The Last Formal
“I can’t believe it’s our last fall formal tonight,” Gem commented, as she and Raven got ready.
“I know the feeling,” Raven agreed. “We’ve changed a lot in four years, haven’t we?”
“We sure have,” Gem said, giggling slightly. Her outfit that evening was a blue dress accentuated with matching flowers, and dark blue heels. Raven wore the same purple and black dress she had worn their freshman year. "How do I look?"
Raven giggled and placed a hand on her girlfriend’s shoulder. “You’ve never looked more beautiful,” she said, kissing Gem on the cheek. “I love you, Gem.”
“And I love you, Raven,” said Gem, kissing back with a smile of her own.
A few blocks away from Raven’s house, Sunset and the Dazzlings were getting ready too.
“Do you think it’s really a good idea to wear those old show outfits?” Aria asked, holding hers uncertainly. “I mean, we have been trying to rebuild our image and all.”
Adagio shrugged. “It’s not like we’ve had much success. We’ve all heard the names the other students call us, even after everything we’ve done to save the school. There’s not much we can do.”
“Except make the best of it,” chirped Sonata, fussing with the tie in her own outfit.
“I didn't even have a dress the last time I went to a formal,” Sunset said. “I just wore that old leather jacket."
“At least until you became the raging she-demon,” added Sonata. “No offense.”
“None taken,” Sunset sighed, before giggling a little. “Anyway, Coco was nice enough to put something together for me.” She went to her room, returning a few moments later with a beautiful green dress that brought out her eyes.
Adagio smiled. “You look absolutely divine, Sunset,” she said. “If I wasn’t already dating Carrie…” she winked.
Sunset laughed. “You know, polyamory is a thing. If you and her really wanted to…”
Adagio looked thoughtful, then shook her head. “I don’t think so, but it was a good thought.”
Sunset nodded. "Fair enough!"
Across town, Twilight and Emerald were getting ready for what was really their first formal.
"I can't believe Crystal Prep never did anything like this," Twilight commented, as she began to change into her own outfit.
"They did," Emerald replied. "They were just private events held on one of the kids' estates. We never went to one because we weren't rich enough, so we never got invited."
Twilight nodded, then smiled. "It's a good thing we have the rest of the girls then," she said.
"Agreed," Emerald said, smiling back. "Those six are really the nicest people I've ever met, Gem especially. She could teach those snotty jerks back at CPA a thing or two!"
"She could," Twilight agreed. "Ready to go?"
Emerald nodded, collecting her purse. "Let's go!" The two trooped through the door and to the bus stop.
Finally, the eight friends met up outside the front doors, where they had their picture taken by the school photographer, a skinny boy called Featherweight. "Looking good, ladies!" he said.
Gem thanked him and led the group up the stairs and through the halls to the gym, which was decorated for the occasion.
“This place looks amazing!” Sonata gushed, staring around at all the balloons and other decorations. The disco ball was already on, filling the room with colored light. At another end was a massive buffet table filled with snacks and drinks, and up on the stage, Vinyl and Octavia were setting up their respective instruments.
Octavia wore a grey suit with a white dress shirt and her usual pink bowtie, while Vinyl wore a sparkling blue hoodie with green-yellow shorts and a purple t-shirt beneath. “Hey gals!” the DJ called, waving a hand. “Looking fancy tonight!”
“I agree,” Octavia said with a smile. “Miss Wave, that gown of yours does a lot to bring out your eyes. And the same with yours, Miss Shimmer! Did you co-ordinate your outfits?”
Sunset shook her head. “Nah, it just happened that way.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “Hey, you know what? This is my first formal since I turned into that raging she-demon, and for once I’m not on the ballot for Fall Formal Princess!”
“You aren’t?” Vinyl said in surprise.
Raven shook her head. “Nope, we talked it over as a group last week and decided it wasn’t worth the trouble. She’d been on it a dozen times before we all turned up, and since we didn’t go to last year’s formal at all, we decided it was best to avoid it this time.”
“Instead, I volunteered my name,” Gem said, and the two musicians grinned.
“We know,” Octavia said. “And before you ask, Vinyl and I both voted for you. In fact, Vinyl bets that you’ll be crowned unanimously!”
Gem blinked in surprise. “Me? Really? Are you sure? I mean, after that whole fiasco with Cassiopeia…”
Vinyl leapt off the stage and gave Gem a hug. “Trust me girlfriend, the school has long forgiven you for that.”
Octavia nodded. “You, and your friends of course, are collectively responsible for bringing Canterlot High together, and we would be a poorer school without you!”
“Or brainwashed zombies,” Sonata said, “Thanks to the ol’ she-demons over there. No offense.”
“None taken,” chorused Gem, Sunset, and Twilight at once.
The formal got into full swing as more students arrived. The girls danced the night away to the sounds of the live entertainment, and occasionally stopped for a snack. Finally though, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna took the stage.
“We’d like to thank all of you for coming out tonight,” Principal Celestia said. “And we would especially like to thank the senior class, who will be graduating in just a few months. This year's senior class has done much to transform our school for the better, and we believe you will do the same for the rest of the world once you leave our halls.”
“It is in that spirit,” Vice Principal Luna continued, “that we announce this year’s Fall Formal Princess. This evening’s winner joined us only four years ago, but in that time, she has transformed herself and her school in ways none of us could ever have imagined. She has taught us all the value of friendship, and ensured that no matter what she did, she put the betterment of this school first. By a vote of her peers, the winner of this year’s crown will be…” She paused and opened the envelope. “Gemini Shadow!”
The room burst into applause as Gem stepped onto the stage to receive her prize. As Luna lowered the crown onto her head, she smiled at the crowd, and began to speak. “As I accept this gracious honor, I’d like to say a few words… I would not be standing here if it wasn’t for you all. All of you, and in particular the seven girls I am very fortunate to call my closest friends, have played a role in shaping me into the woman I have become. When I arrived at your doorstep four years ago, I was an outcast in my former hometown, quite alone, and afraid of an uncertain future. But immediately I was welcomed into your arms, and knew that here, I could be safe. It is a privilege to accept this crown, and I will wear it with grace and dignity, in sheer gratitude for all you have done to support me.”
She looked down into the audience. “Girls, how about we close out tonight with a song?”
Raven and the rest nodded and climbed onto the stage too, surrounding the two microphones. Vinyl and Octavia readied themselves, and with them as their musical backing, the eight girls began to sing, in eight-part harmonies. And as the song ended, each of them ponied up, then took their bows to raucous cheering.
The next day was a Saturday. Gem and Sunset walked through the city streets to the cafe, with Gem still wearing the crown from last night.
“You know, that crown really suits you,” Sunset said, as her boots crunched through a small leaf pile. “Simple and understated, just like you.”
Gem blushed. “I would have totally supported you if you had decided to run for princess again,” she said. “You’ve changed a lot since you first arrived here.”
Sunset nodded, “Yeah, but all those victories were the result of me terrorizing everyone else… You remember what I was like back then, a power-crazed megalomaniac. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that I’ve had my fill of princess crowns. All they represent to me is power, and its corrupting influence.”
“So I’m guessing you wouldn’t want to be a politician then?” Gem teased, stepping inside the cafe. At a nod, Mrs. Cake began preparing their usual orders.
Sunset laughed. “Not in a million years. Back in Equestria, the noble families were all stuffy bureaucrats, and the Grand Galloping Gala was nothing more than excuse for everypony to get together and talk about how rich they all were. Then you had the Royal Sisters, who were a class all of their own.” As they went to their booth, she thought of something. “But you know what, Gem? I could see you as a politician someday.”
“Do you mean it?” Gem asked, looking astonished.
Sunset nodded, smiling. “Absolutely. Your dad’s an important person after all, being the mayor of Trottingham, and… well, you just have that aura about you. You make people want to trust you, even if they’ve never met you before. You’re outspoken about what you believe in, and you’ve got a way with words that most politicians today don’t.”
“I still want to be a teacher,” Gem said, “But maybe… maybe I’ll minor in political science. Yes, that sounds like a good idea.”
Sunset smiled. “You’re gonna go on to great things, Gem. Trust me.”