If I were of a more poetic bent, I might say something along the lines of ‘the cold brings people together’. But I’m not, so instead I’m going to say I hate being cold with every fiber of my being. Despite being a winter baby, born in the frozen wasteland that is January, the months from November until March are persona non grata as far as I’m concerned. Of course, I can’t exactly ban these months from coming around every year and I’m not inclined to move away from Ponyville for warmer climes.

Thanksgiving came and thus went what I considered the first major holiday since arriving in Equestria. I had a lot to be thankful for and the final Thursday of November was as good a time as any to reflect on that, even if most of my friends didn’t understand why I was so pensive on that particular day.

November passed away into December and all minds were turned towards Christmas/Hearth’s Warming. My own mind was also occupied with getting my newly purchased property ready for the construction of my new home come spring. Suffice to say it was a busy time. It also forced me out and about more than I would have preferred in the cold.

“Hey Ranma, can I get some help for a minute?” Spike came up to me one early December day.

“Sure thing Spike, what do you need?” I replied.

“This’ll be Twilight’s first Hearth’s Warming as a Princess and Celestia may or may not have just ‘suggested’ Twilight host this year’s festivities,” Spike informed me with a weary sigh.

“I take it Twi’s not handling it particularly well?” I asked somewhat sardonically.

“Which is why I’m here asking for your help,” Spike breezed past my comment, “I need you to bring in half a dozen Douglas firs and then dress them up.”

“And where am I acquiring these trees from, my good drake?” I inquired.

“The Apple Farm, where else?” Spike replied, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to find Pinkie.” With that, Spike left in the direction on Sugar Cube Corner.

I briefly considered going to check up on Twilight but figured even if she was stressing out over this sudden bombshell the best way to help her would be to help get this thing organized and let her see everything was under control. With that in mind, I headed out to Sweet Apple Acres.

“Mornin’,” Big Mac greeted as I approached the farmhouse.

“Morning Big Mac, I’ve heard you’re in the business of selling Chri- I mean, Hearth’s Warming Trees,” I corrected myself.

“Eyup,” The older man replied.

“I need six of ‘em for the castle. Celestia decided to make Twilight host this year’s festivities,” I told him and he winced.

“Ah’ll go get AJ,” He informed me and turned to head back into the house.

“Thank you,” I said gratefully and he just nodded. A short while later, Applejack appeared.

“How bad is it?” She asked bluntly.

“Spike left to see Pinkie, about catering I presume, so not too bad I don’t think,” I replied and Applejack let out a sigh of mixed relief and exasperation.

“Y’all would think after the Want-it Need-it mess they’d both know better,” She grumbled.

“Both of them?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Twi to say no to Celestia and Celestia not ta spring things like this on Twi,” AJ clarified. I shrugged, unwilling to comment further. So we headed to the area of the farm reserved for the evergreens. Upon arriving, we realized our day was about to become much, much longer.

“Ranma, are you seein’ what I’m seein’?” AJ asked calmly.

“If you’re seeing some sort of pest devouring all the trees, then yes, yes I am,” I replied grimly. AJ threw her hat to the ground angrily.

“Gosh darn it! If it ain’t fruit bats it’s parasprites! If it ain’t parasprites it’s this!” Applejack ranted.

“I don’t suppose you know how long it’ll take to get more trees?” I asked hesitantly.

“Well that depends. Iffen we wait fer another order from up north, about a week and a half,” AJ replied evenly.

“And our other option would be?” I was almost afraid to ask.

“There’s a grove o’ evergreens that grow in tha Everfree, because Celestia forbid that place make a lick o’ sense, and if y’all help me bring some back, you’ll get your trees and I’ll owe ya a huge favor,” AJ answered.

I wasn’t eager to trudge into the Everfree in the cold, but I did need those trees and having AJ owe me a favor was quite tempting. With my choice all but made for me, we quickly made some preparations for our expedition and headed out.

AJ and I marched through the fresh snowfall deeper and deeper into the forest. Wandering around the twisted forest was bordering on old hat for AJ. I, however, didn’t have quite that much experience. I had gone on some expeditions with Summer or Fluttershy, but today’s hunt for the evergreens took us far deeper into the forest than I had ever been before.

Thankfully with winter proper nearly upon us, most of the more troublesome creatures had gone into hibernation for the season. Thus did we come to the grove of trees unmolested. Unbeknownst to us, our luck was about to take an interesting turn and by ‘interesting’ I mean in the Chinese curse kind of way. Just as we set about cutting down the first of the trees…

“WHO DARES DISTURB US?!” A booming voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere nearly gave us both heart attacks. Both AJ and I searched for the source of the voice and came up empty.

“Who’s asking?” AJ asked wearily, her eyes continually scanning the area.

“I am the sacred protector of this grove since time immemorial!” The voice replied haughtily. This response got AJ to arch an eyebrow.

“If you’ve been here since ‘time immemorial’ then where was ya when I was here about two years ago?” Trust Applejack to be able to sniff out a con. My heart was still trying to escape my chest after the voice startled me.

“I was asleep,” The voice tried to claim after taking just a beat too long to answer. AJ and I shared a look.

“Sure you were, now why don’t you come out here and talk to us face to face?” I proposed.

“I don’t parley with mortals,” The voice tried to sound imperious but ended up sounding more petulant.

“Well, if y’all won’t talk to us proper like, I guess we’ll just take these trees and leave,” AJ replied and we made like we were going to go back to cutting down the trees.

“WAIT!” Out from behind one of the nearby trees sprang what could only be a dryad. She wore a simple one piece dress made of maple leaves that started green at the top and gradually progressed to fall orange, reds, and yellows, and finally dead browns at the bottom. Her hair looked like it was made of evergreen needles, yet also like normal hair at the same time. Her hair was done up in a long ponytail. Her eyes, somewhat appropriately, where a pure green color with no discernable pupil or iris. Her skin, however, was a mild oddity to me. Instead of her skin being bark like or a greenish hew, her skin was a pink so pale as to almost be white.

“Finally decided to show yourself?” AJ asked briskly.

“Please, don’t take my trees! I’ll do anything!” The dryad begged with such vehemence that both AJ and I were taken by surprise. This surprise was only compounded when she threw herself to the ground to grovel before us, “Absolutely anything!”

“Er, there’s no need fer that now,” AJ blushed.

“You’ll leave my trees alone?” The dryad asked hopefully.

“We need the trees, but I’m sure if we talk it out, we can come to a solution that’ll make everyone happy,” I said, “First things first, introductions. I’m Ranma and this is Applejack. What’s your name, miss?”

“Thistle,” She replied quietly.

“Any particular reason y’all tried to scare us to an early grave?” AJ said with a mild reproach in her voice and Thistle flinched.

“I’m sorry…I just…I couldn’t…I didn’t want…” Thistle started tearing up, “I didn’t want to lose another home!” She started crying in earnest.

“Lose another home?” I prompted gently.

“Those stupid Timberwolves tore down my old tree last fall! They ripped it apart! My home! My beautiful tree! While I was still inside and sleeping!” She wailed. I couldn’t imagine how traumatic it must be to have your home defiled around you. Compassion drove me to gather the weeping dryad in a hug. Thistle clutched onto me like a lifeline as she continued crying.

“Shucks, I’m sorry ta hear that,” AJ said awkwardly. If Thistle heard her, she made no indication of it. I simply continued to comfort her until she cried herself out.

“Sorry…” She said hoarsely as she wiped her eyes clean.

“No need to apologize,” I replied simply.

“So what are we gonna do now?” AJ asked bluntly. I shot her a look, but she was right in that we still had business here. Fortunately I had the start of an idea.

“Thistle, how many trees do you need?” I asked.

“I only really need one, but it’s more comfortable with more of them,” Thistle answered honestly.

“Good, Thistle, how would you feel if we transplanted one of these trees to my property and added a few more tress come spring?” I proposed.

“WHAT?!” Both Thistle and AJ exclaimed.

“Think about it, we get the trees we need, Thistle gets a home away from the possibility of Timberwolves and in town if her tree ever gets sick or otherwise needs care, we’ll be right there for her,” I explained.

“That does sound nice…” Thistle mumbled, “But…being around people…”

“My land is a fair bit outside Ponyville proper, so you don’t have to interact with anyone besides me once the construction of my house is done,” I assured her.

“Are you sure about this Ranma?” AJ asked.

“As sure as I am about anything,” I replied and I’m sure that response didn’t give AJ a whole lot of comfort.

“I accept,” Thistle decided.

“Alright, pick out the tree you want us to transplant and we’ll get started.”

Originally this was just going to be AJ and Ranma wandering around the Everfree and chatting for a bit. Then Thistle sprang into being and the rest is history.