It's been six months since Rarity and Rainbow Dash were married. It's been six months since Rarity and Sweetie Belle's parents passed away.
It's been six months since Rarity and Rainbow Dash took in Sweetie Belle.
Will Hearth's Warming make or break their fragile new family?
Winner of the Holiday Contest!
Now, this story deserved the Grand Prize. Everything good that could be in a story, is in this story. There’s hurt, there’s comfort, there’s awwww-moments, there’s ouch,ouch,ouch-moments, an ending that will leave you in tears for a good hour… And the unexpected little twists that, as a Rainbow fan, I absolutely loved. A fall? Addiction? Her fears of another; her fears of somepony else following in her hoofsteps? Beautiful.
Cover art: https://raridashdoodles.tumblr.com/post/181035514979/hearths-warming, by the incomparable RariDashDoodles.
Not related to any of my other stories. Published on my one-year anniversary here at Fimfiction!
i highly disapprove of this ship i'm a huge rarispike fan however i enjoy most of your work so i'll get back after i skim the water a bit
9974863
Thanks!
This was pretty good. There are a lot of things that could be expanded on, and many readers would want you to expand on (Such as how Rarity and Rainbow even got into a relationship, but I digress), but the short little story you did give us was quite nice. Good mixture of real issues people deal with, and loving slice of life during Hearth's Warming.
Signing out, VShuffler42
9974956
Thanks!
I'm not a fan of RariDash, or shipping in general.
But you, dear author, have made this story work.
Added to my Favourites and my extra shelf of good stories for when I'm awake at night and need a good read.
9974996
Thank you! Much appreciated.
That scene with the calendar... damn.
How dare you slip something this funny into a funeral procession.
That "again" raises a number of questions.
Hey, given Windy's example, that's a compliment in disguise.
I know it's not the focus of the story, but I do love seeing this idea explored.
Some excellent stuff, especially a very believable outburst from Sweetie and equally feasible dark moment in Dash's past. The fervent denials got obnoxious at times, especially when they broke the mood, but overall this was a great read. Thank you for it.
9975061
Thanks! I always appreciate when you take the time.
This is such a wonderful mix of sweet and bitter. It swings between adorable and angsty so damn fast but it still feels natural. There's some great stuff in here, but this line?
That just gets me right in the chest. Wonderfully done.
9975102
Big, big thanks!
One of best written Rainbow Dash's I've read in a while. And the story was a bitter/sweet goodness too.
9975305
Thank you! I discovered Dash is quite difficult to write; I worked on this fic for about three months, mostly trying to get her voice.
9975310
You definitely succeeded. Her narration was a delight to read, on top of everything else.
9975373
Hey, big thanks!
And that is what "bittersweet" means.
9975637
Thanks!
Lost a family member last year, so that first Christmas was tough. I processed it for a year into this fic.
Excellent writing, could really feel the emotion as rainbow dash had her "allergies" so did I. Love the ship, love the concept, love the writing. Very very well done.
Powerful ego on Dash. I like the concessions she makes to Rarity given that.
Loved Rainbow's characterization here.
You made me endure salty rain! Naughty weather pegasus. Putting a salty rain cloud right over my face... why I oughtta...
9975948
9976187
Thanks!
9976083
Thank you! My feeling was, she's grown up and matured... but doesn't want to admit that. This is how she threads that needle.
9976229
I'd love to see more set in this universe you've began setting up.
9976244
9976258
I don't have any plans at present, but if I get an idea, I will totally write it up!
In just how many ways can you emotionally punch someone in the gut, because that was a lot. Very well written and I think your characterization was perfect the whole way through. Smallest thing I noticed, right near the end: "... What she had seen, what she heard heard..."
Amazing story.
9976387
Many thanks! Also, I fixed the typo!
If you want emotional gut punches, you might consider my "Luna's Daughters."
I appreciate you taking the time!
9976388
... I dig it
your stories do look good though, so I might be checking out more.
Shameless self promotion
My only real issue is that they seem to treat Sweetie Belle much younger than she is.
9976890
Thank you! I appreciate it.
Could you give an example of what you mean?
Thanks!
9976921
Insisting that she needs an adult with her at all times. I get that she's in a delicate situation, but planning for a year later should mean a teenager can be left alone for a few days. Also, just her being grossed out by kissing.
9977240
I see, thank you!
I need more of this. The idea of these three as a family is so great to me, you made my day with this story. Thank you.
Not a RariDash fan but was intrigued. Celestia almighty that was a tearjerker, Sweetie went through hell. And I can just imagine that teasing scene with the Wonderbolts before Dash drops that almighty bombshell on them, awkward.
9977462
Thanks! If I think of a plot I'll write it.
9977571
Thank you! I appreciate the words.
Utter pure unadulterated uninhibited awesomeness! I am amazed! You captured Rainbow Dash quite well while illustrating how she handles helping loved ones in pain, and, you gave her a gritty bit of backstory that makes sense! Amazing!
10011437
Big thanks, I appreciate the comments!
But... you're already naked...?
10032699
vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/7/73/Fluttershy_embarrassed_S2E15.png/revision/latest?cb=20120131013657
It must be something about being in bed that's embarrassing.
This was beautiful. This victory was well earned as this really brought tears, laughs and feelings galore. Take your fave, freely given
10039538
Thank you very much!
Second read, still good.
Dawww. This little moment perfectly encapsulates Rainbow Dash indeed
.
I'm fairly sure she did that just to get you to stop bothering you, Dash
Oh, that whiplash
.
And we're back
. The (light-hearted) mood shifts are, shall I say, quite endearing.
Princess Luna may be the protector of dreams, but she knows that not every answer should be hers.
Overall, this was a sweet little tale
. Bittersweet, aye. The loss of both parents, that's something that'll stick with Sweetie and Rarity for the rest of their lives. But Rainbow Dash there, and Loyalty's everything they need. Love it!
10284587
Thanks! Much appreciated!
Wow this is good. I know I told you that last night, but I needed to say it again. This very clearly comes from a very real emotional place; it shines through in the writing and really elevates this to greatness.
Your characterization and voicing for Rainbow Dash is fantastic. You've blended profound emotional maturity, pride/ego, and stubbornness so damn well. I really have some stuff to think about with regards to my own characterization of her. Sweetie Belle and Rarity are both fantastic as well, of course.
The romance here is also wonderful and so real. (I know I keep saying stuff is real but like, it's such an apt word to describe this story.) It's steamy and intoxicating at times, gentle and supportive at others, and always it is beautifully mundane. I loved the moment under the tree, of course, but I think the calendar scene was the most striking and moving for me. What is love if not a series of obligations and compromises that, regardless of how frustrating they can be, you gladly and willingly take on?
Anyways I could talk your ear off praising every single inch of this story, so I'm going to cut myself off with a bit of a personal thing. The stuff with the pills really hit me hard because I very nearly became addicted myself. After some oral surgery back in high school, they prescribed me some opiate--don't remember which one anymore. I doubt it was a super strong one, but it was still definitely overkill, and I'm fairly certain they gave me way too many pills (and some refills, because why not?). Anyways, after a couple weeks I had some moment of self-control somehow and I flushed the rest of the pills and threw away the bottle. And yet... For two years afterwards, I would still get hit with cravings for them, and if I'd known where to acquire them, I probably would have. Opiates are scary, man.
So yeah, great story! Really enjoyed it.
10440694
Thank you very much, I really appreciate the words and I'm glad you enjoyed!
Damn thats a tear jerker and a half.
Poor SB.
RD makes a great mum.
10440694
Really nasty wisdom teeth surgery for me when I was younger. I do not remember if I got opiates, but whatever pills they gave me felt good. Really good. Too good even.
I remember sitting on a couch one evening, head lolling back, all Pink Floyd Comfortably Numb style after popping one of the pills. At this point they were hardly needed, but they felt just too darn good, and besides it was part of my legitimate prescription, and surely it was fine, right? Yeah...
I had a moment similar to what you mentioned. I can only describe it as a combination of a lightning bolt of cold, crystalline clarity with a panic attack. I just knew at that point I was in a very bad way. No toilet in my case, I washed the remaining pills down the kitchen sink. This would have been well before Lord of the Rings film, but when I saw Fellowship, I immediately could relate to the scene where Bilbo struggles to give up the Ring
But you’re naked all the time, Rainbow…
Read the author’s note. Based on the quality of your writing, I had already assumed the mistakes were deliberate. Dash would say “dissipation” or something, wouldn’t she?