Bright Shine kicked herself awake. Bleary eyed, she looked around the dark living room. The letters were all still pressed into her chest fur, and Bright Shine was sure she had heard something. Even if it was just a one-off noise, she was glad. She had been having a horrible nightmare, and if nothing else, the dark silence of her home held a sense of tranquility that sleep did not.
Looking over her shoulder, Bright Shine shivered, pulling the blanket tighter around her. At some point, the fire had burned low, and now only a few embers still stirred in the fireplace. Bright Shine sighed. She carefully placed the letters in a neat stack on the coffee table, then got to her hooves. She shuffled to the fireplace, grabbing another log from the pile. She placed it on top of the still burning embers, using a small fire spell that she normally cast to heat the ovens at the bakery. The log quickly caught fire, and Bright Shine felt a bit warmer as the room lightened slightly. It was little comfort to the mare however, since she still felt cold inside.
Her ears perked up as she heard a soft knock at the front door. She looked at the clock on the wall. 12:47. Who would be calling at this time of night? Bright Shine sighed again as she began shuffling toward the door. Whoever it was, it better be important; she wasn’t in the mood to deal with any late-night carolers.
Another light knock echoed through the house.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Bright Shine grumbled.
She slipped the lock chain from the door, and opened the door, shivering slightly as the cold wind cut through her blanket. Two ponies stood on her doorstep. One seemed to hide behind the other, but Bright Shine couldn’t care less. She had eyes only for the pegasus before her. Star Chaser smiled widely at her, his white teeth shining in the light of the streetlamps. He had snow in his brown mane, and white bandage decorated his barrel, wrapping his wings up in a tight bundle. Bright Shine saw more than a little red on the bandages, but she didn’t care about that either. She only cared that he was here, alive!
Bright Shine slapped him. He blinked in surprise as he rubbed the spot where her hoof at hit his face. The sound seemed to echo up and down the silent street, but Bright Shine didn’t care. She was seething with anger now.
“How dare you?” she shouted. “You send me a letter, making me think you got killed, and then you show up on my doorstep in the dead of night? What the buck is wrong with you Chaser?”
She lunged at him, snatching him up in a tight hug as she pressed her face into his chest fur, sobbing violently.
“I thought you were gone…” she cried.
Star Chaser hugged her, rubbing her back softly.
“I’m sorry Bright Shine. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I just couldn’t wait to tell you the good news, so I sent a letter ahead. We had to wait for nighttime anyway.” He placed his snout in her mane and snorted softly. Bright Shine giggled, she loved it when he did that. “I take it you didn’t read the letters?”
Bright Shine sniffed and wiped her eyes.
“No,” she admitted softly. “I saw the blood on it and thought the worst. I’m sorry for slapping you Chaser, I just… I was so scared.”
Star Chaser rocked her softly back and forth.
“Don’t be sorry Shiny, it’s my fault. I should have waited and just surprised you. I shouldn’t have made you scared, and if you feel like slapping me again, you’re more than welcome to. Just please don’t hit my wings, I got a nasty cut on them.”
Bright Shine pulled back from the hug and smiled, feeling tears in her eyes, not of sorrow, but of pure joy. He was finally home, safe and sound. Feathered Ink would be so happy. Bright Shine smiled at her husband, then seeing the snow fall still pouring down on his head, she leapt back.
“Come inside! You’ll catch a cold out there!”
Star Chaser snorted softly, but smiled.
“Of course, Dear. Come on Cobalt, let’s get you settled.”
Bright Shine started as she remembered the second pony in her doorway. She backpedaled quickly as Star Chaser lead the thestral into her house. Bright Shine immediately felt… angry? Afraid? She pondered the feeling stirring in her chest as she watched the gray pony look around her house cautiously. Why was he doing that? Was he a spy? Had her beloved Chaser been brainwashed? Or even worse, replaced? Bright Shine had no idea. All she knew was that a pony, who had served Nightmare Moon, was standing in her living room.
Chaser was all smiles however as he took a deep breath, looking around their townhouse.
“It’s good to be at home again. I know it’s late, but is Inky home? I really want to say hi to my big boy.”
Bright Shine couldn’t keep her eyes off of the thestral as he sniffed around. His shoulders were slumped as he investigated her home. Why was being so quiet? Was he trying to remain unobserved? Fade into the corners of the dark room like some kind of shadow pony? All of the horror stories Bright Shine had heard fed into her paranoia as the stallion investigated the living room. Star Chaser put himself in front of her eyes.
“Shiney? Is everything all right?”
Bright Shine blinked and met his eyes. She put on a false smile and nodded.
“Of course it is Chaser, I’m just… surprised is all. Today has been a rush of emotions. I… um got a new job?”
Chaser smiled widely.
“That’s great Shiney! Where at?”
Bright Shine immediately regretted saying anything as the thestral’s unnaturally slitted eyes stared her down. Clearly the bat pony had finished his inspection of her home, and now his golden eyes were analyzing her. Why? She wasn’t a threat, or was she? Bright Shine looked to Star Chaser, who had cocked his head and was giving her a curious look.
“Shine? Is something wrong? I know I got you worked up, but are you alright? You seem… off.”
Bright Shine did her best to keep her eyes away from the thestral that was staring her down like a piece of meat and trotted toward the kitchen.
“I’m just dandy Chase, but can I talk with you in the kitchen?”
Her husband cocked his head as she left the room, and she heard him whisper something to the thestral before his hooves moved to follow her. Another flash of panic raced through her head. Was that a sign? Was it really her husband standing in the living room, or was it an imposter? He did return after dark…
Bright Shine huffed and shook her head as she set the kettle on to boil. Star Chaser joined her a minute later, the curious expression still on his face. He took a seat at their table, his eyes unwavering as he waited for her to speak. When she didn’t, Chaser frowned.
“Shiney, is something wrong? I thought… I thought you’d be happier honestly. Did my letters shake you up this badly?”
‘Yes,’ Bright Shine thought, but she shook her head, and gritted her teeth.
“Who is that standing in my living room?”
Star Chaser’s frown deepened.
“Shine, that’s Cobalt, the bat-pony I talked about in my letters? He’s the pony that saved my life.”
“Why is he here though?” Bright Shine said. “The war is over, right?”
“Of course it is Shiney, that’s why I’m home. Maybe you should read the letters I sent, where did you leave them?”
Bright Shine waved her hoof dismissively.
“They’re in the living room, but…”
Star Chaser hopped out of his seat, and moved toward the kitchen entryway.
“I’ll grab them, and we can read over them together, I think you’ll see wh-…”
Bright Shine snatched him up in her magic and shushed him aggressively. Her ears turned out, listening for any sign of movement from the other room. When she heard none, Bright Shine didn’t know whether to feel relieved or not. Was she being too paranoid? And where had it come from? Star Chaser pushed her away, and he fell to the ground. His frown shaped into a scowl.
“Shine, what is this about? What’s in the living room that has got you in a…”
The pegasus trailed off, and his eyes took on a tired look.
“Shine, no…”
Bright Shine snapped at her husband.
“Don’t give me that! I don’t know anything about that… that…”
“That what Shine?” Chaser asked, his voice rising with his anger. “Because the only thing I see in the other room is a young stallion that needed help! Help which I freely offered him!”
“But why Chase?” Shine yelled back. “Why did you help him? Why didn’t you just keep your head down and stay safe?”
Star Chaser looked at her in disbelief.
“Shine, it’s because that’s not the pony I am, and I know for a fact that it’s not the pony you are either! He stood up for me Shine! He saved me at an immense risk to his own life, what was I going to do, leave him?”
“Yes!” Bright Shine shouted as tears began clouding her vision. “We have a son Star Chaser! A son that very much misses his father, and a son that I was going to have to tell, on Hearth’s Warming no less, that his father was dead! Do you know how that makes me feel Chase? Do you know how bucking scared I got when White Wing delivered those letters?”
“But they contain good news Shine!” Star Chaser protested. “I’m sorry that they got beat up in transit, but there’s only good in them, I swear!”
“I don’t care about the bucking letters Chase!” Bright Shine cried. “I- I thought you…”
Her grief came back in a rush, and Bright Shine couldn’t help but hide her muzzle in her hooves as she cried. She immediately felt a pair of wings wrap around her barrel, and while she took comfort in his presence, she couldn’t stop crying. The brave face that she, and likely thousands of other ponies had put on crumbled as she let all of the emotional stress that had built up escape. Star Chaser rubbed her shoulders in the way she liked, and after a minute, she managed to find her voice again.
“I thought I lost you Chase,” Bright Shine said through teary eyes. “I thought I was going to raise Inky alone, and I had no idea how I was going to do that. I just got so scared, and then you came in with a pony that we hear every day is supposed to be a bad pony and I just… I got scared Chase, I’m sorry, but I just got so scared that I lost you.”
Star Chaser sighed as he nuzzled her neck.
“Then I’m sorry I scared you Shiney, you know I would never do that intentionally. Are you actually scared of Cobalt though? It makes what’s in the letters… difficult to say the least.”
Bright Shine sniffled and shook her head.
“No, no. I’m not scared of Cobalt, I think… I think all of my fear from these past couple months just built up, and I took it out on the first pony I could lash out at. It’s terrible that I picked on a thestral at a time like this, and I… I need to go say sorry to him.”
She smiled sadly at Star Chaser and rubbed against his side.
“And I’m sorry to you too Chase. This is a terrible homecoming, and I’m sorry that I overreacted like I did.”
Star Chaser returned her nuzzle.
“Don’t be sorry Shiney, let’s just be happy. Come on, I think you’ll like the letters. There’s a surprise in them.”
They began to stand, but then both stopped as they heard the front door jamb slip open. Bright Shine gave Star Chaser a curious look, then they both darted into the hallway to find Cobalt halfway out the door, looking back with tears in his golden eyes. Upon spotting the two of them, his ears flopped to the sides of his head and he looked away in shame.
“I’m sorry Mr. Chaser, I’ll go. This was a long shot anyway, and I don’t want to cause you and your wife to fight. That isn’t right. I’ll go. You’ll be happier without me hanging around.”
Star Chaser opened his mouth to protest, but Bright Shine saw a familiar look in Cobalt’s eyes. For a second, the dark hallway and the thestral disappeared, replaced by a tiny pegasus with sad eyes and a scraped-up knee. It was Feathered Ink’s first time playing alone outside, and the young colt had managed to trip and scrape up his knees while chasing after a butterfly. The injuries were superficial, but that look of hurt in his eyes, it spoke to something deep and primal within Bright Shine, and she acted before he could fly away.
Cobalt blinked as he was lifted into the air and dragged back inside. The door slammed shut and Bright Shine trotted into the living room without a word as she rearranged her grief bed into something semi-suitable for the young thestral. The pony in her magical grasp didn’t squirm, and instead just watched her with confusion written plainly on his muzzle. Once she was satisfied that the couch would be temporarily comfortable, she plopped the thestral down, then swaddled him in her blanket so that he couldn’t think about running away.
Bright Shine couldn’t help but smile at the confused bat pony as he tried to wriggle free of his blanket prison. The only thing it served to do was to make him flop on his side, and he looked desperately to Star Chaser for help. The pegasus beamed at Bright Shine as he saw the thestral up, then settled next to him. Cobalt seemed to relax significantly with the presence of Chaser, but his golden eyes still occasionally looked at Bright Shine with nervousness. The unicorn took a seat before him and sighed.
“Cobalt, let me start by saying welcome to our home. I’m sorry that we didn’t meet in better circumstances, and I’m sorry for treating you badly. You have done wonderful things for me, and my husband, and I repaid your kindness with unwarranted fear and mistrust. For that, I am sorry.”
She extended her hoof and put on her best smile.
“I’m Bright Shine.”
Cobalt met her eyes, and she did her best to convey warmth. It seemed to work well enough, because he tried to wriggle free a leg to shake her hoof, but she had done her job too well, and he only managed to make himself fall into Chaser. Bright Shine giggled and undid the wrapping slightly with her magic. With one hoof free, he reached out hesitantly and shook her hoof.
Star Chaser let out a deep breath and smiled widely, giving the thestral a short hug as he got to his feet.
“I think now’s as good a time as any to read those letters. Is Inky home?”
Bright Shine shook her head.
“No, he’s at a sleep over until tomorrow morning.”
Chaser nodded.
“I… think that actually works better. We can go about this slowly.”
Cobalt gave him a curious glance.
“Go about what Mr. Chaser?”
Star Chaser scanned the room, quickly finding the letters where Bright Shine had left them on the coffee table. He scooped them up, and with quick efficiency unsealed the cleaner of the two letters. He carefully unfolded the paper within it, then sighed and set it out of reach of anyone but himself. He took the bloodied letter in his hoof.
“Let’s start with the explanation. Shiney, I have a strong feeling that you read my letters a certain way, would you mind…?”
Bright Shine silently shook her head as she looked at the sheet of paper with confusion. She didn’t try to snatch it up however, and instead she sat on the other side of Cobalt, levitating the bloodied letter to where she could read it. Almost by instinct, Star Chaser pressed against Cobalt, leaning the thestral into Bright Shine, who curled a hoof around the swaddled pony. He was larger than Inky, but he was still slightly smaller than she was, and it still felt right. She shifted just slightly as they curled around the young pony, then she began to read.
Dearest Bright Shine,
I know this letter might look beat up, but its just because We’ve been moving at a lightning pace these past few weeks, and I’ve been trying to get so much done, both as a guard, and as a father. The Second has been hitting the Lunar forces like crazy, driving them closer and closer to the Everfree. Everyday we get up with the dawn and attack, driving them back until sunset. Each night we wait while the rest of the army falls in around us, giving us time to rest while we prepare for the next day. I think the idea is to make sure the Lunar forces don’t have any time to sleep, but that isn’t what this letter is about.
Princess Celestia says the war is going to end very soon. She found the Elements of Harmony from where Nightmare Moon hid them and she’s going to use them against her. I just pray that it works so that the next part of this letter can happen by Hearth’s Warming.
The paperwork should come in with this letter, but I officially submitted adoption papers for Cobalt.
Bright Shine stopped reading instantly, and she felt Cobalt stiffen in her hooves as he looked to Star Chaser, who seemed a bit nervous as both ponies stared at him in shock. He grabbed the adoption papers and hoofed them over to Bright Shine, who stared at them.
“Before you make any decision Shine, please just read the rest of the letter. My whole reason is there, I promise.”
Bright Shine nodded dumbly, setting the paper to the side. She could feel Cobalt’s eyes shift from her husband to her, but she didn’t move away, and she didn’t meet his gaze. She certainly didn’t tighten her grip slightly. Bright Shine instead just kept reading.
I know this is sudden, and I know that I haven’t discussed this with you, but Shine it’s so important. Cobalt has been beside me the entire time, and I can’t just leave him by himself when this is over. His family won’t take him back, and you and I both know that with how everything has been going, most ponies won’t want him around either, even if he was an adult. But he isn’t Shine, he’s still a teenager! He should be worrying about school and girls, and what he’s going to do with the rest of his life, not about where his next meal is coming from, or where he’s going to sleep during the day.
I can understand if this seems like a tall request, and if you want to yell at me when I get home, I understand completely, but Shine, I am begging you to sign the papers. Inky has always wanted an older brother, and just think! We can help a young colt with so much potential find what he wants to do with his life! We can give him a home! He and I have gotten close in these past few weeks, and I just know that he would be a happy addition to our family.
Please Shine, just think on it. I should be home in a week or two, just in time for Hearth’s Warming. Consider it.
I love you and Inky so very much.
Star Chaser
Cobalt sighed deeply as Bright Shine finished reading, and he wriggled free of his blanket prison. The thestral hopped off the couch and made for the door.
“I’m sorry Mr. Chaser, but I already know what strife I caused you just by being here, I will not be the cause of another argument between you and your wife. I’m not worth that. While I would love to join your family… I’m sorry. I’ll go.”
Bright Shine ignored Star Chaser as he hopped off the couch and tried to convince Cobalt to come back. Her eyes were locked on the adoption form, sitting tantalizingly in reach. It really was the perfect opportunity. They had always wanted another foal, but with the war, and now her new role as head pastry chef for the princess… Cobalt could look after his little brother, take him to school and to parties, play with him on weekends. Maybe even help Chaser teach the little pegasus to fly.
Her horn activated and the papers and a quill floated before her. Bright Shine bit her lip as she continued to think. Would the thestral really be a good fit though? Chaser liked him, and Bright Shine knew that his word was as good as gold when it came to ponies. Besides, Cobalt had been nothing but curious and accommodating since he entered her home. Every word was softly spoken, and he read ponies like they were books, listening carefully for signs of anger, or distress. He was even now trying to leave to avoid causing her heartache, and if nothing else, that showed he cared deeply about Chaser, and by extension, her.
Bright Shine blinked herself from her stupor when she realized that her adoptive son was trying to make for the door, for her sake. That wouldn’t do. That wouldn’t do at all. She scrawled a quick signature on the adoption forms, then levitated Cobalt into the air. The thestral looked at her with visible confusion as he floated back into the living room, followed quickly by a confused Star Chaser. The pegasus’ eyes found the adoption forms quickly, and he gave a quiet gasp as he saw he signature. Bright Shine beamed at him as she set Cobalt down in reach of her hooves, then she latched onto his neck and pulled him close, rubbing her face against his.
“Welcome home Cobalt, I hope we can make you happy here.”
The thestral seemed to stiffen up, and for a moment, Bright Shine feared that she had read his intentions wrong. He had said that he wanted a place in their family. Was he lying to make Chaser feel better? No, no. Bright Shine looked down to find the colt tearing up as his hooves wrapped around her, and he cried softly into her chest fluff. They were clearly tears of joy however, and Bright Shine couldn’t help but smile and rock him back and forth as she nuzzled his head. He was incredibly soft, and Bright Shine knew immediately she had made the right choice.
“D-do you really mean it?” Cobalt asked quietly, looking up with his shining golden eyes. “D-Do y-you really want me?”
Bright Shine let out a long sigh.
“Honestly Cobalt, everything has come in far too quickly for my tastes, but for some reason, I can just feel that, in time, I would have made the same choice, so I thought, ‘It’s Hearth’s Warming, why wait?’. I am more than willing to bring you into our family. You saved your dad’s life, and you made sure he came home. That alone is enough to make me want you, but before you think that I signed that paper just as a way to pay a debt, let me ease that fear. I signed it because I can tell that you are a good pony, and I don’t want you anywhere else but here.”
She clicked her tongue and looked toward the fireplace.
“Shoot, and now I don’t have any gifts for you. And nothing is set up. I haven’t even started baking yet, and we’ll need to set an extra place setting, and…”
She felt a hoof on her chest fluff, and she looked down to find Cobalt rubbing his hooves together sheepishly.
“I know it’s kind of forward, but… could I help you set up? That’s enough of a gift for me.”
Bright Shine smiled brightly at the suggestion and swept the thestral off of the couch. She through a log into the fireplace and quickly lit it aflame as she pulled Cobalt toward the kitchen. Over her shoulder she called;
“Chase, get the blankets and the stockings! We’re going to have a good Hearth’s Warming eve!”
*****
Bright Shine snorted as she startled herself awake. Somebody heavy was on top of her; no, two somebodies. She nuzzled Star Chaser’s fuzzy back while her hoof ran down Cobalt’s even fuzzier side. Both winged ponies rolled off of her and cuddled against her side, sighing happily. Then another knock came from the door, this one sounding louder than the last. Bright Shine groaned. Who could be knocking on Hearth’s Warming? It was still so early, and her boys were so snugly…
A third insistent knock came from the door and Bright Shine wiggled herself free of their little cuddle pile. As she stood, Bright Shine couldn’t help but smile at the festive decorations they had hastily put up. She and Cobalt had dipped into the kitchen to put in everything that needed to slow cook overnight for the Hearth’s warming feast, and when they had come out, they had found Star Chaser had already set up most of the decorations and was working hard to pull the small tree they kept on their front porch into the living room so that they could decorate it with a string of hoofmade decorations. She smiled at the squat little tree in the corner. She had managed to find a few old things Star Chaser didn’t use to gift to Cobalt as well, and he and Inky’s gifts sat under the little tree. She mentally promised herself to get the thestral something truly special after things had settled, but she was glad to have at least one gift under the tree for him.
Another insistent knock came from the door, and Bright Shine trotted to it quickly, glancing backward to make sure neither of the stallions sleeping before the fire woke up. She opened the door before the pony outside could knock again, and blinked in confusion when she saw an irritated looking Feathered Ink. The little pegasus scowled at her.
“You were supposed to pick me up this morning Mom!” he said. “I had to walk home by myself!”
Bright Shine gasped when she realized that he was absolutely right. She had only asked White Wing to drop him off, not pick him up as well. She could recover though, she had two aces’ in the hole. She snatched him up in a crushing hug.
“Sorry Inky, I just got distracted with your Hearth’s Warming presents. They’re really special, I promise.”
Feathered Ink groaned as she nuzzled his head, but he didn’t resist her snuggles for too long, and instead sighed happily and hugged her chest.
“Thanks Mom, but whatever it is, you’re the best Hearth’s Warming gift I could ask for.”
Her heart melted just a little, and she nuzzled his head again.
“Thanks Inky. I’m going to hang that over your father’s head for the rest of our lives.”
It took him a second, but her colt’s head shot up as he stared at her with wide eyes. Bright Shine nodded toward the living room, and the pegasus took off like a shot, cheering excitedly as she heard him bounce on his father. Bright Shine closed the door quickly to keep the cold out, then joined her family in the living room.
She walked in to find Feathered Ink hopping up and down on his startled father, who could only smile widely as he tried to grab the hyper pegasus. Cobalt looked tired, and he squinted hard as he looked toward the open shades. Bright Shine adjusted them so that the light wouldn’t hit his face, and he looked to her wit ha nervous smile. Bright Shine returned it in full, and she waited patiently for Feathered Ink to notice the fourth member to their family.
When the colt didn’t willingly calm down, Chaser snatched him from his bouncing fervor and hugged him tight, making sure he was facing outwards. Feathered Ink stared up with a giddy smile for a minute before his eyes drifted downward. He tilted his head in mild confusion as he looked at Cobalt.
“Who’s this Dad? Is he your bat-pony friend?”
Bright Shine smiled.
“Inky, I want you to meet Cobalt, he’s your new brother.”
Feathered Ink squeaked and fell silent for a moment as he stared at Cobalt with wide eyes. A familiar look came over his eyes, and Shine subtly motioned for Chaser to let the pegasus go. Chaser tilted his head in confusion, but he did as she instructed, and they were both rewarded with Inky immediately pouncing on Cobalt, sending the thestral to the ground with a squawk. Feathered Ink’s energy returned in full as he began pestering Cobalt with questions at lightning speed, investigating the thestral the whole while. Like his adoptive father, Cobalt began trying to catch the young pegasus flapping on top of him, but he was also met with little success.
Bright Shine let the act continue for a few minutes before she caught Feathered Ink with her magic, lifting over a brush to comb down his frazzled mane while she held him. He groaned loudly as he tried to wiggle free.
“Mom!” he whined. “You can brush me any time! I wanna meet Cobalt!”
Bright Shine smiled and nuzzled his back.
“And you have plenty of time to do so later, he lives here now after all.” She clicked her tongue. “Of course, if you don’t want your presents, I can always let you and Cobalt talk…”
Ink crossed his hooves and huffed.
“That isn’t fair,” he grumbled.
Bright Shine kissed his head and began floating presents from beneath the tree.
“I know, but I’m your mother, and I know what’s best. Now let’s start opening gifts!”
*****
Feathered Ink was bouncing over Cobalt again, with both wearing pairs of gift socks. Cobalt looked positively overwhelmed, but in a good way as he snuggled down next to Chaser, who was reading over the approval letter for his latest novel. Bright Shine couldn’t be happier as she watched her now three boys be together. Everything was perfect, and soon, even more ponies would fill her home. White Wing would welcome the good news, and then Princess Celestia could share in their familial warmth. Bright Shine had prepared an entire white cake just for the alicorn, and she knew that it would bring a smile to the princesses face.
As if on cue, a flash of white appeared in the window, and Bright Shine got to her hooves, moving over to snuggle her sons before making her way to the door.
*****
Celestia sighed as she looked at the ongoing festivities within the Shine household. Two familiar guards rested with one another while a third, likely Star Chaser’s son bounced around them both with the gleeful bliss that came with childhood. Bright Shine walked over to them, nuzzling each with such affection. Celestia sighed and backed away from the window. She didn’t belong here, not with a happy family. She shouldn’t have promised Quill that she would visit Bright Shine’s house, no matter if she was to be the new Royal Baker.
She sighed deeply, trying to hold back her tears as she prepared to fly back to her empty castle. She needed to be alone, to grieve alone. She couldn’t bring her sadness into what was a perfectly happy Hearth’s Warming celebration.
Before she could turn away, a shadow passed over her face, and a mail pony touched down before her. Dusting the snow from his mustache, White Wing looked up and blinked in surprise. A hoof raised and he tipped his hat to her.
“Mornin’ Princess, what’re you doing here?”
Celestia smiled sadly.
“I was just leaving actually. I do not wish to intrude on Mrs. Shine’s celebration, and so I will go to my castle.”
White Wing snorted.
“Now that won’t do at all Princess, ‘specially if she’s expecting you. She just lost her husband you see, and she’ll need all the support she’s got.”
Celestia frowned and gestured to the window.
“Nay Mailpony White Wing, her husband has returned safe and sound, and has in fact brought another home with him. They celebrate even now.”
White Wing blinked in surprise, and before he could move to look, the front door opened to reveal a beaming Bright Shine. She looked between the two.
“Great, you’re both here! Lunch isn’t quite ready yet, but we can talk! White Wing, Star Chaser is home! It was adoption papers in that envelope! You delivered the best news of my life!”
White Wing smiled sheepishly.
“Sorry then for makin’ you worry Miss Shine.”
She waved her hoof and scoffed.
“No need to apologize as long as you two come in.”
White Wing smiled and nodded, subtly nudging Celestia toward the door. The alicorn looked at him in confusion. She then looked to Bright Shine with a nervous smile.
“Mrs. Shine, I don’t want to intrude…”
“You won’t Princess,” Bright Shine said with a chipper tone in her voice. “Now come on! I want you to meet my sons!”
She latched onto Celestia’s scarf with her magic, and with White Wing’s help, they dragged the semi-reluctant alicorn inside, more than ready to celebrate Hearth’s Warming in full.