//------------------------------// // Twilight Gets a Puppy, Season 1, Epilogue 1 // Story: Twilight gets a Puppy // by TDR //------------------------------// Twilight Gets a Puppy By TDR Twilight Gets a Puppy, Season 1, Epilogue 1 [Two years before the return of Nightmare Moon, Blue Blood Residence. Avianna Manor, a block from the palace.] The door to the veranda creaked open and a figure crept out the door closing it slowly behind him. The pony in question was in some sort of costume. He was hidden under what seemed to be a formerly fancy coat that looked completely ragged and splattered with blood, his hooves ended in paws with fake claws, and his tail was bundled up and brushed to look like a wolfs. His mane and face were done up much the same and gray fur dye made his other wise pristine coat look complety different. His parents of course had been horrified, and he reminded them that it was their idea to turn his birthday party into a costumed ball this close to Nightmare Night, and then to invite every noble and tinpot tyrant they could in order to schmooze and promote themselves at his expense. Prince Blue Blood sighed. His birthdays were always more for show than anything else. At least with the costume none of the mares present knew who he was at first glance. And since he made sure a few of his invited classmates, as well as a few servants were dressed exactly the same as he was, it allowed him some measure of anonymity as well as getting his few friends hit on by pretty mares so they might get to build a bit more confidence in themselves. Honestly with that last thought it was clear he had been hanging out with his cousin Cadence too often. The party was of course a lavish, expensively decorated, and catered affair. A who's who of who was important in Canterlot. Nobles whose names he didn't care about, up and coming celebrities like Sapphire Shores, the Wonderbolts of course, couldn't have a rich pony party with out them, some aspiring designers, and any pony else his parents wanted to look good for. Another dull party put together by his dull parents for their dull friends rather than their son. Honestly he really had never had any other sort of birthday party so he simply went along with it, made a showing and slipped out the first chance he had before any of the vultures in mare's skin could get their claws into him rather than his decoys. He truly did understand his friend Twilight's aversion to birthdays, if not at the same level. He was considering ditching the party all together and perhaps heading back to school early. Living in a dorms was a bit more roughing it than he was used to, but it kept him away from his parents and their insistence he do everything exactly as they say so he didn't embarrass them in front of ponies who probably could care less about them. It was a wonder he didn't have a team of butt wipers assigned to his bathroom with how controlling they were. He had the most fun when he went against what they wanted. His date with Twilight sent them in a tizzy and his time spent with his cousin worried them immensely as Cadence rarely acted like they thought a Princess should. He had not been out of the party long when he noticed the cloud pressed up against the upper arch of the massive picture window overlooking the ball room. He thought it odd that a cloud would be that close to the four story manor, stuck to the start of the second floor at that. Perhaps it had gotten away from an earlier weather patrol? He was considering moving it with his magic so his parents wouldn't go yelling at an innocent weather pony when he noticed a tail dangling over the edge of it. Lovely, a stalker or peeping tom or what have you. Prince wondered if they were stalking him or one of the other celebrities. Still better to run them off without causing a scene. “Excuse me.” Prince called up. Nothing. “Excuse me!” Prince said louder. “Shhhhh!” The cloud fussed. Prince blinked. “ What?” “I said shh... you're gonna blow my cover.” The cloud answered. “Oh. Sorry.” Prince paused a moment to consider before frowning. “Errr. Not to question it. But isn't your cover blown already because I spotted you?” Prince asked not sure what was happening here, this was a bit off the usual protocol for some one sneaking onto the property. “Why, are you a Guard?” the cloud asked. “No.” “Then it's still cool.” “Ehhh?” “Look if you were a Guard you'd have run me off already, if you were one of the nobles here you would have called for the Guard.“ the mare shrugged. “ Since you haven't yet you've either got to be a crasher or some pony who doesn't care. In both cases I’m clear.” “Well that depends on who you are stalking I suppose.” Prince stated. “Hey I’m not stalking any pony.” The mare had zipped down off her cloud and had gotten in his face just that quickly. Prince took in the mare with some interest now. She was wearing what looked like a bit store Cat Pone costume from the Batmare comic series. The black material was stretched tight over her form showing she was quite well muscled and perhaps about his age. Her wings and the fur of her muzzle were black, likely cheaply dyed if her costume was any indication , though her angry burgundy eyes glaring at him drew most of Prince's attention. “If you are not a stalker why are you hanging out on a cloud staring in the window like one?” “....” The mare was silent for a moment hovering a bit off the ground as she seemed to consider her response before shrugging. “Ehh waiting for a friend of mine when I noticed the Wonderbolts were here. Was trying to spot all of them in costume.” Prince raised an eyebrow, and effect lost under his wolf mask. “Really not here for the birthday colt?” “This is a birthday party? Looks like a smoozy Nightmare Night party to me. Heh, shoulda told her that before she went in. She'd probably figure out a way to yell happy birthday before hitting him with a cake..... ehhh maybe it's better she didn't know.” “While some what incriminating you haven’t explained why you're here.” Prince sighed. “Party crashing.” “Wha, wait what?” Prince stammered not expecting such a blunt answer. “It's Nightmare Night, every ponies in costume and it's a perfect time to prank a few ponies who other wise would have half the city Guard chasing us any other day of the year.” the mare offered. “You're rather forthcoming with this information..” “I'm what?” “Forthcoming... it.... I mean you admit to this rather easily.” “Well yeah, what goods a prank if you're the only one to enjoy it. Like dropping soap powder in the royal fountain. It bubbled up like no ponies business and the first rain washed all the suds away. No one gets hurt and every ones amused except the ones who like to freak out over nothing. G's probably planting a few black tooth candies like we did at the last party.” the mare chuckled. “I don't think we can top the popcorn prank though.” “Gilded Cup?”Prince considered recalling something about popcorn being in the news. “Yeah Bag of uncooked corn wedged in the space above the fire place, but with just enough room to let the smoke out so no one gets suspicious and when they light a fire the heat cooks the corn and makes it all pop. That filled up half the guys house.” Prince recalled that fully with a small smirk. He had heard about the event and the mess it caused, Gilded had a number of ponies who didn't like him and the damage was negligible any way so the event was largely ignored save when the time came to poke fun at the older stallion. Of course Gilded now couldn't stand the smell of popcorn. “I remember that one.” “Seriously, great prank right?” “Indeed. But I can't see much of a future in it.” “What ?” “The pranking I don't see how that helps with how your future will be planned out.” “Dude it's a prank not a life altering choice.” “I've been told that anything one does is supposed to help with who one is to become.” Prince nearly recited from memory. “Pfft whatever, you sound like one of the snobs. Pranks aren’t supposed to be anything but fun. Work makes the bits, fun is what you do with the bits in your free time, it's not supposed to make sense if you enjoy it.” The mare rolled her eyes glancing up at the house and hopping around a bit as if she couldn't sit still. Prince couldn't help but note how the tight costume shifted as she tensed up to pronk about. “Hey eyes up wolfy, you're drooling there.” the mare smirked , a wing slapping the rubber nose of his costume forcing him to readjust the mask so he could see. “That's not the fun I was talking about.” “My apologies......” “S'fine but don't make it a habit.” the mare smirked. “ Any way you should probably get out more then, see the world, live a little. You don't seem like you're that old and clearly the stick up your plot hasn't grown into a tree yet, so pull it out and go do something you wanna do.” “Well at the moment I am rather curious about you.” Prince admitted. The mare stared at him again. “Seriously was that a pick up line? Is that how you guys do it.. Wow yer stuffy even when flirting.” “I would say I’m more inept at it than my performance is normal for nobility.” “Clearly, on the inept part any way.” “But my statement stands I do find you rather interesting, far more interesting to talk to than any one else in the party.” “Yeah I’m awesome like that, but I bet it's a pretty low bar.” the mare chuckled. While she wasn't exactly forthcoming with her name likely for obvious reasons being a party crasher, she did answer to 'Cat' for most of the conversation. Prince was reminded of the times he spoke with Twilight as the conversation bounced back and forth between everything from Hoof Ball teams to Wonderbolt maneuvers. Generally things he knew little about but it was clear she was passionate about. The oddity was when the conversation made a small detour about the state of the Griffon empire and how the current immigrant policy’s on the matter were flawed simply due to greed on both sides. She argued along with that with more skill than he had seen on some of his school debate teams. She was a bit cynical, though funny, and in her fields of thought quite intelligent and entertaining to talk to. She was quite exuberant in what she discussed, leaving him impressed by the passion she showed for what she spoke of even when he himself didn't under stand it. The tone form under the skin tight suit certainly didn't hurt things either. She was nearly everything that the noble mares were not. She had no issue calling him out if she didn't agree with something he said, she also seemed to have issue sitting still for long. The mare seemed to wear her ideas on her sleeve and didn't seem to care what any one else thought of her or what she was saying. With some one so far from what he was used to it wasn't hard to believe he had been smitten. It had been only a hoof full of hours at best since he first met her, but it seemed like longer, though before he could strike up a new direction for the conversation, or more importantly ask her out, the second floor window exploded. More accurately it shattered outward after a high impact from a plaster bust of his grandfather. The window was destroyed in a single hit, the bust lasted long enough to hit the ground before it shattered. Leaping through the broken window was a sheet. A mostly white sheet covered in light blue paisley patterns that were faded, the sheet looked to have been washed numerous times and had a hint of orange about it from hard water. There were also two eye holes cut into it and the figure wrapped in it landed lightly near the pair of them glancing up at the broken window as a number of Guards and servants looked out after the 'ghost'. “What the buck G?” Cat yelled looking at the collection of Guards at the window. “HAH! Consider this party crashed. You'll never take me alive coppers!”the ghost shouted up at the guards.” Time to jet girl, I think we've overstayed out welcome.” The mare gave a smirk,” Been cool talking with yah wolfly. “ She launched herself in the air kicking the cloud she had been sitting on, sending a flash of lightning off at random, the effect was enough to send the Guard's into cover allowing the pair of them to take off into the night. Then she was gone, leaving him confused, somewhat soaked from the sudden rainstorm, and wondering if he would ever see her wine colored eyes again.