It's all down hill from here
A big night, this Grand Galloping Gala, well, for others it is. For the Princess of Equestria? Not so much. Smile, greet, and send ponies on their way for the night of their lives. And what does she get? An hour of sitting at a table alone, watching all the other mingle and dance.
The music is nice, at least she can enjoy that, or at least she normally does. Tonight, the music comes off as… empty. It’s the same music as always, nice waltz, fox trots, and a tango or two. Nothing wrong with those, and the orchestra is the same. So… why?
Sighing, she chomps down on a flaky, sugary pastry, which her belly is certainly not happy about. This is the last time I decide to eat dinner at this thing… her thoughts grumbled like her upset stomach. The normal catering included diner-like food, but of course, the one year she decides to eat at the dance, they just had to have an accident which ruined most of normal food.
I think I shall despise cupcakes and éclairs for the rest of my life. Pushing away the remains of her third éclair, she decides to retire to her room at that moment, having enough of this sadness that would be gone by the morning. Standing up she- Gags.
Her belly would have none of this, movement thing, and had to sit back down before she was made to experience her food again.
This is not my night. A hot wet stream rolled on to her cheek. Why did her birthday have to be like this? Every year this party happens in celebration of it, yet the knowledge of what it originally stood for is lost to all but her. It was lost to even her sister! But that’s not Lunas fault… It’s hard to wish somepony a happy birthday from the moon.
Would she even remember after six hundred years? Not that it matters… I may neve- Her thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a stallion’s voice. Stunned, she looks around, and sees a very nervous looking, yet handsome silver unicorn. Though he wasn’t the normal equestrian handsome, more of a foreign handsome.
“I’m sorry, what was that?” trying, and failing, to regain some composure.
“I-… it was nothing... you… just looked sad.”
Among other things… “It is nothing.” wipes the tear away.
“Oh… that’s good, I think. Would… you care to dance?” His accent is strange, Saddle Arabian most likely.
A few moments tick by as she stares jaw-dropped, flabbergasted he just asked that. Sweat beads up on his face and neck awaiting her reply.
“Now… is not a very good time.” Cringing at another complaint from her gut, then more when his face twists with sadness, clearly crushed. Quickly he runs back to a table of his friends, which she noticed had been chuckling at his discomfort.
Throb, searing pain shot through her forehead. Throb, throb. Eyes watering, she tries to flag down a waiter. Throb, pulse, twitch. One arrives with great speed as she holds her head in her other shoeed hoof.
“Bring me some-“ Pulse “-champagne. Be quick.”
As he squires off, her head slips and bangs on the table. A few moments pass before his return.
“Your champagne, princess.” He stands the glass next to her hoof, “And I took the liberty to bring you an aspirin. If you prefer.”
Her eye pivoted to look at the shimmering glass. Light reflected off of the pristine crystal, and the golden, transparent liquid bubbled without concern for any except its own gaseous release. Then to the little white pill, who’s pressed powdery sight would be welcomed if her emotions weren’t driving her more towards the numbing embrace of alcohol.
Neck cracking, she lifted her head off the table, a mushed half-eaten éclair peeling off her white face. Grasping the thin stem of the glass, she lifts it to her mouth, and downs the liquid. It stings her throat, inflames her nostrils and sends its bubbles directly to her brain.
Soon the tension behind her eyes eases, Aaahh, Sweet relief. Grumble or maybe not…
After two more GLORIOUS glasses later, her belly finally shuts up! Although the last one wasn’t necessary, considering its spilling most of its left-over contents as it rolls across the table.
Ha! Who needs aspirin when this is much more fun! Giggling to herself. But her fun soon passes when the sight of a loving couple, dancing to a waltz, crosses her vision. Why can’t she have that? Locking eyes with a handsome stallion as they sweep the floor in fluid motion to the triple time rhythm of the music. Being held close and warm, with promises of never being let go. To be comforted on her birthday when she felt sick, and lonely, and missing her only eternal friend. Even if it is just for one, measly, night?
Why?
An idea floats to the top of her bubbly head. Or perhaps, why not? Looking around the ball, she searches for that pony who asked her to dance before. It wasn’t long ago, probably not even ten minutes before, surely he couldn’t have gotten too far.
Standing up, the room spins a little. Whoooaa! Managing to catch herself, then stay up right, she moves slowly in the direction she last saw him.
Across the large room, the ashamed Stallion sits in mock of his friends. He should have never taken that stupid dare! What was he even doing there, going to this even in stag, a long way from home. Ashamed at every rejection of the night, he feels unworthy of being an Arabian pony. Maybe he should just go back to the hotel room and wait for the others to finish enjoying their night. Which he was about to do when his heart skipped a beat.
“Are you that pony from before?” He turns to see the Princess of Equestria looking at him squint eyed.
“What is it that you need?”
“Yes”
“Yes? Yes to what exactly?
“Your question form earlier. The answer is yes. Make me feel like her.” Pointing to a dancing pair, of stallions.
“I… don’t not think I know what you mean.”
“I want, to dance. Now.” Pulling him up, she drags him out to the dance floor. Positioning him, she leads the first dance.
“I… feel like I should say something… romantic.”
Laughs, “I’m not going to stop you.”
Scanning her, he gathers information about her appearance and what he knows of her, processes his thoughts, and then those thoughts into words, then blurts out, “Your hair is sparkly!”
It starts as a giggle as his remark, then a hiccup, which causes her to giggle more. The more she giggles the more she has those pesky bubbles of air come up, and they’re just so funny!
And what he said, was just so… dumb. Or maybe cute. She can’t tell, at this point, all she knows is something is hilarious, and is making her laugh like an insane mare on the floor.
It takes a few minutes, but she spends her breath, eventually wheezing all the giggles away. Composing herself, the stallion lifts her to her hoofs.
“Are you alright, ma’am?” he asks, holding her in his arms and looking in to her eyes.
Throb. This time it wasn’t her head, “yes, I am quite alright. Just, what you said sent me into a… giggle fit. What is your name young one?”
“Silver Hoof”
“Well, Silver Hoof, care to lead the next dance? I think it to be a foxtrot.”
Nodding, he takes her hoof in to his, then starts the movements. It seems to Celestia that he’s awaking a need somewhere in her. She knows it all to well as any grown pony does.
This isn’t about that! Mentally scolding herself, this is just a dance to cheer yourself up, get your mind off of it! Resting her head on him, she relaxes. Still, this is a nice change of pace from sitting at that table. Noticing something on his thin fur, she looks closer to find her mascara is bleeding. Feeling at it, she realizes it’s been running for a while. Oh, how terrible she must look!
Sighs, and flows with the motions of her dance partner. At least he’s nice.
“Princess?”
“Hm?”
“I… think I should rephrase what I said earlier.” Clearing his throat, “I think your flowing hair looks amazing under the light of the chandler.”
And he’s cheesy.
“And your dress is positively lovely”
Very cheesy. ”Thank you, your compliments are nice.”
Finding that she is chewing her lip, wanting to reply, she just can’t. What would she say to him? He seems quite ordinary, and nothing really stands out to complement him on. Come on, you raise the sun every morning, you can manage to find it in yourself to find something nice to say about this gentle-colt.
“Your very kind, Silver Hoof.” Really? That was your big idea? Your very kind! Arrrg! What where you thin-
“Thank you very much.”
Ha! He didn’t laugh! Or make fun of it.
He lifts her from his shoulder, and looks at her. “I really think I like you.”
“Uhhhh….” Oh, my gosh what do I say? I just wanted to feel better, not have him say he likes me! Crap, this is getting out of hoof, why am I even doing this!
Before she can come up with a way to let him down, his lips touch hers. Throb. Her heart skips a beat. Throb. Her loins inflame into a burning need. Lurch. And her belly is about to treat her to her junk food diner a second time.
Ripping away, she scans for the lavatory as it rises. Spotting something closer, she rushes to a waste can, and empties the contents of her stomach into its welcoming void. Over, and over. I was wrong. The aspirin would have been better…
“Are you alright Princess?” panting, she looks up at the silver stallion, noticing a long black streak of mascara on his shoulder with a little bit of éclair mixed in.
“Don’t... Take what I just did as a comment on the kiss.” Sits down on the floor, “I think I’m going to go to my room now.”
“I’ll walk you to it.”
Shakes head, “No, I’ve embarrassed myself enough. I’d rather leave on… a better note than this…” Stands, and slowly exits the ballroom. Ascending the stairs towards her wing of the castle, ashamed at how she’s acted at her own royal party.
An ear is raised to the sound of trotting, and turns to see him on the lowest step.
“I almost forgot,” She raises a brow, wondering what in the wide world of Equestria it could possibly be. “Happy birthday, Celestia.”
I… I don’t know what to say. Standing halfway up a flight of stairs, watching the silver stallion search her expression, getting more desperate by the second. Come on, Celestia, don’t just stand there! SAY SOMETHING!
But no words escaped her lips, frozen with swelling emotion.
“I… think I should go…” disappointment thick in his voice, he turns, trotting slowly down the stairs.
In a small voice, Celestia, stretching out a hoof in his direction, finally squeezes out, “Stay…” But he’s out of ear-shot by then. The clicking sounds of his hoof echo through the empty portion of the castle, each one chipping her heart farther down.
Shaking her head, fighting off more tears, turned, and headed to her room.
Why did I let him walk away? She thought, mentally scolding herself as she opens the door to her room. Her empty, dark, lonely room. Lighting a few candles with a flick of magic, and sliding off her dress, turns to her bathroom.
In her mirror, she’s mortified over her appearance. Long streaks of black run from her eyes, chocolate and cream smear her left cheek, muzzle coated in the leftovers of her junk-food diner, and her hair lays flat, no longer sparkling with its normal magic. I… look horrible…
Running a stream of water, she rinses off her face, feeling a little better seeing the black water flowing down the drain.
Then, drawing a bath, she slips in to her tub. Warmth surrounds her, and her strawberry scented bubbles relax her mind.
As she soaks, her mind turns back to the events of the night. What was Equestria going to think of their princess after that display? I do not wish to think about that at this moment…
Then there was Silver Hoof. I shouldn’t have let him go… I should have just told him to accompany me tonight… But that moment had passed.
Though thoughts about the Stallion persisted, wanting only to re-experience his embrace. Oh, how nice it was to be held that way. But, would it be fair to him? His life would be but a short chapter compared to mine.
Sighing, she grabs her special shampoo, and rubs the sparkling soap in to her dying hair. Maybe, it would be good to have some romance in my life. I’ve been so closed off to the idea for so long. Washing the suds out, the magic returns to her mane, flowing again as if it never knew defeat.
Grumbling, her belly decided at that moment it would not be ignored any longer. Knowing that something would need to be done soon, she had no choice but to leave the waters embrace. Stepping out, and slipping on her fluffy white, monogrammed robe.
Maybe I shall search him out. I have been needing a little whimsy lately.
After finding a light snack and ditching the robe, she finds one of the gate guards
“I need to find a silver stallion, looks as though he might be from Saddle Arabia. He may have left the party about half an hour ago.”
He thought for a moment, “Ah, yes, I think I remember him. Looked quite sad. When I asked him, he just muttered something about ‘he should have never come here’ and ‘was heading to his lodging’”
“Did he say where?”
“No.”
Crap. “Thank you.” Before he could respond, she took to the sky in hopes she could see him from above. It was a decent walk from the castle in to town, so chances are she would spot him.
The night air was crisp and light, flowing through her feathers like light through a window. Normally she loved conditions like this, but this flight wasn’t one for pleaser. Scanning the roads, she saw little except the shops open late, hoping for late night patrons from the soon ending gala, and the occasional pony, but none where her mark. Looking at one of the cities clock towers, seeing it read 11:39, she knew the Gala would end soon and her chances of finding him from the air would dwindle to next to none.
Maybe the group he was with is still at the party. Tilting her wings, she banks left, and picks up speed with several hard beats.
Stepping back into the ballroom, she notices the party winding down. The dance floor empty save a few pairs, the cratering decimated, most tables empty, and many party goers making a somber exit. Soon though, she found the table of Silver’s peers, being the only full table left in the room.
They were all joking in a different dialect, their booming laughter filling the slowly emptying room. Trotting over, the joking came to a stop, and she felt nine pairs of eyes lay sight on her.
“I am looking for Silver Hoof. Do you know where he is?”
A few moments past, that turned into a few minutes, before the laughter started up with a renewed energy. Glaring at them, they eventually paused long enough for one of them to say, “We thought he left with you and we would not see him till morning”
His accent is much thicker. And much less attractive… “No, I… he left and… well, I wish to know where he would have gone.”
They burst out with more laughter. “Ha! We knew he would never be able to court the Princess of Equestria!”
Another, perhaps being a little less… insensitive to his peer, speaks up, “If he left here, he would have gone back to hotel. We are staying at Grand Valley Hotel.”
“Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Standing outside of the room number the others gave her, staring at the faded green door, the late night chill making her wish she didn’t ditch her robe, she wanted to knock. Why am I hesitating! This is what I want to do. I think… raising her hoof, she just, holds it there. What if he doesn’t want to talk? I did upset him quite bad… Come on, Celestia. Pony up.
Tap, tap, tap. The sound echoes through the night. A light flicks on in the room.
“Just a minute,” the voice is his, something in her let out a sigh of relief.
Thom-thump. The seconds drag on as sounds of movement drift out of the room. Thom-thump. What is taking so long? Thom-thump Thom-thump. Her heart was trying to escape like a caged dragon. Thom thump thom-thump thom-thump!
As the door opens, her heart drops in to her gut. His silver coat comes in to view, and his head appears, scanning the walk way. His eyes light up at the sight of the Princess of the Day.
“What are you doing here?” he asks as his surprise turns to confusion. “I thought you were ill.”
“I think I owe you an apology-“ Saying as she moves a little closer to him “-I have acted like a fool tonight. After you said that… I... I just did not know how to-“
The sentence would never be finished, being cut short by a kiss from the unicorn. Surprised at first, she leaned in to it warmth filling her being. This is wonderful. Am... I really falling for him?
When lips part, there is a string of passion left hanging in the air. Celestia breaks the tension first, “Come with me back to my room. I wish for you to spend the night with me.”
“I… Princess, I-“
“Please, call me Celestia”
“… Celestia. I don’t know if I should… We jus-“ Gets a hoof shoved into his mouth.
“It is not like that, or at least I don’t have intentions of it tonight. My belly is still not very happy.”
“Oh, I guess I will. Better than being the butt of the jokes of the ponies I’m here with.”
She spots the mascara still on his shoulder. “Then come. It shall be pleasant to spend the night with company, rather than alone. Do you want to fly back?”
“OH, nononononono! I think my hoofs would prefer the ground.”
“Be adventurous Silver Hoof!” She grasps him, extending her wings.
“NO! I will not let you!“ ignoring him, she crouches. “I really do not approve of th-! “ Springing off the balcony, grip tight on the now terrified pony, she takes to the skies again.
“THIS IS INSANE!”
Celestia laughs, “Calm down. I am not going to drop you.”
“WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?”
“I didn’t want to walk back.” He whimpers for the rest of the trip. Wimp.
All too soon, she sets him down on her balcony, and lands beside him. “You’re no fun.”
Wide eyed, wind-blown, and gasping he looks at her, “How. Was that. Supposed to be fun.”
“It’s refreshing. Now, wash up, you have my embarrassment on your shoulder.” Trotting in to her room, and lighting her candles again. “Well? Are you going to come in or just stand there getting cold.”
Blinking, he moves forward, clearly shaken. “Where would I wash up?”
“Wash room, past that door” Points to it. “Just, don’t use my shampoo. Magical flowing hair would not suit you.”
“Uh… sure.” He disappears into the small adjacent room. She rests outside the door.
“So, who are you Silver Hoof?”
Over the sound of running water, “I’m a silversmith, from Saddle Arabia. I’m only here tonight because my father wanted me to get out of my work shop and experience something different. And I certainly got something different…”
“Why did you come up to me and ask me to dance?”
“My… friends I guess you could call them, dared me to… It was either that or they would leave me behind in Equestria.”
“That sounds a tad bit cruel.”
“I’m not here with them by choice.”
A few minutes of silence follow. Silver, “Why did you come back wanting to dance?”
“I have… Not had much of a love life. At first I did, back when Equestria was founded. But it was just to find somepony to provide me an heir, and many of my suitors were… not right for me. And a few years, I found that I was not aging, realizing that the magic that I channel every morning was preventing it. Meaning I did not need an heir, so I gave up.
“But, with so many years passing by, I have stopped making relations with other ponies. Its, just hard. So many faces-“ She feels hot tears flowing again “- I just couldn’t handle it. But, after so many years, I’ve just been lonely recently. I danced with you tonight, because I… I needed to feel mortal again. Feel some love without regretting it.” As she’s about to start full on crying, she feels the stallions warm embrace again. He smells like strawberries.
She leans on him again. “Thank you for letting me feel a little tonight. I needed this. Come, let us get to bed. It is late, and if I don’t raise the sun on time, it’s not a pretty sight.”
They rise from the floor, and move sluggishly towards her large bed. Blowing out one candle at a time with a little burst of magical wind, she pulls him into the bed.
Wrapping his foreleg around her form, a thought of something that’s been nagging at her for a while resurfaces. “How did you know tonight is my birth day?”
“I just had a feeling.” He blows out the last candle.
Author's Note
After the lights go out, they do not go to sleep yet. But that's another story. 
