Silver Bells

Chapters

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Part 1

Bits clattered on bits like a chorus of silver bells. They bounced across the bedspread, chased by a pair of tiny white hooves.

Sweetie Belle gathered her bits together and began to slide them off the pile, one by one. She chewed her lip as she counted them out. “Twenty-five... twenty-six... twenty-seven. What can I buy with only twenty-seven bits?” She leaned back against her bedposts and looked out the window.

Snow drifted lazily by, piling on the windowsill and falling to the ground below. The world outside the window was a picturesque winter scene. Thick, fresh snow lay everywhere, piling into drifts against builds and lounging on rooftops. Icicles hung down from the gutters, and although the sun was shining brightly the frost around her window spoke to the chill outside.

Sweetie turned back to the pile of bits before her and rubbed her cheek. “What can I get with only twenty-seven bits?” she asked again.

“Sweetie Belle?” Rarity called from down the stairs. “Are you almost ready? Silver Spoon will be here shortly.”

“Coming!” Sweetie Belle called. She chewed on her hoof, fretting for a moment before a thought struck her. She hastily scrabbled up her bits, depositing them into a purse which she tucked into her mane. After that she bounded off her bed and near-galloped down the stairs.

“Goodness, Sweetie!” Rarity said, just barely dodging Sweetie. “You don't have to come down that fast. Silver isn't here yet.” She looked Sweetie up and down and added, “A good thing, too. Come here and let me fix up your mane. Then I'll pick out a nice coat for you to wear.”

Sweetie nodded and trotted after Rarity. “I need your help!” she said.

“Well, yes,” Rarity replied, “I should say so.”

“No,” Sweetie replied, shaking her head. “Not with my mane.” She paused. “Not just with my mane,” she corrected herself. “I guess it does need a bit of work...” In fact, it needed quite a lot of work. Her coat was cleaned and groomed to a silken sheen, but her fretting had left her mane a mess of haphazard curls and stray hairs.

Rarity tutted as she sat Sweetie Belle down in a kitchen chair. “Now,” she said. “I know you need my help with your mane and outfit. I know you don't need my help understanding the musical that you and Silver will be seeing. I am mostly certain that Silver's family is not so concerned with propriety that a few faux pas are not an enormous concern. And to be frank, with as much time as you two have been spending together lately I don't expect you to make any. Especially not with Twilight redefining propriety every time she is made to host an event.” She smiled wryly “And I somehow doubt you've developed a crush on her butler. So tell me dear, what seems to be the problem?”

“It's Silver's Hearth's Warming present,” Sweetie Belle cried.

“Please hold still, Sweetie,” Rarity admonished. She stood up and gathered Sweetie's mane in a bunch in her hooves, humming to herself. She levitated pins, slipping them into Sweetie's mane experimentally. “Do you need help wrapping it?”

“I need help picking it!” Sweetie said.

“Picking—Sweetie!” Rarity said. She set her hooves on her hips. Sweetie Belle could feel her eyes on the back of her neck like hot steel. “I thought you'd picked something out already.”

“I tried,” Sweetie said, tucking her head beneath the glare. Rarity tutted loudly, and Sweetie rose again. “I tried,” she repeated, gesturing vaguely, “but I couldn't think of anything!”

“You must know what she likes by now,” Rarity said. She returned her attention to Sweetie Belle's mane, tying it back to fall in a bunch around Sweetie's neck, and tapped her chin. “You've spent enough time with her these past few months.”

“I do,” Sweetie said. “But she's so rich, she already has everything she wants! And what she doesn't her family can get her...”

“They hardly spoil her,” Rarity pointed out. She smoothed Sweetie Belle's mane with her hooves, fluffing it gently. “There,” she said, satisfied.

“She isn't,” Sweetie said, slumping into her hooves. “That's the problem. I asked her about her Hearth's Warming list, and she's so used to not being spoiled that there's hardly anything she wants! Anything she does want, her family is probably getting her.”

“Tell me what you think, Sweetie,” Rarity asked, hovering a mirror in front of Sweetie's face. Sweetie's mane had been pulled tight around her scalp, save for her pink streak, which swept to the left across her forehead and tucked behind her head. The rest of her mane was tied in a bunch and draped across the left side of her neck, rolling over her shoulder and framing her collar in a way that must have been deliberate—no mean feat, as Sweetie knew firsthoof just how impossible it was to make her mane behave.

“Wow,” she said, running a hoof gently along it. “It looks amazing!”

Rarity smiled as she set down the mirror, humming as if she already knew. “So,” she said as she took a seat across the table from Sweetie Belle, “have you spoken to her family about what they have, and have not, gotten her?”

“No,” Sweetie said, the excitement from her new manestyle ebbing away as fast as it had come. “I haven't had the chance. And it's definitely too late now. I don't want to ruin the night by them taking us somewhere so I can get a gift, if they even would. This is the last time I'm gonna see her for two whole weeks, until she gets back from Canterlot. I want it to be special.” She sighed and slumped into her hooves.

“Careful of your mane, dear,” Rarity said. “There will be shops where you're going; they wouldn’t have to go out of their way.”

“I'm not gonna give Silver something from a gift shop!” Sweetie said. “That would be worse than not getting her anything at all!”

“That's not what I meant,” Rarity said. “There are a lot of stores in Manehattan's arts district. Book stores, record stores... even if there isn't anything on Silver's list you can get her, you must be able to think of something she would appreciate, hmm? Perhaps something she doesn't know about yet?”

Sweetie Belle frowned. She moved to run a hoof through her mane, but Rarity's glare put a quick stop to that. “Y-you think that would work?” she asked.

“It works for me,” Rarity said. Her expression took on a cynical edge, and she added, “Since Applejack rather ardently refuses to ever ask for gifts, I have found a whole host of methods for finding something for her.” She waved a hoof. “At any rate, yes, I think you would be able to find her something she would appreciate.”

Sweetie Belle leaned back into her hooves, mulling this over. “...She's been trying to watch more musicals,” she said. “She's enjoying them, too. Do you think she'd like a soundtrack from something?”

“You know her better than I,” Rarity said with a shrug. “If you think it's something she'd like, I would go for it. However...” She leaned in and fixed Sweetie Belle with an expression like steel. “Tell her parents, or her butler, about this before you go to do it. Don't just run off and leave them wondering where you went. Better yet, take one of them with you when you go. It will be easier to make an excuse for leaving that way. You don't want Silver to know that you waited until the last minute to get her present. You shouldn't have, but we're here now and we must do what we can.” She leaned back in her chair, although her expression did not soften. “And for that matter, make sure you know exactly what you want to get Silver before you go. You mustn't leave her waiting for too long.”

“R-right,” Sweetie said. She had sunken into her chair as a wave of guilt came over her, blossoming in her stomach like a flower made of tar.

It was only then that Rarity's expression softened. She reached out to Sweetie Belle and stroked her face. “You only waited this long because you wanted it to be something special, and meaningful,” she said. “You and Silver have been through a lot together lately. I understand that. So will Silver. But if you really do want tonight to be special, you should still try to keep her from finding out.” She smiled faintly. “Don't let this make its way to Applejack, but sometimes a little fib can be for the best.”

“Okay,” Sweetie Belle said, nodding. She breathed deeply, cleansing herself of most of the guilt. She smiled her best smile for Rarity. “I know,” she said. “This has gotta be great enough to tide Silver over for two weeks, so I've gotta do it right.”

Rarity smiled wider and tapped Sweetie Belle's nose. “It has to tide you over too, Sweetie,” she said. “It takes two to tango, after all. Now, come on. Let's pick out a nice coat for you.”

Rarity lead Sweetie Belle into the living room. A coffee table had been shoved aside to make room for a large clothing rack, which was filled to the brim with coats of all styles and colours. Sweetie Belle couldn't help but smile.

“You might be more excited for this than I am,” she commented. “And you aren't even coming!”

Rarity's tight expression spoke volumes. “Yes, well,” she said. “One only has a first Hearth's Warming with their marefriend once, after all. It should be a special evening, and part of that is looking one's best.”

Sweetie grinned and nodded. Though trying on coats for a quarter of an hour was far from her idea of fun, she couldn't help but agree with Rarity. She thought to herself that Silver might have called that Stockholm Syndrome, but Sweetie had a sneaking suspicion she'd be dressed up herself. The promise of seeing her was more than worth it.

So Sweetie tried on coats and jackets, one after another, at Rarity's behest. She tried on double-breasted coats in red and single-breasted coats in icy blue. There were longcoats stiff, emerald-green felt, and scarves of soft red wool. In the end Rarity settled on a heavy woolen peacoat with a skirt that hung over Sweetie's croup. It was a deep, powdery fuchsia, accented by white buttons and a light pink scarf wrapped tightly around Sweetie's throat.

Rarity was adjusting Sweetie's scarf for the eleventh time—Sweetie had counted—when there was a knock on the door. Sweetie gasped and pulled away from Rarity, hardly bothering to hide her glee at having an excuse. Rarity, for her part, smiled and shook her head. It was far from the only reason for Sweetie's excitement, after all.

Sweetie bounded to the door and pulled it open, beaming at the filly outside. “Hi, Silvy!”

Silver Spoon grinned back at Sweetie. She shivered gently in the cold, pulling her scarf further up her neck. She had forgone her usual simple braid, instead tying her mane in a complex weave. Braided bangs framed her bright, sharp face, and a loose bun flared behind her head, but save for a crimson scarf her nape was left bare. She wore a double-breasted coat of deep, emerald green, and most surprisingly of all had exchanged her normal horn-rimmed glasses for a wire frame so fine that Sweetie Belle had to look twice to be sure Silver was still wearing glasses at all.

“Hey, Sweetie,” Silver replied. She smiled just a bit wider as she looked Sweetie up and down. “You look... really great.”

Sweetie Belle giggled and rubbed her cheeks to hide a blush. “You look beautiful too,” She threw her forelegs around Silver's shoulders, kissing her cheek. “How are you?”

Even without looking at her, Sweetie Belle could feel the vivid blush in Silver's cheeks. “I-I'm good,” Silver said. She laughed and returned Sweetie Belle's hug. “How about you? Are you ready to go?”

“Uh-huh,” Sweetie Belle said as she broke the hug. “I'm really excited! I don't think I've ever actually been to a show this big before.”

Silver grinned and adjusted her spectacles. “No offense, but I'm sure you haven't ever been to a show this big before.” Her smile turned warm and soft. “I'm glad you're able to come with me.” she turned to Rarity and nodded. “Thanks for letting her come,” she said.

Rarity waved a hoof dismissively. “It wasn't my decision,” she said, “or our parents. At this point, I'm not sure we could stop her if we tried.”

“She's right,” Sweetie said. She hooked her foreleg around Silver's with a giggle. “There's nothing in Equestria that would stop me from spending tonight with you.”

Silver Spoon blushed deeper, but pulled Sweetie Belle in. “Well, I'm glad,” she said. “'Cause I want you with me there all evening.”

A pang of guilt struck Sweetie, but it was not enough to dull her spirit, especially not as Silver Spoon, with a cautious eye on Rarity, chanced to nuzzle her cheek.

“Mom, Daddy and Kelson are waiting in the carriage,” Silver said, adjusting her glasses. “It's gonna take us to the train station to take us to Manehattan. It's, uh, a little while before our train, but we shouldn't keep them waiting.” She grinned. “The train is warm, but the carriage isn't, really. Kelson will never admit it, but he got tired of being cold a long time ago.”

Sweetie Belle giggled. “Okay,” she said. She turned to her sister and waved. “Bye, Rarity!” she said. “Thanks for all your help! Say hi to Mom and Dad for me when they get back, okay?”

Rarity laughed to herself and waved back. “Of course, Sweetie,” she said. “Have a good time this evening.” It was probably imperceptible to anyone else, but Sweetie heard a weight to the words and saw an edge to Rarity's eye that was as much warning as it was encouragement. Still, her smile was warm and the edge in her eye was tempered with a cheerful twinkle.

“Alright,” she said, “goodbye!” She waved to Rarity once more, then lead Silver out the door.

They trotted down the path hoof-in-hoof, taking a moment to enjoy the gentle stillness of the winter world. Snow floated gently down past them to squeak and crunch beneath their hooves. The walk was short, however, and before long they were clambering into the enormous black carriage waiting outside. They sat down beside Kelson, Silver Spoon's family butler, who as she had suggested was looking immaculately miserable. He was a tall, burly pegasus the colour of tarnished brass, who even now seemed to have an air of joviality about him in spite of his misery. He had served in the Navy alongside Silver's father, but despite leaving the sea behind many years ago he still smelled vaguely of saltwater. Sweetie Belle always enjoyed being near him; his very presence was calming and cheering.

Kelson reached back, tapping the wall of the carriage to signal the driver. The carriage lurched to a start and rattled down the street. “Afternoon, Sweetie,” he rumbled in his peculiar brogue, “Good t'have you aboard. How've you been?”

“Hi, Kelson,” Sweetie Belle replied. “I'm doing great, thanks! How about you? You look... cold.”

Across the carriage, Silver Spoon's father stifled a snicker. His wife thumped him in the chest, although she smiled as well. Kelson grumbled and shifted in his seat, but his tone was as cheery as ever. “Oh, you know an old sailor,” he said. “I've been on the sea in the dead of winter, an' all that. Hard for a bit of snow to compare to ice on the decks an' wind down yer back. Good for a strappin' young stallion, the cold. Good for the bones.”

“Yes,” Silver Spoon's father commented dryly, “and yet you leapt at the chance to give up the life of 'good for a strapping young stallion' and stand around a warm, dry house full of stodgy rich ponies all day.”

Kelson coughed heavily. “Well, can't be a strappin' young stallion forever, now can I?” he asked.

“I suppose not,” Silver's father replied. “The years do move on.” His smirk turned to a fond smile. “Ah, I remember when I was your age, girls, visiting this theater for the first time. My aunt and uncle came out from Canterlot to visit, brought my cousins with them. My aunt, she was a great proprietor of the arts, you see—you would have liked her, Sweetie Belle. Lovely mare, full of spice, died too young.” he shook his head. “At any rate, I didn't much want to go, at first. I didn't know my cousins yet, and I thought all theater would be terribly boring. I had never bothered to visit Manehattan's arts district. But they pulled me out regardless, and I was smitten the moment I saw it.”

“Do you think it's still the same as when you were a colt?” Sweetie asked.

Silver's father laughed. “I should say so!” he said. “I've done my level best to keep it that way!”

“You'll love it, Sweetie,” Silver said. “You've never seen anything like it.”

“Uh-huh,” Sweetie Belle replied. “You told me. But my Mom and Dad aren't poor, you know. I've been to see plays in the city before.”

Silver smirked and leaned against Sweetie. “You're getting better at sarcasm,” she said. “I'm not saying that you're poor, just that you're not quite as...” she paused, waving a hoof vaguely.

“Offensively, disgustingly, illogically rich?” Kelson offered, eyeing Silver's father keenly.

Silver's father simply laughed. “I deserved that,” he said.

Silver simply shrugged. “The point is, there's a theatre, and then there's the Maretropolitan Opera House. It's huge—it's so big that there are other, smaller theatres on either side of it! And there's a huge square with fountains and statues, and performers in the summer, and there are food stands all along the outside...” She closed her eyes and sighed dreamily. “They have crepes, and churros, and cocoa, and shortbread...”

“Stop!” Sweetie Belle giggled. “You're making me hungry.”

“Good!” Silver proclaimed, “We'll get lots to eat when we're there!”

“Not too much, Silver dear,” Silver's mother chimed in. “You don't want to spoil your appetite for dinner after the show, now do you?”

Silver's smile faded, though her enthusiasm did not. “No, Mom,” she said. She managed, with clearly heroic effort, to only roll her eyes a little.

“Oh pish, Starling,” Silver's father said. “The show is hours long, and the wait for dinner is hours more. If anything some snacks will keep the poor fillies from starving to death. No doubt I'll be forced to partake in a few myself.”

Starling's expression sharpened as she prodded at her husband's stomach. “Oh, really?” she said. “Forced, Sunlight? I think you just want an excuse to cheat on your diet.”

Sunlight burst out laughing, swatting playfully at her hoof. “Away with you, mare!” he said. “Hearth's Warming is no time for diets!”

Silver chuckled and turned back to Sweetie, adjusting her glasses. “Anyways,” she said, “You're gonna love it. It's especially beautiful around Hearth's Warming, when all of the lights are up. It's like a row of stars all along the walk, and...” she laughed and rubbed her muzzle. “You know, it'll probably be better if you see it yourself. I'll try not to spoil it for you.”

Sweetie Belle grinned and hugged Silver close. “Thanks, Silvy,” she said. “If you think it's pretty, though, then I love it already. I'm kind of surprised to hear you liking something about a theatre!”

“Silver Spoon blushed faintly, peering across the carriage at her parents. “W-ell,” she said, adjusting her glasses, “I liked everything around the theatre, at least. And, admittedly... I've started enjoying it a lot more, this year.” She grinned, and her blushed deepened. “I have a pretty big reason to like it now, after all.”

Sweetie Belle couldn't help but blush as well. “Awwwwww,” she said, pressing her forehead against Silver's. Silver laughed and responded with a kiss, and the two quickly descended into a pile of blushes and giggles.

It was not long before the carriage pulled into the train station, however. Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon managed to compose themselves, thanks in no small part to a liberal helping of awkward coughs from Kelson, as the carriage rumbled to a stop. They waited inside for a moment while the driver unhitched himself and readied the step-stool, then emerged once more into the snow.

Kelson was out first, offering a helping hoof to Silver and Sweetie as they clambered down the steps. The two fillies were still faintly red and giggling. Silver adjusted her glasses and Sweetie straightened her coat, then they made way for Sunlight, who helped his wife down.

Kelson took the driver aside to give him his next instructions. While he did so, Sunlight produced a small pocket-watch and flicked it open. “We've made good time,” he announced to nopony in particular. “Wasn't certain, what with the state of the roads. The next train will be arriving shortly,” He checked the schedules on a nearby sign to confirm, “and my stallion in Manehattan will be waiting for us with another carriage to The Mare.”

True to Sunlight's word, the train arrived in a few short minutes. A swarm of ponies erupted around it from all walks of life: working-class ponies in coats and jackets so ragged they could well have been three generations old, ponies every bit as crisp and rich as Silver Spoon's family, and every spot in between. Had it not been for Kelson's guiding hoof, Sweetie Belle could have easily been lost in the tide.

When they finally took their seats Sweetie's head was spinning, very nearly literally. So much so, in fact, that as they sat down Silver Spoon placed a gentle hoof on Sweetie's head to hold it still.

They were seated in a small compartment, clearly designed for the highest class of customer. Although the compartment was small, it did not feel at all cramped. Rather it felt cozy; two rows of plush seats with thick, sturdy arms were placed on across from the other, constructed from stout, darkly-lacquered wood. The colours of the compartment were all warm, full of reds and oranges and deep browns. Even the setting sun lent itself to the picture, painting the snow outside the wide window a soft, bright pink.

“First time on a train, dear?” Starling asked as Sweetie blinked away around the compartment.

Sweetie ducked her head, flushing faintly. “No,” she said. “Well, it's my first time in a compartment train. I've only ever ridden in the big carriages where everypony is sitting together before. I've never seen that many ponies before, though.”

Sunlight chuckled. “'Tis the season,” he commented dryly.

“It's always like that this time of year,” Silver said. “Especially going to and coming from big cities.” She grimaced. “Taking the train to Canterlot is awful every year,” she said. Her eyes drifted to Sweetie, and her shoulders sagged further. “Gonna be even worse, this year. Two weeks without you is gonna suck.”

Sweetie could not help but smile, although she felt a twinge of sadness herself. “It won't be... so bad,” she said. “It's only two weeks. And you'll be with family.”

“None of whom are you,” Silver replied. She rolled her eyes. “Or even my age. They're all grown-ups or babies.” She harrumphed and adjusted her glasses.

“Chin up, Wee Miss,” Kelson said, nudging Silver. “It's only for two weeks, an' yer Sis'll be there. An' there's yer second cousins, even if they are a bit older.”

Starling coughed politely. “And of course, dear, it doesn't really do to bog down a happy evening with complaining.”

“Until you're married, at least,” Sunlight said. He coughed and laughed as Starling smacked him across the chest.

Silver Spoon laughed as well. She pushed her glasses up her nose and hooked her foreleg around Sweetie Belle's. “You're right,” she said. “I want to make as much out of tonight as possible. So I've gotta stop complaining.”

Sweetie grinned. “I'll try to stop you before you get too into it,” she said. Inside, however, a wave of guilt crashed over her. Nothing would spoil a good evening faster than a lousy present—or worse, no present at all. Sweetie could hardly bear to think how Silver would feel for the next two weeks if she ended the night thinking Sweetie had neglected to buy her something. Their relationship would survive, of course. Their mere being together was so monumental that nothing as small as a Hearth's Warming present would break it, but Silver would still be hurt. She had worked so hard these past few months, doing everything she could to try to be a better pony, and she deserved better than to go through Hearth's Warming sad. She deserved the best evening, the best present, and the best Hearth's Warming Sweetie Belle could give her.

So, while the other passengers chatted amongst themselves, Sweetie set her brain to work. She silently recited a song, as she had always done when she needed to think something over, and peered out the window into the rapidly darkening landscape. What could she get Silver that the filly would appreciate, and not be getting from anypony else?

Books were always an option, of course. Sweetie knew that Silver read before she slept, and if there was a lot of anything to choose from, it was books. On the other hoof, Sweetie also knew that Silver's mother was an avid reader, and her tastes overlapped with her daughter's significantly. It would be difficult to find something Silver could not easily find in her mother's collection.

Games were right out the window. Sweetie doubted she would find anything of the sort in a theatre square. Even if she could, being able to pass it off as something that she had bought before hand would be nearly impossible. The skirt of her coat provided room, but not enough room for a big, clunky box, and the only thing worse than hurting Silver would be hurting Silver while waddling with a box between her legs.

The next option, and the most obvious, Sweetie supposed, was music. Silver loved music, and dancing, and the walls of her bedroom were lined with records. In another time that might have only discouraged Sweetie more—it was, after all, an abundance of music that Silver already had. Recently, however, Silver Spoon had begun to tentatively dip her hooves into the water that was theatre, determined to shake off her previous fears and biases. She had tried very little, picking what she tried carefully, cautiously, nervously.

Perhaps it was only that Sweetie Belle had begun to think more like Silver, even as Silver had begun to think more like Sweetie Belle, but Sweetie had often wondered if Silver was waiting for somepony to give her a push into the pool. Fortunately for Silver—and in this instance, for Sweetie—it was a pool that Sweetie knew very well.

Her heart tightened in her chest as she set her mind on the idea. It was perfect! Something she knew that Silver wouldn't have, or have asked for, because she wouldn't know what would interest her. Sweetie Belle knew, however. The moment she thought of it no less than a dozen shows came to mind that she was certain Silver Spoon would love. Perhaps Silver would want somepony at her side to help overcome her biases, but that was hardly a downside. Sweetie could think of little else more pleasant than spending an evening with her marefriend listening to music.

Which left only a single question: Which musical?

Sweetie Belle frowned deeper. She sorted through a mental catalogue of all the shows she'd ever seen—or even simply heard of—for the right musical. It had to be perfect. This show was too classical, that show was too jazzy. Some shows had silly plots Silver wouldn't like, others had themes that she wouldn't care for. One show, in fact, was about literally eating the rich.

Sweetie Belle quickly became engrossed in the task, so much so that she hardly noticed as the train pulled to a stop. Had her foreleg not still been interlocked with Silver's, she likely would have been forgotten on the walk to their carriage. Even the rattling, shaking and jostling of the carriage on the Manehattan roads could not shake her from her task. The only thing that could was Silver's voice, infected by a twinge of worry.

“Sweetie Belle?” she asked. “Is everything okay?”

Sweetie Belle looked up and blinked. “Huh?” she asked. “S-sorry, what?”

Silver frowned and adjusted her glasses. “You looked upset...” she said. “And you barely talked on the train. And you didn't talk in the carriage. Are you feeling sick?”

Sweetie Belle winced. “N-no,” she said, waving her hooves. “I was just, um... I just had something on my mind, is all.” She lowered her head. “Er, I'm sorry.”

Silver's peered at Sweetie Belle. Eventually her frown faded, although it did not disappear. “Okay,” she said. “What was it?”

Sweetie Belle waved a hoof. “Um, it was nothing,” she said. “Just something silly, it wasn't really important...”

Silver's frown returned. “You sure?” she asked. “You looked pretty serious about it.”

“Oh, you know me,” Sweetie Belle said vaguely. She laughed—it sounded forced even to her—and grinned.

“Yeah...” Silver replied. She shook her head. “I guess if you're sure nothing is wrong.”

“I am,” Sweetie Belle said, tucking Silver closer. She breathed out, and a tension she didn't realize she had felt ebbed away. Unfortunately, it replaced several times over with a rush of guilt. She tightened her grip on Silver's foreleg. “So, um... I think I faded out there for a minute. Are we here?”

Silver chuckled and adjusted her glasses. “Yeah,” she said. She shrugged and gestured out to the square before them. “Welcome to the Maretropolitan!”

Part 2

The sun had long since set, and the sky was black as pitch, but the square before them was as bright as day. Enormous statues of thespian figures were wreathed in lights of soft, warm yellow, lampposts lined the walkways and were hung with glittering Hearth's Warming images, and along every gutter were lines of twinkling red and green bulbs. All of it reflected off the thick, fresh now below and lent a plethora of colours to the scene.

There were three main buildings laid out in a U-shape, though the abundance of open doors and signs spoke of dozens of shops hidden within them. The buildings along the left and right of the square were long and tall, each with a raised porch that could fit easily a dozen ponies shoulder-to-shoulder. The porches were protected from snow by sturdy stone roofs, which were themselves supported by thick pillars that had been painted with dozens of designs. The porches covered smaller statues, eating areas, benches, outdoor art galleries and even a few ambitious buskers. If a pony had the bright idea to set up shop, it seemed, they were welcomed. Not a pony among them was without customers.

The center of the square was little different. Just as Silver had said, Food carts were parked everywhere around the square, finding shelter where they could in the lee of statues—though braver and more intrepid cart owners were parked in the open where more ponies could smell their treats. In the cold, clean air, Sweetie Belle could catch a whiff of them even from here.

The vendors were far from the only attraction, however. On a raised dais, just before the center of the square, a small troupe of ponies was putting on a play of their own. They performed for a crowd of ponies from all walks of life, including those who could surely never afford to see a show in one of the real theatres. Right behind them was a great fountain, its statues and spouts acting as scenery for their show.

Behind even that, at the very end of the square, was the Maretropolitan Theatre. It stood at the top of a flight of long, broad steps, an imposing work of glass and stone. Enormous archways stretched half a dozen stories high and a dozen feet out from the face of the building. The face itself was comprised entirely of windows of irregular shapes and sizes, slotted into one another like a work of abstract art. Golden light poured out from all the windows save for the center. In the center hung a massive poster with the image of three tall, gentle stallions, and one tiny griffon boy.

Sweetie Belle gaped in amazement at it all. She wasn't sure where to look first! For just a moment she lost her guilt and her worries in the beauty of it all. She leaned in against Silver. The air around them was cold, but her heart, at least, was warm. “Wow,” she said. “You were right. I've never seen anything like this.”

Silver smiled wider. She joined Sweetie in looking out over the square for a long while. After a moment she leaned in, planting a kiss on Sweetie's cheek. “It's even more special with you here,” she said.

Sweetie Belle giggled and blushed. In the depths of her heart anxiety reared its head, but she pushed it down. For now, at least, she was enjoying an evening with her marefriend. The gift could come later. She knew what she would be getting Silver, now. All she needed was to slip away from the group for a few minutes and pick it up. She just needed to keep her eye open for a music store.

Kelson, Sunlight and Starling arrived behind them. Sunlight sighed happily, blowing out a long trail of misty breath. “It gets more beautiful every year,” he said. His smile widened and he peered over to his wife. “Or, perhaps that's just you,” he said.

Starling laughed. “You old charmer,” she said.

“Are you complaining?” Sunlight asked, taking her hoof in his.

“Not in the least,” Starling replied. She leaned in against him, lowering his face for a kiss.

“Mom, Daddy!” Silver said. “Gross.”

“Shush, dear,” Starling replied. “If you can kiss your marefriend, I can kiss my husband.”

“It's only fair,” Sunlight agreed. “It is Hearth's Warming, after all. A time for Romance.”

Silver rolled her eyes and made a gagging motion. “Not for your parents!” she said. “Besides, I thought Hearth's Warming was a time for family, not romance.”

Sunlight shrugged and kissed Starling. “You’ll see, Silver,” he replied. “If you give it long enough, romance becomes family.”

“We’re twelve, Daddy. I think we have a little while before we have to worry about that.” Silver harrumphed and adjusted her glasses.

“Which is precisely why you should let us worry about it, for now,” Sunlight said simply. “For a few years yet, at least.”

Silver seemed to consider this for a moment. She looked at Sweetie Belle and blushed faintly. Sweetie Belle giggled and said, “It does seem fair,” before planting a kiss of her own on Silver.

Silver's blush only deepened, and she fumbled with her glasses for a moment. “W-well,” she said, “F-fine. That doesn't mean I have to be forced to watch my parents make out, though.”

“Aye, aye,” Kelson cut in. He circled around Sunlight and Starling and patted Silver's back. “I think now'd be a good time fer us to give you two some space, aye? Silver an' I'll give Sweetie the gran' tour of the place, an' you two can have some time to yerselves, aye?”

“That sounds lovely, Kelson,” Starling said, “thank you.”

Sunlight pulled out his stopwatch. “We'll meet up again in fifteen minutes, shall we?” he asked. “That will give us plenty of time to have something to eat before the show.”

Silver nodded energetically. “Okay!” she said. “There's a bunch of cool stuff I wanna show Sweetie!” She barely gave her parents time to say goodbye before she near-dragged Sweetie Belle out into the square.

“Steady on there, Wee Miss!” Kelson called out as he plodded after them. “Don't pull poor Sweetie's foreleg off, now.”

“Sorry, Sweetie,” Silver said with a laugh. “I'm just excited.”

“It's okay,” Sweetie Belle said. “It's no wonder! There must be hundreds of things to do!”

Silver adjusted her glasses. “Well, I don't know about 'hundreds',” she said.

Sweetie Belle grinned. “Tens?” she asked.

“Little bit more,” Silver replied with a smirk. “Dozens, maybe.”

“Dozens!” Sweetie Belle said, filling her voice with awe—and only a hint of sarcasm. “Dozens of things is still a whole lot!”

“Well, we'd better get started then,” Silver said. “What do you want to do first? There's art shows, and caricaturists, musicians—I think there might even be a mime—and there's the big play in the center. There's also the statues—they all have a plaque talking about what they are. And there's lots of stores for books and music and art and stuff.”

Sweetie blinked, and her smile faded from her face. “Um,” she said. “Wow. That really is a lot of stuff.” She laughed and rubbed her neck. “Well... what do you think we should do first?”

Silver's smirked widened, and she tucked Sweetie close. “I think I have a few ideas,” she said.

And so, for a time, the evening was good. Silver and Sweetie moved through the square like a dream, fleeting and ethereal. They never stayed at any exhibit for more than a few minutes, flitting from busker to art exhibit to statue for just long enough to see what it was and take it in. There was no time for anything more, but for each place they passed Sweetie Belle imagined spending more time with Silver there. Perhaps another evening they could come back and spend more time there, taking in the sights more fully. Right then, however, and right there, Sweetie was happy. Judging from her warm smile and how far down her nose her glasses slipped, Silver was happy too. The walked foreleg in foreleg, and forgot about time. Fifteen minutes was forever, and tomorrow would never come.

In the back of her mind, though, Sweetie could not help but keep an eye out. They moved through the square by inches, but there was only so much to cover. With only a few minutes left until they were supposed to meet back with Silver's parents, something caught Sweetie's eye: A record hung in a window. Another look confirmed that it was a music store, but there was no way in from the square. It must have been part of the mini-mall.

Sweetie slowed her pace. Perhaps there was something she had missed? Some other way in, a door hiding behind a pony. Some way she could get in and out quick, without disrupting their evening together too much. No such luck.

“Sweetie?” Silver asked. “Is something wrong?” She pushed her glasses up her nose and frowned at Sweetie.

“N-no,” Sweetie said quickly, waving her hooves. She chewed her lip. “Or... actually, Yeah. I, um...” she shuffled her hooves, wracking her mind. “I-I think I forgot something in the, uh, carriage?” she patted her coat. “Yeah. Kelson?”

Kelson hummed and rubbed his chin. “Carriage should still be parked around the buildin'. We could run, grab it real quick, be back before you know it. Be back in time to meet up with Silver's parents.”

“Er,” Sweetie Belle said. “Actually, um...” She looked between Kelson and Silver. Silver's expression was growing concerned, but there was also a glint of something in it. Hope? Excitement? Sweetie Belle could work with that. She waved Kelson closer.

Kelson hummed and bent down, turning his ear for Sweetie to whisper into. Sweetie leaned in close. “It's a present for Silver,” she said. It wasn't completely a lie, after all.

“Hmm,” Kelson said as he straightened up. A warm smile crossed his lips, although he forced his face into a more serious expression before he turned to Silver. “Well, Wee Miss,” he said, “She makes a compellin' argument. I'm thinkin' we might have to drop you off with yer Mum and Dad right quick, an' I'll take her to the carriage.”

Silver tried her best not to grin. “You don't have to,” she said.

Kelson shook his head and shrugged. “Aye, Wee Miss, I'm afraid I do! Jus' the way of things, ye know.” He laughed and gently patted her back. “C'mon, now. We'll be back a'fore you know it, an' I'm sure you'll be able to hold in the excitement for a while, aye?”

Silver rolled her eyes. “Okay,” she said. “I guess I can suffer through a few minutes of Mom and Daddy being sappy, too.” She adjusted her glasses and turned to Sweetie. “You didn't have to, you know.”

Sweetie flushed. She hoped that Silver would think it was simply from embarrassment. “W-well,” she said, “it's Hearth's Warming.” Which is why she should have gotten the gift a long time ago. The guilt returned, and Sweetie had to rub her forelegs to fight down the tightness in her chest. “You deserve it.”

Silver laughed and rubbed her nose. “I've already got you,” she said. “That's more than I deserve.”

Sweetie laughed weakly. “You never give yourself enough credit,” she said. Silver deserved a lot better than this.

Silver's parents were not far away, sat close together on a bench beneath a statue of lovers too old and obscure for Sweetie to recognize. Although they were clearly a bit disappointed to have their own romantic moment ended early, they were perfectly understanding, and Sunlight and Kelson exchanged a glance that spoke of fondly remembered romances passed. Or so Sweetie imagined, at least.

Kelson led Sweetie back through the square and around the corner. “Now,” he said, tapping his chin. “Iffin' I remember right, the carriage'll be around the left buildin' there. There's a big ol' lot where the drivers all wait by an'... well, we'll be in an' out before you have a chance to worry 'bout that.”

“A-actually, Kelson,” Sweetie Belle squeaked out. “I don't need to go to the carriage...”

Kelson slowed and turned back to Sweetie. One eyebrow slowly rose. “No?” he asked. “Found it was still on ye after all?”

Sweetie Belle lowered her head and looked down. Kelson's hard gaze was doing little to help with her guilt. “N-no,” she said. “I, um...” Kelson's expression was growing harder by the minute. She shuffled her hooves. “I need to go into the mall,” she said.

“Ye didn't get her a gift.” Kelson said simply. His tone wasn't angry. It wasn't upset. It wasn't anything at all, as though he were speaking about a turn in the weather.

“I tried!” Sweetie cried. “I really looked, really hard! But I just couldn't think of anything to get her. She has so much already, and her parents and you can get her whatever she wants...” She bowed her head, groaning miserably. “I know it's awful...”

There was rumbling, so low that at first Sweetie thought it was thunder. She looked up, however, to find Kelson laughing. “I get her a chocolate orange every year,” he said. “Gift don't have to be big, or exactly what she wants, to be special, and Silver's a simple filly to please. Granted, helps her allowance is enough she can buy most of what she wants herself durin' the year.” He placed a hoof on Sweetie's back. “I know yer’ feelin’, but I don’t think she’s wantin’ anythin’ special.”

“I know,” Silver said. She sighed. “But I want to get her something special. She's my marefriend, and I love her, and I want to surprise her.”

“Granted,” Kelson said with a shrug. “Still, no matter how special she’s still gonna be disappointed if she can’t spend time with you tonight. Iffin' you have to spend a while in the mall to surprise her, is it really worth it?”

Sweetie Belle perked up. “I don't need to spend a lot of time!” she said. “I already know what I want to get her.”

Kelson's eyebrow rose. “But ye didn't before?”

“I... thought about it on the train,” Sweetie admitted. “My sister gave me some advice. But I saw a record store In the mall! I know exactly what record I want to get her, so we can just run in and come back out, and we'll be back with her before she knows it!” She put on her best, sweetest smile. The smile that turned her parents into mush, and even gave Rarity pause. “Please, Kelson?” she asked. “It'll only take a minute.

Kelson's expression was like stone. “Yer' almost as good at that as Silver,” he commented dryly. His stone was soft, however, and he shrugged. “Still, I suppose if' ye know what yer' after...” He held up a hoof. “Five minutes, aye? We go in, give ye five minutes to find yer' record, an' then we head back out. Whether or not ye got it.”

“Right!” Sweetie Belle agreed, nodding. Five minutes was more than enough. She knew exactly what she needed, and exactly where to get it. She'd be surprised if it took even that long. “Five minutes, in and out, no argument! You’re the greatest Kelson, thank you so much!” She threw her forelegs around one of his, giggling with relief.

“Aye, aye,” said Kelson, who was apparently less resistant to flattery and cheer than he was to puppy-dog eyes. He fluffed his wings and turned away to hide a blush. “Best be getting' on now. I won't start yer' five minutes a'fore we get in the shop, but I don't wanna spend twenty minutes in the mall either. Stick close to me; I know the way to that record shop ye saw.”

The mall was sparsely populated, to Sweetie's surprise. There were still ponies scattered around—teenagers wasting time, adults making last-minute gift purchases, vagrants and panhandlers looking for a seat out of the cold—but for the most part the halls were empty. It was no surprise, Sweetie realized as she looked around. It was clear that even the ponies in charge of the mall had little interest in it. Decorations were sparse, and what little there was was old and worn. It was a stark contrast from the ostentatious decorations in the square outside. Sweetie Belle smiled, and a bit of Silver's influence shone through. Sunlight really was dedicated to keeping this place exactly the same as it had been when he was young, she thought to herself. They likely hadn’t updated anything in decades.

In spite of the smattering crowd, Sweetie Belle walked close to Kelson. She had no intention of getting lost, unlikely as it was, and his long legs kept her walking fast. She, like Kelson, didn't want to be in the mall any longer than necessary. Fortunately for them both, the record shop was a quick walk from the entrance, clearly visible with no crowd to block the door.

Sweetie was struck by a blast of hot air as they passed through the door into the record shop. There were probably more ponies in this shop then in the halls outside, weaving between long, waist-high rows of records. Every shelf, every stand and ever rack was filled to the brim with records. Some looked freshly ordered, but many more had the battered sleeves of a record that had been well-loved by a previous owner. Some records even hung from the ceiling like a makeshift mobile.

“Remember,” Kelson said. “Five minutes.”

“Don't worry,” Sweetie said, looking around the store. “It'll only take...maybe two.”

Kelson hummed to himself. “What're you after, anyhow?” he asked. “lt'll go faster if we're two ponies lookin' for it instead of one.”

“It's a musical,” Sweetie said. She swiveled her head back and forth between the aisles, mouthing the genre of each as they passed. “Musicals, musicals... musicals!” She turned sharply on her heel and trotted down the aisle. “Quadrophenia!”

“That was an album, when I was a lad,” Kelson commented. “Not that I'm complain' about yer taste, mind. Musical is an odd choice for Silver though, ain't it?”

“She's been trying to listen to more, lately,” Sweetie replied. She stood up on a rack of records and began sorting through them. While the store owner had been dedicated to acquiring as many records as possible, it seemed that they were less studious about organizing them. Sweetie frowned and flipped faster. “Q,” she murmured. “We've been watching a lot of theatre, plays mostly, when she feels like it. She's liked a lot of them, and I know she's said she wants to see more. I thought, since she really liked this kind of music, it would be a good place to start her on her own.”

Kelson nodded, sidling up beside Sweetie Belle. “Makes sense,” he said. “An' I'm sure she'll like it, comin' from you.” He furrowed his brows as he flipped through the records. “Assumin' we can find the thing. Lesse... oh, aye, I think they're sortin' them by composer.”

“Huh?” Sweetie asked, looking over at his records. Then she looked back at her own, flipping through them and muttering under her breath. “Oh! You're right! So that means... Mmm... check T! I'll check W.”

“Aye,” Kelson agree. “Think there's a few on the end of the shelf, there.”

Sweetie went to where Kelson gestured and propped herself up against the stack. It was frighteningly thin. Sweetie Belle chewed on her lip as she began to flip through them. “Huckleburro Finn... Firebrand of Fillyance... Toot Sweet... Count of Mounte Cristo... The Music Stallion, The Coltfriend, Trotway Serenade...” She groaned and looked to Kelson. “Anything?” she asked.

Kelson made a low rumbling noise. “No,” he said. “Not a hair of it, neither a Townshire or a The.” He made a disgusted face. “Ain't even got Tommy. What kind of self-respectin' music store ain't got Tommy?”

Sweetie Belle's heart sank. “Maybe it's just misfiled?” she asked. “We can sort through...”

“We ain't got nearly time for that,” Kelson said. “Their selection might be... wantin', but stow me if they ain't got plenty of what they do got.” He gestured vaguely and rubbed his neck. “Y'only got a couple minutes left,” he said. “Maybe you can ask somepony, but...”

“Great idea!” Sweetie said. She shoved herself away from the rack and bolted past Kelson before he had a chance to object. Before stepping away from the counter she had no idea just how tense she had been. It felt as though somepony had tied a knot between her shoulders, a knot so much and mangled that it pressed against her stomach and throat. In spite of the heat of the store, it felt terribly cold.

She dodged and weaved her way through a crowd of shoppers, making her way for the counter. Thankfully the mare sitting behind the desk had no customers and was, in fact, looking terribly bored. Her expression changed to one of shock as Sweetie thudded to a stop against the desk.

Excuse me miss?” Sweetie Belle said, fighting not to shout.

The clerk blinked. “Er, yes?” she asked. “How can I help you, little filly?”

“I'm looking for a record,” Sweetie said. She draped her hooves over the counter. “For my marefriend. Do you have Quadrophenia?”

The mare blinked again. “Your marefriend has interesting taste,” she said. “But, no... I'm afraid we don't.”

“Tommy?” Sweetie Belle asked.

The mare pulled a binder out from under the desk and looked through it. “Mmm... sold our last copy a couple of days ago,” she said.

Sweetie Belle groaned and grabbed her head. “Chicoltgo?” she asked.

“Nope,” the mare answered.

“How do you not have Chicoltgo!?” Sweetie Belle cried.

The mare simply shrugged. “Waiting on a shipment,” she said. “Musicals aren't really big sellers, so we don't restock as often as the other sections. I'm sorry. I'm sure we can find something your marefriend would like anyways.”

“I'm afraid not,” Kelson said as he came up behind Sweetie. “Our time's up. We've gotta head back, find Silver an' her parents.”

“What?” Sweetie Belle asked, spinning around to face Kelson. Her heart sank in her chest. “But—”

“Sorry,” Kelson said. “We agreed on five minutes. Five minutes is up.”

“But I didn't find anything!” Sweetie Belle said.

“That don't change what we agreed on, Sweetie,” Kelson replied. He sighed and rolled his shoulders. “I ain't sayin' I like it either, but we still gotta get back to them.”

“It'll only take a few minutes!” Sweetie Belle insisted. She jumped down from the counter and grabbed Kelson's foreleg, as though she could somehow hold him still. “I promise, I'll find something right away.”

Kelson shook his head. His expression hardened. “No,” he said. “We said five minutes, you got five minutes. No more. We can't afford to spend any more time in here.”

“But Silver—” Sweetie started, but Kelson cut her off with a wave of his hoof.

“Would much, much rather have you with her then spend the entire evenin' apart with you tryin' to find a gift. Trust me, Sweetie, iffin' she doesn't get to be with you tonight, she'll definitely be upset, no matter what. An' we've already lost plenty of night.” He peered around the store for a clock. “We're gonna have to go into the show soon. No chance for a snack before.”

Sweetie Belle hadn't thought it was possible for her heart to sink further, but it did with every word. Her shoulders went slack and she groaned. “Nnnng,” she said. She wracked her mind for something she could say to win Kelson over, but there was nothing. In the end, she knew that he was right. She needed to get back to Silver. “Okay,” she said. “I'm sorry.”

Kelson expression softened once more, and he sighed. “It's alright,” he said, patting Sweetie's shoulder. “You were just tryin' to do right. Let's get back to Silver, aye?”

The walk back through the mall was taken in silence. Sweetie Belle had to force herself to keep pace with Kelson. The knot between her shoulders had only grown, making her feel sick and stiffening her gait. Even as they were struck numb by the cold outside, all Sweetie Belle could think of was how disappointed Silver would be. It was fortunate for her that the walk was so short, otherwise she might have driven herself mad thinking about the look of hurt that would be on Silver's face. As it was, Silver's actual expression was more than enough for her.

Silver and her parents were waiting in the lee of the fountain, shielded against a cold wind that had cropped up while Kelson and Sweetie Belle had been inside. Each of them carried a steaming soft pretzel, save for Silver, who carried two.

Sweetie Belle's heart clutched in her chest as she and Kelson approached the trio. Silver was staring straight ahead, glasses pushed straight up against her face, with one ear hanging low—an expression that Sweetie Belle had long since meant worry or nerves. When Silver finally spotted Sweetie Belle a brief expression of regret flashed across her face. It passed quickly, however, and she flashed a bright smile at Sweetie Belle. She waved and called out, “Hi Sweetie!”

Sweetie smiled back weakly. “Hi, Silvy,” she said.

“Did you find what your forgot in the carriage?” Silver asked. Her mouth twitched into an excited smile, but she managed to remain composed.

“Um,” Sweetie Belle said, rubbing her shoulders. “Y-yeah!” She spotted Kelson's disapproving gaze out of the corner of her eye, but did her best to ignore it. After all, it was only a drop in the flood of guilt by now. “But, um...” She gave her best smile. “It's not important right now.”

Silver's smile faded. “It isn't?” she asked. “You... could have gotten it from the carriage later, couldn't you?”

Sweetie Belle winced. “U-uh,” she said, “I, um...” She could barely think over Silver's disappointed expression. “I just want to make sure it was there, and, wouldn't get stolen or something.”

“The driver is a good stallion,” Silver said. “He wouldn't let anypony take anything from the carriage.”

“I'm sorry,” Sweetie Belle said, lowering her head.

Silver shook her head quickly. “Oh no!” she said. “It's alright. You were just making sure, you don’t have to be sorry about that.”

“It's just as well,” Sunlight cut in. “It's not long until the show begins; we should start heading inside anyways.” He winked. “No time for a whole lot of unwrapping and excitement, hmm? Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait until we're all out to dinner together.”

Silver sighed and rolled her eyes, but her smile returned. “I guess,” she said. “I just wish you'd been able to stay out here with us, Sweetie... oh! I got you a pretzel.” She held out one of her pretzels, which had been drizzled in dark chocolate and bits of crushed peppermint. “They're really good... and I thought you might be hungry before the show.”

Sweetie Belle smiled, and this time it was genuine. “Aww,” she said softly. “Thanks, Silvy... I guess I am a bit hungry.” She bit into the pretzel, still warm and soft. The chocolate was gooey and sweet, and the faintly cold sting of the peppermint made her tongue buzz. “Mmm,” she said. “Thanks, Silvy.”

Silver giggled. “You're welcome,” she said. “Next time we come back here, we'll have to try out more carts. There's lots of good stuff.”

“That will have to wait for then, dears,” Starling said, putting a hoof on Silver's back. “We need to head inside now.”

“I'd try to finish that pretzel first, though,” Sunlight added, folding the wrapper of his own. “I know the fellow who owns this place. Ancient mummy of a stallion. I'd never hear the end of it if we brought in something so messy.” He smirked. “Fellow himself likes to save crumbs in his beard, mind.”

Part 3

They bolted down their pretzels, and Kelson herded the group inside. Sweetie could see immediately why something as innocuous as a pretzel would not be allowed inside. She doubted that anything less expensive than caviar and fine wine would be allowed inside. The interior of the theater was the very definition of opulence. The golden light from within had come from a long line of glittering chandeliers, reflected off of golden bannisters, gold trim, and gold detailing on every wall. The only things that were not gold were the carpets and the drapes, all of which were crimson. Even if it had not been warm from the crowd of ponies filing in, the colours alone would have made the theatre sweltering.

More and more ponies filed in with every moment, and unlike the ponies in the square outside they were certainly not from every walk of life. Every last pony was garbed in the finest suits and most beautiful dresses, with glittering accessories and immaculately styled manes. Sweetie even saw a few famous faces, loitering about as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

The auditorium was no less extravagant. Sweetie finally understood why Silver was so insistent that Sweetie had never seen anything like it. Every theatre that Sweetie had ever been in had only had a single floor of balcony seats, if they had even had that. The Maretropolitan, however, had a half dozen floors of balcony seats—Sweetie had turned around and counted. They were seated on the ground floor, right in the middle, and only a hoofful of rows back from the stage. The view would be incredible; even Sweetie knew it must have cost a fortune.

Even the seats were more comfortable than Sweetie was used to. She wiggled as she sat down, curious as to just how low she could get. It seemed as though there was no end to it, and after a while she had to stop wiggling lest she be swallowed whole by the seat. She heard a giggle, and looked over to see Silver covering her mouth.

Sweetie flushed and rubbed her cheeks. “These are... nice seats,” she said.

Silver laughed. “Yeah,” she said. “I told you that you've never been anywhere like it before.”

“You were definitely right about that,” Sweetie Belle admitted. “Is this what it's always like when you go to the theatre?”

“Not always,” Silver said. “Mom and Daddy like to support other theatres around the city. So we go to a lot of smaller ones, most of the time.” She adjusted her glasses. “Though, I only have a few months of experience, really... they might have gone here more often when I didn't go with them.” She brushed a loose strand of mane out of her face. “Actually, speaking of, um... I always did go to the Hearth's Warming plays, and the pageants, but I've never... heard of this one before. Is it actually a Hearth's Warming play? It... didn’t sound like it, from what Daddy told me.”

“Gabriel and the Night Visitors?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Uh-huh. It's not an Equestrian play, though. It's, um... I've heard some of the songs before.” She furrowed her brow, trying to remember what she had gleaned of the story from those songs, and what Pip had described to her of Hearth's Warming on the Eastern half of the Continent. “See, a pony brought Hearth's Warming from Equestria over east, and he taught it to the ponies there... and there were three ponies who were his... disciples, I guess?”

She shrugged. “I don't remember exactly, but I think they all took him in, and he showed them how to be friends. Because they were from different tribes. After he taught them, they all traveled south... and in this play they go to Zohannon, trying to spread the word to to all the ponies there, and have to spend the night with a little Griffon boy and his mother in a little house there.”

“So it's a historical thing?” Silver asked, raising an eyebrow. “I mean, that's cool and all, but a historical musical?”

“There's lots of historical musicals,” Sweetie said. “I mean, sorta. There's lots of musicals about historical stuff, at least. But... I don't think it is?” She had a vague remembrance of stars so big and bright they filled windows, which couldn't be real. “I think it's more like... a story version of what sorta happened, so that ponies understand it better?”

“Huh,” Silver said. She blinked, leaning back in her seat. “Sounds cool, I guess. I wonder what Zohannon is like.”

“Hot,” Kelson commented wryly. “An' dry.”

The lights began to dim, and the low murmur of the crowd slowly died down. “I guess we'll find out,” Sweetie Belle whispered.

Silver Spoon grinned and put her hoof on the arm of her seat, frog facing upwards. Sweetie smiled back and took it.

The lights went dark, save for the stage. The curtain began to rise, slowly at first, and a hushed awe fell over the crowd. On the stage was a lone griffon child, seated outside of a house by a mountain, playing a shepherd’s pipe.

As the play carried on, Sweetie Belle found her mind drifting more and more away from it. The actors were wonderful, and the music was beautiful, but Sweetie simply couldn't bring herself to focus. Once more her mind was laden down with thoughts of Silver, and how disappointed she would be.

Sweetie frowned in the darkness. No. No, Silver would not be disappointed. Sweetie would get her a gift, one way or another. She would stop Silver's disappointment from coming. But how?

Music was no longer an option, but there were still others. Books were still available, even if they weren't as perfect as music. Sweetie had seen a bookstore as well, very close to the theatre, and with a door to the outside. It would be the work of a moment for Sweetie Belle to slip away from the group and run to the bookstore.

There was still the trouble of exactly what to get Silver, however. Although Sweetie could easily justify it by saying she was helping Silver start her own collection, she still wanted to avoid any potential overlap with Silver's mother. That removed fantasy and mystery from the equation.

Sweetie Belle leaned back in her seat and glanced over at Silver. The filly must have been really turning around on theatre after all. A broad, dreamy smile was plastered across her face, which was resting in her hooves. Her glasses had drifted so far down her nose it was a wonder she could see anything, although from the way her ears twitched it was possible she was more intent on listening.

Perhaps a book on history, on Zohannon? Silver had seemed interested in it, after all, and it seemed like she would be only more interested after the show. On the other hoof, Silver would almost certainly know that Sweetie Belle had waited until the last minute. Unless...

A slow smile crept across Sweetie Belle's face. Unless Silver Spoon thought Sweetie Belle had bought it with some other reason in mind. Wasn't Zohannon's history supposed to be fantastical? Full of unlikely heroes and terrible monsters and strange customs? Even if it was all true, it would seem like a fairy tale to a pony across the ocean.

Sweetie Belle's grin widened. The idea settled in her mind just as she settled back into her seat, determined to enjoy the rest of the first half—and, after she had gotten Silver's gift during the intermission, the rest of the evening.

Four griffon villagers—two Toms and two Queens—had come to the house at Gabriel's behest and were currently dancing for the three visiting stallions. Their dancing was light and graceful, full of spins and hops and twirls that were accentuated by the Griffons' wings, as well as by broad, colourful skirts. It certainly painted the image of something strange and foreign, but Sweetie was glad she had decided to return her attention at this moment, at least. Particularly because, as their dance came to a close, the curtain fell before them. The lights came back on, and all around them the low rumble of conversation erupted.

Sweetie Belle blinked. “Huh?” she asked to nopony in particular.

“It's the intermission,” Silver Spoon said, pushing up her glasses. She smirked. “I'm pretty sure you know what an intermission is.”

Sweetie Belle stuck out her tongue. “Of course I do,” she said. “I'm just... surprised. Has it really been that long already?”

“About an hour,” Sunlight said as he checked his stopwatch. “Decent enough time for an intermission, I think.”

“Aye,” Kelson agreed, grunting his way out of his seat. “Not used to sittin' in one place for more'n a few minutes, these days. Need to stretch the ol' legs.”

“I'm pretty sure I've seen you sitting in one place for quite a few hours, Kelson,” Silver commented wryly.

Kelson coughed and straightened his coat. “Aye, well, it's a figure of speech, Wee Miss,” he replied gruffly.

“Well, whatever it is,” Starling cut in, “I could stand to stretch my legs as well. And so, I think, could the ponies waiting for us to make way for them.

With much apologizing, and only a small amount of blustering, the party shimmied its way out of the row and headed up the aisle for the lobby.

“So what do you think of it?” Silver asked Sweetie. “Are you enjoying it so far?”

“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle said, “I like it a lot.” It was only half a lie; Sweetie Belle may have completely failed to notice the majority of the show thus far, but she had heard enough of the songs before to know that she liked it. Unfortunately the vague platitude did not seem to be enough for Silver, who was smiling with a hint of expectation. “Um,” Sweetie Belle said, “The seats are really comfy! And the theatre is beautiful.”

Silver Spoon's smile faded slightly. “And,” Sweetie Belle added quickly, “I really liked that dance at the end! It made me think of you, at little bit.”

Silver's smile returned, and she laughed. “I don't think I can spin like that,” she said. “but I'll take that as a compliment. I really liked it too.” She adjusted her glasses. “I really liked that unicorn, too. I wonder if the actual pony had all those silver bells on his cloak. They're pretty, at least.”

“Y-yeah,” Sweetie Belle said, laughing weakly. She really had been unfocused, if she hadn't noticed somepony who jingled when they walked. She pushed the thought down. It didn't matter; she would be able to focus on the final half, at least.

They had arrived in the lobby. Sweetie Belle could see the bookstore from here. Fortunately, though, the door was hidden behind a pillar and statue. If she could slip away, she could easily get inside without anypony noticing. “Um,” she said, looking for the fastest route through the crowd, “I think I need to go...”

“What?” Silver asked. Kelson coughed heavily.

Sweetie Belle turned back to look at them. Kelson looked as close as he ever had to being furious. His expression did not concern Sweetie, however, as Silver Spoon looked heartbroken. Sweetie Belle's own heart clenched, and her guts turned to ice. Silver's expression struck Sweetie like a hammer to the chest and left her reeling. Or perhaps it was all in her mind. Regardless, Silver's hurt was very real, and Sweetie knew very well why. They were about to lose another chance to spend time together. “To...” Sweetie Belle said, “the bathroom. Um, where is it?”

Silver sighed so heavily it was visible. Her entire body slacked. She pushed her glasses up her nose. “Don't say it like that,” she said. “You made it sound like you had to go home, or something.” she rubbed her neck. “Or maybe I'm just being silly.”

Sweetie Belle shook her head. “No, you weren't,” she said. “I'm sorry.”

Silver Spoon waved a hoof. “Don't apologize, it was definitely me being weird, at least. The bathroom is, um...” She adjusted her glasses and began to look around, before Kelson clapped a hoof on her back.

“Why don't you let me show Wee Miss Sweetie the way?” he asked. “I'm in need of the gent's room meself; they're right close by one another. I can make sure she don't get lost on her way back either.”

Kelson guided Sweetie Belle away from the group and led her through the crowd of ponies. He looked as though he had something to say, but Sweetie Belle spoke first. “I'm not gonna try to sneak away,” she said softly.

Kelson seemed to consider this for a moment. “That's good,” he said. “On account of the best lie is one that happens to be a little bit true, an' I wouldn't of been able to keep track of you the whole time anyhow. Hope you'll forgive me thinkin' you had it in your eyes, though.”

“It's... alright,” Sweetie said. She decided not to tell him that he had not been wrong.

The restrooms were nearby, and no less opulent than the rest of the theatre. At any other time Sweetie Belle would have wondered why a pony would bother to make a bathroom fancy, given that it was needed for a decidedly practical and certainly non-fancy purpose. Today, however, Sweetie was too troubled by thoughts of Silver to worry about the question. She shimmied her way through the crowd of mares, found her way into a stall, locked the door, and thought.

What was she going to do? She couldn't go out now. She couldn't go out to the bookstore after the show, either. They would be whisked away to dinner before Sweetie could blink. Even if Sweetie told them what had happened, there would simply be no time.

Sweetie Belle sighed. The anxiety had cooled, hardening somehow. Her chest no longer felt like ice. Instead it felt as though it had been filled with stone. Or perhaps trapped in stone, with no way to escape the fate. In a strange sort of way, it was a relief. Sweetie recalled something she had heard once: The chance of death brings fear; the assurance brings calm.

She waited in the stall for a few moments more, just long enough to seem as though she had not been lying. Then, after a quick check to make sure her mane was alright—if she wasn't going to give Silver anything else tonight, she could at least give her somepony nice to look at—and returned to Kelson outside. They returned to the group in a glum silence, in stark contrast to the chipper ponies around them. When Sweetie Belle and Kelson broke through the crowd, they found Silver talking animatedly with her parents.

“...You really think it wouldn't bother them?” Silver was asking.

“Of course not,” Starling replied, “We know a few of them through your sister already. And with all the work your father does I'm sure they'd be happy to.”

“That'd be great!” Silver said. She spotted Sweetie through the crowd and hushed up, covering her mouth as she tried to fight down her smile. It didn't work. “Hi, Sweetie,” she said.

“Hi,” Sweetie Belle replied, trying not to let her dour mood show through. “You look pretty excited. Did something happen?”

“No,” Silver said. She had finally managed to get her face under control. “I'm just having a really good time tonight.”

It was too late to convince Sweetie that that was the only thing that was on Silver Spoon's mind, but Sweetie could not bring herself to be suspicious. Instead, in spite of herself she smiled. “I'm glad,” she said. “I hope you didn't miss me, slipping away from you again.”

Silver grinned and adjusted her glasses. “Maybe a little,” she admitted. “But you weren't gone for long, and it was obviously important, so I guess I can let it slide.” She hugged Sweetie. “You know. If I'm being gracious.”

Sweetie Belle hugged back. The tension in her heart eased, though not by much. “Is this being gracious?” she asked.

“Of course!” Silver replied. “You’re supposed to be on my foreleg all night!” She paused, and added, “Or at least, right by my side.”

“Oh, well!” Sweetie said. “I can definitely promise you’ll have me for the rest of the evening.” She gave her warmest smile, but there was more than just a bit of sadness behind it. In spite of this—or perhaps because of it—she wrapped her hooves around Silver’s foreleg.

An announcement buzzed for the beginning of the second part, and the theatre patrons returned to their seats. Sweetie Belle held tighter to Silver in the crowd, as if afraid to lose her. Silver Spoon held back just as tight. Even as the lights dimmed and the show began again they held on to one another.

Sweetie Belle had no trouble giving her attention to the play, this time. The last of her worry had fled, and even her sadness seemed to dwindle in the presence of the beautiful music. She regretted that she had paid so little attention, and not merely because it meant she had missed Silver’s glee.

It was a palpable force. Silver’s hoof seemed to grow warmer as the show went on, and her smile grew so broad and so bright that Sweetie could see it even in the dark. It was no wonder why: Between the beautiful music, the heartwarming story, and the evening out with Silver, even Sweetie was smiling by the time Gabriel flew off with the three stallions. The curtain fell, and the audience erupted with applause. Silver hopped to her hooves, applauding as hard as she could manage.

The applause lasted for what felt like ages, long enough for the actors to come out for a bow no less than three times. When the clapping and cheering finally began to dwindle, Sweetie Belle could not help but laugh. “Wow,” she said to Silver, “I guess you really liked it, huh?”

Silver grinned, adjusting her glasses and rubbing her cheeks to hide a blush. “It was a nice story,” she said. “And the music was… different, but still really pretty.”

“It was,” Sweetie agreed. “I’m glad that you liked it.” She sighed and rubbed her down. “I’m sorry I haven’t made this the best evening…”

Silver sat back down. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” She said, laughing. “I’m having a great evening. And besides, it’s not even over yet.”

“I guess,” Sweetie Belle said. “There’s still dinner, right?”

Silver grinned impishly. “That too,” she said. “But there’s one other thing, too.”

Sweetie Belle blinked. “One other thing?” she asked. “What is it?”

Silver simply grinned wider. “You’ll see,” she said. “You just have to wait a few minutes.”

Sweetie Belle frowned, leaning back in her seat. “Well…” she said. “Okay, I guess?”

The applause had completed died off, replaced by the rumble of conversation as the theatre-goers made their way out of the auditorium. Between Sweetie’s curiosity, and her still-lingering guilt, the procession seemed to take hours. Still, eventually all the ponies were gone, leaving only Sweetie Belle, Silver Spoon, and Silver’s parents. Sweetie Belle blinked and looked around.

“Where’d Kelson go?” she asked.

Her question was answered by Kelson himself, trotting out from stage left. “Kelson went to do summat he hasn’t done in years,” he said. “Hopin’ I’m not too outta practice.”

“If you are,” Sunlight called up to him, “I can always attend more events to give you the experience.”

“An’ now I’m hopin’ twice as hard,” Kelson commented wryly. “At any rate: To Mr. Silver Sunlight, and Misses Silver Starling, Silver Spoon, and Sweetie Belle, may I present the actors and actresses of the Manehattan Theatre Company!” He spoke boldly and flourished a hoof, and as he did the curtain rose once more, revealing the cast of the show, still in full costume.

Sweetie Belle blinked. For a few long moment she was unsure of just what she was seeing. “A… private show?” She asked, leaning over to Silver.

Silver chuckled and adjusted her glasses. “Not quite,” she said. “While you were gone before, I talked to Mom and Daddy about talking to the actors… I know that you like theatre so much, I thought you might like to actually meet them! And since Daddy does so much for the theatre, and he and Mom come here so often anyways, they were more than happy to meet us.” She adjusted her glasses once again, adding, “And Kelson thinks you and me being here together made them agree even faster.”

“Quite so!” One of the actors called out to them. He was one of the three stallion, a unicorn whose character had been named Melclopor. He gesticulated wildly as he spoke, causing the silver bells that lined his cloak to jingle. “A young actress attending our show? Always a pleasure! Not to mentioned an exceptional opportunity to help grow the next generation of proud theatre folk!” He dropped off the stage and trotted up to Sweetie Belle, bowing deeply before her.

“Holding Heel, Dramatic Baritone,” he introduced himself. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“Emphasis on dramatic,” Commented another actor; the griffon who had played Gabriel. This close, it became clear that the actor was, in fact, a small and boyish actress. She drifted over and offered a claw to Sweetie and Silver. “Galene,” she said. “He’s right, though, it’s great to meet you both. How did you like the show?”

“It was great!” Silver Spoon said, taking Galene’s claw-shake. “It’s been… a long time since I’ve been to a play like this.”

“I imagine so,” Holding said. “I’ve seen your mother and father in the audience on more than one occasion, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.” He smiled and turned to Sweetie, adding, “Nor you, young miss. A new member of the family?”

Sweetie Belle was still starstruck. “U-um,” she said. She had never spoken to a real, professional actor before. “N-no,” she said. “Not yet. Or, um, I mean…” She blushed furiously. “I’m Silver’s marefriend…”

Galene laughed. “And a forward thinking one, apparently.” She took up Sweetie Belle’s hoof and shook it warmly. “You’ll fit right in, in theatre.”

Sweetie blushed even harder. Silver Spoon grinned, wrapping a hoof around her shoulders. “Happy Hearth’s Warming,” she said.

“Wow,” Sweetie said. “I… I don’t know what to say.” She certainly had ideas, but she somehow doubted expressing a crushing wave of guilt was an appropriate response. Even if she had gotten Silver something it could never have compared to this.

Silver’s smile softened. Obviously Sweetie’s guilt was showing, because Silver stroked her mane and said, “you don’t have to say anything,” she said. “Except maybe hello to the other actors and actresses. If you want to.”

“I do,” Sweetie said. “But I…” She sighed and hung her head low. She no longer had the energy to feel properly guilty or anxious. Really, there was no use putting it off any longer. At least if she did it now, she might be able to make it up to Silver over dinner. “Silvy, I’m so sorry, but I didn’t get you anything for Hearth’s Warming.”

Silver blinked, and laughed. “You what?” she asked.

“I just didn’t know what to get you,” Sweetie said, shaking her head. “I tried, I really did, but your list was so small, and I thought your parents could get you anything so I had no idea what to get you, and… when I left with Kelson, we didn’t go to the carriage. We went into the mall, to a record store. I wanted to get you a gift there—a musical I knew you’d like, because I know you’re trying to get into them—but they didn’t have it! And then, during the intermission, I wanted to run to the bookstore and get you something, but…” She waved her hooves vaguely, and shrugged. “You were so sad when I left for the mall, I didn’t want to do that to you again. I wanted tonight to be the best it could be… I’m sorry I’m ruining it.”

Sweetie Belle sighed again, and looked up at Silver. Then she blinked. Rather than looking upset, or sad, or even angry, Silver Spoon looked… amused. In fact, she covered her mouth to stifle a chuckle.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “You feel bad, I shouldn’t be laughing at you—but you shouldn’t be feeling bad! What makes you think you didn’t get me something for Hearth’s Warming?”

“Wh-um,” Sweetie Belle said, suddenly unsure of exactly how to feel. “Be… because I didn’t. I don’t… have a gift to give you.”

Silver Spoon wrapped her hooves around Sweetie’s shoulders and pulled her close. “Sweetie Belle,” she said softly, “You’re here. With me. Tonight. On the last night I’ll be able to see you for two weeks. You coming here tonight was your gift to me.”

Sweetie blinked, though she leaned into Silver’s hooves. “What?” she asked.

“All I wanted was one last chance to spend time with you before I had to leave over Hearth’s Warming,” Silver said. “I never know what to ask for for Hearth’s Warming—I never really want anything, that’s why my list was so small! But I knew for sure that I wanted to spend time with you this Hearth’s Warming. So I asked you to come with me. I’m not gonna lie, I thought you did buy something when you went to the carriage, but I’m not upset. I already got what I wanted this evening.” She laughed. “I kinda thought it was obvious!”

“No!” Sweetie said. “It wasn’t obvious at all!” she frowned deeply, although she could not help but giggle. “When a normal pony invites somepony else to a show, they’re the one giving the gift. I still feel bad that I didn’t get you something on my own...”

“Don’t,” Silver said. She stroked Sweetie’s face. “You’re all I wanted tonight. There’s nothing you could get me that would compare to the memories.”

Sweetie Belle took Silver’s hoof in her own and smiled. “I guess,” she said. “But at least you would have had a keepsake.”

“Ooookay,” Galene said, coughing gently from beside them. “This turned into a personal moment a ways back, so, uh, why don’t Heel and I get out of your manes until you’re ready?”

“That sounds like a capital idea,” said Heel, who looked as though he had been desperately searching for a polite way out. He stood up sharply, causing his costume to jingle and rattle, and paused. “Actually,” he said. “If it’s a keepsake… Galene,” he said, pointing at the griffon, “don’t tell costuming.” With a small flourish his horn lit up, and one of the bells severed itself from his cloak with a snap. He took the bell, and handed it to Sweetie. “There you are,” he said. “A Silver Bell, and I shall leave you be.”

Sweetie took the belle gingerly, as though afraid it would shatter in her hooves. It tinkled as it rolled along her frogs. She smiled, and held it out for Silver. “Here,” she said with a laugh. “A keepsake… Happy Hearth’s Warming, Silver.”

Silver laughed and took the bell. She smiled softly at it, then at Sweetie, and pulled Sweetie in for a hug. “I love it!” she said. “And I love you. Thank you, Sweetie.”

Sweetie Belle hugged Silver back. The stone in her stomach, the aching in her chest, the knot between her shoulders—all of them evaporated in the warmth of Silver’s embrace. “I love you too,” she said.

They held one another for what felt like ages. Eternity. It was only for moments, but those moments were enough. Eventually Silver broke off the hug. She chuckled and adjusted her glasses. “I guess we should probably go and talk to some of the cast, huh? I’m sorry that you worried so much over me,” she laughed. “I guess I’ll just have to let you know the next time I decide to be weird like that.”

“You should!” Sweetie replied. She giggled and leaned in to nuzzle Silver. “You definitely should. I think I like it when you’re weird.”

There was a cough from above them, just loud enough to grab the fillies’ attention. They both looked up to see Galene, hovering above them with a sprig of Mistletoe. “Oh, gee,” she said. “Does anypony know where this mistletoe prop is supposed to go?”

“Probably the same place your acting talent went!” Holding Heel heckled.

Galene stuck out her tongue at him. “So right here, then?” she retorted.

Sweetie Belle giggled. “Yeah!” she called up to Galene. “Right there is just fine!” She turned down to look at Silver, who was blushing profusely.

“Am I getting one more Hearth’s Warming gift?” Silver asked, trying and failing to maintain her air of casual sarcasm. Sweetie Belle didn’t bother to answer. Instead, she kissed Silver.

It was like being struck by lightning. Warm, beautiful, happy, festive lightning that set every hair of Sweetie’s body standing on end. When their lips finally parted Sweetie had to catch herself—and Silver, who sagged in Sweetie’s forelegs like warm butter.

“Yeah,” Silver said dreamily.

Sweetie Belle giggled. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Silver,” she said.

“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Sweetie,” Silver replied.