Survival or Free Will?
Luna rests her head on her forehooves, and looks up as microscopic snowflakes drift lazily through the sky, a book underneath her elbows. She exhales, her ghostly breath twisting upwards. Luna closes her eyes. Her mind closes off everything from the invasion to being trapped in a cocoon. Right now, all Luna wants is to hear the chime of snowflakes just as her friend taught her to.
The aroma of nutmeg and warm milk fills her nostrils. Luna opens her eyes and sees a mug of eggnog levitating besides her. Gently, her magic wraps around the mug and she takes a small sip. The rich, almost bubblegum taste makes her stomach beg for more.
“How is it?” Celestia asks while trotting up to Luna, a red mug in her magic’s grasp.
“Like home.” Luna says before taking another sip.
The two sisters stand in silence; their eyes follow the falling snowflakes. Only the occasional sipping broke the tranquil stillness.
After a few minutes, Celestia clears her throat, “The pegasi really outdid themselves this year. This snow is truly magnificent.”
“Yes, it is quite nice.” Luna says.
Celestia turns to look at her sister, “Luna, what are you think of?”
Luna gazes into her half full mug and uses her magic to twirl the cup, creating a miniature eggnog whirlpool, “Nothing dear sister, I’m just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Everything,”
Celestia chuckles, “You’re going to have to be a little more specific.”
Luna shifts her gaze back up at the cloudy sky, “Why does Hearth's Warming exist?”
Celestia raises an eyebrow, “To make sure the Windigos don’t come back. Don’t you remember the stories mother and father use to tell us?”
“I remember them clearly sister but, is that the only reason this holiday exists?”
“I-Luna, what makes you think that?”
Luna uses her magic to levitate the silver book in front of Celestia and, flips it to A Hearth’s Warming Tale, “This is the reason.”
“I’m sorry Luna, but I don’t understand.”
“Do you know what this story is about?”
“Of course I do.” Celestia’s voice has a tint of annoyance in it. Just what is her sister going on about?
“I was rereading it when I came to a realization. Hearth’s Warming isn’t about being nice to everypony, it’s all about survival. If you don’t celebrate this holiday, then the Windigos are going to come and destroy all of Equestria. How can this be a supposedly heartwarming tale when the fate of Equestria rests on whether or not ponies act nice to each other?”
Celestia takes a step back, “What do you mean by act?” her voice is barely above a whisper.
“Mother always made me believe that Hearth’s Warming was one day out of the entire year that everypony would set aside their differences and come together as one. But now I realize that it was all a lie! Ponies don’t come together out of their own free will; they come together because of the Windigos!” She releases the book and it tumbles to the ground with a thud. Tears fill the rims of Luna’s eyes and, she takes several gulps of eggnog to try and calm her thudding heart.
Celestia puts a wing around Luna and pulls her close, “It’s true that this holiday’s sole purpose was to protect the ponies from the Windigos but-” she waves a hoof out towards the city of Canterlot.
Ponies in plush coats were milling around the streets. Some were singing by stores while others were handing out food and clothes to dirt covered ponies. There was even a stallion passing out doughnuts to passing fillies and colts.
“-it turned into something so much more.”
“How? They’re just being nice out of fear.”
“Luna, in order for the Windigos to stay away ponies just have to mildly tolerate each other. Maybe give a few compliments here and there, but just look at what it’s become.”
Luna drifts her gaze to Canterlot once more, a small smile appears on her lips as the realization hits her. The generosity, the kindness, the laughter that floats out of these houses, she could feel the magic in the air shimmering around her. She always thought that this magic was just due to everypony using their magic to bake, gift wrap, and to set up decorations. However, the longer Luna concentrates, she could notice microscopic differences like in the different types of magical currents. Hearts Warming magic flows more smoothly then other types of magic.
“Celestia, I’m going down there.” Luna says before draining her eggnog in once gulp and, setting the now empty mug onto the ground.
Celestia smiles and places her mug down as well, “I think that will be a lovely decision.”She flaps her wings and takes off down towards the streets below.
“Wait for me!” Luna exclaims before taking off after her sister.
They land silently and look around. A few pedestrians gaze at them with wide eyes. Celestia gives them a wave which they return with great gusto before heading on their way.
“What would you like to see?” Celestia asks.
Luna’s eyes wander across the festively decorative windows. She takes a deep breath. The earthly aroma of pine and the sugary scent of cookies make her mouth water. Just like a bloodhound, she sticks her muzzle into the air and her hooves soon follow the path her nose lays out. Celestia and everything else begins to fade away, leaving only Luna and the heavenly aroma.
Celestia smiles as she follows her sister. She couldn’t help but giggle at how silly her sister looks with her muzzle proudly in the air, eyes closed, and hooves pitter pattering across the street in long strides.
Even in all these years you still haven’t changed. Celestia thinks to herself as they pass by several houses decorated with wreaths and holly flowers. She peers into the frost covered windows and smiles as ponies gather around a blazing fireplace telling stories. Celestia couldn’t help but drift back to the simpler times, when she and Luna were still fillies living with their parents. A lump forms in her throat. Just thinking about her parents made Celestia’s body freeze up. However, she tries her best to shake it off. She must be fully there for Luna.
Luna slowly flutters her eyes open and stares up at the shop. Candles flicker in the windows and a miniature tree entirely constructed out of donuts stood in the middle with all its glory. Luna opens the door and trots inside, Celestia right at her heels.
“Good evening Joe.” Celestia says as she and Luna take a seat at a table.
Joe smiles and canters over to the two sisters, a notepad and pencil levitating around him, “What can I get for you princesses?”
“The usual please,” Celestia says.
“Gingerbread,” Luna pipes up.
“Wonderful choices,” Joe says while writing in his notepad, “I’ll be right back.”
Once he left, Luna turns towards her sister with a raised eyebrow, “You come here often?”
“When Twilight was a filly, every Friday we would come here after her studies,” Celestia’s eyes gleam with nostalgia, “though I believe the last time I came here was about two years ago.”
“Oh,” Luna replies before gazing out of the window. The frost is thick, which only allows Luna to make out blotches of ponies here and there.
“You should visit her sometime,” Celestia exclaims, “without a looming threat, visiting her is a nice change.”
“I just get really busy with my duties that I-“
“Luna, don’t tell me you’re shy. You visit countless of ponies every night.”
Luna uses her magic to levitate the silverware into a pyramid, “But that’s only in their dreams and, most of them are fillies or colts.”
Celestia gives a small smile and places a hoof on Luna’s shoulder, making her look up, “I’m sure Twilight would love to see you again Luna, trust me.”
Luna sighs, “Okay, I shall make reservations next week.”
“Good,” Celestia says.
The donuts soon come which end their conversations. Luna takes a bite and smiles as the sweet ginger glaze melts in her mouth. This is truly the best Heath’s Warming she’s ever had in a long time.
