It'd been a month since Sunny had ventured to Ponyville with her friends. Snow had begun to fall in Maretime Bay and the weather began to grow colder. Many things had changed and happened since the day Winter surrendered himself to Equestrian Forces. Hitch had visited Sprout frequently in the jail to check on him and talk to him. A court date was set for after the New Year began and things weren't looking too good for him. He had been charged with treason, which is not a crime to be taken lightly.

However, as Queen of Equestria, Sunny would be representing him in his defense against the jury. He was, after all, still one of her best friends. Even if he did have a lot of mental health issues, she would support him no matter what. Repairs to the town were fully completed a week ago, and repairs to Ponyville were underway currently. Sunny planned to live in Twilights old castle. At least until they found Canterlot.

The ruined city was so lost to time, that the pegasi scouting parties could not find it on the overgrown mountain north of Ponyville. The castle was just barely visible through the foliage, with a tower or two rising above the tall trees and the waterfall still functioning perfectly. Sunny had plans to send Explorers and archeologists to the ancient city. So that many of the artifacts would be properly preserved. Scouting parties from Bridlewood and Zephyr Heights had also reported finding another town way out to West of Zephyr Heights in the desert region. However it too was abandoned. They'd sent back pictures of the buildings including one with the name of the town on it. "Appleloosa Sheriffs Office".

After looking back through archives in Maretime Bays historical society. She found it was a small earth pony town founded hundreds of years ago by settlers moving west from another town in the woods called Saddle Junction. These were the same woods Izzy had lived in most her life, and after asking the unicorn, Izzy had stated there was no abandoned town in the Bridlewood forest called Saddle Junction. So, forever the optimist, Sunny had sent a small team from Bridlewood out to investigate the coordinates listed in the archive.

The earth pony/alicorn, was sitting at her desk writing down notes she might need later on. She was so busy with her work in fact, she didn't even notice Discord poofing in front of her sipping a mug of hot chocolate.

"Working hard are we?" He asked, snapping his fingers as another mug appeared and filled with hot chocolate for Sunny.

"Huh?" She said, looking up from her journal. "O-oh, yeah. Thanks Discord." Sunny took the hot chocolate and sipped some before going back to writing. The draconequus, who had closed his eyes and smiled, now let one peek open at her as a scowl crossed his face.

"You know it would be nice if you'd pay attention to the creature that's talking to you and giving you hot chocolate, rather then sticking your snout in a musty journal," he said.

Sunny looked up again at Discord, one ear folding down slightly.

"Oh.. I'm sorry Discord. It's just that these notes could help in the future with rescuing Princess Celestia and the others. I didn't mean to not pay attention to you. Thank you for the hot chocolate, I really do appreciate it."

The draconequus face softened and he smiled a little.

"You're quite welcome, now I must be off, there's Hearths Warming decorations to put up!" He was about to poof away when Sunny stopped him.

"Wait." Discord looked at her again.

"Hearths... Warming? What's that?" She asked. The draconequus stared at her incredulously.

"You mean to tell me you ponies don't celebrate Hearths Warming anymore?" He asked. Sunny shrugged.

"I don't know, the only holiday we've ever celebrated during winter is New Years."

"Well then, this simply mustn't do. Come with me." And with with that, Discord poofed the both of them into the town square. Having now gotten used to unicorns popping in and out of places, nopony gave them a second look. Sunny looked up at Discord and was about to say something when he interrupted her.

"May I have your attention please my little ponies!" He called out, poofing a Santa Hooves suit onto himself. One by one, ponies stopped what they were doing and formed a crowd in front of the draconequus.

"My friends, it has come to my attention that you no longer celebrate Hearths Warming."

Everyone looked at each other confused.

"What's Hearths Warming?" Called out a Pegasus from the crowd. Discord smiled and poofed a chair for him to sit on as well as one for everyone in the audience.

"I'm glad you asked, refreshments anypony?" He asked, materializing dozens of mugs of hot chocolate for everypony. The crowd "oooed" softly and smiled looking around at one another as Discord pulled out a book from a portal to his house and set a pair of reading glasses on his nose.

"Long ago, before Equestria as we knew was founded. There lived three tribes of ponies. Unicorns, Earth Ponies, and Pegasi. The Unicorns together, were responsible for the raising and setting of the moon and sun so that a new day may come. However they demanded payment from the earth ponies in food for their hard work. The Earth ponies were master builders and farmers, and provided food for all three tribes. And the pegasi were in charge of controlling the weather, so that crops may flourish, and the seasons could come in time. The pegasi too however, also demanded food for their hard work creating weather." Discord flipped a page.

"None of the tribes cared for one another or if something happened to them. The fragile relationship continued until one day, a terrible snow storm descended upon the land. The unicorns and earth ponies were surprised and outraged at the Pegasi. The storm ruined their crops and caused a food shortage. With no food the leaders from each tribe met in a Summit to discuss what to do. The leader of the Earth Pony tribe: Chancellor Puddinghead. Leader of the Pegasi: Commander Hurricane. And leader of the Unicorns: Princess Platinum."

Sunny sat and listened while Discord continued reading on, fascinated by this part of history she had never heard of.

"The meeting however, went horribly and each leader left after blaming the situation on each other. Each of the leaders returned home to their advisors. Smart Cookie, who was Puddingheads advisor, told the Chancellor that they were out of food. And in an effort to grow more, the two of them decided to set out and find new land to grow crops.

Commander Hurricane and her second in command, Private Pansy of the pegasi also decided that they needed to find new land. And the unicorns lead by Princess Platinum and her advisor Clover the Clever, also set out to find new land.

Later on, each tribe had found their own land. The pegasi claimed it as Pegasopolis, the unicorns naming it Unicornia, and the earth ponies naming it Earth. However, it turns out each tribe had claimed the same land, and as a result. Arguments ensued over who got the new land. Commander Hurricane suggested a fight for the land. But each of the advisors managed to calm their leaders down. By this time, the raging snow storm had followed them and begun battering the new land. They discover that the storm is being caused by Windigos. Powerful beings who feed off of anger, hatred, and distrust. Taking refuge in a cave from the ice blizzard, Clover the Clever, having learned about the creatures from her mentor Starswirl the Bearded, tells the leaders that the windigos are feeding off the leaders constant arguing. They however continue to argue as their bodies start to freeze. The advisors, who didn't see a point in arguing became friends and believed that it didn't matter what tribe you hailed from. They begin to tell stories and sing songs which later became the carols that are still sung in Equestria to this day.

Due to their display of friendship, the ice begins to melt and free the leaders as the literal fire of friendship destroyed the windigos and melted the snow and ice. All three tribes learned that the warmth of harmony and love they shared, could always conquer cold and bitterness of hatred and grief. The leaders came together and founded the land we know, as Equestria."

Discord set down the book as cheers erupted from the crowd. Smiling Sunny looked up the draconequus.

"Wow.. that story was amazing. They never taught us about any of that stuff in school. We were taught Earth ponies founded Equestria and allowed the pegasi and unicorns to live here so long as they left us alone." She said. Discord scoffed.

"That's ridiculous, the story I just read is how Equestria was founded and why we celebrate Hearths Warming to this very day." Discord stood up.

"Now! Let's get this town decorated and go spread the love and cheer of Hearths Warming to Bridlewood and Zephyr Heights!"

The crowd cheered and "oooed" and "ahhhed" as dozens upon dozens of boxes of decorations poofed into existence.

~~~~~~

Sunny sat around the table in the throne room of Zephyr Heights castle with her friends. Having finished decorating Maretime Bay and Bridlewood, they were celebrating and singing the carols that Discord had taught them. Outside pegasi and unicorns worked together to help hang up streamers, wreaths, bows, and lights in the snow covered streets of Zephyr Heights. While earth ponies baked delicious sweets and desserts for everypony.

"I gotta say Sunny, I like Hearths Warming more than New Years," said Hitch, sipping his hot chocolate.

"Here here," said Izzy, stuffing her face with Hearths Warming tree cookies. Zipp and Pipp chuckled at Izzy and started tossing cupcakes at one another. From the other side of the room Luna and Winter watched the ponies celebrate and share stories.

"You know I'm happy Discord brought Hearths Warming back." Luna said smiling. Winter nodded.

"Me too, should we tell them about the gifts? Or let them freak out when they wake up tomorrow?" He asked smirking.

"Let's wait, I wanna see their faces," said Luna smiling.

Author's Note

Hey y'all, I know Christmas was yesterday, but Happy Hearths Warming to all y'all. 🎄