Snow blanketed the land as the Friendship Express roared along the tracks. The weather ponies in Canterlot had covered the entire country side in fresh whiteness. From the train, a certain human stared out at the scene, marveling at the wonder. Winter time always was something special to DJ. It was the one time of the year when everything was the most chaotic and the most peaceful. Even in Equestria, the same feeling permeated the land and its citizens. A time of family and friends gathered around the fire, trading gifts and stories of the year. A small tear fell from his eye as he began to think back to his own family on Earth and a certain mare noticed.

"Are you alright DJ? You're crying," said Twilight Sparkle.

"Yeah, I'm okay, Twi. Just thinking about home for a moment. This will be my first holiday season away from home and it brings back old memories," he answered.

Twilight looked at him with concern... and a little heart break. "Are you thinking about--"

"No. I am not thinking I want to go back. Just reminiscing. I never want to leave, Twilight, we've been over this. I just think that if I had had the chance to say goodbye, then none of these memories would be surfacing. But, that won't hold me back, Twi." DJ turned and gave her a warm smile. "I'm really excited to meet your family and we can see the Princesses and Berry again."

"Yeah, I suppose it is exciting." Spike and Nyx walked in at that moment, ending their conversation. The two of them brought hot chocolate for the pair, as well as some for them. Then the four of them curled up together, staying warm and comfortable in the already heated train car.

**********

It wasn't too long later that the train pulled into Canterlot Station and the four got ready for the cold. DJ had actually been surprised this winter. For some reason, he hadn't felt cold when going outside with just his usual attire, as if the cold no longer affected him. It was weird, but he didn't question it (unlike his marefriend who constantly tried to figure it out).

"Now, DJ. My father will be meeting us when we get off the train, so do you think you could stay on board? Just until I let him know you're here?"

"No problem Twilight. Perfectly understandable." He stayed behind, leaning against the wall near the door as the rest of them hopped off the train. It wasn't too long before he heard another voice. "There's my girl and her family!"

"Hey, Dad! Thanks for meeting us here."

"No problem Twilight. And a Happy Hearth's Warming to you two. Have you been a good filly this year Nyx?," asked Night Light.

"I sure have Grandpa, this year has been great! Especially with DJ around!," she replied enthusiastically. Night Light only looked confused and turned to Twilight for answers.

"Who or what is DJ?"

"Oh, well Dad, DJ is a new friend of ours. He even came with us, he's waiting on the train until I tell him to come out. I wanted you to know who he is before he came out."

Night Light raised an eyebrow. "And who exactly is he?"

"Well, he's my coltfriend Dad," she said sheepishly. Her father's eyebrows rose in surprise. He certainly had not expected Twilight to bring home a special somepony. "But, I must warn you, that he is not a pony, so I want you to promise that you won't hurt him when he steps out. Promise me!"

He chuckled a little, even though he worried what this creature named DJ was. "Alright princess, I promise not to hurt the fellow. Can I meet him now?"

Twilight nodded, satisfied with his answer. "DJ? You can come out now!"

"Comin' Twi! I'm comin'." DJ stepped onto the platform and Night Light's eyes widened when he saw him. DJ smiled at the fatherly pony. "Greetings, Mr. Night Light. It is an honor to meet my marefriend's father."

"AAHH! Diamond Dog! You won't hurt my family!" Night Light stepped in front of his daughter and her family and lit his horn. Twilight immediately put herself between her father and coltfriend.

"Dad! You promised not to hurt him!," she screamed at her father.

"Too late for that, Twi," said DJ. "For he has wounded me, he has! I am no diamond dog good sir! Seriously, is hairless ape that hard to tell? I look nothing like a diamond dog." He huffed. Twilight only shook her head, DJ will always be DJ.

"You see Dad? He's harmless, mostly. DJ's a human, you see. And he is very intelligent," she explained.

"And he's fun and wacky!," piped up Nyx.

"And he's one of my best friends!" spoke Spike. DJ beamed at the two of them, scooping both of them up in a hug and then placed them on his shoulders. Nyx was giggling the whole time, Spike only smiled.

"Thanks guys. Hey, why don't we go hail a taxi? Come on!" The three of them went to go pull over a taxi carriage. Night Light only watched in confusion at what he had witnessed. Twilight noticed and began to speak.

"Yeah, he really gets along with them. Spike and him are really good friends. DJ even helped Spike get together with Rarity. It's different with Nyx, though. He is very protective of her, yet also so caring. It's strange looking back to when they first met and he attacked her.

Night Light looked shocked. "He attacked her?!" DJ whistled over from the road, he got the taxi already.

"I'll tell you at the house, come on the meter's probably already running." The father and daughter joined them in the carriage and it pulled off. The others just sat in silence, while DJ marveled at the snow covered city, watching as the light snow fall added onto it. The city lights reflected beautifully off the snow. They could here bells in the distance and DJ began to hum a familiar tune. The rest of them noticed, but couldn't place the song anywhere.

"What song is that DJ? I've never heard it before," said Nyx.

DJ looked over to her and smiled a little. "Oh, that? It's just an old holiday tune from back home, nothin' special."

"It was quite a beautiful tune, DJ. Could you sing it for us?," asked Twilight.

"Heh, heh. Of course you would want to hear it. Knowing your fascination with bells." He only received blank stares in return. "The song is called Jingle Bells, Twi." She blinked in response, a little taken aback in surprise. "I guess I could sing it out." He cleared his throat and began a small countdown in a whispered tone. "A 1, a 2, a 1, 2, 3, 4..."

Dashing through the snow

In a one horse open sleigh

Over the hills we go

Laughing all the way

Hahahahaha!

Bells on bob tails ring

Making spirits bright

What fun it is

To sing a sleight song tonight. OH!

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Jingle all the way

Oh what fun it is

To ride in a one horse open sleigh-eh!

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Jingle all the way

Oh what fun it is

To ride in a one horse open sleigh

What amazed Twilight was that he sang the whole thing himself, without any help from the Discords. It was then that they had pulled up outside her childhood home. They all got out of the taxi and Night Light tried to pay the driver. "No thanks, sir. That song your pet sang was payment enough. It was beautiful. Can't wait to share that one later. Happy Hearth's Warming!," he yelled as he pulled off. Night Light could only blink in surprise. He returned to the group and pushed open the door. "Honey we're home!" Seriously, dude?

3...2...1....

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! DIAMOND DOG!!!!!!" A scream and blast of magic came from the house and suddenly a human was flying out the front door, landing in a pile of snow. "Oomph! It's hairless ape! Get it right!"

"DJ!! Are you ok?," screamed Twilight. A grunt came from the snow bank and a thumbs-up popped out. She let out a sigh of relief and looked at her mother in anger. "MOM!! Why did you do that? He wasn't doing anything wrong! You could have really hurt my special somepony!" Her mother, Twilight Velvet looked at her daughter in surprise at her revelation.

"Isokay Twi," said DJ as he pulled himself from the snow. He looks up at the Sparkle family and smiles. "Plus, now a lot of things make sense."

"What do you mean?," asked Twilight with a look of confusion.

"Now I know where you get your looks and your magic Twi. A mother's gift alright!," he said with a sly smile, causing both mare's to blush at his compliment.

"Oh ho, you are a charmer. Apologies for blasting you into the snow, I didn't know you were with my daughter. It is nice to meet you, I am Twilight Velvet."

"It's alright, I like being blasted headfirst into snow banks," he quipped. "And it is nice to meet you as well. My name is DJ and in case you're wondering, I am a human, not a diamond dog. May I come in?" She nodded and he entered with the family. They all entered the kitchen to warm up and get some goodies. Spike and Nyx were grabbing the goodies as the adults sat at the table. Night Light was the first to speak.

"So, DJ? How long have you known our daughter?"

"About, oh what's it been now? Since August, I believe. We didn't actually begin dating until October, though."

Velvet spoke next. "What have you been doing in Ponyville?"

"Little bit of everything actually. Jack of trades I guess, master of none! Mostly I am either working at Sweet Apple Acres or helping around the Library. Twilight was kind enough to let me live with her, so it's the least I can do to repay her. Even if I do live in the basement," he quipped, giving Twilight a sly smile. She blushed a little, while her parents were unamused.

"You two are living together?," they asked in unison, neither very happy with this.

"I didn't exactly have any place to go. I came here through a portal from my world so I could get away from a war torn world that is destined to destroy itself. I just happened to land in the library, surrounded by the Princesses and Twi's friends. Ah, thanks kiddo!" Nyx had returned to the table and offered him a fresh mug of chocolate. He took a small sip and set it down on the table.

"No problem, DJ! I made it the way you like it: with lots of sugar!" The room suddenly went quiet and Twilight and DJ went pale. Twilight looked at him in fear.

"DJ?"

"It's okay, Twi. I only had a sip." He began to shake uncontrollably, but his voice remained smooth. "I will be out back. Close all the doors and windows and do not look outside. No matter what you hear, do NOT go or look outside. Ok?" DJ didn't wait for an answer and went out the back door. Everything was quiet, before loud and strange sounds started coming from the back yard. They tuned it out and resumed conversing. Nyx spoke up, a little upset.

"Is DJ okay?"

Twilight looked at her in sympathy. "Yes, sweetie, but please do not keep giving him so much sugar. Sugar has an adverse reaction to him when he has too much of it in pure form. He didn't want me to tell you this, but that time you made it for him before, well, it nearly killed him, Nyx." Nyx looked at her mother in fear and started to sob.

"Is he gonna be mad at me when he comes back?" she asked between tears. Twilight embraced her daughter and stroked her mane.

"I highly doubt it, Nyx. He didn't want me to tell you because he didn't want you to be upset that he couldn't drink something you made special for him. I have never once seen him get made at you, honey. I don't think it's possible for him to be angry with you." Spike took this opportunity to speak up.

"That's true Nyx, he told me. He said that even if he desperately wanted to, he could never bring himself to hurt you in any way. He cares too much." Night Light and Twilight Velvet just watched as this seen transpired. They never could have guessed how much this 'human' meant to their daughter and her family. After Nyx calmed down, Twilight told them everything that had happened since DJ had shown up in Equestria, omitting a few that could never be shared. Her parents listened intently, gasping, 'aw'ing, etc. at the right points. DJ came in just as Twilight had finished.

"Woo! Don't want to do that again. Did I miss anything while I was going crazy?"

"Twilight just finished your story," spoke his little buddy.

"Ah. Good things I hope. Hey, what's wrong kiddo?" Nyx had walked up to him and embraced his leg, small tears falling from her eyes.

"I'm sorry, DJ! I didn't want to hurt you! Please don't be mad at me!," she said between her sobs. DJ smiled comfortingly down at her and scooped her up in his arms, bringing her in for a hug.

"It's okay, Nyx; I'm fine, see. You didn't know and that's alright. I'm not mad, I can't be mad at my favorite little filly. It's just not possible." DJ smiled at her once again and set her down, she smiling back at him. "That's my girl. Never worry about me not liking you Nyx. You are a good friend and I won't do anything to hurt you. Now, let's get some goodies. I'm pretty sure I saw a candy shop down the road. Who's all comin'?"

Twilight and Spike nodded and began to get ready for the cold. Her parent's, however, we're staring in awe at the human. The way he treated Nyx was like nothing they had imagined. Twilight had told them that he cared for her deeply, but they never thought it was like that. They noticed everypony else getting ready, and got dressed themselves. Together, the family went for candy!

They were walking down the road, listening to the music of the holiday season. The bustling of ponies getting gifts, the bells ringing from the tower, taxis speeding by. It sparked something in the human, the way the noise blended made it sound like music. Familiar music. He began to sing to the tune.

City sidewalks busy sidewalks .

Dressed in holiday style

In the air

There's a feeling

of Christmas

Children laughing

People passing

Meeting smile after smile

And on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring a ling, hear them ring

Soon it will be Christmas day

Strings of street lights

Even stop lights

Blink a bright red and green

As the shoppers rush

home with their treasures

Hear the snow crunch

See the kids bunch

This is Santa's big scene

And above all this bustle

You'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling, hear them ring

Soon it will be Christmas day

The ponies all stared at him in respective awe at his talent. DJ noticed and only smiled in return. "That was just beautiful, DJ!," exclaimed Twilight. "What's with you today? You keep singing whenever you get the chance. I know you enjoy it, but this is a little much."

"It's the holiday season, Twi. I just love this time of year and I it brings out the caroler in me, I guess. Now, let's something to eat, I'm starved." They grabbed their treats and returned to the homestead. Night Light explained that Shining Armor, Cadence, and their foal Guard Armor (That's new!) would be arriving tomorrow. DJ only had one thing to say: "Shining better behave himself."

The other's looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean by that, human?," asked Shining's father.

"It means what it means. I know exactly what happened last Hearth's Warming. Everything. If he still has any hard feelings with Nyx, then he best keep them to himself, or he's going to deal with me. As long as I'm around, nopony is hurting her, not even her own family. Got it?" He was answered with surprised stares from the parents, while Twilight and Spike gave him looks of fear at what their parents would do. Nyx only beamed at him, knowing that he would always protect her.

Velvet was the only one who could speak. "And how do you know what happened last year?"

"Twilight can answer that better. Ask her. For now though, SPIKE! NYX! ATTENTION!" Spike and Nyx suddenly appeared in front of him and saluted. "Your mission, should you choose to except it, is to defeat me in a snow ball fight. Any questions?"

"Sir, no sir!," they responded in unison.

"THEN GET TO IT! ABOUT FACE!! HUT TWO HUT TWO!" The three of them marched out the front door for some winter time fun. Night Light and Velvet only stared in confusion at what had occurred. Twilight only smiled and shook her head. DJ will always be DJ. She turned to her parents and once again explained her human. This is gonna be a long holiday, she thought to herself.