Celestia’s Disastrous Hearth’s Warming
“You should come, celebrate with us.”
Not many things shocked Celestia anymore, considering the sheer amounts of things the ancient alicorn saw during her rather long life. It was hard to surprise the alicorn, and Celestia prided herself on that fact. She was always ready and prepared. Presenting the perfect, calm image to assure her ponies that everything is under control.
But this did shock her.
Twilight Velvet sipped her tea contently. Totally unfazed by the princess freezing, blinking twice and then starting to choke.
Velvet may not have been an ancient being, but she did have the most magically talented filly of the generation, if not the whole era, for a daughter. The very same daughter who was able to bend reality to her whims since infancy, and who sometimes summoned some very confused demons by sneezing.
Velvet wasn't shocked.
Not many things shocked Velvet anymore.
“Pardon?” asked Celestia after she managed to gather herself somewhat. Great wings fluttering by her side, her own cup of tea nearly spilling its continents as it shook slightly in her telekinetic grip.
“I said that you should come celebrate with us,” Velvet reaffirmed casually.
Princess Celestia’s private study was sparsely decorated in comparison to most other rooms in the royal wing of Canterlot Castle. A refuge of simplicity in a sea of lavish luxury.
It was a place where Celestia chose to meet with her latest pupils' parents every Friday as they came to pick up Twilight and Spike for the weekend.
The routine was well set by now. Night Light and Velvet would come, get fiercely hugged by the rambunctious pair of younglings appearing from thin air. The same pair then would just as quickly vanish back into their rooms. Because in spite of Twilight's zealot list making, there was always something they would leave behind. A foal might be a genius, but it still will be a foal first and foremost.
Meanwhile, Celestia would talk to the parents. Velvet and Night Light were great guests, and it was always a delight to have them.
Of course, there were exceptions. Once in a blue moon, Twilight's parents would be unable to come. It was unavoidable, with both of them having demanding jobs, requiring lots of travel.
Celestia always had to hide her excitement whenever that happened. She may have enjoyed Velvets and Night Lights visits, but she simply cherished spending free time with her ever inquisitive pupil and the ball of adorableness that was Spike more. The castle staff did not mind either. There wasn't a soul in the castle that didn't adore the purple filly and her scaly companion.
Yes, Twilight could make a mess - ripping holes into the fabric of the universe and such. And Spike’s accidents involving setting curtains on fire by burping were a problem. Yet, they also made the dreary and boring days at the castle so much more bearable by simply existing in the castle's perimeter.
And then there were holidays.
Canterlot was covered by a blanket of snow. The air was crisp and cold. Laughter and merry songs sounded in the streets. Fairy lights lit the city in colors.
Hearth's Warming was here.
The week proceeded as normal - well, as normal as it can be when one has a supremely magically gifted nine-year-old running around. But to Twilight's credit, there were no magical accidents breaking the laws of reality this week. Apparently, the filly tried to be on her best behavior for Santa Hooves. And in a blink of the eye, the time has come.
Only Velvet came to the palace. Her husband was busy picking up Shining Armor from the academy. The whole Light family would come together for that special day.
And they wanted Celestia there.
“I cannot go,” the ancient alicorn shook her head. “I have royal duties to attend. Sadly, the burdens of the crown are heavy, even in this time of happiness.”
Celestia hoped that this would be enough to put this matter to rest, but the slight, cheeky smirk on Velvet's lips told her otherwise.
“Oh really? That's interesting.” The unicorn mare put her cup down on the table with a clang that at the moment reminded Celestia of a judge's gavel. “You see, I talked to Raven on my way here.”
Celestia gave a small, warm smile to Velvet, but only centuries of practice prevented the alicorn's internal panic from manifesting. Celestia was sure that she somehow turned even more white as her blood ran cold.
“You see-” Celestia attempted.
“Why don't you want to come?” Velvet interrupted the alicorn. Her eyes narrowed, but still there was nothing but sympathy there. “And don't give me the ‘I'm busy’ excuse. Raven was quite clear. Your schedule is empty.”
Celestia’s mouth shut close. This wasn't how conversations normally went for her. But she supposed that Velvet saw enough of her true self to be able to see through the mask she had purposely built over the centuries.
“I cannot go.” the alicorn let her mask slip, emotions coating her voice. “I’m already stealing enough of your daughter as it is. I'm not going to take more away from you.”
A soft chuckle escaped the mare. “Princess, don't take it the wrong way, but there is nothing you could ever do to ‘steal’ my daughter. I'm her mother, always will be. “
Celestia took in a sharp breath. “This time of year is for spending time with family. I will not impose myself on yours.”
Velvet's gaze softened. “This time of year is for spending time with loved ones. And they both definitely love you.”
The mare's words struck her with force. Tearing and chipping at Celestia’s heart. Peeling of layers of carefully constructed walls around it. Finally, letting old wounds - who had festered for so long - breathe.
And then Velvet went for the finishing move.
“You know, what Twilight asked last year when we were leaving the castle for Hearth’s Warming?”
Celestia gulped, already seeing where this was going.
“And who does the Princess spend the Hearth's Warming with?”
Velvets looked straight into Celestia’s eyes. “Who do you spend the Hearts Warming with, Princess?”
Luckily for the Princess, she didn't have to answer this question as a bolt of purple lighting, followed by a smaller green one, rushed into the study.
“Mom! Mom! Look!”
Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn with the most magical potential seen in a pony since… maybe forever, jumped into her mother's waiting forelegs, presenting her with something that could be described as a mountain of glitter with some paper stuck to it.
The filly giggled as her mother scratched her chin and put on a shockingly bad imitation of an art critic. “An interesting technique! And the glitter usage! I haven't seen something so daring since they started using macaroni for pictures! The creativity!
The filly beamed. “I cal-cal… calculated the exact amount of prettiness an ounce of glitter brings! So I used six!”
Velvet nodded, the smile on her face somewhat strained, probably because she was in the process of imagining how Twilight's room in the castle looked at the moment and if she should send the castle staff some sort of apology.
“I see…” Velvet managed to say, picking up the pile of glitter with paper in it somewhere very carefully.
At this, Twilight pulled something from her mane. A checklist.
“Giving to the loved ones. Aaand this is another good deed done!” she marked something on it and started rubbing her hoofs together. “Santa Hooves will have no other choice but to put me on the nice list after I present him with this proof!”
Velvet face-hoofed while letting out a frustrated groan. “Dear, for the last time, I just said to eat your broccoli like a good filly.”
“And I didn’t eat it and I'm still a good filly! I have proof now!”
Celestia held a laugh until something pulled at her side. The Princess looked down, seeing Spike holstering up a paper with several smudgy, crayon drawn blobs on it. Ponies and a dragon, standing side by side.
“For you,” said the drake, before running off back to Velvet.
A picture of a family. Spike’s family.
And Celestia was on it.
Velvet smiled, placing Twilight's picture inside the saddlebags waiting by the table and picking the dragon up in her telekinesis. The young drake laughed as the magic tickled him.
The drake safely on her back, Velvet shot the princess a knowing look. All the while Celestia stood motionless, staring at the paper.
“The offer still stands.” The mare's words reached Celestia through the fog of her jumbled thoughts.
“Nopony should be alone on Hearth's Warming Eve.”
And just like that, they left.
The royal wing of the Canterlot Castle was quiet as a grave.
Most of the staff left and went home to their families. The few that lived in the castle proper were in the other wing of the giant structure.
No, Celestia was alone.
The alicorn sighed heavily, sitting by the fireplace in her chambers. The crackling of the fire did little to assuage her.
In her hoofs, a picture.
Celestia closed her eyes, memories of ages past drifting through her mind.
“Common Tia!”
“Lets build a snowmare!”
“Wait up Lulu!”
“Now you've done it! Prepare yourself! For a snow fight!
“I don't know how to ice skate.”
“Don't worry, I'll show you how. Just watch me.”
“Luna, I will not fight you!”
“Luna? I am... Nightmare Moon”
“And I will destroy you!”
Celestia opened her eyes, trotting slowly to the balcony. The cloudy sky parted for a moment, revealing the pale light of the moon and the ghostly apparition on it. Forever haunting Celestia’s dreams.
“Hello sister.”
Celestia exhaled, her breath creating puffs of steam.
“It's Hearths Warming Eve. Another one without you.” Celestia watched the moon. Praying, hoping against hope, for an answer for a sign. Anything.
But just as she was for nearly a thousand years, Celestia was left without an answer.
“They asked me to join them. Can you believe it, Luna?” The ancient unicorn laughed a mirthless laugh. The moon stayed silent as it always did..
“As if I deserved it." Celestia spat. “As if I didn't break every family I was ever part of. As if I didn't break you.”
A gust of a stronger wing rustled the alicorn's mane and feathers. It was cold outside, but she was unaffected by it. The warmth of the sun itself was at her disposal.
“It makes me wonder, sometimes.” Celestia hung her head down, shame rocketing through her whole body. “On that night. If it should have been me who lost.”
For a moment, she sat on the balcony in silence, listening to the sounds of the city below her. Watching the lights, each a pony living their life. Families.
“It's silly, isn't it? There isn't anypony listening, only the wind.”
“You’re gone. And I’m alone.”
Celestia heard something. A strong gust blew through the open doors into her chambers. Books opening, paperwork sent flying.
And, riding the wind out of a window, was a picture of blobs drawn by a crayon in a baby dragon's claw.
Celestia panicked. Her wings opened, and she dived for it, catching the precious gift before it could drift away.
A picture of a family. With her in it.
Celestia stayed mid air, holding the picture. Moon as the only witness as Princess Celestia, turned her head towards the lights in the city.
One light in particular.
The evening at the Lights family home was going about as well as it has gone every year.
Velvet sighed and pulled the now slightly burned dinner from the oven, the smell of scorched carrots filling the kitchen.
This didn’t concern Twilight much, as she was lying on the sofa, moaning in pain as she came down with a severe case of tummy ache after eating about every sweet in the whole house - despite her mothers, to Twilight's opinion - tyrannical and thus invalid - ban on eating sweets before dinner.
Meanwhile Night Light was in a state of advanced panic, remembering too late that he decided to hide the presents outside in the tool shed, thinking they would be safe there from discovery. Only to find out the doors into the shed had frozen shut, preventing any of the adults from actually getting the presents.
Velvet turned her attention towards Twilight. The filly holding her bloated stomach with an undeniably smug look on her face.
“Was it worth it, young lady?” Velvet asked the bedridden Twilight. The filly looked at the burned remains of the carrot pie.
“Definitely”
Velvet facehoofed again.
But under it all, Velvet was happy.
The family gatherings may always turn into disasters, but they were their disasters.
And she wouldn't have it any other way.
“When will the Princess come, mom?”
Spike was waiting by the entrance, eyes sparkling with hope as his gaze constantly changed between watching the clock and watching the doors.
Velvet's shoulders sagged. “I don't know, dear. The Princess has a very important job. She might just not make it today.”
Twilight huffed from the sofa. “But it's Hearths Warming!”
Velvet extended her hoof towards Spike, pulling the drake into a hug. “I’m sure the Princess would love to be here. But-”
There was a knock on the door. Spike perked up, slipping from Velvet's embrace and running to the doors as fast as his legs would take him, gaming enough speed to jump and pull the door handle.
Outside stood Celestia.
The Princess was disheveled, snow piling on her. Ice and frost coating her wings, a piece of wood was impaled on her horn. A box was held in her magic.
“Princess! Are you alright!” yelled Night Light, rushing to the Princess' aid, only for the Princess to extend her wing and gesturing at the stallion to stop, fully formed icicles falling off her feathers every time she moved.
“Do not worry, I'm quite alright,” the Princess said. “Cold isn't as much of a hindrance to me.”
A piece of wood fell from her horn. The alicorn winced. “But It does seem that my flying during the duress needs some practice. I'm afraid I landed on your tool shed.”
Night Light halted in his aid, eyes growing as large as dinner plates. “The presents!” the stallion exclaimed, before running off towards the broken shed - its doors now having an alicorn shaped hole in it.
The Princess raised a brow. “Is he-”
“Yes. It happens almost every year. It's tradition by this point.”
Velvet watched, the Princess hesitating for a moment, before Spike hugged the princess foreleg - at which the Princess smiled and, baby dragon still latched onto her leg, walked inside. The box still levitating by her side.
Velvet raised a brow. “What’s in that Princess?”
The alicorn sat down, more snow falling off her. A true smile on her lips.
“Please, call me Celestia. And it's cake,” she said with a wink.
And so, as all family gatherings tend to be, this one was an absolute disaster.
Cake for dinner may not have been traditional, but only Spike was willing to eat the charred and burned carrot pie - which he described as ‘a bit chewy.’
This coming from a dragon who regularly ate gemstones wasn't really encouraging.
It only took about two hours for Shining Armor to stop saluting the Princess, the poor fresh cadet having a small crisis seeing what was technically his highest commanding officer eating cake at his house.
Fast as a blink, the night grew darker and darker, the lights of the city vanishing one by one. It didn't take long before Twilight and Spike drifted to sleep by the fireplace. Their attempt at catching Santa Hooves so Twilight can give him a long lecture about her new, better system at deciding who is naughty and who is nice, failing.
Celestia sat there with them, reflecting. Dreaming. Not alone.
And at peace.
Happy Holidays everybody
