You struggle to keep your eyes open as you enter the grand castle looming over the capital of Equestria. The guards that protect the large front entrance step aside as you quietly thank them for working on Hearth’s Warming Eve. Upon making your way into the entrance hall, the sounds of your footsteps echoing through the massive building and the occasional yawn escaping you are the only things breaking the silence.
Aside from a select few members of the Royal Guard who volunteered, Hearth’s Warming Eve and Hearth’s Warming are the only days of the year that the castle is empty. There is no staff. No work is being done. The only creatures in the castle are a handful of volunteers and those that live there.
You are, of course, one of those few castle residents.
You yawn again as you slowly make your way through the winding halls. The castle is huge, but you’ve had more than enough time to figure out how to get around. Plus, your destination is usually the same. On the highest floor of the castle are the royal bedchambers. These bedchambers are connected via a hallway that has all the amenities the royal family could ever need, including a kitchen, a dining space, a grand bathroom, and even a couple of studies.
Although your lovely wife is likely asleep in your shared bedroom, you have one more stop to make before you can finally retire for the night.
You gently open the door to the kitchen. It’s a massive kitchen, and it’s not even the castle’s main kitchen. This one is never used by the castle’s chefs, and is intended exclusively for when the royals themselves want to cook.
Usually, it’s just you that uses it. Tia loves cooking, but it didn’t take long for her to get hooked on yours. You might not be able to compete with the castle’s chefs, but you have the benefit of some home-grown recipes your mama taught ya.
Thanks mama Anon.
Of course, if it were up to you, you’d be going to bed right now. However, you made one last promise, and you intend to keep it.
“Hey, Lulu.”
“Good evening, Anon.”
Princess Luna, the alicorn ruler of the night. To most ponies, she is distant. Mysterious. Cool. And yet, they also know her to be kind and understanding, willing to stick up for what’s right and defend the “little guy,” as it were.
To you, she’s your sister-in-law.
With an exhausted gait, you remove your hat, mittens, and coat, gingerly placing them by the door before making your way to Luna’s side.
“So, what have you got done?”
“A couple of pies and the mashed potatoes.”
“That’s it?”
“If I was capable of making it all on my own, I wouldn’t have needed to ask for your help.”
“Touché.” You rub your eyes and saunter over to the fridge. “Can you start chopping some onions for me?”
“You just want to watch me tear up,” she says with a chuckle.
“Would you prefer to shred this cheese?”
“...Y-yes.”
Luna isn't much of a cook.
You toss her a block of cheddar, which she catches with her magic. Indeed, you agreed to help Luna prepare a surprise meal for Celestia on Hearth’s Warming. Ordinarily you would cook this stuff the day of, but thanks to some good old alicorn magic, you can preserve it like it was just made for up to a day. Since your wife is such a heavy sleeper, this seemed like the ideal time to do it without her noticing.
“Are you okay?” You glance at Luna, who stares back at you with concern. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“It’s… certainly been an eventful day.”
“I knew you had plans in Ponyville, but that was all I knew.”
“I got pulled in a bunch of different directions,” you explain as you deftly chop up some onions. “But, I think everything turned out okay.”
“For you, that’s a bit of a rare occurrence.”
“I’ll say.”
“You know, if you want to go to bed, we can do this in the morning. I won’t judge.”
“Nah, I promised you I’d be here and I intend to keep that promise.”
“Well, I appreciate that.” She walks behind you to get to the fridge where she grabs the sour cream. She makes an effort to rub a wing along your back as she goes back to the counter she was just at. “You need to work on that posture too, dude.”
“How would you know? You’re not a human.”
“Because when the knots in your back are so severe that I can see them, you have a problem.”
“...Whatever, mom.”
You both share a chuckle as you continue to cook into the night. It’s quiet, and she has the kitchen lights down really low. She’s always preferred the darkness, and in a strange way, it feels cozy.
Especially after the day you’ve had.
Finally, you lean back against the counter. Your casserole is now in the oven, and once that’s finished, the two of you will finally be done. You glance at a nearby clock, noticing that it’s after midnight.
“Hey, Lulu?”
“Hm?”
“This is probably going to sound weird, but if I had to have somepony as a sister… well, I’m glad it was you.”
“...Hmhm. What, trying to make sure I don’t go all Nightmare Moon on you?”
“No, just trying to live up to the spirit of Hearth’s Warming.”
“...Well.” She lifts her head a bit as she walks past you, the smile on her face doing little to conceal the blush in her cheeks. “I can think of no one better suited to help me handle Celestia. I know this probably sounds foolish coming from the younger sister, but… I was worried that she might never find love. Or that if she did, it would be with somepony who didn't have her best interests in mind.”
“And instead, you got little ol’ me.”
Before she makes it all the way past you, she gently smacks you in the stomach with her tail, lightly winding you but mostly just humoring the both of you.
“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Anon.”
“You too, Lulu.”