Chapter 6: At the Gala
You sat in your room taking deep breaths. You hadn't been to a dance in many years. You never really knew how to dance, especially in front of a crowd. The last time you attempted at dancing, you ended up tripping on your own feet and losing your chance to have the mare you liked from school. Putting that in the past, you think the gala could go down easily. You just hope Vinyl doesn't like to dance as much as you don't. Then again, she is a DJ so, she will probably want to. You took another deep breath and stood up, determined to make sure Vinyl has the best night ever. You looked around and grabbed the red bow-tie off the dresser. Not knowing what the hay you were doing, you struggled for a while trying to remember how your dad taught you how to tie it. Eventually you got it tied and straightened it out. You gave your mane another couple of brushes, just to be sure it will stay straight. You grabbed your red scarf and headed out the door.
You began to grow more nervous as you saw the many people at the train station waiting to go to Canterlot. Vinyl said she would meet you by the ticket booth for the train tickets. You went inside the small office and looked for the ticket vendor.
"Yo! Snow!" You heard over the many excited ponies.
You looked around and saw Vinyl stretching her hoof up and waving you down. Trying to make your way through the crowd, you heard some of the ponies talking. They spoke of a snow storm coming in around the end of the gala, which made you even more nervous. You made your way around and finally you were standing next to Vinyl. She held out one train ticket and you picked it up, then placed it in your shirt pocket, along with the gala ticket. Than you looked back up at the beautiful mare who was your date. Vinyl was wearing a beautiful blue and teal dress, just like her mane. Her eyes glowed under the light of Celestia's setting sun. She began to blush intently when she realized you were looking at her. Her cheeks flushed red and you laughed a little.
"You look very beautiful tonight, Vinyl." You said, sitting in front of her.
"And you look handsome." She said, blushing.
"Thank you, do you have your gala ticket?" You asked, patting your pocket where your ticket was.
She nodded and pulled the ticket out, insuring you that she didn't forget it.
The ponies became louder as you all heard the train arriving at the station. The train doors opened and the ponies gathered at the doors. In a line, they boarded the train to a box. Vinyl opened the doors to yours and sat next to the window. You closed our box's doors and sat next to her. Vinyl was almost jumping out of her seat, she was so excited. You heard a sudden tapping on the glass of the doors. You turned to see Octavia, who was excited to see that you two were going. Vinyl stood up and opened the doors for her roommate.
"I hope you don't mind if I share a box with you. All the other ones are full." She said sitting on the bench in front of you.
"Nah, it's okay, Tavi." Vinyl said sitting back down next to you.
"Heading to the gala?" You asked, already knowing the answer.
"Of course! But I hadn't planned on going with anypony, but it turns out I had been gotten an invitation from a secret somepony in a box of assorted chocolates." She said, showing you two the invitation.
"Tavi's got a secret somepony." Vinyl said, teasing her.
Octavia turned a bit red and gave a sheepish smile. The trains horn roared and all of you began to move. Vinyl took a deep breath and a smile grew on her face. You looked out the window and watched the town slowly pass out of view. Octavia and Vinyl talked about the past galas. You were shocked to know that Vinyl has never gone to one before. Octavia plays her cello every year, but never had a date. Just like Vinyl, you've never been to a gala, so you don't know what to expect. The train had entered the tunnels through the mountain and everything around you became dark. You rested your head against the window and waited for the rest of the ride to pass. Vinyl pointed a hoof out the window and you turned your head to see the beautiful city of Canterlot. You sat up and watched as the train station came to view. The train came to a halt and the doors opened. You all left your box and made your way to the nearest set of doors.
Trotting into the cold, snowy streets of the town, you three followed the ponies who were heading to the gala. You looked around and saw the town decorated in a festive manner. The streetlights hung high and light up the road to the palace, where the gala was held. Vinyl began to hop for a short distance, than Octavia told her to stop or her dress will get ruined. You looked up and saw the snow picking up. Your worry about the snow storm grew.
You approached the doors to the castle and the guard looked at your tickets. After Vinyl stepped inside, you showed the guard your ticket and trotted through the doors. You looked at the large ball room where the winter gala was held, and Vinyl let out a squeal in excitement. You trotted along with Vinyl to the open doors of the ball room. The music could be heard from outside in the courtyard. You both trotted to the mass of ponies who were standing around talking with their dates.
"I'm sorry to say, but the invitation told me to meet him by the bar." Octavia shouted, to let you two be able to hear her over the music.
Vinyl nodded her head and Octavia waved goodbye. Vinyl turned to you and gave you a hug.
"Whats this for?" You asked her.
"For letting me come with you! I had always wanted to come here!" She told you, letting you go.
"Well, you're here! What would you like to do first?" You asked her.
She was about to answer but then the music stopped and an orchestra began to play. She turned back to you and smiled. You returned her smile and pointed a hoof to the dance floor.
"Lead the way." You told her.
She let out a small squeal and grabbed your hoof. Nearly dragging you to the crowd of ponies dancing, you tried to remember how to dance. You found yourself standing in front of Vinyl who leaned to the right. You remember seeing some ponies do this before, so you leaned to the left and you and Vinyl locked your heads around each other's neck. You felt Vinyl rest her head on the back of yours for support and you did the same. Together, you two moved fluently to the music. You felt a sudden warmth all over your body. Your mind was spinning and you could hardly think straight. You felt her gentle breathing on the back of your neck and continued to dance with her. You moved together in unison and you were shocked that you hadn't messed anything up yet. You closed your eyes and continued to move with her.
The music faded to a stop and you nuzzled the back of her neck. You let go of each other and you looked into Vinyls eyes. She gave you a smile and was blushing. A smile rose on your face as you looked into her beautiful eyes. Her eyes closed and she leaned in. Your heart began to race a mile a minute. Not knowing what else to do, you leaned in and closed your eyes. Your lips touched and you felt Vinyl's body become stiff. She relaxed and you two continued your kiss for as long as you could. A few ponies had been watching you and we heard a few "Aww" or some even stomped their hooves in applause. You both broke your kiss and you looked back into her eyes again. She nuzzled you and thanked you again.
After a few minutes, Vinyl decided that you two should go and find Octavia and see who her secret date was. You were half way to the bar when you and Vinyl found Octavia with her date. Vinyl said you two should probably keep your distance, because they seemed to be having a good time. You looked at the stallion and your blood began to boil. You recognized that stallion from many nights ago. He was with Daizy and he slipped her that dirty drink. You had to stop it this time. Octavia was a great friend to you, and especially to Vinyl. You couldn't let it happen, not this time.
"That's a bad stallion. He dated my ex and slipped her a bad drink. I got to stop him before he does the same to her!" You told her.
Vinyl's face turned to worry and followed you to the bar. You watched as he gave the same smile and wink to the barpony. He nodded and added something to the one of the drinks. Octavia almost picked up her drink and you placed a hoof over it to stop her. You glared at the stallion and he gave ayou a quizzical look.
"You think you can just drug up any mare and get away with it?" You asked, trying not to make a scene.
"Rustle, what is he talking about?" Octavia asked the stallion.
"Get out of here kid, I ain't done nothing wrong." He said sipping his drink.
"What did you do to her drink?" You asked the barpony.
He respond with a guilty smile and turned away from all of you.
"Octavia, go with Vinyl." You told her.
Octavia quickly got up and moved away from you two. The stallion snarled at you and you ignored him. He trotted through a large crowd and you hated yourself for letting him go. You trotted over to where Vinyl was sitting with Octavia, who was crying. You sat down and held your hooves to your head.
"I'm sorry." You apologized to her.
"Sorry?" she asked, lifting her head up.
"I should have stopped him a long time ago. He drugged my ex and I was a heartless bastard to let him get away with it." You began to feel sorrow.
"You basically saved me from that lunatic. Thank you. I knew I should have gone with that nice stallion who asked me not that long ago. At least he was upfront about asking me." Octavia said, cleaning the tears away.
You began to wonder who that other stallion was. Than it hit you. You had to talk to somepony once you get back into town. You looked over to Vinyl to see her comforting her friend. She gave you a smile and continued to rub Octavia's back. You looked around and saw that the snow outside had definitely picked up. Your head began to fill with thoughts of what happened to Daizy that night. Your stomach churned and you felt like passing out. You took a deep breath and tried your best to enjoy the rest of the night with Vinyl.
The gala was soon over, because the snow had cut it short. If it had gone on any longer, we would have been snowed in. You guys arrived at a train station and some guards informed you that the trains are shut down for the day. If the trains were to run in this much snow, they were surely to get stuck or de-rail. You turned back to Vinyl and Octavia and told them the bad news. They both sighed and you reached into your shirt pocket and counted your bits.
"Okay, I have enough bits to get a room or two at an inn." You told them.
"I'm going to chip in bits too. It's the least I can do for what you did." Octavia said to you.
You all arrived at a nearby inn and got two rooms. You handed Vinyl a key and she handed it to Octavia. You had to get your thoughts together, because you knew Octavia was in no position to sleep alone for the night. You approached your door and slid the key in. Octavia passed by you and you noticed that Vinyl was right behind you, waiting for you to open the door. You unlocked the door and opened it. You turned to Vinyl who was looking up at me.
"Vinyl, I can't tell you how happy I am that you chose to stay with me. But I think Octavia needs somepony to hold. You should go stay with her for the night." You told her, trying my best to not sound like you didn't want to sleep with her.
"Oh... I understand." Vinyl sighed and slowly trotted to Octavia's room.
You couldn't let her go away thinking that you didn't want to sleep with her. You grabbed her and spun her around back to face you. You leaned in and kissed her deeply. She returned the kiss and wrapped her hooves around your neck. You pulled away and looked her in the eyes.
"Goodnight, Vinyl... I love you." You hadn't even planned on saying that last part. Your mind just forced the words out of your mouth.
"You do?" She asked, with wide eyes.
"Yes, Vinyl. I love you." You told her, not keeping your emotions in.
"I love you too, Snow." She almost screamed.
Your embrace lasted a while longer before she let go. You nuzzled her and she blushed at you. You turned back to your door and saw that Vinyl had already gone inside with Octavia. A smile grew on your face and you had a warm, fuzzy feeling grow inside of you. You told Vinyl you loved her, and she loves you too.
"Best night ever." You whispered to yourself.