Hearts ablaze

Luna awoke from her sleep. She brought a hoof to her face and rubbed her eye. Oh great she thought, Another lonely night. She kicked the covers off herself and attempted to get out of bed. Her body begged her to stay, not willing to give up the sweet release that is sleep. Groggily she stumbled around the room looking for the door. She bumped into a dresser along the way.

"Mother bucker" she whispered. She turned her head to examine the bruise on her flank, "what an excellent start to a beautiful night", she glanced through the window to the cloudy night sky. Her stomach growled and she rushed down the stairs for some breakfast, or dinner for most ponies.

She was greeted by a large feast spread out on a massive table meant to accommodate dozens of ponies, but only housing four. Celestia was at the front, too busy trying out the new recipe they got from a Germane visitor to acknowledge her sisters existence. Two seats down sat Cadence and Shining Armour. Opposite from them was Blueblood, whose face was frozen in shock as he watched Armour wolf down an eclair.

"These cream puffs are awesome" Shining proclaimed.

"Their not 'cream puffs' their eclairs, meant for the rich and privileged among us" Blueblood huffed.

"Really, because I remember Donut Joe selling a dozen for 3 bits" Shining replied, obviously annoyed by Blueblood. Blueblood just stuck his muzzle up and walked off.

By this time Celestia noticed Luna standing in the door way.

"Hello, Luna" she smiled, "Sleep well?". Luna just shrugged and sat down beside her sister.

"So, Luna, doing anything for Hearths Warming Eve?" Cadence asked, not even trying to cover up the fact that she was trying to pry into Luna's love life.

"No, just staying alone in the castle, like always" Luna replied, with a hint of sadness.

Cadence got the hint and remained silent. Luna scanned over the sea of goodies trying to decide which one to eat first. Eventually, she settled on a tomato sandwich, apple strudel and a salad.

"Uhhhhh" she sighed "Why do nights have to be so long this time of year". Celestia looked up from her meal and said

"Tis the season" jokingly.

"I better go raise the moon", Luna said as she began trotting to the balcony.

Luna leaned against the balcony railing thinking about her life. Were all her days doomed to be the same routine of loneliness. She glanced over to the rest of the city. Perhaps a nice flight would clear her mind. As she suspected, all of Canterlot was asleep save for the drunks at the bar. She let out a sigh, maybe Ponyville will be different. It wasn't, the town was as dead as a cemetery. Perhaps Manehattan? Luna turned in the direction of the city. She glanced downward. The Everfree Forest, and a clearing just ahead of her. She was getting tired so she landed for a quick breather, only to break down into tears. I'm all alone she thought, staring at the ground in front of her. Her weeping was interrupted by something falling from a tree behind her. Luna leapt to her hooves, prepared for anything, or so she thought. Her eyes widened as the creature stepped out of the shadows.

There, was a bright red alicorn, with a flame cutie mark, staring back at her with the same curiosity as hers.