Depending on your definition of the term, it was a beautiful day. There had fallen a great deal of snow outside during the night, and two dogs were taking full advantage of it.

Their owners watched from a distance, bundled up in coats and scarves that complimented their wearers perfectly, and did not at all clash with each other; Rarity, no matter what anyone said about her, was a genius at fashion.

‘’I’m glad it’s not snowing,’’ Sunset remarked. ‘’Don’t get me wrong, I like being outside after the snow has fallen, but while it’s falling I’d rather stay inside.’’

‘’I get that,’’ Twilight - the human Twilight, not the pony princess - said. ‘’I don’t like being outside if snow’s falling either.’’

‘’I don’t think the dogs would mind,’’ Sunset pointed out. ‘’They seem happy enough to frolic around in the snow now, so they’re clearly not bothered by it.’’

Sunset had just recently gotten an orange puppy from the local pet store. She’d named the puppy Smolder, and Spike had immediately taken a liking to the younger dog. Now they were chasing each other through the snow.

‘’They look adorable, don’t they?’’ Twilight mused. ‘’I’m surprised they get on so well. Usually Spike’s not a big fan of other dogs.’’

‘’Ditto for Smolder,’’ Sunset said, ‘’but they just like each other, for some reason. I dunno why, but I’m not complaining.’’

‘’Neither am I.’’

But their day did not wholly consist of being outside in the snow, and so once the dogs had exhausted themselves playing they headed back to Sunset’s apartment.

‘’That was fun!’’ Spike chirped as soon as the door was closed.

‘’It was!’’ Smolder agreed brightly. ‘’I just wish we could talk outside as well!’’

‘’Yeah…’’

‘’Sorry guys,’’ Sunset apologised as she hung up her coat, ‘’but most people aren’t used to talking dogs.’’

‘’I don’t think I’m used to talking dogs,’’ Twilight quipped as she slipped off her gloves. ‘’Not that I’m complaining!’’ she hastily added with a bright smile. ‘’It’s truly revolutionary and very interesting!’’

‘’Love you too, Twi,’’ Spike just said dryly, before sprinting through Sunset’s living room and leaping onto the couch, followed a moment later by Smolder.

‘’Hey!’’ Sunset playfully shouted. ‘’You’re not dry yet!’’ But she wasn’t angry, just amused.

‘’Aw, let them be,’’ Twilight said, smiling as she watched the pair of dogs curl up together on the couch.

‘’They are adorable,’’ Sunset agreed. ‘’Alright you mutts,’’ she called out to the dogs, ‘’you can stay on the couch, Twi and I will just find another place to sit!’’

‘’I can sit on your lap?’’ Twilight suggested innocently.

‘’Never mind, we’re sitting on the couch anyway!’’

|-x-X-x-|

The rest of the day passed quickly, until evening arrived. Sunset and Twilight had cooked together for the two of them, and the dogs got their equivalent of a three-course meal too, of course.

Spike, for his part, was thinking back to his first Christmas with Twilight. Back then, Twilight had still been living with her family, and the whole house had been full of merriment and happiness. Spike hadn’t quite gotten the feast he’d received now, but he still had a very nice dinner, though since he was finished early most of it had been spent watching Twilight and her family having dinner and listening in on their conversations.

Spike wasn’t sure what he liked more, but he’d soon find out, hopefully.

‘’Dig in, everyone!’’ Sunset opened the feast when everything had been readied, and no one in the house wasted a moment in following that command, the issuer of said command included.

Dinner was delicious, the conversations were pleasant and by the time they retired to the couch to finally open presents everyone was more than content and filled with food.

The four of them all curled up on the couch, Twilight positioning herself almost on top of Sunset while the two dogs curled up at their owner’s feet.

‘’So, presents?’’ Twilight asked eventually.

‘’Urgh…’’ Sunset groaned. ‘’There is someone on top of me,’’ she said with a smirk. ‘’And I don’t think she wants to get off.’’

‘’Oh hush you,’’ Twilight scolded with a smile, before slipping off Sunset and walking over to the Christmas tree, which they’d set up a few weeks before.

‘’Which present shall we do first?’’ she asked no one in particular. ‘’How about… this one.’’ She grabbed a rectangular box, wrapped in golden paper, from under the tree, then walked back over to the couch and gave it to Sunset.

In the end, there were many presents for everyone: all of the other Rainbooms had gotten Twilight and Sunset gifts, ranging from sweaters to cider. A few others had sent gifts as well: Twilight’s parents, Shining Armour and his wife, Flash and some other people from school had all sent presents to the apartment, and even Princess Twilight had somehow gotten a package to them.

Twilight got books, lots of books. The dogs got toys. Sunset received an assortment of varied items. All in all, just because of the presents alone it was a very nice Christmas for all parties involved.

‘’Now, bath?’’ Twilight suggested once the final gift had been unwrapped and suitably admired.

‘’Yes,’’ Sunset agreed.

‘’No!’’ Smolder shouted in protest. She tried to escape, but to no avail; Sunset grabbed her before she could get off the couch and tucked her under her right arm.

‘’To the bathroom!’’ Spike declared as he jumped off the couch, tail wagging as he marched towards the aforementioned bathroom.

Sunset’s bathroom was nothing special, but it didn’t need to be. All it needed, it had: a bath, a shower, and a washtub. Sunset, swiftly, turned on the bath.

The water poured in quite nicely, filling up the bathtub swiftly. Twilight stepped in soon after, placing Spike in the bath once she was seated.

‘’Thanks, Twi!’’

‘’No problem, Spike.’’

‘’Now we add the bubbles,’’ Sunset said in an explanatory tone as she poured the bubbles into the bath. In one minute, the water was full of pink bubbles, smelling like roses.

‘’In you go.’’ And Sunset dumped Smolder into the bath, causing a small splash.

‘’Sunsetttttttttttt!!!’’ the puppy whine-shrieked.

Twilight couldn’t resist giggling, while Spike pounced on Smolder, keeping her from trying to escape the bath. Then Sunset stepped into the bath as well, and all hope for the puppy to escape was promptly lost.

‘’Now come here, you.’’ Sunset dragged Smolder under her arm again, then grabbed a bottle of doggy shampoo. ‘’Sit still, Smolder.’’

‘’No!’’ Smolder squirmed, trying to get out of Sunset’s grip. But, alas.

‘’Yes,’’ Sunset countered easily, before beginning the arduous trial of getting a puppy washed.

Spike and Twilight watched the scene with much amusement, while the young adult calmly washed Spike, who sat still and did not complain even once, by now more than used to this.

The scene was, in totality, quite wholesome and adorable to witness. But, all things good and well must come to an end someday. So, eventually, the two humans rose from the bath, then took the two dogs out as well and dried them off.

Once this was done, they slipped into their pyjamas; all four (yes, the dogs had pyjamas as well) had silk pyjamas made by Rarity, stylish and comfortable, while also keeping them warm in the cold winter months.

‘’So, any ideas?’’ Sunset asked once they were all dressed. ‘’We can watch something.’’ There was a TV in the bedroom, after all.

Twilight shook her head. ‘’Let’s just go to bed first, hm?’’

Sunset smiled and nodded. ‘’Sure thing.’’

Sunset’s bed, of course, was more than big enough to hold the four of them. Twilight and Sunset crawled under the covers while Smolder and Spike laid down on top of them.

For a moment, there was silence. Snow fell outside, the lights of the city were indistinct shapes shining through it, but inside was warm and comfortable, scenic lighting provided by the lamps in Sunset’s bedroom ensuring a cheery vibe.

‘’So, had a nice day?’’ Twilight asked no one in particular.

‘’Definitely!’’ Smolder chirped.

And so, their Christmas ended in comfortable warmth, all four of them talking about inconsequential things until they drifted off to sleep.

Author's Note

Shout-out to twidash1993 for the idea behind this one-shot!

Happy holidays everyone!