//------------------------------// // Peanut Butter and Hearths Warming Eve // Story: The Life and Adventures of Peanut Butter // by FlufferNutters //------------------------------// As the fall months passed and the air grew colder as snow starts to fall. Winter has arrived in Equestria and to the ponies they know that Hearths Warming is upon them and is celebrated as both the founding of Equestria and to spend time with loved ones. All ponies except for new born foals and Peanut Butter that is. Decorations are out and the mood is in full swing as Peanut Butter wakes up in the early morning to the smell of gingerbread cookies in the air that is making its way from the kitchen to his room and through out the rest of the castle. He rubs his eyes with his hoof and moans a little as he rolls out of bed and stretches with his mane still messy and follows the scent to the kitchen. He opens the door to see Pinkie Pie baking. She notices him and gives him a big hug. "Good morning sleepy head. Did the smell of my yummy treats wake you up?" Pinkie asks in her usual joyful hyper tone of voice. Peanut Butter nods groaning a little from still waking up. Pinkie Pie giggles a little bit. "Today is a special day so I'm making special treats." Pinkie says while getting back to baking. "What is today?" Peanut Butter asks. Pinkie turns her head and gasps as her eyes get big and has a shocked look on her face. "You don't know about Hearth's Warming Eve? How can you not know about the most superly awesome holiday of the year?" Pinkie asks. "Mama and Aunt Tia have been really busy lately so no I haven't." Peanut Butter says. Pinkie still has a shocked look on her face. "It's where you get to eat all the candy and treats you want." Pinkie says. "Really?" Peanut Butter says. "Yep yep." Pinkie says before the kitchen door opens to reveal Luna walking in. "Good Morning you two." Luna says. Peanut Butter smiles a bit. "Good Morning Princess Luna. I was just telling Peanut Butter about Hearth's Warming Day." Pinkie says. Luna sees her son is still sleepy and hugs him. "I see somepony is still sleepy." Luna says with a smile as she nuzzles Peanut Butter. He nods and groans a little bit. Luna lifts him up with her magic and takes him back to bed. "We have a big day ahead my little moonbeam and I want you to get as much sleep as you can get. You have to dress up for tonight's play. Which means you'll have to wear your regalia like it or not." Luna says as she tucks him into bed. "But mama I don't wanna." Peanut Butter whines. "I know you don't like wearing your regalia. But this is a formal occasion so you have to. Please do it for mama." Luna says. Peanut Butter knows it would make her happy if he wore the regalia and nods in agreement to wear it even if he hates it. "Thank you my little moonbeam this means so much to mama. Now get some sleep my son." Luna says before nuzzling him and gently kissing the top of his head. Luna quietly walks out as her son slowly falls asleep. She makes her way back to her room and seals the door with her magic as the rustling of paper is heard as she retrieves Peanut Butter's gifts and wrapping paper from the closet. She begins to try to wrap Peanut Butter's gifts and attempts to finish before Celestia, Peanut Butter and herself have to prepare for the play that night. A gentle knock on the door is heard soon after she starts. Luna freezes hoping it's not Peanut Butter. "Luna are you in here? It's me Lunar Shine can I come in?" Lunar asks. Luna opens the door with her magic as Lunar walks in and sees Luna tangled up in tape and he chuckles a little before helping her with the gifts. "I see you're a bit tangled up with things my love. How about I give you a helping hoof?" Lunar says while getting the tape off of Luna. "Thank you dear. Sorry for the mess. I'm trying to do this without Peanut Butter knowing. But it seems like I don't know what I'm doing myself." Luna says with a light chuckle. "It's ok. I can remember when I'd help mom wrap gifts for Ocean Shine when she was little. Let's just say I was mummified in tape when I first tried." Lunar says as he starts wrapping. "You'll be seeing a rare sight tonight at the play." Luna says. "Oh? What could that be?" Lunar asks. "Peanut Butter in his regalia." Luna says. Lunar Shine chuckles at this. Since he's never seen Peanut Butter in his regalia. "That is a rare sight to see. I take it he hates wearing his regalia?" Lunar asks. "No he doesn't. But he knows it would make me happy if he wears it tonight so he puts up with it. Though I never like it myself. But appearances have to be kept sadly." Luna says as she looks at her hoof for a couple seconds thinking. "You look beautiful either way to me Luna." Lunar Shine says. Luna blushes and kisses him. "You're always my handsome stallion Lunar Shine." Luna says. "Glad to know that." Lunar says before finishing wrapping the last gift. "Now to put these away and get some sleep." Luna says as she uses her magic to put away the presents before laying on her bed inviting Lunar Shine to join her for a well needed cuddle before a long night ahead of her. Lunar Shine joins her and after ten minutes they both fall asleep. Later in the day Lunar is awoken by a small whimper coming from the edge of the bed. Lunar sees it's Peanut Butter and nudges Luna trying to wake her up. "Luna wake up we have company." Lunar says. Luna wakes up and sees Peanut Butter with his blanket and looking upset. "What's wrong Peanut Butter?" Luna asks. "Can't sleep mama." Peanut Butter says with a whimper. "Awww would you like to sleep with us?" Luna asks. Peanut Butter nods. Luna uses her magic to bring him up to her and Lunar Shine. The trio fall asleep with Peanut Butter in between them both. As the day goes on Celestia takes care of some small royal details before taking the rest of the day off to prepare for the play. Lunar Shine stirs slowly and wakes up as he can hear Peanut Butter mutter something in his sleep. Lunar can't make out what he is saying. But then Lunar feels Peanut Butter curl up close to him. Lunar smiles and wraps his hoof gently around the small colt. A small coo could be heard from Peanut Butter as Luna starts to stir as well. "Good evening beloved." Luna says gently before giving Lunar a kiss. "Good evening to you too." Lunar whispers. Luna sees Peanut Butter curled up to Lunar and smiles. "He's warmed up to you a lot recently." Luna says. "He has. I thought it would take longer than this for him to warm up to me. Maybe because I'm a bat pony like him and finds it easier to find comfort in me. He was muttering something in his sleep earlier though I couldn't make out what it was." Lunar says. "I know what he's saying. I've seen his dreams a few times recently. But I won't say what it is." Luna says before getting up to get ready for the play. "I'll watch over him while you get ready." Lunar says. Luna nods with a smile and goes to the bathroom and runs a bath for herself. She looks into the mirror as she brushes her teeth with her magic holding the brush. When the tub fills with water she turns off the faucet and gets in the tub and starts to wash her mane. While she washes her mane she's lost in thought reflecting on how much her life changed. She went from a princess with a secret relationship with her closest guard and yearning for a foal of her own to having that relationship be made public and having a son of her own. Life for her is great. Back to Lunar Shine and Peanut Butter the small colt starts to stir and opens his eyes to see Lunar Shine. "Good Evening Peanut Butter." Lunar Shine says with a smile. "Where mama?" Peanut Butter asks while rubbing his eyes. "She's taking her bath now." Lunar says. Peanut Butter curls up to Lunar again. "Warm." Peanut Butter says. Lunar Shine chuckles as the colt curl up to him. Luna comes into the room a few minutes later. "There are my boys." Luna says jokingly. Peanut Butter looks up and smiles at Luna. "Hi mama." Peanut Butter says. "There's my little stallion. Now go with Lunar Shine and get ready while mama cleans your regalia." Luna says. Peanut Butter pouts by puffing his cheeks as he and Lunar Shine go to the bathroom to clean up. Lunar Shine fills the tub and goes first as Peanut Butter brushes his teeth before Lunar Shine steps out and helps Peanut Butter in the tub and washes his mane. After his mane is washed he is allowed to play while Lunar Shine brushes his teeth. Peanut Butter plays and watches Lunar Shine and giggles. Lunar Shine looks over and giggles. "What's so funny Peanut Butter?" Lunar asks with a chuckle. Peanut Butter points to Lunar's mane since it hasn't been combed yet and is still messy. "Oh is that it?" Lunar says. Peanut Butter nods. Lunar then works on his mane before taking Peanut Butter out and getting him ready. They walk back to Luna's room groomed and clean. As they enter Luna turns her head and sees them. "There are my two handsome stallions." Luna says while putting on her earrings. "Mama pretty." Peanut Butter says. Luna blushes as she uses her magic to levitate Peanut Butter's regalia. Peanut Butter pouts again. But he complies and lets her put the regalia on him. It consists of Silver with swirls of Bronze and some gold. To Peanut Butter his regalia is cold and really uncomfortable whenever he wears it. Lunar Shine is dressed in his lunar guard armor as he waits outside the room to escort Luna and Peanut Butter to the chariot. A few minutes later Luna exits her room with Peanut Butter behind her as the trio make their way to the chariot. When they walk outside to the chariot the chill of the wind makes Peanut Butter shiver a bit before they get into the chariot and warm up before they head to the theater. While on the way Peanut Butter is curled up between Luna and Lunar to warm up. They soon reach the snow covered theater and are being escorted to the royal box seats from the entrance. While walking to the doors Peanut Butter hides behind Luna and Lunar Shine with his ears down afraid of all the attention and all the noise around him. Luna catches a few ponies talking about Celestia arriving earlier with a foal behind her as well. But she dismisses it as rumor since there are others talking as well and could dismiss it as other ponies conversations being mixed in with what she was listening to. She notices her son's shyness and nuzzles him before turning to Lunar Shine. "He's still not used to the attention. Can't blame him though I was the same way at his age. Tia was a bit more outgoing than I was." Luna says to Lunar Shine as they get inside the box seats. Luna looks to her left and notices that Celestia is in her own box. However Celestia looks preoccupied with something since her head is looking down though she can't tell what is occupying her. Cadance is with Shining Armor on the left of the theater by the stage while Twilight on the right side of the theater with a young Pegasus guard next to her across from Cadance and Shining Armor with Shining Armor glaring at the Pegasus. Luna smiles softly at the sight of Twilight and the guard since it reminds her of Lunar Shine and herself. Peanut Butter nudges one of Luna's foreleg to get her attention. Luna looks down. "What's wrong Peanut Butter?" Luna asks. "Can I please have hot coco mama? I'm still cold." Peanut Butter asks before curling up under her. "Of course you can." Luna says in her motherly tone. Luna tells one of the servants to get him and herself some hot coco. A few minutes later the servant returns with the hot coco and it even has marshmallows in it. Luna gives Peanut Butter his hot coco and cools it a little for him before she lets him take a sip. He takes a sip and smiles right before the play starts. Through out the play Luna explains to Peanut Butter the meaning of Hearth's Warming Day and how Equestria was formed. He smiles and listens to her while watching the play and sipping his hot chocolate as the first act finishes. At the end of the play Peanut Butter looks up at Luna and looks up to her with sleepy eyes. "Sleepy." Peanut Butter says as they leave the theater. Outside the theater Peanut Butter sees a faint shadow and figure that is about his size if not a little smaller in the ally next to the theater before it suddenly turns and disappears into the night. Peanut Butter doesn't know what it was so he went into the chariot without question. On the way home he curls up to Lunar Shine. Lunar smiles and covers Peanut Butter up with his wing and looks at Luna. "He tires out quickly it seems." Lunar says. "Well he is a foal after all one minute hyper and the next tired out. Though your sister has mentioned he's been a bit...... Lonely and at times distant as of late. Hopefully with him going to school that will change. But we'll find out if that changes after that. He needs to interact with other foals around his age. But I'm not sure what will happen until it does." Luna says. "What if it doesn't?" Lunar asks. "We may have to adopt another foal if he doesn't improve or get worse and possibly have him be with Twilight for a while. I know it maybe too soon. But I'm worried about him Lunar." Luna says as she nuzzles him. "I understand. If things don't improve by then I'll look around the Canterlot orphanages." Lunar says as the chariot lands. "Thank you my love." Luna says. The chariot lands in front of the castle entrance. Luna places Peanut Butter on her back as they make their way inside and up towards Peanut Butter's room. When they reach his room Lunar quietly opens the door and they enter the room. Luna places her son on the bed and takes off his regalia before tucking him in. Luna and Lunar quietly leave his room. The halls of the castle are quiet except for the hoofsteps of Luna and Lunar. They go into Luna's room to retrieve the presents to place the presents under the tree and head towards the room where the tree is. When they get there they see Celestia there with presents of her own. "Greetings dear sister.I didn't expect you to be here." Luna says in a hushed voice. "Hello Luna. I see you have gifts for Peanut Butter." Celestia says. "Yes they are. What gifts are those?" Luna asks. "They are for many other ponies including the Elements of Harmony, You, Peanut Butter and others." Celestia says. Luna sets her gifts down except for one and turns around and gives Celestia a suspicious look. "Good night dear sister. I'll see you in the morning." Luna says as she makes her way back to Peanut Butter's room. "Good night Luna." Celestia says. Luna quietly enters her son's room and quietly places the gift on his night stand and leaves. Lunar Shine is waiting outside of the room and they head to Luna's room to spend time together. Outside the small figure from earlier stands near the castle before turning back into the darkness of the ally as the sound of crunching snow from the figure is all that can be heard through out the quiet night in Canterlot.