The streets of Canterlot were empty. Where there was normally bustling activity in the majestic mountain city, was now nothing but silence. It was a different night. Usually, ponies celebrated here until long after sunset, but in this night, most of the population gathered elsewhere, in the castle to the north, right outside the gates.
The moon's light shone down brightly on the streets and buildings, bathing everything into a light so silvery, that it seemed like even the celestial body was trying to make everything look elegant and fancy for this special night.
A small shadow suddenly crept around the corner of one of the buildings, its steps slow and hesitant, but clearly following a certain direction. As it left the comforting protection of the building's wall and stepped out onto the broad street that led to the north, the silver light revealed a filly.
Scootaloo looked around nervously. She kept creeping along the street, aiming for the massive gate in the distance, which she could only see because of the light of two torches that were hung up left and right of it. The dress she was wearing rustled with each of her steps. A few times, Scootaloo almost tripped over it and each time, she wished that nopony would see her like that, even though she knew that this wish was impossible to get fulfilled in this night.
This night, was the night of the Grand Galloping Gala. The gala was considered the most important event of the year in Canterlot and the reason why the mountain city seemed so devoid of life in this night. Meeting another pony right now was a very unlikely thing, which was a comforting fact, but the thought that, soon, a lot of ponies would see her like this, made Scootaloo highly uncomfortable.
Sighing, the filly decreased her pace even more. She was now practically crawling through the streets, tempo of a grub and head ducked low. She hated wearing dresses and she usually avoided the Grand Galloping Gala for that very reason, that mares and fillies like her were expected to show up in a proper gala dress. Dresscodes weren't her thing, especially not if it meant that she had to wear a girly and kitschy dress like the average filly would. Scootaloo was different. She liked cool things; flying through Cloudsdale and practicing daring and sometimes dangerous stunts in the air. Goggles and flight suits or maybe even some armor, but not dresses. It just wasn't her style.
Of course, she also liked her idols: The Wonderbolts, the embodiments of coolness and style.
And, ironically, the Wonderbolts were the reason why she made an exception this year. This year, the gala had a Wonderbolts Airshow on the programme and if she wanted to see it, she had to be near the castle. Unfortunately, the whole area beyond the northern gate had been declared as gala grounds by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
Scootaloo didn't know whether this was to prevent ponies from seeing the show without paying for a gala ticket or to give the guests enough space around the castle and in the huge castle garden to retreat from the party and spend some time alone with their special someponies without the risk of travellers who came from Cloudsdale disturbing them. But whatever the reason was, it meant that she had to attend the gala if she wanted to see the show. So she had saved up her pocket money months in advance and annoyed her parents until they finally gave in and allowed her to go.
Now she was here, the big night had come, and she was wearing the old blossom dress her parents had given her as a birthday gift years ago and that she had only worn once. But instead of being thankful for having the dress, as it came really useful now since she could not have afforded buying one for the gala, Scootaloo felt weirded out and disgusted by it. It almost made her turn around and leave, taking the long way home to Cloudsdale, through the dangerous Heartlands and past the spooky animal graveyard that scared her so much every time her parents took her on vacation in Midway Village. But every time she had decided to leave, her desire to see the Wonderbolts flared up again and she kept trotting.
Finally arrived at the gate, after what felt like a journey of many moons' length, the guards scrutinized Scootaloo sternly. Both of them had a blue coat that was bordering on black. It would have made them almost invisible in the darkness of the night, if it weren't for the two torches near them. Lunar guards. The strict expressions in their eyes made Scootaloo shiver. After both of them were sure that Scootaloo was a genuine attendee of the gala, one of them addressed her finally.
“Gala ticket?” he asked, his voice harsh and rough.
“Right here!” Scootaloo said, reaching into a pocket at the side of her dress. She hoofed him the ticket.
As concentrated as he had scrutinized her before, the lunar guard scrutinized the ticket now. He seemed to scan every spot of the ticket with his eyes, then turned the ticket a few times, before he used his horn and burnt a picture of the moon on the empty space at the bottom. He gave it back to her and Scootaloo stashed it safely in her pocket again.
“Eligible,” the guard said taut. “Welcome to the Grand Galloping Gala.” His voice failed at conveying any excitement. He lifted his spear off the door and his partner did likewise. Scootaloo gave them a quick nod, then she opened the gate and slipped through it.
On the other side, she looked around. The cobblestone path in front of her was bright, illuminated by street lamps that were lined up at the side of it. The little, yellow flames behind the glass danced eerily, which gave Scootaloo a small shudder. She nodded at the other two guards that were stationed at this side of the city walls and then set herself into motion.
Slowly and just as hesitant as before, she trotted up the hill, her hooves making a rhythmic clopping sound on the cobblestones. Music and chatter and the occasional, cheerful shouts found their way into her ears, getting louder and louder the closer she got to the castle. The sounds had something intoxicating and, without realizing it, Scootaloo quickened her tempo more and more because of them.
Finally, after a significantly shorter amount of time, Scootaloo stood in front of the white stairs that led up to the castle. Now hesitant again, she creeped up on them, head low and eyes darting around nervously. A blush appeared on her face, as the first ponies came into her view, knowing that she was in their view, as well, now.
As she had reached the top of the stairs and stood on the wide, open space of the lower castle terrace, Scootaloo felt the heat of embarrassment coursing through her body. And, worse than that, seeing the happy gala guests around her, it painfully reminded her on it that she was here all alone.
Of course, it hadn't been planned like this. She wanted to attend the gala with her best friend as partner, a unicorn filly named Dinky Hooves who lived here in Canterlot. But, unfortunately, her parents just had to ground her in this one of all nights, after a dumb magic stunt that resulted in uprooted trees and bruises on Dinky's body. It was a cruel decision, but despite all the tears Dinky had cried when she begged them to let her go, her parents did not change their minds. It caused a twinge in Scootaloo's heart as she thought on it that Dinky was at home right now, probably sitting in her dark room and either crying or listening to music while she lied depressed on her bed. Her own mood wasn't much better.
Scootaloo sighed, then she let her eyes wander over the party guests, checking if somepony was already looking at her, possibly to make fun of it that a daredevil filly like her had to squeeze herself into a dress like this. Nothing like this happened, though, and Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief as she realized that all guests were too busy with themselves or their partners to even notice her.
Still feeling strong hesitation, Scootaloo began to wander around between the solemnizing and dancing ponies, to see who attended the gala and if there were any familiar faces. After a few minutes, Scootaloo found herself at the bottom of the second flight of stairs, that led to the upper terrace and the entrance of the castle. Princess Luna and Princess Celestia stood there, greeting ponies who had just arrived, their postures regal. Princess Cadance was nowhere to be seen but, to Scootaloo's surprise, Princess Flurry Heart stood at Princess Luna's side. The young princess looked over the ponies beyond her, longing in her eyes, and a bored expression in her face. She sighed.
“Princess Flurry Heart?” Scootaloo whispered. “I did not expect to see her here, it's a long travel from the Crystal Empire. I wonder where her mom is?”
Scootaloo barely knew Princess Flurry Heart. She sometimes visited Canterlot and Scootaloo had seen her a few times in the mountain city when she was here to meet Dinky, but there had never been a reason for her to talk to the royal filly. But, this was something Scootaloo had noticed while checking out the gala guests, there were barely any other foals at the gala, so she decided to say at least hello.
Careful to not trip over her dress again, Scootaloo trotted up the stairs slowly, until she stopped in front of the princess. “Hi, Princess Flurry Heart!” she said, then lowered her body and bowed down in front of her.
“Oh! Hello, Scootaloo!” she responded, surprised. Then she shifted uncomfortably. “B-But p-please don't do this.....” she added in a whisper.
But Scootaloo heard it. “Do what?” she asked, blinking in confusion.
“Oh.....” More uncomfortable shifting by the princess. “N-Nevermind, it's nothing.....” her high voice whispered again, after she shot a glance at the princess of the night. Even quieter now, she added “How are you?” She let her ears drop as she saw Scootaloo turning away from her and trotting down the stairs again, apparently having missed her question.
Taking the other way back to the entrance of the terrace to check out the rest of the ponies who had come, Scootaloo finally spotted a pony in the distance she had been looking for. Near the first flight of stairs, Equestria's famous party planner, Holiday Cheer, and the one who had organized the gala, was dancing. Scootaloo approached her.
“Hey, Holiday Cheer, finally I found you,” she said, smiling. The party mare was not unfamiliar to her. She was planning parties all over Equestria and Scootaloo had been to quite a few of them.
The mare stopped dancing and turned at Scootaloo. “Hey, Scoots, you look good!” she answered, her voice as high and shrill as ever. She waved at her, which Scootaloo answered with a wave on her own.
“Thanks,” Scootaloo replied. Then she bucked with her right back hoof a little. “Not quite my style, though.” She scrunched her face.
For a while, Scootaloo joined Holiday Cheer for a dance, until the mare left to welcome new arrivals. After a few minutes of dancing alone, Scootaloo felt a rumble in her stomach, which reminded her that she hadn't much for dinner. Seeking out the party mare again, who now danced in a different corner of the terrace, she asked her about the buffet.
“Let me show you,” she said and led her to a big buffet table at the left side of the terrace. “Food is right here,” she explained, then left again to tend to other guests.
As she was gone, Scootaloo began checking out the table, her eyes growing big as they fell on the contents of it.
“Hmm, cupcakes, muffins, apples, pie, chocolate cake, even cheese! And so many colorful sandwiches!” Scootaloo spoke in awe. She grabbed one of the sandwiches, bit into it and groaned in delight. “At least I get good snacks for having to wear this dress all the time,” she mumbled.
Quietly and sunken in thoughts, Scootaloo chewed away at her sandwich. As she had swallowed down the last piece of it, a thought entered her mind. It came sudden and unexpected, but was so logical that Scootaloo wondered why she didn't think of doing that before. She brushed the crumbs from her hooves and trotted over the terrace, between the dancing ponies, and back to the stairs that led to the upper terrace. Swiftly, she trotted up on them and back to Princess Flurry Heart.
“Hey, Princess Flurry Heart?” she asked her.
“Oh! Yes, Scoots?” The royal filly stopped dancing and looked at Scootaloo. There was an expectant look in her eyes.
“Do you have a partner for the gala?” Scootaloo voiced the thought that had come to her so suddenly.
Princess Flurry Heart dropped her ears and looked sad to the ground. “Ah..... I don't. That's why I've been with my aunties all the time.”
Where Princess Flurry Heart was sad, Scootaloo suddenly felt the exact opposite. She beamed at the princess. “Can I be your partner? I would have loved to come with my friend Dinky, but her parents grounded her for tonight.” Having explained herself, Scootaloo's lips pointed downwards again.
Now it was the young princess who showed a happy expression. She smiled. “I'd love to be gala partners with you, Scoots!” She reared up a little, full of joy.
Despite her epiphany that Princess Flurry Heart probably had no partner for the gala, Scootaloo didn't reckon that the princess would be interested in becoming her gala partner, so the agreement took her by surprise.
“Really?! YAY! Thanks so much!” She smiled, then reared up in joy herself.
“Hehe! The pleasure's all mine!” Princess Flurry Heart giggled. “Just, one thing.....” Her face took on a pleading expression. “Please, just call me 'Flurry Heart', okay? Not 'princess'.”
“Oh..... Okay!” Scootaloo nodded, feeling sheepish now.
Flurry Heart's face became instantly even more cheerful than it was before. “Alright, now let's dance!” she shouted, then started to move her hooves to the music.
“Yeah, let's dance!” Scootaloo shouted, too. She gave Flurry Heart a smile, then joined her dance.
Overjoyed, the two fillies danced to one song after another. Apparently, as Scootaloo found out, this was Flurry Heart's very first Grand Galloping Gala, just like it was the case for her! After a while, Scootaloo began to wonder if Princess Cadance was around somewhere, too.
“Are you here with your mom, Flurry?” she asked the young princess, curious.
Not stopping her dance, Flurry Heart shook her head. “Mama had to go to do something, I'm mostly with my aunts!”
“Oh, I see!” Scootaloo exclaimed, surprised over the answer. “Who do you like more, Princess Celestia or Princess Luna?” she then asked, another curious question coming to her mind.
“Hmm.....” The other filly scrunched her face, contemplating the question. “I'm almost closer to Auntie Tia.....”
“That's great! I'm a big fan of Princess Luna!” She smiled at the thought of the night princess.
After the short conversation, Scootaloo and Flurry Heart continued to dance silently, occasionally smiling at each other, until they got startled by a voice from the speakers.
“ATTENTION, EVERYPONY!” Holiday Cheer's voice pierced through their eardrums. “We have announced this year's Gala Royals! Please join our circle and dance with us for the haaaaaappy couple!”
“Did you hear that?” Scootaloo asked the other filly, excited. “Come on, let's join them!” Without awaiting an answer, she turned around and dashed down the stairs and into the circle. Flurry Heart followed close behind her.
Inside the circle, a stallion and a mare, Wordsmith and Clever, danced together. Their heads close to each other's, they occasionally exchanged a nuzzle.
“D'awwwww!” Flurry Heart squealed and sent a broad grin to the couple.
After a while, the happy couple asked for other couples who had come to the gala to join them. All of a sudden, Scootaloo felt funny. She suddenly felt the desire to dance with Flurry Heart there. Blushing slightly, she looked at her gala partner. “S-Should we go in there, too, Flurry?”
Flurry Heart raised her head and answered her look. “A-ah!” she stammered, completely taken by surprise. “Yes, Scoots! I'd love that!” She blushed faintly and gave Scootaloo a smile.
“Then let's go!” Scootaloo shouted happily.
Both of them wearing faint blushes now, Scootaloo and Flurry Heart moved at the side of the couple, where they continued their dance.
Inside the circle, Scootaloo's mood climbed to a new level. She suddenly felt wonderful, warm and fuzzy all around and in Flurry Heart's face, she could see that the other filly felt the same way.
“YAY! You're an awesome gala partner, Flurry Heart!” Scootaloo gave Flurry a compliment, having felt a sudden desire to do that.
“Hehe! You're even better, Scootsie!” Flurry Heart replied. She blushed more brightly as she realized that she had used a nickname for her gala partner.
The same happened to Scootaloo, her face suddenly turning completely red. Sheepishly, she looked down at her hooves while she kept dancing.
Flurry Heart giggled at this reaction. Without warning, she suddenly planted a kiss on Scootaloo's cheek, then giggled again.
Unbelievingly, Scootaloo's blush became even brighter. For a moment, she thought she felt embarrassed, but then she recognized the feeling as what it really was. Having it identified, she leaned forward and placed a subtle kiss on Flurry's cheek. It increased Flurry's blush, too. She grinned, then continued to dance with Scootaloo.
After a while, which Flurry and Scoots had spent with dancing quietly and giving each other smiles, their faces red the entire time, more couples had joined them and almost sandwiched them between their bigger bodies.
“I think I need some space to breathe.....” Scootaloo said, suddenly feeling slightly claustrophobic. “Hey, Flurry, wanna go somewhere more secluded?”
Flurry Heart nodded. Together, they left the other, dancing couples and headed towards the buffet. As Scootaloo looked over it, her stomach grumbled again.
“How about grabbing some food? Are you hungry?” she asked her partner.
“Hmm..... I suppose it'd be a good idea! Neither of us have eaten tonight,” Flurry Heart agreed with the suggestion.
Before Scootaloo could correct Flurry, her stomach grumbled again, so she decided to relinquish the clarification that she already had a sandwich earlier. She pointed at the table. “Here's the buffet!”
Happily, both fillies approached the table and began to take some of the food. Flurry Heart took a plate and placed some salad on it and Scootaloo reached for a sandwich with cucumber and cheese. Equipped with food, Scootaloo sat down in front of the table and Flurry Heart joined her.
After both of them had a few bites of their snacks, Scootaloo stroke up a conversation. “Hey, what's your favourite food, Flurry?”
The alicorn filly swallowed, then put a hoof to her chin and looked into the air. “Hmm..... I really love crystal berry tarts!” she chimed.
“Crystal berry tarts, huh? I heard of crystal berries, but I have never eaten any. How do they taste?” Scootaloo asked interested, then took another bite from her sandwich.
“They're really sweet, somewhat like grapes, I suppose!” Flurry Heart described their taste, her smile indicating how much she loved the fruits.
“That's awesome!” Scootaloo said, as she had swallowed.
The fillies continued their meal quietly for a few minutes, munching in content. “The party food here is excellent!” Scootaloo praised the buffet, after she had swallowed the last piece of her sandwich, reached for another one and taken a bite of this one, as well.
“Hey, Flurry, I once heard ponies say your favourite food are peanut butter sandwiches with tomatoes,” she said as she had swallowed this first piece.
Flurry Heart gave her a slightly awkward look. “Heh, peanut butter sandwiches are good and so are tomatoes..... But not together!” She scrunched her face and stuck her tongue out in disgust.
“Oh, so I guess it is just a rumor, after all.” Scoots shrugged and took another bite of her second sandwich.
“It really is.” Flurry Heart nodded and popped another carrot stick into her mouth.
After a few more minutes of quiet chewing, Flurry and Scoots had just swallowed the last pieces of their snacks, Holiday Cheer's voice sounded through the speakers again. Scootaloo, jumped up, excitedly.
“Oh, the Wonderbolts Air Show starts in a few minutes! Let's find a good place!” Scootaloo grinned at Flurry, then both of them spread out.
They checked out the balcony of the castle, which proved to be too far away to see the Wonderbolts, so Scoots and Flurry decided for the edge of the lower terrace, which turned out as a very good spot to watch the spectacle. Arrived at their chosen spot, Scoots and Flurry sat down close to each other.
“Now it starts soon!” Scootaloo shouted, full of excitement.
“Indeed! I'm so excited!” Flurry Heart joined her sentiment.
Completely caught in her excitement and without really noticing it, Scootaloo snuggled up to Flurry Heart. It caught the other filly by surprise and she blushed again, but then she happily allowed it to happen.
Noticing Flurry's blush, Scootaloo inched away a little, suddenly feeling hesitation. “Oh, sorry..... Am I too close?” she asked, now slightly worried.
Flurry Heart shook her head and gave Scoots an adorable, sheepish smile. “N-no! It's nice, Scoots! I l-like it!” she cooed.
Relieved, Scoots answered the smile. “I-I like it, too!” She blushed more, then inched closer again and nestled into Flurry's cheek.
Flurry Heart smiled at her warmly and nuzzled her a little. Hesitating a little, she spread out one wing and wrapped it around Scootaloo. In response, Scootaloo extended her right wing and put it over Flurry Heart, as well.
Around them, the excitement increased with every minute and some ponies began to cheer on the Wonderbolts, not being able to wait any longer.
“Wonderbolts! Go, go, go!” Scootaloo joined the cheering, with Flurry Heart chiming in soon after.
As the show finally started, Scootaloo pulled Flurry Heart closer to her. In total awe, the two young gala guests watched the Wonderbolts perform their stunts. They cheered at every loop and turn, gasped when one of them did a free fall and then cheered again when they caught themselves in the last moment and flew up again, a blue trail behind them. As the impressive show was over, Scoots and Flurry jumped onto their hooves and applauded for the pegasi, together with the rest of the crowd. Having successfully finished their performances, the Wonderbolts glided down on the terrace and landed on top of the stairs, where the loud cheering and applauding continued. Everypony celebrated the daring fliers and let them bathe in their admiration.
The crowd calmed down only slowly. As the first ones returned to dancing or just chatting and the Wonderbolts retreated to take a well-deserved rest, Scootaloo and Flurry Heart once more hit the buffet, this time grabbing two pieces of cake. Scootaloo wanted to sit down already, as Flurry Heart stopped her, saying she knew the perfect place.
Following Flurry Heart, Scootaloo soon found herself at the far end of the terrace, at the side of a little tree and far away from the dancing crowd of ponies. She sat down at the quiet spot, right next to Flurry Heart, were both fillies began to devour their cake pieces.
“Thanks for showing me, that's a great spot!” Scootaloo said, after a few bites.
Flurry Heart nodded, agreeing. “It's my favourite spot, here's a nice view.”
Scootaloo looked out onto the nightly landscape in front of them, then up, noticing a few lights up the mountain. She gasped. “Wow, you're right! I can even see up to the guard headquarters from here!” Enjoying the view, she grabbed her fork and dug into the cake.
“Yeah!” Flurry Heart grinned, excited. “It's great, especially when the Wonderbolts are practicing!”
Surprised, Scootaloo let her fork sink before digging it in again. “Oh, do you come here often to watch their practice sessions?” She eyed Flurry Heart, her mouth open.
Flurry Heart nodded again. “I come here every time I stay with Auntie Tia and Auntie Lulu.”
“That's great! How often do you visit Canterlot?” Scoots asked, getting more curious.
“Hmm..... At least once a month! As often as I can be, really.....” Flurry Heart put a piece of cake into her mouth.
“Hey awesome, that's really often!” Scootaloo clapped her hooves together and rubbed them against each other. Then she looked at Flurry Heart, nervousness in her eyes. “W-Would you mind if I come seeing you again sometime after the gala?”
Flurry Heart swallowed, then she met Scootaloo with a charming smile. “I-I'd love to see you more, Scoots! We could even be penpals if that's not enough.”
Scootaloo answered the smile with one on her own. “Hehe, and I would love to write you, too! And wait here at the castle once a month.”
Flurry Heart's smile grew bigger and she gently nuzzled Scootaloo's cheek. “I'll have to bring some crystal berries for you.”
“And I will bring some peanut butter sandwiches for you. And tomatoes. But not both at once.” Scootaloo giggled.
Flurry Heart laughed, then gave Scootaloo a grin. “We could have a picnic here sometime!” she followed up with a suggestion.
“This would be wonderful!” Scootaloo agreed. “How about a picnic under the stars?”
“Oh, yes! That'd be perfect!” Flurry Heart cheered over the idea.
Happy that her suggestion was taken so well, Scootaloo smiled. She looked at Flurry Heart again and, after hesitating for a moment, she leaned in and kissed her right cheek. She noticed that she felt much more confident about doing this now.
Flurry Heart blushed and smiled, then returned the kiss.
Blushing herself, Scootaloo presented Flurry Heart with a smile, as well.
The two fillies spent some moments in silence, just looking at the sky, then Scootaloo draped a hoof over Flurry Heart's back. “I love the night breeze,” she said.
Flurry Heart nodded, smiling. “I'm so glad that I was able to come tonight.”
“Me too. I didn't reckon with meeting such a nice foal like you, Flurry.” She squeezed her slightly.
“I didn't think I'd be doing much here other than sitting and looking pretty while my aunts all spoke to important ponies.....” She sighed a little at that thought. “Instead..... I had the best time of my life!” She gave her partner another smile.
“I'm happy I could make it a great night for you,” Scootaloo replied, smiling.
“I truly hope tonight has been amazing for you too, Scoots.” She touched Scootaloo's hoof, gently.
“It was! You made it a wonderful one, Flurry!” She grinned excitedly.
Flurry Heart smiled again and gave Scootaloo another kiss on the cheek. In response, Scoots snuggled closer to Flurry.
The two fillies lapsed into silence, watching the stars and enjoying each other's warmth. Scootaloo groaned comfortably.
After a few minutes, Scootaloo spoke again. “What's your favourite star constellation, Flurry?” she whispered.
“Hmm..... Possibly Cygnus,” Flurry Heart answered, her voice dreamily.
“That's a beautiful one, yeah. I really like the hippogriff.” Scoots lifted a hoof and pointed to the left corner of the sky.
Flurry Heart followed her hoof with a smile. “Ah! I see it!”
Once more, the fillies fell silent, until they heard Holiday Cheer's voice coming from the speakers again, announcing that the closing ceremonies of the gala would happen soon.
Scootaloo looked at Flurry Heart. “Wanna do some last dancing?”
“Some last dancing would be nice,” Flurry Heart agreed.
“Alright!” Scootaloo grabbed Flurry Heart's hoof and pulled her to the dancefloor.
For one last time, Scootaloo and Flurry were hittting the dancefloor, until another announcement about the closing ceremonies came from the speakers.
“We should head to the bottom of the stairs, huh, Scootie?” Flurry Heart asked, the announcement having her reminded that the end of the gala drew very near now.
Scootaloo agreed with the young princess. “Yep, I guess it's time! Let's go there!”
Arrived in front of the top stairs, Scootaloo smiled at Flurry Heart and booped her. “It has been a very nice night with you, Flurry.”
Surprised, Flurry Heart squeaked. Then she giggled and returned the boop.
In the meantime, Holiday Cheer and the other ponies who organized the gala gathered on top of the stairs.
“I'm going to write you a letter soon, Flurry,” Scootaloo announced to the other filly, realizing that their moment of goodbye would come soon now.
“And I'll write to you too! I'll have to get some photos of the Empire for you!” Flurry Heart promptly announced the same thing.
“And I will make photos for you, too, of the best spots in Cloudsdale!” Scootaloo continued.
Flurry Heart laughed heartily. “We'll have to visit each other's homes sometime! Oh, think of all the things we've yet to do!” Her voice was full of excitement and anticipation.
“Yeah! Cloudsdale is a great place to hang out, there are many clouds where you are completely undisturbed, cause nopony goes there!” Scootaloo grinned widely.
“You'll have to take me to see them sometime, Scoots! There's some spots in the Empire where the sun shines through the crystals just right and casts the spectrum all over!” Flurry Heart's eyes sparkled at these words.
Scootaloo's eyes grew big like plates and a grin formed in her face. “Wow! I got to see this one day! And in Cloudsdale, the stars appear bigger, because you are much closer to them!” She scraped a hoof over the floor in excitement. “I can't wait to show you around there!”
She had barely finished her sentence, as Holiday Cheer's voice pierced the air. “ALL RIGHT, IF I COULD GET ALL THE PONIES GATHERED BY THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS!”
“Ah! That's our call!” Flurry Heart said, slightly startled by the loud voice.
Scootaloo and Flurry Heart lied down in front of the stairs, close to each other. Flurry Heart wrapped a hoof around Scootaloo and the pegasus filly returned the affection.
“This song goes out to Scoots and Flurry!” the voice of the DJ suddenly rang into their ears, before a new song started to play.
“A song for us, Flurry.....” Scootaloo squeezed Flurry Heart and smiled.
Flurry Heart couldn't help but grinning. She nuzzled up to Scootaloo.
“We hope you have enjoyed tonight's festivities and that you have made some great new friends and had a ton of fun!” Holiday Cheer said on top of the stairs, holding a speech.
“Friends and more,” Scootaloo commented on it, smirking. She kissed Flurry's cheek and giggled.
Flurry Heart giggled and, briefly, she hid her face in her wings.
Seeing Flurry's cute reaction, Scootaloo blushed, too.
In front of them, Holiday Cheer continued to hold her speech. She announced future events and thanked everypony who had helped organizing the gala and contributed to it. As she had ended her speech, all attendees of the gala broke out in loud cheers and applauded.
“Three cheers for the Grand Galloping Gala, the BEST NIGHT EVER!” Scootaloo shouted up to the stairs, stretching a hoof into the air.
“WOO HOO!” Flurry Heart cheered along with her.
As the gathered ponies slowly started to scatter, Holiday Cheer approached Scootaloo and Flurry Heart. “You two are amazing! Thank you for being so cute!” she commended them, a huge smile on her lips. “You were my favourite thing tonight.”
Flurry Heart giggled and hid in her wings again a little.
“Hehe.....” Scootaloo blushed again.
“You embody what the gala is all about.” Holiday Cheer continued.
“Thanks,” Scootaloo smiled, still blushing.
Holiday Cheer said goodbye to Scootaloo and Flurry Heart, then she left, making her way to Ponyville for an afterparty in Sugarcube Corner.
Flurry Heart turned at Scootaloo. “Do you want to head to Sugarcube Corner for a little bit? Just for the calm bit?” Her eyes showed a certain longing, an indication that she did not want Scootaloo to leave yet.
Scootaloo's ears dropped. “I would love to spend more time with you tonight, Flurry. But I'm expected home in Cloudsdale, by my own aunts..... But I will come back to the castle once you are here again.” She gave Flurry Heart a reassuring smile.
Flurry Heart smiled back. “Oh, of course, Scoots!” she said, politely. “I hope we can meet soon..... Until then, I'll send letters, okay?”
“And I will send a letter to the Crystal Empire castle for you soon.” She grinned. “With the best photos of Cloudsdale!”
“I'll send the best photos of the Empire, too! I promise!” Flurry Heart proposed.
“I look forward to your letters, Flurry,” Scootaloo said.
Some small tears appeared in Flurry Heart's eyes suddenly. “We'll see each other soon, right? I'll be in the Canterlot and Ponyville area over the next week.” She reached for one of Scootaloo's hooves.
Noticing the tears, Scootaloo gave the young princess another reassuring smile. “I will be there, I'll wait for you here at the castle, Flurry!”
Flurry Heart smiled, the combined sadness and happiness making her face look beautiful. She kissed Scootaloo's cheek.
Scootaloo smiled back and gave Flurry Heart a kiss on the cheek in return, then hugged her. Flurry Heart smiled warmly, relishing the hug.
“Well then..... I shan't keep you, Scoots.....” the young princess said as they parted. She came closer and whispered. “Farewell, Sweetheart.”
“Goodbye, Flurry, until next week!” Scootaloo booped Flurry Heart goodbye.
Flurry Heart returned the boop with a giggle. “I'll see you soon, Scootaloo!”
“Bye, Flurry, until we see us again!”
Flurry Heart kissed her on the cheek one last time. “Farewell, Scootaloo!”
The two fillies waved at each other, then they galloped away into different directions.
On her way home to Cloudsdale, Scootaloo felt warm and fuzzy. The farewell after the great night they had together stung, but knowing that she would soon see Flurry Heart again cast a smile on Scootaloo's face, one that stayed all the way home and until she had peeled herself out of her dress there and went to bed.
Having pulled the blanket over her and gotten ready for sleep, still smiling even now, Scootaloo eyed the ceiling of her cloud home. She thought about the night that lied past her for a few minutes, then closed her eyes as she fell that they were starting to fell shut on their own.
“I hope I'm going to see Flurry Heart again soon,” she mumbled, as she drifted off into sleep.....
.
Author's Note
Here's a link to Holiday Cheer's party planning Discord group, in case you play "Legends of Equestria", as well, and would like to help organizing future events:
https://discord.gg/RADhUzB
