With a pop and a flash of rosy light, Shining Armor appeared in the middle of the library. The stallion collapsed on the floor, legs sprawled out. Steam rose from his body as the energy had vaporized the excess moisture from his body, and his eyes swirled from dizziness.
"Shining?" Spike asked as he approached the prone pony. "Are you okay?"
"Spike," Shining groaned as he started to sit up, "please take a letter."
Spike pulled out a quill and pen, ready to go. He started to write as Shining Armor spoke:
Dear Princess Celestia,
Thank you for the tickets to the gala. It has caused quite a bit of excitement here in Ponyville. As such, it has taught me a lesson in friendship, but also has created a problem on which I could use your advice.
The lesson I have learned is that sometimes your friend's happiness is very important to you. That when you can, you want to make them happy and don't want to cause them to be disappointed or upset. This can be quite difficult when you have to make a decision that will affect all of them and know you cannot make everypony happy.
This is where I could use your advice. I only have one extra ticket, but all five of my friends want to go. I need to decide who to take and how to tell the others without making them too upset. If you have any ideas on how I could do such a thing, please let me know. It would be appreciated.
Your faithful student,
Shining Armor
"Okay. Send it."
With a nod, Spike curled up the scroll and ran to the window. He quickly opened it and blew out a plume of green flame. In a puff of smoke, the scroll was gone. As soon as he was done, the young dragon slammed the window shut once more.
"Sent," Spike said with a smile.
"Great," Shining Armor sighed. "Now we just need to keep quiet and hide until we get an answer."
There was a knock on the door.
"Maybe it's the wind," Spike suggested.
"Shining," Applejack called out, "it's us."
"Maybe they don't know we're here?" the young dragon said.
"We saw the puff of smoke," Rainbow Dash shouted, "we know you're in there."
Shining Armor let out a groan and rubbed at his head. Spike just gave him a shrug.
"Please open up, darling," Rarity added. "We wish to apologize."
Shining perked up at that statement. He moved toward the door as quietly as he could. Leaning forward, he put his eye to the crack between the top and bottom halves.
"Really?" He could see all five mares standing outside.
"Yes," Fluttershy responded. "Please open the door, if you don't mind."
Shining Armor chewed his lip as he looked at them. After some consideration, he took a step back and opened the door. The five mares stepped past him and walked into the library.
"So..." Pinkie started. She shifted on her hooves, looking down at them.
"We saw all the ponies chasing you because Pinkie Pie wanted the ticket," Fluttershy continued.
"So we got mad and started getting into a fight with each other again." Rainbow Dash rubbed at one of her other legs as she looked at the ground.
"That was when dear Fluttershy noticed that you were being chased," Rarity said, motioning toward the yellow pegasus. Pinkie Pie hopped forward.
"And we started talking how totally mean and unfair it was that all these ponies were chasing after you just to get the ticket to The Grand Galloping Gala."
"Which...." Applejack shifted. "Which was when we all realized that we were basically doin' the same thing."
"You told us all you wanted time to think, then wished to have time alone. Yet none of us listened."
"We just kept trying to get you to pick us and didn't think about what you said."
"It was selfish."
"And unfair."
"And we're sorry."
"So we decided to apologize, then give you some time."
"We also promise that none of us are going to get mad over not being chosen."
Shining Armor looked from one pony to the other as they spoke, listening to what they said. When they finished, he gave them a small smile. He felt a knot between his shoulders become undone, and like a weight had been taken off his shoulders.
"Thank you," he said. "I appreciate that and will try to get you all a decision as soon as I can." He shifted and let out a small chuckle. "You know, I wish-"
Spike's cheeks swelled and he let out a belch. A plume of flame shot out and turned to smoke. It swirled in the air before changing into a scroll. The young dragon reached out and caught it before it could hit the ground. Unfurling it, he cleared his throat and began to read.
My Faithful Student Shining,
I am pleased to hear that you are learning about friendship quite well. As for you decision, I have a simple solution.
"It's four more tickets to The Grand Galloping Gala!" He took a hold of them and held them up for others to see.
"That means we can all go," Shining called out. The six of them started talking excitedly about going.
"Do you know what this calls for?" Pinkie Pie asked as she moved forward with a grin.
"I really don't think we need a party to celebrate getting to go to the Gala."
"No, silly Shiny" the mare replied. "Not a party. A... group hug!" With that she reached out to grab the five other ponies and the one dragon, then pulled them tight and wrapped her front legs around them all.
Spike burped up another scroll.
"And one for you too, Spike." He took the ticket. "You mean I have to go to some girly Gala too?"
"Looks like it," Shining answered, giving the dragon a rub on the head.