//------------------------------// // Chapter 70- Take This Dance Pt.3 // Story: Reformed Unicorn Group Podcast // by Quoterific //------------------------------// “So then every creature, we have arrived at the grand ballroom where the Grand Galloping Gala is taking place,” Sunset said, “It’s just as grand as I remember it when I was Celestia’s pupil.” They were at the main entrance to the grand hall, taking in the majesty of Canterlot Castle on this special night. They spotted Twilight and her friends at a table, chatting together and eating food from the buffet. Well, it was mainly Pinkie eating the food from the buffet. The young six were there as well, admiring their first time visiting the capital. The usual nobles were keeping to themselves, eyeing rivals who had the most opulent dresses, the most bits in their accounts and most fancy estate. Princess Celestia met them at the opening staircase, trying to keep her best smile on as the long line of nobles and guests continued to grow. “It’s certainly nice to see every creature enjoying themselves tonight,” Tempest observed with a content smile, “With all the disasters I have heard that occurred at the Gala, it’s good to see that everything is going smoothly so far. It’s not as if there will be three disastrous Galas in a-“ “Hey Starlight,” A voice spoke from behind them. The group turned as one, finding Sunburst with a smile on his face. “S-Sunburst, what a nice surprise,” Starlight stuttered, causing Trixie to snicker. A quick jab on the side from Sunset told her to zip it. “So,” Sunburst began, “Enjoying the night so far?” “Yes, very much so,” Starlight manged to gain composure. It was then that Starlight caught Sunburst trying to act normal when he wasn’t it. He was avoiding her eye contact, his left hoof tracing circles on the marble floor. “Sunburst, something wrong?” Starlight asked. For the others, it seemed to click. “Well,” Sunburst started, “I was just wondering if you would like to dance with me?” There was dead silence as Starlight, and the others, took in what Sunburst requested. If they were drinking water or the punch from the buffet, they would ultimately spit it out in shock. Trixie was the first to recover, a sly smile on her face. “I think Starlight takes it as a yes,” Trixie encouraged. Starlight’s face lit up a brilliant red. “W-what?” Starlight stuttered. “I think it’s a brilliant way to get to know each other after some time apart, with Sunburst doing more wizardry from the Crystal Empire, and your counselling at the School of Friendship,” Trixie made her point. “B-but, we are-“ Starlight tried to save her dignity, but was met with a hoof to her mouth. “No excuses,” Trixie countered, “Treat it as a special long-time-no-see bonding time.” “But I can’t dance to save my flanks!” Starlight burst out. “Well, neither can I,” Sunburst smiled, “That makes two of us. So can I have this dance?” He reached a hoof out in offering. Starlight paused, then looked at the others. They just shrugged, shocked at either Sunburst’s request or Trixie’s tactics. Sighing and giving a glare to Trixie which meant ‘we are going to talk about this later’, she reluctantly held her hoof out, giving the signal for Sunburst to gently grab it and pull her towards a space in the dance hall. The others from the R.U.G. looked at Trixie with varying faces. “You’re still evil,” Sunset said with a deadpanned tone. “Isn’t friendship about encouraging others and helping them in the best way they can?” Trixie mused. The others soon turned to the dancefloor where Starlight and Sunburst tried to find their stepping. They were currently on their hind legs, finding it awkward to place their forelegs in the right position. They were looking at each other with blushes on their faces. “Now is it one step forwards, two steps back, or the other way round?” Sunburst muttered. “I think one of them is an expression, but one is real,” Starlight chuckled nervously, “We’ll just have to make it up as we go along?” “Are you sure? We will become to the talk of the night,” Sunburst looked around. Rarity gave a gasp and nudged Fluttershy. The mane six turned to the dancefloor at the night, smiles on looks of surprise on their faces. The young six have also caught sight of them, smiling, or with knowing smiles in Gallus’ case. “If we’re not fools now, we’re about to be,” Starlight sighed, “Let’s make it a night that we or they will certainly not forget.” Keeping in time to Octavia’s and the orchestra’s music in the best way they can. That was until Sunburst’s back hoof got caught in Starlight’s dress, bumping into Starlight and knocking them forward. They stumbled slightly backwards, then headbutted each other hard. They let go of each other hooves, causing Starlight to crash to the floor. Sunburst wasn’t so lucky, stumbling back to where every creature knew. Sunburst crashed onto the buffet table, specifically the dessert table. Treats flew across the air, a cake landing on Rarity right on the face. The others in the mane six gasped, knowing how she would react. “My dress! My beautiful, hoof-stitched dress!” Rarity wailed, they growled at Sunburst like what she did at Blueblood. “Rarity, I can explain,” Sunburst help us hooves up in surrender, but Rarity had a tray of cakes in her magic, lobbing them at Sunburst. He ducked, the treats flying over his head, where they landed on the noble of all nobles of Canterlot. “I say!” Fancy Pants wiped his glasses, “That’s one way to make a reintroduction.” His mare-friend, Fleur de Lis, on the other hoof, was not taking it, however. “Don’t worry, my darling, I will defend your honour!” She declared before a tray of chocolate eclairs was levitated in her magic and thrown back at the mane six. Rarity gasp and ducked, only to hit Pinkie behind her. There was a gasp all around the hall as they knew what the best party planner in all of Equestria would say. She licked the chocolate from her face, a large smile revealed. “GALA FOOD FIGHT!” Pinkie declared to every creature in the hall. Every noble were now seeking shelter or running outside to the gardens as the mane six, except Twilight, the young six, Fancy Pants and Fleur joined in. "There goes our honeymoon," Lyra sighed before being hit in the face by a cupcake. Bonbon laughed, but stopped immediately when Lyra levitated a cake in her hooves. They looked at each other before being locked into a food wrestle on the marble floor. “And I wanted the night to go so smoothly,” Twilight sighed as she looked around at the chaos that would make Discord impressed, “Well, if you can’t beat them, join them.” She shrugged and decided to join her friends against their opponents. The remaining R.U.G members looked at the chaos unfurl before looking towards Trixie. “Oops,” She simple responded. It was then that Princess Celestia of all ponies walked into the hallroom. “And I thought this night couldn’t get any more interesting,” She observe, before spotting a particularly large cake ready to become ammunition by Rainbow Dash. “Not the cake! Not the cake!” She cried in terror, running towards the group and ignoring the mess to her dress and white coat. The R.U.G. looked at bewilderment at the scene before them. “Well, there goes our Best Night Ever,” Sunset sighed.