It was another morning at the School of Friendship, and the Young Six were gathered around the dining table having their breakfast. They all seemed to be quite into theirs as well, when suddenly Silverstream barrelled into the room and hovered above their table.
"You guys!" she cried, her claws next to her mouth. "There is something AMAZING in the school atrium! You just HAVE to see it!"
"Can I stop off and get some replacement eardrums along the way?" Gallus asked. "We get it, you're excited, but there's absolutely no need to scream to the rafters about whatever it is you've found."
Silverstream suddenly looked sheepish. "Oh. Oops." As the others hopped out of their chairs, they then headed off for the atrium.
"So, I wonder what Silverstream has found?" Smoulder asked.
"Maybe it's that book I requested from the library!" Ocellus said. When the others looked at her, she shrugged. "What? It's been out of print for decades!"
"You're becoming more and more like Headmare Twilight with each passing day," Gallus snorted.
"Dude, she's always been like that," Sandbar smiled. "And it's adorable."
As they arrived, they saw Silverstream floating in front of a glass case with something inside it. "See?!" she cried. "New posters! We never had those underwater!"
Smoulder looked equally surprised. "We never had paper in the Dragonlands," she said. "We always wrote stuff on stone tablets, which was an absolute pain if you spelt something wrong."
"Yona just wonder what this poster is all about?" Yona asked. "Is it for big event? That was only reason Yak put up poster owing to jammed pulp mill."
Twilight appeared from quite literally nowhere, for as an alicorn she could teleport. "I won't keep you in suspense any longer. We're bringing one of Ponyville's oldest traditions to our school – the Fetlock Fete."
"The what- lock what? " Smoulder asked in confusion.
"I thought it was a type of firearm," Gallus suggested.
"That's a flintlock," Sandbar replied. "But the Fetlock Fete is some giant pony dance part, with music and many other things. Headmare Twilight?"
"Yes?"
"It's not exactly accurate to call it one of 'Ponyville's oldest traditions', given that it hasn't run in over two decades."
"Then we're reviving it," Twilight smiled.
"I'm ready!" Ocellus suddenly declared, out of nowhere, and switched forms to the yellow pony she occassionally used as a disguise.
Twilight laughed when she saw this. "You don't need to do that, Ocellus," she replied. "This year, the event's at school and open to everycreature. We're calling our dance the Amity Ball."
"Isn't that the town with all the shark attacks?" Smoulder asked.
"Well, yes," Ocellus explained, "but the word actually derives from the Prench word 'amitie', which itself derives spoken from the language spoken in ancient Cloudsdale, which had the word 'amicus'. That means friend."
"So, it's the friend ball," Smoulder answered. "I guess things do sound more profound when spoken in a foreign language."
Yona suddenly started bouncing about. "Yona not know Amity Ball dance. Yona only know traditional dance of Yakyakistan. Go like this!"
"I've heard the Stomp is quite the sight to witness," Twilight said whimsically, "especially when performed on masse by hundreds of Yaks."
"But it's not just one dance," Sandbar smiled. "It's a whole night of them. Plus an awesome party!"
"And we'll have all the old Fetlock Fete traditions – the Pony Pal Contest, the lucky pot dinner. You'll love it! So, like this says, "get your pony pal and come along."
Sandbar internally groaned, remembering the time his old school had had a lucky pot dinner. One student's dish had given everypony food poisoning.
Nocreature else noticed, however. Silverstream flew over to Gallus. "Can we go as partners Gally? PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASE?"
Gallus smiled. "Of course, Silvs. You had me at 'dinner'."
Smoulder flew off, mentioning finding a dragon to go with, whilst Sandbar turned to Ocellus. "Hey, Celly," he said, "would you like to be my pony pal? We can enter the contest together!"
"I'd love to!" Ocellus replied, and changed to the pony form again.
"You know what I meant."
As they set off together, Yona caught up with them. "Sandbar?"
Sandbar turned back. "Yes?"
"Yona happy for you two. Pony and Changeling have fun at dance party."
"Thanks," Sandbar replied, and he and Ocellus headed off.
Yona smiled to herself. "Yona need yakfriend," she said. "And Yona know who to invite."
Sandbar knew he needed a new suit for this event, and once lectures were over for him (he had a seminar at 5 in the afternoon), he started to make his way to Carousel Boutique. The streets of Ponyville were, as usual, incredibly busy. The small town had gone from quiet market town to the nerve centre of Equestria's friendship related operations. As he strolled along, whistling a merry tune, something pink and very dear to him crashed into him.
"Oh!" said Sandbar. "Hi Cozy!"
"Hi Sandy!" Cozy Glow squealed. "Are you going to the Ball?"
"You bet your buttons I am!" Sandbar replied. "Though please ease off on the whole 'crashing into people' thing."
"Professor Applejack said that bumping into people was a nice way to greet them."
Sandbar shook his head. "Cozy, she didn't mean that literally. I'm currently going to Carousel Boutique to get a suit tailored, and from what I remember you don't have a dress suitable for such an occassion."
"I've never been to a posh dance before," Cozy Glow admitted. "And I've heard it's going to be quite special." Unfortunately, she had some food in her mouth, and 'special' came out as 'speceel'."
"Well, you can tag along with me and we can ask Rarity to make you one."
"I don't have my piggy bank on me."
Sandbar laughed. "There's no need! I'll pay. Consider this a gift from brother to sister. Come on, let's go!"
"You're on!" Cozy Glow replied, and flew off into the air. Sandbar couldn't help but beam with pride. For her age, she was an incredibly strong flyer. He set off for the Boutique with a smile on his face.
Rarity was busy sewing when Sweetie Belle popped up the stairs. "Rarity?"
Rarity switched her sewing machine off and looked behind her. "Yes, Sweetie Belle?"
"Sandbar and Cozy Glow are here to see you."
"Send them in!" Rarity declared, and hopped off her stool. Moments later, Sandbar and Cozy Glow appeared in her workroom. "Good afternoon! How can I help you?"
"Cozy and I would like outfits produced for the Amity Ball, please," Sandbar asked.
"No problem! I'll just set about measuring the pair of you."
The process was not hugely complicated, all things considered. Rarity happened to have a suitable bow tie to fit about Sandbar's neck, and soon fitted him out with an incredibly smart and fine jacket that meant he would rival the finest noble in Canterlot.
Cozy Glow proved to be a bit more a challenge. Barring her difficulties in staying still for more than 5 seconds, a pegasus had something rather obvious to work around- wings. To this end, Rarity had to ensure that the material left enough space for her wings to properly open and close, as well as fold neatly behind the dress.
However, she soon produced something marvellous, and what a sight it was! The entire garment was coloured light blue, complementing Cozy's mane perfectly, and not only that, the front looked smart without excessively constraining the wearer's movements. As previously mentioned, there was space for Cozy's wings to pop out and in, and the skirt dropped nicely over her tail and hind legs, reaching the floor without brushing too much against it.
Rarity wheeled a mirror over and showed Cozy how she looked. "Well? What do you think?"
"I love it!" the pegasus cried. "Thank you so, so much!"
"Never a problem, darling. Now if you two wouldn't mind removing them, so I can neatly package them and get them sent to your dorm rooms."
"I suppose this is one of the upsides of your teacher also being your tailor," Sandbar noted, and both siblings did as instructed. "How much will this come to?"
"45 bits please."
Sandbar looked surprised. "That's cheap."
"As Cozy is a first time customer, I'm giving a 50% discount on the dress. Think of it as an act of generosity from me."
Sandbar nodded. "Cheers." He handed over the necessary funds, and he and Cozy Glow set off outdoors back towards the school.
"Who are you taking to the Amity Ball?" Cozy Glow asked.
"Ocellus," Sandbar replied, noticing Yona entering Carousel Boutique as they left.
"That figures," Cozy Glow smiled. "You two are a perfect fit for each other."
"How about you?"
Sandbar's question clearly caught Cozy Glow off guard. "Well, I'd rather keep it a secret. I'd like it to be a surprise."
"Fair enough," Sandbar replied, and set off towards the school once more. "See you this evening! Now I wonder what Ocellus will be wearing..."
Hmm since this is a different universe now yona have to ask someone which I felt bad for her and I get you don't like this shipping on that episode but anyway I wonder who she's going to ask
So amity ball is finally here so everyone is getting ready for the ball so Gallus and Silverstream are going with each other 🥰 and sandbar and Ocellus and I wonder what smolder and yona are going with I guess we'll find out next time
For the amity ball
Still not a fan of all these changes to the canon...
10472437
I feel bad for yona
This is a nice episode to see adapted. I admittedly think Sandbar and Yona are cute together but still prefer Sandbar and Ocellus, so it is nice to see the two of them go to the dance together.
Sandbar and Ocellus, that’s how the episode should’ve gone. And no one can convince me otherwise.
10472426
10472431
10472434
You ready to party?
10472437
What would you have left the same then?
10472491
There's no need to.
10472545
10472695
Sandcellus forever, guys.
10472903
For starters, Sandbar and Yona. They're a really cute couple, and there's more to support Sandbar getting together with Yona than Ocellus.
10473346
Really? In my opinion, Yona and Sandbar comes out of nowhere in the show. Compare this to, say, Gallsteam, which is constantly hinted at throughout the Y6's time in the show.
10473351
And what makes Sandbar and Ocellus a better pairing?
10473396
The two characters, in my opinion, have much better chemistry and on the whole are a bit more interesting; Sandbar being the open minded, and on the whole straight guy of the team with a good sense of fun, whilst Ocellus reminds me of myself in many ways. In the few times they got together on screen, it was really adorable (take the opening of the Hearth's Warming Club as an example. That scene warms my heart every time I see it).
Yona, on the other hand, was the least developed of the Young Six. They tried, but her personality never really developed beyond 'Yona is yak! Yak smash things! Yak is best!'.
I build on my ideas in the prequel to this story, which can be found via the link above.
10473410
What chemistry, exactly? At least Yona and Sandbar had a few moments in season 8 (like Yona hugging Sandbar when he proved he was still on the Young Six's side). And that scene in "The Hearth's Warming Club" involved Sandbar trying to get Ocellus to sing in front of everyone, unaware of how shy and awkward she felt (and it was kind of undermined by him later accusing her of being the one behind the sabotage). What real moments did Sandbar have with Ocellus?
And Yona has had development, like her friendship with Rockhoof, facing her fear of spiders, and even teaching her friends the lesson of "Uprooted" via some yak wisdom. She certainly got more focus than Ocellus.
10473423
As I would prefer for this to not turn into a comment warzone, I suggest we simply agree to disagree on this matter. I prefer Sandcellus, and you like Yonabar. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.
As for the story, however... some of the decisions made within as to what changes and what stays the same is partly influenced by the fact this is a request. Hence, many of the features here (Sandcellus, the innocence of Cozy Glow, etc) are a result of that.
Finally, as for your 'chemistry' query, I resolve that issue here;
- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Dark
A short 'what-if' story surrounding the events of 'What Lies Beneath'.10473439
Fair enough.
But for future reference, a story you wrote yourself is hardly proof of their supposed "chemistry". I asked for examples in the show.
10473520
I was referring to chemistry within the context of the continuity in which this story takes place. Apologies.
heres something for yona to stomp to
So, I have one issue with the change of having Cozy Glow be Sandbar's sister. Did he not notice her acting weird during the leadup to Chrysalis's attempted takeover? It's a little hard to believe.