The curtains in the bedroom were thrown open. "It's time!" exclaimed Spike excitedly as he ran to the next set and threw it open. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!"
Night woke first, stretching out long and spreading her wings, an act her wives emulated quickly.
Spike giggled a little. "You three look a lot alike when you wake up. Come on! We have to finish decorating, and there's so much more to do!"
Twilight yawned widely before nodding at Spike. "We're coming, Spike. Where's Jake?"
"Went off with Applejack and Pinkie Pie."
"Alright, Nefertari?"
"She scoffed about the whole thing and vanished."
"Shei and Patty?"
"They're helping decorate right now, they seem as excited as I am. They said the Saddle Arabians have their own version of the holiday that's almost the same thing."
Night hopped to the ground and shook herself out. "This is the first real Hearth's Warming I spent... in peace." She flashed a fanged smile at everyone else in the room, then gestured for Spike to come closer. When he was in range she wrapped a wing around him and pulled him close. "I want to enjoy it fully. Will you show me all your traditions?"
"You bet!" Spike grinned with his own dragon fangs. "Come on!" He moved to draw her from the room but she held up a hoof.
"One moment. Silver, come on."
Silver tilted her head. "Me too?" She hopped to the floor and moved to follow.
Twilight nodded. "Great idea. I'll catch up soon. I'll make up dolls for you two."
Silver suddenly stopped. "Wait, make three. Fast Change should have one... even if she isn't here. She's still a part of the family."
Night looked like she was punched in the gut a moment as her expression fell. "Yes... She should have a doll too, please." She kissed Silver's cheek. "Thank you for thinking of that."
They departed from the room, following Spike as he led the way excitedly. There were things to hang and other things to cook, though Patty and Shei had a firm control on food preparation.
Silver leaned in over Spike as they wandered into town. "Say, Spike, is this your favorite holiday?
"You betcha!"
"Is it Twilight's?"
Spike nodded vigorously.
Silver tapped her chin softly. "I want to get something that will knock her socks off, if she had any socks. What do you suggest?"
Spike paused a moment, then shrugged. "Get her a book she doesn't already have and she'll squeal like a little filly."
Night rubbed alongside Silver, wearing her armor and other jewelry as she always did. "And what are you getting for me?"
Silver considered that with a thoughtful frown. What should she get her perceptive and watchful wife? Then it came to her and she smiled. "I know just what to get." Night looked quite curious, but didn't pry into Silver's thoughts.
She did smile though. "I already have yours, and Twilight's. Do you need time to go shopping?"
Silver nodded and spread her wings. "Is it alright if I do it now? I'd better move fast before everything closes."
Night and Spike continued on, and let Silver fly away on her quest for presents.
When Silver was far away from the both, she set down with her book and began drafting a new spell. With firm, if still expanding, mastery of vocabulary, mixing spells came more smoothly and naturally. She gently blended the two spells she had in mind and reviewed it before playing it over her horn. It felt different with better knowledge, smoother... Natural again felt like the right word for it. A bright bolt of light burst free of her horn and zoomed out with her following it as best as she could.
She followed the mote right into the Everfree, which worried her, but she didn't let it get away. She was... heading directly for Zecoras. She felt relief well in her as she reached the curious hut. The mote faded before it went inside as she cut off the spell quickly.
Silver trotted up to one of the windows and peeked inside. Zecora and... Zecora? were working on a brew together, talking. She couldn't hear their words. It had to be... Silver moved to the door and gently rapped on it.
One Zecora answered the door, and there were no others in sight. "Now this is a rare treat. But what would call you here, something sour, or something sweet?"
Silver smiled gently. "I'm glad to see you, Zecora, and happy Hearth's Warming Eve. It's been too long. I'm looking for somepony specific."
Zecora tilted her head and looked subtly nervous. "And what pony would be here, beside myself, there are no ponies but this seer."
Silver leaned forward a little, and Zecora leaned away. "Zecora, please. I really want to talk to her. I miss her... Everyone misses her. On this hol--"
Zecora suddenly slammed the door right on Silver's snout, knocking her back with a cry of pain. "Go away!"
Silver rubbed her abused nose gently with a hoof. "Fast Change, please... Talk to me. At least explain it to me."
There was a moment of silence before the door opened slowly, revealing the pale red unicorn with wilted mane and limp legs that was the true Fast Change. "Silver..."
Silver rushed for Fast and grabbed her around the head, pulling her in for a hug and easily grabbing the lame unicorn. "I missed you so much!"
Fast took a trembling breath. "Do you want me to be your stallion?"
Silver drew back and tilted her head. "I want you to be with me. I want you to be with Twilight and Night. I want you to be my special somepony, forever. I love you."
Fast trembled softly, then knocked Silver over onto her back, suddenly able of moving again. "You're just saying that! I abandoned you... I abandoned all of you. You hate me." She looked away. "I hate me."
Silver squeezed Fast at her sides. "I don't hate you, and neither do either of them. Twilight's making you a Hearth's Warming Eve doll right this very moment. Will you come back? You're part of our herd."
Fast scowled. "Herds aren't herds without stallions!" She thrust a hoof at Silver, hovering just before her snout. "You were our stallion! You... You died!"
Silver leaned up and kissed Fast on the nose. "I did, but I'm back, mostly... I miss you. I miss your fire. I miss your love. I miss everything about you."
Fast tilted her head. "Mostly? Do you mean besides being a mare? Is that a temporary thing?"
Silver gave a nervous giggle. "As temporary as yours is. I remember your tricks."
Fast suddenly leered. "So you are here waiting for me to stallion for you again?"
Silver shook her head. "I've come for you, not any one part of you, besides.... I have a bit of a problem."
Fast perked her ears forward. "What? What's wrong?"
Silver leaned up to rub snouts gently. "I'm asexual."
Fast frowned softly. "What?" She stepped off Silver and poked her nose right between Silver's legs a moment. "You look sexed to me."
Silver rolled up to her hooves. "I have one, but I don't use it. I don't need it to... Please come back, Fast."
Fast looked hesitant, shuffling. "What do you do for fun? How do you... you know, hang out with Twilight and Night?"
Silver tilted her head. "I learn magic, cook, watch the foals... I hug them, talk to them, watch the stars and sky, and I love them. I love you... We're all here, and we need you."
Fast stepped forward slowly. "Why? Why do you need me?"
Silver bumped noses gently. "You're a part of our herd, stallion or no stallion."
Fast sat down on her haunches. "But I ran away. Why would you even want me?"
Silver waved back towards the town. "You know me well enough to answer that."
Fast smiled crookedly. "Do you ever not forgive a pony?"
Silver shook her head. "Not if I can help it. They miss you, seriously. Come on." She reached with a wing and hugged Fast. "We want you. Don't you want to be with us?"
Fast glanced back towards the hut, but Zecora wasn't in sight, and said nothing. "Y-yeah... Silver... Tell you what. Go on. I'll come home, I swear. Give me a moment, and I'll do it."
Silver closed the distance and hugged Fast quickly. "Do what you need to do. We all love you so very much." Silver backed away, then took off, flying back to Ponyville.
She quickly made her way to a book store and left with sizable bag full of purchases and a smile. She was confident in her purchases, but a new thought came to her and she wandered towards Rarity's for a last minute order.
Rarity answered the door with a smile. "Hello Darling! Happy Hearth's Warming Eve. What brings you here?" She glanced at Silver's bags curiously, but didn't ask.
"I have a last minute order. Do you know Saddle Arabian fashions?" She nodded, looking all the more intrigued. "I want a fine dancing dress for Shei, fit for nobility. Something for her to move freely and feel pretty in. Something she can be proud owning, not that I doubt any clothing you make would make a pony proud to own."
Rarity made a little pout. "By tomorrow, I gather? That's quite a deadline, dear. I'll..." She smiled gently. "I'll do what I can, and drop it off at the castle. This will cost you, I'm afraid."
Silver nodded quickly. "You're worth the price, Rarity. Thank you." She suddenly smooched Rarity on the cheek and pranced off, leaving Rarity a little shocked. She hadn't expected a kiss. She slowly nodded to no one and closed the door.
Silver's next stop was a local smithy, where she purchased something large and long, wrapped up tightly to keep it from view, then she hurried to a jewelry shop and escaped with a new box in her overburdened bag. Finally feeling prepared, she headed home, practically bouncing in her step.
Her approach to the castle was interrupted by a familiar mare. Starlight Glimmer approached with that cocky and sure smile of hers. "There you are, my adorable little mare. I've come to wish you a happy Hearth's Warming Eve, and give you a little present." She licked over her lips. "I'm going to welcome you back to being a mare, very very personally."
Silver came up short and backed away a few steps. "No! I mean, no, thank you. Starlight, we should talk, about your anger. Maybe we can work through it."
Starlight looked confused a moment, then became Fast Change rapidly. "I was just playing, Silver, but that offer's still valid."
Silver's worry melted away and she smiled. "Fast! Night and Twilight are going to be so happy!" She went home with her gifts, the largest one under a wing. Their herd was whole once again.