What This Year's Hearth's Warming Serial Should Have Been

"Thank you once again for saving Hearth's Warming, little Toffee!" said Father Hearth's Warming gratefully, shaking Toffee Break's hoof.

"No problem, Father Hearth's Warming! We couldn't just stand by," replied the young colt.

Father Hearth's chuckled gleefully, and Toffee went off to join the fun. "Goodbye, Father Hearth's Warming!" he called.

"Ho ho ho! Merry Hearth's Warming, everypony!" And with that, Father Hearth's Warming's reindeer started to pull the sleigh up into the night sky, and they disappeared into the night.

Toffee Break, along with the rest of Ponyville, danced and sung all through the night. There was so much love and cheer spread around, and even the leaders of Griffonstone and Zebrica were happy with each other. Toffee had learnt a lesson about the importance of giving over receiving, and he would use it all through his days. For now, he was content to enjoy the remainder of Hearth's Warming Eve with all whom he held dear.

Rainbow Dash and her five friends, along with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo listened to the last part of the radio special. Rainbow cheered and gave a round of applause.

Pinkie Pie laughed. "Wooooooow Dashie, you sure liked-"

"It's finally over! WOOHOO!" said Rainbow.

Sweetie tilted her head. "But Rainbow Dash, why are you cheering for that?" she asked.

"Are you kidding?" asked Rainbow. "I am SO sick of listening to these sappy radio specials every year. They're so cheesy that you could pour them over nachos and eat it for dinner."

"I thought it was nice," put in Fluttershy meekly. "Like that movie with the turquoise mare who had a pink mane..."

"Of course you did," replied Rainbow with a deadpan expression. "Am I the only one who notices that was the exact same thing we listened to last year? And the year before? A young foal is a selfish jerk. Hearth's Warming is in danger of being 'cancelled'. Father Hearth's Warming enlists the help of this foal above anypony else for some reason. As they have their journey, the foal learns the importance of love and sharing. Once Hearth's Warming is saved, the foal vows to treat everypony better. THE END."

Twilight opened her mouth to make a response, but then closed it. She couldn't argue with that.

"All for the purpose of making money!" Rainbow went on. "Everypony is dumb enough to love these specials, so of course the greedy executives go and milk the same junk every time! It's a waste of taxpayers' money! And that part at the end with the leaders of Griffonstone and Zebrica hugging is hugely disrespectful to what's really going on between those two right now. I swear, if they haven't stopped putting these on in ten years' time..."

Rarity silently motioned for everypony else to leave. Everypony except Sweetie quietly got up and waved goodbye as they left Carousel Boutique.

It had taken Rainbow Dash seven minutes to realize she was ranting to herself and nopony had been listening. She touched down in front of her house and walked in. "Those thickheaded know-it-alls," she mumbled. It looked as though nopony would come to their senses in terms of how sappy and terrible these holiday specials really were. If only they would. Then there could be a change...

Rainbow stopped in her tracks. There was no need to wait.

If you wanted something done right, you had to do it yourself.

Rainbow Dash grabbed the typewriter from under her bed (yesterday had marked the fifth time Twilight had asked when Rainbow would give it back after borrowing it) and grinned with anticipation. By Celestia's tail, she was going to produce a far superior holiday special. It was what Equestria deserved.

She put her hooves on the keys and got to work.