Archie stood motionless in the doorway for a moment. He held a suitcase in his hooves as he stood before his old bedroom on the second floor of Fluttershy's cottage. The green wooden floor felt familiar beneath bare hooves. That wasn't all that was familiar. His older brothers bed remained pressed against the left wall as it always had. His brother never did move out so the space was very clearly lived it. Metal band posters were plastered all over the left wall and the bed was woefully unmade. A few inappropriate magazines sat on the bed and nightstand in plain view.

Despite this it was what rested against the right wall which left him frozen in place. This was his first time staying with his parents since he had moved out over a year ago. His old bed still rested against the wall as it always had. A few of his favorite foalhood books sat on the nightstand and their old toy box rested between the two beds untouched. Slowly Archie crept over to his old bed brushing a hoof along his old nightstand. It was pristine. A sudden voice made him jump slightly.

"Hey Archie!" Chaos blurted enthusiastically behind him. Archie spun around to greet his brother. Chaos had a habit of sneaking up on him ever since they were foals.

"Will you ever stop doing that?" Archie breathed with mild frustration.

"It's not my fault you're so jumpy." Chaos remarked. "I made sure to keep your side of the room clean for you, in case you needed it, you know."

Archie looked up at his older brother with a touch of surprise as the weight of Chaos' words truly hit him. His notoriously, slovenly, irresponsible brother, whom had never done his own laundry a day in his life, had purposefully, and regularly, washed Archie's old sheets and dusted his nightstand.

"Why, thank you." Archie stammered.

His brother gave him a toothy grin. The kind of proud, childish smile he often flashed in his moments of personal triumph. "C'mon, Mom's making Hearths Warming dinner and you promised to help."

"Of course, I'll be down in a moment." Archie replied. Chaos darted off downstairs leaving his younger brother alone in their time capsule of a room.

Chaos was the elder brother by six years. Despite their age gap however Archie was always the more responsible of the two. While Chaos remained in their parents home devoid of any real responsibility, Archie had gotten a job working as Princess Twilight's librarian and purchased a small cottage of his own. Memories of Hearths Warmming's past fluttered through his mind as he placed his suitcase on the bed. As different as they were, and as much as they argued, it was profoundly comforting to know his brother had kept a place for him. The thought made him smile. It was a sweet but naive gesture. Archie would have been fine sleeping on the couch.

After unpacking some of his personal effects he made his way downstairs to find his father and brother working together to decorate the tree. They were laughing and making a mess as per usual. Discord had managed to tangle his lanky frame in a long string of popcorn. As soon as he noticed his other son at the base of the steps he waved to him excitedly.

"Archie over here! I could use some help!" Archie shook his head and clapped his hooves together. With a light "Poof" the popcorn strings disappeared leaving behind a rather disappointed Discord.

"Aw you take the fun out of everything!" He complained.

"Yah!" Chaos chimed in, "You can't just use magic to fix everything!"

"Can't I?" Archie challenged with a playful raise of his brow. "I have to help mom with dinner." With that Archie shuffled off to the kitchen before they could drag him into their shared madness. He never really did share his father and brothers sense of humor. While Discord used his magic to mischievous ends, and Chaos' magic was taken from him as punishment for his misconduct, Archie preferred to be practical with his power. He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw his mother chopping carrots in the kitchen. Her hips swung lightly as she hummed softly to herself.

"Not in the mood to play games?" Fluttershy asked without so much as a tilt of her head. She always did have a great sense of her sons. That maternal instinct that meant she always seemed to know just what they were up to.

"Well I couldn't just leave you without your kitchen buddy," Archie chuckled as he removed his ascot and rolled up his sleeves. Taking his place beside his mother she directed him to a bowl of unpeeled potatoes. Fluttershy used to call him her "kitchen buddy" when he was a foal as he was always eager to help her with the cooking. It wasn't so much about the cooking, though Archie wasn't a terrible cook. Mostly he simply enjoyed sharing this alone time with his mother. They spoke very little but their was usually no need to. Fluttershy understood Archie in a way his father and brother never really did. For some time they simply enjoyed each others company as they prepared a great holiday feast. They sung carols together and shared some light banter. Archie it seems had inherited his mothers relaxed soft spoken demeanor though he was never meek.

"Is it ready yet!" Chaos whined from his resting place on the living room sofa. He lay draped upside down. His black and white mane brushing against the wood floor.

"Almost." Fluttershy responded patiently.

"You've been asking that same question over and over again for the last hour," Archie chided with notably less patience. "We'll tell you when it's ready!"

Chaos groaned, "But I'm hungry!"

Archie sighed irritably and rolled his eyes.

"Oh be nice," Fluttershy scolded with a slight smile.

A sudden knock came at the door.

"Chaos can you get that?" Archie called out.

"Can't, move, soooo, hungry…." He moaned as he reached an arm out half hardheartedly towards the door.

"Uhg," Archie grumbled as he poked his head out of the kitchen with wet hooves. "Where's dad?"

"He's in his room," Chaos replied, "He said he still had to finish wrapping his gifts."

Archie grumbled to himself as he dried his hooves on the apron he was wearing and headed over to the door in response to another set of knocking. "Coming!" he called out.

His frustration was replaced with surprise has he opened the door to find a stranger on their doorstep. It was a purple, earth pony, mare. It was snowing outside yet she wore overalls and a green t-shirt. Her sneakers where untied and she wore a propeller on her head. Her strangest feature however was her spiraling eyes. He had never seen anything like them.

"C-can I help you," He stuttered as he realized he had been standing silent in the doorway for an uncomfortably long time.

"Is this the Discord residence?" She asked tilting her head to peer into the house.

"I'm sorry," Archie responded as he realized what was going on. "If this is about property damages I'd be more than willing to cover the repairs. Please come back after Hearths Warming." with that he moved to close the door as his father paraded down the stairs behind him with a flourish. The earth pony mare stuck out a hoof to catch the door.

"Daddy!" She called out.