“My Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle,
I send you nineteen tickets for you and your friends to attend the Grand Galloping Gala. The date of the event is Sunday, The fifteenth day of March. The Gala starts at 9:00 pm and will end at 7:30 am.
Luna has agreed that you all deserve something special from all the trouble you went through. I agree with her. Please use these tickets. If a problem arises, then write me at once.
Sincerely
Princess Celestia”
“Well, that was nice of her,” White Orchid commented after Spike finished reading the letter.
“I agree,” Rarity said. “I can’t believe we actually got tickets! I must simply make every pony here new tuxedoes and dresses!”
“Woah, there,” Aquatis Storm said. “Your getting ahead of yourself. We need to synchronize calendars.”
“He’s right,” Darkseige said. “Also, we need to make sure every pony can attend. It’ll be an experience for one. Thestrals have never attended a celebration this fancy.”
What none of them knew was that Dangersignal was listening and feeling dejected. He was to work that day. Clearing skies, postal deliveries, banker duties from Ponyville to Canterlot, police patrols and station duties.
“Well, if they’re going to have fun, let them.” he thought.
He left them to their partying and went off to accept duties from the stallion on duty at Ponyville East Signalbox. Being an Alicorn certainly had its advantages, allowing him to fly to the landing instead of climbing the stairs and using his magic as well as his hooves to set the points and signals.
The signal stallion-Frame Lock, was one stallion who always left detailed instructions about which trains he passed into block and what trains were next to be passed through. He knew that Dangersignal could keep things moving.
The changeover was smooth and Dangersignal belled the appropriate code to the signal boxes in the front and rear of his box that control of box had changed hooves and was now being staffed by the signal stallion on duty.
Five minutes later, he got the bell code to let a fast goods barrel through. Dangersignal belled that the line was clear, as it was and accepted the fast goods. Ten minutes later, it blasted through and the tail lamps had hardly disappeared when there was a metallic snapping noise.
Something whizzed upwards and shattered a window. Dangersignal dodged and set all his signals to Danger and belled that there was a divided train in section, followed by Obstruction Danger, then he took off to see what had happened.
It wasn’t hard to see what had happened. A wagon’s coupling had strained itself and when the wagon behind the weakened coupling jolted across the points, it snatched at the coupling, finally breaking it and sending it flying into Dangersignal’s signalbox.
The Alicorn took charge and ordered flag stallions and mares to go a good ten miles up and down, holding red flags to all approaching trains. Only work trains would be allowed into the station. With both lines blocked, there was no way trains could get through.
Dangersignal flew back to his box and made calls to the signal boxes in the front and rear, letting them know of what happened and that until the mess was cleaned, all trains were to be held. Of course, the delays made things worse and the Station Mare was up in Dangersignal’s face about the delays.
“I can’t help that,” he told her calmly.
“Listen to me, Ali-corny,” she hissed. “You’re a perfect pony. Now make this perfect!”
Dangersignal sighed in defeat and went out to watch the rescue operation. While he had magic, it there was no magic strong enough to move a wagon at it’s load maximum. That irritated him as it meant he couldn’t live up to the perfection every pony demanded of him.
After he saw that the clean up was well under way, he returned to his box, where he called up to see if any trains had been belled through. The signal boxes in the front and rear told him that they hadn’t sent any trains through.
“Thank you,” he said and hung up.
The accident was cleaned up and the work ponies were now inspecting the track bed and making sure things were up to code. It was another six hours before the lines could be declared open and fit to run on. He sighed and called the signal boxes in the front and rear to let them know that the line was opened, then he started by accepting a passenger train on the express line and a goods on the slow line.
Back with the others, they were unaware of the predicament and had all synchronized their calendars to the day and made sure everything worked out well. That night, Dangersignal had handed the box over to signal mare by the name of Lockbar and headed off to the railway ponies hut to have a cup of herbal tea and sleep his worries away.
Time flew by and at long last, the great day came. Rarity had made tuxedoes for all the ponies and was now waiting for Dangersignal to collect his. It was half passed eleven in the morning and she was becoming rather impatient. The others were also become impatient and cross with the Alicorn.
“Maybe he’s busy today and just forgot,” White Orchid said. “I’ll deliver his tuxedo if he hasn’t collected it by 8:30 pm. Our train will be waiting, seeing as all the chariots are either busy or in for repairs.”
“Thank you,” Rarity said.
The others went about their daily routines, not noticing that a certain Alicorn of interest was busily shifting clouds about to create a drizzle. It seemed that every one of the Elements of the Harmony kept missing their fearless leader and he kept missing them.
At 8:30 pm, the group were on the platform, all in their best dress. White Orchid had delivered Dangersignal’s tuxedo to the Alicorn’s house, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. He had joined them just as a slight breeze washed over them. Glancing at where the breeze came from, the others turned to see a forlorn Dangersignal accept the box from Frame Lock.
“Ah, he’s working, and…” Rarity began, but was cut off as the Alicorn dropped from view.
“Come on!” White Orchid cried. “He’s not doing well!”
They were going towards the box when the Station Mare cut them off.
“He’s fine!” she said. “Just lazing about!”
“NO!” Twilight shouted. “HE’S BLACKED OUT!”
“No, lazing about,” came the obstinate reply.
“Darkseige, Shaydefire, go to the box and check on him!” Dragonstorm ordered. “We’ll handle this poor excuse for a station staffer.”
The Thestrals took to the sky and dashed towards the box. At that moment, a fast express blasted out of the tunnel and roared through the station. The driver had been signaled through before Dangersignal’s collapse.
Shaydefire bucked in the door and Darkseige flew over to see Dangersignal laying on one side. He had bags under his eyes and was breathing slightly fast. The two Thestrals moved him to the couch and Shaydefire reported back to the group.
“He’s blacked out from exertion,” the Thestral said. “He’s in no fit state to go anywhere, except bed.”
The Station Mare snarled and made threats that were as idle as an oar out of water. Aquatis Storm went to the box to check on his friend. Frame Lock and Lockbar came up to take duties.
“Get him to his bed,” Lockbar said. “He needs down time.”
That seemed to be the most sensible and pleasing reason. It took the two Thestrals and Pegasus to move the heavy Alicorn. White Orchid and Hurricane had a cart prepared and once he was loaded into the cart, the others joined in, leaving the heavy hauling to White Orchid and Hurricane.
“Thank you for helping him,” Twilight said.
“No problem,” White Orchid said.
The group soon reached Dragonstorm and Dangersignal’s house and Dragonstorm let them in. Moving carefully, they got the blacked out Alicorn into the “Healing Room”-directly to the left of the front door. It was so named because either one of the Alicorns used it to heal up after spending time in the hospital.
Twilight watched and went off to find quill and parchment. Aquatis Storm told the others to wait in the front room. It seemed to be ages, but the two ponies returned to see the others.
“How is he?” Rarity asked.
“Overworked and the strain took it’s toll on him,” Aquatis Storm said. “I propose that we take it in turns to look after him. As for his jobs-postal duties, weather duties and railway duties, well, we’ll need some ponies to cover them.”
“I believe that the railway ponies he worked with could cover his jobs,” Amplitude said. “It’d be better than having a pony with no experience at the helm.”
*Ahem* Dragonstorm cleared his throat. “I work on the railway. I have experience.”
“Sorry, Dragonstorm, good catch. Now that we have that sorted out,” Aquatis Storm said. “Now, who wants to cover his postal duties? I’d recommend working in pairs for that.”
“Lae ta me,” Hurricane said. “I can dae it, wit’ the help o’ Sturrm Blast an’ possibly tae graund ponies.”
“I can spare myself,” Soundstar said.
“So can I,” Gemstone added.
“Right, now we need weather duties,” Aquatis Storm said.
“Leave that to me,” Rainbow Dash said.
“Alright, but you know that I’d like you to work with some pony else,” Aquatis Storm said. “I don’t want a repeat of Dangersignal.”
“Uhm…I can help,” Fluttershy said nervously.
“Please do,” Aquatis Storm said. “As for the rest of you, I’d like you to take it in turns to check on him. Twilight, can you stay here to admit whoever calls?”
“Certainly,” she said and the others left.
Twilight decided to check on Dangersignal, who was sleeping peacefully. Smiling, she gently shut the door and wrote her letter to Princess Celestia.
“Dear Princess Celestia,
I must apologize for returning the tickets on such short notice. Dangersignal was going to miss out because of work and he completed the gang that defeated Nightmare Moon and brought back Princess Luna. He’s a good stallion, really, and deserves such good friends as me and the others, but if he can’t go, then it’s for the best that the tickets return.
I also learned something valuable in the way of friendship. That no matter how you feel on the inside about having friends, that there is always somepony there to tend to you. I could sense that when the others offered to take up his jobs (minus Dragonstorm, who has worked on the railway).
I also would like to make a proposal, seeing as you are my mentor-May I stay here and learn all there is about this “Friendship”. It seems that there is much here to be learned and much for me to desire in the way of knowledge.
I await your reply.
Twilight Sparkle.”
She then rolled the parchment up with the tickets inside and waited. Twenty minutes later, Amplitude appeared to check on Dangersignal. Twilight asked her if she could fetch Spike.
“Of course,” she said. “Sending a letter?”
“Yes,” she said and explained all.
“You really think things through,” Amplitude smiled and departed.
Half an hour later, she returned with Spike. The baby dragon grumbled dreadfully, but Amplitude gave him a prompt hoofsmack and pushed him into the living room. Twilight had him send the letter and then stay, in case the princess replied.
“Ugh, where am I? What’s going on?” a voice called out, just now waking up.
The two unicorns trotted towards the room, where Dangersignal was laying on his stomach, rubbing his eyes with his foreleg. He definitely looked like a real disaster, his mane spread every which way from Sunday and his eyes looking bloodshot. He yawned and groaned.
“Why do I feel like some pony just smashed me over the head with a trash cart?” he asked.
“You blacked out inside the signal box,” Twilight said.
“Are my jobs being covered?” he asked, concerned.
“Yes, the doctor told you to relax,” Amplitude said.
He lowered his head and closed his eyes, finally gaining the well earned rest he deserved. As for the Station mare, when Celestia and Luna found out about her rude treatment of Dangersignal, they urged the railway board to let her go and she now handles the rubbish carts. That shows you, doesn’t it? As for Twilight's request, Celestia granted it, on the grounds that Twilight sent a letter explaining her lesson on friendship after she learned it, or sent a letter stating that there wasn't any friendship lesson for that week.