"Your Majesty.... 'It' has returned." I took a sharp breath of air at hearing the news the guard brought me. The Crystal Empire, returning after so long, and Sombra with it. I must take action immediately and send word to Twilight, but I must be cautious. No matter what happens, I cannot allow Griffin to go there. He cannot hear of it, or he'll wish to go.

*Huff huff huff huff* I panted as I ran the in the snow, my breath visible as it left my beak, clouding my vision as I moved into it. The pounding hoof steps beside me indicating Tat wasn't far off. We reached the wall, followed closely by the beast.

"Inky! Now!" I shouted.

"The name!" She took her position opposite me as the beast approached.

"Is!" She lowered herself down, as did I.

"Black Tattoo!" As the beastly large form of Pish Posh came careening towards us, we both sprang into action, Inky rolling onto her back and pushing up with all four hooves, while I leapt from the ground and grabbed the slightly-less-heavy-than-previous stallion, using my upwards thrust to toss him over the wall.

"Daft! You're next!" Daffodil, or 'Daft' (meaning crazy) as we started calling him, ran and jumped into the air, letting me catch him and toss him over the wall as well, where he landed on Pish Posh, breaking his fall, as he continued to run the obstacle course.

"Chilly! You're up!" Inky called over the howling winter wind. It seems in the snow, this particular unicorn was right at home, no longer with his trademark booger, as the warm air didn't make his nose run at such low temperatures. He went over the wall as well, followed by the mare of our group vaulting it on her own, while I simply flew over, helping our landing mat to his hooves before taking off towards the finish line.

"Aaaaand TIME! Good work you five. A month and a half and you're already shaping up into a proper unit. Maybe the troublemaker squad WON'T be such a laughing stock at the all squad competition come spring."

"Sir, thank you sir!" I replied.

"Did I say you could talk? You're on kitchen duty tonight! Can you uh... make that mashed potatoes and kale?"

"Yes Corporal Punishment Sir!"

"I thought I told you to stop calling me that! Now get inside for a warm lunch! And don't forget to drink your milk!" Corporal Carton barked.

"Well oh wise and fearless leader, did you see it?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, I saw it." Inky, our squad captain, replied, referring to the Corporal's clipboard.

"And?" The rest of our squad was teetering in anticipation.

"Two minutes, forty six seconds. Down 7 seconds from last time. The record for that course is one minute, fifty two seconds, held by Shining Armor's very own squad. If we want to humiliate him AND his trainees, not only do we need to beat them in the event, we'll need to smash his record from when HE was in training, meaning dropping a full minute from our time. Suggestions?"

"Fatty could lose some weight." I snipped.

"I'm already down thirty pounds, and haven't had junk food since I've been here. I'm working on it."

"Daft, you could do the hopping posts faster."

"And fall off, disqualifying us? I don't think so. You could crawl the wire pits faster Grif. You take a full thirty seconds there, and we can't do the wall without you, so we have to wait." He replied.

"Can't do that because I'm too big. I have to go slow so I don't touch one and set off the traps."

"What about turning into your human form?" Pish suggested.

"I'd be blind and wouldn't know when I'm out."

"I'd tell you when you were clear." Chill replied.

"Like the time I ran it blindfolded and had you tell me when I could stand up? I spent DAYS getting that gunk out of my coat." Daft told his partner with a glare.

"Not happening." I reinforced.

"I said I was sorry alright!"

"Let's just get something to eat before it's all gone." Inky broke up the argument.

After lunch, with the rest of the team eating hay something or other, and myself devouring a steaming side of mongo fish, exported from my very own island, I went to go find Shining Armor. There were a couple things I needed to ask him about. I knocked on his door, and at the answer of 'Come in!' I entered.

"Well, look who we have here? Two minutes, forty six seconds. Not bad, for a slug. Not so fast without your spells are you?" He looked down his muzzle at me.

"I didn't come here for banter, I came, to apologize."

"Oh?"

"For my actions at your wedding. I see now that there's a lot I shouldn't have done, or should have done differently. My behaviour was unacceptable, and I am sorry."

"Apology not accepted." I did a double take. "Do you have any idea what that put us through? My wife spent months wondering how it was possible for one being to have enough hate in them to poison a changeling. She's the princess of love. Her name literally means 'I Love Everything'. She lost sleep over it, trying to figure out how someone like you could even exist. She spent so long trying to figure out how someone could live with such darkness in their heart. I can't forgive you yet, because you still need to apologize to her. She's the one you really hurt."

"Not to interrupt your rant but, she was actually my next stop. I came to you first because I don't know where her room is. This place is a maze and I was barely able to find your office to begin with."

"..."

"..."

"Oh. Um, right this way. I was heading there anyways after I filled out some paperwork."

So, I began walking through the halls next to Shining Armor. Despite the fact that I was bigger than he was, he had this air about him that said 'Don't mess with me'. I'm not sure why I didn't notice it before, like when we shot at his shield to get his attention.

"So..." I began.

"So?"

"I'm wondering, just HOW good are you with shields?"

"I covered an entire city for an extended period of time."

"Right right.... so, you ever put one inside someone's body?"

"Uh... no."

"Oh. Good. Yeah, don't. It's not pretty."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Awk-ward....."

"You're telling me. I'm standing next to one of the first pirates in a thousand years, AND the guy who crashed my wedding."

"And I'm standing next to the world's greatest shield magician, who's sister is prone to nervous breakdowns and has enough power to throw an Ursa, both of which have an ear in with someone who can toss a freaking star around."

"..."

"... you're not... afraid of the princesses, are you?"

"No, of course not."

"Oh."

"Okay, maybe a little."

"What? Why is that?"

"Listen, I've done some things I'm not proud of, things I probably shouldn't have done, said some things... I spent almost two years mocking and insulting Celestia, and pretty much just stirring the pot. Upsetting the delicate balance of her country. If she had a mind to, she could have splattered me, and from what I've seen, a thousand years ago, she would have. Luna as well. Then there's Cadence who I don't even KNOW, and I've made her miserable. Up till now, I've been intentionally pissing off people who could have swatted me like a fly."

"Your point is?"

"Celestia and Luna are, essentially, gods. Where I'm from, you're supposed to show great reverence to such beings, for fear of their wrath. Why then, after such insults and mockery, disobeying their rules, breaking their laws, doing things that may well be considered blasphemy, why are they so kind? I don't understand why they don't hate me."

"Isn't it obvious?"

"No."

"It's love, Griffin. Aunt Celestia cares for all things, big and small. Nobody is beyond redemption. When she wielded the elements of harmony with her sister against Discord, she could have killed him. She could have done the same when Luna became Nightmare Moon. She didn't, because she believes that there is some good in everyone, and anyone can change, even you. We're here."

I stared at the pink door, which stood out among the white and gray motif of the castle. Little interlocking heart shapes carved into the wood adorned it. I slowly approached and tentatively knocked.

"Yes?" I opened the door and stood at the entrance. Cadence gave a sigh. "Come in." I walked in, though instead of standing tall and proud, I shrank and hung my head. "Is there something you want to talk about?"

"How do you do it?" I asked in a near whisper.

"Do what?"

"Love..."

"What are you talking about? Everypony knows how to love. It's something taught to us by our friends and families."

"I have no family, and my first friends stand by me through the bond of mutual need, and hating the same thing. I'm asking you, what is love? How do you make it seem so easy? What does it feel like?"

Cadence sighed again. "Well, it's not easy to explain, but I can try. Shining dear, come here please." The guard stood beside his wife, and they leaned against each other.

"There are many types of love. Some could say that it is the bond between friends. Others might say that it is the care that families share. Others still say it's the," She blushed. "Touch of a lover." She nudged Shining. "They're all right, but, there's more to it. When you see somepony in need, and you may not even know them, but, you feel drawn to help them. When seeing someone in pain makes you feel sick to your stomach, that you would give anything to make their pain stop." ...kindness...generosity... She put a hoof under my chin. "And it's also a warm feeling. Like when you brighten someone's day, make them happy." She gave a genuine smile.... laughter... "It's a feeling of comfort, of safety, knowing that there's someone you can trust and rely on." ...Honesty...Loyalty... "It's something that, when it all comes together, the feeling is just...."

"Magic." I cut her off as my eyes widened.

"... yes."

"All this time, the answer was right in front of me, and I just couldn't see it."

"That's because you think too much Griffin. Sometimes, you need to stop thinking with this." She put her hoof on my head and scruffed my crest feathers. "And start thinking with this." She moved her hoof to my chest and poked it to punctuate her point. "Does that clear it up a little?" In that moment, I felt an intense warmth, something odd, something I hadn't felt before. It was so strange, it was like a burning that didn't hurt, yet still moved me to tears.

"Y... yes. Thank you a..and... sorry about your wedding." After that, I walked out.

"He's finally starting to get it, isn't he?" Shining Armor asked.

"I think there might be hope for him yet." Cadence replied. "He had it all along, it just needed a little push."

".... you didn't..."

"I AM the princess of love after all. So I made him feel what it's like, big deal. He's the one who wanted to know."

Shining Armor sighed. "Come on, let's finish packing. The Crystal Empire isn't just going to wait for us."

As I wandered aimlessly through the halls, not really caring where I was going, (meaning I was lost again but wasn't so worried about it as to ask for directions) I eventually found my way to the main landing strip, where I let the winter wind blow through my feathers.

"Hey! So long as you're out here, wanna help clean the snow off the landing strip? We got a whole load of Hearth's Warming mail coming in for the holidays, and we need to keep it clear for the airships." A unicorn asked as he pushed a shovel.

"Ventus grande." Great gale. I reared up, pulled up wings back, then slammed down while giving a powerful flap, whipping up a wind that cleared about a quarter of the runway of snow, making it rain down on the city below.

"Vinyl, isn't it just beautiful? Canterlot, all covered in snow? I love it here this time of year, so serene, don't you know?" Octavia, with a smooth, classical voice, began to sing.

"I find the season boring, no colour here but white, it happens every year, I know what'll happen here....." The raver replied with her own tune.

"Don't be such a downer, the season's anything but plain. Spending time together make everything right as rain..."

*Splooch*

At that moment, a massive blob of snow fell and landed right on top of Octavia, making her shriek. Vinyl fell over on her back in the snow and began laughing her head off. That was when Octavia gained a sinister smirk. Next thing she knew, Vinyl Scratch was feeling VERY cold, and had a slight stinging sensation on her face, while the cellist began to sing again.

"Perhaps you're right, with all this white, there's nothing to do but SNOWBALL FIGHT!"

"Hey, you alright there buddy? That was pretty fast, but you don't look so good." He was right. I was panting in exhaustion, my legs were trembling, and I felt a bit light headed.

"Uh... yeah, I just need to go rest for a bit, get a warm drink." Crap, it's been over a month and I still can't do very much with it, without burning myself out.

"Alright, we can finish the rest on our own. Ya gotta show me how you do that one of these days."

I went back into the castle to find Princess Celestia waiting in the main hall, chatting with somepony about the upcoming Hearth's Warming pageant and who'd be in it. They seemed to finish their conversation, she dismissed the pageant committee member or whoever it was, and trotted up to me, smiling gleefully.

"Griffin! I trust you're in a good mood, full of holiday cheer?" She opened her eyes, took one look at my face, and her own expression turned to a scowl. "No, no, that's not good at all. Tell me, what is on your mind?"

"I don't know....

Everywhere I go, there are ponies filled with glee,

and when I look inside myself, I ask, 'What is wrong with me?'

Why am I not happy? Joyous, filled with mirth?

While I'm alone they're all at home,

around a blazing hearth...."

Celestia turned to look at me with an odd expression on her face as she began to sing, seemingly against her will.

"I don't know what to tell you, I don't know what to say,

I can't explain your sad or pain, or why you feel this waaaaay.

Perhaps it's the dull weather, a lack of sun and shine,

have you caught ill? Are frozen still? Or perhaps drank too much wiiiine?" She looked at me, expecting me to continue.

"I don't think that's the issue, I always feel this way,

when winter comes and all prepare,

for a joyous Christmas daaaay."

"Christmas?" Celestia asked me.

"Human holiday that coincides with Hearth's Warming." I quickly replied.

"Oh, well...

...then I know your troubles, they're easy to declare,

your friends aren't here to bring you cheer,

for they're all over there." She motioned a hoof out the window, towards the north.

"It's odd that we are singing, the words just seem to find,

their way out, now don't you pout, a plan has come to miiiind....

what did you do every christmas?" She asked, breaking the song.

"I'd get out of the house for the day, have hot cocoa in a coffee shop and generally just waste time. I'd always spend it alone, I don't see why Hearth's Warming should be any different." I informed.

"Gotcha

... you'll spend this year in our house, your family we will be,

you can have a happy holiday, I'll prove it, then you'll see....

Okay, can we please stop doing this? Sure the song is nice, but it's not the best for discussing things." Celestia said with frustration.

"Yeah. At least we gave it a shot right?"

"I suppose it's the thought that counts. So, how about it? Would you like to spend Hearth's Warming Eve with me?" Celestia offered.

"I don't know. Who's all going to be there?" I asked.

"Myself, Luna, and Blueblood. Photo Finish will be stopping by as well to do a Hearth's Warming photo shoot, like every year. We'll also bake cookies and things, I'll burn mine, while Luna's will be perfection itself, we'll have a nice dinner, courtesy of Law, then spend the evening watching the Hearth's Warming play." She listed all the nightly activites, her mirth growing with each one. I could tell she really looked forward to it.

"I don't know..."

"Would you rather spend it all alone in a coffee shop?"

"I'm in."

"Excellent. Meet me here in three day's time, and I'll show you the way to the recreational center."

After kitchen duty, I had time to myself, so I went out on the town. I hadn't been down into Canterlot proper very much, so I figured it would be a good time to go explore. So, I wandered through town, waiting for something to catch my eye. Everywhere, ponies walking around playfully. Even those high class ponies were frolicking in the snow. All around, everypony was happy.

"Alright, lets try this again....

Three months of winter coolness, and awesome holidays,

my mind is under duress, and why? I cannot say.

I know I should be joyous, loved ones gathered near,

I see the merriment around me and want to shed a tear..."

I began singing slowly, and when I did, all the ponies poked out their heads, not wanting to miss the musical number.

"Come on Griffin join the fun! The snow won't last forever.

In the city of the sun, there is no gloomy weather!"

"I wish that I could join you, but I don't feel okay,

I'm nervous in the crowd..." I tried to slip away from the group, but a little foal, all bundled up in winter gear sat in front of me.

"Come on mister, won't you play?" I turned my face to the side, but the foal just sat there with those great big sad puppy eyes. I simply stood there, looking at him. He started to sniffle, and a tear formed in the corner of his eye, while everypony else watched to see what I would do. I cringed as I felt the d'aww build to critical levels, until I could no longer bear it.

"Aww, what the hay." The entire crowd jumped with excitement, full of smiles as the foal jumped on my back.

I went around the city, all the while during a musical number. I entered the ice sculpting competition, (got last place cuz I suck at art, they couldn't even tell what it was supposed to be) but, even then, it was still really fun. Then we all started pelting each other with snowballs, I used a bit of magic to heat myself up, then slid down the street, melting the snow as I passed, allowing it to re-freeze into a smooth layer of ice as everypony pulled out their skates and started sliding to and fro, wherever they needed to go. Then I got a cup of hot chocolate, with all those little marshmallows in it, and at some point, somepony put a Santa hat on me, (not really sure what they're called here, or why they have them) so I put it on crooked, tilted my head to the side and winked, just like all those pony pics where they do that, except I had a little grey foal on my head as well, and wouldn't you know, somepony snapped a picture.

Eventually, everything wound down, everypony went back to business, and I headed back to the castle with my hat, as well as a certain couple 'somethings' I picked up at a store, 'somethings' I would need later, all the while I felt a warmth that drove away the biting cold of winter.

"Well, Griffin, I see you're finally having fun." Celestia smirked.

"Yeah. I even got like, half the town in one of those spontaneous song things, and we had a snowball fight, and hot chocolate, and went ice skating, and I had my picture taken, and I had a foal riding around on my head the whole time, and everyone was happy and... and...." I started sniffling. "I wasn't afraid or nervous at all. I don't think I've ever been so happy. I was smiling, and, that's a big deal for me, because I almost never do and... I just wish Gilda was here to share this feeling with me... I'll have to give her her present next time I see her." I dried my eyes, put that smile back on, and headed upstairs to go to bed.

Author's Notes:

When Cadence said some ONE instead of somepony, she was referring to Griffin specifically.

Those song bits? I wrote them myself.