Dark Horse: A My Little Pony Story

Prose marched through the gala, avoiding all interactions until she sat herself at a table. She placed both her hooves on the table, deep in thought, trying to solve the major issue at hand. Her thought process was interrupted by the arrival of Twilight Sparkle.

"Is everything okay?" Twilight asked.

Prose turned to look at Twilight. It was hard to hide her true emotions; she felt so exhausted.

"No," Prose sighed. Tears began to well in her eyes. "Everything is terrible," she choked.

Twilight put a hoof on Prose's back, comforting her.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Twilight consoled.

Prose nodded quietly, sniffling.

"Come with me. I know somewhere we can talk quietly," Twilight gently offered.

Prose followed as Twilight led her down a back hallway in the event hall. She opened an inconspicuous door, and motioned for Prose to step inside. Prose followed instruction, stepping into the doorway into the dark room. Extra tables lined the walls, extra tablecloths stacked on top of them. Plenty of extra supplies were scattered and organized around the rather small room. It must've been a storage room.Twilight followed Prose into the storage room. She grabbed a candle across the room with her magic, lit it, and set it on an extra table. She closed the door behind them, securing them in their privacy. She sat down on the storage room floor, and motioned for Prose to do the same.

Prose immediately broke down. "We can't do this, Twilight. We can't stop King Sombra," she vented. "I can't do it."

Prose began to cry. Tears of anxiety, disappointment, and defeat slid down her face.

"Prose, it's okay," Twilight comforted. "We'll figure something out."

Prose wiped tears from her eyes. "You saw him out there, Twilight. He had us under his control. It was so easy for him to trap us. We can't compete with that."

"You're right," Twilight sighed. "I shouldn't have ever tried to put this responsibility on just myself, on just us."

Prose met Twilight's eyes with her own.

"Are you suggesting we go find your friends?" Prose asked.

"Well, yes," Twilight started. "But I'm also suggesting we find yours."

"My friends?" Prose questioned. "Did you not just see what happened outside?"

"I remember. But, I think we need them in order to fix this," Twilight proposed.

"You need us? Haven't you and your friends saved Equestria like twenty times?" Prose inquired.

"I'll admit, my friends and I have done some amazing things together, but we've only defeated King Sombra once before. And even then, we had to use the Crystal Heart. The Crystal Heart isn't here tonight," Twilight explained.

"Can't you use the Elements of Harmony?" Prose wondered, recalling the history associated with them.

"We could try, but we don't have them. We didn't anticipate needing them tonight, and, as you know, we're locked in. I couldn't go retrieve them if I wanted to."

Prose put her hoof to her chin and furrowed her eyebrows, the tears drying from her face.

"So what makes you think my friends and I are able to handle this?" Prose asked.

"You've done it before," Twilight pointed out, as if it was obvious.

Prose appeared quite confused. "We have?"

"Of course you have," Twilight spoke. "You even saved me while doing it."

Prose realized what Twilight meant. "That was different, Twilight. The Dollkeeper was just a normal pony, with deep-seated psychological issues, who just needed somepony to save him from himsel-..." Prose trailed off, realizing how similar the situations actually were. "Okay, I see your point. But, you have to admit, Sombra is far more dangerous than the Dollkeeper."

"Of course," Twilight agreed. "It'll definitely take more to stop him, but I believe you and your friends may be our only chance. Your friend Chorus's magic and bravery is quite impressive, and your friend Ginger Blush's compassion and humility are very admirable. You guys make quite an amazing team."

Prose let her gaze fall to the floor, missing her friends. "They are pretty cool, huh," she admitted. "But where do I come in? What's my thing?" she looked back up at Twilight.

"I didn't even think I'd have to explain that to you, Prose," Twilight laughed. "You're kind, intuitive, and incredibly intelligent. You're the pony with the plan, Prose! Without you, I don't know if your team would've even succeeded back in Ponyville. They're incredible, yes, but they need you, Prose."

Prose blushed, appreciating the thoughtful compliments from Twilight. "Thank you, Twilight. But, I don't think my friends even really want to see me right now. I don't know if I could convince them to fight alongside me after all of... everything."

Twilight leaned in slightly closer to Prose. "I've learned a lot of things as the Princess of Friendship, and one of the most important lessons that I've had to learn, a few too many times, is that there's no real friendship without conflict. Friends fight, some more than others, and some less than others. Some barely ever fight. Real friendship, like the kind you have with Chorus and Ginger Blush, withstands conflict. I'm sure your friends are feeling just as down as you right now. You guys just need to talk things over," Twilight monologued.

"We tried talking," Prose pointed out. "It didn't really work out too well."

"The heat of the moment was getting to all of you, I could tell," Twilight recalled. "You all were under a lot of stress, and, understandably, you weren't able to keep your emotions completely in check. Now that you've all had a chance to breathe, I'm sure all you ponies want to do is come back together and save this gala."

Prose sighed and looked off to the side, eyeing some loose silverware.

"I guess you're right, Twilight," she conceded. "They don't call you the Princess of Friendship for nothing."

Twilight chuckled and blushed. "Yea, I guess that's true."

There was a moment of tense silence between the two ponies.

"Thank you, Twilight. For following me. I don't know what I would've done without your guidance," Prose appreciated.

"It's really nothing," Twilight humbly responded. "It's kinda my job."

There was another quick moment of silence. The warm candlelight in the storage room set a certain, undeniable mood within the vicinity.

"You know, under different circumstances, this moment would be kinda romantic," Prose nervously laughed.

"Do you think so?" Twilight asked.

"Yea, I guess. I mean, maybe. I just-" Prose stuttered. "The candlelight, and the darkness and privacy... I don't know."

The ponies met each other's gaze.

"I see what you mean," Twilight spoke.

"I don't mean to make you uncomfortable or anything," Prose clarified. "I've just always really admired you. You're so brilliant and extraordinary. You're a princess. I don't think anypony can help but like you, me included."

"That's so sweet, Prose. I could say the same things about you," Twilight complimented. "I've always wanted to get to know you more."

The moments of silence were becoming plentiful.

Prose leaned slightly closer to Twilight, waiting to see if Twilight would do the same. Twilight hesitantly leaned in closer to match Prose's advancement. The ponies both closed their eyes and leaned in for a brief, nervous kiss. They both pulled back from the kiss and sat in their original positions, not immediately wanting to address what had just happened.

"So... should we think of a plan? To stop Sombra?" Prose offered.

"Yes, yes we should get right on that," Twilight confirmed.

Prose quietly brainstormed a perfect plan, one that would keep everypony safe.

"First, you need to go find your friends. You all should work on warning the guests and clearing out the event. You don't need to tell them the whole truth, just make sure they're safe. I'll go find my friends. We'll come up with a plan to defeat him together."

Twilight nodded in agreement. "Aye aye, captain!" she jested.

"Are you ready?" Prose asked, eyeing the door.

Twilight nodded again.

"Let's go."