-
>”Anon catch.”
-
“Gaah!”
-
>You throw your hands up to shield yourself from the falling ornament, catching it was a mere afterthought.
-
>But it turns out that was just enough to keep it from crashing to the ground.
-
>You hold the delicate orb close to your chest and stare up indignantly at the blue menace hovering over you.
-
>Decorating the town tree seemingly doubled as bombing practice for her.
-
“What was the purpose of that?”
-
>”Oh don’t be a downer I just wanted to see if you could catch it, and you did so what’s the big deal!”
-
>”The big deal is we’re already working with an odd number of ornaments Rainbow and we need to be careful with them!”
-
>Twilight snags both your attentions.
-
>”Do you know how difficult it was to rework the arrangement to have any sort of symmetry and balance with an odd number of ornaments?”
-
>You and Dash share a glance.
-
>”Not to mention rebalancing the color and size schemes...that’s three levels of pattern analysis that need to be completed to make this tree fit for Ponyville’s Hearthswarming Eve party!”
-
>The minor outburst silences nearby voices.
-
>”So...if we break one more then we’re back to an even number right?”
-
>You share a smirk with your friend.
-
>”Um, an even number would simplify—”
-
—*crash!
-
>You look at your empty hands.
-
“Ooops.”
-
>”Bawhahahahaha! Nice one Anon!”
-
>”Stop! Breaking! The ornaments!” Twilight explodes.
-
>The stress of managing an event this large was really taking its toll on her.
-
>Just like every other project she was self-appointed as the leader of.
-
>”Aw cut Anon a break it was my idea, and besides, you should be happy now you get to be all OCD again!”
-
>The young princess sighs and facehoofs before turning away in defeat.
-
>”Just finish before the evening festival without breaking anything else...pleaaaase.” She grumbles.
-
>”Heheheh! Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” Cold air whips your hair as Dash flies up next to you.
-
>You smile back.
-
“I know right? I don’t blame her though we have been giving her a hard time.”
-
>”Nah, if she really cared about the decorations she’d just hang ‘em herself in ten seconds flat with some fancy spell.”
-
>Her hind hooves experimentally rest on your shoulders and you respond by reaching up to grab them, pulling her against your neck.
-
>You grow a good bit heavier as her wings fold and her forehooves brace on the top of your head—a proper piggy back position.
-
>You hand up the last ornament for her to hang.
-
“I think she’s just jealous of our awesome decorating skills.”
-
>Dash hooks the silver ball around a branch and you precariously step back to look at your work.
-
>Never in your life had you seen something so simple so messed up before.
-
>”Good enough for government work!”
-
“That’s...actually a pretty appropriate use of that phrase.”
-
>”I told ya I pay attention to all your human sayings!”
-
>She kicks your chest a bit as if she needed to get your attention.
-
>She didn’t need to.
-
>It was hard not to be focused on the incredible warmth of her thighs wrapped around your neck and ears.
-
>It was a nice change from the biting cold too.
-
>”Hey what’s that?”
-
>She wasn’t asking you.
-
>You follow her voice to Rarity who was hanging something up on another part of the tree.
-
>”This, dear, is mistletoe. It’s the perfect finishing touch to get everyone into the romantic holiday spirit!”
-
>She finishes tying the strand of vine to the overhanging branch.
-
>”Mistle-what? I thought only Anon had toes?”
-
>Again, she wasn’t asking you.
-
>Your hands stay securely on your ear warmers as you wait for Rarity to explain what you’re too lazy to butt in and tell her.
-
>Rarity lets out a sigh. Like Twilight but it sounded high class.
-
>”Anon darling, would care to explain that I’m in a bit of a rush.”
-
>So much for laziness.
-
“You seriously don’t know what mistletoe is?”
-
>”Do I look like I grew up with Hearthswarming trees? I’ve lived in Cloudsdale most my life.”
-
>You didn’t think of that.
-
“Alright fair enough. See that branch that she tied to the other branch?”
-
>”Uhuh.”
-
“That’s the mistletoe.”
-
>”Well yeah I’ve figured out that much.”
-
“Ok, do you want me to explain it to you or are you gonna—“
-
>”—Alright I’ll listen...”
-
“Thank you.”
-
>You readjust her weight on your shoulders. Thank goodness she liked piggy back rides, your ears and cheeks were loving this.
-
“So the tradition is, when you and someone else stand under the mistletoe, you have to kiss.”
-
>”Wait really? What happens if you don’t?”
-
“Then...I don’t know I guess everyone just boos you for being a wuss.”
-
>”So any ponies who stand under there have to kiss?”
-
“That’s the idea.”
-
>”So...if we stood under there right now we’d have to kiss?”
-
>You blush a little.
-
“Heh, well we can go see if you want.”
-
>You start walking towards it and Dash grows tense.
-
>”Wait hold on! Nonono!”
-
>She flaps her wings, trying to fly away, but you hold onto her hindlegs so she can't.
-
>You stop before she pulls you over.
-
“Hey take it easy I’m just kidding!”
-
>She stops flapping but remains tense.
-
>Luckily that had no bearing on the status of your ear warmers.
-
>”Quit messing around Anon!” She mutters in a quiet tone.
-
>You look up to see her flushed red and looking around to make sure nopony saw.
-
“That’s what you get for dropping the ornament on me earlier.”
-
>At this, her legs go limp once more in your grasp, “Yeah well I guess we’re even.”
-
>You turn around and look at the rest of the ponies scurrying about, wrapping things up before the big celebration.
-
>They were way too comfortable in this sort of weather.
-
>”We could go help out some more…” Dash painfully admits.
-
“Yeah, or…”
-
>You look to your left and get a mouthful of unexpectedly long fur. You also spot Sugarcube corner.
-
>*Fffbbrrt!
-
>You blow a raspberry into her thigh to get her fur out.
-
“Hot coco?”
-
>”Heheheheh!” She wiggles and kicks at the ticklish sensation, “Yeah, hot coco.”
-
>She playfully blows into your hair, sending it every which way before taking off, this time you don’t resist.
-
>The air suddenly grows colder and smells harsher—both the pleasantries haven taken flight rather graciously.
-
>It was more of a significant emotional event than you’d expected.
-
>”Are you coming, Anon?” She asks, turning back to you.
-
>You study her eyes for a moment, combing your hair back with your half-numb fingers.
-
>You don’t know how or why, but when you were with this rainbow pegasus you knew you had a place in this crazy world of magic and monsters.
-
>The way she made you a part of her life left no doubt in your mind that you belong.
-
“It was my idea of course I’m coming.” You catch up the few paces.
-
>Her wings pass just behind you, thoughtfully sparing you the cold breeze as they slice through the air twice for each step you took.
-
>”Pfft! Are you kidding? Ponies invented hot chocolate! It was our idea way before it was yours.” She admits proudly.
-
“I’m not too sure about that, might have to ask princess grumpypants if that’s true or not.”
-
>”Heh...that one didn’t work so well because ponies don’t wear pants.”
-
“Thanks Dash, I’m glad you like my jokes.”
-
>She punches your shoulder. “Anytime champ!”
-
>Snow crunches underfoot.
-
>”But yeah, we totally invented it right after all the tribes united. I remember hearing about it in history class when I was a filly.”
-
>You quickly crush the idea of any sort of teasing about egg headedness. She was a smart mare and you didn’t want her to feel ashamed of it, even if she was her own worst enemy in that regard.
-
“Really? That’s pretty neat. Human’s invented hot chocolate too, but I’m not sure how long ago that was.”
-
>”Wait you invented hot coco too? Is anything else the same back where you’re from?”
-
>That question makes you pause for thought.
-
>You open the door to Sugarcube Corner and feel immediate relief at the rush of warm bakery air.
-
>Dash trots in, looking back over her shoulder expectantly.
-
“Well we decorate trees pretty much the same way, we wrap gifts and sing carols, and we build snowmen. It’s a bit easier than making snowponies.”
-
>”What about mistletoe?”
-
>You look down at her.
-
“Yeah, we got that too. It’s almost treated like a game of sorts, it’s usually hidden in a doorway somewhere and you just notice it and have to kiss whoever you’re with.”
-
>She furrows her brow.
-
>”Can I help you two?” Ms. Cake trots around from the kitchen.
-
“Yeah can we get two cups of hot coco, with milk not water please? And a marshmallow for her.”
-
>Ms. Cake winks at you and smiles at Dash. “Two cups coming right up!”
-
>She disappears again leaving room for Dash’s burning question.
-
>”Why do you do it like that?” She asks.
-
“Do what? The mistletoe thing?”
-
>”Yeah, why would you just kiss anypony you’re under it with? Wouldn't you wanna do it with the one you like?”
-
>This was certainly an odd string of questions. She seemed abnormally interested in this little tradition.
-
“I mean, I’ve never done it. Heck I’ve only ever seen it once at a Christmas party before...that’s what we call Hearthswarming.”
-
>She seems to lighten up a bit at the explanation even though it didn’t answer her question.
-
>Her consternation turns to a teasing smirk.
-
>”What you get stagefright or something?”
-
>Ms. Cake returns with two steaming cups, you thank her and hand over some bits.
-
“Like you did earlier? Yeah a bit.”
-
>You shoot a grin right back at her, it was enough to fold her ears and make her break eye contact.
-
>Not quite enough to make her blush.
-
>”That was...different.”
-
>You walk over to a booth by the window, overlooking the merry and bustling town square.
-
>All the ponies that cared to attend were already congregating around the tree in anticipation of the festivities kicking off.
-
“Different? What do you mean?”
-
>She sips from her cup and winces at the heat.
-
>”You caught me by surprise is all, and there were ponies everywhere watching us.”
-
>You feel your heartbeat pick up a bit.
-
>You sip your coco.
-
“...Implying you would’ve done something different if we were alone?”
-
>A roiling current of emotions stirred just beneath a barely tranquil exterior, threatening an outburst of something you both subconsciously knew..
-
>She hides behind her own cup, but her tucked ears help you read her like a book.
-
>”Well yeah! It’s not like I’m not scared of a dumb little branch tied to a tree.”
-
>Your expression must’ve fallen a bit because she immediately continues.
-
>A firm blush precedes her inevitably sappy words, “And besides, if I was gonna do it I’d rather do it with you.”
-
>You feel hopeful for some reason, and you weren’t sure why.
-
“You really mean that?”
-
>She looks down when you meet her eye.
-
>Neither of you were prepared for this taking such a heartfelt turn.
-
>”...Y-Yeah. I-I mean obviously we’re awesome friends and like each other a lot, plus it’d be easier to get the aff-ffection outta the way by kissing instead of having to say a bunch of sappy stuff.”
-
>Like now.
-
”I suppose you’re right.”
-
>The muffled din of cheering ponies marked the start of the evening festivities. Luckily that meant the cafe was empty except for you two.
-
”I know I sorta did it as a joke, but...if I had to kiss a mare you’d be my first pick too.”
-
>Dash snorts and blushes a bit harder.
-
”What? Like you said earlier I wouldn’t want it to be with some random stranger. I mean chances are it’d end up being a stallion or something…”
-
>”Pffft! Oh you’re not into that—“
-
“—No I’m not!”
-
>”Heheheheh…” She chuckles quietly, hiding her smile behind careful sips.
-
“I don’t know.” You pause and take a breath, “I just feel like I can be myself around you. Like you’re the only one that wouldn’t judge me for being different.”
-
>Dash sets her cup down and gives you her undivided attention.
-
“No matter how nice other ponies are, I always end up thinking about how I’m the odd one out when I’m around them. But when I hang out with you I forget about all that. I feel...home.”
-
>You weren’t sure why you chose now to spill your guts, but it was long overdue.
-
>Silence falls and you stare at the swirling mixture of warmth and goodness in your hands.
-
>Outside fillies had snowball fights and couples were posing for pictures under the festive branch.
-
>Eventually, Dash breaks the silence with a snort.
-
>”Heh...see if we’d smooched you wouldn’t have had to say all that sappy stuff.”
-
>You look up to see her face a mirthful mixture of appreciation, blush and smirk.
-
>It was a breathtaking combination.
-
“Heh. Yeah.”
-
>Another brief pause; the doorbell chimes as the first group of customers walk in and steal away your privacy.
-
>”Hey.”
-
>Her hoof nudges your fingers, just to touch you as much as get your attention.
-
>”Wanna go see if we can, uh...find some mistletoe somewhere else?”
-
>Her scratchy voice was hopeful.
-
>It complimented the spark of excitement in your eyes but you struggle to believe it’s real.
-
“Right now?”
-
>Her ears tap her nape again, but her blush can’t get any worse.
-
>”Yeah. Don’t tell me you’re chicken all the sudden.”
-
>She was serious.
-
>Your ears heat up.
-
“O-Ok let’s do it!”
-
>You finish your cup of cocoa then and watch her finish hers in turn.
-
>You can’t believe this is actually happening.
-
>Until now you hadn’t realized just how obsessed you were with this idea.
-
>Something about the way she walked, talked, and looked at you made it so surreal and exciting at the same time.
-
>It wasn’t necessarily different from how she normally treated you, but agreeing to go look for an excuse to make out really made it feel that way.
-
>You’re still friends right?
-
>”Alright, you lead the way since you know what to look for!”
-
>You nod and stand up.
-
“Sure. I uh…”
-
>You had no idea where to find more mistletoe, and there was no way she’d go for the one in the middle of the busy town square.
-
>But dammit you wanted to kiss her.
-
“...Let’s try Rarity’s boutique, since she’s the one that hung it up.”
-
>Dash cracks a grin.
-
>”Heh! Good thinking, she’s definitely the frilly romantic type to put everywhere.”
-
>You both leave the bakery, thanking Ms. Cake as you do.
-
>Cold air bites you once more and you pop your jacket collar.
-
>You didn’t try to hide your enthusiasm, and Dash didn’t mention it.
-
>It didn’t take long for her to stifle her embarrassment and find her old chipper attitude again. Whatever justification she was using to make this make sense seemed to be working.
-
>”Sheesh dude don’t look so nervous!” She punches your leg.
-
“Ow!”
-
>She smirks, keeping pace with you.
-
>”We could just kiss on the cheek if you’re that scared of mare cooties.”
-
“What? No I wanna…I’m not scared.”
-
>You rub your leg.
-
>”Good cuz pony muzzles are great for kissing so you’d really be missing out.”
-
>You look over at her. They certainly looked kissable enough.
-
>”A-at least that’s what everypony says.”
-
>You quirk your brows.
-
“You don’t know?”
-
>”C’mon Anon you know I don’t have time for that sorta mushy stuff!”
-
“Except for now?”
-
>”It’s not-aargh! You don’t get it, it’s not mushy! We’re just…” She sighs, “...let’s just find the thing.”
-
>And that’s all that needs to be said about that.
-
>You find yourself conveniently at Rarity’s front door before having to endure too much awkward silence.
-
>You knock.
-
>Dash looks up at you, snickering, ”How’s she supposed to answer the door if we just saw her at the party?” She states, waiting for you to draw the same conclusion she did.
-
“I’m an idiot.”
-
>”Just walk in, she won’t mind.”
-
“Are you sure—“
-
>Dash pushes past you through the unlocked door.
-
>Ponies never seemed to lock their places up.
-
>Perhaps they’d start after word of you two got around.
-
>You could see it now two mugshots, yours next to Dash’s, both looking surprised.
-
>Headline: ‘A Wonderbolt and and alien break into a mare’s home to engage in indecent smooching and hoof holding’
-
“Hey Dash maybe we should look somewhere else.”
-
>Her scratchy voice comes from somewhere out of sight, “Aww don’t be a wuss and help me out!”
-
>You take a glance up and down the mostly empty street before stepping inside and quickly closing the door.
-
>It smelled strongly of perfume and candles.
-
>A rainbow mane peeks from around the corner.
-
>”You said it’s normally put above door frames right?”
-
“Yeah, I can’t think of anywhere else you’d put it.”
-
>”Alright you go right I’ll go left, call out if you find something!”
-
>She skitters off excitedly.
-
>It looks like you weren’t the only one looking forward to this.
-
>You start through the door on the right with some vigor in your step.
-
>Rarity’s house was also her shop, and that was open to the public right?
-
>You push past a door and find yourself in the kitchen.
-
>This is no longer public domain.
-
>Her carousel-like abode meant that you were working in a circle, and Dash was practically sprinting the other way around.
-
>It was a realization that hits you after the cyan pony does.
-
>Her head knocks the air out of you and sends you sprawling onto the floor.
-
“Ooof!”
-
>”Aww!”
-
>Dash groans and rolls off of you, staring up at the kitchen ceiling.
-
>You take a deep breath.
-
“Any luck?” You wince.
-
>”Nah…” She rubs her forehead and pops her neck.
-
>”I got to thinking, if she had more she woulda tied them to the tree. She’d probably wet her stockings at the thought of getting the whole town to makeout at once.”
-
>She wasn’t wrong.
-
>And apparently you were ‘making out’ now instead of kissing.
-
>Was there a difference?
-
>It kinda sounded more intense.
-
“Well thank Celestia you figured that out before someone got hurt.”
-
>You hear her pop another bone.
-
>”Heh...ahahahahaha!”
-
>A tight-lipped smile is all you offer in acknowledgement of your joke.
-
>”Hahahaha!-Hmmhmm...nice one dude. Come on I’ve got an idea.”
-
>A warm furry muzzle nuzzles under your neck, affectionately tickling you and urging you to your feet.
-
>You groan and stand, combing Dash’s mane back into her characteristic style as she dusts her coat off.
-
>She waits for you to finish ‘preening’ her before setting off and giving you a thankful hip bump.
-
>It was a bit odd but preening was just the right word for it.
-
>The instinct pegasi had for bodily maintenance crossed species boundaries just fine if you knew how to touch them.
-
>Dash responded to your fingers raking through her fur, or picking anywhere around her ears, face or feathers.
-
>Most of the time she’d just sit there quietly, like you hit a timeout button on the energizer bunny. It was a bit uncanny, actually, if you weren’t expecting it.
-
>You felt a little embarrassed the first time you accidentally put her into that state, but the more you learned about her the more comfortable you felt taking part in the semi-private practice.
-
“So where are we headed?”
-
>You ask the prismatic tail disappearing back into the atrium.
-
>”To AJ’s farm! None of them are home and their family’s all about tradition, they've gotta have some mistletoe somewhere.”
-
>There’s a joke in there about southerners.
-
>You’re too dazed to catch it.
-
“You know we could just...do this without the mistletoe.”
-
>She responds without looking back, “That’d be weird, Anon.”
-
>You were a fool to have not known better.
-
“Oh, right. Well lead the way then Airpony Dash.”
-
>She shoots you a sideways glance from the front door.
-
>”My rank, really? Who are you Spitfire now?”
-
“No I just think it’s cool that I’m spending Hearthswarming Eve with a genuine Wonderbolt.”
-
>”Pfft oh please you’ve known me forever. Besides I’ve already agreed to kiss you, you don’t need to butter me up.”
-
“Haha no! I’m serious! I started collecting posters you know, I could use a personally signed one.”
-
>She rolls her eyes and you close the front door behind you.
-
>Trotting out into the snowy street, Dash glances at the mass of cheery ponies a few blocks away—their happiness a muffled din in the distance.
-
>”Why do you want a poster of me you’ve got the real Airpony Dash right in front of you?”
-
>You shrug and fall in step behind her.
-
>The sun was sitting low in the orange sky, the trip to AJ’s farm would take just about the rest of the daylight you had.
-
“Oh you know, just gotta complete the collection.”
-
>She fixes you with a sly smirk.
-
>”Well if you really wanna get a good one you’ll have to go to Cloudsdale’s Wonderbolt museum. They sell the life sized prints there.”
-
“Ok, you can just make the signature out to the ‘best human in the world.”
-
>She snorts and slows down to walk next to you.
-
>”You are a pretty good human, I suppose.” She turns her smile away so you can’t see just how amusing that was for her.
-
>Something she’d said cues your memory as you leave the outskirts of town and start the trek to the Apple farm.
-
“Hey, you mentioned earlier that you didn’t have Hearthswarming trees in Cloudsdale?”
-
>”Yeah.”
-
“How’d you celebrate it then?”
-
>She looks up at you, walking a bit closer to keep the cold wind from driving you apart.
-
>”A lot of us would fly down and visit our friends and family that aren’t pegasi, if you had any that is.”
-
“Did you?”
-
>”Nah my whole family are pegasi. My parents knew some unicorns and stuff from work, but they never went to any Hearthswarming parties or anything like that.”
-
>The snow grows a bit deeper but you continue.
-
>”Before Hearthswarming was a thing we had a winter solstice celebration. It was sort of a big end of year party where all the pegasi tribes came together to hold a giant feast with sparring competitions and cider and stuff...heh, lots of cider actually.”
-
“Huh, so that’s where your cider cravings come from then.”
-
>”Yep! It’s in my blood!” She quips.
-
“I’m not going to lie that sounds a lot more fun than decorating trees.”
-
>”I know right!” She beams up at you.
-
>She stumbles in the snow, having stepped on a rock she couldn’t see.
-
>You thought about offering another piggy back ride but she takes flight before you get the chance.
-
>”Well anyways, after everyone stopped being jerks we kinda made Hearthswarming the new winter solstice.”
-
“So you still keep all those old traditions?”
-
>”Eh, we sorta replaced the sparring with races, and the feast has turned into a family dinner rather than a town sized banquet.”
-
>You smile to yourself at the thought of the pegasi of old conducting themselves like vikings.
-
>No wonder Dash was such a handful.
-
“Oh thank goodness.”
-
>AJ’s barn comes into view. The conversation and walking had kept you warm, but you were losing the battle.
-
>”I swear if she doesn’t have any mistletoe hanging around I’m going to demolish her barn again.”
-
“I’ll help you.”
-
>She chuckles.
-
>”You check the barn and I’ll go see if she’s got any hanging on the front door.”
-
>You nod and part ways.
-
>The barn was a dry hole, as you expected.
-
>You really didn’t have much hope for the house either and you weren’t keen on trying your luck with breaking and entering a second time.
-
>You were both getting cold and you were tired of walking.
-
>The sun was nearly touching the horizon and a barn was no place to be come nightfall.
-
>The things this mare gets you into.
-
>You turn around and get startled by the sudden appearance of a disgruntled Dash standing in front of the open barn door.
-
>“Grab a sledgehammer.”
-
“Huh?”
-
>You sniffle and wipe your nose.
-
>”They don’t have any, we’re breaking the barn.”
-
“Did you try— “
-
>”—Granny Smith’s home, she said they didn’t have any.”
-
>That must’ve been an odd conversation.
-
“Look, why don’t we just head back into town and stop by the tree—”
-
>”—But there’s!—“
-
“—I’m sure everypony’s going to be inside by the time we get back, and it’ll be dark anyways.”
-
>She grumbles and tries to relax.
-
>This wasn’t the first misadventure you’d been on together, but it would be your last if you didn’t warm up soon.
-
“It’s only going to get colder so we should probably get going.”
-
>You walk past her and pause when she doesn’t immediately follow.
-
>You sigh.
-
“Do you wanna knock over that stack of hay?”
-
>She nods, as if waiting for your permission.
-
“Alright.”
-
>Your word was a trigger and the blue pony was a coiled spring that exploded towards a bale in the corner.
-
>You shield your face until you feel the tickle of raining hay stop.
-
>Peeking out, you spot a straw stained pony standing triumphantly in AJ’s demolished hay pile with a satisfied look on her face like a hunter standing over her trophy.
-
“You good now?” You ask cautiously.
-
>She hop-stomps the mess before shaking herself clean, ”Yeah, much better. Let’s go!”
-
>She trots past you cheerily, carefully stepping in the footprints you both made coming out here.
-
>All you know is you don’t want to be the next thing that gets in her way.
-
>She had a one track mind when it came to getting what she wanted.
-
>She was also feeling the cold for once in her privileged pegasus life.
-
>The urgency of the dropping temperature and numbing limbs helps you quickly retrace your steps.
-
>The air starts to feel sharper on your lungs with the last rays of sunlight dipping below the horizon.
-
>You catch up to the driven mare who chose to trudge through the snow instead of surrender and take flight.
-
>”We’re gonna have perfect timing, everypony should be at Pinkie’s party by now.”
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“Yeah I think we’re just about the only ones crazy enough to still be running around in the snow.”
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>She beams up at you, sniffing at her runny nose.
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>”Heh, you’re the only one that can hang with me.”
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“Barely.”
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>”Pfft! Naw you do alright.”
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“Unless we race.”
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>”Did you say you wanna race?”
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>You sniffle.
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“Huh?”
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>”Ok! Onetwothree go!”
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>Her four toned legs kick up snow as she tears down the bath back into town, and she wasn’t waiting up.
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“Aw…”
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>You take a deep breath and set off after her.
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>Dash keeps up her pace until she hits mane street, and even then she only slows to a trot.
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>You’re not too far behind her, but you take some time to catch your breath.
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>She hops excitedly, “Hurry up we’re so close!”
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>Her excitement was well warranted.
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“I’m right behind you!” You wave.
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>The streets were more or less empty, only the odd couple sharing a scarf roamed the window-lit streets.
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>The Hearthswarming tree was lit with magic, but it was dim enough that it wouldn’t highlight you if you were underneath the branches.
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>You sniffle and groan.
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>Running around town with her all day had really taken its toll. Until now you’d all but forgotten the purpose of your journey.
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>Your eyes settle on the pony who’d already made it to the tree.
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>You were supposed to kiss your pegasus friend.
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>You were going to kiss your pegasus friend.
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>Right square on her pegasus mouth.
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>Heat returns to your cheeks and ears.
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>What would it feel like? Will her fur get in your mouth? What does a pony even taste like?
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>If only you’d remembered that earlier you wouldn’t have had to suffer so much cold.
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>You find yourself combing your hair and wiping your nose as you follow her to the base of the tree.
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>You didn’t have to look that presentable for this right?
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>It was just Dash, you were best friends she wouldn’t care.
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>Then again it was your first kiss, and she was your best friend.
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>Why wouldn’t you put on your best for her?
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>The closer you get the more you realize something’s wrong.
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“Dash?”
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>She looks at you and it suddenly strikes you that you’ve never truly seen disappointment in her eyes until now.
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>”It’s gone…” Her voice cracks.
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>You get closer and see that the only branch of mistletoe you’d seen in the whole of Equestria was in fact, missing.
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>”Somepony took it.” She rubs her eyes with a hoof, stuttering, “W-Why would they take it?”
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>You’d wandered around until you were cold, hungry, and tired, so you weren’t surprised that emotions were high.
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>But you didn’t expect your rock of a friend to be this heartbroken.
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“Hey there, it’s alright.”
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>You kneel down and hook an arm around her back.
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“We’ll find some more. We can come back tomorrow, I promise.”
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>You do your best to reassure her.
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>”But it's Hearthswarming Eve and I...I wanted to!...”
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>The festive night lights sparkle off her watery eyes.
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“No, hey...come here.”
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>You wrap her in a hug, desperate to bring some measure of joy back into your precious pegasus.
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>She was such a tough cookie all the time you could almost forget she could get hurt.
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>At that moment you realize you’d move a mountain for her just to take that hurt away.
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>She sniffles and tucks her head into your shoulder, relishing the warmth of your touch.
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>”S-sorry for wasting your time today...I wanted to have fun together b-but—“
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“Dash look at me.”
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>You turn her chin up towards your smiling face.
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“Any time I get to spend with you is never wasted, and we did have fun, remember?”
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>You wipe a tear from her eye, holding her close so she knows you’re keeping her vulnerable moment private.
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>She struggles to meet your gaze.
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“We had a snowball fight this morning, then you taught me how to make snow ponies. We decorated the town tree all by ourselves and annoyed Twilight.”
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>She snorts, your warm words cutting through the chill to rekindle her spirits.
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“Then we broke into a house and ran through all the rooms; I got an awesome pegasus history lesson and watched you demolish a hay bale that weighed more than a minotaur.”
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>”Heheh…I was kinda frustrated h-huh?”
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>You rub her withers and hug her tighter.
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“And most importantly, we were together.”
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>You tickle her chest tuft making her laugh.
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“So don’t you dare feel sorry for that. I wouldn’t have spent my day any other way.”
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>She sniffles one last time and meets your eyes with renewed vigor.
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>”Me too, Anon.”
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>Your eyes stay locked, smiling at each other as you share warm breath.
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>He steamy air thaws your face and brings feeling back into your nose.
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>A fresh snowflake lands on her muzzle tip, only to melt into her fur.
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>You realize you can smell her; a sort of spicy ozone tickles your senses—distinct from all that’s around you. Distinctly warm and inviting, distinctly Dash.
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>It dawns on you how rare of a moment this is.
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>And how it amounts to a perfect opportunity.
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>Your lips part, and you pass a breath through your mouths an inch apart.
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>”Mommy look! My snow pony’s still here!”
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>”I see that sweetie.”
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>You both turn to see a bundled up mare with her colt wandering closer to the tree, watching him play.
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>Turning back to Dash, it’s a bit harder to hold her gaze.
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>”Heh…” Her breath still warms you, “...i-it wouldn’t have counted anyways...without the dumb mistletoe.” She kicks some snow with her frosty hooves.
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“Dash.”
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>You reach down and grip her foreleg, drawing it up with both hands and squeezing it to warm it up for her.
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“Just promise me we’ll make up for it next year.”
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>She nods, then nuzzles into your cheek, letting you nuzzle back.
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>”I promise, Anon.”
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>You pull back and look at her, your face still tingling from her air and hot touch.
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>It was right there, all you had to do was lean forward to satisfy your aching heart.
-
>She’d be grateful too.
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>But the moment had passed, and she deserved more than a sloppy excuse.
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>Whatever you did with this mare, you wanted to do it right the first time because deep down you both seemed to know that you wouldn’t ever be doing these things with anyone else.
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>As silly as it was, the little tradition had given you a reason to poke around and turn some stones that revealed feelings about each other you already knew you had, but were too afraid to admit to yourselves.
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>You wanted to kiss, sure, but the kiss was just a part of it.
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>You wanted to be there for each other, to be close, to love.
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>Knowing it was so much more than one single act of affection made the idea seem almost silly to accomplish as an afterthought.
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>Your first kiss was going to be something special, and you could wait for that.
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>By the look in her eyes it was going to be worth it.
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>She breaks her stare after a while and looks up. “Sheesh, that snow’s coming down pretty hard.”
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>You watch the flakes dance about her face.
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“Do you want to head inside and check out the party?”
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>”No, I’m beat. I could use a fireplace to thaw out these hooves.”
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>You release the one you’re holding and ruffle her mane.
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“Come on, I’ve got coco, a fireplace, and Daring Do...plus a bunch of extra blankets so you can crash for the night.”
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>You look for her approval.
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>Her expression lighting up says it all.
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>”Sounds like a perfect Hearthswarming Eve to me!”
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“Plus you won’t have to go anywhere to get my present when you wake up.”
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>You tease as if the deal needed any sweetening.
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>She trots after you, both a bit stiff from being still for so long.
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>”You got me a present?”
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“Yep, my incredible sense of humor.”
-
>She punches your leg.
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>You arrive at your front door with a limp.
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>You pause and fish for keys before remembering you stopped locking your door like everypony else.
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>You both nearly jam the entrance trying to get in at once and escape the cold.
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>Saying nothing of it, Dash beelines for the fireplace.
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>She knew your house as well as you did considering how much time she spent hanging out.
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>The rush of warmth makes you sigh in relief and kick off your shoes, closing the portal to the cold dark world with a silent vow never to step out in it again.
-
>You hear the clack clack of a flint and striker and soon enough the familiar orange flickers of light start dancing around the room.
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>”Oh thank Celestia!” Dash groans as she turns her butt to the fire and lifts a hind hoof towards the heat.
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>When you turn around to hang up your jacket, something catches your eye.
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>A hoofwritten note dangling in front of your face on a string: ‘Happy Hearthswarming! ~Rarity’ in stylish cursive.
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>You follow the string up to the top of your front door frame.
-
“Uh...Dash.”
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>She looks over at you, slowly perking up as she takes notice of the fresh mistletoe tacked to the threshold.
-
>”I-Is that…”
-
>You nod.
-
>The very same mistletoe that’d been in the town tree. The one that’d gone missing.
-
>You hear her hoof touch the ground, her attention on you.
-
>Her eyes were a mixture of surprise and excitement.
-
“A-and we both went through the door at the same time, which means…”
-
>”...We were under it.”
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>You turn to her, her prismatic mane silhouetted by soft yellow flame, pensive and hopeful.
-
>It didn’t so much matter how it got there as what you were going to do about it.
-
>Screw it; right moment or not your feelings weren’t going to wait.
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>You barely have to think ‘yes’ to get the doing going.
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>Dash bolts across the room, standing up to place herself in your open arms.
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>Your back bumps into the door and for the briefest moment you catch a snapshot of the sheer need in her eyes...before her lips come crashing down onto yours.
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>They’re cold, but not for long.
-
>The sound of her desperate breathing drowns out even the pounding of your heart as your arms and forelegs fall around one another.
-
>The sheer shock and trepidation that came with passionately kissing your best friend is drowned out by the pent up affection you didn’t know you needed to express.
-
>At some point all the questions you’d had earlier about what it would be like to kiss a pony get answered.
-
>Only you can’t remember what they were.
-
>All your mind can focus on is how wonderfully her short pointy muzzle mushes against your mouth, and how you can feel her smile.
-
>Your lips thaw at the same rate as your mutual starvation of intimate touch.
-
>Now that you’d discovered an outlet for your emotions, neither of you would dare let it go.
-
>Breathing through your nose becomes more difficult as you struggle to hold her close enough.
-
>To your amazement and joy, you feel her press against you with equal fervor—both reading your mind and appeasing her own innate desires for the same.
-
>The fire flickers behind your closed eyes and her mane tickles your brow.
-
>And you stay there, trembling in awe, holding each other close as you rock back and forth, locked in speechless battle to suck the pent up love from each other’s lips.
-
>Your mind felt like an open house and her thoughts seemed to make themselves at home in you with equal ease.
-
>Slowly, her unique tastes, smells, and sensations introduce themselves like long lost friends.
-
>Her breathing slows as the same happens for her and she lets out a deep content grumble.
-
>Perhaps the most exhilarating of it all was how she wanted exactly what you did.
-
>Between that shared motivation and your re-prioritization of the need to breathe, you stay locked together for an unreasonably long time.
-
>Long enough for Dash to be standing in a small puddle of snow melt from your boots by the time she peels her lips off yours with a cartoonish pop.
-
>When you open your eyes, you find that you’re looking into the shimmering gateways of another mare.
-
>It wasn’t a Wonderbolt, or an Element of Harmony; not a celebrity, and not even a friend.
-
>You were looking at your soulmate.
-
>Your other half that’d been stranded a whole nother universe away.
-
>And now you’d found her, hiding inside this gorgeous rainbow pegasus with a scratchy voice and a runny nose.
-
>She was even blushier than before, but for once she didn’t seem to care.
-
>Her messy mane pours through your fingers as you explore her face in this new light.
-
>She looks at you in wonder.
-
“I…”
-
>Your voice was barely strong enough to be heard.
-
>You couldn’t finish.
-
>All you could do was hold her face and stare into her magenta eyes, sharing her oh-so-sweet breath.
-
>Somehow, you know that she knows.
-
>And she was saying it right back at you, screaming it out loud with every rush of her breath and beat of her heart.
-
>I love you too!
-
>You turn and pin her to the door.
-
>Her muzzle darts forward to lick your lips, eagerly exploring the taste she’d only gotten hints of.
-
>You lick back, and she gives you one chance to get your fill before running interference.
-
>Your tongues entwine and your mouths find themselves at home against each other once again.
-
>She angles her muzzle and locks her hooves around your neck, drawing in a deep breath before moaning and going to work exploring the new territory she was now connected to.
-
>You had a lot of making up to do.
-
-
-
-
>The fire finally flickers out, pulling the curtains on your Hearthswarming Eve.
-
>The room goes dark and Dash’s eyes lose their color, but maintain their happy glimmer.
-
>Your fingers comb through her mane as you stare back at the most important thing in your life.
-
>Your lips felt chapped from how long you were at it under the mistletoe.
-
>Her taste still sits comfortably on the back of your tongue.
-
>Nary a word was spoken after that heartfelt and uncontrollably messy encounter.
-
>The rest of your evening had consisted of being wrapped up in each other on the couch.
-
>It was an odd change of pace to say the least.
-
>You’d never seen the mile a minute mare sit so still yet seem so comfortable.
-
>Then again you’d never done what you did before.
-
>Even now she still thanked you, silently, with her nudges and her gaze.
-
>A whole lifetime’s worth of secrets and commitments had been exchanged in the few silent hours you spent locked in each other’s eyes, touching, hugging, and occasionally meeting lips again.
-
>Your thoughts drifted to the events of the day, and the festival which was surely over.
-
>A smile steals across your face when you imagine all the gossip that’d inevitably spread about you two missing the biggest event of the holiday.
-
>You trusted Rarity to keep your secret, for now at least.
-
>You certainly owe her one for the thoughtful coincidence of the ‘romantic holiday spirit.’
-
>And for breaking into her house to look for it in the first place.
-
>You might as well help AJ bale hay while you’re at it.
-
>You sigh contently, your eyes drifting closed only after Dash’s finally flutter shut.
-
>Hot breath warms your neck— the first of many to kiss you tonight.
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>Your lips curl into a grin.
-
>No matter what, you knew you wouldn’t have to face tomorrow’s challenges alone.
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>Or the day after that.
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>Or the day after that.
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>Or the day after that...
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7309 40.47 KB 568
by Mobius
by Mobius
by Mobius
by Mobius
by Mobius