"But Twilight!" Spike complained. "I'm not even..*YAWN..Tired."
"Sure Spike, a yawn like that and you're not tired. You know the Holiday Pony will know if you're awake." Twilight giggled, tucking Spike into bed.
"But I wanna see the Holiday Pony." Spike protested. "And I'm not a kid, I can stay up if I want."
"But Spike." Twilight replied. "You need your sleep, you're a baby dragon after all."
"Not a baby." Spike mumbled with a pout.
"Now don't pout Spike." Twilight tried to compromise. "How about I read you that Hearth's Warming book you like?"
"You will?" Spike asked.
"Sure." Twilight smiled. "Let me just get it for you."
It wasn't too long before Twilight said "Found it. Now, let's begin."
'Twas the night before Hearth's Warming Day, when all thro' the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; Except for Spike's god awful snoring,
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that the Holiday Pony soon would be there;
The fillies were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads, Except for Lyra, she was dreaming of humans,
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap-
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Maybe it's something from Princess Celestia?
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a minature chariot, and eight night guards,
With a little old mare, it pleased all the bronies,
I knew in a moment it must be the Holiday Pony.
More rapid than eagles her coursers they came,
And she whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
"Now! Dusker, now! Dawner, now! Starlight, and Ursa..Major,
"On! Comet, on! Halo, on! Nightwing and Ursa..Minor;
"To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
"Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the library-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys - and Holiday Pony too:
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney the pony came with a bound:
She was cloaked in a blue coat, from his head to his foot,
And her cobalt mane was all tarnish'd with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys was flung on her back,
And she look'd like a peddler just opening her pack:
Her eyes - how they twinkled! her dimples how merry,
Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry;
Her droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the tail of her flank was covered in snow;
She had a slender face, and a little curved flank,
That swayed when she laugh'd, it made my mind go blank:
She was stern yet merry, a right jolly old mare,
And I laugh'd when I saw her, but speak I wouldn't dare;
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jerk,
And laying her hoof aside of her nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney she rose.
She sprung to her sleigh, to her team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle:
But I heard her exclaim, ere she flew out of sight-
"Happy Hearth Warming Day to all, and to all a good night."
"And that's the story." Twilight said with a smile. "Now do you think you could sleep for a while?"
But to her surprise or maybe not so much a surprise. There was Spike sleeping in her little bed with a cute little yawn. Twilight, seeing that the night was almost past, hurried to bed, and hurried fast.
In the morning, Twilight woke to a sight, to Spike jumping with all his might.
"IT'S HEARTH'S WARMING DAY!" He sang with a glee. "So get up Twilight. Get up please."
Twilight moved Spike away, following him down the stairs. Around their tree of many colored lights, were gifts upon gifts of colorful wrapping.
"Wow!" Twilight said with a glee. "I didn't think we'd have this many gifts this year."
Before Twilight could begin, Spike was already in his gifts, a few claws marks in. Going from one gift to the next, Twilight and Spike did enjoy:
Books of this and Books of that for Twilight galore.
But for Spike, there was something more,
In the pile of his gift around, was something to make him go "WOW!"
A jewel, made of passion and love, was a heart shaped Ruby..........."From Rarity..with Love"
Before Spike could pass out from joy, came Twilight with a gift in her hooves.
"Happy Hearth's Warming Day." Twilight said, giving Spike his gift.
Spike in turn gave his gift to Twilight.
"Happy Hearth's Warming Day." Spike replied.