After Hearth's Warming, everyone takes their trees to the curb and takes down all the lights and decorations.

This includes Rarity and Sweetie Belle, of course. It's basic routine.

But seeing the lights gives Sweetie an idea...one that her sister might not be so keen on.

A Jinglemas 2023 story in spirit, written for anyone who reads it, since I didn't work up the courage nor clear my schedule enough to participate in proper this year. Hopefully someone out there who enjoys sweet Rarity-Sweetie sister fluff will appreciate this.

To show how much she appreciates her older sister, Apple Bloom seeks to get Applejack the perfect Hearth's Warming gift by any means necessary.

*This story takes place sometime between the Last Problem and the time skip*

Written for Pen and Paper for Jinglemas 2023!

Sweetie Belle has feelings for Spike and decides that the best course of action is to confess with a Hearthswarming gift. Absolutely nothing goes wrong.

Written for ScarletRibbon for Jinglemas 2023!

After a conversation with the Mane Six causes Spike's mind to wander and fill with worries, he tries to find a quiet spot to collect his thoughts and think things thru. However, during his "free time", he finds himself in the magic mirror room again. As he watches himself, he makes a simple, silly mistake that ends up sending him back to that strange, pony-less world. This time, he doesn't have Twilight's help, but the strangest thing is the way he appears there: much less dog-like and much more...human.

(This story is located in a "flexible" timeline, the only events that occurred in the human world were the ones of the first movie.)

Rarity, a young filly, is trying to find her ailing mother the perfect Hearth's Warming gift.

Part of Serina's Hearth's Warming Eve Collection for 2023.

Inspiration

This story is a sequel to Apple Valley: A Hearth's Warming Horror Story

It has been ten years since the loss of Ponyville, and three of the survivors have formed a make-shift family all their own. But on this Hearth's Warming Eve, the fourth of their number is finally coming back into their lives. She has a story to tell about a trip she took the holiday prior, when the cold winds blew and the bells did ring. When the ones left behind wept and laughed in endless, frozen agony. When the figure of her nightmares returned for the one who had escaped him so long ago...

Rarity finds herself entrusted with the prestigious duty of crafting regal attire for the imminent Snilldar Fest in Yakyakistan, and she invites her little sister, Sweetie Belle, to accompany her on this chilly journey.

Part of Serina's Hearth's Warming Eve Collection for 2023.

I hate depression. It randomly comes and goes, even with my medication it can still get bad. This time, it's doubts about my classmates. Yeah sure, I defeated the sirens with the Rainbooms and I'm widely accepted by the school allegedly. I can't help but feel that they still secretly despise me from time to time. I know that's my mind being stupid but I've come up with a test to guarantee we are true friends and the school truly trusts me. But first, I'll need some help.

Sol City has the biggest, most impressive Nightmare Night Parade in all of Equestria. Floats, holograms, free stuff... the works! It's everything anycreature could ever hope a parade to be... and this year it's even more special: Not one, but two legendary singers—Hard Rock Legend Yumi and Neo Pop Super-Star, Legend and main attraction, Sweetie Belle—are going to open and close the parade respectively, ending in a city-wide concert that will also be streamed across the world.

Enter Neon Clove, a unicorn runner/musician that loves Sweetie Belle's music and might (just might) have hacked her chances to win the Golden Ticket and take part in the parade, and counts herself the luckiest mare alive.

None of them could anticipate that this Nightmare Night would change the world forever.

This is my entry to the 2023 Cyberpunk Nightmare Night Story Contest!

The entire story has been finished and will be posted daily for the next five days. My thanks to Pascoite & GaPJaxie for edits and feedback!

Cover art by Ruby, used with permission.

This story is a sequel to A Wish for the Ages

Rarity never thought she’d be asked to reprise her role as Princess Platinum, especially not this way, and especially not involving her sister as well. But she understands the importance to Equestria and Unicornia.

Even if it might mean that she can’t be Rarity ever again.

An honorable mention in Imposing Sovereigns IV, using the prompt Princess Platinum/Courage