//------------------------------//
// New Moon Night 
// Story: The Tale of The White Night 
// by DraconequusMaximus 
//------------------------------//

The next several days went well, though White had fainted when Luna asked him why he had been walking funny. A story Braeburn was far too happy to tell ponies for White's taste. Despite this the 2 of them had been bonding wonderfully, the pair had even went back to "The Lunar Eclipse" for drinks with Luna & found their friend Fuzzy was the new bartender there.
"Well I never expected to see you two in Canterlot, let alone with a princess." Fuzzy stated happily
"Why are you with the princess?" He added after thinking about it for a second.
"White Night is an honorary member of the royal family & holds the lofty title of duke" Luna stated as if it was common knowledge even though the paperwork had only gone through just days ago.
"Seriously?" fuzzy asked with a skeptical tone & raised brow. White lowered the scarf he wore at all times to show the silver necklace with the royal seal that had been given to him. Fuzzy looked at the ponies before him for a moment before saying:
"Meh, that's cool I guess. That doesn't mean I'm giving you any free drinks, but you being my friend & former apprentice gets you a free first round." White new Fuzzy well enough to know that he was a good colt, but not the best comedian so he brushed it off. Fuzzy without having to ask made White his eponymous specialty after getting Braeburn a cider while asking:
"What will you have princess?"
"We will have a black Sunday if you are aware of it." Fuzzy always one to accept a challenge gained a serious expression & hoofed White his drink before rushing off to find the necessary ingredients. 
"We admire this stallion's gusto, we heard that he is the stallion that taught thee the art of drink?" Luna asked White, who nodded affirmative. 
"Then we shall put his craft to the test!" Luna said with an evil smile that sent shivers up both stallions spines.
"So, how's the banquet prep going? Everything gonna be ready by tomorrow night?" Braeburn asked her, breaking her away from the near endless catalog of over-complicated drinks she thought about getting Fuzzy to concoct.
"Yes, everything is ready & all the thestrals serving in the military as well as their wives will be attending." The princess answered as she was served her drink. To Fuzzy's dismay she downed it quickly & ordered an entire bottle of something called Hayseed's special 3X. At this Braeburn blanched for a moment.
"Luna, did you say, Hayseed's-"
"Indeed, we enjoyed the "moonshine" your acquaintance made so much, we searched out the stallion & gifted him a distillery & a sum of bits for the first batch of product. He has done quite well for himself in such a short time."
At this White gave Braeburn a look that could only be described as: "you sleep on the floor tonight". Braeburn could only sigh & nod at this.
The night waged onward & Luna put Fuzzy through his paces as White lost count as to how much Luna had downed. At the end of the end of the night Luna's tab had reached mythic proportions but Fuzzy had not once failed to fulfill her requests. Luna offered him a job at the castle but Fuzzy didn't feel like working around the clock 24/7. Braeburn didn't end up on the floor, thanks to having to carry White back to the castle after Luna dared him to try some "Hayseed's special". 
Now it was the day of the banquet & White was flying around their room essentially orbiting Braeburn out of both excitement & anxiety at the prospect of his first cultural holiday. Braeburn had long since stopped trying to get him to calm down, so instead was reading a book about peach farming he had found in the desk. This continued until Wite tired himself out & took a nap. It was unusual to see his reserved little angel so irrational, but Braeburn had to admit it was just a bit funny too. 
Braeburn woke him in time to prepare for the banquet, White & Braeburn decided to shower together to save time (seriously, nothing happened. Deal with it). Braeburn ran a lint roller over his clothes at the behest of his coltfreind. White spent a good deal of time making sure he looked his best, & had gotten his favorite, "Flippin Adorable" outfit professionally cleaned for the event though he left the scarf off to leave his status symbol visible at Luna's request. A servant came to fetch them so they could take their places at the head table with Luna.
When the Stallions arrived the hall had only a few ponies, mostly servants setting the enormous table. They walked up to the special table set horizontal forming a T with the regular table. Luna of course was center seat she directed White to the seat directly at her right. White took it with Braeburn sitting to his right. 
"Where's Princess Celestia at?" Braeburn asked (he had not yet dropped the title with Celestia as he had with Luna).
"Our sister thought she already presided over too many important events so we will see this threw ourself. Though we believe she did not wish to make another promise she was unable to keep." Luna stated with a grin. Braeburn was still adjusting to the facts that the immortal rulers of his country were a closet over-eater & somepony who was determined to become an alcoholic. So he merely tried to block this out. Eventually a couple of unicorn nobles, seemingly husband and wife arrived & took up the 2 seats to Luna's left. White at one point asked who they were.
"we are unsure Tia asked them to attend to make the event seem more important to Canterlot ponies other than the thestral population." White thought this was rather thoughtful & made note to thank her.
Soon scores of thestrals & a few other ponies filled the seats at grand table White recognized several of the thestrals sitting in a group as the cadets he had trained with before the Black Wing incident. Night Road looked up at table to see White sitting next to the princess he was training to serve. White noticed the stallion's surprise but decided to take the mature approach to the situation, He waved to his former classmate & smiled before sticking out his tongue & blowing a raspberry at him. Luna noticing the stallion as well delivered a glare in his direction that seemed to say: "I know who you are, & what you did. I will end you." The enormous stallion seemed to deflate visibly even from such a distance. 
The Hour drew near & Luna rung a bell signalling everypony to cease their chatter & direct their attention to her.
"Greetings to all of our children of the night & guests of the same. This is the first feast of the New Moon Night celebrated by royalty since we fell too far into the darkness. This feast was meant to be about familial togetherness & setting goals to better thyself in the coming year. This year we shall all set goals come feasts end, however since royalty is hosting the feast, we shall express togetherness by introducing to you a fellow child of the moon who has never been included in this sacred event. We would have you bid welcome to the newest member of the royal family who was instrumental in bringing the tradition back to the castle, Duke White Night the 1st!" Luna bellowed loudly as she beckoned White to stand. He managed to do so if a little shakily, the alarmed expressions of the cadets that had taunted him fueled his confidence even though he hadn't expected this.
"White Night has endured much hardship at the hands of his fellow thestrals, yet he agreed to attend the event where even now some of the perpetrators sit amongst you. You could all learn a lesson in forgiveness from him. Now as is traditional the host will engage their lover in a kiss to set the night in motion. However since our return from the moon we have not taken a consort. As such the duty falls to the thestral of highest rank." White's ears instantly drooped when Luna said this, his left eye visibly twitched as he tried to process the fact that he was now expected to kiss Braeburn in front of a room in full of thestrals, who's culture damned same-sex relationships. Luna noticed his building anxiety but motioned for White to move in front of the table, he was required to obey his sovereign.
"White Night, please call upon the one who holds your heart." Luna said calmly 
"I-I call upon Braeburn Apple." He said much to the surprise of the entire thestral population of the room. Braeburn was also a tad uncomfortable with the unexpected situation but wanted nothing more than to support White. As such, Braeburn took lead & pulled his angel in front of a thousand pairs of eyes, into a deep passionate kiss. At first White was lost in everything but soon nothing bit the moment mattered, & White pulled them tighter together with his wings. The room was filled with gasps & the sound of flashbulbs from reporters. When the moment of passion ended White felt extremely liberated despite the stares of anger, confusion, & disbelief. Luna then teleported from behind the table to between the now separated stallions. 
"We are aware of the ideals & traditions that became commonplace so long ago, however the world has changed much over the centuries. Tradition is a wonderful thing but can become outdated as the ways of the world change, the other races realized this several years ago & now anypony can marry anypony else. I whole-heartedly support this long overdue development. But it seems my children of the night are behind the times, there has even been persecution toward White Night for something he has no control over, in the future anyone found persecuting another for their orientation & right to pursue happines as such, will be disavowed from their service to the night." Luna stated, with her tone sinking darker toward the end. White later explained to Braeburn that this was the greatest dishonor a thestral could receive. It was essentially the deity you prayed too telling you you were scum, & they never wanted to see or hear you again. Braeburn definitely thought this sounded like something to avoid. The crowd thought this too instantly as nopony got up from their seat. but a few grumbles were heard.
"The feast will now begin anew tonight, as it will every year from now on. White Night as highest ranking thestral will continue to play host until as such time he is succeeded by another. There will be none to question this as, none can claim rank upon him or I. The feast will now begin." 
Everypony began talking amongst themselves as numerous dishes were brought out to the table, The trio that had garnered so much attention returned to their seats as food was brought to the head table. White was unsure of how he felt about being the poster-foal for a major cultural shift until a thestral stallion approached the head table bowing to not only Luna but to White as well. 
"Lady moon & Duke White Night, there are no words to express the thanks we feel towards your revolution." The stallion said near tears.
"We?" White asked before noticing a unicorn standing off to the side watching them nervously. 
"Yes, I'm Dusk Eater & this is Spearmint." He said motioning the unicorn forward.
"We met at a bar while I was a cadet, but I was too afraid to see him openly until now. Nothing is set in stone but if it weren't for you three's display we would have never gotten the chance." Dusk eater said folding a wing over Spearmint. The three talked with the pair for awhile before the new couple left. During the course of the feast a couple other stallions & three mares came forward as well. White knew now that even if he still hated the attention the actions Luna "coerced" him & Baeburn into would radically affect the world for the better.
The Night wore on & the feast ended with Luna promising to finally achieve a state of complete drunken-ness, while Braeburn & White resolved to get back at Luna for manipulating ponies lives so much. Luna merely laughed & stated they were welcome to try & stop her.