The First, The Last & The New

by Uz Naimat

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Equestria Girls, Sunset Shimmer, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life
Length: 5116

Sunset Shimmerʼs attitude towards the holidays has changed significantly over time.

For seven-year-old Sunset Shimmer, Hearthʼs Warming is the best thing to ever exist. Thereʼs excellent food, presents, songs and most importantly, Princess Celestia. Her first holiday with her mentor is bound to be the most memorable night of her little life.

For teenage Sunset Shimmer, Hearthʼs Warming is nothing but a waste of time. Time she should be spent studying and getting ahead. She doesnʼt want to spend hours at dinner, especially not with Annoying Pink Princess there. Her last holiday at the castle is one she wonʼt ever forget.

For adult Sunset Shimmer, Hearthʼs Warming is a chance to atone. After years of spending the holidays in the human realm, she finally has a chance to spend one with her mentor again. Especially after the disaster that was her last winter in Equestria. Sheʼs going to
make the most of this second chance.

A tale of love, jealousy and shifting attitudes.

Written for: Lunaria, Jinglemas 2023
Prompt: Unicorn Sunset Shimmer. No horror please, and if holiday theming isnʼt for you feel free to do something else, I donʼt mind.

Published 2023-12-26 13:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2023-12-26 13:20:01 UTC

The First

On a normal day, Canterlot Castle was beautiful.

On Hearth’s Warming Eve, it’s enchanting.

Sunset Shimmer trotted down the corridors, her little hooves clicking loudly against the marble floors. This was her first holiday season in the castle since she moved in earlier in the year.

Her first holiday season with her new teacher, Princess Celestia.

Sunset’s smile grew wider and she slowed her trot, admiring everything around her. The hallway was lined with shining golden lights, the sconces filled with sweet-smelling holly plants and the tapestries changed to reflect the festive spirit. Outside, the moon shone brightly, its light piercing through the large windows. Even the Mare in the Moon seemed to send her well wishes.

Sunset loved it here. She had never seen so many ponies celebrating the holiday at once, and here in the castle, everypony was running about and animatedly chatting with one another. The Princess had told her that the staff would be sent home in the morning, so they were probably to finish their duties on time to be home with their families.

Speaking of families…

Sunset accelerated her pace. She didn’t want to be late for her first holiday dinner, after all.

She passed by the kitchen, where the sweet aroma of cocoa and pudding hang in the air. She passed by the ballroom, where more lovely decorations adorned the walls. She passed the throne room, closed and empty at the time of year.

And finally, she arrived at the imposing double doors of the dining room.

One of the guards on duty looked down at Sunset, gave a curt nod and opened the doors to let the filly in.

Sunset stepped in and was immediately greeted by Princess Celestia.

The filly did not hesitate. She ran forward, embracing her teacher tightly. A little hard, given Sunset's small size, but she managed. Celestia bent down and wrapped the filly in her own hooves, draping her wings over her and filling Sunset's body with a comfortable warmth.

Eventually, they parted, and Sunset took her seat next to the Princess.

Everything about Celestia was majestic - her wavy, gravity-defying mane, her elegant posture and demeanor and her golden regalia. She was kind, wise and caring. Gentle, loving and all-knowing. She was the ruler - no, the mother - of all Equestria.

And tonight, she was Sunset Shimmer’s mother.

Sunset had always admired the alicorn. To be here, in the castle, spending Hearth's Warming was her, was something she had never dared dream of.

“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Princess!”

Celestia smiled. It lit up the whole room. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, my faithful student.”

Sunset beamed in turn. She’d never get tired of hearing the Princess address her as such.

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “Princess, I have a present for you.”

Sunset lit her horn, focusing her magic on the gift located in her room. Object teleportation was an advanced spell, but she was a talented filly, and thanks to the Princess’ guidance, she was also skilled.

A few seconds of concentrating later, a gift-wrapped box appeared from thin air in a burst of cyan magic.

Sunset gestured dramatically. “Ta-da!”

Celestia's eyes widened. “Wow. That was a very advanced spell for your age.”

“I have a really good teacher.” Sunset levitated the gift closer. “Here.”

Celestia nodded, taking the box in her own magic and gently unwrapping it. She pulled the present out and a single tear rolled down her cheek.

“Oh, Sunset. It’s beautiful.”

The gift was a small canvas painting, crafted by hoof and horn. Warm and cool colors blended harmoniously with expert strokes and lines. Captured in the painting were the portraits of Celestia and Sunset, their smiles frozen in time.

Sunset had been working on the painting for most of winter break.

Celestia draped a wing over her student, pulling her closer. “Thank you,” she said, her voice cracking a little. “I love it.”

Sunset nestled deeper in her beloved teacher’s embrace, her eyes watering. “You’re welcome, Princess.”

They pulled away, but remained close.

“I’ll cherish it forever,” Celestia said, placing the painting on a nearby table. “Now. How do you feel about Hearth’s Warming Eve dinner?”

For the first time since she had entered the dining room, Sunset’s eyes drifted towards the table.

And the feast that lay on it.

Green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, mushroom pot pie and roasted cauliflower. Soups and pastas of all flavors and sizes. Date pudding, pistachio tart, cranberry cheesecake and chocolate bundt cake. It looked and smelled heavenly.

Sunset was practically salivating.

“Is… is this all for us?” she asked. I’ve never seen so much food in one place.

Celestia chuckled. “Not just us.” She pointed to the double doors and the entrance and the guard a firm nod.

The doors opened and in came the castle staff.

The maids, butlers, cooks, scribes and even the Princess' secretary, Ms. Inkwell, all came in, taking their seats around the table. Lively conversation filled the room, replacing the conformable quiet that was there before.

Sunset liked it. She didn't like being alone; and dinner with so many ponies sounded nice. She looked at Celestia and was met with an encouraging smile.

The Princess raised her glass and gave it a clink. “My little ponies,” she started, “it is with great pleasure that we open this year’s Hearth’s Warming Eve dinner. Tonight, we welcome Sunset Shimmer, my most faithful student, as she joins for the first time.”

All eyes turned to Sunset, who blushed under the unexpected spotlight. “I’m… I’m happy to be here. Thank you for having me.”

Celestia continued. “Now, let’s feast!”

And they all dug in.

Sunset wanted to try everything at once, but knew she couldn’t, and had to restrict herself to a couple items at a time. The food was divine, the very best Sunset had ever tasted.

As she ate, the ponies wanted to chat with her. Sunset was eager to share details of her life, her studies and residence in the castle.

A couple of hours later, dinner was over. Sunset got up, stacking her silverware in her magic and deposited them in the tray.

Right as she was leaving the room, however, Celestia called out to her. “Sunset!”

The filly stopped and turned around. “Yes, Princess?”

Celestia smiled kindly at her, levitating a small gift-wrapped box. “Just realized I forgot to give you this.”

Sunset took the box in her own magic. “Princess, you didn’t have to. You’ve already given me so much.” She looked up at her teacher. “But thank you.”

She opened the box slowly and inside was… a doll. A doll in her likeness. It was a Hearth’s Warming doll, the kind you put above the hearth for the holidays.

Her very first one.

Sunset ran forward for a hug and the alicorn bent down immediately, draping both wings around the small filly.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Sunset repeated, tears streaming down her face.

“You’re welcome, dear,” Celestia said, her voice music to Sunset’s eyes.

The two of them stayed that way for a while, basking in each other’s comfort and warmth.

Hearth’s Warming was already great. But Hearth’s Warming with Princess Celestia? Even better.

Sunset smiled, eagerly looking forward to next year.

The Last

On a normal day, Canterlot Castle was loud.

On Hearth’s Warming Eve, it's raucous.

Sunset Shimmer groaned, bringing her book closer to her face. She tried to drown out the noisy servants outside her room, as well as the loud carollers outside. There was no way she could focus with all that noise.

Wasn’t the staff supposed to have left by now?

Wait, no. Tonight was the eve of the holiday, which meant that it was also the night of the annual dinner.

Sunset sighed. She couldn’t afford to waste hours at dinner, not when she had so much work to get done. But she also knew that if she didn’t go, Celestia would make her.

Casting a sound bubble around her to better focus, Sunset resumed her reading about advanced transfiguration magic. She really needed to finish catching up.

She read for hours, occasionally stopping to glance at the clock or practice the spell she had just read about. She was pretty sure somepony knocked on her locked door at one point - she saw the handle move - but she was too engrossed in her work to care.

A burst of golden light suddenly appeared in front of her.

“Gah!”

Sunset yelped, falling backwards on her bed as her sound bubble cut off. She got up after a few seconds and glared at her teacher.

“Princess! What was that for?!”

“We were worried about you,” Celestia said, worry laced in her voice. “Cadance knocked on your door at least three times and you did not answer.”

Sunset immediately frowned at the mention of Cadance. Stupid snitch. “I cast a sound bubble.”

“Yes, I saw that,” Celestia replied. “Why, though?”

Sunset gathered her books in a neat pile and stacked them on her desk. “It was impossible to focus with all the noise outside.”

“Focus?” Celestia's eyes widened. “Sunset, are you studying? Tonight, of all nights?”

Sunset looked her teacher in the eye. “I can’t fall behind.”

Celestia put a hoof on Sunset’s shoulder. “Sunset, you’re already my best student,” she said, her voice soft and gentle. “You can take a break. Just for tonight, please.”

Sunset’s cyan eyes met Celestia’s violet and a hundred emotions swirled in her mind.

In recent months, Sunset had been at odds with her mentor, the two frequently arguing with each other over the former’s studies. Sunset felt as though she was being held back and Celestia constantly assured her that she had a plan.

And yet, despite those differences, Sunset Shimmer would never stop loving the princess.

She sighed. “Okay, fine. I’ll pause.”

Celestia smiled.

“Just for tonight.”

The smile dimmed.

“Anyways,” Sunset said after a moment of awkward silence. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, yes,” Celestia said. “I was coming to get you for dinner.”

“Do I have to?” Sunset gestured to the princess. “I mean, you’re the princess! Surely you’re above eating with your servants?”

Anger flashed in Celestia’s eyes. “Sunset Shimmer! You do not get to speak about my staff that way!” Her voice was loud, her wings opened and she stood at full height.

Sunset backed up a few steps.

The anger disappeared and the wings closed. “Sunset,” the princess said. “Where did that attitude come from?”

Sunset chose her next words carefully. She was fairly certain the princess wouldn’t hurt her, but she wasn’t about to chance it. “I just don’t like having dinner with so many ponies.”

Celestia took a deep breath. “I didn’t know you were uncomfortable.” Her posture hardened again. “Still. You’re going. And that’s final.”

The Princess lit her horn. “See you in a few minutes.”

And she teleported out before Sunset had a chance to respond.

What Sunset had said to Celestia before she left was a complete lie.

Sunset Shimmer didn’t hate the attention; she loved it. No, what she really hated was the idea of spending dinner, and the holidays, with Cadance.

Princess Cadance.

Sunset scowled. The pretty pink princess had arrived at the castle earlier that year and suddenly, she was the hot new sensation. Everypony in the castle gathered around Cadance, wanting to know everything about her, despite her recent arrival. Sunset hated her.

Cadance was an alicorn. Cadance was a princess. Cadance was the ruler’s niece and official family.

Everything Sunset wanted to be.

Everything Sunset wasn’t.

She scowled, her horn coming to life. In a fit of pure rage, she blasted her closet, reducing it to wood chunks and burnt fabrics within seconds. The release of pent-up anger calmed Sunset down and she immediately frowned at the mess she'd made.

Great. Now I have to explain what happened and probably help fix it.

Sunset went over to the ruined closet and inspected it. She was a powerful mage and, as expected, everything was completely destroyed. Several boxes, which had been stacked on top of the closet, now lay bent and damaged on the pile of woodchucks. At random, Sunset took one box and opened it.

And immediately wished she hadn’t.

On top of all the box’s contents lay her doll. Her Hearth’s Warming doll, the first one she ever had, the first gift Celestia had given to her on her first holiday in the castle.

Time had taken its toll on it and the constant overuse had worn it down. The doll’s colors - once a vibrant mix of amber, red and gold - were now fading, fabric torn and sewn in some places. One of the button eyes had fallen off and replaced with a cyan eye drawn with a crayon. The doll stank of soot and ash, remnants of its time above the hearth.

Sunset had never gotten a second doll. She had always cherished the one that was gifted to her and used it every single year. The doll carried years’ worth of memories. Countless hours student and teacher had spent together, all smiles and laughs.

Sunset tried to blink her tears away, but was unsuccessful. They ran down her face and furiously wiped them off.

I won’t get those holidays again. Not when I have to share the princess.

Sunset dropped the doll back in the box, closed it and set it in a corner.

And out the door she was, leaving behind her undecorated room.

Sunset walked through the halls, doing her best to avoid the busy staff ponies.

They did their job as usual, making sure every once of the castle was decorated and festive. The tinsel hung gracefully from the sconces, peppered with flowers and bows. The pillars stood tall as always, holy plants delicately wrapped around them.

Sunset smiled. The holidays night be loud, but it does produce beautiful art.

The decor took a distinct turn as she approached the dining hall. As Sunset had requested three years prior, the tinsel in the halls were decorated with crystal version of her own cutie mark, as well as Celestiaʼs.

Sunset scowled as she spotted the crystalline blue hearts interwoven with the suns. Cadance's cutie mark.

It took a heroic effort not to rip off the hearts.

Sunset continued on her way and soon enough, she approached the huge double doors to the dining hall. Two guards stood at the entrance.

She looked at them expectedly and one of the guards opened the doors for her.

The room was filled with all of Celestiaʼs staff, as well as the princess herself. She smiled as she saw Sunset enter.

“Sunset, dear. Glad you could make it.”

Didnʼt really have a choice. Out loud, Sunset said, “Me, too.” She took her usual seat next to her mentor.

To her surprise, nopony started eating. Sunset looked at Celestia, an eyebrow raised.

“We're waiting on one more pony.”

As if on cue, the doors opened and in entered… the last pony Sunset wanted to see.

Mi More Cadenza, unfortunately known as Princess Cadance, trotted in the room, a sickeningly sweet smile on her face. She greeted each servant by name and even a hugged a few ponies on her way to her seat.

Which just so happened to be right across Sunset.

“Sunset. It's good to see you,” Cadance said with a pleasant smile.

Sunset did not smile back. “I live here. You see me everyday.”

Candace's expression fell.

Sunset felt a firm reprimanding hoof on her shoulder. Without looking and without a word, Sunset knew she had disappointed her mentor.

Celestia addressed the gathering. “Everypony, welcome to our annual Hearthʼs Warming Eve dinner. I'm delighted to share this feast with all of you, and I'm especially delighted to share this tradition with Princess Cadance.”

All eyes fell on the pink alicorn, who blushed under the spotlight. “I'm happy to be here,” she said, looking straight at Celestia. “Thank you, Auntie Tia.”

Auntie.

The word echoed in Sunset’s mind, sending fresh waves of hurt and jealousy through her body. In all her years at the castle, Celestia had never - not once - addressed Sunset as her family. Sunset knew that she was seen as Celestia's daughter, but that had never been acknowledged by name.

So to hear Cadance, the newcomer, the insipid little invader, being addressed as such?

It made her blood boil.

Dinner began, and Sunset's mood did not improve. Just as she had expected, every staff member seemed to fawn over Cadance. “How's your first Hearth's Warming in the castle going?” “How did you celebrate the holidays before?” “What presents did you get this year?” On and on it went.

Sunset herself didn't get anything more than a few passing well-wishes and comments.

I grow tired of this.

Sunset slammed her fork loudly on the table and turned to Celestia. “Why is Cadance getting so much attention?”

Celestia paused, her spoon halfway to her mouth. “Sunset, dear. She is new.” She set her spoon down and gently stroked Sunset's mane. It felt good.

Celestia continued. “And besides, didn't you say you didn't like the attention?”

Sunset's eyes widened. Oh, shoot.

Lying to Celestia was always a bad idea. Somehow, she always figured it out. Sunset should've known she would have been caught eventually.

But despite that, she knew that if told the princess about her real issues with Cadance, Celestia would either make her deal with it or kick her out. Neither outcome sounded too pleasant.

Sunset decided to lie some more.

“I don't,” she said, picking up her fork and nonchalantly toying with it. “I'm just asking why she's getting so much of it.”

Celestia eyed Sunset suspiciously for a few seconds, before she went back to her food.

Sunset breathed an internal sigh of relief. Okay, from now on, no more talking about Cadance.

Unless you want Celestia to find out.

The halls was marginally quiet after dinner.

Which suited Sunset just fine as it meant she could go back to studying without wasting energy on her sound bubble.

She cracked open her transfiguration book and got her quills and notepad ready. With dinner behind her, Sunset could look forward to hours of peaceful, quiet and undisturbed studying.

There was a knock on her door.

Sunset groaned and face planted her desk. For Moon's sake, dinner was less than an hour ago! What does anypony want now?

If she didn't answer, it was likely they would keep knocking. Or get Celestia, as a certain somepony had earlier. Reluctantly, Sunset got up and slightly opened her bedroom door.

Cadance was on the other side.

Sunset slammed the door in her face.

“Sunset? Everything okay?” Cadance said, her voice muffled by the door.

Sunset didn't know what to say. Of all the ponies to come to her room, Cadance was not who she had been expecting. Much less twice in the same night.

She couldn't remain quiet, though. “Yes!” she shouted.

“Oh, okay.” A pause, then: “Can I come in?”

Sunset blurted out her response before even thinking. “Why?”

“I want to talk to you.”

Sunset didn't know how to respond.

Don't let her in.

She'll insist.

You hate her.

I do, but if I don't, she'll just keep asking.

Inviting your sworn enemy into your safe space isn't highly recommended.

She's not a threat. Just irritating.

You still hate her.

She'll tell the princess.

That part of her brain won and Sunset opened the door again. Cadance still stood there, confusion plastered on her face.

A few seconds of awkward silence later, Sunset asked, “Need an invite?”

“Oh!” That got Cadance moving and she trotted inside the room. She surveyed the room and by the look on her face, she was clearly disappointed about something. “You didn't decorate?”

Sunset frowned. “Didn't ask for your opinion. What do you want?”

Cadance smiled. It was the same genuine, pure smile she gave to everypony. The kind Sunset despised. “I came to give you your present.” She gestured to the small wrapped box carefully balanced on her back, something Sunset hadn't previously noticed. “You left so fast after the feast that I didn't get the chance to give it to you.”

Cadance levitated the box off her back and floated it towards Sunset.

The gift was small and felt light in Sunset's magic. A quick shake also revealed it contained no small parts.

But what really struck Sunset was the wrapping. Haphazard, sloppy and undoubtedly made by hoof, and not by horn.

Sunset looked at Cadance, an eyebrow raised. “You couldn't. Be bothered to wrap it with magic?”

Cadance's gaze fell to the floor. “I'm not there yet.”

Sunset snorted, letting the gift drop down. “Pathetic. A grown alicorn whose telekinesis is so weak, she can't gift wrap properly.”

Cadance's face snapped back up. “Lay off me, Sunset,” she said, angry. “I just got this horn.”

Sunset didn't know why she had gotten so confrontational all of a sudden. Perhaps it was her envy, or her frustrations with Celestia, or all of tonight's issues finally bubbling to the surface. No matter why, she was on a roll now, and wasn't about to stop.

“You got it months ago. By now, you should've been an expert at unicorn magic.”

She approached Cadance slowly, eyes never leaving the princess'.

“But you're not. Your skillet is limited, your magic unrefined and your political skills? Non-existent.”

She stopped her trot when her face was mere milimetres from Cadance's.

“And you call yourself a Princess? Please.”

Cadance started tearing up and she took a few steps back. “What is your problem, Sunset?” Her voice cracked. “I've tried so hard to be nice to you and you've been nothing but cruel and hostile to me. Why?”

Why, indeed?

“Thank you, Auntie Tia.”

The pain returned with a vengeance. Sunset's tranquil fury into an explosive and fiery rage.

“What is my problem?!” Sunset shouted, closing the distance between them again. “You've been hogging all the staff's attention, you took all of my time with Celestia and you're a princess who's done nothing to deserve her title!

“And worst of all, you took my place! I don't want anything to do with you, you insipid little imposter.”

Sunset's horn let off a few sparks at that last word. Cadance was crying now and her breathing was heavy. She backed away until she had reached the doorway.

Sunset roughly pushed Cadance out of her room.

“Stay away from me.”

And with that, she slammed the door again, locking it tightly.

Sunset let out a scream.

She knew that this was a bad idea. She knew that Cadance would go running to Celestia to report all this. She knew she would be berated, yelled at and possibly punished.

And yet, despite all that, Sunset felt inexplicably better. She was lighter, somehow. Months of accumulated anger and frustration had been let out. She had finally told that little princess off and with any luck, Candace would leave her alone and stop her pathetic attempts at bonding.

Or better yet, Cadance could decided she could no longer be around Sunset and would finally move out.

Sunset smiled and trotted back to her desk. All in all, this was a good Hearth's Warming Eve.

Cadance's gift remained on the floor, forgotten all night.

The New

On a normal day, Silver Shoals was busy.

On Hearthʼs Warming Eve, it's lively.

Sunset Shimmer hummed to herself as she hung the lights around the windows. Outside, she could see the ponies, locals and tourists alike, bustling about town, no doubt getting some last-minute Christmas shopping done.

No, not Christmas. Hearthʼs Warming. Sunset had spent so much time celebrating human holidays she'd forgotten about her own.

She finished setting up the lights and stepped back to admire her handiwork. Satisfied with herself, she turned on the light switch.

The entire living room was bathed in a soft, golden light. Sunset smiled.

Silver Shoals was unlike Canterlot Castle in so many ways. For one, it was tiny. Where the castle was a grand structure of majesty and beauty, Celestia and Lunaʼs retirement villa was a small modern house that radiated comfort and warmth. This difference in age and size was even more pronounced in the holidays, where it was clear that only two ponies had decorated the house, as opposed to an entire team.

Still, the villa was very clearly Celestiaʼs. From the royal purple couches to the pristine white walls, from the sun-and-stars pattern on the door to the golden windowsills, everything was curated for Celestia. Sunset even recognized some tapestries that previously in the former Princessʼ throne room.

Sunset approached the lit fireplace and immediately noticed the lack of stockings. She made a mental note to ask Celestia about it later. Instead, she focused her attention on the wall above the hearth, and scanned the various art pieces hung up.

Sunsetʼs eyes fell on one painting particular.

It depicted a younger Celestia and an even younger Sunset smiling widely, their foreheads lovingly pressed together. The painting blended warm and cool colors perfectly and, at first glance, you could not tell it had been crafted by a seven-year-old.

Sunset could tell, though. She would never forget the first holiday present she gave her mentor.

She kept it. Despite the years and the distance between us, she kept it.

She took the painting in her crimson magic and gently ran her hoof across it. A few tears fell on it, blending some of the paint.

“Reminiscing, are we?”

Sunset jumped at the sudden voice, her magic cutting off. The painting clattered to the floor. She quickly picked it up and gingerly set it on the couch. She turned around to face the owner of said voice.

Celestia had a small, playful smirk in her face. “Iʼm sorry, Sunset. I did not mean to frighten you.”

Sunset smiled in turn and levitated the painting back in its place. “Can’t believe you kept it all those years.”

Celestia approached the unicorn, placing a gentle hoof on her shoulder. “I never stopped loving you. And I never will.” She gently stroked Sunset’s mane, a familiar and nostalgic gesture that Sunset appreciated.

A few seconds of comfortable silence later, Sunset decided to ask the question that had been bugging her. “Hey, Celestia?” The alicorn nodded. “Where are your stockings?”

Celestia stared at her, confused. “What are stockings? Is that a human tradition?”

Oh. Equestria, right. Totally forgot.

“Yeah, it’s a human thing,” Sunset said. “The local equivalent is the Hearth’s Warming doll.”

“I see.” Celestia walked over to a nearby chest, pulled open a drawer and took an ornate and beautiful mahogany box. “I wanted to do it with you.” She levitated the box over to Sunset, and the latter opened it.

Sunset’s doll was inside, as worn and old as she remembered. The tears, scruffs and missing button were all left as they were, having clearly been kept in mind condition. Also in the box was Celestia’s doll, just as old but less damaged. Sunset looked up at Celestia, her eyes shining with fresh tears.

“I know how much you love it. But if you want something new, we can-”

“No,” Sunset whispered. “It’s perfect. Thank you.” She took Celestia’s doll in her magical field and floated it above the hearth. The alicorn did the same to Sunset’s doll.

Celestia wrapped a wing around Sunset, who swiftly sunk in the warm embrace.

Dinner at the villa was significantly less grandiose than those at the castle. With only two ponies at the table, compared to the entire castle staff, there was less need for elaborate food and five-star courses. The food itself was made by Celestia, who had apparently spent the entire morning in the kitchen.

“Still can’t believe Luna isn’t spending her first retired winter with you,” Sunset said as she wiped some plates and set them down.

“We spent the last few winters together, though. And we have the rest of your lives to go,” Celestia replied. “If she wants to be with our family in Crystal Empire this year, I’m okay with that.”

Sunset knew very well that ‘our family in the Crystal Empire’ meant Cadance, and the thought of the pink alicorn sent waves of regret and guilt through Sunset’s body.

It also brought back memories of Sunset’s last holiday in Equestria. Where she had shut herself in her room, insulted the princess’ staff and all but bullied Cadance when the latter had been trying to give her a peace offering. Sunset had gotten an earful from Celestia from night, which only increased the tension between the two.

She had fled through the portal less than a year later.

“Sunset? Are you here?”

Celestia’s voice snapped Sunset out of her reverie and she shook her head, setting down her plate.

“Just thinking about my last Hearth’s Warming with you,” she said quietly, her head bowed.

“Oh, Sunset,” Celestia said, her voice soft and motherly. “That was a long time ago. I’ve forgiven you.”

“Not sure she has.”

“You do have to apologize for that happen,” Celestia said. “Speaking of Cadance...” She trailed and two seconds later, there was a bright flash of golden light in front of Sunset’s face.

The object in front of her - small, light box in haphazard gift-wrap - was instantly recognizable.

“You never did open this,” Celestia finished, a mischievous smile on her face. Sunset tore open the gift with fervor.

Fate, it seemed, had a twisted sense of humor. Years ago, when a young Sunset had first moved in the castle, she had offered Celestia a hoof-and-horn painted portrait, capturing herself and her mentor sharing a tender, loving moment. A few years later, when a young Cadance had moved in the castle, she offered Sunset a similar gift.

The gift that Sunset was holding in her magic, the one she had never bothered to open, turned out a simple photograph. One that captured Cadance, Sunset and Celestia at the dining table during Cadance’s first breakfast at the castle. Back when Sunset was civil enough to eat with her.

Tears flowed freely down Sunset’s cheeks and she didn’t bother to wipe them off. Years of pent-up remorse and guilt welled inside her and she swore she would make it up to Cadance somehow.

She looked up at Celestia, who was also crying. “Thank you.”

That evening, the villa was filled with warm food, smiles and pleasant conversation between a mother and daughter, both trying to make up for lost time.

Author's Note

For Lunaria.