>T'was the day before Hearth's Warming, and all about the land, >All the ponies were a-scurry, preparing for next day planned. >For all the little ponies knew of such a cheer >That an alicorn named 'Saint Bonnie' would soon be here. >Though the cheer spread far, it wasn't spread all, >For a resident Anon's cheer was found to be small. >He did not celebrate the holiday himself, you see >For Anon celebrated a day called 'Christmas', he did it with glee. >But he was the only one who knew what Christmas was, >So on that day he shut himself away from all the buzz… >"HI, ANON!" Pinkie beamed, her joy well-renowned, >As her bouncing and pronking were Anon-bound. >Anon flinched as his friend, 'Ponk', entered his house, >Waking him from a nap, along with his mouse. >"What do you want?" he growled, grumpy as hell. >"Just saying hi~. Though, you don't have to yell." >He sighed. For Anon, this was a horrible day. >It reminded him for all his family taken away. >"What's wrong, Anon?" Pinkie asked. "Did I make you mad?" >"Sorry," he admitted. "Just feeling a little sad." >"Sad?!" Pinkie screamed. "NO NO NO, CAN'T HAVE THAT! >"We need to get you presents! A train! A toy! A hat! >"OOh! Maybe some festive fudge I've been cooking all week-" >"PINKIE!" Anon interrupted. "I'm fine. Don't worry about the freak." >By freak he referred to himself, for a reason >That made him unhappy to be a human this season. >"O-ohh…" Pinkie stammered. "But I wanted to get something >"So you wouldn't, well, not GET anything!" >"I'm fine, really," he stated, but Pinkie did not listen. >For soon he saw that her eyes started to glisten. >And soon he was whisked away by a pink fluffy blur. >Onward to Sugarcube Corner! With Ponk as his chauffeur. >"Good afternoon, Anon!" said Twilight, a smile across her face. >"You finally decide to leave your old place?" >Anon scowled. "Ha ha, very funny. I blame Pinkie "For bringing me out here, away from my stinky >"Home." He grumbled again. He'd rather not be here. >"Come onnnn, Nonny, at least have some cheer." >"Here," Twilight said. "I'll buy you something to eat." >"Mr. Cake, can I get a Super-Duper Deluxe Choco-Lover Treat??" >"Sure thing, Princess!" he said, chipper as ever, >And off he went to undertake this endeavor, >Leaving you and Twilight and Pinkie to stand >In a gingerbread house that was completely grand. >It took a matter of minutes, but it was done. >Now the dessert was ready, and his consumption begun. >God, it's so good, Anon mentally noted. >Though, he noticed a Pink Pony doted >Upon his shoulder. Why did she care? >He longed to be loved; no colt or mare >Could replace the family and friends he had. >'>implying Anon had friends. bro, u glad?' >Indeed I am, my friend. But that is not the point. >But here in the story, we're at a joint. >Perhaps Anon can find it in his heart >To embrace the holiday spirit, each and every part. >Anon, munching on his dessert, to himself wondered >Why, after many a good day in Ponyville plundered >These ponies would be nice to him. Perhaps they sought >To give him good cheer, that they might ought >To wish him well on this fine day. To him, that was weird. >Why'd they care about him, a no-family neckbeard. >"Soooo, Anon, you gonna open my present?" >To your surprise, indeed a gift that Twilight meant >For you to open rested upon your lap. "Huh," he grunted. >"Thanks, Starbutt." And the present of which he confronted >He opened up. Wrappings, ribbon- Holy shit! >Was that a? Hoo boy, yeah it was. His lip he bit. >Twilight Sparkle had gotten him a book. >And- was it? Yeah it was! It had that look(?!)! >"Do you like it?" she asked. And, still in shock, >He nodded. "I l-love it, Twilight! Oh my god," he would balk. >"THANK YOU SO MUCH TWILIGHT! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!" >"I had to do some heavy research, it's probably off a touch, >"But I'm very glad you like it!" She was nearly ecstatic. >At his reaction, a glee so charismatic. ?! - Full disclosure here, it was a Captain Underpants book. What, you thought it was 'Twilight'? For that there's no hook. >"Oh, there you are, darling!" came the sweet voice >Of Rarity, the most generous mare by choice. >"OH! Uh- Hi Rarity," he said, a stammer made apparent. >"Oh, dear Anon, are you here on an errand? >"Or perhaps you're going to embrace the cheer >"That Old Saint Bonnie will soon bring here?" >He rolled his eyes. "Anon, don't roll your eyes, >"It's supposed to be a fun time for all sizes." >"Sorry, Rarity," Anon said. "Just that I don't believe >"In the Equestrian holiday of Hearth's Warming Eve. >"Though…I'm not against enjoying the day, just, y'know, >"Speaking as a human in Equestria. By the way, so much snow!" >She sighed. "I know it must be strange to you, still, >"But no pony- well, no human, for that matter, will >"Remain unloved on today of all days. I got you a present." >Oh boy another present, Anon thought. He took what she sent >And opened it up. Was that? Oh jeez, it WAS! >"Oh my God is that a new suit? For what cause?!" >Indeed, the new fancy suit was a dark violet >And had a rich green shirt, and a tie hued of scarlet. >"I figured you needed something to replace that old rag >"That you always wear. Please, feel free to brag~" >He jokingly wondered if everyone in Ponyville >Was gonna give him presents. Some force of will. >Then, he heard the rough, brash call >Of Top Cunt's voice. God help us all. >"Hey there, Green-bean." Yep, fucking Rainbow Dash. >"What?" he deadpanned. "Here to give me a splash?" >"Nahhh, just came here to give you a gift." >Huh? A gift? For him? His bane looked adrift, >She never got him anything for Christmas- >Sorry, Hearth's Warming. But still, this was >Very off. "Okay?" He took the bag. And he started >To open it…his own eyes darted >To the picture that lay inside. It was a photograph >Of Rainbow Dash, bottom up by at least half. >OF ALL THE DAYS SHE COULD HAVE MESSED WITH HIM, >SHE JUST HAD TO PICK THIS ONE. Anon's head brimmed >With fury, and he got up to leave in stride. >"Anon? Where are you going? Don't you want to come inside?" >His fury untapped, he finally started to yell. >"You know what, Rainbow Dash, go to hell!" >"ANON! What are you-" Princess Twilight began. >"No shut up, I'm going home. Much better than >"Staying here with this fucking cunt. >"Good day, good night, and Happy Whatever, >"I'm not coming back, not today, not ever!" >He left, his yelling subsided. And he didn't turn back. >And everypony there wondered what had made him crack. >But Anon knew. He knew full well why he snapped. >Each year, on this day, he felt trapped >With no one to be with. He had no family >Here to help him be happy or full of glee. >And I saw him run home, tears in his eyes. >An idea I had, like a lightbulb it flies. >So I made great haste. I needed to be quick, >If I wanted to do the job of 'Saint Nick'. >Onwards to Anon's house, a place full of clatter >So I could see myself just what was the matter. >And there I saw him, full of tears and beer, >No doubt miserable from lack of holiday cheer. >Normally I would enjoy this sad display >But I didn't. Not here, and not today. >It had to be stopped. Putting out my wick, >I thought of a plan, and I thought it up quick. >Adjusting my voice to a deep baritone, >I called out to him. "YOU ARE NOT ALONE." >Startled by my booming voice, he whimpered, >"Who's there?" His anger's probably simmered. >"IT IS I, THE GREAT SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY. >I'VE COME TO SHOW YOU CHEER. COME THIS WAY. >Not waiting for him, I cast a little spell >To show him sights of those who had meant well, >And into his very mindscape I leapt >To discover where his sorrow had kept. >Inside his dreams I saw his past. >Of friends, family, humans amassed. >"THIS WAS YOUR HOME, WAS IT NOT?" >"Yeah. Mom, dad, friends. They all sought >"To keep me happy on Christmas each year. >"But now…" he sighed. As to their fate, I feared. >"They're gone. All of them. I can't go back. >"Trust me, the other have tried." The area went black. >"Whoever you are, spirit or not, just go away. >"Leave me be, on this whatever eve or day." >Not content with his answer, you knew it had begun. >So another spell cast and the dreamscape spun >Into a different sort of place. Of Sugarcube Corner, >With all of the ponies gathered to discuss the foreigner. >"Rainbow Dash, what the BUCK?!" Twilight screamed. >"That was very bad! You saw how his tears streamed!" >"I told you I was sorry!" Rainbow shouted. "But I thought >"He would like that sort of thing." Apparently not. >"Well, we can't change the past," Rarity sighed. >"But we can still cheer him up. We'll do it tonight!" >Anon looked towards wherever the voice came from. >I kept myself hidden. Better to keep him dumb >As to your being. "Why are you showing my this?" >"YOU ARE NOT ALONE. THEY, TOO, SHALL MISS >"YOU IF THINGS KEEP ALONG THEIR CURRENT PATH." >"Alright, that settles it! We'll go an' surprise >"The pants offa Anon before sunrise." >"Yeah! Don't worry, Nonny, we'll save you from death!" >"Pinkie, he's not in mortal danger. Don't hold your breath." >And I saw Anon's face contort to mixed emotion. >"T-They care? W-Why would they make a motion >"To try and help me?" And to that I said this. >"YOU ARE NOT ALONE, BOY. THEY, TOO, SHALL MISS >"YOU IF FATE KEEPS ALONG ITS CURRENT PATH. >"C-Current path? The fuck?" And now, upon his profane tongue >The land once more distorted into a new life unsung… >It was a cold, stormy winter night. >About a year after the fateful blight. >"Where am I?" he asked, and I only nodded >Towards the Sugarcube Corner. It was kind of blotted. >He ran towards it, and saw a familiar face. >"Pinkie Pie?" It was her, and though the laws of time-space >Prevented her from seeing him, he saw her sorrow. >"What happened to her?" he asked, her emotion he borrowed. >"Oh…Anon, why did you have to leave us here?" >"Leave?" he asked. But his sorrow fell on a deaf ear. >"You could have at least said why." >And off she went to deliver a pie. >I once again pointed to an enormous tree. >The very castle that stood as far as the eye could see. >And he went there, hoping to clear up confusion. >Instead he saw Twilight, in a suit that was a fusion >Of what they wore and what he wore. >"T-that's my suit.." he noted. "I need to know more." >And Twilight sighed. "I'm going, Spike. To see >"Anon once more. Take care of the place for me." >She walked off, towards a then-unknown place, >With me and Anon following her with great haste. >There I saw it. Old Ponyville's Graveyard, >Home to the old, the sick, and the charred. >"W-why is she going here?" Anon asked with hesitance. >"I THINK YOU KNOW WHY." I said. His countenance >Grimaced, and he walked over to where Twilight lay. >"Oh, Anon…I'm sorry. It was on this day >"That you left us. If I had known- >"Well…if any of us knew why you were alone, >"I'd have come sooner. I did what I could, >"…the others. They tried to move on. >"But the news made it a harsh unwelcome dawn. >"I'm sorry. Happy Hearth's Warming, Anonymous." >And she got up, tears in her eyes, body autonomous. >Anon looked upon the stone that she her prayers gave >And saw that it was his stone, his very own grave. >He was stunned by the very sight of a tombstone >That bore his name. Unable to cope with it, he moaned. >"This has got to be a joke! You can't be serious!" >But I was. I told him that. He was furious. >"I don't want to die, I don't want them to live their life >"With the fact that I left them in strife! >"I need to go, Spirit! I need to stop this from happening!" >"YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE FUTURE. CEASE YOUR HAGGLING." >And with his fear instilled I cast one last spell >That would wake him from this Celestial-forsaken hell. >I vanished from the sight, and he woke from his napping >To find that a pony was upon his door a-tapping. >"Anon? Anon, are you there?" she called. >That was definitely the voice which drawled >Of fear and worry. "I am, Twilight." >"Can we come in?" she asked, and he beheld the sight >Of six ponies; THE six ponies, all came in >To visit Anon. He knew why they visited him. >"We were worried that you had, er, that you weren't >"Happy with today. I'm sorry if you felt burnt-" >But he came up to them and hugged them so warmly, >As his entire being finally filled with holiday glee >And his heart grew three sizes that day. >(To me, I find that a tad bit too gay.) >"Thanks, girls," he choked. "I needed that, I think." >Then he saw something. He took the moment to blink. >Was it the spirit he saw, or something else- nay. >It couldn't be anything else but the sight of a sleigh. >It was the vehicle of the mysterious Saint Bonnie, >Flying away with a sack of toys which looked not-too-scrawny, >Off to spread holiday cheer, late into the night. >And he smiled, the old human; and I did, too, though very slight. >But upon the house I saw no need to dwell. >And away I left, for now his heart was well. >And as his friend Pinkie gave him a present to unwrap >I close this story now, the cover soon to flap. >And I, Discord, called out as I flew out of sight, >"Merry Whatever to all, and to all a good night!"