//------------------------------//
// Episode 33: A Hearth's Warming and Christmas Tale 
// Story: The Pony Guard (Season 5) 
// by MXCDarkHorse2020 
//------------------------------//


Episode 33:

A Hearth's Warming and Christmas Tale


It’s that time of the year in Ponyville, where the sun is shining, ponies are cheeriful, and the powder is itching with joy spread all across town. More specifically, the nice thick blanket of snow that is falling from the sky. And at a perfect time too since it is that time of the year in Equestria. Hearth’s Warming Eve.

Every pony like every year is already into the holiday by decorating their homes and houses with decorations, wreaths, lights. In addition there is of course getting presents wrapped, food for the festivities prepared, and of course good happy company to celebrate it with. And that’s exactly what the Lion and Pony Guard are doing this year at Twilight’s castle. In addition, their respective families are all joining them as the Pride Landers have decided to partake in this holiday too.

Inside the castle, both Rafiki and Makini were already there helping out with Makini especially excited about celebrating a new holiday.

“I can tell you are really looking forward to this celeberation are you, Makini?” Her mentor asked.

“Are you kidding?! Of course I am!” She could barely contain her excitement as she spread the flowers all across the library while unknowingly flinging them onto Twilight and Spike who both happened to be in the same room as them. “Oops! Sorry!”

“It’s all right.” Twilight giggled.

“Hakuna Matata!” Spike shrugged.

Given that they have been well acquainted with Pinkie Pie’s antics they are very well used to this by now as they both carried out with what they were doing in here like nothing had happened.

Upon seeing the book Twilight had resumed reading had sparked the young mandrill’s intrigued interest. “What’d you reading?” She asked while peering over her shoulder. She then gasped in delight when she read some of the words on one the pages she is currently reading. “Is that what I think it is?!”

“It is. The written and recorded history of the Pride Lands very own Kupatana Celebration. Right down to the blooming baobab flowers.”

“Wow!” She looked on at the words and pictures written and drawn on the book which came to life to show flashbacks of said events that happened that day courtesy of the alicorn’s magic.

“Oh! It's so pretty, Rafiki!” She remarked with her eyes sparkling as bright as magic while Rafiki chuckled at her enthusiasm.

“Yes, Makini. And as Royal Mjuzi, you will need to know all of Equestria’s celebrations as much as the Pride Lands' celebrations.“

“Oh, good! 'Cause I want to learn all the Equestrian celebrations as much as the Pride Lands celebrations! What's this one, Twilight?” She asked eyeing another open book she had open on the table. Is that you girls?” Said image she is talking about had an image of the girls all huddled together for a group photo alongside the yellow and red maned unicorn.

“Well yes and no…” She answered as she pulled up the journal with her magic. “...that is a picture of me but those girls are from the other world in Canterlot High.”

“Ooh, right! The place where your crown went to along where you fought against ancient evil in that rock band battle!”

“Yep. That’s the one.”

“What about this one?” She asked pointing towards a picture of one with the girls decorating a tree with Sunset putting a star on top. “Do they celebrate Hearth’s Warming too?”

“In a way yes. But technically it’s a bit different that.”

“How so?”

“Because instead of it being Hearth’s Warming, it’s called Christmas…” Sunset’s voice spoke to her as she entered the room. “...and it doesn’t exactly share the same traditions that Hearth’s Warming has.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Hey, Sunset.” Twilight greeted. “Need something?”

“No just looking around before getting something to eat.”

“You sure you don’t want to join in on the celebration? Everybody’s going to be here!”

“No thanks.” She politely smiled in return. “I’m not really a holiday pony myself.”

“Why not?”

“Makini.” Rafiki spoke up sternly while shaking her head at her constant pressing of their friend. “If she doesn’t want to partake in the celebration we must respect her decision.”

“Rafiki’s right, Makini.” Twilight agreed. “Not everyone has a great experience with the holidays like us and should be obliged to celebrate it if they don’t want to. I mean you remember why Fluttershy doesn’t celebrate Nightmare Night alongside us, right?”

“Yes. The whole traumatizing experience back when she got the scare of her life.” She then turned to Sunset apologetically. “I’m sorry Sunset, I didn't realize.”

“It’s okay. You didn’t know.”

“What happened?”

“Long story short, my former friends accused me of being the anonymous gossiper who exposed everyone’s deepest, darkest, secrets.”

“Like Gabby Gums?”

“Yes. Like Gabby Gums.”

“Ooh…That’s just so unfair.”

“It is. Especially when even after all we had been through together they were quick to accuse me right off the bat.”

“I’m so sorry.” She hugged the disheartened and downcast pony before speaking to get the mood up-swinging once more. “But enough that. You think maybe you can tell me what’s Christmas?” She asked hopefully.

“I think I can.” She smiled warmly much to the mandrill’s barely contained excitement as she hugged him.

Just then they heard rustling coming from the chimney with charcoal appearing as a certain friend of theirs made her entrance. 

“Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve!” Pinkie greeted as she ended up landing on her head all while covered in sooth.

Her friends giggled at her entrance as it’s rather cute and rather Pinkie-like just when Applejack arrived and from the look on her face, she was mighty impressed with how well things are coming along.

“Shucks, Twilight! Y'all done it up nice and cozy in here.”

“Well I did have some help…” Both Makini and Rafiki smiled in return for the acknowledgment. “…but yeah, everything’s almost ready for tonight and pretty soon many of our families will be over here so we can all celebrate it together.”

“Yeah!” Spike happily chimed in. “And the best part about it all is being able to open presents at midnight tonight!”

“By that you mean the best for you?” Twilight replied while sternly eyeing him like a mother catching him trying to sneak a peek at the presents which he is literally doing just that. “And those presents are to go under the tree, not unwrapped.”

“Yes, mom.” He begrudgingly replied before moving to carry out that task. During which he tried to pull a ribbon on one present when he was sure he was out of her sight…

“You know I can sense what you’re doing behind my back!” The alicorn voiced out, making the little dragon leave the ribbon exactly like he it was before he pulled it before rushing off to put them under the tree like he was told.

With that moment aside, Applejack turned her attention to Sunset who looks on like nothing had happened. “Howdy Sunset! Happy Hearth’s Warming…Eve.” She looked on concerned when she didn’t immediately reply. “You okay, partner?”

“Yeah, Applejack.” She quickly replied which didn’t convince the most honest pony that everything is fine with her.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes and no. And sorry. I’m just not exactly the holiday pony myself today.”

“Because of what happened in the other world?”

“Yes.”

“I hear you loud and clear.” Pinkie chimed in. “You know this reminds of a time when Gabby Gums did something like this and she or more accurately she and her friends were deemed outcasts amongst the crowd and had to create an apology story to make things right. And more I think about it sure is crazy of how similar both worlds are right down to our human counterparts.”

“Yes Pinkie. It is.” Sunset glared at her. “Expect that the one who didn’t do it was the one who was punished by your human counterpart’s!”

Pinkie giggled nervously as she realized her insensitive mistake. “Wow! That’s even worse. Oopsie.”

“Maybe we should just focus on getting everything ready for when our families arrive.” Applejack suggested with a firm hoof on the pink pony’s shoulder to keep her from getting a rise out of the fiery unicorn.

“Good idea.” She voiced with calmly voiced anger that had even the earth pony herself gulping nervously.

“Sunset…” Twilight spoke up in an effort to ease her rising temper. “...why don’t you go help make sure the tree is all set up. Help Bunga, Rarity, Timon, and Pumbaa out and getting all of the ornaments put up.”

“Okay.” She said with her anger diminishing for the time being before leaving the room.

After Sunset had left, Twilight turned to her friend with a look of disappointment. “We’ll talk about this later, but in the meantime…” She then shifted to an upbeat attitude to match the holiday’s mood. “...check out the holiday dolls we made.”

Everyone all gazed in admiration at the exact replica dolls of themselves placed over the fireplace.

“Cool!”

“Fascinating!”

Both Makini and Pinkie happily expressed upon seeing her completed work.

“I can’t wait until our families get here to see this! Including mine!” Pinkie then happily added.

Hearing that sparked surprise among the others, especially Kion and Ono who arrived alongside the rest of the Lion Guard who had yet to show up.

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Your whole family?” Applejack asked in surprise.

“Yep. Which means both Apples and Pies will be getting together for the very first time! Isn’t that exciting?!”

“I suppose so.” While Applejack voiced her support she wasn’t sure of what the Pies are going to be like. As far as what she was told by Pinkie herself she stands out as the emotionally expressive and colorful compared to a family of gray coated ponies with emotionally distant personalities.

“Just wait, Applejack! By the end of the day, we’ll all be one happy family having a great time together. Maybe. Unless we're related! Which maybe we're not. I think I just confused myself."

Twilight smiled finding it to be a very sweet idea. “I think it's sweet that your families are spending the holiday together."

“It sure is.” Beshte agreed. “I’m already looking forward to this party already.”

“Me too.” Fuli chimed feeling upbeat about the whole celebration herself. “It’s not every day I get spend time with my friends and family.”

“And judging from the guest list, we sure have a lot of friends to the family, Fuli.” Ono shared. “Aside from Applejack and Pinkie Pie’s families and us obviously, we have your childhood friends, Kion’s family, Beshte’s family, Kyoga’s family, Twilight’s brother and sister-in-law, Bunga’s adoptive uncles, and of course the many friends to the Lion King himself.”

“That sure is a lot of friends to the family.” Fuli remarked highly impressed with how huge the guest list really is.

“It sure is.” Twilight replied.

“Do you think everyone will love the holiday celebrations tonight, Twilight?” Makini asked.

“In your case Makini it is something to die for...of excitement.” She quickly added to assure everyone she meant that as a figure of speech not literally. “For everyone else it is definitely a celebration nobody will ever forget.”

Little do anyone know is that things sure will play out as something they’ll never forget...just not quite the way anybody would expect. Especially when old traditions try to come together with new traditions.





In the other room, Bunga, Rarity, Timon, and Pumbaa are all setting up the tree by decorating it with Equestrian ornaments along with fruit from the Pride Lands just when Spike and Sunset showed up to see their progress and be ready to assist when needed. During which Timon took the time to sing to help move things along.

“Jungle smells, jungle smells, jungle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to... “

“Uh, Timon?” Pumbaa interrupted while passing a gourd up to his best buddy.  “That's not the way I remember the song.” 

Timon insisted it was. “Come on, Pumbaa. How can you not remember? We sing it every Christmas.”

“Every Christmas.” Sunset eyed Timon rather annoyed that to him now this is all old news to him. “I just told you both of what the holiday was about two minutes ago.”

“Boy has time passed so fast.” Sunset could only shake her head in response before moving to place some more candy canes onto the tree. “Huh?” She suddenly noticed the box she was holding is empty. “Where they’d go?”

“No idea.” Bunga replied with his mouth full while casually placing fruit decorations onto the tree. “There!” He said with proud satisfaction. “Timon? Pumbaa? Whaddaya think, eh?”

“Let’s see.” Rarity said as she moved to take a look at her friend’s work in progress. “Oh my!” 

“Wow!”

”Oh, it's beautiful!”

Hearing this left Bunga pleased to see and hear the stamps of approval he was being given. “Thanks! If you ask me it’s perfect!”

“Almost perfect.” Rarity reminded while gesturing her head up towards the very top of the tree.

Timon also knew exactly what she is talking about upon looking up where her eyes are sighted on. “She’s right. We still need the star fruit for the top of the tree. The “piece de resistance!””

“One star fruit, coming up.” Sunset volunteered as she got the requested item before moving to levitate up towards the honey badger so he can place it on the very top.

“Actually, Sunset…” Rarity spoke up having a better idea on her mind. “...why don’t you place it top? Considering this is your first Hearth’s Warming celebration with us.”

“Really?” Sunset looked on surprised before agreeing for the sake of it. “Okay.” Without effort she used her magic to levitate it up towards the very top in a careful and delicate manner.

The four friends all cheered happily for her as with the star on top the holiday tree is all set and decorated to perfection. Said cheer wound up attracting the Lion and Pony Guard’s attention who would normally see that kind of voice raising any day as a cry for help.

“We heard you shouting. Good thing we were close by.” Kion commented in worry.

“Relax, Kion.” Twilight quickly assured after seeing what was really going on. “They’ve just finished decorating the tree.” She then spots something else that caught her eye before levitating a gift wrapped box Spike had in his claws back under the tree. “Along with an overly-eager dragon trying to sneak a peek at the presents ahead of time.” Spike could only cross his arms and pout in defeat, but even still he knows better than to argue as it is not polite to open presents early.

“Oh.” Kion said feeling quite surprised as he used to hearing someone call for help like that. “Right.”

“What do you think?” Rartiy asked eager for their awe inspired reactions and much to her satisfaction many of the reactions were exactly that.

“Wow!”

“Poa!”

“Nice work!”

Rainbow, Beshte, and Kyoga all complimented.

Fuli the only one who didn’t join in on commending her instead looked on in confusion at some of selected decorations and ornaments on the tree. “Fuli?” The curious and concerned unicorn asked.

“Yeah.” She spoke up to assure she isn’t staring off into space.

“Everything okay with what’s up there?”

“Yes.”

“Expect?”

“Nothing bad but why are there gourds hanging all over it?”

“Because it's both a Hearth’s Warming and Christmas tree.” Bunga explained as he pointed to the special ornament on top. “See that big star up there? That means tomorrow is Christmas.”

“You mean Hearth’s Warming Eve?”

“Yeah that too!”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Both leaders of the Guard expressed confusion with that statement Bunga had just said.

“Uh, what's Christmas?” Beshte asked much to both Timon and Pumbaa’s overly baffled shock.

"What's Christmas"? 

“It's this great holiday Sunset told us earlier.” Bunga explained.

“Which involves flying reindeer I might add.” Pumbaa chimed in. 

“Flying reindeer?” Ono couldn’t help but that the idea that reindeer can fly to be the most absurd thing he has ever heard of. “Reindeer don't... “

Timon quickly grabbed the egret’s beak shut to get him to stop talking. “The point is, Christmas is a wonderful day when we all get presents!”

“It's more like a time to be with your friends and family.” Pumbaa corrected. “It's all about the spirit of giving!”

Timon however disagreed. “You mean "getting."”

“I'm pretty sure it's "giving."”

“Actually, you can't have getting without giving. Or giving without getting.” Sunset pointed out while looking annoyed as heck by the two for their arguing.

“And much like Hearth’s Warming, the holiday itself ain’t about candy and presents.” Applejack added.

Timon moaned in response. “Oh boy, here comes the wise and humble words of Honest John himself.”

“Yep. Wise and humble words that are much needed and very important to hear, because if it weren’t for the power of this here friendship, we might be standing in Equestria right now. But instead a frozen tundra colder than where the Theluji Mountains.”

“Right where those two banana brains used me as a snot rag.”

“Wait, what?”

“When?”

Both Kion and Twilight asked.

“Back when everyone’s backs were turned and focused on the wedding and those two hair-brained brothers picked me up and blew into me while he was blubbering about something I don’t even understand!”

“Oh, right, that.”

“Now I know why.”

“The unfortunate accident.” Fluttershy also recalled. “But I did clean you up just after they got married and they did apologize to you once I talked to them about it.”

“Whatever.” Timon remarked with crossed arms still upset over that feeling like he was being treated like dung beetles tossed face first into the mud.”

“Anyways…” Bunga said wanting to keep the festive spirit up. “...you know what the best part of Christmas is?” He then asked the curious group as he put one paw in the air. “Dandy Claws!”

“Dandy Claws?” Fuli looked on as this is new to her. “Is that a who or a what?”

“And more accurately a he or a she?”

“For starters, Dandy Claws or more accurately is Santa Claus, and Santa Claus himself is a he.” Sunset answered before Timon and Pumbaa could answer that. From the look on her face one could face she is not in the mood to hear such silliness right now. “During the night heading into Christmas Day, he comes around to people’s houses every night and leaves presents under the tree for everyone to wake up that very morning. He is big, wears a red coat, hat, and suit, and has a big white beard.”

“Right, exactly.”

Sunset wasn’t impressed. “Please. If I hadn’t spoken up you would have said he is a big red guy with fluffy red whiskers.” Before he could speak up again. “And don’t tell me otherwise considering I just told you yesterday all about him and the holiday itself.”

“Point being.” Bunga then continued like nothing happened. “Christmas is the best!”

He briefly looking out the window to see the white blanket of snow covering the entire town from inside, barely managing to catch a glimpse of the sun trying to peak through the dark gray clouds while singing. He briefly hugged his adoptive uncles while holding up holding up holly and ivory together to create a mistletoe. 

“We're not sure why.“

“It’s just what you do.”

Both Timon and Pumbaa shared equally confused looks until Sunset demonstrated it's importance by kissing Twilight on the cheek much to her embarrassment as the latter looked aside with her cheeks turning red while the other ponies giggled at her expense.

Bunga continuing singing before moving to intervene when both Timon and Pumbaa started arguing once more. Before placing decorations on some of his friends while dancing along the way. He then climbed up the tree to look at the fruit star to which Rarity levitated a sparkling diamond gem to place in the center of it so it can create a rainbow reflective glow that sparkles across the room around them. As the spotlight shined on Pumbaa then Timon, they each traded verses before they moved to sing all together as they marched and danced around the tree.

After the song came to an end, Fuli had another question about this Christmas holiday they’re talking about, looking very intrigued by the Christmas holiday itself as much as Hearth’s Warming. “So this Santa Claus or who you guys like to call Dandy Claws brings you gifts every year?”

“Yes and no.” Sunset replied. “I mean yes he does show up but only if you have been very good. Otherwise he’ll leave you nothing but coal in your stocking.”

“Are you saying that Dandy Claws never will come?” Timon fearfully asked while on the verge of tears.

“No, I never said that. I said if you are good he might come.” She repeated with emphasis on if and might. “One way he might come is if you perform the special song he is looking for.”

“Oh yeah! Of course!”

“We get it now!”

“Good.” Her calm smile only lasted briefly when the question itself is someone dared to wonder what the answer is.

“What’s this here special song that ensures that this here Santa Claus?” Applejack curiously asked.

“Well, from what we've heard, Dandy Claws only comes if you perform a special song under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.” Pumbaa began.

“It's called The Twelve Ways of Christmas.” Bunga continued to explain next. “It's got leaping lions, bouncing berries, falling fruit, all sorts of stuff.”

“Yeah, but you can't just sing about 'em! They gotta be there! It's a huge production! Animals, fruit, bugs.” Pumbaa added. 

“It's too much. I've tried…” Timon complained much to Sunset’s growing annoyance. Kion briefly looked at Timon before turning to Sunset who can only shrug in response as the Meerkat plants his face into the ground. “...but I've never been able to do it. It's impossible! And that's why Dandy Claws will never come and bring me gifts!”

“This is just so sad.” Sunset bitterly muttered her breath.

“Oh, cheer up, Timon.” Pumbaa assured his distraught friend. “Bunga and I gave you gifts for this Christmas.”

“Yeah! Even the sneaky dragon eyeing the presents gets one.” Bunga agreed pointing to said dragon still snooping around said presents.

Spike glared at him for being a snitch in the matter before coming forward to Twilight. “Can we please open the presents now? Please?!” He pleaded of her.

Applejack arched an eyebrow in response. "But tonight is Hearth's Warming Eve. Everybody knows you don't open presents 'till tomorrow. And if that’s the case for Christmas wouldn’t that apply as well if tonight is Christmas Eve."

"When Spike and I spent our first Hearth's Warming Eve together, he couldn't wait all night to open his presents! Ever since then, we've always opened them the night before!" Twilight explained.

"It's kinda like our tradition!"

Applejack chuckled, "That's not how our family does it, and I reckon it can't be how Pinkie's does it." her eyes darted to the pink pony, "Is it?"

"No sire!" Pinkie replied happily.

“Well I’m sure you’ll be happy to know that we will open presents at midnight tonight so you won’t have to wait long for that to happen.” Twilight said to further assure both Timon and Spike.

“Yeah! “ Bunga happily stated.

Applejack still didn't agree but really wasn’t going to argue about it considering it is time of old and new traditions to blend together as one. "To each their own, I suppose." 

Timon also came to concede that’ll suffice for him too. “I know, and they're always great. But just once, I'd like Dandy Claws to bring me something, too.”

“Well, who knows? Maybe someday he will.” Pumbaa commented which did little in cheering his friend up.

“Maybe.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Sunset commented in a neutral tone and stance on the way. “Now that the tree is all set up with our presents all wrapped and under there, I am going to sit in my room while catching up on my studies so that when I return to Canterlot High, I’ll be caught up with my work so I can move on with what I want to be while growing up. One that doesn’t involve friendship. Now, good day.”

With that curt reply, she took her leave, leaving her friends stunned and shocked. Clearly she is not a holiday pony.

“Geez, what’s her problem?” Timon asked. “Did she get a lot of coal in her stocking last Christmas?”

Twilight shook her head. “No. Her friends back in Canterlot High accused her of being the anonymous source of embarrassing secrets. Quick to break off their friendship without even hearing her out and fully understanding what was going on.”

“Who?” Pumbaa asked.

“Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.”

“Like Gabby Gums all over there.” Rarity added with solemn pity for the disheartened pony making her way upstairs towards the library. “Her holiday spirit having just been crushed before it could even grow.”

“Yeah.” Kion agreed before heading out. “Since it is almost time for the party, I’m going to gather my family so we can all head on back for the party together.”

“Me too.”

“Me three.”

“Same here. My dad is waiting with his friends.”

“So are Sally and Sassy.”

“Along with my sisters.”

“You better get on over to the train station.” Applejack stated towards Pinkie just when they heard a train whistle from the station blowing it’s horn. “Your family has arrived.”

“Yes!” Pinkie cheered before rushing on over there with gleeful excitement while Fuli was quick to rush out after her while Applejack, Kion, Kyoga, and Beshte all took their time walking outside so they can meet up with the rest of their family.





With them gone that just left half of the Guard at the castle and the preparations to deal with. One of them being the cooking for dinner tonight.

“In the meantime, I’m going to get started on cooking dinner. Spike, Rarity, Bunga, want to help?”

“Sure.”

“Absolutely.”

“Can do!”

While the others are getting themselves prepped up for the gathering tonight, Bunga couldn’t help but sigh while cutting up the vegetables.

“You okay, buddy?” Spike who was reading the cookbook asked upon noticing that he is not completely upbeat about tonight.

“Yeah, I just wish I could make Dandy Claws or Santa Claus appear and have Uncle Timon's Christmas dream come true.”

“I completely understand.” Twilight sympathetically replied while checking up on the food that is cooking in the oven. “At the same time I could wish the same to help cheer up Sunset. I mean you saw how cranky she was earlier.”

“Quite cranky to the point I thought she was going to explode.” Rarity who was working her magic with a mixing bowl chimed in. But if she doesn’t want to celebrate Hearth’s Warming or Christmas who are we to insist that on her?”

“No one.” Bunga honestly answered. “I mean it’s not like we can combine both holidays and get Sunset to help introduce Christmas as a way to help restore her holiday spirit.” Bunga’s smile grew wide when he processed what he just said. “Or maybe we can.”

“Bunga?”

“We can?”

Both Spike and Rarity commented in confusion.

“Of course. All we have to do is perform that song. The Twelve Ways of Christmas. And as for Sunset as she sees everyone having a good time together, she’ll forget being all grumpy and mad about the holidays. It’s perfect.”

“But didn’t you hear Timon?” Spike reminded to assert they are literally playing with fire here. “He said it's impossible.”

“And Sunset made it perfectly clear that she doesn’t want to be disturbed. Ever. By forcing her to participate we’re no better than the friends who outright accused of her being in the wrong and abandoning her in a time of need. As if breaking a mare’s heart once before wasn’t bad enough.”

“True.” Bunga acknowledged that statement. “But who says she has to participate in the holiday celebrations? All she has to do is guide us through how certain Christmas celebrations work out. There she’ll remind herself of how friendship changed her for the better and then she’ll want to join in on the fun.”

“But there is the fact of girls who were responsible for breaking her heart in the other world. Just seeing the others…” She took a moment to add in Rarity's direction. “...no offense.”

“None taken, darling.”

“...faces will only serve to constantly remind her of why she ran away and came here in the first place.”

“Well at least it’s better than doing nothing.” Bunga turned his head up towards the ceiling where Sunset is currently reading and sitting in her room rather depressed and miserable. “I mean it doesn’t hurt to at least try.”

It took a second for Twilight to think about this. Fulfilling Christmas wishes, combining old and new traditions together, and cheering up someone who doesn’t want to be cheered up. It’s risky, but at the same time it can be done if done right. And they’re the Lion and Pony Guard who manages to make the impossible possible almost every day. So why not?

“Well if Kion were here, he would agree to try to make it happen. And we do the impossible all the time as the Lion and Pony Guard.”

Bunga liked what he is hearing. “Ooh, yeah, we do, don't we?”

“But the celebration is tonight and Christmas is tomorrow. That means we have to get everything ready by tonight!” Rarity frantically said before freaking out when she heard the timer go off. 

“Do you smell something burning?” Bunga asked while sniffing the air around them.

“Gah! My spinach puffs!” She quickly rushed over to the oven and thankfully managed to save them in time.

“Good! Well?”

Twilight smiled as she gave him her answer. “All right, Bunga. We’ll give it a try.”

“I suppose we could.” Rarity also agreed.

“And if Pinkie were here, she’d do it too if that means making everyone happy.” Spike added in agreement.

“Yes Thanks, everybody.”

“Okay. Bunga, what do we need for The Twelve Ways of Christmas?”  Twilight asked.

“Oh, so much! Bugs a-crawling, fruit a-falling, lions leaping, trunks a-honking…”

Spike quickly spoke up to interrupt him as he was explaining it too fast to the point he can’t write it all down. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! One at a time please! I can’t write that all that fast!”

“Maybe you should start from the beginning.” Twilight suggested.

“Okay, so the song goes like this...”

“For the First Way of Christmas, my good friends gave to me.… A rhino in a baobab tree!”

“The other version Sunset told me goes like this…”

“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...A partridge in a pear tree.”

“...And that's it. What do you think?”

“Pretty good.”

“Not bad.”

Both Twilight and Rarity complimented.

“Though I do wonder where you got the rhino in the tree part?” Spike asked rather confused.

“I just made that part up.” Bunga admitted. “Because I thought to myself even that’s not the way the song is supposed to go, it sounded a bit better to fit with a more friendly setting instead of, you know, in love setting.”

“Fair point.” He turned to the other ponies. “Any thoughts?”

“We’ll talk it out with them and see what they think, but we’re willing to try out whatever works for everyone.” Twilight replied.

“It’s not exactly traditional to do an alternative version of a well-known song, but if that’s what makes everyone happy, I guess I can’t say no.” Rarity added being willing to try it out too.

“Yes!” Bunga cheered seeing that they are on board with this. “This is gonna be the most un-Bunga-lievable Christmas ever!” Then he quickly reminded himself to say this. “Ooh, but don't let Timon and Pumbaa see you! I really want it to be a surprise!

“Of course.”

“Sure thing, darling.”





Meanwhile, both Applejack and Pinkie Pie have decided to meet up with both families at the Ponyville train station with the former’s family having already met up with them. It hasn’t even been ten minutes in, and Pinkie is still running her mouth on and on a bout her ongoing excitement over this upcoming gathering.

Applejack herself while not hyperactive in her excitement is still equally thrilled for what she thinks will be a great Hearth’s Warming experience. “It's so excitin'! Related or not, it's gonna be a hoot havin' our families together under one roof!”

“I know! I can’t wait!”

“Me too!” Apple Bloom also eagerly excited as Pinkie stated. “Is that why we celebrate with a flag raisin' tomorrow?”

Her big brother nodded. “Mm-hmm! And tonight, we'll have the traditional Hearth's Warmin' Eve dinner to remember the shared bounties of our ancestors.”

“We do that too!” Pinkie 	chimed in.  	

“Then we'll hang our 	Hearth's Warmin' dolls over the fireplace to remind us of the warmth 	shared on that fateful night.”

“That's what our family does too!”

“And tomorrow, we open 	presents!”  	

“Ah! We do that too!”  	

"Sounds like the Apples and the Pies do everything the same way!” Apple Bloom commented while pleasantly surprised at the very many similarities their families seemingly have together.

“Of course!” Both ponies spoke at the exact same time. “We might be related! Hey, I was 	gonna say that!” They both ended up mirroring each other with each movement, hoof to hoof, eye to eye. “Stop sayin' what I'm sayin'! 	You stop it first!” They both laughed together while falling on their backs after finding that admittedly funny.

“So I take you’re both off to a good start in bonding with one another.”

Both Applejack and Pinkie turned their heads towards where the voice came from and both wasted no time in happily greeting her with holiday spirit.

“Oh, hey Kyoga!”

“Howdy there partner!”

“Hello to you both.” She kindly greeted in return. “So I take it the Pie Family has yet to arrive?”

“Yep.” Big Mac casually replied. “But they should be here soon.”

“That’s good.”

“I'm so happy, I need to 	make up a new word for how happy I am.” Pinkie happily said. “What 	about... "rooftastic"?” 

Both Applejack and Kyoga were of course confused.

“”Rooftastic"?”

“What’s that mean?”  	

“It means, as in, I'm gonna stand on the roof and yell to everypony how rooftastic this is! She proceeded to demonstrate it by standing up the train station roof while shouting loudly. "How rooftastic this is…How rooftastic 	this is…How rooftastic this is…"

The echoing was so loud it reached all the way out to Outlands in the other world and the Backlands outside of Equestria where the Outsiders were working on training exercises at both places. Scar having super-hearing abilities shrugged it off this time deciding that for once whatever she is screaming about is not worth his time before focusing on his follower’s progress.

“Very.” After shielding everyone from the snow from the rooftop causing by her shouting, Kyoga noticed Applejack looking somewhat nervously while looking aside. “Everything okay, Applejack?”

“Yeah…”

“Expect?…”

“Expect...What if our families don't like each other?"

“I’d say otherwise because you’re standing in front a friend who knows and reads Maud like a book. Like Twilight would if she were here. Sure it make take some compromising and understanding each other’s traditions and lifestyles but it’ll all work out. It always does.”

“She’s right, Applejack.” Pinkie agreed while lowering down from the roof to stand by her friend’s side. "We are friends, Applejack, and after tonight, our families are gonna be friends too. Do you know what that means?" Pinkie started counting her hooves. "Number of Apples times number of Pies is twenty four, minus my three existing friendships plus one for Maud and you makes five from twenty four is…" She inhaled a deep breath before finishing her sentence. "nineteen new friendships!" She stated with nineteen hooves appearing all around them, much to her friends shocked reactions.

No matter what Pinkie always managed to catch them off guard.

Just then a train whistle is heard from nearby as the train everyone was expecting had finally pulled up to the station. And when the doors opened, the first pony to come out was a pony that Pinkie has been expecting to see since she got here.

"Maud!" She happily greeted before rushing over to hug her sister, who looked on without emotion which is of course expected at this point.

"I'm so excited to see you, Pinkie Pie." Maud returned stoically and in her usual deadpan voice. "You too, Applejack, Kyoga, I hope you both had fun sledding yesterday."

Both Applejack and Kyoga looked in on surprise. "How'd you know that?" She asked in surprise.

"Isn't it obvious?" Maud raised one of her hoofs, spotting very small little pieces of rocks, "There are specks of extrusive andesite on your hands. It's a mountain rock." She then sniffs Kyoga’s fur and sniffed out something oddly interested. “Not to mention it would seem you have been out near a volcano recently. The smokey scent, the specks of charcoal, and volcanic ash.” 

She managed to pull out hidden specks that were in her fur ever since the whole encounter with Scar recently. Apparently, the strong scent her friends gave her is still present.

“Impressive.” Kyoga replied with a look of respect.

“She’s good.” Granny Smith whispered to the other Apples who nodded in agreement.

“How's school going?” Pinkie eagerly asked.

“If you thought quartz was high on the Mozarts hardness scale, wait 'til I tell you about orundum.” Maud stoically replied.

Pinkie happily hugged her	sister. “I missed you so much! Both Princess Twilight and Prince Kion are both very honored that you and the rest of the family could join us for Hearth’s Warming this year and they are both already looking forward to seeing you again.”

“Well I wouldn’t want to keep them waiting anymore. Shall we?”

“Let’s.”

She led the way on over to the castle while the rest of her family emerged from the train one by one and judging by their reactions, it’s definitely out of the ordinary, starting with two more ponies emerging from the train, Pinkie Pie’s parents.

The first pony is a male stallion wearing a gray fedora hat with a white button up shirt and a black tie. He had a brown coat, amber eyes, and a short gray mane and tail, and a pickax for a cutie mark on his flank.

The mare walking next to him had a light bluish gray coat with a matching mane and tail with the top pulled neatly back into a bun, and had light sky blue eyes. She had gold pentacles connected by a golden chain along with a golden necklace, a black dress, and had three light blue diamonds as her cutie mark.

Following after them were two more female ponies, her sisters. The taller one has a bluish gray coat with a gray mane and tail, the left side was styled into a bob cut while the right side was short, spiky and sticking out on ends. Her eyes were light apple green and her cutie mark on her flank depicted a limb with two white stones. Unlike Maud, her expression was bitter, angry, and annoyed.

The second was more timid and slightly shorter compared to her sister. Her eyes were light and a faint violet color, her mane, tail, and coat are all grey. Her hair was styled to the left side, with a large part covering her left eye.

As they walked on ahead, Pinkie ran up to the Apples in an encouraging manner.

“Come on, everybody! Meet my super-mega-wonderful family!"

The Apples all did exactly that as they walked on over back to the castle but given their bewildered expressions when they got there, really found that this is not quite the family they are used to getting acquainted with.

None of the less, Pinkie kept up her positive and cheerful attitude as she led and hopped her way on over, up until she knocked on the doors so Twilight  and Kion can move to greet them along with the rest of the Lion and Pony Guard and the important party guests.

From first glance, it was certainly something to take in, but nothing too surprising given their earlier interactions with Maud and they were all very ready to greet them with the same enthusiasm like they did with Maud.





During the walk over the taller sister constantly scowled the whole way while not even allowing Pinkie to hug her and had to gently push and drag her other sister along the way because of her overly timidness.

"Everybody, meet everybody!"

Pinkie's parents approached Kion and Twilight and bowed before them in respect. The father spoke first and removed his hat in a gentleman fashion, "Surely thy name is not but Princess Twilight nor Prince Kion. I am called Igneous Rock Pie, son of Thelmspar Granite Pie."

"Thou shalt know me as Cloudy Quartz." His wife added.

"May Providence favor thee well, and to thou comfort, your humble homestead bring."

Neither the prince nor princess were expecting this kind of greeting, but they still none of the less returned the greeting of their own in kind. After all, friends of the family is their family too.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Twilight politely greeted with a bow. “We’ve been looking forward to meeting you ever since we heard you would joining us tonight.”

“And we’re very glad that you could make it, it is truly an honor.” Kion also greeted as he too bowed alongside Twilight. “The more the merrier.”

Cloudy Quartz bowed her head as she offered the prince and princess the pot she was carrying. "Please accept this most gracious gift as a token of our appreciation for tonight’s dinner."

“We sure will.”

“Thank you.”

Twilight kindly took the pot, which was quite heavy but wasn’t too much of a problem given her recent training as Kion looked on in brief concern. “Very generous of you to offer what is sure to be a delicious offering.”

Granny Smith moved to approach the parents so she can greet them now that they have all arrived. "Y'all gabbin' with words real funny-like. Wh, wh, what'd you say them names were? Iggy? And I'm just gonna call you 'Big Momma Q'!"

Both Igneous and Cloudy shared the same awkward expressions as it is not customary nor traditional greetings that they are used to, but still carried out as nothing out of the ordinary.

Fuli approached one of Pinkie's sisters to introduce herself, "Hello, you must be…” She moved to shake her hoof only to be met with an heated glare from the angry pony.

"Gaze into the eyes of Limestone Pie. Ma and Pa Pie own the rock farm back home, but I keep it running. Cross me and-"

“You’ll do what?” Fuli asked without flinching much to the pony’s surprise.

Before she could react, Pinkie Pie quickly came in between the two, "Aye aye, Captain Grumpy! No-one's gonna mess with your precious mine. Considering we’re not there right now."

"But not Holder’s Boulder!” Limestone irritably remarked. “With who knows what is happening to it in my absence!”

“What is Holder’s Boulder?” Fuli asked.

“This is Holder’s Boulder!” Limestone irritably pulled out a photo and held it right in her face.

“Okay.” Fuli calmly pushed the photo out of her personal space. “Although a simple hold up the picture would have done just fine.”

“Come on, it’s not like Fuli could move that boulder even if she wanted too.” Pinkie said in her defense. “Even if she did she wouldn’t dream of cracking down hard on it.” 

*squee* 

Limestone wasn’t even close to being amused by her joke so she sighed in response. It was clear she was the most abrasive to the point she is worse than both Rainbow and Fuli combined having a bad day after that one time Bupu kicked them hard into the mud pit. All for payback just for giving them a hard time following all of the trouble they went to get him and his heard on over to safety.

Knowing her sister well, she borrowed the photo from her sister before moving to show it to everyone so they can see what Limestone is so protective over. “Everybody, this is Holder's Boulder, even thought it's not here please show respect and do not go near it nor touch it. There, you happy now?" Pinkie asked the abrasive and grumpy pony who only looked aside after having her case made. To her it was better than nothing.

“Wow, talk about attitude. As if Bupu was enough to drive us cranky as Cranky Doodle on a bad day.”

“Tell me about it. At least he got what was coming to him later on.”

“He sure did.”

Both the cheetah and rainbow maned Pegasus chuckled together to themselves with what they did is left for others to guess.

Beshte approached the fourth Pie sister, who quivered once she saw the ilt hippopotamus large. “Hey how are you doing? My name’s Beshte.” When she didn’t reply. He added as the pony refused to come closer to him. “You okay?”

“Of course she is!” Pinkie Pie quickly swooped in and hugged the younger sister. "This is Marble Pie, my baby sister who's only a year younger than me but she'll always be a baby to me, isn't that right?" She pinched her little sister's cheek, making her blush in embarrassment as she didn’t like having much focus directed towards her. Friends, family, all of the above. 

"She's so excited to meet everybody! Oh, and she wishes you all happy Hearth's Warming!" When Marble didn't say anything, Pinkie gently nudged her elbow and gestured her to speak. 

"Mm-hm." She replied weakly and shyly.

Seeing this had Beshte move to assure her he’s friendly. “It’s okay, Marble. I may be a big hippo but I’m one of the nicest guy’s you’ll ever meet. The same can be said for Fluttershy.” He turned to said pony who is intrigued to see another relatable pony in her field who flew over to greet her. “Isn’t that right?”

“Mmm-hmm. Exactly what he said.” She assured with a warm smile. “True to my namesake.” She giggled to herself before leading her along with Beshte inside.

As the whole family walked around the castle, they all looked on at what was around them. But they couldn't decide if they were a good astonished or a bad astonished. Unlike back at the farm, these folks are really festive in regards to celebrating the holiday season. Stockings, candy, sweets, candles, fancy party food, and presents underneath the tree. Something that it is not well accustomed to the Pie family since they never did anything like that back home. But even still they remained neutral for Pinkie’s sake who is really trying hard to get them to try new things in life. Question is what will get them to learn and adapt to their non-traditional ways. But so far things were looking up for both Apples and Pies.

Igneous and Cloudy strolled the castle with Granny Smith accompanying them in order to get to know them more. Fluttershy and Beshte both happily talked with Marble, even though she hardly said a word to them. And Limestone carried on with her ususal annoyed and angry look while both Rainbow and Fuli watch on very curious over what’s really eating her inside. 

"So far, so good, cousin!" Applejack happily commented to the pink pony standing next to her.

"Hee-hee!" Pinkie giggled already liking what she is seeing so far.

“So far so good.” Twilight whispered to Kion as they both watched the scenes unfold before they moved to take the pot into the kitchen.

“Yep.” He then remembered. “And Bunga told me what he told you so, would now be a good time to get everybody and everything together for this performance of his?”

“In a little bit.” She replied once she put the pot on the table inside the kitchen. “Right after we make sure we have everything all ready for dinner tonight. Then we’ll get everyone we need together.”

“Get everyone you need together for what?” The lion king himself asked as he and Ma Tembo walked inside the kitchen.

“And what’s cooking?” She sniffed with her trunk and picked up something she found a bit odd. “Ooh it’s soup. May I?”

“Sure.”

“Go for it.”

Ma Tembo opened the lid and saw soup...with rocks in it. “Oh. Wow. This sure is quite an interesting combination.” Deep down she really wasn’t expecting at all. “Can’t wait to try it tonight.”

“Hope you do.” Maud’s voice said to her as she walked behind her much to the startled elephant's surprise. “It’s my family’s favorite.”

“Yes, of course. Can’t wait.” She said as politely and respectfully as possible as the girl walked on ahead. Once she was out of ear shot she quickly whispered to the others still alarmed by what she just did seconds ago. “That was creepy.”

“It can be to an extent.” Twilight whispered back very understanding of how that feels to be on both ends.

“No wonder that was heavy.” Kion commented as he put the lid back on and had some difficulty lifting it. “It has rocks in it.”

“No kidding.” She moved to give him a little magical assistance to make sure it goes back on the table so it remains preserved until dinner time. She turned to both the lion king and elephant to answer the former’s question. “We were just talking about ideas on how to further celebrate Hearth’s Warming Eve tonight. After dinner, of course.”

“What kind of idea?” Beshte asked as he too walked inside and then sniffed the Pie’s soup. “Other than rock soup?”

“How did you know without looking in the pot?” Kion asked feeling bewildered by that accurate guess.

“Easy. I’ve been around rocks long enough to know what they smell like. Especially warm ones.”

“Impressive.”

“Wow.”

“Anyways…” Twilight continued explaining to the curious group in front of them. “...the idea we were talking about is an idea for the holiday tonight. A potentially fun idea.”

“Like what?”

One explanation later with the rest of the lions and elephants getting ready to get seated at the main dinner table first…

“Dandy Claws? Santa Claus? I don’t like the sound of that.” 

“You want me to do what?”

Both Ma Tembo and Simba asked highly surprised in response to what they were just told.

Mtoto had different thoughts compared to the older elephant. “I think it sounds like fun. Can we, Ma Tembo? Please?”

“What was it you said we'd be doing?” Ma Tembo asked again.

“Um, a-honking?” Beshte answered.

Mtoto was already liking the idea. “Hear that? It's a performance!”

Considering it ties into her liking and the fact that she also can’t find it in her heart to say no to the little one, Ma Tembo replied now investing in the idea herself. “Hmm. I do love to perform.”

“And Beshte's like family.” Mtoto added.

And that was enough to get the matarich of the elephant clan on board. “We elephants would be delighted to be in your Heart’s Warming and Christmas performance.”

“Yay!” Ma Tembo was so excited he trumpeted loudly much to the guests startled reactions from outside.

Seeing that the elephants are into this idea, Twilight and Kion turned to the lion king where the rest of his family have been fully informed of what they would be doing in this performance proposal. 

“So...?”

“...Are you in too?”

He hesitated a bit “Well…”

“Oh, come on, Dad, please?” Kion eagerly implored his father with a smile. “It's for Timon and Pumbaa.”

“Just think of all they've done for you over the years, Simba.” Nala pointed out finding the performance something worth pursing. “And besides, you might enjoy yourself.”

“Mom's right, Dad.” Kiara said in agreement with her mother. “I think you'll have fun.”

“It’ll be just like the good old days.” Twilight added. “Back when you get to do the fun things you used to do when you were young.”

“Well that is true.” Simba admitted with a smile before replying with a positive answer. “Fine, I'll be in your song.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“But if I'm going to do it, so are you. Both of you.” He added eyeing both of his children as a conditional term to the agreement.

Kion truthfully expected that with what he said next. “Actually, we need all of you. And Tiifu and Zuri, too.” He said in their direction.

“Great!” Kiara leaped ecstatically. “We can all leap together! 

“Kion, you can count on us.” His mother assured their support for her son. 

“Thanks, everybody. We’ll talk more about it after dinner. Which means it should be about time to get everything right about now.” 

“That’s right!” Twilight cheerfully. “Let’s go! And Happy Hearth’s Warming!”

“Now I gotta go. You won't believe all the things we need for this song! And Merry Christmas!” With that Kion took his leave too.

The rest of the Lion family returned the holiday blessing though still a bit confused.

“Uh, Happy Hearth’s Warming and Merry Christmas?” 

“Happy Hearth’s Warming and Merry Christmas, Kion, Twilight.” 

“Yes, whatever that means.”

Nala, Kiara, and Simba all returned in that order.





Now that is about time for dinner, everyone started to make their way towards the dining room where it’ll be served. After finishing showing the Pie parents around the castle, Granny Smith returned to her granddaughter’s side as they make their way to the table.

Apple Bloom upon getting closer and closer to the food they are all about ot have could already start smelling the good stuff they’ve waited for up to this day. "Oh, I can't wait to taste these fresh sweet rolls! They're my favorite part of Hearth's Warmin' Eve dinner."

"I'm more of a six-layer bean dip filly myself!" Granny Smith commented.

"I love that too!" Apple Bloom looked at the pot that the Pie family had brought with them, "I wonder what’s the favorite part for Pinkie's family?" She wondered while turning to her big sister.

"Well if it’s something they have all enjoyed together, It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s a very special and mighty tasty dish.” Applejack replied.

“It sure is!” Pinkie appeared out of nowhere as she and Maud trotted alongside them. “Are you excited for dinner time, because guess who is! Spoiler alert: It's me!"

As they got seated at the table, Applejack managed to get a good look at the rock soup pot on the table where the Pies were all being served each a serving just on the outside side of the table from the Apples. "Rock soup?”

"Uh-huh! The one and only Pie family special for Hearth’s Warming Eve!” Pinkie Pie smiled with glee as she looked forward to digging into the soup being poured into the bowls.

Applejack could only look on astonished and feeling pity for her and her family about seeing that's the only thing they have to celebrate the holidays with. “But what about hot rolls, and malt cider, and double-baked pot pie? You've never had any of that?" She asked.

"Potato, po-tah-to. Double baked pot pie, rock soup! Dinner is dinner, am I right or am I right?"

Applejack looked around at the rest of the spread compared to the food Pinkie's family brought. To her and mostly everyone else would sure see the soup as something not traditionally nor ordinarily served at the table, especially on a holiday celebration.

“But of course we do make sure not to feed it those who can’t eat hard solid rocks.” She added in assurance. “So all is good.”

“Yeah...okay.” Applejack returned while biting the bottom lip and scratched the back of her head. Given that honesty at times like this is hard without being rude and hurtful about it, she really didn’t know what else to say other than being a good supporting friend.

"But not to worry. After dinner, we get to show you and the other Apples on how to make Heart's Warming dolls our way!"

Applejack wholeheartedly smiled in response. "Now that's somethin' I know all about!"

Once it was time for dinner, everyone got in line so they can all hand/hoof/paw choose their choice from the very long table and selections of offerings presented by many generous guests and family members. And there were many selections from the nature elements from the Pride Lands to the Pie’s rock soup, along with the various Equestrian cuisine. Since the two worlds have bonded they have both taken a liking to what was offered in front of them.

While the Apples and Pies were trying to bond, other families bonded on their own during dinner. Twilight sat with her family along with both Celestia and Luna who both managed to show up in time for dinner. Kion sat with his family, while Bunga sat with Timon and Pumbaa. Beshte sat with his father and the other hippos, while Fuli sat with her childhood friends, and Kyoga sat with her siblings. 

Fuli was now happily chatting and catching up with both Sally and Sassy, while Beshte is more than happy to recall his latest adventures about his past heroic acts as the Guard’s Strongest with the other hippos. At the same time, Twilight was eagerly on board with discussing about names for the new baby that both her brother and sister-in-law will soon have since Cadance has been pregnant shortly after the events of the second Battle for Pride Rock. So far a new name hasn’t been decided since they don’t know what kind of baby to expect, a unicorn or an alicorn. But they did know it was a mare, and sure seemed to be a powerful bundle already at this stage of her pregnancy.

Elsewhere, Bunga while keeping his spirits up made sure on his part to make sure that his uncles are none of the wiser to his surprise for them later tonight.

“Ooh!” Bunga munched on another grub on his plate while mentally singing to himself. “Nine bugs a-crawling Big, fat, juicy, delicious-looking bugs.”

“Bunga?” Ono flew on over to his table where Timon and Pumbaa. “You're saving those for the song, right?”

“Not to worry.” Bunga assured his somewhat anxious friend. “There’s plenty to go around.”

Just then they heard the Dandy Claws Christmas Jingle courtesy of Pumbaa

“For the First Wayof Christmas...my good friend gave to me, a rhino in a baobab tree.”

Since there was nothing to hide both Bunga and Ono were able to play it cool when Pumbaa arrived at the table with his serving of grubs he got for dinner tonight. 

“Oh, hi, fellas.” He greeted upon sitting at the table.

“Hi, Uncle Pumbaa.”

“Whatcha up to?”

“Nothing. Just hangin' out. Not looking for anything squirmy, what you doing?”

“Oh, who, me? Uh, nothing. I'm definitely not lookin' for a special Christmas surprise for Timon, I'll tell ya that.” He leaned in whispering into his ear. “I don’t know about you but I think he might be trying to eye whatever presents the others have brought to share with each other later tonight.” 

“Yeah, us neither.” Bunga replied just when Ono moved to check up on him along with Spike since presents are the sole focus of the holiday on their minds today. “Man these grubs you brought tonight are Un-Bunga-veilable!” 

“I know! Especially considering me and Timon nearly cleaned them out!” Bunga’s eyes widen in shock upon hearing that. “Mmm.” He slurped down his next helping like it was nothing. “I’d tell you slimy and crunchy both at the same time and something you can’t get enough of, am I right?”

“Right!” Bunga’s smile was now bordering on being somewhat nervous as he put the plate of his nine remaining grubs aside so he can use them for his surprise performance tonight. “So much for a full packed meal.” He muttered to himself before he moved to try something new to avoid starving to death.

Applejack looked down at the green soup before her, still hesitant to try it. "What's wrong, Applejack?" Pinkie asked.

"Oh, nothin'. I'm just being a rusty fiddle is all." She replied as she took the spoon and began sipping the soup. But even still she had a hard time downing it when seeing the Pie family actually being able to munch, chew, and eat the rocks served on their plates. Furthermore, they didn’t even try anything else that was served on the table. Unlike some folks, the taste really didn't do her justice. The Pies were able to eat actual rocks with their soup, and even managed to chew on a few, but Applejack…this was definitely not her kind of meal. None the less, she gulped down the liquid and exasperated once it was over.

Pinkie Pie sipped her bowl clean and dry and moved to ask for seconds. "More rock, please!"





Later, Pinkie Pie and her family unloaded a white sack filled with rocks in front of the Apple Family. Out of respect for the princess who is hosting the gathering The Pies had taken the Apples outside for the rocks wouldn't ruin the castle floors. The two families were in the backyard, showcasing the Apples how they make their own Heart's Warming dolls. Since the other ponies taught other friends how to make their own dolls, the Pies decided to teach their supposed distant relatives how to make theirs their way. In another bag, the Pies had pickaxes so they can use as tools so they can make them.

Upon getting her rock and axe, Pinkie wasted no time in getting to work with it. “Who wants a Hearth's Warming doll?" She happily asked everyone.

Applejack looked down at her untouched rock in confusion, as did the rest of her family. "Are you sayin' that rock is a Hearth's Warmin' doll?"

"Don't be silly, silly! Our dolls are these little pieces! Isn't that right, Marble Pie?"

Marble Pie blushed and looked aside just as she was about to carve her own doll from her rock. "Mm-hm." She nodded before twisting her palm and opening her hoof to create the figure of her pony self.

Apple Bloom studied her own rock, she had never made a figure out of stone before, "Our dolls are... rocks?" She asked, wondering how she was going to make a figurine with this. 

Applejack mimicked what the Pies did to create their dolls, but instead only crumbled her stone to bits in her pick ax. "Uh… y'all don't have traditional crochet dolls, passed down in your family?"

"Aww, you're just a frown factory 'cause you got a weird rock." Pinkie commented in reply, showing the frowning faced rock Applejack had accidentally created. 

Applejack sighed in disappointment as this isn’t what she envisioned tonight to be. The Pies in contrast to everyone else weren't blending in with what everyone else is doing to celebrate the holidays. What is it about what they do is so hard for them to adapt to their traditions?





Back inside the room where the big Hearth’s Warming and Christmas tree is, Spike looked around with his eyes shifting around the area, making sure nobody else was around to see him before making another attempt at sneaking a peek at the presents. But before he could reach out to a single present…

"That’s close enough.” Sunset’s stern voice spoke up to spook the sneaky dragon who froze in his tracks.

“Sunset? Are you standing right behind me?”

“Yep.” Spike unfroze himself as he retracted his claw.

“Aw man, who squealed me out to you?”

“No one other than a little birdie soaring across the castle just when I happened to come out of my room to get a taste of tonight’s dinner.” Sunset’s eyes remained focused on him as she approached him. “Twilight has only one rule in that regard, and yet you are constantly trying to break it. Which I myself would be very proud of if it were before the Fall Formal…” She smirked to applaud his sneaky spirit before frowning again. “...but would also get yourself in trouble.”

“Are you sure you can’t keep just one present open to ourselves…” Spike asked with a devious grin followed by a pleading look similar to when she attempted to frame Twilight for trashing the gym.

But Sunset wasn’t impressed nor budging from her stance. “Nope. Nice try.” Spike pouted once more in defeat. “But I will join in on dinner just for Twilight’s sake. Just tell her I’m on my way down.”

“Of course! Absolutely!” Knowing that Twilight would be especially happy to hear she is trying to get into the holiday spirit had him rushing downstairs to tell him.

Just then Sunset happened to come across Applejack who is looking a bit distraught herself. Not into another conversation but still having her own compassion surface up had her biting what’s bugging her. “Okay, Applejack. What is it?" The country pony simply showed her the rock she is holding. “A rock?”

"A…Heart's Warmin' doll.” She corrected. “Per Pinkie’s family tradition to making them." She handed Sunset the stone who only looked on like she is not seeing things correctly here.

"Wow. I never would have guessed of how creative this looks."

"Sunset…” Applejack looked on clearly not fooled by the attempt to downplay of what she really thinks of it.

“Okay you got me. Just trying to be polite about it.”

“I understand but there ain’t no trying to sugarcoat it.”

“But still point being it’s still a family tradition of theirs that should at least be respected. I mean…” She pulls out her bowl of rock soup that she managed to obtain while everyone wasn’t looking at the table. “...sure their rock soup is quite odd, but it actually tastes pretty good.” She made a weird face she tasted the rock taste that got into the soup but still didn’t spit it out to prove her point.

"But still, the Pie Family has carried out tonight with rock made Hearth’s Warming Dolls and are planning on showing a flag finding mission.”

“How does that work?”

"Instead of havin' the youngest member of the family to raise the flagpole, they have this race where whoever finds this oddly specific stone, raises the flag."

"That actually sounds like a nice idea. Gives everyone a fighting chance to be able to raise the flag if you ask me."

"But the thing is there is no flag pole, nor it is how we do it."

“Okay, so what’s the big deal? I mean I understand you are used to your own traditions but so does the Pies, and I don’t think they are doing anything wrong. I mean it is their first Hearth’s Warming outside of the farm so it would make sense they would stick to their own traditional ways even in a different environment outside of their comfort zone.”

“But didn’t you just go along with celebrating Christmas back at your home?”

Sunset looked on blankly like it’s a stupid question. “Yes but that was because unlike you I haven’t celebrated the holidays here and there up until I was finally opening my heart up to friendship. The point I was trying to make is that if other’s have different traditions then you should at least respect them and if that’s not enough at least try to find a compromise so that everyone could be happy together.”

Applejack sighed as she conceded to her point. “I get it, but I just wish there was a way for them to see how much better theirs could be."

Sunset groaned in response as she is trying really hard to keep her temper under check before speaking once more. “Applejack, I must advise against it because disrespect towards other’s traditions ain’t going to fly. You might not see it that way but the Pies will and be sure to make you regret it if it comes down to that. So if I were you, just don’t go there.”

“All right fine.” Applejack relented rather passive aggressively before storming off much to the unicorn’s dismay. It’s like trying to talk to her when she refused to hear out her earlier attempted explanation that she is not Anon-a-Miss.

“At least she didn’t drive me to tears.” She muttered to herself before moving to join Twilight and Spike at the table who were both eagerly waiting for her the second she promised she’d join them there. All while personally hoping that Applejack wouldn’t do anything rash to make enemies instead of friends.





Elsewhere in the Pride Lands Fuli is making a quick trip to the Pride Lands to fetch berries Bunga needs for the performance. An easy task for one, if said individual is a flyer which she unlike Rainbow Dash is not. 

“How did I get stuck with gathering berries? All because I wound up getting randomly picked to do it or because everyone else is too busy back in Equestria to do it?” She said to herself as she struggled in vain to even reach the lowest branches of the trees in front of her. 

“Don’t worry, Fuli!”

“We’re coming!”

Both Sally and Sassy shouted after her as they quickly arrived on the scene to hep her out.

“Get ready on three!” Fuli called back to them as they approached her side to side.

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

By working together, first Sally leaped onto Fuli’s back, with Sassy leaping up on top of Sally so she can leap up yank a branch clean off. One that had berries on it. She then managed to leap on all fours without tumbling or crashing into anybody.

“Got them!”

“Yes!”

“Way to go!”

The other two cheetahs complimented.

“Hey, down there, young cheetahs!” A voice suddenly called out to them which startled the cheetahs upon hearing it.

“Huh?” 

“What?”

“Who's up there?”

Said owner of that voice appeared before them as he appeared and popped out from the leaves of the tree he was standing on along with two more of his companions. “It's me! Uroho! And the amazing Mwizi and Mwevi! You might know us as The Traveling Baboon Show!” 

“Oh, yeah. I remember you.” Fuli said not entirely enthusiastic about seeing them again.

“Friends of yours?” Sally asked.

“Not exactly.

“You mean they are or they aren’t.” Sassy inquired expecting a more specific answer.

“Well...long story short these baboons happened to put on a show around these parts of the Pride Lands a little over a year ago and they nearly made off with all of the food before being caught red-handed by us. After saving them from the Outsiders we gave them a second chance to turn their act around…” The baboons chuckled in response to that pun. “...and yes, I said it. While they have made good on it since then, we haven’t seen them long enough to see wherever they’ve still made good on their promise.”

“Understandable, but I can assure you we have definitely changed for the better. In fact...” The group leader said before turning to the other baboons. “...Come on, fellas. Help the cheetahs out.”

Through a series of acrobatic movements like they did in the past the talented trio were able to obtain another handful of berries big enough for the other two cheetahs to carry on two leaves like it was a delicate dessert dish before landing on the ground gracefully in front of the trio. Needless to say, both Sally and Sassy were amazed with their performance and assistance.

“Wow!”

“That was pretty incredible!”

“I never thought I'd say this, but thank you, baboons.”

“So, what do you need the berries for?” Uroho asked when he handed Fuli’s friends the requested fruit.

“They're for, uh, a performance. Kinda silly, but it's for a friend.” Fuli explained before continuing knowing this might spark their interest. “You know, we need some baboons, too. Something else I never thought I'd say.”

Hearing this the ringleader all ears for. “A performance, huh? We are intrigued. Tell us more, please.”

“Okay, well, have you ever heard of Christmas and Hearth’s Warming?” 





Meanwhile back at the castle grounds in the backyard, stood a large field, a large decorated tree, along with a large boulder and a flag pole in the very center of a decorated holiday themed boulder. (Not Holder’s Bolder) Pinkie Pie stood before her family, the Apple family, the Lion Guard fan club, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, who have all gathered to play this game of the Pies.

Once everyone was gathered, Pinkie Pie began pairing up the teams, "Limestone Pie, you're the judge! Big Mac, Marble Pie, you're team one!" Pinkie forcibly shoved both ponies close to each other.

While it went unnoticed by many upon first glance, Big Mac did find the shy silent pony quite adorable, especially upon seeing of how much she is like him. A pony of very few words who has difficulty expressing her emotions as it seems. Likewise, Marble found the stallion quite handsome and charming, not to mention strong and calm. She couldn't help but blush which her mane had the fortune of partially covering her face hoping that he didn't notice. Likewise, Big Mac was blushing too, which was partially noticed thanks to his equally red coat. 

Next, Pinkie Pie paired up the youngest apple with her older sister. "Apple Bloom and Maud, you're team two!" She quickly zipped towards the elders of both families and paired them up too. "Ma, Pa, you're gonna be with Granny Smith. Don't think of it as team old, think of it as team three! 

She popped from behind the other Crusaders. "Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, you two are team four! Mtoto, Shakku, Gumba, Kwato, Kambuni, you're team five, since there's five of you!”

“Aw, yeah!”

“High five!”

Both Shakku and Gumba happily declared as they did just that.

And I'm with Applejack of course, since we might be cousins! And yes team six!" Pinkie cleared her throat before explaining the scenario to the others, "As everybody knows, when the three tribes united to form Equestria, the first flag was sewn by Nimble Thimble. It's tradition to raise a flag on Hearth's Warming to celebrate that famous day. But who gets to put the flag on Holder's Boulder?"

"You mean on the flagpole?" Applejack reminded.

"Oh right, also that’s not Holder’s Bolder."

"Better not me!" Limestone assertively stated.

Pinkie rolled her eyes in response to that remark. "It’s not. Sheesh." She returned before reverting back to her enthusiastic self, "And who's the lucky one who gets to put the flag on the highest point?"

"Traditionally, it's the youngest-" Applejack began before being interrupted when Pinkie Pie shouted quickly.

"On your marks get set, go!"





The teams split up to search for the stone, which was hidden somewhere around the castle, since inside they didn't want to cause a scene, especially with high royalty guests inside. The castle itself had a nearby forest with multiple rocks around the grounds, so the children and groups searched around to find the obsidian stone. Applejack and Pinkie searched the left side of the castle, looking for the stone. 

"I still don't understand." Applejack commented to her partner. 

"Earlier today, Limestone Pie hid an obsidian stone. Whoever finds it gets to raise the flag! I already told you, remember?"

"It's not that, it's just…this is all so…different."

"Well, how else would we do it?"

"I don't know... I sure hope everypony else is havin' a better time."





On the right side of the castle, Marble and Big Mac searched for the stone. All while saying nothing more “Mm-hm." and "Eeyup." While not much, it did allow the two to further connect and understand each other more than their more talkative family members. 

"Mm-hm."

"Eeeeeeeeeyup."

To many it wouldn’t be much of a conversation but to them it was quite something. The fact they could show so much emotion into just one word. Just by listening to each other “Eeyups" and "Mm-hms" they could see exactly what they are thinking all without saying anything. And that’s all they need.





Granny Smith, Cloudy Quartz and Igneous Rock searched the front of the castle for the stone. All while the matriarch of the Apple Clan stoke up a conversation with the Mr and the Mrs of the Pie clan, and interestingly she found them to be actually be quite very interesting ponies to talk to. 

"So, how'd you meet your diddy feller?" She asked the mare. 

"We were chosen by the Pairing Stone, and betrothed within a fortnight."

"The choosing stone decreed 'thou shalt love one another', and lo, it was so." Igneous explained, while his wife nodded in agreement much to Granny’s fascination. 

"He, I got's to look into this old fangled choosin' stone thing. You reckon it knows any apple fire-red hunks?"

Cloudy giggled while her husband blushed bashfully, "Indeed so." 

So far things were sure rolling around smoothly between the three of them.





The Crusaders, Lion Guard fan club, and Maud searched the farther back of the castle nearby the forest with more stones around the area. The kids having never known Maud up until now didn't know how to start a conversation with her, considering she isn’t the pony who likes talking and expressing her emotions compared to them. But none of the less, Apple Bloom moved to strike up a conversation with her since to her she is family.

After some awkward silence and non-verbal exchanges with the other kids she moved to scratch the back of her head before asking. "What does the rock look like?"

"It looks like something that formed when volcanic lava cooled quickly." Maud replied in her usual deadpan voice while inspecting several rocks around her.

“Something like in the Outlands Volcano because that’s what my big brother Beshte told me?” Mtoto asked as he spoke up himself.

“Yes.”

"Oh."

"Have you ever wished you could turn into a rock?"

"I had a dream once I was an apple." Apple Bloom honestly replied.

"I once dreamed I was the fastest, just like Fuli.” Kwato said.

“And I dreamed I had very keen sight, just like Ono.” Kambuni chimed in.

“Up until recently we wished we could get our cutie marks.” Scootaloo added.

“Along with getting to spend more quality time with our bigger sisters.” Sweetie also added herself.

"And for me, I once dreamed I was as big and strong as Beshte." Mtoto next said.

Maud stood up from squatting down looking at the rocks and turned around to face the kids. Regardless of her serious and stoic expression, her deadpan tone did have elements of kindness inside of it. "We have a lot in common when it comes to thinking about turning into things."

Even though she didn't communicate or express her emotions like every other pony, that didn't mean she wasn't nice. Her compliment touched the kids who all began to feel more comfortable with the earth pony with a very unique personality.





Applejack was just about ready to give up on this search when she heard both the mongoose and the baboon shout out to everyone.

“Hey everyone!”

“We got something!”

“What is it?” Applejack curiously asked.

“We don’t about this but we it is something.“

“This recently created piece of paper which has a picture of a rock on it.”

The latter revealed the piece of paper with the drawing of a dark colored rock and upon witnessing it, Pinkie Pie gasped in delight.

"You found it! You found it!" She smiled and hugged the confused pair, while Applejack was beyond baffled by this revelation.

"A picture? I've been lookin' for a real stone, Pinkie Pie!"

Pinkie released both Shakku and Gumba and arched an eyebrow at her friend, as if she had just said the strangest thing she had ever heard. "Um, that would be weird." She replied seriously before reverting back to her usual happy self, "Do you know what this means? You both get to raise the flag tomorrow!"

“Awesome!”

“Excellent!”

The two high fived each other once more victoriously. It may not be quite what they expected but they sure had quite a fun time playing for it.

"That was fun!" 

“You said it, buddy!”

Applejack had to admit, they sure seemed happy, but she still felt it was a shame this couldn't be exactly how Pinkie's family did it, which only made her wonder if them having their old fashioned traditions here would make them feel out of place.

"So, what now?" Pinkie asked.

"Well, normally at this point it's time to hide the presents."

Applejack shook her head in disbelief, "Y'all hide your presents?"

"Of course! What's more fun than getting a present? Finding a present! Although, most years, nopony finds one."

"So nopony gets presents?" 

"Eh, not usually." Pinkie said with a shrug, acting as if it wasn't that big of a deal, further shocking her friend even more. 

"So lemme get all this straight. You're only allowed to eat rock soup for dinner, then the pony who finds this rock gets to raise the flag, but not really 'cause you don't got no flagpole, and to top it off, you don't even get presents?"

For a moment, Pinkie's enthusiasm came to a halt as she began putting Applejack's words into perspective. "Well, it doesn't sound very fun when you say it that way." she said. In reality, it was true. Compared to how this entire party was set up, her family's normal traditions seemed almost…half-done. Still, she loved sharing those traditions with her family every year, but maybe there could be another way for them to celebrate it, even if it was just once.

"Not to mention I haven't seen your folks barely interact with anybody else."

"Well, they're just not used to all of this. My family is every traditional, you wouldn't believe how many pretty pleases with a cherry on top I had to do to get them to come tonight."

"Wait…they didn't want to come in the first place?"

Realizing she had let the cat out of the bag, Pinkie Pie blushed and fiddled with her hair, her ears lowering down in sadness. "Well…I…you see…I just really wanted our families to get along."

"Well, how 'bout you picture this: Both our families, openin' presents, raisin' the flag…?"

"Picturing it... Loving it…!"

"We've been doin' everythin' your way, what'ya say we could mix it up a bit?"





Back inside the castle, Sunset is just finishing up dinner with her (on her part reluctant) conversation with Twilight, Spike, Shining Armor, and Cadance about how she’s been since the wedding, minus the whole reason why she is here for obvious reasons.

“I mean I got to tell you, ever since I moved here it sure has been quite nice. Going on patrol with the Guard, doing a little crime fighting, and even getting spend quality time with my friends here, even while most mirror to one another.” Sunset explained to the others.

“That’s very good to hear, Sunset.” Cadance said very pleased with what she is hearing and how much she has turned herself around.

“It sure is. Funny coming from someone who used to look down on friendship like it’s the least best thing.” Shining Armor commented equally pleased.

“Right along with attempting to make off with one’s crown like it was in the wrong hooves.” Sunset chuckled to herself being able to take humor in it for the sake of the moment. “And to think doing that wound up making an original enemy into the best friend I’ve ever had.”

Twilight blushed as she looked aside feeling very humbled by her glowing praise. “Aw, how sweet!” She then cleared her throat upon seeing the smirks plastered on her brother and sister-in-law’s faces. “But um...I mean...uh…” She cleared her throat to regain her composure. “So I take you are liking what Hearth’s Warming has to offer?”

“Amazingly, yes.” She admitted. “The food was amazing and I had great company so far. It was exactly like how Christmas usually is celebrated.”

“Christmas? What’s that?” The stallion asked.

“Nothing out of the ordinary. Piratically the same holiday as Hearth’s Warming in the other world all minus the name itself.” She explained in a brief and straight to the point manner. “As for it’s traditions that follow, I still don’t quite understand them but I still respect them if that’s how it’s done.”

“Commendable.”

The pink alicorn looked a little hesitant before pressing forward with this question in mind. “Sunset...forgive me if this is a bit too soon but, have you ever thought about trying to talk to the girls back at Canterlot High?”

Sunset sighed heavily before honestly answering. “Yes and No not yet. I mean I have but I just can’t find it myself to talk them for the way they hurt me. Compared to simply ignoring a silly filly that I would know alter on in life, getting wrongly accused and abandoned of something I didn’t have anything to do with, still really hurts.”

“Fair enough.” She quickly said. “I was just asking. I wasn’t trying to force you into doing something that you don’t want to.”

“No, no, it’s all right, a fair question. I mean I will eventually have to go back when school starts back up there should I decide I have a future back there but I just can’t talk to them right now.”

“And that’s completely fair and reasonable.” Twilight assured. “I’m sure the Pride Landers along with everyone in Equestria will love having you around.”

Sunset chuckled. “I’m sure they will.”

With that decided, Twilight then focused on the next holiday fun for tonight. “Anyways, it’s now time to watch for the Pride Landers to rehearse the Twelve Ways of Christmas.”

“The Twelve Ways of Christmas?” Sunset looked on confused. “You mean the Twelve Days of Christmas, right?”

“Yep.”

“And this happens to be Bunga’s idea and version of the song, right?”

“Yep. That okay?”

“Sure. I mean it’s not exactly Christmas tradition but I don’t see any harm with trying new things and new traditions. So yeah, I’ll be okay with it.”

“You sure?”

“Yep. I’ll join and see how this little performance of theirs goes.”

“Okay.” Twilight smiled seeing that so far the evening is getting better and better for Sunset. Aside from one moment in particular, she’s more upbeat and into the holidays once more.

But will it stick?





Back outside, Simba’s Pride had made their way outside towards the area where Kion was expecting them. The large decorated tree. 

“Hmm. That is one strange-looking acacia tree.” Simba said in observation.

“It's pretty, though.” His daughter complimented none of the less.

“It must be the Christmas Tree, Kion told us about.” Nala commented upon arriving.

Upon seeing them arrive, Kion was quick to greet them. “Hey, you made it.”

“Are we the first ones here?” His father asked. 

“Uh, not exactly.” He half-truthfully answered before leading the way. “Come on!”

When Kion brought them to where he wanted them to go, they found that everyone else had already arrived waiting to get started.

“Oh, my. This is a big production.” The lion queen remarked in delighted surprise.

Standing on top of the large rock, is where Bunga took charge in being director for this special performance.  “Okay, everybody, you gotta pay attention, 'cause we've only got till sunrise to get this right.”

The young elephant eagerly approached the honey badger at the ready. “I already know what to do.” He quickly blew his trumpet which was quickly clamped by his friend. 

“Shh! Not so loud! You'll wake up Uncle Timon and Uncle Pumbaa!”

“Sorry.” He quickly said upon realizing the mistake he nearly made.

“Hakuna Matata.” He happily assured. “Just save it for the performance.”

“What about us? What do we do?” Simba asked from behind. 

“One at a time, okay?” He returned rather annoyed before he moved to turn around allowing himself to see who he just brushed aside. “Oh. Hi, Your Highness's. My apologies.” He bowed in respect to them. “Didn't see you there.”

“Don't let us interrupt you, Bunga.” Nala returned taking no offense to it.  “You were saying?”

“Uh, yeah.” Bunga turned back to everyone before continuing. “So, we need to do the song perfectly if we want Dandy Claws to show up!”

“But no pressure.” Fuli chimed in for quick assurance.

“Right, right. No pressure.”

“Don't worry, Little B. It's gonna be great.” Beshte said encouragingly to one of his best friends.

“Wait. Who's Dandy Claws again?” Uroho asked.

“Actually I think it was Santa Claus from what I heard.” Sally spoke up begging to differ there.

“Well for this particular performance, it’s Dandy Claws.” Bunga quickly said in order to get everyone to stay on point. “The rest of you remember Dandy Claws, right?”

“No!” They all firmly stated.

“This is going to be a long night.” Ono commented a little weary himself.

“Okay, from the beginning.” Bunga instructed everyone before beginning rehearsal just when Twilight and Sunset arrived so they watch it unfold before them.





The rehearsal went through long through the night right into the morning just when the sun is about to rise. By then they have just perfected down to form.

“And a rhino in a baobab tree.”

“Perfect!”

“Yeah that was great.”

“Thanks, everyone.” 

Twilight, Sunset, and Kion all positively commented.

But Bunga begged to differ. “Yeah, well, we're getting closer. Okay, from the beginning.”

Everyone all groaned in response. 

“Bunga, we've been practicing all night long.” Kion reminded his friend.

“I know, but it needs to be perfect.”

“Bunga, we're out of time. The sun's about to come up. 

“And there is no way Celestia is going to delay raising it for another day just to get it perfected the way you want it.”

Both Ono and Twilight firmly reminded.

“I mean it’s not like this Santa Claus or Dandy Claws was going to show up anyway.” Applejack remarked just finding this new Christmas celebration idea meaningless.

“What?!”

“Applejack?!”

Bunga and Pinkie remarked with the former sounding more devastated to hear such a thing while the latter is more shocked that she would actually say such a thing.

“What?!” Applejack returned trying to understand why they are looking at her like it is the craziest thing she ever said. “It’s true. Considering up until this point Christmas has never been celebrated here in Equestria. I mean it doesn’t really matter wherever it’s that or Hearth’s Warming considering we still spend time with family and friends along with exchanging gifts and all even if some stick out like a broken tree branch.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Sunset angrily demanded feeling insulted already.

“Applejack, Sunset…” Kion spoke up trying to get them to calm down to no avail.

“Nothing, expect that I’ve been trying my hardest to understand these new traditions or yours and the rest of Pinkie Pie’s family all night, only it seems that both you nor the family want to see how much things should be done here.”

“Hold up! You think I enforced this on everyone?! Because last time I checked I never imposed this on anyone. Your friends decided they wanted to try it out, and I allowed them because who am I to decide of how traditions are celebrated here.”

“Well considering you never celebrated the holidays before in your life I wouldn’t expect for a miserable loner like you to know.”

“Now come on Applejack…” Twilight spoke up in an attempt to diffuse the escalating argument but the moment her friend said those last words it was too late.

Sunset’s eyes widen in rage upon hearing that. “Miserable Loner?!” Her eye was now twitching in fury and had to be held back by Twilight and Kion to keep her from exploding on the stubborn and insensitive country pony.

“Now come on everypony…” Pinkie said in an attempt to play peace maker. “...let’s all try to think positive thoughts here…”

"Pinkamena Diane Pie! Truly thou cannot favor this madness!"

But by then it was already too late since the Pie Family had seen and heard every word Applejack had just said about them.

“No, that’s not what I meant…” Pinkie nervously tried to explain to her father only to be faced with her equally furious and short-tempered sister.

“No. Not when your friend is making us feel like we don’t belong here.” Limestone furiously stated.

“I wasn’t trying to make you feel out of place!” Applejack retorted. “I was just trying to show you of how we celebrate the holidays here while trying to respect your family’s needs even your overly-protective desire when it comes to Holder’s Boulder.“

“Then I’m sure you know by now that it took me every day of the year just keep that rock farm up and running, if that boulder right around us is the real deal it would take me ages to get that rock farm back on track. Surely that is now bound to happen thanks to the orange apple you call a friend.”

“Excuse me?!” Applejack's face turned red as she quickly marched over to get face to face with her. “You want to say that again?!”

“What? Orange apple excuse of a friend trying to dictate of how to live our lives when she is doing nothing but riding around off of her high horse?”

Applejack growled before leaping on towards Limestone Pie who likewise freed herself before getting into a tussle with each other with Sunset joining in after freeing herself too.

The three going at it with bare hooves creating a dust cloud around them all while uttering more insults and demands that they take them back towards one another up until they crashed into the large bolder that resembled Holder’s Bolder. Upon impact, the rock tumbled away and ended up cracking into multiple pieces upon crashing into the big tree which also fell over and crashed into the ground.

“Nooooooooooooooo!” Limestone and Bunga both screamed in horror with what they just saw.

“Oh, boy!” Applejack looked in with horror with what their fighting had just caused and how she ended up instigating that incident and ended up causing Bunga to cry over the destroyed ornaments and holiday decorations.

Only now does she finally realize the damage she ended up doing. If she hadn’t agitated both Sunset and Limestone to begin with this never would have happened. 

“You happy now?” Sunset asked calmly while scowling with disappointment. “For once just once they wanted to try out how Christmas works and try out what traditions and songs it has to offer and as for the Pies all they wanted was just to be to fit in like everyone else. Sure they could have been more open and compromised with your family as much you could have done the same for them but no, apparently that is just too much for you, because you wanted things to happen your way. As for me, I was willing to entertain this because I wanted to be a good friend and open to everyone’s wishes for the holidays. But just when I was getting back in the holiday spirit you ended up reminding me why I didn’t want to in the first place  because of the same stubborn girl I met back in Canterlot High accusing me of being a terrible friend. After all of that, I thought you would know better but I guess I was wrong.” As her eyes started to form tears threatening to leak out. “Now if you’ll excuse me, former friend.” She coldly stated before teleporting away from the scene while crying from a broken heart.

Applejack could only look with mortified shame as she looked around the area to see everyone else’s shocked expressions. Pinkie however looked on in worry while Twilight looked on equally disappointed. She was left so stunned and guilt-ridden she galloping away from the gathering.

Pinkie Pie then turned back to her family hoping to ease the tension that had just happened. "Please, this was all a misunderstanding! I know Applejack, and she'd never do anything bad to anypony!"

Limestone however wasn’t convinced. "Look around, Pinkie Pie! None of us wanted to come in the first place and now the only thing close to Holder's Boulder for Heart's Warming is now in pieces and rubble, literally. This is all her fault and yours too!"

Tears welled up in Pinkie’s eyes before she turned and walked off in shame while crying once her back was turned.

Twilight determined not see her friend sink into another depression moved to follow one of her friends. “Keep everyone else in spirit, while I talk with Sunset.” Kion nodded in response before letting her teleport away to wherever Sunset disappeared to. At the same time Granny Smith decided to follow after both Applejack and Pinkie Pie hoping to do the same to them both as well.

“Little B. It’ll be okay.” Beshte was the first to comfort his best friend. “It was all just an accident.”

“I know. But look at what had just happened. And besides even if we do fix it, Applejack was right. It was nothing but an ill advised attempt in bringing Christmas here to both Equestria and the Pride Lands. Santa Claus, Dandy Claws are both frauds!” He cried.

“Sorry, Little B.” Was all Beshte could say in sympathy for his friend while the others looked on feeling the same way while unable to find it in themselves to leave him like this.

Kion was quick to speak up before any of them could think to leave. “Wait. Everybody, stop! Please! We can't just give up like this.”

Simba being the first to answer his son’s plea walked up to them both. “Kion, Bunga, what's so important about this... "Christmas"? 

“Well…” Bunga managed to wipe the tears away and calm himself down enough to be able to talk to the older kion. “...Pumbaa and Sunset says Christmas is all about the spirit of giving. And both Pumbaa and Uncle Timon are the only family I have. They took me in when I was little, and all alone. They took you in, too.”

“Yes, they did.”

“They've given me everything. So this Christmas and Hearth’s Warming, I wanna give them a performance they won't forget.”

Having been reminded of that had Simba on board with doing that too. “Okay, Bunga. Then that is exactly what we are going to do. Right, everyone?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” Ma Tembo replied with a nod.

“The show must go on.” Uroho enthusiastically stated

Hearing that had Bunga immediately cheered up. “Great! The sun's rising and time's a-wasting! Let's go!”

“And if you don’t mind…” Kion spoke up as he looked around the auidence. “...I have something else in mind for this performance…”

“Like what?” Bunga eagerly asked as Kion moved to whisper it in his ears. Once he was done, Bunga was already approving of it.





Elsewhere, inside the castle where the Hearth’s Warming Tree stood, Applejack sat beside it while crying and burying her face in her hooves. In the name of preserving tradition and clashing with it, she wound up making the Pies feel more like outcasts and wound up widening up the emotional wound that drove Sunset on over here. Now she can’t find it in herself to continue celebrating the holiday feeling she had already ruined it for everyone.

"I really cracked the corn this time."

"I really popped the piñata this time." Another voice was heard, sniffing and crying right beside her on the opposite side of the tree. She turned her head  and saw a familiar figure there. 

"Pinkie Pie?"

Pinkie yelped when she heard and then saw her friend, crying just like her, "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doin' here?"

"I came here to think!" the two said simultaneously again. "You did? So did I!" Regardless of the situation, the two best friends couldn't help but laugh at with how well they can speak and respond in unison together. 

Applejack lowered her ears in regret before explaining why she ran off to cry here, "I'm too ashamed to go back there. Your family, my family, everyone, they all must think I'm such a nincompoop."

"Aw, no-one thinks that! Pushy, aggressive, mean…" Pinkie quickly stopped once noticing Applejack's annoyed expression, "Oh, I'm not helping. Sorry."

"I'm sorry I tried to forced my traditions over yours. I don't want you to have to choose between the family you were born into and friends who love you like one. I really hoped we could be one big happy family. I guess not."

"Don't say that! It’s not your fault. It’s my fault too. For not telling you of what to expect from my family when they agreed to show up here for Hearth’s Warming, and not doing enough to help them not feel so out of place."

“If there was a chance to wish for something today, I’d sure wish there was a way to make this right so that we could all celebrate both holidays together.”

“Maybe there is…” Granny’s Smith’s voice spoke to them as she appeared before them much to their surprise. “You want to know why Holder's Boulder's so danged important?" She asked the two who didn’t have a response for it. She then exhaled her breath against the nearby window and started making drawings on the window with her hoof while the two ponies stood up and watched from behind. "Well, now their great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather, Holder Cobblestone, he found that boulder in a dragon's nest, older than time itself! He built the family farm around it, even though it was just an ordinary rock. It always brought him good luck."

Now does the realization properly hit Applejack as she finally understand why the Pies do what they do for Hearth’s Warming. "Aw, crickets! That is important! Pinkie, I'm sorry. I got so caught up in the things your family was doin', I never asked why they did it!"

"And I never took time to fully understand why it was important myself and not telling you before hoof. To think had I just paid a little more attention in history classes back then."

"You and me both." She smiled warmly at her grandmother. “Thank you, Granny Smith.”

“Anytime.” She hugged both ponies in return.

Just then the trio all found herself jumping back in shock when a strange looking gift landed in front of her.

"Hey, my Heart's Warming gift!" Pinkie exclaimed with joy, "I hid it up the ceiling for you to find it, Applejack."

The country pony giggled, "Only you would hide a present on a roof." She read the card tied to a string and tears once again rolled down from her eyes. But these were tears of joy. "To Applejack, from Pinkie Pie. Cousins forever."

Pinkie Pie's eyes teared up as well and the two embraced in a warm hug like family feeling overwhelmed with heartfelt emotions from that gift tag alone. 

"Happy Heart's Warming and Christmas, Applejack."

"Happy Heart’s Warming and Christmas to you too, Pinkie Pie."





Meanwhile, Sunset has retreated back to the library where the portal leading to the other world stands. Once there she wasted no time burying her face in a pillow on the couch in frustration with how terrible things have turned out for her. Just when she opened her eyes after all of that sobbing she noticed Twilight’s reflection in that puddle of tears she created. Before she realized it, the princess had a hoof placed on her back for comfort.

“Shh. Shh. It’s okay, Sunset. I’m here for you.”

“But why? Why did that have to happen?”

“I’m sure that was just a misunderstanding or more accurately a much needed adjustment period in regards to dealing with different traditions.”

“More like a needless waste of time and effort to try to put my past behind me.” She sadly remarked.

“Don’t say that. Trying to combine holidays and sharing traditions with one another was a great idea. I’m just sorry that whole fiasco happened, Sunset.” Twilight consolingly said.

“It’s not your fault, it’s mine for even bothering to introduce them to Christmas. Because I did, now the whole holiday is a mess.”

“No it’s not. You didn’t know what would happen and as for Applejack, well I’m sure she’ll be more than ready to apologize for what she said and did.”

“But how can you say that?! You saw what happened!” She stated rather upset as tears continued falling from her eyes when she turned to look at the princess.

Twilight still remained calm while dealing with her despairing friend. “I did. And I know for a fact that both Hearth’s Warming and Christmas are meant to come together to be celebrated as one. Do you know why?”

“Um…” She calmed herself down enough to answer her question. “Spending time with family and friends, exchanging gifts, sharing stories, and having fun.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Twilight nodded. “In fact I have a story that’ll help cheer you up.”

“Really?”

“I do.” Sunset sat up as she began telling a brief story as her friend sat beside her. “Once upon a time, there was this young girl in high school who just recently became friends with other students there. Throughout the semester, they grew to become great friends. One day they had an argument over a misunderstanding and refused to talk to one another again much to the young girl’s devastation. But then after some time apart, they came back to talk things out again after deciding that shouldn’t let that argument ruin their friendship. And they did because the young girl reminded of them of why she is the friend they can trust because she is not someone who takes their friendship for granted. After that, they apologized and resumed being her friend for years to come and they all lived happily ever after. The end.”

Sunset just looked on blankly while smirking. “Twilight, that young girl is me isn’t it? Along with her many friends?”

“Yeah.” She looked aside with a sheepish grin. “Just me trying to add humor in a heartwarming tale based on a true story.”

“I see. And I assume this is your way of cheering me up and trying to tell me that this is how we should re-console back in the other world?”

“Yes. Because deep down I know that’s how it’ll happen.” She moved place a hoof on the back on her neck. “Whenever you are ready, of course.”

“Thanks, Twilight. Happy Hearth’s Warming and Christmas.”

“Happy Hearth’s Warming and Christmas.”

The two moved to hug it out.

“So what do you say, want to try getting into the holiday spirit again?”

“What are we waiting for?” Sunset returned with a teasing smirk before racing off ahead.





Just when the Pride Landers and Equestrians have just finished off the performance again, Applejack and Pinkie Pie accompanied by Granny Smith, Twilight accompanying Sunset, all regrouped with everyone there, and when they did all eyes were on them.

“Oh, excuse us, we didn’t mean to interrupt the performance.” Applejack apologetically spoke to them when they turned their attention towards them.

“It’s quite all right.” Simba assured with a smile.

“Are you all okay?” Nala worryingly asked the ponies that ran off.

“We are now.” Pinkie happily replied.

Applejack knowing what had to be said moved to step forward towards the Pie Family while removing her head and placing it to her chest. "I'm really sorry. I wasn't tryin' to disrespect ya'll. I was so focused on us bein' one big happy family, I thought we needed the same traditions right away. What I should've done was learn about yours, and teach you about ours, and over time, we'd make new traditions together. I'm sorry, y'all.”

“Truth be told, we owe you an apology too.” Igneous replied while sharing the same hat to chest gesture before stepping forward. “Instead of embracing change and being willing to do the same with your family we instead choose not give it a chance.”

“Had we done that then we wouldn’t have contributed to the mess that had just happened.” Cloudy added in agreement before smiling. “Can thou forgive us?"

“Of course.” She smiled in return before turning to Limestone who looked aside bitterly. “Assuming one of your kinfolk is willing to do the same.”

“Limestone.” Pinkie nudged the pony on over to Applejack so she can properly apologize. “Don’t you think it’s time to forgive and forget?”

Limestone took a moment to muster up the courage to do so to showcase her regret for her recent behavior. “Yes. Applejack, I’m sorry I gave you a hard time and attacked you.”

“And I’m sorry I provoked you into attacking me too along with destroying that bolder you loved so much.”

“Not to worry…” She turned her head back towards the bolder now fully pieced together along with the Christmas and Hearth’s Warming Tree with the cracks being magically sealed shut like it never broke. “...your friend was able to put it together like glue.” She gestured to Kion who looked on like he thought nothing of it. “At this rate he might be able to do something that the king’s horses and men couldn’t do.”

“What’s that?”

“Put Humpty Dumpty back together again.”

“Really? Are you share you’re a rock solid pony?”

“Hey, just because that’s true doesn’t mean I’m willing to entertain myself with silly stories with my sister from time to time.”

Pinkie was touched hearing that. “Aww!”

The three ponies all shared an amused laugh together before the country pony then turned her attention to one more pony she needs to apologize too.

“Sunset. Much like Limestone Pie, I’m mighty sorry for provoking you into doing the same along with being inconsiderate of your feelings too. It was never my intention to repeat the same mistakes my other me did back in the other world. Can you forgive me too?”

“If this was back in Canterlot High, I would say no…” Applejack looked down in disappointment. “...but…” Her head and ears perked up. “...considering you were just frustrated with change along with the only damage done was just a bolder and a tree, along with having a very encouraging friend of yours to help me see that...of course I forgive you.” Applejack smiled in delight as the two ponies hugged it out.

Kion moved to step forward with some words of wisdom to say himself. “I know it’s not exactly tradition to some, but if there much like the Lion Gaurd standing before you it goes to show that just because we do things differently doesn't make your traditions are any less important, nor you should have to give them up.” 

“And there is no right way to do Hearth’s Warming and Christmas, you just do it, with friends and family.” Twilight added in agreement.

“Absolutely!” Bunga wholeheartedly stated. “Now…” Focusing his attention back to their performance. “...onto this performance and pay attention because you all are going to love what we have in mind...”





Sometime later after the sun has fully rose from the sky, Timon and Pumbaa who have retired for the night in one of the guest rooms were greeted by their cheerful friends while half-asleep.

“Grubs, grubs…” Pumbaa muttered in his sleep just when they were awaken.

“Uncle Timon, Uncle Pumbaa! Wake up, it's Christmas!”

“And Hearth’s Warming Day!”

The two happily greeted on the opposite edge of their bed.

Pumbaa immediately got himself out of bed. “What, what, huh? Whoa, Christmas and Hearth’s Warming already? Hear that, Timon? 

Timon however yawned and stretched in reponse before tucking himself back under the covers. “You know what? I'm gonna give Christmas a pass this year.”

Hearing that shocked the rest of his friends. “Huh? You're what?”

“Who needs the disappointment? I'm gonna sleep in.”

“Now come on Timon.” Pinkie encouraged otherwise as she got face to face with him. “It’s Christmas and Hearth’s Warming! A special day we look forward to all year long! 

“And who knows? This just might be the best one ever!” Bunga added in agreement.

While not totally convinced Timon moved to entertain himself with the idea. “Yeah, I don't know about that. But okay.”

“Great. Come on!”

“The party awaits!”

They happily stated before being dragged away by the two with Pumbaa following after them on towards the Christmas and Hearth’s Warming Tree where everyone was waiting for them.

“So, what's going on here?” Timon asked upon seeing what he is seeing as The Lion and Pony Guard stand under the tree as Bunga put his hat on.

“Watch. This is the year we're finally going to get a visit from Dandy Claws and Santa Claus! [Bunga turns to his friends] Ready? 

With the music starting their performance began all while their curious friends watch on as many Pride Landers and ponies partake in the performance.

The Twelve Ways and Days of Christmas

“Merry Christmas and Hearth’s Warming, Timon and Pumbaa!” Everyone all told the two after the song ended and just as Mbeya fell out of the tree he had stay in for the entire performance. Luckily for him both Twilight and Kion were able to soften his fall with a giant inflatable mattress they made appear with their magic.

Both Timon and Pumbaa were touched to the point they cried tears of joy. But Bunga briefly thought otherwise. 

“Did we do it wrong?”

Pumbaa was quick to assert otherwise. "No. It was perfect!”

“These are tears of joy!” Timon further assured. “Not only was that was The Twelve Days and Ways of Christmas the way I always dreamed it could be but also wonderful additions to an already great song.” He then moved towards the others with great gratitude. “Thank you. Thank you, all of you.”

Kion then noticed his friend was looking a little disappointed himself. “What's wrong, Bunga?” He asked in concern.

“I just thought, after such a great performance, Dandy Claws and Santa Claus would come.”

“Well…”

Just then bells were heard ringing from nearby. 

“Who's that?” Rarity asked curiously before they all turned their eyes towards two familiar figures dressed in red winters suits.

“Ho, ho, ho! It's me!”

“And me!”

“Santa Claus? Dandy Claws?”

“Pumbaa! You're Dandy Claws?”

“And you’re Santa Claus, Shining Armor!”

Both Timon and Twilight exclaimed in surprise.

“Yep!” Both replied in unison.

Pumbaa moved to explain first. “Well, you always wanted Dandy Claws to show up on Christmas, so I decided, this year, he would.” 

“And as for me well, I did to help cheer your friend up, Twily. And judging from the look on her face, I think I did just that.”

“Are you sure it’s that and not just seeing your little sister being really embarrassed about it.” Sunset looked on like she is trying hard not to laugh as Twilight could only look aside with red cheeks while her friends couldn’t help but snicker behind her back.

Pumbaa then turned to his best friend as he spoke solemnly and regretfully to him. “The thing is, it took so long to put this costume together, I don't have any gifts to give you. Sorry, Timon.”

Timon however was to quick to embrace his friend already touched by the holiday spirit. “Pumbaa. Come on. You made Dandy Claws appear on Christmas day!”

“But you said Christmas was all about gifts.” Pumbaa reminded.

“And we got gifts. Look! Berries, bugs, fruit! But we also got lots of friends. And family. All right here. And they're the best gifts anybody could ask for.”

“Well said.” Twilight complimented the meerkat for understanding that before turning to her brother. “And Shining Armor, even though it is a bit embarrassing for me, the fact that you willing made Santa Claus appear too, all to help cheer my friend up, is very sweet of you.”

“And you know what this sounds like to me?” Her brother asked her along with Timon and Pumbaa.

Both Timon and Pumbaa quickly agreed and happily stated together. “It's the best Christmas ever!”

Seeing that had Bunga feeling very accomplished with achieving the results he wanted. “Wow. Thanks, guys!”

“Sure, Bunga.”

“Anytime partner.”

Both Kion and Applejack kindly returned. 

“You know, I think we should celebrate Christmas every year.” Beshte suggested.

“Me, too.”

“Affirmative.”

“I think that is a splendid idea. Maybe I can help create the Santa Claus and Dandy Claws costumes.”

Applejack, Fuli, Ono, and Rarity all liked the idea too.

Everyone all standing under then all happily stated. “Happy Heart’s Warming and Merry Christmas!”

Spike already touched was given a surprise of his very own when Twilight levitated his present to his claws. The one he had been waiting to open all night. Like any excitable little kid that he is, he tore open the gift and his smile fell, only to quickly regain it once he saw Twilight smiling at him.

"Just what I always wanted…a book…"

While understanding this is to help keep himself from hulking out in size and causing another rampage like before, at least it was a book about where to find the most deliciously resourceful gems in all of Equestria.

"I'm really glad we got to know you better, Maud." Apple Bloom said to the oldest earth pony. "You're really sweet."





Later that morning everyone all moved inside so they could all have breakfast together in the same room where they had dinner. All while various guests are all enjoying themselves about the same seatings and gathering like night.

Apple Bloom and Maud Pie bonded together when the latter allowed the former to pet her pet rock, Boulder. At the same time, Limestone who helped Pinkie Pie out with the breakfast treats moved to offer one to Apple Bloom who gladly accepted and ate it. Maud herself was so happy to have found another Apple pony to befriend.

At the table where Fluttershy is sitting with both Marble and Big Mac who have both started to form a very close bond together albeit still shy to get a bit closer, Pinkie Pie came in between the two quiet ponies and wrap her arms around them. "Marble Pie, you want to wish Big Mac a happy Hearth's Warming, don't you! And you too, right Big Mac?"

Marble Pie replied with a happy, "Mm-hm!" and Big Mac also replied with an equally happy, "Eeyup." 

Happy for them, Pinkie Pie jumped off, leaving the two ponies to enjoy each others company…while gaining the courage to sit a bit closer to one another while Fluttershy looks on with happy pride for them being able to bond with them too.

Granny Smith sipped hot cocoa with Igneous and Cloudy, as she tried to use their traditional speak to say how much she had come to appreciate their friendship. "Eh, lemme see here, um, 'if thou ask-eth me, thou two art, eh, okay-eth in my book'."

The couple smiled at her kind efforts, they figured they should return the favor, and so Igneous attempted to use a country accent. "Yee-haw'." While it wasn’t the best impression, but it was the thought that truly counts.

Applejack ripped the paper of her gift that she had found earlier, and wasn't all too surprised to see it was a pile of rocks. Pinkie then whispered in her ear and Applejack nodded. Taking a stance, she used the same method the Pies used to create their Heart's Warming dolls and made a perfect statue of both the Pies and Apples together like one big family.

"Happy Hearth's Warming!"

"Happy Hearth's Warmin', Pinkie Pie."

The two hugged it out like family once more.

At the same time, Twilight, Spike, Kion, Sunset, Rafiki, and Makini all looked on very happy with how well the two holidays have blended together.

“Wow! I can’t believe that this is all happening.” Makini happily expressed.

“Well you better believe because it is happening.” Spike replied to assure that’s the case.

“You know what I think, Rafiki?” Makini asked her mentor while they both painted on seperate canvass to capture this wonderful and momentous occasion. “I think both Christmas and Hearth’s Warming put together celebrates the gift of the Circle of Life.

Her mentor smiled and agreed with her. “Yes, young Mjuzi. I could not have said it better myself.”

“Me neither.”

“Truer words have never been spoken.”

Both leaders of the Guard commented before a flash of light sparked inside the library drawing their along with Sunset’s attention. When they all rushed on over inside, they found something that sparked the unicorn’s attention. A neatly gift wrapped box with her name on it courtesy of Human Rarity sliding it inside.

Curious, she opened it and found herself looking at a new outfit along with a note placed alongside it. A light blue tank top, blue jeans, a new black leather jacket with orange stripes on the shoulder, shorter black boots with orange stripes on the heels with written words by Rarity herself on the note.

“Dear Sunset, Darling,

If you are reading this, then you now know the truth. We have just figured out that you are not Anon-a-Miss and none of the emails, texts, and tweets have been sent by you. Honestly there really isn't much to say other than we are so sorry that we were quick to accuse you like that. We should have taken the time to understand what was truly going before jumping to conclusions like that.

What we did was just wrong, mean, hurtful and very unfair to you considering you just getting into the holiday spirit and we had no excuse to mistreat you like that. At times like this we can only wish we could go back in time and take back those horrid, dreadful and regretful actions we took back then when the whole gossip drama erupted in flames.

Anyways, while we can't force upon you wanting to return to Canterlot High so soon, we can only ask of you to accept this gift as a token of our apology and hope that you'll someday return so that we can resume the friendship that we just started not too long ago. If you do, you know where to find us.

Signed with friendly love and kisses Rarity.

P.S. The sooner the better since the upcoming Friendship Games are right around the corner once winter break is over and school is back in session...Oh and of most importantly, beng able to reconsole with of course."

Sunser slowly lowered the letter down as she looked down at the select clothes Rarity in the other world had hand selected for her. Intially, unsure and still not ready to jump up at the opportunity, her expression turned into one of consideration while slowly and surely loving the outfit in her magical grasp. 

To her, it really captures her current evolution from a once former antagonistic character to a reformed hero who is learning and fully grasping friendship like. And as of her recent accomplishments in this world, she sure has proved herself worthy of her redemption. She then moved to smile fondly of the outfit as she held it close to her heart feeling very touched and much appericated that she went through the effort to actually get her all of this even after what happened.

"Shwari! What just happened?" Makini asked in awe.

"Another Christmas Miracle." Twilight answered as she looked on very pleased to see that the day Sunset will make amends with the other girls back at Canterlot High very soon.

"Indeed it is, young alicorn, Indeed it is." Rafiki said feeling equally happy as well as the holidays have proven while it can bring out the worst inside but ultimately the best inside. A true, divine, pure quality that shines brighter than darkness anyday.