Balloons and Twinkling Stars
The hour was near at long last.
Feathers of midnight blue fluffed gaily. Luna let her eyes sweep over the room before her like a falcon eyeing up its prey. Everything was in place. Decorations with all the colors of the rainbow—and perhaps a few extra—lit up her suite’s small dining area like the Northern Lights. A spread that would surely be the envy of every noblepony’s grandest parties was laid out on a long table, with cakes and sweets the likes which could only come from the castle’s kitchen staff.
Everything had been set perfectly. Her guards, confused though they were, provided her with everything she required to make the night’s festivities possible.
Luna suppressed the urge to nicker happily. She will love it, the princess thought, contented with her labor, and turned to trot from the room. She tugged the door closed with an absentminded pull of her magic, then made her way down the corridor toward the main stairwell. Torches were lit along the wall. All the planters in the castle had been filled early with jasmine to help the daytime staff and, more importantly, her sister, enjoy a deep, restful sleep.
Perhaps an odd way to declare affection, yes. But when making her intent to court such an unconventional, happy-go-lucky, all around off-the-wall mare, one had to take such things into account.
Indeed, she would no doubt find my preferred way rather dull. Luna spared herself a short laugh. “Though, I suppose my way is about a thousand or so years out of date. Where would I even find a minstrel these days?”
Sparing a nod to a pair of her House Guard posted at the bottom of the stairwell, never breaking her stride, Luna trotted into the foyer. She could see the doors open with soft moonlight filtering in from outside along with the twinkling of stars in her beautiful night sky. Typically, she would take such a quiet moment between duties to appreciate her own artwork, the greatest gift she could give to her ponies.
Tonight, however, her attention was on the little pink speck bouncing—yes, actually bouncing—up the path to the grand entrance. With every bounce, the little speck drew closer, growing more defined as not merely any speck, but a happy mare.
The same happy mare whose arrival Luna had waiting on with such eagerness, such desire she had been counting down the seconds.
Luna stopped in the doorway and heaved a sigh, swishing her starry tail. “Oh, if I could bottle her happiness and energy, it would create a light as great as the moon itself,” she noted. Her teal eyes followed Pinkie Pie as she halted her approach and cast a wave at a few guards patrolling the gardens, belting out a merry greeting that made even Luna wince.
“Perhaps,” Luna mused as Pinkie resumed her bouncy approach, “we should see if she somehow possesses the Royal Canterlot Voice. Her volume is certainly impressive.”
As were her singing voice, her talent for creating songs on a whim, her boundless joy and energy with which she entertained those around her, how readily she could put together a party spread the likes of which nopony wanted for anything …
And her eyes.
Heavens above, such lovely eyes which shone with vitality and bore her happy soul for all to see.
Oh, how Luna wished to simply steal her away from Ponyville and hold her tight in a warm embrace, safe in her powerful hooves and soft, downy feathers. Now more than ever, but there were many nights before, two in particular, where it truly began.
Her ancient mind began to wander, as it often did. For once not toward the mistakes of the past, but to the mare who sparked a light in her life not seen since her younger years.
Another day, another early evening spent laboring to bring a night of peaceful sleep to those who dwelled in Canterlot Castle.
In the years since her banishment, Luna had grown quite used to her routine. Even though she never received any vocal thanks or appreciation, she remained diligent despite the nagging feelings building like a stormcloud in the back of her mind. At least, not until that squabble with Celestia forced Starlight to intervene.
A note of embarrassment crept into her chest. If such a thing had happened in their fillyhood days, it would have been excusable. By the stars, if it had happened a mere thousand years ago, it could have been put up as additional baggage leading to her fall. Or perhaps such trivial argument could, in theory, have led to a heartfelt talk like the one they had just a few short weeks prior.
Oh, if such “if only” musings could be reality. Those thousand years she spent imprisoned would have instead passed at her beloved sister’s side.
Thankfully, the argument had been settled. Celestia had made a point to approach her every night after she finished her meetings, offer a tender hug, and word of thanks before heading off to bed.
It made her chest swell.
But there was still a sizable part of her that longed for some companionship with whom to pass the night, aside from her House Guard, of course. Her foals in gilded dress were wonderful, playful scamps in their own right—foals always were, even in her younger days—but Luna desired somepony she could hold dear, as Cadence had Shining Armor or Twilight Sparkle had her friends.
Both, if possible. Though Luna would happily take the latter and call it a mark in her favor.
Checking one last time to make sure all the planters on the second floor had been filled, Luna gave a satisfied nod and turned with a merry swish of her tail and strode down the familiar path leading to her suite. A brief respite would be required this night—in fact, a few chapters of a book and a glass or two of cabernet might be warranted to help make things move along more quickly.
She took hold of the door handle in her magic’s grip and unlocked the latch, then strode into her room. Purely by habit, she glanced around to appreciate the old Gothic style décor, her lovely gargoyles, and the paintings of an age of ponies long forgotten, depictions of fey, bats in flight, and a host of creatures who danced and flitted about in the night.
Instead she saw brightness and colors. Streamers twisted and twined their way along the walls, balloons floated about and bumped against her sides, and before her stood a long table with—oh, heavens, where had such a spread come from?
Luna wrinkled her snout. “Either somepony is having me on,” she said aloud, “or Tia has indulged yet another flight of whimsy from our younger years and is convincing ponies that my birthday is everyday.”
There was a loud bang and a chorus of shrill whirring noises. Luna nearly leapt out of her horseshoes and whirled about just in time to see a tidal wave of multicolored paper arc across the room and fluttered down to rest all over the floor, her gargoyles, and her pristine midnight blue coat.
And at the center of it all, wearing a party hat and a grin that nearly split her happy face, stood a mare she knew quite well.
“Surprise!” Pinkie Pie cheered, her fluffy mane bouncing as she reared up and threw her hooves wide like a magician after a trick.
“Pink—ack!” Luna spat out a mouthful of confetti. “Pinkie Pie!”
Giggling, Pinkie bounded over and swept Luna up in a hug, nearly lifting her off the ground. Quite an impressive feat for a mare of her stature. “Hiya, Luna!” she chirped as she began to bounce around the startled princess in a circle. “How’s the bestest, most fun Princess of Night in all Equestria?”
Luna’s first instinct was to ask what other Princesses of Night she might know and just how she bore the qualifications to judge who was the “bestest, most fun” among their number. But then she remembered with whom she was conversing and let out a deep sigh. She forced a smile. “I am well, Pinkie Pie. What, might I ask, are you doing in Canterlot today? I was not informed of any visits.”
Her comment spurred another bout of giggles. “There’s no planned visits!” she sang. “I’m here all by myself to visit you!” Pinkie added a bright grin to her reply. “So what do you think? I made it all myself!”
“I—you what?” Blinking, Luna turned to let her eyes sweep over the spread. There were no less than three dozen cupcakes, two bowls of chips, different dips, a bowl of punch, and even a few rather fine brands of cider, with Sweet Apple Acres’s label displayed in the forefront.
Her first assumption had been correct, yet incorrect. It was indeed a party for her. But not of Celestia’s mischievous design.
Pinkie had planned and executed it by her lonesome.
For her.
Perplexed, Luna returned her gaze to Pinkie Pie, who stood bouncing eagerly, no doubt awaiting her joyous reply.
Instead all the Princess of Night could manage was a simple utterance, “Why?”
“Why not?” Pinkie countered. Her grin faltered a touch. “Starlight and Twilight told us about how much you wanted somepony to appreciate the work you did every night, and how you never had anypony to spend time with after Princess Celestia and all the staff ponies went to bed.” Slowly, her smile vanished entirely. “It made me think a lot about how sad and lonely you must have been for all that time, so I wanted to do something to make you happy.”
“I—” Luna paused, her eyes flitted from Pinkie to the table and back again. “I do appreciate your effort, but my fight with Celestia is over. There is no need to—”
“It’s not for the fight. It’s for you. And look!” Pinkie pointed toward the cupcakes. “I even put little stars and moons on the cupcakes, and made them with a special frosting mix my granny used to make.”
Midnight ears twitched. Luna arched a brow and trotted over to appraise Pinkie’s work. Sure enough, each cupcake bore a cluster of stars or the image of one of the many phases of her beautiful moon—she even managed to do quite an admirable job depicting some of Luna’s favorite constellations!
So much work! So much detail!
All for her.
Luna felt her feathers fluff. “All of this,” she said softly, “because you do not wish for me to feel lonely?”
Pinkie bobbed her head. “Everypony should have somepony to spend time with. So I thought I could do something nice and be that pony for you.”
Her ancient heart skipped a beat. Luna sucked in her lips, desperately trying to hide a grin of her own. “I would be … delighted,” she said slowly. “Though I must warn you, I will need to spend several hours watching over ponies’ dreams to guard them from nightmares.”
“Oh that’s fine!” Pinkie bounced higher than before. “I can be really, really quiet if you need! Or, or! I could be really, really, really immobile!” As soon as the word left her mouth, Pinkie froze in place—not moving, not blinking. She just stood there, as stiff as a board until she finally toppled over.
Luna couldn’t help but throw her head back and laugh. “Nay, I do not require that much dedication, but I do thank your thoughtfulness.” Thinking on it a moment, she hummed as an idea came to her. She levitated Pinkie off the ground and brought her close enough to wrap in a soft downy embrace. “Rather, I feel there is something you could do to help me this night.”
Pinkie gasped, her eyes went as wide as dinner plates and dazzled link twinkling stars. “Really?” she asked.
“Verily.” A knowing smile played upon her lips. “I sometimes require some … inspiration to bring ponies out of their frights. Somepony who specializes in making others happy might be a great boon to my cause. Would you know anypony with such talent?”
With a happy squeal, Pinkie flailed her hooves and wagged her tail like a happy puppy. “Me! Me! It’s me! I make ponies happy alllllllllll the time!”
“So I have heard. Then tonight, you will join me in the dream realm. But first—” she gently turned Pinkie about in her magic so she could face the fruits of her own labor “—I require assistance in dealing with this.”
A pink blur hit Luna full in the chest, sending her back a step or two. Four limbs latched upon her in a vice grip as if trying to squeeze the very breath from her lungs.
The attempt was valiant. But Luna was made of far more grit than this pony would ever know.
With an amused smile, she looked down to find herself met with that broad grin and dazzling blue eyes. “Good evening, Pinkie Pie,” she greeted warmly.
“Hiya, Lu-Lu-Luna!” Pinkie chirped in reply.
Wrinkling her snout, Luna detached her with a gentle shove. “I thought we agreed that you would never use my sister’s accursed pet name for me again.”
“We did! And that wasn’t it! Princess Celestia calls you Lulu, I call you Lu-Lu-Luna! There are hyphens and capitals in mine, hers is just the one word.”
Luna rolled her eyes. “It would appear that I have been outwitted,” she quipped, a crooked smile playing upon her lips. “I hope you have been well since your last visit.”
“Oh, yeah! I’ve been great! I mean, it’s been a bit busy in Ponyville with all the parties! You wouldn’t believe just how many I’ve gotten to organize this year!” True to form, Pinkie took her own cue and launched into a rapid-fire summarization of all those she’d planned in the last two weeks.
In full detail, no less.
Luna didn’t interrupt Pinkie’s tale, rather she simply motioned the excitable mare to follow along as they trotted toward the stairs. And through it all, she smiled.
Why shouldn’t she smile? There were a hundred and one reasons to smile when Pinkie Pie came to call upon her.
A hundred and one memories to light up her nights.
Even if they could be more than a bit silly in hindsight.
Pulsing lights and whirring noises one could only call music by the loosest use of the word assaulted her senses. Luna pressed her ears flat against her scalp, squinting to try to protect her poor eyes from the searching strobe lights. Ponies adorned with glowing plastic tubes around their necks, ankles, and, if they were feeling particularly innovative, their manes and tails jostled and brushed against her in their excitement to get to the stand.
Of course, if they had any idea that the shy little mare barely in her twenty somethings was actually Princess Luna in disguise, they wouldn’t be so quick to brush her off. No, they would scrape and bow and greet her with the difference her station deserved.
But Pinkie insisted she try something fun and new, with no princess-y things (Pinkie’s words, not hers), which meant it was time to bring out a disguise she hadn’t used since she was two or three centuries old: a young mare with powder blue coat with a purple star cutie mark that matched her mane, which she opted to portray in splendorous curls that flowed past her shoulders.
A mane which, Pinkie was happy to point out, bounced with each step and really brought out her eyes.
Luna felt she could be forgiven for having to hide the coloring of her cheeks at the memory. “Are you truly certain of this idea of yours?” she asked for what must have been the twentieth time that evening.
Pinkie was at her side, bouncing as always. “Yep, yep, yep! This is gonna be just oodles of fun!” She stopped bouncing long enough to prance in place. “You’ll have a great time once you get your legs under you. Roller skating is the most fun way to zip around ever!”
With an uncertain, keening whine, Luna let her eyes wander past the stand to the throng of young ponies cruising around on the skating floor. Each wore smiles and laughed along with their friends, family, and lovers, even those who were forced to lean against one another for support lest they lose their balance and fall hard on the wooden floor.
And those who did fall simply winced and rubbed the pain away before laughing at their own misfortune and trying to rise again.
How bold of them. Luna knew for certain if it were she falling over herself in front of everypony, she would bury her face in her wings and hide until the laughter stopped.
But then again, she wasn’t Luna right now. Not to them at least. To everypony else, she was just some shy little mare who had come to the roller skating rink with her friend to learn and have fun.
Pinkie tugged her along by her foreleg, all but dragging her to stand before the ticket and rental stand. She placed several bits on the counter and said, “Two tickets and sets of roller skates, please!”
The attendant, a young stallion wearing a white collar and red bowtie, bobbed his head. He accepted her bits in exchange for a pair of tickets, then reached behind his counter to retrieve two sets of strange horseshoes with wheels upon the bottom. “Here you go,” he replied happily. “These should fit just fine. Have a good time!”
Chirping her thanks, Pinkie accepted the roller skates and resumed dragging Luna along, this time guiding her to one of the few empty tables, just big enough for two ponies to sit at and share a snack. Or, in this case, to tie their skates. “Sit right here, Lu-Lu-Luna!” sang the bouncy mare as she held out Luna’s skates. “And put these on!”
Luna stared at the offending hoofware as if she feared it might bite her nose. Then she glanced up at Pinkie Pie. “Pray tell, this is not some elaborate ruse to return my prank from our last night together is it? T’was only a cake.”
Pinkie giggled. “Of course not, silly! That was a good one! I want to do this with you because roller skating is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it!”
“Apologies, but I fail to see how exposing myself to such a vulnerable state—” as she spoke, a young mare toppled over, knocking her boyfriend flat on his backside “—that I might embarrass myself as they, can be constituted as fun in any sense of the word.”
Almost as soon as the words left her lips, she regretted them. Those big blue eyes grew wider, Luna swore she detected a slight shimmer, as if tears were beginning to pool within them.
Luna grimaced, a pang shot through her chest. She couldn’t bear to see Pinkie upset. Worse, the bouncy little mare knew it all too well and knew just how to play her.
And it worked every time.
With a sigh, Luna took hold of the skates in her magic and set about putting them on, muttering curses older than the Gryphon Kingdoms under her breath all the while. She heard the unmistakable happy squeal she knew would follow her submission, followed by a bone-crushing hug before Pinkie quickly put her own on.
Once they finished, Pinkie leaped to her hooves and landed with perfect balance. “C’mon, Luna!” she called. “Try standing up slowly!”
Stand up slowly? Well, that was easy enough. Luna moved to rise from her seat as normal, setting her forehooves on the ground and then pushing up with her hind legs—and promptly found herself unable to gain purchase. Her hooves slipped and rolled out from under her, she felt her knees wobble and knock together as she toppled forward—
Straight into Pinkie Pie’s waiting hooves. “I told you to take it slow,” Pinkie scolded, her mock severity ruined by a fit of giggles. “You gotta bend your knees a little, or you’ll over balance.”
“’Tis not so simple!” Luna retorted.
“It’s not, but it’ll help. Right now, you’re too jittery and nervous whenever they roll. It takes practice.” Pinkie somehow managed to shimmy her way around to Luna’s side so she could gently pull her toward the wooden skating floor. “C’mon.”
Luna tried to stop, but couldn’t figure out how. Those wretched skates had only tiny rubber circles on the front of her shoe, but she didn’t dare attempt to lean forward. “I—I do not think this is such a good idea! Perhaps we might try something else!” she babbled as they drew closer. “Bowling was fun, was it not? Pray, can we not venture to the lanes on Canter Corner again? I will give oath not to embed another ball in the wall.”
“That can be next time! Tonight, we skate!” Pinkie zipped behind her with enviable grace and rolled her the rest of the way to the floor.
Treachery! her mind shrieked. Luna tried to backpedal to no avail, her tail tucked firmly between her legs as Pinkie Pie pushed her along. With every motion she tried to make for herself, her hooves slipped out from under her. Only the grace and aid of her dear friend saved her from injury and humiliation.
“Relax,” Pinkie said. “Bend your knees and push out to the side to move forward. Like this.” She showed the motion, a strange kick that didn’t quite seem natural, but it pushed her, and Luna, along the floor.
Biting her lip, Luna made what she felt was a noble attempt, but only succeeded in sending herself stumbling forward. Rather than laugh, Pinkie was there to catch and set her right, offer encouragement, and spur her onward.
Their first circuit around the floor passed in this fashion. Luna stumbling and nearly falling, Pinkie catching and patiently offering advice and encouragement. The little mare never laughed, never mocked her once. There wasn’t even a hint of amusement or mischief in her eyes those brief moments she had to zip around and catch Luna before her chin met the floor.
And oh, did their eyes meet. For those brief moments, those precious seconds, Luna could feel her heart attempt to migrate to her throat. Her wings rustled and fluffed of their own volition.
By the second, she managed to take little steps without wobbling. By the third, Pinkie had stopped pushing entirely, remaining by her side only to ensure that she didn’t fall.
Slowly but surely, a smile blossomed across her muzzle. Luna felt her chest fill with joy as she skated with Pinkie, her tail swishing in time with that strange, whirring noise blaring forth from the speakers. It didn’t matter how horrible the sound was or offensive the lighting might have been.
She was with Pinkie.
The bright grin upon her friend’s face was infectious. Luna let one of her own spread across her cheeks as she began to take more adventurous strides rather than the little foal steps she’d been taking for several laps. She laughed along with Pinkie as she stumbled a couple times, but managed to stay upright, more at her own surprised squeaks than the actual act.
Beads of sweat began to roll down her face as the heat began to choke the air in the room. The rink was packed with moving ponies laughing and jostling about on the wooden surface. Luna noted several times when she saw members of the younger crowd exit the floor in search of something to drink. Licking her lips and getting a hint of salty bite, she turned to ask Pinkie if she might like to do the same so they might rest for a bit.
Naturally, that was when it happened.
Her forehoof and hind hoof skates clacked together, the wheels interlocked and wouldn’t come apart. With a startled yelp, she stumbled forward. She felt Pinkie try to catch her, but far too late. Her left shoulder hit the floor hard and caused her to roll, dragging Pinkie down in a tangle of flailing limbs. Momentum carried the mares into a brief roll that ended with Luna atop Pinkie, their noses touching and chests heaving.
They were silent for a brief moment. Luna bit her lip, her mind raced faster than lightning to formulate an apology, worried that her friend might be angry for being knocked over in such a manner.
Then Pinkie burst out laughing and let her head lay against the floor. “Y-You—teehee!—should’ve heard the sound you made! Or the—hahaha!—look on your face!”
Or she would … laugh?
Warmth flooded Luna’s chest. That smile tugged at her lips again, her heart began to race. Outwardly, she did her best to fix Pinkie with a playful glare. “Laughing at me when I have you pinned?” she asked, her horn glowed teal. Tendrils of magic began to snake their way around Pinkie’s barrel, gently caressing her sides and belly. “I think a lesson in proper strategy might be warranted. So, please, let us see you laugh at me now!”
Shrieking and writhing, Pinkie howled and tried to escape the tickling sensation. Tears of mirth streamed down her face as she babbled pleas of mercy through peals of musical laughter. Such beautiful laughter to go with a wonderful smile.
It was in that moment, with Pinkie at her mercy in the middle of that skating rink that Luna finally grasped her feelings. She knew exactly what she wanted.
This. Every night. This feeling with Pinkie at her side.
Right now, she felt, would be a perfect opportunity to profess her affections … but perhaps too public. Such a thing should be more intimate, with planning and proper venue taken into account.
The wheels in her ancient mind began to turn, Luna paused to allow Pinkie a brief respite as she settled on her goal. In my day, flowers and candlelit dinner would suffice for any mare, she mused. But Pinkie Pie is not simply any mare. A slight alteration to the norm may be necessary. It must be perfect.
Beneath her, Pinkie began to try to wriggle her way free, freezing in place when Luna gave a fake cough.
“Escaping your punishment?” Luna teased, tightening her magic’s grip, though carefully so not to squeeze the air from her lungs. The tickling would take care of that well enough. “Methinks not.”
“—So I’m really sorry I couldn’t come up last week, but I just couldn’t miss the twins’ fifth birthday! What sort of aunt would I be if I did that?” Pinkie wailed, horrified at the mere thought.
A terrible one, apparently. Luna chuckled. “Far be it from me to find fault in spending time with young Pound and Pumpkin. A fifth birthday only comes once, after all.” She paused a moment, then cast a playful wink. “Or does it count as twice with twins?”
Pinkie seemed to think on it a moment. Then she let out a big gasp. “Oh. My. Gosh! You’re right!” She gave a merry squeal. “Why didn’t I think of this before? Why didn’t you tell me you had such posilutely, stuperrific party ideas?”
Luna arched a brow. “Perhaps because I was uncertain that I could ever match your talents, dear mare. However…” She stopped before her suite door and gestured toward it. “That remains to be seen. Are you ready to see what I have planned for us this night?”
Another happy squeal sounded from the back of her throat. Soft, kissable pink lips curved into a wide grin. “Yes, yes, yes! I want to know!” The smaller mare bounced in place, her body seemed to vibrate with unshed energy. Almost as though she might burst into a cloud of confetti and party favors.
With a flash of magic, Luna unlocked the door and pushed it open. “After you then, my dear,” she said softly, waving her hoof. Scarcely had the words escaped left her lips before Pinkie shot forward like she’d been fired out of a cannon, zipping straight into the room.
Oh, this lovely mare! Shaking her head, Luna stepped inside and closed the door behind her to give a little bit of privacy. Her eyes were trained on Pinkie Pie as she gaped at the scene before her.
The grandest of parties. Balloons, streamers, confetti, snacks, and delicious drinks. And most telling of all, that tray of cupcakes, all bearing colors all too familiar for Ponyville’s resident party planner. Pink, fuchsia, and an image of three happy balloons—two blue, one yellow.
Pinkie Pie’s cutie mark.
Sucking in her lips, Pinkie did her best to stem another squeal that threatened to escape. “Can I?” she squeaked before clamping down again.
Luna nodded in appreciation of her politeness, one of the few battles she’d managed to win. “This time, you are my guest. You may eat first.”
Quickly darting over to wrap Luna in a tight hug, Pinkie bounced over and selected a cupcake from the nearest tray, gobbling it down in a blur. Then she grabbed a second. Then a third.
Only when the fourth was in her hoof, a mere hair’s breadth from her lips, did she stop. Her ears twitched. Pinkie tilted her head, then began to slowly turn to face Luna again. Confusion was written plain upon her face.
Then the tiniest of smiles tugged at her lips. “When I came and made a party in your room,” she said, “I did it because I didn’t want you to be alone all night.”
“You did, yes.” Luna nodded once. “For which I am grateful.”
“Sooooo …” Pinkie waggled her ears. “Why do I get this party?”
Why?
As she said ages ago, why not?
But then again, there was a specific reason. One that spurred Luna to approach her confused friend slowly, with a sway in her hips and a swish in her tail. Her feathers fluffed, her eyes were locked with Pinkie Pie’s as she drew in close, so their noses were almost touching.
She let out a shaky breath, then murmured, “So I may offer you all of me.” Luna closed the distance, capturing Pinkie’s lips in a tender, sweet kiss—made more so by the icing lingering upon them.
The younger mare squeaked, dropping her cupcake in surprise. Sky blue eyes were as wide as dinner plates, her ears stood erect, a hot breath washed over Luna’s face.
They parted all too soon for Luna’s taste. She licked her lips, her heart hammered in her ears. “If you’ll have me,” she added.
It wasn’t the first time a happy pink blur bowled her over and caught her in an inescapable embrace.
But it was the first that came with a kiss.
And, oh, how sweet it was.
