“Almost Christmas!” Dinky happily jumped about clumsily attempting to use her magic to hang a stocking over the fire place. After several failed attempts Sparkler gave Dinky’s magic a little boost, so the stocking would end up over the fireplace instead of in it. Sparkler smiled as her grey coated younger sister’s eyes lit up with joy. Sparkler looked around the room, she and her foster sister had done a wonderful job of preparing the room. The tree was pretty well decorated; they had managed to avoid breaking any ornaments this year. They had taken care of the normally mountainous piles of laundry that typically occupy the sofa. The two made their way over to the kitchen.
The small kitchen was filled with garlands lining the edges of the roof. A note sat by a festive basket of muffins. Levitating the note Sparkler began reading it to her younger sister.
“To my Dear Little Muffins,
This is always a busy part of the year, so unfortunately I won’t be home till very late tonight. The Doctor may be coming over as a surprise visit, so make sure the house is presentable” Sparkler and Dinky both groaned at this, it would mean more cleaning for them “I left you some muffins (and there is some chocolate milk (its hidden behind the eggnog you two don’t like))” before Sparkler could finish reading Dinky had pulled out a glass and was tossing things out of the fridge. She sloppily poured herself a glass and was munching away on a banana nut muffin. Sparkler sighed and took a towel to mop up the spilled chocolate milk and put all Dinky had taken out away.
Grabbing a blueberry muffin and pouring herself a glass Sparkler continued “If Carrot Top drops by the rent is in the envelope on the coffee table, and her gift is on my nightstand.” Dinky ran off and returned with a pair of envelopes which she set down on the kitchen counter. “I know you have the week off Sparkler, but Miss Rarity said she had something she needed to see you about. She said it was okay to bring Dinky, stay safe out there.
Love,
Mommy
PS Save some muffins for me!”
Folding up the letter Sparkler and Dinky began “cleaning” a process that consisted mostly of shoving everything they could under the sofa.
“Dinky do you feel like a trip to Carousel Boutique?” Dinky looked up from the pile of magazines she was trying to shove into a bookshelf, and rushed off to the closet, returning with her scarf and winter boots before speaking.
“Yes.” Sparkler laughed as she levitated her earmuffs on and then slipped on her warm fuzzy boots. The two sisters walked out, the mild crunch of snow beneath there hooves providing the only noise in this winter stillness. The weather ponies had set up a light snowfall. Dinky pranced about trying to catch snowflakes with her tongue. Sparkler played along but worried. “Is Miss Rarity mad?” she thought to herself “I hope this isn’t about the gems I messed up last week. I’m still new at this my cutie mark is for gems not dresses” She would have continued this line of thought if a sloppily constructed snowball hadn’t smacked her in the face. Looking to see her little sister giggling from behind a bush Sparkler began packing some snow down and returned fire or snow in this case. The two broke into a light trot flinging snowballs back and forth. Eventually Dinky crashing into a snow bank outside Carousel Boutique.
Shaking off the snow the pair of sisters entered the high end dress shop. A small bell rang heralding there entrance.
“Dinky wipe your hooves. Don’t go tracking snow all over the place.” Dinky looked up angrily
“You’re not the boss of me!” Sparkler gave Dinky a look and the little filly reluctantly wiped her hooves on the welcome mat.
“Miss Rarity?”
“Just a moment darling!” a small commotion sounded from upstairs and Rarity emerged carrying four brown paper packages all tied up with string.
“Am I in trouble Miss Rarity?” Sparkler said sheepishly, afraid she was about to lose her job. Rarity gave her a quizzical expression before laughing.
“Trouble? Why in Equestria would you be in trouble? I’m giving you a Christmas gift, of course once I made one for you I felt I had to make one for your sister, and then I couldn’t possibly leave your mother out. Then I worried about her Coltfriend so I made one for him too.” Rarity was floating the packages around.
“Uh… made what?”
“Why these of course!” Rarity dropped two of the parcels in front of the unicorns. “Go ahead open them. I want to see how they look” Dinky didn’t need to be told twice. She ripped through the paper. Her sister gingerly untied the knot and unfolded the paper. Both sisters looked at the beautiful winter capes Rarity had given them. Sparkler’s was blue with three stars and a diamond adorning the clasp and a pattern matching her cutie mark spanning the end of the cape. Dinky’s was a simple lavender cloak with dark purple polka dots and a bowtie tying it together, with little pieces of artificial fur on both the collar and the ends. Dinky had squirmed into hers and was already running around the full body mirror trying to see how it looked. Sparkler put hers on Rarity keeping her eyes locked on little Dinky running around cheering for her cape. Rarity smiled as she got a hug from the little grey unicorn. Running a hoof through her yellow mane Rarity let Dinky know it was her pleasure to make the capes for them.
Rarity turned to look at Sparkler’s new look. The cloak was a little big, it was almost like a fine dress, Sparkler levitated the mirror around admired her new look. Rarity squealed with glee happy that her creations had turned out so magnificently. Sparkler felt a small wave of guilt. She had not gotten anything for her employer.
“Miss Rarity I’m sorry I didn’t get anything for you…”
“None of that dear I won’t hear it.” Sparkler opened her mouth to interject but Rarity cut her off “I made these a generous gift to my number one gem hunter and carver. I’m proud of the work you do, and I thought you deserved a special holiday treat.” Rarity began whisking them out of the store “And do tell your mother to drop by, I want to see how hers turned out. Merry Christmas!”
Being rushed out of the store Sparkler still felt she should have gotten Rarity something. The two began walking around town noticing most of the stores had closed for Christmas. Mr. Breezy’s Fans remained open despite the cold when asked Mr. Breezy said “Never know when somepony is going to need a fan.” Davenport’s Quills and Sofas was open for business offering a sale on special seasonal quills, that taste like peppermint. Sparkler was tempted, but decided she had enough trouble with her chewing on writing instruments problem.
A little discouraged the duo returned home. Sparkler hanging up Dinky’s new cape and winter wear, which was so ceremoniously deposited on the floor, before taking care of her own. Dinky decided she wanted to color. Sparkler was left alone in the kitchen. She took out a pot as well as knife and a bar of chocolate. She began chopping the candy into fine pieces and began heating them in the pot. She then levitated out a whisk and a little milk and happily began producing mugs. Pouring one for herself and one for Dinky, she emptied the rest into a thermos.
Sparkler happily levitated the mugs of piping hot beverage, and entered the living room. Rather than her sister happily coloring, Sparkler saw a heartbreaking sight. A stray spark had flown out of the fire and lit Dinky’s precious stocking on fire. Dinky sat there sobbing. Sparkler dumped her hot chocolate to extinguish the flaming stocking, but the damage had been done. The once festive red sock was now a half burnt shadow of its former self. “This is all my fault.” Sparkler thought to herself as she rocked her sobbing sister. “I should have put the fire out before we left. I was lazy. Now it’s my fault Dinky feels awful.” Three knocks hit the door in quick succession. Sparkler looked at her sister “Stay here okay?” Dinky nodded mumbling a barely audible “Mm-hmm” sipping her hot chocolate the occasional tear still slipping her eye.
“Oh Celestia. How am I going to explain this to Mom?” Sparkler thought to herself. She opened the door, standing there in an orange sweater and a red and white striped scarf was Ms. Carrot Top. “Come right in Ms. Carrot Top I have the rent right he-”
“Don’t be a silly filly Sparkler. Its Christmas! I’m not here for the rent. I’m here to give presents! Where’s Ditzy?” Carrot Top entered and shook a little snow out of her stylized orange mane. She set down a medium sized box wrapped in striped wrapping paper and a big red ribbon.
“Mom’s got to make deliveries. Ms. Carrot Top I need a favor.” Sparkler showed Carrot Top the charred stocking “Can you watch Dinky while I try and get this fixed?”
“Sure, but wouldn’t-”
“Thanks Ms. Carrot Top! I’ll be back soon!” Sparkler levitated her new cape on and quickly hopped into her boots and once again raced through the streets of Ponyville. Occasionally she slipped on the icy roads. She realized something, she seemed to be taking advantage of Miss Rarity’s generosity. She had given them beautiful capes, and now Sparkler was going to ask Rarity to do something else for her. "I need to get her something nice" Sparkler looked around. No quills or sofas that store had closed. Mr. Breezy continued to be open “Never know when somepony is going to need a fan.” There Sugarcube Corner still had an open sign. Sparkler rushed in levitating her purse and quickly counting her bits.
“Hi there! Do you need Christmas Cookies, cuz we have Christmas cookies. Well not as many as we had before because I’ve been eating so many. But I guess its okay since no pony will buy Christmas Cookies after Christmas. Ohh! Do you want to buy some Christmas cookies? They’re super-duper delicious! I should know I’ve been eating them all day!” The bouncy Pink Earth Pony continued to talk, Sparkler trying desperately to understand what was going on.
“Uhh I need a gift for my boss.”
“Oh we have the perfect thing for your grumpy wumpy boss. Everypony loves Cake! Well except those ponies who don’t like cake. They mostly like oatmeal, and so then I said “Oatmeal are you crazy?” Course I should love and tolerate them all the same, but really who likes oatmeal over cake?” Sparkler’s head was spinning trying to keep up with the bubbly pink pony.
“Uhh…” Sparkler’s eyes darted around the room trying to find something suitable “How much for that box of Bon-Bon’s Premium Bon-Bons?” The fancy box of chocolates seemed to hold an assortment of flavors ranging from Coconut to Sea-Pony Surprise, it seemed a fancy desert type dish. It would be right for Miss Rarity sparkler hoped to herself.
“Fifteen Bits! Its certainly a fancy gift for your grumpy wumpy boss!”
Fifteen Bits was certainly more than Sparkler had hoped to spend. “Uh is there anypony else I could ask for help?”
“No Mr. Cake and Mrs. Cake went out for the evening. Mrs. Cake was wearing her pretty new earings. So I said ohh “Mrs. Cake you look so fancy pants tonight” and then she sa-”
“Ok Ok Ok I get it.” Sparkler didn’t want to spend all that money, but Miss Rarity had been so generous to her and her family, and now she was going to ask her to fix Dinky’s stocking. Sparkler hated herself for a second was she really going to begrudge her employer a box of fancy chocolates? What kind of spirit was she in? She wasn’t deserving to have such a kind and generous boss. “I’ll take the chocolates, and could you wrap them?” Sparkler emptied every last bit out.
“Well of course I can wrap it.” The Pink Pony sounded almost offended such a question had been asked. Her cheerful demeanor immediately returned as she bounced around grabbing unseen wrapping materials from out of nowhere it seemed “My special talent is throwing parties. Of course I wrap presents all the time, except this isn’t like a birthday present. I have the perfectest specialist wintery-est wrapping paper ever!” The Pink Pony seemed to generate a tornado as wrapping paper shavings and bits of ribbon flew in every which direction. The Pink Pony pirrouted and presented what appeared to be a festive Christmas Tree made out of wrapping paper. “Wait I forgot one pull” the pony pulled a ribbon and the tree collapsed into a perfectly wrapped box with an elegant red bow atop it. Sparkler’s jaw dropped at the physics defying wrapping process. Picking up the now packaged bon-bons she backed slowly out of the store keeping both eyes fixed on the hyper active pink pony.
“Bye! Have a merry Christmas!” Sparkler dashed out of the store and towards Carousel Boutique, the clock was striking Eight. Most stores were already closed. The Pink Pony was locking up Sugarcube Corner. Even Mr. Breezy was calling it a night, which means the chances of the boutique being open were slim to none. Rushing across the icy walkway she found herself slipping eventually losing her balance and smashing into the front porch. Shaking the snow from her mane, she walked up the steps and raised a hoof to knock. Her hoof missed widely as the door opened. Rarity was a frilly magenta cape with the most beautiful clasp Sparkler had ever seen. It was a magnificent Ruby shaped like a heart bound with a gold chain brining around her neck.
“Oh Sparkler dear was there something you needed?” Sparkler thought about bringing up the charred stocking, but instead decided to give Miss Rarity her gift. The unicorn smiled as she took the present, delicately removing the ribbon. Upon the last strand of ribbon removed the package exploded, the wrapping paper morphing into a tree, then a pony, then a duck, before ending up as a box and a perfectly rolled factory condition tube of wrapping paper.
Rarity looked at Sparkler’s hanging jaw and smirked “I take it Pinkie Pie wrapped this?” Sparkler did her best to nod “Close your mouth darling it’s very unladylike.” Rarity now flipped the box with her magic levitating the wrapping paper away at the same time “Ohh a box of Bon-Bon’s Premium Bon-Bons. I do so love these little chocolates, but I can’t have any of them right now” The two of them re-entered the boutique Rarity clearing away some space in her well-organized albeit crowded refrigerator and then placing the chocolates in. “It was very generous of you to go to the trouble of getting my favorite treat. I didn’t need a gift darling.” Rarity was adjusting a few things she looked at herself in the mirror “Oh why would I wear the emerald earrings? What was I thinking?” Levitating out her jewelry box she made a quick change to a simple pair of diamond earrings. “Now Sparkler what did you need? I do hope its nothing to long, the Apples have invited my family over for Christmas Dinner, Sweetie Belle said something about Cutie Mark Crusader Christmas Carolers.”
Again the wave of guilt washed over Sparkler. Here she was about delay her already generous boss from going to dinner with her family and friends, so she could fix a mistake that was entirely her fault. “Nothing too important Miss Rarity. Go have fun with your friends and family”
“Thank you again Sparkler. If there is anything you need don’t hesitate to ask.” Rarity shut her jewelry box and led Sparkler out of the store. She locked the door and trotted off wishing Sparkler a Merry Christmas. Sparkler now began despondently walking back home, having failed her mission. She slipped on a patch of black ice and collided with a white picket fence.
“You okay?” Mr. Breezy helped Sparkler up off the ground. Sparkler was letting a stream of tears dribble down her face. She sniffled as she got up. “What’s wrong Sparkler?” The Earth Pony reached into his sweater and produced a handkerchief. Sparkler blew her nose and began to talk
“Well Mr. Breezy, Dinky’s stocking was a little too close to the fire.” Sparkler levitated out the burnt sock “and I helped her hang it.” Sparkler’s eyes were beginning to well with tears. She was now sobbing. “So I was going to take advantage of my boss’ generous nature and ask her to fix it. But then I didn’t even do that. So now I am a manipulative pony who couldn’t even fix her kid sister’s stocking. What kind of horrible pony am I?”
“Sparkler I won’t listen to this.” Mr. Breezy stomped his hooves in the snow. He picked up the stocking “Follow me” The stallion lead Sparkler into his fan emporium. It was full of fans of all shapes and sizes ranging from hoof-held to ceiling fans. All of them were shut off, and Mr. Hooves made his way to a back room. Inside was a small sewing machine and a basket of yarn. Mr. Breezy got to work taking out a red piece of cloth to fix the stocking. Sparkler took a moment to look around the room. There were newspaper articles detailing the rise of the Wonderbolt “Sky Breeze” then there were articles attacking her as a “one trick pony.” There were pictures of a stunning tan Pegasus mare with a red mane. A display case had a Wonderbolts’ Outfit dressed on a Pegasus Mannequin. Finally one article detailed a horrific crash in which Sky Breeze and a mare by the name of Sea Breezy perished and right next to it was a letter of condolence signed by Wonderbolts’ Captain Spitfire. It said how sorry they were about his daughter and wife’s death.
“Sparkler I think you are being entirely too hard on yourself. You took your sister out and played with her in the snow. You help out your mother who works herself half to death to take care of you two. You work hard to impress your boss, and you even went and got her a gift. You are not a bad pony Sparkler” Mr. Breezy then picked up the mended stocking with a patch covering the burnt section “Besides would a bad pony run around like a mad mare to fix a stocking for her sister?”
“Thank you Mr. Breezy. If I may ask why are you being so nice to me?”
He pointed to all the cruel reviews of his daughter’s performance “Never know when somepony will need a fan.” He gave Sparkler a wink and a smile as he waved to her as she trotted back towards her house.
Sparkler entered there was Carrot Top exchanging presents with her foster mother, while her little sister had fallen asleep on the sofa. The Doctor entered the room with a tray of hot cocoa wearing the beautiful new cape Miss Rarity had made for him. Sparkler smiled, maybe things weren’t so bad after all.