DJ sat at the dining room table of the Sparkle house, drumming his fingers against the wood. He got dressed surprisingly fast and was the first down the steps and now waited for the others. Rarity had done quite well with his suit. It was a dark blue, almost black, color with two sapphires in the collar, and two more for cufflinks. Night Light and Twilight Velvet were the next down, followed by Spike and Nyx, and finally Shining Armor, Cadence and Guard Armor; all dressed in their finest holiday attire.

“You all look very nice,” DJ said trying to be conversational. They all thanked him in return and got ready to head out. Then Twilight Sparkle came down the steps and DJ stopped everything he was doing. Twilight was wearing a slim red dress that showed off the holiday season as well as herself. Normally, DJ would be very calm, cool, and collected. This, however, was basically the sexiest he had ever seen his marefriend and something deep within him activated. He would have liked to claim that he said that she was beautiful; or at least something sane. Instead he did this.

(This Why! (or close enough))

His reaction to her dress caused Twilight to blush the deepest of reds and she couldn’t help but giggle. “T-Thank you, DJ! I like your suit, too. Now let’s get going or we are going to be late.”

DJ snapped back to normal and followed suit, his face red from his little show. What he didn’t notice was Night Light glaring at him, Shining suppressing a laugh, and Velvet and Cadence sharing a knowing look. They all headed out to the holiday gala.

**********

The party was relatively calm and uneventful, until the Sparkles arrived and the Canterlot Elite got their first look at a human. Princess Celestia had never revealed that Pixel Berry was a human, so no pony knew what he was. That led to some problems at first.

“Apologies, Princess Twilight, but your pet must stay out here,” said one of the guards out front.

“Hey, buddy, I ain’t no pet!” DJ snarled back. The guard leveled his spear at him. Twilight and Shining intervened.

“At ease soldier!”

“Sorry, about that. He is not my pet, he is my date and I would highly appreciate it if you would allow us through. Don’t make me order you!” The guard lowered his weapon and moved aside, but kept giving DJ a death glare, and DJ returning it in kind. As they walked past, he flipped the guard off (yeah, he was that miffed). Spike and Nyx saw and asked about it.

“What does that mean, DJ?” questioned Nyx.

“Let’s just say it’s one of the ruder gestures from back home. Neither of you better imitate it! That guy just got to me, so I returned his rudeness with some of my own. Just forget about it.” Twilight overheard him, at first a little angry he did that in front of impressionable youngsters. After, she smiled warmly knowing DJ was still trying to make sure they don’t imitate such awfulness. They reached their table soon enough and were greeted by none other than Princess Luna.

“Greetings Sparkles and guest! It is good to see you all again. Hopefully there will be little excitement this time around~~?” She said looking at DJ.

“Hey, don’t blame that on me. I had nothing to do with the ‘excitement’ last month and you know it. Just like back home; everypony blames the new guy.” He shook his head, smiling. “What am I gonna do with you ponies?” He began to chuckle.

“Indeed,” Luna responded. “I must go, but we shall speak again later.” She trotted off and left the family to their newly arrived meals. It was half-way through the appetizer when they were approached by another pony; this one very familiar.

“Why, hello Princess Twilight and family! Good to see you all again! I hope you are enjoying this little suaré I’ve put on?” asked Mister Fancy Pants.

“Yes, this is quite enjoyable Fancy and it is good to see you to. Oh, where are my manners? This is DJ, my special somepony. DJ meet Fancy Pants.” Twilight introduced them to each other.

“So you are the creature I have heard about around town. Good to know that you really are no monster. I had my doubts when I first saw you, but not anymore with that little bit of information,” he said with a small chuckle.

“Thanks, Mister Fancy Pants. I have heard that you have become friends with my sister, so you must truly be as gracious a pony as I have heard.” DJ lifted his hand to shake Fancy’s hoof and he took it in kind.

“Oh? And who might this sister of yours be?”

“Pixel Berry, she dropped by the house yesterday and mentioned you were one of her friends in the city.”

“Really? Your sister is the daughter of Princess Celestia? Remarkable. You are quite connected aren’t you?” He said with a sly smile.

“You bet your flank,” DJ responded with a grin of his own. They spoke for a little longer and were having a gentle conversation as they ate. Until, another group of ponies approached them, none looking very happy. DJ noticed them first, their intentions were blaring at him through his newly mastered sensing powers. This could be bad. “Greetings, gentlecolts. Can we assist you with something?” he asked with a calm smile.

“Do not speak to us, creature,” one responded. Okay, that was uncalled for. How wude! Twilight didn’t take to kindly to the insult either. “We are here to speak with Princess Twilight about why she brought an animal into the gala. Surely Fancy Pants would not allow such a monster in here!”

Fancy tried to respond, a grimace on his muzzle, but Twilight beat him to it. “He is not a monster. DJ here, is a guest with my family and is highly civilized, more so than any of you!” She said pointing an accusing hoof their way. It escalated from there, insults flying back in forth. One comment hit home, however.

“He doesn’t belong during such a time. Creatures have no sense of the holidays or their meaning!” OKAY! That tears it! DJ immediate stood and walked at a fast paced toward the stage where Celestia and Luna were sitting. He gave them a quick glance and they understood what he was doing; Twilight did not.

“DJ! What are you doing?” she shouted. He pulled a guitar out of nowhere and the Discords pulled themselves out of his back pocket and took their place. Without another word, DJ started to sing.

You got your hair down

You got that look in your eye

That says come here and get me boy

Lay me down and love me just right, yeah

Ain’t goin no where

I got a bottle of wine

I got nothin’ but time on my hands

And I’m gonna be your man tonight, ah yes I am

I can’t imagine doin’ nothin but what I’m doin

Just layin’ round tangled up with you

We got our buzz on sippin’ on a little something

I need your lovin’

Just keep them kisses comin’

It’s been a long week

I’ve been missin’ me some you

All I wanna do is get your lips on mine

Girl if you only knew, hey

I can’t imagine doin’ nothin but what I’m doin

Just layin’ round tangled up with you

We got our buzz on sippin’ on a little something

I need your lovin’

Just keep them kisses comin’

Yeah keep ‘em comin’ all night

Don’t stop killin’ me baby

Don’t stop drivin’ me crazy

I swear there’s honey on your lips

Baby give me one more long slow kiss

I can’t imagine doin’ nothin but what I’m doin

Just layin’ round tangled up with you

We got our buzz on sippin’ on a little something

I need your lovin’

Just keep them kisses comin’

Oh keep ‘em comin’ all night, hey

Everypony was staring at him. Twilight was blushing feverishly, while Shining and Night Light gave her strange looks. DJ spoke to the crowd. “Now that I have your attention, I would like to make a few things clear to those of you who are unwilling to listen. SO LISTEN UP! I am a human that means you no harm and my name is DJ! Got it memorized? I am here in good faith with my marefriend, Princess Twilight.” A quick gasp came up from the crowd, but DJ silenced them. “Oh, shut up! If any of you had been paying attention, then you would have noticed that I had been giving her quick kisses this whole night. And vice-versa I might add.” Twilight’s blush grew past what was supposed to be possible.

“Now I am a little ticked that some of you have the audacity to think that because I am not from here, that I have no holiday spirit. That assumption would be wrong! The Sparkles can all attest to that! Now, somepony get me a piana!” Celestia materialized a Grand Piano next to him. “Thank you! Now I am going to show all of you how much spirit I got.” He took a seat and prepared to play, but then remember something. “For those who don’t know, where I come from Hearth’s Warming is called Christmas. There, now that that’s cleared up, let us begin.” He began to play a song of beauty and spirit.

Up above the Northern Lights on Christmas night

Shimmering above the clouds, dreams take flight

Legends say that spirits dance across the sky

Children sing and sleigh bells ring, reindeer fly

Magic fills the air

Spirits everywhere

This is Christmas night

Let your dreams take flight

Up above the Northern Lights on Christmas night

Traveling through space and time

Endless light

You and I, beneath the skies, behold the light

Quietly, the mystery fills the night

Magic fills the air

Spirits everywhere

This is Christmas night

Let your dreams take flight

Up above the Northern Lights on Christmas night

Shimmering above the clouds, dreams take flight

The audience was in awe as he sang, a show of lights appearing above him as he sang. Portions of the lights would glow as the notes struck as if the lights played the music themselves. As he finished, DJ took in the sight of his audience. His friends had tears in their eyes from the pure beauty of the song, this was true of many in the crowd. Others simply smiled warmly as they let the song envelop them. He noticed that it was Luna who was performing the lights, a small tear running down her muzzle in pure bliss. He mouthed a ‘Thank you’ to her as played the final notes and she nodded in return. The rest of the night was uneventful as the ponies left the Sparkles and DJ be.

Once they returned home, all of the ponies look at DJ. He noticed with confusion. “What?” he asked simply.

“DJ,” Twilight began, “that song was simply beautiful. I can’t believe that you could sing like that! It was magnificent.”

“Oh, yes, DJ I can’t say I have ever heard such beautiful music. You really do have some talent,” said Velvet dabbing her eyes with a tissue. The others simply nodded approvingly at him.

DJ smiled warmly. “Heh. Thanks everypony that means a lot coming from you. It’s one of my favorites and I felt I had to do it justice.” After all that excitement it was time for bed.

*********

The next day was hectic as it was finally Heath’s Warming Eve. Velvet and Cadence were super busy taking care of everything needed for the next day’s events as well as preparing for the play later that night. DJ decided it would be better if he took Nyx, Spike, and Twilight out shopping, so that they wouldn’t be in the way. Night Light and Shining agreed and let them go. Of course, DJ let Nyx decide where they would go and she picked a very large toy store. One that was overrun with ponies of all ages grabbing that last minute gift. They all walked through the store, DJ continually over hearing conversations: “Santa will definitely get me what I wanted, I’ve been super good”; “Santa always brings me what I want”; “I always get what I want!” This started to infuriate DJ. If I hear one more pony mention that big guy like that… And he did hear another, but not who he was expecting.

“Ah just know that Ah’m gonna get what Ah asked for! All of us are!” DJ looked over to where he heard the voice and his jaw dropped. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were walking down one of the aisles. It was his little sister Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.

“Girls?” He yelled. Twilight and the others stopped and looked where he was and their eyes grew wide. Same could be said about the CMC when they say DJ and the others. Then it turned to happiness as they rushed forward towards him. “DJ!!” They screamed as they slammed him to the floor. He laughed as they nuzzled him.

“Okay, ok. You got me! Now let me up.” They did, but his smile faded as he stood. “Girls? I overheard you over there. Why do you think you’re gonna get what you want this year?” he asked.

They smiled at him and responded in kind. “Because Santa Claus is gonna bring us our Hearth’s Warming presents. He always does!”

DJ frowned and shook his head. “And have you ever done anything for him?”

Everypony looked at him questioningly. “We were never told about that,” Scootaloo answered.

DJ sighed and went military on them. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS, ATTENTION!!” They knew when he did that that they were supposed to follow suit. Four fillies stood at attention before him. “Your mission is to round up every foal, filly, and colt in this store and bring them before me. No ‘if’s, ‘and’s, or ‘but’s. I am I understood?”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

“Then MOVE OUT!” The fillies sped off, each going in a different direction. Ten minutes later, DJ had the entire store’s population of youngsters in front of him. At the very front, were four very tired, yet proud, fillies. “Good job, girls. I’ll take it from here.” Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash approached him from the crowd of parents that had gathered when their kids were taken.

“What on Equis do you think you’re doing, brother? You go and have the Crusaders go and foalnap every youngin’ in the store and for what?”

“To teach them a lesson, dear sister. I have been constantly hearing things from all of them that needs attention.” He once again pulled a guitar out of nowhere and began to strum. “Okay, listen up! This song is to teach every last one of you a lesson about the holidays! Time for you to return the feelings!” Thank you Phineas and Ferb.

Christmas morning, so much fun.

Down the stairs the children run.

Someone has eaten the cookies.

And look what's left under the tree.

There's presents for you and for me

As far as the eye can see.

What's on the rooftop

I wonder what there was

There's reindeer flyin' around the world

Because Santa's comin'!

I think we all should pause

To say that we're grateful

For everything he does.

Thank you Santa Claus!

Thank you Santa Claus!

Woah...

So for all the things you do,

Santa Claus we're thanking you!

So for all the things you do,

Santa Claus we're thanking you!

(Thank you Santa Claus! )

(All over the world! )

(Repeats)

Everypony had joined in by the end the second repeat and were loving every second of it. Once he was finished, everypony stomped in applause. They left the store not long after, the others promising to meet up before the play with the rest of them.

It was a few hours later when it was time for the play. DJ and Berry were very excited to see the play firsthand. The others were catching up with each other, a few a little miffed when they heard about the party the previous night. One such comment coming from the fashionista, “How dare they! Those brutes!” DJ chuckled at their reactions. They all sat back in silence as the play began and the humans got their first true taste of Hearth’s Warming. When the play ended, they even joined in singing the traditional song.

Afterwards, everypony promised to meet at the Sparkles for lunch. DJ smiled at this. Oh, the plans I have planned. This will be a Hearth’s Warming none of them will ever forget!