//------------------------------//
// The Ticket Master 
// Story: Courage of Harmony 
// by Byrdhouse Fanfics 
//------------------------------//

Json and H.H. were walking through Ponyville, having just left the local marketplace.
“Look at this, H.H.! The market’s fresh today!” They just bought some food to keep Json replenished. Being in a lab for a long time makes a pony hungry, and he counts on different foods to keep himself up.
As he walked with H.H. in his saddlebag, he looked around the many ponies that inhabited Ponyville. There’s the trio of florist ponies, making sure the flowers are in top shape, the spa ponies doing some outdoor treatments…and Twilight and Spike, standing around like they’re on alert for something. They rush over there so they can say “Hi”, only now seeing Spike holding some golden tickets.
“Wait, don’t tell me…” He takes a good look at the tickets as Spike jumps, startled by his presence. “Are these tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala?!” He takes on an ecstatic look.
“Wait,” said Spike, “you actually like this sort of stuff?”
“Well, yeah! I always do love going to Canterlot, but the Gala is, like, the event where many businessmares and stallions are going to be!”
“And given you’re a scientist…”
“It’s perfect to show off what I’ve built!”


Insert imagine spot here…


There is an image of Json at the Gala, showing off some inventions that he has been working on.
“Like imagine this, there’s plenty of mares and stallions that would be just curious to see what I’ve invented! And what I have to show them will really blow their minds! They would LOVE it! And once I start gaining momentum and supporters, I can start selling my inventions, and use that profit towards inventing more, and more…and more. All culminating with my lifetime goal for Equestria!”


End imagine spot here…


“And what is that lifetime goal for Equestria,” asked Twilight.
“Well, I’m not sure if I should say anything for now since this whole story just began, but it is big. There’s also another reason why I wanted to go…”
“Oh, what’s that?”
“...some of Equestria’s best musicians are going to perform there! Especially…her…” He blushes as he remembers where he was and who was there. “But enough about me. So, if you haven’t asked anyone already, may I-”
“Ooooh, actually…”
“Hey!” As the two ponies talked, Spike felt the tickets being grabbed by someone. It was a bunny, who ran over to a nearby Fluttershy when he grabbed them.
“Oh, Angel, these are perfect!” She sees what the tickets were for as Json and Twilight were still talking.
“Well, I was trying to tell everypony that I was going to make my decision later but-”
“Um, excuse me, Twilight. I would just like to ask, I mean, if it would be all right, if you haven't given it to someone else…”
“Wait,” said Json, a little surprised. “You actually want to go to the Grand Galloping Gala? No offense, but you don’t really seem like that type of mare…”
“Oh, no. I mean, yes, or, actually, kind of. You see…”


Insert imagine spot here…


There is an image of Fluttershy at a specific part of Canterlot’s Royal Castle.
“It's not so much the Grand Galloping Gala as it is the wondrous private gated garden that surrounds the dance. The flowers are said to be the most beautiful and fragrant in all of Equestria. For the night of the gala, and that night alone, would they all be in bloom... and that's just the flora! Don't get me started on the fauna. There's loons and toucans and bitterns, oh my! Hummingbirds that can really hum, and buzzards that can really buzz. White-blue jays, and red jays, and green jays, pink jays, and pink flamingos!”


End imagine spot here…


Json could tell that she would want to go for the flora and fauna.
“Wow, Fluttershy. That sounds…beautiful?”
“Wait just a minute!” Rainbow Dash flies in, interrupting Json, apparently there for the same reason as he and Fluttershy.
“Rainbow Dash,” said an annoyed Twilight. “Were you following me?”
“No. I mean, yes. I mean, maybe. Look, it doesn't matter. I couldn't risk a goody-four-shoes like you giving that ticket away to just anybody.”
“Wait just another minute.” Applejack comes onto the scene too, for reasons relating to Rainbow Dash.
“Applejack, were you following me too?”
“No. I was followin' this one to make sure she didn't try any funny business. Still trying to take my ticket.”
Rarity and Pinkie Pie also came along, accusing Applejack of claiming the ticket as hers.
“Um, pardon me, darling, but your ticket?!” She then argues with her, with everypony aside from Twilight following suit. They kept arguing and arguing until Twilight got them all to stop.
“QUIET!”
“And then I said, ‘Oatmeal? Are you craz-?’ Oh.” Pinkie Pie’s comment aside, Twilight is very agitated at this point.
“Listen, there’s no use in arguing!”
“But Twilight-”
“Eh,” said Twilight, interrupting Rarity. “This is my decision, and I’m gonna make it on my own, and I certainly can’t think straight with all this noise…” Her stomach rumbles. “…not to mention hunger. Now go on, shoo.” Everypony walked away, with Json and H.H. going back to their home. “And don't worry, I'll figure this out…somehow.”


Json and H.H. are now back in their home, with Json thinking about who Twilight would pick. He was worried that he would not be able to go because he assumed that everypony else had their own good reasons for wanting to go. But he knew he had to try and go this year. He needed to get his inventions properly shown! That’s when he had an idea.
“H.H.? We still have that machine, right?”


A couple of moments later…


Json was working on his invention as he heard Twilight galloping outside his house. She seemed to be in a bit of a hurry so he went outside to try and talk to her.
“Twilight?” She screams a bit when she hears Json.
“Oh, sorry, it’s just, I’ve had to deal with some ponies who can’t bear to wait!”
“You mean for-”
“Yes! First, Rainbow Dash tried to keep a part of the cloud open so I could eat, then Rarity tried to show off a design that she was planning on wearing, and Applejack tried to offer a whole wagon of food!”
“Oh…” Json kinda understands where she is going. “...well, maybe you can come inside? I have something that I would like for you to test out.”
Twilight obliges and goes in, much to Json’s delight. She sits in the living room, noticing a machine lying on a table.
“Um, what’s that?”
“Oh, that’s just something I’ve been working on. It’s a winged contraption that you can strap around you, and grant ponies flight! You know, like pegasi, except unicorns and Earth ponies can have the same feeling. The only troubles are a few kinks that need working out and…”
“Explosions,” asked Twilight in a deadpan tone.
“Well, that and the fact that it can’t fly so close to the Sun. But at night, it should be more effective!”
“Wait,” said Twilight, a little startled by his use of the word “night”. “Json…is there a particular reason why you’re showing me this?”
“Well, you’re one of my best friends. Why else?”
“Well, that’s what my other friends said before…oh no. Don’t tell me you’re doing this for-”
“NOT doing this for the ticket. I’m doing this because…well, yes, partly for the ticket but-”
“Come on! I’ve been pressured three times already! I didn’t think you would be the fourth!” She runs out of his home, making him sulk for a bit. H.H. then walks over to him and slaps him.
“Hey,” said Json, with H.H.’s response being crossing his arms. “Well, it’s not the only reason why I showed her! I do see her as a friend!” H.H. was still crossing his arms, slowly making Json realize why he did so. “And I tried to take advantage of her to give me her ticket…not one of my best moments…” He sulks for a bit, with H.H. now comforting him over his mistake. “Yeah, you’re right. We do need to make it up to her. But how…”
H.H. grabs his hoof and drags him out the door.
“Okay, so I guess I’m following you now…”


H.H. and Json reach the Golden Oak Library, which was currently occupied by the rest of his friends baring Twilight and Spike.
“You guys feel the same way?”
“Eeyup,” said Applejack. “It wasn’t really right of us to be so…pushy like that.”
“Really? I knew you, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity were pushy with her as I was. But Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie? What part did you two-”
“Cleaned the library with my animal friends.”
“More blunt about my intentions…and might have blabbed about the whole ticket thing to everypony in Ponyville…”
“Ah. When do you think she’ll be back?” As if on cue, Twilight and Spike teleport in, looking dazed.
“Ugh,” said Spike. “Warn me next time you're gonna do that.”
“I didn't even know it was gonna happen. Now quick, lock the doors!” They both lock the doors and turn off all the lights and candles…right as they noticed the other ponies upstairs, prompting Twilight to give out a frustrated scream.
“I can't decide, I just can't decide! It's important to all of you and I just can't stand to disappoint any of you, and giving me gifts and doing me favors won't make any difference, because you're all my friends and I wanna make you all happy and I can't, I just can't!”
“Twilight,” said Json, the first to comfort her. “We didn’t realize just how frustrated and pressured we made you feel. You know what? I don’t think my inventions are really gonna attract everypony’s attention. I don’t want the ticket anymore.”
“Yeah,” said Applejack. “I don’t want the ticket anymore either. There’s always next year, right?”
“Me too,” said Fluttershy. “I feel just awful that I made you feel so awful.”
“And me too,” said Pinkie Pie. “It's no fun upsetting your friends.”
“Twilight,” said Rarity, “it was unfair of me to try to force you as I did.”
The only pony left that had to apologize was Rainbow Dash…
“Yes! That means the ticket is mine. Ha ha, I got the ticket, I got the ticket~!” ...who dialed back on her words after seeing her friends’ looks. “You know, I haven't perfected my signature moves for the Wonderbolts anyway. I don't need that ticket either.”
“We all got so gun-ho about going to the gala that we couldn't see how un-gun-ho we were making you.”
“We’re sorry, Twilight.” Everyone’s simultaneous apology gave Twilight an idea.
“Spike, take down a note.”


Dear Princess Celestia,
I've learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala.
This got the shock of everypony in the room.
If my friends can't all go, I don't wanna go either.
“Twilight,” said Applejack, shocked. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Nope. I've made up my mind. Spike, you can send the letter now.” Spike sends the letter to Princess Celestia as Twilight’s friends were in shock that she declined the tickets.
“Twilight,” said Json, as H.H. put a comforting hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “You do know that you won’t get to the Gala too, right?”
“It's okay, Json. I couldn't possibly enjoy myself without my best friends there with me…so I would rather not go at all.” Everypony awed except for Spike, who was gagging for unassumed reasons, as Applejack would show.
“Well wallop my withers, Spike. Isn't that just like a boy? Can't handle the least bit of sentiment. Oh, no offense.” She looks toward Json, who was unoffended.
“None taken,” said Json as Spike burped a letter and read it.
"My faithful student Twilight,
Why didn't you just say so in the first place?" It was at that sentence when Spike pulled out… “Six tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala!”
Everypony gasps as Twilight shows ecstasy.
“Now we can all go!” Her stomach rumbles, giving Rarity the perfect idea to make up for how they acted earlier.
“Allow us to treat you to dinner.”
“Now that is a great way to apologize!” Json agrees and so does Pinkie Pie. 
“And to celebrate! Come on everyone, the cupcakes are on me!” Everypony then grabs a ticket and starts to make their way to Sugarcube Corner. As they walk, Applejack remembers to ask Json something.
“So what’s your reason for going to the Gala?”
“Mingling. You know, to help give my inventions the exposure they need.” He giggles as he remembers the other reason for going, but before Applejack could comment, a bright green light and burp was heard from the library. A couple of moments later, Spike runs out giggling and holding a ticket, stopping when he sees Applejack and Json grinning and H.H. crossing his arms.
“I mean, gross, I have to go too?” He goes back to giggling while the two ponies caught up with their friends.