Luna

December 22nd began like any other day.

Luna got out of bed slowly, dragging her feet toward the window. Outside, snow was falling softly, covering everything in a white blanket. It was her birthday, but she didn’t feel anything special about it.

She knew her parents and Celestia would wish her a happy birthday, but beyond them, no one would remember the day. It had always been that way.

She went downstairs to the kitchen, where her mom and dad greeted her with warm smiles.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart!” her mom said, giving her a hug.

“Happy birthday, kiddo,” her dad added, ruffling her hair.

“Thanks,” Luna murmured, trying to hide her melancholy.

As she finished pouring milk into her cereal, Celestia came down the stairs, her usual energy lighting up the room.

“Happy birthday, little sis!” she said, pulling her into a hug.

Luna gave her a faint smile. “Thanks.”

Celestia looked at her for a moment, as if she wanted to say more, but simply smiled warmly instead.

By mid-afternoon, Luna was in her room reading when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Cadence.

Cadence: Hey, Luna! Want to go for a walk? It’s too cold to stay indoors all day. :)

Luna hesitated for a moment but then surprised herself by replying:

Luna: Sure. Where should we meet?

Shortly after, the two girls met near the snow-covered park in town. Cadence wore an elegant beige coat with a pale pink scarf that framed her face.

“It’s such a nice afternoon for a walk,” Cadence said with a smile.

Luna nodded, trying to hide the smile creeping onto her lips. She hadn’t told Cadence it was her birthday—she didn’t want pity.

They walked for a while, talking about everything and nothing. Luna felt more at ease than usual. Maybe, she thought, this friendship was the best thing that had happened to her in a long time.

What Luna didn’t know was that Cadence had an extra reason for wanting to spend the afternoon with her. A few days earlier, Celestia had approached her at school.

“You know,” Celestia had said, her tone conspiratorial, “December 22nd is Luna’s birthday. But she doesn’t like people knowing. I want to throw her a little party. Would you help me?”

Cadence had agreed without hesitation, and that afternoon she was doing her part, keeping Luna occupied while Celestia and their parents prepared everything at home.

When Cadence walked Luna home, the sky had grown dark. Luna paused in front of the door, noticing that the lights were off.

“That’s odd,” she murmured. “There’s usually a light on.”

She opened the door slowly, a mix of curiosity and concern stirring inside her. Then, suddenly, the lights came on, and a chorus of voices shouted:

“Happy birthday, Luna!”

Luna froze, her heart pounding. The room was decorated with balloons, streamers, and a small cake on the table. Celestia rushed toward her, pulling her into a tight hug.

“Surprise!” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Luna felt overwhelmed. “I… I don’t know what to say,” she murmured, her voice breaking.

Cadence placed a hand on her back. “You don’t have to say anything. Just enjoy the moment.”

As Luna’s parents approached to hug her, tears welled up in her eyes. She tried to hold them back but eventually burst into tears.

“Thank you,” she managed to say, clutching Celestia even tighter.

Celestia, slightly teary herself, gave her a playful pat on the shoulder. “Don’t do that, or I’ll start crying too.”

After blowing out the candles and eating cake, Cadence pulled out a neatly wrapped package.

“This is for you,” she said, handing it to Luna.

Luna unwrapped it with trembling hands, revealing a small notebook with a cover decorated in gold stars.

“I thought you might like it for writing,” Cadence said, smiling.

Luna ran her fingers over the cover, her shy smile growing. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

The evening ended with laughter and conversation. For the first time in a long while, Luna felt like she was at the center of attention—not in an uncomfortable way, but surrounded by people who truly cared about her.

As she slipped under the covers that night, she thought that maybe this birthday had been the best one of her life.