It was Hearth’s Warming Eve and everypony was asleep, the ponies in Canterlot waiting for the next day to see what the gifter had left for them. The same year when Luna was freed from Nightmare Moon. An odd house had appeared near Ponyville. It was unlike anything anypony had ever seen before. It put some of the Nobel’s Homes to shame.

The ponies went to check it out but found that nothing could penetrate the odd home. Even the Princesses couldn’t get in. They soon left it alone and when Hearth’s Warming came around, presents were left at everypony’s front door in Ponyville. They were baffled by the presents as they were the exact thing they wanted and other ponies got things never seen before.

One example is Twilight Sparkle, she had gotten a book that described another world. It had pictures of bipedal creatures with no fur except on the top of their head. They all wore clothes of many designs. What she had gotten was a history book of a world called Earth. What surprised her was the message that came with it. It read.

‘Dear Ponyville.

I hope you like the presents I made for you all. Some were very hard to make but I made them nonetheless. A lot of you wonder who I am. Well let me tell you in this letter. I am not here to cause harm, nor am I here to make peace. My kind are not the nicest of species but we do have our ups. So do not expect to get anything from me next Hearth’s Warming. So with this, I leave you. Oh, and make sure to check out Zecora, she might have a book you want to read as well Twilight Sparkle.

With Love,
The Gifter.

The ponies wanted to thank the mysterious pony but none knew what he or she looked like. The next year his or her word held true and none found anything outside their homes. The same could not be said in Canterlot. Some of the nicer nobles and all the guards, maids, foals, even the princesses got gifts.

Princess Celestia got a life size cake of herself. It had many flavours and some of them she had never tasted before. Princess Luna got a necklace that had the moon as its centerpiece. They found a letter amongst the presents that read.

‘Dear Canterlot.

Your welcome for the gifts. Like Ponyville, do not expect presents next year. Princess Luna, thank you for the beautiful nights that never cease to amaze me. Princess Celestia, I know you love cake so here is a cake with every flavour from my world. It was hard to make as well as the necklace.

With Love,
The Gifter.

This was repeated throughout the year with different cities and towns. The Gifter as he or she was known, even went to Griffon cities and Dragon ones as well. It amazed all the inhabitants of the planet that one being could know exactly what everyone wanted. He even got Discord a gift when he became good.

It was a life size plush of Fluttershy which creeped everypony out. Except Fluttershy as she thought it was sweet. They were all surprised when one Hearth’s Warming day, No presents, anywhere, came from the Gifter. They all felt worried and checked the Gifter’s home.

It came as a surprise when even Chrysalis showed up and she said the Gifter had given them liquid love. Zebras, Griffons, Changelings, Dragons, Ponies, even the Hippogriffs came. It was when Celestia simply knocked on the door did they hear movement from the other side.

They backed up so they could see who had given them the presents. A window opened on the second floor and a small flying thing flew out of it. It turned so it looked at them all then flew back inside the home. More sounds came from inside when the front door opened. A gasp came from the crowd to see an old creature come out the door.

Twilight recognized that it was a human and it was male. He took shaky steps as if his legs were about to break. He collapsed but before he could hit the ground, Rainbow Dash and her husband Soarin caught him. He was placed on Celestia’s back as they looked at him with worry. He said with a weak voice. “Thank you… Celestia.”

They knew that he knew all their names but it was still surprising to some. “No, thank you Gifter. We are all gathered here because of you. We had no idea that you still got us presents even at such an old age. You have been giving us gifts for over 50 years. Please stay with us a little longer. We can turn you into an Alicorn! We can umm..., we..., we…”

The Gifter raised his frail finger to the crying Princess’s lips. “You don’t… need to… thank me Celestia.” The Gifter weezed out. “All of your… smiles were… enough for me.” He brushed his already raised hand across her cheek to wipe away some tears. “Thank you... For caring… most of the… people back home… don’t even say… thank you.” He chuckled which turned to a coughing fit.

Almost all the beings watching this happen had tears in their eyes and the rest were crying on full. The Gifter brushed his hand through Celestia’s mane but in the middle of it his hand and body went limp. His eyes slowly lost the warmth and mirth they once held. The only thing signifying his last breath was a small bit of steam coming from his mouth.

With that, the Gifter left. Celestia shook her head, not believing that possibly one of the nicest beings in her long existence stayed alone the entire time he was on their planet. She knew why he wouldn’t come out as he was sure that they would freak out at the sight of him.

The crowd mourned the loss of the nicest being they never even got to know. Fluttershy, Pinkie, and surprisingly Rainbow were crying more so than anyone else. Luna lit up her horn and at night they saw what she did. She made a constellation in the shape of the Gifter if he was younger.

The next few years went by and some left the world while more joined. The sun never seemed to be as bright as it once was, as did the moon. The story of the Gifter was passed down through generations, the kindness he showed, the things he must have done to deliver the presents on time while never being seen.

Then, 100 years after his death. Celestia discover something that made her eyes go wide and her heart skip a beat.

At her door was a single white present with a gold ribbon and bow.

Author's Note

Happy Hearth's Warming everybrony and everypegasister!

This is my story to Celebrate the Holidays and I'm sorry if the ending is so sad.