Snowfall Frost’s eyes flew open, the stroke of one startling her awake. Remembering her expected visitor, she rose at once, eyeing her clock as it began moving into the first few precious seconds of one in the morning.
She moved to her window, expecting to see another apparition greet her past the pane, sighing in what was almost alleviation. Her fear shot through her once again at the sound of a joyous, bubbly giggle. She faced her room, finding nothing out of the ordinary.
Another snigger brought her attention to her bedchamber door, and she noticed under the jam a radiant light beaming into her otherwise darkened room.
Another peal of laughter came from somewhere outside, and Snowfall knew deep within herself that the visitor—the second Spirit, no doubt—would not leave until its task had been completed.
Snowfall pushed out a sigh, pulling up whatever preparedness she had within her—which felt like little to none, mind you—and approached her door.
It groaned with the likeness of a pony rising from the dead, and Snowfall heard the laughter only get louder now that there was no longer a barrier between her and her visitor.
The light radiating from the first floor of her house lit up the walls in a way Snowfall was unfamiliar with; and she found herself marveling for a moment at the color of the walls in this newfound illumination.
There was another joyful peel of laughter, a whooping holler, and then her visitor called up to her:
“Come on down, silly! Don'tcha wanna see all the decorations?”
Snowfall had to fight down the smile trying to work its way into her face, the voice calling out to her containing so much joy in the invitation she had to physically keep herself from expressing any outward notion to having received the contagion. Still, she pulled herself to the staircase, each candle alight and adorning their sconces with a wonderful flickering light that exuded a warmth from every cranny.
The laughter picked up again as she began her descent, eyeing the garland and holly that now embellished her staircase. Thick red ribbon intertwined with the green swooping and falling perfectly into place. Snowfall briefly wondered how long the Spirit had been in her house unbeknownst to herself to have the time to lay out the decorations so meticulously.
Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, she paused at the sight before her.
Wrapped boxes of all shapes and sizes were piled one on top of the other in the center of the foyer. Intermingled with the gifts were bowls of punch and dishes cakes, pies, and puddings of all flavors, styles, and combinations. Sitting atop the pile, which stood nearly ten meters high, was a bright pink earth pony twirling about in the light she seemed to exude.
The earth pony sang out a note, leaping without looking from her precarious stage and sliding down the mountain she had apparently made, stopping muzzle-to-muzzle in front of Snowfall Frost.
“Hiya, there, Frosty!”
Snowfall Frost took a startled step back, scrambling to compose herself. “Am…am I speaking to the Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Present?”
“You betcha!” the Spirit chirped, erupting once more in a laugh as she danced around the room, her fuzzy yellow robe swishing about as if it were made of the winter wind, tied to her waist with a belt with candy cane stripes. A crown of blue cotton candy adorned her brow, speckled with an assortment of candies.
As the Spirit completed a lap around the pile, Snowfall cleared her throat. “Are you here to show me different places where Hearth’s Warming abounds in the hearts of ponies today?” she asked, attempting to bring focus to the seemingly distracted Spirit.
“Correctamundo!” the Spirit sang, throwing her forelegs out wide, voice trilling and filling the cavernous foyer, echoing to the farthest corner of Snowfall’s house and ringing back with the timbre of church bells.
Snowfall swallowed, intimidated by the Spirit’s never-ending jubilance. As if sensing such emotions, the Spirit gave another hearty chortle. “No need to be scared, silly! You wanna see the magic of the present Hearth’s Warming, dontcha?”
“Em…if that is what you are meant to show me tonight, then I…suppose?”
The Spirit paused a moment, before a tiny giggle shook her shoulders, twinging her mouth upwards in a grin. The little airy shaking hitched, suddenly multiplying tenfold in a laugh that threatened to shake the earth. All at once, the Spirit beamed at Snowfall, grabbing her shoulders.
“Let’s take a look at everything you’re missing out on by locking yourself away, hmm?”
She was not allowed the chance to respond. Snowfall was turned around, hooves unmoving as the world warped around her, stretching and speeding around her, Snowfall and the Spirit moving out her door and onto the lit streets of the town.
They stopped, the world morphing side-to-side now instead of front-to-back. Snowfall watched with slackened jaw as the flustering lights inside the street lamps suddenly sped up, their own internal dances whipping about madly as if shaken by a rambunctious foal. The sky grew lighter faster than Snowfall had ever seen it, and within the span of a minute, the sun breached the horizon, and sent a wondrous light down upon the little town.
The world snapped back into focus, and the Spirit laughed joyfully, dancing about the intermingling ponies walking up and down the street in the light of midday. Snowfall observed every face, finding joy on each one. Carolers filled the air with joyful choruses as others passed, some humming along, others simply smiling at the iconic sounds of Hearth’s Warming. Friends met each other in hugs and happy shouts, merrily wishing each other a Happy Hearth’s Warming before they went about their way again.
Snowfall was pulled along with the Spirit, the two passing the bakery. Inside was a line of ponies so long that a few had the unfortunate experience of having to stand outdoors while orders were filled and passed over the counter.
“Spirit,” Snowfall inquired, “if this holiday is so sacred, why must they continue to work while everypony else does not?”
The Spirit glanced at Snowfall. “Just because today is a holiday doesn’t mean ponies still don’t need things, especially food.” She guided Snowfall’s head so she saw deeper into the bakery. “But look. See how happy the baker and his family is? They’ve turned today into a special day, too.”
“But…why?”
“Because they get to give ponies something special on the most special day of the year: a warm meal.”
Snowfall’s eyes drifted from the warm smiles of the baker, his wife, and their children to the line of ponies standing in wait. Each had rugged clothing, many years old and many in need of a few patches. Even so, each face wore a smile, each voice exuded joy when wishing the family a Happy Hearth’s Warming.
The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Present gave a hearty chuckle. “And they sure are happy to receive it, too.” She steered Snowfall away from the bakery. “Come on, let’s get to the biggest party in town.”
“What? But that won’t happen until tonight.”
Another giggle. “Well, then I guess we’ll just have to hurry on over.”
This time, the Spirit simply trotted away, singing her own tune and weaving around the ponies of the crowd smoother than a fish in a river. Snowfall attempted to follow in the same manner, until she nearly bumped into a pony—whereupon she realized everypony would simply pass through her—and promptly caught up.
As the two trotted, each step seemed to change the world around them. Ponies appeared to move twice, then thrice as fast as the two walking past them. Snowfall watched blurred grins and voiceless shouts pass her by, ponies leaping from the sidewalk and sliding across black ice. The sky seemed to warp and bob, the sun’s rays breaking through the clouds once or twice before disappearing once again.
The little town darkened, the sun moving steadily fast above the clouds, dusk approaching, then passing, as the town was plunged into the warm darkness of evening.
Snowfall, having marveled at the spectacle of the sky, did not notice the two had arrived at their destination until the Spirit spoke once again.
“Here we a-are!” the Spirit sang, gesturing widely at the large entrance to the foyer of town hall.
Snowfall Frost peered through the glow of the interior lights, spying nearly every pony who lived in the town milling about in their own clustered groups.
She heard a particularly familiar laugh, and her eyes caught through the far-right window Snowdash, Merry, and a third pony she had often seen the two with.
“Why don’t we go inside?” The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Present offered.
Numbly, Snowfall nodded, and trotted inside, the Spirit gleefully hopping beside her.
Once inside, Snowfall was nearly overwhelmed by the low murmuring that can only be caused by a multitude of voices piling and building on one another until no distinguishable factor remains between them. Still, she found herself smiling, reminded of a similar chatter from parties of her past.
Out of all going on in front of her, she found herself drawn to the trio she had seen through the window. She allowed her curiosity to trump any objections she may have had, and stepped over to the familiar trio. Snowdash appeared to be speaking vehemently about something, and Snowfall disappointedly could guess what as she approached, coming within earshot.
“I just don’t know how somepony can be like that on Hearth’s Warming,” Snowdash vented aloud. “I’m just glad I don’t live any closer to her than I do. I honestly feel bad for you, Flutterholly. You only live two doors down from her, it’s a wonder she hasn’t rubbed off on you.”
The yellow pegasus in question did not make a sound, did not even seem to acknowledge the prompt. Snowdash waved a hoof in front of the mare’s face. “Hello-o? Equestria to Flutterholly?”
“Huh?” Flutterholly blinked, snapping out of her reverie.
“What’s wrong, Flutterholly?” Snowdash inquired. “You’ve been distracted all evening.”
“Oh, I have?” Flutterholly asked in surprise. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s quite alright, darling,” Merry assured. “What’s troubling you?”
“Well,” Flutterholly hesitated, then conceded, “Rose Bloom had another dream.”
“She did?” Snowdash questioned.
“Oh, yes,” Flutterholly insisted. “She swears up and down that she saw Apple Rose last night.” At the mention of the mystery mare’s name, Merry’s and Snowdash’s faces fell in sadness and concern.
“I didn’t really know what to say,” Flutterholly admitted. “She’s had so much loss, and I just couldn’t bring myself to tell her…Part of me knows she knows, but then why is she having these dreams? And it’s always on Hearth’s Warming Eve, and only on Hearth’s Warming Eve.”
“Have you asked her brother?” Merry questioned.
“Oh, no,” Flutterholly shook her head. “He has so much on his plate as it is. The last thing he needs to worry about is his little sister. Even if it’s been two months since he’s seen her.”
Snowfall listened in on the conversation in increasing concern, which began to turn into confusion. How could they bring themselves to a party when they had so much to worry about? When she asked the Spirit such, she received a lighthearted chuckle in response.
“Everypony has things to worry about,” the Spirit explained. “That doesn’t mean you can’t set aside some time to appreciate everything right with the world. If you only focused on what’s wrong, you might just go insane!” She added with a smirk, “Or turn into a big grumpy-pants.”
Snowfall fell quiet, observing the conversation in the corner as it turned to happier subjects. She milled about the main area of town hall, the leftover sounds of conversation and fellowship reaching her ears. The scene exuded a warmth Snowfall found familiar, and with a smile she likened it to that of her own past. She heard a small peal of laughter from the group she walked by, and felt a smile grace her face as a now-unfamiliar desire crept its way into her heart.
Oh, how she wished they could see her. How she longed for their company. She wanted to laugh the night away with these ponies, talking about everything and nothing and all matters in between. She sighed contently, chuckling to herself at the punchline of the joke she leaned in to hear, grinned at the announcement of engagement from across the room, cried out “Here, here!” with the others at the toast to their long happiness.
Having passed each face, many she knew, many she didn’t, she felt herself grow lighter than she had felt in years. She stood by the entrance to a smaller foyer, observing the room as a whole as the record keeper—a white unicorn with a two-toned blue mane—put on another song, filling the room with a peaceful melody that perfectly matched the mood lifted by the wonderful sounds of togetherness in the room.
Snowfall startled from her thoughts as three fillies passed through her legs, the white unicorn, yellow earth pony, and orange pegasus giggling in glee as they chased each other through the crowd, dodging steps and sliding between couples, who did nothing more than chuckle and shake their heads at their antics. Snowfall looked on, feeling the leftover joy of her own foalhood leaking into the sight she saw before her. As the three went, they grabbed the attention of Merry, Flutterholly, and Snowdash; and the former two watched in nostalgia, remembering well times gone past. The latter pegasus kept her watchful eye trained on the younger, and it was only then that Snowfall noticed why.
The little orange pegasus faltered in her steps only a moment, nearly stumbling to a halt. Her breaths heaved a little harder than the other two fillies before her face broke out in a grin once again as they ran back to help their friend keep up. Her incredibly tiny wings buzzed as if to help her run faster, though it was obvious to everypony who looked hard enough that her stamina was running out far quicker than her two friends.
"Come on now, girls," Flutterholly chastised lightly as they passed. Her voice alone worked like magic, and the unicorn and earth pony stopped at once, catching their breath while the pegasus stumbled to catch herself, her legs beginning to quiver.
As the filly gasped for breath, her own body interrupted her as it threw her into a violent coughing fit. Snowdash responded immediately as the foal drew in a harsh breath. She scooped the filly into her forelegs and, true to her name, dashed for the fireplace.
Snowfall felt worry stir her heart as she watched Snowdash hold the filly in her lap just so, taking great care to keep her just close enough to the fire that the foal now sucked down warmer lungfuls of air.
"Scootaluge," Snowdash scolded in a tone not at all serious, "what did I tell you about taking it easy tonight?"
As the filly's attack died down to nothing greater than that of a sudden wheeze, she smiled coyly up at her older sister and replied, "You said don't run outside."
Snowdash gave a little snort through her nose, too jovial at the show of energy from the little filly to be the least bit angry at her momentary lack of care. "You still have to follow the normal rules, too, you know." She tussled the filly's purple mane before pressing their foreheads together, the two lovingly nuzzling each other a moment.
"Is everything alright?" Merry asked as the two elder escorted the two younger over to the pair.
"Yeah, she's okay," Snowdash beamed.
"Carol Belle, Rose Bloom," Flutterholly implored, the unicorn and earth pony looking up when their names were called, respectively, before they both looked at Snowdash.
"We're sorry," they said in unison, looking up at the pegasus earnestly.
The mare gave them a patient smile. "You don't have to be sorry for anything. Having fun is part of what Hearth's Warming is all about." With a resolute nod, she let her little sister go; and without so much as a sway, little Scootaluge joined Rose Bloom and Carol Belle as the three trotted off to another part of the room, chattering in delight about what game they would play next.
"How has she been?" Merry inquired of Snowdash once the fillies were outside of earshot.
Snowdash pondered the question a short moment, giving a slow, optimistic nod. "Better. She's a lot stronger this year."
“That’s good,” Flutterholly smiled. “And…her wings?”
Snowdash hesitated. “They, uh…haven’t grown an inch.” Her sentence disintegrated as she spoke, ending in a choked squeak. She lowered her head, covering her trembling chin while Merry and Flutterholly comforted their friend.
The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Present frowned in sympathy toward the mare. Reaching into her mane, she pulled out a sprinkle shaker. Snowfall Frost observed the sprinkles within the glass holder were more akin to stardust, each tiny particle holding its own exquisite brilliance as each individual light danced about its partners. The Spirit seemed to float as she approached the trio, and lightly dusted them with the sprinkles. The glowing particles lighted upon their eyes and faces, and at once Snowdash’s tears subsided.
With a clearing of her throat, Snowdash rubbed away her remaining tears, and smiled. “We shouldn’t think about this right now. Let’s enjoy Hearth’s Warming.”
“Yes,” Merry agreed, “tomorrow will worry about itself.”
As the three walked back to their window, lightly chatting with higher spirits, Snowfall’s eyes fell to the Spirit beside her. “What was that?”
The Spirit grinned as it shoved the shaker back into her mane. “Little dashes of joy I’m able to bless ponies with. No pony should be sad on Hearth’s Warming.”
Snowfall inquired. “In all the Hearth’s Warmings I have experienced, why have so never felt your presence?”
The Spirit giggled. “Two reasons, actually. One: you weren’t around me, you were around one of my sisters. Two: only those willing to accept the joy of Hearth’s Warming can receive it.”
Snowfall frowned in thought, feeling a weight of understanding fall on her heart. The three fillies from before trotted to the other side of the room, and Snowfall’s eyes landed on the little pegasus once again.
"Please, Spirit," Snowfall begged, "tell me what ails her."
"Now, why would you want to know that?" The Ghost spoke slowly, cadence like that of a tease flitting from her lips. "Why should you trouble yourself in the affairs of those who are incapable of keeping themselves alive?"
Snowfall Frost cringed, her own words thrown back at her. "But...have they seen no doctor?"
The Spirit of Hearth's Warming Present hummed to itself. "Kinda hard to find a good doctor and get good medicine when you're only paid 15 bits a week."
A chill of horror wormed its way into Snowfall’s chest. “Is there still time to save her?”
The Spirit frowned at the trio, her ears flopping and eyes uncontrollably twitching. “I see two fillies unaccompanied by a third, and a guardian with no pony to guard.”
“No!” Snowfall Frost objected. “Surely there must be a way to help her.”
“If nothing changes for her tonight,” the Spirit insisted grimly, her twitches dying down, “then it is already too late.”
“But…can’t you do something?” Snowfall insisted.
“I am only to tweak emotions and keep spirits alive and high,” the Spirit explained. “Only those alive in the physical plane can help others in the way you’re talking about.”
Snowfall’s heart jumped to her throat, her eyes once again falling to the happy little filly completely oblivious to her quickly-approaching fate.
“Didn’t you mention wanting to bring up your situation to Snowfall?” Flutterholly inquired of Snowdash, Snowfall’s ear perking up at the conversation.
“Yeah…” Snowdash rubbed the back of her head. “Let’s just say…I heard something that changed my mind.”
Once again, Snowfall was reminded of her words, and her heart sank all the further. The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Present smiled to herself, feeling a pang of joy knowing Snowfall was finally seeing how much she could affect those around her.
The Spirit decided Snowfall had lamented long enough. “Come on, Frosty! There’s some other ponies I want you to see!”
At once, Snowfall was sped out of the room—that is, the world flew by while she remained stationary. Snowfall could only watch while the Spirit shoved her through the streets of her town, and turned down an alleyway she would never dare to consciously go.
At once, they stopped, Snowfall nearly tipping over at their sudden halting. A fire crackled from a barrel, ponies milling about in the alley. Some sang carols to each other, some chatted, still others laughed at stories of Hearth’s Warmings many years gone.
Snowfall glanced about the space, noticing each pony held the same kind of joy on their face as the others from the party she had just left. Other than the obvious differences in physical appearance, Snowfall could not find a trace of difference in the warmth flowing from each heart.
The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Present dug out her sprinkle shaker again, trotting over to each individual and dusting their faces with the sparkling joy. Laughter bubbled and abounded in the gathering, the scene seeming to gain a brightness Snowfall was unable to describe.
Once the Spirit had finished her task, she beamed at Snowfall, taking her by the hoof and twirling her around, the world blurring out of focus before snapping back again; and Snowfall found herself squinting against the pallor light of a hospital hallway. Again, Snowfall was pushed down the tile, and the two passed rooms sporting all kinds of ponies. Old ponies nearing the end of life smiled, sharing obvious final moments with loved ones. Other, younger ponies appeared to be fighting their own internal battles, smiling in the face of their unseen adversaries.
Snowfall looked upon each face. Those who walked the conscious world did so happily. Those who walked the sleeping world did so peacefully. Not a frown, nor crease of the brow, was found upon any face. The Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Present pranced about the halls, its mane holding its sprinkle shaker, scattering stardust to every individual they passed.
Satisfied with the joy she had spread, the Spirit of Hearth’s Warming Present’s mane sucked the shaker back into its curls, and Snowfall followed her out to the icy street.
“So,” the Spirit chirped, “Hearth’s Warming is almost over, it’s getting close to midnight.”
“I…suppose it is…” Snowfall trailed, wading deep within her own thoughts.
Snowfall’s ear flicked downward, and she startled at the snarl that had suddenly made itself known to her. Her eyes found the bottom of the Spirit’s robes, and she saw movement that could not have been made by the Spirit itself shuffle the yellow fabric.
“What was that?” Snowfall floundered. “I could have sworn I saw something move under your robes.”
She was met with a flat look from the Spirit, its mane slowly losing its curl, as if deflating, before falling altogether in a curtain of deep pink. “You did,” the Spirit croaked.
At once, she pulled her robes aside, and Snowfall gasped in horror at the sight that greeted her.
Two foals—a filly and a colt—crouched clinging to the Spirit’s foreleg. Sunken and dirty, their features were warped and aged. The filly’s bright orange mane was disheveled, her bright yellow coat matted with dirt, her horn cracked and nearly broken in two. The colt’s deep brown mane fared much the same, his coat so covered in oil and grease Snowfall was unable to tell if the off-white she perceived were his true color. His wings, much like the filly’s horn, were shredded, only one or two feathers remaining on either appendage.
Their blue and brown eyes—what should have been alight with life on the young faces—were sunken and dull, yet exuded an anger so deep-set Snowfall wondered if she herself had personally offended the two creatures.
“What…who are they?”
The Spirit looked upon the two as if she had known them her whole life. “This colt is the Destruction of Innocence. This filly is Covetedness. They follow in my shadow, and many feel their touch.” The Spirit’s eyes, now hanging with bags, rose to Snowfall’s. “You’ve known them many, many times, Frosty.”
The voice that used to be filled with joy was now as cold and hard as the biting winter that hosted the wondrous holiday. The Spirit’s mouth twisted in a grin of perversion to the glee it had held not so long ago.
“Their goal is to win internal battles and claim victory in wars of the Soul. Avoid them, Snowfall Frost, and take care that they don’t claim you…”
Snowfall Frost swallowed, nodding at the warning. No sooner had she done so, the ground beneath her violently shook. A bell resounded, and the Spirit cried out, her body rearing up and dissipating in a cloud of ash and mist. Destruction of Innocence and Covetedness were left without shelter, and lashed out at the only pony they saw.
Snowfall scrambled backwards as the foals threw themselves at her, snarling like dogs. Just before they would have collided with her face, they too disappeared in a puff of smoke, and silence reigned.
Snowfall looked around for any sort of presence, only for her eyes to land on a looming figure in the corner of the darkness.
It took a step toward her.