“Every pony, young and old,
Has heard Hearth’s Warming’s story told
And each of them does celebrate
The rise of Love, to topple Hate.
With gifts and feasts, now once again
The joy has come throughout the land
But ponies often aren’t aware
Other races, foul and fair
Also give Hearth’s Warming cheer
Bison, reindeer, fox and deer
Zebras too – how can I tell?
I, Zecora, know it well
Although I am no longer feared
Ponies rarely wander near
To breach the woods in which I dwell
Although the setting suits me well
But though my home’s in Everfree
I do confess: It gets lonely
The first Hearth’s Warming here I had
To be quite frank, it was quite sad
Feared and shunned, I was alone
Curled up in a darkened home
This year, though, I climbed the hill
And walked the road to Ponyville
Friends have I, but one I sought
A stallion whose sight I caught
Plowing fields, brown and green
A quiet type, and rarely seen
I will not lie, though this may grate:
I wanted to make it a date
I took the long way, skirting round
Though I was welcome in the town
Again, I will not tell a lie:
Trepidation made me shy
Though it was cold, I took my time
(And by the way, Dan hates to rhyme)
Despite my doubts, my course was set.
I didn’t really know him yet
Romance could wait – it’d be just fine
If he’d just visit me this time
And brighten up a silent home
So I’d not be, again, alone.
Snowflakes fell, both clean and whole
Winter’s beauty touched my soul
Fear fell back, and wonder reigned
As snow touched softly to my mane
All was white, crisp, pure and kind
Serenity, it touch my mind
The plains were grand and clean, but – oh!
Nothing to the town below.
Roofs were high, and smoke rose higher
Beneath them both, a tender fire
Where families warmed their happy nests
It was Heath’s Warming at its best
And in the streets, good cheer exuded
The foals all played, with none excluded
Silver Spoon, a wealthy child
Danced with Pip, both poor and mild
Angels made, and snowballs thrown
And not a soul was all alone
The simple joy, it gave me hope
For too long in my hut I moped
Rejection’s fear had slowed my pace
But wasn’t friendship worth the chase?
I had made friends – I’d make one more!
Was it really such a chore?
My pace sped up, as did my heart
Passing by the work of art
That was the town of Ponyville
To come someplace a bit more still
Apple Acres: There to try
To meet the apple of my eye
‘Macintosh’ was this colt’s name
Red of coat and large of frame
A stoic friend in any season
*Ahem* Called ‘Big’ for many reasons
But such is naught but speculation
Thus far without confirmation
He wasn’t a hard one to spot
Within the snow, a bright red dot
Laboring with axe and tree
To turn dead wood to fire’s glee
I felt my heart rate climbing up
I called his name, and he said:
‘…Eeeeeyup?’
I stammered, well and truly checked
Was point-blank asking too direct?
Was it too late to change his plans?
Was I beat just as I began?
Had he a mare? That’d be okay
To just be friends – but what would SHE say?
It took a while to get it out
But he was patient all throughout
I said, ‘in common, we have little
You speak naught and I, in riddles
But Hearth’s Warming’s cold in Everfree
Please won’t you come there with me?’
‘The food I cook won’t make you lean:
Us zebras make rice, peas, and beans
Different than your pony fare,
But tasty, and enough to share.’
His nervous swallow quenched my hope
He said a word, the word was
’Nnnnnnope.’
I smiled, nodded, turned and ran
Back home as fast as I can
I fought them, but the tears did flow
They fell and froze on warmthless snow
In Everfree’s eternal gloam
Sad and lonely, I came home
The masks on walls all seemed to sneer,
‘Who would spend Hearth’s Warming here?
With leering totems on the wall
Of a shack, too dark and small
It’s not a place for Warming’s Joy’
…
…And the rhyming host, she just annoys.
Why’d I think that he would come?
With his own kind, he’d have fun!
Party games, and laughs, and lights!
Caroling all through the night
Warm stone houses, roasted nuts
Why trade for a drafty hut?
I shook my head – it was now plain
A one-mare Warming, once again
Food tastes bland with none to share
I felt that it just wasn’t fair!
However wrong, however right
It’d be another ‘Silent Night.’
My heart kept sinking like a rock
When suddenly – there came a knock!
There a moment I did dither
Pulling myself back together
I answered as fast as I could
And there, outside, Macintosh stood
I stared at him with door ajar
The slow-paced farmer’d run quite far
His breathing moved in rapid dregs
His own, no match for zebra legs
He’d come directly after me
And quickly said, ‘Zecora, see,’
‘Ah know Ah’m slow, Ah hope you get
Ah wasn’t finished talking yet
Ah can’t feast here in Everfree
‘Cause Ah cook for mah family
The story’s long, to summarize:
Warming’s cooking’s done by guys.’
‘Apples cook, our mares cook great
But on the Warming they get a break
And stallions cook. We do just swell
The family’s there, and all is well.
So Ah won’t come, Ah’ve made my case...
…But AH could set an extra place.’
(Zecora paraphrased Big Mac)
I was taken quite aback!
My head tilted to the side
Thankfully, Mac clarified
Saying, ‘Swing by my address
And join the feast with all of us!’
My head came up, my mouth it grinned
Fuzzy feelings rose within
The Season’s warmth was back on track
I hugged him and he hugged me back
Thus so, we came from forest brown
And once more walked on through the town
Past town hall and past the baker’s
To quiet Sweet Apple Acres
Land was cold, but house looked warm
Mac nodded, and we went on
He raised his hoof and swung the door
To a sight I hadn’t seen before
Darling, sweet young Applebloom
With her two friends was in the room
An odd start to my new rapport
For there was mess, from roof to floor
Mac gave her a deadpan look
The filly said
’Heheh…Crusader…holiday cooks?’
From wall to wall were dirty pots,
Of failed foods, there were lots
Once ingredients, now invalid
How DO you burn an apple salad?
The berries drowned in caramel
And for the pie, best not to tell
Applebloom apologized
Said, ‘Ah just wanted to surprise
A feast laid out when in you strut
And maybe get mah you-know-what
You needn’t say, Ah know it’s plain:
Ah just screwed things up again.’
She sighed, embarrassed, lost and sad
A face like that, who could be mad?
Big Mac leaned and kissed her face
Then said, ‘just help and clean the place.
Zecora, pardon the mistake
Ah’ll be in the kitchen – Ah’ve food to make!’
And so I ate a tad bit late
But rest assured, ‘twas worth the wait
The pots were used as they were cleaned
All helped out, to me it seemed
Nopony there thought ill of me
For today, I was family
Applejack with coat of orange
Applejack, covered in snow
Came in, shook off, and gave a go
At finishing her own confection
Apple cobbler, in perfection
Granny Smith then set the plates
And called us ‘round for food to take
One thing I had not quite grasped
So I turned to Applejack, and asked
‘Am I imposing on you so?
This was sudden – should I go?’
She said, ‘Zecora, don’t make a fuss
While you’re here, you’re one of us.’
The feast was grand, if late in coming
I spoke no words, though mouth was running
Taking in the farmers’ fare
Royal courts could not compare
To any humble Apple dish
It fulfilled my Hearth’s Warming’s wish
The day grew late, our bellies full
The fillies played, then sleep did lull
The three into a snoozing pile
Beneath their watchful elders’ smiles
The fire warm, the couch was soft
And soon, I too, drifted off.
The next morning I headed out
At the gates I heard a shout
I turned and saw the Apples wave
I said, ‘Next year too, if I behave?’
Then Mac: ‘Next year? Don’t be a tease
Come tomorrow if you please!’
No date with Mac beneath the trees
No zebra dish of rice and peas
But something bigger, something brighter
Touched my heart, and made it lighter
I didn’t find a friend, it’s true
A family will have to do!”