Rocinante, The Best Knight Ever

Chapters

Lonely Mornings
The Knight and His Squire
The Princess of Day
At the Gala
The Princess of Night
An Oppressive Ballroom
Nightmare Moon
The First Dance
The Lonely Gardens
Two Sisters Reunited
Breakfast For Two

Lonely Mornings

Princess Celestia sighed as she glanced toward her sister's empty seat at the breakfast table. If anypony had asked her, she would have said that it just wasn't fair. She had waited for her sister's return for one thousand years, but now, even though all of that time had passed, it felt as though Luna was still trapped inside the moon. She had wanted to return to a joint rule and to bring back the old days, but those days were gone, seemingly forever.

Simply the idea of how far gone the past was removed all appetite from the Princess and soon she rose from the table. The maids silently began clearing the plates away as Celestia wordlessly moved from her dining room towards the hall.

There was no pony in the hall outside of her dining room this early in the morning and even if there had been, no pony would have said anything as she heaved a heavy sigh and looked back into the dining room at the empty chair. If she had asked her sister to join her for breakfast, Princess Luna would complied, but that was the very heart of the problem. It would have been out of obedience, not desire, that the two sisters would enjoy something even as insignificant as a meal together. Ever since Luna had returned to Canterlot she had been completely subordinate and reclusive, like a hollow shell of a pony, afraid of standing out or being seen.

As she walked down the hallway of stained glass, Celestia looked up towards the window that depicted their final victory over King Sombra and the Crystal Empire, their last great victory together. Her heart began to break with a single tear, that gave way to a stream as Celestia struggled to keep her sobbing cries back. It hurt so much to watch her sister go through this. Her heart felt absolutely terrible as it filled with a deep sorrow that she had not felt in over a thousand years, as though she had banished Luna to the moon all over again.

“Your Highness? Is something the matter?”

Celestia's mind was brought back to reality in a startling jump. Immediately the regal Princess began wiping her tears away as she continued facing the window.

“No lieutenant.”

Though she tried, she couldn't bring herself to say anymore. Slowly Princess Celestia turned toward the throne room and began walking. The officer of the guard did not follow, but instead continued down a different hall. It was rather obvious that the Princess wanted to be left alone.

Celestia wouldn't pretend to fully understand what her sister was going through, despite how much she wanted to. It was simply an experience that couldn't be explained, but while she couldn't know fully what her sister was feeling, she knew that her sister found the world painful because she still blamed herself for all that had happened. Though Princess Luna may have been released from her lunar prison, she still had not been released from her internal prison.

While many things had changed over the course of the thousand years, Celestia knew that, of all of the changes, the worst of all was that everypony that Luna had known when she was banished was gone. No pony knew her now and she knew no pony, even in her own home. Only Celestia, the very one who had banished her, remained.

Stopping at the door to the audience chambers, Celestia heaved another sigh before bracing herself for the day's business. The Grand Galloping Gala was an affair that she wished she could have done away with centuries ago. It was once a political necessity to have all of the aristocracy from across the kingdom gather under the allure of pleasure so that she could keep an eye on the ambitious nobility, but these days the kingdom was stable enough that such monitoring was no longer necessary. Unfortunately for Celestia, now the Grand Galloping Gala was a tradition that could not be so easily removed.

As she reached for the door, Princess Celestia was stopped by an idea as it crept into her mind. One the one hoof, perhaps she could use the Gala for the first time in centuries. Luna needed somepony, she needed a friend. Celestia was her sister, but she was also the judge that sent her to the moon. Their relationship still needed more time to heal before Luna could reach her hooves out to her in friendship.

Carefully opening the door, Celestia maintained an absolute and neutral expression as she entered the throne room. Immediately the gala planners and ministers began competing for her attention, but she ignored them all as she sat down on the throne and pulled up the guest book for the Gala. With a frown, Celestia recalled the other hoof about the Gala. True, there would be many ponies whom Luna could meet with, but despite the size of the social gathering, the typical Gala pony was anything but social.

Twilight and her friends would be there and for a brief moment a glimmer of hope flickered in Celestia's heart. Her star pupil would no doubt befriend her sister. But the longer she thought about it, the less feasible the idea seemed. What kind of message would it send to Luna if she told her that she wanted her to stay close and socialize with the ponies who had defeated her in the Everfree Forest? It would make Twilight and her friends seem more like guards than friends, not to mention that she also had other hopes for them for the night.

No, Celestia would need somepony else for this task, somepony who was as far from the other Gala ponies as he or she could be. She needed somepony who wouldn't leverage the situation for their own profit, somepony who understood things were different centuries ago, somepony who could act in a manner that would make her sister, Luna, comfortable again.

Celestia snorted uncharacteristically as she slammed the guest book shut and immediately the hall of bickering ministers fell silent, but she didn't care. Closing her eyes, Celestia wracked her brain trying to think if such a noble pony even existed when suddenly a strange memory came to her.

A few weeks ago she had visited Twilight and her friends in Ponyville with Philomena. Of course, Philomena took the opportunity to have a little unscheduled fun with Twilight's friends and created a fair amount of havoc by convincing poor, sensitive Fluttershy to take her home, but that wasn't the specific memory that raised Celestia's eyebrow.

She had recalled that when the search for Philomena had begun a strange pony had promised, on his knightly honor, not to rest until Philomena had been recovered. His language was anachronistic and overly flowery and he wore an older style of breastplate not used by the Royal Guard in over a century. Everypony there, save for one pegasus pony, had considered him more than a bit odd, but the more Celestia thought about him, the more she wondered if maybe this was the one pony that she could count on to be himself around her sister.

A smile came across her face as Celestia reached for some parchment. It may be a gamble, but this year's Gala was at the very least going to be the most interesting gala in the entire history of the Grand Galloping Gala.

Author's Note

And so begins another story. I'm trying a new format with this one, what with the actual chapters and all.

I hope you all enjoy it and please feel free to comment!

The Knight and His Squire

Sassaflash eyed the clouds from the window of their train car.

“I still can't believe you got tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala.”

Rocinante merely closed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.

“I was indeed rather surprised to see that the tickets themselves were in fact, addressed specifically to me. It was not my intention to attend the Grand Galloping Gala this year. In fact I had the full and complete desire to give these very tickets to my niece as she is loyally being my steward whilst I am adventuring across the land. But when the tickets are addressed to you personally... well it becomes difficult to turn away a request from Princess Celestia herself.”

Sassaflash looked to her reflection in the window and adjusted her mane. Rarity had done wonders, not only for her dress, but for her coat and mane. She felt like a princess instead of a squire as she smiled and looked to her cousin, Rocinante, the self-proclaimed knight-errant.

“Well I would imagine that such a 'noble' invitation is common for all of the tickets.”

“I can assure you, my dear Sassa, they are not.”

From inside his rusted breastplate, Rocinante procured a letter and began reading.

“To the esteemed Rocinante of La Manecha,

I, Princess Celestia, do hereby request your attendance to this year's Grand Galloping Gala. I have noted that you have not booked your usual tickets for this year and it has been brought to my attention that with your recent turn of business, you may not mean to attend-”

Sassaflash's priming and adjusting of her dress were immediately halted by Rocinante's words. But it wasn't the formal opening of the letter that had caught her attention, after all, most official business letters were written in Princess Celestia's name, that didn't necessarily mean that the Princess had written it herself. It was instead the next sentence that caught her off guard.

“Usual tickets?!”

Rocinante was unfazed as he looked up from the letter.

“My dear Sassa, the Grand Galloping Gala is the single largest collection of nobles, aristocrats, and ponies of the gentry in the entirety of Equestria. As one of the largest landholders in La Manecha, I have oftentimes found that the Gala is one of the best places to discuss business deals with like-minded associates. That was why I intended to send my niece this year, as she is the one who is managing the fief at current, but this letter, if I may resume, is addressed to me personally.”

Sassaflash slumped back into her seat at Rocinante's matter-of-fact answer. Though as she thought about it, it did make sense. Despite her cousin's appearance, he was in fact quite wealthy and the Gala was well known for being a party for the rich and elite.

Seeing no further objection from his squire, Rocinante continued.

“Let's see... hereby request... turn of business... ah here we are.

I however wish to extend a personal invitation towards you as I have a favor to request of you at this year's Gala-”

Sassaflash rose out of her seat, interrupting her cousin once more.

“Wait, wait, a favor? The Princess, Princess Celestia, wants to ask you for a favor?”

Rocinante, still unfazed but visibly annoyed, nodded his head.

“That is what the letter says, my dear Sassa.”

“What is it? Does it say what it is?”

“Though if you were but patient, you would see that it does not. However, that is why her Royal Highness requested that we arrive early, so that she might take the time to carefully explain the fullness of the situation before her duties with the Gala preoccupy her.”

“It says that?! You realize that this means it actually IS from Princess Celestia!”

“My dear Sassa, if I may...”

Sassaflash followed Rocinante's motioning to the letter before suddenly nodding very swiftly and returning to her seat.

“Oh... yes, sorry.”

“Never fret, my dear Sassa, for such circumstances as an audience with the Royal Crown herself is indeed enough to make anypony excited. Which was why I was so swift to make sure you could attend. After all, what is a knight-errant without his loyal squire?”

Sassaflash nodded again, though much slower, as she readjusted her mane. Though she thought of herself as quite ladylike, she had still thought it peculiar that Rocinante would ask his squire to attend the Gala with him instead of some noble lady.

“Let me see... yes, here it is:

I wish to explain the details with you as soon as possible, but given the subject matter, it

is not proper to discuss such things via letter. As such I request that you arrive early, before the

gates are open, so that I may more fully explain the situation.

Show this letter to the guards upon your arrival and they will see you to me unhindered.

I understand that, since we are so close to the evening of the Gala, this a difficult time to

find available tickets, and as such, I have enclosed two. One for yourself and the other for your

traveling companion who, I am told, shares in your journeys across Equestria.”

“She mentions me too?!”

Rocinante nodded.

“As you can see, I could not very well send my niece to go in our place with such a personal invitation from royalty.”

“How... how does she know about us?”

“Clearly my dear Sassa, our exploits have finally begun to be noticed by the Crown. No doubt we gained favor for our invaluable assistance to the recovery of Princess Celestia's beloved phoenix.”

“But we didn't find the phoenix. In fact, we were looking in the complete opposite direction that the phoenix had gone.”

“Details, my dear Sassaflash, you must not overlook the fact that we single-hoofedly searched an entire quarter of the town, freeing up valuable ponies to search elsewhere for the dear creature.”

“Somehow, I don't think looking for a pet bird is the answer.”

“Perhaps her Highness heard about how we courageously sortied out to meet the foul dragon that had foolishly threatened to enshroud our lands in an insufferable smoke.”

“But thanks to that avalanche, the dragon flew off before we got there.”

“Details, details, my dear Sassaflash, for surely the dragon heard of our coming and departed in haste, so as to avoid a direct conflict with a notable knight-errant.”

Sassaflash gritted her teeth as she thought over the matter. She didn't have to voice how unlikely that idea was before Rocinante moved on to the next adventure.

“Perhaps our valiant performance at the Battle of Appleloosa, I did charge their ranks at full speed.”

“And was promptly knocked aside. Honestly, I thought you were going to be trampled there.”

“Fear not, dear Sassa, for each time a knight-errant is knocked unto the ground, he shall rise again and again and evil will be undone!”

“Still...”

Sassaflash sighed as she leaned back into the bench they sat on. While they certainly had their fair share of misadventure, she couldn't think of anything they had done, or even attempted, that might warrant such special treatment. It almost left her afraid of what Princess Celestia might ask of them.

After a few more minutes, the train arrived at the Canterlot station and as usual, the moment the train stopped Rocinante was up and through the door. He had often claimed that he didn't like sitting still in the train, but Sassaflash had noticed that in reality he rather enjoyed emerging from the fresh steam clouds produced by the train sitting idle at the station. For her part, Sassaflash preferred for the steam to dissipate so she wouldn't get her dress or her mane messed up before the Gala.

Stepping onto the platform, Sassaflash sighed as she looked over her cousin. Rarity had been generous enough to sell them his suit rather cheaply, but it was already ruined before they even arrived at the castle. While she looked the part of a Gala pony, with her beautiful lavender dress and her mane done up nicely, Rocinante looked rather absurd. He wore a decent suit, but it was mostly covered by the rusted armor that he insisted he wear. To top it all off, on his head firmly attached to an old leather cap, sat the famed helmet of Marebrino, though it thoroughly looked the part of a mundane and battered brass basin. Despite its appearance but Sassaflash had personally witnessed the magic imbued into the helmet and knew with complete certainty that it must be what Rocinante claimed it to be, but she still wished that he hadn't worn it to the Gala. It looked quite ridiculous.

Getting Rocinante into something more reasonable had proven impossible. The last time Sassaflash had succeeded in convincing Rocinante to travel unarmed, Nightmare Moon appeared at the Summer Sun Celebration and attempted to overthrow the kingdom. Ever since then, Rocinante was insistent that evil was always waiting for an opening to strike and that he, as a knight-errant for justice, should be ever watchful, ever ready.

The walk to the castle was thankfully uneventful, though they drew more looks of curiosity and ridicule than most ponies could endure. Rocinante however, paid their spectators no mind, and Sassaflash, having traveled to numerous places across Equestria with her cousin, was able to brush them off almost as easily.

The Princess of Day

There was little daylight left as Sassaflash and Rocinante reached the doors of the castle keep. They had been left to wait outside almost until dark while the guards checked to see if Princess Celestia did in fact intend to invite a lance-wielding knight-errant to tonight's Gala, but considering the absurdity of what they were asking, Sassaflash was impressed that they got in at all. Even after she heard Rocinante read the letter, Sassaflash still wasn't convinced they were actually going to meet Princess Celestia, until the Princess herself met them in the hallway leading to the throne room.

Princess Celestia was at first surprised at Rocinante's appearance, but on reflection the idea that he had not left his armor behind, even for such a formal event, all but guaranteed the sincerity of the character before her. While formality would typically dictate such a meeting, the guards had held Rocinante and his squire far longer than she had anticipated. Now there wasn't much time before she had to take her position at the grand staircase to greet all of the Gala ponies. With a broad smile she rushed to meet her guests ahead of the throne room in an effort to regain as much lost time as she could.

“I'm so glad you could make it!”

Rocinante removed his helmet and bowed so low to the ground that his head rubbed the carpet.

“You have given me far too much honor, your Noble Highness.”

Sassaflash was so stunned by the fact that the actual Princess Celestia was greeting them in person, that she had almost forgotten to bow before Rocinante had finished speaking.

“Th-Thank you for the invitation your Highness.”

Princess Celestia smiled as she motioned towards one of the branches down the hallway.

“I'm sure you're wondering why I've asked you here specifically. I have a small... I have a problem, that I believe you are capable of dealing with.”

Rocinante and Sassaflash trotted after Princess Celestia and her larger strides as they continued down the hall.

“Your wish is this humble knight's command, your Highness. For I have faced numerous evils in the past and emerged triumphant. Your foes will tremble before my righteous lance commanded by your most noble cause.”

Celestia heaved a small sigh as she dismissed the guards, leaving the three of them alone in the hallway. She wasn't certain if Rocinante was truly the best answer for her sister's problems, but now there was no time left to second guess herself.

“I'm glad to hear how eager you are. The task I have for you is not a simple one.”

The more the two ponies talked, the more concerned Sassaflash became, but there certainly wasn't anything she could say or do about this now. Struggling to keep her knees from knocking, Sassaflash followed after the two as Celestia elaborated on the problem.

“My sister, Princess Luna, needs...”

Princess Celestia's voice trailed off as she considered her words. To say that she needed a friend presented her as too vulnerable, or perhaps it made the problem sound too simple. Faced with the sudden challenge of how to phrase the problem, Princess Celestia began to wish she had considered her words ahead of time instead of dealing with the fretting ministers over tonight's boring Gala.

As they stopped near one of the stained glass windows, Rocinante took her hesitance as a sign that she was uncertain of his prowess. With another bow, Rocinante calmly interrupted Princess Celestia's thoughts.

“Your Highness, fear not for your sister's condition nor her cause. For I, Rocinante, am ready to champion any task you set before me. I promise you, on my honor as a knight-errant, that whatever you need done will be taken care of in the swiftest and most efficient manner possible.”

Princess Celestia was startled back into reality, not by what his words' meaning, but by his word choice. Rocinante unknowingly solved her problem for her. With a warm smile and a small chuckle, she turned and looked back to the two ponies following her.

“Yes, I can see that you are more than eager to help. What my sister needs... is a champion.”

“Then who shall I utterly crush in her Highness's name?”

Princess Celestia couldn't help but smile at Rocinante's misconception.

“This task is not an easy one, in fact I suspect that tonight's opponent will be unlike any you have ever faced. My sister's enemy is none other than herself.”

She had expected Rocinante to voice some confusion over the matter, but he said nothing as she continued.

“Over a thousand years have passed since Princess Luna was banished to the moon and the world has changed a great deal in that time. Princess Luna no longer recognizes it. It is a foreign and foreboding place to her and worst of all, she still blames herself for the problems caused by Nightmare Moon. She is all alone and, as the pony who banished her to the moon, I cannot easily bridge the gap between us.

She needs a champion, a knight who will stand by her during this exceptionally lonely night. I believe that such a pony will renew her confidence, not only in the world, but most importantly, in herself. She needs a pony who can look past the errors and see the pony inside of her. She needs somepony who can identify with her and convince her to forgive herself.”

Princess Celestia turned and looked back at Rocinante as he closed his eyes and considered her request. A silence fell on them as they continued their way up the tower that lead to the room where Luna was waiting. What she was asking was not simple or easy. Rocinante however, after considering her words, smiled as though the request was nothing and bowed once again before the Princess.

“Your Royal Highness, the task you have appropriated for me is truly nothing out of the ordinary for a noble knight-errant such as myself. For all true knights are courteous to ladies, regardless of their rank or stature. Have no fear for my part in this, for all shall be done as you have hoped for.”

Princess Celestia breathed a sigh of relief.

“I am glad you understand. Though I have to ask that you don't bring your lance in to see her.”

Without so much as a single word of protest, Rocinante took his lance into his hooves and handed it to his squire. With one sentence Princess Celestia managed to do what Sassafash couldn't do ever since the Summer Sun Celebration, disarm Rocinante. Sassaflash, took the lance and then looked to Princess Celestia.

“Wh-Where may I put this, your highness?”

Princess Celestia smiled and motioned down another corridor.

“There is a room down the hall you can use if you like. I wish I could show you the way, but I'm almost out of time. Once the Gala begins I won't be able to get away from the crowds.”

Sassaflash bowed and immediately proceeded down the hall. The idea of royalty around her made her nervous and she was glad to go somewhere that made breathing a bit easier.

But Sassaflash wasn't the only pony who was nervous. Princess Celestia understood that she didn't know much about this strange pony she was asking to help her sister or even if her plan would work, but she did know that they were out of time. Knocking on the door, Princess Celestia called out to her sister on the other side.

“Sis- Ahem. Princess Luna? Your guests have arrived.”

At the Gala

Princess Luna opened the door with a neutral look on her face. She wasn't entirely certain what her sister was planning, but Celestia had been very eager for her to meet somepony. Of course she didn't want to oppose her sister, so she quickly agreed, but she still had her reservations about her sister's intentions.

What was waiting for her on the other side of the door was enough to completely stun Luna as her sister smiled and motioned to the pony standing next to her. He looked so out of place next to her sister that Luna, despite her depression, almost laughed when she saw him. With a battered basin on his head and rusted iron armor on his chest, he looked like a character out of a storybook.

Before anypony could say anything the band could be heard striking their tuning chord in the ballroom. Princess Celestia looked down the hall towards the Gala as she heard the trumpets and the music began to play. She was out of time. Looking back to her sister, Celestia began her quick introductions.

“Princess Luna, this is the knight I was hoping you could meet with, Rocinante of La Manecha. Rocinante, this is my sister, Princess Luna. I do wish I could give you both a more appropriate introduction, but it seems the Gala is about to begin.”

Princess Luna nodded without a word and stepped aside, allowing Rocinante into the room. With the exception of Rocinante, everypony had their reservations about this plan, but there was no turning back. As she proceeded down the hall to where the guests would enter the castle, Princess Celestia could hear the band playing music, signifying that the Gala was beginning. Racing towards the entrance, Celestia took only a moment to think to her self.

“I don't know if this will work, but if that knight-errant can make my sister come out of her shell, then this will be... the Best Night Ever.”

Celestia's mind rolled with the music now playing to the point where she could almost hear a tune inside herself.

“At the Gala...”

It was a silly notion, singing along with the song at a moment like this, but it provided some small amount of ease to her nervousness.

“At the Gala,

in the castle,

I'll be stuck there for a while.

All the ponies,

I must greet them at the Gala!”

Taking her place at the top of the staircase, Celestia's mind held to its tune as she forced a smile and greeted the first pony.

“It's so boring,

and depressing,

when I'm needed elsewhere now.

I hope my plans will work here,

Right here at the Gala!”

Having put Rocinante's lance away, Sassaflash began walking back towards the room that Princess Celestia had shown them to, but it was a big castle and before long she wasn't entirely certain where she was. It wasn't difficult to keep calm despite the problem, as she hadn't been exactly eager to rub wings with a Princess.

Following the music towards the grand hall, Sassaflash could see that the Gala was beginning. She was certainly eager to see the events here. The Grand Galloping Gala was the biggest party in all of Equestria. Even with the the anxiety she had over Rocinante's “mission”, she couldn't help but smile as she walked into the hall.

“At the Gala,

so amazing,

I can not believe I'm here.

Rocinante,

Please be careful,

We can't fail our Princess dear.

Now their royal eyes are on us,

here at the Grand Gala!”

As Sassaflash looked around, her eyes fell on the grand staircase where Princess Celestia was already greeting the first ponies as they entered the Gala.

Trapped atop the staircase, Princess Celestia was kept in good spirits by her internal musical musings as she waited for her other specially invited guests to arrive.

“At the Gala,

Twilight Sparkle,

I am counting on your friends.

For there is no night more boring than the Gala!”

Princess Celestia could almost hear the choir backing her up as she shook hooves with one of the more pompous nobles from Manehattan and resumed her song.

“But I know you,

and your brightness,

you can perk up anything.

You can keep these nobles busy,

Tonight at the Gala!”

From inside the parlor, Rocinante could hear the trumpets sounding as the music from downstairs appeared to pick up. Their conversation hadn't really had the chance to begin as the two sat on opposite sides of the small room. Despite the slow start, Rocinante was still quite hopeful for the evening. Musing to himself in his mind, Rocinante accepted the cup of tea that Luna presented him.

“I have waited ,

I have quested ,

To prove my knightly virtue.

A lady's favor I now seek,

if I can get through her mystique,

they will see that I am one,

that they can call champion.

I will restore the Princess right here at the Gala!”

Opposite of him, in her own mind, Princess Luna was less than thrilled at the situation, but not only would it be rude to voice the opinion in her mind, she felt as though she couldn't just ignore what her sister had asked her to do.

“I am here at the Grand Gala,

at the call of my sister,

for I do not like such parties I find these guests sinister.

And who now is this pony that my sister has brought here?

I don't know him,

I don't want him,

With me at the Grand Gala!”

Princess Celestia hoped the best for her plan, but she knew there were more than just a few variables that had to come together. Looking up towards the parlor in between hoofshakes, Princess Celestia wondered again whether or not any of this would work as the band worked up towards the last verse of the song.

“At the Gala,

Rocinante,

Luna needs help tonight.

If you can just talk to her, see the pony that's inside,

you will see that she is special,

and prove your worth as a knight!”

Stopping to shake another hoof, Princess Celestia smiled as she reevaluated her plan.

“This will work. It has to.”

The Princess of Night

Princess Luna only intended to follow Celestia's plans in so far as she was instructed. Meet with this “knight” of a pony and speak with him for a moment. Celestia didn't specify for how long or what they should talk about and that was really all of a loophole that Luna felt she needed. Deciding to take the initiative quickly, she looked to Rocinante and laid her trap before the introductions had even begun.

“We have found that there are but two types of ponies in this world. There are those that deign themselves to flattery and pride and those that are humble and meek. We pray that thou wouldst tell us, to which of these dost thou belong?”

Rocinante seemed stunned by the sudden question and, because of this reaction, Luna smiled. If she could take the upper hand of the conversation she could push him out in no time. But Rocinante replied with an unexpected answer.

“'Tis a difficult question indeed. For if I should say that I am of the latter, does that not immediately place me amongst the former? To thy question I can only say this: I am I, and I have lived my life as I have seen fit. If thou will but give me the chance, then thou shalt see my nature and be the one who may discern whether I belong unto one category or the other.”

Luna was stunned by the reply. Her trap was completely avoided by the textbook answer. With a smile on his face, Rocinante placed his helmet on the ground next to him and resumed.

“From 'The Meeting of Sir Trottram and Lady Bridlevere' was it not? A wonderful legend, truly an inspiration to us all! I must admit, it has been quite some time since I last read of Lady Bridlevere's quandary, but I believe I can still recall Sir Trottram's answer well enough. I do believe you are the first pony I have met who has also read the beautiful legend.”

Luna sat in silence as she contemplated his answer, not only was Rocinante's knowledge of an ancient legend unexpected, but his dialect was as well. Clearly this was no ordinary noble pony.

“Who... Who art thou?”

Rocinante's eyes widened as he sat up in his seat.

“How dreadfully rude of me! I have forgotten to properly introduce myself. I am Rocinante of La Manecha. Knight-errant and servant of justice, virtue, and valor. My squire, Sassaflash of Ponyville, was here with me, but alas, she seems to have become preoccupied as she has not yet returned from depositing my lance for safe keeping.”

Luna wasn't quite certain she was hearing him correctly.

“Thou hast a lance?”

“Why, what sort of knight-errant would I be without it? In this dark and base world in which we live, those who would arm themselves against evil must always be on guard, for evil is most certainly waiting for the perfect opening from which it will strike!”

“Is this world truly in such dire straights? For we have been given unto the understanding that under the rule of Princess Celestia thy world has been not but orderly and in good conduct.”

Rocinante gave a slight bow in acknowledgment to Princess Celestia.

“Her Royal Highness indeed leads us in a spectacular fashion and has kept peace within our nation's borders, but evil is ever watchful and ever present. Why earlier this year my squire and I set out to face the smoke bearing wrath of the fierce dragon that threatened to enshroud the entirety of the kingdom in an uninhabitable smoke.”

Princess Luna recalled the dragon incident earlier in the year. Perhaps she would get another opportunity to take control of the conversation. Taking time to ask the question carefully, Princess Luna set up another trap.

“We recall the dragon that threatened the lands, but not its end. Do tell us, how didst thou vanquish the foul creature?”

Luna watched carefully to see what Rocinante would do. Typical politicians would claim the victory as their own, but Luna was more than aware of how Twilight Sparkle and her friends dealt with the problem.

The answer was far from what she was expecting.

“Truth be told, your Royal Highness, the dragon swiftly retreated from the mountain top before I could confront him. To hear my squire tell it, you might think that the beast got bored and left, but I believe that when the dragon became aware of the forces coming to meet him in glorious battle, the coward ran for fear of defeat by my hoof.”

There was a small, stunned silence in the room. Rocinante did claim victory over the dragon, but not in a way that ruled out Twilight Sparkle's part.

“We... see... Tell us more of thy adventures.”

The story was unusual, but it did fit with Twilight's version, provided that he had journeyed up the mountain only a short distance behind Twilight and her friends. Perhaps they had been just out of sight with each other, at least until the avalanche that Rocinante spoke of. That unfortunate event slowed Rocinante's pace up the mountain so much that it would not have been impossible for Twilight and her friends to have negotiated with the dragon long before Rocinante reached the top of the mountain that night.

Though he had the usual self-praising ramble, the more he talked with her, the more Luna began to see that this pony was utterly sincere. Though his contributions to any problem he encountered may have been completely useless, Rocinante clearly believed that he was truly the reason why there was any solution at all. His antics were humorous and his utter sincerity was refreshing. Perhaps Luna would have been comfortable opening up to this pony, if she could only get a word in edgewise.

An Oppressive Ballroom

Sassaflash was impressed with all of the decorations and the ponies at the Gala. No pony had started actually enjoying the party yet, they were just talking with each other on the edge of the floor, but Sassaflash knew once things got truly started the Gala would live up to its reputation.

She was considering going to the buffet for a few hors d'oeuvres, when suddenly Pinkie Pie burst into the room. She was clearly excited to be here as she began singing joyfully and bounced across the room with her beautiful dress. Typically such antics were met with more than just a few smiles in Ponyville, but tonight Sassaflash noticed that she and Pinkie were the only ones smiling. Soon Pinkie Pie began to notice too that she was the only one pleased with her actions and her volume quickly dropped.

“...it's all I've ever... dreamed?”

The air in the ballroom suddenly became very awkward very quickly and Sassaflash could see Pinkie slipping away to a corner of the room. Uncertain what to do, Sassaflash began looking around. The air was uncomfortable and she wanted to just quietly slip outside, but Pinkie Pie looked lost and confused over why the Gala ponies looked at her like they did.

Sassaflash took a deep breath and began working her way past the haughty Gala ponies to where Pinkie Pie was sitting. If there was one thing that her cousin had taught her on their adventures, it was that you could not just leave somepony in trouble behind.

“Pinkie?”

Pinkie Pie looked up from the table where she was sitting.

“Sassaflash? You're here at the Gala too?”

Pinkie Pie perked up at the idea of a fellow friend from Ponyville at the Gala, but the unmoving atmosphere kept her from getting too excited.

“Are you having a good time? I was, but this place is stuffy and kinda boring. When does the real party get started?”

Sassaflash looked around at all of the ponies milling about and discussing business and other important matters. It seemed as if no pony was actually here for the Gala itself.

“I don't know. But the Gala just started, maybe they're waiting for somepony in particular to get things going first. I'm sure it will pick up soon. I was thinking about going for a walk in the gardens while I wait, wanna come?”

Pinkie smiled at the idea that the only thing wrong was that she was too early. She and all her friends had been insistent that they not miss a minute of the Gala. It was only natural that they would get there before things had actually started.

“No thanks. I'm gonna be right here when this party gets started!”

Sassaflash breathed a sigh of relief to see Pinkie Pie back to normal. It felt exceptionally out of place for anypony to be cheering up Pinkie Pie.

“Well, okay then. I'll see you later, I'm sure.”

“If you see Fluttershy in the garden, be sure to say hi!”

Pinkie Pie waved as Sassaflash left for the gardens to escape the stuffy feel of the ballroom. Outside, Sassaflash found one of the courtyards already filling with ponies. While it wasn't the gardens she was looking for, it at least had a different atmosphere from the ballroom.

Nightmare Moon

Luna let out a small laugh as Rocinante retold the story of how he had charged the buffalo stampede head on and the subsequent destruction of the Appleloosa clock tower. His stories were quite odd, but certainly entertaining.

After Rocinante finished his tale, he relaxed and looked towards Princess Luna.

“I feel I must apologize. For after all, it is not proper for a knight to boast of his accomplishments. If I may ask, please, feel free to tell me more about yourself, your Highness.”

Princess Luna froze for a moment. The immediate thought that entered her mind was her return as Nightmare Moon, but that was the last thing she wanted to talk about. Simply thinking about conversation topics yielded painful subjects such as how much Equestria had changed over the last thousand years or how much she missed all of her old friends. Luna struggled to hold back the tears as the agonizing memories came to her mind. Quickly changing the topic, Luna rubbed her eye and nodded graciously to the oblivious Rocinante.

“We are grateful that thou hast shown an interest in our past. But in truth, we find thy stories to be of great entertainment. Please, give us another tale and then we shall be willing to give an account of ourselves.”

Rocinante nodded as he scratched his head. Truth be told, he had not been questing for very long and had only one tale left to tell. It wasn't his favorite, as it did not end in his victory, but it was his last.

“If it pleases you, your Highness, I do have one tale left. But I am reluctant to speak of it as it does not truly end in my victory, though justice did indeed triumph in the end.”

Luna clapped her hooves together. Perhaps this could buy her some time to think about what she could talk about, but she hadn't expected the topic that Rocinante revealed.

“This is the story, my dear Princess, of my quest to defeat the rebel, Nightmare Moon.”

Luna froze. Was this some form of twisted joke? Rocinante did not seem to be the type of pony who would be so cruel, but this was the worst topic Luna could imagine. Did he not know who she was? That was impossible. How could anypony not know that she was Nightmare Moon? Interrupting Rocinante's opening, Luna looked sternly at the pony sitting across from her.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Why dost thou recall a subject so dark and hateful as Nightmare Moon?!”

Rocinante was confused, but he continued regardless.

“Your Highness, this is but the last tale I have to tell. Though in truth I was reluctant to tell it for its ending is not the most flattering-”

“Thy concern is over thy appearance and not thy Princess's feelings?! I thought thou to be of a higher standard Sir Knight! Enough! The hour grows late and I- WE wish to retire!”

As Luna rose to leave, Rocinante bowed low to the floor.

“I do not understand your Highness, please, what have I done to bring upon myself such distaste and displeasure?”

“Surely thou dost know that our memories of what we did during that foolish rebellion are as painful as they are wicked!”

Princess Luna was ready to storm out of the room, but she stopped to look down at Rocinante who had looked up at her from the floor. His eyes shown with a strange brightness. She could not see fear in him, but like a newborn foal, an innocent curiosity and bewilderment were in his eyes.

“But Nightmare Moon was the leader of the rebellion, not your Highness.”

“I am Nightmare Moon!”

“But your Highness, you are not Nightmare Moon, you are Princess Luna.”

“Changing the name does not change the pony!”

“The name is not all that has changed, your Highness.”

Luna glared down at him with a stern sense of inquisition in her eyes, but in return Rocinante's eyes were only filled with sympathy. Motioning toward his chest, Rocinante spoke softly.

“Your heart, your Highness. I have seen Nightmare Moon with my own eyes and I have had the utmost pleasure in conversing with your Highness Princess Luna for nearly an hour. If there is anypony outside of Princess Celestia herself who may say the same then it is I and I speak the truth when I say that there are no two ponies more different that your Royal Highness and the villain Nightmare Moon.”

Luna regarded the pony bowing beneath her. Though his stories had sounded rather absurd at points, his words had rung with complete sincerity all night and despite her anger at him now, his words sounded just as sincere as before.

“How is it different? How are we different from Nightmare Moon?”

“Nightmare Moon's heart was filled with anger and hate. Your heart is filled with repentance and a desire for redemption.”

“And just how can we ask my-our sister to forgive us after all that I have done?”

“You must realize the difference between yourself and Nightmare Moon, for her burden is no longer yours to bear. You are a new pony, her Royal Highness Princess Luna, if you but let go of the past and forgive yourself.”

“Dost thou mock me further?! Dost thou truly believe that I can be so easily free of Nightmare Moon! I may let her go, but she will not release me! Her ambitions were indeed my very own! I can still hear such dark desires within my own heart!”

Luna's eyes began to water as she gritted her teeth in anger, not toward Rocinante, but to herself and her cursed fate.

“I wish so desperately to be free of this. Wherefore do I still find myself prisoner to my own wicked mare of darkness? Speak no more of this Sir Knight. For what dost thou know of my pains? What dost thou know of my sorrow? Forgiveness cannot come to me as I am. Forgiveness cannot come so cheaply...”

Luna's head hung low and she made no further motion. The parlor fell into a ghostly silence in which the only things that could be heard where Luna's tears pattering on the marble floor and a brass basin's rim scraping the same floor as it rose.

Rocinante took his helmet into his hooves and displayed it before the Princess. Luna didn't even look up as he began.

“Do you know whose helmet this was originally?”

Silence.

“This was the helmet used by the knight Marebrino. Are you familiar with her tale?”

Silence.

“This helmet was enchanted, by none other than Star Swirl the Bearded, with a very powerful magic. This helmet grants its wearer one single wish.”

Luna remained silent, but this time Rocinante's words did not continue. The two sat in silence for what felt like an eternity before Luna finally looked up towards him. Rocinante's eyes burned with a passionate fire as his gaze met hers. But it was not a fire of determination in his eyes, it was a bright flame of hope, compassion, and empathy.

“My squire already used her wish. She used it when we first encountered the helmet by accident and now her wish is used, gone forever. A single wish is a very powerful thing, we witnessed it ourselves. As such I have yet to use mine, for I had no idea what I would use such a thing for and I did not desire it to go to waste.”

Rocinante smiled. His eyes never left Princess Luna's.

“But now I know... I know what a true and virtuous knight would do and I no longer have any reservations about this wish, my wish.”

Luna couldn't believe her eyes as she watched Rocinante place the helmet on top of his head.

“Princess Luna, I hope that you can see that forgiveness can indeed come so cheaply. With this, the Helmet of Marebrino, I hereby wish you free of Nightmare Moon's grasp, forever!”

After listening to Rocinante speak so intently and so insistently about the power of the helmet, Luna had expected a brilliant flash of light or perhaps an earthquake of some kind, but there was nothing. The Princess looked to herself in wonderment. Was that it? Was she truly free? More importantly, was she truly forgiven?

“Your Highness, do you feel any better?”

Luna looked to Rocinante, then to herself again. She didn't feel different, but at the same time, this pony, this Rocinante of La Manecha, had clearly believed in what had just done. He clearly believed in this helmet's power to such an extent that even Luna began to believe that his one wish could have given him anything. Power, wealth, and glory were all his if had wished it so. But he didn't wish it so, he didn't even use his wish on himself, he used it on her. He had used it on her and that alone stirred her heart more than anything anypony had said to her since her arrival at Canterlot.

Simply the thought of what Rocinante had done made her heart feel light and free, as though the greatest weight had been lifted off of it. Perhaps there was magic in that helmet that he wore. She had originally thought of it as no more than a brass basin when he entered with it. In fact she was certain that the helmet of Marebrino looked completely different from what Rocinante held atop his head. But all of that became irrelevant, perhaps because of his words, perhaps because of how desperately she wanted to believe, or perhaps even because the magic of the helmet was true after all, regardless of the cause, Princess Luna felt free for the first time in over a thousand years.

For the first time that night, Luna smiled as she breathed in the air, before suddenly looking towards Rocinante.

“Why? Wherefore dost thou use thy single wish upon one such as I?”

Rocinante bowed again, removing his helmet in the presence of the Princess.

“I have only done what any virtuous knight would do, I have rescued the one who needed to be rescued. You are free, your Highness, your future is your own.”

Still smiling, Luna turned away from Rocinante to conceal the tears that were beginning to well up. Shaking her head and breathing deeply, Luna finally turned back towards the knight-errant, still on the ground.

“Then I... Then we shall find Princess Celestia and inform her of this change within us and how we now truly seek her forgiveness once more. For the sooner this burden doth find itself behind us the better all shall be. We thank thee, dear knight-errant for the sacrifice of thy wish on our behalf. Thou hast done us a great favor and we are grateful. Now thy Princess has but one task for thee, if thou art willing.

Rocinante, with a clearly renewed vigor, rose, remembered his place, and bowed low again.

“Your Highness has but to speak the words and they shall be done.”

“This night's Grand Galloping Gala is filled with ponies of social and political power...”

Luna's voice trailed off for a moment. She couldn't hardly say she was afraid of what the other ponies might think or say, but at the same time, such ponies as the ones present at the Gala could be very intimidating, even to a princess. Rocinante however, spared her the trouble of finding the words. Whether or not he fully understood what he was agreeing to was irrelevant as he rose and beat his chest.

“Say no more, Royal Highness! For I, Rocinante of La Manecha, shall serve as your escort and with your favor I shall champion your cause against all who may have the inane audacity to oppose your Noble Grace.”

Princess Luna's smile became a grin as she began for the door.

“Then let us depart at once. Again we thank thee, noble champion of the night.”

The First Dance

The ballroom below had an atmosphere that was as stuffy as it was intimidating. Everypony there was so focused on socializing with the right crowds they failed to even notice Princess Luna's arrival as she slowly and carefully entered the ballroom with Rocinante faithfully behind her. She was pleased at the fact no one had noticed her, for though she felt herself to be a new pony, the oppressive air about the room stifled her willingness to be too open about it. In fact, she would have turned back and waited to see her sister after the Gala had Rocinante not been right behind her.

Scanning the crowds revealed that Princess Celestia was not yet present. Looking to her escort, Princess Luna motioned to the crowd.

“Tell us, is this not a dance? Wherefore then doth the ponies of this Gala mill about as though they were waiting upon some signal before the fun may begin?”

Rocinante looked around at the crowd and, seeing that Princess Celestia was not present, turned to Princess Luna.

“Your Highness, it is customary at the Grand Galloping Gala for the Princess to lead the first dance. As she is not present, it would be a faux pas to dance before her grand entrance.”

Princess Luna looked to her escort. Curiosity, mixed with disbelief filled her voice as she spoke.

“This was most certainly not how the Grand Galloping Galas were in the past. When did such a tradition occur and for what reason?”

“I know not, your Highness. However, if it should please you.”

Rocinante offered his hoof towards the Princess. Immediately Princess Luna began to shrink back from his offer.

“It would be unfavorable for us to break tradition, especially if we do not understand it. We are indeed willing to wait for Princess Celestia.”

“If that is your will. But you are a princess, your Highness. If you so desire, you may be the one to commence the dance.”

Luna looked nervously back and forth between the dance floor and the pony who offered her a dance. The easy path would be to retreat, to say that she needed to find her sister first. But the more she thought about it, the more she began to wonder if perhaps this was the the next step on her long road to recovering her role as Princess of the Night. Rocinante had clearly pulled her through the first step, using his wish to break her free of Nightmare Moon, shouldn't she at least try to move forward on her own?

Looking to the stage, Princess Luna could see a pink pony already whispering to the band. Perhaps she had been recognized and they were already preparing for the first dance. It was with that thought in mind that Luna finally decided on what she was going to do. Looking down to Rocinante's hoof, Princess Luna gently placed hers upon it.

“Very well. We shall be the ones to carry forth the dance past this dull and stagnant state.”

Rocinante smiled and nodded before leading her to the dance floor. Either out of concern for Princess Luna's self-conscious state or perhaps because the band only gave them enough time to reach a neglected corner of the floor before the music began, they reached the edge of the floor and took up a textbook waltz position.

But it was not a waltz that they were met with.

At the front of the stage, Pinkie Pie was confident she was about to get this party started. Tapping the microphone to test that it was working, Pinkie suddenly burst with excitement towards the crowd which had begun to notice, not the Princess in the corner, but the bright pink pony on the stage.

“Come on everypony! I know what will make you shake those groove thangs!”

The music was far from what anypony had expected. In her surprise, Princess Luna looked towards Rocinante. Was this common now? Had the Grand Galloping Gala changed this much over the years?

For his part, Rocinante was confused by the song choice, but he remained seemingly unfazed. The Pony-Pokey was far from the type of song one would hear at a formal ball such as the Gala and certainly not the type of song one would dance with a princess to, but it would be beyond the height of rudeness to turn back now. With no other options, Rocinante proceeded to dance the Pony-Pokey as politely and courteously as he could. Princess Luna, seeing her escort dance in such a manner, could only do the same.

It was an awkward dance, to say the very least, but it was short and simple and as soon as it had begun, it ended with the pink pony's joyous shout into the microphone. Princess Luna breathed a sigh of relief once the dance was over. Looking around nervously to see what the crowds had thought of her leading the first dance, Princess Luna saw that the pompous ponies were so irritated at the song choice that they hadn't even noticed their Princess was dancing behind them.

Though she had been proud of herself for stepping out into the limelight, Princess Luna was quite pleased with the fact that no pony appeared to have noticed them. The Pony-Pokey was a silly dance that perhaps would not bring the recognition she had hoped for. With a bashful smile, Luna retreated from the dance floor. Though she had been successful in stepping out of her comfort zone, she was still embarrassed. Rocinante however, seemed quite pleased with the turn of events and bowed low to Princess Luna.

“Though the musical selection was unanticipated, your Royal Highness dances quite well.”

Princess Luna, trying to keep from blushing further at Rocinante's flattery, nodded.

“Twas a very unique piece. Though we had not heard such a musical composition before, the melody was easy to follow and the dance repetitive. Twas easy enough for us and though the dance was enjoyable, we are eager to find Princess Celestia so that we might make our renewed heart known unto her.”

With another bow, Rocinante smiled and looked towards the hall that led to the grand staircase.

“Her Royal Highness may typically be found cordially greeting each pony as they enter into the Gala. If you so wish, I am quite certain that we may cut to the head of the line to meet with her. Or, if you prefer discretion, we may wait until after her glamorous arrival to the ballroom.”

Luna nodded silently. She had already put herself out onto the dance floor once and such attention grabbing actions were exhausting to the more reclusive princess. If she had the option to greet her sister in a more private setting, then that would certainly work better for her own tastes. After all, her struggles with Nightmare Moon would no doubt be best left in private.

The Lonely Gardens

When Sassaflash had first arrived at the Gala, she was so excited about the festivities and so nervous about meeting the Princess that she could barely keep herself from shaking. Now that she had been here for over an hour with nothing to do, she could barely keep herself awake. It was a strange occurrence for her. Normally she wished that Rocinante's adventures had less excitement, now she found herself wishing for more.

She had tried her best to look attractive and, with Rarity's dress, she felt that she was one of the prettier ponies present, yet she couldn't hold anypony's attention for long. It wasn't that she couldn't start any conversations, in fact, most of the Gala ponies had been interested in talking with her when she entered any particular room, but the moment that the conversation turned to what she did for a living, or worse, what she did as a squire, everypony would excuse themselves quite abruptly and, in her opinion, quite rudely.

Snorting as she kicked the grass in front of her, Sassaflash looked around for anypony she could talk to past the initial introductions. The Grand Galloping Gala wasn't grand at all. Everypony was out for themselves and the entire castle seemed more like a prison to her than a party.

For a brief moment, a flash of hope came to her as she saw Applejack pushing some form of cart filled with apples and apple goods along the green path. Sassaflash waved and tried to catch her eye, but Applejack was so busy muttering to herself about the quality of her apples that she didn't even notice her.

With another sigh, Sassaflash looked to the path that she noticed led towards the gardens. If nothing else, the gardens should be relatively empty and free of the nauseating political air that the rest of the Gala had. As she walked down the path she found that it was indeed quiet and empty. Pausing to take a sniff of a nearby rose, Sassaflash breathed a sigh of relief.

“That's better... Much better.”

Nodding to herself, Sassaflash continued down the path a short distance before she decided to sit down on the grass. It wasn't the best thing for her dress and it certainly wasn't the proper ladylike action to take, but after standing around and walking all over the Gala, Sassaflash was exhausted and when compared to the so called ladies of the Gala, she was quite content with the title of squire.

After being very careful to minimize any grass stains that would no doubt find themselves on her dress, Sassaflash was finally able to relax and enjoy the cool night air. There was a gentle breeze that made the flowers wave in an almost hypnotic manner and soon Sassaflash felt herself getting sleepier and sleepier. She almost felt guilty for how she relaxed she was feeling, considering that her cousin had been called here for a specific task and here she was lounging about in the gardens while he took care of the Princess, but the more she thought about it, the more she wondered if Rocinante would have it any other way.

Sassaflash yawned as she slowly placed her head on top of her hooves.

“I'm sure he's enjoying every... every minute of it.”

As her eyes began to close, Sassaflash heard something that sounded like whispering on the other side of the hedgerow. It was barely audible, but it was just loud enough to cause her to open her eyes and soon it became louder and louder.

“...touches this net...You'll be mine! MINE!”

Before the words could even begin to fully register in Sassaflash's mind, a cruel and malevolent laugh cackled from the other side of the hedgerow. Sassaflash bolted upright, wide awake from this terrifying sound that was halted suddenly by an unexpected yelp of surprise.

Her first instinct was to run and fetch her cousin. Had evil infiltrated the palace? Was darkness about to reach out from the depths to strike at the heart of Canterlot? As the questions that were far more suited for her cousin began racing through her mind, Sassaflash realized that she couldn't just barge in to his conversation with Princess Luna with no more detail than what she had, she would have to get a closer look.

Carefully peering through the rosebush revealed Fluttershy, trapped inside of a net suspended from a tree. She was silent, though that was far from uncommon, but she had upon her face a depressed and melancholy expression as she swung slowly back and forth in her prison.

“Fluttershy! Are you alright?”

Fluttershy looked up to Sassaflash before turning a bright red. Looking away, Fluttershy sighed and said something so quiet that Sassaflash couldn't make it out, however she was so concerned about who or what did this to Fluttershy that she didn't even notice.

Sassaflash scanned their surroundings as she lowered Fluttershy down and helped her out of the net.

“I heard somepony laughing. Are you alright? Is somepony picking on you or... or... worse?”

Immediately Sassaflash's mind filled with the same kind of villains and fiends that her cousin would be looking for in this kind of situation. But crazy as it was, Sassaflash couldn't imagine who else would be so bold as to lay a trap in the Royal Gardens.

Fluttershy was desperately trying to find a way to cover up what she had done, but her voice only grew quieter as Sassaflash began to lead the way back to the ballroom to find her cousin.

“We should get out of here. Let's... Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy said nothing as she looked back towards the animals now peering out from behind the bushes at them. If only she could get one more chance with them. She promised herself that she wouldn't lose her temper again. Sassaflash stopped to see what Fluttershy was waiting on and shook her head when she noticed the critters peering out from under another bush. If Fluttershy had one fault in Sassaflash's eyes, it would be that her heart bled too easily over creatures that should be able to take care of themselves.

“They'll be fine. We need to go!”

“I... I don't want to leave them behind... I'll be more careful from now on... Don't worry about me...”

Sassaflash sighed as she looked around again for any villains. She could tell moving Fluttershy would take longer than finding Rocinante and bringing him out here. Besides, Fluttershy lived next to the Everfree Forest, if anypony could last in this environment, it would be her.

“Alright, I'm going to go get some help. Be careful.”

Fluttershy merely shook her head and said something inaudible as Sassaflash sped off in the direction that she thought was to the ballroom, but in fact was towards the gate.

Two Sisters Reunited

Inside the ballroom, Pinkie Pie was certain that the bass heavy music that she had borrowed from Vinyl would breathe life into the party. After all, it always worked in Ponyville. Feeling the bass reverberate in the stage floor, Pinkie called out to the crowd with a smile on her face.

“Come on everypony! You wanted a par-tay?! Now let's par-tay!”

As the pink pony bounced from pony to pony in the crowd, trying to get other ponies to dance, Princess Luna rubbed her temples.

“Is this common for the Grand Galloping Gala these days?”

Rocinante tilted his head as Applejack burst into the room, pushing a massive cake on a trolley in front of her.

“Well... I suppose the nobility failed to notice that your Highness led the first dance. Perhaps Miss Pie is attempting to get the other nobles to partake in the more festive aspects of the Gala.”

Princess Luna's response was halted as Pinkie Pie dove off of the stage and into Applejack's trolley, knocking the cake high into the air. Time seemed to slow to a still as everypony silently watched the ballistic cake soar through the air. Across the room Luna's nephew, Prince Blueblood, grabbed his date for the evening to use as his shield from the flying dessert.

It was an act that made Princess Luna more than upset with her nephew, but the sheer improbability of what they were witnessing left her, and everypony around them, speechless.

Prince Blueblood's date was furious and in her fury she turned and started shouting at him. Prince Blueblood began retreating from her frosting covered face, but she continued to pursue. Apparently she had had her fill of the self-absorbed prince.

The two made quite the scene as Prince Blueblood, fearing the idea of staining his coat, retreated further and further away. His young unicorn date however, further enraged over his behavior, pressed him back even harder until he at last tripped and fell into the stone statue of Celestia, tipping it over and off of its pedestal.

Perhaps Princess Luna would have been able to stop it with her magic, had not a random, rainbow colored, pegasus pony flew past her in a desperate race to catch the monument. And while this pony did succeed in stopping the monument from hitting the ground, the statue was too large and its weight was too awkwardly distributed. In the midst of the pegasus pony's triumph, the statue began to tip over once again.

As the statue swayed back and forth, Luna again passed by an opportunity to save the day. She was so stunned by the situation that she could only watch as things grew worse and worse. As the columns around the ballroom began to fall one after another, Princess Luna turned to her equally stunned companion.

“Prithee tell me, is the night of the Grand Galloping Gala always this... eventful?”

Rocinante rubbed his chin as Rainbow Dash dropped the crumbling statue.

“While I must confess that I have not attended every Gala in recent years, I do believe these events are a tad far from ordinary.”

Everypony remained in a stunned silence as the dust and debris began to settle. Even the ever poised Princess Celestia was rendered speechless by the colossal mess that was once the ballroom as she and her star pupil entered the scene.

At the sight of her sister, Princess Luna stepped forward with a smile on her face.

“Sir Knight! Behold! Thy Princess of the Day has arrived upon this very scene and stands now in yonder-”

Luna's words were halted by what felt like a small earthquake rumbling beneath them.

“What? What is-”

With a loud bang the doors to the outside gardens flew open, unleashing a torrent of animals that poured into the ballroom with a panicked fury. Following behind them was a single yellow pegasus pony with a wild look in her eyes.

“YOU'RE... GOING TO LOVE ME!”

What had once been a meek and quiet crowd, too stunned by recent events to move, let alone say anything, erupted in to a full panic. Ponies fled in every direction as the animals became mixed in crowd trying to find some form of refuge and screams of terror filled the ballroom as everypony, except for two, searched for an escape.

“We do believe the Grand Galloping Gala has risen to new heights in terms of entertainment.”

“I am glad the display pleases your Highness, but I am uncertain as to whether or not any of this was intended to play out as such.”

“Truly?”

“Truly.”

Princess Luna eyed the animals fleeing in every direction.

“Then we would do well to contain the chaos before it breaks upon the rest of the castle.”

“As you command, your Highness.”

Filled with a virtuous and righteous vigor, Rocinante strode forth, blocking the path of a rather large bear as it raced towards him. With a laugh, Rocinante glared at the beast right in the eyes as he planted his hooves and held his ground against the oncoming creature.

“Halt! In the name-”

The bear hardly noticed Rocinante as it plowed into him, and the knight-errant was sent flying across the room towards the grand hall. It was hardly a fitting end to the knight-errant's glorious stand, but nothing could be done now as he flew across the floor and into Sassaflash, who had finally arrived at the ballroom.

Princess Celestia's surprise turned from confusion to glee as everypony raced about. It was a small, yet an almost vengeful smile that came across her face as she watched the torrent of “uncivilized” events pouring out upon the ever pompous nobility that, with their frivolous gala, had kept her from helping her sister. Twilight Sparkle however, looked absolutely horrified as she witnessed the events that she was sure would doom her futures at Canterlot.

Taking pity on her dismayed pupil, Princess Celestia leaned over and gave the one piece of advice to her stuttering student that she thought was prudent for the situation.

“Run.”

Immediately Twilight signaled her friends and the six ponies raced for the exit. Once they were through, Princess Celestia began using her magic to block the animals' exits from the ballroom. Most ponies could pass through her barrier easily enough, though she may have tripped a few of the more troublesome aristocrats on their way out.

As one of her ministers fled by in a panic, Princess Celestia laughed at the scene in front of her. This was certainly more exciting than the usual Gala, but her laughter was cut short by a voice that called out to her.

“Sister look out!”

Celestia turned her head just in time to see a duck caught in a familiar dark blue magic cloud.

“This one almost ran into you.”

Immediately Celestia turned to the voice. Her sister, Princess Luna was smiling as she used her magic to lightly toss the duck outside. She had a light blush on her face, as she usually did when she was slightly embarrassed, but all Celestia noticed was that she was smiling.

“I have noticed that many things have changed over the years at thy Gala. Is this in fact the norm?”

Just outside the ballroom, Sassaflash groaned as Rocinante swiftly crawled off of her.

“Well... That did not go as expected, however each time a knight falls he shall rise again and again and evil will be undone! Ah! My dear Sassa! I do hope you have been enjoying the Gala this evening, unorthodox as it may be.”

Sassaflash shook her head a bit as she regained her bearings. The castle was in complete chaos around her and she didn't even know where to begin. As the guards began running around frantically throughout the castle, all she could think of was how much she wanted to go home.

“Cousin, I... I don't think I like the Gala...”

Rocinante smiled as he helped her up off of the castle floor.

“Well to each their own, I suppose. I must admit I was always more fascinated by the intense business negotiations in the past. I was never much of a dancer.”

“I... I guess can believe that. How did you do on your mission?”

Rocinante looked back into the ballroom and said nothing as he smiled. Following his eyes, Sassaflash looked past Celestia's magical barrier into the room. Evidently, the two sisters had decided it would be more fun to try and corral the animals outside without their magic. They were leaning on each other and had laughed to the point of tears as they gasped for breath while the smaller creatures ran in between their legs.

With a beaming smile on his face and a puffed out chest, Rocinante turned from the scene to give the royal sisters their privacy.

“I believe that it has, in fact, turned out quite well.”

Breakfast For Two

The train conductor gave both of them a suspicious glare as he punched Rocinante's ticket, but the knight-errant and his squire were both used to the strange glances that the armor and lance often drew. Once the train began moving, Sassaflash sighed as she looked to her grass-stained dress.

“I can't believe that of the two of us, I 'm looking worse off for going to the Gala while you actually look better.”

Rocinante tilted his head in confusion.

“I dare say, my dear Sassa, you still look quite sophisticated and ladylike to me.”

“My dress, my mane... it's all a mess. You however...”

Sassaflash motioned to the new polished silver symbol that had replaced the old battered emblem on his breastplate. The silver crescent moon, that shined so cleanly that it could have doubled as a mirror, had been a gift from Princess Luna after they had departed Canterlot along with the largely superfluous title “Knight of the Restored Moon”.

“You actually managed to look better coming out of the Gala than you did going in!”

“What was wrong with my appearance at the Gala?”

Sassaflash sighed as she put her face to her hoof and shook her head. She couldn't very well tell her cousin that the silver emblem was his only possession that didn't look like it had been trampled underhoof for the last few centuries.

“Nothing... Nothing at all. Where are we going next?”

Rocinante smiled as the train rocked and a steam cloud billowed past their window.

“Where else? To adventure!”

Princess Celestia laughed as she passed her sister the syrup. The breakfast was simple, yet to Celestia, it was perfect. With another chuckle, Princess Luna stirred her oatmeal and continued the conversation.

“So thou did indeed alter the events of the Gala for thine own amusement?”

Celestia smiled as she recalled last night's events.

“Very indirectly, but yes. I figured Twilight and her friends would shake things up to some degree, but I had no idea they would tear up the ballroom!”

“And the other pony, the knight-errant?”

“I knew you needed somepony to talk to and I could think of no pony better.”

“Tell me Tia, From where in the entirety of thy kingdom didst thou come across such a bizarre and unorthodox pony?”

“I happened to meet him while visiting Twilight a few weeks ago. It is a large kingdom out there, you never know who you might find in your travels.”

Princess Luna nodded as she looked out the window to the world beyond.

“Indeed. Sir Rocinante spoke a great deal of yonder world outside. His adventures were quite amusing. Hast thou had the chance to listen to his tales?”

Celestia shook her head.

“I'm afraid I never got the time. The Grand Galloping Gala requires a lot of preparation, but I suspect there will be another chance for me to converse with your 'Knight of the Restored Moon'.”

Luna blushed as she glared at her sister.

“Do not speak of him as though he were some suitor. The knight-errant that thou sent unto me has given me a most gracious favor. T'would have been inappropriate not to reciprocate.”

A silence fell on the table as the two sisters began eating. However it wasn't long before Luna spoke up again.

“Still, thy kingdom has such wonders within its borders. I wish I could see more of it myself.”

Celestia smiled.

“It's your kingdom too. I think you should go and explore it some. I know somepony who would be more than happy to show you around.”

Luna's smile turned into a frown as she glared at her sister from across the table.

“Do not jest so sister. For thy... or rather our kingdom has many needs, needs that thou hast been left to attend to alone for far too long.”

“I'm not joking Luna. You need to get out of the castle and see the kingdom we share. How can you rule over something you've never seen? Go spend some time in the countryside, spend Hearth's Warming Eve in Fillydelphia, spend another holiday in Ponyville, get to know our subjects. I can manage another year of ruling by myself if I know that my sister is having a good time before she rejoins the boring daily business of the castle.”

Luna stopped and thought about her sister's words as she looked back out the window to the world beyond. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea after all. With a smile on her face Celestia pulled her sister out of her already growing fantasy.

“I would love to read letters from you about what you find in Equestria. And you know that if you ever need anything, I'm just a quick note away.”

Luna nodded and smiled as she looked back to her sister.

“The same goes for thee. If thou dost need my return for any reason, no matter how small thy cause may be, thou hast but to send me a note and I will be here for thee.”

Princess Celestia smiled as she added one last playful jab to her sister.

“And of course, if you ever find yourself wanting company, I know the Knight of the Restored Moon will be more than happy to help you.”

“Really Tia...”