The party room at Sugar Cube Corner was decked out in festive colours, holiday lights twinkled and jingle bells tinkled. A bright pink pony bounced about with her pudding-head hat and a manic grin, “Happy Hearthwarming!” She shouted aloud, pouncing upon a group of fillies and colts pulling festive crackers. The foals giggled and piled onto everyone’s favourite unofficial family member; Aunty Pinkie.
In the far corner someone in a Commander Hurricane breastplate was making a half hearted attempt to escape a sprig of mistletoe held aloft in purple magic, followed closely by a giggling navy haired unicorn.
It was the Eve of Hearthswarming and everyone in Ponyville was partying, even a mouse!
Fluttershy watched with pride as Master Squeak politely asked Millie Whiskers for a dance. Her “Big Bunny” stood close by with a festive jumper in place of the usual yoke, a fetching forest green that complimented his eyes.
The annual shindig, part pageant after-party, part community get-together was in full swing. The play had been a success and everypony was feeling the effects of all the love and happiness in the air.
One pony though, was feeling the effects of the Jingle Bells Punch, and the “hard” eggnog, the traditional mulled wine and a festive treat from Trottingham; fortified coco. Oh, and some of Stalliongrad’s finest product. She wasn’t really a sharing pony but most who knew her of old were aware of how hard the holidays were on the mulberry mare.
Her daughter Ruby Pinch was merrily joining in the group activities and eating up the happy atmosphere with her friends, not a care in the world. For that her mother was glad. Little ones were not supposed to be troubled and she would keep it that way for as long as she could.
Across the room her sister smiled and waved a hoof, her partner and friends close by. Berry Punch knew that it was an invitation to join them, but right now she felt tears pricking behind her eyes and a shake in her heart. It would not be wise to get too close to them, those eyes that would hold pity. With yet another false smile and a toast to all, the earth pony made an act of misunderstanding the gesture and returned to those drinks off limits to the children.
*
A blue unicorn with white striped mane trotted smartly from her home/workplace. She was always on time, even if that meant her time not community time. As it had happened, as she left the Ponyville performance hall Ditzy Doo had pounced in a panic, explaining in near tears that in haste she had damaged the fine time piece she had bought Time Turner as a gift. In desperate need of having it repaired and with Minuette being her only hope, of course the unicorn had agreed to help her friend.
This had the knock on effect of delaying her arrival at the bakery for the festive party. Nevertheless, she was pleased with how her time had been spent and had completed dropping off the wrapped and thrice padded gift into the home of the pegasus mailmare and her little family. Making sure to leave her own offerings within the canvas bag ready for a merry morning of gift opening.
Smiling as she trotted through the pure white snow, Minuette mentally checked each gift she had left the preceding day and evening. There had been the hoofmade ornamental quill rack for Twilight, an old acquaintance from Canterlot and now a pony considered friend. Young Spike was to receive some of her older gem tools, the dragon being a great lover of crystal-craft and surely happy to have the tools that would otherwise gather dust.
Ditzy and her “Doctor” were having her proudest gift, a hoof-crafted music box, a pair of ponies modelled in their likeness would dance to their first song once the mechanism was wound. Her colleague and best friend were a cute couple. Amethyst and Dinky had a journal and a doll respectively. Cheerilee was to unwrap a pencil pot carved in patterns of sunflowers, Bon-bon and Lyra a lyre stand and spice rack.
Minuette loved to give gifts to her close friends. Those reserved for her most special someponies waited, their creator brimming with glee at the thought, in her drawing room under a decorated tree. Ruby and Berry were going to spend the night. With a clip in her canter the unicorn craftspony hurried to the welcoming warm glow of Ponyville’s premier patisserie.
*
Berry Punch downed another glass. She wasn’t exactly sure what she was drinking but the tell tale warmth slid down her throat, at least letting her know it was alcohol. Shapes and creatures danced with the colourful ponies within the party hall, the mulberry coated pony didn’t react. She had half an inkling that they were the product of her vice but the desired side effect of inebriation dispelled any kind of normal or sane reaction somepony would be expected to have in such a situation.
A door on the far side of the room opened and all at once the monsters fled. Her unicorn was here, chasing away the worst of her demons merely with her presence. The blue mare levitated away her scarf and hung it from a towering creature that returned to a coat-rack when in contact with the knitted garment.
Blue eyes filled her loopy vision and a kind smile settled below them. “Hi Berry.” A soft voice said. Berry Punch grinned lopsidedly and tried to sit up a little straighter. Her hoof failed to gain purchase and she merely slumped into the soft blue coat, a fresh smell of peppermint washed the lingering stale scent of drink from her nose.
“Mmm minty fresh...” She giggled, running a hoof through dual-toned white and blue hair and again struggling to stand.
“Berry, how much have you had?” It was a gentle voice, no hint of reproof. That was what she loved about her unicorn. No reproof, no guilt, just loving care and understanding.
“A few... hew hew.” The mulberry pony giggled again, inner thoughts told her that perhaps the Port had been a poor choice.
“A few? More than six?” The gentle voice was whispering in her ear, taking a chance to nuzzle pink ears with a blue nose.
“Maaaaaybe.” Berry hiccupped and slid once more to her haunches. “Yes.” She moved from a giggle to a guffaw.
“My love, I think it is time for a break, maybe some fruit juice or water instead?” blue lips caressed her ear in a gentle kiss with the request. “It’s getting late too, maybe time to go home?” She waved a hoof around the room, all the ponies with children were collecting their sleepy colts and fillies to take home and tuck up in bed. In a corner snuggled against her friend Dinky was a very tired Ruby Pinch.
“Sounds like a plan darlin’ Colgate” She hiccupped again, the merry of sherry keeping her mood high. Her unicorn briefly left her side and lifted the sleeping filly with her magic. The little dusky pink unicorn filly snuggled into the blue coated back with a tiny whinny.
“Time to go home.” Minuette said, placing her scarf about the sleeping filly and giving her marefriend a little magical help to walk home. They said their goodbyes to the hosts and seemed to leave in a block with their friends.
At a crossroads a little way down the road Amethyst and Ditzy hugged goodbye, Time Turner giving a polite but careful bow, keeping little Dinky balanced on his back.
“Where we goin’ lover...” Berry drawled, their path taking them in the opposite direction to her apartment over a bar.
“Home, my love.” Minuette replied, nuzzling close. “Just a little way further.”
“Awwight...” Berry hiccupped and stumbled her way through the snow.
*
Minuette buzzed with enthusiasm, she was taking them to her house, to her home. To her plan and the carefully wrapped gifts. To awaken the next morning to the excited cries of a filly who wants to open her presents, nestled besides a mulberry pony who had so enraptured her heart and soul. Her greatest gift had almost been revealed by careless speaking, fortunately or not Berry had supped a little too much and was not swift enough to pick up on it.
The tidy maisonette with a garden resplendent in winter colours came into view, a scattering of star-lights winking in the windows. She unlocked the door and guided Berry in. “I’ll just take Ruby to bed.” She left the earth pony on a chair in the dining room and gently took the filly to her bed within “Aunty Colgate’s” house, she left the sleeping unicorn with a brief but daring peck on her forehead.
Berry sat at the table lining up shots of Bombay Sapphire gin, a happy glow on her cheeks. “Heyy lover, got me some drink that looks like you!” She chuckled and slurped down the first in the row. Minuette levitated the other two and the uncapped bottle away.
“Berry, it’s time to sleep my love. No more drinking tonight.” Her gentle voice soothed away any drunken reactions and simple hygienic magic sent the liquid from glass to bottle in short order. “Come love, hearths warming is nearly upon us. We don’t want Windingos to steal us away.” She smiled and with soft pushes guided the inebriated mare up to their bed.
Berry collapsed upon the bed gracelessly with the boneless floppy movements of a cat. “Yo’re bed’s soft, so soft...” She chuckled to Minuette.
“Not as soft or as comfortable as when you are here.” The blue pony replied, blushing. She slid in beside her mare. “Night love.” A little peck on the cheek was all Minuette would allow when Berry wasn’t sober and she was. It was only right and proper.
*
Berry woke, it was dark and possibly cold out. A warm lump lay beside her. For the briefest moment, in a brain still draining toxins from itself, she thought he was still alive and beside her. Reality came crashing down once the calendar was in sight. “He’s dead and gone...” She tried to stifle the tears but her happy drunk stage was long gone and her tired body called out for sorrow. Gasping heaving sobs wracked her, waking the other pony in the bed.
“Berry... It happened again didn’t it?” Minuette sat up, her fur and mane slightly mussed by sleep, rubbing tired eyes.
“I-I-I’m sorry, so so sorry...” Berry sobbed, “Just hits me-he-he-hee sometimes.” She wept a little more, a comforting embrace soothing the shakes a little.
“Hush now, hush. I’m here, Ruby is safe, you are safe.” Blue eyes pierced the tears and quiet words calmed the maelstrom of emotions in the haunted pony.
“I loved him and he went though.” Berry sniffed, “What, what if you go too?” A nuzzle cut of the sentence.
“Nothing bad will happen. I promise. I love you so very much. Both of you.” Minuette lay the mare down beside her and wrapped all four hooves about the still slightly shivering form. “Now hush and sleep, Hearth Warming’s morn is nearly here."
“Love you...” Berry closed her eyes to sleep as bidden, she was very tired and shaken up. A welcome embrace and a warm bed did their work and soon both ponies slept.
*
“HEARTHS WARMING!!!” Ruby yelled from the doorway, taking a running leap and landing atop the forms of her mother and Auntie Colgate.
“Yes it is.” A bemused voice replied, blue magic surrounding the smaller unicorn and lifting her up. The blanket slid off her Auntie and mother, who grumbled and sat up too.
“Mommy! Presents Time!!!” the excitable filly yelled. With a crafty look her horn glowed pink and popped the blue aura that held her, before she made contact with the bed, Ruby was running downstairs to the drawing room.
“Happy Hearths Warming my love.” Minuette smiled and helped Berry out of bed to join her daughter.
*
In the drawing room a pink unicorn filly swarmed around a pile of brightly wrapped gifts, nosing each according to the labelled name. “Mommy, I got loads of presents!” She shouted and waved a hoof at a towering pile.
“Yes you did honey, because you are a special little filly.” Berry nuzzled her child and received a hug in return.
“Now, what are you waiting for?” Minuette asked, toting breakfast in her magic. “Time to open them all up Ruby!”
*
The little unicorn was playing happily with her toys and gifts, the hoofmade sledge Auntie Colgate had given her was sat waiting for their walk after lunch. Berry and Minuette had opened their own gifts at a slower pace. Only one remained.
“I am so stupid.” Berry moaned, “I forgot to get you anything Cole, I am a terrible marefriend.”
“You’re here, spending Hearths Warming with me. That is as fine a gift as I could ever want.” Minuette nuzzled her marefriend. “And now, this is my gift to you.”
“You shouldn’t have.” Berry blushed, trying to quash her rising guilt. The wrapping paper was metallic blue, the package an anonymous flat rectangle. She shuffled the paper off and looked at the plain black box. Minuette nodded encouragingly.
“Open it my love.” She smiled her gentle smile. Berry lifted the lid to discover a simple key, a note card gummed inside the lid.
“Would you like to move in?” was all it read.
“You really want us here?” Her voice became tight with emotion, slow tears of joy welling in her eyes.
“Forever and always.” Minuette replied. “If... If you want to.”
Berry smiled widely. “Certainly.” Tears dripped a little down her cheeks. “Consider this my gift for you today...” She trailed off and planted a kiss onto blue lips, pushing deeper with each rise of new joy at their future together.
Ruby giggled and floated a little mistletoe above them, laughing more when the sprig landed on their joined muzzles.
“Come here you!” Berry chuckled, scooping up the filly. “Family hug time.”
As Minuette was crushed in a hug with her two special someponies, she decided she had received the best Hearths Warming gift of all.
Author's Note
Not enough of this ship. Just some mindburningly sweet stuff for y'all.
