10. Set in Motion
The ice palace’s interior was much as Trixie remembered the first one: a large, wide-open space for dancing, with tables hewn from ice along the north side of the palace for food and drink. There was an upper level as well, a gallery that looked down on the central floor and featured tables and chairs, as well as a stage, at which several musicians – including, Trixie noted, Octavia Philharmonica – were already set up and playing as she entered. The gallery was reached by a pair of long, curving stairs, which framed a large set of double doors. The ice palace’s roof, meanwhile, was somehow semi-transparent, allowing the light of the crescent moon and stars that hung in the sky to flow on through, while also creating the illusion of an aurora across its surface, complimenting the pale blue glow of the magical ice itself. Despite being surrounded by ice, the air was warm, and the floor beneath Trixie’s hooves was firm, not slippery at all.
Trixie noted something else as she entered, however – that Blueblood was once again at her side. He was wearing a slight smile, though Trixie could tell it was fake. “If we do not enter together,” he said in a low voice, “then you’re not keeping your end of our bargain.”
“I said I’d accompany you to the Gala. I didn’t say anything about what would happen once we actually got there,” Trixie pointed out. Blueblood’s false smile dropped at that, however, replaced by a scowl. She sighed, guiding Blueblood over to the table of hors d’oeuvres. “Viscount, I don’t think you want to spend time with me any more than I really want to spend time with you, so maybe we should work out exactly how we’re going to go about the rest of the night.”
Blueblood’s false smile returned, nodding slightly as he looked over the table. His telekinesis reached out and grasped a glazed fig. He regarded Trixie. “The first and last dances, dinner, and meeting with the Princess when she arrives. Other than that, you’re right, I do have some mingling of my own I wish to partake in.”
Trixie let herself seem annoyed for several moments, before nodding. “Fine,” she acceded, as she closed her eyes and her horn glowed, casting a basic time-telling spell. “The Princess should be arriving any moment…if she isn’t already here.” She bowed slightly. “Shall we, Viscount?”
Blueblood offered a bow in return, his horn almost – but not quite – touching Trixie’s. “As you wish, Representative,” Blueblood said. As one, the two unicorns trotted off, into the crowd. Traditionally, the Gala began with a dance before the Princess arrived, for reasons lost to time and tide. Everypony who had a partner was there on the floor waiting for the music to begin. Blueblood raised one eyebrow as the two took up a spot. “You can dance, can’t you?” he asked.
Trixie put an insulted look on her face, which wasn’t difficult as she actually was mildly annoyed by the question. “Prince, I’m from Neigh Orleans. I could give the Princess lessons.”
No sooner had she said that, then the music from the gallery above began – a three-beat waltz that Trixie knew well. Trixie’s hooves were in motion in perfect time, as she cantered backwards to Blueblood’s advance, then advanced on him, the two moving in an intricate circle in time with the hundreds of other ponies on the floor with them. Trixie flourished one hoof forward just as Blueblood reached out one of his own, and the two of them spun around, trading places as their fetlocks joined, then released. Trixie spun away from Blueblood, then advanced again, even as Blueblood rejoined his companion. Then once more they were off in a swirl.
It occurred to Trixie, suddenly, that she had never actually danced at the Gala before; she’d always been shy a date, except for the first one, and she emphatically did not want to think about that particular disaster tonight. She had to give Blueblood this, though – the stallion could definitely dance, in keeping with his persona of the perfect prince charming. Of course, she had not been lying either, and she found no difficulty in keeping up with the speed and movements of the waltz. The entire ice palace was by this point alive with the sound of trotting hooves, the movements of every pony providing a percussion section to accompany the strings and winds of the band playing above.
Trixie came close to Blueblood again, then withdrew. There was a sudden motion just as she spun again, and when she’d turned back around, she found herself dancing opposite a completely different pony – a white unicorn still, but with purple hair, wearing a gown of blue and purple. To her right, she saw Blueblood had a new partner of his own, several ponies away, looking just as confused but unable to stop the dance without ruining it for everypony.
The pony offered a smirk as she came in close to Trixie. “Hi there,” she said, as the dance entered a phase where the two would be close for a minute.
Trixie recognized the voice, if not the face. “Zizanie?”
“The one and only,” Zizanie responded, leaning slightly closer as her voice dropped a few decibels. “I tested your truth poison; it works. Kind of a blunt instrument, I think; a sledgehammer, not really good for finesse. Still, sometimes you need a sledgehammer.”
“So you’ll help me?” Trixie asked as she swayed back and forth.
“Not on your terms,” Zizanie said. “First, poisoning the entire Night Court? Too much heat, too much bear baiting. Fisher, Blueblood, Greengrass, and a few others. I’ll work things out with each of your friends.”
Trixie suppressed a smile at her prediction coming true, since she needed to look annoyed at having her ‘brilliant plan’ second-guessed and reduced. “I want the entire Night Court,” she insisted.
“Too far, too fast, little mare,” Zizanie said. “Going after the entire Night Court is a good way to end up dead, no matter the rules of the game or how much you think the Princess can protect you. But get just a few movers and shakers…” she did a few movements and shakes in time with the waltz, which Trixie echoed as they withdrew from each other. After several moments, the two mares were close again.
“Fine,” Trixie whispered back. “We’ll play things your way. Make sure to include Night Light, though.”
“Waste of time,” Zizanie said. “The Starlights don’t have any skeletons in their closet, trust me, I know. They didn’t even try to cover up Twilight’s disappearance or the reasons for it. Also, I don’t think the Viceroy is even here – I didn’t see him come in and I know that he didn’t have any plans to attend.”
Trixie resisted the urge to shift uncomfortably – it would have taken her out of tune with the dance, and scheme or no scheme, she was from Neigh Orleans and that would not have been acceptable in the slightest. She also needed to keep playing the part of a pony making a mad grab for power well out of her league. “Alright, fine. Puissance or Wallflower, then. I want at least one viceroy.”
Zizanie visibly suppressed a scowl. “So does everypony. Let me tell you this: viceroys don’t owe or hoof out favors, not even when they supposedly do. Still…Puissance has always been a tough nut to crack, and I do love a challenge.” The two spun away from each other again, then rejoined. “Fair enough. Puissance it is. Any more micro-managing you’d like to conduct?”
“No,” Trixie said. “But I’m going to activate the poison at midnight, so you’re on a time limit, Zizanie.”
“I can manage, even if I have to poison them myself,” Zizanie said, as she once again spun away, somehow perfectly weaving and swirling through several other dancing couples.
“Please do,” Trixie mumbled under her breath as she kept moving to the dance and watched Zizanie. Even with her eyes on the professional blackmailer this time, she still didn’t quite understand how the unicorn managed to pull what she did off, seamlessly rejoining with her previous partner even as Blueblood was somehow maneuvered back to Trixie. The viscount was notably unnerved himself. “What was that?” he demanded as he pulled close to Trixie.
Trixie offered him a smile. “Somepony who could give me dancing lessons,” she responded, even as the music they danced to reached a crescendo. The dancers all gave a final flourish, the musicians a final stroke of their bows or blow through their horns, and the waltz concluded with a stamp of everypony’s hoof, followed by each pony bowing to his or her partner. The collected ponies then gave applause for the band, who bowed.
It was then that the great, double-doors that had been in the back of the hall opened wide. Everypony turned to look, and saw a white pony wearing a red, blue, and silver dress uniform – Shining Armor, Trixie realized immediately – walk in.
“Lords and Ladies,” Shining Armor declared as everypony in the room quieted down. “Mares and gentlecolts: Her Majesty, Princess Luna Equestris!”
Everypony began to applaud – but the majority of those in attendance, the nobility and gentry who had been to innumerable Galas in the past – faltered in their applause slightly, some even audibly gasping, when Luna walked in. Every year, what the Princess was going to wear to the Gala was a subject of debate and anticipation. It was always an ornate, grand display of the wealth and taste of the Crown, often hoof-made by the Princess herself, who was both a patron of the arts and an artist herself. Last year, the Princess had worn a diamond-studded, deep blue dress with a surface that shimmered and moved like water, shoes with filigree so delicate that it was a wonder they did not snap, a cape with a high collar, and her black crown had been made taller, with the addition of a gemstone cut into the shape of a crescent moon in its center, while her mane had flowed long and thin, almost past her tail.
This year, the Princess wore almost nothing – even part of her normal regalia, her shoes and chest piece, were missing. She did wear a blue cape, but the garment had no patterns on it, no mystery, it was simple, if fine, cloth that lay across her back and withers, with sleeves for her wings. And her crown, mane, and tail were entirely unchanged – in fact, as the ponies watched, she closed her eyes for a moment, and her hair seemed to somehow turn off, ceasing its flow and and simply becoming light azure hair like any other, though it was styled into a braid with a black ribbon running through its length, matching the braid and ribbon that manifested in her tail.
She didn’t look bad by any means – what she looked was normal. As soon as the thought entered her mind, however, Trixie understood why Luna had chosen to appear like this. Luna’s eyes caught Trixie’s as the applause began to die down, and she offered Trixie a slight nod, which the mare returned.
When the applause ceased, Luna spread her wings wide. Trixie realized that, whether by chance or design, almost all the ponies of Ponyville stood off to one side of the ice palace’s floor, with the Night Court and other of the upper crust of Equestrian society occupying the rest of the space. Luna used one wing to gesture to the Night Court. “Lords and ladies,” she said, before turning somewhat to regard the Ponyvillians, gesturing with the other wing. “Mares and gentlecolts. All those in attendance tonight – I welcome you now to the Grand Galloping Gala.”
Trixie and everypony else gave applause, and though Luna indulged it for a few moments, she quickly raised a hoof, desiring silence. She received it after a few moments, and took several seconds to gaze upon the crowd before speaking. “Thirteen days ago,” she said gravely, “the town of Ponyville was attacked by a minion of the Tyrant Sun, who placed a magical, terrible curse upon the town that forced the good mares and stallions of Ponyville to destroy and lay waste to their own homes. This has been the most devastating act of Corona against Equestria since she escaped from the burning heart of the sun.
“The curse was broken, but the damage remained. Ponyville looked to Canterlot for aid…and I am ashamed to say that the agencies of Canterlot, the ministries, the precautions, and the systems that I put in place to forestall or, failing that, recover from disaster, were found wanting.”
The nobles shifted uncomfortably at that, even Blueblood. Trixie wondered how much of it was genuine, and how much of it was merely an act to fool the Princess into thinking they deserved their titles and ranks. “While the greatest failing lies at the hooves of the Royal Emergency Management Ministry,” Luna continued, “this crisis was not a secret one. It was made public immediately, the disaster and scale was known to each and every member of Canterlot’s elite. Yet nothing was done for ten days. Ten days of worry, of panic, of a betrayal of the trust and the faith that the common ponies of Equestria place within the hooves of its nobility, trust and faith that are given with certain basic expectations which were not met. Yes, it was the duty of the REMM to respond, and yes, it failed to perform that duty with the alacrity that I expect of it. But I consider it the duty of each and every noble, upon seeing the failings of the REMM, to step up, to organize a response, to do more than simply sit and watch as events unfold. That is nevertheless what happened. Worst of all, however, is the assumption that I made, that everything was working as it should have, an apparently foolish expectation that left the Crown as guilty of complacency as any in the Night Court.”
Luna turned from the Night Court and other gathered ponies, and instead focused on the bloc of Ponyvillians. As she was dressed, Luna could have easily blended in amongst them – the majority of them lacking the fineries of anypony else in the room. “Citizens of Ponyville,” Luna said, “the Night Court is ultimately an extension of me. Its faults are my faults. Its failure to bring aid to your town swiftly is my failure to do so – and all of this lies stacked atop my further failure to act when the Night Court did not. And so, for that failing, and from the bottom of my heart, I have invited as many citizens of your town here tonight as I was able, that I might beg your forgiveness.” The Princess, at that, stooped down onto her knees, and bowed her head even as she tucked her wings away and closed her eyes, awaiting Ponyville’s judgment.
She did not wait long. Ivory Scroll – dressed in a silver gown that matched her hair – detached herself from the Ponyvillians and trotted up to Luna. “Princess,” she said, “I don’t think there is anypony in Ponyville who thinks that what happened is your fault.”
Luna looked up to Ivory Scroll. Even kneeling, she was nearly as tall as the earth pony mayor. “Perhaps not,” she said, “But it is my responsibility.”
Ivory Scroll opened her mouth at that, probably to instantly forgive Luna, but then she seemed to remember that she was speaking for about two hundred ponies, and not just herself. She looked behind her, to the crowd of Ponyvillians, who were all nodding their heads with vigor. Satisfied, she turned back to Luna. “Your Majesty,” Ivory Scroll said, bowing. “We forgive you.”
Even though she couldn’t possibly have been expecting any other answer, Luna looked visibly relieved. She inclined her head. “Thank-you,” she said, as she rose, turning back to the greater whole of the Gala’s attendees. “Normally, the Gala is a night of excess and celebration. For the benefit of our Ponyvillian guests tonight, let it remain such – and, once the Gala has passed and the normal business of the Night Court resumes, let us hope that we all remember the ponies we serve, and who it is that we are held accountable to when we fail in our duties.”
Luna turned again, looking up towards the band and nodding. They were already prepared to begin playing once more, and within moments had struck up a slow, somber tune, yet one that somehow contained an undercurrent of the possibility of hope hidden somewhere within its chords.
Next to Trixie, Blueblood let out a long, slow breath, reminding Trixie that he was there. “That was unpleasant,” he noted in a low voice, as gradually the collective thrum of ponies moving and talking to each other began to drift back to normal, in time with the music picking up. The two unicorns made their way from the dance floor. “I am not certain I deserved that.”
Trixie eyed him. “Just because you’re not part of the REMM?” she asked.
Blueblood rolled his eyes. “Please, Trixie, don’t pretend to be so naïve. It is not a question of responsibility. It is a question if consequence, specifically the consequences of interfering with the affairs of another noble – nevermind one of higher rank, and especially a viceroy. Night Light made his intentions towards Ponyville very plain.”
Trixie smirked outwardly, even as inwardly she cringed. “So you were afraid,” she surmised.
Blueblood bristled at that, glaring at Trixie, who’s smile didn’t drop. Eventually, however, he let out another sigh. “Sometimes, fear is an appropriate response,” he conceded, even as he glanced around, almost as though to make sure that nopony but Trixie had overheard him. “Now shall we go and meet with the Princess that we might avoid each other until dinner?”
Trixie’s smirk became a little more honest at that, and she nodded. The Princess was, of course, constantly surrounded already by other ponies looking to earn her favor or ask her for one, looking to get her endorsement on something, or “just to chat,” but really all that meant was trying to make a good impression for some later scheme. Trixie noted, from the sound of several ponies around the Princess, that a not insignificant number of nobles were trying to exposit on how they were just about to finish plans to aid Ponyville, without actually saying as much and potentially earning Luna’s ire. The ancient alicorn took it all in relative stride, of course, though as Blueblood and Trixie came into view, her smile dropped into a look of surprise. Her wings fluttered a little, not much, but enough to signal the sycophants surrounding her to back off for the moment as Trixie and Blueblood both came up to her and bowed.
“Lord Blueblood,” Luna acknowledged with a nod, before turning to Trixie and nodding to her as well. “And Trixie…I am going to have to admit that I had never anticipated seeing the two of you standing together at the Gala.”
Blueblood offered a polite chuckle. “Nor I, your majesty. Times do change, however.”
“Very rapidly,” Luna agreed, with one eyebrow raised. She looked to his companion. “Trixie, earlier today I spoke with Captain Shining Armor.”
Trixie nodded; she had worked certain details of her plan out with the captain of the guard before meeting with Zizanie, and had known that he would bring the matter up with Luna. “Yes?” she asked.
Luna’s wings fluttered again in agitation, as her horn glowed slightly, seemingly to take an offered drink from a nearby tray, though it disguised her true spell. The opportunity outweighs the risk – barely, Luna said in Trixie’s mind, through a telepathic bond that she had just forged. If I thought that there was any other viable method, I would forbid it. As it stands…tread very, very carefully tonight, Trixie. You and your friends are not Shadowbolts, your target is very skilled, and this Gala is a more delicate affair than most already.
Even as Luna projected her thoughts into Trixie’s mind, however, she spoke aloud. “I asked him to ensure that his father put in an appearance tonight. I believe that relations between you and the House of Starlight can be repaired. Times have been…difficult, for Night Light, and difficult for Ponyville. I am hoping that, under the less stressful circumstances of the Gala, you and he can approach some level of reconciliation and understanding.”
Trixie nodded to Luna’s verbal point, even as she felt a very small wave of relief wash over her for Luna’s telepathic one. Luna endorsing the plan up to its climax, if not its dénouement, would eliminate any possibility of it being high treason, and instead turned it into what amounted to a police sting. She frowned, however, as for just a moment her plan took a side-seat to what Luna had said aloud. “I’m…not sure that’s possible.”
Luna didn’t need telepathy or words to make her thoughts on the matter plain in the moments of silence that followed. Trixie looked down, scuffing one hoof on the icy floor. “I’ll try,” she promised.
“That is all I ask,” Luna said, looking back to Blueblood. “Lord Blueblood, Trixie, if you will excuse me…”
Trixie and Blueblood both bowed, and Luna detached herself from them and proceeded to trot deeper into the Gala, even as the gaggle of sycophants returned to her side. Blueblood and Trixie both watched her go, then looked to each other. “Quarter to eleven?” Blueblood asked.
“Sure,” Trixie agreed. The two parted company at that, glad to be rid of each other. Blueblood looked like he was heading out to inspect his potential selection of ponies to keep him actual company for the night, while Trixie, on the other hoof, made a beeline for the nearest source of alcohol. The Gala had a bar set up in addition to its icy tables; she sat down at it – more than a little surprised to find that her rump did not freeze on contact with the icy floor; how powerful a caster was Luna, anyway? – and scanned her choices as the earth pony bartender came over. Bourbon was normally her poison of choice, but for some reason…
“Three measures of dry gin, one of vodka, half a measure of apéritif,” she told the bartender. “Bonus points if the vodka’s grain instead of potato. Shake ‘til it's ice cold – shouldn’t be hard here – ” she tapped a hoof on the bar itself, which was itself made of the vaguely blue-glowing ice – “then add a large thin slice of lemon.”
The bartender raised an eyebrow, even as he set about assembling what Trixie requested. “Gosh, that’s certainly a drink,” he noted.
“I try not to have more than one drink before dinner at an event like this,” she explained, glancing around the ice palace and neglecting to mention that this was a relatively new tradition for her, a result of the last time she had been inside an ice palace. “But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold and very well-made.” To help facilitate that, she telekinetically floated a few bits out of her dress, sliding them over to the bartender. He nodded politely in gratitude for the tip as he finished assembling her drink in silence, then presented it to her. Trixie took a measured sip. She raised an eyebrow. “No grain vodka?” she asked, recognizing the difference in taste immediately.
The bartender shrugged helplessly. Trixie shrugged as well. “Mais n’enculons pas des mouches,” she decided – it was only a minor hiccup and her spur-of-the-moment switch from straight bourbon was still excellent. She nodded, and he left to attend to another guest while Trixie took another sip, and touched a hoof to her ear or, more specifically, one of her earrings.
“Game on,” she said.
---
“Game on,” Trixie said into Raindrops’ ear via her ear clasp.
Raindrops wasn’t able to respond, however, as she was staring intently at Zizanie. “What do you mean,” she demanded, “act more feminine?”
The unicorn had appeared from nowhere, just manifesting out of the crowd next to Raindrops, as the pegasus herself had been trying how best to approach Blueblood, which so far had consisted of just trying to keep an eye on him while observing him from the upstairs gallery. To some extent, she was glad that Zizanie had appeared, as it meant that she was no longer being forced to guess how much time she had to spend with Blueblood before Zizanie would be forced to take matters into her own hooves, as per the Plan. Having said that…
Zizanie put her two front hooves together. “How best to phrase this…” she mused. “Raindrops, you’ve got the build of an earth pony lumberjack. More to the point you’ve got the gait of one too. That’s just fine for…whatever it is you do…but you’re trying to convince Blueblood to pick you out of every other mare in the room so that you can get his trust long enough to poison him.”
Raindrops bristled at that, scowling. Zizanie raised a hoof. “See?” she asked. “That. That right there. A more feminine mare wouldn’t look like she was about to pound my face in.”
“Give me a few moments and I won’t just be looking like I might,” Raindrops hissed.
Zizanie’s mouth curled into a thin-lipped smile, not threatened in the slightest as she looked Raindrops up and down, considering. “You need to relax,” she said. “Stop being so tense. Try smiling a little, that might help – ”
Raindrops raised a hoof, but only put it on Zizanie’s side and push her out of the way with considerably more gentleness than she really wanted to as she trotted past the professional blackmailer, heading down from the gallery and towards Blueblood. As she did walk, she did change her gait slightly – she moved with a little more softness, held her head just slightly higher, and gave her wings a few gentle flaps before folding up against her barrel loosely. “Remind me,” she said softly, “to kill Zizanie after this.”
“Why?” Trixie asked via their enchanted earrings – the same ones that they had worn to their excursion to Oaton a few months back, though covered in small glamors to make them fit their respective dresses better.
“She’s giving me advice on how to seduce Blueblood. And she said I looked like a lumberjack.”
Raindrops wasn’t certain, but she thought she may have heard a stifled chuckle from the other end of earring. She decided to give Trixie the benefit of the doubt at the unicorn pushed on. “No offense, Raindrops, but I do think that Cheerilee probably would have been better for this…”
Raindrops ignored a slight twitch to her wings as she trotted through the Gala. Blueblood was milling through the crowd, stopping to chat every now and then with this noble or that celebrity, even a few Ponyvillians. While talking, he seemed jovial enough, but when moving he looked more like a hungry wolf looking for a meal – a look which, oddly, did not precisely make him look half-bad. Blueblood normally looked so laid-back and oblivious; seeing him determined, trotting with purpose…even more to the point, with a purpose of finding a companion for the night…
Raindrops realized she was blushing slightly. Her first instinct was to try and calm herself, but then again her entire point tonight was to be playing the part of a fawning fan. Just like in the books she read, in the privacy of her room and which she kept otherwise hidden under her bed. She was certain that she could get close to Blueblood and play her part in the plan – and if she happened to enjoy herself a little by being close to the most eligible stallion in all of Equestria, well, what would that matter?
---
Blueblood ended his smalltalk with General Glorious Miles as quickly as he could – the pegasus’ bombastic attitude was scaring away his potential candidates, something that the general had no regard for, being married himself.
Blueblood didn’t see the point in the institution, himself, as he resumed his trot. Marriage – that would just make events such as the Gala so much less interesting. He had all night to get down to the politicking, but he often found that he wasn’t nearly so good at it without an audience, or at least a hanger-on. That was what he was looking for: a pony who was just looking for a good time tonight at the Gala, and perhaps back at his apartments in the city as well, if the night lead to that. Something to stroke his ego. His ego needed a good stroking every now and then.
His standards were fairly exacting, though, much to his own chargrin. Few of the Ponyvillians would do, their manner of dress was simply not something somepony of his caliber should be seen with, redeeming personality otherwise or not. And she certainly couldn’t be taller than him. All things being equal, too, he had to admit to a slight preference for his own tribe over earth ponies or pegasi…not that the other two tribes didn’t produce mares of exquisite quality themselves, he noted as he passed behind Captain Spitfire of the Wonderbolts and his eyes were drawn to her…finer qualities, no doubt a result of vigorous training…more vigorous than most, if the rumors about her and Commander Soarin’ were true. Blueblood chuckled at a few stray thoughts as he resumed his trot, knowing better than to try his chances with a Wonderbolt.
Here, more than anywhere else, his special talent tended to come into play. As he trotted, he felt himself almost being pulled this way or that, left or right, winding through the crowds, leading him to…well, he noticed as he stopped in the floor, looking around, leading him to an almost completely pony-less section of the Gala, a section where the ice had been sculpted by Luna’s magic to resemble a garden of roses and other flowers. He frowned a moment…until he saw two ponies, both of whom seemed to be trying to entice him.
The first was Trixie’s friend, he realized – Raindrops, wasn’t it? She was trying to make it appear as though she wasn’t looking at him, though she wasn’t succeeding – but, then again, that was no doubt her point. She had a slight blush on her face as she moved, flexing and unflexing her wings pensively, something that pegasi tended to do when they were trying to avoid letting their wings stand up straight. He had to admit that there was very little better than having a pegasus hanger-on, due to being able to drape a wing over him.
…but then, there was the other mare, a white unicorn with a purple mane, wearing a multi-layered dress and cape in varying shades of red, and bright, shining blue eyes that matched Blueblood’s own. Her stance was very different from Raindrops’ – she moved with confidence and grace. She looked and moved, in fact, like a member of the nobility, despite Blueblood not recognizing her.
“Hmm,” Blueblood wondered as he began trotting towards a spot equidistant between the two mares, for once his special talent of direction utterly failing him. To his right, the mysterious unicorn in red…to his left, Raindrops, Element of Honesty. But a friend of Trixie, which called her motives into serious question…but then, he had no clue who this unicorn on the right was, but she certainly seemed to belong here at the Gala…
There was always the possibility, he supposed, that he wouldn’t have to choose between the two of them. Equestria was fairly open-minded, after all, and he certainly was as well…
Of course, that was when he was suddenly bumped into. There was a shout of surprise – his, and a high-pitched mare’s – and the two of them went stumbling across the floor, which magic or no magic, was still fairly smooth. It was several seconds before the two could get their bearings and their hooves under them, each of the two of them using the other to steady themselves.
Blueblood blinked when he found himself only a few inches from the most amazingly pink pony he had ever seen. She was further wearing a pink dress, though the end of it trailed into a more maroon color, looking almost like a cloud of pink cotton candy raining a deluge of cholocate, while her hair was styled to include what almost looked like rainbow sprinkles.
“Oops!” The mare said once the two had their hooves under them again. “Sorry! I’m just sooo excited to be here and I wasn’t looking where I was going! You’re okay, right?”
Blueblood considered himself. “Yes, I’m – fine,” he said, measuredly. He looked up, but ponies seemed to have moved to obscure his vision of both Raindrops and the mysterious white unicorn – damn. He realized that the pink mare was staring at him, almost expectantly. “Um,” he said. “Hello.”
“Hi!” the mare said. “You must be Prince Blueblood!”
Blueblood blinked. She didn’t look like a sycophant or hanger-on, and Blueblood didn’t recognize her, but she seemed to recognize him. “Er, yes,” he said. “I am. You are…?”
“Pinkie Pie! I’m here from Ponyville. I won the raffle and I was so worried when I did because I thought that maybe Mister or Missus Cake would want to go but then Missus Cake said that they’d rather just spend some quiet time together, but they said I should go anyway, so here I am!”
Blueblood blinked. She’d said several score of words and did it in less than five seconds. She certainly seemed enthusiastic…and despite being from Ponyville, she somehow managed to make her relatively simple dress work. “Well,” he said. “Pinkie Pie…how would you like to share a drink with me?”
The mare’s gasp was great enough that it could have doubled as a vacuum. “Yes yes yes yes yes!” She exclaimed, as Blueblood started off. He realized after a moment that Pinkie Pie was literally hopping after him…suddenly, he was beginning to regret his spur-of-the-moment choice.
“Have you ever had a cherry changa?”
---
“Slight problem,” Raindrops said to Trixie.
Trixie looked down at her drink. She’d have to think of a name for it, but not right now. “What?” she asked.
“Well, I was closing in on Blueblood, but then Rarity apparently managed to get a ticket too…”
Trixie’s eyes widened. “He’s with Rarity?” she asked. That…that was less than ideal.
“Um…no. Pinkie Pie also somehow managed to get a ticket…and now she’s following Blueblood around.”
“Ha!” Trixie exclaimed suddenly, before she could stop herself by putting her hooves to her mouth. The other ponies nearby shot her strange looks. Trixie forced herself to get under control, raised her cocktail to them, and then turned to face the nearest wall as she took a celebratory drink. “Okay,” she said. “Okay…slight change of plans, then. Keep an eye on him, but I think we can pretty much rule Blueblood as safe. No way Zizanie is getting to him now, but make sure that she still tries.”
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Siccing Pinkie on Blueblood?
That's brilliant!
This is getting good!
Oh man... my reaction to Blueblood ending up with Pinkie was pretty much the same as Trixie's.
Pinkie Pie, you are so RANDOM!
Oh good lord, I think I feel sorry for Blueblood now. He has no idea what he's getting into.
amd wait....Blueblood's safe from Zizanie?.......It seems whatever we thought was gonna happen isn't going to be what happens at all.....
Only mildly disappointed that Raindrops doesn't get to hang with Blueblood for the evening, but at least she got to briefly fantasize about the perks of playing the part of fawning damsel with the most eligible bachelor in Canterlot (even if he's slime under that veneer), so I'm sufficiently satisfied none the less.
Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe I've seen the art for the dress you put Pinkie in.
th04.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2012/001/2/a/galloping_gala_2012__pinkie_pie_by_spiritto-d4kyjpj.png
It's certainly a personal favorite, though one that I find fashionably odd for a Pinkie who's never experienced the wonders of chaotically conjured cotton candy clouds that cascade chocolate... but I do suppose she has a rather vivid imagination.
2037624
Yup, that's the one.
2037577
Indeed...
If it's "poison Zizanie and have Greengrass freak out because he thinks that his confederates did it", it'll be a less harsh thing than what's been bruited about.
Also, it's a good thing that Luna admitted to dropping the ball. That should mollify some of the people talking about Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy.
I'm not certain, but I have this suspicion that the first song playing in this chapter was A Waltz for Trixie. Was I right, or did I totally fail my music-terminology-analysis despite having been intermittently studying composition for the past almost-a-month-now?
Straight from the mouth of someone who would know, thank you for that.
Even better, a flat out statement from Luna that she blames the entire court including herself and not just Night Light for the Ponyville issue. Good demonstration of where the buck stops.
That opens a major question, how much did Trixie tell Shining Armor about her plan? I assume not the potentially treasonous parts. It makes me wonder if Night Light was ever a target, or if that part was also for Zizanie's benefit.
So, verbal instructions to reconcile with the Starlights and covert permission to proceed with her plans. That's good, but I still just wish it had been arranged so that the rest of the L6 knew it wasn't treason before agreeing to the plan. Oh well.
I'm loving the twist on Rarity's plot line at the canon Gala.
Holy crap, the Wonderbolts! They still exist!
Okay, now that was funny, teasing us with Raindrops vs. Rarity and then Suddenly Pinkie Pie! It'll be hilarious if Blueblood doesn't get truth'ed and it's all Pinkie's fault.
And apparently that was part of the plan... Interesting.
Trixie can enchant other drinks to work like the poison...she can spike them all.
2038563 But Zizanie doesn't know THAT part
2038657...and she can spike Zizane with the "cannot turn off" version, even if she brought her own self contained flask...
OK this was a fun chapter!
Great description for the ice palace I loved the dance and Zizaine showing up was fantastic, I loved their entire dance together and it seems Trixie is becoming a straight up chess master, I can't wait to see where this plan is going. Luna Trixie telepathy I love it, that scene was great I wonder if Luna may keep it going all through the night?
Luna's decision to wander around as "normal' was an excellent one and her speech to the court and Ponyville was really well done, Bluebloods reaction reminds me why I hate him and of some of the key problems with the more cowardly/corrupt court members. Was his "fear is the appropriate response more than a (9) reference maybe something that will become a call back?
Trixie's drink sounds insanely awesome and terrible at the same time. I swear every seconds sentence Blueblood had seemed to be some double entendre, I'm personally very happy there was no Rain/Blood but I've never supported that idea Raindrops in the first place, good work with Rarity there.
And then Pinkie! I love it that was awesome and hilarious and was just I laughed so much, so many way's this can go and all end terribly for Blueblood.
Trixie's reaction pretty much mirrors my own and was great. Oh and it's nice to see the ear pieces back.
So overall I loved this chapter and am really looking forward to more, I can sort of guess at the plan but it has so many twists and turns I don't feel safe making a prediction.
Okay, the chapter's going okay...some hints...original plan dropped...some more stuff...
Well, this isn't too bad. I wonder how this is...
...Welp, chapter's ruined. Here's hoping the next one's better. *goes off to smash his head against a wall for the next five hours*
Finally another update.
I love how the plan in it's totality is still left partially unexplained so as to still be shocking when it goes off.
As for the last bit well: to fully appreciate my reaction one must know my line of thought at the time. When Blueblood was considering his preferences I ended up thinking in my head something along these line: "Oh sure guys like you have their strict criteria on what things are deal makers and deal brakes, but we all know that when someone suitability exotic and/or unlike what you generally go for comes up you just won't be able to help your self." At first I had been thinking that he may end up interested in Raindrops due to the very things Zizanie said were going to be problems.
And then came my reaction upon Blueblood colliding with a very PINK pony:
cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/21630364.jpg
2039533
Oh, come on! You just finished pointing out in a blog post that there's nothing wrong with showing Rarity as being a little greedy or vainglorious because that's been part of her character from the beginning. Well, this has been part of Pinkie's character from the beginning! She's the annoying yet lovable comic relief. It's her schtick!
And you can't possibly tell me that you wouldn't find it funny if there was a scene of Trixie and Greengrass engaged in some heated political shadowy backstabby discussion, there's a lull where they glare at each other, and in the background between them we see Blueblood is running away with Pinkie hopping after him.
I'm trying to lighten the mood!
(I'm not really mad, btw, or exasperated, or any of that)
It just occurred to me! BBs special talent may save him from Trixie's plan, he was directed to the one place where the one pony who could keep Zizaine away form him would run into him and he chose to go with her for the night, genius!
and, what have you done!? some small tiny super small part of me now wants to ship Pinkie/BB
2039791
You know, I looked back at the post, and realized I forgot something:
But seriously, I understand your point, and obviously agree with showing negative traits every so often. I've just...not been the most impressed with your handling of Pinkie in the past, for reasons that will not be discussed here for the sake of the few sane ones that remain. Still, that's like throwing out a perfectly good pizza because someone threw on one ingredient that you can't stand.
Not that this fic is a perfectly good pizza; it got here two hours late, and I think the driver sat on it for the first hour, and...
(This was when RDD threw IAH back into the sun.)
2039791 Well I for one think it was a fantastic move, because that EXACT image started playing in my head the second you wrote that. Pinkie Pie is sure to cause all kinds of hilarious disruption - fortunately it seems to have worked in Trixie's favor so far. So... far...
Also, can I JUST point out that ALL of the M!6 display qualities counter to their Elements, and yet NOBODY SEEMS TO PICK ON ANYPONY BUT RARITY, which I think is TOTALLY unfair.
Pinkie, Element of Laughter, has a severely depressed split personality; Fluttershy, Element of Kindness, spends the whole Gala episode screaming at and chasing defenseless critters and has an entire episode of turning into Flutterbitch via Iron Will's training; AJ doesn't care for being honest when Twilight brings up Chrysa-Cadance lying to her about liking the hors d'ouerves (I'm sure I spelled that wrong); Rainbow Dash has SO many times of being straight up disloyal to her friends and not sticking by them that I can't even mention them all, yet somehow everyone LOVES her and hates on Rarity. (/ranting)
WHATEVER ANYWAY totally an awesome chapter and I can't wait for the next but yeesh I need to finish working on my pics of their Gala outfits! Especially now that I have Luna to draw as well!
2039860 Actually it looks more like Blueblood's talent lead to Trixie's plan improving if anything. Almost like this plan won't end with the seemingly obligatory "Blueblood is not allowed to get ahead" thing that comes up often...While playing right into "Blueblood gets tormented because he's an acceptable target.".
2040108
(< that should be a vicious smile) 
BB is easily the third/second most acceptable target for punishment
Not really sure how it improves Trixie's plan though?
2040127 Well it seems like Trixie wanted Blueblood to be untouchable. Given that Pinkie is...Pinkie, That just about does it.
Also, who is more of an acceptable target to the majority of this fandom then Blueblood?
2040153
I thought it was that he became untouchable to Zizaine due to Pinkie and that was a problem, as they were setting up Raindrops to distract/drug him, but Trixie is not as threatened by BB as she is by GG or Fisher and is therefore not bothers, maybe I read it wrong?
oh and in the overall fandom probably no one, in regards to who deserves it, well I should keep that list to myself personal acceptable targets are a private matter
2040173 Huh. I might have read that last paragraph wrong...Thought Trixie wasn't ever planning on drugging Blueblood, but instead was planning on using him as bait to do...something to Zizanie. Perhaps use as a patsy was what I was thinking.
2040076
That's because Rarity is so blatant about it. She wears her vices about her at all times. The others have their own lapses, but they don't call attention to them quite like Rarity, the most pork-filled pony of them all.
I would say more, but we've all been in this discussion by this point, and nothing good ever comes of it.
2040258
probably. 
Now I don't even know what's going on
2039932
Dood, it's the Grand Galloping Gala, the greatest party of the year. And Pinkie is the Goddess of Parties incarnate. If anything, Pinkie is exactly where she needs to be. And besides, it only makes sense that the life of the party ends up with the most eligible bachelor in Canterlot. Honestly, I think Pinkie has a better shot of scoring with Blueblood then Rarity ever did, Maneverse or Lunaverse.
....ugh, I'm actually shipping it. What the hell brain?
The best idea I had for Trixie's pl- er, scheme was a fusion of two little subplots from Babylon 5 (beep, beep) but I think that's been busted. Basically highlighting the venal and paranoid nature of some the Night Court member by making them think they'd taken the poison, though not actually stooping to their games, and letting them figuratively hang themselves.
That's cool, since I hate second guessing the author out loud, but suffer from this peculiar compulsion...
25.media.tumblr.com/7f14ed99c0cb2b6c2bcff92e05cdb0c9/tumblr_mhbg6sAKfb1r9ucy5o1_500.jpg
2040321 I was just thinking that for all that he's a first class cad, and maybe even a rotter, I'm warming to L!Blueblood as we see more of him.
But, you sir? You just crossed a line... ...so, BluePie or PinkieBlood? Wait, those both sound terrible.
2040392
Yeah, you're right, sounds as stupid as Scootiara, amirite?
Seriously, this is the line? I've done crazier. Heck, I'm writing crazier right now!
And everyone knows the proper pairing here would be called BlueDiane (She's with a noble, after all. Gotta bring out the fancy full name)
2040405 ooohh, you're good! Sold!
Actually, I kinda like Scootiara since it really encapsulates the inherent d'awkwardness.
2040417
THe only reason I brought up Scootiara is because no one ever complains about that ship, and yet I suggest BlueDiane, and suddenly I get a complaint, and talks of crossing a line. I'm all about crossing lines, ever since I made Bon Bon scream. Good times.
That's nice Trixie, go back to scheming against the night court.
2040433 Eh, I'm an inveterate hug-boxer, so if I'm calling you out you are prolly doing something right!
And technically, it was Lyra, but who's counting?
2040463
Nah, it was Bon Bon that was screaming. It just happened that Bon Bon was screaming Lyra's name, because Lyra has, in Cheerilee's words, a strong command of the Equestrian tongue.
On a side note to everyone, I'm a bit sad that no one has yet recognized the drink that Trixie ordered...
2039932
I get and understand the concern. I've been trying to work on my Pinkie; hopefully the lack of focus on her will help.
2039860
I'm not sure your allowed to do that after having just shot down the Raindrops pairing, seems a tad hypocritical.
2040392 2040405
Personally I'd go with Blood/Pie, admittedly that's still kind of squickish, but for BB pairing that might be kind of the point.
2040777
One's a crack ship the other was people genuinely telling me BB and Raindrops should be together and it carried certain unpleasant undercurrent that worried me and used a personality trait, that I never supported existing in the first place.
2040789
I don't think ANYONE has ever been seriously suggesting that Raindrops and Blueblood become an actual item. Rather, merely that it is within her character to enjoy indulging in the fantasy of romantic a evening with Canterlot's most eligible bachelor, and like it or not this chapter still bore that out, because even if she got cut off at the pass, that's still exactly what Raindrop was planning on doing (which is victory enough for me).
2040820
I could debate and explain my reasons/views but I don't really want to start another comment war.
I actually thought that the unknown unicorn mare near Raindrops was Zizanie, but after it was pointed out, I went back and realised that she was wearing her Gala dress from the show. It's always weird translating an outfit from visual media to text and back again in my brain.
I'm starting to get an inkling of it. I knew it couldn't possibly involve mass poisonings. One possibility I'm seeing is that all of the targets - Blueblood, Greengrass, Night Light et al. - are going to think that they've been affected by Truth is a Scourge when they really haven't. The other possibility is that the real target is Zizanie, because she's the one with everypony's blackmail material. I'm also calling a non-zero probability that Trixie is going to use the truth poison on herself, even though I still can't figure out why.
2040321 On second thoughts, Blueblood/Pinkie isn't as cracky as it might first appear. My Fair Lady is that musical based on Pygmalion, right?
And so the game is a foot (or is it a hoof
)
I liked that part with Luna adressing everyone. It was a good speech that not only told off the nobles but also showed her admiting that even despite her not having direct involvement, she still allowed this to happen through neglect. Aside from this being a good show of grace on her part, It also reminds the reader that Luna admits that this situation is something she in part created through her action/inaction.
Though looking reading comments I have to ask, what do you think was wrong with the way you did Pinkie Pie? Frankly I thought she was great in this
Though to be frank, criticism on how she is portrayed in the Lunverse always confuse me since everytime I have read her she has pretty much been exactly how I see her in the show, albiet without the luxuray of her being a main character.
Anyway, this was a good chapter and I'm looking forward to what happens next.
2040321 I'm seeing it too. It all depends on Pinkie Pie's level of romantic and sexual experience. If she's the "experienced party girl" Pinkie of some popular fanons, then she's the ideal partner for Blueblood - she won't take it any more seriously than he would, and she might actually help to make him a slightly better pony in the process. If she's the "wide-eyed innocent" of other popular fanons, then Blueblood is the last pony she should be around, because he's liable to take horrible advantage of her.
Assuming she's the former, I'm going to go with simply "Pink&Blue", because, y'know, pink is for girls and blue is for boys and all that.
2041228
Please, you do not throw as many parties as Pinkie does and stay a wide eyed innocent.
Honestly, in my headcanon anyway, she has the most experience of the mane six.
2041228
Well, for my part, your "Advice from Pinkie Pie" is canon for me until the show demonstrates it should be otherwise, so...take from that what you will.
2041601
Pinkie is a long walk to the train station to get to the airport to hop a plane to head to Cape Canveral in order to catch a flight into space away from virginity, in my mind.
2041677
Yeah, pretty much. If anything, if her and Bluey got drunk and started exchanging stories, Pinkie would win. I am convinced of that.
2040777 I do like the squick feel of Blood/Pie for that pairing.
It probably depends on whether it's played as a crack pairing or not. For a serious relationship I like BlueDiane better.
Hmm... I dunno. Maybe it's me, but I really would've dug Ivory Scroll calling out Night Light and demanding his head on a platter. No, screw that. That should have happened.[/legit]
As for Pinkie... *Sigh* Way too spastic. And I hope Puissance doesn't take too hard a hit. I do have plans for her, remember. Plans that, IIRC, you liked. Horseshoes?
2040392 You could always throw Berry Punch into the mix, make it a One true threesome, and then call it Blueberrypie.
2042017
Not saying your plans are without merit or anything, but we can't sacrifice the present for an untested future. That's the trouble with making all these "plans" for far off future events, if we hold unwritten fics as canon, it strangles our ability to write what needs to be written in the here and now. To make plans for the future is great, but until you actually write a story about them they can't be set in stone, and absolutely MUST remain mutable to the changes that might come about in the meantime.
This isn't meant as any kind of personal attack either. We've all had "plans" at some point or another. I know I certainly had plans in regards to EoI, but because I've been slow about updating, some of those plans might now be invalid (or at least devalued), due to certain revelations in this fic and Countdown to Crisis. That's something I'm just going to have to deal with, because I can't let my inconsistent/lazy writing habits hold back the entire setting from progressing, and just because RDD might like some of what I'm writing doesn't mean he owes me any courtesy to not step on toes I've not even put to the light of day.
2042083
You sir deserve an internet for that.
2042148 All my plans require is Puissance keep her wealth. That is not unreasonable of me. It's a plan for the future and something to look forward to writing. I'm not asking for much! And he liked my plans. You liked my plans! No one disliked my Golden Horseshoe storyline.