That Gangly Kid

by Plumage


Party Time

The bell rings again. Celestia smiles at me.
"See you 'round, Discord," she says.
"You going to the party tonight?" I ask.
"No, but Luna is," she says. "I'll tell her to say hi."
"OK."

*

I walk in the door just as the song ends and a new one begins. It's one of my favorites- Chaos Forever by Drako Nekus. They're all dragons in the band and they have amazing voices.
I dance for what seems like ages, then I sit down upstairs in a room somewhere.
After a while, Luna comes and joins me.
"Hi," she says.
"Hi," I say.
"How was your day?" she asks.
"Good."
There is an awkward silence.
"Wanna dance?" asks Luna as a dubstep song comes on.
"Sure," I say.
We go out and dance. Luna seems to be getting closer all the while. Then, at one point, she seems to be all around me, opposite and beside and behind...
"You know, Discord," she says thoughtfully, "I really like you."
"I kinda like you too," I say, instantly on my guard. She's been drinking. More than I have.
"And I was thinking," she said slowly, dumbly, " if we both like each other and we both wanna be together, then why the hell don't we?"
I can feel her pressed up against my chest.
"I....uh...."
"You see, Discord," she says, her voice slurred, "I love you. There. I said it. I really, really love you."
"Luna..."
"And you love me too right?"
"Luna."
"What?" she asks impatiently.
"I, uh, dont like you in that way."
Luna is crestfallen. "Joke, right?"
"No," I say seriously. " I...have a crush on your sister."
Something flashes in Luna's eyes. Jealousy? Resentment?
"I see how it is," she snarls, pushing me away. "Little miss Perfect sunny pony gets all the attention. And Luna gets nothing. I've seen it for a while now. Everypony loves the beautiful day, blah blah blah, but who will truly love the night? Nobody. Never ever."
I'm speechless. What am I supposed to say?!
"Well, from now on, I shall not be Princess Luna. From now on, my name shall be Nightmare Moon!"
Nopony is dancing anymore. They are all watching in horror at the pony laughing maniacally up at the ceiling. Her mane flares into her, and then it flashes and now she is black. Black as the night. Her mane sparkles with stars, and she wears a light blue helmet and slippers. She also has a breastplate adorned with a crescent moon.
"Quake with fear!" Nightmare Moon says in a commanding voice. "For I am the mare of your nightmares!"