Everyone who lived in Ponyville loved Hearths Warming a whole awful lot
But I know of one man who did not
This man wore a long coat, had red and yellow eyes and was tall
His name was Discord, and the reason he hated Hearths Warming, the most likely reason of all
Was that his heart was...
"Well he didn't have one"
"But everyone has a heart Applejack," a little girl with a mess of red hair on her head said looking confused.
"Not Discord, Apple Bloom," Applejack said lifting her up and putting her back into bed giving her her toy bunny which Rarity made for her last year.
"Maybe he has one, but nobody knows it, because he never uses it?" Apple Bloom suggested trying to stay awake to keep up this argument.
"Well maybe," Applejack said making sure she wont roll over and fall out of bed. "But after that show at Easter last year, I doubt it." she said remembering how the man went around and found all the eggs before daybreak, after the parents had set them the night before, so there was none for the kids in the morning.
After saying that Applejack kissed her little sister on the head and went over to the door.
"Night Sugercube," she said smiling "See you tomorrow."
"Night sis," Apple Bloom said rolling over a thoughtful look on her face, thinking hard about what Applejack had just said and what she could do about it.
"Granny? What can I get for someone who doesn't like Hearths Warming?" Apple Bloom asked the next morning as she and her family were having their breakfast.
"Now why are you asking that for honey?" Granny Smith asked looking over to her youngest granddaughter.
"Well I... Err...," Apple Bloom said trying not to look into anyone's curious eyes "I have a friend who doesn't like Hearths Warming," Apple Bloom began, moving her cereal around in her bowl "But I think that he only hates it is because he's never gotten a present from anyone because he seems scary and mean to most people, and he's always been on Santa's 'Naughty List'. So I want to get him something to get him to start liking it." she concluded smiling bright.
"Do I know these friends of yours?" Granny asked going over all the friends Apple Bloom had trying to label one to the description she had just gave her.
"Not exactly," Apple Bloom said still not looking into her older sibling's eyes nervous about what she'd see if she looked. "He's... new... and um... likes his privacy so he doesn't come over often and keeps his addresses to themselves," she says giving a quick glance at Applejack and Big Mac seeing AJ finally placing the puzzle together.
"Why would you want to get Discord a present Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked as Grenny went to answer the phone "He tried to ruin last Easter remember? That guy does not deserve anything around this time of year but a giant heap of coal. Right Big Mac?"
"Yep," Big Mac said nodding agreeing with AJ but proud that Bloom was thinking like this.
"Because you said that he has no heart," Apple Bloom explained accusing her sister "But we've always been told that everyone has, so I think his is lost somewhere because he never uses it. So I think that if I get him something he might like it."
"But Sugercube," Applejack said in a 'try-to-understand' voice. "What can you get for the 'Lord of Chaos' as a Hearths Warming gift?" she asked using Discord's title he earned a few years ago when he came to Ponyville because of his pranks "Hearth Warming is about love, happiness, light, warmth... Everything that he isn't."
"I don't know," Apple Bloom said pushing away her bowl and getting down "But I will get him something. Somehow..."
"Ok so let me get this right honey," Granny Smith said as they were going around the supermarket together that afternoon "You want to get this friend of yours who doesn't like Hearths Warming a gift, but you don't know what he would like... But you know he likes being alone, pranks, sometimes scaring people, and being noticed?"
"Uh huh," Apple Bloom said looking at all the stuff on the shelves but not seeing anything that she thought Discord would like.
Just then a staff member walked by whistling to the Christmas music that was being played over the shops speakers.
"Excuse me dear," Granny Smith said getting her attention.
"May I help you Ma'am?" she said a smile on her face.
"I was wondering if you still had anything left from April Foals Day or Nightmare Night," Granny Smith said "You see my granddaughter wants to get a gift for someone for Hearths Warming, but says he likes pranks and scaring people more than all... This." she said looking around her.
"I'm not sure that we do Ma'am," the staff member said carefully looking to Apple Bloom who was playing with a stuffed reindeer she just pulled off the shelf. "I'm not meant to do this, but I can show you to where we keep them so you can have a look... But It's mostly costumes, props, and sweets, and pranking supplies that didn't get sold."
"Can she at least have a rummage to see if she can find something?" Granny asked kindly.
Nodding the staff member lead Apple Bloom and Granny Smith to the back of the store, and into the storage rooms, going to the Nightmare Night corner saying the April Foals Day stuff was just a short walk from it.
"Go on," Granny Smith said to Apple Bloom, pushing her forward "See if you can find something, but be careful and leave everything how you found it ok?"
"Ok," Apple Bloom said going straight to the prop box.
After ten minutes of going through the stuff, finding candy bags, jack-o-lanterns, broomsticks, fake spiders, witches hats, devil horns, light up skulls and vampire fangs, Apple Bloom deduced that there was nothing there that Discord would like.
As she was putting away the last broomstick she thought of checking the April Foals Day stuff she heard a cat meow.
Worried that there was a cat inside the walls of this place Apple Bloom went to seek it out so she could lead Granny and that nice lady to it so they could help it.
"Hello?" Apple Bloom called looking around not hearing the cat anymore.
"Hello Apple Bloom," someone said making her spin to see a girl about her age, with an orange dress, pink and white leggins, old fashioned buckled shoes, a witches hat set on top of her purple and white hair and a broomstick in her hand and a black cat by her feet.
"Who are you?" Apple Bloom asked eyes wide, a smile on her face, never seeing this girl before or noticing her com in.
"I am the ghost of Nightmare Night past..." the girl said in a spooky voice "And present and future. My name's Screwball, nice to meet you."
Laughing at how funny this girl was Apple Bloom shook her hand.
"So..." Screwball said choosing to sit down next to Apple Bloom, Shooty her cat coming up onto her lap "Why, oh why are you looking though Nightmare Night things at Hearths Warming? Not that I don't mind, seeing that it's nice to see the stuff be used for more than one night a year. I'm just wondering?"
Taking a deep breath Apple Bloom explained.
"I'm looking for a gift I can get for Discord for Hearths Warming, because I think that that's why he hates it so much, because he's never gotten one, because he's always a big mean-meanie-pants, and picking on people. But I can't think on what to get for him, or find anything I think he'll like."
"Well..." Screwball said holding her chin a thinking look on her face, looking a bit older than she was "Most of the time when it's something like this, the person in question just needs a friend or just any show of love. Not everything at Hearths Warming needs to be put into and wrapped up in a box Apple Bloom."
"You mean you think I should do this?" Apple Bloom asked a smile on her face "Because everyone else, except for my granny and maybe big brother... says I should just leave it and that he doesn't deserve a gift."
"Everyone deserves a gift at Hearths Warming Apple Bloom," Screwball said smiling "Even I know that and it's not even the holiday I celebrate, I celebrate Kwanzaa."
"But if it's not in a box, how can I give it to him," Apple Bloom asked thinking "I don't know where he lives to go over to give it to him."
"Humm... Tough one." Screwball said agreeing "Well I know where he lives, but I'm not really going to be free to take you to him on the day in question... Seeing how uptight your sister is about this I'm guessing she knows where he lives, but I doubt that she'll take you there... I think the best one to turn to is Fluttershy."
"Why?" Apple Bloom asked wondering confused as how the shyest of her sister's friends would be the best bet to go see this man who has such a bad reputation to the people of Ponyville.
"I heard somewhere that he has a soft spot for her..." Screwball began then looking around said "They write each other letters... But don't tell anyone. Now I think you should be getting back to your Granny I'll be out after I get out of all this don't bother waiting."
"Ok," Apple Bloom said getting up and thanking Screwball for her advice, before running back out of the room to Granny Smith.
"Couldn't find anything then honey?" Granny Smith asked as they set off again around the shop.
"No, but I think I know what to get him now," Apple Bloom said smiling "I just need to work out how to give it to him."
"Well what ever the solution is dear," her grandmother said "I'd like to say I am right proud of you for doing this. Everyone deserves a gift at Hearths Warming."
That night Apple Bloom carefully wrote out a letter and drew a butterfly onto it once it was folded up and placed it on her bedside table saying she'll deliver it to Fluttershy tomorrow.
Once she was happy with it and opened the window a bit to let some air in, she climbed into bed and drifted off to sleep.*
Outside a black cat was walking along the roof tiles till it got to the little girls room.
Seeing the open window it went in and over to the girl. Seeing she was asleep and the note on the table next to the bed, it went back out and over to it's friend who welcomed it back smiling as she looked up to the room.
This year her daddy was finally going be happy on Hearths Warming, she could feel it.
The next morning, after breakfast, Apple Bloom asked if Big Mac could drive her to Fluttershy's saying she had a note she needed to deliver and saying she was asking him because it was revolved around the whole Discord thing so she didn't think AJ would do it.
After ten minutes in the truck, the journey taking so long because of all the snow on the roads, they were outside Fluttershy's cottage, smoke being seen coming out of the chimney.
"Well what you waiting for Lil Sis," Mac said gesturing to the cottage smiling "You going to deliver that note and ask for help or are you going to go with what AJ says and leave it be?"
Making a determined face Apple Bloom undid her seat-belt and got out the truck.
Not sure she should knock or not, Apple Bloom just slipped the letter into the letter box and went back to the truck.
"You think it will work Mac?" she asked after doing the seat-belt back up.
"Don't know Bloom," he said reversing out back onto the road and driving away "But stuff like this is always worth a shot."
Back inside the cottage, a little white rabbit was just hopping over to see what came in through the door and saw it was a note with Fluttershy's symbol, a butterfly, on it saying it was for her.
After carefully collecting it up, he hopped into the kitchen where she was making breakfast for all her animal friends who were still awake and with her, and herself too.
"Hello Bunny," she said a smile on her face as she bent down to be closer to the rabbit "What's that you got?" she asked seeing and taking the note off him and began to read.
'To Fluttershy,
This is just Apple Bloom saying, I'd like to give someone a present for Hearths Warming but I don't no where he lives...
Today I met someone called Screwball who said I should ask you.
His name's Discord.
And I want to do this because I think other wise he wont get anything.
Can you help?
Apple Bloom.'
"Oh my..." she said quietly to herself.
After giving everyone their breakfast's and having something quick herself, she put on her winter outfit, and ventured out to try and get some more explanations for why Apple Bloom wanted to do this.
When Fluttershy got to the apple farm, she looked around looking for any signs of the twelve year old girl finally seeing her and her friends out in the front garden making snowmen.
"Apple Bloom," Fluttershy called making the girls turn to her "Hello girls, you mind if it talk to Apple Bloom for a bit please," she said to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle who were fine with it and went off to ask Mac of AJ if they can go sledging "I got your note about you and Discord," she began leading them to the porch and sat down. "And I'm just here to ask for a better explanation on why would you want to do this, and why do you need my help?"
Looking town to her hands twiddling her thumbs, Apple Bloom began telling Fluttershy why.
"I... I want to get him something for Hearths Warming, because Applejack said other night that Discord doesn't like it. But I think its because he never got anything." She shifted her glance to look Fluttershy in the eye "Then yesterday when I was with Granny at the shops I met someone called Screwball who agreed with me that I should do it. She said 'Everyone deserves a gift at Hearths Warming'. And I think I know what to give him now... But I don't know how to give it to him, because I don't know where he lives. So she said ask you."
After hearing why Apple Bloom wanted to do this, not noticing a tear fall from her eye because of all the kindness this girl was giving off, Fluttershy sighed and said "Apple Bloom... although I, slightly, agree with you and Screwball," she began slowly "Applejack wouldn't like it very much if she found out I told you where to find Discord."
"But then he wont get a gift for Hearths Warming..." Apple Bloom said making her eyes grow wider and her lip tremble.
"Fine," she said getting shocked with the hug she received afterwards "But you can only let this be between us, which means no telling anyone else. And when we go, you are to stay with me at all times apart from when you're giving him your presents. Pinkie Promise me that Apple Bloom. Ok?" she asked, sounding more brave than Bloom had ever heard her, holding out her right hand pinkie hooking it with Apple Bloom's.
"Ok, so no doubt Rainbow Dash and the others will get the town into a giant snowball fight," Fluttershy said thinking "So we'll use it to your advantage and go see Discord then. That seem alright?"
"Ok," Apple Bloom said smiling as she thanked and hugged Fluttershy again and ran off to find her friends.
Back on the porch Fluttershy was just getting up ready to go home, when the door opened and she saw Mac was there.
"If you saw or heard what we're planning Big Mac," she began looking away from his eyes and hiding behind her hair "I promise I'll look after her, and make sure Discord doesn't do anything to her. But either way please don't tell anyone. Please."
"As long as my Lil Sis comes back home in one piece and there's not a scratch on her Miss Fluttershy," Mac said smiling and lifting her chin so she can look to him "I trust you to do this, and I won't say anything."
Hearths Warming Day.
It had been a week now since Apple Bloom had thought of getting Discord a gift, but even after so long she was still determined to do it.
After opening her own presents and helping Applejack and Mac with theirs, they got dressed, put on hats, scarfs, and gloves and ran outside to get a head start in making snowballs for the fight Rainbow Dash told everybody would start at high noon.
The lower part of town verses the higher part of town.
As the clocks neared twelve o'clock all of Ponyville was outside poised and ready with their snowballs setting their targets.
Then the countdown began.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. FIRE!" they all cried and started throwing the snowballs.
Being careful not to get hit or noticed, Apple Bloom sneaked away and went into the woods to where Fluttershy said to meet her.
"Fluttershy?" Apple Bloom whispered looking around a bit scared being out here on her own loosing the sound of the snowball fight and began hearing strange noises.
Shaking her head to get them out of her mind, she called a little louder.
"Fluttershy?"
"There you are Apple Bloom," she heard someone say scared that she had been caught but letting out her breath when she saw it was who she was looking for.
Running up to her Apple Bloom smiled.
"So got your gift for Discord?" Fluttershy asked not seeing anything extra that Apple Bloom had.
"Yep," the girl said a big grin on her face.
"Ok. Now remember apart from when you're giving that to him, you're to stay with me at all times, got it?" she asked.
"Yep." Apple Bloom replied grabbing the woman's hand "Come on..." she said tugging on to Fluttershy's arm, eager to do this, who gripped it back and began to lead her through the woods to where Discord lived.
*Back with the snowball fight*
Applejack had just thrown her last snowball and held out her hand behind her expecting her sister to be there to give her another one.
But nothing came.
Confused, Applejack ducked down behind the wall, the side had built and looked around for Apple Bloom, seeing her foot prints in the snow lead to the woods.
Knowing it would put her team in jeopardy if she went off after her seeing he was the best fighter, but knowing how much trouble the girl can get herself in Applejack was about to go after her when she felt a strong hand on her shoulder
"What's wrong sis?" Mac asked confused as to why the best snowball fighter, would be taking so long to reload on snowballs.
"Apple Bloom's missing Mac," Applejack said getting straight to the point.
"Well when did you last see her?" Mac asked looking around and seeing the foot prints too.
"Right before the snowball fight started." Applejack explained "As I was looking for her I saw her boot prints heading off to the forest."
"I'll find her AJ," Mac said getting up "Now get back in there or we'll lose."
"Aye aye sir," Applejack said saluting her brother and started making more balls and firing them as she got a small pile by her side.
After waiting a bit to see if she and the team were alright, Mac started to follow Apple Bloom's prints leading him into the woods smiling when he saw a second set of prints.
Following them Mac came eventually came to an old wooden house that looked too simple for 'The Lord of Chaos' but since the footprints were leading up to it followed them up to the door and knocked a few times.
After a bit the door opened, but it wasn't Discord who answered the door, nor was it Fluttershy or his sister...
Apple Bloom and Fluttershy were just walking into the study at the table a man with grey hair with a streak of black, and a beard, wearing a brown woolen jumper, green jeans, and brown shoes was planning next years pranking calendar.
"Ahem..." Fluttershy called out gently rubbing the back of Apple Bloom's hand to calm her down.
"Fluttershy?" Discord said looking up smiling a bit getting up and out from behind the desk "What are you doing here?"
Then he saw the little girl hiding behind his friend.
"You know I don't take well for uninvited guests Fluttershy." he said eyes aimed to Apple Bloom.
"Would you if she has a Hearths Warming present?" Fluttershy asked folding her arms and standing tall, a gentle smile on her face.
"Now what present would anyone give me for Hearths Warming ?" Discord asked with a look on his face saying 'I thought you were smarter than this.'
"I don't know," she said shrugging "Apple Bloom's the one who has it. Whatever it is. Not me..."
Both set's of eyes turned to the twelve year-old behind Fluttershy.
"Well you going to give it to me or not?" Discord asked thinking of the perfect prank to give this girl for wasting his time, sometime in the next few days.
Slowly Apple Bloom came out from behind Fluttershy and started walking up to Discord.
Finally she was right in front of him looking up at him. Blushing a bit she motioned for him to get on his knees so she could whisper something in his ear.
Rolling his eyes Discord did what the child wanted.
'Happy Hearths Warming Discord'
With that said Apple Bloom flung her arms around the man's neck smiling.
Stunned slightly and confused on what was happening, Discord slowly wrapped his arms around the child and hid his face into her shoulder and they stayed like that for at least three minutes.
'And then what happened then? Well in Ponyville they say
Discord's small heart grew three sizes that day'
A child's voice said over at the door making everyone jump and Apple Bloom and Discord broke apart.
"Screwball can't you see I'm busy?" Discord said getting up and his glare back on his face looking over at the girl now in a pink dress with odd colored leggings (one side was bright pink and black the other was dark pink and purple) and a beanie-propeller hat, Big Macintosh next to her and an unknown small camera in her dress' pocket
"I was just seeing if the advice I gave to Apple Bloom helped Daddy," Screwball said shrugging smiling.
"Wait... Discord's you're dad?" Apple Bloom asked "Then why did you get me to ask Fluttershy to ask her to bring me to him?"
"It was my gift to him," Screwball said grinning nodding to Fluttershy "Because of the reputation he has, Daddy can't really just go into town and ask Miss Fluttershy on a date can he? So I set it so she comes here for him and then he can ask her then. And if not too bad because Hearths Warming Dinner's nearly ready..."
With that she grabbed the Apple's hands and ran out of the room to leave them some privacy, promising herself to show the video to all her friends tomorrow.
After Scewball and the Apple's were gone, Discord and Fluttershy there there was a bit of awkward silence.
"You're... You're spilling some liquid pride there Discord," Fluttershy said smiling a little.
"No I'm not," Discord said rubbing at his face. "I am the Master of Chaos and I do not cry."
"Hmm If you say so," Fluttershy said smirking welcoming Shooty as he came in and over to her. "So you going to spend this year alone or do you want some company?" she asked.
"I think..." Discord said thinking looking to where his daughter and the apple farmers had left "I think I'll like you to stay for a bit Fluttershy. So you can tell me later if that happened or not, though I'm sure Screwy will be more than welcome to show me herself with that stupid camera I ordered for her." he said mentally slapping himself for that "I'm afraid I don't have anything to give to you or what ever else is needed to celebrate this holiday."
"Discord," Fluttershy said turning to look at him "Hearths Warming isn't something you buy in a store. Hearths Warming is a time to be with family and friends and loved ones. So... as long as I'm with you and you're happy," she said looking up to her fathers face "So am I."
"Thanks Fluttershy," Discord said smile too then smirked and said "But presents make it that tiny bit better don't they?"
Just getting a giggle and a roll of the eyes from the girl.
"So you guys staying?" Screwball asked as she checked on the Hearths Warming dinner - turkey, stuffing, roasted potatoes, the vegetables, and the roast beef.
"We'd love to Screwball," Mac said smiling his little sister on his back in a piggy-back style "But if we're gone too long then our friends and family are going to get worried."
"Ok, take these though will you then?" she asked giving each sibling a small paper bag. "A slice of cake each and a cracker to share and lolly-pops and some chocolate bars," she explained beaming her eyes wide.
"Thanks Screwball," the siblings said smiling and waving as the left, making it through the forest and coming out by the silo of their farm quickly getting inside and putting their bags in their rooms before heading back into the forest and then coming out by the town's entrance to the forest where the snowball fight had just finished.
Mac and Apple Bloom were just finding Applejack and her friends (minus Fluttershy), and Spike, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle the snowball fight ended, over the pond all carrying skates.
"Hey guys," Mac said waving to them. "So who won the snowball fight?"
"We did of course," they cried.
"That's why we're here," Rainbow Dash said first.
"As a celebrate/congratulate type of thing," Scootaloo continued.
"We were just about to make absolutely sure that the ice was thick enough," Applejack said placing on her skates then looking to the two "Where have you been anyway?" she said more to Apple Bloom "Do you have any idea how worried I was when I saw you weren't there behind me anymore and your foot prints going to the forest?"
"Sorry AJ," Apple Bloom said putting on her own skates but was having trouble tying them up eventually holding out her leg asking Mac to do it.
"It doesn't matter where she was AJ," Mac said kneeling down to answer to her request. "You can take it from me that nothing bad happened."
"Alright... But you should at least tell someone next time you do something like that Sugercube," Applejack said to her sister "What if something happened and we had no idea where you were?"
"Oh let it go darling," Rarity said skating over to her wearing an ice-skater's dress that was twinkling in the afternoon sun "It's Hearths Warming, you can be hard on her tomorrow, for today, let's just have some fun."
"I promise to always tell you when I go see them Mac," Apple Bloom said quietly after Applejack was up and skating with her friends.
"Good," Mac said smiling placing his putting his on pair of ice skates, strangely having more balance than Bloom thought he'd have. "Now lets see if I can teach you how to skate better than I did with AJ when she was you're age..." with that they took each others hands and began their skating lesson both smiling and laughing when one or the other or anyone else slipped and fell, feeling that this Hearths Warming just had to be the best one there has ever been.
The End