The sister princesses sat atop their thrones and looked on at the two rows of guards that lines the carpet leading from the doors to where they were seated. Princess Luna had wanted her Night Guard to be on one row and the Day Guard to be on the other, but Princess Celestia suggested that the two guards intersperse with one another as a way to reacquaint them with one another. As she looked at how the occasional thestral stood out amongst the white and grey stallions, she felt a slight nudge against her whither.
“You know Dusk Shine would have a fit if he saw how uneven the two rows looked, right?”
“Well then, it’s a good thing he’s not here right now to see.” Celestia replied as she cocked an eyebrow towards her sister. “Besides, I’ve noticed our niece looking up from her work to see the asymmetry, as well.”
Luna turned to the side of the room, where she saw Bluebelle arranging the crystal shards she had brought from her room. She moved one of the crystals ever so slightly to the left, then back to the right, and then she peered in between the spaces, pushing the crystal a fraction of an inch again. After she finished making sure that the crystals were all equidistant from one another, she turned her attention to the guards and huffed as she turned her attention from the thestrals to the unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies. Then another thought came to Luna’s attention.
“Wait.” She said. “Wouldn’t Dusk Shine want to be here for this? You, of all ponies, know how excited he would get at the chance to see the Anemoi as they first appear in their corporeal form. They only appear this way once the emissary comes of age. ‘Tis a once in a lifetime opportunity.” Celestia sighed.
“His… excitement is the main reason I didn’t want to risk him being here. He’ll be able to meet them at the ball.” The two heard a loud knock at the door and sat upright. “Ah, she’s here.”
They nodded to the guards closest to the door, who concentrated the magic in their horns to open them. As they opened, a familiar pegasus began to walk forward. He trotted up the row of guards and took his place in the spot at the end of the carpet closest to Luna and raised a hoof in the air.
“Presenting Her Highness, Princess of Love, Guardian of the Crystal Heart, Coregent of the Crystal Empire, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.”
The guards raised their horns as one and began to play the royal entrance march as Princess Cadance trotted down the carpet. The sisters stood up and waited until Cadance was a few feet away, then all three bowed as one. Cadance took her place next to Celestia and then they turned their attention back to the front of the room.
“Presenting His Highness, Guardian of the Crystal Heart, Coregent of the Crystal Empire, Caption of the Crystal Guard, Captain Emeritus of the Canterlot Solar Guard, Prince Shining Armor.”
The royal entrance played once again, but instead of trotting down the carpet, Prince Shining Armor simply strolled into the room and smiled at his old friends. The two royal sisters kept their stoic expressions, but Celestia couldn’t help but notice the snickers coming from her niece. She glanced over and watched as Cadance’s lips began to quiver at the scene before her. Finally, Shining Armor joined his wife by her side. Celestia cleared her throat and gave her announcement to the guard.
“Thank you.” She said. “You have performed nobly and justly on this day. You are dismissed.” She stamped her hoof to the floor. The guards reciprocated and filed out of the room. When they were gone, she turned to Shining Armor and smirked. “How are you related to Dusk Shine again?”
“Oh come on.” The stallion replied. “If anypony’s the weird one, it’s little brother.” He looked around. “Speaking of which, where is he?”
“He went to retrieve his companion for the evening.” Luna replied.
“No kidding?” Shining Armor said as he raised a hoof to his chin. “Even little brothers grow up sometime. Who’s the lucky mare?” Nopony noticed that Bluebelle had arrived at the thrones just as he asked the question.
“Ahem.” Bluebelle interrupted the question. “But we’re ready.” She tried not to glare at Shining Armor, but as the stallion shuffled on his hooves and cleared his throat, she realized she didn’t do a good job at hiding her displeasure. She trotted to the corner of the room where she had placed the crystals and began to tap on each one. The ponies there lined up behind her and waited. Bluebelle closed her eyes. “From the corners of the earth, to the limits of the sky, I request to reunite with my King and Anemoi.”
Bluebelle took a step back as the crystals began to glow together. A large portal appeared before them, and a moment later, a large stallion stepped out of it and onto the floor. His snowy white mane cascaded down his withers and nearly wrapped around his front hooves, while his tail did the same with his hind hooves. His red robe layered itself over his tan fur and swaths of fabric collected at his barrel. Everypony but Bluebelle tried to keep from gasping when they saw his black eyes. The stallion inhaled deeply and as he did, color filled them so they the irises matched his fur. He looked around the room until his eyes landed on Bluebelle. He smiled and raised a hoof to her.
“Your Highness.” He said in a voice that seemed to float through the room. “It has been so many years.” As he talked, Bluebelle bowed her head, and the other princesses followed suit. Shining Armor, however, simply looked back and forth at his wive and aunts-in-law.
“I don’t get it.” he whispered so that only Cadance could hear. “He doesn’t have a horn or- oomph.”
He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence because he was pulled to the ground by Cadance’s magic. “This is one of the only beings in all of Equus whose power rivals the Celestial Sisters. This is Bluebelle’s realm, not theirs. And for the love of Luna’s night, do not ask him why he is not an alicorn.”
Shining Armor wilted under his wife’s glare, but a moment later, they had all risen again.
“King Aeolus.” Bluebelle said as she reached for her aunts. “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.” The three larger ponies trotted forward and simply looked into each others’ eyes for a moment, and then broke into a laugh.
“It has been too long.” Aeolus said as he raised a hoof to Celestia and. He then offered his hoof to Luna. “Far, far too long.” Luna turned away for a moment. “But the past is gone, and tonight, we are here to celebrate.” He reached down to place his hoof next to Bluebelle. “And I must speak with my emissary in private. I trust the celebration will begin soon?”
“The guests will be arriving within the hour, Aeolus.” Celestia replied. Cadance and Shining Armor turned their attention to the portal and watched as more stallions began to emerge from the ether. “Ah, your sons arrive.”
Aeolus turned back to the portal just as the eight stallions took their place in line behind him. “Ah, yes, I present my sons. Skiron, Zephyrus, Lips, Notus, Apeliotes, Eurus, Kaikias, and Boreas.” They all inhaled and their eyes, too, filled with color. The bright blue stallion on the end locked eyes with Shining Armor and immediately trotted over.
“Oh good evening to you, sir. I don’t recall there being another prince in the party. And who might you be?” He held out his hoof.
“Uh, I’m… Shining Armor,” he replied as he took the stallion’s hoof. Prince of-”
“Oh, you must be Prince Dusk Shine’s brother.”
“How did you know that?”
“Let’s just say that you favor him in appearance.”
“I see.” He said as he looked to Cadance, who simply peered at the stallion with a quirked eyebrow. “And you are?”
“Charmed, but you can call be Boreas.” Cadance looked over at Bluebelle, who simply rubbed the back of her neck and looked around the room. She turned back just in time to see Boreas thrust his hoof in her muzzle. “And you are?”
“I’m Princess Cadance.” She smiled. “My husband and I are the coregents of the Crystal Empire.”
“That must be where you get that icy glare.” He whispered.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I said I am absolutely in love with your hair.”
Bluebelle tried not to watch the scene with too much interest, though it was rather amusing to see just how similar Dusk Shine was to his older brother when they got nervous. They both squirmed and leaned back on their hind legs just slightly and bit their lips. She shook her head as she realized what she was doing. She felt a hoof on her wither and looked up to see Aeolus looking at her.
“May I speak with you?” He asked.
“Of course.” Bluebelle replied as they turned to leave the other princesses behind to deal with the start of the party.
“Sister, ‘tis nearly seven, correct?”
“Yes, Luna, we should get down to the main hall to help greet everypony.” Luna held a hoof up to her muzzle to suppress a chuckle. “What is it?”
“You have lowered the sun, correct?”
“Yes…” Celestia replied.
“And ‘tis a clear night?”
“It is. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, no reason.”
*****
“The night sky is so beautiful, My Liege.” Fleur De Lis looked out of the corner of her eye at Dusk Shine, who was currently blushing as he recalibrated the settings on the telescope in the Royal Observatory. As the gears began to turn, he made his way over to where Fleur De Lis was seated on a small wooden bench attached to the telescope. As he leaned in, he didn’t noticed her smirk on the other side of her muzzle begin to form. “And what is this one called?”
“This one is called Hydra, one of the largest constellations in the sky.” Fleur De Lis leaned in closer to give the impression that she was interested. “The legend goes that the Hydra actually guards the water gate to the Underworld to stop the living from passing through and the dead from getting out.”
“But I thought Cerberus guarded the gates to the Underworld.”
“He does. Actually, the Hydra lives just outside of Ponyville in the Froggy Bottom Bogg.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“You would think so, but actually, he stays put there. He is, however, very territorial.”
“Are you saying that one of the gates of the Underworld lies just outside of Ponyville?” She turned to look at Dusk Shine, who looked as though he was about to speak, but was frozen mid thought.
“That… is a very good point.” Dusk Shine looked over to the clock on the wall. “What do you know, it’s time for the ball.” He offered his hoof, and she took it delicately. She looked up at the open window and cursed herself for not thinking of this so that Big Shot could have been there to take a picture. Even in the dimly lit room, her gown shimmered. It wasn’t as formal as a gala dress, but she made sure that it was one of Hoity Toity’s more elegant designs. As she stepped down, the dress swirled down past her fetlocks and came to rest at the top of her hooves. They trotted to the door but as he opened the door, Dusk Shine ran into another stallion. They crashed to the floor and rolled up star charts flew out of the other stallion’s grasp and fell onto the floor. “I’m sorry. Wait, you look familiar.”
“My name is Blue Moon.” The stallion replied curtly but then gasped when he looked up. “My Liege I’m sorry. I’m just in a hurry. You were just looking up at the sky. Did you see it, too?”
“See what?” Blue Moon growled, picked up the star charts, and galloped away. The two could hear him muttering under his breath what did she do. They looked to each other, shrugged their shoulders, ignoring the stallion cursing under his breath as they left the room. As they neared the ballroom, they could already hear the sound of the jazz music as it floated through the air. “Black Ivory was definitely a good choice.”
“I told you so.” Fleur De Lis replied. As they neared the doors, the guards on either side opened them, revealing the ballroom.
They both gasped when she saw the inside. Silver and gold streamers lined the ceiling, crisscrossing back and forth to create a checkerboard pattern. A series of star shaped metal lamps replaced the large chandelier that was once in the center of the ceiling. They could see that palm trees had been placed between each of the windows with lighting beneath them so that the shadows stretched up the walls. One one side, they saw the lit ice sculptures standing behind a large table of hors d’oeuvres, and on the other side was the entertainment for the evening. The band, a collection of white furred stallions in white tuxedos, played an upbeat tune. In front of them sat a zebra in a black bowler blowing into a coronet and tapping his hoof on the stage. Front and center stood a zebra in a plain white dress stood in front of the microphone and swayed her hips back and forth as she belted out tunes. Her voice rose over the sound of hooves that hit the floor.
What’s the good of moonlight
when you haven’t got a stallion to love
my time’s just the time to spoon
underneath the silvery moon
Fleur De Lis noticed that Dusk Shine was giggling. “What’s so funny?” She asked with a small laugh of her own. He turned immediately to her.
“We did it, Fleur.” he said. “We actually got this place to look great. Bluebelle is going to be so happy. I just can’t wait for her to see it.” He turned away just before Fleur De Lis’ smile fell. She suddenly felt herself dragged away from the entrance and to a small table to the side of the room. “Hey guys, are you all having a good time?” Fleur De Lis turned to the table and saw the other Elemental Bearers. “Miss De Lis, these are my friends - Applejack, Bubble Berry, Rainbow Blitz, and you probably already know Butterscotch and Elusive.”
“Butterscotch, my favorite stallion model. How are you doing this evening?” She held out her hoof.
“I’m… fine.”
“Oh, you should have modeled for Fashion Week. You know, Hoity Toity never forgave himself for not convincing you to stay in the modeling industry after you cut your contract with Photo Finish short.”
“Oh, no, it was fine, I-”
“He did not particularly care for the lifestyle, Miss De Lis.” Fleur De Lis turned towards Elusive’s gaze. “And let’s just leave it at that.”
“Ah, Elusive.” She smiled. “It is always a pleasure to see the up and coming designers, even if it is at a ball and not on the runway.”
“What can I say.” Elusive drilled his gaze into Fleur De Lis’ eyes. “Sometimes you just have to wait until the right time to strike. I’m just biding my time.”
“It’s good to think about the long term. I just hope you aren’t getting past your prime while you wait, as it were.”
“I’m sorry to have heard about you and Fancy Pants.” Elusive glanced over to Dusk Shine while he wasn’t looking. “Though I’m sure a mare like you will find a way to get along.”
Both Fleur De Lis and Elusive stopped talking and simply stared at one another for a moment. Dusk Shine turned back to the two. “Your Highness, wouldn’t you like to dance?”
“Let me just introduce you to the others. Guys?”
“Howdy.”
“Hiya!”
“Hello.” She replied and then took a deep breath and smiled. Then she turned to the rainbow-maned stallion who had suddenly forgotten how to drink his martini. His eyes widened as he looked at Fleur De Lis. After a few false starts, he finally managed to mutter a few syllables to her.
“So, you’re Rainbow Blitz?”
“Uh… um… yes I am hi I saw you in the magazines and thought you looked very pretty.” The last part of the sentence tumbled out of his muzzle.
“Oh, well thank you for the compliment.” She replied. She tried to ignore Applejack who was now squinting his eyes and tilting his head towards Rainbow Dash with a raised eyebrow. She looked up at a large clock above the stage. Something just outside one of the windows caught her eye - the fluttering of a wing - and she turned to Dusk Shine. “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”
Dusk Shine bowed slightly and Fleur De Lis retreated. He felt a hoof land on his wither and he turned to see Elusive looking at him.
“Be careful, Dusk.”
“I’ll be fine.” He replied. “I have been taking dance lessons.” He lowered the hoof to the ground and trotted away. As the crowd instinctively opened up a path for him, he found Fleur De Lis standing at the window waving her hooves. “Miss De Lis!” The mare jumped and then turned to him. “How would you like that dance now?”
“I think now would be a perfect time.” She replied. They took a few steps towards the stage, but were stopped once again, but this time by two alicorns. “Oh, Your Majesties.” Fleur De Lis bowed.
“You may rise, Miss De Lis.” Celestia said. “Dusk, I am so glad to have run into you. Though I am surprised that I haven’t seen you sooner.”
“I just took Miss De Lis-”
“Oh, Your Highness,” Fleur said as her eyes darted in between the princesses, “I am fine with you calling me Fleur.”
“Well, I just took Fleur up to the observatory.”
“Did you happen to run into a stallion on your way here?”
“Yes, actually, Blue Moon, and he was in a hurry.”
“I see.” Luna said. “Well, then, I’m sure that you will be wanting to meet with the Anemoi later, and-”
“Wait, the Anemoi are here? A-a-as in real form?” Dusk Shine stammered as he looked around the room. “Where are they?”
“Oh they’re somewhere around here.”
“Your Highness, don’t you think we should try to get in that dance?”
“Are you kidding?” Dusk Shine replied. “The Anemoi are here! Do you realize what an opportunity this is? Oh you are going to love it!” Fleur De Lis felt herself pulled away once again through the ball room. Her gaze darted to the windows and at the pegasus flying around in the distance. That idiot better learn a better way to hide. Finally, the pulling stopped and she was able to regain her posture. In front of her was yet another alicorn, who simply pointed to Shining Armor and Boreas. She could see that Boreas was leaning in closer towards Cadance’s husband than most ponies would consider proper.
“Dusk.” Cadance whispered, punctuating every few words. “I don’t know how you already know him… but I know… that you will find a way… to get Boreas… away… from my husband.”
Fleur De Lis groaned.
*****
Bluebelle and Aeolus stared into the night sky. Even from here the sounds coming from the ballroom still managed to reach them. Bluebelle smiled as she listened to the echo of trumpets and a sultry voice. She imagined Dusk Shine trying to dance to the music. She had heard stories about his dancing abilities once while he attended a garden party. She stifled a laugh as she pictured his limbs jutting out in all directions and his eyes closed.
“You wanted to speak with me?” She waited for a response, but when none came, she turned to Aeolus. “What?”
“I’ve been speaking with Zephyrus and Boreas a few times since yesterday.” Bluebelle turned to Aeolus the moment he spoke.
“What?”
“I must admit I didn’t believe it when they told me, but now, seeing you, I think I have to believe them, because I do see it.”
“What do you see?”
“Love. Well, it isn’t so much love as it is the seeds of love.” She gave him an incredulous look. “Eh, who knows?” Bluebelle laughed to herself. “I know, I know. Waxing poetic like that is just how us old ponies speak to make ourselves seem smarter than we are.”
“But…”
“But, I’ve been in this universe for too many generations to count, and if there is anything that I have learned is that any time those seeds appear, they must be nourished.” Bluebelle sighed and went back into the castle. Aeolus followed quickly after her. They walked for a bit until they neared the back entrance to the ballroom where the stage was set up. Aeolus stopped her before she took another step. “What’s the matter?”
“It seems that those seeds of love have already been planted in Dusk Shine’s eyes.” She pulled back the curtain just enough so that they could see the middle of the dance floor. Every so often, the heads of Fleur De Lis and Dusk Shine would appear from between the crowds. “And he is so caught up with this idea of everypony being friends that he can’t see that she’s using him.”
“Well, you can’t control him.” Aeolus replied. “Maybe the best thing is to let him learn from his mistakes and be there for him.”
“Yeah.” She rolled her eyes and let go of the curtain. “Let her break his heart so that he won’t let another one touch it.” She looked over to Aeolus, who bent his head down to look her in the eyes.
“You can’t-” Bluebelle raised her hoof to stop him.
“No, please, don’t bring them up.”
Aeolus put his hoof down. “No, you need to listen to me. You can’t let something that happened eight years ago stop you from opening your heart to another.” He held Bluebelle’s hooves in his own. “The seeds of love can only grow in the garden of our hearts. It’s true, flowers may fade. But that doesn’t make their bloom any less beautiful.” He let go and trotted back to the curtain.
In our own lives we will find
Many things that remind
Of what we’ve lost
All things one day will be gone
If you keep holding on
At any cost
You will find in the end
It’s like grasping at the wind
Though I know
To let go
You will see
Though in life you’re apart
If you look within your heart
You will know
Where you go
There they’ll be
Bluebelle joined Aeolus and pulled back the curtain again. She looked at the ponies on the ballroom floor and watched as Dusk Shine and Fleur De Lis spun around with the other ponies. She shook her head and turned away to trot down the hall.
If I let somepony in
Will I be hurt again
How can I learn?
If I open up my heart
Will he rip it apart
Or will it burn?
Though we fear love brings pain
There is so much more to gain
It grows
larger than
you or me
And once you play the part
You’ll find room within your heart
You will know
Where you go
There they’ll be
“What do I do?” Bluebelle asked. “I don’t want her to hurt him.” Aeolus simply leaned down and nuzzled her head. against his chin.
My dear child, just speak true
About what he means to you
Believe
And I know
You will see
When you love he will start
To let you into his heart
You will know
Where you go
There he’ll be
“Bluebelle, it’s time to move on. I don’t know what will happen with this. Nopony does. But how can love bloom when you won’t even plant the seeds?”
She smiled. The two embraced just as the song from the stage finished to the sound of hooves stamping on the floor. They watched as Dusk Shine and Fleur De Lis bowed politely to one another before moving to the side of the room. The door next to them suddenly burst open, and Boreas ran in.
“This is ridiculous.” He shouted. “Oh, there you are, Your Highness. I’ve been looking for you. Listen, we-”
“Is that a hoof mark on your cheek?” Aeolus asked. Boreas huffed and turned away. “Both of them?”
“Yeah, it is.” Boreas muttered. “Dusk Shine’s date is a monster. And don’t even get me started on Cadance. Princess of Love… more like Princess of Ironic Titles.”
“I’m not going to ask how it happened. I just need to know how to convince Dusk Shine how bad she is.”
“Have you ever considered just showing him how good you are instead?” The two looked at the bruised stallion. “You have to do something bold, something that will catch his attention.” He looked around and noticed that one of the dressing room doors was cracked open. He pushed the door open and noticed the sign read Black Ivory. He turned to Bluebelle with a smile.
“I think I know what’ll do the trick.”