It's the Most Magical Night of the Year
Hearth's Warming Eve In Canterlot
by Arcelia
The white unicorn tightened her scarf as she strolled through the bustling narrow streets of Canterlot. Decadent displays of delight filled the city. Sonnets of joy and harmony echoed through the air. Hearth’s Warming Eve was finally here.
“I still don’t get why we have to be out shopping on Hearth’s Warming Eve,” Rainbow Dash said as she hurried alongside the unicorn, trying her best to keep up. “Shouldn’t we be back home celebrating with the others?”
Stopping in her tracks, the unicorn turned to the pony beside her, a scowl lingering on her face. “Because, Rainbow my dear, we simply cannot go home without buying Twilight a present. After all, it’s her first Hearth’s Warming as a newly crowned princess of Equestria. How do you think she would feel if she didn’t receive a gift from two of her best friends?” Lifting an eyebrow, she said, “Or have you already forgotten that you have yet to buy her a present as well?”
Rainbow’s gaze drifted to the ground as she rubbed a hoof against the back of her mane. “Sorry, Rarity… I sort of forgot. Cloudsdale’s been crazy busy trying to get things ready as well, and I’ve been helping out for the past week.” Feeling a slight warmth rise to her cheeks, she said, “Honestly, with all the chaos lately, there’s actually something I’ve been meaning to tell you…”
But her confession was suddenly interrupted by a shriek from the unicorn as the sound of hooves echoed along the cobblestone street. Rainbow Dash jolted at the sound and looked up. An iridescent glow quickly caught her eye, right where her friend had pressed her nose up against the glass of a shop window.
“Oh, Rainbow Dash darling, isn’t it just divine?” Rarity asked as her friend joined her at the shop window.
Rainbow Dash squinted at the window to see a mannequin dressed in a glittering, sequined gown behind the pane of glass. The tiny jewels of the dress shone with brilliance beneath a spotlight as the delicate hues of the fabric glowed with a gentle warmth. She tilted her head to the side, noticing the unicorn’s bewitched gaze. “Uh, Rarity, are you sure this is the perfect gift for Twilight? She doesn’t seem like the sort of pony who would want something fancy like this.”
“Don’t be ridiculous Rainbow,” Rarity chided, “this isn’t necessarily a gift for Twilight! To be perfectly honest, I was rather considering purchasing this for myself. No Hearth’s Warming Eve shopping expedition is complete without buying at least one gift for yourself.”
“But I thought we were supposed to be buying a gift for Twilight,” Rainbow argued, bringing herself to a low hover beside the mare. “Isn’t that the reason we came all the way to Canterlot?”
“Why, of course darling! But that doesn’t mean we can’t buy something nice for ourselves. Come along now, I simply must try this ensemble on!” Rarity exclaimed as she strode into the boutique, giggling with excitement.
With a heavy sigh, Rainbow Dash landed with limp wings and trudged her way inside the store behind her friend. The twinkling chime of a bell sounded overhead as the two were approached by a familiar mare, a light brown pony whose warm, cyan eyes met Rarity’s with a sincere smile. “Rarity, Rainbow Dash, it’s so nice to see you both again,” the mare said in a gentle voice.
Rarity’s eyes widened with surprise soon as she realized who it was.. “Coco Pommel? Oh my, I never thought I would find you here! I had no idea you worked at Gracie’s, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Well, when my designer told me that there was a shortage of staff over Hearth’s Warming Eve, I just knew I had to help out.” Waving a hoof, she said, “But enough about me though, is there anything I can help you ladies with?”
“Well,” Rarity began as she stepped forward, “as I was walking past the boutique, a particular ensemble in the window caught my attention. It was lit up like the night sky with its sequins and I just knew I had to try it on!”
“Oh! You mean the ‘Enchantment of the Sea’ gown by David Pvlgari?” Coco said as she walked over to a set of silver velvet curtains that were drawn across a nearby wall.
“That’s the one! Yes, it certainly is quite spectacular; would you happen to know if it’s one of kind?” Rarity asked as she followed the pony’s lead.
Coco drew back the curtain to reveal the mannequins that were displayed in the shop window. “It is in fact one of his stand alone pieces, but it is also the signature ensemble of his newest line. Although, I can’t quite remember the name of it,” she said as she undressed one of the mannequins.
Rarity pursed her lips in thought. “Hmm… I believe it was Au Couture: Deep Ocean?”
“That’s it!” Lifting the gown off the mannequin, Coco said, “Gee, Rarity, you sure do know an awful lot about fashion. I wish I could remember all the famous designers and their signature pieces. Especially since I now work in high fashion, it’s important that I know exactly what the customer wants.”
“Oh, don’t fret my dear,” Rarity said as she took the gown from her, trotting over to one of the dressing rooms. “The longer you work around classy, fashionable ponies with extravagant taste, the better you’ll remember these things.”
While Rarity tried on the gown, Rainbow Dash paced about the room, humming to herself as she waited. A moment later, the changing room’s curtains were drawn back with a pale blue glow. She and Coco gasped as Rarity stepped into the centre of the room, her gown glistening with sapphire brilliance as the turquoise hues of the gown complemented the mare’s white coat with captivating contrast.
“Gosh, Rarity, you look… um… r-really something,” Rainbow said with wide, lost eyes. Realizing only after the fact what she said, she shook her head and stammered, “I mean, y-you look really nice! Yeah! Heh.”” She turned her attention away for a moment, fighting to subdue the crimson blush smouldering on her cheeks.
“That ensemble suits you beautifully, Rarity,” Coco said genially from aside. “Might ask for what occasion you are purchasing this for?”
Rarity spun around to face Coco, the back of the dress reflected in the floor length mirror behind her. “Well, we were originally shopping for a gift for Twilight, but we might have got a little distracted,” she said with a slight giggle.
“Princess Twilight is really lucky to have friends as nice as you guys. It’s Hearth’s Warming Eve and you’re all the way up here buying her a special present.”
“But Coco, wouldn’t you do the same thing for your friends?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Especially if it was somepony you truly cared about?”
“Of course I would! Unfortunately, I don’t have anypony special that I want to buy a gift for,” Coco replied as her focus shifted to the ground.
“Wait.” Rainbow furrowed her brow. “Are you saying that you don’t have any friends?”
Coco fidgeted with her hooves a little. “Well, all the constant travelling between cities and time spent making costumes and set decorations hasn’t left much time for me to make friends”
Rarity blinked at that. “Coco my dear, remember that we are your friends, and no matter what happens, we will always be there for you. It is Hearth’s Warming Eve after all,” she said with a warm smile, placing a hoof on the mare’s shoulder.
“In that case,” Coco said, turning to a cash register, “as one of my friends, I would like to give you a Hearth’s Warming Eve gift. If you like, I would be more than happy to pay for the full cost of that gown. Consider it a gift from me and the rest of the staff at Gracie’s.”
“Oh darling, you don’t have to do that. A designer gown such as this one is worth more than bits than my monthly salary! I could never expect you to pay for something so extravagant.”
“Rarity, please, I insist.” Pulling open the register’s tray, she said, “I’ve seen dozens of mares walk through the boutique’s doors and none of them could do that gown justice the way you do. If you don’t buy that gown, somepony else will and trust me, they’ll look like a cod fish trying to turn itself into a lobster compared to you.”
Rarity watched in awe as dozens of green bills were stuffed into the cash register as her pegasus companion dawdled about the room, her patience growing short.
“There, the gown is paid for. If you like, I can have it wrapped up ready to go for you,” Coco asked.
“That would be lovely, thank you. You have such a generous spirit Coco; I’m surprised you haven’t been promoted to store manager yet,” Rarity said as she winked at the pony behind the counter.
“Unfortunately, working here at Gracie’s means that promotions are only given to those who have a high percentage of sales. But since I’ve only been working here for a few days, I haven’t reached my quota yet.”
“Ah, I see then., Well, I better go and change out of this. Rainbow Dash and I do have some more shopping to do.”
The unicorn returned to the dressing room and changed out of the gown. As she left the dressing room and went back over to the counter, levitating the dress in front of her, she thought she could see a gleam in the corner of Rainbow Dash’s eye.
She placed the dress on the counter and watched as Coco wrapped and packed the gown in a delicate manner. “Thank you, Coco; you truly are a special pony,” Rarity said as she took the bag. “Well, we better be on our way. Come along, Rainbow my dear, we have more gifts to find!” she exclaimed as she strode out of the boutique with the pegasus in tow.
Back out on the busy street, Rarity found herself mesmerized by the thousands of lights that lit up every building, every tree and every heart that sung its joyful prayer on that starry night.
“I would say that went rather well, perhaps we didn’t get what we came for but at least we made one pony’s dream come true tonight. Wouldn’t you agree Rainbow Dash?” Rarity asked, turning her head to the side. “Rainbow Dash?” she asked again, noticing that there was an empty space where her friend was supposed to be.
As she looked around the bustling street, her eyes searched for her friend’s prismatic mane. She continued to walk down the street, wondering where she might have gone. After walking past dozens of festively decorated shops, she spotted the mare standing outside a shop window near the end of the street.
She walked over to where the pegasus was standing, whose eyes were locked onto the window of an old wizard’s magic shop, which had in more recent years become a crystal snow globe and antique store. The closer Rarity got, the more she noticed the melancholy in the mare’s eyes., Turning her attention to the window, she noticed a marvellous display of some of the shop’s unique wares. But Rainbow Dash’s gaze was fixated on one particular enchanted snow globe that held a scene of two ponies skating on an ice rink.
“Rainbow Dash, darling, are you alright?” the unicorn asked, as she peered closer.
The pegasus narrowed her eyes, keeping her focus on the object in front of her. “I’m fine, Rarity. I was just… remembering something.”
Rarity placed a comforting hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “Might I ask what you were remembering?”
There was a brief silence between them before Rainbow Dash finally spoke up. “Back when I was just a little filly, my father and I...” She sighed. “We used to go out on the ice in Ponyville every Hearth’s Warming Eve and he would teach me to skate. That is of course, until he passed away.”
As the two stood in silence for a moment, the chaos around them slowed to a dull roar. From the endless stretch of midnight sky above them, tiny flakes of snow descended towards them. Rainbow Dash could feel a cold, unsettling sensation on the tip of her nose as her gaze turned toward the sky.
“It’s snowing,” said Rainbow Dash.
Rarity followed the pony’s gaze and fixated her eyes on the heavenly display above. Snow continued to fall from the sky and onto the cobblestone street. “Oh. It is, isn’t it?”
“Yeah…” She watched for a few seconds as the snowfall grew heavier “I haven’t seen this much snow in a long time”
Rarity watched for a moment as well. Eventually, she returned her attention to the mare beside her, eyes filled with concern. “Rainbow my dear, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you were so close to your father.”
“Nah, it’s okay. This dumb snow globe just reminded me of the time we shared together, that’s all,” she said with a shrug, placing a hoof on the glass.
Rarity remained quiet for a moment as an idea brewed in her mind. “Rainbow, why don’t you buy this snow globe as a gift for Twilight?”
Rainbow’s brow furrowed as she turned to her friend. “What makes you think Twilight would like it?”
“Well, Twilight being the sentimental pony she is, she would definitely appreciate the personal attribute. Perhaps she would see it as a reminder of the special friendship that both of you share?”
“I don’t know, Rarity. Are you sure this is the perfect gift for Twilight?”
“It certainly is darling. You would be wise to consider it,” Rarity said with a confident smile.
After mulling it over for a moment, Rainbow Dash pulled away from the window. “Okay, let’s do it,” she said as she walked up to the large, oaken door of the shop.
As they entered inside, a rattling chorus of wind chimes echoed throughout the room. From wall to wall were shelves and displays of magical snow globes. Each one was unique and each one told a story.
An old stallion with a scruffy beard and long, white mane stood behind a counter at the back of the store, watching as the two mares approached. “Well hello there. Can I help you?”
“What is this place?” Rainbow Dash mumbled quietly to herself as she approached the counter.
Rarity walked up to the stallion and placed a hoof onto the countertop. “You most certainly can! If you could be so kind, my friend here is interested in a particular piece of merchandise of yours.” she said, nodding to the pony next to her.
“Alright then,” the stallion said as he walked out from behind the counter. “Perhaps you could show me to the piece you are talking about?”
Rarity lead the storekeeper to the front of the shop and over to the window display where the snow globe sat. She gave Rainbow Dash a slight nudge, causing the mare to clear her throat. “Uh… T-this is the one I want,” she said, pointing to the little ornament that sat in the very centre of the display.
A pale glow wrapped around the surface of the circular dome as the stallion levitated the snow toward them. “An interesting choice, madam. Could you perhaps tell me why you are interested in this particular snow globe?”
“Well, it’s actually a present for one of my close friends. It also kinda reminds me of my foal hood,” she said, watching as the two ponies within continued to skate.
“Fascinating. In that case, I will be sure to wrap this up for you so you can give it to your friend.”
Rarity waited patiently as the stallion packed the snow globe into an appropriately sized box, before wrapping it in brown paper and tying it up with string. “Now, that comes to… Fifty-three bits.” Rainbow Dash threw a generous amount of bits onto the countertop. “Thank you kindly, miss, I’m sure your friend is going to love it.”
“Uh, thanks. I’m sure she will too,” Rainbow Dash said as she placed the package in her saddlebag. Turning back for the door of the shop, she shouted back a quick “Happy Hearth’s Warming!” and exited with her friend.
Back out on the bustling street, snow continued to fall from the sky. “Now, aren’t you glad you found a special gift for Twilight?” Rarity asked as they strolled away from the shop.
“Yeah, I am. I just hope she likes it,” Rainbow Dash said through an exhale, hanging her head slightly..
“Oh, but she will darling! Twilight is going to love your present, don’t you worry about that,” Rarity reassured her.
Rainbow shifted her gaze to Rarity, whose sapphire eyes shone in the moonlight. “Wait. What have you bought for Twilight?” she suddenly asked, stopping in her tracks.
Rarity gave the mare a knowing smile. “Rainbow Dash, did you honestly think that I had neglected to buy Twilight a present? It so happens that I have already ordered it and I must now collect it.”
Rainbow watched for a moment as the mare continued down the street. Confusing thoughts began to swirl about within the mare’s mind. Eventually, once she realized she was standing awkwardly in the middle of the street, she trotted after the unicorn.
~ * ~
A little while later, Rainbow Dash stood waiting outside a decorations store where Rarity had said “she would be just a minute.” For whatever reason, she was not allowed to come inside, and as the minutes passed, her impatience steadily grew.
After what felt like an eternity, the unicorn finally emerged from the shop and returned to her side. “What took you so long?” Rainbow Dash asked as she moved away from the shop window.
“I’m terribly sorry Rainbow, I got held up due to a miscommunication. As it turns out, she was not the same pony who took my order a few weeks ago and was quite confused when I told her about the items I had requested.” She sighed. “Nevertheless, I still got what I came here for, and it’s probably due time that we got home”
As Rarity tightened her scarf, Rainbow Dash fell silent. An empty feeling ruptured in the pit of her stomach as she felt deeply dissatisfied with how the night’s event had turned out. There was still a nagging thought that lingered in her mind, a confession that need to be proclaimed.
“Darling, are you alright?” Rarity asked, noticing the mare’s somber gaze holding onto something in the distance.
Despite the unicorn’s concern, Rainbow Dash remained quiet. The world around them seemed to slow down, as though they were lost in this moment forever. After a long bout of silence, she finally spoke. “Rarity, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you. Actually, I’ve been meaning to tell you this for awhile now.”
Rarity knitted her brow in confusion, meeting the mare’s gaze with her own. “Oh? And what might that be?”
There was a brief pause as the pegasus sighed. “Rarity, you’re one of my best friends, and I guess in a way, I’ve always thought you were pretty special. But coming out here tonight, spending time with you has made me realise that I really care about you and that I see you as more than just a friend.”
Rarity’s eyes went wide. She took a step back and blinked a few times. “Rainbow...I...I don’t know what to say. Is that really how you feel?”
The mare nodded her head.
Rarity rubbed a hoof against her chin. “Well, I...I had no idea that you even felt that way! To be perfectly honest, I’m not quite sure what to say. All this time, I never thought you would actually reciprocate my feelings.”
The pegasus’s pupils dilated as she felt her legs tremble. “Wait, what?”
Smiling a little, Rarity said, “Rainbow Dash, you look so surprised! After all, I’ve felt this way for a long time, ever since that night at our first Grand Galloping Gala. I not only admired your integrity, but also your strength. Besides, I just knew that those colours would suit you. But isn’t half the fun of falling for somepony is seeing if the other pony will fall for you?” Rarity asked, cocking her head to the side as she leaned in closer.
“Wait…” she said, tapping her hoof to her forehead. “So that means that you’ve been waiting all this time and I didn’t even realise it?”
“Rainbow my dear, haven’t I been acting even a little bit different around you lately? Hmm?” she asked.
“Well, when you put it that way. I guess you have been acting a little different. I mean, with the eyelash batting and all…” to which Rarity began batting her eyelashes. “And the way you would look into my eyes…” she said as their eyes met. “And the way that you would kiss me.” Rainbow Dash said, instantly regretting until a set of soft, warm, lips were pressed up against hers.
Her legs went numb and she found herself shifting her hooves around so she wouldn’t fall over. She closed her eyes and embraced the newfound tingling sensation that arose in her mouth as she returned the mare’s generous endowment.
As the unicorn pulled away from Rainbow Dash, the chilled air placed its icy grasp on her exposed bottom lip. Snow drifted its way down to the street and onto their smiling faces. “That, was really nice, Rarity. Thank you.” she said, her cheeks inflamed from within.
The mare’s cheeks were also a much darker shade of crimson . “I’m certainly glad you liked it my dear, I’ve never considered myself much of a kisser, but that was indeed quite sublime.” She giggled, subsiding the nervous tension in her voice.
“I think it’s time we headed home, I’m sure the others are waiting for us,” Rainbow Dash said as she looked to the sky, its dark overlay stretching over them in a glittering display.
“I must agree with you darling, it is getting rather late. Twilight will probably be pacing about, awaiting our arrival.” Giving her scarf one last tug, she skirted alongside Rainbow with a smile and started toward the train station.
~ * ~
“Wait, so y’all telling me that Coco Pommel was workin’ at that fancy department store?” Applejack asked as her and their friends sat around the Hearth’s Warming tree inside the cozy walls of Twilight’s Castle.
Both Rainbow Dash and Rarity nodded silently in reply, their flanks close together as they sat across from the earth pony on a set of cushions.
Off to the side, Fluttershy worked to string lights onto the tree. She took a moment to glance back at the two and murmured, “So what happened after you left Gracie’s?”
“Well,” Rarity started, “after Rainbow purchased her gift, I had another errand to run. So after that was finished, Rainbow Dash had something she needed to tell me…” She looked expectantly to the pony beside her.
“Heh, yeah.” Rubbing a hoof against a foreleg with a sheepish smile, Rainbow looked over at the unicorn and cocked an eyebrow. “Do you think we should tell them?”
A pitter patter of tiny feet echoed throughout the room as a short figure appeared in the doorway. “Tell them what?” a voice asked, grabbing everypony’s attention to the front of the room.
Spike had come to join them, as he walked over to Rarity, a gingerbread cookie dangling from his mouth.
“Oh, Spikey-wikey, we were just telling the girls about our shopping expedition,” Rarity chimed.
“Is that all? Well, I better go check up on the batch of cookies that are cooking in the oven.” he replied, as he left from the room.
Applejack turned to Rainbow Dash. “Y’all wanna finish the story sugarcube?” the earth pony asked.
“Right. As I was saying… after Rarity finished off her errand, I decided it would be a good time to tell her…” Her words trailed off as another pony entered the room.
“Tell her what, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked, as she sipped her hot coffee.
“Uh… Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked.
The alicorn stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening at the pegasus. “Oh, I’m sorry, did I just interrupt something? It sounded like you were telling a story,” she said as she sat down beside Applejack.
“They were, right before ya walked in and asked a question,” AJ said in a frustrated tone.
“Come on Twilight! They were just getting to the good part!” Pinkie Pie retorted, who had been sitting on the other side AJ, scoffing down popcorn the entire time.
“I’m sorry Rainbow Dash, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Please, continue,” she said, taking another sip of her coffee.
The pegasus cheeks went crimson as she fidgeted about on her cushion. “It’s, uh… it’s alright Twilight, I was just about to tell the others about the thing I said to Rarity earlier tonight,” she replied, tracing the floor with a hoof.
“Then get to it already! I can’t take this suspense much longer!” Pinkie exclaimed as she stuffed another hooful of popcorn into her mouth.
“Alright everypony, just… down, okay? I’m about to get the point in a sec.” Rainbow Dash said, as she fidgeted with her wings. “Now, what I was about to say was…”
“Who wants a Christmas cookie?” a voice asked, as the smell of gingerbread wafted through the air.
“Spike!” Everypony shouted, causing the tray of freshly baked cookies to be sent flying through the air and landed at Rainbow Dash’s hooves.
“I’m in love with Rarity!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“What?” everypony shouted and suddenly all eyes were on her.
“Rainbow Dash, is that true?” Twilight asked, as she leaned in closer to the pegasus.
She nodded. “Yes! Yes it is! I’ve always been in love with her, ever since she wore that blue dress to Twilight’s coronation.”
“Wait, so… Rarity, how do you feel about all of this?” Fluttershy murmured, as she joined them.
“Well, after Rainbow Dash confessed her feelings, it turns out that I more than reciprocated them. We've only just started down this path, of course, but... I rather like where things are going." she replied, taking a hold of the pegasus’s hoof.
“Ooh! That reminds me!” Rarity exclaimed as she pulled out six small packages from her saddlebag on the floor. She placed the little boxes in front of the mane six, giving each of the mares a parcel to open. “Go ahead and open them my darlings! I think you're really going to like them,” she said as she watched their excited expressions.
As each sparkling bauble was removed from its paper wrapping, a look of joy and delight lit up their faces. “Oh wow Rarity, these are beautiful!” Twilight said as she spun the bauble around.
“You’re right Twilight,” Fluttershy noted, “they’re so pretty! And look! Our cutie marks are on them, and they even match the colour of our coats!”
“Well, I wanted them to feel special to each of you. Which is why I had the artist paint your cutie marks onto each of your ornaments. Oh, and that reminds me,” Rarity said, giving the mare beside her a nudge. “Rainbow Dash, don’t you have a gift to give to Twilight?”
“Oh yeah! Heh, almost forgot,” Rainbow Dash said as she pulled a delicately wrapped parcel from her satchel and placed it at the mare’s hooves. “I hope you like it.”
“What’s this?” the alicorn asked, as she slowly pulled away the paper and retrieved the glass snow globe that the pegasus had purchased earlier that day. As the dome shape came into view, a gasp escaped her. “Wow, this is incredible. How did you find something like this?” she asked.
“It was nothing really. I just thought you might like something a little more personal you know?”
“Oh, Rainbow Dash, I love it! You couldn’t have picked a better present. Thank you.” she replied, placing the snow globe onto the ground beside her.
The six baubles were levitated and hung onto the large, twinkling Christmas tree. It had truly been a Hearth’s Warming Eve to remember.
~ The End ~
Author's Note
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!
Massive thanks to my excessively talented editor Vertigo-01 who had poured so much time and effort into this and I am eternally grateful.
Also a shout to Jowybean who is credited for the amazing artwork.
Merry Christmas everyone, I hope your festive season is warm and bright.
