Author's Note
Story written for Scriblits Talo. I hope you enjoy it!
A Kind Guest
It was a snowy day in Canterlot as ponies walked around with presents and smiles on their faces. Their joyful delight that radiated from the cheerful ponies could be felt by Princess Luna as she watched over them from her balcony. She would buy presents and eat candy like the others, but because of her high status as a princess, her options were limited. The Princess left the ponies to their joyous selves.
“Sister, why don’t you join the festivities?” Her ears pricked when she caught the voice of Princess Celestia. She was all dressed and ready to go out, which was a very unusual sight for her to see. It was almost abstract to her eyes.
“Don’t we usually seclude ourselves?” Princess Luna raised an eyebrow. “We’ve experienced many Hearth’s Warmings, yet I don’t recall you actually going out and interacting with the ponies like one of a commoner.”
Celestia scoffed with a wave of her hoof. “Oh, Luna, there’s no harm stepping in with the festivities. I recall you enjoying yourself on Nightmare Night that one time.”
“That’s because I was trying to reform myself,” Princess Luna told her. She recalled that time, when she was alone, confused, and lost. Well, not entirely alone. Twilight was a good friend to have during her time of turmoil, which made her ascent to royalty all the more satisfying for her to witness.
“But you’ve already succeeded in that part of your life,” Celestia wrapped a scarf around her neck with her magic. “Since then, you’ve been secluded to the castle. Both of us did, actually.”
“You’re acting like that’s a bad thing.” Luna narrowed her eyes. “Isn’t that what you do all the time whenever the ponies are in danger—“
“It’s not a bad thing,” Celestia prompted, not detecting Luna’s quiet retort. “But when it comes to the holidays, I believe it’s time for a change of pace, no?”
Celestia opened the doors that led to the gates. “I’m going to spend the day with Twilight in her castle. You would do well to visit someone else this year.”
Luna stiffened. “What do you mean ‘someone else’? Why can’t I go visit Twilight too?”
“Oh, Luna,” Her sister chuckled. “Have you forgotten how Twilight acts when both of us are there? The last thing I want her to have is a panic attack if she messes up on the tiniest things in our presence.”
The Princess tapped her hooves on the stony ground. “I suppose you have a point,” Luna begrudgingly agreed. “But who should I go to? I don't want to pop into somponies’ house out of the blue.”
“Well,” Celestia smiled. “There’s always Twilight’s other friends who are looking forward to your visit.”
“Hm…” Luna pondered. “I guess that would suffice. They do know us the longest.” She looked out the window to see the snow falling from the skies.
“Ah, Luna, don’t be so stiff. I know you’re excited about the holidays too. You need to grow out of this shell you made for yourself.” Celestia teased as she began walking out of the doors.
“My shell?” Luna darted her eyes to her departing sister. “I don’t have a shell! I just don’t want to look weird and out of place among the other… ponies…” she trailed off when Celestia teleported away.
Princess Luna let a sigh escape from her as she looked at the ponies in Canterlot again.
“I suppose an outing won’t be the end of the world,”
In her winter clothes, Princess Luna searched to find the homes of Twilight’s friends. She was a little worried they wouldn’t be available for her presence. First, she flew to Sweet Apple Acres to visit Applejack. She peered through the window. Her ears flattened when she saw Applejack giving out gifts for her family in the living room. She was sure Applejack would mind if she intruded during this special time. She’d have to come back later.
Next, she approached Pinkie Pie’s rock farm. She had to admit, the snow made the farm lessdepressing. It reminded her of the farmlands that used to be Ponyville. It was one of the last things she remembers before her descent to Nightmare Moon. Princess Luna snuck behind a wall when she caught Pinkie Pie picking up rocks with her parents and sisters. Normally, she would consider this a crying plea for help. Especially if it’s Pinkie Pie of all ponies. Yet the pure laughter and joy that came from the pink pony didn’t match the dull vibe of her area. She looked content with what she was doing.
All ponies have different sources of happiness. Princess Luna told herself. When she walked out of her hiding place, she felt stupid that she had to use a wall for cover when she knows all kinds of advanced spells to hide herself. Princess Luna gave herself a tiny beating for that.
Leaving the rock farm behind, the Princess ascended to the clouds to reach Rainbow Dash’s area. Using her invisibility spell to hide herself this time, she looked in the windows to see Rainbow Dash having dinner with her parents and little Scootaloo. The little pegasus gave Rainbow Dash a hug while the latter’s parents took thousands of pictures of it. The sight tugged at her heartstrings. She didn’t want to interrupt this precious time.
Descending from the clouds, Princess Luna visited the Carousel Boutique to give Rarity a nice surprise visit. She felt weird stalking four ponies but she was a little desperate to find just one that wouldn’t mind her intrusion to her party. Luna slowly peeked into the window. Ah, she wasn’t surprised when she caught Rarity fretting over the Hearth’s Warming dresses for her family. Not even her parents and her little sister could stop the workaholic.
She doesn’t need a princess to add to her stress. The Princess sighed. She was starting to lose hope.
Last but not least, Princess Luna approached Fluttershy’s cottage. She remembered visiting her cottage once for Fluttershy’s lessons about the intensity in her voice. She has been doing a lot better since that time. She wondered if Fluttershy was proud of her despite the pegasus almost having a heart attack. Now that I think about it, that’s a time that shouldn’t be remembered fondly.
She didn’t want to be a stalker again, so she lifted her hoof to knock on the wooden door. She bit her lip. This was the last house, and if she wasn’t available, then she had no idea on what to do.
After she knocked, a door creaked open. Fluttershy looked surprised. She could tell that a visit from the Princess was the last thing she had in her mind.
“Greetings, dear Fluttershy.” Princess Luna bowed her head. “I hope I’m not intruding on your family time.”
“Oh, family,” Fluttershy chuckled as she opened the door wide open for her to come in. “Unfortunately, they couldn’t come this year. It’s just me and Angel.”
The rabbit hopped over to the Princess. By the way it looked at her and ran, it seemed like Angel was terrified of Luna’s tall form.
“I see…” Princess Luna walked into the home. Spending Hearth’s Warming with animals? The Princess felt bad for her.
“You don’t mind spending Hearth’s Warming like this?” The Princess cautioned once she sat down on one of the couches.
Fluttershy shook her head. “I don’t go out much during the holidays. I prefer if I were in my cozy home with my cozy animals.”
“But what about your friends?” Luna frowned. “Don’t you six spend the holidays together sometimes?”
“During the day,” Fluttershy shrugged her shoulders. She sipped on her hot cocoa. “But at night, I prefer to be by myself… and Discord. I mean, I do appreciate your company. A visit from royalty is a wonderful surprise.”
“Huh.” She didn’t understand it, but she could respect it. “You do you, little one.”
She eyed her cocoa. She waved her hoof slowly in a circular motion. “I suppose you…”
“Oh!” Fluttershy got the message. She went into her cupboard and picked out a mug. She poured the hot cocoa and gave it to the princess.
“Thank you,” she said. She softly blew the drink.
“Anytime, Princess Luna,” Fluttershy smiled. She set the cup down after she was finished. “You know, Princess, I’m happy that you visited.”
“So am I,” Princess Luna now began sipping her drink. Her mouth slightly burned from the heat.
“Careful, it’s hot,”
“Erm… yes…” Princess Luna took another slower sip.
Luna set her cup down. “You mentioned Discord. I always forget he lives here now.”
“It takes some getting used to,” Fluttershy chuckled. She looked at a photo of her and Discord smiling together in a meadow of butterflies. “I don’t know how I managed to tame that chaotic heart of his.”
“Celestia knew what she was doing when she took Discord to Ponyville,” Princess Luna recollected the memory from long ago. She could faintly remember the fights they both had about the fate of the schemish draconequus. “I feel a little hypocritical when I suggested he should stay in stone, when I was as evil as he was.”
“Reformation is always a gamble,” Fluttershy sole thoughtfully. “Yet it always seemed to work out. There was you, Discord, Starlight—“
“Still doesn’t make me feel less bad about my actions,” Princess Luna cut her abruptly. “I may have forgiven myself and adapted a healthier lifestyle, yet that never erases history, does it?”
“I suppose not,” Fluttershy sipped her cocoa again.
“Even years after I’ve reformed, I still feel nervous around the townsfolk. That’s why you rarely see me during the holidays.”
“But you’re here talking to me,”
“Because you and your friends, alongside my sister, know me better than everyone else. You seven are the only ponies I can truly talk to about my feelings.”
Princess Luna tapped her hoof on the table. “…which is why I was relieved when you were available for a chat. You always know how to make me feel better with your kindness and understanding.”
“Oh, of course,” Fluttershy’s lips curled into a smile. “What are friends for, after all?”
Princess Luna now began to sip from the cup. “The elements picked you for a reason, little one. Never forget what made you special. You certainly showed it to me.”
After the talk, the Princess began talking more about her life with Fluttershy, who gave more helpful advice. The counselor session turned into a fun conversation as they both shared laughs and jokes about everyday life. It was a shame when Princess Luna had to say goodbye to Fluttershy. She was good company, despite the yellow pegasus being a heavy introvert.
The Princess strolled through Ponyville and Canterlot with a more positive light. She welcomed the ponies and the ponies gave her the holiday joy in return. She even partook in some holiday traditions. She couldn’t remember the last time she did those things without feeling forced.
Princess Luna returned to the castle with a smile on her face. When she walked down the hall, she eyed the stained glasses of several feats that happened for the last few years. One of which included the defeat of her evil self: Nightmare Moon.
Her eyes gazed at Fluttershy. She smiled warmly at the sight. It looked like her efforts continued to suffice in the past and in the present.
“Thank you for being one of the ponies to help me change, dear Fluttershy.”
