//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Hearth's Warming Eve // Story: Like a Broken Record (2nd Person Reboot) // by LightsCameraAction //------------------------------// Chapter 7: Hearth's Warming Eve You all were snowed in at Canterlot for two days before the train was equipped with a proper plow to drive through the snow. Sure it was a slow ride, but we eventually got back home and you were so happy to be back in Ponyville again. The snow hadn't hit as hard here as up in the mountains. Octavia is much better now. You had hoped that she wasn't going to be traumatized by the incident. Vinyl stayed with her the entire time, and you hope Vinyl knows that you care so much for her. But here you are now, about to spend Hearths Warming Eve alone. Your family still lives in Manehatten and you didn't plan on making a trip there anytime soon. Not that you don't miss them, they just aren't the festive type of people. You were about to head upstairs to take a nap, when you heard a sudden knocking on your door. You trotted back towards the door and opened it. Vinyl stood before you and had a huge smile on her face. "Hey!" She nearly yelled. "Hello, Vinyl." You said. "Hey, where is everypony? Don't you have a family?" She said, making my teeth cringe. "Yeah, I do. They just aren't the festive type of ponies." You told her. "So you're spending Hearth's Warming Eve alone?" She asked, looking mortified. "Yeah, I have been ever since I moved here. But it's not that big of a deal, I'm kinda used to it." You said, trying to keep her from feeling bad for you. "That sucks..." She said, looking down at the ground. "I know!" She said, like a lightbulb went off in her head. "You can spend the day with Octavia and I!" "I don't know..." You said, looking away. "C'mon!" She started to basically drag you towards her house in the snow. You finally got your hooves on the ground to allow yourself to trot beside her. Her house had been fully decorated with festive lights and red bows. You both entered the house and you took your scarf off and hung it on the rack. "Yo, Tavi?" You heard Vinyl say in the other room. "Yes?" Octavia replied. "I hope its okay that Snow stays here for the day. He was going to spend Hearth's warming alone." She said, nearly whispering the last sentence. "Oh, of course! Nopony should spend today alone." Octavia insisted. "Thanks." You saw her hug her roommate You spent the day with them. Vinyl had you bake with her to help make dinner and dessert. While she and Octavia made the dinner, you were on "cake baking duty," as Vinyl liked to call it. You weren't the best baker, but you managed to prepare the mixture. You were gently stirring the liquid, like the box said, when Vinyl decided to give it a try. She grabbed the mixer and flipped her glasses over her eyes and gave an evil grin. "Max power, baby!" She said, turning the speed all the way up. "Oh dear..." You hardly heard Octavia say over the loud whirling of the mixer. Vinyl hardly got the mixer in the bowl before the mix went flying into the air. Basically covering the kitchen in cake batter, Vinyl took off her glasses that protected her eyes. Perfect circles were clean over her eyes where her glasses shielded some of it. She looked at the batter that was spread around and looked back at Octavia and you. She seemed as if she was going to cry, than laughter took over. Octavia looked at the batter that covered her and let outa small giggle. You guess it was kinda funny, so you decided to join in. Together all of you shared a good laugh as you looked at the mess. You felt strange after the laughter passed, because it seemed as if you were all a family. You hadn't experienced this feeling in a while. Your family hadn't really celebrated holidays, even when you were young. You were happy to be out of the house and experience the full celebration of Hearth's Warming Eve. The mess was soon cleaned up and you had to mix a whole bowl of cake batter again. This time Vinyl just watched as you slowly mixed the batter in the bowl. After pouring the liquid in the pan, You slid it in the oven. You looked around and saw Octavia bring a rather large box from upstairs. Vinyl instantly recognized the box and trotted over to the tree in the living room. You followed them and watched as Octavia opened the box. She and Vinyl began to pick things out of the box and hang them on the tree. You remembered this from long ago. You decided to help, and you reached into the box and lifted out a red ornament. Gently hanging it on one of the branches, you looked over to see Vinyl trying her best to reach the top to put the star on. Not knowing why she didn't just use her magic, You lifted her up and balanced her above you. She laughed and placed it on top. After placing hear back down on the ground she pulled you into a hug. "Thanks!" She said. You patted her on the back and gave her a smile. You all got all the decorations on the tree and Vinyl plugged in the lights. All three of you watched as the tree glowed and lit up the living room. The timer in the kitchen went off and you got the cake out of the oven. Together, you all decorated the cake in red, white, and, green icing. Octavia was the expert her, so you and Vinyl let her do most of the work. After that the sun had set behind the mountains in the distance. Octavia set the table and Vinyl and you brought the food into the dining room. You all sat at the round table and ate together. Finishing your plate, you looked up at the two who were laughing at a conversation they were having. "I'd like to say thank you, to the both of you." You said. "Dear, it's no trouble at all." Octavia said. "Yeah, nopony should spend this holiday alone." Vinyl added. A smile grew on your face and you all stood up to clean all of your plates. Octavia took the plates and began to wash them. Vinyl and you sat on the couch and watched as the fireplace burned the wood inside. Octavia sat on her chair and sipped a glass of wine. Vinyl rested her head on your shoulder and Octavia gave a loud yawn. "Sorry, but I'm awfully tired. Goodnight and happy Hearth's Warming Eve." Octavia said, trotting upstairs to her room. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve." Vinyl and you said together. "Aww bummer..." She said. "What?" You asked. "I didn't get you anything for Hearth's Warming Eve... Sorry." She apologized. "Don't be, because I haven't gotten you anything either. Since I hardly ever celebrated it, gifts didn't really come to mind." You told her. "Wait, I got an idea!" She said, trotting over to the box of ornaments that was basically empty. She rustled around inside and found what she was looking for. "One sec." She said' disappearing around the corner. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!" She said, with a red bow tied around her waist. "What's this?" You asked, knowing how cliche this actually was. "I'm giving me to you as a gift." She said, approaching me. "Oh really?" You said, knowing what she was trying to do. "Mm-hm." She said laying on top of you on the couch. "Well, in that case..." You said, leaning up and kissing her. She opened her mouth and so did you, letting your tongues venture around. They would occasionally tangle around and you would feel Vinyl shiver. Her face was a bright red, and by the feeling of your face, you must have been blushing too. Vinyl reached down in between you two and you let out a moan, telling her that what she was doing felt great. "Wait, aren't you afraid I'll get you pregnant?" you asked, stopping her. "No, it's okay. I'm safe." She whispered, continuing where she left off. After you two finished exchanging 'presents,' you both collapsed on the couch. Breathing heavily, we wrapped our hooves around each other. "I love you, Vinyl." You whispered. "I love you too, Snow." She whispered back, kissing you on the lips and closing her eyes. Together, you both fell asleep in a warm embrace. You're so happy that you found a relationship that worked out for once. You may not have realized it at first, but now you see it clear as day. Vinyl is the one, the mare that you would love to spend the rest of your life with. You and Vinyl woke up in the morning to the sound of birds chirping. You both looked at the mess that we made from our 'gift giving' last night. Vinyl gave you a coy smile and a giggle. You kissed her on the cheek and heard a sudden crash of glass. You and Vinyl turned to see Octavia had dropped her glass of orange juice and was in shock at what she saw. Her face flushed red. "My couch!" Octavia nearly screamed, glaring at the stained couch. All you and Vinyl could do was smile sheepishly and say sorry.