//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: It's a Golden Day // Story: Ticket Holder // by Goldenheart //------------------------------// Chapter 4: It's a Golden Day -Manehattan Library- Morning- Today was the big day for Twilight, she has made her decision for who was to get the ticket to the Gala. She was eating breakfast with Spike in the kitchen and were munching on eggs. As they were eating their breakfast, Spike then brings up, "So who are you going to pick to have the extra ticket Twilight?" Twilight then looks away from Spike, as she was avoiding the question and continued to munch on her eggs. Spike then saw that she wasn't going to answer the question and just went on to continue eating. Before anything else happened, a pony then walked through the kitchen doors and trotted over to the duo at the table. Both Twilight and Spike looked over and saw their friend, Honey, at the table as she stood next to Twilight with a smug look on her face. Twilight and Spike both looked to each other confused on why their friend had this pleased look on her face, so Twilight decided to break the ice by asking Honey, "So Honey, what brings you here this morning? Here to bring the ticket?" Honey then chuckled, not breaking the smug attitude from her face. She responded with, "I'm here to do that and so much more. I've got a surprise for you to see." Twilight then asked, "What surprise?" Honey then walked over the kitchen door and said, "You'll find out if you come outside with me." She didn't want to question anything, but Twilight decided to follow Honey's advice and go with her. Spike then got off his chair shouting, "Wait for me! Don't leave me behind!" The trio then came about the library entrance and left out the front doors. As they entered the city streets, familiar ponies awaited them. It was Octavia and Aunt Orange waiting for them at the base of the steps. Now Twilight was even more confused why her friends were waiting. She was only expecting Honey this morning for the meet up at the museum, but even then it was still to early to arrive. Twilight then questioned Honey, "What's going on here Honey? Why are Octavia and Auntie here?" Octavia then replied with, "I'd like to ask the same question Twilight, but all Honey said was to follow her and gather everypony." Sherbet retorted with, "Same goes for me. I have no idea what the problem is, but if it involves all of us it can't be good." Honey then turned to them and responsed, "Oh it is a good thing, and you will be surprised when I show you all." Not wanting to question her any further, they figured they'll get nowhere asking more questions, so they all decided to follow her. -Manehattan Natural History Museum- After a moderate walk, they soon reached the steps of the Manehattan Natural History Museum. Twilight probably thought Honey was going to gather everypony to see Twilight hand over the ticket to whomever she decided, but Honey was still going up the steps and towards the front entrance. Twilight then bothered to ask, "Ok Honey, why are we going into the museum? We're supposed to meet Trixie and Blossomforth here." Honey simply replied, "Oh we are. They're right inside." Twilight, confused and off guard, straight out replied, "Wait, they're already here?" She then put the most probable conclusion as to why. She then let out a groan of displeasure, "Augh, they must've tried getting here first to see who will get the ticket." "Oh, but they got here even earlier then that." said a glee Honey. "What do you mean?" questioned Twilight. Just as Honey opened the doors, she shouted as if giving a presentation as she pulled out a pair of sunglasses, "Feast your eyes, on the greatest wonder in all of Equestria!" The doors then opened all the way as a blinding light shone through the doors, causing all the girls to shriek in panic. Honey had put the shades on and handed a few over to her friends. They all put them on and gasped at the sight they saw. Honey then introduced them to the new exhibit with a huge smile, "I call it, 'Ode to Idiocy'!" In the middle of the central room was a makeshift pedestal with Blossomforth and Trixie glued to the platform. Blossomforth was stuck in an awkward standing position with her front hooves looking like she was trying to cover herself as she was stuck in place with some sort of glue. Trixie on the other hoof, was simply standing there as she was glowing brighter than any other stage light in existence and was the source of the bright light from the entrance. They were stuck together with the sign reading, 'Ode to Idiocy', and they were both embarrassed at the sight of their friends looking at them from that position. "What the heck is going on?!" as Twilight shouted from the confusion as her voice reverberated across the hall. "....and that's how it happened." explained Honey as she helped both Blossomforth and Trixie off the platform. "So what you're saying is that Blossomforth and Trixie tried to steal the ticket from the museum, and that both planned to break in, but you set up a trap and a note for them to find. Then when you went to their places, you found them trapped in the other ponies' trap? Blossomforth stuck in Trixie's sticky goop, and Trixie infected with Poison Joke from Blossomforth's garden? Then you rounded them up and forced them to be makeshift manikins to be taught a lesson?" as Twilight reiterated what Honey explained to the group. "That's just how I explained it. You didn't have to say it again out loud." said a disgruntled Honey. "I know. It's just I can't believe this all happened even after I asked them to get along." said a disappointed Twilight as she approached the troublesome duo. Blossomforth and Trixie were finally free from their trappings and got themselves cleaned off, though Trixie was still glowing from the effects of the Poison Joke. Both of them then saw Twilight approach in front of them and bowed their heads in disappointment as they prepared for the scolding they were to receive. "I can't believe it. After all of the hard thinking I went through last night to make my decision, and this is what I hear. You two fought behind my back to steal from a secured area to get one simple piece of parchment?!" scolded Twilight. Both Blossomforth and Trixie winced at her harsh and truthful words, and prepared to receive more. "Is it really worth it to destroy the friendship you cherish with one another to go to an event that happens once every year, a time of year that you can go at any different time of that given year? I've never heard of anything more selfish, backstabbing, cruel, and downright insufferable you've done to the both of you. You should be ashamed of yourselves!" as Twilight criticized both of their actions. As the group behind them can only watch the judgement unfold, Aunt Orange quickly says to Spike in a whisper, "Golly, she's got that motherly tone in her voice." Spike quickly responds, "Came with experience." Aunt Orange then glanced at Spike for a moment after that reply in confusion, then returned her attention to the three ponies. "Now, do you two have anything to say before I give out your punishment?" asked Twilight. Blossomforth was the first to approach Twilight with her head still low, but then lifted up her head with a look of determination on her face. "Twilight, if there's anypony to blame it's me." said a guilty Blossomforth. Twilight and everypony else in the room all gasped from this sudden revelation. "I was petty for wanting to go to the Gala for my own selfish reasons! I coerced Trixie into stealing the ticket! I was the one who installed us to fight in the first place! If there's a pony to be punished, then punish me!" shouted Blossomforth as if she was confessing her sins. Trixie knew that Blossomforth was lying so that she would get the ticket all to herself and Blossomforth would be stuck with all the blame. They both knew that this fight was brought on by petty needs for a ticket and nopony really started this conflict. Knowing what to do, Trixie stood up next to Blossomforth and said, "She lies! If there's somepony to blame, it is Trixie that should be punished!" Blossomforth could've mistaken her for a radiant pony of justice from this interference and glowing attitude, or her bright coat shining, one or the other. "Trixie has been known to squabble with other ponies for ridiculous reasons and do stupid stunts in order to prove herself. This is one of those selfish moments of Trixie. Blossomforth is but an innocent pony not related to this incident and deserves not to be punished." said a fibbing Trixie. The whole group of ponies looked towards Trixie with confused looks. Was she the guilty one then? Blossomforth was now to be the innocent pony in this whole charade and Trixie to be the guilty one. So she wanted to do her best to make amends and make sure she herself was guilty. "But there's proof I did it alone! I knocked over the vase in Honey's office." lied Blossomforth. With a worried look, Trixie shouted, "But I knocked the stacks of papers across the office!" Now it was a battle for you could be framed as the more guilty one. "I ruined the furniture!" "I knocked over the bookcase!" "I was the one who broke through the window!" "I went through the roof!" "I planted the goo balls on Blossomforth!" "I coated Trixie with Poison Joke!" "Give Blossomforth the ticket!" "No, give Trixie the ticket!" They both continued to go back and forth with their bickering of who was to look the more guilty criminal while also shoving the other away to get the attention drawn towards them. Twilight couldn't take it anymore and teleported in-between the two. Her horn then started to glow aa she yelled, "Alright you two, ENOUGH!" Just as she did, magic spilled from her horn and a shockwave covered the two in her aura and were then frozen in place. Blossomforth and Trixie were both perfectly still for a few seconds until their hold was broken and Twilight was panting heavily. "Next time, I need to get a bit more practice in." said Twilight under her breath. She then turned her attention back to the two ponies and said, "This is getting ridiculous you two. First you bicker who's getting the ticket. Now you're bickering to give the other pony the ticket?" Blossomforth then explained, "Please understand Twilight. After we fought last night, we both made amends and realized we were being stupid and childish about this whole thing and came to an agreement that whoever got the ticket the next morning, we would have no regrets." Trixie then added, "That was if both of us didn't get caught, but as you clearly saw, we're not the bet at hiding our mistakes. So now we fight to give our other friend a piece of paper that nearly cost our friendship. In the end though, I guess the choice is still up to you Twilight." Blossomforth asked, "So who will you choose Twilight?" Twilight then looked to the two after hearing their explanation with faces awaiting confirmation. Then she looked to the group behind her with the same expressions. Twilight then closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. She then looked back to the two with a smile on her face and said, "I've decided....." Now everypony was on the edge of their seats. ".......both of you will go to the Gala." Now everypony was confused on what she meant as she only had one ticket. Then Twilight took out the ticket, and then took out another ticket. Her ticket, and gave both of them to Blossomforth and Trixie. "Wait, you're giving up your ticket?!" said a shocked Blossomforth. "Yes, and I finally figured out why I did this," as Twilight explained, "Each and everyone of us wants to go to the gala for one reason or another and enjoy what could be the best night ever, but after seeing you two fight for those exact reasons I realized I too was going for something that can be considered petty. I mean, I used to live in Canterlot and can just go back whenever I please to visit. This isn't like this is going to be the only time I'll go to the Gala. I saw Celestia every so often when I was in Magic Kindergarten up to this point and I can stave off from seeing her again so soon. So I'm willing to give up my sake of happiness to you two, so you can both enjoy yourselves." "So what you're saying is that you are talking about self-sacrifice?" asked Octavia. "That's right. Give up your own needs for the sake of others." explained Twilight. Aunt Orange then came up to Twilight and patted her head. "Why that was mighty kind of you Twilight." said Auntie. Twilight then looked over to Spike and said, "Spike, make a letter to the Princess." Spike then got out his quill with a piece of parchment, ready to write. Twilight cleared her voice and stated: Dear Princess Celestia, I'm happy to inform you that my friends will be going to the Grand Galloping Gala this year, and I am thankful for the invitations. Sadly, one of my friends may not have been able to go if it were not for me giving away my invitation. So sadly, I gave my tickets away to my good friends, Blossomforth and Trixie. I couldn't sacrifice their happiness for the sake of my own. So I felt it was the right decision to make, and I hope you understand. Please give them the best of my regards at the Gala in my absense. Sincerely Your Student, Twilight Sparkle. Spike finished up writing the letter, then rolled it up and blew it away with his magic breath. Everypony then gathered together as it seemed everything had cooled down. "You sure you know what you're doing Twilight? You gave up your chance to be with us and Celestia at the Gala." asked Aunt Orange. "I'm positive Auntie. I know the decision I made was the right one." said Twilight with a confident smile. "Speaking of decisions, Trixie is wondering who you were going to give the ticket to originally?" questioned Trixie. Then everypony in the room glared at her as was indicated to drop the subject. "Nevermind" said a cowardly Trixie. Then everypony started busting into laughter to ease the tension and stress that was built up these last 24 hours. Spike wiped his brow of sweat from the pressure, and gave a sigh of relief. Then, he started to gag up make grossed out faces. Auntie noticed this said, "Oh come now Spikey, this isn't too bad of a touching moment." Spike then burped up a letter from the princess as it dropped onto Spike's hands. He opened up the letter and read, "My Dearest Twilight, why didn't you ask for a few more tickets in the first place? I would've guaranteed a place for you and your friends if you just asked. I even included an extra in case Spike wants to come along." Then out from the letter came two golden tickets as they popped out and landed on Spike's head. "Look Twilight, now both of us can go to the Gala!" said Spike as he held up two more tickets in front of him. The group of ponies gasped in amazement as now everypony had one ticket to go to the Gala. Twilight then grabbed Spike with her magic and twirled him around in a circle with her as she cheered for joy. She then hugged the little dragon and proceeded back to her friends. "Now all of us can go together!" said a joyful Twilight. The group cheered with excitement and happiness as they'll be together for what could be their best night ever. "Come on girls, we've got lots of plans to handle before the Gala. Let's have breakfast at my place, on the house!" offered Aunt Orange. They all agreed as they all headed for the exit. At the end of the group, Spike looked at his golden ticket with conflicted feelings. He already told Twilight previously that he didn't want to go to ruin Octavia's performance at the Gala. Yet he was invited by the princess to come. What was he to do? Then Octavia trotted beside him and asked, "What's wrong Spike? I figured you'd be happy to come to the Gala?" Spike then snapped out of his train of thought and responded, "I am, it's just some of you may be be busy with other things to do at the Gala, so I don't know." Spike was trying to play it safe in order to avoid directly talking about Octavia. Octavia then responded, "Well then how about this? After the procession gets a break in-between sessions, how about you and I talk for a bit and maybe dance in the grand ballroom?" Spike's heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest just hearing those words. He then meekly responded, "Y-y-y-you would?" "Absolutely. You've been a hard worker for all of us, and it's the least I can repay you." offered Octavia. Spike then gulped from being nervous and happily said, "Why thank you Octavia. I'll be looking forward to it." This was perfect. Not only is he going to the Gala, but he'll have the chance to dance with the mare of his dreams. As the group then exited the building, they all realized they were still wearing the sunglasses because of Trixie's Poison Joke side effect. "Trixie is wondering how much longer she has to shine bright like a diamond." wondered Trixie. "Don't you worry puddin. I know the zebra who can fix you right up." responded Aunt Orange. The group then giggled as they walked of towards Auntie's place for breakfast, as the first step towards the Grand Galloping Gala begins!