//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The Date // Story: Love versus Society // by Short-tale //------------------------------// Celestia made her way to the small chamber behind the throne. It was set up in the style of a break room. There were snacks, a couch or two and a water cooler. It had been given the nickname the twilight room long before her protégé had proven worthy of a crown. It was there the royal sisters met each dawn and dusk to exchange pleasantries, update the other or simply acknowledge the official exchange of duties.  Celestia’s hooves dragged on the floor as she inched closer to that door. After the meeting she was assaulted by Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis for her sister’s hostility towards them. She assured the couple that Luna had taken their concerns seriously. Though she might not follow their advice she would do her best not to cause a scene. At least Celestia hoped she wouldn’t. Then hours of meetings, meetings, paperwork, meetings and meetings about paperwork. The large alicorn could no longer read words from the eye strain. Her hoof flopped against the door handle because her horn was sore. The door opened and Celestia froze. The room was filled with confections. They covered the table and along the counter near the sink. She slowly entered expecting Pinkie to pop out of some impossible hiding place. No pink pony appeared. On closer inspection, the sun princess noticed these were not just a slew of pastries. They were all muffins. Muffins of every kind. Strawberry Muffins. Lemon Muffins. Chocolate Muffins. Celestia didn’t recognize the rest of them.  “Oh no, Luna!” The summons immediately brought a giddy co ruler through the door. “Yes sister? Oh they’re here!” The princess of dreams cried as she saw the muffin army. “She will be thrilled!” Luna clapped her hooves together and pranced around the room. Celestia groggily watched the odd display with a slight smirk. “I assume your endeavor went well. Remember others might not understand and things might get hard for her.” “They had better be wary.” Luna tried to sound dangerous. But the lightness in her voice betrayed her. Celestia couldn’t help but smile.  “It’s not a problem that should be met with force, Luna. In fact most problems are made worse by threatening them. Like Fleur De Lis this morning. She was concerned and you sounded like you were going to hurt her. She’s our image consultant. She was just doing her job.” Celestia had been moments away from putting Luna in a freeze spell. A very effective time out.  “It is despicable. If they try anything I shall-“ “Do nothing!” emphasized the princess. “Luna, your image is pretty shaky at best. You’re moody, sullen and have a lightning quick temper. Ponies have forgiven you for the past but in the present ponies are nervous because of who you are now.” Celestia was having trouble being delicate in her groggy state. She spent all day tiptoeing around her words.  “Very well. I would argue but I am feeling quite elated.”  As Celestia opened her mouth to give further warning when a small pegasus floated in, eyes closed and barely flapping.  “Mmmm muffins”, cooed the smitten floating mare. She opened her eyes, which looked at the ceiling and ground simultaneously, and her mouth fell open. “Oh my Princess, there’s so many!” “I did not know what your favorite was so I had all of them made.” Luna was like a foal in a candy store. Celestia started to feel a little out of place with the two of them there.  “Princess Celestia!” cried Derpy when her eyes finally focused on the large alicorn. “You live here too?” “Yes, good evening Derpy,” the princess said with a dry chuckle.  “That’s amazing! Both Princesses live in the same house! I thought you would be old enough to live on your own.” Derpy exclaimed as she bit into her first muffin.  “It’s a castle, we have always lived in the same castle. It's tradition.” Luna chose a delectable strawberry muffin and began to eat.  “So all our leaders are in the same place? What if something happened? Like a meteor hit or some sort of bug pony attacked? It could leave us with no leaders in one go.” Crumbs fell out of the pegasus’s mouth as she voiced her security concerns. “We could counter a meteor with our magic. And the bug pony queen did attack but our guards and Princess Twilight vanished them.” Luna was a little less messy than her girlfriend but still managed to dribble a few crumbs. Celestia turned from the pair. She found a small lemon tart muffin and slowly bit into it. The taste was delectable. The chef was a master of his craft. There were very few things the kitchen could not make. From cakes to yak food.  “So what are you two planning?” The sun monarch asked. She couldn’t help but notice crumbs falling from her own mouth. The muffin was hard to eat cleanly. The flavor of sweet yet sour lemon filled her muzzle causing her to almost miss the response. “We’re going to a play!” Derpy cried, diving upon another muffin. “Pr- Luna said she would give me a fancy dress and feed me more tasty foods.” “We’re seeing Phantom of the Opera. Performed by the kirin.” Luna’s expression visibly brightened as Derpy sat next to her. “I figure she would enjoy a classic and might delight at the extravagant costumes.” “Oooh! I do like plays. And anything we do together will be fun and exciting!” Derpy leaned on Luna’s shoulder. Celestia felt a small glow of pride and happiness. Her sister was finally in love. It really shouldn’t matter with whom. But others wouldn’t think so. “I hope you have a good time. And please be careful.” Celestia stood and took another muffin for good measure.  “We’ll use protection!” Derpy cried out. Luna choked on her muffin.  Celestia paused halfway out the door. Her long head swiveled back at them with a strange unnatural smile. “Th-thank you, Derpy.” “That was not what she was referring to, my love,” The gasping princess immediately chided, her face glowing red. Celestia hoped it was just from embarrassment.  “I can pick any of these?!” Derpy hopped up and down looking at rows and rows of dresses. She ran to the first rack but tripped on a wheel that held it. “Perhaps something with a high hemline that she won’t trip over?” Sassy Saddles asked as the klutzy pegasus got up and dusted herself off. She moved a half a dozen racks away after Luna nodded.  “Ooo! Look! They have pretty hats!” The excited mare rushed off again. She pulled down a striped red and white pillbox hat. She gently placed it on one ear. It matched the swirled look the mane-dresser had chosen. “I look beautiful.” Derpy spun around to show off the look that everypony could already see. “Do you like it Luna?” “Of course! You are …adorable in it.” The crimson crept onto her face. She wasn’t used to complimenting another mare like this in public.  “In that case I have a dress that would match it perfectly. The matched filly dress would give her a high class and vintage look. Now the color. Red or white, Princess?” Sassy lifted two similar style dresses off one of the racks and held the colors up to the beaming mare. “White looked divine on her!” Luna couldn’t help but gasp as her little bed mate started to look more and more adorable.  Derpy eyes sparkled in the rising moonlight as they left the shop. She looked on the verge of tears. Luna quickly grabbed her hoof and directed her around any obstacles.  “Whatever is the matter?” The princess leaned down to hear the soft voice. “No-nothing.” It was followed by a hasty sniff. “I look so beautiful. And I’m walking down the street holding your hoof. And you look so beautiful. I don’t understand why I’m crying.” “I think those might be tears of joy.” “They look the same to me.” The observation was followed by another sniff.  “Yes but they don’t feel the same do they?” “No, you’re right, they don’t!” Derpy looked up like the Princess had done a spectacular magic trick. It warmed her heart to see the little mare so happy. As they passed a late night bistro that’s when Luna caught the laughter. The patrons were looking in their direction and laughing. Some lost all decorum and bluntly pointed at the couple and doubled over. Luna lifted her head and stared forward. Her jaw clenched but the light hearted skipping of her date released the death grip on her teeth. “Look! Look, Luna! It’s the theater! Oh look at that line!” Derpy sounded like a foal. A giddy foal that couldn’t help but smile. It spread to her date as well. “Don’t worry. They won’t make us stand in line. They have special tickets set aside for me and my sister.” Luna walked past the line still holding her girlfriend’s hoof. The snickers returned as she got close to the kiosk. The line was staring and some comments were heard. “Luna and her?!” “Is this a charity thing?” “Is that pegasus…’special’?” “I say, this is most amusing.” Heat rose to Luna’s face. Some of it flowed to her horn. She was warned not to make a scene and that this would happen but to be openly ridiculed was unthinkable. She was about to remind them who they were mocking when the clerk interrupted her angst. “Princess Luna!” The kiosk clerk shouted in surprise. “I didn’t know you were coming! Umm er. The special tickets. Right. Here it’s the royal balcony. You and your friend enjoy the show.” “Girlfriend,” corrected the prancing pegasus. She didn’t seem to hear the comments earlier. Luna’s horn began to dim as her blood simmered down. It didn’t stay there long as the clerk began to snicker.  “Oh sorry.” The snickering mare managed to hold the barrage back until they were out of sight but not ear shot.  This sort of behavior was what Luna would expect from a sports event or a highschool not a play on Briddleway. Had society lost its manners? She did notice an increasing trend towards crassness and disparaging speech in the populace. She was told this was enjoying the freedom of speech. She found it hard to enjoy being “free” amongst such criticisms. At least her secluded balcony seat should put them above such petty comments. The velvet red seats were in pristine condition and the snack cabinet was stocked with all the things two princesses would want.  Luna offered the outermost seat to her date and took the one closest to the aisle. Immediately Derpy leaned over the edge.  “Look how high up we are!” the mare said, looking over the railing. Luna caught her with her magic before she fell off the side. She could hear the laughter underneath as she pulled the curious pegasus back into the booth.  “Don’t want your pegasus to fall, Princess,” chuckled some pony below them. “Did I do something wrong?” Derpy asked. She looked down at her hooves. “I didn’t ruin my pretty dress did I?” “No. You still look beautiful,” Luna assured her. She could feel the vein throbbing on her head. This was insufferable. High class her hoof. This was more like no class.  “Awww, thanks.” Her compliment was punctuated with a gentle kiss. “You look beautiful too.” Some more giggles floated up from the ground. Luna tried to focus on the feeling of the kiss. It was sweet, simple and genuine, just like the pegasus who gave it.  The lights flickered and made the audience aware the play was about to start. The princess settled while Derpy wrapped around her forehoof. It was comfortable. The “esteemed peers”would be quiet now. She gave her attention to snuggling and the kirin on stage. “Who’s that?” gasped Luna’s date.  “That’s the lead. She’s a singer that wants to be the star but no pony notices her,” Luna calmly explained for the third time. She knew Derpy was forgetful and didn’t mind explaining it to her. It felt like she was helping to tell the story.  The audience, however, was tired of the slew of hushed questions. Luna could sense their unease. She didn’t like catering to them but off handed comments and grumbles were reaching her ears. She didn’t want to be the one to ruin their evening. “Derpy, dear,” Luna began, still blushing at using a term of endearment. “Perhaps you should ask questions afterward.” “Ok. Sorry. I want you to have the bestest time.” She smiled an excited smile.  “Thank Celestia,” grumbled a stallion below. “Hush dear,” his date reminded him. “I can’t help it if the princess brings some idiot with her to a play.” The whiner was shushed by the surrounding ponies. Luna’s eye twitched. Her grasp on Derpy increased, though the mare delighted in it. The horn hummed in irritation. That stallion had no right insulting her girlfriend. Despite her simple ways and forgetful habits she was not mentally challenged. She was different to be sure but not in a bad way. She felt her anger rising to dangerous proportions. But the memory of the meeting that morning put the brakes on her intended actions. This was not the type of display the citizens needed. She couldn’t rule with an iron hoof. She had to keep her decorum. Though it was getting more and more difficult. “Look out! Crispy Cream! The phantom’s behind you!” Derpy couldn’t help but shout out in fear. Luna internally groaned.  The kirin on stage immediately looked up to the balcony. “He is?” The actress looked behind her and gasped as the phantom did a flourishing impromptu entrance. “You’re right! He is!” The character ran off stage followed by her attacker and the curtain fell. “Run!” cried the concerned pegasus. Luna couldn’t help but breath a small sigh of relief as the players catered to her date’s terror.  A brief intermission took place and Luna braced herself for more grumbling insults. She was rewarded hearing words like “doofus”, “dolt” and “mentally challenged” thrown around, unchecked. It was infuriating. She couldn’t fault their irritation but to insult her date took everything she had not to fill the theater with lightning and demand their immediate apology.  “Luna? I messed up again didn’t I?” The question pulled the princess from her violent thoughts. It was a painful tone to hear such a happy mare.  “No. You’re not used to such a venue. I’m sure the player appreciates your help but the audience wants to enjoy the play like you would a movie. Perhaps if you get nervous about the characters you can squeeze my hoof. Ok?” Luna hoped it would deter her from further outbursts.  Derpy nodded and shrunk into the seat further. The lights flickered again and the audience resumed their seats. The crowd was still upset and a few started cat-calling the cast.  “Look out Phantom, you have an idiot behind you.”  “I don’t know who they’re shouting at,” Derpy commented. “I don’t see anypony behind him.” Luna’s lips were a firm line. Her jaw was made of rock and her muscles ached from flexing them. There was a slight quiver in her wings which threatened to spring open at any moment. Her eyes blazed but she sat firm in her chair.  The phantom was chasing Cream again. This time the audience was much more crass. “Don’t worry Crispy the princess of fools will save you.” A snickering pony shouted then sat back in her seat laughing bitterly. Time slowed as Luna felt her date disengage from her. She turned in time to see the pegasus flying towards the stage. The audience howled with laughter. Luna was on her hooves ready to save the players or Derpy or both. A splat echoed through the theater as Derpy landed. She looked at the actors for a few dizzy seconds then spun furiously on the crowd. The actors stopped and the crowd stopped laughing. Her face was full of anger and tears trickled down her cheeks. The makeup that had been carefully applied for the evening was dripping off her chin.  “Stop! Stop it! Why are you so mean?!” screamed the enraged mare. “Princess Luna isn’t the Princess of fools. She’s the kindest, most patient and loving pony I know. I am proud to be her girlfriend! Even though I am like I am, she still loves me. I don’t care if you make fun of me, I'm used to it. But don’t you dare make fun of her!” The “high” class society crowd froze. No pony corrected Derpy. She misunderstood the jest was meant for her but her anger was genuine. She looked ready to fight them all. The crowd sensed it and backed away.  Guilt gnawed at the princess momentarily frozen in the booth. Her date had heard the comments the entire time. She had tuned them out to have a good date. Luna shouldn’t have. She should have defended her mare from the onset. Luna took off from her balcony and landed gracefully next to her mate. The anger was more calculated. The rage was vicariously released through Derpy’s rant. She stood on the stage in her terrible beauty looking down on those that should be looked down upon. “This rudeness will cease! Though you may not see her as I do, it doesn't give you the right to belittle her! She is different! So are we all. Because her differences are readily apparent is not an excuse for mockery. She is a pony like all of us. And she deserves all that you do, probably more. I have no shame in loving her and I suggest you keep any further condescension to yourselves.” The Princess of the night ended her speech with a small clap of thunder. The audience shook.  “Oh Phantom,” Derpy said, turning to the actors behind her. “Crispy Cream loves you. She is just afraid to tell you because no pony else would understand. I understand and the Princess understands. You should tell him how you feel.” The kirin was snapped back into reality and nodded at Derpy. “You’re right, little Pegasus. I should. Phantom?” The actor playing the phantom hopped over in a grand spooky fashion. “Yes Crispy? Is what this little mare saying true?” “Yes, Phantom. I know you think you are too different to be loved but I love you anyway. I don’t care what others think. Brave ponies like the Princess and her girlfriend have proved to me that it can work.” The players hugged each other in glee. They even kissed which caused Derpy to bring her hooves to her mouth and blush.  “We shall move away from this rotten opera and start a new life in the country together.” The Phantom threw his hoof in the air towards the future and the cast bowed. The audience begrudgingly clapped but many were still looking at Derpy the fierce and Luna the deadly.  They hastily exited the theater, some leaving their concessions in the seats. Luna marched off the stage followed by Derpy. Before they left she thanked the kirin for their ad libs. “No problem Princess. Tonight’s the last night and it’s nice to do something different with it from time to time. I’m just glad your girlfriend liked it so much.” The kirin waved to Derpy who enthusiastically waved back. “We want you both to come back to our next play.” “We shall,” Luna said with a bow. “Perhaps you could perform at the castle in the near future.” They left the theater in silence. Derpy trailed behind her mate like a scolded foal. Luna waited until her anger faded before facing her. “You did nothing wrong, my love. I am proud you defended me. I should have defended you much earlier.” The Princess tried not to look the little mare in the eye. She looked at the stars instead. “But I ruined everypony’s night. I lost my temper. I feel awful. I didn’t mean to ruin our first date. I didn’t.” Luna finally looked. Derpy’s face was flowing with painful tears and her mane had become a tangled mess. She wiped the residue of her make up across her white sleeves. Her head and tail both looked like they were inches above the floor. Luna couldn’t help but pick the pathetic pegasus up in her forehooves. She squeezed her tight and let any further annoyance fade. The world was once again only for them. Nothing existed outside that soft warm bubble. Nothing important anyway.  Derpy through her forehooves around her Princess’s neck. She buried her face in the strong wings, hiding her shame and tears. She openly wept and squeezed back as hard as her delicate little hooves could.  “Come, let us fly amongst the stars. We can leave these narrow minded foals beneath us and dance through the clouds. If the winds batter you I shall carry you. “ Derpy pulled her makeup encrusted face out of Luna’s wing and nodded. The bright smile immediately returned.  “I’d love to dance with you.” The winged ponies took to the air. They swooped and flew as close to the balls of light and hope as they could. Then danced around the clouds until they tired.