‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town

Ponies hurried to wrap all their last-minute gifts.

Festive tins for the baker, or a plush new nightgown,

Even weights on a weight rack for the pony who lifts.

But one princess just couldn’t decide what to do,

What to pick, what to wrap, what to tie with a bow,

She paced back and forth, wearing thin one horse-shoe,

‘Til one moment, it struck her, and she gasped an “I know!”

“I’ll cast a new spell,” she said to herself,

“One with whimsy and fanciful planning, you see,”

and she grabbed vials and bottles off her potion shelf,

“And I’ll mix it with special ingredients three:”

“First is HOPE, for the ponies who might feel a loss,

it’s important to know that with dark comes the light,”

and her flourishing hoof gave the bottle a toss,

just to catch it again and add three drops—just right.

“Next comes PEACE, for the ones who are harried and stress’d,

may they find in the future their work all completed,”

She sprinkled some fairy dust, fresh is the best,

although her fresh stock had been almost depleted.

“Add in JOY, because laughter can cure any ill,”

and she ground up some herbs which were fragrant and green,

“Mix it all up with care, for it’s no mundane pill,

I’ve concocted a brew that is fit for a queen.”

Now she whispered some magical words, just a hush,

As she stirred down and simmered and swirled her hot bowl,

“Lock in Alicorn magic, but you can’t ever rush,”

Incanting a prayer that bound fragments to whole.

“Now they’re complete,” she said, splitting doses in jars,

“One for each of my friends,” wrapping bows on the tops,

“We’ll enjoy these together tonight, under stars,

ringing in Christmas morn with a party that pops!”

Then she dressed up in layers and trekked to the wood,

For the festive friend meet-up was not far to go,

Hearing “Happy Hearthswarming, Princess,” and “A good

Evening to you” from fillies who played in the snow.

She arrived at a clearing, all decked out with lights;

Tinsel, baubles, and crystals adorned every tree,

And it warmed up her heart that on cold winter’s night,

Her five close pony friends and one dragon to see.

“Welcome, Twilight!” said Spike, and he took to the air,

flapping gracefully ‘round the main central tall pine,

He worked up a big breath of his dragon-burn-flare,

And exhaled it to make that tree’s tip-top-star shine.

“What a beautiful setting,” Twi said with a wonder,

hugging friends and recalling the holidays past,

“Let nopony e’er tear up our friendship asunder,

And ne’er let us e’er see one night be our last.”

“Hear hear!” they all cheered, raising up the hot cider,

With the air full of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove,

Birds and bunnies joined in, yes and even a spider,

Sharing drinks, games, and snacks while wood crack’d in the stove.

Applejack was the first to call out her great gift,

“Gather ‘round, y’all, and see what I’ve carefully carved,

some fine bookends of applewood, so tomes won’t shift

when you stack them and trust them to stand firm and hard.”

“What a wonderful thought,” thanked each pony in turn,

each one holding their wooden gifts close to inspect

the fine graven and polished details that would earn

on their home bookshelf showcases central respect.

Next said Fluttershy, “I confess that I did need

From the buzzy bees help to make taste all the better,”

while she passed around bottles of well-aged fine mead,

And some home-made bee candles embossed with a letter.

“Your beeswax is marked with your elements, girls,

Because that’s what keeps all of us bound true and right,

and the flames are enchanted with spells of Starswirl’s,

to forever burn brightly, in darkest of night.”

Rainbow Dash spoke up next, handing out a small card,

“I know it’s not much but I really put care,

into making this gift, yes I thought really hard,”

On each paperboard shimmered a hologram fair.

“It’s remembrance of times that we might have found tough,

Challenges or bad thoughts might have bent us to breaking,

But we always pulled through! Our resolve was enough

To kick enemy butt and leave evil fiends shaking!”

“Ooh, let me give out mine,” whooped out Pinkie Pie here,

as she bounced up and down in the fluffy snow piles,

“Here are jams, spreads, and jellies which last through the year,

Sixteen spicy, sweet, sour, and savory styles!

“Try the mustard on sandwiches, salads, and soups;

try the pepper stuff just on its own or with crackers;

Serve for one or for two or your whole party troupes,

And you’re bound to get smiles which all turn into laughter!”

“They look like they taste marvelous,” next said the white

unicorn with great taste who’s named Rarity,

“My gift’s hoof-stitched pajamas for day-time or night-

time or game-time or any-time,” she said with clarity.

And the ponies felt awe at the quality soft,

Of the nightclothes which bore their insignias sewn,

Pastel colors and cute hooded pockets that oft

Would be worn in their comfy warm beds back at home.

“Let me show you,” said Spike, standing up tall and proud,

“What I made you with painstaking care and attention,

these are role-playing figurines, each one endowed

with cool strengths and bright colors, and names you can mention,

“We can play with each other, roll dice and then fighting

some monsters which snarl in the dungeons and dark!

I know we’ll prevail against orcs and their biting

And loot the rich treasures which earn the top mark!”

“Is it my turn already?” asked Princess Book Horse,

looking ‘round at her friends and her faithful assistant,

“Must you know that I love each of you, but of course,

I’m afraid of the chance that in time we grow distant,

“Or forget where we came from, or lose our true sparks,

so I’ve made up this potion and fixed with a spell

Something truly deep magic, like our cutie marks

Which is triggered each year by the Hearthswarming bells

“It does nothing so rash as to force change your mind,

Or coerce you to action or straighten your hair;

All it does is to cause you to feel love in kind

When you think of your friends and the love that we share.

“So let’s make this eve one to remember, a start

of a century’s future traditions, I say:

With gifts given for how much the smiles warm your heart,

And the bells of remembrance on Hearthswarming day!”

Tears welled up in the eyes of each pony and dragon,

As Twilight poured round the glass potion vials bright.

“To the past, present, future,” she raised up her flagon,

“Happy Hearthswarming to all, and to all a good night!”

They drank down the spiked homemade cider with zest,

And gradually felt warm and cozy of belly,

“Now let’s start with the dancing!” at somepony’s behest,

“And the food and the games and the bowls full of jelly!”

Then the six pastel equines who’d been through so long

Made merry and partied through deep winter’s night.

When morning came crisply, they all joined in song

Ringing in the new day and new year and new light.