While I engulfed myself within the blanket cocoon’s embrace, I sat on my recliner, letting my gaze settle on the dancing flame of the fireplace. I took a sip from my cup filled with rich, warm cocoa, its contents filling my mouth with chocolatey goodness and warming my freezing body as it made its way down my throat. I let out a content sigh as relief spread all the way to the tips of my hooves. My consciousness slowly began to drift into slumberland from this quiet pleasure until…
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Gentle knocks on the door broke through the tranquil silence of my home. The thought of ignoring the knocking came and went, knowing full well I didn’t have the heart to do it. Begrudgingly, I crawled out of the alluring embrace of my sheets and walked toward the door. As the door grew closer and closer, so too did my rising dread of the unforgiving frost that was about to invade my home. Regardless, I unlocked and opened the door to see who my unexpected guest was.
The unrelenting cold air nipped at my body, leaving me a quivering mess wishing to be back in the comfort of my blanket. But as soon as I laid eyes on the beautiful mare before me, renewed warmth swelled within me once more.
"H-Hi, Thermal," the blue Pegasus shyly greeted with the cutest smile on her face.
With a steaming cup of cocoa in hoof, I left the kitchen and entered the living room where the lovely dark-blue-maned mare sat on a recliner next to mine by the fireplace. Walking up to her, I offered the cup with a little smile.
"O-Oh, you didn’t have to…" she bashfully said.
"It’s the least I can do, Blueberry. You are my esteemed guest, after all," I playfully winked at her, which earned a blush in response.
"Thank you," Blueberry Sweets graciously accepted the cup and carefully brought it up to her lips for a sip. Her purple eyes lit up instantly when she tasted the drink, a content look on her face as she took a longer sip.
I sat in my recliner, eager to escape the chills of winter. Wrapping the blankets around me again, I gingerly reached for my cup on the table, which was still pleasantly warm.
“So, you said you wanted to ask me something, Blueberry?” I took a sip of the cocoa, the warmth of the liquid bliss soothing me once more.
“Mhm,” she hummed as she held the cup between her hooves. “You see, my parents and I thought maybe, if you didn’t already have plans, you would like to celebrate Hearth’s Warming Eve with us like back then?”
I gave a soft smile. “I’d love to. You all have done so much for me growing up, and it’ll be great to catch up with your family.”
"Yay," she playfully cheered, earning a chuckle out of me.
‘Hmm, I’ll have to get presents for everyone. Maybe Emerald would help me decide…’ I mused, staring at the flame for guidance. ‘Maybe I can finally finish for—’
I broke out of my thoughts and turned my attention to my lovely guest, who was looking at me expectantly, as if I were about to do a backflip.
"Umm, last time you said you were working on the first draft of a new story. I was wondering if…" Blueberry trailed off, but I pretty much understood what she was asking.
I laughed lightly. "I did tease you with it last time, huh? You can look at it, but it’s my first time with this medium."
"I’m sure it’s fine," she reassured without hesitation. "And maybe I can help too?"
"Sure, you are the best writer I know," I complimented her. A red blush invaded her face as she looked away with a small smile.
Hearth’s Warming Eve
Briskly trudging along the newly cleared path toward the outskirts of Ponyville, I persevered against the graceful but harsh frost with saddlebags filled with all sorts of goodies. The vast snowy canvas was decorated with colorful lights and garlands hanging on every passing building, filling the air with a joyous warmth. Little white flakes of bliss danced in the frigid air, touching down to join the scenery surrounding me. The excited chatter and resonating singing of the town's ponies faded into the background the closer I got to my destination.
I picked up the pace as I spotted one of the many frosted blueberry bushes up ahead. An almost primal nostalgia washed over me in waves as I laid eyes on the landscape filled with rows and rows of bushes. Not too far from the crops stood the household of the Blueberry family, and my nostalgia grew with each step toward the house.
Arriving at the doorstep, a dense pit settled in my stomach as I readied myself to knock.
"There I go again," I laughed quietly to myself and took a deep breath. Just breathe, Thermal, breathe.
I steadily knocked a couple of times on the door, awaiting a response. I heard a familiar faint "Coming!" from the other side, followed by muffled hoofsteps. With a slight creak, the door opened to reveal the blue Pegasus whose purple eyes looked up at me with overflowing joy.
"Thermal! You're here!" Blueberry cheered as she hugged me. I hugged her back almost immediately, a warm smile spreading across my face.
"I wouldn’t miss this for the world," I said as I stepped back, finding myself getting lost in her beautiful eyes as she did the same. A rush of heat flooded my face, and I snapped out of my trance while Blueberry twirled the tip of her mane, trying to hide her blush behind it.
"Umm, p-please come in," she managed to stammer as she led me inside her family’s home.
The sweet, mouthwatering smell of blueberries and baked goods wafted through the living room, inviting my stomach to growl helplessly. The lasting chills of winter slowly melted away by the warmth of the fireplace’s flame filling the room. Near the staircase leading upstairs, which was decorated with garlands and an assortment of ball ornaments, stood their giant Hearth’s Warming tree with presents already underneath it.
"Make yourself at home," she chimed happily. "I’ll get everything ready in the kitchen."
"Oh~, you baked something?" I asked curiously.
"U-Um, maybe," Blueberry said, looking away with a slight blush before focusing back on me. "But I’m not going to tell you what I cooked. I want it to be a surprise."
A smirk rose as my interest grew. "I see. Sounds like fun."
She giggled a bit. "Mhm, so no peeking in the kitchen."
"Okay," I nodded and watched her disappear into the hallway leading to the kitchen.
Glancing over to the hallway to make sure she was busy, I quietly walked toward the tree and pulled out a wrapped gift from my saddlebag. I carefully hid the gift among the others to keep it from being discovered too early.
"Looks like some pony’s being sneaky."
I almost jumped out of my skin and turned to the intruding voice.
"It’s so nice to see you again, Thermal," said a familiar bright yellow-coated mare who stood before me with a welcoming smile.
"Mrs. Blueberry!" I quickly approached her for a small hug, which she happily returned.
"You just keep getting taller and taller every time," she joked with a small giggle.
"I get that a lot," I chuckled.
"Let’s have some tea," the Earth pony mare suggested. "I’m dying to know what you’ve been up to since we last saw you."
"Sure, where do I begin," I pondered as we took a seat on the sofa.
Joyful laughter filled the home as Blueberry’s father recounted tales of our youth, despite Blueberry’s many objections. The aroma of delicious, inviting treats occupied most of my thoughts as I dug into them, silently praying for more if possible. Off in the corner of my eye, I noticed Blueberry nervously staring at me as I held a piece of blueberry pie. I hid an all-knowing smile before biting into the pie, accidentally letting out a satisfied “mmm” as I savored it.
As the sun retired for the night, I decided to step into the backyard, eager to gaze upon the farm I had grown up with. Finally able to ignore the cold, I set my eyes on the snow-covered fields, their reach stretching as far as I could see. The blueberry bushes appeared to be in a hibernating state, with not a berry or leaf in sight. Memories of my childhood seeped into my mind, and a solemn smile etched itself onto my face.
"Hehe. So this is where you sneaked off to," Blueberry’s soft voice piped up behind me as the mare slowly came up beside me, also looking at the field.
I chuckled as I glanced at her radiant face. "It’s been a while since I came out here. It takes me back to when we were foals."
"Me too," she said with a nod, gracefully leaning against me. I couldn’t help but snuggle into her warm, soft coat.
The warmth between us filled me with the confidence I needed. I let out a silent breath and carefully dug into the saddlebag I still had with me. "I wanted to wait until Hearth’s Warming, but I feel now’s the time to give you your gift."
Blueberry turned to me with curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Um, okay."
I pulled out a ticket from my saddlebag and held it up to the moonlight. "Well, I know you’ve been wanting to visit the Crystal Empire for a while now, and with my new commission there, I managed to make you my plus one."
"Aww, Thermal," Blueberry cooed happily.
"Afterward, it’ll be just the two of us. It’s all I ever wanted," I said with a content smile, a burning blush erupting on my face.
"It’s all I ever wanted too," Blueberry said as she closed her eyes and leaned forward.
I did the same, closing the gap, and kissed her lovingly, pulling her closer into an embrace.
