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// An Informal Ball 
// Story: Grey Little Pony 
// by Dusty Miller 
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	Chapter Nine:  An Informal Ball

“Bu da bu Xiang Shi.”


“Without a fight you do not know each other.”


Chinese Proverb.


Grey stood in the Great Hall daydreaming when he should have been practicing his forms. He had never noticed the chandeliers before. Like silver wagon wheels on their sides separated by silver chains covered by crystals. 
I get it; the crystals amplify the light by deflecting it. But how am I supposed to clean them?
Another notion was forming in his head.
The room is large enough to accommodate everypony. Food and music Luna could make that appear from Canterlot. The problem is how to ask. Luna isn’t in the palace that often. She just comes here for solitude. I could knock on the throne room door. That’s dumb, why would she sit in a throne room in an empty palace. I could leave her a note on her throne. It’s probably bad etiquette to enter the throne room uninvited. Best to be patient and wait for her to return.
Royal Canterlot Voice!
“I can hear your lack of practice all the way from Canterlot.”
Luna appeared at the door.
Grey bowed, “Your Highness, I want to make up for the way I left Ponyville. I have an idea as to how I can do that.”
	“You said you had let go of those feelings.”
“I did but what I did was still impolite and dishonourable and I feel I owe Ponyville a debt. We could, I mean with your absolute approval of everything, there could be an informal ball here for everypony from Ponyville. You could get a band and food from Canterlot. I would do all the work.
Luna mused aloud, “On one hoof, ponies will know the location of my palace. On the other, I to feel I owe a debt to Ponyville. It is a friendly idea and I approve and I agree you will do all the work and that includes procuring the food and music. I could ask Madam Mayor and she would agree in an instant so I will not. You shall negotiate with Twilight Sparkle. You shall learn the art of negation with this challenge.
Do you need some time to prepare a strategy? Too bad. Good Luck. Good bye.”

/]*[\

A small wisp of air moved some dust off of a cobblestone in the centre of the town square of Ponyville. Before the dust settled it was picked up again and moved in a circle. The circle of dust turned into a dust devil. It picked up all the dust and leaves from the centre of the square. The dust rubbed together producing static sparks. This is when the ponies in the market noticed it. They surrounded it lowered their heads at it and sniffed it. It smelled like flint and ozone. The dust devil turned into a small dark tornado the sparks turned into small lightning bolts. The ponies backed away. All the lightning bolts cracked at once and Grey appeared. He was as wide eyed as the ponies in the market. He moved his eyes from side to side then moved his head side to side. Everypony was staring at him. Ponies from outside of the town square were running in to see what was happening.
At least I’m facing the library. Mental note, keep my big mouth shut.
Grey walked forward slowly. The ponies backed away and made an opening for him. He walked up to the door of the library and knocked. The door opened.
Spike looked up at Grey, “Can I help you?”
Dragon! Girl stealing dragon!
“I wish to talk to Twilight Sparkle.”
“Twilight it’s for you.” Spike walked away from the door.
“Of course it’s for me. If it’s not for you it’s for me.” Came the reply.
“What-ever.” Said Spike.
“Oh it’s you. What can I do for you?” Twilight said in a less than enthusiastic voice.
“I um, I represent Princess Luna. We, I mean, I am here to negotiate the possibility of an informal ball to be held at Princess Luna’s Everfree forest palace. What? Why are you smiling at me like that? Do I have something on my face?”
Twilight had been living in Ponyville long enough to know what would happen next. In three… two… one…
Pink flash and smash! Pinkie Pie crashed into Grey sending him flying into the field beside the library. Most of Ponyville had gathered around to watch. 
Pinkie Pie looked down at Grey. “Party, you said party didn’t you? Party, party, party! When? How soon? At Luna’s palace? Wow, that is just so super-duper awesome!”
Grey shook his head and looked up, “I’m sorry Pinkie but nothing has been decided. The residents of Ponyville would have to provide food and music. That is if Twilight agrees to it in the first place.”
Pinkie looked at Twilight and vibrated. 
“Pinkie I don’t even know what this is about.” Twilight turned to Grey, “Normally I’d invite you into the library to discuss such things. But it looks like all of Ponyville wants to hear. Spike, get your note pad!”
The ponies moved into the field with Twilight and Grey in the centre of the group. Twilight sat down and motioned the ponies to sit. Eventually Grey sat on his knees and shifted his tail along his side. 
In time Twilight spoke about the ball. “So you’re saying we have to provide the food and the music for your ball? We will have to carry it all the way there through the Everfree forest and back at night. I suppose we have to clean the hall after too? I know what you’re going to say Pinkie; this is between him and me.”
“This is why I use the word ‘negotiate’. I don’t know anything about these things. I literally had the idea ten minutes ago. I would really appreciate your help and everyponies help. They say you are an expert organizer. Are you up for the challenge?”
Twilight answered, “Oh aren’t you clever, appealing to my ego so you can impress your princess.”
“I thought I would be paying my debt to Ponyville. Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps I was just doing this for my ego. But I had to ask. Thank you for your time.”
A small voice came from the crowd. “I can play the flute.”
Oh, thank you so much little one.
Then more voices. “Can we all go?”
“The Apple family has lots of wagons.”
“Cider season is coming.”
“What’s an informal ball?”

/]*[\

Grey stood in front of Princess Luna’s throne in her Everfree forest palace.
“Well, tell me about it.”
“It’s a go. The informal ball is on.”
“I don’t care about that. Tell me about the negations.”
“It was a battle and a dance. And Twilight is an expert. I thought we would talk in the library alone but we were in the field surrounded by everypony in Ponyville. Her strategy was to keep me off balance. To be opposite of me. I was formal she was relaxed. I stood she sat. I wanted to come to the point right away she made small talk. I thought she would want to be helpful but she shot holes in everything I said. I appealed to her ego she called me on it. I had to see it from her point of view and agree with her. In a way it was like bartering with a merchant. I had to be willing to sacrifice everything to win. And then unexpected allies.”
Luna looked Grey in the eye, smiled and said, “Have I underestimated you earth pony? So when are we hosting this great informal ball?”