Breathe. Breathe. For the love of Mother Gaia BREATHE, Daylight.

“Daylight?”

Daylight blinked fast as if suddenly broken from a deep trance. She glanced over to her father Sunburst giving her a concerned look.

Heck.

She must look as nervous as she was feeling.

“I'm fine!” Day said quickly, plastering on a fake smile.

“Daylight, honey, it's only a casual get together. Believe me, it took forever for me to adjust to these events. There's nothing to stress over.” Sunburst carefully placed a hoof on his daughter’s shoulder for comfort.

Day huffed again, her nerves wracking. “I am going to trip onto my face. I'm telling you right now. Right in front of everypony.”

“Oh stop it.” Sunburst scolded gently. “It's going to be fine. You just have to smile and nod, okay? Simple.”

Day forced a big cracking grin across her face, “Eh?”

“erm....not that much. I'm going to join your mom, okay? Just relax.” He gave her shoulder another pat before heading off.

Relax. Should be easy enough. Just smile and nod no biggie, right?

Day took a long drink of her punch and glanced around quickly. Aristocrats everywhere. All fancied up in clean pressed suits and bowties and tidy dresses and hair buns. It made her feel underdressed and unkept. Almost like an outcast of sorts.

She continued sipping her punch nervously, not knowing much else to do with herself. Should she mosey around?? Join a chatting group and pretend to be interested?? Invest in the snack table??

God is it suddenly hot in here???

She glanced up from the glossy floors to notice she caught the attention of somepony. He smiled at her when he found her looking back and Day swiftly averted her eyes.

Awkward eye contact is awkward.

Out of her peripheral vision, she discovered the stranger suddenly making his way toward her.

Oh Pete please no.

The stallion nonchalantly turned to stand on her right side, casually to blend in. He was cute, with blond and purple messy locks, and a playful smile. He didn't look at her; his attention was mostly at the ceiling for an unknown reason.

“Boring, huh?” The stranger suddenly asked.

“Uh? Oh, I-I guess it is.” Daylight shrugged and placed the glass rim back in her mouth to drink.

“Do you...need more punch?” he asked, giving her a curious look.

Daylight glanced down at her empty cup to realize she was trying to drink air. She sighed to herself and quickly placed the glass down on the table behind her.

The pink colt chuckled, “Don't worry. That's not near as embarrassing as you think. Once, my baby sister vomited on my dad talking to an ambassador. He freaked out and almost knocked down the ice sculpture there.”

Daylight allowed herself a small chuckle. The male then stepped in front of her, and held out a hoof. “Calligraphy Letter at your service, Miss….?”

The apricot-colored mare blushed sheepishly at the gesture, starting down at his hoof. She collected herself quickly, smiled a little, and took the hoof, “Amethyst….Daylight.”

“Hey that's sure a nice name!” Calligraphy smiled wide. “Sure goes with those eyes of yours!”

“Yeah heheh,” Day rubbed her arm and looked away, “M-my parents seemed to think so too….apparently….”

A sudden quietness ensued. Day fought for something else to say to keep it going but her mind was drawing a blank. And her face felt unusually warm.

Calligraphy glanced up with an ear twitch, as if suddenly aware there was low music playing. He then cast another smiling glance at her, then hopped in front of her, “Beg your pardon, miss, may I have this dance?”

He swung low in a dramatic bow, surprising Day. “H-here? Are you sure?”

“Who are they to judge?” Calligraphy waved a hoof around to the other guests.

“Er I don't….erm…”

“If you won't dance with me, I'll dance with myself!” he stood up on his hind legs and stretched out his arms in a position like he was about to waltz with a ghost. He began to hop and sway around.

“Oh no no.” Daylight couldn't help but giggle, “Come on ponies are starting to watch.”

“It's wouldn't look so weird if I had a partner~” Calligraphy sang teasingly, doing a twirl.

Day snorted, and quickly pressed a hoof to her muzzle.

“You can't hide from me. I totally see you blushing, Miss Daylight.” He teased. He halted again in front of her, and held out his foreleg again. “We're not getting any younger.”

Daylight chuckled more, and shook her head. “Okay okay.” She took his hoof, and he swiftly swept her into the center of the floor into a waltz.

Calligraphy twirled her around, “See? This is much more fun now, yeah?”

“Much more yeah.” Daylight giggled bashfully.

The two teenagers waltz around for another moment or so, happily ignoring the confused states from the aristocrats around them. After a while, Calligraphy spoke up again.

“Hey.” He smiled, “Can I show you something?”

Daylight’s ears perked in intrigue. Calligraphy then took her hoof and led her off.

……….

“The gardens?”

Daylight asked as the exited the ballroom toward to flourishing plants and shy critters.

“A good place to think, yeah?” The stallion trotted along, his focus on the canopy of tree foliage above.

“They've always been beautiful to me.” Daylight followed him, sniffing the air. Her nose wriggled from all the new smells tickling it.

“You okay?” Scribbles asked, tilting his head.

“Eugh yeah I think….I think….” Daylight went lazily cross-eyed, and then, “hngh-CHOO!”

She sneezed multiple times in a row, while Calligraphy stifled a laugh.

“That's not funny.” Daylight rubbed her nose vigorously. “I have allergies sometimes.”

“No for real it was pretty funny.” Scribbles teased out of good fun. “Hey...at least we're having fun now, hm?” he nudged her shoulder with a smirk.

Daylight quirked an eyebrow in response at him. “Yeah. I guess so….So, er, Callig--”

“Scribbles.”

“Huh?”

“Call me ‘Scribbles’. My nickname suits me better.” He smiled.

“Okay…Scribbles...that's an interesting change….so how did you get dragged to this party?”

“Nah my dad’s the host of course. He likes me joining him at all the events he goes to. Train me up.” Scribbles shrugged.

“Train you up?” Daylight repeated. “As an aristocrat or--?”

“More like a future duke.”

“Duke? You're Duke Blueblood and Auntie Pinkie Pie’s kid, aren't you?” Daylight was a bit surprised.

“You don't sound really shocked.” Scribbles noted.

“It...actually explains a lot. The cheerful demeanor, the manners, the looks….”

“Yeah, it seems to draw in everyone.”

“Guess we have something in common…” Daylight looked away sheepishly. “M-my mom’s big and important too.”

“Oh...I see the resemblance now. Princess Sparkle, right? Yeah we both definitely have big horseshoes to fill.”

“Yeah...the pressure is annoying…” Daylight muttered.

“But hey,” Scribbles gave her another warm smile, “At least we have each other to feel it together.”

Daylight felt her face redden, and forced a --hopefully-- inconspicuous smile, “Y-yeah of course!”

Scribbles smiled at her for another moment, before looking confusedly behind her. He pointed and asked, “What is THAT?”

“Hm?” Day turned her head to look to where he gestured, only to see the palace building. “What are--?”

She turned back to realize she had been coyed. Scribbles had darted off in almost a sprint, “Race you to the pond!”

Daylight blinked in surprise, before smirking and bolting after him, “You're a cheater!”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

They chased each other even past the pond, around the gardens that were soon filled with the laughs of the two.

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Redraw of this piece: https://www.deviantart.com/doodletheexpoodle/art/Duke-and-Duchess-760592500

I still like it a lot~ the dialogue is untouched (except a single adjustment) but the pic is updated, and the new bios are here instead of the old ones of course.

Scribbles - https://www.deviantart.com/doodletheexpoodle/art/DoodleBio-Scribbles-875565128

Amethyst Daylight - https://www.deviantart.com/doodletheexpoodle/art/DoodleBio-Amethyst-Daylight-874321433

Background vector: https://www.deviantart.com/shadowwolf/art/Canterlot-Gardens-Background-604878264