The Everfree Hive was bustling with activity. Drones flitting left and right and weaving through tunnels in the efficiently, yet stylishly, designed hive. Queen Neoptera stood in her throne room, eyes closed in concentration as she fed orders throughout the network and conversed with Princess Celestia through a lower power version of the Harbinger spell. Having developed a way to communicate through a drone without the risk of damaging it had been an incredible boon to the hive queen after years of rotating guards and drones to Canterlot as each needed time and love provided by the hive to recover after each use of the original version of the spell.

A hoof tapped her flank lightly and she opened her eyes, splitting her concentration yet again in a practiced manner to look over at the pony who had crept up on her, "Rarity! How are you?"

"Just wonderful, 'my Queen,' just wonderful! Your drones have been wonderful assistants this past year with the increase in business."

"They do make it much easier to create tailored outfits without you ever meeting the client. I've heard stories of your mysterious powers to know a pony's precise measurements from halfway across Equestria!"

"And Griffons, and the occasional Minotaur. I never knew Changelings could transform so dramatically!"

"Where the love is, so shall we be."

Rarity smiled and nodded, "Anyway, darling. I showed up early in case you needed any last minute adjustments or assistance decorating."

"After six years, I have everything well in hand. 57 drones in-hive, 12 in Canterlot, 14 including Pinkie in Ponyville, 5 in Manehattan, 7 in Fillydelphia-"

"I know, I know," Rarity interrupted, not interested in hearing the exact location of all 275 members of the Everfree Hive, "but sometimes a fresh pair of non-segmented eyes might be useful. Honestly who among the invitees are going to notice the banners so high on the ceiling or the trees in the tunnels only your drones can fit through?"

"... I do..."

The unicorn smiled softly, "And sometimes that's the most important thing, Twilight. Where's Big Mac?"

"Finishing up with Applejack before they join us here. This is going to be the best Hearth's Warming Eve yet!" Queen Neoptera squeed and smiled widely.

"Of that I have no doubt, darling!"

Fluttershy hummed softly as she waited for Pinkie Pie to arrive at her cottage. Bundled up against the snow and cold, Angel Bunny sat buried in her mane, shivering. If the last few years had been any indication, the party tonight was going to be just the right kind of fun. She was usually wary of large groups but this was going to be only her friends and loved ones and some drones and the pegasus was absolutely ecstatic to study how the hive had changed in the time since last Hearth's Warming.

Looking up at a soft buzz, the mare spotted a pink-tinged changeling leading two others toward her location. She lifted a hoof and waved at the approaching trio as they came in for a landing.

"Hi Fluttershy!"

"Hi Pinkie, Zap, Flitter," she replied with a smile, being the only pony able to tell the drones apart other than Twilight and Pinkie Pie, but they didn't really count as they were connected to the hive mind. Her only response to how had been a shrug, and truth be told she wasn't entirely sure how it happened. Perhaps it was an adaptation of her special talent.

The drones bowed and her friend grinned, "We're here to escort you to the party!"

"I appreciate it. I know there really isn't much in the forest that would dare come after me anyway but I know they won't attack me and three of its newest residents."

"And if they do, the three of us can kick their flank," muttered Zap with a grin at his hive-sister. While the drones didn't particularly have gender, they tended to choose to transform into mares or stallions (or bulls, etc) depending on their personality, and used pronouns based on their preference. Those that didn't have a preference were considered better "hunters" as they didn't discriminate in prey, even though those terms didn't really apply in the hive of Queen Neoptera.

Over the years the Hive had become a fixture in the Everfree, still almost a total secret among the residents of Equestria. Naturally, this meant that nearly everypony knew about it. There had been some initial hub-bub but after it had been revealed that Queen Neoptera had graciously provided monetary and material reparation for her "departed sister's" attack on Canterlot and was largely responsible for the repairs and renovations, it mostly died out.

Unfortunately, not all had been peaceful. A few years after the establishment of the Everfree Hive and it's official unofficial absorption into Equestria, a group of Mwindanji found out and attempted to wipe out the hive. Zecora managed to warn Twilight in time, but it still resulted in a massive loss of Changeling life, including several of her original guard, and all of the Mwindanji who had made the assault.

Fluttershy shook off the thoughts as she fell into step with her escort, adjusting her saddlebag with her wings as they moved into the forest. Eventually, they met with Zecora and made it to the old bridge, now a magnificently crafted stairwell that led to the entrance to the hive. As they descended they were joined by Rainbow Dash and the conversation bloomed as Zap began to obviously flirt with the Element of Loyalty.

The Queen looked at Rarity and smiled, then blinked, "Oh, everyone's going to be here soon! I should change!" she said before the trademark green flame appeared and where once stood Queen Neoptera now stood Twilight Sparkle.

Rarity smiled and gave her friend a hug now that she was at the proper height, "Was that a pun, darling?"

Twilight blushed, "Maybe..."

"Well, I'll just blame Pinkie as usual. She is 'in your head' after all," the white unicorn said with a grin as a swarm of drones cleared out, one lagging behind to drop a replica of the element of magic on top of the tree.

As a group, most of her friends entered the throne chamber, minus Applejack and her brother. According to the guardian waiting for them, it would be about five more minutes before they teleported in. Pinkie had already returned to her pony form and was chatting away at Fluttershy.

A bright flash interrupted her thoughts as her BBBFF, Cadence, Celestia, and Luna appeared in the middle of the room, "Twily!" her brother shouted before trotting over to give her a hug.

"Shiney, so good to see you, and you Cadence! Princess Celestia, Luna, I'm glad you could make it too."

Luna gave her a smirk, "One advantage of being in charge is we can give ourselves the day off."

The solar diarch nodded in turn, "I would never miss a Hearth's Warming party from my dearest student and closest ally."

"Aw, Auntie, you mean I'm not your closest ally?" Cadence said, with a practiced pout.

"I think she meant geographically," Shining Armor mentioned, attempting to placate his wife.

The pink alicorn giggled, "I know, sweetie."

"Well, all the drones will leave us alone unless we run out of snacks, and AJ and Big Mac should be arriving in 3... 2... 1..." Twilight counted, until a bright green flash announced the arrival of the last element and the stallion. The guardian drone bowed, then vacated the area. Everypony had arrived and was sitting down, Pinkie already scarfing down some snacks.

"I'm so glad you could all make it. I'm also glad that this gathering has become such a good tradition with us," the small purple unicorn said, giving Big Mac a kiss before laying next to him on a plush cushion, "We're all family, in one way or another, and Hearth's Warming is about being together. It may not quite be the way we expected it to be six years ago, but, we still have each other, and down here, nopony can bother us, so we can all enjoy each other's company and just... Be, for a night at least. Happy Hearth's Warming Eve, everypony!"

A murmuring of cheers and responses, carried on waves of familial and romantic love, made Twilight smile even wider. Tonight was going to be a good night.

Author's Note

Merry Christmas my little ponies. It's been nearly 4 years but I do occasionally still trawl about this site and read things, though I haven't watched ponies since the season premiere with Starlight Glimmer. One of these days I plan to catch up, but life keeps getting in the way. I wrote this because I wanted to do something special for Christmas but I wasn't sure what, and as I have yet to finish any of my steven universe fiction, and having fond memories of this community... Well, here it is!