Hey everycreature! What's up!?

So I don't have any ideas for Nightmare Night… But I do have a Hearth's Warming idea! Yeah I blame the Best Gift Ever special for putting this idea in my head…

Also this story's not going to take place mostly at the school, even thought the title for the series says so, but I hope you enjoy it nevertheless!

Honorary Family Member Part 1

It was that time of year again, the snow falling and the year ending, it was the time of the holidays across the land of Equestria, everycreature putting on their holidays decorations and preparing for the celebrations in their homes and public places. And the School of Friendship was no exception as the school was literally covered in holiday decor both inside and outside. It was the last day of classes before the teachers and students would go on their much deserved holiday vacation to spend it with their friends and family.

Blooming Rose and her friends were all preparing to leave, going to pack up to go to their own homelands for the vacation. Rose was very excited because she would be going back home to Canterlot with her brother to celebrate with her family, it has been awhile since her whole family were together and she was looking froward to telling her parents about how much she learned.

"Boy, I can't wait to go back home." Rose said as the last classes were finished and the school was being closed, Rose and her friends having just entered the student's dorms.

"You said it Rose, can't wait to go back home and finally eat my mother's kelp fritters." Silverstream agreed. "It's going to be great!"

"Yeah… Fun…" Gallus said in a not so convincing tone, Rose wondering about Gallus' behavior as the griffon went to his room, leaving behind his friends as he closed the door behind him.

"What's up with Gallus?" Rose asked.

"Well…" Ocellus began, not sure how to explain the problem.

"Oh right you were not here last year…" Smolder remembered. "Here's the thing Gallus doesn't have any family waiting for him back home in Griffonstone."

"So he's an orphan?" Rose asked, shocked because so far neither Gallus or the rest of her friends told her.

"We never wanted to bring it up in case it would hurt his feelings." Sandbar added. "Last year he put a prank to make us all stay a bit longer, we ended up all staying in Ponyville and celebrated in Headmare Twilight's castle."

"But Yona's family expects Yona to come this year because Yona not come last year." Yona added quickly.

"All of you?" Rose asked, with all her friends nodding their heads, "Yes". "Poor Gallus…" Rose thought in her head as she looked to the griffon's room.

Rose didn't have the time to think much more since her brother was expecting her back in their new house in Ponyville so they could pack up whatever they needed for their holiday vacation back home in Canterlot. On the way Rose thought of an idea, if Gallus had no family waiting for him back home, than…

"Yeah, that seems like a good idea." Rose told herself as she arrived at her new house in town.

Opening the front door she saw her brother packing up in his usual orderly way as he does with everything else, which caused Rose to suppress a laugh.

"Hey big brother, you sure you got everything?" Rose teased Pen.

"Very funny little sis." Pen replied as he was holding a checklist with the things he needed to bring. "So, excited to go home?"

"You bet, but big brother, I need to tell you something first." Rose explained.

"Oh what?" Pen asked, curious.

"Well…" Rose began and explained what she was thinking of.

"Well, I'll write a short letter to mom and dad and warn that about it, but I'm sure they will be okay with it." Pen smiled, proud that his sister took her studying to heart.

Soon enough with Rose and Pen packed up and Pen sent the letter using magic back home, they went out of the house, Pen making sure to lock up the front door. However before the two siblings would go to the train station, Pen needed to make one last stop to town hall to pick up his Hearth's Warming bonus from Mayor Mare. As the two arrived at town hall, Rose could see her friends on their way to the train station, needing to hurry up before Gallus' train came. Mayor Mare came to meet the two siblings, Rose impatiently tapping her hoof for her brother.

"Hello Mayor, Happy Hearth's Warming." Pen greeted the mayor as she came.

"And you too Pen, I believe I own you your bonus." Mayor Mare replied, holding Pen's bonus. "And here it is, I hope you enjoy and spend it wisely and I'll see you after your vacation."

"Will do, I'll be back before you know it." Pen replied.

"Yeah, yeah, that's great, hurry up big brother." Rose said as she took her brother's hoof and started to drag him away.

"Easy there little sis." Pen replied as he said his goodbyes to the mayor and followed his sister, who was galloping to the train station.

As Rose headed for the station, she could see a train coming towards the station and already all of her friends, except Gallus has left on other trains to their homelands, leaving the griffon behind. Rose knew that the incoming train must be the one for Griffonstone, so she hurried up as the train slowly came to a stop and the conductor shouted…

"Next stop: Griffonstone!" The conductor shouted as the train came to a complete stop and opened its doors.

Gallus sighed as he was just about to get in when he heard Rose's voice call out to him.

"Wait Gallus!" Rose shouted. "Don't go!" Rose galloping onto the station's platform, having to catch her breath for a few seconds before being able to speak properly, Pen was way behind, struggling to catch up to the fast moving little filly as he was in view.

"Rose, what are you doing here and what's wrong?" Gallus asked, staying on the station platform as the train appeared to wait for him.

"Gallus, our friends told me about last year and your problem during this time." Rose explained, Gallus a bit taken aback and felt embarrassed. "So I have been thinking, would you like to come with me and my brother to Canterlot to spend the holiday with my family?"

"You really want me to go with you and your family is okay with it?" Gallus said, surprised and really flattered.

"Well, my brother is and I'm sure my parents and older sister will be fine with it." Rose answered, Gallus about to say something, only for the train conductor to interrupt.

"Look kid, the train can't wait any longer, are you getting on or not?" The conductor asked.

Gallus really felt touched by Rose's offer, never has he been asked so far to spend the holidays with one of his other friends in their homelands. Plus there really was nothing for Gallus in Griffonstone, he would just go about the streets, looking into other griffons' homes and feeling sadness and envy. So with that in mind Gallus made his decision right away.

"No, I'm going with my friend to spend the holiday where she lives." Gallus deciding as the conductor signaled the engineer to go.

The train sounded its horn as the car doors closed, sealing Gallus' decision to go to Canterlot with his friend. As the train for Griffonstone left and Pen finally made it, out of breath and with his holiday bonus in his muzzle, the two siblings and Gallus waited for the train to Canterlot. As the train came, the three got on, Gallus the last one.

"Thanks Rose for making this a great holiday for me." Gallus thanked the little filly.

"You're welcome and trust me you'll enjoy the time with my family." Rose smiled as they got on the train and sat down on a couple of seats, the train doors closing a few seconds later as the engine started, bound for the regal city of Canterlot.

Don't lie to me when this makes you go… "Awww!"

And yeah again, this story's not going to take place mostly at the school of course, but hopefully you all don't mind!

See everycreature later!