The crispness of autumn had recently given way to the bite of winter. The fields, woods, and hills surrounding the School of Friendship lay blanketed by a thin coat of freshly fallen snow, and the delicate flakes drifting down from the laden clouds overhead were just beginning to let up for the day.
"All of you be safe and enjoy your break," Fizzlepop called to the rapidly dwindling forms of her students. She waved to them as the last one escaped from the gym at full gallop, eager to join their friends and family. "Don't fill up on too many sweets unless you want me to help you burn them all off when you return."
"Bye, Miss Fizzle!" the students cried back together, their conversations already turning to the copious amounts of holiday treats upon which they planned to indulge.
Fizzlepop adjusted her winter jacket's collar and stood just outside the gym, hooves stirring up the frost-crusted ground. She watched the last of the students canter out of earshot and sighed. Her vaporous breath hung in the still air like a fog, only dissipating when the unicorn turned from the wintery vista and moved back inside. She had crossed the center of the indoor court when Grubber came ambling out of the locker room. Fizzlepop halted and pawed at the floor, her tail flicking back and forth.
Grubber said nothing as he headed for the exit, crossing the gym floor near Fizzlepop. The unicorn tried to catch his gaze with her own, but the hedgehog kept his eyes forward. He had strolled past Fizzlepop when she took a deep breath and turned to face him.
"Grubber," she began. "Do… Do you have someplace to go for Hearth's Warming?" Grubber stopped, saying nothing in response. "I know it's still a little ways away," Fizzlepop continued, "but I just wanted to know if you were going to be staying here."
Grubber's shoulders slumped, and he muttered something under his breath. Then he straightened his posture and turned to Fizzlpeop. "I didn't really have anything planned," he said nonchalantly. "I thought I'd go check out the marketplace and the town square. You know. See what a pony winter is all about." He smacked his lips. "I hear they make great cakes for that Heart's Warning thing."
"Hearth’s Warming,” Fizzlepop corrected. “And that sounds nice.” She smiled awkwardly, but the smile quickly faded when Grubber's expression remained neutral.
"Did you want me to bring you something back?" he asked.
"No, thank you. I..." Fizzlepop shook her head and stomped a hoof. "I'm being a coward." She marched up to her assistant, who took a single step back, and laid a hoof on his shoulder. "I need to—no, I want to apologize for how I've been acting towards you, and not just during your recent lessons.
Grubber crossed his arms and looked at Fizzlepop with mild suspicion, but a hint of hope broke through his bearing. "Really?"
"Yes." Fizzlepop sat down so she could bring her head down to her assistant's height. "You deserve better, and I need to stop treating you like you're still my subordinate. If I'm going to help you, provided you even want my help at all, then I'm going to have to accept that our relationship has changed. I was used to ordering you around all the time, but it's been unfair to you to expect you to have the same goals that I do."
"Yeah. You've been kinda awful lately," Grubber said bluntly.
Fizzlepop visibly flinched but nodded in agreement. "I know. I let my temper get the better of me too often."
"Look, I get it. You're a soldier." Fizzlepop opened her mouth to disagree, but Grubber forestalled her with a raised paw. "You're always going to be a warrior, Boss. That's just how you are. Normal life is tough when you can't be, well, like you used to be. For what it's worth, I don't think you're a bad pony. You just have some stuff to work on, like all the rest of us."
"Thanks." The pair stood together in silence, both searching for something more to say.
"Heh. Remember back when I was always bugging you to let me be your number one evil sidekick?" Grubber finally offered.
"Like it was every single day for months a few years ago." Fizzlepop gratefully chuckled. "How many times was it that I told you to get lost?"
"At least twice a day. But you eventually said yes."
"I did, and your track record for actually accomplishing the tasks I gave you properly was abysmal. But you usually did manage to come through for me whenever dessert was on the line." Fizzlepop's eyes lit up, and she rubbed her chin. "Hmm. Maybe we could try a different approach after the holidays. What if, for every correct homework assignment, I bring you something that Pinkie Pie bakes for the professors."
"So your solution is to give me treats like a dog?" Grubber asked ruefully.
"Oh!" Fizzlepop gasped. She shook her head vehemently. "No, I didn't mean it like that at all."
"Ha!" Grubbe cackled. "I'm just messing with you. For treats baked by Pinkie, I'll do all the homework you want."
The pair shared an easy laugh together, and Fizzlepop felt her earlier reluctance melting away. "I want you to know that I push you so hard because I want you to succeed."
"And that's cool, but I'm not a kid. I appreciate what you're trying to do, and if you're going to treat me like your friend, then I'll try harder. Just take it easy with the angry voice and stuff. Okay?"
Fizzlepop nodded. "I can do that. I'll work harder to be more reasonable, and in return, I'd like you to work harder on your schoolwork. Sweet treat or not." She held out her hoof to Grubber, and he shook it eagerly.
"You got yourself a deal, Boss."
"Call me Fizzy if you want. I'm not really the ‘Boss’ anymore. Maybe we can start over after the holiday season."
"Works for me." Grubber jerked his thumb towards the exit. "I'm going to go and find a few barrels of hot chocolate. I'll see you around, Fizzy." He made for the door, and as he opened it, Fizzlepop called out.
"One last thing, Grubber." He stopped and turned. "I want you to remember..." She hesitated, searching for the right words, and then chuckled to herself. "Remember to take a jacket with you. It's cold outside."
Grubber tossed her a quick salute before the door slowly shut behind him, leaving Fizzlepop by herself in the gym once more. She sighed and meandered back to her office. Leaving her office door open, Fizzlepop picked up her coffee pot and grabbed the brown and gold tin of Yubuck coffee. She paused and stared at the container for several heartbeats. With a shake of her head, she put the pot back down and put the tin away.
"Not if I want to get some sleep tonight," she said to herself. "It’s going to be quiet for a while. Might as well get some extra work done." Pulling a few folders from a file drawer, Fizzlepop pulled out her desk chair. In the seat was a small flat package wrapped in red paper. She set the folders aside and turned the box over on her hoof. "What's this?"
She ripped off one end of the wrapping paper with a deft flick and pulled out a framed picture. Fizzlepop felt something warm spark in her chest, and she covered her mouth with a hoof, sniffing back a tiny laugh. In her hoof, she held a picture of all of her students posing as a group. They were dirty, sweating, and visibly exhausted, but every one of them was grinning from ear to ear next to the finish line of the obstacle course. And standing behind them all, looking as pleased as a victorious commander, was Fizzlepop. She turned the picture over and found the back crowded with signatures and short words of thanks and warm holiday wishes.
"Those little brats," she whispered, smiling.
"More trouble, Fizzy?"
Fizzlepop turned and found Starlight in the doorway. "No, no trouble at all." She set the picture down on her desk and rubbed her nose.
Starlight moved to the desk and looked down at the picture. "You should try it more often." Fizzlepop looked at her questioningly, getting a grin in return. “Opening up. It’s a good look for you.”
Huffing out a laugh, Fizzlepop said, "No, thanks. I think Equestria has enough of that already,” as she fought to choke down her embarrassment. She cleared her throat. “Not that I don't enjoy having you visit my office instead of the usual other way around, but what are you still doing here? The students have all left for their holiday break."
"I was going to ask you the same question." Both mares sat, and Starlight idly twirled the tip of her mane. "A few students are sticking around through the break, and I'll be staying to watch out for them. What's your excuse?"
"I'm..." Fizzlepop glanced around her office and made a show of straightening the folders she had retrieved from the file cabinet. "I'm getting a headstart on some new ideas and topics for next year."
Starlight leaned in and rested her front hooves on the desk. "Are you ever going to go home for the holidays? I heard your trip around Equestria and to the Crystal Empire went well. And your little rendezvous with Glitter Drops didn’t go terribly either. I have to believe that your home would be just as understanding. You might be pleasantly surprised." She smiled wistfully. "I know I was when I returned to visit my old town."
"One day maybe," Fizzlepop relented. "I don't know. I want to, but not yet."
Starlight nodded. "If you think you might be up to it, I'm going to be throwing a little party with a few friends back in the castle on Hearth's Warming Eve. Think you could make room in your schedule to join us?"
Fizzlepop did not answer immediately, and she chewed on her lip with indecision. Starlight abruptly lunged across the desk, catching her friend by surprise, and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Come on!" Starlight pleaded. She held Fizzlepop tighter as the startled mare tensed. "Please?" Starlight pulled back, giggling when Fizzlepop leaned away despite the small smile on her face. "I'll even give you first whack at the windigo piñata."
"Are piñatas a thing on Hearth's Warming Eve?" Fizzlepop asked, recovering from the sudden friendship assault.
"I don't see why not." Starlight lowered her voice to a conspiratorial volume. "Plus, you can pretend it's Pinecone's parents. You know, for just a second or two. I won't tell anyone."
Fizzlepop hemmed and hawed while Starlight watched with growing anticipation and mild exasperation until Fizzlepop slowly nodded. "I think I could get behind that. You have yourself a deal." Starlight clapped, but Fizzlepop held up a hoof. "But only on three conditions."
"Three?" Starlight canted her head and rubbed her chin. "Consider me intrigued. Go on."
"I want to invite Grubber," Fizzlepop said immediately. "He doesn't have anywhere to spend the holiday."
Starlight nodded, a warm, knowing smile spreading across her face. "Of course. Next?"
“Second.” Reaching under her desk, Fizzlepop pulled out a small box wrapped in green paper with a red ribbon and bow. "That you accept this as a thank-you for all your help."
"Fizzlepop!" Starlight gasped. She immediately grasped the gift in her magic. "You didn't have to." She shook the box vigorously and listened to the shuffling within. Starlight raised an eyebrow. "It isn't socks, is it?"
"Maybe," she snickered. "Don't open it till Hearth's Warming. And if you don't like it, blame Trixie. As your 'Greatest and Most Powerful Best Friend Forever,' it was her suggestion."
Starlight shook the package again, more furiously than before, and shrugged. "Alright, then. Keep your secrets." She paused to shake her present one more time, casting an inquisitorial eye at Fizzlepop. The other mare stood silently, wearing a knowing smirk on her face.
"What's the last condition?" Starlight asked.
Fizzlepop, still smirking, sent a pulse of magic through the jagged core of her horn. It ignited with a flickering flourish of multicolored sparks. "Do Hearth's Warming parties traditionally include fireworks?"
"You know what?" Starlight chuckled. With her gift secured in her telekinesis's cyan aura, she stood and threw a hoof over Fizzlepop's shoulders, embracing her friend again. Starlight grinned broadly. "I've always thought they should. Come one, let's go get some hot cocoa before your assistant empties every barrel in Ponyville."
Matching her friend’s smile, Fizzlepop let herself be guided out of the office. "I'd like that, Starlight."