//------------------------------//
// The Gala 
// Story: The Mechanics of Time 
// by John Rim 
//------------------------------//

	Later on Candy woke me up to go to the Gala.
"Come on John, it's time for the gala." Candy said.
"Alright, where is it?" I asked.
"I think it's downstairs." She said.
"Then let's head down there shall we?" I said, then we went down to to the Gala, and there were many ponys if formal suits, and on one side of the room was  Luna and another very tall, white pony with a colourful, flowing mane and tail, of whom I did not recognize. They were both on large padded, thrown-like things.
"Huh, I guess Celestia got back early." Candy said, changing into Sunburst. I wondered who Celestia was, but I didn't ask her because I wanted to find out for myself. "So, do you wanna head down to the garden? I just have to tell Celestia." She said.
"I'll meet you there in a second, i want to get a good look at this place." I said.
"Okay, let me go tell Celestia. I might stop where the snacks are on the way. I need some punch." She said, then she walked away. After she did I went around the place and looked at everything that was there. After a bit of looking around I saw the purple pony named Twilight, and all of the other annoying ponys I encountered upon my first day in Ponyville. They must have seen me because the pink one was pointing at me and talking to the others, then they all looked at me, then they started to go towards me. However before they could get close I ran in the opposite direction, however before I made it very far I ran into someone very tall and white.
"Oh! You should look where you're going you could get hurt!" Candy then came out from behind her and whispered something, "Oh so this is your friend Sunburst. Nice to meet you, and I would like to personally thank you for helping my daughter."
"Mom, do you know where the snacks are? I forgot again." She then pointed Candy in the direction of the snack table and continued talking to me.
"So anyways, do you think you could tell me how Sunburst got hurt?" She asked.
"She fell." I said.
"Well yes, I realize that, but do you know any of the details? For example, how high up she was, if she was able to use her magic to reduce the damage, stuff like that." 
"She was almost to The City that this Castle is on when she fell."
"And did she use her magic to reduce the damage she took?"
"I'm not sure."
"How did you get to her, or even find her?"
"I ran."
"Well do you," before she could finish her sentence, we heard Candy call for me, "Well, seems as if somepony wants you. Have fun John!"
"How do you know my name?"
"Sunburst told me."
"Oh alright." I said, then I went to go see Candy. "Yes Candy?"
"I found a good spot in the gardens! Lots of pretty orchards and roses and flowers like those." She said happily.
"I do enjoy flowers." I said, then we went into the garden and looked around.
"I hear this is the only night when all of the flowers are in bloom. Hey, I was wondering, why did you get so defensive when I reacted to Holes. I mean I know he's your friend, but I think you would know that I'm still terrified of most changelings. The only ones I'm not scared of are Holes and this one who got the nickname Thorax."
"You called him a number, and instantly thought that he was a spy for your mother, labeling him, and i hate labels, I also hate it when someone calls someone else by a number, it shows nothing more than disrespect, and i hate it when something disrespects another thing. It makes it seem as though you don't care enough about someone to call them by their name, or to ask if they had one." I said.
"Okay, first off I thought he was a spy because he WAS a spy, when he worked for my mom he had two jobs, foal sit me along with Thorax, and spy on other ponies. Second off, I called him by a number because that's all changelings are given at birth, a number. The only reason why some have names is because they're given nicknames by other changelings, not the queen."
"Just because he did something in the past doesn't mean he still does it.""
"Well...not all changelings...change. I've seen some cases where once a changeling is cast out, they strive to come back to the hive, or even just say they've failed and wait to die! I thought that if Holes was a case where he tried to go back...he'd stick around you only because he was weak..."
"You must be more open minded, don't jump to conclusions, ask calmly."
Candy sighed, "Alright...I'll try, but remember that I've grown up around most of the changelings, and all except for Thorax were evil."
"Thank you, that is all I ask." I said.