//------------------------------//
// Coronation Celebration 
// Story: Solar Empire Versus New Lunar Republic 
// by slowdevil 
//------------------------------//

	Coronation Celebration
SKY DIVE
“Now THIS is a party,” I said giving the tan coated unicorn beside me a shove with one of my wings. I saw his cheeks flush the same color red as his cutie mark of a deep-red, overturned barrel. “Mind yourself will you!” Crimson flustered, and began giving me a low whisper “We are still in the Royal Castle, in the Royal Ballroom, attending a Royal Party.”
“And you’re being a Royal Pain.” I replied giving him another nudge with my wing, softer this time. “Look at this place,” I said using my other wing to encompass the room around us, “how many royal parties have you been to that have streamers!”
Crimson Barrel’s eyes followed the sweep of my wingtip and he gave a soft sigh, and smiled, “Pinkie Pie really outdid herself this time, didn’t she?”
‘Leave it to Crimson Barrel to make the understatement of the decade’ I gave a mental sigh. The room we were in was decorated from floor to ceiling, including the floor and the ceiling. Streamers of violet and light pink hues covered the walls and hung from the ceiling. The were balloons of similar color clinging to the ceiling and seeming to dance around each other in almost choreographed fashion to the vibrant music that flowed through the air.
The music itself seemed to make ones hooves move of their own accord, as if guiding ponies to the dance floor. I gently began tapping one hoof to the beat and then noticed that at certain notes a small explosion of confetti erupted from seemingly random parts of the room.
Slowly I moved deeper into the enormous space with Crimson beside me. He was supposed to be here as one Princess Celestia’s personally trained students, he belonged with the crowds of upper-class nobles, prestigious magic users, and more famous citizens of Equestria that milled about in the ballroom. Me? I was just here for food, fun, and atmosphere. Well, maybe I was trying to catch a glimpse of Princess Luna as well.
“There’s Prince Blueblood and Filthy Rich talking to… Raven Wood?” Crimson let out a cry of shock. “The Raven Wood is here!”
I followed his wide-eyed gaze towards two unicorns and earth pony were speaking in a small cluster. The earth pony and one of the unicorns, both stallions, were dressed extremely well. The former wore a crisped, dark suit that went down his fore-hooves while the latter wore a gleaming white coat that stood out against his pristinely trimmed white fur. The other unicorn, a mare, had a disheveled black mane that went all the way to the violet glittering floor. Her attire seemed peculiar compared to the others; she wore a long black robe that even covered her tail and all four hooves.
“Is that the unicorn, you rave on about that will forever change the way we not only view dragons but how we relate ourselves to them?” I said making sure to put emphasis on the haughtiness of my friend’s words.
He ignored my tone and only gave me a small jerk of his head down then up in reply. For a pony that claimed to have a calm and clear demeanor the unicorn to this day was and always would be an egghead and fan boy of even bigger egg-heads at heart. Looking past the trio, I saw one of my reasons for attendance and my mouth began to moisten at the sight of an entire wall lined with tables. Each table itself had a small banquet of dishes and from here I couldn’t even see them all. An idea crossed my mind, and I couldn’t keep the sly smile from making a quick appearance on my face. My friend didn’t notice, as his gaze was still caught on the trio in discussion. I put a wing around him and he began to walk him in the direction of his gaze.
“Why don’t we go say ‘hi’?” I said leading him along. He suddenly looked at me and let out a small shout of “Wait! Sky! What do you- “ But he was to late as I gave him a kick in the hindquarters towards the trio, forcing him to brush into the flamboyantly dressed unicorn.
“I say,” the unicorn turned and glared at my friend “Whom do you think you are?” Despite the fact Crimson Barrel was of a larger size for a unicorn and was easily bigger than the well-dressed one, he still seemed to shrink down under the glare of the white-coated noble. Before Crimson could let out an apology I turned towards the unicorn in the black cloak.
“Excuse me,” I said getting her attention away from the noble that was berating my friend with his eyes. “Are you the Master Magician Raven Wood?” My question pulled her gaze towards me.
She gave me a squint of her already narrow eyes and said, “I am Madame Raven Wood. Although, I don’t know where you pull this Master Magician title from.”
“Ah, well it’s just that my friend here,” I put a wing around my now squirming unicorn companion and pulled him over to me, “is such a enormous fan of your work. The way he goes on, I imagine your magic on level with somepony like-” I paused quickly rasping my brain for any magic users of importance names. “ – Starswirl the Bearded. Something about the importance of dragons to all of pony kind.”
A little blush appeared on both Crimson’s and Raven’s cheeks as I finished. Eggheads, sometimes all it took were a few charming words and they light up a room better than their magic.
“Well, I don’t know about somepony like Starswirl, but I am making my own way in dragon research.” The dark-cloaked mare said turning her gaze towards the now red, formerly tan, unicorn under my wing.
“Oh, but you have practically pioneered the entire new field of research on dragons,” Crimson began, speaking rapidly to the unicorn in front of him. “You have really shown that for as long as our two species have existed, it is a depressingly low amount of understanding we have for our scaly companions. Your research into the way they breathe fire, and the many uses of their blood alone revolutionized our perception of them. Not to mention the new studies about mating habits and child- rearing. Even your more recent endeavors to explore the patterns of their hoarding of treasures in better detail, continue to shape the field of studies regarding the less social creatures of Equestria.”
“Well thank you, young buck it’s also nice to hear the younger generation is taking interest in the research beyond our own limited scope of Equestria.” The unicorn mare said giving my friend a small, but friendly smile.
“Of course,” the earth pony began, “not just the young generation have interest in your research. I have a special interest in it, and would like to invest in it, especially that research into dragon’s hoarding tendencies.” A smile crossed the earth pony’s lips that didn’t quite reach his eyes, and the white-coated unicorn turned from my friend and brought his full attention back the discussion at hand.
I slowly unfurled my wing from around my unicorn companion as he became engrossed with the conversation about some expedition the dragon-researching unicorn was going on in the mountains to the northwest. I left the discussion and turned my eyes towards my end goal and began to weave through throngs of highly social ponies discussing whatever high-society ponies discussed towards the glowing banquet of food.
As I stepped, closer to the banquet, a sudden eruption of confetti appeared before my eyes, making reel back a bit. I hadn’t been keeping up with the music, so I hadn’t noticed that the confetti-explosion-note was approaching. Looking down, I finally caught the source of the confetti explosions as small green alligator wearing a party hat on its head and a multi-hued cone on its back that was wrapped in the opal glow of magic.
Now that was a way to had flare to a party! “Hey little guy,” I said reaching out a hoof towards the green-scaled creature. “Nice hat-hey!”
I tried to jerk back my hoof as the small creature jerked its head and snapped its jaws, I was already too late though and the jaw enclosed around my leg just above my hoof. “Hey that- doesn’t hurt… huh?” I looked down at the alligator gripping my leg like it was going to be tearing into the flesh, but instead all I felt was a wet pressure on my fur. “Get off my leg,” I said pushing at the creature’s small, green snout with my other hoof. It leg go as I pushed only to grab the hoof I had been pushing it with. In the moment it had opened its jaws to grab my other limb I saw the reason for the spit instead of blood on my leg. The alligator’s mouth was bare of teeth and instead simply had its soft gums left with which to pounce on the unwary.
“That’s cute,” I said giving a small laugh, “Now. Please. Get. Off. “ I said bringing a fore-hoof to the small alligators snout. The reptile with blinding speed once again transferred limbs with a gummy bite.
“Stop that!” I brought my other fore-hoof over and before I could get to the creatures snout it transferred again.
I became increasingly aware of other ponies averting their attention towards me. I snorted, “OK that’s it!”
I gave the creature swift blow with my wingtip. I instantly regretted the maneuver as the creature now hung from my wing in plain sight. I began to shake my wing violently in front of me, the alligator bouncing wildly before my eyes but the creature held fast. Suddenly the music hit its next note and the cone on the alligators back exploded right into my face. Confetti shot directly into my mouth and nostrils and I found myself coughing at the small burst that had singed the bit of my mane above my eyes. “Hey,” I coughed, “cut that out.” Giving my wing one great shake, the alligator finally released my feathers. However, any relief I had was short-lived as the creatures gummy jaws snapped on the top of my head. I could feel it drool dripping down between my eyes. I sensed the immediate crowd around me was only looking at me.
“This is my life now, isn’t it?” I said out loud as if to the heavenly bodies themselves. “Whatever, I’m going to get something to eat, you can stay there if you want to you little monstrosity.”
I began to move towards the tables layered in food again, the crowd in front parting like I was some strange pony wearing an alligator shaped party favor. ‘Oh yeah, I am!’
My inner voice went suddenly silent as I reached the banquet. I swear a tear literally formed in my right eye, or perhaps it was gator drool, but I had since forgotten newest appendage at the sight of mountains of confectionaries and hors d'oeuvres.
There were hay-pies that smelt as if they had just finished being baked, cupcakes of every color creating a sugary aroma that tickled one’s nostrils. A mountain of thinly sliced daisy sandwiches was staged on a platter to one side and the other side contained a literal pyramid, like one would see flying over Saddle Arabia, of apple tarts. And that was just the table in front of me; turning my gaze I caught the sight of a greater variety of food from chocolate mousse to glazed donuts, lettuce wrapped tomato slices with a coat of vinegar making them shimmer to celery stalks coated in a thin cheese.
‘Thank you sweet heavens. Thank you Princess Twilight. Thank you Pinkie Pie!’  I shuffled one of the plates onto a wing and began at the daisy sandwiches and made my way down the row, picking a little of everything. ‘Apparently they expected nopony to eat all this stuff,’ I thought giving my overflowing plate a small glare. I gave a mental shrug and with my other wing scooped a second plate and began to fill that one. ‘Honestly, high-society ponies and their tiny plates with their little forks and small glasses of…’
I stopped and took a step back looking back towards the litter of glassware full of something I had seen only once before. I gave a little smile and bent my hoof around one of the glass stems. I began to feel a little hoity-toity myself as I took a sip from the glass and felt the cool fizz of champagne on my lips. It had a similar flavor to what I figured would be the result of a pony mixing a batch of hard apple cider and poured into a can of cherry cola. ‘Nah, that would taste awful,’ I reconsidered. This stuff however was pretty good.
I found a small alcove, near one of the many balconies adjacent to the room and began to chow down as my eyes swept the crowds of ponies gathered before, each in their own personal sphere of interaction, within the giant whirlpool of the party itself. I saw Crimson Barrel, he had moved on from the trio of earth pony and unicorns that I had left him with. He was now talking to another group, this one completely of unicorns, with the same opal colored dress ware with gold trim, the formal attire of the students of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.  He had that calm demeanor once again etched on to his face, like a mask that hid the friend I knew from the rest of the crowd. Between the cool look in his eyes and the fancy get-up he looked a little haughty. I gave a mental sigh; this was where he truly belonged, with these over-dressed, over-fed, overly wealthy ponies. Compared to his most of the crisp and suave outfits, my ruffled, grey weather-station uniform looked worthless; the dresses all the mares wore, made it look down right pathetic.
I solemnly bit into a cupcake. Its sweet cherry icing making the act of actually being solemn while eating it completely impossible and pointless, what did Pinkie lace these things with sugar, sweet dreams, and more sugar?
My gaze swept over the crowds of well dressed ponies, out towards the dance floor where despite the fact the music had a steady, vibrant beat the ponies dancing were moving in slow, arcing waltzes across the floor. “Well I got nothing for that,” I said as I reached for a glazed doughnut on my next plate.
Past the dance floor, though was the sight that really grabbed my attention. There on a diesis was the large winged form of an opal colored alicorn. She wore a golden crown, that must have been enchanted for it and all the gems atop it seemed to radiate with a brilliant light, as if she truly wore the sun upon her brow. The dress she wore made the vast majority of the mares out in the crowd seems bare in comparison. It had the pinkish hue of the dawn itself underlying brilliant gold arcs that swooped around it. Enlaced within the golden arches were traces of rubies that shimmered with a faint red glow, of course none were as dazzling as the large ruby encrusted within a large sold gold necklace that wrapped around the base of an elegant white neck.
She may not have been at the exact center of diesis, but I doubted anypony noticed any of the other ponies first. Of course, she was also the largest pony in all of Equestria, standing nearly half another pony taller than the next member of the royalty beside her. The pink, and light purple alicorn beside her was another sight to behold entirely. Beneath her silky blue dress her entire body was shimmering as if her skin was not coated in fur, but many multi-faceted gems, the same kind that were elegantly wound throughout her entire lavender mane.   Leave it Princess Mi Amori Cadenza of the Crystal Ponies to out-shine all but Celestia herself.
Despite being the most eye-catching spectacles at the end of the ballroom, the Princess of the day and the Crystal Princess were not the center of most ponies’ attention. A purple mare wearing a pink dress with yellow laces, that despite being on splendid in comparison to most of the dresses others mares were wearing paled to the alicorns behind her, was standing in the center of the diesis.  A small tiara crested with a six-pointed star was carefully placed behind her longer than average horn, atop a neat but not dazzling mane. Actually, as I looked her over, I saw nothing outstanding about the normal sized mare at all; save she was the center of the entire crowd’s attention. Oh, and in addition to hear purple horn, she possessed two average-pegasus-sized wings that were protruding out from either side. So that was the pony that had done what only three others had done before her. The one whom after achieving the pinnacle of pony magic, was destined to change Equestria forever. She really didn’t look all that special. Heavens, the poor girl couldn’t seem to understand that she need to furl wings alongside her so she stopped knocking them into the ponies next her.
Then I noticed the five other humbler ponies gathered around the, purple alicorn. There seemed to be an imaginary line that clearly defined the space surrounding the alicorn into its own enclosed area that nopony, save those five could occupy. 
‘Maybe not humble after-all’ I thought, as my view lingered on the scene in front of diesis where a line of high-society ponies were taking turns meeting, congratulating, and, in the case of one small, grey unicorn, being blessed by the newly coroneted princess. But as I compared the arriving high-society ponies to the first, what I had originally thought as humble and plain could only be taken as such when comparing them to the powerful alicorns they stood among.
Heavens, the fact that were so plainly comfortable with occupying the same stage as the Princesses spoke volumes to how special those five truly were. And if anypony could stand out beside an alicorn princess it was Pinkie Pie. How did a pony bounce like that in place! Her enormous grin could be seen from one end of the grand ballroom to the other. I had a suspicion, that the entire reason she wore just a simple calm-blue, gown was that any dress that tried to magnify her personality and nature would either fail miserably or stun the unwary on-lookers into a daze.
Beside Pinkie, the beautiful white unicorn seemed just that, beautiful. Actually, as my eyes moved around the platform taking in the princesses and her she still seemed beautiful.  Had she stood alone on diesis, she would have stunned the crowd with her curled purple mane, and exuberant dress of a similar shade. But instead, she seemed far more interested, in being a part of the group she was with, sharing smiles with those around her and even helping keep Pinkie’s dress straight from all the bouncing. I felt a little ashamed that I didn’t know all these ponies’ name despite the fact that they were on such a pedestal among power.  I only knew Pinkie Pie because Crimson had pointed her out when she had shot a party cannon off in the middle of the royal palace during my last visit with my friend.
The next mare was a mystery to me as well, she was an earth-pony like Pinkie Pie, but where Pinkie was, well Pinkie, this orange-colored mare possessed a certain calm about herself. And unless that blue-cowgirl-getup had a lot of extra fabric, the size of her haunches claimed she had the power to buck me airborne, possibly to cloud level.
The yellow-pegasus in comparison looked feeble. Of course, I did recognize Fluttershy, how could I not remember one of my two-fellow Cloudsdayle Flight School Dropouts? The greenery sewn into the earthly-green dress she wore bespoke of just how much she had truly taken the earth as her place of residence. I even heard she had a house made of wood. Ha! To think a flight school dropout, an earth-bound pegasus, a meek mare would be standing among royalty, and yet there she was.  Still as meek as ever, but even from here I could see something I hadn’t in those years long ago. Confidence, especially when she stood beside the other familiar face from my past. 
 Rainbow Dash. The cyan pegasus stood just as proud as ever, with that same half-cocky, half I’m going to do something so crazy it’ll blow your feathers off grin. Under the cloud lining her sky-blue dress, I could still see that her legs had that same lean and muscled look. She might not be able to buck me airborne like the orange-earth-pony, but I knew from experience it would hurt. I was also keenly aware that if she put her wings into the effort, I wouldn’t just go airborne I’d probably cough up my lungs. Fond memories danced through my head as I recalled her catching me sleeping during cloud clearing class and teasing me calling out “Hey Sky-Doze, you ever going to be a little helpful?”
“I don’t know,” I had lazily replied, “You ever going to be a little careful Rainbow Crash.”
She hadn’t taken that as well as she could have and responded by clearing the cloud I had been napping on, and by proxy me. My side hurt just thinking about it, and to this day I still felt a pang of guilt about clearing a poor cloud minding its own business. She may have been a dropout, but it had nothing to do with lack of ability like Fluttershy, or lack of motivation as in my case. Her issue had been entirely attitude. I wondered how much that had really changed.  
I continued my casual munching as I took in the entirety of the sight before me. Here amongst the high-class and famous were five ponies from what I could tell had humbler beginnings than most in the room, and they were the wielder’s of the Elements of Harmony at the side of newest pony to rise to a level of power few could truly comprehend. ‘Funny, how that works huh?’
As I swallowed the last of my apple tarts, I was saddened as my searching eyes failed to pick out the dark winged figure of Equestria’s second in command. The Princess of night was nowhere to be seen, either on the diesis among the other royalty, or on the Ballroom floor, where she would have stood a full shoulder above everypony else. Well, now that I looked out it at the sky from near the balcony, the night was still quite young, and she was probably busy aligning some stars or whatever raising the heavenly bodies themselves entailed.
“Nice alligator, “ a voice with a strange accent said from my right side.
“Thanks,” I replied turning towards its source, “Just picked it up. You know, special occasion and all.”
“That I can see. Well it is a most prominent decoration. But as for me, I prefer something which causes less speculation,” said the zebra between a wide smile.
I had only met a zebra once before and that encounter had been so brief it had barely registered with me that I had seen a member of a race so far from Equestria, that were a rarity. I couldn’t help my eyes as they tried to take in something that seemed so out of place among the ponies dancing and socializing in their expensive outfits around me; I mean she looked so…exotic. Her dark eyes were kind, but I saw the glint of irritation as she noticed mine sweeping her body.
“Sorry,” I began to apologize, “I’ve just never met a zebra up close before.”
Her smile returned fully to her face again as she replied, “No need to beg forgiveness. Your curiosity does me no wrongness.”
‘Uh, huh,’
She gave me a small nudge with a dark hoof and laughing said. “How could I be offended by that, from some somepony with so silly a hat.”
Yes, she did have a point, and it more importantly it rhymed.
Sweeping her self with a hoof she said, “I tried to avoid attraction, and wore a dress of plainer fashion. You, my good sir, stick out like a bur.”
Ha, I had never been insulted in rhyme before, this party was awesome! 
 Looking at the dress she had referenced, I had to agree it was indeed plain. The long naval blue coat had multitude of pockets between its white linings, suggesting a garment for more function than fashion. Resting upon a lightly brushed, black and white mane was a large, dark hat that seemed like a folded triangle. Beneath the hat the zebra’s ears protruded to either side, two golden loops dangling from each. I was very much reminded of the sailors I had once met helping with part-time hurricane duty in southern ports of Stableside.
“What brings you all the way out to Canterlot?” I asked wondering just how far a trek the zebra-mare had taken.
“I came to see this new princess of which the sky proclaimed,” she answered, “It would be difficult to ignore one the stars have made famous.”
Yeah, giant glowing figure that didn’t normally appear hovering in one spot. I could imagine a bit of curiosity to be had.
“As for your inference that I have come a long way. I merely traveled from your southern bay. By Sky-chariot the journey is quite swift, so I left my first-mate to watch the night shift. “
“Ah,” her garb finally making sense. “You work on one of the Zebra trade ships that come over.”
She looked at me with an amused expression in her eyes, “Ah, I see my manners have left me. I forget to introduce myself to thee. I am Captain Zerithe of the Stripped Pearl. Heiress to the Trade Company Abaddon’s Swirl.”
“No Way!” my outcry turned the heads of a few nearby party guests. “You’re a Captain!”
“Most notice other parts of my introduction, nevertheless you are correct in your deduction.” Her amused look never disappeared, as she looked on it this strange alligator-for-a-hat wearing pegasus.
“Oh, don’t’ worry I caught the other parts. You’re a rich Captain. Also, you are either mentally addled, or have no fear what so ever. You’re one of those crazies that make all their profit from taking the fastest and most direct trade route between the Zebra and Equestria Ports. You insane people sail into a giant Whirlpool that’s as big a small sea itself!”
“Ha! So you do know of that which I spoke. I’ll tell you my friend, going in is easy; getting out is no joke.” Though her smile still remained it didn’t quite reach her eyes as she became more somber.
I broke the awkward calm by introducing myself “I’m Sky Dive,” I said extending a hoof, which the zebra took with her own in a surprisingly firm grasp. “I’m just a weather pegasus from Fillydelphia.”
“For one so humble, you hang with some high-class pony-folk. Although, by your appearance it would seem you make it a joke.” She responded pointing at my since forgotten unwanted headgear. Little guy had a good grip though; I’d give him that. 
“I’m actually here with a friend,” I explained, “I may not have the wealth or class of some of these other stallions and mares, but I have something most of them will never have.”
The zebra looked at me expectantly. I arched an eyebrow towards her. “Oh, I am supposed to reply, ‘what is that you have? Pie?’” She pointed at one of the leftover hay-pie slices on my plate. ‘Man she is good…’
“That,” I replied, “And the ability to… to…”The zebra looked at me with amusement dancing in her eyes.
“Nothing, I’m dirt broke. And yeah the only reason I’m here is because my friend is a student of Celestia in her magic school. I’m just kind of gliding through life right now. I mean the two mares I dropped out of flight school are up there among royalty! I mean I’m just here to grab some free food and admire the real power from afar. Heavens, this isn’t even my alligator!” I finished bowing my head and sighing.
“That, my friend, is quite sad. Why would you come here to feel bad?” She put a hoof on my shoulder. “Let me tell you a story of a zebra, who seemed destined not for glory.”
A story that rhymed, I could put away some self-pity for that.
“There once was a terrible embargo, that made life difficult, for ships with cargo,” she began in a low, slow voice. “Any ship that was trying to make a delivery always seemed to meet great misery. For this embargo was enforced, by a navy pirates had coerced. Despite the good intentions of the ships traveling the seas. The navy sunk any and all as they please. One small ship that was manned by simple zebra sailor had always been considered a trader’s failure. But while the navy sunk many great vessels that were carrying items of trade, whether they had pirated the goods or paid, they left the smaller vessel alone, it would have no effect on their trade zone. Or so they thought, because after the zebra saw he wouldn’t be caught. He became a smuggler that traveled the trade routes alone, for he found a mission all his own. After making many deliveries within the embargoed zone, the owner’s of the great trade lines asked him to take a message to the throne. These people of great power were convinced the emperor knew not of his navy’s carelessness, and were sure the Empire would be hurt by this recklessness. But they could not travel in such a way as that zebra smuggler, so they asked him to sneak into the empire and approach the king disguised as a juggler. The zebra had become vital to the empire within a crucial moment; it was his task to end the trader’s torment. And so he ventured forth carrying out alone this great task, and before the emperor, the trader’s favor ask.”
The zebra Zerithe gave me a pat with her hoof. I sighed, “Yeah, yeah I see what you mean. It’s the old worn tale of humble beginnings and from that rise to a place of great importance. I can see it literally personified in five ponies right there on the grand stage.” I pointed a wingtip towards the diesis filled with the single most important ponies in Equestria.
“The thing is you have to have something that makes you special, so even if you come from humble beginnings, you’ll have something nopony or no zebra else would. That zebra had the ability to be sneaky, and had the advantage of appearing unimportant. So it was not that hard for him to rise to the occasion, when his unique talent was required, and save the empire.” I finished, sinking my head low again.
“Oh the empire failed and was burnt to the ground, for the smuggler’s ship hit a rock and he drowned. The navy ended up destroying its own empire by constantly enforcing their law, they may have run off the pirates but their overzealousness was there own flaw. The story has many meaning, I suppose. But all zebra stories have only the one who tell them knows. Most pony folk only listen to the part they like, for heroic tales they have always consumed, But zebra’s know the truth, and that is that we are all doomed.”
I stared at the wide smiling zebra. For the first time in my life I had nothing to say, the sudden twist had blown me away. ‘Oh, heavens, now I’m doing it!’
“Do all zebras really believe that?” I asked. “That we are all doomed to a tragic fate, no matter how we live or what talents we possess?”
“I see that my tale had an effect on you that is sad. I’m sorry if I have ruined your fun, it was not your hope I wished to stun. Most zebras believe it is only the foolish that perish and suffer this worst of fates. However some, such as I, have long since accepted the destiny put on our plates. For it is not uncommon for the good to suffer, and I have no need of a mental buffer, but if it makes you feel better my winged friend, I’m sure yours won’t be so tragic an end.”
Speechless. I was speechless. I was certain, that my jaw was hanging open, but I could not seem to focus the energy to reclose it.  The zebra captain looked at the expression on my face and smile fading said, “Have I gone and made you mad, perhaps there is hope to be had. If you feel that you would like some adventure in your life, instead of this small meaningless strife, perhaps you could become part of my crew. I could use someone with an aerial view.”
Tempting. But I was pretty sure, that my mundane life in the safety of clouds above Fillydelphia was a bit better than serving under a zebra captain, with insane suicidal tendencies.
“Thanks, but I’ll have to pass on your offer for now, I’m sure if I left my boss would have a cow.” I said giving her the friendliest smile I could muster.
“Ha! I am unsure why his possessing a bovine would be so bad, but I can see you’re choice, although I am not mad, it is a bit sad. I shall make you a deal, a business offer if you will. Because you have humored me on this night I thought to be plain. Should you ever find yourself left in the rain, visit the Sunken Timber by the dock in Stableside, and I’ll have a job for you sailing the seas at my side.”
“Thank you, I’ll remember that. If I’m ever down south, I’ll be sure to look you up.”
“Then it is was a pleasure to meet you friend Sky Dive. Oh, but can I have one your pies, it would seem you have five?”
“Help yourself,” I said pushing a slice towards her, “The pleasure has been all mine Captain Zerithe.”
Taking the pie slice she turned and faded into the crowd of ponies still talking and chatting, unaware of just how close they were to the single craziest creature on this planet. ‘Once again, funny how that works.’ I thought shrugging to myself and taking a bite of an apple tart.     
At some point Crimson had pulled his way out of the crowd and made his way over to me in the alcove I had now thoroughly occupied.
“Hey how are you do-,” he suddenly stopped his eyes fixed on my head. “Are you aware that there is an alligator on your head.” He said in low voice, taking a cautious step forward as if the news would send me into a wild panic.
“Oh sweet heavens of the devils of Tartarus, I would have never noticed. Thank you Crimson, for if not for your uncanny attention to detail, my mane would surely become even more soaked in gator drool than it already is.”
He didn’t seem to appreciate my thanks. “Alright, just trying to help. No need to be a mule about it.” He lifted a hoof as if to brush the alligator off. I raised a wing to stop him. “Don’t bother, unless you want him stuck to you. I doubt you could eve magic him off. Little monster’s got grip.”
“I see, well sorry this party seems to be a bore. I see you’ve at least taken upon yourself to aid in the common problem of where to store the leftovers.” He said gesturing at the small mound of food I still had one plate.
“Hey,” I responded pointing a hoof at myself and taking a proud stance, “It’s what I’m here for. And don’t worry this party is far from a bore. In fact you won’t believe the time I’ve had, it really hasn’t been all that bad. Besides, I’ve had time meet some neat folks, like an insane zebra full of jokes. And the food is quite good.”
“Alright, just making sure your-“ He turned and looked at me a small questioning frown on his face. “Are you…are you speaking rhymes?” He asked pointing at me with his hoof.
“Oh, I suppose I am, it must be contagious, although, I think the condition isn’t dangerous.” I gave my friend my craziest zebra smile.
“Uh huh…” He sighed. “So this a new thing with you? How long is this going to last? Because I want to know if I should start avoiding you like when you did that thing where you were convinced trying to forcefully ingest rainbows would help you perform the sonic rainboom.”
“Ummm…” I shifted my eyes upwards ignoring my unicorn companion’s mocking gaze.
“You remember, your insides hurt for weeks afterwards and all that happened was you had colorful flatulencias that could knock out a dragon from the stench. In the end we had to magically purge your stomach.” I looked back into my friends face and saw his small smile.
“Well, that was quite lame,” I admitted, “but this isn’t the same. It’s quite fun to speak in rhymes. In fact, I think all do it all the… times… That’s harder than I thought, how did she make it look so easy.” My friend now smiled wide.
“Well I’m sure you’ll get hang of it in time. It’s not the difficult to learn to rhyme. But for someone with such confounded mind between his wings, It may take same time to master new things.”
My jaw was beginning to hurt from hanging open so much that evening.
“How- why-“ I stuttered
“Ha,” My friend gave a small laugh, “half of properly creating or mastering a magical spell, is to make sure that it flows well. And often times, we do that with rhymes.”
I couldn’t tell what I was more shocked by, this small revelation that part of using magic was speaking in poetry or that my friend the studious scholar had actually expressed a sense of humor.
He laughed at the face I was making, “Well, I will let you go ahead finish your food, I think I’ll go mingle some while I’m in a good mood.”
He began to walk into the crowd of chattering ponies with what I was sure was a small bounce in his step.
I had retreated into my own thoughts again as I stared out into the crowd. Mostly, I’ll admit, trying to think of rhymes for what I saw within the crowd. I was deep in thought after observing some of the jewelry that a mare was wearing and trying to figure out what in the Heavens rhymed with silver. Suddenly, a small tap from behind on my shoulder shook me out of my thoughts. “Excuse me,” a soft voice said from somewhere behind me.
“Unless, you’re a poet or an alligator removal specialists; I’m trying to think of something.” I had been deep in thought and had been a little irritated about the interruption. I was so close I could feel the word right at the tip of my tongue. Sliver? Slither? Deliver?
“Oh, I’m sorry to bother you. It’s just that I saw Gummy and thought, that well, maybe you would like some help…” The voice petered off into a whisper so small I could barely hear it. But I caught the message. “Gummy,” I said turning around, “so the little monster does have a name? Wait! Fluttershy?” I saw the smaller yellow pegasus mare blushing behind me. I turned and looked towards the diesis, and sure enough the place between the orange-earth-pony and Rainbow Dash was now vacant.
“I’m sorry, but I guess you want to be left alone.” She began to turn and start heading for the diesis.
“Wait, Fluttershy!” Now it was my turn to blush, as I instantly began to regret my rudeness to the mare only trying to help, and my old comrade in failure from flight school. “It’s me Sky Dive from Cloudsdayle. We were in the same class.” I reached a hoof towards her and she stopped her escape to look me up and down.
“Sky Dive? Oh, how wonderful it is you! What are you doing here? How have you been? Where have you been? Why do you have Pinkie Pie’s pet on your head?” Her azure eyes had gone wide as they looked into mine as if the answers to all her questions were written right on my pupils. ‘Fluttershy. Difficult to get her to open up, but once you did it was impossible to put dragon back in the cave.’
“I’m here with a friend, he’s a student of Celestia. Been all right, can’t complain. Fillydelphia mostly. I had no idea it was someone’s pet, but now that you said that, I can’t imagine it coming from anypony else. Trust me, he’s not there by my choice.” I gave her a small smile. It had been a real long time since I had seen the mare. So long that I guess last time would have been when she and I had been a filly and colt. She had just gotten her cutie mark of three small butterflies, after some accident involving our mutual friend Rainbow Dash achieved her first sonic rainboom, and was turning in her resignation from flight school to the Head Instructor. The patrols that had found her claimed they had never seen a pegasus so unwilling to leave the ground. After wishing her luck, and claiming I was right behind her on the dropout list, I had watched her leave. I had heard she had moved to Ponyville, but I had never seen her after Flight School until today.
“Well he does get a bit friendly,” the she said brushing a curl from her pink mane out of her face with one hoof and then used it to point at the small alligator still firmly lodged atop my head.
“Friendly? A bit?” I said arching an eyebrow at her. “If this guy had teeth, I’m sure Pinkie’s pet would be the single biggest threat to Equestria. Heavens, Celestia herself would have to banish him to the moon. And probably me with him, because I’m sure that my head will come off entirely before he does.” I gave a small sigh.
“Oh, that would be terrible.” I looked at the smaller mare and saw that her eyes and become watery and her lips were shaking, as she seemed to stifle a cry.
“I’m sorry,” I could not help but feel but terrible for throwing out my frustration on the poor pegasus, that had always been the meekest and most gentle pony I had ever known.
“Please, don’t worry about it,” she said giving me a small but genuine smile, “let me see if I can at least help you keep your head.” She stretched out a yellow hoof towards the scaly green spring trap.
I nearly backed up. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I warned.
She simply smiled at me, and then shifting her eyes above mine she whispered in a flowery voice, “Gummy, you know better than to jump on strangers. What would Pinkie Pie say? I think I know an alligator, who’s going to get a time-out if he doesn’t start acting like a good gator, and not trying to hurt ponies that are just minding their own business.” As she finished she poked the small reptile and I immediately felt the small pressure on my head being released. Instantly, a flood of wet saliva went over my mane and face. As I brushed away the drool from my face I saw the blank stare of the purple-eyed alligator looking into my own grey eyes.  I stared in disbelief as I realized it was simply resting on Fluttershy’s out stretched hoof like a tame bird would. The yellow mare simply looked at the alligator with a warm expression, and giving it a small pat said, “Good boy, Gummy. Now why don’t you go have some fun on the dance floor.” She gently sat the small gator down and it began to slither towards the area where ponies could be seen waltzing in circles. I made sure to give the little monster a wide berth as it went past, trying to keep my hooves and wings out of striking range. I let out a deep sigh as I saw the green tail disappear in the crowd. I knew I wouldn’t be heading out to the dance floor anytime soon.
“That was amazing!” I said turning towards my pegasus savior. “How did you get him to just let go, and not bite you too?”
Fluttershy’s yellow cheeks began to darken with a red color as she looked towards the floor, as if were going to find a gold bit she just dropped. “Well,” she said moving her hoof in a small circle on the floor, “I’m just really good with animals.”
“Clearly,” I said putting my hoof around one of the champagne glasses I had collected. “Is that why you left flight school?” I offered her the glass and she took it without really looking.
“I suppose.” She said now a look of sadness crossing her face. Had I breached a sore subject? To me it had simply been a point we both had in common… but she didn’t know I had actually left too. ‘I have got being such a mule to the single kindest mare in the entirety of Equestria!’ I mentally berated myself,
“I was right behind you on leaving. Three days after you left I got my cutie mark and dropped out that same day. I think Rainbow Dash was encouraged to leave right after that.” I said pointing a wing towards our mutual friend pegasus with the multi-hued mane still smiling her cocky smile from the diesis.
“I didn’t know you dropped out too!” Fluttershy’s face once again turned towards me, with that searching look in her wide eyes. ‘Huh, that was a sudden change.’
 She looked towards my flank; “You got your cutie mark then too!” Her face turned to a look of confusion as she caught sight of the white spot covering the black fur on my flank. “Is it a quilt?” She gave sheepish smile at her guess. Well she was closer than most, I had to give her that.
“It’s a parachute,” I said giving her the same explanation I had received from the Head Instructor herself after receiving a cutie mark that I couldn’t make sense of. Which had been beyond frustrating, because how were you supposed to know what made you special, if the thing that was supposed to tell your talent was a mystery to you! “Earth ponies and unicorns use them when they want to travel really quickly out of one of our cloud cities. They’re kind of rare, even in Cloudsdayle only the bravest or dumbest, depending on your view, use them to reach the ground in a hurry. They’re supposed to slow down your fall so you don’t go squish.”
The yellow mare gave a little tremble at my sound effect.
“So how did you get it as a cutie mark?” She asked straightening herself up a bit, as if trying to show that past the small horror I had inadvertently put in her head, she was still curious in my story. ‘I am such a mule,’ I thought again.
“Well actually,” I continued aloud, “It was very similar to what happened to you.”
At her inquisitive look, I pointed a wingtip back over at the cyan pegasus that was still smiling that smile of hers. It must have been glued to her face that was the only explanation I could think of.
“A certain somepony, was trying to recreate her ‘spectacularly-awesome, mind-blowingly-amazing, bone-shaking-thrilling sonic rainboom’ She got about halfway through it before faltering and crashing into the powdered snow bin in the weather station. I, however, had been napping on a cloud when the force she had created washed away all the cloud cover in the area.”
The yellow pegasus must have had a very vivid imagination, because her eyes went wide as saucers, as if she was witnessing the young colt I was plummeting from the sky.
“I was still asleep for a bit,” I continued letting my hooves move to the story, and slowing my voice down and bringing it lower to build the effect. My story may not have rhymed, but I was not going to let it fall short in the drama department, especially with such an attentive and imaginative audience.
“When I opened my eyes, the ground was so close, I could already see the spots on a ladybug.” My speech had sped up and I was letting the sound build as I took one hoof and began plunging it towards.  “ I was moving too fast, everything was just a blur. I could see my infant life flashing before my eyes! I had not time to think, and just enough time to spread my wings and give one great flap before it was too late. And then suddenly,” I halted my hoof and inch above the ballroom floor, “I stopped.” I smiled as the yellow mare opened one eye hesitantly, and seeing where my hoof had stopped, gave a sigh and opened the other one as well.
“The Head Instructor always said I had enormous wings for a pegasus. As a colt she said I had bigger ones than she had seen on most adult pegasi. She said if I ever grew into them I would be the size of a young dragon. But after that day, after seeing the cutie mark, I hadn’t even realized I had gotten till after I was safely back in her office, she said I was destined to have the largest wings of any pegasus in the history, of Equestria. I dropped out of flight school later that day. No point in being trained to be great flier if the thing your best at is dozing off and only being saved by the fact that you’re a freak.” I finished with a sigh. Fluttershy looked like she was on the verge of tears again. ‘How does she do that so fast?’ I wondered again. It was like her tear ducts had waterworks ready to go at the drop of a hat. 
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice quite and meek. She was genuinely apologizing for something she had no power over, that had happened years ago!
“Ummm… It’s not your fault,” I said giving her a comforting pat with one of wings. “Don’t worry about it,” I gave the tearful pegasus my most reassuring smile, which she returned after some effort. ‘The emotional Jetstream that mare rode on…’
“After that made my way to Fillydelphia, been with the weather team there ever since. Save a few times we were called out to help other smaller communities with less dense pegasus populations to help wrap up winter or bring rainwater up to the Cloudsdayle. Even was in Ponyville a couple of times, saw Rainbow Dash giving orders to all the Ponyville pegasus. I never did see you though, I always wanted to say ‘hi’.” I gave her smile.
Once again her face had shades of red on her cheeks, “I uh…” she stumbled on her words. “Don’t normally help with the weather teams, or actually do any flying of any kind.” She quickly finished and took a swig from the untouched champagne glass I had given her.
For the rest of my life I knew I would never be able to forget the face of utter shock that flew across the pegasus’s face. If one had just looked at her face, they would have never guessed that her original color had actually been yellow, instead of a shade of red to make apples jealous. She looked at the glass; as if it was the strangest thing she had ever seen in her entire existence. The only thing I caught from the small whisper she gave was, “Fizzy…”
 ‘Yes, yes it was,’ I thought taking a sip from my own glass trying to not snort into as I stifled my laughter. ‘Oh, heavens, now I’m going to cry.’
After contemplating the glass a bit longer, the yellow pegasus took a cautious sip, licked her lips and then emptied the rest of the glass.
“That was wonderful!” She declared holding the glass away from as if admiring its craftsmanship. “I’ve never had anything like that before!”
“You’ve never had champagne before?” I said glancing at her through tear filled eyes. ‘That face…oh sweet heavens that face…’
Fluttershy shook her head and replied, “No, never. I remember seeing something like it at the Royal Wedding awhile ago, but I had been so busy, I hadn’t tried some.”
I went over to the table containing the glassware and put two more glasses between my wings. As I came back to the alcove I noticed the yellow pegasus giving me a loose smile.
“What’s funny?” I asked sitting across from her.
“Nothing.” She said through a snicker.
She took one of glasses I offered from my wing. “So tell me all about the wedding,” I said after we had both taken a sip from our glasses. “I was in Baltimare on tornado duty. I heard there was an invasion of some kind?”
…
              
“And then… and then… then Pinkie used a her party cannon on them! It was like she said, she never goes anywhere without her party cannon. Haha. Are you sure we’re going the right way.” I turned and looked at the yellow mare that was putting one hoof unsteadily in front of the other. She was at this point entirely leaning on me. To be honest, I wasn’t fairing much better, if it weren’t for the sturdy stonewall in the castle passageway, we both would have been on the ground.
“Not as sure as I was five minutes ago,” I replied.
We were currently somewhere to the west of ballroom in a large passage that I had been convinced had led to the little filly’s and colt’s rooms. Now, as I thought backed to what seemed like hours ago through my hazy memory (it had probably been closer to ten minutes ago), I recalled Fluttershy suddenly going bashfully silent in the middle of telling the story of how Twilight Sparkle had barged in on her brother’s dress rehearsal.
When I had asked her what was the matter she had quietly replied, “I… I hab ta go da widdle filly’s woom.”
Upon hearing this, my bladder, which I had not been paying attention to, suddenly alerted me that I needed to go relieve myself as well.
“Let’s go den,” I said convinced it would be an adventure. “But,” she said, “I don’t know where it is.” I recalled laughing at her worried expression.
“Don’t worry, I’ve been through the castle before. It can’t be that hard to find.”
Oh, how wrong I was. I had forgotten was simple thing about the Canterlot Royal Castle. It was huge! And now my bladder was tied in a knot as I shuffled down the hallway using one wing to steady the yellow pegasus as she continued her story of the Changeling queen impersonating Princess Mi Amori Cadenza, to unleash her army within the city, and my other wing to stabilize myself.
“Are we lost?” she said looking at me, the loopy smile gone and a look of concern in her eyes.
I sighed, “If I say yes, do you promise not to cry?”
Suddenly, she pulled herself away from me and began giving me an indignant stare, “Why you,” she unfolded her wings and maneuvered them so that one was on each side of her middle, “I am not some baby. I only cry when things are actually sad, not just because I feel a little depressed or tired or hungry. I am not a little filly and you aren’t my foal sitter. I mean you can’t even find a bathroom. Whoops!“ Suddenly her feet shifted under her and her weight began to carry her over her and with her wings still on her side she was not going to be able to catch herself.  I thrust a wing towards her and she bit down on it with her mouth steadying herself.  I was glad for the inebriation I was feeling, that I didn’t feel the pain of her teeth in my feathers.
 “Wow,” she said as she steadied herself and released my feathers, “they are really big. I mean I can’t eben weech you habway from here, but you can weech me.”
I gave her a loopy smile; it was honestly the best I could muster, “Thanks,” I replied, “advantage to being a freak.”
“ You’re not a fweek.” She looked me straight in the eyes and met my gaze evenly, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t’ve been rude. I tink… I tink I’m drunk!” she declared and then began to snort in laughter. “I feel like Pinkie must, during da beginnin’ of cider season! Hahaha!”
“Ha, you and me both,” I said guiding the laughing mare back under my wing and started moving down the hallway again. I really needed that bathroom now, and I was still on a quest for it.
“I thought you’d said you had champ… champa…-fizzy before?” she said as she leaned into almost knocking us both into a decorative suit of armor, I had almost decided could have a dual function of liquid containment.
“I have, but only once,” I explained, “I was part of the team in Fillydelphia that set the current wing speed record at 910, when we made our tornado to lift water to Cloudsdayle. Our captain brought it out to celebrate with us for setting the record. But I didn’t get that much considering we had to share between the whole weather team.”
“Oh, I remember hearing about that. The pegasus in Ponyville tried to break that record the next year. I think we go Ummm… close…” Was her face red from the alcohol or something else as she turned to look at the far wall?
To my relief I saw one of Luna’s personal bat-winged guard’s up ahead standing post at the entrance to another passageway.
“Excuse me,” I called to him as I half-walked-half-fell over to him. “Do you know where the bathroom’s are?”
He turned towards and opening his mouth said, “IT IS NOT FAR FROM WHERE YOU STAND. IF YOU SHOULD TURN RIGHT IN THE PASSAGE JUST AHEAD, THY DESTINATION SHALL BE ON THE LEFT!” He gestured with a leathery wingtip down the passage.
‘Never mind, I don’t have to go anymore,’ I thought as my whole body trembled from the point-blank-vocalized-blast. In my stupor I had forgotten that the vast majority of Luna’s personal guards were still trained to use the royal Canterlot voice. Fluttershy hadn’t faired much better, though she had been able to plug her ears with her wings at the initial burst.
“Thank you,” she whimpered. Or at least I had assumed that was what she had said by the movement of her lips. Then a “YOU’RE WELCOME!” answered that indeed she had said ‘thank you’ and that my hearing had been still working. Unfortunately.
Despite the shock the guard had given us both, we had been thankful for his directions, and despite being sure our bladders had already been overcome with shock, we still scampered into our respective facilities upon arrival.
“I feel a million times better,” I said coming out of the bathroom.
Then I realized I was talking to myself, as the hallway was empty. ‘Guess, she really had to go,’ I gave a shrug and proceeded to move to the end of the hall to wait.
After, a bit more time passed, I went from antsy to frustrated to worried. ‘What did she fall in?’ Now I began wrestling with another dilemma, ‘How long did I wait before I assumed the worst and go in after her? Ten minutes? An hour? Three hours? A day? A year? Never? Actually, that last one sounded like the best one. I could go get someone if enough time passed could-‘ I suddenly turned to follow the soft blue glow that had just moved silently down the passage in front of me.
‘It couldn’t be! It was!’ I began moving my legs to keep up with the tall dark figures longer strides. Then the figure took a turn out of my view and I heard the clanging slam of a heavy door.
‘Okay… new moral dilemma, how rude is it to knock on a Princesses’ door in the middle of the night and as for her hoof-print? Probably, pretty rude.’ I let out a sigh and was about to turn around when I noticed a familiar green figure slowly moving about in front of where the Princess of the Night had just turned.
“Gummy?” I let out low whisper. “What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be with Pinkie Pie?”
It is at this point I would like to state something, that if it has not become clear already, I am not a clever pony.  Thank you and enjoy the following stupidity.
I put out my hoof towards the small alligator. I honestly don’t know what I expected to happen. With the same swift speed and sure grip as before, the green creature had attached itself to my hoof. Honestly, I’m an idiot.  As I was of course in the exact same situation as before and had handled it with such grace and elegance I began to repeat, the exact maneuvers I had used last time. Fore-hoof. Fore-hoof. Fore-hoof. Wing. Shake. And of course head with alligator drool. Once again, honestly I don’t know what I expected to happen. ‘Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, who’s really the fool?’
I began to turn around, so to head back towards the bathrooms and the mare that could once again cure me of my reptilian appendage. I lifted and one and abruptly stopped as I heard a loud CRASH come from within the room the Princess had entered. I was about to go to the door and try to open, but a moment of hesitation caused me to listen, and what I heard froze me in place.
“Sister, this is not fair! You ask me to respect you, ask me to honor you and I have, but what do I get in return? The same thankless and indignant treatment I received one thousand years ago!” The voice carried a scream of power behind it and I could feel it’s cold rage from out in the hallway.
“Luna! Please, calm yourself. I thought you as much as anyone else would like to honor Twilight with a small gift, as she ascended to a place beside us. I thought we had worked all this out already before the ceremony.” While the other voice sounded in rage, this one sounded like it was trying to be soothing and firm. It may have worked to except if there wasn’t also the barest hints of someone sounding like they were addressing a child mixed into her tone.
“I thought we had too Tia! When I came back and met Cadence, I was easy to forgive you sharing the magic we had worked so hard to create ourselves, with the loving pegasus. After all, I was gone and you needed someone you could depend on, someone to watch your back as you ruled.” Princess Luna’s voice had seemed to cool down and it seemed the worst was over.
“Thank you for your understanding.“
“But!” the ice in her voice from the Princess of the Sun’s next word on her lips.
“Two nights past you send Twilight the same gift, and although unlike Cadence you didn’t give her the whole of it, you gave her everything she would need. And despite what you say, I know there is more pride than you will admit at having, seeing you star pupil rise to be at our level. Sure, she completed the circle, but she lacks the same honor, the same integrity, the same power, and the same respect for the power she does have, as you or I had when we completed it.”
What was she talking about? I had no idea what they were talking about except it had something to do with Twilight’s recent rise to power. ‘What is this great circle?‘
I felt a tap on my back and stiffened, “Sky Dive, why are you over here? And why is Gummy back on your head?” A soft voice said from the direction of the hoof tap.
I breathed a sigh of relief and with one of my wings shushed the yellow pegasus now standing a bit straighter. She fell silent and listened with me.
 “Sister, although I do feel pride at Twilight’s success, I did not lie about the fear I was having. The last time you and I had such premonitions, never ending darkness consumed the land under Nightmare Moon! I did not want such a fate to befall us again.” There was that soothing voice again, but the tone as if speaking to a child had only increased, not diminished.
“Oh. So that is your reason.” I could feel glaciers forming in my veins at the sound of that voice. “You wish to have someone at our own level of power, that is completely loyal to you, just in case I turn on you again. Princess Twilight, Princess of the Night! A Princess to replace Nightmare Moon, a Princess more than happy to live in your shadow!”
“HOW DARE YOU!” The voice of the Sun Princess was pure fire and rage, then there was the sound like a clap and suddenly the room was silent.
Fluttershy was shaking violently in front of me; she was pulling down on her ears with her hooves covering her eyes with them. “P-p-please,” she stuttered, “L-l-let’s go.”
I wanted to agree with her, I wanted to wrap a wing around her and take her and myself away from what we hearing. I wanted to find that guard and have him yell my eardrums out till, I couldn’t hear this horrible clashing of Equestria’s most beloved and powerful rulers any more. But I was frozen. I was simply a statue, even the reptile on my head, seemed to be holding his breath, as if waiting for a storm to pass.
“Your anger betrays your true feelings, sister” Ice. “I will do as you have asked. I shall give Twilight Sparkle a gift within my giving. But don’t think I don’t see this as another example of your continued favoring the few within your sight. You can make it seem like all is right within your kingdom by treating those near to you like they are your spoiled pets, like those nobles milling about, our your precious town of Ponyville under your castle, or your protégé. Tell me Sister, are you ignoring the poor and hungry further east or have you simply started going blind from staring into your own sun?”
The frenzied movement I heard within the room grew louder, and gave me the final inspiration I needed to jump towards Fluttershy and duck around the next hall. I turned and watched as the large winged and horned figure of Celestia stormed from the room. Her mane moving around as if it was caught in gale force winds and her normally smiling face was one that looked forward into something no one but her could see, with a hard glare. She turned and began heading the opposite way down the hallway from us. As her hoof-steps faded I turned towards Fluttershy and breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did I see her eyes go wide and a fear I had  never seen before etched itself onto her face.” What are you doing here? I thought all guest were in the main ballroom?” I slowly turned around and looked up into the dark eyes, surrounded by blue and starry mane, of Princess Luna.
“Fluttershy? Is that you, why is thou not with Twilight and thine other friends?” The coldness that I had heard was entirely gone. It was like I could have imagined the entire thing. It was like everything I had heard behind that door had simply not happened. Except, I had seen Princess Celestia exit the room in a manner that did not bode well for my hopes at the misunderstanding being on my ears in. One could hope right? I mean after all I had almost been shouted to deaf by a guard mere minutes before.
“I Ummm… I…” the yellow pegasus just couldn’t seem to get her words started and was beginning to tremble again.
“We were simply going to the bathroom,” I stated. The Princess’s full attention turned towards me. “Ya know what happens when you get a little too much champagne in ya,” I said giving her my best please don’t blow me away smile.
She returned the gesture and replied, “I know all too well.”
‘Now there was a story behind that.’
Then she turned to Fluttershy, then back to me, “did you really somehow get this mare to drink?”
I only gave a quick nod as a reply. “Ha! Thou have done something I thought impossible. I fear now the old myth concerning the swine animal that flies may indeed come true.”
Did the Princess of the Night just tell a joke about Fluttershy getting drunk? ‘Huh’
“Although, as I observe you, I realize I have never heard the tale of reptiles for hats?”
‘Huh? Oh, right! Alligator on head again!’
“Nah, no tale, just a reptile that really likes to party. So he joined up with me.” I gave her another big smile. And then reaching back into my saddlebag that was attached to my weather uniform, I pulled out a book with multiple blank pages. “Ummm… If it’s not too much trouble, could I have your hoof-print?” I said opening the book to a blank page. A look of amusement crossed the mare’s beautiful dark face. And now that I really looked, she was beautiful. There was power behind every inch of her, but even under that there seemed to be an inner beauty that poured outward. Like she truly loved and cared about the silly stallion and mute mare in front of her. ‘If only…’ I thought.
“Of course. I would be happy to,” she placed her hoof on the page and I was about to feel like a dumb colt for not offering her any ink, when there was a glow around her long horn and the around her hoof. When she removed it There was a hoof-print on the page that within its from was shifting and twinkling like the Princess’s starry mane. ‘Wow…’
“Thank you, Princess Luna.” I said meaning every bit of it. “You are quite welcome young… I fear I do not recall your name young stallion.” She gave me an inquisitive look. I nearly choked.
“Oh, I’m nopony important really, just a weather pegasus.” I mumbled.
“Well to me a loyal and true subject is always important. Please your name.”
I couldn’t refuse her. “Sky Dive. It’s Sky Dive Princess Luna.”
She simply smiled at me, “What a unique name. Surely your talent must be something special with a name like that.”
‘Not really,’ I thought, but didn’t dare argue with her aloud.
“Oh, my!” The princess looked around as if trying to find something imprinted on the walls. “I bet it’s very near midnight. I must be off! You two should make your way back to the ballroom. At midnight, there will be a very special show for our guest of honor tonight!” She turned and started to move down the hallway her sister had taken a few minutes ago. Fluttershy and I quickly did the same in the opposite direction towards the ballroom.
“Oh Fluttershy,” we heard the deep but soft voice of the princess call back to us.
The mare beside froze, then she slowly turned and barely lifting her head replied with a meek, “Yes?”
“Make sure, you drink plenty of water, it will help with the dizziness.” And with that the tall, dark figure disappeared around the passageway corner.
The yellow pegasus simply, brought down her head and began to slowly move forward. “Actually,” I barely heard her whisper, “I think I just need another glass of fizzy.”
‘And to the Heavens I say, Amen.’
 ………………
After arriving back at the ballroom, Fluttershy indeed grabbed another glass of champagne but she slowly sipped at it, let the bubbles tickle her lips. She then approached me and lifted a hoof to my face. No above my face, towards the reptile I had once again forgotten had attached itself to my head.  As the little scaled creature balanced itself on her hoof, she reached down and set the gator on the ground to once again scamper away into the crowd.
“Thanks,” I said once again wiping drool from off my face.
“No, thank you.” The small mare said lowering her head. “I’m going to go back to my friends now.”
“Oh. Well, I hope you enjoy your night.” I said feeling a little sad at the parting.
The small mare let out a meek whisper of which I only caught, “...ready have” and then turned and galloped towards the diesis where her spot beside her friends remained vacant awaiting her.
“Oh yeah, real smooth Casanova,” I turned towards the sound of a friendly voice to see Crimson approaching, his red magic tipping his own glass of champagne into his mouth.
“I didn’t know you knew Fluttershy. What did you say to her? She looked upset.” He approached me a look of concern danced under his normally calm yellow eyes.
Where in the heavens did I start? Or should I say anything to my friend. Did he really need to know what I was having trouble believing had happened myself?
I kept my silence about most of my adventures I’d had and instead said, “We were just having a drink. I think. She may have had a bit too much though.”
“Uh huh.” I saw doubt flicker across his features. He knew me too well, and he especially knew what I looked like when I wasn't being wholly honest. So for my next trick, I simply pulled the quick gag to distract the audience, while I let the matter before simply vanish. It was the kind of magic unicorns never learned. And I had a good distraction.
“You’ll never believe what I got,” I said giving my friend a quick flash of teeth. “Princess Luna’s hoof-print!”
I pulled out the book with the print from my saddlebag and watched as my friend began to ogle the glowing hoof mark.
“Wow, that’s really neat! I’ve never seen such well-done permanent embedding enchantment. I mean she practically put some of her essence in that mark! That’s some serious magic for just a hoof-print.  But I guess when you have the power Celestia and Luna have, things that astound most magicians is simply trivial to them” Crimson finished excitedly.
“Yeah I guess you're right.” I still felt a little weird talking about the two rulers, but I couldn’t deny it was pretty awesome that, I had a little bit of the Princess Luna herself in the hoofprint she had given me.
“If you want,” Crimson said interrupting my thoughts, “I could see if I can get Princess Celestia to give you her hoof-print too next time I have class with her.”
“That sounds great,” I said smiling and passing the book over to my friend. “Take care of it please, I got a lot of important ponies in that book. From Spitfire to DJ Pon-3.”
“Of course,” he said taking the book and tucking it inside the pocket of his white jacket. “Maybe we should try to get some more while we’re here, I doubt you’ll see this many famous ponies again in one spot. We could try to get Raven Wood or maybe Princess Twilight....“
Suddenly a bright light began emitting from the diesis, and with it a loud blast of trumpeting, that despite being surprisingly loud, was pleasant. From within the light strode forth two shapes one large and blending into the light another a slightly smaller, darker shape. As the light faded and the music faded to a quieter background level the Princesses’ of Day and Night stood side by side in the center of the diesis. Princess Celestia bore a beaming smile on her face that shone like a beacon of sunlight itself. Princess Luna, however, was wearing a smaller smile that showed a gentle kindness, it resembled how the moon looked when it had the majority of its surface darkened leaving only a shimmering white crescent.
“Mares and Gentlecolts!” The voice from the opal alicorn boomed around the entirety of the ballroom as if the Princess was standing right beside you. It was both awesome and a bit creepy. “As you all know we have been gathered here today, to honor the rising of Twilight Sparkle into her status of Princess hood, like my sun and my sister’s moon have risen for centuries, now too shall Twilight’s star rise amongst our heavenly bodies. My dearest Twilight, won’t you come and join Luna and I up here. I believe my sister has something she wishes to show you.”
As the newly anointed alicorn stepped up to the level the two other princesses were on I only noticed the trace of a falter in the Princess of the Night’s smile. If I hadn’t been looking for it, I never would have seen it, but the scary part was, I had seen it.
“Twilight Sparkle,” Princess Luna began in a softer but slower tone than her sister. I had to admit while Princess Celestia’s booming echo had been a bit creepy, Princess Luna’s effect of a soft whisper into your ear was far creepier. “My sister has spoken of your star rising among us, but she did not mean it just figuratively. Look out into my night sky Twilight. Look up towards the center of the sky and see what place has been crafted for you in the heavens.”
The smaller purple alicorn immediately dove and glided towards a balcony on the far side of the room. Immediately hundreds of other ponies, high-society or not began clambering out onto balconies to look up into the night sky. From the alcove Crimson and I had chosen we were right beside a small outlook and soon found ourselves among the crowd gazing at the stars. Pardon me, Star. As in one massive constantly shimmering six-pointed star that even though it was still among the others in the heavens unlike the one from the previous night, it still outshone them all so brightly it seemed to be right within reach if one simply had a large enough stool to stand on. Almost, like I could fly up and cut myself on one of its sharp, shimmering points.
I looked around and noticed all the low hanging jaws, wide-eyed stares, and even erratic pointing. Clearly, the sight impressed many ponies and many looked at it with wonder and excitement. But nopony could match Princess Twilight in sheer excitement. The princess had begun to hop around like a young filly, excited for her birthday, or her first day at school. Then she turned and gliding up to the diesis wrapped her hooves around Princess Celestia’s white neck. And just for a moment I saw that smile on the Princess of the Night’s face falter again. It had been, like before, just for a moment, but it had happened. I doubted the new princess was even aware what was going on around her, between the two ancient rulers of Equestria. Heavens, was I even aware?
I let out a low sigh and turned back to look over the horizon at all the other stars seeming to sink into the dark pit that seemed infinitely far away. “Hey, Crimson,” I said nearly in a whisper.
“Yes,” he replied just as softly as I had. “Do you remember what you said about change last night?”
“That it only brings more change?”
“Yeah,” I answered, “I think you were right.”
I don’t think I wanted to know just how right he might have been.