Author's Notes: Another chapter done! And from here on out, things are going to get really interesting...and you're all probably going to hate me at more than a few points.

I'll take a quick moment to point out a few things from the feedback from last chapter, the first being someone's mentioning that Princess Cadance should actually be spelled "cadence". In actual fact, every source I have come across has listed her name as "Cadance"...whether it was a deliberate misspelling, or a goof that the development team decided to roll with, I don't know...but somehow, I kind of prefer it that way.

Someone was also curious about my mention of Princess Cadance being able to sense feelings of deep affection and love, and thus being able to feel Starfall's love for Princess Luna. To my knowledge, this ability is not in any way canon to the show. I simply took what was known about Cadance's special ability...to spread love and happiness...and added my own little flair to it.

Lastly, to those who are curious...yes, I have watched the Season 3 opening episodes. I will not say anything further than that, due to spoilers or those few among us who have not watched it. In case I haven't made it clear enough in my stories, Magic in the Stars, from start to finish, is set between the Season 2 closing episodes, and the Season 3 opening. So any new events that Season 3 bring up should have little to no effect on the canon-accuracy of my story, hopefully, and no elements from the new episodes will be used in my story, either.

Once again, thank you to all my readers, reviewers, and all those who have faved and alerted my story. Now read on...the Ball is about to start!

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Chapter 41

The Coronation Ball

"Who is that stallion? The one beside Princess Luna?"

"Princess Luna brought a personal guest?"

"He did not bother with a tuxedo, I see. Some ponies..."

"Are that stallion and Luna wearing matching outfits?"

Starfall tried not to let his nerves and doubts at the whispers he could hear from the ponies around him show. The attention, and some of the haughty stares, were making his self-consciousness flare up, making him want to lower his head and hide himself from view as much as possible as he stood beside Princess Luna, up on the main balcony overlooking the dance floor.

On Luna's other side, he could see Princess Celestia, ever regal, standing proudly as she looked down at the gathered ponies. On Celestia's far side, Twilight stood tall, as the Sun Princess' guest of honour. She, too, looked a little uncomfortable being in the spotlight, but did not seem to be nervous...likely used to it.

As Starfall turned back to face the front, he briefly caught Luna's eye, the Princess of the Night giving him a subtle, encouraging smile. That was what Starfall needed...a reminder that, no matter what anypony thought of him, Luna had chosen him for a reason...and that he was by her side tonight because he deserved to be there. The small gesture, and the thought that accompanied, gave Starfall the confidence he needed, standing as tall as he could by Luna's side...she wanted him there, and that was enough for him.

He tuned out the whispers, and ignored all the pointing and staring, instead focusing his attention on Princess Celestia, as the eldest Princess finally started to speak. "Fillies and gentlecolts, it pleases me to once again be standing before you all, another year on, as we celebrate on more year in Equestria's bright, golden age of peace and prosperity!"

Being that almost all the gathered ponies were high-society Canterlot locals, there was nothing but silence in the wake of Celestia's opening statement, the crowd simply politely waiting for her to continue. After a brief moment, as if seeing whether anypony wanted to liven things up, Celestia did just that. "The year, like any other, has been full of triumphs and struggles, joy and heartache, friendship...and loneliness." The last part was made with a glance towards Luna, the muttering that came up showing that very few ponies missed it.

"But I am proud to see that you, my loyal subjects, continue to fight through the strife, and help maintain Equestria's prosperity and wonder in ways that I alone could never accomplish. This year has seen many wonderful things come to pass. We have seen the union of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, both of whom are here tonight with us." Celestia once more paused, seemingly for some small dramatic effect, before finally turning to face her younger sister fully, speaking up once more. "It is also the first Coronation Ball in over a thousand years where my sister, Princess Luna, will finally rejoin us! And I for one, am very happy to have the Princess of the Night back by my side."

Again, the declaration caused scattered murmuring, but nothing of the scale of most other, more public events. Even Pinkie Pie, who Starfall could see standing down below, was making an effort to stay calm and quiet, though even from up on the balcony, he could see that it was taking a supreme effort on her part. For once, part of Starfall wanted the hyperactive pony to do something...this crowd really needed an excuse to lighten up and live a little, as hypocritical as it sounded for him to think that.

Princess Celestia also seemed to realise that she was not going to entice any cheering or other lively acts of emotion, and so closed her speech off relatively quickly. "As you can all see, we have a lot to celebrate this year, so I will not waste your time any further. I officially declare this Ball open, and hope that everypony enjoys themselves to the fullest extent possible."

Finally, the closure of Celestia's speech drew some kind of reaction, a wave of polite, but restrained applause and hoof-stomping following her speech, as Celestia turned to head back towards the entrance hall, Twilight immediately falling into step behind her. The orchestra in the lobby, given their cue, started up their first, relaxed tune, as conversations started up left right and centre, ponies finally starting to mingle and get into the spirit of the night now that the Ball had officially opened.

Luna's voice in his ear had Starfall turning to face her, though. "I must speak with my sister about some...personal matters," she stated, sounding slightly apologetic. "Art thou able to entertain thyself until we return?"

Starfall gave her a small nod, smiling. "Of course, Luna. Take all the time you need," he said, getting a grateful look from the Princess in return, before she turned, heading off after her older sister.

Starfall, in the meantime, turned back to the Ball itself, sighing...his assurance to Princess Luna suddenly seemed so hollow...parties really just were not his thing. Still, he had said he could entertain himself. As such, he wandered off around the balcony, towards a staircase leading back down into the lobby, deciding he could start by at least wandering and taking in the atmosphere, see who was here, and what there was to do.

He did not manage to get very far, though, before a familiar, vividly-coloured pegasus appeared in front of him, grinning at him. "Hey, Starfall!" Rainbow Dash said, hovering in front of him a moment, before dropping down onto her hooves beside him, nudging his side with her hoof. "So, what's it like? Standing up there, next to the Princesses, looking down on everypony?" she asked, the question making him pause.

"I..."Starfall mumbled, trying to come up with an answer. "I guess it was...kind of awkward, really. I mean, I know Princess Luna chose me because she trusts, respects, and likes me, but still...it's all so new to me, still," he finally explained.

Rainbow Dash, however, pouted at his response, clearly having hoped for something different. "Oh, come on, Starfall! You must have thought it was really cool, even if for just a moment!" she practically demanded, though her grin told him there was no hard feelings...it was just the way Rainbow Dash was.

Starfall sighed. "Maybe for you, Dash...but trust me, I've already had enough of being in the spotlight to last a lifetime," he said, Dash groaning and grumbling to herself, but otherwise seeming to let him have it his way.

She obviously wasn't done, though. "Oh, by the way...what did Princess Cadance want with you, anyway?" she asked, making Starfall freeze. Definitely a question he did not want to hear...and one he certainly could not give Dash a straight answer to...at any cost. At least, not until he had a chance to speak to Luna about a few things.

"Uhh...not all that much, really," Starfall bluffed. "She was just a little curious about me. I mean, she'd heard about me through correspondence with Twilight and the Princesses, but she just wanted to ask me a few things, you know...find out for herself."

Dash gave him a hard, piercing stare...clearly not exactly. "Uh-huh...and if she was just curious, then why did she want to speak to you in private, huh? What are you trying to hide?" she asked, though it sounded more like a demand, her persistence making Starfall even more nervous than before, as hard as he fought to keep it hidden.

"Nothing, Dash," he replied. "She was worried that some of the things she was curious about might be a little sensitive or personal," he said, which technically was not a lie, in a way. Even so, the rainbow pegasus still seemed unwilling to let the matter go.

"What do you mean, 'personal'?" she interrogated, Starfall feeling all the more uncomfortable. "Come on, what could you talk to Cadance about that you can't talk to me about?" she demanded, sounding almost genuinely hurt, though more angry than upset by it.

If Rainbow Dash was doing it as a guilt-trip, it was working, Starfall feeling kind of bad that he could talk to Cadance, a mare he barely knew at this stage, about something that he felt too uncomfortable discussing with closer friends like Rainbow Dash, or even Twilight.

Even so, he could not talk about it, and so tried one last bluff. "I never said I actually discussed personal things with her. She...she had heard about my past...about Stratos Crossing," he lied, though the sad tone in his voice at the memory was very genuine. It also seemed to give Dash pause, so he pressed on. "She was curious about that, but knew it was a...touchy subject, and didn't want to discuss it out in the open, in case I hadn't told any of you about it..." He felt bad, lying to a friend like this...but the potential for disaster the truth could cause was even worse to think about. He would just have to come clean after speaking to Luna, and apologise for misleading Dash.

As it was, Dash's ire finally seemed to deflate, giving him a slightly sheepish look. "Yeah, I guess. That's still a little difficult to think about, huh?" she asked, Starfall giving a small nod. Rainbow gave him a quick nudge, obviously trying to get him to stand up straight. "Hey, cheer up...you were the hero of the day, then! You couldn't have done anything more. Besides, tonight's not the time to be thinking of such things. Just have fun!" she added, giving him her signature grin.

Before Starfall could say anything more, Dash raced off, obviously looking to do something. He breathed a quick sigh of relief, glad he had escaped that potentially awkward conversation, before looking around once more, seeing if Luna had come back.

Sure enough, there she was, wandering back from the entrance hall with Celestia, Twilight also having joined them. Twilight and Luna appeared to be discussing something, while Celestia seemed unusually reserved and silent, a thoughtful look on her face. Whatever Luna had wanted to speak with her sister about, it seemed to have left the older princess troubled.

As the three made their way into the crowd, Luna glanced up, obviously looking around, eventually pausing when her gaze tracked him down. Despite the warm look she had, she seemed to hesitate when she spotted him, going still for a brief moment, indecisive...probably considering whether to join him once more.

She quickly reached her decision however, saying something to Twilight that Starfall's ears had no chance of picking up, Twilight nodding and heading off on her own, towards the gardens, before Luna turned and made her way towards him. Halfway there, however, she stopped, before detouring over towards the stage where the Canterlot Grand Orchestra were currently playing, Starfall cocking his head in curiosity as she appeared to speak briefly with the orchestra's conductor.

Before Starfall could decide whether he should head forward and see what was going on, or to just hang back and wait for Luna to finish, the decision was made, Luna seemingly finished as the conductor gave an uncertain nod, the Princess of the Night once more heading his way, finally speaking once she was within comfortable earshot of him.

"We apologise for leaving thee to fend for thyself, Starfall," she apologised quickly, Starfall quickly waving it off. She was a Princess alongside her sister, things were bound to come up at inopportune moments, and he understood that.

"It's alright, Luna. I'm sure you had a good reason," he said, deciding not to ask about what she talked to Princess Celestia about, as it was highly likely to be a private affair. He might be on very good terms with the Princess of the Night, but that still did not mean he was entitled to know any more royal affairs than strictly necessary...his knowledge of the magic in the stars was probably still one secret too many.

Princess Luna once more gave him a small smile. "We thank thee for thy understanding," she said appreciatively, before looking over as the orchestra finished their latest song, quickly catching the conductor's eye, before turning back to him. "Allow us to make it up to you, she said, stepping in front of him, holding out a hoof as the next song, a slow, swaying piece of music, clearly created with ballroom dancing in mind, starting to play, Starfall's jaw almost dropping free for the second time that night as he realised what the Princess was doing, even as she spoke up again. "Shall we, Starfall?"

Starfall was totally floored by what was happening. Princess Luna, his mentor, friend...and the secret love his heart cared for and desired more than any other mare, was actually offering to join him in a dance. He struggled to wrap his mind around it for several moments, before nerves started to kick in. He knew he was fairly horrible at dancing, thanks to Pinkie Pie's party back in Ponyville...and without any lessons, he knew that ballroom dancing would be something he was just as inept at.

He also knew that Luna knew this fact all too well...and yet here she was, still asking for his company in this dance, obviously not bothered by his lack of skill. She seemed to just want to share a dance with a close friend, and Starfall could not bring himself to deny her that because his own ability was non-existent.

Giving her a highly nervous smile, he clasped his hoof against hers, nodding in silent acknowledgement of her request, Luna giving him a smile right back as they made their way out onto the dance floor.

Naturally, it was impossible to hide their intention out in the open like this, and so the various guests at the Ball starting turning to watch them, the whispering voices only increasing in number as Starfall took his place, grimacing as he that the crowd had sort of shepherded them to the centre of the dance floor, and were quickly forming a circle around them to observe, though some ponies continued with their own dancing in the meantime.

"Relax, Starfall," Luna whispered, so only he could hear, gently bring his attention back as he swallowed nervously, looking at his hooves briefly, trying to remember what little he knew about this kind of dancing. "Let them watch...let them know that it is thou, Starfall, that is our most valued student...and friend."

Starfall wasn't exactly calmed by her words, but it was touching for him to have yet another reminder of just how much she thought of him. Swallowing, trying to calm his nerves, feeling them starting to cause him a mild headache as the crowd of ponies continued to gather around, he focused his attention back on Luna. Recalling what he could about dancing in this kind of formal setting, he hesitantly held up his left hoof, taking Luna's right hoof, while propping himself up on his hind legs so he could wrap his remaining hoof around her waist, feeling Luna's left hoof settle on his shoulder, her subtle smile telling him he was on the right track.

Starfall took a few more deep breaths, trying without much success to settle his nerves, before pausing as Luna whispered in his ear. "Just follow our lead, Starfall...we will not lead thee astray." Fighting back a blush as he realised just how close and...intimate, this dance position actually was, he gave a hesitant, shaky nod, Luna finally moving as the music gave a soft, brief swell, almost as if it was their cue to begin.

One...Two...Left...Right...it took every ounce of Starfall's concentration to keep pace with Luna, and move in time with her, stepping forward as she stepped back, and so on. For the first several moments, he kept his attention on their hooves, glad that Luna was only putting him through a simple, slow routine. He stuttered and faltered a couple of times, but miraculously managed to avoid stepping on Luna's hooves, and after a few awkward, tense minutes, finally had the routine down well enough to risk looking back up at Luna.

She had an encouraging smile on her face, and a slight glimmer in her eyes...she was enjoying this, and the thought gave Starfall a little more confidence, allowing him to move with surer footing and confidence, the initially, stuttering movements now turning into something that, while not being exactly graceful, was smooth, Starfall sparing a short, self-conscious glance at the crowd around them, though turned his gaze back inward as he made a brief misstep. With his headache growing rather than easing, it was too hard to concentrate on so much at once, and so kept his attention on the alicorn in front of him, soon slipping back into the rhythm of the slow dance.

The closeness, as well as the background noise of the orchestra and various conversations around the room, allowed them to whisper to each other without any chance of being heard, Luna apparently seizing on this opportunity. "Starfall...we..." she faltered, her quiet voice suddenly sounding extremely nervous about something, making Starfall look at her curiously, a little concerned. "There is something we need to tell thee," she finally said, before pausing as the song they were dancing to came to an end, both of them slowing down and finally stopping.

Starfall was about to let her go, but paused as Luna gave him a brief look...she wanted one more dance with him. "No, Starfall...let us continue," she requested, Starfall nodding. As well as he was hiding it, being this close to her...actually holding her, in a way...it was a nice feeling he did not want to lose. He was still worried about exposing his feelings for Luna before their time, but if Luna wanted another dance, he would be happy to oblige.

As they waited for the orchestra to organise themselves for the next song, Starfall heard some scattered applause coming from the crowd watching him and Luna. This was something nopony had expected, and even if Starfall knew his dancing skills left a lot to be desired, most of the guests here would probably just have been glad to see Princess Luna dance...the young stallion was sure this was the first time anypony had gotten a chance to see the Princess of the Night in such a formal setting.

The applause, and brief escalation of the murmurings, gave Luna another cover to continue speaking. "We...we are afraid, however...that we are not sure how to explain what it is we wish to speak with thee about..." she admitted softly, sounding more nervous than ever before.

Starfall tried to give her a reassuring look, but it was getting harder to focus...his headache was worsening. "I...does this have something to do with what you needed to see Princess Celestia about?" he asked, getting a slow, hesitant nod in return. "I...I'm not sure exactly what you want to talk about, Luna...but try starting somewhere you're more certain about, and go from there...you may find the words coming to you even as you speak them," he said, trying to give her another soothing smile.

The effect was ruined, however, when his headache flared, making him wince, just barely stopping himself from crying out. He could not stop the look of horror from appearing on his face as he realised what was going on. The only other time he had suffered a headache like this was four years ago...back when...

"Starfall?" Luna called, her voice now full of concern...she had noticed his pain. "Art thou ill? Dost thou need to rest?" she asked, looking a little torn between whether they should continue, spoiling whatever moment she had planned, or leaving the dance floor to find him a place to lie down.

Starfall, however, shook his head...it was too late, he could tell. He had seconds left. "Luna...just...don't let go..." he pleaded through gritted teeth, fighting off the presence pushing at his mind the whole way. The moment he felt Luna's grip on him tighten however, he gave in, letting the presence take over his mind, the vision consuming his senses and pulling him out of reality...

He was not taken very far in his vision, however. In fact, it looked like he was still at the Ball in Canterlot Castle, only now he was outside, in the gardens, looking down on the wondrous flora and fauna. But he could see ponies fleeing, all of them coming from the direction of the main lobby...the dance room for the Ball. Something was clearly happening in that room...something bad.

As if triggered by this thought, Starfall had a brief bought of disorientation as his world span and flickered, his sense leaving him for a moment, before the world re-shaped around him, leaving him in the entrance hall, where everypony had arrived for the Ball. There, at the main entrance to Canterlot Castle, was a crowd of screaming, panicking ponies, all dressed up...clearly, this vision was of the Ball itself.

The crowd was clearly trying to get out of the castle...to flee from whatever was happening in the main room...but a massive magical force field covered the entryway, it's translucent, silvery sheen belying it's solidity, seeming to hold back the dozens of desperate ponies without too much problem. The Royal Guards stuck outside, trying to get in, were having no better luck, either.

The scene faded out of existence once more, this time taking him outside the castle, looking at it from a short distance away. The view allowed him to watch as a narrow beam of deep blue light shot into the sky, heading up towards...

The scene changed again, once more depicting the Canterlot streets Starfall had seen so often in his dreams, full of screaming, panicking ponies. Now, however, something seemed off...the night sky did not look quite right, like it was too dark...too dull. But before Starfall could make sense of this, he finally saw what the source of all the panic was, his own mind going into a brief, shock-induced meltdown at the sight. It was simply not possible...

Again, the scene flickered and changed, now cycling through a series of rapid-fire images: The main lobby of the Canterlot Castle, still decorated for the Coronation Ball, but now full of ruined furniture and tapestries, and covered in scorch marks and craters. The gardens outside, now full of uprooted shrubs and toppled trees, a couple of spot fires burning away lazily, turning the tranquil, serene oasis of peace into a horror show. Starfall briefly caught sight of a few familiar faces...Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie...and even another familiar face that could not possibly be there...

But the last image, brief as it was, made him freeze, filling him with horror and dread, even before he heard the awful cackling. Throughout all his dreams, he had gotten a familiar ring from the laugh, but could not place it. Now he knew...now he understood...and the pony standing there, laughing in the midst of all the panic, fear and destruction, was a sight Starfall had never, ever, wanted to see...

As suddenly as it had come, the vision left him, Starfall snapping back to reality, yelling out and jumping, trying to regain his bearings, inadvertently pushing at Luna, who had caught his plea, and held him steady as his vision had consumed him.

Now that he was clearly back to awareness, however...and looking like he had just seen his worst fears all realised, Luna quickly moved forward again, placing a hoof firmly on his shoulder to hold him in place, the young stallion barely even aware of the way the crowd around him were conversing frantically with one another. He only just had enough focus to make out what Luna was saying to him, despite the fact that she was practically yelling in his ear.

"Starfall, what happened? Thou appeared to be lost in a trance," she cried, clearly distressed, nearly frantic, before she, too, froze, suddenly getting a dreadful thought. "Stratos Crossing...the vision...did thou...?"

At this point, however, Starfall got his wits back, looking around wildly, suddenly remembering where he was...and what could happen any second now. "Luna, listen to me! We have to get everypony out...now!" he cried, his voice full of panic and desperation. He could not let this vision come to pass...the reality would be impossible for him to face. "My dreams, it's tonight! It's..."

Out of nowhere, a pulse of pale magic streaked through Starfall's peripheral vision, never even having time to call out a warning before it slammed into the dance floor, right next to where he and Luna were standing, his words dying unspoken as the pulse detonated, Starfall's world exploding around him.