Author's note
Billy Arratoon, actually Spike is in the role of the horse in this story and it was Discord who should give the idea to the two ponies. So your idea wouldn't work unless you have a better way.

Chapter 2: Gift for the Demon Pony

Discord plays his organ well, knowing that his master will be coming back to his room soon. Sure enough, there's the Demon Pony coming in, going past the creature's room and looking at the enchanted rose which is still wilting.

The Demon pony frowns even more while snapping, "I hate Hearth's Warming Eve. Argh," He opens the door to the other room as Discord kept playing. The monster heads to the fireplace and sat in his chair. Perhaps some music could keep his mind off of the day tomorrow, one that he has forbidden forever.

"Feeling sad, are? Does my music help?" Discord asks the Demon Pony calmly.

"As of now, your music is the only thing that helps me forget."

"No worries, my old friend. I am here for you as I always have been, and always will be..."

The Demon Pony growls as he sat in his chair, not noticing his fur turning a bit gray. The master is unaware of another fact: Discord has been secretly been discording him, wanting the spell to last forever further...

---

Twilight, Spike, Nyx and the CMC walk down the hallway, the purple unicorn is stil upset form what happened. She groans, "Why is that Demon Pony always a grump?"

"Shucks, Ah don't know. He's always been like 'dat as long as Ah remember." Apple Bloom admits with a shrug as they go into Twilight's bedroom.

"Right, but he could've at least lightened up." Nyx said with a sigh. "I mean, tomorrow is Hearth's Warming Eve, right?"

"Nyx's right. Does he deserve to be a grump even on that great time of the year?" Twilight ask with a groan of annoyance.

"Yew betcha," Apple Bloom said in agreement. Why would anyone be a grump during this holiday season, one would never understand.

Sweetie tilts her head a bit while asking curiously, "Uh, Twilight? Nyx; What's Hearth's Warming Eve?'

"Whoa, hang on!" Spike exclaims in shock. Twilight and Nyx are surprised and disbelief. Sweetie doesn't know what Hearth's Warming Eve is? "You don't know what Hearth's Warming Eve is, seriously?"

"Neither does Apple Bloom and I." Scootaloo said with a shrug. "We have been stuck like this for a long time; we have trouble remembering what we used to do at this castle anymore."

"Come on, you all must know about Hearth's Warming Eve." Twilight said to the CMC who stare at her blankly. "You know: stockings in front of the fireplace; Tree, tinsel; Presents?"

"Presents?" The CMC exclaims excitedly upon hearing the last part. They love getting presents.

"Do we get one, huh huh?" Sweetie asks excitedly while jumping up and down hopefully.

"Of course," Twilight exclaims with a giggle. "Everypony gets a present on Hearth's Warming Eve, no matter what their behavior is."

"Even the master?" Scootaloo ask Twilight in concern. Should the Demon Pony even get a present after his behavior today?

"Come on Scootaloo." Nyx said to her friend with a smile. "Maybe if we give him a really nice gift, it might make him happier."

"Nyx, that's a great idea." Twilight said while nuzzling Nyx who giggles happily by that. Perhaps giving the Demon Pony a present will make him happy and less grumpy.

"So what is yew going 'ta get him?" Apple Bloom asks Twilight curiously.

"Not sure. I don't know that guy enough to even give him a present." Spike said in concern. After all, he, Twilight and Nyx just met that Demon Pony. What do they know about him?

"Right, if only I could get him something that could make him happy...but what could I give something like the Demon Pony?" Twilight ask in concern, pacing back and forth in her room. She wants to give something to the Demon Pony to show how much she herself cares for him; But what?

"Well, what would you want?" Scootaloo ask Twilight curiously.

"Well, I do most something more in the world besides my little brother Spike, my daughter Nyx and my father...my stories."

"Wait, that's it! You can give the Demon Pony a story!" Sweetie suggests to Twilight eagerly.

"Right, a story from you, mommy, could make him happy!" Nyx squeals happily. Twilight pauses then smiles.

"You two are right. A story for the Demon Pony will do. Spike, Nyx, I will need help." Twilight exclaims with a smile.

"Right, Twilight!" Spike exclaims. As he and Nyx help Twilight in making a storybook for the Demon Pony, the purple unicorn begins to sing.

Twilight: When I get to know him
And find more things to say
One day I will reach him
There has to be a way

Everyone needs someone
He must need someone, too!
When I get to know him better
Here's what I will do

I'll read him stories
From picture books
All filled with wonder
Magic worlds where the impossible
Becomes the everyday
We'll find a mountain-top
And some moon-beams to sit under
I'll lead, because I know the way!

So much to discover
I do it all the time
I could live inside bright pages
Where the words all rhyme

We will slay the dragons
I'll still follow him around
And he'll smile
Yes, he'll smile
As his dreams leave the ground!

Stories and stories
About Seaponies, kings and sunken treasure
Magic worlds where the impossible
Becomes the everyday
I know a tiny place
Just a dot,
Too small to measure
I'll lead him there, I know the way!

Stories about heroes
Who overcame
Their deepest sorrows
They'll put hope into his heart again
To cherish everyday

He'll find a better world
And the strength to face tomorrow
I'm sure that when he knows the way
He'll want to stay...

Once the song is over, the trio finishes the book, Twilight put the pages into a green box before tying a purple ribbon. Apple Bloom grins as she ask, "Yew think 'dat 'de master will like his gift?"

"I sure believe so." Twilight said in confidence. If this present wouldn't cheer the Demon Pony, then who knows what would?

Nyx use her magic to write down both her and Twilight's names, saying, "We should make this present be from the both of us. That way, the Demon Pony will know that we care for him and such...as if his family is giving him a present like a mommy and a daughter to a daddy!"

"That's a wonderful idea, Nyx."

"So does this mean we're going to have a Hearth's Warming Eve after all?" Sweetie asks with a smile.

"Absolutely," Twilight giggles a bit. After hearing this idea, the servants will want to jump in as well.

---

"Absolutely not," Caramel snaps at the kitchen in annoyance. Twilight has informed the servants of the idea of a Hearth's Warming Eve, but this stallion is refusing!

"Oh come on, you got to be kidding me!" Spike exclaims in annoyance by Caramel's refusal.

"Why not," Bon-Bon (Gen 2 version), Patch, Bright-Eyes, Starlight, Sweetheart, Clover and Melody protest in the room whines at the progress.

"Look, I told you, it's out of the question, not a chance! Dream another time, impossible, no!" Caramel snaps in refusal once more.

"Oh give me a break! Stop being a foal and let us have a Hearth's Warming Eve!" Rainbow snaps to Caramel with a frown.

"Right, get with the spirit, Caramel. Unwind!" Soarin' laughs as he slaps Caramel on the back, making him yelp a bit.

"Hey, don't do that again!" Caramel snaps to Soarin' while coughing a bit.

"Shuck, have a heart, Caramel." Applejack said while using a comb to brush Apple Bloom's hair. "It's been a while since we done celebrate 'dat beloved holiday of ours."

"Right, come on!" Bright-Eyes whine some more, much to Caramel's annoyance.

"No, no...and let me think..." Soarin' begins to say, pretending to be doing some thinking on this matter.

"Yes?" Soarin' ask hopefully as the Tales Ponies grin hopefully. Maybe...

"NO!"

Soarin' and the ponies frown a bit. Scootaloo groans, "Aw man! Come on! You're being a grump, Caramel!"

"I am not and this is where I put my hoof down!" Caramel snaps as he stomps one hoof down...but yelps as the colt saw that he got it stuck in a bucket. As Caramel struggles to get it off, he continues, "Everyone knows here that the master forbids Hearth's Warming Eve!"

"What, he forbids it, really?" Nyx ask her friends in disbelief. Why would anyone even forbid Hearth's Warming Eve, one of the most wonderful holidays in Equestria? It doesn't make sense!

"He doesn't like to talk about it." Rainbow explains to Nyx with a sigh.

"Forbid Hearth's Warming Eve? That's the most ridiculous thing that I ever heard." Twilight snorts at what Caramel said. "No one can forbid Hearth's Warming Eve."

"Well, apparently the master can!"

"Come on, why can't we have a Hearth's Warming Eve? You know how I am to making parties!" Pinkie giggles as she wave her hooves into the air, causing party stuff to come falling down, much to the other ponies' and dragon's confusion.

"How did she do that?" Spike asks a bit confused by what happened.

"Pinkie Pie, the master does not want to be reminded of his past! Hearth's Warming Eve is the most painful reminder of it!" Caramel points out to Pinkie in concern. "I do not wish to torture him by reminding him of it further!"

"Well, I believe a little Hearth's Warming Eve cheer would help him out." Twilight said in determination. Most of the servants agree with her. Unknown to them, Dexter and Fluttershy are at the doorway listening in. Discord told them to spy on Twilight to make sure that she ends up getting Ben to fall for her.

"Twilight is right. It's up to us to do something!" Soarin' exclaims in determination.

"No, no, AND NO! It isn't our place to get involved!" Caramel snaps while poking Soarin's snout, much to the Pegasi's annoyance. "We can't just mind our own business, can you? Just stick our wings where it doesn't belong."

With a smirk, Soarin' grabs a needle with his mouth and poke Caramel right in the butt, causing the Earth pony to scream and jump into the air. He falls down into a large bucket of water.

The other ponies and dragon laughs as Caramel came out, spitting out soapy water while groaning, "Ugh, I hate it when he does that."

"Well, how sad. Ah done think it's a wonderful idea." Applejack said thoughtfully. "It would be wonderful if we have a Hearth's Warming Eve at 'de castle again."

"Right, this place needs a bit more cheering and less gloomy stuff." Spike remarks with a nod of agreement. "After all, back home, Twilight, Nyx, Dusk and I would celebrate Hearth's Warming Eve until midnight on the holiday!"

"Forget it, the master doesn't want!" Caramel snaps as he got out of the bucket. "This is his castle, it's his rules!"

"That's not fair!" Nyx and the CMC all protest at once at the Demon Pony not allowing Hearth's Warming Eve.

"Yeah, that's not fair!" The Tales Ponies whine further, much to Caramel's annoyance.

"Ugh, don't whine like that, ponies." Caramel snaps to the Tales Ponies while crossing his upper forelegs. "It makes you sound like nags."

"Sorry!"

"Oh, great horny toads; look at us, squabbling an' bickering, it always break mah heart 'ta see 'dis happen." Applejack said while hugging Apple Bloom. Most of the servants are sad that after hearing the idea of Twilight's, there won't be a Hearth's Warming Eve. "An' 'ta think, we used 'ta be at our very best on Hearth's Warming Eve. Why, we would prepare a feast fer everyone in 'de whole castle an' no one is uninvited."

Caramel frowns, crossing his arms and not smiling. Nyx ask hopefully, "Were the feasts always so wonderful?"

"Yes, Nyx! Why, you could have stuffed tofu turkey." Soarin' said thoughtfully.

"Cranberry sauce," Twilight said with a nod.

"Shortbread cookies," Apple Bloom said, licking her lips at the idea of shortbread cookies at the feast.

"Mince pies," Soarin' said thoughtfully.

"Potatoes with' gravy," Applejack said with a smile.

"And Apple Cider, let's not forget Apple Cider!" Rainbow exclaims eagerly, "Can't have a feast without that!"

"O' course, Rainbow Dash."

"And cupcakes, sugar cubes and sugar canes and sundaes and sun-beams and sarsaparilla!" Pinkie exclaims while bouncing up and down excitedly.

"And gems, lots of it to eat," Spike exclaims, licking his lips though he stops upon seeing the odd looks that the ponies are giving him. "What?"

"Well, sure, why not?" Rainbow remarks with an odd shrug at Spike's comment.

"And Christmas pudding," Soarin' exclaims with an eager smile.

"Wait, did you say pudding?" Caramel asks upon hearing Soarin's comment. That is enough to get the colt's attention and excitement. "You mean with custard?"

"Come on, what kind of ponies do you take us for; of course with custard; as well as raisins, nuts and all those things that you like!"

Hearing all that wonderful food is making Caramel's mouth water like mad. Nyx, noticing, smiles while asking, "You really like all that food, huh Caramel? Well, too bad that the holiday won't happen. You would've love it."

"Yeah, but why bother going into the holiday further?" Spike asks, playing along with Nyx. "Let's forget that Twilight even made the idea and move on."

Caramel hesitates. He doesn't want to get the Demon Pony angry but all that food that Soarin' mention is too good to resist. The colt groans, "Fine, all right, you win!"

"YAY! HEARTH'S WARMING EVE IS COMING!" The CMC cheers wildly and excitedly.

"But try to keep it a quiet! If the master finds out, I wouldn't want to be on the other end of his wrath!"

"Come on, I'm sure that the Demon Pony will change his mind after he sees everything we're doing for him!" Nyx giggles happily. After all, the Demon Pony can't forbid Hearth's Warming Eve forever after seeing the magic that it will give him.

"Come on, what are we waiting for? Hearth's Warming Eve," Soarin' jokes a bit, making the others laugh eagerly.

"Yeah, come on, we got a lot to do here, Soarin'!" Rainbow exclaims in determination.

"Yes, come on, we don't have much time! It's the day before Hearth's Warming Eve!" Caramel exclaims in concern. Hearth's Warming Eve is tomorrow so the servants must work extra harder to get the castle ready in time!

"Ah will done see 'ta dinner!" Applejack exclaims as she rush off to get dinner ready for the holiday.

"I will get some mistletoe." Soarin' said slyly as he took Rainbow in hoof up and held up a leaf with another, pretending that it's mistletoe; His filly-friend giggles happily and sighs lovingly.

"I will make the party stuff, the party decorations; oh, it will be so super duper fun!" Pinkie exclaims as she bounces off to get the stuff needed for the party.

"We oughta brighten this place up." Twilight said thoughtfully, knowing that it will take more than Pinkie's party decorations to get the castle ready for the big day.

"I think I know a certain filly whose will help us." Soarin' said in determination as he trots off with Twilight, Nyx, Spike and the CMC follows him. If there's somepony in the castle who will help out in the decorations, then they will need her and quickly.

"Wait for me, hang on! I'm in charge here, I'm in charge..." Caramel begins to say then the pony saw that he's being left behind, causing him to gallop to catch up. "Wait, don't leave me behind!"

Author's note
All right, Twilight and the servants are getting the castle ready for Hearth's Warming Eve even though the Demon Pony forbids it. In the next chapter, we meet the castle's decorator Rarity who is against the idea, probably out of worry that it won't change the master's mind. Also, another song; Read, review and suggest.