Author's Note

This Journal Entry diverts from the main story just a bit, it's still cannon. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa

Side Entry #1

It was wintertime in Ponyville, and rarely anyone came outside, they would rather stay inside their warm homes, and I couldn't blame them. I would prefer to stay inside as well but unfortunately I didn't chop enough wood to stoke the fire inside my house and I decided to drag Starlight along with me, while we were both wrapped up in our warmest clothing, the cold still found a way to wrap to our bodies within it's icy grip. I grunted when I finished chopping the tree down and yelled, "TIMBER!"

"R-Remind me why I'm out here again?" Starlight asked.

"In case I keel over from exhaustion, it's your job to drag me back to my house and contact Fluttershy. She just got her Vet's license to work on primates and she did it all for me." I said as I wrapped a chain around the tree.

"W-What happens i-if w-we both f-freeze?"

"Then you have my express permission to use my body to warm you back up via skin on skin contact." I said, "The human body is incredibly warm, the average temperature is 98.6 degrees fahrenheit or 37 degrees celsius." I started to drag the tree, it wasn't very big but was a pine tree, and it was around December, getting close to the 25th. I stared at the tree for a bit then started to drag it once again.

"Something on your mind?" Starlight asked.

"It's getting close to the 25th."

"Oooh, Hearth's Warming Eve." Starlight said.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I looked up at her.

"Y-You don't know about Hearth's Warming Eve?" She asked.

"I spent the better part of three years of my life in the forest not wanting to be around anyone and relieving myself via a zebra shammaness, so you'll have to explain."

Starlight then told me about the story of the three tribes and all of that, which was pretty much tribalism at it's finest. I knew the rest, I continued to drag to my cabin where I came across Zecora at my door. She smiled and held out her arms, she was covered in a thick coat and pants, which was provided by Rarity. She ran and hugged me, "Hello my beloved." She then took a look at Starlight, "Who might I ask is this?"

"My servant, Starlight Glimmer." I responded with, "We're not fucking if that's what you're concerned about." I hugged her.

Zecora looked at Starlight and she nodded, "I've got my own concerns right now. Getting somepony isn't one of them."

Zecora nestled me into her breasts, "Alright, Starlight. But if you think of touching my sweet, it will not be such a treat for you."

I lightly slapped her ass, "Knock it off with the rhyming, how was your trip?"

"It was delightful, I got to see my family again and told them about us. My father approves, he would like to meet you however." Zecora stated.

"I'll be sure to arrange something, I've got some firewood to chop." I said as I grabbed the axe that I borrowed from sweet apple acres and started to chop some wood. And so I did, Starlight invited Zecora into my place for some tea or coffee. I don't know which, hell it could be piss for all I care I just wanted to get this wood chopped. I continued to chop off logs from the base of the tree and cut off a few branches, I then stared at the tree. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, I actually let my mind wander off to a memory of mine, back before I was shipped overseas to Iraq. It was that year's Christmas and I was at home sitting in a chair and watching my 2 brothers, sister, and brother in law all gathered around the living room as dad handed out presents, mom had gotten me another cup of coffee and My sister; Nicole was busy tearing into the gift I had gotten her. I closed my eyes and committed that moment to my mind. It's like a pristine picture, one of the few moments of peace I had. That was one of the things that pushed me to keep fighting, small things like that.

I was torn from my memory by a shaking, I looked up to see who was the person who had the balls to tear me from one of my few moments of bliss in this constantly chaotic and ever changing landscape that is Equestria. It was Twilight, who had ventured all the way out here. "H-Hi M-Mickey! Was I-I interrupting something?"

"Uh, kinda." I answered and looked at Twilight, she was slightly shivering. I could tell she had been out here long, "Is there a good reason why it looks like you're about to freeze to death?" I had asked.

"O-Oh! I came to i-invite you to my H-Hearth's Warming Eve p-party." Twilight fished through her, messenger bag slash purse thing. They call them saddlebags but I don't feel right by saying that. She then pulled out an invitation. "I invited the girls and their parents, Zecora, Starlight, the princesses, my parents, Discord, the CMC, Shining and Cadence and their new baby Flurry Heart. Now I'm inviting you."

I eyed the invitation, "I'm not sure about it."

"Please?" Twilight looked at me.

"Alright fine, but go home and get out of the cold." I said as I continued to chop wood, I don't know how long I was out there for. I just kept chopping the wood for a fire and then when I was done, it was almost nighttime. I walked back into my house and saw that Starlight and Zecora had left, presumably for Twilight's party. I took a deep breath and looked around. "Eh, fuck it." I walked back outside but not before grabbing a bottle of brandy and locked the door. I started to walk towards Twilight's palace, snow crunching underfoot. I reached the palace and stood there looking at the giant crystal doors and swallowed. I reached my hand back and knocked on the door.

The door opened and showed Twilight, "Oh, hey Mickey. I thought you wouldn't have come!"

"Well surprise." I said, "Mind if I come in?"

"YES!" Twilight nearly shouted then coughed into her hand. "I mean yes, please do." She moved aside as I shrugged off my thick coat.

"Thanks, I brought some brandy if that's alright, goes great with eggnog." I said as I entered, she helped me with my coat and took the bottle of alcohol.

"That's perfectly fine, I'm just glad you showed up." Twilight smiled.

"Ah well, I couldn't be alone on Christmas." I said.

"Chris mass?" Twilight questioned.

"I'll explain it later, okay?" I said as I kicked off the snow from my boots, "I just need to warm up by the fire for a bit." I walked through the living room to see some people looking at me as I stood by the fire with my hands to the crackling flames.

The little girls of the Cutie Mark Crusaders ran right up to me. "Mickey!" They shouted in unison as they tackled me.

"Girls!" Someone who I didn't recognize scorned the three, "We don't pounce on ponies!"

"They're fine, but more importantly. Who the hell are you?" I asked the green earth pony mare with a blonde mane. I sat up and got a better look at her.

"Well that's rude." The mare crossed her arms over her Triple D breasts.

"Mickey, this is my Aunt Holiday." Scootaloo answered for me.

"You have an aunt? Wait, that implies that you have parents." I looked at Scootaloo as I stood up.

"Yeah, they're just not around a lot because their jobs are very demanding." Scootaloo scratched the back of her neck.

"And you never told anyone about this because?" I looked at her.

"I don't like to talk about it." Scootaloo said.

"Well, at the very least it keeps me from reporting you to Child Protective Services." I said.

"Why would you do that?" Holiday asked.

"Because people, for example,ME. Tend to assume the worst when information isn't very forthcoming, I thought that she was either an orphan, had abusive parents, or was homeless and an orphan."

"What?" Holiday asked.

Twilight came in and put a hand on my shoulder, "I'm sorry Holiday, that's just something Mickey tends to do. It's not really anything against you, or your family."

"It's fine I suppose..." Holiday said, "I'm sorry about the girls tackling you, they tend to get into crazy stuff when someone isn't watching them."

"Oh, I know. That's what 30% of my job is, watching these three."

"So they've said." Holiday replied, "Scootaloo talks a lot about you."

"Good things hopefully." I smiled.

"Yeah, saying things like you're the first stallion role model she's had." Holiday said, "But I think she's got a crush~"

"Oh really?" I looked at Scootaloo. "Do you have a crush on me Scooter-pie?"

Scootaloo turned from orange to a deep crimson, "N-No I don't!"

"Scooter-pie? Oooh, I've got to write that one down." Someone else ran up, a sand colored mare with a purple mane with pink highlights in it.

"Mickey this is my Auntie Lofty." Scootaloo said.

"So you two are a couple?" I asked Holiday and Lofty.

"Yes, do you have a problem with that?" Holiday asked.

"Sister my door swings both ways." I stated.

"Oh! I'm sorry for assuming." Holiday said.

"Never assume, cause it just makes an ass out of u and me."

"I'm definitely going to write that one down." Lofty said, "Sorry I just tend to write down things that I hear that I think will do some good later on down the line."

"No need to apologize for that, it's good to do." I smiled.

"Is that a smile?" Apple Bloom asked, "I've never seen Mickey smile before."

"What? I've smiled before." I turned my attention to the filly.

"Uh no, at least we haven't seen you smile." Sweetie Belle pointed out, "We always thought of you as the pony where smiles go to die."

"Oooh that's a good one." A disembodied voice stated.

"Hello Discord." I said as everyone looked around.

"How is my favorite human doing?" Discord asked.

"I'm the only human in the world." I said, "To say that I'm your favorite is irrelevant."

"Touche." Discord materialized next to me, "How are you doing this Happy Hearth's Warming?"

"Just peachy." I said, "Now if you'll excuse me. I'm going to get a drink." I departed towards the kitchen in search of a beer. I enter the kitchen and see Applejack conversing with Fluttershy. I looked around and spotted my target, beer. I grabbed a can and opened it, I took a few gulps and nearly polished off half the can. I sighed and looked at two of my girlfriends and waved.

Discord appeared next to me once more, "I have some terrible news, from earth."

"Am I going to have to finish this beer before or after you say it?" I asked.

Discord grabbed another beer for me. "Yes."

I shrugged and finished the rest of the beer in my hand and grabbed the other. "Go ahead."

"Stan Lee died." Discord stated.

I chugged the new beer and grabbed another, "I was not adequately prepared for this."

"I know." Discord nodded and conjured a newspaper. "But it was confirmed."

I took the newspaper and read it. "How many movies?"

"57, and one in a DC movie." Discord said.

I started to laugh, "A DC MOVIE? That's the ultimate fuck you."

"You don't want to know anything else about earth." Discord said.

"Thanks for sparing me." I thanked the draconequus as I finished my 3rd beer.

"With that I bid you adieu." Discord disappeared.

Fluttershy and Applejack walked up to me, Applejack asked. "What was that Sugarcube?"

"Just some news from earth, it's a bit disappointing but that just makes me all the more happy that I'm in Equestria now." I smiled.

The girls smiled and we partied, I met the parents of all my girlfriends, I talked to the princesses and then I came across Armor and Cadence. She was disheveled and holding a white furred alicorn. "Hello Mickey." Shining yawned.

"Baby troubles?" I asked the couple.

"A little." Cadence said. The baby was busy crying her head off.

"Is this Flurry?" I asked. Cadence and Armor nodded, I held out my arms. "May I?"

Cadence shrugged and handed Flurry over and I started bounce up and down, while swaying back and forth, humming 'Smoke On The Water' and she began to calm down. Soon Flurry closed her eyes and started fall asleep. Cadence and Armor just stared at me, "HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!"

"Shh!" I kept up with my motions, "Babies love stimulus, you repeat something for a certain amount of time and they get use to it, it calms them. But don't do it too often because then they'll lose interest. I picked up a few things from babysitting my nephews and neices."

Armor and Cadence hugged each other, then Cadence kissed my cheek repeatedly whilst saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you."

"You're welcome." I said, "Look, I know what it's like for a couple to experience having a new baby. You don't have to be afraid of asking for help, say for example." I pointed to Night Light and Twilight Velvet, "Your parents?"

"I...I didn't think to ask." Armor admitted.

"A lot of people usually don't." I told them, "I'll hang onto her and let you get to partying, have fun you two."

Armor and Cadence straightened their hair and tails and went to socialize. I smiled as I continued to keep Flurry satisfied. Twilight spotted me and approached me, whispering to me, "You look good with her. How's she doing?"

I whispered back, "Still sleeping. I think she likes rock music."

"Don't corrupt her now." Twilight whispered again. Armor and Cadence returned, with smiles on their faces they took Flurry and Twilight clinked a fork onto a crystal glass, quieting everyone and she announced, "It's time to pass out the presents! Gather around the tree please!"

Everyone began to gather around the tree as Twilight requested and I took that as my cue to leave. I turned towards the exit and began to make my way towards it when a hand on my shoulder stopped me. "Who told you to go anywhere?" I looked at the owner of the hand and it was Applejack, "I think she meant you as well."

Well, what do I have to lose? I stood by Applejack and Fluttershy, they started passing the presents around and I didn't have anything as I helped pass out presents. I smiled as I helped, I truly didn't care whether or not I had a present I was with friends. That was fine by me, I kept smiling as Armor and Cadence got baby items, Fluttershy got some more knitting supplies, Applejack got some new clothes, Rainbow got new flight goggles, Pinkie got a scope for her Party Cannon so she can now precisely fire cupcakes and full sized cakes. Twilight got a lifetime supply of quills and parchment, but I knew that she was going to go through it in a week. Spike got a new tux from Rarity, in return Spike made her a scarf made of some scales that he shed. The Princesses exchanged gifts between themselves and I was left out in the cold. It was fine, I couldn't think of anything better. I sat down and then there was a tap on my shoulder, it was Applejack surrounded by the main 6. "Oh hey girls. How are you?"

"We didn't want you to think that we were leaving you out." Applejack said.

"So we all pitched in and got you something." Rainbow said.

"Discord helped out." Pinkie said.

"But it's not like we gave him much of a choice." Fluttershy looked at her friend.

"Come on." Twilight held out her hand and I grasped it. She led me out to a room that was completely dark, she flipped a switch and it contained the 1970's Dodge Charger, but looking around I could see that there were toolboxes along the wall. There were parts on benches, it was everything I needed to restore that car to its former glory. I stared while everyone looked at me. "Well, what do you think?"

"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." I wiped a tear from my eye and hugged Twilight, the girls soon gave me a group hug.

"Now, it doesn't have any gasoline, but I figured that we could develop something as a substitute." Twilight explained, "You've done so much good and you've missed 3 hearth's warming so we decided that this would more than make up for it."

"Thank you girls." I said, "I don't know what I did to deserve this."

"You didn't have to do anything." Zecora said, "You're perfect the way you are."

I smiled and walked into the garage, I spotted a few items that were not automotive tools but woodworking tools. "Wait, these aren't..." I spotted a note and I picked it up. "From Mac, I'm tired of you borrowing my tools so here's some of your own." I started to laugh.

"I have something for you as well." Celestia said as she blushed and handed me something.

It was a letter and a paper, "What is this?"

"It's a letter, that you can send. To your relatives on earth, the envelope's enchanted so that whatever mailbox you put it in it will send to the desired address." Celestia said, "Your family deserves to know your safe, however I can only enchant them once a month. I hope that's acceptable."

"Th-Thank you." I looked at Celestia, "Is there anyway I can repay you?"

"I'll let you know when I think of something." Celestia said.

"Thank you girls, this is one of the most wonderful things you could've ever given me." I said and then I started to break down and cry. The girls rushed over and hugged me, Spike and Rarity included. I held them close, as for one of the only times in my life outside of me being a child, I cried myself to sleep. Spike and Armor carried me to Twilight's bedroom and lay me down.

"I'm not entirely sure about him sleeping in your bed." Armor said to his little sister.

"You know that he's a good man, so you have no room to talk." Twilight retaliated.

"Wow, he's been a good influence on you." Celestia commented, "You would've never talked back to your brother when you were younger."

"I also wouldn't have talked back to you." Twilight said to Celestia, "He's caused a lot of change, all of it for the better."

"Who knows what he might do later on down the line?" Luna asked.

"That's what I love about humans so much, unlimited potential. They put their minds and hearts behind something, anything is possible." Celestia said, "Come let's let him sleep."