A cool breeze drifted off the coast of Maretime Bay as Hitch trotted along the beach. The water lapped against the sand and covered his hooves for a brief moment, before it retreated back into the sea. His fur tingled from the heat of the sun, nearly at its apex, as he let out a groan and shook his head. “What should I get for her?” he moaned.
Earlier that morning, Sunny, himself and the others had exchanged names for their second year of Secret Canters- a Winter Wishday tradition where they exchanged gifts with just one other pony, rather than their whole group. Last year's disaster of making the gifts for each other reminded him of how much he lacked the unicycling abilities of Izzy.
He looked up as Sparky let out a giggle and raced toward the incoming waves, hoofing him up just before a wave hit him. “Though you did save things last year, didn’t you, my little guy?” Hitch chuckled and nuzzled the baby dragon.
Sparky let out a burble and wrapped his arms around Hitch.
“Well, I think it's time I start working on Sunny’s gift,” Hitch said and placed the baby dragon on his back. He trotted up the boardwalk and listened to his seagull friends as they flew through the air above, their chirps and caws bringing a smile to his face.
He paused at several food carts along the way and hoofed through the merchandise. “No, no, not that one either,” he sighed and shook his head. “What would be the perfect present for her?”
“For who?”
Hitch turned to see Pipp next to him, a pineapple held in her hoof as she examined it and brought it to her muzzle to sniff its freshness. “Well, for Sunny,” he said.
The light pink mare twirled her violet mane and beamed at his words. “Oh. My. Gosh! She’s the one you got for Secret Canters?” she squeed. She paused to pay the food truck pony for the pineapple and placed it in her saddlebag. “You two are perfect together for that! Oooh this is so exciting! I need to blog about this!”
Hitch blushed and shook his head. “What? No. No we are um… just friends,” he mumbled and put down the bag of apples he had been looking at. “I mean yeah we’ve known each other all our lives, but that just makes it even harder to create something special for her.”
“Aww, darn! I was hoping to have something to write about in my blog for Winter Wishday.” She pouted, then her eyes widened. “Ooh how about I help? I know what you can make her!”
Hitch heard a giggle and looked behind him to see Sparky about to bite into an apple. He took it gently from the dragon’s claws and gave it back to the vendor. “No, Sparky, we didn’t pay for that.” He then turned back to Pipp. “Any ideas would greatly help.”
“A teddy bear would be a good gift,” Pipp said with a soft grin. “I hear they are easy to make as long as you have a pattern. Perhaps add scents to it to make it smell like a strawberry smoothie? Those are Sunny’s favorite, right?”
“Yippee!” Sparky yelled and bounced on Hitch’s back.
“Oof, I think Sparky approves of the idea,” Hitch chuckled and patted the dragon affectionately on the head. “Okay. I was thinking of just making her some yummy treat, but I’m not exactly the best cook,” he admitted.
That disastrous cooking show they had tried to do came back to him and his eyes grew wide. He rubbed a hoof over his chin in thought. Sure, it had ended in chaos, and he had looked ridiculous as he tried to speak to their ‘audience’, but the food fight with Sunny at the end had been a lot of fun. The thrill on her face as he threw pearnannas at her, along with the ‘secret ingredients’. The slipping and sliding and Sunny splatting against the wall covered in pink fruit smoothie as their friends laughed on the sidelines-oh what a wonderful memory!
“Mmhmm,” Pipp hummed and winked at Hitch. “I see ideas running through that sheriff's mind now. I think Rocky, Jazz and I might have a teddy bear pattern back at Mane Melody. He made Jazz one for Winter Wishday last year,” she gave a happy little sigh as she looked off into the distance. “Anyway, I’ll go grab that, you grab some fabric, stuffing, and a scent to add to it and I’ll meet you at the Sheriff’s office, okay?”
“Sounds like a plan, Pipp. Thank you!” Hitch saluted her as she raced off, then cringed when Sparky sneezed and turned a basket of oranges into a plate of frosted sugar cookies shaped like stars. “Um, I’ll just pay for those,” he smiled sheepishly at the vendor and hoofed over the bits. “No more of that today, young dragon!” he scolded, but still gave him a cookie from the plate, putting the rest in his saddlebag. He smiled as he watched the baby dragon nibble on the cookie. “Okay, let’s get those items!”
Sunny raced around the basement of the brighthouse, pulled out boxes and dug through them. “No, no, no,” she let out a frustrated sigh and pushed the latest box to the side. “It’s gotta be perfect! I know I have it here somewhere.” She plopped down on the ground and held her head in her forehooves.
She rubbed her forehead with one hoof- maybe that would stimulate some ideas- as she thought of Winter Wishdays of the past. Last year hadn’t been as horrible thanks to Sparky fixing the gifts, but one couldn’t rely on him doing so every time. That dragon fire of his was unpredictable at best.
“OW!” she yelled as something fell from a shelf above and landed directly on her head. As she rubbed the sore spot her gaze fell to the floor to see a picture album, the leather cracked and the cover peeling at one edge.
She picked it up and flipped to the first page, head pain forgotten as she laughed at the picture. It was her, Hitch, and her father. The two foals were dressed up in onesies of their favorite elements of Harmony. Sunny was bedecked in purple with a dark blue mane with a pink streak, just like Twilight. The wings arched high against her back, though the horn drooped a little- at the time of the photo Sunny hadn’t quite grown into the costume yet- but the grin on her muzzle was as wide as it could be.
Hitch was dressed as the kind Fluttershy, the butter yellow fabric melding well against the orange of his muzzle. He had one hoof held up to keep the long pink mane out of his eyes. Behind them, Sunny’s father hugged them both and smiled a goofy smile up at the camera.
“Oh, Dad,” Sunny sighed and placed a hoof to the photo. “We were all so silly.”
Sunny let out a gasp as the perfect idea came to her. “A Fluttershy scarf,” she beamed and returned to rummaging through the boxes for supplies.
Hitch arrived back at the Sheriff's office about an hour later, his saddlebags filled with fabric and stuffing. Sparky lay curled up on his back, fast asleep. He looked back at the soft purple fabric he had picked for the main color of the bear and grinned. “It’s perfect,” he sighed and stepped inside.
“Welcome back!” Pipp trilled and fluttered her wings. “I see you found everything?” She held a hoof to her muzzle upon seeing Sparky asleep, “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Hitch replied softly. “Yes, I found everything and more,” he pulled out a satchel that rustled a little, and the strong scent of strawberries filled the air. “Even this. Did you find the pattern?”
Pipp nodded and held up a rolled scroll in one hoof. “Nice and simple. Should easily have it done in time for exchanges tomorrow.”
“. “Thanks so much Pipp, you are a lifesaver!” Hitch leaned in to give the pegasus a quick hug, which she returned and hoofed him the scroll.
“You’re welcome! See you tomorrow,” she beamed. “I need to go work on Misty’s gift. This is her first ever gift Secret Canters, so I need to make it extra special!”
“Anything I can do to help?” Hitch asked.
Pipp just shook her head. “No thanks, I already have the perfect gift in the works.” She petted Sparky gently along his back. “You behave,” she whispered and then headed toward the door. “See you both tomorrow.” The door clicked shut behind her.
“Okay, let’s do this,” Hitch said. He placed Sparky carefully onto a soft pillow on the front desk. He rolled over and let out a few soft burbles, but stayed asleep. Satisfied, Hitch unloaded on the other side of the front desk. The fabric here, the bag of stuffing there, the satchel of scents to the right; needles, thread and scissors to the left, and front and center the scroll.
He unrolled the scroll to the first picture and placed a hoof to his chin in thought, then he took a deep breath and began.
The heavenly pinks and oranges of the setting sun painted the walls with their hues as Hitch took a step back to admire his hoofwork. It was certainly a bear. One ear was larger than the other, the back legs were far too long, and he had accidentally gotten a blue button when he meant to get two black ones for the eyes, but it was done. With a satisfied smirk he tied an orange bow around its neck and looked over at Sparky. “What do you think, Sparky? Think Sunny will like it?”
“Woah!” Sparky’s eyes sparkled as they took in the sight, his mouth wide in a grin of awe. He clapped his claws together and wiggled in delight. The little dragon drew closer and took in a deep breath of the strawberry scent.
It started with a tickle in his little snout. “Ahh, Ahh, Ahh,” Sparky took a deep breath and let out a loud “ACHOO!” Flames shot out of his mouth and covered the bear!
“Nooo!” Hitch yelled and hurried forward. Though, when the flames cleared, everything seemed fine. “Um… that is new?” He said and leaned forward to wipe Sparky’s dripping muzzle. “Bless you!”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the bear’s arms move. He turned to fully face it as the bear stood up wobbly on its hind legs and, looking both ways, hopped down from the counter and raced for the door!
“Bwah umm wait!” Hitch yelled and snatched Sparky up, placing the baby dragon on his back and raced after the bear.
The door jingled as it opened and Pipp stepped inside. “How is it go-” she paused as the bear ran past her and outside.
“Can’t talk,” Hitch gasped and passed Sparky to her. “Running bear, gotta catch, takecareofSparkyberightback!”
Sparky grinned up at her and giggled.
“Let me guess, you had something to do with this, didn’t you?” She booped the small dragon on his snout and grinned when he giggled. “Come on, let’s go check on Sunny and see how she is doing.” With that, she closed the door and left Hitch to catch the bear.
“Well, that could be better, but not so bad for a first go.” Sunny held a lumpy, misaligned length of yellow and pink fabric in front of her. She had found some old knitting needles of Izzy’s in a box filled with confetti, and now her work lay before her. The lines were crooked, and as she held it up to the light she grimaced at all the holes from where she had dropped a stitch or two or five.
“Okay, maybe not that great,” she sighed and placed it on the table in front of her. “But he’ll still appreciate it, right?”
“Oh yes, I am sure he will.”
Sunny turned to see Misty enter the kitchen. Her purple and hot pink hair hid most of her face as she stopped next to Sunny. “You did your best, that is um… what matters with this gift exchange, right?” She said with an awkward grin and looked at the saddlebags on her back. “I sure hope so at least,” she mumbled.
“Of course that is what matters!” Sunny said brightly and pulled Misty into a hug. “What did you make for your Secret Canter?”
“Well, I was walking in the meadow and came across these beautiful flowers with a delicious scent,” Misty said. “So um… I tried making her some perfume with them.” She pulled out a little bottle from her saddlebags and hoofed it to Sunny.
“Oooh, you must have Pip then!” Sunny beamed and took the bottle. She opened it and took a sniff, nodded her head side to side, then smiled. “Not bad. I mean,” she waved a hoof and let out a little snort, “I’m no expert, but I like it.” She hoofed the bottle back to Misty, who put it away.
“Thanks,” she said. “Hitch will feel the same about yours, I think. You’ve been best friends so long,” she looked down at her hooves with a sad smile. “I wish I had had that as a filly, but I can see how much you both care for each other. It will be okay.”
“Well, you got us now.” Sunny said encouragingly.
“Yes, I do-” both turned as Pipp flew into the kitchen, Sparky held in her forehooves.
“Hey Sunny, hey Misty,” Pipp sing-songed and landed next to them. She sat Sparky down, who waddled over to the other mares and wrapped a little arm around each of them. He closed his eyes and hugged them. “Awww I think Sparky missed you.” Her gaze then fell to the ‘scarf’ on the table. “Ahh a uh… homage to Fluttershy?”
Sunny groaned and rubbed a hoof along Sparky’s back. “Yeah that is what I was going for. I need to take lessons from Izzy or something.”
“It’s not… all that… bad,” Pipp murmured and gave a forced smile. “I’m sure whomever it is for -maybe some animal loving stallion- will still love it. After all, with Secret Canters, it is always the thought that counts. Of course, the gifts being fab-ulous is also great but all we really need to know is that we care for each other. Ahhh…” she sighed and watched as Sparky ran around the room. “Brings back memories of my foalhood days,” she sighed.
“Oh um… I think I gotta go finish working on my gift,” Misty mumbled, her ears turning pink as she raced off.
“Oh no, I hope I didn’t discourage her,” Pipp mumbled. “Anyway I should go too, gotta finish my gift. Would you mind watching Sparky for a bit? Hitch is kind of… running after his gift right now.”
“Sure, I can watch him.” Sunny nodded and grabbed the little dragon as he ran past and put him on her back. “I just need to wrap my gift and I will be all done.”
“Wonderful, wonderful. I’ll see you tomorrow then!” Pipp waved a hoof and was gone.
“Alright then, let’s see,” Sunny said and looked over at the clock on the microwave. “Looks like it is about 7pm. Isn’t that your bedtime?” she asked Sparky and booped him on the snout.
“No, no, no, no,” he stuck his tongue out at her and shook his head. A moment later he let out a huge yawn.
“Mmm I’m thinking that is actually a ‘yes, yes, yes, yes’,” Sunny giggled softly, She took the scarf and giftbox in one hoof and trotted toward the elevator.
As she arrived upstairs a few moments later, she placed Sparky down on her bed to sleep for the moment, and then grabbed the giftbox and scarf to finish her work.
“Come baaack,” Hitch gasped as the bear continued to run down the road. Those long hind legs were sure handy for it! “Watch out!” Hitch yelled, too late as the bear bowled down the fillies Peach Fizz, Seashell, and Glory and sent the three of them sprawling into hedges lining Posey’s garden. “I’m so sorry, he’s out of control!” He yelled to them as they crawled out of the bush.
Hitch turned back to the bear as a crack filled the air, and he saw a strange green glow cover it for a moment, then as they continued to run it began to grow. “Oh, jinkies,” Hitch groaned. He took in a deep breath and then hurried on once again. “I really need to lay off those doughnuts.”
With each step of the bear Hitch could feel the ground rumble under his hooves, loose gravel was tossed into the air. An especially hard stomp of the plush paw sent McSnipps Alot the crab tumbling into the road. Hitch dived to snag his friend and place him on his back. “Careful there, McSnipps, today is not a day to be running around without checking both ways!”
He continued on, heart pounding in his chest as the bear got further and further ahead of him as it continued to grow. It paused for a moment to look at the Mane Melody Signpost but right before Hitch could catch up it continued along, its paw hit against the sign and with a crack it fell to the ground. “Hey, that is destruction of private property!” He yelled at the bear.
Hitch slid to a stop and looked ahead as it finally occurred to him where it was heading. “Wait, we don’t exchange gifts until tomorrow. You can’t break tradition!” He yelled and hurried toward the Brighthouse.
The bear towered above all the buildings around them now, ponies closed their second story windows with a snap as it passed by. As it reached the hill leading up to the Brighthouse the bear finally slowed for the climb.
“Aha! Gotcha!” Hitch said as he latched onto one paw. “Woaaah! Or you got me!” He yelled, his grip tightened as the bear took another huge step forward. With a tingling sensation down his back, he felt McSnipps fall and roll in the grass. “Save yourself,” he yelled to the crab as he flew forward with another huge bear step.
The air filled with the sound of another loud crack and the bear stopped. Hitch looked up and jumped away as the bear fell, limp and once again just a plush. A loud thud filled the air as the bear dropped into a sitting position next to the building. Hitch looked up and up to the bear's mismatched button eyes,level with the very top of the Brighthouse.
He whipped his gaze back to the ground when the front doors opened and Sunny raced out.
“What the… OH. MY. GOSH!” she gasped, standing up on her hind legs and putting both forehooves to her face as her mouth dropped in shock. “A giant bear plushie?” She sniffed the air, “and… strawberries?”
“Um… Happy Winter Wishday?” Hitch mumbled and walked slowly over to her.”Your gift… kind of decided to come to you.” He gave a cheesy grin as he rubbed his neck.
“My gift?” She paused for a moment then gasped. “You were my Secret Canter!” she yelled in delight and pulled Hitch into a tight hug. “Oh my gosh, Hitch. How did you make it so big? I.. It’s bigger than the Brighthouse!” She laughed and clopped her forehooves together.
“Uh, yeah I was.” He coughed as she finally released him. “So you…like it?”
“Oh, Hitch, I love it!” She let out a gasp and raced back toward the front doors.
“Sunny?”
“I’m going to go get yours!” she yelled right before the door slammed behind her.
Hitch let out a huge sigh of relief and collapsed next to the giant bear, finally getting that so needed oxygen. “I’m glad she likes you,” he said to the bear and patted one of its giant long legs.
A moment later he looked up when the doors opened once more. Sunny trotted over to him with Sparky on her back, a small hoofwrapped box in her hooves.
“Happy Winter Wishday,” she said and hoofed it over to him. “It’s not nearly as amazing as your bear but I hope you still like it.” With her hooves how empty, she moved Sparky into them so he could see his father’s reaction.
A light breeze wafted over Sunny and Sparky’s way, the scent of strawberries from the bear filling the air. The little dragon wiggled in her hooves, his nose itching with a tickling sensation.
As Hitch stood up to open the gift, Sparky let out a powerful “ACHOOOO!” shooting flames and smoke straight at Hitch and his gift!
“NO!” Sunny yelped in surprise. A few seconds later when the smoke cleared, both she and Sparky began to laugh.
“What? What happened?” Hitch asked and ran a hoof over himself, then his eyes widened as he looked down. Soft, butter yellow fabric covered his entire body, including little yellow booties for his hooves. Long, delicate pink hair fell into his face, and he felt well-made wings wiggle along his back.
Both Sparky and Sunny stopped laughing as he continued to inspect himself, waiting, then sighed in relief when he let out a laugh of his own. “Awww, it's an Element of Kindness Special Edition Fluttershy onesie! Didn’t we have ones like this when we were foals?”
“Yes, yes we did,” Sunny said and trotted over to him. “I still have the pictures too,” she giggled and winked at him.
“Oh, oh, really?” he asked and blushed.
“Yep,” she replied. popping the p at the end. “Not exactly what I had made for you…” She nibbled on her bottom lip and blushed a little herself. “Is it okay?”
“You kidding? I love it!” He beamed. He leaned in closer to her and whispered in her ear. “Now, don’t you tell anypony, but…. I secretly always wished for an adult sized one of these.”
“Well, then I’m glad.” Sunny and Hitch looked into each other's eyes for a moment, then Sunny darted forward and pressed her muzzle to his, kissing him deeply. She only pulled away when Sparky started to cheer. “Sorry that kind of was all of a sudden-”
Hitch reached forward and drew her back into the kiss, lasting only a few seconds but sweet and tender as his heart pounded. “It’s okay,” he mumbled. “Happy Winter Wishday, Sunny.”
They both looked down to Sparky, who was cheering and burbling happily in Sunny’s hooves. “I think we got you to thank for this, my little guy,” Hitch said and rubbed the baby dragon’s head affectionately. “Looks like you made the holiday once again.”
“Mmm indeed he did.” Sunny leaned against Hitch and nuzzled his cheek. This had really been a Winter Wishday to remember!
“I wonder what surprises Sparky will have for us next year?” Hitch asked.
Author's Note
Yay this was fun to write. Took me a bit to figure out exactly how I wanted to write it so it's not perfect, but I hope you enjoy JD!
