Pinkie Pie bounced through the muddy snow, and a spring-loaded suitcase tied to her tail bounced along behind her. Her eyes gleamed as she spun her head around, looking at all the dead, mangled trees and the frost-coated boulders. She crossed her eyes up at Gummy, who was clamped to her mane, and said, “We’re almost there, Gummy! This is gonna be sooo great! Wee!” She did a cartwheel, the suitcase arcing above her and throwing a shimmer of snow into the air.
Gummy tilted his tail and blinked.
Pinkie blew a raspberry. “Don’t be such a worrywart, spoilsport! Ponyville will still have a super funneriffic Hearth’s Warming without us, and me and Twi are gonna be writing letters every day so that we get to have each other’s hoof-me-down fun! Plus I baked that cake for everypony, just to be safe. Buttercream, the most universally scrumptious flavour ever!”
Gummy did nothing.
“Don’t give me any of this vanilla gobbledygook. Vanilla’s totally yummy, but buttercream definitely had the edge in my annual Pinkie Pie Pony Party Pastry Palate Preference Poll. You can’t argue facts, Gummy!”
Again, Gummy did nothing. Then he wiggled his jaw, clutching tighter to Pinkie’s mane.
“That’s the spirit!” Pinkie squealed, beaming. “And speaking of cakes, I can’t wait to help Granny Pie bake her seasonal spiced rock cake this year! We haven’t done that since the last time all our family got together for Hearth’s Warming—like, four forevers ago. I’d say I’m way too excited, but you can never be excited enough for a Pie family Hearth’s Warming. They’re the bestestest!” They reached a low wooden fence. Pinkie bounded onto one of the posts and propelled herself high into the air, landing with a powdery thud in the field. She gasped loudly, whipping her head around to take in the scene.
Wind whistled softly between the rocks and trenches around her. Most of the rocks had been cleared of snow—as advised by this year’s Rock Farmer’s Almanac, Pinkie recalled—but some of them were still coated in a thin layer of white dust. A gravel silo towered off to her left next to the windmill, both of them rusty and silent. And ahead of her, at the end of the field, sat a quaint settlement. The roof sagged a little under the snow.
Gummy blinked twice.
“I know!” Pinkie cried as she hopped from boulder to boulder. “It’s just like I remember it! This is gonna be the funnest, most fantabutasterifficous holiday ever—just like old times! We’re gonna make snowponies and sing songs and go sleigh-riding and hang stockings and fill stockings and Mom’s gonna make her special pebble cider and Dad’s gonna tell us stories by the fire and Granny Pie’s gonna knit in the rocking chair and Nana Pinkie’s gonna crochet in the other rocking chair and Marble and Limey and me are gonna decorate the tree and wrap prezzies and throw snowballs and jingle bells and—” She cut herself off with another gasp. “And Maud’s gonna be here tomorrow! She’s taking a special break from her rock research trip just to spend Hearth’s Warming with everypony!” Pinkie squee’d. “This trip is gonna rock!”
Eventually Pinkie reached the last stone in the field, so she leapt for the front porch. She landed square in front of the door, and her suitcase fell into place beside her. She banged her face against the door and shouted, “Mom! Dad! Nana! Granny! Marble! Limey! Guess who? It’s me, Pinkie! Open up open up open up!”
The door creaked open, and both of her parents stood on the inside. Cloudy Quartz gave her a small smile. “Hello, Pinkamena, darlin’,” she whispered. “We’re so glad you could make it.”
Pinkie’s smile stretched to her ears. She sprang forward and squeezed her parents tight.“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Mom and Dad!” she cried.
“Quiet down, Pinkamena,” said Igneous Rock in his gritty, gravelly voice. He closed the front door and tilted his head at the staircase. “Limestone’s still sleeping.”
“Really?” Pinkie said, pulling out of the embrace. “But it’s, like, way too late in the day for a nap.” She shrugged. “Ah, well. She always was a big sleepyhead. I can’t wait to see her! And Marble! And Maud! And you guys!” She hugged them again. “It’s been so long.”
Cloudy patted her on the back, then gently pushed out of the hug. “We’re happy to see you too, Pinkamena. But unfortunately we gotta start off your stay with some bad news.” She shared a look with Igneous. “Limestone isn’t still sleepin’ because she’s lazy. She’s sleepin’ because—”
“Did I hear my favourite granddaughter come in?” said a rickety voice. An elderly mare with a chalky coat and faded red mane hobbled in from the living room. She smiled at Pinkie.
“Nana!” Pinkie zoomed forward and wrapped Nana Pinkie in a delicate embrace. Then, just as quickly, she pulled her head back to look Nana in the eye. “Wait. Favourite?”
Nana Pinkie grinned. “It’s a four-way tie. Now keep the hug coming. You Pinkie Promised a full two minutes in your letter.”
“Of course!” Pinkie continued the hug full-steam. “I would never break a Pinkie Promise. Especially not to you, Nana.”
A soft tapping came from somewhere above. Everypony looked to the top of the stairs and saw Marble Pie standing there, rapping her hoof against the wall and frowning. Pinkie waved to her from the embrace. “Hi, Marble!” Marble spared her a quick look, but she didn’t smile. She turned back to their parents.
“Marble,” Cloudy said, knitting her brow, “is Limestone okay?” When Marble shook her head, Igneous bolted up the stairs and down the second floor hallway, followed closely by his wife. Marble cantered after them.
Pinkie frowned and looked at her nana. “What’s going on? Is something wrong with Limey?”
Nana Pinkie sighed. “I’m afraid so,” she said, letting the hug end. “Come on, let’s go up with everypony. I’m sure Limey’ll be tickled pink to see ya.” The two of them made their way up the stairs and down the hall to Marble and Limestone’s bedroom. The door was wide open.
When Pinkie entered the room, she looked to where her parents and sisters were gathered and felt herself deflate. Limestone lay in her bed, coughing and wheezing as though something was stuck in her throat. Her eyes came open between each cough, and Pinkie could see they were tired and bloodshot. Igneous was sitting on a stool by the bedside, a glass of water in his hoof. “Come on now, Limestone. It’ll help.” Cloudy held Limestone’s hoof as the adolescent mare took a sip of water and sputtered again. Marble stood to the side, never taking her eyes from Limestone.
“What happened?” Pinkie whispered, taking some steps closer. “What’s wrong with Little Limey?”
“Poor girl inhaled a cloud of granite dust just last week,” Nana said. She draped an arm around Pinkie. “Got right in her lungs and stuck there. The little angel can hardly breathe.”
Pinkie raised a hoof to her mouth. She blinked rapidly as warmth flooded to her eyes. “Is she gonna be okay?”
“Course she is,” Igneous said. He smiled as Limestone’s coughing fit finally died down. “The doctor said it’ll clear out of her system in three weeks at most, but I bet she’ll be back on her hooves in just a few more days. Pies are tough, and you’re the toughest of all, aren’t ya, Limestone?” Limestone gave a faint smile. She looked at Pinkie, and her smile got just a smidge wider. Pinkie mirrored it.
“Come on, everypony,” Cloudy said, patting Limestone’s hoof and letting it slide back to the mattress. Marble instantly grabbed it again. “Limestone needs her rest.” Igneous gave Limestone a quick peck on the forehead, then turned and followed Cloudy out of the room.
Pinkie trotted forward and wrapped Limestone in a fragile hug. “Feel better soon, Limey. Happy Hearth’s Warming.” From this close, Pinkie could hear the raspy, harsh breaths Limestone was taking. She frowned and pulled away, turning to Marble. “Aren’t you coming downstairs, Marble?”
Marble shook her head sternly. She wrapped both forehooves around Limestone’s and bowed her head into the comforter. Pinkie Pie smiled, gave Marble a quick hug, then turned and stepped out of the room alongside Nana Pinkie. She heard a single, tiny cough as the door closed.
***
Heya, Twilight!
Just got to the farm a few hours ago. It’s been super great seeing all my family again! Mom and dad say hi, and Nana Pinkie wants to know if Princess Celestia got her letter about changing Equestria’s national food to mudstone pancakes. Could you ask her about that?
Turns out it’s not all candy canes and peppermint, though. Little Limestone is sick (she inhaled granite dust and is coughing a lot), but she’s gonna be okay. Probably not in time for Hearth’s Warming, but whatever! She can still have loads of holiday fun from her bed. I even thought about setting up the tree in there, especially since Marble’s in there too. She hasn’t left Limey’s side since I got here.
And to make things even nuttier, Granny Pie can’t make it! Apparently the weatherponies in Vanhoover used the wrong clouds so now she’s snowed in! Just our luck, huh? I’m gonna mail my present off to her at the same time I send this letter to you, and she promises she’ll be here next year. Still kind of a bummer, but I’ll make the most of it! You know me.
Maud’s gonna be here tomorrow! You remember Maud? She looks kinda like me, but different in every way. Anyway, yeah, she’s taking some time off of her rock research trip to visit for the holidays! So even if things haven’t started off super well, there’s still plenty to look forward to. My Hearth’s Warming spirit will not be extinguished!
Your girl in garland,
Pink
Pinkie Pie,
I’m so sorry to hear about Limestone! What timing. I’m glad to hear she’s going to be fine, but it’s still just the worst time to get sick. I know you’ll keep her happy and in the loop as far as Hearth’s Warming stuff goes, but don’t push her too hard, okay? Breathing problems can be really serious.
Of course I remember Maud! Don’t you still have forty pounds of rock candy to get rid of from that whole fiasco? Maybe we could use some of it over Hearth’s Warming as stocking stuffers or just for general sweet-eating. With your permission, obviously. At any rate, tell Maud that we all said hi, and give Limestone our well wishings.
Ponyville’s been crazy this year for Hearth’s Warming. You don’t know what you’re missing! Yesterday there was this weird holly sales
ponyreindeer in town, and today Rainbow and Applejack competed in a competition to see who would take over your role as Chief Decorator this year. My money’s on Rainbow Dash, honestly. Her decorations were incredible.Looking forward to hearing from you again! Keep me updated on everything, and I’ll do the same for you.
Twi
P.S.: I’ll be sure to send a letter to Celestia about that national food inquiry. I’ve never heard of mudstone pancakes, but Spike thinks they sound delicious.
P.P.S.: Sending a royal complaint to the Vanhoover Weather Bureau first chance I get. That’s just ridiculous.
***
The next morning, Pinkie Pie rolled over and yawned in a bed that was three sizes too small for her—her childhood bed. Her eyes fluttered open and she smacked her lips, smiling warmly. She looked at the little bundle of green nestled against her body and said, “Morning, Gummy. Time to get up, sleepygator.”
The bundle of green grew eyes, and Gummy unfurled from Pinkie’s midsection. He stretched his tail and hopped from the bed. Pinkie followed suit, stepping right into her fuzzy slippers. She wandered out of her room and down the hall to Marble and Limestone’s room. She pushed the door open a crack and peeked inside.
Limestone slept in the same spot she’d rested all of yesterday, and Marble was snuggled up with her. Even from the doorway, Pinkie could hear Limestone’s rattling breaths. She smiled a little at the scene and closed the door. She trotted down to the first floor and rounded into the kitchen. She took a seat at the dining table and said, “Morning, Mom. Morning, Dad.”
Igneous peered over his newspaper and smiled at her, quickly returning to his reading. Cloudy looked over from the stove and said, “Good morning, Pinkamena. Sleep well?”
“Like a log counting sheep floating down a river of warm milk and honey!” Pinkie beamed. She looked out the window at the delicate snowfall. The ground was blanketed in powder, fresh from the night. “So I was thinking,” she began, “that once Marble and Limey and Nana wake up—and once Maud gets here—we should all go for a morning sleigh ride! Just like we did when I was a filly.”
Cloudy nearly flipped the pancake right off of the stove. She shoved her glasses up the bridge of her muzzle and said, “That’s a nice gesture, Pinkamena, but—”
“Don’t worry,” Pinkie said, raising a hoof. “I’ve got it all figured out already! We won’t be moving while we’re in the sleigh, so Limey can still lie down and rest like she needs to. And we’ll make sure the sleighponies go extra slow so that it doesn’t get too windy for her to breathe.”
“Again, Pinkamena,” Cloudy said, glancing at Igneous, “that sounds like a splendid idea, but we… well, there’s somethin’ you should know, first.” She stepped over and tapped Igneous on the shoulder. He sighed and set his newspaper down.
“Probably best for ya to read it yourself,” he said, sliding two letters across the table. “Mail came this mornin’. One’s from your friend Princess Twilight, the other’s from your older sister.”
Pinkie gasped. “Maud wrote us a letter?!” She reached into the already-open envelope and yanked out the letter.
Dear family,
I won’t be able to make it home in time for Hearth’s Warming. The trains out of Saddle Arabia are all under maintenance, and they won’t be running until sometime next week. Sorry. Especially to Pinkie. I know how much she wanted all of us to be together. All of my presents for you are enclosed.
Miss you tons,
Maud
By the end of the letter, Pinkie’s mane was drooping. She slid the letter away and sighed. “Shoot,” she muttered. “Shoot.”
A plate of pancakes landed in front of her. She looked up at her mother, who said. “Sorry, Pinkamena. I know this ain’t turning out to be the Hearth’s Warming ya wanted.”
Pinkie squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. When her eyes reopened, she put on her best smile and said, “It’s okay. We still have most of us here, and Maud and Granny are here in spirit! It can still be the bestest Pie family Hearth’s Warming of all time. We’ll just have to work harder to make it happen!” She leaned down and took a big chomp of her pancakes. Her mouth watered as the tastes of chocolate and mudstone overwhelmed her.
Igneous smirked at her. “That’s the girl I raised. Still fightin’ when the chips are down like a real Pie. Now, about that sleigh ride…”
***
Gentle snow tumbled down as two festively dressed sleighponies hooked themselves into their harnesses. The Pie family sat in the sleigh itself, bundled up in winter wear and huddled close together. Cloudy Quartz and Igneous Rock sat off to one side together, Nana Pinkie sat on the other side but farther back, and the three sisters sat in the very back, Limestone huddled beneath a layer of blankets between Marble and Pinkie. Limestone coughed.
“Alright!” called one of the sleighponies. “Who’s ready for the best sleigh ride in all of Equestria?!”
“I am!” Pinkie shouted, waving one hoof high in the air. Marble and Limestone smiled a little.
“Jus’ remember to take it easy,” Igneous said. “Remember, my daughter is ill.”
“You got it, bro,” said the other sleighpony. He flipped his mane out of his eyes. “The coolest, gentlest sleigh ride ever, coming right up!” The sleigh eased forward, and the bells on the sleighponies’ harnesses jingled a quiet chorus. An inkling of a breeze picked up, licking against the ponies’ faces. Pinkie leaned over the edge of the sleigh, smiling at the tracks it left in the snow.
Nana Pinkie looked to the girls and said, “It’s been a long time since we’ve done this, so your nana might just be going crazy—”
“Going?” Cloudy said with a little laugh. Igneous nudged her. They looked at each other and leaned closer together.
“Point taken,” Nana said. “Either way, I seem to remember all of us singing some good ol’ fashioned carols together during these rides. Now since Limey can’t sing at the present, why don’t the rest of us put our voices together to help cheer ‘er up?” Without even waiting for a response, she started tapping a simply rhythm on the wood. She cleared her throat and began, “Rocking, rolling holiday. It’s time to sing and shout…”
Pinkie started bobbing her head and sang, “Snow in the air and no foal with a care. It’s Hearth’s Warming, no doubt!”
Cloudy rolled her eyes and continued, “Everypony dance and play. Put your presents ‘neath the tree…”
Igneous had started tapping his own lap and sang, “Santa Hooves’ll come if you’re good. Oh, just you wait and see.”
As Marble opened her mouth, Limestone broke into a series of violent coughs. She doubled over, muffling her coughs in her blanket. Everypony turned to her, and Igneous shouted, “Stop the sleigh!”
The sleigh lumbered to a halt, and Igneous rushed over and kneeled down in front of Limestone. “How you feelin’, sweetheart?” She looked up at him, her eyes tearing up. She wheezed once, then twice, then fell into a spasm of coughs again.
Cloudy stood up, her expression carved into a frown. “We gotta get her home, Iggy. Get some water an’ medicine in her.” Igneous nodded, and in one motion he heaved Limestone onto his back. He buckled a bit under the weight of the young mare, so Marble stepped up and helped to support her. The three of them and Cloudy Quartz hopped from the sleigh and started back towards their home at a slow canter.
Pinkie watched them go, then turned to Nana Pinkie. They shared a frown, then Nana Pinkie turned to the sleighponies and said, “Thanks anyway, fellers. Sorry it got cut so short.” The two stallions nodded, then Nana climbed out of the sleigh too.
Staring down at her hooves, Pinkie rose and leapt over the edge of the sleigh. Under her breath she sang, “Hearth’s Warming. Hearth’s Warming. The bestest time of year…” She sighed, then galloped to catch up with her parents and sisters.
***
Beaming wide, Pinkie bounded down the hall into her sisters’ room. She had a scarf around her neck, a top hat nestled in her mane, and a few lumps of coal tangled in her tail. She bounced on the spot and turned her expression on Marble, who was sitting by Limestone’s bedside and stroking her hoof. “Heya, Marble,” Pinkie said, keeping her voice low. “I just got the funnest idea ever. We should totally go out and build a snowpony. I’ve got everything ready, and the snow is just the perfect level of not-too-sticky-but-just-sticky-enough-to-sticky-together. Limey can come out and watch from the porch swing if she wants. So?”
Marble simply frowned at her. She shook her head and turned back to Limestone. Pinkie stopped bouncing, but her smile didn’t fade. “Okay, I understand.” She turned and left the room. “Next time, though!”
Pinkie hopped down the stairs three at a time. Once she reached the bottom of the stairs, she rounded the corner into the kitchen. Her mom was mixing a bowl of batter at the counter, and her dad was rifling through some papers at the table. Pinkie stepped up next to her mom and said, “Hiya, mom! Whatcha doin’?”
Cloudy laughed a little. “Just a little bakin’, Pinkamena. Surely it won’t be as good as yours, but it’s a mother’s sworn duty to bake something at Hearth’s Warming.”
“Mmm…” A bit of drool seeped from between Pinkie’s lips. “Need any help?”
“It’s more of a one-pony job unfortunately, sugar pie.”
“Dokie okie lokie,” Pinkie said. “Do you wanna help me build a snowpony when you’re finished? It’ll be quick, and absolutely snoweriffic! Remember how you used to help us get the broom-tail in as fillies? I always though it went in at the wrong end, like a big bushy unicorn horn!”
Cloudy chuckled. She set down her whisk and said, “Temptin’ offer, but I’ll have to pass this time. It’ll be too cold and too dark by time I’m done here. Maybe ask your father.”
Pinkie shrugged. Turning around, she bounced over to her dad and said, “Heyo, daddy-o! Wanna help me—”
“Sorry, Pinkamena,” Igneous inserted, his eyes never leaving his papers. “Still got one big order left to close for the year. Pony in the Crystal Empire needs eight hundred lumps o’ coal. No time to go out and play right now.”
“Oh,” Pinkie said. “Okay. Maybe tomorrow.” She turned tail and trotted over into the living room. Nana Pinkie rocked back and forth in her rocking chair, crochet hooks in her hooves and a slate-scented candle at her side. “Nana?” Pinkie said. “Any chance you wanna build a snowpony with me? The weather’s not getting any more perfect!”
Nana Pinkie looked at her through tired eyes. “Sorry, Pinkie. These old bones built their last snowpony long ago. You remember my old saying, don’tcha? Nopony’s too old for a snowpony—”
“—except when they are,” Pinkie finished. “Yeah, okay.”
Nana frowned. “I could still sit out on the porch if ya want. Watch you an’ Marble build one.”
Pinkie shook her head slowly. “No, you stay in here where it’s nice and toasty-woasty. I’ll just… go ask Gummy.” With her head hung, Pinkie slumped back up the stairs and into her bedroom. She looked up and gave a little smile to the scaly ball on her pillow. “Guess it’s just you and me, Gummy. Come on. I’ll even let you put the hat on!”
Gummy looked at her and blinked slowly.
Pinkie’s expression puzzled. “Seriously? Not even you?!” Pinkie scuffed a hoof and sighed. “I know you’re right, though. It’s too cold out for a baby alligator, especially when his mommy forgot to pack the warm booties.” Pinkie grabbed the broom that was resting on her bed, then she left the room. The broom handle scraped against the wall as she made her way to the front door.
***
Pinkie hummed and hawed as she looked her snowpony over. It had two pieces of coal in its ears and a broom sticking out of its forehead. The scarf was wrapped around its face like a blindfold, and the top hat was perched delicately on its rear end. Pinkie smiled and nodded. “You, Mister Snowpony, are the most perfect snowpony in all the land!”
“Why thank you, Miss Pie!” the snowpony said in a voice that sounded strangely like Pinkie speaking out the corner of her mouth. “‘Twas a pleasure being built by you this eve.”
“Aw, shucks,” Pinkie said, her cheeks going even rosier. “You would’ve been a lot better and more fun to build if I’d gotten one of my sisters to help! They’re snowpony-builder supremes. Best on the farm!”
“Oh, what a shame! Is that perchance one of them staring at us from the window up there? I wish to extend my sincerest platitudes to one of the Great Ones.”
“Huh?” Pinkie quirked an eyebrow and turned her gaze on one of the second floor windows. Limestone’s face sat in the window. She was smiling, and when she saw Pinkie meet her stare, she waved a blanketed hoof to her. Pinkie blinked, then waved back with a smile of her own. Then Limestone coughed, and she descended from the window.
“Oh, heavens!” the snowpony said, one of its coals falling from its ears. “Has the Great Limestone, Goddess of Snowponydom, fallen ill? I shall cast a plague on the house of whosoever cast a plague on hers! Mark my words, Mistress Pinkie.”
Pinkie’s eyes shot wide. “No, no, no, Mister Snowpony. No need for anything like that. Plagues are icky and awful and smell like asparagus. What Limestone has is—”
“Pinkamena Diane Pie!” Cloudy called from the doorstep. “Dinner’s ready! Come and eat before you catch cold!”
“Coming!” Pinkie called. She faced the snowpony and bowed. “See ya, Mister Snowpony. Don’t wait up.” She charged back to the house.
“Adieu, Miss Pie. May these biting gales never topple me.” The biting gales toppled the top hat.
***
A fire crackled in the fireplace, filling the living room with the warm glow of winter salvation. Nana Pinkie and Cloudy Quartz sat in the rocking chairs nearest the flames, and Igneous Rock sat in an armchair by the wall. The three sisters were huddled together on the sofa, Limestone resting her head on Marble’s lap. Everypony had a mug of steaming cider either in their hooves or on an end table—the room was bathed in the scents of cinnamon and sediment. Igneous had a storybook in his hooves, and he flipped to the first page.
He cleared his throat, took a sip of cider, and began reading. “‘Twas one Hearth’s Warming Eve, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung on the mantle, by name, in the hopes that they soon would be stuffed, and not same. The foals were asleep, and the parents were about to put down their drinks, and call it lights out. So—”
Limestone coughed a few times: quiet ones, just enough to draw attention. Cloudy frowned at her and said, “You okay, Limestone, darlin’? You wanna stay up and listen?” Limestone nodded. She reached over and took a small sip of cider. When she put the mug back down, she smiled at her mother, then at her father.
Igneous smiled back at her. He looked at the page and continued, “So up went the stallion, and then went the mare. They rested their—”
Again, Limestone coughed. Harsher this time, hacking and spitting and clenching her eyes firmly shut. Pinkie reached over and stroked her mane. “Come on, Limey. This is your favourite story! Try your absolute, very bestest to get through it. Toughest Pie, remember?” Between coughs, Limestone smiled at Pinkie.
“I think I should take her up to bed, Iggy.” Cloudy stood up and trotted over to the couch, helping Limestone to her hooves. Marble got up too, supporting Limestone as Cloudy walked her over to the stairs. “Come on, angel. You’ve had a long day.”
Pinkie watched them disappear up the stairs, and she sank into the couch with a frown. Nana Pinkie’s mouth went askew, then she turned to Igneous and said, “Well, no reason we can’t still finish our story. Isn’t that right, Igneous?”
Igneous was watching Pinkie with a frown of his own. He blinked out of his stupor and said, “Of course! We all still love it, yeah? So, as I was sayin’—”
“Iggy!” Cloudy bellowed from upstairs. “Could ya give me a hoof up here real quick?”
With a sigh, Igneous flipped the storybook shut. “Sounds like tomorrow night might be the better one for this.” He stood and nodded to Pinkie. “Night, Pinkamena.”
“Night, Dad,” she mumbled.
Once Igneous had gone upstairs, Nana and Pinkie sat alone for a few solemn minutes, listening to the flames pop and hiss. Neither of them touched their drinks. Eventually, Nana Pinkie made to get up. “How’s about I finish the story, Pinkie? Just for the two of us. Special Nana and Pinkie time!”
Pinkie slowly shook her head and got up. “No thanks, Nana. I think I just wanna go to bed.” She dragged her hooves on the way out of the living room and up the stairs. “Night, Nana.”
“Good night, Pinkie,” Nana said. “Sleep well.”
***
Twilight,
I’d love to report that us Pies are having the best Hearth’s Warming ever. I wanna say that everything’s gone as right as right can go, and that even when things got nasty we stuck together and stayed happy. I wanna say that I’m having the time of my life celebrating with my family.
I wanna say those things. But I can’t. Because they’re not true.
I’m really trying, Twi. Honest I am! But any fun holiday thingamajig I get excited for turns out to be a bust. Sleigh riding? Bust. Singing songs? Bust. Snowponies? Bust. Storytime? Bust. Even Maud was a bust! She sent us a letter saying she couldn’t come because of the stupid trains in Saddle Arabia. Can you write them a royal complaint too?
It’s not even really that I’m sad or angry or anything. How could I be? I’m spending Hearth’s Warming with the ponies that mean the most to me in the whole wide world. But at the same time, it’s just not what I was hoping for. I wanted things to be like old times. Not like this.
I hope things in Ponyville are going better. Hopefully no one inhaled any granite, and hopefully no snowponies are casting plagues on anypony’s houses (that might be my fault). Oh, and feel free to use that rock candy for whatever. I was just gonna eat it anyway.
Yours in yuletide,
Pink
Pinkie Pie,
Are you sure this letter is written by you? Because this doesn’t sound like the Pinkie I know at all. Where’s that go-getter attitude? Where’s that contagious love and spirit? Where’s the pony who can make me laugh no matter how bad things get?
Focus on that one thing you said in your letter, Pinkie. You’re spending Hearth’s Warming with the ponies you love more than anything else in the world. That’s special. Not everypony gets to do that. Even when the going gets tough, at least you can tough it out with your family by your side. Bounce back, Pinkie! Bounce back like only you can, and bounce your whole family with you. Forget about any preconceived notions of what you wanted this Hearth’s Warming to be and just make it yours. A real Pie family Hearth’s Warming.
Sorry to hear about Maud, but at least she’s with you in spirit! I can send a letter to the Saddle Arabian Railway Offices, but I doubt they’d care. My title doesn’t mean much there, and they probably have enough complaints as is.
As for Ponyville, things could be worse. Don’t even get me started on what happened at Fluttershy’s house today. That was a doozy if I’ve ever seen one. And thanks for the permission on the rock candy. I told Rainbow Dash that I asked you, and she just went ahead and started eating it without your consent! Glad to know you won’t be mad about it.
Hang in there, Pinkie. Make this holiday count.
Chin up!
TwiP.S.: Princess Celestia says she did get Nana Pinkie’s letter, and the council’s in the process of voting on what the new national food should be. I hear it’s a close race between mudstone pancakes and taffy tarts.
***
When Pinkie Pie finished reading Twilight’s letter the next morning, she hummed and hawed. She sat at the dining table hum-hawing until her hum-hawer was sore, then she kept on hum-hawing some more. “Thinkie, Pinkie!” she muttered to herself. “How do you turn this Hearth’s Warming back around?”
Cloudy Quartz looked up from her coffee. “What’s that, Pinkamena?”
“Nothing, Mom,” Pinkie said, rubbing her temples. “Just trying to figure out how to save Hearth’s Warming.”
Despite Cloudy’s frown, Igneous chuckled. “Don’t worry yourself about that one, Pinkamena,” he said, flipping to the next page of his newspaper. “You started making this Hearth’s Warming great the moment ya walked through that door. You’ve done everythin’ short of putting up the tree and hanging the stockings to—”
Suddenly, Pinkie gasped. “That’s it!” she cried, flinging herself across the table and around her dad, crumpling his newspaper in the process. “That’s it that’s it that’s it! Dad, I need to know where the Hearth’s Warming tree is. ASAP.”
It was Igneous’ turn to blink in confusion. “The tree?” he asked.
“Pinkamena, darlin’,” Cloudy said, “today ain’t really the best day to be decorating the tree. Limestone’s likely still tired from yesterday, and she needs time to rest up. Jus’ wait a couple days, alright?”
Pinkie’s smile didn’t falter. “Just trust me, Mom. I promise—Pinkie Promise—that this is gonna be the superest-duperest, honest to goodness most perfect thing to help everypony bounce right back into the holiday spirit! But I’m gonna need the tree, and some cardboard boxes… oh, and tinsel! And maybe holly and mistletoe and garland and papayas and—” She shook her head rapidly. “Focus, Pinkie! First, the tree.” She beamed at her father.
“Uh…” Igneous eyed his wife, and she merely shrugged. “I chopped one down last week. It’s leaning out back.”
The words had barely left his mouth and Pinkie was out the door. She snatched up a woodcutting hatched on her tear around the house. Instantly she found the mighty evergreen in question and wasted no time in lobbing a small section off the tree’s top. She picked up the small piece and scrutinized it from every angle she could find—it looked like a miniature version of a traditional Hearth’s Warming tree. Pinkie nodded curtly and ran back inside with the piece in hoof.
Once back in the house, Pinkie cried a quick, “Thanks, Mom! Thanks, Dad!” as she stormed up the stairs. She slowed to a tiptoe as she neared Marble and Limestone’s bedroom. She eased the door open, careful not to let the door creak too much. Her sisters were still sound asleep on the inside, Marble wrapped lightly around Limestone.
Pinkie snuck her way over to the bedside table. She gingerly pushed Limestone’s glass of water to the side, clearing a space on the table’s middle. With the utmost of care, Pinkie lifted her tiny Hearth’s Warming tree and balanced it on the table. It stood perfectly upright, its branches perky and ready to be decorated.
With a smile and a quick, loving gaze at her sisters, Pinkie left the room. “Step one: complete,” she whispered. “Just you wait, Limey. This really is gonna be the best Hearth’s Warming we’ve had yet.”
***
Just past noon, Limestone finally awoke. Her eyes fluttered a few times, and she let out a few small coughs. When at last she opened her eyes proper, though, she gasped at what she saw in her bedroom.
Garland and tinsel lined the walls and ceiling in an appropriately chaotic manner, covering nearly every inch of the white walls. In one corner of the room was a stack of cardboard boxes with a crudely drawn crayon fireplace roaring and burning. Tiny pins were stuck into the space above the fire—presumable meant to hang stockings. And when Limestone looked to the other side of the room, her eyes went even wider at the great, big, red and green sleigh sat proudly, gleaming in the sun. And directly to her side was a small evergreen tree—one just close enough for her to reach over and touch without leaving her bed.
In addition to everything, all of her family members stood in the midst of the scene. She looked to each of them in turn, taking in their smiles and loving looks. Her eyes finally fell on Pinkie, who was beaming wider than all the rest.
“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Limey!” Pinkie shouted, hopping on the spot. “I know yesterday wasn’t as much fun as we hoped it would be, so I got to thinking—and you know what it’s like when Pinkie’s thinkie gets a thinkie-ing! So I thought, ‘If Limey can’t come out of her bed to have fun this year, then it looks like we have no choice but to bring Hearth’s Warming to her instead!’ So now we can decorate the tree and hang stockings and go sleigh-riding and sing carols and everything, all from the comfort of your room!”
“Isn’t that nice, little Limey?” Nana Pinkie said. “Pinkie set it all up ‘erself, just so we could spend Hearth’s Warming together the way we wanted.”
Limestone looked between all of her family members again, then blinked, then looked at everyone again. Her mouth cracked into a smile, and she sniffled a little as tears started leaking from her eyes. She bent forward and extended both of her forehooves, reaching towards Pinkie. Pinkie stepped forward and leaned into Limestone’s embrace. The young mare sobbed and coughed all at once into Pinkie’s shoulder.
Pinkie simply stroked her back and whispered, “Happy Hearth’s Warming, sis.”
***
The family spent the rest of that day up in that room. The sisters all climbed into the sleigh and laughed as Igneous pretended to pull it. Cloudy brought up fresh cookies and warm cider, and they all talked and laughed and ate together. Nana Pinkie gave the sisters their newly crocheted stockings, and they each got up and hung them on the cardboard mantle. And Pinkie pulled out a big box of ornaments towards the end, passing them to Marble and Limestone so they could decorate the tree. They only got a fraction of the way through the whole box, but the tiny tree shone gorgeously regardless.
As the day dwindled into night, the ponies sang carols. Fast ones and slow ones. Happy ones and solemn ones. Limestone hummed along to them all. She only broke into her coughing fits three times throughout the evening.
It eventually grew late. Nana Pinkie was the first to fall asleep, curled up amid a tangle of tinsel. Igneous and Cloudy went soon after, sleeping beside each other in the sleigh. Finally Marble yawned, and she was out.
Pinkie snuggled up close to Limestone in the bed, careful not to push Marble off the other side. With a yawn of her own, Pinkie swung an arm around Limestone and swayed from side to side. Very quietly, she sang.
The fire of friendship lives in our hearts.
As long as it burns, we cannot drift apart.
Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few.
Laughter and singing will see us through.
We are a circle of pony friends.
A circle of friends we’ll be to the very eeend
Limestone smiled through her yawn, and Pinkie nodded. “Yeah, that’s about how I feel too. I think it’s time for both of us to rest our poofy little heads.” She stood from the bed and stretched her limbs. “Good night, Limey,” she said, trotting to the side of the room. “Happy Hearth’s Warming.”
“Pinkie?” came the tiny, hoarse voice. Pinkie’s ears perked up. She wheeled around and saw Limestone lying sideways, smiling at her. “Thanks,” she said. Her eyes flickered shut, and she joined the world of the dreaming.
Pinkie blinked. A warm smile split her face, and she left the room.
***
Twilight,
You were right. You were so, so right. Gonna go fall asleep with my family now. This might be my last letter, by the way. I wanna spend as much time as I can having the happiest, really bestest Hearth’s Warming ever.
Lots of love
Pink