I Sparkly Hearths Warming
Starlight just couldn't understand the holiday of Hearths Warming, perhaps all that time she had spent in her town of equality, she had forgotten what it meant.... to her at least. She came to Twilight and asked, "Um Twilight, I know I may sound a little out of place for asking this, but, do you think you and your friends could help me out with understanding Hearths Warming? I mean I have heard the story with the Windigos enough to last me a lifetime, but I am just so confused."
Twilight pondered, "Hmmm, well, maybe if I told you about a personal experience that I had, it should help with understanding it. In fact, girls, why don't we all give our input?"
"What a spectacular idea Twilight," Rarity said.
"I see no reason why not," Applejack said.
"I got a really awesome one," Rainbow Dash said.
"I'll make some coco for everyone," Spike said.
"Oh my, I'd love to talk about my experience... if that's okay," Fluttershy said.
"Ooooh, I love stories," Pinkie Pie said.
Soon everypony made their way into Twilight's personal den room.
"Well, I suppose I should start since I suggested it. Hmmm, now which Hearths Warming story do I want to tell?... Oh, I know," Twilight said.
"What is it?" Starlight asked.
"Well, it's better to show you the memory then tell you about it," Twilight said.
"I don't follow," Starlight replied.
"I'm going to link your mind with mine and show you my memory. Celestia taught me this spell. It's quite simple really," Twilight giggled.
"Well, okay, ready when you are," Starlight stated nervously.
"So are we" Rainbow Dash said as the other girls nodded.
Twilight nodded and soon linked the minds of all eight of them, including Spike in the room. Soon they were in Twilight's memory. "Now, this Hearths Warming was very special to me for a great reason, but just watch," Twilight instructed.
They see a young Twilight "helping" to decorate the Castle with her new dragon Spike. Velvet and Nightlight Sparkle were with her as well as Princess Celestia. "It's so nice of you to let us spend Hearths Warming at the Castle your highness," Velvet said.
"It is a pleasure to have you all here. Plus my nephew needs to associate with other ponies more often," Celestia said.
Blueblood snorted and grunted from a distance as he was forced to help with the decor. "I'm supposing one reason he hasn't had another royal meltdown is the fact our family is of nobility, Princess Celestia?" Nightlight said.
"Indeed, I've been trying to change his behavior, but I haven't gotten very far at this point," Celestia said.
"He'll turn a new leaf.... eventually," Velvet said, and the three had a laugh.
"Such a disgrace, that pony," Rarity's memory form said as the memory paused.
"Yeah, I thought it was something he picked up. Looks like he was born with his bratty personality," Rainbow Dash said.
"Darn Tootin. Some things seem to never change," Applejack said.
"Such a party pooper that one. He's even worse then Gilda was before she became a friend," Pinkie Pie said.
"Um, Twilight, if you want me to see that you got to spend Hearths Warming with the Princess of Day, that's something you could have just told me. We didn't need to see all this," Starlight pointed out.
"You haven't seen the whole memory yet, just wait," Twilight informed them.
The memory continued. Twilight Sparkle didn't seem so cheerful. And Velvet took notice. "Twilight? Honey what's wrong?" Velvet asked concerned.
"I wanna see my brother, he's my BBBFF, and he's not here," Twilight Sparkle replied with tears starting to well up.
"Oh Sweetie," Velvet gestured as she pulled her daughter close.
Nightlight sighed, "Twilight, we know you miss your brother, but you have to understand. He's gotta train at the academy if he's gonna be part of Equestria's Royal Guard."
"Not helping Nightlight," Velvet scolded her husband as Twilight whimpered.
Celestia knew how much her fateful student cared about her brother. It reminded her of how she longed to celebrate another Hearths Warming with her sister Luna. But she smiled and turned to her student and said, "Um, Twilight, I know you don't usually open presents at night, but since your new, hmhm, "little brother" was so anxious he opened his gift, I feel that you should open this one here."
Celestia moved a very large gift wrapped box that was nearly as tall as she was and almost the same length as her from front to rear. Twilight looked at her parents and they nodded in approval. Twilgiht soon unwrapped her gift, but jumped back as the box flung open. "HAPPY HEARTHS WARMING EVERYPONY!" Shining Armor bellowed.
Twilight was wide eyed for a moment, but then burst out in cheer as she ran to her brother and hugged him. "I thought you weren't coming this year," Twilight said.
"And miss my new dragon brother's first Hearths Warming. Not a chance Twily," Shining Armor said as he ruffled his little sister's mane.
"But, aren't you supposed to be training right now?" Twilight inquired.
"That's best part Twilight, your brother just graduated today. He's officailly a member of the Equestrian Royal Guard. Lutenant Shining Armor," Celestia informed.
"Well, I say cheers, to Shining's Success, and to a great Hearths Warming Eve," Nightlight said.
"Cheers," Everypony replied, and soon they all had a great party as the last of the decorations were set.
Blueblood just crossed his hooves thinking about how uncouth Shining's entrance was.
Soon the memory ended and all the friends were back in the den room. "Awww, that was such a sweet story Twilight," Rarity said.
All the others agreed. "You see Starlight, the reason that Hearths Warming was so special was because my brother was home, and he had graduated," Twilight said.
"I guess I can see how that was great for you," Starlight said.
"But you still feel unsure about the holiday's meaning?" Twilight inquired.
Starlight blushed and nodded. "Well, maybe Rainbow Dash's story will help," Twilight said.
"Okay, well, I have a story that's much like Twilight's but it was totally awesome for me" Rainbow said.
Soon Twilight cast the spell for Rainbow Dash as they entered Rainbow's memories.
Author's Note
End of Chapter 1. Hope you all enjoyed. Let me know what you think, because the next story is gonna be about *Pulled away from the dreamscape computer.*
Shadowmane: Come on Nighty. We pwaying at da Chocowate Wivew.
Me: Oooh, I coming. *Crawls off to Chocolate River.*
Lauren: *In the real world* Well, while Night Mist dreams on, let him know what you think about his new story.
