Hi everypony! My name is Dauntless Heart and I am a Guard pony.
Say! I love Hearts Warming Eve. A time when I can meet with my family. Have fun, play games with my two sisters. Talk with my folks about... anything really! I love my family and Hearts Warming Eve. Because of my work that day is the only one when I can see them.

Speaking of which, have you ever how my life looks because of my job? Well it's a dozy (avoiding the word draining my strength) but rewarding and I would never want to change it for the world! But, let me tell you of a particular day in my life have thought me.

---

The morning bright light enchanted by the white snow flown slowly into my cozy wooden house. I was woken up by it. Gently I might add. Way more pleasant than waking up in the Young Flyers School.

I opened my eyes, stretched my hooves and let out a yawn. I quickly ran my schedule of the day in my head. Nothing much. My post is at the Canterlot gates where it usually is. Then I had a sudden realization

Like A Wonderbolt rushing through the sky i remembered one important thing today. A rush of energy got me up from bed and I ran to my calendar
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" I yelled and jumped from joy! The one day that I await the whole year. The most euphoric day was here. My family will be here today! It's the Hearts Warming Eve!

I could not hold my excitement. i jumped and giggled. Screamed from the top of my lunges "Yesyesyesyes!" I looked at the clock. They usually arrive at noon. And I am going to be late for work... Whoops!
My hopping and squeing like a little colt will have to wait. Just a little bit. He, he! I ran to my closet which welcomed me with a golden glimmer of my armor. I put it on fitting it tightly and marveling at my good looks. Then I ran out the door to my work.
The snow was falling silently on the Canterlot streets. It covered the high spires and colorful roofs of the shiny buildings, where all the clean, prim and proper, fancy ponies liv. The colts and fillies played in the streets, throwing snowballs from their snow fortresses, that they built. Occasionally they thrown the snowballs at the royal ponies that walked by and then hid, snickering because of the perfect throws. It wasn’t something that I approved of but I didn’t have time to talk with the little ponies. It was already time for my shift.
I ran as fast as I could Since it was about 30 minutes away from my post to home, running there would make anyone gasping for air. But knowing that my family was coming gave me strength to endure. Even if I have to run for miles! I maneuvered between ponies with gifts coming from shops. From right to left, zig and zag. I ran between them like I was skating on ice. Then from nowhere, like they came from the ground, two ponies carrying a tree were in front of me. I was maybe a few steps away from a catastrophic crash and a closer meeting of me and the tree. I squatted and leaped into the air. I felt the needles of the tree gently mushing my coat as I jumped above the tree. The landing was soft. Well, almost If the armor was cotton but Hey, it could have been worse! I continued my run as I heard the two ponies screaming at me calling me crazy. I apologized and was on my way.



The gate was just a few hooves away. It was a giant Silver Gate between a two long guard towers where the Guard ponies were staying when it was cold. Usually we stay outside and check anyone who wants to enter but in days such as these we stay in the warm boots. We don’t want anybody to catch a cold, now do we? I galloped as fast as my hooves could carry me. Then I saw my Pegasus friend coming out of the guard boot and stopped suddenly. But I did not stop. Well this sort of things happens when it’s cold, snowy and you’re wearing metal hove protection. Instead of stopping I crashed into my friend
After I opened my eyes I found myself crashed on my friend who was very unhappy.
“Dauntless?” he asked politely with an irritated tone
“Yes?” I smiled while probably having the goofiest expression in the world
“How many times now?” I thought of that for a second. How many times did I crashed Into him? That did not happen only in winter
“Too many to count?”
“Exactly…” he responded



After the incident I occupied my post. Our shifts were long and sometimes boring but nevertheless it is something I always wanted to do. Protect ponies, make sure no harm comes to them. So that they can sleep peacefully at night and have a safe day.
Today was different though.
My family was going to come through this very gate! There weren’t many occasions for me to greet them like this. Usually they would come when I was at work and stay at my home which I leave unlocked only for this day.
I was excited! The joy in me was about to burst and barely could hold myself from hopping in place.
“Dauntless?” asked my friend who also had post with me “Why are you jumping in place?” I guess I’m happier than I thought! I came back to myself only to notice that I was in fact hopping in place. It was an awkward situation to which I replied with a smile.
A few minutes past. Then an hour. Two. Three. I figured that they must have taken the later train or that it’s just running late. Five hours passed, the sun was already hiding behind the mountains coloring the sky in warm oranges and pinks. The walls and the valley were overflowing with calm sea of gold colors.
The ponies were coming through the gate. Families and friends, some of them carrying tree and gifts. I asked some ponies if the train was late. They said that because of the snow some of the trains are late and the rest are unsure if they will make it for the Hearts Warming Eve.



It was evening, the sun was down and my shift ended. I walked out of my post with a heavy heart. My family won’t make it for the Eve. I walked with my head hung down dragging my hooves when suddenly somepony jumped in front of me.
“Hey Daunty!” screamed a cheerful, warm voice
It was my friend. A mare. Her name is Ember and she is a Luna Guard pony. She is a Pegasus but with bat wings like all of Luna Guard ponies. She has a violet mane, black coat and beautiful sky blue eyes. She wore the traditional Luna Guard armor which was like mine but with a spiky front plate and it’s color was purple with night sky color also she didn’t like to wear a helmet if she was off duty. Without me even noticing her face was close to mine.
“Hey. What’s wrong?” she asked. I sighted and told her the story…



Ember. My long time friend. She knows me more than anypony. I could always count on her as she could on me. We always supported each other and right now I needed it the most.
“I’m sure they will make it” she said as we walked the streets of Canterlot
“But the trains are stuck in the snow. I don’t think that trains can go through tons of snow”
“Maybe not but I know that you’re family wouldn’t miss this day”
“Thank you Ember but I don’t think that there is anything they or you can do to help them get here”
Sudenly a gust of air blown in my face. Ember was in front of me and flapped her wings after which she jumped on me.
“Listen here mister!” she said energetically “This is not how you act! Dauntless Heart that I know wouldn’t be so pessimistic!”
“But there is no way…”
“Snap out of it!” She yelled at surprising me. There was a moment of silence after which she walked back and her face showed concern. “Listen. I belive, with my whole heart, that they will come. You know why? Because today is the one day in the whole year that they wouldn’t miss. The day that they can see you.”
I was surprised. Her words made my heart warmer. “They would move the sky and mountains to see their beloved son and brother” She was right. No matter what happens I need to believe. I was happy again.
“Thank you Ember” I said
“You don’t have to thank me. I learned that from somepony special.”
“Who?” I asked curious
She did not answer but instead giggled. I was puzzled. “Well, who was it?” I asked curiously as we walked to my home.



We made it to my house in a few minutes. All the way I tried to talk Ember into telling me who thought her that lesson but she just looked at me and kept on giggling. Whatever the situation may be I was happy that she supported me and that she was here. With me. Supporting, me…
Anyway I opened the door to my home and a giant bright light blinded me. “HI DAUNTY!”
I could not believe my ears, and later, my eyes.

My family was here… My sisters, father, mother, granny and grandpa. I felt tears running down my cheeks. More so when my sisters ran to me and hugged me. Then the rest of my family joined the hug. My happiness cannot be measured. I was beyond happy. I looked at Ember once again. She was as happy as I was. Later we all fun. We sang, eat cake, drank punch and I danced with everybody. Even with my lamp hat on my head, for some reason.

This day is the one day in the year when I can see my family. They always support me, help me and love me. When I wanted to become a Royal Guar they all helped and supported me. Any sadness sickness or problem that became me, they helped fight. And now I realized that there is one more pony that did the same for me.
Ember

I walked up the stairs and to my balcony. A quiet half round place with a few flowers surrounding it. She was there, watching the stars, her mane flowing on the wind.
I went to my room and grabbed a long scarf then walked to her and gently wrapped it around her. She noticed that it was me and smiled. Her smiles were always so… ekhem, well yes. Anyway I sat besides her. She was watching the night sky. Millions of white diamonds on the sky brightly sparkled and the moon gave light to every, even the tiniest snow flake. Wow, when did I got so cheesy?
“It’s a beautiful night” Ember said
“And the best night” I added “Thank you for being there for me Ember”
“You should listen to me more often” she said with a smirk
“Maybe I should… And from now on I will. Thank you Ember”
Then I felt how she wrapped the scarf around my neck surprising me in a positive way. “No. Thank you…” she replied
We looked at each other for some time. “Ember and Daunty sitting in a tree!”
It were my two sisters singing about us. Oh boy. But Ember only giggled while having a reddest and warmest looking cheeks. Speaking of which, does anybody fell warm right now? No? Only me?

The rest of the family came to join us. We watched the night sky together all night, and even saw two falling stars. Me and Ember both had a wish. What wish? Hi, hi! That is our secret.

---

Dear Princess Celestia
Today I learned the most important lesson of my life. No matter how bad you’re day is, how bad the situation is, how dark it may be, there will always be someone who loves you and is there for you. Family, friends, you’re love. No matter because there always will be someone there to hold you. To help you. Because Friendship is Magic

You’re faithful Royal Guard
Dauntless Heart