Hearth's Warming Eve
It was the night before Hearth’s Warming Eve, in the little town we all know very well. Pinkie Pie’s Eve-Before-Hearth’s-Warming-Eve party had come to an end ponies from all around Ponyville slowly walked home in the crisp light of the full moon, the first hints of snow making their way to the ground. Maybe it would be a white celebration after all.
Twilight, who had left the party early to make sure that her faithful assistance wouldn’t stay up the entire night like he had last year, smiled down at the sleeping dragon. He had fallen asleep clutching his favorite blanket tightly around himself, in front of the hearth where Pony O’Presents was fabled to find its way into the house. With a motherly sigh, Twilight levitated the small baby up to his bed, making sure that he was still asleep before she silently made her way down to the cellar and the present she had hid from him down there. Snickering to herself, she put his present under the tree, making sure it stood exactly in the middle and that the red bow was perfectly symmetrical.
In another part of the town, a white unicorn enjoyed a glass of deep red wine by the waving flames of a dying fireplace. On the floor, a smaller unicorn had fallen asleep, not much unlike the dragon in the tree house. Rarity didn’t mind; she knew herself how it was to wait up for Pony O’Presents. With a soft giggle she levitated up a blanket and wrapped around the small filly, careful not to wake her up. Nodding satisfied to herself, she picked up the nearly completed book, a book about romance in a time long past, and started reading in the weak light. Every now and then she glanced out the window, her eyes seeking out the beauty of the night-light.
She was not alone in looking up at the full moon on this most beautiful of night. On the outskirts of the city, gazing out from one of the windows on the top floor of the farm with tired eyes, was a small filly. Her red bowtie, half untied as it hang askew over her mane, weakly reflected the moonlight like a pearl.
With her hind legs resting against the small desk, the worn wood still wearing traces of ink spots from when he had written her letter to Pony O’Presents all those weeks ago, she leaned against the windowsill. Her eyes twinkled as much as the stars above when she silently repeated her innermost wish for herself. This year they would come for certain.
With a last, wistful gaze she looked up at the sky, before she nodded to her own reflection in the window with the smile that only a child can produce. Quietly, so as not stir the sleeping house, she made her way down from the desk and into her bed, quickly untying the bow and placing it on the bedside table. It didn’t take long before the warmth of the cosy blanket had taken her hoof and guided her into the world of dreams. A world wherein tomorrow already occurred. Where she could be with them, feel their loving embrace.
But for one mare in the house, sleep seemed like a luxury so far away. She sat in the kitchen, mindlessly scratching the dog lying next to her behind the ear as she stared unseeingly into the half-empty cup of coffee. Next to her laid an open letter; a letter she had dread to open for weeks but that had finally seen the light of a candle that night. The words, the filly’s wish, she had feared were noted down with carefully written letters, as they had been every year. And as every year, the mare’s heart was heavy as the tears found their way down her cheeks.
For Hearth’s Warming Eve is a day of joy and light, of presents and family.
For Spike, the morning started with him running down a stair, followed by a giggling Twilight. Like all dragons, patience was something that he would have to learn; it was not part of their natural habit. The unicorn hadn’t even gotten down the stairs before the present under the tree had been picked forth and the wrapping torn off. With a smile, she watched the dragon as he, unable to believe his eyes, looked at the biggest sapphire he had ever seen.
For Sweetie Bell, the morning started with waking up in front of the hearth, warmed up by the fire that sparked inside of it. The smell of hot chocolate blended together with the musky scent of the decorated tree, a mighty spruce her father had fell in a nearby forest. On her lips, the yawn died out as she saw the presents hiding under the tree. And just like young dragons have to learn patience, so do small fillies. With a cry of joy, she leaped at the presents. Quickly she picked out the biggest one with her name written on it and started undo the wrapping. Unbeknownst to her, she wasn’t alone. Behind her, levitating a small tray with cups filled to the brim with hot chocolate and whipped cream, stood her elder sister, smiling down at her and gently placing down the tray, soon joining her sister with unwrapping presents.
For one filly, Hearth’s Warming Eve would bring nothing but the disappointment it brought every year. But that was nothing she knew, running down the stairs with the bowtie hanging loosely in her hair, barely fastened in the hurry that had taken a hold over the filly’s hooves. She called out the name of the ones her heart desired, the ones who had promised to come. Her happy cries woke up the family that had been sleeping.
For the mare who hadn’t been able to sleep, and now sat in the kitchen looking down the empty cup, the joyful sound was like daggers driven into her heart. Fighting back the tears, she stood up; ready to be the strong, bigger sister.
But is strength to awaken the hope of a small filly as she runs down the stairs on Hearth Warming Eve? Having her think that at in the room at the end of the stairs stands the ponies she have wished to meet for so long? Is it strength to, year after year, leave three, small presents on the table? Presents for the filly to find together with an envelope containing an excuse that they couldn’t come this year either, that things got in the way.
Is it strength to comfort your sister as she cries into your shoulder? Whisper empty words of solace, telling her that they will come next year?
Or would strength be to tell the truth you’ve locked tight inside your heart?
Would strength be to tell your little sister that death doesn’t care about a filly’s wishes for Heart Warming Eve?
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Holy...
I don't think that she wants to be dead. I think it's a story about how sad it is when you feel alone, and the only thing that can make you happy again will never come back.
It's a little dark, but not enough to be grimdark. And, with the exception of a few spelling/grammar mistakes (I'm a huge stickler for grammar sry
), it's well written. Better than most I've found on here, actually. And the story actually made me stop and think, which most...anything doesn't do for me.
As I write this comment, "Mother, I'm Here" from the Bastion soundtrack is playing on my iTunes. When I played through that part of Bastion was the last time anything on my computer made made me stop because I was genuinely feeling. Listen to it if you like. It's not a perfect match to the ideas in this story, but it's powerful stuff nonetheless.
Anyways, fantastic story. Don't ever let people tell you that serious stories aren't worth your time, and don't ever forget that your dad would be proud of you for showing how much he means to you.
Fain... So many feels.... y u do dis to me?!?
Aj's and Applebloom's parents are implied to be dead. That's why you never see them anywhere in the show.
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Thank you. You've no idea how much your comment means to me. I'm glad you found it to your liking.
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Because this world can't be truly beautiful if we don't feel the pain of it.
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No, she want to meet her parents.
246461
That's deep.I like it
I know that you already know (most of) my thoughts on this piece, but here they are once more:
As for the story, it's just beautiful. Sad, yes, but still TERRIBLY beautiful. Although the end leaves a heavy feeling in your chest, the beginning with different views of the night and how it's taking place is heart warming and makes you smile (well, makes me smile). The ending seems to have most reader's confused, though. Did she wish for her parents to be dead or the opposite? While I guess it could be seen from both perspectives, I prefer to see it from the latter, as I'm quite certain you meant it to be.
For some reason, though, even though the story is supposed to center around Applejack and Applebloom, the scene with Spike finding a huge sapphire steals the entire shot for me. I can't help but have a huge smile plastered on my face as I imagine him licking his lips (do dragons have lips?) and Twilight watching her faithful student with his, I'm sure, expected but childish look of surprise.
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Always a pleasure to have you comment on a piece, Yaya. (Even if this is, to my knowledge, the first time you've commented in an "open" way like this.)
As you say, the part with that she wants to meet her parents is how I intended it to be. This was something I tried to give out with having the small sentence "She called out the names of the ones her heart desired".
And on the part with Spike and stealing: CURSE YOU SPIKE, STEALING APPLE BLOOM'S SPOTLIGHT!
I'm taking you a muffin from Russian reader Hellfire ;) He likes this story.
Dude... it... it so sad... I really feel sorry for you... and AplleBloom.
This story is... wonderful.
P.S. I'm a russian reader like matrosov95 and Hellfire (aka Адский огонь)))
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I'm very glad you liked it! :)
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You've no idea how thankfull and happy this makes me! Thank you, and I'm happy you enjoyed the story that much!
I don't understand why this doesn't have more attention. This is a wonderfully sad story.
It just gets right to the point. Maybe some people don't like stories that are so barebones. They might think it's a sign that not enough effort was put into it. But you know what? Earnest Hemingway is reputed to have written one of the saddest stories with just 6 words. Compared to that, this isn't spare at all. It says everything that needs to be said. So good job with it. And from what I understand at least people in Russia will get to enjoy this. Keep put the good work. 