//------------------------------//
// Curtain Call 
// Story: Source Material 
// by _Medicshy 
//------------------------------//

	As the last notes of the finale resonated through the theater and the curtain began to fall, they were met with thunderous applause from every last pony in the building. The whole house was standing, pounding their hooves against the floor, as clapping them together just was not loud enough to prove their enjoyment. When the crest of the applause had passed, the music for the bows began and the curtains rose once more.

One by one the actresses entered the stage, coming in reverse order of size of role. First were  the background ponies, then the dancers, and then the minor roles, each group being met with progressively stronger applause. It came in waves, each one crashing down in time with their bow and threatening to drown out even the orchestra. And thanks to his position so near the stage, Ink Well felt each the adoration crashing on him as well. He'd regretted the seats more for the second act than he had for the first, as some of the magic was lost when you could see the tech ponies standing in the wings, but  being able to see the crowd so clearly as the unbridled joy ran rampant on their faces nearly made it worth it. They were cheering, every single pony in the audience, including both of the Princesses. And they weren't just praising the actors, but the whole of the group who made it possible. When the actresses who portrayed the Princesses stepped out, signaling the cross from minor to supporting roles, and took their bows, the clapping doubled, cheers and whistles raising throughout the house even for parts as small as them.

Ink Well was floored. This was truly amazing, far more than anything he could ever have expected. They actually liked his work. In fact, if the continually rising cheers for each of the stage Elements of Harmony were anything to go by, they adored it! It was exhilarating, much better than anything he'd experienced before at perking up his tired body. And then, as the final two solo bows were given, the house exploded. A deafening roar went up for both the part of Twilight Sparkle and, in a swirl of blue smoke, Nightmare Moon, threatening to tear the very roof from the building with its intensity. Then the entire cast bowed in unison, faces beaming, completely unable to handle all of the support and love they were receiving. Ink Well's face matched theirs as one thought ran through his mind. A standing ovation? They liked it! They actually liked it! 

After five bows passed the rain of applause was not letting up, but the curtains did decide to fall, shielding the actors with their cloud-faced folds from the unending torrent of love. Even almost a full minute later, when the bow music ended and the house lights rose, there was still a smattering of clapping ponies amongst the seats. It was then that Ink Well was finally able to tear his gaze away, turning to see his companion beaming at him, grabbing him in a huge hug. “Ink Well, that was amazing! Your show is wonderful!”

Ink Well returned the hug warmly, though he couldn't fully agree with the sentiment. “Oh, it was hardly my show anymore. The actors did all of the hard work, and with Blues' music and Blockwright's directing I barely did anything at all.”

Rose pulled away from him, a playful frown on her face. “Oh, take the compliment for once! You wrote the script, did the interviews with everypony to make things accurate, flew out here every time somepony wanted to add something or wanted some extra character work... You put more work into this than any two ponies on that list you just gave me combined. And though you keep deflecting it, I saw the smile on your face when the applause came rolling in.” She tapped him on the nose. “Admit it. You think you did a good job too.”

Ink Well rubbed a hoof against the back of his mane, watching the ponies file out of the house. “Honestly, I think I could have done better...” he saw Rose's frown beginning to slide from playful and shrugged, smiling, “but the audience enjoyed it, so who am I to throw a sour light on it?”

Rose shook her head, sighing dramatically before saying “Close enough.” She then smiled, nodding towards the curtains that led from their box. “Come on, we've got an after party to attend. Your fans are waiting.” Before he could answer, Rose walked out, leaving Ink Well to follow.

The two of them walked down the short hallway to the stairs to the main area in silence, Rose smiling away, but Ink Well in silent dread. Even with the boost of energy from the applause, he was tired, and the last thing a pony like him really wanted was to have to mingle with other ponies. Inwardly he hoped it would at least be a quiet affair, maybe just the musicians, the actors, and the VIPs, with the rest leaving or being led out. That seemed like a thing Marquee might do. Then he could at least enjoy his success in relative peace.

His dream of a quiet affair was dashed upon reaching the top of the stairs, where his arrival was met with a cheer rising up from hundreds of ponies. The sight left him awe struck. It was one thing to hear the applause in a theater, or to see all of them lined up in rows of seats, but when they were all packed into the front of the house, there seemed to be so much more. And all eyes were on him.

From a small raised platform in the center of the crowd, Marquee gestured to Ink Well with one hoof, a microphone floating before her and amplifying her voice for all to hear. “There he is! The stallion of the hour, the playwright himself, Ink Well!” Another cheer went up for him, this one causing him to blush. I don't know about this... I'm not sure I want to speak in front of quite this many- Marquee waved him down, an expectant and slightly strained smile on her face. “Come, Ink Well! Give us a speech!”

“Ooh! Yeah!” called Pinkie Pie from within her circle of friends, all of whom held a prominent position near the front of the stage. She bounced into the air repeatedly, each hop punctuated by the word “Speech!” until it became a chant picked up by the whole of the crowd. 

It was slightly surreal, seeing all of those elegantly dressed ponies chanting like a group of foals on a playground egging another one on, but it had the intended effect. Even if he wanted to, Ink Well couldn't possibly sneak away from this one. He looked back at Rose, who just shook her head at him. “You promised.”

He hung his head in defeat. “Yeah... I did.” He slowly walked down the stairs, almost wincing as the muscles in his legs ached with each step. Somehow he didn't think anypony would go for 'I've just spent about a day awake in the span of intermission and could really use a nap' as an excuse, though, so when he reached the bottom of the stairs he just kept working his way to the stage. He could see ponies trying to clear a path for him, but there were just so many that they had nowhere to go. And the oddest part was that they were apologizing to him, as though they were in his way instead of him pushing through them. All this respect and attention... I think I liked it better when nopony knew about my work.

After what seemed like ages Ink Well finally arrived at the raised platform, walking over to Marquee and accepting the offered microphone, curling a wing around it to hold it steady. He looked over the sea of expectant faces, and turned around to see even more behind him. Hundreds of pairs of eyes, all on him. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he turned back around, scanning the crowd for a kind face to latch on to. It was then that he found Princess Celestia, surrounded by the Elements of Harmony, regal as ever, and watching as intently as the rest, and his heart froze up. The Princess is waiting. Say something. He tried to speak, but nothing came out, just causing him to feel even more foalish.

After another moment of heavy silence, he just stopped, breathing deeply and letting his mind run. Ink Well, it's just the Princess. You were speaking to her just fine a few hours ago. In fact, today, you have traveled through time, spoken with three separate alicorns, stood on an alien planet, ran from brass ponies, walked through The Battle of Ponyville again, saved Equestria from some terrible warmongering future, been sucked into the vacuum of space, and opened a fabulously popular show on Bridleway. You're tired, you've been through a lot, but compared to all of that, what's talking to a few hundred ponies?

Sure, it wasn't the most inspired speech, but somehow it motivated Ink Well's weary, fearful mind, and he was able to start his speech. “Hello everypony. First off, I want to thank all of you for coming out here this evening and enjoying the show. Your applause was more than I ever could have hoped for.” A small round of applause went up through the audience, and Ink Well used it to gather his thoughts more. “Second, I would like to thank the actors, who did a stellar job with everything I threw at them, taking it all to a level I couldn't have dreamed of when putting pen to paper.” Another round of applause went to them, and the few who were in the crowd waved, accepting it. When it was done, Ink Well continued. “Next, I would like to thank Blockwright for his stunning directing, Blues for his amazing score, Perfect Pitch for his musical direction, and Marquee for being a wonderful producer. All of you put in so much work on the project, making what I did seem pale by comparison. Without you, none of this would be possible.” They got applause too, though a few voices were denouncing Ink Well's statement trivializing his part. He just ignored it, turning to the group he'd spotted earlier.

“However, even more important than the group who made the fake look so good, I need to thank those who actually did what I wrote about. Thank you Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity, for saving us all from Nightmare Moon and being so willing to tell me the story, even though you weren't sold on the idea when I first brought it up. And I would also like to thank our regents, both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, for responding to my letters, questions, and interviews and allowing me to portray the events as I did. Your tale is inspiring to us all, and I am honored that your would let me be the one to write it down.” This was met with another round of applause, centered around the ponies in question, each of whom bowed to the crowd and accepted it politely, apart from Rainbow Dash, who flew above them and signaled for more applause when it was dying down, and Fluttershy, who hid behind her friends, only waving timidly with much prompting from the others.

When he felt the attention of the room fall on him once more, he turned around, seeing Rose on the stairs where he had left her, watching with a calm smile on her face. Seeing that, he smiled as well, all doubt leaving his mind. “There is one more pony that I need to thank. One pony who has helped me every step of the way, who has been nothing but supportive when I needed it most, and without whom I would not be here today. And that pony is Roseluck.” He stuck a hoof out towards her, sending the attentions of the crowd to her and bringing a blush to her face as she waved at them. Feeling his heart warm at the sight, he continued. “Rose, please come down to the stage.” She looked at him with confusion, and he just smiled back, calling her over with a hoof. She started down the stairs, making her way through the crowd, and to cover her movements, Ink Well kept talking.

“Just about a year ago I showed up to Rose's house a bloody wreck after an attempt on my life. Now, I won't go into details about all of that, as this is not the place for something like that, suffice it to say those were dark and interesting days. At the time, I had met Rose only a couple of times, just talking for a little while each visit. Even so, she took me in in my time of need, keeping me cared for and bringing me out of the dark place I was in. During my entire recovery she was there for me, helping when I needed it, standing aside when I needed to do something on my own, and offering me her home to stay in after I barged in so rudely. Even once I was well and writing again, she put up with everything so well: not complaining when I wrote through the night and slept through the day, making sure I was eating even when I was too lost to the words, accepting all of my quirks and the mess I made of her workspace, simply taking it all in stride.” Rose reached the platform at that point, and Ink Well waved her over to him, placing his other hoof in his pocket. There it ran over the edge of the crystal flower. He could picture the tree still, the scent wafting from it and filling the whole room. His first thought then had been for Rose. Even thousands of years apart, he'd still thought of her.

When Rose got next to him, he continued speaking, leaving her to look at the crowd and smile nervously at the attention. “Rose was even a perfect angel when this play made its way to Bridleway, completely fine with every time I had to pick up and fly to Manehattan, even when it conflicted with plans we had already made. She didn't once complain as the show stole more and more time, until I was almost spending more time here than I was at home. She kept it all quiet, knowing that this was important to me. She even pointed it out to me when I refused to see it myself. She only said a word against it once during the whole process, and that was on the train here tonight. And on that train, I promised that we would spend more time together. I promise it again here in front of all of you, not because I need witnesses, but because I want to spend as much time with her as I can.”

With the crowd silent in rapt attention, Ink Well turned to Rose, kneeling down in front of her. Rose turned in confusion when she heard his words and saw him move, a confusion that only deepened when she saw the sight before her. “Rose, you mean the world to me, and there is not a single day I would not want to spend by your side.” She seemed to recognize what was coming before the words were said, beginning to blush as her breath joined the one held collectively by Ink Well and the entire audience. In that expectant silence, Ink Well pulled the crystal rose from his pocket, offering it to her with his wing. “Rose, will you marry me?”

The entire crowd watched in fascination as Rose looked from the flower to Ink Well, tears forming in her eyes as she brought a hoof to her mouth, determined not to cry. A second later she took her hoof away, and, losing the battle to cry, threw her hooves around Ink Well's neck in a deep hug. Ink Well just barely managed to position the microphone in time to catch her response. “Oh, Ink Well, yes!” She then brought her lips against his, kissing him deeply in front of the entire crowd.

The audience cheered for the newly engaged couple, but the two didn't care as Ink Well dropped the mic, wrapping his wings around Rose and deepening the kiss further. This was bliss, embracing her, locked together, just the two of them. With her this close, he could do anything, and he would do anything to get back to her should they be forced apart. He'd already proven that. To pledge the rest of his life to her only seemed right.

Only when the two of them were nearly out of breath did they come out of the kiss, seeming to only then notice the many eyes watching them. Rose leaned in close to him, whispering slyly in his ear. “For somepony so eager to avoid attention, you sure know how to draw a lot.”

Ink Well just smiled. “Most things I don't need everypony knowing about, but that? That I wanted the world to see.” Ink Well then took a step back, taking the crystal rose and sliding it behind Rose's ear, its beauty just adding to hers, a little touch that made her entire outfit perfect. “I love you Rose, and I want everypony to know it.” They kissed again, then walked from the stage, letting Marquee get back to what remained of her pre-party announcements. Though as he walked off, Ink Well thought of one pony he'd forgotten in his announcements. With a twinge of guilt he spared a thought from the mare at his side, sending it out as far as he could. Thank you, Doctor. Wherever you are.

---

Seventy five years in the future, in the house of the same theater, a scream echoed throughout the room as Spotlight cowered before a cloaked figure. It brought it's hoof high, a blade sticking from the end of it, and readied for the death blow. A moment later the scream was abruptly silenced, cut off by the hoof that dropped down onto Spotlight's head. 

“Oh, quit yelling, will you? I've already stopped him,” said a beige pony with chestnut hair, one hoof in the actor's mouth and one holding up a sonic screwdriver, which whirred happily at the cloaked form standing above them. It remained motionless, its blade stopped just centimeters above the actor's head, seemingly stuck in his mane. A few jet black hairs fell from his head, and he watched them fall, shaking where he sat. The beige pony didn't seem to pay any attention to him, looking over his shoulder, slightly confused. “Derpy, are you sure this is the one that jumped? I don't remember any of them having a cloak.”

The grey pegasus he talked to was on the stage, staring intently at the script left abandoned at the floor. At the sound of her friend's voice, she looked up, reminded of what was going on. “Oh? I only remember the one disappearing from the battle after you shot it towards the wall. Isn't this one it?”

The beige pony looked closely at the form before him, pulling away the cloak to reveal an earth pony made entirely of brass, locked in position by whatever he'd done to it. After a moment he shook his head. “No, I could have sworn it was a pegasus. Are we sure we missed anything? Is the TaRDiS reading any more signals?”

Derpy's attention had returned to the script, but she pulled it away once more, looking to a small box that hung around her neck. “Nope, there's not a single active signal from the brass ponies. If this isn't it, then it must have been taken care of.”

The beige pony looked slightly confused, scratching his head with the screwdriver. “Huh. Oh well, I suppose there's not a lot we can do about that.” He looked to his companion again only to find her once more engrossed in the script beneath her. “What've you got there?”

Derpy shook her head, looking a little closer at the page beneath her. “I dunno. I think it's something about Ink Well, but I can't quite make it out...”

Spotlight, befuddled by the events before him but infinitely grateful of the intervention of these two ponies, decided to try to alleviate their confusion. “Iphs a fwipt!”

The beige pony removed his hoof from the actor's mouth. “Beg pardon?”

“It's a script! It's about somepony called Ink Well fighting somepony called Viper. It's supposed to be for the fiftieth anniversary of the Alliance.” Spotlight pushed himself up from where he was cowering in the chair, taking a heroic pose. “And I am playing the lead.”

“Oh. That's nice,” said the beige pony as he walked up to the stage, joining his companion in reading the script.

Spotlight just stared at the two incredulously. How dare they ignore him? He cleared his throat loudly, striking his pose once more. When they didn't react at all, he drooped a little, glaring at them. “Hey! You two. Don't you know who you're talking to? I'm Spotlight, best pegasus to hit the stage in a hundred years. You better show me some respect.”

The beige pony shook his head, ignoring the pontificating actor. “Oh, no, this won't do at all. This doesn't sound a word like him, does it Derpy?”

Derpy shook her head as well. “Not at all. He's not going to like it, is he Doctor?”

The Doctor looked disappointedly at the pages, flipping through them rapidly and talking sidelong at his friend. “No, he's not. It's a shame too, he was going to show up unannounced and make a splash at the opening, but he might walk out at this. It's too bad nopony could ever quite capture truth like he could.”

Fuming, Spotlight leaped into the air, flying onto the stage with a double corkscrew to snatch the book from between them before landing on one hoof. Maybe that little display would get their attention. They'd regret the day they ignored Spotlight.

The Doctor walked calmly up to him, placing a hoof gently on Spotlight's back leg. In an instant Spotlight lost his balance, crashing to the floor. The Doctor just shook his head. “I may not be able to do anything about the script, but I can do something about you. Ink Well was a brave pony, never one to give out that high-pitched yelp you made a few minutes ago, and while he did a lot of amazing things and got recognition for all of it, he is most noted for the fact that he never once got a swelled head. Despite everything he accomplished, he always felt he could have done a little bit more, always looked back on what he could have fixed, and strove to do better the next time than he did the last.

But that's motivation, what you should take to heart and incorporate into your character if you want him to seem real. If you want to know who Ink Well actually is, it's as easy as this: Ink Well is the Arbiter.” Realization dawned on Spotlight, who looked confused at the possibility. “No, really, that ancient stallion, the one who keeps the two nations in check and keeps the Alliance strong, that's Ink Well. And, in celebration of both the fiftieth year of the Alliance and the fiftieth year of his term as Arbiter, he is coming to see your performance.”

Spotlight felt those words sink in. “Ink Well, the one I'm acting as, is the Arbiter, and is coming to see my show?”

“With both Princesses, yes. And if they see the way you currently portray him, none of them are going to be happy. Understand?” Spotlight's pupils shrank, and he just nodded slowly. The Doctor smiled. “Fantastic!” He then turned around, looking at Derpy and nodding into the shadows off stage. “Now that our actor friend is on the right path, would you like to go?”

Derpy landed next to him, grinning widely. “Yup!” As they both started to the shadows, Derpy kept talking. “Before we go, would it be alright if I visited Dinky again? I wouldn't like to keep her waiting...” The voices continued a back and forth, but Spotlight wasn't paying them any mind. He was busy reevaluating his performance. It wasn't until the faintest whisper of some otherworldly sound drifted onto the stage that he snapped out of his thoughts.

Walking back to the script, he started to scratch out his lines in pencil, writing in ones with much more fitting for the Arbiter. It would drive the others crazy, especially the writer, but, in the end, it would prove to be a better play.

---

It took nearly an hour for everypony to come up and personally congratulate the new couple, much to their chagrin. And even though he was running on pure happy energy when Rose accepted his offer, it had drained by the time the last face had gone by. So when a few faces from earlier shoved their way back in, asking Ink Well about his writing and offering this, that, or the other thing, he was down to the last couple fraying edges of his temper. However, he had just proposed to a guardian angel, and she new exactly how to handle the annoyance. 

Rose deftly managed to nudge the conversation to herself and her perfumes, sucking the well-wishers into her practiced sales speeches. Almost immediately she held their attention, and with the subtlest of signals, Ink Well was given the okay to roam the latter part of the party.

It was almost midnight already, and many of the actors and musicians had left, as well as the older and the less willing to brown-nose patrons, leaving only the very wealthy, the very posh, and those in charge of the party itself. Many of the posh and wealthy were flocking around the Elements of Harmony, trying to get in good with Equestria's saviors, but there was an almost equal number surrounding Princess Celestia, doing their best to please the monarch. It made him feel a little sick that they'd capitalize on his after party like that, using it to climb the social ladder, but, knowing that any action he took would just end poorly, he simply let it be, walking over to the food tables that had been set up.

There was almost nothing left, a disappointment to his stomach, which had only recently realized how empty it actually was. The only things remaining on either of the two tables were the frosting on the plastic cake knife, the last dregs of the punch, and one serving of something that looked mysteriously like a combination of a deviled egg and a spring roll, with a smell like month old cabbage soup. It couldn't have been how it was served at the beginning, quite possibly an amalgamation created by some silly pony who thought it would be appetizing. Ink Well was hungry, but he wasn't quite hungry enough to try the mystery food. Dejectedly he let his eyes instead rove over the party guests, wondering if there were somepony he'd actually want to talk to to take his mind off the meager fare and round off the night.

Blues was gone, as was Shoeshine, though he was sure that was so she wouldn't be spotted by Marquee. Rose was still talking to some very impressed nobles, holding her own against them, as was Princess Celestia against her own bevy of leeches. All of the Elements were occupied, and only Fluttershy didn't seem to be having much fun. Not that she couldn't hold a conversation, just that she was wishing for a different conversation partner. Unfortunately, her current one had her monopolized, so Ink Well wouldn't have much luck saving her. She'd be able to make it through, it'd be alright. The only other option was talking to Marquee... Ink Well shuddered at the thought.

Out of options, he shrugged, turning back to the table to think about what to do next. As he did, he noticed one pony all alone, standing in a corner under the stairs, far from the nobles and elite that filled most of the room. It was Princess Luna, looking more than a little forlorn, her mane absolutely stationary and her face the picture of dejection. That wasn't right at all. This was a show about her, he'd just have to cheer her up a little.

Circumventing the few ponies just mulling about the party, Ink Well made his way to the stairs under which Luna stood. He walked up quietly, trying not to appear eager or wanting or anything like that, but it had the unintended effect of causing him to go unnoticed. With a heavy sigh, Luna turned on the spot, clearly set on doing something, but becoming startled when she almost ran right into Ink Well. In return he held up his hooves, trying to calm her down. “I'm sorry, Princess Luna, I didn't mean to scare you.”

Luna placed a hoof to her chest, initially angry, but calming as she saw who it was. “Nay, 'twas a silly thing to be startled such.” She then held out a hoof in greeting. “You are Ink Well, yes? We...” She winced, visibly berating herself for her statement. “Er, I am very glad to finally meet you in person.”

Ink Well took the hoof, shaking it firmly. “The pleasure is all mine, Princess. I was just wondering, are you alright?”

Luna instantly straightened up, putting on a firm face. “How ridiculous! Of course we, I am alright. What would give you the notion I am not?” 

Ink Well didn't push the issue, just stating what he saw. “Well, you didn't look very happy at the start of the show, or just now. And the moon was a little different than normal when I saw it earlier.”

Luna looked genuinely surprised. “You noticed that?”

Ink Well just nodded. “Yeah. It was a little off from its full shape, like it was anxious to rise or something.”

Luna blushed a bit at that, looking to the floor. “Ah... yes, I will admit that We, er, I was a little... nervous of tonight's show. But it has proven to be quite well done, and much more... lenient than We... I thought it would be.”

Ink Well noticed the delicate word choice and frowned, wishing she'd loosen up just a little bit more. He may not have known her well, but seeing any pony that on edge wasn't something he liked. “I just tried to write what actually happened. That's why I asked you about the night. I didn't want you being hounded by what others thought you'd intended.”

“Well, it is greatly appreciated. We,” she winced again as she used the second person, only raising her tension further, “I don't think that many other ponies would have done the same.”

“That doesn't seem right. Yes, what you did was a bad thing, but it's in the past. All of us have done something we don't like. To hound a pony over their past just isn't right.” Then, tired of seeing her fret over her words, he reached up, placing a hoof on her shoulder. Something in the back of his head yelled at him for daring to touch the Princess, but she didn't seem to much mind, actually calmed by the gesture, so he figured it was alright. “Also, don't worry about the whole We/I thing. I won't tell anypony if you won't.” As he said this, he gave her a conspiratorial wink.

She smiled at him, relief visibly running at least partly through her. “Thank you. We just get so worked up over it, but it is difficult to change habits after a few thousand years.” She then raised her eyebrow at him. “You are the only pony to notice the change in our moon. How did you notice something so subtle? It was only raised ten minutes early, barely enough for anything perceptible.”

Ink Well just shrugged, leaning against the stairs and looking off into the distance. “I've spent a lot of time writing under that moon, and more nights than I can count traveling or hiding beneath its silvered rays. It has given me some of my best works, and seen me through my worst times. So when something was wrong with it, I couldn't help but feel bad about it. I thought maybe I could help it through something, for once.”

Luna looked touched, raising a hoof to her breast. “'Tis a very sweet thought you have there, Ink Well.” Immediately her happiness fell, a lonesome sadness overtaking it. “We wish more ponies saw your way. But they are all much too busy with Our sister's light.” She gestured over to the crowd around Celestia, speaking with a hint of annoyance. “They care not about Our graces, only hoping for the affection of our solar Princess.”

Ink Well just shook his head, letting his own annoyance out. “Oh, don't worry about them. They're just like most ponies, always praising the sun because it shines so bright and does hard work for them: growing trees, warming homes, and lighting the world. They just don't appreciate the much softer light of the moon, nor the presents it brings. The time for innovation, creation, and thoughtfulness, the cooling breezes, the intricate beauty of the stars, the tranquility of the sleeping world, and the love that always seems to blossom best under the moon's gentle rays.” He looked over to Rose, waxing poetic as he did. Sometimes she brought the worst out of him... “The moon shines just as bright, reflecting the sun's hard working light, and though it seems so cold and dark, it keeps us guarded through the night.” 

He sighed, turning back to Luna and seeing her almost enraptured by his words. Slightly embarrassed by both the attention and his moment of poetic outburst, he rubbed the back of his neck, continuing on. “I've always liked the night better anyway, and yet I've always been called an odd one. But it's just because ponies don't yet see the value in your moon. They're too busy wanting things from the sun. Some day they'll figure out that you're not bad at all, that the monsters and the cold and the things they fear are not products of the moon, but of the dark itself, a beast nopony can control. When they figure that out you'll be at least as popular as your sister over there, just you watch.”

Luna just looked down on Ink Well, a pure joy in her eyes from the words of the oddity before her. Even her mane was flowing faster, a wind generating of the kindness she now felt. “Thank you very much, Ink Well, you are much too kind to Us.”

Ink Well shook his head. “Nonsense, Princess. You deserve a lot more attention than you get. I, for one, am just glad you liked the show, and I hope that some ponies will come to see you as your sister's equal because of it, if they don't already.” He gave her a friendly smile after that, and the one she returned was genuine, far deeper than the simple gesture could easily convey. Not a moment later, Ink Well yawned, his day catching up with him one more time. “Now then, Princess Luna, it has been a pleasure talking to you, but I'm afraid I'm about done for this evening.”

Princess Luna just nodded. “Of course, 'tis late, and you must be tired. Still, We have enjoyed talking to you as well, Ink Well. Have a wonderful evening.”

Ink Well bowed to Luna, then departed, walking straight back to Rose just as she finished up a conversation with the last of the well-wishers. The mare she was talking to looked quite enthused about something, but she left before Ink Well could hear any of the conversation. As he walked up, Rose's face just lit up. “Ink Well! You are not going to believe the luck I had selling perfume to those ponies. I think my orders for the gala might double just from tonight alone!”

Ink Well smiled, nodding appreciatively, but far too tired to say anything useful. “That's great, Rosy! Just fantastic. Would you mind if we headed back to the hotel? I don't think I'm going to be able to keep my eyes open much longer.”

Rose's smile faded from overjoyed to just happy and she nodded. “Sure. I was just getting to the end of my rope as well.” Walking side by side, the couple started towards the doors, only to be stopped by a gentle, regal voice.

“Excuse me, Ink Well, Roseluck. I had something I wished to ask you about before you left.” Both ponies turned immediately, bowing to Princess Celestia, who stood behind them. She just chuckled a little, motioning them to stand up. “I see that you are tired, so I shall try to make this fast. I'm sure you're aware that the Grand Galloping Gala is to be held in two weeks time, yes?”

Rose nodded. “Of course. Nopony in Equestria doesn't know about the Gala.”

“Wonderful. And, as of the moment, I don't believe either of you have a ticket to go, do you?” Ink Well shook his head, not sure where the Princess was heading with this line of questioning. “Well, I would like to fix that. I would like to personally invite both of you to the Grand Galloping Gala, as well as extend an invitation for you to stay at the castle for the weeks before it, if you so choose.”

Ink Well was shocked, staring speechlessly at the Princess. After a few moments, he pulled himself together, stammering out a reply. “I just don't know what to say! I'm honored, Princess.”

The Princess waved a hoof casually, brushing aside the comment. “Oh, don't worry about it. It just seemed a good way to thank you for this wonderful evening.” She then pointed to Princess Luna, who was looking towards them, smiling. “Luna thought it would be a good way for you to look around Canterlot, in case you hoped to have your wedding in a city other than Ponyville.” Celestia then leaned in a little closer, talking to the two of them more privately. “She said the castle gardens under the moonlight cannot be beat for a romantic setting, but I've always found the grand hall at midday to be much more grand.” After that, she stood up tall again. “Anyway, should I ready a room at the castle?”

Ink Well looked over at Rose, seeing her just as shocked as he was, struck silent by the offer. Ink Well then thought about the perfume sales she just made, and how important the next two weeks would be for Rose's shop. He's made a lot of decisions without her today, most of which he at least partially regretted, even if they'd worked out just fine. He wasn't going to go making another one that might mess something up. “I don't know, Princess. Could you give us a moment?” He then took Rose under a wing, turning from Celestia and talking in a hushed voice. “Rose, what do you think? Can we afford a trip to Canterlot with the perfume rush coming on?”

Rose just looked at him like he was insane. “Are you crazy? Princess Celestia just invited us to stay at the castle, then go to the Grand Galloping Gala, and you think I'd say no? I thank you for asking me first on this one, but really, there was no need here. Lily can cover Rosewater while I'm gone. She still owes me one.” She then pecked him on the cheek, smiling. “Besides, you promised a getaway, just the two of us, wherever I liked. I think this will count just fine.”

Turning back to face the Princess, Ink Well nodded. “Yes please, Princess, that would be lovely. Though, nothing too fancy, if that would be at all possible.”

The Princess smiled. “I'll see what I can do.” With that, she left, returning to her flock of leeches, all of whom looked at Ink Well with a little more respect than they had a moment ago.

Still slightly stunned, Ink Well and Rose turned once more to leave, making it all the way to the door of the theater before they were stopped again, this time by Pinkie Pie. “Wait! Ink Well, I almost forgot!” She was waiting outside when the doors were opened, which was odd, considering they'd both seen her inside when they were headed out. Before either could ask anything, Pinkie Pie shoved a cupcake into Ink Well's hooves.

He looked at the vanilla treat and its red frosting heart with a tired confusion. “Pinkie? What is this?”

Pinkie gave him a strange look. “It's a cupcake, silly! Duh! What did you think it was?”

Ink Well shook his head. “No, I mean, why did you hand me a cupcake?”

“Well, I said I'd give you a cupcake the next time I saw you, and though I've seen you around a whole lot since then, I didn't see you you until tonight, so here's your cupcake! I even made one for Rose, since I thought something like this might happen, see?” She then procured a second cupcake, identical to the first, and gave it to Rose. “Congratulations, by the way! Do you know when the wedding is yet?”

Ink Well shook his head. “No, we haven't gotten that far yet... thanks though.”

Pinkie saluted him. “No problem! You can always count on Pinkie Responsibility Pie! Just remember that when you're planning the reception!” Before they could respond, Pinkie bounced past them, almost immediately returned to her group of friends, even though they were halfway across the room. There was just no way she could move that fast.

Both Rose and Ink Well looked at her, then each other, then the cupcakes in their hooves, confusion firmly set on their features. A second later, Ink Well shrugged, taking a bite of his cupcake and attributing all the silliness to the one thing it could be, simply saying, “Pinkie Pie.” Rose nodded in agreement, taking a bite of her own cupcake as they both made their way out to the street.

The carriage was waiting for them outside, with Shoeshine in the driver's seat looking even happier than she had when she picked them up this morning. She jumped down, opening the door for them and helping Rose into the carriage. When it was Ink Well's turn to enter, Shoeshine gave him a small wink and whispered, “Thanks again!”

Ink Well just nodded back, even the sugar from the cupcake doing nothing to help keep him on his hooves. He just needed back to the hotel, now. He stepped into the carriage, sitting next to Rose on the extremely plush seating as the door closed. This was it, the end of his night... and what a night it was. He yawned, feeling the carriage begin to roll, and laid down, his head resting against Rose's flank.

Rose smiled at him, not minding in the least. “So, are you ever going to tell me what happened to you tonight?”

Ink Well peeked an eye open, looking up into her face, and smirked. “I don't think you'd believe me, even if I did.” He then pulled himself up a little further, until his head was resting on her chest, and smiled a little deeper. “But I've got all the time in the world to try.” He then craned his neck upwards, kissing Rose gently before shutting his eyes, falling asleep against his love.