Humani Victoria

Chapter 22- Warming Hearts

"Family is not an important thing. It's everything."

                                                                             ~Michael J. Fox

Goldenoak's Library, Ponyville, Equestria, Tuesday, 24th of December, 9:07am, 2205 AC

Twilight groaned in frustration, slamming the book closed at the same time. Despite his extensive research on ancient Humans, including several accounts of artifacts found (but not where they were stored), unfortunately, regarding the actual history and fall of Humanity the tome was full of educated guesses and legends.

Among the short list of beings who study Humanity, one universally accepted event in their timeline is what is referred to as 'The Fall.' This event refers to the either single or multiple sequence of events that lead to the eventual decline and apparent extinction of Humanity, what actually happened during this time is unknown but from my studies I have surmised several scenario's.

1. Plague, it is possible that some form of deadly disease struck Humanity, one that they, even with their legendary technology, were unable to cope with.

2. Natural Disaster, it is possible that some sort of nature-related disaster initiated The Fall, earthquakes, super volcanos, perhaps even a meteorite, although so far there is little evidence of any.

3. War, it is evidenced that Humanity not only possessed highly advanced weapon technology but have a past filled with heavy warfare, out of all three, this is the most evidenced scenario.

Twilight rolled her eyes, as much as she respected Starswirl the Bearded, his apparently extensive works on Humanity it was mostly rumour and conjecture. Not one mention of possible locations of still-living Human settlements, the entire book worked under the assumption that Humanity was extinct. Something that Twilight found odd, she knew the existence of Humanity was uncommon knowledge, and that their still-maintained existence was a well-kept secret but Twilight assumed Celestia would have shared that fact with her former student.

Something doesn't add up, Twilight thought.

The book did, however, elude that in all likeliness any former Human settlements or cities would be located in the eastern badlands in between Equestria and the Eastern Territories. This was at least slightly helpful, the badlands were a patchwork of forests, wetlands, tundras and deserts, if Humanity was hiding, it was the perfect place to be.

Twilight heard shuffling upstairs and the washroom door open and close, Jason, he was awake. Lately Twilight had noticed he had in fact taken the doctors suggestion and avoided heavy physical activity, he had boycotted his usual morning exercise and instead spend the days lazing around the library reading and whatnot. The only time he really left the library was to be with Roseluck.

Twilight grinned at the thought, Rose and Jason had become really close in the past month, they both seemed happy when together and Twilight was glad Jason had found someone to share his time with. She did on occasion feel a pang of jealousy that Jason was so comfortable talking with Roseluck and not herself, even though he was more than happy to slake her hunger for knowledge but he rarely shared in personal stories with her.

Jason's distinctive footsteps could be heard climbing down the the stairs, Twilight quickly hid the forbidden book behind her bookshelf and grabbed the nearest book on the same shelf and pretended to read it (Everything You Wanted To Know About Conjuration But Were Afraid To Ask by Wooden Alloy.)

Twilight put on a smile as Jason turned the corner "Happy Hearts Warming Eve, Jason," she said.

Jason looked confused "Happy warma whatta?"

"Hearts Warming," Twilight corrected "it's tomorrow, a winter holiday based around the founding of Equestria, it's a time for family, friends and present giving, I guess Human's don't celebrate it do you?"

Jason shook his head "yes and no, we do have a similar holiday, on the same day too but it's called Christmas."

"Christmas?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah," Jason said sadly "it's origins are... A matter of debate but ever year my entire family would gather and spend the holiday together... It was nice."

"I see," Twilight said "so this is the first Christmas away from all of them."

"Yeah.." Jason mumbled, Twilight approached him and placed a comforting hoof on his leg.

"Are you going to be okay?" She asked.

"I'll be fine," Jason said unconvincingly, Twilight pursed her lips in concern, then, a thought came to her.

"What would you do during Christmas?" She asked.

Jason blinked "...Okay this is going to sound a but weird."

Twilight giggled "don't worry, I think I can handle anything you throw at me at this point."

"Okay," Jason said "Well, as I said, family would gather and we would bring gifts for one another, now here's where it gets different, we put the presents under a tree."

Twilight blinked "A tree?"

"A pine tree to be exact," Jason said "we would chop one down, decorate it with lights and baubles before placing presents under it for the holiday."

"...Why?" Twilight asked.

"I have no idea," Jason said with a slight smile.

"...Okay then," Twilight said "anything else?"

"Not really," Jason said "it's pretty simple... But it was nice."

Twilight smiled sympathetically "I'm really sorry."

"Don't be," Jason said.

"So, what are you going to do today?" Twilight asked.

"The usual, read, sleep, eat, repeat," Jason said, getting a laugh from Twilight.

"I'm going out for a bit, keep yourself busy Jason," with a farewell pat Twilight walked away and exited the library.

Once she stepped outside she began walking, but without a direction in mind. Instead she whistled a small little ditty as she reached the small bridge that spanned the river that ran through Ponyville. Twilight leaned over the side, looking at her reflection in the water, she blinked, and suddenly her reflection was joined by a bubbly pink one.

"You called Twilight?" Pinkie Pie asked excitedly.

"Yes, I want you to gather up our friends and gather them at Rarity's place, and keep it quiet, I don't want Jason finding out."

"Oooooh!" Pinkie exclaimed "are we planning a party?!"

"Something like that," Twilight said with a smile "now go get everyone."

"Okay!" In a blink, the Pink Menace disappeared.

Twilight smiled, and continued on walking, towards Rarity's Boutique.

Now where am I going to find a pine tree?

                                                                    ~~*~~

"Pinkie, as much as I enjoy yours and the girls company, I really must ask, why are you all here?"

Pinkie giggled "because Twilight told me to get everypony here, of course!"

Rarity sighed "of course."

"I'm sure whatever the reason, it's important," Applejack said "Twilight wouldn't gather us like this if it wasn't."

"Well, it has something to do with Jason! And that means that it's important! Because Jason is the main character and the writer has a hard time making lighthearted filler with the main character! So clearly this is going to be a emotional chapte-"

"Yes, yes, quite so Pinkie Pie," Rarity cut her off.

"I just want Twilight to get here already," Rainbow Dash whined "She had all the time in the world to get here before us, why is she taking so long?"

"Well that's because-" Pinkie began, but was cut off by the door opening.

"Girls! Your here, good!" Twilight said, trotting in "I have a bit of a project in mind."

"Is this another one of your weird experiments?" Rainbow Dash said cautiously "Because the last one shot my into space before I made a double rain-"

"No, no, no, nothing like that," Twilight said quickly "this has to do with Jason."

"Um... What are we going to do?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well, as you all know, tomorrow is Hearts Warming Day," Twilight explained, and the five other mares nodded in confirmation.

"Well Humans have a similar holiday called 'Christmas' a time for presents and family," Twilight continued "this year is Jason's first Christmas away from home, and I want to make him feel better, so, we're going to celebrate Christmas this year."

The mares exchanged glances.

"And how are we to do that, darling?" Rarity inquired.

Twilight smiled "first, we're going to need a pine tree."

                                                                      ~~*~~

"What is a pine tree anyway?"

"Well, it's a tree, but instead o' leaves it has pine needles all over it."

Rainbow Dash looked around the orchard "well, I case you haven't noticed, there's only apple trees around here AJ."

Applejack rolled here eyes, and shifted the weight of the axe on her back "Ah know that, but Whitetail Woods has all sorts of trees, probably a few pine ones too."

"Okay, but why am I here?" Rainbow asked.

"Ah need you ta' fly up and look, make this whole process a lot shorter," Applejack explained.

"Fly? Can I? When?!" Rainbow demanded, hopping on her hooves.

Applejack giggled "right now, if you want."

"Cool!" Rainbow Dash took off with powerful strokes into the cold air, Applejack shook her head and continued on into Whitetail Woods. Her hooves crunched the thin layer of snow that covered the ground, she kept her eyes sharp for any pine trees but saw none. She did, on the other hand, spot several Maple Trees, their branches bare and their iconic red leaves frozen on the ground.

Applejack smiled, ever since her... Talk, with Jason, she had begun to appreciate the sight of the red-leaved tree, even taken the time to plant a few saplings in her free time. She wondered briefly how Jason must be feeling, a family-orientated holiday, away from everypony he cares about... If it was her she would have given up hope already.

Applejack's thoughts were interrupted as Rainbow Dash alighted next to her.

"I found one!" She exclaimed "and in under ten seconds!" The Pegasus pointed forward "over here."

The two mares broke out in a gallop, Rainbow lead them about a kilometre into the woods up to a medium-sized pine tree.

"Here it is, pines and all," Rainbow said proudly as Applejack un-strapped the wood axe from her back and took it in her mouth. With strong swings Applejack went to town on the trunk, cutting deer and deeper into the tree until a loud snap! could be heard, the two mares stepped back as the tree toppled to the ground with a huff.

"Great, now we need to bring it to the barn," Rainbow said "....how exactly are we going to do that?"

Applejack blinked "...Celestia damn it."

                                                                       ~~*~~

"Mmmm," Rarity mused, looking over Twilight's crudely drawn plan for the tree "It's going to need lights, decorations, and a topper... A trooper."

Rarity looked around her boutique, what could she use for a topper? It had to be something grand, bright, beautiful...

Her eyes alighted on her jewel chest, she trotted over to the case and opened it, inside were a multitude of gems, from rhinestones to rubies to clear crystalline quarts...

Mmmm... Quarts, Rarity thought, grabbing the crystals with her magic, images and designs taking shape in her kind.

"Iiiiiiiiddddeeeaaaa!" She sang, prancing over to her work table.

                                                                      ~~*~~

"Hull!" Rainbow called, tensing her legs and both her and Applejack dragged the tree forward a few meters, they were only twenty meters from the barn, the two of them roped to the centre of the tree.

"Hull!" Rainbow called again and the two mares pulled forward the tree just as the barn door opened to reveal Twilight.

"Girls?" She said in confusion "why are you pulling it? I could have teleported it the entire way." Twilight sparked her horn and the tree disappeared with a purple flash and reappeared upright inside the barn.

Rainbow and Applejack exchanged glances before collapsing, burying their heads in the snow.

"Girls, come on, we need to decorate the tree."

                                                                        ~~*~~

Twilight concentrated and squeezed out another glowing orb of light from her horn, she sent the orb over to the tree, covering it in more light.

"Are you sure these orbs of yours will last, Twilight?" Applejack questioned, looking over the decorated tree.

"I'm sure, they last up to thirty-six hours and attach to whatever surface I want," Twilight said "Now, I want Pinkie to go get Roseluck and Makers Fire... And Band Aid too, tell them to grab a present for Jason if they don't already have one, they rest of you girls can do the same."

                                                                     ~~*~~

Goldenoaks Library, Ponyville, Equestria, Tuesday, 24th of December, 10:35pm, 2205 AC

Rainbow Dash pushed the door open slightly, peaking through the crack, it was dark and quiet all through out the house, nothing was stirring, not even a mouse. Rainbow quietly signalled her friends with glee, and silently they brought in the presents and the tree.

Twilight propped up the tree, sighing in relief that it wasn't too tall, her five friends, Roseluck, Makers Fire, and Band Aid all stalked in and placed their presents under the tree.

"Everyone might as well stay here," Twilight suggested "I'm sure you all want to see Jason's face." The group nodded equally and made themselves comfortable as Twilight pulled out extra blankets and pillows.

                                                                   ~~*~~

Goldenoaks Library, Ponyville, Equestria, Tuesday, 25th of December, 6:25, 2205 AC

Jason's internal clock woke him up instantly, he had a pretty restful sleep all things considers, he supposed it was easier when you weren't anxiously anticipating the bounty of gifts to come.

Merry Christmas, he thought, Jason glanced outside and saw that it was steadily snowing, a white Christmas too. Closing his eyes Jason remembered back.

He flew down the stairs as fast as he could, turning the corner was the most beautiful sight to any child's eyes, the tall Christmas tree, adorned with lights and decorations, at its base a bounty of brightly wrapped presents at which his mother sat in front of.

"Well go on," she laughed "they're all yours."

Jason smiled and rushed to his presents, not before giving his mother a warm a hug which she answered with a kiss on his cheek.

Older, more tired Jason opened his eyes, the lump in his throat demanded to return to reality.   With a sigh he exited his bed and stretched his non-broken arm, carefully he readjusted the strap on his sling and opened his room door. He walked down the hall and made it halfway down the stairs before stopping at the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

A tall, freshly chopped Christmas tree sat in the middle of Twilights library, adorned on it were a multitude of ribbons, crystals, beads, and other twinkling objects. All around the tree, illuminating it were glowing, pulsating magical light of multiple colours, but the brightest light came from the tree topper. It was carved crystal, in the likeness of an Alicorn spreading her large sparkling wings to take flight, the entire thing glowed a bright, almost holy, light.

At the base of the tree was a small pile of gifts wrapped simply in coloured paper, and away from there was the mane six, Roseluck, Makers Fire, and Band Aid all smiling up at him.

"Happy Christmas, Jason!" They chanted, Jason himself had a slack jaw as he slowly descended the remaining steps.

"W-what...h-how...w-why?" Jason stammered, overwhelmed.

"Well," Twilight said with a smile "when you told me about Christmas, I felt like it was only right you get to  celebrate it here just like you did before."

"Y-you d-did this... For me?" Jason said, the lump was back, but it was a much happier lump. Jason blinked and felt a touch of moisture, he reached up at touched his cheek, it was wet with the happiest tears he had ever shed.

Jason looked up at Twilight, who was still smiling. With four short steps Jason closed the distance and knelt down, he scooped Twilight up in a warm hug.

"Thank you," Jason said, Twilight didn't say anything, merely hugged him back.

"GROUP HUG!" Pinkie Pie declared, and suddenly Jason was joined by seven more cuddly Ponies in the strangest yet most enjoyable hug Jason had ever had. Eventually- after several minutes -Jason was set free, but with a permanent happy smile on his face.

"Are all these for me?" Jason asked, looking at the gifts.

Pinkie giggled "of course, silly! Go on!"

With a grin, Jason grabbed the nearest gift and began to unwrap it.

"Come on!" Pinkie exclaimed "we're not saving the paper! Come on!"

Jason got the present free and looked it over, it was a small squishy ball coloured pink. Jason squeezed it and it let loose a duck-like quack.

Pinkie broke out in a fit of giggles "isn't it great?! Every time you squeeze it a different noise comes out! Do you like it?!"

Jason smiled, squeezing the ball again, a bell's ring came out "I love it Pinkie," he said, giving her a hug. Jason placed the ball to the side and grabbed the next present, he tore this one open quickly, it was a small black case. He opened it to reveal several cloths, small bottles and what looked like several sharpening stones.

"Tha's mine," Maker said "it's a care kit for yer blade, keep it nice no matter how much you abuse it."

Jason closed the case and placed it to the side, with a smile and pulled Maker into a hug which he growled at but tolerated, letting the smith go Jason grabbed the next present and tore it open. This one contained a case as well but the case held small brushes and sizers, along with a multitude of shaving razors.

"That one is from me," Rarity said "it's for your hair and facial hair, it will help you make yourself look you best."

Jason smiled and hugged Rarity "thanks." Before he moved on to the next gift, this one revealed to be a stethoscope, and thermometer.

"Yes, it's from me," Band Aid admitted "but I don't ruddy know what you like, do I? I had to improvise.." Band Aid stopped as Jason hugged him, which Band did not appreciate...completely.

"Yes, yes, know stop before you give me some weird Human disease," Band Aid said, pushing Jason off with a barely repressed grin, Jason smiled and returned to his bounty.

The next present was quickly unwrapped, in it, a strange looking whistle that when blowed gave a familiar high-pitch cry.

"It's...um... A bird call," Fluttershy stammered "for a loon," Fluttershy squeaked and blushed as Jason scooped her up in a hug.

Next, was a book, The History of the past thousand years by Ink Blot to be exact.

"I thought it could help familiarize you with recent events," Twilight said sheepishly, Rainbow Dash scoffed as Jason gave Twilight her hug.

"Should've known an egghead like you would've gotten him a book," Rainbow said, she swooped in and grabbed a blue-paper wrapped guilt and shoved it towards Jason.

"Here, check out my awesome gift!" She said, Jason grabbed the gift, it had weight to it and after unwrapping the present it was revealed to be two ten-point dumbbells.

"Now you can start doing better exercises," Rainbow joked "all you do is cardio, you need more weight lifting!"

"Hey!" Jason argued "you never skip leg day!"

"Yeah, but for you leg day is everyday!" Rainbow countered, laughing, Jason joined in and quickly plucked the Pegasus out of the air for a hug.

"Hey!" Rainbow protested but relented to the hug, Jason grinned at she regained flight and turned back to his presents. The next one was quickly unwrapped as was revealed to be a seed of some sort.

"It's a Maple Tree seed," Applejack explained "you can plant it in the spring, have you own tree in a few years."

Jason smiled brightly and gave Applejack her hug, glad that the bad blood was gone between them. Jason turned back to the last present and unwrapped it, it was a jewelry case, inside was a silver necklace with a red jewel, upon closer inspection the jewel was shown to be styled to look like a rose.

"Here, let me," Rose said, she took the necklace, unclasped it, and placed it on Jason's neck. Once she did she laid her hooves on Jason's shoulders, looking into his eyes.

"I wanted to give you something to remind you of me... Just in case you ever forgot," Rose said cryptically, Jason glanced behind her and saw the other mares mouthing 'a'wwww' Rainbow, Maker, and Band Aid looked positively discussed though.

"Happy Christmas, Jason." Rose said.

Jason smiled "Merry Christmas," he corrected "Merry Christmas, Roseluck."