Shadow's Hearth's Warming Eve
“The door opened and in walked the greenest rookie I’ve ever seen. This pony wasn’t just colored green, but his armor shined like a colt just out of boot camp.”
“Umm, Lieutenant Shadow Star,” The green coated earth pony clad in the armor of the Royal Guard said looking at the deep purple coated pony. The other guard ponies in the room regarded the new addition with slightly narrowed eyes. “You do know I’m right here and can hear you, right?”
“The young guard said.” Shadow Star commented, “You could tell it was Swift Arrow’s first Hearths Warming Eve with the Night Watch. Actually, it was his first night with the Night Watch period.”
“Ummm, ma’am?” Swift Arrow asked, looking around at the other guards. “What’s going on?”
“He questioned the lieutenant,” A gold colored, armored unicorn chimed in. “I was going to help explain it to him, but the clock was about to chime the start of the nightly patrols, so I wouldn’t have the time to help him out.”
“’Okay, everyone to your patrols!’ I called out as the clock chimed 10 o’clock.” Shadow narrated, “’Swift Arrow, you are patrolling with me on your first night.’ I told him, leading him out into the halls as the rest of the Night Watch saluted and headed off to their regular patrol routes.”
“Um, okay, ma’am.” Responded Swift Arrow.
“’The new guard said, falling in step beside me as we started towards the edge of the castle, his new patrol route. Normally it would have been his new partner, Artic Sweeper, to show the new pony the patrol, but he managed to take leave tonight to be with his new wife on their first Hearths Warming Eve after their wedding. I glanced over at Swift Arrow, looking him up and down. I had a feeling that Artic would get along with his new partner, even though Swift was being a bit quiet as we began the patrol route.”
“We had walked the first part of the route and were coming up to where Thunder Metal and Steel Bristle’s patrol would cross this one.”
“Steel Bristle and I had walked a quiet patrol with nothing but the falling snow being found on the upper pathways of the wall. We had walked down the stairs and found ourselves facing Lieutenant Shadow Star and the rookie, Swift Arrow.”
“’Nothing out of the ordinary at the moment, all is clear.’ I reported to the commander and rookie. It was standard procedure to let the other patrols know if anything is going on when you cross paths. However, it doesn’t look like the new guy has caught on to the Hearths Warming Eve tradition of the Night Watch.”
“As Steel Bristle gave the report, I kept an eye on the courtyard. I noticed that Swift Arrow was still looking confused as he listened. Smiling at the rookie, ‘It’s a little confusing at first, but I have no doubt you’ll get the hang of it.’ I explained.”
“’Thank you, Steel,’ I responded, ‘Everything is clear on our front. We are going to be going by the Hot Coco cart out by the gate, I’ll be sending around mugs.”
“’Thank you, Lieutenant!’ I exclaimed with a little bounce. ‘I know I speak for Thunder and, well, the rest of the Night Watch in saying that we are very happy that you have kept our traditions alive when you took over command of the Night Watch.’”
“’They’ve been in place for a long time before I came to the Night Watch, Steel.’ I responded. ‘I see no reason why they should be stopped.’”
“My eyes went wide as I finally realized what the tradition they’ve been doing was! ‘Film Noir Detective Story Style Narration!’ I exclaimed!!” Swift Arrow shouted. “’That explains all the out loud narration! I feel so silly for not realizing it from the start! Am I right, that this is the tradition?’ I asked.”
“’You’ve got it, rookie.’ I replied.” Shadow said with a big smile, “’Every Hearths Warming Eve, the Night Watch narrates everything, Film Noir Style. And all new members have to figure it out for themselves. It’s tradition.’”
“’Welcome to the Night Watch, Swift Arrow.’ I said, giving him a pat on the back.” Steel Bristle chimed in, slapping the new guard on the back. “’We have to get back to the patrol, see you later.’ I turned back to our patrol route and started walking, leaving the Rookie and Lieutenant to their route.”
“With a wave, I joined Steel Bristle, and headed back to patrolling.” Thunder Metal said, catching up to the other guard.
“’Well, Lieutenant.’ I said, ‘I guess we should get back to our patrol.’”
“I gave Swift Arrow a smile and a nod, ‘You are correct, let’s get back to it. And Happy Hearths Warming, Swift.’”
“Happy Hearths Warming, Ma’am.”
T'was the Night Before Hearth's Warming Eve
It was the night before Hearth’s Warming Eve, and clouds covered the sky. The winter wind howled through the city of Vanhoover, rattling windows and stirring the snow as it flowed through the streets. The frigid air turned the crashing waves into a frozen mist, thickening the ice that covered the docks and shore.
Steelsong opened her eyes as the windows of the large cabin rattled, the roar of the wind causing the red pegasus to shiver and snuggle closer to her husband, Atisuto. She smiled, noticing the unicorn’s eyes open and the sparkling red glow of his horn as he pulled the blanket tighter around them. The mare kissed the dark blue stallion and nuzzled his chin, his light blue and purple goatee tickling her muzzle.
Atty wrapped his front legs around his wife, pulling her close. He closed his eyes as Steelsong buried her face in the nape of his neck. The mare tilted her head, laying her ear against the unicorn. She sighed contentedly, listening to Atty’s heartbeat and steady breathing. Sliding a wing around her husband, the pegasus closed her eyes. Feelings of love silently shared, wrapping the couple in happiness as they began to drift back to sleep.
The door to the room slowly creaked open, followed by the sound of small hooves creeping towards the bed. Outside, the wind howled prompting the little hooves to quicken their pace. Atty kissed Steelsong on her head just before they scooted apart. As they separated, two crimson colored pegasus colts jumped onto bed, each clutching a yellow striped stuffed lizard.
“Mommy!” the twins cried as they dove underneath the blanket. “Daddy! It’s Windigos!”
Steelsong extended her wing over the two foals as they hid. “It’s okay Firefly, Star Chaser.” She spoke softly to the scared colts, attempting to sooth their fears. “You’re safe.”
“Windigos won’t come in here,” Atisuto softly smiled at the little cyan maned ponies, giving them each a kiss on their forehead. “They’re afraid of your momma!” he whispered to the colts, causing them to softly giggle as they settled in between their parents.
“May I join?” a voice asked from the darkness at the foot of the bed.
“Of course, Azure Moon,” Steelsong replied to her daughter. The colts scooted apart as the lilac-colored unicorn climbed into the bed. “You’re getting good at moving quietly!”
“Thank you! I’ve been practicing.”
Atty lifted the blanket, allowing the young pony to slide between her little brothers. “Scared of the windigos too?”
“No,” the violet maned filly replied, giving her mother a kiss on the cheek. “I just wanted to join the cuddle pile.”
“You’re not scared?” Star Chaser asked his big sister, his golden yellow eyes wide.
“Of course not!” replied Azure. “Aunt Whiptail and cousin Shadow are just down the hall.” She snuggled her brother. “Then grandpa and grandma are downstairs, not to mention mom and dad.” The filly rolled over, giving her father a kiss on the cheek then snuggling her other brother. “Nothing would DARE come in here!”
Steelsong smiled at their daughter’s observation and adjusted her wing around her children. Atty smiled as well, shifting his foreleg around his family.
Star Chaser yawned causing his father to follow suit. “You two feeling safer now that big sis is here?” the stallion asked.
“Uh-huh,” Firefly nodded, yawning just after seeing his father yawn. “G’night.”
“G’night.” Star Chaser echoed, closing his eyes.
“Love you,” whispered Steelsong, her eye lids growing heavy.
Atty smiled, noticing that Azure was already fast asleep. “Love you too.” He whispered back, closing his eyes.
Outside, the winter stormed continued to rage. The wind angrily howled into the night, the cold air ripping through the streets of Vanhoover.
But for Steelsong and Atisuto’s children, they were warm and safe in their parents embrace, dreaming in a blissful slumber, the love of their family keeping the windigos at bay.