The early morning sun gently rose over the white blanket of snow that covered Equestria, signalling the start of a new day. All over the nation, ponies and other native creatures awoke to find lovingly wrapped presents underneath the beautifully decorated trees they had put up in their houses, and in the stockings that hung by their beds or on their mantelpieces, and one by one, multicoloured lights illuminated each and every part of each and every town, city or village as they enthusiastically opened the gifts they had received. For today was none other than Hearth's Warming Day, a time of kindness and generosity to one and all, when everypony everywhere set aside their troubles to spread joy and happiness throughout the land.
But for Scootaloo, it was so much more than that. Not only was it the first she would spend with her recently wedded adoptive parents Soarin and Rainbow Dash, but it was the first she had ever truly spent with family since the loss of her mother all those years ago. Back when she had still been under the care of her father Slate Shard, he had consistently been forced to carry on working at the quarry in order to support them both, even on Hearth's Warming, so unlike other ponies, who would spend the day with father, mother, sons and daughters in festively decorated homes, she herself had to make do with a drab, gloomy household and nothing else – not even her closest friends.
To say she never got any presents was untrue, but even the most special ones she received did little to cheer her loneliness; but now, sat in the living room with her idol and one of the other Wonderbolts, she felt a deep sense of joy as she and her adoptive parents tore the wrapping paper off present after present – a joy that, for many years, she had never expected she would ever feel again. The look of ecstatic gratitude on Scootaloo's face every time she opened them was deeply heart-warming to the two adult ponies; they could only imagine how difficult it must have been for her before they had adopted her, and it gladdened them both to know that, though it had lain dormant for so many years, her sense of Hearth's Warming cheer was still very much alive.
Rainbow Dash looked on with a smile as Scootaloo ripped open her fifth Hearth's Warming present so far, letting out a delighted gasp when she saw what it was. “What'd you get this time, Scoot?”
The orange-coated filly was so taken by what she had just received that at first she didn't seem to notice. “Wow!” she breathed, gazing at the box she had just unveiled. “I knew Rumble and his family are so well off, but I wasn't expecting this!”
“What is it?” asked Soarin.
“What else?” beamed Scootaloo as she opened up the box and pulled its contents out. It was a brand new scooter, somewhat bigger and better than the one she was currently using; that consisted of little more than a wooden skateboard with a pair of handlebars on the front, whereas this new and improved model was made of a lightweight aluminium alloy, had adjustable handlebars, and was much flashier, shinier and more streamlined.
Soarin chuckled heartily. “That was pretty nice of him,” he remarked.
“I'll say,” agreed Rainbow Dash, looking the new scooter over with interest. “You sure are lucky to have such a generous coltfriend, squirt.”
“Don't I know it?” giggled Scootaloo, gently rolling the scooter alongside the other presents she had already opened, which included a reproduction Wonderbolt flying suit from her adoptive parents, a wooden Rainbow Dash statuette that had been lovingly crafted for her by Apple Bloom, and a collection of Wonderbolt plushies from Rarity and Sweetie-Belle.
While she was doing this, Rainbow Dash reached under the tree and pulled out another present. “From Twilight, huh?” she remarked upon seeing what was written on the label. “Three guesses as to what this is then.”
“A book, perchance?” quipped Soarin.
Rainbow Dash laughed and playfully swatted her husband with the back of her hoof before tearing away the wrapping paper. “Just as I thought!” she chortled, holding up what she had just received. “It's the latest A. K. Yearling book.”
“Oh right? What's Daring Do been up to this time?”
“No, silly!” laughed Rainbow Dash. “This has nothing to do with Daring Do – it's based on that film you starred in, Scoot!”
Scootaloo gazed up at the book to see a likeness of herself on its cover, along with the film's main star, Locomotion, and several of her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders and other friends. “Awesome,” she beamed.
“You bet it is, Scoot,” agreed Rainbow Dash, and turned her attention back to Soarin; “What's next then, Soar?”
“Just about to find out,” replied Soarin, who was already starting to open his next present. The moment the wrapping paper had been removed, however, he couldn't help but stifle a laugh. “Oh, grief! I should have known Misty Fly would do this to me!”
“What is it?”
Soarin looked away sheepishly as he held up his gift from Misty.
“'The Idiots' Guide to Jewellery'?!” Rainbow Dash read out loud, staring disbelievingly at the cover artwork. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“It probably is,” replied Soarin, blushing madly with embarrassment. “She's been teasing me about that kind of thing ever since I proposed to you. Dunno why, but there it is.”
Rainbow Dash slapped a hoof to her face. “One of these days!” she groaned; but quickly composed herself when she remembered where they were and what day it was. “Oh yeah, Scoot,” she added, “there's one other little present that your father asked me to give you.”
“Oh right?” said Scootaloo curiously. “What's that then?”
The only response the orange-coated filly got was a smallish package, which Rainbow Dash set down in front of her. She stared at it for a few moments, wondering what her father might have given her; but eventually she managed to break out of her reverie and open it up. Inside, she found a block of slate with a portrait of herself and both her parents engraved onto it, along with some old mementos of when Typhoon, her mother, was still alive. Included in the package were her lead-pony badge from her days at the Wonderbolt Academy and a cloud-shaped locket containing a picture of her daughter.
“He'd had that lot stored in the loft back at your old home since your mother passed away,” explained Rainbow Dash softly. “He thought you should have it.”
Scootaloo gazed at all the little trinkets that had been handed down to her, tears forming in the corners of her eyes as she remembered the good times she had shared with her mother before that tragic flying accident, and thought of how much she missed her. Then, with a sad smile on her face, she looked up at both her legal guardians.
“Dash, Soarin...” she stammered.
“Yes, Scoot?”
The orange-coated filly opened her mouth to try and say something, but her tears suddenly overflowed, and instead she ran up to them both and hugged them tightly. Without a word, Rainbow Dash wrapped her arms protectively around their adopted daughter while Soarin gently rubbed the little filly's back; but even they couldn't hold back tears of their own they were so full of emotion by this point. All three felt a degree of sorrow for Typhoon's death, something that nopony should have to feel about anything on Hearth's Warming, but this was greatly overshadowed by other, far more powerful feelings – feelings of gratitude regarding their fortunes in being united as a family in their own right, of joy and happiness at being able to spend such a festive day as one. But most of all, feelings of love – love for each other, that over the years had grown strong enough to guide them through the thickest fog, shield them against the worst storm, and warm them through the coldest winter.
They remained that way for some time before at last Scootaloo pulled back for air. Her eyes were still moist with tears, but at least the smile hadn't wiped itself off her face. “Thanks, you two,” she whispered. “This has to be the best Hearth's Warming Day I've had in years – and all because I have you guys as my family.” She then snuggled back into Rainbow Dash's chest fur again. “Thank you so much.”
Rainbow Dash smiled fondly as she ran a hoof through Scootaloo's mane. “That's okay, squirt,” she replied kindly. “I'm just glad to have you as our daughter.”
“Me too, tiger,” agreed Soarin. “I love you girls more than either of you could ever know.”
Having opened all their presents, the three ponies sat down to a hearty Hearth's Warming dinner consisting of a traditional pumpkin pie with all the trimmings, which Soarin had spent the best part of the previous day preparing. It was only his first time making such a meal, since he usually lived off takeaway meals and whatever was available in the mess hall at the Wonderbolt base, but Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were most impressed by what a good job he had done regardless.
Afterwards, they spent the remainder of the day playing games, singing Hearth's Warming carols and generally hanging out with each other. Scootaloo in particular was keen to try out a board game themed on the Wonderbolts, which she had received from Pipsqueak, and even though she and Soarin both lost to Rainbow Dash, they had to agree that it was the best game they had ever played – even Battlecloud, Rainbow Dash's favourite game, couldn't seem to surpass it.
But even as the sun gradually dipped further and further below the horizon, making way for Luna's moon and the onset of night, the Hearth's Warming surprises for the happy family were far from over. After one final game of checkers, Soarin, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo finally decided to call it a day and head off to bed for the night. Just before they did, Rainbow Dash smiled at Scootaloo and asked, “Had a good Hearth's Warming, I take it, Scoot?”
“You bet I did,” replied Scootaloo, warmly returning the smile. “I don't think I've ever had such a good time on Hearth's Warming, even when Mom was still around.”
“Glad to hear it,” chuckled Rainbow Dash heartily, “because I've got another surprise for you both.”
“Oh right? What is it then?” asked Soarin, pricking his ears up and gazing attentively at his wife in anticipation.
Rainbow Dash paused, rubbing a bashful hoof against the back of her head. “Well...you kinda sprang it on me in the first place, Soar; but Scootaloo, you know how you once said it'd be nice to actually have a brother or a sister of your own.”
“Um...yeah?” said Scootaloo, arching an eyebrow.
“Well, it turns out your wish is about to come true,” the rainbow-maned mare replied softly, directing a proud, warm smile at her currently flat midsection. There was a long silence as Scootaloo and Soarin took in her words, all the while wondering what she was trying to tell them. After half a minute or so, Scootaloo finally broke the silence.
“You mean...you're...”
“Dead right, Scoot,” beamed Rainbow Dash happily. “I'm pregnant.”
Only then did Soarin find his voice. “Oh, Dashie, that's wonderful news!” he cheered, picking up his wife and spinning her round in ecstasy. “When did you find this out?”
“Just last week on the Monday while I was out buying presents for my friends,” explained Rainbow Dash as Soarin finally set her down. “I'd been feeling a bit weird every morning for the last fortnight before then and wondered if perhaps I'd got the stomach flu, so I decided to see my doctor about it to be on the safe side. I would have told you as soon as I found out, but I thought it better if it came as an extra Hearth's Warming present for you guys.”
“And I'm real glad you did, honey,” observed Soarin, gazing lovingly into Rainbow Dash's eyes. “This is the best gift I've had off of you since our wedding,” and he slowly leaned towards her, closing his eyes.
Seeing what they were about to do, Scootaloo quickly put out a hoof to stop them. “Hang on, you two, not yet,” she teased. “Not while there's something missing.”
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
Scootaloo didn't reply immediately, but instead made a beeline for one of the boughs of mistletoe that hung from the living room walls. Having gently removed it, she went back to the two adults and hovered just above them, hanging the mistletoe from one hoof, at which point they realised what she was up to. “Okay, guys, go ahead.”
“Oh, Scootaloo!” laughed Rainbow Dash. “You're such a naughty little filly!”
“Oh yeah?” retorted Soarin in a seductive tone. “Well I know a certain other pair of ponies who can get a lot worse than her.” Before Rainbow Dash could reply, he flung his forelegs round her shoulders and cupped his lips around hers, eliciting a moan of pleasure from the rainbow-maned mare as she leaned into the kiss. Scootaloo could only smirk as she watched the romantic scene play out in front of her; well worth the mistletoe for that, she thought.
A whole minute passed before the two adult ponies finally broke apart, still gazing lovingly into each other's eyes, at which point Scootaloo gently touched down beside them and rested the mistletoe on the nearby coffee table. “So when's that new foal of yours due, Dash?” she asked.
“Doctor says I should deliver in about ten months from now,” replied Rainbow Dash cheerfully. “You excited, then?”
“Aw, you bet!” beamed Scootaloo enthusiastically. “It'll be great to finally get a brother or a sister of my own. In fact, scratch what I said earlier – this is the best Hearth's Warming Day ever!”
For the umpteenth time that day, Rainbow Dash and Soarin beamed fondly upon the little filly as they wrapped their arms and wings around her in a hearty embrace. “Happy Hearth's Warming, Scootaloo,” they said in unison.
“Happy Hearth's Warming, you two,” answered Scootaloo, snuggling into her adoptive parents' warm fur and feathers.