Finally it was winter in the small town of Ponyville, and it looked it too. Snow was everywhere and cool winds blew furiously. Twilight sighed, staring out her new kingdom window. What should I do for Hearts Warming Eve? she wondered.
"Twilight? What's the matter?" she heard her dragon friend, Spike, ask. Confused, Twilight looked to him, tilting her head just the slightest bit. Nothing seemed to be the matter, she felt fine in fact.
"Nothing is. I'm just thinking of what to do for Hearts Warming Eve." she answered, looking back out of the window.
"There's your problem! An idea will come to you at some point, but in the meantime, I found Sunset's journal on your bed. It was blinking and vibrating again." Spike handed her the book that he somehow hid behind himself.
Curious, Twilight levitated the book to her and opened the journal to the new page and read:
Dear Twilight,
How's it going? It's been a while since we defeated the dazzlings.
I know it is probably really busy in Ponyville, especially since you're a princess now...but I was just writing to say Merry Christmas.
If you ever get the chance, the girls and I want to see you for the holidays.
We understand, though if you have princess duties.
So, from all of us to you, have a Merry Hearts Warming Eve.
You're friend,
Sunset Shimmer
Twilight smiled, closing the journal and handed it back to Spike. "Spike, I know what I want to do for Hearts Warming Eve!"
Spike, taking back the journal, looked up to her excited, "Yeah?! What is it?"
Twilight trotted over to the portal mirror and turned on the device, "To figure out what Christmas is! Spike, before I go, is it alright to ask you to stay and watch over the castle while I'm gone? I don't want the girls to come visit me and not know where I went off to."
Spike snickered, "Yeah, sure Twilight. Have fun figuring out what Christmas is." Spike waved Twilight off and went back into Twilight's bedroom, placing the journal back on the bed. Twilight stepped into the portal and was taken to Canterlot High.
~ In the Human World ~
"I hope she saw it and read it." Sunset worried, pacing unknowingly. She was worried of not seeing Twilight ever this year.
"Relax sugar cube! Ah'm sure Twilight read it." Applejack put her hand on Sunset's shoulder, stopping her pacing. The whole group stood at the portal, waiting for a certain someone to jump out of the statue. As if to hear Applejack, the portal opened, and Twilight jumped out.
"Twilight!" they all exclaimed, jumping into an embrace when she stood up from the fall.
"Hey girls! I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner." Twilight exclaimed, exchanging hugs from one girl to the next.
"I'm so happy you could make it." Sunset Shimmer smiled, returning Twilight's hug. The warmth of the human heated her cool body, and she had to try so hard to not blush from the embrace.
"Where is everyone?" Twilight asked, noticing no one was around. The school looked abandoned with snow everywhere to cover it all with its beauty.
"Because, silly! It's winter break! Time for Christmas!!" Pinkie laughed.
"Everyone's out for winter break, and with all this snow, we are bound to figure out something to do." Rainbow smirked, grabbing a handful of snow.
"Rainbow, what'cha talkin' 'bout?" Applejack asked, turning to her to see her throw cold snow at her. It hit her stomach, and she just brushed it off. "Now your askin' for it!" she laughed, picking up a handful and throwing a snowball back to her.
"Why heavens, girls! Your outfits are going to get soaked! Let's just go to Pinkie's place like planed." Rarity split them up.
"What's going on at Pinkie's?" Twilight asked, a little curious.
"Duh, a sleepover holiday! We're going to hand out gifts!" Pinkie explained.
"Yes, but are you all forgetting that we were going to do that tomorrow?" Sunset reminded them.
"Oh...right." the four remembered.
"Well then, I guess I'll see you all tomorrow! Hope you all give me something cool." Rainbow smiled, waiving to the girls as she left the area.
"Same here, y'all. See y'all later. Rainbow! Wait up!" Applejack excused herself, catching up to Rainbow Dash. The other girls followed and soon, Sunset and Twilight were alone.
Twilight sighed, looking to Sunset, to meet her gaze. Quickly, she turned away, her face pure red. "S-so...what's this Christmas they keep talking about?" Twilight finally asked.
Sunset laughed nervously, also looking away with cheeks crimson red, "Oh, it's like Hearts Warming Eve in Equestria. Just the humans give gifts and get gifts from Santa and stuff like that."
"Who's Santa?" Twilight asked, as she followed Sunset down the empty streets of the town.
"Hm, how to explain this...As kids, humans believed a man who was chubby and old came on Christmas down everyone's chimneys to put gifts under trees for all the little good boys and girls. At some age, humans stop believing and start to give gifts to one another." Sunset explained as best as she could. She also had some questions about the human holidays, but she was getting the hang of all of them.
"I see. If Santa's chubby, then how does he fit in chimneys? I know they are pretty small here." Twilight wondered, picturing a fat old man trying to fit down a chimney. "Also, how does he do that for all the people in the world? It's very hard to believe."
Sunset snickered, "Oh, he uses magic."
"There's magic in the human world? I mean, it makes sense since we did that whole friendship magic...but there's other magic?" Twilight was getting a little more curious. This human world had many secrets that she needed to know.
"Yeah, humans believe in magic to make things happen, and really, there is some magic." Sunset explained, and the two stopped at a high apartment building.
"Is this where you're living? It's huge!" Twilight stood in awe. The buildings were the same height as the high buildings in Manehatten, but less of color.
Sunset smiled, "Yeah, wanna come in and see?" She opened the door and gestured Twilight inside.
"I wouldn't be too much trouble?" Twilight wondered. She didn't like troubling people, especially if they were someone's neighbors.
"Pfft." Sunset laughed, "Na. Come on, you're fine." Twilight sighed and nodded, entering the tall building. She looked around to the quiet looking atmosphere with little to no lights at the hallways.
"What floor do you live on?" Twilight asked, looking around the lounge area. The walls were a random green, and had vertical gold lines spaced perfectly throughout the whole lounge and the floor was all red carpet.
"Oh, the top floor. We can use the elevator, if you want." Sunset offered, pointing to the elevator.
Twilight smiled, "Yeah, I think I had enough stairs when Sombra attacked the Crystal Empire." she joked, entering the elevator that opened.
"Who's Sombra? What attack?" Sunset asked worriedly, entering as well.
"Well, Sombra attacked the Chrystal Empire and to save the Empire, Spike and I looked for the Crystal Heart. When I stepped close to it, I was trapped, so I gave it to Spike to handle. So, Sombra was defeated, and Princess Cadence was remembered as the Crystal Empire ruler." Twilight explained. As the elevator went closer and closer to the top, the two went silent.
Come on Sunset. At least get close to her. she thought as she stepped closer. Her cheeks were burning at this point, and the only thing she could do was think of another conversation. "So, want to maybe get some gifts for the girls? I'm sure you don't have anything, and I didn't have time to shop yet...I could try to help." Sunset finally suggested.
Twilight looked over to her excitedly, "Really? You'd do that? That would be nice! We can first see what snacks and stuff to bring as well."
Sunset nodded, "Yeah, let me see what I have in my room first." The elevator doors opened and the two got out. "Come on, this way." she gestured towards a window and Twilight looked out. The town looked so huge. Most stores and buildings looked like small books and the people looked like ants.
She laughed, "This reminds me of when I fly. Everything's so small, but beautiful!" she exclaimed.
Not as beautiful as you are... Sunset was caught gazing at Twilight and had to shake her head to get her focused. "I bet. Come, I'll show you my room and we can then go and shop!" Sunset walked down the hallway going to the last door on the right, unlocking it with a key.
Hours Later
The sun was starting to set and the two were walking with bags of goodies for the girls. This day truly was a great day for the two. They got to spend quality time with each other buying gifts for everyone. Truly something special for them both. What were they going to do with these gifts, Twilight wondered. Maybe they wrap it, but she doesn't know how to wrap presents.... All of this is so new for her to understand. Maybe a few hours of sleep will help her be awake tomorrow to learn more.
