On December 24th, Twilight was putting her final presents for everyone under the Hearth's Warming Tree.
"What do you think my parents got me?" she asked Spike, making room for Cadence's gift.
"I dunno. Maybe a book," Spike said. He munched on a cookie he had saved from baking with Sweet Dessert.
"It's always a book with Twilight," Cadence said, laughing. She sat next to Spike on the couch. In just a few weeks, her stomach had grown larger.
Twilight finished placing her gifts. "So, now are you going to tell me what Shining is doing?" she asked.
"He's doing something very important," Cadence said slyly.
"Hey, mom, where are the cookie cutters again?" Shining asked.
Twilight Velvet took out some milk and said, "In the drawer next to the sink."
Velvet and Shining were making Hearth's Warming desserts for the family in the kitchen. Night Light was busy preparing the table for dinner.
"So, when are you going back to the Crystal Empire?" Velvet asked the inevitable question.
"Cadence and I were thinking sometime after Twilly and Spike leave for Ponyville," Shining replied. "Though I was hoping to stay for a little while longer for some family time."
"I'm sure Twilight would be happy to stay for a few more days," Velvet said. She measured several ingredients and started to mix them together.
Twilight Velvet took a look at the gingerbread house Twilight and Spike had made in Ponyville. They had taken a picture and had hung it on the refrigerator door. Trying to make a replica of it was going to be hard.
"What did you get for Twilight?" Velvet asked.
Shining laughed as he helped his mom bake. "A book, of course," he replied. "It's one the librarian's favorites, back in the Crystal Empire. I thought Twilight would like to read it."
"The only thing you can get for that girl is a book, and if it's not a book, it's some paper and ink," Velvet joked. They laughed and continued to bake until it was time to start cooking dinner.
***
At around 5, the family sat down, ready to eat. They sat at a circular dining table, ready to be served.
"What'd you make for dinner, Mrs. Velvet?" Spike asked, sitting next to Twilight. His mouth was watery in anticipation for food.
Velvet smiled as she entered the kitchen. "I made some delicious ravioli with pizza, along with coconut cream pie. There're some sandwiches with mozzarella cheese, lettuce, and just a bit of parsley. I might have also made some tater tots, jasmine rice, and hay fries," she replied. "And that's not even dessert. Well, except for the pie and pizza."
"Oh, boy! Your mom makes the best food!" Spike said to Twilight.
"Velvet is a natural," Night Light said in agreement.
"Well, that's wonderful because I'm starving!" Cadence said, across from Spike.
"But you just ate that chocolate cake an hour ago," Twilight said in disbelief.
"The pregnancy does that," Shining Armor ensured her.
Twilight Velvet came out with trays of food on a tray cart. She served them all food and sat down as soon as she finished.
The whole family dug in. Twilight hadn't had a taste of her mother's food for years. It was always food from the Canterlot Castle Cafeteria. Twilight and Spike had stayed at Canterlot Castle for years.
Trays of food after food arrived from the kitchen. Finally, Twilight had a final sip of egg nog and said, "Ok, I think I've had enough for tonight. And tomorrow morning."
"I'm still hungry," Cadance said, her mouth full of mashed potatoes.
"Can we hang up our Hearth's Warming dolls now?" Spike asked.
"Of course we can," Twilight replied.
Twilight and Spike got out of their seats and headed to the living room. The Hearth's Warming tree was lit with flashing red, green, and yellow lights. Yellow tinsel wrapped around the tree. A pink star was on the top of the tree.
Twilight took out a wooden doll version of Spike. It was carved with great detail, almost like it was actually Spike, only three times smaller than him.
"Here's your Hearth's Warming Eve doll," she said, giving it to Spike.
"And here's your doll!" Spike held out a yarn doll of Twilight. It was flimsy and had buttons for eyes. Almost like Smarty Pants.
"Oh, Spike, I love it!" Twilight said, embracing him.
"I love my doll too, but it's kinda ironic," Spike said. "You know, since I breath fire and the doll's made out of wood."
"That's why I enchanted it before the magic embargo," Twilight explained. "No fire known in Equestrian can burn it."
The two hung their dolls side by side above the lit fireplace. Twilight saw Shining Armor's wedding photo and her coronation on display next to their dolls.
"Looks like your mom's always proud of you and Shining Armor," Spike noted.
"It'll always stay that way," Twilight said.
Cadance and Shining Armor entered the living room. Twilight and Spike got their gifts from under the tree.
"Silly fillies," Cadance said, "every pony knows you open your presents tomorrow."
"We know," Twilight said. "When Spike and I spent our first Hearth's Warming Eve together, he couldn't wait all night to open his presents! Ever since then, we've always opened them the night before."
"It's kinda like our tradition!" Spike said.
Cadance and Shining Armor exchanged looks.
"Mind if we join in on the tradition?" Shining asked.
"Not at all!" Twilight said. Spike nodded in agreement.
The couple sat down and grabbed their presents. Spike opened his present from Shining Armor and Cadance. It was a mini statue of Spike's statue in the crystal empire, made out of gems.
"Am I allowed to eat this?" Spike asked.
"We would hope not," Cadance said.
"It's awesome anyway!" Spike said. He embraced the two of them as best as he could. "Thanks so much!"
"Your very welcome," Shining said.
Spike went back to his spot and opened his present from Twilight Velvet and Night Light. It was a small gemstone sword, made of sapphires.
"Whoa!" he said. He swung it softly. He sensed it was razor sharp.
"Looks like you can have your own adventures now," Twilight said.
Spike finally opened his present from Twilight. As expected, it was a book. But it was about the adventures of heroic dragons that helped Equestria.
"Thanks Twilight!" Spike said, hugging Twilight.
"No problem," Twilight said, smiling.
Twilight opened her presents. Every present was a book. Shining Armor had gotten her a book from the Crystal Empire. Cadance got Twilight a book about the Elements of Harmony. Twilight opened the present from her parents.
She gasped. "Is this what I think it is?" she asked. Twilight held the book up. The title read, "Hearth's Warming Eve: Its History and Its Present Purpose."
"I thought I lost this book," Twilight said.
"Turns out it was hidden in a box in the attic."
Twilight looked up. Night Light and Twilight Velvet stood in the doorway to the living room.
"We found it on the first day of December," Velvet explained.
Twilight galloped over to them. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she exclaimed.
"Hey mom, dad, wanna open your presents now?" Shining asked.
"It'll be like the Sparkle family tradition!" Spike said.
Night Light chuckled. "Only if you're willing to," he said to Velvet.
"Of course I'm willing to," Velvet said.
They trotted over to the tree. Velvet opened her present from Shining Armor and Cadance. It was a lovely sewn blanket, soft to the touch. Velvet already felt sleepy.
"Made from the finest cloths of Equestria," Cadance explained.
Velvet opened her present from Twilight and Spike. It was a photograph of the two in front of Twilight's castle in the snow. She could see Rarity and Fluttershy ice skating with Pinkie Pie in the background. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were having a snowball fight.
"This is wonderful," Velvet said, embracing the dragon and princess.
"Hey, I've got one more present for every pony to open," Spike said.
"A present for all of us?" Night Light asked.
"Yeah!" Spike bought out a gift in white wrapping paper with a golden bow. He set it in the middle of the family. "Who would like to do the honors?"
"I say all of us," Velvet said.
Shining Armor frowned. "Now how's that-----"
Suddenly everypony's horns flickered with light. Their horns suddenly had their auras back.
"Spike, we did it!" Twilight exclaimed. "The magic embargo has lifted! The weather factory is fixed! Hearth's Warming Eve is saved!" She embraced the dragon tightly.
"Now can we all open it?" Velvet asked.
The Sparkle family unwrapped the gift with their magic. Spike took off the bow. Inside the box was a candle, lit with a pink flame.
"The Hearth's Warming Flame," Twilight whispered with wide eyes.
"This candle was lit from the Hearth's Warming Heart," Spike said. "It symbolizes ponies gathering together as one to celebrate being one. This candle will now remind us how lucky we all are to spend Hearth's Warming Eve together not as a royal family, or as a family of magicians with a dragon, but as one big family of Equestria."
The Sparkle Family embraced in a family hug. "This is the greatest gift anypony could ever ask for," Velvet said.
The family recounted their gifts. Twilight stood at the window. Outside, it was snowing a little harder than before.
Spike stood by Twilight.
"You know what, Spike?" Twilight asked. "I couldn't have asked for a better Hearth's Warming Eve."
"Neither can I," Spike said.
Twilight pulled Spike close. She sighed. "This sure was a special Hearth's Warming Eve, huh, Spike?"
"I couldn't agree more."
Twilight and Spike watched as snow fell onto the Canterlot streets, yellow lights bringing light to the black night. They could vaguely seethe Hearth's Warming Heart float in the Equestrian sky.
----The End----