Scary holiday
Celestia sat down in front of a fireplace on her lush velvet cushion, resting her aching hooves from yet another tiring day. In front of her, lay a tray with a neatly placed tea set, the main tea pot releasing steam from its spout.
She poured some of the steaming liquid into her tea cup, and added a single cube of sugar. After lightly sturring the tea, she watched as the flames in the fireplace rapidly danced around each other, as if they were two ponies waltzing. The burning wood crackled slightly, shooting embers and ashes against the dark edges of the fire place. The smoke rose through the chimney, dissappearing from view.
Celestia pleasantly sighed in comfort and relaxation. She could finally have some quality time to herself and enjoy some nice chamomile tea.
Today had been quite a day for the Monarch of Equestria. Court for six hours, a lesson with her new student, and towers upon towers of paperwork, all within the time between sunrise and sunset. Nightmare night had allowed her evening to be clear, and every time she always spends it the same way since her ponies had created it to teach foals about Nightmare Moon.
She always relaxes in front of a fireplace, with tea, and spends the night thinking about her sister every year. The one she had to banish to the moon, the one she had failed.
Taking a sip of her tea, she hummed in response to the flavour, and continued to muse about how Luna would feel about this holiday. She already knew how Luna would take to this holiday when she returns, and the first one might not end well.
She was taken out of her musings by the sound of her door slightly opening. She thought she told the guard and staff to take the night off, although some guards didn't because they thought of themselves too old for this holiday.
She didn't expect to see a tiny lavender muzzle peer round the door, slowly and carefully as if checking for danger. Eventually, the little unicorn walked in, and then jumped at the sound of the door closing, shaking a little.
"Twilight? Are you alright?" Celestia asked, watching her student slowly walk to her.
Twilight was constantly looking around as if something would jump out at her, keeping an eye on the extra dark corners of the room. When she got close to Celestia, she quickly darted to her side, leaning against the alabaster alicorn.
Celestia wrapped her wing around the scared little filly and tried her best to comfort her. She didn't know what had brought her student into being this afraid, but she had some theories.
"What's go you so scared, my student?" Celestia asked
Twilight peaked her head out from Celestia's wing and looked up at her, slightly calmer than when she came in.
"M-m-monsters... Outside..." She stuttered.
Celestia now understood why the filly had been so careful around the dark areas of the room.
"Don't worry Twilight, you are safe from them now. I won't let one hurt you, so why don't you come out and have some nice tea?" Celestia suggested
Twilight slightly nodded and slowly left the safety of the feathery white wing, staying close to Celestia still.
Celestia watched her small, fragile student pick up a teacup in her magic and pour herself a cup of tea, something a filly her age would usually struggle at. The filly showed control over telekinesis that could rival a pony who had spent their life mastering it. Eventually Twilight took a little sip of her tea.
"So, you say you saw some scary monsters?" Celestia asked.
Twilight nodded once more
"Well, I don't think you need to worry about them, after all, you are my student and that means they will be scared of you more then you are scared of them"
Twilight scrunched up her small muzzle, and thought about what Celestia said. Twilight's little thinking face was pretty cute to Celestia, then again, anything her student did was considered cute by anypony that sees her.
"Princess Celestia? Can I ask you a personal question?" the filly asked
"Sure my faithful student, what is it?"
"Why were you here alone? Don't you have any family to spend your nights with?" Twilight innocently questioned
She must have failed to hide her emotions, because the filly instantly started to apologize for making her upset.
"Well, Twilight, I did once have family to spend my nights with. That was a long time ago, unfortunately living as long as I do can be very bad. I lose loved ones and friends all the time, and it's a sad life. So I spend my nights in remembrance, reminding myself of everyone I have known that have unfortunately left. I try and honor them by keeping my memory of them alive" Celestia explained.
She looked up to the moon, staring into the crater that marked the eye of the mare in the moon.
"In hopes that one day, others may remember them as I do, rather than how old stories do" Celestia finished quietly.
"Don't worry, Princess, I can spend my nights with you! I may not be family, but I'm sure I can still keep you company" the filly yawned.
Celestia smiled and wrapped Twilight in her wing again. She adored Twilight because she always knew how to cheer her up.
"Oh Twilight, I wouldnt want to take you away from the fun that is Nightmare Night. Dress up and get candy, spend time with other fillies your age, not with me or your parents. It's good to get some friends"
She looked down at Twilight, and the wide white orbs with magenta pupils stared back at her in wonder.
"I didn't have many friends at your age either, and I regret that. I haven't had a true friend since... Well, that's a story for another time I think. You should get some friends as well as focus on your studies, friendship is more powerful than you think" Celestia continued.
She noticed the sound of little cute snoring, and peered back at the filly wrapped in her wing to see he asleep. She smiled.
"Goodnight, Twilight. Maybe one day you can ascend to my level, maybe you can be exactly what this nation needs
Maybe you can be what she needs"
"You can't attack me! I have the Princess with me!" Twilight shouted
The monsters all backed up, seemingly nervous, and dissappeared. Twilight was surprised that they ran from her, and she knew that it was because of the princess.
"Very true little one, it was because of a Princess. Or rather a former one"
Twilight tensed at the cold sharp voice from behind her, and slowly looked at where it came from.
An alicorn the size of Celestia stood there, staring at her with focused, draconic eyes. Her mane and tail rippled and danced, and looked as if it was a part of the night sky. The alicorn's cutie mark was of a moon.
"So, you are my dear sister's new student? What a cute and weak little thing you are. I'm sure we can change that now, can't we"
Twilight cowered when the alicorn broke into an evil, crazy laugh.
"My name is Nightmare Moon, and you seem like the perfect little filly to help me"