This story was told to me by an elderly, orange, Pegasus pony in a dream I had, I thought I should share it.

On Hearth’s Warming eve many years ago I attended a Holiday event on the Apple’s farm and when I looked around I couldn’t help but feel like a wet blanket as I watched the events; Sweetie Belle was singing a carol while Rarity, Twilight, Cookie Crumbles, and Hondo Flanks listened, Spike was making eyes at Rarity, Fluttershy was talking to Big Mac about some mice that were trying to take shelter from winter in the barn, Applebloom was in the kitchen with Applejack getting ready to refill the snacks, my hero Rainbow Dash was telling Pinkie Pie about her latest trick but Pinkie Pie wasn’t listing she was watching the Cakes dance to Sweetie Belle’s carol only to stop midway when the Twins started crying upstairs which woke up Granny Smith who was sleeping in the armchair next to me.

“Huh, what, where’s the fire?” Granny Smith asked. As for me I found myself looking down at the table where there was a small statue of an Alicorn pony with a long beard, wearing a suit with trimmings which would’ve been red and white if not for the fact that the statue was entirely grey, the pony was pulling regains adorned with bells, and a sleigh with a large sack filled with presents this statue was of Santa Hooves and that was why I wasn’t enjoying the party with everypony else. “Oh ah see,” said Granny Smith as she looked at me staring at the statue.

“What do you mean?” I asked innocently.

“It’s your crucial year mah dear,” Granny Smith explained.

“My crucial year, what do you mean?” I inquired.

“It’s the year you go through it,” Granny Smith told me, “every pony who celebrates Hearth’s Warming goes through it at one point or another Big Mac did, Applejack did, their parents did, even ah did. Unfortunately, it seems to be a rite of passage for young ponies,” she said, “but don’t you worry, it may seem bad now but you’ll feel fine about it soon, it’s only a matter of time before the truth makes its self-clear,” she promised.

At that moment the Cakes brought down the crying twins as Pinkie bounced around them trying to cheer them up, “come on guys you’ve heard the song 'you better not pout, you better not cry'" she sang the twins stopped crying and looked at each other.

“Santa,” said Pumpkin.

“Hooves,” said, Pound.

“That’s right guys, but he won’t come until you’re asleep so hop aboard the sand pony express,” Pinkie spoke before giving a realistic train whistle. The twins giggled as their parents put them on Pinkie’s back, “one stop to the crib upstairs,” announced Pinkie Pie taking off.

Everypony giggled or smiled as they watched Pinkie take the twins upstairs, Applejack gave a yawn, “it is gettin late,” she said looking at the clock, “bout time to put the young ones to bed."

Everypony was staying the night at the Apple farm so we could all spend the holiday together, I don’t know how they sorted out the rooms but we all had a room to stay in though we were kind of crammed together, in any matter soon Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and I were all being tucked into Applebloom’s bed. Hours later I could feel Applebloom and Sweetie Belle breathing lightly and I knew they were asleep but not me. I was lying quietly in the bed, I did not rustle the sheets, I was waiting for a sound, a sound which I was afraid I’d never hear, the ringing of Santa’s bells. Suddenly, I felt Sweetie Belle give a kick which woke Applebloom up. “Sweetie Belle” said Applebloom sounding tired “you’re kicking me” she complained.

Sweetie Belle sat up “sorry” she apologized with a yawn “I’m thirsty” she added “Applebloom will you show me where the sink is downstairs?” she asked.

“Sure thing” said Applebloom as she led Sweetie Belle down stairs.

Under normal circumstances I would’ve wondered why Sweetie Belle would need Applebloom to show her where the sink was as we’d stayed over before and knew where to get water. However at that moment my mind was at the school house two weeks ago.

*_______________________________________________*
“Santa Hooves?” asked Diamond Tiara as she looked at the drawing Sweetie Belle was doing in art. “Only babies believe in Santa Hooves” said Diamond with a laugh.

“He’s just a big fat lie” added Silver Spoon.

“Is not” said Sweetie Belle forcefully.

“Are you Blank Flanks gonna ask Santa for new diapers?” mocked Diamond Tiara.

“We’re not babies” said Applebloom.

“If you believe in Santa Hooves you are” said Silver. “Like I said he’s just a big fat lie grownups tell you so you’ll be good little fillies.”

“Is not” said Applebloom with a little less force then Sweetie Belle. “Right Scootaloo?” she asked.

With all my heart I wanted to pronounce that I firmly believed in Santa Hooves like my friends but something kept me silent, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looked at me while Silver and Diamond began to smile luckily before they could claim victory…

“Diamond and Silver” called Ms. Cheerilee.

“Yes Ms. Cheerilee” said Diamond and Silver together trying to give looks of innocence which didn’t fool her for a moment.

“After winter break how about you two come to school a little early and help me clear some snow?” Cheerilee asked.

“But” Diamond and Silver began but with a look that could give Fluttershy a run for her bits Cheerilee convinced them not to argue “yes Ms. Cheerilee” they said.

After school when everyone had gone home for the holidays I stayed behind, I was looking at the art wall, back in ponygarten Santa Hooves was the subject of everypony’s art around Hearth’s Warming and he still was included in most of the drawings I saw but Sweetie Belle’s was the only one that pictured a traditional Santa Hooves, Snips had drawn Santa fighting a giant green monster who was holding a pile of presents and Hearth’s Warming trees, Applebloom’s was of her farm covered in snow but on the roof near the chimney were two sled marks, Diamonds was simply of a little pink pony swimming in presents, and mine was of many Santa Hooves with a large question mark in the middle. “Scootaloo” said Ms. Cheerilee “are you alright?” she asked.

I put on a happy face trying to hide my doubts “no… I mean yes Ms. Cheerilee I’m fine” I lied.

“Hmm I see” said Ms. Cheerilee “well you’d better get home before dark, wouldn’t want Santa to put you on the naughty list for that” she said.

I felt my ears drop “right” I said.

“Ahhhhh now I see” said Ms. Cheerilee with a knowing smile. “It’s your crucial year” she said simply as she helped me with my coat “you know Scootaloo I’ve always felt that the truth will always become crystal clear to those with the courage to seek it” she said opening the door for me “now run along dear and have a wonderful Hearth’s Warming” she told me.

*__________________________________________*
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I almost missed the soft ringing of bells.

I felt my heart skip a beat as I listened and sure enough it came again, I tiphoofed out of bed and went downstairs, The number of gifts under the tree was unchanged, the stockings were undisturbed, and the trey of apples, cookies, and milk was untouched. I was disappointed until I heard the bells again and from the kitchen I saw the shadow of a large pony with both wings and a horn, I felt my heart skip another beat as I watched the shadow break apart into different and familiar shapes and recognized the voices that came “alright girls you got your water now get to bed” said Applejack’s voice.

“But Applejack we wanna see him” said Applebloom.

“Girls you know when bedtime is” said Rarity’s voice strictly.

“Besides” said Fluttershy quietly “he’ll never come if you’re awake.” Disappointed I went back upstairs and closed the bedroom door behind me, I was about to get back into bed when I heard the voices again.

“But Applejack Scootaloo said to get to every pony in Equestria Santa would have to travel faster than the speed of light” said Applebloom.

I looked in the keyhole and watched as Sweetie Belle spoke “yeah and his sleigh would have to be bigger than an ocean liner.”

I could see Applejack and Rarity look at each other and saw the bells on Rarity’s robe. “Time for bed girls” said Rarity simply I ran into the bed as I saw Applejack reach for the hoofdle. Soon I felt new weight on the bed and I knew my friends were back in bed. After ten minutes I felt my friends were asleep once more, I crept out of bed and went to the closet where my night bag was hiding; I reached inside and pulled out a plastic bag filled with papers, two books, and pullouts from magazines and newspapers. I dumped my research onto the floor, the first thing I looked at was a picture I’d found of a very young filly pulling a beard off a department store Santa, Next was a newspaper clipping announcing that some department store Santa’s were going on strike, lastly was a magazine cover of a surprised looking filly holding a Santa suit, underneath his hooves red words read “The Discovery?” I pulled out the book and turned to one of the pages I marked about the Frozen North “Siting on top of Equestria this icy land of snow and frost has been described as a desolate wasteland devoid of life” I read. At that moment I heard hoofsteps outside the hall and got back into bed.

“See I told you they’re out like a light” said Applejack in a whisper.

I heard Rarity sigh “Sweetie Belle used to stay up all night waiting for Santa Hooves.”

“Yeah” said Applejack nostalgically “Applebloom used to camp out in front of the tree to catch a peek at Santa.”

Rarity sighed once more “I suppose those days are over now, they’re getting near that age” she said, I felt my heart skip a beat again.

“Yeah” said Applejack sadly “the end of the magic” she said I could practically feel my heart cracking.

“I suppose tomorrow could really be their last magical Hearth’s Warming” said Rarity. “Let’s go we wouldn’t want to wake them” she added.

“Oh please an express train couldn’t wake them up now” said Applejack as she closed the door.

I turned over in bed “the end of the magic?” I thought sadly, I looked over at Applebloom’s clock “10:20” I read “10:20, Hearth’s Warming Eve the day the magic ended for me” I thought miserably, I soon fell asleep perhaps because of my new peace of mind as I listened to the ticking of the clock.