Author's Notes:

Just a quick note here. I am changing when you should stop the music. As you, all know, the green link is where it starts. Now when you see words in red that's when you stop. Hope you enjoy this chapter and as always: comment, like, follow, share, tell.

Gift pt 1 (Edited)

Winter had fallen over Equestria once again, but it was much different in Ponyville. In Canterlot, Celestia changed the seasons with her magic and a team of unicorns. For Ponyville, the pegasi of Cloudsdale brought winter. Snow blanketed the once lush ground with white. The beauty of the snow was only disturbed by those ponies who ran out to enjoy the winter wonderland. Those such ponies were Art and Night.

The two fillies ran in the snow. Art and Night were happily wearing their winter coats that Rarity was kind enough to make. Night also had to wear covers around her bat wings to keep them safe from the winter cold. It was finally time for winter break. Solar and Twilight followed behind their crazy daughters. It was the first time that Art and Night had officially had fun in the snow. They never got a lot of fun back in the orphanage when the snow fell over Canterlot. But here, they could run and play as long as they were warm. The girls just ran around enjoying the snow while Solar and Twilight watched.

"You know they reminded me when you used to run around the snow." Said Twilight

"Yeah, but I do love winter more than any other holiday." Said Solar

"I know you do honey. Now did you make sure we have everything for the party." Said Twilight

"Yes dear, I triple checked your list with Spike. He even triple checked it. We are ready when everypony comes down to celebrate Harth Warming Eve and Hearth Warming with us" Said Solar

"So I guess Celestia and Luna found a place to stay for the night." Said Twilight

"That's right. Celestia sent me a letter telling me they did." Said Solar

"My parents told me they had a place, and so did Shining and Cadance. Now to another note, did you get the presents." Said Twilight

"Yes dear, I think you underestimate me." Said Solar

"But I still love you." Said Twilight

She gave Solar a loving kiss on his lips as he rubbed his hand across her belly. They had seen a doctor about their unborn foal. They were happy that everything is going fine. They even had a date, sometime in the summer. They couldn't wait to see the foal that they had made together come into this world. The girls had even planned Twilight's baby shower as soon as spring came over Equestria. After the two had broken the kiss, Art and Night came up to their parents.

"Mom and dad." said Art

"Yes, girls." Said Solar

"Come build snow ponies with us." Said Night

"Can we Twilight." Said Solar

"Ha ok, but I'm going watch. But your dad is more than happy to do it with you." Said Twilight

"Alright girls, let's go spread snow ponies all across Ponyville." Said Solar

The girls cheered as they dragged off Solar with Twilight following close by just giggling away at how happy the girls were now that they had a family.

***

The family walked back to the library after having fun in the snow. Spike had decided to stay and watch the library as the cold wasn't too friendly to him. Solar opened the door, and everypony entered the house. A raging fire was roaring away in the fireplace. Spike sat on the couch with a sweater on, reading a book. He looked up when he saw the door open and close.

"Well, how was it in the snow?" Asked Spike

"It was fun Uncle Spike, dad, I, and Night made snow ponies and angels all across Ponyville. I wish you had come with us." Said Art

"Girls, dragons are cold blooded. We don't like the cold that much. But when summer comes around, your Uncle Spike will be more than happy to go anywhere you want." Said Spike

"Alright, Uncle." Said Art

"Now girls, hang your stuff up and afterward you can get hot chocolate." Said Twilight

They cheered and ran back to their room as Twilight went into the kitchen. Solar smiled as He hung up his stuff and sat on the couch next to his brother.

"Oh Solar, a letter from your mother came while you were out." Said Spike

Spike closed the book and walked over to the desk. He grabbed the letter and handed it over to Solar. Solar unrolled it and began to read it over.

"So what's it say?" Asked Spike

"It seems my mother wants to warn me that a blizzard is coming into Ponyville tonight. She is sending over a set of guards to help me make sure that everypony in Ponyville stays in for the night and has the necessary supplies to outlast the storm." Said Solar

"Huh, I don't remember Rainbow mentioning a blizzard anytime soon." Said Spike

"It seems this was an unexpected blizzard." Said Solar

"I thought the pegasi knew how to plan out the weather." Said Spike

"They do, but it seems that something came up in planning, and they needed to throw in a blizzard. So my mother wants me to make sure that everypony is ready for the pending storm." Said Solar

Solar and Spike heard the wind start to push against the house. Solar got up and began to throw on his winter clothing as a knock came to the door. Twilight come out of the kitchen to see what was going on.

"What's going on, Solar?" She asked

"Cloudsdale is sending Ponyville an unexpected blizzard. My mother sent me over some guards. I'm going out to make sure that everypony is Ponyville is ready to ride out the storm. You all just stay inside, and I'll be back soon enough." Said Solar

"Please be careful Solar." Said Twilight

"I will honey, just save a cup of hot chocolate for me." Said Solar

He opened the door to see three unicorn Solar Guards in winter armor. The armor allowed them to stay out in the cold much better than the traditional armor they wore.

"Alright, we need to spread the word of the blizzard. As you can see and feel, it is already starting, which means we don't have a lot of time to spare. Each of you takes a section of Ponyville. Help anypony you find get back to their homes and make sure to ask homes if they are ready for the storm. Under no circumstance will you leave a pony needing help. As soon as you have finished up your section, return to Canterlot. Afterward, report to my mother that you have returned. You all can teleport long distances." The guards nodded to Solar. "Good, I'll take the north section, you split the others among yourselves. Understood soldiers."

"Sir yes, Sir." Said the guards

"Excellent, get to work, I'm not too sure how long we have." Said Solar

The guards nodded and went off to each section of Ponyville. Solar walked around the northern part of Ponyville telling ponies about the blizzard. As he walked around, the blizzard was growing closer. He used his magic to create a heat barrier inside his winter clothing. He continued to make sure ponies were ready for the impending storm. He was the prince, and no cold was going to keep him from making sure his subjects were safe. He had finished all of the northern sections as the blizzard was starting to hit Ponyville. Damn, just in time. All I have to do is teleport back to the library. Solar started to charge his magic when he heard something. It was the sound of somepony moving around in an alleyway. Huh, I thought I told everypony to stay indoors. Solar dropped the spell and walked over as the wind was starting to go crazy.

"Hello, is anypony back here." Said Solar

He listened and heard some ruffling. He kept walking forward. He increased his heat spell as the temperature was dropping around him. Damn, it's dropping in temp. If I don't find this pony now, I'm afraid they won't make it till morning. Solar pushed forward, and his eyes couldn't believe the site. It was Scootaloo hiding out in a box. He ran up to her and bent down. He touched her and felt her body was freezing. He gently pulled her out and began to pull her out. She shivered as Solar began to pour his magic into her to get her warm. What are you doing out here. Solar looked around and realized what was around him. This is Scootaloo's home, she's homeless. Solar heard the storm outside the alleyway screaming away. He charged his magic and teleported out of the alleyway.

***

The library was peaceful as the storm raged outside. Art was in her and sister's room drawing away. Spike sat on the couch still reading his book with Twilight as she read a parenting book. Night sat with her back facing the fire and bat wings open to let the heat warm them up. Since the cold wasn't a good for her leather bat wings unlike pegasi wings, which could take the cold. Soon Solar teleported into the middle of the library covered in snow.

"Solar." Said Twilight

"Spike get me some blankets from upstairs." Said Solar

Spike got up and ran upstairs as Art came out of her and sister's room. Twilight got up as Solar placed Scootaloo on the couch. She was still shivering. Spike came down with some thick blankets. Solar took them and put a warming spell on them and wrapped Scootaloo in them.

"Solar why is Scootaloo on our couch." Said Twilight

"Because I found her freezing in an alleyway in the northern part of Ponyville. I think she is homeless as she was living in the alley in a box." Said Solar

"So Scootaloo been homeless this whole time." Said Twilight

"Looked like it." said Solar

"But dad, why didn't she tell us. I mean, Night and I are here friends plus Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle." Said Art

"Because she might feel ashamed that she is homeless." Said Solar

"How about we give her some space and let her warm up. Hopefully, she'll be ok." Said Twilight

"Before I teleported, I did a quick scan and found nothing wrong. If anything, Scootaloo is just cold, and her body couldn't take it." Said Solar

The house went back to normal enough. Art and Night decided to stay in the living room with the sleeping Scootaloo. Spike went upstairs to read his book, while Solar and Twilight went into the kitchen. Twilight could tell something was on his mind.

"Dear, if you're mad at yourself for not knowing, just know she hid it well." Said Twilight

"That's not it dear. Something else is bothering me." Said Solar

"What?" Asked Twilight

"Before I teleported back to the library, I swore I saw something in that box. I'm not sure as I had to get back here before the cold started to kill Scootaloo. I think as soon as the blizzard passes I'm going back to the alley and pick up Scootaloo's stuff." Said Solar

"So what should we do with her?" Asked Twilight

Solar lend up against the railing of the counter. He began to slowly chew the inside of his mouth as he closed his eyes. He crossed his arms over his chest as he thought it over. I just can't send her back to the streets. Surely not with it being winter. I need to find her parents and see why she left them. If anything, we should keep her till I can figure this all out. The girls wouldn't mind as she is a friend. He opened his eyes and looked at his wife's worrying face.

"I believe that she should let her stay here till I have all the answers. Then once we have them all, we can figure out what to do." Said Solar

"You think her parents are looking for her." Said Twilight

"I'm not sure honey, but something is still bothering me about this all. I have a bad feeling that Scootaloo didn't just choose to be homeless. Something or somepony forced her into this lifestyle." Said Solar

"How long do you think she's been out on her own?" Asked Twilight

"Who knows?" Said Solar

***

Scootaloo opened her eyes and slowly began to look around. She could see the light of the coals from the burning fireplace. She scanned the room to see she was in the library. How did I get here? She looked to see a set of thick blankets covering her body. Where did these come from? Her ears soon picked up the sound of a quill scratching away on paper. She moved her head to spot Solar writing away on the desk.

"Prince Solar." She said

Solar turned his head and saw Scootaloo was up. He placed the quill back into the inkwell as he walked over to the orange Pegasus.

"I'm happy your up Scootaloo." He said bending down to her level.

"How did I get in your house?" She asked

"I found you earlier today in an alleyway when a horrible blizzard was blowing over Ponyville. I brought you here and been keeping an eye on you." Said Solar

"So I guess you know." Said Scootaloo as she sat up.

"That you are homeless, yes." He said sitting next to her.

"So what are you going to do with me?" She asked

"I'm not sure yet, but your more than welcome to stay here until then." Said Solar

"Really." Said Scootaloo

"Really." He said with a smile.

"Thank you, Prince Solar." She said giving him a hug.

"You're welcome Scootaloo, and Solar is ok. Now I'm sorry that'll have to stay on the couch for right now." Said Solar

"It's better than the box back in the alley." Said Scootaloo

"Well, goodnight Scootaloo. Sweet dreams and sees you in the morning." Said Solar

He went over and blew out his candle and threw a few logs on the fire and began to walk up the stairs when he heard Scootaloo speak up to him. "Solar." He turned to look at Scootaloo. "Thank you for being so kind to me. Not many ponies would accept a street urchin like me."

"Your welcome and Scootaloo." She looked at Solar as he walked over and rubbed his hand across her face. "You aren't a street urchin. You are a young, vibrant ten-year-old filly. Let no pony tell you different." He ruffled her mane and walked up the stairs. He looked one last time to see Scootaloo fall back to sleep before walking to his room.

He opened the door to see his wife already sleeping happily. He stripped and placed on a pair of long pants. He slipped into bed and started to heat it with his magic. He snuggled himself close to his wife and laid his head on his pillow as he fell asleep.

***

Solar walked the snow covered grounds from last night's blizzard. Ponies were out clearing away the snow. Solar just waved but didn't say a word, his mind to heavy with thought. He was going to figure out the truth of Scootaloo. But he had a feeling that he should let this one go. He had always heard that if you search out the truth, you might find something you don't like.

He reached the alleyway and walked down it. The snow had covered much of Scootaloo's homeless home. Solar knew if he hadn't found her last night, he would have found her frozen to death. He shook his head to get rid of the images in his mind He was like his mother. He never liked it when a pony died on his watch. He started to dig away the snow slowly picking up things that Scootaloo had placed around. He found a picture of a WonderBolt poster with Rainbow being one of the WonderBolts and her the other. Solar folded it up and put it in a pack he had been caring. He found her scooter that she went around on. She could see that it needed repairs. He put that to the side and moved to her box. He cleaned it out and found one item. It was a picture frame. He looked at the picture. What it had was of Scootaloo's family. The father was a Pegasus with a black coat and orange mane. His eyes were a sap green color. On his hand was a test tube. Solar moved his eyes over to the mare. She had a sky blue coat and raven black mane. She was a Pegasus as well. Her eyes were sap green as well. Her cutie mark was a ray of sunshine coming down onto a flower. Solar saw that the mare was holding a baby Scootaloo. His eyes drifted to a young colt. He had an orange mane with a black coat. His eyes were sapphire in color. A cutie hadn't yet appeared on his hand.

Solar ran his thumb across the picture as he placed it in the bag. He kept searching, but that was it. He got up and picked up the scooter. He took the bag and tossed it over his shoulder. He looked back at the box before snapping his fingers and lighting it on fire. He watched as the flames consumed the tattered old box. He turned around as the smoke disappeared into the sky. Solar knew that he could never send Scootaloo back to this life.

***

He made it back to the library and went down to the basement. His family was out enjoying the winter snow. Art and Night were able to persuade Spike to go with them. Scootaloo happily joined her friends for fun in the snow. Twilight was more than happy to watch them. Solar opened the door to the basement and walked down. He lit the candles as he reached the bottom of the steps. He placed his bag on the floor and the scooter on a table. He took out a scroll and began to write his mother a letter. He sent if off as he looked back at the scooter. He began to take it apart. He began to repair the old scooter. His hands worked hard on the item. He took care with every piece. Soon a scroll from his mother appeared. He took it and opened it. He read it over before a file with a red word, 'closed' on it, came out of his fire.

He took the case file and sat down. He opened it read it over. He slowly started to grip the folder till his knuckles ran white. He let go and set down the file and ran his hands across his face. He got up and opened the bag and pulled out the picture. He removed it from the frame and saw writing on the back. It read, 'To Scootaloo, so you can always remember the day we brought you home. A lone tear fell onto the picture as Solar held it in his hands. He sat down and set the picture on the desk. He pulled around scroll and began to write his mother another letter. He knew what he had to do now. He sent off the letter and stared back at the scooter. He walked over to a closet and pulled out all his tools. He set them down and rolled up his sleeves. He began to work hard on the scooter as he waited for his mother to get back to him. He knew everything now, but in a way, he wished he didn't now a thing at all.

***

Solar laid his head on the table as he snoozed away. Twilight had come home as Spike had decided to start a snowball fight that ended with him freezing. They all came back, and Twilight could see the basement door open. The girls had asked to see Apple Bloom and Twilight allowed them to run off. She told Spike to take a hot shower as she headed downstairs.

When she reached the bottom step, she could see her husband fast asleep with a finished scooter next him. Twilight had seen Scootaloo use it to get around Ponyville. He could see that Solar's tools were out and that the scooter was entirely new looking. She gently rubbed her husband awake.

"Solar dear were home." Said Twilight

Solar opened his eyes and got up from the table and yawned while stretching out. "Oh hi Twilight, when did you all get back."

"Just a minute or so ago. Spike decided to challenge the girls to a snowball fight. It didn't end well for him. So we came back, but the girls went to see Apple Bloom and Spike is in the shower. What have you been doing while we were gone?" Said Twilight

"Working on Scootaloo's scooter and her past. I went and gathered everything she had, which was a poster, her scooter and picture frame of her old family. I asked my mother about anything she had about the family. She gave a closed case file." Said Solar

"What did you find." Asked Twilight

"Do you want to know?" Asked Solar

"Yes, tell me why Scootaloo is homeless." Said Twilight

"Alright, but I got to say. I wish I had never asked to find out this truth." Said Solar

"Solar please." Said Twilight

Solar sighed as he picked up the file. He opened it and began to read what was inside. "Well ten years ago. Scootaloo was born. Her father was a world renowned chemist working in Cloudsdale by the name of Tester Testy. Her mother was a stay at home mom, by the name of Sunny Rays. She also had a brother three years older than her. His name was Swift Kick. Scootaloo was born into this family. Her parents loved her so much that the son started to grow jealous that his sister was getting all the love now. Time was ok for Scootaloo until, well five years later." Solar ran his hands through his hair, and Twilight knew he was having a hard time. She walked up and laid her head on his shoulder. He looked at her and continued. "Scootaloo returned one day from school to find her parents weren't around. She searched for them and found them. They were both brutally murdered in their bed. Twenty+ stab wounds each. Complete rage and anger took over the killer. Of course, the killer was still in the house. It was her brother. His jealousy towards his sister lead him to kill his parents and nearly killing his sister." Solar stopped as he flipped the report. Twilight just kept her head on his shoulder. "She was able to escape and ran right into a guard. She told the guard everything. The guard went into action and captured Swift Kick. He had a trial for his crime, which my mother was the judge. She sentenced him to death for his crime, and Scootaloo placed in an orphanage. Swift Kick was later hung for his crime three years later, the same time Scootaloo ran away from the orphanage." Solar closed the file and threw it on the table. "So now you know the sick truth of such a sweet filly Pegasus."

Twilight just kept her eyes closed as she thought it all over. She opened them to see a single tear run down her husband's cheek. Twilight knew Solar was sensitive to stuff like this because of his past. She gently nuzzled her muzzle across his face. He looked at her, and she looked at him. They kissed and let it last as long as it could. When they broke, Solar got up and walked over to the table with the scooter. He brought out a paper and inkwell and quill. He placed the paper down and showed Twilight.

She walked over and read over the document. She looked at Solar as he looked at her. She also looked stared back at the crime file. She felt pity for Scootaloo losing her real family all because of a jealous brother. Twilight took the quill and dipped it into the ink. She signed her name and gave it back to Solar. He took the document and rolled it up. He sent it to his mother. Twilight walked over and held her husband as he did the same. They didn't say a word, as there was nothing left to say. They had both learned that the truth could be a scary place.