//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10 - Happy Hearths Warming 
// Story: Fall's Hearths Warming 
// by Yosh-E-O 
//------------------------------//

	The Hearths warming Ceremony took priority over everything else in the orphanage.  Fall didn’t even hear a word about dishes, sweeping, or any other chore as numerous ponies helped her, Soft Steps, Rawhide, and every pony else who was involved in portraying the leaders and assistants for each of the three tribes.

***
As the sun began to set on the orphanage this Hearths Warming Eve, the children found themselves surprisingly interrupted by a knock on the door.
“H-hello?” asked the oldest filly in the orphanage as she answered the door.  The children knew it would be trouble if any pony stopped by while the caretakers were away.  However, it would be worse if the caretakers suddenly came back to see how they had turned the entire first floor into a makeshift stage through the use of blankets, pillows, cut up paper from old coloring books, and anything else the children could find lying around.
“Happy Hearths Warming!” cheered a mare as she poked her head in.  She was followed by two stallions who were dressed up in Hearths warming costumes.   “We represent ‘Princess Luna’s Dream Team’.  This year, we chose your orphanage as our local charity to receive Hearths Warming treats to help raise your spirits just as the Moon Princess raises the moon at night.”

The eldest filly didn’t know what to say.
“Uh…,” she sputtered.  “Thank you.”
“Is it okay if we leave our pies, vegetable plates, cheese and cracker platters, and cookies with you, young Miss?” the cheerful, deep-blue Unicorn with the snow-white mane asked.  “I’m guessing you’re the super-thoughtful volunteer who is offering to help the orphans out on this most special occasion?”
The older, orphan teen gasped.  Everything hung on her answer.
“Y-yeah!” she stumbled.  “That’s me!  Ms. Thoughtful and stuff.”
“Splendid!” the mare, ‘Dream Team’ leader whinnied.  “Then we’ll just leave the boxes here and let you do what’s best for those sweet orphans in there.”
“Right!” the bashful mare replied.  “We’re definitely going to make sure all the orphans have a wonderful Hearths Warming.”

***

No pony could believe that the oldest of the orphans was able to pull off such a miracle.  However, she did and now they had three big boxes of food to enjoy along with their play.  One box contained pies, another the veggie and cracker platters, and the last one had a wide assortment of Hearths Warming cookies.
“Can we eat them now?” drooled a hungry filly.
“Not yet,” insisted Gallant Gust.  “It’s tradition to eat after the play is finished.”
“Yeah,” added a young, yellow Unicorn.  “I used to love the food we’d eat after attending our town’s performance of the Hearths Warming Ceremony.”
“Isn’t that when every pony is supposed to talk about the power of friendship and how we’re all happily united under the single flag of Equestria?” asked a mint-green colored Pegasus who was about fall’s age, but properly developed in size and wings.
“Yeah,” stated gallant Gust.  “That’s what our family did every year.”
“Well!” squeaked one of the foals who had only recently transferred out of Ms. Care Feather’s Nursery.  “I’m hungry and want to see the play!”
Gallant and the other older ponies chuckled as they gestured towards their makeshift stage and seating area to begin the presentation.

***

Aside from a good number of on-stage mishaps, crowd-driven corrections, and plenty of awkward moments of stage fright, the Hearths Warming Ceremony went wonderfully.  It wasn’t so much about the quality of the performance as it was all the fun every pony had doing it.  What was especially impressive was how Rawhide and Fall got along.  He sure could’ve been a lot meaner towards Fall as his role of Commander Hurricane who often snapped towards Private Pansy, but he kept it friendly and Fall felt very thankful for that.

***

The rest of the night was shared amongst all the children of the second and third floor as they ate the donated treats from ‘Princess Luna’s Dream Team’.  There was laughing, joking, and plenty of smiling.  No pony had anything mean, cruel, or unkind to say, or do, to any pony else.  This included Fall, who really couldn’t help but be surprised at how she was being genuinely acknowledged by her fellow orphans as more than the ‘False Foal who does the chores’.

The night also proved to be most informative as all the ponies took the time to help teach those who didn’t fully understand Hearths Warming all about what it represented, who the key characters were in the story, and about other interesting aspects of Equestria.
“I never knew just how much was out there beyond the orphanage,” awed Fall before nibbling upon a carrot stick.
“Oh, there is!” proclaimed Soft Steps as she chewed on a piece of celery.  “When we all get out of here, I’ll be sure to help you learn everything!”
“Well,” said Fall as she thought on her friends, Bucky and Pint.  “I’m really glad I have so many nice ponies who care about me.”
“And I’m glad you and my sister are super friends,” grinned Gallant Gust as he brought a small plate of cookies to Fall and his sister.  “You’re her first real friend and I’m so happy you two can be there for each other.”
“Thanks, Gallant,” stated Fall with a beaming smile.  “If it weren’t for you, I don’t think I’d ever have believed all the orphans in here could ever be nice.”
“It just takes the right influence!” proclaimed Softy while gesturing for her brother to hug her.
“That’s right!” he exclaimed as he embraced his sister who also had a deep-blue colored mane and tail.  “And I know our parents would be so proud of how we are staying strong together while showing how all of us are capable of being ‘The Elements of Harmony’.”

All the orphans decided to spend the night together on the first floor as the younger fillies and colts began to pass out from exhaustion brought on by their young bodies insisting on getting their rest.   The heater may not have been running much, if at all, but the fire of friendship was keeping them all warm and cozy as they snuggled together with happy thoughts in their minds and smiles on their faces.