After hearing Spinel ask what a Gala was, Pinkie burst forward with a huge smile and took a large breath in ready to go off explaining on how fun the Gala is and all the weird things that happen there... or at least at the ones she's been too.
She was interrupted though as a now calm Rarity placed her hoof over Pinkie's mouth saying, "Darling, no offence... but I think it would be best if I explain it to her. Wouldn't want her getting the wrong idea like we all did the first time we went."
Pinkie thought for a moment before simply nodding and saying, "True." She then took a seat next to Spinel to watch Rarity explain.
Rarity cleared her throat before using her magic to create a small image of a mare in an elegant blue dress and a stallion in brilliant black suit as she said, "The Grand Galloping Gala, or simply the Gala for short, is one of the most refined and prestigious events in all of Canterlot. The social elite from all across Equestria gather there to engage in fine dining, polite conversation, and dancing."
"OH! I LOVE TO DANCE!" said Spinel as she got up and began doing a little number
(only play from 0:10 to 0:21)
"Not that kind of dancing darling," said Rarity, which caused Spinel to turn her head around a complete 180 to look at her, then down at herself as she realized she'd never seen her backside before and absentmindedly kicked it with her squeaky shoe, before turning back to Rarity.
Rarity then made the image of the stallion and mare dance as she said, "Typically at the Gala there's Ballet, Salsa, Waltz, and well... you know the standard ball room dances."
"Oh," said Spinel as she briefly felt a tremor of sadness at hearing the words, "ballroom," but tried to take her mind off it this time. She turned Rarity and said, "That's sounds.... not very fun."
"I KNOW RIGHT!" said Pinkie with a huge smile as she stepped forward. "That's why I tried to make everypony there loosen up and do some other dances the first time I went."
"OH! DID IT WORK!?" asked Spinel excitedly.
Pinkie froze in her smiling face for a moment before finally saying, "Not really... in fact we all kind of screwed up the night for everypony... except Celestia, she apparently was hoping something like that would happen."
"But I can assure you dear, the next time we went we were on our best behavior and had a smashing time," said Rarity trying to get back to the elegant experience she was envisioning.
"Yeah, but that was only because Discord showed up with friend the Smooze and actually smashed stuff," said Pinkie.
"Oh, that sounds fun! Is Discord gonna do that again this year?" asked Spinel eagerly, ignoring the fact that she didn't know who Discord was.
"Unfortunately no, as soon as he found out that Celestia expects him to go there and ruin something he decided that the most chaotic and unexpected thing to do would just be to not go, so he and Fluttershy are just gonna stay in and have a movie night," said Pinkie.
Rarity sighed as she smiled saying, "Ugh, those two. I'm happy they finally admitted the're more than just friends and officially started going out, Celestia knows we could all see that coming, but I was so looking forward to making them matching outfits the Gala."
"Eh... well maybe you'll have a new couple to make outfits for after it's over, "said Pinkie, remembering Trixie's declaration, as she nudged Spinel... who didn't seem to get what she was driving at.
Spinel simply looked at her saying, "Well can we do something to make the Gala more fun?"
"Hmmm," said Pinkie as she thought about it. "OH I KNOW! You and I could put on a show for everycreature there!"
"THAT WOULD BE AMAZING! WE COULD DO A SONG AND DANCE!" began Spinel with a new level of excitement.
"AND LIGHTS AND PYROTECHNICS!" continued Pinkie, matching her excitement.
"HOLD ON NOW LADIES!" said Rarity as she stepped between them. She turned to Pinkie saying, "Pinkie darling, you know outside entertainment is forbidden inside the Gala hall."
"Which is why we don't do it in the Gala hall, we'll do it the Garden! All the animals there hide from the ponies anyway," said Pinkie as she looked over at Spinel expecting a smile.
What she saw though was Spinel trembling as she simply repeated the words, "Th-the Ga-garden..." and trailed off as the images from her dream came back to her somewhat clearer as she started to see the woman had appearance modifiers not unlike her own in coloration.
She was snapped out of the image though as Pinkie nuzzled against her, scared her friend and wanting her to talk.
"Spinel darling are you OK?" asked Rarity as she too became concerned.
"I... I'm," began Spinel, before remembering what Starlight said about it being normal to feel this way. She decided to focus on Starlight... something about the mare just seemed to calm her, the words she said, what she did to help her, even her name triggered a slight happy emotion in her for some reason. She took a breath before looking at the two concerned mare's in front of her, "I'm OK."
"Are you sure dear?" said Rarity.
"Do you want to go back to Starlight's?" asked Pinkie.
Spinel thought about it, before saying, "No... I think I'll be OK!"
"Well if you're sure," said Pinkie.
"I am," said Spinel with a nod as her normal emotions started returning to her. She then shape shifted back to her usual look before turning to Rarity and saying, "Thanks for helping me pick out a look for the Gala, Rarity."
"Oh... you're quite welcome Spinel," said Rarity as she looked to Pinkie for info about what just happened, only to be greeted by a look that said, "We'll talk later."
Spinel then turned to Pinkie with a renewed smile as she said, "So you want to go home and plan what kind of show we can put on?"
"Sure," said Pinkie with a slight smile, happy to see her friend seemed fine for now, but noting it to make sure she mentioned it to Starlight just in case Spinel tried to leave it out in there next session.
Later that night in Twilight's castle
As Starlight trotted into her room exhausted from her paperwork, she quickly plopped into bed and rested her head on her pillow, happy that the head ache seemed to be subsiding.
She looked up at her bedroom ceiling groaning and saying, "Ehhh, what a long day. I seriously need to have a talk with Twilight because I don't think we need to file every student's psychological profile in triplicate like this... at least I got to help Spinel. Poor girl, I know what it's like to be left alone. Between mom passing away before I could even really remember her and dad working all the time it felt awful when Sunburst left." As she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep though, the voice returned from the back of her head, and this time exited her mouth as she said, "He driiiiffffttteeed away."
In Sugarcube Corner
"Are you sure you don't want to sleep Spinel?" asked Pinkie as she sat up in her bed.
"No I'm OK... I just want to finish this sketch of our performance stage," said Spinel as she continued drawing.
"Well.... OK, if you're sure. Goodnight Spinel," said Pinkie before yawning and turning over in bed.
Spinel smiled at this as she said, "Goodnight Pinkie." She then resumed her drawing as she thought, "Remembering my day with Starlight helped me deal with that... whatever that was at Rarity's place. I just want to make sure I have a few more good memories in my Gem before I sleep again... then the dreams will be better."