Night Valley stared into the mirror, contemplating herself deeply in her dark, dreary room. In the distance she heard ponies mingling jovially in the castle ballroom, likely waiting for her to show up at her own birthday party.

But those ponies didn’t know her at all.

She wasn’t blind to the sideways glances she got when she dared go out in her fishnet stockings instead of platinum horseshoes. She heard the murmurs and noticed how they all seemed to keep their distance. Valley loved her style and wouldn’t give it up for anyone, but damn, she wished she didn’t always feel so out-of-place. At the very least, she wished her own family would accept her for who she was.

Valley’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Hello?”

“Val? Is everything alright?” A familiar voice called from the other side. Her mother.

“Yeah!” Valley answered with fake cheer. “Everything’s fine!”

”Well, everyone is waiting for you. It’s your birthday party!”

“Tell them to wait, okay? I’m coming!” Valley said with a bit of edge in her voice, imagining all the Canterlot snobs waiting to shower her with fake admiration.

Before Valley could stop her, Moonstone gently pushed the door open. “Val, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” Valley insisted. “Don’t come in!“

It was too late as her mother walked into her room, only to find that she was nowhere near ready. Instead of the dress she was supposed to be wearing, Valley donned her usual fishnets and choker.

Moonstone looked over her outfit with a strained smile. ”Val sweetie, it’s okay to express yourself but maybe wear something else for the party? Like the dress we got you?”

Something snapped in Valley’s mind. There her mom went again, telling her to dress “properly” and fit in with the others. She was no better than the rest of those snobs.

“What, because you don’t like when I dress differently?”

Moonstone shook her head. ”No! Nothing like that, it’s just…not proper attire for such a big appearance.“

“Not proper?” Val scoffed. “Nothing I do is proper to them! Just because I don’t sit around is fancy dresses and eat hors d’oeuvres with all the other prissy elites! You’re just as bad as them!”

”I understand, Val, I really do. Just…trust me, I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Well you’re doing a great job of it,” Valley rolled her eyes, making her way to the door. “Happy birthday to me, I guess. Way to make me feel great.”

“Val, you know that’s not what I meant,” Moonstone scolded. “Where are you going?”

“Why do you care? You wouldn’t understand anyway.”

Unable to stop her, Moonstone watched her daughter go and sighed.

“I do understand. Better than you know…”