It was a cold winter’s night in Canterlot. It ground was freshly covered in a surgery white layer of snow and the air was filled with the pungent, yet comforting scent of a slow burning fire. The buildings all extravagantly decorated for Hearth’s Warming Eve, which was only a few days away. The brightly lit streets were sparsely populated, as most ponies were inside enjoying the warmth of a fire.
Soarin’ and Twilight slowly trotted out of Canterlot station, the Friendship Express had just arrived from Ponyville. On each of their backs were sleeping foals. Glida’ and Dusk had fallen asleep on the train ride and were comfortably resting on their parents backs. Neither Twilight nor Soarin’ had the heart to wake them. The four ponies slowly made their way to Canterlot castle, where they were going to be meeting the rest of their family. The soft crunching of snow filled the air with each step they took. As they made their way through the sleeping city they took in the seasonal decorations.
Soarin’ looked over to his wife as they approached the Castle. “It’s beautiful out Twilight,” Soarin’ commented.
“I know, I've always loved Canterlot this time of year,” Twilight said. She turned her head back to the colt resting on her back. “I see you took them to Sugar Cube Corner after school today,” Twilight said noticing the bit of frosting on Dusk’s lips.
“Yeah…” Soarin’ said surprised Twilight found out. “They had a great day in school so I wanted to give them a treat.”
“It’s fine Soarin’,” the studious mare chuckled.
The ponies continued their walk and soon reached the gates of the Castle and finally escaped the cold winter air for the warm atmosphere of the Castle walls. Soarin’ and Twilight made their way through the castle towards the suites on the northern end. As they approached a guard post, Twilight recognized the guard as her brother, Shining Armor.
Shining’s head slow rose as he heard the hoof steps. A wide smile grew on his face as he saw his sister and her family. “Twilie!” The guard yelled as he galloped towards his sister.
Twilight quickly raised a hoof to her mouth silencing Shining.
Shining came to an abrupt stop in front of Twilight and looked at their backs and their sleeping cargo. “Sorry about…” Shining whispered. “It’s nice to see,” he said giving her a light hug.
“It’s nice to see you too, BBBFF.”
“I was told to meet you and escort you to the Princess’s dining room,” Shining stated.
Soarin’ and Twilight nodded and followed them down the long, empty halls.
Shining held back a bit so he was trotting right beside his sister. “How are the foals?” the guard asked.
“Amazing…” Twilight said looking to Dusk. “Dusk keeps talking about wanting to be a Guard like his Uncle Shiny.”
“That was after he said he wanted to raise the moon like Auntie Lulu,” Soarin’ said. with a chuckle.
The three ponies soon reached a large dining room, in the center sat a modest table, on it a small spread of pastries and two pots of steaming tea; two alicorns occupying the table, enjoying a small dessert. Shining turned to the couple. “Here you are, I’ve to get back to duty,” Shining said, he wished he could stay and catch up with Twilight.
“Bye Shining,” Twilight said. “Are we still getting lunch with mom and dad tomorrow?”
“Of course… Good bye Soarin’, tell the foals I said hi,” Shining said before promptly exiting the room and resuming his duties posts.
Princess Celestia looked from her meal and saw her student and her son. “Soarin’, Twilight it is so good to see you two,” Celestia greeted as she stood to meet the two ponies. She saw the two ponies asleep on their backs. The solar alicorn slipped her head between the sleeping foals. “Too bad Dusk and Glida’ are asleep…”
With that the two foals slowly started to stir as their eyes opened. They were shocked by the white alicorn’s head, but wide smiles grew on their faces when they find out who it is. “Nana Tia,” they both yelled throwing their arms around Celestia’s neck.
Celestia chuckled at the foal’s enthusiasm. She helped them get down, so their parents could sit and enjoy a cup a tea. “How are my grandfoals?”
“Amazing,” Glida’ said. “Dad said if I do well in school he’s going start teaching me to fly after Winter Wrap Up.”
“That’s wonderful to hear,” Celestia said. “What about you Dusk?”
“I’m doing well. Mom said I’m not ready for magic yet,” the colt said with a hint of disappointment in his voice. “… but I should be able to start this spring.”
“Don’t worry Dusk, you’re mother knows what she is talking about,” Celestia said with a warm voice trying to cheer him up. “Now how would you two like a cupcake?”
Dusk and Glida’ peeked their heads around the Princess and towards their mother, their eyes begging for approval. While they knew their dad would say yes, but mom was the pony who made these decisions.
Twilight saw her foals’ faces, their puppy dog eyes. She didn’t know where they learned that, but that her husband caved every time. She knew the answer was no. ‘It is almost their bed time and too late to be eating sweets, but… Princess Celestia offered…’ She gave a small sigh and a nod. “Yes, one cupcake each. It’s almost your bed time.”
Dusk and Glida’ both cheered as they galloped over to the table, standing next to their parents. They peeked their heads above the table, their mouths water as they stare at the sweet delicacies.
Celestia trotted behind them and levitated two modest sized cupcakes on to a waiting plate. While she was a Princess, her student was their mother and it was close to their bed time. That is when she got an idea. “How you two like take these cupcakes with you to your bedroom…” Celestia said, seeing small frowns on their faces. “… So Aunt Lulu can read you a story…”
At that Dusk and Glida’s faces perked up as they looked towards the Lunar Princess, who up until now was keeping to herself. “What was that sister?”
“You’re going to read them a story,” Celestia said confidently.
“Please Auntie Luna…” Dusk said.
“O-ok…” Luna answered hesitantly. The lunar alicorn stood up from her seat and grabbed the plate with my magic. “Follow me,” Luna said leading the cheerful foals to their bedroom.
“Thank you for allowing us to stay in the castle, Princess,” I Twilight said as she placed a muffin on a small plate in front of her.
“Think nothing of it my faithful student,” Celestia answered. “I would always offer your family a place to stay.”
The three ponies ate their small meal and chatted. Celestia inquired about the foal’s progress in school and she was happy to hear they are doing well. She was happy to be able to catch up with her son and that he is spending Hearth’s Warming Eve in Canterlot.
Twilight finished her tea and wiped her mouth of the residual crumbs from the muffin. They were planning to go to lunch with her parents and her brother tomorrow and she needed somepony to watch the foals. “Princess… May ask a favor of you?”
“What is it my student?”
“We need somepony to watch Dusk and Glida tomorrow…”
Celestia answered before Twilight could finish. “I would love to watch them for you, and I’m sure Luna wouldn’t mind helping either.” Celestia said warmly.
Twilight and Soarin’ breathed a sigh of relief. The couple stood up from their seats, both feeling tired from the long day. “We’re going to go check on Dusk and Glida and head to bed,” Soarin’ said with a yawn. “Good night, mom.”
“Good night Soarin’, Twilight; I’ll see you tomorrow morning…” The solar Princess said as she watched Soarin’ and his wife trot from the room. The white alicorn stood and made her way towards her bed chambers. A guard at his post by the entrance. “Sergeant, have you retrieved the mare, Sunny Skies?” she asked the unicorn guard.
“Yes Your Highness, she is waiting in your bed chambers,” The sergeant answered curtly.
“Thank you, you are dismissed.”
“Your majesty, I have orders to stand guard until 0200 hours,” the sergeant said carefully, not wanting to upset the Princess.
“You have new orders,” Celestia said with a clever smile. “You are report to your home and spend the night your family.”
The guard was elated to be able to spend the night with his wife, but was determined to maintain the proper decorum. “Thank you…”
Princess Celestia entered her extravagant suite; in the corner, by her desk sat a Pegasus mare. Soarin’s birth mother, Sunny Skies. “Thank you for seeing me at such short notice,” Princess Celestia said trotting towards the mare.
“Anything your majesty…,” the mare said bowing her head. “What did you need?”
The Princess sat down next to the mare while taking off her crown and jewelry. “As you know, Soarin’ and his family are in Canterlot to celebrate Hearth’s Warming Eve.”
Sunny nods slowly.
“I know you, along with your husband, have been inquiring about him and his wife for some time now. What have you learned?” Celestia asked.
The blue maned mare thought for a moment. “I… We wanted to know he is happy… we learned that he loves his wife and she loves him… they weren't afraid to express their love like we were"… and the more I learned the more I hated myself…”
“Why is that?”
“If we loved him and raised him like a parent should… we could be enjoying his happiness with him…” The mare said shamefully. She was truly ashamed about what she did, and if it wasn't for the Princess, Soarin’ would've died a broken colt who never truly felt love.”… I will never be his mother…”
“Why do you say that?”
Sunny closed her eyes as she saw the horrid memories flash through her mind, the sound of her colt screaming for help. “… a mother doesn’t do that to her foal…” Sunny answered softly.
Celestia accepted her answer. “I’m not saying Soarin’ will forgive you. He might not, but you need to show him how you have changed,” Celestia explained. “You may leave now; tell your husband I wish to speak with him tomorrow night.”
“Yes, Princess,” Sunny said as she stood. “Good night your highness…” Sunny took her leave.
Celestia sighed as the mare left and she trotted over to her bed. It was a large circular bed; above on the wall sat the Royal seal of the Sun. She climbed into her bed and wrapped herself in her sheet, and before she drifted off to sleep the solar Princess looked to her nightstand where picture of her son sat. “Good night my Soarin’… No matter what happens, you are my colt…” she whispered