//------------------------------// // An Hour of Surprises // Story: Timeless Rulers // by Arcanum -Phantasy //------------------------------// Chapter 2: An Hour of Surprises Twilight paced back in forth in her throne room, her friends watching her with concern. “Twilight darling,” Rarity said, her tone cautious. “Please do calm down.” “Calm down? CALM DOWN?! How can I possibly calm down? Nine of the most powerful ponies in the world are coming to my castle in four hours and you want me to calm down?!” “Um……yes?” Twilight groaned before walking up to a wall and slowly pounding her head into it. “Look sugar cube,” Applejack said, gently pulling her away from the wall. “I don’t think Princess Celestia would’ve put ya into this situation if she didn’t think ya’ll couldn’t handle it.” “She’s right,” Rainbow Dash cheered, landing next to her and putting a foreleg around her shoulders. “And you’ve got us to back you up if things get crazy.” “Thanks girls,” Twilight smiled, coming back to her normal state of mind. Pinkie Pie hopped over to the bundle of mares and said, “And I can throw a ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party and we could be best, best, best friends forever!” Twilight thought that was a pretty good idea at first, but then she remembered Princess Morning Star. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea Pinkie.” “Why is that?” Fluttershy asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.” Twilight sighed. “Let’s just say one Alicorn isn’t too thrilled about this whole arrangement.” “Boy is that an understatement.” Everypony jumped at the sound of the unfamiliar male voice. They looked around but failed to see whom the voice belonged to until they looked up. Reclined on a cloud made of multicolored confetti was an equally multicolored Alicorn eating a hay burger. Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie all looked at him in shock while Fluttershy dashed behind Twilight with a soft “Eep”. Twilight let out a relaxed breath as she looked up at Mirth Hour. “You’re early,” she said. Mirth Hour laughed, before wolfing down the burger and jumping off of the ‘cloud’. The second he did, the cloud burst into a confetti rain that exploded into bright lights of color like fireworks as he theatrically hovered through it to the ground. “Sorry about that,” he said, ignoring the slack-jawed expressions of Twilight’s friends. “I’ve never been to Ponyville before and I just couldn’t wait!” After shaking her hoof he took notice of the other ponies in the room. “And who are these fillies?” “Oh, these are my friends.” “Your friends?” he asked, a smile growing across his muzzle. “Splendid!” Twilight smiled and began introductions. “Everypony, this is Prince Mirth Hour. Prince Mirth Hour, these are my friends Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.” “It’s an honor and privilege to meet you all,” he bowed. “But please, call me Mirth.” Everypony shook themselves out of their stupor. “That was awesome!” Rainbow Dash cheered, shaking Mirth’s hoof. “Indeed,” Rarity agreed. “Um, it was…..nice,” Fluttershy said, stepping out of her hiding place behind Twilight. “It’s great to have ya here Mirth,” Applejack said, tilting her hat at him in respect. “Great to be here,” he smirked. Mirth paused when he saw that Pinky Pie was still in the same star-struck trance as when he made his entrance. He walked up to the pink mare and waved a hoof in front of her face. “Uh, is she broken or something?” Everypony just shrugged. Pinkie?” Twilight said, taking cautious steps towards her. “Yoo-hoo,” Mirth said, poking Pinky in the chest. “Are you okay?” He looked to Twilight at his left to get some kind of answer, but all she did was give him a concerned look. He shifted his gaze back to Pinky just in time to see her suddenly reanimate and charge into him. She quickly pinned him to the ground and before anypony could react, locked her lips with his. At first, Mirth tried to force the party pony back, but even his Alicorn strength was no match for her. Finding no other way out of this situation, Mirth kissed back and to his surprise, he liked it. Just as quickly as when it started, Pinkie ended what was probably the best kiss he had ever experienced in over five hundred years. She looked down at him with half-lidded eyes and a playful smirk. She lowered her muzzle to his ear and whispered, “Welcome to Ponyville.” For the first time ever, the Prince of Theater was left speechless. Even as his “attacker” giggled and hopped off of him he just laid there for a few minutes before staggering to his hooves. Twilight ran to him, a look of horror plastered across her face. “I’m so sorry Mirth! I have no idea why she did that!” He looked at her and flashed a drunken smile. “You know, I think I’m gonna like it here.” With that, a series of fireworks shot out of his horn, filling the air with pink heart-shaped explosions.