Spinning Round and Round and Round...
Once, in an apartment in Neigh York City, a little filly lived with her family. This little filly was beloved by her parents and as such, got anything sheβd ever wanted and was always grateful. Well, the one thing the little filly wanted to be most in this world was to be a ballerina. Her bedroom was filled with all things related to ballet dancing. Now this is where our story takes place. See the little filly has many toys and trinkets, but her most prized possession was a beautiful hoofcrafted one-of-a-kind music box. What made it so special you may ask? Well aside from the fact that it played a beautiful melody, it housed a most stunning porcelain ballerina figure in its confines.
The little filly loved that music box with everything she had! Every morning sheβd wind it up and dance along as she readied for school. Every night as she lie in bed after her story, sheβd wind it up 4 times and listen as she drifted off to sleep. It was rather picturesque in scenery (and without her knowledge, the fillyβs parents would often catch snapshots of her in her room with her music box playing and she dancing). However, nopony knew what happened when the lights were dimmed and all were sleeping.
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βOkay toys! Time for bed.β, the little filly said to all her toys as she wished them all goodnight with a hug and kiss.
βAnd time for a certain ballerina-in-training to get some sleep too.β, the fillyβs mother said gently as she tucked her daughter into bed with a hug and kiss after her story. Departing shortly afterwards.
The filly waited until her mother had left and the hall light was turned off before hitting her nightlight and turning towards her nighttable to grab her music box. She wound the silver key 4 times and watched as the music box opened to the sight of her ivory colored ballerina in the silver leotard and pale blue tutu spin round and round gracefully. Her ebony mane and tail in elegant waves as she danced her eternal dance. The filly smiled and blew the figure a kiss before drifting off to sleep.
Now this was no ordinary music box. The little filly received this as a gift when she was a newborn from her mother. It has been in her family for many generations. What only a select few ponies knew, was that the music box was an enchanted one. Thankfully the little filly was one of those few. Despite this, she was always excited to wind up the small box and dance along.
When the filly was well and truly asleep, thatβs when the magic truly began. The figuresβ eyes shifted down to see whether or not her current owner was asleep. When satisfied that the little one was asleep, the Ballerina moved from her stationary pirouette pose as she and the rest of the toys came to life under the full moonlight. First, the toy animals began to roam about. One, a hoof-sized Manticor figure decided to fly up to the curtains and make a sort of spotlight for the dancer before flying down to the table near the music box.
The Ballerina smiled as she gracefully leapt from her pedestal and silently approached the beast with a caring hoof to pet it. Then the dolls began to congregate by the toy box as the toy instruments began to play a soft melody. A simple tune to awaken the rest of the toys. The toy airplanes began their ascent around the room. The building blocks making a large stage and ballroom floor, with the stuffed animals and race cars setting up the lighting and curtains for the full moon dance.
Suddenly, a trumpet sounds and all the toys looked to the east of the bedroom (where the fillyβs closet was). The Ballerina looked especially excited as she mounted her manticor friend and they sailed down to the stage when the trumpeting stilled. The closet door opens and out comes the most regal and decorated set of toy soldiers ever seen. Half were dressed in the standard golds and whites of Celestiaβs guard. The other half were dressed in either navy and purples, common for Lunaβs guard or the gleaming crystalline blues of the Crystal Empire. They marched in a proud parade as they approached the makeshift ballroom. At the head of the army of 30, three soldiers stood out. All were the highest ranking of their respective groups. The trio were proudly marching towards the impromptu dance floor before dispersing into pairs. Each soldier pairing off with a doll, with the exception of the three soldiers that lead the way. The first one that wore the Crystal Empire uniform went to the stage area to search for a special marionette. The second one that wore Celestia's uniform went off to find a doll. The last, bearing Luna's uniform stood tall as he silently approached the stage. When he was halfway through the crowd, they all seemed to part in half as the Ballerina came gliding through. Her theme had been playing on her music box as she moved through the parted crowd. Suddenly she stopped as she was face-to-face with the soldier unicorn. A smile graced her face as he moved to how.
βTonight is the night...my queen.β, The toy soldier bowed as he gently took her hoof and placed a delicate kiss upon it.
βIndeed it is my love.β, The Ballerina replied with a smile. Her voice, like silk floated through the air as he took her hoof in his and lead her back to the stage. Every toy bowing in respect as the couple passed and got upon the stage. The cuckoo clock in the hallway chimed the hour of midnight and thus, the moonlight ball commenced with the newly crowned queen of toys and her mate to take the first dance of the night. The toy instruments began to play a beautiful pas de deux as the couple began to dance.
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Every toy in attendance was in awe in spectating the dance of the Queen of Toys and the brave soldier Prince. Eventually, when the joyous coupleβs dance had come to an end, did the ballroom suddenly fill with dancing pairs. Toys of all kinds gathered in pairs or small groups and the great Moonlight Ball continued on.
However, like most things, the ball could not last forever. As the wind-up bird toys flew high and called out to their living counterparts, every toy knew it was time for the ball to end. With one last dance from the marionettes and dolls, the toys all returned to their places in the room. Well...all except for two.
βUntil tomorrow night, my Queen.β, The soldier said as he helped her onto her pedestal.
βTil moonlightβs sweet rays return, my Prince. This is goodmorning.β, The ballerina replied as they both froze. Nothing but solid figures for the amusement of others as the sunβs rays gently woke the slumbering filly.
The filly, as per her routine, stretched and gently grabbed her music box. Hugging it in a loving embrace, she leaned in close and spoke so only the Ballerina could hear.
βI knew last night was the night.β the filly leaned back as she hopped off the bed and began to wind up the box βWell your majesty, shall we celebrate with a dance along with your protege?β, she finished as she stopped winding the turner and slipped into the basic steps as the music played on. An unseen twinkle in the porcelain ballerinaβs eye was the only response.
