“Quite the party, this is,” I said to Mother.
“Arc,” she said, her perfect Prench accented with a warning, “please be nice. After all, this is so important to your father...”
“I am,” I replied. “It’s not as exciting as the parties we have back in Maresailles, of course, but it’s nice to get a little peace and quiet.” I sipped at my glass, then looked around. The three of us stood in the middle of the Canterlot Garden Party, supposed to be one of the fanciest events in Equestria. It was nice, of course, but I’d never felt quite at home at these sorts of things...
I looked down at my glass. “And what did you say this was called?” I asked Mother.
“In Common Equestrian, they call it... the cider,” she said, slipping carefully out of her Prench. “Really, it’s nothing like the cider back home. They serve it too quickly, don’t let it ferment at all, and they put too many spices in it to really taste the apples.” She sighed. “Though it can be quite delicious, I still miss the sort we can get in Prance…”
I gave her a sidelong glance. “Any chance of a glass of wine, then?”
She chuckled. “Nice try, but no. You’ll have to wait until you’re twenty-one, at least in Equestria. For now, you’ll have to content yourself with your…” she sneered the slightest bit “...apple juice.”
“Dears,” Father said, suddenly, “look sharp. I believe the lady of honor is coming this way.”
I looked up, and blinked in surprise. Working her way slowly through the crowd towards us was a mare I didn’t recognize. She wore a shining silver gown, had a white coat, and had curled her purple mane in the latest Prench fashion—or something like it, at least.
“The Lady Rarity,” Mother whispered in my ear. “Married Prince Blueblood last month.”
I looked at her and nodded, then turned back to watch the mare. As she drew closer, the crowd parted a little—and very nearly dropped my glass.
At first, I had thought she was alone, but no: beside her was a second pony. I knew her name, of course. She had been introduced as Lady Twilight Sparkle when she entered the garden. But, from where we were standing, I hadn’t been able to get a good look at her—from that distance, she was merely a purple-and-gold blur. But, from this close…
She was magnificent. So small and demure, yet obviously intelligent, not to mention clever. Her dress was a simple, yellow thing, and yet it suited her slight frame perfectly. She turned to look at me, and for just a moment, my heart fluttered. She couldn’t have been more beautiful were she a goddess painted by Mérens...
And suddenly, I felt completely and utterly naked. For just a moment, I saw myself as she must see me: a scrawny unicorn colt, just entering adulthood, with eyeglasses two sizes too large. Nothing much to look at, with a cream-colored coat and a dull-red mane—next to the brilliant whites and creamy pastels of his parents, he’s practically an old dishrag lying in the gutter. Even his cutie mark is embarrassing: a famous Prench landmark, indicating an interest in both history and architecture, neither of which are fields that would win over a mare of quality. Nothing to recommend him save his father’s money, as indicated by a tailored suit and a narrow tie of Neightalian silk. In short: an utterly forgettable young stallion, who had foolishly chosen to accompany his parents on their night of pleasure, when he would have much rather been at home studying one of his books...
Distantly, I heard Father speaking, but in Equestrian this time. My ears perked up. Ever since we’d planned this trip, I’d been trying to brush up on the language, but it was harder than I thought it would be. I could understand most ponies fairly well, but speaking was still difficult…
“Always a pleasure, of course, Milady,” he was saying. “And yet, I don’t believe I’ve met your companion..?”
Rarity gave a little curtsy. “Of course. Twilight, this is Fancy Pants. Fancy Pants, this is Lady Twilight Sparkle.”
He shook her hoof warmly. “Glad to make your acquaintance.” He gestured towards Mother. “And this is my wife, Fleur Dis Lee…”
“Enchanted,” she said in Prench, then leaned forward and kissed Twilight on both cheeks. Twilight staggered backwards a step, her glasses slipping off her nose, which somehow made me love her even more.
“...and this is my son, Arc D’Triomphe,” he said, grabbing me by the elbow and dragging me forward. “Say hello, Arc.”
“‘Allo,” I said awkwardly.
“Hel-lo!” Rarity gasped, turning to Father. “I didn’t know you had a son—!”
I licked my lips. “I… h-have the study… at th-the second school…” I said nervously.
“Arc just graduated from a prestigious secondary academy in Maresailles,” Father said proudly. “He’s spending a year travelling, and will return to the University of Gasconeigh in the Fall. He just happened to be visiting home in time for this delightful party.”
“Oh really!” cried Rarity. “Fascinating! Well, I’d love to catch up, hear all about Prance, but we really must be going… more ponies to meet, of course…”
“I think we can stay another minute,” Twilight said.
I looked up, surprised, and saw her staring back at me. She smiled a little, and I felt my face flush.
“Perhaps we can come back later, Darling,” Rarity said, pulling on Twilight’s elbow. As they trotted away, Twilight turned back and looked over her shoulder at me. I gave her a little smile and a wave of my hoof, and she blushed and looked away quickly.
“Well,” said Mother, “she seems nice.”
“Indeed,” said Father. “Smart as a whip, that one—though she seems a little too shy for her own good…”
“I liked her,” I said with a sigh.
Father looked surprised, but Mother just gave me a knowing look.
I took a sip of my now-warm cider, then looked around the room. I spotted Twilight, a short distance away, but she was already deep in conversation with another mare. I watched her for a moment, thinking foolish thoughts, before something else caught my eye. I turned and stared for a moment, then tapped Father’s shoulder.
“Yes, Arc?” he asked, leaning down.
“Is that… the Princess?” I asked, gesturing.
Father glanced up, then looked back down. “One of them, yes. That’s Celestia, the Sun Princess.”
“And this is her party, correct?”
“After a manner of speaking. It’s the Palace’s party, to be truthful, but it’s often considered an opportunity for Her Highness to keep tabs on the important ponies of the Kingdom.”
I nodded. “But, then—why is she so upset?”
Mother and Father both turned to look, seeing, for the first time, what I had already noticed. Princess Celestia towered over everypony else, so she wasn’t exactly hard to see. Even so, she had retreated to a corner of the garden, and stood with her back facing us, head down and wings drooped. Beside her stood a shorter stallion in a military uniform, apparently attempting to console her—though, for all the effect he was having, he might have as well been talking to a wall.
Father looked back at me again, his eyes sparkling behind his monocle.
“Haven’t the foggiest,” he said.
And, though he was trying to smile, I thought I could sense his unease.