Harmony Unfurled

by Saturni_Rose

Part 11: Tickets please.

Once the afternoon had grown long, the boutique door opened up. As new head of the flock, Rarity strode on, head held high with pride for the work she had done. On her brow, and beneath her horn, sat a simple golden tiara of a single point, with one purple stone and two pink ones to flank it. A similar purple gem dangled from the nape of her neck on a narrow gold chain.

Layered over her shoulders rested a red-violet shawl with two drawn strings ribbon-tied under her necklace. Her ears held two gold studs and a purple gem each. On her fore hooves were crystalline slippers of faint, faint blue hue. And to her pink blouse trailed several wavy layers of skirt, magenta with goldenrod stripes and patterned with smooth stones of mauve and burgundy, topped with a frilled trail to match her shawl, buttoned with yet more smooth little stones, in grapefruit pink and tangerine orange.

Ever and as always, Rarity was the most extravagant of her friends.

“I don’t get this,” criticized Rainbow Dash as she approached the exit, “you just got done saying earlier it might offend the nobles if Luna wore her crown, but now you’re wearing one?”

“A little circlet or tiara is different from the tall crown of a monarch.” explained Rarity. “Now come out here, let me see my work in the natural light, oh I’m so proud!”

On either side of Rainbow’s head gleamed a gilded sprig between her hair and ear; they framed her face nicely and invoked the wreaths worn by nobility of times so ancient, even Luna might not recall them. Tiny pearlescent beads held an amulet modeled after a decadent vine of grapes, like the kind she might have someone else feed her as she lounges. And a bright red bead pooled the ends of her rainbow locks into a dainty puff.

Laces formed gilded spirals, keeping her athlete’s sandals in place. Gold rings clipped gingerly around her wings for the vest with stripes matching those of her hair, and tiny white frills. From there, a trailing skirt swooped up and over her tail with that same rainbow pattern. The lining that trimmed it was white and fluffy, like clouds.

“I still say I liked my idea better.” grumbled Dash.

“Armor hardly counts as evening wear.” uttered Rarity, sighing the sigh of someone who had definitely been over this. “Next time, you can find some rough and tumble blacksmith friend to do all this work for you.”

“I’m just saying, it would’ve been cool.” Rainbow shrugged.

Fluttershy chimed in to chide her. “Now Rainbow, I think you ought to show a bit more gratitude.”

Stepping onto the scene, she was ethereal, like a gleeful servant to one fairy queen or other; the fairies surely have many queens, as they love the chaos. Teal as her bright eyes, butterflies fluttered at her ears, with another large one at her heart. The one at her chest sprouted a creeping vine collar of grassy green.

Little green caps on her hooves were held in place by climbing vines that curled round her ankles. She got another swooping skirt over her tail, of a soft meadow green. A light blue lace bisected it like a flowing river. Near the trim were false roses of yellow and blue. They matched the tiny floral clips pinned throughout her soft, soft mane.

“Nah, you’re right, Flutters.” admitted Rainbow, somewhat ashamed. “I don’t mean to seem ungrateful, it’s just this prissy frou-frou stuff isn’t my bag.”

Disheartened, Fluttershy nuzzled in under her chin. “Aw, Dash. You didn’t have to come with us if you weren’t going to enjoy yourself.”

Dash took a step back. “No, but, like, I do wanna be here for you girls.” Her violet eyes found Rarity, disappointed to say the least. “For you, Rarity. Luna, too.”

“I’m appreciative of the effort, Dash.” Rarity rubbed her shins together. “Did I at least do well to make your dress feel like you?”

“Oh.” Rainbow gave herself another once over, and a surprised little smile overcame her. “Yes, actually. It’s like a fancified version of legendary athletes carved into marble, or something. I-I was mainly kidding about the armor thing, this is actually, like, straight up? The coolest dress I’ve ever worn.”

Stifling a pleased giggle, Rarity asked: “Do you even own any dresses?”

“No, and that’s how you know I’m being legit here.” Dash nervously felt the flowing cloth again. It was actually rather nice. “So, what I’m trying to say here is, ahem… thank you, Rarity. You did real good, and um, this design feels like you get me.”

“Oversellin’ it juuuuust a tad, ain’tcha?” Applejack came along and nudged her.

Upon her head rested a similar, but much nicer variation of her usual hat. Out from that hat fell her perfectly braided locks. The underside of the brim had been done up in swooping patterns and a couple apple stamps. From beneath a tan poncho, the collar of an apple-green dress shirt flared out, lined with a thin white patterning. A shiny apple-red clasp at her throat held her bolo tie, complete with dark read bead aiguillettes. And upon the poncho sat a rugged saddle of fresh, supple pleather.

Her pointed green boots had pleather straps, and a white-then-red lining at the top. Ever the straightforward working gal, her skirt was straight, long, and simple. Though it was green as her shirt, Rarity had tried to emulate the seam style of jean, complete with a lining that looked like rolled up pant legs. And under the cuff lied the fringes of an easy rider. One can never go wrong with fringes.

Rainbow puffed up. “Don’t be mad your ‘darlin’ made a way cooler dress for me than she did yours.” She started to move on as AJ tried to formulate a comeback. “Like, I know green looks good on you, but the envy so does not.”

Whatever petty barb Applejack may have been preparing faded. She tilted her head to one side, catching up to her, and asked: “You think I look good in green?”

“Pff,” Rainbow scoffed, idly throwing one hoof over Fluttershy to bring her in close, “just like Flutters here, green really is the best possible compliment to like, your overall look--the scheme of your coat, mane, and eyes I mean, you know?”

Rarity pushed in beside Applejack, their cheeks softly squished together. Her jaw was completely agape. “Say what now?” ‘

Dash looked at all the surprised faces around her. She shrugged and told them: “Look, being rainbow colored, you tend to pick up on some basic color theory here and there.” With a dry chuckle, she added: “It’s also why most of my wardrobe is neutral colors.”

“Ooh, that gives me an idea.” Rarity felt her person for a moment, searching for something. “Oh, I didn’t think to bring a notepad to jot this down, but how would you feel about a grayscale suit and tie. You’d look as though you’d just stepped right out of a detective noir film, grain and all.”

“Okay,” admitted Dash, “if you could pattern film grain, then I’d be really impressed.”

“Well,” added Pinkie as she joined them, “it would certainly go against the grain.”

She wore a white pillbox hat; the trim was cotton candy blue with two white pins on the front, and a pink bow on the side. Thick stripes of white and blue curved along the shawl, upon which rested a big, poofy collar of white fluff. Pinning the sides together was a sharp bowtie, of orchid magenta. Matching that were slip-on shoes with blue and white striped bows.

Beneath her shawl, she wore a preliminary layered skirt round her stomach; the first layer was a frilled and delicate pink, next was magenta, and finally there came a wide white frill, patterned with alternating candy corn and pink and blue lollipop patches. And training beyond that was a ballgown skirt, a full bulb of that same magenta. Just above the hem was a line of light pink bows, which pinned a blue ribbon loosely around her, in much the same way one might pin streamers around a hall for a party, as Pinkie herself had done many a time.

“Ah, Pinkie,” said Rarity, batting her lashes, “how do you like your dress?”

“Now, I don’t like being rude,” she replied, suspending her excitement, “but apparently I have to be, ‘cause now I look like a fancy soda jerk, ha!”

“I was inspired by that look,”confirmed Rarity, “it simply seemed so fitting. I’ll take that as a yes?”

“I love it.” Pinkie pulled up her skirts and kicked, then twirled away. “It’s soooooo cute!”

“I’m so glad.” Not to blow her own horn too long, Rarity ambled by to beckon the end of their train. “And lastly, introducing!”

“Careful about your fanfare, Rarity. A gal could get used to it.” Luna came through the door and struck a pose, framing her leaned back face with her hoof.

Her bangs were kept in check with a white headband. The tips of her ears were cuffed with small gilded crescent moons, and dangling from the lobes on long chains were a pair of gold stars. She bat her eyes to accentuate the glittering golden eyeshadow she’d picked out personally. With Rarity’s help, they came to purrfect cat’s eye points. She’d giggled like a giddy foal when she saw them finished.

The ensemble itself was two layers. The first was a plain, solid white dress that only came over her left shoulder. Lining the hem were two streaks spun from cloth-of-gold thread. Thrown over her other shoulder was a toga of a dark gray, like that of a storm cloud, which created the top of her layered skirts. A golden sash held both in place, and soft, cloud-like swirls of thin white thread patterned the toga. Above the hem, peaking out from beyond those clouds was a pale crescent moon, one that matched up with the gem of her golden pendant. And rattling on top of each hoof were several golden bangles and anklets.

“If anypony here ought to be used to fanfare announcing them, it’s you, dear.” Rarity chuckled, pulling her boutique door closed behind her and locking it up.

“Alright, everypony,” said Luna addressing all her friends, “one last check before we go: we’ve all got our gala tickets, yes?” Reluctantly, their five shiny tickets all appeared before her with the odd grumble. “I know, girls, I know. I just want to make sure we’re fully prepared. But they’re all accounted for, so let’s head to the train station!”

Briefly, very briefly, Luna pondered the crown she’d left behind on Rarity’s table within.

---

Steam billowed off the sides as the engine began to chug, and the wheels began to churn. The Ponyville station was being left behind outside the window. Luna watched it go, her legs shaking. She’d been in a moving wheelhouse before, but this was different. This was bigger. Heavier.

Pinkie Pie came bouncing along and plopped down beside her. Her smile faded. “Hey, are you okay?”

“I’ll be alright.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve simply never been on a train before; it feels most strange.”

Cautious at first, Pinkie looked toward the others. Fluttershy seemed to be keeping Dash occupied, and it looked like Applejack was having a word with Rarity about her embarrassing her earlier, by tricking her into an open display of affection. Not that Pinkie Pie saw why that was so bad. Though, she did realize her trepidation over this now saw her making sure none of their friends noticed her hoof move onto Luna’s. “Hey. Is it like, the rumbling?”

Luna’s eyes stayed fixated on the landscape passing by the window. “Being in a room that starts rumbling has usually never ended well, certainly.”

“Yeah, but that’s not all there is to it, is there?”

Luna’s head sluggishly came around. She finally noticed her hoof being held, but decided not to move it. Their eyes met. “No, I suppose it’s a touch more complicated.”

“Would you like to talk about it?” she asked, though something told her she had a good idea of what this was about. So she also offered: “Or would you prefer a distraction?”

After a moment’s deliberation, Luna placed her hoof on top of Pinkie’s. “I’d say it might be fairly obvious to us all as to why I’m nervous. So a distraction won’t hurt.”

“Well, you did promise me to recite your poem for me.” Pinkie gave her a great big warm smile.

There was something so disarming about that smile of hers, infectious too. “It’s true that it’s done, but here? Now?”

“No, it doesn’t have to be.” She hopped up from her seat, offering for Luna to take her hoof. “Come with me.”

Luna thought about it for all of half a second before getting up and giving up her hoof to her. “Alright, let’s go.”

Pinkie led her along, skipping so high on her heels, Luna almost struggled to keep up with her. She felt the curious gaze of strangers in the cars they passed through, one then the other, and one more for good measure. They kept going until they’d reached the end of the end; the final cart. A large sliding door came to block their path.

“What is this?” asked Luna with uncertainty.

“There’s a balcony on the caboose.” Pinkie grabbed onto a verticle bar.

“Won’t the wind muss up our hair?” Luna pat down her light blue locks preemptively.

“Rarity brought some supplies, it’ll be fine.” She bounced her springy, messy mane. “Besides, unlike you, there’s probably no fixing this.”

Luna brushed some of it out of the way of Pinkie’s bright blue eye. She looked at those blinking eyes. “I happen to like your mane. I also happen to like you.”

Pinkie’s cheeks felt warm. Turning, she took the bar into hoof again. “Anyway, we’ll be all alone out here, and we can worry about hair later.”

Once she opened the door, however, they saw two other passengers. One was a bulky stallion with a clydesdale’s coat of dark blue. The other was a petite griffon who appeared to be a mashup of a bluejay and a jaguar. He was knelt before her, and in the middle of saying: “So I wanted to tell ya, Viola, these past few years have made me so happy.”

“Cobalt, w-what are you doing?” She watched him produce a tiny box. When it popped open, there was a silver ring. “Is that what I think it is?”

“It is, V.” he announced proudly. “Using your claw last week as an approximation measurement for a horn ring, well there was no client--it was a ruse. I made this ring for you myself.”

“Ah, oh my gosh. A-are we even allowed to get married, the two of us?” Around that time, as she was putting her claws up to her cheeks, she noticed two very surprised mares out of the corner of her eye. “Coby? We’re not alone anymore.”

“We can come back later.” said Pinkie with a nervous smile, slowly sliding the door back.

He shut the little box, mouth tight. “We’re sorry if you two wanted some… air?” As he trailed off, the spark of recognition ignited in his eye. “Sun and moon above, you’re Luna. And, why, that must be one of the friends who helped you defeat Nightmare Moon.”

“That would be me.” she admitted. “This is my dear friend, Pinkie Pie. We’re both so sorry to have intruded, it looked like you were having a private moment.”

“Oh, it’s alright, we’ll be gone in just a m--”

“Yes.” interrupted Viola.

“Sorry,” he said, turning back to her, surprise continuing, “what was that?”

“I don’t care if your local heroes witness, and I don’t care if I’m technically not allowed.” She cupped either side of his pronounced jaw. “You’ve made so happy too, Coby. I do want to marry you.”

A huge grin grew across his face, like he was holding back a sheepish chuckle. “Well I’ll be.”

She took the little box from him, to put the ring upon her claw, and held it against her white feathered chest. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He took her by the claw and started into the cart, out of the rushing wind. “Let’s go to the dining cart and buy everyone a round of seltzer to celebrate!”

“Yes!” she said, squeezing past Luna and Pinkie. “Excuse us. It was nice meeting you two.”

“Rightly so.” he added, with a light little laugh. “Sorry it wasn’t under less awkward circumstance.”

“Fugget about it.” mused Pinkie, waving them off. “It was beautiful to witness.”

“Indeed.” added Luna with a pleasant smile. “We’d like to wish you two the best.”

The two thanked them so much and ran off into a new life together. At the far end of the cart, they opened up to the next one, and closed it behind them.

“Well that sure happened.” jeered Pinkie after a pause.

“Aw, I think it was sweet.” She ushered the way out onto the balcony, and closed the door behind them. They were alone at last.

Off in the distance, beyond the disappearing railway tracks, the sun was sinking into the horizon as the train climbed up and round the mountain. Winds swept up the side and tussled their hair, fighting with the breeze created by being in motion. With the fields, and the trees, Ponyville was blinking out of sight. Luna propped onto the railing to watch it go, glancing over at sister’s setting sun.

Pinkie set up beside her. “Isn’t this nice? Just look at those clouds.”

“They’re pink and airy, just like you.” Luna shared a smile with her. They were quiet, just like that for a long while.

Then a shadow swallowed them up, and the light escaped in the other way.

“Huh, looks like we’re in a tunnel.” After her eyes started to adjust, the lanterns on the back end, just above the door proved enough. She could make out Pinkie still looking cheery as ever.

“It seems less windy in here.” she told her. “Why don’t you tell me your poem now?”

Luna looked out as the wall of light shrank away, and disappeared beyond a curve in the tunnel. She took a deep breath. “Alright then. Just for you.”

---

There stands a statue alone in the garden.

Lillies sway in the morning sun,

And the summer rose offers her love.

When the fillies dance and prance for fun,

Their guardian watches from up above.

The statue’s cracked, left with no warden.

On storm clouds roll the haunting dream,

And with it, the bitter, chilling wind.

With summer past, at last they seem,

Like all good things that come to end.

Angels are gone and those who adore them.

Leaves die and fall upon us.

Stone is left to crumble away.

And surely these things are just.

Yet here at the end of the day,

We’re night-lurkers only, and those who abhor them…

O, Harbinger of light, grant us mercy,

That we might take flight, free of heresy.

---

With a newfound rush of air, the light returned all around. The exit of the tunnel rushed away from them, and with it, its inky dark oppression. Out here, the air was fresher; it was the scent of the countryside, and not the cold, dark, damp of cavern stone. Reverent stalks of golden wheat bowed to them as they passed along.

“Wow,” said Pinkie after a moment, wanting to give Luna time to breathe, “that seemed a little heavy. Thank you for trusting me enough to share.”

Luna watched the wheat. It almost felt like if she leaned over far enough, she could reach out and feel it rush by. “I can’t think of a better pony, because… truth be told, I actually rather hate it.”

Head reeling back, Pinkie gaped at her. “Whaaaaaat? No way, it was nice!”

“It’s dreck.” laughed Luna with a nervous little shrug. “The rhythm feels quite inconsistent, and the motifs are so… on the nose? It’s too obvious.”

“Lunaaaaa,” whined Pinkie, resting her hoof on her taller shoulder, “girl, it is literally your first ever poem. They’ll get better.”

“We shall see.” Luna was less convinced. But she perked up when Pinkie replaced that hoof on her shoulder with her head.

“Besides,” insisted Pinkie, “sometimes when we struggle to put things into words, getting blunt and obvious can help us work through them.”

Mindful of her cute hat, Luna leaned on her as well. “I suppose you’re right, dear.”

In Pinkie’s head, words were forming. It took her a moment for her flustered little mind to put them into a good order she felt satisfied with. She began on: “I’ve been thinking…”

“Oh?” Luna lifted her head back up and looked down at her nervous face.

“I’ve always had this sort of ‘Pinkie sense,’ you see.” Pinkie stared down at her fiddling hooves curved just over the railing. “You saw a little of it the day we first met, how sometimes things I need just sort of come my way.”

“You do have this uncanny perception.” admitted Luna. “I’ve seen you hop over obstacles you can’t see; it’s actually very impressive.”

“Yeah, exactly.” They passed over a bridge, and Pinkie gazed down into the narrow chasm. Was it the height that flipped her stomach like a pancake?

“What about it?”

She took a breath. The chasm was gone. “I’ve just been thinking that, well, you are a very wonderful mare, right, and it’s been…” Had there been a rag between her hooves, it would surely be wringing up into knots. “It’s been so nice getting to know you.”

Luna gulped, a realization about where this might be going warming up her face. “I’ve enjoyed it too. This has been one of the best summers I can recall, thanks to you.”

That sent a shiver down Pinkie’s spine. “M-maybe then, it was my sense that led me to finding you that day. Like, I dunno, maybe this was something…” She peered up into those skittish-seeming eyes. “Something we both needed? Does that make any sense?”

Luna nodded slowly. “It does. It makes a whole lot of sense.”

“You’re beautiful!” blurted Pinkie, her cheeks filling out with color. “Sorry, was that too much? Ugh, I’m so not used to this.”

Luna’s chuckle was deep, rasping up through her throat. Her cheeks too grew dark--dark like the warm and humid summer nights they were leaving behind. “No, it’s okay. You’ve been a wonderful delight in my life, and made me so happy.”

Pinkie felt the beat of her heart through her whole body. The thudding seemed to drown out the winds, the train, even her every thought. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she found herself lifting her own chin. Briefly, she paused to gauge if maybe she should stop?

Heavy breath fell through the tiniest opening between Luna’s lips. The wind picked at a few locks from her bangs, so she reached up to try and brush it back. When she did, she found her face getting lower. Unsure if she was confused, she lowered it further. And then their lips softly pressed together for the briefest of moments. Her ears flickered, and a little of that confusion seemed to go away.

After their petite peck, Pinkie, starry-eyed, said: “Wow. Um. Okay. Y-yeah.”

“Right.” agreed Luna. Her nerves were tingling. But her hoof seemed to move all on its own; it cupped Pinkie’s cheek and pulled. She pressed her lips onto Pinkie’s a second time, softly, carefully, gingerly like one might handle a delicate, budding flower.

Pinkie’s reactive giggle was punctuated with a squeaky hiccup. “Are uh, I mean, well, does this mean… are we girlfriends now?”

Corners of her mouth curling into a tender smile, Luna giggled and told her: “I’m not sure. Would you like to be girlfriends?”

“Yes.” said Pinkie with no hesitation.

“Then I guess it’s official.”

Grinning ear to ear, the two of them held each other by the hoof and leaned across the railing to watch the sunset go by. They stayed just like this, off on their own for some time. Later, Rarity was very cross about having to fix their hair, but asked no questions. Not that she’d get any answers, as a lady does not kiss and tell.

---

With the fall of the sun came the rise of the moon, to glower over the onion dome towers of Canterlot castle. Five grown fillies and a mare more ancient than she seemed, all nicely dressed, hopped out of a cab carriage to ogle before the gilded gates that rose before them. Brass poles lined the velvet cords to create the waiting queue. And every passing moment among the clamor and glamor built anticipation.

When at last their group had reached the front, they leapt for joy. One after the other, the fillies passed by one of the guards keeping the entrance. From pockets and folds, they presented luminescent tickets of bronzeish hue, and were allowed entry without recourse.

It came time for the mare to follow suit. With a chipper look, Luna reached into the pocket on the inside of her toga. Immediately, her smile began to fade.

“Ma’am?” asked the stout stallion in light armor. “Your ticket?”

“One moment, I’m sure it’s here.” Luna began feeling every fold and lining. She’d been through so many fittings for this ensemble, she knew them well.

Her friend group paused, worried looks casting among them. First to break away and push through eager ponies was Pinkie. On the other side, she stood. “Luna, what’s going on?”

“I’m so embarrassed.” she said, struggling to maintain a bright demeanor. “I seem to have misplaced my gala ticket.”

Pinkie bit her lip. “Well… if you can’t come in, I’ll come back out.”

As Pinkie took a step forth back across the precipice, Luna told her: “I-it’s fine. I can pop back home and--”

“Look, lady,” interrupted the guard, “you’re holding up the line. I’m sorry, but you’re gonna have to step aside.”

A hoof politely rested on Pinkie’s shoulder. Gently excusing himself as he got out in front of Luna’s friends was a tall, alabaster unicorn all knew of. He wore a purple enameled armor set, with a gilded trim. “What goes on, friend?”

“Captain Armor.” stammered the guard. “Sorry for the holdup, but this lady here doesn’t have a ticket.”

“Shining?” questioned Luna.

He stepped forth and gave her a wink before resting one hoof on this guardsman’s shoulder. “Now listen, I want you to know you’re doing a fine job, and I’m not mad at you. But take a closer look at ‘this lady here.’ Does she maybe look a little familiar?”

He gulped, a single bead of sweat forming under his kettle helm. “I don’t… maybe? She is very pretty.”

“Uh, thank you?” droned Luna.

“Buddy,” said Shining with a churlish grin, “have you uh, ever had a shift in the royal hall? With all the stained glass?”

“I have not.” he told the highest ranking member of the queensguard. “No.”

Shin laughed through gritted teeth. “Well, this is Luna, okay? The queen’s sister?”

“Oh.” he said very quietly. One could almost hear the thunk of his sinking heart landing into the newfound pit of his stomach. “Oh no.”

“Soooo,” said Shin with the most quirked of brows, “I’m gonna just go ahead and escort her inside.” He firmly pat him across the back a few times. “No harm done there, friend. You were just trying to do your job.” He turned to go and added: “Come along, Luna.”

Relieved, Luna trotted along with him over to her friends. She felt no ill-will toward this colt, and almost felt bad when his compatriots started snickering at him between taking tickets. So she hopped back over. “Hey, you weren’t really in the wrong. I’m sorry I caused you so much trouble, and I hope your night gets better from here.”

“Oh.” he said, somewhat taken aback. “Thanks.” She left and he returned his attention to the line of waiting guests.

“Ladies, please, think nothing of it.” Shin chuckled and told them: “Honestly, I was trying to give him a chance to figure it out on his own. She has been gone a long time.” Finally, he saw Luna catch up to him and her friends. And thankful praise over, they all flocked around her. He strode on up to her, prettily as he pleased. “Long time no see, oh mare of the moon.”

“Shin.” she greeted with a very cheeky smile. She looked at his haunch and said: “I see you’re wearing the same sword you almost killed me with.”

He snorted outward a very nervous laugh. “Ha, okay, no, I deserve that.”

“I’m teasing.” Luna waved her hoof dismissively, a vicious gleam in her eye as she added: “As if you could.”

His mouth hung agape as he waited for her friends to simmer back down. Especially the pink one, she was cackling like a witch. “Know what, I changed my mind. I like you, Luna.”

“Kidding aside, I do want to thank you for having my back just now.” She deflated somewhat. “I really am terribly embarrassed I lost my ticket. And after I made all my friends show me that they had theirs, too.”

He came over and nudged her shoulder. He made sure to use the back of his hoof, though; he didn’t want to mess up her nice dress. “Hey, we all make mistakes; you’re only equine. Why, some of us even make the mistake of thinking sad mares are still monsters, and attack them on sight, instead of listening to reason.”

A smile overcame her at his sheepish, pleading look. “Were I in your position, I cannot say I wouldn’t have done the same.”

“No hard feelings, then?” He perked up from his sad puppy look.

“Consider it water under the bridge.” She met him halfway and the two shook on it. Underlying it was a lingering sense of competition, though, as their muscles tensed up; each tried to dominate the shake, and neither let up.

Once they’d calmed back down, he went ahead and escorted them through the courtyard up to the castle proper. Ushering them into the foyer, just outside the main hall, he said: “It was nice meeting your friends here, but I’ve got a few more rounds to make. You gals enjoy the gala, eh?”

Pinkie snickered and leaned over to Luna to whisper: “I changed my mind too, I like him.”

He opened a side door to find a pegasus guard munching on something. “Ruby, what are you doing?”

Shyly, she gulped and muttered: “Uh, checking the catering for poison?”

He rolled his eyes and disappeared with her. This left them to their own devices. Through the foyer, at the far end of the forward path, embossed into the wall were tall double mahogany doors. Through three sets, the gala guests ambled onward. But it was the center set that got all the love, as another queue formed shortly beyond it. The line stretched all the way from the doors to the primary stairway.

Author's Note:

<== To be continued.
This isn't the conclusion, my scenes just keep going longer than I planned. Also the subtitle for this chapter is Evergreen, because there's just so much pining!

Fun fact: in my original draft, I'd created this new, haggard unicorn guard to yell at the ticket taker. She had a couple scars and a sour demeanor. I reconsidered though and felt it would be a good place for Shining Armor to interact with the narrative just a tiny bit more; he made the overall tone more palatable and gave a little bit of a sense of resolution, what with his "sorry we tried to kill each other" bit with Luna. But I'll never forget you, unnamed cool as heck battle-scarred unicorn lady...

Comments

[Venerable Ro]

But I'll never forget you, unnamed cool as heck battle-scarred unicorn lady...

Well there's always more need for OCs, I'm sure she'll show up sooner or later.

[Professor Donger]

9783509
Moon Pie

[JDunk1971]

9783726

I thought a MoonPie had a marshmallow fluff filling...

[DavisSentoV5]

That poem Luna read to Pinkie was beautiful, I am so glad that they are now officially a couple!

Also, I really wish you had used that OC Pegasus Pony, instead of Shining. She sounds badass and an interesting character to explore.

[Saturni_Rose]

9783812
Let's be real, with Pinkie's frankly terrible diet, she's probably filled with enough marshmallow for the two of them. Ha.
9783456
9784054
Heheh ok I'll try and flesh out the concept and find a role for her. Then maybe she'll get a bigger one in the sequel.

[JDunk1971]

9784156
Oh, I'm referring to a different kind of... marshmallow... in a sandwich between Pinkie and Luna.

[Saturni_Rose]

9784159
Oh I figured you might be which is why I thought it'd be funny to sandbag the bit by purposely going off a very innocent interpretation. :^)

[DavisSentoV5]

9784156
Save her for the sequel!