After a few weeks of Rarity spending some quality family time and meticulous preparations, Hearths Warming eve has finally arrived. A steady fall of snow ushered everypony in Ponyville to close up shop, finish any last-minute gift wrapping and spend the rest of the evening with friends and loved ones, preferably with hot chocolate and soup. And of course, big family get togethers. Spike and Rarity trotted down the street along with Lolite, Cobalt, Sweetie Belle, Magnum and Cookie Crumble, all eager and excited to arrive at the Castle of Friendship and the party of relatives therein.
“Oh wow,” Sweetie Belle marveled. “I know this isn’t our first time, but I still can’t believe we get to spend Hearths Warming in a castle! It’s so cool, makes me feel all regel and stuff.”
Magnum laughed, “Yeppers! Thank Celestia that Rarity married into royalty!”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Daddy, you’re incorrigible.”
“Heh, sorry princess, sometimes I can’t help it.”
“Oh you!” Cookie said as she nudged her husband with an elbow. “Every year like clockwork with that joke.”
“And it’s still funny! At least to me.”
Cobalt giggled and clapped his hooves from his foal seat.
“Don’t encourage your grandfather darling,” Rarity said to the baby at her side. “He’s liable to keep at it.”
“Aw, come on Rares,” Spike added. “You did happen to marry a dragon of great importance,” he said with the airs of a king.
“Not you too Spiky…”
“I think grandpa’s funny! Lolite chimed as she jumped onto a small pile of snow.
“That’s four to one, Rarity!” Magnum said in triumph.
Rarity puffed her cheeks. “Honestly, I can’t tell who’s more childish.”
“Oh, boy! Oh, boy! Oh, boy!” Sweetie Belle chirped as the group came to the towering front doors of the castle. “We’re here!”
Spike set down the boxes he had in his claws and gave a firm knock, a few moments later a large white stallion answered the door.
“Spike! Rarity! So glad you’re here! It feels like it’s been ages since I last saw you!”
Spike gave the stallion a hug. “Hey Shining Armor! It’s great to see you! Looks like you’re still rockin’ the beard.”
Shining Armor stroked his blue beard. “You know it little brother! I think it makes me look more mature. More dignified. Though Cady said I can’t grow it out any longer. It tickles her face enough as it is. Wow, the snow’s really picked up, come on inside.” He stepped aside and ushered Spike and his family into the foyer of the castle and proceeded to hang their coats and scarves on some nearby racks.
“Well Rainbow Dash did mention we were overdue for a big storm,” Spike said. “I just didn’t think we’d get it on Hearths Warming eve.”
“Well if worse comes to worst, you can always spend the night here. Not like there isn’t any room. Sometimes I think this place gets bigger every year.”
Rarity chuckled, “It does seem that way, doesn’t it?”
“Uncle Shiny!” Lolite launched herself at Shining Armor who caught her mid dive.
He gave his niece a big hug. “Hiya Lolite! Happy Hearths Warming!”
“Happy Hearths Warming! Where’s Flurry? Is she here?”
“Of course! C’mon, let’s go join the rest of the family.”
Shining Armor led the group through the halls, decorated with tinsel, holly, and the occasional lavender arrangement. After climbing the stairs to the second floor they eventually came to a set of double doors and beyond the doors was a large room, with a tree, covered from top to bottom with shiny ornaments, popcorn strands and a star on top like a festive sundae. A crackling fireplace with dolls in the likeness of Twilight, Luna and Dusk Note sat on the mantle.
Twilight herself was hovering around the tree, inspecting each decoration, and making sure everything was properly spaced out to give each ornament room to stand out on their own. A process that took intense concentration, a vast knowledge of the use of empty space and furthermore-
“Twily! Look who’s here!” Shining Armor called out just loud enough to pull Twilight out of her current obsession.
“Hm? Oh, Spike, Rarity!” Twilight flew down and gave her little brother and sister in-law a hug. “Happy Hearths Warming, everypony!”
“Happy Hearths Warming, Twi!”
“Happy Hearths Warming darling!”
“And a Happy Hearths Warming to you too Lolite and Cobalt.”
“Happy Hearths Warming auntie Twilight!”
“Twee!”
Spike looked around the room. “Twilight, are mom and dad here yet?”
Twilight shook her head. “Not yet, but I’m sure they’ll be here soon. Celestia offered to give them a ride when she finished up all her business in Canterlot.”
“That’s my sister for you,” Luna huffed as she came up from behind her wife. “always working till the 11th hour. Like a certain somepony I know who can’t seem to leave those baubles on the tree be, even as guests start to arrive.”
Twilight giggled, “Sorry Luna, I just wanted to make sure everything was perfect.”
Luna wrapped a wing around her spouse. “It’s already perfect dearest. I tell you that every year.”
Magnum laughed, “So ol’ Night Light is running late is he? That’s a shame, I’d love to rub my fantasy buckball team’s results in his face!”
Cookie rolled her eyes. “Oh you. Every day this week with that, when are you going to let it go?”
“Hey he started it! He said Wagtail Sprint was ‘overrated’ and that Rough Puff was the better Pegasus.”
“Ah, Magnum, Cookie!” Twilight greeted. “So good to see you, make yourselves at home.”
“Sounds like a plan to me! Now, where’s that eggnog?” the two older unicorns parted in search of some holiday spirits.
“Dad’s picks got destroyed?” Spike mumbled.
“Like a house of cards,” Shining Armor replied. “Can’t wait to see those two go at it again. Maybe they can teach Lolite another swear word.”
Spike rubbed the bridge of his snout. “Don’t remind me. Mrs. Cheerlie’s note to us about what she said at recess was mortifying enough.”
“Happy Hearths Warming uncle Spike and aunt Rarity!” All of a sudden a light pink blur pulled Spike and Rarity into a hug. It was a teenage filly, wearing a crown and sporting both wings and a horn.
“Happy Hearths Warming Flurry!” Spike said.
Rarity smiled. “I must say darling, you’ve certainly grown since last I saw you.”
Flurry seemed to be beaming with pride. “I sure have! I’ve been training all the time with dad! With any luck I’ll be in the royal guard in no time. Speaking of ‘grown,’ Flurry levitated Lolite and Cobalt into her hooves and proceeded to wrap the two in a hug. “you two have sprung up like trees! Hello my little cousins!”
Lolite laughed as one of Flurry’s wingtips tickled her face. “Hiya Flurry!”
Cobalt just squealed as he buried his face in Flurry’s down feathers.
“Lolite!” Dusk Note ran up from behind Flurry Heart and joined the hug. “About time you guys showed up! I was waiting forever!”
“Dusk Note,” Luna said as she approached the group. “what do you say to your aunt and uncle?”
“Oh, right.” Dusk Note sat down and straightened his back before regally saying, “Good evening uncle Spike and aunt Rarity. I wish thee a happy Hearth’s Warming and welcome to our castle. We hope that everything is to thine liking.”
Luna rubbed her temples. “Ugh, do I really sound like that?”
Twilight did her best to suppress her laughter. “Well he certainly takes after you doesn’t he?”
“Lolite, you’re just in time!” Dusk Note said as he shed his previous persona. “Flurry was about to tell me a spooky story.”
Lolite tilted her head. “A spooky story?”
“That’s right,” Flurry Heart said. “It’s called, ‘The Wendigo of White Tail WooOOoods!’” She mover her moves in a circle to add to the “haunting” inflections. “A spine-chilling tale of a Hearths Warming specter that appears on snowy nights, just like tonight.”
Lolite gulped. “L-like tonight?”
“You’re not scared are you?” Dusk Note asked smugly.
“Pah! Don’t be ridiculous!” Lolite scoffed. “I’m not scared, I’m half dragon! I’m tougher than any wendigo!”
“You sure you don’t mind watching the kids for a bit Flurry?” Shining Armor asked.
Flurry waved a hoof as she levitated Cobalt onto her back. “No problem at all dad. I’m just happy to spend time with these lil’ ragamuffins. We’ll be fine, don’t you worry.”
“Thank you darling,” Rarity added. “Let us know if you need a break.”
“C’mon Flurry!” Dusk Note said tugging on his cousin’s wing. “Tell us the story!”
Flurry led the kids out of the room. “All right, all right, let’s go everypony! It’s story time!”
“And so I said, ‘you mean the one who ate all the canned peaches?’ and the firepony said, ‘why? Did it already make the papers?’” The group around Spike began to chortle and guffawing at the punchline Spike delivered. Cadence nearly crumpling to the floor she was laughing so hard.
“Oh my gosh!” Cadence gasped. “That. Is one of the funniest jokes I’ve ever heard!”
“I’ll say!” Shining Armor said as he wiped his tears away. “And you said Pinkie’s daughter came up with it?”
“Indeed,” Luna said as her laughing finally subsided. “And it is just as funny a second time.”
“That filly’s got a bright future in comedy,” Rarity said. “Mark my words.”
“I gotta remember to tell this one to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo,” Sweetie Belle said. “They’ll get a kick out of it for sure.”
The party was in full swing as family exchanged stories and anecdotes amongst themselves. Rarity sipped her wine and reveled in the warmth of the atmosphere. She’s been to parties before, and she’s spent Hearths Warming with friends and family too, but this time felt… different. It was hard for Rarity to describe, but being here, with her family and Spike’s family made her realize just how magical this time of year is. Like all the pieces of a puzzle coming together and creating a perfect picture of togetherness. It was so strange as Rarity felt nostalgic and envious at the same time, like this was something she never knew she truly needed but was experiencing it anyways. Well, it’s not like this’ll be the last time she experiences this, plenty more Hearths Warmings to come.
Just then, Rarity’s ears swiveled as she picked up the faintest sound of a crying foal. She set her drink down and politely excused herself, knowing full well who was crying. She made for the doors and opened them, revealing a nervous Flurry Heart and a crying and foul-smelling Cobalt in her magic.
“Um, aunt Rarity?” Flurry asked, pinching her nose. “You, uh, didn’t happen to bring a diaper bag with you tonight, did you? Cause I’m pretty sure Cobalt needs a change.”
“Oh, yes, yes, of course darling. I’ll take it from here, if it’s all the same to you.”
“Thanks, I should be getting back to the other little stinkers anyway. Sorry for pulling you away from the party.”
“It’s quite alright dear, duty calls, uh, so to speak.”
“There we go Cobalt,” Rarity said as she admired her work. “nice and clean. I dare say I’ve gotten rather good at this.”
Cobalt giggled as he reached for his mother.
Rarity picked him up and gave him a small boop on his nose. “Oh but I have gotten good. I no longer gag when I smell… well when you need a change. You know, I’m wondering if there’s a market for designer diapers. White and off-white are all well and good, but what about red? Or turquoise? With paisley print? Oh Cobalt you may have helped mommy with a brilliant idea! Now even foals can be fashion forward with the ‘Fabulous Foal’ line by ‘Rarity For You!’”
Cobalt grabbed Rarity’s face and nuzzled her.
“But that’s an idea for after the holidays.” Rarity placed Cobalt on her back and returned to the party.
“Hey Rarity,” Spike greeted and gave her a kiss. “How’s Cobalt?”
“Clean as a whistle, as Applejack might say.”
“Oh why hello there little Cobalt,” Cadence cooed to the foal. “My you’ve certainly grown!”
Cobalt giggled and clapped his little hooves.
“He certainly has,” Rarity said with pride. “in fact, Spike and I have been teaching Cobalt some table manners over the last few weeks.”
“Yeah! He lets me feed him now,” Spike said.
“Is that right?” Cadence asked. “Well I know a few dozen ponies in the Crystal Empire that’d love to hear that.”
Spike sheepishly rubbed his neck. “Oh right. I almost forgot about my fan club, hehehe.”
“It isn’t just your fan club anymore little brother,” Shining Armor said, giving Spike a good nature nudge. “Lots of ponies want to know about ‘Spike the Brave’s foals.’ Heck, soldiers ask Flurry during drills if she has any news about her cousins. Remember when word got out that Rarity was pregnant with Lolite?” he asked Cadence.
Cadence giggled, “Sure do. We had ponies all over the empire asking if they could donate supplies or if Rarity needed a nanny.”
“Which was awfully generous of them,” Rarity said.
“Though the extra diapers sure came in handy,” Spike laughed. “Boy, did they ever…” he said as if a sinister memory was resurfacing.
A loud bang echoed as the doors to the party room flung open with the force of a hurricane, knocking over books from their shelves and causing the meticulously placed ornaments on the tree to shimmy, shake and skew. A panicky Flurry Heart stood in the doorway and wasted no time quickly flying to check every corner of the room, under every chair, table and under the tree.
“Flurry Heart!” Cadence shouted. “What has gotten into you!?”
Flurry turned and chewed on her lip, after a few seconds she broke under the stress. “I CAN’T FIND LOLITE!”
“What!?” Rarity cried.
Flurry was shaking. “I-I-I was telling Lolite and Dusky about the ‘Wendigo of White Tail Woods’ and I left to get Cobalt changed and when I came back, Lolite was gone! I looked all over the palace! This was the last place I haven’t checked and she’s not here!”
“It’s my fault!” a crying Dusk Note ran for Twilight and hugged her leg. “I kept teasing her that she was a scaredy cat! She said she was gonna go and find a wendigo and prove how brave she is!”
“She’s out in that storm!?” Luna gasped.
“How long has she been missing?!” Sweetie Belle asked.
“What are we going to do?!” Magnum shouted. “We can’t just leave my granddaughter out there!”
“Calm down everypony!” Twilight announced as she held her sobbing son. “We’ll find her!”
“That’s right,” Shining Armor added. “she couldn’t have gone far!”
“But she’s out in a blizzard!” Spike cried as he held his head. “A-a-and it’s only gonna get worse!”
“Spike, watch Cobalt.”
“Huh?” Spike was startled as Rarity quickly passed him their son before she bolted from the room. “Rarity! Rarity wait!” Spike chased after his wife, but she was already at the end of the hall and by the time he reached the foyer, he only had a moment to see Rarity grabbing her scarf before she ran out of the castle.
“Rarity!” Spike flew down from the second floor and rushed to the door in a vain attempt to catch his wife before she was gone. But as Spike looked out into the storm, he didn’t catch even the slightest glimpse of Rarity. “Great…” Spike cursed. Cobalt whimpered as he snuggled into his father’s arms.
Spike rocked his son. “It’s ok Cobalt. Everything will be ok, I promise…”
“LOLITE!” Rarity called out; her voice roared out over the howling winds of the blizzard. “LOLITE! LOLITE, WHERE ARE YOU!?”
The woods seemed to respond with another gust of snow. The same answer since Rarity began her search. Where could Lolite be? Did she really get so far into the forest that Rarity still couldn’t find a trace of her? Maybe she ran right past Lolite? Then she’d have to go back, unless Lolite got lost, then Rarity would have to keep trudging forward.
Rarity wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck as the gales threatened to knock her over. The mare’s leg buckled and she fell into a snowbank. Rarity never stopped running, ignoring the burning fatigue in her limbs she pushed forward, with her one saving grace being her scarf that was fending off the cold remarkably well.
Rarity pushed herself up. “No. Not yet. Not until Lolite is safe.” She marched on. “LOLITE! LOOOOLIIIIITE!” Rarity stopped. Her ears swiveled and her eyes darted across the woods, trying to pick something up.
“LOLIIIIIITE!”
“Mommy!”
There! It was faint, but that was Lolite’s voice for sure! Rarity ran in the direction it might have come from, staying ever vigilant to find the slightest sign of her daughter.
“LOLITE WHERE ARE YOU!?”
“I’m over here!”
Rarity caught a steady stream of pale blue light that flickered in the snow. The light gave out, but came back again in another steady stream. Rarity ran through the deepening snow and came to a large oak tree and nestled between the roots was a shivering filly. A stream of pale blue fire was spewing from her mouth as she tried to keep her hooves warm.
“Lolite!” Rarity scooped up her foal and held her to her chest. “Oh thank merciful Celestia I found you!”
“Mommy!” Lolite cried. “Mommy! I-I’m sorry! I wa-wanted to find a wendigo and-and I got lost and I didn’t know what to do, and I got cold and-!”
Rarity nuzzled her daughter. “There, there sweetheart, it’s ok. You’re safe now, mama’s here and you’re going to be just fine. I promise.” Rarity placed Lolite on her back. “Hold on darling, and don’t let go.”
Rarity tried to retrace her steps from the direction she came from, but soon found that the blizzard already covered up her tracks. Rarity couldn’t panic. She had to stay calm and think clearly for Lolite. She has to make sure Lolite is safe. She has to protect Lolite with her life. The winds bellowed and a blast of snow washed over Rarity. She lowered herself to the ground till the gust died down. Lolite was whimpering and shivering as she clung onto her mother. But her shivering and all feelings of being cold stopped when a blue scarf was wrapped around her body.
“Mommy?”
“Wr-wrap it tight darling!” Rarity barked through the cold. “It’ll keep you safe!”
“But-but what about you!?”
“Don’t worry sweetheart! Mommy’s fine, just hold on a little longer!”
Rarity could already feel the chill overpowering her as every ounce of energy was spent to keep moving forward. She’s so close. So close to getting her child to safety. Her chest heaved as the frozen air hit her lungs like shards of broken glass. The snow seemed to be getting deeper and deeper the further she went. This was the way back to town, wasn’t it? Rarity’s vision began to blur as the only thing spurring her onward was shear determination. Keep going forward, she has to keep moving. Just then an arctic blast struck Rarity and she was knocked to the ground.
“Mommy!” Lolite cried. “Mommy, get up! Please! Please get up!” Lolite shook Rarity’s shoulder, but the mare couldn’t tell.
Rarity was so cold, her whole body felt like solid ice. Her wheezy breath became slower and slower. Did she fail? Rarity’s hooves were numb, she has to keep trying. But with what strength? No, this isn’t the end, this can’t be the end!
“RARITY! LOLITE!” a voice bellowed.
“Is that…?” Rarity asked in a daze, unclear if she heard a voice or if the delirium had finally set in.
“Daddy!” Citrine shouted excitedly. “Mommy, it’s daddy! I hear daddy!”
Rarity felt the fire in her heart flare back into life as she shakily stood back on all fours. “See, we’re going to be fine darling. I told you.” Rarity ran towards Spike’s voice. “SPIKE! SPIIIKE!”
“RARITY!? RARITY WHERE ARE YOU!?” The dragon bellowed again.
“I’M HERE DARLING! I FOUND LOLITE!
“FOLLOW MY FLAME AND I’LL COME TO YOU!”
Rarity charged forward as the snow seemed to grow more and more ferocious. She could see something, a green light amidst the blinding white, a fire guiding Rarity to her husband.
Almost there! Almost there! Keep going! You’re so close! Rarity’s mind screamed as her new found hope filled her with vigor that pushed her body to limits she never knew she had. The snow became relentless and Rarity’s vision began to blur second by second and obscured more and more of Spike’s guiding light. Rarity kept running forward.
“SPIKE! SPIKE WHERE ARE YOU!?”
The last glimpse of emerald fire disappeared as Rarity felt her body collapse once more. The stark snow turning gray.
And then to black.