Equestria Copes

Celestia, unfortunately, stormed off after the fight. This was a bad turn of events, but Pinkie would just have to deal with them separately. She knew all too well the consequences of trying to be in too many places at once. And while she knew that Celestia needed her more, she stayed with Luna. It would be easier to cheer Luna up, and having one happy pony would make it easier to cheer up the other.

Luna truly believed part of what she'd said, with the rest coming directly from Pinkie Pie. The citizens really did need something to look forward to in order to summon forth hope for the future. Perhaps it was a bit too soon, but there was still a month and a half to plan the gala, and it was time to start putting things together.

So while she wasn't really in the mood for it, Luna set her own feelings aside and put on a brave face. She stepped into one of the castle's many washrooms and scrubbed her face with cold water. She then fixed her mane before making her way to the throne room.

When she arrived, the band was already there, instruments in hoof. They waved to her, and she gave her best polite smile. It wasn't very convincing, obviously, as the musician that had the violin asked if she was feeling well.

"Might I be honest with you?" she asked. "That is to say, If I were to confide in you, would you keep it to yourself?"

There wasn't actually any need to ask this question, as Luna had seen their dreams, and knew well that he feared her wrath. Furthermore, were this secret to spread, it would do no damage. Still, it was nice to see them nod, affirming what she already knew.

"Things have been... complicated... since Princess Twilight's unfortunate passing. I've not been feeling particularly well since."

The violinist turned to the others, and then back to Luna. "I mean... we can come back later, if you're not feeling up to it."

Pinkie pushed Luna forward. "No, no, that won't be necessary. I will hear your music now, and not have to worry about it later. It is, after all, the duty of a princess to serve her subjects."

As she made her way to the throne, that she might sit and listen, the door opened, and in walked a member of the serving staff. He had a cart with several of Luna's favourite dishes on it, none of which she'd eaten in the last week. He had a second cart with Celestia's favourites, which he left by the door, since she wasn't here.

Luna's stomach growled as she looked over the food. The mere sight of the grilled cheese (swiss and pepperjack with chopped spinach in the middle on sourdough, toasted in garlic butter) and tomato soup (spicy from the peppers and sweet from the carrot) improved her mood.

She turned to the musicians. "Do you mind if I eat while I listen? I have yet to dine today. Very busy, very hectic."

"Oh, not at all," the violinist said. "I mean, it's a party. We have to assume that at least a tenth of the guests are snacking at one point or another. We've never auditioned that way before, but if it would please you, princess, we don't mind having you listen as much as somepony at the catering table. It might even grant some good insight."

Luna nodded and pulled the cart up in front of her. "I shall try to remain quiet. Begin when ready."

The band started playing. The song started off as a slow, macabre affair, then started to pick up the pace right away, turning jaunty with just a bit more tempo. It was subtle, but such was the preferred music for the Grand Galloping Gala.

Luna listened while she ate, starting by dipping her sandwich in her soup. It would crunch if she ate it as it was, and she wanted to hear the music. In her opinion, it was already a step above what was normally performed.

The sound had a dark side to it, as one might have come to expect, but there was also a brightness to it, a sort of goofy vibe that urged Luna to cheer up. The tune accepted that things were bad now, but that the listener should look towards the future.

Luna was finding that the song spoke to her, and when the bass gave way to a secret trombone, she nearly choked on her sandwich. That had come out of nowhere, and while it wasn't unpleasant, it was certainly a surprise. Not to the guards, of course, as they'd checked the instruments before summoning the princesses, but it definitely shocked Luna.

The band stopped playing to check on her, but after the confirmation that she was okay, they resumed their song from a few bars earlier, at the beginning of the bass section.

They played a few more songs for her, all of them having the same theme; melancholy mixed with hope. It gave Luna a promise that things were going to improve, and she'd be able to find her joy again. In fact, at the end of the third song, as she was eating her zucchini bread, the corners of her lips could barely be seen rising up and curling. She was happy. Not very happy, but there was something there had had not been before. Even this tiny speck of musical enjoyment was a thousand times more valuable than the fake grin she'd flashed just to be polite.

Just as the music was coming to a close, the doors opened again, and in walked Celestia, fuming.

"Sister!" called Luna. "Come, sit! I have listened to the band play, and I have found that they are quite good!"

Celestia sneered at them. "Good? I have yet to hear anything good from them. Everything they've played sounds like a joke."

Pinkie dove in and tried to push Celestia back. Everything was going so well a moment ago. Luna was enjoying herself, the band was glad to see her enjoying their works, and Pinkie was waiting for that moment when everything would snap into place, and for a moment where Luna would display proudly her well-deserved and hard-won smile. She could not let Celestia take that away from her.