The sun was setting outside of the manor house of Ether Peak, the setting sun visible outside the window of a bedroom that looked more like a laboratory with stacks of books, beakers, and chalkboards with magical theorem covering it. Down in the main hall, the celebration was winding down as the doors to Twilight’s bedroom burst open and she stumbled in in her fancy dress, Spike following after her as she let out a cheer, leaping up, face flushed from having one too many as she excitedly cheered, “I did it! I have the Element Arcana! I’m gonna be the heir to the House! WOO!”
Spike just sighed, asking, “Twilight, I thought your Dad was only letting you have one glass of wine?”
She turned to him with a comical solemnness as she said, “Oh, I did only have one glass of wine, Spike… I just didn't say no to a refill when the server came by.”
She giggled drunkenly before leaping up and onto her bed, sending scrolls, quills, and books bouncing and falling off as she giggled tiredly, Spike smiling as he went to help tuck her in, saying, "Yeah… I would not want to be you in the morning. Good night Twilight.”
In Stone City III, the party continued as the Nobles all celebrated the appointment of the new heir to the House… Pinkamena, the second oldest daughter. The normally serious mares and stallions of the House, usually busy with some mining issue, or another conflict issue with the Diamond Dogs, but now they celebrated, beaming, smiling, and laughing, everything having been organized by the chosen Heiress herself, though she’d had to do a quick change to the banner, crossing out ‘Maude’ and writing her own name instead after the ‘Congratulations’ part. Even Lord Igneous Pie with his scar and eye patch and Lady Cloudy Quartz with her ever-present tight bun were socializing and smiling. Off to one side was the eldest daughter, sipping some tea before she turned to head out early before she suddenly felt weight on her back, a giggle signifying who it was before Pinkamena said, “Hey Maude!”
When Pinkamena pulled away, she was graced with one of her older sister’s rare smiles as she nodded, saying, “Sister, congratulations again. I’m going to bed now though, I have a busy day tomorrow.”
Before she could leave though, her pink sister said, “Wait, Maude… listen, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry Dad picked me instead of you, I don’t get why since you’re the oldest one and-“
Maude shushed her with a raised hoof to her lips, saying, “Pinkamena, don’t apologize… I told mother and father to choose you… I’m not good for the Element of our House… you are… you are Merriment, Pinkamena, and you always have been.” Pinkamena blinked before tearing up with a smile, the two sharing a quiet hug before parting, one bouncing back to the party while the other silently walked off to be on her own.
The entirety of the grand city of Canterlot was awake, even as the moon was going high into the sky, every house celebrating the anointment of the new Heiress of Generosity, Lady Rari Di Francesca. In the castle itself, the room was alive with the most finely dressed and prestigious of the city’s nobles and officials whole the orchestra played and ponies danced. She had shared dances with her parents, her sister, and several would-be suitors, making polite conversation with some of the movers and shakers of trade and fashion, everypony who was anypony doing their best to get in her good graces, getting many compliments on her earrings, which she’d managed to get from her sister. As the night passed, she noticed her sister beginning to doze off and smiled, walking away from Hoity Toity and Photo Finish to go to her and help get her to her room. She tucked her in just as her parents silently entered, the three sharing a brief moment, each giving her a hug and kiss goodnight before they returned to the party and she went to her own room. Upon entering, she smiled at the sight of an envelope on her pillow, a brown one with a simple, but at the same time elegant golden-thread, as in actual gold and not just the color, trimming to it. She knew who had delivered it, a gray-coated blonde Pegasus, but what was important was where it came from. She trotted over to the letter, picking it up and holding it under her nose, taking in a deep breath and smiling at the smell of fresh apples before she opened it to read the lovely letter from her secret admirer.
Cookie’s Rest was shaking, the old, but up kept castle being put through its paces by the partying of the entire gather House Nobles, Apples from all around having come to celebrate the bequeathing of the Element of Honesty unto Macintosh… only to instead have him decline and nominate his sister, Applejack, as the truly deserving heir. Still, despite the surprise, they celebrated! Young Lady Applebloom had fallen asleep in the lap of the sleeping Lady Smith despite how loud passionately (loudly) their family and friends celebrated around them. Up above though, the Heiress had snuck away, not even to her room when she began loosening the dreadful dress she’d been put in, tossing it off once in the room, leaving it crumpled on the floor. She went about getting dressed in her work clothes, smiling happily at the much more worn and comfortable clothes settling around her, going to the desk where the worn, leather hat rested next to her scrolls and brown, golden threaded envelopes. She picked up the hat, smiling warmly as she gave it a sniff, smelling ingrained in the old hat the smell of his pipe smoke and her perfume, softly saying, “Ah wish you coulda’ been here…” She sniffled, wiping at her eyes before they could tear up, placing the hat on and heading for the door, opening it wide to head out and get some work done… instead slamming into the wall-like body of her brother, letting out an ‘oof’ from the impact.
She blinked, looking up at him as he looked down at her. There was silence before he just said, “Nope.”
She let out a groan of frustration, saying, “Oh, c’mon big brother! Ah’ve been wrapped up in this cockamamie party all day, Ah’ve got work that needs doin’, harvest is comin’ up soon!”
He simply stared at her before once again saying, “Nope.”
She glared up at him before saying, “This is why ya declined the element, isn’t it? Didn’t wanna deal with this fancy-doo and the like!” He simply smiled and closed the door for her, but she could hear him remaining outside. She briefly contemplated climbing down the vines outside her window, but decided that would be too childish, groaning as she took off the hat, putting it back in its places before changing again. She emerged in the dress, shoving past him grumpily, saying, “Let’s just get it over with it,” while he chuckled and followed after her.
The two were quiet before he said, “Ya’ll look awfully pretty in that dress, Lady Apple.” This earned a rougher shove from the heiress, bringing a more full-bodied laugh from the big stallion.
All was silent in Sun Shire as ponies turned down for the night. There was no celebration, no parties through the night… the only disturbance came as the doors to Lady Fluttershy Soleil’s bedroom were flung open and immediately closed by a softly sobbing mare as she ran to the bed and crawled under the covers to muffle her crying. Her dress and mane were a bit of a mess from her fast, for her, run back to her room as she sobbed. Angel Bunny peered out form his cubby hole and frowned sadly when he saw her crying, going over to her and gently patting the shuddering, crying form under the blankets, only for her to sob out, “P-please Angel Bunny, I… I want to be alone.” The bunny frowned, sure that wasn't what she needed… but he hopped back to his little home, leaving her to cry. She sniffled, softly asking herself, “Why… why does she hate me?”
“She doesn’t hate you, you know.” Fluttershy looked up with a gasp, the makeup she’d put on before a bit of a mess from her crying, yet it did nothing to flaw her natural, almost angelic beauty. Standing on the windowsill for her room was her cousin, the shining armored Chromatic Dash, the rainbow-maned mare smiling warmly as she stepped into the room, taking off her helmet and setting it aside on a desk as she asked, “Am I intruding?”
Despite her earlier words to Angel, she gulped, shaking her head as she sniffled, but said, "She… she does though Chroma… why else wouldn't she let me have the element? Oh, it was so embarrassing!” Fresh tears began to spill, a look of pained concern coming over Chroma as she went over to the bed, crawling in with her and putting a wing around her to hugging her gently through her armor. She began stroking her mane in a way she hoped was soothing as Fluttershy continued on, saying, “All the nobles, and… and high officials… all there… all staring… and mom was looking at me and… and in front of everyone said ‘no’, saying I’m not ready…”
She curled up close to the armored mare, a soft blush coloring Chroma’s cheeks, but she simply smiled, leaning down to softly kiss the top of her head, saying, “She doesn't Fluttershy, she’s just waiting until she thinks you’re ready. It’s a lot of responsibility to take on, but don’t worry, you’ll get there… I promise, you’ll have your element next year… now c’mon, go to sleep… I’ll be here until you fall asleep, and then tomorrow you and your parents are coming to talk about the routes, we can hang out then, okay?”
The yellow mare sniffled before nodding, closing her eyes as she snuggled closer to the mare that secretly, and truly loved her, a smile on the knight’s face as she began to softly sing to help her to sleep, “Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head,” and even though she wasn't the best singer, Fluttershy smiled softly, and was soon asleep and dreaming.