The Mane six were gathered around the castle map room enjoying a pancake breakfast prepared by both Pinkie and Twilight. The latter of whom had spent the entire night helping Pinkie trying to decide the flavor. In fact, Twilight had been spending time helping her friends more than she needed to.
She had helped Fluttershy clean her animals thoroughly, dug fifty holes for Sweet Apple Acre's new trees when only ten were needed, spent an entire afternoon organizing a single gem drawer at the boutique, and raced Rainbow Dash a hundred times, losing each time.
"Yeah. Who does that?" Rainbow asked before she and Fluttershy looked at the subject of the conversation.
The overworked alicorn was asleep at the table, and quickly lost her head's balance, causing it to land on her plate of whipped cream topped pancakes. Rather than waking up, she snuggled in while muttering in her sleep.
"Mm...Spike...on my face again....tastes like whipped cream..." Everypony reeled back slightly with wide eyes while Pinkie giggled and muttered something about Deja-vu.
"Ahem...somepony who's avoidin something, that's who" Applejack answered "Soon as she wakes up, we're gonna find out what."
Pinkie then spat out the measuring cup she said she had lost in the batter, which flew across and struck Fluttershy in the face, landing in her pancakes.
"I win!" Pinkie exclaimed cheerfully, which awoke the slumbering princess.
"Huh?! I'm pancake, I mean...awake" Twilight smiled sheepishly as she lifted the pancake her horn had impaled from her view. After some small prodding, she admitted to avoiding the castle due to it not feeling like home. Rarity then volunteered herself and the others to decorate Twilight's castle while she enjoyed herself at the spa.
"Oh no, did I miss the pancakes?!" Spike said from the doorway before rushing in "I sleep like a baby in that royal bedroom. You however slept like a log last night Twilight. I told you one session would tire you out even more." Twilight blushed slightly as Spike climbed on top of the inactive map to get at the pancakes that had been set aside for him.
"Spike! I'm so glad you're here" Rarity exclaimed.
"And Twilight has wings" Spike chuckled in response "What else is new these past couple weeks?"
"Well your taking Twilight to the spa for one" Rarity replied.
"Great, I've been meaning to get my claws done." The Mane Six all gave Spike a look, giving him the hint as he chewed his pancakes.
"Oh, you mean now" Spike said before stuffing the remaining pancakes into his mouth and climbing off the table. He stopped to give AJ a quick kiss and quick rub to her stomach that was just barely starting to curve.
Twilight followed him before quickly stopping to utter something to Pinkie.
"Um Pinkie, my mind's still a little fuzzy. Did we.....slip anything....into Spike's pancakes?"
"Mm-mm" Pinkie said with a shrug, leaving Twilight unsure as she caught up to Spike. Pinkie smiled mischievously as she closed the map room.
"We've got pleeeeeenty of time girls."
"Well then come on y'all" AJ exclaimed "We've got work to do."
"Sweet Celestia!" Spike exclaimed as he beheld the...work done to the castle by his five mates.
"Oh, Spike, are you and Twilight done already?" Rarity asked while Pinkie's head tilted to the side in confusion.
"Don't worry, I ordered her the super deluxe mane blow-out, she'll be awhile. No offense, but this place looks terrible." Everypony sighed in relief while Pinkie continued to look at Spike's lower half with a tilted head and squinted eyes.
While everypony agreed about the unpleasant appearance of the room, Pinkie pulled out a small bottle from her hair and began to read the back label. Spike's longer tail then accidentally set off one of Pinkie's hidden confetti cannons.
"Weehee" Pinkie exclaimed as she ran with Fluttershy's startled animals before continuing to read the bottle mid-run. "Hmm...lasts more than six hours....seek immediate help....may have delayed effect in other species ohhhhh."
Once a few chipmunks made some tears in the curtains Rarity had hung, she brought the commotion to an end.
"Everypony stop!" All the animals and Pinkie skidded to a halt.
"Okay, now it's a mess" Pinkie said cheerfully before another confetti canon went off.
"What are we gonna do?!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"I don't know" Spike said "But Twilight's blow-out won't take that long. If she was avoiding the castle before, she'll never set hoof in here now."
"Come on guys, we gotta do something" Rainbow said "Twilight's counting on us."
"Spike, you've got to get back to that spa and stall her" Rarity said "Whatever you do, don't let her come home."
"Like forever?" Spike asked "But we live here."
"Well, I'm certain you could manage till sunset-ish?" Rarity with a flutter of her eyes "You could receive some form of...reward for your efforts."
Spike cocked a brow before responding. "Yeah, that little eye flutter thing doesn't work on me anymore. But I wouldn't object to a reward."
"Girls, girls" Pinkie said as she stepped up and put a foreleg around Spike "I know for a fact Spike's gonna be able to keep Twilight...occupied." Pinkie gave the girls a wink before giving Spike's arm a squeeze. "He doesn't need any reward for motivation.
"Even though we'll be more than happy to give one anyway" Pinkie muttered suggestively into Spike's ear before giving his ear spine a small lick. Spike's nictitating membranes blinked in a quick motion while the rest of the girls looked on in surprise at Pinkie's actions.
"Ahem, so you need me to keep her till sunset?" Spike said as he started for the door "Sundown? Sunrise? Late as you want."
"Late as you can manage Spike" Pinkie said "Late as you can manage."
Once Spike left, Pinkie approached the group with a smug expression while Rainbow gave her an impressed whistle. "Damn Pinkie."
"Quite impressive Pin-" Rarity was interrupted by the pink mare clearing her throat as she stepped close to her.
"And that, is how you step up your game" Pinkie said before using the curl of Rarity's mane to smugly wipe the corners of her mouth. "So how are we gonna fix the mess?" Pinkie asked, leaving behind a wide eyed, blinking Rarity.
Spike had returned to the spa and was sitting in a chair, waiting for Twilight's blow-out to finish. He grabbed a magazine from the nearby table to browse. His mind began to wander with the possibilities of his reward when he felt a sudden stirring in his lower region.
"What the?" Spike said as he looked down, his eyes going wide from his out of nowhere arousal. "I barely started thinking about the possibilities."
"Oh my"
"Gah!" Spike exclaimed as he used the magazines long centerfold to cover himself "Uh hi...Lotus."
"Good day to you mister Spike" Lotus said sultrily as she tilted her head, attempting to get a peek.
"I was just uh" Spike began as he turned his body to better conceal himself "e-enjoying this centerfold of.....this deluxe cart."
"I noticed you were...enjoying it."
Spike felt the heat in his cheeks as he stuttered his next response. "Uh y-yeah. I-I-It's a good looking-" Spike was cut off by the sound of a startled gasp from behind. He turned to see a blushing Aloe with her mouth agape and a hoof gestured as if to cover her mouth.
"AH!" Spike exclaimed as he did a one-eighty, not realizing he was now visible to Lotus, who took full advantage. "Hey Aloe!"
"A fine hello to you, Mister Spike" Aloe said with a turned head and a hoof to her chest while she continued blushing.
"Very fine." Lotus said, causing Spike to wince before grabbing another magazine and releasing the centerfold to cover himself from both mares, his cheeks burning red.
"Spike, you're back!"
"Oh thank Celestia" Spike muttered before looking to Twilight. His face went blank when he saw his alicorn mate sporting a punk style hairdo.
"How do I look?" Twilight asked before noticing what Spike was doing "Why are you holding two centerfolds in front of you?"
Spike merely nodded while his tail acted as an impromptu hand holding his chin. "Mmhm, mmhm...tsk, Aloe, Lotus, you've got private rooms right?"
"Of course!" Aloe and Lotus replied simultaneously.
"Perfect. Twilight, shall we?" Spike said as he stood up, tossing the magazines aside, much to the spa twins delight and Twilight's surprise.
"Uh, wow, I had no idea a new haircut could be so effect- whoa!" Twilight was interrupted when she was suddenly picked up by Spike.
"Wait!" Lotus exclaimed as Spike began walking to one of the rooms "Those are reserved for thorough full body massages with the hap- special! special endings."
"And the minimum capacity is four. Oh look, it's just us four here" Aloe said, contributing to her sister's effort.
"Aloe, Lotus" Twilight said suddenly and sternly, freezing the two in place "As resident princess of Ponyville, I temporarily render the minimum capacity of the room to two individuals. Oh look, me and Spike make two, good day."
"Looks like I'm not the only one whose attractive when asserting authority" Spike said before taking Twilight's lips into a gentle kiss and entering the private room. Twilight opened an eye to look at the twins with as smug a smile she could manage before using her magic to slam the door closed.
"Darn royalty" Aloe grumbled.
"Wait, do the security cameras still work in that room?" Lotus asked.
"To the front desk!" Aloe exclaimed. The two sisters soon started climbing over each other, each attempting to reach the desk first. A few slaps were exchanged before Lotus was able to gain the upper hoof and reached the desk. She turned on the small monitor and gasped in delight when a clear picture came through.
"Aloe! You must come and see this! He's starting to go south!" Lotus exclaimed, her sister soon popping up next to her.
"Ooh la la."
"Hey!" the sisters exclaimed when the screen suddenly went black at the sound of a hoof pushing the video feed button. They looked up to see a hoof attached to a very muscular foreleg. They raised there heads to see a suspicious looking Bulk Biceps.
"Oh um, hello Bulk" Lotus said nervously "We were just uh..."
"We respect the customer's privacy in this establishment!" Bulk exclaimed angrily.
"Yes!" the twins replied fearfully. Thankfully for them the door bell rang, signaling the arrival of a customer.
"Oh, did you hear that? A new customer!" Aloe exclaimed "Let's go Lotus!"
The sisters sped off while Bulk gave a satisfied nod. "Now I've got extra strength hot stone deep tissue massages to get too! Next on the list....Brad!"
"It's Flash!"
"Yeah keep telling yourself that man! We doing this or what?!"
Brad hesitantly stepped towards the muscle bound stallion. "Why do I feel like I'm gonna end up hurting after this?" He suddenly found his head squeezed between Bulk's shoulders.
"This way Brad!" Bulk said before charging through the wall with a frightened Brad in tow.
"I instantly regret this!"
***
Meanwhile with Spike and Twilight
Twilight's breathing became heavy as Spike's kisses to her legs started travelling up. "So...Spike...how does the...how does the mm, just a bit closer...how does the castle loo- ohhhh yes. Mm."
Well into the night, the rest of the Main Six were growing slightly impatient waiting for Twilight and Spike. They had expected them back three and a half hours ago, though Pinkie seemed to be the less impatient of the group. She decided to occupy herself with making cupcakes in the large crystal kitchen.
"How long does it take to get a mane blow-out?" Rainbow said exasperatedly while lounging in her council chair.
"Even I wouldn't take this long for a simple mane blow-out" Rarity said as she sat in her own chair "And that's saying something."
"Pinkie sense! They're back!" Pinkie called from the kitchen before bounding out with a tray of freshly made, blue frosted cupcakes on her back.
On cue, Spike flew in through the window, carrying Twilight bridal style in the middle of a kiss. Twilight's mane was still in the style she had gotten, save for a number of out of place strands, and was slightly glossy from sweat.
"The spa closed" Spike said briefly before resuming his kiss with Twilight "They kicked us out."
"Well it's about time y'all- hello!" Applejack exclaimed as she spotted Spike's still present arousal.
"May also have a longer effect in other species, ohhhhh" Pinkie said after reading from the bottle she pulled from her hair.
AJ hid her face behind her hat, Rainbow wolf whistled, Fluttershy hid her red face behind her mane, and Rarity turned her head away while fanning herself though "sneakily" not averting her eyes.
"Yeah, for a while now, somehow" Spike replied before being silenced by Twilight's lips.
"Shut up and keep kissing me" Twilight said before addressing her friends in a whisper "Do not question it. I haven't and good things have come of that. So be quiet about it and we'll see you in the morning."
Twilight kissed Spike again before using her magic to push him into her royal bedroom and close the door, leaving their friends in the council room with blank expressions.
"Soooo she didn't notice that we hung up the roots of her old treehouse to the ceiling with crystal ornaments that show old memories, did she?" Rainbow asked.
"Nope" Pinkie replied happily as she set the tray of cupcakes down on the map table with a note telling Spike and Twilight the treats were for them. "But can ya blame her?"
"I certainly can't" Rarity said "In fact I'm a little jealous. So we're spending the night over to be there in the morning when she sees what we did, yes?"
The rest of the Mane Six all agreed before beginning to make their way to the guestrooms. Fluttershy approached Pinkie and put a foreleg around her as they entered the same room.
"So, um, Pinkie? I just wanted to make sure that um...you had a hoof in um...Spike's prolonged arousal?"
"Yup! That was me" Pinkie happily affirmed.
"So you're directly responsible for Spike and Twilight having almost an entire day of unprotected, foal giving sex?"
".....Uh, uh-huh" Pinkie replied with a gulp, realizing she may have made a fatal mistake.
"Just checking" Fluttershy said with a smile, squeezing Pinkie a little harder.
"Um, hehe, you're not mad, right Flutters? I mean come on, we share a voice. And we're Sister Mates. Right?"
"Sleep with one eye open"
"Huh?"
"I said sleep tight." Fluttershy flew off to another room, pausing briefly to glare at the royal bedroom's door after hearing a moan from the room. Pinkie went to sleep nervously, swearing she felt the yellow mare's eyes on her.
Twilight emerged from the royal bedroom with about half of her stylized mane pressed from sleep in different areas. After rubbing her eye, she noticed a glint and looked up, gasping at what she saw.
"Girls, this is amazing." The rest of the Mane Six all bolted out of their rooms and started affirming what they did all at once. Spike soon emerging after and joined Twilight in staring in awe. They then explained the use of the roots and the crystals, touching Twilight's heart even further. "It's exactly what the castle needed.
"And I am ready to make new memories here. But...I think I should repay you by giving you a chance to make new memories here. He's all yours girls" Twilight said as she began to make her way for the doors while holding one of Pinkie's blue cupcakes with her magic.
"What?" Spike said, perplexed.
"I've gotta run to the drugstore for a tessss-something...anyway." Twilight then teleported, leaving Spike and his other five mates behind.
"ME FIRST!" Fluttershy shouted before pulling a Rainbow Dash and bolting into her guest room with Spike in her hooves. The door slammed before any of the others could utter a word.
"Get to it dragon boy! We have a lot of time to make up for!"
Ponyville was covered in snow and the houses were covered in festive lights, bows, and tinsel. All signs that the town was ready for Hearth's Warming Eve, the happiest time of the year.
Even the newest princess' castle was adorned top to bottom with the appropriate decorations, which a large majority of was done by Ponyville's resident dragon thanks to his new wings. Thankfully his two magically gifted mates were able to make a few dozen or so adjustments.
The dragon had been momentarily begrudged but agreed with his fashion savvy unicorn mate that the appearance of the castle was greatly improved from her and Twilight's intervention.
Currently, the dragon and his alicorn mate, Twilight, were in a room of the castle making small, final additions to the scenery. Or rather, Twilight was making some final additions. Spike was alternating between wringing his hands, crossing his arms and tapping his foot, and biting his claws, all while wearing a very anxious expression on his face.
"Spike, would you stop fidgeting?" Twilight chuckled at the nervous dragon as she set down a Hearth's Warming cake with her magic "You're usually shaking the presents to try and guess what they are."
"You want me to try and guess the presents?!" Spike chuckled anxiously before grabbing a nearby present and giving it a few quick, erratic shakes "Fine. Hm, I wonder what this one is. Maybe a book, a pot pan vase toy train NEW JACKET! There."
Spike tossed the present aside without looking where he threw it and turned to address his first mate, who was looking at him in a disbelieving amused look. "Now can you please let me out of here to see my pregnant mate?"
"I promised AJ I'd keep you here and try to keep you calm" Twilight reminded him "And she's already on her way here with Pinkie to see us before they head to Pinkie's family rock farm."
"Oh don't even get me started on the fact that two of my mates are leaving, one of whom is pregnant, with my child, and I have been forbidden from going with them. Which, by the way, HOW DID THAT EVEN HAPPEN?!" The sound of ash clumps falling in the chimney drew the pair's attention from the discussion.
"Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!" exclaimed Spike's fifth mate before losing here hold and humorously falling to the floor.
Twilight chuckled at her Sister Mate's antics while Spike immediately realized that the pink pony's presence meant that another must be present and sniffed the air to confirm. His head darted to the door just before his second mate entered.
"Shucks Twilight, y'all don-"
"Applejack!" Spike exclaimed as he quickly walked to the orange earth pony. Said pony didn't have time to get another word out before her drakefriend grabbed her face and brought her into a loving kiss. Applejack, taken aback, darted her eyes back and forth before shrugging her shoulders and melting into the kiss.
Pinkie hummed pleasantly at the sight while Twilight stared crossly at her assistant/significant other. "Uh, hello? Aren't you going to give Pinkie a kiss?"
"Oh relax Sis-Mate Twilight. She's preggers with Spike's love child. I don't mind a missed kiss or two" Pinkie assured the alicorn "Besides, he always has a way of....making it up to me, if ya know what I mean. Wink wink, nudge nudge."
"Hehe yeah, I get it Pinkie" Twilight said awkwardly as she pushed the pink pony away from her personal space just as Spike broke the kiss.
"Ahem....a fine how do ya do ta you too Spi-"
"I'm sorry I've been away for so long. Have you and the baby been okay?"
"Ya haven't seen me in ten hours Spike" AJ pointed out "Ya visit every day even though we made ya come back to the castle. And yes, we've been fine" AJ finished with a slight rub of her now slightly curved stomach.
"Thank Celestia" Spike breathed "A cart could've swerved on the icy ground and hit you while I wasn't there."
"The ground is covered in snow Spike" Twilight said with slight exasperation "Nopony is pulling a cart right now."
"Irrelevant Twilight" Spike replied.
"Well, we were just stoppin in to wish y'all a happy Hearth's Warming before we go" Applejack cut in to avoid any further trouble.
"I think it's sweet that your families are spending the holiday together" Twilight said as she placed hers and Spike's Hearth's Warming dolls above the fireplace. The latter's doll having been given abdominal muscles despite Spike's surprising insistence against it.
"Picture the most funtacular thing you can think of" Pinkie began as she stepped next to Twilight "Now multiply that times infinity! Whoo! It's gonna be great!" Pinkie exclaimed as she grabbed Applejack in a hug and lightly spun her.
"Hey hey hey" Spike said as she pulled Pinkie off of AJ "No tight hugs with the pregnant girl. And will you please let me come along?"
"Sorry Spike, much as we would love to take ya along" AJ paused to glare at Twilight, who grinned sheepishly in response "We all had an agreement that Twilight gets ya fer Hearth's Warming this year."
"Again, how did that happen?" Spike said as he looked to Twilight, only for Pinkie to step in with her own version of what happened.
"Twilight said a bunch of smarty pants math stuff about time and love distributions and patios"
"Ratios"
"That too. Hey where's the eggnog?"
"Sorry Pinkie. Me and Spike don't really like eggnog" Twilight said apologetically, only to have Pinkie get in her face.
"WWWHAT?! Who doesn't have eggnog on Hearth's Warming?!"
"Relax Pinkie" Applejack said to calm the erratic party planner "We can get some on the train."
"Oh, okay" Pinkie replied cheerfully as she bounded next to the farm pony and her drakefriend. "But I am craving really bad" Pinkie said as she approached Spike "Are you sure you don't have anything thick and creamy and warm for me to swallow- I mean drink?"
Pinkie began tracing circles on Spike's chest with her hoof and directed her eyes downward as Spike looked down at her with a cocked eyebrow and a smile.
"Pinkie" Twilight exclaimed "Just because we're all his mates doesn't mean inappropriate comments aren't inappropriate, or gross. Plus your train leaves in fifteen minutes."
"They could catch the next train" Spike said immediately before the train whistle blew.
"Sorry sugarcube" AJ said as she started pulling Pinkie away "It's the last train what with all the snow startin ta cover the tracks."
"Twilight, you know how to stop time right?" Pinkie asked desperately.
"Nope, sorry" Twilight replied as she used her magic to pull a frantic Spike towards her "You two should probably get going. Fast."
"No, wait!" Spike exclaimed "AJ, no heavy lifting or pushing. Eat only roughage. Pinkie, do your popping up thing so you can get in the train after you...do the thing."
"It doesn't work when I'm in a moving vehicle!"
"AJ, go now!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Yes mam" Applejack said before bolting off to the train station with Pinkie.
"Don't run too fast!" Spike said before slumping in Twilight's magic hold "Grrr."
"Oh stop complaining, she'll be fine" Twilight said as she shut the doors with her magic "Now come on, opening presents a day early tradition" Twilight said in a sing song voice "Open this one first."
Spike took hold of the present as he reluctantly took his eyes off the door. Twilight informed him that it could be thought of as present from all six of his mates. "Oh, just what I've always wanted. A book."
"Read the title" Twilight urged him as she motioned with her hoof.
".......The Kama Hooftra? Really?"
"Yeah, I thought the title sounded interesting" Twilight replied with an unconvincing tone of ignorance "I haven't checked to see what it translates to, but I'm sure it's not important. Have fun reading!" Twilight exclaimed as she hurried to the door.
"Wait, now?"
"Get to it mister. Book's not gonna read itself" Twilight said enthusiastically before closing the door behind her, leaving a slightly perplexed Spike behind. The young dragon looked down at the cover of the book with a cocked brow before shrugging his shoulders and opening the text.
"What if our families don't like each other?" Applejack asked in concern. Pinkie and the Apple family had arrived at the train station in Pinkie's home....town? land? area. Applejack made sure to remind Apple Bloom that Hearth's Warming wasn't just about candy and presents, while also fighting off the beginning cravings for sweets. She slipped up once when she took a bite of the cookie flag she was using after Pinkie had done so.
"We are friends and Sister Mates Applejack" Pinkie assured her maybe, possible cousin "And after tonight, our families are gonna be friends too. Plus, you're gonna get emotional support points for being knocked up. Do you know what that means? *number from complicated Pinkie math that includes AJ's foal* new friendships!"
"Uh...huh?" Applejack said in confusion as she looked at the ground where Pinkie's spontaneous extra hooves had come from.
"Maud!" Pinkie exclaimed before wrapping her second oldest sister in a loving hug.
"I'm so exited to see you Pinkie Pie. You too Applejack" Maud greeted her sister and friend "Congratulations on the foal. I hope you weren't bored while you watched your friends sledding yesterday."
"How'd you know we went sleddin? And that I didn't join in?" Applejack asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Maud asked as she approached AJ and lifted her hoof "There's specks of extrusive andesite on your hoof. It's a mountain rock."
"Oh, she's good" Granny Smith muttered.
"Wait, how did ya know about me being pregnant?"
"Pinkie writes to me all the time" Maud explained "She told me six letters ago about you and the others. Plus your metabolism resulting from your farm life makes it very unlikely that your rounded belly is the result of overeating."
"Oh, right" Applejack replied with slight blush.
"How's school going?" Pinkie asked as she appeared next to Maud.
"If you thought quartz was high on the Mohs hardness scale, wait till I tell you about corundum."
"I missed you so much!" Pinkie exclaimed while the Apples Eh'd and began following the two sisters.
"By the way Applejack" Maud said as they neared the Pie rock farm "Me and the family don't have a problem with you and the others sleeping with Pinkie's coltfriend. Our old fashioned ways are fine with polygamy, but you should know they're not too enthusiastic about you being pregnant first. Our kind of family see's a polygamous family member getting pregnant first as a sign of good fortune."
"Oh, Ah'm...sorry?" AJ replied unsurely.
"Oh don't worry about it Applejack" Pinkie said "Tradition says to treat an expecting friend of the family with care and hospitality, so you're in the clear."
"Ah suddenly feel like yer family and Fluttershah would get along pretty well."
After arriving, marveling at the decorated farm, being introduced to the Pie Family, and given the rule not to approach Holder's Boulder, Applejack noticed that Pinkie's sister, who strongly resembled Fluttershy, appeared to be struggling with backing away or stepping closer while hiding her face behind her mane.
"And this is Marble Pie" Pinkie said as she hugged her younger sibling "My baby sister who's only a few minutes younger than me but she'll always be a baby to me, isn't that right? She's so excited to meet everypony. Oh, and she wishes you all a happy Hearth's Warming."
"Mmhm" Marble shyly muttered only after Pinkie nudged her.
"She's seems pretty nervous. Am Ah makin her...uncomfortable?" AJ asked worriedly.
"Mm mm!" Marble replied immediately with wide eyes in an urgent tone as she shook her head, surprising almost everypony.
"Oh no, don't worry Applejack" Pinkie assured her "She's a little shy about this, but she loves foals. She's actually the one in the family most excited about it, excluding me of course."
"She's going to make a great mother one day" Maud said in her monotonous tone that somehow sounded caring at the same time "Assuming she can find a coltfriend that Limestone won't scare away."
"Hey! None of those five were good for her" Limestone exclaimed as she got in Maud's face "And you know Ma and Pa want her to get a stallion from the pairing stone."
"We said we would prefer that Marble would be aided by the pairing stone, but it is not a requirement" Igneous specified.
"Pa" Limestone grumbled before addressing Maud again "Hey don't forget you creeped out two others."
"You laughed about those two after they ran away" Maud pointed out.
"Marble's right everypony" Pinkie said "We're here to spend Hearth's Warming together, not talk about her lack of a love life."
In a rare moment, Marble's face went from shy to a Limestone-esque deadpan as she grumbled "Mmmmmhm." Big Mac chuckled lightly at Marble's expression, which made Marble blush as she hid a smile behind her mane.
Everypony agreed before Pinkie made the announcement for everypony to get settled in before Hearth's Warming Eve dinner. On their way in, AJ noticed Marble glancing at her rounded belly with a small smile. She decided not to point it out to spare the already shy girl further embarrassment.
The Apples were naturally surprised to discover dinner consisted of rock soup, though Applejack found it rather curious that her soup was a slightly brighter green and had small rocks rather than one whole rock.
"Um...is there a reason mah soup is different from everypony else's?"
"It is a special soup for expecting mares" Cloudy Quartz explained "It aids in the child's developing strength and growth. It was the only thing I ate for dinner when I carried each of my daughters. Though I am unsure if the soup will work the same with the child's mixed lineage."
"Oh, well that's mighty nice of ya to do for me an the little one. And don't you fret, I'm sure it'll help." AJ then glanced down at her bowl of soup nervously before lifting it up to take a sip. She was surprised to find that it actually tasted pretty good, and the small rocks were actually easy to chew.
Limestone gave an unseen nod with a satisfied smile and Marble smiled warmly at Applejacks acceptance of the soup while everypony else enjoyed their meal.
As everypony made their way to the quarry to begin on their Hearth's Warming dolls, Limestone stepped next to Applejack to address her. "So I noticed Marble and your brother giving each other a few looks. What's his deal? Seems like a stallion like him would have a marefriend already."
"Um, he did" Applejack said nervously, not entirely comfortable with the discussion topic, especially considering a certain awkward encounter in the barn. "He was datin Ponyville's schoolteacher for a bit, but apparently they're on a break."
"She forgot to grade all the students papers....four times."
"So he didn't cheat on her?"
"Nnope"
"Hm....I'll be keeping an eye on him none the less."
After making their Hearth's Warming "dolls" from rocks, Pinkie set up the two families in pairs to find the Hearth's Warming flag to place on Holder's Boulder.
AJ and Pinkie searched in the caves of the rock quarry, with Pinkie keeping an eye on AJ to ensure she didn't exert herself too much. "If you have trouble lifting a big rock, just tell me okay?"
"Ah'm stronger than ya Pinkie" Applejack pointed out "Somehow. And don't worry, Ah know not to go overboard, especially now."
AJ looked down at her stomach before giving it a small rub. "Truthfully, mah mind is being overworked over yer family's traditions. They're all so complicated and...rock based."
"Well, how else would we do it?" Pinkie asked cheerfully.
"Ah don't know. Ah just hope everypony else is havin a better time."
Marble and Big Mac had been sent to the front yard to search, where they both "conversed" with their trademark utterances.
"Mmhm"
"Eeyup"
"Mmmmhm"
"Eeeeeeeeeyup"
Both ponies glanced at each other before looking away awkwardly. And then Marble's foal loving mind made her speak to the stallion she had developed a small crush on.
"Have you ever thought about having kids?"
"!!!!!!!" Big Mac reared his head and looked at the shy earth pony with wide eyes and cheeks that were somehow redder. Marble cowered with a wince, immensely embarrassed and chiding herself for not thinking before she spoke.
"Uuuuuhhhhh.......Nope!" Bic Mac spun around and began frantically searching through the snow, digging out and then tossing aside rocks he grabbed. "Hm, nope! Nope! Nope!"
Marble meanwhile began banging her head against one of the fence columns. Great Marble. You don't need your sisters to scare this one away. You're gonna do it all by yourself! Like a big mare!
A short time later, Marble was able to work up just enough courage to approach the stallion in order to apologize.
"Ahem" Marble muttered, gaining the cautious stallion's attention "Um........sorry."
Big Mac looked surprised as the young mare hid her nervous face behind her mane as if expecting the worst. He smiled before leaning down and nudging her head up, which made her blush slightly as she looked up into his eyes.
"S'okay" Big Mac said with a caring smile, making Marble's eyes soften and her blush increase slightly.
"Mmhm?"
"Eeyup"
Marble's smile grew before both ponies averted their blushing faces and returned to their search.
"Mmhm"
"Eeyup"
While the elders discussed the Pairing Stone and Cloudy Quartz passed on the recipe for the soup AJ had been served to Granny Smith, Maud and Apple Bloom searched in a separate part of the quarry.
"What does the rock look like?"
"It looks like something that formed when volcanic lava cooled quickly."
"Oh."
"Have you ever wished you could turn into a rock?"
"Ah had a dream once Ah was an apple."
"We have a lot in common when it comes to thinking about turning into things."
Apple Bloom smiled cutely at Maud's comparison.
"Are you exited about having a niece or nephew?"
"Totally!" Apple Bloom replied before jumping off the rock she had been standing on "And it's gonna be a filly. No matter what Spike says." She paused mid-step as something occurred to her. "Oh wow. Ah'm gonna be an aunt. Mah sister's havin a foal, so that's gonna make me an aunt."
"Intense isn't it?" Maud asked, her tone still unchanged.
"Oh great, Ah'm gonna be an old aunt" Apple Bloom said in exaggerated despair.
"Apple Bloom" Maud called to the filly before motioning her over. Apple Bloom approached awkwardly with a cocked brow. "Considering how close your family is to each other and your age difference to the foal, this will probably be more of a sibling relationship for you."
Apple Bloom turned away slightly with a thoughtful expression before having her face turned back by Maud. Apple Bloom had to suppress an exclamation of shock when she saw a small smile on Maud's face.
"Helping raise a younger sibling is one of the best experiences you could ever have. And from what Pinkie has told me, I can guarantee you're going to be a great aunt and sister Apple Bloom."
Apple Bloom's smile trembled as tears began to stream down her face before she captured Maud's foreleg in a tight hug. Maud maintained her smile as she used her free hoof to rub Apple Bloom's head.
"*sniff* T-Thanks Maud" Apple Bloom said before releasing the mare and wiping away her tears.
"No problem" Maud replied before her smile morphed back into her steady frown "We should keep looking. Limestone doesn't like it when she can't keep an eye on everypony on the farm."
"Yeah, sure" Apple Bloom replied. She found Maud's emotion change rather abrupt, but from AJ's description of her encounter with the Pie sibling, she felt she should just go with it.
"I'm pretty sure the foal is going to be a colt by the way."
"Oh come on Maud" Apple Bloom whined "We just had a nice moment. Why do you need to spoil it?"
"I'm not saying it will be, but all the signs point to it."
"What signs?" Apple Bloom said skeptically.
"Applejack's right side hooves leave prints two centimeters deeper than her left side, she slightly leans to her left when she sits, and her bathroom trips have alternated between every fifteen minutes to every nineteen."
"............All that tells ya it's gonna be a colt?"
"Pretty much" Maud confirmed in her usual deadpan "I had a friend at Rock School who had the same signs and she had a colt."
"Really?"
"Mmhm. Also, mares that are having a filly or fillies go to the bathroom in even minutes instead if odd. That's how it was for mom when she was carrying Pinkie and Marble. And me. And Limestone."
"......Oh. Aw great, now Ah'm gonna owe Scootaloo ten bits."
Pinkie found the flag, and explained the present system, and approved Applejack's picturing of both families opening presents and raising the flag. Applejack then got to decorating the entire farm while everypony slept, despite the fact she should've been getting some rest in her condition.
Limestone was not pleased. Igneous and Cloudy were outraged. Marble didn't even say a word.
And then the pole AJ planted opened a fault line that sent Holder's Boulder into the ravine.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Oh boy" Applejack uttered nervously "Don't suppose y'all can chalk this up ta pregnancy hormone craziness......could ya?"
The Apple family packed after Limestone demanded they leave and she refused to believe it was pregnancy hormones.
"Prob'ly best if we head back to Sweet Apple Acres" Granny Smith suggested "Maybe in time we'll be friends again, but for the now it's best if we give them a little space."
"Ah wish we didn't have to" Apple Bloom said "Ah really like Maud. She's sweet once ya get ta know her, they all are." Limestone's gesture for them to get out seemed to slightly discredit Apple Bloom's comment.
The Apples left to catch their train after Applejack apologized to Pinkie for her actions. While on the train, Granny Smith told the story of Holder's Boulder, which allowed Applejack to realize the importance of it and the Pie family's traditions, right before receiving a blow to the head.
"Ya just found yer first Pie Hearth's Warmin' present ever!" Apple Bloom exclaimed
"Only Pinkie Pie could hide a present on a movin' train" Applejack chuckled "What a great tradition. Stop the train!"
The entire Pie family was down in the quarry straining to push Holder's Boulder out, with little to no progress.
"I'm pushing as hard as I can too" Maud notified in her usual deadpan, making it clear that the endeavor was basically pointless.
"Rrrgh, it's hopeless!" Limestone exclaimed.
"Need a little help?"
The Pie family turned at the sound of Applejack's voice to see the "Apples!" Yes, thank you Pinkie.
"What do you want?" Limestone asked crossly.
"I wasn't tryin ta take away yer traditions, I was tryin ta share ours" Applejack explained as she took off her hat "Ah was so focused on bein' one big family, Ah thought we needed the same traditions right away. What Ah should've done was learn about yers and teach ya about ours. And over time we'd make new traditions together. I'm sorry y'all. Ah hope ya can find it in yer hearts ta forgive me. I'd rather the little one get ta know her possible extended family while we're on good terms."
All the Pie's looked to Limestone, as she ran the farm and was considered the head of the family. Limestone kept her sour face as she looked to her family before addressing the Apples. "Well don't just stand there, we got a boulder to move!"
The Apples all smiled before joining the Pies as Limestone clarified that she was in charge. Applejack suddenly found herself pushed away before she could commence pushing.
"Whoa whoa whoa" Limestone said "You can't strain yourself like this. You don't want to cause the little guy any harm do ya?"
"Oh great, you too?" Applejack sad as she stood off to the side so as not to impede the others "Ah'll tell ya like Ah told Spike, it's gonna be a girl."
"Yeah, no" Limestone heaved as she continued pushing "Everypony's seen the signs. You're getting a colt AJ."
"Hate ta tell ya hun" Granny Smith said before Applejack could respond "But ya have been showin the signs. Yer mama had the same before she had Big Macintosh. Ya favorite yer left when ya sit."
"Your right side hooves leave deeper imprints" Maud continued.
"And your bathroom trips have been in odd minutes instead of even" Granny Smith and Cloudy Quartz said simultaneously.
"Mmhm/Eeyup"
The eldest mares and the soft spoken siblings looked at each other in surprise before everypony aside from AJ broke into a chuckle. AJ deadpanned at everypony's laughter as they continued to push.
"Ah'm gonna choose not ta believe y'all. And if any of ya even thinks about tellin this ta Spike, you'll get a good buck to the chin cuz Ah'll never hear the end of it from 'im."
"I think we just invented our first combined tradition!" Pinkie exclaimed cheerfully "Pushing Holder's Boulder out of the quarry while we laugh about how Applejack thought she was gonna get a filly. I can't wait for her to knock over the boulder next Hearth's Warming. And for the little colt to join in the laughter."
The combined families laughed while AJ checked her fading patience. "Oh would you all hush and get ta pushin." The families laughed again before continuing they're pushing. Once they got the boulder out of the quarry, they all returned to the house to bond.
As the elders tried out each others manner of speech, Apple Bloom petted Boulder before enjoying a sweet roll provided by Limestone, and Pinkie aided the shy siblings in their romantic interest.
After Applejack opened Pinkie's present to her, a rock unsurprisingly, Marble approached her and gestured to her stomach with a soft hum. Applejack nodded and allowed the shy mare to feel her stomach.
"I'm sure you'll raise him to be a fine stallion Applejack."
"Thanks Marble. And Ah'm sure you'll be a great mother" AJ replied rather than say the foal would be a filly, but also deciding to get a little revenge "Assumin ya find a stallion who won't get scared off."
Marble turned her gaze to Big Mac, who was in the middle of a very one sided hoof wrestle with Limestone. "Let me know when you wanna start big guy."
"Grrrrrr"
"I think I have" Marble muttered, which made AJ's smug look sag into a blank one.
Well that one backfired Applejack thought. She sighed in relief when Apple Bloom announced that Maud was going to "sing" some home written carols.
"The first one is about rocks" Maud said in her trademark deadpan "They're all about rocks. Hearth's Warming is great. Like calcium cilicate. What a wonderful day. As good as mica or clay.
"Whoo!" Applejack exclaimed as she walked through Twilight's castle while waving a hoof in front of her "Ah see y'all been takin advantage of us not bein here to occupy Spike's time."
"No kidding" Pinkie said as she fanned her own muzzle "Woof."
Both mares looked around when they suddenly heard a wistful hum. They looked up to see Twilight gliding through the air with a dreamy look on her face.
"Applejack....Pinkie Pie" Twilight said as she continued to glide gracefully through the air "Soooo glad to see my Sister Mates have returned. I hope you had a delightful Hearth's Warming."
"Ours certainly was."
"What in tarnation!"
"The f***!!!"
"Quite the muzzle on you Sister Mate Pinkie" the out of nowhere Fluttershy said.
"Where in Equestria did ya come from Shah?" asked the flabbergasted Applejack.
"And how did I not know you were here?!" Pinkie asked as she started popping out of random areas as if there would be evidence of Fluttershy's presence.
"I've been here the whole time" Fluttershy said in the same manner as Twilight "I followed you from above when you entered."
"Okay, what's goin on with y'all?" AJ asked "Why are ya actin all......Rarity after five glasses of wine?"
"I believe it's time Sister Mate Twilight" Fluttershy said as she landed next to said mare.
"Indeed Sister Mate Fluttershy. Sister Mates Applejack and Pinkie Pie, now that you have returned, you too can enjoy in the collective gift our shared Alpha Male Spike has provided from my own doing."
"Yer doin?"
"Whadaya mean Twilight?" Pinkie asked after AJ.
"It is as I've always said" Twilight began "Books are our friends, and will give us great benefits afterwards."
Right as Twilight finished, the door to the royal bedroom opened, and out stepped Spike, flipping through the pages of the Kama Hooftra Twilight had gifted him. The sound of dragging accompanied him as he walked out with Rarity clinging to his torso, her lower half dragging and a dreamy look glued to her face.
"Next?" Spike asked as he continued to quickly read through the pages.
Rainbow entered through a window quickly with a surprisingly silent whoosh, wearing the same kind of expression as Fluttershy and Twilight. "It looks like Rarity has successfully felt the same physical awesomeness we have."
"Oh no, you too?" Applejack said.
"Me next! ME NEXT!!!" Pinkie exclaimed enthusiastically.
The open air allowed Spike's nostrils to be cleared of the most recent musk and allowed them to smell his recently returned mates. He lowered the book as quick as Rainbow Dash speed to look at the mare he had been most focused on. He sped towards Applejack while Rarity was simultaneously removed from him by Twilight's magic. Spike stopped suddenly in front of the orange earth pony, startling her before grabbing her face and capturing her lips.
Applejack attempted to draw the dragon's attention but melted into the kiss before she could tap him on the shoulder. Pinkie fidgeted in place, growing impatient for her turn.
"I missed you so much" Spike said after he broke away "I am so relieved you and the little guy are safe. And now you get your Hearth's Warming present." Spike began pulling AJ towards the royal bedroom as Pinkie gaped in confusion.
"Wha- bu- na- I- I said it was my turn!" Pinkie exclaimed before she received the same kind of kiss as AJ.
"You'll get the same" Spike promised after breaking away "But my son's mother takes priority at the moment."
"O-Okay" Pinkie said dreamily "You owe me big time AJ."
"Oh Ah think it'll be worth it" AJ said before the door to the royal bedroom closed.
"I know it won't be in this chapter, but I'm gonna say it like it already was" Pinkie said "Best Hearth's Warming Ever."
"All thanks to a book."
"Ugh"
"Really darling"
"Seriously"
"Give it a rest, Sister Mate Egghead"
"Hey it's true and you know it!"
Pinkie cut in before an argument could ensue "Happy Hearth's Warming everypony!"
"And a Haaaapy New Year! Yee-haw!" Applejack exclaimed from the royal bedroom.