//------------------------------// // The Final Letter; Part 1 // Story: Letters from the Front // by TheEighthDayofNight //------------------------------// Nervous. She wasn’t nervous. Absolutely not. It wasn’t like this was the first time her cupcakes would be seen by anyone. Nope. Not at all. She also wasn’t absolutely terrified that Princess Celestia could hate them. Could hate the very idea of her design. Not one bit, in fact it was the furthest thing from her mind as she paced back and forth in the hallway that was the royal dining room waiting area. She was sweating bullets, and she couldn’t help but come back to the thought that she felt naked. It shouldn’t have felt out of the ordinary, since everyone was always naked, but since she entered the castle, everyone Bright Shine had seen had been wearing something. The maids had aprons, the guards had armor, the chefs had coats and hats. Even the nobles, who had no job at all, were wearing collars and jackets! And here she was, completely nude like she was going to work on any other day. Bright Shine paused her pacing to stare at the imposing doors that led to the dining hall. When she had brought her covered trolley to the castle, this is where the guards had left her. She hadn’t seen anyone since. Those doors stood closed before her like battlements, and Bright Shine wasn’t sure she was ready to charge at them. She resumed her pacing, going through her mental checklist for the fourth time. After she had talked a friend of hers into watching Feathered Ink, she had gone to the bakery to work. The cupcakes had finished baking the day before, and she had stayed up all night making sure the icing was perfect. She got a few precious hours to sleep at the bakery, and then woke up early to arrange the iced cupcakes. It had been mentally straining work being as meticulous as she was, but it had paid off, as the design was exactly as she wanted it. She couldn’t have been happier with how it turned out. Now the only thing left was to hope that everyone else were as happy as she was. Bright Shine glanced back and forth between the doors and her covered trolley. A panicked thought flashed through her brain. ‘Just take the cupcakes and run,’ she thought. ‘Nopony will know it was you, and you can run off to some frontier town, start a new life. Feathered Ink will love having extra space to fly.’ Her rationality quickly slammed against the thought. First, the guards knew her by name when she entered the castle. Second, Feathered Ink had just started making real friends, she couldn’t rip away from that. Still, what if Princess Celestia hated the cupcakes… Her decision was made for her when a white earth pony poked her head through the doors, startling Bright Shine. The earth pony smiled at her. “Are you Mrs. Bright Shine?” she asked. “Y-yes. I made cupcakes?” Bright Shine replied meekly. “Great! I’m Caramel Quill, Princess Celestia’s assistant. She is very excited to see what you have. If you would follow me…?” Bright Shine considered bolting again, but in a mechanical fashion she began pushing her trolley toward the doorway. The earth pony pushed the doors open wide to allow her entrance, and then began leading Bright Shine down the hallway. Trying to keep her nervousness in check, Bright Shine focused on Caramel Quill, a white pony with a brown mane tied in a simple ponytail. “Is this your first time in Canterlot Castle?” the pony asked. Bright Shine nodded. “I’ve lived in Canterlot my whole life, but I’ve never been inside. I did get to visit the gardens once when I was filly though. It was part of a class trip.” Caramel Quill smiled. “If you ask me, the gardens are the best part. They just feel so alive. Sometimes Princess Celestia likes to have tea out there. I think it helps her relax being amongst the animals and flowers.” “My Star Chaser is the same way; he loves being in nature. Though he is usually too busy flying high above it to take in the flowers.” The earth pony paused for a moment, tapping her chin. “Star Chaser, where have I heard that name before?” “Well, he does serve with Celestia’s Second Brigade,” Bright Shine offered helpfully. The earth pony frowned in thought. “That may be it. Sorry, I just remember that name coming up in some rather odd paperwork that I was doing for the princess.” Bright Shine’s heart fluttered; her nervousness momentarily forgotten. “Did something bad happen?” she asked, fear tinging her voice. Caramel Quill looked at her. She quickly realized what she was implying and began vehemently denying. “Oh! No, it’s nothing like that. No, no. It was something…. different is all. I just can’t quite remember what.” “But you’re sure that it wasn’t…?” Bright Shine asked hopefully. The earth pony nodded. “Absolutely. In fact, I think Princess Celestia has a big announcement you’ll really like to hear. Come on, we need to deliver these cupcakes!” Caramel Quill quickly spun around and took off at a fast pace, leaving Bright Shine to catch up in her wake. As she pushed her trolley, Bright Shine tried to push away the sour taste short conversation had left in her mouth. While the earth pony had tried assuring her that it wasn’t anything bad, she hadn’t exactly said it was anything good either. Before Bright Shine could follow the thought further, Caramel Quill stopped before another set of tall doors. She smiled at Bright Shine. “Nervous?” She hadn’t been. For a second, she had forgotten completely why she was here, who was waiting on the other side of those doors. It all hit her in the face like her front door on mail day. Her ears flicked around, and her tail swished back and forth. “A little,” she replied meekly. “Don’t be,” Caramel Quill said, placing a hoof on Bright Shine’s shoulder. “You wouldn’t have gotten this opportunity if you weren’t the absolute best in Canterlot. I can guarantee that whatever you have prepared, Princess Celestia will love it.” “If you think so,” Bright Shine said, unconvinced. The earth pony knocked twice on the doors and they were immediately pulled open by a pair of guards, giving Bright Shine her first glimpse inside the royal dining room. The ceilings stretched high above her head, lit by several large crystal chandeliers that were bigger than she was. On the long walls were a series of large windows, with several depicting significant events in Equestrian history. Over these were draped magnificent cloth banners with Princess Celestia’s cutie mark emblazoned in shimmering gold thread. On each column was a candle scone, each filled with a brightly shining candle. In front of said columns stood guards in shining gold armor, their eyes focused ahead of them. In the center of the hall was a long table, decorated with the finest china and silverware that Bright Shine had even seen. Each piece seemed to reflect the light in the room, making the table glisten and twinkle. At each place setting sat a pony, each well dressed in an assortment of clothes, ranging from dress uniforms to simple tuxedoes and dresses. Bright Shine’s ears flattened against her head. Now she really felt naked. The only consolation she had was the Princess Celestia was relatively bare, wearing only the standard regalia she always seemed to wear. What didn’t help was that the princess, along with everyone else in the long room, now had their eyes solely on Bright Shine, who nearly turned tail and fled right then. Princess Celestia smiled brightly. “Ah! I see our dessert has arrived. I must say, I am very anxious to see what you have prepared for us today Mrs. Bright Shine.” A low rumble of agreements chimed through the hall. It did nothing to help Bright Shine’s already frazzled nerves. Caramel Quill smiled at Bright Shine and ushered her forward. Taking a deep breath, Bright Shine slowly pushed her cart around the right side of the table. As she pushed the cart, she felt the eyes of everyone following her. The room seemed to have fallen into a tomb like silence. Bright Shine wisely kept her head down, trying to avoid the stairs. The dining room, which should have been over by now, felt endless, like she had been pushing her cart forever. Bright Shine snorted softly; she could only wish it was endless. The table did end however, and Bright Shine found herself trying to not to tremble in terror as she stood before Princess Celestia. The white alicorn smiled at her warmly however, and Bright Shine felt a touch calmer. Princess Celestia looked over her covered trolley with what looked to Bright Shine like genuine excitement. “So Mrs. Shine, what do you have for us today?” she licked her lips as she looked away from the cover to Bright Shine, catching the unicorn’s eyes. Bright Shine cleared her throat to avoid stuttering. “Cupcakes, Princess,” she said, sounding almost confident. She saw joy flash through Princess Celestia’s eyes at the word cake. The alicorn clapped her hooves together and to Bright Shine’s surprise, the alicorn squealed slightly. The princess of all Equestria squealed like a schoolfilly because Bright Shine told her she had made cupcakes. Bright Shine didn’t know whether to panic at that, or to smile. In her indecision, she simply riveted in place. “Oh, I always love cakes, of any size!” Princess Celestia tittered. “They go well with so much. I can always eat cake!” The alicorn smiled widely at Bright Shine, who remained in place, completely still. The silence in the room quickly became awkward as the two ponies stared at each other. Celestia’s smile didn’t waver, though her eyes did occasionally flicker to the covered dish. Bright Shine stared at the dish blankly. What was Princess Celestia trying to tell her? Was there something hidden under the dish? Bright Shine felt completely lost for a moment. Then Caramel Quill poked her in the side, clearing her throat. “Perhaps you could show us what you prepared Mrs. Shine?” Bright Shine stared at the earth pony stupidly for a moment, and then her mind kicked back into gear. “Oh, oh!” Bright Shine smiled embarrassedly. “My apologies Princess, I must have spaced out.” Celestia inclined her head. “Of course, Mrs. Shine, now please, show us what you have prepared for today.” Bright Shine nodded. Her magic wrapped around the handle of the tray cover, and she took a deep breath as she mentally prepared for whatever reaction would come next. She prayed that it wouldn’t be terrible. With a dramatic flourish, the dish came away from the tray, setting down gently at her side. Bright Shine smiled widely at the display. The tray was split into two sections. On the right was a bright gold background, overlaid with a brilliant red and gold sun. Its long rays extended throughout the entire half of the display, stopping only when it met the center. Here it met the dark blue and subtle purples of the “night” side. A white crescent moon made up the center, reaching as far and wide as the sun did. The “sky” of the background became darker the further away from the sun it was, culminating in a deep, deep blue that she had made just short of being black. Throughout the sky were spattered “stars”. These she had made from carefully placed sprinkles, with many of them being unique. It had taken several days of painstaking research to place these unique stars. They were exactly how they looked in relation to the moon in the real night sky. The tray had remained perfect throughout the journey to the castle. The mixed background was exactly right, and Bright Shine appreciated seeing how the blue and gold seemed to mix down the center. It looked even better in the light of day. In hindsight, she should have made the background gold a bit duller, as a few of the sun rays got a bit mixed in with all of the background cupcakes, but still, she thought she did an excellent job. The crescent moon especially popped against its blue “starry” background. Unfortunately, she was the only one who thought so. A collective gasp rang through the room, and Bright Shine flinched when a number of whispers began to filter toward her. She received several nasty glares, particularly from ponies in uniforms. Princess Celestia however, just looked stunned. Bright Shine had no idea if that was a good thing or not. The alicorn’s mouth was agape, and her eyes seemed to scan every inch of the display. Every second of silence cut at Bright Shine like a knife. She tried to shrink a little, cowering back from the display as her ears pinned themselves against her head. When she took a step back however, she felt a body press against her side. Bright Shine squeaked as Caramel Quill pressed against her side, but felt slightly better when the earth pony gave her a smile and a slight nod. “W-… Mrs. Shine, could you please explain this piece?” Celestia said, her voice betraying her shock. Bright Shine gulped, but nodded, standing beside the display of cupcakes. “O-of course Princess. A friend of mine, my mail pony actually, helped me come up with the idea.” Bright Shine found comfort in thinking about White Wing. She had secretly let the old stallion into the bakery earlier, and he had been speechless. He had given her a big hug as he told her everything that he loved about it. Bright Shine raised her head a little higher, trying to boost her confidence. Even if nobody else liked it, White Wing did, and that would be enough for her. “When I was working on my designs for the project, he came in to drop off a letter from my husband, Star Chaser. He’s in the Second Brigade, and over the course of the past year, White Wing have gotten very close, since he’s always bringing me good news.” A few of the glares softened at that. A few mares nudged their husbands, who tried to look apologetic. Bright Shine smiled slightly. “White Wing told me something that really stuck. He said that all he saw, every single day, was ponies that hated Nightmare Moon. He told me that they use her as an excuse to dismiss all of the years of good that Princess Luna did. I don’t know about anypony else, but I know I didn’t always give her thanks for beautiful nights, or nights where my little colt Feathered Ink had nightmares, only to wake up talking all about the “nice blue pony” who made the nightmares go away.” “It made me think,” Bright Shine continued, “What was more harmonious than day and night? The war has torn everypony apart, and made so many ponies hate and fear the nighttime. I thought about all of the stories Star Chaser and I used to tell Ink every night about the two most perfect ponies in Equestria.” Bright Shine sniffed slightly as she remembered the long-abandoned tradition of reading her son a story every night before bed. She would always narrate while Star Chaser did all of the voices. It had been far too long since they had fallen asleep as a family. She met Princess Celestia’s eyes, and saw the sorrow matched there. Bright Shine continued, putting the happiness of the memory into the happiness of her work. “The yellows and golds are meant to symbolize you Princess. They represent the warm, fuzzy feeling you get in the sun, all the happy times that can happen when there is light in the world. Everyday is a gift, and it should be something that is celebrated. The blues and purples represent the night; the serenity and peace that everypony experiences when the sun goes down. Light cannot exist without darkness, and Princess Luna always did such a good job making sure we were safe while we slept, I just wish I could tell her that personally.” Bright Shine cleared her throat. “Alone, each is good, even great, but together, working in harmony, they are perfect. The sun and the moon have a place in the sky. They exist as two halves to a harmonious whole.” Bright Shine put on her best smile as she looked at Celestia. “It’s Hearth’s Warming Eve Princess. I thought it was in the spirit of the holiday to remind everypony what harmony meant.” Bright Shine finished the statement a bit shyly, taking a step back as she waited with bated breath for Princess Celestia to respond. Bright Shine twitched nervously as the princess continued to stare at the display silently, her mouth still slightly agape. After several nervous, silent seconds, Princess Celestia’s mouth closed. “Leave us,” The alicorn said, her voice practically at a whisper. Bright Shine froze when everyone quickly rose from their seats, leaving the room in a quiet huddle. Even the guards left their stations. That left her alone with the solar monarch. The only thought running on repeat in her mind at that moment was; ‘She hated them. She hated them. She hated them. She hated them…' So frozen by fear, Bright Shine didn’t even notice Princess Celestia rise from her seat as she moved around the table. Bright Shine was shocked from her stupor when she felt the alicorn wrap her hooves and wings around her in a tight hug. Bright Shine was even more surprised when Celestia began to cry, burying her muzzle in Bright Shine’s shoulder. ‘My cupcakes were so bad they made the princess cry?!?’ Bright Shine thought. Unsure of what to do, Bright Shine returned the hug, letting her motherly instincts kick in. She lightly rubbed Celestia’s back, making sure to get between her wings. She knew from experience that it helped comfort any crying pegasus. As she rocked the larger pony back and forth, Bright Shine did her best to give the princess words of comfort. “Shh… It’s all right Princess, just let it out. Let it all out. I’m sorry my cupcakes were bad enough to make you cry.” The crying ceased instantly. Bright Shine paled slightly. The thought that she had somehow made it worse flashed through her mind. She knew all was well when she felt Celestia begin to laugh. It started as a small snort, followed by a couple of hiccups as she recovered from her crying. This was followed by a deep chuckle. This blossomed into full blown laughter as she pulled her way out of the hug, rolling on the floor in a very un-princessly manner. Bright Shine could only watch in horror as Princess Celestia, the pony who raised the sun rolled on the floor, her face turning a bright shade of red. Caramel Quill walked up beside Bright Shine, smiling widely. “It’s about time something like this happened. She’s been walking on eggshells all week. Thank you very much Mrs. Shine, you’ve done what a fully paid court of jesters, party planners, and therapists have been unable to do.” Bright Shine nodded dumbly. Celestia eventually tapered off, giggling softly as she got to her feet. The fur under her eyes was slightly matted from the tears, but ultimately, Princess Celestia wore a smile. Wiping her eyes, she said; “I must say Mrs. Shine, thank you very much. For everything. Particularly that last bit about the cupcakes being terrible. I really needed that.” Quill scoffed. “I’ll say. Your acting is terrible. I don’t think a single pony believed that those smiles were real.” Celestia sighed. “I guess so. I really tried my best though.” Bright Shine cleared her throat. “I-If it helps at all Princess, I thought your smile was convincing.” Celestia grinned, sticking her tongue out at Caramel Quill. “See Quill? Mrs. Shine thinks I’ve got the smiling down.” Caramel Quill rolled her eyes. “Mrs. Shine is a mother; it is her sworn duty to give compliments to any child who needs it. Including if that child happens to be the most powerful creature in Equestria, as well as several centuries older than she is.” Celestia mouthed along with Caramel Quill mockingly. When the assistant finished with a huff, Celestia smiled widely. “You’re just being mean because Mrs. Shine is right, and you know it.” She stuck her nose in the air. “I am the best actress in all of Equestria.” The two ponies glared at each other before they both giggled. Throughout the entire exchange, Bright Shine could only watch. She had no doubt this was supposed to be a private conversation, and she felt like she was very out of place. The pair of giggling mares seemed to notice that there was still someone else in the room, as they both stopped giggling, just barely bothering to straighten up as they both smiled at Bright Shine. “My apologies Mrs. Shine,” Princess Celestia said, just barely able to keep another giggle from escaping. “All of this is for a reason, I swear it. Your cupcakes are not only not quote; “bad enough to make me cry”, but they are marvelous, and I cannot thank you more for their design.” The princess looked to the neatly arrayed cupcakes as she sighed, smiling sadly. “You simply don’t know how much it means for somepony, anypony to still see the beauty of my sister. She merely… lost her way.” She sniffed, and Bright Shine took a step forward. “Are you all right Princess? If you still need to let out more sadness, I have no issue being a shoulder to cry on.” Celestia smiled at her; tears glistened in her eyes. “No Mrs. Shine, I am not all right. I have had to do something terrible to keep Equestria and all of my ponies safe.” She sighed again as she wiped at her eyes. “While I appreciate the offer, I think enough tears will be shed today. I shall grieve at another time. Now is a moment for joy and celebration.” Princess Celestia seemed to get control of herself once more, and she moved back to her seat. Sitting up prim and proper, she smiled at Bright Shine. “So, Mrs. Shine, which cupcake do you recommend? They all look delicious, and I simply don’t know where to start.” Bright shine straightened and smiled. “It depends on your taste Princess! The sun-side cupcakes are all white, with colored vanilla icing. They are very classical, and good and sweet! The moon-side is a bit trickier, since I needed to add a bit of dark chocolate to get the colors right. It’s a bit more bitter, but I tried to balance it out by making the sprinkles from pure sugar.” Bright Shine flinched when she heard Celestia gasp slightly. The alicorn turned to Caramel Quill. “Would you please fetch Time Keeper? I wish to preserve some of these cupcakes in the vault.” Quill nodded and began to trot away. Celestia stared at the arrangement, before calling out; “And bring Snapshot as well! I wish to try his photographic device! These cupcakes look simply beautiful and I would be remiss if I couldn’t hold their beauty for years to come!” Celestia turned to Birght Shine, smiling. “I have heard marvelous things about this “camera” device. It is said it can capture a real-life painting in a flash.” Bright Shine nodded, not really paying attention to the talk about the “camera”. She was more focused on the adverse reaction to the mention of the dark chocolate in the cupcakes. Bright Shine thought for a second, but couldn’t work out the reason why Princess Celestia would hate dark chocolate. She took a deep breath as she decided to just ask. “Princess, if you don’t mind… do you not like dark chocolate?” Celestia smiled and nodded. “I absolutely abhor it. It is my least favorite sweet.” Bright Shine drooped. “Oh,” she said softly. Celestia rose from her seat and moved to sit down next to Bright Shine. She put her wing around the unicorn and pulled her close. “But it was Luna’s favorite. She could eat bar after bar of the stuff. It is my intention to save a few cupcakes for her return. They will have to be preserved, but I think she will enjoy them greatly, especially when she sees your beautiful arrangement.” Bright Shine looked at Princess Celestia, her nose scrunched up in confusion. “Return? Is she…” Bright Shine trailed off as a look of realization dawned on her face. If she thought what Celestia was hinting at was true, then that meant… Celestia nodded and smiled again. She ruffled her feathers slightly as she looked across the dining room. “What did you say your husband’s name was? I may not have been fully paying attention, the beauty of your cupcakes distracted me.” “Star Chaser, Princess,” Bright Shine said breathlessly. A look of recognition flashed across Celestia’s face, and she grinned. “Ah yes, I remember Guardspony Star Chaser quite vividly. He is quite the pony, and such a lecturer too. I certainly received quite the fiery scolding.” Bright Shine blushed violently. “Sorry about that Princess, when he gets in lecture mode, he’s a bit of a force to be reckoned with,” she said, clearly embarrassed. Celestia nudged her softly. “It reminds me a bit of a certain pony, don’t you think.” Bright Shine flushed a deeper red as Celestia chuckled. “I see why you two are together, ponies are going to need to be wary once Star Chaser and Bright Shine are back together.” Bright Shine’s ears flicked, and she sat up, wiggling her rump slightly in excitement. “D-does that mean…?” Princess Celestia nodded. “Yes, Bright Shine. The war is over. Nightmare Moon has been banished, and my troops are beginning to clean-up and stand down as we speak. It is finished.” Bright Shine cheered and leapt into the air. She bounced around in a small circle. “It’s over! It’s over! Star Chaser is coming home!” she crowed. Celestia watched her jump about, the smile still present on her face. It took Bright Shine a moment to notice the sad glint in her eyes. A moment later, Bright Shine realized why, and she froze, the smile dropping from her face. “Princess I am so sorry. I can’t imagine how you must feel right now.” Celestia shook her head, the sadness clear on her face. “Do not worry for me Mrs. Shine, I shall be all right. This is a happy time, and you should celebrate the return of your lover.” “No,” Bright Shine replied. “I shouldn’t have celebrated like that in front of you. Princess Luna is your sister. It must have been horrible fighting against her.” “It was,” Celestia admitted. “But it was necessary. Luna went astray, and her actions demand punishment. My only hope is that she will forgive me after her banishment.” She sighed deeply, staring at the floor. “It is not how I wanted this to end.” Bright Shine thought for a minute on what she should do. Clearly Princess Celestia was distraught, who wouldn’t be? Bright Shine just didn’t know if her well intentioned comforting would be received in the right light. The last thing she wanted to happen is to have Celestia think she was trying to use her grief for personal gain. Bright Shine frowned, then decided it didn’t matter. ‘If it takes a bit of personal sacrifice to make the princess feel just a little better, it’s worth it,’ she thought. Clearing her throat, Bright Shine wrapped her hooves around Princess Celestia, giving the alicorn a tight hug. She felt the princess stiffen slightly, but Bright Shine didn’t let go. Instead, she spoke. “If she really cares Princess, I think we both know that deep down she does, she’ll forgive you. That’s what family is for. No matter our differences, family should do everything to stick together.” Bright Shine felt Celestia relax. Then, the alicorn returned the hug. “Thank you, Mrs. Shine. I pray that you are right.” They both pulled back, and Celestia tried to smile, but her face fell, her chin hitting her chest as she stared at the floor. “Unfortunately, it will be a thousand years before I find out.” ‘Lonely years,’ Bright Shine thought. Her heart went out to the alicorn. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be apart from Star Chaser for years and years, one year had nearly driven her to the breaking point more than once. If he was gone for two, three, even ten… She would be devastated. In that moment, Bright Shine saw how truly alone Princess Celestia was going to be. On Hearth’s Warming eve no less. Bright Shine frowned; then a small idea popped into her head. She nudged Princess Celestia with a hoof, then stared at the ground in nervousness. “I-if you would like Princess…” She sighed, then looked up. The tears were still hidden just below view in Celestia’s eyes. She had to do this. Bright Shine took a deep breath, then said it all in one super-fast go. “Wouldyouliketocomeoverforhearth’swarmingdinner?” she squawked. Bright Shine sat up, remarkably proud of herself that she had been able to spit it out. Princess Celestia however looked a bit shocked. Her mane even began to flow for a moment, before settling on its normal array of stagnant colors. Celestia blinked. “I-…believe that I may need some time to think on the offer. I shall send a letter with my answer as soon as my decision is made.” At that moment, Caramel Quill walked into the room with two ponies in two. One was a dark brown unicorn with thick glasses carrying a strange, three-legged device on his back. The other was also a unicorn; bearing a thick white beard. The two gave a slight bow to Princess Celestia, and then they set to work on the cupcakes. Caramel Quill stood by Celestia, smiling at Bright Shine. “Don’t worry Mrs. Shine, I assure you that Princess Celestia will do everything in her power to attend what sounds like a lovely dinner.” She glared at Celestia with a gritted smile. “Right Princess?” The alicorn looked away, a bit flush in the face. “I-well I… I don’t want to impose…” Caramel Quill snorted. Turning to Bright Shine, she said; “Please expect the Princess in the morning, I will ensure that her schedule is clear.” Bright Shine smiled widely. “Great!” she said excitedly. “I’ll even make some more cupcakes! Even if you can’t stay long, I can at least send you home with a batch or two.” Celestia took a deep breath as she shoved Quill with a wing. “Thank Mrs. Shine, I would like that. Perhaps after we can have tea as well. We have much to discuss about your new position as Royal Pastry chef after all.” Bright Shine’s eyes widened. “R-royal Pastry chef?” she squeaked. Celestia nodded, her smile wide. “I can already tell, even without tasting them, that these cupcakes are phenomenal.” A flash blinded Bright Shine. She blinked a few times as she tried to clear her eyes of the brilliant light. As her vision returned, she saw an equally stunned Celestia with a gold cupcake floating before her. The princess blinked a few more times, before she saw it. The pony in the glasses smiled widely as he waved a thick sheet of paper in the air. He looked at it for a second, then his smile grew even wider as he displayed it proudly to Princess Celestia. The alicorn squinted for a second before she gasped in amazement. “Oh my, that is simply incredible,” she said softly. The unicorn puffed out his chest. “And just imagine what it can do when I figure out how to color it properly! You could save any memory in a flash!” he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “Though I must say, the camera flash still needs tweaking. I blinded myself for two hours yesterday while tinkering with it. It uh… needs work.” Celestia smiled. “Perhaps, but still, this “camera” of yours is quite the achievement. You should be very proud.” She levitated the paper over to the other unicorn, who had two cupcakes already captured inside clear crystal boxes. “Please put this in the vault as well Time Keeper. Luna will want to see the entire product; it is very beautiful.” The unicorn nodded once in silence. With another bow, the two departed, leaving Celestia with a cupcake still levitating in front of her. She smiled at Bright Shine. “Moment of truth!” she said excitedly. She carefully peeled the liner away, and with a dramatic flourish, she ate the whole cupcake in one bite. Bright Shine gasped slightly. The cupcakes were easily the size of her hoof; she could only rarely eat it in three bites, let alone one. Princess Celestia smiled as she chewed, and then she stopped moving completely, a look of shock on her face. Caramel Quill sighed. “Oh, not this again,” she muttered softly, pressing a hoof to her forehead. Bright Shine only looked between the two in confusion. Did this mean that Princess Celestia liked it? Was she allergic to something in the icing? Bright Shine paled at thought of poisoning the alicorn, even accidentally. Then Celestia started to vibrate. Not shake, not shiver, actually vibrate. Bright Shine was sure she could faintly hear a low buzzing. Caramel Quill sighed again. “Mrs. Shine, please prepare yourself, the princess is quite a cake lover, and not only will she be expecting more treats like this, your job offer will likely become a demand now. You will be serving cakes here until the end of time I’m afraid. She only gets like this when she tastes the best, and well…” She walked over to the display, deftly picking up a cupcake before taking a bite. Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh my. The reaction is earned I see.” She looked at Bright Shine and smiled. Bright Shine wasn’t sure she liked the look. A bit of frosting was on Caramel Quill’s upper lip, and it made her smile seem… sadistic. “Oh, you are going to be very popular, very soon Mrs. Shine. Also, be ready for a hug.” Bright Shine tilted her head. “A hu-?” Bright Shine felt the air get squeezed from her lungs as Princess Celestia wrapped her up in her powerful hooves. The alicorn squeezed her tightly, as she shook the unicorn back and forth. “You can never leave again Mrs. Shine!” she cried. “I need a constant supply of your wonderful sweets! My days and nights will be horribly long enough, please do not torment me further by depriving me of your marvelous cupcakes! They are miniature slices of heaven! I beg thee, accept your position as pastry chef! I can have no other!” While the life was squeezed from her, Bright Shine considered her options. On one hoof, it was the opportunity of a lifetime, and a childhood dream of hers. To bake for a princess, permanently? If she didn’t feel the air being crushed from her lungs, she might have thought she was dreaming. The other option was to turn Princess Celestia down, crushing the pony’s spirits, while also likely sending her baking career in Canterlot into a death spiral. Bright Shine shook herself mentally. Princess Celestia would never intentionally kill her baking career if she declined. But why would she decline? She would be the Royal Pastry Chef! Bright Shine tapped the alicorn on the shoulder as her face began to turn blue. Celestia looked down at her, then gasped as she let Bright Shine breathe. “I am so sorry Mrs. Shine! I got carried away; I was just so nervous and excited, and the cupcake was sooo good, and…” Bright Shine smiled. “I don’t think I need anymore time to think Princess. I’d like to accept your offer for the chef position.” The alicorn smiled widely, and Bright Shine quickly found herself wrapped up in a bone crushing hug once more. She wondered what would happen to Feathered Ink if she got hugged to death right now? He had more friends now, so maybe one of their families would take him in. Caramel Quill snorted in laughter at her plight. “Princess, if you keep hugging her like that, we’re going to need to find another new pastry chef. They won’t be as good…” she said, as if it incentivized Bright Shine’s continued existence. Evidently it did, because Celestia gasped again, once more releasing Bright Shine to breathe another day. The alicorn looked away in embarrassment. “I am sorry once again Mrs. Shine. Today has been a whirlwind of emotions, and this is very welcome news. I am most eager to count you amongst my trusted staff.” Bright Shine took a few deep breaths to get rid of the spots in her vision. She then smiled widely as she sat down for a moment, doing her best not to topple over from oxygen deprivation. When everything stopped spinning, she cleared her throat. “I can’t wait to start Princess; I hope I can meet your expectations.” She blinked as she caught Celestia stuffing an entire cupcake into her mouth again. The alicorn shivered in happiness. “Oh Mrs. Shine, you have already done far more than meet my expectations. I shall be looking forward to discussing your duties tomorrow during dinner.” Bright Shine gasped in excitement, her hooves pressing into her cheeks. “Does that mean you’re coming to dinner?” Celestia stopped chewing, only just realizing what she had said. She opened her mouth to reply, but Caramel Quill stopped her, smiling brightly. “Of course she is Mrs. Shine! As I said before, she will be by in the morning, I’ll make sure she brings a nice side dish, perhaps potato mash.” Bright Shine smiled and felt her tail wag slightly. “Great! All I need to do is prepare the house!” She looked up as she went through a mental checklist. “Inky will be out tonight at a sleep over, which will give me extra time to clean and prepare the food. I have to make extra sure to clean the sheets since Star Chaser is coming home…” Bright Shine gasped. “Star Chaser is coming home!” she squawked loudly. She quickly slid the lid for her cart on the lower tray as she began to sprint toward the dining room doors. Over her shoulder she shouted; “Sorry to run Princess! I’ve got to make sure everything’s perfect, see you tomorrow, hope you enjoyed the cupcakes bye!” Then she hit the doors, flinging them open as she sprinted from the dining room, plowing past ponies as she made for the castle exit, a massive smile on her face. The war was over, and her Star Chaser was coming home! ***** Princess Celestia blinked as the dining hall doors slammed shut behind the disappearing Bright Shine. Caramel Quill snorted. “I swear Princess, how do you always find the eccentric ponies?” Celestia lightly smacked her assistant with a wing. “I don’t find them, they just appear! If anything, I believe that you find these ponies in an effort to brighten my mood.” Quill shrugged. “Maybe I do. Still, Mrs. Bright Shine is an exceptional baker. I think once Baked Goods gets a taste of these; he’ll finally retire. That old stallion has been in that kitchen for decades.” Celestia nodded, floating another cupcake toward her waiting mouth. They were the best cupcakes she had eaten in years, and they helped to keep her mind off of… Celestia hissed when she felt a ruler smack into her hooves. The cupcake fell out of the air and into Quill’s waiting hoof. The earth pony placed it back amongst its brethren, then grabbed the cover and placed it carefully over the tray. “No more for your Princess. We need these for everypony who attended today’s dinner.” As she watched the alicorn cross her hooves and pout, Quill snorted. “If anything, this will incentivize you to keep your dinner date for Hearth’s Warming tomorrow. I will not have you sitting in the castle alone, and since you refused my offer, you will go to dinner with Mrs. Shine, is that clear?” Celestia stuck her tongue out at the mare. “I’m princess you know, I can do whatever I want.” Quill raised an eyebrow. “Yes, but I control who is on staff, and what is delivered to the kitchens. It would be unfortunate if someone forgot to order the castle’s supply of sugar, or better, our tea supply.” Celestia gasped, holding a hoof to her mouth. “You wouldn’t dare!” Quill’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Try me Princess. Think about it. Endless paperwork, vetting the staff, keeping the few troublesome nobles out of your hair. All of these things I do, and all can go away in a flash.” Celestia sucked air in through her teeth. She had no interest in doing all of the inane little things that Quill dealt with. Even when Quill took her vacation days, she usually had Luna to share in those duties, but now… Celestia’s emotional high came crashing down in an instant. She slumped slightly as she stared at the ground. Oh Luna… Quill nuzzled her side softly. “This is why you need to go Princess. You have to keep occupied, at least for a while. It won’t make the hurt go away, but it will help, if only a little. Please? For me?” Celestia smiled slightly, returning the affectionate nuzzle. “Of course, my number one assistant. I’ll go. On one condition however.” “Anything Princess. Name it.” Celestia sniffled slightly as she wrapped her wing around the earth pony. “Stay with me tonight? I do not wish to be alone.” Caramel Quill and pressed into her side. “Of course, Princess. It is Hearth’s Warming after all.” ***** Bright Shine hummed as she swept through the kitchen. Her magic worked at a furious pace. A batch of cupcakes was already out of the oven, cooling on a stand, awaiting their icing. The broom brushed the dirt off of her floors, and her hooves scrubbed away as she did all of the dirty laundry. Thanks to a visit to the market on her way home, her kitchen was fully stocked with enough food to feed six ponies, more than enough for her little family and Princess Celestia. Bright Shine smiled as she thought about that. Princess Celestia of all ponies was coming to Hearth’s Warming dinner! That didn’t even mention Star Chaser… Bright Shine squealed with joy at the thought of seeing her husband again. She hadn’t told Feathered Ink yet. She wanted to surprise the colt, who was at the moment packing for his sleepover. She had gotten him a few Hearth’s Warming gifts, but what could compare to the surprise return of your dad? Bright Shine had no idea, but she wanted to keep it secret. This was going to be the best Hearth’s Warming of their lives. She heard a soft knock on the front door, and as if walking on air, Bright Shine moved to answer it, her face still decorated with a smile. She opened the door widely, and her smile grew as she recognized White Wing standing before her. She wrapped the mail pony in a hug. “White Wing! It’s so good to see you! Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve.” The old stallion didn’t return the hug, instead pressing softly against Bright Shine’s shoulder. She withdrew the hug, looking at him with no small amount of confusion. She quickly saw the obvious distress on the pony’s face. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “White Wing?” she asked carefully. “Is something wrong?” The mail pony sniffed, wiping his nose. “I’m sorry Mrs. Shine. I am so so sorry.” Bright Shine watched a tear fall from his face. He carefully reached into his mail bags, pulling out several letters. He stared at them for a second. When he looked up, Bright Shine flinched. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he had been crying for some time. He held the letters out to her, and she took them gently, staring at them as if they would burn her. The first letter had the familiar poor hoofwriting, though this time red splotches dotted the front. The edges of the letter looked torn, with one showing evidence of being burnt. The envelope looked like it was filled to the bursting, with the top of the envelope only barely closing fully. The second letter was much smaller, and much cleaner. Bright Shine read the return address, shaking her head slowly as it became clearer and clearer what was inside. The royal seal on the back confirmed it. She looked to White Wing, who just gazed at her sadly, his usual bright, youthful demeanor gone. “B-but, but it’s over!” Bright Shine said. “The war is over, Princess Celestia told me so! It’s… It isn’t….” She whimpered softly as her vision clouded with tears. “It’s Hearth’s Warming… My wonderful Star Chaser was coming home….” Both letters fell to the floor dropping from Bright Shine’s magic as she lost the will to focus. Her rump quickly followed. Her hair fell into her face as the tears began to fall. White Wing pulled her against his chest as the mare sobbed. “It isn’t fair…” she cried. “Everything was going to be perfect!” White Wing stroked her mane softly. “I’m sorry Mrs. Shine. I’ve got no words to make you feel better, I’m just so very sorry.” Bright Shine begged the universe for a reason why. Why had this happened? The day had gone so well. Princess Celestia loved her baking, she got her dream job, Feathered Ink not only had friends, but was going to a party on Hearth’s Warming Eve! Bright Shine stiffened when he called out, as if summoned by her thoughts. “Mom? Is there somepony at the door?” Bright Shine cleared her throat, trying to put on her best happy voice. “It’s nothing Inky! Just finish packing!” She looked fearfully to White Wing. “He can’t know, not yet. Please,” she begged the mail pony, “it will ruin Hearth’s Warming forever for him. He won’t go to his party; it will crush every happy thought he’s had in the past year. You can’t tell him, please, not yet!” White Wing nodded, stroking her mane softly. “Don’t worry Mrs. Shine, I won’t let him know a thing. Do you need somepony to take him to his party? You were my only stop today. I can get him there nice and safe if you’d like.” Bright Shine nodded silently. She needed time, alone. To think, to grieve. To prepare. How was she going to tell Feathered Ink his father was gone? How could she do it without devastating the poor colt? She sniffled, trying to erase her tears. “White Wing, could you please come to Hearth’s Warming dinner? I don’t think I can do it alone now…” White Wing nodded. “Of course, Mrs. Shine. My grandkids will understand completely. I’ll be here early to help you get everything set up.” Bright Shine nodded. She stood up slowly, drying her eyes as best she could. She heard hoofsteps on the stairs, so she put on her best smile as she turned around, shuffling the letters just out of view behind the door. Feathered Ink trotted into view, smiling brightly, his saddlebags bulging on his sides. “I’m all packed!” he announced cheerfully. Spotting White Wing at the door, he raced forward. “Hi Mr. Wing! Did we get any mail today?” The colt’s smile threatened to shatter Bright Shine’s façade. He looked so happy, so hopeful. It was going to kill them both when she had to tell him. That was for later however, right now, she had to be strong. “Actually Inky, White Wing has offered to take you to your sleepover! I thought you two could talk while I make sure everything is perfect for dinner tomorrow. Somepony very special is coming over, so I want everything exactly right.” Feathered Ink cocked his head. “Is it anypony I know?” he asked curiously. Bright Shine winked, trying to be playful. “Maybe. You’ll see tomorrow, now off with you, you don’t want to be late!” Feathered Ink wrapped her in a hug, his little wings flapping in excitement. Bright Shine struggled to hold back her tears as she returned the hug fiercely, squeezing him tight against her chest. He gave her a funny look as he pulled away, but it disappeared quickly as he raced out the door, waving as he left. “Bye Mom! See you tomorrow! Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve!” Bright Shine felt her chin quiver, as she waved back. “Goodbye Inky! Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve!” She gave White Wing one last hug before the old stallion followed after the energetic colt. Then Bright Shine slowly closed the door, the jamb clicking shut softly. Numb, Bright Shine picked up the two letters. The abused letter, she floated to the coffee table, opening the desk drawer as she did so. All of Star Chaser’s previous letters floated forth, stacking neatly atop the final letter. She stared at the clean letter in absolute hatred. She wanted to scream, to throw it into the roaring fireplace. She wanted to watch that Celestia damned sheet of paper crumble to ash. Then maybe she could pretend. Pretend she wasn’t a widow. Pretend that Hearth’s Warming was going to be perfect. Pretend she didn’t have to tell her poor, darling son that his father wasn’t ever coming home. He’d never get to tell Chaser about his school days, about his cutie mark, about his stories. He wouldn’t be able to see his dad smiling proudly at graduation, wouldn’t be able to see his dad watching as he stood at the altar. A whole future of happy days and good times gone in smoke, all because of one letter. Bright Shine growled and the letter hovered dangerously close to the fireplace. The flames seemed to reach out, the blazing fingers trying to light the paper ablaze. Bright Shine was so very tempted to let it. She then felt her entire being sigh as she tucked the letter, safe and sound, atop the mantle. She would read it with Feathered Ink. He deserved that much. Bright Shine laid down on the couch, levitating a blanket over her body as she carefully grabbed all of Star Chaser’s letters, pressing them against her chest as she smelled them, taking in as much of his scent as she could. She drew the curtains, and finally alone, Bright Shine began to truly cry.