A chilling wind tore through the open window. Rarity shivered, having forgotten how cold the weather had been turning recently. She looked up from her latest work, a scarf with a bit of embroidery along the edges and a few jewels tastefully scattered throughout it.
"Magnificent, as always. Even if it is rather simple compared to my usual designs." Rarity said aloud, congratulating herself on the nearly completed project. A few final touches, a check to make sure everything was still the way she wanted it, and she would be done in no time.
A knock at the door disturbed her from her work. She would have asked Sweetie Belle to get is, but she was still at school. Sighing, got up from her desk in her inspiration room and called out "Coming" to whoever was at the door. Rarity put on her best 'customer service' face she went to answer the door. She closed her eyes and focused on delivering her usual greeting to the customer.
"Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique." Rarity opened her eyes, and stared dumbstruck at who stood before her. A reindeer, which was a rare enough sight on its own, but not just any old reindeer. His clothes gave him away in an instant. Red coat, red hat, white trim on both, and a cute white pom pom on the top of the hat. This was Saint Hooves, bringer to joy of so many little foals across Equestria. And he was standing at her shop.
With that revelation, she tried to speak several times, nothing but gibberish coming out, and then she proceeded to faint.
* * * * *
Rarity awoke to a pain in her head. She sat up, noticing she was now in her bed.
"Feeling better now?" the reindeer beside her said, looking down upon her with gentle eyes from a chair he had pulled up beside her bed.
"Yes." she said rather meekly, still in awe of who she was in the presence of. A thought occurred to her then. "Why am I now in my bed? And how long have I been passed out?"
The reindeer chuckled lightly, saying, "I thought you deserved a proper resting place, so I moved you here. As for how long, only a few minutes.
"And you really are him? Your really..." she had to pause, still not fully believing what she was about to say, "You really are Saint Hooves?"
"Trust your heart, you knew it to be true the moment you laid eyes upon me." he smiled, reassuring her.
"But, why are you here? Of all places, why would you come to my humble, little shop?" Rarity asked. She wanted answers, and she wanted them now.
"I came for a favor. I wish for you to do something for me." he looked down, saddened. Rarity could barely hear him say, "Actually, two things."
"What are these favors? Do speak up dear, I can't hear you if you mumble them out." she asked, wanting him to get to the 'favor's' already.
"Alright. First, I came to you to get a bit of repair work done on my suit. It's been many years since I've seen a tailor, and its barely staying together at this point." he held up his hat, showing a large hole hidden in the back. "The second favor is the one that I am hesitant to ask about. You see, my holiday is all about generosity, giving to others, and so on. Your element embodies that, or so it should." He paused, and Rarity was about to start shouting at him for such an insult to both her and her friends. He raised a single hoof up and silenced her before she even began.
"True, you give to your friends all the time, and to your princesses as well. But I have yet to see you help your fellow pony in any meaningful way. I have yet to see you be generous. So, to that end, I wish give you a bit of a test to deem you worthy of that title you carry. I want you to preform a true act of generosity before I next return on Hearth's Warming Day. I will not tell you more beyond this, but know that it is in your best interests to do so."
Rarity looked confused after he had finished. The suit and hat she could take care of easily, that was not a problem. But saying she wasn't generous? That wounded her pride. She eventually sputtered out, "But how will I know a 'true act of generosity' when it occurs? Since I've allegedly never been all that generous according to you."
"You will know by the feeling in your heart. A warmth like you've never felt before. That is all I will say on the matter." He looked at her, putting a hoof on hers. "Now, do you think you would be up for repairing this old suit and hat of mine?"
* * * * *
Rarity paced back and forth in her inspiration room. She had been there nearly all day, and had next to nothing to show for it. She had spent the last week fretting over what her 'true act of generosity' was supposed to be. Nothing had come to mind except what she already regularly did.
“A day!” she shouted. “A single day! How am I supposed to figure out this miracle generous act with only a day left to Hearth's Warming Day!” she complained. She went to a rack of clothing beside her, looking forlornly at it, seeking inspiration that never seemed to come these past few days.
Rarity looked around, and knew she had nothing. She had a week to be inspired and come up with a great generous act. And she knew she had failed. She cried, having nothing to show. Having nothing to prove she did deserve her element.
She sobbed deep into the night until a knock came at the door. Surprised that anyone would come calling for her this late, Rarity shuffled over and answered.
She opened the door to five bright, smiling faces. Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. Her friends.
“Why are you just sitting there!” piped up Rainbow Dash. Applejack roughly nudged her to be quiet.
“What we mean is, why ain't ya at the party?” Applejack said, stepping in front of Rainbow Dash.
Rarity looked shocked. She had completely forgotten her friends. She had forgotten their annual party. And they had all left their own party to make sure she would come and have a good time. Rarity teared up, and hugged all her friends.
“I'm...I'm so sorry. I just got so caught up. My work. Gift.” she could barely form coherent sentences. Her friends hugged her back, and Rarity brought them inside her house out of the cold.
“I must apologize,” she said, regaining her composure. “I will be but a moment and then we can head right out.”
A few minutes later she emerged from the back, carrying two stacks of boxes with her magic. All wrapped and tied with bows. Her friends were shocked that she had managed to make all these, but she brushed off their praise, saying, “Oh I did these months ago. I plan this all out quite far in advance.”
Finally ready to join the party she should have been at, she and her friends all left for Twilight’s house, the location of this years party. Snow had started to lightly fall, and Rarity tugged at the scarf she had pulled on before stepping out the door. The others also shivered a bit, trying to get warmer in their own clothing.
* * * * *
About halfway to Twilight's house, something caught Rarity's eye. Something odd that she had never seen before. She told the others to go on ahead, that she would be only a minute. They obliged, and carried on, leaving Rarity staring down an alley. She left her stack of gifts at the ally's entrance.
Though it was dark out, Rarity could just make out the faint shape of a small foal sitting in a wooden box with their head sticking out. Rarity slowly trotted toward the foal, wondering how she had never noticed that something like this existed in Ponyville. Where everyone was supposed to help one another.
“Hello?” Rarity softly called out, hoping not to scare the poor dear.
The head turned toward her, and she saw how frightened the little colt, for it was a colt now that she got a better look at him, was. His hazel eyes lit up, his brown fur shivered in the cold. It was such a sad sight.
“Please, don't be scared.” Rarity tried to approach him, but he shied away, trying to get as far as possible from her. “I just want to help you.”
The colt looked puzzled at that, but didn't retreat. He let Rarity approach.
“Good. It's ok. It's all ok now.” she cooed, trying to soothe the poor cold. She finally got right up next to him, and saw him shivering, and his ribs were showing. Starved and freezing cold out on Hearth's Warming Eve. And all alone.
“Come with me.” Rarity said, suddenly tearing up at the sight, but knowing this was her moment to shine. Rarity turned to walk out of the alley, expecting the colt to follow.
“Sister.” he said weakly, not moving to follow Rarity.
“You have a sister? Does... does she need help too?” Rarity said, turning back. She wanted to help him so bad, and find whoever this sister was.
The colt took off down the alley, his black mane rippling in the wind behind him, Rarity giving chase behind him. Around the first corner, they stood before another box with a even smaller foal, a filly. She was covered with a ripped, old blanket. Her pink fur, from what Rarity could see of it, was patchy, matted, and torn out in places. She opened her eyes, and two light green eyes stared, meekly and silently asking for help.
Aghast, Rarity took the two foals up in her magic, rushing them out of the ally. The two kicked and tried to run away, but Rarity held them in place firmly with her magic. She instantly ripped open the boxes the had left at the ally entrance and set the foals down.
From the boxes she levitated out coats, hats, scarves, and boots for each of them. Though they were a bit big on them, having been made for her larger friends, they still did a wonderful job in warming them up. In protecting them. In making them feel safe.
“Come with me little ones. Were going to a party.” she cooed, walking along side them, comforting them all the way. All the way there, though it was cold outside, she felt a warm glow in her chest.
* * * * *
“Now let me just-
“RARITY!” all five pones within shouted as she entered the door. She had been gone nearly a half hour, and they were all beginning to get worried. Again.
“Quiet!” Rarity said in a commanding voice. She pushed open the door all the way, letting in her two guests. “This is the reason I took so long.”
The duo didn't know what to do, but were soon caught up in a hug by Pinkie Pie.
“Where did you-” Twilight began, but was cut off.
“Out on the streets down an alley. I had never seen them before. I didn't even know we had any homeless in this town. I had to help them.” She said, feeling glad her friends didn't seem upset after the explanation.
“Um, don't you think we should get them some real food Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked reluctantly. Pinkie was sharing three plates of various deserts and treats with the foals. All three were absolutely devouring them.
“Come on, little ones, lets get you some real food.” Applejack said, eying Pinkie. She sunk down low, out of Applejack’s sight. Applejack then gave them a few apples each, something really nutritious for them.
“It's ok Rarity, I... I'll write Princess Celestia. I'm sure she can help take care of all of this, and hopefully find them a real home.” Twilight said, already taking out a quill and paper.
Rarity went over to a window, looking up at the night sky. “Thank you. Now I know what it truly means.”she said softly enough so no one else would hear. She looked back in the room, smiling at seeing the two rescued foals laughing happily. Rarity felt a warm glow in her chest, and this time she basked in it, knowing what she had done. Knowing she had saved their lives.
* * * * *
The six of them had parted ways later that night. Rarity had to return home to Sweetie Belle, Applejack to her family and her farm, and Pinkie had a Hearths Warming Day party to throw the next day. Rainbow was never good with little foals, so she headed out as well. That left Twilight and Fluttershy to watch the pair. Fluttershy only offered, knowing that they needed her help more, and having said her animals could wait till the morning.
And so, with the two rescued foals taken care of, Rarity left that night. Through the wintery cold, which had only grown harsher as time went on in that night, back to her house.
When she arrived in her house, she slammed shut the door, trying to keep the cold out of her safe haven.
She was surprised to find a tree right in the middle of the room, fully decorated and lit up. She hadn't put it there, and Sweetie Belle could have never decorated it this well. She stepped towards the tree, thinking it must be an illusion, when out stepped Saint Hooves himself. A bright red coat and hat with white trim, newly retouched by Rarity herself, adorned him.
“Well done, Rarity. You've finally shown true generosity. You are worthy of your title.” he said in a booming deep voice.
Rarity was surprised to find him in her house, but instantly relieved. She had nothing to fear any more.
“Now, before you say anything else, let me give you something.” He dipped his head into a sack behind the tree. Rarity moved to better see him, and saw his entire head in the bag, then half his body. It was impossible, it must have been magic. Rustling around a bit more, he finally came out with an envelope in his mouth.
“Ah, here we go. This is for you, for your act of generosity I give you this give this season.”
Rarity approached, taking the the envelope up in her magic and opening it. A letter, hoof written, was inside. It read:
Rarity,
I must congratulate you! I honestly wasn't sure if you would be able to do it, but you saved them. You saved those two foals, you gave them their lives back, and they will remember you forever.
So, as a reward for your act of generosity, I give you this. Your shop will thrive for as long as you or your family tend it. How, you may ask? Well, lets just say magic has a way of convincing people to come from far and wide. People know about you now, and they will seek out your brand above all else.
All I ask is that you keep that generosity in your heart, and continue to do good when the moment comes.
Proud to help a generous soul,
Saint Hooves
Rarity looked up, not knowing what to say, and found Saint Hooves to be gone. She looked out the window, and could just make out his bright red hat and coat, and his antlers silhouetted against the moon.
A few tears formed in Rarity’s eyes, knowing that her business would last for, essentially, forever. She had saved them, the two foals, with no promise of reward. Yet she had been given an eternal thanks, and make her sought after.
She would take the lesson of Saint Hooves to heart. She would give generously, she would help others, and she would feel that warm glow in her heart once again. She looked up at the ever fading silhouette of Saint Hooves against the moon, and smiled.
Author's Note
Written for a Contest for Overlord-Flinx.
