Loving The Dark Side

The ballroom of Canterlot castle was in a splendor. Decorations were flashy, the lights even flashier, but flashiest of all were the guests: nobles and higher-end folk from every corner of Equestria, all contained in one area. It didn’t have to go without saying that the pinnacle of class, power, and wealth were walking side by side, telling the same old jokes and laughing the same old laughs while still retaining an air of smugness that downright suffocated everyone else around them.

For Shining Armor, he was surprised he hadn’t choked to death from it already. Luckily, being at Celestia’s side helped keep most of the arrogance at bay. Her modest dress and charming smile were as plainfully delightful as always. Shining, in turn, was dressed in a standard tux for the evening, having gotten word from Celestia that armor would not be befitting for such an occasion.

“So, Princess, enjoying yourself this evening?” Shining asked. In the distance he could spot Twilight and her friends, all of them genuinely attempting to have a ball at this sort of event. He could only shake his head and chuckle at their attempts.

“Aside from a few nobles with a little too much cheer, I am,” she replied with a chuckle, looking across the room and smiling at Twilight’s friends. “And yourself, Shining? I know these are far from your usual duties.”

“Ah, nothing I can’t handle. If dealing with stuck-up nobles was the worse I’d have to deal with in an evening, then I’m all up for it. Beats staying in place in front of a door for endless amounts of hours at a time.” Shining glanced to Celestia. “But I really must say, another masterful job with the Gala, your majesty. Like every year it’s another beautiful event, albeit with less beautiful personalities from some of the guests.”

“Well, I suppose that has to do with their normal lives being rather dull. They have to act out now to have something to tell their duller friends.” Celestia innocently put her hands to the front of her long, flowing dress. “But you didn’t hear me say that, of course.”

Shining nodded and stood with his back straighter. His eyes drifted across the ballroom, past couples dancing and guests enjoying to their hearts’ content the snackbar. “Uh, your highness, you wouldn’t happen to know what became of Princess Luna? I know she had been excited for this dance for several weeks now—and please don’t mention to her I told you that—but I don’t see her anywhere. I know you wanted me to be posted beside you for the Gala as your new Captain, but…”

“I have no idea where she went, to be frank with you, Shining. I assumed with Twilight and her friends, or with the date she was supposed to be attending the ball with. I’ve been so busy with the guests, I haven’t even tried to search for her.” Celestia brushed her hair back with an absent minded gesture of her hand. “I could use magic to track her down, but, I think I’ll simply assign you the task, Captain. No need for me to be nosy, after all.”

Shining smiled and bowed to Celestia. “I thank you immensely, Princess. I only care for her safety and well-being, after all. It is my duty as her guard.”

“May I speak freely to you, Shining?” Celestia asked, her smile less playful and more resembling something motherly. “Luna doesn’t, and never did need a guard. She needed a friend. Something you are in spades.”

“Well, I already kind of guessed that… mostly due to the fact she could kick my butt to next Tuesday and still have enough power to continue upwards to Friday,” Shining said. “She needed someone she could trust, and that’s what I tried to be. And for the most part, I think it’s worked. I mean, she hasn’t completely opened up to me over these past few months, but we’re making a promising start. I’m sure you two get along better than I do with her.”

“We can at times,” Celestia remarked, crossing her arms. “But you should know with siblings, as great as they are, having someone outside of blood ties to talk with can really change perspective.” She gestured over to Twilight and her friends, as if that explained everything.

“Yes, I can quite understand that.” Shining rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze shifting left and right, his foot absently kicking the floor. “Has… Luna ever mentioned me before? I mean, we do talk for long hours about this and that. I just hope I’m not a bother to her is all.”

“She’s mentioned you, yes,” Celestia remarked, her smile turning once more coy as she stared at the man. “A time or two.”

Shining fidgeted under has gaze, with her smiling being an extra twist to the dagger lodged in his back. “And…”

“And she said not to say anything.” Lifting up her hand, she waved a digit. “Pinkie promise. Or, rather, an oath, as she would call it. But I think I like pinkie promise better. Doesn’t sound quite as formal.”

Shining sighed. “Well, at least I tried, didn’t I?” Shining bowed once more. “I bid you farewell, Princess Celestia.”

With that, Shining Armor made his way into the bustle and hustle of the Gala crowd.

Luckily for Shining, all those years of guard training made it so he had an air of confidence and authority around himself almost at all times. The party-goers brushed away wherever he went, regardless if they were celebrities or noble. He was a man with a mission in mind, and no obstacle could stand in his way. Other than not finding Luna, which at this point seemed like a pretty big obstacle to conquer, since he still couldn’t find her.

After around a half-hour of searching, it seemed all was for naught, seeing how he had gone to every corner of the ballroom and even outside to the gardens with no such luck. Eventually, all he could do was sit by himself at a table and lean back in his chair, cursing his bad luck and Luna’s stubbornness to not be found.

“Damnit, I’m supposed to be her guard,” Shining muttered, eyes still going over the crowd for the princess. “Finding and being by her side is in my job description. Lousy job I’m making of it with this disgrace of proper duty.”

“Thou seem quite proficient at belittling thine ability, at least, Fool-Knight,” a voice spoke from behind him. “Did thou forget what form of creature I am? If I wish to remain unseen, ‘tis not a hard endeavor for mineself.” Luna rounded his vision, moving to a chair and sitting next to him at the table. She wordlessly observed him in his tux and a faint corner of her mouth peeked up in a smile. “Thou look dressed for the occasion, Shining,” she said.

Luna looked much the same. A beautiful gown, a silver necklace, thick eyeliner to draw attention to her mesmerizing blues, and her hair pinned back with two hairclips.

“Well, it seemed like the sort of occasion to be dressed for,” Shining replied, his confident smile growing skewed at the abrupt appearance of her beauty. And that was the best word of describe Luna: beautiful, utterly stunning, and so glamorous that she made all the other Gala guests look like dull stones compared to a flawless diamond.

“I suppose,” she agreed with a hint of disinterest. “I hath no true interest in the event, however.”

“But I remember you were excited for it, were you not? Why, when I helped you choose out the dress you were simply buzzing.” Shining frowned. “What happened?”

“I…” Luna sighed, resting her head against a palm and morosly looking at the linens on the table. “It seems so pathetic, truly.”

Shining asked, “What? What’s pathetic?”

“Celestia found a noble willing to be my partner for this eve. He… left,” she finished lamely.

“...It was Blueblood, wasn’t it?”

“Perhaps,” Luna replied. Though the answer clearly meant ‘yes.’

“Son of a bitch…” Shining sighed and rubbed at the space between his eyes. “I really need to kick his ass one of these days. Y’know, without getting fired or anything.”

“What is done is done.” Luna dismissed with a wave. “I hath no interest bringing retribution to him. He simply found me too boorish, mayhaps.”

“Or maybe he’s a jackass with his head shoved so far up his own ass he doesn’t know a good thing when it’s right in front of him.” When Luna blinked at Shining’s choice of words, he said, “Basically, he’s an asshole.”

“Mmm,” she grunted out. After a moment, she looked suspiciously at the man. “Where is your escort, Ser Shining?”

“Oh, well, Celestia told me herself that I am not really needed, so…” Shining adjusted his bow tie, leaning back in his chair, “I thought I’d search around for you. If I’m not by Celestia’s side, I’m by your side, as per guard regulations, of course.”

Luna faintly smiled. “I meant thine partner. Surely one such as thineself would have someone to dance with, of course.”

“Oh… well, I hadn’t really thought about that.” Shining stared around at the room of nobles. “It just didn’t seem like such of a big deal for why I was here.”

“Tis a shame. Thou art a good man. I say that ye need something to focus on aside from guarding duties.”

“Huh, now you sound like my mother. And my sister.” Shining rolled his eyes and grinned. “Though I could probably tell you the same thing, except for something other than following the warrior way. Preparing for this ball is probably the first time I’ve seen you excited for something that didn’t involve a sword in your hands.”

“I was not interested for my own wants,” Luna explained. “I merely thought that ye would love the event. What man of this time would not? Thou hath many faces and bodies to choose from to be thine partner for the eve, after all.” She gave a gesture of her hand, all but shooing him. “So go, Shining. Find thineself a dancer. I’ll wait for thee upon this chair.”

Shining didn’t get up. In fact, he remained seated. A silence grew between the two, the only words the meeting of their eyes to fill in the empty space, like two hands clasping together across a chasm.

Finally, Shining coughed. “I… uh, hope you don’t find it prudent of me, Luna. I was thinking… well, more like considering the notion that you would perhaps like to be my dance partner? That is, if you find me worthy enough to be your partner.”

“Yours?” she repeated, as if the word was foreign to her. “Art thou suggesting that we do as such… together?”

“Well, unless you feel like sitting down while everyone else is having a good time is a better idea.” Shining smiled awkwardly, then tipped his head towards the dance floor. “C’mon. It’ll be fun.”

“I’d love to,” she quietly said, rising and meekly following after him.

The crowd parted before the two, all voices but a hushed whisper. An empty space opened up right before the duo, and they took their place. Shining turned to Luna and bowed with a fluid grace, offering his palm to her. “May I have this dance, your highness?”

She briefly reached to the hem of her dress to perform a curtsy, but instead let her hand drop to her side and return the bow. “If thou forgoes the title, thou may, Shining.” She hesitated once more, then took his hand with hers and swallowed, stepping in closer to him.

“Only a formality, Luna. The man is required to call the lady ‘your highness’ regardless of actual class.” Shining brought her in closer, their chests brushing together as he firmly grasped her hand. “Well, the men with some ‘class’ do it, at least.” He started the motions that were carried forth from the graceful music composed in the background, and was quite nimble on his feet.

Luna, despite her earlier hesitation, kept up, following him with precise, clockwork motions, turning and swaying to the music with the intensity she carried during their sparring. “Leading was done differently, when I was a child,” she blurted out abruptly, looking to his eyes, then looking away just as suddenly.

“Did it involve more polka music?” Shining joked, performing with her a spin.

“The woman tended to lead the man. Twas thought by many if the male was king of the earth outside, the woman was queen indoors. Such included dances and balls.” Luna leaned back, letting Shining lightly dip her. “Thine music is much more akin to the songs from beforetimes than thou would think. We had less instrumental choice, but a similar rhythm.”

“Well, if you want, I could have you lead me. Would only be proper, the guard and the princess. Plus, I’m a terrible dancer anyway.” Shining brought her back up from the dip and spun her around, asking, “So, what do you say?”

“If you are the one leading… mayhaps I don’t mind,” Luna replied. “But only if it’s you. Any other would quite quickly fall into steps I command.” She offered a clumsy smile. “Is that alright with thee, Fool-Knight?”

“Anytime, Luna.”

She leaned forward, resting her head against his collarbone. “Excellent. Mayhaps there is hope for thee after all.”