Sunset glanced around before carefully pulling her scarf away from her neck, she was sweltering but if her adoptive mother or her friends saw her not bundled up to the tee in the snow they would freak out. For some reason, they got really possessive and overprotective of her about a year ago. Something that she suspected had to do with Discord if Princess Twilight's apology for his interference was anything to go by.
"Sunset," a loud voice called out across the snow-covered front lawn of the school as a pink blur bounced its way over to her, "Sunset Shimmer!"
"Hey Pinkie Pie," Sunset smiled brightly at her pink friend who finally slowed down her bouncing enough for Sunset to actually see her, holding a plate full of cookies.
"I made Christmas Cookies!" she shouted eagerly, then her eyes went round as she let out a gasp, "Oh Sunset, I forgot, I'm sorry."
"Forgot what?" Sunset asked, arching an eyebrow, sometimes her friends still did things that confused her, even after being friends for almost a year.
"You don't celebrate Christmas," Pinkie said blushing, "And here I am offering to share my Christmas cookies."
Sunset managed to smile, "I might not celebrate Christmas, but," Sunset leaned forward as if she was going to reveal a big secret, "I love your cookies."
With that Sunset snatched one of the decorated cookies from the plate and took a bite out of it, "You outdid yourself this time Pinkie, this cookie is amazing."
"Thanks," Pinkie said, taking a skipping step towards the school, before freezing mid-skip, turning towards Sunset, "I'm hosting a Gingerbread Party at Sugarcube Corner tonight. It's kind of a Christmas Party so I didn't think you wanted to come, but since you like cookies."
"It sounds like fun," Sunset said with a laugh, "I'll ask my mom, but you know how overprotective she is."
"Yeah," Pinkie said a little subdue, Sunset Shimmer's adoptive mother, Principal Celestia, had sent her to the nurse's office because she was sneezing during class, despite it being home ec and the fact that half the class had sneezed because Pinkie Pie had accidentally tossed the sprinkles into the flour causing it to go everywhere, including up several students noses.
"Good morning Darlings," a melodious voice called out as Rarity walked up to them, "Oh, dear, Sunset you seemed to have forgotten your scarf." With that, she pulled off her backpack and started to ruffle through it, no doubt to find a spare scarf.
"No, no, Rarity," Sunset insisted, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the scarf that she had took off, "It's right here, I just took it off because I was hot."
"Hot," Rainbow Dash echoed, shoving her hands in her pocket for warmth, "How could you be hot when it's freezing out here?"
Sunset shrugged, "My new coat is a lot warmer than my old jacket," she explained, "and honestly you get used to the cold when you only have one small electric heater to heat up a whole warehouse."
Sunset almost wished she hadn't said anything at the look of alarm the others gave each other, "Things are a lot better this year," she insisted, "Thanks to you guys," she paused, "Well you and Mom."
"So are you celebrating Hearthwarming this year?" Rainbow asked, "That's what it's called right?"
"Yes," Sunset said, "And I am, but I'm also celebrating Christmas this year with my family," she announced, "For the most part a lot of the traditions are the same, we decorate trees, sing songs, and give presents. Christmas has stockings and Santa Claus, while Hearthwarming has dolls on the hearth and you hang the flag up."
"Dolls?" Pinkie Pie asked, "Why do you put dolls on the hearth?"
Sunset frowned, "I don't really know," she confessed, "I just know that we always put our dolls on the heath at the orphanage for Hearthwarming. I think it's to remind us that true warmth comes from our friends and love ones or something like that."
The trilling of the school bell interrupted the conversation, causing the four friends to start to run towards the school, they would have to walk fast if they want to drop their stuff off at their locker before first hour.
Sunset smiled as she placed the can goods she had brought to the large pile against the door to Ms. Cheerilee's classroom, the school food drive was a success from what she could tell. Sure the teachers had all offered the extra credit incentive again as well as the competition with Crystal Prep, even if they were friendly with the other school, it did not mean that they weren't going to crush them.
A light purple hand snaked out, placing a can next to hers, "I'm surprised you aren't turning it in for extra credit," Sunset said, beaming up at the owner. This world's Twilight Sparkle was definitely her best friend. She understood the lure of magic, the pain of dark magic, and the pain of being alone.
"I would have but Mr. Cranky informed me that I already have a hundred and twenty percent in his class."
"You could give me your extra credit," Sunset offered, "I have a B-"
"If you needed the Extra credits, why didn't you turn your cans in for points?" a new voice asked as AppleJack put down a large case of applesauce.
Sunset shrugged, "I only donated here because Mom and Aunt Luna really wants to win that Pizza Party this year. They were even considering breaking into Crystal Prep and stealing their food! We already took a large case to the kitchen that I volunteer at."
"Ya talking about our principal, right?" Applejack asked.
Twilight and Sunset both nodded their heads, as Twilight added, "trust me, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna are very different outside of school. I once got stuck on a roller coaster with Principal Celestia and it was eye-opening."
Sunset rubbed her forehead shaking her head, "You should see them during family game night, both of them cheat."
Overhead the bell rung alerting them that they needed to get to class before they were marked tardy. Sunset waved to her friends as she hurried down the hall. Things had changed during the past year. She had a family that cared for her, and amazing friends. She was happy now, something that she hadn't been in a long time. For the first time since she was a young filly, she couldn't wait for Hearthwarming.