//------------------------------// // The Flashiest Gala Ever // Story: One Bolt, Moving Forward // by Boltsinger //------------------------------// “You are hereby ordered to take the entire day of the Grand Galloping Gala off.” Boltsinger’s words echoed in Flash’s mind as he stood in, of all places, a guest room at Canterlot castle. He was without his armor, and he felt just a little bit awkward about that. Sure, there were going to be other guards there. Princess Twilight couldn’t possibly be safer with all of the ponies and other creatures there to assist. But to simply enjoy himself while all of those other guards are on duty? That felt weird… A knock came to the door, shaking him from his thoughts. “Yes? Who is it?” “I’ll give you three guesses!” a baritone voice teased. Flash smirked. “It’s either Twilight, Fluttershy, or Discord, clearly.” The door opened to reveal a deadpanning Boltsinger standing alone in the doorway. “Well, you got one right.” Flash’s head tilted, unsure of what he was talking about. “I did? Which one?” The telltale white flash gave the guard his answer. “Why me, of course!” Discord exclaimed, appearing in the air above him. “Did you think K.K. would throw the biggest shindig of the year and not invite yours truly?” “Come on, everypony’s waiting for us!” Boltsinger said, waving them towards the hallway. Flash and Discord followed, and they made their way to the castle foyer. On the way, Boltsinger shot a glance over at Flash. He gave him a sly grin, moving to a trot. Flash gave a grin of his own, moving to a canter. “Oh, are we having ourselves a race?” Discord asked with a dubious smile. He put his feet on the floor, dragging his cloven hoof as he the ponies galloped past him. Twilight stood in the castle foyer, Starlight, Sunburst, Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Pinkie Pie, Maud, Fluttershy, Trixie, Rarity, Applejack, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders surrounding her. They were waiting for Boltsinger, Flash, and Discord, ready to go for a day about town as they picked up the last of their guests. Most of them held idle conversation, letting time pass as the sound of galloping came from the halls. The thundering grew louder, as if it were headed their way. Finally, Boltsinger and Flash rounded the corner, looking at each other with playful ferocity as they ran full bore. They finally looked forward at the gathering, smirks on their muzzles as they ran neck and neck, each gaining a slight lead in alternation. A finish line appeared before them in a white flash, Discord materializing just in front in a track runner’s outfit and a long, flowing blond mane, running through triumphantly. “I win!” He declared, rising into the air and celebrating as the stallions skidded to a stop. “Oh yeah! Go Discord! Team Chaos!” he chanted, dancing in the air. Flash and Boltsinger glanced at each other, then looked up at Discord. “You cheated.” they simultaneously told him. “So? It’s all in good fun!” Discord retorted, landing on the floor and returning things to normal. “It’s not like either of you care who won, right?” “Nah. ‘Cause it was definitely gonna be me.” Flash bragged, motioning to himself with his hoof. Boltsinger put a hoof on Flash’s shoulder. “Uh, excuse me, I think you got your words mixed up. You were trying to say ‘It was gonna be Bolt’, right?” Flash let out a loud, fake laugh. “No. I would have won for sure.” “Okay, fine, you let yourself think that.” Boltsinger said, walking over to the group. “Better to have confidence than to accept facts, right?” Flash nodded confidently. “Right.” And then he realized what he’d agreed with. “Wait… Hey!” Twilight let out a laugh as they approached, giving her favorite stallion a hug. “You boys ready to go? We still have one more pony to get before we set out into town.” “Ready as I’ll ever be.” Boltsinger confirmed, pumping his foreleg. “How about you, Flash? Ready to have some fun for once?” Flash feigned taking offense, joining the group. “What do you mean ‘for once’? I know how to have fun!” “Oh? Could’ve fooled me. You’re always so stiff and guard-y.” the orange stallion teased. “Well, I’m under orders to loosen up.” the yellow stallion clarified. “Oh. Well, that makes sense.” Boltsinger jokingly admitted. By this point, the two were alone in the doorway, everyone else having already set out. “Maaaaaybe we should catch up with the rest of the group, huh?” They both laughed a little, spreading their wings and quickly rejoining them. Boltsinger landed next to Twilight, looking around. “So… Where is Spike?” “He’s with Ember and Thorax.” she told him. “It’s their first Gala, and they wanted to spend it together.” “That’s cool.” he affirmed. “So, does Moon Dancer know what’s in store for today?” Twilight shook her head. “Well, she knows about the Gala, but I haven’t told her about our other plans.” Boltsinger’s smile turned devious, looking at the road ahead. “Interesting… Well, you did say she needed a break from all the studying.” The gathering continued through Canterlot, going to the stadium. They came upon a ramshackle house just outside the gigantic structure, where Twilight turned to the group and put her hoof in front of her muzzle, shushing them for the sake of surprise. The Princess stepped up to the door, quickly knocking and taking a step back. The door opened, and out stepped a white Unicorn mare wearing a thick black sweater with pink buttons, and black-framed glasses. Her mane and tail looked shockingly similar to Twilight’s, but with red as the primary color, and the stripes bearing two different shades of purple. Her bangs were pulled up with a pair of pink beads to keep her mane out of her eyes, and her Cutie Mark showed a purple crescent moon with three magenta four-pointed stars surrounding it. Her nose was buried in a book that she floated in front of her, her dark purple eyes fixated on it exclusively. She stepped out of the house, not even looking up for a second. “Yes? What is it?” “Moon Dancer, it’s me, Twilight! The Alicorn  informed. She lit up her horn, taking the book and floating it aside. “And not just me, either!” Moon Dancer’s eyes widened as a plethora of ponies, plus one creature she’d never seen before, suddenly encompassed her vision. “Surprise!” Boltsinger and Pinkie yelled, raising a foreleg each. Pinkie looked around at the others. “Seriously? No one else wanted to yell ‘surprise’?! How was she supposed to know it was a surprise, then?!” Boltsinger laughed, patting the pink pony on the back. “They might not have known, Pinkie. But it’s okay.” “Oh well.”Pinkie shrugged, turning her attention back to the pony they had come to see, waving a hoof emphatically. “Hi, Moon Dancer!” Moon Dancer  waved back while she eyed the congregation of companions, her mouth slightly agape. “Oooookay… Why are all of these ponies here?” “We’re going to spend the day together before the Gala tonight!” Twilight answered, putting her wing around her foalhood friend and pulling her along. “And that means everyone! Come on!” The bookish pony gave off a grin, trotting forward and looking at Twilight. “Okay, okay, I’ll join y--” She bumped into something, causing her to fall over, her glasses falling off of her face. “Ow… What was that?” she asked, feeling around for her glasses. The source of the bumping offered a hoof containing the eyewear. “Sorry about that. You okay?” “I’m fine…” she replied, climbing to her hooves and taking the glasses. “Thanks for finding my glasses. I can see okay without them, but I can see a whole lot more...” she put them on, getting a look at the pony who helped her. “... with… them…” She saw a well-built, handsome yellow Pegasus stallion with a blue mane and blue eyes smiling back at her. She retreated into herself slightly, a small amount of red eking its way onto her cheeks as she waved a hoof. “Um… hi!” Flash laughed, waving a wing at her. “Hey. You sure you’re okay?” Moon Dancer laughed nervously, walking past him. “I’m fine. No need to worry about me! Just fine!” “Good. I’m Flash. It’s nice to meet you.” He assured. Moon Dancer shot him a grin. “Likewise.” As the two joined the group, Twilight and Boltsinger shot each other knowing looks. “That was just like how Flash and I first met…” “Oh, really?” Boltsinger started. Twilight looked at their friends with a nod. “That gives me an idea…” Twilight leaned in, turning her ear on his direction. “Oh?” Boltsinger began whispering into her ear. “Hmm… I see where you’re going…” He let out one more whisper, causing her eyes to widen. “Ooh… I like it! Let’s do it!” Twilight and Boltsinger joined the walking crowd, each going to different ponies and having a conversation or two while Flash and Moon Dancer seemed to pull ahead. Flash looked around, having not been to Canterlot for some time, and Moon Dancer would tell him factoids about each of the sights. “Did you know that it was actually Princess Luna that designed the city?” she asked, her face bright with the wonder of knowledge. “It was back when she and Princess Celestia were still learning! She was having some trouble at first, but a powerful sorceress came by and helped her understand what she needed!” “Wow. That’s actually really cool!” He responded, looking around at the city’s design. “I always did feel like this place looked better at night.” “Me, too.” Moon Dancer affirmed. “Twilight and I are always comparing notes on astronomy and astrology. It’s a fascinating subject!” “Sounds like it.” He sent her an inviting look. “Maybe you could teach me more sometime?” From behind them, Boltsinger started a low riff at a steady rhythm, Discord moving his body to the beat with various percussive sounds coming with each twitch. They were soon joined by every grown mare in the gathering besides Maud and Moon Dancer, providing a different complementary part as what sounded like an impromptu musical number went on for another measure. At the head of the group was the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Sweetie Belle taking point in the middle, taking a deep breath. ~When the night… has come And the land is dark… And the moo-oo-oon… is the only… light you see!~ Flash and Moon Dancer looked back, the mare tilting a confused head. “Are they…?” Flash gave a definitive nod. “Yup. They’re singing. They do that sometimes. Supposedly it helps their friendship.” ~No I won’t… be afraid! No I___ won’t… be a-fraid! Just as lo-o-ong… as you stand… stand by_ me!~ Apple Bloom and Scootaloo joined in as backup vocals, putting a three part harmony on the forefront. ~So darlin’, darlin’ stand… by me! OH-OH! Stand… by me! Oh, stand… stand by me! Stand by me!~ “It’s a nice song, though.” Moon Dancer commented, bobbing her head to the beat as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo moved back. ~If the sky… that we look upon… Should crumble and fall… Or the mounta-ain… should tumble… to the sea! I won’t cry! I won’t cry! No, I___ won’t … shed a tear! Just as lo-o-ong… as you stand… stand by me!~ The accompaniment intensified as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo chimed back in. ~So darlin; darlin, stand… by me! OH____ stand… by me! Oh-oh sta-and… Stand by me! Stand by me!~ Sweetie Belle went into a massive refrain, belting out the chorus with her fellow Crusaders. The accompaniment continued on with them, seeming to go on for quite some time as Flash and Moon Dancer continued their conversation. After what felt like a fade-out, the ‘performers’ collapsed, laughing in hoarse hysterics. “That was the first time I’ve gotten to really sing with everypony!” Boltsinger declared, raising his forelegs from his position on his back. “And it was the BEST THING EVER!” His last few words came out so loud that they echoed through the whole city. Flash took a long look at his rival and friend, letting out a loud laugh. “Okay, Bolt. I admit defeat. You’re definitely louder than I am!” “You’re darn right I am!” he replied, sitting up and pointing his hoof at the guard. “So, did you like the song?” Moon Dancer laughed and nodded. “It was great. But… why did you do it?” “There’s a few reasons.” Boltsinger started. “It’s really fun!” Sweetie Belle squeaked, hopping up to her hooves. “It also fosters friendships.” Twilight added, slyly eyeing the two of them. “Of all kinds.” Trixie stepped forward with a flip of her cape. “And you get to put on a grand performance!” The studious Unicorn laughed into her hoof, turning to continue. “Okay, I get it! So, what’s next on the agenda?” The rest of the day had gone well. A trip to the history museum, where Moon Dancer, Sunburst, and Twilight talked at length about the history of Equestria as a whole. When Rainbow Dash, Soarin, and Scootaloo had finally grown bored, they went to a local park for the more energetic amongst them to burn off some energy. Flash took that opportunity to get to know the newest face in their crowd some more, finding out what all she had been studying. Once the mare had finished listing the things she had her eye on, even Pinkie Pie was tired. After a meal, Rarity had declared it time to prepare for the Gala, so the group headed for the castle. In the foyer, everyone was beginning to head their separate ways. Boltsinger started to follow his spouse to their room, but found a hoof on his back before he could begin. He turned back to see Flash giving him his most serious of looks. “What’s up, Flash? Need something?” “Did you know we were going to see Twilight’s friend today?” he asked. “Eeyup.” Boltsinger replied. “Why do you ask?” Flash averted his gaze to the red-headed mare, who was walking with Rarity and most of the other ponies to a changing room. “Well… I’m not sure. But it felt like it did when I first met Twilight.” Boltsinger smiled. “That’s what Twilight said, too. You seemed to hit it off pretty well.” “Yeah. Probably had something to do with the atmosphere.” Flash affirmed, giving Boltsinger a wry grin. The electric stallion shook his head rapidly in denial. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He flared his wings. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Twilight and I have much to go over before the Gala. We’re alternating our greeting duties with the Royal Sisters, and I need to be briefed on what all I have to do.” Flash retracted his hoof, waving his fellow Pegasus along. “Yeah, yeah, go do your thing. I’ll see you later.” Boltsinger waved a wing, taking off after Twilight. Flash let out a heavy sigh, starting towards his room. As he walked, he felt a sudden weight on his back that was somehow also leaning against his head. “You know, this is the first time I’ve done something like this with everypony. I have to admit, it was most enjoyable!” Discord’s voice told him, a higher pitch than it normally was. “Fluttershy and I had so much to talk about! Not to mention that romantic musical number!” “I don’t know how ‘romantic’ it was. It seemed pretty tame, to me.” Flash argued. “Why? Does it have to be romantic?” Discord vanished, appearing this time in front of Flash in a swanky orange suit and top hat. “I suppose not, but it’s not as fun unless somepony is at least a little uncomfortable. Like you are, right now!” “Gee, thanks.” the stallion deadpanned, trotting onward. “Sorry, but it’s not your little romance teasing that has me uncomfortable.” Discord’s face literally lit up. He leaned in, putting his face just next to Flash’s to make him avert his eyes. “Oh? And what is making you so uncomfortable?” “Why does it matter to you?” Flash wondered, pushing the Draconequus’ face away by his fang. “Oh, you know me. I just love a good gossip!” he admitted. “Like, did you know that Princess Celestia is thinking of changing things up tonight? I hear she wants to explore her darker side!” “I’m not sure how comfortable I am with you gossiping about the Princesses… But that’s the point, isn’t it?” Discord nodded profusely as they passed one of the guards on duty. Flash tensed up in the armored pony’s presence, feeling out of place. The tension did not go unnoticed by the spirit of chaos, who put his paw and talon together maliciously. “Oh, I think I know what your problem is…” He vanished in his usual white flash, leaving the pony to his business. It was evening. Flash walked into the castle ballroom, adorned in a flashy white suit jacket that was dotted with black stars. He wore a black button-up shirt under it, tied up at the top with a black bow tie. His mane was swept back in a suave style that Rarity had insisted would be ‘a hit with the ladies’, and he was looking around for anypony familiar. So far, all he could catch was the guards at the doors. Their faces stoic, their bodies almost completely motionless, save for the rise and fall of their breathing. And then there was their eyes. Never before had he felt such a penetrating gaze, as if they bored into his very soul. That is, until another pony bumped into him. He stopped his forward motion, drawing his full attention to the pony that now sat on the floor. He leaned down, offering his hoof. “Hey, you okay?” The red-headed mare accepted his hoof. “I’m fine. For some reason, this keeps happening time today. I’m just glad I’m not wearing my glasses this time!” She rose to her full height, revealing herself to be Moon Dancer. She was wearing a black and purple dress with crescent moons going back-to-back along the skirt, which rode slightly high on her flank and trailed behind her to a degree. All along the back were little stars, the same shade of red as her mane. As she stated, her glasses were noticeably absent, her dark purple eyes seeming to shine brighter than before. Her mane was done in such a way as to let her bangs fall freely, creating a look much like Twilight’s, but it had been given a treatment to make it more wavy with more of a part where her horn poked out. Flash could do nothing but stare for a moment. He knew Rarity did good work, but this was something else entirely. “Oh… Hi, Moon Dancer.” He started, shaking himself free of his own gawking. “You know, we really need to stop meeting like this.” Moon Dancer stifled a giggle. “We really do. Especially when we’re all dressed up like this!” Flash looked around, trying to spot other familiar ponies. “So, where’s Princess Twilight? Aren’t you her guest tonight?” “She told me that it was her and Boltsinger’s turn to greet the guests. They’re out in the foyer.” she explained. “Well, then, would you like to hang out with me tonight?” he offered, holding out his hoof. “I could use some friendly company.” “Sounds good!” She agreed, linking her foreleg with his. “How are you liking the party so far?” “To be honest it’s making me a bit uncomfortable.” He admitted, his gaze passing by the guards again. “It’s not my first Gala, but it is my first time wearing formal attire for it instead of… well… armor.” Moon Dancer let a little confusion slip onto her brow, taking a long, hard look at him. “Wait a minute… Are you the guard that was with Twilight on all of her more recent visits?” Flash rubbed his neck with his wing. “Yeah, that’s me.” Moon Dancer tilted her head in his direction, nudging him with her shoulder. “You should come in next time. It can’t be very fun just standing outside.” Flash nudged her back. “I just might.” Moon Dancer’s ear turned away for a moment, tilting her head as if listening to something. She looked back at Flash with a knowing grin. “By the way, I don’t think any of the other guards have anything against you having a good time.” Flash's eyes went wide, looking at his companion quizzically. “How did you…” “Some… thing… let me know what you were thinking.” She clarified. “And from what I’ve seen, you’re good at your job. You deserve a break every now and then!” The guard made a deep exhale, sitting on her words. He certainly had been giving his most recent post his all. Plus he had made new friends along the way. “I think you’re right. Then again, you’re probably right a lot.” “I do know at least eight thousand three hundred forty-one trivia facts.” She pointed out, puffing out her chest pridefully. Flash showed a look of shock before finally breaking down into a laugh. The pair found their way to the far wall, where Moon Dancer pulled up a couple of chairs. They sat down, looking at the goings on around them. Rainbow Dash and Soarin were in the private section for the Wonderbolts, talking and eating while both in full uniform. Rarity was leaning against Fancy Pants, enjoying a conversation while wearing a maroon gown with black lace lining every edge. Fluttershy, in a white frock that had a vine pattern cascading in multiple colors down the sides and back with her mane in a braid that encircled the crown of her head, sat talking with a couple of other ponies about animal care. Applejack was able to keep her usual hat on, but also wore long cowboy boots on her front hooves, dressed in a red dress with thick borders the same shade of green as a Granny Smith in a design reminiscent of overalls. She was making the rounds, mostly staying near Fluttershy and giving other ponies a kind greeting. Pinkie was on the dance floor, wearing an outfit that looked like it was practically made of cake, performing what looked to be a tango with her sister, Maud, twirling her about the floor, doing various dips, spins, and lifts, half of the time being the one lifted by the stoic mare. Starlight wore a dark purple, form-fitting dress that didn’t bear too much in the way of elaborate designs, but felt more contained. Trixie was the complete opposite. Big, white, and covered in star, moon, and fireworks patterns. The colors seemed to change depending on how the light fell on it, giving the feeling of watching a display whenever one would look at her. Sunburst sat with the two if them discussing magic, clad in a black tuxedo, a fiery red bow tie situated at the collar of his white shirt. Starlight and Sunburst would talk at length about a concept, then explain their meaning once Trixie’s eyes began to wobble. “Enjoying the party?” Twilight asked, stepping up alongside her husband and taking a seat. She was wearing a dress the same color as the night sky, a constellation pattern running throughout the outfit that came up to a six-pointed star on her back, with her mane having been given the same treatment as Moon Dancer’s, with the addition of her crown on her head, and her pendant clipped into her mane by her right ear. Boltsinger, in turn, wore a black suit littered with lightning bolts. Rather than sticking with the normal blue, however, they were spread about in blue, orange pink, red, purple, and magenta, all coming together on his back in the shape of a six-pointed star. He wore a blue bow tie in the collar of his white shirt with his pendant resting just on top of it. His mane was as it always was, an erratic and tangled mess. Moon Dancer turned to look at her oldest friend, giving a swift nod as she returned to pony-watching. “I know a lot of important ponies…” she spotted Thorax and Ember on the dance floor with Spike, trying to figure out how dancing worked. “... And other creatures… at this party, but you really do see beings from all trots of life, don’t you?” “Seeing all the different kinds of ponies there are, making friends with them… That’s one of the best parts of the Gala!” Boltsinger noted, taking a seat of his own. He looked around the room, spotting some familiar faces. “Like them, for instance!” He rose into the air, waving a hoof at the friends he spotted to beckon them over. “Who is it?” Flash leaned forward to get a look at the friends Boltsinger had spotted, tensing up like never before when he saw their faces. Walking up to them was none other than the Royal Sisters, Celestia and Luna. The former was garbed in a sleek, form-fitting black evening gown, a golden sun encrested at the base of her neck. Her shoes and crown were still ever-present, and she had one of the most confident expressions the ponies had ever seen plastered on her face as she strutted over. Princess Luna’s face, however, was as dejected as a pony could get. She wore a bright pink dress that poofed out more than something made for Pinkie Pie, with frilly white trim and lace lining every hem. Her step was more timid and contained than that of her sister, an air of embarrassment all about her. Twilight waved at the Princesses, stifling a laugh. “I still can’t believe Princess Luna is wearing something like that!” Flash let out a hint of a snort, quickly slamming his hoof into his own gut to stop himself. “Why is she wearing that, anyway?” Luna cleared her throat, making her presence within earshot known. “If you must know, I was… defeated in a contest against my sister… This… outfit… is my penalty for losing. I am to wear it for the duration of the Gala.” Boltsinger fell to the floor laughing, his forelegs wrapped firmly around his stomach. Flash sent him a glare, motioning his head towards the Princesses. The orange stallion sat up, calming down as Celestia busted out laughing as well. Everypony within a ten foot radius stopped what they were doing to look at the hysteric Alicorn, who stopped laughing to take a look around. “What? It’s funny!” She stated. The gawking ponies slowly backed away. “And the award for ‘cutest couple if the evening’ goes to…” Discord's voice began from everywhere at once. A drumroll sounded with spotlights searching the room randomly. Various couples in the room looked around wide-eyed for the source of the voice as the lights homed in on their target, nearly blinding Flash and Moon Dancer. “Flashdance!” “But they’re not even a couple!” Boltsinger whispered. “Shh!” Twilight interjected. “Let them have this.” “Uh-huh, you just think it’s cute.” He retorted, nudging her with his wing. Twilight recoiled with a mild blush. “What?! I do not…” She returned her attention to the highlighted ponies, smiling dreamily. Boltsinger noted the look on her face and gave a smug little grin, putting his wing around her and squeezing. Moon Dancer and Flash looked at one another awkwardly. “Discord being Discord, I guess…” Flash suggested, standing up and offering Moon Dancer a hoof. “Wanna dance?” The studious Unicorn turned away. “Oh, no… I… don’t dance. Too much hoof-eye coordination… and then there’s having a good partner, and--” She gave out a loud yelp as the yellow Pegasus took her foreleg, pulling her out to the dance floor. He gave her a relaxed smile. “You know over eight thousand facts, right? Well, here’s another.” He put her hoof on his shoulder, getting into position. “Just feel the music, and trust your partner. It’s simple and fun. And I’ll forgive you if you step on my hoof.” Moon Dancer looked around the room, seeing a great many eyes falling on her. “Um… Are you sure?” “Positive.” He confirmed as the music began. He started with a simple swaying motion, easing her into the idea. Moon Dancer followed her partner’s movements, swaying into steps. “Well, if you say so… Okay!” She said, the two dancing through to the end.