Once again Hearth Warming Eve saw unicorn-magicked snowfall, elaborate decoration in every household and the flavour of the hollidays wafting away from all the reunited families.
Well, except from mine.
I, Constellation, a light yellow unicorn colt, was secluded from a warm hearth following my arrival at Canterlot less than a month ago and few friends made.
The School of Gifted Unicorns gave us a three-day vacation to merrily celebrate this annual holliday. All were jubilant. Well, except me.
As night fell, the clear and lucid orb hung high, spreading milky silver across the immaculate snowy street. All sorts of street ornaments danced in the blowing wind, their shadow raced like kayaks down a torrent. Such a sight, appreciated by but one pony. Who would go for a walk outside at this time?
The scene of family chatting amiably was projected by the hearth fire onto the windows along the street. Envious. Grievous.
As the sole unicorn in the bloodline, I was given high hope. I didn’t let anypony down, and successfully got accepted and matriculated into Celestia’s school. Heard that Princess Twilight was an alumna of this school. Not my concern now.
I wandered aimlessly, just like my mind did. I had no idea how many turns I had taken, how many facades I had passed, like an invisible string was pulling me somewhere.
Just then, in my foggy view, a contrasting smear of night blue came into focus.
A night blue mare, staring straight into the lightpole in her muzzle, with strange starlight-decorated mane waving freely alongside her. As I came closer, I could make out her pointy horn standing tall, and her wings hugging her sides.
The Princess of the Moon, Luna. Never had I imagined to encounter the immortal beloved princess of the realm, right here, right now, like this. But… it appeared she was stranded.
Her tongue hung out of her muzzle, sticking to the icy lightpole. Her mane and wings had already accumulated some fresh snowflake, with icicles dangling down from the tip of her horn. A cute frown was targeting at the pole trapping her here, for who knew how long.
“Princess?” I nervously came into her sight, bowing in the process. I discovered then that she was not wearing her regalia and crown as she always did, her puffy chest floof bare for the world to see. A red scarf around her neck accentuated her unparallel beauty.
She heard the commotion, and looked at me. Her frown gone, her greenish blue eyes pleading for help.
“Princess, do you require my assistance?” I said. She nodded, alongside some throaty unintelligible sounds that I failed to interpret.
“Your… tongue… stuck here?” I asked with doubt.
She nodded.
“You… want… my rescue?”
Another nod, with more muffled words.
“Alright… my princess.” I scrutinized the junction of her tongue and the pole. The iron pole had some perfect hexagonal frost crystallizing on the surface, and Princess Luna somehow touched her wet tongue to it, causing it to freeze and stuck.
I see. I had to surrender to the fact, that the millennia-old Princess of the Moon made a mistake even foals back home would not commit: licking a freezing cold lightpole during the chilly winter. The solution was also simple, as a speck of warmth will save her.
But, even for the tiniest amount of heat… Where to get it?
Suddenly the lightbulb lighted above, as a brilliant idea came to me. I still remembered the words of the professor in the School, that unicorn horns generate and emit thermal energy when casting magic. Now, I just needed to place me horn at the tip of her tongue, and do a simple illumination spell…
“Princess, I think I know a way…” I was on edge on speaking these words, “…but I need to put my horn close to your tongue.”
She was taken aback at my suggestion, surprised, clearly in thought. But at the onslaught of an abrupt gale, she shivered involuntarily. Her dropping body temperature left her little choices. After an undecipherable stare, she gave a nod.
“Please… forgive me.” With her permission, I spared another glance at her lightpole-bound tongue, still rosy and wet, gulped, lowered me head, and slowly approached me horn against…
My heart thundered in my chest, because I seldom interact this intimately with strangers, let alone a beloved princess.
My horn reached its destination at long last, a tender yet freezing feeling swept over me, making me shiver along side her.
I exhaled and introduced some resemblance of calm to my astray mind, and started to converge my magic to the horn. A spark of light radiated from the very tip, driving off the ice from her tongue and the pole, as the howling of wind echoed.
Aeons passed as the cold was finally defeated, ending Mr. Pole and the Princess’s kiss at long last.
The liberated princess backtracked a few steps, tongue instinctively retracted into her warm mouth and shook off the snow. One hoof over her muzzle, she turned to me, fierce blush adorning her cheek.
“I’m so so sorry, princess…” My eyes betrayed me trepidation within. I made her, the Princess of the Moon, lick my horn at the moment of her disadvantage. Celestia, I’ll be locked away in the dungeon!
She, however, showed no sign of resentment, not even slightest hint of irritation. With a smile and, to my surprise and horror, quickly came to me and pecked me on the cheek.
I froze. My mind devoid of any thought, jaw hanging open, unsure what to make of this.
She kissed me. On the cheek. As a venerated princess herself.
“Thank you.” With another intoxicating smile, she spread her wings and leapt for the sky. My heart was soaring in the sky along her for a brief moment.
I watched as her ethereal form disappeared over the rooftop, still revelling in the heat and fragrance left on my cheek by her, a wide grin plastered across my muzzle.
What a Hearth Warming Eve.
