//------------------------------// // Chapter Sixteen – Party Down // Story: The Scion of Harmony // by Thornwing //------------------------------// Twilight spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon preparing the last of the decorations and making sure the food for the party was taken care of. Missus Cake had been a lifesaver in offering up a tray of fresh baked turnovers. The pet party food mainstay was sure to be the vegetable tray that Twilight loaded up with carrot and celery stalks. Adding an obligatory batch of cupcakes and a couple pitchers of punch to round out the snacks, she was as ready as she would ever be. Planning time was over, and the pet birthday party was a go. “I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing.” Twilight hitched up Pinkie’s party wagon and continued her one sided conversation with Gummy. The toothless pet sat and gnawed on an apple turnover oblivious to the tipping motion of the cart. He seemed to enjoy it and she hoped the other ponies and pony pets would as well. “I must be crazy trying to throw a party to help make everypony laugh and smile with all the added stress of these Trials going on.” She brought her speed up to a steady trot careful not to jostle her load too much. The birthday boy bounced along atop the wagon not really minding the single green balloon tied loosely to his tail. The party wouldn’t officially start for another hour, but Twilight wanted to get to the castle early in order to set up and possibly get some time alone with the princess to talk strategy. Intent on going over loose formulation of a plan as she made her way across town, she failed to notice a cloaked figure pull up beside her. “Pssst.” The mystery pony tried to get her attention. Twilight shook herself from her planning fog and nearly tripped over her own hooves at the sudden realization of the cloaked pony trotting next to her. Stretching back the hood just a little, Rarity poked out from under the cowl. “Rarity!” Twilight exclaimed in a mix of surprise and relief. “What are you doing? I thought you’d already be at the castle.” “Keep your voice down, Pinkie.” Rarity replied in a whisper. “I can’t let them know I’m out here.” “Who’s them, and what’s with the cloak and all the hush, hush?” Twilight continued to push on through the center of town. Rarity ducked back under the hood and turned her head aside as they passed Lyra and Bon Bon heading the opposite direction. “I’m trying to keep everypony else safe from catching my disease.” Twilight rolled her eyes and shook her head. “And just how are you planning on doing that by sneaking around town in your traveling cloak?” “I’m trying to keep a low profile.” Rarity pulled in close. “Everypony goes nuts when they see my rainbow markings. Quite a few seem to think it’s the latest fashion trend and want to know where I got it done. Others freak out and run away. I just don’t want anypony else getting sick.” Twilight lifted up a corner of her hood. “Then why aren’t you staying in the castle instead of trotting through town right now?” Rarity strained to yell in her whisper voice. “I had to go home to pick up Opal for the party.” From her back end under a lump of cloak, Twilight caught a faint meow along with a not-so-happy sounding hiss. “Oh, Rarity.” Twilight couldn’t help but giggle at the awkwardness of her friend. “It’s not funny.” Rarity picked up the pace a bit. Her back legs hitched upwards and she bounced her rump. “I forgot that Opal doesn’t like the dark and she’s got her claws buried in my backside.” “Hold on.” Twilight pulled up next to Rarity and grabbed the edge of her cloak. She reached under and gently pried the terrified cat away from Rarity’s tender flank. Reaching back to the wagon, she deposited the feline next to Gummy and the tray of apple baked goods. “You can hang out with Gummy for a bit while we make our way to the castle.” “Thank you, Pinkie.” Rarity adjusted her cape and turned toward the path leading up to the castle. “Now let’s get out of town before anypony realizes I’m here.” Being doubly cautious of her passengers comfort, Twilight followed Rarity’s lead. It took some doing, but Rarity made it to the castle unnoticed. Twilight pulled up to the steps and unhitched her wagon. She pulled Gummy off and tossed him on her back—what was left of a gummed up apple turnover still hung from his mouth. For Opal, she merely lifted her off the wagon and set her on the ground. Rarity was quick up the steps and darted inside—Opal strutted up and in right after her. A moment later, Spike ran out the door and offered his help with bringing in the party items. A few more trips and all the party supplies and food had been transported inside. Decoration setup was a breeze owning to the fact of how little there was. Twilight had a few hours to prepare, but only managed to complete a single Happy Birthday banner. It was a sorry attempt, but at least the copious amounts of glitter involved spoke to Pinkie’s usual style. The punch, cupcakes and the remainder of the apple turnovers eventually made their way to the buffet table. Twilight left Rarity and Spike to hang the banner while she went in search of the princess. She almost ran into Celestia at the base of the stairs. The princess had a pair of passengers perched on her back—Owlowiscious and Philomenia, her pet phoenix. Stopping short of running into one another, the princess offered greetings. “Why hello there, Pinkie Pie.” Smiling and shaking her head furtively, she continued on past. “I just found out from Philomenia that Owlowiscious is her seventh cousin ten times removed—isn’t that amazing?” Twilight saw right through her statement. “We’ve got the whole family here, don’t we?” The princess passed right on by and was soon followed by a trailing group composed of Fluttershy’s parents, the Sweet Apple Acres clan including Winona, and then Angel riding Fluttershy. The bigger surprise came with the flood of animals that followed. It seemed that all of Fluttershy’s animal friends had made it a point to follow her around—even if that meant invading the castle and having Celestia take them all on the grand tour. Things went from bad to worse when Rainbow Dash flew in the open front door. Twilight fell back from the procession to greet her final guest. “Welcome to the party, Rainbow.” She put on a brave smiling face. “What in the hay…” Rainbow froze in the entryway. Tank propelled himself through the door and would have crashed right into her had she not raised a blind hoof to fend him off. “What are all these animals doing here?” The sitting room filled to capacity and then some as the last of the animal train filed through the doors. “They’re here for the party?” Twilight shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. “I guess we’re starting early since everypony’s already here.” “This is crazy. I’m out of here.” Rainbow Dash spun around and nearly took off. Twilight pounced and quickly grabbed her tail. “Wait, Rainbow! You can’t leave—it’s Gummy’s birthday party. Think of the pets!” Rainbow Dash was quick to counter. “I don’t see how you can have a party when Twilight’s still missing. Why am I the only pony that’s trying to take this mare-napping seriously?” She pulled back her tail and swung around muzzle to muzzle. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t fly off right now and try to find Twilight?” Twilight stared back at Rainbow Dash trying to make the most convincing argument she could. “Because Princess Celestia said she was fine?” “Not good enough.” Twilight scrambled to think of something else. “Because… you’ll need help!” “Oh yeah? Who’s going to help me?” Rainbow sat back and crossed her forelegs. “Rarity, Fluttershy and AJ are all sick, and you’re throwing a party.” Tank adjusted his pitch and made to head off into the party room. Rainbow Dash held him back continuing to stare at Twilight. The princess party-pony found herself backed into a corner. She couldn’t think of anything short of telling the truth that would solve her current problem. All she could come up with was a plan to hopefully buy her more time. “I’ll help you, Rainbow.” “Sure you will. It’s way up there on your list of priorities—right under pet birthday parties.” Rainbow got up to leave. “I should have gone searching from the start.” “No, Rainbow. I promise.” Twilight crossed her heart with her right hoof and reached out with her left to grab a cupcake on a side table which she ended up smashing in her eye. With frosting dribbling down her face and not nearly enough smile to back it up, she said, “I’ll help you search for Twilight just as soon as the party is over—Pinkie promise.” Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and swung into a mid-air pace crossing back and forth across the foyer. “Honestly, Pinkie, I don’t even know where to start looking. Twilight’s gone—mare-napped for all we know. All our friends are sick, even though they say they’re fine. And then there’s Princess Celestia—she’s not even bothered by any of it. That’s the weirdest thing of all.” She came to a complete halt. Rainbow’s eyes got large and she dropped down and shoved Twilight toward the wall. Out of ear and eyeshot of the party, she whispered in Twilight’s ear. “You don’t think they’ve been replaced by Changelings do you?” “That’s silly.” Twilight gently pushed back while taking a lick of the last of the frosting dribbling down her face. “I think we’d know if our friends had been replaced by Changlings—wouldn’t you?” She grabbed a hold of Rainbow’s hoof and guided her toward the party room. “What I do know, is that we’re missing the party. Just relax a bit and we can talk to the princess after it’s done. Okay?” Unimpeded, Tank motored toward the doors of the sitting room. Rainbow Dash hesitated, but soon relented. “All right, but I’m still holding you to your promise. As soon as this party is over, we’re putting a hundred and twenty percent into finding Twilight.” “It’s a deal.” Twilight heaved a silent sigh of relief and followed Rainbow Dash into the party. With Fluttershy busily translating, the party was in full swing. Rarity split a cupcake with a bear. Applejack shared her turnover with a group of field mice. Opal batted away a ball every time Winona fetched it for her. Celestia even helped to moderate a discussion on wing power dynamics between Owlowiscious and Morning Glory. The only pony or beast not having a good time was Rainbow Dash. Staring out the window and barely giving notice to the many attempts that her pet turtle made to share a rainbow topped cupcake, she drifted alone in a sea of friendship fun. After refilling the punch bowl for a second time, Twilight decided the only way she was going to pass the Trial of Laughter was to get the sullen Rainbow to smile. That would be the ultimate test of Laughter right there. She walked over and poked Rainbow Dash in the ribs. “Hey there Raincloud, I hear there’s a party going on and somepony’s sitting it out.” Rainbow Dash wiped her cheek and turned her head. “It’s just not the same without Twilight.” The tear-streaked face exhibited the rarely seen vulnerability of the ever confident pony. Twilight was taken aback by the uncommon display. “Don’t worry, Rainbow. We’ll find her together.” Twilight had a terrible feeling seep through her as she dug an even deeper pit with her lies. In order to turn things around, she needed something else to bring Rainbow back into the party mix. “We’re going to sing Happy Birthday in just a little bit. Can I get you some punch for now?” “No thanks, Pinkie. I’m not in the mood.” Rainbow Dash scooted over and made room on the bench under the window for Twilight to sit down. “I’m worried that this rainbow flu has something to do with Twilight, and we’ll need her magic to help fix this mess. We’re the last two ponies who haven’t conked out with our Rainbow Powers stuck in overdrive—what happens if she doesn’t make it back before we all go rainbow-fied?” Twilight sat down next to Rainbow. “You’re mostly there on a normal day—Is it really that bad? I kind of like the highlights.” “That’s not the part I’m worried about.” Rainbow Dash spread out her wings. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m scared to go more than a few feet off the ground. How can I be my super-amazing self when I’m afraid to fly?” “What do you mean?” Twilight visually inspected Rainbow’s wings for any sign of injury. “Why are you all of a sudden afraid of flying?” “Because, Pinkie, what happens if I catch the bug and get knocked out while I’m flying hundreds of feet in the air?” Rainbow lifted her hoof up and flew it along before sending it into a tailspin toward a throw pillow. With an exaggerated mock explosion sound, her hoof met the pillow and she tossed it in the air. “Rainbow goes boom is what.” “I hadn’t thought of it like that. That does sound bad.” Twilight made a mental note to not be flying if and when she completed the Trial of Loyalty. Rainbow Dash stood up. “If we’re going to find Twilight, we’ll have to follow her trail exactly. There’s a train leaving tomorrow morning that I’m going to be on. If you plan on keeping your promise, I expect you to be there with me.” She started off to join the party group. “Now let’s go sing so we can get this party finished.” At the end of her rope, the birthday song was looking like her last hope. Twilight got up and started herding the crowd around the birthday gator. She plopped a cupcake with four candles in front of Gummy as the last of the ponies and assorted animals gathered. With a short search around the group members, she settled on one. “Rarity, would you mind lighting the candles for Gummy?” Rarity blushed. “Sorry dear, but my magic’s been a little testy lately. Probably something to do with the rainbow flu.” “Allow me.” Princess Celestia nodded to Philomenia. The phoenix took off from her back wing perch and swooped down next to the cupcake and the birthday boy. With a clap of her fiery wings, the candles burst into flame. Twilight started them off and they all sang Happy Birthday to Gummy—some a little more enthusiastically than others. With the song ending and the hoofclaps and hollers being drowned out by the bear’s roar, Gummy stepped up and swallowed the entire cupcake, lit candles and all, in a single bite. To Twilight’s relief, he spit out the extinguished candles a moment later. With the celebration coming to a close, Rainbow Dash made for the exit. Before she made it through the door, Spike doubled over. Burp! In a blaze of dragon fire, a note materialized in thin air. Spike promptly grabbed it as the curious ponies turned their attention away from the birthday gator. Unrolling the scroll, he scanned down the letter. “It’s for you, Princess.” Spike stumbled over to Celestia and presented her with the note. Celestia took hold with her magic and read in silence. When she finished, she rolled up the parchment which then vanished with a flick of her horn. “My little ponies, I’m sorry to have to tell you that I must return to Canterlot. Princess Luna has informed me that the royal delegation visiting for the equinox celebration will be arriving earlier than expected and I must see to the preparations.” Fluttershy edged through the crowd. “What should we do about the rainbow flu in the meantime?” From his seat on her back, Angel held up her multicolored mane. “Not to sound selfish, but the flu does take precedence over foreigners in my book.” Rarity swung her rainbow neckerchief over her shoulder. Celestia frowned. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have an answer.” “What about Twilight?” Applejack stepped forward. “Aren’t you going to help us find her?” Rainbow Dash hovered by the door. “She doesn’t have to. I’m leaving on the morning train and anypony that wants to help is welcome to come.” “That won’t be necessary—Twilight is perfectly fine.” Celestia didn’t have a plan—Twilight could see it in her darting eyes. It wouldn’t be long before the truth would have to come out. “Twilight will be back when she’s finished with her trip.” “How can you be so sure, Princess? Is there something you haven’t told us?” Applejack bore down on the truth. Celestia backed herself into a corner trying desperately to avoid the question. Twilight hopped in between the Princess and her subjects. “Everypony, listen!” She got their attention with her pink-poofy mane standing on end. “I’m going to help Rainbow find Twilight tomorrow. The Princess needs to get back to Canterlot and the rest of you have things to do. Rarity—you need to get back to work and spend some time with your sister. Applejack—you need to do the same. Fluttershy—you have your parents in town and a whole bunch of friends that want to take care of you. If you can watch Tank and Gummy as well, I’ll go with Rainbow and together we’ll find Twilight and bring her home.” Applejack approached and put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “That’s mighty nice of you, Pinkie, but don’t you think we should all go search for Twilight together?” Fluttershy walked up as well. “Pinkie, I would be happy to watch Tank and Gummy, but what about your birthday party tomorrow? You didn’t forget about it again, did you?” Twilight sat down and crossed her heart with her hoof. “I made a promise to my friend that this would be my last party until we found Twilight. My party can wait until we do that and everypony else is back to normal.” Rainbow Dash fluttered over to Twilight. “Pinkie, you don’t have to come with me. Stay here and enjoy your party. I’ll be back with Twilight before you know it.” Rarity poked her head out from behind Fluttershy. “How about we all celebrate Pinkie’s birthday right now?” She held up another cupcake with a forest of candles embedded in the frosting. Twilight held up her hoof rejecting the offer. “A promise is a promise. No more parties until we find Twilight.” The candles on the cupcake flickered. In a series of little pops, each wick lit up in a sparkle of light. Rarity dropped it and took a few steps back. In a voice radiating fear, she said, “That’s not me—I didn’t do it.” The candles didn’t burn, but rather burst in an array of glittering colors. Twilight realized what was happening as the same thing started happening all along her coat and tingling down her mane and out her tail. She closed her eyes and let the magic take over. Her darkened world spun with the familiar weightlessness of the Pool of Harmony there to catch her. Starswirl reached out to assist, but Twilight pulled herself out even faster than he could help. She spun around to catch the aftermath of her latest triumph. Staring out over the silver shimmer of the pool’s surface, all she saw was the faint beating glow of two of the remaining three orbs below. Starswirl stared down into the pool. “Lord Aeon, we have a problem.” He stroked his beard and turned to Aeon. “Master, what is the protocol for this situation?” “Where’s the vision? Where are my friends?” Twilight tapped the water hoping for an echo of a glimpse into the scene unfolding in the castle. The rippling surface gave up nothing but her own reflection. Aeon slowly lifted his head. More than half of his eyes remained closed. A faint glow illuminated two of the three horns in the cluster above. He groaned out his response. “The Elements speak to me. There is disagreement in their choice. We must wait while a victor is chosen.” He slumped back down and rested his head. Twilight shrank back. “Did I do something wrong? Did I fail the Trial?” She turned to grab a hold of Starswirl looking for his reassurance that everything would be okay. Aeon’s voice rumbled with the vibration of the ground. “The Element of Laughter accepts your display of temperance in a time of frivolity. However, the Element of Loyalty has made a claim of equal worth in your display of the characteristics inherent to it. The Elements must weigh the merits of both claims and come to a consensus before the Balance of Harmony can be restored and the Trials are allowed to continue.” Twilight grabbed for her sack and nearly tore it off of Starswirl’s back. She dove inside and pulled out the copter blade. “I need to get back to my friends. I can’t leave them like that.” She turned back to the pool. “I made this propeller for Rainbow Dash and Tank, her pet turtle. It was Tank that taught us all what it really meant to be a loyal friend. I’m ready to face the next Trial.” She leaned over the pool with her outstretched hoof holding tight to the broken blade. Nothing happened. Without the pull or weight of the object in her hoof guiding her forward, Twilight did the next best thing. She took a step back and then three more purposeful steps forward. Holding her breath, she jumped into the Pool of Harmony. The water clung to her, but the blackness was absent. Twilight opened her eyes and found herself floating alongside the dueling orbs of Laughter and Loyalty. Why didn’t it work? It has to work! I need to get back to the castle right now. Twilight’s breath was fading fast. Her heart thumped a hundred beats a minute more than normal. She kicked her legs and made for the surface as the last of the oxygen burned out of her lungs. This time she accepted the waiting hoof and relied on Starswirl’s help to pull herself out. Back on solid ground, Twilight rolled to her side. She held the copter blade out for Starswirl to see. “Why didn’t it work? Is it defective?” Her heart thumped in her chest as the panic and anxiety set in. “Calm yourself, Twilight. You did nothing wrong.” Starswirl pushed back her mane and pulled the copter blade away. Depositing it back in the saddle bag, he helped Twilight up. “The Master says we must wait. The Elements must confer with one another and come to a consensus before your fifth Trial will be allowed to proceed.” Twilight peered back over the edge of the pool—her mirrored face with all its accompanying worry was all she saw. “I have to do something. Isn’t there another way?” “I’m afraid not. The only thing we can do now is wait and give the Elements time.” Starswirl wrapped a foreleg around Twilight’s shoulder and gently coaxed her away from the pool. “Come share a meal with me while we wait.” Twilight felt surprisingly full, but reluctantly pulled back from the water’s edge. Starswirl’s touch and the calmness in his voice helped settle her rising fears from boiling over into panic. She followed his lead and found herself back at the corner table with a new spread of food waiting. “I can’t believe I let that happen.” Twilight sunk into a chair. She flopped her head down over her hooves splayed out across the table. A pair of apples rolled to the edge and fell, only to be caught by Starswirl. “Everypony saw me and they’re probably freaking out right now. I hope they don’t turn on the Princess.” “Your friends are strong. They can handle it.” Starswirl ran his hoof down Twilight’s mane. “Celestia can hold her own too. There’s no use worrying about things you can’t do anything about. We just have to wait and work with what we have when our time comes. Patience is a virtue—one I’m surprised isn’t a fully realized Element of Harmony.” Twilight looked up at the wizard. “How long do we have to wait?” “As long as it takes. These things can’t be rushed.” Starswirl offered her an apple. “Have a bite to eat and try to relax.” “Very funny.” Twilight cracked a grin and took the apple. “There’s no way to relax when you’re the Scion of Harmony and the fate of the entire universe is resting on your shoulders, and you know that.” “Try anyway.” Starswirl smiled back and took a bite of his own apple.