Hearth's Warming Helper - Lunaverse

by Talon and Thorn


Raindrops (Rixizu)

“How about a book?” Raindrops paced in her room trying to think. A skill she she didn’t consider herself adept at not being a very smart mare. This particular puzzle vexed her. What to get Cheerilee for Hearth Warming?

A book seemed too boring. It would be something Cheer would use once and forget about. Raindrop wanted to give her friend something practical that would have some everyday use. Or was she overthinking this and a single ornament would do?

All this thinking is pointless. I should just go out and get her whatever I think she would like. A straightforward plan, just how she liked it. Raindrops grabbed a black scarf, wrapped it around her neck and headed out into the town square.

A smile came to Raindrops as she soaked in the festive scene around her. Hearth Warming had always been her favorite part of the year. She adored Hearth Warming decorations. Their bright colors and glittering lights flashing around her always made her smile.

She walked past Hardware & Lingerie and considered if Cheerilee might need a new rake or shovel. The teacher like to garden, right? She wouldn't mind a gardening tool. No, that wouldn't work. Cheer probably had all the tools she could ever need and would return the stupid thing for store credit. That would be embarrassing. Lingerie was out of the question of course. What kind of friend gave that? It would also give the wrong impression.

How about a gift card? No, she couldn't do that. It was the most impersonal thing possible. Setting aside Hardware & Lingerie, for now, Raindrops moved on.

Raindrops passed several other stores and brightened when she spotted a shop with a sign that read antiques. How odd. Wasn’t this lot an old unused building the last time she’d seen it? Somepony must’ve finally moved it. The building had been empty for many years. Antiques would be a excellent shop to look through. Cheerilee loved history and old things so it was worth a browse at least. Raindrops bet it had all sorts of interesting things to buy. The door chimed with a bell as she entered.

“Greetings my lady.” The shopkeeper said from behind his counter. “How may I be assistance?”

“Just looking.” Raindrops looked around the shop boggled by the variety of objects on display.

It had more stuff than Raindrops expected and covered the room in a system of no particular order making it almost impossible to walk around. Many of the things here had to be at least a hundred years old. There was a shield that appeared to be from Commander Hurricane’s age. Some of these objects appeared to be from other lands and Raindrops spotted a tribal mask that had to be from Zebrica.

“Wait!” The shopkeeper yelled as Raindrops exited the shop.

"I can't afford anything here." Raindrops replied. Just with a glance, she could tell many of these objects had to be worth at least a few hundred bits.

“No, no.” The shopkeeper said. “Don't be so hasty my friend. I am sure we have many items well within your price range. Feel free to barter for none of these prices are fixed."

That’s a relief. Still, well, I suppose it won’t hurt to look around.

"Is there anything, in particular, you are interested in?" The shopkeeper asked.

The shopkeeper was a short plump earth pony stallion with an emerald green mane and burnt orange coat with a wild unkempt mane. What struck Raindrops the most was his piercing intelligent red eyes. They looked at her assessing her with an uncomfortable keenness.

“Just looking for a Hearth Warming gift for a friend.” Raindrops gave him a forced smile wondering if it was such a good idea to stay in here after all.

“Ah, just as I thought.” The shopkeeper replied. “I could tell when you entered here that you were lost looking for a gift for another. Worry not. I have just the thing for that special somepony. I am sure she will love it."

The shopkeeper left to look behind his counter leaving a confused Raindrops.

Wait, I didn’t mention I was shopping for a girl. No, I must have and don’t remember it. Yeah, that has to be it.

“Ah, here it is.” The shopkeeper returned with a box in his hooves made a rich dark wood. Inside was a small hoof mirror. It took Raindrops’ breath away.

Despite its obvious age, the mirror was something of beauty made of pure gold. The ring had floral designs carved into it and on the top was a proud and shining sun that bought light and warm to all it touched. Raindrops looked at her reflection mesmerized. She stared at herself for several long moments. Did she always look this good? Her mane looked like the best stylist in the world had designed it.

“Do you like it?” The shopkeeper asked.

It took a minute for Raindrops to answer. “Uh, yeah.”

“Truly captivating isn’t it?” The shopkeeper grinned. “It brings the beauty out of anypony that looks into it.”

"I can't afford this." Raindrops said dejectedly. It took an effort to pull herself away from her reflection.

“Nonsense, my friend.” The shopkeeper replied. “You see it is made of gold, yes. These days, it is considered a worthless metal out of fear and hatred of the Sun Princess. A silly superstition. I find it hard to give away items made of gold. The price will be a minimal one I assure you.”

“Still…”

“How does 30 bits as an opening asking price sound?”

She could afford that especially if she could get the price down a little and Raindrops knew Cheerilee would love this mirror and it appealed to Raindrops' sensibilities. It was a simple and practical item Cheer wouldn't throw away or forget about in a week or so.

“15 bits and no higher than that.” Raindrops said.

“15? Ha! You insult me, friend! 27 bits.”

They argued for 20 minutes and they eventually agreed upon 19 bits for the mirror and the shopkeeper even throw in gift wrapping for free. Raindrops waved the stallion goodbye as she exited the shop. A sudden urge to tear open the package and take the mirror for herself hit her causing her to stumble. Raindrops shook her head and pushed the gift out of her mind. It wasn’t hers to take. What was she thinking?

Raindrops raised an eyebrow when stallions and a few mares turned their gaze towards her as if a supermodel walked among them. It was a strange feeling. Most ponies avoided her and Raindrops blushed from the attention.

“Excuse me miss.” A stallion said as he approached. He was a pegasus with a strong lean body obviously a trained and skill flier that used his skills for more than just getting from place to place.

“Sorry, I have to go to work soon!” Raindrops flew away from the street embarrassed and mentally kicked herself when she flew down on her doorstep.

Stupid, why did I do that? The attention threw her off balance and she didn’t like that.

Raindrops walked into her house and trotted back to her room. She passed a bathroom mirror and froze. Dull and gray. That was how she appeared in the mirror. Ugly too and Raindrops had to turn away in disgust. Was that how she looked? She thought back to the hoof mirror and remembered how it showed a pony that sparkled and was full of life not anything like that boring lying mirror in her bathroom. Again, the urge to tear open her gift and take that wonderful beautiful mirror for herself tempted her. Why shouldn’t she own it? It showed everypony the true beautiful that she really was unlike that ugly filthy pony that showed up in her bathroom mirror. There was an almost irresistible desire to smash that lying mirror that dared showed that filthy lie and her face contorted into a snarl.

No, that would be silly. It’s just a mirror. Just ignore it, and its lies!

She went into her room and locked it and held the package in her hooves stroking it lovingly. She didn't have to tear open the package per se and only take off the tape holding it shut and put it back later. Cheer would never know. She would kill for just another peek into that wonderful golden hoof mirror.

No, it’s a gift for Cheerilee. It wouldn’t be right!

Her hooves shaking, Raindrops placed the gift on her nightstand and froze as she looked into yet again another false reflection. Her nightstand mirror lied to her too showing her a truly disgusting pony. How could anypony bear a face like that? It was a good thing that wasn’t her real face. Why was it that only the hoof mirror showed the truth and every other mirror lied to her? She stroked the package again unable to help herself. Would she be stuck looking into fake reflections her entire life and only this one hoof mirror able to tell her the truth? Why not take it for herself? She used her own money to buy it. It should be hers. Nopony was around so who would know? Then she could spend hours and hours and hours looking at her wonderful beautiful face. Everypony would love and admire her no matter how she dressed her hair or how old she got. She deserved it after being scorned by others for being scary her whole life.

That Cheerilee didn’t deserve this mirror. How dare that repulsive mare think she could take the mirror away from her? And that mare called herself a friend? Lies! She just wanted the mirror for herself! If Cheerilee got within ten hooves of her precious mirror, Raindrops promised there wouldn’t be much left of the teacher after Raindrops finished with her.

Raindrops looked up again and stared at her reflection in her nightstand’s mirror. What was that thing looking back at her? So much anger. The thing looked back at her enjoyed hurting ponies. Selfish and vain and it only cared about itself.

Is this my face?

No, it couldn’t be. She was beautiful beyond words and yet… The face in the nightstand haunted her. She didn’t want to be that pony. She loved her friend. No, everypony. She didn’t want to be that twisted pony. Why did the mirror show her that face? It wasn’t her face, was it? That face wanted to hurt Cheerilee somepony Raindrops loved and admired. It couldn’t be her. It couldn’t be her.

Raindrops put her face into her hooves. What was going on? What was wrong with her? She didn't want to hurt Cheer, but a voice in her told her she should and protect her new hoof mirror.

No! No! No! Raindrops refused to hurt Cheerilee or anypony else. Why would she ever do such a thing? To protect a hoof mirror? That made no sense. Her mind flashed to the wonderful dazzling face in the hoof mirror, then back to the ugly repulsive face back in the bathroom mirror.

Mirrors didn’t lie. Which was her true face? Was she beautiful or ugly? Her mind drifted back to the face that hated and wanted to hurt the ponies she cared about. All to protect a silly little hoof mirror.

Who cares if I am beautiful or ugly. That mirror isn’t worth it. Not if it means hurting my friends!

Raindrops grabbed the package and threw it to the ground. There was a satisfying crack when she smashed it with her hoof. The package had been crushed in two. Shards of glass could be heard in the box. Raindrops breathed in and out her mind clearing. When she looked into her nightstand’s mirror, she saw herself and nothing more. Just plain old boring Raindrops. Good, just how things should be.

What was that thing? Raindrops shook her head deciding it didn’t matter. She wanted it gone and the broken package made a satisfying crunch as it landed in the garbage bin.

She stomped over the antique shop to give the shopkeeper a piece of her mind for selling her a dangerous magical item without warning her first. Just one look into that mirror made her loopy. Who knew what it would have done to Cheer if she kept it and used it everyday? When Raindrops got there, however, the store was gone and back to the empty lot it was before. There was no sign of it ever being occupied with a thick coat of dust layering everything.

Raindrops was annoyed, but was glad he was gone. If that shopkeeper knew what was good for him, he’d never show his face in this town again. A sudden thought struck her.

Wait, now, what am I going to give Cheer? Ah, I've got it!

“May I help you, mam?” The Clerk at Hardware & Lingerie asked.

“May I have a 20 bit gift card please?” Raindrops asked. Sure, it was a little impersonal, but it would allow Cheer to get whatever she wanted and there was nothing wrong with that. Hearth Warming was about showing your loved ones you cared and a gift card was as good as any other gift.