Author's Note

Whether you enjoy this or not, I only did it out of the pure joy I have this time of year, so I don't expect much from anyone to read this, but if you do, I hope you'll enjoy my characters enjoying Christmas! And as always....

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Perfect Gift

All Years Spent Together The Perfect Gift By Silent Slender

"Whether a dream or reality, memories will always remain." - Silent Slender

Among many things, memories are what ponies treasure more than anything, they make up what you are, they turn you into who you'll become, but most of all, they show you how far you've come. Nothing can ever be changed, even when we want it to, but we can use it as a point to start, whether that be through relationships, or through one's own ideals, they all start off the same way. Through memories.

That's what one believes. Illuminated by Luna's light, among a world of endless sparkles, was one lone pony, he was sitting by the edge of a pond, unfazed by the sheer cold of the winter, as a blanket of white covered the earth, and slowly drifted like gems towards him and the ground.

He was a tan pony, with a black-spiky mane, and tail. His eyes were a mixture of red and brown, as they kept their gaze to the navy world above him, as the moon glowed among the endless void. He was passive, as he stared off at the world above him, before finally getting up, pulling his crimson scarf closer to his muzzle.

"One more look, I know i'll find something...." He muttered, before finally moving towards the buzzing town ahead, but he couldn't help but smile as he made his way into the colorful street

The whole town was wild with life, with lights stringing from every roof, to every lamp, with trees and ornaments decorating the outer edge of the whole town, and for some reason, it felt far more warm than it did from outside the illuminated village. The pony took it all in with a small feeling of happiness, as he waved to any that greeted him.

For a better understanding, a few months ago, him, along with one other were accidentally brought into Equestria, and for almost six months, the two have not only made bonds with many ponies, but have even aided the Elements in a case of....more directed conflict. That's when the pony noticed one of them appear from absolutely nowhere.

"Ga! Pinkie, where did you come from!?" He freaked out, as the smiling mare just hopped beside him, before wrapping a hoof around his neck

"Oh Blaze...I'm everywhere, and nowhere, but mostly anywhere!" Pinkie exclaimed in his ear, as Blaze just lightly pushed her off, before asking the rather hyperactive mare

"Pinkie, what is it? And if you say 'another super-awesome-surprise', I might just begin to fear you." He asked, shuttering at the last part, as he awaited the crazy mare's answer, which is when she stopped hopping beside him, as she looked directly at him with a calm smile

"No, silly! I want to know if you got Serafin anything?" If it were any other question, Blaze might have had an instantaneous answer, but for once, he was stumped, as he just gave her a silent stare, before frowning, which led to the mare gasping in horror. "How could you 'NOT' get her something!?"

"Believe me, I'm trying, but I just can't find anything that just...'pops' out, you know?" He sighed, before stopping to look at Pinkie, who was still smiling back at him. "What can I, a per-er-pony, get for the 'literal' Goddess of the Nether? Because I'm out of ideas...."

"Well? What does she like?" As if Pinkie wasn't even phased by his answer, Blaze thought for a moment, then went on a tangent to the mare

"Serafin...well she doesn't really talk about things she likes, but I do know she likes to write alot, especially involving our adventures together, she loves anything that's warm, which I guess stems from her being fire-related. And I guess....she likes being around others, she hates being alone for a long period of time." Blaze answer, as Pinkie smiled even more at the faint smile that crossed Blaze's muzzle when he was talking

"Hmm, well I think you already have you answer, silly!" Pinkie grinned as she motioned for Blaze to follow her, as she went back into a hop, as he slowly followed beside her, that's when she gave Blaze a simple answer. "Get her something that she'll remember, duh~"

"What? But she'll obviously remember something ive bought her, she has a very clear memory, something I lack...." Blaze muttered sheepishly, but Pinkie had stopped just outside of Sugarcube Corner, the smell of cakes and sweets were almost unbearable to not notice. But then Blaze's mind went back to Pinkie

"Well....remember what you told me and the others before?" She asked, but Blaze just shrugged at her vague question. "That phrase you say!" Then it dawned on him, but he still didn't understand where she was going with this

"Continue towards the light? Yeah, but what does that have to do with my problem?" Blaze asked, still trying to decipher the logic-defying mare, not that the last six months weren't fruitless in his discovery of her power

"Everything! Cause you still remember that! You treasure that, no matter how bad things get, you made sure to remember that super-sweet memory!" Pinkie exclaimed, as Blaze stood there for a moment, and he recalled someone dear to him telling him that. Those words were his morals and ideals, it was what made him who he was, but then Pinkie continued

"We can give ponies amazing gifts, we can make them the most super-duper-awesome presents in the world! But they can't last, but memories will, even if only she can remember it, that's what you can give her. Just like those words you told us!" Pinkie answered warmly, as she seemed to give Blaze the most normal look she had ever given him, and for a moment, it hit him

He felt himself smile a little more, especially at something he saw a few stalls back through town, looking back at it now, it seemed like nothing more than a passing object, but the more he pictured it, the more clearer the message became, and suddenly, he felt his eyes soften at the thought.

"You know, Pinkie, you may be the strangest girl ive ever met, but the world would be so boring without you." Blaze answered, as Pinkie smiled happily at that

"Aww, thanks, Blazey!" She smiled, as Blaze turned to walk away, before waving back to her

"...Thanks, Pinkie....Merry Christmas." Blaze thanked happily, as she did the same, yelling so loud, that it caused the snow on the tops of most roofs to fall instantly

"Happy Hearth's Warming, Blaze!" And with a set goal in mind, he made his way back into the crowd, but slightly irritated by the ringing that dominated his ears

"Note to self, buy her a mute button, might help in certain situations...." He groaned, before proceeding with his plan

Just beyond the never ending party the town was in, where the fading echos of music could be heard, was a small corner house, it had a tiny garden, with snow blanketing the whole home in a sheet of white, then Blaze looked straight at the door, feeling hesitant to open it, but after a few short seconds, he snorted to himself.

"But why would she like it? I mean, what can a person like me, possibly do for her, she's a Goddess! Literally!" Blaze mentally battled, as he continued in war from outside the comfort of his home. "But what if she doesn't care about that? She's stuck around all this time....but I..."

"Just open it!" He muttered to himself, before finally entering the warm embrace of the indoors, blasting him with a relaxing feeling of home, as he shivered slightly. But just to the left of him, sitting by a small desk was a unicorn mare, who had jumped slightly at his entrance. "Ok, it's official, this equine form does 'nothing' to prevent winter!"

When she turned to face him, he took in her entire appearance. She had a peach coat, with a wild tail, and long-straight mane, which had sharp bangs, but the colour was almost like gold, with a tint of orange thrown in. Her eyes were different though, due to her having alot of fire traits, her eyes had no pupils, only the colors of yellows and oranges, much like the sun.

The funny thing was, both Serafin and Blaze shared near opposite traits. Blaze was mainly into black and red, whist Serafin was gold and orange, not to mention their personalities. Serafin was sometimes serious, and apathetic, Blaze was sarcastic, and positive, when the situation suited. One even thought they were siblings.

Serafin then spoke, her voice a mix of angelic, and something similar to Luna, only not as royal.

"I did say that you might have needed more than a scarf, but since when do you listen to instructions?" She sighed, her near permanent frown, stable on her muzzle, but her eyes seemed to soften instead, so she walked over to Blaze, before resting a hoof on his shoulder, thankfully, she didn't see his red face from the close contact

"Umm...." He hummed, trying not to make eye contact with her, but soon, his body filled with a warm beat of fire, as he slowly relaxed, and she pulled her hoof away, nodding to him solemnly. "Thanks, Serafin."

"Well, someone has to keep you alive, rather me than, Loki." She answered, as she turned to go back to her task from before, so Blaze just blinked rapidly twice, as his eyes both turned a pure shade of crimson in that instant, at that, Serafin stopped and turned to look at Blaze with a strange look. "You still not used to that?"

At that question, Blaze sighed, feeling his crimson glow emanate to the small home around them, to which he looked to his right hoof, before dropping it lazily, then his tone of voice changed, something Serafin rarely seen him do, unless he was afraid.

"I-I just wish that I didn't need to sacrifice the one thing that made me feel human, made me feel like me." At that, Blaze looked down at the floor, feeling a wave of bad memories appear in his mind, as he felt his hooves begin to quiver in fear, it was intoxicating, sometimes it was overwhelming, but if not for that same feeling of warmth that past through him, he may have lost his nerve

When he looked up, he saw that his vision was obstructed by a peach face, with eyes of gold that looked directly at him, but what was different, was the small, warm look that was written on Serafin's face. Blaze just froze at her embrace, as she held him close to her own form.

"I know you hate it, and I know I can't say anything to change that, but....I won't leave you to suffer, not after everything you've done for me." Serafin calmly spoke to him, as he felt his heart beat a little more at that, then that prompted him to pull away to face her directly

"W-Well, for that little bit of encouragement, I recently got a gift for you, and I wanted to give it to you now." Blaze answered, gulping silently as she tilted her head at his odd choice of words, but decided to humor him

"Isn't your tradition to only open gifts the next day?" She asked, but she seemed more curious since it was gift for her, but Blaze just chuckled, feeling his mood begin to turn back to normal, which helped his confidence grow a little easier in her presence

"Yeah, but this one's special, trust me." He pointed to himself proudly, but it was quickly shot down by her eyes rolling, but she just shook her head, but he kept egging for her to agree. much to her annoyance. "Trust me~"

. . . .

"Fine then, you've peaked my interest." She answered, as Blaze quickly swiped his right hoof behind him, allowing his awesome technological skills to do the work for him, but then he quickly looked back at her, rather curious gaze

"Close you eyes," He asked kindly, and she paused for a moment, but reluctantly did so, then he grinned. "No peaking~"

"Ha. Ha." She muttered, as Blaze quickly worked to get everything set up just right, which was difficult when you're given no horn or wings. But after a little effort, and some Pinkie physics, he nodded to himself, before he gently pulled Serafin forward, as she flinched slightly. "W-What are you-"

"Don't worry, if I wanted to die, I would have called Deadpool, now then...." Blaze slowly trailed off at that point, as he sat directly in front of her again; as he felt his chest tighten slightly, but he just shook the doubts from his head, leaving only Pinkie's advice in his mind. "....Open your eyes."

With that final request, he watched as Serafin's eyes opened to stare at his nervous grin, at first, she didn't quite understand why he was so close, to the point that they were mere centimeters from each other. Then she noticed Blaze's eyes, as they shot up quickly, indicating her to copy him. When she did, her eyes did a double-take, trying to register that what she saw was real.

But when she saw it clearly, she let a small, touched smile cross her muzzle, as she looked back at Blaze, who was smiling kindly back towards her. And in that moment, Blaze recalled the same look of awe she had in her eyes, back when they first met, and he was happy to see it again.

"Who are you, Mortal?" She asked, her eyes filled with awe at Blaze's presence, and appearance, but the venom was clear in her voice, which did set him on edge. This didn't stop him from gulping in fear, as he held his hazel gaze to her golden one

"The name's, Blaze. And you are....?" He responded, before prompting her to do the same, as his lack of knowledge on her title nowhere near touched his tone of voice. This did take her by surprise, but she reluctantly did the same

"My name.....is, Serafin."

Then as his mind raced back to reality, he realized how close they were in that short moment. But after staring into each others eyes for an uncounted amount of time, she finally pressed her small muzzle against his own, closing her eyes in utter bliss at the contact, as Blaze slowly did the same, leaving him to hold onto her softly for that moment of silence. He then felt her own hoof hold onto his shoulder, prompting them both to hold each other for a little while longer.

"I think she liked it."