The day had arrived.
The last three days prior anxiety had truly settled in, and it was only thanks to her sister’s gentle assurances that Luna didn’t feel totally frazzled. She had begun overthinking every little detail and second-guessing so many of her decisions that she had to be told—gently but firmly—to take a break from planning. For a wild, hare-brained moment she had even considered dropping in on Ponyville and asking for input from the Keepers of Harmony. It had taken a lot of convincing from Spike the dragon that asking Twilight Sparkle or any of her friends would only add to Luna’s stress.
“Trust me, just asking Pinkie Pie and Rarity alone will make you dizzy, Princess,” he’d said. “I think you’re going to do great!”
The little dragon’s words bolstered her a bit and when Celestia expressed the same sentiments later, Luna finally felt more at ease. Second-guessing her choices had become a too-familiar habit and she decided it was one she would have to break herself of. And as things started to come together in those last three days, she did her best to reassure herself she was doing just fine with the Gala preparations. No, it wouldn’t be the same Grand Galloping Gala ponies were used to every year, but that was all well and fine. According to her sister and quite a few members of the palace staff, the gala was pretty boring due to the monotony that had been established in throwing the celebration. But this was the year that things would change; with Twilight’s Ascension there was much to celebrate, and there was no reason why anypony wouldn’t enjoy a nice change of pace.
She was looking over her star charts, trying to make a final decision on how she wanted to showcase the constellations at dusk, when Celestia poked her head into the room.
“Ah, there you are!”
“Oh! Hello, sister,” Luna said, looking up from the charts and maps in mild surprise. “Sorry, I was lost in thought. Is everything alright?”
Celestia chuckled warmly. “Actually, I was looking for you so I could ask you that,” she replied. “You aren’t still feeling overwhelmed and anxious, are you?”
Luna rolled up one of the charts, pushing it aside with a hoof as she illuminated a few more lamps for her sister’s sake. “No,” she replied absently. “Not as I had been, at least. I’ve made it a goal to stop myself from second-guessing everything to the point it becomes stressful. Why? Why do you ask?”
A shimmering glow lit up Celestia’s horn, and her magic pulled two beautiful gowns into the room behind her.
“Because you forgot to pick up your dress and try it on.”
“What?!” Luna blurted out, stunned. She leapt to her hooves and took the dark blue dress from her sister, staring at it in astonishment. “My dress for the gala… Oh dear! How in the world did I forget?”
Smiling, Celestia extended a comforting wing around her sister’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, it happens,” she said soothingly. “You would think that after a thousand years I wouldn’t forget things when preparing for the gala, but I still do.” She looked to the dress, indicating it with a nod. “So what do you think? Do you like it?”
Luna looked from her to the gown, examining the fine details. It was a couple of shades lighter than her own coat and the weave was very thin and fine. Gossamer, if she wasn’t mistaken, and the fabric shimmered and twinkled like starlight when she turned it about. She smiled in spite of herself.
“I couldn’t have chosen better myself,” she murmured. “Thank you, sister. It’s beautiful. I shall treasure it.”
“You’ll make a wonderful host, Luna.”
The younger alicorn clamped down on the words that almost escaped from her. She was still uncertain how well she would fare in that regard, and didn’t think it wise to go making such statements prematurely. Instead however, she merely offered Celestia a grateful smile and turned to look in the closest mirror, floating the gown before her to get an idea of what she might look like. The gown shimmered as her mane billowed, and had she not known better she might have mistaken herself for the night sky at a passing glance.
You’re beautiful.
She could almost hear his voice in her ear again, as clear as the night when he’d said the words in awe after watching her illuminate the night sky. He had been stunned, left breathless and almost at a loss for words. She remembered the way he’d looked at her, as though truly seeing her for the mare she was, and not the pony he wanted her to be. Unconsciously Luna lowered the gown a fraction, looking away from the mirror.
He never cared about me, she reminded herself sharply, the thought sobering and cold. How could he? He has no heart. All he cares for are his own ambitions, and I refused to fit into them. He hoped I would be Nightmare Moon, that we were alike. None of his pretty words or attempts at flattery held any truth beneath the surface.
“Luna? Are you alright?”
Celestia’s voice got her attention and she looked up again, seeing her sister’s worried expression reflected beside her own melancholy look in the mirror. Again she tried to offer up a small smile.
“Yes, I’m… sorry. I was just lost in thought.”
Celestia was quiet for a moment—Luna had the feeling she knew there was more that her younger sister wasn’t disclosing about “being lost in thought”—but then she offered her own smile in response, warm and encouraging.
“Well, try to remember to focus on the positive. You’ll do well at the gala and you won’t be alone. We’ll do this together, and it’ll be a great evening,” she promise. “Don’t worry.”
“Thank you, Tia.” And thank you for not pressing the matter.
She looked back to the mirror, half-expecting to see a shadowy silhouette with eyes illuminated by smoking trails of dark magic. She chased the ghosts away from her thoughts, determined not to be pulled into the claws of despair and heartache again.
I will never trust any of Sombra’s words again, she promised herself. No matter how pretty they sound.
***
The sun was beginning its descent in the sky as ponies from all over Equestria began to enter the main gates to Canterlot Palace. There was a low hum of chatter and excited conversation among the throng of gala-goers that reached the open windows and lent a powerful sense of anticipation to the entire affair. Sombra’s gaze trailed around, watching the crowd below slowly trickle in through the gates. Something about the sight felt almost surreal to him and he was reminded of what he’d stated before in the oubliette. When he ruled the Crystal Empire, he would never have allowed for the common masses to commune so freely with royalty. It simply wasn’t done.
But it had been once, a small part of his mind spoke up. Didn’t mother encourage us to forge good relations with our subjects? The ponies of the Crystal Empire loved Queen Platinum. And she wanted us to understand what it meant to be good rules, the sort ponies would look up to and rely upon.
“Oooh, I bet this is your very first year attending the Grand Galloping Gala, isn’t it?”
Among a great many other things, Sombra decided Discord’s too-perky voice was a source of great vexation for him. He flattened his ears back against his skull, gritting his teeth.
“It is, isn’t it?” Discord was practically squealing like an excited filly. As usual he got right up in Sombra’s face, grinning excitedly. “Oh this is going to be so much fun!”
“Fun because you enjoy high-class social gatherings,” Sombra said wryly, “or because you’re going to turn the entire thing into a complete disaster?”
“¿Porque no los dos, my dreary friend? Who says they can’t go hand-in-hoof?” the draconequus replied. “Now listen, Spooky-Boots. The next half hour to an hour or so, the princesses are going to be preoccupied with their formal how-do-you-do’s. Not long after that they’re going to make some pointless little announcement about Twilight Sparkle’s Ascension—because you know, it’s not like we could tell from the big new honkin’ wings or anything—and after everypony does a little toast and cheer, the dancing is going to start. And that’s when we’ll make our move.”
Sombra frowned, still more than a little skeptical.
“So I’m going to maintain my disguise and act inconspicuous until then?” he demanded. “This is humiliating. I’m a king!”
Discord lifted his snowy eyebrows high in challenge. “Well if you really want humiliating, I have it on good authority there’s a number of performers from the Celestial Rings Circus here tonight,” he said, intentionally affecting a too-innocent tone of voice. “I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a fool among their numb—”
“My own disguise will suffice plenty, thank you.”
“Alright, alright, suit yourself,” Discord said, backing up slightly before adding under his breath, “Ya party-pooping bag of gloom.”
Sombra rolled his eyes, reaching up with a hoof to pull down the hood of his enchanted cloak. “You’ll come and find me when it’s time?” he asked quietly. He felt unexpectedly nervous, but concluded it was because of her. Never before in his life had he faced another pony in such a state to beg for forgiveness, of all things. He had spent countless hours in the oubliette telling himself she would never forgive him, but now faced with the opportunity to apologize, suddenly that possibility was so real it frightened him.
It frightens me.
The realization gave him a start. When was the last time he truly had felt this sort of fear? There was another painful contraction of icy sharpness within his ribcage.
“Of course I will!” Discord exclaimed. “Have I ever yet let you down or steered you wrong?”
Sombra started to turn and look at him, feeling a need to comment on that remark, when Discord snapped the claws of his eagle talon. A small lurch in the unicorn’s stomach signaled the effect of the spell as they teleported, the scenery around them replaced in a blink. Now they were among a crowd of ponies milling about as they headed to the main courtyard where several of the activities were to take place. Discord’s abrupt appearance drew some attention their way, as several ponies turned to catch a glimpse of the infamous draconequus. Murmurs instantly started up, and even with the cloak concealing his identity, Sombra was uncomfortable.
“Ta for now,” Discord said in a posh voice, manifesting a monocle from thin air and affixing it to one of his eyes before sauntering off. “Have fun, Spooky-Boots! I’ll pop in later!”
As he departed the attention of those nearby followed him, for which Sombra was grateful. Rapidly the enchantment on the cloak took effect. Many unicorn sorcerers had been enamored with the idea of invisibility cloaks for centuries, but Star Swirl the Bearded had done something better, taken the concept several steps farther and made a type of cloak levels above that. Sombra himself had recreated it; its enchantment didn’t turn somepony invisible, but instead allowed them to remain unnoticed and ignored.
And it did just that.
For what seemed far too long for comfort, he wandered around, observing the festivities. Everywhere he went there was a buzz of positive energy and excitement, even in just the casual socializing. And at different places the atmosphere was even more charged with excitement; different performers everywhere were putting on small unofficial pre-shows, and visitors from all over drew huge crowds around them, the emissaries from Saddle Arabia in particular drawing the most attention. Despite his desire to stay silent and unnoticed working out well, Sombra found after a time that loneliness was beginning to hang over him like long branches of a forlorn willow. Yes, he was able to see all he wanted and not be bothered or recognized, but the solitary isolation started to bear down upon him. His gaze wandered to a few of the ponies from the Celestial Rings Circus as they chatted and laughed with a couple of Wonderbolts fliers and Ponyville residents. The sound of light-hearted joy in the laughter they shared made the feeling all the more pronounced.
They seem so happy, he observed, settling down on an open patch of grass and lying on his stomach. As he continued to watch them, his thoughts turned again to Princess Luna and the time the two of them had spent together while journeying to the Badlands. Weren’t we the same as they are now? Didn’t she laugh like that for me?
Suddenly the possibility she would reject his apology and never speak to him again was even more real and terrifying than ever. Shakily he started to get to his hooves, feeling his resolve crumble to dust.
I cannot do this. I’ll need to tell Discord now isn’t the right time.
Truthfully he wondered if there ever would be a right time.
***
A smile like sunshine lit up Celestia’s face as the final toasts were made in celebration of her beloved pupil’s Ascension to princess status. She was more proud of Twilight Sparkle than she thought anypony would ever know. There as a slight shift to her left and she turned her head to find her younger sister looking at her with a knowing smile.
Well, almost anypony.
“You know, I think underneath that nervousness she’s truly honored, Tia,” Luna whispered. “I’m glad we did this for her.”
“As am I, sister. Hopefully this will ease any doubt she may have about how our subjects will receive her as a princess.”
“Even if it doesn’t, we’ll be there for her,” Luna said before smiling self-consciously. “I can relate to how she feels.”
They both glanced to Twilight, who was standing in the midst of a crowd of ponies toasting her as she smiled nervously. The young mare kept her wings tucked in tight against her sides as she tried to acknowledge everypony’s words of congratulations and encouragement, nodding and smiling intermittently. After a moment or two she hastily looked back to where the two sisters stood side-by-side, as though seeking guidance. They both smiled warmly in response and she finally smiled genuinely back at them, drawing a measure of confidence from their faith in her.
“Thank you,” she declared in a carrying voice. “Thank you everypony! I promise, I won’t let you down!”
At that the sisters exchanged another secret smile and then Luna stepped forward. “We know that you’ll do well,” she told Twilight reassuringly before addressing the crowd at large. “The dancing shall now commence in the royal ballroom!”
A couple of faces among the crowd winced at Luna’s volume, but a brand-new wave of excitement broke out over them all. Celestia chuckled quietly; Luna could be very intense when she got into something, but her enthusiasm was infectious. The evening had gone splendidly so far, and the Princess of the Day had a feeling from now on the gala would be more lively and fun. As she trotted forward and led the crowd alongside her sister, she suddenly realized there was someone at her other side as well.
“Ho-hum.” A familiar, disinterested yawn heralded Discord’s presence. “Are we done with the boring events yet?”
Celestia glanced at him, not at all surprised to see the draconequus sporting a monocle or sipping from a goblet full of what appeared to be styrofoam. She lifted her eyebrows, trying to hold back a chuckle as the corners of her mouth tilted up.
“Not if you consider dancing to be boring as well,” she remarked.
“Hmm, considering I’m here on the invitation of you needing a dance partner,” he replied thoughtfully, tossing the goblet over a shoulder. “Well, perhaps it could be fun after all.”
To her other side she could feel Luna smirking as she signaled the guards to part and allow entrance to the ballroom. “Just twisting your arm, aren’t we?” she said, tone sardonic. As they walked in, heading for the far end of the room, some of Discord’s playful demeanor sobered as he turned to regard the younger alicorn.
“Not to be too nosy, Princess Moody-Moon,” he began, “but don’t you have a dance partner picked out?”
Celestia frowned at him. The sudden question and its nature left her feeling vaguely suspicious, though she wasn’t entirely sure why. For her part, Luna handled it well.
“No,” she answered with a shake of her head. “I have no interest in dancing tonight anyway. I shall be happy to watch everypony else enjoying the music and having fun.”
She seated herself off to the side, looking out at the ballroom full of guests and smiling brightly as the music started up and several ponies began dancing. Celestia’s heart swelled with pride. Her sister was the utter picture of calm regality in her tiara and gown, and she finally seemed to be enjoying the festivities instead of just moving through the motions.
“Well,” Discord continued, undaunted. “I would hate for you to feel left out.”
Luna turned to look at him, frowning slightly. “I don’t feel left out,” she replied, a hint of annoyance slipping through her relaxed exterior.
“Good!” Discord said cheerfully, standing on his mismatched hind legs and striding into the center of the dancers. Ponies parted, stepping back in confusion and wide-eyed curiosity. He continued to usher a few of them back, clearing a wide space, and the music came to a pause as everyone wondered what was going on. Celestia watched, feeling an unexpected tension creeping into her muscles and her back.
What in the world is he up to?
“Because, should you change your mind…” he went on as though nothing had happened, and proceeded to snap his talons with a loud crack that echoed off the high walls. There was a small pop as displaced air ruptured and a figure was teleported into the space the draconequus had cleared. A cloak concealed the newcomer’s face, but the large frame and powerful build between the cloak’s folds was familiar in an alarming way. The Princess of the Sun felt her mouth go completely dry as she sensed her sister completely tensing up beside her.
No, he wouldn’t—!
“I got you the perfect dance partner!” Discord announced, throwing back the cloak’s cowl to reveal a shocked unicorn stallion with a wavy black mane, gleaming sharp teeth, and a distinctive, curved blood-red horn.