It was the Hearth's Warming season in Equestria and up in the Frozen North, in the Crystal Empire, the holiday celebrations were just as festive and happy as everywhere else, ponies going about putting up decorations and doing some last minute shopping. While others yet were at home, spending it with their families and that was true for the royals of the kingdom, well some of them at least...
"Daddy, when is mommy going to come?" A little pegasus filly asked her father, who was a light goldish gray pegasus, the two currently finishing up decorating their Hearth's Warming tree in the large living room for the royals in the palace.
"She'll be here very soon Cinnamon Heart, your mommy has a lot to do, she is a princess remember?" The stallion, who was Pound Cake, answered.
"But it's Hearth's Warming, mommy should be here today with us." The filly named Cinnamon Heart complained.
"I feel the same way sweetie, but we both knew what we got into, especially me, I knew what my life would be like when I got together with your mother, but I still love her very much and don't regret it." Pound Cake sighed as he thought about his life. "You know sweetie, while we wait for your mother, why don't I tell you the story of when we shared our first kiss, it was actually 15 years ago, on Hearth's Warming...
15 Years ago…
The Crystal Empire was once more preparing for Hearth's Warming and both Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor were busy overseeing everything and making sure things would run smoothly for every crystal pony in the kingdom. And meanwhile, their 13 year old daughter, the very young princess Flurry Heart, was tagging along as she had to really start learning how to handle things herself when her mother passed rulership of the kingdom to her. As the royal family trotted down the streets, a few guards with them, checking in on all the necessary preparations and making sure everything was in order, they saw a family who didn't live in the kingdom. Smiling the royal family went up to them.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Cake, what are you doing here?" Cadance asked politely.
"Well, we decided to spend Hearth's Warming here this year, a change of scenery for our family." Mrs. Cake answered.
"Well, we're glad you're here, why don't you stay at the palace, as our guests." Shining Armor suggested.
Ever since the Cakes had helped Cadance and Shining Armor put together their surprise announcement about them having a baby, the two families have been friends with each other, the royals often putting in catering orders to the family for their own events in the kingdom, which really did help Sugarcube Corner grow, the business the Cakes owned.
"Oh no, we don't want to be a burden to you..." Mr. Cake replied as he felt rather embarrassed.
"No please, it will be our pleasure and treat, plus it will be nice to have some new faces around." Cadance trying to convince them.
"Well, as long as you don't mind, I guess we'll take your offer." Mrs. Cake smiled.
Mr. and Mrs. Cake have also brought along their 14 year old twins, Pumpkin and Pound Cake, who were currently talking to Flurry, and just like their parents, the twins and Flurry have become very good friends, Pound Cake was especially a very good friend to Flurry...
"Okay Pound, just play it cool, you got this." Pound said very confidently in his head.
"Oh it's so good to see you two, Pumpkin and Pound, things have been so busy that I'm really looking to spending the holiday with a couple of my friends." Flurry smiled as she and Pumpkin shared a hug.
"It's good to see you too Flurry." Pumpkin added as he two let go of their hug, Flurry then turning to Pound.
"And you're looking good Pound, nice to see you." Flurry staring right at Pound's eyes.
"Yes, it's nice to see you too Flurry." Pound said quite easily, not breaking a sweat as he remained confident and calm. "Nailed it." Pound said in his head.
As the families returned together to the palace, the Cake family was treated right, given their own guest rooms for the duration of their visit. As Cadance and Shining Armor help Mr. and Mrs. Cake, Flurry was helping Pumpkin and Pound in settling into their rooms. As Flurry first helped Pumpkin, then Pound, the pegasus colt was very much calm and cool while sharing a conversation with his crush.
"So Flurry, you're staring to become an official princess now, I bet all the colts are trying to win you over now." Pound said without any fear in his voice.
"Well yes, but I'm not very interested in any of them, they're not really into my true personality, they just see a pretty princess, but I am into one colt, who's super nice and handsome..." Flurry teased, Pound having this feeling it was him.
"Oh, who is it?" Pound asked, but knowing Flurry wouldn't tell.
"I'm not telling you, it's a secret." Flurry replied.
"Wait, so mom liked another colt, how did you and mommy get together than?" Cinnamon asked.
"No sweetie, that colt is your father." A new voice answered before Pound could, a light pink alicorn entering the living room, looking a little tired as she sat down besides Pound Cake, giving him a kiss on the cheek, Pound blushing bright red.
"Mommy, you're here!" Cinnamon said loudly as she hugged the alicorn. "Daddy was telling me the story of when you two shared your first kiss."
"Oh... Was he now..." The alicorn, who was of course Flurry, said slowly as she looked at her husband, who was starting to sweat from nervousness.
"Yes I was..." Pound chuckled. "Why don't you finish the story for Cinnamon honey..."
"No, I think the two of us would like to hear your side of the story, don't we sweetie?" Flurry asking her daughter.
"Yeah daddy, go on." Cinnamon giving puppy dog eyes to her father.
"Okay..." Pound nervously said as he knew Flurry wouldn't necessarily agree with his side, which wasn't entirely true... "As I was saying..."
"Oh come on, can't you give me at least a hint?" Pound pleaded.
"Sorry, but no." Flurry chuckled. "Well, I should get going to my parents, don't want them to keep waiting for me." Flurry said as she then left the room leaving behind the colt.
"I got to do something to make her admit it..." Pound said as he left the room to go to the room besides his', which was his sister's. "Hey sis, you got a minute?"
"Yeah sure brother, what's up?" Pumpkin said.
"When Flurry was here, did she talk about having a crush on somecolt?" Pound asked.
"Yes she did and if you're here to ask who it is, forget it, I'm not saying anything." Pumpkin looking straight through her brother. "I made a filly promise to Flurry that I can't break."
"Oh come on, not even this one?" Pound complained. "I'm your brother for pony's sake."
"Nope, sorry brother, but you're just going to have to find out yourself." Pumpkin teased.
"Alright fine..." Pound said as he turned around and left the room. "But I'm pretty sure it's me." Pound continued in his head.
Later on, Mr. and Mrs. Cake left to spend some time on their own, but both Pumpkin and Pound wanted to spend their time with Flurry. The three young ones trotting about in the palace, catching up as they saw the palace staff finishing up the many decorations along the halls, like wreaths, lights... Mistletoes... And seeing those specific decorations gave Pound an idea as he turned to see his sister and Flurry sharing a conversation with each other.
"Hey sis, do you mind if Flurry and I share some time alone, catch up on things ourselves?" Pound asked his sister.
"Why?" Flurry questioned.
"Yeah, why..." Pumpkin having this feeling from her brother.
"Well, I'm her friend too." Pound pointed out. "Come on sis, don't hog her to yourself."
"Okay fine..." Pumpkin replied. "Lover boy..." Pumpkin quietly whispered to her brother's ear before leaving.
So with Pumpkin gone, and Flurry and Pound alone together, there was first silence between them as Flurry found herself blushing a little as Pound kept on his confidence for Flurry.
"So, princess, look at you, growing up and more beautiful with each passing day, are all alicorns this pretty?" Pound said cooly as Flurry blushed more.
"Well, I try my best, I do brush my hair every day." Flurry answered as she found herself stroking her mane with her hooves. "Why don't we trot and talk?" Flurry suggested as she felt her legs feel a bit light.
As the two continued on with their talk, Pound eventually saw what he was aiming for up ahead, a mistletoe hanging above the end of the hallway the two were currently trotting through, to a new room, with no way around. As they were very close, Pound stopped Flurry.
"Oh look, a mistletoe." Pound pointed out causally, like he just noticed.
"So it is..." Flurry knowing what was coming.
"Don't ponies have to kiss in some way when under it?" Pound asking.
"Well, my mother, being the expert at love, does say so..." Flurry saying as she turned to look at Pound, who did the same exact thing as the two were looking right at each other.
"Alright Pound, now's the time, take it." Pound told himself in his head. "Hey Flurry, I know that you're the one who has a crush on me and well it's time I finally tell you, I like you very much and I want to be more than friends with you, if you want to." Pound taking one of Flurry's hooves with her's.
"I want the same Pound Cake, I really like you too." Flurry blushing as she started coming froward as Pound did the same, coming froward as they were about to touch muzzles with each other...
"And that's how it went, well at least how I remembered it..." Pound awkwardly finished as Cinnamon looked like she did enjoy the story, but Flurry was rather unconvinced...
"That was a great story daddy, you really did tell mom all that?" Cinnamon asked.
"Well sweetie, your father did admit his feelings about me, but what your father told you isn't exactly all true..." Flurry looking at her husband. "For one thing, your father wasn't so confident about it at all..."
"What are you talking about honey... It's totally true..." Pound starting to sweat a little.
"No, it isn't..." Flurry shaking her head. "Well, now that you heard your father's side sweetie, I think it's time I tell you my side sweetie and how it really happened..."
And so with Flurry clearing her throat and the family relaxing, Flurry began her side of the events in the next Chapter.