//------------------------------//
// The Amity Ball-preparations 
// Story: Live While we're Young 
// by The Blue EM2 
//------------------------------//

It was another morning at the School of Friendship, and the Young Six were gathered around the dining table having their breakfast. They all seemed to be quite into theirs as well, when suddenly Silverstream barrelled into the room and hovered above their table.

"You guys!" she cried, her claws next to her mouth. "There is something AMAZING in the school atrium! You just HAVE to see it!"

"Can I stop off and get some replacement eardrums along the way?" Gallus asked. "We get it, you're excited, but there's absolutely no need to scream to the rafters about whatever it is you've found."

Silverstream suddenly looked sheepish. "Oh. Oops." As the others hopped out of their chairs, they then headed off for the atrium.

"So, I wonder what Silverstream has found?" Smoulder asked.

"Maybe it's that book I requested from the library!" Ocellus said.  When the others looked at her, she shrugged. "What? It's been out of print for decades!"

"You're becoming more and more like Headmare Twilight with each passing day," Gallus snorted.

"Dude, she's always been like that," Sandbar smiled. "And it's adorable."

As they arrived, they saw Silverstream floating in front of a glass case with something inside it. "See?!" she cried. "New posters! We never had those underwater!"

Smoulder looked equally surprised. "We never had paper in the Dragonlands," she said. "We always wrote stuff on stone tablets, which was an absolute pain if you spelt something wrong."

"Yona just wonder what this poster is all about?" Yona asked. "Is it for big event? That was only reason Yak put up poster owing to jammed pulp mill."

Twilight appeared from quite literally nowhere, for as an alicorn she could teleport. "I won't keep you in suspense any longer. We're bringing one of Ponyville's oldest traditions to our school – the Fetlock Fete."

"The what- lock what? " Smoulder asked in confusion.

"I thought it was a type of firearm," Gallus suggested.

"That's a flintlock," Sandbar replied. "But the Fetlock Fete is some giant pony dance part, with music and many other things. Headmare Twilight?"

"Yes?"

"It's not exactly accurate to call it one of 'Ponyville's oldest traditions', given that it hasn't run in over two decades."

"Then we're reviving it," Twilight smiled.

"I'm ready!" Ocellus suddenly declared, out of nowhere, and switched forms to the yellow pony she occassionally used as a disguise.

Twilight laughed when she saw this. "You don't need to do that, Ocellus," she replied. "This year, the event's at school and open to everycreature. We're calling our dance the Amity Ball."

"Isn't that the town with all the shark attacks?" Smoulder asked.

"Well, yes," Ocellus explained, "but the word actually derives from the Prench word 'amitie', which itself derives spoken from the language spoken in ancient Cloudsdale, which had the word 'amicus'. That means friend."

"So, it's the friend ball," Smoulder answered. "I guess things do sound more profound when spoken in a foreign language."

Yona suddenly started bouncing about. "Yona not know Amity Ball dance. Yona only know traditional dance of Yakyakistan. Go like this!"

"I've heard the Stomp is quite the sight to witness," Twilight said whimsically, "especially when performed on masse by hundreds of Yaks."

"But it's not just one dance," Sandbar smiled. "It's a whole night of them. Plus an awesome party!"

"And we'll have all the old Fetlock Fete traditions – the Pony Pal Contest, the lucky pot dinner. You'll love it! So, like this says, "get your pony pal and come along."

Sandbar internally groaned, remembering the time his old school had had a lucky pot dinner. One student's dish had given everypony food poisoning.

Nocreature else noticed, however. Silverstream flew over to Gallus. "Can we go as partners Gally? PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASE?"

Gallus smiled. "Of course, Silvs. You had me at 'dinner'."

Smoulder flew off, mentioning finding a dragon to go with, whilst Sandbar turned to Ocellus. "Hey, Celly," he said, "would you like to be my pony pal? We can enter the contest together!"

"I'd love to!" Ocellus replied, and changed to the pony form again.

"You know what I meant."

As they set off together, Yona caught up with them. "Sandbar?"

Sandbar turned back. "Yes?"

"Yona happy for you two. Pony and Changeling have fun at dance party."

"Thanks," Sandbar replied, and he and Ocellus headed off.

Yona smiled to herself. "Yona need yakfriend," she said. "And Yona know who to invite."





Sandbar knew he needed a new suit for this event, and once lectures were over for him (he had a seminar at 5 in the afternoon), he started to make his way to Carousel Boutique. The streets of Ponyville were, as usual, incredibly busy. The small town had gone from quiet market town to the nerve centre of Equestria's friendship related operations. As he strolled along, whistling a merry tune, something pink and very dear to him crashed into him.

"Oh!" said Sandbar. "Hi Cozy!"

"Hi Sandy!" Cozy Glow squealed. "Are you going to the Ball?"

"You bet your buttons I am!" Sandbar replied. "Though please ease off on the whole 'crashing into people' thing."

"Professor Applejack said that bumping into people was a nice way to greet them."

Sandbar shook his head. "Cozy, she didn't mean that literally. I'm currently going to Carousel Boutique to get a suit tailored, and from what I remember you don't have a dress suitable for such an occassion."

"I've never been to a posh dance before," Cozy Glow admitted. "And I've heard it's going to be quite special." Unfortunately, she had some food in her mouth, and 'special' came out as 'speceel'."

"Well, you can tag along with me and we can ask Rarity to make you one."

"I don't have my piggy bank on me."

Sandbar laughed. "There's no need! I'll pay. Consider this a gift from brother to sister. Come on, let's go!"

"You're on!" Cozy Glow replied, and flew off into the air. Sandbar couldn't help but beam with pride. For her age, she was an incredibly strong flyer. He set off for the Boutique with a smile on his face.





Rarity was busy sewing when Sweetie Belle popped up the stairs. "Rarity?"

Rarity switched her sewing machine off and looked behind her. "Yes, Sweetie Belle?"

"Sandbar and Cozy Glow are here to see you."

"Send them in!" Rarity declared, and hopped off her stool. Moments later, Sandbar and Cozy Glow appeared in her workroom. "Good afternoon! How can I help you?"

"Cozy and I would like outfits produced for the Amity Ball, please," Sandbar asked.

"No problem! I'll just set about measuring the pair of you."

The process was not hugely complicated, all things considered. Rarity happened to have a suitable bow tie to fit about Sandbar's neck, and soon fitted him out with an incredibly smart and fine jacket that meant he would rival the finest noble in Canterlot.

Cozy Glow proved to be a bit more a challenge. Barring her difficulties in staying still for more than 5 seconds, a pegasus had something rather obvious to work around- wings. To this end, Rarity had to ensure that the material left enough space for her wings to properly open and close, as well as fold neatly behind the dress.

However, she soon produced something marvellous, and what a sight it was! The entire garment was coloured light blue, complementing Cozy's mane perfectly, and not only that, the front looked smart without excessively constraining the wearer's movements. As previously mentioned, there was space for Cozy's wings to pop out and in, and the skirt dropped nicely over her tail and hind legs, reaching the floor without brushing too much against it.

Rarity wheeled a mirror over and showed Cozy how she looked. "Well? What do you think?"

"I love it!" the pegasus cried. "Thank you so, so much!"

"Never a problem, darling. Now if you two wouldn't mind removing them, so I can neatly package them and get them sent to your dorm rooms."

"I suppose this is one of the upsides of your teacher also being your tailor," Sandbar noted, and both siblings did as instructed. "How much will this come to?"

"45 bits please."

Sandbar looked surprised. "That's cheap."

"As Cozy is a first time customer, I'm giving a 50% discount on the dress. Think of it as an act of generosity from me."

Sandbar nodded. "Cheers." He handed over the necessary funds, and he and Cozy Glow set off outdoors back towards the school.

"Who are you taking to the Amity Ball?" Cozy Glow asked.

"Ocellus," Sandbar replied, noticing Yona entering Carousel Boutique as they left.

"That figures," Cozy Glow smiled. "You two are a perfect fit for each other."

"How about you?"

Sandbar's question clearly caught Cozy Glow off guard. "Well, I'd rather keep it a secret. I'd like it to be a surprise."

"Fair enough," Sandbar replied, and set off towards the school once more. "See you this evening! Now I wonder what Ocellus will be wearing..."