I accompanied my father down stairs. He was escorting me to our 'grand galla' entrance, like he always did. Upon reaching the balcony the usher would announce our us, and we would enter.
"Presenting His royal majesty, King Sombra vas Umbrae and the princess, Nightinggale vas Umbrae!"
I looked around the ball room, lit up by colored lanterns the place glowed with a cascade of lights and the smiling faces of ponies from the diamond district of Crystal City, stomping their hooves in appreciation. Revering us. Cherishing their lives and honoring my father for letting them keep them.
All but a lone pony, a navy blue stallion in the back. He was wearing a white vest and black tie, his mane was a dark green, with splashes of black...
And it looked and awful lot like cotton candy.
He stared at me from back there in his shadowy corner, and I stared back. ponies were talking around me but I couldn't hear them, I tuned them out. He mouth moved, forming a word I couldn't hear.
I think he called me beautiful.
Before I could react, he was gone. A few ponies moved by and I lost him in the crowd.
"Gale, Gale come with me. I want you to meet someone."
my father had begun to lead me towards a group of ponies, the ponies I had come to know as the Lunamoons.
"Gale, this is Prestidigitation Lunamoon, and his daughter, Trixella."
"Somby, why can't you call me Presto? Everypony else does."
My father and this stallion embrace, and the mare whom I was just introduced stared at the ground for the most part. Her silver hair in a bun, in a dress of purple and silver, the colors of her family. I do the only polite thing and curtsy in my own dress of red and black... Or was it black and red? I could never remember.
"I am-"
"Oh I know exactly who you are! You're the magnificent Nightingale! I've seen alll of your duels! I'm a huge fan!"
As I looked her over, it donned on me that I had seen this mare before. When the annual magic tourney my father sponsored was held, I was allowed to participate occasionally, and on those occasions, this mare was sitting as close to the arena as the warding spell would let her.
"Oh yes. How could I have forgotten..."
"Yup, Tixie never shuts up about how she wants you to teach her."
The blue mare hissed at her father, much like I would in her position.
"I-I don't ever shut up- I mean I don't talk about you that much- I mean... Oh gosh I'm befuddled... Uhmm... Hi, my name is Trixella ve Lunamoon. Would you please teach me magic?"
She was bowing, her head low. She was... Well, I would have been the same if I were meeting my idol. It felt strange, I had suitors, I had servants, I had heard every request in the world made of me. Until now.
"Gale, the Lunamoons are our wards. Prestidigitation here was my magistrum commandrae when I first joined the revolution. Teach her a few things, I'm sure you'll learn something from her too."
At this, 'Trixie' bolted up, blushing and waving her hooves dismissively in front of her face.
"Oh no,no,no,no! I would never presume to teach your daughter! I'm sure she knows everything I know already! I-I-I just know a few cantrips, b-b-b-"
"Trixie, come on. I don't feel like staying here much longer anyhow. Father, I will in the grove if you need me."
He smiled and nodded. I had seen that smile and nod so many times. So many, many times. His enemies, when they saw his smile, they saw a sadistic tyrant, I see my dad telling me I can go show my new friend how to blow things up.
But... But I knew he was only as kind as he was with these allies of his. Outside... once as a filly, I saw him tear a colts sight away. An old coot of a colt who told him my fortune. I never got to hear my fortune. But it upset my father so much he tore the sense of sight from the stallion's eyes...
I can do the same thing, but... But I don't think I ever could...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I had brought Trixie to the grove. It was always beautiful by moonlight, the cherry blossom trees turned the light a faint pink when the moon's gaze fell upon them. The pond at the center lay completely still, and the moon's reflection shone brilliantly upon it.
"So. What would you like to learn?"
I turned on the mare, she was hiding her face, shyly tucking it behind her leg.
"Y-You really d-don't have to me anything your highness, just being here with you is like a dream come true."
I looked at her and nodded to the pond.
"Very well. Want to just sit with me?"
She followed behind me timidly. Sitting next to me, looking into the pond.
"Your highne-"
"Please, you can call me Gale. Trixie, why do you keep hiding your face from me? I mean, is the ground really that much more interesting than my face?"
I had just decided I was going to do something immature, foolish, scandalous, and downright embarrassing.
I was going to totally make out with this mare.
"I mean, am I THAT hideous?"
Her head bolted up from its position looking at me distraught and befuddled. She shook it violently left and right to dismiss my accusations.
"Nonononono! You're beautiful! Stunning! I don't think I've seen a prettier mare in my life! Eep!"
Her head shot down in embarrassment, I could see her hot blush in her reflection on the water. She was very cute, had I had the chance to meet her before tonight I may have included her on my escape plan. She fit me perfectly, I found out a long time ago I liked the shy type. We connected. My royal, romantically dominant upbringing had an affect on shy ponies that made my inner sadist squeal in delight.
"Well I have..."
My magic gently wafted below her muzzle, turning it towards me so I could look her in the eyes.
"I'm looking at her right now."
Her face...
Priceless. I didn't label myself a sadist but, I did say I had a sadistic part of me, part of being an Umbrae I guess. I did find sick enjoyment from playing with ponies emotions.
It was one of the few forms of entertainment I had.
"P-P-P-P-P"
"Trix, your mane is all bundled up. Just like you. I hate these galas, the dresses are always so tight, restrictive. Like castle walls."
I pulled the pin out of her hair, slowly tugging at the strings on her dress. Her mane was a luscious silver that sparkled in the light of the moon.
"You're such a beautiful girl Trixie. You've seen me, now let me see you."
Effortlessly the dress came off, Trixie covered herself instinctively with her hooves.
"Now. How about you do me, and we'll get a good look at each other. If you don't like what you see, or don't like me staring, we'll stop, okay?"
Trixie, a feverish blush on her face slowly removed her hooves, using her magic to nervously untie my dress.
"Your really meant to be seen by moonlight, your body just has this.... Glow to it. It's enthralling."
"Y-y-you're emb-b-baressing m-m-me p-p-princess-"
I leaned in closer as I slid my now untied dress off my body, very close to my new entertainment.
"It's Gale. Remember?"
I swear she looked like she had turned into a red pony. Her blush was absolutely shameless. I didn't know she had such strong feelings for me, my number one fan wanted to...
Well I guess that shouldn't be too surprising actually.
My hoof slid down her chest and she shuttered, exhaling heavily.
"G-Gale, w-we really shouldn't..."
"Shouldn't what?"
I leaned in closer, inches from her lips.
"We're not doing anything."
She felt my breath on her, I know she could because I could definitely feel hers on me.
"I-I-I uhmmm...."
"Two lovely mares close like this by moonlight. Both enchanted by the presence of the other..."
I giggled and pushed her mane from her face with my hoof.
"Absolutely nothing could happen."
I think I might have broken her, as her mouth was slightly open and she looked at me, her eyes half lidded and dreamy.
I pressed our lips together gently, gently falling on her on the grass.