213: I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT
She didn’t know what time it was, but she did know it was late—so late, in fact, that it would probably be more accurate to say it was early. Of the hundreds of ponies that had filled the ballroom earlier, only a few dozen remained. Celestia and Luna had long since retired. An hour or so ago, the barkeep had locked up his booth for the night (despite the slurred protests of several rather unsteady-looking ponies), and now the waitstaff were beginning to clear tables. On the stage, somepony from the band wearily announced the final song of the night. The Grand Galloping Gala was, at long last, drawing to a close.
A tiny, treacherous part of her was glad, because she was tired and her hooves ached and she really wanted to get out of this dress. The rest of her, though, wished that the night would never end, that the band would keep playing, that the last dance would go on forever. As long as the dance went on, she could stay here, slowly shuffling in a circle with her partner, and here was perfect.
“Twilight?” she murmured.
“Yes, Minuette?” said the other unicorn quietly.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For tonight. For inviting me. This has been . . . amazing.”
“You’re very welcome. This really has been, well, the best night ever.” Twilight giggled.
Minuette couldn’t help smiling at the sound, though the smile faded a little as she glanced past the other mare and saw empty food carts being wheeled away.
“What?” asked Twilight, concern in her beautiful violet eyes.
“I just . . . I don’t want it to end. I don’t want this to end.” She tapped a hoof on the floor between them. “Us. Here. Together.” She swallowed, suddenly nervous. “I want this so much, Twilight.”
Twilight unexpectedly scooted forward, pressing against her. Minuette barely had time to notice that the other mare was trembling—or were they both trembling?—before Twilight gently laid her horn on Minuette’s.
“I want it, too,” breathed Twilight, smiling, and something electric and indescribable raced through Minuette’s very core as she smiled back.