> Santa Claws > by MailleMaker > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Santa Claws on Hearths Warming Eve > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A figure, maybe Santa Claws, could be seen flying in the night's sky. The moon, covered in gray clouds, helped conceal this mysterious figure. The figure, though shadowed by the cloudy moon, obviously carried a bag. He landed on a house just as the clouds rolled away, allowing a pure white griffon in a red coat and hat to be seen. This griffon, most definitely Santa Claws, set the bag he was carrying onto the rooftop. After rummaging in it for a minute, he found what he was looking for and walked over to the chimney, then he jumped into it and vanished. A young colt, perhaps five, not even old enough to have gained a cutie mark yet, sat waiting on hearth for Santa Claws. Or he was, until he fell asleep. Santa Claws, being as quiet as ever, came out of the fireplace before setting the present he was carrying under the Hearth's Warming tree. It was then he noticed the young colt asleep on the floor. Always happens, he thought, chucking to himself. There's always some little colt or filly that is determined to catch me. They always end up falling asleep before I come though. I wonder what would happen if one did catch me? Then he remembered one little filly who had seen him the year before. I told her I was allergic to dairy. Which, though not completely true, just means I don't like milk right? Santa Claws pondered. Then, Santa Claws, being the kind old griffon he was, picked up the young colt and set him the couch before tucking him in. Though they never see me, they still believe, he thought, marveling over such devout faith. Since he had countless other houses to go to, Santa Claws took a quick bite out of the cookie that was left for him and a quick drink of the milk, which he knew he would never enjoy. Then, he quickly went back up the chimney and on to the next house. The routine was pretty much the same: go to the roof and down the chimney, then place the present under the tree and, if the a colt or filly were sleeping on the floor, place them on the couch and tuck them in. Then he would eat the cookie and manage to down a small gulp of the milk. This routine continued through out the night until he only had Ponyville to deliver to. Ponyville is quite different from the rest of Equestria, thought Santa Claws to himself as he flew towards the little town. There's a princess living there, ALL of the Elements of Harmony, and the CMCs. The CMCs, he thought to himself, they always have a sleep over in an attempt to catch me. The little white one, Sweetie Belle, I think, was the little filly who caught me last year. I wonder if she'll manage to catch me again. Upon arrival in Ponyville, Santa Claws made quick work of delivering all of the Hearth's Warming presents. Delivering Spike the dragons present posed a problem this year. Which so many chimneys in the castle, he wasn't quite sure which one to go down. Oh well, he would figure it out when the time came. He slowly glided towards the CMC's choice of sleepover location, which happened to be Rarity's boutique this year. He quickly realized the boutique had no chimney. This was going to be tough, he would either have to go through the front door or through one of the windows. After a bit of observation, he decided that the best course of action would be to go through the front door. Quickly, quietly, Santa Claws opened the front door, or tried to. It was locked. Thankfully, he had a magic key that would allow him to open any door ever made in cases like this where no chimney was present. After unlocking the door, he quietly walked into the living room where three little fillies were fast asleep. Or so he thought. After setting the fillies presents under the tree, he turned to eat the cookie and drink the milk. As soon as he took a drink of the milk, he grimaced. "What is this?" he asked, mostly to himself. "It's Soy," said a sleepy voice behind him. He quickly turned around to see Sweetie Belle looking at him sleepily. As she rubbed her eye, she continued, "Last year you said you were allergic to dairy so I asked Rarity to get Soy milk." "That was very thoughtful of you Sweetie Belle, though next year how about some tea," Santa Claws whispered to the sleepy filly. Then he walked over to her and tucked her in again and said, "Go to sleep so you can open your presents in the morning." "Okay Santa Claws," said Sweetie Belle with a yawn. Santa Claws stayed until he was sure that the little filly was finally asleep before leaving the house via the front door, remembering to lock it behind himself. Chuckling over the tail Sweetie Belle would be able to tell her friends in the morning. Now on to that castle of Twilights, thought Santa Claws as he flew towards the home of Spike the dragon. Upon arrival, he found that the chimney leading to the room with the tree had been marked with a sign that read, Santa Claws enter here. Glad that he wouldn't have to go down several chimneys, Santa Claws set his bag down on the roof and quickly dove down the labeled chimney and placed an extremely large gem for Spike to munch on under the tree. And, going through the routine he had done many times before, took a bite of the cookie left for him and a small gulp of the milk before leaving through the chimney. As he exited the chimney, Santa Claws noticed the sun had slowly began rising in the sky, signaling his return to home where he could get rested up for next year. As he slowly flew towards his home, Santa Claws' voice rang out clear in the pre-dawn, Happy Heart's Warming to all, and to all, a Goodnight!