“Dashie … that’s probably the sweetest thing anypony’s ever said to me.”
Rainbow rolled over with a happy sigh. She loved her bed. She loved her bed almost as much as she loved sleep itself. Scratching her nose absently, she chanced a look at her alarm clock. 6am? That was odd. She never usually woke until 7:25, five minutes before her old morning weather shift started. Being the fastest flier in Cloudsdale had its benefits, and she had never been late for a shift in her life, but even though she had traded in weather for Wonderbolts, she could not shake the tendency to wake up at that time.
Figuring she must have heard a bird or something, she snuggled back under the blankets for more sleep. This was curtailed, however, by a loud clanging noise. She shot upright in bed, wings flared reflexively.
“What the–?”
The bang was followed by a clatter, like the sound of a small, localised earthquake – patently impossible, since it was coming from the kitchen in her cloud house. Shucking her bedclothes, Rainbow shot downstairs, eschewing the steps in favour of tight corners on the wing.
She skidded to a stop in her kitchen doorway, jaw dropping. The normally tidy (or at least functional) space looked like a snowstorm had blown through, except instead of snow, it was flour and sprinkles. The counters were piled high with oven trays, bags of sugar, baking parchment and various bowls of partially mixed batter. In the middle of it all, humming to herself and wearing a Hearth’s Warming sweater two sizes too big for her, was Pinkie Pie. Her hooves sparkled vaguely with magic whenever they touched the cloud floor.
“Morning Dashie!” Pinkie called brightly, tossing her head and sending up puffs of flour from her mane. There were lights in it. there were freaking string-lights in her mane. “Happy Hearth’s Warming! Or should I say: Happy Hearth’s Morn-ing! Eh? Get it?”
Rainbow blinked. “Pinkie Pie? What in Equestria are you doing here? It’s six in the morning! On Hearth’s Warming!”
"6:04am, actually!" Pinkie corrected. "I had to account for baking time, frosting time and distraction time - which, by the way, you didn’t come downstairs as quickly as I thought you would. I think you drowned out my noise with your snoring. Did you know you snore? Like, really loud? It’s super cute! Like a baby heffalump."
Rainbow felt her face heat up. "I do not snore! And how did you even get in here anyhow? I live in a cloud house! You can't just walk up here like it's Sugarcube Corner!"
Pinkie turned, balancing a tray of freshly cut raw cookies on her head, her usual grin plastered across her face. She giggled, bouncing the tray off her head and catching it expertly on her hoof. "You silly filly! I just used Twilight's cloud-walking spell again. Then I used my patented Pinkie Sense to find the perfect moment to come over! And guess what? It worked! Here I am, ready and raring to go!"
Rainbow groaned, running a hoof down her face. "Pinkie, I’m glad to see you and all, but you could’ve waited until, y’know, a reasonable hour. What’s so important that it couldn’t wait?"
With one hind hoof, Pinkie pulled open the oven Dash never usually used since she mainly ate take-out if she was home. Now it blasted hot air and the smell of cinnamon into the room. “I know! But I figured since you don’t have any big family traditions or anything today, I’d bring Hearth’s Warming to you! Twilight was busy in Canterlot but Starlight Glimmer was kind enough to cast the cloud-walking spell on me so I didn’t fall straight through your floor the moment I parked my balloon-bike outside. She was more than okay about casting it on me last minute, especially since she was already awake – in fact I don’t think she actually went to sleep last night, judging by her eyebags. And Trixie’s eyebags. She stayed over at the castle for Hearth’s Warming while Twilight and Spike are away. Poor Trixie must not have had anyplace else to go for the holidays. I think I should make them a coffee cake as a gift. Or mix a sleeping potion into some chocolate pudding so they get some rest instead of staying up late to read books or cast spells or whatever it was they were doing that made them both so tired. But anyway! I even brought cookies, cocoa, and, uh …” She trailed off, glancing at the mess she’d made. “... an avalanche of holiday spirit with me!”
Rainbow groaned, dragging a hoof down her face. “Pinks, I appreciate the thought, but you couldn’t have done this later? I was kind of in the middle of my favourite Hearth’s Warming tradition - sleeping in late.”
Pinkie’s grin faltered. She gave a somewhat sheepish chuckle. “Oh. Yeah. Sure! But, um … to tell you the truth, I didn’t really want to be alone this morning, so I thought, why not spend it with one of my best friends instead?”
Rainbow paused, her annoyance ebbing away. “Wait, what? Why aren’t you with your family? Don’t you usually head to the rock farm for Hearth’s Warming?”
Pinkie hesitated, smile flickering like a dying candle flame. “They all came down with Feldspar Flu this year. It’s super contagious, so Mom sent a message last night said I should stay in Ponyville to be safe. She said it was fine and that I should celebrate with my friends instead, and they’ll see me at New Year if they’re well enough, but … but …”
“But?” Rainbow prompted gently. She stepped closer, realising with a jolt that Pinkie’s eyes were glossy with unshed tears.
Pinkie sighed, her usual boundless energy dimming. “It’s just … sometimes … I already feel like I don’t fit in back home, y’know? I’m all balloons and confetti, and they’re all rocks and rules. I tell myself it’s fine, that everypony is special in their own way, but … some days are easier than others. And now I can’t even be there when they’re sick. Or … they don’t want me there while they’re sick. What kind of daughter doesn’t show up for Hearth’s Warming? What if I’m just too … annoying to have around while they’re ill? I bet they don’t even miss me.”
For a moment, Rainbow just stared. Pinkie—always so bright and full of life—looked so small and vulnerable. It tugged at something deep inside her. Slowly, she reached out and rested a hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder.
“That’s total bullshit,” Rainbow said firmly.
“Dashie!” Pinkie gasped. “You said a swear!”
“I’ll say as many swears as I have to if it’ll get you to realise that you’re an amazing daughter and an awesome sister. Just because you’re different doesn’t mean they don’t love you. Have you seen how Maud talks about you? She lights up in her own Maud-y way whenever she mentions you. And I guarantee your parents miss you more than anything right now. They’re probably just trying to be strong for you.”
Pinkie sniffled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You really think so?”
“I know so. Pinkie, you make everypony’s life better just by being you. If your family can’t have you with them today, then I’m the luckiest pony in Equestria to have you here. With me instead. Even if you did wake me up at the ass-crack of dawn.”
Pinkie blinked at her. “Dashie … that’s probably the sweetest thing anypony’s ever said to me.”
Rainbow chuckled, brushing a strand of flour-covered mane from Pinkie’s face. “Well, don’t get used to it. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”
Pinkie giggled; a sound so pure that it made Rainbow’s heart skip a beat. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.”
Before she could reply, Pinkie leaned forward and pressed her lips to Rainbow’s cheek. The kiss was soft, fleeting, and yet it sent a jolt of warmth through Rainbow’s chest. Instead of a beat, her heart skipped an entire drum solo. When Pinkie pulled back, her cheeks were as pink as her mane.
“Thanks for being my Hearth’s Warming miracle,” Pinkie whispered.
Rainbow stared at her for a moment, her wings unfurling slightly. Then, with a grin, she leaned in and kissed Pinkie properly, savouring the way Pinkie’s breath hitched in surprise before she melted into it. When they finally pulled apart, Pinkie was beaming, her eyes sparkling brighter than the stars outside.
“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Dashie.”
“Um. Yeah. Totally. Happy Hearth’s Warming, Pinks.”
“Want to help me make cookies?”
“Do I get to eat them afterward?”
“Silly. Cookies straight out of the oven that burn your mouth are the best part of bakingon Hearth’s Warming!”
And as the two of them got to work, surrounded by a kitchen full of chaos and holiday cheer, Rainbow Dash couldn’t imagine a better way to spend the day.
Even if she did have to get up early.
