//------------------------------//
// Days 123 - 124 - The Reason for the Season 
// Story: Winds of the Past 
// by Fantasia 
//------------------------------//

Three Months Later...


Day 123


The snow outside continued to fall heavily, bells and holly strung up around the lampposts and awnings. Golden lights illuminated the misty morning air, and lit candles gave a warm, welcoming feel... lighting up the frost and fog on the windows.

The same festive feel could be said about the local residence, belonging to a certain unicorn and pegasus, standing tall on the far reaches of the city. While the outside spiral body was draped in holly and lights, on the inside however, stood a pine tree in the lower floor of the study, and the sounds of singing ponies filled the air... not singing the traditional Hearth's Warming music.

Twilight suspended a bundle of tinsel within her magic above her head for Rainbow, the pegasus swooping by and taking them snug against her Wonderbolts holiday sweater.

"Yeah, you're awesome!"

"Yeah, I'm awesome!" Rainbow couldn't help but grin as she circled the large pine tree, throwing strand by strand of the tinsel over its branches.

In the center of all the tinsel was a star for the top of the tree, in the shape of Twilight's own star-shaped cutie mark. "Awesome as you want to be!" Rainbow smiled in humor, glancing briefly down at Twilight as her flaps slowed to a hover, Rainbow slowly losing focus on all but the star as her attention returned to it.

She smiled warmly, placing the star carefully on top, before grinning down at Twilight, who wore a festive, star-patterned sweater of her own.

Twilight smiled, taking a piece of tinsel and wrapping it over the withers of Rainbow's neck like a scarf, playfully pulling her down to her level.

Rainbow's hooves touched down, weakening and losing their footing a little, as Twilight leaned forward a bit, granting the pegasus's lips a tender kiss.

She pulled away a moment later, her eyes mostly lidded, leaving Rainbow's face broken out in a rosy blush.

"Jeez, Twi." Rainbow chuckled, looking over her shoulder briefly, back at the tinsel draped loosely around her shoulders.

She smiled sincerely, turning back to face Twilight. "You know... you've gotten better at singing."

Twilight shied away a bit, softly shaking her head. "I-it was just something we made up on the spot, Rainbow."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know, but still." She grinned softly, letting out a laugh under her breath and putting a foreleg around Twilight. With her free left hoof, she took Twilight's right in her own, Twilight's breath catching in her throat. "It was still pret-ty awesome."

Twilight snapped out of it, a coy smile forming on her lips. "Even though I can barely hold a note?"

Rainbow chuckled. "Actually, I... kinda like the voice cracks. They're cute."

"Well don't get too used to them, Rainbow. I fully intend to lose them. And besides," —Twilight's smile turned sly— "your voice cracks are cuter."

Rainbow blinked in surprise.

"Mine...?"





"The place is really starting to come together, thanks to you." Twilight looked over at Rainbow as she lay beside her in a sea of scattered tinsel and decorations. She nudged Rainbow's foreleg. "If it weren't for you, Spike and I would still be working—if even working at all."

Rainbow turned to her, an eyebrow raised. "I take it you guys have never celebrated Hearth's Warming?"

"I did—when I was younger." Twilight sighed, turning her gaze back to the ceiling. "I... didn't know much about it at the time. I only thought of it as a day where I'd get new books, and then spend it with my family. Then I learned the true meaning of the holiday—that Hearth's Warming was about ponies from different creeds coming together—and when I moved away, isolating myself... I just... I guess I never really had a reason to celebrate it because of that— Until now, that is."

Her gaze returned to the mare beside her, her lips briefly sporting a thankful smile before it fell, seeing Rainbow with closed eyes, her chest softly rising up and down.

Her expression quickly became peeved as she sat up and shouted, "Rainbow!"

The pegasus in question jolted up suddenly, tinsel falling from her mane and shoulders. "Wha—? Huh?" She looked around, coming eye to eye with her ticked-looking girlfriend.

Rainbow immediately put on a sheepish smile. "What's up?"

"Did you seriously fall asleep on me?"

The pegasus scratched the back of her head. "Er, well... Maybe I nodded off for like, a second, Twi," she reassured her. "I mean, after all... I practically did do all the work getting that tree in here, and, well..." She looked away, embarrassed. "It was tiring, but..."

Rainbow turned again to look at Twilight with a slight, knowing smile, giving her foreleg a nudge. "Come on, would I ever purposely fall asleep on you?"

"Yes," Twilight answered flatly, not sparing a moment. "You have before, as a matter of fact."

Rainbow's ears fell, and she looked down at her hooves, a little ashamed. "Oh, right."

Twilight fumed, closing her eyes and exhaling a breath through her muzzle, though... her annoyance didn't last much more than a moment or two.

She glanced at Rainbow from the corner of her eye as her eyes opened back up, and giggled.

Rainbow noticed, rolling her eyes before looking away a bit as her own lips formed a curving smile.

A moment passed before Rainbow asked, "So, what about Spike?" Twilight looked at her quizzically.

"I mean, it's just... before I nodded off, you were saying how you never really celebrated this holiday. I'm guessing he never..."

Twilight shook her head softly. "This will be his first," she replied. With a sigh, she added, "At least he's still young enough to appreciate it."

Looking over at Twilight, Rainbow bit her bottom lip before scooting over and putting a warm wing around her shoulders.

"Hey now... Don't be too hard on yourself, Twi," Rainbow said, nuzzling her softly. "We'll give him one this year."

A light smile adorned Twilight's lips at the touch, though lasted only a moment before disappearing as she bit her bottom lip, her uncertainty returning. She shook her head. "It's not just Spike," she replied, pulling away from Rainbow's muzzle and looking back at her. "It's you."

Rainbow's head cocked in confusion. "Me?"

"Yes you!" Twilight exclaimed, then sighed after a moment of silence. "This is your first Hearth's Warming too! Well, sort of anyway... but, I just..." She took one of Rainbow's forehooves in her own, holding it against her chest, surprising the pegasus at the same time. "I just really want to make it as memorable for you as it'll be for him."

Rainbow blinked as Twilight let go of her hoof. She broke out into a weak grin. "Which is why you made me do all the heavy lifting."

Twilight rolled her eyes, returning the smile.

A flick of her ear brought Rainbow back to reality, picking up the faint sound of somepony's footsteps. She turned to see Spike slowly walking out from behind the tree from the stairwell.

"And speaking of..." She hopped to her hooves, her wings then lifting them off the ground as she turned and glided over to the young dragon.

Twilight sighed, looking back ahead as she got to her hooves, putting on a small smile at the memory of Rainbow's words before walking over herself.

Rainbow stopped just short of the awe-stricken drake, whose attention was focused on the mammoth tree, draped in decoration. She couldn't help but smile at his reaction as she touched down with her hooves, her wings folding by her sides.

"Hiya, Spike."

Spike's attention slowly tore itself away from the tree, turning to greet his friend.

"Um... h-hey, Rainbow." Peering past her, he added, "Hey, Twilight. I uh..." Spike trailed off, cuing Rainbow to crack a small grin, throwing a foreleg around Twilight and pulling her close as she walked up beside her.

"It's okay, Spike," Rainbow said, placing a hoof over her own upper chest. "You don't have to say a word. We're amazing, we know."

Twilight shot her a brief, unamused look.

"Rainbow..." she murmured in annoyance.

Spike turned away, turning curiously back to the festive display. "What is all this?"

Rainbow blinked, looking between him and Twilight. "What do you mean, "What is all this?" It's—"

"It's Hearth's Warming, Spike," Twilight explained, stepping forward, out from under Rainbow's hoof. "Come on, I know you've seen the decorations before whenever we'd walk around the city together—"

"Your head in the pages of a book," Spike quipped. "On the way to the student supply store."

Rainbow snickered slightly, rejoining Twilight at her side, and not without triggering another fuming glare from her girlfriend.

"I realize I never gave much attention to it before, but... now I've got other priorities." She smiled softly down at Spike.

Spike cracked a small smile in return, as he returned to their prior conversation. "Well, sure, I've... I've seen it, but... you know; never... in here," —Spike pointed out to the tree with his claws— "like..." Spike looked back at Twilight and Rainbow as the two stood together, his voice growing softer. "Like this."

"So... you're saying you don't want any presents?" Rainbow teased, earning a light jab in the side from Twilight.

"I-I never said that," Spike replied, then shrugged. "It's just nice though, I guess. I mean, not just being able to celebrate this holiday for the first time... but also having the feeling of a family to spend it with."

Twilight silently gasped, feeling herself overcome right then, hit with a sudden wave of emotion. A hoof of hers covering her mouth, her eyes began glistening a bit at Spike's confession.

She wasted no time leaning down to Spike's level, taking him in her hooves.

Rainbow only found herself able to look away as she scratched the back of her head, overcome with emotion as well.

A weird mix of surprise and embarrassment.

She raised a hoof off the ground, and was about to step away, when a sudden jolt of Twilight's magic yanked her into the group's embrace—Twilight parting a hoof from Spike's back to make room, and wrapping it as far around the pegasus as she could.

Rainbow silently gulped as she was pulled in, her pupils darting back and forth between the two, feeling utterly rigid—unsure of what to do.

Family, she supposed, looking between them as a small, warm smile adorned her lips. Her wings spread open, rustling a little as they folded around each of her friends. I guess we kind of are... in a weird sort of way.

All of a sudden Twilight's eyes snapped open. "Oh, I just remembered!" Excited, Twilight pulled away from the two and ran over to a bookshelf on the far left of the room, grabbing a reference guide off the shelf entitled, Snowed Out: 101 Ways to Turn a Snow Day Into a Fun Day.

Rainbow pretended to gag just as Twilight's eyes fell back upon the cover, Spike silently snickering at Rainbow's reaction.

"It's from the same author of: Slumber 101: All You've Ever Wanted to Know About Slumber Parties But Were Afraid to Ask; and like Slumber 101, I've been dying to try it now that I have some actual friends."

She looked back up from the cover to see, bewilderingly, her two friends averting their eyes hesitantly.

Rainbow was the first to meet her questioning stare. "No offense, Twi," she began to explain. "I mean, I think I speak for both of us when I say that playing around in the snow sounds awesome! Like, having a snowball fight, or shredding through the snow on a sled sounds amazing and all, but..."

Twilight continued to stare at her. "But...?"

"Those books of yours sound totally, and utterly lame. I mean, the titles are the worst part, and, come on... Do you really need a book to tell you what your heart already knows? I mean, I still have amnesia, and even I know what to do when there's snow outside."

"Hmph." Twilight turned away with a huff. "Well excuse me for wanting to make sure our winter activities went off without a hitch."

"Rainbow..." Spike looked up at her. "You know how Twilight is..."

"I know how she is, Spike," Rainbow whispered back; "but that doesn't change the fact—"

"Fine. We'll try it your way then, Rainbow," Twilight said, turning back towards them.

The two looked up at her, Rainbow following up with a befuddled, "Huh?"

"Forget the book. We'll just wing it, and do whatever feels right." Twilight cocked her head a bit, smiling all the while. "You mentioned a snowball fight?"

Rainbow blinked, a small grin steadily parting her lips. "I, uh... Yeah!" she exclaimed, doing a sudden hoof pump. "You are so on, Twi! Me and Spike—"

"Spike and I," Twilight interjected.

"Spike's with me, Twilight, sheesh." Rainbow rolled her eyes, her grin then returning. "Anyway... we are so going to win!"





"Note to self: never challenge a unicorn to a snowball fight ever again."

Rainbow remained crouched beside Spike, both their backs slouched against a makeshift mound of snow that just barely covered them.

A snowball whizzed past overhead, nicking a couple hairs atop her mane.

Rainbow gulped, slouching down even further.

"You were right, Rainbow!" she heard Twilight yell out from beyond their snow mound. The unicorn let out a joyous laugh. "This is fun!"

The unicorn held a cluster of snowballs suspended beside her, leisurely pulling them out one after the other, before preceding to target the two of them.

Rainbow and Spike nearly jumped as they felt the heavy thud of snowballs continue to pelt their snow fort, slowly wearing away at it.

"Aw man," Rainbow berated herself, biting her bottom lip, clenching her hooves. "Think think think..." Her eyes widened as she felt Spike's claw lightly shaking her own foreleg.

"Come on, Rainbow; Twilight may have the magic, but you have the agility."

"I know, Spike, but what's the point if we don't have an... an opening..." Rainbow blinked, staring down at Spike in slow realization. "You're a dragon! Dragons breath fire..."

"Rainbow—?" Rainbow wrapped a foreleg around him, pulling him up against her chest, her other hoof taking a hold of his tail. "What're you—?"

A determined smile adorned Rainbow's lips, leaning up and spinning around, giving Spike's tail a tug. Burning green flames spat out over the snow mound, melting any and all incoming snowballs into puddles of water that fell harmlessly into the snow.

Twilight blinked, her lips parting slightly in brief astonishment, the smile she wore slowly disappearing from her face.

Rainbow smirked at her from behind Spike, who softly caught his breath. "Don't... ever... do that again."

"Heh... sorry, Spike." She smiled, hoisting him onto her back. "I'll just trust you to watch my back then. Now—" She pressed into the snowy ground with all four hooves. "—Hold on tight."

Rainbow rocketed into the clouds above, sparking an outstretching wave of snow. Twilight's eyes widened before quickly squeezing shut, her body tensing up, bracing for the initial impact.

Twilight lost her footing and stumbled back a bit as some of the snow hit her square in the face.

Rainbow zoomed past the ends of the cloud coverage, Spike holding on tightly around her neck as her foreleg cut through some of the clouds. It withdrew, drawing out a bundle of snow that she brought close to her chest.

She slowed, the whipping wind around them decreasing. Spike peered over Rainbow's shoulder to see her shaping the snow.

"We needed snowballs, Spike," Rainbow explained, looking back at him with a soft grin. "What better way to get them than from the source."

With that, she dived suddenly, Spike holding on tightly below her neck as she readied and chucked a few right at Twilight.

Twilight shook the snow from her face, wiping the last of it from her eyes with her foreleg and conjuring up a shield, catching them from the corner of her eye.

They splattered against the shield before Twilight wrapped her own magic around them and launched them back at the two.

Rainbow ducked her head beneath the first, swerved out of the way of the second, then came face to face with the third.

Spike leaned up over her head just as she shouted, "Spike!"

Spike melted the last one is his dragon breath, the leftover water splashing their faces.

The two shook the water from their faces, Rainbow looking above her, bearing a thankful smile. "Nice save, Spike."

"No problem—" Spike replied before being cut off. "Whoa!"

Rainbow took off again, diving as more snowballs began flying. She circled around Twilight, throwing a few of hers in return—Twilight catching them from every angle with a smile, and drawing up a domed shield around her when she couldn't make the catch. The snow plopped against the barrier, making it tougher for her to see.

So she dismissed it, continuing the curtain of fire as Rainbow dodged and weaved through it all, cutting fiercely through the air.

None of the maneuvers being particularly kind on Spike's stomach.

Twilight lost sight of Rainbow  as she flew high above the clouds, setting hoof somewhere around the center of them. "Let's see Twi try and counter this," Rainbow mused as she jumped before pouncing back down. She jumped a few more times, shaking loose a flurry of snowballs that began raining down on the battleground below.

Looking directly above her, Twilight gasped loudly at the incoming barrage.

"I... I'm guessing you just made it rain snowballs?" Spike asked as he worked on catching his breath.

"Yuhuh," came Rainbow's response, holding back her laughter.

"How did you...?"

"The touch of a pegasus, Spike," she answered proudly, smiling back at him. She bent forward, peeling open some of the cloud layer with her forehooves. "I bet she's completely buried..." Her eyes widened at the sight of a ginormous conjured-up net, holding every one of the snowballs within it.

Twilight trembled under the weight, breathing in sharply and letting out a shaken breath before flattening out the net, causing the snowballs to fling upwards.

Rainbow gasped, and before Spike could question why, had the wind knocked out of him as Rainbow bolted backwards suddenly into the air.

The snowballs followed suit, shooting through the clouds like bullets through paper.

Rainbow and Spike's heads ducked out of the way of any snowball that came dangerously close to them, Rainbow narrowly steering them through the onslaught.

She slowed to a stop beyond the clouds, the two of them breathing heavily. She looked wearily back at Spike, forcing a small grin.

"At least we made it out without a scratch."

At that, Spike rolled his eyes.

"Now..." Rainbow's eyes fell to the ground far beneath them, spotting the one particular purple speck she had been hoping to find. The snowballs once again began to fall back through the clouds, Twilight expertly catching each and every one, suspending them all around her.

Well over a hundred of them.

Rainbow swallowed hard, feeling her limbs become a little weak at the sight, but she remained firm, glaring down at Twilight.

If she could have read Twilight's mind at that exact moment, she would've sworn that she was thinking, Your move, Rainbow.

"Uh, Rainbow..." Spike began to say. "Maybe we should give u—"

"All or nothing, Spike," Rainbow murmured under her breath before taking off.

"What—?!"

Rainbow shot towards Twilight at a downward angle, Spike almost slipping from her back.

Gutsy, Twilight thought, for a moment smiling in adoration. That's the pegasus I love.

The snowballs began flying at her, and soon it was like flying through a snowstorm. She squinted from the rushing wind as her body acted seemingly on its own, flying down, then up, to the left, to the right, upside down... Her maneuvers were a split-second at a time—they had to be, as sloppy and rushed as they were, if it meant getting within distance of Twilight...

Rainbow's eyes widened as a snowball grazed one of her left wingtips, causing her to falter. She snapped out of it, refocusing her attention. Gotta make it look convincing.

Twilight halted throwing any more, watching as Rainbow began spinning out of control—Spike slipping off her back from three feet up, falling harmlessly, with a momentary scream, into the snow.

Alright, Spike's safe, and now... Rainbow ducked her head as she readied for the initial impact into several feet of snow.

Rainbow slammed head first into the snow, disappearing before Twilight's eyes.

A couple moments passed as Twilight looked around, a little too apprehensive to move.

Cautiously, she took a step forward closer to where Rainbow crashed, then another—the only sound was that of the snow softly crunching with each step.

"Rainbow—?"

"Aiyah!" Rainbow shouted as she burst out from underneath the snow, snowball in her hoof. Twilight gasped and stumbled back a little, drawing up an ethereal shield just as Rainbow's hoof, and the snow, collided with it. She breathed out a momentary sigh of relief before she saw her girlfriend's sly smile. Her eyes grew wide once she noticed Rainbow's left wing about to launch another one at her from her peripheral.

She drew up another wall-like barrier, shielding her right side, and covering her from the blast.

Twilight smiled smugly back at her, when her head cocked to her right out of nowhere, as she felt something icy and cold impact the side of her face. She blinked, drawing her attention to Rainbow's snow-covered tail. She... scooped one up, Twilight began to realize in utter disbelief, and threw it... with her tail...

Twilight snapped out of the thought, lighting up her horn just as the grin on Rainbow's worn-out face started to widen.

"Ha! I... I got you, and you... you're all out... out of..." A shadow loomed over her, causing her to look up, and lose focus of what she was saying. She gulped, before looking back at Twilight... looking more defeated than puzzled. "How did you...?"

"Years of practice, Rainbow. You know that." With a soft laugh, she let go of the neatly-arranged pyramid of snowballs, collapsing Rainbow's forelimbs as she did, burying all but her head in snow.

"Urgh..." Rainbow shook her head—then her coat of the cascading snow that covered her, as she stepped out from the snow pile, Twilight brushing the snow off of her own self, unable to keep herself from smiling at the scene.

Rainbow met Twilight's humored stare. "Technically we did win though."

"Says you."

"Yeah, says me. I mean, I totally nailed you first."

"But I buried you," Twilight pointed out as the two continued to playfully argue. "Doesn't that count towards anything?"

"An A for effort—? H-hey!" Rainbow recoiled, her eyes, for a moment, squinting shut as another snowball plopped against her muzzle.

Reopening them, she stared back at Twilight with a deadpan expression. "Very funny, Twi." Twilight giggled as Rainbow wiped the snow from her face.

"Fine," she said with a sigh. "Then as a consolation prize, you may join the victor in a romantic flight, through the wintry, star-filled night sky, if she so chooses."

Twilight pursed her lips slightly at the thought. "Hm... a tempting offer, but can she guarantee me that we won't crash again for, like... the dozenth time?"

Rainbow's shoulders dropped, her head falling in defeat. "Come on Twi, it's not like I mean to..."

"Okay, on one condition." Rainbow's ears, soon followed by her head, perked right back up again. She looked eagerly back into Twilight's eyes.

"We get to cuddle together afterwards, by the fireplace. Maybe with some nice holiday music in the background, a book or two... some frothy cocoa with lots of mini marshmallows," she added in an afterthought.

A shiver coursed through her body at those words, Rainbow swallowing down a lump in her throat. She chuckled a little sheepishly, salvaging a bit of her bravado. "Guess I really did win."

Twilight rolled her eyes as she smiled as well, giving the pegasus a light, albeit playful shove.

"Hey, Rainbow, there you are!" the two heard call out in their direction, followed with the sound of a few wing flaps.

Rainbow and Twilight turned to see a mare with an opal mane, and even lighter opal coat standing a couple feet away from them, her wings folding at her sides. She wore a deep blue vest, Rainbow recognizing it immediately as what she and the other weather ponies wore.

She believed she'd seen this mare up in the clouds before once or twice before.

"Urgh... What does the weather team want now?" Rainbow asked in dismay. "I mean, can't you guys see I'm hanging out with my friends?" A sudden thought occurred to her, and she craned her head around, only to see nothing. "Spike?" she called out. "Spike!"

"Over here," Spike muffled out, raising a claw into the air from where he lay, face first in the snow. "Just catching my breath."

Rainbow nodded, before turning again to face the stranger.

"Besides, it's the holidays—"

"Which is exactly why we need you more than ever."

"Scrooge," Rainbow murmured, getting a giggle out of Twilight, who quickly covered it once the other pegasus's eyes fell on her.

She looked back at Rainbow. "I don't get it."

Rainbow sighed, a little bit exasperated. "Of course not."

"It's alright Rainbow," Twilight chimed in. "You go take care of it. Spike and l could... I dunno... build a couple of snowponies or something in the meantime."

Rainbow nodded softly, picking up on the slight disappointment in her voice. "I'll be back before you know it, Babe," she assured her, as she leaned in to nuzzle her.

Twilight smiled warmly. "You wouldn't be you if you weren't," she replied, returning the nuzzle as she questioned dryly, "Babe... really, Rainbow?"

Rainbow grinned, kissing Twilight's cheek before finally pulling away.

Her grin faded into a smile, Twilight mirroring her.

Reluctantly, Rainbow turned away from her, letting out a sigh as she flapped her wings and took off into the sky.

The other pegasus from her team joined up beside her, raising an eyebrow as she looked over at her knowingly. "Hanging out with my friends, huh?"

Rainbow looked back innocently. "What? Can't my girlfriend also be my best friend?"





A little wobbly, Spike joined up beside Twilight, whose hoof still lightly touched her cheek. "Urgh... feels like I exhausted every flame in my body... Not to mention the whiplash..."

"That's Rainbow for you," Twilight replied, chuckling softly at the remark.

"Still... flying around with her was kinda fun, and we did win, plus— Why're you holding your cheek?" Spike looked up at her curiously.

Twilight's gaze remained lost in the sky, a goofy smile still present on her face. "No reason, Spike."

No less suspicious, Spike slowly nodded. "So... where is Rainbow?" he asked, looking up as well.

"She has a couple of weather-related duties she needs to take care of," Twilight explained, looking down at him. "So, Spike, how do you feel about building a snowpony?"

Spike met her gaze. "A... snowpony?"

"It'll be a lot of fun, Spike," she replied excitedly. "I can still remember Cadance teaching me how to build one."

"I know how to build one, Twilight," Spike murmured, though it went unnoticed by Twilight, who was already reminiscing on the memory.

"It's simple, Twilight," Cadance told her, sculpting up, at first with her magic, some snow stacks out of the snow beneath them. "You start by building four short stacks of snow that will serve as the hind legs and forelegs. Feel free to use a little magic to help form them, though it's a lot more fun with your hooves."

"Then comes the body," Cadance continued to instruct, first helping Twilight roll up a large chunk of snow, then levitating it up and over, weighing it down atop the arms and legs of the soon-to-be snowpony.

"Add a little snow for the neck, and finally... the head."

Looking away from the unfinished sculpture, the alicorn gazed down at the unicorn filly, leaning over a ball of snow almost as big as herself.

Cadance smiled, taking the filly in her magic and hoisting her up to place the pony's head upon the snowy body.

"Lastly comes the decorating. Coal for eyes, a broom for a tail, a hat... You can always carve ears and a mane out of the head too—"

"What about wings?" Cadance heard Twilight ask.

She looked down at her side where the filly now stood, her interest piqued. "Wings?"

Twilight smiled in response. "For Dash."

"Dash?"

"The name I've given to the pegasus I want to meet someday," she explained. Still, the explanation did little to lessen Cadance's curiosity.

"I thought you weren't looking for love," Cadance pointed out.

"I-I'm not, Cadance!" Twilight huffed, then in one long breath explained, "It's just that, after talking with my brother all those months ago, I haven't been able to get this idea of a "dashing pegasus" off my mind."

"I'm afraid I don't follow."

"My brother once told me there were colts out there who would be interested in me, but... none of them sounded like the pony I wanted to meet. And... it's not like I'm in love with the idea or anything, I just... want to meet a pony like that, if only for curiosity's sake."

"Hm..." Cadance leaned down to the filly's level as she asked, "Well, what does she look like?"

"She looks a lot like Rainbow," Spike remarked as he stood beside Twilight, both standing back a bit to get a better look at their snowpony.

Twilight nodded, a bit of that goofy smile of hers returning. "She does, doesn't she?"

She gazed down at him.

"No worries, Spike," she said. "We can build one of me, and one of you too."





"There, all done."

Rainbow breathed out a sigh of relief as she moved the last cloud into place for the Hearth's Warming wonderland exhibit, having set it for a gentle snowfall. She looked over her shoulder at her partner. "Now can I go?"

"Hm... I suppose so."

"Sweet!" Rainbow made a celebratory hoof pump. "Thank you, Celestia—!"

"But first!"

Rainbow froze, the happiness she felt fleeing from her heart as quickly as it had come. Her shoulders and head fell, Rainbow peering up at the pegasus mare, visibly irritated. "What now?"

"You should really pick your girlfriend up something nice for Hearth's Warming."

A gift? Rainbow blinked, straightening up and staring back at the other mare surprised. Crud! I completely forgot about a gift for Twi, and... Wait... "That's it?" she asked. "No sarcasm, or petty insult about me liking another mare?"

"I'm not a total jerk like a lot of the ponies in this city, or on this team for that matter, Rainbow. I think what you and the egghead have is kinda cute."

"Huh." Rainbow eased up, a smile eventually forming on her lips. "You know, I don't think I've ever gotten your name."

"It's Sprinkle Medley," the pegasus replied, then smiled. "Friends call me April."

"April, huh? I'll be sure to remember that." Rainbow gave a short wave as she turned away, giving her wings a couple flaps. "Well, happy Hearth's Warming, Sprinkle. I gotta go find something awesome for Twilight!"

She took off into the sky, her first stop being the bank to withdraw a little spending money from her and Twilight's shared account—Twilight deciding months ago that it would be easier on the both of them, pooling all their bits in one place.

And it was, Rainbow simply stopping by and depositing any bits she made while on weather duty.

Though it did make it sort of tough for her to tell how much of it she could use to shop with.

Then again, Rainbow figured; if the gifts she picked out were nice enough, she supposed Twilight wouldn't mind.

Not to mention there was that holiday bonus she had received a few days back.

With a satchel of two hundred bits at her side, she hit the streets.

"Now what would a pony like Twi want?" Rainbow wondered aloud. "Of course books would be the obvious choice, but she already has like, all of them!"

She looked around at all the different shops. "Maybe some chocolates or something, but what else—?"

A sudden bright light hit her face, for a second blinding her as she squinted her eyes to shield herself. As they adjusted, she noticed the light had been reflected from off some hanging gemstone earrings, in the display of a jewelry store window.

Specifically, rainbow-colored and sparkling-purple gemstones, among others.

Rainbow's head cocked slightly, brandishing a bemused smile at the sight.

Walking closer, they reminded her of Twilight's own makeshift drop earring that held her feather.

She also remembered that it had been made out of nothing more than bits of copper wire and string.

Rainbow walked inside, turning towards the first salespony she saw, standing behind one of the few, far-stretching glass counters. "Dude, how much for one of those gemstone earrings?" Rainbow asked. "The rainbow, and star-studded ones!"

And on the opposite side of the shop, another voice asked in a much less enthralled tone, "Are you almost done browsing, Cady?"

"Why are you in such a rush, Shining?"

"Um, maybe because I'm a guy in a jewelry store?"

Cadance shook her head, staring around into the counter display case. "It won't be much longer, Shiny; I just want to make sure I decide on the right one—" Her ear perked up, picking up the all too familiar-sounding voice coming from behind her.

"I'd like a silver loop please—and could I get one with each type of gemstone, just like in the display?" Rainbow paused, then looked up at him, her brow furrowing slightly. "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm seriously considering buying."

"Sorry, Miss, forgive my skepticism." He removed the requested stones from beneath the counter with his unicorn magic, and began stringing them together, one on top of the other. "I'm just not used to seeing such... commoners wander in. Much less ones who refer to me as 'Dude'."

"Pssh, please." Rainbow rolled her eyes as a soft grin spread across her face. "I'm no commoner; I'm awesome!"

"Rainbow?"

Rainbow froze for a brief moment at the sound of that familiar voice. Turning toward the source, her face lit up with excitement. "Cadance!"

"Long time no see, Rainbow," the alicorn replied, smiling back at her.

She let out a chuckle, noticing she wasn't the only one wearing a Hearth's Warming sweater.

"Oh wow, this is so awesome!" Rainbow exclaimed. "I have so many things to tell you about me and Twi."

"I take by the sound of your voice that everything went alright?"

Rainbow nodded. "Mm-hm."

"Pardon me, Princess," the salespony cut in. "You know this mare?"

Cadance nodded. "Oh, her and I go way back."

Rainbow glanced back at him, a smug look on her face. "Told you I'm awesome."

"Cadance?" Shining stepped closer. "Who's...?"

"Oh, Shining!" She looked over her shoulder with an excited grin. "Come here; I want you to meet Rainbow."

"Rainbow?" he questioned.

"Rainbow is the mare I met at that summer's end festival. Remember, I sensed a heart that needed mending?"

"Slight mending, mind you. I'm better now. Got all my emotions straightened out and junk."

Shining chuckled at that. "Well Cadance is pretty gifted when it comes to fixing a heart... I take it the two of you are doing a lot better now?"

"We've never been better!" Rainbow exclaimed, turning her attention to the counter top behind her, and the various, sparkling gemstones beneath the glass.

In particular, she pointed down at extras of the type she had requested. "Do you think she'll like them?"

"She—?"

Cadance nudged Shining in the side, shooting him a quick look before looking sweetly back at Rainbow.

"Stars and rainbows?" Cadance noted, standing beside her and looking over the counter top as well, before giving her a reassuring smile. "I think she will."

"Wrap it up then," Rainbow said to the salespony, who was placing on the finishing touches when another thought came to her. "Say, how much does all this cost anyway?"

"It'll be one hundred and seventy five bits."

Rainbow didn't even flinch. "I think this should cover it," she replied, setting her satchel of bits over the glass counter top. Golden bits spilled out over the corner. Shaking it lightly, and emptying it out completely, she took it back into her hooves. "Two hundred bits," she exclaimed. "I'll just take back the extra twenty five," she added with a sheepish smile, sweeping some of the bits back into the satchel.

"You can count them if you want."

He deadpanned in response. "I wouldn't be a very good shop owner if I didn't."

"Sweet!"

Her smile soon disappeared and she raised a hoof to the back of her head as she turned her attention back towards Cadance. "So, um..."

"You said you had so much to tell me?" she asked.

"Only if you don't mind," Rainbow replied.

Shining stepped forward. "Actually, we—"

"Come on, Shiny," Cadance pleaded, looking at him with eyes he couldn't possibly resist. "Let us girls have a few minutes together. We haven't seen each other in months."

"I..." A long moment of silence passed before Shining sighed, giving in. "Alright..."

"Yay! Thank you, Sweetie." He blushed, looking away a little in embarrassment as she nuzzled his cheek. "I'll leave it up to you to pick me out something nice."

She pulled away, turning to face Rainbow. "You know, we did pass a dessert vendor on our way here, selling Hearth's Warming cookies, glazed chocolate cake, funnel cake, Canterlot tree cupcakes... My treat while we talk, if you like."

Rainbow's face lit up for only a moment, before being replaced with a questioning stare. "What's a tree cupcake?"

"A chocolate cupcake with the frosting in the shape of a Hearth's Warming tree, a chocolate star on top."

Rainbow's face lit right back up at again.

"Awesome!"





"And... there."

Twilight smiled proudly at their work. "A rather accurate representation of us, wouldn't you say, Spike?"

"I'll say."

Twilight began to turn away when a particular pony caught her attention, as she walked down the street toward them. "Hey Spike, isn't that your girlfriend?"

Spike turned to see who she was referring to, and immediately got a little flustered. "Moon Dancer is not my girlfriend."

"Hey guys," Moon Dancer waved as she called out to them. "Nice snowponies, and, um... snow-drake."

"Hey, Moon!" Spike greeted, running up to her, and wrapping his arms as far around her as they would reach.

Moon Dancer giggled, returning the hug. "Happy Hearth's Warming, Spike."

She nuzzled his head, before turning her attention to Twilight.

"I, um, was about to do some Hearth's Warming shopping. Wanna join, maybe hang out for a bit?"

Twilight said nothing at first, scuffing her hoof in the snow and gazing into the sky for a certain rainbow. "We were kind of waiting until Rainbow got back, but..." She motioned Moon Dancer to come closer, and once she did, she leaned in to whisper, "Truth of the matter is, I was so wrapped up in decorating that I still need to get my shopping done as well. Don't let Spike know."

Moon Dancer nodded reassuringly as Twilight continued. "I was going to go later today, but..."

"No reason we can't do it now," the red-maned mare supposed, seemingly reading Twilight's mind.

"Exactly," she agreed with a nod. "Better now than later anyway."

A moment passed, Twilight biting her bottom lip before she asked, remaining hushed, "Hey, um... Do you think you could help me come up with gift ideas for Spike? I honestly have no idea what to get him."

Moon Dancer raised an eyebrow, looking back at her a little shocked.

Twilight shied away, gazing down at her hooves. "I know, I know."

"Well... sure," Moon Dancer agreed, after a moment. "I know him well enough."

She spun back around, turning to face Spike with a smile. "Looks like I'll be joining you for the afternoon, Spike."

Spike beamed. "Sweet!"

The three walked into the city, Spike taking the lead as he walked a bit ahead of the two.

Moon Dancer looked over at Twilight, deciding to ask in a whisper, "So... does Spike know?"

Twilight met her curious stare as she looked back at her, genuinely oblivious to what she was asking. "Know what?"

"You know," Moon Dancer persisted. Still, Twilight remained lost. "You and Rainbow..."

"Oh... oh! N-not yet... It might be a little too weird for him, you know? I mean, I can only imagine how he'd react."

"I'm sure he'd be happy for you two."

Twilight bit her lip. "I don't know..."

An awkward silence soon overcame them as they both began searching for something else to talk about.

"It's pretty nice out," Twilight said. "Usually it's so blustery, being so high up in the mountains."

"Uh… huh," Moon Dancer replied.

Twilight looked away, muttering angrily to herself, "Stupid, stupid, stupid..."

Moon Dancer noticed, and was about to say something when her mane irritatingly fell before her right eye. She made a wry face at first, before letting out a huff, brushing it out of the way.

She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you think I need a manecut?"

Twilight snapped out of it, and looked sheepishly back at her. "H-hair troubles?" she surmised.

Moon Dancer nodded. "It falls in front of my eyes sometimes." She shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I'll go back to the style I had when we were fillies."

Twilight blinked, her eyes widening. "When we were... Oh yeah!" She pounded her hoof into her other as the memory came back to her.

The act also startled Spike and Moon Dancer, Spike looking back at her puzzled, and Moon Dancer practically jumping out of her fur.

Twilight looked between the two, before putting on an apologetic grin. "Sorry... I, I just remembered." You were that filly that often sat next to me...

"Heh, yeah, I... kinda let my mane grow out since then... maybe a little too much."

"So... wait," Spike joined in. "You two had the same exact mane style?" He shook his head. "Talk about weird..."

"It wasn't weird, Spike," Twilight and Moon Dancer shot back, almost in sync. The two looked at each other briefly, sharing a laugh.

"It was a very intellectual look," Twilight continued, as the last few giggles left her system.

"And if you wanted the teacher to think you were serious about learning, having a smart, sharp manestyle didn't hurt," Moon Dancer added.

The three walked down the city's bustling street when a certain shop caught the attention of Twilight and Moon Dancer.

The two grinned at one another as they both exclaimed, "The bookstore!"

Twilight's smile disappeared at Moon Dancer's reaction. She cocked her head to the side, her brow lifting slightly in surprise. "You love books too?"

Moon Dancer shrugged, smiling softly back at Twilight. "Some, yes."

She turned around, looking down at Spike. "Race you to the comic section."

Spike smiled up at her coyly. "You are so on."

The two ran ahead, switching to a brisk walk once inside so as not to get in any trouble.

Twilight smiled at the display, shaking her head before walking in herself.

Holly decorated the oak shelves, Hearth's Warming music playing out of the speakers above as Twilight walked through the rows of books, when she picked up Spike and Moon Dancer's voices.

"I didn't take you for much of a comic reader," Twilight remarked, walking up to them.

Moon Dancer looked at her funny. "Are you kidding? They're fun, dark, exciting, adventurous..."

"Yeah, so are regular books," Twilight said.

Moon Dancer rolled her eyes. "Besides, they inspire a lot of my inventions back at the lab—"

Twilight's ears perked right up. "Lab?" she asked, her voice growing more and more excited by the second. "As in laboratory? You have a laboratory?"

"Er, back at the academy, yes..."

"Funny," Twilight thought aloud. "I don't remember a laboratory back when we had to attend. Unless you mean the science lab—?"

"It's a touch more advanced than our old classroom, Twilight. If I recall correctly, your muzzle was too buried in books to notice it existed."

Twilight heard Spike stifling his laughter as he faced a shelf from behind where Moon Dancer stood.

She glared at him flustered, as Moon Dancer continued.

"Princess Celestia allowed me access. At first she was a little hesitant, but she sorta likes that I'm finding a way to combine magic with technology. It is for the safety of Equestria, after all."

Huh, Twilight thought, a little impressed. Magic and technology… for the safety of Equestria… It reminded her of what the princess had said to her all those months ago, the day she had confessed her own feelings for Rainbow—a day she couldn't possibly ever forget.

The princess had said she had hopes that she'd change Equestria someday too.

It made her wonder if the princess had these plans for all her students...

"Well it looks like I misjudged you, Moon Dancer," Twilight replied.

Moon Dancer smiled back at her. Most ponies do.

"I mean, originally I figured you were some weird, overly-friendly vagabond."

Moon Dancer deadpanned, unamused. "Okay, Twilight, okay... I get it."

Twilight shrunk back sheepishly. "Sorry..."

"Well, anyway..." Moon Dancer stepped closer, whispering so that only she could hear, "I'll show you some of the titles Spike would be interested in."





"So we kinda just... spent the day together, walked around." Rainbow scratched the back of her head, shying her gaze away as the two sat with snacks in hoof, on a bench right outside the jewelry shop. "We, uh... held hooves, hugged, I put my wing around her... stuff like that. Then we, um… watched the Wonderbolts show, I took her for a flight... we crashed, then uh... kissed... in the mud."

"Aww," went Cadance, much to Rainbow's embarrassment. "That's very sweet, Rainbow. Even if the two of you were in hoof-deep mud."

"Yeah, well..." Rainbow shied away further, looking down at her hooves as they fiddled with a partially polished off cupcake. "Things have been pretty normal for us since. We've gone on several dates in the past few months, my feather hung from her ear…" She paused, looking at Cadance who was trying to suppress her sudden giggles.

"What's so funny, Princess?"

"Nothing really," she assured. "I... I was just thinking how similar we both sort of are." Rainbow tilted her head, looking up at her puzzled. "I mean, I was once a pegasus like you, lost in an unfamiliar world, not knowing who I was—"

"Whoa whoa whoa," Rainbow interrupted, beseeching her to slow down. "Hold up. You were a pegasus?" she asked. "I thought you were always an alicorn?"

"It's a long story... but yes," Cadance smiled sheepishly; "there was a time when I only had wings."

"Huh," Rainbow quietly thought to herself. "So you can become an alicorn..."

"Like I was saying though... Even despite our rocky beginnings, we both still ended up meeting, and falling in love with two really sweet unicorns, who, at times may both be a little clumsy... and both a little awkward..."

"Both a little nerdy?" Rainbow guessed.

Cadance chuckled at that through closed lips as she held a hoof over them. And from the same family... she thought. What are the odds?

The two slipped into silence for a few moments, focusing on their snacks.

Rainbow was the first to break the silence.

"Hey Cadance? Do you think Twi will ever become an alicorn?" she asked. "Just wondering... I mean, I love her no matter what race she is, but..."

"You can't help but wonder what it'd be like to fly alongside her... rather than with her."

Rainbow barely nodded, staring thoughtfully into space.

"Who knows what the future has in store, Rainbow," Cadance said. "Though... if she did become one, it might take away what the two of you love about each other so much, or the things you can learn about one another—like the ways of looking at things you may never have considered." Cadance sighed, gazing down at the snack in her hooves. "Sometimes I wish I were still a pegasus so I could better appreciate Shining's magic... and so I wouldn't have so many royal obligations, urgh." She leaned into the back of the bench, her shoulders dropping. "Thank Celestia, it's the holiday season."

Rainbow smiled, looking back at her. "You don't happen to raise anything in our solar system as well, do you?"

"No," Cadance replied as she shook her head, letting out a bit of a laugh before she continued. "I just help with meetings, scheduling, town maintenance, disputes, and off the job..." She winked down at Rainbow. "Occasional love emergencies."

Rainbow lightly grinned, rolling her eyes in a playful manner at the last bit.

"Aunt Celestia handles the brunt of it, but ever since… Well, let's just say she's glad I'm there for her, and as exhausting as it is, I'm happy to help her."

Aunt? Rainbow shook her head, moving past the thought. "I know about Luna, Cadance," she said.

A moment of silence passed between them.

"Twilight?" Cadance surmised.

"Twilight."

Cadance sighed. "I guess it's no surprise that she knows, or that she decided to tell you." A couple seconds passed before Cadance then held her hooves at chest level reassuringly. "I-it's okay though! I mean, it is public knowledge, it's just… It's really unsettling, you know?"

"Right," Rainbow agreed. Especially for Hearth's Warming Eve...

"So, um... what are you doing for Hearth's Warming?" Cadance's voice broke through to her.

"Oh, um… Hopefully spending it with Twi and Spike. You?"

"Kicking back, enjoying the snow and festivities, might do a little shopping later when Shining's not around." She looked off down the street, seemingly in thought. "We're supposed to stop by his parents' house later today."

A thought spurred in Rainbow's head at what she said. "I wonder what my parents are doing for Hearth's Warming..."

"Your memories, they... still haven't come back yet, have they?" Cadance asked.

"Some did, during my trip to Ponyville, others haven't." Rainbow chuckled, remembering the things Twilight had said.

"Twi pretty much concluded that I'm so thickheaded and stubborn at times that that's the reason why they haven't come back. I... couldn't tell if she was joking or not, but… it doesn't matter anyway; it's become less of a concern for us. We're more focused on creating new memories, you know? Still... it wouldn't hurt to at least remember my fillyhood..."

"W-well, hey, at least you know you have a family! I'm not even sure where I came from; I mean… I was taken in by a village of friendly earth ponies who found me in the woods. It was because of them that Aunt Celestia even ended up finding me..."

"I... had no idea," Rainbow said. "I guess when you look at it like that, I suppose we both have something to be thankful for this holiday season."





"One hundred seventy-four... one hundred seventy-five. Mister Armor, would you mind letting the young miss know her gift is ready?"

Shining turned to him, and nodded his head. "Sure thing," he said, taking the package in his magic, along with his own wrapped gift, from the counter. He hoped she'd like it, even if what Cadance really loved more than anything about the holiday was the festivities and atmosphere.

"And regarding your payment," the salespony began. "I'm guessing…?"

"The royal account, as per usual," Shining replied, tucking his scarf securely around his neck, before giving a short wave to the stallion. "Happy holidays!" he added, before turning for the exit.

"A happy holidays to you and the missus as well, Sir!"

Shining stepped outside into the cold, spotting the two right away to his left. "Cadence," he greeted, "and, um… Rainbow, right? Here you are."

In a rose aura, he levitated the package into her lap, to which she quickly finished off the remainder of her cupcake before opening up the bag and looking inside.

There inside the small paper bag, was her requested earring, gift-wrapped inside a small rectangular box. "Sweet!" She smiled thankfully at him before rolling the top of the bag up, storing it safety away inside her satchel.

Tossing it over her shoulder, she sat up, and looked over at the two. "I... guess I should be on my way then."

"As should we," Cadance agreed, sitting up and leaping down from the bench. "It was nice seeing you again, Rainbow."

"You too, Cadance." Rainbow lifted a hoof off the ground when Cadance reached out to her, putting a reassuring hoof on her shoulder.

"And Rainbow... always remember that you have friends here in Canterlot who care for you, and who'll always be here for you. If you ever want to talk again, keep an open eye in the streets, or around the castle. Because between you and me," Cadance leaned closer; "I wouldn't mind getting away from it every once in a while," she said in a soft whisper.

Rainbow nodded, smiling understandingly. She waved goodbye before turning and taking off, gliding down the street above the many crowds.





"Consider these my gift to you, Moon Dancer," Twilight said, holding a stack of several books in her aura.

Moon Dancer browsed the titles, reading them all aloud in a rather dry tone. "Classic fiction, and historical non-fiction... Hooray."

"I know, right?" Twilight grinned widely. "You know, these stories probably inspired a lot of the comics you like so much."

"Oh, of course! Like Deadpony Killustrated!"

Twilight blinked in confusion. "Sure?"

The two began walking up to the register without worry of Spike knowing or seeing what she was buying for him, having given him some bits for the arcade across the street.

All of a sudden, Twilight stopped, her wandering eyes catching sight of what looked like a particular book that she'd been meaning to get for months.

"Principles of Magic," she exclaimed, pulling the book from the shelf, and smiling down at the cover. "First edition even! Oh wow... I've been meaning to get myself a copy of this for awhile now..."

Moon Dancer couldn't help but smile in humor at her enthusiasm. "Really?"

"But ever since Rainbow..." Twilight averted her gaze from the cover as her smile fell from her face, briefly biting her inner lip. "I should really be saving my bits..."

Reluctantly, she put the book back just as Moon Dancer spoke up.

"Well, hey... You never know what Santa-pony might bring you."

Twilight shook her head, turning away as she let out a few soft chuckles. "Santa-pony isn't real, Moon Dancer. Everypony knows that."

Moon Dancer rolled her eyes, grumbling as they continued up to the register, "It was a figure of speech..."

Twilight's ear twitched, picking up the sound of wing flaps at the entrance of the store as her books were being checked out.

Her eyes lit up, seeing her girlfriend walk in, body and mane lightly coated with snow. "Rainbow!"

The pegasus grinned softly back at her. "Hey, Twi."

"Honestly, I... I wasn't expecting— I-I mean, I... I thought you'd be back at the tower, or at least on your way there," Twilight confessed, only for Rainbow to softly shake her head.

"I was actually, but something in a certain store window caught my eye, and I couldn't resist. Something beautiful."

Twilight smiled sweetly at her.

A couple of things actually, she supposed in an afterthought, returning the smile.

The scene was contagious, even for Moon Dancer who even still couldn't help but admire the cuteness of their relationship.

"You know..." Twilight looked in humor at her mane... noticing the certain lack of colors that she loved so dearly. "Your mane's completely covered in snow."

"Hm?" Rainbow glanced up, then gave her head a shake, snow flying from her mane. "Better?" she asked, now chuckling at Twilight's snow-spotted face.

"Much." Twilight laughed softly as well, wiping it from her face.

"Oh, hey Moon Dancer," Rainbow greeted, noticing her as well as said mare watched the two.

"Hello, Rainbow," she replied with a half smile.

Rainbow looked around them, noticing somepony was missing. "Where's Spike?" she asked.

"At the arcade," Twilight replied. "I had to send him away for a bit while I cashed out some of his gifts—that's what we've been doing, Moon Dancer and I. We thought we'd check out a few other places as well."

"Well count me in!" Rainbow said. "I've still got some things I wanna pick up."

"A-actually, I'll... stay here a bit longer, if that's alright with you girls," Moon Dancer spoke up, drawing their attention. Twilight in particular, gave her a curious look. "It'll only be for a moment," she assured, "then I'll catch up with you both, or keep Spike company if you'd like."

"I'd appreciate that, Moon Dancer," Twilight said, her expression softening, her lips forming a thankful smile. "Thank you."

Twilight took the paper bags from the counter, floating them beside her and handing one book-filled bag to Moon Dancer.

One filled with the books Twilight had picked out for her.

Moon Dancer smiled softly before raising a hoof in a short wave. "I'll see you soon."

Rainbow and Twilight waved back before turning and exiting the store. Once outside, Twilight leaned closer to Rainbow, giving her cheek a nuzzle.

"I can't wait to see what you got me," she whispered.

Rainbow looked at her funny. "How'd you know what I picked up was for you?"

Twilight giggled, replying, "I didn't."

Rainbow bit her tongue, drawing in a sharp breath as she looked away flustered, Twilight continuing to giggle. "Well you're gonna have to wait until tomorrow, Twi."

Twilight nodded, her body quickly regaining its composure. "Honestly though... I still don't know what to get you."

Rainbow looked back at her girlfriend, seeing her slight, fretful expression, and smiled reassuringly. "You don't have to get me anything, Twi," she said, a small chuckle escaping as she thought about what she was about to say. "I realize that I'm probably gonna sound like a Hearth's Warming song here, but what if all I want... is to be with you and the others."

She then backtracked, adding, "Mostly you though."

Twilight blinked in surprise, appearing taken aback before her expression softened and she smiled warmly. "You're right; you do sound like a Hearth's Warming song. Cheesy, slightly grating, you both get stuck in my head—"

"We both make you smile."

"That you do," Twilight agreed, leaning in to rest her head on the pegasus's shoulder. She lovingly nuzzled the underside of Rainbow's chin, causing the pegasus to swallow hard, her forelimbs weakening. "Mm, now I really can't wait until later. You and me, alone..." A sudden push from Rainbow's side caused Twilight to stumble a bit to the side. Her attention was drawn to Rainbow's wings, unfurled from her sides and now standing tall. Rainbow looked over, smiling sheepishly at her, however going unnoticed by Twilight, who seemed more curious than anything. "Why do your wings keep doing that...?"

Rainbow laughed nervously. "Y-yeah, so, um... about what you were saying..."

"Hm? Oh right!" Twilight tore her attention from Rainbow's wings, and looked Rainbow in the eyes seriously. "Everypony wants something, Rainbow."

Rainbow bit her lip, looking off as she thought over her words. "You're right about that, Twi," she began. "Everypony does want something: a place to live, food, water... love," she added softly. "I... I guess I'm just... one of those ponies, you know? I mean, I don't exactly remember what I like, anyway—besides the Wonderbolts, and I've gotten plenty of their stuff."

Twilight silently thought on what she had said. Still, she pressed on, noting, "You like fiction... specifically Daring Do—and video games... movies..."

"I... Okay," Rainbow gave in. "Maybe I have gained one or two new interests since meeting you."

Twilight scuffed a hoof through the snow, her eyes gazing down as she said, "I don't mean to be so insistent, Rainbow. I just don't want you to feel left out."

Rainbow stepped over, placing both her hooves over her girlfriend's shoulders. Twilight's eyes widened at the touch, her eyes snapping up to meet Rainbow's.

Rainbow smiled reassuringly at her. "I know you don't, Twi, but..." Her hooves reached further down her shoulders, wrapping themselves around her upper back in a hug. "I promise you I won't," she whispered, her head beside Twilight's as she nuzzled the unicorn's cheek against her own. "You're gift enough."

Rainbow pulled back, leaving Twilight weak from the jelly her forelegs were reducing into.





The two spent the next hour going around from toy store to video store and sweets' shop, looking for potential gifts for Spike—for his first Hearth's Warming Celebration.

With three full paper bags floating above Twilight's head, she and Rainbow decided that was enough. "Maybe more than enough for the little guy," Rainbow remarked with a soft laugh.

Twilight shared in it as they continued walking again. Eventually the arcade came into view where they saw Spike and Moon Dancer expectant outside the front doors.

When Spike asked her about them, Twilight clumsily and hastily hid the bags behind her, explaining to him, "This is all just supplies and ingredients for Hearth's Warming, Spike, nothing more."

Spike looked at her wryly. "I know those are presents, Twilight. I mean, it's pretty obvious."

Twilight's face paled. She looked toward Moon Dancer for an explanation only for the unicorn to shrug, no less confused than her.

She shook her head, and began fumbling for an excuse when Spike added, "It's alright though. Just knowing that you did get me gifts this year makes me happy." He paused, grinning playfully. "Even if you did sort of wait until the very last moment."

"To be fair," Rainbow said, in Twilight's defense. "It sounds like we all kinda did."

The group all shared a brief chuckle, Twilight being the first to ask after her laughter started to die down, "So what now?"

Moon Dancer blinked, thinking to herself, They probably want some time together, the three of them... Besides, I... "I actually need to get going," she told them, holding a hoof behind her head. "Sorry... I-it was really nice seeing you all again though, and, um..." She floated a wrapped package over to Twilight, Twilight herself taking a sudden step back in surprise. "This is for you."

"For... me?" Twilight looked down at the square shape, wrapped in Hearth's Warming paper with a snowflake pattern. She smiled graciously, accepting it within her own magic. "Thank you, Moon Dancer."

"No problemo." She smiled as she turned to face Rainbow—Twilight tucking away the gift in one of her bags. "And for you—"

Rainbow looked at her, taken aback. "It.. it's okay, Moon Dancer—"

Moon Dancer cut in before she could say another word. "No no, I insist."

She took out another wrapped package, the size and shape of a medium-sized box, out from her saddle and floated it over.

Rainbow gingerly took it in her hooves, staring down at the package as a soft smile grew. "Jeez, Moon Dancer, I... really don't know what to say except... Thank you."

"Think nothing of it," she assured, lifting her hoof in a goodbye wave as she turned away, looking back at them from over her shoulder. "Hope you guys have a good one! And no opening those before Hearth's Warming Day!" she added in a joking tone before turning ahead and leaving the scene, Spike and the others watching as she walked away.

Rainbow looked back down at the present that she held before safely placing it away in her satchel, Twilight's own attention lingering towards the young dragon.

"I'm surprised you didn't ask her for a gift, Spike," Twilight teased, snapping Spike out of his stupor.

"Oh, w-well," Spike began as he turned back around, "she did kind of treat me to most of the games in there; and not to mention there was that holiday gem parfait she bought for me... Plus, just... being with her... It'd be greedy of me to ask for anything more."

"A gem parfait, Spike?" Rainbow questioned. "Jeez, hope that wasn't too much for her."

"That's the budget of a student, Rainbow," Twilight remarked. "We may not receive as much as weather ponies like yourself do, but... we're given enough to afford something sweet every now and then."

A moment of silence passed between the three, Spike being the first to speak up.

"So..."

"So... How about a holiday movie?" Rainbow suggested.

Twilight's face lit up at the idea.

"Oh, like A Heath's Warming Story? A Hearth's Warming Carol? Perhaps Hearth's Warming Vacation?"

"Neigh Hard?" she again suggested.

Spike formed a fist, bumping Rainbow's own raised hoof.

Twilight looked at the two incredulously. "Seriously?"

Rainbow shrugged. "It's a holiday movie," she justified. "Well, sort of."

"And Spike?" she asked. "Isn't he—?"

"A little young?" Spike surmised. "Come on, Twilight; I just look young."

"Besides," Rainbow spoke up; "I'll be with him. A certified adult."

"Is that what you are," Twilight teased, getting an unamused look out of Rainbow as Spike himself chuckled lightly.

"Well, alright; you two go have fun. I'll meet up with you both later."

"And what will you be doing until then?" Rainbow asked.

"Got a lot of gifts to wrap," Twilight replied, looking over her shoulder at the bags she held. Of course, gift wrapping didn't take that long, unless you were as meticulous a pony as Twilight—a factor both Rainbow and Spike silently supposed, rather than argue against. Even if it was a little disappointing for one of them in particular. "Having the two of you out of the tower provides the perfect opportunity."

Rainbow nodded softly. "Alright..." she said, putting on a smile. "We'll meet up outside the theater in a couple hours. See you then!"

"See you," Twilight said softly in response, watching as they turned and began walking away. She quietly sighed before turning away as well, heading back in the direction of their home.





Shaking the snow from her head, then her coat and hooves, Twilight stepped inside the main floor of the tower. She ran to the upper level, grabbing some scissors and tape from one of the cabinets before turning towards the stairs, this time heading lower.

Twilight passed her old bedroom first—now Spike's—remembering how she gave it to him under the guise that he was a budding young dragon, and could use his own room. It wasn't necessarily a lie, nor was what she had said about her and Rainbow sharing a room because they were both girls.

She trotted inside the room she and Rainbow now shared, smiling briefly at the flower she had given Rainbow all those months ago, still kept pristine as ever on their bedside table.

Hoping up atop their bed, she got to work, setting down her bags before her and taking out rolls of wrapping paper she had picked up. One after another, each gift was expertly wrapped using her unicorn magic, until at last she got to Moon Dancer's.

She gently took it out and set it beside her, continuing on and wrapping the next gift from the bag, when she stopped and bit her inner lip, looking back anxiously at her gift.

Not until Hearth's Warming day, she thought begrudgingly, fighting back every instinct inside of her screaming to just rip it open then and there.

Eventually she laid out the presents by the tree, taking a few steps back to admire the scene.

Spike will love it, she assured herself, a slight, saddened smile adorning her lips. We're finally celebrating Hearth's Warming... and it couldn't be going any better.





The snow was falling a lot lighter by the time she left the tower, the sun just beginning to lower to make way for the encroaching night. I probably still have some time before their movie ends, judging from the position of the sun in the sky, Twilight thought, looking up as she continued on her way to the theater. Maybe I can find someplace to sit around until— A soft, golden light poured out into the snow and onto her face as she passed by a modestly-sized building with its wooden doors wide open.

Twilight blinked, recognizing it as a place of prayer, open usually around the holiday season.

"Eureka..."

She poked her head inside, briefly looking around before stepping inside, noticing some ponies in some of the rows further up.

Wishing not to make a sound, she silently climbed into a row of seats, directly left of where she had walked in.

She breathed out a small sigh, leaning back and closing her eyes for a moment.

"Twilight?" an extremely familiar voice asked, coming from the left of her.

Twilight's eyes snapped, immediately looking to her right where she saw a taller mare, wearing a hooded cloak. A long horn poked out slightly from under the hood, and Twilight could make out certain facial details in the little amounts of light that hit it.

"Princess?!" she exclaimed in an hushed tone, nearly forgetting to keep her voice down.

"Didn't think I'd see you here," Celestia replied, softly smiling in happiness. "Where are your friends?"

"T-the movies," Twilight replied, still a little startled and shocked. She snapped out of it before asking, "What are you doing here?"

"This is one of many places across Equestria constructed in my honor. A place where ponies can come to pray for everything to go okay, to which I can't particularly turn a blind eye." Celestia looked back ahead of her. "Sometimes ponies need something—or somepony—to believe in, and... even if I am just a mare, I'll... listen in on their wishes, and do what I can to help them out."

Twilight's brow furled slightly because to her, the princess seemed mistaken; she wasn't just a mare... she was an immortal goddess—the lone ruler of Equestria in fact! These ponies weren't wrong for thinking that way of her.

"So, why have you decided to stop here?" Celestia asked, her voice bringing her back to reality. "Because I take it you're not in need of guidance or charity this holiday season."

"Oh, um..." Twilight shook her head. "I'm not, I... I mean, everything's been going great, better than I hoped! It's just... to be honest, and I mean no disrespect! This place just looked so... homely, and... well, I couldn't resist resting here a bit and observing while I waited for Spike and Rainbow."

"There's no shame in that, Twilight."

Twilight turned away a bit, smiling shyly. "I... I used to think that basically every pony in this city was a complete jerk, but... it's really amazing how much goodwill the holiday season can bring out in ponies."

Celestia nodded softly. "It's those ponies that I pray everything will work out for."

Twilight blinked, her eyes widening a bit in surprise. "I wasn't aware princesses prayed."

Celestia sighed after a moment, looking away as she seemingly stared off in thought. "What if... what if a pony you care for was worlds away, and you wished her safe return, but that's all you could do... is wish."

"I'd wish pretty hard..." Twilight supposed. "Like I did with Rainbow while she was away in Ponyville."

Another moment passed as she hesitated, then asked, "I... I'm guessing these questions aren't entirely hypothetical?"

"There have been ponies who have left Equestria because of me, Twilight; because I didn't take action when I should have... and because I... wasn't there for them when it was clear they needed me..."

"And this is your way of making up for that?" Twilight asked, looking up at her skeptically. "Everypony makes mistakes, Princess. Rainbow and I know this all too well... But, we also know when to forgive one another, and to forgive ourselves. If those ponies are really your friends, then I'm sure they feel the same, and are wishing for the chance to patch things up as well because... true friendships aren't so easily broken."

"Aren't I supposed to be the one giving advice on friendship?" Celestia asked, smiling lightly in humor. "Looks like the student is surpassing the teacher."

Twilight blushed, and sheepishly shrunk back.

"Unfortunately, they... didn't understand friendship the way you and Rainbow do. It would take harmony for them to change..." She looked ahead of her, the smile she had worn slowly disappearing from her lips. "So I wish them well until then... wherever they are."

Twilight nodded. "I do too, even if I never knew them personally like you did... if they were once your friends though, then they can't be all bad. Hay, I don't think I'd mind meeting them someday."

"So what are your plans for the remainder of the evening?" Celestia asked, a couple moments passing in comfortable silence.

"Hopefully a late night dinner at Joe's, maybe some sledding afterwards... Not to mention Rainbow wants to take me flying," Twilight replied. And I'm not particularly against it, she thought in addition, smiling softly.

She gazed up at Celestia. "What about you, Princess?"

Celestia looked down at her sheepishly. "I have a date."

"Wow, I... I had no idea you were seeing anypony." Or that anypony was allowed to in that way, she thought. "Whoever it is must be pretty special."

Celestia nodded, sitting up. "I suppose I should be getting ready for it." She placed a gentle hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "You should go see your other friends, Twilight. I'm sure they're waiting for you."

"How long's it been, anyway?" Twilight wondered briefly before agreeing with her. "You're probably right, Princess. I should be going—"

Twilight was cut short when a bright and warming light hit the circular stained-glass mirror opposite them, flooding the already golden-lit room in reds and oranges.

Twilight's eyes sparkled at the array of warm colors. She tuned and looked with appreciation toward Celestia. "The sunset's beautiful, Princess."

"...Yes," Celestia agreed with a solemn nod. "It... sure is."





"There you are, Twilight!" Rainbow said, their faces lighting up once they saw her come into view.

She waved back at them as the two ran up to her. "Hope I didn't keep you two waiting too long."

"Eh, only a couple minutes or so," Spike replied, dismissing her worries with a claw.

"So... what did you think of it—?"

"Man, do we have so much to talk about!" Rainbow cut in. "Long story short though, it was awesome!"

Twilight chuckled. "Good to hear. I'm pretty curious to hear how, if all, it differed from the book."

Rainbow blinked in surprise. "There's a book?"

"Mhm." She nodded as she turned halfway, about to walk ahead. "Why don't we talk about it—perhaps over a nice meal at Pony Joe's?"

Twilight took several steps forward when she got the feeling she was walking alone. Sure enough, looking over her shoulder, she noticed that the two of them hadn't moved from their spots, and that they were suspiciously averting their eyes away from her.

"Come on—" She rolled her eyes, smiling back at them. "Don't tell me the two of you ate too much popcorn."

Spike and Rainbow exchanged guilty looks.

"Urgh, really?"

The two smiled sheepishly back at her.





"Whew!" Twilight exclaimed as the sled the three of them shared slowly spun to an abrupt stop, slamming a little roughly into a snowbank... the snow tumbling over on them.

After a quick meal at Joe's—Twilight being the only one to actually order anything—she and the others headed a short way up Canterlot mountain near their tower home.

If there was one thing that was nice about living on a mountain, Twilight supposed, it was the perfect terrain to experience her first ever time sledding.

And right then, she couldn't have been more thankful.

"What a rush, huh guys?" Twilight asked as she shook the snow from her own head, then the rest of her body as she stood up.

Rainbow and Spike followed suit, Rainbow remarking, "I didn't think you'd enjoy that so much."

"I didn't either," Twilight replied. "But... wow!"

"I wouldn't mind going again, but man," —Spike yawned, shaking his head— "I don't think I can keep my eyes open much longer..."

Twilight smiled at him. "Why don't you turn in for the night, Spike," she suggested. "You've already had an eventful day, and besides... you want to be well-rested for tomorrow, don't you?"

"I guess you're right." Spike lifted a claw in a hasty wave as he turned for the outer stairwell. "Goodnight, Guys. See you in the morning!"

Once he was inside, Twilight turned to face Rainbow, Rainbow meeting her gaze. She stepped closer, throwing her hooves over Rainbow's shoulder, tenderly caressing the back of her neck.

Rainbow's forelegs, in response, wrapped securely around the unicorn's lower back, understanding, without either saying a word, what Twilight was asking.

Twilight's head nestled itself in the snug spot between Rainbow's shoulder and neck, nuzzling the spot softly... hairs from the unicorn's mane tickling her jaw and causing her own forelegs to weaken.

So she resorted to her wings, lifting off into the night sky as snow continued to fall around them.

No strong gusts of wind, or chills to make it unpleasant for them. Only the gentle snowfall surrounding them as they glided through the air.

Rainbow shifted onto her back, Twilight's head resting right between her shoulder and neck.

She caught Twilight's expression from the corner of her eye, seemingly mewling over... something.

"A bit for your thoughts?"

"I ran into Princess Celestia earlier," Twilight confessed. "She told me about the friends she's lost."

"Yeah," Rainbow smiled, holding back a snicker. "That's not weird or anything."

"There's more to it, Rainbow, and—" Twilight let out a small groan in frustration. "You'd had to have been there."

"Okay, okay. So... why are you bringing this up?"

"Because I don't want to lose you, Rainbow." Twilight confessed, Rainbow all of a sudden finding herself at a loss for words. "Tell me I'm never going to lose you."

Twilight... Rainbow smiled softly in understanding, bringing a hoof to her cheek. "You're the only one who could ever tear us apart, Twi; and hay, even if you did try and get rid of me, I think I'd still persist. I mean, it's like I said when we first became... um, official friends. You can't get rid of me that easily."

Twilight's expression softened, placing one of her hooves over Rainbow's own.

She chuckled, smiling warmly back at her. "You're freakishly loyal... you know that?"

"I have good reason to be," Rainbow replied.

And for that, Twilight nuzzled her lovingly.

The soft, golden glow in the far off distance caught their attention. Rainbow's ears folded against her head, waiting a moment before asking Twilight, "What do think it's like over there? A Hearth's Warming in Ponyville?"

"Unique, for one," Twilight supposed. "But not so different than ours either." She lifted her head slightly, enough to look at Rainbow in question. "Why do you ask?"

Rainbow shrugged, slightly averting her eyes. "Just thinking about what I might be missing out on."

Twilight smiled softly in understanding, setting her head back down between the crevice of Rainbow's neck and shoulder. "We can pay a visit, you and me, if you're really curious."

Rainbow let out a weak chuckle. "Nah... I'd only make it awkward for them," she said, looking back upon Twilight. "Besides, Hearth's Warming wouldn't be the same for you and Spike without me, would it?"

Twilight's head nestled further into her mare's shoulder. "It wouldn't be as awesome," she murmured.

With a free hoof, Rainbow pushed open the lowest tower window, softly kicking it shut as she flew in through. She gently flew to their left, passing the stairs and entering their reading den where she came to a midair stop right before the fireplace.

"Your stop, Madam," Rainbow said in a playful sort of voice, eliciting a smile and a soft giggle out of the unicorn her hooves were encircled around.

Twilight's hooves touched down, instantly a little warmer being so close to the fire.

She lied down before the fireplace, Rainbow laying next to her, with her wing over the unicorn's body. Her wing ran down her back, then repeated the notion as they lay there.

Twilight sighed in blissful contentment at the touch, the soft, cute sound lifting Rainbow's own heart and bringing a foolish smile to her lips.

Eventually the fiery glow and warmth of the fireplace, Twilight began to doze off, her head resting against one of the few throw pillows. No less tired, Rainbow rubbed her eyes before grabbing a pillow herself. She scooted closer and snuggled up beside her, her forelegs serving the sleeping unicorn as a warm blanket, and her right wing—laid out over her as well, embracing her—serving as a comforter for her.

Even knowing they were near a sizzling fire didn't stop Rainbow from making sure Twilight was extra warm.

Can't have her catching a cold, Rainbow mused as her thoughts began to drift. The night before Hearth's Warming no less...





Hearth's Warming Day


Day 124


"Wake up, guys! Today's the day!"

Rainbow's eyes opened groggily, being the first to awaken to the sound of Spike's voice. "What...?" She sat up, blinking a few times to clear the drowsiness from her eyes. She looked around where Spike stood, noticing that the room was lighter than when they fell asleep. "It's morning already?"

Spike grinned sheepishly, placing a claw over the back of his neck. "Well, no... but it's about time for the sun to rise anyway!" he exclaimed, then looked at her questioningly. "Did you two seriously fall asleep down here?"

"Guess the warmth got to us, Spike," Twilight answered before letting out a yawn, sitting up as well. She smiled appreciatively over at Rainbow, before turning to Spike. "Well since we're awake... I guess we can open presents now."

"Really? Awesome!" Unable to hold in his excitement, Spike bolted for the stairs. "Come on, guys!" he shouted back at them, before heading up the stairs.

Rainbow and Twilight shared a small laugh.

"I don't think I've ever seen him so... full of life," Rainbow remarked. "He's changed so much from when I first met him."

"That's because you changed me... and in turn, changed the way I saw him, and the way I treated him."

Rainbow smiled slyly. "And you changed me, and we all changed each other, yada yada."

Twilight gave her a deadpan look as Rainbow simply laughed some more.

"Gee, I wonder why Spike didn't really like you that much back then."

Rainbow's laughter stopped and she looked at Twilight, a little surprised. He... didn't like me...? She shook the thought from her head, giving her shoulders a shrug. "I guess that's not hard to believe, but... whatever. No one really did, and yet... now he looks at me like I'm an older sister or something."

"It's true, Rainbow. I mean, I didn't like you that much at first either, and look at us now!"

"You like me even less now!" Rainbow joked, chuckling as she said it.

Twilight giggled. "Oh I don't know..." She leaned closer. "There are some things I like."

"Oh?"

Twilight smiled softly, nuzzling her girlfriend's cheek. "Thank you for making this possible, Rainbow."

Rainbow beamed. "It looks like your plan for a successful Hearth's Warming really did go off without a hitch, Miss Sparkle."

Twilight nodded, her cheek still lightly pressed against Rainbow's. "I guess so. Hey," she thought suddenly, pulling away. "You know we never had our planned hot chocolate last night. Why don't I make some, for the three of us."

Rainbow smiled brightly.

"Mhm!"





"Flight goggles...?"

Rainbow raised an eyebrow at Moon Dancer's present, as she held it in her hooves. She set them back inside the box, swapping them with the hoof-written note that had come with them.


'Dear Rainbow,

Hope you get good use of this new creation of mine. They might look like ordinary goggles, but these are actually magically-infused with several different field of views, thermal and nighttime vision being just a couple of them.

Not only that, but these will also allow you to diffuse the types of clouds you're working with, whether they're snow, rain or storm, so... I hope they help with your weather duties!

P.S. Or if you're ever just... flying around with Twilight after dark!

Sincerely,

Moon Dancer'


Rainbow gave a small laugh as she finished reading the letter. "Wasn't aware she was so inventive."

"Moon Dancer?" Twilight asked. "Yeah, she works with technology, finding ways to combine it with magic... or something along those lines anyway. I take it she custom made those?"

Rainbow nodded, anxiously looking back down at them. "Yep. Can't way wait to try them out."

"So..." Spike turned to Twilight, bearing a curious expression. "What did Moon get you, Twilight?"

"Guess I'm about to find out." She took the gift in her hooves, ripping the paper down the middle and surprising both Rainbow and Spike.

She tore the rest away, her brow lifting and an excited smile quickly forming on her lips.

"No way," she murmured under her breath. "She actually got me it... Sweet!"

Of course it's a book, Rainbow and Spike both thought, smiling in humor as the unicorn hugged it against her chest.

"Hm?" She noticed something written as she held it at foreleg's length, flipping open the front cover. She wrote something too...


'To my friend, Twilight Sparkle,

Thanks for introducing me to the classics!'


Twilight became a little misty-eyed as she looked back up from the page, and over at Spike with a softened smile.

"Think you could write a 'thank you' letter for us, Spike?" she asked.

Spike nodded. "On it," he said reassuringly as he stood up tall from his ring of opened gifts, Twilight and Rainbow lifting their brows, Twilight's mouth slowly falling open as well as the two stared at him. "I was planning on writing to her anyway to tell her about all the awesome things I got!"

Spike began to turn, signaling a quick wave before walking towards the stairs to his room.

Rainbow snapped out of it, looking over at Twilight whose mouth was still agape. "Did he look taller to you?"

Twilight shook her head, snapping her mouth shut. "Like 'twice his size' tall? A little, yes." She put a hoof to her chin. "I think I'll look into that later, but... before I do..."

She looked excitedly toward Rainbow, to which the pegasus shyly averted her eyes to her side.

"R-right," —Rainbow sheepishly scratched her cheek— "well... I'm not really sure how I can beat that," she said, bringing both their attentions to the book Moon Dancer had bought her. "But, um... here."

She lightly rubbed the back of her neck as her head craned down a bit, her other hoof now holding out a small, rectangular-wrapped box. She smiled nervously up at Twilight as the curious unicorn lifted it from her hoof with her own magic, removing the lid.

Twilight gasped. She raised a hoof over her mouth, the lid from the box falling to the floor as she lost sight of everything else around her.

"Well," Rainbow asked. "Do you like i—?"

Before Rainbow knew what hit her, Twilight tackled her to the floor in what the pegasus felt was the most intense embrace she had ever received. So much so it began to hurt a little.

Still, she stuck it out, sensing how happy Twilight was, and let the unicorn continue to squeeze the life out of her, and nuzzle her affectionately.

Eventually Twilight eased up and stepped back, bringing her attention back to the earring she held suspended in her magic.

With Twilight's attention off of her, Rainbow breathed in a deep, much-needed breath. She sat back on her haunches, arching her back and stretching her forelegs before having them fall at her sides.

She looked over at Twilight, and froze. There she was, wearing the earring she had gotten for her... with her feather attached upside down, and hanging listlessly from the bottom of it.

Twilight smiled bashfully, averting her eyes away a bit, and looking at her from the corner of her eye. "So, uhm... how do I look?"

Rainbow's face broke out into a soft grin.

"Absolutely beautiful."