A Clone Gargoyle's Equestrian Tale

The Beginning: Holiday Time

The holidays had now started in Malibu's new home in Equestria. Celestia had shown him the Nightmare Night and Thanksgiving holidays which he enjoyed. He had dressed up as a gargoyle for Nightmare Night for what he looked like before.

Malibu opened his eyes that morning and saw snow for the first time since coming here. He jumped out of bed and ran to look, eyes shining in excitement for all the shiny snow on the ground.

Celestia greeted him in the breakfast room as usual this time with a giant tree in there. Malibu was jumping a bit, for this was his first time seeing snow.

"Happy Hearth's Warming, Son," Celestia said, laughing from Malibu's excitement. Malibu stopped bouncing, his head tilted in curiosity.

"What is Hearths Warming, Momma?" He asked. Celestia then knew she wanted to teach him the holiday since it was that time of year now.

"Hearths Warming is our holiday for getting together in friendship. We exchange gifts and love with each other," she said, feeling sadness that she won't be able to again celebrate with her sister. Malibu smiled at the word gift.

"Do I get gift?" He asked. She nodded. "Yes, but only on Hearth's Warming morning. First we need to decorate and cook for the castle feast and prepare to go see the play about how Hearth's Warming Eve was founded. But I got a little treat for you," she said, holding out a candy cane.

Malibu took it with his magic, sniffing. "What kind of candy?" He questioned. "It's a candy cane, a popular treat this time of year. It is fresh peppermint." The former gargoyle tasted it. The peppermint flavor bounced off his tongue.

"It's good, momma," Malibu said with a smile, eating the rest of it. Celestia smiled. But then Malibu recalled waking up for the first time hearing that his mom had a sister and he had an aunt.

"Where is sister?" Malibu asked, looking around, expecting to see Celestia's sister join them. Celestia lowered her head.

"She isn't here now, Malibu my son. Luna... did some things that hurt others. She was jealous of me and how popular I was and turned into Nightmare Moon, who wanted eternal night. I was forced to banish her for a thousand years. Your aunt won't be celebrating with us this year I'm afraid," Celestia revealed sitting down in sadness. Malibu himself felt despaired that his adoptive aunt would hurt other ponies and be jealous of his momma.

He walked up and hugged her. "Don't be sad, Momma. Auntie Luna come home one day. I would want to have her home again," he said like an innocent child. Celestia felt her heart warm at her son's words. She hugged him back.

"You're right. We can dedicate this day to her, if you want that," she said. Malibu nodded. "Yes, momma. For Auntie Luna!" He cheered. Celestia smiled as the two of them went to finish breakfast then decorate the tree.

Celestia ended up levitating Malibu to the top of the tree to put on the star since he wanted to try it. The former gargoyle clone had a fun time with that.

Then he was visited by Minuette who asked Malibu to come do a snowball fight with them.

"Sno ball?" Malibu said curiously. Minuette gasped a little. "You never have been in a snowball fight?" The young one shook his head, looking at Celestia.

"You can go," she said. Minuette bowed to her in thanks and pulled Malibu out with her.

Malibu saw his friends Moondancer, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Spike all in a field near the castle thowing snow at each other. Twilight herself was too busy reading her book and conjuring up a shield to keep the snow from getting her book wet.

"Here, this is a snowball," Minuette said creating one with her magic and handing it to him. Malibu held it with his hoof.

"What do I do? Are there rules? Or is it to the death?" He asked, gazing back and forth. Minuette giggled a bit from this.