He was as tall as Princess Celestia, his coat, mane, and beard were as white as newly fallen snow, he wore a large cherry red coat, pants, and hat all of which had trims of white, he wore four hoof coverings which were as black as the coal some ponies were fated to receive that night, his eyes were as green as a Hearth’s Warming tree, and despite the fact that he was supposed to be ancient he looked full of life and spirit.

“What was that you were saying little filly?” he asked again there was no anger in his voice only curiosity.

I found my voice stuck in my throat “I uh, believe…. I believe…. Ummm I believe this is yours” I said giving him the bell.

Santa took the bell in his hoof “well thank you” he said simply. “You four have had quite the adventure this Hearth’s Warming” he added. My friends and I nodded, none of us blinking. Santa turned to Applebloom “little filly in a world of ponies who think they should lead only a select few can prove themselves worthy and I think tonight you’ve proven that you are” he said.

“Thank you” said Applebloom “sir” she added quickly.

Now Santa was looking at Sweetie Belle “a little mare with a heart filled with kindness, generosity, and spirit, holiday spirit” he said winking “keep up the good work” he added. Sweetie Belle nodded.

“Dinky” said Santa Hooves making the little unicorn’s eyes sparkle “it is Dinky right?” he asked. Dinky nodded, Santa Hooves looked at the four of us “seems you’ve made some friends” he said.

“Yes sir” said Dinky.

“Well good for you” said Santa “there’s no greater gift than friendship” he told Dinky. “And speaking of gifts” he said to the crowd “let’s have this little filly right here” he announced and pointed right at me!

Santa sat in his sleigh and I was brought to him, the conductor helped me onto the jolly pony’s knee, I no longer felt like a little pony sitting where I was. “Well my little filly” said Santa “what would you like for Hearth’s Warming?” he asked. I thought for a moment, I knew I could have any gift I wanted but I knew what I wanted wasn’t in Santa’s sack, I whispered my wish into Santa’s ear. Santa smiled “well alright then” he said and Santa held up the bell for all to see “the first gift of Hearth’s Warming!” he announced, the elves cheered. “This bell” said Santa “is a wonderful representation of the holiday spirit as am I, but never forget Scootaloo the true spirit of the season is in your heart” and with that he passed the bell onto me.

I gave the bell a ring enjoying its sweet sound “better keep that in a safe place” said the conductor as he helped me down, I placed the bell carefully in the pocket opposite the one which held my ticket. At that moment the big clock tower chimed midnight, the conductor gave a nod to Santa who got out of the sleigh and went to the reigns. Santa charged up his horn enveloping the sleigh in a snow white magic and lifted it off the ground, Santa gave his wings a mighty flap and took off, he circled the town square several times before he flew up near the tree and gave it a gentle touch with his horn, instantly the tree began to glow a much brighter golden glow like it’d been touched by an angel! Santa Hooves circled three more times before he gave a great “ho, ho, ho!” and vanished into the night leaving only several star like sparkles to fall to the Earth.

Everything was silent for a moment as the last of the sparkles fell vanished and then the elves cheered and threw their hats into the year celebrating another successful Hearth’s Warming. From behind us the Hearth’s Warming Express gave a mighty whistle “all aboard!” the conductor called.

The elves were partying the night away as one by one we each boarded the train again as each pony boarded the conductor finished punching their ticket soon it was Applebloom’s turn. “Thank you” said the conductor as he went to work with Applebloom’s ticket. “There you go” said the conductor when he was finished.

Applebloom looked down at her ticket which now bore the word TENACITY. “Ten a city?” asked Applebloom curiously.

“I believe that would be pronounced tenacity” the conductor corrected “as in the ability to see your goals and go at them with full force and never give up.” Applebloom smiled “of course having friends who share those goals makes it all the better” the conductor added. Applebloom looked back at us and smiled before making her way onto the train. Now it was Sweetie Belle’s turn “thank you” said the conductor as he went to work “there you are.”

Sweetie looked at her ticket which bore the message FAITHFUL “Yes” said the conductor “as we get older it gets harder and harder to put our faith in impossible things, only some very special ponies can take something and believe in it with all their heart.”

“Thank you” said Sweetie Belle before joining Applebloom.

Now Dinky stood before the conductor and soon her ticket read DEPEND ON, Dinky turned her ticket over and found a new message COUNT ON, amazed she turned again as the ticket bore the same message through different words RELY ON was the message when Dink was done flipping. “That is some special ticket” said the conductor, Dinky nodded “so can you rely on us to get you home safely?” asked the conductor.

“Yeah” said Dinky “me and my friends” she added.

Now I was the only pony not on the train “ah yes the little mare with all the questions” said the conductor, for my ticket he did his work with eyes closed and gave it back in the same manner.

BELIEVE was my message “I don’t understand” I said “it says…”

“Ah” said the conductor stopping me “no need to tell me” he said with a wink. I stored my ticket back in my coat, as I stepped into the car everypony was whispering excitedly.

“There she is” said one pony as I took my seat.

“Come on let’s see it” said Sweetie Belle.

I smiled as I reached into my pocket but that smile quickly vanished when I felt my hoof go through a hole! I checked again frantically “it’s gone” I said, everypony gasped “I lost Santa’s bell” I added sadly feeling like all the spirit, all the happiness I felt when I heard that bell had left me forever.

“Let’s get out and search for it” said one pony.

“We’ll find it Scoot” said Applebloom however at that moment that Hearth’s Warming Express gave a mighty jerk forward and Hearth’s Warming town began to move by the windows, we were on our way home. Dinky, Sweetie, and Applebloom gave me a joined hug but it didn’t help much.

The ride home was uneventful, no caribou crossings, no speeding trains, no trotting on the train or maybe there were I wouldn’t know, it broke my heart to lose that bell.

By the time we got to Ponyville most of the other ponies were asleep. “I think my house is coming up” said Dinky.

“Come by the clubhouse anytime you wanna join Dinky” said Sweetie Belle.

“Yeah” Applebloom agreed, I nodded.

Suddenly the train came to a halt “I will” said Dinky happily as she trotted away. “Hey Scoot” she called, I looked over “thanks for stopping the train” she said.

A smile crossed my lips “anytime” I said.

“Well little filly” said the conductor as he lowered the steps for Dinky “happy Hearth’s Warming” he said.

Dinky looked at her house for a moment and then ran, through her window we could see she went to her tree and a moment later she was outside holding her present from Hearth’s Warming town and presenting it proudly.

“Santa got to Dinky’s house already” said Sweetie Belle.

“That’s amazing” said Applebloom.

“It is amazing” I said looking at Dinky with so much joy in her face and I thought about what Santa said about the spirit of the season being in my heart and I realized something, the feeling that bell gave me, all that happiness, it was still a part of me, and it always would be, no matter what. Soon we were back at Sweet Apple Acres and all three of us were ready for a long winters sleep.

“Good bye” said the conductor as he let us down.

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were already at the front door when I turned to the conductor “thank you” I said.

“No thank you” said the conductor “you know the thing about trains, it’s not about where they're going, what matters is deciding to get on.”

I joined my friends at the front door and watched the Hearth’s Warming Express move away, the conductor said something as the train moved away. “What?” I asked.

“Happy Hearth’s Warming!” the conductor shouted. As the train moved away I saw the Hobo pony, he waved good bye to me and disappeared into the falling snow.

I looked at the tree, cookies, and stocking which were still undisturbed before going upstairs with my friends to bed.

“Santa, Santa, Santa” said three voices which woke my friends and I we looked into the hall and saw two toddler ponies and one big pink pony racing downstairs. The Cake twins and Pinkie woke everypony up and soon there was much ripping of wrapping paper and squeals of delight. An hour after waking up the only adult pony in the living room with we crusaders and the twins was Granny Smith with everypony else in the kitchen making sure everything was ready for dinner tonight. Granny Smith watched as Sweetie Belle played with Pumpkin and Applebloom played with Pound meanwhile I was trying to master my new marionette from Twilight.

“Pumpkin, be careful you don’t wanna get poked with a needle” said Sweetie Belle as she got Pumpkin out from under the tree, Pumpkin had a tiny parcel in her mouth when Sweetie Belle picked her up. “Hey there’s one more present” said Sweetie Belle taking the gift from Pumpkin “it has your name on it Scoot” she added hoofing it to me.

I took the ribbon off the little box and carefully opened it; I wasn’t prepared for what I saw, my heart raced and my two friends gasped as I picked up my lost treasure the bell! I gave the bell a shake and it rang its beautiful sound, the twins looked amazed, Granny Smith gave a knowing smile, and from the kitchen Pinkie suddenly looked at us and smiled as well. I hoofed the bell to Sweetie Belle so I could read the note inside the box.

Found this on the seat of my sleigh; be sure to get that hole in your pocket fixed.
Mr. H

I gave the bell another shake and rejoiced at the sound I heard. “What ya got there squirt?” asked my hero Rainbow Dash as she came into the room.

“Bell” answered the twins.

Rainbow Dash smiled “who’s it from?” she asked.

“Santa” I said happily putting the bell in her hoof.

“Santa?” said Rainbow unbelievingly, she gave the bell a shake “well that’s a rip off” she said.

“What’s going on?” asked Applejack.

“Scoots got a bell” said Rainbow Dash giving AJ the bell.

Applejack gave the bell a shake “hmm must be broken” she said “sorry about that Sugar cube” she said returning the bell to me. “Well we best be getting on our way, don’t wanna be late for the Mayors speech” she added taking off with Rainbow. I realized sadly they couldn’t hear the bell.

I gave the bell another ring, basking in its sweet sound before placing it on the table and following everypony.

“At one time most of the ponies at school could hear the bell but as the years passed it grew silent for all of them, even the twins found one fateful Hearth’s Warming they could no longer hear its sweet sound, though I’ve grown old the bell still rings for me and for all those who truly believe!”