Twas the evening before Hearth's Warming and all through Equestria, everypony was enjoying the holiday season. From Fillydelphia to Manehatten, Neightucket to Ponyville, every city, town and village was decorated to the nines with lights, garland, and tinsel. Every town square had a lighted tree topped with a magnificent star, and nearly every door had an evergreen wreath with a big red velvet bow. Every radio could be heard playing a non-stop stream of Equestrian Holiday carols. Even the griffins and minotaurs were celebrating the holiday in their own ways.
But as beautifully decorated any of the cities were, none of them came close the the absolute wonder of Canterlot! It was as if the city was made to be decorated for the holiday. Lights and garland outlined nearly every wall, house and storefront. Images of Flurry the Snowmare and Santa Hooves were everywhere. The air was full of the sounds of carolers, ringing bells and laughing foals as they played in the freshly fallen snow. Ponies rushed from store to store gathering supplies for the parties and feasts they were planing. The smell of cakes and pies were absolutely everywhere!
And if you think the city of Canterlot was beautiful, you should see the castle!
Nowhere was such a sight as Canterlot castle during the Hearth Warming season, with nearly every inch decorated in some form. Decorated trees occupied nearly every room and hallway, boughs of holly and ivy hung on nearly every surface giving some rooms the feel of a whole forest. Magnificent candles were lit all over the place making shadows dance across the walls as if they were doing a never ending waltz.
To say the residents of the castle were excited for the upcoming holiday would be an understatement. The employees rushed from room to room making final preparations for the next day as the royal guards donned their colorful holiday armor. No one seemed too have a reason to not be merry as the the holiday loomed closer by the hour.
Even the royals were enjoying the joyous feeling the holiday season brought. But while Celestia preferred to celebrate in a more traditional way (Caroling, Decorating the castle and preparing for the upcoming gratitude feast for her employees), Luna tended to celebrate her own special way (Spiking the eggnog and hanging around the stallion's locker room wearing a headband that dangled a sprig of mistletoe in front of her).
However, there was one place in Equestria that was devoid of decorations and holiday cheer. It belonged to the only pony to dislike the beloved time of the year, and it is about this certain royal pony that the following story is about.