//------------------------------// // The ticket master (unedited) // Story: The life and times of Harmony and Light (season 1) // by TheChronicler //------------------------------// We join two of our hero's and spike a week after the nightmare moon indecent Applejack had asked Twilight for some help harvesting apples. Normally she would have asked Rider but all four of the guys were busy renovating the old clock tower into a bar. The princess had given it to them for free out of gratitude for helping save equestria. So the two of them were walking towards the barn while spike was inspecting apples. "No. Nope. Nope. spike said throwing away the apples he didn't like. "Thank you kindly, Twilight, for helping me out. I bet Big McIntosh I could get all these Golden Delicious in the barn by lunchtime. If I win, he's gonna walk down Stirrup Street in one of Granny's girdles. Applejack Chuckled. as they walked down the path. "No problem at all, Applejack. I'm glad the goal is lunchtime. All this hard work is making me hungry. Twilight said. "I know, right?" Spike said as he tossed an apple that hit Twilight's head by accident. "Puh-leez, Spike, you've been lounging on my back all morning while we worked." Twilight said in a huff. "Exactly. You two are taking so long, I missed snack-time." spike complained. Twilight's stomach grumbled and she laughed nervously "Eh, I guess we better get some food." she said. Spike continued to dig though the basket of apples "Nope. Worm. A-ha!" he exclaimed as he pulled out a big, red, ripe, juicy apple. Twilight licked her lips "Oh Spike, that looks delicious." she said with a smile on her face until spike ate it in one bite. "Spike." Twilight scolded. "What?" Spike asked with his shoulders shrugged until he burped up a scroll. "It's a letter from Princess Celestia." Twilight said. "Ahem." Spike cleared his throat. "Hear ye, hear ye. Her Grand Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is pleased to announce The Grand Galloping Gala to be held in the magnificent capital city of Canterlot, on the 21st day of, eh, yadda yadda yadda, cordially extends an invitation to Twilight Sparkle plus one guest." he announced. Applejack and Twilight gasped. "The Grand Galloping Gala!" they yelled. "The Grand Galloping Gala!" Applejack and Twilight Cheered. Spike burped again "Look, two tickets." "Wow, great! I've never been to the gala. Have you, Spike?" Twilight asked. "No, and I plan to keep it that way. I don't want any of that girly frilly frou-frou nonsense." spike said waving his claw. "Aw, come on Spike. A dance would be nice." Twilight said. "Nice? It's a heap good more than just nice." Applejack said. "I'd love to go. Land sakes." she said as she went into fantasy mode. "If I had an apple stand set up, ponies would be chowin' our tasty vittles 'til the cows came home. Do you have any idea how much business I could drum up for Sweet Apple Acres? Why, with all that money, we could do a heap of fixin' up 'round here. We could replace that saggy old roof, and Big McIntosh could replace that saggy old plow, and Granny Smith could replace that saggy old hip." She said finishing her fantasy . "Why, I'd give my left hind leg to go to that gala." she sighed. "Oh well in that case, would you like to?" Twilight tried to ask but just then they heard something. "Whoa!" A voice yelled. "Ugh." Twilight and Applejack grunted apparently the voice was their friend Rainbow Dash crashing on top of them. "Are we talking about The Grand Galloping Gala?" she asked. Applejack stood up and scowled "Rainbow Dash, you told me you were too busy to help me harvest apples. What were you busy doing, spyin'?" she asked. "No, I was busy napping, and I just happened to hear that you have an extra ticket?" Rainbow asked with a smile while flying. "Yeah, but.." Twilight tried to say but she was interrupted. "YES! This is so awesome!" Rainbow yelled and did a flip to land. "The Wonderbolts perform at The Grand Galloping Gala every year. I can see it now." She said. Rainbow Dash started her fantasy. "Everyone would be watching the sky. Their eyes riveted on The Wonderbolts, but then in would fly Rainbow Dash! I would draw their attention with my Super Speed Strut. Then, I would mesmerize 'em with my Fantastic Filly Flash. And for my grand finale, The Buccaneer Blaze! The ponies would go wild! The Wonderbolts would insist that my signature moves be incorporated into their routine, and then welcome me as their newest member." she said finishing her fantasy. "Don't you see, Twilight? This could be my one chance to show 'em my stuff. You gotta take me!" Rainbow exclaimed until Applejack pulled Her back by her tail. "Hold on just one pony pickin' minute here. Applejack said with rainbows tail in her mouth which she proceeded to spit out. I asked for that ticket first. she said. "So? That doesn't mean you own it." Rainbow dash challenged as she turned to look Applejack in the eyes. "Oh, yeah? Well I challenge you to a hoof-wrestle. Winner gets the ticket." Applejack said as they when't to a stump and started hoof-wrestling. having enough of this Twilight broke them apart "Girls, these are my tickets, I'll decide who gets it, thank you very much. Whoever has the best reason to go should get the ticket, don't you think?" she asked not knowing she would be setting off a chain reaction for her whole day to go to tartarus. suddenly Applejack and Rainbow Dash started to trade reasons for them to go. AJ "Drummin' up business for the farm?". RD "A chance to audition for The Wonderbolts?" AJ "Money t' fix Granny's hip." RD "Living the dream." Twilight suddenly realized her mistake. "Oh my, those were all pretty good reasons, aren't they?" she asked herself she blushed as her stomach rumbled she chuckled "Listen to that, I am starving. I don't know about you, but I can't make important decisions on an empty stomach, so I'll, uh, think about it over lunch and get back to you two, okay?" she said while walking away. "Okay." Applejack and Rainbow Dash said suddenly looking back at eachother and restarting there hoof-wrestle. "So, who you gonna give the ticket to, Twilight?" Spike asked. "I don't know Spike, but I really can't think straight when I'm hungry, so where should we eat?" Twilight asked before a pink blur tackled them reviling it self to be Pinkie. as the tickets landed on her face she stared to freak out "Gah! Bats! Bats on my face! Help! Wait, these aren't... tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala?! It's the most amazing incredible tremendous super-fun wonderful terrifically humongous party in all of Equestria! I've always always always wanted to go!" Pinkie Pie suddenly broke out into song."Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me. Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me .Hip hip. Hooray! It's the best place for me for Pinkie..." she stared to list things she expected the gala to have. "With decorations like streamers and fairy-lights and pinwheels and piñatas and pin-cushions. With goodies like sugar cubes and sugar canes and sundaes and sun-beams and sarsaparilla. And I get to play my favorite-est of favorite fantabulous games like Pin the Tail on the Pony!" she said then started to sing again. "Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me. Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me. 'Cause it's the most galarrific superly-terrific gala ever. In the whole galaxy. "Wheee!!" she said as she finished her song. "Oh thank you, Twilight, it's the most wonderful-est gift ever." Pinke thanked Twilight while geting in her personal space. "Um, actually..." Twilight Tried to explain while Spike picked up the tickets. as spike picked them up he heard a gasp he looked up to see Rarity. "Are these what I think they are?" She asked. "Uh..." Twilight tried to say before Pinkie cut her off. "Yes, yes, yes! Twilight's taking me to The Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot." Pinkie said bouncing up and down. "The gala!" Rarity exclaimed. "I design ensembles for the gala every year, but I've never had the opportunity to attend. Oh, the society, the culture, the glamour! It's where I truly belong, and where I'm destined to meet him." she sighed dreamily Pinkie Pie decided to join in. "Him! ...Who?" she asked confused. Rarity drifted off into a fairy tail fantasy as she began to explain. "Him. I would stroll through the gala, and everyone would wonder, Who is that mysterious mare? They would never guess that I was just a simple pony from little old Ponyville. Why, I would cause such a sensation that I would be invited for an audience with Princess Celestia herself, and the princess would be so taken with the style and elegance that she would introduce me to him, her nephew the most handsome, eligible unicorn stallion in Canterlot. Our eyes would meet, our hearts would melt. Our courtship would be magnificent. He would ask for my hoof in marriage, and of course I would say, Yes! We would have a royal wedding, befitting a princess, which is what I would become upon marrying him, the stallion of my dreams." She said. "Whoa, whoa, whoa hold up I thought you were dating Clover!" Twilight said in surprise. Rarity blushed at the implication. "What no were just very close and, and don't change the subject Twilight, I simply cannot believe you would invite Pinkie Pie so she can... party, and prevent me from meeting my true love. How could you?" She huffed turning her back on them if only to hide he blush. Suddenly a rabbit jumped up and snatched the tickets from Spike's hand "Hey!" He yelled as the rabbit ran to his owner Fluttershy. Said rabbit climbed up the back of Fluttershy stopped at her head and showed her the tickets and she gasped. "Angel, these are perfect." Back with Twilight, Pinkie, and Rarity "Uh, listen guys, I haven't decided who to give the extra ticket to." Twilight said. "You haven't?!" Rarity and Pinkie Pie said in excitement and panic respectively. "Um, excuse me, Twilight." Fluttershy said getting their attention. "I would just like to ask, I mean, if it would be all right, if you haven't given it to someone else..." she tried to ask. "You? You want to go to the gala?" Rarity asked in disbelief. "Oh, no." Fluttershy said dejectedly until angel started to kick her leg. "I mean, yes, or, actually, kind of. You see, it's not so much The Grand Galloping Gala as it is the wondrous private gated garden that surrounds the dance." she said starting the fifth fantasy of the day. "The flowers are said to be the most beautiful and fragrant in all of Equestria. For the night of the gala, and that night alone, would they all be in bloom... and that's just the flora! Don't get me started on the fauna. There's loons and toucans and bitterns, oh my! Hummingbirds that can really hum, and buzzards that can really buzz. White-blue jays, and red jays, and green jays, pink jays and pink flamingos!" she said excitedly. "Gee, Fluttershy, it sounds... beautiful?" twilight said walking up to her. "Wait just a minute." a voice from above cried out revealing Rainbow Dash standing on a house. "Rainbow Dash, were you following me?" Twilight said accusingly. "No. I mean, yes. I mean, maybe. Look, it doesn't matter. I couldn't risk a goody-four-shoes like you giving that ticket away to just anybody." Rainbow said flying down. "Wait just another minute." a voice from behind said revealing Applejack. "Applejack, were you following me too?" Twilight said in surprise. "No. I was followin' this one" Applejack said pointing at Rainbow. "to make sure she didn't try any funny business. Still trying to take mah ticket." she said with a huff. "Your ticket?" Rainbow Dash huffed back "But Twilight's taking me." Pinkie yelled. Suddenly the girls were arguing withe each other until finally Twilight had enough. "QUIET!" she yelled surprising the others now only Pinkie was talking. "And then I said, "Oatmeal, are you craz.... oh." Pinkie said realizing everypony was quit now. "Girls, there's no use in arguing." Twilight said firmly "But Twilight" Rarity tried to say. "Eh! This is my decision, and I'm gonna make it on my own, and I certainly can't think straight with all this noise..." Twilight said as her stomach rumbled. "not to mention hunger. Now go on, shoo."she said as the others walked away grumbling "And don't worry, I'll figure this out... somehow." she said sadly. Twilight sighed as the sat at their table at the restaurant. "Spike, what am I gonna do? All five of my best friends have really good reasons to go to the gala." she said plunking the petals off of a flower naming her friends. "Applejack, or Rainbow Dash? Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy, Rarity... Oh, who should go with me? not to mention the boys might want to go to agh!" she moaned as her stomach rumbled. "Have you made your decision?" Their waiter Savoir Fare asked. "I CAN'T DECIDE!" Twilight yelled causing everypony to look at her. "Twilight, he just wants to take your order." Spike deadpanned. "Oh. I would love a daffodil and daisy sandwich." Twilight said handing over the menu. "Do you have any rubies?" Spike asked Savoir Fare gave him an are you kidding look. "No? Okay. I'll have the hay fries, extra crispy." he said. handing over the menu. "What do you think, Spike?" Twilight asked "I think we have to try another restaurant. I mean, I like grass just fine, but would it hurt anybody to offer some gemstones?" Spike asked a little annoyed at the fact that there were no gems. "I mean about the gala and the ticket and who I should take." Twilight said bringing the conversation back to its original topic. "Oh. You're still on that?" Spike asked with a bored expression on his face. "Spike, listen. How do I choose? And when I do choose, will the other four be mad at me? I mean, I could give up my ticket and give away two, but that would still leave three disappointed ponies. What if I." Twilight tried to say when plates were put in front of them. "Ah, your food." Savoir Fare said. "Oh thank you. This looks so good. I'm sure everything will be much clearer once I eat." Twilight said picking up her sandwich with her magic she was about to take a bite when she heard Savoir Fare ask her a question. "Em, madam? Are you going to eat your food in ze rain?" Savoir asked. Twilight looked around and raised an eyebrow "It's not raining." She said until she saw the rain was pouring everywhere but around her. "What's going on?" She asked confused until she heard a voice from above. "Hi there, best friend forever I've ever ever had." Rainbow Dash asked from the opening from the cloud. "Enjoying the sunny weather?" she asked. "Rainbow Dash, what are you doing?" Twilight asked with an accusing tone. "Whaddya mean? I just saw the smartest, most generous pony about to get rained on, so I thought I'd kick a hole in the clouds to keep her dry so she could dine in peace, that's all." Rainbow said sweetly. "Rainbow, you're not trying to get extra consideration for the extra ticket by doing me extra special favors, are you?" Twilight asked in a more accusing tone. "Me? No no no, of course not." Rainbow Dash asked while the sun was behind her so it looked like a halo. "Uh-huh." Twilight said narrowing her eyes. "Seriously, I'd do it for anypony." Rainbow said while Twilight was looking at the other pony's running though the rain. "Heh heh, eh." she laughed. Twilight sighed having enough of this. "Rainbow, I am not comfortable accepting unwanted favors, so I'd appreciate it if you close up that rain cloud right now." She said. Rainbow Dash grunted. "Ugh, fine." She said zipping up the cloud. Twilight smiled and picked up her sandwich. "That's better." She said and was about to take a bite when water dropped down on her ruining her meal and she groaned. Rarity was walking by and saw Twilight siting in the rain. "Twilight, it's raining." she said. "No, really?" Twilight asked sarcastically. Rarity grabbed Twilight and brought her under the umbrella. "Come with me before you catch a cold." She said taking her and Spike to her shop. Twilight shook her coat dry like a dog when she stopped and laughed at the state Rarity was in "Heh heh, oops, sorry." she said. Rarity forced a smile as she dried herself off "Oh no, it's quite all right. After all, we are... the best of friends, are we not? And you know what the best of friends do?" she asked. Twilight looked confused. "Uh..." she said. Rarity clapped her hooves. "Makeovers!" she said bringing a blind to cover them up and began said makeover. Twilight grunted as Rarity started to put her in a dress. "Ugh, Rarity, ow, this really isn't fixing it. I mean, thank you but, ooh, that's too tight." she said. Rarity moved the blind to show Twilight her refection in the mirror "There. Oh, you're simply darling." Rarity said. Twilight looked at the dress she had on and hummed. "Uh, yeah, it is kinda pretty, isn't it?" She said. Spike was putting his finger in front of his mouth when Rarity appeared in front of him it was shoved in. "And you. Oh Spike, I have a dandy little outfit for the dashing gent." Rarity said as she pulled the blind back as she put spike in his outfit. "D-ah, ow, oh, hey, wow, watch it, whoa!" Spike said from behind the blind when it was pulled back spike was wearing a ridiculously frilly outfit. "Oh, Spike." Twilight giggled. "Now you just need a hat." Rarity said as she put one on him. "Ugh, I told you, I don't want any part of this girly gala gunk. See you back at the library." he said as he zipped out of the boutique leaving the clothes. Rarity laughed at spikes behavior "Oh, who needs him anyway. This is all about you, and how fabulous you'll look at The Grand Galloping Gala." Rarity said. Twilight stopped admiring her reflection the moment she heard that. "Wait, The Grand" she tried to say. Rarity gasped interrupting Twilight. "And oh, my goodness, what a coincidence. I happen to have an ensemble of my own that matches yours to a T. We would be the belles of the ball, you and I. Everyone would be clamoring for our attention. All eyes would be on us, and then everyone would finally know, the most beautiful, most talented, most sophisticated pony in all of Equestria is Rarity the unicorn. Ah, and Twilight Sparkle, of course. Rarity laughed nervelessly. "I see what's going on." Twilight said pushing Rarity away. "You're just buttering me up so I give you the extra ticket. Well it's not gonna work." She said taking off the dress. "You're going to have to wait for my decision just like everyone else. Now if you'll excuse me, I've been trying all day just to get some lunch." she said as she opened the door. Applejack poked her head in. "Did somepony say lunch?" She said pulling twilight outside. "You've got to be kidding me!" Twilight groaned as she saw Applejack's haul. Applejack began listing off the delicious treats on her cart as Twilight's eyes widened. "I got apple pie, apple fritters, apple tarts, apple dumplings, apple crisps, apple crumblers, and apple Brown Betty. Uh, the dessert, not my auntie. What do you say there, best friend?" she asked. Twilight's stomach grumbled. Applejack asked again "Is that a yes?" she said. Twilight's eyes narrowed. "No. No. I don't know who I'm giving the ticket to, and all these favors aren't making it any easier to decide. In fact, I'm less sure now than I was this morning. Ugh!" she yelled running off. Applejack watched her go. "So, that's a maybe?" she said. Twilight arrived at her library after running from her friends. "Ugh, I never thought being showered with favors would be so aggravating." she said opening the door to find Fluttershy humming while cleaning her library with her animal friends. Twilight gasped "Fluttershy, not you too?" she said. Fluttershy turned around upon hearing Twilight's voice "Oh, well, hello Twilight. I hope you don't mind, but we're all doing a little spring cleaning for you." she said. "It's summer." Twilight deadpanned. Fluttershy smiled sheepishly. "Oh, well, better late than never, right? It was Angel's idea." she said pointing to her pet rabbit who was wearing a chef hat and making a salad. "You're not doing this for the ticket, are you? Twilight asked. "Oh no, I'm doing this because you're my very best friend. Right Angel?" Fluttershy said but Angel narrowed his eyes and crossed his paws frowning at his caretaker. "Oh, yes, we are just doing this for the ticket." she said as angel presented Twilight with the salad. Twilight's patience was starting to run out. "No, no, no!" she yelled Twilight walked to the door. "Well, this was all very nice of you and Angel, but I'm not accepting any extra favors until I've made my final decision, so I'm going to have to ask you to leave." she said opening the door. As the door opened she heard the voice's of Ponies yell. "SURPRISE!" Twilight was pulled out of her home and thrown up into the air by a group of pony's continuously as Pinkie Pie started to sing. "Twilight is my bestest friend Whoopie, whoopie!" she sang. "Pinkie..." Twilight said as she was thrown into the air again and again. Pinkie Pie just continued to sing. "She's the cutest, smartest, all around best pony, pony!" "Pinkie." Twilight said 99.9% of her patience was used up. Pinkie Pie ignored her and kept singing. "I bet if I throw a super-duper fun party, party!" Twilight growled the last 0.1% about to snap "Pinkie!" Pinkie Pie unaware of Twilight's anger finished her song. "She'll give her extra ticket to the Gala to me!" "PIIINKIIIE!!" Twilight yelled causing the pony's to drop her on the ground. "Yes, Twilight?" Pinkie Pie said blinking her eye's rapidly. Twilight stood up and brushed herself off and glared at her friend. "At least the other ponies tried to be subtle about the ticket." suddenly one of the pony's walked up to them and asked "Wait, what ticket? What gala?" she said. Pinkie Pie turned to them and said something that was going to turn the group of pony's into a frenzy. "Oh, you didn't know? Twilight has an extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!" she said. "The Grand Galloping Gala?" The Ponies yelled in unison. the started to crowed around Twilight telling her how much they love her mane. offering to wash her dishes or help with her gardening? Some of them even tried to bribe her with a cartload of carrots. Ponies continued to offer her favors as they crowded around spike and Twilight. "What are we gonna do?" Spike asked. Twilight looked nervous and said. "We're... gonna... run!" she screamed as she bolted with spike. after a montage chase Sean Twilight and spike were cornered and the ponies were still offering favors. Twilight was getting so crowded that her magic flared and she and spike were teleported to the library. "Ugh, warn me next time you're gonna do that." Spike said brushing off the ash on his scales. Twilight took a deep breath. "I didn't even know it was gonna happen. Now quick, lock the doors." she said as she and Spike closed and locked all the entries. suddenly the lights were turned on revealing the others. "Yaaaargh! I can't decide, I just can't decide. It's important to all of you and I just can't stand to disappoint any of you, and giving me gifts and doing me favors won't make any difference, because you're all my friends and I wanna make you all happy and I can't, I just can't!" Twilight yelled as she broke down. Applejack walked over to Twilight and put a hoof around her shoulders "Twilight, sugar, I didn't mean to put so much pressure on you, and if it helps, I don't want the ticket anymore. You can give it to somepony else. I won't feel bad, I promise." she said. "Me too. I feel just awful that I made you feel so awful." Fluttershy said. "And me too. It's no fun upsetting your friends." Pinkie Pie said. "Twilight, it was unfair of me to try to force you as I did." Rarity said. Rainbow Dash flipped into the air. "Yes! That means the ticket is mine. Ha ha, I got the ticket, I got the ticket." Rainbow Dash stopped her singing and calmed down. "You know, I haven't perfected my signature moves for The Wonderbolts anyway. I don't need that ticket either." she said. "We all got so gun-ho about going to the gala that we couldn't see how un-gun-ho we were making you." Applejack said. "We're sorry, Twilight." The girls said in unison. Twilight stood up with a smile. "Spike, take down a note. Dear Princess Celestia, I've learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to The Grand Galloping Gala." "What?!" The girls yelled. "If my friends can't all go, I don't wanna go either." Twilight said. "Twilight, you don't have to do that." Applejack said. "Nope. I've made up my mind. Spike, you can send the letter now." Twilight said as Spike sent the letter. "Now you won't get to go to the gala either." Fluttershy said. "It's okay, girls. I couldn't possibly enjoy myself without my best friends there with me, so I would rather not go at all." Twilight said as she and the girls had a group hug. Spike looked like he was genuinely going to be sick. "Hgh... hgh... urk... urk..." he groaned. "Well wallop my withers, Spike. Isn't that just like a boy? Can't handle the least bit of sentiment." Applejack said walking towards him when suddenly Spike burped up a letter. "Whoa Nelly!" Applejack said ducking under the fire. "A letter from the princess? That was fast." Twilight said. Spike unfurled the letter and began to read. "My faithful student Twilight, Why didn't you just say so in the first place?" Spike said revealing something. "Look nine tickets to The Grand Galloping Gala." he said. "Now even the boys can go." Twilight said as her stomach rumbled and she laughed nervously. Rarity smiled and put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "How about we go tell the boys and get some diner." she said. As the girls walked out of the library Spike did some math six tickets for the girls, three for Rider, Swift, and Clover. and Soarin was already invited being a wounder bolt that was all nine. "How come I don't get a ticket to the gala?" he said sadly when suddenly he burped up another scroll. "And one for you, Spike." he read he ran out of the library giggling until he saw Applejack standing there. "I mean, gross, I have to go too?" he said walking past her then continued to giggle. Applejack chuckled.and fallowed after.