blocks. The final one, who was helping the colt, was a yellow foal with a poofy pink mane. Rainbow whispered to her daughter, "Go on, Ignis. Go play with your cousin." As she set Ignis in the playpen, Apple Bloom asked, "Your daughter, ah'm guessin'?" "My youngest. Ignis Tempestus", Rainbow said, looking over at Apple Bloom. She noticed a yellow-orangish coat and purple mane held in Apple Bloom's grip, suckling at her teats. "And who's this?" "Mah foal", Apple Bloom said, as if for the first time fully realizing the weight of it. "He's just a few months old. Ah'm not really comfertable puttin' him with the others since they're so much older than him." "What's his name?", Rainbow asked. "Jazz Apple. Me and Tender Taps had a bet. If it was a filly, ah'd get to name 'er. Course, he's a colt, and Tender just loves yer music, so..." She said, trailing off into a giggle. "The same thing actually happened with Catalia", Rainbow said. Both of them shared a laugh, before Rainbow turned back to the playpen. "So, care to introduce me to the others?" "Sure. Ah'm watchin' um, might as well", Apple Bloom said, pointing to the foals. "The dragon's Magma; that's Spike and Ember's kid. The colt is Polished Gleam; Silver Spoon and Sweetie's foal. And-" "That one's Lil' Cheese!", Pinkie Pie said, popping up next to her. Rainbow slammed her wing into Pinkie's throat and kicked out her knee, sending her tumbling to the floor. Rainbow stopped herself before attacking her further, folding her wings and fixing Pinkie with a withering glare. Rainbow looked up when she heard a pony clear her throat. She saw two ponies looking at the two of them; one she recognized as Cheerilee and a pony she recognized as Cheese Sandwich. Cheerilee, who had cleared her throat, said, "I'd... like to say sorry for that." "You didn't pop up behind me", Rainbow said, glaring over her nose at Pinkie. Pinkie popped up, shrugging off the blow as if it didn't happen. "Oh, I'm sorry Dashie. I was just so happy to see you again, and you were talking about my little colt, and-" She was interuppted by Rainbow Dash, who this time used her wing to cover Pinkies mouth. "Go blather to someone who cares", Rainbow said, shoving her away. Pinkie turned back to say something, only to be stopped by Cheerilee. While the two mares whispered to one another, Cheese Sandwich came up to her. "Hey", he said. Rainbow said, "Salve." "You know, Pinks said a lot about you", he said. "I was just wondering about how much of it's true." "If I'm around her or my... former, friends? Basically none of it is", Rainbow said, looking down at her daughter. Ignis and Speed Streak had been joined by Lil' Cheese, giggling and playing with the stuffed animals inside. Rainbow smiled, before looking back at the yellow stallion. "But I like to think I haven't changed too much."