The morning had a nice, small breeze all throughout Canterlot, and though there was snow, it only came in flurries. Still, the sidewalks were covered in snow but were still able to be trotted on with a few slips here and there. Yes, the entire place had a blanket of snow covering it, but the ponies still walked and talked like nothing. The stores were wide open, especially at Canterlot Shopping Center. Here, especially today, the ponies are spending their bits here for their friends and family. But here, we have a young filly spending the morning with her older sister.
The train stops with a haltering screech right in front of the train station. Pony after pony got out of the train and quickly ran towards their loved ones, hugging them and saying their hellos. The last ponies to leave were two sisters: Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Rarity has fur that is as white as the snow, with azul eyes that can rival the oceans of Equestria. Her mane and tail have a nice, fashionable curl with the an indigo color. Though she does like to act high class, she is a Ponyville mare at heart, and is also generous. She is wearing nothing but a dark blue scarf to match her eyes.
Her younger sister, Sweetie Belle, also has the same color as her older sibling. However, her mane and tail are a mix of a very light purple and a pale pink in swirls. She is also wearing a scarf, but in her eye color. Her eyes are of a light summer green, noticeably shining in the current weather. Unlike her sister, she has no cutie mark, a mark that signifies the the special talent a pony has. Even though she and her two best friends don't have a cutie mark, she still tries to figure out what it could be, all while enjoying life. She was also carrying a light green bag, filled with other warming clothes. But for now, she doesn't want to think about her special talent. She just wants to enjoy the fact her sister took her to Canterlot, and that alone is enough to bring a smile to her face.
"Wow, Rarity!" Sweetie Belle said, unable to control her excitement. "Look at all of the pretty lights, and the decorated trees, and the giant candy canes, and glittery snow! It's so beautiful!" She turns around. "Isn't it?"
Rarity smiles at her younger sister. "Of course it is, Sweetie." She wraps the scarf tighter around her neck, looking around. "It's chilly out here, but that isn't going to stop us from shopping, is it?" Sweetie Belle smiles widely, making Rarity happy that her sister is enjoying her time with her. "That's the spirit! Now, where do you want to go first? Dress shopping? Horse shoe shopping? Anything you'd like, Sweetie, even a toy if you want."
Sweetie Belle rolls her eyes. "I'm not a baby, Rarity. I want to go..." In the distance, she sees a small music store with a metal object attracting her interests. "There! I wanna go there!" Without warning, she dashes over to the store not so far away from Rarity and her.
"Sweetie Belle! Wait!" Rarity says, trying to keep up with her sister. "Oh, me and my generosity." She quickly trots over to her younger sister, who was too busy staring at the store display window in aw. "You run faster than I would expect, you know that, right? Sweetie Belle?"
Rarity noticed how Sweetie was in a trance like state, just by simply staring at a microphone. "This is what you ran over for? A Simple microphone?"
"Simple" was enough to bring Sweetie Belle back into focus. "Simple? Rarity, this isn't just an ordinary microphone! This is the microphone! It's sound is so perfect, you can hear the background noise from 30 feet away! Can I have it? Can I? Can I?"
Rarity looks at the microphone itself. It does have a nice handling to it, the colors if the mic are flashy, but it's the quality that is important. Rarity was about to say yes, until she saw the price of what Sweetie Belle wanted. "300 bits? My, that is quite a lot. I'm not sure about this-"
Rarity looked down at her sister, who was giving her the same trick Rarity herself. Sweetie's eyes were widened enough for Rarity to see her own reflection in them, and the snow passing by them made her look extra sad. However, Rarity knows this trick better then her sister, and even though she didn't want to disappoint her, she came with a conclusion.
"Okay Sweetie, I have an idea. How about we look around more around Canterlot Shopping Center and see if we can find anything else you'll like better than that microphone?"
"Hmm...You sure you'll buy me that microphone if we don't find anything I like?" Sweetie Belle said, questioning her sister.
"Yes Sweetie."
"Well, okay!"
Rarity and Sweetie Belle walked around all where ever they could, to see if Rarity could find Sweetie Belle something to else she would like. They went from toy shops, to clothing shops, and even then Sweetie Belle Still wanted that Microphone. Rarity finally gave up, and decided to take Sweetie Belle to go get her Hearth's Warming gift.
On the way to the music store, Sweetie Belle kept telling her sister things like "You're the best, Rarity" and "I like singing! Maybe getting this can help me find my cutie mark!". Rarity was happy for her sister, but if she heard another word, she's going to get a headache.
As they were approaching the door, Sweetie Belle heard a clinking noise coming from around her. She looked around until she saw a stallion, whose coat was red and mane and tail was a grey-ish white, waving around an old, beat-up cup. From over where she was standing, she could tell that the stallions' eyes were watery. Was he crying?
"Rarity?" Sweetie Belle said, not taking her eyes off of the stallion. "Why does he look so sad?"
Rarity turned around to see what stallion her young sister was talking about. She felt a sharp pain in her heart. "Oh, that poor stallion. Stay here, Sweetie, I'll be right-" Before she could finish, Sweetie Belle was already in front of the stallion, looking at him. She tried to go after her, but the holiday shoppers were already crossing paths with her, blocking her view of Sweetie Belle. She even cried out her name, but the noise was to loud around her.
Sweetie Belle, now that she was closer to the stallion, could see the finer details on him. He was an Earth Pony, who wore nothing more than a newsboy cap. His coat had dirt around him, and his mane and tail were messy. His beard was well groomed, however. His eyes, which were a pine tree green, had bags under them, and the look and feel of sadness made Sweetie Belle pity the stallion. He still waved around the old, beat-up cup around, not even paying attention to Sweetie Belle.
"Mister? Why do you look so sad?" Sweetie Belle asked, innocently.The stallion looked down at her, keeping the same expression.
"Because I am cold." He pointed to his chest with the old, beat-up cup. "Here. I have lost my home, my family, and now my spirit. That is why I am sad." He continued to wave his cup, while Sweetie Belle spoke.
"But, it's Hearth's Warming Eve." Sweetie Belle said, tilting her head. "Everypony looks happy, see?"
"Are you sure?" He said, with a monotone voice. His tone is deep, but not angry. Sweetie Belle can hear the sadness in voice, but even though he meant no harm, the deep, calm way he is speaking makes her feel sad as well.
"Of course I'm sure," Sweetie Belle said. She turned around to see the smiling faces of ponies in the crowd. "See?"
"I see what you do not." The stallion said. "Look closely, Sweetie Belle. Do you not see their faces as well?"
Sweetie Belle didn't understand what he was talking about, until she saw a pony, looking almost like the red stallion behind her, trotting around. Then, another. And another, and another. Sweetie Belle was now noticing how many of the ponies there are that are just as sad and cold as the stallion behind her.
Sweetie Belle had so many questions rushing into her head. Why are so many ponies sad? How did the stallion behind her know her name? But most importantly, why aren't other ponies helping them either?"
Sweetie Belle turned around to ask the stallion these questions, but he was gone. All that was left behind was his old, beat-up cup. She looked inside, and found two bits and a little note. She took it out and read it aloud. "If you had a lot of bits, what or who would you spend it on?"
"Sweetie Belle!" She turned around to the voice of Rarity, was was drawing near to her. When she came closer, she was out of breath. "Don't go on alone like that! I tried to call out your name, but the holiday shoppers were everywhere." She looked around Sweetie Belle, confused. "Where did that stallion go?"
"I don't know. One minute, he was right here, then the next He was gone. He told me to look around and look closely at the ponies." Sweetie Belle said, watching each pony pass by her and Rarity.
"Oh, that is a pity. I was going to give him some bits so he could by himself some warm clothes." Rarity said, looking around. "Well, how about we go by you that microphone of yours, hmm? Sweetie Belle?"
But Sweetie Belle wasn't paying attention. In stead, she was thinking about what that note in the cup meant to her. "If you had a lot of bits, what or who would you spend it on?" Sweetie Belle thought and thought, until she came to a decision.
She wants to help.
"Actually, Rarity, I have a better idea." She placed the cup in her bag she was carrying, and quickly galloped into the nearest clothing store. "Fallow me, sis!"
Rarity was confused of why her sister ran into the clothing store. Then, she looked around herself, and noticed why her sister wanted to go into the clothing store. She smiled at the generosity Sweetie Belle was doing, and she fallowed her into the store. "Wait for me, Sweetie!"
"That'll be 300 bits, ma'm." The cashier said. Using her magic, Rarity picked up all of the bags around her, with Sweetie Belle carrying the smaller ones. With her hoof, Rarity gave the cashier pony her money. "Have a nice Hearth's Warming Eve!"
They trotted outside, noticing how cold it was getting and quickly looked around for anypony need of warmth. Sweetie Belle looked up at Rarity, who was trying to figure out which pony to go to first. "I'll take the ones on the right side, and you'll take the left! Ready, Rarity?"
She nodded. "This is a good deed you're doing, Sweetie Belle. Now, let's give these ponies some clothes!"
They trotted away from each other, and the first pony up was one who was sitting by a fountain. Sweetie Belle ran up to the mare, who was trying to stay warm by breathing into her hooves. When she noticed Sweetie Belle, the filly was already taking out some warm clothes.
"Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!" Sweetie Belle said.
"You..got this for me?" The mare said. When Sweetie Belle nodded, the mare started to cry and thank the filly. "Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this means to me!"
"It's okay!" Sweetie Belle said, giving the mare a hug. "Please go find some other ponies in need of warmth!"
"I will, thank you so much, little filly!" The mare ran towards a group of other ponies standing in the cold, huddling next to each other for warmth. As soon as Sweetie Belle saw them look at her, they all smiled and slowly trotted up to her.
"You're giving out free clothes?" One of them asked. Sweetie Belle nodded, and told them that her sister was doing the same not far away from her. The ponies looked at each other with happiness, thanking Sweetie Belle.
"It's the right thing to do," Sweetie Belle said. "Now come on! Put these these clothes on, it's cold out!"
"You did a good thing, Sweetie Belle." Rarity said as she opens the door and let her sister in first. They left Canterlot after giving away all of the clothes they could, and were happy that the ponies got something for Hearth's Warming Eve. They came back at noon, and the sun was already down while Princess Luna's moon was being raised. "You made a bunch of ponies happy."
"Yea, it felt good seeing them smile, Rarity!" Sweetie Belle said, taking of her winter clothes. She got a little bit sad, realizing that she didn't get what she wanted. "It still kind of stinks that I didn't get the microphone."
"I know, Sweetie, but that's how being generous is like." Rarity said, comforting her sister. "Sometimes you have to give a little to get a little."
"But in this case, we gave a lot, huh?" Sweetie Belle said, giggling. "It's okay, Rarity. I'm happy that those ponies have something for Hearth's Warming Eve."
"That's wonderful, Sweetie." Rarity said, giving her a hug. Tell you what? How about I go cook us some cookies,and I'll see if I can make enough money to by that microphone you wanted for your birthday?"
"That'd be great." Sweetie Belle said, smiling. Rarity smiled and trotted into the kitchen, telling Sweetie Belle that she will start baking the cookies right away. Sweetie Belle decided to sit in the living room and rest.
She started to close her eyes, and take a quick nap. She was interrupted by a faint clinking noise coming from the outside. She recognized that sound with no trouble, and quickly put on her winter clothes and ran outside. The decorations around Ponyville provided enough light for Sweetie Belle to see, and right under a decorated light post, was the red stallion with the old, beat-up cup, smiling.
Sweetie Belle could have sworn she left the cup in her bag, but paid no mind as she ran up to the red pony. "Hi, mister! How are you doing?"
The stallion looked down at Sweetie Belle, with a great big smile. "I am doing just fine, Sweetie Belle. I see you have got what you wanted for Hearth's Warming?"
"Well, not really, but I did give away a lot of clothes for the ponies in need!" Sweetie Belle said in excitement. She walked closer to the red pony and hugged him. "Thank you for letting me know the right thing, mister."
The stallion hugged back. "Me? No, this was you're choice, Sweetie Belle. It is always good to know that young fillies like you care for others." The stallion turned around and began walking away.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Sweetie Belle said, halting the stallion. He turned around, smiling.
"I have to go visit other children. It is Hearth's Warming Eve, after all. Have a happy new year, Sweetie Belle."
The stallion then started to turn into a bright white, and turned into snow. The snow flew away into the night as Sweetie Belle stared at it in awe. Still she could not get the facts out of her head: How did he know her name, and how can he do magic? He's an Earth Pony!
Whoever that pony was, Sweetie Belle thanked him either way. She smiled and trotted back into the house, closing her door. That's when she heard Rarity scream in delight.
"Sweetie Belle! Look hat happened to our living room!" Rarity said. As Sweetie Belle dashed into her living room, she noticed how the entire area was decorated with holiday cheer! A tree with colorful lights, a gingerbread house, decors on the walls and...
"Presents!?" Both Rarity and Sweetie Belle said. There was an even number of presents for them, but the first one up to look at them was Sweetie Belle. Rarity said they couldn't open them until the morning, so they would have to wait.
"Did you get these, Rarity?" Sweetie Belle said in disbelief.
"No, I spent nearly all of the bits on the clothes!" Rarity said.
"Then...who did this?" Sweetie Belle asked aloud.
They decided to not think about it, and went to go eat the cookies. They had fun talking with each other, laughs, and drank hot cocoa with little marshmallows in them. Even though they got presents, they were really happy without opening them: Almost as if the presents were nonexistent.
Almost.
By the time it was midnight, Sweetie Belle couldn't contain her excitement any longer. She quietly went downstairs and grabbed the first present she could. She was about to rip the wrapping off, until she read who it was from.
To: Sweetie Belle
From:?????
Merry Christmas, little one.
"Christmas?" Sweetie Belle said, confused. "What is that?"
She didn't want to dwell on this mysterious word, and decided to open her present. When she tore off the wrapping, she was at lost for words.
"No..way! The microphone I wanted!" She said, whispering loudly. She then heard a different type of clinking, which were more like bells. She went to the nearest window and stared into the night sky. She had no idea who that pony was in the sky, flying with a big, read bag. But one thing is for sure, she will never forget the words that pony said into the night sky.
"Ho, Ho, Ho! Happy Hearth's Warming Eve, everypony!"
Author's Note
I felt like writing this because, you know, there are less fortunate out there. I just wanted to let you all know, that they could use some cheer too. Merry Christmas everybody!
