A young batpony is invited to play at all evening functions for the month at Canterlot Castle. She doesn't quite know what to expect....
Being invited to play at Canterlot Castle for a month is a big opportunity that shouldn't be wasted, no matter how strange others may perceive you to be. So when a young bat pony composer gets the very same offer, in tandem with the re-assimilation of the bat pony tribe into Equestrian Society, she jumps at the chance. But a lot can happen in a month, and she may not be entirely prepared.
(previously entered into an October 2013 Equestria Daily Bat pony Writeoff as a googledoc)
Princess Luna Interrupts a Narrative When She Really Shouldn’t
***
“What doth trouble thee, musician?”
The batpony at the piano stopped mid-beat, orange eyes widened in surprise. Princess Luna stood at the foot of the stage, waiting patiently for an answer. The pianist's furred ears folded down, as she answered a question with a question.
“Why do you ask, Princess?”
“Your song-- it seems to be bittersweet. Especially for such an occasion.” A crowd, made up of her own kind, waited for her response. Painstakingly gathered from colonies all about Equestria, these brave stallions, along with a hoof-full of equally brave mares, were recently formed into Luna’s personal guard. As such, the event that was now in attendance was for celebration, with the Night Princess announcing higher plans for an all around Night Guard, nocturnal palace staff, and much more. So naturally, everypony was curious when the appointed musician played such a melancholy song.
“I-i have been emotionally confused, I’m afraid. If Your Highness would prefer, I could call Fortissimo to play instead.”
“Perhaps thou should. Then We shall be able to speak with thee.” The pianist gulped, and slid away from the piano to let her replacement settle in. Fluttering off the stage with her leathery wings, she joined Princess Luna in a dark corner.
“Is there something wrong, Princess?”
Luna looked at her subject with kind eyes. In the background, Fortissimo started up a rowdy song, encouraging an equally rowdy dance to begin.
“We should be asking thee the same question. What hast happened to thou? At the start of the week, thou didst seem to be fine.”
The pianist averted her gaze. “The start of the week hadn’t been so complicated.”
000
One dark and cloudy night, a bat pony stood gawking at the front entrance to Canterlot castle, saddlebags on her rump and suitcases at her side. With a determined glare, she hooked each wig around a handle, and began to move forward against her own will. After all, it wasn’t every night that a small-colony pony like her got invited to play at all evening social functions for the month-- including the Grand Galloping Gala.
With shivering excitement she cantered down various hallways, past sleepy guards ponies with white coats, and libraries full of books. So caught up was the young batpony in her surroundings, that with a startled shock, she realized that she was lost. The little musician began to panic, not sure what to do.
“Oh dear, oh dear….what if I’m late? Oh that won’t do at all!” Frightened, she continued along the dark halls at a clipped pace, searching frantically, not even realizing she was in somepony’s way until--
“Ah!”
“Ouch!... Hey, are you okay?” He was a big Earth pony, with a rich brown coat, and a hay-blonde mane, with a tail and sideburns to match.
“I-i’m alright!” She blurted, a bit stricken as he helped her up.
“Well, I’m glad. Wouldn’t want to add another pony to the infirmary.”
She stared at him, not sure what to make of his statement.
“It was a joke?”
“Oh! Um...should I laugh?”
“Nah, you don’t have to.” And awkward silence pervaded the short exchange. “.....Weeellll, goodnight!” He began to move on, silver platter cutie mark winking at her in the gloom. With a jump, she raced after him, remembering her task at hand.
“W-wait! Can you please tell me where the guest rooms are? If you don’t mind?”
“Not at all! You can follow me.” He extended a hoof with a good-natured grin. “I’m Marscapone, but all my friends call me Mars.”
She shook the massive thing with her own furry limb, thankful. “It’s nice to meet you.” Gathering her things, she followed him. “My name is--”
“Wait! Don’t tell me!”
“What?” She looked at him, a bit miffed. Was this the racism that her mother claimed to be abound in Canterlot?
“I want to guess. I have a knack for guessing names off a pony’s cutie mark.”
“Oh.” She glanced at her own cutie mark, a crescent moon with a flowing music note resting inside. “Um, guess away then.
He grinned, green eyes lighting up. “Okay, okay, erm… is it Moon Song.?”
“No.” she giggled, and his grin grew wider. The pair arrived at some stairs. Mars promptly took one suitcase on his back, and the other by it’s strap in his mouth.
“Um…” he mumbled from behind his cargo. “Is it Selene Bass?”
“No.”
“Lunacapella?”
“No”
“Sonic Aria?”
“No”
“Lunar Lute!”
“Nope!” she laughed, taking her suitcases back once they reached the top of the stairs. Mars scratched the back of his head.
“I was sure of the last one. Are you pulling my leg?” she shook her head, smiling. “Well, here we are, at the guest hall. What number are you?”
“63. And no, I think my Dad would have a fit if I was named Lunar Lute.”
“Hmmm…” Marscapone stopped before guestroom door 63. He turn to look at his companion, and did a double take as he got a full illuminated view under a well place candle. Dark grey in color, she was on the lanky side, with orange cat’s eyes and even darker bat wings. Her mane was short in the back, dark purple curls spilling over one side of her face, and a shock of white nestled next to the eye still in sight. Her tail matched the same wild scheme, and under the candlelight, in a genuine smile, white fangs gleamed.
In shock, Mars waved the white flag. “I give up. What is it?”
“Moonlight Sonata.” She gave an apologetic look. “It’s longer than the usual name.”
“It’s a beautiful one….and much better than Lunar Lute.” The shared a laugh, as Marscapone opened the door. “It was nice meeting you Moonlight….maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”
She blushed. “See you…”
000
Luna drank some punch from a cup and mulled over the beginning of Moonlight’s narrative. “So thou did meet Our sister’s chef? And how doth this complicate matters? We recall thou to be fine once We did meet, after thou settled in.”
Moonlight took a small bite out of a cream puff, savoring the feathery moth inside. “I was fine during that night’s recital as well. The trouble started when I got lost...again.”
000
It was late morning-- way too late for a young batpony to be fumbling about. Moonlight groaned, tired from the night’s events-- meeting the Princesses, greeting ponies, accepting wishes of fortune, avoiding the snotty nobility and playing her heart out.
Everypony had enjoyed her latest violin piece, partnered with her good friend Fortissimo’s piano accompaniment. Her dull blue companion had been delighted to join her upon stage, wings flared up in excitement. Together, they had made the charity ball a hit, and by the time the function was over, everypony was in jovial spirits.
Fortissimo had left quite awhile ago, but Moonlight had wanted to snatch an early morning snack. By the time she arrived back at the palace, belly full of crickets, the musician realized-- she was lost again. Lugging a violin case behind her, Moonlight discovered that sunrise is not fun when your eyes are accustomed to darkness. Half-blind with slits for pupils, and the violin threatening to tip her over, she stumbled through the halls, screeching to try and gain a sense of direction.
“Moonlight!” A hoof stopped her fall, the bat pony's face a mere inches away from a roaring pan flame. Blinking, Moonlight found herself in the kitchens, and Marscapone towering over her with concern. Behind him, other chefs were laughing, flapping their appendages wildly and screaming, no doubt mimicking what she must have looked like a minute ago.
“Eee! Eeee! I’m as blind as a bat!”
“I’ve got bugs for brains!”
“I couldn’t suck your blood, so I’m going to make you laugh you brains out! Eee! Eee!” Moonlight turned a darker shade of grey, disappointed in herself for representing her tribe so terribly.
“Hey, knock it off!” Marscapone bellowed, helping her up. “You guys weren’t laughing when Orange nearly cut her hoof off yesterday!”
One of his co-workers rolled his eyes. “That’s ‘cuz if she got hoof filings in the food we’d be done for. Plus, Orange isn’t some sort of vampyric batpony.”
Moonlight stood stiff, whipping her head about to retort. “I don’t drink blood!” But the chefs continued to make fun, ignoring her completely. Eyes watering from embarrassment, she ran from the kitchens, wings flapping for extra speed. Half-blind once again, the batpony skidded around into a corner, finding solace in it’s shadowy gloom.
“Moonlight! Moonlight Sonata!” Mars puffed up to her, mane disheveled in his pursuit. “Hey…”
Moonlight looked away. “H-hey….”
“....Are you lost again?”
“....Maybe.” Turning about, Marscapone looked back at her with kind eyes.
“Come on, I’ll show you the way again.”
Grateful, Moonlight began to stumble at his side. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” he replied, taking her violin. “Plenty of ponies get lost in here. I think even the Princesses got lost, once or twice. Why make this place so huge if only two ponies live here?” Moonlight smiled at his humor, even as her eyes were heavy with sleep. “Now there’s a beautiful smile that’s got to stay. Don’t let other ponies get to you.”
“...I don’t drink blood.”
“I know.” Moonlight looked at him, confusion apparent. “If you did, I’m sure I the last time I’d get to see you was last night. Speaking of which,... why are you up so early-- er, late?”
Striving to match Mars’ stride, Moonlight replied. “I wanted a snack and didn’t realize the time….”
“A snack?” Mars began to climb a familiar staircase.
“Crickets. They’re sweet around this time of year. But moths are best.”
“Hmmm….”
“You think it’s weird, don’t you?”
“Well pegasi apparently know what rainbows taste like, so I don’t think I can judge. Last time I trust a gift from Bru.” They reached the top of the stairs. “Hey! I never got to ask you what you’re staying for!”
“I’m to play at all social functions for the month-- including the Gala.”
“Gosh! Are you nervous at all?”
“Most definitely. Princess Celestia wished me well in representing the music from my tribe, but-” The pair reached room door 63
“Ponies are racist?”
“I wouldn’t put it so bluntly…”
“That’s alright. Most of the ponies around Canterlot thought I was inferior because my family lived near griffons.” Like a gentlecolt, he opened the door.
“...What’s it like, living near griffons?”
“Let’s just say I never want to leave solid ground again.” Taking her violin from him, Moonlight pondered Marscapone’s statement. She could never imagine staying away from Luna’s starry night skies.
“Never?”
“Never.” Mars stood awkwardly before her, lifting a chocolate hoof. “So...what nights are you playing?”
“Pretty much every night.”
“I guess I can try and take time off to listen to you them.”
Passing into her room, Moonlight smiled. “I’d like that.”
000
“So thou art saying that Our sister’s chef was sweet? Despite the opinions of his companions? Forgive Us if We do not yet see the problem.”
Moonlight dare not give a sigh, though she was a bit frustrated. “That was merely the beginning of the week. I wasn’t finished.”
“If We do recall,” Luna continued, glancing at the party in it’s final stages. “After thou’s arrival on Monday, and thou’s performance on Tuesday,” she paused to take a sip of punch. “For the next three nights, matters were uneventful-- for thee at least. Though We also recall thee being saddened at his absence.”
“If I had known what he was doing, I wouldn’t have been so sad.”
000
For three mornings now, Marscapone had led Moonlight back to her room, pointing out ways for her to memorize the route. All the while the pair made pleasant conversation, something that Moonlight looked forward to. She couldn’t get enough time around him, and to her disappointment, Mars hadn’t shown up at any of her performances.
She supposed that he simply had to work or sleep during those hours, but it was still disappointing, nonetheless. Until Saturday evening, when an excited knock by a heavy hoof rattled her door. Curious, Moonlight had opened it to find Mars there, a big grin on his face and uniform a mess-- as if it had survived a sugar explosion. In one hoof, he held a container of rather ordinary looking cream puffs.
“Moonlight! I was hoping that you’d be up-- well, of course you’d be up-- but I need you to try this, like- right now.”
Moonlight blinked, a bit taken back. “Whatever for?”
Mars pranced on three hooves. “Because ! You remember the morning you told me about bugs, right?”
“...yes.”
“Well, I was was thinking, since bat ponies like-” the rest of Marscapone’s ramble was cooking science jargon, which Moonlight did not fully understand. As such, she was reduced to simple saying ‘uh-huh’ at the appropriate periods, and smiling. Lots of smiling. “-so I want you to try it. To see if I made something that we can serve at nocturnal functions for bat ponies.”
Moonlight looked from the pastries to Marscapone, then back to the pastries. Taking one by the wing, she bit into it-- and promptly moaned in delight. Mars had done something fantastic-- the feathery appendages of a succulent moth was lightly concealed with sweet molasses and wrapped in cool, firm cream in a soft outer layer of simple bliss.
“....How-”
“A lot of hours spent over time.” He gave a look of uncertainty. “Do you like it?”
“I do! I love it!”
“Do you think it should be one of the platters at your performance tomorrow?”
“Yes! This is wonderful! Your wonderful!” What Moonlight had meant to say was that his talent was wonderful, and having recognised what her words actually formed, she blushed at the implications. “I- I mean, um-- Why do you have a silver platter instead of some dessert for your cutie mark!?”
Marscapone, seemingly undisturbed, looked at his flank as Moonlight devoured the rest of the pastry to drown her own embarrassment. “Oh this? My talent is serving other ponies the best I can, and make them happy. Cooking is just something I have knack for….what’s yours?”
“Composing.” Moonlight replied, liking at bits of cream around her snout. “I like to write songs a play them. Back at home, other ponies would gather around our nook to hear me play.”
000
“Thou did not have a performance last night. What did thee do to pass the time?”
Moonlight waved to Fortissimo as he stole one of Marscapone’s cream puffs and trotted happily towards the exit. “We just talked. It was nice. Apparently his parents wanted to name him Mascarpone, but they spelled it wrong. He told me he kept it in order to differentiate himself from everypony else.”
“Our sister does compliment his confectionary work. Thou said that things were emotionally confusing? Now that We have head a narrative of all events from then to this moment, We are inclined to ask- how so?” Luna inquired with kind grace and noble understanding, looking every bit-- or at least the moon princess hoped-- like her older sister comforting one of her own subjects.
“Well I- I’m not quite sure, and I’ve only ever heard about this from older ponies, like my sister-- but I….I think-”
Princess Celestia Gives Some Advice on Her Way to Change Out Her Eyepatch
***
“Princess!”
Princess Celestia stopped and sighed when she heard her name being called, the source of the voice bellowing down the hallway. Among the lit atmosphere of the noon hour, she could see one of her larger little ponies barreling down the red rug.
Just last week, Luna had celebrate the inauguration of her personal nightguard, and was now making good on her promise of progress. It was slow going, reintroducing the bat pony tribe into society-- mostly because other ponies made the process difficult. Canterlot was the leading protestant, with nobility dredging up suspicious old mare’s tales and complaining to their diurnal leader of the murders and treacheries to come. So it was no small relief that the pony racing towards her was one of the few to actually welcome the change.
“Princess Celestia!
With a smile, she greeted him. “Marscapone, how are you?”
He bowed. “In need of a favor, Princess.”
“Oh?” Her highness raised an eyebrow. Marscapone raised his head to look at her with emerald earnest.
“I need to be put on the team for the Gala.”
Her interest piqued, Celestia turned fully to face him. “You know that’s the hardest event to compete for.”
“I know, but with all due respect, I need that spot.”
“May I hear the reason why? I’m not in charge this year, but I can put in a good word for you to the committee.”
Marscapone gave her a sheepish grin. “It all started at the beginning of this week.”
000
It was Monday, the one of the happiest days of the week for Marscapone. The debut of his cream puffs last night had been a success, and listening to what Moonlight played was a joy. Given that he was in the kitchen, trying to keep up with the amount of treats that the party’s guests consumed, he didn’t get a chance to check up on why she stopped until later this morning-- during the routine walk to her room. By now it wasn’t necessary, but Mars enjoyed talking to her-- she was bursting with melodic ideas, serene yet cutely flustered at the same time. However, in that particular conversation, Moonlight seemed a bit more flustered than usual. So he cracked a joke, loving the smile she gave while she laughed. Later in the day, he found himself distractedly thinking about her until he almost burned his hoof off.
Now the small afternoon soiree in the Canterlot Gardens was over, so Marscapone, Creme Brulee, and Orange Scone were cleaning up and putting things away. Bru-- a lanky pegasus with a yellowish cream color-- was complaining to Orange about how Princess Luna wanted to replace the night shift team with bat pony cooks from a colony near Los Pegasus.
“--I mean, how does she know that the won’t give her blood or something? Or-”
Mars interrupted. “I doubt it Bru-- a lot of the bat ponies actually here are pretty nice, if you’d just talk to them.”
“I think they’re creepy.” Shuddered Orange- a unicorn with a soft coat true to her name. “Thier wings are unnatural.”
The earth pony of the group scoffed. “And I think that you two are believing the lies that Prince Blueblood practically spews out of his nose.” Bru was gearing up to make a retort-- most likely how his friend was biased because he liked a bat pony-- when a familiar dark grey mare poked her head through the kitchen door.
“Marscapone!”
“Hey Moonlight.” Bru and Orange did their best to ignore the newcomer and continue cleaning.
“I have something to show you!” Pushing her way into the kitchen, Moonlight trotted over to him. “Come on, Forte.” Fortissimo, shielding his sensitive eyes with a dark wing, came in after his companion, holding some sheets in his mouth.
"Mars, this is Fortissimo. He’s my alternate for performances and my cousin.”
Mars extended a hoof. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.”
Fortissimo transferred the sheets to a wing and took Marscapone’s hoof to shake with fervor. “Back at you. You can call me Forte- Moonlight’s gone on and on about you. Though. with those cream puffs of yours, I can’t say it’s undeserved!”
“Thank you!” In an attempt to bring his friends into the conversation, Mars pointed a hoof. “That’s Creme Brulee and this is Orange Scone, over by the sink.”
Moonlight trotted up to Orange and stuck out one hoof. “It’s nice to make your acquaintance.”
Orange looked trapped. Grabbing a dish to scrub away at, she telekinetically shook the other mare’s leg up and down. “Erm...yeah-- nice to meet you, I guess.” Her red eyes were glued fearfully to her task, effectively ousting Moonlight from her personal space. Disappointed in his friend for not making a better effort, Mars shook his head. In a dark corner, Bru snorted.
“You said you had something to show me?” Marscapone said with interest. Moonlight seemed glad to stop standing awkwardly near Orange, and made her way back to Forte, taking a sheet from him.
“I’m planning on singing this at the Gala, and I wanted to know if I should have a piano piece, or the harp accompany it. Forte thinks I should go with the piano piece, but I’m not sure.”
Forte rolled his eyes. “The piano would be perfect!” He exclaimed, flashing his crescendo cutie mark. “It’s a perfect mix between strings and percussion, and would match the mood.”
Moonlight shoulder-bumped him playfully. “You just want piano because playing it is your talent.”
“Why waste perfection?” he nudged back.
She rolled her bright eyes and turned her attention back to Mars. “It’s a duet.”
“Well let’s hear it!” Moonlight raised her sheet and began to sing:
“When the sun fades away,
And the sky gives way to stars,
No longer do we fear the Night
In our mind and in our hearts…”
The melody was slow and enchanting, causing the attention from not only Marscapone, but Bru and Orange as well. Forte only enhanced it when he added his voice:
“The Sun and Moon both have their place
To bless our lives with endless grace
Come live your lives to praise them both
For to scorn one is to forget the other…”
The song continued until the second chorus, where both ponies abruptly dropped their sheets.
Blinking, as if released from a spell, Orange asked: “Why’d you stop?”
Moonlight gave a shy smile. “I can’t continue without knowing whether to play the piano or the harp.”
Suprisingly, Bru spoke up-- “Why not do both? There’s two of you, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
The dark mare looked at him, a little bewildered at his interest. “I’ll have to move the schedule for the night around-- but maybe that would be best. Thank you!”
“Uh-huh.” The three cooks watched Moonlight and Forte flutter out the kitchen, in high spirits and chattering excitedly for the night’s performance. Marscapone looked expectantly to Bru.
“Okay, okay, so maybe they’re not all bad-” The pegasus was about to say more when a pony from the post office bust through the door.
“Telegram for Mascarpone!”
“It’s Marscapone.” he corrected, taking the piece of paper. With his two friends peering over his shoulder, the stallion read the message in disbelief. “My mother is coming for a visit…”
Bru patted his shoulder, while Orange gave him a hug. “I feel for you, bro.”
000
Celestia trotted onward, analyzing Marscapone’s story as he followed beside her. “and am I correct in assuming that your mother visiting was a bad thing?”
Mars looked a the ground. “She-- she’s a…..racist.” He affirmed with a groan. “She’d always thought that the earth ponies were the superior tribe-- because we’re usually the strongest, and we grow the food. Ever since Dad died, it’s only gotten worse, like she blames the rest of the world for his death. I love her, but-”
The day-bringer sighed. “She’s set in her ways? I’m afraid I don’t understand how this pertains to you being put on the Gala team.”
“Weeellll….”
000
Marscapone’s mother had arrived on Tuesday, and made her beloved son a feast to come home to after work. It was now Friday, and while Mars could never tire of her squooshing his cheeks and nuzzling his ears, Lemon Zest did have a detrimental effect on his hard-earned social status. Constantly berating ponies of other tribes milling about Canterlot, a lot of ponies began to distance themselves away from Mars and his mother. Even his very best friends, Bru and Orange, began to avoid him, afraid of the slashing tongue his mom possesed. Mars could understand their distance, and appreciated the occasional efforts to cheer him up, but to see all the hard work gone into his reputation-- it was mix of feelings he couldn’t quite understand.
Moonlight, the brave little thing, still visited him in the mornings, though when Lemon’s head poked around a corner, she was quick to disappear. The one good thing that came out of all the trouble was the poem she presented him with, hoof-written by herself, Orange, Bru, and Forte, stating how they still appreciated his friendship. Nonetheless, Marscapone strove for the mornings in which he and Moonlight were able to talk alone, having missed her events to spend time with his mom.
“...It was during the reign of Discord. Our ancestors were part of the pegasi generation that tried to stand up against him. He captured them and--” She struggled to find the right phrase. “got creative. When he was defeated they returned to their true form, but their children retained the curse the parents passed on. Eventually, because nopony wanted to be reminded of Discord’s rule, they were ousted from society. It only grew worse with Nightmare Moon-- most ponies believed that our tribe supported her.”
]She currently was flying alongside Marscapone in the garden, as the chef got some early morning prep work done for yet another garden party.
“Did they?”
“No. Though we found comfort in the dark, away from other ponies, our ancestors understood the importance of a balance between night and day.” Moonlight stared intensely at an egg beater, cranking the handle in wonder. “Nowadays, every pony is pretty excited to be moving back into society. Even if we do most things during the night."
“Marscapone!” Mars lifted his head to see and aging mare trotting happily towards him. Moonlight quickly took her leave, having experienced this particular mare’s crass denouncement a couple of days before. Marscapone felt more than a little crestfallen.
“Hey Mom.” He smiled at her, a chestnut red earth mare with greying golden hair and stern ice blue eyes. “How are you?”
“Just fine. Was that bat pony bothering you? It’s enough that my poor colt is forced to work for feather brains and stickheads all day!” Lemon squished his cheeks and kissed him on the nose. “It’s a good thing I told ‘em all off Tuesday, the rotten-”
Marscapone took her hooves off his cheeks and into his own. “Mom, stop. I know you’re looking out for me, but many of these ponies are my friends. And-- and you’re driving them away. I’m asking you, please, stop doing this to me.”
His mother rested in his arms, bewildered. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that you’re way of thinking is- is wrong.” Mars averted her gaze, voice laced with desperation. “While I was growing up, you taught me that earth ponies were superior-- when I reached Canterlot-- I- I looked like an idiot. It wasn’t until I was beaten down and without a job that I realized that all tribes are equal-- it’s why the princesses embod the jointness of the original three. Serving other ponies of all kinds and making them happy is my life, and I love to do it-- no matter what they look like, what they eat, or what they wear. Please-- I’m begging you, life is better when you don’t hate everypony based on appearances or a feud with a sister who just happened to have a horn on her head.” He inhaled to continue. “I know you don’t like her, but I already promised Moonlight Sonata that I’d be there for her Gala performance. She a good pony with lots of talent and-”
“And she’s obviously manipulating you, along with the rest of the magic users in this creator-forgotten city! We might have to do something to fix that.” Mars blanched as his mother ripped away from his grasp and began to pace. “I won’t have some melodramatic, high-maintenance, hussy control my son! Oh, no!”
Caught up in the thrall of emotions, he cried out “And maybe I have feelings for her!”
His mother stopped stiff. “What?!”
“And-- and maybe I want to explore that feeling more! Maybe-- maybe I want to be to her what Dad was to you; kind, caring, patient and-”
000
“And it sort of exploded from there. She banned me from going to the Gala. Or else she’d disown me.” He hung his head low, distraught. “I don’t want to break that promise to Moonlight, but I don’t want to cut ties with my mom.”
“So where ever did you get the idea to solve the problem this way?” Celestia watched her chef amble nervously beside her.
“...Discord?” Mars bit his lip in anticipation of a rebuke. “He said..
000
“You should be able to do whatever you want, whenever you want! You should be able to eat fermented apples till you see parasprites if you wanted to!” The draconequus circled around the pony he’d found in low spirits in the hallway. “She may be your mother, but you’re a grown pony!”
Marscapone didn’t bother to raise his head. “I can’t leave my mother alone like that. Even if she did cut the ties, I’d still feel terrible. She has nopony else."
Discord snorted in impatience. “Well-- weeellll…” He snapped his claws in his own brilliance. “Get a position of the Catering Team for the Gala! The way you can’t miss the performance and your dear mother wouldn’t be able to fuss-- simple because you’d have to be there.It’s foal proof!”
000
Celestia rolled her eye. “I’m going to have to talk with him later.” Her attention back on Mars,, the little pony she’d grow up so much, she asked, “Are you sure this is the way to go about things?
“I’m sure-- It’s the only way to please everypony.”
“It’s a dangerous place to walk, on top of a fence. I’ll put in a good word for you to the committee, but after the Gala, you simply must find a permanent solution to your problem. Even so, I can’t assure you a spot on the team."
Mars perked his ears. “Who’s on the committee?”
“Some of the best and worst individuals in Equestria.”
Four Overpowered Meddlers Argue Over Something That Isn’t Entirely Relevant to Their Royal Duties
or
We All Know the Last Title Is a Lie, Because Everything In Life Is Political
***
“Well that was quite eventful.” Discord mused over his checklist for the Gala, relishing his temporary power.
“What was eventful?” Luna walked into the dining hall after him, curious in the draconequus’ thoughts.
“Today’s committee.” He clucked in response.
Seated at the head of the table, eyepatch visible without a magical spell to conceal it, Celestia raised a skeptical brow. “What happened at today’s committee, Discord?”
The question was rather loaded, and reverberated around the room. Currently, four beings occupied it-- Discord, Luna, Celestia and Cadence, having come to represent the Crystal Empire at the Gala. Shining Armor was currently chatting amicably with the guards outside the door, and Twilight was spending the night out with friends. WIth the Gala on the day after tomorrow, it was fair enough to say that all rulers were on edge about the political matters that were sure to populate the fallout.
“Well, if your highness must know,” Discord nickered haughtily, “Your beloved chef received his spot on the catering team."
000
“I say neigh!” Blueblood brayed angrily toward the other members of the committee. “I won’t just put a dumb earth pony in a coveted position out of pity!”
“Oh do shut up, will you old chap?” The philanthropist Fancy Pants shot back. “Everypony’s vote is against you. And he surely deserves it-- the poor fellow is one of the most hardworking ponies I know.”
Discord swung his tail lazily as he boredly watched everypony argue against Blueblood. It was five to one on their little round table, but as a prince, the snotty unicorn held a lot of weight for the group’s decisions. It kind of made the draconequus want to inflate him until he popped-- but that would win him no brownie points with neither the sappy nobility of Canterlot, nor Celestia. Not to say that it wasn’t tempting, with the way Blueblood had argued against every option the other members went for. Discord himself had drew the line at excluding bat ponies-- that was the whole point of this creator-forsaken month-- and made a smorgasbord of changes to the arrangements that the castle brat made without consent. Even for a god of chaos the whole affair was too much-- you had to tiptoe around certain political issues so that you wouldn’t get complaints, and completely trample on others because ponies were too stubborn to listen. With Blueblood’s sheer obnoxiousness to complicate things, Discord found himself wondering how Celestia dealt with it all.
Clear Cloud, a pegasus from Cloudsdale, gave a look towards the mishmash of creatures in the meeting. “Aren’t you going to argue as well?”
Discord yawned. “No. Why bother? Blueblood’s arguments always fail when faced with any sort of logic.” He transformed the his rigid chair into a recliner, and melted into it. “I’m simply going to say that Marscapone gets the spot for his Moth Puffs and the Red Velvet he created last winter, and leave it at that.” He looked at Blueblood pointedly from behind a pair of shades. “Any objections?”
There was a chorus of no’s and Discord began to relax. “Good. We’re behind schedule, so on to the decora- Blueblood, we are not holding this event for you! Banners with your mark on it is horseapples!”
000
Cadence withheld a laugh. Discord whipped his head around to confront her. “And what do you find so funny?!”
She smirked up at him, spearing her asparagus with a noble delicacy. “The fact that a guy who previously tormented thousands of ponies years ago is having trouble planning a party.”
He scowled at her response and grumpily took his seat at the end of the table. “...Like you have anything important to do over in that pretty princess palace of yours…”
Cadence put to death another asparagus, this time with a little bit more fervor. “As a matter of fact I do. The Equestrian Games is going to be hosted in the Crystal Empire, and the planning is going splendidly.” Patting her snout daintily with a napkin, she got ready to start a rice grain massacre. “Why do you take so much interest in Marscapone’s problem anyway?”
“I think it’s noble.” Her opponent said simply. “Besides the fact that his relationship with the widdle bat pony would make headway in social relations.”
Luna stamped a hoof, upsetting her coffee. “How dare thee assume that the social status of bat ponies is solely thou’s responsibility! I do not recall ever saying to thee to sally forth and make decisions without me!”
Discord hissed back. “I don’t recall you acting on the opportunity either! Even after you heard the confession from Moonlight herself! And yes I do assume the status of bat ponies as my own duty-- they deserve better than being relegated to your darkness!”
“THOU CONNIVING SNAKE! MY NIGHTS ARE PERFECT CONDITIONS FOR THE BAT PONIES, AND THOU KNOWS IT! TO UPSET THE DELICATE SCALE BETWEEN TRIBES SO ABRUPTLY ‘TWOULD BE BEYOND IDIOTIC!” Luna looked ready for battle, hooves dug into the mahogany, delirious to end this particular argument once and for all. Discord acted in the same manner, baring his fangs.
“Luna. Discord.” Celestia spoke quietly, but the sound of a command hidden deep down in those simple names forced the two to sit down, as the solar princess sipped tea from a cup. “We all know you feel guilty about your past actions since your friendship lessons with Fluttershy, Discord. But I’m going to have to agree with Luna-- to suddenly give freedom beyond the certain parameters that certain town and cities set would cause an upset. Even moving things along at this rate is a big push, so we need to have patience.” She looked at them both with her one good eye. “When you two forced me to give up planning the Gala and reintroducing the bat ponies, I was hoping that you’d do it with some tact and maturity. Moonlight and Marscapone are young, they have a few years to see this relationship blossom and grow. And we have nearly forever-- don’t rush things.”
Cadence sighed. “It’s rather cute, the relationship between those two. Just the other day, I saw them-”
000
“I hate train rides.” Shining yawned as he and his wife arrived in Canterlot. “They take way too long. Why couldn’t we have taken an airship?”
Cadence rubbed her head against his neck, her pink coat enhanced by the early morning. “Because we’re still working on getting a port established. You’ll just have to be patient.”
“At least we’re here. It’ll be nice seeing the guys again. And Twily."
“Yes.” she sighed in agreement. “And we aren’t on some life-risking mission to save the world. This is perfect.” They walked down the nearly empty streets, enjoying the peace and quiet, as well as each other. Setting down at a cafe for quick breakfast before heading to the castle, the royal couple spied an odd pair at another table.
An rich brown earth pony stallion was currently trying to explain something to his bat pony companion. He looked crestfallen, even as she listened with sympathetic interest. With a sigh, the stallion looked dejectedly at the table cloth, eyes unfocused. Equally upset, the bat pony hugged him, dark purple mane spilling over both of them, whispering something in his ear. The stallion let out a small laugh as his companion beamed.
However, the sweet moment was cut short when an older mare angrily approached the two. Ripping the younger mare off her friend, she tore the stallion away by the ear, but not before shouting some unseemly things to the bat pony that Cadence would not even repeat in the privacy of her own home. Shining and Cadence looked at each other gratefully, the lovely morning ruined by an act of what seemed to be like prejudice.
000
Matters around the table quieted down as Cadence’s short reminiscence was mulled over.
“...It should have happened in Ponyville-- the relationship I mean. Would make things less complicated.” There were nods of agreement to Discord’s quiet observation. Reintroducing the bat ponies in to Ponyville’s sociality had been a success-- many were happy with the arrangement, and prosperity doubled because of the nightly shifts and shopping the bat ponies could pull. It was well known among the four that while Canterlot was the head of fashion and economical trends, Ponyville was the testing grounds for any and all social divergence. The kindness and tolerance had simply tripled since Twilight became the Princess of Friendship (or Magic? It was still an issue.), and when Ponyville, the paragon of Equestria’s national mindset, accepted something, the rest of the country usually followed suit. Except for Canterlot-- because Canterlot was full of snobbish ponies that couldn’t even dig a hole for their lives.
“-What I can’t understand is why his mother would do that to him.”
“Technically, she still has legal control over him.” Celestia commented. The others at the table looked at her in silent question. “Rule #2346b states that a matriarch is allowed sovereign control over a subordinate family member that has left the familial herd, within good reason, until eighteen years of age. A little bit under Shining Armor’s age right now, but above Twilight, if I remember correctly. As of right now, Marscapone has not yet reached that age.”
“What in the world would convince you to pass that kind of law?!” Discord screeched at his end of the table.
“Adolescent violence. It increased the more ponies under eighteen were allowed to fend for themselves. Adding the law curbed a good 92% of it. This is the only instance in which it’s been abused. And legally, we can’t interfere unless she’s directly asking him to break the law.”
Feeling up to a challenge, Discord countered, “So what about those moms that have a special talent for sneaking or stealing things, and ask their precious colts and fillies to help them, hmmm?”
Celestia replied without missing a beat. “I have them recruited as spies.”
“Spies, sister?” Luna exclaimed in slight horror. “I thought thou trusted me! Why hast thou kept this from me?!”
"Spies in other countries, Luna dear.” Celestia stated matter-of-factly. “And I never kept it from you-- you simply never asked.” Luna looked geared up for a skirmish, and if she couldn’t have it with Discord, she’d have it with her sister. She opened her mouth to shout something when an even bigger mouth bust through the door.
“Aunt Celestia!” There was a collective groan as Blueblood entered the dining hall, oblivious to the apparent opinions of his character. “I have to speak to you of a problem which demands immediate haste!”
Concealing her eyepatch before she turned to face him, Celestia sighed, but said with an ever-loving tone, “What is it Blueblood?”
“I-”
“Stop it right there Blueblood.” Shining Armor trotted determinedly into the hall, scowl on his face. “I don’t remember you having permission to enter this room."
“It is a matter of emergency, titular cousin-in-law.” Blueblood tried to use his height to intimidate his counterpart. Shining Armor simply stood taller, despite being a couple inches shorter than the blonde.
“We all know you’ve simply called an emergency to complain about the bat ponies, and frankly, everypony’s tired of hearing it. Since you’re not authorized to enter this room, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“I am a prince.” Blueblood snorted, and thrust his head forward, pressing against Shining’s horn with his own. “I won’t be ordered around by some captain.”
“ I’m not just some captain.” Shining pressed back harder. “I am Prince-Defender of the Crystal Kingdom, and if I want your snotty flank away from my wife, it can very well be made a matter of national security.”
Cadence flapped her wings excitedly over her husband’s display of dominance; Luna and Discord were equally impressed. Celestia simply continued her dinner, having seen this brand of maleness more than once over the course of a thousand years. Without looking up she declared:
“Perhaps you should leave, Blueblood. As much as I appreciate you and what you do for Canterlot, there are other ponies in this room that think less of it. Be a dear and come back to me during tomorrow’s court, will you?”
Even if he couldn’t sense the well hidden sarcasm in the address, Blueblood knew Celestia’s word was law. Glaring at the Prince-Defender Shining Armor-- ensuring that their ensuing battle was far from over-- he left, tossing luscious waves of over saturated blonde across his shoulders. When Blueblood was well out of hearing distance, Luna brought up an important issue.
“Sister….there is no court being held tomorrow, on account of the preparations for the Gala.”
Celestia simply spread a serene smile across her snout as her eyepatch faded back into view. “I know.”
The stars were twinkling above the balcony that a certain couple escaped to, seeking a period alone-- both with their thoughts and each other. Moonlight gave a sigh of exhaustion. “That was quite the party….”
Marscapone exuded the same tired aura. “You’re telling me.” They looked at each other, and shared a smile. “Wasn’t at all how I imagined it would be.”
“Do you think things should have gone differently?” she shifted in her dark ensemble, looking down at the stream of ponies leaving the gala.
“Not at all. Your last song was amazing, but the first was even better. ….I hope the Princess won’t go too hard on Mom.”
“I’m sure she won’t. Princess Celestia is very fair.”
He snorted in amusement. “Double meaning.” he explained when his close friend gave him a look of confusion. Moonlight blushed and lightly hit his shoulder with a wing.
“You’re taking it out of context!” With a wry smile, she looked up at the stars, remembering the smorgasbord of emotions that happened the past few hours.
000
Princess Celestia stepped up on stage, handling a microphone with her magic. Dressed in a gold and red ribbon halter, she looked disappointedly at the the crowd. Ponies of every race, and then some-- donkeys, griffons, and the like-- were rather separated. Unicorns from Canterlot kept to themselves, as did pegasi from Cloudsdale and earth ponies from Manehatten. The crystal ponies that had followed their princess to the Gala looked uncomfortably out of place, like a third wheel. And the bat ponies stuck to dark corners looking warily and talking amongst themselves.
As much as she hated to put the blame on somepony, Moonlight, hidden behind the curtains, knew this was the work of Lemon Zest, Marscapone’s mother. As biased as she was, the old mare turned out to be an excellent rhetor, and hearing that her son was still attending the Gala in a method that was out of her control, Lemon had used those skills over the last week of the month to sow disharmony among the minds and opinions of influential ponies and other individuals-- all in an attempt to make sure that the ensuing tension scared Moonlight away from Mars. Apparently, it had scared others as well; she could see mint green unicorn look longingly towards a cream earth pony mare with candies on her rump-- but said unicorn dared not do anything else.
Noticing Moonlight’s discomfort, Princess Luna put a hoof on her shoulder. “Thou will be great.” She smiled gratefully towards the night princess, but it did nothing to calm her nerves-- her stomach felt like she ate a whole jar of live ladybugs that were exacting their revenge.
Princess Celestia looked back with a reassuring smile, then began to address the disjointed crowd. “Good Evening, everyone! Not a lot of ponies know this, but over two thousand years ago, the Grand Galloping Gala was organized to celebrate the uniqueness of each tribe and the union between them. Lately, I seemed that I had also forgotten this-- fortunately, my sister and Discord took the planning for the Gala out of my hooves and together we planned for this event to be the coup de gras for the re-introduction of bat ponies in our dear Equestria. Tonight, as you dine, talk, and listen to wonderful pieces by many ponies about the country, I would like for everypony to reflect on that thought, and let it shape the way we interact with others.” She paused to let the information sink in, then continued in a cheerful manner. “This event was fought for and it’s ideals defended by wonderful ponies over the centuries. Let’s make their bravery count, have a joy filled night, and many more in the future!"
She bowed elegantly as the crowd applauded, as per the tradition of etiquette. As Celestia came behind the curtain Discord, looking suave in a suit, commented on her speech. “Nice way to manipulate the crowd.”
“It won’t do a thing if they didn’t listen to me.”
“Where are Twilight and her friends?” Cadence questioned quietly, as to not disturb the musicians behind them . “Maybe they could relieve the tension.”
Celestia sighed and shook her head. “I’m actually relieved that they’re not here.”
“Agreed.” Muttered the draconequus. “Poor Fluttershy would simply be crushed. Metaphorically, of course."
Luna moved away from Moonlight to join the hushed conversation. “How can but one pony cause so strife? It is worthy of ridicule!"
Celestia peeked out of the curtains once more. “Thank the Creator. We’re starting to get diverse groups out there."
“Tis only but a few,” Luna complained, peeking out with her. “And ‘tis only because Discord arranged the dining tables so.”
Celestia huffed in return. “It’s still something. Discord, start introducing ponies. Luna, I’m going to have to ask you to mingle. Find similarities and exploit them. Cadence-”
Said princess fluffed her gem-laced dress. “I’ll work on getting my crystal ponies to move out of their shell. If you see Shining, can you tell him I want a dance later?”
Her titular aunt smiled. “Of course.”
Moonlight witnessed the royal huddle disperse, and Discord strut out into the spotlight beyond the curtain. With all of the alicorn anchors gone, musicians began to drift nervously, wondering who’d be called by the random announcer first. Discord, to their surprise, began in order. “To celebrate the bat ponies tonight, we’ll be hearing several pieces by a wonderful composer from their tribe. But as to not make you party animals too bored, we’ll have them interspersed between different songs from different genres from different ponies, and a griffin too. But now, without further ado, our show mare for the night: Mooooooooooooonnnliiiiiight Sonata!"
Her dark dress trailing behind her, by the time she reached the violin on the floor, Moonlight’s red ascot felt like it was choking her. Her black vest was too tight,her sleeves stiff, and wings glued to her side. She wasn’t used to playing for so many, and she probably wouldn’t start tonight. Daring to open one eye, she saw millions. It made her head spin, her legs faint. The world was against her, and she was but one small pon-- her train of thought derailed as she saw the occupants of one table especially near the stage. It was made up of her friends.
Marscapone smiled at her, clad in his chef's uniform, while Creme Brulee did a hoof-pump, flapping his wings along with Forte as encouragement. Orange waved shyly, kind expression partially hidden by the simple dress hat she wore. Certainly something Lemon had not counted on was Marscapone’s friends forming a bond in the absence of his mutual friendship. Bru found a fellow prankster and confidante in Forte, and the relationship between Orange and Moonlight was….something else entirely, but the dark mare was confident enough to call her a friend. They had banded together during the last days of the month and cheered their earth pony pal up, going on an outfit shopping spree, and eventually settling on an expensive bow tie that Marscapone now wore proudly around his neck. Smiling nervously back, Moonlight pretended for a moment that she was merely playing for them-- her friends. As such the music emanating from the violin was passionate, intimate, and emotional, reflecting the feelings that Moonlight experienced throughout the month, up until this very point.
Ponies were put under a spell, relishing the raw feelings in the sounds coming from deep with her heart. Moonlight had originally planned to play a piece she had wrote years ago, but what ended up reverberating out of the violin was something entirely new-- a improvisation, built on the wonders of friendship. The song began to wane, but as it finished, the emotions Moonlight and her audience shared did not. Happy to prance back stage without so much as a bow, she raced to the ponies she cared for and happily threw herself into Marscapone’s arms. She hugged him tightly, messing up her hair do and the collar of her cape in the embrace.
“You came!”
“Of course I did. Mom was mad, but I told her I had to go anyway What you played up there was beautiful.”
Forte rested a cheek on his hoof, looking dapper in a tux and ascot to match his cousin’s. “That was new, wasn’t it? You looked as if you were somewhere else completely.” Discord introduced a grey earth pony with a cello, and classical music began to fill the room.
“Yeah, it was. I was thinking about how you guys are such great friends."
Bru smirked. “So the magic of friendship saves the day again.” Orange looked at him and he retorted with a tongue.
“It was very well done,” the unicorn admitted. “I loved it.”
The same sentiment was repeated throughout the night by ponies of all kinds-- even Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends complimented the piece, having arrived at the party right on time. Moonlight’s song, coupled with the Elements of Harmony to display an inspiring show of unity, brought on the end of the tension, allowing ponies and griffons to talk, to laugh, and to meet new friends. Even though Marscapone had to leave for the kitchens now and again, the five companions enjoyed the Gala, and were able to laugh at jokes and stories like old friends might.
The Gala itself was spectacular, setting itself apart from galas in recent years. Even when Blueblood and Shining Armor ended up trying to joust each other out the door. The song that Moonlight and Forte sang together, in honor of the alicorn sisters, also added to the sense of greatness-- it brought even Photo Finish to tears. It wasn’t until Moonlight was due to play her finale that something happened to ruin the mood.
Dragging the pegasi guards that tried to stop her, Lemon Zest stormed into room. Ponies avoided her path, the mare’s aura exuding anger. She made straight way for Moonlight, shrugging off all opposition.
“How dare you!” She cried, advancing. “How dare you!”
“What?” Moonlight backpedaled straightway into a dark corner, but it refused to conceal her from the threat. Marscapone, having heard a familiar voice, poked his head out of his station, only to find that his mother looked like a dog about to pounce on it’s prey.
“Mom! Mom, what are you doing!?” he raced from his post, trying to get to the two before something terrible happened.
“How dare you take him away from me!” Lemon rose high, and before princess or guard or friend could come to Moonlight’s aid, she dropped her full weight on the objective pony of her anger. Moonlight, thinking quickly, blocked the attack with her violin, wincing when it dug into her, splintering. “How dare you think that you are better than me! Wings don’t make you special! Wings make you nothing! A horn will make you nothing!” Each exclamation was punctuated by a blow, tears spilling from the attacker’s eyes. “My son deserves the best! Not something that will belittle him! Not something that will take him for granted!” The violin was beyond repair, and Moonlight considered kicking the old mother’s legs out from under her when a great big blur reached Lemon before any of the others and rammed her off the musician.
“Mom, stop!” Mars shouted as he pinned her to the ground. Lemon scrabbled underneath him and nearly threw her distraught son off when Cadence flew in, horn radiant.
“Let hate go. Let love flow through. We love you, your son loves you. All will be well.”
At first the chestnut mare resisted, but the crystal princess’ spell quickly took hold, and the old nag curled up in a sobbing heap, oblivious to the crowd surrounding her. Mars quickly turned his attentions to Moonlight, currently in the process of being helped up by their friends.
“Are you okay?!”
000
“....Where do you think her anger came from?”
“Mom was part of a family of unicorns, and whenever my aunt came to visit, even to help after Dad’s death…. she’d just harbor this jealousy. Sometimes I wish that I was born a unicorn or something else, so that she see not everything other than an earth pony was bad.”
“I think-- I think I’d like a proper introduction, after the Princess is done."
“I’m sure she’d like you if she wasn’t so angry.” Marscapone sighed. “So…”
Moonlight turned towards him. “So?”
Mars looked at the pony he’d come to love over the course of one long month. Her hair was a tangled mess of purple and white, her dress was ripped in some places, but she was still beautiful, simply because of her spirit. “You’re going back to your colony tomorrow.” The fact that she was going away made him...sad? Dissappointed? He didn’t know how to explain it.
Moonlight’s ears dropped a bit at the resignation in his voice. Nevertheless, she gave a small wistful grin toward him. “Yeah. You’ll write to me won’t you?” She would certainly write to him, simply because she would still want to talk to him in the early morning.
“Of course.” His normal optimism crept back through his sweet expression. “And maybe I’ll take time off to visit.”
Her fangs gleamed in a smile that shone through her eyes. “I’d like that.”