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// Chapter Fifteen - My Greatest Surprise 
// Story: Homecoming 
// by Rose Quill 
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I hooted as the Pegasi stunt team flew low over the crowd, performing tight spiraling loops and crisscrossing flight paths. I hadn’t had this much fun at an event since the dance at the summer camp. Ponies on all sides of me echoed my enthusiasm, none more so than an azure-coated unicorn.

“This is amazing!” she called into my ear to be heard over the crowd. “I had no idea that pegasi could perform such complex formations!” 

“Of course we can!” crowed Rainbow Dash as she lounged back in her seat. “It's tough, but nothing that a few hard practice sessions can’t handle.”

I smiled as the team climbed into a high arc, then reversing their course and passing each other with a burst of fireworks. “Which one is Soarin?” I asked.

“Soarin? He’s that one there, I think,” Sunshine said, pointing after glancing through her program.

I looked at the Pegasus indicated as they landed, raising an eyebrow. “So that’s who my sister has been seeing, hmm?” He looked impressive in his flight suit but otherwise looked like a regular pony.

The show broke for a short time while they set up the stage for the Countess to perform shortly and we milled about, some going to grab snacks or stretch their legs. Sunshine could hardly contain her excitement, practically prancing as we went out and grabbed a pair of funnel cakes provided by an unusually professional Pinkie who was manning a stand for the Cakes.

“What do you know about the Countess?” she asked. “This is going to be the first real experience of Equestrian music I’ll see and I’m not sure what to expect!” She looked at me with eyes wide in excitement as we returned to our seats."I don't usually go to concerts...well, pop concerts, really. I got to see the Manehattan Pops once, but I was too young to appreciate it." 

“I don't know much, actually,” I said as I took a napkin and wiped some powdered sugar off my muzzle. “She’s about our age, and only really came to popularity recently.” I glanced at the stage, its curtain pulled closed and a few lights being checked by some unicorns before dying back to the relative darkness of the falling night. “So this is going to be a first for me, too. But I've never been much for pop. It's too commercial for my tastes.”

She grinned and nodded, sidling a little closer and adjusted her glasses, horn lighting up and moving them with ease now. She had picked it up a lot faster than either I or Princess Twilight had anticipated, though ever since her teleporting misstep, she hadn't tried again.  I glanced over at the higher seats, ringed by gleaming gold armor. Two of the youngest princesses of Equestria sat together with Shining Armor. They leaned over to each other to whisper some unknown secret before laughing, Twilight covering her mouth with a hoof. 

“We’re going to have to leave soon,” Sunshine said in a quiet voice, glancing down. “Aren’t we?”

“We should probably head back before the rest of the gang decides to rush through the portal to join us,” I agreed. “But, we’re going to be coming back for my sister’s wedding, after all. And don’t forget we were invited to Hearth’s Warming at Twilight’s castle in two months.” I touched horns with her. “It’s not like we won’t ever visit again.”

I glanced around, smiling. “Besides, it’s been a nice trip, despite what caused it. I’m going to miss Mom,” I stopped as my voice hitched and paused to blink away a stray tear. “But seeing everypony again, even Celestia, was a good experience.” I then gave her a playful push with my shoulder. “And I got to spend time with somepony special.”

She blushed, looking down. “Stop that,” she said in a voice that said that she didn’t really want me to. She was about to continue when the stage lights went up and the Countess came out, wearing a simple if elegant dress. She stepped up to the microphone and was hit by a spotlight.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts,” she started. “I would like to thank you all for coming to this benefit. All the proceeds will go to fund schools and libraries both here and in the Crystal Empire. I would like to thank Princess Cadence and Princess Twilight for their help in organizing this fundraising tour.” She tossed her mane back over her shoulder and glanced back at the shadows of the stage and nodded. “But you aren’t here for talk,” she said with a wide grin as a drum and bass started playing and lights came up.

“You came for a show,” she continued, striking a pose as a few fireworks went off. I saw a pony off to one side of the stage dressed in a pointed blue hat and cloak grinning in satisfaction. The rest of the band kicked off as the sparks died down. 

I loved the show. It was very heartfelt pop, with a good beat and it got even me - an avowed hater of most things pop - tapping my hoof. Sunshine, of course, was eating it up, not content to just enjoy the music. She applauded just as loudly as everypony else and even joined in collected cheers. I smiled at her as the Countess took a seat behind a piano that was wheeled out onto the stage during a brief intermission.

“What?” the Unicorn asked when she saw me grinning.

“Didn’t think you'd love this as much as you are,” I said giving her a quick nuzzle. “Maybe we should try and catch one when we get back.”

She smiled. “I think that would be nice,” she said, leaning into me as the next song suddenly made me glance up.

For you, I’ll give the world.
Through the wind and rain
Snows and floods
Cannot keep my promise to you

To you, I’ll never be cold.
Though the night may fall
And clouds roll over the sun
I will always stand by you

For you, I have no words
That can truly express to you
Just how great a surprise you were

You are a salve to my tears that fall
Though they don’t flow as much
As they did before I found you

And you’re the greatest treasure of all.


I had expected another introspective song when she had gone to the piano again, something like her “Magic Inside” tune. But this song, it sparked something inside me.

As the strings took up an interlude, I leaned into Sunshine. She rested her head against my shoulder, and I turned my head slightly to brush my cheek against her face. I felt more than heard her sigh in contentment, and I draped a foreleg over her shoulders. I could feel her feelings in my chest like I had just swallowed a warm mug of some of Applejack’s cider.

After the concert, as we trotted back to the castle for our final night’s stay, I stopped as we crested the last hill to look over Ponyville. I sat down, memories whirling through my mind as a breeze blew over the hillock I was on. I felt Sunshine’s presence next to me, touching but not intruding on my reflection.

“There are times I really miss this place, you know,” I said without preamble. “This was home for most of my life. But the last year or so, you and the girls, they’ve made the campus at CHS feel just as much like home. Maybe even more so. Just before the Games, I was wrestling with a lot of homesickness. I might have gone back through the portal if not for the way the Games turned out."

I glanced around before turning and looking Sunshine in the eyes. “But I also think now, that wherever I am, as long as I have friends and somepony - somebody - like you, then I think it doesn’t matter where I stay.”

She smiled and touched our horns together. And channeled happiness and contentment through the connection, making me smile and return the feelings. She was the first to pull away, a question in her eyes.

“So can we return when we want to?” she asked. “There’s so much to see here and I’d like to see it on a more festive time.”

“We’ll have to check with Twilight, but I’d be fine with that.” I leaned forward and gave her a kiss grinning at the blush it caused. “Come on, it’s getting a little cold out here and I’m sure you wouldn’t mind a chance to play with Flurry Heart a bit before Cadence puts her to bed.”

Her eyes lit up and with a giggle, we both started trotting back to the castle.

Me and my greatest surprise of all.