//------------------------------// // Chapter 105: Skip the Running of the Leaves // Story: Griffon of Canterlot // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Griffon of Canterlot Chapter 105: Skip the Running of the Leaves In the royal carriage of the train heading to Ponyville Celestia was going through some paper work, the royal white griffon picking up the reports that was given to Raven Inkwell before the departure from Canterlot, the unicorn sat at a desk near by going through some herself from requests to signing off on projects that been given the green light and needed Celestia's final approval via signature. Celestia move a claw over the lines of the report. “Look like the removal of the leaves from all the trees been completed and cleared up to be turned into compost for farmers at Spring.” Celestia pleased with how smoothly the summer to autumn transition took place. “It good to see the change of seasons has been successful with all that been happening recently.” Raven continue to shuffle through papers reading through and putting them into order of piles respond. “Princess the usual events that took place in the last few months have been unnerving to say the least, even with your change in outer appearance of a griffon, your husband and daughter's return you are still our princess inside.” “That I am and thank you.” Celestia lift up a piece of paper. “Hmm... it seems there a petition from about a third of the noble houses in Canterlot for a evaluation over my sound and mind since my unexpected transformation.” Celestia rubbed the bridge of her break groaning a little. “I had a feeling this would come up, but I am still who I am...” Raven raise her head up from reading a project that only need Celestia's approval. “That is true Princess Celestia, I believe it completely.” She raise a hoof stopping Celestia from talking. “But I do have to admit you are quite a bit more intimidating now, and that could play factor into them bring fourth a failed petition because they don't have the back bone to try and argue their cases now in fear of your new outward appearance.” Celestia frowned putting the paper down. “So they know I am still me and all it has to do is my outer appearance? Because I am a six to seven hoof tall griffon?” “The way you say it Princess, it does sound rather silly.” Raven smiled. “Indeed, let's get back to work and sort out much of this backlog as much as we can before we arrive in Ponyville shall we?” Celestia smiled back. “At once Princess Celestia.” Both of them lower their heads and continue to go through the papers. Gilda laying on a couch going through Gale's schoolwork with a quill in one talon and the papers in the other resting on a cushion press against her hind legs. “The noble pansies just don't like the fact their system been uplifted by everything that happened and changed in the last 3 months.” Celestia lower the paper down deep in thought about what Gilda just said to them, she turn to Gilda. “Care to explain what you mean by their system?” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Dweeb it right in your face, they HAD only had you and Candy to deal with.” She put the quill down on the table with the papers sitting up raising her talon up closed, she raise a claw up with each point. “One they have to deal with Luna and Grover too now, two you have children, three you've created connects to other kingdoms such as Finch Griffons of Flaupta-on-Sea whatever their country is called. And four your a griffon and beat the crap out of Shal-Quz twice showing you are very capable leader in a crises.” Celestia listen to each of the brief reasons and Gilda was right on the mark, she clearly saw all of it happening before them. Everything that took place has uprooted a lot of things that roughly stayed the same and slowly progressed, it had got them all freaked out because they were facing the unknown as all were. “It seem you have brought up four very valid points Gilda, this is a interesting perspective you presented to me. I never thought I hear that from your beak.” Gilda scrunched up her beak glaring at Celestia. “I blame you for that Trollestia!” She point at her. “And yet you wouldn't change what I did that day, would you?” Gilda growled and grabbed the papers with the quill going back to sitting on the couch moving the pillow back over her hind legs to continue working without another word only grumbling to herself, Celestia smugly smiled seeing she got the upper talon on Gilda and goes back to her paper work. “Another day at that office as Princess Celestia's assistant.” Raven whispered to herself. Sitting at a table near one of the windows of the carriage Keeper, Rocky and Gale played a game of cards being watched by Leela, Alpha, Spyro and the guard. Keeper took a card and than put one from the hand into the discard pile. “Finally, one step closer to victory, who would of thought getting a set of threes and fours would be so challenging, exciting and frustrating all at once? I never in my extremely long life ever thought about a game like this.” Rocky took a card from the discard pile adding it to his hand and looking at which to discard. “I play this all the time with Leelee, got kinda boring when there only two of you and the outcome was 50/50 at best, Keeps. And it not the only change I like from this game too, it seem those clothes of yours were really too tight on ya.” He chuckled. “Hada hada ha, whatever you say Rocks, my clothes been the same size all my existence, just took a set of event to show me that I needed to get out of my tower for a few days. And didn't you keep continously steal endless pillows from your Creator for the fun of it?”” Keeper sniped back as Rocky put a card on the discard pile. “Ouch you got me.” He playfully put a hand paw on his chest and faced plated getting a laugh from Gale and Keeper. Gale took a card from the deck looking through his hand. “I happy we all happy, it fun playing cards.” Gale happily said as Rocky sat back up. “Oh and I win!” Gale put the card face down on the discard pile revealing his hand, Jack, Queen and King of Hearts in one set and four sevens in the other. Keeper put his hand down showing he only needed a seven to complete his five, six and eight of shades, Rocky showing he had only needed a seven of clubs to complete his. “Damn, he blocked us completely, that cheeky cub.” Keeper chuckled. Rocky put the cards onto the deck. “And I thought we were suppose to be the sly and cunning ones.” Keeper put Gale's and his own cards back into the deck with the discard pile, he started to reshuffle the deck. “I say we go again and see which of us trio of sly creatures come out on top this time around.” Keeper gave a sly smirk. Gale squawked happily. “Yes let's play again! Win or lose we have fun! That important!” “Here here!” Keeper and Rocky agreed. Leela sip her tea from the table she sat at watching them play. “That went right over Master Wayne's head, he into it so much that the fun is the true importance of the game to him.” Leela sip a bit more tea. Spyro had a talon press against the side of his face with the elbow on the table, the other held a quill on top of a paper writing away staring at what he wrote and sketched so far adding to it. “I don't understand...” “What do you not understand?” Alpha asked turning his attention to what on the paper. “Tigress... Arbiter... Ratchet... Keeper... they all golems with life crystals powering them and yet I can sense their emotions, feel as I am looking at a living breathing life no distinction from you, I or anyone...” Spyro put the quill down tapping on the sketch of a golem guard of the Mirror Portal room. “Yet the golems with life crystals guarding the phase barrier into the room where the Mirror Portal is I sense they are not real, how is it one feels off and hollow, the other feels real and alive...” Leela move the cup away from her beak putting it down on the saucer. “Unlike the golems that guard the portal, Keeper and the Created have a essence, a soul with personalities that became part of each life crystal because of Master Wayne.” Leela put a talon against her chest. “I and Anubis. We were made by Grogar through his bell's magic, created from the imagination and memories of Master Wayne. Rocky was made from my own imagination from a piece of rock and he drives me crazy half of the time.” Alpha flex his hand closing and opening it. “Lord Spyro I am of dreams, my form my body is of a reality fictionally played out from the mind of Lord Gale. That world, that life became mine and not Boss Wolf, I am Alpha Wolf.” Alpha eye turn to the window of the land moving past as the train head to Ponyville. “We are the sum of our parts Lord Spyro, life is unique in every way. I learned that from being here, you are in yourself a unique changeling that your bond on a brotherly level to Lord Gale, are you not?” Spyro looked at his notes and sketches. “Sum of our parts in uniqueness of life itself...” Spyro looked at each of them sensing the waves of emotions emigrating in waves of positive energy. “I never even thought about that, thank you Leela, Alpha... you two gave me a lot to think about.” They nod with a smile and turn back to watching Gale, Rocky and Keeper playing the card game as the train continue it journey to Ponyville. Walking through a somewhat empty Ponyville felt eerie, Gale's head was moving to the left and right with eyes shifting around trying to spot a single pony. “Where ponies?” Celestia open her wing putting it over him. “They are the Running of the leaves event outside the town, most will be there and the likelihood of running into a pony will be slim at best in town.” Gilda ruffled her wings. “Still creepy, it feels like a ghost town...” Raven using her magic present the papers to Celestia. “The Running of the leaves in Ponyville Princess, they will run through Whitetail woods near by and circle the town near Sweet Apple Acres to come to the start line and finish.” Celestia took it with a talon walking on her three remaining legs looking through it. “It will bring down the most leaves from the forests.” “Running bring down leaves, they fall because of hooves, Earth Pony tradition right?” Gale recalled reading about Ponyville and how it deal with seasonal changes. “Pegasi bring winter and than something call Winter Wrap Up with spring come.” Keeper hands resting against the back of his head. “Gallop and the earth shall shake Upon the skies the Pegasi shall come The snow shall fall upon the hooves of all Upon spring winter shall be wrapped up.” Rocky gave Keeper a very odd look. “Where the heck did that come from Keeps?” Keeper tap the side of his head with a claw tip of his finger. “Can't I be a poet? Random poems are part of our Creator after all, well mine and Leela's.” He gave a fanged grin to Rocky. “Not so sure about you Rocks.” Rocky through his sunglasses blinked a few times. “What!? I can do a poem! Watch-” Leela slap him on the back of the head with her talon hand. “OW! Leelee what was that for?” “Your playing into his paws! Rocky when you and Keeper go at it, you always lose.” Rocky rubbed his head. “Yeah ya right Leelee, I was playing into his paws.” Rocky smirked. “You know I can't do poems, ya sly crafty fox.” “That I did.” Keeper chuckled. Alpha rolled his eye with a grunt. “Alpha I do believe Keeper Sentinel needs a cooling down, he seem to be on fire.” Celestia's words caught the wolf attention, in the corner of his eye the object in the word was in sight. Keeper bowed to Celestia. “That I am, and I got mo-yip!” He suddenly grabbed the the tail by Alpha and he pull the bag off him. “Hey that my bag you stupid wolf give it back or I will call on the sentinels on you!” Alpha press his muzzle against Keeper's. “You really need to chill, how about some water?” “The river behind us you stupid mutt there no... body...” He slowed to see a very pink fountain with a pony standing on top of it with one hind leg, the other out stretch with a foreleg and the other holding up a heart with water coming out of it. “I soooo asked for thaaaaaat!” They all watched the fox sail across the air to slam into the fountain water. SPLASH! They watched with laughter as he climbed out of the fountain spitting out some water. “You definitely did haha you dweeb! Hahahaha!” Gilda holding her gut with a talon laughing hard. Keeper shook off the water from his body, kicking a hind leg out than the other, flicking his hand paws. “I sure did ask for that!” He smiled. “And I loved it! What a rush!” Keeper jump down and walked up to Alpha with an raised hand hinting to have the bag returned. “Can you give me back my bag please?” “Since you asked nicely you may.” Alpha gave it back to him and pat his head. “That a good fox.” He walk on to the start line location outside of Ponyville. Keeper just sloped over a little in dismay. “Well I got played big time...” Gale gave him a hug. “Better?” Keeper returns it. “Much my Creator, thank you Prince Gale.” “Happy to help!” Gale hummed and follows Alpha. Keeper put his bag back on over the shoulder across the chest resting against his side once more. “Now I have ZERO regrets leaving the tower!” He give a zero mark with his hand paw and walk on after Gale humming happily to himself. “That dweeb seriously is weird...” Gilda muttered. “That Keeper for you.” Leela sighed. “We better get going.” “Of course.” Celestia nod and they all walk on across town to the event starting and finishing location. Cheering and stomping could be heard from the stands by either side of the tracks, Keeper had his arms crossed looking up at a leafless tree. “Well you don't see that everyday.” Before him and the others hanging from a tree tied up was the pink vulpine Skip, his tails covered up with cloth bags and muzzled tied up too. Skip gave the best smile possible through it seeing them looking up at him with confusion all but one, Celestia who had a very stoic unpleasant look upon her face and Gilda could see serious this about to get. “Dweebs this just got deep, don't say anything.” Gale was about to ask but Gilda shook her head, he slowly look over to Celestia not understanding why he couldn't speak at the moment and the rest silently watch. They guards tensed up as Celestia start to use her talons to cut the bindings using her magic alongside it to keep Skip in place. “I seen this look in many diplomatic meetings through windows of words and art through out the pages of history...” Leela thought as they watched Skip was completely freed, the bindings around the muzzle freed and the bags removed from each of the tails. “Beta Skip who of my ponies tied you to the tree?” Celestia demanded with a slow rumble of a growl coming from her throat through the beak. Skip shook himself and ruffled his wings. “I smelt the most amazing sugary treats coming to the event, than boom I got pranked.” He laughed. “I mean it was cleaver and really awesome! I never saw it coming!” Celestia rub the bring of her beak with a talon groaning. “This is serious Beta Skip, prank or not this is a serious diplomatic incident.” Skip tilt his head with an puzzled expression. “Diplo what? Care to explain this one for me, I never heard of this word before.” Celestia looked very surprised. “It where an official visitor from another lands visit our kingdom and vis versus to see how our lands are compared to their own. Some are ones that speak to a official of their lands on discussing trade, tourism, military joint operations, sharing of ideas, technology and magic, even someday becoming allies that the two might become a greater whole and so on.” Skip lift a hind leg scratching his right ear with the paw. “Sounds boring, I rather have fun.” “Urg... Your missing the point!” Celestia slap her forehead with the talon now. “I am?” Skip asked. “Yes...” “I don't sound like any of what you said anyway Princess, I just came to visit the ponies I met for a short time before.” Skip said with the warm smile still on his muzzle. “I've had fun with so many of the ponies spending some time with them off and on, getting to know what they are like! They all awesomely friendly here!” Celestia groans. “Your mother knew of this, why did you not?” “Well she said if I was to prank someone, do it in a way that not harmful and damaging, if you rearranged objects, make sure to put them back where they were on shelves and I did when I pranked Twilight Sparkle in the library while we were talking. I saw how upset she was over it and I apologised, and I said I look forward to seeing what she would come up with to get her own back on me.” Skip was so causal over what he said showing that beaming happiness about him. Gilda was walking around with Alpha they had found pieces of rope and wheel hooks. “We found traces of what seem a very well made prank, it seem that Twilight Sparkle was the one behind this.” Alpha said showing a single mane strand. “And hearing what the doopy dweeb just said and what we found, it safe to say it was her getting him back by accepting his challenge.” Gilda chuckled a little. “Purple got him good.” Celestia looked at them both and before she could say something Keeper spoke up. “Leela can clarify this Princess, trust me she got the Kitsune traditions nailed.” Leela open her book up to pull out a few runes to display it in Griffish. “It says here when a Kitsune pranks someone and offer them a challenge, and answer said challenge by following with their own prank as pay back the one that pranked will not have any actions taken upon them even minor physical harm is caused.” Celestia looked at it carefully and more of the details to it. “What about the diplomatic statues?” “It still applies but since Beta Skip seem joyful over being pranked back and the chances of him pressing charges against Twilight Sparkle are neil Princess Celestia, you can have a word to her about it but nothing else can be done by Equestria laws.” Leela closed up her book. Celestia knew that all too well. “Your correct Leela...” She knew her talons were tied on this matter. Skip turn to Leela. “Birdy with the strange book, I love the prank I am not going to press any wrong doing to Twilight! She really worked hard on this! I give her a all eight tails out of eight and... looooooove it~!” Celestia took a deep sigh. “It seems this matter is closed than.” Gale was utterly confused. “What just happened? Mum mad, than annoyed, confused and unhappy than content? I lost...” Spyro smiled putting his wing over his little brother. “Laws and such getting all criss crossed from two different cultures, it gets confusion.” “Like Pegasi control weather in Equestria and no allow in Griffina?” “Yeah kinda like that.” “Oh Twi did bad, but bad not so bad because other no say it not bad?” Keeper chuckled. “Somewhat correct somewhat Prince Gale.” They heard mass amount of hooves passing by. “Dweebs how about we talk about wrong and rights later, that sound like the first runners just crossed the line, we missed the beginning and gonna miss the end at this right.” Celestia took a deep breath in and out. “Very well, we will deal with it later.” Celestia wave a wing for them all to follow. “It never dull is it Leelee?” Rocky laughed. “Not at all Rocky.” Leela shook her head softly as they all joined the crowd of ponies to see Twilight gallop through the finish line followed by a group of other ponies. Spyro had took note which place Twilight came as they watched. “Mum, Twilight finished in fifth, the other racers coming through now, many look really tied.” “I can see that, it seem Twilight took the pasting herself out and spiriting at the end approach.” Celestia said back. Skip looked around. “I wonder where Rainbow Dash and Applejack are, I would have been certain they would be in the lead of the pack.” Keeper put his hands behind the back of his head. “Most likely so caught up in trying to beat each other while horsing around they are dead last.” “You seem quite certain of it.” “Don't need to be Princess, I can hear them.” He point to the edge of the forest, they all could see Rainbow Dash and Applejack racing in, Applejack biting Rainbow Dash tail pulling her back, then Rainbow Dash return the favour. Applejack tries again this time biting off the ropes around Rainbow mind section. Gilda pinch the bridge of her beak rubbing it with her talon. “Oh boy, this is gonna be lame for Dash...” Rainbow Dash look back at Applejack. “That's it! All bets are off!” She took the air. Gale points. “That against rules right?” “Indeed, but watch and you will learn something here.” Celestia responded and Gale watched as his mum suggested. “Oh no ya don't!” Applejack leaps into the air after Rainbow Dash crashing into her and they started to fight with each other as they roll in a dust cloud towards the finish line, all on-goers watch in dismay. Skip curiously watched this unfold. “Ponies have a strange way of racing...” “That they do...” Alpha grumbled. The hot air balloon drift over with Pinkie and Spike in it. “It's Applejack, it's Rainbow Dash, it's Applejack, it's Rainbow Dash!” She bag the side of the basket as she commentated. The two ponies fighting crossed the finish line to come to an crashing end, Rainbow Dash all battered, mane, fur and feathers messed up got up and cheered. “I won!” Applejack also in a sorry state declared her victory. “No ah won!” Rainbow Dash countered. “I won!” They glared at each other. Spike spoke up through the mircophone. “No you tied!” They said together. “What!?” Followed by Rainbow Dash. “For first?” Pinkie answered. “No for last!” They looked shocked. “Last!?” Applejack gasped. Rainbow Dash asked. “W-who won?” Twilight approached them. “You!?” They said together with surprise. Twilight stood with pride. “Oh no, but I did get fifth place, which is rather good since I never run a race before.” Applejack still shocked to see and hear that Twilight got fifth spoke. “How is that even possible?” “You ran so slow and look at the scenery.” Rainbow Dash said still trying to get her head around the fact Twilight beat them. “Exactly. I paced myself just like my book said, than at the end with the other ponies worn out I spirted for the finish line.” Twilight explained to them. Gilda chuckled. “You were right on the money Princess Celestia, no way I will ever make a bet against you.” Gilda gave a thumbs up to her. Celestia returned it. “This is my queue.” She winked and start to walk up to them. “-right Twilight, our behaviour was just terrible.” Applejack admited defeat. “We weren't very good sports.” Rainbow Dash twist her fore hoof around in a circle pattern on the ground. The ponies gasp and bow instantly to the royal white griffon as she spoke. “Sounds to me a important lesson was learned.” Twilight, Rainbow and Applejack gasped. “Princess Celestia!?” Applejack asked. “Wh-what are ya doin' here?” “Fall is one of my favourite time of the seasons-” Gale and Gilda gave each other odd looks. “Doesn't mum mean Autumn?” He whispered. “Yeah the dweeb isn't falling.” Leela answered that. “In Equestria in called Fall, in Griffina it called Autumn.” “Sounds stupid, have it fall.” Gilda said and shook her head. “Yuck no thanks, that dweebish. Autumn sounds cooler.” “Agreed!” Alpha, Gale, Keeper, Skip and Rocky said together. They all approached the three racers with Celestia. “Ah'm sorry ya had to see us be such poor sports. Princess.” Celestia gave a small laugh. “It's alright Applejack. Anyone can get swept excitement of competition.” Twilight spoke next as the others gathered around Celestia. “It's important to remember that's the friendship more important than the competition.” Gilda gave a snorted laugh. “Yeah no Purple, Griffons thrive in competition and our friendships come from that mostly.” She than point at Rainbow. “Dash you look terrible and didn't think you go all griffon on your friend!” She laughed. Rainbow shook her head. “I didn't! We just got swept up in the moment G!” “Just joshing ya Dash.” Gilda laughed. Twilight groans. “Gilda your ruining a moment here!” “Please it just all sappy sappiness, it still got across.” Gilda dismissed it. “Plus your in somewhat hot water with Celestia anyway.” Twilight looked confused. “What does she mean by that Princess?” “I'll get to that in a second.” Celestia said and look to Rainbow Dash and Applejack. “Now unfortunately because of you two tricking each other instead of shaking down the leaves, many of the lovely trees in Equestria are still covered.” Gilda coughed into her talon. “Trollestria strikes again.” That result got a hefty laugh from Keeper and Rocky, a glare from Twilight who just heard her. “Why Princess, ah believe me and Rainbow can shake them down lickety split.” Applejack turn to Rainbow Dash. “What ya say friend? Want go for another run?” “I like to stretch my legs.” Rainbow responded. Gale raise his talon. “Can I run took mum?” Spyro crack some muscles in his legs. “I'm game.” “A chance to show Dash who better, I'm in.” Gilda grins and Rainbow Dash smiled back. “Your on G!” Rocky from a black shirt, trousers, blazer now worn blue shorts and white vest with a red head band on did a few runs on the spot. “Oooo this is going to be sooo much fun!” Leela laughed. “Have fun Rocky.” “Plan to Leelee!” He winked behind his shades. “Ready to eat my dust Dollface?” “You be eating mine Trash-panda!” Gilda growled. Skip turn a leaf into a starting gun airing it up. “Get set go!” He said rapidly firing it, they all ran off down the track. He blew the end of the muzzle and made it turn back into a leaf letting the wind take it from his paw. Twilight now was paying attention to Celestia, the griffon looked somewhat unhappy. “Have I done something wrong Princess?” “No, but I did find Alpha Pom-Pom's son in a tree tied up by something you created.” Celestia said firmly. “Beta Skip said it was your counter prank to what he did to the library.” The balloon lands, Spike and Pinkie approach but don't so anything. “It a bit of a touchy moment, things could easily go wrong...” Twilight Sparkle was a little lost. “Skip returned the library to normal after hanging out with Spike, he gave me a book about Kitsune's methods of does and don'ts of pranking each other and offered me a challenge.” She explained. Leela curiously now turn her attention to Skip. “I recall that something no Kitsune of the No-Yantic clan gives to outside their clan, why did you break that tradition?” Skip sat on his flank proding his forepaw tips against each other. “I have mum's magically ability of foresight, I hate it.” His tone turn annoyed and anger. “I hate having something past down from my mum cause of genetics! I don't want to see things happen before they happen! So I push that back as far I can, but it builds up and comes out every so often and it happen to do so before the race.” “Well this just got a bit more complicated...” Celestia mutters. Twilight quickly turn to him. “Y-you used me to get out of this!?” Skip shook his head. “No not at all, in fact you saved me from ruining the Running of the Leaves, I was to compete in it and every damn vision I saw of myself running it ends with me having some accident that made the event come to a instant end.” Keeper, Celestia and Leela started to put all the pieces together. “I see, you knew Twilight would accept the challenge to get you back. By gifting her something that you'd never would do.” Celestia begins to say. Keeper takes over. “You found a way for her to outwit you and have the event happen, that way you gained a friend. That some trick cub.” Keeper chuckled. “Says the one tail fox that lives alone in a tower outside the universe annnnnnd 29,101 years old today I might add.” Skip grinned. Keeper's right eye twitched heavy upon hearing that. “Wh-what!? How the blazes you know that!? Are you serious with the age!?” “Sorry muzzle sealed from this tricky fox.” Skip smirked and turn to Twilight “I hope you understand...” “How am I sure your not making this up Skip!?” “This is how.” Skip tap her forehead with a paw, it glows for a second and she saw what he saw through foresight. Twilight blinked a few times with surprise. “You made sure that something that would never happen, happen... You escaped a moment that would of brought harm to you and caused the Running of the Leaves to be stopped... Th-thank you Skip...” “No problem, just can't do that again or your pretty big mind of yours be scrambled.” He pat her head gentle with a heart warming smile than brings up the prank she pulled. “You are sooo awesome with that prank! I never saw it coming!” Twilight giggled. “Well it was kinda fun to do, hope it wasn't too far.” “Nah it fine! Come on let me tell you about some of my pranks that your princess would never dreamed of doing!” He put a tail around her walking away with Twilight, she looked startled by what he whispered to her. Pinkie rushed after them with Spike. “Hey wait for us! Let us hear this!” “Yeah!” Spike shouted. Celestia watched them walk away with many of the ponies heading home. “Should I be worried?” “Nah you'd be fine. I expect that you will figure out the prank if it comes and return it in spades.” Keeper waved his hand dismissively. “This my chance to slip away, that damn vulpine just hit me with a reality check... 29,101 years old... Seriously am I that old? And he knew about Grimormia Tower? Something about that Skip really throwing some really weird vibes that I don't like...” Leela curiously watched them walking away. “I do wonder what they have in mind, how do you out prank the prankster princess?” “Who knows. I did set up a lot of pranks back in the old castle through the organ” Celestia smiled. Leela tap her book. “Oh I know.” They stood together waiting for Rainbow, Gale and the others return to the start/finish line. “Though I am glad to see Twilight made a new friend even with my fears of what happened now gone.” “It just one of those spontaneous moments that felt would lead to a diplomatic misunderstanding became something more.” Leela sat down on a seat she summoned, making a large pillow appear for Celestia to sit on. “Who do you think will win?” Celestia thought about it. “I would like my sons to win.” “Rocky hands down.” Leela said calmly. “What about you Keep-” Celestia turn to see Keeper wasn't there. “-er... Huh? Where did that fox go?”