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// A Ponyville Hearth's Warming 
// Story: A Ponyville Hearth's Warming 
// by StrongBrush1 
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The eve of Hearth’s Warming is a wonderful time in Ponyville. Ponies everywhere celebrate the founding of Equestria, and there are feelings of goodwill and cheer abound. But with every major holiday, there are also those who do not feel like celebrating…
In the town of Ponyville, the streets and rooftops were covered in thick sheets of snow. The night sky loomed over everything, with the moon on full display above the Royal Castle off in the distance. Just outside the town limits, a tree-built cottage sat silently by a river. While the lights inside were all turned off, there was a string of lights, draped over the branches and blinking colorful shades of red, green, and golden yellow.
Inside the upstairs guest room lay Queen Chrysalis, fraught with worry about the still-rocky relationship between her changeling subjects and the ponies of Ponyville. She felt out of place in the decorative, friendly environment. It was so far gone from the dark, dreary caverns she had grown up in. She didn’t belong here.
“My, such a glum face… I thought you were a changeling, not a humbug.” The queen turned over and bore witness to the presence of the God of Chaos, wearing a homemade sweater and holding a glass of eggnog in his paw.
The Queen turned over in her bed. “I’m not in the mood for festivities, Discord.”
Discord teleported over to Chrysalis’ side. “That’s a shame. I thought you would be more happy about being alone in the house with me.”
“Well, being alone with you is certainly one way to add excitement to my life.”
Discord hopped onto the bed next to Chrysalis, posing like a swimsuit model. “Remember our first night together? Just us, in a bedroom neither of us ever thought we’d be in?”
“We argued back and forth at length.”
“And yet, here we are. Equestria’s least expected power couple.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call us a ‘power couple’…”
“If you don’t call a demigod and a queen a power couple, I don’t know what you’d call them. Though I suppose most would call it unusual.”
“I definitely would not call it normal.”
“Why do you look so down? This is the most wonderful time of the year!”
“According to who?”
“Quite a few crooners, to start with…”
Chrysalis sighed and stared out the window at the falling snow, and the bright lights of Ponyville cutting through the darkness. “I’ve just been thinking. About everything that’s happened this year.”
Discord had heard Chrysalis’ thoughts on the matter so frequently he already knew what she was thinking about. “I admire your devotion to your subjects, but can’t you stop thinking about politics for one night?”
“Am I not entitled to be worried about the changelings who look to me for guidance and support? Right now, there are so many of them, all spread out across the kingdom, still feeling just as out of place as I do right now.”
“Chryssi… I know it hasn’t been easy for you. Reformation wasn’t easy for me either. It took time. It took a lot of soul searching. I wasn’t sure I ever really wanted to be reformed.”
“You had Fluttershy to help you out. She was kind to you and helped you learn about friendship.” Chrysalis sighed. “Many of my subjects are all alone. They probably wish I was there for them.”
”They must know you care about them. After all, you went through so much trouble to integrate them into Equestrian society. Besides, nopony is truly alone during Hearth’s Warming. Tonight, we’re all just one big happy family, trying to spread love and fend off the cold.”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
“Yes, but I’m not lying.”
“I suppose, at the very least, I appreciate that you’re here.”
“Not to sound selfish, but I appreciate it too. Up until two years ago, I was spending every Hearth’s Warming covered in snow out in the Canterlot Gardens. Do you know how terrible being frozen for a thousand years is?”
“I can’t imagine.”
“Whatever. That’s all in the past. I’m a new draconequus, and you’re a new changeling. Just think positively. Your changelings can get by on the love they get from townsponies. And there must be changeling families out there, celebrating their first Hearth’s Warming as Equestrian citizens. Progress is happening. There are so many good things in the world that we don’t always think about.”
Chrysalis took all of this in, and smiled. Perhaps she was being too dramatic about the whole situation. “You always did need to get the last word in, didn’t you?”
“Well, I’m sure I’m not the ONLY one who likes the sound of my voice.”
The queen noticed that Discord was staring up at the ceiling, looking about ready to turn off for the night. “Did you, by any chance, come in here with other things on your mind?”
The draconequus realized something and sat up. “Oh my, you’re right!” Discord slapped his forehead so hard that his head went flying off of his neck, hitting the back wall and ricocheting around the room until coming to a stop on the floor. His headless body stumbled around, trying to pick his head back up. “I swear, I’d lose my head if it weren’t attached.”
Chrysalis chuckled slightly and rolled her eyes. “You and your theatrics.”
Discord picked up his head and held it, stretching his arm out. “Alas, poor noggin… I knew him, Chrysalis.”
“Incredible effects, but the performance could use some work.”
Discord grinned as he put his head back on. “My girl. The only creature in the world with a quicker wit than I.”
Chrysalis smiled. “What did you want to talk about, exactly?”
Discord hopped into bed next to Chrysalis and placed his paw on her cheek. “Well, I have a few ideas I’d like to bounce off of you.”
“I’m listening.”
The couple leaned in and kissed each other on the lips. Even when things looked bleak, they knew they could always count on each other to make them smile.
Snow continued to fall all around Ponyville, and the moon shone bright overhead. Every stallion, mare, and child slept soundly in their bed, thinking to themselves about how Hearth’s Warming really was the most wonderful time of the year.