Another Play About Luna, First Night

[Luna]

WE, THY PRINCESS, DO NOT ATTEST TO THE HISTORICAL ACCURACY OF THE THEATRICAL PERFORMED BELOW, ALTHOUGH IT IS CERTAINLY BASED ON A TRUE STORY. THE RECANTING OF EVENTS ON OPENING NIGHT, HOWEVER, IS REAL. NOT EVEN NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT.

[Luna]

Pinkie_Pie rolls a large cannon and an even bigger wagon in the open entrance. "Guys!! I used the doooooor!" she squeaks proudly!

Pinkie_Pie removes the trap on her wagon to reveal a pile of disconcerted looking ponies. They tumble out and begin to amble around.

Sugar_Rush blinks? "How did I get here?"

Derpy made her own way here, of course. No Pinkie-duction for her! She traipses heavily in (leave it to Derpy to traipse heavily) carrying a large, hastily wrapped roll of miscellaneous stuff strapped to her back, which bobs around ominously with the slightest adjustment of her frame. She stands in the threshold of the Great Hall, gaping openly in delight.

Pinkie_Pie noogies Sugar happily. "Yuo rushed here, of course!"

Skyheart is looking in a mirror in the back adjusting a costume. It's of an old-style Equestrian Renaissance tunic- black with red trim. He is adjusting a large beret-like hat that contains a large purple plume mirroring his usual quills. He gently sets it a bit off for style and looks at the mirror, posing a bit for effect. He clears his throat. "But shall the fool continue? No no no... Um..." He shakes his head, trying to find another way to deliver his line. For now it seems he's alone in the dressing room.

Sugar_Rush eeps as he is "noogied". "Oh! Hi, Pinkie. Um...where exactly did I rush to?"

Pinkie_Pie puts an arm around his shoulder and gestures grandly. "THE FOLDEROL, Sugar."

Derpy passes wobblingly by Sugar Rush, bumping his tuckus very lightly with the load of supplies. "Hello, Sugary! Hello, Pinkie! Glad to see!"

Sugar_Rush looks confused, "All I remember is a pink flash, then darkness, then here...what is a folderol?

Twilight_Sparkle has been working on teleporting longer and longer distances. She's begun calling it 'the future of Equestria' in various magic publications. This time, however, she teleports herself to about a metre off the ground in the royal box. She falls to the ground, with a loud *oof*.

Pinkie_Pie rolls her eyes. "It's this here, obviously! Ponies! Balloons! Food! A stage and a throne room and an amazing play - heeey, where's the play? Where's the balloons? Gasp! I haven't put up the balloons yet!"

Derpy winks at Pinkie, almost inadvertently smashing her load into a column. "Play is readying! Will waiting for our starpower. I mean starfire. In meantime? Is set-up!!" She directs Sugar Rush toward the dressing room.

Sugar_Rush looks shocked! "Wait...I'm at the palace? Oh my!"

Twilight_Sparkle straightens, and and scribbles in a notebook. 'Did not miss the box altogether, this time. Progress.'

Pinkie_Pie starts running around in a circle, hooves to her her head. "No balloons! No cupcakes?! There's no tiiiiime! Augh! What am I gonna dooo! If only I had some delviery system that would lay out all these things simultaneously in a split second!"

Skyheart stretches and looks at hismself for a moment. "Okay... I have everything together..." He takes a peek outside to see that guests are only just starting to getting here. Heck, he didn't even see Bardigan here. He steps out into the stands and relaxes for now, his rather old-timey outfit sticking out a lot.

Twilight_Sparkle teleports so she's standing beside Pinkie Pie. *paf* "Pinkie Pie! You look worried! Can I help?"

Derpy glances at at Twilight with snub-nosed surprised, banging her load on the royal floor. "Hello, Spark-le-y!" she calls, excited. She looks over to her new location in surprise. "But...but were up there," she points out.

Derpy shouts "Now are RPing setting up for play! Play will begin a little later, at the Royal Palace!" (Public-shout)

Pinkie_Pie shakes Twilight by the shoulders. "Quick! Help me invent some delviery system that will lay out all these things simultaneously in a split second!" she gasps frantically. "We can use, um..." she looks around vaguely, and points at the large Party Cannon she wheeled in earlier. "That!"

Sugar_Rush goes and sit of to the side, looking quite overwhelmed and nervous...

Derpy is inside of the party cannon, her load of supplies abandoned on the floor, peeking out with her forehooves tucked over the side. What fun!

Skyheart has his attention diverted to the growing crowd of spectators who seem to be waiting for the play to start. Derpy is among them. Seeing that as his cue, he approaches her and sticks his head in the party cannon to see if she's in there, only to be greeted by her half hanging out of it. (Yeah, great idea by the way...) "Hey, Derpy? Have you seen Bardigan?" He says, standing just to the side of said cannon.

Twilight_Sparkle frantically scribbles on her pad. "The magical physics of that will be tricky! But...yes! I think it can be done! Pinkie? Load the cannon."

Pinkie_Pie peeks into the cannon. She hands Derpy some balloons, a cupcake, a tablecloth, and... no, that's it.

Derpy takes them all happily! She ties the tablecloth around her neck. "Hi there Skyheart! Are dres-sed all up?" She can see he is. Derpy then hides away deep in the cannon.

Sugar_Rush watches what is going on, but seems to be very distracted.

Twilight_Sparkle scrambles around the cannon, casting key spells in key places, her horn flashing! She steps back. "All right, Pinkie! Fire when ready!"

Dusk comes in with Mirage, looking for their seats. "Oh looks like they're getting ready. I bet it won't be long now." He smiles, finding our section and letting Mirage take a seat first.

Mirage hmms softly, noting the preparations as she takes her seat. "Is the cannon part of the show?" she asks Dusk, wondering if perhaps this is like the time the tiger on stage wasn't part of the show.

Skyheart nods. "Yep. I decided to get into the costume early just in case anypony has any changes they want to make to it." THen he hears talk about the cannon. "What?" He perks up a bit worried.

Pinkie_Pie leaps gleefully on the back of the magicked.... already magic party cannon. Well, whatever it is that Pinkie does, if not magic. She wapwapwaps the fuse-shaped button delightedly.

Blue_Yonder takes a casual glance around. Been away far too long, but that only means he's been roaming the world looking for interesting things, and likely finding them. It looks like there's some kind of play about to start, too.

Derpy exploo00ooodes out of the cannon!! She tumbles a few times along the ground, cushioned by confetti and balloons. Apparently her presence in the cannon has completely thrown off Twilight's calculations. Derp! Balloons and sparkles and such go floating and rolling everywhere. "WheeeeeEEE!" she shouts, before banging into her big load of props.

Sugar_Rush nervously looks over his script again...

Twilight_Sparkle winces! And scribbles furiously on her pad.

Pinkie_Pie watches in wide-eyed delight! "Eureka! We've invented the amusement park ride!"

Skyheart looks to Pinkie and Twilight. "Er.... You realize she's supposed to be in the play, right?" He winces at the colorful landing. "Um... Derpy? Are you okay?" He asks carefully. He then looks around. "Ugh... WHERE is Bardigan!? We're supposed to start soon." He readjusts his hat and seems a bit worried.

Dusk grins to Mirage and nods, "It sure looks like it.. Unless they set the cannon off before the show starts. Or maybe Miss Pinkie just likes having it on hoof. You know, party emergencies." He settles in besides Mirage and slips her hoof in with his.

Derpy shakes her head and rattles out the extra stars and spirals. Where did those come from? She sees that she straddling her bundle with delight, and starts to drag it backstage. "Help me, Skyheart! Starfire!!"

Derpy shouts "Attention ponyfriends! Historical play "The Night of Two Moons" about to begin soon!! Come to Royal Palace to see!" (Public-shout)

Derpy is still waiting for help hauling her bundle of stuff backstage

Swirls of dark energy seeth by the royal box, creeping inward from the resilient shadows that hide behind the pillars and walls. A voice, a whisper into hidden corners, like the remnants of feverish dreams, awakens, and speaks, and commands. Life is brought forth, but segregated, distilled, not the raw purity of being but merely a particularity, an individual, a dark-hued unicorn mare with a orange-silver mane and a cold, calculating expression. So, Nightshade thinks, this is where the play shall be. Intriguing.

Pinkie_Pie is too busy straightening out balloons and setting extravagant tables with treats! She zips around the room in a Pinkie Frenzy.

Sugar_Rush looks to see if he needs to get into a costume or something?

Twilight_Sparkle runs around the room, too, straightening things up as best she4 can. Unfortunately, she is Twilight Sparkle, and, for instance, arranges the balloons by chromatic value.

Derpy calls out to Sugar Rush. "Helllp!"

Mirage watches as ponies come in, taking their seats are getting ready to be part of the show. Derpy's flight from the cannon isn't quite what she expected, but at least the mail mare isn't hurt. "Maybe it's for the overture?" she asks Dusk as she leans into his hug. She gives Dusk a little elbow and eyes up to the Royal Box seat. "Either they have a lighting problem, or Princess Luna is in attendance," she says, narrowing her eyes a bit to see clearly.

Nightshade is the only pony present at the Royal Box right now, and she seems to regard the preparations with mild disinterest, busy, at it seems, with writing something.

Skyheart heads backstage to see Derpy struggling with a large object. "Oh dear..." He takes the other side and lifts, even if he's having difficulty. "GOt it..."

Sugar_Rush rushes over to Derpy to help her out, "What happened to you?"

Bardigan is nowhere to be seen until just now. A few seconds ago, actually, but he's so furtive nopony was able to get a bead on him. He skirts the corners of the great room, hiding behind tables, darting behind pillars, and not even wearing his signature hat. His jaw is clenched so tight it's a wonder his face hasn't snapped right in two. He begins locating those ponies involved with the play, popping out of a dark corner to tap them on the shoulder and then whispering in their ear, pointing to the stage. He then appears literally right under Derpy's package and heaving it up on his back. "Hustle and bustle!" he says through gritted teeth, bearing the package to the back.

Derpy smiles and struggles with Skyheart to the dressing room and staging area backstage. The package falls apart there,revealing columns, braces, floodlights, lots of togas, laurels, archery equipment, and aluminum foil, among other things.

Skyheart sighs as he looks at everything. "Get in costume, Derpy. It's almost showtime."

Derpy sets to furiously papier-macheing.

Sugar_Rush says "Do I have a costume? Where is it? What about makeup? Do I need make-up? Oh, dear..."

Derpy rolls the half-papier-mached ball over to Skyheart. "Can finish for!" She throws a toga and olive-branch headdress at Sugar Rush and starts assembling the backdrops derpily.

Bardigan pushes on Sugar's flank towards the dressing room. "Yes, you do! Hustle, hustle! There's ponies back there to assist you!"

Skyheart tosses a costume and script at Rush in one go. It all drapes on his back as he's ushered into the room.

Sugar_Rush is both pushed into the dressing room, and has his costume land on him. He quickly puts everything on...

Derpy pauses to peek out from between the curtains and wave at the crowd!!

Pinkie_Pie beaaams, and wavewaves vigorously at Derpy!

Twilight_Sparkle is satisfied with her work, and teleports back into the royal box. *paf* There, in preparation for her lighting effect duties, she does magical lighting warmup exercises, the result being to turn the inside of the royal box into a discotheque of swirling lights.

Cherry_Blossom takes a seat in the audience, looking up just in time to see one of her best customers peek out at the crowd. She waves back, smiling and standing up...at least until the pony behind her harumphs and she sits back down looking chastised. "Oh-oh...sorry everypony..."

In the back of the hall, a pair of double doors slam open. In strides the Princess of the Night. Well, stomps. In stomps the Princess of the Night, her head held low and scowling as she climbs the stairs to the throne. Twisting her head to look up and behind her, she yells, "CELESTIA!" When nothing happens, she drops her plot onto the throne and yells again, "CELESTIAAAA! NOPONY CARES HOW FAT THOU ARE!"

Bardigan shouts "Everypony who wishes to attend the play: It is starting NOW!" (Public-shout)

Firefly seems to emerge from nowhere, so sit beside the throne on Luna's right side, back slightly.

Nightshade glances at Twilight Sparkle as she teleports in, regarding the young unicorn with a brief spark of recognition. So, this was the famous Twilight Sparkle. "I have heard much about this play and its writer," she comments aloud. "Let us see if the hearsay is sound."

Derpy zips around and passes out programs!! (Look at the Program to read them!)

Sugar_Rush carefully comes out of the dressing room, wearing his toga and laurel. He blushes a bit, "Um...do I look alright?"

Pinkie_Pie ooohs, poring over the program closely.

Berry Punch shows up and poses to a few acquaintances and a few strangers on her way to the back. "Comin' through! Hot stuff! Ogle while ya can!"

Cherry_Blossom looks over her own program, ears slightly flat. She turns it over, then turns it over again, looking thoughtful.

Blue_Yonder quietly reads the program. Hmm. History? Interesting.

Pinkie_Pie whistles at Berry Punch, and directs her to the beverages table.

Dusk smiles at Mirage's hug too and grins, "Well seems Lady Derpy at least has tested it out. And provided some preshow entertainment." Indeed the place is quite a bustle, even the parts you can see out from the audience. He can only imagine what it's like behind the scenes. He looks up at the royal box. "No that appears to be another pony, I believe, my dear. Oh, there she is.." As if he needed to point Luna out at this point. He grins a little Luna's outburst, but doesn't make it too obvious.

Luna scowls a lot, too irked to display proper regal dignity. Instead she flops sideways on the throne, leaning over the arm to tell Twilight, "Twilight Sparkle. Great is our pleasure that thou could attend. Rest assured, thy beloved teacher and my beloved sister WILL attend this play staged SPECIFICALLY FOR HER. Even now, she watches, but does not wish to make a personal appearance until matters of state are taken care of that have nothing to do with the cake our chefs baked to reward the actors MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARING. By the way, nice lights."

Derpy frantically finishes pounding together the various props with a variety of mis-applied tools. Loud banging noses can be heard in the house.

Skyheart looks at his medieval-style outfit and compares it to Rush's toga. "Er... Did I wear the wrong outfit or did you?" He looks to Bardigan.

Firefly leans over to Luna. "I could lay seige to Canterlot, that would get Celestia's attention rather quickly. It usually does." snickering.

Bardigan is wearing a Reneighssance robe and hat! After a moment of awkward staring he shoves everypony back into the dressing room.

Derpy has forgotten to put on her costume, so busy has she been with everything else!

Twilight_Sparkle blinks out the lights! Not all the lights, just the disco-ball practice lights she's been creating. She looks up at the ceiling, and takes control of the house lights...and suddenly, the room is a bright twilight color, with swirls of red, orange, purple and pink. At the center is a single star...and it shines down on the stage like a spotlight. She leaves the rest of the room well enough lit for everypony to find their seats and such.

And then a magical voice booms from behind the curtain. "Five minutes to start. Five minutes to start."

"Please find your seats."

"Two minutes to curtain! Two minutes! Please find your seats!"

Spike appears suddenly next to Twilight, squinting and blinking and looking generally disoriented. "Mmmwha? Did my afternoon nap get out of control again?" He peers blearily around the auditorium, getting his bearings. He doesn't even bother to remark on not being where he was when he went to sleep -- by now he's used to Twilight capriciously teleporting him around the landscape.

Derpy finally finishes hitching together a pair of gigantic balls backstage and looks around for her costume!

And with that, the lights dim until all is gone but Twilight's helpful star spotlight. The curtain, previously disturbed here and there by ponies rushing back and forth to finalize preparations, goes still. For a few heavy moments tight with anticipation, all is silent and still... or at least, that's the idea.

Mirage gives a little nod to Dusk. "Yes, I hope the play is as exciting as the preparations so far." She squints back up to the box. "So, the Princess is in to disco?"

Luna twists around onto her back, her head lolling upside down off the armrest. "Ah, the dragon plaything. If THOU are not too chubby to show thy face, surely NO PONY could be concerned. Here, we shall make use of thy powers." With a blue flash, a piece of paper appears, then a quill. On the page is quickly scribbled 'The play is starting RIGHT NOW just use an illusion or something.' The paper is then floated over and pushed against Spike's face as Luna crabs, "Send that to our sister, would thou?"

Cherry_Blossom finds herself inadvertently on the end of her seat. Oh this was so exciting! She had never been to a play before!

Derpy finally gives up and throws on a headdress made of some sort of thorny branches with a little bell dangling from one of them. She pushes through the curtains, finds herself illuminated by the star spotlight and stands, gaping with amazement and sheer delight, at the audience.

Blue_Yonder hopes this is better than the kitsune kabuki he attended. So much howling!

Derpy shouts "For record? Play has just begun." (Public-shout)

Spike flinches as the paper is mashed against his face, but snatches it out of the air with only a slight hint of irritation. He *is* in the presence of royalty, after all. He holds it up in his fingertips and dispatches it with a flourish of green flame.

Derpy clears her throat, her voice magically amplified by a spell cast on the entire stage area. The little tingle of her bell gets amplified too as she turns her head from side to side to observe the crowd in the house. She steps forward and speaks...
"The tale about to see? Is true.
Some parts made up. Some parts unglue!
Some parts forever and sublime.
Some parts divide by touch of Time.
Some parts on ponies long since died.
Some parts on princess, still abide!
Some parts on Me. Some parts on You!
The tale about to tell? Is TRUE!!"

Pinkie_Pie squeals happily. "HEY, DERPYY! Oop... I mean..." her voice lowers to the pink pony's idea of a stage whisper, still easily audible in the royal box as well as probably most of Everfree. "*Heeeey, Derpyyyyyyy*!"

Derpy grins and waves to Pinkie Pie, but the jangle of her bell reminds her that others are watching. She tucks her head back bashfully and turns about, passing again between the curtains.

Cherry_Blossom fidgets as she waits for the play to begin, then pouts to herself and glances around. Was there a refreshment counter in the auditorium? Somepony could really be making a killing here. She slowly lowers down , down, down. Before disappearing behind the pony's seat in front of her. Where was she off too?

MapleWing sits in his balcony seat, casually flipping through his program as he reads, occasionally glancing up toward the stage, wating as well.

Luna's head lifts as Derpy takes the stage. Her sullen scowl turns slowly into a smile, and she pushes herself up to loom properly from her seat on the throne.

Blue_Yonder retrieves some refreshments. Good to have the flavors of home once in a while.

Rarity Finds a place her her prestegious plot to park, wearing a lovely ball gown, decorated in fance glitter, gems, jewels and DIAMONDS. It's purple and flows and fits her frame. "Mmmmm I can't WAIT to see my beautiful work on stage! I designed the costumes here, you know. "She canters to everypony around her, waggling a forehoof dismissivly. "It was no small feat, trying to guess Derpy's Sizes. I asked her her flank measurements, and she keep trying to give me a muffin. "She sighs.

"I'm late, I'm late..." recites Fluttershy as her head pokes up here and there, making its way through the standing audience like a prairie dog through its burrows. When she sees that she hasn't *quite* missed everything, she heaves a soft sigh of relief.

The curtain parts to reveal a twilight sky, silhouetting a great garden or forest. The towers of Canterlot poke above the shadowy grove, lights twinkling in their windows to match the stars further overhead, which become more pronounced in a subtle way every second. A far off tower presents a balcony jutting forth with a shadowed figure standing upon it. The lights shift to a unicorn stallion making his way in from stage left, brushing aside a few errant bushes. He wears the resplendent robes of a mage of his time, though he is anything but dour and studious. Indeed, he looks quite thougthful as he begins to pace, looking up at the night sky with a little sigh, and opens his mouth to speak.

Cherry_Blossom gasps as she slinks under the seats and somepony steps on her mane! She is pinned to the floor! Halp! Halp! She flails around and somehow manages to wriggle away. Several minutes later she returns to her seat after a long and epic adventure to get to the snack stand and back. An adventure nopony will ever know about but one fraught with peril and personal sacrifice.

( "Again rest eludes me. Night is not the restful time it should be. The cool wind stirs me, the gentle lights of Luna's sky are as the Sun! How does a pony find stillness if his heart is always beating?" He touches his chest with a fond expression. "And loud does mine thunder, eager to be heard above all the rest! My hooves have brought me here, but I cannot help but feel an ever more distant call." His hoof goes up towards the sky, as if to touch the stars. "The higher I reach, the further it goes, and now here, on the precipice of greatness, I hear nothing but a maddening whisper. Water is drunk and lost and falls again, earth is tilled and turned, but magic is ever present, ever flowing, ever waxing and waning. What kind of reach must a pony have to find the end of something eternal?" His horn glows and a swirl of leaves without any wind gusts about him, lifting it up into the sky and off into reaches unknown. "I say... mine." )

Twilight_Sparkle carefully monitors and adjusts the lighting, as she, Derpy and Bardigan discussed beforehand. She also teleports herself a glass of cider from the snackbar. Surely one won't dull her acuity. *paf*

Starfire glides in from up behind stage somewhere as Bardigan speaks his part, landing in an elegant sweeping motion as silent as the calmest and most most serene of nights, remaing in the background, glittering a deep midnight black, having poweder coated her fur to match Luna's, wearing the old anklet and breastplate from days long past.

Rarity glares at Cherry Blossom, as if to -dare- her to try using her tail. (Protip: it shall end in tragedy, darling.)

Cherry_Blossom sinks down a bit in her seat and peers demurely over the rim of her cider cup at Rarity, slyly begins to look around for an easier target.

( The unknown stallion watches Luna swoop down to her perch, tilting his head and growing more focused, more solemn. "What other pony dares to reach beyond sight and sound and into the expanse that waits within the mind? None but I. Who dares to dream thoughts so shadowed that Night itself would deign to shine its pale light upon? None but I! And here, in Canterlot, the city that ponies dared to erect upon this precarious peak, I feel just so much closer to my goal... and so the march of progress extends even further away. But to never be satisfied is my satisfaction. Horizon is my goal, and Horizon is who I am." )

Luna lifts one foreleg as gracefully as possible to hold her hoof over her muzzle in a gesture that would be considerably more demure if it weren't trying to cover a laugh that mixes squeals and snorts that could have come straight from a pig.

Spike stands on tiptoe to see over the railing of the royal box, his green eyes glowing with the reflected light from the stage.

Fluttershy @skip
Derpy @hop!
Luna @jump

MapleWing lowers his program as the play begins, teh stallion dressed unusually in a more fashionable suit, albeit a bit out of fashion and distinctly showing it's age ever so slightly, though he does look nice to the untrained eye.

( And then Horizon rubs his chin, peering up at Luna's magnificent, stoic form. As in my mind, so too in my heart. No mare has ever kept me. We ponies with our little mayfly lives. Better to grasp the dust. Love is here and gone, and even the greatest we only read about. I will not be satisfied by remaining in love. To love is what I seek, to look ever upward. The act of striving is in itself a virtue, is it not? nd so I must seek a love that fills my heart's limitless expanse, and then beyond... As limitless as the Night, and the Princess that rules it. For even the Sun hangs in the sky, content with its place... but the Night looks beyond, to eternity. Perhaps... my sights should be set even higher than this mountain peak. Perhaps..." And he falls silent, and is lost mostly to shadows as the lights turn upward to Luna, focusing upon her first and most important task of the night... )

( And in that moment, the chorus ambles onto stage. Most of them linger behind, but the mint green form of Lyra Heartstrings takes the fore, glances once, rather soulfully, at Luna, and then faces the audience. She begins to sing, while the lights scramble eerily about and music plays lightly in the background... )
( o/~ "Luna, Luna, Luuuna, Luuuna! )
Pinpoint in the firmament! (Pinpoint in the void!)
Child of revolution, fount of elocution
Shade of tenebrosity, crux of curiosity
( Luna, Luna!" o/~ )

Luna leans over again, very slowly, trying to look subtle, which is very hard when you're a head and a half taller than everyone else and sitting on a throne. Her face is a tight mask trying to hold back more sniggering, so when she's close enough it's through barely moving lips she whispers to Twilight and Spike, "That is so much like Horizon. Everything was poetry to that colt."

Nightshade watches and listens as the pony named 'Horizon' makes his long, introductory monologue. A powerfully delivered speech, but the content leaves her something to be desired. There was no subtlety, no gradual build-up. Perhaps, however, that was the point of the character. She'll have to wait and see. Ah, the chorus, always a favourite. Is that Lyra Heartstrings? My, she can sing too...

Rarity points a hoof, and gives a quiet little squeal. No matter how many times she sees it- her costumes on the stage always bring a bright and beautiful glow to her heart! "Oh, oh, I haven't been this excited since...well...Bardigan's last play! That poet is really quite something, isn't he?

Cherry_Blossom happens to glance up and notices MapleWing, she hadn't seen him before when she entered. But she now waves at him and smiles, she does notice how oddly dressed he was, so old fashioned, then she turns to watch the chorus. Nodding in agreement with Rarity's comment but saying nothing.

( Two balloons rise sloooooowly from the midst of the crowd. From them dangles a picture of Fluttershy's smiling face, and an arrow pointing down to where Pinkie is sitting and trying VERY HARD not to be distracting. )

Twilight_Sparkle adds a few extra sparkles to the stage, for good measure! Also, she gets herself some more cider. This is pretty good cider.

Sugar_Rush comes forward, and sings in a clear, strong, yet sweet voice: o/` So! How the beauty of her night infiltrates, Blots out the gleam at the back of my eye! Leaves me no steam, replaced by a dream, No tears to cry, only sleep, sleep... o/`

Now other chorusters steps forth and let their voices blend in the background: Carrot Top, Bonbon...
o/~ "Woe! How the marvel of her stars makes me reel!
Pitches me up into endless ascent
No way to land, no wings to command
Time to repent in the deep, deep..." o/~

MapleWing's ears flatten for a moment upon noticing Cherry Blossom, especially as it becomes apparent that she's noticed him, and with a bit of self-conciousness uses a hoof to adjust his attire as he waves a hoof back, flashing a friendly and warm smile to the attractive mare from his seat on his own in one of the balcony seats, his attention affixed to the mare for a moment until the large balloons begin to raise overhead, drawing the stallions attention.

( Lyra takes over once more.Luna, Luna, Luuuna, Luuuna! )
Pinpoint in the firmament! (Pinpoint in the void!)
Queen of arbitration, knight of constellation
Champion of knowing, magus everflowing
( Luna, Luna! )
So! How the brilliance of her moon strikes the soul!
Woe to the foal who would halve the whole!
Heavenly face, perpetual grace
No finer role, or so stark, stark...

Berry Punch steps forward to take her turn.
"Woe! Would I ever know perfection so fine!
Round as a pony before being born
Light in the black, no contrast thee lack
Miniature morn in the dark, dark..."

Suddenly, the lighting becomes very different! For a split second, the whole stage is lit up with what looks like moonlight, and then at irregular intervals, various seemingly random parts of the stage are lit by moonbeams. At times it creates an almost strubelike effect; it's otherworldly and a little unsettling.

Fluttershy flutterblinks at the balloons, shrinking down just a bit. O-oh dear...what is this now? Still, it's a lovely play.

Spike's attention had been drifting due to all of the boring mushy stuff, but now his eyes open wide at the light show. "Wooooow. It's even better than when you practiced it!" he whispers to Twilight.

The rest of the chorus steps forward together to sing in syncopated parts, yielding a haunting, mesmerizing effect:
( o/~ "Luna, Luna, Luuuna, Luuuna! )
Pinpoint in the firmament! (Pinpoint in the void!)
( Luna, Luna, Luuuna, Luuuna! )
From chaos we have come, to chaos we are sent
But she has pierced the firmament.
Pure emptiness she has destroyed! (Pinpoint in the void!)
So is her night sky employed! (Pinpoint in the void!)
So through her works we simple beings sit here overjoyed.
(Pinpoint in the void!)" o/~

After some time passes and Fltutershy fails to respond to the Flut Signal, Pinkie trots up to her, places her head firmly against the shy filly's back, and pushes her into position next to Pinkie's seat.

Blue_Yonder nibbles on a bit of peach mochi he picked up in the kitsune lands.

Cherry_Blossom gapes at the balloons as they rise. she turns to look up at MapleWing with a confused expression. Was this part of the play? She is down in the general audiance so can see him quite well. Oh...he looks mystified as well. Why was Miss Fluttershy's face dangling above the crowd?

The music slowly fades...and the chorus slowly files away, their Parode concluded.

Slowly a side door creaks open. *creeeeeakkk* Not horrendously loudly, but creakily and right then in the little quiet part after the song. Somepony is late! Do you believe that? Late and sneaking in through a side door! He's not even dressed to the nines for this royal performance either! What terrible manners! Well, let's clarify. He isn't late, he's lost. Secondly, although constructed like any other pony for the most part, that's a zebra. As soon as the light catches that striped mohawk of a mane there can be no doubt. Tejene sticks his head through the gap of the half-open door and peers in, eyes slowly adjusting to the dim light. "Ohhh that pony tricked me, what gall!" he can be heard muttering, thankfully in a not-loud manner. "This is not the food court at all." He backs out, shuts the door, *creeeaaaaaa-click* and trots off the way he came.

Starfire walks forward on queue as the song ends, looking to the night skies while spreading her ebon wings wide, "Ah, to behold the softest of orbs, bringing soothing peace into the night, such soft silver beams caressing the dark, bringing true peace into any gazer's heart." as a very nicely made cardboard moon rises from off stage right, lit a soft dim bluish grey and highlighted by a flash of a strobe now and then.

"And again into the night sky arise, where all may see thee with their own mortal eyes." slowly extending her wings upright, the tips pointing higher over her head until the moon is up, her wings pointing straight up as well, flared to the sides. "Sit thee well, my lovely moon, until next my dear Sister's time arrives."

Luna's fine cheekbones are beginning to show a hint of red. Glancing down at Twilight, the princess's eyes spot the cup of cider and her eyebrows immediately shoot up with delight. Four golden steins the size of small pumpkins appear in little blue flashes at the refreshments table. Cider pours into all four, then the amber liquid from a metal flash added liberally. The four mugs float over the crowd back to the throne, one dropping into the princess's hooves, and one each setting down in front of Twilight, Firefly, and Spike.

Dusk sits with Mirage, hoof lightly around you, watching the wonderful show so far. He magics over a couple of drinks as well, so as not to have to disturb the other ponies, and provides one for Mirage.

Firefly lifts an ear, then gets her mug, stuffs her muzzle into it, and bottoms up. Mrglf, mgrlf, mglrf.

Twilight_Sparkle bathes the stage in soft moonlight, and also drinks cider!

Nightshade, who is one the level of the box right below where Luna and her guests sit, has a good look at the flying cider mugs floating over her head. Cider...not exactly her sort of thing. Too sweet. Now, a stiff glass of champagne is more to her suiting. She continues to observe and listen to the music, trying to decipher its polyphony.

( The entire scene fades to black, with Horizon gazing up, venerating, longing, Luna proud of her moon... and that is how the scene is frozen as it disappears. Good job, Twilight! And then it fades back in, the camera zoomed in to the very room that Luna had been standing before on her balcony. )

Spike grins widely. This is turning out to be a pretty good evening! He cradles the big stein in both hands and takes a generous sip.

Derpy has been spending her time busily! No longer dressed in a simple narrator's crown, she paces proudly onto stage decked out in a fine golden tiara and equally impressive golden collar, both fitter exquisitely (if not worn quite straight) and studded with a diamond-shaped purple sapphire. On her hooves she wears four fabulous golden shoes, stretching up her pasterns with the curves of filigree. This, fillies and gentlecolts, is Derplestia. She stands for a few moments in the spotlight, waiting for appraisal and perhaps applause, before turning to 'Luna'.

MapleWing gives Cherry blossom a shrug and a bit of a confused expression at the baloons as well, but can't help but find the show enjoyable regarldess, finding amusement in the unexpected event. Looking pensive for a moment, he smiles to the mare in the general audience, capturing her attention if he can before motioning with a hoof, as if he were calling her toward him silently, pointing a moment later to the empty seat next to him, seeming to be offering the mare a far more choice seat.

Pinkie_Pie applauses and whistles at the fine Princess of Derpliness!

Derpy, who is wearing several long strands of pastel chiffon from seafoam to lilac in her mane, addresses Starfire's Luna: "Sister Luma! Is best time for meet. Have sent dignitaries away for parley, or maybe parsley. Now are alone in shadows and fire room! While they parse, let us parse as well, if not betterly!"

Spike takes another sip of his cider, mostly to stifle a giggle at Derplestia.

Fluttershy sliiiiiiides silently across the chamber floor. Squeak!

Nightshade stares at 'Celestia', dumbfounded. They got /her/ to play the Princess? Well. "I'm a scholar, not a playwright," she says to herself. Maybe that's part of the technique?

Cherry_Blossom blinks, she does notice the stallion's invitation, she looks down, shuffling her hooves for a moment, mostly to hide the slight blush on her cheeks before rising and starting to make her way through the crowd towards the stairs up to the balconies. It seems that while bashful, she is willing to accept the gracious MapleWing's invite to sit with him.

Starfire looks over her shoulder then turns to face Derplestia. "And why prithee would this be a good time to meet my beloved sister?" looking over to the Sun Goddess quizically. "Royal dignitaries eating parsley? Is this a new trend? Sent them away? They DO call during your time of rule, do they not?" smiling. "Besides, do we not see each other dawn and dusk and various points in between, as always?"

Derpy smiles slyly before stepping forward, her golden-shod hooves barely making a sound on the floor. "Seeing not is speaking," she intones, "and speaking not is believing. And if dignity fall? What rise? Maybe not best yeast. Your key thoughts, your heartthoughts!" She pauses and glances off-stage, growing even more sly. "They are not here, are they? Arrrre they. You are with other thoughts, and if I may guess? They are stal-li-ony thoughts." Close again she creeps. "Or am I wrong, Luna? Are you still in phase of lustly? Are you still seeking lovers by the dozens or singles?"

Luna is clearly delighted by Derplestia. She drinks deeply from her oversized gold mug, then sighs, smiling with a wide, admiring joy at the actress. Then she suddenly scowls, looks up at the ceiling and off to the side towards the distant royal apartments, and opens her mouth to yell... only to listen to Starfire's caustic argument. She coughs loudly several times, and her cheeks going red again buries her face in her cider stein.

Starfire laughs softly. "Fear not my beloved sibling; if the chariot pullers let the dignitaries fall, I will make sure they never pull a chariot again." smiling. "Lusty? Unlike thee my elder, I prefer not to dabble with fillies. I do still prefer the stallion gender, yes, but there are so few worthy of MY greatness!" raising her head high witih a gleam in her eye. "Many an eve I have pondered how to cull the curd from the whey, to see just how deserving a stallion is to be seen at my side. Perhaps a Royal Contest to prove one's self! Yes! Only the strongest shall do, and there is but one way to find that out. A contest of true worth....of magics!"

Derpy seems skeptical. She places a hoof on her sister's neck, as if to bring her effortlessly down. "Luuna. Always the overscheduling of the head, from the broadness of your heartvalve. We are so busied!! So many trading tries! So many negotiate." With a sigh, Derplestia turns away. "And now you? Would pitting one unicorn at another, for no reason but your loves? Will this not distraction and loss of faith among?"

Spike is now giggling helplessly at Derplestia's dialog, trying very hard (and mostly unsuccessfully) to stifle it. It doesn't help that both hands are occupied holding the enormous cider stein Luna gave him. He attempts to regain control by taking another big swig of cider.

Starfire swivels her dark ears forward to focus on Celestria. "Ah, dear sister, but faint heart never won true lady, and I am truly a great lady indeed." smiling. "Do thee not think I am deserving of such? Really my sister, this is why you are always so...so.../you/." sweeping a wing towards a window. "We both know most all of Equestria already adore thee greatly, but faith? This IS a question. Only true faith or love would conquer all in such a contest....aaaand if it makes thee feel better, it need not be to the death this time."

Nightshade is just getting bored by Derpy's attempts at drama. She's very hard to please, it seems, and even the stifled laughter coming from the Royal Box behind and above her doesn't do much to lift her mood. Ah, well, at least the music was nice.

Luna is very busy with her mug. Yes. Very busy. Except she peers into it with a scowl, extends her tongue, and gives the cider a single lap to taste. Tisking, her horn shimmers again, and the metal flask way over at the refreshment table tilts, except the liquor disappears an inch from the mouth, reappearing in four streams that pour right into the four golden mugs topping them up. A quick sip, and Luna nods more approvingly.

MapleWing looks a bit disappointed for a moment at Cherry's initial reaction to his invitation, but smiles as she stands and makes her way up to the balconies, even if it is during the performance. Maplewing has always been from a well off family and it definitely shows.... even if he hasn't had the chance to refresh his wardrobe from living and working in a more rustic lifestyle for the last while. He raises as Cherry joins him in the balcony seat and politely helps in seating her in the comfortable chair. "Glad you could join me" he says cheerfully, seeming quite pleased to have some company.

Derpy frowns, though it isn't a definite frown. "But faith only one?" she presses. "Or faith of city and country? Which is better. I say count-a-ree...and say you only love? Then have your contestings...but make sure not seem to frivol." She falls quiet and becomes somber. As somber as Derpy can. "Are serious times, Luna. Too much games? And all will fall."

Firefly sets her mug down, empty, then grins, licking her muzzle clean.

Starfire pauses and tilts her head, "Serious times, dear sister? I am serious. YOU may frolic with and or among all of your playthings all you wish, but my eye is on just one. I think when the times do become fraught...fraught I tell you, with danger, that the one at my side won't be running away like a cute little butterfly on the wind to hope another will stand true...oh no, MINE will stand at my side to help to defeat the source of the distraughtfulness and great glory will had!"

Derpy:smiles wryly. She is good at the difference between sly and wry. "So your plans take circuit shape. Only you would invite disastrophe only to send it piercing!" This is punctuated by a little stamp of her forefeet. Then, tenderly: "My Luna. Please take care. Our ponies' faith in us matter so much, and maybe you do not understand."

Twilight_Sparkle is looking a bit red-cheeked from the cider. But the lighting continues to go wellAs each sister speaks, the light becomes warmer or cooler, faintly suggesting either the sun or the moon.

Starfire stifles a giggle. "Yes dear sister, a great circle...as do all things follow, even you and I." sweeping her wings up and smiling. "For circles in the sky...we both must fly." nodding. "We are young sister, young and strong...thou should enjoy it while thou canst, before time dims our view and thickens our thighs, making us creak and dream of these very days once more."

Cherry_Blossom smiles at MapleWing as she lets him help her get seated, brushing a hoof through her mane uncertainly she nods, "Thank you so much Mister MapleWing for inviting me up here. It's a much better view. Much better indeed. And it's so nice to actually have a pony to sit with that I know."

Pinkie_Pie's ears twitch at 'thickening thighs'. She also notices the cider supply is awfully low for some reason, and bustles over to refill it.

With that, the lights fade...

Derpy hurries off the stage and the sound of tinkling and clinking and general haste can be heard...

Blue_Yonder joins Pinkie at the refreshments table and silently puts a few bottles of (heretical!) pear cider out. He gives her a questioning look, as if to say 'there's more where this came from if you want it'.

Twilight_Sparkle brings forth two new stars, alongside the single star that was casting the spotlight before! The three spotlights flick on one at a time, shining on the stage like a three-ring circus--left, then center, then right.

Pinkie_Pie pinkiehoofs Blue Yonder. She's always ready to explore new fruits!

Derpy strides back onto stage, this time dressed with a green felt vest trimmed with brown, four green boots with turned-up pointy toes, and a cute little green hat with a big feather in it. She carries a bow and quiver of arrows.

Pinkie_Pie ooohs. Cupiderpy!

Blue_Yonder grins, and pinkiehoofs back before sneaking off back to the Silver Lining.

Twilight_Sparkle keeps her eyes on the stage even as she's downing more cider. This is great cider! She didn't remember palace cider being quite this good. She looks away for just a moment, and says, earnestly, to her dragon assistant, "Hey, Spike...you know I really love you, right? And Luna! Luna, I totally love you. Then she suddenly remembers she's supposed to be looking at the stage. Fortunately the lighting in this scene is uncomplicated.

Starfire walks forth to stand before the three great circles of light. She rears up, flaring her wings and 'walking' her front legs in the air. "HERE YS ALL!" she bellows to get the town's attention. "This be a contest of true power....true strength, true resolve. Thus, three will be tested this day!" aining a wing to the first circle. "Here, by contest of magic, the last contestant standing within the circle shall be the victor, displaying true POWER!" then aims a wing the second circle. "And there, the same, but with no magic allowed, displaying true STRENGTH!" then aims a wing to the third ring. "And finally, in this circle of heat and ice, flame and blizzard alike, the last one standing shall prove his true RESOLVE!" then she rears up again, "LET THE CONTEST BEGIN!!"

MapleWing chuckles to Cherry Blossom as he eases her seat forward as she takes her seat. He 'rounds his again and settles beside her, leaning in a little to be able to speak with a further lowered voice, not wanting to disturb others, not that much could be heard by the pair in the balcony seats. At least not unless they were shouting it. His head remains craned toward the stage, watching with amusement between rather regular looks toward his guest. "You're very welcome. You looked less than comfortable down there." he chuckles "Besides, shame to let a good seat go to waste when you can share it with someone as lovely as yourself." he compliments.

Derpy stands in the leftmost spotlight, the POWER one, awaiting her competition.

Spike peers over the railing again. This sounds like an exciting part! He seems to be having a little trouble with his balance, for some reason, but he solves that by propping himself up with his tail.

Twilight_Sparkle helpfully teleports Spike onto her back! Sort of. She kind of misses, and he nearly falls off her.

Skyheart steps upon the stage wearing a black surcoat and matching hat with a purple plume coming out of it. He holds a scroll. "Will our final two contestants please step forward?" He looks up from the scroll as he calls off each name. "Horizon? Straight Arrow? present yourselves."

Blue_Yonder returns in flight, a crate clamped between all four hooves. He leaves it next to the drinks table (the label reads 'Trottingham Farms Perry Cider'), then quietly returns to his seat with a grin over his shoulder to Pinkie.

( And from the other end of the stage opposite Derpy comes Horizon, dressed now in the robes of great mages of old, stylized with small, ceremonial bits of gilded armor. He is unadorned, otherwise, being expected to use purely his magical skill. He stares Derpy down in an imperious, condescending manner, lifting his snout as he prepares to do battle for honor and glory. He closes his eyes for just a moment, whispering something that could be a blessing to himself. Trumpets blare and drums resound as a simulated... or perhaps even the actual crowd watching! cheers them on. )

Pinkie_Pie gives Blue Yonder a thumbs up of approval! How she does this is somewhat mysterious.

Spike manages to catch himself before he falls -- and, more importantly, manages not to spill any precious cider. He decides to play it safe and down the rest of the contents of the stein, a neat trick since it's nearly the size of his head. Once he's done, he puts it on his head like a hat.

Derpy presents herself with a happy little hop! Her feather quivers. And then? Then he shows up. She steels herself, not to be intimidated by the magnitude of the competition. As the lights focus on her, Straight Arrow takes an arrow rather clumsily from her quiver in her mouth, sits down, and strings it even more clumsily, holding the bow backwards for a moment. She eventually manages to fire at the target on the opposite endof teh stage...but her arrow, predictably, goes completely wild. She stands suddenly, and her head hangs in disappointment.

Cherry_Blossom looks down at her hooves again, her face mostly hidden by her mane from MapleWing's view. But the tip of her muzzle can still be seen and it burns with a deep blush, her pink coat darker across cheeks and muzzle then before, "T-Thank you Mister MapleWing, but there are many mares much lovelier then I am. Still it's so nice of you to say such things." She then turns her eyes to the play, trying to hide her basfulness, "I-I'm very glad to keep you company, I've never been to a play before. It's very interesting."

Luna leans over and murmers cheerfully to Twilight and Spike, "Now, this scene is entirely of the writer's imagination, yet rest assured, we see that it is not random fancy. When the story is over, he shall have made the truth even more true than what happened. Oh, and thy mugs are nearly empty. Here, we see an entirely new drink has been brought in. Shall we try it?" Four little blue flashes, and the four golden steins disappear. Heavier silver mugs flash into place on the refreshment stand, to have pear cider poured into them. One stein flashes back just for an instant so Luna can dip her tongue into it, then returns to the table so a frosted grey bottle can pour something colorless to fill up the remaining half. Finally these elaborately engraved mugs float over the audience to give Luna, Twilight, Spike, and Firefly their new drinks.

Firefly says "Good drink, yes....still, some Dragon's Breath would be just right about now."

Horizon stifles a laugh behind his hoof, disguising it as restrained disappointment in his opponent's antics. He shakes his head, putting a hoof up to push Straight Arrow away from the competing line, as if to say 'let me show you how it's done.' And with that, his horn is all aglow, and a bow and arrow is brought up to his face. Pulling the string back with effortless speed, and with a loud *SNAP!* the arrow is in flight, puncturing the target at dead center. Of course, it is Bardigan underneath... he must have had help from certain other unicorns.

Now the focus shifts to the center ring. Here, in a test of MAGIC, Straight Arrow attempts to navigate a web of glowing, shimmering nets strung up here and there! She flies forward, but the strobe lights make it look like she's teleporting. And...getting stuck in the nets. And in two nets and once. And arrows are getting stuck everywhere because she forgot to put her quiver down. The hapless Straight Arrow ends up bobbing in the middle, all tangled up.

*creeeeeak* A different door on the other side of the hall opens. That striped head pops in again a moment "Mislead again, how crass. I'm going to find that pony and kick his" *creeeeak-clunk* The door shuts again.

Even Horizon seems disconcerted by the poor performance of Straight Arrow! This is a teleportation contest, not a flyer's competition. With some timely flashes and bangs from Twilight above, Bardigan masks his hops from platform to platform, stopping next to Straight Arrow to shake his head, moving on to the end in perfect form.

The third, rightmost spotlight beams down on a pair of potted sprouts on low tables. Straight Arrow manages to extricate herself and stand beside one of them. She has a wooden horn strapped to her head (made from an arrow), and a little flashglobe sizzles behind it as she concentrates. Eventually, her plant falls sideways off the table (thanks to Bonbon, hidden underneath, upsetting it via trapdoor). Once again, Straight Arrow stands there looking very disappointed in her handiwork.

MapleWing smiles lightly as Cherry Blossom blushes, prompting him to reach out to delicately brush her mane back delicately with a hoof. "Perhaps there are, but most would not likely appreciate hearing so as much as you, I'd wager." he says softly with a curt tip of his head before he too returns his attention to the play, not wanting to catch himself staring. "Mmm been too far too many myself... not for some time... as you might have noticed.." he says a bit sheepishly "The company can make or break such an event for me." he says, glancing toward her again.

Spike giggles. "Ish almost like you're early telepor...teleportation esperiments, Twi!" He clearly thinks he's whispering, but at least the entire royal box can hear.

Bardigan quickly kicks Derpy's actual fake horn backstage before heading up to the last competition. If it can be called that. And as before, he merely needs to concentrate for a moment or two, before his own plant *shoots* up into the air. No, not literally... it grows miraculously into a sprouting plant before the audience's eyes! But with an almost bored expression, Horizon turns back to the crowd with a curt bow.

Twilight_Sparkle nodnods. She giggles, a bit too loudly. "Uh huh, like when I tepelorted you onto the...ooh, pretty lights." She makes the stage spotlights swirl a bit, and laughs some more.

Blue_Yonder oohs. There go the fancy sparkly magic effects again. He never gets tired of seeing those.

Derpy looks at her clear failure at the test of RESOLVE...and kicks the overturned table once, very lightly, before trotting offstage with a huff. Horizon is victorious!!

( Luna the Magnificent stands on the ceremopnial balcomy, overlooking teh contest and the events unfolding, grinning to herself as her mane and tail drift in the breeze gently. )

Cherry_Blossom looks up at MapleWing with a half smile and then whispers softly to the stallion, "Well it was very nice of you to say such a thing. Thank you for the complement Mister MapleWing. You are a fine figure of a stallion."

Nightshade is a little confused by what is happening. So far she has found the play insidiously crass for her tastes, but strangely very enjoyable as comedy. She will have to find out later just how it all really happened, of course.

MapleWing looks down toward the floor a bit sheepishly fearing he's gone a bit too far with the compliments. With a faint clear of his throat and a light sigh. "Mmm, sorry if I embarrassed you..." he says apologetically, his attention raising back to the play before it's his turn to blush. "Aww, you're /far/ too kind." he says, "but I do try..." he adds, smiling briefly to her.

( Luna lifts her head high, lmost proudly, sweeping a wing out. "Behold all before us now, your winning and champion," pausing. An ear swings sidways a bit as she looks to the side a moment, then forward again. "HORI+ZON!!!!" )

Luna tisks softly, "Well, she is no Dreamy Eyed Mare, but who could be? She does capture our demeanor!" Then she tilts back her big silver mug of heavily doctored pear cider and glugs it down loudly enough to echo across the hall.

Cherry_Blossom rises after a moment and then trots over to MapleWing, then leaning down she placed a light kiss on his cheek, "I meant it Mister MapleWing. You are a wonderful stallion. I am sorry but I must rush home and feed Jade. Maybe you could come round to the Teahouse again and tell me how the play ended sometime?" With that she turned and trotted out, pausing to smile back at MapleWing once more before vanishing down the stairs.

( Horizon steps forward, showing himself to Luna as the trumpets declare his victory. He dares not to bow until he is closer than protocol might dictate, and touches his nose to the ground. "Your Highness. It is my honor to come into your presence. It is my hope that I shall remain in your favor for some time to come." And with that, the scene fades out as the two of them exit the stage side by side. )

Derpy reenters the stage now, this time once again undressed except for her bell-adorned thorny crown, and a boot she forgot to take off from the last scene. The spotlight simply shines on her as she asks a single question in her funny high voice: "Is it wise...to love above one's station?" She then turns about and walks offstage, bell jingling lightly.

Skyheart returns to the stage in the same outfit. He is now playing the part of the Chorus side of the argument, that opposes Horizon's ideals. He gives a practiced stern look. "Is it wise to love far above beyond one's station? Of course not! It is unsettling and unseemly and leads inevitably to an unbalanced and thus doomed relationship."

Sugar_Rush comes out, dressed in his toga and laurel crown. "Doomed? Surely not! For love knows nothing of station, and it is love that makes all equals!"

There's a loud hiccup, accompanied by a brief flicker of firelight from the direction of the royal box. "'Schcuze me," slurs Spike, far too loudly.

Blue_Yonder gets a sudden whiff of pear flambe.

( The chorus has divided in half, and is speaking in unison between their respective leaders. Berry Punch and Carrot Top are saying, more quietly, what Skyheart says, from behind him, and on the other side of the stage, Lyra and Bonbon speak in unison with Sugar Rush. It's a disquieting effect. )

Twilight_Sparkle lights the different groups of speaking ponies in different colors. Red, and blue. Every once in a while she switches the colors, and giggles tipsily.

Berry Punch seems a little woozier than usual and blinks owlishly at the confusing lights as she sways juuuust a bit in place. Bardigan facehoofs, somewhere.

Nightshade is much more interested in this portion of the production, her ears perking as she learns forward from her seat. The competing, cacophonous choruses almost approached true art. Almost.

Fluttershy is practically on the edge of her seat! If...if she had a seat. But still, it's a little weird seeing ponies act out fairy tales about things that happened to ponies you actually know...

MapleWing blinks as Cherry suddenly excuses herself, leaving the stallion to sputter a little as she departs. With a sigh he flops back into his chair, leaning forward to rest his 'elbows' on the banister, head resting on his hooves as he focuses more on the play.

Firefly looks to Luna. "Is this right? Why didn't you just slam-hammmer the entier area and pick the one that survived?"

Skyheart pauses before replying. "If one reaches too high they risk more damage on the fall down. The object of the boy's affection is a being far beyond his reach."

Dusk is watching and listening quite intently. He's quite enjoying both the mix of serious story and fun of Derpy's interpretations of such, shining the light of her own unique view upon it. All the while enjoying being with Mirage, sharing a much more mild drink than some others.

[Luna]

Luna's silver mug clangs like a bell as she slams it down on the marble floor in front of her. The dregs of her drink, smelling of pears and alocohol - or rather, alcohol and pears - splash out as she booms, "SHALLOW, HEARTLESS KNAVES! WHO, THEN, SHALL A PRINCESS LOVE? IF HE CANNOT LOVE ABOVE, SHE CANNOT LOVE BELOW. WHAT THEN THE POOR WRETCH AT THE VERY TOP? IS SHE EVER TO BE ALONE? IF HE BE MY EQUAL IN HEART AND MIND AND VIRTUE, EVEN A LOWLY HOLE DIGGING EARTH PONY HAD ENOUGH RANK FOR-" It's about here that she realizes she's ranting, wind whipping all around the great hall and thunder growling audibly outside. Shrinking back into the throne, she grabs up her mug and urges, "Prithee, continue. We are pleased so far," and stuffs her head in the mug to cover her face.

Carrot Top gets spooked by all the whirling wind and charged anger, and goes scurrying off stage, back arched low!

Firefly watches the wind and listens to the thunder. "Dun' lookat me. I didn' do it."

Blue_Yonder blinks up at Luna in surprise, then grins to himself. o O ( I missed that voice. )

Bardigan's hoof none too gently nudges the quivering Carrot Top back on stage from behind the curtain.

Sugar_Rush looks speechless for a moment, then recovers. He can't help a little smiles as he says, "See? A voice from the heavens defends our position! Who would argue with that?"

Twilight_Sparkle blinks up at Luna, too. And illuminates the princess's rant brightly from below, which does not help make it any less...terrifying? That doesn't quite seem like the word. But whatever the word is, she makes it more of it.

( Carrot Top reluctantly creeps back on stage to help deliver the next line along with Skyheart... )

Skyheart,for a moment, isn't sure he WANTS to respond for fear of a meteor being hurled onto his position. "Uhhhhhhhh........"

Dusk's head turns at the royal rant, giving a soft nod as he listens to the words, then looking off for a bit, before turning that gaze over to his dear Mirage, turning to a smile.

Fluttershy stares up at the Princess, mane blown back stiff. I...is she mad? Nopony else in the crowd seems to mind. O-oh! Maybe this is part of the play! How *meta*.

( Berry Punch, much less perturbed by Luna's heckling than most of the chorus, prods Skyheart. "A life of decorum...?" )

Nightshade is suitably jarred by Luna's announcement. She leans her head back and whispers something into the Royal Box above. "Your Majesty, I do not think is this an...interactive production, if you'll excuse me."

Skyheart nods again. "Right, thanks..." He whispers. "A life of decorum must have a suitable mate. Even the lords and ladies of the nobility cannot simply pluck any random pony off of the street and expect them to be of proper bearing. That peasent is far from presentable to the courts, heart or no."

A voice calls up from the balcony. "Oh, yes, I do agree. Why cannot the lowly see this?" It seems Prince Blueblood has snuck himself up to the balcony sitting at the far end cheering on the imaginary argument.

The actor, Skyheart, facehooves. This wasn't part of the script.

Marble is, as any pony should know, a patron of the arts. Opera. Ballet. Plays... He is seen walking down the aisle with a small bottle of wine in his mouth, looking for his seat. Upon finding it, he sits himself down comfortable. "Ahh."

Luna shoves her face farther into the mug, completely covering her expression. Then she pauses, giving the mug a tug with her hooves. Then another, harder tug. It seems pretty stuck. Then she hears Blueblood's voice, and by sheer automatic reflex her horn flashes and Blueblood is yanked up out of his seat and thrown out through one of the stained glass windows - one showing Nightmare Moon being banished by Celestia.

Berry Punch is also annoyed at the interruption, though a little fascinated, too. But then...she smells what's in those royal cups, way up in the box. And her mouth starts to water... um. And then the window gets broken, and Bonbon shrieks. Oh no.

Firefly gasps and leaps up. "Princess, look, PROOF!!! Thy Keeper of records, Marble Memory, is doing a....RECREATIONAL.....THING!!!!"

Sugar_Rush counters, "And what if a stallion shows himself to be as worthy as any of noble birth? Has not this one risen to all the tests set before him? Love finds a way!"

Twilight_Sparkle adds some pink sparkles, every time one of the ponies onstage says the word 'love.' Also she sparkles random ponies in the audience, and giggles drunkenly. *hic*

Luna didn't see Marble in the audience. She's rolling onto her back on the throne, grabbing the mug with all four hooves and yanking furiously - and in utter futility.

There's some frentic signaling to Twilight to turn down the lights before Luna can send a piece of the theatre after Blueblood. Bardigan's shadow is seen rushing on stage and bustling all the playponies off. "Many years hence," one of the chorus members declares from the dark. But also, that's end scene! And opens again on a midnight scene, within a room in the royal palace... and Luna is there, with Horizon entering stage right.

Spike gets to his feet, rather unsteadily, and looks around wide-eyed. Luna's rant and the sudden defenestration of Blueblood has startled him rather thoroughly, right at a moment when he was starting to doze off.

Pinkie_Pie chases after one of the pink sparkling ponies gleefully.

Blue_Yonder senses an opportunity and fetches another crate of pear cider from his airship.

Pinkie_Pie says "Wait! Come back! Let me brush your hair, Pastel Pony!"

Spike points a weaving finger at the mug on Luna's face. "Do you need shome help with that?" If he weren't so drunk it would maybe occur to him that an immortal, nearly omnipotent goddess-pony likely does NOT need his help with anything, ever.

Said pink sparkling pony dodges between seat aisles, still shedding Twilight's sparkles as he tries to avoid Pinkie Pie, even going so far as to vault over a table. He's rich! He shouldn't have to deal with this!

Dusk is slightly startled by the sudden flying pony through the window. But upon seeing just who, he just gives a little tap of his hooves in silent applause.

( Marble shrinks down in his seat when suddenly Luna's squire leaps up and points out he's enjoying himself. Apparently this is not allowed? He gnaws on the cork in his wine bottle until *THOP* he opens the bottle of wine. Within earshot of anypony who cares to hear a bottle of booze being opened. )

Twilight_Sparkle pauses a moment to wonder why her cider has not been empty once all night.

Mirage has been watching the play intently, but somehow managed to duck down during the sudden bluster from the royal box. She manages to compose herself and settle back against Dusk. "Was that part of the play?" she asks in a whisper. Then she looks around, seeming concerned. "This isn't going to be like Rocky Horror where things get really weird with the audience, is it?" she whispers to Dusk. "I would have brought raincoats for us."

Berry Punch comes barreling out past 'Horizon' and into the aisle. She heard a PoP!

The mug pops off of Luna's face suddenly. It falls to the floor with a much gentler clank than her recent rant produced. She rolls off of the throne, galloping over to the double doors through which she herself entered the great hall. She's gone only for an instant. She immediately returns, nudging Celestia even faster as she urges her sister towards the throne. "PONIES OF EQUESTRIA! THY PRINCESS OF THE DAY IS PRESENT. NOW, ACT IN EARNEST, AND WE SHALL TOGETHER RELISH THE DEEP MEANING OF THY PERFORMANCE!" Luna announces pointedly.

Shadowy security suddenly pony-piles Berry Punch and drags her kicking backstage. She's still part of the chorus until Bardigan says she's not!

Firefly says "But my Princess LUna, how can the dreamy Eyeed mare act large and cushy? For she is small and dainty?"

( Horizon approaches Luna with a smile on his face. "Ruler of my heart," he says gently, daring not to bow down because of how close he and Luna have become, "a flawless performance, as usual. The -Duke of Marehampton- dazzled into a stupor by the beauty of thy moonrise? The nobles will be all aflutter about it for weeks!" He turns to an invisible window and gives her a teasing glance over his shoulder. "Of course, 'twas nothing compared to mine own performance with the enchanted water golem. I pride myself on making Epaulette crack a smile. Such a stiff lot, those Prance ponies!" )

Marble looks around, seeing if he could procure a wine glass on-site. Failing this... he hunts in his saddlebag, setting the wine bottle aside as he does so, in search of a glass. Soon he has one in his clutches.

Dusk smiles back to Mirage and holds her close, "I believe that was quite from the heart, my dear, not written upon any page of mortal pony." He grins and gives her a squeeze. "But yes I am afraid it is already beyond that point," giving a soft chuckle.

Starfire laughs and smiles. "I do not think anyopny would have not been in awe of they feats dear Horizon, after all, for all these years thou have held the title of Chamnpion, and none have dared challenge thee. Rightfully so I m8ight add, else they would be deafeated as all others have been."

Blue_Yonder waves a wing in Marble's direction from the refreshments stand. He's taken over for Pinkie and set up bottles of cider, both apple and pear, with glasses.

( "True, true. Between us both, the local mages will soon be out of a job for how much talent we share!" Horizon returns with a wink. "Every year now we manage to put stars in the eyes of every Equestrian. Every... every year," he says, glancing to the side for but a moment, his smile becoming just a tad less sincere and more somber. "It has been nearly fourteen years to the day since I conquered the Mage Tourney. Dost thou remember it, my love? What winning that contest entailed?" He begins to step closer to Luna, his gaze steady and earnest. "They proclaimed me greatest in the land. Dost thou remember? What thou said to me when I was called to thee for that private audience that started it all?" )

Berry Punch kicks and shouts. She slowly, slowly, loses the need to mug the royal artifact keeper...and merely starts sobbing backstage. Carrot Top is sent out to get her something stiff from the refreshment table.

Making her entrance back into the great hall as discreetly as possible, the Princess of Equestria and Ruler of the Day swoops in through a back entrance of the royal palace. Hearing the caucophony roaring up from the great hall, Celestia hurriedly summons over a servant to assist her in preparing to enter the grand event. Or at least, the end of the grand event. A Princess certainly has to at least make an appearance, even when other duties call! Wiping a mysteriously non-viscous red substance from various parts of her being, her attention is only broken by Luna galloping forward to push her on in. Celestia struggles against her sister for just as long as is necessary to make herself presentable, before using Luna's momentum to push into as regal a stance as a pony being pushed forward by her sister can muster, making her way to the throne.

Mirage erms softly as Dusk explains. "I imagine it is difficult to perform a biography when the subject is in the audience. Maybe they should have given a private performance?" She watches the play for a bit and looks back to Dusk. "Is this how most Canterlot plays are performed?"

( MArble spots Blue_Yonder's stand! Perfect! He stants, walks over there, looks over the glasses, thinks he sees a good lead crystal glass. "How much are you asking for that pristine wine glass right there?" )

Starfire says "Of course my love, I recall it as if it were but one act ago." smiling as she looks up into the night skies. "Thee earned it well, indeed." sweeping her wings wide. "And all the land knows this, cemented into their memory it shall always be...yet I sense something missing in the light of your eyes. Are thee not wondrously happy at my side, Champion of all?"

Luna grows more dignified the closer she gets to the throne, being downright subtle about nudging Celestia forward, then not merely offering but pushing her onto the throne. Once Celestia sits, Luna joins her on the throne, even though the hindquarters of those two giant sized ponies makes for a rather packed seat. She then, rather unusually, twists her neck around to give Firefly a severe look and whisper reprovingly, "There is a time and a place."

Twilight_Sparkle, seated also in the royal box, waves a hoof to her mentor. "Hi Sheleshtia! I'm doing light things! Look!" She makes the stage spotlight swirl around rapidly, and then a bright red dot appears above the stage, and writes, in red light that lingers in the air for a minute or two, 'HI PRICNESS CLEESTIA.'

Blue_Yonder slides the glass and a bottle of pear cider toward Marble. "Here, they're on the house tonight."

Fluttershy's seating companion now having pranced away, the yellow mare shifts uncomfortably in her seat. She leans over toward the refreshment table and holds a slice of carrot to her saddlebag, where it's pulled inside in bite-sized increments...

( Horizon adopts a more bashful stance, though it's clear he was expecting such an answer by the immodest grin on his face. "Yes... it was clear to us both what my goal really was. Fame and fortune are naught but sand in our hooves. So I grasped it all with the *power* inside." He stands close now, looking Luna in the eye. "I dared to try and grasp what ponies said was unattainable," he whispers. His horn glows, and suddenly motes of light begin to dance all around... ironically highliting the giant HI PRICNESS CLEESTIA sign. Horizon makes sure the eye that twitches is not the one facing the audience. "See thou, my limitless love, what lovely fruit our union has beared? And yet..." He trails off, letting his hoof fall. )

Nightshade sighs as the mispelt letters appear in the air, the dignity of the night, if it had any to begin with, almost dissipated. If anypony were around her right now they would note just how much of an uppity-mare she's being. At least she likes the music.

Starfire smiles and nods, then looks a bit worried at Horizon. "Are thee...alright my love, you seem to have a bit of a ..." then sees the mis spelled sign, snickering. "I mean, of course love." though her eyes do not tic when she stares at him. She was having too much fun. "True power requires balance my love, putting everything into a single point creates instability."

Dusk nods to Mirage, "Well when royalty is present.." And as such he is cut short with the arrival of Princess Celestia and Luna's announcement. He turns and gives a proper bow of his head, along with much of the audience, as she arrives and takes the throne. "And now it could get even more interesting," he lightly asides to Mirage. "If the play lasts enough."

Spike has now reached the 'sleepy' stage of drunkenness; the commotion of Celestia's entrance briefly rouses him, but then he quietly crawls under the throne and curls up there, where it's dark and cozy.

MArble ooohs, taking both the glass and the new treat awkwardly together back to his seat. He'll have to recork the wine he brought, but he's sure it'll be worth it!

( "Luna," Horizon says, a surprising show of informality and affection as he leans closer, placing a hoof on her cheek. "For years now I have been hailed as one of the greatest in Equestria. *The* greatest, standing at thy side. I have thine heart... but I don't know it," he says tenderly. "There are depths to thee I have yet to explore. Wisdom I know it is probably not my place to ask. But as much as we love one another, how can I truly know thee, my love, if I cannot touch what makes thee *Luna?* What is inscribed on thine own cutie mark? Thy very purpose and essence? Thou knowest mine. To love thee, and to love my gift of magic. But I... please, my love, forgive me, for such thoughts may seem blasphemous even to me... but thy Moon... that is something I will never know." He swallows, hard, clearly nervous, unable to look away, unable to keep looking her in the eye. "But if *thee* were to... allow me... I'm so sorry for even asking. But I must at least ask to have an end to the longing within me, one way or the other, to know if I will ever step beyond that final threshold in your heart! To touch what has been thine own duty for centuries dark and untold. To perhaps even *share* that mighty burden."

Blue_Yonder drapes his Blue Yonder Imports banner over the front of the refreshment stand. 'Look for the Silver Lining!', it reads in ornate script.

Mirage whispers, "Oh, I see. I've never been to one of these before. Well, at least not with all the Canterlot trappings," to Dusk and leans against him before concentrating on the play.

Sure, sure Luna was being downright subtle about being Luna forward. If there's an adjective that describes Luna, it's /definltely/ subtle. Making a note to herself to make sure to have the wounds and bruises she's likely received from Luna's subtle prodding looked at tomorrow, the Princess quickkly takes a seat on aforementioned forced-upon-her-throne. They really need to get a bigger throne, if they're going to sit together like this... She makes a note to talk to EB about getting such a requisition. Her thoughts are interrupted, of course, by surelt one of the proudest moments of her life - her very drunk mentee 'doing light things'. Celestia almost gains a worried look, before seeing the message scrawled through the air. "... Almost, Twilight," she whispers to the young mare with a giggle.

Twilight_Sparkle giggles back, and drinks more cider, and hiccups. Each time she does, the lights jump a little bit.

Starfire pauses, taken slightly aback. "My dearest Horizon....such an ambition...bold and clear in your words...but what thee seek is no easy thing to consider. It takes great balance and skill to control the Moon so.....but there IS a merit to the idea." turning to nose him lightly. "Right now, every pony in the land knows you are the Champion, but a few silently question your strength. On one hoof, if I let thee raise my moon, many may think it is my power behind thee and doubt thee further...." then brightens and turns. "But if you could so such a thing, on thy own, all of Equestria would KNOW they power and none would dare challenge it!" then sighs and turns. "but, still, much thought is required. For this I must ponder very carefully my love."

( Horizon remains close to Luna, the distance between them still seeming so much further than the stallion wishes it to be. He bows his head, saying nothing... and the lights dim with him. The scene shifts once more to a pensive Luna standing in Celestia's own study within the palace, looking out a window. Celestia is nearby, going over some records... until Luna speaks up in a firm, but quiet voice. "He wants to raise the moon." )

Derpy now returns to the stage in her Celestial regalia--long strands of seafoam, blue and lilac chiffon waving in her mane, pointed tiara and collar of gold with purple diamond-shaped sapphires, and fancy golden shoes. She's also now wearing her ~real~ fake horn, if that makes sense, and not the ad-hoc arrow-based one. The lights brighten somewhat, casting her in amber hues. "And so they say our diets not have been so stable in four maybe five generation of cook!" She nods gleefully, eyes closed. "But then? Is no great shock, for you? STILL with magus Edge-Seeker? Still loving on Horizon after ~fourteen year?!~ Has been long since so long a love have you wreaked." She pauses, shocked with one leg raised. "Wait. What did say??"

And from Fluttershy's bag rises the littlest opera fancier - or at least he is now, because there can never really be an event without everypony's favorite friendly neighborhood Angel Bunny. He hops up and takes a seat with his paws dangling over the edge of the refreshment table, idly (but loudly) munching on whatever's in reach and wearing his pocketwatch for class. Fluttershy rolls her eyes.

Blue_Yonder slides one of the petit-fours Pinkie left behind toward Angel.

( Luna turns almost sorrowfully to face Celestia, but she remains steadfast. In fact, as she speaks, she gains confidence, and even begins to smile. "None other. )

He sees no greater object, and its greatness is its worth.
Our world may be great, but who can see the very earth?
Your sun is surely greater, but elusive to the touch.
It's vapid as a cantrip, and intangible as such.
The means by which you move it? Yes, you have tried to explain,
But particle cohesion seems essential to my brain.
Horizon could attempt it, but he isn't of your ilk,
And it's like toting lemonade in a carafe of liquid milk.
He knows he couldn't manage, as a mandible is matter
And the sun in lesser measure would diffuse or spew or splatter.
So the moon is his appointment, and he's asked for my assistance,
For to demonstrate his acumen through action at a distance.
Yes, my pearl is his oyster, and he simply has to know
If there's any length to which his magicality won't go."

Twilight_Sparkle sways, to the music.

Derplestia draws back in astonishment at the iambic heptameter she's hearing. "But Luma!! If moon should slip--!" she exclaims.

( Luna shakes her head, as if dismissing Celestia's concern. "I know. There's no more voluminous wrecking ball. I've known so many craters on her naked cheeks, I've no doubt she'd eagerly dish one out as comeuppance." )

Coder twiddles his.. hooves.

Derpy, her attitude as Celestia growing, now shifts forward with slitted nostrils and a sense of irateness. She begins to babble in true Derpy fashion, her tone growing harsher and her rate faster as she speaks. "And you? Can abide by danger? If fall, maybe catch. But maybe no!! Think of all loss. If on a whim your baall to toss?? Think of all loss. For how many year your delighted ways, what have led you to this path. Taste for magic horny stal-li-on? You like him strong, so tall with sauce? Think of all loss! For how many tens of years your lovers grow, so that in end they stand so stoic all to know your mind caress? For you to wrap in nebu-web and smile and smirk and call them 'Hoss'? Think of all loss!!"

"How many hundred year this culture now we all consider dear develop like a foal play in playpenbox?" Derpy continues. "Once small, then grown beneath our orbit strong, in growing seeing how beyond us other law, mature to see that even he who rule the dell and dike is but our thrall to boss! Think of all loss!! How many thousand year before we found the peace to harness war where every pony crush in vain in trying what cannot obtain control of boundary, angry strain and scrabble up with arrow blood has pierce and drip and drain their pointless wall to gloss? THINK OF ALL LOSS. How many million year when never pony prance but only roll like little worm, to find a way to grow and bray and mother love to hoist beyond what mother knew, until the day of pony true and stand on newborn leg instead of crawl through moss?! THINK OF ALL LOSS!!"

( Luna will have none of this, spinning about and stamping her hoof to get a word in. "But Celestia--" )

Luna now that Celestia is here seems much more cheerful. She's trying to sit up straight and loom regally, of course, but she keeps bouncing and smiling. This lengthy speech actually calms her down - slightly - so that it's with a wide, wistful smile that she whispers loudly to Celestia, "She is the finest actress in Equestria. Great is our joy that thine is the role they cast her in. When she played ourself, 'twas like looking into a mirror."

Derpy takes a leaping step forward, stamping the floor harshly with golden shoes. Her face is steaming with anger. "Is not your ball to toss! You have the GALL to toss?!?" She glances ever so briefly at the royal box, as if looking for their assessment.

Twilight_Sparkle rests her head against Celestia's flank, curls up next to her mentor like a cat, and falls asleep. The lights...kind of freeze where they are.

At this point Nightshade starts to be genuinely interested in the play. She feels a stir, even despite, or maybe even because of, Derpy's broken delivery. The power of the theme, of the inevitable experience of loss that awaits immortal beings, strikes her hard, and yet the rationalist in her pushes it aside, because... "It's only drama, not history," she tells herself, maybe, to comfort herself.

( Luna tosses her man in the face of her sister's anger, proud and unyielding as she brings herself up to her greatest height. "Sister, listen! )

Horizon is not humble (though that's partly of my doing).
He knows exactly how immense an aim he is pursuing.
Was ever there a unicorn so mighty and refined?
So eager for a challenge and so crystalline of mind?
The legends tell of heroes and of magic madly strong...
Of flowers popping babies born to sing a single song.
Of ponies in each others' skin, of oceans loved and tamed,
Of wounds that heal before they're cut, of ended life regained.
Perhaps the greatest magic lies in stories, which once told
Branch out and change and take new life, and grow a thousandfold.
But none of these are real tales; Horizon knows it too.
No pony ever had his strength...except for me and you.
He wants to test his limits, and he feels that if he fails,
He's found those limits finally, so finally life prevails.
If he succeeds, we celebrate a monumental feat...
But should he fail, we get to mark the mortal tale complete."

Derplestia stands stunned at this, one hindleg poetically raised, her face long and skeptical, her body tilted back. She flips around her leg until it hits the ground a few loops later. "Mortal tale? ComPLETE? Is like pleating wool of alpine hippogriff! Never End Strand." She turns about and then back again, snorting. "Or is like PLEAD for more life, but never chance for unborn! How can ~end~ to mortality?! Can hear yourself? What good is great monument to new life? New foal who never chance to build above? Can imagine? Can ~fathom!?~"
Mirage has been intrigued by the play, too. "Horizon can't win," she whispers to Dusk. "If he fails, he fails. But if he succeeds, he'll be happy for about four heartbeats before his ambition drives him onward to attempt even greater challenges."
Angel eyes the petit-fours. These aren't the kind that go runnng off and infest your walls, are they? Maybe he should have brought his hammer.

Blue_Yonder nudges it closer. It's a little cube of cake covered in fondant. This particular one is carrot cake, coated in white with a little frosting carrot on top.

Dusk nods to Mirage, "Indeed it is a sad tale," he speaks quietly back. "But perhaps he wishes to fail. To finally reach his horizon he's sought his whole life."

( Luna remains aloof, turning her head away, speaking to her sister and to herself. "Their lives are small," she says in an even smaller. "To us, immortality is a moment without end, but for our little ponies, their *only* recourse are deeds they would forfend. My love's heart is true and grand, he should not have to end *his* mortal strand, like all the other ponies who can never match his wit, guided by a mark on their flank like a bridle bit!" Luna turns back to face Celestia again, marching across the stage towards her. "When we ordered the world from Chaos, when we stole a hope of life from the pit of loss, did not we play games and divert all blame, as we drew ponies to us like moths to a flame? Should he succeed, I tell you true, that night will be marked by greatness, the same that decided *you!*" )

Derpy is still aghast, but stands more gently now, less marked by anger. "Decided ~me?~ Decided by a sheer necess-i-ty! Not for this frivoled rolling ball-go-free hubriety! Your love's rage? Not is Discord's visage." She stands for a while and begins to pace. Every so often she flips her head back and spits off a phrase: "Is clear as applesauce--can never sap the loss." More pacing follows. "Can never not but end his strand. Would joining us in alicornication force his hand? Can not but end his strand." She paces more, now flying and walking on air in a ring. "You KNOW that never is end to horizon. You can SEE. You can FEEL on your own orbit." She paces further, back to the ground. "Is far too soon a toss...your brilliant moon to toss." And she keeps pacing...

( ...But at last, Derplestia seems to reach an accord, one framed by sadness. "Live is small," she utters, pronouncing 'live' witha long 'i'. "For him and us. Is large at times, like sunny ball, but like a spyspeck, life is small." She turns to look at her sister. "And you? Are made up in his fashion. Cannot unwall the loss. Can only stall the loss." She stands in silence, while the lighting that Twilight Sparkle is no longer awake to provide slowly fades, darkening her somewhat chiseled face. "Very well. Try to hoist mooning onto other back. But be care, dear Luna...take ev-e-ery care...or it will be WE that is mooned!!" With that, she flips about her rear end until she's facing the other way, and, point made, marches gracefully off the stage. )

( Luna's voice drifts up from the shadow. "He will not fail," she says. "Give him a chance to billow his sail... and I know he will achieve, and we will not be left to grieve. He will not fail." There's a beat of silence. "... He cannot..." )

And the stage is left to the chorus once again.
Her tiara and colored hair quickly discarded, Derpy now sticks her head back out the door to cheerfully address the audience as the narrator: "Should pony engage in risky, dangerous, groundbreaky deeds...for own sake?"
Derpy disappears again.
Skyheart reappears onstage, again taking the more conservative viewpoint against Horizon. He makes sure his hat is on right before speaking. "To give such a volumous task to one simply so he can feel more attuned to his love is folly at best. The risk outweighs the gain at any measure."

( Berry Punch, tears streaking her cheeks and stains from something stronger on her body, is again at Skyheart's side, murmuring with him...but she may be using a little creative license with the speech. She overpronounces the word 'folly'. Beside her, Carrot Top is aghast and keeps good time. )

Sugar_Rush enters from the other side, showing again he is taking the opposite argument. "Love is risk! To not allow one to risk is to become a slave to one's fears. One must learn to fly where others fear to trot!"

Bonbon and Lyra are standing together as they recite this speech with Sugar Rush, and observant members of the audience may notice a little fondling going on. And a little slapping. And a little more fondling.

Skyheart shakes his head. "Fear exists for a reason. To know fear is to know the limits of danger. To fear is to know how to survive."

Spike snores quietly, under the throne. It's probably well-muffled by the two large plots occupying the seat above him.

Derpy is curled up somehow in the audience, sleeping under somepony's seat as cute as a button.

Derpy still has one Celestia shoe and one Straight Arrow boot on, and a piece of blue chiffon tied around her tail.
Sugar_Rush says "Fear exists to be overcome! When faced with it, one must go forward! Indeed, one must rise above them, and over them, and gain new perspective!"

Blue_Yonder is going over his books, chuckling to himself. o O ( Always make the first one free... )

Dusk checks under his seat. He heard of them giving out prizes at some events, but still..

Skyheart lets out an audible stage sigh. "The bold and ambitious are often reviewed by history as fools of the highest caliber. Those who wish to seek out that which they cannot control are doomed to lose it all."

Sugar_Rush unfurls his wings..."The fearful ofter seek refuge in the safety of tradition. Perhaps he is only mortal...but a mortal can dream, and it is their right to follow their dream!" He gives a mighty flap, and hovers a few feet over the stage. So, onward! and upward!"

With that, the last of the light on stage fades out, and there is a general panic among the actors as they look for alternative sources of lighting. And try to find Derpy.

Twilight_Sparkle snorts awake. "Snuh?" The lights flash back on, brightly.

Skyheart yawns and comes out of the curtain to step offstage. He's heading right for the food table. He's famished.
Spike is still quietly snoring away, curled up in a spikey little ball under the royal throne.

Fluttershy and Angel both squeak, throwing their hooves, forelocks, and pastries over their eyes. Sweet Lunesta on a -

Derpy is curled around the spiky little ball, snoring adorably.

Luna whispers loudly to her sister, "Thy student is sweet, but too young for these late night entertainments. We would almost believe her drunk if we had given her more than the shallowest measure of liquors!"

A little pegasus foal flutters on stage holding a sign. "Intermission!" it says.

Dusk smiles as the lights come up and he stands giving a wonderful applause.

Derpy shouts "_The Night of Two Moons_ is in intermission! It will continue tomorrow night!!" (Public-shout)