Dark Horse: A My Little Pony Story

As Canterlot began to appear closer, the ponies were practically exploding with excitement. The towering white and gold buildings appeared to stretch taller and taller as Chorus, Prose, and Ginger Blush rode closer to the city. On the way, the bumpy dirt roads of Ponyville had morphed into the neatly paved, smooth dirt roads of Canterlot. The ponies knew they had arrived when the sides of the road had begun to be lined by a long stretch of red velvet ropes.

"I'm so nervous," Chorus exhaled. "Are we sure we're not out of our depths here?"

"Oh, no," Prose started. "We are definitely out of our depths here. That's what will make this a real adventure."

The carriage pulled up to the city gates. Guards in golden suits of armor awaited tickets from the guests. Ginger Blush presented all three tickets to the guards, granting them access into the city. The ponies could feel Twilight's magic begin to fade and slow as the wheels on the carriage began to end their journey. The carriage pulled to the side of the road and came to a stop. The beautiful towers and buildings surrounding them were ethereal, and yet intimidating to the small-town ponies.

"Who's ready?" Prose asked the group. Nopony responded. "Perfect! Let's go. We have to jump right into it like it's cold water."

Ginger Blush and Chorus almost protested, but they quickly realized Prose was right, and they threw themselves out of their gorgeous carriage before they could wallow in their own fear. Prose knew the general layout of the city, so the group followed her as she guided them through the streets to the entrance hall.

"Here we are, everypony," she said as they walked up the steps.

The ponies entered the enormous entrance hall, walking slowly towards the golden arched doorway that would lead them to the most important pony in attendance. The ponies could all clearly see the dazzling Princess Celestia standing atop a redly-carpeted staircase. The sight of her was enough to make anypony feel starstruck. Celestia was stationed on the staircase, greeting every guest as they arrived. Chorus, Prose, and Ginger Blush approached the staircase, patiently waiting in line to be greeted. The massive stained glass windows behind Princess Celestia made her seem that much more majestic, powerful, and glorious. After a short while, the ponies had arrived at the front of the line.

"Chorus, Prose, and Ginger Blush! I'm so glad to see you could make it!" Celestia greeted. Even though the ponies had been personally invited by the princess, they were taken aback at the sound of her using their names out loud.

"H-hi, Princess Celestia," Prose greeted. Chorus and Ginger Blush, mute from nervousness, let Prose do the talking.

"Prose! Twilight Sparkle has told me all about you and how you and your friends heroically saved Ponyville. I humbly thank all of you for your heroism," Princess Celestia thanked and bowed her head to the ponies.

"We're so thankful for your... thankfulness! Thank you for inviting us here tonight. We couldn't have asked for anything more. And speaking of Twilight, do you know if she's here yet?" Prose asked the princess. She hoped to find her and speak with her.

"Yes, she is. I believe she is somewhere around the main event hall. She'll be glad to see you. She's told me about how much she appreciates you as a fellow scholar," Celestia remarked.

"She has?" Prose blushed.

Celestia nodded.

"Well, we don't want to keep you from the other guests. I guess we'll go to the main event hall. Once again, thank you for inviting us," Prose cordially spoke.

"Yes, thank you," Chorus spoke up.

"Thank you, Princess," Ginger Blush added.

"Thank you, my little ponies. Enjoy the night!" Celestia waved goodbye to Chorus, Prose, and Ginger Blush as they headed up the rest of the stairs and into the Grand Galloping Gala.

The event came into view as the ponies reached the top of the stairs. The sun setting in the sky beautifully illuminated the event space as they entered. Spotlessly clean checkered floors gleamed in the light. Red carpets crawled all across the floors and grand staircases, establishing the luxurious feeling the event embodied. Huge stone pillars and archways were scattered throughout the place, outlining and leading to many different areas of the event. Many tables were placed throughout the hall, decorated with beautifully bejeweled dark pink tablecloths.

"Should we take a table for now? I don't see anypony we know yet," Chorus offered.

"Sure, I'm kinda thirsty anyway. Maybe one of the servers will see us and get me a drink," Prose hoped.

The ponies stationed themselves at the nearest table, and sure enough, a server pony was quick to come over. The server pony had off-white fur and steel blue, slicked-back mane. His upper lip was decorated by a perfectly trimmed, steel blue mustache. His white server outfit complimented his fur quite nicely. Ginger blushed at the sight of this rather charming server.

"Can I get you ponies anything?" the server pony asked in an accent unfamiliar to the ponies.

"I would actually love something to drink," Prose gratefully ordered.

"I think I'm good for now, thanks," Chorus added.

The server looked over at Ginger Blush. "And anything for the pony with the beautiful eyes?"

Ginger almost choked on nothing.

"I think I'll just have water, thanks." her cheeks flushed a deep orangey color.

"And maybe I could also interest you in a dance?" the server offered. "I'm very nearly done with my shift."

Ginger Blush's eyes widened in shock. Chorus and Prose watched her react to the offer, remembering her hopes to meet somepony that night.

"I-" Ginger stuttered. "I- uh... sure! Yes! Yes, I would like that."

"I'm Savoir Fare," Savoir Fare introduced himself. "And you are?"

"Ginger Blush," she answered.

"What a beautiful name, Ginger Blush," Savoir complimented. "I'll be right back with those drinks."

Savoir Fare turned around and headed presumably towards some kitchen area somewhere. Chorus and Prose stared at Ginger Blush, waiting for her to speak on the events that had just happened.

"Do you guys think he likes me?" Ginger finally spoke.

Prose and Chorus looked at each other.

"Ginger, he just asked you to dance. I'm pretty sure he likes you," Prose confirmed.

"What if he was just being nice?" Ginger wondered aloud.

"Being nice is taking our drink orders. Complimenting your name and eyes? That's liking you. He likes you, Ginger," Chorus explained.

"What do I say to him? What am I supposed to do?" Ginger panicked.

"Just be yourself, Ginger. Talk to him like you'd talk to us, only flirtier," Chorus advised.

"I'm so nervous. I don't know if I'll even be able to hold a conversation," Ginger worried.

"Relax, Ginger. If you aren't able to talk, just dance. That's what he asked you to do anyway," Prose recommended.

Ginger fought to relax her nervousness. "You guys won't be mad if I spend time with him instead of you?"

"Go get your stallion, Ginger. We spend most days together anyway. Go enjoy yourself," Chorus laughed.

The group hushed themselves as Savoir Fare headed back toward the table with their drinks. He handed Prose a purple drink in a crystal glass. He smiled at Ginger before gently setting her water glass in front of her.

"I'll be back soon for that dance," he said. He turned away from their table and headed to serve some other ponies.

Prose almost commented on that, but she was stopped as a deep violet dress caught her eye across the room. Twilight Sparkle was happily admiring the event space and politely mingling with guests. Prose watched as she strolled around the room.

"I see Twilight," Prose told her friends. "I think I'm going to go talk to her."

Ginger Blush raised an eyebrow at her. "Is there something you want to tell us? About you and Twilight, perchance?"

Prose blushed and turned away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I'm just gonna go talk to her." Prose briskly parted from their table, heading into Twilight's direction. Ginger Blush and Chorus were left alone at the table.

"I think we might all meet somepony tonight, after all," Ginger remarked.

"What do you mean?" Chorus asked.

"I met Savoir Fare, and I think Prose might have something going on with Twilight Sparkle. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before you meet a lucky mare or-"

"Can we change the subject?" Chorus interrupted. "I just- I don't think anything is in the cards for me tonight. I think I'll just enjoy the gala."

"You know, it's okay if you-" Ginger started.

"I don't really want to talk about it," Chorus interrupted again.

Ginger Blush was about to actually change the subject this time, but she was interrupted by an off-white pony with steel blue mane approaching their table.

"May I take you to the dance floor, Ginger Blush?" Savoir offered.

Ginger smiled and blushed at the kind gesture.

"I'll see you later, okay, Chorus?" she told Chorus as she took Savoir Fare's hoof in hers.

"See you later, Ginger," Chorus sighed.

Chorus watched as Savoir Fare led Ginger Blush to the dance floor. The live band was wrapping up their current orchestral number as the dance floor lights dimmed. The ponies stopped dancing to stare up at the stage as a single spotlight illuminated the center of it. Chorus watched from afar as a pony with baby pink fur and pastel yellow mane took the stage, stepping into the spotlight. Pixie Dust had arrived to perform.

"Hello, everypony!" she spoke into a microphone.

The crowd of ponies in front of the stage cheered passionately for her.

"Are you guys ready to hear some music?" she asked the audience.

She was once again met with a roaring applause.

"All right, everypony. I'm gonna kick things off with a bit of a slow one, because I know we have some lovebirds out there tonight," she introduced her first song.

The ponies cheered for her, and the couples within the audience took their appropriate dancing stances. Chorus watched as Savoir Fare took Ginger Blush's hoof in his own, pulling her in for a dance. Pixie Dust began singing her song.

You put the moonshine to shame tonight

While your eyes glow like the sun

Chorus saw two more familiar faces enter the dance floor in the form of Prose and Twilight Sparkle. It seemed like they were having a great time. Chorus was happy for his friends, but sighed at his obvious loneliness.

The way that you're dancing tonight

Makes me think that you're the one

As much as Chorus wanted to watch Pixie Dust perform, he didn't feel like he could watch any longer. He left his table and headed towards the towering archway that led to a beautiful garden. He stepped outside into the grass. The moon shining outside showered the garden in a beautiful somber light.

Chorus maneuvered through the garden, admiring the gorgeous rare flowers and tall walls of blue-ish bushes. He wandered deeper into the garden until he found a large gangly tree positioned in the center of a secluded area of the garden. He sat down underneath the tree and gazed up at the moon in the sky. Even if he was lonely, this place sure was a beautiful place to be.

"What is a pretty pony like you doing out here all alone?" a deep, gravelly voice echoed throughout the area.

Chorus stood up from his seat and scanned his surroundings. "Who's there? Where- how-" he stuttered. "Pretty?" he blushed. "Where are you? I can't see you anywhere."

"Don't worry about where I am," the voice ordered. "Just answer my question."

Chorus looked around again, trying to find a glimpse of anypony around. It seemed like he was completely alone. Chorus thought twice about talking with a stranger, but figured it might be easier to get things off his chest with somepony he didn't know.

"I guess I-," he started. "I guess I was alone in there anyway. I thought I might as well try to enjoy some of the natural beauty of Canterlot if there's nothing going on for me in there."

It felt good to get at least some of that off of his chest.

"I know that's not the whole story," the voice smugly replied. "Tell me what's really going on."

"You don't know me," Chorus retorted. "You don't know that that wasn't the whole story."

"You're not denying it," the voice rebutted.

Chorus blushed again. The voice was right. He wasn't denying it because he couldn't.

"It's a lot," Chorus warned.

"I've got time."

Chorus sighed and sat back down underneath his tree.

"Nopony really gets what I'm feeling. I don't even really get it. I don't think my friends would judge me for it, but I know it would change things. Ponies would see me differently, and I would see myself differently. I- I don't know. It just feels like I can't cross over that line. I can't make that change," Chorus confessed.

"I don't think I'm understanding what you're saying," the voice spoke.

Chorus sighed. "I'm not looking for a mare in there. I don't even know if I'm capable of going for what I actually want in there."

"Oh," the voice voiced. "I think I understand what you mean. I know what it feels like to feel like an outsider."

"I guess I'm lucky to have found you then - or I guess you found me. We can be weird together," Chorus joked.

"Hmh," the voice chuckled. "You remind me of somepony I used to know."

"Do I?" Chorus asked. "You know, this conversation would be much easier if I could actually see you."

There was silence for a moment.

"You're different from other ponies," the voice softly spoke.

"Not really, actually," Chorus nonchalantly refuted. "My friends inside are just as sweet and cool as me." Chorus looked down as he said that, remembering he had left his friends inside. "I should probably get back to them soon."

"Let me give you something before you go," the voice echoed. Chorus suddenly noticed a silhouette shrouded in the shadows. In the darkest corner of the garden, a tall unicorn stood, almost entirely obscured by darkness.

"Come into the light," Chorus asked.

"Come into the dark," the unicorn contradicted.

Chorus didn't feel like arguing or losing his chance to meet the mysterious unicorn. He obediently joined the unicorn in the deep darkness. He couldn't make out any defining features about him. He could only see his mysterious silhouette.

"What did you want to give me?" Chorus questioned.

The unicorn held out his hoof in front of Chorus. "A dance," he offered.

"Why?" Chorus inquired. His heart rate undeniably quickened. "You don't even know me. I don't even know you. For all I know, you could be an evil mastermind."

The unicorn laughed. "If you really must know, this would be mutually beneficial. You would get what you really wanted out of this night, and I would get to relive some bittersweet memories."

Chorus looked down at the outstretched arm of the unicorn in front of him. He briefly considered his options, and even more briefly placed his hoof into the unicorn's. The mysterious unicorn quickly pulled him in. Pixie Dust's song could still be faintly heard from the main event hall. The two unicorns danced slowly back and forth in the darkness. The unicorn leaned in close, putting his mouth up near Chorus's ear.

"This night is going to end sooner than everypony thinks," he whispered. "You should get out of here while you can."

Chorus's eyes widened as he heard his words. The unicorn backed away from Chorus, disappearing into the garden just as quickly as he'd arrived. Chorus looked down into his hoof, the one that had just been holding the unicorn's hoof. A single rose delicately rested in his grasp, its petals blacker than the night sky.