//------------------------------// // Act 1 Scene 5: In My Dreams // Story: Bluebelle of the Ball, The Musical // by mr lovecolt //------------------------------// Princess Bluebelle stood beneath Princess Luna’s banner – a grey crescent moon surrounded by four stars on a dark blue backdrop – and looked down the hallway. Unlike her other aunt, the hall that led to Princess Luna’s private quarters was windowless. In lieu of natural sunlight, the hallway was lit by torches. The hallway was definitely a throwback to how her aunts’ old castle looked; Princess Bluebelle had learned early on when Princess Luna returned that she preferred her own wing to be similar to how it looked before she tried to make the night permanent. The result was that each hoofstep echoed against the walls and that the corners that weren’t illuminated by torchlight made her feel dirty. At the end of the hallway stood two of Princess Luna’s guards. Princess Bluebelle took a stance in front of the two thestrals and tossed her mane back as they bowed to her. “Your Highness,” one of the guards said, “what brings you to Her Highness’ chambers?” “I came to visit my aunt.” Princess Bluebelle never faltered in her stance. She stared coldly at the guard who had spoken to her. The other guard cleared his throat and turned to the door but was stopped by a voice coming through the other side. “Opening the door will not be necessary,” Princess Luna called out, “I shall open it myself.” Princess Bluebelle smiled. As opposed to Princess Celestia, Princess Luna still hadn’t become used to the changes in culture as far as interacting with her subjects. The result was that she didn’t take kindly to the types of ponies that lived in Canterlot, a fact that Bluebelle appreciated. A dark blue aura surrounded the door, and it opened. The guards took a step back and bowed once more to make way for Princess Bluebelle to enter Princess Luna’s private chambers. As soon as she entered, the doors closed behind her. She began to look for her aunt but was distracted by the sight of lights above her head. She craned her neck up; a replica of the night sky on the ceiling hovered above her. Every so often, a few of the stars in different constellations would shift back and forth. Princess Bluebelle heard the sound of giggling and turned her attention to the middle of the room, where she saw her aunt as she held a hoof up to her muzzle. Princess Luna stopped her giggling and stood up. The lights from the false stars above shone down, casting a soft glow around them. The light shimmered off of Princess Luna’s mane and tail, turning them into a replica of the night sky that had been created above them. “Good morning, Auntie,” she said. “Is there something that you needed, Bluebelle?” There it was – the personality trait that Princess Bluebelle admired in her aunt. Sure, Princess Celestia was a much better diplomat than the princess of the night, but that was only because she learned it through a thousand years as sole ruler of Equestria, especially during its formative years. Princess Celestia had learned how to speak around any given topic, forcing the other conversation partner to make whatever request he or she wanted. Princess Celestia saw it as diplomacy. Princess Bluebelle saw it as manipulation. This was why she liked her Aunt Luna – she had never learned how to master the art of manipulative speaking. She was always direct – she knew that ponies came to her because they needed or simply wanted something from her and didn’t pretend to waste time with pleasantries. When Princess Luna had returned from her millennial exile, Princess Bluebelle saw it as though a new Anemoi had come back and breathed fresh air back into Canterlot. “If I may ask, is there a reason why you were laughing so hard when you moved the stars around?” Princess Bluebelle noticed a devious smile spread across Princess Luna’s face. “I was just imagining what would happen if I were to put some stars out of alignment and cast a spell to where only Blue Moon could see it.” The two princesses looked at one another and then broke into a fit of laughter. “So I take it you heard of his little tirade this morning?” Princess Bluebelle asked. “I must admit that I overheard his… zealous argument in regards to the alignment of my night sky.” Princess Luna replied as she shook her head. “The nerve of some ponies. What, he thinks that just because I was trapped in the moon for a thousand years that I couldn’t sense the night sky?” “That’s why you’re my favorite Auntie.” Princess Bluebelle replied as she trotted to her, wrapping her in a hug. “Why, because I was banished for a millennium?” Princess Luna asked as she quirked an eyebrow. Princess Bluebelle retreated from the hug, but was wrapped around again in Princess Luna’s embrace. “Oh, stop.” Princess Luna continued. “I know how you feel about the ponies here. I find them just as insufferable. Did I tell you about the first time I tried to introduce myself as Luna instead of Nightmare Moon?” “On Nightmare Night,” Princess Bluebelle snickered. “At least my attempts in Ponyville were met with success. The ponies of Canterlot didn’t even attempt to show respect, even after my sister declared my transformation back to myself.” “I tried not to go out that night.” Princess Bluebelle said. “I just remembered the story that Dusk Shine told-.” Princess Bluebelle stopped as she felt a flush of blood rush to her cheeks. She felt her aunt loosen her grip on her as she looked up at her. “So, you have come for a reason.” Princess Luna said with a smile. Princess Bluebelle backed out of her aunt’s embrace once again and scoffed. “It’s nothing like that, Auntie.” Princess Bluebelle replied as she tried to find her words. “It’s just… well, he’s really strange. He keeps going on and on about making friends here in Canterlot. He asks so many questions.” She trotted to an overstuffed chair, sat down, and propped her head up with her hooves on the armrest. “He’s just… weird.” She finally added. Princess Luna moved from the center of the room and took a seat next to her. She lit up her horn, and the stars above them disappeared, leaving behind a pale blue ceiling. Her aura surrounded the nearby fireplace, and a fire roared to life moments later. “What I’m curious to know is why you have come to me in regards to this matter.” Princess Luna replied with a tilt of her head. “Surely, you must know that your Aunt Celestia knows him far better.” “Of course she does. That’s why I can’t go to her. She’s… biased.” “Biased?” Princess Luna asked. “Auntie, please. With all the letters Dusk Shine sends her? All of the missions he goes on at her request?” “So, what is it that you want to ask me, then?” Princess Bluebelle turned her attention to the fireplace and watched the flames lick at the stones for a moment. She knew that she had to find the right words to ask. After a few moments of staring into the flames, she finally decided what to ask. “What kind of stallion do you think he is, Auntie? I’ve met some stallions in Canterlot… similar to him… but they are all just part of the intelligentsia who sit in their ivory academic towers and live in fairytales. Or, they end up like, well, Blue Moon.” Princess Luna nodded and turned her attention to the fire. Together, they stared into the flames. Princess Bluebelle turned to her aunt and watched as she concentrated. Princess Luna took a deep breath and sighed. “You know, Bluebelle, as the Princess of the Night, I can see into everypony’s dreams.” Princess Bluebelle leaned in closer, but Princess Luna shook her head and held up a hoof. “No, I will not tell you about what the stallions of Equestria dream about.” Princess Bluebelle sighed and leaned back in her seat, ignoring the rather loud chuckling. The chuckling stopped and Princess Bluebelle turned her gaze back to her aunt. Princess Luna’s face had changed from happy to serious in only a moment. “I’m going to tell you about the dreams that I have had.” Princess Luna stood up and moved closer to the fireplace. Her horn lit up, and a dark blue aura began to form above them, creating a window. In the window stood Princess Luna, standing on the balcony of the Royal Observatory in the north tower. But it wasn’t of Canterlot Castle – it was of the old castle, the Castle of the Two Sisters. The moon rose behind her and the stars twinkled in the sky, but she looked down at the empty dirt roads and huts with the lights off. In my dreams, I once saw ponies Running from my night No matter what I placed in the sky They still yearned for day’s light The scene in the window changed, revealing Princess Luna standing in front of the two thrones of the old castle. Streams of darkness surrounded her, and Princess Luna became wrapped inside of a black orb. When the orb dissipated, Princess Luna was gone, leaving Nightmare Moon in her place. Darkness became my one companion here I held to it with all my might That’s how I became convinced To make the endless night In the scene, Nightmare Moon began to give chase to Princess Celestia. The two princesses flew through the air, Nightmare Moon shooting beams out of her horn to hit her enemy. Princess Bluebelle’s eyes widened as she watched Princess Celestia get hit by a beam of light and fall to the ground. A few moments later, however, she was back in the air, with the Elements of Harmony revolving around her. I stood against the Princess of the Sun The elements began to gleam Then my banishment to shadows… These were once my dreams The aural window went black; a silhouette of the moon appeared, revealing a landscape of Ponyville. All of the lights were out in the houses. There was nopony to be seen. In my dreams I thought My night they’d shun That does not forgive the things That I had done One thousand years, one thousand years waiting Dreaming of revenge The darkness stayed, we both remained The stars had to arrange The image moved to the Town Hall of Ponyville, where all of the ponies had gathered to celebrate the Summer Sun Celebration. She saw Prince Dusk Shine appear and stared up at Nightmare Moon. When I escaped, the darkness by my side I thought my dreams were coming true But that was the night I learned Something I never knew Princess Bluebelle watched as the scene shifted to the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters. All six of the Bearers of the Elements were there. A single spark emitted from Prince Dusk Shine’s eyes. That one spark… That spark from Dusk Shine… Nightmare Moon returned to Princess Luna. The bright lights, the look of determination in Prince Dusk Shine’s eyes, and the look in Princess Luna’s eyes as she embraced Princess Celestia – all of these things came together for Princess Bluebelle, who couldn’t help but swallow a small lump that had formed in her throat. Made me see, oh how it made me see How arrogant I had become That was when the darkness left And a new dream begun The aural window faded to black, and the dark blue aura from Princess Luna’s magic disappeared. Princess Luna turned away from the fireplace and stood in the center of the room. Dusk Shine saved, oh how Prince Dusk Shine saved Me from a fate worse than I’d seen Through his friendship forgiveness came Newly in… My… Dreams… Neither mare moved. The crackling of the fire was the only sound that filled the room. Finally, Princess Bluebelle turned to her aunt, who simply stood still in the center of the room and looked back at her. Princess Bluebelle’s breathing became more noticeable. She finally rose up and stood next to her aunt. “I guess that’s not the opinion of Dusk Shine that you expected me to give you?” Princess Luna asked. “No," she answered, "but he simply saved you because he had to. We all know this. What does this have to do with what kind of stallion he is?” Princess Luna chuckled and lit up her horn. A moment later, they were in the Hall of History, where the stained glass windows lined the walls. In front of the two princesses was the stained glass window of the defeat of Nightmare Moon. Princess Bluebelle looked up at the window. Nightmare Moon’s image was surrounded by three circles, which was itself encircled by a large purple circle. Beneath her, on the ground, stood Dusk Shine, along with the other Bearers of the Elements. The beams of purple light flowed around the heads of each of the stallions below. Princess Bluebelle had never looked at the details of the windows before, and so she had never noticed the looks on the faces of the stallions. There was no anger in their eyes, nor judgment – they all smiled serenely as the image of Nightmare Moon prepared to change to Princess Luna. “Tell me,” Princess Luna asked. “Has Dusk Shine ever made a big deal of his heroics for the sake of Equestria?” Princess Bluebelle shook her head. “He hasn’t spoken of when he faced me.” She continued. “Nor when he faced Discord, nor Chrysalis, nor Sombra. Most other ponies would tell such stories to anypony they could.” “You’re right.” Princess Bluebelle replied. The two looked on at the window for another moment. The early morning light peered through the windows and bathed the two in multicolored light. Why does he have to be so different, Princess Bluebelle thought, why does he have to act so naively sincere? “You are thinking of him.” Princess Bluebelle turned her attention back to Princess Luna, who now stood directly over her with a stoic expression on her face. “I don’t understand him, Aunt Luna. Everypony that I have met has wanted to use me to further themselves in some way. Do you honestly want me to believe that he wants to be my friend for no other reason than that?” Princess Luna touched a hoof to her chin and looked back up at the window. “Hmm, is that really what you want to ask me?” Princess Bluebelle’s eyes widened. She realized that this was the double edged sword when it came to her aunt’s demeanor – she always had a way to cut to the question she knew the petitioner wanted to ask. Everything that was presented to her – his actions that morning, Aunt Celestia’s love for him, and now, the final pieces of evidence had been placed before her in chromatic glass. Princess Bluebelle sighed. “It’s been so long, Auntie.” she said. “I don’t know how to make him my friend. Do I give him something? Do I grant him favors?” The two princesses looked at each other for a moment. If Princess Bluebelle were to be honest, neither of the two of them were particularly skilled at making friends. Princess Luna usually hid in her private quarters most of the time. With the exception of Celestia and Bluebelle, she rarely conversed with anypony. Princess Bluebelle, on the other hoof, always managed to put herself above the clamoring of those around her. Still, Princess Luna cleared her throat and gave her answer. “Technically, I think all you have to do is say to the other pony that you want to be their friend.” “That’s it?” Princess Bluebelle asked. “I think so.” Princess Luna replied. “I also think it involves something about finding common interests.” “That would explain him talking about my furniture and the Anemoi.” Princess Bluebelle mused as she placed a hoof in her chin. The two looked at each other and realized that they mirrored each other’s position. Each lowered her hoof to the floor and laughed softly. “Well, Dusk Shine is not only the Prince of Magic; he is also one of the foremost experts on the subject of friendship.” “Yes, I know that. I think Princess Celestia recently published a book with all of the letters that she and Dusk Shine wrote before he became an alicorn.” “If anypony can answer your questions about friendship, it would be him.” Princess Bluebelle looked down at the ground for a moment. Her mane fell down and covered her eyes. She knew that there was a thought in the back of her mind, but not even she knew exactly what it was. “Dusk Shine is still in town.” Princess Bluebelle said. “And I’m sure he’s already managed to make friends with one or two these, how do they say it nowadays, stuck up Canterlot ponies. Maybe he can help change the attitudes of these ponies for the better.” “Maybe he can, Auntie.” Princess Bluebelle replied with a sigh. “Maybe.” Princess Bluebelle suddenly felt a wing cover her shoulders and pull her into a hug. She felt a warm muzzle on the top of her head nuzzle her for a moment before the wing retreated. Princess Luna’s horn began to light up once again. “I do love these conversations of ours, Bluebelle.” Princess Luna said. “I hope that everything goes well for you.” “Your Highness.” Princess Bluebelle replied with a bow. Princess Luna’s horn continued to light up, and soon there was only a dark blue orb. The dark blue orb disappeared, taking with it the occupant inside. Princess Bluebelle began to trot down the hall towards her own private quarters. Once she reached the main hall, she could hear the sounds of noble ponies continue with their arguments. She shook her head as though to keep the arguments out of her mind. In the distance, she could hear the tour groups as they continued along the main entryway to the castle. She heard a couple of cameras flash in her direction as she trotted from one side of the grand staircase to the other, but she chose to ignore it rather than her usual glare at whomever was taking the picture. Princess Bluebelle finally reached her own quarters and stood at the entrance for a moment. Her horn lit up and her aura surrounded the doorknob. When she entered, she took a moment to look at the furniture that the stallion had commented on earlier that morning. She then continued on to the Wind Room and stared at the dome on the podium. She levitated the crystal that would call Boreas forth for a moment, but then decided against it. She then levitated the crystal of Zephyrus. Give them a chance, Princess… They’re not all the same, Princess… She remembered the advice Zephyrus had given her earlier that morning, shook her head, and set the crystal down. She then did the same with the other Anemoi before setting the final one down, as well. She knew that while she could see her relationship with the Anemoi as that of a friend, she knew that it was missing something. Princess Bluebelle knew that the Anemoi were more akin to her family. She had only seen them each once face to face. Now, all communication was done via the crystals. As the door opened to her bedroom, Princess Bluebelle stood for a moment and stared at her reflection in the vanity mirror on the other side of the room. She slowly trotted over to the vanity and looked down at the photograph of her parents. Princess Bluebelle closed her eyes and turned back to the mirror and stared at herself. Throughout all of the years since her parents’ deaths, she remembered all of the ponies that had come into her life. She thought of ponies like Hoity Toity and Elusive. She thought of how they wanted to use her just to improve their own names in the fashion world. “Du-.” She tried to speak, but something was caught in her throat. She thought of ponies like Blue Moon, about his rant that morning and how he was bold enough to question the authority of the Princess of the Night herself. “Dusk, I-.” And then she thought of Dusk Shine and of everything that had been spoken of him. That’s when the question that was in the back of her mind finally reached the surface. She took a few deep breaths before forming the question. “Dusk…” Princess Bluebelle asked her reflection that she pretended was the lavender stallion in question. “May I-.” She stopped herself once more and turned away. She thought of herself and of the way she treated everypony. She thought of the way she viewed the ponies around her, and of how Dusk Shine was taking the exact opposite approach. She turned back to the mirror and looked into her eyes. Unlike the serene looks of the stallions in the window she had seen a little while ago, she looked into her own eyes and saw the anger and the judgment. She finally pushed the words out of her mouth to her reflection. But it was only after she said the words that she realized that she had addressed the question to herself. “Dusk Shine, can I be your friend?”