Lunastice

[no_vampires_plz]

As Twilight leads the little foal down the path, the character of the woods around them changes. The trees are bigger, the brambles thicker, and the few plants that are still growing look considerably more... exotic than what one generally sees around Milliways. The most noticeable change, though, is in the weather. The thin layer of snow and frost on the ground is replaced by thick snowdrifts that crunch under their hooves, and the leaden sky of a Scottish winter gives way to a clear dark blue. The setting sun makes the snow gleam gold and pink as the trees thin out and give way to rolling hills.

"Alright. If anyone asks, your name is Sharp Tack and you're a friend of the family visiting from Canterlot."

Comments

[always_the_moon]

"Pray tell, what is a 'gingerbread star'?"

"It's a kind of pastry," Twilight explains. "A star-shaped pastry flavored with ginger root. You should try one, they're really good."

"Very well, then," says Luna. "We accept thine offer."

[basic_powers]

Tyler's already digging out a couple of whole iced stars and hoofing them over to Luna for her to try out. They're dark little cookies, and just a little bit of sweet spice to them.

"Here."

[always_the_moon]

The Princess takes a careful nibble out of one corner of one cookie.

Then takes a considerably less careful nibble, popping the whole cookie in her mouth and quickly following with the second one.

"Mmmm!" she says cheerfully, licking crumbs and icing off her muzzle. "These stars of gingered bread are a fine repast indeed!"

[basic_powers]

"They're great when you dunk them into hot cocoa too, and they don't fall apart as easily as a cake does when you take it out for star gazing." All very important factors for when you make a hike out somewhere, and you're carrying food. "The Sugarcube Corner Bakery made a bunch of desserts for tonight, all moon and star themed."

[always_the_moon]

"I see," Luna muses. "And what other festivities are there in which to partake on this Lunastice night?"

"Well, there's caroling all evening long," says Twilight. "And the lantern parade at midnight... come to think of it, that's like twenty minutes from now."

[basic_powers]

"And the star-gazing, but I don't think ponies are paying attention to the celestial giraffe now."

[always_the_moon]

Luna rolls her eyes. "Ugh. Mention not the celestial giraffe. We were young and stupid when We were putting constellations together."

[basic_powers]

Then it kind of goes to figure that it'd be a young colt's favorite constellation, wouldn't it?


Tyler just smiles, as he's trying not to giggle so very hard.

"I dunno, I kinda like looking for it."

[always_the_moon]

"Really? You... really?"

Mark your calendar, Twilight: this is probably the only time you will ever see one of the Princesses of Equestria blush.

[basic_powers]

"Uh-huh, I guess you think it'd be silly, being happy to see something like a giraffe in the stars," Tyler isn't even seeing the reaction from luna yet until he turns around. "...but it is something to look forward to at night..."

[always_the_moon]

She's still blushing when he turns to look at her. "I... truthfully, Sharp Tack, We know not what to say..."

[basic_powers]

...Does anything really need to be said?

Tyler just smiles at her, then perks up, ears swiveling first towards town before the rest of his head follows.

"I hear music...I think the parade's already starting..."

[no_vampires_plz]

"Oh, no..." Twilight gasps. "We'll never get down there in time!"

"Fear not, Twilight Sparkle." Luna gestures with one wing toward her chariot. "We shall see to it that thou arrivest in both haste and comfort."

Twilight's ears flatten back against her head. "Ride the royal chariot?? Oh, no, no, I couldn't..."

"Certainly! We insist!"

[basic_powers]

The princess insists? Tyler's already hurrying through the snow a wide grin on his face for the royal chariot.

"C'mon Twilight, you heard Princess Luna!"

[always_the_moon]

Luna steps onto the chariot and looks expectantly at Twilight. The purple unicorn hesitates a moment longer, then boards next to Tyler.

The Princess nods to the bat-winged pegasi, who silently take to the air, lifting the chariot as lightly as a feather.

[basic_powers]

Dignity is something a 9 year old human is not familiar with, much less when he's in the shape of a similarly aged colt. But it's good sense and a healthy dose of not wanting to fall over, that has Tyler just peering over the side of the chariot and watching with a big grin on his face.

[nponyc]

The lantern lights scattered across Ponyville look almost like a second sky laid out beneath them. The parade is a crooked line of lights of all sizes weaving through the streets. As the chariot descends, the music becomes clearer, and lyrics can be picked out:

"When we feel a chilly chill in Ponyville
We sing a wonderful winter song
Absolutely every little pony
Will be sure to sing along

"I keep on hoping that our song never ends
When I'm in harmony with my pony friends
Sing a wonderful winter song
Come along, sing along
A wonderful winter song..."

[basic_powers]

There might be a small delighted noise coming from Tyler. It's hard to tell between the gleeface he's got going on and the music coming up from below...

At least until he tries joining in the song.

"Can't wait to see everyone
They'll all be here
Before too long we'll bring in
A brand new year.."

[always_the_moon]

By now they're low enough to attract some attention from the parade participants. The line is held up as several ponies stop in their tracks and gawk up at the sky.

Princess Luna leans out over the side of the chariot to wave at the ponies below.

"Season's greetings to thee, citizens of Ponyville!"

[basic_powers]

WhaHOOGIEjeez that's a big voice. Tyler's bag of goods catches on an edge of the chariot and with a faint tearing noise...

A few of the cookies, opals and money he had inside rain down onto the citizens below.

"...oops."

[nponyc]

There are a few yelps and whinnies as the spilled goodies land, but they're more of startlement than pain--the gems are too small, and the distance they fell too short, for them to hurt anypony.

After a moment, the shouts turn from surprise to joy.

"Gems! She's showering us with gems!"
"And treats!"
"Gifts from the Princess!"

[basic_powers]

...Tyler's just going to back away from the edge of the chariot and look up at Luna with a sort of startled guilty face.

[always_the_moon]

The Princess stares back at Tyler for a moment... then breaks into a broad grin. "What a splendid idea!" she says, then leans out over the side again.

"If gifts you desire, then gifts you shall receive!"

Her horn glows a pale blue, and hundreds of wrapped hard candies materialize, drifting down from the chariot like snowflakes.

(What, you thought she ate all the candy offered to her as tribute on Nightmare Night?)

[basic_powers]

"I got a jasper!" Calls one pony from below at unwrapping the hard candy. "And it tastes like coffee!"

Tyler's just peering out the chariot now at the ponies getting lightly showered with candy down below.

[nponyc]

"Mmm, the sapphires taste like raspberries!"

"And the amber is butterscotch!"

"Thank you, Princess Luna!"

A tiny brown-and-white spotted bounces up and down eagerly. "I told you she was my favorite Princess!" he cries enthusiastically (in what sounds like a Yorkshire accent).