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.

"No, you just throw it." Malibu looked down at his snowball.

"Like this?" He weakly threw it. She shook her head. "No, harder! Where have you been living to not have fun like this?" Malibu flattened his ears, frowning, lip trembling.

"Malibu had a bad owner," he whimpered, hiding in the snow. Moondancer and Lemon Hearts noticed this coming over.

Minuette comforted him. "You don't need to worry about your previous owner anymore, you're safe. And you have friends." She said gently. Malibu poked his head out of the snow, seeing another snowball offered to him.

His eyes brightened as happiness came back, suddenly throwing it hard at Moondancer. "Snowball!" He cheered, creating more and throwing them more. The other ponies laughed. Malibu eyed Spike. "Think fast, Spike!" He warned, tossing one at the baby dragon who got his face full.

He even got Twilight into the game when sneaking up behind her and throwing one. She mostly laughed and began to play with them.

After a furious snowball fight and building a snowpony the group went their separate ways with Minuette saying she has a whole list of shopping to do for her family, and Twilight and Spike going home to their own parent's house.

Malibu went back into the castle, wet and cold but rosy cheeked and smiling. That had been such fun for him.

Celestia greeted him with a blanket and hot chocolate, saying that on the day before Hearth's Warming Eve they would go see the play together and then get each other presents for the morning after. Malibu liked that idea while sipping his hot chocolate with marshmallows; sitting down with his momma by the fire who wrapped him with her wings, telling him her favorite Hearth's Warming story a Hearth's Warming Tale through the rest of the evening.

...

At last, on the day before Hearth's Warming Eve came time for the play. Malibu sat in the princess seat with Celestia since he was her adoptive son, so he had a good view of the stage. The narrator came out and began to perform the play.

Malibu couldn't take his eyes off the stage, smiling from the performances of the actors while they told the story of how the old rulers; Chancellor Puddinghead, Commander Hurricane, and Princess Platinum put aside their differences from being different ponies and creating Equestria to defeat the cold and evil Windigos.

At the end of the play they sang the Heart Carol. Celestia helped him sing in tune since he never sang very much. Malibu couldn't stop smiling for the whole thing, even after it was all done and they went to do shopping.

After they got their presents all Malibu and Celestia did after that was just wrap them and prepared Hearth's Warming dinner.

....

The big day was now finally here; Hearth's Warming Eve. Celestia and Malibu were happy they can finally now celebrate the big day before Hearth's Warming day. Celestia's nephew and another princess named Cadence had come to celebrate with them after hearing of her new adoption.

Malibu stayed near Celestia while the white unicorn and pink alicorn came up. The pink alicorn had a few presents with her that she put under the tree.

"Malibu, meet my nephew, Prince Blueblood," Celestia introduced. "And Princess Cadence." Cadence gave a warm smile to the former gargoyle who knew she could be trusted. But Blueblood just eyed him with a cold expression. Malibu kept his place behind his momma since he saw something in Blueblood he didn't like.

"You've adopted this thing, Auntie?" Blueblood huffed, shaking his head at the weird alicorn. Celestia comforted Malibu. "This is my new son. He isn't a thing and you'll treat him with respect," she proclaimed. Blueblood just rolled his eyes. "Whatever. When's dinner?"

"In another hour around 6:00," Cadence told him, as she took their bags to get settled in.

Malibu was relieved when Blueblood left. "I don't know if I like him," he said in a small voice. Celestia smiled reassuringly.

"He's only staying for Hearth's Warming Eve dinner, then he'll go back with his parents," Celestia said. Malibu grinned at his momma as they went to prepare for the feast and early gifts.

The evening went well enough mostly for dinner which tasted great. But then a little moment occurred afterwards when Blueblood cornered Malibu, for he had a few things to say to him.

Malibu watched him nervously. Blueblood gave him a taunting smirk.

"To think my Auntie adopted some lowly non royalty alicorn like yourself. You look like you're not even from here," he laughed, flicking Malibu's chin with his hoof. Malibu pushed it away, glaring. "Stop, Momma loves me," he retorted back. Blueblood however just pushed Malibu down.

Malibu yelped a bit in pain for the shove had hurt him, feeling his eyes water. "You're 'momma' is only pitying you, she doesn't really care. Me and Cadence are her only real family." He snarled. This really hurt Malibu's heart. He began to sniffle.

Blueblood mocked laughed. "Yeah, the truth hurts, doesn't it? Why don't you cry? Or better yet leave? You'd be doing all of us a favor." Malibu backed up, heart burning with pain and sadness from Blueblood's mocking, then turning to run away. Maybe he was right, maybe he should just leave.

Malibu ran out of the castle not regarding that it was a blizzard tonight, running through the streets of Canterlot, until he saw a trash bin. That's where I belong, Malibu thought, tears freezing on his cheeks after he decided to get in. He snuggled in among the trash, still crying. Malibu wondered now if his momma would be caring enough to find him here.

....

Meanwhile after Celestia helped with cleaning the dishes from their dinner she went to find Malibu to give him his early present. But she couldn't find him. She called for her son but nothing. Cadence said she hadn't seen him since dinner. Celestia felt worry grow inside until she saw her nephew look rather smug about something.

"Blueblood, have you seen my son?" She questioned. The white unicorn just shrugged. "And why should I care? He's probably off doing something. Or he just left. But whatever, it's for the good of all of us he's gone," Blueblood said uncaringly.

This ticked off Celestia greatly. "What did you say to him?" She demanded, knowing Blueblood could sometimes be rather rude to others. "Nothing, Auntie Celestia. I swear!" Blueblood pleaded, fake innocence present. Celestia raced to the door. She was going to find him. She would deal with her nephew later.

....

Malibu remained where he was in the trash. He cried to himself sorrowfully that his momma hadn't found him yet. Maybe Blueblood had spoken the truth, and that Celestia didn't really love him, just pitied him.

He continued to sob, covering himself up with his wings, sneezing a little too since it was cold.

But then there was a tap on the rubbish bin, magic opening up the doors. Malibu squeaked in fear, looking up and thinking it was Blueblood. But it was another unicorn. Two of them. The male wore a monocle on his eye, a concerned look on his face.

"I say, what are you doing in this trash bin?" The unicorn, Fancy Pants asked. His wife Fleur reached in to comfort the scared looking alicorn but all he did was bury himself deeper into the rubbish. She glanced at her husband in worry. They were doing their last minute shopping when Fancy Pants had heard somepony crying in an alley. It led him to the trash bin and it surprised him to find the young alicorn Malibu in there.

"Come now, son. We only want to help. It's Hearth's Warming, after all. You shouldn't have to celebrate it here," Fancy Pants said gently, offering his hoof again. Malibu still didn't stop sniffling but he saw that the elder unicorn's face was gentle, so he accepted it, allowing the nice unicorn to pull him out.

Malibu glanced down after Fancy Pants commented on how filthy he was. "Let's get you clean," Fleur invited him, and they led Malibu to their home.

Fleur had volunteered to wash Malibu, guiding him to the warm bathtub. They were glad now to find this lost one before he got too sick in that rubbish. Malibu gave a small sigh when sitting in the washtub, allowing Fleur to wash him with the shampoo and such until he looked fresh and clean.

Fancy Pants wrote a letter to Celestia saying they found her son, and a messenger pony took it to Celestia who was flying around trying to find him. She got the message and went straight to Fancy Pant's house where she found her son wrapped in a blanket, drinking tea, Fleur speaking comfortingly to him. Celestia breathed a sigh of relief from finding him and gave Malibu a hug.

"Oh, son, don't ever scare me like that again!" She scolded. Malibu gave a whimper, wiping his eyes.

"You- you angry with me? You hate Malibu for leaving?" Malibu whimpered, using third person language again. Celestia saw the despair in his eyes and hugged him tight.

"No. I can never hate you son. Why? What made you think like this to run away?" She asked softly. Malibu sobbed more. "Mean prince make me believe you don't love me, just pity me," he sniffled, burying his face into her chest. Celestia knew she was going to really talk to Blueblood later whilst she stroked him comfortingly.

"I don't think you're helpless, nor do I just pity you, Malibu. It was my nephew putting twisted words into your head," she said softly. "And I do love you. Don't ever doubt that," she murmured. Malibu felt his sadness leave a little, smiling timidly at his momma. He was glad that she loved him enough to search for him.

After that Celestia thanked Fancy Pants for finding Malibu and brought him home to a happy Cadence who embraced her new relative. Blueblood though looked disappointed he came back so Celestia scolded him for insulting her son and grounded him, sending him packing.

....

Hearth's Warming morning fared very nicely after the drama last night. Malibu, Celestia and Cadence opened their presents for one another, enjoying each other's gifts and company. Celestia hugged Malibu eith her wing, abd small tears slipped down his face.

"Happy Hearth's Warming, my son," Celestia said gently. Malibu snuggled against his momma.

"Happy Heart's Warming too, Momma," he murmured sleepily. This turned out to be a good Hearth's Warming in the end despite the drama, and Malibu looked forward to celebrating more of this Holiday in the later years.