I resisted the urge to slump over on my throne and toss my crown aside. This is not how I wanted to spend my Hearths Warming Eve. I wanted to spend it enjoying my night with my foal.
Who was currently curled up in a ball behind my throne, snoring softly with her stuffed animal held in her hooves and her favorite blanket over her.
“Thirty more minutes until the Princess has to turn in for the night,” one of my Guards at the door, Comet Chaser called out and stamped a hoof on the floor.
I bit back a groan. At least I only had six more ponies to go through. No Blueblood this year, praise the stars. He may be seven, but boy is he entitled. I hope one day he grows out of it. Hopefully.
At least two of my more favorite ponies are here, Fancy Pants and his lovely wife, Fleur.
“Fancy Pants, Fleur. How may I be of assistance tonight?” I gave a warm smile at the two.
“We don’t need a thing. We are simply here to wish you and your filly a happy Hearths Warming. Speaking of which, where is that adorable filly?” Fleur asked with a grin and I smiled, gesturing behind the throne.
“Sleeping back there. She’s been out like a light for thirty minutes now.” Prior to that, she had been either running around the room, playing with Comet’s armor at the door to my guards amusement or sitting on my lap trying to mimick how I was sitting.
She always did have a way of making my guests laugh or at least smile. She did have a way of brightening up wherever we went.
“She’s freaking adorable,” Fleur trotted around my throne and I waved my guard next to me down. “We are talking about trying for our own soon. Come here, Sunset.”
Fleur levitated Sunset up and sat down with her in her lap. If anypony other than my guards, Raven or these two tried that, I have taken them down so fast before they could blink. Either I would have or my guards would have. Fancy Pants levitated two brightly wrapped gifts and set them behind my throne.
“For you and Sunset,” Fancy Pants clarified at my questioning look. I hope my gifts I had gotten them were already delivered.
“Thank you. Happy Hearths Warming to you two as well. And I wish you the best of luck with the other thing as well,” I winked and they both blushed. “Next in line, please come up?”
This was gonna be a long twenty minutes.
Thank the moon that is over, I mused internally as I trotted down the hall to my room, Sunset stumbling along next to me and Comet.
“Your highness, we’re here,” Comet spoke up and the two guards at my door saluted.
“Thank you, Comet. You as well, Thunder and Cobalt. Do you all have somepony waiting back home?” I asked and they all looked at each other.
“Uh yes ma’am. My wife and my son are,” Thunder answered hesitantly and I glanced at Comet.
“Got my daughter and husband back home waiting on me for dinner.”
That left one.
“No ma’am. I’m flying out to my parents in Cloudsdale after tour later tonight,” Cobalt told me and I nodded.
“Go to your families. This time of year is for family. Have a good Hearths Warming, you three,” I smiled and levitated my door open.
“If you’re sure,” Thunders voice trailed off and I gave a nod. “Thank you. Goodnight Sunset.”
The three fawned over my filly for a few more seconds before trotting down the hall as a group. I watched long enough to catch a large smile on their faces before shutting my door, tossing my crown onto it’s spot by the door.
“Come on and I’ll read you a bed time story,” I told Sunset who was sitting on the couch curled up in a ball again. “And then when you wake up, Santa Hooves will have dropped off your gifts for a perfectly well behaved little filly.” I booped her nose gently with a hoof and Sunset went cross eyed, giggling and I laughed behind a hoof. “Gotcha.”
Sunset yawned and I sat down, pulling off my horse shoes before I started lowering the sun to make the way for the moon. Sunset watched from her spot out the window in awe and I stifled a laugh. Sunset always did find it fascinating to watch.
“Up!” Sunset crawled on my lap and I nuzzled her. “Momma.” I rubbed her mane affectionately and she yawned.
I was going to share my bed with her as I always did, but I suppose the couch was fine as well.
I stretched out on my side and pressed Sunset to my side, draping a wing over Sunset protectively as she yawned again.
“Night Sunny,” I whispered and yawned myself. My only answer was a soft snore followed by a whinny and a subtle kick of a hind leg. Well, that makes this easy. I teleported all of Sunset’s gifts out of the spare closet on the fifth floor and used my magic to place them under a tree. “That was easy.”
I levitated a cookie to my mouth and took a bite resisting the urge to gag. Sunset had insisted on making the cookies herself and used a bit too much salt in my opinion. Thank the maker we leave out milk.
I held Sunset closer and fell asleep myself her head on my chest fluff.
I stared at the ceiling as the clock kept ticking in the corner of my room, my glowing horn lighting up the room as I lowered the moon and raised the sun in it’s place.
Soon enough, Sunset stirred and opened her eyes, her blue eyes staring up at me before they fell on the tree and she shrank back against my barrel.
“It’s okay. Those are for you,” I reassured her and placed her on the ground with my magic. “Like I said, Santa Hooves came last night. Right down the castle chimney, to our room and put them under the tree.”
“Hooves,” Sunset sat down and flicked her tail.
“That’s right. And then after he was done, he went back up to visit everypony else in Equestria.”
“Bye Hooves,” Sunset waved at the door and I laughed softly.
“Now, go on and open them,” I nodded with my head and she shakily trotted forward. I tore a piece of the paper with my magic for her to grab. “It’s a new picture book from Aunt Raven.”
Sunset started reading the book or well, tried I suppose. At least she found the pictures amusing based on her laughing.
“These next two are from me,” I gestured and Sunset opened them to reveal a bird cage and bird food. “You’ll understand in a minute.”
I whistled and a phoenix flew in, landing next to Sunset and she shrank back in fear.
“It’s okay,” I reassured her and slid off the couch. “This is Philomena. Mrs. Twilight Velvet gave me her to you as a gift. She looks a lot like you, doesn’t she?”
“Bird,” Sunset answered and I nodded sagely.
“Yes, she’s a phoenix. She’s got a fiery personality and a gorgeous appearance just like you. Once you’re older, she will be yours to take care of. Until then, I will teach you everything you need to know about her,” I smiled as Sunset hugged Philomena and the bird cawed.
“Pretty bird,” Sunset proclaimed and I nodded my agreement. I personally couldn’t verify, but when Twilight Velvet had given me the bird, I could have sworn she was showing that she was pregnant. Naturally, I never asked for reasons. She already had a colt named Shining Armor. I’m willing to bet the next one is a filly.
I watched Sunset open a few others gifts. A new blanket from Fleur and Fancy Pants, new boots from Comet and a stuffed raccoon from Thunder that Sunset promptly hugged happily. He always was one of her favorite guards.
And she soon abandoned next to her blanket, gathering up the paper into a pile and jumping into it with a laugh.
“Hey Luna, get a pic-” I started and glanced back, my ears flattening against my head. “Right.” I ended up taking the picture myself and sighed, watching Sunset drag her new blanket and stuffed animal to an empty box and disappearing inside.
I faintly made out soft snoring coming from inside and I chuckled. Sunset could always find a way to sleep anywhere, no matter what.
I levitated a card with my name on it and opened it, staring at a crude drawing of me and what I believe is supposed to be Sunset with a heart around us and the words I love you wrote under it in Ravens horn writing.
I say this about every one of my subjects, but Sunset is easily the best part of my life. I don’t really know what I’d do with out her. And she certainly did help fill that void my sister had left. I just hope one day, Sunset and Luna get to meet when the thousand years is up.
Enough sulking though. I currently have a filly to clean up after. And naturally, drag outside to play in the snow with.