The Grand Galloping Gala, where the most elite of Equestrian society gather for one evening of fine dining, indulging conversation and comparing social achievements. But this evening the gala had two guests in particular, a handsome stallion and a beautiful mare and their evening was about to become far more special.
“Tonight is beautiful…” Twilight said looking to the sky. “I still can’t believe you got us tickets.”
“Well Twilight,” Battleaxe said with a smile. “After what I’ve done, some things can come easier.”
“I guess you’re right.” Twilight replied with a giggle. “But still the gala is no small event.”
“I know,” Battleaxe said throwing his foreleg around her shoulder, “but I wanted to make this night the best night ever.”
“I’ve said something like that at the gala once…” Twilight said shaking her head, “and it didn’t quite turn out the way.”
“Well, I think tonight will be different.” Battleaxe replied, he looked into the castle. “Shall we go inside?” he said motioning to the ball room.
Twilight and Battleaxe made their inside the ball room, making their way past the large crowds of rich and famous ponies who were attending the party as well. Twilight did her best to be polite to those that they passed, but they rose their noses, especially to Battleaxe. Who’s well pressed uniform and posture caused them to scoff and point at the two.
“To this day I still can’t believe that these ponies act like this…” Twilight said shaking her head. “Even after what you and your brothers did.”
“Some things never change…” Battleaxe replied. “But I’m thankful for those who hold me and my brothers in high regard.” The two stopped in front a massive, ornate staircase. Battleaxe looked up to the top of the staircase and smiled. “Like her.”
Twilight turned her attention to the top of the stairway, there she saw Princess Celestia. The Princess quickly noticed the two and motioned them to come and stand next to her. Once the two were finally beside her, she looked to them and smiled.
“Good evening you two.” She said her eyes passing between the two. “It’s been quite some time hasn’t it?”
“I’d say you’re right your highness.” Battleaxe answered. “How have you been?”
“Well, I’ve been doing well,” Princess Celestia responded, “but seeing the two of you here is certainly the highlight of the evening.”
She looked back to Twilight; she was wearing an elegant, yet practical lavender dress the light pink frilling along the edge coupled by the occasional glimmer of dawn sapphires seemed to leave her glowing. “You look lovely this evening, Twilight.” Princess Celestia said.
“Thank you, Princess,” Twilight said blushing a little. “Rarity-“
“I’ll say she does…” Battleaxe said interrupting her. “Why when she wearing that dress Twilight really does…” he paused and unleashed a deviant grin.
“Don’t say it.“ Twilight tried to cover Battleaxe’s mouth but she was too slow.
“Sparkle.” Even Princess Celestia couldn’t help but let out a small giggle at Battleaxe’s joke. Twilight’s face became even redder, but she just rolled her eyes at the now laughing stallion that stood next to her.
“You’ve waited all night to say that haven’t you?” she asked.
“You know it.” Battleaxe replied regaining his composure. “But this night isn’t all about me, you’re here too remember.”
“Yeah I remember…” she said rolling her eyes. She turned her attention back to the Princess, who was still trying to hide her smile. “I think we’ll be going now, it was nice meeting you again Princess.”
“As always Twilight,” Princess Celestia said nodding. “The pleasure is mine.”
Twilight went to bow towards the Princess, the moment Twilight’s eyes were away from her, the Princess cast her gaze to Battleaxe. He responded with a quick nod of his head, she returned the nod and set her attention back to Twilight before she lifted her head.
“Twilight…” the Princess said to gain her full attention. “There is one more thing that I would like for you to do this evening.”
“Of course Princess,” Twilight said, her eyes lighting up. “Anything for you.”
“Excellent,” Princess Celestia replied, using her magic to hand a key over to her “here, take this.”
“What’s this for?” Twilight said examining the key now in her hooves.
“The key to my personal wine cabinet.” Princess Celestia answered. “They just ran out of my favorite label in the kitchen, and I would love for you to fetch new a new bottle.”
Twilight’s jaw nearly slammed into the floor, “Wha-what?” she stuttered.
“I want you to get me another bottle of my favorite label.” Princess Celestia repeated. “You’ll have to go into my chambers,” Princess Celestia began to make her way back down the stairs, “it’s the large cabinet on the left, right after you walk in, Pinot Neigher 783.” Twilight continued to stare in utter disbelief at the descending Princess. “Hurry along now, I’m rather thirsty.”
“I-I can’t believe-“
“Well are you just going to stand there?” Battleaxe said with a smile. “The Princess is waiting.”
Twilight remained frozen in shock for a few moments, then she regained her senses and began to walk with Battleaxe to Princess Celestia’s room. “I can’t believe her right now…” Twilight said still trying to contemplate the Princess’s actions. “After everything I’ve done? Is it because I haven’t sent her a letter on friendship in over a six month? Did I forget to organize a special event? What did I-“
“Easy there Twilight…” Battleaxe said with a smile. “I’m sure she has her reasons for sending you on this seemingly mundane task.” He placed his hoof on her shoulder. “I mean she trusts you enough to get her favorite wine from her room, how many other ponies can say they have that honor?”
“Try asking one of the maids…” Twilight grunted, “or butlers, or guards…. Or-“
“Ok, ok…” Battleaxe said submissively. “I get it, tonight wasn’t exactly what you were expecting.”
“That’s an understatement…” Twilight said thowing her hoof on her face, “it’s like my first gala all over again…”
“You told me that story, Twilight…” Battleaxe said raising an eyebrow, “and I don’t see any animals running wild inside the castle at the moment.”
Twilight let out a small giggle. “You know just how to make light of every situation don’t you?” she asked walking closer to him.
“It’s my other special talent.” Battleaxe said with a smile. “You know other than being damn good looking and being an absolute stud.”
Twilight began to giggle again. “Oh, you do that well too.” She said giving him a quick peck on the cheek. The two stopped right in front of the Princess’s chambers. Twilight looked up to the massive door and let out a disappointed sigh. “Let’s get this over with…” she said using her magic to open the door.
The two entered Princess Celestia’s room. Twilight immediately noticed that the door leading to her balcony was open, but she thought little of it. She turned her attention the large cabinet to her left, placing the key in the door she twisted it until she heard the door unlock. The door slowly opened revealing copious amounts of wine from various parts of Equestria.
“Wow…” Battleaxe said in awe. “I didn’t know that Princess Celestia was such a wineo…”
“Me neither…” Twilight said in disbelief, but she quickly regained her composure “now…” she said carefully examining the bottles. “Where’s the Pinot Neigher 783?”
After a few minutes of hard searching, Twilight finally found the object of her search. “Ah,” she said smiling, “here it is…” she magically pulled the single bottle out of the cabinet. “I’m a little surprised that this is the only bottle, she did say this was her favorite…”
“Took you long enough to find it…” Battleaxe said from the balcony. “Now we can get back to the party.”
“I MIGHT have found it faster if SOMEPONY decided to help…” Twilight said back t him. “What are you doing on her balcony anyway?”
“Just enjoying the night sky…” Battleaxe replied. “You should really have a look at it, it’s almost as beautiful as you are.”
“We saw it earlier this evening,” Twilight said taking a few steps towards him, “and thank you, but it’s like you said, we can’t keep the Princess waiting…”
“I think she’ll understand if we are a few minutes longer…” Battleaxe said. “Now come here I think I see a constellation that wasn’t in the book you gave me.”
“What?” Twilight asked surprised, walking to the balcony “How could that be? That was the most recent copy of-“
She froze mid-sentence the moment she looked to the night sky, there WAS a new constellation, but it was in five simple words. Twilight, will you marry me? She looked back to Battleaxe, now on one knee holding a small box in his hooves.
“Twilight…” he began, placing on hoof on top of the box. “I know that you know that you’re not the first mare to catch my eye, but you’re the only one to KEEP my eye…” he opened the box revealing a small golden ring with a clear diamond in the center, “Twilight Sparkle…” he said taking the ring out of the box. “Will you make tonight the best night ever?”
Twilight was speechless, she looked back up to the sky, then to the ring and finally to Battleaxe again. A single tear formed in her eye as her look of shock turned into an uncontrollable smile. Within an instant, she wrapped him up in her forelegs the tears flowing like a torrent from her eyes.
“YES!” she exclaimed through happy tears, “YES, YES, YES!”
“I thought you might say that…” Battleaxe said returning the embrace.
Meanwhile at the front of the chambers the royal sisters looked in on the events taking place. “I think she said yes.” Princess Celestia said with a smile, she turned to her sister, “the words in the stars were a nice touch, Luna.”
“He asked me to do it weeks ago.” Luna said. “He wanted it to be the most special thing in Equestria for her.”
“Well I think he succeeded…” Celestia said looking back to the two kissing passionately in the moonlight. “Let us be off now sister,” she said with a smile. “Because now those two have a bottle of wine and the rest of their lives to spend with one another.”
