“Here you go, guyths,” said Twist, as she handed over a package of candy canes.
“This is way more than we need, thanks Twist. And Happy Hearth’s Warming!”
Volunteers for the Celestial Army had set up their red kettle outside the Ponyville train station, and they enjoyed handing out a candy canes to each and every donor, whatever the size of the donation. Everypony came out ahead in what was nearly a win-win perfect storm of good will. Ponies enjoyed getting one of Twist’s special candy canes almost as much as they enjoyed contributing all their loose change to the needy. The volunteers enjoyed rewarding generosity with the candy canes. And Twist enjoyed seeing her craft-work put to good work, even more than she enjoyed making the sweets.
Bells still ringing in her ears, slipped the extra candy into her saddle bag. Twist would have just left and gone home, but she noticed a lone buffalo calf, waiting for his train all by himself. He was paging through a book, clearly not actually reading it. Twist had never met a buffalo, so it was difficult for her to tell, but she was sure that he was hardly older than herself.
“Hi,” said Twist. “I don’t mean to be rude, but are you travelling all alone?”
The buffalo was startled out of his reverie. “What? Oh, yeah. I had entrance exams up in Canterlot, and I had to travel alone.”
“Entrance exams?”
“Yes. I’ll be the first of my tribe to study at a pony school in the big city.” He spoke with great pride. “I’m Gathers Herbs, by the way.”
“Pleathed to meet you, Gathers. I’m, Twist. Just Twist. But...You’re all alone?”
Gathers nodded. “The tribe pooled their bits, and all the pony settlers chipped in, too, but there wasn’t enough time to raise the money for a train ticket for me and my Dad. Canterlot is a long way to travel. But I have a letter to show the conductors that I’m allowed to travel unaccompanied. It’s signed by the mayor, and the sheriff, and the station master, and my chief. It’s scary. But I’ve been taken good care of. Except for the long lay-overs switching trains. Those get really lonely.”
“Oh. OK, a leathst you’ll be home in time for Hearth’s Warming.”
“Yes, thank you. Twist.” Gathers nodded, sadly. “A lot of us join in and celebrate Hearth’s Warming with you ponies. It’s kind of a neat holiday. But traditionally we celebrate the New Sun. That is the first sunrise after the longest night.”
Twist thought about this. They had just been covering the winter solstice in school. “Oh, no! That’s today!”
Gathers just nodded.
“Um...well, here…” Twist pulled the extra candy canes from her saddlebag and offered them to Gathers. “Happy New Sun!”
“Wow,” gasped Gathers, his eyes shining moistly. “I didn’t expect anyone to say that to me today. “
“Try the blue striped ones, they’re winter-green.”
“These are delicious! Here…” Gathers rummaged in his bags until he found two leather pokes. “Try these.”
The aromas blew Twist away. “Wonderful! I recognise wild lavender, but what’s the other?”
“Pineapple sage.”
With this, the pony candy maker and the buffalo herbalist found common ground, and they talked excitedly about flavors and aromas and the properties of green growing things for what seemed like hours.
It ended when Gathers noticed that the sun was setting.
“I’ll have to say my prayers soon. I found a quiet place to pray at sunrise, but it just didn’t feel right. It’s a time of gathering, and the chants and prayers are made for more than one voice.”
“How many voices?”
“At least four, for the harmony,” said Gathers. “Five is better.”
Twist grinned from ear to ear. “I know where I can find three more voices.”
# # # # #
The Cutie Mark Crusaders were at the Carousel Boutique, planning their next adventure.
“I have a job for you,” said Twist. “It involves thsinging.”
“We’re in!” cried the Crusaders.
# # # # #
In the park, outside the Ponyville town hall, they held an impromptu New Sun celebration to observe the sunset. It was astoundingly beautiful, especially so as the fillies had been given their parts only seconds before they had to sing them.
The park filled with appreciative ponies who had stopped to listen. When it was all over at sunset the crowd went wild. Everypony felt better for being part of it.
Even the Crusaders didn’t mind all that much, when cutie marks for “cultural ambassadors” didn’t manifest.
But then they had to rush to get Gathers to his train.
There we hugs all around, and promises to write. It went on as long and the conductor could stand it, but eventually time was up and the train had to leave.
“Happy New Sun!” they called, as Gathers boarded.
“Happy Hearth’s Warming!” Gathers answered, from the door of his cabin car.
“And to all a good night,” thought Twist, as the train drove out of sight.