"Deck the halls with boughs of holly! Fa la la la la, la la, la la! Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la, la la!"

I found myself singing merrily early on the morning of December 24th as I continued to prepare a traditional Christmas feast, with emphasis on the vegetarian options although I did have meat options for the omnivores. It had been a busy couple of days since I discussed the idea of a wedding with all of my friends.

Ever since that day, Zecora and I had been planning the type of wedding we'd be having, mixing human and Zebra traditional aspects. She'd been more than willing to wear a traditional wedding gown which Rarity had really wanted to create. I would, of course, be wearing a suit as well. Not only would the two of us be wearing wedding rings, but we would also be getting matching piercings directly imported from Farasi.

Zecora and I had pretty much caved in to Pinkie's pleas of inviting all of Ponyville to the wedding. And that was okay. The two of us had been welcomed and accepted so graciously after out disastrous first encounter that it felt disingenuous not to invite them. We'd also invited all three princesses and Shining Armor as well. We were still debating on whether to invite the Zebra delegates from the council. Zecora was leaning towards yes, since traditionally there were meant to be Zebra witnesses at a wedding no matter what. I was a bit hesitant, but I was beginning to lean toward yes as well, seeing as how Zecora herself had no family to come.

Zecora had chosen Scarlet to be her maid of honor, and had also asked each Element of Harmony to be her bridesmaids. Each of them had readily accepted, of course. I'd asked Spike to be the ring bearer and the Cutie Mark Crusaders to be the flower girls. I'd not yet chosen a best man, mostly because I didn't really know any stallions around my age. I was considering asking either Big Mac or Shining Armor, but hadn't really decided yet.

When I'd sent off the invitations to the princesses, Zecora and I received a surprise visit from an eager Celestia, who wasn't too subtle at hinting that she wanted to officiate the wedding. Luna had appeared a few minutes later, also wanting to officiate. Cadance appeared right as the sisters began arguing. The Princess of Love was over the moon overjoyed that I was getting married to Zecora and offered to help plan the wedding with us. Zecora and I thanked her, but politely declined. All we asked was that she just show up and be a part of our magical day. She was a bit disappointed, but nevertheless she was excited.

As for Celestia and Luna, Zecora and I discussed it and asked that the two of them both officiate. They both agreed, and as they teleported back to Canterlot they were both still arguing as siblings are wont to do. Cadance hugged me and Zecora, reassuring us that she'd calm them both down before teleporting back.

Any time that Zecora and I went into town, we would receive heartfelt congratulations for our upcoming wedding. Ponies like Lyra and Derpy were completely over the moon excited and practically tackled me and Zecora in the streets. I even got a promise from Bon Bon that she'd make something delicious for the wedding.

As for the venue, Zecora and I decided that we would have the wedding in the Town Hall and the after party in my yard. Rainbow Dash promised that she would make sure that the weather above my house would be clear and bright that day and Twilight promised that the ground would be clear of any snow before that.

There was much more to determine, but I had promised that I would take Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off so I could spend a joy filled holiday with my friends.

"Faaa!"

I was brought out of my reverie by Aurora's call. She was sitting on the floor, looking up at me with a wide smile and playing with some toys I'd bought for her from Barnyard Bargains. I looked down and grinned. "Yes, Aurora! Fa la la la la!"

"Faa! Faa!"

Phlogiston, who was actually helping me prepare some of the meat dishes for the omnivores I was hoping to show up, smiled warmly. "Like I thought, Your Grace, she's really taken a shine to you."

Zecora, who was busy preparing some traditional holiday dishes from Farasi, stopped and walked over to the young Dragon baby, picked her up and held her gently just like I'd showed her how to hold her earlier. Aurora looked up at Zecora with wide curious eyes. Reaching up, she tried to grab at Zecora's mane, babbling something. "She truly is a remarkable young Dragon," she said.

I watched this interaction with a warm smile. She looked so natural, and if I stared long enough, she could easily have been this young Dragon's mother. Ever since our latest night of passion, which lasted until three in the morning before the effects of the aphrodisiac that Zecora had given me wore off, my fiancée had been in a much better mood. She had returned to her new normal way of speaking, and had been more affectionate with me. As had Scarlet, of course, but that was nothing new. "She really is," I said, walking over and kissing my fiancée and then moving to kiss Aurora's forehead. As she giggled and reached out towards me and Zecora, I immediately felt like there was a sense of family growing between Aurora, Zecora and myself.

I heard the snapping of an iPhone camera going off just then. Turning, I saw Scarlet, who had just entered the room, holding my phone and pointing it at me with a cheeky grin on her face. "Proof that the stalwart Emperor Jethro of Aelyssia and the vaulted Knight of Equestria Sir Jethro has a soft spot," she giggled.

I grabbed the phone from her and frowned. "Bad girl," I said in a scolding manner.

I saw her hold back some smart aleck remark, but she gave me a sultry wink nonetheless. "Yeah, I am," she said.

Ignoring her, I opened the photo app and looked at the most recent picture. Zecora looked over my shoulder at it, and Aurora tried to grab at the phone with her ever curious claws. My heart melted at the image. I was on the left of the image, one arm around Zecora who was on the right and leaning her head against my shoulder while she held the giggling and smiling Aurora, who was gazing up at the two of us, reaching out with her claws. "It's beautiful…" I said breathlessly.

Zecora licked my face affectionately at that and pressed herself closer against me. Aurora watched us with a curious expression as she said, "One day, I hope that we will take another image like that with our own foal," she said softly.

"Well, once you and I are married and once I adopt this little cutie as my own daughter, she'll be your child too," I replied. "If you want to, that is." Zecora looked down at the young Dragon baby. I could see her thoughts churning. Carefully, I took Aurora in my arms and cradled her close. "What do you think, wittle Awowa? You want this Zebwa here to be your Mommy? Or maybe one of your mommies? Huh? Would you wike dat? Huuuh? Hmmm?"

Aurora presumably didn't understand what I said, but she smiled again and began babbling. "Fa! Fa!"

"Oh no, she's too cute," Scarlet said, putting a hoof over her chest. "Must…suppress…the HNNNG!" She clenched her eyes shut.

I snorted. "What video did you see that from?"

"Some fan video related to Doki Doki Literature Club," Scarlet said.

"Oh dear, you played that?" I asked.

"Yep! What a mindfu…mindfreak that was," she said.

I was about to reply when Zecora reached over, took Aurora in her arms, and looked down at her. I could see a brand new look in her eyes, one of maternal joy. She held the baby close to her, cradling her. "I would…would love to be this baby's adopted mother," she said in a whisper.

"You aren't leaving me out of this!" Scarlet said, galloping forward and jumping onto my back, looking down at the young Dragon.

I smirked. "With you I think you'd be better suited to be her older sister figure."

"Hey! I can be a mother too!" she whined. "After all-" and here she lowered her voice, leaned in close to my ear and in a surprisingly sincere whisper, said, "-I want to have a family with you, too."

That warmed my heart even more than I thought possible. I reached up and stroked her mane gently. "Well, when the time is right, that would be amazing," I said. "But right now, it's time to celebrate Christmas!" I gently pulled away and looked over at the dishes. "Phlogiston, do Dragons celebrate any sort of winter festival?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Not in recent memory, Your Grace," she said. "However, if I may make a suggestion?"

"By all means, please do," I said. "I hope you don't mind if I continue preparing while I listen." So saying, I went back to preparing the bag for the turkey that I had imported from Griffonstone for Thanksgiving, lining it with a little bit of flour.

"Your Grace is returning to Aelyssia after the first of the Pony new year and after your wedding, correct?" she asked.

"I promised them I would return to help them relocate to Virynth Atheos," I replied as I finished the bag prep. "Could you hold this bag open for me?"

"Of course," she said as she held it open. As I lifted the large turkey, she continued, "My point is that this will be a triumphant return for all the Dragons there. It will go down in Dragon history as a time to be celebrated. A date that could become one of great feasting and celebration."

As I put the bird into the bag, I pondered her words. She was right, after all. Dragons had been living poorly for centuries. Now I had the wealth of the world not only around my neck but back at Duzoroth Tower and in the yard of my Earth house. "Yes, a feast would be a good morale booster," I admitted, "but the problem is that Aelyssia right now has no means of food production. We'd have to rely on food being imported until we can get our food production back on track. But as for a feast, I have enough money to import food personally. I'll work on that soon."

Phlogiston chuckled. "I understand. Being a ruler is not easy, is it?"

"It's the furthest thing from it," I said as I opened the preheated oven and placed the turkey inside it. "But for today I really want to focus on this and not on domestic affairs of state. It's a holiday for humans and Ponies."

"How many guests are coming over?" Zecora asked.

I was about to answer, when a sudden slight burst of magic came from one of the cabinets. Smirking, I walked over and opened the door. "Why don't you tell them, Pinkie?"

The aforementioned Earth Pony came stumbling out of the cabinet, landing deftly on her hooves before pulling a scroll out of her mane. Phlogiston raised an eyebrow. "Your Grace, how did that Pony get in here?"

"In all the months I've been here, and from watching the real deal and seeing the one from the television show, I've learned not to question Pinkie Pie's abilities," I said. "She's a mystery wrapped in a crepe."

"That…doesn't make any sense," the Dragoness said.

"Exactly," I replied before turning to Pinkie. "Well, Ponkers?"

"Weeell," the eager Pony said, "I reeeeaaalllllyyyy wanted to invite soooo many more guests, but you said only a hoofful, so here's the list." She handed the scroll to me.

Opening it, I chuckled. "On the omnivore side, we have Chrysalis, Adagio, Aria, Sonata, Gemini, Mica, Aurora, Ember and you, Phlogiston," I began. "And on the herbivore side, we have Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Spike, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo."

"Wow, does the dining room have enough seats for everyone?" Scarlet asked. "And you didn't invite the Princesses?"

"Well, Mica, Spike and the Cutie Mark Crusaders can sit at what we call the kids table back on Earth," I said, "but if some of the people on this list don't show up they can sit at the adult table. As for the Princesses, I did try, but they said they were having a castle wide Hearth's Warming Eve feast they couldn't get out of unfortunately."

"Ah, I guess that makes sense," Scarlet said.

"Can I sit at the kids table too?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"If you want to," I said. "But enough about that. What brings you by?"

"I came here to help of course!" Pinkie said.

"Well in that case, could you peel those potatoes over there?" I asked, pointing to a sack of potatoes I'd bought from Barnyard Bargains the day before. "I'm gonna make some mashed potatoes with chives and sour cream."

"Oki dokie lokie!" the excited Pony said before grabbing the bag and opening it deftly. She grabbed a potato peeler, then found a place to sit where she could get to work.

Zecora, who was now back to preparing her own native dishes, smiled. "That mare is something else. You had better treat her to a nice date when the time comes."

"Yes, I promise you that I will," I said. "Now then, we have a feast to prepare for! Let's get cracking, huh?" Rolling up my sleeves, I got to work on the next dish.

The sun was just setting when I began setting the table with every dish that had been prepared. On Zecora's end, she'd prepared a large portion of her Jollhoof rice and an okra with tomatoes in a stew. She'd also brewed some Karkanji tea and had made some small single portion of what she called Marelva Pudding.

Pinkie, after she'd helped me peel the potatoes, began preparing a few desserts for after the feast. She made a triple chocolate decker pie with a dark chocolate crust along with a pumpkin pie. She told me when I asked about apple pie that she would never presume to make that, since according to her Pinkie Sense there was apple pie coming anyway. She also actually churned milk into cream, then made what she called neighopolitan ice cream. When that was done, she put everything away, cleaned up, then said she was heading back home so she could get ready for the evening.

Meanwhile, Phlogiston, Gemini (who joined us later) and I worked on the main dishes of the feast. I made a large bowl of the mashed potatoes with gravy made with vegetarian stock, vegetarian stuffing, a string bean casserole, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and a traditional Christmas pudding.

Outside, snow was coming down and all of the lights on my houses were on, lighting up my front lawn. The table, which was now much longer and could seat all the invited guests comfortably now, was set and I was now in my bedroom, looking over my dinner attire once more. Normally I didn't think about dressing up for any kind of dinner other than a date, but today I felt like surprising everyone. I wasn't wearing anything too fancy, just a pair of my dress shoes, black socks, khaki dress pants, a white dress shirt with a red and green Christmas tie and a burgundy blazer. I had tied my hair back so it didn't move and had put a small amount of hair gel in it, especially the stuff on the crown of my head.

Beside me, Zecora was actually wearing the dress that Rarity had made for her for the Gala. Only now, it seemed slightly too small for her. It wasn't tight, according to her, but it was a bit harder to maneuver in. Still, it was snug enough to show her new curves and I did everything but tear that dress off and fuck her right then and there to assure her that she looked radiant.

What surprised me further was the fact that at around four thirty that afternoon, while Zecora, Scarlet and I were reading in the living room and just as the sun was beginning to head towards the horizon, Chrysalis made her way downstairs. She wasn't as dressed up as Zecora or I were, but she still didn't look too shabby. She had on a pair of my jeans and a dark brown hoodie. "So…where's the booze?" she asked as she came downstairs. "The invite that exploded in my face earlier promised me that there'd be booze."

Damn it, Pinkie, I thought. "Well, we have all kinds of alcoholic beverages here," I said, "but I'd rather you not drink too much tonight. There are children coming."

She sighed. "Yeah, yeah, don't get too drunk around the little ones," she said as she walked into the dining room.

A few minutes later, the three Sirens came down. Adagio and Aria were wearing similar getup to what Chrysalis had on, but it was Sonata who stood out. She wore a pair of jeans, sure, but she was also wearing one of my few Christmas sweaters, a red sweater with white snowflakes, red and green holly, and a large Santa Claus on the chest. She was also wearing a red and green striped stocking hat. As the three came downstairs, Adagio was commenting, "Seriously, Sonata, you look like Christmas threw up all over you."

"Come on, Dagi! This is our first real Christmas! I'm not gonna waste it!" Sonata replied with a smile. She saw Zecora and I and waved. "Merry Christmas Eve!"

I smiled and waved at her back. "Same to you, Miss Dusk."

"Whoa, I just realized you and I have the same last name," Scarlet said.

Sonata's gasp lasted for at least ten seconds. "No. Way! That's so cool!"

"So…you didn't prepare some kind of holiday tacos for this insane Siren, did you?" Aria asked with a smirk, pointing her thumb at the excited Siren.

"No, they're not really holiday foods," I said. "Besides, it's not like I have a Chipotle or Juan Colorado around here in Pony country. But I do make some kickass tacos, if I do say so myself."

"Can I try some?" Sonata asked.

I chuckled. "Sure, but not tonight."

She nodded, then sniffed the air. "I smell meat," she said.

Adagio sniffed as well. "Um…not that I care, but aren't Ponies coming? Won't they, you know, throw up or something?"

"I made sure that they knew that I was making meat for my omnivore guests," I said. "And I made certain unbreakable promises that I wasn't using animals taken from this continent." I shuddered at the conversation I had with Fluttershy, who made me promise not to use any animals from Equestria using a Pinkie Promise. She'd been extremely adamant and had even used The Stare on me, and even though it didn't have as big of an effect on me as it normally did, it still sent shudders down my spine.

"Why not from this continent?" Adagio asked.

"Because every animal on this continent knows the Phoenix language," a very familiar voice said from the second floor. Hestia flew down and landed on my shoulder, followed close behind by Eve. The former looked down at my clothes and chuckled. "Nice clothes."

The Sirens were staring in awe at the talking Phoenix. Adagio was the first to say anything. "I-Is that…a Phoenix? TALKING?!"

Hestia turned to face the three Sirens. She smirked as she said, "Now now, I know it's been a while since I saw you three, but I think my voice hasn't changed that much, has it?"

The Sirens looked closer at her, then a few seconds later Sonata gasped. A big smile passed over her face and she rushed forward. "Hestia!"

"Wait, you're HESTIA!?" Adagio asked with an incredulous tone.

This was a surprise to me. I turned to the aforementioned bird. "Care to explain?"

"She know them!" Eve said, pointing to the Sirens.

Hestia chuckled. "You forgot the S there, Eve, but yes, I do know them." She turned back to me. "I'm responsible for them managing an escape from their respective lands before they were to be wed."

I raised an eyebrow. "Huh…so it was your fault they abandoned their-" I stopped myself and shook my head. "No, today's not the day for that."

"How do you know Hestia?" Aria asked, this time with more curiosity than the normal hostility.

"That's a little bit of a long story," Hestia said. "It started when I was recruited by the last great Dragon Emperor to guard his treasure trove…"

"…And the next thing I remembered, I was waking up in a smaller body. This body, to be precise," Hestia finished a little while later. The three Sirens had taken seats on the other couch and were listening eagerly. During that time, Ember had come downstairs and had listened in, sitting on the same couch where I was with Zecora and Scarlet. Hestia had spent the past ten or so minutes explaining how she'd been recruited by the last Dragon Emperor to guard the Sunsword and the hoard surrounding it, then the meeting with me, her near death, and then she recounted how I saved her by giving her some of my water and stroking her feathers.

The three Sirens slowly looked back up at me, their faces awash with astonishment, and what I thought was respect, at least from Sonata. There was something new in Adagio's and Aria's eyes, but I couldn't readily identify them. They all stared long enough for me to feel a bit uncomfortable. "Um…is there something on my face?" I asked.

"You saved the Phoenix who saved us," Sonata said in a voice barely above a whisper.

"It does seem that way," I said, turning back to Hestia. Suddenly, an idea came into my head. "Hestia, a word if I may?"

"What is it?" she asked, slipping back into the Phoenix tongue.

"It seems these three women have a good deal of respect for you," I replied in the same language, "so would you be opposed to keeping a watchful eye over them after they return to Aelyssia? I think it might help them."

She smiled a bit and nodded. "I would be honored to, Master."

"No 'Master' stuff, please," I replied with a groan.

"Well, I can't really use your name in Phoenix, can I?" she retorted, sticking her tongue out at me.

"But what about my language lessons?" Eve asked from nearby where she was sitting on Zecora's shoulder.

"If Master here can find a way to use those magic doors to open a portal between Aelyssia and Equestria, then I can visit anytime," Hestia replied.

"I'll work on it," I said. Turning back to the other Sirens, I cleared my throat. "I've decided that when we return to Aelyssia, I'll be sending Hestia along to keep you company."

Sonata's smile returned full force, and Adagio and Aria both loosened up on their frowns, nodding in acknowledgment. "That is…a generous offer, Your Grace," Adagio said, and I didn't hear as much sarcasm in her tone this time. She inclined her head slightly as did Aria.

"Yay! She'll be coming with us back home!" Sonata giggled, clapping her hands excitedly.

I smiled a bit. "Yes, Sonata. She'll be going back home with you. But anyway, it's almost five," I added, looking at the grandfather clock. "I told the other guests that the party started around then. So I think it's time to get things set up-"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

I turned to the large front door and smirked. "Right on cue," I said as I stood and walked over. Behind me, I heard the Sirens and Ember quickly vacate the room and head into the dining hall. Opening the door, I was greeted by a bouncing Pinkie Pie, wearing her signature winter getup. "Heeey, sexy Jethy!" she giggled, leaping into my arms and nuzzling my face like a cat. "I'm here! Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!"

I smiled wide and hugged Pinkie close. "Glad to see you could make it, and Merry Christmas Eve to you too," I said as I put her down. "Come on in! It's cold out there!"

"No kidding!" she said as she got in, shook off some of the snow that had dusted her coat and mane, then took off her winter gear and hung them up. She then sniffed the air. "Oooh, I can smell the good stuff through the meat smell!" she said as she hopped towards the kitchen.

Just as I was about to close the door, I heard the very familiar sound of Rainbow Dash flying towards my house. Looking out of the door, I saw the prismatic Pegasus barreling towards me. I was about to shout at her to slow down, but she began doing so the moment she was halfway between the gate and the house. When she arrived, she trotted in, panting a bit. "Hah…hah…and that's how you do a sonic snowboom," she said with a grin.

"A Merry Christmas Eve to you too, Rainbow," I chuckled as I closed the door behind her. "You're the second guest to arrive."

"What?! Only second?!" Her ears flattened in disappointment. "Awww man! And here I was hoping to beat Applejack!" Rainbow said, stomping her hoof on the floor.

"You did," I chuckled. "Pinkie Pie's the one you beat."

"Oh," she said, her ears coming back up. "Well, that's Pinkie Pie. She doesn't count. Did you bring some cider?"

I sighed. "Yes, Rainy. I brought some of that Dragon cider you aren't supposed to touch until you finish a book, remember?"

I saw her begin sweating a bit and look away nervously. "Ahaha…yeah, that…"

"Rainbow…what happened?" I asked, although I could pretty much guess just judging by how nervous she was acting.

"Oh! Nothing happened! Nope! Nope nope nope! Not a single thing happened, ahaha!" Rainbow replied, a bit too quickly and clearly very nervous.

At that moment, Pinkie poked her head out of the kitchen. "She drank some of that cider you gave her before she finished the book," she replied.

Rainbow Dash turned to Pinkie with a glare. "Piinkiiiie!" As the pink mare zipped back into the kitchen, the loyal if not poor lying mare turned to me, looking anywhere BUT at me. "So…um…yes…she's right…I did taste some…but I couldn't help it!" she quickly added, looking up at me with a pleading expression and her ears plastered to her side. "It was just calling out to me! 'Rainbow Dash! Come and have a taste of me! I'm delicious! Come on, Jethro will never know if you take a little lick!' Honest!" I put my hands on my hips, looking down at her sternly. She deflated and looked back down. "Okay…you win…I'll go to Earth with you and ride a roller coaster."

I smirked, then leaned down and whispered, "And I'll roll around in Poison Joke and show you just what happened to me, but only for a single day. Got it?"

She turned and looked up at me with shock. "Wait…you're serious?"

"If you have to suffer, then I'll suffer with you," I replied, standing back up.

Her ears shot back up and a grin popped onto her face. "Awww yeah! This is gonna be soooo cool!"

At that moment, there was another solid knock at the door. Turning, I opened it only to see Applejack, Apple Bloom and Fluttershy standing at the door. The Apple siblings both were holding what could only be freshly baked apple pies in their hooves. "Howdy there, Jethro, and Happy Hearth's Warmin' Eve tah yah!" Applejack said with a smile. "Are we too early?"

"Just in time," I said, stepping aside. "Please come in. If you want, I can take those pies for you."

"No need, ah know where the kitchen in this old place is," Applejack said as she walked in.

"Hey, Jethro!" Apple Bloom said, looking up at me with a wide smile. "Are Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo or Spike here yet?"

"Not yet," I said, "but they should be coming along soon."

As the Apple siblings walked in, Fluttershy came up close behind them. She looked up at me and smiled before flying slowly up to me and giving me the warmest and kindest of hugs. "Merry Christmas Eve, Jethro," she said. "Am I getting that right?"

"Yes you are," I said, touched that she would use the traditional greeting of my people. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve to you, too."

She squeezed a bit tighter before she released me and landed. She sniffed the air a bit, and I saw her wince a little bit, but then she relaxed. "Is that cranberry sauce I smell?" she asked.

I nodded. "It's part of a traditional Christmas dinner," I said.

She clapped her hooves eagerly. "I haven't had that in so long," she said excitedly.

I was just about to close the door when the chimes on my clock began going off. At precisely the stroke of five, Twilight and Spike both appeared in a flash of the former's teleportation magic. The purple unicorn looked up at me with a smile. And, on her back, was the very same piece of fabric I'd given her that lead to her new library. "Hi, Jethro!" she said. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!"

"Merry Christmas to you too, Twilight. And the same to you, Sir Spike of Aelyssia," I said, unable to stop myself.

Spike groaned. "Daaad…" he sighed, then gave me a small smile. "Same to you, though," he said.

"Yoohoo! Darlings! I'm heeeere!" Rarity's voice called out from behind Twilight and Spike. Walking alongside her, I saw Sweetie Belle and, to my surprise, Scootaloo. The latter Pegasus filly looked much better than the last time I'd seen her, smiling and waving along with Rarity. As Twilight and Spike vacated the porch and headed inside, Rarity finally made it. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve, everypony," she said.

"Merry Christmas Eve to you too," I replied. "Please, get inside and away from that horrid freezing weather."

"Such a gentlecolt," she smiled at me as she walked in. As I shut the door after having not seeing anyone else, she continued. "My, the weather team certainly outdid themselves with the snowfall this year. It came past my knees almost everywhere!"

"Well, I am dreaming of a White Christmas," I chuckled. "It's part of the holiday's charm. You're the last Element of Harmony to arrive, though. Fashionably late, I see?" I smirked at the marshmallow Unicorn

She made a humph noise as she replied, "Of course! The party can start, now!"

Rolling my eyes, I patted her mane. "How generous of you, darling," I said in an imitation of her voice and mannerisms.

She brushed my hand aside. "I just finished my mane! You'll ruin it!" she said.

I leaned down and whispered, "No matter what, your mane is always gorgeous."

I caught a blush creep up on her cheeks. "You're looking handsome tonight yourself, my good stallion," she replied softly.

It was my turn to blush. "Thanks, beautiful." So saying, I next looked down at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. "Hey there! Merry Christmas Eve to you."

"Don't you mean Happy Hearth's Warming Eve?" Scootaloo asked.

"They're similar holidays," I explained as I ran my hands through her mane. "I prefer saying it, but I do also wish you a Happy Hearth's Warming Eve. And welcome to my home." I pulled the young Pegasus into a hug. "Glad to see you here."

"What about me?" Sweetie Belle asked, pointing at herself with her hoof.

I chuckled and pulled her into the hug as well. "Yes, you too Sweetie Belle," I replied.

"My aunts are sorry they couldn't come," Scootaloo said as I stood back up and put the two fillies back down, "but they wanted me to give you this." She handed me a small present, which I took. "They said not to open it until presents time, though," she said.

I smiled. "I'll put it under the tree, then," I said. After doing so, I turned to the gathered Ponies. "Well, now that everyone's here, who's ready for some food, huh?"

"Awww yeah! It's time for feasting until I puke!" Rainbow grinned.

"Show some decorum at least!" Rarity scolded her.

"Ah'll be a monkey's uncle," Applejack said as she returned from the kitchen, "Jethro, yah made a ton of food!"

"I have hungry mouths to feed," I said. Standing taller, I gestured to the dining room. "Now, before I lead you in there, you're all aware of who else I invited, right?" When they all nodded, I continued, "I did that because I wanted them to experience a fun and festive meal. I know I don't have to repeat this for most of you, but I still want to. Please don't antagonize Chrysalis, Adagio, Aria, Sonata or Ember please?" I gave Rainbow Dash a sideways glance, and she looked away, pretending to whistle nonchalantly. When I got no replies, I nodded. "Thank you. Well then, how about we head to dinner, shall we?"

It's a shame. I found the PERFECT image that shows what I think of when I see Zecora's new mane style in my mind, but I can't post a link to it since it's NSFW. Sorry for the longer delay. I've been sick lately.