A group of six lovely mares walked gracefully into the ball room of the Grand Galloping Gala.
Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, AppleJack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy had just arrived from Ponyville for the second time to the fanciest party of the year. "Leaping lizards, this party is going to be more exciting than the last year!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. All her friends laughed at such a statement. They all remembered much too well the horrible events that had taken place that previous year. Instead of it being, and I quote, "The best night ever!" It had became the worst.
Even so, the night finished all right in the end.
Rarity hurried away from her friends. She had spotted a beautiful place to sit. It was next to one of the windows near the garden. "Where ya' goin', Rarity?" AppleJack asked. "Thought we was supposed to stay together this year?"
Rarity laughed politely. "My dear AppleJack, that is very sweet of you. However I feel a call for attention!"
"Aw, shoot. Then I'll see ya'll later Rarity." AppleJack said with a tip of her hat.
"As to you!" With a wave of her hoof, she began trotting away.
In moments after departing from her friends, she found herself instantly swarmed by a crowed of ponies, most interested in her means of fashion. Being the center of attention was something Rarity cherished, and this was clearly evident as several of these ponies gathered around, complimenting the dress she wore. Since her encounter with Fancypants, her reputation as a tailor steadily grew positively and more ponies were recognizing her skill at the hoofs of a needle. Though as a lady, it was just nice to hear pleasant words from others.
After what seemed like a blissful eternity, Rarity broke away from the crowd and made her way to an empty seat across the room. While she did enjoy the quaint settings of Ponyville, a mare with refined taste always longed for something more. Canterlot was home to all things glamorous, and it seemed like a perfect candidate for a future home. However, Rarity smiled as she let out a defeated sigh.
'As wonderful as that sounds, I don't think I can bring myself to leave my friends.'
“Well, this is certainly a surprise.”
Rarity opened her eyes to the voice, but they grew wide at a familiar sight. A colt stood before her with a coat as white as snow. He was relatively tall with a fit figure, and his blonde mane was trimmed to perfection. Any mare would have found this colt irresistible and may have swam in his blue eyes, but Rarity was quite the opposite, resisting the urge to gag on the spot.
A venomous glare formed in the mare's eyes. “Prince Blueblood,” she huffed, turning her head away. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” Her tone was cold, seemingly as if she breathed ice.
Blueblood had not noticed the mare's repelling aura. Whether he was brave or ignorant, he stepped forward and, much to Rarity's surprise, bowed his head formerly.
“I know the last time we met, things did not go so... accordingly,” he slowly said, hopeful his choice word was appropriate. He extended his hoof to the mare, who figuratively stared a hole through it. “I do offer my apologizes for the dress, for what it's worth. I was hoping we could start anew. Maybe even erase the wrongs that occurred between us last year?”
Rarity, unsure of what to think, sat with her eyes locked on the hoof offered to her. One of her dreams for many years was to meet her Prince Charming at the Grand Galloping Gala. She got to live her dream, or the shattered remanence of it anyway.
The prince she had longed for was not the kind, chivalrous, and perfect colt she imagined but a whiny, rude, and narcissistic whelp in need of a reality check. Sadly, her handsome colt had the persona of a fly.
However, Rarity knew everypony was bound to make a mistake in their life. She sighed inwardly. That was too true in her own regard. Her glare diminished and softened. Perhaps Blueblood was honestly trying to apologize for his behavior last year. After all, everypony deserves a second chance, and it'd be rude of her to not follow that example. Slowly, Rarity listened to her heart, and readied to place her hoof on Blueblood's.
“I suppose nopony's perfect,” she said, finding a way to smile faintly.
“I'm glad you understand, my dear,” Blueblood replied, letting out a relieved sigh. “You were most awful last year, but it's good to see you've learned from your mistakes.”
Just like that, whatever bridge that held these two together crumbled away into dust. Rarity snatched her hoof away and hissed at the colt as she jumped from her seat. The flames of Tardares seemed to burn in her eyes, as she nearly leaped upon Blueblood and tore him into pieces.
“Me, awful last year? You were rude, ignorant, stupid, and a coward! Have you no shame?” Without thinking, Rarity slapped Pince Blueblood across the face. Blueblood's jaw dropped. “Well, I never!” As if he had been offended, Blueblood stuck his chest out and huffed. “It seems you are even more of a beast now.”
Rarity's eyes widened. Something deep down had become unraveled. She bore her teeth and snarled, making her increasingly growing violent motives clear. He had called her a 'beast'. Him. The same colt that used her a shield against food said she was the animal.
As much as she wanted to tear Blueblood limb from limb like, as he proclaimed, a beast, Rarity closed her eyes and exhaled, not wanting to give the arrogant swine the pleasure of being right. Even so, she felt utterly horrid.
"You're the beast, Blueblood! And I wouldn't place one hoof down for you, no, not even if you were the last stallion on this earth!"
"You animal!" he snared in anger. "Be gone, witch!" Rarity clenched her teeth together and began to grind them in a fashion of loathing. But before she could do anything rash, she wheeled around on her hoof, and galloped away.
Emotions steamed from it's heat until she melted into deep, cold sorrow. She began to weep bitterly away from the others, as she cried herself away in a corner near the garden place. She felt simply horrid that anypony would even dare say something so profound and cruel.
As she did this, an unfamiliar voice, filled with a rich and powerful sympathy fell upon her ears from behind her flank.
"Pardon me, I don't suppose you could want... I mean, here." a levitating white hanky floated near Rarity's face as she wheeled around to face the stallion who had spoken. With makeup streaming from her eyes however, Rarity took the hanky and used it to clean her face. "Oh, I don't mean to be a bother, but whom do I owe this pleasure?" she asked, clearing a blog of makeup away, and choking back her tears.
"Please, think nothing of it. I see a mare galloping as fate has dellt her a mighty blow, and so I offer her my hanky.
I should like to think anypony worth his sature would do as I have just done." the stallion replied humbly.
Rarity cleared the last bit of makeup from her eyes and smiled weakly. "Oh," she nodded thoughtfully. "It's nothing like that. It's just..." wheeling her head round, she hissed towards Prince Blueblood whom sat across the room. "That awful beast, Prince BlueBlood." After wipping away the last tear, Rarity finally regained full vision. Looking up from the hanky, she found herself staring into a pair of deep blue eyes with a reflection of concern about them.
Oh, how she found herself lost in his eyes as if it were a deep pool to down in!
She exhaled excitedly as she backed up, fearing to be in his personal space, but soon found the stallion did not mind.
He had rich dark chocolate colored mane, with cinnamon colored skin. His body was well built, but not quite as tall as Blueblood's had been. She found he was also a unicorn as well, and she nearly melted away in his charming aura.
He wore a fancy black tux, with a red tie to finish off the fashion. She smiled warmly towards him, in which he returned.
Her sadness completely vanished as her cold body began to fill with warmth at the touch of his hoof.
"I do apologize for his behavior, my lady." he said as he bowed his head down low. She returned his hanky thankfully and took a bow as well. Drawing back a bit of mane that had gotten in her face, Rarity wistfully spoke towards the handsome stallion. "Oh, it's fine now, darling. I don't suppose we've been introduced? I am Rarity, and what may I call you?"
At the request his name, the handsome stallion shifted to his left as if he was uncomfortable.
"Oh, um... Well, here I am known as Prince Leonardo. But, you may call me whatever you deem me worthy."
Rarity's smile widened. He was simply glamorous! Although she did not find him the fine example of a prince from her imagination, there was many iconic traits about him to be attracted towards. And much to her delight, she could see she had already stolen his heart by the way he looked at her. Even so, something about that seemed to make him feel uneasy.
She dismissed this thought from her mind, and only set her eyes firmly in his.
After a time of lustful gaze between the two, the handsome prince extended his hoof towards Rarity and took a bow.
"I don't suppose, my dear lady, that you would be interested in a dance?" Rarity's heart nearly leaped from her chest in excitement. Every feeling of discomfort vanished the instant she took up his hoof and smiled intensely.
"I cannot think of anypony I'd rather dance with." she replied. Quite satisfied with the answer, Prince Leonardo lead Rarity to the front of the classical music assembly. Taking their places, they both bowed to one another, and began a gallant dance together. Seemingly gliding across the floor, they took each other into a pleasurable feeling that they did not wish to end. She drowned in his dreamy eyes, as he found himself lost in hers. They danced back and forth across the floor, even long after the assembly of musicians began their next musical masterpiece.
It felt as if it was just them two, and a starry sky in an endless void of heaven. It was just him and her, her and him.
That's the way it was. It was if they were in a trance with one another, but they did not care. It was something beautiful that Rarity had always longed for. The two of them, hovering across the floor in a passion of delight, what more could a lady of refined taste ask for? Like spoken before, it was just him and her, her and him. That's the way it was.
RainbowDash hid under the table, eyeing Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts, intensely.
She had been waiting all night for a chance to impress her, but with no luck so far.
Her mind fell numb, causing Rainbow to place her hooves over her throbbing temples. Sadly, waiting was something Rainbow particularly loathed doing, especially if it was for a subject of great interest.
“What are we being sneaky for?” Pinkie Pie asked innocently.
“I'm trying to come up with a super cool way to impress the--” Rainbow stopped in mid-sentence once her mind finally acknowledged the pink mare's presence. “Pinkie?!” she jumped and smashed the back of her skull against the wall.
Pinkie furrowed her brow. “You're trying to impress me? Aw, Rainbow! That really nice of you, but you already impress me a lot! Like when you performed your Sonic Rainboom, or--”
Rainbow, with one hoof placed over the newly formed knot on her head, brought the other over Pinkie's mouth, temporarily silencing her banter.
“Quiet, Pinkie!” She removed her hoof from Pinkie's mouth and peeked over a punch bowl placed on top of the table, exhaling once sure nopony had noticed their positioning. She turned back to Pinkie and whispered, “I'm trying to think of a way to impress Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts.”
“What in tarnation are you two doing?” a voice said directly overhead, causing Rainbow to jump and smash the top of her cranium, this time against the table. As Rainbow muttered several expletives, Pinkie turned to face the source of the voice and found Applejack leaning over the table with her brow raised. “Oh! Hi, Applejack!” Pinkie excitedly greeted the apple farmer before she held her hoof next to her mouth in a hushed manner. “We're being sneaky.” She stopped to giggle. “Want to join us?” Smiling, Applejack shook her head. “Um, no thanks, Pinkie. Ah--”
Rainbow rose from underneath the table with a glare in her eyes. “Applejack?! What are you doing here?”
AppleJacke backed a few hoofs away and stuttered, "I-I only was wondering if you knew where Rarity and Flutteryshy were?" Rainbow turned her head quickly and pointed with her hoof towards the garden. "Fluttershy's out there most likely. Personally though, maybe you could help me out. See, I'm trying to--"
Rainbow Dash ceased mid-sentence when she found the county mare staring in awe with her mouth dropped wide open.
Pinky was next to turn towards AJ's direction, and inhale a loud gasp. Rainbow Dash's face shown with confusion until she turned in that same direction as well.
Across from where they stood, in the mist of others, there danced two dreamers gliding across the floor.
It was simple to acknowledge what was taking place. The way he looked at her, and the way she looked at him, it was like a dream straight from a story book. Fluttershy spotted the three onlookers from the garden doorway, and trotted towards them in haste. "Oh, girls! You won't believe it! I was able to meet a--oh, I'm sorry, am I bothering you?"
Fluttershy halted when she found them not paying any attention. "Um... sorry..." she said as she turned to leave; but Rainbow Dash wrapped her hoof around her and only laughed. "No, it's alright. Just take a look at that!"
Turning Fluttershy's head, Fluttershy witnessed firsthoof a pair of unicorns so closely drawn together, that it seemed as if a spell had been cast upon them. "Oh my!" gasped Fluttershy. At first she did not know what to think, but after a moment, her heart sank deep into her chest, and she let out a wistful sigh.
"Ah can't believe it; Rarity dancin' around him and stuff." AppleJack uttered dreamily. Pinky continued gasping, as Rainbow Dash just smiled. Fluttershy just exhaled and replied in a near trance, "Yeah... isn't it wonderful?"
Each of the friends eye's swayed back and forth, following the pair with each and every motion they displayed.
To see Rarity so happy, and to see the handsome stallion she danced with just as happy, it caused them all to be filled with pleasant thoughts. Rarity and him, him and Rarity. That's the way it was.
"Oh, Leonardo, you mustn't keep this lady waiting! Where is it you are from?" Rarity asked in all her splendor.
The handsom prince just smiled, trying to find a way to tell her the truth. 'Look at this Mare, Gallian, she's beautiful!
A princes any fine prince would only dream of dancing with. What would she say if she knew about you? Think, Gallian, think!' his inner monologs debated. "Well, I just arrived here from Canterlot." he laughed nervously. Rarity did not receive the sense of nervousness, but her eyes lit up at the sound of such a place. "If that is so, you have such a lovely home! The glamor, the fashion, the theaters! Such a fabulous place to live."
Prince Leonardo laughed in his rich and powerful voice. They continued to sweep across the floor in an angelic fashion.
"Then I am thankful." He said. Rarity smiled, not sure if she should ponder these words, or dismiss them. "So where is it you come from, my lady?" Leonardo asked, hoping to switch the conversation from him. "Oh, um. Me?" Rarity asked frightfully. 'What if he found out Rarity where you are from? What would somepony of his elegant sature think of a mare from ponyville? I mustn't let something quite as outrageous as that happen!' Thinking like this to herself, she decided to answer him in the similar fashion he had.
"An elegant place far from here. A place of divine stature, and the friendliest ponies you'll ever meet!"
The young Prince just smiled thoughtfully. Although she could not see it, the Prince was in battle with himself in both feelings, and in mind.
They swept across the floor repeatedly, passing time quicker than it seemed possible. As long as they danced, his eyes were trapped in hers, as hers were trapped in his. After that small conversation, they spoke very little in fact.
When the music switched to a slow swaying tune, Rarity drew herself closer to the stallions chest.
Rubbing her neck against his, they began to rock back and forth in each others arms.
With his head resting on her shoulders, and hers on his, warmth filled their bodies as they came closer together.
The two felt as if they were one. Their feelings throbbed dangerously in their bodies, giving them the urge to serve another bold move. Before this could be accomplished however, the music ended in a timely fashion.
The dancing enchantment between seemed to have ended, but the spell within their eyes did not. She still gazed lustfully in his eyes as he led her out of the ball room, deep into the royal gardens. Taking her to a rose bush, the young prince took a rose up in his teeth and presented it to Rarity. She gasped in affection towards him, and repaid the kindness with a soft kiss to his cheek. At the touch of her lips, the prince nearly toppled over in a dead faint. All the blood drained from his head, and then quickly rushed back up in a flurry of warm feelings and comfort beyond the average pony. He smiled a wide, pleasant smile, as he took Rarity to a bench and sat with her there upon it.
"Quick, they left into the garden!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she prepare to bolt towards the window.
"Hold on there, suger cube, it ain't none of our business. Ya' can't just go in there and spy on 'em." AJ stated, taking hold of Rainbow Dashes tail. "What!?" Rainbow Dash cried in disbelief, tugging back her tail. "Me? Spying? Who says we have to spy? We can't just leave alone with him! Remember last time?" Applejack sighed. "Rainbow, like ah said before, it ain't none of our business." Rainbow Dash crossed he hoofs.
She hated it when things did not dive in her favor, but then a sparkling idea sprang into the dare devils head.
Swooping around and pushing the four of them together, Rainbow Dash whispered something quietly between the four of them. After the short conversation, they all nodded their heads in agreement. Just then, Spike and Twilight trotted into the mist of them. "Hey girls, what's up?" Twilight asked as she noticed their heads nodding.
Pinkie Pie giggled "We were just agreeing!" Twilight smiled and shook her head.
"Hey, speaking of agreement, where's Rarity?" Spike asked, wheeling around worriedly.
At the sound of the baby dragon mentioning Rarity's name, all four of them, save twilight, turned their heads and began to whistle. Twilight narrowed her eyes, quite skeptical at the bodily response. "Girls, something you wanna tell me?"
Rainbow Dash quickly looked towards the opened garden window and replied, "Gotta dash, bye!" Bolting out of the group, Rainbow Dash vanished out the window. "And ah sure is hungry!" Applejack winked with a cheeky smile. AppleJack was next to turn and walked away from the group. The other two followed, leaving Twilight and spike bewildered and confused.
"What was that about?" Spike asked in confusion. Twilight raised her brow, and stroked her chin with her hoof.
"Something fishy spike, something fishy..."
The night of the Gala drew closer to an end. The entire palace garden lit up in a silent lively state as two silhouette's danced in the pale of moonlight. The two dreamers stared in each others eyes, unaware of the passing hours they shared together.
A smile never once left either of their faces, as the trance between them seemed to strengthen.
The moonlight, the rose pedals, the royal gardens, it all produced a setting of enchantment.
If such a sight had been seen by Luna during such a night so long ago, perhaps she'd have never become what she had.
The night was home to ponies like these. The dreamers.
After what seemed like a blissful eternity, the pair took a seat near a beautiful fountain in the middle of the garden.
There, the two stared into each others eyes, incapable of recalling anything evil before hoof. It was just them.
The two of them. "You are... so beautiful." the prince spoke as he gazed upon her.
Rarity's smile widened as the compliment was as sweet as honey to her soul. However, all of a sudden, the trance was broken. Rarity's feelings strayed lukewarm, and her mind took over.
The entire romance of the gala. It was a wonderful feeling, a blissful delight. But, could this be true love?
It had happened much too quickly. 'Hanky, dance, kiss, compliment, end. Just like that Rarity?' she asked herself.
'How could this be true love? These feelings will never last forever. Even if this was all I ever wanted.'
Rarity's smile turned into one of confusion as she pondered these questions in her mind.
Her crown began to throb, as it was her head began to burn deeply in thought.
As Rarity turned her head away from the Prince, the gaze between the two was instantly broken.
The prince noticed this rather quickly, and saw the puzzled expression upon her face. The royal Canterlot clock tower began to ring loudly, evidently expressing the end of the gala. "Something wrong?" the prince asked with concern.
Rarity turned and faced the prince as before, but she still wore the expression of confusion.
"I-I'm sorry, I-I have to go now. It's been a pleasure." she spoke uncomfortably, as she rose to leave his side.
"Wait! You can't leave now. How will I find you?"
"I-I, well, don't! I mean, I have to be going now."
"Wait please, tell me more about you!"
"Sorry, I must hurry!" she stormed away in bewilderment. 'What is happening to you, Rarity?' she asked herself.
She strode quickly past the garden roses, and the fountains, and out of the moonlight.
Straight into the ball room, she stormed past the delicate dishes prepared especially for that night.
She stormed past the Princess. She stormed past the guests. She stormed past the musicians.
In her state of confusion and worry, she remembered little of what had taken place.
Following from a distance, the young prince called to her, begging for her to wait.
"Where are you going? How will I find you!?" and words like these were spoken.
She rushed through a crowed of leaving guests, in which they closed together when the prince came by, blocking his final chance to catch up with Rarity. He watched as the Mare who had stolen his heart disappeared in the crowed.
With a heavy heart of stress and confusion the prince ceased to pursue, and halted in his tracks.
He closed his eyes as he began to remember the eyes he had been in captivated by in the past few hours.
He longed to seem them again. He longed to see her once more.
He wished he had told her the whole truth, and he wished he had learned more about her.
He wished she would know his true name, and he wished he had explained in all.
It was only then he realized his fatal mistake that had ended that night.
He was lost.
Lost in the dress Parade.
