It’s the end of the year with a new winter season beginning. Not to mention that Equestria has one more holiday before they move on, Hearth’s Warming. All over the land, ponies and creatures spread cheer and happiness. However when it comes to small villages, Hope Hollow is a shadowed place outside.
They always get the worst snow storms than any land in Equestria. They barely spread cheer due to the low temperatures outside of their homes. Instead, Mayor Skies allowed the citizens to spread the holiday cheer in their houses. It’s his way of showing his love towards the holiday, but he has a lot of care, which makes it personal.
Torque Wrench and Petunia Petals are almost done shoveling the snow from the field of Hope Hollow. It was a pain to make the neighborhood clean up for citizens to walk on, although it will return again when another snow storm comes.
“I think that’s the rest of the neighborhood.” Torque Wrench panting while placing her shovel by her front door.
“At least everypony in Hope Hollow won’t have a problem walking through snow.” Petunia replied as she placed her shovel next to Torque’s.
Petunia and Torque went to Sunny Skies house, where there’s a party going on. It’s not a big party but it’s one of the tens of parties going on inside the homes in the village. As both Petunia and Torque wipe their hooves on the rag in front of the door, Petunia presses the doorbell.
Mayor Skies opened his door and invited Petunia and Torque inside. Inside his house, Kerfuffle, Mr. and Mrs. Hoofington are having eggnog in the living room with fire burning in the fireplace. He just took out the turkey from the oven, and is taking the time it needs to cool off.
“Do you two need a blanket?” Sunny Skies offered.
“So much, my hooves are turning into statues.” Torque looking at her hooves.
“Man, this house is really warm.” Petunia relieved.
“Our mayor warmed it up while your busy.” Kerfuffle smiled while drinking her eggnog. “There’s two more servings of eggnog in the kitchen.”
“I’ll get those, you two take a seat in the living room.” Sunny lead his two guests to the coach where Kerfuffle is sitting at. While he makes his way to his kitchen, Torque and Petunia took a seat by Kerfuffle.
“I will say, this is the most peaceful party I ever had.” Mrs. Hoofington commented.
“A lot better than I thought. Mayor Skies knows how to make a calm party.” Mr. Hoofington added.
Then Sunny Skies popped his head out of the kitchen. “Oh trust me, I love doing this during the Hearth’s Warming season.”
While his guests liked how their mayor makes the right decisions, they never understood why he has a passion for this holiday, almost as close to the Rainbow Festival. Mayor Skies returned to his living room with two eggnogs on his tray for Petunia and Torque.
“What makes this holiday somewhat special to you?” Petunia asked.
“Because it’s one of the holidays I wish outside our village...never had problems with snow storms.” Sunny Skies looked out his window with the huge piles of snow by the neighborhood.
Everyone of his guests became surprised and also remembered after all the years of living in Hope Hollow. Before the grey days, they only had a celebration once in awhile outside of their homes in Hearth’s Warming due to the harsh blizzards.
“Yeah, Manehattan never had a lot of snow storms.” Mr. Hoofington said in his knowledge of the big city.
Then this gave Major Skies an idea since it’s the perfect time. “How about we all discuss what we feel about this holiday? You know, since we all live in Hope Hollow.” He took a seat on his couch.
“That’s a good idea.” Kerfuffle commented. “I want to start first.” She requested. With everypony putting their attention on Kerfuffle, she drank the last of her eggnog and begins her thoughts.
“When I was a filly, my mother taught me how to make red and green clothing for ponies at my age. She told me if I do these deeds, then I will get what I want at Hearth’s Warming in the morning.”
This made her friends really happy until Kerfuffle cuts it short. “But when I got older, I realized it was my mother who was trying to make me feel better, Since I was still living in this village.”
“Ohhh...I never thought that Hope Hollow is way smaller, the more I stay.” Torque commented.
“I know, but I still love this place and the fashion I make.” Kerfuffle and Torque Wrench gave each other a hug. To think after all the years, they found more of why Hope Hollow is such a small village. “So what do you think about Hearth’s Warming?”
After the two broke the hug, Torque begins her turn. “I usually think we chop off a huge tree, like fifteen feet tall, carrying it in the center of Hope Hollow and decorate it with lights, all six colors of the rainbow.”
Mayor Skies really found Torque’s idea of celebrating Hearth’s Warming really interesting but on the other hand, it doesn't change the fact the outdoors during the winter is still the problem.
“No offense, but even if we finally got the chance to celebrate the holiday outside, we wouldn’t have enough lights for the tree.”
“Yeah, I know.” Torque lowered her ears in disappointment. And with that, her turn is done, and now it’s somepony else to express their feelings.
“I think we should talk about what we love about this holiday.” Mrs. Hoofington said.
“Before we arrived in Hope Hollow, we went to so many places in Manehattan during Hearth’s Warming.” Mr. Hoofington replied.
“We always see fillies enjoying themselves in malls, eat different kinds of foods and always sing songs involving the holiday. It’s the only time we can handle unpeaceful environments.”
“Bet that city is one hundred times bigger right?” Torque guessed.
All that Mr. and Mrs. Hoofington did was nodded after their experiences in Manehattan. “The only thing we did together is making dinner for ourselves in our apartment. But at least we can all agree that Hope Hollow is a peaceful place for being a small village.” Mrs. Hoofington finished.
While the other guests agreed with Mr. and Mrs Hoofington’s opinions, this made Mayor Skies a little depressed. With four of the six ponies finishing their thoughts about the holiday and what activities they did, he really needs to express his feelings.
“Can I be next?” He offered.
“Sure. Besides, I’m looking forward to it.” Petunia smiled. With all the guests looking at the major of Hope Hollow, Sunny Skies took a deep breath and begins his feelings.
“There was one time when my father took me to Ponyville during Hearth’s Warming before I was taking over as mayor.” His guests taken aback that their mayor did left Hope Hollow at some point, even before he became a mayor. “When we got to Ponyville, I couldn’t believe how wonderful it was. So many trees decorated with ornaments and lights, tons of activities inside the houses and best of all, they never had troubles with blizzards.”
Kerfuffle, Torque, Petunia, Mr. and Mrs. Hoofington found Sunny Skies past really exciting. With some of them who lived in Hope Hollow, they had never experienced the outside of their village. It goes to show that after all these years, even during the grey times, they never thought that Hearth’s Warming has a lot to offer.
“My father told me the truth on why we never had any of this in our village. The snow storms prevent us to do what we want makes me frown on the inside of my heart. The only thing I can do to celebrate this month is having separate parties inside our homes. It’s private yes, but we can’t take out our celebration outside.”
Sunny Skies lowered his head after he finally take out everything he needed to say. Everypony of his guests were stunted in silence. Out of all the stories they expressed, none of them were like what Sunny Skies went through. The mayor had always been busy during occasions like the Rainbow Festival, but during the Hearth’s Warming season, he had a history when he was stuck in a block of ice during most of his life.
Petunia herself found Sunny Skies past a one of a kind, but she knows there’s a way to resolve it in the present time. She put her eggnog on the tray and make her way to him, much to the others attention. She placed her hoof under the mayor’s chin so she can lift his head up to her face.
“Don’t feel like this.” She replied with a warm smile on her face. “You forgot that I haven’t got a turn to express what I feel about this holiday.”
“Oh, you’re right!” Kerfuffle realized.
“So...how do you feel about Hearth’s Warming?” Sunny asked.
“Everything.” Petunia answered. “Of what all of you like about this holiday. It makes Hearth’s Warming really special to me to keep its glory of spreading cheer for everypony who deserves it. And it order to make it work, I have to make it come true.”
“You...You mean?” Sunny blinked.
“Yes.”
All of the guests found Petunia’s feelings really mesmerizing. They did have their own reasons, but Petunia wants to make things right for the holiday. For any pony or creature who doesn’t get naughty deserves the wishes they want in Hearth’s Warming.
This gave Sunny Skies an idea. “Guests of Hope Hollow,” He got off his couch. “After we’re done eating turkey together, we still have the reminder of the day. I’m going to leave Hope Hollow to get some help so we can celebrate Hearth’s Warming outside!”
“Really!?” Kerfuffle jumped off of her seat.
“Like getting a big tree in the center of Hope Hollow, decorated in lights!?” Torque added.
“And ornaments.” Sunny Skies added. “I’m sure we can work this some how, just for tonight.”
Petunia liked the convenience in Sunny Skies. It’s getting close to the afternoon, but they still have the chance to bring cheer to their village before the day is out. “I think we're fine. We can make it happen.”
“You’re right.” Mr. Hoofington commented.
“Once we’re done eating, we’re remind everypony in the village that we’re doing a celebration outside for Hearth’s Warming.” Mrs. Hoofington declared.
“That’s the spirit!” Torque cheered.
“Hey, Barney and Pickles are playing outside.” Petunia looked out the window. All six ponies watched the two fillies making snow angels together. They saw several fillies having fun in the snow before the rainbow generator went haywire. While it’s the only thing they can during the winter season, they know they can do more.
After they eat the turkey together, they left Sunny Skies house to make their goals come true, which is all what Petunia wanted in Hearth’s Warming.
