Ah, Hearth's Warming, a season of joy and being together with creatures you care for. The celebration of unity between ponies (and now, creatures of all kinds) and the love they share for one another.
Ponyville is no short of celebratory preparations, either; streamers and snow, trees and lights, and everycreature, big or small. Families divided by borders, getting together to share the festivities of the event.
However, this tale starts off with a young manestylist who recently moved to ponyville to-
"Uhh... Zeph? What are you doing?" said Spike, wondering why the pegasus was hiding in a bush.
"O-oh hey Spike!" said Zephyr, popping his muzzle out of the bush, "I-I was just... examining the... t-topiary of this bush! yeah..."
"That's just a regular bush, dude."
"Ah, it appears you're right." Zephyr admitted, as he got out of the bush, his mane and scarf covered in leaves. He sighed as he looked at his now messed up mane "That's gonna take at least an hour to fix... What brings you here?"
"I was getting Gabby a gift, you?"
"I told you!" the pegasus gestured his hoof in the air, "Topiary!"
Spike folded his arms, unamused, Zephyr cleared his throat. "Fine, maybe I was hiding from somepony."
"Rainbow dash?"
The stallion was offended, "For the last time, I'm over that mare!" Zephyr rolls his eyes, "Besides, she scares me more than anything" he shuddered.
"Really?" Spike asked, skeptical.
"I have a job now-"
"Yeah." the dragon scoffed "So you could impress Rainbow Dash."
"Celestia forbid a stallion work for himself. I do NOT want to impress-" he cuts himself off and pauses, stroking his stubble, "I see the errors of my ways."
"About time ya did." Spike added, still unamused, "So if you weren't stalking Rainbow then what exactly were you doing?"
"Goodness Spike, you know more than anypony-"
"I'm a dragon."
"More than anydragon that there's more to me than... that."
Spike rolled his eyes, "That doesn't answer my question."
At this point, the pegasus realized there was no point in arguing, so he decided to admit it outright.
"That mare over there, with the short, silver mane." he pointed.
In appearance, the mare did indeed have a short, silver mane, a dark stone blue coat, olive green eyes, mulberry earmuffs, and a cutie mark depicting a sliced lime and two small chunks of limestone.
"What about her?" Spike asked.
Zephyr hesitated a bit, a light blush on his cheeks.
"Seriously? You fall for every mare you see." Spike looked back at him, disappointed.
"Says the dragon that was obsessed with a mare twice his age."
"I was 11." Spike defended himself, "And you know I'm right"
"I do NOT fall for every mare I see!"
"Berry Shine?"
"She likes wine more than anything."
"Parasol?"
"She likes mares."
"Cheerilee?"
"She's not interested in a relationship."
"Applejack!?"
"She's with Rainbow."
"...Rarity...?"
"Hmmm... I don't think I've asked her out yet-"
"HEY!"
"What!? I thought you were over her."
"That's still pretty weird, Zeph!"
"Listen, what I'm saying is that I have a chance with her!"
"Rarity?"
"No?- well- maybe- but I'm talking about that mare over there!"
Spike shaked his head in disapproval, "You do NOT want to mess with her. "
"Why not!? She seems-" Zephyr paused, "There's no way you know her."
"I know everycreature, and everycreature knows me!" Spike boasted, "And that is Pinkie's oldest sister."
"Very funny, Spike, you should be a comedian."
"I'm not joking!"
The stallion ignored Spike's warnings and decided to introduce himself to the mare, who just so happened to be standing alone outside Sugarcube Corner; only to stop midway and hide in the bush again. Spike, was watching all of this and was conflicted on whether to help or laugh at his pathetic attempt.
"N-nevermind, I'm content being single."
"Riiight... I'll be going then, cya!"
"W-wait! you can't leave!" Zephyr pleaded, begging the dragon to stay, who, on the other hand, had his own can of worms to open.
"Sorry Zeph, but I kinda-"
"C'mon! Help a buddy out, will ya? I-I promise I'll make it up to you!"
The dragon thought for a moment, he and his griffinfriend could go for a spa day; maybe that'd be a good enough Hearth's Warming gift for her?
"I have a condition..." Spike smirked cheekily. Zephyr knew where this was heading, as this wasn't the first time he'd done something like this.
"Fine, I'll get you a coupon." he said, unwillingly, however, to his surprise, the dragon declined, "Weeell... I was thinking of something else."
Zephyr gulped.
"I'd like the most expensive spa bundle... twice, thank you very much." Spike grinned.
"But that's-"
"Do you want me to be your wingdragon?"
It seemed he had no other choice but to pay for Spike and his partner, and after a moment of reconsideration; he sighed.
"No."
"What?"
The stallion had made up his mind, he'd rather make a fool of himself than be 500 bits in debt. This, however, was unacceptable for Spike, as he had no other gift in mind.
"H-how about something cheaper? then?"
"Nope."
Zephyr turned away, hiding a grin on his face, as it turned out this was merely an act to get Spike to do as he said.
And after a moment of silence;
"Fine." the dragon groaned, "I'll take those coupons." after all, a discount is better than nothing.
"Great! So... what's her name?"
The dragon presented his hand, expecting his part of the deal before answering any questions. Zephyr shrugged, and gave him some stackable coupons which he had conveniently buried under his wing.
"Limestone Pie, and once again, you do NOT wanna mess with her."
"Right, right, totally... what does she like?"
"Take a wild guess."
Zephyr thought for a minute;
"Limes?"
The dragon shook his head; the stallion guessed again.
"Pies?"
"Not even close."
Zephyr squinted his eyes, "Limestone... pie?"
"...what?"
"I give up."
"It's rocks"
"Rocks? Seriously? "
"Yep."
The pegasus tilted his head, skeptical, "You sure? " to which, Spike nodded.
"I see..."
After which, Zephyr decided to get something rocky in an attempt to impress the mare, who, instead of spending time with her family inside, was outside the bakery.
Limestone looked around, a village, coated in a blanket of snow, decorations put up by ponies and creatures alike, snowflakes falling from the sky, yet a miserable look on her face.
The mare was never one for gatherings, especially not with her extended family (the apples) as she preferred spending time on the rock farm, and rarely, with her youngest sister, Marble Pie. Even as a filly, she never had any friends, thus never felt the magic of friendship (although you could argue that's because of how the Pies live their lives).
Her ears perked up, and she turned around to the sound of hoofsteps on the snow, and a mint green pegasus stallion, with a light yellow mane neatly tied in a bun (slightly ruined, thanks to the bush), a purple scarf around his neck, holding a rock pouch in his hoof. Looking at the expression on his face, Limestone was already getting annoyed by his presence.