Pokey's Hearth's Warming Eve
The early afternoon in Ponyville was appropriately chilly as Hearth’s Warming was just around the corner. A blue unicorn stallion had been making his way to the Residency of the Representative of the Night Court of Luna when he shivered in the coat he wore over his own coat. Thinking back over the time working for said representative to the Night Court, Pokey Pierce knew that she definitely had her inconsiderate moments. But, mostly, they happened by accident. This time, she had specifically said to come in to work today. Pokey couldn’t believe it: Trixie was being a scrooge on Hearth’s Warming Eve.
My little pony, My little pony
Ahh ahh ahh ahhh...
My little pony
Friendship never meant that much to me
My little pony
But you're all here and now I can see
Stormy weather; Lots to share
A musical bond; With love and care
Teaching laughter; It's an easy feat,
And magic makes it all complete!
You have my little ponies
How'd I ever make so many true friends?
With the residency in sight, Pokey put on a bit more speed. He had been trying to make Trixie see how she has been acting for the past few days.
The first attempt did not go over so well.
The shouting had been interrupted when Pinkie Pie caught Trixie in a stealth hug. Pokey couldn’t exactly remember how that contest even started, but it had been going on for most of winter. And much like everything else that involves Pinkie, the conversation was immediately hijacked. For his foolish attempts to continue arguing in Pinkie’s presence, Pokey ended up carrying a party invitation, the potted fern from Trixie’s office, and a silly straw away from the residency.
That wasn’t going to happen this time, though.
Probably.
Since then, the conversations had been more civil, but Trixie stubbornly stayed in place on the matter. For the life of him, Pokey just couldn't grasp her reasoning. She hardly elaborated on the "why" that he absolutely needed to come in to work on the one day off he asked for, back at the start of the month. It was just, "You need to come to the residency."
Pokey had decided to knock on the door, rather than just go in. The repeated conversations had grated on him and he believed there was a good chance he would quit working for Trixie if she remained obstinate about this. So, he felt he should get used to knocking in case he ever had to visit the residency again.
The sound of hooves against a hardwood floor came from inside as Pokey waited. They had moved to the door, stopped, and then the door was whipped back with a jubilant shout of, “Surprise!”
Visibly flinching, Pokey stared wide-eyed at his employer, who was levitating a wrapped box towards him. He could put two and two together. Pokey mentally slapped himself before taking on a carefully blank expression, “Look, if you’re going to try to give me a ‘bonus’ to work today, you can keep it. Just send my last week’s pay in the mail.”
“No, n-" Those last few words fully registered and Trixie hesitated, only able look back in shock at her assistant and dare she say… ‘friend?’ of over a year now. Her next word was more a reflex than anything, "-what?!"
Before she caught on to his usual snark and sent the box flying at his head.
The genius of Trixie’s amazingly subtle switcheroo obviously went unappreciated, so she turned to stalk back into the office before continuing to speak, “It’s a Hearth’s Warming present. And just so you know, I only told you to come here today so I could give it to you.”
Unable to identify what exactly is in the box, Pokey settled on guessing that it wasn’t a hammer, since he was still conscious. Whatever was inside, it was pretty light. Pokey also didn’t really want to open it. After the argument a few days back, he had decided against getting Trixie a present. But looking back on it, he felt pretty low about thinking that she would actually treat him like that.
Mulling these thoughts over, Pokey’s eyes drifted around the room. He could probably buy something today, but he doubted there would be anything of real value out there. Unless he wanted to get her a tie or something equally impersonal. Trixie might have noticed her employee’s desperate search if she hadn’t gone back to her “preholiday bourbon” as she called it. A frightening combination of eggnog, habanero sauce, plain spring water and, of course, bourbon.
Pokey was at a complete loss until his gaze flicked over something in the room that gave them both constant problems. Something that deserved a… break.
Suddenly, Pokey knew exactly what gift to give Trixie. Striding up to the object in question, he lit his horn to cast a spell which was relatively new to him. It was a spell that he was sure he needed to know inside and out, though, to continue his dream. Trixie had glanced up when the other unicorn started moving and was curious as to what Pokey was up to.
The spell settled over the humble glass panes and wood trim.
Trixie’s expression had changed from one of curiousness to terror in the moment that Pokey’s horn-that-will-pierce-the-heavens touched the cursed fixture. However long she waited, though, there were no shards of glass to pick up from the floor. No uncomfortable drafts that forced her to wear her cape at all times. And most importantly, no window repairpony she had to fork over bits to, even if he wasn’t such a bad guy himself.
Pokey had raised his head from its bowed position with a content smile on his face, and whispered to himself, “Oh thank Luna I got that right.”
“Got what right?” Apparently, it wasn’t quiet enough for Trixie not to overhear, though.
“Your present. A toughening spell I’ve been studying.”
One eyebrow was raised in response.
“You know, for Hearth’s Warming.”
“Not that part- Oh, I think I see. You’re learning those kinds of spells so that you can figure out how to pierce through them?”
Pokey gave a simple nod, “Right you are.”
“Well, I don’t know if my gift can stack up to that.” Trixie awarded her office window with an awestruck gaze, “Honestly, I don’t think anything can, but regardless…” The rest of Trixie’s sentence was completed by a wave of her hoof towards the box Pokey had placed on her desk.
“So, what has the Great and Powerful Trixie pulled out of her hat for me?” Pokey mused as he began unwrapping the flat and thin box.
“You’ll see. It deserves some explanation too, so don’t judge it immediately.”
Opening the box, Pokey saw a black and white keyboard tie. “I’m trying to reserve judgment, Boss.”
“It’s enchanted to keep your body temperature stable, sort of like my cape.”
“Really?” Pokey couldn’t keep a smirk from his face, “Even when it gets hot?”
Trixie could practically hear the grin being repressed. “Don’t even think about it.”
“That’s pretty… cool.”
“…I was going to offer you some preholiday bourbon, but not anymore.”
Pokey spent a few hours just chatting with Trixie in the residency. It was well into the afternoon when he left, heading towards his family’s home. The temperature of the walk was much more bearable with the tie, but that said nothing of the looks he got from other ponies. Wearing only a tie like his, while his coat was draped over his back certainly got a reaction from most.
A few moments passed after knocking on the door until it opened, and a reedy voice spoke up, “Pokey! Come give your Ma a hug.” Pokey wasn’t surprised when, before his mother had even stopped speaking, she was wrapping her wings and forelegs around him. “You hardly ever visit anymore, what’s wrong with you?!”
“Missed you too, Ma.” Was the unworried response that was given.
Pokey’s mother, Wind Walker, had the same green coat and blue mane as when he had seen her last. The incredibly long time since Pokey had spoken with his mother last was four entire days.
Breaking away from the greeting, Pokey stepped inside the house he grew up in. The old home hardly showed any sign of age, his mother had always kept the place spotless. The walls had a few knickknacks on shelves, and most of the floor space was used for seating. A few family photos were on the mantle of the small fireplace, like always. On the left and right sides, respectively, was one of his parents’ wedding and another of the day Pokey had gotten his cutie mark. The place of honor was held by a picture with both of his parents and Pokey.
“I’ve just been busy with work. That golem didn’t do any favors for how much paperwork me and Trixie had to fill out.”
“I still think you can do better than being an assistant to the representative.” If Pokey knew anything, it was that his mother was consistent. “She’s a nice filly, but there’s so much more you could be doing.”
“You do know that she’s Princess Luna’s student, too?” Dropping his coat and tie off on a seat, Pokey started wandering to the kitchen while he was talking, intent on helping with Hearth’s Warming dinner. “And what are we having for dinner tonight, by the way?”
Wind gestured a wing towards the kitchen doorway before speaking, “There’s a casserole in the oven, the start of a salad on the counter, and the soup is almost done.” The vague wing motion had turned into an accusing point by this time, “But that won’t distract me from you job situation.”
“I don’t think I have a ‘job situation,’ Ma. It pays the bills, and Trixie’s a great boss.” Turning, Pokey moved into the kitchen. It was smaller than the living room he was just in and had a hardwood floor. Pokey had decided upon finishing the salad, since he saw himself as a passable cook, but not great. “How has your job been lately?”
Wind Walker had taken a place in front of the soup pot, adding different seasonings and stirring it occasionally. The question brought out her inner gossip, “Oh, yes dear! You know Miss Coin Purse? The mare who’s been one of the accounting advisors for Mr. Rich’s Barnyard Bargains for almost twenty years now, and came to my Eventine party five years ago?” Wind paused for a moment, as if expecting Pokey to actually remember a mare from five years back and that was probably twice his age. “She was arrested just the other day!”
With the conversation successfully derailed, Pokey could simply enjoy talking with his mother about nothing of particular importance.
Finishing dinner, the small family set out for town hall; the Hearth’s Warming play would be starting soon. Pokey had made it through most of the walk there without the conversation with Wind Walker turning to uncomfortable subjects. That is, until they crossed paths with Trixie. Pokey had raised a hoof in greeting and the three of them fell in step with one another.
“Hey Pokey. I just want to say, the Hearth’s Warming gift you got me works pretty well.”
“What, did something already try flying through it?” Somehow, Pokey wouldn’t be surprised if that turned out to be the case.
Wind felt this was a good time to speak up, “Ooh, what did you get her?”
“The short answer is yes. And, he basically got me a magic spell.” Looking the older pegasus over, Trixie couldn’t place the name of this mare that was walking with Pokey, “I’m sorry, have we met?”
Wind shook her head while speaking her first few words, “Where are my manners? I know you’re Trixie Lulamoon, but” she placed a hoof over her heart, “I’m Wind Walker.” For a brief, hopeful second Pokey believed that would be all she said. “Pokey’s mom.”
“Thank you, Ma, for clearing that up.” The roll of his eyes went unnoticed by his mother, but not by Trixie.
“Why haven’t you ever talked about your mom before, Pokey? I like her already.” The grin plastered across Trixie’s face couldn’t be any more mischievous.
“That’s exactly why I haven’t.”
“I’m not surprised, Pokey hardly ever talks about his little friends with me either.” Wind’s face was etched with a frown of motherly disappointment.
By this time, the group was nearing town hall. It was done up in full holiday decorations and there was a sign out front advertising the Hearth’s Warming play for this year. The actors and actresses for today were the school age foals. Tomorrow, the older townsfolk would have their turn, for any who decided to venture out on Hearth’s Warming day.
Trixie ended the conversation with Wind and Pokey as they neared their destination, “We’ll have to change that, Pokey. But not today, it looks like.” Seeing her group of close friends, she explained why, “I already promised Ditzy and the others that I’d watch the play with them. Feel free to join us, if you two want, though.”
When Trixie was sufficiently far away, Wind tried to shoo her son away with a wing while whispering, “Go with her! She basically just asked you out.”
The unicorn stallion, however, knew that wasn’t even close to what actually happened. “Ma, I can assure you that she didn’t.”
Wind Walker only scoffed, before sharing a pearl of wisdom, “Mares are subtle, Pokey.”
For his part, Pokey was so shocked that he could only raise an eyebrow in response. The irony, that it was this particular mare saying this, wasn’t lost on him.
“You two have so much in common already: You both work in an office for the Night Court, you’re both such sweet young ponies, and you’re both blue and silver. You’re perfect for each other!”
Being fairly sure this would be the topic of conversation for hours, or maybe even days to come, Pokey knew he had to shut this idea down before it got any further. He hardly ever rejected anything his mother said outright, but this was one thing he had to put his hoof down on. Pokey kept a stern whisper throughout, “Ma, I am not interested in Trixie Lulamoon, and I will not be seeking any sort of romantic relationship with her.”
Wind held her son’s stare for a few moments before she realized that she wouldn’t be making any progress on convincing him to see things her way. She decided to back off.
For now, at least.
Putting on a not-completely-fake pout, she changed the subject, “Well, I still think you should join her and her friends. We can always watch tomorrow’s play together.”
Relieved that the issue seemed to be put to rest, Pokey let a smile return to his face. He payed out some bits to the pony at the ticket booth for a couple of seats while speaking to Wind, “I won’t be doing that either. You know I’d never miss this play with you.”
When a few cherished memories of Hearth’s Warmings past resurfaced in his mind, Pokey knew exactly how to put them into words.
“It’s tradition.”
Author's Note
My thanks to the readers who decided to give this a try. This being my first attempt at writing, I'm curious, how was it? Did it suck? It is a decent read? I hope it's the latter, but I can't quite critique my own writing. If you'd like to leave a comment, I'm eager to know how I can become a better writer. Or, feel free to show your approval/disapproval with the vertical indication of an opposable digit.
Also, thanks go out to vazak and Talon and Thorn for all their help.
