YES, APPLE BLOOM, THERE IS A SANTA HOOVES
By Lucky Dreams
From: Apple Bloom
To: Santa Hooves
Hoofwritten, pencil
Deer Santa Hooves
For hearths Warming this yer I dot dont want presants i want a cutie mark!!! I have been good all year lon and i relly deserf deserve one!!!!
From Apple Bloom age 7 3/4
***
From: Santa Hooves
To: Apple Bloom
Typed
N O R T H P O L E E N T E R P R I S E S L T D .
“YOU SEND THE WISHES. WE BRING THE JOY.”
1 North Pole Lane,
Crystal Empire,
JB24 5HN
Applebloom aged 7 3/4
Sweet Apple Acres
Ponyville
Equestria
PV3 5EP
23rd November
Dear APPLEBLOOM AGED 7 3/4
We acknowledge your letter and were simply delighted to read it!
Unfortunately, your request for a CUTIE MARK was sadly unsuccessful this time, because ITEM CANNOT BE GIFTED
We do, of course, apologise for the inconvenience, and wish you a Merry Hearth’s Warming!
Yours sincerely,
Santa Hooves
President and CEO
***
From: Apple Bloom
To: Santa Hooves
Hoofwritten, pencil
Deer Santa Hooves
You dont understnd i have to have a cutie mark or Ill die!!!!! Everypony Else els alredy has thers I just want mine.
From Apple Bloom
***
From: Santa Hooves
To: Apple Bloom
Typed
N O R T H P O L E E N T E R P R I S E S L T D .
“YOU SEND THE WISHES. WE BRING THE JOY.”
1 North Pole Lane,
Crystal Empire,
JB24 5HN
Apple Bloom
Sweet Apple Acres
Ponyville
Equestria
PV3 5EP
30th November
Dear APPLE BLOOM
We acknowledge your letter and were simply delighted to read it!
Unfortunately, your request for a CUTIE MARK was sadly unsuccessful this time, because NOT POSSIBLE FOR ITEM TO BE GIFTED
We do, of course, apologise for the inconvenience, and wish you a Merry Hearth’s Warming!
Yours sincerely,
Santa Hooves
President and CEO
***
From: Applejack
To: North Pole Enterprises Ltd.
Hoofwritten, black pen
Dear North Pole Enterprises,
My name is Applejack and I am writing on behalf of my little sister Apple Bloom to ask: what in tarnation is going on here?! And don’t write back ad and tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about because you darn well do. Let me refresh your memories. First, my little sister writes to you and asks for a cutie mark. You tell her that she can't have one, which is fair enough... except, what that letter was, I don’t even know, I’ve never seen anything so gosh darn cold. Then she writes again, and you send her the same letter as before but with the date changed!!
Now, I’m no fool, I know you can’t give her what she wants... but then again, nopony makes my little sister cry twice and gets away with it. I expect a full apology for those letters and I want it in hoofwriting, none of this here typewriter rubbish. And I want it written by Santa Hooves himself. Not his secratry secretary. Not the pony who works in the mail room. Santa Hooves. If not, mark my words, there will be trouble.
I just can’t believe, after all these years, this is how I find out that Santa Hooves is real. For shame!
Yours,
Applejack
P.S It’s been 14 years. Count them—14 Years. Where in all Equestria is my Easy-Foal Oven, the one with the ready-to-bake Apple Pies?!
***
From: Sweetie Belle
To: Santa Hooves
Hoofwritten, glitter pen
Dear Santa Hooves.
Hello! My name is Sweetie Belle. I have alredy posted my herth's Waming list but I wanted to add somthing. Please plese pleeeeeeeeeeese can me and Apple bloom an Scootaloo have cutie marks? You sed you can't but your Santa Hooves and you can do anything and Apple Bloom was crying. It made me feel reeeeeelly sad. You can make it better.
From
Sweetie Belle
***
From: Scootaloo
To: Santa Hooves
Hoofwritten (abysmally), felt tip pen
Yo Hooves!
Its Scootaloo the filly who asrk askd for the dulucs wonderbolts aktivity center with the real clouds!! But I wood give it up for you to say sorry to my best friend Apple Bloom. Pleeeeese!!!
Awsumly yours
Scootaloo
P.S Sweetie Belle is my best frend too are you sure we cant have cutie marks?
***
From: Gloomy Skies
To: Applejack
Typed
N O R T H P O L E E N T E R P R I S E S L T D .
“YOU SEND THE WISHES. WE BRING THE JOY.”
1 North Pole Lane,
Crystal Empire,
JB24 5HN
Applejack
Sweet Apple Acres
Ponyville
Equestria
PV3 5EP
5th December
Dear Applejack,
Thank you for your letter dated 1st December. Please be aware that North Pole Enterprises Ltd. is currently in the process of much needed modernization, and that, as is no doubt the same with any major corporation, minor errors are inevitable. Whilst we concede that it is unfortunate the way your sister was treated, neither are we prepared to accept full responsibility for the events that transpired.
With regards to specific complaints:
— Due to the time of year, Santa Hooves is currently unavailable to write a personal letter.
— It is with regret to inform you that the ‘Easy-Foal-Oven® Apple Pie Range’ has been discontinued. By way of apology, please find enclosed a copy of ‘Popular Hearth’s Warming Classics Double Cassette Album’, retail value 4.99 bits.
We hope you have a Merry Hearth’s Warming and a Happy Winter Round Up!
Yours sincerely,
Gloomy Skies
Head of Public Relations
***
From: Gloomy Skies
To: Sweetie Belle
Typed
N O R T H P O L E E N T E R P R I S E S L T D .
“YOU SEND THE WISHES. WE BRING THE JOY.”
1 North Pole Lane,
Crystal Empire,
JB24 5HN
Sweetie Belle
Watermill Close
Ponyville
Equestria
PV7 2WM
6th December
Dear Sweetie Belle,
We thank you for your letter, although we politely request that, in future correspondence, you kindly refrain from filling the envelope with glitter.
We at North Pole Enterprises Ltd. wish to make it clear that the idea that Santa Hooves can ‘do anything’ is a misconception—he does not possess the ability to ‘make it better’ with regards to your friend’s specific circumstances, for to do so would be to go above and beyond regulation 26b as stated by our company charter.
For your troubles, please find enclosed three packets of ‘Tescow Value Party Glitter’. For a full list of regulations, please write to the above address and include 5 bits for posting and packaging.
Have a Merry Hearth’s Warming and a Happy Winter Wrap Up!
Yours sincerely,
Gloomy Skies
Head of Public Relations
***
From: Gloomy Skies
To: Scootaloo
Typed
N O R T H P O L E E N T E R P R I S E S L T D .
“YOU SEND THE WISHES. WE BRING THE JOY.”
1 North Pole Lane,
Crystal Empire,
JB24 5HN
Scootaloo
Cloud Nine Driveway
Ponyville
Equestria
PV6 1FA
6th December
Dear Scootaloo,
Thank you for your letter. You will no doubt be delighted to learn that your request for a ‘Dulux Wonderbolt Activity Center with Real Clouds’ is currently being processed.
A cutie mark can only be obtained by the pony in question, hence we are therefore excused from any and all responsibility related to the matter, circumstances being manifestly beyond our control. We are, however, prepared to compensate you for any distress incurred as a result of the situation. To this end, please find enclosed a copy of ‘Ten Small Steps and One Big Leap to Perfect Hoofwriting: A Guide for Foals’ by Dr. Half Rhyme, PHD.
May we also take the opportunity to wish you a Merry Hearth’s Warming and a Happy Winter Wrap Up!
Yours sincerely,
Gloomy Skies
Head of Public Relations
***
From: Scootaloo
To: Santa Hooves
Hoofwritten, felt tip pen
Dear Santa
I put traps arond my fireplase I wont move them u til you say sorry to Apple Bloom. I dont want any presents til you do.
From Scootaloo
***
From: Sweetie Belle
To: Gloomy Skies
Hoofwritten, glitter pen, and in an envelope full of what looks suspiciously like Tescow Value Glitter
Dear Gloomy Skies,
Hows this for gliter?! I am going to keep sedi sending it to you until Apple Bloom gets an apologee.
From Sweetie Belle
***
From: Applejack
To: Gloomy Skies
Hoofwritten, black pen
Wait right there, Gloomy Skies,
This here nonsense has gone on for too long, it’s beyond a joke. Much needed modernization? Minor eb errors are inevitable? I’m going to go ahead and say it straight: you can’t scare me with your big long fancypants words.
All I’m asking for, all I want, is for Santa Hooves to say sorry for those al awful letters he sent my sister. How hard could it be? “Dear Apple Bloom, I'm sorry, signed Santa.” You see? Easy. You’re seriously telling me that he’s too busy to sit down a second and write such a simple message?!
Between you me, I’m a prety pretty patient pony, I can put up with a lot... but what I won’t put up with is some yellow-bellied pen pusher too cowardly to apologise to a seven year old filly. So you’ve got a choice: either get Santa to write to my sister, or if he won’t, then tell him to stay away from my family this year, because Celelestia Celestia help me, if I get my hooves on him then I won’t be held responsible for what I’ll do to him.
Nopony messes with my little Apple Bloom, and I mean nopony. You got that?
Yours,
Applejack
P.S Your darn tape didn’t even work! Got all chewed up on the first listen, and that’s never happened with my tape player before...
***
From: Gloomy Skies
To: Applejack
Typed, but with a hoofwritten note folded up and paper-clipped to the top
N O R T H P O L E E N T E R P R I S E S L T D .
“YOU SEND THE WISHES. WE BRING THE JOY.”
1 North Pole Lane,
Crystal Empire,
JB24 5HN
Applejack
Sweet Apple Acres
Ponyville
Equestria
PV3 5EP
15th December
Dear Applejack,
Having further accessed the situation, whilst we are still not prepared to issue a formal apology, we at North Pole Enterprises Ltd. understand that Hearth’s Warming can be a stressful time of year for many of our customers. With this in mind, please find enclosed a gift certificate for 9.99 bits, redeemable in all major toy retailers. It is our hope that it will aid your sister in locating an adequate replacement for her cutie mark.
Once more, have a Merry Hearth’s Warming and a Happy Winter Wrap Up!
Yours sincerely,
Gloomy Skies
Head of Public Relations
***
From: Gloomy Skies
To: Applejack
Additional hoofwritten note, ball point pen
For Applejack, and strictly off-record and private.
I wish this note was finding you under happier circumstances—I could get into a lot of trouble for writing this—but for what it's worth... I'm so sorry for what we've put you and your sister through. Things just haven't been the same up here since the Big Guy (that's Santa to you) hired some new ponies to help run things more smoothly. They used to work for a bank or something, I dunno. The point is, I have a little sister myself, and it breaks my heart, what we've done to you. Again, I'm truly sorry.
Yours, Gloomy Skies
***
From: Apple Bloom
To: Gloomy Skies
Hoofwritten, pencil
Dear Gloomy SKies
You dont have to make xcuses. Sa Santa dosent care about me. I get it alredy.
From Apple Bloom
***
From: Santa Hooves
To: Apple Bloom
Hoofwritten, gold pen
Dearest Apple Bloom,
How can I even begin to say sorry to you? Whilst I hope you can forgive the follies of a foalish old reindeer, you would be entirely within your rights to tear this letter into a thousand pieces, and then send the pieces to the far flung corners of Equestria with instructions that, on arrival, they be tossed upon the fire. I have treated you so awfully, and know that my dear friend and longtime employee, Gloomy Skies, came within an antler’s breadth of quitting his job in protest of what I had become. You helped set me back along the right path. For that, I thank you.
And know also how lucky you are to have family and friends who care for you so very much! Though I can’t give you a cutie mark, I can at least say this: that in your sister and friends—and in their hearts—you already possess the truest gift of all. Its worth is more than that of any mark on your flank, and more valuable than all the presents in the whole world.
... That said, this being the week before Hearth’s Warming, it would be amiss of me not to leave you with a gift of my own. This is why I invite you, Applejack, Sweetie Belle and, of course, Scootaloo, to come and visit my Toy Factory, all expenses paid for in full. It is the least I could do... and from the depths of my heart, I apologise.
Yours truly,
Santa Hooves
***
From: Santa Hooves
To: Applejack
Hoofwritten, gold pen
Dearest Applejack,
Though I know there can never be any true cure for the pain I have inflicted on you and your family in this, what should be the season of joy, I at least hope that the oven waiting for you in the kitchen goes some of the way to healing that hurt. I’m sorry it took so long to deliver, and I’m deeply sorry for everything else.
Yours truly,
Santa Hooves
***
From: Apple Bloom
To: Twilight Sparkle
Hoofwritten, pencil
Dear Twilight
Sis sed I had to rite to you bcos you do those friendship repots rports leters to the princess. Look at this letter I got from Santa!! This was the worst hearths warming ever and now its the best and its all bcos of my friends!!!
Happy hearths Warming
From Apple Bloom
***
From: Twilight Sparkle
To: Princess Celestia
Hoofwritten on personalized note paper, pencil
F R O M T H E D E S K O F T W I L I G H T S P A R K L E
Dear Princess Celestia,
Can you believe it? Not only did I forget to pack my special letter writing quill before visiting my parents for Hearth’s Warming, but they don’t even have a single spare in the entire house—that is to say, after searching two whole floors in addition to the basement and the attic, all I found was a worn out pencil with pictures of ‘Hello Filly’ printed on the side! I love my parents dearly, but sometimes I can’t help feeling that we’re from two separate planets... however, I digress. Quill or no quill, the magic of friendship is simply too important to brush aside and not report on.
This morning, I received a letter from one of your younger subjects (the girl in question, Apple Bloom, was a flower filly at your niece’s wedding, so the two of you have met). It appears that she’s been having a bit of trouble lately involving Santa Hooves; trouble that was no match for the power of friendship. For when ponies love each other, when they are prepared to stand up for one another and fight for what’s right, then there’s no end to what they can accomplish. Even when problems seem insurmountable and the going tough, in the end, one way or another, friendship prevails: in this instance, Apple Bloom was lucky enough to get an apology off Santa Hooves for the errors he made, but even if she hadn’t, she still would have been surrounded by ponies who had proven they were willing to stand by her and support her in her hour of need. What, I ask, embodies the spirit of Hearth’s Warming more clearly than that?
Here’s wishing you a wonderful Hearth’s Warming!
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
Man, I know it would be totally out of place, but I can't help but feel like this needs a 'stinger' somehow. Like a form letter response from Celestia, or a bill from Ponyville Hospital for treating Sweetie's Glitter Overdose, or something.
1966798 Glad you think so
1967585 That editorial is one of my favourite pieces of writing ever. I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and shake the guy's hand!
1969069 "Our top story tonight, school age filly caught doing lines of glitter off Miss Cheerilee's desk!"
1969176
For a story so short and simple to be so heart warming and convey so much feelings... I would expect nothing less of you!
I'm beyond amazed, however, at the presentation of the story. Never before have I read something like this, and I truly believe it shows your great commitment and dedication.
Also, aside from different styles, you never forgot (even for a second) about characterization. I cannot even express how appropriate and in-character every single letter felt (episode writers should definitely follow your example instead of shattering ponies' personalities like in the last few eps ). Everything from Applebloom's plain and practical writing, Scootaloo's sharp letters as if she was struggling out each and every one of them (with her mouth too! ), Sweetie's much more curved and aspiring-to-be-elegant style (can she use magic already or has Rarity trained her in writing with her mouth? ), Applejack's imperfect and practical words that cut the chase and hit the nail in the head, to Twilight apologizing for using a pencil is just perfect.
Also, you added those perfect little trademark touches of each pony! Like Applebloom's sad filly face, Sweetie's decorations all over her letter, Scootaloo painting Rainbow's cutie mark instead of the T letter in her name, Applejack signing hers letter with an apple... It just blows my poor mind.
I'm so sorry I'm orgasming about each and every one of your stories so much, but it just so happens that you blow me away with each one. I mean, it's not my fault, right? It has to be yours!
Anyway, whether it's just a short tale of growing up, or an amazingly crafted OC kiddo who wants nothing more than to meet his mom one last time, or this simple story when presentation is everything, your commitment and skills shine like a diamond the size of Tom the Boulder (at least! ).
Eh, let me calm down a little...
.
.
.
Whew. All good now.
I honestly think the presentation of this story has a tremendous role of carrying the reader along. If anyone decided to read the text-only version they would miss so friggin' much. Honestly, I don't think you should have uploaded the text version. *hint, hint*
Before I go, awestruck and smothered by your skills (like after reading every one of your stories ) I have to ask one thing: is this all your
handhoofwriting? You sport so many writing styles, if that's the case!There's this feeling in my chest. I'm not sure what it is. I think it might be... happiness?
Or possibly lung cancer. Can't tell. Either way, good story. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
1969940 Don't apologise! You always leave the best comments. You have a real knack of noticing all the things that I really want people to notice
With Sweetie's writing, I was working on the assumption that Rarity's writing is absolutely impeccable (or that, at the very least, she likes to cultivate that impression), and that Sweetie is trying her level best to make her hoofwriting at least as good. She's still got a loooong way to, but it means that out of all the crusaders, she has the nicest writing.
And yes, all the handwriting is my own (as a point of compassion, my normal handwriting is like a barely legible version of the note written by Gloomy Skies). It's also the reason why, even though it's a really short story, it still took a frankly embarrassing amount of time to do. I had to figure out what everyone's writing looked like and then I had to practice it -- every letter was done at least twice. And oddly enough, even though Santa's was the most time-consuming, it was actually Scootaloo's writing that was the hardest to get right. It had to be bloody horrible, but at the same time it had to be understandable as well
Then again, if your comment is anything to go by, then it was all worth it
1977100 Good grief, I hope it's not cancer! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for the lovely comment
1978549 I've honestly never heard of that, although I'm very tempted to check it out now. I was actually inspired by The Jolly Christmas Postman, which someone got for me when I was four or something, and it was such an awesome book that I never forgot about it. So yeah, similar sort of thing
1978703 Thanks Alex!
1978784 Sitting half finished on a desk whilst me and a few others made our way through a bottle of whisky, playing Super Smash Bros and hurling abuse at Pikichu. It was a good night. And I'm glad you enjoyed the story!
1979385 And she has 52 different varieties of quill, 35 different types of pencil, and 76 pots of ink, each one a sliiightly different shade of black. And when giving new ponies a grand tour of the library, she always insists on showing off every single one. Individually.
YearsMonths of practice on a plethora of fics, both good and bad. But I thank you for your kind comment, I'm glad I hit the proverbial nail on the head and not made a fool of myself. Again...Rest assured, it most definitely was.
Marvelously executed. While I think the character voice for Twilight was off a smidge, everyone else was well realized, and very true to the spirit of the show. I read the scanned in version at the suggestion of the other PRs, and I'm glad I did. It really added another dimension to the piece, and I'm happy that you took the time to craft it that way.
It was very good. I do think that the spelling errors were a little overdone. Dealing with kids all the time, I thought it was a bit much. But that's a minor complain, very cute story.
I'll be right back. I'm busy dying of cute. Actually, this reminds me a bit of Tolkein's Father Christmas letters, with all the calligraphy. Anyway, this is gorgeous!
Not going to lie. I teared up. This is gold. Truly gold standard writing. So much is said in such a short length. I envy you for those skills. My writing is terrible compared to this. Thank you for writing this, as it brightened up a pretty lousy day for me.
Impressive. The letters are all really well done, and true to each character. I toast you as an artist.
1969069
I think a reply from Princess Celestia would be nice, too. I'd like to see what her stationery looks like!
This brings back so many memories of writing to Santa. I got a response letter on special green paper, all neat and typed out, and I felt so thrilled to get something back from the big guy himself. Those were the days.
Happy Hearth's Warming, everypony!
Corporate bull-ding is no match for the power of friends and family!
This warmed my heart like a pie in the oven. The authenticity of the scanned version was just too precious. =)
1969338
"Glitter: Not Even Once."
The story's timing is about a month late, but I don't care! It's just so adorable and sweet. Creative use of scanned letters to tell the story, too. Nice work.
I agree with just about all of the positive comments above, especially Karach's, but let me pile on a new one: it's not often that I read a piece of fanfiction that makes me wish there was more and more and more to read, and while you probably did choose an appropriate place to stop I would have been happy reading these charmingly in-character pieces of correspondence for another 2000 words or more! Bravo~
Oh, sure. Tear my heart asunder with d'awwws, why don't you? It's not like I was using it or anything.
1982234 Made me laugh when I wrote it. Thanks for the comment!
1982381 Thanks!
1982400
1982417 Glad you enjoyed it!
1982484 I worried about that. I used to volunteer in primary schools a lot, so I've seen a lot of these mistakes made before...although then again, that was a while ago now. Nevertheless, I'm happy you enjoyed it!
1982504
1982532
I'll admit, this took absolutely forever and ever to get right, despite how short it is. Seems as though it was worth it, mind.
1982546 Thanks bro!
1982585 Nah man, it's no problem at all -- although it'll have to be later because google drive is just flat out refusing to work for me at the moment . Also, thanks for the little critique!
1982591
1982694
1982709 Haha! I never thought of that, actually!
1982711 It sure was, or at least of the most part -- some of it had me wanting to bash my head against the desk... but I'm glad I managed to push through those parts. Thanks for the lovely comment!
1982744 But... but she tried so hard with her spelling!
1982763 I'm happy I could brighten up your day, if only for a moment
1982845 Cheers man!
1982863 Princess Celestia barely even lifts a hoof when he own kingdom is in mortal peril. She's got no time to waste writing letters
1982866 Aw man, I wish that I could've gotten something like that! Also, happy belated Hearth's Warming to yourself
1982868
1982881 Thank you!
1982911
1982934
1982935 Thanks!
1982946 To be honest, I'm surprised that no-one else has made that complaint, since it was one of the things I was most worried about when uploading this -- it's half the reason I included the text only version. But regardless, I'm happy that you liked it. And yes, for the most part, it was very fun to write!
1983068 It's not late, I'm just getting in very early before this year's rush of Christmas fics
1983150
1983445 Can't think of any better compliment than that. Thank you very much
1983528 Heart's are totally overrated anyway
1983529
1983603 Thanks man!
1983703 Scootaloo=best pony (oh yeah, I went there!)
1983710 Nah man, in fairness, it is incredibly short -- you can read the whole thing in like, five minutes or something. But you're right about how long it took (especially with all the practice letters I did), and I'm glad you think it doesn't drag on
1983796 Aw gee, I thought it was pretty neat. Or at least a lot, lot neater than my usual writing . I'm glad you liked it!
1983863
1983865 I always love hearing that I managed to brighten up someone's day
1983930 Nooo, I knew there had to be something in there I overlooked ! But at least I managed to instil the feels in you.
1983931
1984196
What a gift of a comment
This is adorable. :D
Why isn't it clearing out of my tracking list, though? I've read both chapters.
This is fantastic, it really is. Just a shame it couldn't have been done a month earlier!!
1984331 Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
1984470 It's a fimfic conspiracy, man. Knightly's up to shenanigans
1984510
1984604 It almost certainly would've been if one of my best friends hadn't unexpectedly come home for Christmas. Between that, work, and a load of other stuff, something had to give, which in the end turned out to be ponies... but no matter, I'm thrilled with the response this has gotten. Thanks for approving it by the way!
1984727 Knighty also needs to fix the music on his Disco Discord website...
1984727
I actually sat down and read the whole thing before hitting 'approve'. I never do that, it was that good!
That was, without question, the most original way to display a story that I've seen on this site so far. It was cute, touching, and definitely worth the read. That's some creativity, there, so
goodgreat job.Scanned version is friggin awesome!
Whoa did something happen to have this re-pop on my watch list O.o
1984775 Haha! Thanks for telling me that, that makes me feel pretty good about myself
1984850 Thanks man!
1984913 I regret not having it done in time for Christmas, but I guess mid-January is close enough.
1984972
1985154 It's part of The Conspiracy . Seriously though, you're the second person to say something like that. Maybe it's a bit of lingering Christmas magic?
1985252 Thank you! And yeah, I didn't have any help whatsoever with this -- it's all my own handwriting
1985765 I'm delighted to hear that! And you're completely new to pony fanfiction? If you want some short stories to try out, I've got a few recommendations
Fluttershy gets the Hiccups -- This is just completely adorable.
The Light in the Darkness -- This is heartwarming, even if you don't know the context in which it's written (it's a response to a particularly infamous fanfic)
Petriculture -- This one's extremely inventive and will forever alter your view of Pinkie Pie. It's a good example of just how creative folks round here can be.
White Box -- A brilliant piece of work, though make absolutely sure that you follow the link to the GDocs version.
Celestria... It's Full Of Quills! -- This one is wonderfully wierd and criminally under-appreciated.
Hypothetical -- This one is very quick and easy to read, and also very fun.
... And if you haven't already, you should check out My Little Dashie. Personally, I'm not fussed on it at all, but then again so many people love the hell out of it that it's just one of those things you find yourself having to get an opinion on.
Hope this helps!
1985872 Dr Who approves of my story!
1987778 Thanks!
1988525 I'm glad people are mentioning the glitter. It was an utter, utter nightmare cleaning it all off my scanner, but I feel like it was worth it
1988863 Scootaloo's letters were very fun to do
1990947 Thank you very much! And in actual fact, this isn't the first time I've done something like this -- I did something similar about a year ago now, a short fic about ayoung colt who has a crush on Sweetie Belle. I've learnt a lot since then, so honestly, it doesn't work nearly as well as this fic. Then again, I'm still very proud of it
1991971 They were all very much intentional
Whoever downvoted needs to die.
Have a pic source
1994585
1994673 I'm glad you enjoyed it so much! And Sweetie's letters were very fun to do... though I can't say the same about cleaning all the glitter off my scanner...
1996075 Aw shucks, everyone's entitled to their own opinion! Thanks for the nice comment
1999277 Yeah, everything you see, I did it myself... although that said, my usual handwriting is absolutely appalling, so don't feel bad about having messy writing. I'm in the same boat
1999603 I've never even heard of that website, no wonder I couldn't find it! Thanks man
1999804
It's like the Japanese version of Deviantart, and a lot of eastern pony artists only use that site, so you miss out on quite a few pictures that probably wont show up on drawfriends. I have also noticed a trend lately, of some of the longtime artists over there making a pony pic or two, so ponies are apparently gaining popularity outside of its previous small niche.
1985375 I guess so! XD Because I totally feel some of that magic after reading those letters
D'aaawwwwww....so beautiful
(sighs) I really like this story. This is a problem for me because I desperately want to love it. Unfortunately, its foundation is based on one of the CMCs yet again trying to get their cutie marks, a trapping which I find a groaning automatic turn-off.
But you know what? I don't blame you for this one bit. This actually isn't your fault. Like, at all. It's the series's. It's been wildly inconsistent regarding the relationship between the CMCs attitude towards their cutie marks. In one episode they're okay with not having cutie marks and have gotten over it, in others they're cooking up schemes all the live-long day, in another episode one of the CMCs takes a dangerous spell in desperation, in another, they're still scheming but at least somewhat self-aware about it, and in the comics the whole thing's come around to the point where it's now played for laughs.
I'll admit it -- it's personal. As a fan of the Crusaders since they were first introduced, I never quite got over the show rolling back "Call of the Cutie"'s perfect conclusion. Yet a letter to Santa asking for anything else (short of world peace or a family member coming back to life or something) wouldn't have had stakes that were as personal without making the CMC look downright selfish. And your characterization is naturally spot-on, helping the premise immensely; extra points for your Applejack, whose dialect you extend to her writing pen in a no less than beautiful fashion.
I guess what I'm trying to say is -- despite the terrible Catch-22 the show has left your premise in (for me), this is an absolute gem of a story, with a wonderful message I'm reading about seven months late. Thank you for creating this.
Incidentally, you've officially broken my conceit against using anything but text-based media in fanfiction. Now if someone would only make a case for songfics. Really now, Internet. It's been 20 years.
~B
Man, this is so much better in August when I'm not being bombarded by Christmas advertisements on TV.
2936792 So sorry that it took over a week to reply to this. But thank you for such a lovely comment! And I think that's a very fair criticism that you brought up -- it's something that I thought about myself when I started writing it. Like you say, however, Apple Bloom asking for anything other than a cutie mark wouldn't have felt right... that, and the idea seemed like too good an opportunity to waste (writing to Santa for a cutie mark is something that I could imagine happening in the actual show)
2983916 I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. More to the point, thank you so much for writing about it in your blog! That made my day. Really!
2984444 Haha! I was late enough posting this as it was. The fact that people are still reading and enjoyign it in August is kind of bewildering to me, but in a really good way.
Maybe it's the lack of Christmas adverts
3174917 Here's a download link for you. Enjoy!
Nice way of telling the story! I think it was very neatly put together, and it was just a fine good story.
Like!
*Boop*
ohh! I'm so happy I found this story. read it before I joined the site, and now I found it again and you get a like and a favorit marking right away!
This is one Hearth's Warming fic I'll never forget!
Hi there. I hope you don't mind, but I liked this fic so much I have put together an audio version on YouTube.
3682395 Do I mind? Hah! I had the biggest smile on my face listening to this. It’s just… perfect! In every single way! Honestly, I can’t thank you enough for it
3682395
Ooh, goodie! It's been posted eh?
Haven't listened yet, still have trouble hearing myself.
Anyways, directed at the author this time, lovely little holiday tale. I really like the format, how it is told through the correspondence between characters. Epistolary, I believe that style of writing is called...anyways, I had quite a bit of fun reading it. Jolly good show, wot?
Merry Christmas. Have some readers!
I do suggest reading the comments, there's a lot of praise and even some concrit for you there (presumably posted by redditors without fimfiction accounts).
Also, a tidbit from a meta discussion that you might enjoy:
I loved the sweetiebelle and the glitter part