Hearthwarming Tales

by De Writer

ROE'S WISH

ROE’S WISH

It was a dark and stormy night. Cliche, I know, but it was.

Doubtless Luna was doing her duty somewhere above the clouds that blocked all knowledge of her from mortal eyes. The clouds were pouring buckets of damp snow into the wind that raced under them and, like as not, pushed them around too!

It was not a night fit for pony or beast. Those latter were all wisely denned up, staying as warm as they could. The ponies out shopping for last minute Hearthwarming presents and treats were mostly not that smart. Those passing the Sweet Spot window had cloaks pulled tight and were a shivering and tooth chattering lot anyway that you looked at it.

I was thinking of closing up when the spring bells of the door jangled their welcome to visitors. They also put me on notice that there was somepony in the shop.

I spite of the weather, the three before me were practically gamboling. They shook the wet snow from cloaks and stomped it from hooves. I recognized those faces! The magenta mare was Molly and her two foals were Morty and Sis (who did not really like her full name of Sisterca).

Molly raised her nose and sniffed. “Happy Hearthwarming, Roe! I do not smell anything cooking! What are you doing for Hearthwarming?”

I truthfully answered, “I was not planning anything this year. A nice fire in the fireplace and curl up under a pile of warm blankets. That is about it.”

Sis stepped around my counter and pulled me by my hoof as she declared, “That is not enough! Not on Hearthwarming! Last year, you took us in when we had nothing and gave us these nice cloaks, a happy, warm place, took us to the pageant and gave us our wood cutting business! We are now doing really well and it is all thanks to you!

“Even if you aren’t a magical deer in disguise, you granted us more than just a happy Hearthwarming. Your help then gave us a good life all this year! We want to say thank you!”

Morty nodded and added, “Besides, we have a tree and there is only one present under it. It has your name on the tag. If you don’t come, we will never know what is in it! We could die of curiosity!!”

Molly hit me with the coup de grace. “I have been cooking my hooves off all day for this, Roe. We do have a really nice feast all prepared. Please come.”

I glanced at my clock on the wall. It was no contest, really. The reason that I had not been planning any sort of Hearthwarming celebration was right here. Having the three of them with me over Hearthwarming was wonderful experience. I did not expect to have it again. That sort of took the fun out of my solitary Hearthwarmings.

Now, here they were. And they actually wanted this old gray unicorn to share Heartwarming with THEM.

I smiled and nodded. “That does sound better than doing a fried hay twist and going to sleep! You have a guest for Hearthwarming!”

I carefully closed up the Sweet Spot and my living quarters in the back. Donning my own winter cloak, I joined them. The spring bells on the door jangled cheerfully as we went out. I locked up and we trotted down the way.

After several turnings and passing a few others out in the miserable weather, we came to their place.

Out in front was a neat wood-lot with ricks of larger wood and tidy bundles of neatly split kindling. They had a gate and fence around the wood for sale.

We all bypassed the wood-lot and went into their tidy house. Molly made a production of lighting their candle lanterns. First illuminating the side board, filled with lovely snacks in warmer trays. Then she bracketed the tree with lanterns to show the single present under it.

Lighting the rest, she announced, “We have snacks laid out and the clover roast is almost ready to come out of the oven.

“Warm yourself by the fireplace and have a hot spiced cider to warm the inner pony.”

Remembering how I had invited them into my living space with almost exactly those same words, I nearly wept. I also took the hot spiced cider. It warmed my inner self while being close to the fire warmed my outer self.

Molly brought out the clover roast, dripping with baked on honeyed peaches and apricots. Like last year at my place, strangely, no invitation was needed! We all took places and fell to! It was a great feast!

Molly cast her eyes to the small package under the tree. Carefully, she said, “Whether you are a magical deer or a clever shopkeeper, or both, you gave us something very special, last Hearthwarming.

“You gave us all a fair start. What we have now, we built from that start by honest work. It was Mort who thought to return to you more and better tools than the ones that you loaned us to get started. We got better tools for ourselves too. We kept your original tools to remember a fine pony by.”

Sisterca spoke gently but firmly, “You gave us more than a start. That Hearthwarming with you was the first time that we felt like we had a whole family since dad was killed. A cargo wagon’s worn out wheel broke and the wagon rolled over on him.

“We felt like a family again, safe and happy in your home.”

Mort nodded solemnly as he offered, “What we wish to know is what you feel. What you wish for.”

I heard the small indrawn breath from them as Mort used the word wish.

It put me into a sort of corner, there. I mean, their wish was to find out what I WISHED for.

I bit my lip and my eyes teared up. I mean, I did know what I wished. The question was, how would they feel once they knew the truth? I drew a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“Molly, Sis, Mort. Before I answer that, I have to show you something. I do not know how it will change your feelings towards me.”

Molly just looked about the snug house with its nice things that my granting their wishes had lead to. Softly, she suggested, “Then show us, Roe. I doubt that it will change any bit of how we feel about you.”

Nodding, heart filled with fear of rejection or worse, being taken for what I could do, I let my magical disguise slip away. My gray fur turned to a brown, tinged with gray. My ears became longer and funneled more. My horn became two antlers. My mane and tail vanished. My tail became short and white on the underside. My legs became long and narrow, with split hooves. My nose became black, with gray around it. Only my eyes stayed the same.

Sisterca triumphantly pointed to me! “I told you that Roe was really a deer!”

Molly nodded acceptance and offered, “Our wish has a condition, Roe. You must not grant us any more wishes. If we say I wish, it is to only be conversation, not something that you must do for us. You already gave us all that we need except for one thing. The answer to our wish. What do YOU wish for?”

Utterly relieved, I looked about at them. “What I wish for appears to be the same thing that you wish for. A family.

“Last Hearthwarming, I had one in my home for the first time in my life. The empty place that was left when they were gone was why I was not doing anything for Hearthwarming, this year.”

Molly wrapped me into a big hug! Sisterca and Mort joined in!

Giggling, Sis suggested, “Switch back, Roe, and open your present!”

My disguise as a small gray unicorn slid smoothly back into place.

I stepped to the tree and picked up the small package. I carefully undid all the ribbons and paper. Inside them was a small but ornate box.

Sisterca noted, “You act like you never got a present before, Roe.”

I looked her in the eye as I replied, “That is right, Sis. I never have. This is the first present that I ever got.”

I opened the box. Inside, nestled in velvet, were a pair of pony wedding bracelets for the left foreleg. I sat and cried the happiest tears of my life.

~THE END~

Comments

[Seraphem]

Hmmmm, some intersting tales. Again, well set for your version of Equestria, which we've been over. The first gave me the most to say, mostly for how much it made me think of Hogfather, and anything that brings up Discworld thoughts is always good. But, it felt a lot like some scenes there, where Death is trying to do good deeds for Hogswatch. (Discworld version of X-Mas) Especially... that scene that.. sad, amazing.. beautiful, one of the most moving and powerful and heartwarming and just.... wonderful scenes ever written... Terry Pratchett's take on 'The Little Match Girl'. It felt a lot like that, which is great.

The rest.. each had their charm, love the Roe stuff, so sweet.

Though, in others, I really really have to question how any foal could be going hungry, and cold, and all that.. in PONYVILLE! When the fic, through referencing Twilight being there makes clear the time frame. Because, not only do you have Twilight, but, if nothing else, Pinkie Pie, who you know would make damn sure everypony had a fun Hearthswarming.

Still, for you version of Equestria, these were very nice.