A Hearth's Warming Wassailing

by Airstream

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Original Character, Spike, Slice of Life, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 22672

When the winter is at its coldest, all you really need is the fire of friends, new and old.

With Hearth's Warming Eve just around the corner, Twilight Sparkle's followers are beginning to lose hope in one another. Supplies are low, and spirits even lower. Twilight begins to doubt herself, for how can she lead ponies if she can't even be trusted to feed them?

It will take the love of her friends, and the compassion of all those who call her their leader, to make it through this year's Hearth's Warming Eve. This winter, Twilight and her friends will realize that so long as the fires of friendship burn in their hearts, no pony will ever be cold.

Optional musical accompaniment located in first comment per chapter.

Published 2012-12-11 21:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-04 04:25:27 UTC

The Bells We Hear

A Hearth’s Warming Wassailing

A Christmas Story

By Airstream

Twilight Sparkle looked out of the tower window at the silent fields below, dark and quiet and blanketed with new-fallen snow. It was a pristine whiteness, covering all in a shroud of pure, beautiful white, unmarred by hooves save where the guards made their patrols along the walls. Even the courtyard below was filled with the same ivory color. As she looked closer, however, she realized that what she was seeing was not, in fact, the same color. The white shifted in tone and intensity, and the longer she watched, the more she felt that she understood the snow. There was the white of the snow lying flat on the ground freshly fallen, compared to the white lining the rooftops below, still unmarred by hooves but at the same time tinged with an ethereal blue, in a curious state between snow and ice. There was the snow lying on top of the trees, a darker color, not because of the branches beneath, but dark simply because that was the shade it had fallen in. The mare watched, absentmindedly touching the smoky crystal around her neck as snow began to fall once more, further blanketing the Everfree Forest as the sun set over the trees.

It was midwinter, nearly Hearth’s Warming Eve, and things were not well in the Regia. The fields were fallow, the stores low, and the planting couldn’t be done for months. Twilight’s followers faced empty bellies, no warm clothes, no medicine, and no end in sight. The only thing that could possibly save them was a supply train with goods gathered by her supporters in Equestria proper, loaded on boats in the swamps to the west and sent upriver. But there was no guarantee of its arrival in time to prevent some very serious illnesses and starvation among the Ever Free ponies. The mood in the castle reflected this, as well as out in the crudely built houses outside of its walls. Twilight had ordered the farmers to be brought into the Regia and housed inside to drive off the cold and to hopefully stave off any deaths from the weather. Crowded, hungry, sick, and cold, the ponies in the castle were bickering near constantly. Ponies were losing faith in her. Not only that, they were losing faith with one another, which was something they could not afford. Twilight thought of her Equestrian counterparts, how they were undoubtedly happy and well provided for under Celestia’s rule. What kind of leader could she call herself, if she could not do the same for those that trusted her?

She sighed, watching as the last rays of the sun slipped behind the sky and darkness fell across the land. Torches were lit on the walls, lantern oil being in short supply as well. Much of it had been stockpiled in her quarters, but she had removed it, giving it to the positions it was needed in, such as the library and main halls, where magelights could not be trusted to illuminate much space and torches were a hazard. Especially the library. Twilight shuddered at the thought of the thousands of years of knowledge contained in the walls of that tower going up in smoke. As such, the room she was in, supposedly the old chambers of Princess Luna herself, was lit only by the fire in the hearth, gasping for life as it guttered out due to lack of fuel, and a solitary candle, which she carried only so that she would not need to use her hornlight. She had not had anything to eat during the day, just like she hadn’t for the past three. This had affected her magic more than she cared to let on. It was her energy being applied after all, and she couldn’t rely on the crystal around her neck to keep her going for much longer. Yes, it provided her with energy, but it was no substitute for real food in her belly. She couldn’t help herself, though. Each meal had been turned away uneaten; her telling the servants that brought it to give it to the ponies who couldn’t sustain themselves like she could. She was slender when she had arrived at the Regia months ago, but now she was positively skinny, her ribs clearly visible, the product of a week’s worth of meals being eaten over the course of a month.

And a hard month it had been for her, too. Not long after the first snows, Tarantella had flown north with her fighters, to retrieve her family and bring them all back to the Regia, where they would be safe. She had wanted to leave sooner, but the patrols around the edge of the Ever Free had prevented her from going. As soon as they had slacked off, however, slowing because of the unusually harsh winter, she and her Condottieri were off into the blue, eager to see their families once again. Twilight was loath to see her go, but she had been in complete agreement with Tarantella, her family was a priority. Not that she stood much chance of stopping that Pegasus if she wanted to go, anyway. Tarantella wasn’t as…abrasive…as Rainbow Dash, but she could easily be just as headstrong given incentive. So it was that Twilight stood alone in her darkened chambers, watching the snow fall outside, weak, freezing, and despondent.

A gentle chime from the clock on her wall let her know that the hour was approaching six o’clock. She seized the candle in a shaky telekinetic grip, carrying it through her chambers into the study where she spent most of her time nowadays, reading on the history of the castle. Normally she would be putting this information to use helping the ponies living here, but until supplies arrived or spring came, there was simply nothing Twilight Sparkle could do to alleviate the situation. Arriving in the admittedly cozier room, she set the candle down gently on an old wooden desk, a venerable old thing cracked and worn with age. She pulled a high-backed chair up to the desk, positioning it in such a way that her back would be to the door, in an effort to discourage those who would undoubtedly be trying to feed her. Pulling open a book on castle storerooms, she began to leaf through the pages, hoping that she had overlooked something, some small cache of supplies that would grant them a brief reprieve from hunger, or buy them a few days until the supplies arrived. Her heart sank as she found herself reading and re-reading the same pages she had read a thousand times, with similar results. The castle, while large, was only so big. All available sources of food had been used, and there were no stores left. Twilight sighed, rubbing at her eyes with one hoof.

Foraging had proved fruitless in a depressingly literal sense. A grove of apple trees had been discovered a short distance away from the castle but the trees were also bare, even the wormiest and most rotten of apples having been gathered by the resourceful creatures of the forest. Twilight idly wondered what it would be like if ponies could consume meat like Gryphons or Minotaurs. Surely their situation would be a little better? She toyed with the idea of developing a set of fangs, allowing her to eat meat, but quickly set it aside, realizing that her biology would never accept such a drastic change, not to mention that she found the idea of eating something that had once been alive disturbing.

She heard the creak of a door opening behind her. Sighing, she slumped in her chair.

“If you’re here to try and feed me, you can take the tray away now. I’ve already told you, I’m fine. I don’t need to eat, so give it all to somepony who does.”

The voice that came from behind her was at the same time amused, saddened, and very familiar. “So, what Spike and Golden Radiance have been telling me is true. You truly are not eating, and you’ve locked yourself in your tower. I’m surprised, and a bit disappointed, Cara Mia.”

Twilight’s head whipped around, heart racing in her chest at the sound of that voice. “Tarantella? Is that you?”

The Pegasus mare stood in the doorway, saddlebags slung over her back, still in her flying leathers. The light from the flame of Twilight Sparkle’s candle illuminated very little, but what Twilight could see told her that this was indeed Tarantella Allegretta, the Condottiero of the Pegasus mercenaries who called themselves the Gale Dancers, one of Twilight’s greatest allies, and her lover of these past several months. Her mane, the same grey color as the rest of her trim, aerodynamic body, was tousled from the wind and cold, and was badly in need of a cut, although she had apparently chopped off about half of her tail, letting it grow in raggedly over time. She was damp, approaching soaking, and she shivered a bit in the chill of the room, the fire now nothing more than dying embers, hardly fit for any warmth or light. Despite her rugged appearance, however, the Pegasus’s face was warm and open, both strong and loving in equal measure, her features finely formed. Twilight would even have gone so far as to call them beautiful. She walked across the room, standing beside the haggard mare, and drawing her into a chilly hug.

“Of course it’s me, dear idiot. We just arrived not ten minutes ago, and no sooner do I land than Spike and Golden Radiance approach me and tell me that you have become a hermit. And you are not eating? Had I known you would attempt to starve yourself in such a way, I would never have left, or I would have taken you with me. Your behavior I can understand in part, especially if you have been working on something. But you have not been, I can see. You sit in the dark with but a single candle to illuminate an architectural document, and you look as if you have not slept in days. What I want to know is why?”
Her voice brooked no argument , stern and quiet , and while her face remained open and loving, Twilight sensed that she was, in fact, very angry at her. She chose her next words carefully.

“I can’t take food when other ponies in the castle need it far more than I do. I’m drawing energy from the crystal to keep myself going, and there’s enough in here to keep me going until the shipment arrives. I’m fine, really.”

Tarantella jabbed her in the ribs. “I can see your bones, Twilight Sparkle. You haven’t been eating, and whether or not you realize it, you are starving yourself to death. This is unacceptable behavior, and we will be putting a stop to it.”

Twilight’s temper rose. “I said I’m fine! I’m going to be just fine, unlike the families we’ve brought into the castle so they don’t freeze to death! If they don’t get fed, they really will starve, much faster than I am right now.”

“Those families are looking to you for guidance, Twilight.” Tarantella retorted. “And right now, when they look to you, they see their leader looking tired, and scrawny, and not at all confident in herself. And believe me when I say that they will starve for leadership before they starve for food, as bad as it is.”

“You’ve no idea how bad it truly is! We have enough food to last us a week, Tara. One week, and that’s it. We are going to be out of food on Hearth’s Warming Day. Unlike you, you've been able to live off of the land outside of the Forest, while I’ve had to balance rationing for well over five thousand ponies! Nearly by myself! They’re expecting miracles, Tara, and I can’t deliver them. So don’t tell me I’m acting as a poor leader, because I've been through Tartarus and back while you’ve been gone.” Twilight said, stomping one hoof.

Now Tarantella was angry. “I’ve not had the opportunity for a meal, cold or hot, in close to two days. My family is currently in mourning over their dead, for the first time in months, because they have not heard a word from us since we rescued you from Canterlot. We have been hiding from patrols, fighting off those who pursue us, and avoiding towns by miles while flying through unfamiliar skies. I myself am weary and wounded. I have not slept since we began flying yesterday. None of us have. And still I remain as leader to those that follow me, and I do not pretend that I am fine when I am about to collapse from exhaustion! When I am rested, I act it. When I have eaten, I lead more effectively. You are no longer Twilight Sparkle, Altro Ala Mia. You are a leader, and if ponies see you acting this way they shall lose faith in you. They already have.”

Twilight was silent. Tarantella ventured another question. “Is it really that bad?”

“The shipment was supposed to arrive two weeks ago, and it would have been cutting it close, even then. We’ve exhausted every store in the castle, and foraging has gotten us nothing. Most are at half rations already, and at the end of the week we will be out of food entirely. I think it wouldn’t be so bad if ponies had something to do. As it is, all we can do is sit, and wait, and think about how miserable we are.”

Tarantella nodded understandingly. “And you blame yourself for this?”

“Of course I do. You said it yourself, they look up to me. I’m supposed to provide for them, and I’m failing at that miserably. I’m not a very good leader. In fact, I’m a terrible one.”

Tarantella drew her into a tight embrace, planting a kiss on her forehead, right below her horn. “You are a new leader. Very new, in fact. I was raised for several years to lead those under me, and when I first took the mantle of Condottiero, I was unable to command effectively at all. I despaired of ever becoming a leader as my father was, strong and wise. But I learned, and became strong. The wisdom will come later, I think. I hope. The same will be with you. But for now, you must look to yourself before looking to those you command.”

Twilight thought about that for a moment. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right. Come, put the book away and stoke your fire. We shall eat together, and tomorrow I will walk with you. We shall see what can be done to alleviate your problem.”

Twilight raised one eyebrow. “When you say ‘stoke the fire’, you mean in the fireplace, right?”

Tarantella gave her a cheeky grin. “Well, I am very cold, and rather wet. Place logs in the one, and I’ll change out of my armor and we can see about the other. Food can come after.”

Two hours passed after that, the mares eating their fill, both for the first time in a long time. And after that, they fell asleep in front of a roaring fire, still caught in one another’s arms.

Snow and Hospitality

This winter was one of the more severe in recent memory for Equestrians, the harvest having come early and being extremely bountiful, which most of the Earth pony families took as a sign that they should begin preparing. And prepare they had, getting in what they could and making sure that they would last the winter.

No such luck in the Everfree, however. The winter was far colder there, with clouds hanging in the air over the woods for days at a time, heavy with cold and snow, taking the effort of every available Pegasus to regulate at all, let alone clear. No stores had been made, because no crops had been planted in the newly cleared fields. The only thing the ponies of the Regia did not lack for was wood and water. So it was that the two mares in front of the fire in the highest tower of the ancient castle had a plentiful supply of tea, which they were currently putting to use.

“I wish we could eat trees, or some of the wild plants outside. But all the edible plants are dormant or rotted away, and we could never find them in large enough amounts anyway.” Twilight said, refilling her third cup of tea. She was attempting to fill up on the stuff in order to avoid eating so much food.

“It seems to me that most of the ponies down in the castle proper are handling themselves rather well.” Tarantella said, pushing a slice of buttered bread at her. She had taken it upon herself to ensure that Twilight did not, in fact, skip any more meals. “How long has it been since you’ve been out of the tower?”

Twilight thought about that. “A week? Maybe two? The last time I was out was for the rationing meeting, where I had to explain to ponies that they would be receiving half the food they normally would. It didn’t go over well.”

Tarantella looked at her levelly. “Define ‘Not well’.”

The unicorn mare sighed. “There was a fight that broke out among the ponies I was relaying the news to, the leaders for different groups of farmers. Not an actual physical altercation, but some pretty nasty things were said. That’s when I made the decision to try and find a solution to the rationing problem.”

“I think that you might want to take a look at the ponies under your command, Twilight. They might have surprised you.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Tarantella smiled mysteriously. “I mean, dear heart, that you might have underestimated those under you. Come, finish your meal. That means bread too. And then we will clean you up, and take a look at the castle you have left behind.”

The sky overhead was slate grey, an opaque wall of chilly cloud cover that hung in the air heavy with the promise of snow. Twilight caught sight of a team of Pegasi attempting to push holes in the clouds in order to let sunlight through. They were meeting with relatively little success, and actually appeared to be exacerbating the problem. As Twilight watched, one Pegasus kicked a cloud out of frustration, before grabbing his hoof in pain and diving out of the way of the sudden downpouring of snow. The effect rippled across the clouds, and she heard hoots and jeers of teasing derision from his comrades as they swooped down, catching the unfortunate weather pony and bearing him off to the medical center to get his hoof looked at. The first flakes began to fall on the already deep snow cover, which was chest high on Twilight already. She was glad for her scarf, which was keeping her warm enough to function decently in this mess.

She and Tarantella grinned despite themselves at the antics of the teams of Pegasi, who were taking a quick break from moving clouds to engage in aerial acrobatics with one another before returning to work. The walk from the Mage’s Keep, where Twilight kept her rooms, to the main keep, which was housing most of the families and the castle staff, was a short one, but the walk took much longer than it should have. They were not alone either. Other ponies roamed to and fro throughout the courtyard, greeting one another warmly despite their predicament. Twilight saw two ponies who had been bickering furiously the last time she had seen them sharing a quick hug before walking to their destination together, chattering amiably.

“What happened here?” Twilight asked as they walked.

“They realized how they were acting.” A voice came from behind them, as a young drake hit the ground in a puff of snow. Spike knelt briefly before straightening up and approaching the duo. “That is, they heard what you were up to in the tower, and decided to help any way they could.”

The unicorn was confused. “What do you mean? How did they find out what I was doing?”
The group continued walking through the snow. “Word travels fast when you’re cooped up with not much to do. The ponies heard everything, Twilight. How you weren’t eating, how you refused to sleep, all of it. And so they all decided to lay their differences aside and work together, because fighting wasn’t getting us anywhere. Besides, Hearth’s Warming Eve is in a few days. Who wants to spend it arguing?” Spike said.

Twilight opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, a clump of snow came hurtling through the air, impacting her squarely on the side of the head. Tarantella and Spike struggled to hold in their laughter as she picked herself up the ground with as much dignity as she could muster. The purple unicorn looked to see where it had come from. It certainly wasn’t hard to guess.

Two massive piles of snow had been collected, and then crudely assembled into walls, behind which all the youth of the Regia was gathered, slinging snowballs at one another. It was really the only part of the courtyard which was relatively free of snow, save for a small path running from the keep to the area. Several mothers stood nearby, supervising and making sure that the play wasn’t getting too rough. The surely epic struggle had ceased, however, as the assembled ponies looked on in horror at what they had done. Twilight pulled the snow from her mane as she trotted toward the assembled ponies, who knelt before their elected monarch in respect, awe, and a bit of fear. And well they should have. Her face was blank, unreadable, and she was flanked by a formidable warrior on one side and a dragon on the other. She compacted the lump of snow, forming a ball with her magic.

“Who threw this?” she asked, loud enough for the entire group to hear. “Step forward, please.”

After a brief pause, a small unicorn filly stepped forward, her speckled grey coat damp and dark. Her flank was adorned with a small urn or vessel, and she was shaking profusely, from fear or cold it was not certain. Twilight looked at her patiently. “What is your name?”

“P-P-Pepper P-Pot, Lady Twilight.”

“Well then, Pepper Pot. Were you the one that threw this?”

The filly nodded miserably. “Yes, Lady Twilight. It were an accident, I swear, I just wanted to see if I could use my magic to throw a snowball and-“

Twilight held up one hoof, cutting her off. “And you did. You hit me from halfway across the courtyard, you know.”

The filly was almost crying at this point. “I’m sorry, Lady Twilight.”

Twilight’s eyes sparkled. “Sorry? Goodness, filly, that was an excellent shot! Were you aiming for me?”

The filly, who had been averting her eyes, looked up in surprise. “Ma’am?”

Twilight craned her neck to both sides, peering into her ears. “There’s not snow in your ears, is there? I was wondering if you meant to hit me.”

Pepper Pot began to sense she might not be in trouble. “No, Lady Twilight. I was trying to hit Red Brick.”

Twilight nodded thoughtfully, straightening up and raising her voice. “Red Brick! Where are you?”

A colt roughly the same age as Pepper Pot came tumbling through the snow, his coat a dark red, true to his name. His flank was marked with a trowel. He executed a hasty bow, almost toppling over. “At your service, Lady Twilight.”

Twilight regarded him calmly before tossing the snowball at Pepper Pot gently, who caught it in a shaky magical grip. She addressed the pair of them. “Pepper, it’s never too early to practice this sort of thing, but you need to start small. Red Brick, hold still, alright?” The colt nodded.

Pepper Pot looked at the snowball and then back at Twilight. The lavender unicorn turned to Pepper Pot. “Now, go ahead and make your throw.” The unicorn filly grinned, and with gusto, whipped the ball of soft snow at Red Brick’s side, where it impacted with a dull *thud*. The colt bore the blow heroically, his lips curling in a tolerant grin.

Twilight turned to the rest of the fillies and colts, who were giggling softly. “Well, what are you all waiting on? Last time I looked, you all were having a snowball fight!” There was a cheer from the two sides, who resumed pelting one another with chunks of snow. Pepper Pot bowed once again, preparing to leave. “One more thing, Pepper. Where are your winter clothes?”

Pepper looked at her strangely. “Don’t have none, ma’am.”

Twilight frowned. “Aren’t you cold?”

The unicorn filly shrugged. “It’s not so bad once you get used to it, ma’am.”

Twilight didn’t say a word, unwrapping the scarf from around her own neck and tying it securely to that of the filly. It was a bit large, so she had to wrap it around twice, but Twilight could tell that the filly would be growing into it soon. “There. Keep that on, and when you feel cold, go inside. Understood?”

The unicorn nodded emphatically. “Thank you, Lady Twilight!” she said, her voice muffled by the scarf.

Twilight allowed herself a small smile. “You’re welcome. Now, go on and play.” She said, and watched as the filly sped off to resume her duties as a soldier.

It was only after she had gone that one of the grown mares watching them approached Twilight, bowing low. “Thank you, Lady Twilight. I’ll see to it that it’s returned after she is done using it.”

Twilight placed a hoof on the shoulder of the mare. “I’ll be fine without it. She needs it far more than I do. And besides, I’ve got a spare. She can keep it.”

The mare smiled shakily. “Many thanks, Lady Twilight. Her father and I, we’ve been trying to take apart some of our older things to make winter clothing for her. It’s coming along slowly though. He’s up on the weather team, so he needs all the warm clothing he can get. The rest goes to Pepper, though.”

Spike cut in. “Is it like this for everypony?”

The unicorn nodded. “It’s not really a problem. Night shift and day shift trade off clothing when they can. Most of the time it’s soggy, but better than nothing. All the spares have been cut up for the young ones.”

Twilight was disturbed by this. “That’s not right. Nopony should be doing their jobs in wet gear, it’s dangerous.”

The mare shrugged. “No more so than doing it without, which is what one half of the ponies working would have to do. And half of us being dry while the other half freezes isn’t worth it.”

Spike asked another question. “How many of the young ones do you think have warm clothes?”

“Well, there are about a thousand of them, I think. Not too many of the young ones stay here, most of those families go into hiding if they don’t come here. Of those I’d say…two hundred? Three hundred? Quite a bit less than half, I know. Though they are good about sharing, jut the other day I saw a group of four fillies walk by, one different boot on each hoof. And we do keep them warm, that’s not a problem. Warm and bathed regularly, so nopony is catching colds or similar. Really the only thing we’ve had issues with is clothing.”

“What about food?” Twilight asked. “I put ponies on half rations, surely that has to be bothering you.”

The mare laughed, gesturing her friends over. A few stayed to keep an eye on their charges, but soon Twilight was speaking to a group of ten or twelve mares, all smiling brightly at the chance to meet her. The unicorn mare Twilight was talking to turned to her friend. “Breeze, what did we do last night for dinner?”

The Pegasus laid a hoof along the side of her head in thought. “Let’s see…we brought the families together for a meal. Pooled what we had and there was enough for everypony, so long as no one got greedy. Think a few of the younger ones got seconds, too.”

An Earth pony nodded in agreement. “We had the same plan for tonight, right?”

The unicorn nodded her head. “Same plan, same time, same place.”

Another mare raised her hoof. “I’ve a question for you, Lady Twilight, if you don’t mind my asking.”

Twilight gestured for her to speak. “You don’t need to stand on ceremony with me. Right now we are talking about a common problem, no need for formality.”

The mare nodded. “Would you be wanting to join us for the evening meal, ma’am? That way you could see for yourself what it’s like. Sure, we’re bad off, but we’ve been worse before, most of us. You could see how things really are around the castle.”

Twilight carefully considered a reply, weighing pros and cons and selecting the right option. This careful mental preparation, however, was all for naught, as Tarantella jumped in. “We would love to. She’s not been eating much anyway. It will do her good to have some food and company. We will bring along food as well. I still have a few things from my journey. Your families won’t go hungry tonight.”

The unicorn mare waved one hoof. “If you come, that will be gift enough. Meal is at six, and we are very informal. Prepare for questions from the young ones, though, they think of you as some sort of wizard-princess-warrior, Milady.”

Twilight grinned. “We’ll be along at six, then. And please, call me Twilight.”

A Christmas Love Story

The house they would be staying in for dinner was pleasant enough, a sturdy thing built a few months ago, and painted the same white as the other houses. Some enterprising soul, however, had painted it in deep greens and cheerful reds in places, giving the house the appearance of a patchwork quilt that was not quite finished. The walkway had been newly shoveled, and the windows blazed with cheerful light. Even standing outside, Twilight and Tarantella could hear the murmur of conversation, punctuated at intervals with the laughter of foals or the occasional raised voice. Spike had elected not to come along, saying that he was going to be coming up with a solution for the lack of warm clothing. So it was that Twilight and Tarantella stood in front of the house, waiting on entry after a firm knock from the Pegasus.
The door creaked open to reveal Pepper Pot, looking up at them with wide eyes.

“Hi, Lady Twilight! Come on in, dinner is about to start!” she said, throwing the door open wide. She took off towards the kitchen, leaving the two to wipe their hooves outside before entering, shutting the door behind them. “Lady Twilight and her friend are here!” the filly called as she ran, and the unicorn mare from earlier, whose name was Nutmeg, stepped into the hallway to greet them.

“We’re very glad you could make it. We’ve just finished preparing the meal, please, come and join us.” She said, showing them into the dining room, which abutted the kitchen. Twilight could smell something cooking, and picked out the smell of boiling vegetables, loaves of bread, and some other, sweeter scent. They entered the dining room, and were immediately confronted with a packed table full of ponies, making Twilight very glad that she had not brought Spike along for this.

They were greeted warmly, as family almost, and were swiftly brought into the fold, as ponies talked and laughed and cajoled one another over one piece of news or another. Nutmeg’s husband was the Pegasus from earlier in the day, who was nursing a sore hoof. His name, ironically enough, was Snowkicker. This was, of course, the source of many jokes among the family and friends gathered at the table. Nutmeg and a few of the others had disappeared, presumably into the next room to gather the meal.

A short while later, the food was brought out. It was very simple, a pot of stewed potatoes and carrots, with a short crust of bread for everypony. A bit of salt was available to season, and tea and water were the drinks of choice. Though the rations were not exactly plentiful, it was the most food Twilight had eaten in a week. The emptiness that was left behind in their bellies was filled by the presence of each other, as they swapped stories and laughed at the antics of the foals. It was after the meal had ended, and the foals were let loose to play once more, that the conversation at the table turned back to Twilight’s concerns.

“You see, Lady Twilight?” Nutmeg said, as they took a brief rest after the meal. “We can make do with little food. We can ignore wet clothing, or missing clothing, so long as we can come home and see one another during the day. Ask any family around here, they will tell you the same thing. Most ponies here are from the north of Equestria. We are used to the harsh cold, the frugal winters. They do not bother us as much as you might think.”

“Everypony seemed so unhappy, though.” Twilight said, glancing around the table at the assembled families.

Snowkicker’s nose rumpled in surprise. “Unhappy? When was that?”

“When I announced that we’d all be on half rations!” Twilight said. “Everypony started arguing and fighting.”

Another pony, an Earth mare named Buttercup, smiled. “Aye, we can be a bit contentious, especially faced with unexpected bad news. But to be honest, it didn’t last long. Nopony enjoys fighting, especially at this time of the year, when we should all be working together.”

Nutmeg nodded. “And when everypony heard what you had done because of our muleheadedness, they shaped up right quick. It’s nearly Hearth’s Warming Eve, and here we are acting fools because we may have to go without food for a few days. We felt like idiots, making you lock yourself away, and put yourself through all of that just for us. But from the looks of things, you have been starving yourself for more than a week.”

Twilight nodded. “It’s been closer to a month, actually. The shortages were being noticed then, and now it’s worse than ever. Plus I just didn’t have much of an appetite.”

Nutmeg tilted her head curiously. “Forgive me if I’m out of place, Lady Twilight, but what changed your mind?”

Tarantella and Twilight looked at one another. Their relationship was not a well-known one, though neither had made any real attempt to hide it. The glance was all that was needed though. Nutmeg’s eyes widened. “Oh. OH. I apologize, Lady Twilight, that was quite rude of me.”

The rest of the ponies in the room chuckled a bit, Twilight and Tarantella included. Tarantella spoke up next. “It’s quite alright. Most ponies aren’t aware of the fact. Does it make you uncomfortable?”

Nutmeg’s face set. “Of course not. The north isn’t some desert backwater, we take love where we can find it. I simply would have expected that to be bigger news.”

“Well, it’s not like we’ve been walking around in public holding hooves. Tara and I are simply private ponies.” Twilight said.

“Now I am curious.” Snowkicker said. “How did you two meet?”

Twilight and Tarantella looked at one another. Tarantella smiled cheekily. “Well, I rescued her from captivity in Canterlot, and there was a chase, and a dragon was involved…it’s sort of a long story. Extremely long, you could fill a book.” Tarantella said, before Twilight gave her a gentle cuff alongside her head.

“It’s a very long story, but the short of it is that I met her outside of Fillydelphia. We hit it off well, and she went to Canterlot with me. She was one of the Condottieri that escaped capture, and was there with the other members of her party when Luna restored my memories. She fled the city with me, and it was once we had arrived here that I realized how I felt about her.” She said. “The entire story, well…I’ll be writing a book about the whole thing. I’ve already started on some of the notes, but I don’t know how it will end yet. Mostly because the story hasn’t ended yet.”

The ponies around the table nodded understandingly. They knew that their problems most likely paled in comparison to Twilight’s. Nutmeg spoke next. “Well, I’m sure that you’ll get your happy ending. These things have a way of working out. We’ve been working on something for a while, gathering ingredients and such. How would you care for dessert? We just finished gathering the ingredients today; you’d be surprised at how much eggs go for around here. Lucky the chickens were feeling generous.”

Twilight suddenly realized what the sweet scent was. She opened her mouth to protest, but a growl from her stomach proved the lie to her words before she spoke them. Their hostess smiled briefly before trotting into the kitchen, while another mare called in the foals, who piled into the small room eagerly.

Nutmeg came out with two loaves of bread suspended in her telekinetic grip, laying them down on the table. They were a most unusual shape, two cylinders that expanded near the top, as if the bread had been cooked in flowerpots. They were an unusual golden brown, speckled with bright fragments of candied fruit, and both had steam rising from the top, being fresh from the oven. Tarantella’s eyes lit up.

“Is that…is that panettone?” she inquired, excitement in her voice.

Nutmeg smiled. “Indeed it is. A traditional holiday dessert up north, though I can’t claim to make the best. That honor belonged to my mother. Still, we try to have it at least once per year. It teaches us to be thankful for what we have, and to treat others, especially the less fortunate, with respect.”

Twilight was curious. “What do you mean? How is a dessert that special?”

Tarantella smiled. “There is a legend attached to the bread, Twilight. A very famous one among the ponies of the north. I would tell it, but that duty falls to our hostess. Would she be willing to tell it while we wait for the bread to cool?”

Nutmeg stood up a bit straighter, unconsciously assuming the position of one giving a recital to an audience. And in a way, she was. “Well, I’ve not told the story in a while.”

There were cheers and calls from the surrounding ponies, including the foals. She shook herself, smiling widely. “Alright then, I will do my best.” There was an expectant hush, as she cleared her throat, and began.

“Many years ago, before our grandsires and their grandsires were even born, there was a small village, whose name has been lost to history. It was a small village, near the wild mountains, and they lived under the rule of a powerful and wealthy family of Condottieri. This family had a son, an Earth pony who loved falconry, and could often be found outside of the city, engaging in his favorite pastime. As he waited on his loyal birds to return, however, he would spend time watching the most beautiful mare he had ever seen.

She was the daughter of a poor baker, one who made very good bread, good but plain. She worked hard all day and well into the night, helping her father with his craft. The Earth pony could not bear to see the mare he so adored working so hard for so little, not to mention his father would never allow him to marry one so unprosperous, and so he came up with a bold scheme.

He disguised himself as a common pony, and apprenticed himself under the baker. How hard he worked! His hooves grew weary, he had hardly any time to himself, and he slept and ate little. But it was worth it, for he was able to spend time with his beloved, and soon enough she fell in love with him, as well. Soon, though, the seasons turned from summer to winter, as they always do, and the young Earth pony found out that his beloved’s father would not be able to support them through the winter.

He knew what he had to do. He sold his beloved falcons, buying all manner of fine goods with them, eggs and good flour, butter, raisins and orange peel and fruits. The night before Hearth’s Warming Eve, he worked furiously, forgoing sleep entirely. He created a wonderful bread, one that was delicious and light, a truly luxurious bread. He made so much of it, in fact, that he ran out of pans to cook it in, so he took the last of his dough, and baked in in flowerpots so as to avoid wasting it.

When the father and daughter awoke the next morning, the Earth pony was gone, but left a note explaining that he had created the bread while they slept, and if they sold this, they would surely have enough to make it through the winter. He even suggested they take some of it to the Condottiero himself. They thought this a fine idea, and loaded up a cart with bread, taking it through the streets. The smell of the bread attracted a crowd, and soon they had replaced most of their bread with gold before finally arriving before the Condottiero himself.

Imagine their surprise when they arrived to find the baker’s apprentice standing at the right hoof of the Condottiero himself! He explained all of what he had done, and the Condottiero agreed to give his blessing to the arrangement, so long as he had a taste of the bread. Shamefacedly, they withdrew the very last loaf of bread, the one that had been baked into a flowerpot. The Condottiero laughed to see such unusual bread, and upon tasting a piece, immediately agreed to the marriage. His only request was that the bread be baked in flowerpots from then on, as he loved the shape.

Of course, the baker agreed, and the noble and the baker’s daughter were wed soon after. Their love lasted for many years, and though we may not know their names, their legacy is left behind in this bread, which was called pan de tone, or bread of luxury. And we eat it every Hearth's Warming to remind us that we are lucky to have what we have, and that the less fortunate always deserve our help.”

There was applause from the assembled ponies, Twilight included. Nutmeg bowed slightly, and then, with a flourish, cut open the loaves, passing around pieces for the family to enjoy. The ponies in that house spent the evening talking and laughing with one another, and Twilight realized that the ones who followed her didn’t need much, just enough to get by. And so long as they had hope, they would be fine.

Twilight resolved to give them that hope, one way or another. She would make sure to give something to the ponies they led for Hearth’s Warming Eve. She’d make sure of it

A Walk in the Winter Woods

Chapter 4

The next day dawned cold and clear, the sun appearing from behind the slate grey clouds of the previous night, driving back the blue shadows of that dark hour before sunrise, and turning the previously threatening clouds into a beautiful patchwork of pinks and golds, the light from which reflected off of the snow and ice on the ground below. Two mares sat together, drinking from the same simple pot of tea, and watching the castle beneath them wake up.

“It’s beautiful.” Twilight said simply. “Every little thing is covered in frost.”

Tarantella nodded. “It’s not often winters get this cold, is it? This is normal for me and my family, but I believe that the southern climes are warmer than my home.”

Twilight nodded. “This winter is one of the colder ones I have seen. Though most of my previous winters have been in areas where the weather is controlled. All of them, actually.”

Tarantella shifted closer, taking warmth from her. “You have never experienced a true winter, then.”

“I suppose not.”

Tarantella picked out a new feature of the castle with her excellent vision. “Cara Mia, what is that opening in the trees? The one out near the edge of the fields?”

Twilight followed her partner’s line of sight. At the sight of the gap in the foliage, she lit up. “That’s the way to an apple orchard. All the trees are bare right now, of course, but in the spring they’ll flower, and in summer and fall they’ll bear fruit. We can have jam and pies and cider, all sorts of wonderful things.”

“That seems to please you to no end, Twilight.”

“Yes. Living in Ponyville, before…before everything, there was a very special time of year. Cider season. It was sort of my way of telling myself that fall was there. My frie- one of the ponies I knew, Applejack, she made it with her family. I was there for some of the process for her special batches, the alcoholic cider. It was simple to make, but she had some kind of magic about it. Spices, apples, a pinch of earth for luck, apple yeast, and honey were all that went in, but the very best drink I have ever had came from those barrels. Shared with others, of course, served at room temperature against the chill in the air. I developed quite the appreciation for apples while I was there.”

Tarantella placed one wing over her lover. “You miss them terribly, don’t you?”

Twilight was silent for a moment. “More than I know right now, I think. But that is not an issue. We have ponies to tend to, you and I.”

The pearl grey Pegasus shifted. “I suppose…before we do so, however, might we take a walk to your orchard? I should like to see it.”

Twilight Sparkle drained the last of her tea. “Of course. If we leave soon, we can avoid the morning rush of ponies. Expect quite the welcome when we return, however.”

Tarantella smiled. “I look forward to it. Come, let us go.”

The route to the orchard was not, in fact, a long one. A scant mile and a half of winding trail, covered by thick boughs overhead and muffled by new fallen snow led the two ponies, who had fled through a side gate, greeting the Lunar Guard standing at his post in the cold, and cantering across the empty fields towards the path and the orchard. It was only when they had rounded the wall of the castle and began their movement to the forest that Twilight noticed Spike was absent from his usual early morning perch atop the aviary. He was certainly not accountable to her, however, and Twilight trusted he would be able to handle himself.

The hooves of the two ponies crunched on the fresh layer of snow as they trotted through the forest, scarves around their necks the only ward against the cold as they chattered and talked, each discussing what the other had missed in their absence. Laughter rang through the trees, Tarantella’s glowing bursts of honest mirth lying under the silver bell tones of Twilight’s laughter, as each took comfort from the fact that their holiday would not be spent alone. The pair reached their destination soon enough, a grove of bare trees, dark bark sharply contrasting with the world of white around them. These, too, were covered in snow and ice, frost residing in every nook and cranny available.

Into the grove they strode, as Tarantella looked around appreciatively. The trees themselves grew in a circle, around a small boulder in their center, a proud lump of stone that occupied a small hillock, the only high ground in the area, as if daring the forest to take it. Twilight trotted forward, leaning against it as she surveyed the potential source of food.

“This will be one of the more beautiful spots around come spring. Apple blossoms, birds chirping, green grass…a quiet spot if not for all the Earth ponies that will surely be around here. I’d volunteer to work here if it meant spending time in this place.” The unicorn said, hopping on top of the rock. “Come on up! You can’t exactly see the tops of the trees here, but you can see a lot further.”

The Pegasus Flapped he wings gently, landing lightly beside the unicorn, who took a step to the side in order to accommodate her. The added weight of the Pegasus, light as it was, was enough to cause the previously heavy-seeming boulder to shift and wobble precariously. Twilight’s natural instincts, to shift in the opposite direction, only served to dislodge it further, and the unicorn’s hooves flew out from under her, tipping her into Tarantella, who flared her wings in order to steady herself before both of them tumbled off of the boulder, landing in a heap of feathers, fur, and hooves.

Twilight groaned. “Ow. My head…are you alright, Tara?”

The Pegasus’s reply was muffled by snow, but Twilight managed to catch the words “move” and “can’t breathe”. She rolled off of her marefriend, lying in the snow and staring up at the sky as Tarantella rolled over, giggling softly to herself.

“I’m quite alright, Altro Ala Mia. Though I think that rock is a bit less solid than it would appear.”

Both ponies got to their hooves slowly, examining the boulder. It had shifted loose, whether from Tarantella’s weight or some strange effect of the cold they did not know, but both of them saw what the boulder had concealed. The corner of a wooden trapdoor gleamed wetly in the winter sun. Even from a distance, Twilight saw the preservation runes painstakingly chiseled into its surface. The Pegasus and unicorn looked at one another excitedly. Who knew what could be concealed underneath? What had some pony paid dearly to preserve in the middle of an apple orchard?

Twilight gently lifted the boulder to one side with her magic, depositing it gently at the bottom of the rise as Tarantella ran her hooves along the wood, searching for a catch or clasp. “I cannot open this,” she said, befuddled. “Some secret switch, perhaps?”

Twilight peered at the runes. “It looks like this can only be unlocked with some fairly advanced magic.” Her horn lit up. “Stand back, please. I don’t know what will happen.”

Tarantella moved to stand beside her, crouched low and ready for trouble. Twilight’s horn began to pulse with magic, as a gentle beam of light played over the unusual door, causing the runes to glow softly. Twilight’s face screwed up in concentration as she pushed a bit harder, causing certain runes to light up and others to diminish. Gradually, a pattern began to emerge ,that of a sun and moon, and they both heard a *click* from inside the trapdoor, which raised itself a few inches off of the ground, revealing a gap large enough for a hoof to fit under. Tarantella wedged hers inside of it quickly, before pushing the solid slab of wood open.

The door swung open silently, and the couple looked down into the small space below. What they saw filled them with wonder, and no small amount of joy. There, on shelves below, lay rows and rows of barrels and boxes. It wasn’t enough to keep them fed for long, especially considering that there was an entire castle to feed. A meal maybe, possibly a bit left over. But what a meal it would be! The boxes were emblazoned with the old Royal Seal, clearly a reserve for the Princesses themselves. Excitedly, the two pulled them open, giggling like schoolfillies as they uncovered sweets, rich bread, jars of fruit, candied nuts, and more. One box was nothing but lovingly wrapped cheeses, another full of bright red berries in glass jars. The rich smell of chocolate came from another box, and Twilight gasped to see containers of marzipan, thick with honey and almonds. Then came the barrels, and there were at least as many barrels as boxes. Twilight read the labels carefully. Bees, indicating mead. Grapes for wine. But fully one half of the barrels were marked with a stylized apple. Cider. And each box and barrel was stamped with the mark of the Princesses, meaning that it was of the highest quality.

Twilight spun to face Tarantella. “Tarantella, do you know what this means? We have something to give those ponies back at the castle. Something to celebrate with them. Tara, even if it’s false, we still have…we still have…”

The Pegasus kissed her mare. “Hope, Cara Mia. We have hope for them.” She walked to the trapdoor. “Come. We will need strong backs for this.”

The ponies assembled in the main hall of the Regia were confused as to the reason for the meeting. As many as possible had been packed into the room, accounting for about half of the population, at standing room only. They knew only that they were about to be spoken to by Twilight Sparkle, and that it had something to do with the holiday and the rationing situation. Many expected some sort of admonishment, or news that they would be running out of food before the holiday. Because of this, the mood was a grey one, not exactly bad, but definitely lacking in cheer.

The door located near the podium opened, and the unicorn mare who led them stepped out carefully, proceeding to the small rise above the crowd and standing very still, waiting for them to quiet down. It took only a brief moment for the ponies to notice her and cease talking completely. Twilight Sparkle was something of an orator, believe it or not, and listening to her speak was always an enjoyable experience, regardless of what she had to say.

“Thank you for coming, everypony. I have gathered you all here today because I have some good news for you all. However, we will also be putting the outcome of this event to a vote, so I need you all to think this over carefully. Your well-being is what is at stake here, so I feel unable to make the decision without consulting you all. Is that understood?”

A rumbling “Aye” was emitted from the collected ponies. Twilight Sparkle smiled, and addressed the waiting crowd.

“We have found a very small cache of supplies, hidden in the old apple orchard that was recently discovered.”

There was an immediate excited buzz from the crowd. Smiles began to appear on faces, and several of the few remaining Pegasi flared their wings in celebration. Twilight raised her hoof, waiting for the ponies to settle down. Once they had, she proceeded. “Now, when I say very small, I mean extremely small. Enough to feed everypony in the castle, for one meal and one meal alone. The meal, however, is what I have brought you here for. The haul includes quite a few items that would make for an excellent Hearth’s Warming Eve dinner. That decision, however, does not belong to me. It belongs to you all. If you choose, I will have the ingredients parceled out as best as we can get them, things like fruit and nuts and cider and such. You can take them home and share them with your families. Or, if you so choose, we can keep all the ingredients here, and come Hearth’s Warming, we can have one feast together, as a group. I’ll not be having dissent, however, so we must vote. All for the division and release of the food that was found?”

Twilight waited for the “ayes” that would follow. Not a sound was heard in the hall. She nodded thoughtfully. “All those against?” Nearly every single hoof shot skyward. “And those for the Hearth’s Warming Feast?” There was a roar of assent from those present. “Those against?” Surprisingly, one hoof rose into the air, belonging to an elderly Earth pony near the front. Twilight looked at him curiously. “You wish for another option?”

When the Earth pony spoke, his voice was strong and deep, giving the lie to his battered exterior. “It’s not that, precisely, ma’am. I just had a few questions regarding the supplies, is all.”

Twilight motioned for the elder to step forward. “Of course, go ahead and speak.”

“You say that they were found in an orchard nearby? An apple orchard?”

Twilight nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”

The Earth pony rubbed his chin with one hoof. “And you said cider was among that which was found? Hard cider?”

The unicorn looked at him curiously. “Yes. Quite a bit of it.”

“Might we be able to perform a wassailing, for us northern apple farmers?”

Twilight was confused. “A wassailing?”

The Earth pony nodded. “A wassailing, ma’am. The idea is that we use that which was taken from the trees and give some back, it provides them with new life, makes the fruit that much sweeter and more plentiful. Cider is the traditional wassailing piece. We give some back to the trees, and thank the earth for what it has given us. Many of the northern farmers will tell you that they do the same with their apple crops.”

There were a few nods from the crowd. Another Earth pony raised his hoof. “It’s true, Lady Twilight! If there was a way to give back to the trees, we’d be thankful for it.”

Twilight smiled. “It seems to me a wonderful idea. But the supplies are not mine, they are yours. Another vote, then. Who among you wishes for some of the cider to be used in a wassailing?”

At first, only a few hooves shot up. Then a few more, and more still, until every Earth pony, all of the Pegasi, and all but a few of the unicorns had their hooves in the air. Twilight turned to the elder.

“There you have it, then. You will have cider for your wassailing.”

Another cheer rose from the northern farmers, and applause filled the air as ponies muttered in excitement, discussing what could be done. Another pony, a unicorn, raised one hoof. “Might we have permission to cut down a pine from the forest? We could have it decorated as a centerpiece!”

There was a mutter of assent. “Well, I’d have to check with Radiant Zenith. But I see no reason as to why you could not.” Twilight said.

Ponies began to congregate in groups, discussing plans to make chains of colored paper, to thread some of the bright red holly berries growing in patches outside into garlands, to sculpt snow and organize caroling and winter games and concerts and bonfires and much more besides. A Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant was organized before Twilight’s eyes, and soon packs of ponies began to tear out of the hallway, on missions to bring good tidings to all, and to tell them to get ready, to deck the halls in preparation, because Hearth’s Warming Eve was coming in a few days!

Smiling and shaking her head, Twilight exited the room quietly, passing back through the door she had entered. Tarantella was waiting for her along with Radiant Zenith.

“And?” Tarantella asked, waiting on her response.

“It was nearly unanimous, save for one pony. We’re having our Hearth’s Warming Eve together. And the one only wanted to set aside some of the cider for a wassailing.” Twilight said, as they walked down the hallway.

“He follows the old ways, then.” Radiant Zenith said. “I’m glad to hear that.”

Tarantella whistled. “They must be old, if you remember them.” There was a brief moment before she realized what she had said. “Wait…”

Radiant Zenith laughed. “Yes, they’re old indeed. They were ancient long before I was born, apparently they came down with the tribes from the north, before Celestia and Luna even manifested themselves. It’s good to hear that the ponies have decided to share in the food. I took the liberty of having the food moved to the kitchens, either for division or preparation.” she said, as they pushed open the doors to the room in question.

Twilight was looking at a scene that could best be described as “ecstatic panic”. Apparently word had gotten out about the decision that had been reached, and every pony in the place was running around on some culinary mission or another. The head chef, a competent old battleax of an Earth mare who went by the name of Au Jus, spotted Twilight through the crowd, bellowing at ponies to remove themselves from her path as she strode towards the trio of mares watching them. Reaching their hooves, she bowed.

“Milady! Welcome! We have a lot to do in five days’ time, so we are a bit busy. However, I’ve heard news that you’ve been sending back my food untouched, so I can have somepony whip something up for you if you like. Oy!” she cried, pointing at a pony who was staggering under the weight of jars of jam. “Drop those and I’ll beat you into marzipan! Carry them proper-like, or get somepony to help you!” Remembering where she was, she spun to face Twilight once more.

“Apologies, Lady Sparkle. Could I get something for you?” she asked.

Twilight shook her head. “No, but thank you. I’m actually here to tell you to reserve some of the cider.”

Au Jus winked. “For a wassailing, right? Did those in Fillydelphia a few times before I left to study cooking in Manehatten. Not to worry, I’ve set some aside for later use. Considering the number of Northerners, I decided fifteen barrels would suffice. They’re fairly large, as well.”

Radiant Zenith cleared her throat. “Exactly how many barrels of cider were recovered?”

The Earth pony offered a hoof to the unicorn, who took it, jumping down to the level of the kitchen. As both ponies walked away, Twilight heard them discussing values and numbers. “Well, we counted seventy eight of cider, eighteen of wine, twenty four of mead…”

Twilight and Tarantella watched them go, chattering amiably about logistics and supply and schedules, before Tarantella turned to Twilight. “There are a few things you’ll need to know before the wassailing.” she said.

Twilight tilted her head curiously. “Such as?” she asked.

“Firstly, it’s an old ritual. Very old. There are a few things associated with it, depending on which version of the wassail you use. It’s a fertility rite involving the trees, and as such ponies expect you to do it right.” Tarantella said seriously.

“A fertility rite?”

“Not the sort of fertility rite you are undoubtedly thinking of. You’ll be singing carols to drive away evil spirits, and pouring cider on the ground to promote growth in the trees. Were it a vineyard you’d be pouring wine.”

Twilight laughed. “You say it like I’m going to have to lead them.”

Tarantella nodded. “Odds are extremely good you will. It’s a great honor to lead a wassail, and if the ponies nominate you, which they undoubtedly will, then it’s the polite thing to accept.” She paused at the look on Twilight’s face. “Cara Mia, relax. It’s great fun, we used to go a-wassailing up north. I led one once. You wear a crown of holly and a cape of white, and carry a lantern at the head of the procession. And it’s really quite informal. Likely everypony will have been drinking heavily beforehand, so you have no reason to fret.”

“But I know nothing about wassailing!” Twilight said. “What makes me qualified to lead ponies in that?”

“What makes you qualified to lead ponies in anything?” Tarantella said, as they trotted up a flight of stairs. “You certainly are no politician. So why do ponies choose to follow you?”

Twilight was silent. Tarantella pressed her advantage. “They do it because they love you, Twilight Sparkle. They trust you, and they look up to you. This is why it is detrimental to them if you are starving yourself. It is good to see you eat, and when you are happy, they are. You’ve seen them, they adore you, and they support you. I promise, you will do a fine job leading the procession.”

Twilight sighed. “I just don’t know how to do a wassailing, is all. What do I say? How do I lead them? What’s expected of me?”

Tarantella laughed. “Do not worry, Twilight. I will teach you. When I am done with you, you’ll know it better than those courtly manners you learned in Canterlot.”

Gifts Given Gladly

Chapter 5

The gown that had been fashioned for Twilight Sparkle after she had accepted the formal invitation to lead the procession was white, of course. The gown was supposed to be white. But whichever unicorn had woven this (and it was a unicorn, she knew that much), had done something to the fabric. It billowed and moved far more than the simple fabric should allow for, and it seemed to shimmer faintly in the darkness, as if the cloth had been woven of moonlight. Try as she might, Twilight could not undo the spell woven into the fabric, or even deduce its nature. Vexed at this, it had taken her the better part of a day poking and prodding at it before Tarantella had pulled her away to run her through her steps.

The Regia had been transformed over the past few days. Candles of white and red and green hung everywhere, waiting to be lit on the celebration, which was to be held tomorrow night. Garlands of freshly cut evergreen were strung in the halls, their spicy scent lifting the spirits of those who passed by. Holly and mistletoe were present, and more than once Twilight had caught two adolescents meeting underneath the boughs for a quick display of affection. The floors fairly shone with cleanliness, and a massive pile of wood was being collected for a roaring bonfire to drive back one of the longest nights of the year. A stage was being built in one corner of the hall for the Hearth’s Warming Eve Pageant, as well as musicians and performances besides the traditional play.

The snow outside had been knocked from the rooftops and shoveled out of the courtyards, collected into a sizeable pile out in one of the abandoned fields, and was now being used as a sledding slope. The idea was for fillies and colts to be able to slide safely to the bottom, but some enterprising soul had of course constructed a ramp. It was this ramp that Twilight was watching from her balcony as the seamstresses fitted the loose drape of fabric more closely to her, so that she would not fall on her trek through the forest. The wait seemed interminable, more so because she was not supposed to move, but at last it was over. One of the attendants, a Pegasus, placed a crown of holly on her head, where it perched gently, gleaming in the sunlight. Another handed her a staff upon which a lantern was mounted, a symbol of authority and rebirth, as well as a guiding light in the darkness.

“Perfect.” Tarantella said, taking it in appreciatively. “That is exactly how the leader of such a procession should look.”

“You think so?” Twilight asked, as the seamstresses brought a mirror. “I feel a bit…ridiculous.”

The mare she saw in the mirror begged to differ. The gown fell elegantly to the tops of her fetlocks, conveying grace and poise easily. But the simplicity of the plain fabric set it aside from any other dress she had worn. This wasn’t something worn to impress or amaze other ponies. It was of a different quality entirely, lending her an almost spiritual air. In this garment, Twilight wasn’t herself anymore. She was a leader, almost a messiah. Ponies would follow her in this, she decided. They would definitely follow her in this.

“Well?” Tarantella inquired, leaning in along with the seamstresses. “What do you think?”

Twilight inhaled. “I think I have a new appreciation for white.” she said, smiling at the ponies who had been kind enough to make this for her. “It’s wonderful. I’d even go so far as to call it perfect.”

There was a collective exclamation of delight from the assembled seamstresses, which started out on a pitch that was surely not conducive to good hearing and went upwards from there. Twilight felt the muscles in her neck tense up at the noise, and was thankful when it fell apart into a mere mutter of giggles and conversation, as the mares alternately congratulated each other and bowed to Twilight. It was the work of moments to remove the simple shift and crown, and one of the ponies ran a brush through her hair, ignoring Twilight’s assertions that she could handle it herself. A small cluster of thorns and plant matter was tossed to one side, and Twilight stood ready to rejoin the world once more.

She thanked the departing group of mares warmly, and closed the doors behind her, giving an exhausted sigh. Tarantella planted a kiss on her forehead, hovering a bit to do so. “Something wrong, Twilight? You’ve been tense for the past few days.”

Twilight’s gaze slid to the window again. “I’m worried about him, Tara. It’s not like Spike to be gone for so long, without even telling me where he went. What if he’s hurt, or captured, or worse?”

Tarantella laughed. “I pity the poor fool who crosses that dragon. As for his disappearance, I would not trouble yourself with it overmuch. He is an adolescent dragon, erudite though he is. He desires a bit of autonomy, and he is more than capable of taking care of himself. And besides, dragons are private creatures anyway.”

“I know all of that.” Twilight said, trotting to the window and looking out over the courtyard. “But that’s part of what worries me. I know it sounds silly, considering what has happened over the past few months, but…”

Tarantella nuzzled her affectionately. “But what?”

Twilight’s voice was small, vulnerable. “One day, he’ll leave. And I won’t ever see him again. He’ll enter one of those hundred-year long sleeps, and when he wakes up, I’ll be gone. Or he’ll leave earlier than that, to find a mate or join the migration, and what if he doesn’t come back? What if he’s happier with them than with me?”

Tarantella was silent for a moment. “Twilight, I love you, but sometimes you are very dense.”

Twilight blinked. “What?”

The Condottiero took Twilight’s hooves in her own. “Think you that Spike will ever leave your side while you live? Twilight, I have never seen one that loves you so much, willing to do so much for you. You are his treasure, Twilight, and dragons guard their treasure and love it fiercely. He has braved much for you, fought and bled for you, and you think he will toss you aside for a pretty dragoness, or something as trivial to dragons as sleep? Bah. Twilight, Spike will be ever present in your life, however long that is. He loves you too much for it to be otherwise. Should you live to the end of time, Spike will be with you. His absences are painful, yes, but he will always come back.”

“But what if he doesn’t?” Twilight asked.

Tarantella shook her head. “You are missing the point entirely, dear heart. Spike has bound himself to you, body, mind, and soul. He will never leave you for too long, to do so would be to violate everything that he is. You are worrying about impossibilities. There is rarely any good that comes from worrying over things that cannot be.”

Twilight was still for a moment. “I suppose you’re right.” she said. “I do wonder where he is, though.”

“You worry too much.” Tarantella said. “You have nowhere to be until dinner, and I am seeing to it that you are occupied until then.”

Twilight’s brow wrinkled. “How is that? There are no more appointments, and I’m setting work aside until the holiday is over. What else is there to-“ She was cut off as Tarantella’s lips met hers, cutting off her speech entirely. Twilight felt her knees go weak, and a flash of warmth ran through her body. She realized they were standing close to the bed just in time for Tarantella to shove her down onto it roughly. The kiss was broken for a brief moment.

“Oh. That’s how.”

It was late afternoon by the time both of them were sated, laying in one another’s arms and panting from exertion and satisfaction. A few moments passed before they were able to focus on each other properly, and when they did so, the first thing they saw was each other. Twilight smiled, brushing a lock of Tarantella’s mane out of her face.

“How do you do it?” she murmured lazily, drawing her lover into a tight embrace. “How do you know just what to say, every time? How can you make me feel like this, all the time? And how did you fall for me?”

Tarantella gave a contented moan, resting her head against Twilight’s chest. “I count myself lucky to have found you, Twilight Sparkle. And I marvel that one such as you could love one such as me. As for my words, I don’t know what you see in them. I speak what I think, like I always do. But you take solace from them, and that makes me happy.”

Twilight felt herself drifting off, her breathing settling into something deep and rhythmic as she felt Tarantella slip into dreams beside her. She lay back, feeling the mattress under her cradle her gently, as she and Tarantella cradled one another. Her eyes fluttered, and she began to slip into in the blackness of contented slumber.

Of course, it was at this moment that the alarm bells began to ring in the courtyard, and both Twilight and Tarantella shot awake, looking around wildly. Tangled in sheets, both extricated themselves from the bed with difficulty, just as Twilight heard the rapid beat of hooves outside of her door, the clatter of which skittered to a halt before an urgent knock was heard at her quarters.

Twilight shook her mane out of her eyes exasperatedly, slinging her crystal over her neck. “Yes? Come in!”

A Lunar Guard burst through the doors, simultaneously sliding on the stone and attempting to stop and kneel. Remarkably, the stallion did not plow into the floor, wall, or any of the articles of furniture. He gazed up at her, panting slightly. “Lady Twilight…I’ve come to summon you to the courtyard….it’s just…you have to see this for yourself!”

Twilight seized the stallion and Tarantella in a rough grip, horn flashing as she transported them to the courtyard. They reappeared about a foot above the snow below, collapsing into a heap before untangling themselves and getting to their hooves. Twilight’s horn flashed dangerously as she looked around her, ready to fight whatever it was that had invaded her home…her eyes widened at the sight in front of her.

Spike was unloading a massive burlap sack from his back, dealing out small parcels to eager fillies and colts gathered around him, while the parents looked on with tears in their eyes. As Twilight watched, a small filly unwrapped one of the brown paper packages, bound with string, and withdrew a scarf, hat, and most wonderfully of all, a small wooden figure of a pony, plain and unadorned, but wearing a beautiful gown made of cunningly wrought cloth. All around her, children were withdrawing similar packages. She thought that there wouldn’t be enough to go around, but Spike’s bag seemed never-ending, and the crowd around him diminished, every filly and colt in the Regia bearing away some small toy and, more importantly, warm clothing. Twilight felt a tear gather in the corner of her eye as she moved towards the dragon, who watched her calmly.

“Spike…how did you, where did you…how?” she asked incredulously, standing still.

“No filly or colt should have to spend Hearth’s Warming Eve cold and unhappy.” he said, indicating the ponies around him. “I decided to do something about that. So I flew to Trottingham a few days ago, and I used the transformation spell you gave me to blend in. I heard ponies talking about your cause, and how they wished they could support it. And after a brief…demonstration…they agreed to send some supplies back with me. A lot, actually. You should have seen it, Twilight! News spread so fast, and it seemed like every pony in the city wanted to help. Most of those are hoofmade, and many of the toys were made by toymakers especially for the children. Even though the Guards in the city caught wind of me, by the time they had, all of the packages had been collected and I slipped out of the city at night. And the ponies of Trottingham send their love and support. They’re with you one hundred percent, Twilight.”

Twilight’s voice shook. “Spike, that was reckless, and stupid, you could have gotten captured or worse…you just up and left without telling us where we could find you…and…and…” She swung a hoof at his chest, watching as it bounced off. “And that’s one of the kindest things I’ve ever seen. You idiot, I thought we had lost you…”

Spike handed her one more package, with her name on it. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Twilight.”

Twilight glanced at him. He had gotten her a present this year…she didn’t know how to feel about that. She hadn’t done anything for him. Just as she thought that, however, he nudged her slightly. “Think of it as a thank-you for…well, for everything.”

Twilight smiled, and tore at the wrapping. She lifted out a scarf of beautiful white wool, wrapping it snugly around her neck, and…well, then. The hat she lifted into the air was definitely unique. It was predominantly a bright, garish yellow, with a band of orange wrapping around the bottom. Two salmon-colored earflaps hung down from this, sporting two tassels of the same color that dangled precariously from the tips of the knitted protrusions. But that was not the most unusual part of that hat, oh no. An extremely pink pom-pom rested on the top, waving gently in the breeze as if mildly addled. Twilight heard muted laughter coming from around her, including from Spike. She steeled herself, jamming it firmly onto her head. She glared at the ponies around her, daring them to laugh.

One of the Earth ponies, a stallion, stepped forward, offering her his hoof. “Mare walks around in that hat, ponies know she’s not afraid of anything.”

Twilight took it solemnly, shaking it with the same grave grace and poise she would afford to a dignitary. Several surrounding ponies doffed their hats respectfully, making low legs at her. She did likewise, returning the bows with a flourish. Spike and Tarantella watched in bemusement as Twilight wore the hat as if there was absolutely nothing wrong about it.

She would refuse to take the hat off for the rest of the day, and indeed, when she and Tarantella retired for the night, she wore it to sleep. It was a gift, she claimed. And besides, it kept her ears warm.

The Celebration of Harmony

A new day dawned over the Regia as Twilight Sparkle stood over a field of new snow, fallen during the night. Tonight was the night, the one they had all been waiting for. She watched ponies talking and laughing as a truly massive tree was hauled from the Everfree Forest, to be decorated and used in the ceremony once darkness fell. It was escaping the fate of similar of its brethren, who had been stripped and gathered into a truly massive pile in the middle of the courtyard, where the bonfire for that night would be. Still others were putting the finishing touches on the feast below. The smell of spiced fruit and roasting nuts filled the air, even permeating the walls, and Twilight could smell it from her tower. A few of the more artistic types had set about hewing giant blocks of snow into different shapes, among the sculptures being a dragon, the castle, and a unicorn that was beginning to look suspiciously like Twilight herself.

“We might want to get down there, Twilight.” Tarantella called, as she climbed out of bed. “They will begin decorating the tree soon, and you would not want to miss out.”

Twilight nodded, the pom-pom on her head bobbing along with her. “You’re right. That’s something I’ve been looking forward too.”

Tarantella rolled her eyes. “Will you not remove that ridiculous hat? You look to be insane. And it hardly befits a rebel Lady such as yourself.”

“No.” Twilight replied mulishly. “I like it.”

The Pegasus growled. “Twilight Sparkle, you are not going out in that hat. You have proved your point, remove it.”
Twilight stomped one hoof. “It’s my hat, and I will do what I like with it, thank you very much.”

“What if we are attacked? Your enemies will hardly fear you in that.”

“Should they somehow manage to slip through the Forest in numbers great enough to harm us, then I shall meet them, wearing this hat. And they will learn to fear it as they do me.”

Tarantella’s wings flared. “Twilight Sparkle, give me that hat!”

“If you want it, you’ll have to come and get it.”

The two guards stationed outside of the door could hear the whole exchange. So, they were naturally able to hear the sounds of truly mighty combat emanating from the door itself, combined with laughter and epithets from Twilight Sparkle and Tarantella Allegretta respectively. One of the Lunar Guards, newer than his compatriot, arched one ear towards the sound. A stern rap of the veteran pony’s spear instilled discipline in him once more, and both of them faced forward again, waiting patiently for the two lovers to finish their quarrel.

The ponies gathering around the tree in the courtyard, kept well away from the bonfire, were hard at work. Each holly bush for a mile in either direction had been stripped of berries, which had been strung into colorful strings so that they could be hung upon the tree. Colored paper had been linked into chains of red and white and green and gold, and a few of the more industrious fillies and colts had been hard at work making paper snowflakes to be hung alongside as ornaments. Well wishes hung on strips of paper, which had been strung on ribbon and were ready to hang on the mighty evergreen as well. The only thing missing was the ponies who had made this possible. And soon, to mighty applause, they walked out of the tower, surrounded by guards, to begin the festivities.

Twilight Sparkle looked a bit disgruntled, her mane covered with a simple white stocking cap that matched her scarf, and both she and the Condottiero Tarantella were limping a bit. Upon seeing her subjects, though, Twilight Sparkle’s face lit up, and her hooves picked up, kicking small clouds of white powder into the air as she smiled and returned greetings, mixing and mingling with the crowd. A dais of snow and ice had been constructed for her, and it was from this perch that she allowed her voice to ring over the courtyard.

“My fellow ponies! This winter is one of the hardest any one of us has faced. The weather is bitter cold, and we miss our homes and comfortable lives. You have sacrificed much to remain by my side, and for that I am eternally grateful. Know that so long as I live, I will never forget what has been done here. You mean so very, very much to me, words cannot describe, though I have done my best. Instead, I merely wish to say that I consider you all my very best companions. And, in a way, I consider you family.

So, here we stand, one family, to celebrate each other. I believe we can take a lot from those ponies, long ago, who managed to unite their kingdoms against hardship. Even before Celestia and Luna led us all, we showed ourselves capable of living in Harmony. And from what I have seen over the past days, we can do so still. Today and tonight and tomorrow, we celebrate our friends, and family, and we give thanks for what we have. Because when winter comes, and our fields lie fallow, all we truly have are the ponies that care about us.” She broke off, realizing that ponies below her were shuffling uneasily. Allowing a smile to break across her face, she continued. “I thank you all for being here, each and every one of you. Now, I see we have a tree to decorate, and a beautiful tree it is too! I declare this Hearth’s Warming Eve celebration to be underway!”

With a mighty cheer, the crowd erupted into activity. Strings of bright berries crossed with paper chains, enchanted to resist the snow and wet, as an entire squadron of Lunar Guards enchanted the very air, creating icicles that complemented the paper snowflakes being hung perfectly. Ponies laughed and chatted as the tree was transformed from a stately monarch of the forest into a gaily dressed Lord of Winter. Higher and higher the decorations rose, helped along by Pegasi as Earth ponies and unicorns bickered good-naturedly over how the decorations should be arranged. A spare case of candy canes was brought out, and the minty candy was used to provide an extra bit of cheer to the massive pine.

At last, the tree stood fully dressed and ready, save for one decoration. Traditionally, the tree was to be topped with a glass or crystal representation of Princess Celestia herself, who was tied to the new year and the beginning of growth. This year, however, it did not feel right to have done so. Though it was a beautiful tree, it lacked completion. Twilight could sense that ponies felt the absence of such a staple, and she gazed at the bare tip of the tree, mind racing for a solution. At last, she found one. Stepping forward and concentrating, she channeled magic through her. What she was attempting was a basic impossibility, and so she would be using Luna’s Breaking magic as opposed to Celestia’s Binding. Reaching deep inside of herself, she chose to focus on the love and care she felt for those around her, and the love they surely felt for her. Seizing these warm, wonderful feelings, she let her control slip away, providing a basic set of instructions and then trusting the powerful magic to do the rest.

The assembled ponies gasped as Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed purple, then white, before turning a poisonous black. The unicorn’s face screwed up in concentration as she focused herself even harder, and the black faded away, to be replaced with a shade of silver that was intimately familiar to anypony who knew the witch Radiant Zenith. At last, it changed color once more, becoming a warm and rich gold that brought heat and light to all around it. With a small grunt of effort, Twilight Sparkle cast the fire to the top of the tree, where it came to rest, as if a brilliant star had descended from the heavens and lit on the ancient wood itself. The crowd cheered, as Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes to survey her work.

As they watched, the fire seemed to consume the entire tree, and ponies began to murmur worriedly as Twilight Sparkle began to chant. Surely she would not burn down the tree they had worked so hard on? The light flickered among the branches, a hundred little fires that nestled in the boughs and settled in the icicles dangling from the branches. As Twilight Sparkle ceased her chant, the fire in the boughs began to shift colors, turning every shade of the rainbow, flickering from red and blue to shimmering turquoise and vivid green, as the steady golden flame at the head of the tree seemed to watch over its smaller brothers proudly. With a roar of approval that seemed to shake the very walls, the ponies bowed to their Lady. Had there ever been such a tree as this? Had you ever seen such beauty? Twilight Sparkle bowed in return, and then the day began in earnest.

The rules of the game were simple, though the game itself was anything but. An old Condottieri game, apparently borrowed from the Minotaurs to the north, was underway. One swift and agile pony was presented with a set of antlers, to represent a deer, specifically one of the deer pulling the sled of the Minotaur god Thraznik the Hoary. The other contestants, mostly Pegasi with a smattering of Earth ponies and one or two adventurous unicorns, would be working together to herd and corral the deer, who was unable to fly or use magic. The same rules applied to the hunters. The one who brought the deer down, however, would be the victor. So, the teamwork would only last so long. The prize would normally be some extravagant treasure, but in this case, the victor would be proclaimed “Great Khan”, and have a seat of honor at the head table during the evening’s feast.

Tarantella grinned at Twilight, who was standing on the hunt’s sidelines, as she adjusted the antlers on her head, ready to bolt for the wide open field at the first opportunity. Her wings were lightly bound, but even without them she would prove formidable enough. The horn sounded, and almost immediately she shot off into the distance, pursued by a group of eager ponies, all of whom were whooping and hollering as they gave chase through the snow and ice. The young Pegasus spun and danced among her pursuers, getting tantalizingly close before deftly escaping one hold or another. One daring young Earth pony managed to grab her flank, earning a solid cuff over the head for his troubles. Another mare, a cagy looking Pegasus with a sly grin, almost had her, leaping on her from behind. A quick twist and a shove later, she too was sprawled on the ground, wind knocked from her as she tried to laugh. And sure, the play was a bit rough, but not a single face, on the field or in the stands, was without a smile. Ponies cheered for their favorites or loved ones, and Twilight Sparkle could see what paltry coin they had being swapped good-naturedly as bets were made, won and lost. She cheered just as loudly for Tarantella, who winked at her as she led a pack of ponies by the stands before peeling off into the distance once more.

The match lasted for the better part of half an hour, before a Pegasus from the Lunar Stallions was able to subdue her long enough to wrestle the horns from her head, holding them aloft as a trophy while the horn blew once more to signal his victory. The lucky stallion, hardly more than a colt, was hoisted onto the shoulders of his companions, who carried him all the way back across the field while Tarantella dusted herself off and took to the skies. The colt was lowered to the ground, placing the antlers on the ground in front of Twilight Sparkle and bowing low.

Twilight spoke. “Well done, brave hunter. Today you have caught a wily foe, and we shall celebrate your victory with wine and song.” she said, imitating the epic speech of the north. “I name you Great Khan, and I look forward to thy company at my table tonight.”

With a rush of snow, Tarantella landed by her captor, shaking his hoof and drawing him in closely as she whispered congratulations in his ear. He bowed his head respectfully before Twilight continued speaking. “And, brave hunted, you have acquitted yourself well. Truly, you were marvelous sport to watch, and I thank thee for thy swiftness and speed. Truly, a great contest. Be proud, and hold thy head high. Thou wert a marvel to watch.”

The assembled crowd, mostly stallions, cheered for Tarantella, while a few whistled and made catcalls. Tarantella’s eyes glinted mischievously, and her voice, brazen and defiant even in defeat, rang out over the frozen field. “I thank thee, milady. It pleases me that thou didst find my performance pleasing to watch. I exerted myself to the utmost. But I cannot help but think that one such as yourself, a mage of great skill but little physical prowess, would be unable to catch one such as I, were I bound as before. Respectfully, milady, I think that thou rely on thy magic alone, and without it, you cannot seize what you wish.”

There was a gasp from the crowd at the insolence from this Pegasus. Condottiero or no, she could not speak in such a way to their leader! Twilight chuckled, rising from her throne. “You doubt me, Pegasus? Then perhaps I shall teach you what I am truly capable of, magic or no.”

Tarantella bowed, spreading her wings. To the rest of the audience, it would appear a gesture of defiance, but to Twilight Sparkle it was a sign of excitement, and one of a…physical…nature at that. She spoke, voice low. “I welcome the chase, Milady.”

Twilight gave the command, playing along. “Guards! Seize this insolent whelp and bind her wings. I wish to test her.”
Twilight strode onto the field as Tarantella’s bonds were tightened once more, preventing her from flight. The two met in the center of the field as the guards beat a hasty retreat, in order to allow the contest to commence. Twilight bent over, muttering in Tarantella’s ear.

“Tara, what are you doing? What purpose does this serve?”

Tarantella could hardly contain her glee. “It serves three purposes, Cara Mia. The first, it further proves you right to rule if you manage to subdue me, as well as giving the stallions in the stands a bit of the show. Or haven’t you noticed the way they look at you? The second, it brings our relationship into the light. As you have said, we are a private couple. I wish the world to know that you are mine, and I am yours.”

Twilight was confused. “You know, you could have consulted me on this. There are less flamboyant ways to handle the situation than this.”

Tarantella’s eyes sparkled. “But it will be so much more fun this way, Twilight.”

The unicorn sighed. “Fine, we’ll do this your way. What was the third reason?”

Tarantella poked Twilight’s belly. “You are a bit soft, Twilight Sparkle. Not that I mind your curves, but you are supposed to be leading a rebellion. It’s no good if you do so with a gut.”

Twilight growled. “You’ll pay for that.”

Tarantella backed up. “Catch me first!” she called, and then the horn blew, low and deep.

Twilight lunged forward as Tarantella wheeled and took off towards the sidelines, avoiding any corners that she could be trapped in. Twilight began to think and plan, analyzing patterns of attack. All she needed to do was catch and subdue Tarantella. This sounded easy enough, but then again, Tarantella had been doing this sort of thing for years. Twilight realized that she would not be able to outrun or outfight Tarantella, especially in this sort of contest, made to feature a large group of ponies. So, she would simply have to outthink her.

Picking up the pace, she considered her advantages. The first was that Tarantella would likely be tired from her previous match, whereas she was fresh and ready to outrun her. The second was that she knew Tarantella better than most other ponies, and the third advantage she had was the endurance she possessed from her running habits.

Of course, Tara would likely anticipate her knowing these weaknesses, and adjust herself accordingly. She would plan around Twilight’s plans, so the unicorn would therefore have to plan around the plan that Tarantella was planning around her plans. She saw the mare in front of her moving as if in slow motion, as her brilliant mind began planning.

Tarantella was favoring her right back hoof slightly, producing a limp that could potentially slow her by eight percent of her normal top speed. Combined with the extra effort she was expending forcing her wings down, compounded by the exhaustion she was no doubt beginning to feel from her earlier exertion, Twilight estimated that she would be slowed to a grand total of eighty six percent of her normal speed. Pegasi were naturally light, so she would have a bit of trouble changing directions on ice, whereas Twilight’s hooves would be able to dig in, giving her the advantage on slick surfaces. Twilight recalled a part of the field that was covered in ice, and the beginnings of a plan took shape in her head.

She picked up her speed, forcing herself in between Tarantella’s right side and the boundary line, threatening her slightly injured right side. The Pegasus naturally shied away from the contact, heading towards the center of the field, and the patch of ice. Twilight moved in closer, gently herding Tarantella towards the slick surface. With fifty meters to go, she fell back, moving directly behind Tarantella. The Pegasus, occupied with looking for Twilight, wasn’t paying attention to where her hooves were headed.

As soon as Twilight heard the scrape of hooves on ice, she made her move, charging in along her right side once more, applying a shoulder that caused Tarantella to stumble. Twilight dug her hooves in, feeling Tarantella do the same. She was able to stop herself. The Condottiero was not. Tarantella hit the ground hard, skidding into a small pile of snow. Desperately, she twisted, trying to get her hooves under her, but it was too late. Twilight sailed through the air with a mighty leap, landing square on top of the Pegasus, pinning her hooves to the ground and cutting off all avenues of escape.

“Pinned you.” Twilight whispered gently.

Tarantella’s eyes sparkled. “So you have, Cara Mia. So you have.”

And right there, in the cold and wet, in front of a thousand screaming ponies, they kissed warmly. And at that, the cheers grew even louder, and several hundred stallions felt their hopes and dreams die.

The day dragged on and on, one eternal day of happiness and good health, as ponies engaged in sorts and celebrations with one another. Ice sculptures and snow ponies dotted the landscape, and near dinner, near every pony free in the castle split into two teams, pelting one another with snow across the empty fields as they laughed and hooted. At the last light of the afternoon, nearly all of the ponies were cold, wet, exhausted, and smiling. The feast was set to begin one hour after sunset, and so each family was preparing themselves for dinner, bathing and combing dirt and ice out of their coats and manes.

Twilight Sparkle especially needed to look good. Directly after the feat, she would be lighting her lantern, leading any pony who wished to follow and her journey to the orchard, to spill cider among the still trees and give thanks for what bounty they had given. And so, after a quick bath, she had been hurried onto her pedestal, her coat brushed with astounding attention to detail, her mane bound into a simple braid among which were woven vines and small white flowers, a variety that Radiant Zenith said only grew in sheltered places during the winter. Gently, to avoid tearing the fabric, she stepped into the white shift, fastening it carefully as Tarantella helped her straighten it so that it fell properly. The simple crown of holly was the final piece, and Twilight stood ready to lead her procession.

Laughing and chatting, the duo descended the stairs towards the dining hall, pleased to spend a holiday together as a couple. All the transgressions of the earlier day had been forgotten, and dinner was going to be a wonderful opportunity to bond along with the ponies Twilight led. As they approached an olden wooden door, Twilight and Tarantella came to a halt. A steward stationed by the door gave a discrete knock, and a voice boomed out into the dining hall on the other side.

“Now arriving to the High Table, the Lady Twilight, and her Consort, Tarantella Allegretta!”

The door opened widely to admit them both, and the two ponies, one Pegasus and one Unicorn, stepped through the portal to thunderous applause. Each bowed low, taking in the hall before them. It was a grand affair, the Great Hall, a massive and long room, tiled in black and white. Long tables ran down its length, and a bank of doors on one side ensured the proper and plentiful flow of food. The rafters had been hung with boughs of evergreen and holly, and the sconces on the walls burned with bright torches of that same aromatic wood, so that the heady scent of pine lay under the smell of the food in the hall. White candles had been placed at each table, though they were as yet unlit. But that was not what had the ponies in the hall so excited.

The tables fairly groaned under the weight of food. And such food, too! Soups and stews, towers of perfectly cooked and carved vegetables, every sweet and pastry that could be imagined, all of this and more stood on the tables, glistening in the firelight. The feast had not yet begun, though every stomach howled with hunger. Each pony, on the brink of starvation, had waited on their Lady. At that moment, Twilight realized that she had gained a following of ponies that would gladly follow her, through thick and thin. A warmth filled her heart, and she strode to her place at the head of the High Table. She could hear ponies murmuring and whispering as the light of the hall shimmered on her gown, and she was uncomfortably reminded of another feast, in another hall, long ago. A statue of Celestia, gleaming in the firelight, caught her eye, and she swallowed. Tarantella nudged her.

“They are here for you, Cara Mia. Not her. You are mistress here, not she.”

At this Twilight held her head higher, and she was at last able to breathe. At her place finally, she inhaled, and spoke briefly to the hall.

“Happy Hearth’s Warming, all. Dig in!”

And with that, she sat down, reaching for a basket of rolls as the ponies in the hall laughed amongst themselves, tucking into the food. A group of ponies in the corner stage brought out instruments, and began to play a simple carol, the lively melody filling the air of the hall, as a thousand conversations bubbled underneath that. Stories were swapped as jokes were told, and the air in the hall became noticeably warmer as ponies laughed and bonded with one another. Families felt themselves become closer, friendships were formed, and a celebration of bounty, of the body and soul, was well underway.
As the meal progressed, Twilight Sparkle felt the air growing progressively warmer. This was unusual for the Great Hall, namely because the old stone was prone to drafts. But instead of the normal feeling, that of cold being barely kept at bay by fire, the hall was instead filled with warmth, a sweltering heat that was strangely comfortable. Twilight turned to Radiant Zenith, who was watching her from a short way down the table.

“Do you feel that?” she asked the witch, turning out over the hall. “That warmth?"

Radiant Zenith nodded. “It’s unusual. Not just a physical warmth, although that is a factor.”

Golden Radiance, who was merely sitting to one side, enjoying the company, cut in. “It’s a magical disturbance as well. Something is building up.”

Tarantella nodded, surveying the ponies below. “Should we have them evacuated?”

“No.” all three of the unicorns replied in unison, before glancing at one another and smiling. Twilight continued the conversation. “It’s definitely benign. Just big. Let’s not interrupt the feast. If something should go wrong, we can handle it.”

And that was the end of that, the air in the hall getting noticeably warmer. The ponies talking below seemed not to notice or even to care, save for a few of the more sensitive unicorns down below. As laughter and love filled the hall, the air began to hum with low magic. The flames on the torches began to burn higher, and then a little higher. Twilight felt her horn begin to spark without her direction, followed closely by Golden Radiance and Radiant Zenith. The agreement was silently reached to step in and do something. Before any of them could do more than stand, however, the assembled population of unicorns felt their horns glow, and without warning, torrents of purple fire began to stream from their horns, pooling in the air. Twilight felt her hooves rise into the air as the magical inferno raged higher and higher, seeping out through the windows and cracks in the ancient stone.

As the spell, for that was what it was, came to an end, the feast came to a halt. Twilight glanced out of a nearby window, seeing the outside lit as if by a second sun. Ponies began to stream out of the hall, heading outside, where they gathered close, making exclamations of delight. Twilight’s horn flashed, and she and Tarantella appeared on the snow outside, where they were able to appreciate exactly what had happened. There, above the highest tower of the Regia, was a hovering amaranthine flame, in the shape of a heart. Even from the ground, Twilight could feel the wonderful heat coming from it. She smiled, realizing that her ponies truly had found their own Harmony, regardless of how well off they were. If they had been able to do such a thing on their own, even without Celestia, then Twilight had hope for them all. Ponies capable of such love for one another could hardly fail in whatever they set their minds to. Snow began to fall gently as Twilight and Tarantella huddled close, staring in awe at what had been wrought over the Regia.

As ponies gathered near to one another, a lone voice rose from the crowd, leading the ponies of the Regia in a carol older than Equestria itself.

A Night of Peace

Twilight Sparkle stood at the head of the procession, waiting for the ponies in line behind her to light their candles. The tapers and torches they bore were without shape now, a crowd without direction or purpose as several sturdy Earth ponies hoisted barrels of cider onto their backs, ready to haul them through the snow to the orchard. A horn and a drum were brought to the front, and Twilight’s lantern spilled light onto the fresh snow, a golden glow spreading in a sphere around her as the snow continued to fall.

At last, the last candle was lit, the barrels and casks ready to transport. Twilight nodded to the Lunar Guard ahead of her, who barked a short command. The gates of the Regia rumbled open, and the band began to play as another ancient carol rose to the starry skies. Twilight began to march forward, feeling Tarantella behind her as the procession uncoiled like a snake. Fully eight hundred ponies had chosen to follow Twilight into the woods, mostly Earth ponies. The rest waited by the bonfire lit by Spike for her to return, sharing hot cups of the fruity alcohol amongst themselves as the younger foals were put to bed, to dream of new beginnings on the morrow.

The stone walls, normally so forbidding, were hung with banners of red and green, colors of rebirth and life. As they passed, ponies on the walls pelted them with snowballs, ducking behind the parapets as others in the procession returned fire, laughing merrily all the way. The line wound past the walls, following Twilight out into the still fields, lit only by the gold of passing flames and the silvery glow of the moon above, full and bright in the night sky. It was still here, and pristine, deep snow that Twilight parted with her magic, clearing a path for her followers. Her robe shimmered in the glow of the moonlight, and anypony with a sharp eye would have noticed that the fabric appeared to be gleaming in the night of its own accord, turning Twilight Sparkle into a shining beacon for the rest to follow.

Past the fields the procession wound, approaching the deep darkness of the Everfree Forest. Twilight could hear the ponies behind her singing louder, as her lantern cast light onto the slender path before her. She added her own voice to the mix, sweet and clear above the low tones of the stallions and the brazen, reverent hymn Tarantella was singing. The trees echoed with the sounds of joy made real by sound, as the procession pierced the heart of the woods, banishing darkness and cold to another place, one far away. The orchard was not far, and at last Twilight could see the trees ahead of her.

The orchard was silent, waiting, as ponies wound through the trees. The barrels and casks were taken from the backs off their bearers, and they were dispersed, to be spilled in joyous celebration among the barren trees. Twilight strode to the boulder where she and Tarantella had stood just days ago, climbing on top of it with ease. Instead of being precariously balanced, it rested easily under her hooves. This would be a place of peace, she decided. Tarantella climbed onto the rock beside her, gazing out over the joyous ponies below, who were giving thanks to the apple trees, talking and laughing as they spread the cider over the ground. The sweet and bitter scent of good cider rose into the air, and Twilight leaned on her staff, surveying her followers below.

Tarantella spoke quietly, almost reverently. “What are your thoughts, Twilight Sparkle?”

Twilight watched the ponies still, never taking her eyes off of them. “This is a peaceful time. One that won’t last for long. Tomorrow we will be cold, and hungry once more. But I can see that we will still have one another. And maybe, just maybe, that will be enough. So long as these ponies love one another, and show that they do as they have done tonight, I will do my best to lead them. I owe them that much.”

Tarantella moved closer to her, banishing the cold. “You have the makings of a great leader, Twilight Sparkle. I would follow you to Tartarus itself, if you asked. And they believe in you. I can feel it in my bones, they truly believe in you.”

“And that is why I will do my utmost to protect them, from the weather and sickness and hunger. And Celestia. No matter the cost, I swear that I will do my best to protect them, in return for their support of me. I won’t forget this, so long as I am alive.”

At last, the cider had run dry, and ponies crowded among Twilight Sparkle, who felt a bit faint. The moon seemed to shimmer in her eyes as she spoke to those beneath her. “I thank you for including me in this. I consider it a great honor to lead you, in this as in other things, and you have my word that I shall never again be distant towards you. You are my herd, and it is you that I will care for. This I swear, on blood and bone and wood and sand.”

For the second time that night, her hooves rose into the air. Ponies stepped back as she continued. Her horn began to glow with a golden light as she spoke. “Truly, I consider you all closer to me than the friends and family I left behind. And one day, I hope that I can reconcile you and they, that we may one day live free, as our own ponies. This I swear to you now, that so long as I live, I will not forget what you have sacrificed for me. I swear this by my Power, and by my name…”

It was then that a voice rang throughout the glade, one horribly familiar, and apparently only heard by Twilight herself.

Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight noticed that the ponies below her had frozen at the same time she noticed that she was suspended in air. But this was not what worried her. There, across the glade, was a misty white shape, with the pastel colors of an ocean sunrise caught in her mane. She was tall, and majestic as only gods could be. Upon her head rested an elegant diadem of gold and precious stones, and her hooves were shod with horseshoes of hardened gold. Princess Celestia bowed her head in respect. Dazed, Twilight did likewise.

My student. How fares your Hearth’s Warming Eve?

Composing herself, Twilight spoke to her onetime teacher and mentor. “I personally am well, and so are those under me. We were engaged in a wassailing before you arrived.”

Celestia’s voice took on an amused tone. Indeed? I had thought those that followed the old ways had fallen to time. It warms my heart to see that some remember their heritage. Tell me, how did you come by the supplies you used for your feast?

Twilight thought quickly, ensuring that she would be giving nothing away. “I found them under the orchard. We decided to use them for the feast, as a celebration of togetherness.”

Celestia nodded. The storage room you found them in was lost after the Celestial Wars. I had wondered when you would find it. It can’t have gone too far, however. We here in Canterlot estimate you have at least five thousand ponies with you. Enough for a meal, and perhaps some choice bits left over.

Twilight’s tongue, quick as ever, struck out with a bitter retort. “And how is life on your mountain? I’m sure that my friends and family are all quite happy.”

Of course they are. I made sure of that. Pinkie Pie gave birth to a filly on the fifth of last month. It was tricky, because of all the stress she had been under, but we won through. A healthy little filly, with her mother’s boundless energy.

Twilight’s knees felt weak. Of course, she had forgotten that Pinkie Pie was expecting when she had fled. “What is the filly’s name, Celestia?”

A bit for a bit, Twilight. I’ll gladly tell you if you tell me the name of that fetching young Pegasus who was standing beside you during your speech.

Twilight turned her head, noting that the Condottiero was indeed standing next to her.

Yes, Twilight. Who is she? And what is your relationship to her?

Twilight grinned. “That is Tarantella Allegretta, relation by blood to the Dawn Alicorn Mi Amore di Cadenza Allegretta. An erstwhile ally, friend, and my lover of these past months.

Celestia’s representation visibly shook, as if rocked by some mighty blow. Your lover?

Twilight nodded. “My lover. Mine.”

Celestia stepped forward, stopping just short of the circle of ponies surrounding her. If this is some jest to make me suffer, then take comfort in knowing that you are succeeding.

“No, Celestia. She is mine, and I am hers. And now for your end of the bargain. Pinkie Pie’s daughter. Is she an Earth pony like her mother? And what is her name?”

Celestia was silent for a brief moment. Rosemary. A wonderful young unicorn filly by the name of Rosemary.

Twilight nodded. “Rosemary. That’s beautiful. But away from pleasantries. Radiant Zenith’s wards should be keeping you out. So why are you here?”

Celestia laughed. It had been so long since Twilight had heard that laugh, literal years. That laugh was sunlit water and fresh cut grass, the blooming flower and the trill of the meadowlark. It was a sound so fleeting and rare that Twilight often counted it among her best treasures. Even now, knowing what Celestia really was capable of, she still loved that laugh.

Radiant Zenith hardly knows everything about magic. You are standing on an activated seal of mine, Twilight Sparkle. There is one under the rug in my private chambers, and from there I can project myself to any such seal, throughout Equestria. There are several in every major city, and a few in cities that no longer exist. Roam comes to mind. However, this one is quickly dissolving, due to the massive discharge of magic you unleashed tonight. I was able to contain it within the borders of the Everfree, using wards of my own, but I felt a need to know what it was.

“And why should I tell you what it is?”

Because I need to know if you are planning to unleash a massive arcane discharge across all of Equestria, burning out every magic user in the world. Whatever that was, it was powerful, and familiar. I’ve felt spells like that before, and most of them were the sort that ended worlds.

Twilight laughed, long and loud. Out of all the possible things that Celestia could have interpreted that wonderful spell to be, she chose to believe it was malevolent? She laughed in the face of her goddess, and it was only after her eyes burned with tears that she stopped laughing long enough to catch her breath.

“You think that was some sort of attack? No, Celestia. I was not planning to end the world. I wasn’t planning that at all. In fact, the entire event was unplanned. That pulse of energy you found was no less than the same spell which drove back a winter of disharmony once, long before you took power, and did so again tonight.”

You speak of Clover the Clever’s spell.

“Indeed I do. It was that spell which echoed through the Everfree tonight, a mark of solidarity among my ponies. And now they know, Celestia.”

What do they know, my student?

“Well, at the risk of sounding prideful, they know that under my rule, they can prosper, and achieve more than they did under yours. They have seen my power, and know that together, we are more powerful than you or Luna. But most of all, Celestia? They now know that we don’t need gods. Just each other.”

Celestia flickered, glancing around at the ponies below. They truly have lost the way tonight, then.

“Or, after a thousand years, they found it again.”

I control all of Order, Twilight. Even if they decide they don’t need me, I will be here. Long after they are dust, I will be here.

“And so long as you threaten their freedom, ponies like me will rise up to protect them.” Twilight’s horn flared, and the projection of Celestia flickered once more. “And tonight, they follow me, Celestia. Not you, me.” With a mighty push of magic, she broke the spell in the clearing, hearing the seal underneath her crack. Sound rushed back, and Twilight was caught by a crowd of cheering mares and stallions.

Tarantella smiled at her, the expression fading as she noticed Twilight’s wild eyed expression. Catching her in an embrace, she pulled her close. “What is wrong?” the Pegasus whispered quietly.

Twilight smiled, leaning into the warmth. “It’s nothing that can’t wait. I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

Tarantella looked at her. “You’ll tell me when we arrive at the castle and find a private place, and not a minute after. “

Twilight wilted. “Alright, Tara.” Putting her brave face back on, she picked up the lantern once more, tossing her shift aside, walking bare among her followers. It was caught by one of the stallions who had been hauling cider barrels. Twilight took her place at the head of the procession, and soon the file had wound back to the castle, leaving the grove still and dark once more.

“So you say that Celestia appeared to you in a vision?” Tarantella asked, pacing the floor of their private chambers.

“Yes. I’m bringing this to the attention of the Council after the holiday. Celestia is blocked by the wards once more. I’ve ordered the castle to be discretely swept, and we’ve destroyed two other seals, one in the library and one in a secret room behind the old throne.”

“Cara Mia, this is sudden news. Why would Celestia appear to you there?”

Twilight shrugged. “I refuse to worry about things I cannot control right now. My concern lies first and foremost with the ponies of the Regia. After tomorrow, I’ll call the Council together, and we can worry about it then. Now, I care only for the ponies below, and for you.”

Tarantella frowned. “But-“

Twilight held one hoof to her lips. “No, I’m putting my hoof down on this. It’s of no great concern, and so we shall treat it as such.” The other hoof went to Tarantella’s back, massaging the space between her wings as they moved towards the bed. With a light shove, Twilight followed Tarantella onto the bed. “Now hush, love of mine.” she whispered. “Tonight is a night of new beginnings.”

In the Morning

It is said among those who have many winters to their name that “This, too, shall pass”. It is a reminder that the good things cannot last forever, the sun will one day set and the green grass will be hidden beneath snow. But so too is it a promise that hardships will fade away, leaving those behind them stronger for the having of them. The snow will melt, the sun will rise, and the spring will seem all the sweeter for it. Whether these words carry true meaning, or exist simply as an old saying that has managed to stick around, is determined only by the decision of those who take it to heart and keep it in mind. Perhaps that is why it has endured for so long.

Twilight had thought for most of the feast that this, too, would pass. Every smiling face sent through her a tiny pang of regret, every kind word a little thrill of fear. Of course her followers were happy for the moment, or at least they appeared to be, but the morning of Hearth’s Warming loomed large in the back of her mind.

Her talk with Celestia hadn’t helped matters, either. She, too, would pass. Maybe sooner than she thought. Celestia wouldn’t leave her alive for long, she was sure of it. Of course she would put on a brave face for those around her, Tarantella and Spike and Radiant Zenith, who seemed to know her so well, but deep inside she was terrified.

She was terrified of failure, of failing those who looked up to her, of caving under pressure at the worst possible moment. She was terrified of failure on a personal level, her hidden longing for home, her uncertainties in her own knowledge and abilities, her fear of letting others close in case they too betrayed her. She was terrified of losing those she cared about, and those she didn’t know. Though she wouldn’t admit it, even to herself, Twilight Sparkle was terrified for her old friends in Ponyville, who even now labored under somepony they thought of as a goddess and she thought of as a tyrant.

Twilight Sparkle shifted in her bed, the warmth of the covers keeping the chill of the early winter morning at bay. She sank her head back into her pillow, hoping that she might be able to fall back into sleep and keep her fear at bay for a while longer, but it stubbornly eluded her, dancing on the edges of her mind just out of reach.

Grumbling a bit, she opened her eyes just enough to let light in. She closed them again sharply, bright white piercing to the heart of her and dispelling any further thoughts of sleep. Her brow furrowed and she opened her eyes once more, this time determined to keep them open. White light flooded her vision once more, but this time she forced her eyes to remain open. Gradually, the light resolved itself into color, shape and form. Blearily she blinked once, twice, trying to clear her vision. When it did finally clear, Twilight’s breath caught in her throat.

Tarantella lay facing her, her normally-fierce eyes closed in peaceful slumber, the lines on her face smoothed away by sleep. The silver of her coat rippled with deep, even breaths, her wings giving the occasional twitch, brushing against her side gently as she dreamed. Her mane was tousled, falling in silky waves in front of her face and fluttering with her breathing. Her mouth was slightly open, one foreleg draped over Twilight protectively. The light from the window behind her framed her, all of her, and Twilight thought to herself then that she had never seen anything so beautiful in her life.

They lay there like that, Twilight admiring her as she slept, sharing the quiet of a still winter morning. But as all things do, the moment passed. Tarantella stirred, half-stretched, and her eyes fluttered open, the beautiful gold of them meeting Twilight’s own amaranthine eyes. She gave her lover a lazy half-smile, pulling her closer.

“Good morning, Cara Mia,” she said. “How did you sleep?”

Twilight returned the smile. “I slept well. Better with you here. How about you?”

Tarantella’s wing stretched behind her before draping over them both. “It is not a cloud,” she said, “But I cannot think of another place I would rather sleep than the bed you are in.”

The silence stretched between them once more, luxurious and amiable, like another blanket between them and the world. Twilight looked to the foot of the bed.

“The fire’s gone out,” she said.

Tarantella shrugged. “I am not bothered.”

Twilight laughed. “I mean it’s Hearth’s Warming,” she said. “We’re supposed to have a fire in every hearth, otherwise the name doesn’t make sense!”

“Do you have to do it now?” Tara asked. “I would rather you stay here with me.”

Twilight smiled. “Who said anything about getting out of bed?”

Her horn flashed, and the logs by the fireplace stacked themselves in the hearth. Another flash, and they began to smoke and crackle merrily. The scent of oranges and spice filled the air, rising from the treated logs.

“There,” Twilight said. “Better.”

Tara gave a pleased little moan and snuggled in closer to her. “Better.”

There was more silence as the two of them merely lay there and enjoyed feeling one another breathe, two hearts becoming one.
Twilight reflected. Perhaps…perhaps it was alright for her to not be perfect. Maybe she was allowed to be worried about keeping those she loved safe. It certainly wouldn’t help them any. Hardship was hardship, and all she could do was her very best to fix it. It was a lesson she would need to take to heart, she decided. For her benefit, and the benefit of those around her.

“Your thoughts, Altro Ala Mia?”

“Tara, are you ever…disappointed in me?”

The Pegasus shifted, looking up at her lover. “What brings this on?”

Twilight swallowed. “I just…I sometimes feel like I’m not good enough. Like everyone is counting on me to help them, and I’m not good enough to help. And I know that I’m never going to be perfect, but do you think I’m, y’know…good enough?”

Tara was silent for a moment. “Let us see,” she said thoughtfully, “You are a bit stubborn at times. You aren’t very attentive when it comes to those you care about. You are forgetful about the silliest things. I sometimes feel like you like the books in the library more than you like me, and I am glad to have cooks in the kitchen, because your food is somewhat…underwhelming.”

She bopped Twilight gently on the nose. “But you are kind, and hardworking, and you always put down your books for me in the end. You remember the important things. You truly care for those around you with all of your heart, though you sometimes try to hide it. And your food is improving. In all, my love, you are far beyond ‘good enough’. You are not perfect, but nopony is. And I love you as you are. Does that answer your question?”

Twilight smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. “Yes, Tara. It does. Happy Hearth’s Warming.”

“And to you, Cara Mia. And to you.”

Suddenly, the bell tower across the way began to ring, the heavy brass bell reverberating through the thick stone of the tower like the voice of thunder itself. Twilight’s eyes shot wide open.

“The scouts!” she exclaimed, springing from her bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window she flew like a flash, tearing aside the curtains and throwing up the sash. The luster of the sun on new fallen snow gave an eerie shine to the objects below.
Twilight shivered, calling a cloak to her and wrapping it around her neck. Across the castle, all was covered in white and ice, shimmering a thousand different shades of cream. A few Pegasi took to the wing, spots of color against the white of the ground, spiraling up into a cloudless clear sky and whooping with excitement. The single tone of the bell was joined by another, and then another and another, all the bells in the belfry ringing out bright and clear in the winter morning.

“What is it?” Tara asked, joining her by the window. “Can you see?

Twilight shook her head. “No,” she said, “I can’t see anything.”

A Pegasus swooped by the window. “The river!” she cried, “Look at the river!”

“The river?” Tara asked, “I thought it was frozen over!”

Twilight blinked. “So did I,” she said.

The river which flowed by the Regia gleamed silver in the morning, solitary bits of ice moving sedately along its length as carried by a sluggish current, but a current nonetheless.

“Cara Mia!” Tara cried, pointing, “Look!”

Twilight looked, and her eyes grew wide with delight. There, moving down the river, were ships! The barges she had sent for supplies had finally been able to make their way upstream! And even from a distance, Twilight could see that they were all of them laden with supplies. Bags of barley, wheat, barrels of apples and drink piled as high as they could go across what must have been two dozen low barges, even now reaching the shore of the Regia.

“Oh, Twilight!” Tara breathed. “It is a miracle!”

“Come on,” Twilight said, “We’re going down there to check it out.”

There was a joining of hooves, a brief flash of light, and soon silence lay over the chamber once more.

It is said among those with many winters to their name that “This, too, shall pass”.

The waterfront was a mess of ponies jostling with one another in jubilation, catching armfuls of packages and hauling away cartfuls of supplies, all while chatting amiably with the barge workers, one another, and even themselves as they expressed their thanks and relief. The unloading was practically a festival, so wonderful was the air!

It was so loud, in fact, that the loud bang of Twilight and Tarantella’s arrival almost went unnoticed. Almost. Immediately, those nearest to the couple moved aside, their voices hushed. The sea of ponies parted for them as Twilight and Tara moved as one to the docks where the unloading was taking place.

“Captain!” Twilight called as they approached the barge. “It’s good to see you again.”

The Captain of the procession, a stallion bundled in a waterproofed jacket, knelt before her. “Lady Twilight,” he said, “I’m so sorry we were this late! The ice was so thick, and…”

Twilight’s eyes sparkled. “Captain, I’m not reprimanding you! We’re all very glad to see you! We were worried about how to get by after today, but that’s behind us. I have to ask, though, how did you get through the ice?”

“It was a miracle, Lady Twilight!” he said. “We were stuck at least twenty miles upstream, breaking ice as thick as the barges and worrying sick, when the most wondrous thing happened just last night!”

“What was it?” Tara asked.

The barge Captain eyed her suspiciously, looking to Twilight for approval. Twilight nodded. “Go on,” she said. “Tell us.”

“Last night, the river caught fire,” the Captain said. “Bright purple flames came rushing downstream, cracking the ice and breaking it up with big gouts of steam filling the air. We were afraid the barges would burn, but the fire didn’t even scorch them! One of our deckhands even went over the side for a moment, and the flames didn’t leave a mark on him!” He shuffled his hooves nervously. “That’s the story, Lady Twilight,” he said. “It was a miracle, plain and simple. A Hearth’s Warming Miracle.”

Twilight looked to Tarantella, who looked back at her, encouraging her to speak.

“It was a miracle,” she said. “And one all the more powerful because it was the ponies here that did it.”

She raised her voice, addressing the gathering crowd. “You are all responsible for this!” she cried. “You, who chose to come together in times of trouble, instead of drifting apart from one another. You, who chose to face adversity with courage and good cheer, instead of worrying about what might be! You, ponies all, brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers and sons and daughters, all of you! Your hearts were warm enough to bring the old magic back, bright enough to show us all that the old ways of Harmony can still work miracles! This truly is a Hearth’s Warming Miracle!”

The ponies cheered, raising their hooves in the air.

“Come!” Twilight shouted, indicating the barges. “There’s work to be done! You all realized your own hopes! Tonight we can sleep soundly! Together, with such harmony between us, what challenge couldn’t we overcome? What obstacles could remain unchallenged? Ponies of the Everfree, Hearth’s Warming means more to us than ever before! Now, let’s work together once more, so we can spend today with those we hold most dear!”

There was another cheer, and the ponies surged forward to help unload the barges. Twilight let herself be buffeted by the crowd, knowing that she would meet with Tara soon. Sure enough, two ponies parted, and the Pegasus was in her arms, the warmth she gave Twilight not just a physical heat. Twilight hugged her close, watching as those she truly did care for supported one another, caught up in the spirit of the season.

Twilight was wearing a thin cloak in freezing weather, up to her chest in snow. And yet, she had never felt warmer.