//------------------------------// // A Warm Winter's Night // Story: Life in Equestria: Holidays with Toby // by APoeticHeart //------------------------------// As the season of winter arrives in Equestria, Ponyville is bustling with excitement and joy for the holiday of Hearth’s Warming Eve. A time of the year in which everypony of Equestria celebrates the birth of the land, and share the gift of harmony. In the skies above the pegasi is working hard to bring forth snow for this joyous occasion. While most of the town ponies are enjoying the holiday with their families inside their homes, the Apple Family is heading to Fluttershy’s cottage to spend the holiday with the pegasus and Toby. Trotting along the snow covered path of Sweet Apple Acres, Big Mac is pulling a cart with a small pine tree on it and some wrapped packages as Applejack, Applebloom, and Granny Smith trot beside him. “Ya know Big Mac, Ah’ believe the little feller will love this tree.” Applejack gave a blushing smile. “Eeyup.” Big Macintosh replied. “Ah’ can’t wait to celebrate Hearth’s Warming Eve with my little buddy. We got to make his first Hearth’s Warming Eve the best one.” Applebloom smiled happily. :”Nyah.. don’t worry ya young whipper snapper, the little fella is going to have a great holiday.” Granny Smith gave Applebloom a wink and smile as the four continued on their way to the home of Fluttershy and Toby. Inside the cottage Fluttershy and Toby sat next to the warm fireplace in the den having hot chocolate together. Fluttershy had a butterfly patterned blanket draped over her as Toby had a sunflower patterned blanket wrapped draped over his shoulders. He took a drink of his hot chocolate sighing warmly as he looked at the crackling flames and let out a soft sigh. Fluttershy looked over at him with a look of concern. “Is something the matter sweetheart?” He took his eyes off the fire and turned to her with a soft smile. “I am okay Momma. I remember me and Mommy used to do this when winter came.” Fluttershy smiled warmly at him as there was a knock at the door. “Oh, I wonder who that could be.” She thought to herself as she carefully stood up and looked down at Toby. “I’ll get it sweetie.” She turned and trotted to the door and carefully opened it. She was greeted by the Apple clan. “Howdy there Fluttershy, may we come in?” Applejack asked and tipped her hat. Fluttershy nodded. “Um.. of course.. please come in.” She turned her head toward Toby. “Sweetheart, we have some visitors.” She gave him a warm smile. Applebloom trotted inside with a big smile on her face and looked over at the small child. ”Howdy there Toby. How is my little buddy doing?” She trotted over to him and sat down beside him on her haunches. She laid a foreleg over his shoulders and carefully brought him to her side for a hug so not to cause him to spill his hot chocolate. She nuzzled her cheek against the top of his head and pulled him back to look at him. He smiled up at her. “I am doing good Applebloom. How are you doing big sister?” She smiled at being called a big sister and rubbed at the side of his arm. “Ah’ am doing pretty good.” She looked up to see the rest of her family trot inside. “Howdy Fluttershy, Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve.” Applejack greeted her pegasus friend as they entered and Fluttershy closed the door. The two friends gave each other a warm hug. “Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve everypony.” She smiled brightly. “Um.. would you all like some hot chocolate?” “Well, that is mighty sweet of you sugarcube. Ah’ would like some. How about ya three?” Applejack looked at each her family. Big Mac simply replied. “Eeyup.” ‘Nyah.. Ah’ wouldn’t mind some hot chocolate after being outside in that snow.” Granny chuckled. “Thank ya very much Fluttershy, Ah’ would like some too.” Applebloom smiled softly at the pegasus. “Um.. okay. You all can take a sit by the fireplace.. um.. if you would like. I will be back with your hot chocolate.” She nodded at them and smiled warmly at the little colt before trotting into the kitchen. Applejack trotted close to Toby and reached up with a forehoof to rub at his head. “Howdy little feller. Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve.” She gave him a warm smile. “Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve Auntie Applejack.” He smiled at all of them as Big Mac unloaded the small tree off the cart. ‘Oh, Papa Big Mac, what is that tree for?” Big Mac smiled. “Well, big guy, Ah’ just thought maybe ya and your momma would enjoy decorating it for Hearth’s Warming Eve. What do ya say big guy?” He gave the little colt a wink as he set the tree up in the corner of den between the fireplace and sofa. “That sounds like fun Papa Big Mac.” He smiled excitedly as he finished his hot chocolate. Fluttershy returned with the hot chocolate for her and Toby’s guests. She served them their glasses and sat on one side of Toby while Applebloom sat on the other side. Toby looked up at Fluttershy with a hopeful smile. “Momma, will it be okay if they stay and decorate the tree with us?” Fluttershy looked down at him and nodded. “Of course sweetheart. That sounds like a wonderful idea.” She leaned down to give him a kiss on the top of his head. After she finished with her hot chocolate, Applejack trotted over to the cart and unloaded a wooden box. She trotted back over to the fireplace and sat down between Granny Smith and Big Mac. She took the lid off to reveal several ornaments a small set of lights. Toby looked at the box and its contents curiously. There were two ornaments that were of a red and green apple, a golden ornament that spelled out Apple, a small brown Stetson hat ornament, and a lasso ornament. Next to them was a small string of white lights rolled up. To complete the box of ornamest as a golden star. Toby smiled brightly as he looked at the decorations. “They are very pretty Auntie Applejack.” He looked up at the cowpony. She tipped her hat. “Well, thank ya sugarcube. These have been passed down from generation to generation of Apples.” She looked over at Granny Smith. “Ain’t that right Granny?” “Nyah.. that is right little fella.” Granny Smith nodded and gave the child a soft smile. “Ah’ my ma passed them down to me when Ah’ celebrated my first Hearth’s Warming Eve, and Ah’ done the same for Applejack.” She gave Applejack a wink. Fluttershy carefully stood up and looked at her son. “Sweetheart, I will be right back. I am going upstairs and get some ornaments that I have kept after my first Hearth’s Warming Eve.” She smiled at him and the group as she turned to trot upstairs. She returned with a small and carefully folded cloth. She carefully sat down and placed it in front of her as she started to gently unfold it. After finishing, there were three small animal-like ornaments. One was that of Angel, one was three pink butterflies in a triangular shape just like her cutie mark, and the last one was a gold heart. Toby looked at them and smiled brightly. “Oh, those are very pretty too Momma.” “Thank you sweetie.” She gave her son a warm smile. Applejack sighed softly. “Ah’ know, how about me and Fluttershy put the lights on the tree, and Applebloom, Toby, and Big Mac put on the ornaments?” She tipped her hat as she turned to Granny Smith. “And Granny, ya can just sit here if ya would like.” “Nyah.. Ah’ am okay Applejack. How about Ah’ help put up ornaments with the young whipper snappers?” The others nodded as they all got up and walked over to start decorating. As everypony and Toby was decorating, he started humming a tune, catching the attention of the others. They continued to decorate the tree and smiled warmly at the child’s humming. Applebloom looked at him as she was putting the last of her ornaments up. “What is that song ya are humming little buddy?” He looked at her. “Oh, it is just one of my favorite Christmas songs called Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” He smiled softly. “If Ah’ may ask sugarcube, what is this Christmas ya speak of? Is it something like Hearth’s Warming Eve?” Applejack asked as her and Fluttershy was putting the remaining lights on. “Yes Auntie Applejack. Christmas is just like Hearth’s Warming Eve. Mommy and me used to always decorate the tree when she did get one. Also, we would sing Christmas carols together and open presents.” He sighed warmly at the memories. Fluttershy looked at him softly as her and Applejack finished putting the lights up. “Sweetheart.. um.. if it is okay.. um.. would you like to sing your song?” He swallowed deeply. He looked up at his momma with a nervous look. “Well, I don’t know Momma, I really can’t sing.” He hung his head some. She frowned and lowered her head to nuzzle at his cheek. "Listen sweetheart. If you can play the piano, I bet you can sing." She gave him a reassuring smile as the others did too. He swallowed deeply and nodded. "Okay Momma. I will do it if you all believe I can do it." He smiled as he let out a deep sigh and started to sing. After Toby finished singing, the others smiled at him softly and lightly stamped their hooves on the floor to give him a round of a applause. "Well, that was some mighty fine singing sugarcube." Applejack smiled at him and tipped her hat. "Eeyup." Big Mac nodded and smirked at the child. "Nyah.. that was good little fella." Granny Smith smiled and winked at him. Fluttershy nodded and rubbed at his back with a foreleg. "That was very good sweetie. I told you that you could sing." She squeed. He smiled up at her and then at the other. 'Thank you all. That is my favorite song because although the other reindeers was mean to Rudolph for being different, they accepted him with time." "Ah' liked that too little buddy." Applebloom smiled. She looked at him curiously. "Ah' have one question though. Who in tarnation is Santa Claus?" He giggled. "Santa Claus or Jolly Old Saint Nicholas he is also called delivers presents to good little kids all over the world during Christmas!" He smiled brightly. "He rides a sleigh to travel, pulled by his reindeers, and he delivers the presents through the chimney." He sighed happily. "He wears a big red suit, a red pointy hat that has a white fluff ball on top, and he carries the presents in a big red sack. He has a big round belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly, and rosy red cheeks." The others listened and giggled lightly at the child's excitement. Applejack spoke up. "Sugarcube, why in tarnation would he want to go down the chimney, when he can use the door?" She looked at him curiously. "Hehe.. because Auntie Applejack, it would take him a very long time to go to all the houses in the world. It is faster if he comes down the chimney." He giggled as he smiled up at her. "Nyah.. have ya ever seen this Santa Claus before little fella?" Granny Smith asked raising an eyebrow at him. He looked up at Granny Smith and shook his head. "Well, no. He comes when all the little kids are asleep. It is also good to always leave milk and cookies out for him." He gave a soft smile. "There is another Christmas song that I like that is about Santa Clause." "Oh, really little buddy? Ah' would like to heart it." Applebloom said with a big smile. "Yes sweetheart, that would be wonderful. Um.. before you do, would you like to hang the star on the top?" Fluttershy asked and he nodded. She smiled down at him and carefully got behind him, lifting him up under his arms very gently and hovered up to let him put the star on. "Thank you Momma." He giggled as she lowered back down to the ground setting him down on his feet. He smiled up at her and the others. "Okay, I will sing it. This one is called Santa Clause is Coming to Town." He giggled as they all decided to take a seat by the tree. He let out a deep sigh and started to sing. They gave him another round of applause after he sang again. "That was good Toby. Ah' wonder though, what does the naughty kids get for Christmas?" Applebloom asked curiously. "Well, they get a lump of coal in their stockings." He giggled. "Well, that ain't very nice of him to do that to the little critters." Applejack shook her head. "Hehe..it is okay Auntie Applejack. It just teaches them that if they want something for Christmas next year, they got to learn to do good." He smiled softly up at her. "Well, Ah' guess that makes sense." She blushed and tipped her hat. Big Mac looked at the little colt. "Heya big guy, what other one of these Christmas songs do ya like to sing?" He gave a little smile. "Well, there is one that my Mommy loved to listen to each Christmas we had together. It is a sad one though, but I will sing it if you want me to." Fluttershy rubbed at his back with a foreleg. "That is up to you sweetie. You don't have to if it will make you feel sad." She gave him a nuzzle on his cheek. He smiled up at her." Thank you Momma. I will sing it though. It helped me remember her during this time last year. It is called The Christmas Shoes." He smiled at everypony with a tearful smile as he let out a deep sigh. He shook a little with sobs as he finished singing. Fluttershy rubbed at his back soothingly with her foreleg. "That was very beautiful sweetie. I can tell you that your Mommy is very beautiful and she is watching over you. I can also tell you that she is very proud of the most precious boy you are." She gave him a kiss on the top of his head. "That is right sugarcube. That was a very touching song." Applejack and the other Apples nodded in agreement giving him a warm smile. He reached up and wiped away his tears. He sniffled and gave a soft smile to everypony. "Thank you all. I love you." "We love you Toby." They said in unison. As the Apples was getting ready to leave Toby gave them each a hug starting with Granny Smith. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve Granny Smith. Thank you for coming to visit me and Momma." He looked up at her as he hugged her neck gently. She reached up and rubbed at his back with a winkled foreleg. "Nyah. ya are very welcome little fella. We couldn't miss our little one's first Hearth's Warming Eve, could we?" She chuckled as she gently broke the hug. He walked over to Big Mac and smiled up at him brightly. "Thank you Papa Big Mac for the tree. It is very pretty." He wrapped his little arms around his thick neck as Big Mac wrapped a foreleg around his small form. "Ya are welcome big guy. Ah' had a good ol' time decorating it with ya too." He reached up and rubbed at the top of Toby's head getting a giggle in return. Applebloom trotted up to the child and sat down on her haunches. She wrapped him up in her forelegs and pulled him close in a big hug as he laid his head on her shoulder and wrapped his arms around her neck. "Ah' sure did enjoy spending this Hearth's Warming Eve with ya my little buddy, my little brother." She nuzzled her cheek against his. He sighed softly. "I enjoyed it too Applebloom. I love you big sister." They held each other for a little bit before breaking the hug. Applejack placed her hoof on his shoulder as she gave him a kiss on top of his head. "We all enjoyed being here with ya and your Momma tonight sugarcube. Might Ah' say ya have a pretty fine singing voice too." She gently nudged at his cheek with a forehoof. "Hehe..thank you Auntie Applejack." He looked at them as Fluttershy came up behind him and placed a foreleg around his shoulders. They waved bye to the Apples. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!" They nodded and trotted out of the cottage as Fluttershy trotted over to shut it. Toby let out a soft yawn. "My, sounds like some little colt is sleepy." She giggled as she trotted back to Toby and lifted him up onto her back. "Time to go to bed sweetheart." She trotted upstairs. After making sure he was tucked in warm and snugged she gave him a kiss on his forehead. "Goodnight my precious little one, Momma loves you." He gave her a soft smile. "I love you too Momma. Goodnight, and Happy Hearth's Warming Eve." He let out another soft yawn and closed his eyes peacefully. She smiled at him and reached up to rub at his side through the covers with a foreleg. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve sweetie." She quietly trotted to the staircase and turned to look at him one more time with a warm smile. "Momma loves you, and your Mommy loves you." She softly whispered.