Between Shows: Letters from the Road

by Natedogg2006

Happy Hearths Warming

Twilight rolled her eyes as she glanced around her library home. With a slight sigh of irritation she shouted across the space.

"I was right Spike. Could you fix me a couple hot chocolates?"

"Already done. They're in your enchanted mugs next to the door."

"Thanks, you're the best Spike." She said as she poked her head into the room her and her marefriend shared.

"And don't you forget it when gift time comes around," he shouted back snarkily.

Twilight just rolled her eyes again as she lit her horn to telekineticly grab her special candle and the small scroll underneath. She read as she walked.

***

I don't care what you say I'm not coming out this time Twilight. I don't know what I'm doing. I have no experience in this area. Everypony is going to think I hate them. I'd rather they just think I didn't want to come.

***

Twilight paused in her reading to also take up two large mugs of hot chocolate in her magic. She decided to take a taste of one as she did.

"This cocoa is great Spike, I think this will be a record." She shouted this as she nudged the door open and preceded out into the wintery exterior of her home. She noticed fresh hoof prints in the snow leading to the cart parked next to the tree.

***

And don't think for a second I'm over reacting. I'm staying right here and that's final.

Love
Beatrix

***

"Sweety, Spike made hot chocolate."

Pomf.

A blue fire sparked from the candle in Twilight's magic. A scroll materialized from the flame to be taken up with the rest of what the mare was carrying.

***

Go away, I'm not coming out.

***

"I didn't say you had to. I just thought it might be cold in there. You're really good at it, but even you can't keep a heating enchantment going forever."

With another flourish of magic Twilight cleared the area in front of the cart from whatever extra snow had accumulated. She set one of the cups down next to the door in convenient grabbing range. Twilight looked away for only a second before she heard a click, a squeak, a slam, and another click.

As she turned back she could only giggle at the sudden disappearance of the other mug. She made herself comfortable as she waited. Before long there was a familiar 'pomf' from the candle.

***

This is really good.

***

"I think he decided to grind the nutmeg fresh this time around."

Pomf.

***

I think you're right. Fresh makes it taste better.

***

"He's getting really close to making the perfect hot cocoa. Are you going to need another cup?"

Pomf.

***

No, this is fine. Thank you though.

***

If she didn't want more distraction, than Twilight reasoned it was probably OK to ask.

"So what's wrong? Does this have to do with the Hearths Warming party Pinkie invited us all to?"

Twilight found it amusing that she could tell the difference between the types of silence coming from the door of a show ponies cart. This was a good silence, one she knew meant the next message she was going to get would be longer.

***

I'm starting to sound like a broken record at this point aren't I?

I'm just freaking out about actually interacting with ponies. Again. I've never celebrated Hearths Warming before. Presto always taught me that the holiday season was way too lucrative of a time of year to waste on celebrating. We spent the whole time... procuring hot holiday gifts and reselling them at crazy rates to desperate ponies. With a background like that, what would I know about holiday traditions and stuff?

***

"I don't know about that. It's not exactly conventional but that sounds like a tradition to me."

Pomf.

***

It had nothing to do with the holidays or traditions. It was all business.
Seriously. After the holiday was over we'd cash out on whatever scam business we'd been running and buy up some off season magic stuff while it was cheap. Then we'd spend the gap between Hearts Warming and New Years practicing the new material.

***

The silence coming from the door of Beatrix's cart told Twilight that she didn't need to say anything. She'd figure it out soon. Even though her marefriend wouldn't see it, she felt the need to take a nice, deep, victory sip from her mug. She was then happy that her marefriend couldn't see her as she winced at the heat. The mugs enchantment did its job almost too well.

Pomf.

Now that I think about it.... I think he always decided to pick up the routines I'd been curious about trying. Unless they were actually trash. And he was the one who taught me to be able to tell.

***

The silence from the door told Twilight to wait some more. Good thing it was still really good cocoa.

Pomf.

We always ate really good then. He said it was because stores always overstocked because of the holiday and he knew how to get the really good deals.

He never did show me whatever trick he used.

***

Pomf.

Sweet Celestia .... was Presto a good d...

Dad?

***

"I don't know if I'd nominate him for father of the year, but that actually sounds really sweet. Even the questionable business activities aren't that bad."

The silence coming from the door told Twilight she needed another good push.

"So what did you get the girls for Hearths Warming?" She asked as she took the last sip of her cocoa. Still nice and warm, one of the best investments she'd ever made as they were perfect for dealing with her marefriend's freak outs.

Pomf.

***

I just found some simple little magic kits. Not anything that complicated, but they're pretty good for hobby stuff.
I can tell.

***

"I was gonna guess you were worried that the girls wouldn't like the gifts you got them. Are you still?"

Pomf.

***

I mean.... I only did it because I found some that I thought would match them pretty well.

***

"How so?"

Pomf.

***

The one for Applejack is a card trick. No matter what card she turns over it'll be the one she wants it to be. So no matter what, she's always telling the truth.

***

Twilight snorted a laugh at that. "Get your cute flanks out here. You don't have anything to worry about."

There was only a moments pause before she heard a telltale click come from the cart. Beatrix stood before Twilight, head only a little low in sheepishness and an empty mug floating next to her.

"Is Spike making more hot cocoa for the party?" She asked with a small smile.

"A whole pot. If you're ready we can get there early enough to help set up." Twilight stepped aside to let her marefriend by. She took the invitation.

Beatrix couldn't help but smile teasingly. "You're such a goody fourshoes, you know that right."

Twilight smiled right back at her. "And you're somehow more socially awkward than even me."

Beatrix laughed as she joined Twilight in heading back inside the tree house to prepare. "When did we find so many weird ways of saying I love you?"

A warm smile came to Twilight's face as they passed through the door. "Well, here's one more." Her horn lit, and from a hall closet a small box wrapped in brightly colored paper and ribbon floated out. "Happy Hearths Warming."

Beatrix's cheeks reddened at the gesture. "It... it's ok Twilight. I told you I could wait for the party. It's not like it's really that big a deal."

Twilight set the present on the floor in front of her. "I decided to make it one. The orphanage didn't have the funding to give you all presents for Hearths Warming when you were young, so this will literally be your first official Hearths Warming gift."

"Twilight, honey, if you make a big deal out of every little thing I've never done you'll never..." She froze up as she read the tag attached to the gift.

Twilight noticed the strained breaths coming from the mare she loved as she scooted in next to her to press against her side. "It's not from me. I thought there was someone else who should be the one to give you your first gift. I know you said I'd never track him down on my own, but I managed." She began to nuzzle the mares cheek comfortingly. "I did have to swallow my pride a little to get him to realize just how special this would be to you. You really did get your stubbornness from him." Twilight paused to wipe a happy tear from the other mares cheek. "I think it was worth it though."

Beatrix's body shook as tears ran down her face, but she was smiling through it all. "H... Happy Hearths Warming."

"I love you too."

They embraced, but the show mare's gaze couldn't help but drift down to the tag on the gift. She recognized the wing writing of the stallion that raised her. But in the spot indicating who the gift was 'from' was not the signature of any name she'd ever known him by.

Author's Note:

Happy Hearths Warming everyone. I forgot how much I loved writing for my version of Trixie. The idea of doing a Christmas episode for her is what finally got me to continue this series. Have a great whatever your celebrating and feel free to leave me a gift in the comments below.

Comments

[The Krawler]

Honestly, it's good to read side stories like these from time to time. I'm not sure if it's just me, but sometimes after reading a romantic fic and it just ends as soon as the couple is together, it makes me yearn for more. I wanna keep reading into the daily lives of the characters after they go through the troubles of being together. Sadly, that doesn't make a story, as a story needs something to drive the plot forward. So side stories like these are a great alternative for after a fic ends. And even if there is a proper sequel story with tons of drama and etc., its good to know that there's a collection of slice of life events that often get skipped over in the main story when all the drama and/or plot happens.

The main reason I'm writing this is to show my appreciation for the small things in life that never get written about.

Bug

[Natedogg2006]

11096286
I had too much fun with my version of Trixie to not write more of her. Thanks

[Vaguely Demented]

Funny to see someone who needs more assurances than Twi when it comes to social interactions.

[Natedogg2006]

11097983
The most confident seeming people are often the most insecure honestly. Thanks for reading buddy.