Festive cheer spread over the city of Canterlot as the first snowfall of the season enveloped it. All over the city, ponies of all races and ages walked through it, taking in the sight of the buildings and streets transformed by the snow.
It felt as if the holiday spirit had been building within everypony just as an inflating balloon and the snowfall had been the pin that popped it, and now ponies hustled about, setting up decorations and carrying a variety of colourful boxes.
And amidst the crowd, a pair of ponies in cloaks walked across Canterlot’s market. A faint blue aura followed them, and with it, little bundles of leaves in its wake. Each floated towards a doorway, hanging ropes, or anywhere under which ponies would walk. Once settled, the leaves would give a little shake and a faint glow would increase and then disappear.
“Alright, I think that’s all of them,” Shining Armor said as he disposed of the bag in a nearby bin.
“Oh, Shining, this is going to be amazing!” Beneath her cowl, a young Princess could barely contain her glee. “One hundred little mistletoes spread around Canterlot. Just think of all the love and cheer that’s going to create!”
She felt Shining get closer to her and rub his nose against the side of her cloak. “I don’t remember you getting this giddy last Heart’s and Hooves Day, Cadance.”
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, the Princess of Love, smiled. “You can’t spell ‘Hearth’s Warming’ without ‘Heart’, Shining.” At that, Shining let out a snort. He was such a loveable dork. “Love should feel magical all year.”
“Oh, love is always magical with you, Cady.” He paused. “In more than one way, I mean.”
“Yes, dear. I get what you mean .” She rested her head on Shining’s shoulder. “Now let’s just wait and see everything play out.”
Shining held her hoof on his. “Run it through me again. What are the leaves supposed to do?”
“Ugh. Shining~ I swear on my aunt, you can be so scatterbrained sometimes.” In saying this, Cadance didn’t stop snuggling with her coltfriend.
He shrugged. “The one who helped you with the spells was Twily. You know the technical aspects go over my head.”
“Pfft. Sure thing, mister ‘top of his class’… Just pay attention.” Cadance raised a hoof and pointed to the end of the market. Ponies walked in every direction, thinking about their days. Ponies old and young. Mares and stallions. Mostly ponies on their own, until… “Yes! Right there!”
An old couple walked into the market, idly talking as they looked at the many vendors and their exhibits. They looked happy.
“They look happy,” Shining said.
“Good observation, dear. But now the mistletoe goes into effect. Just watch.”
The couple continued walking until they stepped under the mistletoe. The bundle of leaves gave a little shake as they let out a faint blue glow. The couple stopped walking and stood still for a second. They blinked a few times before turning to face each other. For a moment, they seemed lost in each other’s eyes. Then, the stallion smiled and caressed the mare’s cheek with his hoof, and she seemed all too eager to lean into the touch. The couple smiled before sharing a tender kiss. When they started walking again, they were walking a bit closer to each other than before.
“Wow… That was cute,” Shining said, his eyes following the couple as they walked away. “What did you do?”
Cadance giggled. “Twilight was telling me of this memory spell she read about during her studies, and it got me thinking. Imagine if you could be reminded of all the special times you’ve had with your significant other in just a moment. To have all those memories and the feelings associated with them rush the two of you. Wouldn’t it feel wonderful?”
“Yes. Yes, it would.” Shining pulled Cadance closer into his embrace. “It’s a really nice thing to do, Cadance.”
She let herself get more than a bit comfortable in his embrace. Shining was just that comfy. “I’m the Princess of Love. If I’m ever going to stand on the same level as Princess Celestia, I ought to be able to do this kind of thing for ponies. Strengthen bonds, help resolve conflicts, and things like that.”
Despite resting her head on his shoulder, Cadance could feel Shining’s smile. “I’ve got no doubt you will.”
They continued watching the couples be invigorated by the enchanted mistletoe, and Cadance couldn’t help but feel giddy at the sight of the happy couples. Until… A niggling sensation appeared in her chest. So small that she felt more irritated by how she felt bothered by it than the actual bothersome feeling. Regardless, something was wrong.
She raised her head, away from Shining’s warmth and looked around the market.
“Cadance?”
There. Just past the entrance.
Cadance’s heart skipped a beat as she spotted a couple walking under the first enchanted mistletoe. But instead of stopping for a romantic moment like so many others had, they just kept going, their voices sharp and clipped as they spoke.
“That’s not… Why didn’t the mistletoe work?” Cadance murmured, her brow furrowing.
Shining shrugged. “Maybe they’re not a couple. They could be friends, or siblings.”
Cadance lit up her horn and sent a quick, near invisible wave of scrying magic towards them. Yes, there it was. A familiar warmth, unmistakable and unyielding. Love. Those ponies were a couple.
“No. They’re definitely a couple. But there’s… something else going on.” She bit her lip and turned to look at Shining Armor. “I… I just want to know what happened. I’d hate it if it turns out I made a mistake enchanting the mistletoes.”
His tone was as reassuring as the hoof he laid on her shoulder. “You double-checked everything, Cady. Didn’t Twily and Princess Celestia look over your notes and the mistletoes, as well?”
“Well, something happened.” Cadance huffed, her wings shifting restlessly. “And it doesn’t feel right to just let a couple miss out on happiness during the holidays!”
Without another word, she started toward the general area where the couple had stopped, her determination pulling her forward. Shining sighed but followed close behind. He wasn’t entirely convinced, but Cadance knew he wouldn’t leave her to handle it alone. Such a supportive coltfriend!
As they approached the couple, Cadance pretended to be interested in the dresses a store had on display. Her ears were turned attentively at the couple that was slowly coming closer to her.
“I already said I’m sorry, Snowfall,” the stallion said. His voice was downtrodden, marked with resignation.
The mare, Snowfall, simply let out a long and weary sigh. “I… I know. I know you are. It’s okay. I understand.”
“But you’re still mad.”
“Ugh… I’m not mad, Golden.”
“You’re certainly not happy.” From his tone, neither was Golden.
Cadance’s heart ached at the weight of their words. The magic of the mistletoe hadn’t failedᅳit couldn’t fail. No, this had to be something deeper. The couple walked past the hooded Cadance. She had to fight the urge to turn and follow them, curiosity tugging at her. Something about them felt… off.
Ahead of them, an archway adorned with enchanted mistletoe swayed gently in the winter breeze. Cadance’s breath caught as the couple stepped beneath it. Her magic stirred, pulsating invisibly through the air, weaving its spell around them.
Snowfall and Golden looked at each other as the love magic washed over them. Yesᅳthere it was! That spark in their eyes. She recognized it instantly. The memory spell should work. It should remind them of how much they loved each other. Of how much each other meant.
Instead, their gaze turned forlorn. Sad. The spark flickered before dimming, and Cadance could feel her own heart break a little.
“I should… I should get to work. Boss wanted us to do an inventory check before the morning rush,” Golden said, breaking the silence. He glanced away, his voice quiet.
Snowfall let out a faint hum and brushed past him, her steps brisk, her tone cool. “See you at home.”
Golden stood in place for a while as Snowfall walked away. Cadance didn’t need to hear his thoughts; the longing radiated from him like a distant melody, haunting and unresolved. But there was something else, too. Something heavier.
“I love you,” he called after her, his voice fragile but steady.
Snowfall stopped, the words seeming to catch her mid-step. Then, slowly, she turned her head to meet his gaze.
“I know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes reflected the same yearning Cadance had sensed from Golden. “I love you, too.”
In their connected gazes, Cadance could still feel the love they had for each other. It was there! Their love wasn’t strained, it wasn’t diminished, it wasn’t broken. But something didn’t let them enjoy it. Something that, perhaps, even they couldn’t see. But then again, neither could she.
Cadance exhaled, the cold air misting in front of her. Rationally, she knew she should let it go. This was just meant to be a little project to spread some love in the days leading up to Hearth’s Warming. Up ahead, Golden turned and entered one of the stores. The way his head hung couldn’t have made his sadness any clearer.
“Cady?” Shining gently stroked her back. Her coltfriend looked so concerned. She wondered how she looked to him. “What’s the plan?”
“Huh?”
He smiled. “You’ve never been one to let something like this go. I don’t know what it is that you’ll want to do, but you’ve got my support.”
Cadance smiled softly at Shining. “You know me too well,” she said, leaning into his touch for a brief moment.
“Somepony has to.” His grin grew a little lopsided, a playful light in his eyes. “So? What are you thinking?”
Cadance’s breath puffed into the air. “I can’t exactly fix it for them, Shiny. That’s not how love works. But… maybe I can nudge them in the right direction. It’s what the mistletoe was supposed to do.”
“And then?”
She tilted her head, considering. “Then it’s up to them. But I have to try.”
Whatever was troubling Snowfall and Golden wasn’t insurmountableᅳshe was certain of that. She could feel their love still burning, even if it was dimmed by shadows they couldn’t quite name. Cadance straightened her posture and set her jaw. She may only have a few years of experience as the Princess of Love, but she was going to make sure the situation of those two improved before Hearth’s Warming.
“Love is never hopeless,” she said as a smile tugged at her lips.
“Three… Four… Five… King me!”
Little Twilight looked quite satisfied with herself as she took several of Cadance’s checker pieces in one move. Lazily, Cadance lifted a piece and laid it on top of Twily’s piece. Silence followed.
“Uh… Cadance. That’s one of your pieces.”
Cadance blinked and looked at the board. There was a white piece over a black one. “Oh… Sorry, Twilight.”
The little filly looked at her with concern in her eyes. “Is everything alright, Cadance? Did Shining Armor do something?”
“Hey!” Shining cried out, looking up from his O&O book.
“It’s often the case.” Twilight shot back without even looking at him.
“It’s not, and how would you even know if it was?”
“I made charts.”
“No, no,” Cadance said, trying to deflate the sibling conflict. “It’s not Shining’s doing this time. It’s just…” She sighed. “Do you remember those mistletoes you helped me enchant?”
Twilight nodded. “Yeah, when I told dad about it, he had me do another one for him and took it to his bedroom. Mom and him looked quite happy about it.”
Cadance and Shining exchanged awkward looks. The stallion’s eyes were strained and his white coat took on a slightly green pallor.
“Right…” Cadance said. “Well, there was this couple at the market today. They passed under the enchanted mistletoe, but… The results weren’t particularly satisfying.”
“It didn’t work?” Twily said, tilting her head. “How so?”
“They didn’t kiss. That’s for starters,” Cadence explained as she plopped herself down on the couch next to Shining. “They looked like they wanted to kiss. I could feel the spark there, and it really felt like they wanted to… But they didn’t. They just walked away. And they certainly weren’t happy.”
Cadance trailed off as she thought back to the look of longing on Snowfall and Golden. It was painful to see love get muddled like that.
“That doesn’t make sense.” Twilight huffed as she started pacing around the coffee table. “I triple-checked the spell matrices! If they’re in love, the mistletoe should’ve triggered their feelings and reminded them of their bond. It’s very straightforward magic!”
“Something was weighing it down. Something that bothered them enough to… To lose focus of their love.” Cadance shifted her wings as she went over what little she knew of the couple’s woes.
This wasn’t the first time she’d seen love falterᅳnot fade, but stumble under the weight of life’s challenges. Wasn’t this exactly what she was meant to address in her role as the Princess of Love? Not just to celebrate love at its brightest but to help nurture it through its storms? She frowned, tracing idle patterns on the couch with her hoof. It was one thing to spark existing love with enchanted mistletoe, but this felt more personal.
“If I’m supposed to guide and protect love, then how can I sit back when I see it struggling?” she thought. “Even if I don’t know the whole story, I can’t just ignore this. Love deserves better than that.”
Shining had been quietly pretending to read his O&O book for a while now. At that, he finally chimed in. “Maybe they were just having a bad day. Everypony has them. I mean…” He bobbed his head from side to side. “Even we’ve had our disagreements, that doesn’t mean I love you any less. Maybe the mistletoe caught them at a low point in their relationship.”
Cadance shook her head. “If that was the case, the mistletoe would’ve had a stronger effect. The spell is designed to bring back the memories of the times when their love was at their peak. The best moments. The happiest and most loving. And it worked! For a moment, it did. I saw it.” She let out a humourless laugh. She kept going on and on about how she had felt the love between those two, but that’s only because it was true. “And then, they just let it slip away.”
Twilight stopped her pacing and turned to face Cadance with a curious expression. “Did you talk to them? Maybe they’re fighting about something.”
“A lot of couples fight during Hearth’s Warming because of stress,” Shining said. At least he’d finally put that book down.
“I did overhear a little bit of their conversation,” Cadance admitted. She shook her head as she parsed the memories. “It didn’t seem like a big fight. It was more… Tension. Maybe the result of a hundred little fights and hurt feelings.”
Twilight tapped her temple with a hoof. She opened a notepad and started scribbling runes and complex formulas as she mumbled under her breath. “The spell might’ve worked partially but not fully. Something in their emotions could’ve disrupted the resonance.”
Shining raised an eyebrow. “Resonance?”
Cadance took the lead in explaining, since Twilight was too busy writing. “Think of it like a song. If love is the melody, the spell harmonises with it to amplify the feeling. But if there’s something out of tuneᅳlike sadness, or guilt mucking up the loveᅳit could throw the whole thing off.”
At that, Shining rubbed his chin. It was odd to see him so deep in thought, but it was nice to know he was showing that much interest in not just the love of those two ponies, but alsoᅳ
“Or,” Shining added with a smirk, “maybe their love song just has a bad cadence.”
Cadance groaned, burying her face in her hooves as Twilight stared at him, unamused. “Really, Shining? That’s your contribution?”
“What? It’s funny!” Shining protested, chuckling at his own joke.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “It’s not even a good pun. A cadence comes at the end of a composition.”
“It really isn’t your best work, Shiny. But thanks for trying,” Cadance agreed, shaking her head with a small smile despite herself. Then… A sigh.
“So… What will you do, Cady?” Shining asked.
The alicorn looked out the window. Snowfall and Golden may just be two ponies in a city of several thousand, but something deep in Cadance wanted to help them.
“I can’t fix the song for them. Maybe… maybe they just need a little reminder. Something to nudge them toward seeing past whatever’s bothering them.”
Shining leaned back, his book forgotten. “Like what? Another enchanted mistletoe? Or a serenade under their window?”
Cadance smiled, feeling a flicker of hope. “No, I can’t just wave a horn and fix it. But maybe I can help them find the harmony they’ve lost.”
Shining grinned. “That’s the Cadance I know. Always rooting for love.”
Twilight offered her a cute little smile. “You’ll figure it out, Cadance. You always do.”
Cadance leaned down and nuzzled the filly affectionately. “Thanks, Twilight. And thank you, too, Shiny.”
“Of course,” Shining said with a shrug. “But, uh, if you’re planning any big romantic schemes, let me know first. I don’t want to accidentally get roped into some singing number in the middle of Canterlot.”
Cadance giggled, her spirits lifting. “Don’t worry, Shiny. I’ll figure it out.”
The guards snapped to attention as they opened the towering doors, their armor glinting in the soft afternoon light. Cadance replied with a simple nod and a warm smile. “Thank you, gentlecolts.”
The faint scent of pine and polish lingered in the air, mingling with the crispness of winter that seeped through the castle walls, but the ambience did little to distract her mind. As she walked through the castle’s hallways, Cadance went over the situation in her mind. She had every intention of helping that couple, but the how kept eluding her. It wasn’t as if she could ambush them and offer free couple’s therapy out of the blue. Her aunt had sternly warned her not to do that again after that Hearts and Hooves debacle two years ago.
Her train of thought derailed at the sound of laughter. A sound that was quite familiar to her. Speeding up, she took a few turns and reached the throne room. With a gentle push, she eased the heavy double doors open, and her breath escaped in a single gasp.
Somehow, she felt as if she’d stumbled upon a Hearth’s Warming postcard.
Garlands of evergreen draped the columns, their deep green accented with golden baubles and crimson ribbons. Floating candles bobbed gently in the air, casting soft, flickering light across the room. The rich scent of cinnamon and holly mixed with the faint notes of a carol being hummed by the maids and butlers bustling about as they arranged the decorations one way or another.
“I believe it’s all coming together, everypony. You are all doing a wonderful job.” Princess Celestia had such a warm smile on her face, she could forget for a second about the winter outside. A small wreath encased in a golden aura floated in the air as she looked around the room. When her gaze shifted to the door and met Cadance’s, her smile brightened. “Oh, Cadance. How wonderful to see you today. Come, come closer!”
Cadance felt her own smile grow as she stepped into the room, the familiar comfort of her aunt’s presence easing the knot of unease in her chestᅳat least for a moment. Once they were finally close, Cadance gave a gentle bow before closing the gap and nuzzled Princess Celestia.
“It’s looking beautiful, auntie,” Cadance said as she stepped back. Looking around, she had to admit the regal room had taken on quite the cosy and homely ambience.
“It was a collaborative effort, though the real credit should be given to everypony else for putting up with my meddling.” Princess Celestia gave all the servants a fond smile, to which they replied with a deep bow and a few good hearted chuckles and amused murmuring.
The regal white alicorn turned back to Cadance, and her smile… Shifted. How so, it was hard to put into words, but Cadance was well acquainted with the expression Princess Celestia used when she was up to something. “Now,” she said, her tone softening as her wing extended to gently drape across Cadance’s back, “how about we abscond to my chambers and share a cup of hot chocolate?”
“Oh, auntie. I wouldn’t want to impose.”
“Nonsense!” Princess Celestia waved a wing and laid it across Cadance’s back, guiding her towards the door at the other end of the throne room with a strength that was not forceful while leaving no room for arguing. She leaned in, lowering her voice so only her niece could hear. “You can tell me what ails you, dear niece. And truthfully? I’ve been craving chocolate all morning.”
Giggling, Cadance submitted to her fate of hot chocolate and comfy lounging. Not much later, she found herself laying on Celestia’s couch, next to a tray with creamy hot chocolate. Just outside, from her balcony, the Sun Princess lowered her namesake into the horizon, and raised the moon, casting a bluish light over Canterlot.
Celestia stepped back inside, shaking off a faint shimmer of starlight from her wings as though brushing off snowflakes. She smiled warmly at Cadance, who had wrapped herself in a blanket and cradled her mug of hot chocolate between her hooves.
“Every time I see you do that, I’m in awe of how easy you make it look,” Cadance said, her tone light but sincere. “If I were in your shoes, I’d probably commit some horrid faux pas. What omens would the Royal Astronomers have if I accidentally dropped the sun.”
Celestia chuckled as she settled into the armchair next to her. “You’d be surprised how many times I tripped trying to get the sun in place during my early years.” She winked. “That’s actually the entire reason the Royal Astronomy Society of Equestria was created.”
Cadance laughed, the tension in her shoulders loosening. “Really? I have a hard time imagining you being anything less than perfect.”
“Oh, I assure you, dear niece, if I make it look easy now it is due to how hard of a time I had when I first started.” Celestia raised her mug and smiled as she reminisced. “I’ll let you know that the first eclipse Equestria had happened because the royal chef had told me he’d made tres leches for supper that night and I got distracted. Luna never let me hear the end of it for centuries.”
Cadance giggled, nearly spilling her drink. “Oh, no! Dear goodness… I don’t know who would’ve had a bigger field day with that. The astronomers, or the tabloids.”
“Both parties milked the event quite a bit,” Celestia said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on one hoof. “Now, enough about my cosmic misadventures. Tell me, how is your Hearth’s Warming shaping up? The mare who walked into the throne room today didn’t look like she just needed a chat about astronomy and a hot drink.”
The smile remained on Cadance’s face as she stared at the velvety surface of her chocolate. The lighthearted retrospective had served its purpose. She no longer felt tense, and it was easier to think about what she wanted to say. She ruffled her wings under the blanket and took a few steadying breaths. “It’s been… fulfilling, for the most part. But there’s this couple I can’t stop thinking about. I tried helping them, but something’s… off.”
Celestia tilted her head slightly, her expression softening. “Go on,” she said, her voice gentle and encouraging.
She took a deep breath and drank a generous gulp of the hot chocolate. Smiling, she started recounting the events of the market with her enchanted mistletoe and the couple. She tried not to dwell on her own feelings of confusion and frustration at not being able to help. Celestia said nothing more than a few sounds of agreement, or small questions to keep Cadance talking.
“You’ve found yourself in quite an interesting situation, Cadance,” Celestia said before drinking from her own mug.
Cadance sighed. “You can say that again. Their love was so nice. There’s a part of me that wants to justᅳ”she raised her hooves and mashed them together”ᅳget them to open up and get all lovey dovey like I know they want to be…”
“Just a part?” Celestia prodded her.
“Yeah… The temptation is there. But more than anything, I really want them to be happy. I want to understand and assist them. I don’t know how to give them the push they need, though...” She gave her aunt a sad look. “I don’t want to overstep my role as Princess of Love… But I don’t want to just let it be.”
“That you care so deeply for the wellbeing of two of our subjects speaks well of you, Cadance.” Celestia set her mug down on the side table with a soft clink and refilled it, her gaze thoughtful and warm. During this, she made no sound, nor did she look in Cadance’s direction. Just as the silence started to become uncomfortable, Celestia smiled a small smile. “You haveᅳperhaps unwittinglyᅳstumbled upon one of the biggest dilemmas we face as alicorns and princesses, my dear niece.”
Cadance raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“Have you taken note of the sun?”
That just confused Cadance even further. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to break it down for me, auntie.”
The giggles were melodious. “You’ve seen me raise the sun multiple times, have you not?” Cadance nodded, and Celestia continued. “Back when I first took upon the duty of controlling its path, I was inundated with requests to make the sun come out at specific speeds and angles. Be it entitled nobles who didn’t want the sunlight hitting them in the face at dawn, to struggling settlements way down south who could benefit from more forgiving day hours.”
“Ah…” Understanding dawned upon Cadance. “Yes, I can see how that could get annoying soon.”
“I actually tried, for a while,” Celestia said before taking another gulp of hot chocolate. “All those centuries ago, I tried scheduling different paths for the sun. I consulted with the ministry of agriculture, the House of Representatives, and the Royal Astronomers certainly made their voices heard…”
Neither Celestia nor Cadance could hold back the giggles. After a few seconds, the older mare regained her composure. “Needless to say, it didn’t even take a month before that whole project fell through. There was no way to make everypony happy in a way that suited their every need specifically.” Celestia took a deep breath that felt shaky. “They are all our subjects. Our little ponies. The ones in Canterlot and the ones way up north. The old and the young. The good and the evil. And my sun rises above them equally.” She paused, and turned to look wistfully at the moon. “As much as we might wish to, we cannot be everything to everypony. We cannot fix every broken heart or soothe every pain. What we can do is create the conditions for growth, harmony, and healingᅳjust as I set the sun on its steady course.”
Cadance let the words settle in her mind. The couch creaked underneath her as she adjusted her position. “So… I should think of myself more like the sun. Giving them light, warmth, and space to figure things out.”
“Exactly,” Celestia said, her tone gentle but firm. “Love, as you know, is both resilient and delicate. It can withstand great trials, but it can also wither if pressed too hard. Sometimes, the best way to help is to guide from a distance and allow love to flourish on its own terms.”
Cadance nodded slowly, her mind turning over Celestia’s words. “So, you’re saying I should focus on supporting them indirectly? Give them the chance to sort out whatever’s holding them back?”
Celestia smiled, her expression radiating pride. “Precisely. Offer them guidance, provide opportunities for them to reconnect, but let them find their own way. Love, like the sun, thrives best when it isn’t controlled too tightly.” She reached out with her wing and gave Cadance’s shoulder a comforting squeeze. “Trust your instincts, my dear niece. They’ve brought you this far.”
A soft smile tugged at Cadance’s lips as determination flared deep in her chest. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It only seems simple in hindsight,” Celestia admitted, chuckling softly. “But with patience and trust, you’ll see how resilient love can be. And remember, Cadanceᅳyour role isn’t just to tend to love itself. It’s to inspire others to tend to it too.”
Cadance nodded slowly, her heart lighter than it had been since the market that morning. “Thank you, Auntie. I think I understand now.”
Celestia reached out with a hoof, giving her niece a gentle squeeze. “Good. Now, I suspect you have some planning to do. But first…” Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “I believe there’s still a bit of hot chocolate left to finish.”
Smiling, Cadance motioned at Celestia’s face. “Ah, by the way. You’ve got some chocolate on your lip.”
Celestia giggled. “So do you, Cadance. So do you.”
“Feeling better?”
Cadance hummed, the sound almost lost beneath the cheerful clamor of foals playing nearby. Shining and her walked through the streets of Canterlot. Snow piled up on the roads, but still filled her with warmth. “I am. Which is weird, because I still don’t know what I’m going to do.” She stepped closer to her coltfriend as a gaggle of foals ran past them, laughing. One filly squealed in delight as she threw a snowball down the street. “Well, I know the general idea. Still nil on the specifics.”
“I know you won’t disappoint, Cady.” He leaned towards her, his shoulder brushing against hers as he gave her a quick nuzzle. “You’ve got me and Twilight, too. Whatever you plan, we’ll help you however we can.”
Cadance smiled, the warmth from Shining’s gesture spreading through her chest like the hot chocolate she’d shared with Celestia earlier. “I know, and I appreciate it. Though, I’m not sure how much help I’ll get from Twilight. Think your parents would be okay with me roping their little filly into a wild plan right before Hearth’s Warming?”
Shining chuckled, his breath visible in the chilly air. “It’s okay. She probably has a flowchart ready by now. I’m sure we can just go off her math.”
“Ah, of course. Who needs an alicorn when you’ve got the power of arithmetics on your side?” Cadance giggled, her wings gave a small twitch as another foal dashed by, nearly losing his balance on the slippery snow. Her magic flared instinctively, catching the colt just before he could tumble. “Careful there, sweetheart!”
“Thanks, Princess!” the colt called back before running after his friends.
Shining grinned. “You’ve got a knack for saving the day, don’t you?”
“But of course,” Cadance replied with mock grandeur, tossing her mane for extra flair. “A true heroᅳsaving foals from mild embarrassment. When was the last time you saw math doing that?”
“The tale will be told for generations to come,” Shining quipped, bumping her shoulder playfully with his own. “Don’t let the historians miss this one.”
Cadance laughed, the sound bright and unrestrained. It felt good to let go of the tension that had been weighing on her earlier. “I know Snowfall and Golden have got to talk things out. They're just unwilling at the moment.”
“So… Get them talking.” Shining hummed as he thought. “Should we make some of my dad’s special eggnog and give out free samples at the market tomorrow?”
“No. Even as a Princess, I would need a permit, and most government offices are closed until after Hearth’s Warming.” Not to mention that Night Light’s special eggnog would probably end up causing chaos all over Canterlot.
Shining swayed his head from side to side. “True… How about we dress up as carolers and sing romantic versions of Hearth’s Warming classics right near them?”
“Super cheesy, but I like it.” Cadance said, her eyes lighting up with amusement. For the first time in days, she felt truly energised. They could do this. And love willing, Snowfall and Golden would be able to open up and enjoy all that love that was fighting to be let out.
They kept walking down the snow covered streets of Canterlot for a while. The city around them was alive with Hearth’s Warming charmᅳshop windows glowing with warm light, the faint scent of roasted chestnuts in the air, and the sound of laughter drifting from ponies gathered in cozy groups. A side glance told Cadance that Shining was deep in thought, as if trying to pin down something in his memory.
Finally, he broke the silence. “You know, this reminds me of something that happened when I was a coltᅳright after Twily was born.”
“Oh, I’m always game for foalhood stories,” Cadance replied with giddiness.
“Hehe… Sadly, it’s not about the foals…” Shining took a deep breath before stopping. Cadance followed suit and turned to face him. “When Twilight was born, our parents were overwhelmed. They were both trying so hard to manage everything. They were caring for a newborn, keeping up with work, and planning for Hearth's Warming… I have to admit I wasn’t very helpful, either.”
She immediately extended a wing and draped it over Shining’s back. He appreciated the reassurance and leaned into the embrace, the tension in his frame easing slightly.
“They barely had time for each other,” Shining said, his voice quieter now. “It felt as if the only time they had together was spent arguing. It started small. Mom wanted classic decorations, but dad really wanted to incorporate some elements of old unicorn tradition. Or if the Hearth’s Warming Cake should have frosting or not… but it escalated as the holiday approached.”
Shining glanced up toward the district where his family’s home stood. His eyes held a faint, sad glintᅳbarely there, but enough for Cadance to notice. It felt wrong on him.
“How did they sort things out?”
He turned to her with a smile, soft but genuine. That was more like it. “I remember making this big card. I drew a picture of the four of usᅳMom, Dad, Twily, and me. I even had Twily scribble the sun and clouds in the corner.”
“Aw, that’s absolutely adorable!”
“We were pretty adorable foals,” he sighed wistfully before he continued. “I think they were arguing about… I don’t know… Something about the tree. That’s when I put Twily on my back and walked out with the drawing. Hah… Stopped them right on their tracks.”
Cadance clamped a hoof over her muzzle, trying not to laugh. It didn’t help that Shining’s grin had turned slightly smug, knowing exactly what he was doing.
“Seeing that card must’ve reminded my parents of what truly mattered. Their love, their family, and my sick artistic skills.”
At that, she actually snorted. Oh, she was gonna get back at him for that.
“Sorry about that,” he said, hardly looking sorry. “They apologized to each other and decided to simplify their plans so we could spend time together instead of stressing over perfection. Turned out to be one of our best Hearth’s Warmings ever.”
The city bustled gently around them, its life filling the crisp air with faint sounds of cheer and laughter. Cadance felt the pulse of it, the steady heartbeat of Canterlot, and it reminded her just how much love surrounded her. Her own love for Shining burned steady and bright, filling her with appreciation.
“I guess ponies can get so caught up in their own stress and struggles sometimes,” she mused, her voice thoughtful, “that they lose sight of what’s important.” She leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to his cheek, smiling as she felt him instinctively lean into the touch. “I think… I think I have a couple of ideas for what I can do.”
“What we can do,” he corrected her. Oh, he was absolutely adorable.
She laughed softly, the sound carried by the crisp winter air. “Yes, Shining. I have a few ideas. How about we talk about them and see which is the best?”
He grinned, playful yet warm. “Sure. I can make some eggnog for the two of us.”
At that, she laughed again. She was happy. And she was going to make sure Snowfall and Golden were happy, too. If she was certain of one thing, it was that Hearth’s Warming was a time for love, and she was going to make sure it shone as brightly as it could for everypony.
Morning came to Canterlot’s market. A brand new layer of snow had settled over the city, giving it a fresh Hearth’s Warming feel. Merchants bustled to set up their stalls, their breath forming soft clouds as they called out cheerful greetings to early shoppers. The scent of freshly baked pastries and spiced cider mingled with the crisp, clean air, while garlands of holly and twinkling lights adorned every corner.
And in the middle of the main plaza stood a grand Hearth's Warming Tree at the market’s heart. Its branches stretched wide and proud, glittering with ornaments, and at its peak shone a radiant star, a beacon of the season's warmth and hope.
“I think it’s amazing you got all of this set up in one night,” Shining said, looking up at the ornate tree with no small amount of awe.
“Called in some favours,” she replied with a knowing smile.
“Yeah, I bet.” Shining managed to tear his gaze from the tree. He grabbed one of the neatly stacked boxes and hefted it onto the table Cadance had arranged at the crack of dawn. “Alright, refresh my memory. How are we going to pull this off?”
Cadance flapped her wings lightly, lifting herself just enough to hover between the tree and him.
“This,” she began, pointing dramatically towards the tree, “is the Hearth’s Warming Wish Tree!” Her horn lit up as she pulled a small blank cardboard slip from the box Shining had placed. “Ponies from all over can come, take one of these slips, write down their wishesᅳ”she scribbled the word ‘proposal’ on it, making sure Shining couldn’t seeᅳ“and we float it up to a branch.”
Shining gave a low whistle as he glanced up at the glittering boughs. “A nice idea. But how’s it supposed to help you know who?”
“That’s the beauty of it.” Cadance clapped her hooves as she grinned wickedly. “I will go around the market inviting ponies to approach. I will focus on couples whenever possible. And once they get close enough…” Her horn lit up again, sending a soft bluish glow rippling through the tree. A faint shimmer spread through the branches, casting a magical sheen over the decorations. “…the enchanted mistletoe does the rest.”
Shining’s brow arched, but his eyes twinkled with mischief. “Lovingly devilish, dear. Promise me you’ll never become a supervillain.”
Cadance laughed. “No promises.”
“So,” Shining said, leaning casually against the table, “what are my orders, Princess?”
“You’re the eye candy.”
“Wait, what?”
“It’s a term of endearment, Shining,” she said with a sly grin. “You, sitting here, smiling, and looking cute? It’ll help ponies feel more comfortable. You’ll be irresistible, I’m sure.”
He rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the blush creeping onto his cheeks. “Fine, but if this leads to me signing autographs, you owe me extra eggnog.”
Cadance giggled, touching down beside him. “Deal.”
It didn’t take much for her to return to the same headspace from the morning prior. Spending all that time making the Hearth’s Warming tree look dazzling had really paid off. Ponies from all around the marketᅳboth vendors and those passing byᅳapproached to take in the sight of the tree.
With a warm smile, Cadance approached a pair of ponies who lingered near the tree. “Good morning! Have you made your Hearth’s Warming wish yet?” she asked, offering them each a blank slip of cardboard.
“Oh, um… No,” one of them admitted sheepishly.
“What’s that?” the other one asked.
“Oh, you’re going to love it. Just write down a wish for yourself or someone you care about. Then, we’ll send it up to the tree.” She demonstrated with a flourish of her horn, levitating a completed slip onto one of the branches.
As the pair began writing, Cadance moved on to another couple who looked uncertain. “Don’t worry, there’s no wrong wish. Just write from your heart!”
Soon, the tree’s branches began to fill with wishes. Cadance glanced over to see Shining subtly straightening his stance, catching a laugh from a group of foals as he struck an exaggerated pose. She couldn’t help but giggle to herself. He might not admit it, but he was doing an excellent job.
Not long after, she finally saw her targets walk into the market. Snowfall and Golden, both looking slightly dejected. She sent a quick scrying spell towards them and… Yes. There it was. Their love was still there, but it broke her a bit to feel it buried just a bit deeper than the day prior. She was not going to let this stand.
She quickly flew towards them and landed right in front of them. Snowfall gasped and took a few steps back, while Golden simply froze as his eyes went wide.
“Puh-puh-princess?”
“Good morning, you two. Would you like to participate in the Hearth’s Warming Wish Tree?” Cadance grinned at both of them, but they still seemed shocked. Shoot, she came off too strong… No problem. She just needed to dial it back a bit. Taking a deep breath she eased her smile and pointed to the large tree. “It’s a new event. You just write down a wish, and we will put it on one of the branches.”
Golden and Snowfall looked at each other. There it was. The uncertainty. They wanted to try it. They probably had the same wish in mind. But it refused to come to the surface. Alright. Just a gentle push. She had to trust them to do it for themselves. She knew they could do it.
“You know… Writing and sharing wishes together is a special way to strengthen bonds during Hearth’s Warming.” She looked back at the tree. A group of young mares giggled as they passed, whispering among themselves, while Shining did his best to look approachable without blushing too much. “My coltfriend and I made the first wish.”
The couple looked wistfully at the tree. Within them, their love started bubbling. Cadance had to fight the urge to squeal.
“I… I think… I think it could be fun,” Golden said. Slowly, he turned to look at Snowfall. “Would you…” He swallowed, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath before he spoke again. “Let’s… Let’s do it.”
Snowfall’s head whipped back to meet Golden’s gaze. True to her name, when she replied, her voice was fragile and delicate. “Let’s.”
In a feat of strength worthy of an alicorn, Cadance exercised enough self-control to not shoot up into the sky while hollering. Instead, she gracefully stepped away to give them privacy. Privacy with caveats. She still wanted to eavesdrop a little. With the aid of her magic, Cadance made sure to pay close attention to their conversation.
They may have taken the first step, but the uncertainty still had a firm grip on them. They suggested some simple, generic wishes. Idle talks about health, hope, and prosperity in the coming year, but nothing more.
Once Golden and Snowfall reached the table, Shining shot them one of his best winning smiles and gave them a cardboard slip. As they approached the tree, the enchanted mistletoes weaved into the branches activated, and she could feel the tension drift away. They already looked calmer, but now they were silent. Come on! They were so close!
Finally, they started speaking.
“What happened, Golden?”
“I… I just…”
Snowfall sighed and kept her head low. “Just… Just what? It’s just a wish. Don’t think so much about it.”
Oh, no… Cadance could feel air escape her lungs. In Snowfall’s voice was the first vestige of the cold cancer that was apathy. Few things could kill love like apathy could. There had to be something she could do. Maybe if she charged the mistletoesᅳ
“You.”
She took a sharp breath, just as Snowfall did. Cadance saw the mare freeze for a few moments before she slowly lifted her head to see Golden staring back at her with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. From deep in the tree, the enchanted mistletoe beamed its magic like a wildfire.
“I’m sorry Snowfall. I’m so sorry. All this time, I’ve been so focused on… on just stupid things instead of you.” Golden’s voice was low, barely steady. It seemed ready to break at the slightest push, but he kept it together. He was letting it all out.
Snowfall worked her jaw for a few moments before she tried to speak. “Golden… It’s not… Your job isn’tᅳ”
“It is! Snow, I love my job, but I only work so hard for us. Because I want us to have a better future.”
Snowfall gasped.
Golden closed the distance between them and gently cupped Snowfall’s cheeks. The mare immediately melted to his touch. “But I don’t care. Not really. I only care about those things because I think about sharing them with you. I just want you, Snowfall. I’m sorry I never made it clear.”
Oh, yes! This was good. Cadance could feel her heart beating hard inside her ribcage at the sight. Golden had made a breakthrough. Now it was Snowfall’s turn.
“I… Oh, Celestia. Golden. I’m so sorry. I’m the stupid one.” A sob escaped her as a torrent of tears poured from her eyes. “I knew it. I knew why… But… You were so distant. You were changing. I couldn’t tell you because I couldn’t ask you to leave a job you loved… I didn’t want you to stop loving me.”
Yes! Golden eyes were shimmering with tears. Those juicy love chemicals were flowing through him!
“I’ve been a horrible coltfriend if that thought has crossed your mind, Snowfall. I could never, ever stop loving you.”
Snowfall let out a whimper. An odd mix of a sob and a giggle. “You mean it?”
“Not for as long as you’ll have me,” he whispered as he started to close his eyes and gently leaned forward.
Snowfall’s eyes fluttered close as she let Golden pull her close to him. “Then… You’re never gonna get rid of me.”
The two kissed, and their whole world became each other. So lost they were in their love, that they didn’t notice Cadance letting out a victorious squeal as she flew upwards and started doing pirouettes over Canterlot’s market.
With a total lack of dignity, propriety, or decorum, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza slumped against Shining Armor, her body heavy with exhaustion but her heart light as air. She had the silliest smile both on her face and in her heart.
“Cady, I think it’s safe to say the Wishing Tree was a resounding success.”
Barely moving her head, Cadance looked up at the tree. Every branch glittered with tiny slips of cardboard, each one bearing the hopes, dreams, and promises of ponies from across Canterlot. Even though each was special to her, for it carried the hearts of dozens and dozens of ponies, she couldn’t deny there was one which held far more meaning to herᅳwell, aside from her own little slip, of course.
“Very successful,” she said with a purr.
Shining chuckled, the sound deep and comforting. “Snowfall and Golden looked quite happy when they left. No sign of sadness, dourness, or any other bad ‘ness’.” He turned around and planted a soft kiss atop her head. “You did a really good job.”
“It’s what I’m supposed to do.” Huh… She was slurring her words. It seemed that once it was mission accomplished, her tiredness was catching up to her.
“Oh, no. You’re not pulling that card, Cady.”
Just before she could ask what he meant, she felt his magic grabbing her and turning her around. Then, Shining crossed necks with her and pulled her body close to his. Oh, he was warm. And his chest was quite firm. Wait, no. He was being emotional. She had to pay attention to that!
“Cadance,” he began, his voice soft but steady, “you saw a couple having trouble and you spent almost a full day, squeezing your brain to find a way of helping them. You came up with this whole Wishing Tree. I counted. There are almost two hundred of those slips on that tree. You didn’t just help Snowfall and Golden; you brought joy to every pony here. That’s not just doing your dutyᅳthat’s going above and beyond. You’re a wonderful mare, and an amazing Princess. Every one of us is lucky to have you.”
Cadance’s mind short-circuited somewhere in the middle of his speech. By the time he finished, her heart felt like it might burst. “I love you…” she whispered, her exhaustion melting away in the face of his words.
“I love you, too, Cadance,” Shining replied before kissing her again.
As Cadance delighted in her amazing kisser of a coltfriend, her mind couldn’t help but think back on the past day. What had started as just wanting two ponies to stop being dumb and enjoy their love had spun into far more. In a single day, she’d learned an invaluable lesson: love didn’t always need a grand gestureᅳit just needed care and attention.
The last part of her mind that wasn’t too busy reciprocating Shining’s kiss thought back to Snowfall and Golden’s cardboard slip, and felt her heart swell with joy. She hoped auntie Celestia would like the end result. The Wishing Tree could even become a long running tradition.
Who knew?
Perhaps, in the seasons to come, she could help even more wishes come true.
“To always face life’s challenges together and never forget how much we love each other.”
ᅳSnowfall Serenade & Golden Spur
