The weeks, even days, leading up to Hearths Warming can usually be filled with stress, anxiety, and a little bit of panic as ponies all around Equestria were busy either making sure that shelves at stores were consistently stocked, restaurants and bakeries stocked with ingredients to fill as many food orders as possible, and running around looking for those 'perfect' gifts for their friends and family. At least it would be, unless you either planned ahead, bought gifts weeks in advance, or...somepony's pet.
Winona gave a slight whine while yawning as she watched snow fall outside one of the windows of Twilight's Friendship Castle. Not that there wasn't a couple of things she could be doing at the moment, such as following Applejack around the castle, making sure Applebloom doesn't get into any trouble, keep Granny company, and more recently, ensure Sugar Belle and Big Mac didn't get lost somewhere in the castle, again. Fortunately, or unfortunately, all the Apples were present at the moment as they talked with the other ponies at the castle right now, so Winona didn't have much else to do other than relax.
"Hmph," Winona heard a voice say behind her, "Well, I'm not one to turn down a quiet moment, but you seem to be missing some pep in your step, Winona."
Winona turned her head to look at the voice's owner, and saw Opalescence, Rarity's cat, seated behind her.
"Howdy, Opal, ah didn't notice you there."
"Clearly. So...," Opal padded over closer to Winona, "why is the dog looking more down than my Rarity after a bad day?"
"Nothing really, ah'm just a mite bit bored."
"Bored?! Really?" another voice exclaimed as Angel hopped closer to them, behind him was Owlowiscious and Gummy, "We're at one of the town's biggest parties outside of one of our owners' birthdays, and you're bored?"
"Ah'm a work dog, it's just in me ta like being active. But, with it bein' winter and my family all safe and sound, there just ain't much else to do."
"It's almost Hearths Warming, and you're telling me that you'd rather be out there in the snow hard at work than relaxing like everycreature else?" Angel asked in disbelief as he crossed his arms.
"Now, now, it isn't really fair to compare Winona to other creatures," Owlowiscious remarked, "She's been raised on a farm, and if I'm not mistaken, she's a border collie, a specific breed that have herding tendencies, it's only natural she has a higher desire to be active and industrious than most."
"Herding tendencies?" Angel repeated with a smirk, "What does the number of mates she takes on have to do with her being industrious?"
Owlowiscious put a wing over his face in annoyance, "I was not referring to that kind of 'herding', Angel."
"Agreed, please keep such crude statements, jokes or otherwise, to yourself, Angel," Opal added, though a smirk appeared on her face, "Afterall, we're talking about a dog here, not a rabbit."
Angel glared at Opal as he thumped his foot against the ground, "Ha ha, very funny."
"In any case, darling, if you're that inclined to find something to do, why not just do something fun you like to do."
"Fun?" Winona asked.
"Yes, 'fun', as in something that entertains and amuses you. Something you do to relax after working," Opal explained, "You do have an activity that counts as fun outside your work on the farm, yes?"
"O' course, ah do fun things all the time when there isn't any work to be done, but... all of them requires my family to be part of it, like fetch, tug o' war, and running around the farm."
"Those are also activities that require space, such as being outside," Opal remarked, rolling her eyes, before licking her paws to groom her face.
Owlowiscious gave a contemplative 'hmm' before saying, "Well, that's not entirely true. Hypothetically, Winona could play fetch while inside the castle."
"The castle may be large, but it's full of things that I'm sure your Twilight will be upset if they damaged or broken. Besides, do you plan to throw a stick every time for her?"
"No, nothing like that. I was suggesting perhaps she could 'fetch' by finding something instead."
"Findin' what exactly?" Winona asked
"Hm, how about the presents. As usual, the others have hidden the presents to prevent the foals, and Rainbow Dash, from attempting to open their presents early. Perhaps, a search around the castle for them might keep you busy."
Winona scratched behind her ear as she thought about Owlowiscious's suggestion. It certainly did give her something to keep her mind busy.
"A'ight, ah'm open to doing a lil' present huntin'. What about ya'll?"
"I'll just supervise," Owlowiscious replied, "I'm actually aware of where the presents are kept, so there's little reason for me to join in the search."
"I'll pass," Angel responded, "I've better things to do than run around a castle. Besides I'm hungry, and there's a bowl of salad in the kitchen with my name on it."
Gummy blinked a couple of times and made a sound.
"What does that mean?" Winona asked.
"He said that he'll pass," Angel rang in.
Gummy then made another sound followed by him clamping his jaws.
Angel raised a brow, "He's passing because he doesn't find any point in looking for the presents, when we'll get them anyway in several hours. Also, because Pinkie is going to feed him soon, and she'll probably find you and bring you back if he joins you. You really think she'll find you that quickly?"
Gummy didn't respond as he blinked.
Winona waited a moment, before asking, "Did he say anything else?"
"Nah, he's just blinking."
"What about you, Opal? Ya mind joining me for a present hunt?"
"I certainly would not wish to join you," she then sighed, "but it seems I must. Besides, I suppose it would be to my advantage if I did. It's much too loud in this area for me to nap, and as much as I love my Rarity, her younger sister can be quite... energetic."
"So you're joinin' me then?" Winona asked as her tail wagged.
"Yes, I will," Opal replied in a calm tone, and jumped up onto Winona's back, "Just do me a favor, and don't run around."
"Ya know, ah ain't that big."
"And I'm not a heavy cat," Opal shot back.
Winona rolled her eyes, "A'ight," was all she said before proceeding to bolt out of the room and into the hallway.
Opal almost fell off, but only managed to hold on because her claws managed to get a grip on Winona's fur, "Ah! I told you, don't run!"
Winona and Opal walked around for a long while as they checked several rooms, while Owlowiscious was never far from them, but was still far away enough that he almost seemed out of sight for the most part.
"Hm, I'm not sure whether to be impressed or disturbed with how well Owlowiscious is keeping himself hidden," Opal remarked, her ears carefully listening to the general direction Owlowiscious was located and hidden.
"He does live here," Winona stated, "Ah'm sure he knows every nook and cranny he can use to stay hidden from us."
"Very true. Though..." she then looked down the hallway again, "It still gives me the creeps that he is following us so well without being noticed."
Winona just pressed onward as she continued looking for the presents. It was surprising her that looking for them was taking longer than she had expected. Despite the Friendship Castle not being as large as the Crystal Palace or Canterlot Castle, it was still quite sizeable, and full of rooms.
Winona sniffed at the air and came to yet another door before sniffing at the base, "Ah never explored this part of the castle before. Don't know why there's so many rooms 'ere, it ain't like that many ponies live 'ere."
"It's to show influence and strength," Opal responded.
"What fer?"
"Ponies of high status like to show off, and to stand out from those of lesser standing."
"Seems senseless if ya ask me," they then came upon a door that Winona seemed to think was a likely area, and tried pushing against the door, to no avail.
"Allow me," Opal rang in before jumping and grabbing onto the door handle and pulling it down.
"Thank ya kindly," Winona then pushed the door and walked in, "Where's this now?"
Opal gave a smile as they looked at the room the found themselves in. The room turned out to be Twilight's private study, and aside from the piles of books in certain areas, it seemed quite inviting to Opal to nap in.
"I'm not sure, but I think this would be a lovely place for a nap," Opal responded as she jumped up onto Twilight's comfy chair and was about to scratch at it a little to settle in, before Owlowiscious landed on the backrest and stopped her.
"This is Twilight's private study, and I would appreciate if you don't damage the furniture, Opal," he explained, earning a hiss from Opal, "The only part I'm agreeing with you about is that it is a nice place to roost."
Winona took a moment to walk around and briefly check the room, then turned to Owlowiscious, "This ain't the room where the presents are bein' hidden, is it?"
He shook his head, "No, it isn't. This room is much too obvious. Also, Rainbow Dash does come in here once in a while to borrow a book."
"Can ya at least tell us if we're gettin' hotter or colder?"
"From where you started, hotter."
"Could ya give a hint where we should be lookin'?" Winona asked, as Opal curled up and looked like she was about to take a nap.
Owlowiscious brought a feathered wingtip to his beak before saying, "Just keep going down the hallway. You'll know when you find it, eventually."
"A'ight," she merely responded, before going over to Opal, "Come on partner, we gotta keep movin'," then picked the cat up by the nape of her neck and carried her out of the room.
"What are you doing?! Let go of me this instant!" Opal demanded as Winona carried her out.
After some time, Winona was able to let Opal go without the feline running off. They continued to going down the hallway, and checking rooms that Winona seemed to think their goal might be.
"Can ah ask ya somethin', Opal?" Winona asked as the pair walked down the hall.
Opal didn't respond, but looked at Winona from the corner of her eye.
"How come ya never seem friendly? Ya never seem open ta talkin' ta us most o' the time."
"I do not know. Why are you so friendly?"
"Cause, ah like makin' new friends," Winona responded with a little more energy in her step, "It is what mah family does, and it's always excitin' meeting someone new 'round town."
"Depending on who you mean, that can be your folly," Opal stated, then paused before continuing, "Us cats tend to be more withdrawn. We prefer our solitude."
"So does that mean, ya'll just don't like us?"
"No, it's not that we don't like any other creatures. We just like our solitude."
"Is that true for you? I know ya can be much more friendly when ya want ta be. Yer close to Rarity, and you stopped callin' me a 'filthy, moronic cur' a while ago."
"Rarity is a special case, she's my pony afterall," Opal declared, but then looked off to the side in thought, "Did I really call you that before?"
"Ya sure did. Ah think ya even called me some nasty word once before."
"Oh, I see... I might've crossed a line with that one, I apologize, that was rather uncouth of me to say."
"Oh, don'tcha worry about it none," Winona cheerfully stated, "It's all water under the bridge."
"You're...surprisingly forgiving for being called several nasty terms," Opal stated, with a bit a of surprise.
"Ain't that just cause ah'm a dog, and yer a cat? It's just how it is."
Opal remained silent for a moment, "Actually, I think me calling you those things were less about the typical cat-and-dog relationship, and more that I prefer not to interact all that often and I found the idea of interacting with you very unpleasant."
"Oh, really?" she asked, her expression unfazed, "So... does that mean, ah ain't yer friend?"
Opal let out a sigh, "Normally, I would say 'no', but at this point, I'm more familiar with you now and your... exuberant quirks. If anything I'm happy to be among our group of friends after all this time our ponies of known each other."
Winona responded with a wide smile and vigorous tail wagging.
"Let us be clear about one thing though. You will not share this information with Angel Bunny. If I find out you told him, I'll gladly claw your ears off."
Winona gladly gestured that she'll keep her mouth shut.
"And that goes the same for you too, Owlowiscious," she shouted.
They didn't get a response back, but they figured that he will keep his beak shut as well.
Suddenly, Winona picked up a scent that she didn't smell earlier. She sniffed the air and then the ground before rushing off to find the source. Opal quickly followed behind her, with a confused look on her face.
"Did you find something?" Opal asked as she watched Winona sniff at the bottom of a door that had a ribbon sticking out from the bottom of it.
"There's a different smell here, and there's a distinct smell of a paper ribbon here."
"I see the ribbon, but is it really that suspicious? Half the town uses such a thing for decoration."
"It's different, I'm sure of it. This is the room," she confirmed before looking up at the doorknob.
Opal did the same, and rolled her eyes, "If I must," then jumped onto Winona's back, then towards the doorknob.
Winona pushed in and was met with the sight of what they were looking for. With a wide smile, she hollered, "Woo-hoo-ooo! We found it! We found the present stash."
"Well, it certainly seems we did," Opal sniffed the air, and picked up a variety of scents in the room, including something that smelled a bit like fish, "So this must be what he meant when he said we'll know when we find it."
Opal and Winona then walked between the wrapped gifts as the pair looked around. Opal eventually finding a gift seemed to be the source of the fishy smell, while Winona what looked like a chew toy of some kind with only a bow being used as a 'wrap'.
"Well it seems you've found the prize at the end." Owlowiscious remarked, landing on the ground next to Winona, "I hope you both weren't hoping on opening them it right this instant.
"You don't need to worry about me. I can control my urges better," Opal remarked, as she remained on top of a present, her weight causing the top to sag a bit.
"Hearth's Warming is soon anyway, so why not take the chance right now, "Winona complained.
"This was just a quick exercise to keep you busy, Winona, so you could have something to do. We never said you would open your presents early. At least not without your owner, Applejack, knowing you found it."
Winona gave a disappointed whimper, but agreed.
"Oh, that's where ya are," they heard a voice say, causing all three of them to look towards the door, finding Applejack trotting into the room, "Heard ya yowling a minute ago, Winona. Thought somethin' had happened, but it looks like ya were just lookin' fer your presents."
"Well, that's what they were doing, it looks like they succeeded," Twilight stated as she stuck her head into the room, "I could've sworn I closed this door earlier."
Winona picked up the chew toy she found and brought it to Applejack.
Applejack chuckled, "Ya want yer gift early, girl?"
Winona barked in confirmation.
Applejack chuckled again, before shaking her head a little, "Al'ight, ah'll allow it, but ya better make it up by bein' extra good all o' next year, ya hear?"
Winona barked again, this time happily as she picked up her gift and walked out of the room.
Opal followed afterwards, content to wait till later to properly claim her gift, and Owlowiscious flying over to land on Twilight's back, also content to wait till Hearth's Warming.
"Passing on getting your gift early?" Twilight asked him, to which Owlowiscious nodded, earning a giggle from Twilight as they all started walking back to the others.
"'Ey, Obal," Winona called out, her words getting mumbled due to carrying her gift with her.
"Yes?" Opal responded, again looking at Winona from the corner of her eye.
"Fanks, fer 'elpin me wiff dis hunt."
Opal smirked, "Learn some manners. Don't talk with your mouth full," she then paused, "I'm glad I could be of assistance."
Author's Note
As mentioned this is a Jinglemas request for ImNotBatman1602, who asked for a bit of cat-and-dog caper between Winona and Opalescence. I really hope I was able to meet the request properly, as this is my first time writing a story where the pets were in the primary roles, and needed to adjust how their wording might differ from the usual.
I do hope that this did the request justice, and you guys all enjoyed this story with Winona and Opal, especially ImNotBatman1602. Happy Holidays, all!
-Blueninetails