The Reader

by GnollReader

Chapter 69: The Gala

"What is Scar supposed to do?" the gnoll whispered to Purple Haze. Before him lay a plate on another bigger plate with a tiny bowl of salad on top, well enough. But around the plates countless forks, spoons, glasses of all shapes and sizes and other items lay arranged in perfect order. Scar couldn't make heads or tail of it, was he supposed to use all of them?

Purple Haze wasn't so sure herself, attending dinners with more than one set of cutlery was new to her too. Luckily she remembered a few lessons and general rules of etiquette, "I think you're supposed start from the outside." she pointed to a small fork.

Scar looked at the tiny object with skepticism, the fork was no bigger than one of his fingers. "Why can't it use hands?" he whispered to Purple Haze who was currently fidgeting with her own fork.

"Because it's impolite." she stated, "Just try okay? I'm not enjoying this either."

The gnoll gave a grunt and carefully reached out to the fork. As delicately as possible he picked it up between a finger and a thumb, it felt like he was handling one of Rarity's needles. Being sure he wouldn't drop it he carefully stuck it into the salad bowl and lifted it up again. Two little salad leaves were stuck to it.

He eyed the morsel with suspicion but brought it to his mouth anyway. It tasted interesting but he could barely feel it in his mouth. Scar looked around himself, the nobles all seemed content with their food. A thought crossed his mind. He leaned down to Purple Haze, "High ponies always eat like this?" he whispered to her.

She eyed the little salad with as much of dismay as he was, "The nobles? I guess..."

The gnoll scratched his head, "Gnoll doesn't understand..."

"What?" she said between bites.

Scar scanned the room another time, no matter how many times he thought about it he couldn't explain it to himself. "If this is how high ponies eat how can high ponies grow so fat?"

Purple Haze nearly choked on her salad at his words. She was barely able to hold in her salad as a snort escaped her nose. Behind them a guard couldn't help but giggle. The gnoll stabbed another piece of salad on his fork, "Is silly..." he whispered to her, "If Scar had to pick up every leaf of salad like this gnoll would starve!" he munched on his salad absent-mindedly, "Makes no sense... How can ponies..." he stopped. "Uhm... Purple Haze?"

"What is it now?" she whispered back to him.

"Scar just ate its fork."

---

Two more forks, one spoon and half a glass later the meal was finally finished. Scar grumbled to himself as the last plate was removed from the table. How the nobles didn't starve with meals like this was a thing he would probably never comprehend. He looked over the ponies, they seemed to be expecting something. What were they waiting for?

Scar followed their eyes as a curtain was drawn up. Behind it stood a large group of ponies with strange objects in their hoofs. Just as he was about to ask Purple Haze what was going on though, a sound reached his ears and the gnoll froze.

A single note carried its way through the air, beautiful and serene. Never before had he heard such a beautiful sound. And then, like the wind rising on a quiet summer day, the note was joined by countless others. The orchestra started to play, and the gnoll listened.

It sounded so pure, so lovely... How had he been unaware that the ponies could do something like this? He closed his eye and strained his ears. Every note, every instrument, every sway in the tune and every change in the rhythm... He could hear it all, and it was majestic. With every song they played he felt his troubled mind soothed, his aching heart healed. And as the music continued he could feel the ghosts of his past rest for the first time in what felt like an eternity. He felt peace.

Purple Haze watched the gnoll's expression with fascination. She had never seen his features so relaxed. He barely moved, only his ears twitched from time to time as the orchestra changed its tempo. But as peaceful as he looked, she couldn't help but feel that there was also a sadness in his features she had not seen before.

---

When the last song had been played the halls of the castle were filled with sound of applause and the clapping of many pony hoofs. Above the ponies' applause the clapping of the gnoll's hand could be heard as he slapped his hands together furiously to acknowledge their work. Once he had almost started to howl to the music, but he didn't want to spoil the moment so he had restrained himself. Right now he was wondering if he could learn to make music like this too. If the ponies could do it with hoofs then surely he would be able to do it with his hands.

When the applause had finally subsided both Celestia and Luna stood up to address their guests. "Honored guests." Celestia started, "I am happy to see all of you enjoy this evening. It fills my heart with joy to see all of you well and happy." her eyes passed over the elements of harmony as well as over the gnoll and Purple Haze.

"Much has been accomplished this year, so much more than we could ever have dreamed possible." Luna continued, "We have made new friends, and our friendship has grown." she smiled at the gnoll, "New life is on its way." she nodded to Cadance and Shining Armor, "And old values have prevailed." she smiled at the elements.

Celestia continued, "And even more has happened. The dark king has finally been defeated, and we are gathered here today to honor the heroes who have made this possible." she turned to Purple Haze and Scar. Scar looked around himself uncertain, was she talking about him? "We thank you Scar, for all you have done for us. May your summers be warm." both sisters bowed their heads before Scar. There was a short murmur in the crowd, but the other ponies followed suit and bowed their heads before him.

The gesture was a surprise to him, the wishing of a warm summer was an old custom the gnolls practiced to show their respect. How did they know it? He would have to ask Celestia about this later, but for now there was no need to be impolite. He bowed his head in turn, trying his best to repeat the greeting in their language. "Scar wishes you warm summer too."

The princesses raised their heads again, a warm smile on their lips. They turned to Purple Haze, she was already starting to turn red. She had never liked standing in the spotlight. Luna spoke up, "And we thank you too, captain Purple Haze. May your journeys always be safe, Air Marshal Purple Haze."

"Hear hear!" the guards emitted in a chorus as both the princesses and the nobles bowed their heads before Purple Haze as well. Purple Haze's head was swimming, had she heard correctly? Was she dreaming? Had it always been so hot in here? She found it hard to breath.

"M-m-marshal?..." she stammered before fainting on the spot.

Comments

[Mother3Forever]

....Squee. ALL of my SQUEE.

[Themaskedferret]

*Laughs* Very cute. Small typo New live is on its way. - should be life or lives.

[NOLA_Paul]

2214311

[GnollReader]

2214341 thank you ^^

[Pupsrus13]

I'm kinda surprised Purple Haze didn't hit the floor after that.

Then again, she's made friends with a gnoll who wields a talking hammer, so I suppose she's made of sterner stuff than that.

[stavaros-the-arcane]

"If this is how high ponies eat how can high ponies grow so fat?"

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA oh that is funny, I don't think scar could possibly top that...

"Scar just ate its fork."

*Collapses on floor giggling*

Scar and fine dining is a hilarious comedy of errors.

[Morphy]

"Scar just ate its fork."

Ok, I lost here. Completely. I'm gonna have the giggles ALL day because of you.

[Dolan]

I feel bad for doing this but it has to be done, *ehem*
CHAPTER 69 LOLZ

sorry

[Lucky424]

For fork sake Scar, stop eating the cutlery!!!

[GordonFreebrony]

2230563
Think about it.... Scar got forked in chapter 69........
Oh, gods, did I really just make that joke?

[Laughing Jack]

2529425 Just don't go GLASSY when you also remember about him SPOONing...
Why... Why did I go there as well...

[Truthseeker]

3381237 Just remember that spooning leads to forking... and depending on the sobriety of the partners, perhaps to knifing the next morning.

[Mr Swanky Hat]

"M-m-marshal?..." she stammered before fainting on the spot.

outstanding military bearing there haze

[Hipparcos]

7726074
To be fair, this is decidedly NOT standard procedure.