The Hearth's Warming Eve Party
For a young alicorn, it was the most wonderful holiday of the year.
Young Luna was steadily approaching the age where she was almost a young mare, so she intended to act as a child as long as she could. And her younger brother, Chiaroscuro, was a perfect playmate, especially when their elder sister Celestia had considered herself beyond games and such when she had started dating the eldest son of one of their father's business associates.
So as Celestia was helping their mother decorate the house for their annual Hearth's Warming Eve party, Luna and Chiaroscuro went to hand out the presents to all of their parents friends in town. Which was what they were doing when they spotted the nearby clock repair shop run by their aunt Zecora. She created the most intricate and beautiful mechanical toys known by anyone.
As Luna peeked through the windows to the marvels inside, her aunt looked up from the register, and when she recognized her guests, she walked out to greet them.
"Luna. Chiaroscuro. How nice it is to see you before the hustle and bustle of the party..."
"Hello aunt Zecora. We were just heading home after delivering all the presents when we happened across your shop. Would you like to walk with us there?" Luna asked politely.
"Yeah! I can help you carry your presents!" Chiaroscuro said, thinking he was cleverly tricking their aunt into letting him peek at them too early.
Luna was about to scold him for trying to be sneaky, but her aunt started laughing.
"I am sorry dears, but I need to finish the last few things to get prepared for my nephew. I will be along shortly."
This, of course shocked them. For even though they called her their aunt, they weren't truly related. In fact, no one really knew if she had any real family at all.
"A nephew? Wow, can we meet him?" Chiaroscuro said excitedly.
"Is he really your nephew? Or does he just call you aunt like we do?" Luna asked curiously.
Again she laughed as the two bombarded her with questions.
"Yes. He truly is my nephew. Now, you two should get home before your mother worries."
"Yes auntie." They answered.
"See you tonight aunt Zecora!" Luna said over her shoulder.
As Aunt Zecora watched them walk away, she whispered, "Yes, tonight indeed."
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As they walked home, they wondered what their aunt's nephew was like, and then wondered what their aunt's present was this year. Chiaroscuro wanted it to be a fort full of armored ponies that had canons that really fired. Luna hoped it was a moonlit lake with black swans that wore silver sapphire-encrusted tiaras, and flew into the night sky.
However, as she was thinking of the flying swans, Chiaroscuro called out "Race ya home slowpoke!", and started flying at break-neck speed.
"'Ros! That's not fair!" Luna cried out, using her brother's nickname. She then proceeded to fly after him.
He had gotten the head-start, but had crashed into a tree, causing him to slow down. Luna took full advantage of this and flew ahead. Then she proceeded to take the short-cut in the woods where their house was. Chiaroscuro was slightly disoriented, but managed to shake it off. He flew the rest off the way, only to see Luna on the front steps with a wide grin on her face.
"Who's the slowpoke now?" she said.
Behind her, the front door opened, revealing Celestia with an agitated expression.
"It's about time you two were home. Our guests will be here soon."
"Especially Donut Joe." Luna said, which caused Celestia to look at her in annoyance.
Luna stuck her tongue out and bolted up the stairs to put her scarf up.
As the door opened a tiny ball of fuzz bumped into her foreleg and mewed.
"Andromeda, we couldn't start without you." She said, lifting the kitten up with her small bit of magic and placing her on her back. She then put her scarf in her wardrobe and proceeded downstairs.
As she walked into the parlor, she gasped at the beautiful sight that was their christmas tree.
Her father saw her look of wonder and said, "It's lovely isn't it my little princess?"
Lovely couldn't begin to describe the tree, with the glass ornaments, gingerbread ponies, tiny Pegusi, and the lit candles.
"It is the most beautiful tree we have ever had father..."
Her mother popped in with, "That is what you say every year my dear."
"Mama! Papa! Can we open our presents now?" An impatient 'Roscuro said.
Their father chuckled, then said they could.
'Roscuro was thrilled over the whole set of new soldiers he recieved as well as the canons that actually fired tiny canonballs.
Celestia had recieved a new dress which she couldn't stop gasping over how much she loved it.
And Luna recieved delicate black silk ballet shoes, along with a new doll which she decided to name Rarity.
Their father had given thier mother a delicate silver and gold locket, which Luna told her was extremely pretty.
And at that time, the doorbell sounded, announcing the arrival of their guests.
"I'll get it!" yelled Celestia.
Luna queitly followed behind, seeing that the first guest was indeed, Donut Joe. Also known as Celestia's future intended.
Dressed in a nice suit, he said "Good evening my fair lady Celestia..."
Celestia smiled, blushing when he gave her a corsage of red roses.
"Oh my! They are beautiful!"
"Your the one who's pretty..." He replied.
"And you look very distinguished..."
Luna honestly didn't think she could stomach anymore.
After several other guests arrived, as well as the musicians hired for the evening, supper had been served.
And after supper was when aunt Zecora had arrived...
With a burst of fireworks and doves flying through-out the room, she stepped in, bringing in a rolling table with something concealed underneath a large cloth.
"Welcome Zecora. It is good to see you..." Luna's mother said.
"Yes, it is nice to be out of the cold snow..."
'Roscuro, seeing the mysterious cloth-covered gift, galloped over yelling "What is it? What is it?"
Aunt Zecora smiled her mysterious smile and said, "This..." while yanking off the sheet, which revealed a large castle with little mechanical ponies dancing across the courtyard. Small black swans with silver sapphire encrusted tiaras swam the large moat with small fillies and colts feeding them.
"Oh my! It's beautiful Zecora! You really have outdone yourself this year!" gushed their mother.
"Anything for my beloved nieces and nephew..."
Then the musicians started to play, which was when all the adults started to dance. Luna sorely wished she could join... But there were no young stallions to dance with her age...
So she resorted to wandering the room until it was time for bed.
As she passed the tree on the way to get more punch, she noticed something she hadn't before.
Sitting under a branch was a young stallion soldier in a dark blue uniform. His coat was a deep red, and had an orange mane. His cutie mark being a large apple. Sure, he wasn't the most handsome, but when she looked in his green eyes, she could see he had a kind nature.
"Hello. When did you get here?"
"Do you like him?" said a voice behind her.
She looked to see her aunt sitting in the chair behind her, studying the fireplace.
"Yes. Did you bring him here?"
"Yes. He's a nutcracker. I brought him as a family gift, but seeing as you like him so much, he's yours."
"Thank you. Does he have a name?"
"His name is Big Macintosh. Would you like to hear his story?"
Luna smiled while cradling Big Macintosh in her arms.
"Most definitely."