My sister taught me everything about Hearth's Warming. When I was just a filly, I remember running across Ponyville to visit her on the day my best friend, Diamond Tiara, dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Hooves," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!" It made me doubt my faith in Santa Hooves and I decided to go see the only pony who I knew would for sure tell me the truth, Octavia.
My sister was not the gushy kind, never had been and never will be. That day, I fled to her because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Octavia always told the truth even if it would hurt my feelings from knowing the truth.
That day, she was home and thank goodness for that because it meant she did not have to attend to concert of hers! You see, my sister is one of the best musicians in Ponyville and only visits for the holidays which made me sad but I always understood that it was her passion. Octavia is the only pony that I tell everything to and this time was no exception, she was even waiting for me with some hot chocolate.
"No Santa Hooves!" she snorted while putting down her steaming cup. We were seated in her living room with a blazing fire that seemed to bring a sort of warmth to the room. "Ridiculous! I don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad.” Octavia was a strong believer in Santa Hooves, “Now, put on your coat little filly, and let's go."
"Go? Go where, Octavia?" I asked while putting down my own mug on the table and grabbing my coat. Winter had been especially cold this year, today was no exception.
"Where" turned out to be the General Store, the one store in Ponyville that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Octavia handed me ten bits.
"Take this money," she said looking directly in my eyes, "and buy something for somepony who needs it. I'll wait for you outside." Then she turned and walked out of the store, leaving me stunned for a moment.
I was only eight years old at the time. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Hearths Warming shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching those ten bits, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school.
I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Scootaloo. She was a filly at school with messy hair and one Diamond told me to pick on. Her and her friends had no cutie marks which made them a target on Diamond's list. She sat right in front of me in Mrs. Cheerilee's class. One thing that I had always noticed was that Scootaloo didn't have a coat. I knew this because she never went out for recess during the winter. The orphanage she lived in would always send the same note, telling the teacher that she had a cough or the sniffles; but all we foals knew that Scootaloo didn't have a cough, and she didn't have a coat. Scootaloo was always too poor to buy her own stuff but it did not make her any different. I always admired the fact that everyday she would come into school with her head held high and a smile that graced her face. She deserved to have something that she could call her own and maybe just maybe let her know that she was not forgotten this holiday season.
I hoofed with the ten bits with growing excitement. But what would Diamond think? I quickly pushed that nervous thought away and settled on that she wouldn't find out. No matter what, I would buy Scootaloo a coat. I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and she would like that. I didn't see a price tag, but ten bits ought to buy anything. I put the coat and my ten bits on the counter and pushed them toward the mare behind it.
She had a green coat and a blue curled mane, the clerk had a teacup for a cutie mark. She looked at the coat, the bits, and me. "Is this a Hearths Warming present for somepony?" she asked kindly.
"Yes," I replied shyly, she was nice but I had my doubts. The nice clerk lady smiled at me. After a few more moments which seemed she was thinking about giving me the coat she took the bits. I didn't get any change but it did not bother me one bit because it was meant for somepony else not me. The clerk lady then put the coat in a bag and wished me a happy Hearth's Warming Eve. I rushed outside to my awaiting sister who had flushed cheeks from what I suspected was the cold but the mistletoe next to her told a different story.
That evening, Octavia helped me wrap the coat in pretty gold paper and ribbons, and write, "To Scootaloo, From Santa Hooves" on it ... Octavia told me that Santa always insisted on secrecy and that when one of the caretakers open the door they would know who to give it too.
Later that evening, she walked with me over to the orphanage, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers. That made me smile and forget that Diamond had said he was not real. Octavia stopped down the street from the orphanage, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by the front walk.
Suddenly, Octavia gave me a nudge and a smile. "All right, Santa Hooves," she whispered with a smile, "get going."
I took a deep breath, dashed for the front door which was hardly decorated, threw the present down on the step, pounded the doorbell twice and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Octavia. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. After awhile it finally opened and there stood a mare that we guessed she was a caretaker. She looked down, looked around, smiled, picked up the present, took it inside and closed the door.
Twenty years have not dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my older sister, in the orphanage bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Hooves were just what Octavia said they were: Ridiculous!
Even now, the lessons I learned that day still stay with me to this day and knowing that I did something for someone who needed it, made me feel good. It may sound selfish that we only do things on this Holiday because it makes us feel good but Hearth’s Warming is all about making everypony happy and well, just plain old joy. It is meant to make EVERYPONY happy because well, it is just that holiday.
Though one thing I knew for sure was that Santa was alive and well ... we were on his team because Hearth’s Warming is all about giving and sometimes Santa needs a little help from his helpers, us.