//------------------------------//
// 4: Intermission 1 
// Story: Snowed in on Hearth's Warming Eve 
// by GoneGuy 
//------------------------------//

	"Spike! Spike! Is the hot cocoa for everypony ready yet?"
"I'm working on it, Twilight!" 
"If it help,s I shan't be needing any hot cocoa." Octavia said to Twilight.
"Nonsense, Octavia! I insist."
"If you say so, dear...."
On the other side of the room, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were looking bored, except for Babs Seed, who seemed to be soaking up every juicy detail of the story. The group had decided to take a quick break and have some snacks before Twilight continued the story. Octavia continued practicing her cello, Applejack was tending to the fireplace, Rarity was gathering blankets for everyone, while Twilight was getting everything organized. Vinyl and Derpy sat with each other, eager to hear the next chapter of the story, while the Crusaders sat playing quietly in the corner (so long as Fluttershy gave them a look every once in a while.)
Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie sat by a seemingly-bored Rainbow Dash, who had been complaining about listening to "a dusty old book" and that they should be reading a Daring Do book right now instead.
It was then that they heard another knock at the door.
"Spike, could you get that?"
"I'm making the hot chocolate, Twilight!"
"Oh, right."
"I'll get it!" Pinkie said, bouncing to the door and thrusting it open, as a familiar pair of ponies stumbled inside by the force of the wind.
"Lyra! Bon Bon! It's great to see you guys! Care to join us?"
"Do we have much of a choice?" Lyra said jokingly.
"It's snowing in waves out there. We could barely make it to the library without freezing."
"What has everypony been doing?"
"We've all been listenin' ta Twilight read us 'A Hearth's Warming Carol."
"Oh! That's my favorite!" Bon Bon said.
"Well, feel free to sit down and listen! We have Sugar Cookies on the table, and Pinkie Pie is getting some marshmallow roasting sticks ready! Spike will be bringing in cups of hot cocoa in a minute!" Twilight said joyfully.
"Here we go! Enough hot cocoa for everypony!" Spike said triumphantly as he entered the main room.
"Uh... Spike. We'll need a few more cups." Twilight said as she began to levitate the book again.
"Ugh!" Spike said as he walked back into the kitchen.
"Now, where was I? Oh, yes."