“Greetings your majesty; you look radiant as ever,” said another noble as he kissed my hoof.
“Thank you, and welcome to the Gala,” I answered, begging the stars to end the line of guests arriving at the Gala. It had been half an hour since I told TD we would catch up later. I was eager to meet him again and spend some time with him. I looked behind the noble and almost sighed in relief. Only three more ponies left. I wanted to make this quick.
Ten more minutes later, the line ended, and I eagerly turned towards TD. Good, he was still there, but before I could make my way towards him, I felt a hoof on my shoulder. I turned around to see my sister. She had a neutral expression on her face, but I could tell she was anything but pleased.
“We know what thou art thinking sister,” she said in a low, yet somehow strong tone, making sure nopony heard us. “Thou knowest it will not end well.”
“Do not fret, Luna,” I replied. “I just want to have a chat with him, nothing more.”
Luna’s eyes brows narrowed ever so slightly. “Do not act foolish. To the both of us, TD is your ex-coltfriend. To everypony at the Gala, he is the being who punched thee in the face twice. Think before thou acts, sister.”
I gazed at my sister. To anypony eavesdropping on our conversation, it was a neutral sideway glance. But to me and Luna, it was daggers. “Correct me if I am wrong, dear sister,” I returned in a harsh, yet quiet monotone voice, “but if I remember, you broke his spine, and everypony at the Gala remembers that too.”
To Luna’s credit, she was not the slightest bit fazed. “Be honest with me, Celestia. What dost thou think they would remember more hatefully? The fool who punched their beloved princess in the face? Or the sister who wanted to take revenge for her?”
I was about to retort, when we heard a commotion coming from TD’s direction. I prayed to Faust it wasn’t what I thought it was. I almost facehoofed when I turned around to see a small crowd gathered around TD and Blueblood. Blueblood was verbally assaulting him in his usual Canterlot high class demeanor. TD, on the other hoof opted to ignoring Blueblood, much to his chagrin. The situation was beginning escalate.
I would have to continue my conversation with Luna on another day. I flew up and gracefully landed between TD and Blueblood, abruptly halting their conversation. I turned towards Blueblood, who suddenly straightened his posture in my presence.
“Auntie Tia!” Blueblood whined, “how could you let this mongrel sit in the Gala, much less let him exist? I demand you end this debate now!”
I sighed and maintained my regal pose. “Yes, Blueblood. I should end this now.” I almost burst into rage when I saw his smug smile, but still kept a composed posture. This “nephew” of mine had been playing with my patience since he could walk. Honestly, I was always grateful towards TD for putting him in his place.
“So you are finally going to banish his ungrateful hide?” Blueblood laughed in a manner so annoying, it almost made my eye twitch. “Good”
“No, Blueblood. I am here to make sure TD is having a pleasant time at the Gala without being harassed by anypony.”
“But Auntie! He--”
“Punched me in the face? I know, Blueblood. Don’t you think he was punished enough when he had his spine broken by Princess Luna?”
Blueblood’s straight posture faltered “Y-yes, but-”
My eyes narrowed the fraction of an centimeter. “Don’t you think he’s been put through enough as it is?”
“B-but he didn’t even show any remorse for his actions!” Blueblood whined.
“Yes he did. He even took the time to come all the way to Canterlot from Ponyville just to apologize to me. Don’t you think that’s enough?”
Blueblood bit his lip, and his ears wilted. “I er… yes?”
“Good, so will you bother TD Harrison Powell again?”
“But--”
“But nothing, Blueblood, I don’t want you to look at TD, I don’t want you near him.” I came close to him and looked him dead in the eye. “I don’t even want you to breathe the same air he breathes. Clear?”
By now, Blueblood’s high class demeanor was completely destroyed, reducing him to a stammering colt. “Yes Auntie…” he whimpered.
“Clear?” I repeated a bit louder this time.
“Yes Auntie!” he cried, and ran away to Faust knows where. I almost smiled in relief, but had one more thing to do. I turned my gaze towards the crowd of ponies.
“That goes double for everypony at the Gala.” I declared. “TD Harrison Powell is not to be bothered anymore. Any objections?”
When I was greeted with a satisfying silence, I gave a warm smile to the crowd.
“Now disperse. And enjoy the rest of the Gala.”
And just like that, the ponies scattered. I took a deep breath and gave the tiniest hint of a smile which grew when I heard TD slowly clapping at my spectacle from behind.
“My, my, Celestia,” he said, “you bashed Blueblood better than I ever could in years. What’s your secret?”
“Thousands of years worth of experience, TD.” I turned towards him. “If you have been involved with foreign politics as much as I have, dealing with Blueblood is as difficult as blinking.”
I looked around at the crowd of ponies and spotted Luna giving me a “don’t you dare” glare, which I promptly responded with my “watch me” smile. I looked towards TD. “TD mind if I sit next to you?”
TD smiled and gestured towards the seat next him. “I’d be insulted if you didn’t.”
I sat next to him and we ordered some cider from the bartender who, to his credit, looked remarkably neutral in the presence of his princess.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“So then my roommate pops out of nowhere, and hugs the poor bastard so hard, I swear I hear a rib crack.”
“But wasn’t that the thief stealing your belongings?” I asked, trying to hold back a chuckle.
“Yes! That’s what makes it so funny!”
We both broke into laughter. By how TD described him, his roommate was an eccentric fellow, yet his heart was always in the right place. It was getting late, and most of the ponies had left for home, leaving only me and him. Even the Elements had left, and the only pony besides us was the bartender who was casually cleaning a glass with a rag.
“I have to say, TD, your life wasn’t very adventurous, but it was most interesting.”
“Yup,” TD said as he downed another cider. This was the ninth cider he had emptied by now, and he was barely drunk. He was about to order another, but checked his wristwatch first. “Huh, would you look at the time? I should have been asleep hours ago.”
The smile I wore deflated a little. “But TD, the night is still young. Why not stay a little while longer?”
My question was answered by his long yawn. “I’d love to stick around Celestia, but I need my rest, and I have to get back to Ponyville tomorrow.”
I sighed in defeat and looked at TD. “Yes, you are right. Maybe we can meet again some other time?”
TD got out of his seat and stretched his leg. “Yeah, sure. It’s been fun catching up with you, Celestia.”
“Yes it has.” I got off my seat to see him off. “Allow me to escort you to the gate.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I led TD to the castle gate, where we said our goodbyes and parted ways. I began to make my way towards my bed chambers, all the while remembering the conversation I had with TD. My mind then began drifting back when we went out as a couple.
“Those were wonderful times,” I said to nopony in particular. I missed those days, and as much as I’d love to get them back, I couldn’t. TD only loved me because of a concoction that almost ended up killing him. I smirked at the thought of him genuinely loving me, as I decided to fly towards my chambers instead of teleporting there. Fate was never on my side for as long as I can remember. Fate made me the ruler of a nation and put all its responsibility on my shoulders. Fate took my sister away from me. My facial expression was dull by now.
Fate made me tear an innocent human away from his friends and family. I remembered that day as if it were yesterday. Fate introduced me to TD Harrison Powell. Fate made me fall in love with TD Harrison Powell, and just when I thought it didn’t try to torment me any longer; it shattered my hopes along with my heart.
Just then I felt a familiar sensation taking over me. I could here a piano play from out of nowhere.
'Hot dive into frozen waves where the past comes back to life
Fight fear for the selfish pain, it was worth it every time.'
I do love singing.
'Hold still right before we crash 'cause we both know how this ends
A clock ticks 'til it breaks your glass and I drown in you again'
Mother Faust really knows how to pluck on my heart strings. I felt a tear fall down my cheek.
'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why
It was going to be one of those songs.
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?
I was almost thankful nopony was there to listen to me.
Walk on through a red parade and refuse to make amends
It cuts deep through our ground and makes us forget all common sense
Don't speak as I try to leave 'cause we both know what we'll choose
If you pull then I'll push too deep and I'll fall right back to you
'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?
Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?
Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?'
I ended as I landed in front of my chamber doors. My expression was dull, but tears were flowing down my cheeks freely
“Tia?” I heard my sister’s voice from behind.
“Not now, Luna.” I wiped the tears off. “I’m tired.”
“It’s just that--”
“Another time Luna.” I turned towards her, eyebrows slightly narrowed.
“I understand sister,” she answered.
…
“Luna, remember when you apologised to TD for breaking his arm?” I asked, looking at the doors to my chambers, my horn giving an unnoticeable faint glow.
“Yes sister,” Luna grumbled a hint of a glare on her face. “How many times dost thou need to bring it up?”
“Funny.” I suddenly levitated Luna off the ground and slammed her at the wall. “Because the last time I recalled, you broke his spine.”
Luna stared at me and grinned maniacally. “My, my, Celestia,” she said in familiar voice that did not belong to my sister. “You’ve grown wiser from our last encounter.”
Just then, a green flame engulfed her and by the time it was gone, I was not looking at my sister.
“You should not have come here,” I almost hissed, “Queen Chrysalis.”