Chapter 51

"Are you enjoying yourself Pinkie?" I smile. I failed on our stargazing date and I won't this time, I will make this night the best night ever… for her.

"We only just got here a little bit ago, Echo!" She giggles anyway. "But yeah! It's already a blast!" She hugs me, squeezing me tight.

"Well, good, because tonight even with our Princesses attending, you are my Princess and you shall laugh and smile the night away with no distractions. You and me."

"And the hundred of ponies around us!" She nods, but I know she gets what I mean from the way she stares intently at me. Her eyes, which take in everything, are focused on me and not those hundreds of ponies. Me. "What do you want to do, Echo?"

"Well we could-"

"RAINBOWDASH IT'S THE THUNDERBOLTS!" Scootaloo's screech can be heard across the room. Pinkie giggles, and I roll my eyes, but I'm delighted she's already having a good time.

"Why don't we head for the dance floor? Luna's section is the one that has modern music and a disco!" Pinkie suggest.

"Oh, you don't want to party tonight… you want to partaay." I say relatively quietly, as it's not my language but it's hers. She waggles her eyebrows and starts to trot away, her dress bouncing cutely. I follow with a grin. What a mare I've found. We dance despite my four left hooves when it comes it modern music. I wish I was more like Neon.. I've stepped on Pinkie's dress twice- Rarity would kill me if she found out!

I don't stop until Pinkie drags me, laughing, from the floor. I thought I would pass out from the exertion, since she has such endless energy I never thought I'd be able to keep up, but I manage to stay conscious enough to drain two cups of punch. As I pant with the exertion, I remember how not too long ago I was in this same kind of situation, though with Discord, of all people…

"Okay, so what do I do with my feet, again?" Discord is asking for the fourth time.

"Just step with the beat. Instead of chaos, its order. Like this." I take his hand with one hoof and place the other on his back and take the lead. "One and Two and One and Two.." I count my steps out as I guide his movements with mine. Clumsily his feet follow mine, though his step is neither confident nor accurate. And though he's only a head taller than me now, it's still an awkward height difference to me because I've always been the taller one in my practices.

"Augh, I'm so sorry." Discord pulls away as he steps on my hoof. Again. He buries his face in his clawed hands, which now match. "I don't understand how to just… keep to the beat. It's so regular, I.. I feel like I can't remember how far away each beat is even though they're exactly the same…" He groans.

I pause for a moment, he's not wrong, that's exactly the problem, Wait! "You know, that's okay. Don't worry about it. I heard that this year they are continuing the two different rooms with classical and modern hits. So if Copper or any mare asks you to dance, then you must respectfully decline for the classical room but offer her food and drink instead. And now we can try our luck with modern hits which allows for more freedom of movement. Example." I turn on my radio and it has one of Neon and Vinyls duet dubs. "With this, you keep beat but with any part of your body you want.. not just your hooves…" I say, keeping tempo by tapping my hooves but also swishing my tai0,l a little silly looking but correct.

"H-how? What is the point of dancing anyway?" He's frustrated, but he wants to get this so bad..

"It's an expression of your passion for something or somepony… the strict waltz is the love of true romance and tragic history to remember. The Samba is about passion and fire and feeling like nothing can stop you, as is the Tango. The modern music is knowing you can do whatever you want and show everyone how you feel because they are trusting you the same way and it's about having fun with those around you that you care about."

"It's about feeling? Just… moving how you feel?" His ears perk up a bit, finally, as he thinks about this. "Alright, so.. keep.. Keep going." He nods, ready to continue. And some hours later we are heaving and stopping for water. He's not the best, but he had fun, and that's all that really matters in the end.

"Wowzers, you're really good at this!" Pinkie exclaims after drinking four of her own punch cups in what I'm sure is record time.

"Not like you though.. but I want to show you something while we catch our breath if that's okay?" I smile with a bit of a delirious chuckle.

"Yeah, anything! What is it, what is it?" She asks eagerly.

This time I'm the one pulling Pinkie along and I take care through a variety of hallways through the Canterlot castle open to the public but not as used as the regular halls and then select a balcony that oversees the entirety of Canterlot's main district. You can't see the garden from here because it's on the other side but it's also less crowded than the garden view balconies and all the city light are glowing like stars with the duality of no loud noises to accompany them.

"Tada...this is the place I'd come to when I got tired as a colt.. It's so pretty and peaceful I thought you'd like it."

"Oh.. It's lovely, Echo." She smiles as she gazes out over the stillness of the city. "You know, it's funny how it's you who shows me this kind of stuff. Most ponies don't know but, I, well, I really like calm and peaceful stuff sometimes. I'm not a party animal alllll the time. So I guess I mean thank you. It's wonderful." She sighs a tiny sigh and leans against me.

The moment is perfect.. just she and I and the stars and the city lights..

"Oh hey guys!" The still, nearly soundless environment is broken by a single mare's voice. Oh gods, it's Copper. "Hey, I hadn't spotted you guys in a while so I got a little worried. What're you doing out here?" She's either blind or willfully ignoring the obvious mood I had set up, acting like she ran into us at the market.

"I was just showing Pinkie this balcony I used to come to as a colt when the Gala was too tiring, just trying to make this night great for her." I strain a smile which makes Pinkie tense at me because she can tell it's not real.

"Aw, that's so sweet of you." Copper seems genuinely moved by this, but not in the right way. "You guys are real cute together, but isn't it a bit cold out here? We should head back inside soon."

"Um, no, I think we're fine… I have a blazer on under my jacket; if Pinkie gets cold my jacket and I can keep her warm.. and you know I actually love this temperature." Just be patient, it's innocent Echo. She doesn't see it.. but why is it so hard… she's been weird ever since the stargazing and has become more oblivious to others with her denial of her date with Discord.. And oh Gods the chariot ride…

Since Pinkie's an Element of Harmony, Princess Twilight has it set up that we'll all go the Gala together in matching chariots or carriages. We wait outside the Castle, the six of them chatting, and the few dates of theirs, myself included, kind of just stand to the side. As the time arrives for our rides to show up, the princess disappears briefly, and when she reappears again it's with Discord and Copper. She's running through checklists, talking with them. Copper seems disgruntled and annoyed, Discord seems desperate.

I move towards Pinkie as a chariot that can only be ours, with its cotton candy coloring and musical decorations sparkling in the rising moon's light, finally pulls around. She smiles at me, excited, but doesn't say anything.

"Ah, here!" I hear Princess Twilight exclaim, followed by her hoofsteps. She pops up at my side, demure and apologetic. "Ah, Echo, Pinkie, can I have a word with you?"

"Of course, Princess Twilight" I say as a reflex, I don't see him but I know the Major is watching somehow; he's her undoubtedly her date.

"Well, I kind of promised Discord a proper ride and escort to the Gala, but I never put it on my checklists so I never came through, but I just ran the math and your chariot is just able to sustain you, Pinkie, Copper and Discord, but it's your ride first, after all, so I thought I should ask you if it would be alright if you shared? Discord isn't capable of generating items bigger than an orange anymore and I, unfortunately, don't know how to generate a carriage or anypony to pull it, so.. I really wouldn't ask if there were any other way, I'm so sorry."

"Oh, uh, of course, that's fine.. right Pinkie?" I ask.

"Super duper!" She said and with that it's settled . However, as soon as it's finalized and I let Pinkie into the Carriage by holding the door Copper jumps in before me and takes the seat next to her and Discord comes out of nowhere and takes the seat across from Pinkie as well, leaving me last and adjacent to my date. Great.

As our small crusade of chariots take off into the sky, nopony in ours says anything. Copper seems oblivious to the awkwardness, but even Pinkie seems to realize that this is weird. She keeps smiling at me and starting to say something, but always stops, like it's something she doesn't want anypony but me to hear. Which is disappointing, because there's things I'd like to say to her, alone, too. Discord, now barely any bigger than any other stallion, twiddles his thumbs.

"So, uh, thank you for sharing your carriage. I know it's supposed to be a special night and I hate to intrude on your individual plans.." Discord apologizes, finally. He seems relieved, a bit, after that, like that was a majority of his stress. I briefly remember my promise, months ago, to help him with etiquette and rules.

"Thank you Discord, friend, but there is no need to apologize. The Gala is always over exaggerated. I've been multiple times and I can tell you I've had nights at home with the family just as special. This night isn't inherently special. It's special because it symbolizes the time ponies can spend together, whether they are lovers, friends, family members, or coworkers.. it's the togetherness with the ponies you care about and treating them well on this night that's so important." Discord listens intently while I talk, nodding to himself.

"I see. It's not the party that makes the night important, but the ponies that make the party and night important." He says it like it's obvious now, like it's affirming something he already thought. "Then it will be a very special night." He says softly as he looks at his date, who stiffens. She's not so oblivious as I thought.

"Yeah, any night out with friends is special." Copper 'agrees', putting way too much emphasis on 'friends'. Discord shrinks like he's been reprimanded. Oh Gods that's what she's doing… you can't just do that to someone you love it's unhealthy for both of them… detrimental, toxic even.

"You're very handsome tonight, Discord.. Did Fluttershy or Rarity help or have you chosen everything yourself?" I hoof-bump his shoulder semi awkwardly trying to make him feel better.

"A little of both?" He shrugs. "I helped make the suit, but most of the design choices were Rarity's." He tugs at collar, a little proud if shy about it.

"Well it's great." I affirm.

"Yeah and Copper you look super nice too!" Pinkie jumps on board.

"Thanks, Pinkie. You and Echo look great together, too." She smiles, finally turning towards the rest of us. "I love how your rose matches Pinkie's dress, Echo."

"Thanks. I kind of went behind her back to Rarity to make it happen." I chuckle.

"You sneaker!" Pinkie beams.

"Heh sorry dear- erm if you're okay with being called dear." I blush, having forgotten to ask her first.

"Of course!" Her eyes sparkle with delight. "I've never had a pet name before!" She leans across the way a little, but then realizes we're too far apart for any kind of touch. I put out my hoof, though, and she happily reaches across to hold it. We smile at each other, and for a moment it's like it's just us.

"So! What's there to do at a Gala?" Copper is back to looking over the side of the chariot, blind to what was a meaningful moment between Pinkie and I.

"Oh lots of things! But Copper you really should look at the people you're speaking to- Rarity taught me that a while ago, and isn't that right, Echo?" Discord, at least, can sense my annoyance, and tries to bring down the growing tension with an open topic, and one that will hopefully correct the continuing bad timing of Copper's remarks.

"Indeed, you know you've grown a lot, Discord, from what I can tell." I smile at him, I'm proud and happy for him, I guess.. I mean we don't spend tons of time together but he's like an annoying little brother that's just growing up super fast, it's the only way to describe it.

"I'm trying to make amends." He gestures to us, but I know he means 'us ponies', in general. Then he looks over at Copper, and sighs. Does he think he's done something wrong with her?

"Perhaps you and Copper could dance tonight. My dear friend Octavia will be in the band again this year. She's a lovely violinist and Neon will be in the fast paced room deejaying for an hour before putting on the playlist so he can spend time at the party himself."

"Ah, that sounds lovely. I, ah, ran into your friend Octavia the other day, I must say she's actually quite a kind mare, and her taste in music is interesting." Discord says, a little nervous at first. "Unexpected for somepony who is a master of classical instruments."

"She's a bit chaotic just like you, though you'd never tell by looking at her." I laugh because I just didn't see Discord being confused or intimidated by her.

"Indeed. I've been finding more and more that individually, you ponies are much more.. wild and unexpected than I ever thought you'd be. I thought you were such.. predictable hive-minded minions to your tiny goddesses.. And you're not. You're all so different and amazing." Discord seems enraptured by this discovery, going so far as to place a hand on his heart and sigh. Then I realize he's looking ever-so-gently over at Copper, eyes half-lidded. She seems equally at ease, like she knows the words are kind of about her, but then she stiffens and her eyes are hard and tense again.

Everyone fell into silence and it was like that for the rest of the ride..

"Even so, all the party's inside. We wouldn't want everypony else to think we were ditching them." Copper insists. Enough of this, if she can't tell I'll just have to explain it nicely.

"Well, we are on a date Copper, I'm sure they'll understand if we aren't with them for every waking moment. The party still has a few hours left, were just having some down time is all." I try to explain.

She stares at me kind of blankly for a moment, like she doesn't understand the words at all. Pinkie, who has been silent this whole time sighs, and puts a hoof on mine.

"I'm.. I'm gonna let you guys talk this out, okay? I'll be waiting inside." Then she kisses me quickly on the cheek and smiles, but it's a sad, lonesome kind of smile, and then she's gone, disappearing behind trees and bushes. Great. Okay, the sooner this is done the sooner I can go back to Pinkie and cheer her up. I turn quickly towards Copper, determined.

"Copper, you are my friend but I want some alone time with Pinkie tonight. I even have a special song to dance to with her later in the request line that Octavia promised to play for us. Pinkie is my marefriend… and tonight is about us."

"I.. I know that." She looks down at her hooves, like she's ashamed. "I just.. I wanted.."

"You want to be dancing with Discord… and he wants that too. Stop denying him because you're scared of rejection. It's no way to live and it's certainly no excuse to hurt him. He's spent three weeks with me in etiquette lessons so he didn't embarrass you at this high end event. Do you know that?

He wanted to make sure you two had a great time together as friends per your request even though you both have higher levels of affection than that, and you aren't even spending time with him, you've avoided him since we walked through the door!" Copper gapes at me then furrows her brows. When she talks her voice is low and dangerous.

"First of all, I'm not scared of 'rejection'. In case you forgot, I've been rejected my whole life, so that's the one thing I'm good at. Second of all, I don't think you understand why I'm doing this. It's for his own good! I'm bad for the ponies I care about, okay? I'm trying to keep my distance so he and everypony else can keep going with their lives!" She hisses, head slightly lowered.

"Oh Celestia's Comet… you can't be serious!" I can't take it any longer! "When have you been 'bad' for ponies! You have saved Discord, helped us, done great work, and been a great friend until recently! No one's gotten hurt because of you except Discord because you are killing him softly. You don't want to be around him so bad?! Then be a grown mare and cut off relations entirely because it's clear the love you two have is far too strong for a stable friendship if you refuse to address it. Now I'm going to spend time with the ponies I care about… because that's what you're supposed to do, miss woah is me." I stomp past her. She charges around me, halting me.

"No, you do not get to just walk away from me. You don't get it, Echo, and I'm not even asking you to. I just wanted some support, and I thought.. I thought you were good enough that I wouldn't be poison to you, like I would be to him. Don't you get it? I want him, but I can't be that selfish because it would ruin him. You.. you're like me, like that, y-you-"

"Like you? No. Copper I am not because I let others know my true feelings about them. I do my best to confront every issue I have… and I am not poisonous.. So if you think you are, then absolutely no, we are not the same. I don't know what kind of pity image you have in your head with me but it can drop because I don't need it! Pinkie loves me and I have wonderful friends and I'm happy!" I instinctively puff up my chest and stand tall over her, a show of threat in it's own way. She breathes heavily, ears and head down, angrily looking up at me. Her lips twitch like she's trying to form words, but she can't quite open her mouth. Good. I don't want to hear anything from her. I start to move towards the castle, towards Pinkie and the party, but finally she picks her head up and speaks.

"That's not what I meant." I hear her mutter. "I meant.. I don't know what I meant, but I don't pity you, Echo. You don't need pity. You're stronger than that. But I get it. I'm just the pathetic, broken pegasus who can't see that nopony needs her opinion. Fine. Go be happy with Pinkie, at your party, with your friends. I can see I'm not one of them." She speaks with venom. "Fine. Fine."

I feel a pain in my chest but it's numb, and I'm too angry too continue the conversation now. If she says we aren't friends then so be it. I won't puppy after her like Discord. I walk away, leaving her in silence. However, a horrible scene awaits the main ballroom. Some ponies are screaming and running others are fighting amongst each other.

My first thought is "Fluttershy couldn't make a animal friend again" I had heard a horror story of last years Gala from Octy, though I never attended it.. I sigh and try to calmly maneuver through the crowd to find Pinkie or Scootaloo just in case but not such luck. Maybe the second level would provide a better view. I gallop my way, weaving through the ponies shoving each other around and then up the stairs.

Part of me hoped that it would calm down in the time it took me to go up the single flight of stairs, but peering over the walkway railing I can only see the madhouse has gotten worse. In the far corner, I can see the princesses working magic to gently though forcefully separate the increasingly violent guests. Even Discord is out, snatching those who can't or won't fight away from those assailing them. Though that eases my mind a bit, I am very concerned for Pinkie and Octy and Scootaloo. I scan frantically for their colors, their dresses, the sound of their voices but the din is too much.

The walkway shakes a bit as somepony else enters from the otherside, and I turn, hoping it's one of my three, but it's somepony else. As they approach, stomping, I see they're nearly frothing at the mouth.

"You!" They holler. I squint an eye in confusion, but then it hits me. I know this face, it's distant but I do know it.. "You got me put in jail for four months!"

"Oh, you!" It's the stallion I got in a fight with on the day that Prince Knights offered me my job as payment for that exact fight. "I don't have time for you!" I snort. He doesn't seem to hear me.

"I saw you from the ground floor! This is your fault somehow isn't it? You did this like you messed with my life!" He snarls, a gross display of teeth and spit.

"I don't care!"

"Echo?!" I turn at that, finally a voice I recognize; Scootaloo.

"Scoots!" I start to trot for her, happy to see her safe even if she, and who look to be her friends, is in a state of shock. But I get shoved aside as that stallion rams me into the wall, stunning me.

"I'll make you care!" I dumbly hear him, but I can't quite react in time to stop him. Scootaloo squeals as he picks her up by the neck of her dress and tosses her over the side.

I watch in slow motion as she tumbles high. Only as she reaches her apex do I finally feel able to move.

My magic ignites slowly, numbly, so I run a short three steps to the railing where that bastard still stands, grinning madly, and I push myself off to catch her. Barely, I grab hold of her and tuck her in close. She's still screaming, but everything else seems to have died out. I try again to pump out the power to levitate us down but it fails. I feel blocked and no matter how I strain it won't work, won't save her.

I am almost grateful for the slowed perception, though it increases my awareness of every detail of just how fast we're falling, how hard we'll hit.

"So what's it like getting ready for the Gala when you're an adult? Everypony just tells us what to do or what's gonna happen, so what's it like to, like, make your own decisions?" Scootaloo asks before chomping into her overflowing sandwich.

"Not that different I guess, there are still some things you know you have to do...but getting to do it yourself is cool. Other decisions can be hard to make though without others to tell you.. Like the decision between ice cream for dessert or more pretzel bites." I add a joke to the end of my lecture and sip my lemonade. I'm just so thrilled I could take this day with her and treat her to that dinner and dessert we talked about before things got to hectic with the Gala.

"That one's easy. Always more ice cream, duh!" Scootaloo replies with a giddy smile. "I just wish I didn't have to wear a dress. They're nice sometimes, but… I don't know, I don't always like them. And everyone says I have to because I'm a girl but who says anypony has to do anything because they're a girl or a boy? That's so dumb." She pouts, her smile gone.

"Yeah I suppose it is, but do you know something cool about dresses?" I ask.

"Literally nothing."

"Well there once was a stallion in Celestia's army and he liked to wear dresses in secret ..Lancetrot...One day during an invasion the castle was overwhelmed and they found him but because he was in his dress and everyone had long manes back then, they thought he was a mare and left him alone while they captured the other soldiers.. then when he had an opening he took them by surprise by taking them all out.. still in his dress. Everypony was so happy to be saved! They didn't question it- he was their friend and their savior that night.."

"Aw great! So an old dead stallion can wear a dress but I can't wear a suit?!" Scootaloo leans on the table with her front hooves, shocked and more upset. Oops.

"Uh.. hey don't worry about it, maybe next year it will be different… and does it really matter what you have to wear as long as you're with the people you care about?" I tread cautiously.

"Well… I'll say it like this. What if you could never ever wear your scarf again? It's not a big deal to everypony else, so why is it a big deal to you? Who cares if you're more comfortable with it than without, nopony else wants you to wear it ever again in the rest of your life. Not wearing your scarf is like having to wear only dresses to me." She explains bitterly.

"I understand, at least I think I do…" I take a breath and a sip of lemonade once more. "Tell you what… for Hearth's Warming Eve, I don't care what Rarity or the others say, you can wear a suite, okay?" I try to cheer her up.

"Thanks, Echo, but it's not the same." She does smile, though it's a tired facade. "The Gala is like, a big deal, right? It's supposed to be kind of magical, a once in a lifetime kind of thing for most non-canterlot ponies, and sure, this is my second time because I know Rainbow Dash and everypony, but it's hard to wait to be in charge of myself like that. What if you had to graduate to be able to wear your scarf?" She shakes her head. "Nevermind. Thank you for trying to get it, but I know it's just a silly kid thing to you. Anyway, I should get going. Gotta get measured for my.. dress."

"Okay, Scoots I'll see you later. But it's not a kid thing to me.. I'll try harder to understand and help you." I say and signal for the check. I watch her leave and then wait a while before sneaking into the boutique and asking Rarity to make a suit for her instead. She protested at first but realised how important it was for Scootaloo and how it's not really a problem so she agrees.

Scootaloo's Gala will be magical...

No. No, just how hard I'll hit.

As we near the ground, I turn so that my back is to the floor, so Scootaloo is up. I push her away at the last moment, destroying the momentum that would destroy her. I barely register how I make contact, but I am overwhelmed by a sense of terrible dread accompanied by a vicious, gleeful laughter that floods out everything else. The ballroom and the ponies and the sound of silence and even Scootaloo screaming all disappear underneath the blanket of that terrible, wicked cackle.

Pain explodes everywhere.. and then falls away into blackness and nightmares. My last thought is of Scootaloo..

Did I.. succeed..?