Silver awoke in the dimness of pre-morning. She felt a pony right between her hind legs, lapping away at her nethers. Fast? "Fast?" She felt nothing but embarrassed, and a little flattered Fast, or whoever it was, was trying to stimulate her, and a bit of frustration that she didn't feel the things other ponies did when that happened. She really wanted to. The pony working at her obviously thought she was enjoying it, but she couldn't.
She brought up her legs and gently trapped the head of the pony. "You don't have to."
Fast jerked up and tilted her head. "Have to? Happy Hearth's Warming! And why wouldn't I?"
The talking roused Night first, who seemed to absorb the situation quite rapidly. "Fast, love, she doesn't feel that." She leaned in and gently nuzzled Fast. "But I'm sure she appreciates the effort."
Silver bobbed her head. "I do... Fast, since you're here now, can you tell me more about the pony I was, as a stallion?"
Fast tapped her chin. "That's a heavy order. You were, and are, nice, forgiving, and eager to love ponies. I think that draws so many of them to you. They want in on that loving action." She leaned in and nuzzled at Silver, smelling of Silver. "I do too. You were also fairly well hung for your size, and had the stamina to satisfy a mare or three if you got in the right mood, sometimes even a stallion, at least recently."
Night nipped gently at one of Fast's ear. "You were also perceptive, almost as much as me. You loved and still love studying magic. How's that going, by the way?"
Twilight suddenly stirred with a yawn, rolling over just to bump into Fast. With a sleepy murmer, she grabbed her returned wife and snuggled with her. Fast giggled and smiled with joy. "I... I'm so sorry I threw this away... I... It hurt so much..."
Night reached out and set a shod hoof on Fast's nose. "Never again. No matter how dark it gets. No matter how bleak it becomes, we will stay together, and face these challenges, together. Fast, if we were the last members of our herd left, I would still want to be with you. Never. Again."
Fast looked more and more ashamed. "Why... I don't even understand. You're... We are not the same pony."
Silver snorted gently. "Thank goodness for that. Imagine how boring it'd be if we were all the same? Fast, just never forget that we will be here for each other. You don't need to run."
Night nodded at Silver. "Precisely. If you feel awful, then come and get hugged, and we'll work through it, no matter how long that takes."
Fast held out her hooves but couldn't move with Twilight attached, so Silver and Night pressed in, and they settled into a pile of loving ponies, at least for a few minutes until Spike arrived with a grin and began throwing open the curtains like the day before. "Merry Hearth's Warming!"
Shei and Patty arrived a moment later, carrying traditional food for the holiday and setting them before rousing ponies and giving their own well wishes.
Silver nuzzled each before sniffing at the food, being entirely new to her. "Smells wonderful. Where's Fiddah?"
Shei pointed outside of the room. "I last saw her heading upstairs."
Silver pointed down. "Fetch her. Your work's done for today. It's time for all of us, as an extended family, to celebrate. Patty, could you fetch the foals?"
Nefertari suddenly appeared. "Everyone but me?"
Silver's horn lit up and the box she hid under the bed flipped open just enough for a necklace to slip free. She slung it around Nefertari's neck and clasped it gently. "This is my gift for you. I'm still learning how we stumbled in each other's life, but you are a part of mine, and I am a part of yours. Welcome to the family."
Nefertari felt over the pearl necklace softly. "Oh, I..." For once, she was lost for words.
Night sat up with a smile. "Welcome."
Fast bobbed her head. "Welcome!"
Twilight shuddered softly. "Do we have to use that word? You are part of Silver's family, which makes you part of ours. I hope we can learn all that makes you wonderful."
Nefertari looked quite lost and overwhelmed. "Am I... Are we?"
Silver shook her head. "We are not married. My herd is quite large enough, but a family extends beyond a herd. You are family."
Nefertari gave a soft snort, then leaned in. With a streak of movement, she kissed all the ponies on the bed on the cheek. "I accept. I know today is a holy day for you, but tomorrow, I'll be testing you again, especially you, Silver." She snatched a little cake off of Silver's plate and popped it in her mouth. "Not bad..."
She calmed down and they enjoyed one another's company until Shei returned with Fiddah. "You needed my presence, sir?"
Silver tilted her head, then pointed to the floor before her. "Step forward, kindly." Fiddah moved in and stood at rigid attention. Silver brought out a new necklace from the box. Instead of a string of pearls, it was a rope of fine metal links with a fat sapphire set on a golden circle. She set it around Fiddah's neck carefully. "Treasured servant, please accept this, for helping me, and us, and being a part of this family."
Fiddah colored dimly through her dark fur. "This isn't required, sir."
"No, it isn't," agreed Silver. "Please accept it."
Nefertari raised a brow. "Why does she get the large jewel and I many small ones?"
Silver smiled. "You are a string of gifts. You bring new life, and challenges, and puzzles. You are many things, all good. Fiddah is one amazing thing, given to me once as a gift, as I give this to her. Do you accept?" She looked to the surprised Fiddah.
Fiddah bowed her head. "It is an honor, to be so gifted, and welcomed formally to your family."
Patty pointed a gnarled hoof at Shei. "Where's Shei's gift?"
Silver smiled at her forwardness. "Her gift is on the way. Rarity should be by with it as soon as she can."
Shei colored. "You didn't have to! I'm no jealous foal..." Despite her words, she looked very pleased to hear a gift was coming.
Twilight cleared her throat. "Spike, for being so patient and only opening one gift last night, let's do yours next."
Spike looked baffled. "The book wasn't the only one?"
Twilight grinned. "Not this year! Night had a little suggestion that I thought was quite fitting." She drew out a box from the closet and set it before Spike, sparkling with its many bright colors. "Go ahead."
Spike tore into it eagerly and threw it open with a look of hope on his face. "Aw, no way!" He pulled out comic books, sealed in protective sleeves. "The #1 issue!? I didn't think they even sold these anymore." Radiant with joy, he hugged Twilight tightly, then Night, and off he went, likely to peruse his gift more thoroughly.
Fast pouted a little. "I don't have gifts for anypony."
Silver wrapped a leathery wing about Fast. "You are the gift for everypony."
Fast blushed at that, darkening her ruddy fur. "Aw, you sap..."
Nefertari shrugged. "This is not one of my holy days. If you were expecting gifts, you will be disappointed. Not that I even have those 'bits' you trade with."
Night waved a hoof. "Don't even worry about it. Not everypony has to have a gift. But I do." She hopped from the bed and dashed off to quickly return with a new box, wrapped in a night theme with moons and stars. "To Twilight, who gave me the greatest present I will ever receive, and undoing a mistake I can only blame myself for making."
Twilight lifted the present with her horn. "You were doing your best, Night. It's all fixed now, we all forgive you."
Nefertari rolled her eyes in obvious disagreement.
Twilight began meticulously unweaving the wrapping bit by bit, not tearing a little bit of it.
Silver tilted her head. "Twilight, you are adorable."
"What?" Twilight gently pulled the next flap free. "The present is a present too!" She opened the package without harm and gasped. "How did you even get this?" She pulled out a heavy tome and set it down. "This book is forbidden! Celestia--"
Night held up a hoof. "I asked Luna, and she agreed you were responsible enough for it. Consider it her gift as well."
Twilight clopped her hooves together excitedly. "I can't wait to try out some of these spells!" She lifted the tome in her magic and set it aside. "Thank you!"
Silver looked worried, then paused. "Where's Rough Tumble? He should be here!"
The guard was easily found and hauled in despite some protests. "I don't need to be here. I'm guarding the castle."
Silver pointed at him. "You are a part of this family and you'll enjoy it like the rest of us." She drew out the long wrapped object and offered it to him. "A gift, befitting a guard of great and growing skill."
Tumble looked curious and advanced. He grabbed the cloth in his mouth and tugged it away, revealing a brilliant steel long sword with several gemstones set in the hilt. Silver, violet, black, and pale red. Silver nodded. "Consider this the sword of our family, with each of us represented there. Use it to protect us with pride, and to remember we also love you."
Tumble sank to his haunches, tears welling up in his eyes. "But... I didn't... I didn't protect you. I failed!"
Silver set a hoof on his shoulder. "I went without you, and charged you to protect the foals, which you did. You did everything we asked. Maybe I should have carried you up with me, and you would have saved me... A stout and strong earth pony, to free me when I was trapped."
Tumble drew back and up as he considered that. "I... I wish you had, but... thank you. Thank you so much!" He grabbed Silver and squeezed her tightly, burying his face in her neck for a moment.
Twilight ruffled her wings a little. "I have one, for Night Watch." She drew out a slender present and offered it up.
Night looked excited and tore it open, revealing a book. "Exotic Humanoids, a Humanway expansion. I didn't have this one yet! Thank you." She nuzzled Twilight in thanks, but Silver only looked more nervous.
"No point putting this off further." Silver drew out a heavy box and set it on the bed. "For Night, though it should be fun for all of us."
Night looked quite perplexed, then tore into it with her wings. It was a set of books, quite similar to Twilight's. "You went for the entire starter set?! Why? You know I've played before."
Silver smiled sheepishly. "Yes, but you didn't have it with you, and you can use it to teach others how to play." She pointed into the box. "I included a few extras."
Night poked her snout in there and came out with a gridded mat, some figures and a bag full of dice. "Aw, this is great, and it works great with Twilight's!"
Shei tilted her head. "What manner of game requires figurines of such nature? Is this like chess?"
Night grinned at Shei. "We're all going to find out. You're drafted for a game of Humanway."