//------------------------------// // Heart's Warming Eve // Story: Old Friend // by Ali-Chan //------------------------------// "You and your dark knight, hmm?" The gossipy crystal pony said to me as I searched for her painting in the back. The pony was curious, especially after that scene that she had witnessed back in the kitchen. Did the two have a secret romance no one knew about? Or maybe it was a one-sided romance? The stories, the questions! Oh how the blue pony with the crystalline pelt had to know! "We are just friends." I responded back to the mare, blowing some dust off a few old paintings I had passed by. These ponies were sure curious. A little too curious for their own good, and annoyingly so. "Are you sure? He had you pinned pretty good." The pony responded in sing-song voice. I bit back a growl as I rolled my eyes at the mare behind me. Now I wanted her out of my house, and she owes me some bits for a new door as well. "Is this it?" I heard the feminine voice behind me, as she pointed to a piece that was covered by a tarp. For the third time today, I wanted to slap the crystal of this pony. Couldn't she see that I looked everywhere for the painting? I'm sure if I would have seen it I would ha- To my surprise and irritation, the female lifted the tarp of the painting. It was probably just another old sketch I did when I was a fil- "Here it is!" She exclaimed, her eyes 'carefully' examining it. The second I turned my head to glance over my shoulder I caught sight of the painting. Bring my hoof up to my face, I buried my face in it from embarrassment. Maybe I was so caught up about looking for it that I had passed it? As I walked up to it, I noticed it was under the 'Commissions' shelf, and seeing the resemblance to pony in front of it, I took in a happy breath. "I believe you have found it Miss." I put on a fake smile as I took it down to give it to her. Thank Celestia, finally the pony would be out of my mane and out of my hou- "I don't like it.." "Why don't you like it?" My brow knitted together in confusion, the resemblance was uncanny! "You made my eye the wrong shade of teal." I bit down on my lip, trying not say anything I would regret later. "You're...Right. I shall fix it, come back next week." "Good, See you next week" The pony said as she walked out the door with her held up high, "And Happy Heart's Warming." I took in a deep breath and exhaled as I shut the door. With anger boiling in my chest, I kicked a nearby vase with my hind legs, knocking it to the ground. I ran a hoof through my mane, as I tried to keep myself calm. It was Heart's Warming Eve, I should be respecting and rejoicing the others around me. "Great, now I don't get paid.." I mumbled under my breath as a I walked around our small house. What was I to do now? I didn't have a gift for Somie, nor did I have bits to buy him a late present. Sure I could paint him something, but I practically do that on a normal basis. I continued to walk, until I reached my den and went inside. This was a good way to let it out right? Out of anger, I pushed over paint buckets and canvases, making a mess all over the ground. "Why today?" I whimpered as I threw myself on some pillows in the edge of the room. "Why..." I choked out as tears started to develop in my eyes. "Somie, you know what today is?" The young filly said eagerly. "Hmm...Is it, Tuesday?" The colt pretended to wonder, knowing this would tick off his friend. "No! It's Heart's Warming Eve!" She pouted, thinking that the colt had forgotten the special day. "Oh, It is?" "Yes!" Unknown to young Scarcity, the colt had the filly's present just behind his back. It had been the pins he caught her glancing over with interest at the crystal market, a similar blue matching the strange stripe of blue in her tail. Now, the filly had her forelock in her eyes, and her crest falling over her neck and shoulders. "See, I got you a present!" Trying her best to be steady on two hoofs, she took the flower crown she had made for the him. Using his own body for support to stand, she carefully placed it on top of his head. Sure it was a little small, but to the young silver pony it looked just perfect on him. "Well then, I guess I could give you yours..." "You got me a present?" Her eagerness and excitement were clear as day through her voice. "Now close your eyes," He instructed, carefully maneuvering the pins through her mane, "Almost there..." "Come on!" The female said impatiently, stepping on the ground repeatedly, "I wanna see it!" "Hold on..." He pinned it carefully, putting it in such a manner that it wouldn't fall out on it's own, "There." "Let me see, Let me see!" The filly raced to the nearest mirror, excitedly wondering what her present was. She knew she felt a slight tug on her mane, so maybe it was a clip? Or maybe a flower? Oh was she excited! "Oh my...." The filly looked at her reflection, and she was shocked at was she saw. It was the pins she wanted! But how could he get them? The market had closed down a while ago, and the pins weren't exactly cheap either. The little pony let out a happy scream, as she raced back to Sombra and tackled him with all her might. "Thankyou,Thankyou,Thankyou,Thankyou!" She wrapped her hooves around him in a hug, and gladly nuzzled his neck. Her eyes were fully closed, and she didn't hear any complaints from her friend either. Sombra was taken back, sure it was a nice gesture, but all of this? His cheeks felt warm as he wrapped his hoofs back around her in an awkward embrace. It had been years since that had happened, they'd both grown in their own ways. The mare had discovered her love and talent for art, while the stallion had discovered how much he could learn about magic. Sure, they both did have their childish moments like the one in the kitchen, but they were grown up ponies now. "Scarcity?" A familiar male voice echoed through out the den. "C-C-Come in.." I managed to stutter out, my voice still odd from the sobbing. "What's wrong?" I heard hoofsteps coming closer. "N-Nothing.." I lied, as I turned my head away from the approaching stallion. I mean, how could you tell someone that you didn't have a present for them when it was a gift giving holiday? Or that you had failed to sell anything in an entire month? I was starting to be become a little too dependent on him, and I didn't want that. He lowered himself to my level, and sat next to me, "I know something's bugging you," His eyelids were low, I could tell he had been practicing some new spells. He looked so tired, it just pulled at my heart a little. I would have to tell him anyways, so without a second thought, I took in a breath and let it all out, "It's the crystal ponies...They haven't bought anything from me since last month," I turned to the wall, I couldn't bare to see his face. "That's it?" My heart felt as if it stopped, I couldn't believe it. I blinked once, then twice before turning my head to meet his own. Just like when we were younger, his red eyes met my own amber hues. As we stared at each other, my heart started to beat faster, I just couldn't... Why did he have to be so kind? "Y-You're not-" "Mad?" He finished for me, his gaze now on my quivering lips as his own turned up into a smirk, "Why would I be?" "B-Because..." I glanced around the room trying to gather my words, "I don't have a..I mean.." "Scarcity," He lifted my head with his hoof, and turned it so I would be facing him, "Spit it out." "I haven't been able to get you a gift.." I whispered, afraid that he would be mad or disappointed with me. "Tell you what, how about you get me a gift when you have the bits?" He replied, his tone was...surprisingly calm. "R-Really?" "Yes, don't worry about it okay?" He smiled, wrapping a hoof around my back. "Thank you Somie." I smiled back, as I nuzzled his neck. "It's fine," He smirked, "Besides I forgot to get you a gift too." I quit my nuzzling and glared at him, "You what?" My ears lowered down in anger. He kept that smug smirk on his face, "You heard me." He lifted his head, smiling like he owned the world. I mimicked his expression as I spoke my next words, "You know what?" I started to lift my body off from the ground, no longer in the laying position anymore. "What?" He blinked innocently. "I'm getting you for that!" I lunged at him, tackling him to the ground like I did this morning at breakfast.