The sun shined lovingly in the sky, basking all below in a warm glow that brought forth a feeling of serenity. Sky a pale blue that was clear for miles on end. Within a small house in Ponyville, slept a dutiful pony known only as Starlight Glimmer.
The bright light of a new day slowly crept in the closed window of her home, the pastel unicorn slumbering on the bed in silence. The warmth of the sun traced over her slender features, causing her to slowly stretch in place.
Eyes closed tightly, she opened her muzzle a sweet yawn escaping her lips followed by a small squeak. Blue irises slowly opened to the beauty of the day, she took her time sitting up in her bed as her hooves extended outward refreshed.
Glimmer giggled aloud with a small hop out of her bed, trotting past the window in a slight daze. Her mane was frazzled but had a look of innocence to it, cascading in small waves framing her face.
The mare slowly pushed open her door to the living area, her friend Anon was snoring loudly on the sofa after a long night of something. The mare snuck over, adjusting the pink sheet over his body lovingly.
She smiled happily watching her friend rest, the mare delicately cantering across the floor, making sure as to not make a single sound to wake him up. Hoof daintily twisting the knob to her door and opening it to the light of the day.
Everything felt new today, fresh snow fell across the land as the birds chirped happily in the sky. Glimmer stretched her hind hooves femininely as she inhaled deeply, enjoying the taste of the crisp morning air.
As the hoofsteps of the mare faded away into the distance, Anon allowed his eyes to quickly snap open to the world around him. Jumping off the couch he rushed over to a nearby bookcase, shuffling a few books and items around he removed a small bag of bits.
After many jobs around this strange new land of colorful pastel equines, he had come up with enough currency to buy the one mare who made his life joyous, a lovely gift. A large smirk across his lips he pocketed the coin purse, heading out into the icy snow covered land in search of the right present.
A elegant and unique scarf like none other, it was patterned after the stars themselves and almost seemed to sparkle as bright as the night sky itself. Anon knew it shared the same magic the mare did, it alone would show how much she meant to him.
Anon shuffled his legs through the vast amount of snow slowly, the fresh powder had begun to cascade to the earth below faster now. A cold chill was slowly running down the young man’s backside, his breath shown as he exhaled slowly after each step.
A small pink filly sat on a snow covered bench a few steps ahead, her golden colored eyes filled with a sense of sorrow. Anon could feel a pinch of pity enter his heart, something was troubling this child yet he knew if he didn’t hurry the store would surely close.
Eyes darting to a side path he tried his best to take it, but the ache in his soul had him soon stop in front of the small filly in worry.
“Are you ok?” He asked with a softer tone in his voice.
“Yes.”
“That’s great! Well be…”
“Um actually.” She took a small breath and slowly lift her eyes to meet his.
“Oh boy.” Anon gave a sarcastic whisper.
“My mama is sad this year, daddy went off to a better place. I wanted to buy her a special frame for our family picture, but I have nowhere near twenty bits.” The filly felt her cheeks burn as she spoke, Anon sighed and knew he had to help.
Lifting out his bag of bits, he could feel it lighten considerably. The child’s eyes lighting up as she was handed all the bits she needed, her giggles filling the air as the filly pounced up and hugged the nice man.
Anon would smirk as he watched her canter off into the distance, knowing he had done a good thing this day. With a bounce in his own step he made it uptown, tossing his bag of bits up and down in his right hand.
Unlucky for him he came across none other than Zecora on the street corner, beside a box for charity. Her loving blue eyes sparkling sweetly, even as they locked onto the bag falling up an down to his hand.
“Did you know? Giving from the heart will ease this growing snow?” Zecora gave a wink as a strong wind blew across both creatures at once.
“Well yeah. But I have a place to be, so I really must go um...you see?”
“Tsk-tsk. A icy heart will summon stronger winds, the windigos feed upon greedy sins.”
“But do these creatures even exist? Or could they be a illusion of the mist?” Anon gave a grin as a icy shard of snow fell high from the sky, smacking him across the back of the head.
“Heehee. What do you think? Just give a few bits and allow this bad feeling to sink.” Zecora nudged the man gently with her muzzle, Anon grumbling as his bag became ten bits lighter.
The zebra smiled to him with a warmth in her heart, even as high above the storm clouds began to part. Anon just gasped aloud in shock, looking to his side the zebra was gone whisked away with her stock.
Anon slowly shuffled through the snow, if he were to stand any chance of getting Glimmer her gift, he would surely have to barter. Slowly he passed a few pastel ponies the store he had his hopes latched onto coming into view, soon he would have the gift in hand.
Yet out of the side of his eyes he could spot a grey mare slowly walking over in a slump, Anon just groaned aloud and clutched his fist in anger, turning to face the mare with a stern tone of voice.
“Look Derpy! Don’t even think to ask me for anything! I bet you just want some muffins huh?! Well too bad…” Anon snapped at the small pony, who simply folded her ears back in sorrow.
“I...I was just going to ask if you had any bits to spare, my daughter Dinky is so sick. This past week she hasn’t even been able to get out of bed, but you are right I shouldn’t depend on the comm…”
Derpy tried to hold back tears of shame, until a small bag of bits was placed in her hooves. She gazed up in shock to Anon who had a look of apology, he leaned in softly giving the mare a tender hug. Whispering all would be ok, before taking his leave and walking away.
Back at Glimmer’s place Anon swung open the door, plopping onto the couch and closing his eyes out exhaustion. Seconds later the oak frame swung open again, Glimmer cantering in happily eyes lit up beyond compare.
“Trying to play sleepy Anon?” Glimmer giggled and swiftly jumped onto his lap, the small pony curling up atop him.
“What do you mean? I had a hell of a morning, also I didn’t have a chance to get you a gift…” Anon smiled to his mare out of love, yet felt so bad he could not show it.
“Mmmhmm. I bet.” Glimmer smirked with a flaunt of the hoof.
Anon felt truly confused, did she think he had bought something for her? Was he backed against a wall?
Anon could feel his heart racing wildly in his chest, as if it were about to explode out and dash through the door.
“Like you don’t know. The girls and I decided to give to the community this year, to help out those who are in need and give from the heart.” Glimmer sighed sweetly as she gently crawled up to Anon’s chest.
“Who did I see uptown but you? Giving bits to so many great causes, being willing to join in on our cause, is just the best gift I could ask for.” Glimmer softly scrunched up her muzzle and came face to face with Anon.
“Hehehe. Is that so?” Anon could feel himself blush so brightly, a magic wave from the unicorn gently lifting a mistletoe high above them.
Gazing deep into her eyes he felt so warm, to be able to give her such a gift and see her so happy. This was his gift he wished for so badly, leaning inward they both closed their eyes before melting into each other's embrace.
For it is always better to give, than receive.
