Dusk Shine wished Elusive could be here now.
Dusk Shine stood in front of a mirror in his suite, using his magic to adjust the sash that hung haphazardly against his barrel. The outfit itself was blue with small silver starbursts at the pockets and violet lapels at the collar. Stupid prince’s sash, he thought as the object of his current anger refused to stay in place. Dusk Shine gave up and turned away from the mirror with a growl.
“Urgh.” he said as he faced his friends - two of them, at least. Butterscotch was busy getting into a green vest and Applejack was cleaning his wardrobe by spitting on a pair of boots and rubbing them with his foreleg. “Elusive would have a conniption if he saw us right now.”
“Well,” Butterscotch replied, “We did find out about this just yesterday.”
Dusk Shine considered the pegasus for a moment, then turned back to the mirror. He thought about what Butterscotch had told him a few hours ago. The statement had remained in the forefront of his thoughts all afternoon, which was much longer than he felt comfortable. The idea of developing romantic feelings towards a mare like Bluebelle in this short amount of time is statistically insignificant. Even if there had been some sort of catalyst that would have boosted the endorphins in our bodies to trick us into developing feelings towards each other, I would have noticed that. There wasn’t anything significant that would qualify as such. Fixing Bluebelle’s party was just an assignment given to me by Celestia. Talking about books and jazz is just interesting. Making her see the magic of friendship is just what I do. Fleur, on the other hoof, I knew only a few minutes before I developed any feelings. Then again, I was very stressed out yesterday about how to fix the party. What I could be feeling right now could be just a chemical response to a fear stimulus. It would only be logical that Fleur, being the mare who helped me out of said situation, would be the recipient of those chemical responses. Given the limited exposure to her, however, such feelings would most likely be only physical in nature. Oh, that sounds like a fun experiment, I could put ponies into stressful-
“Uh, sugarcube?” Dusk Shine shook his head and saw Applejack inches away from him. “There y’all are. Ah was gettin’ worried.”
“What?”
“Um… you were mumbling to yourself.” Butterscotch said. “Again.”
“Oh.” Dusk Shine replied. “I guess I was.”
“Shouldn’t ya get that, well, checked out?” Dusk Shine trotted to the door and pushed it open. He looked to his left and right down both sides of the hall. “Rainbow’s nappin’.”
Dusk Shine turned his head back to the room. “How did you know I was looking for him?”
“Cause when ya talk to yourself and look around, y’all are tryin’ to gather us up to make an announcement or somethin’.” Dusk Shine turned to Butterscotch, who nodded his head in agreement. “Ain’t nothin’ bad about it. We just know ya, that’s all.”
Dusk Shine shut the door. “Okay, well, I guess I can tell the others later.” Dusk Shine took a deep breath. “I want you to know that I… well… I’m not going to be at the party alone.” Applejack raised an eyebrow.
“Oh… that’s um… great, Dusk.” Butterscotch said.
“That’s why y’all are tryin’ to gussy yourself up so much.” Applejack said as he mussed Dusk Shine’s mane. “Ah’ll admit, Ah was gettin’ worried for a while about ya.”
“Excuse me?”
“Well, no offense, sugarcube, but y’all never took notice of anypony in Ponyville the entire time y’all were there.”
“Well, that’s because-”
“Not even mah sister.”
“I was just busy.” Dusk Shine said. “Do you realize how many times we had to save Ponyville from destruction?”
“In all honesty, we were the cause of that destruction a good deal of the time.”
“That-” Dusk Shine fumed, “That’s not the point. The point is that I was really busy while I was there. At least here, we have the Royal Guard ready at a moment’s notice.” The three stallions yelped at the sound of sudden laughter and turned to the door to see that Rainbow Blitz had entered the room. “And what, may I ask, is so funny?”
“You thinking the Royal Guard are good at their job!” Rainbow Blitz answered as he tried to keep himself from falling to the ground, laughing. He did not do a good job at this, and Applejack had to help lift him off of the ground. “They couldn’t even find Princess Celestia’s pet bird until she was literally on fire. They lost both princesses to a bunch of crawling vines, for Celestia’s sake.”
“Ahem.”
There was a soft cough behind them, and they turned to see a couple of stallions standing guard on the other side of the hall, glaring daggers into the laughing pegasus. Rainbow Blitz stopped laughing for a moment and placed his hoof on the door. “You mind? We’re having a private conversation here.” He slammed the door and turned to Dusk Shine. “So you finally got the hots for a mare, huh? Well, it’s good you decided to wait until I came around. Blitz’s School of Marenomics is in session.”
Applejack and Dusk Shine rolled their eyes. “Listen, all I want is some advice on how to not look like a foal tonight.”
“Well, Ah’m sure y’all already have lots in common.”
“Well, she does know a lot about jazz.”
“Is she hot?” Rainbow Blitz asked. “Wait, who are we talking about?”
“Who do y’all think?”
“Well, I’m sure it’s not that obvious, Applejack.” Dusk Shine said.
“She’s kinda pretty, Ah guess.”
“If you can get past the attitude.” Butterscotch whispered.
“Butterscotch, I didn’t know you spent time with her.”
“I spent enough time with her.” Butterscotch replied under his breath to nopony could hear.
“Well, I’m sure that Fleur will be more than happy to catch up with you.”
“What?” Applejack and Butterscotch answered in unison.
“Fleur De Lis.”
“No way!” Rainbow Blitz shouted. “Last year's Maretoria’s Secret center-” Rainbow Blitz coughed, “The model? That’s awesome!”
“Yes, and now you know why I don’t want to embarrass myself.” There was a knock at the door, and as Dusk Shine went to answer it, Applejack and Butterscotch looked at one another in confusion. Dusk Shine opened the door and was greeted by Princess Celestia. “Oh, Your Highness.”
The stallions bowed, but she stopped them. “Please, my little ponies, rise. I just wanted to see how our prince was doing.”
“Sweatin’ like a caterpillar durin’ cider pressin’ season.” Dusk Shine punched Applejack playfully on the shoulder as Princess Celestia began to laugh. She unfurled a wing and wrapped it around her former student.
“Oh, don’t be so nervous, Dusk Shine.” she said. “I’m sure that Miss De Lis will have a wonderful time tonight. Remember, tonight is all about Bluebelle, so it’s not like you’ll have to do anything to keep everypony’s attention.”
“He just has to keep one pony’s attention.” Rainbow Blitz said. “And I’m the perfect stallion to give him the tips he needs.”
“I know.” Dusk Shine replied as he edged away and trotted back to the mirror. “I just want everything to go according to plan.”
“Well, that rarely, if ever, happens.” she said. “Sometimes, you just need to sit back. Take everything in.”
“Just smile and wave, Dusky.”
The ponies looked around the room for the source of the sentence, and their eyes finally fell upon a pink stallion standing in the corner of the room, wearing a small top hat and a dark pink bow tie. “So what are we doing?” He added as he glanced from pony to pony. Suddenly, his eyes blinked and his ears flapped. “Oh, somepony is trying to get over one of their fears.” Everypony in the room turned to Butterscotch. “Oh you sillies, I said trying to get over one of their fears.” Everypony turned away from Butterscotch and turned to Dusk Shine; everypony except Butterscotch, who simply looked down at the floor with a frown and scraped his hoof lightly against the tile.
“Look, Dusk Shine.” Princess Celestia said as she tried to comfort him. “I understand that a first… date… can be scary, but I promise, you will be fine.” She smiled and looked down at him.
As prince now you must behave
with poise and dignity
if in doubt just smile and wave
the ponies there will see
you are brave.
Until you learn every move
just hold your head up high
if in doubt just smile and wave
nopony will deny
you are brave.
I am sure that Fleur will notice
what a nice stallion she’ll say
so don’t be scared, you’ve got this
but I’d remember anyway
if in doubt just smile and wave
though you won’t need this trick
remember the days you’ve saved
I know through thin or thick
you are brave.
So just smile and wave
nopony will pay you mind
so just smile and wave
everything will be just fine
Outside, Dusk Shine could hear the sound of whistling. He looked back and forth to see if any of his friends heard it.
So just smile and wave
everything will be just fine
Bubble Berry pushed open the door and held his foreleg out, guiding the ponies into the hall. A group of guard ponies stood outside with smiles on their muzzles. Dusk Shine squinted at them, but was distracted when Bubble Berry reappeared by his side.
Oh, Dusky you look so great
I know that you’ll do fine
nopony will see the sweat
gathered at your neckline
smile and wave
Dusk Shine’s eyes widened as he tried to turn to see if there really were sweat stains on his collar. Princess Celestia immediately facehooved.
This night will be so much fun
and though your mane’s a mess
you’re a stallion so it’s fine
but if you get distressed
smile and wave.
Dusk Shine shook his head and trotted down the hall, but Bubble Berry started bouncing behind him, followed by the guards.
So what if she is a model
you kinda look nice, too
I’m sure there’s a good reason
that she would want to date you, too
“Hey!” Dusk Shine shouted but was immediately picked up by the guards and carried down the hall. “Wait, stop it. I swear-” He struggled and pointed at Princess Celestia, “To her!”
I’m sure that you won’t bore her
with obscure history
imagine her standing there
with the crowds as you and she
smile and wave.
“This isn’t comforting me at all, Bubble Berry!” Dusk Shine shouted as the entourage made its way down the stairs to the entryway of the castle.
So just smile and wave
and you know you’ll have a chance
so just smile and wave
just don’t let her see you dance
“Wait. What was that last part?” He gritted his teeth as the guard ponies joined in and whistled again.
So just smile and wave
have a great time at the dance
“That’s not what he said!” Dusk Shine struggled to lower himself from the guards’ grip. He turned and pointed angrily at Bubble Berry. “That’s not what you said!” The ponies stood on one side of the castle doors, waving at Dusk Shine, while Dusk Shine stood flabbergasted on the other side. Bubble Berry reached out, slammed the door shut, and then turned back to everypony.
“I think he’ll be just fine.”
*****
Fleur De Lis peered over her cup of tea and looked in the direction of Hoity Toity. She pursed her lips together and blew over the rim, causing a thin wisp of steam to waft across the table. Next to her sat Big Shot, who was currently writing on a notepad with a pencil held in his wingtip. She turned her attention to the window and read the clock tower’s time.
“Hmm. Nearing five o’clock.” She said loudly enough so the two stallions in her company could hear her. “Our Liege should be arriving rather soon.”
Big Shot looked up from his notes. “But I thought the party wasn’t for another two hours.” Both Fleur De Lis and Hoity Toity laughed as he said this, causing him to blush. “What?”
“Come now, little sparrow-” the pegasus shot Hoity Toity an angry look which he ignored. “Miss De Lis is attending the party as Prince Dusk Shine’s Consort for the evening. Of course he will be sending for her early. Everypony knows that she must look perfect for this event.” He lowered his sunglasses and looked over the mare. “Isn’t that right, my headliner?”
Fleur De Lis took a sip from her tea. “I will be sure to get good pictures, Mister Toity.” She turned to Big Shot and traced her hoof along the side of the drawing of Canterlot Castle that he had drawn. “Here,” she said, pointing to a small curve, “is the balcony overlooking the Royal Canterlot Gardens. The lights from the ballroom practically envelops the entire area. You won’t need to worry about a flash bulb.” She pointed to another line. “And here are the great windows, where you can get pictures of the two of us as we dance. The guards walk by the upper windows every half hour, so I won’t be on the ballroom floor at those times, is that clear?”
“You seem to know an awful lot about the guard schedule.” Hoity Toity replied with a raised eyebrow. “How many… private tours of the castle… have you had?”
“Please,” Big Shot said, “the guard schedules have been fixed for nearly a millennia. Everypony knows that. The guards are predictable.”
“Stallions are predictable.” She corrected him. “All I have to do is express concern about being a public figure. He’ll identify with that. A giggle here, a blush there, and then a laugh at some stupid joke. After that, he will want a dance.” She pointed to Big Shot. “That’s where you come in. Once the dancing is over, I move closer to his muzzle but turn away and gallop to the balcony. Big Shot, you’ll have to fly around the castle. They always have guards looking up-”
“I know.” Big Shot interrupted her. “I said I know the guard schedule. As a photographer-” he ignored Hoity Toity’s chuckle. “As a photographer, I know the layout of this city inside and out.”
“Good. After I get him out to the balcony, I say something about how nervous I feel. I do the whole ‘fragile mare’ act, and then he acts like a big stallion and comforts me.”
“And to think that Fancy Pants gave up such a treasure.” Fleur De Lis’s eyes widened. She began to reach up to Hoity Toity, but he simply held up a hoof. “Oh, stop.” He said as he stood up from the table. “Just remember that this plan has to go without a hitch. I took a huge risk hiring you. Normally, I wouldn’t dream of hiring a has been for my show.” Fleur De Lis sank back down into her seat. “But… given how important Fashion Week is, and knowing how… how shall I put this… business savvy you are, I couldn’t rule out that you would manage to do something like this to give your name recognition another boost.” Hoity Toity turned around and trotted towards the door. “I’ll be sure to let the other models know why you aren’t at rehearsal. Only ponies like you and your little sparrow could get away with it. I said it yesterday, and I’ll say it again. You all know your parts. Do not make me regret this.”
“You’re too kind.” Fleur De Lis replied. Hoity Toity smirked and left the room, leaving the model and the photographer alone. After a few moments of silence, she turned to Big Shot. “So, you know what to do. The better pictures you take, the better I look. The better I look, the more commissions you get. Aren’t you glad I took you under my wing?”
Big Shot stood up and flapped his wings. “Very clever. I just wish Mister Toity wasn’t such a jerk about it.”
“You get used to it.” Fleur De Lis laughed as she trotted over to the window. “It just how the game works here. You and I may not exactly be the most important pieces, but it could be worse.”
“We could be pawns.” Big shot replied.
“Oh Big Shot, you could be worse than a pawn.”
“How?”
“You could simply be the board that all of the pieces trample over.” Fleur De Lis glanced towards Canterlot Castle and saw a chariot take to the sky. “Ah, my chariot arrives.”
The two stood by the window as the chariot drew closer. Big Shot hid behind a curtain to make sure he wasn’t seen. They watched as the guards landed on the street in front of her house. Dusk Shine emerged from the chariot. Fleur De Lis noticed that his suit was already wrinkled from the ride over and that his sash was akimbo. Both of them facehooved as they watched him turn around in a circle as he tried to straighten out a wrinkle on his suit with his magic.
“Just wait outside in the alley.” She said. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
Big Shot nodded and flew out another window. Fleur De Lis turned to a mirror in the corner and checked out her reflection. She was glad that she had taken the time to have her dress delivered to the castle this morning. She left the room, trotted down the stairs, and opened the door. She tilted her head in confusion when she saw Dusk Shine standing in front of the chariot with a lopsided smile, holding a hoof in the air and simply waving it back and forth. She took a few steps forward, but he kept smiling and waving. She finally trotted next to him and held out a hoof.
“My Liege, are you all right?”
“What?” He replied as he shook his head. “Oh, yes. You look lovely this evening.” He levitated a rose from the chariot and over to Fleur De Lis. “From the Royal Gardens.”
“You truly are a gentlecolt.” She replied as she lifted the rose to her muzzle and froze for a moment. Perfect picture, she thought to herself. Dusk Shine led her to the other side of the chariot. A few moments later, they were back in the air towards the castle.
*****
The sun began to touch the horizon, and Elusive watched as the shadows stretched across the tile floors of the castle grounds. In the distance, he could already see the night guards approach the various checkpoints to replace the guards of the day. As he trotted through the halls, he couldn’t help but glance at one of the thestrals; her leathery wings flapped once, signalling the day guard to nod his head and salute. The pegasus took a step back and retired from his position, the thestral taking his place immediately and becoming still as a statue. The darkness approaches, he thought as he continued on his way. Each pair of guards that he passed continued the small ritual until he veered off to the ballroom.
In the ballroom, Elusive was greeted by the dying rays of sunlight shone through the windows. He trotted and looked down towards Canterlot. In the distance, he could see the ponies as they left work and made their way through the streets. A few pegasi took to the air and darted between the high rises. Somewhere down there is a storefront with my name on it, Elusive thought. “Designs, by Elusive,” he mused out loud, “Or Elusive’s Designs?” A low cough sounded behind him, and Elusive quickly turned around to see a pegasus standing right behind him. “Oh, you snuck right up on me, sir…” Elusive began and waited for the guard to introduce himself.
“ Sergeant Lighthoof, Sir Elusive.” Sergeant Lighthoof saluted. “I’m sorry, but I do have to ask you to leave for the time being. Her Highness has made it abundantly clear that nopony enter until the party begins.”
“Yes, of course.” Elusive replied as he tossed his mane back. “No apologies necessary. We wouldn’t want anything to go wrong at this stage now, would we?” Elusive kept his composure as Sergeant Lighthoof cringed as he turned to look at his hind leg. “The party begins at seven, correct?” the guard nodded. “And Her Highness will make her appearance at eight?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well then, I’d best be on my way.”
Elusive trotted alongside Sergeant Lighthoof as the sunlight started to fade. The room began to cool. As they reached the doorway, Elusive heard the sound of wheels turning. He looked down the hall and watched as the staff rolled down ice sculptures towards them. Sergeant Lighthoof placed a hoof on Elusive’s barrel and pushed him back.
“If you could please, sir.”
Elusive took a step back to let the ponies through. They set the ice sculptures up at the front of the ballroom, behind a long table where the hors d’oeuvres were to be placed. The deer stood in the corner next to the lion, and the ponies placed the elephant and the bull on the other side, leaving the bear with paws outraised in the middle.
“An interesting choice.” Elusive said.
“Sir?” Sergeant Lighthoof asked.
“Nothing.” Elusive replied as he began to trot down the hall. “Nothing at all. I daresay that this will be quite the ball, indeed. Until we meet again, Sergeant Lighthoof.” He continued down the hall until he was out of sight, leaving the guard to stare at the ice sculptures.