Hearthswarming Eve. It was one of the many joyous occasions known to pony kind. It was a time about peace, joy, gifts, and family. Ponies young and old, big and small, all around the world celebrated this wonderful holiday every year. But one pony was not celebrating, and she herself did not know why. That pony was Princess Luna. Princess Luna was a stranger in her own kingdom. It was only recently that she emerged from the moon after her thousand-year banishment, and she was still getting used to being back in her subjects' presence.
Although she should have felt joy as the maids hung the lights and wreaths, all she felt was a somber sadness. She had not experienced anything for a thousand years, let alone a joyous occasion such as this. She did not know if things were done the same way as before. She had no way of knowing how much had changed. She was scared she had come off as foreboding and scary for what she did as Nightmare Moon. How could she forgive herself? She could not, in her own eyes...
Luna stood atop the indoor balcony. She was in the finest dress the royal tailors could sew, having lavender accents and trims as per her request. She watched the maids go about their work, and they often turned toward her and smiled. She soon shied away from the hallways and dining rooms so as not to be seen by anypony else. She did not want to be seen in fear of being hated by somepony. She did not even want to be there, in that dress, in that castle. That was her attitude, at least. Luna quickly resided herself to her chambers where she suddenly broke down in tears. She sobbed lightly into the air, her cries just barely over a whisper. "Why? Why is everypony so friendly to me? I-it must be some sort of ruse. A ploy to act nice when they really do not care for me at all! How could they all forgive me so easily? How can they celebrate in peace of mind after what I tried to do only months ago??"
Luna was ready to get in bed and curl into a ball when there was a knock and a voice from the door. "Luna? May I please come in?" The voice on the other side of the door was her sister, Celestia. Another knock. "Are you okay?"
Luna quickly wiped her tears away before answering. Y-yes, I am fine dear sister. You may come in."
Celestia opened the door and stepped inside. Luna had always admired her sister's compassion for others. It was one of the only things she thought about every day during her banishment in the moon. While under Nightmare Moon's hate and malice, Luna still thought of her sister in her lunar prison.
"Luna? What is wrong my dear sister?" Celestia sat down beside the blue alicorn, looking at her sister with saddened eyes.
Luna looked at Celestia with the same saddened expression. "...Tia, am I a bad pony?"
Celestia was confused but answered immediately. "Of course not! Why would you think that?"
"Is that true? Do my actions as Nightmare Moon not label me an untrustworthy individual worth spiting? Do my actions before becoming the Mare in the Moon not hold any lingering resentment from society?" Luna turned away from her sister.
Celestia pouted. "Now Luna that is just not true! You may have once been lead down the wrong path, but you were broken by my careless actions. I am just as much to blame for what happened as you are! The ponies who served us back then forgave you long, long ago. Their descendants grew up never knowing of your misguided malice, and the ponies of today are happy that you are back by my side. Luna...I love you, my dear sister. I hate to see you like this for something that has been forgiven so long ago!"
Luna snapped her head back, tears in her eyes. "But WHY!? Why was I forgiven so easily! Why was...why was I forgotten about? I was so angry, and I intended to hurt so many ponies back then... So why am I now being paraded through the streets as an honored individual?"
Celestia smiled before pulling Luna into a hug. "Let me tell you why. It is because you are my sister. It is because you are here now, freed from the Nightmare's influences. It is because you are still a princess of this fine land. There were many ponies that were apprehensive at first, but they are very forgiving citizens. I knew you would come back to me. I knew that one day, one thousand years later, I would have my sister back in my hooves. You are celebrated, my dear Luna, for you are a pony worthy of that praise. It matters NOT what you did in your past, but what we make of it in the future. You are here, now, and that is all that will ever matter."
Luna hugged Celestia tighter, her mane wet with tears. As she released Celestia she smiled slightly.. "Do you...really mean all those things? I want to be a better pony than I was all those years ago! I just do not think I am ready for forgiveness..."
Celestia lightly popped Luna on the snout with her hoof. "Boop! I know you are ready because everypony has already forgiven you! So please, stop this self-loathing and come enjoy the holiday again, like we used to." She held out her hoof and Luna took it before being pulled to her own hooves and was shuffled out the door by the older princess.
Luna had not realized until she stepped out of her room that more time had passed than she thought. As she walked to the balcony railing she saw that the entire castle was dressed heel to hoof for the holiday. "Ooh! It is time for the party to start! Come on Luna."
The two mares walked down the stairs as the front door opened. The guests soon flooded in and fanned out into the ballroom. As Celestia and Luna made it to the bottom the some of the guests bowed. Luna smiled before noticing a young foal amongst the crowd. The foal was holding a piece of paper in his teeth and was staring at her. When she noticed him he cowered behind what she presumed was his mother. “O-oh! Do not be afraid little one. I do not mean to scare you.” Luna said in a soft tone.
The foal soon emerged from behind his mother’s hooves again and smiled. He walked up to Luna and held out the paper. “Oh? Is this for me?” The foal nodded. Luna took the paper in her magic and looked at what was on it. She expected a letter or a picture, but it was a drawing. The image was crudely drawn but it was clear what it was supposed to be. The drawing was of Luna herself. She stood in the center with ponies around her. They were celebrating. At the top was some text. The spelling was a little off, but Luna could still tell what it said. It read: Walcom Hoome Prences Luna!
Luna lowered the paper and started to tear up. She lowered her head and nudged the little foal. “T-thank you, little one. I shall cherish this gift forever.” The smiling foal hugged Luna's hoof before he returned to his mother.
Celestia watched as Luna stared lovingly at the drawing. “See? I told you, did I not? You are loved and appreciated Luna. Always remember that.” The white alicorn hugged her sister once more and Luna returned it.
Luna smiled. “I will.”
Celestia’s grin widened as she released the hug. “Well? What are we waiting for? Let us celebrate this fine holiday!” With that, Celestia eagerly waded into the crowd, ready to enjoy the night’s many festivities. Luna knew she was never alone from that moment on. She had let go of her worries and learned to forgive herself in the end. That was all she had ever wanted really. Taking one last look at the drawing, Luna smiled before heading off to join her sister in the merry celebration.
As the night wound down the presents were passed out among the guests and staff. Celestia and Luna got gifts as well, but chose to wait until everypony had gotten theirs to open them. As the last guests left for the night Celestia and Luna walked out to the the courtyard. It had snowed that night so the ground was covered in a thin blanket of white. "It is quite beautiful out tonight, would you agree Luna? Come on, why not open our presents under the stars?!" Celestia said with glee. The two sisters sat in the middle of the courtyard, opening their presents. There were scarfs and dresses and jewelry among many other things. The sisters laughed and smiled along with each present as they were unwrapped.
After all of their presents had been opened Luna spoke up. "Tonight was wonderful Tia! I am so glad you help me overcome my burdens. I got the best gift of all tonight as well."
"And what would that be Luna?" Celestia asked.
Luna took out the drawing and held it in her magic. "Love, Tia. It was the love of our subjects. It was the love of you as my dear sister, and as my friend. I know now I am loved by many, and that is more than enough for me."
"Ooohh, my dear sweet Luna." Celestia pushed her forehead to Luna's and whispered one final sentence to her. "Happy Hearthswarming Luna." With that, the two alicorn princesses sat together under the stars, cherishing the tender moment they shared together.
