//------------------------------//
// Bonus Chapter: A Hearth's Warming Reunion 
// Story: Life Goes On 
// by Blue Breeze 
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Author's Note: Welcome one and all to my Christmas special for 'Life Goes On'. This is really more of a 'what if' type of chapter, so don't take it too seriously. But I do hope you all enjoy it. Now, on with the story.

Well, I never thought I'd find myself back here again. It's been a long time, hasn't it? Guess Dash isn't the only loyal pony around here if you all are still sticking around to listen to my ramblings.

This may come as a bit of a shocker, but it's been roughly ten years since last we talked. I'll just give that a moment to sink in... Ah, screw it. I can't wait that long.

So yeah, trust me when I say it's been a lot longer for me than it has been for you. It's actually been a pretty calm time believe it or not. Just a lot of hanging out with friends having fun times and having no sort of hijinx whatsoev-Pffft. Hahahaha!

I'm sorry, I couldn't say that with a straight face. Hehe, you guys know me better than that. If I'm not pulling my hair out from going insane, then something is seriously wrong.

I can't go over everything that's gone on since then, as much as I'd like to, because let's face it, I don't have time to tell you an anthology's worth of the kind of nonsense you've come to expect out of me.

But here's something you may not have expected: Dash and I had kids. Twins no less. I know, me a daddy? That just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. But I love those little tykes. They're just like their folks. Whether or not that's a good thing is up for debate, though.

After Shining Gale and Aqua Shimmer were born nine years back, we decided it'd be best for them if we moved to Cloudsdale to raise them. It was heartbreaking when we had to leave Ponyville... to leave so many friends behind... to leave the ponies that were like a second family behind.

I could go on and on about other things that have happened, but that's not what I'm here to do. I'm here to do something I should've done a long time ago.

Right now it's Hearth's Warming Eve and I'm off to make a visit. Dash decided to stay back home with the kids and head over to my parent's house while I do this. I told her I'd be sure to be back before it was time to put the kids to bed. I only hope I can keep to that so she doesn't clip my wings.

I fly high in the sky, Ponyville within sight, covered in a white blanket of snow. I stop midflight to gaze at the wintery village, feeling a strong sense of nostalgia.

I smirk to myself as I look down at the town. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. It's been too long, old friend." I say to it, feeling like I'm seeing a long lost friend for the first time in years.

I lifted the hood of my red sweatshirt over my head, wanting to not draw too much attention to myself when landing. I tell ya, over ten years and this thing's still in great shape. Rarity knows her stuff.

Anyway, I fly down towards the town entrance and touch down, starting to take in the scenery I had missed so much. The old place hasn't changed a single bit from what I remember of it. Still looks like that pony tale (yep, I went there) village I had all those crazy adventures in when I was young... Celestia, I sound old.

As I look around, I notice a few ponies glancing at me, but apparently not recognizing me with my head being covered. As much as I'd love to be greeted by the towns ponies, I don't want word of me being back before I get a chance to see my friends.

I begin to slowly walk up the path, trying to take in as much of the view as possible. The surrounding area looks beautiful with the snow, but the snow looks off.

I put a hoof to my chin as I remember something that happened just before I left. "Could it...?" I quietly ask myself as I walk over to a patch of snow and stick a hoof in.

I lick the "snow" on my hoof to taste test and smile. "Mmm, vanilla. I knew it. Seems Anarchy is still up to her old tricks."

"You know it, Bluey." a sensual female voice responds from out of nowhere.

I look down at the ice cream snow to see a familiar female draconequus face pop up with a large grin on her expression as she winks at me.

Just then, with a puff of smoke, the serpentine vixen herself pops out and hovers in the air, smiling down at me as she rests her chin on her palms.

"Well, if it isn't old Bluey." she says nonchalantly. "Pleasure to see you again, dearie. What brings you by?"

I shrug a bit. "Eh, you know. Just decided to swing by for the holidays." I answer casually, as if it hadn't been nine years since I moved.

"Wonderful to hear it. Though, you really should visit more often, Blue. It's not as fun without you around to tease." she flys around me, brushing her tail by my face.

My cheeks turn a bit red in reponse. "Hehe, I'll make sure to do that."

She took note of my blush and gives a small chuckle. "You could pass for Santa Hooves with cheeks like that."

I turn around with a goofy smile on my face as I begin to continue my trot. "Well, it was great seeing you again, Anarchy. We should catch up later."

She gives a small wave as I go. "See you later, Blue. And don't worry, there'll be PLENTY of time to catch up."

I'm not sure what she means by that. I'm not sure I wanna know either. Darn that woman and her charms.

Moving right along before I make myself look any worse (is that even possible?), I continue to trot up the streets of Ponyville, on my way to town square for a certain special errand I need to run.

But on my way I stop in my tracks as I notice something that brings back some of my fondest memories of this town: Bon Bon's Coffee and Cream Cafe. The memories of all the days spent in there hanging out with my friends begin to flood back to me, putting a grin on my face.

Yeah, really sappy, I know. But the opportunity to go in is to good to pass up, so I head through the doors and breathe in. Yep, still smells as strong as ever, making my nose crinkle a bit from no longer being used to it. I really should come by more often. It's just that having the kids has been a fulltime thing combined with now working at the factory. But now that the kids don't need as much attention, I've finally got a good time to visit. But I digress.

I trot to the front counter, finding Bon Bon there hoofing somepony their expresso. She turns to me as she gets ready to serve her next customer.

"Hello, can I take your order?" she asked cheerfully as she always did.

"Yeah." I answer before lowering my hood just enough to show my face clearly and smirking at her. "Can you get me my usual?"

Her eyes widen slightly as she gets a large grin. "Blue, is that y-" I interrupt her with a shush as I point my head back at the room. She gets the hint as she nods and goes to get me my normal capucino.

She comes back a moment later and hoofs me my drink and I give her my bits in return. I give her a wink as I trot out and leave without another word.

I'm look at my drink and get all to eager to taste it for the first time in years. As I drink it, the broiling hotness burns my mouth as I stick my tongue out and wave a hoof at it.

"Ah, hot hot hot! Ah, but so good!" I say frantically as I take another sip. As I take more and more, my mouth gets used to the temperature and it stops burning as I give a contented sigh. "That's the stuff."

Hey, doofus! In case you didn't know, coffee is hot! I amaze myself at my own stupidity sometimes.

Before I can take another step, a grey feather falls on the ground in front of me. I pick it up and look at it in confuson before I look up at the nearby rooftops to see a familiar hooded pony nod at me before leaping away one roof at a time.

"Shadow Mark, you old son of a gun." I say with a laugh as I shake my head. After all these years, it's great to see the old guy alive and kicking. For being roughly fifty five, he's as agile as ever.

I tuck the feather away and keep trotting as I had planned earlier. I just hope Dash doesn't mind me making a few detours. Meh, she'll get over it. She wouldn't put me out on the couch on Hearth's Warming... I hope.

I finally see the town square off in the distance with the traditional Ponyville Hearth's Warming tree being set up in the center. And who should I see setting up the lights other than my old buddy Iron Clad. Being a tinkerer, the mayor entrusted him with being the electrical technician for the tree. 

I trot up behind him with my hood over my eyes as he casually wraps the lights around the tree in a pattern before it's later time for the annual town tree-decorating where everypony in town puts an ornament on the tree. It's one of the town's key symbols of unity.

"Looking good, man." I say as I stop to look up at the tree.

He turns to see me, but is unable to see my face. He notices my blue wings and yellow tail to find a distinction. "Hey, Arrell. Thanks. Bit of a bore to put these up, but somepony's gotta do it."

I suppress a laugh as I put a hoof to my mouth. "I'm sorry, who?" I say smugly as I pull down my hood to smile at him. "I'm no Arrell."

His eyes widen a bit in surprise before he chuckles and trots up to me. "Heh, nice to see you back, Blue."

"Good to be back, man." I say as we do a brohoof. "Bit 'iron'ic to see me, huh?"

He facehoofs with a groan. "Yeah, it's definitely you." he sighs before getting his grin back, wanting to change the subject. "So, what brings you by? What's it been, nine years since you moved? You should've at least wrote or something." he quips at me.

I give a sheepish laugh in reply. "Yeah, real sorry about that. But you know how it is. The kids and Dash are a real hooful."

He nods in understanding. "No problem, buddy. I know how it is. Zecora and I had a little one of our own since then, and being a dad has been rougher than any job I had."

I grin widely at hearing him. "Really? That's awesome, bro. Congrats."

"Thanks. So, what brings you here? Just a quick visit?"

I look down at the pockets of my coat. "Actually, I do have something more I wanted to do." I say before reaching a hoof in and pulling out a string pulled through four blue feathers of various shades.

Iron eyebals it quizzically before looking back at me. "What's that?"

I smile at the feathers as I gently squeeze them in my hoof. "It's an ornament Dash, the kids, and I made to put on the tree, to show we still feel connected to the town and you guys.

He grinned at me and gave a nod as he stepped aside to allow me to be the first to decorate the tree. I look at it for a moment before giving a contnted sigh and looking back at Iron.

"So, you wanna go visit the others? Twilight's holding a pre-Hearth's Warming party at the library." he offered.

My grin encompasses my whole face at the prospect of spending a Haerth's Warming party with all of my friends. "I'd love to. Let's go." I say enthusiastically.

He smiles and shakes his head as he begins to lead me over to the Book and Branches Library. I'm so excited. I still remember that big, impractical tree of library. And for once I'm excited to go to Dark's place. Who woulda thunk it?

Yeah, even after all these years I'm still a flankhole. Sue me.

In almost no time at all we reach the giant, hollow tree, completely encased in vanilla snow. I seriously wonder how that stuff isn't melting, whether it be cold outside or not. Ah well. Far be it from me to question draconequus magic.

My heart begins to race faster in excitement as we approach the front door. Iron smirks at me. "You ready for this?" he asks.

I give a determined look and nod. "More than I've ever been... minus a few exceptions." I state.

He turns the doorknob and it opens to reveal a room filled with colorful ponies, all of whom turn to look at us as we enter. There's a collective gasp as they notice me. They all begin to smile as wide as Pinkie Pie at a party... oh, wait.

I smile at them and wave. "Hey guys. Long time no see."

The group surrounds me instantly as they all begin to greet me, the room buzzing with dozens of talking ponies.

After all these years and nothing's seemed to change. Same friends, same parties, same obnoxious level. Yep, not a single thing has changed. But I'm just glad to be back with them. It feels good to be back.

Author's Note: And that was my Christmas special for 'Life Goes On'. I really hoped you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Arrell belongs to RLYoshi, Shadow Mark belongs to Dleifragcat, and Iron Clad and Anarchy belong to the users of the same names. I hope you all like your involvement. Be sure to let me know if I did something OOC with them. But I thank you all for reading, and have a happy holiday season.