Twilight silently wished she were anywhere but here.
The Grand Galloping Gala was the event of the year. Ponies from all across Equestria gathered here at Canterlot Castle specifically for this night, and this night alone. Beyond the prestige of being invited to this event with the golden-leafed ticket, this party was where new deals were struck between nobles, and ponies rubbed elbows to meet new faces, or rather, new contacts.
Twilight spent this night, much like she had spent it last year, at the top of a set of stairs, meeting ponies, nodding in understanding, and offering her hoof for the occasional, polite kiss. Keeping her face the perfect mask of politeness, she inwardly bemoaned the fact that she was stuck here. A few years back, the infamous Smooze Gala, as it was called, was the last time that Twilight managed to move around at all during this event.
She would much rather be anywhere right now.
Even breaking into a warehouse.
“I’m sure this year has been great for business,” Twilight said to the mare in front of her, “but I’m sure that you don’t want to spend the whole night speaking with me. Go and enjoy the party.”
The mare nodded and left, and Twilight smiled at the next pony in the line.
The good news about this Gala was that the long line of ponies typically scared away the other creature delegations that had since been invited. Her current conversation was interrupted by a yell across the way of “Yak approve of hor’s d ‘oeuvres!” before she continued as though nothing happened.
Though, now that Twilight thought about, she probably should track down Thorax and Pharynx, the changeling king and his brother, for a quick discussion about the shards of Chrysalis’ throne.
“Well, enjoy the Gala,” Twilight said with a grin, before turning to the next pony in line, only for her voice to catch in her throat.
“Princess Twilight, it’s so good to see you,” an all-too-familiar voice said as a white-coated alicorn stood before her.
“P-P...Celestia,” Twilight said. “It’s good to...see you…”
Twilight blinked, trying to make sure that what she was seeing was right. The retired princess wore a dress, but that was standard procedure at the Gala, and while it looked lovely, the more frightening thing was that...well…
Celestia had shrunk.
“It’s not that big of a surprise, is it?” Celestia asked, smiling mischievously, before taking the princess in a soft embrace.
“I-I’m so sorry!” Twilight said, as though the hug shocked her brain back into motion. “I just wasn’t expecting this. Are you okay?”
“Okay? Princess, I’m wonderful!” Celestia said with a grin. “Look I’m re-wearing a Gala dress, and nopony cares.”
It was an older dress. The one from the Smooze Gala, though obviously taken in for her new height, but she still looked beautiful in the gradient of pinks that ran down her flank. “I guess you're right, surely that’s enough cause for celebration,” Twilight said, trying to regroup her manners in front of every important pony in her kingdom.
“Just enough,” Celestia said, “and how are you doing?”
“Oh, fine. The normal problems with running a country, but nothing too big, you know,” Twilight said with a smile.
“Wonderful, I’m glad to hear that you’re taking to your role.”
Twilight nodded, before glancing at Celestia one more time. “Um, Pr...Celestia, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but...is this normal?” Twilight asked, realizing with concern that she could nearly see over the top of her old mentor’s head.
“Oh, Twilight, I have no idea.”
Twilight blinked. “Sorry? I don’t—”
“Princess Twilight, how many alicorns do you know?” Celestia asked in her gentlest teaching voice.
“Including myself, five?” Twilight said, not quite sure where she was going with her point.
“And how many alicorns do you think there have been?”
It took Twilight a second. “Don’t tell me five,” she said.
“Twilight, there haven’t been enough alicorns for us to know if anything we do is normal,” she said. “You can grow three feet tomorrow, I could shrink to the size of a walnut, your mane could change color, who knows what might happen! For all I know, I could die of old age here at this party, at any moment!”
The way she said it, with a slightly excited tone to her words, didn’t put Twilight at ease. “And you’re okay with that?” she asked, some panic in her voice.
She shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter if I am, Twilight. What will happen, will happen, regardless of what I do about it.”
“That…” Twilight began.
“Princess Twilight,” Celestia said with a smile. “Don’t worry about me. There’s nothing that can be done, so worrying will not help. Besides, you have a kingdom to run, my wellbeing isn’t important anymore.”
“But...Celestia…” Twilight said, trying very hard not to call her “Princess.”
“Not another word about it, Princess. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have always wanted to go to a Grand Galloping Gala and get completely drunk,” she said with a smile before she slipped away. This left Twilight to face the rest of her line, with the next well-dressed stallion staring after the retired alicorn with a look of concern on his face.
Twilight was sorely considering following her, just to chase her down and finish the conversation. Unfortunately, she had a pony line to greet, and it would be dangerous to “snub” them. So, unfortunately, she let them go.
“Drink, Your Highness?” a pony said, holding up a tray with a champagne flute.
“Thank you,” she said, before doing a double-take.
The pony holding the tray was none other than Night, smiling wide.
Twilight’s eyes went wide before she turned to the massive lines of ponies.
They couldn’t know!
She couldn’t let them know!
She panicked, a spell hanging on her horn before she cast it. Major Thorn’s Modify Memory washed over the line, and all of the ponies in it suddenly felt that they had already spoken with the Princess. In fact, they could remember that they talked to her not ten minutes ago. Why were they wasting time in this line?
The line began to dissipate, and the stallion at the top of the stairs nodded. “It’s been a pleasure to speak with you, Princess.”
Twilight nodded frantically, smiling wide the entire time.
The stallion left, and Twilight spun to face Night.
But he was gone.
Twilight narrowed her eyes. “Oh, he is not getting away with this,” she muttered to herself, before she followed after him, descending into the party below.
---$---
Despite what she said, Celestia was not trying to get drunk. Quickly, at least.
She waltzed her way through the party, smiling and nodding at the ponies around her before she quickly retreated the moment they started to talk about politics. So far, she had managed to avoid most of those conversions, catch up with some old friends, dance wildly on the dance floor specifically to make a scene, and empty the punch bowl at least once.
“A drink, Lady Celestia?” A voice said beside her, and she turned to see a very familiar pony masquerading as a servant.
“Night Silk, is that you?” Celestia asked, knowing full well it was. “What are you doing, dressing up as waiter?”
“Showing Princess Twilight a weakness in her security,” Night said with a smirk. “To help with the whole ‘proving my worth’ thing.”
Celestia shook her head. “I’m afraid Twilight isn’t aware of what she started, insulting your skills like that.”
Night smirked to himself.
“I hope the amulet has proved itself useful?” the alicorn asked.
“Oh, yes. It’s helped a bunch. That thing is incredibly useful, you know.”
She nodded. “I do, that’s why I had it commissioned. You know I’m going to have to burn another favor with Thorax to get a new one now, don’t you?”
Night nodded. “I suppose. Sorry, Your Ladyship.”
Celestia gave him a good-natured eye-roll before she glanced across the room. “Is that Twilight coming toward us?”
Night followed her gaze. “It appears so.”
“I thought she still had a bunch of nobles to greet.”
Twilight approached quickly, trying desperately to not appear like she was rushing. “What are you doing here?” She asked through a forced smile.
“Serving ponies, Your Highness,” Night said with a smirk.
She glared at him. “You know what I mean.”
Celestia sighed. “Princess, if I may?”
Twilight glanced up at her. “Yes?”
“I’m about to retire to one of the smaller balconies. Would you care to join me?”
Twilight blinked, obviously not catching on.
Celestia then turned to Night. “If you would be so kind as to serve the Princess and me when we’re out there?”
Night smiled and gave a slight bow. “Of course, Your Ladyship,” he said, slipping away.
Celestia gave him a nod, before slipping a wing around Twilight to lead her out toward the balcony. “You know, you shouldn’t have threatened his job,” Celestia said. “That’s only made him worse.”
“You mean he didn’t act this way with you?” Twilight asked.
“No, he simply sat in the shadows until I was mostly alone before reporting.”
They stepped into the night air on a private balcony, and Celestia closed one of the doors behind them. “But I still have to wonder why you’re trying to get rid of him. Did something happen?”
Twilight sighed. “Honestly, Princess, I didn’t even know he was in my employ until about three-and-a-half weeks ago. And when I did find out, it was when he was robbing me, in my bedroom.”
“Ah, that would do it.”
“Besides, I’m not sure he’s worth it,” Twilight said.
Celestia raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”
“Well, he’s only really effective at doing what he sets out to do when I go with him,” Twilight explained. “I mean, sure, he can do the job, but we’ve only been effective when we’ve been working together. Otherwise, he just kind of…”
Celestia waited.
“He does what he sets out to do, but it’s not enough,” Twilight said, finally.
“So, he’s only able to do a great job if you work with him?” Celestia asked.
“Yes.”
“Can you give me an example?” Celestia asked.
“Sure! The second job he told me about, he was doing some ‘counter-thieving’ he calls it. Well, the best he was able to do was keep the stallion from stealing things, but when I went with him a few nights back, we managed to get three arrested for grand larceny.”
“You went with him?” Celestia asked knowingly. “I’m sure that was fun.”
“Well, I mean…” Twilight said with a blush.
“So, I suppose I have to ask why weren’t you working with him, to begin with?”
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.
“Did you ask for a description of the pony Night caught? Did you post wanted posters for information about him?”
Twilight grimaced. “N-no…” she admitted.
“Why not?” Celestia asked. When Twilight didn’t answer her immediately, she continued. “Princess Twilight, you are in the unique and perfect position to work from the side of the law. Night is in the perfect position to work from outside it. The point is to work from both sides.”
“I...I see, Princess.”
“I’m not Princess anymore,” Celestia gently reminded her.
“Right, sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Besides, since you have been going out on these little excursions, you might be able to see things I have not. After all, getting three ponies arrested at once isn’t something I was able to do.”
Twilight nodded.
Night slipped through the door at that moment, a trio of drinks on his tray. “Your Ladyship, Your Highness, your drinks have arrived.”
Celestia took one, as did Twilight.
“Oh, my,” Celestia said. “It seems there’s an extra drink. Why don’t you take a quick break with us?”
Night smiled before taking the last glass. “If you insist. So have you been talking about me?”
Celestia shook her head. “You know, I thought I taught you better, Night.”
Both ponies glanced up at her.
“I thought I told you that you should never take a mare to work on a first date.”
Night glared up at her as Celestia smiled smugly. “Hilarious.”
“But yes, we have been talking about you. I hear that you’ve been doing some good in the eyes of our Princess,” Celestia said.
“I’ve been trying,” Night admitted, the smile returning to his face. “What do you think, Princess, have I been doing good?”
Twilight nodded. “You’ve certainly have been giving me a lot to think about.”
“A glowing recommendation,” Celestia noted.
“Thank you, Lady Celestia,” Twilight noted.
“Honestly, though, it is good to see you two working together.”
Night frowned at that. “I wouldn’t go that far, Lady Celestia. I’m just showing her the ropes.”
“That’s still more social interaction than you’ve had in five years,” Celestia said with a smile on her lips.
“Now you’re just pushing it.”
Celestia chuckled. “Well, I think you two have a conversation to have about the Gala, and since that’s a matter of national security, I best see myself out,” and with that, she left the two on the balcony.
Twilight waited a moment. “So you’re here why?” she asked.
“Proving another point,” Night said. “You need to have a better way of checking your waiters. Like your guards know who I am, and I still managed to sneak in, and all I needed was a jacket and bow tie.”
Twilight sighed. “Alright, I’ll look into that. Are you going to stick around?” she asked.
“Oh, no. This place is too…” he trailed off. “I don’t like parties.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “You don’t like parties? Then I guess it’s a good thing you and Pinkie have never actually met.”
Night flashed her a quick smile. “Well, I’ll leave this ‘normal’ event to you. I just wanted to check out your security tonight; make sure your guards are doing what they need to be doing. Oh, and I think I found a job you’d enjoy.”
“Another one?” Twilight asked.
“There’s no rest for the wicked, Princess. Which means there’s no rest for the ponies who have to stop them. Of course, the good news is that you should be able to join in on the planning like you wanted.”
Twilight nodded. “Alright, it sounds like a plan.”
Night nodded. “Then I take my leave, Princess,” he said with a bow. “I’ll meet you in Baltimare in, let’s say, two days?”
Twilight nodded.
“Wonderful,” Night said before he catapulted himself off the balcony and over the castle.
Twilight watched him go before she sighed and faced the party once more. She didn’t...she didn’t want to go in there into a room full of ponies that only wanted her approval so they could buy favors later. She didn’t want to deal with ponies that smiled nicely, only to stab her in the back later.
She stood on the balcony, looking in before she stared up at the night sky. Somewhere in that darkness, Night was leaping across the city, heading for the train station on...well, on an adventure.
Sure, the Grand Galloping Gala was fun when Twilight was much younger and hadn’t actually been to it, and the Smooze Gala had its own appeal, but these ones had been slowly driving her mad. Always smiling, always grinning, and always waiting for the party to be over.
Twilight glanced back up at the darkness above her, before staring at the light of the party inside.
And then, with a flap of her wings, she flew up toward her tower.
Maybe if she invited her friends back again.
Or at least invite Discord.
---$---
Blackjack’s legs shook underneath her. “You...you little bi—”
A kick to her jaw sent her tumbling backward, leaving the small brown pegasus with the silver coin on her flank standing on the ground behind her. “Now, now,” she said, “that’s no way to talk to the mare that offered to buy your company.”
Blackjack knew what happened. She’d been poisoned somehow. Her drink had been spiked with something, and now she could barely stand much less fight.
“You know, this isn’t even your fault,” the pegasus said. “No, this stupid system of the one who can fight the best wins the gang was started by, oh, what was his name? Ramrod?”
Blackjack rushed her. She couldn’t let this mare take everything she worked for.
“I mean,” the pegasus said, sidestepping Blackjack, “sure, it’s how you took power back in the day, but you could have made it so that nopony else could, or at the very least made it so that nopony could poison you as part of the rules.”
Blackjack stumbled back to her hooves and swung again, only for the mare to casually step to the side.
“Honestly, this is almost embarrassing, Blackjack,” the brown mare said, “and that’s why the first thing I’m going to do is make sure this can’t happen again.”
Blackjack made two powerful swipes, only for the pegasus to leap above her blows and slam down on the earth pony with her entire body. Blackjack’s body buckled, and she went sprawling to the floor.
The pegasus with the coin on her flank, watched as Blackjack tried to push herself back up. But the poison she had used had done its work. The earth pony forced her body up, only to fall again. Then again, and again, and again.
“I have to admire your spirit, Blackjack,” the pegasus said as she walked on the outside of the ring that Blackjack’s crew had cleared for them. She walked past the thugs and gangers, staring them in the eyes as they all watched Blackjack desperately try to get back up. “Unfortunately, you’re just not going to be enough.”
Blackjack tried one more time, but her arms wouldn’t move.
The pegasus watched her for a second, before smiling wide. “Don’t worry, though. I am more than enough to make up for it.”
She approached the mare, lying still on the floor, before she stood on her body, causing Blackjack to grit her teeth.
“Well, boys,” the pegasus said. “It looks like you work for me now. My name is Gleaming Coin, but you can just call me ‘Boss.’”