Melody trotted to the Hive, smiling. Despite how cold it was, she was excited to see her friends at the Hive. She adjusted the scarf she wore, shivering slightly. Some snow from a nearby tree blew over to her. She shuddered and took off to avoid the snow. As fun as snow was, it proved to be quite a nuisance. She flew through the cold air, nearing the Hive. Thankfully, nothing else really tried impeding her journey to the entrance.
“Anyone here?” Melody entered the Hive, which was chilly but surprisingly warm.
“Hm? Melly?” a familiar voice asked.
“Zenny!”
An unreformed nymph looked up. “Melly!”
Melody giggled and ran up to him, nuzzling him. The nymph giggled and nuzzled back. Melody gave him a bar of chocolate, rubbing his head.
“Hehehe! Thanks!” He giggled.
“Of course Zenny.” she nuzzled him, then looked around. “Where’s Hero?”
“Oh. He’s in his room.” Zen explained. “His cold-to-warm blood hasn’t kicked in yet.”
“Cold-to-warm blood?”
“Mhm!” Zenex held a hoof out. “Since we’re changelings, our blood has to adapt easily to the environment. So, we can go from cold to warm blooded over a period of time.”
“Huh, interesting. Kind of like salmon going from saltwater to freshwater.”
“Mhm!” Zen looked down the hall. “Hero’s the only one who’s blood hasn’t changed, though… heck, Apex has already adjusted…”
“Aww, poor guy… maybe we should go check on him.”
“Well, he said he wanted to be alone…”
“How is that supposed to help?”
Zenex shrugged. “I dunno… he just wanted to be alone…”
“Well, I’m going to check on him.” Melody said, trotting down the hall. There were candles aligning the halls, as well as Hearth’s Warming decorations. Melody giggled, approaching Hero’s room. The door was locked. Melody rolled her eyes and her wings glowed, unlocking the door. The door slowly opened. “Hero?”
On the bed, was a nymph laying in the fetal position, shivering with no blankets or any form of warmth. Melody gasped and ran to him. The nymph slowly opened his eyes.
“Hero!”
“H-Huh…?”
Melody sat down and put a wing over him. He shivered, but glared.
“H-Hehehey… c-cutit… cut it out…”
“Hero, you’re freezing.”
“A-Am… n-n-not…”
“Yes you are! You need to put on a jacket or wrap up in a blanket, you’re going to get sick!”
“I-I j-j-j-just wanna play ou… outside…”
“Then you need to get warm!” Melody removed her scarf and put it around him. He shivered and stubbornly removed the scarf.
“K-Keep it…”
“No, you keep it.” Melody pulled him over and held him against her chest fluff. He blushed, but couldn’t resist the fluff. Melody wrapped her wings around him to keep him warm.
“W-Why…?”
“You need to stay warm.”
“I just w-wanna play with Zen and Apex…”
“You can, when your warm-blood kicks in. And clearly freezing yourself isn’t working, so let’s try the opposite.”
“W-Wha—”
Melody laid down and held him against her warm chest fluff. He blushed, cuddling close. Melody blushed as well, then nuzzled him. He began giggling and squirming. Melody shushed him and stroked his mane. He giggled more.
“Hero, stay still.”
“It tickles! Hehehe!
Melody sat back and stroked his mane. “Sorry…”
He giggled and nuzzled close, before sneezing softly. Melody reached and pressed a hoof to his forehead. He had a fever.
“Oh Hero…”
“Hm?”
“You got yourself sick.”
“S-So—” he sneezed again.
“So… you can’t play with Zenny and Apex…”
“W-Wha’?!”
“If you’re sick, you won’t be able to play with anyone, you’ll have to stay in bed.”
“Aw, no fair!”
“I know, but you brought this on yourself.”
“Hmph…” he pouted and folded his hooves. Melody giggled and booped his nose. “Eeep!” He squeaked.
"Cheer up Hero, I bet they can come in and visit."
“Fine…” he grumbled, inadvertently exposing his stomach. Melody stroked his belly. “Eeehehehehe!”
"Aww."
“Hehehehe! S-Stahahahahp!”
"Cheer up and I will!"
“Nahahahaha!”
Melody slowed down, nuzzling his stomach gently. He continued giggling.
"Feeling a bit happier?"
He blushed. “Fine… a bit…”
"Heh. Good." Melody nuzzled him. He giggled and yawned. She smiled and stroked his mane. He blushed and yawned again. "Heh, go ahead and rest."
“Bu’ I don’ wanna…”
"You have to so you can get better."
“Mmngh… can I at least ge’ cookies when I ge’ up?”
"Mhm."
He smiled, yawning again. Melody smiled and pulled him closer. He giggled and nuzzled her. She blushed, then quickly kissed him on the nose.
“Eeek!” He blushed furiously and stared at her in surprise. Melody blushed and looked away. “W-Why…?”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“...About what?”
“Y-You… you don’t mind…?”
“N-Not really…” he blushed. “I kinda liked it…”
Melody blushed. “Th-Then… what if I…”
“W-Wha—”
Melody pulled him closer and kissed him on the lips. His eyes widened and he blushed harder, but he leaned into it, practically melting. Melody moaned softly, pulling back. Hero stared at her, still blushing. Melody blushed hard, watching him for a reaction.
“...Thank you…”
“H-Huh?”
Hero smiled shyly. “I… I said thanks…”
“Y-You… like it…?”
“M-Mhm…” he nodded, flustered. Melody blushed. Hero blushed as well, then mumbled, “I… I kinda like you…”
Melody blushed harder. “I… I like you too…”
Hero blushed, leaning onto her shoulder. “A-Are you sure…?”
“Mhm…” Melody wrapped a wing over him. He blushed and snuggled close. Melody kissed his cheek, still blushing. He squeaked and yawned. “Heh, go to sleep Hero…”
He smiled and nuzzled her. “M’kay…”
Melody pulled him close, letting him rest on her chest fluff. He giggled and closed his eyes. She smiled and held him tight.
Soon, he was snoring softly. Melody smiled and cuddled him close, blushing. He smiled, nuzzling close. She held him in her hooves, smiling. He continued to snore. Melody giggled, kissing his nose gently. He squeaked and gently batted at her muzzle. She giggled and pulled him close, closing her eyes. The two cuddled together. Soon, they were both asleep. They cuddled together for a few hours. As they did, it began to snow outside.
~~~
Soon, Melody began to stir. She sat up, yawning. She looked over to Hero, who was laying on his stomach, and had his tail in the air, swaying back and forth. Melody giggled and reached, booping his nose.
“Hehehe… mm… don’ wanna ge’ up Papa Pharynx…”
Melody giggled. “Adorable, but I’m not Pharynx. Wake up Hero.”
“Hm…?” He opened his eyes, looking up. Melody smiled and nuzzled him. He giggled and squirmed, rolling onto his back.
“Heheh, let’s see if your fever’s gone down.” she said, touching a hoof to his forehead. He thankfully returned to an average temperature. “Heh, good as new.”
Hero smiled. Melody kissed his cheek. He squeaked. She smiled, blushing. He nuzzled her under the chin. She squeaked and giggled. He smiled.
“Heheh, so… did your warm-blood turn on?”
He smiled and nodded. Melody smiled and got out of the bed, scooping him up. He squeaked, realizing the size difference between them. Melody giggled and set him down, nuzzling him. He giggled.
“Hehehe! No fair, you’re bigger than me!” Hero pouted.
“Heh, yes, and as the bigger one, I decree we go find Zenny and Apex and get all three of you cookies.”
Hero gasped. “Yay!”
Melody giggled and led him out of the room. He smiled and buzzed his wings excitedly. Melody smiled at him. He blushed and smiled back. Melody put a wing over him.
“So, where do you think Zenny and Apex are?”
“Probably with Hive and Thorax…”
“True. But then where are they?”
“Hm… cafeteria?”
“Let’s see.” Melody led him to the cafeteria. The two entered and looked around. “You see Thorax’s giant head rack anywhere?”
“Heheh… uh, there!” Hero pointed to a lime green changeling with orange antlers. Melody smiled and led him over. Hero buzzed his wings again.
“Hey Thorax.” Melody greeted the king.
Thorax looked over and smiled. “Oh, hello Melody.”
“Where’s Apex and Zenny? Hero wants to play with them.”
“Hive took them to get their food.” He smiled and pointed up to three other changelings. Melody smiled and nudged Hero towards them. Hero giggled and ran towards them.
“Zenny! Apex!”
“Cousin Hero!”
Hero chuckled and nuzzled Apex. Apex nuzzled back, smiling. Hero smiled back, looking up at the holiday style foods.
“Did you ge’ your warm-blood Cousin Hero?”
“Heheh, mhm.” Hero smiled at Melody. Melody smiled back, blushing slightly. He chuckled and turned to the others. Thorax was walking over to them. Apex smiled. He ran over and took off, landing on Thorax’s head. Hero and Zenex giggled.
“Heheh, you three ready to play after you eat?”
“Mhm!” Zenex and Apex hopped excitedly. They looked to Hero. He chuckled and nodded. “Yay!”
Hero smiled. “Heheh, m’kay fellas.”
Apex and Zenex giggled. Hero buzzed his wings. Melody smiled at him. He smiled and booped Apex on the nose.
“Tag! You’re it!” Hero said, running off.
“Eep! Hey!” Apex chased after him. “C’mon Zenny!” Zenex giggled and ran with the two.
“Aww.” Melody said, running after them. “Wait up guys!”
~~~
Hero ran outside into a field, where most of the other changelings were playing as well. Apex and Zenex ran up beside him, and Apex tackled him into the ground.
“Eeek! Hey!” Hero laughed.
“Go’cha!
“No fair!”
“Is too!”
Hero rolled his eyes, smiling slightly. Melody flew up to them. Hero sat up, shaking the snow out of his mane. Melody smiled at him, helping him up. He blushed and stood up. Melody blushed as well.
Then, a snowball hit Hero in the back of the head. He whipped around. Zenex giggled and ducked behind Apex. Apex blushed and looked back at him. Zenex giggled and nuzzled him. He nuzzled back, blushing.
Hero smirked. “Apex and Zenny sittin’ in a tree…”
“S… uh… S-T… Zenny how d’you spell shu’ up?”
Zenex blushed. “Uh… Thorax would probably if I taught you how to spell that…”
“Why?”
“Um… reasons…”
“Bu’ i’s no’ a bad word… righ’?”
“I… I guess…?”
Apex covered his mouth with a hoof. Zenex shrugged.
“I mean, it’s not really a bad word, it’s just a bit rude.”
“Oh… b-bu’ Hero s’ar’ed i’!”
Hero rolled his eyes. “Oh, don’t deny it! If Zen wasn’t in a relationship already, and if you were a bit older, you two’d be the perfect couple!”
Apex and Zenex blushed, and Apex hid behind the older nymph. Zenex rubbed his head. Apex looked up, blushing. Zenex blushed as well. Apex hugged him. Zenex squeaked, then hugged back.
“Aww.” Melody said, smiling
“Hey…” Zenex blushed, hiding his face.
“Aww, it’s okay Zenny.” Melody made some chocolate cookies appear, passing one to him. He smiled and nibbled on it. She gave the others to Hero and Apex. Hero smiled and began to devour his. “Heh, slow down Hero, I have more.”
Hero was already finished with it. Melody giggled and nuzzled him. He giggled and nuzzled back. She wrapped a wing around him. He smiled and snuggled in. She blushed, pulling him close. He smiled, before grabbing a hoofful of snow and gently (pretty much to the point it was more like a tail smack) slamming it into her face.
“Hey!”
The nymph giggled cheekily and ran up a nearby hill. Melody chased after him. He giggled and grabbed more snowballs. Melody’s wings glowed, and many snowballs rose into the air. He smirked and began throwing them. Melody returned fire. Hero squeaked and his hooves glowed whiye, creating a small barrier to shield him. Melody charged at him.
“Eek! No fair!” Hero squealed, trying to grab more snowballs.
“Yes fair!” Melody tackled him. The two tumbled down the other side of the hill, Melody landing on top. Melody blushed as she looked down at him. Hero stared at her.
“Uh… do I win?”
“Uh…” Melody booped his nose.
“Eep!” His face scrunched up.
“Winner!”
Hero blinked. “Wait, how?”
“First to boop wins.”
“Hey, that’s not fair!” Hero pouted, “you didn’t tell me tha–”
Melody booped him again.
“Eeek!” His face scrunched again.
“I did now. Winner!”
“Hmph…” Hero’s cheeks puffed out into a pout.
“Aww, cheer up.”
He shook his head stubbornly. Melody giggled, then leaned down and kissed his nose. He squeaked again, blushing harder. Melody got off him, scooping him up. He blushed and nuzzled her. She blushed and nuzzled back. He smiled, before nosing her muzzle. She squeaked and giggled. He blushed, buzzing his wings.
“Cousin Hero!”
The two blushed furiously, Melody accidentally dropping Hero out of surprise. As he landed in the snow, Apex bounded over, Zenex behind him. Hero looked over, trying to wipe the blush off.
“Wha’ happened?”
“N-Nothing!” the two said, looking away from each other.
“Huh?”
“Uh… uh…” Hero threw a snowball at Zenex.
“Oof!” Zenex stumbled backwards. “What the heck?!”
“You threw one at me. Vengeance!” Hero wagged his tail in a teasing manner. It was no secret (at least to anyone but Thorax, Pharynx, Tempest, and Ember) Hero was into Pup Pride.
Zenex giggled and tackled Hero, nuzzling his belly. Hero began giggling immediately. Zenex laughed and poked his side.
“Eeehehehehe! Noooo!”
“Double vengeance!”
“It tihihihickles!”
“Surrender then!”
“Nehehehever!”
Zenex continued tickling his belly. It wasn’t long until Apex, and eventually Melody, joined in. Melody began tickling his hind hooves with her wing.
“Ahahahahaha! You dohohohohorkssss!”
“Tickle tickle Hero!” Melody giggled, brushing a feather along his leg holes.
“EEE! Guhuhuhuys, wait! Cahahahan’t I atleheheast get a ruhuhuhuhunning stahahahart?!”
“No!” Zenex replied. “Just surrender and we’ll let you go!”
“Nohohoho! I wohohohon’t give up!”
“You haf’a!” Apex protested, poking him in the side.
Hero began squirming and thrashing. “Nohohoho! T-Tohohohoughbugs dohohohon’t surrehehehender!”
“This one should!” Melody objected
“Nohohohoho!”
“Come on Hero, just give in!”
“Whyhyhyhyhy?!”
“Because I don’t think any of us want to be here all day.” Zenex pointed out
Surprisingly, Hero held firm for about five more minutes.
“Ohohohohohkahahahahay! I suhuhuhuhurrehehehender!”
"Good."
Hero continued to squirm around. “Hahahaha… heheheheh… heh… mm…” he laid on the ground. Melody helped him up. He blushed and stood up.
"You okay?"
“Mhm.” He smiled. Melody nuzzled him. He giggled and nuzzled back.
"Heh, good."
Hero blushed, before looking around. “Hm… I have an idea.”
"What?"
Hero’s hooves glowed white again, and the snow began to shift. Melody looked around in awe. Hero then made the snow build into a small, basic four-by-four castle.
"Yay! Play cas'le!" Apex said, running towards it.
Hero chuckled, and held his hoof out to Melody. “Shall we, m’lady?”
Melody blushed and took his hoof, nodding. He smiled and led her in. She giggled, following him. Inside, Hero began making snowy furniture, including a throne and an ice crown. Apex ran over, picking up the crown. Hero smiled.
“Like it, Cousin Apex?”
"Mhm!"
“Heh, happy Hearth’s Warming, Apex.”
"Happy Hear's Warmin' Hero!"
Hero smiled, looking at Melody. She smiled and put a wing over him. He blushed, before reaching into his bags and pulling out a wrapped box.
“Heh, happy Hearth’s Warming Mels…” he said shyly, passing the box over.
Melody took the box, then held out her hoof, a present appearing in a flash of violet. She smiled and held it out to him. He smiled and took the box.
"Happy Hearth's Warming Hero."
He blushed and nuzzled her. “Thanks… but I already have the best Hearth’s Warming gift…”
Melody blushed. "Y-You do?"
He nodded and let his tail intertwine with hers. “Mhm!”
Melody pulled him close. He buzzed his wings. She kissed his cheek. He blushed, just before they heard Zenex and Apex gasp. They looked up, blushing hard. The two were staring directly at them. The ice crown slipped off Apex's head as he came closer.
Hero stared. “P-Please don’t tell anyone… I-I’ll be a puppy again if you guys don’t tell…”
Apex hesitated. "...Can I be King-Gen'ral of the ice castle?"
“M-Mhm…”
"Okay then!"
Hero smiled. Melody looked at Zenex. He was still staring. She walked over to him and put a wing around him. He blushed and nuzzled her. She nuzzled back. Zenex smiled slightly.
“I-It’s still me Zenny…”
“O-Okay…” he looked at Hero. Hero walked over. He nuzzled Zenex, and Zenex nuzzled back.
“Hehehe!”
Melody pulled Hero close with a wing. Hero nestled close. Melody then pulled Zenex close. Zenex buzzed his wings. Melody giggled, nuzzling Hero and rubbing Zenex’s head. The two giggled.
“Heh… you okay Zenny…? With… this?”
Zenex looked at her, before nodding. Melody smiled and made some chocolate appear. Zenex smiled. Melody smiled at him, then turned to Hero. He blushed and buzzed his wings; landing on her back. She squeaked and giggled, blushing. He smiled and batted at her mane.
“Heheh, hey!”
He looked over, tongue hanging out. “Whath?”
“Are you eating my mane?”
Hero’s tongue went back in his mouth. “I don’t think so. But it is fun to play with!”
Melody huffed and booped his nose. He squeaked, scrunching his face. Melody giggled. He pouted.
“Aww, cheer up.”
He nuzzled the back of her neck. She blushed and giggled. Hero smiled, grabbing one of her wings. She squeaked, looking back at him. He curled up slightly and used the wing as a blanket.
“Heheh, aww.”
Hero blushed, but yawned. Melody smiled and nuzzled him. He giggled. She smiled, letting him rest there. Soon, Hero had fallen asleep. Melody giggled, then looked over at Zenex and Apex. The two were busy building a snowpony. They were giggling, smiling happily. Melody smiled. She walked over to them.
“Heheh, this would be easier if someling didn’t fall asleep!” Zenex said, giggling.
Apex giggled as well, picking up the crown. “Yeah! An’ he needs to make crowns for him an’ Zenny too!”
The two looked over to Melody and Hero. Melody blushed and glanced at Hero. The nymph was snoring peacefully.
“Heh, I think Hero’s too sleepy.”
“Aw…”
“Heh, sorry.” Melody rubbed Apex’s head. Apex giggled. “Heheh, that crown looks nice on you, you know.”
“Mhm…” Zenex shyly nodded. Apex blushed and looked at it. It wasn’t anything too special, just non-melting ice in a design resembling Celestia’s crown. Apex giggled and put it on. Zenex smiled.
“Heheh, ‘m King-Gen’ral!”
Zenex chuckled, then nuzzled Apex. Apex blushed and nuzzled back. Zenex giggled. Melody smiled at them. Zenex smiled, then his ears perked.
“Oh yeah! I’m working on something! Well, I finished it,” Zenex said.
“Wha’ is i’?”
Zenex teleported away briefly, then teleported back with a red dress with real candy canes and small presents on it. “I uh… I sorta melted doing this…”
“Candy!” Apex sniffed the candy cane with interest.
“Hehe, it’s not for eating Apex!” Zenex giggled.
“Aww…”
Zenex slipped the dress on. “Heheh, well? How does it look?”
“Zenny you look so cu’e!” Apex hugged him. Zenex squeaked and blushed. Apex nuzzled him. Zenex nuzzled back.
“Heheh… I have a few other things to go with this. Like…” Zenex shapeshifted some reindeer antlers above his ears.
“Yay! Reindeer Zenny!”
Zenex blushed. Apex nuzzled him happily. Zenex giggled. Apex smiled, blushing. Zenex stepped back, spinning around.
“You look nice in a dress Zenny.”
“R-Really…?”
“Mhm!” Apex nuzzled him. “So if you wear the dress who wears the sui’?”
Zenex blushed. “U-Uh… Flutters…?”
“Heh, that would be cute.” Melody said, rubbing Zenex’s head.
He giggled. “Hehehe! I-I guess… I haven’t told her about this though….”
“Well, I’m sure she won’t mind, it’s adorable.”
“I hope…” he smiled.
Apex hugged him. “Well, I like i’.”
Zenex blushed. “Thanks ‘Pexy…”
“‘Course Zen-Zen.” Apex smiled at him.
Then, Hero began to stir. Apex and Zenex looked over. Hero sat up and yawned. Melody smiled and nuzzled him. He giggled and looked around. Apex bounced up, smiling at him.
“Mm... what I miss...?”
“Zenny made a dress!”
“Oh?” Hero looked around. Zenex blushed and stepped closer. Hero smiled. “Aww.”
Zenex blushed. “Y-You like it?”
“Mhm.” Hero nodded.
“I like i’ too.” Apex nuzzled up to Zenex.
Zenex blushed. “Thanks…”
Apex blushed as well, smiling at him. Zenex smiled back. Melody giggled. Zenex blushed and buzzed his wings,
“I think you look very cute Zenny.”
“T-Thanks…”
Melody smiled and made a few candy canes appear. The threes’ eyes were laser focused on the candy. She giggled and held them out. The three lunged and grabbed them. Melody laughed and nuzzled Hero, smiling at Apex and Zenex. The three giggled.
“Heh, you like them?”
“Mhm!”
“Heh, good.”
They smiled. Melody put her wings around them. The three giggled and nuzzled her. She smiled and nuzzled back.
Soon, the sun had begun to set.
“We should head back.”
“Aw!” they pouted.
“Come on, it’s late.”
They grumbled. Melody smiled and nuzzled them. They giggled, smiling a bit.
“Heh, come on, we can get hot chocolate.”
Zenex and Apex’s ears perked. Melody giggled and lifted them up.
“I call Melody’s back!” Hero said, climbing back onto her back.
“Heheh, calm down, there’s room for all of you.”
“Still, MINE,” Hero hissed,
“Okay, okay.” Melody smiled and nuzzled him. Hero giggled. Apex got onto her head. Zenex sat behind Hero. Melody smiled and carried them back to the hive. Hero smiled, putting his hooves out.
“Weeeeee!”
Melody giggled and sped up. The nymphs giggled and cheered. Melody spread her wings and took off, flying towards the hive. Hero tensed up, gripping onto her a bit tighter. Melody noticed and lowered down, her hooves just skimming the snow. Hero’s grip loosened. Melody landed smoothly, trotting into the hive and closing her wings. They looked up at the entrance.
“Heh, so, should we try to find Thorax and the others?”
“Mhm.” Zen said. “‘M kinda hungry… the candy canes on this dress are tempting…”
“Heh, cafeteria?”
“Yeah!”
Melody smiled and carried them there. Inside, the changelings had decorations up, and most of the chefs were working. Melody carried them to a table. They smiled.
“Heh, so, hot chocolate?”
“Yeah!” Zen and Apex cheered. Melody giggled and headed off, getting some hot chocolate. Hero gulped slightly. Melody came back with four mugs, setting them down. Hero blinked.
“Here you go guys.”
Zenex and Apex cheered and began drinking, but Hero didn’t. Melody looked over at him. He stared at the contents of the mug.
“Hero? You okay?”
He looked up. “Hm?”
“You’re just staring at it.”
“Um…” he blushed.
“Is something wrong?”
“Uh… the square root of two is… four…?”
“A. That’s incorrect, there’s no square root of two. B. That’s not what I asked.”
“Um… vikings are just Swedish pirates...?”
“Hero…”
“Er…. the Changeling-Griffon War, final answer!”
“Hero!”
“Oh, sorry. I was reading both Equestrian and human world histories yesterday…”
“Okay? But that’s not in any way related to what I asked.”
“Uh… depression?”
“Hero. Just tell me what’s going on.”
“Um… I don’t really… like hot chocolate…”
“You don’t?”
“Mm-mm. I never really liked chocolate in liquid form…”
“Hm… have you only ever had Mexicoltian hot chocolate or those store-bought packs of hot chocolate mix?”
“I dunno. Ma only made it a few times.”
“Ah. Well, you don’t have to drink it if you don’t want to.”
“Are you sure…?”
“I’ll have i’ ‘stead!” Apex offered, looking up eagerly.
“Uh, okay then.” he slid it over. Apex giggled and reached for it, only for a cyan hoof to snatch it up.
“Hey!”
“I saw you grub, you already had one, that’s enough sugar.” Pharynx said, giving him a look.
“Papa Pharynx!” Hero cheered, nuzzling him. Pharynx chuckled and nuzzled back. Apex, however, pouted.
“Uncle Pharynnnnx…”
Pharynx shook his head. “Nuh-uh. No more sugar.” he paused, then corrected himself. “At least not until you’ve had an actual meal, because Thorax would just counter the no more sugar thing anyway.”
“Hmph…”
Pharynx rubbed his head. “Don’t worry, you’re eating soon anyway.”
Apex smiled slightly. Pharynx smiled and hugged him briefly. Hero chuckled and buzzed his wings. Pharynx smiled and set the hot chocolate back down on the table. Zenex reached for it instead, only to have another hole-infested hoof stop him.
“The no sugar until you’ve eaten goes for you too Zenny Boy.”
“Eek! Hiveyyyyy!”
“Hey Zen.”
Zenex pouted at the red winged, red carapace, red eyed, broken horned, unreformed changeling. “No faaaiiiir-ah!”
“Don’t worry Zenny Boy, dinner’s soon.”
“Fine…” Zen drank the last bits of his hot chocolate. “Can I at least get some lemon pepper?”
“No!”
“But it’s the holidays!” Zenex replied, before giving the puppy-dog eyes. “Pwease…?”
“Zen…”
“Pweeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeee…?”
Hive sighed and rubbed his head. “Just a little bit.”
“Yay!”
“Only for today, okay?”
“Mmngh… m’kay…” Zenex grumbled. Hive chuckled and nuzzled him. Zenex nuzzled back.
“Heh, I’ll go get the Lemon Pepper.”
Zenex smiled. Hive rubbed his head before trotting off.
Hero chuckled and buzzed his wings. Melody smiled at him. He blushed. She blushed as well.
Pharynx smiled. “So, what do you two want?” he asked Apex and Hero.
“Cookies?” Apex tried
“Real food.”
“They ‘re real food!”
Pharynx facehoofed. “I mean food-food. Not snacks.”
“Fine… fish?”
“Okay then. Hero?”
“Uh…” Hero thought for a bit. “Salmon croquettes.”
“Okay then…”
Hero smiled. Pharynx rubbed his head, then headed off. Hero smiled, then looked at Melody. She smiled at him, blushing. He blushed as well, scooting over to make room. She sat beside him, smiling. He nuzzled her. She nuzzled back.
“Aww!” Zenex cooed. They blushed. “What? It’s cute!”
“Z-Zenny!”
“It is!” Zenex said, then smirked. “Hero and Melly sittin’ in a tree~”
“S-T-O-P-I-T.” Melody said, blushing.
“Y-Yeah… or I’ll stop playing fetch with you…” Hero followed up.
“Y-You wouldn’t…”
“Then stop…”
“Fine… sorry…”
“Me too…”
Melody wrapped a wing around Hero and rubbed Zenex’s head. The two smiled. Melody then nuzzled Hero, kissing his cheek. Hero squeaked and his face turned red. Melody giggled.
“Aww!” an all too familiar green changeling’s voice cooed.
“Eep!” Melody whipped around.
Thorax stood there with a wide grin. Melody moved away from Hero, blushing. Hero hid his face behind his transparent wings. They both looked away.
“Aww, that’s sooooooo cute!” Thorax tapped his hooves excitedly.
Melody blushed hard and ducked away.
“Uncle Thoraaaaaax!” Hero whined. Thorax chuckled and nuzzled him. Hero held back his giggles.
“Well, it is!”
“S-Shut up!!” Hero yelled.
“Hero, what are you yelling about?” Pharynx asked, walking back to them.
Hero growled and slammed a hoof on the table. “It. Doesn’t. MATTER.”
Apex whimpered and backed away. Hero snarled and ripped his plate from Pharynxs hooves, before leaving the cafeteria. Melody stood and followed him. Hero grumbled, eating as he walked. Melody caught up to him. He grumbled and left outside, heading for the hill again. When he reached the top, he went inside the castle. Melody ran after him. He sighed and sat on the throne, beginning to eat. Melody sat beside him. He leaned against her.
“Hero…” Melody put her wing around him. He grumbled, nuzzling her. She nuzzled back. “Hero… it’s okay…”
“Still… it’s not fair…” he muttered. “We have the right of privacy…”
“I know. Thorax didn’t know what he was doing.”
“Hmph…”
Melody kissed his cheek. He squeaked and blushed. Melody pulled him close and stroked his mane. He whimpered, finishing the rest of his food. Melody kissed his forehead gently. He giggled.
“It’ll be okay.”
“M’kay…” he rested his head on her lap. Melody stroked his mane. He inadvertently let out a purr.
“Heheh, aww.” Melody cooed, nuzzling him. He giggled.
“Hehehe! T-That was an accident…”
“Still cute.”
“Not…”
“To.”
“Hmph…”
Melody booped his nose and cuddled him. He squeaked and blushed, nuzzling close. Melody giggled and held him against her chest fluff. He smiled.
“Chest floof…” he said.
“Heheh… you like it…?”
“Mhm! You’re like a ball of fluff… a fluffball…” he smiled. “I am so forever calling you that…”
Melody blushed. “O-Okay…”
He smiled. “Heh, okay,” he pulled a journal from his bags. “Bat ponies just got knocked to second place for snuggling.”
Melody blushed hard, burying her muzzle in his mane. He squeaked. She giggled and pulled him close. He smiled, then levitated the ice crown onto her head. She yelped, looking up at it. He smiled, nuzzling her. She nuzzled back.
“Hehehe! It looks nice on you…”
“Heh…” Melody’s hoof glowed, and a black crown with a blue gem landed on his head.
“Eep!” he blushed and looked at the crown.
“Heh… it looks good on you…”
“Heheh… thanks…”
Melody kissed his nose.
“Eep!” He smiled and created a second throne with a music note on it. Melody blushed and sat down on it. “L-Like it?”
“Mhm.” Melody nuzzled him. “But now yours is missing something.”
“Hm?”
Melody reached out a hoof, her magic carving an image of his knife in the throne. He stared in awe. She blushed. He blushed and mouthed ‘thank you’. She mouthed ‘of course’ back. Hero smiled, then got an idea. His hooves began to glow again.
~~~
Meanwhile, Thorax sat silently in the cafeteria. Apex was snuggled up in his foreleg. He smiled slightly. Pharynx sat at his side, watching him. Thorax sighed. “Should… should I go talk to him…?”
“Yeah…”
Thorax looked down slightly. Apex reached up and booped his nose. Thorax squeaked.
“Heheh… you should talk to Cousin Hero, Papa Thorax.”
“Heheh… m’kay…”
Apex smiled and nuzzled him. “Good Papa Thorax.”
Thorax blushed and stood. Apex climbed onto his head. Zenex and Pharynx stood up as well. Thorax looked over. “So… where do you think he is?”
“Uh…” Zenex thought for a bit. “Maybe the castle?”
“What castle?” Pharynx glanced at him.
“Uh… Hero used his powers to create a giant snow castle.
“I was the King-Gen’ral!” Apex added
Thorax and Pharynx exchanged glances.
“So, where is this castle?”
“On that hill!”
Pharynx shrugged and led them out of the hive. They began moving towards the hill, where a stone castle sat.
“Huh? It was snow before.” Zenex said
“Uh… well, two pretty powerful creatures are in there.” Pharynx said.
Apex jumped down and trotted closer. “Cousin Hero!”
No answer. Apex whimpered and looked around. Then, Hero stepped out, looking completely drained of energy. Apex tackled him. Hero squeaked.
“Cousin Hero!”
“Ack! C-Cousin…” he yawned. “Apex…”
Pharynx trotted over. “You okay kid?”
He looked up. “Okay… stretching rocks isn’t as easy as it looks, or sounds… even with powers...”
Pharynx reached and lifted him up. He yawned and buzzed his wings. Melody came out of the castle next, seeing them. Hero smiled and flew over, nosing her. She blushed and hugged him. He hugged back. Thorax walked over shyly. Hero looked over.
“H-Hero…?”
“What…?”
“I… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to upset you…”
Hero raised a brow. Thorax hung his head.
“I-I really didn’t mean to make you mad…”
Hero sighed. “Okay, okay…”
Thorax looked up. “Really? You’re not upset…?”
“Not really… at least you apologized…”
Thorax reached over and hugged him. Hero rolled his eyes and hugged back. Thorax nuzzled him. He giggled. Thorax smiled. Hero rolled his eyes and readjusted his crown. Thorax giggled.
“What?”
"Nice crown."
Hero blushed. “W-Whatever…”
Thorax chuckled. He blushed harder. Melody smiled at him. He smiled back. She adjusted her own crown. Zenex aw’d at them. They blushed.
“Aww! That’s so cute!” Zenex smiled. “Isn’t it, Apex?”
"Uh-huh!"
They blushed harder. Apex got closer and nuzzled them. They smiled. Melody put a wing over Hero. He smiled and snuggled close. Melody smiled and nuzzled him.
“Hehehe!”
"Heheh…"
He smiled and climbed onto her back. She giggled and smiled at him. He blushed and curled up. She giggled and nuzzled him. He giggled and yawned again.
"Heh, tired kid?" Pharynx asked.
“Mhm…”
"Let's head back then."
They nodded. Pharynx tried to pick up Hero. Hero pulled away, nestling on Melody’s back. Pharynx shrugged, chuckling. Hero smiled.
"Alright then."
They began moving. They headed back to the hive. By the time they got there, Hero was asleep, and the moon was out. Melody smiled, carrying him to his room. The nymph had been using his ‘wing blanket’.
"Heheh, cutie."
He blushed, snuggling up. Melody set him in bed. He grumbled slightly. She smiled and laid beside him. He tossed and turned slightly. Melody wrapped her hooves around him, pulling him close. He smiled and snuggled close. She held him against her chest fluff. He giggled and nuzzled her.
"Heheh, sleep well Hero…"
“M’kay…”
Melody smiled and kissed his forehead. He blushed. She smiled.
“Mm… s’eep…”
"Heh, okay."
Soon, Melody joined him in slumber. The two slept peacefully.
Tomorrow would be Hearth’s Warming Day. They dreamt happily of the day to come.
The next day, Hero stirred. Melody was still sleeping beside him. He looked over and smiled, nosing her. She smiled and opened her eyes.
“Fluffball! Wake up!” Hero said, jumping up and down on the bed.
“Eek!” Melody yelped, sitting up.
Hero giggled cheekily, still jumping around on the bed. Melody caught him and pulled him in, holding him from behind.
“Eep! No fair!”
“Heheh, is too!”
Hero squirmed like a hooked fish. Melody stroked his mane gently. He began giggling. She smiled and kissed his cheek. He squeaked, blushing. Melody giggled, smiling at him. He smiled back, exposing his sides. Melody stroked his sides.
“Hehehe!”
“Aww!”
“W-What…?”
“It’s cute.”
“Hey! Hmph…” he blushed, but exposed more ticklish parts of his body. Melody stroked his belly. “Hehehe…”
“Aww, who’s a little tickly gigglebug?”
He blushed harder. “I-I’m not answering that…”
“Fine.” Melody nuzzled his stomach.
“Hehehe…!”
“Aww.”
“Hmph…” he blushed. “G-Go ahead… you’re already spooning me…”
“Heheh, okay.” Melody rubbed his stomach gently. He giggled. She smiled and continued. He soon began laughing in between giggles. “Heheh, aww, how cute!”
“Ahahaham nohohohot!”
“Are too!”
“I’m nohohohot cute!”
“Heheh, oh really?” Melody leaned down and blew into his stomach.
“Bahahahaha!”
“Aww!”
“Hahahaha!”
“Heheh…” Melody stopped, letting him get up. Hero giggled and sat up, nuzzling her. Melody nuzzled back, hugging him. He squeaked like a rubber duck. “Heh, aww.”
He blushed. “Not cute…”
“Heh, whatever you say.” Melody hugged him. He blushed, but snuggled close. “Heheh, you want to get up or…?
“I wanna get up!” Hero chirped excitedly.
“Heh, okay.” Melody jumped off the bed.
Hero jumped up. “It’s Hearth’s Warming Day!”
“Heheh, I know.”
“Presents!” Hero chirped, smiling. Melody smiled and nodded. Hero ran out of the room. Without grabbing his jacket. Melody grabbed it and chased him.
~~~
Hero ran into Thorax and Pharynx’s room. “Papa Pharynx! Uncle Thorax!”
“Mngh… what is it kid…?” Pharynx grunted, buried under the blankets.
“It’s Hearth’s Warming Day!” Hero climbed onto the bed and sat on the lump that was Pharynx.
“Great. Can I go back to sleep now?”
“Mm-mm!”
“Ughh… fine…” Pharynx lifted up a pillow in his magic and tossed it at Thorax. Thorax yelped and opened his eyes. A smaller bundle moved from underneath the blanket, and Apex poked his head out, yawning.
“Cousin Apex!”
“Cousin Hero? Whas’ goin’ on?”
“Hearth’s Warming Day!”
“Yay!” Apex leapt up, poking Thorax in the shoulder. “Papa Thorax, Papa Thorax! Ge’ up, ge’ up!”
“Heheh… okay, okay.” Thorax sighed, getting up
The two nymphs giggled cheekily. Apex climbed onto Thorax’s back, smiling. Thorax smiled back. Thorax got up, looking at Pharynx. Pharynx shrugged. He tried to lay back down to sleep.
Hero prevented that by laying underneath Pharynx. He yelped and sighed, getting up.
“Hehehehe!”
“Fine, fine, I’m up…”
“Yay!”
“Heh, come on kid.”
Hero got up and buzzed his wings excitedly. Pharynx and Thorax led them out. There, they met Melody.
“Hero, you left your jacket behind.”
“So?”
“So, you should be wearing it.”
“Why? It’s not that cold,” he said as he shivered like a wet dog in the Frozen North dipped in Liquid Nitrogen then buried in snow and ice water.
Okay, a long metaphor but still. Melody put the jacket over him. He stopped shivering a bit. She wrapped a wing around him. He nuzzled close. She smiled at him. He smiled back. She pulled him close. He giggled. She smiled and nuzzled him.
“Hehehe!” Hero giggled. Melody smiled, blushing. He blushed as well. She smiled and held him close. He smiled and hugged her. She giggled and hugged back.
Thorax smiled. “Heheh… I assume you two wanted your presents?” he asked the nymphs.
“Yes!” Apex cheered
“Yay!” Hero buzzed his wings again. Melody smiled and nuzzled them both.
Then, Zenex ran over, dressed in the dress and had his reindeer antlers on. Apex ran over, hugging him. Zenex squeaked and blushed. Apex blushed as well and nuzzled him. Zenex giggled and nuzzled back. Apex smiled. Zenex smiled, then grabbed a candy cane from his bag.
“Here ‘Pexy.”
“Yay!” Apex took it and smiled. “Thanks Zen-Zen… you look nice…”
Zenex blushed. “T-Thanks… although, it’s hard to run in this dress…”
“Heheh, I s’ill like i’.” Apex nuzzled him. Zenex giggled. Apex blushed. Zenex smiled. “S-Sorry I don’ have an’thing for you…”
“It’s fine ‘Pexy,” Zenex replied.
“‘Re you sure…?”
“Mhm!”
“O-Okay…”
Zenex nuzzled him. Apex smiled and nuzzled back. Zenex giggled.
“Heheh, you wanna open presen’s with us?”
“Uh, yeah!”
“Yay!”
Hero chuckled at them. Apex looked over at him. He stepped over with two wrapped boxes in hoof. Apex and Zenex’s eyes widened.
“Heheh, here guys.”
“Thanks Cousin Hero!”
“Yeah! Thanks!”
Hero smiled as they took the gifts. “Of course guys.”
Apex opened his first. The present was a crystallized replica of Apex. He giggled and hugged it, smiling. Hero squeaked.
“Heheh, sorry it’s so small. It’s supposed to be a necklace…”
“I like i’!” Apex told him, admiring the figure.
“Heheh, thanks… Papa Pharynx finally let me go down into some of the caves and the mine, so I kinda made everyone crystal figurines.”
“So does that mean…?” Zenex opened his own present. Much to Hero’s word, there was a small crystallized Zenex in the box. “Yay! Thanks Hero!”
“Heheh, of course.”
Apex and Zenex hugged him. He squeaked. They both smiled and nuzzled him. He giggled and fell onto his back.
“Aww!” Thorax exclaimed
The three squeaked and looked over. Thorax smiled at them kindly. They smiled at him. Apex scampered over. Thorax smiled and scooped him up. Apex giggled, showing him Hero’s present. Thorax stared in awe. Apex smiled, hugging it. Thorax smiled.
“Heheh, where’d you get that?” Thorax asks.
“Cousin Hero.” Apex snuggled against him. Thorax blinked in surprise. Apex smiled, playing with it. Thorax chuckled and rubbed his head. Apex giggled, smiling.
“Aww,” Hero cooed. Apex blushed and flew down, landing by Zenex. Zenex smiled at him. Apex nuzzled him.
“Hehehe!”
“Heheh… Zen-Zen…”
Zenex blushed. “‘Pexy…”
Apex blushed and hugged him. He squeaked and hugged back. Melody and Hero smiled at them. Hero chuckled.
“Heheh, shouldn’t we open them at the tree?”
“Okay!” Apex pulled Zenex along. Zenex smiled and followed behind. They stopped at the tree. There, underneath the tree, were a lot of gifts. Apex gasped and ran to the piles of gifts.
Thorax chuckled. “Heheh, hold on, let’s sort them out so there’s no mistakes.”
“Aww…”
Thorax smiled and began sorting the presents. Apex began poking at some of them. Thorax chuckled and nuzzled him. Apex giggled and booped Thorax on the nose. Thorax squeaked.
“Heheh, now can we o’en them Papa Thorax?”
“Heheh, mhm. Yours are the red ones,” he said, pointing at the boxes with red wrapping.
Apex cheered and rushed over, beginning to open them. The others smiled at him.
“These are yours kid.” Pharynx told Hero, gesturing to the boxes with blue wrapping.
“Yay!” Hero lunged for them. Melody sat nearby. Blue and red paper flew into the air, and was soon joined by silver paper as Zenex dove into his own presents.
Melody giggled as she watched. Then, she looked at the present Hero had gotten her. She reached for it and hesitantly picked it up. It was wrapped in silver paper with purple and black ribbons. She smiled softly and carefully unwrapped it. Inside was the usual crystallized version of her, but alongside it was a paper heart. She smiled and pulled it out, holding it close. It was also to note that the crystal pony was bigger than the necklaces.
Melody walked over to Hero, smiling. He was up to his head in wrapping paper. Melody smiled at him, though it seemed sort of forced. Hero’s head poked out like a whack-a-mole game. She giggled at the cute sight. He blinked.
“What?”
“It’s cute.” Melody smiled, then looked down at her gift. He blushed hard. “I love my gift, thank you Hero.”
“O-Of course…” he squeaked out.
Melody smiled, nuzzling him. He giggled and squirmed. Melody then glanced around at all his other gifts. They were mainly military themed, apart from some Legos and a train set.
“Have you opened my present yet?” Melody asked him.
“Saved it for last!” He chirped, grabbing it. Melody smiled. He carefully unwrapped the present. Within it was a plushie of a Snowy Owl. His eyes lit up and he hugged it.
“S-Sorry it’s not a changeling or a wolf…”
“I love it!”
“Y-You do? But you have so many other toys…”
He hugged her. “I love it, Mels.”
Melody smiled and hugged back, then looked at his other presents, frowning. He looked at her.
“W-What’s wrong…?”
“Nothing, just thinking about the other ‘presents’ I’ve probably got waiting back at the dorms… ugh.”
“What do you mean?”
“Presents get worse as you get older… I’ve probably just got socks and makeup that I’ll never use and gift cards… again…”
“Oh… sorry… I-I didn’t mean to…” he looked at the toys.
“No, Hero, I’m not mad at you.” Melody nuzzled him. “I’m glad you got so many great toys.”
“But you probably won’t…” his ears drooped.
“It’s fine Hero, really.” Melody ran her hoof through his mane. “I’ll probably get some books too, and the gift cards are usually for bookstores, which is nice.”
“A-Are you sure…?”
“I’m sure.” Melody kissed his forehead. “It’s okay. I don’t really mind anyway, there’s always a couple good ones, like candy or money, maybe a toy.”
“O-Okay…”
Melody smiled and picked him up, hugging him. “It’s fine Hero, really. B-But could I maybe play with you when you use your toys?”
His face lit up. “Mhm!”
Melody smiled and held him close. He nuzzled her, giggling. She giggled and nuzzled him back. He smiled and snuggled close. She cuddled him, blushing. He giggled. She smiled and nuzzled him.
“Hehehe!”
“Heheh… happy Hearth’s Warming Hero…”
“Heheh… happy Hearth’s Warming Melody…”
The two hugged each other, smiling. Today was the best day of their lives. They held each other lovingly, blushing. It had been a day they’d never forget.