Toffee Pop wasn’t exactly the richest pony in town, earning fifteen bits an hour from his apple-picking job. He was hired by Applejack to work at Sweet Apple Acres, about a 2 hour train ride from his shabby apartment dwelling. Toffee started working fifty years ago, and by today, he had just barely saved up one thousand bits. Toffee only had one thing he looked forward to each day, coming home from work. Not because he could finally kick back and relax, far from it actually, but because his wife Petal Pop would always greet him with a happy smile and engage in a great conversation. “How you doing honey?”, said Toffee wiping his hooves on their wool doormat.“I’m doing fine. How was your day at work?”, replied Petal, preparing the soup for dinner.“Tiring as usual. Got another splinter on my hoof, the apple trees this time of the year are really hard to harvest. Remember Fizzy? She said that she broke her hoof once trying to apple-buck a tree,” said Toffee.“That’s Nice,” replied Petal, distracted by the cockroach that wanted to taste her soup.“You know, I still don’t get how apple-buckling works. I mean, i’ve seen Applejack do it, and she does it great! I guess some ponies are just built for that stuff.”, replied Toffee, gazing at the trees outside their window.Finally, Petal squished the Cockroach.“Got ya!” said Petal, “Dinner is served!”If there’s one thing Toffee loves most about Petal, it’s her cooking. When Petal was little, her parents gave her a gold-encrusted spoon. She immediately got interested in cooking, and used her gold-encrusted spoon for every meal she ever made. This golden spoon certainly did mean a lot to Petal, and she started her very own gold kitchenware collection. This included golden knives forks, spoons, and anything else you can cook with. Of course, they were all stored neatly in a glass shelf, only the spoon was ever used. There was one thing Petal didn’t have though, a golden plate. Petal always thought that would complete her collection.Toffee also had some valuables worth mentioning. He had a golden horseshoe. Not a pair, but just one golden horseshoe that Applejack gave him for being an employee of Apple Acres for fifty years. Of course, Toffee couldn’t just wear a fancy horseshoe on one hoof and his normal leather ones on another. He always dreamed of getting another golden horseshoe, so he can finally wear it in public. Petal knew this.
Hearth's Warming Eve was fast approaching. Toffee had an idea. He thought to himself, “I can’t make use of one golden horseshoe anyways, might as well sell it.” As fast as the cockroach that was squashed by Petal, Toffee sold his one golden horseshoe, in return for one golden plate. Toffee was anxious to show her the gift right now, but knew that it would be best revealed on He *[arth’s Warming day.
While Toffee was out at the shop, Petal had sold her golden spoon for 500 bits, just enough to buy a Golden Horseshoe for his husband. Petal hesitated at first, but then told herself that she doesn't need a golden spoon to cook. Petal couldn't wait to show Toffee her gift.
Luckily for Toffee, he didn’t have to work on Hearth’s Warming day. Right after breakfast, both ponies decided to open their presents. Toffee stared at the golden horseshoe for what seemed like 5 blue moons, he was shocked. Petal opened her present and glanced at the round gold edge of the golden plate, she was shocked. Both realized their mistake, looked at eachother, and thought, selling their most valuable possessions to buy a present for the other. For a short moment, there was silence amongst the two ponies, then Toffee spoke.*“Does it really matter if we sold our valuable possessions to benefit the other? Hearth’s Warming is about kindness and generosity, and I think that’s exactly what we did here.” “You know, you’re right. The message is still there,” said Petal. In the end, they might of sold their most valuable possessions and got nowhere, but they showed true kindness and generosity. That’s what Hearth’s Warming is all about, and they both most certainly lived happily ever after.
THE END
My first ever story!
Hearts and Hooves Dissolution
In this chapter, our beloved Toffee Pop and Petal Pop are featured once again for another holiday story! Except for this time, there might not be a gift-giving...
Toffee Pop didn't need to work today. It was snowing hard throughout Equestria, and AppleJack had told every employee to take the day off. Petal Pop came out of her room and sat down right beside Toffee. Petal Pop turned off the TV and stared right into Toffee's eyes. She hesitated at first, but then finally agreed in her head. She told Toffee that she didn't love him anymore.
"Oh what a horrible time for your wife to tell you she doesn't love you anymore!", Toffee thought to himself. It was Hearts and Hooves Day, a day that was supposed to fill with love, but it was obvious to Toffee that he wasn't going to get any. Then, Softdrops Pop, their filly, came out. "Mom, what's happening?", said Softdrops confused. After all, he was only 39 moons old (approx. 3 human years). Petal looked at Softdrops dearly and replied, "Mom and Dad don't like each other. It's not your fault, don't worry. Momy and Daddy will sort this out". Except, neither of the ponies knew how to sort this out. Toffee asked Petal, "Why do you not love me anymore? What happened?".
