She had just reached the last step when the doorbell rang. She hurried to the parlor where her parents and her 16-year-old sister, Luna, had lined up to receive guests. As she stepped in line next to her sister, Luna looked at her with mock suspicion.
"My sister is definitely not that pretty," she muttered.
Without looking, Celestia deftly stomped on her hoof. She hissed in pain, but was prevented from going any further as the first of the guests were shown into the room.
The next few hours were a blur of small talk and niceties as Celestia greeted guests, dined with them, and made her way around the dance floor. Queen Chernalia made certain she was introduced to the young bachelors that had been invited and danced with each one. Even though they were all very handsome and paid her endless compliments, Celestia did not find any of them particularly intriguing. Rather, they seemed to her the same stallion stuffed into many different bodies. They all had the same personality, said the same things, and even seemed to have the same interests. Celestia knew she wouldn't be able to marry any of them, even if they asked.
Finally, King Solaris made his way to the great fireplace in the front of the hall and clapped his hooves together to get his guest's attention.
"Fillies and gentlecolts!" he called. "The moment I'm sure many of you have eagerly awaited is now here. Please, husbands and wives, join me for the cup dance!"
Couples spilled onto the dance floor as the children gathered around the edges to look on. It was a tradition at the castle's Hearth's Warming Eve parties that the married couples would have one dance to themselves, where they toasted their joy and harmony together. Each couple brought a goblet of wine to the floor, and cups were passed from hoof to hoof. When the music stopped, everyone drained their glasses and let out a cheer. The lookers-on clapped enthusiastically, hoping that one day they would be able to join the dancing couples.
After the dance had finished, King Solaris called everyone to attention once more. Another tradition was about to begin.
"Bring in the gifts!" he shouted.
The children all squealed with delight and ran to gather around the fireplace. Each year, a small gift was given to each and every filly and colt that attended the party. It was almost always inexpensive little dolls for the fillies and wooden tops for the colts, but the children always treasured them.
Two servants carried out a large box topped with an elaborate bow and set it next to King Solaris. With a great flourish, he removed the lid and set it next to him on the floor. Instructing the children to form a line, he began to dole out both the gifts and hugs and kisses. Each filly received a soft doll and a kiss on the cheek, and each colt a little top and swift hug. The children loved his affection almost as much as the toys they were presented.
Just as King Solaris was handing the last top to the last colt in line, the massive doors of the hall burst open. The musicians faltered, letting silence settle over the crowd of guests. A figure shrouded in black appeared in the doorway. He wore a long black cloak with a high collar that shaded the lower half of his face, while a hat hid the rest. Many of the children ran to hide behind their mothers' skirts as King Solaris strode up to the shadowy figure.
When he reached him, a broad smile broke across his face.
"Tinker Toy, my old friend!" The two stallions hugged and Tinker removed his hat to reveal a lined but attractive face. He too was smiling.
"I'm so sorry I'm late," he said, raising his voice so that everyone could hear, "I just had to put the finishing touches on my little surprise I had for the children."
Curiosity getting the better of them, the children began to poke their heads out from their hiding places. Mothers smiled and quietly urged them to gather around the fireplace again. They knew of Tinker's renown as a brilliant magician and inventor, and knew that he would have something very special in store.
Once the last Fillies and colts had been coaxed back out by the fire, Tinker motioned to his servants still waiting by the doors. They came in, carrying four huge boxes between them, each one bigger than the one that King Solaris had distributed toys from. Standing on one end, they could have easily fit a grown pony inside. As the servants set them down, Tinker turned to the children with a mischievous smile on his face.
"I've been working on these for quite some time, now," he said. "They are quite possibly some of my best work to date, if I do say so myself."
He motioned to his servants again, and they took the front off each box. The children gasped in surprise. Each box contained a life-size doll, two male and two female, in decorative military-looking costumes with large cranks on their backs. The servants gently placed them on the hardwood floor in front of the fireplace and arranged their limbs so that each had their hooves on their hips.
"What do you say we see what they can do?" Tinker asked the children. They all shouted their assent and stood back as the servants turned the cranks to wind them up. Tinker turned to the musicians. "A quadrille please!" he shouted.
As soon as the musicians began to play, the servants let go of the cranks. To the children's delight, the dolls immediately sprang to life, saluting and curtsying to one another. Then, they began to dance. The male dolls paired off with the females, and they started a very simple quadrille. Everyponywas astonished by the their flawless hoofwork. Ponies began to clap along gleefully to the music as the dolls danced. As the song came to an end, they saluted and curtsied again before jerking to a halt with their hooves once more on their hips.
The applause was thunderous as the children whooped and shouted for more. Tinker took a modest bow and smiled into the young faces gathered around him.
"I'm afraid they won't be dancing again tonight," he said ruefully, "but you may go look at them if you'd like."
The children quickly gathered around the figures, reaching up to stroke their clothing and trying to get a good look at their faces. Tinker turned and met Celestia's gaze through the crowds. He smiled and beckoned her over, a silver-wrapped box appearing in his hooves. He motioned to Luna as well, though Celestia couldn't see a second gift anywhere.
"Ah, here are my two favourite god-daughters," Tinker said as Celestia approached. She smiled and gave him a kiss on each cheek.
"Are you trying to say that there are other god-daughters in the picture?" she teased.
He shook his head with mock solemnity. "There is no pony else but you, my dears. Now let me give you your present."
"Oh, if you insist," she said, accepting the silver box from him.
"What about me?" Luna interrupted as she arrived.
With a great flourish of his cape, Tinker produced a shining golden trumpet. He handed it to Luna with a wink and sent her back towards the group of friends she had been parted from. Then he turned back to Celestia, gesturing towards the box.
"Go ahead, my dear. Open it."
Celestia gently lifted off the lid and removed the layer of tissue paper that lay on top of her gift. Nestled in the box was a beautifully crafted nutcracker. It had been carved into the shape of a stallion with a long white beard painted down the mandible. He wore a smart red military coat and hat and held a tiny sword in his wooden hoof. Celestia stared in wonder at his work.
"Do you like it?" Tinker's voice broke her reverie.
"He's beautiful," she breathed. She took him out of the box and cradled him against her chest. "Did you make him?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Whoever did must have been a master crafter."
Tinker smiled faintly. "Yes. They must have. Please excuse me, my dear, I fear your dreadful father is calling me."
As her godfather walked away, Celestia examined the detail that had been put into the wonderful nutcracker. Despite having a handle, he was very lifelike. His eyes were especially fascinating. Rather than the small black beads that Celestia normally saw on nutcrackers, this one had incredibly detailed blue eyes that had been painted on his face. If she looked close enough, it was almost like she could see a hint of life in them.
Suddenly, a loud trumpet blast sounded in her ear. As she gave a startled cry, her hooves involuntarily let go of her new present. She could hear a crack as her nutcracker hit the ground and watched helplessly as his handle, with his lower jaw and beard attached, clattered away. She turned to see her sister holding her trumpet and looking at the broken nutcracker sheepishly.
"How could you?" she cried angrily. "You've broken him!"
"I didn't mean to." Luna fiddled guiltily with the keys on her trumpet.
"Just go!" she shouted, not caring that everypony around her were turning to stare. She knelt and scooped up the pieces of her nutcracker, cradling them gently. Loosening a ribbon from her dress, she used it to tie the handle back in place before looking around desperately for her godfather. She soon spotted him standing next to one of the stallions her mother had hoped would be her suitors.
Dashing to Tinker's side, she held up the nutcracker for him to look at.
"Please, please, can you fix him?" she begged, ignoring the other stallion.
Tinker looked quite distraught to see the nutcracker in pieces.
"What happened, my dear?"
Tears sprang to Celestia's eyes. "Luna startled me and I – I dropped him."
Tinker examined the nutcracker carefully. "This is something I cannot fix without my tools. I'll have to come back tomorrow." He patted Celestia's hoof sadly and nodded to the bachelor before striding off into the crowd, still looking upset.
The young stallion seemed thoroughly confused with the exchange that had just taken place.
"Don't worry, Princess," he said, trying to be comforting, "I'm sure it will work out just fine."
Celestia simply gave him a tight nod. She knew how foolish she appeared to be, but the nutcracker had somehow captured her heart. His cracked jaw seemed to her like an injury to a real pony. With a final curtsy to the young bachelor, she went to join her parents at the door. Guests were beginning to leave, and she was expected to be there to say goodbye.