An unforgettable Christmas
An unforgettable Christmas
Was it already this time of year again? Christmas was on the door step once again. It was winter, snow as far as my eyes could see.
The year 1960 came to an end, it was quite eventful for me. The most eventful experience I had this year, was a little lost unicorn filly from another world I found and helped until it could get home.
Twilight Sparkle, a young, yet very intelligent unicorn from Equestria. Being stranded on Earth due a failed teleport spell back in summer 1960, I found her, taking care of her until her family could find and bring her back. She changed my life positive after losing my family in the war.
Despite it has been months after this, I hadn’t forgotten her, neither had my friends that had helped me at the time.
Since my family had died, I hadn’t celebrated Christmas anymore neither did I celebrate my birthday.
This year was different. I had invited by friends to me to celebrate Christmas this year.
Before Twilight went home, we all got a gifted with plushies of Twilight by the ruler of Equestria, Princess Celestia.
I placed the plushie on the shelf in the living room so it looked out of the window having a red stocking cap I had made for it on its head. The presents were ready under the Christmas tree, Dinner was also prepared in the kitchen, now, I just had to wait until my guests would arrive on 8PM.
I couldn’t help but think back of the time when I was a kid, playing with my brother in the snow, making a snowman, having snowball fights, all wonderful memories.
As I thought back, I also remembered the Christmas evenings I had with my wife before the war, sitting at the fireplace enjoying the warmth. For me, it was always beautiful to see it snowing, it looked to wonderful, so peaceful.
I find that snow fits very well to Christmas, I can’t imagine it without snow. I was always happy when I wake up in the morning, seeing everything white, covered in snow. Seeing children playing in the snow warmed my heart even more.
For them, it was one of the most exciting times of the year, getting gifts. I love to eat gingerbread Wafers to Christmas and Speculaas, very delicious.
I wondered if the children of my friends would like them too or not, as I had also some gingerbread Wafers and Speculaas made along cinnamon and other Christmas suiting sweets.
I could tell already that this would be a nice evening for all of us. As I looked on the clock, I saw that I had an half an hour left until my friends would arrive, so I sat down on the couch, trying to think back of the time I had with Twilight, having to smile, remembering like it had been yesterday. When I took care of her, I hadn’t felt so much joy in a long time.
It made me wonder how she had celebrated Christmas with me, probably asking me about the origin of it and why we celebrated it and such.
The doorbell tore me out, already 8PM? Time goes fast.
I stood up, walked to the door and opened it. My 2 friends Jonas and Hans with their families were smiled warmly at me. “Nice to see you all. Come in.” I greeted them with a smile of my own.
“With pleasure!” The sons of Jonas and Hans, Lukas and Paul exclaimed happy, holding some presents in their hands for me. But the unpacking had to wait until after the dinner.
Of course I had thought of presents for my friends for Christmas, what kind of friend would I be if I hadn’t made Christmas presents for my friends?
“It’s so cuddly warm in here.” Jonas’ wife Sarah commented as I had turned on the fireplace, for me, there was nothing better to spend the Christmas evening at the fire place.
“I know it’s been a few months already since Twilight is back home, but I can still remember if it was yesterday.” Hans’ wife Julia said as they all got comfortable at the table in the dining room, her expression was one of sadness, missing the little filly. I missed her too.
“I guess we all miss her. But still, let’s enjoy this wonderful evening.” I replied, bringing the food in. Potato salad, my mother had always made it to Christmas and I didn’t see a reason why I shouldn’t continue it.
“That looks very delicious, James.” Lukas couldn’t wait to eat. I couldn’t blame him, I and my brother were just like him when we were kids, as mother’s potato salad was very delicious.
“Say, James, had any luck on that warehouse yet?” Jonas asked me. Back in the war, there were rumors of a hidden warehouse with top secret state of the art weapons. After Twilight was home safe and sound, I decided to check if it was real or just rumors. I just got curious back then and in the cold war, something like that could break the balance between the West and the East.
“Not yet, in my opinion, it could be too dangerous to look for it so early, I better wait until things settle down.” I replied politely.
“Makes sense. To be honest with you, I’m kinda curious if it is real or not.”
“I believe you that.”
Julia looked with a smile at the plushie. “I really like how you made a Christmas decoration out of it.”
“Thank you. I made the stocking cap myself.” I was proud of it.
“You really have talent in many things, James. When I’m grown up, I wanna be like you!” Paul exclaimed.
I chuckled. “If you want to be like me, I wish you good luck with that, Paul.” The 2 boys reminded me of myself when I was their age, full of enthusiasm, ready to help anyone in need. Their parents could be really proud of them. My parents had been also proud of me if they were still alive and had seen how I took care of Twilight.
“Well, let’s eat, shall we?” I asked as we sat down at the table.
“I know it sounds stupid but I wonder how it would be if Twilight was here to celebrate with us.” Lukas said with a hint of sadness, missing her.
“I wonder the same.” I managed to keep a tear from escaping my eye. Before any of us could start to take something from the food, the doorbell ringed again. Who could that be? I haven’t invited anyone else.
“I’ll be right back.” My guests nodded, waiting politely as I moved out of the room to answer the door. After opening it, I was surprised.
Before me was standing Princess Celestia, together with her niece, Twilight and her family. “Merry Christmas, James!” The young unicorn exclaimed, ramming into me for a hug.
While I appreciated it, I was still surprised that they visited me. I returned the hug. “Thank you, Twily.” Then I turned to the princess. “Your Highness what brings me this honor?”
“We thought we should surprise you with a visit and I thought Christmas would be the most suiting time for it.” Celestia exclaimed, also happy to see me. But as it was a surprise, I hadn’t any presents for them or enough food for them.
The Alicorn held up a hoof before I could say anything. “Do not worry, we already got the food covered.” She stepped aside, showing that Twilight’s mother was carrying a salad for them, enough for all of us.
“Well then, come in.” I stepped aside, letting them in.
“Twilight!” Lukas and Paul were very happy to see her again, doing her greeting routine.
“Sunshine Sunshine ladybugs awake clap your hooves and do the shake!”
Greetings, your Highness,” Their parents welcomed the princess too.
“The pleasure is all mine. For now, let’s celebrate together.” Celestia and the others sat down at the dining table.
The young filly smiled at me, happy to see me again as she ate the potato salad. “Delicious! You are a very good cook, James.” She complimented me with a grin.
“Thanks for the compliment, I learned from my mother.”
“It tastes very good, James. You should give the recipe.” The Princess of the Sun enjoyed it as well.
“I would like to have the recipe as well.” Velvet Sparkle added.
“Please, there’s nothing special. Just normal potato salad.” I felt quite embarrassed about it.
“Still, it’s very good.” Julia added after she had finished her plate.
“Thank you.” Now, I couldn’t help but blush, looking at the ground.
“Say Shining Armor, how goes the training?” Jonas asked the young colt with interest.
“It goes pretty well. I should pass basic training shortly and then, I’m a real Royal Guard!” He sounded excited and proud.
“Indeed, you already proved your magical abilities and strong sense of duty. I’m sure that you will ascend to a high rank without any problems.” Celestia added, causing him to blush.
“T-thank you, your H-highness.” He stuttered.
Cadence giggled while his parents and sister smiled proudly at him.
Despite this embarrassing moment, the evening went as it should be. After dinner, it was time to unwrap the presents.
“Given that we are all are together at your home, you should open your presents first.” Hans suggested.
“Alright.” I choose to open Twilight’s present first. It was a large book about the history of Equestria.”
“Do you like it?” She asked me with glee and hope.
“Of course I do.” I smiled at her.
Jonas’ present was an autobiography of Rommel. “Nice! Thank you.” I liked it very much. Hans’ present was a bottle of French wine from 1921. “1921 was really a good year for the French wine.”
Then came Sarah’s and Julia’s presents. The first was a cookbook and Julia’s present was a Crime novel.
Then I unwrapped the presents of Paul and Lukas. Both presents were very nice. Chocolate and Coupons for the local café in town.
Then Jonas’ family unwrapped their presents. For the soldier, I had thought of a bottle of wine and for his wife knitting and a toy car for their son. For the policeman, I had also thought of a crime novel, and a cookbook for his wife and a toy train for Paul.
It was a bit awkward that none of us had Christmas presents for Twilight’s family and the princess due their surprise visit but the Alicorn waved a hoof. “Don’t feel bad, it’s alright. We all have thought together for the presents.”
The presents for my friends were all signed by Celestia and the unicorn family. The 2 boys got Smarty Pants plushies, Sarah and Julia jewellery, while the men got some very fancy watches, myself included.
“Thank you!” We all thanked the ponies.
“Glad to hear you like your presents.” Celestia smiled warmly.
Then we spent the evening at the fireplace, the children, Shining Armor and Cadence warmed themselves at it, playing together, while their parents cuddled together on the couch. The radio played Dean Martin - Let It Snow!
This was one of my favorite songs it suited Christmas so well and it was relaxing too.
As I looked out of the window, I remembered something funny. “When I was still a child, Minnie was always overjoyed to see it snowing, jumping through the snow.
“That must been fun to watch.” Cadence giggled.
“I smiled. Yes it was.”
“I can still remember when I and my sister were still foals that my younger sister also loved to jump through the snow. We also had snowball fights and built snowponies and made snow Angeles.” Celestia said with a small hint of sadness.
“If you don’t mind princess, how was your sister?” I feared that this would upset her.
With a weak smile she told me, “Great. The best sister I could ask for. Kind, wise and also very playful. As foals, we had a lot of fun.”
“Sounds like she was a great sister.” It minded me a bit of my brother.
“Indeed she was.”
I hadn’t enjoyed such a good Christmas in a long time. The kids enjoyed the gingerbread Wafers Speculaas and cinnamon, while I and the other adults enjoyed Christmas Stollen and were drinking mulled wine. Very delicious.
Time passed fast, it became 10PM as the children became tired, yawning. We should go home now. “It was been very fun, James.” Jonas said to me.
“Glad to hear that you enjoyed it.” It pleased me that they had liked it.
“It had been a very pleasant evening for us too, James.” Crescent, Twilight’s father sounded very happy.
Twily hugged me with a smile of her own, showing nothing but joy. “I hope you enjoyed it too!”
I patted her. “Of course I did.”
“It was truly a wonderful evening. I also hadn’t enjoyed such a good Heartwarming Eve in a long time. I wish you all a pleasant evening.” Celestia seemed happy herself as we all said goodbye, her horn glowed and they vanished in a white light.
“It was quite a very enjoyable evening with them.” Julia smiled as she got her winter clothes on.
“Indeed it was. But for me, it will be an unforgettable Christmas.” I replied as they all said goodbye and walked home, having it enjoyed the most.
A Christmas evening I would never forget.
An unforgettable Christmas.