Snow was already falling on the shining city of Canterlot. Ponies were already in winter clothing. Others were working hard on Hearth's Warming Eve decorations. Twilight Velvet was one of those ponies, only she was decorating her home.
"Night Light, did you remember to find the candy canes in the attic?" Twilight Velvet called out to her husband.
A stallion appeared in the doorway. He had a blue mane and tail, a coat two shades lighter than blue, light brown eyes, and a cutie mark with a yellow crescent moon around a smaller white crescent moon.
"Yes, I did," Night Light replied. "I also managed to find Twilight's old Hearth's Warming book."
"Ah, the one book she could never find," Twilight Velvet said. "Do you remember when she made an absolute mess in the house looking for it?"
"You had to clean for hours to make the house neat again." Night Light brought out two large candy canes and stuck them outside on the snowy lawn. "Twilight, dear, have you gotten Shining Armor his present yet?"
Twilight paused. "I thought you were getting Shining his present," she said. "You already bought that necklace for Cadence."
"I'm going to buy Spike a present as well," Night explained. "So that means I can get Twilly her present, too. Meanwhile, you can buy Shining and Cadence's baby something."
Twilight sighed. "I wish you told me that before I bought Twilight something," she said.
"We're not perfect, darling," Night Light said, trotting inside.
"Of course we aren't," Twilight said to herself. She finished hanging up lights and entered her abode. Inside was a peaceful atmosphere. The living room was coated with lavender paint and wooden flooring. Two red sofas lay adjacent to a lit fireplace. There were family photos on the fireplace, several of them with Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Velvet stayed on Shining Armor's wedding and Twilight's coronation. Her foals were so old. But it would never change the fact that they would forever be hers.
Twilight Velvet saw a few boxes of decorations ready to be opened. Night Light had still not gotten the Hearth's Warming tree. She trotted over to a spiral wooden staircase and went up. Upstairs was a hallway of rooms, three being guest bedrooms and another three belonging to the family. She traveled to Twilight's room, where it was simple and neat. The walls were plastered with notes from books and work. A small rusty telescope was in disrepair. A wooden chest held all of Twilight's old toys. Her bed was a deep blue, glittering with constellations. Her closet had been closed for years.
Twilight Velvet had to get Twilight's room looking brand new. She imagined adding a bookshelf...repainting the walls, replacing the sheets...getting a small bed for Spike...maybe adding a tree, too...
Minutes later, Twilight Velvet was out the door with a shopping list.
Twilight trotted into Coltes, where she looked at different paint colors. Traveling to PonKEA, she bought a new bed frame for Spike and a large wooden book cabinet. Finally ending up at Manecy's, buying new sheets.
On the way back home, Twilight Velvet came across a confused-looking conductor. He seemed to be lost.
"Hello? You seem lost," Twilight Velvet trotted up.
The conductor had a soft yellow coat, crystal blue eyes, and a crystal blue mane and tail. He wore what all conductors wore, a blue buttoned vest with a red tie and a blue and red hat. His cutie mark was of a crystal train.
"That's because I am lost," the conductor explained. "The name's Crystal Tracks. I was gonna get something to eat, but I got lost my way back to the train station. And I'm going to miss the train if I don't get back in time!"
"Twilight Velvet. And I can show you the way. Just follow me!" Twilight led Crystal Tracks to the train station.
"So, where are you from?" Twilight asked.
"I'm from Neigh Jersey," Crystal Tracks said. "I just recently moved to Manehatten last month. How about you?"
"I'm a natural-born Canterlotian," Twilight replied. "Lived here all my life and I wouldn't change a thing." Her heart ached at the lie she had just spoken.
"Then you're certainly the right pony to guide me," Crystal Tracks said. "Say, you wouldn't happen to be leaving Canterlot to visit someplace, have you?"
"No, but my children are visiting soon," Twilight Velvet explained.
Crystal Tracks was silent. "Well, I don't want to rain on your parade, but rumors are the Friendship Express will be forced to shut down before the new year," he explained.
Twilight Velvet gasped. "Why?" she asked.
"Apparently, the owner of the Friendship Express hasn't been able to pay the cost of each train," Crystal Tracks explained. "We're going out of business, and ponies like me will be out of work, too."
"How terrible!" Twilight said.
Crystal Tracks nodded in agreement. "And to think I could keep traveling all around Equestria," he said.
Twilight Velvet saw a familiar puff of smoke rise into the air. She looked and saw the train station in front of them.
"Well, here's your stop," Twilight Velvet said.
"Actually, my next stop is Trottingham, but thanks for getting me to the train station!" Crystal Tracks said. "Have a Happy Hearth's Warming Eve, Twilight!"
"The same to you!" Twilight said as Crystal Tracks trotted away.
She turned away, worried. Her children might not get to Canterlot in time. Twilight had to send a letter to them both immediately-----
A green wisp of fire traveled to her. Twilight Velvet used her telekinesis to catch the letter that appeared before it dropped into the snow. It was a returned letter from Twilight. She opened it immediately.
Mom,
Of course, I'd love to come to Canterlot for Hearth's Warming Eve! So would Spike! We'll be in Canterlot on December 4th, the latest! Can't wait to see you and Dad! See you soon!
Your Daughter,
Twilight Sparkle
Twilight Velvet danced with joy. She forgot about the Friendship Express closing down. She forgot about how late it was. All that mattered was her daughter was coming home for Hearth's Warming Eve.
And then it started to hail.