//------------------------------// // The Autumn Equinox Ball, Part Two // Story: Bloom's New Life // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// The next day, Cherry Blossom was at the spa with Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Spike was there too because he liked to use those girls' trips to get his scales treated. They were arranging the coat, the mane and the hooves to the ball that night. "Oh, girls, I cannot wait for tonight" Rarity said, while she was receiving a massage from one of the employees of the spa, with a mask on the face and two slices of cucumber in the eyes. "I have all combined with Chocolate Sun. This will be a great night." Chocolate Sun was a high society unicorn stallion for whom Rarity ended up having a crush. Of course, with her incredible power of seduction, Rarity managed in a short time make the feeling be mutual. "You know, it's amazing that he has opted for the Ponyville's ball instead Canterlot's" Fluttershy said, who was lying on a massage table with a towel wraping her mane. "Darling, I just had to use the right words and the proper look" she replied. "It wasn't very complicated." "Yes, but you could go with me" Spike said, sitting on the massage table he was taking and rising one of the cucumbers which were on his eyes. "At least you would not have so much work to convince me to go." Everypony knew Spike had a crush on Rarity since when he arrived in Ponyville, despite it was not reciprocated in the way he wanted. "Oh, Spikey-wikey, maybe next year, okay?" Rarity replied. "Really?" Spike asked, excited. "Look at that if you say it, it is promised." "I and the Chocolate Sun will be the most perfect pair of the night" Rarity declared. "Of course after you, Twilight, darling. I bet you and Blue Sword will be more than perfect tonight." "Oh, Rarity, don't say that" Twilight said, while doing a hooficure. "I and Blue Sword only want have a good night together and just that." "Uh, do you know what is a perfect night to me?" Pinkie asked, who was in the hot water bath. "Is it ya cloy yerself with tha chocolate of tha chocolate fountainy an' dance all night?" Applejack asked, who was lying face down on a massage table, waiting for her massage. "You're right!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, shocked. "Are you a psychic?" "Pinkie, that is what you usually do" Twilight answered. "Oh, right" Pinkie said. "Can I make other question reeeealy hard to ask you? I bet you will not get it." "Yes, Pinkie, you can" Twilight answered, rolling her eyes. "With who am I going to the ball?" she asked. No one talked. "So, no one?" Pinkie asked, smilling. "I knew you will not be able to answer." "Pinkie, darling, stop with the suspense and tell us" Rarity said. "Yeah, who is tha poor guy?" Applejack asked. "Drums, please" Pinkie said, tapping his hooves in the water, causing it to sputter. "I'll go... with Coconut." The others nodded and made ovations while Pinkie made ​​bows. "What about you, Applejack?" Twilight asked. "I heard that things between you and Caramel are going well." "Don't have any ideas, girls" Applejack said. "Caramel and Ah are jest friends." "Yeah, sure" the others said with a certain tone of irony. Applejack blushed slightly, then said: "Ah only invit'd him as a friend. Then we'll see." "What about you, Cherry, darling?" Rarity asked Cherry Blossom who was also making a manicure. "Who is the lucky stallion who will be honored to take you to the ball?" "No one" she replied. "I didn't invite anypony." "What?!" the others asked. "Silly, having a pair in the Autumn Equinox Ball is like a law or something" Pinkie said. "I admit I don't often agree with Pinkie" said Rarity, taking the cucumbers from her eyes. "But I have to admit she is right in what she just said. Rainbow Dash also invited Thunderlane and even Fluttershy will go with Star Hunter." "Hey, Big McIntosh also has na pair for tonight" Applejack said. "He doesn't usually go tah tha dance, or tah have a li'l fun. Ya could invite him and so everypony would win." Cherry blushed a bit and confessed: "Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo also told me that. But I don't know..." "Well, if even the little fillies say the same, then it's because it's a good idea" Rarity said. "Besides you two would be perfect together." "Yes" Fluttershy agreed. "I also had the same fear of inviting somepony, but then Star Hunter accepted and I was very relieved." "I'm not afraid, it's just..." Cherry Blossom began, almost going to tell them everything. "Ah, forget it." "Do you want my advice, Cherry?" Twilight asked. "I think you should put aside your worries and take a risk. You may come regret yourself for not having done so." "Do you think so?" Cherry Blossom asked. "Of course. And I'm a good example of that. I spent a lifetime putting studies first, but once I ventured to open myself to friendship, my life was improved in every way possible." Cherry thought about it. She knew Twilight was right. She should take a risk and access to her willingness to invite Big Mac, but the fear of truly falling in love for him was so great she refused to do it. Her thoughts were interrupted by Rainbow Dash who entered in the room. "Hello, girls" she greeted. "Look who decid'd tah show up" Applejack said. "Where have you been, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asked. "You're wasting precious time for you to prepare yourself for the ball." "I'm not going doll myself just because of a simple ball" Rainbow said. "I'm already so awesome. I just need to relax for a bit then I'll go to prepare myself." "Oh, Rainbow Dash, come here" said Pinkie. "The water is super duper hot and goody." "You bet, Pinkie" Rainbow said, jumping to the bath and then leaning back with the hooves behind her head. "Oh, yeah..." "Rainbow Dash, you should make a hooficure" Rarity said. "You must be in your best tonight." "No way!" Rainbow exclaimed. "I told you already that the day I get a hooficure is the day I turn in my daredevil license. So, no files will be close to these wonderful hooves." "Rarity, let miss athletic celebrity be" Applejack said. "Ya know that, if she doesn't want somethin', it's not worth insisting." Cherry could not resist to make a smile and a laugh. That moment reminded her of the moments she spent with the others Winx. The longing she had for them was immense. She could only endure it because she also had fantastic friends in that world who helped her to forget that longing. When they left the spa, they returned to their respective homes to get dressed. Applejack and Cherry Blossom were returning to the farm, when they saw Big Mac loading his wagon with haystacks and heading to the barn. "Here's yer big chance" Applejack said to Cherry. "Go ahead an' invite him." "I don't know..." Cherry said, still uncertain. "I don't want him to think I'm just inviting him because no one invited him." "Ah'm sure mah brother will be very happy tah go with ya" Applejack said, putting her hoof on Cherry's shoulder. "Come on, tha sooner tha better. Ah'll get dressed. See ya sooner." And she gave her a little push that made Cherry walk a bit. She turned to Applejack who nodded to her with a smile, encouraging her. She then turned, took a deep breath and stepped forward. She went to the barn and found Big Mac stacking the haystacks. When he tried to stack the last one on a higher place, he couldn't get there, then Cherry used her magic to levitate it and put it there. Seeing this, Big Mac turned and saw her. "Cherry!" he exclaimed. "Ah didn't hear ya comin'." "Big Mac, I... I wanted to ask you one thing" she said. "An' what is it?" he asked. Cherry Blossom took all her courage and, wanting to get over it, told all in one go: "Doyouwanttogototheballwithme?" She had said it so fast that Big Mac didn't understand. "What?" he asked, tilting his head, frowning. Cherry took a deep breath, calming down, and asked, more slowly: "Do you want to go to the ball with me?" Big Mac was caught off guard with that question and become dumbfounded and completely petrified. "Ah, Big Mac" Cherry called, passing her hoof through his eyes to see if he reacted. "Are you okay?" Big Mac woke up from his hypnotized state, shaked his head and then blushed slightly, asking: "Ya want tah go with me?" "Well, as friends, of course. You work so much I think you deserve a good rest and go have some fun." Big Mac could not resist sketching a slight smile and said: "It is much sympathy of yers to invite me tah go with ya." "So do you accept it?" "Eeyup" he answered. "Well, so it's settled. I'll get me ready. Do you wait for me?" Big Mac, unable to speak, nodded frantically and then Cherry headed for the exit. Big McIntosh saw Cherry Blossom getting out of the barn and, when he saw that she couldn't hear him, he cried with immense happiness: "YEE-HAWW!" He was beside himself with joy. He would go to the Autumn Equinox Ball with Cherry Blossom, the mare he loved, even though they would go as friends. That would be the perfect opportunity for him to declare himself. The timing was perfect. The ball's time approached. The Apple family was already ready to go. Applejack was wearing a dress Rarity had done her. It was elegant and at the same time practical, with a hat and cowboy boots for galas and her mane and tail combed with a large braid. Apple Bloom wore a beautiful dress whose color matched with her bow which was in her mane which were combed gently. Granny Smith had just a simple yellow dress and just had straightened out her mane a little. Big Mac, meanwhile, had taken his work horse collar and replaced it for a black bow tie. He also had combed her mane. His family had never seen him so nicely arranged like he was now. He was so nervous he kept moving from one place to another. "She's takin' a long time. But what is she doin'? Did she quit at tha last minute? Maybe she thinks goin' with me is a bad idea." "Big Mac, calm down" Applejack said. "She should be gettin' out in a few moments. Don't worry." "Yeah, Cherry invit'd ya, so she wants tah go with ya" Apple Bloom said. " She wouldn't leave ya hanging. Ya should know her better." "Ah know, Ah know, but Ah'm really nervous." "Oh, tha anxiety of tha first ball!" Granny Smith said dreamily. "Ah remember like it wuz yesterday tha first time Ah went tah a ball with a stallion. We danc'd tha night away... But when she started doing dance moves, Granny Smith found herself with a back pain and got stuck. "Ah, charley horse, charley horse!" she exclaimed. "Big Mac, mah dear, do you mind..." Noticing the cue, Big Mac approached his grandmother and gave a blow with the hoof in her back, freeing her. "That's much better" she said. "Thank you, dear." "Well, Ah'll get going" Applejack said. "Ah have tah go meet with Caramel. Apple Bloom, you come with me." "But Ah want tah stay tah see..." she began. But Applejack's stare made ​​her change her mind . "Let's go tah tha ball!" she exclaimed, leaping to the exit. "That's much better" Applejack said, following her. "Ah'm comin' after ya, girls" Granny Smith said, also advancing to the exit. Before leaving, Applejack turned to Big Mac and told him: "Big Mac, ya'll be there, right?" "Eeyup" he said. "Ah'll jest wait for Cherry." "See if you arrive there before the sun goes down" Applejack said, leaving and closing the door. Big Mac waited a minute or two until he began to hear hoofs descending the stairs. Enthusiastic, he went to the bottom of the stairs and looked up. He was amazed at what he saw. Cherry Blossom was getting down the stairs dressed in a beautiful blue dress encrusted with sapphires at the edge and around the collar and she was using blue crystal shoes. Her mane and tail were gently combed and caught behind in a horse tail with the mane falling gently on her shoulder and with a light blue headband with a cherry blossom on one side. "Wow!" Big Mac exclaimed, having no words to describe the beauty he was seeing. "You're so beautiful." "Thank you" she thanked, blushing slightly. "And you are very good-looking too with that tie and the mane combed. It's funny, but pains me to see you without your horse collar." "If you want, I can... But she put a hoof on his lips and said: "No, you are nice... just perfect" Big Mac smiled, blushing. There was a pause and then Big Mac asked, extending his hoof: "Shall we?" She waved and received his hoof. The two then headed to the exit. The two arrived to Ponyville and found it decorated with huge decorations, and they were mostly constituted by autumn season's colored leaves. The center of the festival was the center of Ponyville, next to the town hall. The music was already playing and several ponies were dancing. There was nearby a stand with food and drinks (many of them provided by the Apple family and the Cakes) and in the the band was playing on the stage. They first walked, finding Applejack talking with Caramel and Rainbow Dash with Thunderlane. Fluttershy was dancing with Star Hunter and Rarity with Chocolate Sun, while Pinkie Pie was eating all the sweats she was seeig with Coconut watching her, delighted. Big Mac felt himself as the luckiest stallion of all because he had the most wonderful pair of all. Only one thing could make the night even more perfect. He turned to Cherry Blossom and asked, lifting the hoof. "Do ya want tah dance?" Cherry still hesitated, but then she smiled and accepted Big Mac's hoof and they went to the dance. From afar, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were watching them dancing, overjoyed. "Are you seeing this, girls?" Sweetie Belle asked. "They are dancing together." "It must not be long to happen what we want to happen" Scootaloo said. "Exactly" Apple Bloom said. "One more effort, Cutie Mark Crusaders. One more li'le push and our duty as cupids will finally be fulfill'd." After some time, the music was interrupted when the sun was mere minutes to set. When the musicians left the stage, Mayor Mane, Ponyville's mayor, came up and said to everyone: "Welcome everypony and thank you for coming over to the wonderful Autumn Equinox Ball. Well, it's almost time for the sun to set and moon to rise and I just want to say one thing. I am sure that this night will be forever in your memory as I hope that all the others were. Tonight is always a moment of great excitement because of the fantastic autumn moon which is said to have an immense loving influence in most of the couples just like the beginning of spring or the Hearts and Hooves Day. But I hope this particular night stay forever in our memories, because it's the first Autumn Equinox Ball of one of the alicorn princesses as a princess. Fillies and gentlecolts, I present you Princess Twilight Sparkle and her consort, Captain Blue Sword." The mayor stepped back a bit and Twilight and Blue Sword appeared with all ponies hitting with their hooves in the ground, cheering. Twilight was wearing a beautiful indigo dress with bright amethysts decorating the tail of the dress, golden shoes and his mane was combed with beautiful curls. Decorating her head was a beautiful golden crown with a magenta six-pointed star on the front. Blue Sword was wearing a elegant black smoking with a white shirt and a dark blue bow tie. "I and Blue Sword feel very honored to be chairing this celebration" Twilight said. "Exactly, and we want to thank everypony for coming, not only on our behalf but also on the behalf of those who helped to provide this ball" Blue Sword said. "But I think we'd better stop with the speeches, after all it's time for the ball's highlight" Twilight said. "The autumn moon is about to appear. A few seconds away." And so they were all very quiet, watching the sun setting. As the sun set down, the moon began to rise in the sky. The rays of the setting sun seemed be absorbed by the moon, and when it finally vanished and the darkness appeared, the moon had in the sky just for it, rising high and shining with a bright orange light. Everypony released exclamations of admiration. Cherry Blossom had no words for what she had just seen. The moon had absorbed the last rays of the day's sun to reflected them, causing the moon's color change to orange. It was a wonderful moment, something that could only happen at a time when the sun and moon were in a very precise angle. She then looked at Big Mac and could not believe in what her eyes were seeing. The moonlight focussed on him, makin his mane shine with a wonderful glow. His coat was also shining, making it look like a ruby​​. Big Mac also looked at Cherry and was also stunned. Her mane seemed fire due to the combination of its reddish color and the moon's orange glow, which was emanating an essence truly attractive. The chemistry existing between the two was undeniable. It seemed like they were the opposite poles of a magnet that were approaching. So, without being able to resist any longer, they approached their muzzles and then their lips touched on each other. The three little fillies, who have not stopped watching the pair since they arrived, were filled with joy when they saw that. "It can not be..." Scootaloo started. "They are..." Apple Bloom said. "...kissing" Sweetie Belle completed. They looked at each other and then gave a squeal of excitement. "But what's goin' on here, girls?" asked Applejack, who approached them. Apple Bloom pointed a hoof to Big Mac and Cherry Blossom. Applejack looked and stayed with the same air of surprise that the fillies'. "Ah don't believe it..." she said. "But ya can believe it, sis" Apple Bloom said. "Big McIntosh and Cherry Blossom are kissing!" Big Mac and Cherry Blossom continued kissing for one more minute. Cherry Blossom, as she kissed him, felt her own heart beating violently and her stomach taking laps. Big Mac, by his turn, felt himself in the clouds. He was giving his first real kiss to the mare he loved. Now, that night has become more than perfect. Then Cherry separated herself from him suddenly, taking her hoof to her lips. A feeling of guilt grew inside in her when she broke the kiss. She felt herself guilty because she felt that she had betrayed Sky in the worst way, because she not only had kissed another man (or better, another stallion), but she was enjoying it. "What's up?" Big Mac asked. "I'm so sorry, Big Mac, but I..." Cherry Blossom said, starting to hyperventilate. "I can't, Big Mac, I'm sorry." And having said that, she began to move away as soon as possible. She didn't want to see the look of disappointment from Big Mac, knowing she was hurting him with that attitude, but she had no choice. She was not ready yet for that. "Cherry!" Big Mac called, but she ignored him, leaving him without reaction. "But where is she going?" Scootaloo asked. "But what happen'd?" Apple Bloom asked. "I don't know" Sweetie Belle answered. Applejack, seeing that scene and the air of disappointment from his brother, felt sorry for him. "Oh, Big Mac..." she said. That rejection really hurted Big Mac. It was as if the whole world had fallen upon him. Then, a tear started to fall down his face.