Moving our charming guest from the cells to the train station was a chore in and of itself. Never have you heard a lady complain more about every last thing. I mean, Spoiled was in rare form to be sure.

Complaining about how bad the food was, how she was cold, how dare we shackle her again. Complaints about Filthy not coming to see her, complaints about not having access to proper grooming, the list goes on and on.

I mean, I couldn’t really blame Filthy for avoiding her. I had gone to see him this morning before the move. Diamond was upstairs, Silver was with her and in a rare show of trust he had let Pip stay with the girls. Poor guy looked like hell, as I walked into his study to find him going over stacks of papers trying to figure out just how bad she had messed things up.

“Shane, I...” he paused, lifting his gaze up at me. “Thank you, for w—”

I held up my hand to stop him. “No need, Rich. I did my job, but I would have done it anyways. Diamond is a good girl.”

He sat and gave a nod, and I continued. “So, we are moving her to Canterlot this afternoon.”

Filthy glanced up at me, puzzled. “But, tomorrow is the start of the Hearth’s Warming weekend. The courts won’t be open until at least next Wednesday, she will sit in a cell for five da…”

He trailed off as I just smiled some. “You… are taking this very personal, aren't you, Shane?”

I exhaled, nodding. “I can take a lot, I can overlook a lot. But, striking a child, I…” I gave pause then looked down at the floor as I adjusted my hat. “Well, let’s just say it was made personal, aye?”

Filthy Rich was quite for a time, before he spoke again in a much softer tone. “Only a father would know that kind of anger,” and that was where he left it. He turned and pulled a picture of her down from a bookshelf and looked at it.

“She was always like this. I guess I just… overlooked it. I should have ended it along time ago. But work got in the way, then Diamond came along, and... I could not leave her without a mother…” shaking his head.

“Don’t do that to yourself, Rich,” I reached out and put my hand on my friend’s shoulder and looked down into his pained eyes as he looked up from the picture he held. “Don’t let it roll into hate, just do what you have to. For your daughter.”

He nodded and reached out, dropping the picture frame into a trash can. “I have already moved to block her access to the accounts. My lawyer has moved good faith money into her lawyer’s account so I can’t be accused of trying to cut her off.”

I took a step back and listened to him speak, then proceeded to ask, “So, the plan is to…”

He nodded. “It’s time, Shane, it has been time, and I am late to arriving at the conclusion. I won’t risk Diamond and I won’t stand idle.”

We shook hand to hoof and I turned to go. He spoke up one last time. “The boy, he isn’t past it yet. He needs a guiding hoof.”

I kept my back to him but gave a simple nod of my head “I am aware, and already have plans in the works, we will talk about it soon...but I have to ask” looking over my shoulder at the proud stallion. “You know they are… well, it may just be a crush, but.”

He smiled a little. “if it is more than a crush, I can think of few colts I would want around my Diamond. He has a strength of character.”

---

The train car was not your typical coach. It had been clearly designed for military use, rows of benches, the back section of it with four cells, a weapons locker… well, and it was armored. Cort stayed behind in Ponyville with Lightning Dust and Golden. I was alone on this trip, just me and fifteen royal guards, five each from the Solar, Lunar, and Friendship divisions.

“I demand some kind of mask! The stench of failure and corruption in here is quite bothersome to my nose. One of you lowborn guards go and fetch me something from the dining cart. A lady deserves to be waited on. Why all this fuss, I will never understand, but—”

I had hit my end, and I could not take her constant talk anymore. I snapped to my feet and stormed down the aisle to the cells. Not a few guards scrambling out of the way as I did. I didn’t hold back, it was time to stop being nice.

“Shut your fucking MOUTH!” I bellowed at her, causing her to snap her muzzle shut and her eyes to shoot wide.

“Get this in your thick skull, you dog humping thundercunt! You are a prisoner, you are under arrest, you, you…” my right fist slammed into the door of the cell making her leap back and let out a panicked cry. “YOU STRUCK YOUR CHILD AND DAMN NEAR FUCKING BLINDED HER!”

Again my fist fell and crashed into the cell bars. “A child, you hit a child! If I had my way you would be swinging by the neck from a tree right now! Now…” I took a deep breath and exhaled, still glaring right into her eyes with a raging fire in my own. “You will shut up, you will not speak again unless you need water, need to use the restroom, or are in pain. Am I clear?”

She started to open her mouth, but I let out an inhuman snarl that ultimately silenced her. “I said, am I fucking clear?!”

She shook in fear. Her eyes locked on mine, that prey drive in her wanting to run but having nowhere to go. A voice of a mouse slipped out. “Y-y-y-yes!”

I gave a nod and spun around, my old boots thumping on the floor with each heavy step as I walked away. “One of you, please get her a bucket and towels and a privacy screen so she can clean up the piss she is sitting in.”

I slumped back into the chair at the other end of the car, not one guard would look at me. I lifted up my right hand and took note of the blood dribbling down it. I guess I tore it up pretty good. I was just about to ask for a towel when the corpsman… pony, fuck you, Twilight, walked over. One of the Lunar guards, he didn’t speak at first, just started to pull items out of his saddle bags and began to clean up the wound.

Down the car, two mares from Twilight’s Guard started to help the prisoner clean up. I shook my head and the Lunar earth pony spoke in a soft, deep tone. “You going to be alright, Ranger?”

I shook my head and adjusted my hat with my left hand. “I don’t know. I shouldn’t have let her get to me like that.”

He gave a nod as he worked to wrap my hand in gauze. Not doing a bad job considering I doubt he had much experience working on a hand. “No, but it was understandable. You said what everypony here was thinking.” He paused, then shook his head with a bit of a sharp-toothed grin. “Dog humping thunder…” he didn’t dare finish the word. “You and our princess share a love for unique put-downs.”

I just gave him a nod and kept quiet, watching him work.

---

Twilight Velvet, along with several of what I took to be her agents waited at the station along with a cell wagon, more guards, and Captain Cross.

As I stepped out I looked around, nodding afterwards. Cross walked over to stand at my side, the unicorn wearing the same oilcoat Cortland and I wore. It became sort of the mark of a Ranger, we came to determine.

“Any issues?” he queried as he observed the guards transferring the shackled mare to the cart. I made note of the fact it was being carried out on a cleared platform, and no civilians occupied the station. Quite unusual for a transport hub as big and busy as Canterlot.

I glanced down at him then back to what was going on. My eyes picked up on a rather smug looking unicorn in a dark suit, heading our way with four of what I took to be personal guards around him. “Yeah, but we can talk about it later. We got company, Cap.”

He looked up and groaned. “Not this pain in the flank.”

I began to size up the stallion as he strolled closer and stopped in front of us. Sandy brown coat, slicked back black mane, expensive -ooking suit, young eyes with fire in them. Yeah, he just about screamed high-price lawyer.

“Captain Cross Shield, I demand to see my client!”

He gestured to me. “Grey Dark, meet Ranger McDonald. Shane, this is—”

Mr. Slimy cut Cross off. “Grey Dark of Dark, Dark and Trident. So, you are the one responsible for this abortion of justice. I expect my client to be in the best of health and taken care of properly. She is to be put in the best room in the castle pending her arraignment trial.”
I just stared down at him as he continued, not saying a word… yet.

“I expect we can get her before Judge Gavel if we hurry al—”

It was my turn to cut him off. “No.”

His ears pinned, then he recovered. “Excuse me?”

I smiled, but out of the corner of my eye I saw the captain bring his hoof to his face. “I said, no, as in no, she won’t make court today. Too much paperwork, my handoff of custody alone will take me..” I brought my hand to my chin and tapped. “Three, four hours,” I continued to smile down at him. “Would happen faster but, you know how it is. Legal paperwork stacks up tall and all that.”

He lost some of his cool, and stomped his hoof down. “That is inexcusable! If we do not get into court this afternoon, she will languish in custody for the entire weekend. This is unacceptable!”

I shrugged some and kept the same tone of the ‘hick cop’ I was playing for him. “Well, I don’t know about all that. I just know if I don’t do the paperwork right, well, some smart lawyer might get a criminal off on a technicality. Quality paperwork takes time, now don’t it, Captain?”

Cross looked up at me with a frown then shook his head. “Nothing I can do here. Sorry, Mr. Dark. Until Shane hands off the chain of custody, she is his prisoner.”

The stallion gave another stomp of his hoof and in a far lower tone snarled. “I will make you pay for this slight, monster.” I did not like the glint in his blue eyes one bit.

I tilted my head, my smile fell from my face. “Was that a threat against a sworn officer of the law, counselor?”

He said nothing more, just spun and stormed off with his four guards in tow.

“I think you made yourself an enemy, Shane,” Cross commented, his tone taking more of a disapproving edge to it.

I snorted, watching the smug stallion storm off. “Don’t really care, the guy is a snot nosed punk dressed up in a fancy suit.”

Cross shook his head and we started off, following the cell cart heading for the Royal Dungeons to the west of us.

---

I had received a bit of a chewing out later that day for my conduct in the train car. It really wasn’t the captain, but more because a smug lawyer complained up the chain of command. It made its way to the Princess, who of course was disappointed in me over it.

Really that was one of the downsides to the Rangers. We answered directly to the princesses as far as chain of command. So when we screwed up, well, honestly it was like getting a reprimand from your mother! Having Celestia look in your eyes and tell you she was disappointed in you truly stung, even I was not immune to that fully.

By the time I got back to Ponyville, it was well past ten at night. I crawled up into my bed and fell asleep alone. However, a part of me really missed the weight and warmth of a certain orange apple mare being pressed up to my side. I looked out the frost-rimmed window at the main house at the window I knew was hers. I wondered as I slipped off to sleep, if she was doing the same thing.

---

Two days later, it was Hearth’s Warming Eve. Okay, screw that, it is Christmas Eve! I don’t care what the ponies call it, it is Christmas with a new wrapper on it is all.

I had everything packed up in the back of the Apples’ wagon, walking along Big Mac’s side as only three of us, counting Granny Smith, headed for Twilight's castle. Jackie and AB were already there, having been there all day helping set things up.

“You doing okay, Granny?” I looked over at her.

She snorted at me. “Ah am doing just fine, but ya best quit fussin’ about me.” Her tone said something else, it said she liked I was worried for her.

I chose not to question it initially. “Yes, ma’am.”

Mac glanced over at me for a moment and then back to his pulling. “Ma sister didn’t come inside last night… again.”

I shot a glance over at Granny who seemed to not have heard it. At least she was acting like she was ignoring it. Looking back at him I said in a low tone. Ain’t nothing happened, okay? Just talking and spending time together.”

The red draft stallion snorted as well. “She is still ma’ sister.”

I gave him a nod. “And I respect her, to the core you know that.”

After a pause, he huffed. “Eeyup.”

Once we reached the castle and unhooked Mac, ponies started to help bring in the presents and boxes of food. I got inside to have Lightning Dust sweep up and smile at me. “Merry Hearth’s Warming, Shane.” She looked more serious as she landed and looked up at me. “Shane, before things get rolling, I just, well, I want to say… Thank you.”

I blinked, squatting down so I was not towering over her. “For what?”

She shrugged. “For giving me a chance, for taking a risk on me, for...” she gestured around as if to say giving her a place in pony society once more.

I poked her on the nose, making her face scrunch up some before she let out a little half giggle. “Lightning, all I did was show you the way. It was you who got to Filthy fast as you did. It was you who made all the friends around you. You just keep being you, and sticking at Cort’s and my side, okay?”

She held up her wing and I touched my fingers to it in a sort of high five before she took off. I watched her hover near Derpy, who was clinging to the top of the tree playing ornament right now.

“You know, no one up in Canterlot would believe you can be so nice.”

I didn’t need to turn my head to check who it was. “And Merry Christmas to you too, Cort.”

He laughed. “Hey, what is this I hear, that you are going to tell us the story of what Christmas is? That even Luna and Celestia are going to pop in for a hour to listen?”

I gave him a nod and looked over at him. “You have all shared your traditions with me, why not tell you about mine?”

He smiled at me.

---

Usually I got pretty nervous when I was the center of attention. However, I had a pretty orange pony pressed up to my side, helping distract me from the fact four princesses, one prince consort, a good twenty-five foals, and what must be a hundred to hundred-and-fifty ponies were all sitting around to listen to my story.

I took a swig of apple cider from the wood viking-like mug next to me, making note it was the ‘good stuff’, not the stuff the children got.

“Well, where to sta—”

I got swiftly cut off by a high pitched squeal and four hooves prancing in place as everyone broke out laughing. Twilight, spinning in circles with a huge grin on her face, suddenly realized what she was doing and stopped. With a sheepish look, and Starlight giving her a nudge she sat and said quietly. “Sorry.”

AJ gave me a smirk and I grinned back at her. “All right now, how about I start with why we have what we call Christmas in my world?”

I cleared my throat. “Back home, faith means a lot. We humans, well a lot of us anyways. Believe in a great spirit called God. God created the heavens and earth, gave life to every creature, and then created mankind. It is our faith in God—or at least the Christian faith—that we get Christmas.”

I looked around, that seemed to be enough of a background for most there.

“One day, God looked down and saw his creations needed a shepard. Someone to guide them in spirit and faith. To show them a path to kindness and what we call humanity.”

I leaned over and picked up a book that was next to me. It had been a long time since I had opened the bible up; over eleven years now, to be precise. Flipping to a page, I smiled some.

“I think it would be best for me to read from this, to help you understand the true meaning behind Christmas.”

I had everypony’s undivided attention now. I happened to note the warm smile on Celestia’s face. How rare was it that she and her sister could come down and just be with ponies and not have to be princesses for a moment?

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

As I closed the book there was silence among the ponies then a voice spoke up. Luna in her quiet inside voice.

“Shane, if I understand the words from your faith. This child, a baby, born on this night. Was a sign given to your kind by your god. A sign of not only faith, but hope and peace?”

I nodded at her words, “pretty much spot on,” this set others to talking among themselves. One hoof lifted and I saw it belonged to Celestia herself. I bowed my head. “Princess?”

That motherly smile of hers never fell as she looked over to me. “Shane, we have heard much to ponder tonight. Thank you for sharing your culture with us. While it is hard for us to understand not having a base in faith as your kind does, I think I speak for all here when I say it is a honor to have you share it with us. However, I was wondering, we have heard much about your singing voice. Would you honor us with a song, perhaps something from this… Christmas, as you call it?”

You know, I kind of knew she was going to set me up for that. I chuckled as many ears lifted and hopeful eyes looked to me. Jackie whispered, “So that is why you brought your guitar.”

I nodded to her and then looked back at the white sun goddess. “It would be my pleasure ma’am. I think a song that fits the story I just told would work well here.” As I reached for my old guitar, many cheered softly.

“Now, this song is the story of a little boy who saw the star the new king was born under. Who followed the shepherds and wise men, and came upon the babe laying in the manger. It is called, The Little Drummer Boy.”

I started to strum and closed my eyes. I had sung for others but never in front of Luna and Celestia before. Never in front of Cadence and Shining Armor, nor many of the families here like Dash’s parents, and Mr and Mrs Shy.

Come they told me Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the kIng Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him Pa rum pum pum pum
When we come

I opened my eyes and saw many swaying to the song. Many more smiled, but every last one of the technicolor ponies around me, were focused on me.

Little baby Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring Pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our King Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you Pa rum pum pum pum
On my drum

Truth of things, this was by far my favorite song of the season. I really can’t tell you why, but it was. So I put my all into this concert, I wanted to sing the best I had ever sung.

Mary nodded Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

The long pause, as I strummed the guitar strings and played out the song a bit. What I had missed, I picked up. Several of the foals were tapping their hooves on the ground in time to the rhythm of the song. I couldn’t help myself, I smiled brighter than I had in a long, long time.

Then He smiled at me Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum

Coming to a close, I was greeted by hooves clapping and ponies cheering softly. As I placed my old acoustic back in its bag, we all heard a noise. As one, the entire room went silent as the grave, every last pony looking at three little foals, two Cakes and an alicorn who were on a blanket together.

“D… did they,” it was Shining Armor’s voice, and we were all treated to it a second time.

“Pa,” said a little pegasus.

“Rum,” spoke his little unicorn sister.

“Pum!” finished a large eyed little alicorn.

A cavalcade of action as parents scooped up their foals and hugged them. Many tears were being shed by the proud mares and stallions. First words spoken, on a magical night, one could not ask for more.

Next to me, Applejack nudged my hip and spoke. “I would say that was about the best Hearth’s Warming present ever given.”

Putting my hand on her neck, I nodded. “Eeyup.”

---

Time for handing out presents. It being my first time for Hearth’s Warming, I went a bit overboard but, hey, why not? I was in a great mood despite the last eight months of ups and downs.

First it was the four princesses, I knew Luna and Celestia had to get back to Canterlot soon. I bid them all to open theirs at the same time. All four did and all four pulled out long brown oil coats. Exchanging glances, it was Cadence who spoke up. “Shane, this is… a coat,thecoat of a Ranger?”

I gave a bit of a nod. “Well, if you are going to be our chain of command, then you should dress the part. Right about now, Dame Fleur and Sir Fancy are likely looking at the same thing.”

Twilight swung hers around and slid into it, giving a bright little nicker. “Now all I need is a hat!”

Next was Cortland, and I called him over. With help from Celestia, the big ornate oak box was brought out as the apple unicorn looked on. “Cort, you are not just my friend, but my partner.”

He glanced at me and rolled his eyes. “Is this going to blow up on me?” he joked as he slid a hoof on the lid and lifted it. His face went from a smile to utter shock, his eyes lifted to mine, back to what was inside, then back to me.

“Th-this can’t be, Shane... this… this looks like a hammer and rod repeating crossbow! It can’t be, there are only two in the world!”

Laying in the case was just that; a crossbow that used a magical driven set of gears and rods to cock the weapon. On top sat a revolving cartridge that held six bolts and could be changed out rapidly much like a magazine.

I gave him a firm nod. “It is, buddy.”

He again looked at it and back to me, almost at a complete loss for words. “Shane, this kind of magic requires Alicorn level power! How, where, what…”

I gestured over. “Celestia and Luna showed me the original, Together, with Twilight, they can make them. It has been decided that,” I then pointed to the weapon sitting in its box, “It will be the official weapon of the Canterlot Rangers. We alone will carry them.”

He ran his hoof over the weapon gently. “It even has my cutie mark on the side plate!”

I smiled warmer and gestured over to the little pink earth pony with her parents. “Lili there is the creator of that part, and her parents the only smiths in Equestria with the skill and permission to make the new H&R Ranger. You have number one, buddy.”

In a rare display, I meanrealrare, he spun and I found myself trapped in a lung-crushing hug. It was a little awkward, but at the same time, Cort was my best friend, so I felt obligated to return it.

To Rainbow Dash, I had a patch made by the Wonderbolts’ tailor for her jacket. On it was a male cat leaning on a jet that said under it. “Any time, baby”.

Rarity, I found another book with many clothing designs in it, among my things.

Fluttershy, I dug up five issues of some very old National Geographic issues that were in the closet at the cabin. They were mostly on animals of the Serengeti, so I figured she would get a lot of joy out of that.

Pinkie Pie, I gave my mother’s old cookbook to. I warned her many dishes in it were made for carnivores. but she loved it anyways and I received yet another choking hug for it. Stupid party pony almost made me cry.

Starlight Glimmer and Trixie I gave a certificate for a dinner at The Tasty Treat in Canterlot.

I gestured for Pipsqueak to come over. He had received presents from many, including a very warm looking jacket from Diamond Tiara. When he trotted over, I sat down and looked at him.

“Pip, this present is from me, but also Mr. Rich,” I gestured, “and is given with the blessing of Mrs Tap,” I gestured to Love Tap, who was over standing with her son, who himself was busy talking with Sweetie Belle.

Fishing into my shirt pocket, I pulled out a small folding knife. The kind of thing every boy when I grew up had in his pocket. I gently held it out to him, seeing his eyes grow wide as saucers.

“This is no toy, Pip. I am handing you a great responsibility, You work in a shop. You need to be able to open boxes, cut string and rope, help cut paper and cardboard up,” making sure to keep eye contact with him as I set it into the frog of his held out hoof.

“You treat that with respect, never threaten anypony with it. Never cut towards yourself, never cut towards somepony else. You show Mr. Rich and I you can handle the responsibility of that and we will talk about you coming to clean up the station once a week, okay?”

He was nodding his head rapidly. “Oh, yes, sir. Yes, Ranger, sir!” He spun off to run back to his group of friends.

“That is a great deal of trust you have given a colt his age,” said a soft voice from my right. I glanced up to see Luna, watching Pipsqueak with his friends.

“I think he can handle it, Luna.” She nodded in agreement with me.

Last was Applejack. I exhaled as I sat down next to her and looked at her face. “Jackie, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to give you.”

“Ah, shoot, ya ain’t got to get me nothin’, sugarcube,” she smiled.

I nodded in acknowledgement. “But I do, and what I have decided on, well, it ain’t a thing, but it is a gift nonetheless.”

Her ears perked. “What is it, Shane?”

I gestured above us, where held in light blue magic by Rarity hung a sprig of mistletoe.

“I don’t care who knows anymore, Jackie. If you are ready to be public, I am, too.”

Her eyes lit up as she looked at me. Cores of green shimmered as she whispered. “I… in front of everypony?”

I nodded, and started to lean in. She met me halfway, and our lips pressed together. No small kiss, this was as deep, as intimate, as loving as any before. My arms slid around her, her forelegs slid around my neck and we settled into something quite lasting.

Ignoring the giggles of colts and fillies, the d’awwws of many of the mares and stallions--even the voice of a particular pink princess blurting out. “Well, it is about damn time!”

The response from her mother in law was nothing but humorous. “Cadence! Language!”

We slowly broke the kiss, both blushing a touch as AJ looked around and made eye contact with Granny Smith first. “G-Granny, ah want to introduce ya to, ma special somepony.”

The elderly green mare just snorted. “The way you two been galavantin’ around out in the orchard, even an ol’ lady like me saw this one a-comin’!”

I started to laugh as Jackie flushed even harder.

---

“May I have your attention please, everypony?”

I looked up from where I was sitting with the Apples, to see Twilight standing at the head of the room.

“It is time, if everypony will file outside. Shane McDonald, and Cortland Apple. Will you please gather up Lightning Dust and Golden Shield, then come stand with me?”

Shooting looks at each other the four of us walked over and stood before the princess.
“Shane, the citizens of Ponyville, your friends, we wanted to show you how we all feel. So, please come with me around back.”

I blinked and shot another look at Cort then we all headed out back. As we cleared the side, first thing I saw was something very large under a tarp, sitting next to Trixie’s wagon. Whatever it was, it had a good few feet in all dimensions on her wagon.

“Shane, Rangers, Ponyville is proud to have you among us. We know soon you will start patrolling other villages, other cities. So, with help from everypony in town…”

The tarp was torn away, and what was hidden beneath it took my breath away: a large live-in wagon, very much like the one Trixie lived in, but looked to be sized to fit me! I just looked at the white and blue painted sides, marked with the Canterlot Ranger badge and some fancy flourishes. It was a lot like an old school stagecoach in a way.

“We made sure it has enough room to fit you laying down, Shane, along with Cort, and Lighting Dust. It has a small stove, enough food and water storage for two weeks before it needs filling up again. It has enchantments put on it, Cortland or even Lightning can pull it even with you sitting inside or up on top on the bench there.” She motioned her hoof up. “It is also weather-sealed so you may use it rain or shine, winter or summer.”

Walking over to it with her I opened the back and looked inside. Cramped, yes, but it was liveable, and would give us a way to travel without sleeping on the ground and eating hardtack all the time.

Looking at the others and around, I reached up and yanked my hat off my head. “Why, I don’t know what to say. I—”

They all cut me off, and with one voice, the ponies all around yelled. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Rangers!”

I felt something nudge my hand and looked down at Applejack, who now pressed to my side. I shakily put my hat back on and sniffled once. “Thank you, all of you.”

Author's Notes:

And so, the single largest chapter I have ever written is done.