The ballroom was large and polished with gentle music pouring through the space. Several pillars adorned the walls and were layered with golden patterns and shapes, many resembling the family's crest: butterflies.
The floor was a honey-colored stone which mirrored all guests were on its surface, seeing as it was polished spotless. It gently reflected the light of the room, specifically the light raining down from the glass ceiling that seemed to be miles up in the distance. Looking up towards it usually made one feel sick, but the architecture was beautiful, nonetheless.
However, many believed the lovely building not to be the most entrancing distraction at the ball, but the mare who was soon to rule their kingdom.
Ever since her entrance to the ballroom, all eyes had landed on Fluttershy. She had spent the evening shyly chatting with suitors and an occasional mare, all of which seemed taken back by actually seeing her face which seemed to compete with her gown for shere beauty.
She wore a pastel pink dress that flowed behind her in several layers, each getting darker as it progressed further away from her. A small, dainty crown rested on the top of her mane where an aquamarine crystal butterfly jewel shined in its center, matching her eyes.
When she was seen at events, on rare occasion, she usually wore a veil that hid her features. But, to Rarity's demand, her face was fully visible. When she found herself without a veil, Fluttershy's mane covered the majority of her face instead. Her appearance was a mystery due to this, and many assumed she was simply unattractive.
She wore white stockings and gloves with a gentle, golden lace at the top that made her extremely uncomfortable. She was often seen brushing her hoofs together, wishing the fabric would just disappear.
Word of her features and shocking beauty had spread fast and seeing her was an experience every stallion in town craved.
Fluttershy, however, disliked the intentions of the stallions who attempted to woo her. While they were all charming, and didn't seem disrespectful, were also fake and condescending towards her. Either her beauty and elegance or the suitor's wealth seemed to be the topic of every conversation she held for that night.
Well, if they could even be considered conversations. Fluttershy simply nodded and gazed away while her face constantly flushed with color, desperately trying to hide and avoid any interaction, even though she lacked a mane to hide behind.
Every complement flustered the soon-to-be queen beyond comprehension as she nodded and politely thanked every stallion force-feeding her kind words. Her maids and servants often complimented her beauty, but the mare knew they did so out of kindness, not out of greed, as she assumed the stallions before her eagerly did.
It had been hours since she had been able to hide away from the ball and the stallions that crowded it. She quickly felt more and more anxious as the sky continually got darker and darker, acknowledging that her fate would be sealed as soon as it was midnight.
She sighed, knowing the night would be long and tedious, only ending with a groom forced in her direction. She felt sick and alone as she eyed the clock throughout the night. Each hour meant an hour closer to being bound to someone for life, whether happiness was involved or not.
A slight whimper escaped her lips as another suitor tapped her on the shoulder, eagerly initiating a conversation with the mare.
With a defeated sigh, the soon-to-be queen glanced over her shoulder, returning the stallion's greeting.
The two had a bland, generic conversation as the night dwindled. They talked of estates and funding, though it was rather a one-sided bragging contest in which the stallion had much joy in bloating in.
Fluttershy's eyes were glued to the window above the ballroom as the stallion talked. The sky was filled with clouds and the window had a slight amount of dew in on its surface, seeing as it had rained during the day. It was clear Celestia was foreshadowing Fluttershy's fate, or that's what the mare assumed.
She knew this night would be horrible for her and would only get worse as soon as it was midnight.
However, her eyes were no longer focused on the window as countless mares giggled and gawked in the direction of the castle's entrance, where a single carriage stood out among all the others. It was adorned with deep shades of maroon and black, both of which suggested a funeral or any other event than a royal ball. Yet, the mares seemed eager to meet the owner of such an ominous vehicle, and continually gazed towards it while the jealousy in the room continually grew from the suitors.
While the mares seemed intrigued and fancied the ominous stallion's carriage, the stallions scoffed and commented on how ridiculous the decor was. To Fluttershy, however, she found it...unique. While a bit scary, she, too, was curious to meet the pony who remained inside.
The stallion Fluttershy was having a 'conversation' with traced her gaze back towards the carriage before envy creeped on his face as he cleared his throat and stepped between the vehicle and the royal mare. He smiled greatly and nervously as he attempted to gain her attention.
However, Fluttershy innocently gazed around the suitor out of curiosity. Many of the guests were locals of the kingdom, but whoever was going to step out of that carriage was surely a foreigner. No one in this kingdom would dare arrive in something so...different!
Many of the guests stared with greedy and questionable intentions, but Fluttershy gazed with an innocent curiosity. She had rarely ever left the castle, and seeing someone who clearly was not from the area...intrigued her.
As the door to the carriage opened, everypony gazed away, not wanting to be caught staring. However, Fluttershy's ears twitched as her attention didn't falter, but her curiosity grew.
The dark, intimidating carriage sat outside the elegant palace's entrance. The vibes between the dark castle and the inviting castle clashed and seemed...out of place. Many assumed it was a foreign stallion who had come to whisk away the queen and her wealth. However, the younger mares thought the carriage to belong to a vampire!
Why else would the windows be so dark?
The stallion who stepped out of the carriage fit that description perfectly, seeing as he was a charming and handsome unicorn, though a bit older than many had expected. Everything about him was dark and intimidating. Yet, oddly attractive, for pony standards, even appearing to be in his late twenties or early thirties.
He wore somewhat-regal attire for the event: a dark blue suit with a white collar and maroon bow tie. Such an outfit was far too casual when compared to what the king usually wore, but wearing any clothes in this form was extremely uncomfortable for him, so he settled for what he could tolerate.
"This body is so cramped and...miserable!" Discord uttered in clear, bitter disgust as he attempted to stretch his hoofs. "Really, how do ponieslivelike this? It's so restricting!"
The group of young mares leaned towards each other, whispering about himactuallybeing a vampire, which only made him seem even more intriguing for the giddy mares. If he wasn't suited for the queen, they all hoped to have a chance with him. After all, with a carriage like that, his wallet was surely filled to the brim.
He was dark, mysterious and clearly wealthy! What else could a mare want?
Discord rolled his eyes as he gazed upwards towards the building's decorations and remained oblivious to the eyes of the small group of mares on him. Large trees and countless plants adorned the outside of the palace with banners of the family's crest hanging on each side of the entrance.
"Howboring.Though, I never took the Butterflies for thefuntype. Don't know why I'm surprised."
His deep voice further wooed the group of listeners as they gossiped. However, they all quickly skidded off indoors as the music increased in volume; the dances were starting.
The king gave a wide, confident smile as followed suit, casually walking towards the entrance, now alone. He took this time to think to himself about how he was going to manage this plan of his. While it was easy for him to appear charming and convincing, he knew it would be hard to convince the heiress that his words were genuine. After all, manipulation was his specialty! Pretending to be a loving, considerate stallion would be simple, but for her to go along with it would be...questionable.
Discord smiled, however, when he remembered that the light that would bind the two would be enough reason for her to answer his questions. After all, when a Charming young stallion is destined to be with you, why wouldn't you openly be honest with him? As long as Twilight did as he requested, she would likely do as he asked.
His smile was replaced with a bitter grunt at the appearance of every guest as he stood in the entrance. Countless mares were smiling and giddy as they desperately tried to find themselves a stallion who had a wallet to backup their charm, while the stallions themselves only focused on one mare in the room, one of which the king was unable to clearly see due to the countless guests flooding her view.
Their eyes seemed to lock for a fraction of a second before she was blocked away, once again.
The king's eyes were quickly pulled away from the heiress in the distance as he was eagerly approached by young ladies who seemed to take on to his charm and appearance. He found the attention revolting and unnecessary, seeing as he was unable to holster such feelings.
Discord rolled his eyes at every mare who sweetly greeted him and attempted to woo him. He returned any kind gestures with a growl and occasional venomous insult, knowing the younger ponies were eager to prey on the wealthy stallions attending.
He, however, was unlike any stallion attending the ball. Physical means meant very little to him, so every mare attempting to court him was as unnecessary as sense itself. He felt no need to play along with their ruses and thanked the heavens when all eyes turned towards the white young unicorn playing the piano, as the music seemed to slow down in pace.
The dance was starting.
The second Twilight had reached the top of the Butterfly Kingdom's roof, she was met with an uncomfortably-wet surface from a recent downpour of rain. The weather had cleared, but the thickening clouds and dewy scent remained.
She scowled at the musky scent, wishing it hadn't been so easy to sneak to her destination. Up there, the it was dreary and dark…unlike the rest of the castle, which was a soft white with elegant golds complementing its walls. The roof had no need to be appealing, seeing as only workers would see it, but it still bugged her.
On such a romantic, unique night, the mare was alone and irritated on a filthy roof, rather than accompanying the other ponies below her.
She gazed through the large window that allowed the moonlight into the ballroom. The glass was large and took up a majority of the rooftop, allowing the room below to be filled with natural light. The mare glanced towards the moon above, putting two and two together.
She was in the right location; this was where the spell would happen.
However, Twilight frowned as she did a quick doubletake. The moonlight...where was it?
Moonlight barely escaped through the intense clouds, but it seemed to continually streak and fight through the cracks of its walls. It was just bright enough to see, but the guarantee of a cloud-free sky was dim.
Would the moon even shine for the ceremony? It was nearly 12...surely it wouldn't. Even if it did, the light wouldn't make it through the veil above.
The mare rolled her eyes. She was never told to manage the weather, so she considered flopping the plan. She didn't want the king to be successful, after all. But, the agreement she had made with the king flashed before her.
What he told her he wanted...what he needed,was something she hadn't even considered. Well, she had pondered about it, but never found it to be a solid conclusion. Yet, the fool of a king trusted the mare so fondly that he revealed his cards so eagerly.
She had expected a ridiculous reason, seeing as the king often found pleasure in mischief and chaotic activities. Yet, even with that, she knew there was a deeper reason to his actions. He could create anything, yet he so desperately wanted the kingdom. She had observed him for countless years...she knew he was far more than fun and chaos.
Discord was foolishly confident in this plan and Twilight's orders. What he was after took the unicorn by surprise, but not a relieved shock, but a rush of fear as she realized what the future would bring if he claimed it.
What he wanted was anything butrandom or fun.
It was life-threatening.
The mare shook her head, eagerly getting the image out of her mind.
Now that she knew what he wanted, she couldn't let him claim it. She justcouldn't,no matter her personal goal. She would not doom Equestria to such a fate once again, nor let him become the monster he used to be.
Twilight's eyes drifted towards the mares and stallions entering the room below from a large entrance. Their conversations were muffled by the glass between them, but her eyes gazed in a saddened envy and then moved upwards, back towards the cloudy sky.
However, as soon as she faced upwards, Twilight's face immediately burst with color and heat as a large ball of fire rushed past the mare, singeing the unicorn's mane. Her eyes remained wide in shock for a few seconds before allowing her eyes to follow the trail of smoke towards its caster:
A single unicorn with yellow fur and a bright, contrasting mane that seemed to scream fire and heat. Yellow streaks ran down her mane and seemed to make her appear as intense as that spell had been. Her eyes, too, seemed filled with fury.
"You should work on your aim," Twilight muttered while blowing her mane out of her eyes. Once she could see clearly, she angrily locked eyes with the caster for a better examination.
The stranger's eyes were smug and confident, yet harsh and...intriguing.
She wore a waitress's outfit: a lovely, yet casual, black skirt with white stockings and blouse. She was clearly on the staff of the ball being arranged below, yet why did her presence feel so...heated? So intense? What did Twilight feel so nervous?
Why was she even on the roof?
"I think my aim's pretty accurate, if I do say so myself," the stranger replied with a sly smirk. Such a grin was both charming and off putting.
The yellow mare's eyes flicked towards the sky and focused on the clouds above, causing her company's to follow suite in curiosity.
Twilight's eyes widened further as she squinted in disbelief while light quickly consumed the area around the two. The condensed magic had met directly in the center of the sky and caused the clouds to slowly ripple and disappear, leaving the moon's light free to travel as it pleased.
The waitress smirked as she arched a brow and turned back towards her company. However, instead of an impressed expression, Twilight was pulling on her mane in shock.
"No no no…no!" Twilight called out in desperation as her eyes wandered throughout the sky. Her fear quickly turned into anger as her eyes shot towards the culprit and took several steps towards her. "Stay out of this! You can't just...just do something like that when I'm clearly in the middle of something!"
The other mare seemed shocked for a moment before giving a mocking laugh.
"What? Isn't this what your precious little master wanted hisgoody-two-shoesfollower to do? Consider yourself lucky. I just saved you a step." She scoffed while her smirk slightly grew. "Clearing a sky this heavy is incredibly diffic-"
The boasting pony was instantly interrupted as Twilight's horn became enveloped in a slight hue of purple. Twilight's gaze never left the other mare's as a single, condensed beam shot upwards above the two, consuming the sky in a dull storm of clouds.
The haze consumed the sky, causing it to revert back into its original state: one of which the moon's fate-deciding beam would not travel through.
The silent spell was enough communication for the waitress to understand Twilight's goal.
The yellow mare angrily turned her gaze back towards Twilight as she stomped a single hoof in frustration.
"Who...who exactly do you think you are?!" The yellow mare huffed through clenched teeth. It was clear she was impressed, but in sense that made her despise the pony before her. "Are you actually defying the monster?" She paused as an excited, yet hateful, smile crawled across her expression. "Hah, I guess this cutesy little unicorn has some guts after all. Who would've guessed?"
Twilight frowned out of frustration and confusion. What side was this pony on? She clearly had information of Twilight's orders, even going so far as to mention Discord, but seemed to be carrying out the king's wish.
Yet, she wore a maid's uniform! Was she...a spy? A pawn? No, she had called Discord amonster.This was on her own accord.
"Defying would suggest I was ever under his power," Twilight uttered cautiously, the same hatred slowly creeping up on her. Yet, she managed to remain composed, opposed to her company, who seemed to glow with distaste towards the purple mare. "But how do you know that I even work for him? Who says I'm not here on the Butterfly family's request? I could be fixing the..the uh, window!"
She cringed, knowing that was a clear lie. But, what else could she say? The window was the only other thing up there with them!
The yellow mare's smile faded as she glanced towards the window and then back to Twilight.
"I've seen you sneak around here several times." The waitress paused, her voice continually picking suspicion. Clearly, she knew what she was doing. "This isn't your first time doing the monster's dirty work. At first, I assumed you were a common thief, but now I can see what youreallyare."
Twilight bit her lip. She had been figured out. Clouding out the sky had given it away...saying she wasn't loyal didn't help, either.
Why was she being so...careless? Twilight had never been seen or found out...yet, this mare had found her? Multiple times? She hated to admit it, but the more the two argued, the more she became compelled to hear her out.
"I'm guessing you're not a waitress," Twilight added strictly. She needed to distract the mare until the clock hit twelve...then, she wouldn't manipulate the light to land on Discord, or whoever she was aiming for.
"Don't judge a book by its cover, puppet. Didn't they teach you that in school?"
Twilight stiffened at such a ridiculous nickname and insult. Puppet suited her, however. After all, whether she was loyal to Discord or not, she was wrapped around his talon.
"Oh, did that bother you?Sorry,I should have known youdidn'tgo to school. Rather obvious from the sloppy weather-manipulating spell." She grinned as her brow furrowed. "My bad."
Twilight gritted her teeth in anger. The two didn't know each other, yet here she was, being lectured by a stranger on a damp roof! Plus, her spell was flawless!
However, their discussion was cut short as a single chime was heard below through the thick glass; the clock was counting down the minutes to twelve. The note was long and low...rather ominous for such an occasion, sending shivers down Twilight's spine. The note played for several seconds before echoing away.
"Sorry to cut our little date short." The yellow mare paused as her horn started to glow. "But, I have better things to worry about."
Just as it had earlier, a ball of fire darted towards the sky, opening the night sky to rain light down on the two once again. No matter the mare's motives, it was clear that she intended to manipulate who the light landed on.
However, Twilight held her ground, never gazing away from the unicorn before her. With a huff, she sent another blast of haze towards the sky, angrily determined to put an end to this.
Her company's gaze, too, didn't leave Twilight's, as the two silently fought for dominance, casting spell after spell. Yet, both were slightly impressed at each other.
"Not bad for a traitor," the yellow mare snarked while crouching down as she prepared to pounce. "But, now that I see your little game, I'll have to put an end to you. I'd say nothing personal, but you've irritated me to a point where it'sbecomepersonal."
Another long, drawn-out chime passed, urging a fight to break out between the two.
Twilight's eyes widened at both the word "traitor" and the clock's cry. Knowing she had been found out by her opponent, she couldn't let the mare escape. The second word of her betrayal reached Discord, she would lose her position and chance at finishing her purpose in Discord's castle.
And, more likely, lose her life in the process, while perhaps also bringing her partners the same fate.
However, Twilight's thoughts were cut short as her company grinded her hoof into the floor before setting her horn ablaze and charging at her. Her horn was consumed by a fire-like sword as it brushed through the wind.
Twilight instantly dashed to the side as the other member shot herself towards her and attempted to slash at her. The yellow unicorn skidded as she stopped to maintain her balance, quickly turning around and pausing. As soon as Twilight gained enough distance between the two, she shot another beam into the sky while covering it in the familiar clouds.
A loud grunt was heard from across the rooftop.
"Would you stop that?!" The waitress cried in frustration while diminishing the fire engulfing her horn.
"Then mind your own business!"
The waitress scoffed. "You think this isyour business?!You're just interfering with Discord's plans! Unlike you, some of us have our own roles to play, rather than being his little puppet!" She paused as her horn lit up and shot a large beam at Twilight.
Twilight cast a bright bubble, which popped as soon as the spell made contact. The two frowned before crouching close to the ground and running at each other once again, the two gaining speed incredibly fast.
However, the bell rang once again, resulting in Twilight's eyes widening as she lost focus while running, gazing at the ball's occupants through the large window to her side.
She was running out of time.
Before the two could meet, the yellow unicorn dashed to the side as she took advantage of Twilight's temporary distraction, causing her to fumble forward with clear confusion and irritation. Before she could catch her balance, she fell forward as the mare teleported and tripped her, angrily stomping over her.
Twilight landed in a puddle as her dress became soaked in the dirty liquid. She groaned as the water splashed in her face due to the yellow hooves now pinning her down.
Twilight angrily frowned as their eyes locked.
The waitress confidently eyed her with a content and triumphant chuckle.
"Now you can see your place in this world," she muttered with triumph and confidence while leaning forward. "Beneath me."
Twilight blushed at the words, though her anger didn't falter. While the mare on top of her hadn't meant it, the words were suggestive enough to fluster the pony beneath her.
Twilight was snapped out of her daze from the bell's continual ringing. She grunted as she attempted to move for several moments, only being met with a sly grin belonging to the unicorn who pinned her to the damp floor.
After a few moments of shoving, she managed to flip the waitress over, only to have the same thing done to her. The two wrestled until they found themselves on top of the sturdy glass, fighting to claim dominance.
The bell rang once again, making both mares push even harder to win.
While Twilight knew she was likely better at magic than her opponent, she was clearly lacking in strength as the yellow unicorn pinned her down once again, now the center of the glass window, though no one seemed to take notice of the two mares, especially since the window was at the top of the highest ceiling in the castle.
Twilight gazed from left to right in desperation as the bells seemed to chime faster and faster as midnight was less than a minute away. While they had fought, each bell signalling a minute felt so intense that everything seemed to play out far longer than it had in reality.
Yet, even with the constant ringing, the victorious unicorn seemed oblivious to the chiming as she pinned her opponent down with a confident glare. Twilight hid a smirk at this, seeing that, even though she had bested her, she would win...the light would not strike Discord if she remained too distracted to alter it.
The ringing was ominous and dark as it continued to its final call.
"As fun as this was, purple, I have my errands to attend-"
A final, loud echo forced the waitress to lose track of her words as the chime signaled midnight.
The two seemed to exchange expressions as the final, ominous ring echoed throughout the roof. It was far longer and oddly beautiful as it rang throughout the castle. The mares and stallions below were eagerly glancing from left to right at the suitors, hoping it would land on someone they knew to inherit some wealth.
"No!" The waitress called out as she shoved Twilight out from beneath her, plunging her muzzle into the glass. The yellow unicorn's horn started to glow upwards towards the moon, but before her spell could be cast, the moon was enveloped in a blue haze that seemed to glow and radiate a haze of glowing dust.
Before either of them could react and manipulate the light, or run away from it, a beautiful, intense beam shot downward through the window, selecting a single stallion who would be bound to the Butterfly Kingdom, as so fate decreed.
A muffled gasp could be heard from below as it landed on the future king. The reaction was that of shock and confusion, but the two mares on top of the window didn't seem to notice, as a suitor in the ballroom were not the only ones the beam shot through, as the light, too forced its way through both Twilight and her mysterious opponent before reaching the room below.
The light was chilly and damp as it bounced through the two females, removing the memory of fighting moments prior.
The two froze as their gazes locked in an intense confusion. At first, they had squinted due to the light's intensity, but quickly found it tolerable as they continued to stare, their silence communicating countless questions about the situation they were in.
Both of their eyes seemed to glow for a few seconds as their gazes continually locked. However, both of them shook their head as they snapped out of the trance while gazing downward, remembering the purpose of this light.
The two mares cried out in horror and shock as they both recognized a single stallion consumed in light as he stared directly at Fluttershy from across the ballroom, their gazes just as powerful as the two opponents had been when the light had fought its way through them.
Fate, without Twilight's interference, had selected a suitor that was destined to be the heiress' true love and future ruler.