"So," declaimed the Mayor, "the three tribes searched to find a new land to nourish their peoples."

Madam Mayor told the story of the discovery of paradise: a bright, green land of brilliant blue skies and sparkling rivers. The brown soil, redolent of fertility; the dancing white clouds; the stony places, that offered treasures and secrets.

"They found this green and pleasant land, untouched by the snows. But, sadly, not long untouched by distrust!"

Madam Mayor spoke of the acrimony of the three tribes and of the blizzard that followed them.

"In the end, the leaders of the three tribes collected into a tiny cave, where their anger exploded!"

"So this is where my journey ends," she whispered. "In the dark, under the ground. That my life has come to this...!"

Hurricane straightened. She pulled back her shoulders and tidied her wings. "It is nothing, Private. I will fight to the last. To the very last. For me, even this small ground will be Pegasopolis. For a time. Come! Attend me!"

(In the orchestra pit, Octavia signaled her quartet. They turned as one to the tense strains of Luna Aeterna.)

The pair advanced into the cave, followed by Princess Platinum and Clover the Clever.

"It's small and... untidy, yes," declared Princess Platinum, glancing about haughtily. "But as the seat of power of the Princessipality of Nova Unicornia, it may suffice."

"I am sure it will, Your Highness," replied Clover. "Once we rid ourselves of these... interlopers."

Platinum batted her eyes. "Yes, we shall have to do something about that, shan't we?"

"Caves! I love caves! Do you crave caves? Caves are my faves!" exclaimed Chancellor Puddinghead. "Y'know, Smart Cookie, I was born in a cave that I built with my own hooves!"

"No!" grinned Puddinghead as she bounded into the middle of the cave, followed by her advisor.

A chill, blue light infiltrated the chamber. From without, came the voice of the windigos.

"We oughta' try t'make friends with them, your Chancellorship," said Smart Cookie.

"That's what happens, when you hold out your hoof," said Puddinghead, suddenly very, very serious.

"Here's the problem," Puddinghead said quietly. "We can't grow food in a cave. We need land, Sun and water. And these ponies," she nodded towards the pegasi and unicorn groups, "are in the way. We have to get rid of them."

Private Pansy paced the cavern, uncertain. She looked back at Commander Hurricane, then scratched a border between herself and the other ponies in the cave. "This is New Pegasopolis," she said, mostly to herself, close to tears. "This black space, below the Earth."

"We cannot allow this incursion into our territory," hissed Clover the Clever. "Do not give them even an inch or you will appear weak!"

Princess Platinum held her head high and declared, "That rock is clearly on the Unicornia side of the cave and it belongs to us! There! I claim this, and all its precious jewels, for the mighty Kingdom of Unicornia!"

"I claim this rock for my people!" shouted Commander Hurricane, standing beside Private Pansy, scuffing it back to her side.

"Oh! You found my rock! Give it here!" exclaimed Chancellor Puddinghead, seizing the stone. "Sedimentary, limestone, interesting inclusions," she noted, looking at it critically. She blew thoughtfully into her bubble pipe. "But otherwise it's just MINE! MINE! MINE! Because, well, EARTH PONY: ROCK, DUH!"

The cold, blue light pressed against the ponies. The windigos at last appeared, over the ponies' heads, cantering like the souls of the dead in the weird shadows. And, inexorably, the entrance to the cavern closed, covered in ice, turning the chamber into a tomb.

"Okay, that's it, we're screwed," said Chancellor Puddinghead, hunkering down inside herself.

"No! Please, no!" cried Private Pansy. She battered herself against the wall of ice, to no avail. "I can't die this way! Under the Earth, away from the sky!"

Hurricane embraced Pansy. "Let us face the end together. If you see me in Elysium, raise a cup to me, my beloved comrade."

"All hope is lost," whispered Clover the Clever to Princess Platinum. "Now, think only of our people, Princess! In this dark time, let the other tribes fend for themselves!

Princess Platinum rounded on Clover, enraged. "I hate you! I have always hated you! You usurped my place with my father! You whisper and poison everything around you! I only want my folk to live and be happy and yet for days you've only spoken of death, death, death! Monster!"

"S'cuse me fer buttin' in," said Smart Cookie, trotting forward. "But that ain't Clover, Ah reckon. Not th' real Clover. Ah've been watchin' you an' you just ain't right. Ah've read all of Clover's work. She is smart an' kind. You are not.

"And yer shadow's all wrong, too, ain't it? Don't turn away! Ah've noticed how you stay away from th' light. Ah gots no quarrel with changelings, but y'oughta 'fess up now. Who are yuh?"

"Smart Cookie," she said, shaking her head, "you are the one that I always feared most. The rest of you are too stupid," she glared at Princess Platinum, "to look beyond the ends of your noses.

"Star Swirl the Bearded!" cried Princess Platinum. "My father's most trusted advisor!"

I hate this, thought Twilight. Star Swirl was introverted and eccentric, sure, but he deserves to be treated better than this.

"Yesss!" hissed Star Swirl, flinging his starry cloak around him, the bells on his hat and cape jingling maniacally.

"For too long," he declared, pacing about the stage, "have I suffered the follies of lesser folk! Smaller minds! Little ponies," he sneered.

Wow, Lyra's really getting into it, thought Twilight. She looks good with those bushy eyebrows and that little beard.

"I found the windigos, starving and afraid, in one of the dark corners of Tartarus. I raised them up! I freed them! Oh, my children, what music you make!"

The windigos bellowed and pranced, circling closer and closer to the leaders of the Three Tribes.

"I have used my knowledge and the wealth of the Unicorn Kingdom," said Star Swirl, "to breed distrust among the tribes. It was so easy. Your hatred of one another was a flower that only needed a little care to bloom! A word here or there was enough. My delicate windigos battened on your fear and anger and grew strong!"

Now we all give our little speeches, join together and have a big fight with Star Swirl. Once he loses his "magic hat," he loses all of his powers and we save the world, sighed Twilight. Oh, Rainbow! I had hoped for better than this from you.

Star Swirl gloated. "Now you are all gathered here into a tiny place where I can control you all! The snows will sweep over the world! Then my legions of fire zombies will emerge from their hidden barrows and cover all the lands with hot swarming evil!"

"'Fire zombies,' what?" blurted Twilight, startled out of character. This isn't the way we rehearsed this, Lyra!

"Aren't they delightful?" exclaimed Star Swirl, tapping his forehooves. "They're like regular zombies, but on fire! Ha ha! Ha ha ha! BWA HA HA HA!"

Then a hooded figure appeared at the mouth of the cave. With a flash of light, the ice burst into a snowy cloud.

"It is I, the true Clover!" declared the newcomer, pulling down her hood. Lyra Heartstrings trotted proudly onto the stage.

How did she do that? wondered Twilight. She looked at Star Swirl, baffled. Minuette, is that you? But how did you switch places? Do you know a teleport spell?

"If I told you about the weaknesses of your prison," smirked Clover, "that wouldn't be very 'clever,' now would it?"

"I will not be mocked! Bow down before your master, child!" thundered Star Swirl. "I raised you up from nothing! You are no more than a rock farmer's daughter with a speck of talent! How dare you challenge me?"

"Because I know you for who you truly are..." said Clover, as she suddenly swept off Star Swirl's hat.

The shape of Star Swirl the Bearded fell away, and grew, length upon length, into the serpentine form of the dreadful draconequus: Discord, the Great and Terrible.

(Down in the front row, Fluttershy looked to her left. She discovered that Discord's seat was now occupied by an adorable button-eyed Discord plushie. Fluttershy clutched the doll to herself and looked back to the stage, confused and alarmed.)

Twilight Sparkle fired up her horn. No time to retrieve the Elements of Harmony! I'll do what I can to protect everypony! she thought, desperately.

"Clover the Clever," sneered Discord. "You would have done better to cower in a hole with your master! You will beg for mercy before I am done with you!"

"You cannot conquer me, villain, as long as I wield this: the Crystal Heart of Fire!" Clover held aloft a heart-shaped crimson gem. "Drawn from the roots of the Crystal Mountains, blessed by the Sun and Moon, illuminated by Love and powered by Friendship," she cried, "there is no evil it cannot overcome."

Discord snatched at the gem. He flipped it around and held it to his eye. He even gave it a thoughtful lick. He smirked. "Do you think this tiny bauble will conquer me? Powered by friendship, is it? Oh, reaaa–ly?"

He clutched the gem in his eagle claw. "You disappoint me, Clover. Truly, you do, child. I had such plans for you, but you have fallen into hope and foolishness, much like your master. You are ridiculous! Look around you! There is no friendship here!" Discord swept his lion paw around the cave. "Look at yourselves!"

"There is no generosity there, only avarice! No nobility in that one, only pride! No leadership in her, only folly! No wisdom, only cunning! No loyalty, only cowardice! No honesty, only expedience!"

Discord stood in the middle of them and roared, "How can you think to deny me, to turn away my windigos? We are your guests! You invited us in!"

Commander Hurricane trotted forward. Her expression was dark and fell. She raised her spear. Then she knelt swiftly and laid down her spear before the assembly.

"I will fight no more forever," she said, quietly. "I have hurt my people with my pride. My family suffers because of my anger. I, Hurricane of the House of Bellerophon, surrender to my sisters gathered here. Command me, I beg you." Hurricane lifted her great helm and tossed it aside.

Princess Platinum advanced and knelt near Hurricane. She said, "I know I have been petty and selfish. Vast treasures have been arrayed before me and I only desired more, while I ignored the greatest treasures of the world: my people. I have loved no one and liked myself even less. Now I, Platinum of the Unicorn Kingdom, cast away my old life and will try with all of my heart to become a good and generous Princess. From this night on, I will live for the prosperity of my people and for all of ponykind." Platinum set aside her crown.

Puddinghead rolled her eyes. "Oh, fine!" She tossed away her hat and plopped down between Hurricane and Platinum. "That was a pretty nice hat," she said, wistfully. "But I have to admit I only became Chancellor because Mom and Dad and my focus group told me it would make me more popular. Now I, Prunella of the Puddingheads, give away my really, really nice hat and promise to try to get ponies to like me just for myself! All I've ever wanted, really, was to gather together with lots of good friends and celebrate our lives! Just like tonight. I love all you guys!" she exclaimed, hugging Hurricane and Platinum.

The gem, now glowing brilliantly, ascended. Its warm, rosy glow threw back the icy blue. The cave, once so dark and oppressive, was transformed at once into a great hall, full of life and merriment.

All six of them looked around the circle and found only their loving sisters looking back.

Discord hissed and twisted like a serpent before its light. Desperately, he tried to bat the flaming gem away, but he could not bear its brilliant glow.

"Away! Take it away!" he shrieked. "Its light pierces my heart! My very soul! Oh, woe! Take it away! Great treasures I will give you! All the kingdoms of the world shall be yours, if you spare me this!"

"I'm sorry, Discord, truly," said Clover. "But Fimbulwinter has taken away everything we had, even our sins. We have nothing left to offer you but our friendship."

Discord squirmed and cried, his claws clutching at the black, uncaring skies, "NOOOOOOOO (gasp! gasp! gasp!) OOOOOOOO!

"All of my devious schemes, exposed! All of my dastardly plans, undone! Curse you, Clover the Clever, for you have defeated me! Curse all of you little ponies, until the end of days!"

Discord writhed like the mad thing he was, spinning across the stage until he collapsed into a panting heap. He struggled to rise. Fell. Struggled to rise again, but only slumped to the ground. He shivered and shook, then seemed to shrink and whither beneath the brilliant light of the Heart of Fire.

"All of my beautiful wickedness!" he sobbed. With that last painful cry he fell back and lay still.

Suddenly, Discord heaved and gasped. "Oh, why is it so dark? Mother? Father? Is that you?" he called, piteously, clutching at the air. "I hear your sweet voices! Do you hear me? Your baby is coming home!"

Discord crawled desperately to Chancellor Puddinghead and drew her close. He made one last anguished attempt to express his soul so that he might finally be understood.

Discord collapsed onto his back. A white lily sprang up from his chest. His long tongue unrolled from his mouth as black X's appeared over both eyes.

After a moment, Smart Cookie stepped forward. "Well, Ah guess he's...," she said.

As Discord's body ascended, he was transformed. He now wore a robe of glittering samite. A harp appeared in his lion paw and he plucked at it gently with his eagle claw. His mismatched wings flapped as he drifted upward, a sad yet beatific expression on his face. A tiny halo appeared over his head.

Madam Mayor Marigold looked up into the lights, uncertainly, as if afraid that Discord would come plunging back down. After a few heartbeats, he didn't, so she continued.

"Um, well, then. After the defeat of... Discord, the six ponies gathered together in sorority, and kept the Heart of Fire alive with their tales of adventure and humor, and with the songs that became the winter carols we all sing today!

"The three leaders and their trusted advisors vowed to live together in harmony in the new land. And together, they named the new land...."

Diamond Tiara and Truffle Shuffle trotted out first, followed by Miss Cheerilee and the rest of her students. Silver Spoon, Twist, Snails and Snips made woo-woo noises. Truffle kissed Diamond's cheek; Diamond blushed.

Twilight Sparkle trotted out, holding her head high. But the applause grew louder as Lyra Heartstrings and Minuette took the stage.

Pinkie Pie and Applejack walked out and did a bit of business, juggling the helms, hats and crowns between themselves. Everypony laughed.

Derpy Hooves came out timidly, pushed along by Scootaloo. They held each other as Ponyville cheered.

But when Discord came out, the crowd thundered. Everypony in Ponyville Town Hall stood and shook the hall with their approval.

Discord was taken aback. "Hello-ooo! I'm evil," he said, waving. "You all kind of hate me, remember?"

But the Ponyville audience loudly stamped their approval and welcomed him, cheering. And Fluttershy was the loudest of all, jumping and hooting with delight.

"Oh, well played, Ponyville," Discord said quietly, rubbing some dust from his eyes. "I suppose I'll just have to start looking out for you little ponies. You're so... entertaining."

And so, with the rest of the company, Discord bowed to his friends in Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash was the last to come out, pushed on stage by Mister Breezy and Big Macintosh. She smiled, embarrassed, as Ponyville applauded.

One more bow, and then it's over. If you're going to do this, girl, now's the time, Twilight Sparkle told herself.

She took a deep breath and pushed herself forward. She loosened the strap that kept her wings hidden under her gown. She advanced to the front of the company. Princess Twilight Sparkle spread her wings before all of Ponyville.

This is who I am now, she thought. I am Ponyville. I am more than myself. Head up, girl! Stand tall! These are your friends. Hug them with your wings, as Derpy would.

"Everypony, thank you," began Twilight. "Speaking as one of the company and crew of Hearth's Warming Eve, I am warmed by your appreciation. We will hold your approval in our hearts forever."

Go on, she told herself. "But, if I may, I'd like to share something personal."

Twilight Sparkle folded her wings. Under the lights, she appeared small. She took another deep breath and revealed her soul.

"You are all my strength and my heart," she said. "I bless Princess Celestia for leading me to you. Here, in Ponyville, is the dream of Hearth's Warming Eve made real. Ponies of the Sky, of Magic, of Earth, we live together in love and tolerance. Every morning, I awake, excited to have one more day in Ponyville, the best place I can imagine. I am a part of Ponyville. And Ponyville will always be a part of me.

"Since I first came here, some things have changed." Twilight fluttered her wings and the audience laughed quietly.

"My friends have become stronger." Twilight smiled down at Fluttershy, in the front row, clutching her Discord plushie.

"Ponyville has become stronger." Twilight glanced at Applejack and Pinkie Pie, who winked back.

"I have become stronger, because of the wisdom, the caring and the friendship you have given me."

Twilight Sparkle stepped up to the edge of the stage. "I'm a little scared right now. What do these mean?" Twilight shook her wings. "What kind of princess will I be? Celestia and Luna are as different as, well, day and night. I have known Cadance since I was a filly, yet there is an ineffable aura of mystery about her that confounds me. In such illustrious company, who am I?

"May I ask a favor of you all? Please, in the new year, help me learn who I should be. Help me to become even stronger. Help me to be a good princess."

The audience was silent for a moment. Everypony looked at each other, thoughtfully.

Then, from the Princess's Booth, a voice exclaimed: "Wull, a 'course we'll help! Yer darn tootin', we will!"

The audience exploded with laughter. YER DARN TOOTIN', WE WILL! they cried as one. Of course, we'll help! Twilight! Princess Twilight!

Down in the orchestra pit, Octavia looked at little Sweetie Belle and her children's chorus. "Go on, dear," she encouraged. "Now's the time."

Octavia smiled. "Even in Canterlot, it's always like this. Ponies are just ponies. Go on. Princess Twilight, all of Ponyville, needs you now."

Sweetie Belle straightened her robe and stepped forward. She nodded to Apple Bloom, Pipsqueak and the other kids. She began to sing and soon the rest joined in, as, eventually, did the entire audience, cast and crew:

"The fire of friendship lives in our hearts
As long as it burns we cannot drift apart
Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few
Laughter and singing will see us through (will see us through)
We are a circle of pony friends
A circle of friends we'll be to the very end!"

Then there was laughter and hugs and some in the audience realized, joyfully, that Hearth's Warming Eve was not about some ancient characters in a silly play, but about themselves, right here, right now.

So, in the Ponyville Town Hall, the three tribes embraced. Laughed. And went out for warm muffins, strudel, sweet cider and cocoa.

"Was that authentic or what?" squealed Rainbow Dash. "I cast Discord as Discord! Top that, Canterlot Theatrical Society!"

Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle stood out on the steps of Ponyville Town Hall, under Luna's brilliant winter night and paused for a moment, just to breathe.

The happy crowds were gone. Miss Cheerilee had ordered her students to their homes. Big Macintosh had collected Granny Smith and his sisters, singing to them as they all plodded home. Derpy had gently asked Scootaloo to spend the night with her and her family and Scootaloo had agreed.

Rainbow Dash bounced gleefully and grinned. "Originally, I just wanted to do a re-telling of the Hearth's Warming Eve story, but with 20% more oomph. More heart. More drama. Y'know, like in the Daring Do books.

"But when I invited Fluttershy to audition for the play, Fluttershy told me she couldn't be in the play because she would be in the audience, escorting Discord! Discord had told her something about wanting to see the play so he could get caught up on 'current events.' (Discord is way old!)

"I think I know a show-off when I see one, Twilight, and Discord is a major show-off. The only thing he likes better than his goofy gags is an audience. I think that's why, although he's been pretty darn mean in the past, he hasn't physically hurt anypony. He needs ponies around to laugh at his jokes and to give him applause.

"If Discord had just been sitting in the audience, he would have become, I dunno, restless eventually and made a mess of things, just to get attention. So I brought him into the show and gave him a sweet part, so that he would want the play to succeed. This was the same trick that Daring Do used with the bad guy in The Skull of Yorick, if you recall.

"But I wanted it to be a surprise, a twist ending, right? Dunn Dunn Dunnn! So I stuck Star Swirl the Bearded into the play as the bad guy, so that all of you in the cast would think that he was the villain. Only me, Lyra, Minuette and Discord knew the truth.

"And I think Discord did great!" Rainbow Dash laughed, jumped up and did a barrel roll.

Princess Twilight Sparkle felt humble. She stepped forward and embraced Rainbow Dash. "Discord did great," she said. "You did great. You are both amazing."

Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight quizzically. "Um, duh! Rainbow Dash! Rhymes with awesome. Look it up!"

And they laughed together, then went back inside for warm apple fritters and hot cider.

The morning after the Hearth's Warming Eve pageant found Twilight Sparkle once more at a cozy table by the window in Sugar Cube Corner.

Derpy Hooves had already come and gone, clutching a big bag of muffins. She winked and laughed at Twilight Sparkle, before she leapt fearlessly into the winter sky. May the Sun shine warmly upon you and your family, my friend, thought Twilight.

Twilight heard the clatter of tiny hooves on the stairs. She looked up to see the toddler twins, Pound and Pumpkin Cake, tumbling into the room.

"Hee-he-he-he!" they both laughed as they charged across the bakery towards her.

"Now why are you two up so early, hmmm?" asked Twilight, collecting the two eager, bouncing children. "Come up here and sit by Auntie Twilight. That's right. Uh-oh! Somepony needs to blow his nose! Okay, here's a paper napkin. Big blow! Good! And another one! Good job! How are you doing, Pumpkin? You're fine? All right!

"Now, since you are both being so good, Auntie Twilight will give you both a treat." Twilight broke off two small morsels of her cinnamon bun and gave them to Pumpkin and Pound. The twins chortled happily as they munched.

Very slowly, so as not to startle them, Twilight Sparkle spread her wings and used them to draw the children close to her.

Pumpkin cooed with delight. Pound regarded Twilight's wings with awe. They both snuggled up against her, warm and safe.

That was how Carrot Cake found them: Twilight Sparkle quietly sipping her hot chocolate while his children peeped out from beneath the warm blanket of her wings.

"My apologies... Twilight," Carrot Cake said. "These little rascals are so rambunctious these days." He stood shaking his head ruefully at the twins.

"It's perfectly all right, Mister Cake," said Twilight. "It's wonderful to have a little visit with them."

Carrot Cake stared at his shoes for a moment, then stood up straight, squared his shoulders and said, "If it's all right, Twilight, I'd like to ask a favor. We've got a big catering order today. The new year, you understand. Pies, cakes and new bread. Me and the Missus and Pinkie will be awfully busy trying to fill it while also managing the store. It would be a big help if you could, maybe, look after the little ones for a few hours, this afternoon?"

Princess Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville looked up at Mister Carrot Cake and, from the bottom of her heart, she smiled.

Hearth's Warming Eve: A Princess Promenade

by Cloud Wander

Clover the Clever and the Heart of Fire