“Woohoo! They totally loved it!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie as the six friends made their way out of the backstage and into the long hall. The immense room that until a few minutes was crowded with ponies now appeared before them completely empty.
The cool white light of the moon made its way quietly through the tall crystal windows that flanked the small group.
“I’m just glad it’s finally over,” said Fluttershy, still in scared tone.
“Simply magnificent! Without a doubt one of the best performances I've ever seen,” expressed Rarity right before being interrupted by Rainbow Dash.
“Magnificent? Is that really all you can think of? Did you see how everypony cheered at the end? I was super-ultra-extremeawsomazing!” she argued, always in her characteristic overconfident tone.
“Now quit it Rainbow, everypony did a great job! It was a team effort, I told you before this isn't the Rainbow Dash Show.”
“Applejack is right RD” continued Twilight “Only when we work together can we achieve this level of success. Didn't you learn anything from the play?”
Rainbow twisted her head away from her friends in shame. As the group crossed the great double doors into another part of the castle, an immaculate white hallway illuminated occasionally by beautiful candle lamps on both sides, the sad look on Dash’s face banished when they found themselves in the warm and loving gaze of Her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria.
In her heavenly and almighty grace, the most exalted of rulers in equestrian history slowly approached the group of ponies, to which the six friends promptly responded with the most solemn vows they could after the demanding evening of hard work the play had meant for them.
The alicorn who holds all other ponies destinies on her hooves spoke first; “Hello Twilight, and hello to all your friends as well. I wasn't expecting to see you girls still around this late after all you've done tonight. You are still on time for the after party, if you wish to attend.”
Every year, after the Hearth’s Warming Eve play was over, a party, hosted by the princesses, was held on the castle grounds. It’s open to all ponies, with the only restriction being the available space to house all guests in relative comfort.
“But I’ll understand if you would rather retire to your rooms for rest for the night,” the Sun Princess concluded. With her reputation as Ponyville’s greatest party pony in mind, Pinkie Pie wasted no time to respond to her ruler’s offering.
“And miss the Hearth Warming Eve party? You can never be too tired to attend the Hearths Warming Eve party! Let’s go!” Hadn’t she been speaking with Princess Celestia, the pink-maned earth pony would have run to the party, leaving only a cloud of dust behind her, and even if she had forgotten to who the shining figure standing regally in front of them belonged to, Twilight would have stopped her where she stood with one of her spells; the unicorn could not allow such act of disrespect towards her mentor, not from her friends, not from anypony.
“Princess, we would be honored to go to the party,” said Rarity, who wasn't about to miss this chance of mingling with some of Equestria’s most important ponies, who would surely be attending.
“Well then, I won’t delay you any longer. If anypony deserves to have a good time, is the six of you.” With those words the group felt allowed to leave, so they relaxed, although not too much as to the point of being loud, and regaining their normal postures began walking down the hallway.
Twilight Sparkle seized this opportunity and slowly made her way next to her teacher “Princess” began the faithful student “I wanted to thank you for the chance you gave us of leading this year’s play, I know the one held here at the castle is the most important one. Are you happy with the results?”.
“My dearest Twilight, I couldn't be more pleased with what I saw tonight; you and your friends represent all this night means,” answered she who rises the Sun each day, and then continued; “Tonight we gather to remember how important it is for us to coexists in peace, not only among Unicorns, Pegasi or Earth Ponies, but with all other races as well, whether it be Griphons, Zebras, Buffalos or any other”.
“Those were truly difficult times, weren't they Princess?”
“Indeed they were Twilight, it was a time when nopony was safe, nopony knew if they would wake up once they went to bed or if they would have anything to eat if they did. It was a time when nothing was certain, a time when ponykind stood on the edge of Tartarus dark abyss.”
The music that beaconed them towards the party was becoming louder with each step they took down the long, white hallway. The warm orange glow kept emanating from the candles on each side, casting a blanket that shielded them from the cold snow outside. The world: white, tranquil and quiet on the other side of transparent crystal windows. Undisturbed. In peace.
“It really was miracle, a blessing."
“What do you mean, Princess?”
“It was a miracle that those poor ponies found this land; it must have been like finding paradise, don’t you think Twilight? Just imagine; all you know is hardship, pain and suffering, a life of constant conflict on a cruel world. Many of those ponies had to watch idly as their families succumbed to the unforgiving winter cold. Countless colts and fillies left without parents. You can’t grow up in a world like that without thinking that the Creator owns you something, and you want that debt to be paid with interests.”
Her Serene Grace, Princess Celestia, stopped in front of one of the tall windows. Her faithful student always by her side. Both looking contemplatively into the infinite night sky, as if by doing so they could see far into the past and deep into those ponies’ souls.
Luna’s sister continued; “Then you arrive to a land where everything is perfect and pure; never again will you be hungry, or cold or afraid at night. Don’t you see it, Twilight? It was because they found Equestria those old ponies changed; they tore their land apart and destroyed it, lost it forever under the unforgiving snow. Now, they are given a second chance, and refused to make the same mistake twice.”
They stood in front of that window for some time, until Twilight finally realized her friends were long gone and were most likely already at the party, wondering where she was. She then figured it was better if she went and meet them, although the unicorn knew this conversation wasn't over yet, for there were so many things she wanted to know about those first ponies who reached Equestria. It intrigued her, consumed her. “Probably the excitement of having to star on Hearth’s Warming Eve most important play,” she though “It will pass in a few days.”
“I won’t delay you Twilight, you better hurry or you’ll miss the party. Go have some fun, you have earned it.” With those words, the teacher released her student, who trotted the rest of the way, finally reaching the great hall where her friends awaited.
“About time you showed up Twi, what kept you so long?” asked Rainbow Dash “Is everything alright?"
“Yeah, don’t worry, I was just having a talk with the princess about what Hearth Warming Eve means, that’s all. Everything is fine.”
The party continued just as planned; everypony had a wonderful time enjoying of the incredible music and games, just like with the overly delicious food and drink. Twilight and her five friends enjoyed themselves to the fullest. Like everything good in the world, the party eventually came to an end, and the six friends retired to their rooms for the rest of the night.
Twilight Sparkle laid on her bed, the lights out but the curtains open. The moon light entered the room in the form of narrow beams, just like silver strings shinning gently as they hang over a pool of clear water while a warm wind blows.
Her body remained still, but her mind did not; the tale of Equestria’s first days revolved around inside her head like a tornado; spinning around a thousand different ideas at a time. She wondered how would it had been like living during those awful times. She tried to imagine herself as a small filly, alone in her bed thinking about death “Will it finally come for me tonight? Will I have to endure another day of suffering? The dead are lucky; for them it’s all over.”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The air entering her nostrils somehow felt colder than just a few minutes ago.
She opened her eyes and exhaled.
Now she sees herself as a young mare; she’s afraid, she has no family, all her friends are dead, she’s all alone to fend for herself on an unforgiving world. Every day is a constant struggle against hunger. She witnesses as ponies from all tribes fight against each other to obtain some half rotten food. She finds herself contemplating suicide; “Give up Twilight, this world is just not worth living.”
Another deep breath and now she’s back inside her comfortable room, inside Canterlot Castle. If she gets hungry, thirsty or cold, all she has to do is pull the soft velvet string hanging to the right of her bed and she would get whatever her heart desired in just a second. Everything she could ever need or want in reach of her hooves, just like that; she didn't had to fight or beg to receive a few scraps.
She spent the next minutes reflecting on how amazing it must have been to those ponies to find a place like Equestria. After all that struggle, all that fighting, all that suffering and death, now all of a sudden you find yourself in paradise; a real paradise. “This is a gift from the Creator, our reward for having survived through all that hardship. After everything we've been through, we can finally rest,” Twilight whispered.
And with one last deep breath, Twilight’s mind drifted away into Dreamland.
The Moon gave way to the warm and bright morning Sun, and through Twilights window it was now Celestias’ light that made its way inside her room, like a tidal wave, flooding every corner. After a few minutes, Twi finally found her way out of the Dream Realm and into the real world. Almost immediately after she opened her big magenta eyes, as if they had been waiting outside the bedroom for a hint to enter, a couple of maids gently opened the door, each levitating a tray carrying all sorts of sweets and delicacies from the most faraway corners of Equestria; this is Canterlot Castle after all.
“Good morning, Miss Twilight” said one “We bring you your breakfast.”