Chapter 1
âDeck the halls,â Sunset Shimmer hummed as she walked down the Canterlot street, red bow lidded box in hand. âLalallal, lalalala!â
It was a snowy day in the city, fresh snowflakes falling to ground. Enough to make for a picturesque setting, but not enough where it was too much of an inconvenience for anyone other than postal workers. Children played in the park all the winter games one would in their youth, as the adults shoveled, while the teenagers gathers near store windows to gossip about the later fashion trends and drink hot chocolate. On some occasions, couples were holding hands and wore bright smiles on their faces. Sunset having passed by Lyra and Bon Bon, Flash Sentry and Derpy Hoovers, Sonata Dusk and Octavia Melody (of all couples), Wiz Kid and Curly Winds, she even thought she saw Big Mac with Ms. Cheerlie! But then realized it was a different girl from Crystal Prep. Plus, many more looking cheery and gay as their faces blushed from being closest to the ones that they loved this time of year.
Sunsets attention, however, was on her friends. This year, she would be spending most of her holiday break with her family and with Celestia back in Equestria, but not before exchanging gifts with all of her friends.
For Applejack, she had gotten her zap apple jam casserole. She had never seen the farm girls eyes widen as much as they did so from eating apples before. Which, unfortunately, as much as Sunset love to have told Applejack how to make and grow zap apples, it had to in the end be accepted that the magic apples could only harvested in Equestria.
Fluttershy was given a magic comb that would brush her animals by itself. A very handy tool for when Angel Bunny was being a bit too fussy and the poor girl had her hands full. That bunny could be very demanding, so any means to easy Fluttershyâs burden was a blessing.
For Rainbow Dash, a simple basketball that would always return to its owner made the sports star happy. Now she could play H.O.R.S.E. (once Rainbow Dash had explained the game to Sunsets dismay) and never had to fetch the ball again!
Rarity and Pinkie Pie had been a bit more difficult though.
In the end, Sunset had decided a makeup, non-magical, worked well for the fashionista. Which it didnât poses such mystical properties, her friend was more than happy to give Sunset a big hug before the bacon haired girl went in her way.
Pinkie Pie on the other hand, was given a pack of self inflating balloons, slightly magical, that turned out was all the party girl needed.
With each present given brought a warm snug feeling to Sunset that made her ever more jolly as she made her way to her last friends house, Twilight Sparkle, the adorkable glasses wearing bookworm.
Twilightâs house was hard to miss, with all the festive lights hung around the house, and a nativity scene out front with several animals and people huddled together around a crib. The crushed bush where Twilightâs brother, Shining Armor, had fallen into when trying to set up the lights. It had apparently been a good laugh on behalf of Twilightâs sister-in-law Cadence.
Sunset walked up the driveway, past the plastic animals, to the door, and knocked gingerly. A moment later, she was greeted by her purple friend.
âHey, Twilight,â Sunset with a smile.
âSunset!â Twilight smiled back, pulling Sunset into a hug. âHappy heartwarming, Sunset!â
âHappy hearthwarming to you too, twi. I thought Iâd come by and get all my gifts to my friends before I head to equestria.â
âAw, thatâs so sweet,â her best friend smiled back. âCome on in, and Iâll make you some hot chocolate.â
Sunset held up a hand and smirked. âActually, hold off on the âhotâ chocolate for a bit.â
Twilight titled her head. âHuh?â
âYouâll see in a minute,â Sunset teased, stepping inside.
The two friends made their way to the kitchen, where they sat down at the the table and to which Twilight opened the present.
âOh,â Twilight said, upon removing the last of the paper, revealing a red brass kettle. âItâs a teapot!â
âNot just any teapot,â Sunset mused. âGive it here, and why donât you set up two, empty, cups on the table along with those hot chocolate packs?â
âOkay,â Twilight said slowly, by doing so quickly to see what this was all about.
âNow, it sounds empty,â Sunset demonstrated once Twilight set the cups down, swishing around the clearly empty pot for emphasis. âBut!â she then pointed to a dial under the kettle that had a scale from blue that increased to red with it being white in the middle where the switch was pointed at. âJust turn it to where you want,â she adjusted it halfway towards the red, âthen, pour for endless water!â
Twilightâs eyes widened was the previously empty teapot poured warm water into the cups.
âOh wow!â Twilight exclaimed. âI didnât know magic could do that!â
âYup. Abra Kadabra, alakazak!â Sunset teased. âIt never runs dry. It can guarantee strawberries seven feet high.â
Twilight paused to blink at that statement.
âItâs how the can was advertised,â Sunset explained.
âAh,â Twilight nodded. âGuess cheesy advertising exist in both worlds.â
âYeah,â Sunset smiled as she switch the teapot to off before pouring in her coco mix, stiring clockwise six times before blowing off the steam. âAt least it didnât say it would get your kids off the computer.â
They both shared a laugh at that.
âAnyways,â Sunset continued. âI thought you might like it, both as a hot drink maker, as well the cold water feature for watering pants. Also, I figured your dorky little mind would also have fun for hours figuring out how it works.â
âYou know me too well,â Twilight blushed, holding a hand to her face.
Sunset leaned over to give her best friend a hug. âThank you, Sunset Shimmer! Happy hearths warming!â
Sunset, feeling a warm fire rise in her belly, hugged back. âHappy hearths warming to you too, Twilight Sparkle.â
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