//------------------------------// // Birthday Wishes // Story: Snippets of Eternity // by asylum1388 //------------------------------// Takes place between Chapters 15 & 16 Prereader: F0xhole Sixty-two days since the coronation of Princess Twilight Sparkle. “Oh, where the hay is everypony?” Luna groaned, irritatedly, lugging herself down the hallway of Canterlot Castle. “Just because we are refraining from holding the Summer Sun Celebration this year does not mean that everypony can just take the day off!” Trotting to the nearest door she stuck her head through, only to find an empty meeting room. “Vexing... Most vexing.” She sighed and continued on to the Throne Room, where one could always find at least half a dozen ponies conducting their business, even if it was just a few Royal Guards standing in their usual vigil. Always, except for today. The Throne Room was empty; completely deserted. ”JUST WHAT IS GOING ON?” Luna bellowed; the Royal Canterlot Voice shattered the silence as it echoed around the hall. Luna spun around quickly as the clattering of hooves alerted her to one of the castle’s maids entering the room. “Y-Your Highness? Are you alright? I heard you shouting!” “I should have done that much sooner,” Luna muttered to herself as she sauntered over to the bowing pony. “I am fine, just annoyed.” “A-about what, Your Highness?” the servant stammered, quivering visibly. “The castle seems particularly barren today. In fact, you are the first pony I have encountered in very nearly an hour, and I am very confused,” Luna grumbled. “The shouting you heard was a result of my frustrations getting the better of me; I apologize for frightening you.” “Ah, I see. It is no trouble, Your Highness. It happens to the best of us, as you have just shown,” the maid said tactfully, visibly relieved. “Would you like me to bring you some tea to help you calm down?” “Oh! Yes, that would be very nice. Thank you,” Luna replied, taken aback. “Why don’t you go to the private dining room and relax? I’ll bring it to you there.” “That sounds lovely. You would have my gratitude,” Luna nodded. The maid spun around and bolted off, leaving Luna alone again. The Princess sighed and began dragging herself towards the dining room. Today had been awful so far, but maybe some nice hot tea was just the pick-me-up she needed. Still moping when she reached the dining room, she tepidly reached up with a hoof and nudged the door open. “SURPRISE!” She yelped as she was buffeted by a wall of sound that knocked her to her haunches. She shook her head to clear out the cobwebs and took in the sight in front of her. “Twilight? Fluttershy? Rarity? You are here? You are all here?” She simply gaped into the room, realizing that not only were all six of her friends here, but so were Spike, Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, and Twilight’s parents. Still paralyzed by disbelief, her eyes were drawn to the massive banner hung across the length of the room. “Happy Birthday, Luna? But-but it is not my birthday!” “We know that, silly filly!” Pinkie Pie squawked. “But everypony needs to have a birthday and you don’t have a birthday so now your birthday is today!” There was only silence as the rest of the room proceeded to just stare at the pink pony. “Um, Luna,” Rarity murmured. “Perhaps you would rather somepony aside from Pinkie explain?” “Please do.” “I figured as much,” the fashionista giggled. “Well, it began about a week ago. I was in my Boutique with Applejack, discussing the plans she was making for Applebloom’s birthday when Fluttershy dropped by to read us the letter you wrote her. To make a short story even shorter, the subject of your birthday came up, and we realized that none of us had any idea when it was.” “Exactly,” Applejack affirmed with an enthusiastic nod. “So Rarity called us all together and we sent a letter to Twilight asking when it was. She told us that y’all said ya didn’t even remember when it was yourself.” “That’s when Fluttershy came up with the idea,” Spike interjected, stepping forward. “Why not just throw you a birthday party on the day of the Summer Sun Celebration? The day you came back to Equestria?” “So they got Pinkie Pie on the job, and she told the rest of us that we were all going to throw you a surprise party as a way of showing you how much you mean to all of us. We set up the party and sent most of the castle staff home for the day so that we could just enjoy ourselves,” Cadance explained, finishing the story. The room sat in silence, waiting for Luna’s response, but none came. The lunar Princess simply sat in the doorway, blinking rapidly. A concerned expression crossing her features, Twilight took a couple steps forward. “Umm, do you like it, Luna?” “Like it...?” Luna simpered, wiping a tear from her eye. “This is- this is one of the nicest things anypony has ever done for me.” “So you do like it?” “Twilight... I love it!” Luna squealed, tears streaming down her face as she galloped forward to envelop as many ponies as she could into a massive hug. “Thank you! Thank you all, so much!” “Well, you’re going to love it even more when you see what we’ve got!” Pinkie Pie yammered, bounding around in circles around the group hug. “We brought presents! We brought games! And I made the. BEST! CAKE! EVER! And don’t worry, I know it’s my turn to prank you, but it’s mean to prank somepony on their birthday!” Laughing at Pinkie’s antics, Luna released everypony from the hug and followed her over to the candle-laden cake. “So, umm, are you going to make a wish, Luna?” Fluttershy asked softly. “I... I don’t think I am,” Luna snickered after a short pause. “I already feel as if I have everything I have ever wished for.” “That’s great! Now blow out the candles so we can eat!” Pinkie screamed impatiently. Laughing heartily, Luna leaned over the cake and blew.