"I can't believe we're doing this."
"Oh shut it, and keep your voice down."
"Then stop pushing my rear."
"Only if you stop taking so long to climb a tree."
"Why are you even climbing? You got wings."
"Cause you're being so slow that I have to be here to make sure that your fat ass doesn't fall out in the process."
"Well, buck you, I don't make it a habit of climbing trees on a whim."
"Then consider this tree climbing one o one, now get on that branch already," I ordered as I pressed a hoof against Sunset's rear as I tried to shove her up the tree without using too much force. After spending some time studying in the gardens, I decided some hiding in one of the castle garden's trees would be a good way to test Sunset's more physical attributes, and so far it seems that either she's a sedentary type, or just not outgoing enough to climb a tree. However, upon reaching the garden, I decide to have us spy on some ponies after getting into the tree for my amusement. I might even get lucky and learn about some embarrassing secret.
"Fine fine, I'm getting on it," Sunset replied as she grabbed the branch with a hoof as she tugged herself onto it. "Don't know why you wouldn't let me use a ladder."
"Cause that's the lazy way to do it, and do you bring ladders with you when you go to the woods?" I countered as I hopped past her, taking a spot higher up in the tree's branches.
"That answer is completely ridiculous," Sunset shot back.
"Shush, somepony is coming," I said as I spotted the entrance door opening, only to reveal that it was Celestia who was coming into the garden, followed by a servant carrying a tea tray. "Oh boy, this is going to be good."
"Are you really goi—" Sunset started to say before I closed her mouth shut with some magic, though she glared at me in return. Ignoring her, I released my magic as I watched Celestia approaching one of the garden tables, where the servant laid out the tea set before bowing as they made their leave.
Lifting a cup to her mouth, Celestia took a sip as she said, "I know you're up there, didn't anypony told you that it is rude to spy on others?" Cocking an eyebrow, I looked at Sunset, who was giving me a smug look, until I kicked her tree branch, causing it to shake enough that she lost her hold as she fell to the ground below. "Sunset? What are you doing here? And why were you in that tree?" Celestia asked as I looked at a nearby tree and flashstepped to it since it's not a good idea to stay in a spot that has been busted.
"Princess Celestia!" Sunset declared as she got onto her hooves. "I was in that tree cause your niece forced me to, who is in that very tree right now!" Sunset continued as she pointed a hoof at said tree.
Lighting her horn up, Celestia frowned as she stated, "Sunset, there's nopony in that tree right now." Causing Sunset to gawk at her before gawking at the tree.
"What, but... how? She was in that tree, I swear it!" Sunset exclaimed as Celestia's frown deepened. However, I noticed that the magical aura around her horn brightened up a bit, so I flashstepped again onto the roof, one which was in Sunset's line of sight. Waving a hoof at her, I saw her eyes widen before she pointed at me. However, just as Celestia started to turn her head, I hopped off the edge, using my wings to guide into an open window.
Landing on my hooves, I let out a laugh as I declared, "Oh mi gosh, I can't wait to see Su—"
"Nebula‽" a familiar voice cried out in shock, interrupting me as I went wide-eyed in shock. Turning to the owner of the voice, I was treated to the sight of Cadence... with some white stallion with a two tone blue mane on top of her, the both of them staring at me in shock, their cheeks flushed while most of their bodies were hidden underneath a blanket. Shifting my eyes about, I quickly saw that I ended up flying into a bedroom, specifically Cadence's. It didn't take me long to put two and two together.
"We never saw each other!" I chirped out before rushing out of the room, slamming the door behind me. Glancing about, I saw that I was alone in some hallway, allowing me to let out a sigh of relief. Rolling my shoulders, I started to make my way to the suite as I muttered to myself, "That was something that I didn't expect to be seeing anytime soon..."
"—elling you, she set me up!"
"Now, Sunset, I will admit that Nebula is a bit of a prankster, but I don't think she'll set up a pony by making them climb up a tree to spy on others. It's a bit too obvious that such a thing would only lead to trouble," Celestia stated as she opened to my private suite, where I was reading a history book on a couch. "Ah, there you are, Nebula," Celestia said with a smile, while Sunset barged past her, her face contorted into a look of absolute fury as she came to me.
Poking me in the chest, Sunset hollered, "You better tell Celestia that you set me up!"
Giving her a frown, I said, "Fine, I set you up, Sunset. Even though I have no idea what set up she's talking about. Also, where are those jars that I wanted you to get?"
As Sunset gaped at me before growing even angrier than what I was thought possible, Celestia narrowed her eyes as she said, "So you didn't have Sunset climb a tree to spy on somepony, only to kick her out to make her the scapegoat the moment I felt 'your' presence in the tree?"
Shaking my head, I answered, "That is way too impractical of a prank to try pulling off. That and she would have seen it a mile away. But at least that explains why she didn't come back with the jars I requested."
"I... impra... what on Equus would you need jars for!" Sunset cried as she sat down to throw her hooves out in frustration.
"Storage of various crystals and other objects that I plan to use for some experiments. I will admit, it's only a basic storage until I figure out the best way to contain my experiments. Like my fusion experiment, I have my samples and crystal imprints of Rainbow and Pinkie stored in a pair of jars in my room right now," I answered, keeping a straight face as Sunset just sputtered about.
Raising an eyebrow at this, Celestia declared, "Well, since this matter is taken care of, I will leave it to you to give Sunset an appropriate punishment for her actions since she is your retainer. However, please don't send her out on some errands for the time being. who knows what schemes she could be plotting right now," before making her leave as I frowned at her. It seemed like she knew about my failed attempt at espionage, but if she knew and didn't call me out on it, she must be up to something then.
Sunset, however, was staring at me with so much hate in her eyes I wouldn't be surprised if she suddenly shot lasers as she said, "You lying lit—"
"It wasn't a setup," I interjected as I stuffed a hoof into Sunset's mouth. "You just suck at being stealthy, so you had to take the fall for getting us caught. Though next time I'm going to get you a camouflage suit, your coat sticks out like a sore thumb if you're not hiding properly," I continued as I eyed the clock, noting that it was reaching the evening hours. "Hmm... we only have an hour or so before dinner where you'll meet my mom, so we have to get you ready for that."
Scowling, Sunset glared at me as she asked, "What do I need to be prepared for? It's just dinner."
Holding up a hoof, I answered, "Well, since you were a criminal of some sorts prior to becoming my retainer, mother would be concern about you being a threat to my safety, so the best approach is to show her how easy it is for me to pummel you into submission. So either I pummel you now, where we can be more careful, or do it at dinner time, where it can't be controlled."
"...What‽"
"I can't believe that happened."
"Be thankful that I didn't have to deck you in the face."
"I can't believe that Princess Luna wanted a trial by combat, even when her sister said it was a bad idea."
"Eh, at least she was satisfied by me pinning you in a hold that forced you to submit."
"Of course I had to submit, you were about to tear my foreleg out of its socket!" Sunset yelled as we returned to the suite after the family dinner.
"Blah blah, it had to be done, and is better than a black eye," I countered, only to receive a stink eye in return. "How about you calm down now instead of giving me that look? Since mother should be raising the moon by now, Party Blitz should be he—" I said before I was interrupted by the door suddenly opening up, a pink blur tackling before bringing me into a tight hug.
"Hi Neby, I'm back!" Pinkie exclaimed as I looked at her in surprise, as Rainbow hovered into the room.
"Jeeze, Pinkie, you don't have to be so excited to see Nebula as yourself again," Rainbow said with an eye roll.
Frowning, I looked up at Rainbow as I asked, "What happened to caused Party Blitz to split apart?"
Shrugging, Rainbow answered, "Well, while it was awesome to be Party Blitz, it was early morning when I realized that if we become a Wonderbolt as a fusion, it would be Party Blitz the Wonderbolt, not Rainbow Dash the Wonderbolt, which is my dream. So... that's when I wanted us to split, and Party Blitz was awesome in understanding that, and said her goodbyes to us as we unfused."
"Yupperoonie, it was fun, and I was sad that Party had to go, but I'll be sadder if Rainbow couldn't achieve her dream. And I know you're sad that Party couldn't say goodbye to you, but I have some good news! We brought along a friend who is applying to your ad!" Pinkie exclaimed, causing me to frown in confusion.
"Ad? Wasn't my ad taken care of?" I asked, only to be answered as a white mare with a mane done in an over-the-top style.
"Because, darling, this ad was quite recent, asking for somepony that would teach you some etiquette," the mare declared, causing me to blink before I narrowed my eyes, knowing who would've sent such an ad in the first place.
Oh... Celestia... you're... actually clever for pulling this fast one on me. But doesn't mean I'm not going to get you back for that, Auntie.