Starfall was standing in a field that looked like outside of Ponyville and while surrounded by pegasai guards. The prince sighed as he knew that it was another day terror. "WILL YOU NOT LET ME DREAM!" He yelled out infuriated, the day terrors started taking its toll on the young boy.
Starfall saw a chariot carrying a unicorn with blue hair and golden and purple armor "Shining armor?" The prince asked confused as what was going.
"I guess you must be Captain Shining armor?" The voice came from in front of Starfall...He knew it was either his father or Dawn Fury who spoke.
From the look of it Shining armor was shocked and the guards around him were more itchy with their spears then before. "You can talk?" He asked surprised.
"Yes and I can ask questions like WHY THE FUCK DID YOU SEND YOUR GUARDS TO ATTACK ME!?" Starfall was taken back by the loud shouting and the guards seemed to become more hostile with their spears.
Shining Armor snorted. "One of my scouts told me you were attacking the townsfolk! And It shows he was right, now put down the spear or we will take you down with lethal force if we have to."
"Make me, dickhead!" The body of Starfall replied.
Shining Armor charged up his horn for a magical attack...A potentially lethal one..
The prince was surprised that the captain would start the encounter with unconventional spell..The bolt was fired and the prince flinched. As he opened his eyes he saw that the spell had no effect on him and had burned the ground around him. "How is this possi-. Never mind, guards attack!"
A bright flash blinded the prince sight
Starfall found himself on top of a mortally wounded Shining armor..His face had been completely destroyed and the prince saw that he had a lot of blood on his hands..He grabbed out a knife and put it up against the former captains throat. The prince felt...Different. He could feel a burning rage that wanted his human counterpart to cut his throat.."What is wrong with me!?" The prince shook his mind back to control which responded by blinding the prince again
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" The voice of his aunt shouted with the royal Canterlot voice. "You will be reunited with your master Discord in stone!" Celestia was mustering a large amount of magic for a powerful spell that was going to do as she said it was...
"Wait!" The prince flinched again but as the bright light hit Starfall..Once again he was unaffected.
Princess Celestia looked on the human with surprise.."No...This cannot be!" She spoke in shock.
Starfall leapt forward and grabbed his aunts neck and drew the knife against her throat. "NO!!!" But suddenly another odd flash of light brought the young prince to another place..
Starfall found himself relaxed and...Peaceful. His mind started to make out the surrounding area and he saw he was lying down on a beautiful beach. The sound of chirping birds, the tide going back and forth. And with a purple gray mare lying down with him and her head on his chest. "Wha.-" The prince recognized her as the violinist from earlier.
"Is anything wrong?" The beautiful young mare looked worryingly at Starfall.
Starfall wanted to object...But he decided he liked it. "No." He replied with a smile. "Everything is just fine." He leaned his head back on the tree with Dinky resting her head on his chest as they both watched the sunset.
The blue glow of Luna's horn disappeared and she smiled as she saw that her son's frown was replaced with a satisfied smile. "You are so much like your father, always having to look strong so you wont worry me." Luna leaned down and gave her son a kiss on the forehead. "If he was only here..."
Frosthowl panted happily at his mistress.
"Thank you for bringing this to my attention Frosthowl. I'm glad you are here to watch over him." The lunar mare nuzzled the giant white wolf. "You two share an unbreakable bond like his father and uncle." Frosthowl kept his panting grin, satisfied to be of assistance to his master and mistress.
As Luna left Starfall's room, Celestia and Vigile were waiting outside waiting to hear what she saw. "Well? What did you see?" Celestia asked curious to find out what Day terrors were plaguing her nephew.
Luna's warm smile disappeared into a worried frown. "Something must have gone terribly wrong." Luna's statement made her sister even more curious.
"Just tell me!"
Luna took a quick glance of her son as he was sleeping. "I saw Crimson, fighting Shining armor and taking a knife to your throat." Celestia's eyes widened as she knew it wasn't a dream she was speaking of..It was a past event.
"But...That happened 14 years ago...Why would he dream about memories that aren't his?"
"It seems that when Alexander and Anthony pulled Starfall back into our world...He must have left small pieces of his memory unto his son."
"By the Lightbringer...He must have experienced all the..-"
Luna nodded and knew that her son must have seen his fathers victims. "We will talk to him tomorrow. Who knows what that poor boy has seen...and at such a young age."
"Your highness?" Vigile shook the sleeping prince.
Starfall slowly opened his eyes with a smile. "Good morning captain." He removed his face from the pillow as he stood up and rubbed his eyes.
"Well aren't you in a good mood today, did you sleep alright? any nice dreams?"
Starfall suddenly froze as he wasn't just about to spat out that he dreamt about his daughter..."Uh..." He didn't know how to respond Vigile's question. "I...I dreamt about..-" To tartarous with it "-I can't remember but I know it was good." He stood up from his bed and quickly made his way to grab his regular pants who were black and a linen white shirt.
Vigile didn't question the prince's bad memory and just nodded. "Very well, Glad you slept well at least." He smiled to his friend. "Your mother wanted me to tell you to be prepared for the Grand galloping gala, Frosthowl has already gone and gotten himself groomed by the maids and breakfast is waiting for you down by the kitchen, I apologize but we are currently decorating the dining hall for tonight."
"Ugh, The grand galloping gala is always such a bore, Its just high society ponies who wish to introduce me to their daughters or crystal ponies who come for the sole purpose to worship me." The prince was sighing as he was walking side by side with the captain.
Vigile gave a little chuckle. "This year, the wife and I will be attending as well so you don't have to spend all your time with them. And Amethyst will also coming along with...- You've never met my second daughter have you?"
The prince snapped back again as he didn't want to mention his daughter because of his dream. "What? I didn't know you had two daughters. I've only met Amy..What's her name if I might ask?" He nonchalantly asked.
"Her name is Dinky. I'll introduce you two tonight, don’t you worry." The prince did his best to prevent his lips from creeping a smile but he was very excited to meet her again.
The royal groomers were grooming the giant white wolf who was enjoying it. "I see you're having fun at least." Starfall commented at the white wolf who was lying on his back as they comb his stomach fur and twitched his leg, signifying that he likes it a lot. "Has he been a nice wolf?" The prince asked the three maids.
"As always, he is such a innocent little kitty cat." one of the maids teased the giant wolf who took notice and started growling but was quickly silenced when she threw a treat which Frosthowl caught in the air. "Innocent as a little kitty cat." She turned back towards the prince with a joking smile.
"Thank you. You may all now leave!" The prince gave the maids and gentlecolts bow as they left the room. After they left, Starfall was at the verge of panicking. "Blast, I don't know what I'm going to do!"
Frosthowl stood up, tilting his head in sideways in confusion from his master's sudden behavior.
"As much as I hate to say it...You and Rarity were right...I have a crush on the violinist!" The prince spoke as he put both his hands behind his head as he didn't know how he was going to do this. Frosthowl yelped to try to understand what was the big deal.
"I cant...I don't even know her..She might be a unp.-" The prince stopped as he was talking about one of his best friend's daughter. "No..She is the daughter of Ditzy and Vigle..I wouldn't expect anything less than a pitch perfect mare.." Frosthowl approached the prince with a toothy grin, his way of saying *I told you so*. "Yeah yeah very funny Frost, but this is serious. Should I be myself or.-" Frosthowl cut of Starfall by pushing him off his feet.
"You're right..I shouldn't make a big deal out of this. I'll get through this like any normal day. Thanks Frosthowl!" He gave the giant white wolf a hug, which he responded by putting his right forepaw around his masters body. "Now lets get ready for the gala!"
The shower water stopped flowing and the prince came out with a towel wrapped around his waist. As he left the bathroom in his room his eyes quickly caught sight of his mother standing outside. "I thought that nopony was allowed in my presence when I don't have my clothes on?" The prince spoke to his mother who was holding something behind her with her magic.
Luna rolled her eyes "I came to give you this!" She levitated a tuxedo made for a human, Starfall didn't know what to make of this.
"Ever heard of bad taste? I'm not wearing that." He objected to his mother's suggestion.
Luna's prideful smile disappeared for a second as Starfall spoke. "This was worn by your father the night..-" Luna tried to suppress the happy memories of her dancing with him when he asked her to the gala. "-The night your father and I danced in the gala for the first time..." Starfall knew that he hit a nerve and felt awful for bringing up the memory of his father.
"If my father wore this, Then so shall I!" The prince just realized that the tux was a perfect match for his size. "Uh..Was my father as tall as I am?"
Luna wiped off a small tear that was sliding down her cheek and smiled up at her son. "No this was magically shrunk down for you since he was a lot taller, but don't worry, I've told you before that humans stop growing when they are twenty five years old, you will be as big and strong as he was! Luna levitated the tux on the bed and let her son change in peace.
Starfall approached the tuxedo as his mind was racing with thoughts about his father and he could sense his mother's sadness from a mile away. Starfall never considered that his mother may also been torn up from the loss of her one and only love...From what he had learned, she had been through a lot by being Nightmare Moon and banished for a thousand years. but the worst was the fact that nopony ever knew that she existed during the dark ages. Celestia was always seen as the only princess even tho both sisters worked Together to keep balance in the world.
The prince felt a swift and sudden change of power and strength as he saw that it was night time. "Mother..?" He asked out loud in the room but found himself alone.
The evening was as expected. Several of the high society ponies introduced their daughters to the bachelor prince and all of the attended Crystal ponies came only to kiss the feet of the Crystal King. Starfall felt very uncomfortable that everyone saw him as an idol or a trophy. But the prince was looking forward to the arrival of the violinist Dinky. But it couldn't come fast enough. "Lightbringer's mercy. This is worse than last year." Starfall whispered to Frotshowl's ear.
His negative attitude of the night was gone in a flash as he saw the Doo family. He was about to approach them but hid behind a wall before going out. "How do I look?" Starfall asked nervous to make his impression on his crush.
Frosthowl looked at Starfall with his amused grin. "You're enjoying this aren't you?" He asked ironically. The prince took a deep breath as he was summing up all his courage and confidence to go and greet the Doo family. He left his hiding spot and approached the family. "Ditzy! Amy! Its good to see you two again!" The prince bowed to the newly arrivals.
The loving gray mare responded by giving the prince a big hug, "It's good to see you too my little muffin!" Starfall wanted to break off the hug but he cared for his foal-sitter too much and hugged her back with a warm smile. "My, you've grown so much over the year, you resemble your father a lot with that tuxedo."
Starfall felt a bit overwhelmed by the complements but just nodded and turned his attention towards Amethyst. "Amy, its good to see you again!" The prince picked up her hoof and gave it a gentlecolts kiss.
"Flatterer as always." Amethyst blushed at the prince greeting. "Its good to see you again Starfall."
And then came the moment of truth for Starfall, He turned his attention towards Dinky. "Its nice to meet you Miss Dinky." Starfall winked at the purple gray mare and kisses her hoof.
"Its nice to meet you too Prince Starfall!" The beautiful and simply dressed mare blushed from the greeting.
"So, Miss Dinky, I've heard you haven't visited the castle so much...Care to join me in a tour around it? Is it okay if I borrow her for a few minutes" Starfall turned towards Ditzy and Vigile who gave a quick nod.
"I would love to." She replied with a warm smile. "I'll see you later Amy." She secretly winked to her sister which the prince didn't notice,
"I promise I'll bring her back in one piece." Starfall said jokingly and offer his arm to the mare.
Rarity, Fancy pants and Frosthowl were observing the prince leaving the dining hall and were snickering amongst themselves but Frosthowl was laughing like a hyena. "I'm gonna start working on idea for her dress right away!" Rarity stated which made Fancy pants chuckle at his wife's frantic desire to rush his royal wedding.
"Lets focus on the engagement ring first." Fancy teased his wife.
It was a clear night, the moon and stars beaming down on the world below. In the Canterlot garden all was still but for two creatures, a pony and human, who walked side by side under the old trees.
“-and this is the Canterlot garden. Sadly it’s rather quiet now, all the animals are asleep, but in the day some of the rarest animals in Equestria roam here, like the blue-feather robin and... such...” He trailed off, mesmerized by the mare’s beauty under the streak of moonlight that shot down from the trees above. She flicked her mane back before gently sitting down the cold grass. Starfall hesitated, before quickly doing the same.
“What’s it like? Being a prince, I mean” she suddenly asked. Starfall was taken aback by the question.
“Well.. I mean it’s... why do you want to know?” Starfall asked suspiciously
“All my life I’ve heard father talk about you. I just want to hear your side of the story, that’s all.” Starfall chuckled. He wasn’t the only one who had been anticipating this moment
“Your father is a great stallion. I’m sure whatever he told you about me was true.” Dinky sighed.
“He’s a good father... he’s a bit strict sometimes though.” She shot her head up looking at Starfall again, with a grin on her face. “You’ve changed the subject!” Starfall laughed, and shook his head.
“Fine, I’ll tell you myself. It’s boring. Very, Very boring.” Dinky’s grin changed to a look of confusion as Starfall explained, “All it is is meeting egotistical nobles at grand events... er, you being an exception, of course.” at this, Dinky gave him a warm smile, which made the him blush.
“I heard you dueled Blueblood recently?” Dinky asked, breaking the awkward tension
“He had it coming sooner or later. You can’t go round treating other ponies as inferiors just because of whose descendant you are.”
“Wow, you could say that you’re a hero.” Starfall's smile disappeared into a subtle frown.
“I’m not a hero, Dinky. I’m not as brave and strong as my father.” He looked down at his quivering hands from the cold
“Not every hero is clad in shining armor and has to be brave. Sometimes, its just standing up for what's right.” The prince looked up at the mare, her words replaying in his head. She then got up turned back to the castle. A cold breeze blew through the air, the cold night made the young mare shiver. ”Let’s get back inside, its cold out here. ” Starfall smiled at her and she gave a friendly nod. The two creatures walked back through the garden to the castle, the moon watched as they left the beautiful garden.
The pair made their way back to the dining hall where most of the guests were chatting and hadn't notice the Unicorn and human rejoining the hall. "Well Starfall, It was nice to see you again, I really hope that we get to see each other one more time before this evening comes to an end."
"I hope so too." He said with a warm smile and gave the mare a gentlecolts bow. Dinky made her way back to her family and Starfall's first thought was to tell Frosthowl how well it went, but he couldn't see him anywhere. "Odd.." The prince used a simple spell to find his companion who was bound to him. The spell said Frosthowl was in the music room..Which was even more odd since he has never voluntarily been there. But Starfall just shrugged and made his way there without a second thought.
The prince opened the door to see a growling wolf, A white unicorn stallion wielding a spear, two pink alicorns, Along with two white unicorns one male and the other a very overly dressed female.
"STAY BACK I SAY!" Shining armor roared at Frosthowl, who was viciously growling back
The moment saw his best friend being threatened he didn't waste a second to interfere. Starfall used his magic to shatter the spear into a million pieces. "What's going on here!" He said with his Royal Canterlot Voice. The shouting took the attention of everypony. Frosthowl didn't waste a moment to reunite with his master.
"What are you doing, get away from that thing!" Cadence said worried for the Prince's safety.
Starfall just facepalmed at the drama of the scene. "Aunty Rarity, what's going on?" He groaned.
"Thank goodness you arrived when you did." Rarity said relieved to see Starfall to get everyone to calm down.
"Why did Frosthowl almost kill Shining armor?" He repeated his question but in a different format.
"Hardly! I could have taken him!" Shining armor protested.
"Silence!" He commanded the fake prince who lowered his proud stance. "Now tell me what happened." He said with a less aggressive tone than before...
Rarity and Fancy pants were making their way from the dining hall to get a moment for themselves. "I wonder how It's going for Starfall. The little prince has never had a crush and I'm a bit worried that he might get nervous."
"Don't worry your little head, he'll do just fine." Fancy reassured his worried wife. "Besides, have you ever met a stallion more charismatic than Starfall?" The gentlecolt said rhetorically.
Rarity gave her husband a seductive smile. "Maybe just one." She leaned closer to her husband and nuzzled him.
"Rarity?" A voice came behind the couple
The couple turned around to see two pink alicorns and one white unicorn. "Cadence,Shining armor, Skyla!" Rarity said happily and went over to greet them. "How have you three ben? Skyla you've grown up so much!" Rarity said and hugged the newly turned alicorn.
The pink alicorn wasn't looking very happy and in fact looked a bit annoyed or bothered. "I'm fine." She replied not looking at the white unicorn in the eyes and looked somewhere else like she wasn't interested in being here.
Rarity glanced at Cadence, but she just raised a hoof, as in to say *don't ask* "Anyways..Its so good to see you three again!" She gave the princesses a bow.
Cadence smiled at the greeting. "Its good to see you too. We were looking for Luna and Starfall, do you happen to know where they are?" Cadence asked politely.
Rarity grimaced at the mention of Starfall. "I don't know where Luna is, but Starfall is talking to a very lovely young mare by the garden." Skyla's ears perked up as Rarity spoke. "He will most likely return back to the music room to meet up with Frosthowl."
Cadence and Shining looked at each other from the odd name. "Frosthowl?" Cadence asked with a raised eyebrow.
Rarity sighed. "Its a long story." She motioned her hoof with a downwards wave.
Cadence nodded. "Very well."
Frosthowl was sleeping soundly in the music room in front of the fireplace. He had decided to take a small nap before seeing his master again. The door swung open and his head instantly peeked up to see who it was, to his disappointment it was Rarity and Fancy pants who opened the door and he decided to go back to snoozing.
"He's not here but-" Rarity was interrupted by Skyla who went past her by the door to see if he was there but to her shock she saw a giant white furred wolf napping by the fireplace. Skyla gave a high pitch scream in fear from the predator. Shining armor's guard instincts kicked in and he rushed to his daughter to see what had caused her to scream.
Frosthowl took notice of the screaming and protected his ears in a submissive yelp. He quickly stood up and his eyes caught glimpse of a battle stanced Stallion.
"Get back monster!" He shouted. The unicorn used his magic to grab a spear from above the fireplace and aimed it towards Frosthowl. He didn't understand the sudden hostility and responded by going over to the young mare and the older stallion to give a bowing greet and to show them that he is friendly. "I said STAY BACK!" he stabbed the wolf's left shoulder just slightly piercing through his body fat. Frosthowl barked, enraged by the attack, he took his battle stance and showed off his massive teeth.
"NO STOP!" Rarity said trying to break up the fight.
"-And that's when you came.." Rarity finished explaining what happened.
Starfall groaned in annoyance, shooting Shining armor with a stare of disapproval. "I'm in a good mood today so I won't be throwing you in the dungeon for assault."
Shining armor was taken back. "Assault!? Your pet tried to attack Skyla!" Shining armor spat at Starfall.
Starfall's facial expression wasn't changed by the objection. "I'm surprised you didn't start the fight with a lethal bolt, like you did against my father."
All the ponies including, Shining Armor froze. "Who told you that?" Cadence breathed, her barely audible voice quivering.
Starfall was going to answer the question but he noticed that someone was missing. "Where is Skyla?" He looked around trying to find his friend. Cadence's attention was also taken away by the question."Never mind her for the moment, like I said I'm in too good of a mood to bother, but you owe Frosthowl an apology."
Shining armor was taken even more back by his demand. "Why should I apologize?"
Starfall looked towards Frosthowl who had been growling furiously towards the former captain. "Or else I'll leave..."
Nopony understood what the prince meant by it. "Fine, leave, see if i care." He replied which made Starfall smile slightly.
"Very well, I'll leave you alone with Frosthowl." Starfall turned towards the wolf. "Have fun." He gave the giant white wolf a wink."
Frosthowl leapt towards Shining armor and pinned him to the ground in a instance. Shining armor was staring into the massive fangs and was frozen in fear. "Well have fun you two." Starfall said as he was just about to leave the room.
"Alright, alright!" Shining armor yelled out in fear. But Frosthowl didn't stop and showed off his massive fangs. "I'M SORRY!" he cried out with his last breath.
Starfall smiled and whistled for Frosthowl to come back to him. "Apology accepted." He said, keeping his father’s grin and left the ponies.
Fancy pants was helping up shining armor but he waved off his help. "Why do you always have to pick a fight with him!?" Rarity asked angrily. Cadence was going to stay for the question but she needed to find her daughter.
"You should have seen her Frost, she was so different from any mare I've ever met, She was kind, funny and as charming as her music." Starfall reminisce to his wolf about his encounter with the violinist. Frosthowl just sat and listened to his master with a smile that was reflected from his friend. "If I time it right, I could maybe share a dance with her before the end of the night."
Starfall wanted to continue explaining his plans for tonight, but both Starfall and Frosthowl snapped at the sound coming from the open door...Someone was there.
"I see you've found yourself a new friend." The voice of Skyla was recognized immediately as she spoke. She came out of hiding and revealed herself to the duo.
Starfall smiled. "Skyla!" he went up to her with his arms stretched out but got no hug from her which confused the prince. "What's the matter?"
Skyla narrowed her eyes and smile into a angry frown, "How could you not have visited me after five years! Five years!" She repeated herself still boiling with anger.
Starfall's smile disappeared from her yelling. "You know that I was very busy with my studies. I wanted to visit you every time I was forced to read one of my aunt's thousand of book and then move up to the Canterlot library..How can you even suggest that I would do such a thing on purpose?" The prince asked with a sad frown towards his childhood friend.
"No letters, no note. You could have sent one of the pegasus guards to deliver a message to me!" Skyla kept her angry glare towards the confused prince.
"What are you talking about? I've sent you several letters and notes...I even sent you a present every year, I've asked why you haven't come and visited Canterlot and my mother says that you were busy with your studies..."
Skyla steamed with rage after Starfall spoke. "YOU LIAR!" she slapped Starfall on his cheek. If it wasn’t night time, that slap would have hurt...Alot. But while Starfall barley felt the slap, he was completely stunned from Skyla’s outburst "A gentlecolt isn't supposed to lie to a mare, Especially a princess!" Starfall was just shocked from Skyla's acquisition. "I don't even want to look at you anymore, you make me sick Prince Starfall!" She turned her back towards the prince and left the room with a devastated prince and a confused wolf.
"Why would she think...-" Like his thoughts were putting together a giant puzzle, Starfall was trying to understand why she would think that he lied to her...
The prince continued with his attendance at the gala. The gala itself held little meaning to him, it was just the chance to see his relatives and close friends that was the highlight of the night. But the goal of most guest of the gala was to present themselves to the young prince as potential suitors, but the prince wasn't a fool, he knew their intentions before they even stepped inside his castle.
The prince had just finished talking to another mare with the delusion of thinking she had a chance with Starfall. The prince retreated back to the throne room to get a minute to vent out. "Lightbringer's mercy...These ponies are more boring than watching paint dry..." He said to his wolf companion. "Just a few more minutes until the sun and moon dance." The prince started to walk around in circles as he was getting more and more nervous.
The ears of the prince caught sound of his aunts timid Royal Canterlot voice. "Fillies and gentlecolts! for those who wish to participate in the sun and moon dance, please make your way towards the dining hall!"
"Oh boy..Here we go.." Starfall gulped. "Wish me Luck my friend!" He glanced at sleeping wolf and smiled. "Thanks for the support." He said sarcastically.
The prince made his way back to the dining hall and took a deep breath before entering...
As the boy entered, he saw all the mares and stallions. All the ponies in the room looked nervously to whom the young prince would chose as a dance partner...His eyes caught the sight of Dinky immediately and with a subtle smile he made his way towards the Doo family.
But as he made his way towards the violinist, he saw that his mother was sitting by the corner on the other side of the room and not wearing a dress a usual...Why does he never wear her dress? I've seen it, It's gorgeous... Like a meteor hitting Starfall's mind, he realized what was wrong with his mother today..She misses him... He thought to himself.
Earlier today...
"This was worn by your father the night..-" His mother paused and he didn't understand why "-The night we danced for the first time..." She tried to hide a tear sliding down her cheeks.
As his mother left, the prince felt the odd sensation of Grief as the night was born...
I understand now... All ponies saw how he stopped walking and his smile disappeared. He glanced at Dinky one last time before closing his eyes and trying to suppress his dream mare.
Starfall turned towards his mother and made his way towards her. Starfall went past several mares who sighed in disappointment. Everypony saw him making his way towards his mother.
Luna was taken back by her son's approach. "Starfall?" She asked him confused. "Aren't you going to pick a partner?" She asked her son. All the ponies were curious to what was going to happen next.
"Mother...Can I have this dance?" He gave a warm smile and extended his hand to pick her up from her seat.
All the ponies in the room were gazing intently their every movement. Luna however was giving a teary smile to her son...She hadn't considered dancing in the past. She knew what the prince was giving up to dance with her. "I would love to!" She took his hand and delicately stood up. They made their way towards the dance floor and separate to their respective sex sides and face towards each other. Starfall could see his aunts and close friends smiling towards him by the far end of the room.
The room quietened. Ponies gathered round the dancefloor while those involved approached their dance partners. The classical music began to play. The ponies took their partners with both forehooves and stood up on their hind hooves they walked in circles around each other. The dance was easier for Starfall with his human build and as his mother stood up on her hind legs and balancing her weight on his hands. she was just barely shorter than her son. All the ponies dropped down on their four hooves again before taking each other with just one hoof this time as they spun again.
"You are just as charming as he is." She teased her son as she stepped closer to her partner and put her hoof around his back and he around her waist.
He gave his mother a confident smile. "I doubt he was as handsome as I am." He replied jokingly.
The music eventually came to an end and all the ponies started applauding and Luna made her way with her son to the stage along with his aunt, Celestia.
Celestia looked happily towards the couple and turned her attention towards the gathered crowd. "Thank you all for this magical night. We hope you all had a great time and we look forward to next year's grand galloping gala. for now we would like to say thank you for coming!" Celestia spoke with her mild Canterlot voice.
The ponies applauded and slowly made their way out of the dining hall. Celestia turned towards her sister and nephew. "That was very nice of you Starfall." She smiled down on her nephew and turned towards her sister. "You are still the beautiful dancer I remember you were." She said to her sister. "I have to signal the guards to return." She said stepping off the stage and leaving Luna and Starfall alone.
Starfall was doing his best not to make a big deal out of it but his mother was so proud of her caring son. "I can't believe you picked me, you fool."
Starfall chuckled. "I have no idea what you are talking about." He tried to play off nonchalantly.
"Don't lie to me!" She bumped him again on his chest. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice you going off with Captain Vigil's daughter?" She giggled at her son's antics.
Starfall rolled his eyes. "True, but I chose to dance with the best mare there was." He smiled cheesily at his mother before being attacked with a hug from her.
"I love you too my little moonshine!" She kissed him on his cheek. "Thank you for making this a worthwhile night." Starfall returned the hug and wrapped his arms and wings around his mother. "It is a pity that you missed out on your chance with her."
Starfall hugged his mother tighter. "It was worth it to see you happy!"
The prince finished changing from his tuxedo unto some more comfortable and more daily clothes. Frosthowl was lying on Starfall's bed, waiting for his master to finish getting dressed.
Frosthowl's ears perked up as he heard movement in the hall. He raised his head, which Starfall noticed.
"What is it Frosthowl?" The prince asked his friend. A knocking sound came from his door and the prince braced himself for what was coming. "Come in!" The door opened and swung to the side, revealing to be his aunt Celestia. "Hi aunty! What can I do for you?" Starfall asked cheerfully.
Celestia wasn't smiling..."We need to talk!" She said coldly.
Starfall's cheerful mood was fading as he felt his aunt's serious tone kick in. "About what?" He slowly asked
Celestia sighed. "Your dreams..."