There’s something about the celebration of Hearth’s Warming Eve that makes life more content, grateful, and blessed. From family gatherings came those unforgettable moments of harmony and togetherness; from winter’s wrath came snowfall and cheerful cries of joy from the youth playing in the snow; and from building snow forts, throwing snowballs, and making snowponies came and amounted to the indelible time of the holidays and everything with it.
All over Ponyville, ponies were out and about, shopping for last-minute presents for those they hold dear, and their long time friends and relative. Some were already done with their holiday shopping and, in lieu, took a passive conduct by staying inside—while others were more active and played in the snow or sang Hearth’s Warming Eve carols to those on the streets. For others, decorating the tree was in order, and today was the perfect day for that.
Twilight ventured into the Whitetail Woods to find the perfect tree for Rainbow, Scootaloo, and herself. On her way to the forest, her mind remembered the stories her father reminisced to her during the holiday. He told countless tales of his grandfather, and how he would always bring his family to a verdant forest to cut down a tree, the day before Hearth’s Warming Day, and put it up and decorate it the night before. And ever since Twilight had heard about her grandfather’s tradition, she decided to do it with her own family.
It surprised her how much they truly mattered to her, albeit getting a tree would come as a bigger surprise to Rainbow and Scootaloo when they see their Hearth’s Warming tree standing tall and brilliantly in the castle. Neither Scootaloo nor Rainbow had known Twilight left for a tree, nor did they overhear her leaving early in the morning; and now they were probably asking where in Equestria had she gone.
Twilight, exhausted and out of breath, stood in her living room. She wasn’t cold though; the roaring fireplace nearby saw to that. With a smile she levitated the tree to its pot and wrapped a skirt around it, giving it its essential festive atmosphere.
For a second, Twilight almost forgot that there were two other ponies in the castle who would be gratified to see their newly placed tree.
This was it. The time to decorate the tree was near. Twilight could taste it.
“Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo! Our tree is here,” Twilight said aloud. “Come down and see it.”
In a matter of seconds, two pegasi were standing in the doorway, and their expression was something akin to joy and extreme happiness. “Whoa,” Rainbow said. “Way to kill it, Twi. I’m surprised you’re not the Princess of Finding Hearth’s Warming Trees.” Rainbow looked down at Scootaloo, her sister.
“What do ya think of it, Squirt?”
“I think it looks amazing,” Scootaloo said before walking up to the tree. She felt the needles lightly prick her hoof as she brushed against them. “Can we start decorating it now? Can we?”
“Of course we can,” Twilight said. “How about you go get the ornaments and we’ll get started.”
“Sure thing! Be right back.” Scootaloo left.
Decorating was one of Twilight favourite things to do during the holiday. But more wonderful than decorating or even celebrating it was spending it with her wife and their adopted foal, Scootaloo. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet were the colours Twilight loved to see.
For the past five years, Twilight had watched them play and listened to their cheerful bellows linger in the air; and Twilight knew it very well. At first Twilight told herself that they would only be sisters and nothing would change that; but as the years went on they loved each more profoundly, almost like a mother and her foal. Seeing them together was something Twilight would never put a price on; not even her own life.
“Hey, Twi,” Rainbow said.
“Yes, Rainbow?”
Rainbow motioned toward Twilight, so their muzzles would be close. “How’d I get so lucky?”
“You tell me,” Twilight said. A laugh escaped her shortly after. “You know, we still have to run out and get Applejack’s gift. I was thinking you and Scootaloo can go pick it up before she leaves. That way Applebloom and Scoots can see each other before they leave. And I’ll have the decorations sorted out by the time you two get back.”
“Aww, but I was getting all warm and fuzzy here,” Rainbow said. She kissed her wife shortly after, only to pull back seconds later. “Okay. We got ya covered.”
“Thanks, Rainbow Dash. Hopefully Scoots will want to go with you.”
“Oh, there’s no way she’ll say no to going out with me. Do you see her when she’s with me? It’s like I can’t get rid of her. Not that I’d ever want to though.”
Twilight giggled. “You two are inseparable.”
“Yeah, we are. But not as inseparable as us.”
Rainbow pulled Twilight closer to her and brought her in for the kiss of the century. The duo held their lovely moment. Moans and passion radiated from them as their tongues gyrated a lover’s dance. Both lost track of time and forgot about a little filly gone to collect ornaments. Scootaloo was standing in the doorway, watching her parents make love. Her body winced, and her stomach churned.
“Uh, get a room you two,” Scootaloo said. She lifted up the box of decorations and placed it by the tree.
Pulling back, Rainbow said, “Uh, we are in a room, Squirt.”
“You know what I mean!”
“No I don’t.”
“Ya you do.”
“Do not.”
“Do too.”
“Oh, brother, what mess have I gotten myself into?” Twilight said to herself, only to realize that she said it aloud.
“A mess of pure awesomeness.”
“All right, enough chit-chat. Can we start now?” Scootaloo said. Her patience was dwindling.
“Not yet, Squirt,” Rainbow said. “We gotta run out and pick something up for Applejack first. When you get back, everything will be out and ready for ya.”
“Aw, but I want to decorate now.”
“I know, but think about it. If we go see Applejack, you can see Applebloom one last time before she leaves for the holidays. Wouldn’t that be cool?”
Scootaloo thought about it for a second, then said, “Yeah, it would be actually.”
“Then it’s settled. We’re going. Oh, and thank Twilight. It was her idea, not mine.”
“You’re the best, Twilight!” Scootaloo ran over and hugged her tightly before caressing her chest with her nose.
“Aw, don’t sweat it, Scootaloo.” Twilight returned the nuzzle. “This time of year is all about family and friends, after all.”
“Hey,” Rainbow said. “I thought I was the best?”
Twilight and Scootaloo looked at one another, then laughed.
“All right, let’s go, Rainbow Dash. We don’t want to keep them Apples waiting. You know how they get.” Scootaloo grabbed her jacket from the couch and then made a beeline to the front door. “C’mon, Rainbow.”
“You sure you can organize all of this before we get back?” Rainbow asked.
“Rainbow Dash…this is me, Twilight Sparkle you’re taking to. Of course I can organize all this before you two get back. Now get going. Scootaloo doesn’t like waiting either,” Twilight said. She kissed her wife on the cheek.
“Before you go…” A worried look crossed Twilight’s face. “Do you think it’ll happen again this year?”
“Do you mean the presents her ‘so-called parents’ leave her every year?”
“Yeah, that.”
“I’m not sure. I hope not,” Rainbow said. “I hate to see Scoots all pent-up in her room. If her so-called parents know what’s good for her and themselves, they’ll stay away this year.”
“When did you become so smart?”
“I blame being around an egghead all day.”
When Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo left, it was only Twilight in the castle. Spike had left a few months ago to embark on his life as a dragon, somewhere along the mountain tops, far beyond Equestria’s borders. Grey, white, and black; smooth, ruffled, and mountainous; those rockies weren’t silent nor harmonic; they were only chaotic, with howling winds from the aloft peaks that would chill a pony’s bones the second they felt them. Twilight hoped he found himself a new home. She knew that it would only be a matter of time now until she got a letter from him.
Hopefully….
Twilight opened the box and looked inside. Inside were many glass, wooden, and chrome-like ornaments that would shine when illumed by the lights that would soon be coiled around the tree. The embellishments would remain very still and silent as they hung on the tree; and whether or not they actually meant something, other than a trinket for an annual holiday, they would still be silent.
Twilight remembered a tale her father once told her. It was about an old stallion who never decorated his Hearth’s Warming Eve tree because he believed it violated the integrity and spirituality of the tree—since it was nature who bore it. The old stallion went on about how ornaments were nothing more than paltry bibelots so stores could make bits. But Twilight didn’t believe such nonsense.
Sorting out the ornaments, Twilight put the ones alike together—though she had limited success since all of them were practically different.
“Hmm, might as well put the hoofstockings and the straight wreath above the fire,” Twilight said to herself.
When she attached the linear wreath above the fireplace as well as the hoofstockings, she heard a sound come from inside the castle—which was strange, considering she was the only one present. The surroundings were eldritch and left an uneasy feeling in the air. Twilight’s curiosity got the better of her and she went to scout for the source of the sound.
What she saw surprised her in more ways than one.
The sound was coming from two pegasi ponies. They were wearing a dark veil, and they had an orange coat and a meaty build. Neither of them seemed to realize that they had been spotted, so they continued their course down the hallway and to the living room.
Jarred and confused, Twilight followed them back to the place she was just at, and when the intruders got to their place, they placed a wrapped up present under the tree. Then the two pegasi beheld a pocket watch with a photograph of Scootaloo embedded in the frame of it. They then started to tear up at the sight of the photographic filly.
And although Twilight felt violated, she left the two ponies alone. For now she was just intrigued by the sight that was in front of her. Here were two ponies anguishing about the foal Rainbow and Twilight had adopted, brought into her home, and took on as their own. But why? Twilight had never laid eyes on these pegasi before nor had they…wait a second.
No, it can’t be, Twilight thought. Are those two ponies Scootaloo’s parents…it can’t be. I have to know for sure.
Curious and wanting answers, Twilight startled them by saying, “Who are you, and what do you think you’re doing in breaking into a princess’s castle? Why are you putting presents under the tree? What’s your angle?”
No response.
“Answer me, by the order of an Equestrian Princess!” Twilight was genuinely angry. A moment ago, she was content, but now, in a matter of minutes, she was like a volcano about to erupt fiery magma.
Still no answer. Only two ponies frozen in place, looking away.
“By the law of Equestria, if you do not answer my question, I will have you thrown in a cell! Now, I’m not asking for much here, just why you’re here, and why you’re putting presents under my tree? Are you trying to harm my family? Answer me!”
Still no answer, even after Twilight had threatened them for the worse. That was until Twilight powered her horn.
“Okay, okay,” one of the ponies said. The other one sighed. “Might as well take them off, dear. We’ve been caught.”
Taking off the veils, two orange faces were exposed that reminded Twilight of Scootaloo. “We don’t mean any harm, Princess Twilight, we promise.”
“That doesn’t answer my question. Who are you, and why are you here?”
The two orange ponies looked at each other, sighed. The stallion spoke up. “We’re Scootaloo’s biological parents.”
“What?” Twilight said. Her voice was friendly, yet dangerous. “I’ll have you know, I will have you arrested for fraudulent claims. I’m going to ask you this one this last, this time without the—”
“We’re telling you the truth,” the mare said. “We are Scootaloo’s biological parents.”
“Why should I believe you? You just broke into a castle, so I highly doubt anything you say is plausible.” Twilight was beginning to grow enraged. In front of her were two ponies claiming to be her adopted foal’s biological parents, yet there was little indication of it, aside from the orange coats that were akin to Scootaloo’s and their photo of Scootaloo. She needed actual evidence; and an explanation for everything. “Prove it. And tell me everything.”
Both of them sighed. Then the stallion said, “Do you remember presents that were labeled ‘To Scootaloo, from Mother and Father’ that showed up over the past few years?”
Very true that was. Ever since Scootaloo was adopted into the Sparkle family name—the same year of Twilight and Rainbow’s wedding—the foal had been receiving presents labeled “To Scootaloo, from Mother and Father” every Hearth’s Warming celebration, but neither Twilight nor Rainbow Dash knew who had sent them. The presents were nothing harmful, but they still left them bewildered.
And on those past Hearth’s Warming Evenings, Scootaloo would be left with unanswered questions, every time, particularly with how the presents got under the tree in the first place. She would ask Twilight and Rainbow Dash, but they had no idea how it came to be. Those nights were the hardest. After being exposed to the gift’s label, Scootaloo—curious as to why these ponies who considered to be her father and mother—would up and run off to her bedroom, jump up onto her bed, and sob into her pillow. The same questions always arose to her mind: Why was she left behind as a filly? Why did her parents abandon her?
Even Twilight and Rainbow Dash had tried to answer those questions. They had asked the orphanage why Scootaloo was put up for adoption, but the orphanage had no background on the filly. The only thing they knew was that she was left on the doorstep of the place without a note or reasonable declaration for leaving the filly there.
If this truly was them, Twilight knew this might be her one and only opportunity to get answer for her foal. “Yes, I remember. Scootaloo would always run off to her room after she saw the gifts you left under the tree. But why? Why are you doing this? Haven’t you caused her enough pain for leaving her?” Twilight reluctantly started to believe them. The pain in their eyes spoke the truth more than words ever could.
“We didn’t leave her,” the stallion said. “If it were up to us, she’d be with us.”
“But why isn’t she? Why did you leave her at the doorstep of the Ponyville Orphanage?”
“Look, princess,” the orange mare said, “I know you don’t like us barging in here and placing presents under your tree, but let us explain, please. Without the hostility, please…”
“Fine,” Twilight said. She really wanted to get to the bottom of this. If these ponies were, in fact, lying, she wouldn’t show them mercy; only hardship and severity. “But if I find out you’re lying about all of this, I’ll see to it that you’ll soon be in a cell.”
“Whatever. But there’s one condition,” the mare said.
“What’s the condition?”
“You can’t tell Scootaloo or, err, your wife. We put our, I mean, your foal through enough pain.”
“What? Why? And how do you know I’m married?”
“We’ll get to that, but first, you must make that promise. Or else we say nothing.”
“I can’t do that. That’s not fair or right. You expect me to drop my trust, commitment, and loyalty to the ponies I love, for some strangers I just met? Not a chance.”
“I guess we leave then. Nice knowing ya,” the mare and stallion said in unison, before attempting to leave.
“Or…” Twilight teleported in front of the two pegasi and continued, “I can have you put in a cell by the end of the night.” Rarely did Twilight ever use her authority to get something out of ponies, but it was the only way.
“Okay, okay, you win, princess.” The two suddenly caved in.
“Sit down and explain. Everything.”
“When we found out that we were having a foal, we couldn’t possibly be happier. Or more excited,” the stallion said. “But, at the time, we were involved with some really bad ponies, loan sharks specifically.”
Twilight became curious. “Why were you involved with loan sharks?”
“My husband was a gambling addict. He would, um, blow both our paycheques at the slot machines you’d see at casinos. And since we had a filly on the way, we didn’t have any bits saved up. So we were desperate and weren’t thinking correctly.”
The orange stallion looked at his wife. “That’s right. I knew a friend, who had a friend, and that’s how we came across the loan shark. We would get bits to use toward caring for our newly born foal. But then we lost track of time thinking of filly names, schools, and ways to get the best medical care for our foal should something ever turn to the worse.
“And because we lost track of time, and our payments, we were threatened by the loaners. They said that if we didn’t pay up soon, we’d be in trouble.”
The orange mare had a look of hurt and sorrow on her face. “They threatened to cause me to miscarriage. That’s the trouble they were talking about.”
“That’s when we moved out of house and relocated to Ponyville. We were safe here since we didn’t leave any traces behind. Then Scootaloo was born. And…” The stallion stammered, and his eye pooled with tears. “That’s when we…”
“When you what?” Twilight said, agog as ever.
The orange mare pulled her husband closer. “That’s when we realized we couldn’t jeopardize the safety of our foal, even though we were safe. We couldn’t bear the thought of ever being found, putting our little one in danger. So that’s why we left her at the Ponyville Orphanage. We moved from Ponyville to an uncharted place and built a home there.
“Every year, we’d come to Ponyville and get her a gift with the little bits we had saved up after selling our house. I got word a few years back that she was living with a princess and a soon-to-be Wonderbolt. Seeing as how it’s hard to miss the princess’s home, I figured that’s where our foal would be.”
“So we came every year and placed her gift under the tree, hoping this wouldn’t happen,” the orange stallion said.
“I see…” Twilight said. She got up and walked up to the two pegasi. “But why can’t Scootaloo know? Shouldn’t she have the right to know about you?”
“Because,” the stallion said, “we’ve seen the way you and your wife look after her…she’s happy. She has her cutie mark, and she’s getting the best education possible. We wouldn’t want to take any of that away from her. If we did, it would be selfish of us.”
“Wow…I don’t know what to say. Why didn’t you go to the Royal Guard? I’m sure they would’ve protected you under Celestia's domain, and lock up those loan sharks for good, and—”
“You don’t understand what it’s like being a parent,” the orange stallion suddenly said, getting up, after which he motioned his wife to get up. “Don’t you—”
“Excuse me?” Twilight said. She just about had it. Anger was practically seeping through her pores, and she wanted to tear her entire castle down on these two ponies. “You have some nerve saying that to me. Rainbow Dash and I love Scootaloo more than anything, and you’re telling me I don’t understand what it’s like being a parent? I actually do know what it’s like. I’m the one who was there when she got out of the Ponyville schoolhouse, and I was there for her when she needed a shoulder to cry on.
“And where were you two? Hiding like cowards. If you truly loved Scootaloo like you say you do, you wouldn’t have let some measly loan sharks get in the way of her. So don’t you dare tell me what I know and don’t know, because, chances are, I do and you two don’t.”
Wow, did I really just say that? Twilight thought. I guess I did. Just goes to show that I do love Scootaloo. I’ll have to tell her how much she means to me later. But right now, I got some ponies to deal with….
“Just keep her safe and love her for us. Can you do that, Princess Twilight?” the stallion asked. “She’s the jewel my wife and I created. We want the best for her, and I know you’ll be the one to do just that.” The two pegasi motioned toward the princess and, unexpectedly, hugged her. Twilight was taken aback, but she went with it.
Twilight unwillingly returned the hug. “Don’t you worry. Rainbow and I will take good care of her. Just don’t expect to see her though. I don’t want you two to be the cause of anymore pain.”
“Does that mean you won’t throw us in a cell now?” the orange stallion said.
“No. But please knock before you come into the castle, okay? Strangers showing isn’t exactly my idea of a good time.”
“We’ll remember that. By the way…if you do decide to tell Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash about us, just be certain you do it because it’s what’s best best for her.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Twilight said.
“Best we get on our way now. Farewell, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
“Happy holidays,” Twilight said passively as her guests left.
Twilight turned around then exhaled. “Whoa…what am I going to tell Scootaloo?”
Silence.
⁂
Very brightly did the moon shine on the night. The snow—illumed by the stars and moon—glistened in the night, and ponies were inside their homes celebrating the festive holiday. The Sparkle household was no exception.
The Sparkle’s Hearth’s Warming tree, towering at least twelve feet, was fully decorated and its ornaments hung on the branches with lights coiled all around. The lights were aglow by coloured fireflies, something Twilight discovered this past year; and ever since then she was excited to use them for the first time on this year’s Hearth’s Warming holiday. She was very pleased with the result as they were beautiful.
Adjacent to the tree was a crystal fireplace, one lit by the burning logs Twilight had gathered from the forest a few months ago. Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash were snuggling closely by the fire, quiet as ever, while Twilight was reading a letter she got from Spike later that day. He was doing well and found his new home with ease. Twilight was so proud of him for taking the next step in his life. It’s too bad he wouldn’t be here for this year’s Hearth’s Warming holiday…or for the many more to come, for that matter.
When Twilight got back to the living room—where her two favourite ponies could be found—she swept Scootaloo off the ground and hugged her, before saying, “Scootaloo?”
Scootaloo adjusted herself from the sudden grasp, and then said, “Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“Aww, Twilight, don’t get sappy with me,” Scootaloo said. She fought against the urge to laugh but lost. “Seriously, though, I love you too.”
“Hey, what about me?” Rainbow said, getting up to join in on the family hug.
“We love you too, silly,” Twilight and Scootaloo said in unison.
“Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, I have something to tell you…”
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo looked at the princess with a kind gaze, one that put her at ease. Seeing those eyes really made a difference in her life. They made her happy, content, and blessed.
If you do decide to tell Scootaloo and Rainbow about us, just be certain you want to go through with it. We don’t want you to because we don’t want to be the cause of any more pain for Scootaloo…Twilight thought. Be sure Twilight…before you do it…no. I won’t do it. I’ll just tell them how much they mean to me. And that’s all that should matter.
“Well, what is it? Spill it already, the suspense is killing us,” Rainbow said.
“Yeah. What is it?” Scootaloo asked, jumping up and down, her wings flapping rapidly.
“I just wanted to say I’m so glad you’re both in my life. I love you girls, and I don’t know what the holidays would be like without you two.”
“Aww, c’mon here, you.” Rainbow kissed Twilight on the lips, then pulled back. “I don’t even want to think of a life without you or the most awesome foal ever.”
“You guys,” Scootaloo said. “Do you have to do that in front of me?”
“Somepony’s getting a bit embarrassed. C’mere you,” Twilight said, laying down with her daughter near the fire. Rainbow quickly joined shortly afterward.
And when Hearth’s Warming Day dawned, rosy and radiant, Scootaloo, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash beheld the presents under their evergreen. Up and down did Scootaloo jump as she unwrapped a Wonderbolt suit for the day when she would soar high into the sky with Rainbow Dash, who would teach her how to fly. Twilight and Rainbow laughed and smiled, knowing that it was the perfect gift for their foal.
And then, when the moment of pain was about to embark the foal, Twilight’s heartbeat rose, anticipating that her daughter would soon see the present labeled with “To Scootaloo, From Father and Mother”. She was in for a surprise when she heard the joyous screams for receiving the newest scooter that was released the past summer. “This is the best Hearth’s Warming Day ever! Thanks, Mom!” Scootaloo hugged Twilight and Rainbow Dash.
Twilight was stumped to say the least. When she eyed the present that was placed by Scootaloo’s biological parents, she saw that the label read “To Scootaloo, from the love of Twilight and Rainbow Dash.”
“Huh, I guess it is,” Twilight said.