Princess Luna woke to the sound of tinkling bells and the warmth of the fireplace. She could hear her older sister, Celestia, whispering, "Lu. Wake up, Lu. It's Christmas."

Christmas… Luna hadn't celebrated Christmas in 1,000 years… not since that monster had controlled her and Celestia had been forced to… Luna didn't like to think about it. But she did like to think about Christmas.

"I used to like that holiday…" she murmured, snuggling deeply into her pillow.

"I know," her sister whispered back. "And it's here!"

"Remember how tall the tree used to be…?"

"It's even taller this year. And we still have to put the star on it."

Luna opened one eye, and then the other. The older, bigger alicorn was standing there, grinning at her little sister. In place of her usual crown, Celestia was wearing a Santa hat with a hole cut for her horn to go through. She had a similar hat by her side, which she promptly slapped onto Luna's head.

"Hey!" the blue alicorn protested.

"Now that I have your full attention… Come on! Twilight Sparkle and her friends are coming down to visit! With all the chaos the past few weeks, I still haven't had time to wrap their gifts."

"Oh! Gifts! Right!"

Luna trotted over to her closet (where she kept her capes and crowns for cold or formal occasions) and used her magic to get a box wrapped in paper and bows off the top shelf.

"This is for you, Tia!" she said gleefully. "I—um—I used magic to make and wrap it, but my magic skills are a little rusty—I hope you—"

Celestia had begun to tear open the package like a filly receiving her very first Christmas gift. Finally, the princess found the gift: a tapestry showing a sunrise as pegasi flew across the red and orange sky.

"Oh, Lu," she breathed, staring at the gift happily. The first gift her sister had given her in 1,000 years.

"I hope you like it," Luna said, softly. "I figured—I mean—since you raise the sun every day and…"

Celestia darted over to her sister and nuzzled her affectionately. "I love it, Luna. It's beautiful!"

"You can hang it anywhere you like—it's enchanted to grow and shrink as needed, so you can fit it in a tight spot."

"I think I'll put it over my throne," Celestia decided, picking it up. "It'll look just perfect. Thank you so much, Lu."

Luna ducked her head and smiled. "I'm glad you like it. Merry Christmas, Celestia."

Luna ran over to her window and pulled back the blue velvet curtain to look outside. Although the ground had been bare only a night before, it was now covered with pure white snow. The sunlight bounced off of it, glinting in the most beautiful ways. Icicles hung from every surface, some as small as a quill, and some as tall as Celestia and as wide around as one of the pillars. Wreathes had been hung up on every door, and long red and green sashes strung from window to window.

"Do you like it?" Celestia asked. "The unicorns were up pretty early to decorate before breakfast."

"It's just as beautiful as I remember it," Luna said, smiling. Christmas wasn't very fun when she was all alone in the moon.

Celestia sighed, watching her sister. Things had been so lonely for the past 1,000 years—what was Christmas when she didn't have her little sister around to spend it with? It was just another reminder that her fillyhood was long over—no more sneaking downstairs at night to eat some leftover cookies—no more staying up all night, determined to catch Santa in the act—no more laughter and songs until it drove their parents (Dusk and Dawn) absolutely crazy…

Celestia shook her head, and silently reminded herself that Luna was herself again.

She'd never have to spend Christmas alone.