Diamond Tiara’s Hearth’s Warming Carol
Fat snowflakes hung in the air, drifting down so slowly they almost seemed still, as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon trotted through the town square. Wrapped up in matching scarves, the two fillies laughed and giggled back and forth.
“Look at that guy,” Diamond Tiara said, pointing to a pony arguing with a shop owner. “He probably waited all winter to buy his presents, and now he’s not going to get them.”
“That’s what happens when you put things off,” Silver Spoon added.
“Hearth’s Warming is about getting the best presents, and they’ll never get them waiting this long. Maybe their daddies don’t love them,” Diamond Tiara said, laughing as they passed another desperate-looking pony.
Walking by a jeweler’s, Silver Spoon pointed at a glass display case inside.
“Oh, look! It’s that pendant you wanted.”
Diamond Tiara waved a hoof. “I know. Daddy already bought one for me.” She nodded towards a particularly long line of ponies leading away from a toy store. “Look at them,” she said. “Don’t they know Hearth’s Warming Eve isn’t the time to be buying presents?”
Silver Spoon laughed. “Some ponies are just dumb, I guess. They don’t—”
“—have enough bits,” said a voice from behind them.
They turned around to see another group of fillies, three of them to be exact. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle all wore frowns as they stared at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
“Not everypony is rich like y’all,” Apple Bloom said, taking a few steps closer. “Some ponies have to work for their money.”
“Yeah,” added Sweetie Belle, “not everypony gets tons of presents.”
Diamond Tiara scoffed. “Well that’s not my fault. They just need to not be so lazy. My Daddy had to work for his money too, you know.”
Scootaloo huffed. “And I’ll bet he was a jerk, too.”
She was barely able to jump out of the way in time as Diamond Tiara lunged at her. “Why you little—Don’t you talk about my Daddy like that!”
Silver Spoon grabbed Diamond Tiara’s hoof and dragged her back. “Just let it go, Diamond Tiara. They’re not worth it.” She stuck out her tongue.
Shrugging off Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara said, “Whatever. I don’t have time for a bunch of blank flanks like you. I’ve got a big pile of presents waiting for me at home, because my parents actually love me.”
Now it was Apple Bloom’s turn to hold back Scootaloo.
“C’mon, Scoots,” she said, pulling on her hind legs. “Don’t be like them.”
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon giggled, not even bothering to hide their sneers. “See you later, blank flanks!” they said in unison as they walked off.
“Gah!” cried Scootaloo, slumping to the ground. “I really hate those jerks.”
“I wish somepony would teach them a lesson,” said Sweetie Belle.
Apple Bloom brought a hoof to her chin, tapping it lightly. “Hmm... girls,” she said, drawing the other two fillies’ attention, “I think I have an idea.”
“Oh! Are we going to bake them cookies?” said Sweetie Belle, her eyes lighting up.
“Only if they’re poisoned cookies.” said Scootaloo, grinning widely.
Apple Bloom shook her head. “Not quite. We're going to need some help though.”
The comforting scent of a half-eaten apple pie wafted through the Rich manor, filling all of the dozens of rooms with its spicy aroma. As Diamond Tiara pushed away the empty plate before her, she stood up and said, “That pie was delicious.” She licked her lips.
Filthy Rich smiled at his wife. “Yes, your mother made it. She’s always had a knack for making the best pies.”
Golden Crown chuckled, brushing her sunflower mane out of her eyes. “Oh, it’s nothing special.”
Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. “Well, it could’ve been better. Anyway, I’m going to bed now. I want tomorrow to come as quickly as possible.”
Filthy turned to her. “Oh, all right then. Goodnight, sweetheart. See you in the morning.”
Diamond Tiara waved her hoof dismissively. “Mhmm, whatever you say, Daddy,” she said, not even turning to look back at him, her eyes focused on the next room where a great pile of gifts lay scattered around the hearth.
Practically skipping across the room, a wide grin adorned her face as she passed through the great hall and entered the living room. Soft candlelight illuminated the room, casting a warm glow over the hundreds of wrapped boxes and tubes that littered the floor. Her hooves shaking with excitement, Diamond Tiara bent down to pick up one of the gifts, giving it a little shake.
“Don’t open anything until tomorrow!” her mother called from the other room.
Ignoring her, Diamond Tiara grinned at the little box, saying, “Just wait until tomorrow, little present. I’ll open all of you in the morning.”
Trotting up the steps, she slipped into her room and wormed her way under the covers. The soft blankets wrapped around her like a cocoon, keeping her snuggly and warm even during a cold night like tonight. Thoughts of tearing through miles of wrapping paper ran through her head as she closed her eyes and allowed sleep to take over. Not a moment later, her lids fluttered open at the sound of a loud bang.
“What the—” She sat bolt upright, glancing around the room.
After another loud bang, she located the source of the noise. Outside her window a pony was knocking on the glass insistently. Once she noticed Diamond Tiara looking at her, she said, “You there! Open this window!”
Diamond Tiara simply stared open-mouthed at this intruder for a moment before realizing that she actually recognized who it was. So, against what should’ve been her better judgement, she hopped out of bed and approached the window. Unlatching it, she swung open the window and was immediately crushed as the pony tumbled inwards.
“...Silver Spoon?” she asked incredulously. “What are you doing here? It’s the middle of the night.”
The filly smiled, standing up and brushing herself off. “Yes, it is I, Silver Spoon, your friend. I’ve come to warn you about something.”
Diamond Tiara raised an eyebrow, looking at “Silver Spoon” with a discerning eye. Sure, she looked a bit like Silver, but there was something off about her. Besides the fact that she was surrounded by a vaguely ethereal glow, her eyes looked brighter than normal and somehow she seemed a bit taller. Also, she was weighed down by dozens of chains hanging off her body.
“If you’re Silver Spoon,” Diamond Tiara began, “then how were you knocking on my window? Also, what’s with the tacky chains? Silver Spoon may not have the best fashion sense, but even she wouldn’t wear something that hideous.”
Silver Spoon raised her hooves, looking at the shackles weighing her down. “Oh, these. Well, you see, it’s all part of the theme. I’m supposed to represent—”
Diamond Tiara waved a hoof dismissively. “I’ve just realized I don’t care. Anyway, what was this about warning me about something?”
Silver Spoon rolled her eyes. “You are kind of a jerk,” she mumbled under her breath. Clearing her throat, she said, in a deep voice, “Tonight, you will be visited by three apparitions. The ghosts of Hearth’s Warming past, present, and future respectively.”
“What? Why?” Diamond Tiara said angrily, crossing her fore-legs. “I don’t have time to sit around waiting for three dumb ghosts to talk to me. I have to go to sleep so I can open my presents tomorrow.”
Silver Spoon rattled her chains menacingly. “You can’t escape this, Diamond Tiara. These spirits will visit you and show you the true meaning of the Hearth’s Warming holiday.”
Diamond Tiara sighed. “Boooooring. You know what? I’m just going to ignore you and go back to bed now, okay?”
Silver Spoon began to back away slowly, rattling her chains more and more as she stepped onto the window sill. “Hear me, Diamond Tiara. You can’t hide from these spirits. They will find you no matter—”
The window slammed shut, knocking Silver Spoon off the ledge and into the bushes below. “Yawn,” said Diamond Tiara as she latched the window shut. “I’ve seen worse than that. Stupid Silver Spoon, or whoever that was, thinks they can scare me. Ha! It’ll take more than that.”
Wiping her hooves off, she made her way back to her bed and slipped beneath the covers once again, determined this time to not let anything distract her from the dreams of ripping into her presents she was undoubtedly going to have. Of course, that lasted all of about three seconds before she heard someone’s hooves thumping against the floor. She rolled over and saw another pony, this time draped in a fluffy white cloak and wearing a gilded crown atop her maroon mane.
“Are you freakin’ kidding me? Scootaloo?” Diamond Tiara let out an exaggerated sigh. “I see you decided to get some fashion sense, although, white really isn’t your color.”
Scootaloo scowled. “Shut up! It’s part of the whole theme. Just go with it.”
“Right, and I suppose that means you’re the ghost of Hearth’s Warming Past?”
Nodding so vigorously that her crown almost fell off, Scootaloo replied, “Yep! That’s me.”
“Tch, I wouldn’t have thought a blank flank like you could handle that job.”
“You little—No, wait,” Scootaloo said, holding out a hoof. “I’m not getting sucked into this again. I’m here to show something, not get into a fight, so let’s just get on with it already.”
Diamond Tiara laughed. “Oh, right, and I’m just supposed to go along with that?”
“You don’t really have a choice.”
“Tell me why I shouldn’t go get my parents right now.”
Scootaloo shrugged. “I suppose you could tell them if you wanted to. Of course, that might be a little difficult.” Scootaloo grinned. “It’ll be hard to tell your parents anything while you’re in the past.”
Diamond Tiara’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean in the—”
She stopped mid-sentence as she was suddenly enveloped in Scootaloo’s cloak. It was surprisingly heavy, and try as she might to throw it off, she couldn’t. Her hearing was muffled and her sight completely gone. She couldn’t even feel or smell anything.Suddenly she felt her bed drop out from beneath her as weightlessness took over and vertigo threatened to bring back her last meal.
Diamond Tiara looked around, her eyes wide. Suddenly, her bed was gone and she was sitting on the ground outside a humble-looking cottage. A column of smoke rose from a tiny chimney. Snow flurries swirled around, yet she didn’t feel cold.
Slowly standing up, Diamond Tiara looked around, seeing Scootaloo behind her.
“What just happened?”
Scootaloo nodded towards the cottage. “I told you, didn’t I? I’m here to show you something.”
“So you kidnapped me!?”
Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a drama queen. I’m taking you back to your room in a bit. I just have to show you this first.”
“Show me what, exactly?”
Scootaloo beckoned to a glowing window. “See for yourself.”
Diamond Tiara cautiously approached. A fire flickered brightly, illuminating the small room where two ponies, one with a familiar black mane and moneybag cutie mark, and the other with light blue eyes just like Diamond’s, were sitting at a table, enjoying the last of their dessert.
“Mommy… Daddy?” she said slowly, turning back to look at Scootaloo. Her brow furrowed, she asked, “Is that them?”
Scootaloo nodded. “Yep, that’s them. This was their first Hearth’s Warming Eve together. Do you know what they’re talking about right now?”
Diamond Tiara looked back at the window, shaking her head. “No. I can’t hear them.”
“Let me help.” With a wave of her hoof, the window swung open, though the ponies inside didn’t seem to notice.
“Won’t they see us?”
“They can’t hear or see us. We’re practically invisible right now.”
Diamond Tiara scoffed. “And I’m just supposed to believe that?”
“I just brought you back in time and that’s what you don’t believe?”
“Still though, it doesn’t seem possible is all.”
Scootaloo groaned. “Just… friggin’—” she pushed on Diamond Tiara’s hindquarters, forcing her through the window “—get in there!” Once she was through, Scootaloo scrambled in after her. Once inside, they could hear what the two were saying.
“That apple pie was fantastic, dear,” Filthy said. “I don’t know what magic you work to make it taste so good, but I’m beginning to think you may be a unicorn in disguise after all.”
Golden Crown giggled. “It’s just a little recipe from my mother is all. Add a pinch of her special spice mix to the pie and suddenly you’ve opened up a world of possibilities.”
Filthy smiled warmly at her for a moment before his smile faltered. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get you anything for Hearth’s Warming this year. I’ve invested all my money into this business here in Ponyville. As soon as it takes off, we’ll have a much better life. I’ll buy you everything you ever wanted.”
Golden Crown’s cheeks tugged into a soft smile. “I don’t want presents, Filthy. Having you here is enough. You’re doing good work with your money. You’re giving these ponies a chance at a better life, too. Without your investment, I’m sure many of these ponies wouldn’t be enjoying Hearth’s Warming the same way.”
Filthy placed a hoof over Golden’s. “I’m glad to hear you say that. Say, why don’t we head over to the Apples' farm? I hear they invited most of the town over for a party. We can bring them some food while we’re at it.”
“That sounds like a lovely idea. I’ll pack up the leftovers.”
As the two ponies stood up from the table, Scootaloo placed a hoof on Diamond Tiara’s shoulder. She turned around to see Scootaloo nodding. “It’s time to go,” she said.
“Wait, I don’t understand,” she protested. Diamond Tiara shook her head. “This doesn’t make sense. Why is Mommy okay with not getting any presents? You said it was their first Hearth’s Warming together, right?”
Scootaloo nodded. “Yup. Their first ever. But you know what? They get it. You don’t.”
“I don’t get what?”
A sly smile crossed Scootaloo’s face. “It’s not about the stuff you get. It’s about the stuff you give.”
“What? That doesn’t even make sense. What’s the point of Hearth’s Warming if you don’t get any presents?”
Scootaloo shrugged. “I guess you’ll have to talk with the other spirits about that. My time’s up.” Without warning, she flung her cape over Diamond Tiara again and immediately her vision went black. She could feel a slight tugging sensation as she struggled to throw the cape off, but it was too heavy, and was pulled too tight around her. Luckily for her, the feeling only lasted a few seconds.
What little light reflected off the Moon filled her vision as the darkness faded away and she found herself back in her room. She was about to say something to Scootaloo, but when she looked around, the filly was gone. Her room was empty and the window conspicuously closed. She blinked a few times before mumbling to herself, “Well, that was weird. So much for all this ghost stuff. It was just Scootaloo. Did Silver Spoon, or whoever, really think some stupid pegasus who can’t even fly was gonna scare me? Ha!” She settled further into her bed, a smug grin plastered across her face. “That the best they could come up with? Pssh, baby stuff.”
As she started to close her eyes, her thoughts turning back to the next morning and all the gifts she was going to rub in the faces of those dumb Crusaders, the familiar sound of hooves against wood reached her ears. She spun around to see another pony walking towards her.
“Now it’s Sweetie Belle? I suppose you’re the ghost of Hearth’s Warming Present?”
Sweetie Belle, dressed head to hoof in a billowy green gown, a wreath of flowers adorning her horn, waved cheerily.
“Hi there! I’m the ghost of Hearth’s Warming—Oh wait, you already said that.” She pursed her lips. “Umm… I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to do now.”
Diamond Tiara raised an eyebrow. “And you’re asking me?”
“You threw me off my game!” she complained. “I had the whole thing planned out, but you messed it all up.”
“What do you want, an apology?”
“That would be nice, yes.”
“Well, too bad. You’re not getting one.”
Sweetie frowned. “Fine. We’ll just skip right to the part where I show you stuff.”
“You’d do that for me? How unbelievably kind of you. Let’s just go already. I want this nightmare to be over with as quickly as possible.”
Sweetie rolled her eyes. She grabbed Diamond Tiara’s hoof and lifted her into the air, much to the other filly’s dismay.
“Whoa! Wait, hang on. What are you doing?”
Sweetie, ignoring her protests, carried Diamond through the window and out into the cold night. As they hung in the air above Diamond Tiara’s massive house, Sweetie said, “We’re going to Apple Bloom’s house now.”
“By flying!?” Diamond Tiara cried, her hooves swinging wildly in protest.
“Well obviously.”
“What, walking wasn’t good enough?” she said, her face a mixture of anger and fear.
“That’s not nearly as fun! Haven’t you ever wanted to fly?”
“No!”
Sweetie giggled, keeping a tight grip on the flailing earth pony as they soared through the air. The snow fell more gently than it had in the past, but it was much thicker now, and it was difficult to see where they were going. More than once, Diamond Tiara thought they were going to crash into a tree or a house, but, despite all odds, they eventually reached Sweet Apple Acres. Swooping in for a landing, Sweetie set Diamond Tiara down before the front door, settling in next to her.
“Are we just looking through the window again?”
Sweetie shook her head. “Nope. Just go right on in. The Apple family’s door is always open.”
Hesitating a moment, Diamond Tiara put her hoof on the door handle. With a small turn and a push, the door swung open. They stepped inside. Diamond Tiara looked around.
“What a dump,” she said.
Sweetie Belle swung her hoof, smacking her on the back of her head. “That’s not very nice. The Apple family isn’t exactly rich like your family, you know.”
“Hey! You’re the one who brought me here. I can’t be held responsible for speaking the truth,” said Diamond Tiara, rubbing her head with a free hoof. “But seriously though. Look at this place. It’s practically falling apart, and look at their hearth!” She pointed to the fireplace at the far end of the room. “There’s only a couple of presents there. What’s wrong with them?”
Sweetie Belle sighed. “Go look at who those presents are for. Go on, I won’t stop you.”
Diamond Tiara gave Sweetie a suspicious look before trotting over to the hearth and kneeling down. As she examined the tags, a strange look came over her face. She frowned. “Wait a second. This can’t be right.”
“Nope, it’s right.”
“But… but they’re all for other ponies. None of them are for any of the Apple family members. There’s one for Twilight Sparkle, and Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. One for Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.”
“Wait, what? There’s one for me?” Sweetie covered her sudden outburst with a cough. “Uhh, I mean, keep reading.”
“Mayor Mare, the Quills and Sofas guy, and… wait.” She squinted at a small cylindrical present. “This one’s for me, and Silver Spoon too. I don’t get it.”
She glanced back at Sweetie Belle who merely shrugged and said, “What can I say? The Apples never give each other gifts. They only get them for other ponies. It’s the way they’ve always done things.”
“Why though? What’s the point?”
Sweetie Belle smiled. “Remember what the ghost of Hearth’s Warming Past told you?”
“You mean Scootaloo?”
“Remember what Scootaloo told you?”
“Uhh…”
“It’s not about the stuff you get. It’s about the stuff you give.”
Diamond Tiara fell back on her haunches. “That doesn’t make sense though. It’s not fun to not get stuff.”
Sweetie Belle approached Diamond Tiara and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Have you ever tried giving stuff for a change? Who knows, you might like it.” Suddenly, before Diamond Tiara could respond, the clock struck. Sweetie looked outside at the Moon. “Oh, shoot!” she said. “I ran past my time. Looks like I’ll have to send you ahead to where you’ll meet the last spirit.
Diamond stuck out her hoof. “Wait! But—”
She was cut off again. The house around her, along with Sweetie Belle, vanishing into thin air as a blackness consumed her.
When light returned, what little there was, Diamond Tiara found herself standing in the middle of a small field littered with stones standing upright. A thick fog hung over the area, enveloping it in a deathlike haze. Even the Moon, normally a massive disc in the sky, was just a faint light behind the dense foggy air. Diamond Tiara stood up slowly, looking around. Sitting atop a particularly tall stone, a pony obscured by a black cloak held a hoof out, angled slightly towards an adjacent stone.
“Who… who are you?”
The pony remained silent, pointing resolutely towards a pair of stones.
Diamond Tiara raised an eyebrow. “What?”
The pony jabbed a hoof at the stones insistently.
“I don’t… what?”
The pony groaned, rolling her head to the side. “Just friggin’ look over there!”
Diamond Tiara turned to the stones, then back to the mysterious pony. “What is this place?”
The pony jumped down from the stone, landing with a thud. Slowly, deliberately, she approached Diamond Tiara. Her heavy breath made thick clouds of condensation that disappeared into the surrounding fog almost instantly. The closer the pony got, the heavier the breathing became. Finally, the pony spoke again.
“I’m the ghost of Hearth’s Warming Future, and this is Ponyville Cemetery.”
“Wait a second… I know that voice.”
“What? No you don’t. I’m no one, just a shadowy figure with no—”
“Apple Bloom… I know it’s you.”
With a heavy sigh, Apple Bloom pulled her hood back and tossed the scythe aside. “Sheesh, gotta ruin everything, don’t ya? Well, I guess it wasn’t too hard to guess.”
Diamond Tiara, shaking ever so slightly, laughed, “I’d recognize that thick accent anywhere. It’s just you and your hick family that have it.”
Apple Bloom shook her head, holding her hooves out. “Two ghosts and y’all haven’t learned a thing. Welp, guess it’s up to me, then.”
“Hmph, we’ll see about that,” said Diamond Tiara haughtily. “Anyway, what’s with that getup? I don’t think black suits you.”
Apple Bloom looked down at the cape dragging behind her and shrugged. “I think I’m supposed to be, like, death or something. Anyway, we don’t have a lot of time since somepony took too long, so let’s move right on into the lesson.” She waved her hoof at the stones around them. “This is Ponyville Cemetery, like I said, but do you know why we’re here?”
Diamond Tiara shook her head, causing the tiara to fall off and roll towards a pair of gravestones. “No, I don’t know why,” she said as she bent down to pick up the tiara. “It doesn’t really—” She froze, her eyes going wide as she stared at the pair of headstones in front of her. Her mouth opened slightly, but no words escaped.
“Here lie Autumn Gold and Honeycrisp,” said Apple Bloom slowly.
Diamond Tiara stared at the pair of headstones silently for a moment. “Who were they?”
“My parents,” Apple Bloom said, her voice almost cracking. “Died when I was little.”
Diamond Tiara tried to say something, anything snarky, but her mouth just opened and closed silently. After awhile, she simply said, “They’re really gone, huh?”
Apple Bloom nodded. “Not just them. Keep looking.”
Diamond Tiara frowned, looking back at Apple Bloom, but she didn’t say anything else, just pointed to another pair of gravestones. She got up and approached them, her limbs shaking slightly and her breathing shallow. When she was finally able to get close enough to read them, her face went pale, and her knees buckled as she collapsed in front of the stones.
Apple Bloom came up behind her. “It’s not easy, is it?”
Diamond Tiara reached a hoof out feebly. “Mommy… Daddy,” she whispered.
“Your parents are dead, Diamond Tiara. They’re not coming back.”
“No… no, no, no, no. You’re lying. I saw them an hour ago. They’re just down the hall in their bed. They can’t be dead… They aren’t!”
Apple Bloom sighed. “Okay, well maybe they aren’t actually dead right now.”
“But—”
“But someday they will be. Ponies don’t live forever, ya know. It’s a sad fact of life.” Apple Bloom knelt down next to Diamond Tiara and helped her stand up. “Look, not everyone has such nice parents, you know, and they won’t always be around forever.” She paused, biting her lip. “I know… I know that mine aren’t. But that’s why you gotta make the most of every second you get to spend with them. Hearth’s Warming ain’t about getting presents. It’s about the time you spend with the ponies you care about. It’s about the gifts you give, especially if that gift is love.”
Diamond Tiara held her tiara in her hooves and looked down at it. “You know my Daddy gave this to me for Hearth’s Warming last year,” she said. “I never thanked him for it.”
Apple Bloom patted the filly on the back. “That tiara means a lot to you, doesn’t it?”
Diamond Tiara reached up and touched the her silver tiara lightly, slowly bringing it down in front of her eyes. She stared at it silently for a moment, then said, “It’s the only present I’ve ever really cared about.”
“Do you know why that is?”
Diamond Tiara turned the tiara over and read the inscription on the back. “To my little angel, Love Daddy…”
Apple Bloom nodded, satisfied. “So, do you know what you need to do now?”
Wiping away a tear, Diamond placed the tiara back on her head and nodded. “I know.”
“Well, let’s get you back home then.”
Spreading her hooves wide, Apple Bloom let her cape billow out until it had grown large enough to cover the sky, blotting out the Moon. All of a sudden, Diamond Tiara felt like her there was a massive weight on her chest. Her lungs screamed for air. She gasped for breath, and just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, the sensation dissipated.
She was back in her room, curled up in the covers of her bed. She looked around, but Apple Bloom was nowhere to be found. But the window, now open for some reason, let light spill in as the new sunrise crested the hills.
Without wasting a second, Diamond Tiara sprang out of bed and rushed down the hall to her parents’ room. She flung open their door and jumped on the bed.
“Mommy! Daddy! Get up! Get up!”
The two older ponies, after much grumbling and rolling around, eventually righted themselves and rubbed the sleep from their eyes.
“Yes, sweetheart, what is it?” Filthy asked.
“What day is it?”
He looked taken aback for a second. “Uhh, well it’s Hearth’s Warming Day, dear. Why do you ask?”
She smiled. “Yes! I didn’t miss it! C’mon!” She grabbed Filthy’s hoof and tried to drag him out of bed before he finally got himself up. Once he was up, she beckoned to Golden Crown. “You too, Mommy!”
As the three of them hurried downstairs, Filthy Rich asked, “What is this all about? I know you want to open your presents, but can’t it wait a few minutes?”
When they reached the foot of the stairs, Diamond Tiara brought her parents over to the hearth and she said, “Daddy, before I say anything else, I want to tell you thanks.”
He raised an eyebrow. “For what?”
Smiling, Diamond Tiara jumped up and grabbed his neck so she could kiss him on the cheek. “For my tiara, silly! I never said thank you, and I’m sorry about that.”
Golden Crown leaned in towards Filthy. “What’s gotten into her?” she whispered.
He shrugged. “Beats me, but I like it.” He gave Diamond Tiara a wide grin and said, “You’re very welcome, sweetheart. You know I’d do anything for you.”
Diamond Tiara brought a hoof to her lips, tapping them. “About that. I was wondering something.”
Filthy rolled his eyes. “Okay, now I see where this is going. What is it you want this time?”
“Oh, it’s nothing like that.”
“Oh? What is it then?”
She grinned. “I was hoping you’d help me carry these presents around town so I can give them away to ponies.”
Both Filthy and Golden’s jaws dropped open.
Diamond Tiara picked up a couple presents and pushed them into her parents’ hooves. “I’m being serious,” she said. “I want to give them all away.”
“Are you… feeling all right?” asked Golden, placing her hoof on Diamond Tiara’s forehead. “You feel a little warm, pumpkin.”
Filthy frowned. “Did you sleep with your bedroom window open again?”
Diamond Tiara brushed away her mother’s hoof. “I’m not sick, I promise.”
Filthy’s eyebrow rose higher. “Are you absolutely sure you didn’t hit your head last night or anything?”
“Daddy! I’m being serious! I realized something last night. Hearth’s Warming isn’t about getting presents or opening gifts. It’s about giving things to the ponies you care about, and I want to start by giving you and Mommy something.”
“What’s that, dear?” asked Golden, a curious smile on her face.
Diamond Tiara reached out and pulled the three of them into a group hug, squeezing as tightly as her little hooves could manage. “I love you,” she said, “and I don’t want you to ever doubt that.”
For a few moments, it felt as though time had stopped. The three of them suspended for that single moment in time in an eternal hug. But, as with all things, it eventually ended and as they pulled away, Diamond Tiara said, “Now, let’s go spread some Hearth’s Warming cheer!”
As jolly snow fell daintily over Ponyville, Diamond Tiara, accompanied by her mother and father, passed through the town, gifts piled up in their hooves.
“Oh, Silver Spoon!” Diamond Tiara called, spotting her friend across the street.
Silver Spoon turned in time to see Diamond Tiara sprinting across the street towards her, with a huge grin on her face. “Good morning, Diamond Tiara. Happy Hearth’s Warming!”
“Happy Hearth’s Warming!”
Silver Spoon eyed the stack of gifts Diamond Tiara was holding. “Wow, your dad must’ve gotten you a lot of stuff.”
Diamond Tiara nodded happily. “He did, but…” She grabbed a present from the top of her pile with her teeth and held it out for Silver Spoon.
“Buuuuuut?” Silver Spoon said, taking the box, her eyebrow cocked.
“But I want you to have this one,” Diamond Tiara finished, giving Silver Spoon the biggest smile she could muster.
“...You do?” Silver Spoon looked down at the gift as it was going to jump up at her. “Why?”
“Because you’re my friend, that’s why! Anyway,” said Diamond Tiara nodding to her parents, “we’ve got lots more gifts to give out, so I’ll see you later. Bye bye!” She waved a cheerful goodbye before disappearing into the crowd of ponies, leaving Silver Spoon staring at the present in her hooves.
Slowly, she undid the corners of the package and opened it up, revealing a silver necklace with a heart-shaped pendant hanging on the bottom. She held it up to the light and a small smile crept across her face.
Meanwhile, Diamond Tiara went through the town, parents in-tow, passing out gifts to anyone and everyone.
“Happy Hearth’s Warming!” she cried, handing over a pair of scarves to a couple of twins who passed her on the street. “Have a nice day!” she said, tossing a box of toys to a mother and her colts. “What lovely weather we’re having, don’t you think?” she asked an incredulous-looking stallion as she passed him a large box containing dozens of assorted chocolates. Every pony she saw got a gift. Small or large it didn’t matter, she simply felt overcome with joy with each present she gave out.
Over the next few hours, Diamond Tiara, Filthy Rich, and Golden Crown made several trips into town with hoof-fulls of presents to give away. Ms. Cheerilee, Mayor Mare, and even the Sofas and Quills received gifts. The family down the street from them received a pile of toys for their children and the family next to them a set of coats and winter boots. No one was left out.
They went all through the town giving away all the presents Diamond Tiara had. Eventually they ended up at Sweet Apple Acres where the smell of sweet cider, and succulent pies filled the air. Her ears perked up at the sounds of dozens of ponies laughing and talking merrily. With a wide grin on her face, she made her way through the crowds, leaving her parents to hand out gifts to the partygoers.
As Diamond Tiara approached Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo kept a close eye on her. Scootaloo in particular had her eyes narrowed and a hoof poised and ready at perfect punching height.
“You here to brag about how many presents you got?” asked Scootaloo sarcastically.
“So what if I am? What are you gonna do about it, blank flank?”
Scootaloo’s eyes went wide and her nostrils flared. “Stop calling me that!” she yelled as she jumped at Diamond Tiara, stopping only when Apple Bloom gave her a harsh look. Rather than run away like she had expected her to, Diamond Tiara just stood there with a smile on her face.
After a moment, her smile started to falter as giggles bubbled up and she covered her mouth before doubling over with laughter.
“What’s so funny?” asked Scootaloo, her wings fluttering angrily.
“It’s just you look so silly when you’re mad.” Before Scootaloo could make another pass at her, Diamond Tiara added, “But no, I’m actually here to give you girls something.”
“You’re doing what now?” asked Sweetie Belle, her head cocked to the side
“My Daddy bought me so many presents that I decided I don’t need them all, and I want to give some of them to you girls.”
“Okay, this is definitely some kind of trick,” said Scootaloo. “She’s probably going to give us boxes of rocks or something.”
“Or maybe she’s just lying,” suggested Sweetie.
“C’mon, girls. Don’t be like that. Remember, we’ve got something to give Diamond Tiara too,” said Apple Bloom. She produced a small cylindrical-shaped object from a bag nearby and handed it over to Diamond Tiara. “Here,” she said, “this is for you. Oh, and also for Silver Spoon too.”
As Diamond Tiara accepted Apple Bloom’s gift, a smile crossed her face. “Thank you!” she said cheerily.
All three Crusaders’ jaws dropped open. “Umm… what was that you just said?” Apple Bloom asked, eyeing Diamond Tiara suspiciously.
“I said thank you, of course. That’s what you do when you receive gifts, isn’t it?”
“Well, yeah, that’s what normal ponies do,” Apple Bloom said, “but… you’re you.”
Diamond Tiara frowned. “Who says I can’t change?”
“Umm… everyone?” said Scootaloo. “Ponies like you don’t change.”
“But I did. You girls helped me with that.”
“We did?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“You talkin’ about the apple preserves my sister helped us make?” asked Apple Bloom as she pointed at the object in Diamond Tiara’s hoof. “Because they’re good, but they ain’t magical or nothin’.”
Diamond Tiara chuckled. “No, no, I meant the whole ghost thing.”
“Ghost thing?” asked Scootaloo. “What the hay are you talking about?”
Diamond Tiara frowned. “Wait, what do you mean what am I talking about?”
“I mean what the actual hay are you talking about?” said Scootaloo insistently.
“Yeah, I’m wondering that myself,” added Sweetie. “What do you mean by ‘ghost thing’?”
“Wait, wait, wait… are you seriously telling me you have no idea what I’m talking about?” Diamond Tiara rubbed her hoof against her forehead, shaking it slowly.
Apple Bloom shook her head. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were crazy.”
“Although…” said Scootaloo slowly, “that does kinda make sense what with her saying thank you and all.” The other two Crusaders nodded in agreement.
“Hang on, I’m not crazy,” Diamond Tiara protested. She pointed at Scootaloo. “You were the ghost of Hearth’s Warming Past, remember?” She pointed at Sweetie. “And you were the ghost Hearth’s Warming Present.” She turned to Apple Bloom. “And you were the ghost of Hearth’s Warming Future. You told me my parents were dead!”
Apple Bloom slowly shook her head. “Uhh, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I didn’t do anything, and neither did Sweetie or Scoots, right girls?”
Scootaloo shook her head. “Plus, why would I be the past ghost? I’m the oldest! I shoulda been future!”
“And how come I was present?” Sweetie complained. “Past sounds like fun.”
“Look… the only thing we did was make you a jar of apple preserves,” said Apple Bloom. “I figured if we showed you some kindness it would unfreeze your cold heart a bit, but I don’t know anything about any ghosts.” She cocked an eyebrow. “You sure you’re feeling all right?”
Diamond Tiara brought a hoof to her forehead. “But then… how? Why? Who?...What?”
Far away, in the tippity-top of Canterlot Tower, Celestia held a small box aloft with her magic as she approached Luna’s chambers. With a quick knock, she let herself in.
“Luna,” she said quietly. “Are you awake? I have something for you.”
With a loud yawn, Luna appeared from behind the curtain. “Celestia, you’re earlier than usual. Yes, I’m awake enough.”
Celestia chuckled. “I can tell. I didn’t see you at Moonlight Tower last night after I lowered the Sun, so I assumed you were off doing something.”
Now it was Luna’s turn to chuckle. “Oh, what makes you say that?”
Celestia shrugged, setting the box on a small table and throwing open the curtains to let light flood the room. “Nothing in particular, I suppose. It’s just that it’s that time of the year when ponies start thinking about their families, and inevitably there’s always at least one selfish pony. I can remember one very selfish pony in particular.”
Luna frowned. “I was just a kid back then.”
Celestia stifled a giggle. “And yet still such a troublemaker.”
Luna gave an exaggerated eye roll. “You were hardly perfect yourself.”
“Did I say I was?”
“You didn’t have to.”
Celestia grinned, turning back to the window to stare out at the newly-risen Sun. “Well, I won’t pry into your personal life, Luna. Just make sure you only use your powers for good.”
“Yes, yes, I know,” said Luna, waving a hoof dismissively, her eyes focused on the box Celestia had set down. “Sometimes you’re worse than mother was.”
“Someone has to be.”
“Do you, though?”
“If not me, then who?”
Luna shrugged. “Someone else.” Her brow furrowed as she reached for the present. “What is this?” she asked.
“What, and ruin the surprise?” said Celestia, grinning playfully.
“It’s a little on the light side,” Luna noted, picking the box up.
“You could say that.”
As Luna carefully tugged at the bow and unraveled the wrapping paper, she bit her lip in concentration. When the box fell open, she found a small ball of light inside. It bobbed and swayed as Luna moved the box. Her eyes grew wide and mouth opened slightly in disbelief. “Is this… my first star?” Suddenly she felt Celestia’s weight on her back. She turned her head to see her sister wrapped around her, squeezing her half to death in a tight hug.
“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Luna.”
Luna smiled, hugging her sister back. “Happy Hearth’s Warming.”
