Trollestia
by Nimbostratus
The Grand Galloping Gala was a disaster. Black Tie was heartbroken by how many letters he’d received, all of which bore about the same message - “I’ll never attend this disgraceful event again.” He worried over the envelopes, counting them. There had been 100 ponies at the Gala - well, 106 ponies and a dragon. Those last seven, he’d heard, had been invited by Celestia herself. And these letters … there were 70 of them. Well over half of the Gala-goers had pledged never to return.
If that was true … there wouldn’t be a Gala next year. Or any other year, for that matter. Black Tie’s lips quivered at the thought. But even with such impending disaster, he couldn’t forget his pride. Using his unicorn magic to straighten his bowtie, he gave himself a glance in the mirror, to ensure his white coat and black mane were well-groomed. Two more bowties were on his flanks - his cutie marks, of course. He’d always been good at formal events. Always, until now. This one… had been ruined. Ruined by a handful of young, naïve ponies. No, he couldn’t blame them. They didn’t know what they’d done. But, knowingly or not, they’d… they’d doomed him to bankruptcy.
Unless … yes. He nodded, knowing now what he had to do. Only one pony could help him now.
It was a quiet day for Celestia. Usually, when somepony requested an audience, they would have to wait a while. Not today. This was the first visitor she’d had all day - and the guards had almost turned him away, until the princess cantered over to see what was going on.
“Your Highness!” cried Black Tie. “Please, I need a word with you.”
“We advise against it, ma’am,” said one of the royal guards. “He’s very irate. He might try to hurt you.”
Looking over the unicorn, Celestia quickly grasped the situation. He was the organizer of the Grand Galloping Gala. “Let him in,” she said to the guards, who hesitantly obeyed.
Black Tie trotted past the guards and stopped in front of Celestia, bowing before her. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“You don’t seem very irate to me,” Celestia observed, chuckling.
“Well, I… I might have been a bit rude to your guards,” the other pony admitted. “But I needed to see you urgently, you see. I’m sorry for the trouble…”
“It’s alright.” The princess smiled. “Why did you need to see me?” Though she had a feeling that she knew the answer.
“You see, it’s about the Gala…”
“Let me guess,” Celestia interrupted. “Because of what happened this year, nopony wants to come back next year?”
“Yes, exactly,” answered Black Tie. “And if nopony comes back next year, I’ll go broke. The Gala will cease to be.”
Celestia smirked at him. “Good.” The stallion gasped at her bluntness, but she hushed him and continued. “The Gala is so pretentious. You should make it more accessible to young, normal ponies, instead of being all high culture and silver spoons.” She still sounded friendly and sincere, rather than harsh or commanding.
Black Tie’s eyes boggled. “But Princess - I mean, Your Highness - that’s what the Gala is. It hasn’t changed in generations.”
“Yes, and isn’t it time for a change?” Celestia curiously tilted her head. “Surely you know, you must adapt to the times.”
The stallion heaved a sigh. “Yes, I know that. I was actually going to do something different next year. But now, there won’t be a next year.”
“Perhaps it’s for the best--”
“FOR THE BEST!?” Black Tie was about to lunge at the princess, but the royal guards quickly stepped in to stop him. He struggled as they began to drag him away. “You can’t do this to me! The Gala has been my life’s work! I wasn’t even a year old when I went to my first Gala! And the day I inherited it from White Collar was…” She couldn’t hear him now. The guards had taken him down to the dungeon. But she’d heard enough.
Celestia frowned. “Oh, dear.” She turned around and walked into the bedchamber where her sister usually stayed. Surely Luna was awake by now, as it was almost sundown.
Inside, Luna was skimming through some old books. Hearing hoofbeats, she stopped and looked back at Celestia. “Hello,” she said, a bit awkwardly. She still felt guilty for what she … no, for what Nightmare Moon had done. And then, to be so easily forgiven …
While she was thinking, Celestia closed the distance between them and gave her a gentle nuzzle. “Lost in thought again?” she chuckled.
“I… I guess so.” Luna blushed.
“Well, chin up. I need your help.” Celestia smiled.
“With what? The moon? I’ve already taken care of it…”
“No, not that.” The sun-goddess shook her head. “The winter solstice is coming soon, isn’t it?”
“Oh, yes,” Luna nodded. “Longest night of the year. I don’t suppose you like it much.”
Celestia smirked. “I quite enjoy it, actually… I used to gaze up at the stars and … at you, too.”
Luna whimpered and shied away a bit. “So… you were saying something about the solstice?”
“Right.” The older sister nodded. “I was thinking, in addition to the Summer Sun celebration, we should also have a Winter Moon celebration.”
“Oh?” Luna blinked in surprise and amazement. Her sister wanted to create a holiday in her honor? Even after … everything … “That sounds nice,” she managed to answer. “What would it be like?”
“Well,” answered Celestia, “there’s a type of party called a soirée. Very classy and dignified. And the word ‘soirée’ just happens to mean ‘evening party’, so…”
“Oh!” Luna barely restrained a girlish giggle. “That sounds like so much fun. Exactly the sort of party I like.”
“Excellent.” Celestia smiled.
Luna nickered and nuzzled up against her sister. “So, who will be organizing the party?”
Celestia grinned. “Oh, I know just the pony…”
In the dungeon, Black Tie was trying to maintain his dignity. What little was left of it, anyway. The guards had taken his tie, mussed his mane, and even searched him for ‘foreign objects’. It hadn’t been a comfortable experience. The cell was old and dusty, obviously not cleaned very often. He almost expected there to be the skeleton of some unfortunate pony hidden under the bed, but thankfully, there was not.
Royal guards stood outside the cell door. Black Tie tried to make conversation with them, but they didn’t speak - they didn’t even seem to acknowledge his existence.
However, the guards quickly stepped aside when Celestia approached. Black Tie looked up at her, forlorn. “Y-Your Highness…”
Celestia looked at the stallion, then scowled at the guards. “Is this how you treat our guest?”
“Guest?” harrumphed one guard. “He’s a prisoner, not a guest.”
“He is a guest,” Celestia insisted. “I never told you to take him to the dungeon.”
“You never told us not to, either,” said the guard. Celestia’s death-glare quickly silenced him.
“Black Tie… please accept my sincerest apology.” Her horn glowed as she used her limitless magic to open up the cell door. “You are free to go now.”
“Go where?” Black Tie frowned. “There’s nowhere for me to go now. I might as well just stay here forever…”
“Actually…” Celestia peered down at him. “Would you be interested in hosting a soirée?”
The male unicorn perked up a bit. “Soirée? Oh my. I’ve never actually … but I’ve always wanted to! What’s the occasion?”
Celestia smiled. “It’s a celebration of the winter solstice, for my dear sister.”
Black Tie’s heart skipped a beat. “Oh, my…” Almost hyperventilating, he tried to catch his breath. “Yes, yes, a million times yes. Just… do me one favor, please.”
“Yes?” Celestia bowed her head.
“Those ponies who ruined the Gala… ensure they aren’t invited.”
The princess frowned a bit, but eventually decided to relent. “Alright. The celebration will be in Ponyville, so I’ll arrange for them to go to Canterlot that night.”
“Thank you.” The unicorn performed his most reverent bow. “If this goes well, perhaps the Gala can continue after all.”
“Yes,” agreed Celestia. “Just remember what I told you.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” Black Tie smiled. “I’ll try not to make it so … what was that word you used? ‘Pretentious’?” He tapped his chin for a moment. “But what about this Winter Moon celebration of yours?”
“Completely under your control,” answered Celestia. “Make it as high-brow as you like. Luna seems to prefer that sort of thing.”
“Excellent.” The unicorn gave a nod. “Thank you, Your Highness. I won’t disappoint you.”
Celestia smiled and nodded, waving him away. “You’d better get to work,” she said, with a playful chuckle. Then she turned to the royal guards. “You two are dismissed for tonight. And please, try to be more gentle with everypony - even our prisoners. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am,” answered both unicorns, who then both quickly departed.
Once she was alone, Celestia gathered a sheet of paper and a pen, and began to write.
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
It seems *I** have learned something today. By inviting you to the Gala and allowing your friends to run amok, I nearly ruined somepony’s life. It simply goes to show that all actions have consequences - sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes both. But with a bit of thoughtfulness and the magic of friendship, almost any wrong can be righted.*
Incidentally, I would like you and your friends to visit me in Canterlot on December 21st. Tell Pinkie Pie to bring her best party supplies.
Your mentor,
Princess Celestia
Celestia smiled as she sent the letter off. Perhaps their little celebration wouldn’t be as popular as Luna’s, but it would certainly be just as much fun.
