Winter Skies

by WinterTwister

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Soarin, Romance, Spike, Comedy, Big Macintosh, Main 6
Length: 5533

Twilight and Soarin' Hearth Warming Special!

Twilight and Soarin' enjoy their first Hearth Warming together

Published 2011-12-09 02:05:06 UTC
Last updated 2012-02-07 15:45:00 UTC

Hearth Warming Preparations.

Sequel to Purple Skies. An: Purple Skies isn't something I thought I would continue but people liked it, and now I have a writing team to work with, this is Team Joker's first team effort and we hope you enjoy our holiday special.

Twilight and Soarin' have been living together ever since the end of the Welcome Summer Special. Soarin' lost his ability to fly but found hobbies that he never thought he would have enjoyed doing like reading, and helping others around Ponyville, he thought it felt good not going through life so fast. Hearth Warming Day was coming up, and it was going to be their first time to spend the holiday together. Rarity and Sweetie Belle have left Ponyville for the holiday, and are now in Manessota.

Rarity's father, Sports Blitz, was attacking a plate of deep fried mayonnaise balls.

"Eww, gross, gross!" Rarity said while putting her hooves over her mouth.

"Don't knock 'em till you try 'em, ey Rarity?" Her father returned to eating the plate of mayonnaise balls.

Sweetie Belle was playing a guessing game with their mother while the T.V blared a holiday special, How Nightmare Moon stole Hearth Warming Day.

"Is it...a drum!?" Sweetie Bell yelled while jumping on the sofa.

"Guess again!" The mother, Fran, yelled while laughing at the energetic filly.

Rarity was still disgusted at her father’s taste in food. "Is there nothing more civil to eat?"

Sports Blitz swallowed a mouth full of deep fried mayonnaise balls. "Nothing beats a Manessota specialty."

Rarity face-hooved.

While Rarity and Sweetie Belle left town, Rainbow Dash was given Soarin's position on the Wonder Bolts and was also out of town in Canterlot, training for the Hearth Warming Eve flying show.

Spitfire and Rainbow Dash were talking in front of the other Wonder Bolts.

"Alright, Dash and I are going to head upwards at the edge of the field. Echo, you take Silver Wing up through the middle and arch in towards Dash, and then we'll fly forward for a second, then ignite your trails and follow me."

"Let’s do this!" Dash was finally doing what she had always dreamed of, and was ready to give it 111%, that was her new motto, 1% more than people giving it 110%.

"Glad to see you pumped up for today's practice Dash."

"You kidding? This is what I was born to do. Let’s get started!"

"Sounds good! Try and keep up Dash!" Spit Fire took off.

"I'll fly circles around you, Fire!" Dash laughed.

The Wonder Bolts all took off, eager to practice.

Twilight and Soarin' are now preparing for the holidays.

A snowflake was slowly falling to the ground, glistening from the minor sun rays showing through the gray clouds, it landed on Soarin's nose.

Soarin' wiped the snow flake from his nose and looked up into the sky and saw that it was lightly snowing. He smiled at the sight of the snowfall, remembering his happy childhood with his parents.

Soarin' turned to Spike. "So is there anywhere else we need to go shopping at today?"

Spike opened some of the bags he was carrying while pointing his claw at the items, counting them. "Uh... nope! That's everything Twilight put on the list."

"Alright, good. I heard that Big Macintosh and Fluttershy found each other."

Spike shrugged. "Yeah, Big Mac has always liked her, I was wondering when he was going to do something."

Soarin' gave a light chuckle. "Maybe it’s the Hearth Warming spirit?"

Spike joined him. "Heh… Yeah."

Spike and Soarin' were walking through Ponyville, watching the young foals carol, and looking at all of Ponyville’s decorations that matched the season.

Ponies all over Ponyville were getting into the holiday, Hearth Warming was coming up fast, only two days away. Ponies were wearing the decorative holiday sweaters, pointy red hats, and scurrying all over Ponyville for last minute shopping.

Soarin' turned his head to Spike again as they walked. "So did you get Applejack a present?"

Spike rummaged through a bag and brought out a small box and opened it. Inside was a necklace with a ruby heart-shaped gem in the center that opened up and had a picture of Spike and Applejack.

"Whoa, she's gonna love that, Spike."

Spike placed the small box back inside the bag. "I went digging to find the perfect ruby for it too. So what did you get Twilight?"

Soarin' stopped in his tracks at the question.

Spike had kept walking forward and didn't notice Soarin's absence until he took a few more steps forward, he looked back and saw Soarin' wide-eyed and his mouth was open.

~*~*

"All finished!" Twilight said, feeling triumphant after cleaning the library. "Thanks for all the help AJ."

Applejack walked up next to Twilight. "No problem, Twilight, Ah couldn't let a mother to-be, do all the cleanin' herself." Applejack smiled at Twilight, happy about her coming family.

Twilight gently rubbed her stomach with a smile on her face. "Do you think Spike and Soarin' got all of the shopping done?"

Applejack rubbed the back of her head. "Ah don't know, some ponies can go a little crazy durin' this time of th' year and flood the stores."

"Well I hope they get here soon so-" Twilight was cut off.

'AAAAAHHH!'

"What the hay was that?" Applejack went to the window, hoping to find the source of the yell.

"No idea..." Twilight joined Applejack in the search.

~*~*

Spike had put his hands over his ears from the panicked scream and Soarin' was sitting in the lightly covered ground rubbing his head with his hooves.

Soarin' was getting a headache with all of the thoughts racing through his mind. 'Why! How could I forget to get her a gift? I have been busy lately, hiring construction workers for the add-on to the library, accepting endorsements... but how could I forget?!' Soarin continued to rub his head. 'I need to get her something fast... something she will love... She loves books! No wait... we live in a library...Jewelry? No, she doesn't wear jewelry....'

Spike went over to Soarin' and put a hand on his shoulder. "What’s wrong?"

"I forgot to get a gift for Twilight..." Soarin' said in defeat.

"Oh... well the stores are still open, we can go look for one." Spike said reassuringly.

"But what should I get her? It's our first Hearth Warming together and I don't want to get her some last minute gift."

"I'll help you think of a good one then... a book? She likes books." Spike thought for a moment. "Oh, right, library." Spike started scratching his head in thought.

Soarin's eyes lit up and he leaned into Spike's personal bubble at the excitement of his idea. "Spike, go ahead and head home, I thought the perfect gift."

Spike slowly leaned back away from Soarin’. "Alright, are you sure you don't need my help?"

Soarin' noticed how close he was to Spike and backed away as well. "Yeah I got this, see you later, tell Twilight I'll be home in a few."

Soarin' trotted off into Ponyville's chaotic streets while Spike continued back on his way to the library.

The errors have now all been fixed by our new awesome pre-reader FlutterLove, Team Joker is glad to have him.

Hearth Warming Eve.

Soarin' was becoming frantic as he was searching for a certain store, he remembered being told about it a month ago before Rarity left for Manessota. Soarin' saw the building’s sign, a large pegasus wing, and he sprinted towards it as the owner was closing the store.

"Wait!" Soarin almost ran into the store owner.

"Sorry, son, we're closed." The stallion turned to continue to lock the store.

Soarin' heart sank but pleaded. "Sir! Please could I buy-"

"Sorry, but I have to get home...say, do I know you?"

Soarin' knew about the Wonder Bolt posters that were shown in several towns weekly, but it didn't apply to him anymore. Soarin' got an idea. "Yeah, I'm Soarin' the Wonder Bolt."

The stallion lit up. "I love watching you- I mean uh… my niece loves to watch you perform!"

Soarin' shuddered a little bit, using his celebrity status was not something he enjoyed using. "Good to hear, I was really hoping to purchase something from you."

The stallion also had an idea. "Oh… I can’t but, if I brought home a gift for my niece I could have excuse to be late. Would you sign a poster for me?"

Soarin' smiled at his luck. "Sure!"

Soarin' went inside the store with the stallion and signed an old poster of when he was still able to fly and was in the Wonder Bolts.

"So what’s your niece’s name?" Soarin' said as he picked up the pen.

"Oh… uh… Pete..."

"Pete?"

"Y-yeah..."

"Oh.... alright." Soarin' put the pen on the poster, and over his figure he signed 'To my favorite fan, Pete, from Soarin'.

The stallion picked up the poster and his eyes shone while holding up to his face. 'Awesome...' He coughed and rolled the poster up. "Okay, so what do you need?"

Spike walked up to the library and knocked before he went in. "I'm back!"

Twilight and Applejack saw Spike walk in. Twilight trotted over to take the bag, and then trotted into the kitchen.

Spike went over to Applejack and started chatting.

Twilight started putting the groceries away, and noticed the black box that had Applejack's name on it. She smiled at the thought of Applejack getting the gift from Spike.

Soarin' gave the store owner the owed bits. "Thank you so much, sir."

The stallion smiled. "No problem, now remember I need to move some stuff around to do this, so they won’t be ready until tomorrow, is that fine?"

"Oh, that’s fine, thank you, sir." Soarin' turned to leave.

Soarin' was walking through the streets of Ponyville, the shops were all closing and the foals were heading on their way back home. Soarin' saw the foals and smiled, knowing that a foal of his own was on the way. He wanted to be one of the best dads ever, just like his own father. Soarin' and his father had a strong relationship, it was as if they were best friends. Soarin' continued to admire Ponyville's holiday decorations, the wreaths hung from doors, and silver and red tinsel lined the houses under a thin layer of snow.

Soarin' made it to the library and went inside and almost ran into Apple Jack.

"Sorry there Soarin' ah was just leavin'." Applejack apologized.

"You can't stay?"

"No sorry, ah got to get up early and get the last of the apples in the orchard. But ah'll be here for sure tomorrow for Hearth Warmin' Eve." Applejack smiled and left the library.

Soarin' trotted over to Spike, who was dazed from a kiss from Applejack. "Yo Spike?"

"Huh? Oh hey Soarin'." Spike leaned closer to Soarin'. "Did you get it?"

"Yeah." Soarin' whispered.

Twilight walked in from the kitchen to the living room where Spike and Soarin' were talking. "Hi Soarin', how was caroling with the local foals?"

Soarin' was confused. "What? …Oh! Yeah it was fun."

Twilight walked up to Soarin' and nuzzled him. "Do you like the decorations Applejack and I put up?"

Soarin' looked around and saw the library had gone from plain, to colorful with some stockings, and some antiques that Twilight had for seasonal decoration. "It's great!" Soarin' said before he gave Twilight a light kiss.

"I'm going to bed, it's late and I promised Pinkie I would help her at Sugar Cube Corner tomorrow."

Soarin' stretched tired from the day of going through Ponyville with all of the crazed ponies. "Yeah, I'm tired too. Night Spike." Soarin' and Twilight went up the stairs to get to sleep.

Spike moved his bed downstairs in the living room ever since Soarin' moved in. Spike turned off all of the lights in the house and went to bed as well.

(Hearth Warming Eve)

Soarin' woke up and saw that Twilight had already left. Soarin' went downstairs and saw that Spike was also gone. 'I should give Pete some time before I go pick up Twilight's gift...Guess I'll go watch some of Spike's movies.'

Spike and Applejack were working in the orchard, Applejack was bucking the trees and Spike climbed up the trees and jumped down on the branches making the apples fall into a basket below.

Spike jumped down from a tree and started carrying the basket to the apple cart. "How much longer till we are done AJ?"

Applejack answered in mid-buck. "No much... umf... longer." Applejack wiped the sweat on her forehead, and then looked into the sky and saw that snow was starting up. "We should speed up, snows comin'."

Applejack and Spike started working together to clear trees instead of spreading out. Applejack would fling Spike into the tree, Spike would jump around the limbs of the trees while Applejack caught them as they fell to the ground.

They had finished their work and the snow was falling harder. Applejack was pulling the cart back to the barn with Spike pushing the cart, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo appeared from behind the trees and pelted both Spike and Applejack with snowballs.

Applejack's hat was hit off of her head. "What the hay?"

Spike got hit in the arm and he kneeled down in the snow with his arms tucked away from view.

Applejack went over to Spike. "Are ya' all right?"

Spike returned with a few snowballs he had made in secret. "Here AJ, take some!" Spike tossed a few upwards to Applejack. Spike started throwing his supply of snowballs at the two fillies with Applejack joining him soon after.

The two fillies ducked behind some trees and started making more snowballs. Apple Bloom returned from the tree in a dive throwing two snowballs, purposely aimed at Applejack.

Applejack was still confused over what was happening, but threw her last snowball at Apple Bloom and knocked her bow off.

Spike pushed Applejack behind the apple cart. Spike looked at the confused Applejack. "Haven't you ever been in a snowball fight before?"

Applejack rubbed the back of her head with an innocent smile. "No, not really... ah usually just stayed inside when snow came."

Spike looked appalled. "But AJ they're fun! Here let me show you how to make a snowball." Spike reached down into the snow and grabbed a claw-full of snow. "You just take some snow, and pack it down into a tight ball so you can throw it without it breaking apart in the air." Spike slowly worked his claws around the snow and compacted it into an almost perfect ball to demonstrate it to Applejack. He held up the snowball at her to show her the finished product. "Try not to grab any ice, that can really hurt someone, make sure its powdered snow." Spike peeked over the cart and saw Scootaloo preparing to go over to Apple Bloom.

Scootaloo started galloping to reach her friend but was hit in the side with a snowball that sent her reeling sideways. She regained her balance and made it to Apple Bloom and started brushing off the left over snow at her side. "Man that dragon has some aim."

Apple Bloom sighed a little. "Yeah… Here start reloading."

Applejack held up an oval of snow. "uh... how’s this?" The snow in her hand collapsed into a pile.

Spike took Applejack's hooves. "No, like this." He forced her hooves over the ball, packing it in all directions.

Applejack looked up from their grasp over the snow, and met Spike's eyes. Spike was blushing at what he was doing, Applejack did as well. The snow was melting a little bit from the heat of their hooves and claws.

A ray of light came from the sky over Applejack, the light reflecting off of her mane, which was no longer been tied up at the bottom and just dropped down low. Spike just stared at her.

"Spike?" Applejack's eyes were glinting and made her eyelashes also reveal themselves in a more delicate manor.

"uh... duh.." Spike was dumbstruck at the sight of Applejack in the perfect light.

Apple Bloom pulled out a walkie talkie. "Scoot pull out the map." Apple Bloom looked at the map, brushing her hoof against a large hill and bringing it down to the area they were in. Apple Bloom pressed talk and the little radio buzzed a little bit. "Calling a 'Broken Arrow' in 400 yards from A-Hill to center orchard, 13 degrees north."

The little radio buzzed back with a giggle. "Okie dokie lokie!"

A cannon shot came from the distance.

Spike was inches from Applejack's face, both of their eyes were closed, forgetting about the snowball fight.

A whistling sound was coming from the air and it forced them to look up in fright at the deafening noise.

Spike's eyes grew wide while staring into the sky. "Applejack! Your sister is insane!"

A large bowling ball-sized snowball was hurling down to the earth and it landed a few feet from them and it caused snow to splatter over them.

Applejack wiped the snow from her face. "What the hay? How do they do these things?!"

Cannon shots started rapidly echoing through the orchard.

Spike saw the volley of giant snowballs heading straight towards them. "AJ, I think we should run..."

Applejack nodded and they both quickly started pushing the apple cart as fast as they could away from the area that was being bombarded by snow.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both screamed after a high-hoof. "Cutie Mark Crusader radio signalers!"

Spike and Applejack made it back to the Apple family house after they set the apple cart in the barn. Applejack led Spike inside the house and Granny Smith was asleep on the chair. Applejack put some logs into the fire place and then sat down in front of the flames, she patted the ground next to her and smiled at Spike.

Spike sat down next to Applejack and put his arm over her shoulder. They sat with closed eyes joined together in front of the warm fire, saying nothing.

A mare entered the room. "Oh...um... hi."

Spike and Applejack turned around and saw Fluttershy and said in unison. "Hi Fluttershy."

"Sorry, I was just checking because I heard fire."

"That’s fine, me an’ Spike were jus' warmin' up from bein' outside fer so long. Where's Big Mac?"

"He’s in the kitchen. We’re starting to cook the Hearth Warming dinner now." Fluttershy returned to the kitchen to help Big Macintosh.

Spike stood up. "I should head back to the library and start cooking ours as well."

Applejack got up to walk Spike to the door. "Ah'll see you later, Spike." Applejack smiled.

Spike smiled back, he leaned forward and surprised Applejack with a peck on the lips. He pulled away, noticing he surprised her. "Oh… I'm sorry I just-" Apple jack interrupted him with a kiss that made Spike's knees wobble. After the kiss Spike left with a goofy wave and smile to Applejack.

Twilight walked into the library, her mane was a mess. She walked up the stairs and collapsed on her bed, remembering the day.

(Flashback)

Sugar Cube Corner was packed with ponies and Mr. Cake was doing his best to try and organize them, but his shouts were drained by the several shouts of frantic customers.

Pinkie, Twilight, and Mrs. Cake were in the kitchen frantically running around, checking the stoves and ovens.

"Twilight, I need you to start on these orders!" Mrs. Cake handed Twilight a slip of paper and then ran back to her stove.

Twilight looked at the paper. 'Ginger bread ponies, no problem....how do I make those?' Twilight trotted over to a cook book and opened it up and sped through reading a page on ginger bread. She took a deep breath. "Okay, I got this."

(20 minutes later)

A giant 15 foot tall ginger bread pony was rampaging through the kitchen, turning over tables and spilling ingredients over the floor.

"Twilight! What did you do?" Mrs. Cake shrieked.

"I'm sorry! They were taking so long to bake I used my magic to speed it up and it just came to life and grew!"

Pinkie Pie stood in front of the ginger bread pony, she had a full set of armor on with a lance. "Stop, thy foul creature! And taste thine lance!" Pinkie jabbed at the monster of a cookie and it retreated to the back of the kitchen.

The tiles of the floor were opened and twenty ponies with cannons appeared from the void, all wearing red uniforms and hats. They all screamed. "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" and then they fired, forcing the cookie beast to fall and return to its inanimate state.

Pinkie bounced over, now out of her armor, to the ponies that were all high-hoofing each other. "Thanks for the help!" Pinkie smiled at the pony that had the most decorated red uniform.

"The Spanish Inquisition helps all who need it the most. Our chief weapons are surprise, surprise and fear. Our two weapons are fear and surprise and ruthless efficiency."

"Oooh! I love your uniforms!" Pinkie was staring into a gold medal.

"Yes, but we must be going. Goodbye." The ponies disappeared back into the dark void and the tiles were slid back into their respective places.

Mrs. Cake and Twilight just stared at what just happened. Mrs. Cake went over to the ginger bread monster and poked at it with her hoof.

"Mrs. Cake! We can use this to fill all of our ginger bread orders!" Pinkie smiled at the idea.

"Is it safe Twilight?"

"I-I guess so…" Twilight looked at the tiles where the ponies had come from. 'How did they do that?'

With all of the ginger bread orders being brought out, half of the crowd was gone and happy, now they had less pressure to deal with.

Mrs. Cake trotted up to Twilight. "Could you pass out some coffee to the remaining customers?"

"Don't you need more help in the kitchen?"

"NO!" Twilight recoiled from the yell. "I mean, you've helped so much, I think you should take it easy now dearie."

Twilight took a plate of cups and a pot of coffee and walked into the less-chaotic room of ponies. She trotted up to a stallion who was sitting down and being patient, she handed him a cup and started pouring when another pony tapped her shoulder and Twilight turned her head.

"Could I have a cup miss?"

"Of course, one mo-"

"Arrghh!" The pony that was being poured coffee screamed, Twilight was pouring it on his lap.

"I'm so sorry sir!" Twilight handed him some napkins.

"It's alright... I'm sure I'll be better by tomorrow..." The stallion's tennis racket fell to the floor as he stood up to wipe the coffee off of himself.

Twilight continued to serve coffee to the ponies in the lobby, still feeling bad about spilling it on the stallion.

Eventually all of the ponies had left and the Cakes closed the shop.

"Well that went well." Mrs. Cake took a deep breath. "Where did Pinkamena go?" She looked around for Pinkie but couldn't find her.

"I'm sure she will be back soon. I better get home to Soarin', good bye Mrs. Cake."

Mrs. Cake smiled. "Good bye and Pinkie told me you’re having a foal."

"Yes, I am." Twilight rubbed her stomach, smiling.

"Well, congratulations, I better go start cleaning." Mrs. Cake trotted back into the kitchen.

(Present)

Twilight was rubbing her temples with her hooves, slightly stressed from earlier. Twilight jumped when she heard a cannon shot from the distance. 'Must be Pinkie's party cannon...'
Twilight dropped her head back again, but then heard several cannons firing at once.
"Ugh..." Twilight just closed her eyes and fell asleep, despite the cannon fire.

Soarin' was walking from the shop and waving bye to the owner with an envelope in his mouth. He started walking back to the library and on the way back he heard a cannon shot in the distance and jumped. 'It's probably just Pinkie's cannon...' He continued to walk back, but then heard multiple cannons firing continuously. 'I thought she only had one?' Soarin' decided to ignore it and walk home.

Soarin' was back at the library, he took the envelope and hid it in one of the stockings that was hanging on the wall. "Hello? Anypony home?" He went up the stairs and saw Twilight passed out on the bed. He smiled and entered the bed next to her and rubbed her stomach after giving her a peck on the cheek, he fell asleep soon afterwards.

Soarin' and Twilight both woke up to the smell of the dinner from downstairs.

"Guys! Dinner will be done soon!" Spike yelled up the stairs before he walked back into the kitchen.

Soarin' and Twilight stretched from their nap, they trotted down the stairs with their tails intertwined and made their way to the dining room where they saw AppleJack.

"Hi AJ." Twilight said as she and Soarin' sat down.

Spike brought in several plates filled with seasonal foods and placed them on the table. Spike sat down and then they thanked Celestia and Luna for the night and day.

The four enjoyed the Hearth Warming Eve meal together, all complementing Spike on his expert cooking.

After the meal was done they all helped clean up. Twilight was still tired from earlier so she went back to bed soon after. Soarin, Spike and Apple Jack were downstairs talking.

"Soarin' did you get Twilight's gift?"

"Yeah."

"What is it? I reckon it’s a book, she does love her books."

"No, I got her a nice gift we could share together that she would enjoy."

"So what is it Soarin'?"

"I want it to be a complete surprise. You'll know tomorrow, I'm going to bed too, night AJ."

Spike and AppleJack were left alone in the living room after Soarin' trotted up the stairs.

"So ah better be going, Ah'll see ya tomorrow Spike." Apple Jack smiled and turned to start for the door.

"Wait! AppleJack, I know it’s early, but I want to give it to you now." Spike said as he kicked the ground lightly with his hands behind his back.

AppleJack turned back to Spike.

Spike brought out the little black box and gave it to AppleJack.

AppleJack opened it and gasped at the necklace. "Spike, it's lovely." Applejack took it out of the box and opened it, inside was a picture of Spike and herself. She death hugged Spike and kissed his cheek. "Yer such a sweet dragon."

"Thanks AJ…" Spike blushed at the compliment. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

Applejack cleared her throat a little. "Well, I would like it if you came over tonight, Spike." Applejack smiled at Spike and her eyes lowered a little bit.

Spike noticed Applejack's change of behavior and got nervous. "T-that sounds g-good AJ..."

Applejack put her hat on Spike and they walked out of the library into the cold winter night.

Twilight and Soarin' were upstairs sleeping peacefully.

Hearth Warming.

Soarin' woke up and looked over to Twilight, who was sleeping with her mouth open and drool rolling down her face. He had to put his hoof over his mouth to stop himself from laughing. Soarin' slowly exited their bed and tip-hoofed down the stairs, careful not to wake Twilight.

As Soarin' reached the bottom of the stairs he heard a yawn behind him. "Good morning Soarin'."

Twilight trotted down the stairs and almost tackled Soarin in a hug. "Happy Hearth Warming."

After a light kiss Soarin' replied. "Happy Hearth Warming, one second." Soarin' walked over to the stocking that hanged near the door to the library. He pulled out the envelope and went back to Twilight. "I got you a gift."

Twilight walked over to the couch and pulled out a large book with a bow on it. They both sat on the couch and exchanged their presents.

Soarin' opened the book and saw inside, the first page had a picture of Twilight next to him and above in large golden words it said 'Memories'. The second page had some ticket stubs from a movie theater they had gone to a few times, and Soarin's hospital band at the bottom of the page, the rest of the pages were blank.

"Twilight, this is awesome!" Soarin' closed the book and smiled.

Twilight opened the envelope and saw train tickets inside. "Train tickets to Florhayda?" Twilight hugged Soarin' and kissed his cheek. "I've always wanted to go there! Now I even get to go with you!"

Soarin's smile grew. "I thought we could go somewhere fun while the workers add the new addition to the library."

The two had thought the same thing, gifts that can be shared together.

Applejack and Spike were walking from her room. Spike was still wearing Applejack's hat and she was wearing her necklace.

Applejack led Spike to the tree what was in the corner of the living room. She reached under and pulled out a basket of turquoise gems.

Spike's eyes lit up. "No way!"

Applejack handed him the basket smiling. "I know ya love yer gems spike, so ah had Braeburn send me some for ya."

Spike jumped to hug Applejack. "You're so awesome AJ."

Applejack cleared her throat. "Ah'm no good at talkin' bout my feelin's and ah aint a pony that’s fancy with words. But if there’s one thing ah want.. it's you Spike." Applejack continued to softly smile at Spike.

Spike had forgotten all about his gift and lost himself in Applejack's soft green eyes. Spike leaned forward into Applejack, and they shared a long kiss.

A soft giggling came from the other side of the room, Spike and Applejack looked over and saw Apple Bloom with her hooves over her mouth and Granny Smith smiling at the young couple.

Both Spike and Applejack blushed and rubbed the back of their heads in embarrassment.

"I can cook you guys breakfast if you want." Spike suggested.

"Tha sounds good Spike." Applejack said, still blushing.

The Apple family and Spike left the room, all happy to be together for Hearth Warming day.

Big Macintosh and Fluttershy were kneeling in front of the tree exchanging presents by a small fire.

Big Macintosh got a copy of Shakeshooves complete works in hardback form that made his eyes light up with delight. "Thank ya' kindly Fluttershy."

Fluttershy had gotten a hoof-stitched quilt made by Granny Smith. "I love it, Big Mac..." Fluttershy leaned over and kissed Big Macintosh on the cheek and it turned them both beet red.

Pinkie stretched as she woke up in bed with Gummy on her head. "Happy Hearth Warming Gummy!" She picked up Gummy and hugged him tightly. She put Gummy on her back and she hopped downstairs to greet Mr. and Mrs. Cake, and then a knock came to the door.

Pinkie opened the door and remembered the Spanish Inquisition pony she had talked to. "Hi!"

The pony cleared his throat. "Good morning, last time we were not properly acquainted." He outstretched his hoof. "I am Cardinal Ximinez."

Pinkie took the hoof and shook it violently. "I'm Pinkie Pie! Glad to meet you."

Cardinal's eyes were spinning from the hoof shake and recovered. "Yes well, I recall your attraction to the Spanish Inquisitions robe correct?"

Pinkie grew wide eyed and replied. "Yes! They are awesome!"

Cardinal pulled out a set of Spanish Inquisition robes and handed them to Pinkie. "Happy Hearth Warming."

Pinkie grabbed the robes and quickly put them on and then hugged Cardinal. She took a few steps back and made a slight pose. "How do I look, Cardinal?"

Cardinal blushed a little. "You look f-fantastic, Pinkie."

Pinkie smiled and grabbed Cardinal by the shoulders. "Want to spend Hearth Warming Day with us?!"

Before he could respond Pinkie pulled him in Sugar Cube Corner and the Cakes welcomed Cardinal.

Everypony’s Hearth Warming was just as they had hoped for.

(Epilogue)

Twilight and Soarin' boarded the train and quickly found their seats. They opened the window to wave goodbye to their friends.

"Bye everypony! Be back soon!" Twilight said as the train started chugging off.

Twilight sat back down and turned to Soarin'. "This is going to be so fun!" She said while clapping her hooves.

Soarin' smiled and turned away for a moment to look in his saddle bag. He opened up a tiny box that held a hoof-ring in it, hidden from view from Twilight. "Yeah, I can’t wait."

Team Joker: We hope you enjoyed our Holiday Special. Blue Skies will most likely start next year so we can plan the plot well and finish up the story of the Sparkles. Happy Holidays!

Blue Skies

Blue Skies is now up!

See you there! ~ Team Joker WinterTwister, thewaffler, PhotoSnap, FlutterLove