Author's note: After the crazy cliffhanger from the main Hearthswarming story, and the probable disappointment that was Bloom Alone, maybe it wasn't, I don't know, I'm writing this and Bloom Alone at the same time... Anyway, after all that, time for the epic conclusion to Happy Hearthswarming! This chapter will feature music, sentiment, and multiple usages of the word "Banana Slug".

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Chapter 28: Happy Hearthswarming Part 3: Happy/Sad

"Pinkamena... I'm sorry..." Pinkie's mother, Cloudy tried to comfort her after all that just happened. Wait, you don't remember? Recap time!

---

So here's whatcha need to know, Chuck was an ordinary loser from Earth when one morning he woke up in Equestria where he met the mane six and was drawn towards Pinkie Pie until the point he developed a crush, little did he know that she had a crush on him too, until one night thanks to a Carly Rae Jepsen song they came clean towards each other and a relationship blossomed, then Cheese Sandwich and Quibble moved to town after Cheese drug Quibble kicking and screaming to celebrate Pinkie Pie's birthday! After a bunch of fluff chapters Pinkie gave Chuck the idea that they'd visit the Pie family rock farm for Hearthswarming, and upon arrival, things didn't quite go as planned, especially when a big argument took place on Hearthswarming Eve! Now Chucks gone, Pinkie's a wreck, and Igneous is doing the one thing you should never do, go to bed angry. All caught up? Now back to the story.

---

"It's... It's not your fault." Pinkie said sadly. "It's mine." She said leaving the room.

"She's right." Limestone said. "I'll give her that."

"Limestone, stop or I will get confrontational." Maud said blankly.

"Woudst thou stop arguing?" Cloudy asked sharply. "I have to speak with thine father." When she got to their room she opened the door to find him laying down, staring angrily at the ceiling.

"Perhaps thou would like to explain the disaster that just happened?" She asked him.

"What's to explain?" He asked.

"Why thou let petty jealousy during a game overcome thou? Then proceed to accuse thine daughter of slanderous accusations? Then perhaps upsetting the entire family until the point that Chuck left?

"That last part I considered a favor." He said.

"Igneous Rock Pie..." She groaned.

"Cloudy, I did not raise my daughter to be kidnapped by some slick talking, right brained, booze hound!"

"Thou hardly ever raised any of our children! I did, thou were always working!" Cloudy bursted.

"I was working for thou, for the family!" He countered.

"Pinkamena is in love, Igneous! Let her follow her heart." She said.

"Follow her heart! That's crazy!" He said.

"Perhaps you might not realize this, but crazy suits her well!" Igneous sat there silently for a minute, realizing that he was losing this argument.

"Well, thou had better some to thine senses, or I'm going to be forced to take steps." He declared.

"Good idea." She said sounding frustrated. "Perhaps thou should start by taking some steps outside."

"What?"

"Thou wants to act like that of a tool? Go and sleep in the shed." She said tossing a folded blanket at him.

"Fine." He growled leaving the room. Upon settling down somewhere else, he settled for the couch in the living room, not the shed. He looked back upon everything in the past couple of days.

"Thou hast really messed up greatly Igneous." He mumbled to himself. He quickly quieted himself down when he heard somepony coming.

"You really messed up this time Pinkie!" Pinkie said to herself walking into the kitchen, which was separated from the living room only by a wall with a large archway to the living room. "Oh yeah! This'll be great! Bring ol' Chuck home, their gonna love him!" She mocked the plans she had made as she poured herself a glass of milk. "Oh yeah! Chuck'll fit right in! Real colt to bring home to the folks! Why'd you fall for the weirdo Pinkie? The weird past, the voices, those weird jokes and references! Now you don't even know where he is! He could be halfway to Ponyville by now..." She sighed to herself before chugging the glass of milk back. "Twilight told me not to move too fast, was this too fast?" She stopped and asked herself. "Oh no... I probably scared him away with this, that's why he left!"

"That is not the case Pinkamena." Igneous couldn't help but say, revealing that he had heard all of what she said.

"Oh... You heard all that huh?" She asked.

"Yes." He said standing up off the couch. "It is not thine fault." He said.

"What? It's his? Is that what you're trying to say?" She asked with resentment.

"No Pinkamena, it is mine." He admitted. "It was my own fault." She looked at him silently for a minute, before asking:

"Why?" She asked. "Why did you do it? Why do you hate him?"

"I..." He began.

"Forget it." She sighed. "He's gone anyway." She said as she left for the door.

"Wait!" He called. She stopped.

"Yeah?" She said.

"I... I don't hate him." He said.

"Are you sure? Because for the past two days I've got no other feeling off of you." She asked.

"Pinkamena..." He sighed. "It's simply... I see thou on thine own, independent, and now thou hast a coltfriend and... it happens so fast."

"What?" She asked.

"When thou left the farm, it was hard, I knew it was bound to happen, but it was tough, afterwards when Maud left it was the same feeling, and no seeing thou with somepony else, somepony else who loves you... it's simply... difficult for me." He explained.

"It is?" She asked.

"Of course." He said. "And I suppose, I let jealousy and pride overcome me."

"You suppose?" Pinkie asked him.

"I did. I definitely let jealousy and pride overcome me." He admitted.

"Dad I'm... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you with bringing him." She said.

"It didn't upset me, well, it did. But, I felt happy to see thee in love." He sighed.

"Huh?" Pinkie asked.

"I felt happy, I felt sad. Such a feeling is possible, Pinkamena." He explained.

Igneous: Right and wrong, who's to say which we should refuse.

All we know, love survives either way we choose.

Here thou art at the edge, go ahead and fall.

Don't resist, I insist.

Love still conquers all.

"It even conquered thou, my little Pinkamena. Thou art growing up." He said.

"And you're cool with that?" Pinkie asked.

"Yes, and no." He said.

Igneous: I'm feeling happy, I'm feeling sad.

A little childish, a little Dad.

I think of all the days thy've known.

All the ways thy've grown.

See thou on thine own, and then

I'm feeling happy and sad again.

I think I'm rested, but then I'm tired.

Today requested, tomorrow fired.

And now a colt says he adores

she who once was yours.

How can I ignore such news?

I'm sad and happy, why should I choose?

/

Life is full of contradictions, every inch a mile.

And the moment we start weeping,

that's when we should smile...

/

In every Heaven, you'll find some Hell.

And there's a welcome in each farewell.

Life can be harsh, the future strict

Oh, what they'll predict.

And the colt thy've picked, not bad.

So let's be happy

Forever happy

Completely happy

And a tiny bit

Saaaaad...

He looked down and sighed. "I just wish that I could've expressed the happy part of my feelings before, well, before it was too late."

"Dad..." Pinkie said almost starting to cry before hugging him tightly.

"I'm sorry Pinkamena, I put too much strain on you and Chuck, it wasn't fair, so, for what it's worth, I truly am sorry." He apologized.

"I forgive you Pa..." She said before she started to cry.

"Thank you." He said. "Please don't cry though." He said trying to comfort her.

"I'm sorry... It's just... WHAT AM I GONNA DO!?" She wailed as she cried.

"I... I don't know dear." He told her. "But I have an idea." He said standing up. "Follow me." He told her heading for the door and throwing on a coat.

---

5 miles from the Rock Farm

So I wasn't half way to Ponyville, I was half way to the middle of nowhere! You know, storming out late at night was a heat of the moment decision, and a bad heat of the moment decision, it was dark, cold, and visibility was at a near minimum thanks to a storm blowing through. What was I gonna do? I hoped to spend the night at the train station then catch a train to Ponyville in the morning, and I coulda sworn this was the way to the train station, after all it was one road, I had two choices on what direction to take, I guess I chose the wrong way. Now, I was cold, alone, and tired, which was frankly how I pictured I'd die, and feeling how you'd imagined you felt you'd feel at death was not a pleasant feeling. Anyway, at this point I had pretty much accepted I would be walking until I died of hypothermia, fatigue, or dehydration at this point, the whole thing really settled in well honestly, at the point I was even able to hum a little tune.

Me: Once there was this colt who

tried to appear likable

to his marefriend's freakin' dad

and when he finally left for home

He... died... of hypothermia and fatigue

He said that it was from when the cold had hit him so hard...

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

What a great song, Grammy worthy! Ha! Ha ha! They like me! They really, really like me! I'd like to accept this Grammy for best parody work, I'd like to thank all the little people who's names I can't remember! I doubt I'll ever forget this day as long as I live, which is about 8 minutes! Ha! Ha ha ha! Hardy Har Har! I am going mad aren't I?

"This is where it ends for you Chuck old boy." I sighed to myself.

Me: I'm a pitiful sight

And I ain't all that bright,

An' I'm definitely not chiseled from stone...

I'm cheat, and a liar,

No woman's desire

I'll pro'bly die cold an' alone...

I sighed before collapsing into a snowbank. I could feel the crisp snow melt against my cheeks and feel the water from the melted snow freeze over into a layer of ice on my face. The falling snow landed on my mane settling in, my legs started getting covered up next, yep. This was it. I can see the obituary now: CHUCK MORLEY, we hardly knew him, not that we cared to know much of him. When asked about her relations with the young stallion, Pinkamena Diane Pie stated: "He was alright, but so easy to forget, moving on won't be too tough." Rest in peace you little bastard. I could feel my eyelids droop shut and I couldn't feel my legs anymore, yep, this was it.

Oh Shenandoah,

I'm bound to leave you...

Bound to leave your rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah,

I'll not deceive you... Away...

I'm bound away...

Across the wide Missouri...

To be continued...

/

/

/

/

/

/

Immediately.

"What's that over there!?" I could almost hear a high female voice say, I could feel my head getting brushed off but I couldn't manage open my eyes.

"Sweet Celestia..." Another voice, more grizzled and manly said.

"No... Oh no no no!" The first voice said.

"Quick, get that colt into the wagon!" The second voice ordered. I could feel my body being lifted up like a potato sack and placed in a wagon, soon the wagon started moving quickly, was this me being delivered to Heaven? No way, probably Hell. I was definitely going to Hell.

---

A little while after

"Hot water! Now!" The second voice said as I was laid back in a chair. "And a cloth too! Get this colt some soup!" He ordered.

"Ma?" My cracking voice asked as my consciousnesses slowly came back to me.

"Egad! Th'art alive! Son, speak to me!" The gruff, male voice demanded.

"Where am I...? Who... Who are you? Am I in Heaven?" I asked slowly, my eyes still weren't opening.

"For Celestia's sake! Chuck! it is Igneous Rock Pie!" He growled. "Pinkamena, the soup and hot water!"

"Coming!" She said darting into the room. "Is he okay?" She asked.

"Alive, but hardly." He said glumly. "Open thine mouth son." No response, I could feel him jerk my mouth open. "Pour in the soup, nourishment might help, lay the cloth on thee's eyes." He ordered. I could feel the soup slide down my throat, there come the rocks. Uh oh, this rock was too big, can't breathe, can't breathe! I coughed and spat out the rock jerking to life.

"-wheeze- Holy... -cough- macaroni!" I sputtered. My eyelids lifted open, my vision, blurred as it was, made out a pink blob and a light brown blob with a hat.

"Chuck, canst thou see me?" The brown blob asked.

"Well, I mean, I can see a brown blob with a hat. A devilishly handsome brown blob in a hat." I said, I was still a little loopy.

"Chuck! Snap outta it!" The pink blob hollered at me.

"Pink blobs kinda mean." I sneered. "So, is there a Mrs. Brown blob in a hat?" I stammered.

"Darn it Chuck!" The mean pink blob growled. "RE-MEM-BER!" She hollered. "Pa, don't look." She instructed before bringing my big dumb face in and kissing me passionately. Suddenly, a whole lot more came flooding back.

"I see that familiar face comin' back to me like an old familiar song." I smiled as my vision came back.

"Chuckie! You're back you're back you're back!" She smiled hugging me tightly.

"Yes, I'm back." I nodded with what little air was left in me after the hug. As she released and I could start breathing again, more memories of the past evening had came back to me, and I realized exactly why I was back.

"Oh Celestia..." I stammered. "Gosh, I sure am sorry Pinkie, I shouldn't of stormed out like that. And, and sir, I'm sorry about what I said, I didn't mean to blow my top and-" He raised his hoof to stop me.

"Chuck, Thou should not be sorry, it was my own doing, and lo, I apologize." He said sincerely.

"Oh Lord I am dead, aren't I?" I said feeling worried.

"Thou art alive." He said sternly. "It was wrong of me to judge thou, thou art a fine suitor for Pinkamena, by no means art thou conventional, traditional, or the slightest bit normal, and thou hast the worst disposition as ever I've seen, and-"

"Daaaaad." Pinkie said.

"Alright, alright. But, th'art a perfect match for Pinkamena." He smiled at me.

"Wow..." I blushed. "Aw geez you're gettin' me all sentimental. Sir, it is an honor to hear those words. I promise to be the best damn suitor for Pinkie as ever born." I promised.

"Chuck." He said. "Promise me one thing." He said.

"Yes sir?" I asked.

"Do away with such a title as sir for me, I am known as Igneous Rock Pie, thou shalt refer to me as Igneous from hence forth." He said.

"Yes si-... Yes Igneous." I nodded with a smile.

"Aww isn't this precious? You two finally became friends!" Pinkie beamed. "C'mon! Bring 'er in!" She smiled bringing us both in for a group hug.

"Still a little short for air hon..." I wheezed in the hug.

"And my lungs aren't what they used to be." Igneous nodded. She eventually released us.

"Alright alright." Pinkie smiled. "I'm just happy you two are gettin' along."

"Indeed." Igneous nodded. "Now, we should get some rest. It is getting late, and if we don't get any sleep we're going to be beat tomorrow."a

"Couldn't agree more." I nodded with a yawn. "Thanks again for savin' my life." I thanked them both.

"Just returning the favor." Igneous nodded with a smile.

"Goodnight Pa!" Pinkie gave him another hug.

"Goodnight Pinkamena." Igneous smiled as we both went up the stairs. "Separate rooms remember!" He called.

"No need to worry!" I called back. As the two of us came to the hall that separated our rooms, we turned and looked at each other. Before I could say a word, Pinkie hugged me once more, this time, not excitedly, not tightly, just a calm, loving hug.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yeah, I just... I don't know what I woulda did if I lost you..." She said into my shoulder.

"Ah you'd forget about me in a heartbeat, I ain't that special." I said.

"No I wouldn't." She said seriously. "I love you... so much." She said.

"I love you too." I smiled. "But you don't have to worry anymore. I'm here now, and I'm okay, we're okay."

"Best Hearthswarming gift I could get." She said.

"That is until you see the real gift I got you." I winked.

"Ooooh I'm excited!" She grinned.

"Tomorrow morning." I told her. "Now, goodnight Cutie Pie, I love you."

"I love you too Chuckie." She said kissing me goodnight.

Now alone, Igneous sighed, feeling glad that his daughter was happy again, but upset remembering the current state between him and his wife. He wasn't sure what he was going to do, what to say, how to make it up to her. Her gradually made his way up the stairs and approached the door to his room, under the door, he noticed, that light was shining from under the door. He gulped and knocked. As he waited for a response, the door opened. Cloudy stood in the door and looked at him.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Cloudy..." He began. "I was wrong, what I said-" He was interrupted.

"I heard what happened." She said.

"What? Um, how much did you-" He began.

"Since thou slammed the door on the way out." She said. "Thou couldst never close a door quietly to save thy own life."

"Oh... I see." He said.

"I want to tell you that was a very kind thing thou did for Pinkamena, and for Chuck." She said. "That, that right there, that's the old stone that the Choosing Stone put me with." She smiled.

"Oh Cloudy..." He blushed slightly. "I love thou."

"I holdst a strong love for thou too, now come to bed." She said.

"Sounds perfect." He said as he closed the door behind him, but this time, quietly.

---

Hearthswarming Day

I slept great! A whole 45 minutes. Yep, a grand old 45 minutes after I shut my eyes to sleep, an excited blur of pink burst into my room and started jumping all over me, the blur I soon recognized to be Pinkie.

"ChuckieChuckiewakeupwakeupit'sHearthswarmingmorningcanyoubelieveitI'msosososososoexcited!" Pinkie said happily while bouncing up and down on me.

"No... Ow... No kidding." I yawned waking up as she jumped up and down on me, okay, I feel like my message of her jumping on me isn't clear, she was not jumping by me on the bed, no no, actually on me. I can testify to the fact, that four hooves were indeed jumping on my back, I've always been a stomach side sleeper.

"Wake up!" She said shaking me.

"I am awake!" I said moaning into my pillow. "I believe what you mean is get up."

"Whatever!" She said. "Just get up!"

"Babe. It's only..." I looked for an alarm clock that wasn't there. Force of habit. "Well I don't know what time it is but I'm pretty sure it's too early. What time is it?" I asked.

"Ummmm..." She said. "Well I just kinda woke up in my sleep and kinda assumed it was Hearthswarming Morning..."

"Well, your assumption is probably correct, I'll give you that. But nopony else is up yet, why not give it another couple hours?" I suggested rubbing my eyes.

"Awww..." She said sounding disappointed. I looked at her sympathetically.

"Or, if you don't want to go back to bed, you can stay here with me, as long as, y'know, no horsing around." I said.

"I don't care if there's no horsing around, monkeying around, or wallabying around, I'm taking you up on that offer!" She smiled hugging me. Lord only knows what wallabying around is.

"Let's try not to fall asleep." I suggested. "It seems like I haven't got much time to just talk with you recently." I said.

"It's been a crazy couple of days for sure!" She agreed. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke up again.

"Chuckie?" She asked.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"I know I've said this over and over again, but thank you." She said.

"Thanks for what?" I asked.

"Thanks for coming with me, to meet my family, I know this might seem silly to me, but a good relationship between you and my family was important to me." She said seriously.

"Oh, hon, that's not silly at all." I said. "Can you only imagine how difficult things might have gotten if we didn't establish this early on? I mean, picture this, our wedding reception, we're at a table, and all we're getting is a glare from them." I chuckled. "I mean wouldn't that be awkward?"

"Wedding reception?" She asked with wide eyes. Oh boy.

"Well, I mean..." I began. "Eventually speaking." I said collecting my thoughts.

"I'd wait a lifetime for that day." She smiled.

"But, you won't have to wait a lifetime... Just a little while, I don't wanna move along too fast." I said.

"I know. Take all the time you need Chuckie, I'll be here with you the whole time." She snuggled up against me.

"Damnit I love you." I said happily.

"I love you too Chuckie." She hugged me. "Chuck?" She asked, oh boy, she didn't call me Chuckie, here comes something serious.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"About what you said earlier... when you said I'd forget you in a heartbeat, did you really think that?" She asked.

"Why? I dunno..." I said. "It's just, I'm not really that special, I'm just a normal, ordinary colt who's got a couple jokes up his sleeve."

"Chuck... You're more than that." She said. "You're, well..."

"You're right, I am more than that, I'm also a loser." I smirked.

"You didn't let me finish." She said. "You just have this way of reminding me that even when I've had a bad day, when I'm in the grumpiest of moods that there's somepony out there who still loves me when I come home tired or sad, somepony who's gonna make me fell better when I've had a bad day, Chuckie, I love you so much, more than you can imagine!" She said.

"I dunno..." I grinned. "I have a pretty active imagination."

"More than you can imagine. I'm right, we're leavin' it at that." She said with a hoof against my muzzle.

"Fine." My muffled voice said.

"What about you?" She asked.

"Huh?"

"Would you forget about me? Like, if I was gone?" She asked.

"What? No!" I said. "No, no no no, Pinkie, listen. I haven't told you much about me before you, but I'll tell you this, he was was one miserable sonuva bitch." I told her. (sonuva: son of a rolled into one word.) "You know that 'grumpy me' act you did yesterday?" I asked. She nodded. "That was me all day every day pretty much... But then, then I met you! And your happiness and kindness, well it just became more infectious then the flu." I chuckled. "Pinkie Pie, you've done so damn much for me, I would never forget about you." I hugged her tightly. She hugged me back.

"I didn't know I really meant that much to you." She said.

"Are you kiddin'? You mean the world and more to me, literally, if I had the option to go back to my old world, and even have all the riches known to man, have everything I could take, I wouldn't take it. I'd rather be here, here and happy, with you." I said holding her close.

"Aw..." She said. "I'm so glad I found you."

"I like to imagine I found you." I said in a joking fashion.

"Let's settle, we found each other." She rebuttaled.

"Deal." I smiled.

"Regardless, glad we found each other." She hugged me.

"I'm glad too." I kissed her on the forehead. As we laid together in silence, I began to hum a little tune.

"What's that song?" Pinkie asked. "It sounded pretty."

"Oh it is, especially out of the mouth of Frank Sinatra, but instead, you're stuck hearing it from me." I chuckled as I began to sing.

Me: Have yourself a merry little Hearthswarming

Let your heart be light

From now on, all our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Hearthswarming

Make the yule-tide gay

From now on, our troubles will be miles away

Here were are as in olden days

Happy golden days of yore

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more

Through the years we all will be together

If the fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough

And have yourself a merry little Hearthswarming now

I finished the song and kissed her on the forehead. "You know?" I said. "You, you are the best gift I've ever received." Geez that was corny. She started laughing.

"Chuckie..." She managed to say between giggles. "You know I love you, but that is the corniest thing you've ever said." She chuckled.

"It's not the corniest..." I defended myself. "But I'll admit, it is up there." I said.

"You're lucky I love you." She said.

"No, you're lucky I love you." I smirked.

"No, you're lucky!" She said.

"How about this, we're both lucky." I suggested.

"Works for me." She said snuggling into me. I looked out the window and saw a sliver of shining gold peak up over the horizon.

"Pinkie, look!" I whispered. She turned and looked out the window. "The sun is rising."

"Ooooohhhh..." She said in awe at the beautiful sunrise. The quiet moment dashed off when she realized something.

"Y'know what this means!?" She said grabbing my face. "It's Hearthswarming morning! I've gotta wake everypony up!" She bounced up excitedly. "Love ya!" She said kissing me on the cheek before bolting out of the room. As I yawned and came to my senses standing up I could overhear her waking everypony else.

"LimestoneMarbleLimestoneMarblewakeupwakeupwakeupit'sHearthswarmingmorningcomeoncomeonwakeupwakeup!" She bolted out of their room. "MaPaMaPaMaPawakeupwakeupcomeonecomeonit'sHearthswarmingmrningcomeoncomeoncomeon!" I heard her say before bolting to Maud's room. "MaudMaudMaud-"

"I'm awake. I've been awake for hours, I'm ecstatic, can't you tell?" I heard her say. A chorus of yawning and mumbling arose from the other rooms as the Pie family home came to life after a night of slumber.

"Is it actually the morning of Hearthswarming?" Igneous asked Cloudy with a yawn as they left their room.

"Technically I suppose." She yawned.

"Good morning Igneous, good morning Cloudy." I said leaving the room.

"Good morning Chuck, surely thy slept well?" Igneous asked.

"Surely I did." I nodded. "And you?" I asked.

"I did actually." He nodded.

"I as well." Cloudy nodded with him.

"Glad to hear it, I assume you had the same alarm clock I did?" I asked with a smirk.

"The kind of which there is no 'snooze' button? Indeed." Igneous yawned.

"But hey, you say that like it's a bad thing, what's five more minutes of sleep on Hearthswarming huh?" I quipped.

"Possibly the best gift one could receive..." He muttered.

"Oh hush thine old bones Igneous, thy just need a little coffee." Cloudy told him as the three of us walked down the stairs.

"Make that thy plus me." I yawned.

"Aw isn't that cute! Our two grumpy old colts need some coffee!" Pinkie said popping in between us.

"Grumpy!?" Igneous blurted.

"Old!?" I added.

"Maybe not grumpy and old, but, cantankerous and not necessarily young!" She smiled.

"No no, I'm still pretty young hon." I said.

"Whatever! Let's get these old souls some coffee!" She said. Now I will admit, that I am an old soul while relatively young physically.

"Old soul work for you?" I asked Igneous.

"Indeed." He nodded. Before I knew it, Igneous and I were sitting at the kitchen table, slippers on our hooves, reading the paper, and sipping piping hot coffee. Good Lord I am a grumpy old colt.

"Oh, lookit this." I pointed at an article. "Stocks on RCK are up. However, ROK on the other hoof... yikes..." I said.

"Thy read the stocks?" He asked. "Thou art an older soul than I!" He laughed. Happy Hearthswarming to me, thanks Pa-in-Law.

"I'm only lookin' at the stocks cause you haven't flipped the page to the funnies yet." I said.

"Thy read the funnies?" He asked. "Thou art a perfect suit for Pinkamena indeed. Thou won't find them here, Pinkamnea hast already taken them, fight with her for them."

"Will do." I said getting up with my mug. "It's been a pleasure reading with you." I saluted him with a smirk.

"Likewise Buck." He said.

"It's Chuck." I said dryly.

"I know, it was merely a joke, surely I thought thy of all ponies would understand that." He smirked.

"You got me." I chuckled as I approached Pinkie Pie. "Hey hon, mind sharing those papers?" I asked.

"You're lucky!" She said. "I don't normally do this for anypony else." She said scooching over on the couch for me to read them with her.

"So here's the scoop, this one is really funny." She said pointing to one comic. "Now this one over here, they've done better but it's okay." She pointed to another. "This one, I don't really get." She pointed to the crossword puzzle.

"That's because it's a crossword hon." I said.

"Oh." She said. "Corkscrew is 1 across, Windigo 2 down, Puddinghead 3 across, Unicorn 5 down, aaaaaand Flagpole 4 down." She said. "Then we've got Hearth for 6 across, Pegasi 7 across, then there's got Earth for 7 down. I mean lookit these clues, '3 across, chancellor of the Earth Pony tribe during the very first Hearthswarming.' I mean how could it get any easier!" She said.

"I don't know!" I chuckled. Eventually Maud, Limestone, and Marble came down the stairs.

"Yay! The whole family is up and at it! Time for the Hearthswarming morning festivities!" Pinkie jumped up excitedly.

"You're back?" Limestone asked me noticing that I was back after storming out the night before.

"No, I died a slow and terrible death last night. Now I'm back to eternally haunt your family." I sneered. She looked at me in silence with squinted eyes.

"Nopony has spoken to me like that before." She sneered. "Not bad. You might not be half as terrible as I thought."

"Glad to know I'm tolerable." I said.

"Well I never said that." She replied.

"Alright you two!" Pinkie stopped us. "This can wait huh? Time for the festivities!" She beamed.

---

Flag raising

"And now, as is tradition, the raising of the flag." Cloudy announced as we gathered outside. The whole family applauded at the announcement. I turned and eyed Igneous.

"You goin' on up?" I asked. "You are the winner."

"Surely I am not. It was thy." He said with a leg outstretched.

"I appreciate that, but, we were a team, what say we do it together, huh?" I asked.

"If thy insists." He nodded with a smile.

"I sure do." I nodded, now let's raise a flag huh?" I asked.

"As thy would say, 'Sounds good.'" He said.

The flag raising went well, I mean, even when we placed the flag upon that infamous Holders Boulder, I could see Limestone refraining her urges to yell at us to get off, so I didn't doddle up there too long, well that's a lie, I did to a little interpretative dance, but seeing it would be so offensively horrible it would probably make your grandma cry. Lord knows when I started practicing it made mine do it. But that's besides the point. As we raised the flag, the rest of the family applauded and cheered, as is tradition I suppose. It felt nice, but it really felt nice that Igneous actually liked me. After that tradition was over and we had a small breakfast, rock compote, delicious. And now, the day long tradition, that was present searching. Now, I know what you're thinking: "How's Pinkie gonna find the present you got her in chapter 21?" Don't worry, I had a plan.

"Oh dang hon, I don't know if you're gonna find it..." I said as we walked around the farm land.

"Sure hope I do!" She said as we roamed. "Wanna give me a hint?" She asked.

"Fine, way you're currently going? Cold." I said.

"That way?" She asked.

"Also cold." I shook my head.

"East?" She asked.

"Nay."

"West?"

"Negatory."

"Weast?" She asked.

"Not a thing, and if it was, cold."

"Up? Down? Chuckie! Where is it?" She whined.

"Well..." I stroked the back of my neck. "Say, what's that in your mane?" I asked.

"Huh?" She asked. "Where?"

"Right... uh... Oh! There it is!" I said plucking a package from her mane. "Now how could that have gotten there?" I asked remarking the present I got her being hidden in her mane.

"How'd you hide it in there!?" She asked.

"Well..." I remembered.

The day before

"What's that?" She asked looking up at the mistletoe I pointed at when bringing up an Earth tradition.

"Well, back on Earth, it was customary that when two met under the mistletoe, they shared a kiss." I said.

"Well..." She said glancing up. "It would be rude to disrespect tradition, your world or not."

"Happy Hearthswarming." I said giving her a kiss.

"Merry Christmas." She smiled giving me a kiss back, and I kissed her, I snuck one leg with the gift by her as her eyes were close and gently slid it into her mane. The prefect crime.

Back in the present

"Oooooohhhhh!" She said.

"I figured you of all ponies would appreciate the spontaneousness, unpredictability, and over all craziness behind it." I smiled.

"You know me so well." She hugged me.

"I sure do." I grinned. "Aren't you gonna open it?" I asked.

"I was hoping you'd ask!" She said before furiously tearing up wrapping paper. When she opened the box she took out the card and opened it.

"With love to my favorite mare in the whole world, Happy Hearthsawrming Cutie Pie, here's to many more. Love, Chuck." Was what was written in it with a little sketch of me kissing her on the cheek. She blushed red when she read the card.

"Aw, I love you..." She said sweetly.

"Keep going." I pointed to the box. She looked in the box.

"Tissue paper?" She asked.

"It's in the tissue paper hon." I chuckled.

"Oh!" She said opening the tissue paper up. She gasped even more upon seeing the real gift. "Oh Celestia!" She gasped at the beautiful gemstone charm necklace.

"You like it?" I asked.

"It's... It's beautiful..." She said in awe at the gift.

"Saw it and I thought of you." I said happily.

"I love it!" She hugged me tightly

"I'm glad." I hugged her back. "Wanted to make sure I got the prefect gift for the perfect mare."

"I love you so much." She said into my shoulder.

"I love you too." I hugged her warmly.

"Speaking of which, I think there's something for you around here too..." She said.

"Care to offer me a hint?" I asked.

"Heads?" She asked.

"What?" I asked.

"Or?" She continued.

"I have no idea what you're doing." I said. "Heads.. Or... Heads or..." I turned my head. "Tails?" She nodded.

"Is it... In my... Tail?" I asked.

"Correct!" She smiled.

"How did you ever..." I began.

"Well, I don't often share these things, but...

Earlier that morning

"Pinkie Pie, you've done so damn much for me, I would never forget about you." I hugged her tightly. She hugged me back.

"I didn't know I really meant that much to you." She said.

"Are you kiddin'? You mean the world and more to me, literally, if I had the option to go back to my old world, and even have all the riches known to man, have everything I could take, I wouldn't take it. I'd rather be here, here and happy, with you." I said holding her close.

"Aw..." She said. "I'm so glad I found you." At that point, she carefully slipped the present into my large and fluffy tail.

The present

"Ahh, clever." I smiled.

"Come on! Open it!" She said seizing the box from my tail and giving it to me. I opened the box and pulled out a beautiful red and black plaid bathrobe with C embroidered on it.

"Wow!" I said. "I love it!"

"There's more, look inside it." She said, I opened up the robe and looked inside. Inside was a ceramic mug that had "Good morning? Yeah right!" printed on it. And taped to it was a card. I tore open the envelope and read the card.

"Thank you for making every day all the more fun, I love you more than you could ever know... Even when you're grumpy." I read. "Gee, thanks." I smirked before continuing. "You're the sunshine of my day and the comfort of my night. Long story short, I love you! -Pinkie Pie." I blushed and a silly grin spread across my face. "I love you so much." I hugged her. "Thank you Cutie Pie."

"Glad you like it!" She smiled. "The mug especially made me think of you, mostly because..." She began.

"Yeah yeah I get it, I get grumpy sometimes." I said dryly.

"Yeah!" She chuckled. "But I still love you anyway." She noogied my head.

"And I still love you, even when I'm grumpy." I said giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"What did I ever do to deserve you?" She asked.

"Something terrible, because capital punishment is a better reward than I am." I said dryly.

"Oh hush." She said. "Don't ruin the moment." I'm glad she finally called me out on that, because I have a tendency to do that.

---

That evening

After a long and tearful (on some accounts, not me though, no matter what Pinkie might tell you) goodbye to the family, Pinkie and I were on our way back home. It was pretty late at this point and the train was peacefully quiet, the train traffic from the Rock Farm to just about anywhere is often, well, nil. It was only the two of us on the train once again. The privacy was nice, not that we were taking advantage of that. Nope, it was just the two of us, enjoying each other's company for the evening.

"Okay I've got one." I said. "Would you rather have two tongues or an extra leg?"

"Hmmm..." She thought. "I'll take the second tongue."

"Why?" I asked.

"Uh, duh! Double the flavor on cake and ice cream, pies, eclairs, the list goes on but you get the picture." She explained.

"Good point." I nodded. "Your turn."

"Hmmm... Would you rather go without coffee for the rest of your life, or go without ice cream?" She asked.

"Oh that's an easy one, ice cream. I don't get migraines from going without ice cream" I explained.

"Ah." She nodded. "Your turn!" She said.

"Here's a good one." I said. "Would you rather listen to Quibble rant and rave about a book for all eternity? Or have to live with me being eternally grumpy?" I asked.

"That's a toughy..." She said. "I'll definitely take you."

"I'm flattered." I said.

"Because with you," She began. "Normally if I give you a kiss it quiets you down." She winked.

"That is normally the case." I nodded. "Your turn."

"Here's a tough one." She said. "Would you rather I wake you up in the middle of the night every night, or only drink decaf?" She asked.

"Easy." I said. "Have you wake me up in the middle of the night for sure." I decided. "That way, I get even more time to spend with you." I said.

"You always know the right thing to say." She smiled.

"I'm good like that." I said. "I've got another game. Ask me 20 questions to see what I'm thinking about."

"Is it a vegetable?" She asked.

"Nope." I shook my head.

"Animal?" She asked.

"Technically yes." I nodded.

"A wanted creature?" She asked.

"Most definitely." I nodded.

"Is it something specific?" She asked.

"It is somepony specific." I nodded.

"Is it that stallion who buys drinks every night and always pays his tab?" She asked.

"The perfect customer." I said. "But alas, no."

"How do you feel about the pony?" She asked.

"That's not a fair question." I said.

"All is fair in love and war. And in these games." She said.

"That is not true." I said. "But fine, I''ll answer anyway, I do have a fondness for this pony."

"Is this somepony cute?" She asked. Okay, she's figured it out and now she's stringing me along.

"Yes." I nodded.

"Somepony who you love very very much?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Somepony who obviously knows the answer?" She asked.

"Yes." I said dryly.

"Oh I don't know, is it..." She pretended to think about it. "Me?"

"And give the mare a prize, we have a winner!" I said like a gameshow host.

"Yay! What do I win?" She asked.

"Let me tell you what you won, pretty mare..." I began in the same voice as before. "You've won the love of a stallion who does not offer all that much for looks and says the corniest things in the world but most definitely will cherish you forever and ever!" I announced. "Or, a check for a hundred thousand bits! What's it gonna be? Coltfriend? Or bits?" I asked holding up an invisible microphone and humming the jeopardy theme.

"Hmmm, I dunno... I could finally buy that Jacuzzi I wanted..." She thought. "I'll take the coltfriend."

"Good answer." I said giving her a kiss.

"Happy Hearthswarming Cutie Pie." I said to her warmly.

"Happy Hearthswarming Chuckie, here's to a million more." She kissed my cheek.

"Here here." I nodded kissing her cheek.

Yep, it was a happy Hearthswarming indeed.

---

What a conclusion! Hope you all liked it! I had a great time with this chapter, can't wait to keep writing for you guys! I hope you all have a great holiday season!

Songs Used

"Happy Sad" by: Andrew Lippa

"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by: Crash Test Dummies

"Kiss me, I'm Shitfaced" by: The Dropkick Murphys

"Oh Shenandoah" by: Nobody really knows.

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas" by: Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane