Gift Giver

by sunnypack

Rating: everyone
Tags: Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad, Other, Princess Luna, Original Character
Length: 9312

Hearth’s Warming Eve comes and the tale of the Gift Giver is something of myth for foals this time of year. Aura is a little foal who thinks she a little old for all the stories about the Gift Giver. But Granny Verine has a sad tale to tell...

The tale of the Gift Giver often begins with a mare who wanted to spread the joy and wonder of Hearth's Warming Day, to bring smiles to foals and adults alike. When Aura struggles to make a present for her sister, her Grandmother tells her, "Why not let the Gift Giver make it?" Aura scoffs. "There's no such thing as the Gift Giver, it's a tale for foals." But Granny Verine has a tale for Aura, an old tale that ends sadly. It's the tale of how the Gift Giver came to be...

AN: Story inspired in part of the artwork that is this cover art. The characters are different though, and the story is overarching. Took me a few days to write this. I never actually expected this story to be this long or this bittersweet, but there you go.

Thanks again Midge and Word Worthy for editing this piece.

Published 2014-12-23 15:10:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-12-23 15:10:03 UTC

1 - On The Eve

Chapter 1: On The Eve

“Are you sure, dear Luna?”

“Yes, that we are.”

“You haven’t performed such a feat for a long time, and there are many more tonight than there were the previous times you’ve done this.”

“We are sure, sister, nothing will sway us from this path.”

At that, Celestia smiled a warm smile and she gently stretched out her wing to encompass her younger sister within its folds. Luna stiffened at the contact but then relaxed, letting unbidden emotions run through her.

Eventually, as the sun broke across the horizon flooding the landscape of Equestria in its brilliance, Celestia and Luna reluctantly parted, sharing a look of sisterly love.

“I will wait for you this day, and I will keep vigil this night,” Celestia spoke softly.

Luna bowed her head for the response to the ritual.

“We will endeavour this day and toil this night, dear sister,” she finished, her wings snapped to full extension, ready for flight. Just as she was about to take off, Celestia bid her farewell with one last statement.

“I hope they will be happy with this, I know you do this without recognition.”

Luna smiled somewhat sadly in response. “It is not accolades that we seek, dear sister, thou knowest we do this for her and her alone.” Then with a powerful beat of her wings, the Lunar Princess departed, leaving her sister to gaze pensively at the scenery around the tower.

“It is a burden we both must bear.”

–––––

“Twilight! Hey Twilight– Oof!”

Twilight dimly registered her name before a pink blur caught her broadside and tackled her to the ground. Her vision blurred and all she could see was pink and blue. She quickly amended the statement as the pinkness split into two halves, separated by an expanse of white.

“Pinkie,” she wheezed, “I think you’re stepping on my lungs.”

“Oh! Sorry Twilight!” A flurry of hoof-steps and Pinkie was off the dazed unicorn. “I’m just so excited, you know?”

“Yes Pinkie, I know, you planned this a month ago, remember?” A quick magenta glow surrounded the saddlebag that had gone askew in the collision. It shook itself free of snow and settled on Twilight’s back. She then pulled out several scrolls, sorting through them until she found the right one.

“Here you go!” she declared, as a particularly thick one made its way into Pinkie’s view. “Pinkie’s Hearth’s Warming Eve S–”

“SLUMBER PARTY!” Pinkie finished, announcing the words at a deafening volume. Twilight took a couple of steps back, but she had to smile as confetti and streamers burst into existence around the two. “We’re going to have cake, and drinks, and do songs and dances, tell stories, and woah–”

Twilight levitated the earth pony to stand in front of her. She giggled at the antics of the ecstatic pony and gave her a nod.

“Tonight will be fun night. Now, I’ve done some research and I think–”

“Silly Twilight!” Pinkie interrupted. “You don’t research fun!”

Twilight was somewhat mollified by the statement. “But you can have fun researching…” Twilight mumbled morosely as the pink pony ignored her and pranced around. “We have to go around and remind everypony!”

With that, Pinkie shot off, before Twilight could say anything. She blinked a couple of moments and silently counted.

Three, two, one…

Pinkie was back, smiling sheepishly.

“I forgot to take the invitations, didn’t I?”

Twilight giggled.

“Yep.”

–––––

The old chair creaked with age as the ancient mare slept soundly in the afternoon of Ponyville. Aura, a well-kept filly, sat in the small lounge room in the cottage, trying to pick up embroidering, but failing to thread the needle properly. She wanted to make a present for her sister this Hearth’s Warming Eve, but so far the thread had proven impossible to get through the needle.

Several times Aura glanced at the aged matriarch as she sat on her rough-hewn throne, rocking back and forth with each loud intake and outtake of breath. After a few minutes, she heaved a sigh and threw down the needle and thread, approaching the sleeping mare.

“Granny!” she called out, trying to rouse her from sleep. Grandma Verine sighed and muttered in her sleep, smacking her lips a couple of times before settling back down. Aura’s eyebrows knitted together as she became more determined to rouse the elderly mare.

“Granny Verrriiiinnnneeee!” she whined, tugging at the light cloth her grandmother had donned. With a slip, the whole thing came off and Aura tumbled back, encased in the fabric.

Granny Verine blinked and fumbled around her seating, the rocking motion further disorienting the poor mare.

“Whaaaaaaat?!” she screeched flailing around. “Anypony there?!”

She spotted the filly struggling within the confines of her constrictive sheets.

“Oh Aura,” she chuckled, getting up from her chair with difficulty. She lent the struggling filly a hoof with the sheet, freeing a grateful and gasping filly from the constricted confines of the white cotton sheets.

“Mmmph!” she cried. *Gasp* “Oh, thanks granny! I thought I was going to suffocate!”

Granny Verine shook her head and gave the filly a pat on the head. “Oh, you wouldn’t be in that ball o’ mess if you hadn’t woken me up quick-smart like that. That isn’t like you Aura, what’s gotten you all muddled up?”

Aura sat on her haunches pointing to the needle and the thread that lay discarded on the ground.

“I don’t like using needles. It’s so hard to get the thread through the needle.”

Granny Verine eyed the needle and tutted under her breath. She walked sedately over to the discarded items and picked them off the floor, grunting as she stretched and twisted her aching back and bones.

“Now, now, Aura,” she warned, “it’s dangerous to leave needles on the ground like that. Somepony could get hurt stepping on them.”

Aura pouted. “I know,” she said, a foreleg wrapped sheepishly behind her other. “I just got so frustrated trying to thread the needle. It’s a gift for Pepper. Sorry, Granny.”

The wizened face of her grandma cracked into a cheerful grin. Granny Verine could never stay mad at her granddaughter for long.

“Oh, no harm done,” she cackled, gathering the thread and needle and setting it on the table. “Now, you’re bored aren’t you? Young whippersnappers like you are always bored when you’re cooped up indoors.” Granny Verine looked to the window somewhat wistfully. “If I were younger I would go out and enjoy the snow with you, but I’m afraid these old bones would be doin’ some mighty complainin’ if I did so.”

“But Granny, I can’t go out I have to finish the embroidery for her scarf!”

Granny Verine lifted a wrinkled eyebrow at that. “Why not let the ol’ Gift Giver, give it to your sister? Pepper’s been a good little filly this year. I’m sure she’ll get a present.”

“Granny, everypony knows the Gift Giver isn’t real!”

Granny Verine lapsed into silence at that. Aura was about to ask Granny about the embroidery, but then she was interrupted when Granny Verine cocked her head and grinned heartily.

“No!” she squawked, waggling a hoof before settling back in her rocking chair. “The Gift Giver is real. How about a story?”

“A story?” Aura raised an eyebrow skeptically. She liked stories, but wasn’t she getting a little too old for stories? Besides, she had a needle to thread. She glared at the needle and thread on the table. I’m too old for foal’s tales, she thought.

Granny Verine chuckled. “Your face says you think you’re too old for stories.” A guilty start from Aura confirmed it, but Granny Verine paid it no heed. “Fair enough, young one, but I have an extra special story that’ll grab your gab! It is a story, I think, that’ll suit this Hearth’s Warming Eve.”

“But–”

“Oh, not interested? It’s a more grown up story than you’re used to.”

Now Aura was curious. “What sort of story is it? What’s it about?”

Granny Verine rocked in her chair a couple of times, smiling her knowing smile, she knew she had the little filly hooked.

“It’s an old tale,” she began, waving her hoof in the air, “about the wishes of every foal for Hearth’s Warming Eve.” When it failed to capture the little filly’s interest, Granny Verine added, “It’s a very sad story…”

Aura’s ears flattened. “But it has the princesses!” Granny Verine continued, Aura smiled at that.

“Princesses?!” Aura exclaimed. “Does it have a Prince?”

“Hmm no Prince, unfortunately.” She held up a hoof to stem her questions. “But, mostly this tale is about a small little filly.” She nodded as Aura perked up at that. “Yes, a small filly like you, arriving in Canterlot one week before Hearth’s Warming Eve…”

––––

Minty felt the cold work its way up her hooves, biting and snapping its frozen fangs at her fragile reserves of bodily warmth. She wrapped the meagre scarf she had around her neck. The scarf, once a brilliant sapphire colour, was now a dull ash-blue, bleached from its long-worn use.

Minty held the scarf tighter around her neck, she wouldn’t trade the scarf for the world. Though the outside was a biting cold, tonight was a night where everypony for miles around would all brave the temperamental winds and snow to come to the centre of Equestria, Canterlot, where the traditional Hearth’s Warming Eve play would be carried out.

Minty felt the blast of warm humid air from the great hall, before she spotted it. The entrance was crowded with ponies and a couple of pegasi guards were stationed at the forefront, stoically greeting ponies as they shuffled in.

“Greetings traveller, welcome to the Hearth’s Warming Eve Pageant, all citizens of Equestria are welcome.”

“Greetings, young filly, and welcome. Is this your first time?”

The question was directed at Minty as she passed the guard. She smiled weakly and nodded.

“Do not be afraid little one, you are safe here. Discord bothers us no more and the Princesses will be here tonight, keeping vigil over this land, day and night.”

Minty nodded again, giving a more confident smile. In truth, she had come partially because she wanted to catch a glimpse of one of the fabled alicorn princesses. The trip will have been worth it, if only to catch a glimpse of one of the princesses.

The shuffling continued and the guards directed the audience to stand among the hallway in neat rows. Being a little filly she was directed to the front, where the other young foals would stand and watch the play from a more advantageous position.

As she approached, she felt the eyes of the other foals bore curiously at her. There was something different about her, they decided, she was not like them. Something about the filly, nervous and flighty, scruffy and unkempt did not sit well with them. Unconsciously, the fillies and colts near Minty drew away slightly and Minty was left alone in her own spot.

She sighed and stood in the spot designated for her. The guard smiled encouragingly at her and gave her a pat on the head before leaving. Then she was alone with her thoughts save for the buzzing and mumbling that filled the hall as ponies chattered and made small talk before the play would start.

Dejected and with nopony to talk to, Minty hoofed the ground and simply waited for music that would herald the beginning of the play.

She was surprised when a small dark-blue filly approached her from the side. The filly grinned and pointed to the stage.

“We like this show,” the filly exclaimed, brushing up against Minty. “It doth bring joy and laughter amongst our subjects.”

Minty glanced at the strange filly, frowning at her language.

“Your speech is strange, ‘I’ speak with ‘I’ but thou uses ‘we’, it confuses me.”

The filly waved a hoof nonchalantly. “It is of no consequence,” she spoke and gestured forward to the stage beyond. “Look forward to the stage, a most entertaining boon will be granted to thee.”

––––

“Granny?”

“Hmm? Yes dear?”

“What are they saying? I don’t understand them.”

“It is an old dialect of Equestria, they used to speak like that you know.”

“Can you make them speak like normal? I can’t understand what they’re saying.”

Granny Verine muttered something under her breath. Aura could hear ‘young ‘uns’ and ‘what are they teaching in schools these days’. She decided to keep quiet. Granny Verine cleared her throat.

“Okay,” she said. “How’s this?”

––––

“Yo, we like this show it’s da bomb yo,” the filly exclaimed, brushing up against Minty. “It’s a massive hit among the streets in the ‘hood yo.”

––––

“Granny!”

“Oh alright,” she growled. “No sense of humour…”

––––

“We like this show,” the filly exclaimed, brushing up against Minty. “It brings joy and happiness to my subjects.”

Minty glanced at the strange filly, frowning at her language.

“That’s weird. You’re saying ‘we’ instead of ‘I’, I mean I use ‘I’, so why don’t you?”

The filly waved a hoof nonchalantly. “It doesn’t matter,” she said and gestured forward to the stage beyond. “Look at the stage and you will be gifted with an entertaining surprise.”

After that, Minty cast her gaze to the stage and the play began. It started with simplistic props and hoof-stitched costumes. To most, it would be a disappointing play, but when the actors mouths opened and their hearts rang true with the emotions of the characters, Minty couldn’t help but be caught up in the story of Hearth’s Warming Eve. It felt like she was there, watching the three tribes fight bitterly, then running off to a new land only to fight once more, then working together to banish the windigoes with a powerful spell forged from their friendship.

As the play ended, Minty was not the only one stamping their hooves in approval. The crowd of gathered ponies went wild and the actors were forced to take several blushing curtain calls. Minty had a wide, wide grin plastered to her face. Although she hadn’t seen the princesses she felt that it was worth it to see the play. The lights dimmed and the stage curtains closed for the final time, the ponies in the hall moving out as directed by the pegasi guards.

She turned around to see if the dark blue filly wanted to come with her and see the sights around Canterlot, but the mysterious filly was gone and Minty was alone again.

I shouldn’t have expected too much, she thought to herself, trudging out with the rest of the crowd. She’s probably with her family, enjoying a Hearth’s Warming Eve dinner.

As she exited the great hall, Minty fished around in her satchel, suddenly feeling very hungry. She nosed around her satchel for an apple but after a few minutes of furtive nosing, she couldn’t feel the smooth skin of the apple. Too late, she discovered her satchel had a worn hole in it and she nearly cried out in anguish.

That was her only snack to last the night and there would be no more. Her eyes widened and she frantically nosed around her satchel again, only to discover yet more missing. A small purse, containing the bits for lodging that night were lost as well! Her eyes misted over and quickly hoofed them away.

It’s alright, she thought. I will only have to look for them along the path I’ve tread and they will be there, just as I left them.

Try as she might, little Minty couldn’t find her belongings, her nose in the snow and the cold seeping into her coat as the snow melted through her fur, Minty could not feel more miserable and desperate. As her hooves felt numb and her ankles shook, Minty fell to the snow, sobbing.

Her sister had worked tirelessly to give her those bits to see Canterlot on Hearth’s Warming Eve, her sister waited patiently in a cold hut with a flickering flame. Now, without food or bits, Minty was lost. The cold crept closer and Minty shivered in the snow. She struggled to her hooves, but her legs were too numb and she flopped on the ground. Some ponies passed her by, but they looked at her with tired eyes and rushed on by.

Once or twice she heard laughter, and she looked up briefly to see a couple of well dressed colts prancing in the snow. As they spotted her, they sniggered and jeered, throwing snowballs at her. Flinching, Minty tried to crawl away, but they followed her and called her names.

“Nopony wants you, little urchin!” they shouted condescendingly.

“You’re left out here all alone.”

“What is this?” One of them sneered and grasped at her scarf. With a tug, the scarf was freed and Minty cried out in anguish. “Look at this rag, it’s worthless!” he said, tossing the scarf in the snow.

They laughed harshly again and left and Minty tried to get her scarf back. It wasn’t because it was warm, as one might think, the scarf was a gift from her sister one Hearth’s Warming Eve.

––––

“Granny?” Aura whined, tugging at Granny Verine’s leg.

“Hmm, what is it?”

“I don’t like this story anymore.”

Granny smiled at Aura, patting the foal on her head.

“Ah, but these stories usually have a happy ending, do they not? A heroine must forge her own path through thick and thin, or the words would not be worth the paper it is written on.” Boosting the foal up with a grunt, Granny placed Aura gently on her lap as she rocked on the chair.

––––

Minty reached the scarf with shaking hooves. She clutched it desperately to herself, thinking of all the love and care her sister had placed within the scarf. Perhaps her love will warm her, she thought.

Indeed it seemed so, that the scarf grew warmer and warmer. It felt strangely comforting for the little filly. The ground was soft and she felt numb, but warm. Little did she know that the embrace of the cold is warmest at its final moments…

A figure, draped in the shadows of the alley, curiously stopped, her eye catching a curious aquamarine lump in the snow. Slowly, the figure came forth and wrapped the little filly in a cloak and sped off towards her residence.

––––

Minty awoke in the warm sheets of an expansive bed. At first she floundered around, unfamiliar with where she was. She took stock of the room she was in. Tall high posts, pricy artwork, gilded panelling, stone walls and floor. She was either in a very wealthy noble’s house… or inside Canterlot castle. She hoofed the velvety sheets surrounding her. They were fit for a queen… or a princess.

Minty briefly entertained that maybe one of the princesses had seen her in the snow and decided to help her. She liked the thought that the princesses were helpful and kind, but dismissed it. It was so unlikely, why would the princesses care about one little filly?

So when a bustling old maid walked in through the door followed by a young and elegant noble mare, she couldn’t say she was disappointed. The noble mare spoke first.

“Hello there, little one. I am Rosemarine and this is my maid, Marmalade,” she introduced. Marmalade did a quick curtsey.

Minty scrambled out of the bed and executed a hasty bow. Her sister had warned her that she must always bow to the nobles.

“I’m Minty. Miss Rosemarine, Miss Marmalade.”

Rosemarine giggled. “No need to bow here, little one. Now we best be quick, there is somepony waiting for you.”

With that, Rosemarine trotted to the corner of the room whilst Marmalade rushed forward with a brush in her mouth. Minty took a couple of steps back, perturbed, but the maid smiled at her reassuringly and then gripped the foal, brushing down her wild mane.

“My lady, this foal will need some more attention before she is presentable,” the maid said, addressing Rosemarine. The elegant noble tilted her head in agreement.

“As you see fit, Marmalade, I trust you will do an excellent job as you always do.”

“Thank you, my lady,” Marmalade replied. “I always appreciate your compliments.”

Rosemarine glanced out the window, noting the passage of the sun. “Oh, Marmalade, I do have some things to attend to. I’ll leave this precious one in your capable hooves. Please let Nighters know when you are ready.”

Marmalade gave a quick curtsey. “Of course, my lady.”

As she left the room, Marmalade held a hoof out to Minty.

“Come along little one, we must get you washed and dressed for your upcoming audience.”

Minty had a look of consternation etched across her features. “Miss Marmalade,” she said. “I don’t have any clothes with me, apart from my scarf…”

Minty trailed off as she hastily felt around for her most treasured item. Tears pricked her eyes as her search became increasingly more frantic. Marmalade’s expression changed from curiosity to worry.

“What is it, Minty? Have you lost something?”

Tears welled in her eyes. “It’s a scarf,” she sniffed. “My sister gave it to me!”

“Oh don’t cry, little Minty, we’ll find your scarf. I am positive they would have left it for you somewhere around here.”

After furtive searching around the room, it was clear that the scarf and the satchel that little Minty had carried was no longer around. Marmalade could only look on helplessly as Minty sank to her haunches and bawled her eyes out.

“M-My scarf!” she cried whilst reflexively wiping away tears left and right. Marmalade stepped closer to the foal and wrapped a tender wing around her.

“Shh,” the mare whispered. “Everything will be alright, little one. We’ll get you a new scarf.”

“I don’t want a new scarf! I want the scarf my sister made for me!”

“Okay, okay, we will find your scarf. Chin up, your sister wouldn’t want you to be in tears now, would she?”

Minty took a deep breath, trying desperately to hold the tears back. Marmalade smiled at the filly and gave her mane a light tussle.

“There now, we’ll take this one hoof step at a time. I’m sure some of the palace staff must have seen the state of your belongings and got it patched up. I will ask around and I promise it will be returned to you.”

Minty sniffed a couple more times before her eyes took a determined character. She would stay strong for now, her sister was also strong like this.

–––––

“She really loves her sister, doesn’t she?”

“Hmm? Oh yes, that she does, Aura, that she does.”

“Well, I love you Granny.”

That brought a smile to the elderly mare’s face.

“Oh aren’t you precious sometimes, Aura.”

–––––

Marmalade lead Minty to the bathroom next to the bedroom. The bathroom was just as extravagant and Minty was all too aware that her scruffy coat, twisted mane, and dirty hooves would spoil the nice clean tiles. She realised the same thing would have happened to the bed and she glanced back guilty.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Marmalade,” she gushed as they stepped into the bathroom. “Your fine sheets and bathrooms would be ruined with all the dirt I have on me.”

Marmalade laughed at that, instantly dispelling some of the foal’s fears.

“Oh Minty, there’s no problem and you don’t have to apologise to me. True, I do clean the sheets, but that is my job. Even dear Lady Rosemarine does not own these sheets, so there’s no need to apologise to her either.”

“Really? Then who should I be apologising to?”

“Nopony, dear, just take this little gift and we’ll get you cleaned up.”

The bath slowly filled with water and Marmalade hummed as she lit the heating stones underneath and the room filled with the comforting caress of steam and warmth.

Minty took a couple of hoof steps back. “Miss Marmalade?” she asked in trepidation, eyeing the water level of the bathtub in suspicion.

“Yes, little one?”

“Am I going to get into that tub?”

“Yes, dear. It’s how we are going to get you clean.”

Minty bit her lip and took another couple of hoof steps back. “On second thought,” she mumbled. “It is awfully too kind of you to be doing such things for me. I think I will be fine.”

Marmalade frowned. She approached Minty as she retreated.

“Now look here–” she began, but the filly was gone, bolting out of the bathroom with all due haste. Sighing in frustration, Marmalade gave chase to the panicked filly.

“Minty!” she shouted. “Come back here!”

Minty glanced back. “I could not possibly avail myself to your kindness!”

––––

“Granny?”

“Hmm?”

“You’re slipping into the old speech again.”

“Oh so I was, Aura. Sorry. Let’s see. Ah yes.”

––––

“On second thoughts–”

––––

“Granny?”

“Yes?”

“You’ve done that part.”

“Oh my, well dear me. Scatterbrained at this time I am.”

Aura glanced at the clock. “It’s 3:34 PM, Granny.”

“Yes, and that’s my usual nap time.”

“Oh,” Aura said, her ears flattening. “Sorry, Granny.”

Granny Verine yawned. “Don’t be, little one. Ah yes, I think I remember.”

––––

“You’ve been too kind!” Minty yelled, darting across the room towards the door.

Marmalade snorted. “You’ll take my kindness, you will!”

“That would be rude of me!”

“What? No– Just come back here, Minty!”

Minty tumbled through the hallways, darting left and right as servant ponies carrying sheets, trays, linens, and other clean, fragile objects tilted wildly to avoid the dashing earth pony filly.

“Come back here Minty! Why are you being so difficult?”

“Don’t like baths!”

“Well you have to take one before seeing the uhmph–!”

Minty rounded the corner and darted around the hallway. She looked behind her and realised that she was no longer being followed. Minty slowed down to a trot. Scanning the hallways she drooped. Of course she wouldn’t recognise anything, oops. But that was okay, she hated baths, though she felt sorry for Miss Marmalade, she was a nice pony.

Shaking her head she decided she would pass on a message to Miss Marmalade with an apology and a small explanation. It would read:

Dear Miss Marmalade,

Sorry I ran away. I don’t like baths. Hope you didn’t get hurt.

Love,
Minty

Minty trudged through the hallways, looking for a way out. She paused mid hoof step, suddenly struck by a thought. Oh no! Her belongings were kept by the staff in this building! If she left, she wouldn’t be able to get it back. Poor Miss Marmalade had promised her she would look for the satchel and her scarf and now she ran away. Would she be angry? Would she tell her she wouldn’t look for it anymore?

Depressed with the outcome of her escape from Miss Marmalade, Minty decided she would ask somepony to take her back. She would sincerely apologise and she would stop being selfish. Her sister always used to say ‘stop being selfish and get in the bathtub’. Minty would be a good filly and wash in the bath. She shivered. She didn’t like the bathtub, the shampoo stung and the water was cold. She gritted her teeth. She had to be strong though, like her sister.

Minty cocked her head, suddenly having a thought. The bathroom had been warm. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad? Had she been running away from Miss Marmalade for no reason?

Deep in thought, Minty didn’t see the mare she crashed into. Letting out an awkward squawk, she flopped to the ground.

“Oh dear me, my little pony, are you alright?”

Minty blinked several times, her vision a little blurry. All she could see was a white blob. “Ah sorry Miss,” she apologised profusely, trying to execute a shaky bow. She collapsed onto her stomach. “I’m sorry!” She covered her head with her hooves. Minty thought she might have run into somepony important. Sometimes, her sister told her of terrible things that happened to somepony when they didn’t bow to a noble. Minty swallowed and counted to ten, looking up.

The pony was still there, looking at her quizzically.

“Little one,” the mare said. “Are you quite alright? Did you hit your head?”

Cautiously, Minty took her hooves off her head and stood back up. Her hooves were still shaking, but less so now.

“I’m so sorry I hit you, I wasn’t looking where I was going!” Minty gushed.

The unicorn fluttered her wings. Minty glanced at her wings and then her horn and then back at her wings. Wait, Minty thought. If she has a horn and wings then she must be…

“Princess!” Minty tried to give a deep bow but she stumbled and fell back down to the ground. “Oof! Oh I’m so sorry! Please don’t throw me in the dungeons.” She expected a shout and the rushing of the guards to take her away.

Minty was met with a beautiful lilting laughter instead. “Oh do not worry, dear one, I will not send you to the dungeons.”

Minty relaxed, letting go of a breath she didn’t even know she held.

“But you must still make reparations for your error.”

Minty didn’t know what ‘reparations’ meant but it didn’t sound good.

“Yes, this situation requires a measure of rectification, does it not?”

Rectification? The Princess was angry at her, wasn’t she?

“I’m s-sorry!” she stammered. “It won’t happen again!”

“Miss…?”

“Minty”

“Miss Minty, you are a loyal subject to the crown, are you not?”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Then you must obey my orders, will you not?”

“Yes, Princess.”

“As punishment you will have to accompany me.”

Minty swallowed thickly. “Yes Princess.”

“To a tea party.”

“Yes Princ– whaaaa?”

–––––

“Granny!”

“Oh Aura, I was just getting to the good part!”

“But Granny, I thought you said these ponies spoke in old fashion.”

“Yes. Yes I did.”

“Somehow,” Aura scrunched up her face in concentration. “I can’t imagine them saying ‘whaaaaa’. It’s too weird.”

Granny Verine rolled her eyes. “I thought you wanted me to make this accessible to you young’uns.” Her tongue clicked. “So demanding.”

“I suppose so, Granny. Sorry.”

“Aura, you’re turning into a miniature Minty! You wouldn’t want to be like her all the time.” Granny Verine frowned. “Although I do seem to recall somepony afraid of bathwater before…”

“Granny!”

Granny Verine cackled. “Oh alright! Onwards with the story, then.”

–––––

Minty was lead through the twists and turns of stone-lined hallways. Though Minty was nervous being with one of the Princesses of Equestria itself, she found herself relaxing more and more as the Princess starting talking about the various features around what Minty now knew was the Castle of the Twin Sisters.

“So the castle is named after the both of you, then Princess?” Minty queried.

“Oh you don’t have to call me Princess while we’re not in court,” the Princess said warmly, giving Minty a motherly smile.

Minty gave the Princess an uncertain smile. “Okay, then.” She paused. “What should I call you?”

“You can just call me Celestia, Minty and no, the castle wasn’t named after us,” her expression turned a little sad at that. “It was of another two sisters…”

“Uhm, Celestia?”

“Hmm?”

“Having a sister is the best. I can understand why you’d want to name the castle like that.”

–––––

“Oh so Minty got see a princess after all!”

“Oh yes indeed, the Princess of the Sun, no less.”

“That is a happy ending.”

Granny Verine chuckled. “No, no, Aura. The story isn’t finished yet.”

“There’s more?”

“Oh yes, Aura, much, much more…”

–––––

Minty didn’t know what she expected for a tea party. It seemed very fancy with all the plates and cutlery and different delicate types of foods. The Princess sat quite comfortably in the chair, while Minty took a while to adjust positions until she was somewhat comfortable.

She tried grasping the fork but she couldn’t get a proper grip on it and it fell out of her hoof several times. Minty glanced at the Princess as she sat there delicately taking a bite out of a strawberry cake slice. Minty stared enviously at the cake. She realised she hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast at home.

With that thought she bowed her head, thinking how worried her sister would be. She didn’t know how to get back. She didn’t have any bits, and her satchel and scarf were missing. Unbidden, tears welled in her eyes as she thought about it.

A sudden clatter at the table distracted Minty from her thoughts.

“Oh,” the Princess said looking surprised. “It’s like these forks have a life of their own.” Celestia reached down to grab the fork with her hoof. Curiously, the fork righted itself and ran away on its stubby fork legs.

“Oh dear,” Celestia sighed, but she smiled at Minty. “It seems my problems are running away from me. It’s unusual since I think they should be the other way around.”

The fork ran away again when Celestia tried to grab it again. The Princess of the Sun frowned.

“It seems that this fork is a lot more trouble than I can handle.” She raised an eyebrow at Minty. “Perhaps it would be a good idea to ask for some help?”

“Oh!” Minty cried, her troubles momentarily forgotten in such a bizarre scene. “I can help, Princess.”

Celestia pouted.

“Oh sorry, Celestia. I can help you, if you want it, that is.”

Celestia laughed lightly. “I would like that, I think. Help is always appreciated and it is most welcome when offered.”

As Celestia moved towards the fork, Minty held still, as it passed her by her hoof shot out, grabbing the fork by its handle. Immediately the fork stiffened and returned to its inert state. Minty frowned at the fork and waved it around. It looked like she could hold it properly, too!

She turned to see Celestia smiling warmly at her. Minty shuffled her hooves and looked at the ground.

“There’s somepony I think, that I need to apologise to. She offered to help me and I just ran away.”

Celestia came around and wrapped a wing around Minty, comforting her.

“You’ve got a good heart, Minty. Now I think we should find Miss Marmalade…”

“No need for that, Princess,” a familiar voice rang across the clearing.

Minty’s eyes widened as she spotted Marmalade rounding the corner with a tray holding a few pitchers of tea. Minty bowed her head in shame as Marmalade passed her.

“Oh Miss Marmalade, I’m so sorry!” she blurted, eyes wide. Marmalade turned around and gave the filly a little head tussle.

“Oh it’s not like this hasn’t happened before, Minty, don’t you worry.” She frowned. “Though I must say you were the first little foal to give me the slip!” She bustled around the table, refilling the teacups around the table. “I must be getting old,” she complained, groaning a little as she poured the tea.

“Miss Marmalade you’ve done such a great service to the crown,” Princess Celestia spoke up, addressing the ageing maid. “Would you not like to join us?”

The maid brightened a little at that. “Well, Princess, if you don’t mind.” The old maid settled in the chair closest to her. Minty took the one to her left, whilst the Princess took the one on her right.

After taking a few sips of tea and smacking her lips appreciatively, Marmalade eyed the little filly taking a couple of nervous sips from her own teacup. The teacup was balanced precariously on its side as the filly struggled to lap at its contents, but with a clatter, the teacup fell back to the saucer with not a drop spilt. A simultaneous sigh parted from the two elder mare’s lips and they looked at each other for a moment before letting loose a quiet giggle as they shared the same thoughts about the tense overwatch on the filly’s attempts to drink from the delicate bone-china teacup.

Marmalade decided to engage Minty before she could try her hoof at something a little more expensive.

“Minty, I’ve asked around the castle staff,” she began and Minty glanced up, her eyes filled with hope.

“Have you found my sister’s scarf? Have you found my satchel?”

“Well, not exactly.”

Minty drooped.

“But we have found who it is with.”

Minty perked up at that.

“Who?” she pressed. “Who is it with?”

Marmalade smiled. “Before we meet her, you’ll need to take a bath first. She is an important pony after all.”

Celestia nodded serenely. “I think you’d be more comfortable after having a bath.”

Minty nodded nervously. “O-Okay then,” she answered morosely. “I suppose I must have a bath.”

Marmalade smacked a hoof on her forehead. “Dear me!” she cried, startling both ponies. “You’re not from around Canterlot, are you?” Minty shook her head. “Oh that explains everything.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow at Marmalade who hastily explained her thoughts.

“There’s no hot water baths out in the poorer districts. Bath time is rare, out of the question especially in winter. Canterlot has had heating stones for a while now, so we’ve gotten used to the hot water, no wonder Minty doesn’t like baths.”

Celestia and Marmalade stared at Minty as if for the first time, seeing her. Understanding dawned on Celestia’s face.

“Oh so that is why you were so panicked, little one.” She grinned, gathering up the small earth pony with her magic, startling Minty, when she deposited her on her back. “Baths here are different, you will be warm and safe. I can assure you of that.”

“Princess!”

“Hmm?”

“Your coat! It’ll be stained!”

“Oh my, I suppose it’s too late,” she said, smiling at Minty. “I suppose we’ll have to take a bath together.

“P-Princess!” Marmalade spluttered.

Princess Celestia laid a hoof on her shoulders.

“No need to worry, Miss Marmalade, I will relieve you of your charge. Please give my thanks to Lady Rosemarine. I will take Minty to where she needs to go afterwards.”

Marmalade looked torn between acceding and arguing with the Princess. Finally after uncertainly executing a small curtsey, Marmalade uttered, “As you wish, Princess,” and trudged away.

When Marmalade left, Princess Celestia gave Minty a quizzical frown.

“Really,” she pouted at the small filly, making her giggle. “It’s as if I took away a carrot from a rabbit…”

Minty coughed. “Miss Marmalade is a very nice pony,” she commented and Celestia nodded in agreement.

“That she is, little one. That she is.”

–––––

“Princess Celestia is a very kind pony too, I’ve never heard of her doing such things,” Aura giggled at a sudden thought. “Imagine, taking a bath with the Princess!”

“Oh long ago there weren’t as many ponies as there were now, some say Princess Celestia was seen much more often among her subjects. She was a very active princess, beloved by all. Oftentimes some ponies say you can see her roaming the halls, looking for a pony to talk to or to invite them to her tea party.”

“Really? Do you think she still invites her friends over to a tea party nowadays?”

“Hmm. I’m not sure, Aura. Perhaps if you see the Princess one day, you could ask her.”

–––––

Minty had the most pleasant bath experience in her whole life. The water was warm and the Princess giggled and played with her, sending splashes and echoes around the roomy interior of the bathroom. Then, the Princess put something in the bathtub and the water got bubbly and frothy, something Minty hadn’t seen before in any of her baths. She had fun with the bubbles… until she tried to eat one.

“Yuck!” she exclaimed. “They taste horrible.”

Celestia nodded. “Oh I agree! The first time, Luna tried to eat one of those too.” Celestia put a hoof to her muzzle. “Oh dear, I don’t think I should have said that.”

Minty zipped her mouth with her hoof. “I won’t tell anypony,” she promised and Celestia laughed.

“Thank you, Minty,” she grinned, then hoisted the filly out of the great bath and quickly smothered the filly in towels. “Now to get you all dry.”

Minty didn’t like using towels to wipe off the moisture from her fur. Towels at home were rough and scratchy. She had to admit though, she didn’t mind the ones here so much. They were warm and soft and she was dried very quickly. After getting herself dry, she looked at Celestia and saw that the Princess had also dried herself off at the same time.

“Off to see the mysterious pony that found you then?” she said brightly, guiding young Minty with an outstretched wing.

As they walked through the halls with Celestia telling her more about the various parts of the castle and Minty listening, Minty found herself wondering what the mare who had saved her was like. Was she another noble in the court? Was she a passerby in the castle? Did she know everypony in castle?

Questions swirled around in Minty’s mind. So distracted she was, Minty almost collided into Celestia yet again.

“Careful,” Celestia warned softly. “You don’t want the same thing to happen again, do you?” Celestia had a teasing smile on her lips.

Minty smiled sheepishly and kicked an idle hoof.

“No, Princess.”

Celestia frowned.

“I mean Celestia.”

Celestia smiled.

“Here is where I leave you, dear one.”

“Wait! You’re going?” Minty’s eyes became round and full.

Celestia chuckled. “I’m sorry, Minty, but she wants to meet you alone.”

“But–” Minty held a hoof out as Celestia left. “Awww,” she whined.

Minty didn’t like the prospect of talking to the stranger alone.

“What ever should I do?” she spoke to herself.

“Perhaps you should just trot right in?” a familiar voice sounded out. Minty whirled around to see the same dark blue filly that had been with her the night before.

“Hello again. Surprised to see us?”

Minty gaped at the little filly, not because she was surprised to see her again, but mostly because the foal in front of her had warped and changed into a more regal visage that was an alicorn.

The alicorn laughed gaily as she passed Minty who still stood there gaping. She gestured to Minty, beckoning with a hoof.

“Come in, little one, I’m sure you have many questions for us.”

Minty robotically moved forward, her legs jerking forward until she entered the room. Inside, the walls and ceiling were covered with gold stars and celestial objects. The walls had a deep rich midnight blue as the background, whilst the ceiling was painted with a matte black and dotted with gold leaf stars.

When Minty crossed the threshold to the room she felt like she was stepping into the night sky and she wondered at all the intricate detailing that made up the background of the room. A cough distracted her from looking around the room some more.

“Do you like it? This is one of our own designs, a resting chamber so that we may relax and unwind whether it be night or day.”

“It’s beautiful…” Minty muttered, her inevitably drawn around the room again.

Luna grinned. “We are very proud with this creation. But– oh where are our manners? We are Luna, Princess of the Night.”

Minty hastily tried to perform a bow, but a blue glow stopped her.

“No need for that, little one. We do not wish to impose such gestures of respect from our youngest subjects.” Luna paused and her eyes lit up as she remembered part of why she wanted to meet the little filly. “We have found your personal belongings,” she said, levitating a smartly repaired satchel and a thoroughly washed scarf. “We believe that these are yours.”

Minty squealed, not even waiting for the blue glow to disperse around the objects before she snatched them out of the air. Overwhelmed with joy the little filly rushed forward and hugged the Princess of the Night tight in a comforting embrace.

Surprised, but not at all averse to such a display of affection, Luna stiffened at first but slowly returned the embrace, smiling slightly as Minty cried tears of joy.

“Thank you!” she cried. “Thank you so much!”

“Think not of it,” Luna replied warmly. “It is our duty to make sure that none may harm our little ponies during the night.” Her expression turned sad and Minty thought she saw something fleeting before it was smothered by a forced smile. “We were a little late,” she admitted. “That is our failing. We wish to make amends to you.”

“Amends?” Minty replied, not understanding.

“Yes, we will let Minty, the little filly have one wish tonight. You may have anything you wish for.”

“Anything I want?”

A nod.

“Truly?”

Another nod.

“I wish to see my sister again!” the little filly cried, tears in her eyes.

Surprised once again, Luna smiled. “That is a simple request, little one. I think we can arrange that, without using your precious wish.”

Minty shook her head. “I love my sister,” she said clearly with determination etched in her eyes. “I just want to see her again.”

Luna studied Minty for a moment before nodding.

“It will be done,” she promised, then spun about on the spot. “We do love watching the shows with all the little fillies and colts, during the play. We are pleased to have met you.”

Minty broke into a grin. “I think I might have had a worse time, without you there… all the other ponies there didn’t really like me?”

Luna scowled. “Monstrous,” she grumbled. “Hearth’s Warming Eve is a time for celebration and togetherness, have they not learned from the windigoes?”

Minty nodded. “I was hoping to make some friends,” she sniffed, her eyes downcast. Then she perked up. “But that’s okay, because I met you!” Luna could only smile at that.

–––––

“Minty is now friends with the Princesses?”

“Yes, Aura.”

“She’s so lucky.”

“That she is. If the Princess hadn’t found her she would have frozen in the snow.”

“I’m glad she was found, then.”

“I’m glad for her too.”

–––––

It was Minty’s first time riding on the royal chariot. She shivered as she approached the contraption, nervously taking a hoof step into the chariot and hurriedly withdrawing it when she heard a creak. Princess Luna gave the foal an encouraging boost with her wing and feeling safe, Minty settled into the chariot as Luna sat down beside her. Minty asked Luna if she felt tired at all, but the alicorn had laughingly replied that she was used to long hours of both day and night.

The chariot jolted and Minty gasped when suddenly the chariot was airborne. The armoured pegasi pulling the chariot seemed to display hardly any effort as they gracefully towed the chariot carrying the Princess and her little companion. Minty looked over the side of the chariot after gaining the courage from several minutes of uninterrupted flight.

The ground looked small and the land was broken up into a patchwork. Cities and villages formed dark spots whilst the farmlands divided the land into squares, reminding Minty of a quilt. Princess Luna pointed out all the cities as they passed them by. Heading to the small village of Tall Tale, they would even pass under Cloudsdale. Luna warned Minty not to taste the rainbow, but Minty wasn’t going to anyway, the bubbles were already a bad experience that wasn’t worth repeating twice.

Soon, the soothing rush of air currents around them and the excitement of the day carefully lulled little Minty asleep. The filly couldn’t keep her head up and she flopped to the floor of the chariot, fast asleep.

A nudge woke Minty up, but all she could see was darkness all around her. She shuffled forward, bumping her nose against something soft…

Suddenly, the darkness broke apart and she was greeted with blinding light.

“Ahh!” she cried, pawing at her face with her hooves.

“Oh, we are sorry, little one, did we startle you?” Luna asked as Minty blearily noted the retracting wings.

“Oh uhm, sorry Princess, I was just not used to sleeping under a wing,” Minty admitted, blinking several times. Luna smiled at Minty.

“Come now,” she prompted, hopping out of the chariot. “We have arrived.”

Minty climbed out of the chariot, making sure to thank the two pegasi pulling the chariot. The pegasi snorted proudly and flared their wings, which made Minty grin.

Princess Luna nodded at the pegasi appreciatively and beckoned at Minty to follow.

“Do you know the way to your sister’s house?”

Minty went quiet at that, the prior mirth was lost from her face.

“No, the house is gone. I know where to find her, though.”

–––––

Disturbed, Luna followed the little filly as she meandered through the huts and houses of the small village. Passing ponies eyed the pair curiously, when they noticed it was Princess Luna they all hurriedly executed a bow. Princess Luna waved a hoof at them, gesturing for them to rise.

“There’s no need for that,” she called out. “It is not an official visit, please, be about your business.”

Minty lead the alicorn away from the village centre, winding further and further away from the residences. There were a few huts here, but they belonged to solitary loggers and small rural families. Luna glanced around. If they didn’t own a house then her sister must be boarding with one of these ponies, would they not?

Minty kept plodding along doggedly, eventually reaching the outskirts of the village. Luna scanned her surroundings but there were no longer any huts or houses around.

“Minty, are you sure we are headed the right way?” the Princess asked gently. The filly didn’t reply but simply nodded as she continued along.

Eventually they stopped in the forest and Luna finally understood why they were so far away from the village centre. Alone, in a small clearing was a small pile of stones and rocks, gathered in a modest cairn.

Tenderly the alicorn reached out to Minty.

“Minty we–”

“I want to see my sister again.”

“We are sorry Mint–”

“I wish to see my sister again!”

Luna shook her head, her gaze faltering as the filly’s eyes filled with tears.

“You said I could wish for anything! I want to see my sister again!”

“W-We M-Minty…”

Luna’s words were lost as the filly started crying. Luna held a hoof out, trying to comfort Minty, but she shoved it aside.

“You lied!” she cried. “You lied to me!”

Minty dashed off into the woods, quickly disappearing into the thick undergrowth. Eyes wide, Luna took flight, trying to spot the filly from above, but instinctively she knew it was futile, there was no way to see through the forest. She dove into the forest, calling out.

“Minty!” she yelled desperately. “We are sorry! We are so, so sorry! We did not know!”

Luna stumbled through the forest, ignoring the cuts and bruises as she tripped over stones and outstretched roots.

“Minty!”

The alicorn could only cry out into the darkness. Once or twice she thought she heard a cry or sobbing, but when she neared there was nothing to be found. Though disheartened, Luna kept going on, she kept crying out for the little aquamarine foal that had dashed off into the woods.

“Minty!” she shouted into the gloom of the forest. “Minty please, we are sorry! Minty!”

But the forest was silent, save for the whispering of leaves. Luna searched for hours as day turned to night. She was later joined by the brave guards of Canterlot, but they never found hide nor hair of the foal.

–––––

“Princess Luna had continued to search long after the guards had given up. They say, every Hearth’s Warming Eve, Princess Luna comes into every foal’s bedroom at night and gifts them a present, to show how sorry she was for failing that foal on that night. Perhaps she hoped that one night she would open the windows and find Minty sleeping and Luna would know she was safe…” Granny Verine sighed as she finished the story. She opened her eyes to find Aura deep asleep.

“Oh well,” Granny Verine muttered softly to herself. “It was best if she didn’t listen to the ending anyway. It’s such a sad story.”

The elderly mare gathered the curled up foal and hummed a soft tune as she carried the foal on her back and up the stairs. She tucked the foal in and whispered a goodnight. Aura murmured and shifted but otherwise stayed sound asleep.

As Granny Verine approached the table, she glanced at the scarf and the half-completed embroidery. It was a Hearth’s Warming tree but it was clear that Aura had ran out of green thread to finish the tree off. Granny Verine expertly threaded the needle and started stitching the pattern, completing the little tree. She would finish the scarf, and let Aura put the last few stitches come this Hearth’s Warming morning.

She settled in her rocking chair, stoking the fire and sang a soft song to herself.

After solar’s set, the quiet night,
When all is settled, a soft spoken light,
Stay silent those asleep,
Not a sound, not a peep,
You all, the youngest and the auld,
Should carry dreams in this bitter cold,
Not to worry, sleep in her care,
For one good deed, a gift she’ll bear,
Wake one morning and you will be surprised,
A boon! A present! Come Hearth’s sunrise.
So you better believe,
Come this Hearth’s eve,
The giver of gifts,
On hooves so swift,
Will deliver your due,
In giftwrapped blue.
This Hearth’s Warming Eve...

––––

*GASP*

“Everypony wake up!”

There were groans and shuffles and moaning around.

“Pinkie I know you’re excited to unwrap the presents but–”

Twilight stopped in her tracks, she rubbed her eyes with a hoof and blinked several times at the mare. Held in Pinkie’s grasp were six gifts in a blue box with a blue ribbon.

“The Gift Giver came!” she exclaimed.

Twilight shook her head and winked at Pinkie.

“Thanks Pinkie,” she said warmly, levitating the gift labelled ‘Twilight’.

“Okie Dokie Lokie, but I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Little did Twilight know that, just over one thousand years after the Mare in the Moon, ponies all around Equestria woke to find a blue-wrapped gift by their door that Hearth’s Warming morning…

And a small gift of a scarf to a non-descript cairn in the west.

Author's Note

‘Thee and thine’ have been removed from their speech by Granny Verine. However, whilst Luna prefers the royal ‘we’ Celestia does not and this is reflected in the ‘translation’.

This story also turned out much, much longer than expected and was inspired, in part, by the cover art. It also turned sadder than expected...

To give you an idea of my writing process, I first imagine an idea or a scene, in this case it was actually Luna as an Equestrian Santa. When I thought of the vehicle to tell the story, I stumbled upon the Princess Bride and I thought of fond memories of that movie. Sadly, the fiction ended quite morosely, as the backstory and the characters were more and more fleshed out. I grew to love innocent little Minty and how she could easily touch the hearts of some of the important ponies she meets. Though innocent she may be, her past was as tragic as the origin stories of the Gift Giver, where this story ends.

Next Chapter: Celebrate this festive season with your loved ones.

As always, my heartfelt readers, thanks for reading!