Tomorrow was the vernal equinox, the date that Celestia had set all those months ago for her historic summit. A tailor worked to make last-minute adjustments to her dress as the centuries-old sorceress stared down upon her city from the highest tower of her castle. Cant’r Laht was filled with visitors, called from all across Equestria at Celestia’s invitation. The alicorn had no delusions about why many of them had actually come. They wanted to examine the city of Cant’r Laht for themselves to find its weaknesses, and there were not a few court wizards who had come to probe the city’s magical defense, the very reason Celestia had purposefully lessened the spells around the city during the summit. They had come looking for some way to crush the city, but she hoped these martial ideas would not be the only things they took away. A new order in Equestria would need to be established here, or at least the foundations of it.

Casting a spell, Celestia enhanced her eyesight to get a closer look at the camps scattered throughout the city. It had been suggested that the camps be placed in a pattern that mirrored Equestria’s map, but Celestia had wisely shot that idea down and rearranged them. Every nation’s bitterest rivals were their neighbors, and placing sworn enemies next to each other was a recipe for disaster. She would not have war breaking out in Cant’r Laht before the summit could even start. There had been some clashes (drunken brawls mostly), but the Cant’r Laht Royal Guard was diligent in its duty to maintain the peace. Complaints would be aired at the summit tomorrow about accommodations, but that was expected.

On the western edge of the city were the blue-and-white tents of Balte-Maer, and Celestia spotted Duchess Seaspray departing with her retinue. Clockwise from them were the yellow-and-black tents of Stalliongrad and the green-and-blue camp of Fillidelfiyaa. Vanhuv’r came next, the blue-and-gray tents broken up by a sizable patch of green-and-brown, the faction from Tall Tale. Manehattan’s camp was next, soldiers still setting up the red-and-black tents as Hadish’s delegation continued to file into the city. Los Pegasus was on the far east, the banners of Queen Helianthus fluttering over the yellow-and-white tents. Outside the city gates was a second camp, that of the Griffon Free Companies, who had chosen to accept Celestia’s invitation and had caused quite a bit of discomfort to the other delegations as they passed them to enter Cant’r Laht.

The spell suddenly collapsed, and Celestia began to cough violently. Her tailor stepped back with concern, and Raven rushed forward to the aid of the matron of sorceresses. Celestia took the kerchief proffered by her page and coughed into it until the fit subsided. She was concerned, but not surprised, to see blood on the kerchief. You have to go easy on the spells. That was something she knew she could never do, however, not if she wanted to appear strong at the summit. Too much was hinging on this for the delegates to know she was calling a summit to attempt to put things in order before her death.

“I will … make you some herbal tea,” her page said before trotting off, knowing exactly what fortifying agents the sorceress needed in her tea.

Celestia waved for the tailor to resume her work as she returned to staring out over Cant’r Laht. Merry noises drew her attention to the castle’s north tower, where Twilight Sparkle and her comrades were preparing themselves for the festivities ahead. Celestia smiled a true smile, remembering what it had once been like to live without so many burdens upon her. Politics were the purpose of this gathering of crowned heads, but the heavy stuff could wait until tomorrow. Tonight was to be a night of celebration. The Grand Galloping Gala would soon begin.

As the sun sank below the horizon, the Brave Companions departed Twilight Sparkle’s chambers in all their finery. They'd arrived in Cant’r Laht that morning and had spent the rest of the day preparing themselves for what was to come. Besides the Grand Galloping Gala that night, which they were all freshly bathed and perfumed for, they would probably also be expected to play some role in Celestia’s summit, which could stretch on for several days. While they were in Cant’r Laht, they would be staying in Twilight’s tower. The sorceress had written ahead, and castle servants had prepared the abandoned chambers to house five more ponies than they were currently set up for.

“I still can’t believe we’re back in Cant’r Laht!” Spike said excitedly as they descended the staircase around the tower, “Twilight and I can show you all around the castle and the city. It’ll be great.”

“That could probably wait, right Spike?” Rainbow Dash asked, not wanting to hurt the dragon’s feelings, “I think all of us have plans for the gala.”

“Oh, right, of course,” Spike said in disappointment, “But we’ll have some time together later, right?”

Maybe Twilight’s page didn’t have the same special bond with these ponies that the sorceress did herself, but in following them around for the past nine months, he didn’t feel like they were strangers. He knew each of them nearly as well as Twilight did and was looking forward to spending some time with them tonight, a preferable alternative to spending it taking down notes for Twilight. He hadn’t forgotten all their plans and aspirations for the gala, but hoped that they wouldn’t occupy the entire evening, especially when it would be back to business tomorrow.

“Do not worry, Spike, I am sure we will be able to make the time,” Twilight assured him, “The others are right, however; we do all have plans for this night.”

“I can’t wait to see all the plants and animals in the private gardens,” Fluttershy trembled with excitement and confirmed Twilight’s statement, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a druidess! And, with my ability to speak to the animals, I could really help them out, or befriend them so that I might be allowed back a second time!”

“I aim t’ find some wealthy merchants t’ buy m’ family’s crops, maybe from Balte-Maer, Vanhuv’r, or Stalliongrad,” Applejack chimed in, “Th’ family could really use a boost t’ help us keep our lands away from Mayor Mare.”

“It would be nice to meet a wealthy merchant, but my aim is set a little higher. With my status as a Brave Companion and this alluring gown, I’m sure to catch the eye of an eligible noblestallion,” Rarity daydreamed, then coughed as she realized everypony was looking at her skeptically, “Well, at least I can show off these dresses and can speak to Hoity Toity about working with him.”

“I’ve also got a meeting with an important pony,” Rainbow Dash bragged, “Thanks to my performance at the Gauntlet, Spitfire wants to speak to me! This could be my way into the Wonderbolts!”

The group paused at the bottom of the stairs as Pinkamena sat down on a stone bench and unslung her lute from her back. Twilight Sparkle was going to say something about her inserting songs at inappropriate times, but thought better of it. It’s the Grand Galloping Gala. Let her have this.

“Oh, the Grand Galloping Gala, the greatest of fêtes,”
“It lies now before us. Who knows what we’ll meet?”
“Each one of us has a path we will tread,”
“To make this night special and the greatest night yet.”
“For our dear Fluttershy, a druidess fair,”
“Is a garden of fauna and flora so rare!”
“For Applejack, tender of orchards and fields,”
“Are ponies who’d gladly give coin for her yields!”
“For Rarity at this gala a chance,”
“To show off her skill, and perhaps find romance!”
“For Rainbow Dash, Hunter of sinister beasts,”
“Are the Wonderbolts, waiting to share in a feast!”
“For me, Pinkamena, the joy and the fire,”
“To partake of this gala, a bard’s true desire!”
"For the great Twilight Sparkle, sorceress and friend,”
“Is a night with her teacher, to share and to spend!”
"So be joyous you ponies with horns, hooves, and feathers,”
“For the Grand Galloping Gala will be the greatest night ever!”

Pinkamena took a bow at the end of her song, and the others couldn’t help but stomp their hooves in applause, even Twilight. She’d even gotten her intentions correct. Twilight Sparkle had spent the last nine months apart from Celestia except for their meeting on her royal procession and communication through her letters. She was looking forward to speaking with her mentor again, one-on-one as they had once done when she was living in Cant’r Laht.

“Well, I see no reason to delay any longer. Let us make our appearance,” Twilight Sparkle said, leading the way to the castle’s entrance.

The sorceress led them along the paths through the palace grounds that she still remembered by heart. Ponies were beginning to show up for the gala, mainly Cant’r Laht’s nobility trickling in from their homes, and the Brave Companions joined the queue. The castle’s doors were thrown open so that ponies could easily enter, but the entrance was far from unprotected. Royal guards stood in rows on either side of the line of attendees, and Twilight looked to see if she could catch a glimpse of her brother. He’s probably busy elsewhere; they wouldn’t post the captain of the guard to the entrance. As they advanced, each pony or group of ponies presented their tickets to pages who rushed back and forth from the line to a table piled high with sheets of parchment that were then rushed over to the court herald to announce the guests’ arrival.

“Presenting Twilight Sparkle of the House Haltrotsun, personal protégé of Celestia! Her page, Spike, son of Dragonlord Ingrirtireth of Tyrannus! Rarity, daughter of Magnus and Henrietta of Ponieville! Fluttershy, druidess of the Ponieville Druid Circle! Applejack of the McIntosh Apples! Rainbow Dash of the Order of the Falcon! Pinkamena Pie, daughter of Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz, of Ponieville!” the herald announced when it was their turn, “I give you: The Brave Companions!”

“Twilight, a pleasure to see you and your friends again,” Celestia greeted them, “Are you settling back into life in Cant’r Laht?”

“Not as of yet,” Twilight laughed merrily, “I expect it will take some time to readjust to life here after spending so long in Ponieville.”

“You will want to spend time with your companions, I expect, though I hope we will have some time together as well,” Celestia said with an appreciative nod, “Would you care to join me in greeting our honored guests? It will give us more time to talk.”

“You read my mind,” Twilight Sparkle said jokingly as she joined Celestia and waved for her friends to enjoy the festivities. It’s possible that she really did read my mind. I have mental barriers in place, but would they stop Celestia?

Rarity peeled off from the rest of the Brave Companions as she entered the castle’s south ballroom. Much of Cant’r Laht’s elite were in attendance and she casually eyed them, hoping to find in their midst a potential suitor. She knew how unlikely it was that a powerful noble would wed her, but she did have one title now as Bearer of the Element of Charity, so there was some hope. Despite not spotting anypony she fancied, she did notice the looks of approval aimed at her gown, and at the gowns of her friends scattered around the room. Even if her quest to find an eligible stallion failed, at least her business plan might not be a bust.

Then she spotted him. A unicorn with a coat of the purest white entered the ballroom, though not from the door everypony else had. His attire was silken and embroidered in exquisite patterns, and a plain silver circlet rested upon his brow. His appearance, his bearing, his means of entrance; it all pointed to a pony of great importance. Rarity wished that she’d asked Twilight for names, descriptions, and facts on the important ponies of Cant’r Laht during their three-day journey so that she could trot up to him immediately and address him by name. Instead, she’d have to ask somepony else.

“Who is he?” Rarity asked a nearby sorceress. She ceased picking out olives and sized Rarity up before answering.

“I see, from the greater dominions, are you? That is Rhaegis Blueblood, Prince of Cant’r Laht,” the sorceress said.

“A prince? Really?” Rarity asked. I thought Celestia was sole ruler of Cant’r Laht and had no children.

“The prince of the city,” the sorceress replied, stressing Blueblood’s importance, “And as of yet unwed, the most coveted bachelor in Cant’r Laht.”

“Is that so?” Rarity said as she wandered off in the direction of the prince, “Thank you.”

The sorceress returned to her olives as Rarity made her way across the ballroom. Come on Rarity, don’t foul this up! I know we told ourselves not to get our hopes up (and Twilight told us the same thing), but we have to do this! Sure, we’re aiming high, higher than we could’ve imagined, but just look at him! He’s the one, I can tell! Please, please, please, please don’t foul this up!

“Hello, Prince Blueblood, your lordship?” she caught the prince’s attention before he struck up conversation with anypony else, “I am Rarity of the Brave Companions, Bearer of the Element of Charity, and I was wondering if I might have the pleasure of accompanying you this evening?”

Rarity put on her most charming smile while ignoring the thousand voices in her head critiquing her introduction. The words had come pouring out, but at least she hadn’t misspoken anything. Prince Blueblood sized her up and liked what he saw.

“Yes, I think that would be most enjoyable for the both of us,” he said with a dashing smile.

“Presenting Seaspray of the House Whinnes, Duchess of Balte-Maer, Marchioness of Herren, Countess of the Coral Shore, and Rightful Maritime Ruler of the Shimmering Sea! Bishop Pathus of the See of Baalt’r Maere! Marquis Shining Gleam of the House Rorsch, Admiral of the Balte-Maeri Ducal Navy!” the herald declared as the delegation from Balte-Maer approached Celestia and Twilight Sparkle.

“Welcome Your Grace, Your Excellency, Your Lordship,” Celestia said, nodding to each of the attendees in turn while Twilight gave the duchess a respectful bow, “Duchess Seaspray, I had not heard of you acquiring a new title.”

“Nonsense,” the duchess waved off the question in good form, “Why, Rightful Maritime Ruler of the Shimmering Sea was bestowed upon my great-great-great-great-great-grandsire Duke Battleborn by Cardinal Rihktus long ago.”

Yes, but no ruler of Balte-Maer has ever claimed that title for a peaceful reason. If you’ve picked it up again, it’s to make a statement to Fillidelfiyaa and Manehattan. As I feared, another trade war is brewing.

“Of course, how silly of me to have forgotten,” Celestia said, flashing a smile, “Please, enjoy yourselves at the gala.” Though the summit is not until tomorrow, business begins tonight. Or, it should so long as the delegations don’t spend the entire night glaring at each other.

Twilight had left the Brave Companions at the castle entrance, and the rest of the group split up after entering the south ballroom. Rarity was talking to a fancy-looking stallion, Pinkamena had disappeared into the growing crowd, Rainbow Dash had sought out the drink table, and Applejack was perusing the food tables around the hall. Fluttershy, meanwhile, made her way purposefully through the ballroom and out onto the palace lawn. The druidess headed past the marble statues and fountains and straight to the hedge that marked the boundary with the private gardens.

The gate, normally locked and guarded, was wide open to allow the gala attendees to enjoy the beauty usually reserved for the castle’s inhabitants. The guard at the gate was posted only to keep any animals from escaping and disrupting the party, and she nodded respectfully to Fluttershy as she passed her and darted inside. It was like a whole different world on the other side of the hedge. Plants that normally sprouted thousands of leagues away and in vastly different climates grew here in all their grandeur. There was no glass to protect them from the winter that had barely released its grip on Equestria, but Fluttershy could taste magic in the air. That may have bothered other druids, who railed against any use of sorcery to force nature to do what it wouldn’t do naturally, but she thought it was worth it for all this beauty. Even out of her druidess robes and in the exquisite gown Rarity had made for her, Fluttershy had felt out of place at the gala, but she felt like she belonged here.

“A Zebrikaanian finch!” she exclaimed as she caught a glimpse of the creature winging through the trees.

It had disappeared as soon as she’d seen it, and the druidess galloped deeper into the gardens, trying to catch up.

“Pardon me,” a stallion in modest but refined attire said as he reached past Applejack to shuffle some food onto his plate, “This is quite the impressive spread. I wonder if any of it came through my trading houses in Balte-Maer.”

It was just as Applejack had suspected—the stallion was a merchant. Better yet, he was a merchant who traded in foodstuffs, exactly what she hoped to speak with him about. She hadn’t even had to seek him out; he’d come straight to her like a gift from the heavens. Applejack winged a silent prayer of thanks to Faust before speaking up.

“Allow me t’ introduce m’self,” Applejack started before slowing down her speech so that she could be sure to enunciate, “I am Applejack of the Brave Companions, Bearer of the Element of Honesty.”

“Vikker Dreisun of the Rising Sun Trading Company,” the stallion introduced himself in turn, before looking at Applejack with interest, “You know, I’ve heard many stories about you and your companions. Are they all true?”

“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but most of them prob-ably are,” Applejack replied, “I was actually hoping to speak to you about a business matter. I imagine you could use a steady supply of crops to Balte-Maer.”

The Duchy of Balte-Maer was more forest than farmland, and much of the food went directly to the city of Balte-Maer through taxes. What didn’t was often sent across the Shimmering Sea to Neighples, but there usually wasn’t much left and Neighples was forced to feed itself by importing food from the Zebrikaanian Empire. The Equestry Valley had so far been able to send little food to Balte-Maer, but if a deal could be brokered to bring the fruits of that rich land into the city, then Vikker would be able to sell the Balte-Maeri food for a much higher price to Neighples.

“The Apple family land has much to offer,” Applejack said, “I’m sure we can work something out.”

“Presenting Spitfire of Groniden, Captain of the Wonderbolts! Soarin of Glydshyrr, Lieutenant of the Wonderbolts! Oss the Unyielding, Grandmaster of the Order of the Sparrow! Winter Breeze the Dervish, Grandmaster of the Order of the Eagle!” the herald announced as the assembled Hunters approached Celestia together.

“Welcome to the Grand Galloping Gala. I am so pleased you could make it before the summit,” Celestia greeted the pegasi.

“The pleasure is all ours,” Spitfire said, “I hear this will be quite the celebration.”

“The invitation was flattering, Your Grace, but I still doubt the wisdom of Hunters being involved in politics like this,” the elderly Oss objected, “For centuries, we’ve maintained our neutrality in the wars of Equestria, and I do not wish to see that broken now.”

“You worry too much, Oss,” the much-younger Winter Breeze berated him, “It’s worry like that which will cause us to fall behind and be excluded. Hunters are as much a force in this land as the kings and queens in attendance, and though we may not take part in their wars, our voices should be heard alongside them.”

“They will be at the summit, tomorrow,” Celestia promised and waved the Hunters on so that the line could continue moving, “For now, enjoy the gala.”

So far, there were few warriors in the ballroom apart from Rainbow Dash, and she felt alone. There was a Balte-Maeri admiral, but who knew how competent he was with a blade, and Rainbow had no desire to learn about ships tonight. She considered rejoining one of the ponies she’d come with, but they all seemed involved in their own plans, so she stayed where she was at the drink table, sampling wines and cordials instead of her customary ale. Eventually, she grew bored of that and made her way over to a food table stacked with pies, where she entertained herself (and mortified the servants) by tossing a knife into the pies, always managed to land it in the existing groove.

“You should’ve showed that talent off at The Gauntlet,” a voice next to the Hunter startled her.

Before it hit the ground, Rainbow Dash struck it with her foreleg and sent it spinning back up into the air. Struggling to regain control, she bounced it a few times before she couldn’t anymore without cutting herself and knocked it aside. The blade struck a watermelon with a wet thump, burying itself up to the handle and startling the stallion who’d been inspecting the fruit.

“Not bad,” Soarin whistled before grabbing a whole pie from the table, ignoring the objections of the servant in charge of serving out slices.

“My number two wasn’t able to attend The Gauntlet, and is understandably skeptical of my story of what happened there,” Spitfire said, gesturing to Soarin, “I think you ought to tell him yourself and help me convince him. What do you say?”

Pinkamena was practically bursting with excitement. The Grand Galloping Gala was the greatest of celebrations, a bard’s dream. Of course, a true Grand Galloping Gala hadn’t been held since Celestia and Luna had ruled Equestria together, over a thousand years earlier, so she had no idea what to expect. All she knew was that it had to be great. How could it not be? She was bounding through the crowd, soaking in the atmosphere, and was looking for a place to maybe sit down with her lute and strum some music to liven things up.

“Pinkamena Pie!” a fellow bard exclaimed, calling her over to his patch of wall, “I knew I’d find you here.”

The troubadour with the feather in his cap had been one of the minstrels she’d recruited in her scheme to convince Twilight Sparkle to give her the ticket to the gala all those months ago. Like several of the bards, he hadn’t given up on getting an invitation from the sorceress, pushing her until it was considered an interference with her duties, and he was given lashes in the public square. Pinkamena hadn’t seen him since and had no idea where he’d run off to.

“Not to worry, I bear you no ill will,” the bard laughed, “I made it here after all, didn’t I?”

“I was wondering about that, Lilian,” Pinkamena said, puzzled, “How’d you end up with an invitation to the gala?”

“I tagged along with the Balte-Maeri delegation and they procured an invitation for me. Thankfully, that was before I wore out my stay in Duchess Seaspray’s camp,” Lilian said with a blush, “I think I’ll be heading off with a different delegation when the summit is over.”

“Well, it’s great to see you again,” Pinkamena said as she unstrung her lute from her back, “Shall we?”

“Nothing would please me more. Well, almost nothing,” Lilian said with a wink.

The minstrels sat down with their instruments and began to strum a few chords before they noticed the disapproving stares at them. Nearby, a court musician began to play a vielle. Apparently the music was already provided, and nopony here wanted to hear the medleys of Lilian and Pinkamena.

“Let’s … try someplace else,” Lilian said as he returned his lute to his back and trotted away, Pinkamena reluctantly following.

“Presenting Prince Braid III Stalanokov, Lord-Protector of Stalliongrad, Boyar of the Haeldmark, Crown-Protector of the Hordes, and Lord of the North! And his son, Grigor Stalanokov, Count of Frosthorn and Lord of Begen Rock! Halath Prokoyikov, Boyar of Prokoya and Count of Rainbow Falls! Rhikkit, son of Rhekket, Hetstalan of the Dun Horde!”

“Welcome Your Highness, Your Lordship, Your Grace, Your Reverence,” Celestia greeted her visitors from the north, who had been the first delegation to arrive, “I hope your stay in Cant’r Laht has been comfortable.”

Stalliongrad was a fortress city built to withstand any army or siege, and it had succeeded admirably at that task. It also meant that the Stalliongraders were keenly aware of a city’s defenses at all times, and many times in the past week Celestia’s royal guard had had to escort members of their camp back after finding them in places they shouldn’t have been. Even now, Halath was keenly observing Cant’r Laht Castle, no doubt considering how he would breach its walls. Rhikkit looked like he felt incredibly out of place without his horde behind him, but Celestia couldn’t very well let a whole host of warriors enter her castle during the gala.

“The accommodations were acceptable,” Prince Braid said in his usual pragmatic, unflashy manner, “I only hope this trip was worth it, and that you’ve assembled a reasonable congress and not a viper’s nest.”

“I’m sure you’ll find your answer tomorrow, and I want to assure you I’ve taken every possible precaution to make sure this summit goes smoothly,” Celestia said with a smile, “Please, enjoy the gala tonight.”

Rarity was strolling across the castle lawn with Blueblood, practically hovering with glee. A prince! I can’t believe my good fortune to have caught his eye! Other mares watched the two of them, some with jealousy, some with pity, but Rarity recognized neither. She was too busy planning out her future. She would have to move to Cant’r Laht, of course, which troubled her a little, but she couldn’t ask the prince of the city to move elsewhere. You’re getting ahead of yourself, Rarity. First, you should find out more about him. Can you just ask, though? Maybe I should just make small talk and get all the details about him from Twilight later.

“Oh, that’s magnificent,” said as they stopped in front of a flowering bush trimmed into the shape of a unicorn mare.

“She is my ancestor: Nightshade Blueblood, ruler of Cant’r Laht before Celestia came,” the prince said as he stared at the topiary, “I had the castle gardeners trim this bush in her form based on the portraits of her.”

“Well, you have excellent taste,” Rarity praised, “Those flowers are exquisite.”

“Aren’t they just,” Blueblood said wistfully before taking Rarity off guard by shouting at a nearby servant, “You there! Come over here this instant!”

“Your Highness,” he corrected, though the servant was actually the correct one given the special status of his princehood.

“Pick me a flower, and one for my lady as well,” the prince ordered brusquely, and the servant hurried to comply.

“Oh, thank you,” Rarity said to the servant as she secured the flower in her mane after doing the same for Blueblood.

“Think nothing of it,” Prince Blueblood replied to the thanks that hadn’t been directed at him, “The flowers are uneven now. Fix them.”

Rarity mouthed “I’m sorry” to the servant as she exasperatedly looked at the topiary and followed Blueblood as he trotted away.

The Cant’r Laht private gardens seemed more expansive than they were, mostly because the arrangement of the plants and trees turned them into a labyrinth. Fluttershy cantered through, following the song of the finch she’d seen earlier. She was puzzled why she hadn’t seen any other wildlife but shrugged it off; she had plenty of time to find them. She had to double back several times as she followed the bird, finding she couldn’t squeeze through places the small creature had, but at last she was closing in; it was right around this corner …

The druidess collided with another pony, and they both collapsed to the ground. She quickly got up, and the pony she’d run into returned to his hooves in surprisingly little time. The elderly stallion wielded a rake and mumbled something at her while shaking the implement.

“Aye, what are y’ doin’ here? Tryin’ t’ steal somethin’, are ye?” he said after dropping the rake, then immediately picking it back up again.

“What? No!” Fluttershy exclaimed, “I’m at the Grand Galloping Gala and I wanted to see the gardens. What are you doing here?”

“If everythin’ isn’t perfect, y’ know who’ll get blamed? Me! So I’m not takin’ any chances.”

“Um, okay then,” Fluttershy said, “Have you seen a Zebrikaanian finch around here?”

She spotted the finch again and excitedly turned into a clearing in the gardens. Here was where all the creatures had gone to! There was a bevy of creatures here, and Fluttershy didn’t know which one to look at first. Her sudden arrival startled them, and they all took off through the plants and trees where she couldn’t follow.

“No, don’t go!” Fluttershy pleaded, dropping to the ground glumly, “Oh …”

“Presenting Helianthus of the House Trotstámara, Queen of Los Pegasus, Grand Duchess of the Westerlands, Marquesa of the Red Mountains, and Sovereign of the South! Flax of the House Strigan, Marquesa of Montrein! Tranquiliodus of the Stone Sea, Senior Enchanter of the Applewood Tower!” the herald announced as the queen and her entourage approached Celestia.

“Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Ladyship, Your Sorcerership,” Cant’r Laht’s Matron of Sorceresses spoke, “Welcome to the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“Indeed,” Helianthus replied, “An event to which we are bound by treaty to attend.”

“Might I remind you that it was not I that invaded another’s lands and was forced to pay reparations for such an offense,” Celestia said with a smile, “Or that the punishment could have been much worse than asking you to sit down at a table with Equestria’s other rulers?”

While Helianthus and Celestia traded veiled insults, Flax stared at the sorceress at the alicorn’s side. That’s Twilight Sparkle; she’s one of them. Under her command, the Los Pegasus army had been forced to withdraw from White Tail, but they hadn’t taken everypony back with them. Her spies had reported back which mages had been responsible for her defeat at the Battle of Martensford, and this purple unicorn was one of them. She would be keeping an eye out for them at the summit and the gala, as would the mage standing next to her. The defeat was as much Tranquiliodus’s fault as her own, though they’d both tried to pin the blame on each other. The result was that Queen Helianthus had kept both of them around as her advisors, but Flax didn’t trust the gelding.

“I’m sure the summit will go smashingly,” Helianthus said with a false smile and trotted off toward the ballroom, her advisors in tow.

Like with Rarity and Pinkamena, things weren’t going as Rainbow Dash had hoped. She was with the Wonderbolts, yes, but she wasn’t given the chance to talk with them much after their initial encounter. More Hunters were arriving at the gala now, mostly grandmasters and masters, and Spitfire and Soarin had to greet each of them and ask them about life in their orders. The Wonderbolts were an incredibly unorthodox Hunter order in that they only accepted six members, no more, no less, and only recruited the most talented Hunters from other orders. It made sense for them to seek out possible recruits by speaking to the grandmasters, but Rainbow Dash had hoped that she’d be one of their picks.

She tried to insert herself in the conversation but was continually rebuffed. Silently she fumed, but she couldn’t do anything about it. She may have been a Brave Companion, but she had no rank among Hunters and couldn’t just speak up to grandmasters. Rainbow Dash was able to talk some when the Wonderbolts greeted her own grandmaster, but she seemed to be the only one who didn’t want to have a prolonged conversation with the elite Hunters.

Rainbow sighed in frustration as she was forced to tag along with Spitfire and Soarin, in the proximity of her heroes but below their notice. This wasn’t what she’d dreamt the Grand Galloping Gala would be like.

Twilight Sparkle was having her own, very similar, problems. She’d been looking forward to speaking with Celestia, but all she’d done thus far was help her greet the gala’s attendees. It wasn’t all that mentally stimulating a task, either. She bowed and nodded to the appropriate ponies and only spoke to the few she knew from growing up in Cant’r Laht. Celestia made most of the conversation.

The thought occurred to Twilight that maybe Celestia wanted her here for another reason. Surely she wouldn’t ask her personal protégé, one of the most respected sorceresses in Cant’r Laht, to simply stand here smiling and bowing for no reason. The alicorn greeted each attendee with simple platitudes, but her mind was working silently, evaluating each pony’s intents and motivations. That must have been Twilight’s task too, so she began to more closely evaluate each pony that was announced by the herald, a task easier for her since she rarely had to speak and observe at the same time. She had to admit that it wasn’t a bad plan, and she and Celestia could compare their observations later, but it wasn’t what she’d hoped to do at the gala. If only she had a few minutes where she and Celestia could talk, but it looked like that wouldn’t be happening for a long time, judging by how long the line was that stretched out of the castle.

“Presenting Ghunthar zar’Ghrisna, Captain of the Griffon Free Companies and Talon of Clan zar’Ghrisna! Haelgha kel’Mhredain, Talon of Clan kel’Mhredain! Oghenghris tor’Hreimrhan, Talon of Clan tor’Hreimrhan!” the herald announced as three gryphons approached Celestia and her protégé.

“Greetings, noble Talons. Thank you for accepting my invitation to attend the summit,” Celestia said.

“You should thank her,” Ghunthar said, pointing a talon at Twilight Sparkle, who breathed a sigh of relief, “It was she who convinced me it would be beneficial to the Griffon Free Companies to attend.”

Truthfully, nopony had known what the Griffon Free Companies’ intentions had been until they arrived at Cant’r Laht and began setting up camp. Twilight’s audience with their captain had gone well, but the stories of what had happened in Ponieville during her absence had troubled her. There had been a very real chance that the confrontation with Gilda had derailed Celestia’s plans, but thankfully that proved to not be the case. More than likely, there were other reasons why the Griffon Free Companies had chosen to attend the summit (such as the chance to find out who was planning a war and needed mercenaries), but Twilight would take the credit for bringing them here.

“I certainly have many things to thank Twilight for,” Celestia said with a kind smile, “Now, please partake of the festivities. The Grand Galloping Gala is a chance to revel before the business of the morrow.”

Applejack trotted through the ballroom, searching for somepony to do business with. She’d had success with Vikker and would be signing a contract later in the week, but that was the only success she’d had. The next merchant she’d spoken to hadn’t been interested, and the one after that had outright laughed in her face after learning Applejack was untitled. She tried to explain that the Apples had a special charter from Celestia that gave them rights to their land, but she would hear no more. Without a title, the land was merely a place they lived and worked.

The farmer tried to speak to other merchants, but more of them arrived as the night wore on, and they began to gravitate toward each other. It was far more difficult to speak to a group than to get one alone, since it would require her to interrupt the business discussions already going on, and a word from any member of the group could shut down the whole process. Soon, Applejack found herself wandering aimlessly through the ballroom, trying and failing to find somepony on their own she could still do business with. It was hopeless; she didn’t want to settle for just one contract, but maybe that was all she was going to get out of this night, a mere fraction of her dream.

Pinkamena and Lilian trotted together across the palace lawn, hoping to find some place where they could perform their music and revel as they wished. So far, they’d had no luck. The important ponies who joined each other in the gardens outside the castle to talk wanted nothing to do with the pair of bards and their music. Many simply went elsewhere, but others asked them to stop in a tone that suggested it wasn’t really a request. They were getting disheartened until they found a fountain to set up in front of.

They began to strum their lutes and quickly caught on to the patterns each other were playing. Once they had the music going, they began to lend their voices. Pinkamena would’ve preferred to perform before the fancy audience in the ballroom, but this was nice too, and it was the first real enjoyment she’d gotten out of the night. All that ended as a sorceress tapped her on the shoulder.

Pinkamena looked around, trying to determine the reason for this, and spotted a mare with a harp on the other side of the fountain frowning in her direction. An audience was set up around her, and also looked very angry with the two bards who just wanted to sit down and do what they did best for a few minutes.

“Sorry to disturb you,” Pinkamena said with a heavy sigh, picking up her lute and trotting slowly away.

“Presenting Alhert of the House Caramon, King of Fillidelfiyaa, Lord of the Blue and White Mountains, and Rightful Maritime Ruler of the Shimmering Sea! Hadrian of House Rimmel, Baron of Trotston! Bishop Hairus of the See of Lombidia!” the herald announced as the delegation from Fillidelfiyaa made their appearance.

Again with the “Rightful Maritime Ruler of the Shimmering Sea” bit. Both Fillidelfiyaa and Balte-Maer are flexing their muscles and daring the other to back down. And they both brought bishops along, as if this were a synod and not a summit. At least I won’t have to deal with that with Manehattan.

“Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Lordship, Your Excellency,” Celestia said aloud, concealing her concerns.

While Celestia and the elderly king discussed the summit and gala, Twilight Sparkle felt her attention slipping. She wanted to make Celestia proud and be involved in the politics of Equestria, but still she couldn’t shake her disappointment at the night. She’d wanted time alone to speak with Celestia, to tell her of all her adventures in person, to discuss spells and theories, and to regain some of the closeness she’d had with the ancient sorceress when she was still a filly studying closely under her. It looked like that wouldn’t happen and she’d be stuck here greeting foreign dignitaries all night.

No! I won’t let that happen! I am master of my own fate, and I’ll make this night work for me even if I have to work at it! Unbeknownst to the sorceress, scattered around the castle, all the Brave Companions were making a similar pledge to themselves. Rarity, who was finding herself more and more put off by Prince Blueblood’s actions. Fluttershy, who failed yet again to catch up to the animals in the private gardens. Pinkamena, who was turned away by other gala attendees from celebrating in the way she wished. Applejack, who was rebuffed by yet another merchant that wanted nothing to do with somepony like her. Rainbow Dash, who couldn’t get a chance to speak to the Wonderbolts no matter what she tried. They all vowed that they would make this night work for them, no matter what they had to do to make that a reality.

In her desperation to meet the animals in the private gardens, Fluttershy had resorted to something she’d hoped never to do. Drawing on her knowledge of the behavior of wild creatures and the training she’d received in Cloudsdale, she’d built a trap. Even in this distressed state, she hadn’t strayed too far from her druidess self. The trap wouldn’t hurt the animals, but it would immobilize them long enough for her to explain herself to them. Once that was over, then everything would be all right again. She was confident in her ability to persuade them, but first she had to catch one of them.

Fluttershy set up a couple traps for good measure, then hid among the exotic trees and flowers of the gardens, listening intently for any nearby sound. She could hear the distant sound of the gala, but nothing else well enough to identify it. There! Something was coming towards her, headed straight for a trap. She heard the trap go off and immediately dashed toward it.

“Don’t worry! I just want to talk! I-” she tried to comfort whatever creature she’d caught, but stopped when she saw what was in her trap.

“Aye, what’s th’ meanin’ o’ this?” the servant she’d run into earlier demanded to know as he hung upside-down from the trap.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to catch you,” Fluttershy said disappointedly as she trotted over to let him down, then stopped when she spotted movement around the corner, “There they are!”

Leaving the servant where he was, she shot past him toward the animals. She was galloping quickly now and was closing in on them, even as they shot through the places she couldn’t squeeze through. Fluttershy could see them again, and she needed desperately to speak to them up close. She had to catch them! She was nearly on top of a pair of grey foxes when she was caught by one of her own traps.

“No! Come back!” she called as she hung upside-down from a tree and groaned as the foxes disappeared.

Rainbow Dash was also desperate enough to try anything to get the Wonderbolts to notice her, even if it wasn’t a particularly good idea. The only real conversation she’d had with Spitfire so far had been when the Wonderbolt captain had first noticed her throwing knives at a pie. If something like that was what it took to get her attention, then Dash would just have to do something like that again.

The servants at the pie table were watching her closely to make sure she didn’t try anything like that again, so she’d have to find someplace else to snatch up weapons. While bread wasn’t nearly as popular as pies, there were knives at that table as well, and Rainbow Dash snatched some while the nearby servants weren’t looking. Slicing bread by throwing knives wouldn’t be enough, and the Wonderbolts were too far away to notice anyway. She would have to do something more impressive.

Rainbow Dash carefully observed the pattern of the ponies in the ballroom, and once she was confident she had everything figured out, sent a knife spinning over the crowd. It landed in a bowl of fruit near Spitfire, slicing an apple in half, but she didn’t notice. Dash’s next knife landed in a bottle of champagne near Soarin, who was also too involved in his conversation to notice. Rainbow Dash continued hurling knives, through the crowd this time, but the Wonderbolts still failed to notice.

Frustration mounting, Rainbow Dash threw her second-to-last knife so that it would knock Spitfire’s cup from her mouth. The Wonderbolt left her position before it reached her, however, and the knife would strike the mare she’d been talking to if it continued on its course. To avert the catastrophe, Rainbow Dash threw her last knife on an interceptive course that knocked the first knife into the same bowl of fruit she’d targeted earlier. The second knife bounced away and shaved off part of the mane of Baron Hadrian, however.

“Sorry about that,” Rainbow Dash apologized before making her escape into the crowd. Spitfire still hadn’t noticed any of her antics, so she’d have to find something else to impress her.

“Presenting Hyelieff of the House Vattern, King of Vanhuv’r, Prince of the Fellmark, Holy Guardian of St. Epaphrus’s Monastery, Baron of Galloping Gorge, and Warden of the Agate Ocean! Cardinal Maritus of the Cathedral of St. Relayus! Flying Saddle of the House Greenwood, Duchess of Tall Tale!” the herald announced.

“Welcome, Your Majesty, Your Eminence, Your Grace,” Celestia said, “Please, enjoy the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“Duchess Flying Saddle,” Twilight Sparkle spoke up, seeing an opportunity to engage the guests and speak with Celestia about their time apart simultaneously, “Will your steward, Eirik, be attending the summit?”

“As a matter of fact, he will be,” the duchess replied in surprise, “Why do you ask?”

“I spoke to him at Mount Caradhrhorse, and he assured me that we would meet here again.”

“Oh? Oh, I see,” Flying Saddle said, “You’re the one who traded your portion of the nonexistent dragon hoard for the assurance that his majesty would attend.”

Twilight didn’t like the looks she got from King Hyelieff and the duchess. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

Come now, Rarity, he can’t be all bad. She tried to assure herself of this as Prince Blueblood demanded loudly and angrily of the servants to know why there were knives in the fruit bowl. Her infatuation with the stallion was quickly fading. He can’t be a complete brute. I know we weren’t going to ask him about anything for fear of sounding ignorant, but surely we can ask him something to help reveal his regal, princely nature.

“Prince Blueblood, that is a marvelous ensemble you’re wearing,” Rarity praised him, which drew his attention away from the terrified servants, “I expected nothing less from somepony of your sophistication and position. Might I inquire as to who the pony was that made it for you?”

“What did you say your family’s title was, again?” Blueblood asked distractedly.

“I see. Well, you’d never be able to afford my tailor,” Blueblood said disdainfully, crushing Rarity’s feelings underhoof, “Come, I need a drink.”

With a barely audible groan of frustration and annoyance, the mare followed him. He was still a prince after all. She’d just have to work harder.

Pinkamena returned alone to the ballroom, Lilian having given up on finding a place to play his lute and having taken off with a serving filly instead. She wasn’t going to be denied or brushed aside any longer. Pinkamena was going to sing her songs no matter what the ponies around her thought of her.

She took up a position and began to play her lute without delay. Some ponies objected, but she ignored them, strumming out her music. The ballroom was filling up now that the gala was well underway, and simply trotting to a different part of the room to get away wasn’t as much of an option anymore. The call for her to stop became greater, but she didn’t listen.

“Excuse me,” a pony with a vielle said as she poked Pinkamena with her bow, “I am supposed to be playing here. Could you kindly leave?”

The mare with the vielle frowned, but there wasn’t much she could do to move Pinkamena besides breaking her lute, and the crazed look in the pink pony’s eyes told her that would only end badly. Instead, she began to play her own instrument in defiance of Pinkamena. The two songs playing simultaneously sounded awful, but Pinkamena stubbornly continued on, even though this wasn’t at all what she wanted. The audience began to call more loudly for her to leave, but she refused to move.

“There. Put an end to this!” a noblestallion from Los Pegasus demanded as he pointed one of Celestia’s royal guards in the direction of Pinkamena.

The bard knew when she was beat and cantered away as fast as she could. The guard pursued her outside, but she quickly lost him. As she hid behind a shrub, she vowed to get her revenge on the vielle-player, or at least get to have some fun at the Grand Galloping Gala. Either was good, really.

“Presenting Hadish of the House Vasa-Elutria, King of Manehattan, Prince of Brightwood, Defender of the True Faith, and Rightful Maritime Ruler of the Shimmering Sea! And his son, Prince Robar of the House Vasa-Elutria, Duke of Fenney! Prelate Burnished Bronze of the Path of Fire!” the herald announced the last major delegation.

So, Hadish did bring a member of the clergy, but one from the True Faith, not the Church of One. He’s also apparently the Rightful Maritime Ruler of the Shimmering Sea. Three ponies all claiming the same pointless title. This issue had better not take up the entire summit.

“Your Majesty, Your Grace, Venerated One. I am glad you could attend the summit,” Celestia greeted her most bitter enemies.

“What else was I supposed to do, witch?” Hadish replied venomously, “Let the rest of you divide my lands among yourselves? Just count yourself fortunate that your games coincide with my own interests! I will not be your puppet!”

“Of course,” Celestia said calmly, “Not that I could make you my puppet even had I the slightest inclination to do so, not with that chain around your neck.”

Hadish’s royal chain was elaborate, studded with fine jewels, but the base metal was not silver or gold, but dimeritium. That mysterious, magic-cancelling metal was the bane of mages everywhere, rendering their skill completely useless, and Celestia and Twilight Sparkle could feel it drawing in magic that would never return. Celestia, however, was bluffing. The only way the dimeritium would outright stop her from using her sorcery on Hadish’s mind would be to either place it on her or have it fashioned into a helm. The chain would only make it more difficult.

“Do enjoy the party,” Celestia said in a saccharine tone as the Manehattanites departed.

“Might I bend your ear for a moment?” Applejack desperately asked a merchant she’d finally been able to get alone, “I want t’ talk t’ you about a business deal involving th’ sale of the produce from my farm.”

“I don’t think we have anything to discuss,” the mare said as she trotted away, taking a freshly refilled plate of food with her.

“Please, I overheard you talkin’ to others about the trade of fruits an’ vegetables, an’ I have a lot t’ offer,” Applejack said as she followed the merchant.

“I didn’t get as far as I have today by signing contracts with ponies who cannot deliver on their end of the bargain,” the merchant said huffily as she set her plate down, “You look like an honorable and respectable pony to do business with, but the only reason you’re in attendance at this gala is because of your relatively new fame and fortunate acquaintances. You are no permanent landholder, and I won’t make a deal with you for the fruits of your land when it will soon be taken from you.”

“Who told you that?” Applejack asked, miffed that somepony would claim such an outrageous thing.

“She did,” the merchant said, pointing toward a mare Applejack instantly recognized, “I would give up on trying to convince anypony else to invest in your shaky venture. Her warning has been passed around.”

Mayor Mare! Ponieville’s mayor was constantly scheming to get the Apples’ land. None of her plots had succeeded, but the mare was still convinced that she would one day be victorious. Now, she was using her position and authority to convince others that she would soon control the Apples’ land and was interfering (intentionally or not) in Applejack’s attempts to prevent that outcome. She’s gone too far this time! She can’t get away with this!

Pinkamena snuck carefully back into the ballroom. The guard was still looking for her somewhere, but she was convinced she’d lost him. She made her way through the crowd until she was standing in the second row of the vielle-player’s audience. Unslinging her lute, she began to strum it with a look of determination and pushed through the last row.

“There she is!” the guard who’d been hunting Pinkamena down called from across the ballroom, and other guards closed in.

Pinkamena rapidly put her lute away and galloped through the crowd again, knocking important ponies aside in her flight. Guards blocked the exits into the garden, so the bard zigzagged through the ballroom, staying one step ahead of those chasing her. In her mad dash, she passed Applejack and Mayor Mare, who were arguing and had gained an audience of their own. One of the guards pursuing Pinkamena shoved Mayor Mare out of the way and struck Applejack. Acting instinctively, Applejack pushed back, knocking the mayor against a table.

It was the very table that Rainbow Dash had been working on in preparation for her next bold move to impress the Wonderbolts. She’d weakened the legs, and they gave way perfectly, turning the table into a ramp and sending barrels of wine rolling off it. She wasn’t ready to swoop in and stop them yet, though. Panicked, she yanked a nearby flagpole out of its holder and flew over the crowd. Jabbing the pole in at just the right moment, she wedged it under the lead barrel and stopped the wine just before it flattened Rarity. Saved it!

Rarity rose from the floor in a rage. As soon as Prince Blueblood had spotted the barrels rolling toward them, he’d thrown Rarity aside to save himself. She had had enough of this stallion. Prince or not, it was time to give him a piece of her mind.

“Did you really just try to sacrifice me to save your own hide?” she demanded angrily as she advanced upon a pony unused to hearing others speak their mind to him.

“Don’t misinterpret what I’m about to say, but I am a prince and you are a mere commoner. Clearly my life is more important than yours.”

“What? What about some common decency? I was your companion for the evening!” Rarity yelled.

“I said don’t misinterpret what I said,” Blueblood sighed, pushing Rarity away and surveying the ballroom, “You’ve turned out to be more trouble than you’re worth. I’ll have to find a new companion.”

“Oh no! Nopony just throws Rarity away like that!” Rarity yelled at Blueblood and began to air all her complaints about his actions that she’d thus far kept silent about. Rainbow Dash looked to see if Spitfire had seen her heroic save, but in twisting to look behind her, lost her grip on the flagpole. She barely recovered and wedged the pole in harder to keep the barrels stationary. The Hunter was breathing a sigh of relief when the pole snapped, and she was launched unceremoniously through the air and hit the ballroom floor hard.

It was this scene that greeted Celestia and Twilight Sparkle as they entered Cant’r Laht Castle’s south ballroom. With the most important ponies all in attendance now, the two of them had headed off to enjoy the festivities, and Twilight was looking forward to finally getting a chance to speak to her mentor. Instead, they entered a ballroom where several royal guards were chasing down a slippery Pinkamena, Applejack and Mayor Mare were nearly coming to blows, Rarity was chewing out Blueblood who hurled back all sorts of obscenities of his own, and Rainbow Dash was lying in a daze on the floor while ponies jumped out of the way of wine barrels rolling across the ballroom.

“At least things cannot get any worse,” Twilight said under her breath, but she was very wrong.

Ponies continued to dodge the wine barrels, including one of the guards stationed at a door to the gardens, which he’d shut to keep Pinkamena from escaping through them. As he dove to the side, the barrels crashed through the door, tearing it off its hinges. After the barrels all made their way outside, frantic ponies rushed in through the doorway, covering their heads from the swarm of birds that flew in right above them. More animals followed in a veritable stampede into the ballroom.

“Why are you running? I just want to be your friend!” Fluttershy yelled as she chased the animals inside, having forced them out of the private gardens in her chase.

The ballroom had already been close to chaos, and the sudden appearance of the wild animals tipped it over the edge. Ponies ran around screaming, seeking shelter under the tables along the edge of the room. Tranquiliodus cast a shield around himself and Queen Helianthus. King Hadish yelled something about the treachery of witches. Hunters and gryphons worked to protect the more elderly and frail attendees, sheltering them with their bodies and reflexes.

“So sorry to be taking off like this, but I think we had better go before things get any worse,” Twilight Sparkle spoke rapidly to Celestia.

The sorceress quickly cast a spell she’d been working on but never tried before. The guards pursuing Pinkamena suddenly lost track of their quarry. Mayor Mare and Prince Blueblood were both shocked as the pony they were screaming at vanished. Celestia turned to see an empty space beside her. All six of the Brave Companions had just been teleported far away from the madness, leaving her to deal with the mess on her own.

Spike had left the Grand Galloping Gala long before the disaster. Unlike the others, he had no plans for the night other than to spend time with them, and that hadn’t worked out. As a dragon, he couldn’t exactly just walk up to a group of strangers and start talking to them, either. So, after partaking of some food, he’d left Cant’r Laht Castle and ventured out into the city’s streets. While all the elite feasted in the castle, the rest of the city had their own celebrations going on, and Spike found them far more enjoyable. Eventually he made his way to Joachim’s Castle, an out-of-the-way tavern he’d frequented before moving to Ponieville, sometimes (albeit rarely) accompanied by Twilight. This is where the Brave Companions found him.

As Spike had hoped for the entire evening, they were together at last, and each shared their tales of woe. None of them had gotten what they’d wanted out of the Grand Galloping Gala, and they were all disappointed. But, as the night wore on and the drinks flowed, they agreed that maybe the night had not turned out to be a complete failure after all. No, they hadn’t been successful in befriending rare animals, making many lucrative contracts, wooing the nobility, impressing their idols, reveling as they wished, or sharing their experiences with their mentor. Yes, they had probably ruined the gala because of their insistence on making the night perfect for themselves. It didn’t seem to matter so much, however, now that they were all together and able to enjoy each other’s company without the pressure of their missions. As had happened more times than he got credit for, Spike had been right all along.

The Brave Companions waved for another round of drinks and the tavern owner brought them out himself. They were the last patrons in his tavern, and famous ones, at that. Joachim nearly dropped the tray as he reached their table but recovered and set it down gently.

“Your Grace,” he said nervously, removing his cap and bowing in the direction of the tavern’s door.

Standing on the threshold was Celestia, her mane and tail dancing in the ethereal wind as always. Twilight Sparkle got a sinking feeling as the alicorn strode inside and approached their table. Maybe it didn’t matter much to them that the gala was ruined, but it was still an important event. It was also the precursor to Celestia’s summit, and a ruined gala could mean a ruined summit.

“Celestia, we are so, so sorry about what happened,” Twilight apologized for the group, and the others nodded, “We were all so caught up in our own visions for tonight that we let things get out of control.”

“No need to apologize,” Celestia said, shocking the assembled ponies, “I dare say that, if anything, I should be thanking you for that catastrophe.”

“Oh, for several reasons, really,” Celestia said as she sat in the chair offered by Joachim, “I don’t know if you picked up on it, but the various delegations were incredibly hostile to each other and mostly kept to themselves, but now they’ve had a common—albeit incredibly unorthodox—experience. After the chaos you brought ended, they were no longer as stiff or unreceptive to speaking with each other. That catastrophe also brought different ponies from different places together in stopping it. I was worried that the different parties would merely stay in their entrenched positions tomorrow and the summit would get nowhere, but now I think there may be a chance of accomplishing something, because of you. Although your reputation as Equestria’s heroes may be a bit tarnished by this experience, it has opened the door to discussion between Equestria’s nations, the purpose of the summit.”

“Well, anytime you need us to ruin a party, just let us know,” Pinkamena said lightly, “Though I’d far prefer to celebrate a party than wreck it.”

“Noted,” Celestia said with a smirk, “I actually came here tonight to ask something of you—all of you. Twilight Sparkle has already been invited to the summit, but I want you all to attend.”

“All o’ us, at a meetin’ o’ th’ most important ponies in Equestria?” Applejack asked, stupefied.

“Indeed, for though you may not have individually put your best hooves forward this night, the leaders of Equestria did see you,” Celestia said solemnly, “They saw six ponies, all from very different walks of life, from different worlds. Tomorrow they must see the six of you united, just as Equestria must be if it is to survive.”

Camaraderie is Sorcery

by FireOfTheNorth

Chapter 1:26 - A Long-Awaited Party