Romance and the Fate of Equestria

Let the record show that this is the first chapter posted after Season 5 began. I like to keep track of where the fic stands in relation to the series. Moving on, then. (Also, there have been two other episodes since the previous chapter, I hate it when that happens. Man, it's hard to keep writing around a work schedule. I hope and pray I can finish this update before the next episode…)

Is it worth mentioning that the premiere proved that one can fake a cutie mark using makeup and stencils, an element that appears in this very subplot, the Snowdrop arc? …Apparently so, since I just mentioned it. D'oh!

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Three

Later that night, Luna went through papers in the dark, writing a letter as she searched.

A dim light ignited a few feet away. Celestia had been roused by the scratching of the quill on parchment, and approached Luna, the faint light coming from a small bead at the tip of her horn.

The two of them were standing in the shadow of Kolassa's giant head, while Song Li and Okapiopteryx were sleeping near her flanks. Kolassa herself had her head resting on her front hooves, and silently watched the two sisters.

Celestia was also silent for a while, first watching Luna and then turning her gaze to the sky, where much of the day's fog had cleared. "Luna," she said at last.

"Hmm?" Luna said absently, not looking up from her papers.

"I don't think I've ever really told you, but… what you did to the night… I'm grateful it stayed that way for all the centuries you were gone. Because it's lovely, truly it is. I wish I had better night-vision just so I could appreciate it fully… but what I can see is… is dazzling. I can appreciate how it's… well, it's more than what it once was."

Luna hastily finished writing a sentence, punctuated it firmly, and turned to her sister with a bright smile. "Thank you. Your seal of approval for the night was the only thing I was missing out of life, it seems."

Celestia bowed her head. "I'm sorry it took so long, little sister."

"You know what I've noticed?" Luna said. "That the sun is much different than it was when I left. Warmer, friendlier. I find myself just wanting to soak up its golden rays."

Celestia smiled and nodded. "It wouldn't surprise me if the daytime changed because I changed. Still, it's daytime… pretty hard to screw that up. The difference is subtle. It's nowhere near the complete overhaul you gave to what was once a chilling void with distant pinpricks. You'd only been the night's steward for a very short time when starlight came to mean something completely different than it once had."

The two sisters smiled at each other fondly. There was the heavy sound of sand scraping against more sand as Kolassa blinked her eyes.

"So, what's that you're writing?" Celestia asked.

"A letter to Angel O'Brien. I'm giving her instructions on how to begin production on the Snowdrop movie whilst I'm away. It cannot wait anymore, and I've been keeping everything to myself up until now. I must communicate it to her as soon as possible." She sucked on the tip of her quill. "I'm looking through all of my notes, trying to figure out what would be the most vital things for her to know… I suppose if I forgot anything, it would be easy enough to send her a follow-up note. The perks of having magic that operates on a cosmic scale, I suppose."

Celestia grinned at that. "Mm-hmm. And can she answer?"

Luna tapped a book with her quill. "Any questions or reports she has for me will appear in my production journal as she writes them in hers."

"Ah." Celestia increased the intensity of her light, spreading her wings to shield it from those who were sleeping, and looked through some of the papers Luna had been searching through, which were spilling out of a night-patterned knapsack. "What's this, your cast?"

"Hmm?" said Luna, glancing at the paper Celestia had found. "Why, yes."

"Ooh, this is interesting," Celestia said eagerly. "Casting is finished, then?"

"Yes, it was all lined up shortly before our departure."

"How wonderful," Celestia breathed, scanning the list. "Who did you get to play me? Ah, here I am… 'Fleur de Lis as Princess Celestia'." She blinked in surprise. "Fleur de Lis, the supermodel?"

"Oh, yes," said Luna. "I was quite lucky to get a hold of that one. Matches your look perfectly, don't you think?"

"But… but she's a supermodel," Celestia said blankly.

"Your point being?"

"She's… not exactly an actress."

"Oh, don't be so closed-minded," Luna chuckled. "Just because she's a model doesn't mean she has no talents, Celestia."

"I've met her," Celestia countered. "She has no stage presence, no personality."

"What on earth does she need a personality for?" Luna demanded, raising an eyebrow. "She's playing you."

Celestia glared. "…Ouch," she said tersely.

Luna laughed, and Celestia looked back at the cast sheet. "And she spells it 'D-I-S L-E-E'?"

"Yes, 'Fleur Dis Lee'," Luna confirmed. "Rather sort of quirky, don't you think?"

"It's rather sort of stupid," Celestia retorted.

Kolassa snorted with laughter; Celestia and Luna jumped in surprise, having nearly forgotten she was there. The three of them exchanged awkward smiles, before Kolassa motioned for them to continue talking.

"Trust me, sister, it'll be all right," Luna laughed. "She's spent time around you, so she knows your mannerisms. She looks like you, sounds like you. She's gorgeous. And she… she…" She stopped and mumbled under her breath, "Shzfndngthntmv…"

"What was that?" said Celestia.

"Shzfndngthntmv," Luna said clearly.

"Luna…"

"She's funding the entire movie," Luna said in embarrassment. "She's paying the entire budget out of her own purse in exchange for the honor of being the first actress to portray you on film. She's paying me to let her act in the movie, you understand? And paying me everything I need. I cannot turn that down."

Celestia frowned. "Luna, I don't understand why you don't just pay the movie's budget yourself."

"I couldn't," Luna objected. "My salary, as it were, is paid by the citizens of Equestria. I am not about to spend taxpayers' bits on what amounts to a personal arts and crafts project. That would be horrendously irresponsible."

"All right," said Celestia. "Just checking."

Luna smirked. "A test?"

"A test you passed, I can assure you," said Celestia, bowing her head. "So… Fleur. I suppose I can get used to the idea."

"You're going to have to, I'm afraid," Luna said apologetically.

"Hmm," Celestia said thoughtfully, returning to the list. "Actually, looking over this cast, I'm seeing several famous ponies from various fields, but… there's not an actor in sight, it would seem."

"Yes, that is accurate," Luna said excitedly. "Interesting, isn't it? Several non-actors gained interest in appearing in the project, and it snowballed from there. I became interested in making non-conventional casting choices. It started when Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody asked if they could appear as the friends and allies Snowdrop had in her days as an activist. I was stricken by how apt it was. After that, Soarin' and Spitfire of the Wonderbolts specifically requested small roles—I placed them as Snowdrop's family members in scenes from her childhood, in what amounts to a cameo. There's entertainment value in that, I suppose, and the star power gained me some funding. Whatever works to get the story told, you know. They're Cloudsdale natives, so they've expressed that they definitely want to make Snowdrop's life worth watching. They're doing all they can to turn in a good performance. Tell me, did you have much contact with Snowdrop after my banishment?"

"Yes, some," said Celestia.

"Did you know that her father abandoned her when she was a child?"

"Really?" Celestia gasped.

"So you didn't," Luna observed. "Neither did I, until I read her biography."

"Just like us," Celestia marveled.

"Yes… just like us," Luna agreed quietly. "For all the time I spent with her, I can't believe I never knew that. Nor did I ever share that detail about our father."

"A pity," said Celestia. "A life-changing thing, isn't it?"

"Indeed," Luna said bitterly. "There are many words I would like to say to Helium."

"Oh, Luna, don't bother with that," said Celestia with a small smile. "He's been dead for thirteen hundred years, maybe more, and considering we still know nothing about him, he probably didn't accomplish anything. Save your reflecting on the past for somepony who matters, who's worth talking about a millennium later… like Snowdrop."

"Oh, but how can I forget?" Luna said with a strained expression. "Think how different you and I would be without that blow to our hearts in childhood. Without that one tiny little trauma, we'd have grown up as completely different ponies from who we actually became."

"Hmm," said Celestia. "Not a reality I'd like to live in, all things considered. Because then we wouldn't be who we are right now."

Luna pondered that. "I suppose changing the past is always for the worst, in the grand scheme of things."

"Fortunately, we'll never know because it can't be done," Celestia said in amusement. "But I would think so."

"So… that's something we share with Snowdrop," said Luna. "Snow Cricket was her father's name, and… like our father, history doesn't tell us what became of him."

"And Soarin' is comfortable with the fact that of all the roles he could play in bringing the story of Snowdrop, his town's hero, to the screen, he has to be her 'deadbeat dad'?" Celestia inquired.

Luna shrugged. "Somepony has to be the deadbeat dad, as he's well aware. He's grateful to be participating at all."

Celestia returned to scanning the cast list, then chuckled. "Scootaloo as Cumulo Nimbus, of course. Blossomforth?"

"Athlete from Ponyville," Luna said distractedly, having returned to writing letter. "Very bendy."

"…Does the role of Snowdrop's mother involve a lot of bending?" Celestia said blankly.

"No," Luna laughed, "but she has other talents. She's one of the first ponies I ever auditioned. A great actress; deeply, deeply invested in the role."

Celestia brightened, suddenly excited. "Ohh, Snowflea! I remember Snowflea—Snowdrop's son. He's going to be in the movie? Oh, he was so delightful. Very passionate. Passionate and… strong."

Luna paused in her writing. "What does that mean?" she said in bewilderment.

"Oh, you know," Celestia said evasively. "He was an activist, like his mother. Believed in his causes…"

Luna tilted her head.

"And I slept with him," Celestia admitted. "A few times. Well, truthfully, it was my first attempt at a romantic affair, and one of the lengthiest I've ever had. I hadn't seen Snowdrop in a few years when we reconnected and she introduced me to her son, and… one thing led to another." She grimaced. "It ended badly. My fault. I'd rather forget the whole thing. …Please don't put that in the movie."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Luna said sympathetically.

"So… who is Ricochet Highlights, and why is 'Ricochet Highlights as Snowflea' outlined in a bunch of little red hearts?"

"Ricochet is a popular comedian and musician," said Luna. "He's… cute." She giggled involuntarily.

Celestia grinned in understanding. "Well, if he's anything like Snowflea, you're in for a treat. Your bed-warmers will be so disappointed."

Luna rolled her eyes. "I am not going to be so unprofessional as to try to seduce one of my actors… at least not until post-production."

They both laughed, and when it cleared Luna beheld Celestia with interest. "Eighty years," she commented. "Do you often go so long between beddings?"

"Erm, yes, that's pretty much usual," Celestia muttered. "I don't pursue relationships. It only happens in moments of extreme spontaneity, which are rare."

Luna nodded. "I see. Well, in that case, your next moment should come any moment now."

"Heh, maybe so," Celestia chuckled. "So, your cute Ricochet. I've never heard of him. Where'd you find him?"

"That is a very interesting story," Luna said eagerly. "There is something I didn't really 'get' when I was first brought back from the moon, but I've quite recently developed an appreciation for it. Do you what that is?"

"No, what?"

"Rap music," Luna said with a broad smile.

"Really?" Celestia said in surprise. "Well, that's been around for what, thirty years? And I still haven't figured out its appeal, so… by all means, enlighten me. What turned you around?"

"There's this weekly theater event in Canterlot which was started by these two comedians… I've quite forgotten their names," said Luna. "But in this event, two performers, usually the two creators of the series but sometimes a guest or two, they dress like historical figures, or fictional characters, or current figures in popular culture, and act as those two figures engaging in a rap battle. I went there looking for performers with good comedic presence, and I ended up coming back every week. Sometimes the formula is broken: sometimes the battles are two-on-two, sometimes a third rapper appears to 'school' both competitors, sometimes the third is followed by a fourth and a fifth—but it's always fantastic, the songs are full of very educated references to the figures being portrayed, sly winks and nods that only the most learned in the audience would know. And the whole series gave me an appreciation for the rap genre: the way the words are so expertly constructed, the impassioned performances while delivering those words, and how the rhythms draw you in… it's exquisite.

"And that's where I got Ricochet Highlights. He's been a guest performer several times, and he caught my eye."

Celestia blinked. "I didn't understand a word of that. What is the show about?"

Luna pouted. "I've tried explaining the show to several ponies, and nopony can understand my description. I guess it's something you have to see in order to comprehend…"

"But Ricochet Highlights is a rapper, and that's where you got him," Celestia summarized.

"Yes, that would be the answer to your question," Luna said in amusement.

Celestia tapped the cast list. "Now this is interesting: Imelda Largo as Princess Luna. I'm sure you had high standards for that role. Who might Imelda Largo be?"

"Oh, she auditioned. She has no prior acting experience, but she was there along with several dozen other hopefuls. That was a very long and depressing day, searching for ponies to play the role of me. Every single actress who came in to read the scene portrayed me as a scenery-chewing, maniacally cackling, insane pony. It was a scene of my sorrow and vulnerability, and they played me as one would play a radical terrorist. Most disappointing. If that's how ponies impersonate me when I'm sitting in front of them taking notes, I'd hate to see what they do behind my back, ay?

"By the time there was only one pony left on the list, I was ready to give up and just play myself in the damn film and make the whole thing look like some kind of vanity project. But then, the last audition comes in. Imelda Largo. And she walks up to Fleur, who's been doing scene reads with the actresses all day, leans up against her, and says, 'I am sorry. I missed you so much, big sister.' She sounded more like me than I did. And how many ponies know that those were my exact words when I first returned? Not many. She must have done some intensive research to discover that. Ah, it's been a joy working with her. She's a darling. The silver screen is going to light up around her." She blushed. "You know, when she's onscreen. The movie isn't about me…"

"I love hearing you talk about this project, little sister," said Celestia. "It's been a long time since you've been so passionate."

Luna inhaled deeply, closing her eyes solemnly. "I miss Snowdrop. Watching her last snowflake fall didn't give me the closure I thought it would. Seeing her life play out on a big screen… having a crowded theater cheer when her story ends… then, maybe, I'll be ready. Then maybe when I say goodbye, I'll mean it."

Celestia gently tousled Luna's mane. Kolassa smiled from where she loomed over them.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Angel O'Brien entered Carousel Boutique, followed closely by Blossomforth. "Ah, Miss Rarity?" she called.

Rarity looked up from her sewing machine, peering over her glasses, and brightened when she saw her visitors. "Ah, Angel O'Brien. It's been a very long time!"

"Yes, I guess it has," said O'Brien, looking a bit nervous.

Rarity nodded. "Hello, Blossomforth."

"Hi, Rarity," she replied, beaming back at her.

"What can I do for you, ladies?" said Rarity, stepping out into her shop and wiping her glasses clean.

"Well, I've just gotten lots and lots of notes from Princess Luna," said O'Brien, placing a fat stack of papers on Rarity's desk.

"Oh my," said Rarity. "So I see."

"Production on Snowdrop has halted since Princess Luna left on her mission," O'Brien continued. "We're working to get it back on schedule without her, with me as a sort of temporary director."

"Ooh, well, congratulations on the promotion," Rarity said delightedly.

O'Brien winced. "Congratulations? Not exactly the word I would use. This whole thing was already way outside my comfort zone when I was just acting. My only qualification here is that I was there with the princess during all of her directing lessons. It's a privilege I don't really want. Anyway, we've got a lot of pre-production stuff to take care of, so I'm going around dealing with all of that personally. Sets, costumes, effects shots that need to be prepared ahead of time…"

"Well, by all means, tell me what I need to know," Rarity said smoothly.

"Mkay," Angel O'Brien muttered. "The first thing you need to know is that, in terms of making every character look like their historical counterpart, we've scrapped that. It's impractical and expensive and unlikely to be appreciated. So everything we've set aside for contact lenses, false cutie marks, coat dye—we don't need that anymore. That's now budget we can turn toward something more grandiose.

"The exception is for characters whose appearance is widely-known and iconic—pretty much just Snowdrop herself and the princesses. Also, Blossomforth here has specifically requested that she be made to resemble Snowdrop's mother Primrose as much as possible, that's why I've brought her here. Other than that, we're sticking to the actors' natural coloration and any cutie mark that's not too anachronistic."

"All right," said Rarity, licking her lips. "Well, while I'm almost disappointed, I do agree that that would have been a lot of hard work. So, I'm now working with the natural color schemes of every actor except for…"

"Me and my sister, Fleur, Imelda, and Blossomforth," O'Brien confirmed. "For that group, keep what you have. I've got headshots and cutie marks of all the principals…" She struggled with the stack of scrolls. "In here… somewhere…"

"Good," said Rarity. "So, with different color schemes on our actors, the color palate of some of the wardrobe will have to be altered… overall, though, yes, this will make things much easier."

O'Brien nodded. "And I'll be sending all the cutie marks back to Princess Luna… we have a system, I just have to stick the photos in the pages of my production journal and snap it shut. She's definitely the best pony to tell us which actors have cutie marks that wouldn't be seen in that time period, or simply don't match the individual—and in those cases, I think we'd simply cover up the marks with clothing. The false cutie marks will be saved for, as I said, those of us playing iconic roles… and Blossomforth."

Rarity and Blossomforth laughed at that remark. "Committing to the role, eh Blossomforth?" Rarity asked.

"Oh, yes," Blossomforth gushed. "Primrose is a very fascinating character. It's intriguing to me how a pony who lived a thousand years ago can be something as mundane as a single mother raising a disabled child. It's a sign of how some things never change, how we're closer to our roots than we think. I really want to immerse myself in the role, and I just don't think I can do that if I look like me."

Rarity smiled. "That's beautiful. Any other color schemes I need to apply to you? Are you going to be anypony's stunt double?"

Blossomforth laughed. "Not a lot of stunts in the Snowdrop biopic. I'm just an actress this time around."

Beaming, Rarity turned back to Angel O'Brien. "When does shooting begin?"

"In theory, three weeks from now," she replied. "But from what I can tell, probably sooner. We just might get ahead of schedule, as we'll begin as soon as we can, of course. If Princess Luna hasn't returned by then… then I'll take charge of shooting as well, and I'll get full co-director credit. We'll arrange the schedule to prioritize scenes that I'm not in; mostly the childhood half of the story, when my sister is playing the role of Snowdrop. I can't really see when I'm in my Snowdrop makeup, you know, and… can't really direct if I can't see."

"Of course. And… it pains me to even suggest this as a possibility, but… what if we finish that portion of the shoot and Princess Luna still hasn't returned?"

"Let's cross that bridge when we get to it," O'Brien said grimly.

"Oh, don't fear, darling," Rarity said hastily. "She'll be back. I'm sorry I even brought it up."

Angel O'Brien rifled through the papers. "I think that's all I needed from you as far as the film's look. The set designer will come see you to compare notes, create synergy between sets and costumes to get a final statement on the movie's aesthetic. And listen—if there's any place where your vision and the set designer's don't quite mesh, your idea takes precedence. He, not you, will have to change something. Princess' orders."

"Heh, all right," Rarity said deviously. "I think I might enjoy that."

"D-don't provoke him or anything," O'Brien said nervously. "We really can't afford to find a new set designer."

"Of course. I assume that we have the shared goal of period accuracy and beauty. I'm sure there won't be any conflicts."

O'Brien dipped her head in thanks. "I'll be on my way, then. I've got a lot of other ponies to touch base with."

"Certainly!" Rarity said gleefully. "Blossomforth, dear, can you hang around for a second so I can take some measurements of you?"

"But of course," Blossomforth said.

As Angel O'Brien turned around and started to leave, Rarity called, "Hey."

She looked back.

"You can do this," Rarity assured her. "You'll make the princess proud."

O'Brien smiled weakly. "That's what I'm hoping. I'll be in touch."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Endnotes

I ought to mention… I would've mentioned it earlier, but those previous two chapters were already over-saturated with notes… that the second thing I did when I returned from my grandpa's was to post Chapter 121, which put this story over 300,000 words. Wow. Feels like only yesterday that I hit 200,000… but it wasn't, it was a little over a year ago. That's crazy.

The first thing I did when I got back was post a new chapter of TRIXIE, my pony adaptation of A Christmas Carol. And that update put me, as an author, over one million words archived on FFN. Yes. I did it. It's done. …Not sure what you're supposed to do with that information, but I thought you should know.