//------------------------------//
// Chapter 13: Hearth's Warming 
// Story: Spikenautica 
// by PhysicistBrony 
//------------------------------//

After a relaxing night of sleep, Spike and Fluttershy woke up ready to start the day. They quickly arranged a small breakfast of fish and water, with Spike promising to have the grow bed built before they ate lunch. After they finished their breakfast, Spike and Fluttershy left to collect the much needed titanium to build more sections of the base, along with interior designs. They decided they would explore the Shallows for titanium salvage, due to it being shallow and relatively safe.

*Blip* "So, um, how much salvage do you think is still lying around down here. I searched for about an hour, but only found the one piece and the copper. *Blip*" Spike pondered Fluttershy's question for a little while, but couldn't think of a good answer. "*Blip* I'm not totally sure how much is left. I found quite a bit on my first day here, but other than that, I haven't been looking for it. I ended up finding so much, I haven't felt a need to actively look for any more. *Blip*"

After a short search and not having found any salvage, they decided to go to the Kelp forest. Shortly after arriving, they came across a wreckage site. Spike then remembered that these areas had varying amounts of salvage and plenty of scannable items. "*Blip* Fluttershy, let's surface for a minute so we can refill our oxygen, then we can search the wreck. *Blip*" After they both surfaced, the oxygen tanks filled themselves while Spike and Fluttershy discussed what they would do at the wreck.

"Okay, so usually these wrecks have a bit of salvage at them, so we'd better look around. Though do try to be careful of any sharp edges. The last thing we need is for you to cut yourself, mostly because it could get infected." Spike and Fluttershy then dove back down and separated so Fluttershy could scavenge for metal salvage and Spike could scan any items. While Spike was scanning, he wondered if the scanner would allow him to scan Seaglide parts, even though he already had the blueprint.

Spike then swam over to a Seaglide fragment and began scanning it. It scanned twice as fast as normal, and after it was done scanning, the fragment broke down into some titanium. "*Blip* Fluttershy? I believe that I have found the greatest source of titanium ever. These old fragments can be scanned and broken down into titanium pieces. *Blip*"

"*Blip* Oh, that's good. I found two chunks of titanium myself. Do you think we have enough? I don't like all the kelp. It reminds me of the Everfree Forest. *Blip*" Spike stopped and did the math to see if they would have enough titanium. "Hmmm, Fluttershy has 2 pieces of salvage, which means 8 pieces. I scanned 3 parts, which is 6. So that's 14 pieces. I think we have enough," "*Blip* Ok Fluttershy," Spike said, "We have enough titanium for now. We can head back to the base. *Blip*"

They both proceeded to start swimming back to the base. After an uneventful swim back (Ha, you thought I was gonna have them get attacked) they both went inside and started on their own separate chores. Spike started by building a new section to the base, which was going to be used for growing food. Fluttershy started making lunch with, yet again, Peepers and bottles of water. "Um, I really hope I don't have to eat fish for much longer. It's starting to taste really gross." Fluttershy said with a queasy look on her face. "Don't worry Fluttershy, today should be the last day you have to eat fish," Spike called from the other room, "We should have plenty of Lantern fruit and Marble Melons by tomorrow. Consider this my Hearth's Warming Day gift to you."

Fluttershy looked up with a start. "Oh dear, I completely forgot about Hearth's Warming Day! That would make today Hearth's Warming Eve!" Fluttershy sank to the ground crying. "Oh no, I didn't even get you a gift. Please don't hate me." Fluttershy said through sobs. Spike ran to Fluttershy to comfort her. "Fluttershy, why would I hate you? You've just been caught up with the whole near death experience with those shark things. I only remembered because my PDA reminded me. Didn't you get a reminder?" Spike asked while comforting Fluttershy.

"*BEEEP* Today is Hearth's Warming Eve. Do you have a gift ready? *BEEEP*" Both Spike and Fluttershy looked at each other, staring for a second before bursting into a laughing pile of scales and feathers. "Well *Hahahaha* I guess there *Haha* is your reminder *Hahaha*" Spike said in a laughing fit, while also trying to stand. After they calmed down, they sat on their respective beds and had lunch, both stuck in their own thoughts.

After they finished their meal, they started talking to each other about what to do. "So, um, is there anything else that we need to do for today?" Fluttershy asked, hoping she would have time to get a gift for Spike. "Well, I can't think of anything super important that we need right now, but I was going to head out and collect some stuff to make more water. The Bladder fish can only make so much water, and we need more of it anyway." Spike explained. Fluttershy seemed to visibly relax, knowing she would have a little time to get a present ready for Spike.

Spike then started to get ready to leave. "I'm not sure how long I'll be gone. Just make sure to stay safe. Also, I'm going to be leaving the Seamoth here in case you need it." After that, Spike exited the base, leaving Fluttershy to plan what to get Spike. "Hmmm, I should probably get him something he doesn't have, but I'm going to avoid that island. There are too many of those mean creatures there," Fluttershy then stood up and started to pace around the base, "But I do want to get him something nice. Oh, does he have any gems?" With that, Fluttershy ran over to the storage locker and started looking. After a thorough search, Fluttershy saw no gems and immediately knew what to get him.

"Yay, now I can go get him gems for Hearth's Warming Day." Fluttershy grabbed the flashlight out of the locker, then climbed out of the base and into the Seamoth and then started to drive towards the area where her life pod had fallen. After yet another uneventful trip to the crash site of her life pod, Fluttershy parked the Seamoth just above it's crush limit and began to swim down to the entrance of a nearby cave. As she swam closer, she saw a few rocks shining up at her. "Oooh, there are some jems, I hope." Fluttershy thought as she swam closer.

As she started swimming closer, she saw a small fish out of the corner of her eye. "Oooh, what a pretty fish. I can look at it after I grab these gems." She quickly grabbed the rocks and started to swim over to the fish. It then opened up it's fins and made them make hypnotic motions, but Fluttershy just simply looked at it. "Well aren't you one pretty little fish. Well goodbye then, I need to get back to the base to get Spike's gift ready." With that, Fluttershy turned around and started to swim away, leaving one very, very confused fish just staring at it's lunch just swimming away.

After Fluttershy swam back to the Seamoth, she climbed in and started to drive back to the base, only to have one of the sharks bite into the left side of the Seamoth. "AAAAAAAAAAAAÀAAAHHH!!" Fluttershy screamed as the shark bit into the Seamoth, but it almost just as quickly let go, seeing as it did just cause the metal to jut out and stab the inside of its mouth. Fluttershy then rushed out of there as fast as possible, leaving the shark behind. She soon got back to the base to see Spike pacing around the base muttering to himself.

"Oh no, Oh no, Oh no! Where did she go!?" Spike said to himself as he paced back and forth. Just then Fluttershy climbed into the base with something tucked behind her wing. "Oh thank Celestia, there you are! Where were you?" Spike asked as he ran over to hug her. "Oh, um, I was out getting something, but I was delayed because, um, i was attacked…" Fluttershy whispered. Spike then looked at her in surprise. "You went out on your own? Good job on having the confidence, but you should have at least told me or something? Anyway, what was that last part? I didn't hear it because you started whispering."

"Um, I said I was attacked on my way back by a shark." Fluttershy said with a cringe, just waiting for Spike to tell her and kick her out. "Are you ok?! Were you hurt?! Where did it bite you?!" Spike asked as he started to look over her for wounds. "Oh, um, I was in the Seamoth when it attacked. It bit open the left wing of the Seamoth. Do you, um, think you can repair it?" Fluttershy said timidly, hoping Spike wouldn't be mad that the Seamoth was damaged because of her. "Oh thank Celestia you weren't hurt," Spike said as he visibly calmed down, "Don't worry Fluttershy, I can fix the Seamoth. This wouldn't be the first time a shark took a bite from the Seamoth."

After they both calmed down, Spike went out to fix the Seamoth while Fluttershy went and hid the gems under her bed, hoping Spike wouldn't smell or find them. After Spike came back inside, he started the process of turning the materials he gathered into bleach, then into bigger bottles of water than normal. "Hey Fluttershy? Do you know how the fabricator makes the bottles that the water goes in? I have never been able to figure it out." Fluttershy looked over at Spike and said, "I think it might have something to do with a spell, but other than that, I have no idea."

After their short exchange Spike and Fluttershy had dinner and decided that it would be a good idea to call it a night. After they both climbed into bed, they called out goodnight to one another and fell asleep. After about an hour, Fluttershy made sure that Spike was asleep and then began to grab the gems out from underneath her bed and wrap them up in a piece of silicon rubber, that way it looked partially like a wrapped gift. She then put Spike's gift underneath her bed again and went back to sleep.

"*BEEEP* Today is Hearth's Warming Day. Make sure to spend today with your friends and family, as long as it doesn't interfere with any important survival plans. *BEEEP," both Spike's and Fluttershy's PDA stated as soon as 8 a.m. rolled around. As soon as the message was done playing, Spike and Fluttershy climbed out of bed and took a moment to wake up. Spike then remembered the grow bed and ran to get some fruits for Fluttershy to eat for breakfast. Fluttershy then got up and grabbed out her gift for Spike and put it on his bed for him to open while she got the water ready for breakfast.

Spike came running back into the main area with fruits for Fluttershy when he saw the piece of silicon rubber sitting on his bed. He then put the fruits down and moved over to his bed to see what the present was. "Uuh, Fluttershy? Is this a present for me?" Spike asked cautiously. "Um, yes, that is for you. I want you to open it now, before we eat breakfast." Fluttershy said as she walked over carrying only two bottles of water. "Wait, what would she grab only water? She knows that the fruits are for her," Spike wondered as he carefully opened the package, making sure not to destroy the silicon rubber.

As he opened the package, he could smell something he hadn't smelled for a while. "Are these…?" He started, "Where did you get these!? I haven't found any rubies as long as I've been here." "Well, I went to the area where my life pod crashed-" Spike looked up in concern, "-and found a cave that had a few of these just sitting out in the mouth of the cave. After I started heading back, I saw this cute little fish that made hypnotic movements with its fins, but it was harmless. After I had gotten into the Seamoth, that awful shark attacked me and then I drove back here." Fluttershy explained all while remembering her trip to get Spike his new luxury.

After Fluttershy's story, they decided to eat breakfast and enjoy a peaceful day of talking to each other and reminiscing about life before crash landing on this watery planet. They enjoyed not having to worry about the other one getting hurt, while also enjoying their Hearth's Warming Day gifts. Spike enjoyed his rubies, which he cherished and ate slowly throughout the day. Fluttershy enjoyed her fruits, which she munched on during each meal time. Most importantly, they cherished their time together and enjoyed the companionship of having somepony to get to spend time with.