Fancy Pants’ waking was painful. He felt like the entire Moon had fallen on his head. He slowly tilted his head to watch the clock which was mockingly displaying a two followed by a pair of zero. A quick look to the window and the bright light coming from it told him it was late in the day. The last time he had drunk that much was when he had celebrated his coming of age.
And I had promised myself “never again”.
He rose from his bed and aimed towards the only thing he knew could ease his headache a little: a freezing shower. He stared at the tap, not knowing if he willingly wanted to inflict this to himself, but a new twinge inside his head solved it.
Even if it was hard at the beginning, he had to admit its effectiveness; most of the pain died in a minute and that gave him some time to remember the night before. It was a bit blurry but one thing he could perfectly recall was the mare’s smiles. A smile promising a moment of eternity.
He shook his head under the shower.
Come on Fancy, you’re starting to get sappy.
After he had dried his coat and his mane, he came back to his room. Since he had taken care of the mess that was his body, it was time to take care of the mess that was his room, the only place where not a single servant were allowed. With his magic, he grabbed the suit he had worn last night.
You’ve won a visit to the dry cleaner’s you dirty one.
He giggles at his own joke and went for the door. He stopped as he saw something gently falling from one of the pocket. He focused his magic on it, holding it close to his eyes to inspect it. It was simply a deep bluefeather so he put it aside.
Hold on; a blue feather?
It took him a moment to understand whom this feather could belong to and what it meant. Aside from the mare, he couldn’t remember another pony of this colour. And even if there were, he hadn’t been as physically close as he was with her than with them. When his brain, slowed by tiredness and alcohol, finally caught the only meaning this feather involved, he felt his heart plummeted to the pit of his stomach.
Oh no! Oh no! Oh nonononono!
He paced in circles, his breath becoming shorter and shorter, his heartbeat quicker and stronger.
I-I kissed a Princess! I kissed a goddess! Oh no!
He stopped his furious race, chewing on his hoof.
Maybe I should pretend it never happens? That could do it! Yes, that would probably do it. But what if she’s recognized me? I’m sure she knew it was me!
Then he remembered Fleur Dis Lee. This time, it was all of Equestria he felt falling on him. He dropped to the floor, hiding his head between his legs.
She must never heard about this! But how? Maybe I should go straight see the princess and apologize. Yeah, I’ll see her and tell her I didn’t know it was her. She’ll certainly forgive me! And my sweetheart will never hear about it!
He quickly put on a clean suit and galloped as fast as he could towards the castle where he found Princess Celestia alone, holding court.
“Mister Fancy Pants!” she warmly greeted. “It’s always a pleasure to welcome you here. Let me finish with Miss Lilac and I’m all yours.”
That let Fancy Pants catch his breath and gave him some time to think about what he would say to the Princess.
“So what brings you here?” asked Celestia before he could be prepared. “I must say I’m a bit surprised to see you during a court. I was expecting you tomorrow for our weekly tea.”
“You-Your Highness,” he stammered, “I need to see your- Princess Luna- in private!”
“You seemed troubled my little pony, is everything okay?”
“Yes! Of course! Why shouldn’t I be okay?”
“Because you’ve never really been able to properly lie to me Fancy,” she mocked. “But I guess I’ll let my sister deal with your… problem?”
“Yes -sorry- thank you!”
“Follow me,” she giggled.
After crossing a small hallway, Celestia knocked on a door “Sister, dear! Mister Fancy Pants would like to see you.”
“He may enter,” answered a voice beyond the door.
Celestia opened the door and Fancy Pants entered alone in what looked like a private art room and saw The Princess of the Night painting.
“Give a minute to finish this,” said Luna.
Fancy Pants watched her being enthralled by her work. The paintbrush was held still until Luna focused her magic and made him -it!- dance on the canvas in swift and precise motions. He forgot all his anxiety for a moment, recognising and admiring the work of a master of her art.
“So Mister Fancy Pants,” - she turned her head towards her guest after giving a last stroke of brush - “What can I do for you ?”
“It’s hum… about yesterday night, regarding the masked ball.”
“Yes?” she said cocking her head.
“I- I wanted to apologise for my behavior,” he said bowing. “It was unworthy of me to act like I did. If I knew, you can be sure that I wouldn’t have dared to even think about doing it.”
“Doing what?”
He ventured on looking at his monarch but Luna’s face was unreadable. “Well, you know, the waltz and w-what has followed…”
“Mister Fancy Pants, I may have a lot of patience but not as much as my sister,” she firmly said. “So tell me what troubles you this instant before I consider sending you off.”
“Yes your Highness!” he exclaimed lowering again his head low to the ground. “I didn’t mean to waste your time.”
She kept silent and Fancy Pants felt the urge of his situation. He wasn’t sure anymore if she was the one but he felt keeping the princess waiting would have consequences at least as dire as if he had very well insulted her.
“I was at the masked ball you had organized yesterday and, if I have to be honest, I wasn’t enjoying the party. I was lost, not knowing what I should do or how I should behave. Until you talked to me.”
“I talked to you?” she asked.
“Well, I’m almost certain it was you. And after a moment, things went a little further-”
“Let me stop you right now. Whatever ponies have done yesterday belongs to nopony.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
Luna let out a small laugh. “Oh Fancy Pants, you still don’t get the point of a masked ball, do you? Nopony takes part in a masked ball.”
“Far from me the idea to be disrespectful Your Highness but I’m pretty sure there were many ponies yesterday.”
Luna’s laugh became stronger. “You entertain me Fancy Pants and here I thought about disposing of you.”
“I’m pleased to know that you find the situation amusing but I must say I don’t think I’m feeling comfortable to end up a laughing stock,” he said.
“It wouldn’t be so if you at least tried to understand,” replied a smiling Luna. “Tell me Mister Pants, what did you do last night?”
“I was at this masked ball-” started Fancy Pants before being cut off by the princess.
“You weren’t.”
Fancy Pants stared dumbfounded at one of the most powerful ponies in Equestria who seemed to take great delight in misleading him.
“Wh-What?” he stammered.
Luna looked at him right into his eyes, her smile drifting from a welcoming one to a disturbing one. The fact that she was coming closer to him didn’t help him to feel comfortable.
“My sister speaks highly of you and your intelligence,” -her face was now barely an inch away from his- “ and yet, it seems you’re having some difficulties to understand that simple sentence. Nopony takes part in a masked ball.”
“O-Okay.”
Even if he had tried, Fancy Pants would had not been able to avert his eyes from hers. Fortunately for him, she went back before her painting, easing Fancy Pants’ discomfort.
“But since the meaning of my words is avoiding you, let’s say you, Fancy Pants, went to this masked ball.” She looked away from her canva and locked her eyes with him once more. “I suppose you were dressed as required?”
“Of course Your Highness.”
“This way, you became nopony. You need to understand the garment one wears in a masked ball makes them anonymous. It creates a new identity for a short time, one that isn’t tied to any rule or social convention.”
“So the pony I’ve kissed was... nopony?”
“Exactly, you have nothing to fear. The veil of anonymity will hide whatever were your actions.”
“Well that’s a relief. I apologize for wasting your time, I should have known better. I’ll leave you now your Highness.” Fancy Pants bowed once more before leaving the room, a bit thrown by the ease with which his situation had been resolved.
Luna watched him leave and focused her attention back to her painting once she was alone. She heard her sister entering behind her a few minutes later. Celestia came to her side and looked at the painting.
“It still feels a little naive,” she commented. “Do you plan to keep on working on it?”
“I’m not sure, I didn’t think that far. Maybe with a little more time...” she replied.
“What are you gonna do with it then? Do you intend to expose it or keep it private?” asked her sister. "I hope you're aware there are harsh critics in Canterlot."
Luna gazed absent-mindedly at her work, the figure of a pony outlined behind a silken curtain, a hoof raised to pull the veil aside. She smiled broadly and turned her head towards her sister. “I don’t know yet, only time will tell.”