//------------------------------// // Did somepony say party? // Story: Tales of Flutterbreeze: A Dark Plot in Canterlot // by Flutterbreeze //------------------------------// Despite laying on one of Equestria’s most comfortable beds, Flutterbreeze found it impossible to sleep. It hadn’t been long since he last rested, but the main problem was that there was simply too much to think about. ‘Who could the other operative be? This new enemy... the name seems familiar. And those flying snake-lizard-bird... things. Its like they knew where I was going to be-’ Suddenly a disturbing thought hit him. ‘They did know. There’s no way it could be chance, because nobody even knows I’m working on this mission outside of the agency. Especially before I even reached the castle. There must be a traitor... one that knows too much...’ Without the ability to sleep, and to help clear his mind, Flutterbreeze decided to go out to a balcony on the exterior of the castle. He walked through the quiet, dimly-lit corridors, rounded a corner, and... there standing on the balcony was none other than Princess Luna. She looked at him since she had heard him coming. “Oh, I’m sorry...” he started to back up. “No, please, tis all right. Tis not often we have company whilst gazing at the stars.” Flutterbreeze walked over to the railing, a few feet from her. They both looked out at the night sky, and the landscape below. “It seems most ponies prefer to sleep during the night.” he said. “Verily. Canst thou not sleep this night?” “I’ve been sleeping all day. Besides, even if I wanted to... I’m very anxious about this mission.” “Dwell not upon it too much. We are confident that everything will turn out all right. Unless of course you are afraid of losing another set of clothes.” They both smiled. “Besides, tomorrow, or we suppose “today” would now be more appropriate, also brings a grand party filled with the most delicious of treats. The guests this time are actually reasonable gentlecolts this time. Except for one, of course.” “Oh?” “My great-great-great-great-et cetera-nephew.” “You mean Prince Blueblood?” “Yeeeeessss.” she had a disgusted look on her face as she said this. Flutterbreeze had heard about Blueblood mainly through the media, having never met him in person. His reputation wasn’t very fair to his actual disposition, since he was portrayed as having most traits expected of a prince: charm, chivalry, dignity, none of which he actually possessed. Flutterbreeze recalled the many young fillies he had heard swoon over the prince from a distance, who often fantasized that he would sweep them off to a life of royalty. Having nothing to say on this matter, he decided to change the subject. “The night sky is quite beautiful this evening.” “Thank you, we tried to make it as best we could tonight to help calm down the frenzied ponies of Canterlot.” He hadn’t expected this response. ‘Silly me, how could I have forgotten she was the one who raised the night sky.’ He looked at the moon, still almost full, and began thinking about what had happened 1000 years ago... Luna’s banishment. He had heard the legends from a friend of his, Leafeymoon, who studied such things (and actually waited that fateful night for Nightmare’s return). Flutterbreeze had wondered sometimes what it must have been like up there... alone. He glanced at Luna. ‘Best not to ask about it.’ Every pony in Equestria remembers where they had been, and what they had been doing when they heard about Luna’s return. Flutterbreeze was back home, in Fillydelphia, drinking a flavorful cup of coffee prepared by his barista friend, Coffeeflower, when he glanced at a nearby newspaper... Luna interrupted the silence. “We hope thou art enjoying thy stay here in Canterlot.” “Oh, yes. It is quite comfortable here. And besides, not every pony has the honor of talking to a beautiful princess whilst gazing out at the night’s scenery.” She gave him an amused look, as if to say, ‘I know you are teasing me with your chivalry, sir.’ She then let out a soft yawn. “Well, even if thou dost not desire sleep, we think it time for us to retire.” She yawned again, looking slightly embarrassed to show her tiredness. “Very well, I bid thee good... morning, Princess Luna.” He gave a formal bow, to which she once again gave the amused look. ‘You silly pegasus.’ Before they both returned inside, she said, “Please, call me Luna... Flutterbreeze.” He smiled as she turned away. “As you wish.” After a brief nap, which Flutterbreeze now found himself able to take, it was time to prepare for the day’s noon social. He opened the large wardrobe and selected a full tuxedo (with tails) and a top hat for himself. After changing, brushing his mane, and applying cologne (though not it that order), he looked at himself in the mirror. ‘Time to turn on the swag!’ A big, cheesy grin spread across his face. ‘That’s not swag.’ The party did indeed hold all manner of delicious, yet elegant, foods. Tea was served with cheese crumpets, along with all manner of hors d’oeuvres, and of course, a giant chocolate cake frosted and decorated with the forms of dragons, manticores, and other mythological creatures. A soft melody came from a string quartet in the room, which was covered, ceiling to floor, in all sorts of frilly decorations. Flutterbreeze was surprised by how many of the guests he could recognise, either from the media or previous visits to Canterlot. All of them were celebrities or ponies of high society. He could see Princess Celestia, Joneigh Dep, the famous actor, Mare Curie, the scientist, Mountagu, the duke of Manechester, and Fancy Pants, the “most important pony in Canterlot”, among others. He was dissapointed to note that Fancy Pants did not, in fact, wear fancy pants. He walked over to a table covered in desserts and began trying some. ‘Sweet mother of Celestia that’s good!’ “Can you believe it?” a voice behind him said. He turned around to find none other than Prince Blueblood himself addressing him. “They let a complete ruffian like that into the castle as a guest!” he was pointing at a large buffalo on the other side of the room, dressed in full regalia. Flutterbreeze responded in his best impersonation of an upper-class gentlecolt. “That is Chief Bighoof, leader of one of Equestria’s proud buffalo nations, respected for his wisdom, courage, and tolerance of others.” Blueblood was busy looking at himself in the mirror on the wall next to him (he had strategically placed himself between it and a plate of truffles). After tweaking a misplaced hair he turned back to Flutterbreeze. “And WHAT may I ask do YOU do?” he sneered. Flutterbreeze smiled confidently, “International commodity transportation. And you?” “Who am I? *huff* WHO AM I?!” Blueblood’s raised voice attracted the attention of several nearby guests. “You, sir, have insulted me this day with you ridiculous question. I am a highly respected member of the royal family of Canterlot! Who am I? *huff* The nerve of some ponies.” Blueblood returned to fretting over his image in the mirror. Flutterbreeze had simply stood there, calmly drinking tea, as the prince outraged. He smiled at the other guests who were quite amused by the now sulking prince blueblood. A short while later, Luna entered the ballroom where the event was held, wearing a very elegant dress. Her appearance was a little different during the day, her mane was now solid, and her coloration was a bit lighter. This led Flutterbreeze to wonder whether Princess Celestia changed appearance at night. Pictures started forming in his head until Luna spotted him and walked over. “Good afternoon, fine sir.” He tipped his hat. “Good afternoon Luna, you are looking lovely as ever.” “Have you figured out who the other agent is yet?” she asked in a whisper. “Sadly not, I haven’t done much talking with the other guests.” “Its all right, you’ll meet after the party if not sooner. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d better go greet my sister.” She walked away, but not before grabbing a large slice of cake. Fancy Pants, who was standing nearby, noticed how Flutterbreeze addressed Luna by her first name, and now walked up to greet him. “I say sir, do you happen to know the princess?” “She invited me to stay as a guest in the castle for a few days.” Fancy Pants and his wife looked intrigued. “Indeed? Hmm, you look familiar, but I can’t quite put a name to your face. You aren’t from Canterlot are you?” “No, though I have been here before. My residence is in Fillydelphia.” “You don’t say... oh, where are my manners? I am Fancy Pants, and this is my wife, Elizabeth deFleur.” “My name is Sir Rufflepuff, and it’s a pleasure to meet you both.” A *hmph* came from the nearby prince. “Have you... met Prince Blueblood?” Flutterbreeze said, smirking. Fancy Pants paused for a moment “I... have had the pleasure of making his acquaintance before.” Flutterbreeze had been leaning on end of the table behind him, which suddenly decided to collapse at that end. Flutterbreeze was able to quickly hover up in the air, but the prince was not so lucky. All of the desserts, including a 100 pound chocolate cake, slid down the table and buried him in a pile of sugary sweetness. He screamed like a filly and ran out of the room while everyone else, the guests, the princesses, and Flutterbreeze, tried to hold back their laughter. Fancy Pants nudged him and whispered, smiling, “Good show, old bean.” The rest of the party went quite smoothly. A new table of desserts was prepared, and Prince Blueblood spent the night as far away from the ballroom as possible, cleaning chocolate cake out of his mane. Flutterbreeze thoroughly enjoyed missions that involved fancy parties like this, and he was able to meet more celebrities that day than most ponies do in a lifetime, all of which were quite agreeable as the princess had said. By the end of the afternoon he still hadn’t figured out who the other agent could be, but he did find out that Luna had quite a sweet tooth, a fact that few other ponies knew.