A Winter's Eve Miracle (Menu: Christmas Special)
A Winter's Eve Miracle
Author's Note: Maleficus is sitting alone on the moon. Looking up on the sphere floating far up in the black starlit sky above the moon. When suddenly, he senses something shift. And he looks to the left. And sees... a door?
Author's Note: This is my tribute to not only the holiday, but my childhood, and my memories of my family during Christmas. As I am now celebrating the holidays on my own for the first time in my life.
Disclaimer: My Little Pony and Restaurant to Another World belongs to their respective owners. I do not lay claim to either of these franchises in any manner.
Menu: Christmas Special
Maleficus looked up upon the star lit sky of Equestria. It had been many years now since he had last put hoof on the surface of the world. And soon he would return once more. In a few years that's it. The never ending silence of the moon could be unbearable sometimes, the only sound he could actually hear was his own heartbeats, and that was less of a beat as there was no pressure upon his flesh, making the sound of even his internal organs less noticeable.
So he instantly turned around when he suddenly felt an odd sensation rush through his body from behind. It had felt as if an wave of air pressure and raw magic had just moved through him.
He stared bewildered for a moment. Totally lost at what to think or say at what he was seeing just a few dozen meters away from his position. *Is that... a door? Here?*
It was a dark brown finely carved door, with a golden coloured handle with something carved or embedded into the surface of the upper half. It standing on a sand dune and looked almost as if someone had dropped a door onto the moon.
*That sign!* Upon the surface of the dark wooden surface was a cute looking cat holding a sign, written in a language that looked very familiar to Maleficus. And when he squinted his eyes and made out more of the text he realized what it was.
*That's Japanese! It's written in Japanese! Is this door from my home dimension!?* Excited the alicorn jumped, his body soaring with the aid of the airless and low gravity of the moon. Landing on a dune he found himself less then two meters from the door.
He eagerly looked upon the words and tried to remember what each meant and how they would be used to spell words. If he could do that then he might find a clue to where the door had come from. It was a long gamble but he felt it important to make a guess now with how long he had been separated from Earth. He had learned the basics of Japanese a long time ago, he had forgotten a lot of it even before he had become an alicorn. But hopefully it would be enough.
*Let's see if I remember the words correctly. This should be translated into... Westeeeern... Caf- no Restaurant... Nekoya... Western Restaurant Nekoya... Not sure what that last word is though. Well I know neko means Cat... but adding YA at the end could change the meaning into something else. Although the sign IS shaped like a cat.* He walked up to the door frame and tapped his hoof against the sign, trying to decipher the meaning behind the last word on the sign.
Maleficus looked over at the Interface, a hundred meters to the right of his current location. He had a few items stocked there, and the Interface itself might aid him in analyzing the door. But he could feel the magical energies radiating from it, this door was without a doubt a magical item of some kind.
It might be possible to travel through it. But he wasn't sure if he could take such a chance. This felt too good to be true and not to mention he wasn't even sure if it did work, he would not expose what laid on the other side to the moon's airless atmosphere.
His head perked up as he realized that he was worrying probably over nothing. *Wait... what am I thinking!? The door would have imploded had it not been enchanted or protected from such possibilities. It SHOULD be safe to enter... but... would those on the other side be willing to let me enter?*
He started pacing a bit, thinking and pondering. Then he began to walk over to the Interface, there he took out his travelling bag he always kept with him on his journeys to the planet. After a few moments he pulled out a small sack filled with about forty square shaped gold coins, bits as they were called, the currency of Equestria.
Walking over to the door again he spread out a solid light Interface Screen and bean to scan the doorway, and after a moment he shifted a slide on the right side on the screen and the doorway became transparent and Maleficus' eyes widened at what he saw past the wooden frame.
A restaurant, with non earth native humanoid beings eating and chatting. It made him feel a bit sad, knowing that it might not be a path to his old home, but it was still very similar. If you looked past the odd bunch of diners. Plus, it could give him some insight in how to start his own research into the field.
He could see a some kind of beastmen, about three elves, possibly half elves, two dwarves, several humans, a dozen fairies, an elven waitress and a humanoid waitress with small goat horns. Possibly someone descending from a non human race. He smiled a bit, relieved that his worries had been for naught.
And he reached out with his right hoof, grasped the handle, and opened it. A gentle clinging of a bell filling the void air around him as he stepped over the threshold.
[Scene Skip]
The diners of Western Restaurant Nekoya were a diverse group of people from all manner of regions and species. Each of them had some way or another gotten to this magically wonderful restaurant and found themselves enjoying the food so much they would throw away anything considered unimportant to get to eat there.
For this restaurant only appeared on their world once every seventh day. A day called the Day of Satur, or as it was called on the other world, Saturday.
Each dinner would have a favorite dish, and they would order it so often it would eventually become their nickname.
It was a peaceful and joyous atmosphere in the restaurant. Slightly even more so as for some reason had the Master of the restaurant pt up some colorful decoration on the walls and on the counter. No one had bothered to ask about it, too busy indulging themselves on their favorite meals.
But then most of them suddenly felt an ominous wind flow through the eatery as the door was opened. At the sound of the chiming bell came an air of almost overbearing power to those who could sense it. It was like a tar thick miasma of highly condensed magic was filling the air just by the latest arrival's mere presence.
By the counter seats was an elderly man known as "Pork Loin Cutlet", who was in fact the Great Sage Altorius. He had been in the process of drinking beer felt his entire body freeze up at the sudden condense magic that filled the air. The elderly mage instantly started choking on the beer and quickly had to put down his tankard and pound his chest as he started coughing as the beer had gone down the wrong way.
The large lionman demon known as "Pork Cutlet Rice Bowl" froze as he was just eating one of his servings as the intense feeling of danger filled his body. His name was Lionel and he was a professional gladiator, with over twenty years of experience, even more so as a bandits and demon warlord. Yet he couldn't find it in himself to even dare move, as his instincts were screaming at him to not even flinch, least he be destroyed.
A strange shivering hiss emerged from the closed jaws of the lizardman as he was just about to take another bite of rice omelette when his highly trained senses from years of hunting and fighting in the marshes nearly made his scales stand on edge. His claw gripping the spoon was shaking and he had to focus all of his attention on the spoon to not drop it. His name was Gaganpo, called "Rice Omelette" by the other diners.
Fardania was an elf, a pureblood elf of the woodlands. She was young for her kind and had been alone with her father ever since her mother died of sickness, she was content at first. But then she discovered the restaurant Nekoya and everything changed. As an elf she cannot eat meat or products of animals. Even considering such things barbaric.
She had a natural distaste for humans who most elves considered vulgar or crude. So when she discovered the restaurant and its diners she first wanted to leave, thinking that no human could make proper food for an elf, when she was told that the Master of the restaurant could make her a meal without meat or animal products. And then she discovered the dish she would be called after "Tofu Steak", and has been travelling her world ever since to develop cuisine superior to that of Nekoyas.
And as an elf she had a powerful sense for magic. And had to actually grip the table to not fall off her chair as the intense magical energy flowing from the doorway nearly made her black out. She pressed her forehead against the wood of the table and took calming breaths, even as the magical pressure remained.
But the one reacting most violently was the half-elf sorceress Victoria, an outcast of both humans and elven societies, who is a highly gifted magic user who researches magic for many different purposes. One of which is the development of cold fire that can be use to keep food preserved for long periods of time during transports.
Which she used to preserve the pudding she loved so much, as her nickname, "Pudding a la Mode", may suggest she loves pudding. Her eyes rolled up, and she went limp, slumping down in her seat, unconscious in an instance. As she had been the closest to the doorway, she had received the largest amount of pressure being closer to the source.
Queen Tiana Silvario XVI and her entourage of fairies all fell down on their knees by the large plate where their fruit crepes was placed. The faires had grown to love the mixture of icecream, fruit, berries and chocolate of the crepes enough that they were almost rioting back in their homeland of what flavour to pick. As the Queen would bring back some with her for her subjects at home to eat.
They were some of the latest diners of the restaurant and had thus not received a proper nickname yet. As they were a whole group rather then a single person, or even a pair, was it hard to come up with one.
Currently were all of the fairies unable to move and act, some of the shivering and whimpering, too afraid to even fly off the table. Queen Tiana was the only one able to regain her will to stand, but she could not find the strength to fly. The queen and her subjects were lucky though, as had they been flying when it occurred could one of them have gotten hurt or landed in the sticky ice cream of the crepes. Not a bad thing but certainly sticky.
Sitting together by a table was a group of three young adults. There were two siblings, royalty with dark skin from a land of inhospitable desert. Shareef was the brother his nickname was "Coffee Float". Renner was the sister and she was called "Cream Soda float". Both of them had been drinking their respective drinks when the door opened and nearly spat out their drinks as the powerful magic almost overloaded their trained arcane senses.
The third person by the table was a young lady by the name of Adelheid, nickname "Chocolate Parfait", she was the royal princess of a nation called the Great Empire, and the girl Shareef had a crush on but he was very shy and had to be goaded by his sister to talk to her. She was uncertain why so many in the restaurant were acting so strangely out of a sudden, as she had no magical training or senses, was she unable to discern the powerful presence filling the eatery.
Celestina, the youngest High Priestess of the Goddess of Light since the religion's founding, was a strong believer in the ways of her religion. But found herself unable to keep to her 'Year of Abstaining', which is when she is supposed to abstain from the earrthly pleasures of life for a year. All because of the delicious dish of which she had earned her the nickname "Pound Cake".
Her holy arts and divine guidance was great for someone of her age. But because of that was she currently clutching her holy symbol and muttering prayers to her goddess while staring glazed eyed upwards as the intense pressure from the doorway was making her shiver and sweat in utter terror.
All of the other diners were unable to sense the magical pressure, nor did they have the natural instincts of how to react to the danger approaching. But some of them were feeling on edge and those of them who were warriors or explorers of many years of skill and training, were all gripping the handles of their weapons with shivering hands a chills began to run down their spines.
One of these was the swords master from the western continent, Tatsugorou, also known as "Teriyaki" because of his love for the chicken dish served with rice, pickled vegetables and cold rice wine. And as he sensed the presence of soemthign he tensed and gripped the handle of his katana. The elderly swords master felt sweat slide down his brow as the intense sensation of danger was almost making him stand up and go into a stance, which e was fighting will his entire will to not do.
For there was to be no fighting in the restaurant, it was a standing rule for all diners and those who broke it, would be banned.
Then there was "Curry With Rice", a curry loving elderly admiral who had spent twenty years on an isolated island, Alphonse Flügel. For while he was no mage or master warrior, did he have a lot of experience surviving among wild beasts from his many years on that island. He reached down and gripped the handle of his old dwarven forged dagger that had kept him alive on that island for so many years. His eyes tense.
By one table sat a pair of arguing young adults. Heinrich Seeleman, a nobleman from the eastern continent who was called "Fried Shrimp" because of his love for this dish that reminded him of his hometown. He was unable to sense the approaching danger, only feeling slightly uncomfortable.
Then there was the treasure hunter and adventurer Sarah gold, or "Mince Meat Cutlet" as she was called. The dish she loved had been the favorite dish of her great grandfather, the adventurer and treasure hunter William Gold. And while she could not sense the magic or the intense instintive pressure, did she get a chill down her spine, telling her that something wasn't quite right.
Then there was the two dwarven friends, Guilhem and Gard, both lovers of sea food and alcohol. But their intense love for whiskey had earned them the nickname, "Whiskey." None of them were able to sense magic nor did they have the refined senses to feel the threatening aura, especially considering how much they had been drinking. They did feel a cold chill down their spines though and quickly put down their drinks to look around to see what was going on.
The Master of the restaurant was ignorant of this occurrence. For even though he was the great grandson of the powerful magical warrior Yomi, was he himself never trained in wither magic or weapons. He was a pure culinary chef and this he was happy with. He did note how the restaurant went awkwardly silent all of a suddenly though at the sound of the bell to the door chiming.
Kuro, the Black Dragoness, one of the strongest beings of the world the customers' came from, as well as the 'elven' waitress of Restaurant Nekoya, felt a chill run down her spine. And she looked with slightly narrowed eyes towards the new arrival, the strength of the newcomer was on a scale she had not felt for several millennia.
What she, nor anybody else in the dinner was expecting as the newcomer entered. Was for a large black, crow winged and claw horned horse to come stomping into the store. Each step of the massive beast making a small intense wave of pressure and magic flow over the area.
The twisted looking pegasus stopped after having entered and, seemingly absentmindedly, closed the door with a gently prod with one of its hind legs. It was looking around the space of the restaurant, crimson eyes filled with curiosity, sadness, joy, nostalgia and wonder.
This made Kuro realize that she could not scan this creature's thoughts, and that the magical aura flowing from it wasn't a threat or marking of territory or anything like it. It was just the creature's unfocused magical energies flowing out of it, like her own death magic when she wasn't restraining it.
This creature felt hostile, but it was was, for all purposes of its actions, not here to fight. In fact, she felt almost a sense of... compassion with the creature. For some reason, she felt a familiarity from it. Not from a former meeting or appearance, but... like they had gone through something similar. It was confusing and she wanted to find out what it meant.
Before Kuro could speak up was her fellow waitress, seemingly ignorant of what was going on, as she had been in the kitchen a few moments ago, and walked over to greet the new costumer. The rest of the diners, well those who were able, stared in wonder and horror as the young innocent demon girl walked over to the monster that had just entered the restaurant.
"Hello and... welcome... Are... are you a customer?" The young demon Aletta asked in a slightly nervous voice as she looked upon the large pegasus like creature that had just entered the eatery. She had seen Pegasi before, but never one so large, nor with a demonic horn. It looked... well not evil but... very sinister.
Her eyes, and those of the others in the eatery, widened in surprise as the large black horse creature blinked and turned its head towards her, and spoke up in a dark masculine voice. "Ah.. yes. sorry. It has just been... so long since I've been inside a building like this one." Had she not been looking at it, no he, as he spoke she would not have thought it possible for such a human like voice to come from an animal's mouth. Even the lizardmans voice was very beastly even at his best moments, and yet this horse like creature was speaking clearly and fluently.
"Oh. Are you a former customer?" The question was an innocent one, and as Aletta had seen so many different people entering the restaurant she felt like it might be a possibility for this to be a former costumer returning.
The pegasus gave her a sad smile and shook his head. Motioning with his right front hoof at the interior of the restaurant. "Oh no. I have never been in this restaurant. I have just been in restaurants before. A long, long time ago."
Feeling a bit guilty the young waitress bowed to the sad pegasus in apology. "Oh I apologies for upsetting you."
But the new costumer just smiled and patted her head with his hoof, Aletta wasn't sure why but it felt comforting and energizing when the creature patted her head. "No need. You could not know. Now, is there any empty tables I may take? As you see I am quite big and thus I might need to have a table for myself as to not take up too much space."
Standing straight Aletta gave a startled gasp as she realized she had a job to do. Blushing slightly she smiled at the newcomer and turned around to lead him to a table. "Oh sure! Just follow me."
The rest of the diners stared in amazement as the talking pegasus like creature followed the young demon girl to a corner table close to the doorway. The table was empty and had a large open space in the corner for one to be able to pull out a chair and sit there. "Here's an empty table for you sir."
"Thank you. I will make room for my self, do not worry it is completely harmless." The newcomer said in a polite voice before he turned his head towards the two chairs in the corner. His horn lit up with a crimson glow and the two chairs wordlessly levitated out from the table, floated up, tilted upside down, the two chairs on the other side were moved out from beneath the table. And then the floating chairs were neatly put down, upside down, on the other chairs.
Aletta stared in wonder at the silently cast magic, the sheer ease the strange pegasus had with manipulating magic was amazing! As the large equine sat down on the floor by the table she was quick to give him a menu. "Here's your menu, I will come with some iced water for you."
The winged horse nodded politely to her with a small smile as the menu offered to him was levitated out of the young demon girl's grip and opened in air in front of him. "Thank you."
As he looked upon the menu he felt a presence approach and he looked up to see the black haired elven woman, she was looking at him with curious and cautious eyes. "Can I help you?"
The young looking elf just looked at him, as if trying to portray a message. He wasn't sure if she was mute or if she was just very silent.
"I am sorry for asking this but are you mute? It feels like you're trying to speak to me and yet can't." The dark haired woman let out a sigh, while the elderly white haired man by the counter woefully swallowed as he e stopped coughing. He was terrified beyond belief, for such a powerful creature like that dragon to be unable to breach the mental defences of that twisted looking pegasus was incomprehensible!
Kuro felt like pouting a bit at being unable to telepathically speak to the strange creature. This was the first time she had been unable to communicate or read the thoughts of someone. "Sorry. I use telepathy to speak to most costumers. But for some reason, I cannot speak to you."
The Pegasus gave her a raised eyebrow at that claim and then shook his head slightly. "It is no bother. Though I would like to point out that assuming things about others before speaking to them is rather rude. Not to mention speaking to others mind without permission is often seen as a breach of personal space. Our minds is where we keep our memories and someone just speaking into that space is something not many are easy with."
The elf looked at him with a slightly tilted head, as if unable to perceive his words. But it seemed like she understood as she nodded to him. "Understood. I shall be more careful in the future. But I'd like to point you, yourself, is almost suffocating some of the other diners with your magical energies. It is making them uncomfortable."
His eyes widened and he looked around to see the state of some of the costumers, something he had missed, being so awed by being inside a human made structure after so long. This would not do.
"Ah. I apologies, I have been isolated for so many years that I am not aware of my magical presence sometimes. I shall rectify this." The equine being closed his eyes and the intense pressure in the room subsided, as if drained down a deep hole. Within the span of ten seconds was the entire room no longer filled with an overbearing tension. This eased the tension and the diners began to relax, though some of them were glancing at the dark pegasus with a various amount of fear and wonder.
The unconscious half elf called "Pudding a la Mode" blinked her eyes as she found herself waking up in her chair, the group of faeries next to her were quick to fly over to her as soon as they could and started to quietly talk to her. While making fearful glances towards the dark pegasus in the corner.
Nodding in approval the disguised dragoness then asked him what the costumer wanted to order. "Thank you. Have you decided on what to order?"
The dark pegasus looked towards a set of decorations hanging from some of the walls. There were colours of red, green, white, silver and gold in various forms. And it all was very familiar to the costumer. "Yes well. I saw a lot of good meals on this menu, but if what I see around this place is true. Then today is close to Christmas."
Kuro tilted her head slightly in confusion before asking. "I am sorry what is 'Christmas'?"
Chuckling the costumer began to explain. "It is a holiday. One I have enjoyed to celebrate many times during my first years alive. If possible I would like to ask the chef, if he could make a special order for me."
"Understood. I shall ask the Master." The dragoness left for the kitchen to inform the Master of the restaurant of his request.
After a few moments emerged a tall middle aged man dressed in chef's clothes with a beard worthy of Robby Jr.
He greeted the newcomer, not even raising an eyebrow at the sight of a pitch black horse with wings and horn making an order in his restaurant. And it made the newcomer feel all the more welcome. not to mention many of the diners felt a bit safer seeing this. "Greetings and welcome to my restaurant, how may I help you?"
"Ah you see. How close is it to Christmas?" At this the chef was surprised. Ever since he had inherited the restaurant from his grandfather he had spent ten years as the owner. But even before then had he worked in the kitchen a few years prior and his grandfather had been feeding costumers for twenty years before he passed away.
And like most restaurant owners he would decorate it with some minor things to fit the holidays and festivals of Earth. Yet never once for the entirety of the past thirty years had a single costumer asked what any of those holidays were, or why the restaurant was decorated like it was during some of the holidays.
But this costumer not only knew the name, he, and he was clearly a he from the voice, knew the decorations were related to it. This new costumer was no stranger to this custom of earth. "Oh? You know about it? Well that's the first time anyone ever asked. But it should be Christmas Day today, it is the 25th of December after all."
The horse liek being smiled and let out a sigh, the Master could hear the longing and the nostalgia as if it was an infection. The cheer mass of emotions rolling off this costumer was vast beyond what he had seen before. It was almost overwhelming.
But the costumer straightened his head and pulled down his emotions, and spoke up with a happy smile to the owner. "Wonderful. Then. I'd like to ask, do you know how to cook a Christmas Dinner of Scandinavian origin?"
And now things got even mroe interesting. Not only was this costumer knowledgable of earth costums, but of European costum specifically? Master put his left hand to his chin with a light smile and rubbed it thoughtfully as he ttrie to remember the specifics about the Scandinavian Christmas Dinners."Oooh? Now that is truly a rare demand. If I remember correctly is it a full course meal of meat balls, small cut sausages, boiled eggs, raising filled dark bread, cheese, some kind of berry based soup, oven roasted mustard coated ham, boiled potatoes, various kinds of fish depending on nation, roasted turkey and several kinds of deserts."
The hope and desperation filling the costumer's eyes were like a starving man finding fresh water after months at sea. It almost made the Master of Nekoya step back as the large creature nodded vigorously, before catching itself, coughing a bit, obviously embarrassed by its actions. "Y-yes. I-I haven't eaten that this since... well I guess time flows different here. But. It's been over a century since I last ate it."
And now it made so much more sense. The Master gave his new costumer a kind smile and nodded. Clearly this newcomer must be like a starving man, desperate to taste something he had not tasted for over a lifetime. Only for now have a chance to taste it again. "I see. Well I can cook it for you no problem, I have several ingredients from Europe based upon Western Christmas Food."
Before the chef could turn to leave, the pegasus raised his head and spoke up before he could leave. "Just a few things things. One, I want none of the fish related dishes, I do not enjoy the taste of fish. Two, I'd like a bottle of... if possible... Julmust... it is a... traditional drink for this meal. And third... it's a bit embarrassing but could you instead of thick mustard give me a bowl of ketchup and a bowl of mashed apples? It's kind of like an apple jam but is not as thick in texture. And Fourth... four lit candles..."
The chef gave the large creature a pondering stare, as if trying to determine how he knew of that specific drink. It was only slightly over a century old, and not all that popular outside of its land of origin. But in the end it was none of his business, and he could see the nostalgia and longing in the pegasus' eyes. So he just smiled at him warmly before pointing his thumb over his shoulder, towards the kitchen. "Coming right up! It will take a bit of work but it will be made!"
The chef quickly left for the kitchen and the large winged horse closed his eyes and let out a long suffering sigh, as if he had been fighting with a mountain of uncertainty to speak those requests. By now had all of the diners gone back to their own meals, feeling more relaxed now that the new costumer had ordered something.
After an hour, which the strange pegasus spent sipping small mouthfuls of water, enjoying the cold and slightly sour water with ice, the Master returned. With him he had both Aletta and Kuro, each carrying a tray covered with various plates of food items. It was the largest order any of the customers had ever seen, well except for Alphonse and Kuro during their curry eating contest.
There were bowls with various types of sauces and side items, a red sauce, a green sauce, a large block of butter, and a bowl filled with what looked to be some kind of hot blue soup with a white click of cream on top. There were small plates with various items as well. One with a block of cheese, another with several small citrus fruits, one had small brown cookies, another had around five cinnamon buns, and there were more of these smaller plates.
But the large plates were the most impressive. One had a large roasted bird, which had been stuffed and cooked until it was crispy, another was a mustard coated ham, then there was a large plate with fried meatballs, and a large bowl filled with boiled potatoes, and finally there were four plates with each having four pies, one different for each plate. Two large plastic bottles were put down on the table, along with some small cup, a kettle of hot water, some honey and some bags of tea.
As the food was placed before him the sinister looking pegasus blinking, trying to discern if what he was seeing was a dream. It was like had forgotten what food looked like, as if he was unsure if he was dreaming, or hallucinating. "This... this is."
The chef smiled at the baffled creature and just laughed a bit before sweeping his arm over the food, presenting it to his latest costumer. "Here it is a Scandinavian Christmas Dinner without any fish related food items. You were lucky. I had an extra turkey made for the evening dinner for my employees, but I think it is fine to give it to you."
"This smell... so familiar..." The alicorn mumbled to himself, closing his eyes as the scent of the various dishes spread out across the table made his nostrils tingle. He could smell the sweet and smokey scent of roasted ham, fried meat balls, boiled potatoes, roasted turkey and even the scent of baked apple, chestnut, raspberry and blueberry pies. His stomach growled like a caged beast, almost rattling the table, drool sliding down his chin as the almost forgotten scent of Christmas food filled his senses.
Making a small bow to the customer the Master left for the kitchen to resume his work."Take your time and enjoy."
There was a moment of silence as the customers stared at the veritable feast placed before the equine creature. Some of them wondered if he could eat of that, while others wondered just what Christmas food would taste like.
The plates covered the entire table and looked more like a serving for half a dozen people then a single costumer. Swallowing the saliva gathering in his throat the equine levitated his fork, knife and spoon. And began to serve himself from the various plates.
Sweet dark bread filled with raisins was layered with a small layer of butter, a slice of cheese and a slice of ham. And as the dark pegasus took a bite out of the sandwich, his eyes closed in contentment.
*This... yes I remember this taste... the smoked meat, the salt of the butter, the sweet iron taste of the raisin filled bread and the lightly salted cheese. Aahh.... I had completely forgotten how it tasted like... Now for the blueberry soup* He levitated the steaming hot bowl of violet blue soup, and without hesitation, drank from it greedily. His eyes closed as he tasted the sweet blue berry soup, mixed with the smooth cream, flow down his throat and warm his throat. Some tears slid down his cheeks as the warmth filled his body and soul.
Lowering the bowl to the table he let out a soft sigh of content. Then he looked towards his tankard. He levitated a plastic bottle with a cheerful Santa Claus on its cover, and poured a dark, nearly black, and very foamy drink into his glass tankard.
As he took a long and drawn out gulp of the drink, emptying half of the tankard. The sweet bubbling beverage slide down his throat, washing away the taste of the sandwich and the blueberry soup. Leaving a pleasant if slightly tingly taste in its place. Looking to some of the other trays he took a slice of ham, several meat balls, small strangely cut sausages, boiled potatoes and a click of both ketchup and mashed apples next to the plate.
He took a bite out of a spoonful of the steaming meatballs, tasting the well minced meat, the small almost melting unions, the crispy texture of the skin and the slight hint of pepper. Next came the potatoes. He cut one in half and seasoned it with a small click of butter before putting it into his mouth, and started chewing. It tasted like a baked potato without the skin, sweet and tangy, with the salty melting butter making it go smoothly down his throat. Fitting excellent with the meatballs.
Then he ate some of the sausages along with some potatoes. The thick skin felt a bit uncomfortable but the spices of the meat tasted excellent and fit very well with the potatoes. Then he took a thick slice of ham and some potatoes, he clicked some ketchup and mashed apples next to the slice. And then he sliced up the ham into strips and the potato into slices. And then, combining all four of these things, he put it into his mouth.
The sweet sourness of the ketchup fit well with the similar sweet sourness of the mashed green apples. When putting this mixture onto the slice of ham, with had been cooked in the oven with a thick layer of mustard and honey mixed marinade, it brought out a wonderful flavour as the salty spiciness of the mustard coated ham and the ketchup and mashed apples fit so well together. The potato acted as a balance factor, making it so that none of the flavours were overbearing.
Next came the turkey. With finesse he levitated the sharp knife jammed into the bird, and in a blur of movements he sliced up the bird into smaller parts. Though much still remained on the bones. He took several slices and put them on his plate, along with potatoes and some spoonfuls of a sauce in a bowl placed next to the roasted bird. And when he put the sauce onto the turkey and potatoes and ate it, it was his tongue was dancing. It was sauce made from the stock of the turkey, combined with a sweet brandy and then cooked into a thicker sauce. It was... wonderful.
*Now to try the desserts.* He thought to himself as he took one slice of each pie as well as some gingerbread cookies and cinnamon buns. And began to taste them, one by one, each flavour of sweet, and sometimes sweet and sour, combined with the sweet custards of the pies or the soft dough of the buns or the hard texture of the cookies. IT was like he was experiencing a great euphoric moment in this wonderful place.
By now had tears begun to leak from his eyes. And as he kept eating, a soft chiming sound began to fill the restaurant, as his content and joy began to bring forth a song, all the while he kept eating, oblivious to the world around him.
[Scene Skip]
Back in the kitchen was the Master working on some of the other meals. The orders had been paused for a while with the big order, but not one of the costumers had made no fuss about it and thus things had gone smoothly. But now that the big order was done was the orders starting to flow in again at a rapid phase.
As the master completed the second serving of pork cutlet rice bowl was Kuro ready to deliver the serving. As she did entered Aletta, who had just finished delivering two orders. And she asked the Master something that had her confused. "Master. This new customer. Why did he order such a large amount of food?"
Master just let out a small chuckle, while he laid up six plates of fried seafood ordered by the two dwarves. "It's a Christmas Dinner. It is a large meal meant to be shared among friends and family during a special holiday that happens during the winter, which is also today."
Aletta marveled at the explanation. She had heard of similar festivals in her own homeland but those were usually limited to the harvest festivals during autumn. But if this horse knew of it, then there was a place in her home world celebrating it today. "Wow. I had no idea such a holiday existed. Nor did I know it existed in my world as well."
At that the chef sighed slightly, slightly shaking his head before focusing on slicing up some teriyaki for serving. "Well... considering from what I can gather from their faces, and Kuro's lack of knowledge about him, has no one of our current diners seen or heard of a creature like him. So, while it may be possible that he is from your world, is it also possible that he is from yet another one"
Aletta took the order of fried seafood, while Kuro, who just entered took two large tankards of beer. But then a soft and gentle melody began to fill the space of the kitchen, flowing in from the dining area. "Wait Master... do you hear that?"
"Yeah I do. It's... a Christmas song? But the radio's not... on..." As the chef looked out from his kitchen he fell silent and stared in wonder at what he was seeing. And he was not alone, the entire restaurant were staring at what was causing the music to flow over the building like a warm comforting blanket.
[Disclaimer: I do not own this wonderful Christmas song nor the movie it is sung in. Please support the official release.]
[Start Swedish Christmas Song: Jul, jul strålande jul - Peter Jöback]
[Author's Note: I am not adding any lyric text. Just listen to it. And enjoy.]
There, by the table in the corner, was his latest customer. Gently chewing on his food. Eyes closed. Streams of highly emotional tears flowing down his cheeks. The four candles lit on the table were moving in rhythm with the rising song. All around him were twinkling white specks of light, falling like large glowing snowflakes.
Although it was not only around him. The gentle falling white specks of light were falling all over the restaurant. It was one of the most beautiful sights the Master of Nekoya had ever seen in his life. All of the diners were looking around in wonder, the effects were seemingly purely cosmetic, not having the slightest physical effect.
And then a voice started singing. A young male voice, clear and youthful. Singing in a language the chef could not determine what land it came from. But it had a clear European cut. And if he was a betting man, then the voice was singing in one of the Scandinavian languages.
Then odd things started happening. The decoration started to move on their own. Small Christmas angels started flapping their paper wings and fly off their strings and fly through the white dots. The small plastic pine tree sitting on the piano began to twinkle in various warm colours, the star on top pulsing with a warm golden glow.
The costumers who had been afraid or nervous lost all of that as a joyous warm feeling began to fill their bodies. The warm music was filling their hearts and souls with comfort while the twinkling snow and the flying decorations and twinkling pine tree were giving them a sense of wonder.
Chiming bells began to flow in the background, gently and softly, as if beyond the walls of the building, flowing over it. which should be impossible as the restaurant was located in a basement level.
The magically inclined diners could feel the magical energies flowing through the room. And yet it was not an intense or raw pressure like it had been before. It was gentle, warm, comforting and yet... slightly sad and longing. as if unable to properly reach and obtain that which it sought, as if a part of it was still lost to it. It was like a combination of a beautifully tragic story, and a family gathering filled joy and comfort.
It kept flowing, the music and the lights. It was moving out through the entire eatery. And the Master, seeing how no harm was being caused, decided to return to work. He had more orders to complete.
And so the diners of Western Restaurant Nekoya were treated to a rare experience. A beautiful show of sparkling lights, dancing decorations, falling shining snowflakes of light and a beautiful music of a foerign nature that still brought warmth to the soul.
The music didn't stop, until the last of the plates were empty. And the costumer, pulled out a small leather sack from his side bag, and placed it on his table. and then quietly left, A satisfied, tired, and joyful look on his face.
[End Christmas Song]
When Aletta went to collect the payment, it was a sack filled with square shaped gold coins double the size of the gold coins of the other world. The entire sack weighted quiet a bit because of this. By weight alone was one of these coins worth 20.000 yen, and there were over fifty of them.
No one was certain who the costumer was. As no one had even asked his name. Nor were anyone willing to give a one timer a nickname just yet, so they would wait to see what else he would order.
But he would not return next week, not the week after, nor any of the other times during the month that followed. It was almost as if he was unable to reach the restaurant as frequently as the other costumers.But no one would forget this figure anytime soon. This much was clear.
And the Master was rather pleased by the visit for another reason. Now, whenever he was decorating the restaurant, were both his costumers and waitresses starting to asking questions about the holidays and their meanings. Not to mention the various kinds of food made during those times.
The Restaurant to Another World would be be livened up with various kinds of dishes from time to time, to let the costumers enjoy the traditional foods of Earth. All thanks to a random visit from an isolated soul needing comfort.
[Scene Skip]
Luna blinked at what she was looking at. It was the same mindscape she had been visiting for the past couple of decades. and yet it felt so different. And she had no clue how.
Maleficus had seemingly disappeared from the moon and her senses for a few hours. And when he returned was his mindscape so brilliant, warm and happy that even the imaginary wood and stone of the movie room it was shimmering.
Currently she was sitting on the couch, and noting how everything was almost shimmering clean. The materials looked and felt super comfortable, and all the entertainment machines had been improved into an almost science fiction worthy quality.
So she asked the male alicorn just what the buck had happened to him. His answer was not something she had been expecting. "You went through a magical doorway that lead to a restaurant and ate a Christmas meal!? How in Tartarus did such a thing reach the moon!?"
"No clue." Maleficus said with a warm smile as he leaned into the couch, completely relaxed. On the screen in front of the two were one of his favorite Christmas movies, Home Alone, being played.
Luna stared at him, as if trying to see if he was being serious. And after a few moments of him not even indulging any more information, or even making a theory about the door's origin, she almost freaked out. "Wait... why are you not questioning anything of this? This is huge!"
He just shrugged and laughed at the sight of one of the house robbers getting smacked in the head by a two galleon can filled with something. It wasn't like him at all and it was worrying her slightly. Okay, that's incorrect, it was worrying her A LOT.
What he said next was a bit odd but at least made her relax a little. "I guess I am just happy. To have received a Christmas miracle, no matter how strange it might be. So. I am not going to question it."
After a moment of silence and the two crooks getting more beaten up by a little kid she stated, "That is a bit unlike you Maleficus... Was the food that good?", before trailing off at the end in a curious voice.
He nodded, still unable to stop smiling. And leaned back into his seated a bit more, reminiscing about the food as the final confrontation between the two thieves and the boy would conclude soon. "All of the food was both beautiful and delicious... But it felt.... lonely.... It was my first time eating Christmas dinner... alone."
She looked at him. And slowly began to realize, just why he was so content at the moment. "You must miss it."
Maleficus smile was still there, but his were were slightly sad and nostalgic. But it did not lessen his mood as he didn't feel like it hurt to speak of it. Not after his visit to that warm place and having eaten the food. "Yes... it... was important for my family... we would bake together, make the food, decorate the pine tree, watch Christmas shows... yeah it, it was important to us. And I haven't been able to cele-"
Luna interrupted his words by raising her hoof and shouting out over the show room, snow and sparkles flying out from here hoof tip. The ending scenes of the movie playing in the background. "Then we shall celebrate Christmas today!"
"...What?" The stallion stared at his cranial room mate.
"I am going to give all the ponies... well... err... no that would not work... bucking hell!" Luna started cursing as she realized her idea would not properly work. Considering she was currently sealed into the moon and not merely placed on the moon.
Giving her a questioning look Maleficus just asked her what she was even talking about. "Well you could start by making sense and explain what you want to do. And I will try to figure out what I can do to help."
So she turned, grabbed him by the neck, and pulled him close, and stared into his eyes, almost making him awkward. And with a strong and determined voice she spoke out her intentions to his face. "Maleficus... would you like to help me spread some Christmas joy to my family and subjects?"
Maleficus blinked a few times, before he realized what she was just saying. And slowly he chuckled, until he started laughing. And then he gave her a one foreleg hug, startling the Princess of the Moon slightly. "...You are a wonderful pony Princess Luna."
"Thank you." Luna returned the hug and after a few moments separate from him.
She then stood up, her left foreleg gripping Maleficus around the gut as if he was a football. A determined and serious look on her face as she jumped off the couch and started dragging the bemused Alicorn stallion through the mindscape. "Now let us proceed! There is still enough time to make gifts for the ponies of Equestria! "
And so the alicorns in exile began to plan the first ever Christmas Miracle of Equestria.
[Scene Skip]
It was in the middle of Winter, during what many ponies would call the darkest time of the year. And the lands of Equestria were covered by a thick blanket of snow clouds which had been painting the landscape white for the past couple of weeks.
And this night was no different. The uncontrollable weather of the world was making it difficult for both pegasi and unicorns to manage the rising amount of storms and blizzards. Thus most ponies opted to remain indoors during such ravaging times.
In a small farmstead by the large coastal city of Baltimare was a young foal, a colt, looking out from his window. it was late but he was too energetic, he had been stuck inside for over a day. And was bored out of his mind. His grandparents and uncles were working most of the time. Not even during winter could farms keep themselves inactive.
None of his cousins could play either, busy helping the rest of the family. And he was too young to help, and his best friend lived in the city where he went to school. So in short, he had no one to play with and was stuck inside because of the snow. In other words. Utterly bored.
[Start Christmas Music: Christmas Medley by Two Steps From Hell]
[Disclaimer: I do not own anything about this music, not the video, not the music, nor anything else made by these great youtube creators. Please support them and spread the joy of music and Christmas cheer.]
That's when he heard something. A light chiming of bells. Looking out through the window he tried to see what was making that sound. The winds were more gentle but the snow was still falling, if more gently. And the moon was out, giving a bright green and white glow upon the world.
Still the bells kept chiming, growing ever louder. But he could not see anything. He then spotted a shadow on the ground and looked up, expecting to see a bird. But instead his eyes widened in wonder as he saw a sled, a large red and gold painted sled. And it was flying through the air without any open support or magic. There were only eight strange looking ponies with brown pelts, no tails, no manes, with branch like horns, pulling the sled was the only visible propulsion.
There was a figure sitting on the sled. Tying as he might the young colt could only make out a large white beard, a red suit and a set of large curved horns. And as the sled suddenly flew over his home, he heard a loud, cheerful, warm and joyous laughter fill the air. "Ho ho ho! Merry Winter's Eve!"
The young foal looked on as he saw several small things fall down from the sky, floating down gently upon the snow covered path leading up to the door. They were colourful packages, at least a dozen or so!
A fire of curiosity filled the foal as he ran out of his room and down the hallway, only momentarily stopping to put on his scarf and coat before rushing rushing out the door. His grandparents, who had been sitting in the living room, shouting after him. "Where are you going Green Touch!?" "It's in the middle of the night child!"
The foal ignored them and scampered through the snow and looked at the pile of packages laid out in front of his family home. Reaching out to one of the packages the young foal eagerly opened it and his eyes shimmered with wonder and joy as he found a set of small toy soldiers, ponies, made out of metal. There was easily several dozens of them made of different units. "Woah!"
Then an older foal, a filly, came jumping into the pile of packages with a gleeful cry. Followed by six more. As the rest of the family came out of the house to see the big pile of presents. His older sister came out of a box wearing a full body costume that made her look like a lion. "Cool!"
While the colt and his siblings and cousins were moving through the stuff came the colt's father over and spotted a big package shaped in an odd manner. Opening it he was baffled to find a finely made shovel and seed drill. The parents began to open various packages as well, finding warm clothes, tools and even a few luxury items like perfume and soap.
Green Touch's grandfather walked over to look at the pile and then looked at the young foal who was grinning happily while looking at the various troops included in his gift. "Where did all of this come from?"
"From that kind fellow up there!" The young colt said happily while pointing upwards towards the moon.
The family of farmers looked up to see the silhouette of the flying sled, the chiming bells and the warm joy filled laughter of the driver as he flew over the homestead of their neighbor, presents being dropped by the figure above them. "Hohoho! Merry Winter's Eve!"
"Well I be darned..." The elderly farmer stated as he looked up at the silhouette. He looked down at his grand foals, all of them laughing and holding up their new gifts while his children looked at the new tools and clothes from the packages.
"Grandma! Grandpa! I think these are for you!" A young filly said with a grin as she held up two small packages to his grandparents.
"Oh my!" His wife was rather breathless at the sight of a warm fur coat. The fur looked smooth and clean, almost like that of a large wild cat.
Not that he could blame her amazement as he reacted no differently when opening his own package. Within it laid a hoof made pipe of what he could tell to be pinewood, decorated with silver and bronze. Along with a bag of strong smelling herbs, as well as a decorated tinderbox.
"I am not sure whom this gift giver is but... he sure is a kind fellow." The old farmer said with a chuckle as he stuffed his new pipe with some herbs, before lighting it. And took a deep drag of the burning herbs, letting out a gentle puff of smoke.
"Let's go inside dears. You can enjoy your new toys inside." There was some disappointed sounds from both the adults and the foals but the family soon returned inside of their homestead. Unknowing about the effect this one night of gift giving would bring to the world.
[Scene Skip]
The dragons of the Dragon Lands were confused when snow began to drift over their normally tropical home. But even more confused were they when a laughing goat flying through the air upon a sled pulled by large antler horned pony like creatures started spreading out colorful packages all over their lands.
Some ignored the packages, while others opened them and some outright destroyed them. What lay inside were various things, everything from food to precious gems or funny looking rocks. It felt odd to many of the dragons, as this was the first time they had ever been given something. And this made many of them feel an odd sensation, one that they wold later find out to be, appreciation.
Feeling appreciated that someone took the time to give you a gift for no apparent reason, other then to give it to you. It is a sensation few dragons get to experience.
[Scene Skip]
Over the rooftops of Bangcolt the ponies, dragons and griffins were woken up by chiming of bells and warm laughter. As they walked out onto the streets they saw the flying sled fly over them, the driver dropping down presents with a warm laughter as he flew past their roofs and streets.
Everyone in the city were too stunned to even fly up to stop the bizarre looking sight. And even Dragon Slayer herself didn't bother with it, as she didn't feel any hostility from the strange looking goat as he flew over the city. What she was bothered by was the package left outside of her door.
She lifted it up and opened it, and inside of her helmet her eyes widened. A sudden momentum she swiftly closed the box and went inside her home, slamming the door shut. Once inside she quickly walking to her room and closed the door again.
Placing the package on her desk she slowly pulled off her helmet, revealing her ragged looking mane, tired face and curious eyes. She opened the package again and slowly pulled out a set of plushies. Each of these plushies were in the shape of a pony, ponies familiar to her.
Even as she refused to let out a sound she quietly hugged the warm plushies to her face, tears running down her face as she choked back sobs. The warmth of the plushies comforting her more then anything she had felt since that dreadful day.
[Scene Skip]
Celestia looked down upon the package. The wrapping was strange and yet appealing in its bright colours. If she had not witnessed the red dressed goat with his strange sled drop gifts over the city she would have been completely ignorant of where it had come from. This did not please her.
But she was also extremely curious. And, though she loathed to admit it, she felt a bit childishly gleeful for some reason. She carefully opened the package and blinked at the sight of what she could only describe to be the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
It was a dark brown cake, it smelt of chocolate and fruit. It was about the size of her head and was decorated with a painting of her and her sister's cutie marks in a fruity smelling frosting. The symbol of their joint courts. She saw a note laud down on top of the cake. She slowly reached out with her magic and levitated it up to read, her eyes widened a bit, and then she got a sad but happy look on her face while tears began to trickle down her cheeks.
To my big sister Princess Celestia Sun Beam whom I love and miss with all my heart.
Signed by Princess Luna Moon Light
"I love and miss you too sister." Princess Celestia said before she slowly took a slice of the cake, and stared in wonder as not only was the frosting chocolate, but the cake dough was chocolate, and there was a nutty creme filling on the first layer, while the second was mashed banana and the third was raspberry jam.
Slowly she took a bite and just enjoyed the taste. Not having felt this happy for several decades. So, just for tonight. She would ignore all duties and just enjoy her sister's gift. Buck everything else. This was her sister's night, and she was going to enjoy it.
[Scene Skip]
Happy Meal and Grand Music both didn't know how to react to what they were seeing. There in front of the Temple of Law was a massive pile of colourful packages. And above in the sky was a joyful laughter being heard as a flying sled could be seen as a silhouette against of the moon.
"This is totally Grandpa's doing." Happy Meal said with a smirk as she watched her youngest try to open a present twice her body size.
"Yeah no kidding." Grand Music muttered as he stared at the variable mountain of gifts.
"Hey Grand Master! One of these packages has you and Knight Happy Meal's names written on it!" One of his subordinates stated as he pointed towards one of the larger packages.
Blinking a bit he looked towards Happy Meal, only to let out a yelp as he found himself being dragged by his tail towards the biggest package in the pile. Once there he rubbed his tail a little and gave his lovely wife a stern glare, only for her to offer him one end of the silk ribbon tying the entire thing together.
Rolling his eyes a bit he reluctantly bit down on the ribbon and together with Happy Meal began to pull on it. Seeing their parents doing this their little ones joined in on the fun, grabbing their parents by their tails and yanking on them to help opening the big gift.
As the ribbon was pulled the knot on top unfurled, and the entire thing opened up like an oyster shell. What lay within was a majestic sight that made Grand Music and Happy Meal lose their breath for a few moments.
There was a finely made kitchen apron folded on top of a large book with the title 'Holiday's Recipes for Winter's Eve by Holiday Cheer', one Happy Meal was instantly snatching up. Next to it was a mannequin with a composer's outfit fitted for Grand Music with a bundle of various musical sheet notes 'Musicals of Winter's Eve by Holiday Cheer'. There was even a large pile of toys and clothes, which the children were all cheerfully going through.
But what caught the parents' attention most of all was the scroll placed on top of the large book.
To my two lovely grand children and their adorable little foals. I hope you enjoy this gift of mine.
Merry Christmas, or as it may come to be called here, Merry Winter's Eve
Smiling at each they leaned against each other, enjoying the warmth of the gifts and the emotions they gave them. Even as the rest of the knights and their own families joined in on the fun, opening gifts and cheerfully laughing with each other.
But they also took note of the horses moving down the streets, laughing with each other, carrying candles. Moving down towards he statue of Golden Cross. It made them curious, but for now they enjoyed the moment with their children and friends.
Their mother Grand Feast, was enjoying her own moment as she found herself given a brand new large oven by the gift giver, the note to her hidden within the oven itself. Even as her husband and children enjoyed their gifts she looked up towards the moon and smiled.
"Ye silly old pony. Ye gave me mah gift ages ago. But thank ye still." She said with a soft chuckle before walking over to her two oldest, who were comparing their gifts. And gently patted them on their heads, saying both of their gifts were wonderful and that they should treasure them.
[Scene Skip]
In the Kingom of Gryphon were the griffins enjoying a moment of peace and comfort. The gifts that had been raining down were appreciated. Even the guars and soldiers who had tried to shoot down the flying sled had received gifts, and after an hour of missing the sled they just decided to give up. Not bothering the old goat as he was just spreading out gifts all over the place.
Not as if it would have any big impact upon their nation.
Meanwhile was King Craver sleeping soundly in his bedroom. Unaware of the great sensational feeling that was filling his nation. By his desk was a single gift left, containing nothing but a salt shaker made out of pure crystal. Filled with the purest of salt.
[Scene Skip]
And so it went on, for hours and hours the flying sled with its gift giving driver traveled over the lands, over the oceans, spreading out gifts to all ponies, griffins, dragons and other species he came upon during his travels. Over the vast deserts and savannas, over high frozen mountains, over thick jungles and pungent marshes, and so on and so forth.
To each child he offered fun and wonder, to each adult he gave tools and laughter, and to each elder he gave fondness and comfort. From the most isolate of shacks, from the most rundown slums, to the densest of cities, and to the richest of mansions. He did not discriminate, all were equally given, all were equally comforted and all were equally treated.
For this was a night of joy and cheer, a night that only a single species of the entire planet knew. And they too were treated, many of them brought to tears as the memories of their creator's own experiences of this sacred holiday was brought to life.
The floating islands of the Horadrim Kingdom, began to twinkle and shine, as colourful lanterns, song and dance began to fill the skies. As the horses experienced their own first ever, Christmas.
But they were not alone in responding to this joyous figure's gift giving with music and lit candles.
It began with the horses, but soon, ponies began to emulate them. Seeing some of the horses near their homes light candles, sing and dance in response to the gifts given. It began to spread. The idea, that this was something more then a generous soul giving gifts. And that they too, should honour this person, like the horses were.
And so it came, as in this once cold and silent night, the people of the world looked up upon the heavens. Remembering the flying sled with its gift giving driver flying over their homes. His joyous laughter filled the air. And as if of the same mind, had all people over the world decided to share in the joy he was spreading.
It was a random thing, a thing no one could remember deciding. They just went out, and did it.
The doors to the Temple of Law opened, and a large gathering of warmly dressed families of knightly ponies lead by Happy Meal, Grand Music and their foals walked down to a group of horses gathered around the statue of Golden Cross. The statue was decorated with candles and painted paper lanterns. The children of the knights and the horses began to run around and play a the adults began to place and lit the candles, the horses helping them.
Soon the group was joined by the Blue Grass and Apple clans, lead by Grand Feast and her family. They started placing tables with warm food and drinks.
Out in the Blackstone Keep, was the gates open, and the common ponies were welcomed inside as a large gathering of knights and commoners were putting up brightly lit lanterns and candles. While foals were running around playing with each other.
Commander Rock Steady was currently being forcefully tied to a chair as to not help with the food preparations. The Commander didn't seem to mind though, his old friend Be Boop was sitting next to him with his latest marefriend, a Horadrim Samurai by the name of Tsuki, both were silently drinking hot coco. While in front of him were his two foals playing one of the board games they had received as a gift.
He did not mind being confined if it meant watching his two foals enjoy themselves.
Wild Whip and Gold Digger with their filly Golden Truth were helping with the food preparations, laughing as little Golden tried to help with preparing a big dough, only to end up with her entire front stuck inside of it. Ancient Ruin came over and helped the parents get their little filly out of the dough, before putting her back on her seat and now all three adults began to help the filly handle the dough.
In Bangcolt was the mood the same, out in the large harbour was one of the large trading ships decorated with brightly coloured paper lanterns. Clash, Dragon Slayer and many others were gathered around. Putting up lanterns, tables with food and preparing.
The city of Baltimare was brightly lit as well. Knights had left the castle and were helping around, putting up lit lanterns and joining the singing. Captain Rapid Fire, with her two young foals, was sitting by a table with her husband Sure Shoot, enjoying each other's comfort.
In the floating islands of the Horadrim were horses gathered in droves, all of them laughing and cheering. Putting up tables with food and drinks, foals laughing and playing. Even the ships were brightly lit, even on duty they too felt the cheer of what was happening.
Among the Dragon Lands were a few groups of dragons curiously gathering as well. A warm feeling was filling them and they needed and outlet to release what they were experiencing. And since they had not experienced such emotions before, they just went with what felt right. And now had the majority of the Dragon Lands been decorated with glowing crystals and burning pyres with several large colorful gemstones placed around them, making a prismatic display.
The dragons did not know why, but it felt right.
And so, as the night hours began to approach its end. People all over the world. Began to sing.
Out among the fields, the farms, the mountains, the caverns, the skies, the marshes, the forests, the jungles! It did not matter! Even as rain, snow and winds once more began to drift over the world again, the people gathered in groups around their lit candles. And as one, they started singing out together to the skies.
The world sang out together to the wonderful night they had just experienced. Each group, not knowing that what they were doing, was being mirrored, all over the globe.
Princess Celestia stepped out onto her balcony in Canterlot and looked out over the brightly lit city, a smile spread on her chocolate stained lips as she listened to the music and the voices singing out in harmony. She raised her head and a golden glow ignited, and slowly the the darkness of the night was broken by the rising of dawn.
But even then this only seemed to inspire the singers in Canterlot as their voices grew even more intense. And everybody could see the figure responsible for giving them such a warm and joyous winter night.
Above them he flew over wind and snow without a care. His sled pulled by his trusty aids. White beard flowing in the air and his warm laughter lowing through the wind itself as he flew towards the rising sunset, and disappeared.
[Scene Skip]
Up on the surface of the moon sat a lone alicorn, looking over the various scenes of joy and cheer among the ponies on the surface. Next to him, was a spectral figure of a certain Princess of the Moon, looking with him at the cheerful scenes. The lonesome duo enjoying the warmth of knowing they had succeeded in spreading some holiday cheer.
The planet in the sky above them, shimmering and glittering like a massive sphere shaped Christmas Tree.
[End of Christmas Music]
_-Merry Christmas To You All-_
[The End]
Author's Note
Staadnauthursil: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. I actually intended to have this up by the 25th but I got a serious case of... well let's not go into detailed descriptions here. But I have had a high fever, sick stomach, and a lot of ... unpleasant experiences since the 25th. So I apologies for the lateness of this one shot. Hopefully you all enjoyed it.
I might be willing to make this a side story series, but I am not sure if I am going to go through the effort when I have so little time to spare. But it might be a future project.
Also the reason why I called the holiday Winter's Eve is because well, the ponies do not have Christianity so I wanted to at least make it something more fitting then just adding Christmas to a nation that had never heard of Jesus. So I went a bit old school here
