It was the Hearth's Warming season in Equestria and up in the Frozen North, in the Crystal Empire, the holiday celebrations were just as festive and happy as everywhere else, ponies going about putting up decorations and doing some last minute shopping. While others yet were at home, spending it with their families and that was true for the royals of the kingdom, well some of them at least...
"Daddy, when is mommy going to come?" A little pegasus filly asked her father, who was a light goldish gray pegasus, the two currently finishing up decorating their Hearth's Warming tree in the large living room for the royals in the palace.
"She'll be here very soon Cinnamon Heart, your mommy has a lot to do, she is a princess remember?" The stallion, who was Pound Cake, answered.
"But it's Hearth's Warming, mommy should be here today with us." The filly named Cinnamon Heart complained.
"I feel the same way sweetie, but we both knew what we got into, especially me, I knew what my life would be like when I got together with your mother, but I still love her very much and don't regret it." Pound Cake sighed as he thought about his life. "You know sweetie, while we wait for your mother, why don't I tell you the story of when we shared our first kiss, it was actually 15 years ago, on Hearth's Warming...
15 Years ago…
The Crystal Empire was once more preparing for Hearth's Warming and both Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor were busy overseeing everything and making sure things would run smoothly for every crystal pony in the kingdom. And meanwhile, their 13 year old daughter, the very young princess Flurry Heart, was tagging along as she had to really start learning how to handle things herself when her mother passed rulership of the kingdom to her. As the royal family trotted down the streets, a few guards with them, checking in on all the necessary preparations and making sure everything was in order, they saw a family who didn't live in the kingdom. Smiling the royal family went up to them.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Cake, what are you doing here?" Cadance asked politely.
"Well, we decided to spend Hearth's Warming here this year, a change of scenery for our family." Mrs. Cake answered.
"Well, we're glad you're here, why don't you stay at the palace, as our guests." Shining Armor suggested.
Ever since the Cakes had helped Cadance and Shining Armor put together their surprise announcement about them having a baby, the two families have been friends with each other, the royals often putting in catering orders to the family for their own events in the kingdom, which really did help Sugarcube Corner grow, the business the Cakes owned.
"Oh no, we don't want to be a burden to you..." Mr. Cake replied as he felt rather embarrassed.
"No please, it will be our pleasure and treat, plus it will be nice to have some new faces around." Cadance trying to convince them.
"Well, as long as you don't mind, I guess we'll take your offer." Mrs. Cake smiled.
Mr. and Mrs. Cake have also brought along their 14 year old twins, Pumpkin and Pound Cake, who were currently talking to Flurry, and just like their parents, the twins and Flurry have become very good friends, Pound Cake was especially a very good friend to Flurry...
"Okay Pound, just play it cool, you got this." Pound said very confidently in his head.
"Oh it's so good to see you two, Pumpkin and Pound, things have been so busy that I'm really looking to spending the holiday with a couple of my friends." Flurry smiled as she and Pumpkin shared a hug.
"It's good to see you too Flurry." Pumpkin added as he two let go of their hug, Flurry then turning to Pound.
"And you're looking good Pound, nice to see you." Flurry staring right at Pound's eyes.
"Yes, it's nice to see you too Flurry." Pound said quite easily, not breaking a sweat as he remained confident and calm. "Nailed it." Pound said in his head.
As the families returned together to the palace, the Cake family was treated right, given their own guest rooms for the duration of their visit. As Cadance and Shining Armor help Mr. and Mrs. Cake, Flurry was helping Pumpkin and Pound in settling into their rooms. As Flurry first helped Pumpkin, then Pound, the pegasus colt was very much calm and cool while sharing a conversation with his crush.
"So Flurry, you're staring to become an official princess now, I bet all the colts are trying to win you over now." Pound said without any fear in his voice.
"Well yes, but I'm not very interested in any of them, they're not really into my true personality, they just see a pretty princess, but I am into one colt, who's super nice and handsome..." Flurry teased, Pound having this feeling it was him.
"Oh, who is it?" Pound asked, but knowing Flurry wouldn't tell.
"I'm not telling you, it's a secret." Flurry replied.
"Wait, so mom liked another colt, how did you and mommy get together than?" Cinnamon asked.
"No sweetie, that colt is your father." A new voice answered before Pound could, a light pink alicorn entering the living room, looking a little tired as she sat down besides Pound Cake, giving him a kiss on the cheek, Pound blushing bright red.
"Mommy, you're here!" Cinnamon said loudly as she hugged the alicorn. "Daddy was telling me the story of when you two shared your first kiss."
"Oh... Was he now..." The alicorn, who was of course Flurry, said slowly as she looked at her husband, who was starting to sweat from nervousness.
"Yes I was..." Pound chuckled. "Why don't you finish the story for Cinnamon honey..."
"No, I think the two of us would like to hear your side of the story, don't we sweetie?" Flurry asking her daughter.
"Yeah daddy, go on." Cinnamon giving puppy dog eyes to her father.
"Okay..." Pound nervously said as he knew Flurry wouldn't necessarily agree with his side, which wasn't entirely true... "As I was saying..."
"Oh come on, can't you give me at least a hint?" Pound pleaded.
"Sorry, but no." Flurry chuckled. "Well, I should get going to my parents, don't want them to keep waiting for me." Flurry said as she then left the room leaving behind the colt.
"I got to do something to make her admit it..." Pound said as he left the room to go to the room besides his', which was his sister's. "Hey sis, you got a minute?"
"Yeah sure brother, what's up?" Pumpkin said.
"When Flurry was here, did she talk about having a crush on somecolt?" Pound asked.
"Yes she did and if you're here to ask who it is, forget it, I'm not saying anything." Pumpkin looking straight through her brother. "I made a filly promise to Flurry that I can't break."
"Oh come on, not even this one?" Pound complained. "I'm your brother for pony's sake."
"Nope, sorry brother, but you're just going to have to find out yourself." Pumpkin teased.
"Alright fine..." Pound said as he turned around and left the room. "But I'm pretty sure it's me." Pound continued in his head.
Later on, Mr. and Mrs. Cake left to spend some time on their own, but both Pumpkin and Pound wanted to spend their time with Flurry. The three young ones trotting about in the palace, catching up as they saw the palace staff finishing up the many decorations along the halls, like wreaths, lights... Mistletoes... And seeing those specific decorations gave Pound an idea as he turned to see his sister and Flurry sharing a conversation with each other.
"Hey sis, do you mind if Flurry and I share some time alone, catch up on things ourselves?" Pound asked his sister.
"Why?" Flurry questioned.
"Yeah, why..." Pumpkin having this feeling from her brother.
"Well, I'm her friend too." Pound pointed out. "Come on sis, don't hog her to yourself."
"Okay fine..." Pumpkin replied. "Lover boy..." Pumpkin quietly whispered to her brother's ear before leaving.
So with Pumpkin gone, and Flurry and Pound alone together, there was first silence between them as Flurry found herself blushing a little as Pound kept on his confidence for Flurry.
"So, princess, look at you, growing up and more beautiful with each passing day, are all alicorns this pretty?" Pound said cooly as Flurry blushed more.
"Well, I try my best, I do brush my hair every day." Flurry answered as she found herself stroking her mane with her hooves. "Why don't we trot and talk?" Flurry suggested as she felt her legs feel a bit light.
As the two continued on with their talk, Pound eventually saw what he was aiming for up ahead, a mistletoe hanging above the end of the hallway the two were currently trotting through, to a new room, with no way around. As they were very close, Pound stopped Flurry.
"Oh look, a mistletoe." Pound pointed out causally, like he just noticed.
"So it is..." Flurry knowing what was coming.
"Don't ponies have to kiss in some way when under it?" Pound asking.
"Well, my mother, being the expert at love, does say so..." Flurry saying as she turned to look at Pound, who did the same exact thing as the two were looking right at each other.
"Alright Pound, now's the time, take it." Pound told himself in his head. "Hey Flurry, I know that you're the one who has a crush on me and well it's time I finally tell you, I like you very much and I want to be more than friends with you, if you want to." Pound taking one of Flurry's hooves with her's.
"I want the same Pound Cake, I really like you too." Flurry blushing as she started coming froward as Pound did the same, coming froward as they were about to touch muzzles with each other...
"And that's how it went, well at least how I remembered it..." Pound awkwardly finished as Cinnamon looked like she did enjoy the story, but Flurry was rather unconvinced...
"That was a great story daddy, you really did tell mom all that?" Cinnamon asked.
"Well sweetie, your father did admit his feelings about me, but what your father told you isn't exactly all true..." Flurry looking at her husband. "For one thing, your father wasn't so confident about it at all..."
"What are you talking about honey... It's totally true..." Pound starting to sweat a little.
"No, it isn't..." Flurry shaking her head. "Well, now that you heard your father's side sweetie, I think it's time I tell you my side sweetie and how it really happened..."
And so with Flurry clearing her throat and the family relaxing, Flurry began her side of the events in the next Chapter.
"I can't wait to finally get this over with so I can just relax for the holiday." A thirteen year old Flurry commented as she was with her parents, checking up on how all the decorations and preparations for the holiday were doing.
Normally Flurry could stay at home while her parents did this, but since this was her first Hearth's Warming as a princess in training, she had to get used to doing things like this, regardless if she wanted to or not. However it wasn't all bad, Hearth's Warming was one of Flurry's most favorite holidays, all the happiness and bright colors was warm and inviting despite the winter weather that accompanied it.
"Well, seems like everything is in order and no trouble at all sweetie." Shining Armor replied as in fact every crystal pony seemed to be out and about, doing well to put up trees and lights on the streets.
"And oh... Is that who I think it is." Cadance alerted the two as they saw the Cake family trotting towards them as the royal family went up to them. "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Cake, what are you doing here?" Cadance asked politely.
"Well, we decided to spend Hearth's Warming here this year, a change of scenery for our family." Mrs. Cake answered.
"Well, we're glad you're here, why don't you stay at the palace, as our guests." Shining Armor suggested.
"Oh no, we don't want to be a burden to you..." Mr. Cake replied as he felt rather embarrassed.
"No please, it will be our pleasure and treat, plus it will be nice to have some new faces around." Cadance trying to convince them.
"Well, as long as you don't mind, I guess we'll take your offer." Mrs. Cake smiled.
While the grownup ponies were having their conversation, Flurry went up to the Cake twins, Pound and Pumpkin Cake, two of her very good friends she got to know. Flurry enjoyed their company, it was nice having friends with a couple of non-royal ponies who she could just be herself with. And while Pumpkin shared a friend-like relationship with Flurry, Pound didn't feel the same way, or at least more than a friend for him and Flurry knew quite well how the pegasus colt felt about her. After all Flurry was the daughter to the princess of love and family, she shared quite a few of her mother's traits and learning from her mother, she could pick up on how the stallion felt about her.
"Oh it's so good to see you two, Pumpkin and Pound, things have been so busy that I'm really looking to spending the holiday with a couple of my friends." Flurry smiled as she and Pumpkin shared a hug.
"It's good to see you too Flurry." Pumpkin added as he two let go of their hug, Flurry then turning to Pound.
"And you're looking good Pound, nice to see you." Flurry staring right at Pound's eyes, smiling as the colt smiled back nervously.
"Yes... It's good to see you too your highness..." Pound said awkwardly as he was visibly shaking a little. "You look good..." Pound commented.
"Why thank you Pound Cake, you look good too." Flurry chuckled as Pumpkin also did so, laughing at her brother's love struck state.
As the two families trotted together to the palace, the three friends continued their conversation, catching up as they entered the palace, the royal family showing the Cakes some guest rooms they can stay in during their visit. Flurry helped out Pumpkin and Pound to their rooms, Flurry first in the room Pumpkin was going to stay in.
"So when are you and my brother going to share your first kiss?" Pumpkin asked her alicorn friend, to which Flurry blushed a little.
"Pumpkin!" Flurry said little loudly, a bit embarrassed.
"I'm just saying, my brother likes you a lot, he almost never seems to stop talking about you when we're at home..." Pumpkin rolled her eyes. "Goes on and on about how you're the most beautiful and smart pony ever."
"He really says that..." Flurry blushed as she stroked her mane, but quickly snapped out of it. "I do like Pound a lot too, but I just don't know if we're there just yet..."
"Well, better hurry, even my brother's patience is going out." Pumpkin said.
As the two fillies were just about done with Pumpkin's room, Flurry went over to where Pound was staying, in the room next to his sister's and well while Pumpkin was a unicorn and had an easier time moving things, Pound, being a pegasus, wasn't so lucky... As Flurry opened the door, she saw Pound having some trouble as he looked like he was going to trip and when Flurry entered...
"Flurry!" Pound said loudly as she lost his standing and start to fall, but luckily Flurry reacted quickly and caught him with her magic.
"Having some trouble?" Flurry chuckled as she got Pound back on his hooves before taking his things with her magic. "Still the clumsy pegasus I know..."
"Thanks..." Pound blushed. "So... Your 13th birthday passed recently right? I bet all the colts are starting to take an interest in you..." Pound said, sounding almost a little afraid.
"Oh yes, but there's this one colt that I'm really interested in, he's smart, funny, nervous, kind, and I'm lucky I know him..." Flurry saying in a slight teasing tone, not enough to let Pound know it was him she was talking about.
"Oh..." Pound not taking the hint. "Well, he sounds like a nice guy..." Pound slowly letting out as he didn't want to sound jealous.
"It's you dummy..." Flurry said in her head, smiling as she had her face turned around from Pound currently.
"So daddy wasn't so confident towards you?" Cinnamon interrupted, a bit confused by how her mother changed Pound's attitude so much.
"Yes sweetie, your father was quite nervous towards me, I always wondered how he was even able to say full sentences to me." Flurry chuckled as Pound blushed, not able to say anything as he was rather embarrassed by Flurry's side of things, which was more true to his version. "Anyway, after your father and I were done settling him into his room, we joined your Auntie Pumpkin outside..."
"You two certainly took your time." Pumpkin commented as Flurry and Pound came outside to see Pumpkin there. "I was starting to think you two wanted some alone time for the rest of the day..."
Both Flurry and Pound blushed, Pound more so as the three then trotted through the halls of the palace, seeing the palace staff finishing up decorating the palace with such things like wreaths, lights... Mistletoes... Which gave Pumpkin an idea...
"Hey you two, I'm going to go see if mom and dad want Pound and I, I'll be right back." Pumpkin said.
"I'll go with you sis." Pound spoke up.
"No, you stay with Flurry, I'm sure you have a lot to talk to her about alone, I can find mom and dad myself." Pumpkin told her brother as she left the two alone...
In fact this is the first time Flurry and Pound were alone together, Pound never wanted to be alone with Flurry, he always had his sister around, which made him feel a little better and well now being alone with the alicorn princess he had a huge crush on...
"So... You and me... Alone together..." Pound swallowing a lump in his throat.
"That's great..."
Flurry could tell Pound was very uncomfortable, him being alone with her, but Flurry knew why Pumpkin did this and while she was going to have a talk with the unicorn later, it was the best way for them to admit how they really felt, they were never going to say how they truly feel with others around them who can hear.
"Pound, how about we just trot and talk?" Flurry suggested.
"Sure..." Pound said as Flurry led the way, making sure to take a path where others would not be around and soon enough they did, coming to a hallway where nopony else was, just them two as Flurry saw a mistletoe hanging above up ahead.
"Do you like me Pound?" Flurry asked.
"Of course I do, we're friends right?" Pound asked back rhetorically, but knowing what Flurry meant.
"No, I mean, do you like me..." Flurry saying more seriously as Pound couldn't escape this.
"Well..." Pound began as he didn't know quite what to say. "Yes, I do." Pound let out, not knowing how else to say it.
"Why?" Flurry asked.
"Well, why not?" Pound saying. "You're not only the prettiest filly ever Flurry, but you're the most kindest and strongest one I know, don't tell Pumpkin this, but you're even more so than her, you have no flaws that I can think of."
"Thanks Pound..." Flurry blushing as she stroked her mane a little, only doing that when she did feel a certain way. "You know that colt I was talking about earlier?"
"That one who's smart, funny, nervous, and kind..." Pound remembering not too long ago. "Well, again, you're lucky to know somepony like that, seems like I'm just not up to what you want..." Pound sighed as Flurry began laughing out loud, Pound confused, but not saying anything as Flurry calmed down.
"It is you, you big dummy." Flurry revealed, which caused Pound to massively blush bright red, that one could mistake him for having red fur from a distance.
"Oh..." Pound said. "It is?"
"Of course, we been friends for years now and I know by now how a colt really feels about me." Flurry stepping up right in front of Pound's face, looking right into his eyes as Pound felt he couldn't turn away, but when he finally did, he noticed they had stepped right under a mistletoe, which Flurry saw too...
"Oh, look where we are..." Pound said. "Listen Flurry, I..." Pound started as he turned to face Flurry again, but Flurry came much closer, to bring her muzzle right up against Pound's giving him a soft kiss, which at first surprised the 14 year old colt, but he relaxed into it a few seconds later and enjoyed it.
The two held that kiss for a good couple minutes before Flurry broke it, opening her closed eyes, as Pound opened his and opened his muzzle, but found no words coming out at first and when he could, beginning to speak, Flurry put a hoof to his muzzle.
"I love you too Pound Cake." Flurry knowing exactly what he was going to say as she once again brought her muzzle in for a kiss.
"And that's how it really happened, how your father and I shared our first kiss together." Flurry finished her side of the story to her daughter.
"Is mom's story true daddy?" Cinnamon asked.
"Well..." Pound beginning as the filly and Flurry looked at him. "Yes... Your mother's side of the story is more true than mine..."
"Thanks for admitting it my handsome stallion." Flurry smiled as she kissed her husband's side. "But I liked your side, I would like a more confident side of you, but I love you just the way you are."
"Same here Flurry." Pound smiled as the two nuzzled each other's cheeks.
"And so do I." A new voice spoke as an older pink alicorn entered the room, Cinnamon Heart rushing up into the open hooves of the visitor.
"Grandmare, you came!" Cinnamon said as Cadance wrapped a hoof around her grandfoal.
"Oh I wouldn't miss out on a holiday with my family." Cadance said as Flurry and Pound came up.
"Mom, so good to see you back home, where's dad?" Flurry asked.
"Oh, he wanted to see a few of his friends before coming here, he'll be here shortly." Cadance answered. "So, what are you three doing?"
"Mom and dad were just telling me their sides of how they first kissed." Cinnamon answered first.
"Oh, so they were telling you a story..." Cadance getting an idea as she did know the story her grandfoal was talking about, having heard all about it from Flurry.
"How about I tell you the story of when your mother was just a little foal and she filled her Auntie Twilight's castle with magic pudding on Hearth's Warming..." Cadance suggesting as Flurry blushed, being very embarrassed by that time.
"Mom... I don't think she needs to know that..." Flurry trying to avoid her embarrassment.
"Wait... Mom really did that, I want to hear the story than!" Cinnamon pleaded.
"Yeah... So do I..." Pound looking at his wife, being very interested as well.
"Well, one Hearth's Warming, we went to Flurry's auntie's place to celebrate the holiday there..." Cadance began as the family sat down to relax and enjoy or in Flurry's case, hide her face of embarrassment, enjoying yet another Hearth's Warming together as a family.
And that's the end of this short tale!
Hope you enjoyed and with that…
See everycreature later!
