Dan sat alone in the hospital room, reading the copy of Daring Do that Rainbow Dash had been reading. She had been checked out a few days ago, as she recovered much faster than he did.

He had made a significant recovery himself, having the cast removed from his leg, which healed remarkably fast thanks to Dr. Carousel's remedy. His rib-cage and wing were the doctor's main concern now, but Dan swore up and down that he could talk just fine again. He even burst out singing to himself as he ate lunch one day, and there was no pain in his ribs.

"Wow..." Dan shook his head in disbelief as he turned the page. "Not bad, not bad at all... I can see why Rainbow Dash liked it so much..."

Dr. Blaze Carousel trotted in along with a nurse pushing a wheelchair. "Hello there, hero." The doctor referred to Ace as 'hero' during the course of his stay in the hospital. The doctor walked up to Dan's bedside, made a quick examination of his wing and poked Dan's rib-cage. "Ugh..." Dan grunted as a little sting of pain shot through his chest.

"Still some pain right there, I see..." The doctor said, taking a few notes a clipboard.

Dan frowned, "Oh, come on, Doc. I can talk again! And even sing! You heard me singing, right?"

"Yes, yes..." The Doctor said, putting the clipboard down and straightening his lab coat. "I certainly did hear you belting out the entire works of DJ PON-3..."

The Doctor laughed. "If you want it to be..." He then flung the covers off Dan and stepped back. "Alright, hero. Looks like you're free to go. The nurse just checked you out, and I just needed to do some last minute check-ups."

"Yep, just slip out of that hospital gown and limp over to this wheelchair here..."

Dan carefully edged off the bed and stepped on his previously broken leg. There was a little tenderness but Dan could limp. He grabbed the neck of the gown with his teeth and pulled it off, throwing it onto the bed. The nurse blushed slightly as Dan flexed his muscles and moved them around a little. He shook his head, and scowled. "Arg...pins and needles..."

He trotted in place for the second to get the blood flowing, and then slowly made his way to the wheelchair and sat down.

The nurse started wheeling Dan out of the hospital as the doctor walked with him. Dan hadn't been out of the room at all during his stay, so he took this opportunity to look around. All faces turned to him as they wheeled him out, some with looks of surprise and others with smiles. Dan recognized some patients who were at the battle. A nearby Royal Guard Pegasus in a wheel-chair gave a quick salute. "Ace...good to see you're up..."

Dan nodded in his direction as they approached the reception desk. The nurse stopped and the doctor walked up. "Alright Ace, just let me do the final work on the computer and we'll get you out of here..."

The Doctor didn't respond at first, but then Dan repeated himself. "Who's picking me up, Doc?"

"Yes, yes...she could've said Rainbow Dash, I don't know..." The Doctor stepped out from behind the counter and smiled cheekily. "The good news is you have nothing to worry about. You're all set to go."

Dr. Carousel nodded. "Please, call me Blaze." He pointed at the nurse. "Nurse..."

The nurse nodded and began to push him towards the sliding glass doors. Dan leaned back and closed his eyes and he heard the sliding glass door open. He prepared to take in the fresh air of the outdoors and hear the peaceful sounds of birds chirping and the wing blowing through the trees.

Dan's eyes flashed open and he yelled in shock as the 100 or so voices yelled at him. He looked around wildly and saw the grounds of the hospital and literally been turned into a fair-ground. There were balloons, tents, food, games, and even a stage with musical instruments and a sound-board on it. It seemed like all of Ponyville was there, cheering as Dan was wheeled out of the hospital.

Dan heard the Doctor laughing as he walked out of the hospital. Dan turned and said to him dryly, "I see what you did there..."

A pink blur shot up to him and started bouncing up and down in front of him. "Do you like it? Huh? Huh? Do you? Do you?"

"Pinkie Pie..." Dan shook his head, speechless. "I...I don't know what to say..."

"Don't say nuthin then, darlin'." Applejack said as she walked up with Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight Sparkle. "Pinkie here was distraught 'cause she hadn't thrown you a welcomin' party yet..."

"So she decided to throw a pony-fabulous party to welcome you and for thanks in saving Equestria!" Rarity chimed in.

"Yey..." Fluttershy smiled and tried her best to be excited as she hovered in the air.

Applejack rolled her eyes, but Twilight stepped forward and pointed a hoof up. "Look up..."

Dan looked up and saw Rainbow Dash zooming around in the clouds. She saw him, saluted and winked, and she zoomed ahead of four more figures clad in blue tights and five more in red armor.

Dan watched in awe as Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts and the Red Hooves quickly formed a message in the clouds. Thank you, Blue Bass!

"The party ain't even started yet!" Pinkie exclaimed, getting up in Dan's face and helping him out of his wheel-chair. "Hit it, PON-3!" Pinkie yelled at the stage.

The DJ herself was at a mix-board. She raised a hoof in the air, the crowd cheered, and she started up the record. Pop-orchestra beats began playing as she started mixing the song. Joining her on-stage was Blazing Heartbeat, who flew down from the sky and landed behind the drums, DJ Skully, who turned un-invisible behind a digital keyboard, and Mic Bluez, who hopped up on stage in front of the mic. He grabbed it with one hoof and winked at the crowd.

The crowd cheered in response to Mic Bluez question and he raised a hoof in the air as Dash and her comrades flew overhead in a similar fashion to a jet fly-by.

Let's go!

For those of you who wanna know what he's all about...

It's like this, ya'll! (C'mon!)

Mic Bluez started jumping around on-stage, pulling off some street moves, and Blazing Heartbeat threw down a hip-hop beat on the drums while Skully pulled up a mic and rapped with Mic Bluez as he played chords on the electric piano.

This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill,

Fifteen percent concentrated power of will,

Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain,

And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!

"I freaking love this song!" Dan said as he rose to his hooves, lightly bouncing to the beat. The ponies on the crowd were going wild. Mic Bluez went solo on this next verse as he rapped about Dan.

Ace!

He doesn't need his name up in lights!

He just wants to be heard, whether it's the beat or the mic!

He feels so unlike everypony else, alone,

In spite of the fact that everypony thinks that they know him

But buck 'um! He knows the code!

It's not about the salary!

It's all about reality! Makin' some noise!

Makin' a story! Makin' sure his clique stays up!

That means when he puts it down, Skully's pickin' it up! Let's go!

Dan, despite only being able to limp, started making his way to stage, smiling as he went. Twilight and her friends went with him to protect him from the crowd.

"Oh dear. I hope he's not to hurt to start singing again already..." Fluttershy muttered as she flew overhead.

At this point, DJ Skully took over the rapping as Mic Bluez indicated, clearing his throat and starting the next verse:

Who the hay is he anyway?

He never really fights much...

Never concerned with status, but still leaving 'um star struck...

Humbled through opportunities given despite the fact...

That many misjudge him because he makes a living from fightin' gods...

Fought Discord himself, now the picture connects...

Never asking for someone's help, or to get some respect!

He's only focused on savin' the day, his will is beyond reach!

And now it all unfolds, the skill of an artist!

At this point, Dan had managed to get up onto the stage and pick up an electric guitar they had sitting out. He started playing rock harmonies to the pop-orchestra beats and the crowd went nuts. Moving slowly because of his injuries still, he sidled up next to Mic Bluez, who brohoofed Dan.

Dan scoffed, "I don't know, I've never really tried it..." He continued playing and before Mic Bluez could respond, Dan walked up to the mic and began to rap quite well:

This is twenty percent skill, eighty percent fear!

Be a hundred percent clear, 'cause Discord be dead!

Who woulda' thought I'd be the one to save Equestria from flames?

And I saw him wreckin' with Canterlot, that's no way to play this game!

Some crowd surfing ponies were up and about now as the song got more intense. Mic Bluez had retrieved another mic from backstage and jumped up next to Dan. Mic Bluez smiled and shook his head, "You're a natural brony."

"All yours!" Dan yelled over Blazing Heartbeat's beat. Mic Bluez gave Dan a hooves up, who continued to play. The rapper pony turned his hat around and rapped some more:

Came up, dropped the Rainboom, took the dragon to town!

I like bats man! Skully had the stupidest verse!

This stallion's the truth, now everypony givin' him their respects!

His fame's through the roof, I heard him bucking with RD!

Dan laughed and rolled his eyes, and the crowd laughed too. Rainbow Dash, upon hearing this, flew down from her performance and landed on the stage next to Dan. She had a scowl on her face, "Can I?"

Dan turned his attention back to playing and shrugged, "Should you feel the need, Dashie..."

"Okay then..." Dash turned around and kicked Mic Bluez, who was standing on his hind legs, waving at the crowd, right in the bread-basket.

"OOOOOHHHHH!" Came the crowds reaction as Dash smiled evilly. "Watch your lyrics next time, bud!"

"C'mon, brony, take it like a stallion!" Dan patted his back. "Let's finish this!"

Mic Bluez shook his head as he watched RD fly off, "Careful around her, man. She's a tough one to deal with. I can tell."

Both stallions laughed before continuing with the chorus, the crowd at it's maximum energy level:

This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill,

Fifteen percent concentrated power of will,

Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain,

And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!

The party was a hit. Not only was everyone in Ponyville there, but ponies from the neighboring cities of Fillydelphia and Manehatten. Dan was eating a well deserved non-hospital dinner with Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

"Wow..." Dan grunted as he slurped up some noodles from a spaghetti plate. "I haven't eaten this well in a week!"

"It wasn't bad when you were there..." Dan and Rainbow Dash nuzzled each other. And AJ sighed and rolled her eyes and looked away.

"Applejack? How's your apple-stand doing at the party?" Dan asked, looking over at her.

"Oh, the stand?" Applejack lit up when Dan turned his attention to her. "The stand's doing great. 'Member when ya'll tasted that apple in town the day ya'll got here?"

"Well, now that ya'll are famous, I hope you didn't mind if I said that they was yer favorite apples..." She blushed a looked down.

"So, Ace..." Dash smiled at him. "Wanna come over to my cloud for a little...after-party?" She narrowed eyes and winked at him.

Applejack half-snarled as Dash put a hoof on Dan's shoulder. Dan's mouth hung open a little but he shook his head, "I...I don't think so, Rainbow Dash..."

"I-I have to get my work in order with PON-3..." Dan said. "And seeing as I'm still injured... Well, I just don't think so..." He shook his head, "Not right now, okay?"

Rainbow Dash stared him down for a seconds before smiling and nodding, "Oh yeah, I understand. Do what you need to do Ace."

Applejack saw Dan opened his mouth halfway and heave a sigh of relief himself. She smiled, an idea forming in her head. A sinister idea.

Suddenly, trumpets sounded outside the pavilion where the three were eating. Everypony was running around outside toward the center of the makeshift fairground. Twilight Sparkle ran in and said, "Ace, come quick! Celestia and Luna are here and they want to see you!"

A large crowd had gathered around a royal chariot that had been flown down by four Royal Guard Pegasai. The Red Hooves of Celestia, led by Blue Arrow, were standing around the carriage doing crowd control.

"Is he on his way, Blue Arrow?" Celestia looked down from her spot at the Pegasus.

"Aye, your highness." The war-hero responded, still gazing straight ahead. "I sent your student, Twilight Sparkle, to fetch him."

"Very good." Luna chimed in, smiling as she saw Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Dan approaching through the crowd, some Red Hooves clearing the way for them.

"Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!" Dan yelled as he hobbled along, his injuries still getting the better of him slightly.

The Princesses chuckled as they saw the human-turned-stallion go through the break in the Red Hooves with Twilight. Rainbow Dash and Applejack had to stay back though. The Red Hooves weren't kidding around with security after the recent incident.

"Hello, my faithful student." Celestia smiled, and Luna nodded in her direction. "Twilight Sparkle."

Dan still kept his head bowed, as he didn't know the traditions of how a pony should act in front of Princess. "How long do I stay down? Crap crap crap..." Dan was freaking out inside his head.

Slowly, Dan looked up at both the princesses. "Your highnesses. What have you come here for?"

Celestia nodded, "You have done Equestria a great Service, Ace. One we shan't soon forget."

"The carpenter ponies are working on in as we speak." Celestia responded, closing her eyes and shaking her head. "Though the losses were antagonizing, we will recover. I have to say, I'm am sorry for the unnecessary loss of life that happened the day you stormed the city."

"They will all be honored with a monument outside the castle once it has been repaired." Luna smiled.

The crowd cheered when they heard this, and Dan smiled. "What of my element gear? Will it be safe?"

"It's with the other elements..." Celestia took on a face of seriousness. "Hear me now, Ace. You will only use that armor again only when you are called to duty."

The crowd gasped, but Dan just shrugged. "Yeah, I thought as mu-wait... What?" he looked up, confused.

"No pony has done what Ace has done in years..." Celestia smiled. "With the exception of you and your friends, my faithful student."

"How come we haven't been knighted!?" Rainbow Dash rose a hoof in the air like a fist, but Applejack swatted it down. "Na' show sum respect, RD..."

Dan was speechless, "I...I don't know what to say... It's just been one honor after the other today..."

"Blue Arrow... The ceremonial Royal Guard sword, if you please." The Princess said down at the Red Hoof leader, who was just as shocked.

"A-a-as you wish, your highness." He unsheathed the blade he had at his side and handed it to the Princess, who lifted it up with magic. "Bonny alicorns..." Blue Arrow muttered. "They can be bloody insane sometimes..."

Twilight nudged him to kneel. "Go on!" Dan, who was still trying to take in what was going on, shook his head and coughed nervously. "Ahem! Right, right..."

Dan grunted in pain as he dropped his left hoof down and knelt his front half forward.

He closed his eyes and he heard Celestia say: "By the power invested in me as Princess and High Ruler of Equestria, I hereby grant the title of Honorary Royal Guard to Blue 'Ace' Bass." He felt the tip of the sword lightly touch his right shoulder, followed by his left.

Dan opened his eyes and rose. He turned towards the crowd and smiled. The crowd cheered and Rainbow Dash did some hoof-pumps in the air.

"Ace, we wish to thank you again." Celestia said, bowing. "We can never repay you for what you did..."

"Heh...yeah..." He glanced at Rainbow Dash as she started to mingle with Pinkie Pie and Rarity who had just walked up. The crowds were separating, and Dan took it that meant the ceremony was over.

"Dan..." Celestia whispered in his ear, bending down. "You wish to speak with me? Is there something troubling you?"

Dan widened his eyes and turned towards her, "How did you-? Oh, right. I already forgot about the whole in-my-mind thing..."

Luna chuckled, but Celestia remained stone-faced. "Is this about Rainbow Dash, Dan?" She whispered.

Dan nodded slowly, gulping. "Yeah...look, the Town Hall's deserted right now... Can we...can we talk there?"

"Of course." Celestia rose her head up and nodded at Blue Arrow, who then sounded the trumpet the ponies heard before. Ponies all around the fairgrounds cheered as the chariot, pulled by the four Royal Guard ponies, flew up and away towards Town Hall.

"Super-duper top secret 7th Element Royal Business, maybe!" Pinkie Pie suggested excitedly.

"We'll see, na', everypony..." AJ muttered. "We'll ask 'im when he comes on back..."

The 7th Element

by thunderhawk7865

The Long-Overdue Pinkie Party