The chandelier hung, quit shadows flickering the candles that rested upon it. Despite the abundance of ponies, the room was as quit as a library. The classical music playing softly in tune with the ponies that danced with tiny steps that hardly made a sound.
She was currently talking, or more accurately whispering with one of the guests.
“It’s been but a few months but I feel it is time once more. Have we not grieved enough? I believe it is time to bring life back into our family and leave the dead to rest in peace.” The mare she spoke to said.
She didn’t agree, not one bit but she could never voice her thoughts, in fact she rarely did.
“Miss, Varenity” she began, careful to keep her tone in check “I believe, it is you’re daughter whom must decide. It is, after all her life.”
Her guest seemed a little held back, clearly not willing to even consider the idea. “Princess, if I may” she paused as the white alicorn nodded slightly “Veronica is an intelligent mare but I do believe, she would not think accordingly when choosing her mate. One cannot fancy themselves, when it comes to the family wealth.”
Celestia nodded, not willing to take the conversation south. With a small “if you shall excuse me” the Princess left to the window set left of the ballroom and with the experience of decades she calculated, by the moons position that it was exactly 6 pm.
Gracefully stepping towards the archway exit, her dress trailing behind her and pearls hardly moving at her movement she cleared her throat, even that seeming graceful and ladylike “It is now the dinning hour, so if you please follow me”
The guests eagerly followed pursuit. As they made their way to the dining area, Celestia silently mused just how ‘hungry’ the guests must be after so much ‘dancing’.
A corridor later the guests were greeted with the scent of food, cooked carrots and freshly baked bread only made by the finest chefs. Too bad her guests didn’t think so.
The same mare from before had taken to walking just behind the princess on their trip to the dining room.
She must really be desperate
The mare spoke “Princess, it is not my place to ask but-“ the next line almost made Celestia winch “-will we really be served by, mudponies?”
Mudponies, a term used to describe the lower classed earth ponies. One that suggests them nothing more than calling them savages.
Self-control Celestia: It merely a way of speaking, nothing more.
“You may not know this Ms. Varenity” she said, not caring if the remark would be taken as such “but earth ponies are known to be best at the culinary arts, and my chefs use only organic ingredients for their dishes.”
Ms. Varenity did not take notice of the remark or at least did not show any sign of it. “Yes, I suppose.” was all the response she got back.
A meal later, Celestia began to feel slightly uneasy. She needed to step outside, to breathe.
Standing from her table she excused herself, and of course everypony had to politely stand as she exited. One certain table however wasn’t going to give her such luxury.
“Princess” a gruffly bearded stallion spoke as she was dismissing herself. “We were just discussing, you seem to take liking to the mudponies”
Celestia clenched her teeth.
“Yes, you seem to favor them” a mare from the same table agreed.
Celestia forced a smile “My duty is to my subjects, nothing more”. To Celestia’s relief they seemed to take that as a no.
She excused herself once more and exited the room before anyone else could throw a wise one at her.
She was in the balcony, at last. The cool night air blew away all her tension, all her anger and it kept taking until there was nothing left. She was back to where she had been, all those years ago. Everyone else had forgotten but she never had. She had never stopped grieving and just like on that somber night, she felt a void overcome her, a void of darkness, of loneliness and an overwhelming sadness that was enough to tire a pony. She felt as light as a feather but it was because there was nothing inside her, only an empty gaping hole disguised in the body of an immortal shell. The shell had taken her place, something that worked so marvelously. It did everything for her, she never had to speak or move. It just did as it had been programmed to.
A hundred years know. It had come into existence and replaced her. No one noticed, no one cared, she had disappeared just like her sister and just the same she would be forgotten and it wouldn’t even matter. Society had somehow formed itself over the years, rich, selfish, and stuck-up in every means of the word but still, it had prospered all on its own.
Celestia was suddenly snapped out of her thoughts by a soft young voice.
“Uh, Princess Celestia?” she turned around and saw none other than Veronica, standing nervously behind her. Unlike her mother’s, Celestia enjoyed her company.
“Hello Veronica, shouldn’t you be inside?”
The young unicorn glanced around nervously, probably wondering if she was in some sort of trouble.
“It’s alright” Celestia reassured a genuine smile on her face.
The unicorn seemed to relax and Celestia signaled her to come next to her. After a pleasant silence the unicorn sighed “I’m not very fond of, social gatherings” she admitted
Celestia laughed freely, “Tell you a secret” she spoke and as if telling one the alicorn leaned in closer “neither do I”
The two ponies giggled for a moment before the night wind blew a little louder. Veronica took a deep breath of the cold fresh air, something she would only ever dare to do in the Princesses presence.
“I-“she suddenly spoke, “I know my mother wants me to wed again but-“
“It’s too soon” Celestia finished for her. To her surprise, that didn’t seem to have been what was on Veronica’s mind.
“Can, I show you something Princess?” the mare asked polity
The two stepped back inside, Celestia almost whimpered at having been pulled away from the nights embrace but loyally followed pursuit.
Soon the benign unicorn stepped into a door-less room, lit with so many candles it showed little shadow. The princess walked in, acknowledging the room that held Veronica’s late husbands alter.
The unicorn seemed to take more care in her hoof steps, as if only now did she care to take her mother’s lessons in poise. “It had been only two years ago that we wed” Veronica began, stepping closer to the back center of the room were against the wall was a table, a fancy cloth adorning it and a pillow with the deceased stallions photograph. “You know my mother planned the wedding, she plans everything in my life. At times I thought I had been chosen to marry him before I was born like in some rich families.”
Celestia stepped closer to the alter and examined another picture set against the wall. It showed the day of the wedding, it had been themed with the husbands native country, India. Traditional clothing adorned the couple, in a style much like the theme chosen for the room they stood in... “There was something…” the unicorn, “I looked in his eyes and I never saw…” she was having trouble with her words “You know how when you’re in love and you can tell what the other ponies thinking without them having to tell you?” she finally managed.
Celestia flashbacked to all the times her sister had been troubled but never wanted to admit it. Then one day, when her sister needed her most, Celestia just couldn’t read the mare’s eyes and everything shattered. She nodded, understanding perfectly.
Silence dominated once more and by the end it accured to Celestia that her sympathies meant nothing once they exited the room. There was nothing she could do.
It became apparent that the guests would start to question the princesses prolonged absence, it was after all her obligation to be present as guest of honor.
Half an hour later, Veronica had hugged the princess goodbye and Celestia only had to think once before deciding she needed a drink, the Greenhouse Bar would do.
To Celestia’s surprise, Ms. Varenity sat at the bar.
Ms. Varenity, a high class noble whom was limited to becoming duchess simply because her grandfather was an earth pony. Sometimes Celestia just didn’t know what to think.
She sat next to her, seeing now a more stressed and frazzled mare then a high class snoot. It wasn’t the first time Celestia had come to realize that all her subjects, no matter how stuck-up, had good in them. Life, especially with a depressed ruler, couldn’t be any harder.
Celestia felt guilt start to tumble over her but she realized that there had been enough mourning. It was time to earn the respect her subjects had somehow never faltered.
“A cocktail if you please” she asked the barman politely
The barman seemed surprised at this, his eyebrows greyed with age rose high and he proceeded to whispering to the princess “I’m sorry your highness, but you know we no longer serve alcoholic beverages”
This fact hit Celestia and she blushed faintly. She had forgotten. “Forgive me; I shall have Pink lemonade”
The stallion left then returned with her lemonade but only departed after having whispered once more “I added a few drops of fermented pineapple juice”
“Thank you” she whispered back with a smile.
She then turned to the unicorn next to her, all her lessons in conversation kicking in but this time in a less robotic way.
“Ms. Varenity” she began with as genuine of a smile as she could muster. “I do believe it is well past midnight and the majority of your guests are still present”
This seemed to brighten the mare’s mood and she straightened her posture, as a puppy would wag its tail at its owner’s sight.
“Yes, I do suppose this has been one of my more successful events” she grinned for a second before quivering back to a frown. “Forgive me princess, I’ve just had such a long day.” It was true, Celestia was certain. Planning a party for royalty was one of the most taxing events in Canterlot, especially after the decease of Veronica’s late husband. It just now occurred to Celestia how this party might have been a last attempt at saving the families fortune and name. Her approval of anything nowadays seemed show loudly.
“I have to say Ms.Varenity; this has been a most pleasant celebration. I would however be most intruiged at where its inspiration came from.”
“Well, I throw parties regularly princess. It helps to meet up with the nobles of this fine city…”
Celestia saw that a real answer wasn’t going to be acquired from the mare
“I see, it is really a very privileged city don’t you think?”
“Oh well of course, princess! It is the most beautiful city in all Equestria, unrivaled.” The mare eagerly replied
“Yes, I do recall your grandfather was very fond at the sight”
The mare looked a lighter shade of velvet, “oh yes, I’m sure…any pony would”
“He was such a refined stallion as I recall, he worked hard for every penny. If it hadn’t been for his determination to stay within the nobles he would have never met your grandmother”
“Grandmother saved my family from a dreadful life”
“Very dedicated indeed, just as he signed off all his properties in her name”
The mare sat ridged “My princess! I didn’t know, I-“
“It’s alright”
A stallion approached them, one of the nobles whom presented themselves as if they were of the very court.
Ms. Verenity gulped down her drink in a façade of ease.
“My dear princess, the crowd grows weary of your absence!” he exclaimed “do forgive me, but you should present yourself soon. As for you Ms. Verenity, your guests are quit eager to mingle within the ballroom once more”
“Oh, err uh yes, I will address them right away” she quickly scurried away, almost missing a beat in her stride
Celestia felt her insides churn. She had dreaded the idea of going back all evening. She was cowardly, but still that thought was not enough to drive her. She quietly set the glass down and braced her way towards the veranda
“Princess, where are you going? Your subjects await you!” The sound of the stallions voice nearly startled her as a filly might he startled of getting caught, this made her feel silly as it was clear her position was not of a filly,
“I will sir caldron, please excuse yourself” so the stallion left at her will with ought another word
….but she was like a filly
Out in the cold air there was a liberty she could not hold in the shared oxygen within. She felt spiders run down her body, a careless thought entering as it had many nights before, one she had seldom dared to acknowledge.
What if I ran away?
Away was a dangerous word, away where?
Away she had traveled, to every corner in Equestria, with escort of course
Away were the borders met other worlds, she hadn’t crossed these boundaries without countless escorts at her side since the forming of Equestria
Away she had flown with her *sister***
Celestia, unconscious of her movement began to walk forward into the valley
Away, wherever they flew, free
Far far they went and never stopped, hardly caring for the dangers they might face,
They had each other
Walking became a quit trot and a trot became a gallop
Free of meaningless troubles, where they were left to face themselves
Five years and a decade or so and still love burned in her heart
And so she would meet her again, despite anyone’s plight
Fast as her mind allowed her, far as the moonlight would carry her
She would run