223: THE PRINCESS'S WISH
“I’m glad you decided to attend this year,” says Celestia, smiling. “I’ve looked forward to this for a long time, Luna. The Gala always felt so empty without you here.”
“We are pleased to be here,” says Luna. She looks briefly at Celestia and gives her a strained approximation of a smile, then returns her gaze to the ballroom.
“You don’t sound particularly pleased,” Celestia observes wryly.
Luna sighs. “We are pleased, sister, but we must confess that we are confused. We thought that this was meant to be a party.”
“It is.”
“We do not recall parties being so . . . dull.”
Celestia chuckles. “I’m afraid jesters and troubadours went out of fashion centuries ago. These days, the nobility prefer to be refined and elegant and, yes, dull. Times have changed, sister.”
“So we see.”
Celestia studies her for a moment, though Luna does not seem to notice, focused as she is on the ballroom. At length, the larger alicorn sighs.
“Luna, dear, you don’t have to stay if you’re not enjoying yourself.”
“Nay!” says Luna quickly, glancing at her sister. “I—we are fine. We wish to stay.” She looks back out over the ballroom, her eyes darting back and forth with strange urgency. They seem to find what they are looking for over by the punch table, and she relaxes minutely.
Celestia looks over at the table, then smiles and says, “She is especially beautiful tonight, isn’t she?”
“Yes,” says Luna without hesitation. She suddenly goes rigid and looks sidelong at Celestia. “I mean . . . to whom were you referring, sister?”
“Twilight Sparkle, of course.”
“Of course.” Luna makes a show of searching the crowd of glittering ponies for the Element of Magic, eventually locating her by the punch table. “Ah. Yes. Lovely indeed. Her . . . gown is especially impressive.”
“I believe it’s one of Rarity’s designs. That color certainly does suit her.”
“Certainly.”
“I expect it complements her eyes particularly well.”
“Yes,” says Luna stiffly, “we expect it does.”
The two princesses stand silently for a long minute until Celestia finally laughs.
“How long?” she asks, her smile teasing but kind.
“How long what?” asks Luna. Her face is a picture of polite puzzlement.
Celestia arches an eyebrow.
Luna finally wilts, defeated. “Since the Nightmare Night festival. After we returned to Canterlot, we—I found myself thinking of her more and more. Now I cannot stop.” She looks miserably at her hooves. “I am besotted, sister. I am sorry.”
“My dear, you needn’t apologize for having feelings for another pony.”
“But sister, it is more than mere feelings! She is so sweet and kind and caring and so very beautiful, and . . . and we . . . I desire her,” whispers Luna, shamefaced.
Celestia steps closer and lays a comforting wing over the smaller alicorn. “That’s not unnatural, Luna. We may be immortal, but we are not immune to the needs and urges all ponies feel, nor should we be.”
“But she bears the Element of Magic! She is . . . yours.”
“Mine?” echoes Celestia, laughing. “My student, yes, but she is certainly not mine. Twilight Sparkle is not a hapless little foal. She can chart her own course, and if her course should happen to run parallel to yours, Equestria would be all the richer for it.”
“Thou truly thinkest so?”
“I do indeed.”
Luna brightens for a moment, then sighs again. “Perhaps, but we do not know if she has even the slightest interest in us.”
“Well, there’s only one way to find out,” says Celestia. She looks pointedly towards the punch table and the purple unicorn standing there with her friends.
Luna looks at the unicorn, then back at Celestia, then back at the unicorn. Finally, she nods and smiles, drawing herself up to her full height.
“Thou art quite correct,” she says, every inch the Moon Princess. “Now if thou wilt excuse us, we must mingle with our guests.”