I think we broke her, Tia!
All work and no play makes a dull pony grey. No offense to those that have grey coats, of course, but I can certainly feel my white coat turning into a dull shade of grey with every passing day I spend inside the castle when I could be spending it outside. The snow won't be covering Canterlot soon, and I want to frolic in it just like I did when I was a tiny filly...Then again, you have to admit, it'd probably cause some newspaper to write about how playing in the snow is the next 'big thing', and then we'll have one massive snowball fight in Canterlot. Actually, now that I think about it, that wouldn't be such a bad idea...
Inside a very warm castle, Celestia was looking out through a window at the snow that was in Canterlot public park. One of them, anyway. While summer was her season, and she loved it so, it just didn't compare to how everything had a 'clean' look to it in the winter. That, and the snow could be used for so many things; it was a wonder why ponies wanted to have a winter wrap up at all.
"Tia?"
"Hmm?" Celestia turned her gaze away from outside the window to see Chrysalis, clad in winter gear and a slight smile on her face. "Did you need something, Chrys?"
"Well, I've more or less finished my work, and since I saw you out here, I figured that you're done as well. I'm about to head into the mall down the street to buy a slurpee and walk around the park for a bit before spending the rest of the day in front of the hearth. Do you want to come along? I'd like some company, and Lulu and Moonie are probably busy with their work."
"Nothing's holding me back here as far as I know. Of course, Chrys, I'd love to come along, especially since you mentioned slurpees. Just let me grab a scarf and I'll be set."
Watching this encounter from afar off was Luna, who gleefully rubbed her hooves together. "Oh, this is perfect! Chrys and Tia, getting a slurpee together?! I'm glad I dumped my work onto Blueblood to see this! Now, all I have to do is manipulate the events to ensure the perfect date for them!" Luna giggled as she teleported to the mall that Chrysalis mentioned that they were going to, and ignoring the startled looks and bows she was receiving, placed down five-hundred bits in front of a scared teenage colt.
Excessive? Possibly, but she didn't mind; she had to make sure this worked, after all. "Two ultra large slurpees, one made with cherry, the other made with cola! They are for my sister and Princess Chrysalis, who shall be arriving here shortly. Tell them nothing; just say that these drinks are already paid for, but do not say by whom. Farewell." Just as quickly as she entered the food court, she left, via teleportation again, planning on setting things up in the park. Music needed to be in the park.
The manager of the food court looked at the pile of bits on the counter, then looked over to the colt with a smile. "Well, I don't know how you managed to get Princess Luna as your first customer, nor how you managed to snag five-hundred bits for two slurpees, but what I do know is that you're getting promoted."
"That was certainly generous of the pony at the register, though I find it a bit strange; our favorite slurpees, already laid out and paid for us? I thought we'd have to wait in line like everypony else, Tia." Chrysalis placed her mouth onto her straw, and began sucking in the massive ninety-two ounce heavenly cherry flavoured slurpee that threatened to give her brain freeze.
"Indeed, it's strange, but certainly not unwelcome. Perhaps it's just a sign that things are going to go well tonight."
"...Say, do you hear that, Tia?"
"Hear wha-" Celestia trailed off slowly as she heard faint music coming from the park. "My, I didn't expect music in the park; I would have figured that these ponies would have wanted to play inside, rather than outside."
Turning the hedge, the two alicorns saw famed musician Octavia Melody with her sister, Fiddlesticks Melody and friend, Vinyl Scratch. Their eyes were closed, seemingly lost in the pure musical bliss. The three were playing in a gazebo, and, strangely enough, there were no ponies surrounding the famous musicians. At least, until they showed up. Feeling a nudge to her side, Celestia looked over at Chrysalis, who made a subtle nod towards them. "Come on, this is interesting."
The footsteps of the two approaching alicorns caused the three musicians to open their eyes and see who had dared to approach. Instead of stopping the music, like Celestia feared they would, they merely smiled, and continued to play their breathtaking melody; it wasn't a song that she recognized, but she didn't need to. They were not famous musicians right now; they were simply two sisters and a friend, enjoying a moment of simply playing what felt right to them.
"Hey...Tia?"
"Yes?"
"So far, today's been strange; we've been given free slurpees, and now there's music playing in the park, without anypony else here except for us. Now that I think about it, it reminds me of those terrible romantic movies Moonie watches in her spare time where somepony sets up two other ponies together without them knowing. Or, in other words, Cadence."
Now that you mention it, it does seem like...Oh, come on, Lulu, was this your doing? While I don't mind the free slurpees that were hopefully from your own bits, you really don't have to play matchmaker. However... "That seems correct. I remember a scene similar to this...And this is the scene where the fair unicorn asked the changeling for a dance."
"I see. I...Wait..."
"Would you like to dance, Chrys?"
Celestia had to admit, Chrysalis did look rather cute when she suddenly went red in the face. "I'll take that as a yes." Before Chrysalis could protest, Celestia took hold of Chrysalis' hooves, and went into a slow dance with her. Vinyl, who was still watching the pair, gently nudge Octavia and Fiddlesticks before winking at them, and the trio went into a slightly more romantic version of what they were playing. The music did not go unnoticed by Chrysalis, who started to pull away slightly.
"Tia...As much as I like you as a friend, I-"
"Shh, Chrys. I have a feeling that Lulu is watching us dance right now; I'm sure that she is very pleased with what she thinks is going to her plans. I, however, have other things in mind."
Chrysalis' voice quietened down, and she slowly placed herself back in Celestia's hooves. She's quite the leader in dancing. "Ah, I see. What are you going to do?"
"Lead Lulu on; then, when she crows about her victory, I'll tell her that we knew all along and we're still not together, despite her efforts to do so."
"That's mean. Funny, but mean." Chrysalis was suddenly twirled around by Celestia, and she couldn't help but be slightly jealous of Celestia's dancing skills. While slow dancing wasn't really a dance and more of a hugging and swaying kind of thing, she had never really gotten used to it, so she was very surprised at how well Celestia was guiding her.
"This is coming from the alicorn that threw an empty slurpee at my horn."
"Fair enough."
The dancing continued on, though Celestia felt that the music was going to end soon. With a sudden kick, Celestia tripped a startled Chrysalis, and she caught her low to the floor, with a slight smile on her face. The things I do to prank my sister. "Shh, all part of the plan, Chrys. Now you better enjoy this because I'm only going to do this once."
"What are yo-" Chrysalis' eyes widened as Celestia went in for a kiss, completely taking her by surprise. While she certainly needed to kiss a few ponies when she needed to disguise as one, she never had a kiss while undisguised. It felt...'Different' somehow. It was also especially different when she felt Celestia press deeper into the kiss willingly. I...Understand that you want this to look convincing, Tia, but this is just going a little too far! Regardless of her personal thoughts on what was happening to her, she closed her eyes, agreeing with Celestia's words; she really should enjoy this moment, if not because she actually liked getting kiss by Celestia, but because Luna was going to have one heck of a surprise coming to her.
A thud startled all five of them, and they turned towards the sound of the thud, which happened to be none other than Luna. An awkward look was shared between all the ponies present before they abandoned their positions to run to Luna, and Chrysalis gently nudged her, checking for a response. "I think we broke her, Tia!"
Vinyl snorted, earning her Octavia's glare. "I'll say. I know I'd gag if I saw my cousin Rarity going at it like you two were!"
Celestia only then just realized that their little moment might have told these ponies a little too much that they didn't need to know, nor need to spread around. "I trust that you three will understand that we are not together? We were merely playing a prank on Lulu here."
Fiddlesticks looked up at Chrysalis, then at Celestia, disappointment clear in her eyes. "Aw, shucks, y'all ain't together?"
Chrysalis scrunched her face, unable to believe that they thought they were together. "No, we are certainly not together!"
Octavia cleared her throat, which had the effect of getting everypony to look at her. "Well...As much as I want to dwell on the problem of Princess Luna being out 'cold' right now, I also want to get back to playing music; might as well, really, since Princess Luna pulled all of us out of my warm home just seven minutes ago."
"I would be grateful, actually, if you would continue playing a little longer. Chrys, would you like to dance again? It's been quite awhile, and I won't force you into a kiss this time."
A part of Chrysalis told her that she wanted nothing more to do in the park, but she also enjoyed the dancing, even if Celestia was leading the entire time. "Of course, Tia, I'd love to dance again."