“I can’t see,” Twilight said, stumbling in the bright red light squinting her eyes.

Richard’s horn glowed bright red lighting up the whole room.

“How do I turn it off?” He asked with his hooves touching his head.

“Richard what happens when the sun sets?” Rarity asked him, covering her eyes.

“It gets darker, what is that supposed to mean?” Richard said sounding frustrated.

“Close your eyes and think about the sunsetting,” She said in a loud voice.

“I’ll try,” He said closing his eyes.

Richard horn started to dim slowly. Twilight rubbed her eyes blinking adjusting to the light. She then quickly went to a desk and used her magic to open a shelf lifted out a purple amulet. Twilight placed the amulet around Richard's neck, which and caused his horn to stop glowing.

“That should help until you learn how to control your magic,” Twilight said looking at him.

“Thanks,” Richard said, opening his eyes and touched the amulet with his right front hoof.

“I’m sorry Richard, it’s because of me that this is happening to you,” Rarity apologized looking at him.

“My father always said that everything happens for a reason,” He said and walked up to her. “I don’t blame you,” Richard smiled and hugged her.

Twilight looked over the printouts from her magic analyzer and rubbed her chin thinking.

“Hmm, there is something familiar about these readings,” She said to herself.

Rarity started humming a tune, helping with the decorations around the castle and Richard followed her around helping. He found it strange that when he tried to grab something with his hoof, the object would stick to it like it was magnetic and then drop when he let go.

“What are you humming?” He asked, pushing a box full of decorations.

“Ponies' voices fill the night,” She started to sing and the other ponies near by joining in.

“Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again,” Twilight sang out as she hung strings of lights.

“Happy hearts so full and bright,” Fluttershy sang flapping her wings as she placed a glowing star on top of the tree.

“Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again” Applejack sang as she in pulling in a cart full of apple pies.

“Oh, what a sight, look at the light, all for tonight” Rainbow sang as she hung strings of glitter along the walls.

A blue knit cap landed on Richard's head, covering his eyes so he had to push it up. He watched as the large dance hall in Twilight's castle was transformed. Christmas or in this case Hearth's Warming decorations were hung and strung over every ledge, corners, windows, pillars and evergreen trees. It reminded him of Santa's Land at Macy's.

“Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again!” Richard sang out in a loud, deep voice, looking up at the tree.

Everyone stopped and looked at him, surprised. He looked around at everyone worried thinking he broke some rule.

“You can sing?” Rarity asked, sounding surprised.

“Yes, I use to sing in a church choir,” Richard said like it was not a big deal shrugging his shoulders.

“Can you sing us a song?” A random pony asked in the background.

“Please Richard, can you sing one of your Christmas songs?” Rarity asked fluttering her eyelashes.

“Fine, but I am a bit rusty,” He answered clearing his throat.

Ponies quickly gathered in front of him sitting down. Richard looked at the small crowd gathering and took a deep breath.

“Dashing through the snow, On a one-pony open sleigh, Over the fields we go, Laughing all the way...” He sang out in a loud, deep voice which resonated in the large crystal hall.

He was no Bing Crosby, but his voice was deep and everypony was captivated on hearing the song for the first time. Then he moved on to a silly song to see their reaction.

“Grandma got run over by a reindeer, walking home from our house Christmas eve, you can say there's no such thing as Santa, but as for me and grandpa we believe…” He sang out which cause some of the ponies to look at Granny Smith.

Three songs later…

Ponies clopped and stomped their hooves with an applause and then went about their own business.

Richard walked to a table for refreshments and grabbed a cup of water and drank it down.

“Twixie wants to know if you are married?” A cyan colored unicorn asked walking up to him.

“Well, I’m currently in a relationship,” Richard said, clearing his throat, looking confused until he realized that Twixie was speaking in 3rd person.

“Trixie is available if you change your mind,” She said passed him what looked like a business card and then walk away swishing her tail at him.

He looked at the card and noticed the same cutie mark as her, but he was not able to read the writing. The card glowed blue as it was snatched away by Rarity and then disappeared.

“You are attracting too much attention, dear,” Rarity walked up to him standing close which made some of ponies change direction.

“It was just a few songs,” He said sounding embarrassed.

Richard then remembered that in Equestria females outnumbered males 10 to 1 which can cause some problems at times.

“Let's head to the auditorium, the play is about to start,” She looked stern for a moment, but relaxed leading him to another large room with a stage.

This was the first time Ponyville was going to have their own Hearth's Warming Eve Pageant in Twilight new castle. It had the room for it and the ponies were delighted to help out with the decorations. Richard and Rarity found Sweetie Belle with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

“Sweetie Belle can you please watch over Richard until I get back?” Rarity asked her.

“Do I have to?” She grumbled looked at him with a frown.

“Where are you going?” He asked her.

“I may not be in the play this year, but I am still going to make sure the costumes are perfect,” Rarity said with a look of determination and walked to the back of the stage.

“Wow! Santa made yer wish come true,” Apple Bloom looked at Richard and then back to Sweetie Belle.

“Shhh,” She said trying to hush her by holding up her right hoof to her mouth.

“I should have asked Santa for bigger wings,” Scootaloo said looking at herself.

“Wish what wish?” Richard looked at Sweetie,

“I asked Santa if he could make you a pony, that way you can stay here with my sister,” She said noticing the horn on his head. “Nice horn,” Sweetie Belle smiled.

Richard's mouth dropped looking at Sweetie, he started to shake feeling his rage growing. The girls backed away when they saw him twitching.

“You, you…” He was about to yell when Applejack dressed as Smart Cookie walked out from behind red curtains onto the stage.

“Ladies and gentlecolts, Ah, welcome y'all to the Hearth's Warming Pageant,” Applejack said in a loud voice getting everypony's attention.

Ponies clopped and stomped their hooves as the lights went dim. Applejack walked to the right side of the stand and slipped behind the curtains. The red curtains opened up showing Spike as the narrator standing in the middle of the strange. He was dressed in elizabethan purple clothing upper class with orange feathers on a beret.

“Once upon a time, long before the peaceful rule of Celestia, and before ponies discovered our beautiful land of Equestria, ponies did not know harmony. It was a strange and dark time. A time when ponies were torn apart... by hatred!” Spike said.

Richard watched the play curious to learn about Hearth's Warming. What he got was a history lesson and learned that at one time ponies were divided into three tribes. Earth ponies were farmers, Unicorns raised, lowered the sun and moon, Pegasi controlled the weather. They didn’t like each other which caused the snow to fall. Rarity quietly joined Richard as he watched the play, she nuzzled against him to get his attention. As the play goes on the three princesses discover that is was their own fighting that caused the blizzard. They then started to sing the Hearts Carol. Twilight dressed as Clover the Clever created a heart-shaped flame with her magic that floating above the stage. Everypony joined in singing with the actors on stage.

“Loyalty binds us and makes us strong, honesty shows that we belong, and kindness shared will unite us through each day, the fire of friendship lives in our hearts, as long as it burns, we cannot drift apart, though quarrels arise, their numbers are few, laughter and singing will see us…” Everyone sang out while Richard hummed along.

The play ended with loud clops and cheers. Rarity kissed Richard before running off to be with her friends.

There was the faint sound of jingle bells outside that gradually got louder. Ponies started to notice and looked around trying to find the source of the sound. Then there was the sound of something that landed on the roof.

“HO, HO, HO!” A voice called out from the top of the castle.

“IT’S SANTA HOOVES!” Pinkie squealed out bouncing.

“Let’s check it out,” Twilight said, looking at her friends.

They quickly went upstairs, leaving a crowd of ponies behind. Richard tried to follow them, but Sweetie stood up in front of him with her front hooves spread out.

“Stop!” She said in a loud voice.

“Out of my way Sweetie,” He said trying to get past her.

“I know you are going to ask Santa to change you back,” Sweetie said pointing at him.

“Obviously, I have no intention on, spending the rest of my life as a pony,” Richard answer angrily.

“Then you’ll take my sister away!” She yelled at him.

“I love you sister, but I won’t take her away,” He said looking at her.

“You promise,” The small white unicorn said with her front hooves crossed.

“Yes, can I go now?” The light brown unicorn asked her.

She paused for a moment and then dropped down on all fours and moved out of the way. Richard quickly ran upstairs heading in the direction, Twilight was going. The door on the roof opened and Twilight stepped out first into the blowing wind and snow.

“It’s a blizzard!” She yelled out.

“Oh, ma stars!” Applejack walked out and squinted.

“Why is this happening didn't we just sing the Heart Carol?” Rarity pushed her way outside her hooves sinking into the snow.

“So much snow, weee!” Pinkie yelled out sounding happy as she jumped into it, making snow angels.

“I’ll just stay by the door,” Fluttershy said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll fix this,” Rainbow flapped her wings and tried to fly only to be pushed back by the wind.

“Ho Ho Ho, Merry Hearth's Warming!” Said a figure dressed in red as he climbed out of a red sleigh.

“Discord!” They yelled out together,

“Ssshhh, not so loud the kids may hear you,” Discord said walking closer.

He was fully dressed in a Santa suit with a fat belly and a large white beard.

“What are you up to?” Twilight asked demanding an answer.

“Ho, Ho, Spreading the holiday cheer,” He smiled, rubbing his claw in his white beard.

“SANTA!” Richard yelled out pushing the door open.

“Excellent you're just in time,” Discord grinned.

“Change me back!” He yelled out standing up.

Twilight then remember the readings from her magic analyzer and it now made sense.

“Ho, Ho, no my boy, not until you help me deliver all these presents,” Discord snapped his claw and a very large red sack appeared in the back of his sleigh.

“Fine, I’ll do it,” Richard said, walking towards him.

“Where he goes, I go!” Rarity stepped forward.

“Me too!” Pinkie said, walking up to Rarity.

“Aaawww, do I have to,” Rainbow complained.

“Alright, if everyone is going then count me in,” Twilight said.

“Come on Fluttershy let’s go,” Applejack urged her friend to come.

“I hope this doesn’t take too long,” Fluttershy said, walking to her friends.

Discord aka Santa disappeared and reappeared on in large sleigh.

“Sorry boys you can take the night off,” He said looking forward.

With a snap of his claw the pegasus ponies attached to his sleigh disappear in a flash. Richard looked at Rarity and then at her friends looking worried. Discord snapped his claw again and in a flash, Richard found himself attached to the front of the sleigh with Rarity, Twilight, Rainbow and Fluttershy behind him. Pinkie Pie and Applejack appeared on the left and right sitting in the sleigh dressed as elves with Discord in the middle.

“Discord! Richard and Rarity can’t fly!” Twilight yelled out looking back.

“Trust me,” He said not sounding concerned and grabbed the reins.

“On Richard, On Rarity, On Twilight, Rainbow and Fluttershy!” Discord whipped the reins and the sleigh lurched forward.

“AAAaaa!!!” Richard yelled out looking down as the ponyville got smaller.

“I’m right behind you, dear!” Rarity said looking ahead.

Richard new wings flapped on their own and it felt like his body was being controlled like a puppet. Rarity also gained a new pair of wings and looked back to see Twilight and Rainbow.

“I wanted to be first,” Rainbow grumbled.

“Maybe next time,” Twilight said, looking over.

“Let me know when it is over,” Fluttershy said flying with her eyes closed.

“I almost forgot to turn on the high beam,” Discord pulled a lever and Richard horn started glowing bright red lighting up the sky.

“What’s going on?” Richard yelled out noticing that his horn was glowing again.

“Weee, this is awesome!” Pinkie yelled out.

“Ah think I’m gonna be sick,” Applejack held her mouth.

“HO, HO, HO, MERRY HEARTH’S WARMING,” Discord yelled out as they streaked out into the night sky.

That night all across Equestria, Discord with the elements of harmony visited each home spreading the joy of hearth’s warming...

“I want to go home!” Richard yelled.

Author's Note

Ho, Ho a bit late but hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

A bit of silliness in this chapter.