Chapter Thirty-Three: The Best Night Ever 2.0
Noble Blade’s reflection looked dreamily back at him as he stared out of the train car’s vibrating window. For no particular reason at all, he gave a little sigh of happiness.
“Oh, boy. Pleasure sighing now.”
“Hm?” Noble picked his head up and looked behind him. “Storm, was that you?”
“All right. What happened yesterday to make you so happy?”
“It-it’s just me and Fluttershy, Storm. There’s a spring in my step, a tune in my voice, a bouncy mood that nothing on Equus can quench.” He lazily flopped down on the train’s couch as the train rattled on down the tracks to Canterlot. Tonight was the Grand Galloping Gala, and Noble Blade was feeling better about this night than any other night in recent memory. “I managed to confess that I loved her with all the depths of my soul. And--get this--she actually managed to look past all of that flowery fluff and admit that she loved me as well!”
Firestorm whistled impressively. “Did you do…” He looked around him for a few seconds, then whispered, “It?”
“What, hold hooves?”
“No, make love.”
Noble Blade sat bolt upright. “What?! No, I-” He paused when he saw Firestorm doubling over as he hovered in the air, laughing his flank off at the expression on Noble Blade’s face. Noble made a few noises before he folded his arms and said, “That--that’s not funny, Storm!”
“But did you?” Firestorm persistently asked.
“No,” Noble simply replied. Then he gave a thoughtful look to the side, tapping his hoof to his chin. “Although, we did make out quite a bit. Does that count, or do you have to do, um, more?”
“Well, making out is good and all,” Firestorm admitted as the train ka-thumped over a bump in the track, “But it isn’t as good as going all the way.”
“And how would you know that? You’re not exactly the love expert out of the three of us.”
From across the train car, Freedom Fighter was slumped on his flank, looking between his legs at the ground and holding his long black staff upright like a walking stick. “Right. And when did you become a love expert?”
Noble Blade looked down the aisle of the train to the corner Freedom Fighter was in. “Yesterday, of course.”
“One kiss does not make you a love expert,” Firestorm pointed out.
“Oh, it wasn’t just one kiss,” Noble said dreamily as he looked out the window once more.
“Well, then, how many?”
“After the first six or seven I lost count,” he sighed stupidly.
“You’re full of crap, you know that?”
“Oh, of course! ‘Tis a well-known fact that I’m filled with crap. But I’m filled with the best kind of crap there is to offer. Whereas thou, on the other hoof, art filled with normal crap.”
“One for his side,” Freedom Fighter said disinterestedly.
Firestorm let out a small giggle and waved aside his half-baked insult like a lady waving aside extravagant praise. “Ohoho, stop it, you! You’re making me blush!”
“Save the blushing for when you’re dancing with Rainbow,” Freedom Fighter said in a monotone voice.
Firestorm’s expression melted in a heartbeat from fun to flustered, and he let a hard stare find its way to Freedom Fighter. “What the crap makes you think that?”
“You’re an idiot, but you’re not stupid. Any idiot can tell by now that you’ve got a crush on her.”
“Well, Rainbow Dash doesn’t know. Does that make her an idiot?”
“She could be an idiot because she decides to go out with you.”
Firestorm inhaled through his teeth. “One for your side. Look, I won’t be that embarrassing at the Gala.”
“Right,” Noble pointed out. “You’ll probably do something even worse. The point is, Storm, that even if you do embarrassing things around her, the test is if she still wants to dance with you anyway.” He gave an illuminating smile. “And who knows? If you play thine cards right, thou mayest even reach second base!”
“Second base? What is that, holding her hooves?”
“No, ‘tis caressing her mane.”
“Okay, that is a serious step forward,” Firestorm admitted, looking thoughtfully at his hoof.
“You guys don’t know what second base is?” Freedom Fighter asked incredulously, running his hoof along the length of his staff. “You caress something, but it ain’t the mane, all right.”
“Her face?” Firestorm asked.
“No."
“Her legs?”
“No."
“Her chest?”
“Close,” Noble said.
“Close? Wait, you know what second base is?”
“Of course. I asked you that question to see if you really knew it,” Freedom Fighter explained.
“Of course I knew it!” Noble Blade erupted, jolting upward in his seat and hitting his head on the rack above him. Rubbing his head, he hissed, “I’m the love expert, remember?”
“Have you gotten to second base yet?” Firestorm asked him casually.
“Well, I... not reall-no,” Noble Blade admitted.
“One for his side,” Freedom Fighter said, jerking his head to Firestorm. “We’re all tied now.”
In the girl’s changing car, all seven girls were busy getting ready for the big night. The rest of the girls were chatting or laughing as they outfitted themselves for the dance, but Fluttershy was simply humming absently to herself, numb to most of her outside senses. It wasn’t as though she could feel nervous now. Fluttershy moved in a daze, unthinking of her surroundings. It was because of that that the voice speaking to her had to repeat herself.
“...ey!...HEY! What happened, Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy turned around to see Rainbow Dash, fiddling with her dress. It was a lovely shining white dress that appeared to glisten like the clouds on a summer’s day. It was sleeveless and low-cut. Her mane was done in a long, extravagant manner that draped across her shoulder. Finally, atop her mane was a golden laurel wreath, like the victor of a competition.
Fluttershy just sighed happily as she put a butterfly brooch in her long pink mane.
“Fluttershy, out with it. You’re normally not this happy.”
“Is being happy a bad thing?” Fluttershy asked quietly in concern. “Oh, my. I’m sorry.”
“No, no, it’s not bad!” Rainbow insisted. “I just... I want to know what happened to you, is all.”
Fluttershy let out a cute little giggle and flopped down on the couch. “It’s Noble Blade!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “We kissed on the lips!”
“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash admitted, scratching her head. “L-lucky you, I guess...”
There was nothing more to be said for a few more moments. Then Rainbow Dash burst out, “What’s it like?”
Fluttershy gave an inquisitive tilt of her head.
Rainbow Dash flicked her eyes to the ground. “Being in love, I mean.”
Fluttershy put a hoof to her chin. After a bit of thought, she said, “It’s the purest feeling I can think of.”
“No, no, I get that. I-I know that being in love is supposed to feel nice, but... how do you feel? Do you feel tense and nervous? Or do you feel... well, bold and awesome?”
“I think both,” Fluttershy admitted. Seeing the look Rainbow was giving her, she quickly added, “I mean, you feel bold and daring, but at the same time, you don’t want to do anything except hide…” She stared off into space.
Rainbow Dash waved a hoof in her face. “Hey, Flutters? You’re zoning out there.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “Oh. Um, where was I? Oh, yes. It all just feels so surreal, like everything’s just a dream and you’re wondering how in Equestria you could end up with somepony so amazing. Your heart beats faster than you think it’s able to go. You get butterflies in your tummy just thinking about him. You stumble over your words all the time. Every minute you’re with him is just so tense, but so full of activity and full of life. Time seems to speed up and before you know it twenty minutes have gone by just talking with him. And when you walk away afterward, you just want to run after him and spend more time with him. Everything seems brighter, more colorful, more fun and inviting and beautiful when you’re in love.”
Rainbow Dash processed Fluttershy’s words carefully. Finally, she sat down next to her on the couch, keeping her head down. “...You’re sure?”
“More than anything,” she replied. “And it can happen to anyone, too. Even you. You just need to show love in order to receive it. He showed me soooo much love yesterday…” She giggled some more. “And I just want to give it all back to him!”
“Is he good at loving?” Rainbow quietly asked her. “I’m sure he’s good at kissing…” She decided not to say that she had been spying on her and him the day before. “...but I don’t want you to end up with a guy that sucks.”
“I think it all just depends on how much love I show him,” Fluttershy stated with a shy smile. “If I just do that, I should be fine.”
An announcement crackled overhead, telling everyone that Canterlot was coming up in less than five minutes. The girls hurriedly finished up their preparations and waited by the train car doors.
Finally, the car slowed to a crawl and they could hear a loud hiss as the train exhaled a release of steam and came to a full stop. The car doors opened and out they stepped for the Gala, with Applejack dragging a large cart behind her filled with apple treats to sell.
As the rest of the girls deposited themselves in front of the car they came out of, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash turned their heads excitedly to see the train car the stallions were coming out of.
Noble Blade was in a grand, sharply-angled tuxedo with a bright blue bow tie and pocket square that matched the color of his combed mane. Following him was Firestorm, his mane undone and wild, in a more trimmed tux that held a carnation in his chest pocket. And, almost invisible to the eye, a large black form followed them with weapons all over his thick bodysuit.
Fluttershy’s knees felt weak when Noble Blade looked her in the eyes and smiled at the sight of her. “So,” he said. She would never get tired of hearing that voice. He stretched a hoof out. “Shall we go?”
Fluttershy put her hoof in his eagerly. Behind her, most of the other girls were swooning with synchronized “Awww”s at the sight. The only girl that wasn’t was Rainbow Dash, who was nearby Firestorm.
Seeing Noble Blade’s actions, Firestorm copied him. “Now,” he said in an exaggerated voice, making Rainbow snicker in surprise. He outstretched his hoof almost imploringly to Rainbow. “Shall we begin?”
Rainbow Dash looked down at her crush’s hoof. After only a moment of indecision, she put her hoof in his and smiled at him. She noticed that Firestorm’s color rose a little when he felt the weight of her hoof.
Was this what Fluttershy was talking about? Her heart did feel faster than she could remember it being. She did feel warm being around him. And before she knew it, they were walking up to the castle.
“Were you making your voice deeper?” Noble Blade asked Firestorm, his hoof wrapped with Fluttershy’s.
“What?” Firestorm asked, still in his exaggerated voice. “What are you talking about? No!”
“Ya did it again!” Applejack said, pushing her cart.
“You’re imitating my voice,” Noble accused him lightly.
Firestorm looked directly at Rainbow Dash and jerked his head at Noble Blade. “He’s mocking my voice,” he said decrepitly.
They walked for a little bit up to the front of the castle doors, and when they were a little bit off, Pinkie let loose a sigh of consternation.
“What is it?” Rarity asked her.
Pinkie gestured ahead at the front of the castle, where a long line of overdressed ponies overflowed the front doors. “We gotta wait in line for all these stuckety-uppety Canterlot peacocks to prune Celestia’s hooves.”
“Nicely worded,” Noble complimented her.
“Thank you.”
“Do we have a plan to get around them?” Rainbow asked.
“I can think of one,” Freedom Fighter suggested, sliding up next to Rarity menacingly. He reached for his chest and drew out a long knife, making the sheen run along the edge of the blade. Rarity widened her eyes and backed away from him.
“No,” Noble refused instantly.
“It’ll be fun,” Freedom Fighter insisted, the twin gleams of his red eyes shining brightly.
“The instant you go around killing ponies just because they’re stupid, we’ve lost the point of us being here.”
“Stupid doesn’t begin to cover it.”
“I don’t like them either, but we can do this without slaughtering everypony inside.”
“Aww.” He slammed the knife into his sheath so fast Noble was afraid he had stabbed himself in the chest.
“We don't hafta all go in at the exact same time and spot,” Applejack pointed out as she wheeled her cart along. “Ahm’a go and set up ma stand outside again. Maybe this time Ah’ll have a bit more success with ponies like Fancy Pants and Photo Finish. And Ah know the Wonderbolts liked ‘em. Who knows?”
“I dunno what I’ll be doing,” Spike mumbled. “I guess I’ll just go in and hang out at the refreshment table. I’ve heard they’ve got imported cream puffs!”
“And I’ll go ahead and make sure everypony else I meet is enjoying themselves!” Pinkie Pie declared. “‘Cause if there’s anything that makes me happy…” She put her face conspiratorially close to Starlight Glimmer’s. “...It’s seeing other ponies happy!”
“And I will treat Starlight Glimmer to her very first Gala,” Rarity added. “With all that said, we need not go where the rest of the nobility is, you know.”
“Ohoho, but who’s to say we can't?” Firestorm asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Firestorm?” Noble asked. “Are you going to do the Jerk plan?”
Firestorm grew a malicious grin. “How’d you guess?”
“Jerk plan?” Fluttershy asked. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“He came up with the name,” Noble explained to his new girlfriend. “He won’t harm anypony, but he may leave quite an impression on the Canterlot nobility for years to come.”
“I’ll go in alone. It’s too dangerous for you to follow.” Firestorm said. “I’m gonna need three packages of explosives... a helicopter... two hundred yards of steel cable... and a pound and a half of margarine.”
“Plus forty boxes of frosting?” Pinkie Pie added enthusiastically.
“What?” Firestorm cried, leaning his head back. “What would I do with forty boxes of frosting?”
“Well, what were you going to do with a pound and a half of margarine?”
“How should I know?” Firestorm threw up one of his hooves in indignation. “I just make stuff up as I go along here.”
“Knowing you, you’d probably slather it all on your chest,” Rarity muttered.
Firestorm pointed at her. “That’s actually not a bad idea.”
Rarity craned her head with a look of incredulity written on her perfumed and contoured face.
“It's a little-known fact,” Firestorm continued, “But it's been scientifically proven that ponies that rub margarine all over their chests have a higher sex appeal than those that don't. You may laugh,” he added, spotting the faces of the girls, “But I know what I’m talking about. I'm the love expert here.”
Noble snorted and rolled his eyes.
“Are you gonna need anything else?” Applejack asked sarcastically.
“Actually, I do,” Firestorm said. He reached over to her apple cart, plucked a single apple out, and tucked it in his folded wing. “Thank ye kindly, dearie.”
“Anything else?” Twilight asked.
“There’s one more thing we need to complete the plan,” Firestorm said. He pointed at Freedom Fighter. “That guy’s arm.”
Freedom Fighter stopped, pointed his left arm to the side, and sprouted out three sharp claws. “Come and take it."
Firestorm gulped. “You know what? Naw, I don’t need your arm.”
“Good to know.” He fired the claws back into his arm. “I’ll be inside--alone. Don’t wait up.” He deserted the group by leaping off the path like a startled cat and rushing for a window. The girls saw him speed into a bush under the window, then leap inside and disappear.
“Would you mind if I walked you over to the Canterlot gardens, Fluttershy?” Noble Blade asked her.
Fluttershy beamed at him. He just knew exactly what it was she wanted! “I’d love that,” she whispered sweetly.
“Which way?” Noble asked politely.
As they came to an intersection, Fluttershy pointed. Noble smiled at her again, and, hoof in hoof, they split off from the group and walked to the gardens.
“That is sooo romantic!” Rarity moaned in delight, watching them go.
“Yeah…” Rainbow said as she watched them go. “That's really... cute, I guess…”
Other branches in the road soon appeared, and as they appeared, the other mares went down them until finally, only Firestorm and Rainbow Dash were together, at the back of the line where ponies would meet Celestia.
Spotting a familiar mare in Wonderbolt attire, however, Rainbow Dash asked, “Hey, uh, Stormy? I was hoping to talk with your sister over there,” she said, pointing at Spitfire hanging out with the Wonderbolts near another entrance into the castle.
Firestorm grew a bewildered expression. “What do you need to talk with Spits about?”
If Rainbow could date Spitfire’s brother with her permission. “Uh, nothing,” she said, rubbing her mane nervously. “Just Wonderbolt stuff.”
Firestorm nodded warmly. “Go ahead.”
“What?!” Rainbow said suddenly, not expecting him to be okay with Rainbow going away. Spotting the look he was giving her, she said, “I-I-I mean, uh, thanks. For lettin’ me... yeah. I-I’ll...see ya later!”
And she took her hoof out of her crush’s grasp and cantered off to Firestorm’s sister. She parted through the crowds of ponies and disappeared.
Firestorm watched her go, a slightly melancholy smile on his face. “I’m not stopping you from doing what you want,” he spoke. “I just thought... you’d want to spend it with me.”
Inside the main receptionist area, a long assembly of impatient ponies was waiting in line. The sound of their vocal protests reached the vaulted ceiling high above them. The object of their protests was Princess Luna, who was standing in place of Princess Celestia.
“We want Celestia!” came one cry.
“Where is she?” came another demand. “In her room?”
“Let us in already! Just go!”
“We can’t get in unless Celestia greets us!”
“You’re holding up the line!”
“Ponies!” Princess Luna insisted, still standing there. “I am here! If thou requireth a princess to greet thee as thou entereth, I shall gladly do so.”
“We don’t want you!” came the voice of Jet Set, a grey unicorn with a fancy green suit. His wife, Upper Crust, was by his side. “Celestia has always greeted us as we entered before, and she will do so again now!”
“What maketh thee think she will? Simply because thou asketh?”
The grey unicorn blinked behind his spectacles. “I’m going to pretend I understood what you meant. Celestia has an image she needs to keep! What do you think she will look like to the public if she neglects us?”
“Celestia needs to have a night to enjoy herself as well,” came the voice of somepony else behind him. “It’s only fair-”
Jet Set shot him a stare, and he fell silent. Jet Set then faced Luna again. “If Princess Celestia doesn’t show up and get through this line soon, we’ll--”
“You’ll what?” came a lazy voice.
Everypony turned to see who had spoken. It was a aviator-clad pegasus who had swaggered obnoxiously through the doors of Canterlot Castle out to the side of the line.
“Who is that?”
“He’s not in line! What’s he doing?”
“Doesn’t he know better?”
The mysterious pony, however, ignored their questions. Once he had gotten some distance out from the line, he tilted his head to regard the ponies there.
One of them spoke up at last. “Sir, you do realize there are only two ponies that wear sunglasses indoors? Blind ponies... and buttholes.”
A few snickers from the Canterlot elite followed. But the pony simply lowered his shades to regard him with neon yellow eyes. “I suppose it’s a good thing I’m a certified grade-A butthole, then!”
The Canterlot elite fell silent. They were used to ponies getting flustered at an insult, but this one seemed to draw his strength from them.
“I can wear my sunglasses indoors and you can’t. You all wish you could be like me, right?” He shook his hoof like he was trying to think. “I mean, you’re all buttholes, all right, but I’m a fresh and snappy butthole, and you all are... what, rotten, wormy buttholes.” He gagged and stuck out his tongue. “Oh, that’s a terrible image!”
“You shouldn’t even be in here!” came a pony’s declaration.
The dark orange pegasus reached into his coat pocket and drew out a specially-embroidered golden ticket. “Lifetime pass,” he bragged lazily. “Tell me, where does that put me above you?”
The pony who had spoken fell silent.
“I honestly had better things to do tonight,” he continued, tossing his apple into the air and catching it. “But I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to flex on y’all and spend some time with Loony, Loopy Luna.” He waved in Princess Luna’s direction. “Heya, Loony!”
Princess Luna only inclined her head.
“Why in Equestria do you even have a lifetime ticket to the Gala?” Jet Set asked him intrusively, holding himself tall and proud. “Only proper ponies are supposed to be at the Gala, not some... grubby commoner.”
The pegasus walked slowly over to Jet Set until his face was a foot away from his own. He didn’t even bother to take off his sunglasses. “What’s your name?”
Jet Set haughtily replied, “My name is--”
CRUNCH
Jet Set’s words were drowned out by the pegasus taking a rather loud bite out of his apple, crunching and slurping on it so messily a few flecks of it flew out and landed on Jet Set’s face.
Jet Set recoiled. “Get that commoner food out of my face!”
The pegasus ignored him. He just continued to slurp and crunch until he had swallowed the part he had in his mouth. “Tell me,” the pegasus said, wiping his chin free of juices. “What event is this?”
“The Grand Galloping Gala,” Jet Set said through clenched teeth.
The pegasus held up the scarlet fruit. “Do you know what this is?” he asked, as if to a small child.
Jet Set turned his nose up. “I do not associate myself with peasant food.”
“This is a Gala apple,” he told him. “Tell me, Beta Fett, or whatever your name was--is it wrong for me to eat a Gala apple at the Gala?”
Jet Set looked a little less sure of himself. “You... probably made that up on the spot!” he accused him.
“And how would you know?” the pegasus asked him. “You don’t associate yourself with peasant food, do you?” He tossed his apple in the air again, adding a little bit of spin to it. “I, uh, didn’t catch your name the first time. Some jerk with an apple was eating really loud and I didn’t hear it.”
Jet Set stuck his nose so high in the air he was looking at the ceiling. “My name is Jet Set, and me and my wife Upper Crust are some of the richest ponies in Equestria. Who are you?” He sniffed importantly.
The pegasus clapped sarcastically, holding his apple in his wing. “Oh, wow. Wow! I devote all of my great respect to thee, thou doer of nothing but exist. You’ve certainly done so much good in the world! Everypony, look! He’s done nothing in his life! All the attention we had before, we give to thee, filth! Oh, how I grovel at thy hooves, my devoted leader!” He swept himself on his knees extravagantly and made little kissing noises at his hooves.
Jet Set’s eye twitched behind his small spectacles.
The pegasus got back to his hooves. “Who am I, compared with your majesty and glory? I mean, compared to you, I’m just Firestorm. The performer of the Sonic Flameboom. The Wonderbolt Reserve.” Spotting his surprised face, Firestorm relentlessly continued. “Knight of Equestria. Five-time recipient of the Pink Heart of Courage. Slayer of the Bugbear, Arimaspi, and Hydra. Aaaayund the personal bodyguard for all four princesses of Equestria.” He grinned at Jet Set’s astounded face, then took another bite of his apple and turned away. “Who’re you again?” he asked with his mouth full.
Firestorm turned to face the rest of the nobility, who were both astounded at his abilities and enraged at his behavior. He held up his hoof. “I’m too important to hang around you dirty, dirty peasants.” He flicked a hoof nonchalantly. “You idiots aren’t worth my time. But if being around you means I can flex on y’all, I can stick around a little longer.” He raised his voice. “Does anypony else have anything to say to me? Because I can roast you crisply if you just offer me something.”
Upper Crust made the mistake of talking. “If you’re not going to say anything respectful to us, you shouldn’t be here at all!”
Firestorm took another bite out of his apple. He held up a hoof for silence, and for some reason, the nobility waited until he was done chewing. Firestorm swallowed and said, “Okay, first of all, you’re a frickin’ hypocrite. Second, if everypony said respectful things to each other, nopony would know what’s wrong with them. You should be thankful. And third,” he said, ignoring the cries of protest from the line of ponies, “I can talk to you any darn way I want.”
“Why?” Upper Crust demanded angrily.
“Because I’m your enemy. You can never force your enemy to be respectful and friendly to you, because they’re your enemy! You show no restraint in pointing out flaws in other ponies you meet. Who’s to say I can’t do the same to you?”
“Luuunaaa!” Jet Set cried. “Get this fool out of here!”
Firestorm took yet another bite out of his apple. “There’s nothing you can do,” he said with his mouth full. He flapped over to Princess Luna’s side and wrapped an arm around the Princess of the Night. “I’m staying with my bestie. You can’t make me leave. If you wanna stay, you gotta put up with me.” He gulped down his bite and gestured at the door. “But if you want, you can always just leave. There’s the door. Use it. Go on.”
Nopony moved, although a few eyes did flicker over to the doors.
Firestorm looked annoyed. “Why are you doing that?”
“Doing what?” came Upper Crust’s indignant voice.
“Standing in line. Celestia doesn’t care about you. She’s got better things to do than welcome all you miserable little snobs to this Gross Gruesome Gala.”
“Like what?” came her enraged accusation.
“Like spending the night with the hottest stallion in Equestria,” Firestorm responded, flipping his mane stupidly. “She said it herself. I have a recording if you want to hear it. She invited me up to her private quarters to talk about tax benefits, she shut the door to keep away prying eyes, and all of a sudden she was collapsing in my arms declaring her undying devotion to me.”
“You're insane!” Jet Set yelled. “There's no way Princess Celestia would ever--”
“No way I would ever what?” came a soft, motherly voice. From the doors leading into the dance hall came the tall white frame of Princess Celestia in a low-cut red dress, looking imposing and straight-faced as she gazed on the upper class. Upon seeing Firestorm, however, the plate of food she had in her yellow aura dropped and smashed to the ground. “S-storm?” she asked in astonishment.
Firestorm mouthed to her, “Just play along.” Then he swept his sunglasses off his head and smirked at her with a gaze hot enough to set firewood ablaze. “Wassup, ‘Tia?” he asked casually, tossing his half-eaten apple behind him to rest at Jet Set’s hooves.
“H-hi, F-firestorm,” she stuttered, and shrunk her head inside her shoulders, pretending to act demure.
Firestorm swept his sunglasses onto the front of his tux with one fluid sweep and swaggered to Celestia’s side. “You're lookin’ sexy tonight, babe.”
The Canterlot nobles gasped in collective shock. Nopony dared speak like that to the princesses unless they wanted to be banished, or locked in a dungeon, or locked in a dungeon in the place where she banished them.
Princess Celestia, however, only stuck out her tongue playfully at the compliment. “Only the best for the hottest stallion in Equestria!"
Several ponies in the line fainted. Most others were close to it as well. The rest of them just didn't know what to say at the display.
Firestorm wrapped his hoof around Celestia’s neck and led her back around. “Come with me, bay-bay, and let’s go and par-tay the night ay-way.”
“Wait!” came Jet Set. “Aren't you going to welcome us to the gala?”
“What’s wrong with just having Luna do it?” Celestia asked.
“Well, she... she’s not, um...not reall--I-I…” Jet Set shut up after several attempts to speak. The display by Firestorm had left every word taken out of his mouth.
“That's what I thought,” Celestia said, and allowed herself to be led away by Firestorm into the great hall, leaving a multitude of speechless nobility in her wake.
Leaning on the wall next to a large window that looked like a superhero might swing through it at any moment, Freedom Fighter was standing upright and holding his staff in front of him so he was leaning forward. His mind was having another conversation with itself, but the difference now from times past was that now the entire conversation was out loud. This made it so that if anypony else was close enough, they would overhear him talking and assume that he was mad.
“It’s a little strange, don’t you think?”
“What is?”
“Your acceptance of the fact that Noble chose Fluttershy over you. I’d have thought you would be more protestable at that.”
“Protestable? Is that even a word?”
“The word choice doesn’t matter. What matters is you not having Noble’s top priority anymore.”
“I don’t care if I am or not. I’ve managed fine without him before.”
“And look at how it all turned out. When you were alone, you were nearly tortured to death.”
“I’m a strong, independent stallion who don’t need no knight looking out for me. I don’t need him to look out for my safety all the time.”
“Why do you think he does?”
“Because he made an oath to his father.”
“Why did he make an oath to his father to look out for you?”
“Because he…” Freedom Fighter stopped his thought processes for an instant. “Because he wants to look after me. Because I’m his... friend.”
“Does Noble Blade break his oaths?”
“Hasn’t done so yet.”
“So with that said, even though he’s done all of this to look out for you, he still chose Fluttershy over you.”
“She’s his girlfriend! Of course he needs to pick her above me.”
“Whatever happened to Bros Before Hoes?”
“Well, whatever happened to Ladies First?”
“One for your side.”
“Noble Blade needs to be with his girl. He has no obligation to hang out with me any longer than he wants. I’m good enough on my own.”
“Be wary, though; you still need him in your life. Heaven forbid, if anything should happen to him--”
“The pony that harms him is gonna die.’
“So he does still matter to you. You ain’t no strong independent stallion after all.
“I-”
“Don’t delude yourself. All this time, you’ve been feeling pain and anger, but Noble was there to make you feel like your anger at everything was good for something. Now, even he’s got better things to look after than you. You’re not important anymore.”
“Look, I understand that, but I also understand that Noble needs a girl! I can be a good ol’ understanding bro for his sake. He’s done a lot for me. I’ll do this for him.”
“You’re saying that to cover up the fact that you need something to make you feel treasured. To make you feel something special. You aren’t. Everypony else just puts up with you. They tolerate you. They can barely stand having you around-”
“SHUT UP!” Freedom Fighter bellowed all of a sudden. He spotted a nearby couple jump at his outburst, and with an “I say!” they both moved away from him.
“Look at that. You scared them.”
“The next time you talk, I’ll tear your intestines out butt first.”
“I don't think that'll be wise.”
“Right. You’re living with me. Forgot about that.” Freedom Fighter stomped the ground impatiently so hard a piece of concrete chipped off and flew away.
“Pardon me, but who in Equestria are you talking to?” came the voice of some curious businesspony.
Freedom Fighter whirled around to stare the intruder in the face with a red glare. “I'm talking with the other idiot that lives in my cerebrum, fool! Who else would I be talking with, Faust?!”
The elegantly tailored pony recoiled. “Who’s Faust?” He shook his head. “Well, I never saw such a thing in all my life! You must be going mad!”
“Ohohoho, I’m mad, all right,” the warrior spat at him. He fired his left arm out to the side, and three long claws shot out of the hidden mechanical hoof. “Get out!”
He scoffed. “I was just saying--”
“Get out or I’ll paint the castle with your blood and decorate the ceiling with your innards!”
He obeyed, though sullenly and with many disparaging glances over the shoulder.
Freedom Fighter sighed and shot his claws back inside his metal arm. He leaned back against the glass and let out a deep groan of frustration. Now he was agitated and didn’t have anypony he could lash out at.
Until he allowed his gaze to ambly drift over the heads of other dancing couples and spot a blonde mane in the crowd.
Freedom Fighter double-checked himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. Indeed, he could see more facial features. Long blonde mane, white body, squared jaw, long spiraled horn…
Freedom Fighter smiled so hard his cheeks almost split in half. “Somepony we can kill?”
“Let’s just follow him for now. If he does anything stupid, we can slit his throat and dump his body off the edge of the balcony and that’ll be it.”
And with that, Freedom Fighter hid behind a wide stone pillar and jumped from the pillar to the wall, and back to the pillar again, until he was concealed in the tall buttresses striding the ceiling.
“I’m telling you, Starlight, the Gala is bountiful with splendid opportunities!” Rarity announced as she led her inside. “Fear not the stares, and ignore any looks that may be directed your way.”
“I know,” Starlight Glimmer muttered as she was almost dragged by an enthusiastic Rarity to the spacious hall where ponies in suits and corsets, monocles and dresses, top hats and chemises all revolved in a hypnotizing wheel around the dance hall. “And, ah, thanks for introducing me to the gala’s activities. Could I do this... well, on my own, though?”
“Why, whatever might be the problem?”
“I just kinda want to go and, well... do my own thing. Talk with Princess Celestia. Hang out with her and Twilight.”
“And you are more than welcome to!” Rarity declared. “Just as soon as I finish giving you pointers on how to act here. The Gala is not a place for failure.”
“What about the other two times you went?” Starlight asked. “I talked to Twilight about it before she left for Canterlot, and I remember there was something called... the Smooze?”
Rarity’s ears drooped. “Well, see, we... prefer not to talk about that.”
Starlight Glimmer put her mouth next to Rarity’s face some more. “And the one time with Prince whatshisface?”
“Don’t-” Rarity started vehemently, then coughed and straightened a ripple in her Fuschia dress. “Don’t you dare speak another word. Honestly, sometimes I can still hear his frightening voice in my memories.”
“Rarity? Miss Rarity?”
“See? I heard him just now. It’s a good thing he hadn’t had the decency to show up tonight.”
“Um, Rarity?” Starlight Glimmer asked, prodding her on the shoulder and pointing.
“Whatever do you--” Rarity started, looking where Starlight’s hoof was pointing, then she recoiled. “Oh, heavens! Get me away, Starlight! Get me away!”
“Rarity? There’s nothing to fear. Come on out.” Approaching them was the prince himself, in a tuxedo even more elaborate than the one Rarity had last seen him in. There was both a carnation and pocket square in his coat pocket, there was a sash across his front that he had decorated with tiny, insignificant medals, and a thin sabre was strapped at his side--purely ornamental in design.
“I think there’s a reason why she’s hiding,” Starlight said hesitantly. “Mister…”
Blueblood let out a charming laugh. “I haven’t introduced myself. I am Prince Blueblood.”
“Oookay,” Starlight uncomfortably said. “My name is--”
“But of course, it’s not you I’m looking for,” Blueblood interrupted. “It’s miss Rarity.” He gave a warm smile at Rarity.
“Blueblood,” Rarity said through clenched teeth. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Blueblood said. “It’s a good thing we were able to finally meet up from the last Gala. Ever since then, things have gotten disastrously out of hoof, and after consideration, I believe an apology is in order.”
“Oh, goodness, I--wait!” Rarity’s eyes lit up briefly. “An apology? Why, I... heh, I d-don’t believe it! Of course an apology is in order!”
Things waited a moment as neither side said a word.
“Um, Blueblood?” Rarity cautiously asked. “What are you doing?”
“I’m waiting for my apology.”
“Your apolo--” Rarity narrowed her eyes dangerously. “What in Celestia’s name are you talking about?”
“You humiliated me all those years ago!” Blueblood said haughtily. “I demand an apology for making me the laughingstock of Canterlot!”
“You don’t need Rarity's help,” Starlight quipped out of her mouth.
“You’re absolutely right!” Blueblood emphatically insisted. He turned back to Rarity. “But,” he continued. “This does not mean that we need to erect permanent barriers between us. I am more than willing to accept your apology. After that, you can fulfill the dream you had all those years ago. You and I can be an astounding couple in the higher circles in Canterlot. You and I would be the talk of the town!”
Rarity arched a demanding eyebrow. “Let me get this straight,” she said. “You walk up to me after years, demand an apology from me for what happened that night that has no relevance to what is happening today, and then you offer to get back together with me?”
Blueblood nodded. “It’s not too much, honestly. You’re lucky I’m not asking more, but being a gentlecolt, I’m trying to be... reasonable...”
Starlight Glimmer glared at him so hard Blueblood actually took a step back.
“Let me tell you something, Prince,” Rarity growled. “I am Rarity. I am the owner of boutiques in Canterlot, Manehattan, and Ponyville. I am known across Equestria for my spirit of welfare. I bear an Element of Harmony. I have consorted with Princesses and Queens. I have faced down rabid animals, demons, mad spirits, and nightmares larger than your pitiful mind can possibly imagine. Did you honestly think I would spend the rest of my life with a life form as pitiful as yours?”
Blueblood’s responding expression revealed more than words ever could.
“I cannot believe you,” Rarity breathed in astonishment. “You truly are less than I could have possibly hoped for.” She wrapped a hoof around Starlight’s. “Come, Starlight. Let us go where the air is not as rancid.”
“Now, hold on a second,” Blueblood angrily started, grabbing a fold of Rarity’s dress with his magic yellow aura. “You may be a bearer of those little trinkets, but simply wearing jewelry won’t cut it.”
“Did you not hear me?!” Rarity shrieked, trying to yank Blueblood away.
“Only the parts I liked,” Blueblood admitted. “You’ve no idea the skill that takes. Come with me.”
“No!” Rarity cried, loud enough for passerby to hear and turn their heads. “I don’t want you near me!”
“Stop lying to me, Rarity!” Blueblood declared. “You know you want to be with me!"
And before he could do anything more, he was pushed backward by a blast of energy from Starlight Glimmer and landed ignominiously on his flat butt. Blueblood stared up at the angry lilac mare next to Rarity.
“Our deepest apologies,” Starlight Glimmer spat. “We’ve got better things to do.”
And she and Rarity galloped out of the great hall, with a confused and angry Blueblood sitting on his rump.
The very instant that Rarity and Starlight disappeared, in the same doorway came Princess Celestia, with Firestorm by her side. “I’m telling you, ‘Tia, that was the most fun I’ve had in weeks! Did you see the look on their fac-” Firestorm stopped talking when he spotted the irate Blueblood getting to all fours.
“My dear nephew,” Celestia said calmly. “How is the Gala treating you?”
Blueblood simply let out a “Hmph!” and turned his head up in a false show of pride. “I’m doing fine.”
“The only ponies who say that are the ponies that aren’t fine,” Firestorm wryly observed.
Blueblood swiveled his head to regard Firestorm. “Who’s this?”
“The hottest stallion in Equestria,” Firestorm announced with a grandiose bow. “No need to applaud.”
Blueblood sniffed. “You?”
“You were expecting somepony better than me?” Firestorm asked in a deep, mocking voice. “How absurd! Nopony can be better than me!” Firestorm reared on his legs and adopted a haughty expression. “I’m better than you, and I’m better than you, and, oh, this pony that has more money than me, I’m better than him as well, no matter what he says!”
“I get the feeling you're mocking me,” Blueblood observed.
“Oh, heavens, no, no no no!” Firestorm suddenly pointed behind Blueblood. “LOOK, A BUREAUCRAT WITH A HOT SIDE CHICK!”
“Where?” Blueblood demanded, swiveling his head so his golden mane whipped into his face.
“BAHA!” Firestorm collapsed on the ground in helpless laughter. Celestia, unable to help herself, let out a giggle as well.
“Auntie,” Blueblood said irritably, turning back to glare at Firestorm. “Aren’t you going to do something about him?”
Celestia’s purple eyes sparkled. “Why would I do that?”
“Princess!” came a voice. Celestia turned her head to see who it was that had spoken, and it was Twilight, in a pink dress with draping robes on her shoulders making a deep V in her front. Twilight came over near Celestia and skidded to a halt. “It’s, um, good to see you here.”
“How’s your night going so far?” Celestia asked politely.
“Well, I haven’t had to deal with as many annoying ponies as in years past, so that’s a plus. I’ve actually enjoyed myself so far.” She leaned in closer. “But the night’s still going slower than I’d like it to be.”
“Why do you say that?” Celestia asked.
“Because... well…” Twilight whispered through clenched teeth. “The thing you said you’d talk to me and my friends about.”
“Ah. Princess Twilight, I presume?”
Twilight’s eyes flickered over to Blueblood’s in exasperation. “Hello, Prince Blueblood.”
“It’s a startling fact, but you and I seem to never have met in person before,” Blueblood said diplomatically. “After that riotous first Gala you attended, Rarity so flustered me that I dared not make an appearance at the gala for the next five years!”
“Gee,” Twilight said. “How strong you must be.”
“I agree. It’s not easy, being in the Canterlot high society."
“Don’t you lay around on your butt all the time?” Firestorm pointed out.
“I did not invite you to speak, good sir, so keep your mouth shut.”
“Oh! I said something you didn’t like!”
“Look here, sir,” Blueblood said, his disdain rising with each word, “I have tried to be polite and reasonable--”
“You what?” Firestorm asked in astonishment. He turned to Twilight. “Are you hearing this? He’s capable of being polite!”
“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” Blueblood irately asked.
“Nope!” Firestorm said simply, flapping luxuriously into the air.
“Firestorm,” Twilight said with clenched teeth. “Now might be a good time to stop it.”
“To stop? To stop? Because Bluey here’ll get mad at me? GASP!” Firestorm put both of his hooves to his mouth in mock surprise. “I am so scared right now! He might call me a name I may not like!”
“Buzz off, you insect,” Blueblood snapped at last.
“OH!” Firestorm put a hoof to his side and winced like he’d been shot. “OH! OH, NO! NOT THAT!” He fell to the ground. “ANYTHING BUT INSECT! MY ONLY WEAKNESS! AAAUGH!”
Twilight held back a snicker as Blueblood’s expression deteriorated. It looked like Blueblood had drunk expired lemon juice.
“Do you see why I keep him around?” Celestia asked Blueblood. “He makes me laugh.”
Blueblood recovered from his bout of indignation and flipped his stringy golden mane. “I have to go and speak with more important ponies than you.”
“Oh, no!” Firestorm exclaimed at the retreating prince. “He’s leaving me! Clearly, he’s got something so profoundly important to say that he’s leaving me!”
“You’re crossing a line,” Celestia advised.
“I don’t want him to leave me!” Firestorm exclaimed. “He and I are just perfect for each other!” Firestorm got on his knees and adopted a pleading expression. “Don’t leave me, Blueblood!” he called after Blueblood, who was almost gone from sight. “Please!”
On the castle grounds, the grass sparkled with drops of water that came late in the night, making Rainbow Dash’s hooves wet. Hanging out near the entrance to the castle was her coworkers, the Wonderbolts.
She recognized Soarin’, of course, eating a delicious apple pie he had bought from Applejack’s stand. But his example had been followed this year by the other Wonderbolts, who all had apple fritters, strudels, churros, and, of course, pies, off to the side as they conversed. Applejack’s luck had apparently reversed from the last Gala she tried at selling food at.
She recognized Fleetfoot, Fire Streak, and Lightning Streak all talking, and she saw them spot her and wave in greeting. As she came near to Spitfire, the fiery-maned captain's expression turned from her pie and brightened. “Ah, Rainbow Dash! It’s so good ta see ya!”
Rainbow grinned. “Y-yeah, uh, right. Listen, I came here to talk with you--”
“It’s been a while, right? Only a little bit ago, you wanted just to hang around us at the Gala. And now look at you! You’re one of us! VIP, am I right?” Spitfire tapped her playfully on the shoulder.
“Yeah. Look, Spitfire, I gotta talk with ya.”
Spitfire raised her eyebrows. “Oh really? What about?”
Rainbow exhaled and pulled on her white dress. “Firestorm.”
Spitfire’s eyes caught a glint of amusement. “Oh really?” she repeated. “I’m interested.”
“Um…” Rainbow found it incredibly hard to talk all of a sudden. Fiddling with her dress some more, she muttered, “He’s kinda…”
Spitfire’s interested expression grew deadpanned as Rainbow struggled to speak.
“...hot…” Rainbow murmured at last, wincing.
Spitfire looked jolted, for one of the first times she had seen her. Then Spitfire deviously raised her voice. “You think he’s hot?”
The comment made all nearby conversation halt. Rainbow Dash froze in fright.
“Ooohoho!” Fleetfoot snickered nearby. “Does Rainbow Dash have a crush?”
“Who’s the lucky guy?” Soarin’ asked, taking a break from his pie. “It, um…” He looked to one side, then the other. “It wouldn’t happen to be me, would it?”
“What are you talkin’ bout?” Fleetfoot asked him. “She’d be insane to be attracted to a guy like you!”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Soarin’ asked suspiciously.
“It’s not Soarin’,” Rainbow said, flustered.
“Well then, who is it? That dolt Zephyr Breeze?” Fire Streak asked. “I know he tried to go for you one time, right?”
Atop the laughter that followed, Rainbow exclaimed, “No, it’s not Zephyr either!”
“What about that jerk Hoops? Or his idiot friend, whatshisface...”
“Okay, I think you’re setting the bar a little low there, Fleetfoot.”
“No bar is too low for Rainbow Dash!”
“No bar is too high for Rainbow Dash,” Soarin’ corrected.
“What’s that supposed to mean? She only goes for the best guys available, or she flies over the highest bars in practice?”
Soarin’ put a hoof to his chin. “Both.”
“It’s Firestorm!” Rainbow Dash cried at last, flapping indignantly into the air. “The guy! That I like! It’s Firestorm! Are you happy?!”
Fleetfoot was suddenly silent. “Firestorm…” she mused. “Wait a sec. Is he that guy in the Wonderbolt reserves?”
“I think so,” Soarin’ agreed. “I remember he was funny.”
“What can he do?” Fleetfoot asked, now curious. “Any tricks he’s got up his sleeve?”
Rainbow Dash recalled the Sonic Flameboom and wondered if it was okay for her to speak about that. “He’s got some impressive stuff,” Rainbow filtered through.
"So what are you trying to ask me here?” Spitfire asked.
Rainbow fiddled with her words before speaking. “Is it really okay if I, um, d-d-date your brother?”
Spitfire blinked. “Why are you asking me this?”
Rainbow blinked in return. “What?”
“You don’t need my permission,” Spitfire said nonchalantly. “Knock yourself out.”
“So wait--WAIT A SEC!” Rainbow’s pupils had expanded in size, and a little smile was spreading across her muzzle. “I can really just go in and ask him if it’s okay to be his girlfriend?”
Spitfire waved her away and gave herself some free space. “Yeah, I guess. If that’s what you really wanted.”
“Gotta go!” Rainbow said all of a sudden, and quickly went around to all of the other Wonderbolts. “You’re the coolest guys ever, and I’d love to hang out with you at any other time, but I’ve got a guy I need to charm. Anyhoo, good luck! I’ll be inside! Bye!”
And she flew up to the nearest balcony and, in the yellow light flooding the air, landed and trotted inside the Great Hall.
Soarin’, holding his pie, looked up at the balcony, where she no longer appeared. “Did she just say Anyhoo?”
The Canterlot Gardens were afresh with life. In the night air, birds flitted about the tree branches and sang their trilling songs to their mates in hopes of companionship. Squirrels and raccoons, moles and ocelots all milled about the spacious gardens. No animal was in danger of being eaten. No animal was in peril. It was the perfect representation of peace and serenity.
Noble Blade was now observing Fluttershy hovering in the trees, murmuring, “Now, now, little meadowlark, it’s okay. Mommy Fluttershy just wants to talk with you. Can you come out of your tree and do me a huuuuge solid?”
The Meadowlark, for whatever reason, didn’t budge.
“Now, I know that you probably haven’t forgotten that time six years ago when I laid out traps for you and the other little animals. But I know better now!”
Noble Blade tilted his head in surprise. That was something he hadn’t known about her.
“Oh, why won’t you listen to me?” Fluttershy flapped slowly to the ground, looking depressed. “All I wanted to do was talk.”
“Is it okay if I try instead?” Noble offered. “I wouldn’t want the evening to be ruined for you.”
Fluttershy smiled and nuzzled his neck. “My evening’s already perfect because of you.”
The words warmed his heart in the chilly night. Noble put his arm around his girlfriend--Noble would still need some getting used to calling the angel his girlfriend--and sat down on a nearby park bench. He ran his hoof through her long, thick mane, wondering just how it was possible to feel so good.
“Mmm...you’re good at that,” she murmured. She drew her head up to look into her boyfriend’s eyes. Noble could see the sheen the eyes had to them as the light of the moon caught them. “Noble?”
“Yes?”
Fluttershy drew her head into her shoulders.“Can I, um...kiss you?”
Noble smiled. “I beg of you, Fluttershy.”
Both of them closed the distance, and, accidentally bumping noses the first time, they readjusted their angle and met each other’s lips. It would take some practicing, but it was a practice Noble was comfortable exercising.
After ten seconds, they parted, both of their colors high.
“Am I doing well for you?” Noble suddenly asked, trying not to let concern grace his features. “I hope I’m doing good at being a boyfriend so far. Do I have to try harder? Do something better?”
Fluttershy ruffled his combed mane playfully. “I couldn’t ask for a better guy to be with tonight, Noble.”
“Oh, Fluttershy,” Noble murmured in relief, and pulled her closer so her body was pressing into his chest and her head was next to his ear.
Hearing her own name be spoken so passionately made Fluttershy’s heart leap. Then she numbly recognized the lack of Thee, or Thou. It confused Fluttershy. What was up with the language switching? When and why would he do it? Why did he seem nervous when he lapsed?
Was there something about him that she didn’t know?
Noble must have suspected something by how stiff she was, because he drew his head back in concern to look her in the eyes. “Something wrong?”
“Um…” she said.
“Are you cold?” The night was indeed chilly, and the small gusts of wind didn’t help. “You’re feeling stiff.”
Before she could say anything else, he wrapped her closer to his body. She could feel the heat radiating off of him. “Just relax,” he whispered.
Fluttershy made no objection to the arrangement. His body indeed made her warmer than before. The problem she was considering didn’t disappear, however.
All around them, the normally shy animals poked their heads out to regard the couple curiously. Birds alighted atop the back of the bench, while ferrets and moles swiveled their heads out of the ground. A small raccoon managed to climb up to the spot next to them on the bench, and a bunny hopped up on the opposite side.
Fluttershy noticed this out of the corner of her eye and pulled away from Noble’s embrace to gasp in delight. “Ooh! Noble! Look! The animals!”
Wriggling around on his lap, put her nose close to the raccoon. “Oh, hi there, mister raccoon. I must be really big and scary up here on this bench, right?”
The raccoon put his front paws up in a small shrug and rolled his eyes.
“You're not used to somepony like me just coming in and doing anything I want, right? Don't you want to get to know mama?”
Finally, the curious raccoon poked Fluttershy's nose and recoiled. After no reaction came except for a little gasp from Fluttershy, he drew back to his position and prodded her cheek. After a few more experimental touches, he threw both of his arms around her face and hugged her tightly.
“He likes you!” Noble proclaimed. He raised a hoof. “ ‘Tis an accomplishment thou shouldst be proud of, Fluttershy. Thou hast tamed the mighty raccoon!”
She let out a breathy laugh at that. “Oh, Noble,” she managed between breaths. “You're so funny!”
“Oh?” he said, dropping the voice. “I'm... glad.”
There it was, again. She barely caught it that time, but he seemed to release tension as he stopped the grand voice. But why was there tension in the first place? Fluttershy had sensed relief in him. But what did he need to be relieved from, exactly? He knew that Fluttershy loved him...right?
If it was true, then Noble Blade wasn't paying any attention to it--or not letting it show. Instead, he was stroking the underside of an oriole that had landed on the back of the bench. The bird was cooing softly and bending to his touch.
Fluttershy felt something light land on her head, and she looked up. Not seeing anything at first, she looked to the side, to her braided mane dripping down the shoulder, as similar weights alighted there as well. Three brown butterflies had settled down and were flapping their wings slowly.
It made Noble pause with his breath in his throat. “You look gorgeous.”
The way he said it made her color rise instantly, and she smiled while retreating her head into her shoulders.
He inclined his head. “Lean forward. Slowly.”
She did eagerly, trying not to disturb the butterflies in her mane. Their lips touched again, sweetly and softly, as both of them tried not to make the butterflies flap away in the act.
“Whoo-whoo!”
The sound of the whistle made Fluttershy jerk up promptly and spun around. An elderly pony with a broom had done it. Fluttershy stiffened up again in fright.
“Oh, I’m just gonna leave the two of ya to go at it,” the groundskeeper slyly said. He winked knowingly. “I don't have no business in that today at least. No siree.” And he backed away through a gap in the bushes and disappeared.
Flicking his tongue around the inside of a discarded can of baked beans, the creature extracted every bit of sustenance from the meager meal as possible. This time, he could recognize tastes that he hadn’t experienced in hundreds of years. Baked beans, however, was a far cry from what he wanted to feel in his mouth. He longed for juicy strawberries and gelatinous jellies that bounced in the mouth, for freezing ices that tasted like grapes and cherries.
Finishing the last of the clear liquid from the old can, he crushed the steel can in his hand and willed his hand to ignite. Black flames enveloped the can, disintegrating it instantly, and when he was certain that it was gone he shook his hand and the flames died.
The creature suddenly heard explosions going off in the distance, and his heart froze with fear. He had failed. Noxxa had already attacked and were now massacring everyone inside the city, and it was his fault, all of it, because he hadn’t come in time.
Looking around the corner, however, he could tell that it wasn’t actually the explosions of war, but rather fireworks glittering and sparkling against the black canvas of the night. The creature put a hand to his heart and leaned against the rock wall in relief. He wasn’t late after all, and he still had time.
What was happening, anyway? Was a party going on? The creature wasn’t aware of any parties that would be thrown right around now. Since when did Celestia and Luna do that, anyway?
The castle was within sight. He could make out the soaring spires of the castle and the lights in the far-off windows.
The creature took a moment to straighten himself, then took heavy steps to join the road leading to the castle.
He didn’t notice the dark, spiny bug that had followed him all the way through the wilderness.
He didn’t see it scurry into the underbrush near the train station and click its mandibles together as one of the Noxxa stood in the shadow of Canterlot at last.
“This... is my opportunity,” he clicked harshly, making sure nopony else could see him or hear him. “If I can spy on them and learn of their intentions... I can appraise the Marshal of their movements before we attack. I’ll be honored.”
He rubbed his front two claws together hopefully, making a scratching noise. “Maybe even get to choose which mare to eat when we kill those pesky little Elements of Harmony…”
And, keeping his distance from the lumbering, upright creature, the Nox snuck after him, searching for a secret entrance into the castle.
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I just got done reading this chapter, and man, was it a fun one!
The parts where Firestorm is roasting the nobility and Prince Blueblood were the parts that I laughed at the most, and the romantic scene between Fluttershy and Noble was so heartwarming. And if it makes your day or anything, I never thought of Noble as one-dimensional, really, and I think he and Fluttershy are perfect for each other. I actually even find Noble to be pretty relatable to me, and a lot like myself. The both of us want to make sure everything goes alright, and that everyone around us is happy, not leaving the other disappointed.
When I also got to see what Celestia, Rainbow, and Twilight were wearing, I literally couldn’t help but go head over heels for them. Especially Twilight.
I can’t help but want to really know what kinds of dresses Starlight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Luna, and Pinkie Pie are wearing. Will that be addressed at some point?
9055763
You don't need to know the kinds of dresses each and every single one of them is wearing. At some point I'll make a brief little description of it, but I won't do a paragraph per dress.
Man, it's good to know you enjoyed this! This is a highlight of the day!
9055776
Thank you.
By the way, I couldn’t help but feel slightly confused about this part here:
I knew about the creature trying to warn Celestia of course, as well as the fact that he’s being followed by a predator from Tartarus. But, where did the Noxxa come from? Is he ahead of the good guy and predator or behind them? Does he also know about the good guy that’s coming?
9055797
He's simply an individual Nox that decided to take the initiative and follow this Prophet that is trudging to Celestia, because he stinks of Tartarus, and the Nox recognize the smell of their home on this mysterious creature. That was how he picked up on it. He simply followed the smell of his home as it moved across the land, and it led to this creature that he manages to stay out of earshot of.
The Prophet at the time isn't aware he's being followed because he's at the end of his strength. And the Nox doesn't know who it is he's following, because if he knew he was tailing the Prophet, he'd quiver in his claws and shake so hard the chitin would fall off of him.
Well, you managed to redeem one character, but it seems to be sacrificing another.
There was a lot to like and a lot to love. Firestorm and Rainbow Dash's bits. Perfect. Love it. I actually would love to see how Celestia and Firestorm became friends at some point in the story.
Noble and Fluttershy was a lot better. They were adorable, as always, and they're still riding high on just getting together. I like how Noble is now only using Old Tongue if he's being snooty for a joke, or is just nervous and feels the need to overcompensate. THIS is how you use it right. I'm very hopeful that this relationship will continue to develop well in the near future.
The downside of this chapter comes with Freedom Fighter. With him, I'm just confused. Where did this sudden urge to kill someone come from? His internal monologue about his self-worth was GREAT, but I wish we could see that expressed more. In addition, I'm still looking for the fallout of himself being revealed. Will the girls push him to reveal himself to more people? Maybe once they come to terms with Freedom's story, they can try to help him become more open? Its these types of things that make sense for the character, but instead he has this bloodlust for some reason. Is killing how he releases anger? If so, that's KIND OF a problem.
Also, how old were there Guardians when they all first met? Did they all grow up together? Because if not, I have NO idea why Freedom would know what "second base" is and Firestorm wouldn't. Speaking of... I LOVE the camaraderie these three have. The first scene in this chapter did that perfectly.
There were a couple dialogue issues in this chapter, where I felt that certain characters wouldn't;t word things like they did, but they were minimal.
In short, I love this chapter. Firestorm is as awesome as ever, Noble is on the road to becoming a more well-rounded character, and Freedom is progressing in his arc. There were just some things that confused me is all.
Also, Blueblood bashing is awesome.
Excited to see how this Noxxa will come into play.
YES!!! PLEASE!!!
Well, that ship just got shot through the heart.