The next day the girls quickly rushed home, for tonight was the big night. The gala was tonight, and being the day after Dinky's birthday, she considered it a late birthday present for turning 16, even though it wasn't technically for her. The gala was not as fancy as it was before, nor was it even in Canterlot. Since Celestia and Luna's defeat the gala was continued my the Pinkie Pie and the others, as a memorial event of the past. You no longer needed a ticket due to the poor ponies forced into bankruptcy for multiple reasons, another part of everything going downhill since the changelings.
Ponies still dressed up to this new gala for memory sake, even though they did not have to. But Dinky and her friends where all planning to get dresses and tuxedos from their aunt Rarity. Dinky was excited yet... she didn't really have anypony to dance with. ElegantGem was planned to dance with ThunderSoar, and her other friends all had their own "special some ponies." Dinky received the note and rose on the window sill and smiled. She grabbed a vase from the kitchen and filled it with water, placing the special rose in her room for safe keeping.
The night came soon enough and everyone got dressed and ready to go. Dinky wore a sparkling yellow gown with a long, silk skirt. She had her hair curled with a small muffin hair piece right by her ear in her bangs.
Unfortunately, despite continuing the Grand Galloping Gala for memory purposes, it was still the most changeling-infested place of the entire year. Chrysalis was not at all upset the ponies continued it, for it gave all the changelings plenty of feeding time considering all the love emitted from the cherished event. Ponies from all around gathered at the event. From Canterlot to Manehatten, all came. But instead of having the event indoors like they did in the past, they moved it into an "outdoors" event. They still had a beautiful garden, and they had enough bits for a stage and DJ set, with the area around speaker sound as the dance floor.
The ponies enjoyed it anyhow, despite the change. Dinky stood to the side awkwardly, looking in awe at the blinking lights and listening to the sound of the DJ. This was her first time at the Gala, for her mom felt it was no place for "kids."
"Alright, are you ready for your first gala meal, Zany?" Chrysalis questioned with a smirk upon her face.
"Yes mother..."
"Excellent. Go, my son. Make mummy proud."
Zany was now 16 himself, and being a teen the same age as Dinky, he figured it was time he finally see her once more. So ponies would not be suspicious, he disguised as a brown stallion with short, shaggy blonde hair resembling Dinky's in a way. He was wearing a tux for effect and walked out onto the dance floor. Vinyl Scratch and her husband Record Split were playing an up-beat song on their DJ set. Zany tapped Dinky's shoulder as she turned around in confusion.
Her eyes sparkled in the moonlight, as Zany froze in place in amazement to her sudden change in looks. He shook his head to regroup and held his hoof out towards her. "Care to dance?"
Dinky slowly took Zany's hoof and began dancing with him, not responding but looking deeply into his eyes. "Do I know you...?"
"I believe we've met before..."
Dinky paused as his voice echoed through her head. She finally realized who was before her. "Zany!?"
He smiled sheepishly. "Was it my eyes that gave it away?"
"Your eyes... and your voice..." Dinky smiled with delight, "I can't believe your actually here!"
"I wouldn't miss the chance to see you..."
"Alright! So, how's every pony doing tonight!?" Vinyl Scratch shouted. The crowd stomped their hooves in applause and cheered. "Awesome. As much as I know everypony likes our up-beat songs, we also know everypony has got that little soft spot. So we have very special guest this evening singing a little soft song... So give it up, for Sweetie Belle!"
Sweetie Belle was about Dinky's age, as her voice had become even greater than when she was a filly. Sweetie Belle sang in a soft but enchanting voice, singing a slow song she had wrote herself.
"We may be different
But that's what makes us special.
I gave you my heart,
And you gave me yours..."
Soarin walked up to Rainbow Dash in embarrassment as he held his hoof out, "I know you don't like slow dances but- would u-?"
Rainbow Dash smiled and took his hoof, "of course..."
"And as the years go by,
Your touch warms my heart
It is such an unusual love
But we can make it work,
If you stick with me.
Because I can't keep from sayin',
I love you."
Zany was surprised at how much the song related to him and Dinky's relationship. As the song came to an end, Zany twirled the purple mare and came face to face with her once more. Dinky blushed, but it did not feel the same not seeing the real Zany. "Let's go to the garden, we can have more privacy there and we can talk..." The couple walked to the garden of the Gala and hid behind the bushes and trees.
Dinky stared into his eyes and sighed. "I want to see the real you, Zany..."
"But... I don't know... What if someone catches us...?"
"We'll be fine... ponies don't come to the garden much until after all the songs... please...?"
Zany sighed, "Fine..." Green fire surrounded him as he undisguised to reveal his true self. Unlike Dinky, Zany had changed a bit since the last time they had met. His mane was a bit longer and had developed holes in it, his wings had also fully developed, and he now had a beetle-like back resembling his mother's.
Dinky stared into his turquoise eyes, the white stallion gazing back and nearly getting lost in hers. Dinky sighed and said, "its been a long time since I saw you last..." The purple mare slowly closed her eyes and leaned in, but Zany hesitated and leaned back. He put his hoof to Dinky's lips and sighed, "we can't..."
"W-what? Why not?"
"Do you know how dangerous it is to kiss a changeling? T-the love would be instantly sucked out of you!"
"I'm willing to take the chance..."
"We just can't... I'm sorry Dinky..." Zany looked away in embarrassment. "Without a heart, it just... wouldn't be safe..."
Dinky lifted her hoof and put it on his chest to feel something pounding. "That's a heart beat! Don't you get it? You wouldn't hurt me!"
"I just can't take any chances...!"
Silence filled the area for several moments. Derpy was on the dance floor, but noticed Dinky wasn't in sight. She walked to the garden, knowing Dinky liked nature and wild-life. The grey mare's heart sank at the sight she saw. "Dinky!"
Dinky's eyes widen and her sight darted toward her mother. Derpy filled with anger as her face began turning red. She dashed up to the white stallion and grabbed his shoulders roughly, lifting him high off the ground. "I was told you would never be seen near my daughter again!"
Without thinking Dinky's horn began to glow. Ponies began seeing the commotion and walking over. "Mom, don't hurt him!" The purple mare's magic shot from her horn, hitting her mother knocking her back into a tree. Zany quickly took the form of a fly to be unseen, but was hurt to leave Dinky alone. He flew off toward the castle, trying to reach home quickly. Dinky looked around, stares from all ponies on her.
Tears came to her eyes as she quickly ran off, followed by her weak mother, leaving many ponies in awe and confusion.