The sound of constant chatter and dissatisfaction was heard throughout the royal halls. Thousands of ponies were noticeably lined up at Canterlot Castle, effectively closing many of the city’s nearby streets. Members of the Royal Guard, adorned in their unmistakable golden armor, were attempting to keep everything under control. A city that was once a bustling and prosperous metropolis was now a full-blown shantytown, chaos running rampant. Trash covered the streets, tents lined the sidewalks, and shops nearby were only used for the occasional relieving of oneself. The line itself rode up the castle steps, winding through almost endless corridors, before halting at its final destination: Princess Celestia.
And there the Princess watched as immeasurable amounts of ponies badgered her with their trivial wants and needs. The throne room sported a new look, extravagantly different from its already grand design. Wreaths decorated the cold stone pillars, ornaments hung from the banners, and even the throne itself was donned with festive lights. The grey and dark grey checkered floors were repainted red and green, fully accepting the holiday season. Aside from the Princess, the embellished room was the most breathtaking thing the ponies had ever seen. Unbeknownst to everyone else, however, Celestia counted second, after second, until at last she heard those blessed words.
“Last hearing for today!” an intimidating pegasus guard shouted. The moans and complaints of every single pony, who were waiting for days, erupted throughout the halls. The hallways were no different from the throne room as the seasonal decorations were shaking from the noise. As the booming roars died down with the horde of ponies trotting away, the last, and very fortunate pony walked up to Celestia.
“Your highness,” an old pony said while kneeling.
Celestia rolled her eyes, eagerly anticipating the chance to retreat to her chambers.
“Yes, my loyal subject?”
The old earth pony was anything but regal, and his voice certainly did not express the arrogance of the usual Canterlot elite. Celestia looked upon him, the change of scenery refreshing her fatigued mind.
“I-I’m sure you’re aware of the coming of Hearth’s Warming Eve, and I’m sure you’re also aware of the… stress it can bring.”
Celestia chuckled, reveling in the massive understatement that he had not a clue about. There was something about the winter season that spread happiness, peace, and prosperity amongst the ponies of Equestria. But for the Princess, all it brought was loads of paperwork and holiday disputes. Celestia sat patiently, maintaining her royal form.
The frail equine looked up at his Princess, marveling at all the splendor her gold-gilded throne had to offer. He eyed every carving, every glorious feature of the golden monument. He was practically drooling in front of Celestia. One of the nearby guards coughed, effectively throwing him the “wrap it up” look.
“Ah yes, well, uhm, I own a shop, a couple of blocks down the castle, actually. And, you see, last week, I was preparing for the ever dreaded Hearth’s Warming Welcoming Sale. The trouble is that, before I could open, the angry beasts seemed to plow through my doors. Now, I’m not saying they were all responsible, as some actually paid, but many of my wares were unaccounted for at the end of the viscous stampede.”
Celestia’s head perked up, softly peering down at her troubled citizen.
“Oh my, that certainly does sound unfortunate… but,”
The shopkeeper lowered his head at the word.
“I am unsure as how this is a matter to be dealt with by me, as you should have reported the criminals to the respective authorities,” Celestia said, her mind wandering off towards other, bigger problems.
“Ah, well yes, you see, I actually could not remember any single ruffian. I came here to ask for… well, a sort of reparation,” the pony said, anxiously grinning.
Celestia once again aimed her piercing gaze at the colt. He shivered as he could almost feel her eyes entering his very mind. A faint coat of sweat formed over his brow as he could not maintain eye contact any longer. Celestia narrowed her eyes, a silence penetrating the former bustling room. Just before the colt couldn’t take it any longer, Celestia broke the torturing silence.
“Very well, I will see to it that you are repaid substantially for your troubles. I am sure that a couple thousand bits would cover any damages and lost invento-”
“Sister, wait!”
Everypony in the room turned their attention to the other Princess, Princess Luna. As quickly as she appeared, she began walking towards the throne. It was actually rather awkward, watching the Princess as she made slow progress walking along the unnecessarily lengthy red carpet after such a dramatic entrance. The ponies waited patiently until, finally, the lunar princess stood beside her respected elder sibling.
“I have seen this one’s dreams, and his situation is not what he says it is,” Luna whispered into Celestia’s ear.
Celestia’s homely and warming smile faded ever so slightly as she heard the words. She began to rise, appearing larger and even more intimidating than she had ever been. Taking one last look at the sweaty, shaken pony, she turned to her most trusted friend of all.
“He is lying; he is only here in an attempt to undeservingly receive money. He does not even own a store,” Luna whispered, glaring at the worn-out colt.
“Are you sure?” Celestia asked, visibly concerned by such an accusation.
Luna sternly looked Celestia in the eyes, and nodded. Celestia sighed, shaking her head as she slowly lifted her front hoof towards the door.
“Guards, take this subject to a holding cell,” she commanded.
The seemingly courteous “shopkeeper” had his bottom jaw rested upon the castle floor as the remaining two of the Royal Guard carried him away, the large doors closing behind them. Luna, upon recognizing she was alone with her sister, dropped her regal posture, slumping onto one of the steps next to the throne.
“Well then, I am guessing that revealing a fraudulent scheme was not the reason you have called for me, Tia?”
Celestia, as well, dropped her dignified posture, lying back in her chair. She moaned as she conjured up a comb, attempting to hide the split ends that were beginning to form. Luna let out a small giggle, sitting up from her previous position.
“It is a little late for that; is it not, dear sister?”
“Hmm, well I guess it is, Sister. I am sorry, but this time of year somehow always catches me by surprise. The disputes, the arguments, the requests: I am afraid they flood in without mercy during the holidays.”
“Ever since I have returned, I have wondered how you could possibly deal with them. Why, a holding cell? I remember a time when most of our problems ended with the softest punishment… banishment,” Luna commented.
Celestia looked into her sister’s aquamarine eyes, matching Luna’s previous giggle with one of her own. She walked down the throne steps, accompanied by her sister, as she reveled in those memories set in her mind long ago.
“Well, we had only led a couple of hundred ponies back then. I am sure that if we were to do that today, the offense would have to be much direr than a mild act of fraud.”
“Should not the rules be the same, no matter the size of what we command? Sometimes, I sense that in these past thousand years, you have developed a... relationship with your subjects,” Luna said, boldly critiquing her elder.
“I do not see my love for the well-being of my ponies as a hindrance, my dear Luna. I think it has done quite well. Equestria has come a long way since we began our journey.”
Celestia walked up to a large stained-glass window, briefly recalling the time it depicted, so long ago in the past. It was crafted with remarkable craftsmanship, easily illustrating the climatic defeat of Discord by her, and her sister.
“In any case, I deem it to be a rather, remarkable strength for us ponies. Peace and love were not so easily found back then...”
A new silence crept onto both of them as they stared intently at the window.
“...But, going back to why I had called for you, would you please come with me?”
Luna nodded, trotting up beside her as they walked out of the throne room and down one of their many hallways. They turned right, walking down another hallway towards one that only they were allowed access. On the right wall laid countless stained-glass windows, each portraying a different event in Equestrian history. To their left, a wall that abruptly ended turned into an open view across their land of Equestria. The sun was lowered, and the scene of warming orange sky somehow reduced the effects of the outside’s icy winds. Masses of feathery snow draped itself across the land, forming the trees of the castle garden into what seemed to be giant broccoli-shaped marshmallows. As the sisters walked, the sun finally bid goodnight to the land, and fell past the horizon. Celestia let out a long and winded sigh, as if an enormous weight had been lifted off her weary shoulders.
Oh, finally. That feels so much better, Celestia remarked in her head.
Celestia looked to her right, watching her sister silently walk beside her. She was so quiet, and her expressions remained as cold as a windigo’s breath. She remembered when she wasn’t so; when she was giggly and asked question upon question. Back then, a simple “yes” or “no” was never good enough for her. Celestia found it to be her biggest annoying trait, but oh how she wished that time to return. Celestia finally broke the soft, tranquil silence when she asked, “Sister, do you remember what happened on the first Hearth’s Warming Eve?”
Luna stopped walking, as she looked up at a certain window, one showing a white alicorn, flying high in a gold-trimmed chariot with various, visibly happy ponies below her.
“Ah, I do. It was the year before I was sent, away.” Luna shrunk as she spoke the words.
“Yes, and do you remember what we did on that distant day?” Celestia queried as she continued walking.
Luna’s former frown let out a small grin, as she thought so far back, and quickly returned back to Celestia’s side.
“I remember everypony being absolutely shaken. However, I do remember us giving something back to our loyal subjects. An attempt to “lift their spirits”, yes? Are we doing the same here in the castle? It would be most fun to return a favor or two towards our loyal servants.”
Celestia shortly held her breath before exhaling, going over her next words very carefully.
“Actually, while you were gone, I have upheld that little tradition on the exact same day. However, instead of the few hundred ponies that followed from the ashes of Discord’s reign, our followers have spread across all of Equestria.”
“Why, making a gift for everypony across Equestria? That would take weeks, if not months of preparation,” Luna scoffed.
“It has,” Celestia spoke as they stopped in front of a large set of wooden doors. However, these doors were different than any in the castle, as they rose up high, almost into the ceiling. Carvings of happy ponies adorned the doors as Luna keenly looked upon each picture. There were ponies having snowball fights, ponies sitting around a fire telling stories, and even one constructing a luxurious igloo. Celestia entirely enveloped both doors with her magic, her aura sparkling with gold as it always had. As both doors were thrust open, the sounds of drills, hammers, and small babble erupted into Luna’s face, blowing her sparkling, stellar mane back with considerable force.
Celestia and Luna overlooked the huge room from above, which more of a factory floor than a room. Hundreds of ponies were hard at work, crafting gifts from the simple teddy bear, to a complex winding flugelhorn. Far to their right sat the largest mountain of mass-produced gifts that Luna had ever seen, still slowly growing in size. The stunned princess gaped across the factory floor in disbelief, eventually forming into sheer confusion.
“What is the meaning of this?” Luna demanded, glaring at her sister.
“I could not end it, Sister. I could not take away one of the very few things that they looked forward to. When I saw how happy, and joyful, they were from their gifts, how could I deny my subjects?”
Celestia lowered her head, a tear beginning to fall from her eyes. Although she cried, she could not help but smile as she looked over the tiny fraction of her loyal populace.
“I understand, Tia, but you are not dealing with a small crowd of ponies anymore. We rule over tens, if not hundreds of thousands of ponies. You cannot keep this up forever,” Luna said regrettably. Luna placed her hoof under her still-exhausted sister’s chin, lifting her face to hers. Only the Princess of the Night had seen the dark bags that plagued Celestia from under her eyes. Celestia stared at her with a hopeful gaze before turning away to oversee her expansive operation.
“I know, Luna. And that is why I have shown you this,” Celestia deadpanned.
Luna’s eyes widen, her legs trembling as she took a sudden step back.
“I understand if you refuse, but I must ask now. Since your banishment, I have upheld this tradition. And, unfortunately, my royal duties have taken its toll. The kingdom has grown too large for me to do this and my royal duties, even if I am an alicorn. This is why you must do this part in my place.”
Luna flinched as she closed her eyes, searching for an alternative solution.
“Big Sister, you surely must understand that this is impossible. Hearth’s Warming Day is tomorrow, and gifts of this vast quantity would take days to deliver,” Luna reasoned.
Celestia’s horn illuminated with her token golden-aura as she turned towards her sister.
“Yes, normally this would be impossible, but with this…”
A small crystal sphere with various intricate carvings and notches appeared before Luna. As Luna looked closer for inspection, the sounds that once covered every inch of the large room suddenly ceased. Luna looked around, only to find that everypony stood frozen in their place. At first, she thought of it to be a silly prank, but she then spotted a pony throwing a teddy bear towards another. The toy was stuck, in midair, as both ponies were also motionless.
“…You will be able to every single one of these gifts in less than a second.”
The wind howled as the unforgiving frost fell from the sky on the night of Hearth’s Warming Eve. All of Canterlot was overtaken by the cold, starless night, forcing even the most daring of ponies to bid themselves away until morning. The only light that could be seen for miles was that from a small balcony on the backside of Canterlot Castle. The light foolhardily glittered, only to be swallowed by the power of the storm. And yet, the ponies on that balcony paid no mind to the blizzard’s refute.
As the snow fell without mercy, it was halted, melting into lukewarm water as it slid down the side of a force field. Princess Luna and Princess Celestia both stood, in the midst of the snowstorm beside Luna’s dark, winged chariot. As they were surrounded by the light of torches, they appeared amused as they saw Luna’s guards, outside of Celestia’s protective shield, trembling in the storm.
“Perhaps we should let those two inside. I will need them for this trip,” Luna suggested.
Celestia smiled back to her semi-caring sister, walking forward to bring the two stallions under their transparent bubble. The guards, frosted like a wedding cake, quickly shook the snow from their coats. Once they were as close to dry as they could get, they soon realized how they had just moved the snow from one pony to the next. The two royal sisters eyed them both sourly, sending the guards into an automatic saluting stance. Celestia, after giving the two guards one last unforgiving look, levitated the crystal sphere over to Luna. Luna grasped the artifact firmly in her hoof as she placed her hoof on a large impression on the top. The ball began to slowly rotate, illuminating the entire balcony with striking rays of light. Luna placed the revolving orb into her saddle-bag, stepping into her chariot as she looked down to her sister.
“I am not exactly sure how this thing works, yet,” Luna complained.
“I have set it to only affect you and your guards, along with anything within a couple of feet. Although the snow will not be falling, you will still have to fly through it.”
Luna’s guards, tethered to the chariot with dark steel chains, both let out a small groan. Luna giggled, but then scolded the guards for whining so early in their journey.
“And please try to not walk too close to anypony. The unexpected arrival of Princess Luna in somepony’s house, well, can be a bit frightening.”
Princess Luna’s blushed, mentally noting how unfitting her chariot really was for Hearth’s Warming Eve.
“This will not be easy, my dear Luna. Although you are able to pass through unaffected by time, you will still feel time pass as it normally does. Your flight around Equestria will take days, so I certainly hope you have prepared,” Celestia warned, briefly looking at the large brown bag in the back of the chariot.
“I figured that much; the bag is filled with everything I shall require for the trip. You owe me for this,” Luna said, narrowing her eyes, as she looked down at Celestia. “And why can I not just teleport to each city? It would definitely save me many hours of unnecessary flight,” Luna proposed.
“You will need to save your energy. I hope you still remember that you will have to summon each pony’s gift that lays stowed away in the factory.” Celestia raised one of her eyebrows.
“Hmm, I guess that is why we have been making a list for these presents over the past few hours. I will remember, Sister, and I will return before you know it.”
Luna firmly took the reins with her hooves, and commanded her guards to take off. Celestia stayed there on the balcony, watching Luna fly farther and farther, until she inadvertently blinked out of view. Celestia was then quickly bombarded with rain and snow, forcing her to retreat back inside.
Ponyville was met with much softer weather, but most of its residents were asleep all the same. Some still walked the streets, enjoying the simple rustic beauty their little town had to offer. The night was calm, and the lights were out. In the sky, however, was just the faintest sign of movement. There was nothing there, but one could swear that, out of the corner of their eye, they saw something. But, alas, not a single pony knew that their own Princess Luna was above them, preparing to make her final deliveries.
Princess Luna shuffled around in her huge brown bag, pulling out an apple. She quickly threw the entire thing into her mouth, chewing and swallowing in all but a second. She did not want to wait for this trip’s end any longer. Her mane was disheveled, her eyes were low, and her coat had several stains of dirt.
“Loyal guards, wait here while I finish this troublesome errand.”
The two guards looked back at the Princess, giving her a stern nod as they hovered above Ponyville. Princess Luna swept down across Ponyville, quickly conjuring gift after gift as she morphed into a deep purple mist, entering each houses chimney. Hours passed, well, at least her hours passed, until she reached her last delivery. The purple, starry mist entered the Golden Oaks Library, quickly reforming into the Luna herself. Princess Luna heard a soft fizzle and pop, but she was much too tired to pay any mind to it. Luna looked downstairs, searching for a fitting place to set her last gift that she held firmly in her hooves. As she tiredly walked down the steps, she turned left around a corner, only to reveal Twilight in a large lounge chair, sipping out of her cup as she read a book. Twilight looked up from the pages, and almost immediately spewed hot chocolate from her mouth. Luna let out a small gasp, and hurriedly dodged the saliva-filled projectile, allowing it to hit the wall instead. As Twilight wiped the excess liquid from her face, Princess Luna stomped towards her.
“Pr-Princess Luna! What a warming and unexpected visit! Wh-Why are you here?” Twilight said with her teeth clenched as she got out of her chair.
Luna stood still for a moment, contemplating the consequences of being spotted.
Well, I am sure Twilight Sparkle will be able to understand. But how is it that she defying time as I do?
Princess Luna glanced over to a clock above Twilight’s fireplace, noting that it was the exact minute she had left Canterlot those few days ago. And yet, she saw the second hand ticking as if nothing was the matter. Luna, her eyebrows furrowed, quickly looked over to Twilight.
“Twilight Sparkle, how are you not frozen in place?” Luna quietly demanded, asserting her authority with a soft stomp of her hoof.
“Uh, should I be? Because I can totally do that!” Twilight said as she perked her posture into a statue-like pose.
“That is not why I mean,” Luna explained as she pulled out the time-defying orb that was in her bag. Luna briefly noticed that it was neither glowing, nor revolving in the air as it had once done. “This allows me to move out of time. How are you able to resist its power?”
“I don’t know! Maybe it’s broken, or, or, maybe it’s the protection spell I set over the library. Right! It might be interfering with the orb’s magic!” Twilight exclaimed, extraordinarily flustered by Luna’s unanticipated questions as they both stood close to the crackling fire.
Luna pondered her short-term memory banks, easily connecting the fizzling pop, the clock’s unexplained behavior, and Twilight’s comments all into a nicely thought-out solution. Luna regained her normal royal composure as she stepped towards Twilight, magically lifting a small parcel concealed with wrapping paper from her bag.
“I have come, Twilight Sparkle, to deliver you, this.”
Twilight slowly walked over to the mysterious package, eyeing every corner of the gift like a small filly receiving her first toy. Her face remained calm, collected, unimpressed even. That is, until she saw the “To/From” tag on the side.
“Oh wow! Princess Celestia sent me a gift? Really? Me, a gift? That must mean she really likes me as her student!” Twilight cheered as she hopped around her living room. The overwhelming joy only lasted for a few seconds before the enthusiastic unicorn realized who was right next to her. “So, uh… Why did she send you to give this to me? She could’ve sent it through Spike, although he probably wouldn’t have appreciated it.”
Luna tilted her head slightly as she stared at Twilight, raising her right eyebrow at her. Twilight nervously laughed, and said, “I mean… It’s great that you’re here.” Twilight, beginning to feel the effects of how warm her fire really was, grinned, rubbing the back of her head with her hoof. Luna smiled, and walked over towards the fireplace, only to collapse on one of the softest, fluffiest lounge chairs she had ever laid in.
“Thank you, but I am just too drained to properly make a royal appearance,” Luna said, yawning as she sank deeper into the chair cushions. Her eyelids lowered as she began to softly snore.
“If you’re so tired, how come Princess Celestia sent you? She’s never sent me a Hearth’s Warming Eve gift before, but I don’t think it would require hoof-delivery from the Princess of the Night herself,” Twilight said as she shook the present, eagerly waiting for the next morning to open it.
Luna’s eyelids were thrust back open, her weary eyes looking at Twilight once again.
“You mean she has never given you a gift before? What of the last Hearth’s Warming Eve?” Luna questioned.
“Well, my friends and I did get to perform in the Canterlot play, but I don’t think it was really a gift. I mean, I asked her if we could be in it weeks in advance.” Twilight smiled, mentally patting herself on the back for a job well-done last year.
Luna finally sat up straight in her chair, leaning over to Twilight.
“Did… she give you anything personally? Did you friends receive anything from Celestia last year?”
Twilight took a step back, sweat beginning to appear on her forehead.
“Uh, uh… no?” A-at least, I don’t think so.”
Luna was now mere inches away from Twilight’s face. Twilight shrunk as Luna turned away.
“Hmph, I must be alone now, Twilight Sparkle. Do you mind if I rest here for the night?”
“Oh, yes… I mean no… I mean, of course I don’t mind. Would you like to use my bed? I sometimes sleep on the floor anyways,” Twilight said sheepishly.
Luna gave her a concerned look, but then replied, “That will not be necessary; I am just fine in this chair.” Luna then almost instantly fell into a deep sleep, snoring softly as she lay back in her chair. Twilight smiled and retreated back to her bedroom, deciding that it was a much better place to read.
The weather in Canterlot showed no resemblance to what it was only a few hours ago. The sun shone brilliantly across the city as the soft snowfall quickly melted away. Birds flew across the sky, happily chirping until they were pushed aside by a speeding winged-chariot. The chariot skidded onto a small balcony as Luna jumped from it and through a pair of balcony doors. As Luna firmly shut the door behind her, she saw her sister, Celestia, sitting by a cozy fire while reading several letters.
“Why hello, Luna! It has been hours since your departure, but I thought you would have returned but a second after I turned my back from the balcony. It is funny how time works. Did you have a problem with the relic?” Celestia politely asked.
“It was nothing serious; we just ran into some… interference.”
Celestia gave her a smile warmer than the fire she sat next to.
“So I take it that everything went well. I wanted to thank you again for helping with such a large task.”
“Yes, about that large… task,” Luna replied, her voice beginning to rise.
Luna nonchalantly walked around her sister’s bedrooms, often glancing at small objects on her tables.
“When… did you plan on telling me that your little tradition began only yesterday?!” Luna shouted, speaking at her full Royal Canterlot Voice as she shattered Celestia’s porcelain tea sets, as well as sending any papers soaring throughout the room. Celestia simply sat there calmly, as the small tornado that had just graced her room died down. As many of her things were in pieces amongst the floor, Celestia sipped from her small teacup, gently placing it on the floor.
“I actually planned on telling you today,” Celestia said, her horn illuminated.
A bright flash overtook Luna’s vision, and she found herself to be outside on a different balcony, overlooking the castle courtyard. As she regained her vision, her eyes were widened to the size of flapjacks and her mouth open. Thousands of ponies were gathered in the courtyard, many of them chanting Luna’s name. Posters and banners were spread across the crowd, all of them expressing some sort of gratitude towards the lunar Princess. Many ponies played the trumpets, the tubas, and even the occasional flugelhorn. Luna stood still in awe, slowly lifting her hoof and waving to the crowd. The cheers that were already deafening exploded ten-fold, throwing her mane back like a gust of wind. Upon fixing her mane, Luna sternly looked over to her sister.
“What has just happened?” she asked.
“I thought, since your return, that you deserve to experience the love from Equestria as I have. Each different gift that you have delivered to everypony was actually what they asked for Hearth’s Warming Eve. Whether it was a small filly’s dollhouse, or a grown stallion’s new chariot, they all know you gave it to them.”
“Bu-but… I did not. I did not make those things for them,” Luna countered.
“But you had taken it upon yourself to give these things to them. You sacrificed several days of your time, just to give each and every pony what they truly desired. You deserve their love just as much as I do, and it is finally time for you to see our little ponies as I do.”
Luna walked over to Celestia, pulling her sister into a hug. Tears fell from her cheeks.
“I do not know what to say... Thank you, Big Sister.”
Celestia smiled, and hugged her sister even tighter.
“You are most welcome. Now go. Address your subjects and let them know who Princess Luna really is”
Luna finally let go of her older sister, looking into her eyes as the tears began to flow. She quickly turned around, and walked to the edge of her balcony.
“Ahem. Citizens of Equestria!” Luna exclaimed, throwing her hooves into the air.
Celestia, turning away, walked back to the door as a few tears ran from her eyes as well.
“Happy Hearth’s Warming Day, Little Sister.”
