//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: The Gala Invite and a Home to Stay // Story: The Princess of Nature // by Pinkie Pie Sweets //------------------------------// At Sugar Cube Corner: The girls and spike are over there having some lunch. Pinkie brought over some chocolate cake with vanilla layered frosting, and some milk. Fluttershy couldn't help but notice her cutie mark which is very unique from any cutie mark she ever seen. Fluttershy asks, "So Tiger Lily what's your special talent or what's your cutie mare means? If you don't mind me asks?" "Sure Fluttershy I don't mind at all. My cutie mark means that I have a special connection in nature mostly plants and animals," Tiger Lily explains. "Sound a lot like Fluttershy's special talent, only it's mostly animals," Rarity replies. "So you like animals too?" Flutterhsy asks. "I really love animals I had a lot of friends like birds, rabbits, and other animals at home," Tiger Lily explains. "But after the fire, lots of them had to leave and lived somewhere else," Tiger Lily adds sadly. "That's awful," Twilight adds. "Yeah I know, some of the younger ones either lost their parents or got separated from them. So before I left, I decided to help my friends as good as I can. I also used my magic to help fix the damage the fire did and help the injured animals" Tiger Lily says. "How horrible," Fluttershy says with teary eyes that the forest and animals were affected by the fire as well. "But you were a good friend to them to help them the way you did, "Applejack replies. "Thanks Applejack," Tiger Lily says. "It must have been really hard for you," Spike says. "Do you have any idea on how the fire got started?" Rainbow asks. "I have no idea, but the fire was spreading fast and it was scary," Tiger Lily answers. "So you don't know how the fire got started," Rarity says sadly. "I don't," Tiger Lily answers sadly. The girls starts to worry about her more, not only that her parents are gone and her home is destroyed, but a lot of her animals friends and the forest were hurt by the fire too. Just then Spike feels an indigestion and burp green flames revealing the letter with the Canterlot royal seal on it. "Looks like princess Celestia replied to your letter," Rainbow says. Twilight use her magic to bring the letter and starts to read the letter to the others. Dear Twilight, I'm very surprised that there is another alicorn exist in Equestia and wasn't aware of it. I also feel very sorry of what she been through so my sister and I will be more than happy to help get along with her pony race. As you know the Grand Galloping Gala is next Saturday so I send you 8 tickets for you, spike, the girls, and your new friend. Also Shining Armor and Princess Cadence will be at the Gala as well. I know that with our help maybe can help her to fully feel welcome in Equestria. Sincerely, Princess Celestia. After reading the letter the girls are happy that the princess will help aid her in helping Tiger Lily. Twilight is also happy that her brother and sister-in-law are going to be at the gala to. But Tiger Lily isn't sure about this she never heard about this gala they mention but happy that princess wants to meet her too. "Well girls it looks like I'll be preparing dresses for you all," Rarity says happily. "Um girl, what is the Grand Galloping Gala?" Tiger Lily asks. "The Grand Galloping Gala is a big dance in Canterlot," Twilight starts. "Yeah the Wonder Bolts perform there every year," Rainbow adds. "And the night of the gala the flowers in the Canterlot garden will be in bloom, and has cute animals there," Fluttershy adds happily. Which makes Tiger Lily happy that there are animals and plants over there. "Not to mention the greatest party every," Pinkie adds. The dance sounds very nice," Tiger Lily says happily. Then she turns to Rainbow and asks, "But Rainbow, who are the Wonder Bots." "You seriously don't know who the Wonder Bolts?" Rainbow asks surprisingly. "Not at all," Tiger Lily answers. "Oh man you have no idea what you're missing. The Wonder Bolts are the best Flyers in Equestira and I'm one of their most promising reserves. Rainbow answers. "So you're part of the Wonder Bolts?" Tiger Lily asks. "Yeah in a way," Rainbow answers. "Oh and we should also head to Canterlot Carousel before the gala," Rarity suggests. "Canterlot Carousel?" Tiger Lily ways confusedly. "It's a boutiques I have in Canterlot," Rarity answers "So Carousel Boutique is not the only store you have?" Tiger Lily replies. "Yes. But my friends Sassy Shore is managing the boutiques and she also send me a few orders for me to make for the gala. She will be very pleased to meet you" Rarity answers. "Oh okay, so what are we going to be doing until the gala?" Tiger Lily asks. "Well, maybe we can show you around Ponyville," Twilight suggests. "Yeah I can show you Sweet Apple Acres, my family and I just finished with the zap apple harvest and boy are you going to love on how our zap apple jam taste," Applejack says. "I can show you a great places for you to fly around to spread your wing," Rainbow Dahs adds. "Not to mention I can throw you a welcome party," Pinkie says. "We can also take you to Princess Burger or the restaurant down the road for dinner if you like," Twilight says. "And maybe take you to the spa," Rarity replies. "I can take you to my cottage to see the animals," Fluttershy adds. "I can also show you the great books and comic books we got in the library," Spike adds. Tiger Lily is being pressure that her new friends are eager to show her around but she know there is something she need to say for she forget. "Guys!" Tiger Lily screams. The girls and Spike stop talking after hearing her screams. Tiger Lily then calms herself down and says, "I know you are very excited about showing me around and I really appreciate it, but there is something I really need to ask you." "What's that?" Twilight asks. "Where I'm going to sleep at. Remember I have no place to live at this time," Tiger Lily answers. The girls and Spike become surprised they were so busy about Tiger Lily's predicament that they forgot that she had nowhere else to go, and she really needs a place to stay. "Well maybe we can let you stay at one of our home," Fluttershy suggests. Tiger Lily becomes really surprised about what Fluttershy just said. "Oh! You all don't have to, I don't want to be a burden to you and… " Tiger Lily tries denied their idea. Until Rainbow interrupts her and says, "Don't sweat it we don't mind sharing one of our homes with you." "She had a good point Tiger Lily, so there's nothing for you to worry," Rarity adds. "But girls, with one of us Tiger Lily is going to stay with?" Twilight asks. The girls then look at each other any one of them don't mind her staying over they all have extra rooms, and love to spend some time her. Then Spike comes up with an idea. "I think I know," Spike says. "What?" The girls asks at the same time. "Spin the bottle," Spike answers. "Spin the bottle? Really?" Rainbow asks annoyed. "Yeah. We let Tiger Lily spin a bottle and whoever have Tiger Lily stay at their house with is the pony the bottle lands on," Spike explains. Some of the girls though it might be silly, but since no one else has any ideas, fate with have to be done with a game. "Sounds simple to me," Applejack agrees. "I agree," Pinkie says. "Oh very well," Rarity replies. "Well I guess it will be okay," Tiger Lily replies. "Okay I think I still have a bottle in my bag," Twilight says. Then she looks in her bag and sees the bottle is in her bag. "Okay girls remember after this Tiger Lily get to say in one of our home no acceptances," Twilight explains. "Agree," The girls says. "Okay you're ready?" Rainbow asks Tiger Lily. Tiger Lily simply nods her head and use her hoof to spin the bottle and its going fast. After a few minutes of the spinning bottle it landed between Applejack and Fluttershy. "So what happens now?" Tiger Lily asks. "Well in this case you have to spin again only this time Applejack and Fluttershy will be the only one in the circle." Twilight explains. "Oh okay," Tiger Lily answers. With that Twilight Rarity, Pinkie and Rainbow leave the circle and Applejack and Fluttershy sit across from each other. Tiger Lily spins the bottle again and it going faster than before after a few more minutes the bottle landed on Flutterhsy. "Well Looks like you're the winner Flutters," Rainbow says. "Oh! Me?" Fluttershy says surprisingly. "Yes you, that's where the bottle landed on," Applejack answers. "Well okay. I'll make she's feel right at home," Fluttershy replies happily. "To be honest I think you're the best choice," Applejack suggests. "Why is that?" Rainbow asks. "I think it's because she live near the Everfree forest and her cottage has lots of animals, so I think she'll fit right in," Twilight answers. The girls listen to Twilight answers and agree that living with Fluttershy at her cottage is a great idea. Since she lived in a forest with lots of animals they figure living with Fluttershy will make feel right at home. "Well I guess that's settle then," Rarity says. "I agree," Fluttershy replies. Then looks at Tiger Lily and says, "Me and the animals will have the guest room ready for you." "Thank you Fluttershy," Tiger Like says. Then she decides to ask, "So Fluttershy what kind and how many animals you have at your cottage?" "Oh I have many different animals living with me," Fluttershy answers. "Really!" Tiger Lily asks happily with sparkles in her eyes. The girls and spike laughed at Tiger Lily's reaction. The she laughed along with them. Tiger Lily can tell that she might be able to fit in to Ponyville and maybe decide to make Ponyville her home.