The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

by DerpyMuffins15

First published

Everyone celebrates Hearth's Warming Eve. Everyone. Even if you think you're getting too old, it's always good to have company around the holidays. No one should be alone, especially when they are in need of a friend the most.

Depressed after only having one pony show up for her Winter Concert, Octavia slumps herself within the holiday season. Not to mention the pony that did show up was her marefriend, Vinyl didn't exactly count as a viewer. Nothing to be merry about, Octavia is likely to spend another Hearth's Warming Eve alone, again. The only problem — Octavia wants to spend it alone. Her stubborn marefriend, Vinyl has other plans in mind as a blizzard hits Canterlot quickly and unexpectedly, sealing both ponies inside her apartment until the weather clears. Hilarity or insanity she doesn't know, but Octavia seems to enjoy spending time with the upstart DJ.

A/N: My first holiday special. Hope you guys take kindly to trying writers! Any criticism is appreciated as long as it's helpful!

The DJ Who Ruined Christmas

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“Come on Tavia! It’s Hearth's Warming Eve! Cheer up, will ya?”

“Then pass me the eggnog and some more champagne. The sooner I’m drunk, the less I’ll remember about this night.”

“Where’s your holiday spirit Tav? I got us a tree and the whole shebang! Even sewed together a carton of popcorn and put on some lights to decorated it and everything.”

“Dead, along with my career.”

“So what if a few ponies didn’t like your holiday concert? It’s their loss!”

“You were the only one that showed up.”

“Okay.... Maybe a few of our friends didn’t get to see you perform, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world!”

“It’s the end of my world.”

Frustration peaking, Vinyl reluctantly gave up. Both she and her marefriend had been at it for the last half hour or so arguing. Try as the DJ might, she couldn’t lighten Octavia’s burden of always being concerned about the public’s gossip on her status as a high class cellist.

“Look, I know you’re only trying to help, but I just want some alone time right now. Alright?”

Octavia gulped the last of a vanilla concentrated champagne from a small dining glass. The creamy white liquor drooled from the corners of Octavia’s bubbly muzzle, as she hungrily downed it to the last drop.

Disappointed her only means of amnesia had dried up, she took the empty bottle with her hooves and gave a gentle toss to an open trash can. Landing a three-pointer, Octavia searched her dining glass to see if any delicious goodness that might have been missed.

Next to her a pony with a blue striped mane breathed a troubled sigh and meticulously rubbed her temples. The unicorn’s magic lighted, her telekinesis lifting a dark pair of purple shades from her baggy eyes and setting them onto the small round table where both mares sat at.

“Tavia-”

“Please Vinyl.”

“But it’s Hearth’s Warming Eve!”

Seeing that the argument wasn’t going anywhere, Octavia gave her marefriend a small love peck on the cheek. Noticing the tough DJ blush, Octavia gave a dry smile and innocent giggle.

“Please?”

If Vinyl had any weakness, it was her uncontrollable desire to say yes to the pony that made her happy. ‘Why does she always have to make that face! She knows I can’t say no when she does it.’ Her light blush turning to a mighty crimson fire, Vinyl occupied herself with an old pizza box as she profusely stared at it. Turning her head away, she avoid Octavia’s attempts.

“So now my own marefriend won’t even look at me?”

Vinyl hated when this happens and by this she meant Octavia twisting her words or making something she did seem offensive. She quickly turned to Octavia, only to see her seemingly upset roommate slyly giggling.

“Since when did you become such a good actress?”

She had to admit, when Octavia was talking it really did sound like she was upset that her own marefriend wouldn’t even look her in the eye. Vinyl kindly let it slide, as the joke provided a means for Octavia to get her mind off of troubles.

“I didn’t. You’re just so gullible.”

“HEY!”

Unimaginable humiliation running rampid, Vinyl grumbled to herself — her blush burning hotter and brighter as the Cellist continue to immerse herself in delighted laughter. To save the pieces of her dignity that survived, the white unicorn abruptly pushed her chair out and left the table.

“Vinyl- T’hahaha- W-wait!”

Octavia quickly got herself out of her chair, left the table and hurried to join an angry Vinyl resting on the couch. As she approached her, she notice the unicorn had her head turned to the taupe wall and was completely ignoring her. Vinyl laid on her underside, taking up much of the room on the couch as to not allow Octavia room to sit.

“Vinyl.”

No answer.

“Vinyl.”

The same results as before.

It was the dreaded silent treatment. Usually Octavia would be the one using it, as the DJ normally did stupid things on a daily basis that would anger her in more ways than not. Without any consideration for personal space she joined Vinyl. Sitting on the edge of a cushion, Octavia tried to get her friend to face her.

“Vinyl.”

Trying again, she stretched for one of Vinyl’s hooves, which the stubborn unicorn wasn’t angry enough to tug away. As they made contact she felt a slight warmth on her cheeks, as well as a welcoming touch that returned her reach. The rowdy DJ accepted holding Octavia’s hoof, but continued to stare at a wall with silence.

“Vinyl. Would you please look at me?”

Extending her only free hoof left, she reached for Vinyl’s chin, nudging her to face the earth pony. No resistant met, Octavia turned her marefriend’s attention and eyes back onto her. The same adorable face she had earlier, Octavia gave Vinyl a loving caress on the cheek and another nip, this time on her nose.

Blushing bright like a bouquet of roses, Vinyl reluctantly gave in and sighed with exempt. She returned the ogle Octavia gave and sat up on her haunches, allowing Octavia more room to sit on.

“Sorry Tavia. Guess I’m not the only one worked up over no one else coming to your recital. I mean don’t get me wrong, I almost fell asleep during one of your octaves or whatever you call them, but I expected at least Lyra or one of your orchestra pals to come too.”

“It’s fine Vinyl. You win some, you lose some, but you can never win them all. I might have been just a bit flat during the third movement.”

“Got that righ- huunnff!”

She received a sharp jab to her ribs, which her other hoof reached to check for bruises. Finding none, Vinyl was now on the receiving end of an angry stare from her roommate, the glare brought with it understandment. It was one of those moments where she had to comfort Octavia by saying she was exactly perfect during her performance and that she was doubting herself for no reason whatsoever. Vinyl was terrible at detecting them when those unexpected moments arrived.

“I mean- ahem- You were great Tav. I can’t wait to listen to your next solo concert.”

“I have another one coming up real soon to be exact. Front row seats as always?”

“Oh... Yay....”

She was jabbed again in her ribs mildly, not enough to hurt but annoyed that it even happened.

“I mean: OH! YAY! Endless joys of a thousand burning suns always fills my undeserving heart whenever I hear your beautiful and unparallel music! I bow down to you goddess of classical music!”

Vinyl got another jab to her ribs, which she was definitely sure had mild bruising.

“Too much?”

“A bit.”

Joining in on Octavia’s giggles Vinyl looked to kitchens where they were previously at. Slightly depleting her mana, Vinyl levitated another bottle of lavish sparkling champagne from Octavia’s wine cabinet along with a cork opener and two dining glasses. Slowing their trajectory, the items settled onto a four corner glass table next to them. Her mind catching a slight headache, she disconnected the magic before it caused further harm.

Seeing her marefriend wincing, Octavia let go of Vinyl’s hoof and took the bottle. Using her mouth instead of the opener, she bit down hard on the cork and pulled it off easily. A clean pop and the champagne fizzled out gushingly onto the carpet. Creating a small mess, Octavia set down the bottle after filling up the two glasses.

“You were always better with your jaw than I was.”

Speechless, Octavia burned with an uncontainable flush; a mixture of pride and embarrassment fueling the swelling pink on her cheeks. Reflexively she reached for her dark grey mane, nervously rubbing the end of it to somewhat control herself and set her mind to different subjects.

Seeing her marefriend brighten up like their Hearth’s Warming Eves tree, Vinyl filled her mind with naughty yet playful thoughts of ways to keep Octavia the way she was. Without notice, she crept behind Octavia and got close. Real close. Catching her off guard, Vinyl fastened Octavia’s arms together with her own, imprisoning her with no hope of possible escape with a sturdy embrace.

“V-Vinyl! What are you doing?!”

“Shhhh-”

Vinyl whispered the words quietly into Octavia’s perked up ears. Being an earth pony, the DJ was absolutely sure Octavia had extra soft and fluffy ones; guaranteed to make anyone carnivorous after just a single bite. Luckily for Vinyl, Octavia was her mare, which meant she got special privileges from time to time.

The DJ leaned forward, inching closer to her scorching mare. The closest she could get without touching Octavia, Vinyl felt the potent heat the mare produced. Octavia’s chest raised and fell in sync with her pounding heart as the sudden heat caused hot sweats to forming on her tidy coat. Her breathing became shallow and unsteady, quickening in pace the longer Vinyl held her.

“The storm outside is gonna be a while, Tav. What do you want to do?”

Vinyl spoke directly into Octavia’s bulging ears, gaining an explicit moan of oohhhhh!

“V-Vinyl... Please.... Don’t make me do it.”

“Do what?”

“D-don’t make me beg!”

Octavia didn’t need to turn around to see it. Behind her, the seducting unicorn was likely grinning her flank off at the cost of further embarrassment for the losing mare. She needed something! Anything! Anything to keep her in control before she lost it.

Unbeknown, her eyes were tightly sealed shut behind black lids. Her head was tilted back while the mare’s ears lowering themselves and neared the unicorn. As her chin raised higher and higher, the messed up fur covering her back arched perfectly and held the position without any trouble.

‘The champagne!’

As quick as Octavia remembered the bubbly drink, she tried to grasp it. Fidgeting, she got a hoof free and hurriedly reached for her salvation. She downed a quarter of the bottle in half the time it took to take a single breath. The cold liquid downed itself as the mare forcefully gulped more and more to sedate her mischievous desires.

“Woah! Tav! Slow down!”

A sudden overburst of magic by the unicorn and the bottle was immediately tugged away. The half empty champagne settle onto the far corner of the glass table, away from any possible reach from Octavia.

“I’ll be*hiccup*fine, Vinyl*hiccup*.”

It was the most obvious lie if Vinyl ever heard one. After spending countless months with her marefriend, she learned one of two things: One, Octavia couldn’t hold her alcohol as well as most earth ponies can. Two, she was an addictive alcoholic.

Freeing Octavia from her embracing bonds, Vinyl returned to her seat next to her. Using a hoof she nudged her so they would face each other. Looking to a pinkish more than a gray pony Vinyl stared with attention to details at Octavia’s drunkening symptoms.

A crinkled nose that twitched mildly was in dead point center of Octavia’s continuous blush. Her head now seemed to bob up and down like she was trying hard not to fall asleep. Before she knew it, Octavia’s ears rang with bells of jolly that weren’t there, as her head filled with a pounding.

“Tav, you sure you’re all right?”

“Yes!*hiccup*.”

“Tav, how much did you drink tonight?”

Octavia hesitantly held up one hoof.

“One bottle?”

Octavia shook her head and concentrated deeply, trying to blink off something in her on her mind.

“One*hiccup*case.”

“C-case?!”

Octavia gaved a delay nod.

Drowsy eyes started to settle onto Octavia, as she let her arms hang limb. Yawning groggily, she rest her head on Vinyl’s shoulders, knowing her roommate would catch her. With her eyes sealed shut Octavia’s chest slowed in pace and speed — the mare’s breathing calming to a steady.

“Why am I*yawn*so sleeeepy?”

“Hehehe......”

Vinyl chuckled faintly and nervously rubbed the back of her head with a hoof.

“I might have slipped some sleeping medicine into the champagne.....”

“Whaaaaaaaaat?!”

Octavia could no longer feel her limbs, just non-responsive legs that she knew was there, asleep like most of her body.

“Or roofies.... I don’t know.... Maybe both.....”

“Vinnnyl!”

“Hey, you said you wanted to forget about tonight!”

Vinyl argued her weak defense as Octavia tried to break the embrace the DJ held on her.

“I didn’t mean it literally! It’s Hearth’s Warming Eve! Why would I want to forget it?!”

Anger slowly fighting the effects of the drugs, Octavia forced her eyes opened and stared a disappointed glare to Vinyl.

“Oh.... My bad?”

“Great, another Hearth’s Warming Eve ruined!”

Forcefully pushing Vinyl away, Octavia got herself on unbalanced hooves and lazily walked to her room, slamming shut the door loudly. The sounds of locks clicking and Vinyl was left alone on the couch.

“Another? This was our first Hearth’s Warming Eve though....”

Christmas Cheer!

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All was quiet through the beautiful city, and most ponies would agree it was indeed nice, but a certain DJs was down on her luck, and unintentionally paid a costly price.

Her marefriend tossed and tangled in a bed of forgotten past — a drunken mare of the social class world, would likely be ruin now that she didn’t have caste.

“What have I done?” Vinyl asked, to the world? Herself? Or just to clear her mind.

“I’ve ruined Hearth’s Warming Eve!” She realized, “How could I be so blind?!”

The trench she walked in caused by trouble and grief was starting to grow ever so deep. Then from nowhere in particular she heard a gentle cry, which as she listened turn into a weep.

“I’ll sue your ass for trespassing!” Vinyl yelled unkind, “Get out before I pump you with bass!” A calm gentle spirit whisked into form, shocking the DJ as she looked like a grey Luna.

“Hey author!” she yelled, “That last part didn’t rhyme!” The narrator sighed and said, “I know, I know, but is it such a crime?”

“What are you and who are you talking to?” Vinyl asked suspicious, trying to remember the number for the asylum.

“My name is Woona and I am the ghost of Christmas past!” the monotone alicorn answered.

“What’s Christmas?”

“Christmas, Hearth’s Warming Eve, it’s all the same as long as you have someone special to spend it with!” Woona said cheerfully.

“Of course! What must I have been thinking! Would you like a juice box little filly?”

“Hey! I’ll have you know I’m one of the spirits of Christmas! I go around each and every single year showing ponies the joys of Christmas! And yes, I’ll take that juice box.”

Completely amused or under the alicorn’s charm of cuteness, Vinyl giggled and walked into the kitchen followed closely by Woona. Opening the fridge, she opened a new pack of juice boxes and got a Red Bull for herself.

“Ouuuu! Can I have some of that?!” Woona jumped up and down excitedly, grabbing her juice box and Vinyl’s energy drink.

“Wait! Kid, don’t drink that!”

It was too late, as Woona had popped open both drinks and gushed them down with a gulp. With a sudden light headedness, the grey of the alicorn turned to a swelling pink on her cheeks, as her eyes turned into googly ones.

“I spiked the Red Bull.....”

“What does*hiccup*spiked mean?” Woona wobbled on unsteady hooves and crashed face first into Vinyl’s chest.

“Uhhh, what were you saying about being the ghost of Christmas whatever?”

“Weeeeeelllll, We were supposed to haunt some cellist named Octavia tonight and remind her that Christmas is about spending time with your close ones, but, hehe, butt! But someone went and gave her a roofie!”

“Hehehe.......” chuckled Vinyl nervously again, “I wonder who that could be?” The DJ whistled an inconspicuous tune.

“I’ll tell you this about them: they’re on the naughty list.”

“The naughty list?”

“The naughty list.”

“The naughty list?”

“Yes, the naughty list.”

“The naughty li-”

“YES! THE NAUGHTY LIST! Why do you keep asking?!” The tiny alicorn packed quite a punch yelling at a medium volume Canterlot Voice.

“Sorry... So what are you going to do now? I mean Octavia is out like a light.”

“That part is easy silly! We’re gonna haunt you instead!”

“Uhh, we?”

“Yes We! As in Me, Myself, and I!”

“Kid, you need a ginger al....”

“And you need to learn what the meaning of Christmas is! Now come on! It’s time to see Octavia’s past! Narrator, take it away!”

“Wait kid!”

Woona chomped on Vinyl’s tail and dragged her back into the living room. Her face swelling with friction burns, Vinyl looked to her surrounds as they changed. The white walls were peeling off as the ground melted away to empty space. The ceiling cracked and separated, the chunks flying off to who knows where. Distance turned into a relative term as Woona neared their Hearth’s Warming Eve tree, glowing brighter and brighter as the lights turn supernova.

The ornaments on the tree popped, one by one but not shattering. Instead the pieces swirled back together to form tiny twinkle stars. The single fake star on top of the tree glowed like an actual one, blinding Vinyl as she saw complete white.

“You can open your eyes now silly!”

Wishing she still had her shades, Vinyl hesitantly dared a peak. Noticing the absence of a bothersome blinding light, she looked to her new surroundings. They were both floating aimlessly in the air. She didn’t have wings but she was flying.

‘I need to lay off the whiskey before bed.’

Up was space, right was space, left was space, forwards and backwards was space — big empty space. Vinyl the downcast her eyes, and saw the little town of Ponyville.

“Kid, I think you’re mistaken. I didn’t grow up in Ponyville.”

“Of course not silly! But Otavia did.” Using a hoof she pointed to a long line formed outside what seemed to be a steep chapel church. Dozens of families were waiting in the snow, looking for shelter and comfort in the soup kitchens. All the ponies, shivered in the bitter cold, sneezing and sniffing their frozen noses. Ragged or torn article clothing were all but in shambles on the unfortunate ponies. Vinyl couldn’t help but feel a sadness and a sudden need to help the less fortunate.

“Tav grew up on the streets? I never knew that......”

“No you pooh head! I’m pointing to the extremely expensive and overly priced restaurant next door! Geez, are you blind or something?”

Giggling sheepishly, Vinyl realigned her vision. From a depressing scenery, Vinyl looked right to the well decorated and massive bistro. Lights and trees were covered the entire front dining area, with mistletoe blooming on the glass windows.

Sitting alone by herself in a lonely corner was a little grey filly, a table clearly set for three, with only one guess attending. Through the window frame, Vinyl watch as the candles grew short and the hours longer.

“How long has she been sitting in there?”

“Since the restaurant opened. She does the same thing for the next four years, with the same company too. Until she met you she continues this holiday tradition with her family.”

“What family?”

“The one honeymooning in Paris. What I give for a crêpe sucrée right now!”

“Wait, Tavia’s parents honeymoon without taking their only daughter?”

“No, they forgot to take their daughter. There’s a difference! Come on, we got more sad memories from Octavia’s past to see and Christmas is almost here!”

Taking Vinyl’s hoof again, Woona warped the duo into a decade later. It was snowing, a light shower of frosty rain, with the sun shining in a dim beam from the clouded skies. They were still floating in the air, passing city blocks faster than a blink of an eye. As they slow their velocity, Vinyl looked around for any indication of an exact date.

Looking to a billiton board, Vinyl recognized the date as to be the final day for school within Canterlot. Incidentally, they both stopped atop of a gloomy boarding school that most nobles sent their foals to.

The bell had already rang, and foals in pairs, groups and flash mobs in size were running about, their parents eagerly waiting for them. After several minutes of stampeding, the mess settled, and a single foal remained. Her grey coat almost blended in with the bleak snow, hiding her from view.

She had with her a single suitcase, along with a rectangular cello case that Vinyl recognize to be the same one Octavia used to the present day. The casing was a bland black, the only thing that really held any indication something was there.

“Tsk Tsk, what a shame. Another Christmas break and no one to pick her up so she can go for the holidays. Sad ain’t it? Let’s move on.”

“WAIT! Why are you showing me this?! And how am I supposed to learn the meaning of Christmas with it?”

“First of all, you aren’t supposed to see this, Octavia is. Then someone-ahem- had to *cough* roofie *cough* her. And it’s not my job to make you understand the meaning of Christmas. It’s the ghost of Christmas Future’s job, mines is just to get the water works and feels. Any other questions?”

“Yea, can I go home now?”

“Maybe. If you have learned what the Christmas spirit is about!”

“Kid, I know what Christmas whatever is about, I did get a tree after all.

“We know, and to be truthful, you got more Christmas spirit than most of the ponies we haunt. The problem is, Octavia was supposed to be haunted tonight, and we have a schedule to keep. You’re the next best thing. Since you’re her marefriend, you’ll have to teach her what Christmas is about in the morning when she wakes up. Good thing you gave her that roofie, or else she’ll remember you drugged her. Nice thinking there.”

“How exactly am I supposed to do that? Tell her I got kidnapped by a mini-Princess Luna that showed me her past? Tav will think I’m crazy!”

“-er, crazier. Do I need to keep correcting you? Well, my shift is almost up, so we need to return before the next ghost take up. Come one!”

“Oh yay.......”

The bleak snow vanishing to make way for a solid wall, Vinyl abruptly fell from her wingless flight face first onto the couch. Weak limbs picking herself up, Vinyl sat on her haunches and stared a digital clock. It barely turned 10:00. She had been gone for about an hour in real time and dreaded being visited by another of Octavia’s ghost.

“You just had to give her a roofie.....”

Presents, Presents, Presents!

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12 slices of pizza, 11 ounces of eggnog, 10 appletinis, 9 bags of chips, 8 shots of whiskey, 7 avocado sandwiches, 6 vanilla pies, and 5 Red Bullllllls! 4 Christmas specials, 3 bails of hay fries, 2 ghost left, and 1 triple deluxe extra chocolate whipped cream sundaeeeeeeee!

Vinyl’s special concoction of pure Hearth’s Warming essence. Some may argue this was likely someone’s bucket list. For Vinyl, it was Nightquil. Well, most of the list were things Vinyl would use as sleep medicine. The two ghost part didn’t exactly sit well inside as butterflies swirled and had death battles with each other.

Already finished with half the list, Vinyl blankly stared at a television screen, watching something about a green pony stealing Hearth’s Warming. It was almost heart warming if Vinyl could only focus on it instead of the coming ghost that were supposed to haunt her roommate.

“So you steal all the presents and then give them back? What’s the point of stealing them in the first place then?”

Vinyl asked the timeless question that no one seems to bother to answer. On her final Red Bull, Vinyl drank the yellowish substance till nothing was left but an empty can. Her once alabaster fur coat was now covered in grease, chocolate, and some mysterious brown stuff.

She looked to the clock in the room, dreading when it would turn the next hour. Three minutes from 11:00. Another ghost was going to visit her, most likely to show more of what she already knows; Octavia never truly had a Hearth’s Warming. Quiet snores reverberated within a bedroom closeby, emitted by a drugged marefriend.

“What was I thinking? Roofies?! Stupid, stupid, stupid!” Hoofprints stamped onto her forehead, Vinyl sighed heavily, recounting her thoughts of the worst mistake she made yet.

“Thou weren’t thinking. Thou were trying to get thy lover to have hot sex with you.”

Practically having to ripped her bloodshot eyes away from the T.V, Vinyl stared to her left, only to face a medium sized navy blue alicorn. It was almost as if the ghost of the past grew into the ghost of the present. ‘Oh!’

“Hey! What do you mean hot sex?”

“Thou knoweth what We meaneth.”

“Hey Shakespeare, this is the 21st century. Not the dark ages.”

“Would thou rather We talk like a ‘pimp’?”

“Ye- Actually, on second thought, never mind. Let’s just get this over with.”

“Nay Miss Scratch. I’m afraid you must be punished first.”

“Punished?”

“We suggest thou refrain from sticking thy head in the gutter.”

“So, no punishment?”

“Miss Scratch, thou have been convicted of giving an underage foal alcohol. Do thou deny these charges?

“In my defense, that filly stole my Red Bull.”

“And in thine actions, thee didn’t attempt to stop her.”

“Oh, yea... Sorry?”

“Tis not I thou needeth apologize toth. When We three converge again, I expect it to be dealteth with.”

“Do you need to say ‘eth’ in every other world?”

“Let-eth us-eth depart-eth then-eth!”

Igniting her horn in Lunar mana, everything melted away like before, this time Vinyl was lucky enough to have her couch join their journey. Haunches style, Vinyl looked down to the transparent ground.

The land down under, a minty unicorn along with a vanilla earth pony snuggled warmly around a lit fireplace, next to them a decorated pine tree that dimly lit with decoration and ornaments. Candy canes, stockings, and even note cards were use for adoration.

Lyra and Bon Bon slept together, hoof in hoof, awaiting the night’s completion and for the best day of the morrow: Hearth’s Warming. Presents were littered all over under the tree, each with a tag.

Wrapping Lyra with her larger body, Bon Bon groggily nuzzled her marefriend, planting gently kisses and pecks accurately without having the need to open her eyes. Lyra, the receiver, returned the favor as best she could and finally locked lips with her vanilla lover.

“They sure do make a cute pair.” Vinyl analyzed.

“Indeed they do. Shame you cannot do the same.”

“What’s that suppose to mean?”

“I am the Ghost of Christmas present, not just the real present, but possible presents of presents.”

“In Equestrian Shakespeare?”

“I believe thou mean modern Equestrian. To an intelligence capacity thy miniscule noesis may perceive, I hold the magical powers to view into possible presents that could have happened.”

“Are you calling me stupid?”

“Rhetorical question, answer it yourself. Come!”

Her horn lit a cobalt blue, the scenery whooshing past like hyperspeed. Vinyl thanked that she was still sitting on the couch as the imaginary G-force pushed her eyelids back and mouth gaping open.

Coming to an all too sudden stop, Vinyl flew a good ten meters away and landed face first into the invisible ground. Her face smushed to what seemed to be a polished surface, Vinyl weakly used her limb to pick herself up.

Staring face down, she looked to an exact same room she had previously been lounging in. Instead of a lonely mare eating junk food, a noisy crowd of friends sat around the table and couch, singing carols and drinking eggnog.

All were a bit tipsy, but a cheery time was had by all. The tree in the corner glowed brighter than what Vinyl thought it would have and Lyra returned from the kitchens a bail of popcorn in her magic. Setting the bucket onto the glass table, everypony gathered to the couch.

Octavia and fake-Vinyl sat snugly together, the both holding hooves and the earth pony slight flushing with glee. Fake-Vinyl stuck a hoof to her mouth to try suppressing an oncoming giggle. Failing miserably, the loud chuckles only intensified the burning pink on Octavia cheeks.

All their friends dawww-ed and squeaked, turning to their own dates. Using a free hoof, fake-Vinyl nudged Octavia to look at the ceiling above. Joining her marefriend in fierce brightening colors, fake-Vinyl crept closer to Octavia before she notice. Upon downcasting her vision Octavia met shimmering crimson orbs and Vinyl glossy magenta opaque.

“We’re under mistletoe,” fake-Vinyl whispered gently to her lover. She inched closer and closer until there was barely any distance left between them.

“I love you Vinyl. Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve.”

“Love ya too Tavs.”

The two opposite musicians locked lips, not a lustful and demanding to get more of the other, but a slow, passion filled taste. The both sticking their tongue into the other, the wet muscles wrestled each other for dominance. They continuous lapsed at one another, to lengthen their bond until the need for breath separated the duo.

Octavia breathed short and hot breaths along with fake-Vinyl, a single trail of saliva the last remnants of their love. Octavia wiped the trail with a hoof and pulled her marefriend into a breathing-labored embrace. Fake-Vinyl returned the hug after catching her breath and looked longingly at the mare that always made her happy.

“Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve, Tav. I love you.”

Real-Vinyl stared at the sight with intense jealousy, demanding it be she who was embracing the mare she angered.

“Alright I get it. I ruined Christmas, you don’t have to rub it in my face. Can I go back now?”

Vinyl broke her wanting glare and looked to the present ghost. Luna was gone, as well the couch. Darkness soon evolved everything, sweeping her and the much desired outcome that didn’t come true. Vinyl found herself awake on the couch, a pizza stuck to her coat and the T.V still on.

“I’m sorry Tavia.”

Bros Before Hoes

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While the moon her watch is keeping

All through the night

While the weary world is sleeping

All through the night

O'er they spirit gently stealing

Visions of delight revealing

Breathes a pure and holy feeling

All through the night.

“You done singing?”

“We art now, thanks to thee.”

“My bad. Want some hay fries?”

“We thank thee. We hath not had the pleasures of comfort food in quite some time.”

“No probs, sweet cheeks. Anything for my favorite Christmas ghost.”

“Art thou doing this so We may skip in showing thee thy roommate’s fate?”

“NO! Of course not! Well... Still no! Okay maybe. So what? ...Yes....”

“We complement thee for thine efforts, but one must learn the meaning of Christmas. Thy lover unfortunately is unavailable for the task. Thou hath to finish our task when she wakes.”

“Yea, yea, yea. I know. I’m gonna need a roofie after this.”

“Thou make us laugh. A roofie is usually reserved for what you may call ‘douchebags’, not thine marefriend. ‘Tis either stupidity or a mistake on thy part we do not know, just that thou learned from this experience.”

“You betcha. Next time ask the Doc for a time machine.”

“‘Tis a ridiculous, but still a viable means to evade problems. We suggest thou try avoiding encountering thine past self, and not just because of the possible time fluctuation and distortion in space and the continuous millenniverse.”

“Do you have a pocket dictionary?”

“Do thou really wish to know what We hath just said to thee?”

“No, not really, no.”

“Art thou ready?”

“How about one for the road?”

“Miss Scratch-”

“Yes, I’ll bring the pizza with us. And don’t call me Miss. Come on, we’re like bros.”

“We thank thee very much Mi- Vinyl. It is good to know we hath made a new friend on this night.”

“Alright, I got the pizza, whiskey, and a dozen cans of whipped cream — variety pack kind. You know, you’re pretty cool for the ‘Mare in the Moon.’ Digging the fangs and eyes by the way.”

“Thy complements make us blush, Vinyl. We thank thee. We hath not a had a friend in a long time, too long to remember. Perhaps if we ever meet again, We can tell thee our full story.”

“Cool beans. You want mushroom or pineapple?”

“We prefer mushrooms.”

“Hot sauce or ranch?”

“Must there be a choice?”

“I like the way you think Nightie. We gotta party some time. You know, when my marefriend isn’t on roofies.”

“We must depart now, Vinyl. The night is almost the morrow and we do not have time left. Come.”

“I usually do that with Tavia, but alright.”

“Thine mind is a sick thing Vinyl. We would gladly like to bed thee if this does not work out with your lover.”

“Uhhh.....”

“Pass us the hot sauce, We hath not tried the combination of pizza with whipped cream.”

From a unicorn’s magic to a jet black onyx alicorn's, an orange bottle of mild hot sauce flew in the air. The bottle squirted out a few drops before it was gently put back. A slice of lukewarm pizza was held in Nightmare’s telekinesis, topped off with whipped cream and overflowing with hot sauce.

Vinyl had manage to delay the inevitable, but not avoid it. Her slice of pizza floated aloof, toppings and all. Levitating it to her mouth, she took tiny bites, savoring the moment while she could. Two new bottles of champagne were opened, one of them completely drained. Another case of Red Bull was on Vinyl’s side of the couch, two cans already done.

Her new best friend, Nightie, was just as critique on the social caste as Octavia was, so Vinyl knew exactly how to please the goddess. A few bottles of expensive champagne and fondu and they were long time buds.

One side of the couch was a complete mess, clearly lounged on by a slob. The other well kept and unlittered upon. Without spilling, Nightmare ate her concoction of a tummy ache set for Future Nightmare, which was pretty ironic considering she was the ghost of Christmas Future.

“Vinyl, what do you call this?”

“I call that my pièce de résistance, a PB, avocado, ranch, Red Bull, and blue cheese sandwich. Nice touch with the hot sauce. I never thought of adding it to the sandwich.”

“We never thought of eating a sandwich like this, or any kind of sandwich for that matter. We have always been pampered and it seems it hath caused us miss out on such a beautiful creation. Thou art our only true friend Vinyl. Thou do not see us as what We art, but who We art.”

“You’re one of my homies, Nightie, and I lookout for my bros. Come on, bro hoof me.”

Vinyl lifted her only clean hoof, limbly sticking it out so the Lunar Goddess bump it back. Slightly hesitating, Nightmare brought her naked hoof next to Vinyl’s and returned the action.

“Thou know what Vinyl? We do not need to see Octavia’s fate. We can clearly determine already that thou will make her happy, no matter what troubles you two shall encounter. Rest assured tonight that thou will not be haunted. All that is requested is that thou reconcile with thine lover and show her the wonders thou hath taught us.”

“Thanks Nightie, you’re a real bro for doing that. If you’re ever looking for some wubs, or maybe to party, just look me up.”

“We thank thee for the offer, Vinyl. It has been nice chillin’ with thou.”

“You and me both Nightie, you and me both. I actually know the perfect song for this moment.”

So what we get drunk?

So what we drink mead?

We're just having fun,

We don't care who sees,

So what we go out?

That's how it's supposed to be

Living young and wild and free