A very sleepy Princess Luna let out a long and loud yawn. At the same time, she carefully rubbed her eyes to clear her fuzzy vision.
Celestia lowered the document she was reading to look at her sister. “Luna, are you sure you don't want to go to bed? Raven and I can take care of things from here on, you have helped us enough already.” Clearly seeing that her sister was struggling to not fall asleep at a time when she was used to being in bed.
“I have to agree with Princess Celestia. Princess Luna, you look extremely tired.” Raven chained into the conversation, hoping to make it clear to Luna that she needed to go to sleep.
Luna let out another yawn while at the same time nodding with her head. “We are forced to agree. However, we would prefer to finish sending this invitation to the gala before withdrawing to our chambers.” Luna explained as she levitated a piece of black paper in front of her and prepared to write in it. “These invitations art for Princess Twilight and company, and we desire to take care of them ourselves.”
“Alright Luna. But once you are done, you are going straight to bed.” Celestia said, her tone commanding the authority she holds over Luna as her big sister, A tone Celestia rarely uses unless it was for the good of Luna, for example the times she refused to sleep.
“Thou do not need to tell me that twice, sister, we frankly cannot wait to rest my head on our pillow.” Luna answered in a joking tone, before turning her half open eyes to the blank paper. “Excuse me sister, how many of these ‘tickets’ dost thou wish me to send?” Luna asked as she levitated one golden ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala.
“Hmm,” Celestia scratched her chin, concentrating to make sure she didn’t forget anyone. “Let’s see, 12 tickets for Twilight, her friends and whoever they wish to invite. 4 more for Spike, Starlight and their guests. And another 12 for the students who took care of the mess Cozy Glow made, so 28.”
“Do you want me to separate some extra tickets in case they wish to invite someone else?” Raven asked as she separated the indicated number of tickets from a pile and gave them to Luna, her tone dancing in the line between a legitimate question and a sarcastic remark.
“You know what Raven, I don’t think that would be enough.” Celestia answered with a more cheapish tone that was borderline childish rather than malicious. “Say, do you remember the three adorable little sisters of Twilight’s friends?”
“Oh, yes! Young Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.” Luna answered despite the question not being directed at her. “Those three fillies have their follies, however, based on our personal experience they art quite charming.”
Celestia smiled, remembering how Luna enjoyed talking about her visits to the three fillies’ dreams, as they helped busting Luna’s confidence as guardian of the dream realm. “Yep, those three. I was thinking that it would be nice to give them their own invitations as well, especially seeing that you enjoy their company.”
“That would be quite wonderful!” Luna answered with excitement, or at least as much as her sleepy state allowed her to be. “We art looking forward to spending part of the night with the three.”
“I’m particularly looking forward to meeting whoever they wish to invite.” Celestia added with a light chuckle, amused that her little plan to get more energetic ponies and other creatures to the gala had worked.
“I suppose that means I should separate 6 tickets more?” Raven asked, already taking the tickets for the fillies out of the pile.
“Make that 12 Raven, just in case any of them wish to invite anyone else.” Celestia said while turning her attention back to her paperwork.
“40 tickets? Don’t you think that’s a little too much Princess?” Raven asked after quickly doing the math in her head. At the same time, and despite her doubts, Raven followed Celestia’s instructions and separated the tickets.
“Come on Raven, you know the gala can handle a few more guests than usual.” Celestia answered with a wave of her hoof, not finding any issue with the relatively high number of tickets. “Besides I doubt they will use all the tickets we send them, the extra 6 are just a precaution.”
“We art not sure sister,” Luna said from across the table, getting the attention of Celestia and her assistant. “Raven’s concerns might have their own merits.” She was holding in her magic the now ready to be sent invitation with the tickets. Although, rather than the scroll being neatly rolled up with the ticks inside of it like usual, it was instead wrapped around the considerably bulky pile of tickets, giving it as a whole a more cubic shape.
Celestia let out a chuckle at the sight of Luna’s bemused expression, as she looked at what could only be described as a package rather than a scroll with some tickets. As for Raven, she rolled her eyes, although she had a grin on her face and was trying to hold back her own amused chuckle.
“I’m pretty sure Spike can handle that.” Celestia said while taking on her magic the ‘package’. She then closed her eyes, the cubical scroll disappearing in a flash of gold magic, sending it to the green and purple dragon.
“Now, if thou do not need anything, we will take our leave.” Luna said, while letting out another yawn and making her way towards the door.
“Sweet dreams Luna.” Celestia exclaimed with a smile and a wave, happy to see that her little sister was finally going to bed.
“Enjoy your sleep Princess, I will make sure you can wake up later than usual,” Raven added, not bothering to look away from the document she was reading.
“I thank thee, Miss Raven.” Luna said with a genuine smile, thankful that she could have more time to sleep. “We hope thou enjoy the rest of the day.” She added before leaving the room.
Luna began to make her way through the castle’s hallways and stairs, her bed being the only thing in her mind. Fortunately for her, the path she chose was one of the more private parts of the castle; so, with the expectation of a few guards and maids, there wasn’t a pony or creature that interrupted her. That is until she took a left turn down a hallway and came across a certain infamous prince.
“Oh! Good a-afternoon aunty.” Blueblood greeted Luna, quickly looking at his pocket watch to make sure that it was indeed the afternoon. “What are you doing up so late? Did something happen?” Blueblood asked, surprised and concerned at seeing Luna roam the castle so late into the day, as the few times it happened was either during a celebration or some sort of problem.
“There art no issues, Blueblood. We were just helping Celestia and Miss Raven with the preparations to the Grand Galloping Gala.”.
Upon the mention of the gala, Blueblood emitted a bizarre noise that was a combination of a sigh of annoyance and a groan of distaste. “Please don’t remind me of the gala aunty.” He pleaded, closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead with one of his hoofs, the thought alone of spending his night at the event already giving him a headache.
“We offer our apologies,” Luna answered, although her tone wasn’t serious, yet. “However, as much as we understand thy distaste for the gala. Just like my sister, we still disapprove of thy actions during the previous galas and we expect thou to behave properly.” She added, while making her way around and walking towards her room, her tone being quite severe.
Blueblood sighed, remaining in place. “I know, I know, I know.” He answered his tone showing that he was tired of the whole ordeal. “Is just that, I would rather spend the night alone than socialising with the kind of ponies that come to the gala.”
“And as we told thou, thy distaste for the event is understandable. However, the extents thou had gone to art not, particularly how thou had preferred to destroy thy honour to be left alone.” Luna replayed, stopping and turning her head to look at her nephew, who seemed to be taken back by the last thing Luna said.
“Still, you can’t argue with the results, nopony has tried to offer their ‘friendship’ ever since” Blueblood answered, shifting awkwardly in place.
Luna let out a sad sigh, feeling bad as her hermit nephew withdrew deeper into his shell. She started to walk again, before stopping, an idea appeared in her head. “By the way, we were thinking of inviting thou the dream realm.”
“Really?” Blueblood asked, quickly running to catch up with his aunt; his interest in exploration, shown by the compass rose he had for a cutie mark, being one of the few things that got Blueblood out of his shell.
“Yes,” Luna answered, still walking with Blueblood now at her side. “However, only, and only if thou behave properly at the gala.”
Blueblood stopped for a second, realising that he had fallen in his aunt’s trap and contemplating if his desire to explore the elusive dream realm was stronger than his distaste for the gala. “You’re good aunty.” He finally answered after Luna had stopped to look at him.
“Thank thou,” Luna answered with an overly exaggerated bow. After that the 2 began to walk in opposite directions, Luna going to her room and Blueblood to wherever he was walking before he came across his aunt.
“And by the way Blueblood,” Luna called out.
“Yes, aunty?” He asked around the corner.
“Remember that this year we will be present at the gala, we will know if thou did not assist.” Luna replayed, preferring to let him know that he won’t be able to pull off any tricks.
Blueblood held back a sight of defeat and rolled his eyes. “Sweet dreams aunty.” He exclaimed, not bothering to acknowledge that Luna had outdone him again.
“Thank thou.” Luna answered, letting out a chuckle, knowing that she had once again outplayed her nephew.
Starlight let out a relaxed sigh -the same one would hear or make during a vacation day, as she left her office and began to make her way to the library.
“What a lovely day has been,” Starlight thought to herself as she made her way down the corridors of the School of Friendship. Today, her office had been uncharacteristically peaceful, though the same could be said about the entire school; something that surprised her as Miss Cheerilee’s class had come on a field trip, not that she wasn’t complaining for the uncharacteristic peace.
However, for Starlight the highlight of her day wasn’t the unexpected tranquillity. Instead, it was the fact that Celestia and Luna had sent a large number of invitations to the Grand Galloping Gala. Two of them were for Starlight and a companion, but, thanks to the extras they received Starlight didn’t have to stress over inviting either Sunburst or Trixie to the gala, she could simply invite both.
Indeed, today had been a lovely, true, somewhat uneventful, but lovely none the least; or at least it had been uneventful to Starlight until she arrived at the library and came across quite the particular group.
Four of the library’s tables had been moved together, forming a massive table. Around it sat Yona, Sandbar, Silverstream, Gallus, and Ocellus; at the opposite end sat Applejack, Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Twilight; in addition to that, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle sat together in their own place among the students and teachers.
At first glance Starlight didn’t pay that much attention to the group, they were noticeable, but their presence in the library was explainable. The students probably asked their teachers for help with some sort of work, as for the crusaders, they probably stayed after their field trip had ended.
However, on closer examination Starlight noticed that something was off about them. Not only was Smolder missing, but so were any books or notebooks; with the exception of the crusaders, Ocellus and Twilight who had a few yellow sticky notes with mostly scribbles in them, no one had any sort of material to work with. In addition to that, most of them look like they were deep in thought, or getting frustrated or even just staring into nothing.
“Eh, is everything alright?” Starlight asked after getting closer to the table.
Gallus let out a groan of desperation, though it was less of an answer and more of a general complaint. “Why the hay is this so hard!?” He asked, still not directing his words to anyone present.
“Screw this!” Rainbow shouted. With a flap of her wings, she left the chair she had been sitting on. “I’m going out for a fly.” She added, rushing to an open window and taking up to the sky; just as Gallus her words weren’t directed to anyone in particular.
“Same,” Gallus answered, though Rainbow hadn’t invited anyone. He was right behind Dash, even leaving the building through the same window and roughly at the same speed.
“Yep, I definitely missed something important.” Starlight said to herself while looking at the window Dash and Gallus had used to leave the library. She then turned her attention back to the table, where no one seemed to even notice the absence of the blue pegasus and griffon. “Anyone mind giving me the details?”
Twilight looked up from her yellow sticky notes, glad to take some sort of a break from the current problem they were in. “Remember those tickets Princess Celestia sent us?”
“Yes, I gave mine to Trixie and Sunburst like an hour ago,” Starlight answered.
“Well, we are having a bit of a problem finding who we are going to invite.” Twilight answered, levitating her sticky notes. It was then when Starlight realised that what she thought were scribbles were actually names marked with different symbols, though most of them were simply crossed out.
“Why don’t you just invite the same pony as last year?” Starlight asked, having difficulty seeing the problem.
“Well, in my case it is because they got their own tickets this time,” Rarity answered. She was wearing her glasses, though she didn’t even have a sticky note in front of her, instead, she was looking at the farthest away wall of the library.
“Yep,” Applejack added with her eyes closed and hidden by her hat. “Dash, Rars and I would normally invite the crusaders, but as you can see they got their own tickets now.” She explained while lazily pointing in the direction of the three fillies. “So that ain’t an option; and I don’t know about Dash’s or Rars’ families, but besides Applebloom and me, none of the apples have either the time or interest to go to the gala.”
“Well, that explains why you two and Dash are having problems, and I imagine Fluttershy is in a similar situation.” Starlight said while scratching her chin, almost like she was trying to understand something that wasn't related to what she was saying.
“Oh well, yes, Tree Hugger only wanted to attend the gala out of curiosity, and, well Discord already has his own tickets, so I’m struggling to think of someone to invite to the event without inconveniencing them.” Fluttershy answer while playing with her hair.
Starlight simply nodded in acknowledgement, before turning to see the one responsible for most of her confusion. “Still, I still don’t understand what you are doing here Pinkie. If anypony shouldn’t have any sort of problems finding someone to invite it should be you.”
Pinkie just turned to look at Starlight completely confused, as she was talking to her in a different language. “What do you mean? I already knew who I was gonna invite this year since the end of the last gala.”
“Wait! Really?” Starlight exclaimed, although her tone showed less surprise and more relief. She was happy that the world made sense again, or well, as much sense as it did when Pinkie Pie was involved.
“Yep, but I stayed to help the others figure out who to invite,” Pinkie added while repeatedly touching her forehead, with an exaggerated version of that of Twilight’s thinking face.
“Same here!” Silverstream called out, her left foreleg wrapped around Ocellus, bringing the changeling closer to her. “Ocellus already sent her extra invitation to Thorax and Pharynx, Smolder did the same and sent her’s to Ember, and I already sent mine to my lil brother; but just as misses Pinkie Pie, we stayed to help the others.”
“Well…” Ocellus added, still trapped in Silverstraem embrace. “I’m still waiting for King Thorax and King Pharynx to send me an answer, and Smolder is also waiting for dragon lord Ember to write back; so it is not 100% sure that those are going to be our companions to the gala.”
“By the way Ocellus, why did you and Smolder decide to invite Thorax, Pharynx and Ember to the gala? That would be like Twilight inviting Princess Luna, didn’t you two have anyone else to invite?” Starlight asked while looking at the young changeling.
Before Ocellus could answer, Yona, who had been sitting next to Sandbar, both staring into nothing, spoke. “Yona not want to be rude to counselor Starlight, but Yona and Yona’s friends in pony school of friendship for a reason; Yona and Yona’s friends not that good at making friends.” Oddly enough, Yona’s tone wasn’t sassy, instead she sounded confused.
“Good point,” Starlight answered with a deadpan expression; at the same time Sandbarn turned to see his girlfriend, or ‘nak-friend’, as Yona had taught him that was the yak equivalent of ‘mare-friend’. He had a silly smile on his face, amuse by seeing Yona be somehow sassy yet oddly adorable at the same time.
At the same time, almost as if the universe had taken pity on Starlight for her obvious question, Spike and Smolder entered the library. Both dragons were struggling to carry different kinds of food on their hands and arms.
“We’re back!” Both dragons exclaimed while making their way to the table. Their greeting was answered by a harsh shush from Twilight, the librarian and the other students in the library.
“Sorry,” the two said while at the same time giving the food they had brought to the others.
While distributing the food Spike noticed that Starlight was now precent. “Hi Starlight,” he greeted her with a wave. “Thanks for coming to give us a hoof, say, do you want me to get something for you at the cafeteria?” He added while putting what Dash had asked for in front of her empty chair.
“Thanks Spike, but I’m fine.” Starlight answered while taking advantage of Dash’s empty chair and sitting on it. “So, you are also having trouble deciding who you are gonna invite?”
“Yes,” Spike answered while taking his seat next to Twilight. “Big Mac has no interest in the gala and Ocellus and Smolder beat me to inviting Tho-” Before Spike could finish with his explanation he was interrupted by his cheeks inflating. Right as he was about to burp up the letter, Twilight cast a magic shield bottle around him, trabing Spike with the letter, green fire and smoke.
Spike began to cough uncontrollably while trying to dissipate the smoke out of his face. “What was that for!?” Spiked asked after Twilight lowered the shield.
“Sorry Spike, but after what happened during the tour I prefer to be cautious.” Twilight answered, her tone completely normal, like what she had done wasn’t anything strange at all.
Spike rolled his eyes; true he had scared some of the students of Cheerilee’s class with the big flames and a cloud of smoke he produced when he received the invitations, but that didn’t mean that something similar was gonna happen again. However, instead of arguing with Twilight, Spike decided to check the scroll of paper that was resting at his feet. “This is for you Ocellus,” he called out to the changeling while extending it to her.
“Is from king Thorax!” Ocellus exclaimed with her eyes wide open, with care she used her magic to take the scroll out of Spike’s hands, before opening and reading it. “My dear Ocellus, thank you for the invitation, however I regret to inform you that we already have our own invitations to the Grand Galloping Gala, Princess Celestia sent them to us yesterday, so sadly I have to return them to you.”
Ocellus stopped for a second, looking at the leter with confusion before continuing. “Now we have to worry about finding someone to take to the gala, or at least I do, because apparently my brother already knows who he’s gonna invite.” Ocellus stopped again, her expression changing from that of confusion of realisation. “P.S: Sorry about that, Pharynx is struggling to find someone to invite to the gala; by the way, could you please ask Spike if he could send this to Ember. With warm regards Thorax.”
Ocellus then gave Spike a smaller scroll that had an invitation to the gala tied to it with a bow of a cyan colour. Spike took the scroll and was about to sent it when once again his cheeks inflating, and just as before Twilight cast a shield around him, this time however, instead of taking in all the smoke and coughing; Spike just glared at Twilight before picking up the scroll and giving it to Smolder.
Smolder quickly took it off Spike’s claws and began to read it. “Hi Smolder, this is Ember. I’m sorry but I already have tickets to the gala, Celestia sent me two, still thank you for the invitation. By the way, could you ask Spike to send this to Thorax, please. Anyway, see you at the gala.” Just as with Thorax letter, Smolder’s was a scroll with the invitation tied to it with a bow, although this time the bow was of a green lime colour.
“Ah! At least those two finally asked the other for a date.” Smolder remarked with a smirk while giving the smaller scroll to Spike.
“SMOLDER!” Ocellus exclaimed while glaring at her dragon friend. At the same time Spike left the library to send the scrolls away from Twilight and her spells.
“What? We all know those two have a thing for the other,” Smolder answered, confused as to why Ocellus had reacted that way.
“You know I’m not comfortable talking about dad’s love life!” Ocellus answered sharply, not realising that she had mistakenly called her king dad.
Fortunately for the changeling, Starlight did notice, and she was quickly in her attempt to bring the attention to someone else, in this case the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who have been unusually quiet the entire time. “What about you three? Having troubles finding out who you are going to invite?”
“Yep,” Scootaloo answered, finally bothering to acknowledge Starlight's presence.
“It’s just that the gala is a big and important event and well-” Sweetie Belle added, before stopping for a second trying to find the right words.
“It ain’t like we ever thought of who we could invite; we were excited, but now we are more confused than a fish in an apple barrel.” Apple Bloom continued.
“Yes, we can’t think of anyone we can’t invite.” Scootaloo added.
“Ironic when you consider we have no problems coming up with a list of things a pony can try to get their cutie mark.” Sweetie Bell then showed Starlight the sticky notes the three fillies had been staring at. Revealing that rather than having names it was full of the same kind of crude drawings the crusaders would put in their ‘cutie mark hunting lists’.
“I think you guys are exaggerating a little,” Starlight said after an awkward silence. She then began to walk around the table. “I understand that this is a little out of nowhere for most of you, and that for some, those who you would usually invite have their own tickets and that the gala is an important event and what not. But I feel like you are all going a little ‘Twily-nanas’ over it”.
Twilight just let out a sigh, mentaly cursing her brother for teaching that expression to her friends during the last Hearth's Warming.
“I’m pretty sure that if you take a deep breath and look at it from a different angle, you can find a better solution. Sure, maybe you can’t invite a friend or family member, but that isn’t your only option. Maybe you can try inviting someone you are thankful for, a sort of thank you, or maybe someone you know who deserved a holyday or-”
Before starlight could finish listing different ideas, she was interrupted by Fluttershy of all creatures, who jumped out of her chair into the air. “That’s it! Starlight, you are a genius!” She exclaimed in a victorious maner, before realising what she had done, slowly descending back onto her chair while apologising.
“Finally figured out who you are gonna invite?” Starlight asked while Fluttershy went back to her chair.
“Yes, when you suggested inviting someone that deserves a break I remember that Dr. Fauna does deserve one.” Fluttershy answered, brimming with excitement.
“Sorry, who?” Smolder asked while looking at Fluttershy with confusion.
“Dr. Fauna, the veterinarian of Ponyville,” Pinkie answered, before reaching into her mane and putting out a collection of photographs showing some of the animals that Fluttershy had brought to her over the years. “She has helped Fluttershy with all kinds of animals.”
“Indeed, and to be honest, until I opened the Sweet Feather sanctuary, she was quite overworked because of me; and well... I was never able to give her a proper thanks, so inviting her to the gala and to spend the weekend in Canterlot seems like a proper start to me.” Fluttershy added, looking a little ashamed of confessing that she had a role in Dr. Fauna’s previously overwhelming schedule.
“That’s actually quite brilliant darling!” Rarity exclaimed with enthusiasm. “I could invite Coco and Sassy and…” Rarity interrupted herself, excitement showing on her face with a silly smile. “We could wear the new line of dresses we have been working on! It would be a sales boom to my boutiques!”
“Oh! Oh! Ohohoh!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed with the same excitement as Rarity, a sign to the other crusaders, who knew that whenever Sweetie Belle said ‘oh’ a lot meant that she had a new and usually great idea. “We give one of ours to Miss Cheerilee!”
The crusaders reacted to this idea with excitement, not only agreeing but quickly starting to think who else could they invite; and the three fillies were not the only ones who did so, as everyone else began to share their excitement. As for Starlight, she simply left the library with a smile, happy to know that what could have been a hurdle in the day had become another pleasant highlight.
The following afternoon the crusaders were speeding down the road from the Ponyville Schoolhouse towards a hill overlooking the entire town on their red wagon, of course they were all wearing their helmets.
“I can’t believe how happy Miss Cheerilee was when we gave her that ticket!” Apple Bloom exclaimed with a big smile of happiness on her face.
“Yes! You flew past Cloudsdale with that idea Sweetie!” Scootaloo adeed, while quickly turning to see the girls on the wagon, showing that she also had quite the big smile on her face.
“Thank you, but seeing Miss Cheerilee smile like that was enough thanks for me.” Sweetie answered, sharing the same excitement as that of her friends.
“Well, I ain’t not sure about you girls but after that I can’t wait to give our other ticket to Zecora!” Apple Bloom added, even more excited at the thought of seeing the reaction of her zebra friend and mentor after getting the ticket.
“You won’t have to wait that much Blooms, we are here!” Scootaloo announced while slowly bringing her scooter and the wagon to a hold on top of the hill.
The moment they stopped, Apple Bloom gave each of the crusaders a crudely made binocular, while she put out an equally crude looking spyglass. Their original plan was to go to Zecora's house and wait to surprise her with the ticket.
However in their excitement, however, the three fillies decided to instead go to the town and give it to Zecora right there. They came up with the idea of climbing up the hill to try to find her from high up, and after quickly scrambling to grab the binoculars and spyglass that they had made as part of a science project a few weeks ago, the trio was on their way to the hill.
Like a group of spotters in a royal equestrian ship, the three files began to comb Ponyville in search of Zecora. Sweetie Belle took the west side of the town, particularly the market; Scootaloo took the east side where most of the stores were; as for Apple Bloom she took the center, in case Zecora was already heading back to her home.
For at least a minute the three fillies keeped looking through the town, checking any place they knew Zecora would frequence, as well as any other odd place she might visit from time to time; however despite of the short time, the wave of child-like excitement the crusaders were riding made it feel like they had being at it for an hour or more.
Fortunately before their hype made them do something abrupt, Sweetie Belle called out in excitement, “I SEE HER!”
“Where!?” Both Scootaloo and Appple Bloom asked, at the same time as they turned to face in the general direction as Sweetie was looking.
“There! She’s wearing her cloak! She’s leaving the marketplace and heading to town hall!” Sweetie exclaimed, using her hoof to point at the houses between the market and town hall.
Before Apple Bloom could find Zecora, Scootaloo exclaimed, “GOTCHA!” That moment Bloom quickly began to grave and put away her spyglass as well as the binoculars. She knew that there wasn’t a point in trying to spot Zeocra when Scootaloo was about to take her to wherever her zebra friend was.
“Hold on! We’re taking off!” Scootaloo exclaimed once their science work had been safely put away, at the same time she began to flap her wings, moving the scooter and wagon forward and downhill. Meanwhile both Sweetie and Bloom were already prepared, they didn’t need the warning, years of riding with Scootaloo had given them enough experience to know what to do when traveling at high speed.
As they went down the hill they gained more and more speed, with the three leaving forwards in a more aerodynamic position, in addition to that Scootaloo continued flapping her wings until she felt that no matter how hard she tried she could make the scooter and wagon go faster.
They continued downhill, reaching such speed that the trees surrounding their path were just green and brown colour blurs. When they felt that the road was becoming less steep and more flat, both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle took a more sturdy position. Meanwhile Scootaloo began to flap her wings again, keeping their speed while gaining more control over the scooter and wagon.
Soon the road became wider with a few houses appearing at their left and right, signaling their arrival to the outskirts of Ponyville. Town hall appeared over the horizon and so did the most tricky part of their rute, the stone bridge over the small river that ran through town.
The crusaders braced, increasing the strength of their grip in the scooter and wagon. With a quick motion Scootaloo lined their transport with the center of the bridge; thought that wasn’t the hard part, as the arc design of the bridge made it the perfect ramp, this time, the three fillies were literally taking off.
Right before the front wheels of her scooter were off the ground Scootaloo made a sharp left turn, at the same time all of them began to lean both forwards and left; this meant that while in the air both the scooter and waggon began to turn left.
In the few moments they were in the air, they managed to turn almost completely to the left, missing a few degrees for a perfect 90 degree turn. The scooter and wagon then landed on the dirt, drifting a little before Scootaloo redirected the entire thing forwards, conserving some of the momentum and speed.
With town hall at their right and the road to the market in front of them, Scootaloo began to decelerate as she had finally spotted Zecora again; surprisingly, despite the fact that Zecora had been walking, she barely moved since Scootaloo saw her through the binoculars.
As they moved closer to Zecora, Scootaloo took another sharp turn, this time to the right, drifting both the scooter and wagon to a full stop in front of the potion maker, and putting their transport in such a position that all three crusaders could look at her.
“Hi Zecora!” The fillies exclaimed in unison, despite their previous daredevil stunt, all three still had their joyful childish tone, as if what they had done wasn’t dangerous or spectacular at all.
“Ah, greetings Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. An impressive trick that was, say I must.” Zecora answered, smiling at the 3 fillies and their antics.
“Thank you, but it wasn’t that hard, just a few simple tricks we have learned.” Scootaloo answered with a wave of her hoof.
Zecora just gave her a small node before turning her attention back to all three crusaders. “So, may I ask, why did you rush to meet me with such haste?”
The crusaders gave her a big smile, at the same time Apple Bloom reached into her back, past the still intact spyglass and binoculars, before pulling out a golden ticket.
“SURPRISE!” The three shouted in unison while holding the ticket as close to Zecora’s face as their small bodies could reach.
Before Zecora could say a thing the fillies began to talk. “It’s a ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!” Apple Bloom explained with excitement.
“As well as an invitation to stay at the castle for the weekend.” Sweetie Belle added.
“Yes, Princess Celestia and Luna were nice enough to give us our own tickets to invite whoever we wish,” Scootaloo continued.
“And we decided to invite you!” The three fillies exclaimed in unison, somehow moving the ticket closer to Zecora’s face.
Zecora froze for a second, her mouth slightly open because of the surprise. “I-I don’t know what to say! Zecora then carefully took the ticket with her hoof, as if it could trumble into dust. “Thanks my dear fillies for inviting me!” She added, while giving the crusaders a hug.
“It was notting Zecora,” Apple Bloom answered while hugging her back.
“Oh, by the way,” Sweetie Belle added after they broke their hug, “if you don’t have anything to wear, Rarity told me she can make you a dress.”
“Thanks, but a dress I do own, though it’s quite old and needs some love.” Zecora asked Sweetie while tapping her chin, trying to remember where she had put that old thing.
“Don’t worry, Rarity already told me that she’ll happily fix any dress related problem of whoever we invite. If anything, she’ll love the chance to take a look at something as unique as what you probably own.” Sweetie answered while she and Apple Bloom climbed back into the wagon.
“Before proceed you do, could I know who else did you invite?” Zecora asked, as the crusaders prepared to roll out.
“Well, we already gave one to Miss Cheerilee,” Scootaloo said, while checking that the fall hadn’t damaged either the scooter or wagon.
“But, we ain’t sure who else we’re gonna invite.” Apple Bloom answered while making sure her helmet hadn't come loose.
Zecora then turned her attention to the sky, looking thoughtfully, but before she could make a suggestion she saw something that made her chuckle. She then smiled at the fillies before restarting to walk back to her home. “Well, sure I am that an answer you will soon have.”
Before the fillies could ask what she meant, they were tackled out of their transport and into a hug by an extremely friendly light grey griffon.
“That was amazing! You three were going so fast! I couldn't even catch you! And then the jump! When I saw you were turning I thought you were going to crash, but you didn’t! I don’t know what to say except that you are amazing!” Gabby exclaimed while hugging the crusaders; somehow her tone showed more excitement than usual.
“Hi Gabby! The crusaders replied, after Gabby had finished her little narration of their stunt and while doing their best to return the hug despite the tight embrace that characterised Gabby’s hugs.
“Greetings Gabby,” Zecora called out with a wave and a chuckle at Gabby’s shenanigans, getting the attention of the overly happy griffon.
“Oh, hi Zecora!” Gabby answered, while gently putting the crusaders back on the ground. “Do you need help taking that back home?” She asked, after noticing that Zecora was carrying her saddlebags under her cloak.
“Thank you Gabby, but time to help me I doubt you will have; as like me for an event you will need to prepare.” Zecora answered, while giving the crusaders a wink.
“An event? What do you mean?” Gabby asked, tilting her head in confusion, before turning around to see Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo once she realised who Zecora was winking to. “Do you know what she’s talking about?”
The fillies looked at each with a big smile on their faces, before nodding at the same time. Apple Bloom then rushed back to the wagon, quickly putting out the last invitations from their bags before running back to Gabby and the other girls.
Just as before, the crusaders exclaimed, “SURPRISE!” while holding the ticket as close to Gabby’s face as they could.
“Thank you!” Gabby exclaimed, before embracing the three fillies in another tight hug. “Though, to be honest, I don’t know what this is, but thank you none the least.” Gabby added after putting the crusaders back on the ground and taking a closer look at the ticket on her claw. Zecora and the crusaders smiled at Gabby’s question, even the young fillies wished they could have the same excitement as their griffon friend did.
“It’s a ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!” Apple Bloom explained.
“One if not the most important event in all of Equestria.” Sweetie Belled added, with a joking tone that mocked Rarity, going so far as to play with the part of her mane that wasn’t under the helmet.
“Our friends the crusaders received their own invitations; and thoughtful they were to us and miss Cheerilee as to bring us along they decided to do.” Zecora chimed in on the explanation with a playful tone.
“Indeed, and it’s not only the gala, the Princesses invited us to spend the weekend in the palace too.” Scootaloo finished, still finding it hard to believe that they were going to speed a few days in the castle.
Gabby herself had become more and more excited throughout the explanation, her eyes slowly becoming wider and wider as well as her smile; but when the Princesses were mentioned something changed in her expression. It wasn’t a negative change, but quite positive, as the same spark she had in her eyes when meeting the crusaders for the first time made a reappearance.
“When you mean the Princesses, you mean Princess Celestia right?” Gabby asked, trying to hold back her excitement.
“Yep” Apple Bloom answered, not with pride but with the same calm tone as that of Big Mac.
“And Princess Luna too,” Scootaloo adeed, imitating the same tone as that of Apple Bloom’s.
“So, does that mean I have a chance to meet Princess Celestia?” Gabby asked, her excitement becoming too much to hold back.
“I mean, she’ll definitely have things to do, and Twilight will want to spend some time with her, but we’re gonna be in Canterlot for all the weekend, so you’ll definitely have a chance to meet her.” Sweetie explained.
None of the crusaders nor Zecora noticed that the excitement of Gabby had reached a building point, as Gabby launched herself towards the crusaders, embracing them in another hug.
“Thankyou thankyou thankyou!” Gabby exclaimed before flying upwards and spinning in joy, taking the fillies with her while laughing the same way she did when she met the crusaders for the first time.
“G-gabby,” Sweetie Belle said in a whisper, struggling to breathe because of the extra tight embrace.
“We spoke about this,” Scootaloo adeed, also struggling to make herself heard as she too was having trouble breathing.
“Not so tight, remember?” Apple Bloom finished, her tone being a little more audible compared to her friends as her strong earth pony muscles. Allowed her to breathe a little better.
“Oh! I’m sorry!” Gabby answered, relaxing her arms. She then began to descend, to her surprise she was higher than what she had thought, expecting to be hovering barely above the ground rather than at the same height as town hall.
“May I inquire as to why you are so excited?” Zecora asked once Gabby and the crusaders had returned to the ground.
“Of course.” Gabby answered with excitement rather than the shy behaviour one would expect in that kind of situation. “You see, I always wanted to meet Princess Celestia. Even since I was a little chick back in Griffonstone I always heard stories of how beautiful and lovely Equestria was; and often Princess Celestia was credited as making your land that way, and well, ever since then I always wanted to meet her and befriend her.”
“Aww!” Sweetie exclaimed, finding Gabby’s explanation to be quite adorable.
“So, she’s basically your hero?” Scootaloo asked, as Gabby reminded her of how she sees Rainbow Dash.”
“Yep,” Gabby answered with a simple nod.
“Well, apologise I do, but in my way I must be; as I need to start preparing for the gala. Later see you all I will, again thanks a lot for the tickets my dear fillies.” Zecora said with a wave, before restarting her walk back home.
“Later Zecora.” Both the crusaders and Gabby exclaimed while waving back to Zecora.
“She’s right, we should start preparing for the gala,” Apple Bloom added while she and the other crusaders returned to the wagon and scooter.
“You too Gabby, you probably have a lot to do in preparation to meet Princess Celestia,” Scootaloo added.
“Not really,” Gabby answer in a nonchalant tone, “Derpy already told me we are getting also getting the long weekend off, so I don’t have to worry about work”
“Well, you still need a dress among other things. Rarity already told me that whomever we invited can come to the boutique for help preparing for the gala; so if you need anything our door is always open.” Sweetie continued.
“Thank you, I might drop later tomorrow.” Gabby answers, trying to think of what else she might need to take care of. “I still thank you enough for the ticket, you are such good friends”.
“It was nothing Gabby,” the crusaders answered with a smile.
“Toodles!” Gabby exclaimed before taking flight. “I’M GONNA MEET PRINCESS CELESTIA! WOOHOO!” Gabby stopped amid flighty to celebrate, raising her florelegs before diving down, the small dive giving her more speed as she flew away.
As they saw their friend fly away the crusaders turned to see each other, and after a silent nod, the three high-hoof, happy that today had gone so well.
A few days later, during a weekend afternoon, Zecora found herself at the front door of the Rarity’s Carousel Boutique. Just like when she had purchased a few things at the market early that week, she was rearing or cloak with her saddlebags under it, though this time the bags were more noticable, as she had stuffed them as best as she could with her old dress.
Zecora tried to look for any signs that the place was open, but she couldn't find any, after a few more seconds of looking around she decided to knock at the door.
“Please come in, the door is open.” Rarity called in from inside the boutique.
Zecora followed her instructions and moved inside the building, looking at the interior with curiosity, as there were a lot more dresses and fabric scattered around than the last time she had visited.
“Hi Zecora!” Sweetie Belled exclaimed, getting the attention of her distracted friend.
“Afternoon Zecora,” Rarity said, after taking her eyes off Sweetie, who was wearing a new dress that Rarity was adjustmenting.
“Oh! My greetings to you I give,” Zecora answered with a wave.
“So, Sweetie and her friends told me you have an old dress you can use for the gala, did you find it?” Rarity asked, turning her attention back to Sweetie Belle and her dresses.
“Indeed, in fact, brought it with me I did.” Zecora answered, struggling to put it out of her saddlebags.
“Excellent, could you please put it on, I want to see how you look with it. The fitting room is behind me.” Rarity said, not taking her eyes off Sweetie’s dress.
“Are you sure? It’s quite old and battered; damaging further is something I don’t want.” Zecora answered, as she made her way to the small fitting room.
“Don’t worry about it.” Rarity answered, levitating a needle and some thread to fix a small hole in Sweetie’s dress.
“Yep, there's no damaged dress my big sis can’t fix.” Sweetie added, reaming still to make sure Rarity didn’t poke her with the needle.
“Except burned dresses,” Rarity answered with a sassy tone.
“I told you, it was Discord’s fault!” Sweetie exclaimed sharply, remembering how the previous dress she had worn to the gala was accidentally destroyed during said event.
Zecora chuckled at the exchange, before looking at the dress with consearn. “Hope that remember how to put this old thing on I still do.” She then left her clocks and saddlebags on a small hook and entered the fitting room.
“By the way Zecora, why did you knock?” Rarity asked, trying to make some conversation to pass the time.
“Close I thought you were, as an opensign I couldn't find.” Zecora answered, groaning a little as she began to battle with her dress.
“I told you we are forgetting something.” Sweetie said while looking at Rarity, who was looking at the front door with shock at the realisation that indeed, they had forgot to put the opensign.
Rarity sighed, while putting the sign in place. “At least I was able to fix everyone’s dresses.” She said, while cringing at the thought of how many clients she probably lost that day because of that small mistake.
Fortunately for Rarity’s morale, someone else showed up to keep her distracted.
“Hi Rars! Hi Sweet!” Gabby exclaimed while entering the boutique, as always she had that contagious smile and jolly spirit.
“Welcome Gabby!” Rarity said with a smile.
“Hi Gabby,” Sweetie answered, before tilting her head a little, “Sweet?”
“Yeah, I tried to come up with a nickname for you and that's the best I could think of.” Gabby explained, “Do you like it?”
“I don’t know why but my name has never worked when making it shorter, it just feels… odd” Sweetie answered, remembering how no one had tried to shorten her name, not even her parents or Rarity. “At least it’s better than when Scootaloo tried to make ‘bee’ a thing.” She concluded, remembering that weird week when Scootaloo called her bee, and how every time she did Sweetie would begin to look for a bee.
“So it's this the place?” Another griffon asked from behind Gabby, it was only then when either Rarity or Sweetie realised that Gilda was with Gabby.
“Hello Gilda,” Rarity said with a small wave, as she didn’t have much experience with the griffon, even after her ‘improvement in behaviour’ or as Pinky described it: ‘the meany got less meany’.
“Oh, hello… Rarity, right?” Gilda answered with a very awkward wave.
“Oh, so you know each other, wonderful!” Gabby said, not noticing the tension between the two.
Rarity just smiled at Gabby unwavering enthusiasm. “So, I imagine you two come to get your dresses fixed?”
“Yep!” Gabby answered while digging into her saddlebags, however, before she could show the dress to Rarity she interrupted her.
“I’m sorry dear, but for me it’s easier to work when the dress is being worn. I still have space in two of the three fitting rooms so please get change.” Rarity exclaimed, moving aside, letting both griffons make her way to where the rooms were.
“Say, who’s in the other one?” Gabby asked, while she and Gilda entered the spare fitting rooms.
“Greetings to you I give, Gabby.” Zecora called out from inside the room.
“Oh, hi Zecora good to… well I was going to say see you, but it's more like hear you.” Gabby answered while putting her own dress on..
“Zecora, you are taking quite long in there, do you need any help?” Rarity asked, noticing that Zecora still hadn't left the fitting room.
“Thank you but ok I’m, it's just that this dress a have a big brooch holding it in place is supposed to have, but lost it I think I did.” Zecora answered, still from inside the small room.
“Don’t worry about it, I have a few of those here.” Rarity explained.
“Please come out Zecora, I want to see how you look,” Sweetie pleaded, as besides that witch costume Zecora usually wore during Nightmare Night, she had never seen Zecora with something besides her cloak.
“Understood, here I come.” Zecora said before leaving the small fitting room
Her dress was quite unique, besides the black colour, something unusual as ponies prefered more lively colours, the most interesting part was how it looked. Rather than something elaborated, it look more like a simple piece of fabric in a long rectangular shape that had being wrapped around Zecora; looking like a sort of togga but somehow tighter, accentuating her body, yet it was also quite lose, letting her walk normally, it also cut short of the neck at an angle, letting her entire right foreleg exposed.
“So, of my dress what do you think?” Zecora asked. Before either Rarity or Sweetie could answer, part of the dress slipped and ended on the floor, revealing that indeed it was just a long rectangular fabric.
“Let me guest, that’s why you need the brooch?” Rarity asked, before starting to look for it.
Zecora simply nodded. At the same time Sweetie walked around her, adring the dress. “You look so pretty!” Was the only thing the little fillie could say.
“Indeed, you look quite elegant my dear.” Rarity said, while helping Zecora with the broach, a golden one with a flower whose interior was a dimont and petals were also gold.
“However, there's a few problems!” Rarity added sharply, while walking around Zecora. “There's a few holes here and there, and I suppose you aren’t supposed to drag the back through the floor.” She added, noticing that there was quite a long surplus amount of fabric at Zecora’s back legs.
“Wait? Is this cotton?” Rarity asked, after taking the fabric on her hoof to take a closer look at it.
“Indeed it is; you see for zebras tradition is to formal events assist wearing a cotton kanga as mine ” Zecora explained.
“SWEET CELESTIA!” Rarity exclaimed in horror while looking at a part of the surplus fabric at the back that had a massive hole on it.
“Oh yes! Honest I must be, the last time this dress I wore, Istumble and made that mess .” Zecora explained in a nonchalant tone.
“Poor little thing, Rarity is going to take care of you.” Rarity said while petting the fabric like it was a lost and afraid kitten,
“Fix it can you?” Zecora asked, though she already knew the answer.
“Not only I can, but I must!” Rarity exclaimed with determination. “This little beauty has already given me a bunch of ideas, and I can’t let my muse go out there in such terrible condition.”
“Wow! You look beautiful Zecora,” Gabby said with stonismsnet, alerting the others that she and Gilda had finished getting dressed.
“Thank you, thought looking good you two do.” Zecora answered, taking a better look at the griffons.
Unlike Zecoras’s dress, their dresses had a bit more complexity, but not that much compared to that of a standard pony dress. It was of a single piece and colour, without much detail our decoration, resembling that simple yellow dress with a bow Rarity made for Twilight’s birthday. Gilda’s dress was of a light purple, the same as that of the tip of her head feathers, while Gabby’s was of a light blue, the same as that of her eyes and the hair, or well feather tie she always uses.
However, the most remarkable thing was what they wore over the dresses, as both had capes, and quite elaborate capes compared to their dresses. Both had yellow lines in the shape of patterns, the yellow being of the same colour as that of their talons and beak. The capes also had holes, where they could choose to put their wings though, or high them; as Gabby had hers out while Gilda didn’t. The capes also had a big pointed flat collar and even a fluffy white collar, making them look like royalty, As for the colours, Gilda’s was red, making her look even more royal, while Gabby’s was of a light grey, the same as that of her feathers.
“Wait, does this mean capes are part of griffon formal dresses?” Rarity asked, as took a closer look at both.
“I suppose so?” Gilda answered with a light shrug.
“You know Gilda, I’m starting to understand why you call us ponies lame,” Rarity said, as she had always been a big fan of capes.
“Gilda! Language!” Gabby exclaimed in shock, scolding Gilda for her bad language like a mother to her daughter, even though Gilda was just a little older.
“Oh come Gabby! That was years ago!” Gilda answered with a sigh, knowing that Gabby will force her to apologise.
Rarity just chuckled, before getting closer, looking for imperfections. “Well, there's a few holes, but less than what I expected, some of the seams are quite loose. As for the capes, some of the patterns need love, and honestly I think the fluffy collar is too much, you look like a pre-Equestria royals, and for what Twilight told me they were insufferable.”
“Agree, we look like clowns with this, and they are very itch,” Gilda answered while scratching her neck,
“Hey Rarity, if you take off the fluf, can you give me a hood? I like them a lot” Gabby asked, while pulling the cape over her head, imitating the look of a hood.
“Of course I can, dear,” Rarity answered, already looking for a fabric of the same colour to make the hood. “Alreight, you better get comfortable because we are gonna be here for a while”.
“Oh, I’ll go for snacks!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed while rushing to the kitchen.
“How much is this going to take?” Gilda asked, a little inpatient.
“A few hours,” Rarity answered with a nonchalant tone.
Gilda let out a groan in desperation. “Como on Gilda, look at the bright side.” Gabby answered while giving her a pat in the back.
“Indeed, with our dresses taken care of, fewer things there are for us to worry about in preparation for the gala.” Zecora said, while making herself comfortable in one of Rarity’s couches.
“Speaking of the gala, the best advice I can give you is to stay away from that spoiled colt in the body of a stallion known as ‘Prince Blueblood’.” Rarity said while starting to work and Gilda’s dress, using an extremely mocking tone when saying the name of the prince. “He's an absolutely dreadful character that will ruin your evening.”
“Could you please stop talking about him?” Sweetie exclaimed while entering the room, bringing some candies, some cookies and 5 glasses of water with her. “I know he was mean to you but every time we have been invited to the gala you go on hours long tirades about him.”
“Hmmm! I was just warning our friends about him.” Rarity answered with indignation, before returning her attention back to Gilda’s dress.
“I doubt he would be a problem.” Gabby said with a relaxed tone. “I tend to get along with almost everyone, besides I’m mainly going to the gala to meet Princess Celestia”.
“Still, keep an eye out for him,” Rarity answered; at the same time Zecora took one of the glasses of water, thanking Sweetie Belle before drinking part of it’s content.
“Anyway, so how’s everything going back in Griffonstone?” Sweetie asked after giving Gilda and Rarity their own glasses of water and sitting next to Gabby.
“Things are going quite well, Gilda’s bakery is doing very well.” Gabby answered after eating one of the cookies.
“Oh, I didn’t know you had a bakery.” Sweetie Belle exclaimed while turning to look at Gilda. “Could you please tell me more about it?”
Gilda just let out a sigh. “Come on Gilda! Tell her about your bakery.” Gabby said, noticing that Gilda was reluctant to do so.
Gilda rolled her eyes, “Alright, but can you bring more water?” She answered, while holding her empty glass.
“You forgot to say please,” Gabby added in a singing-like tone.
Gilda just let a tired old groan while Zecora chuckled, looking forward to a few hours of this kind of always charming antics; and for the look of things, so did Rarity, Sweetie and Gabby.