//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12-Yet Another Party, Yay 
// Story: I'm on a Master Quest 
// by Purple Pony 
//------------------------------//

	The next day saw Sunny and I standing in front of the Crystal Palace, with a couple gifts. After we left last night, Sunny had dragged me along for gift shopping. I don’t know where she gets the bits from, since she bought quite a few things last night, and that first shopping spree when I arrived, and she’s been paying for quite a bit of our meals. I actually asked her this morning, and the response was, “Military mom, dad who works for a government regulated system, long hours, they make a ton of bits. More than we need.”
I probably should have seen that one coming, but I didn’t. We walk into the palace, and then walk up towards the throne room. I’m guessing that’s where the party is, since the palace isn’t that big. Mostly sleeping chambers, I would guess.
I was right. There’s a few guards standing out front of the throne room. As we walk up, they stop us. “The throne room is closed for a private function, please come back later.” 
“They’re with me!” mom shouts from behind us. Thank Luna. The guards apparently recognize Sky Song, and they let us in. Inside, I see several Elements of Harmony, most notably Pinkie Pie, but also Twilight, AppleJack, Rarity, and Fluttershy. No Rainbow Dash, but I think there was a Wonderbolts show today in Manehatten.
The reason I say most notably was Pinkie, is she noticed Sunny, and proceeded to charge over and tackle Sunny to the ground. No one really questions it. It wasn’t just the elements and Crystal royalty. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna made it. And I thought there was too much royalty when Twilight visited. I can almost smell the sheer magical power in the room. I say almost, because I really smell the mangoes in the fruit bowl. And they smell GOOOOOOOOOD!
The Pokemon begin to split up. Leafeon goes over with Fluttershy, and they both just stay on the edge of the party. Umbreon stays on my back. Espeon and Glaceon mingle with the rest of the crowd (I swear they act like they are ponies instead of Pokemon). Vaporeon goes off to the side and relaxes. Jolteon goes over to Flurry Heart’s team, and begins to do…something. I assume chatting, but it could be Jolteon instigating a fight. I never can tell with him.
Anyways, mom grabs me and drags me over towards Flurry, who is chatting with all the other princesses. Upon arrival, Flurry hugs mom then introduces me to the rulers of the nation. I just stand there, as Celestia and Luna look me over. Have I ever told you that I don’t like being watched intently? Well, it goes ten-fold for when royalty do it. 
Luna speaks first. “Thou wants to be a guard?” I nod. “Well, I have an opening that thou could fill.”
“I’m going to have to decline for now for multiple reasons. One, I’m only ten. Two, I want to compete with Pokemon. Three, I don’t want who I’m related with to determine where I guard. Four, I would rather guard Hollow Shades. Five, I’m nowhere near done with my training.” I list off. 
Luna goes slackjawed, Celestia giggles, and mom and Flurry facehoof. Cadence changes the topic. “So, how is it with you and Sunny, anyways?”
(Expletive) my life. Did she really have to go there? Mom turns towards me, and asks the same question. But, before I can answer, something grabs my hind legs and drags me towards away. I turn around, and see Sunny and Pinkie. “NO! HELP! PLEASE, DEAR SWEET LUNA HELP ME! THERE IS FIVE ALICORNS THERE, CAN’T SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!” I shout in vain and the two energetic mares slowly drag me away. I can see them all laughing at my misfortune. 
After the two mares drag me across the room, they let go of my legs. “What did you two want?”
“Simple, change me into a thestral, and let me go scare some ponies.” Sunny says with a smile.
“Fine, but I’m going to change too, see if I can get mom to do a double take.” I reply. 
After slapping the bracelet on both of our wrists, and putting the bracelet back in my bag. I walk back over towards the posse of princesses, who don’t see me coming. I slide in next to mom. “Hey, Cloud. What did…” she looks at me. “What is this?”
“They wanted some help pulling a prank. What, is there something in my teeth?” I ask in feigned confusion.
All the princesses (minus Flurry, since she knows where this is going) are giving me puzzled looks. Mom is giving me an exasperated look. “I thought you got that bracelet fixed!”
I had this planned for a while. I knew just what to say. “The bracelet’s fine.”
“Then explain how you are just now a Pegasus?”
“I’m not a peg-“I start as I look back, and pretend to be in shock to see feathered wings instead of leathery ones. “Sonuva goat.” I say. I must admit, my acting has been spot on. Flurry and I worked on this for weeks. And it is totally worth it.
Flurry pretends to be concerned. “Where is the bracelet? Is it with you?” she asks.
I reach into my bag and pull it out. “Well, I’m not seeing anything different. What about you, Flurry?”
She grabs it with her magic. “I’m not sure. It doesn’t seem like it’s broken. Maybe it’s you.”
“I thought it being me was the problem with it the first time? Did the effect stay on me?”
“Maybe.” Flurry says. Then she whips it over and slides it onto mom’s hoof. One flash of green light later, and mom looks at the bracelet on her hoof. “What did you do?!” She turns around and sees feathery wings instead of leathery ones. “Sonuva (Expletive).”
Flurry and I immediately start to roll on the ground in laughter. Luna even joins in with a cackle. After I finally calm down, I start to explain what that all was. “The bracelet has no limiter. It will transform any thestral into a Pegasus and vice versa. That’s the only way it’ll work on me. It has the side effect of working on any other Pegasus there is.”
If looks could kill, I would be dead, and mom would be pounding away at my corpse. “Why did you think this would be funny?” She asks in a tone that says “If you don’t come up with a good reason, I will ground you for so long you will forget what the outside world is like.”
I do the smart thing. I point a hoof at Flurry and say “It was her idea.”
Whoops, bad mistake. Now the alicorn is glaring at me. Fortunately for me, Cadence decides to distract her daughter and my mother in one fell swoop. Unfortunately… “So, is Sunny a nice mare?”
(Expletive) you too, Cadence. Now I have to deal with that again. 
However, I notice something odd. 3, 2, 1…
“SURPRISE!!!!!!” Sunny shouts as she drops into the conversation. Literally.
Everypony else takes a startled step back. I just stand there, having known it was coming (granted, it was for about three seconds, but that’s the most warning you’re gonna get with her).
Sunny then turns to Cadence and proceeds to ask, “Why are you asking Cloud here about me being a nice mare? Are you harassing him?”
Flurry bursts out laughing as Cadence tries to deny it. She doesn’t get far before Sunny points out “Thestrals have sharp hearing. Fess up, why are you harassing him?”
Cadence just sighs, and begins her defense. “I saw the love going back and forth between the two of you yesterday, and I just wanna know more about it. It’s a hobby of mine, being the Princess of Love.”
Sunny smiles, and trots back over to me. “Well, fire away!”
Wait…NO, NO NO, NOPE, SUNNY YOU (Expletive), WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME?
“So, Cloud Song, what do you like about Sunshine Drops here?” Cadence asks.
“DON’T CALL ME SUNSHINE!”
“Well, she’s incredibly forgiving, sort of wild, but not too much, and her happiness is contagious, almost like Pinkie Pie. Not to mention, she’s kinda cute. At least if the way the other colts stare at her during class is any indication. And when she tries, she’s really hot, I mean ‘supermodel’ hot.”
“So that’s why those colts aren’t doing well in class. We have a Siren in the room.” Flurry says as if it solves the world’s problems. 
“Dawwwwww, so cuuuuuuuute.” Cadence squees. “Alright, Sunshine, what do you like about Cloud Song?”
“DON’T CALL ME SUNSHINE! Well, he’s blissfully innocent, really smart, has quick reactions to go with his quick wit, can handle my brand of crazy, and is rather cute when you fluster him like this.” And she kisses me on the lips, hard. Is she trying to eat my breakfast? Or is she trying to suffocate me? 
After about thirty seconds, she finally releases me, and winks. I’m left gasping for breath. Sweet Luna, can she kiss. Celestia and Luna just stand there, jaws agape. Twilight is blushing heavily. Flurry is doing a “gag me” motion with her hoof. Cadence is also flabbergasted. Seriously, the PRINCESS OF FREAKING LOVE IS SHOCKED BY WHAT SHE DID! WHAT THE HAY!
Mom just looks back and forth between the two of us. She then says to Sunny, “I like you. My son could certainly do worse than to be with you. I have no qualms with this.”
Phew, mom isn’t mad. She then looks at me. “I’ll be expecting some grandfoals in a few years.”
(EXPLETIVE)! 
Sunny just turns towards me, winks again, and walks away. “Good thing I’m supermodel material. Seeya, Cloud.” Is it just me, or are her hips moving back and forth more than usual?
Fomp.
Well, it’s not just me. Come on, wings.
One of my wings slaps mom in the face. 
Cadence manages to stutter out, “I g-guess I und-underestimated the a-amount of love she h-had.” 
“No (expletive), Sherclop.” I snark back.
None of the other mares can even function now. Is it the fact that she’s not that much older than me? Or is it that she did that period? Cadence asks a rhetorical question. “How does she have that much love? How does she keep it hidden?”
“I have a theory. Her home life was terrible. She even told me one time that her parents didn’t love her. If her parents don’t love her, she doesn’t love them. So, if changelings can eat love, then love must be something physical. Usually, you gain love, either through other ponies, or through just your own capacity to love. Since she didn’t love anypony before, all her love has been stockpiled. Now that she has a way to vent her love, she is venting ALL of it. So, long story short, I’m screwed in every sense of the word. And she’s perfect bait for changelings.”
Cadence just blinks, and nods. “That makes sense, somewhat. But how does she hide it? I see almost below average levels of love. But when she kissed you, the amount of love she radiated was astronimical.”
“Don’t ask me. I can’t sense love like you.”
The other princesses (and my mom) start to recover. Some at differing speeds. Twilight takes the longest, Flurry takes the shortest. I start to walk away, but Celestia grabs me with her magic, and drags me back into the group. “Don’t worry, just one more question.” 
How bad could this be?
“Who is your favorite princess?”
(EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE)!!!!!!!!!!
“Do I have to answer?” I ask hopefully. All five princesses and mom nod. “Dang it.”
The problem here is no matter what my answer is, I get four of the five most powerful beings in Equestria who aren’t very pleased. I’m sure they won’t do anything, but still, I try not to make enemies that I can’t beat easily.
“Okay, first is Luna, because thestrals are nocturnal, so yeah. Second is Flurry, because I grew up watching her fight. Twilight and Celestia are somewhat tied, since I don’t have anything to go off of. Last is Cadence, because she kept trying to bring up my relationship in front of my mom.”
Cadence looks a little ticked off, but other than that, I think I managed that quite well. 
And now, I make my daring escape from the presence of royalty, to raid the fruit dish for all of its mangoes.
…
They’re gone.
(Expletive).