Minty trotted out into the snow-covered land that was the North Pole, bare of socks thanks to the work she put into helping Santa out with the presents. Even in a dire time as this, a time where not only a plague was striking the world around her, but a newfound alien threat was scouring the stars. Fortunately, there was another force protecting her and her home, keeping the skies above silent and gentle for her and the other inhabitants of Equestria.

Looking to the night sky, Minty took notice of the North Star as she pulled out a bag of mint candies from her saddlebags, which were placed down next to the entrance of Santa’s Workshop when she went in to help. Pulling one of the sweets out, Minty tossed one in her mouth, taking care as to not choke on it as she watched the stars above.

“I can’t believe it’s already that time of the year again.” The sock-obsessed mare said to herself as she chewed the hard, yet tasty mint in her mouth. “Giving out presents, helping my friends all the way up here, I’m so excited for this mo-”

Minty stopped as she took notice of a faint shape far out in the stars, which hovered in it’s place as the mare examined the sight. There was a blue glow coming from the back of it, with an even less visible glow at the front. Minty could only guess what the large object was.

“Is that… some kind of ship?” The mare asked herself as she watched it hover in the sky. If this ship was one of their allies fighting against the alien threat above, she hadn’t seen it before.

Her gaze was interrupted when her eyes were assaulted by a bright light shining down at the workshop’s entrance. Then, adjusting her eyes and slowly moving her hoof, Minty squinted ahead of her to see another strange ship, but her eyes widened a little more as she noticed the design. This was definitely one she’d seen, a large, plane-like ship with two wings, along with four smaller ones at the back of it.

The mare put her hoof down onto the snowy ground as the light died down, giving Minty a full view of the ship as it touched the ground below it. As the ship steadied itself on it’s small landing gear, a window at the ship’s cockpit opened up to reveal a stallion with a blue helmet on his head. As the pony hopped out of the ship, he trotted over to Minty, who grew a smile as the stallion spoke to her. “Not too cold for ya, is it, candylass?”

“Oh! Wyatt! You’re back from patrol duty!” Minty replied back as she trotted over to the stallion pilot, the two nuzzling for a moment before she continued. “Did everything turn out fine?”

“Eh, it wouldn’t have if we hadn’t shot down one of those Komplex spies. They had a Locust scout out near the edge of the system.”

Minty raised a hoof to her mouth in surprise. “No one got hurt, did they?”

The concern on her face was eased as Wyatt replied. “Not much, only a few scratches on two of our pilots, but no casualties.”

Minty smiled brightly as she took notice of the socks he was wearing. “I guess those little babies you got on really kept you safe, huh?”

“I’d say so, especially when they were made by you.” The mare blushed a little as he then grew a light bit of concern as well. “Speaking of that, where are yours?”

“I had to take them off because Santa was having a… little bit of a doozy with some of his stuff. They should be my saddlebags over there.” The mare pointed to the bags in question as Wyatt followed her hoof to the workshop entrance.

The stallion then put a hoof to his smirking face as he asked his friend, “Maybe I could lend a hoof? With patrol duty done for the night, I’ve got all the time in the world.”

Minty grinned thankfully as she replied to her stallion friend. “That’s a great idea! I’ve still got to help get the presents wrapped up now that we’ve got the factory working again.”

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get to it!” With that, the two began their trot into the workshop, hoping to help out in preparing the gifts for the coming holiday.

-Well, since it’s once again the most wonderful time of the year, I felt like making this little thing. Minty has definitely become one of my favorite classic pones in the time I’ve spent with <span class="caps">FIM</span>, and I just wanted to share some love for her.

Oh, and also, Merry (early?) Christmas and Happy Hearths Warming, everyone.