I heard it first as a stirring; I looked at the clock 11:00. Then the sound of clanking hit my ear “what’s going on?” asked Applebloom sleepily, the clanking got louder and soon Applebloom’s toy chest started to shake.

“What’s happening?” asked Sweetie Belle, the sound of a large machine slamming on the breaks filled the air and soon outside a large stack of smoke filled the air. We went to the window and what we saw amazed us, parked right in front of Sweet Apple Acres was an express train! The train sat there like it was waiting, it looked a lot like the Ponyville train but it was slightly darker. We put on our coats for warmth and headed outside for a closer look, a part of me was hoping when we opened the front door the train and any evidence of its existence would be gone but there it was sitting there in front of the farm as snow fell from the sky. As we went in for a closer look we could see the bright lights coming from inside the cars and on one car a few in “Hearth’s Warming Express” was spelled out in golden paint I had to touch to confirm that it was indeed real.

Suddenly there came a call of “all aboard!” The three of us looked and saw the figure of a pony near one of the cars, holding a lantern in his hoof. “All aboard” the mysterious pony repeated. We got closer and could see him better through the smoke the train was making, he was a pony with a grey coat, a dark grey mane and mustache, he wore a pair of glasses on the edge of his nose, he also wore a dark grey suit with a red tie, and a golden pocket watch served as his cutie mark “all aboard” he repeated we were now right in front of him. “Well?” he asked “you coming?”

“Where?” asked Applebloom.

“Why, to Hearth’s Warming town of course” said the pony excitedly “this” he said gesturing to the train “is the Hearth’s Warming Express.”

“You can take us to the Frozen North?” asked Sweetie Belle excitedly.

“Yes but of course” said the conductor “if you’ll join us?” he asked gesturing to the steps into the car. Sweetie Belle gladly walked up the steps, Applebloom seemed to think for a moment before getting on herself, and I was frozen for a moment. “Well?” asked the conductor.

“Hearth’s Warming town?” I repeated.

The conductor looked at me a little annoyed “I see” he said “hold this please” he said giving me his lantern, I took it “thank you” he said as he bent over and picked up a clip board. “Is this you?” he asked showing me the clipboard which was indeed a file on me, I nodded “right well it says here “no photo with a department store Santa this year, no letter to Santa, and you had your friends put out the tray” he read “now young mare it sounds to me like this is your crucial year. If I were you, I would think about getting on board” he said “come on, come on. I’ve got a schedule to keep” he said looking at a pocket watch he pulled from his suit pocket. I stepped back shaking my head “suit yourself” said the conductor as he got on the train and signaled the engineer.

The train gave a mighty whistle and began to move slowly, I started to watch it move away. I don’t know what got into me but before the train had even traveled a few feet I was chasing after it (which wasn’t hard as it was still moving slowly), I leapt from the ground and grabbed onto the train before climbing on, as we passed the farm I saw the wind blow on a snowpony in Carrot’s yard moving it’s arm like it was waving goodbye. I looked up and saw the conductor; he had a light smile on his face as he opened the car door. I walked in the car and saw at least a dozen other fillies, some of them were wearing pajamas but others were wearing coats “Scootaloo” I looked over and saw Sweetie Belle and Applebloom sitting together on a train seat “you got on” said Sweetie Belle wrapping her hooves around my neck.

“Yeah I got on” I said struggling to talk and slowly losing my sight “losing air Sweetie Belle.”

“Oh sorry” said Sweetie Belle. “Can you believe this?” she asked “here we are on are way to Hearth’s Warming town!”

“I know it’s unbelievable” said Applebloom.

“Hey look everypony, Ponysheimers, Ponysheimers” said one little colt. There was a rush to the windows as we passed the popular holiday shop, in the windows was a large Santa Hooves putting a gift under a tree.

“It’s so Hearthassy and cozy and beautiful” said Sweetie Belle.

“Yeah like something from a holiday card brought to life” said Applebloom happily. Unlike my friends I was looking right at the Santa and shook my head when I saw the wind up spring in his back.

“Tickets” called the conductor I turned around and saw him passing through the car with a ticket puncher in his mouth. “Tickets, please” he said turning to me as everypony else returned to their seats. The conductor turned to me “ticket please?” he asked, I shook my head. “Try your pocket” he said. I reached into my left coat pocket only to see part of my hoof come out of the big hole in it. “Try your other pocket” the conductor suggested, I reached into my right pocket and to my great surprise I felt something, something smooth and paper like, I pulled out a golden ticket not unlike those used for the Grand Galloping Gala except this one read “The Hearth’s Warming Express, ROUND TRIP, ADMIT ONE.” I handed my ticket to the conductor “thank you, little mare” he said he punched a single hole in the ticket but didn’t stop there, he continued to punch holes in a pattern, I watched stopping only to blow a little paper circle off my mouth “thank you little mare” he said returning my ticket before heading to scold some fillies for playing with the intercom. I looked down at my ticket it read “B E” “B E” I repeated.

“That guy sure likes to show off his ticket punch” said Applebloom removing her own ticket from her pocket “look what he punched into mine.” Applebloom’s ticket read “T Y” “TY, what’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know guys if were really going to the Frozen North, really going to Hearth’s Warming town that probably means we’re gonna meet Santa Hooves!” said Sweetie Belle excitedly.

“Ya think?” asked Applebloom. “Ya know you’re right he’ll probably give us our presents in person” she with a happiness that can only come from young ponies.

“He might even ask us to help him deliver presents” said Sweetie Belle shuffling slightly in her seat.

Applebloom seemed to start shuffling as well “Yeah we could be…”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER SANTA HELPERS” the statement was almost as earsplitting and head turning as ever, almost but one third of the crusaders wasn’t making her usual enthusiastic yell.

“Scootaloo?” said Sweetie Belle.

I tried to put on a happy face “huh... Oh yeah cutie mark crusader Santa helpers” I said halfheartedly.

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looked at me like they were about to say something when suddenly we were all forced backwards as the screech of the breaks filled the air. “What’s going on?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Are we there already?” asked one filly.

“I think it’s another pickup” said one young colt.

“I thought those three were supposed to be the last one” said a filly.

I looked out of the window and sure enough we were in front of a house, in fact I’d seen this house a few times before, it was a little two bedroom house belonging to the local mail mare Derpy Hooves and her two daughters; Sparkler and Dinky. Sure enough the younger of the two Dinky was standing outside of the house, looking at the train curiously, wearing a long yellow nightgown and some boots. I saw the conductor step off the train right in front of Dinky “well you coming?” asked the conductor, I couldn’t hear Dinky’s reply but she must of asked where because the conductor responded “Why, to Hearth’s Warming town of course this is” and then he gestured to the train as he had done with the three of us “the Hearth’s Warming Express.” I saw Dinky take a step backwards, “suit yourself” said the conductor I noticed he didn’t insist as he had done with me, just got back on and signaled to go.

The Hearth’s Warming Express gave a mighty whistle blast and slowly began to pull us forward, I stood at the window looking at Dinky as she looked at me, I gave a half wave goodbye to Dinky, for half a minute I thought she really was going to be left behind, but then she suddenly started sprinting toward the train! “Hey she wants to get on” I said watching Dinky run as fast as her hooves could carry her, “come on, hurry up!” I called waving my hoof, but the train was picking up speed, I watched as Dinky tripped in the snow. I turned to Applebloom and Sweetie Belle “we have to stop the train” I said.

“Pull the emergency break!” said Applebloom, I looked and saw the tiny handle and quickly pulled on it with all my might. Screechhhhhhhhh went the train as it halted so suddenly, several fillies fell back in their seats and several others fell to the ground including me. As I got off the ground I could see Dinky get on board through the window in the car door, I smiled and waved, but Dinky looked nervous and got into the empty car behind us, which happened to be the last car on the train.

“Who in the blazes applied that emergency break?!” demanded the conductor angrily.

“She did!” said one pony pointing to me.

“You!” said the conductor angrily as he marched toward me. “In case you didn’t know, that cord is for emergency purposes only. And in case you weren’t aware, tonight is Hearth’s Warming Eve.” He said reaching out the window with his hoof, at first I thought he was emphasizing but when the train started moving I realized he was signaling the engineer. The conductor closed the window and continued his rant “and in case you hadn’t noticed, this train is on a very tight schedule. Now, young filly, Hearth’s Warming may not be important to some ponies, but it is very important to the rest of us!” he yelled.

“But—but—“I tried to explain.

“She was just trying to stop the train so that pony could get on” said Sweetie Belle pointing out the car.

The conductor looked out the car window and saw Dinky sitting down in the dark, lonely car. “I see, young filly, is that what happened?” he asked he no longer sounded mad and talked with a casual voice, I nodded my head with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle doing the same. The conductor seemed to think for a moment “Well, let me remind you that this train is on a very tight schedule, and I’ve never been late before and I am certainly not going to be late tonight” he stated firmly. “Now, everypony” the conductor continued “take your seats, please” he said, there was a shuffling of hooves as everypony returned to their seats, “thank you.” “Your attention please” the conductor said over the intercom despite the fact that he was still in the car with us “are there any Hearth’s Warming Express passengers in need of refreshments?” Everypony in the car raised their hooves “I thought so…

The conductor opened the car door and instantly several ponies that looked exactly alike appeared in from the car in front of us, each waiter turned our seats to where the one in front of one was facing the other like restaurant booths, each one took his crisp white apron off and draped it in front of us and even though they should’ve fallen to the ground they suspend in midair like round table coverings.

Hot! Hot!
Ooh, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
Hey, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
Say, we got it!
Hot chocolate!

It was like nothing I’d ever seen, the waiters were flipping and dancing around while they sang along with the conductor.

Hot! Hot!
Oh, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
So, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
Yo, we got it!
Hot chocolate!

Soon in came chefs throwing cups onto the waiter’s treys.

Here, we've only got one rule:
Never ever let it cool!
Keep it cookin in the pot,
You've got-
Hot choc-o-lat!

Soon in came a large, brass machine was in the car spraying hot chocolate into the awaiting waiter’s cups.

Hot! Hot!
Ooh, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
Hey, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
Say, we got it!
Hot chocolate!

Hot! Hot!
Oh, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
So, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
Yo, we got it!
Hot chocolate!

I saw Sweetie Belle hide a full cup under the table, a moment later a waiter gave her a new full cup.

Here, we only got one rule
(Here, we only got one rule)
Never ever let it cool!
(Never ever let it cool!)
Keep it cookin in the pot,
Soon, ya got hot choc-o-lat!

Hot! Hot!
Ooh, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
Hey, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
Say, we got it!
Hot chocolate!

The waiters rode the machine across the car and took everypony's empty cups, turning the seats back as they did before riding out of the car.

Hot! Hot!
Oh, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
So, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
Yo, we got it!
Hot chocolate!

With that the conductor closed the car door, went into the front car, closed the door, and left us to finish our drinks. Sweetie Belle pulled the drink from under the seat and started to walk to the south end of the car. “Where are you going?” I asked.

“I’m going to take it to Dinky” said Sweetie Belle.

“I don’t think we’re supposed to leave our seats” I pointed out.

“I’ll be fine” said Sweetie Belle.

“This little filly in the back” said the conductor appearing from nowhere “did she get any refreshments?” he asked stiffly, I shook my head along with my friends “well let’s bring her some” he said brightly leading Sweetie Belle to the end of the car and out the door. I briefly heard the conductor say “watch your step now, watch your step.”

After the door closed I was turning back to Applebloom when something caught my eye, sitting on the seat was Sweetie Belle’s ticket! “She forgot her ticket!” I said “and it hasn’t been punched” I took the ticket in my mouth and started for the door.

“Scoot wait” said Applebloom as I opened the door and looked down at the ice covered device connecting Dinky’s car to ours. “Sweetie Belle will be right back” said Applebloom as I watched Sweetie Belle and the Conductor give Dinky her hot chocolate.

“I ju___” I began before I saw the ticket fly in front of me and glide along the train. “Get it” I said as Applebloom and I watched the ticket get caught in one of the windows outside of the train, we raced to the window, I slid it down, but right as I reached for it the ticket flew away, gliding far away from the train and eventually out of sight.

Applebloom and I returned to our seats, just as the car door opened and the conductor escorted Sweetie Belle back to her seat. “Young mare, you’ll have to forgive me, I seem to have neglected to punch your ticket. If I may?” he asked.

“I left my ticket right here on the seat, but now it’s gone” said Sweetie Belle.

“You mean you have lost your ticket?” said the conductor loudly.

“She didn’t lose it” I said standing up “I did. I was trying to return it, Applebloom told me to wait but I didn't listen, it slipped away from me, I’m sorry” I said. “Here Sweetie Belle, you can have my ticket” I said holding out the object.

“No, no, no” said the conductor snatching the ticket and hoofing it back to me “these tickets are nontransferable” he said shaking slightly. “Young mare, you will have to come with me” the conductor added, Sweetie Belle got out of her seat and he started leading her away, as they left I caught a glimpse of Sweetie Belle looking back at me with sadness and the conductor scowling at me as he closed the door.

“He’s gonna throw her off the train!” said one young colt.