When given tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala, Sunset is less than enthused and tries to convince her friends not to go.
After the events of the Summer Sun Celebration, Sunset is adjusting fairly well to Ponyville life. Somethings are way more difficult to get used to than she originally thought but has her friends. When Sunset is given six tickets to the grand galloping gala, she is less than enthused but her friends don't understand why she hates the gala but will quickly find out why.
Sunset sighed as she sat at her desk before she looked out the window, eyes widening as she dropped to her stomach and the window shattered as a baseball flew through the window.
“If one more damn baseball flies through that window, I’m going to your parents and you’re getting your ass kicked!” Sunset shouted down at the fleeing colts as one dropped his baseball bat and Sunset shook a hoof at them. “Damn kids.”
“Want me to go get em?” Silverspeed asked and poked her head in as Sunset sighed and shook her head.
“No just let them go,” Sunset sighed as she levitated the shattered glass and dropped it in a nearby trash can before levitating the baseball to her ever growing collection on the coffee table in her office.
Whoever decided to build a baseball diamond next to her house was her worst enemy.
“You got it,” Silverspeed shrugged as she retreated back to her own office she had been given, idly cleaning her helmet with a rag.
A envelope popped out of thin air and dropped onto Sunset’s desk as she curiously examined the royal seal on it as six tickets dropped out of it once she cut it open.
“Oh fuck my life.”
Shoeshine spread out the blanket on a hill overlooking Ponyville as Roseluck rested under a tree with her forelegs behind used as a blanket.
“Carrot Top really went in this week. We should do something nice for her,” Derpy mused as she helped Shoeshine set up their impromptu lunch they all had every week on the same hill.
“We can think of something,” Shoeshine answered as she waved at Sunset and Silverspeed trotting up the hill as the two were talking to Trixie and the three laughed at something. Sunset had a white envelope with a gold seal on as Shoeshine tilted her head to the side curiously.
“Hey,” Sunset said with a smile as she and the others sat down on the grass. “How’s everypony?”
“Pretty good and yourself?” Derpy asked as she shook Roseluck awake. “Wake up Rose, the others are here.”
“Mh hi girls,” Roseluck stretched out her hindlegs before flopping back down. “I’m okay.”
“What’s that?” Derpy asked and pointed a hoof to the envelope Sunset flung onto the red checkered blanket as she passed out sandwiches to her friends.
“Tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala from Celestia,” Sunset answered with a faint growl as she bit into her sandwich and Roseluck’s head shot up.
“Like the Grand Galloping Gala?” Roseluck asked as she sipped her tea she had brought. “One happens every year at the Palace?”
“All of the most important ponies in Equestria go to?” Trixie added with a head tilt.
“Yep that’s the one,” Sunset agreed as she inhaled her daisy and carrot sandwich.
“Awesome!” Trixie cheered as she pumped a hoof eagerly.
“Not awesome. The Gala is dumb as fuck,” Sunset grunted as Trixie chuckled. Ever since Trixie had made up the words fuck and hell, the six mares had opted to keep them as an inside joke between them all. “Dealing with a bunch of stuffy elites, having to go just because I’m the Princess’ flutter is bullshit. Princess Luna already refused to go. I hate the damn Gala.”
“Trixie loves the Gala. She’s been there twice!” Trixie boasted as she stood on her hind legs. “Ponies adoring my tricks, throwing bits my way and compliments, adoring me in general. There’s alcohol, mares and stallions alike and music!”
All the mares hung on to the magicians every word as Sunset rolled her eyes as she silently drank some water. Trixie finished waving her hooves around and sat back down.
“Here’s your tickets,” Sunset levitated the tickets over to the other five mares. “Have fun, I’m not going. Give my ticket to Silver Spoon or Dinky.”
“Why don’t you wanna go? The six of us could have some fun and hit the town,” Silverspeed pointed out as she stretched her wings. “Besides, Silver Spoon goes to the Gala every year due to our parents, she doesn’t need a ticket. I’ve never been.”
“I don’t know if I can go. Raindrops got invited by a friend and can’t watch the kids,” Derpy traced a circle in the dirt. “Sorry girls.”
“What about Sea Swirl?” Trixie suggested as she laid on her back, idly playing with some cards. “She loves your kids and has no plans I think. I overheard her telling Sprinkle Medley she was gonna watch movies with Sassaflash.”
“I suppose but aren’t those really fancy parties? I’m not a fancy pony, I’ll probably crash into somepony and get yelled at,” Derpy muttered as she touched her eye subconsciously.
“Then we will jump em!” Shoeshine proclaimed and stood on her hind legs, punching at the sky with her forelegs as the others laughed.
“Wait, Raindrops is going? She didn’t mention that!” Trixie said as she cracked her neck. “Weird.”
“So are you gonna come with? It’ll be fun,” Roseluck bounded over to Sunset with a smirk. “At least for us, not the stuffy elites.”
“Fine,” Sunset sighed as the others nodded contently. “But if I see Blueblood and he’s being a bitch, don’t hold me responsible for cutting his tail off again and setting his suit on fire.”
“Wait again?” Silverspeed asked as Sunset nodded.
“Again.”
“Okay, now that’s a story I wanna hear!” Roseluck said with a grin. “Do tell.”
“Maybe later but now I gotta get a dress which is annoying as heck,” Sunset grumbled under her breath.
“I forgot about that. I’ll just buy whatever Rarity has on the shelf, I don’t care,” Shoeshine shrugged as Derpy looked away.
“I’m not going. We uh can’t afford a dress for a one night occasion,” Derpy blushed as the other mares looked to each other.
“We will buy you one, no biggie,” Roseluck decided as the others nodded. “And don’t even bother arguing because you can’t change my mind, deal?”
Derpy gave a frustrated grunt as she continued eating. Once Roseluck made up her mind, there was absolutely no stopping her and the grey pegasus could see this was one of those times.
Sunset gave a sigh as she set down her water and listened to her friends talk about their work and Roseluck hoping to sell some flowers at the Gala.
Silverspeed and Roseluck shot Sunset a glance as the unicorn continued reading the thick folder of papers sitting on her desk.
“Like look at this!” Sunset shouted and flung her forelegs out towards the mares on her couch in her office. “Why in Equestria is the mayor of Dodge Junction writing to me about clouds from Ponyville? Dodge Junction is hours away! Not my bucking problem!”
“That stallion is always complaining about Ponyville and it’s weather teams,” Roseluck commented as she stared into her coffee mug. “Sassaflash and Dizzy Twister are always complaining about him. If I remember correctly, they both placed thunderclouds over his home once and flooded it in revenge one year.”
“I remember that,” Silverspeed said and she leaned back on her cushion. “He was mad mad but he was a annoying to begin with.”
Sunset opened her mouth as the three mares paused at a loud snicker coming from inside the room and Sunset looked around as they heard the noise again and Sunset looked under her desk before the three looked up at the ceiling as Trixie waved.
“Can I help you?” Sunset asked flatly as she raised an eyebrow.
“Oh you know, just hanging around,” Trixie smirked as Roseluck and Silverspeed laughed and Sunset snorted before rolling her eyes.
“I see. And how the hell did you get yourself stuck to my ceiling?” Sunset continued as Trixie shrugged.
“Spell gone wrong. Trixie tried to teleport and got herself stuck up here. Hey, is that your paycheck?”
Sunset hastily covered up the paper with her hooves and glared up at Trixie.
“Yes it is now don’t look at how much I make.”
“Trixie makes more than that,” Trixie commented as she shifted her weight. “Your office looks cool from up here. Have you ever seen it from this angle?”
“No because I’ve never been inclined to get myself stuck magically to the ceiling before,” Sunset shot back with a grin. “Where’s Shoeshine and Derpy?”
“Shoeshine is helping Derpy look at dresses for the Gala at Rarity’s. We offered to go but Derpy said she would get overwhelmed with all the attention so we came to hang out here. I walked in and Trixie well, did what Trixie did,” Roseluck explained and gestured up at the ceiling. “How’s it going up there?”
“Oh just grand.”
“I still don’t know why you girls want to go to the Gala. It’s the most boring party ever,” Sunset said as she reclined in her chair. “The only upside is the alcohol and even then, it’s very shitty alcohol to not get the elites too drunk.”
“Why not?” Silverspeed offered with a warm smile. “I can guarantee you right now I’ll get drunk no matter what. I’ll sneak in some alcohol for us. Why are you so worried?”
“I just hope Twilight isn’t there,” Sunset confessed as they gave her confused looks. “My enemy. We hate each other with a burning passion.”
“Uh why?” Roseluck asked as she set down her coffee. “What did she do?”
“Breath damnit!” Sunset shouted as she inhaled. “She’s my rival. She’s always been out for my spot as Celestia’s student. We’ve always been at each other’s throats for as long as I can remember. Therefore, she is my enemy and I hate her guts.”
“I think I know of her. Her brother is a Royal Guard, right?” Silverspeed asked curiously and Sunset nodded.
“Yeah Shining Armor.”
“Rumor in the academy is he’s dating Princess Cadence,” Silverspeed said casually as Sunset snorted and the other mares laughed.
“That’s not a rumor, that’s a fact to everypony except Twilight who’s somehow oblivious to it,” Sunset rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh. “I trotted in on them sucking face once. It was disgusting as hell. Immediately went and tried to drown the memory with alcohol.”
“You really like your alcohol,” Roseluck noted
“Not often.”
Silverspeed made a face and scoffed as Sunset shot her look that screamed don’t say a word.
“She has a secret safe full of bourbon, whiskey and vodka in her room.”
“Silverspeed!” Sunset hissed as Roseluck and Trixie both raised eyebrows. “I do not!”
“Yes you do, you asked me to bring some more and gave me the bits after a really long day of meetings with the mayor and the weather team.”
“Trixie is very interested in finding this safe. It is now her life goal,” Trixie commented from the ceiling. “Trixie thinks she might sleep up here, very comfy.”
“No you’re not,” Sunset grumbled and glared up at the unicorn. “You get down right now.”
“Help Trixie then.”
“You got yourself up there!”
Sunset rolled her eyes and pulled Trixie from the ceiling and the mare fell into her lap and the two turned red, shoving each other off.
“Please never speak of that again,” Trixie begged as the others made zipping motions over their mouths. “Thanks.”
“You honestly wouldn’t let Trixie sleep here?” Roseluck gave Sunset a stunned look. “Why not? What about the rest of us?”
“I technically already live here,” Silverspeed interjected with a raised hoof.
“I never said she couldn’t. Just not on the ceiling of my office! The couch is a pull out bed and I have a spare room as well as the two bedrooms that Silverspeed and I claimed.”
“Trixie prefers her wagon. It’s her home,” Trixie said as she cracked her back. “While it’s been real, she should get home. It’s late.”
“Yeah same here,” Roseluck glanced at the clock and stood up. “See you girls later?”
Sunset gave a nod as the two trotted out of the office and out of the main door as Sunset listened to it thud shut quietly.
“What about you?” Sunset asked and glanced over at Silverspeed as the pegasus paused the preening of her wings. “Won’t Silver Spoon need you at home and who in Equestria are you preening your wings for?”
“Nah Silver has the staff at the mansion so I can stay at my post and why for you of course dear Sunset,” Silverspeed commented and batted her eyelashes as the mares snickered. “All part of my elaborate plot to confess my love for and then take you to bed.”
“I see,” Sunset laughed and smiled slightly. “It’s working.”
“Good,” Silverspeed grinned as she went back to preening her wings. “In all actuality, I just like my wings to be in perfect shape. It’s not for anypony at all other than me. I fly constantly unless I’m with you or the others and even then I’m always hovering.”
“I see. I always wondered what it was like to fly,” Sunset said as she levitated some papers into a filing cabinet and shut it. “Must be nice.”
“It has it’s perk and downsides. Feather flu is pretty painful,” Silverspeed grimaced and focused on her left wing. “I had it once. Stuck in the hospital crying because it got so bad. Had to walk everywhere until my wings healed.”
Sunset winced at that and started cleaning up her desk. That was probably another upside to not having wings, unicorns didn’t have anything like that to worry about.
“Where’s your parents?” Sunset asked curiously as Silverspeed tilted her head slightly before spitting a broken feather into a trash can.
“Wherever there’s bits to be made or a business to start,” Silverspeed answered and frowned. “I don’t see them often which is fine by me. They’re not entirely enthused I chose to go for military service and not follow in the family business like Silver Spoon clearly will. Mom’s name is Crystal Rose and Dad is Silver Shine.”
“Silver runs in the family, huh?” Sunset smirked at Silverspeed as the pegasus returned the gesture.
“You know it. Mom’s an pegasus like me and Dad’s an earth pony like Silver Spoon. What about you?”
“What about me?” Sunset asked as Silverspeed placed a hoof on her back.
“You know damn well what I mean. Ever wonder where your folks are?”
“No. They clearly didn’t want me so I don’t care about them. They could go die for all I care. They’re probably dead for all I know. The princess is the closest thing I’ve ever known to a family. I don’t care what happens to my biological parents,” Sunset said and Silverspeed gave her a doubtful look.
“Uh huh.”
“I’m serious Silvy. Need I remind you they abandoned on the castle door steps as a foal?” Sunset reminded the pegasus as Silverspeed gave her a quick hug. “Thanks Silvy.”
“Anytime. At least they wrapped you up in a blanket first?” Silverspeed offered weakly as Sunset shrugged in response. “Also, your aunt has been in my dreams for the past few nights. Sounds weird to say aloud.”
“I can imagine. Don’t worry, she visits my dreams too. It felt awkward at first like nothing was sacred anymore but I got used to it. Princess Luna visits the others too apparently according to Derpy and Trixie.”
“I bet. I’m gonna hit the hay unless there’s something else you need?” Silverspeed asked as she stood up and stretched out her hindlegs.
“No, thanks anyway. Go sleep and I’ll see you tomorrow. Sleep well Silvy.”
“You too Sunset,” Silverspeed waved a wing as she trotted to her room and shut the door behind her.
Sunset finished cleaning up before she left her office and shut the door behind her as she trotted to her room next to Silverspeed’s as the unicorn opened the door with her magic and locked it behind her as she fell backwards onto her bed and closed her eyes.
“Hello.”
Sunset’s eyes opened instantly and her horn glowed bright before she sighed and it quit glowing as Luna watched curiously from across the room.
“You should be careful. I almost killed you,” Sunset said as Luna gave a dry laugh.
“You can’t kill us though your concern is appreciated. We are here for our night lessons as we agreed unless thou are busy,” Luna said and Sunset shook her head.
“You’re fine, let’s get to work. Equestria has changed a lot in your absence and well, I did agree to help you learn about.”
“We thank you,” Luna bowed her head respectfully as Sunset shrugged.
“I will admit, I may not have offered months ago but my friends have had a bigger influence on me than I thought. Especially Shoeshine and Silverspeed. Now let’s get to work, we got a lot to cover.”
Nodding, Luna joined Sunset at her desk as the two started reading.
Sunset levitated the trash she and Princess Luna had made throughout the night during their studies, dumping it into a trash can before flopping back on her bed.
“I’m going to sleep!” Sunset called out to Silverspeed as the unicorn levitated the blanket over her and curled up into a ball. “Goodnight. Oh, I forgot Silverspeed was supposed to go to Rarity’s today with Roseluck. Oh well.”
Sunset closed the blinds with her magic and sighed contently as she fell asleep.
“Where’s Sunset?” Derpy asked as she and the five sat around a table at Sugarcube Corner, watching Pinkie drop a plate of muffins in front of them before racing off in a pink blur.
“Probably asleep. She was up late last night,” Silverspeed answered as she set down her coffee. “Remind me to sound proof her room.”
“What, you two that loud?” Shoeshine smirked as Trixie choked on her donut and Silverspeed turned red as Derpy and Roseluck hid their faces.
“It’s not like that between us and you know that. She and Princess Luna get pretty loud during their studies, especially when the princess gets frustrated. It’s hard to sleep some nights because of it.”
“Oh,” Shoeshine frowned at her tea. “I forgot that Luna visits Sunset every night. I kinda wish Sunset would let us help her sometimes. Damn mare is stubborn about her insisting she has to do everything by herself.”
“You know how she gets, always wanting to do stuff alone. She is surprisingly independent,” Derpy commented as she unwrapped a muffin. “I credit that to her upbringing though, she does take asking for help as an insult some days.”
Roseluck nodded as she examined her red velvet cupcake before taking a bite and the mare sighed.
“She’s like Daisy in that area. Daisy hates asking for help. The amount of times I’ve seen that mare dragging heavy items by herself and almost damaging our wood floor is insane. Her and Lily constantly fight over it all the time.”
“Hey, wanna hear a joke?” Trixie asked suddenly as she looked up from her book and the mares shrugged.
“Sure why not?” Derpy said as she placed her forelegs on the table.
“So you know Frosted Flakes, right?”
“Uh huh?”
“What do you call a mare with cum on her flanks?” Trixie asked as Derpy choked on her muffin and went red. Roseluck smacked her on the back as Shoeshine doubled over laughing as Silverspeed bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.
“Trixie!” Roseluck snapped after a moment as Derpy finished trying to get oxygen back in her lungs successfully. “That is not okay! We’re in Sugarcube Corner, this place is popular with kids!”
“And they’re all in school,” Trixie replied with an eyeroll and the blue unicorn grinned as she set her hooves on the ground. “Any guesses?”
“N-no,” Silverspeed answered after a moment to wipe the blood off her lip. “Damn, I was bleeding.”
“Frosted Flanks!”
There was a silence as the mares all processed the joke and Trixie grinned confidently as she counted down internally from five.
“That was the stupidest joke I ever heard but I love it,” Shoeshine chuckled as she shifted slightly on the chair.
“Agreed,” Roseluck commented with a faint smile as Derpy nodded and Silverspeed snickered.
“I personally thought it was funny but I’ve always had a strange sense of humor. You think Sunset would find it funny?” Silverspeed asked curiously as her ears flicked.
“Not sure. Sunset has a varying sense of humor,” Derpy said and tapped her chin with a hoof in thought. “I gotta go pick up Dinky from school, Sparkler is starting her job today at Coffee Cream’s coffee shop. See you girls around.”
“See ya,” Silverspeed waved a hoof as the mailmare paused at the doorway.
“Oh and you have a package at the post office from your parents Silverspeed,” Derpy said as her fellow pegasus groaned in frustration and nodded.
“Thanks.”
“We should be heading out soon. Rarity is super annoying about being on time,” Roseluck mused as she slapped some bits onto the fews Derpy had set down, with the other three adding their own bits to pay their bill. “What do you think about getting?”
“Whatever fits and works,” Silverspeed answered with a shrug. The pegasus wasn’t entirely fond of clothing or dresses like her filly sister was. Silverspeed did have a few dresses when her parents forced her and Silver Spoon to go to high end parties with their parents friends but that was about it. The only real form of clothing Silverspeed approved of was probably one dress, her dress uniform when she graduated West Hoof and armor when she was with other Guards. “Don’t really care much. And whatever is the cheapest. Guard pay isn’t uh the best.”
“Your parents don’t give you any money? Aren’t they like, super rich?” Trixie asked as Shoeshine kicked her under the table. “Ow!”
“Don’t be rude next time,” Shoeshine muttered so only Trixie could hear her.
“They are but I don’t use their bits. I want to buy stuff with my own bits, not my parents. Annoying fucks.”
“Damn,” Trixie whistled and Silverspeed glanced over at her. “You must really hate your parents.”
“Not hate. I don’t trust them. There’s a difference, just like how Sunset hates her biological parents. And they’re really annoying.”
None of them could really understand what it was like to hate their parents. All of them except Silverspeed talked to their parents. Even Trixie wrote the occasional letter to her dad back in Neigh Orleans.
Whether he would send one back was always up in the air but for the most part, the two kept in contact. They’ve never net any of Trixie’s family but based on stories from Trixie, they were all a bit unique to put it mildly.
“We really need to go,” Roseluck told Silverspeed as the four looked at the clock. “We’re pushing it as is and you know how the Cakes get about loiterers.”
The four nodded as they glanced quickly at a bored looking Mrs. Cake leaning against the counter where they knew she stored a bat in case of troublemakers.
“Yeah let’s go,” Silverspeed decided as she hastily stood up. “I’d rather not get whacked upside the head today.”
Shoeshine chuckled dryly as the four went their separate ways.
Roseluck trotted down the path to her front door where she and her sisters resided, a bag containing a dress that matched her mane and eyes on her back.
“Hey what took you?” Daisy asked as Roseluck opened the door and shut it gently behind her.
The older pink mare was sitting on her chair by the window, reading a crime novel as sounds of cooking came from the kitchen.
“Busy getting a dress, sorry. Who’s cooking?”
“Lily,” Daisy answered as she turned a page.
Roseluck grimaced slightly at that as she glanced at the kitchen. Lily wasn’t necessarily the greatest cook between the three but Roseluck and Daisy both opted not to say anything about it.
“Anyway, why do you need a dress? You have a closet full, what’s so special about that one?” Daisy pointed a hoof at the bag before focusing back on her book.
“I got a ticket to the Gala in Canterlot so I needed a dress that I haven’t worn half a dozen times. Plus, my other ones need to be refitted. I’m getting older after all,” Roseluck answered as she set the bag on the couch. “The other girls are going. Took a lot to convince Derpy and Sunset.”
“So that’s why Sea Swirl and Sassaflash are going to be watching Dinky and Amethyst. Sassaflash mentioned it at the market earlier today.”
“Don’t let Sparkler hear you call her Amethyst. You know she’s going on her whole new name phase,” Roseluck warned as Daisy rolled her eyes.
“You went through the same phase but at a younger age and went back to Roseluck after a few years. It’ll pass.”
“I did not!” Roseluck corrected instantly and spun around to face her sister. “What in Equestria are you talking about?”
“When you were nine, you made Lily and I call you Rosehearts for about two years till you decided Roseluck suited you better. I remember it vividly,” Daisy answered as she raised an eyebrow. “Still surprised you even thought of Rosehearts.”
“I found it in Lily’s adult magazine she had in her room under her bed that year,” Roseluck admitted with a blush as Daisy’s eyebrow climbed higher.
“Lily has porn?”
“I wouldn’t have put it quite like that but yes. Or well, she did. Not sure if she still does. Rosehearts was a model,” Roseluck admitted as she blushed harder. “I haven’t thought about that in years. I honestly forgot about it.”
“So you stole somepony else’s name that was a porn model and just thought that would slip by unnoticed? Now I know why some stallions and mares gave you funny looks,” Daisy commented as she looked at her sister with a smirk. “I’m gonna have to search through Lily’s room for said magazine, I’m intrigued. Here’s hoping some of the pages aren’t stuck together.”
“You’re gross.”
“You stole your sister’s sex mag at a young age and I’m the gross one? You’re unbelievable,” Daisy laughed quietly as Roseluck grumbled a curse word to herself. “Wait, you’re going to the Gala? So is Shoeshine and Trixie?”
“And Silverspeed. Why?”
“Don’t let Golden find out. You know she’s been trying to go for years to find Written Script,” Daisy warned as she rubbed her chin with a hoof. “On second thought, I’ve always wanted to see the royal garden. Maybe I can convince Sunset to give me her ticket. I’ll decorate the Residency lawn with flowers, it could use it.”
“Don’t even think about it. It took a lot to convince Sunset to come with us,” Roseluck glared at Daisy and narrowed her eyes. “That mare took ages to convince, I honestly thought Trixie was gonna tie Sunset down till she complied.”
Roseluck suspected there was always a time for that later if Trixue got bored enough and wanted to practice her knot tying for some magic trick. Again.
Merry May still hasn’t entirely forgiven the mare for almost getting her stuck in a rope trap that Roseluck couldn’t remember what Trixie called it.
“Or maybe she’ll let me go,” Lily suggested as she poked her head in as the two jumped. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t listening in till I came to tell you girls dinner is ready.”
“Why in the world would you wanna go?” Roseluck demanded as Daisy shoved a piece of paper to keep her spot in her book and shut it as Roseluck pointed a hoof at Lily. “You hate ponies, you shut in! You almost never leave you room unless it’s to complain at us or work!”
“I go out for way more than that!” Lily shot back as the mare stepped properly into the room. “I brought you medicine last month when you and Daisy were both sick!”
“Hold on, why does Lily wanna go?” Daisy interjected. “She’s been to the Canterlot garden before in school.”
“Maybe I wanna go again? Duh.”
“Don’t you duh me child.”
“And what will you do about it?” Lily challenged as Daisy narrowed her eyes, standing up off her favorite chair.
With a bored look, Roseluck sat down next to her dress as she watched her sisters argue again.
Well, at least I hid my ticket somewhere safe in my room, Roseluck mused to herself as Daisy flung her forelegs in the air.
More like it was under her bed but still safe to her at least. A part of Roseluck wanted to intervene but the othe part of Roseluck knew the two would quit fighting in ten minutes or so.
Roseluck sighed and shifted to watch.
If they’re gonna argue and be annoying, might as well be comfortable.
Derpy made a tired sound as she flung herself down on her couch as Sparkler and Dinky both looked at her from the table where the two were playing a card game.
“What’s with you?” Sparkler asked as she tapped the table. “Hit.”
Dinky passed Sparkler a card and the mare sighed in frustration as Dinky took Sparklers last remaining piece of candy happily. Dinky was surprisingly good at blackjack, beating even Sparkler at it. Sparkler had lost all of the candy she and Dinky were betting with.
“Dealer wins!” Dinky announced with a grin.
“Long day at work is all. How was your first day of work?” Derpy asked as Sparkler shrugged as the unicorn levitated the playing cards into a box on the shelf.
“It was okay. Sunset came in right before we closed. Something about needing coffee to help her sleep again,” Sparkler said as Dinky raised an eyebrow.
“Isn’t coffee caffeine? How does that help her sleep?” Dinky asked as she scrunched up her muzzle and the two older mares smiled at her.
“I don’t know but it is caffeine yes. Sunset is a bit of a strange mare at times.”
“Chocolate sometimes helps me sleep but in rare circumstances,” Sparkler admitted as the unicorn shifted in her chair. “Everypony is different I suppose.”
“So that’s where my chocolate has gone,” Derpy gave Sparkler a flat look as the unicorn gulped. “It’s bed time girls, go to bed. You two are getting watched by Sea Swirl and Sassaflash in a few days while I go to Canterlot with my friends. I trust you’ll behave?”
“Yes mom, we will,” Sparkler rolled her eyes. “Why do I have to stay with them, I’m old enough to stay home.”
“Because I’m asking you to, that’s why. And besides, you went to school with Sea Swirl. You two might like catching up,” Derpy suggested with a smile.
“Hm we will see,” Sparkler answered as she followed her younger sister down the hall and Derpy paused for a moment.
“Were you teaching your sister blackjack?”
Derpy stood in front of the purple house that had two dolphins swimming in a circle engraved on the door as she knocked on it gently.
A tired looking lilac unicorn with matching cutie mark to the engraving on the door opened it as she levitated a coffee mug to her lips.
“Hi Derpy,” Sea Swirl said as she covered a yawn with a hoof. “Morning, how’s it going?”
“Good thanks. I’m here to drop off Dinky and Sparkler if that’s okay. I’m leaving for Canterlot in a few hours. If not, I can find Flitter,” Derpy said as Dinky jumped out of her mane and waved as Sea Swirl grinned, watching Sparkler step from behind the pegasus.
“That’s more than alright! I love your kids, you know. You can drop them off anytime you need some time alone Derpy, you know that,” Sea Swirl giggled as she hugged the pegasus. “Have fun in Canterlot, be sure to stop by Donut Joe’s! Used to go there all the time as a filly, it’s a good place.”
“I’ll see if the girls wanna stop by,” Derpy conceded and hugged the mare. “Thanks again Sea Swirl. Tell Sassaflash I said hi.”
“I will,” Sea Swirl waved as Derpy took to the sky. “Come on in, what do you all want for breakfast? Sassaflash should be here soon. I got cereal and uh cereal.”
“We already ate but thanks Sea Swirl,” Sparkler said as she and Dinky the unicorn inside. Dinky shoved the door shut with her head and grunted as she stepped back.
“Took more energy than I thought,” Dinky muttered and rubbed her forehead with a wince. She and Sparkler looked around the blue room as Sea Swirl sat down on a couch, patting a spot on either side of her.
“Sit down, it’s been a few weeks since I’ve foalsitted you girls. How’s life been treating you all?”
“Good! Miss Cheerilee is awesome as usual. What about you?”
“Oh fine. Just busy with work and the dolphins as usual,” Sea Swirl waved towards the part of her house that housed a submarine she had created. It was admittedly still a work in progress but she was optimistic. “Benefits of building my house near the ocean and all. Hey Sparkler, been a few weeks.”
“Indeed,” Sparkler commented coolly as she sat down.
“Hey Dinky, I still have some toys in the spare room for you to play with. Why don’t you go play while I talk to your sister?” Sea Swirl suggested with a smile as the unicorn folded up a newspaper.
“Yay!”
The two watched as Dinky jumped off the couch and ran away as Sea Swirl gave a quiet laugh.
“That filly is a ball of endless energy. How you truly been Sparkler?” Sea Swirl asked as she folded her forelegs across her chest and stared intently at the other mare.
“I’m getting by. How’s it going with your marefriend?” Sparkler teased as Sea Swirl blushed.
“Sassaflash is not my marefriend, she’s just my roommate. Admittedly, I wish she was my marefriend but she’s dating Caramel and I’m not a jerk to try to break them up like others have suggested,” Sea Swirl said with disdain. She may hate Caramel with a burning passion but she is above breaking up her best friends relationship for her own gain. “Besides, it’s fairly obvious doesn’t swing for her own team.”
“I don’t know about that,” Sparkler snorted as she shifted her weight. “Vinyl says Sassaflash sets off her gaydar like crazy.”
“Her gaydar? What the hay is that?”
Sparkler put up her hooves as Sea Swirl shot her a confused look.
“I have no idea. But she said you set it off too when you first moved here so it must be pretty accurate, right?”
“I don’t know. Like I said, Sassy is dating Caramel and well, that doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon. They just came back from Manehatten last week. Consider yourself lucky, you don’t have to hear about her sex life or well, lack of one I should say.”
“I really don’t wanna know about that,” Sparkler said hastily with a red face. “I already hear enough about Lyra’s lack of one too and the opposite with Minuette. Minnie for some reason needs to share every single detail of what she gets up to with Berry.”
“I know. She’s like that with me too. Both of them really. We need to get Lyra a marefriend,” Sea Swirl mused as she tapped her hoof against her chin. “Who was that one mare she was talking to at the summer sun celebration party in the library a few months ago?”
“Not sure but she was a pretty shy mare from what Moondancer was telling me. Three pieces of candy for a cutie mark as well,” Sparkler answered as the door opened a light blue pegasus with two lightning bolts trotted in and shut the door behind her.
“Hey girls,” Sassaflash waved a wing as she trotted past and Sea Swirl glanced at her flanks before turning red and looked away hastily as Sassaflash flung herself down on a recliner. “What’s up? Where’s my favorite unicorn filly at?”
“Playing in the toy room.”
“Ah. What were you two talking about?” Sassaflash asked as Sparkler and Sea Swirl shared a look, having a conversation based purely on facial expressions.
“Nothing,” Sparkler decided and Sea Swirl gave her a grateful look. Sparkler personally thought Sea Swirl should just tell her but at the same time understood her fellow unicorn could very well lose a friend if she did so. Sea Swirl was pretty stubborn too.
“Huh okay,” Sassaflash shrugged and reclined her chair. “What do you three wanna do?”
“Whatever you want. This is your and Sea Swirls house after all,” Sparkler said as Dinky’s laugh echoed down the hall.
“I’m down to just stay home and watch movies. The projector is somewhere I think,” Sea Swirl commented and looked around for the projector. “Aha! There it is.”
Sea Swirl levitated it to them and examined it with a faint smile.
“Remember when we first got this? You had just moved to Ponyville back then,” Sassaflash grinned slightly at Sea Swirl. “I met you for the first time that day when you were shopping for one and I had to help you find the aisle in the store and we spent hours searching for it.”
“Good times,” Sea Swirl smiled fondly at her friend. “Dinky, come here! We got ice cream!”
A blur ran into the room as Sparkler and the other smiled at the filly.
“Got butter pecan?” Dinky asked hopefully as she stared at Sea Swirl, placing her hooves on the mares thigh.
“Got chocolate, butter pecan, strawberry, vanilla and Reeses,” Sassaflash recited with a shrug. “And whatever happens here stays here girls. Remember that.”
Sparkler smirked as Dinky cheered and looked out the window at the moon. The two did always love coming here.
Sunset gave a sigh as she stretched out on her bed, sinking into the mattress and curled up in a ball happily under her blankets. It was surprisingly cold tonight and not even December, not even remotely close to winter.
Sunset closed her eyes and jumped at a loud scream, her horn glowing as she disappeared in a light blue burst, stumbling to her hooves as she looked around Silverspeed’s room as the silver pegasus was hugging herself as Sunset sighed.
“Are you okay?” Sunset asked as she approached the mare. This wasn’t the first time she had been disrupted late in the night by the other mare waking up screaming.
“I’m fine.”
“No you’re not,” Sunset retorted with a frown before sighing. “Look, I’m know I’m not the best at friendship and still getting the hang of being a good friend, let alone having friends in general but waking up screaming every night for the past six months isn’t the definition of fine Silver.”
Silverspeed stayed silent and glanced away as Sunset resisted the urge to face hoof.
“Do you wanna-”
“No, I don’t wanna talk about it,” Silverspeed snapped as Sunset recoiled before narrowing her eyes.
“I call bullshit.”
“Fine. I’m having nightmares after you know,” Silverspeed rolled a hoof as Sunset gave her a confused look.
“No I don’t know.”
“Do I have to spell it out? After killing that deer, months ago? Blood all over my hooves and armor?”
“Yeah how could I forgot? So that’s why you’ve been crying yourself to sleep since then,” Sunset noted as she sat down on the ground.
“Yeah. Your aunt has been visiting me in my dreams to help me but well, little progress to be made. Celestia doesn’t know about it yet but Luna does. Surprised she didn’t kill me over it or have me arrested,” Silverspeed said as Sunset watched sympathetically. Silverspeed cursed under her breath and rolled over onto her left flank to look away. “Just go to sleep, I’ll be fine. Hopefully.”
“No.”
“No?” Silverspeed echoed and glanced at Sunset. “What the hay does that mean?”
“I mean, if it makes you feel better I can sleep with you,” Sunset said as the two blushed. “Not like that! Whenever I had nightmares as a filly, Celestia would have me sleep in her bed with her.”
“I can’t force you to leave, can I?” Silverspeed asked and Sunset shook her head. “Fine.”
Silverspeed lifted the blanket as Sunset clambered into the large bed, laying next to the pegasus as Sunset inhaled before draping a hoof over Silverspeed’s foreleg and one of her hindlegs over Silverspeed’s thigh.
“Don’t tell anypony this is happening,” Sunset warned quietly into Silverspeed’s neck. “The others already think we are dating and don’t even get me started on your sister. If they find out I offered this, we will never hear the end of it.”
“Fair enough,” Silverspeed chuckled as she sighed. “Oh, you’re warm.”
“Sun is in my name after all. I’ve always been naturally warm.”
“Touché,” Silverspeed said as the two laid there and Sunset closed her eyes. “Sunset?”
“Yeah?” Sunset asked with her eyes closed.
“Thanks for uh this. And well, being my friend. You may not think you’re great at it but you’re getting better at it, trust me.”
“Shh,” Sunset muttered as she yawned. “Go to sleep.”
Silverspeed nodded as she yawned and listened to Sunset’s even breathing before closing her own eyes.
Sunset pressed her back against the door as she sighed in frustration. She and Silverspeed had woken up hours ago, hastily leaving the room to find a bunch of ponies on their lawn and their friends hiding in the living room. The two mares were glad they weren’t seen leaving the same room.
“Why in Equestria do so many ponies want to go to the damn Gala?” Sunset grumbled as she glanced at her friends sitting in her living room. “It’s fucking lame!”
“I don’t know but there’s a lot of them out there,” Roseluck noted as she peeked outside at the crowd. “Wow, that’s a lot of them.”
“You’re telling me!” Silverspeed snapped as she hastily helped Sunset keep the door shut. “I wish I had my bullhorn but somepony took it away!”
“You gave it to Raindrops to prank Trixie!” Trixie snapped as she narrowed her eyes, laying lazily on the couch. “Trixie was justified in taking it!”
“Because you glued my helmet to the armor stand!” Silverspeed shot back with an accusatory hoof. “Karma!”
“Can we quit arguing and worry about how we’re getting out of here?” A worried Shoeshine asked as she hugged Screw Loose. She had surprisingly been told by Celestia she could bring her along and had mailed her a ticket for her sister.
“I can teleport us to the train station but you girls were sick last time plus Screw Loose,” Sunset pointed a hoof at the worried looking mares.
“Bark!”
“She says do it,” Derpy translated as the pegasus trotted back and forth. Sunset nodded as they all glowed blue and disappeared with a popping sound, tumbling to the ground of the train station.
“Seven train tickets to Canterlot and pronto,” Sunset said hastily as she levitated a pile of bits to the confused salespony. “Thanks!”
Sunset yanked her friends along in her magic along with the train tickets, shoving them at the conductor and plopping down on the bench with a relieved sigh.
“Thanks for that,” Roseluck sighed in relief.
“No problem. Nice dresses by the way,” Sunset commented as she examined her friends. The only pony not wearing one was Trixie who opted for a blue hoodie and skirt with boots. “And uh, nice hoodie?”
“Thanks, it’s Trixie’s prized possession. Or well, one of them,” Trixie said as Sunset looked at the window happily.
“What has you so happy?” Roseluck asked with a smile as Silverspeed sat next to Sunset carefully.
“I love trains. I’ve always been in love with them. They’re so cool!” Sunset chuckled as her friends gave each other stunned looks. “I keep all my tickets everytime I go on one to remember.”
Her friends shrugged as they sat down on various parts of the train as Trixie was laughing with Shoeshine, Derpy and Roseluck.
“Hey Sunset?” Silverspeed said quietly and she nudged Sunset with a wing.
“Yeah?” Sunset tore her gaze away from the window as the train slowly started moving.
“Thanks. For uh sleeping with me last night,” Silverspeed whispered as she scuffed a hoof on the cushion and blushed. “I appreciated it, even though it was very embarrassing.”
“You’re welcome,” Sunset shrugged as she patted Silverspeed on the back.
“Yeah well you didn’t need to do it but you didn’t. Plus you could have made fun of me but didn’t so,” Silverspeed said as Sunset scoffed.
“I wouldn’t have made fun of you. That’s not what friends do, right?”
“Right,” Silverspeed confirmed as Screw Loose sat next to them and Sunset smiled faintly at the mare. “If you ever need the gesture returned, I’ll do the same for you.”
“Thanks,” Sunset smiled as Silverspeed placed a wing over the two mares and pulled them into hugs.
The three mare focused again on the window and smiled fondly at the passing trees.
Roseluck stretched her hooves out and stepped off the train as Derpy and Roseluck looked around curiously.
“So this is Canterlot,” Roseluck mused as Sunset and Screw Loose stood next to her. “I’ve never been to the big city before.”
“Aren’t you from Manehatten or something?” Trixie reminded her with a tilted head. “That’s a big city. Trixie has been there once or twice.”
“Yeah but I’ve never been to Canterlot before so this is a first for me,” Roseluck replied as she and the others followed Sunset through the city.
“You sure know your way around,” Silverspeed noted as Sunset laughed dryly.
“This is my city after all. It’s night time too so most of the city folk are at the Gala,” Sunset explained as she paused and dropped a dozen bits into a homeless pony’s pot. “You girls go ahead, I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you,” the dirty looking mare looked up as she smiled faintly.
“You’re welcome. Go to the hotel downtown and tell them Sunset Shimmer sent you. Also get some dinner,” Sunset said as she levitated the mare onto her hooves before placing the bits on the mares back. “Have a good night.”
Sunset galloped to catch up to her friends as they gave her looks.
“What took you?” Shoeshine asked as Screw Loose licked Sunset’s cheek.
“Nothing,” Sunset said finally as she watched the homeless mare walk towards the hotel Sunset had pointed to. “Let’s keep going.”
Sunset trotted ahead of the group as she lead them to the castle as she glanced at Derpy next to her.
“I saw what you did,” Derpy said casually as she flitted her wings. “I’m proud of you. You didn’t have to help her, you could have walked right past her like half the town does.”
“I have no clue what you are talking about,” Sunset said as her eyes flicked to Derpy.
“Yes you do.”
“Fine, I helped her out. So what?” Sunset commented as she stopped walking.
“Nothing, just proud of you is all. Not many ponies would have helped her. I would have but I don’t have the bits,” Derpy said sheepishly as Sunset’s anger disappeared.
“Yeah I know. If you need help, you know where to find me.”
“I know.”
“Sorry for uh ya know, yelling a bit there,” Sunset rolled a hoof sheepishly. “I’m not entirely used to be talked about when I give bits away.”
“You’re fine. Wanna keep going?”
Sunset nodded as she started leading them again.
“Woah,” Trixie said in awe as they stared up at the castle. “You used to live here?”
“Yeah,” Sunset said as she watched two ponies leaving the castle. “It’s nothing too crazy.”
“What?” Shoeshine said in confusion as she shifted on her hooves. “Not many ponies say they lived at the Canterlot castle!”
“True. I try to not flaunt it around you girls,” Sunset admitted sheepishly as she crossed her forelegs.
“Ah,” Roseluck mused as she threw a foreleg over Sunset’s back as she and the others admired her orange and red dress that matched her mane. “You look really good by the way.”
“She’s right,” Silverspeed chimed in with a smirk. “Maybe you’ll find a colt friend tonight.”
“Nah,” Sunset shook her head and turned red. “I’m uh into mares ya know? Is that gonna like, end our friendships or-?”
“Ew no,” Trixie scoffed as she rolled her eyes. “Trixie bats for both teams.”
“I don’t care either,” Shoeshine shrugged as Roseluck nodded her approval. “Who you wanna sleep with or date with is your business. Berry is dating Minuette after all.”
Sunset didn’t know that Minuette was like but wasn’t surprised. She, Lyra and Lemon Hearts always did act a bit unique in school. And then there was Moondancer dating Twilight that everypony knew about. Sunset had been admittedly stunned by that.
“I don’t care,” Derpy hugged Sunset. “I’ll admit, I’ve dated mares in middle school. No biggie.”
“Bark!”
“And Screw Loose agrees with her,” Trixie translated.
“Me too,” Silverspeed announced as she placed a wing on Sunset’s back. “Maybe you’ll find a mare then.”
“Nah, I’m not looking at the moment. Maybe in the future,” Sunset shrugged with a small smile. “Thanks for not shoving me to the curb.”
“We’re your friends,” Trixie scoffed and rolled her eyes. “We won’t just toss you aside ever. You’re stuck with us.”
“Joy,” Sunset joked in mock sadness. “Pity me.”
“Shut up,” Roseluck rolled her eyes and nudged Sunset with an elbow. “Come on, I hear there’s alcohol inside. This mare needs a glass of wine or two.”
“Oh by the stars,” Derpy rolled her eyes as Roseluck trotted ahead. “I’ll see you girls inside. We should meet here at the end of the night so we don’t get lost. I should probably catch up with Rose.”
Derpy took off after Roseluck as she flapped her wings and disappeared inside towards the front doors.
“We should get inside. I’m hoping none of the mares I dislike are there,” Sunset gritted her teeth. “This will be so annoying if Twilight is here.”
“Who?”
“The mare that was at the library and the Summer Sun Celebration. Got pissed about the party in the library and got thrown out by a drunk Thunderlane.”
“Bark, bark bark!”
“She says she is a unique mare,” Silverspeed said as she and Screw Loose hugged. “Not a huge fan of Screw Loose unfortunately.”
“Then I hate her,” Shoeshine growled as she cracked her forelegs. “Anypony who hates my sister is my enemy.”
Sunset gave a nod as she and the others trotted up the steps of the castle, faintly making out Princess Celestia greeting guests as Silverspeed hastily stopped Screw Loose from eating her own dress. It had admittedly taken all of them to get Screw Loose in one but it had gotten down. Trixie did almost lose her head by Screw Loose biting at her but risk is reward.
“Ah hello Sunset,” Celestia nodded at the mares. “Happy to see your friends here with you. I hope you all have fun tonight.”
“Thank you Princess,” Sunset and the others bowed quickly before standing up and trotting away. “Oh you have got to be kidding me.”
Standing in front of them, was Sunset’s enemy Twilight Sparkle.
The two stared at each other as Sunset narrowed her eyes. Moondancer shifted awkwardly on her hooves and looked away as Twilight grimaced.
“Twilight Twinkle,” Sunset scoffed as her friends watched warily.
“Sunset Dimmer. My name is Twilight Sparkle.”
“Didn’t you just get her name wrong?” Trixie wondered aloud. “Trixie doesn’t think you have much room to complain.”
“What are you doing here?” Sunset pointed a hoof accusingly at Twilight as they both ignored Trixie.
“Attending the Gala with my date obviously. Now what are you doing here?”
“Attending the Gala with my friends which is something you can’t relate to because it’s just you and here, nopony else,” Sunset shot back as Moondancer cleared her throat.
“I’m uh gonna go to the little fillies room while you two uh talk,” Moondancer said as her eyes flicked nervously between the two mares as she pushed her glasses up with her magic and trotted off hastily.
Sunset glared at Twilight as the two unicorns shifted their weight slightly and narrowed their eyes.
“Alright no fighting,” Shoeshine cut in as she stepped between the two. “There’s ponies watching. Twilight Twinkle, go somewhere else or you’ll be dealing with me and I already don’t like you. Sunset, go with Trixie and get a drink.”
“Fine,” Sunset relaxed her stance as Twilight copied her slowly. “See you around, Twinkle.”
“My name is Twilight Sparkle!”
“Yeah yeah, and the sky is falling down,” Sunset rolled her eyes as she trotted past. “I don’t trust you so kindly stay out of me and my friends way tonight. If you really wanna fight, meet me after wards.”
“I don’t even know what I did to you. I definitely don’t wanna fight you.”
“Good because I don’t wanna fight either,” Sunset admitted as she looked away before her expression hardened. “And you know exactly what you did, I’m not stupid. I didn’t get to where I am in life by being dumb.”
Shoeshine nudged Sunset away as she rolled her eyes, leaving Twilight behind them with her jaw dropped and shaking head.
“That mare is drives me up the wall, she is so annoying,” Twilight sighed and scuffed a hoof on the ground. “I don’t even know what I did to her.”
“Same,” Moondancer agreed as she reappeared next Twilight with a pop. “I’m back. Long line, ya know?”
“Yeah,” Twilight said as Moondancer coughed into a hoof. “I hope you washed you hooves after. I got hoof sanitizer if you need it.”
“I washed, what do you I am?” Moondancer scoffed with a smirk before kissing Twilight’s head. “Let’s just forget Sunset is here and try to at least have a decent night. And we can figure out why she despises you later.”
Twilight nodded with a sigh as the two trotted away.
“Just ignore your mortal enemy here and try to have a fun night,” Trixie said as she pushed a glass of alcohol to Sunset. “Trixie knows her too and she is not a fan. She can be quite rude at times during my shows in Canterlot, something about it being not real magic but meh what does she know?”
Silverspeed nodded as she stood by quietly watching behind them as she stretched her wings out.
“Yeah,” Shoeshine chimed in with a frown as she glanced at Screw Loose examining a strawberry. “I should probably go show her around, she’s only been to Canterlot for doctors and not to hang out.”
“How many doctors have you taken her to?” Sunset asked curiously as she flicked her ears as she glanced at her friend.
“Oh hundreds. We’ve been all over Equestria,” Shoeshine answered casually as she gave Screw Loose a strawberry. “Eat it, it’s good for you.”
“Bark,” Screw Loose said as she licked it off of Shoeshines hoof.
“She likes it,” Shoeshine translated and Sunset groaned.
“You do know that I can speak Screw Loose right?” Sunset asked with a faint smirk as the other three gave her stunned looks.
“Really?” Silverspeed asked with a raised eyebrow before placing her wings back at her side.
“Yeah.”
“That’s so cool!’ Shoeshine grinned as she trotted in a circle. “I thought only a select few understood Screw. This is cool. When did you learn?”
“I spend enough time with her as is so I just watched how you and the others seemingly talk to her and learned that way. It’s pretty easy,” Sunset explained as she glanced at Roseluck on the opposite side of the room with Derpy and a brown stallion. “Huh, who’s that?”
“Rose’s cousin. I forget his name,” Silverspeed said. “I’m gonna go explore, I’ll be back. I’ll find you all at the end of the night.”
Sunset nodded as she watched the pegasus walk away as she and Trixie watched Derpy for a few moments before shrugging.
“Trixie is going to go find Raindrops. Have fun.”
“Bye.”
“So are we placing bets on Trixie starting some drama?” Shoeshine asked with a smirk as Sunset downed a glass of wine.
“Oh absolutely.”
“Bark!”
“This is my cousin Time Turner,” Roseluck said as she wrapped a hoof around Derpy’s neck. “This is Derpy.”
“Hello,” Derpy said as she glanced at him.
“Hi. Mailmare in Ponyville correct, mother of two daughters and element of harmony?” Time asked as Derpy nodded slowly.
“How did you-”
“My cousin tells me a lot about all of her friends in Ponyville. Quite fascinating really,” Time explained as Roseluck smiled as she removed her hoof.
“So what do you do for work?” Derpy asked as she crossed her forelegs and smiled faintly.
“Oh I work all over Equestria and other places.”
“He’s a doctor,” Roseluck said quietly in Derpy’s ear. “A really good one.”
“O-oh.”
“Come and we can talk about it more if you would like. There’s so much to talk about. I can show you my means of transportation and everything,” Time said with a grin as he adjusted his green bowtie.
Derpy turned red as she examined his mane before flying after the earth pony as Roseluck grinned to herself.
“Roseluck you are an absolute genius,” Roseluck chuckled to herself. She hadn’t entirely been sure if trying to set up Derpy with her cousin had been a great idea but never know till you try. Roseluck had always thought the pair would be decent together even if they’ve never met before. “Oh I’m speaking in third pony. I’ve been spending way too much time with Trixie.”
With a quiet laugh, Roseluck turned back to her wine.
Trixie wandered around the castle grounds with a suit case held in her aura. Inside contained a few magic items and tricks as she set it down on a stage in front of some party goers.
“Bask in the Great and Powerful Trixie’s amazing magic show!” Trixie shouted as she reared back on her hind legs and the ponies gave her flat looks. “Pick a card, any card!”
A stallion knocked her cards out of his face as she glared at him and he shoved her cards back into her suitcase.
“This isn’t a kids party! It’s an important event for us upper class ponies to discuss business and politicians to find allies. Now get outta here. You obviously don’t belong,” the stallion scoffed as some ponies laughed and Trixie’s ears flattened against her head.
“You do know she’s the Element of Laughter, right?” Raindrops asked flatly as she stood behind him and gave him an angry look. “Trixie is one of the reasons you’re still alive so show some respect before I shove my hoof so far up your ass, you won’t be able to shit for weeks. Now get the buck outta here, eh?”
The stallion turned red as he and a mare trotted away as Raindrops flew up to Trixie.
“Hey Trixie,” Raindrops grinned as she dropped down next to her magician friend. “How’s it hanging?”
“Pretty shit,” Trixie admitted as she slumped over and the upper class ponies ignored the two. “Tried to entertain a crowd for some extra bits and well, that went poorly as you can tell. Buck the system trying to hold down an entrepreneurial mare such as Trixie is!”
“I know,” Raindrops chuckled as she hugged the magician. “These ponies suck. Why don’t we head out to the garden and walk? I think Roseluck was headed out there while Derpy is doing Celestia knows what.”
“Yeah let’s go.”
The pair jumped off the stage as Trixie levitated her magic items and suitcase behind her as the two trotted to the garden exit and Raindrops paused to stare at the stars.
“Princess Luna did a bang up job eh? I always loved the stars,” Raindrops commented as she shifted her wings and her yellow dress. “I was surprised you actually came. The Gala isn’t normally your speed or well, mine either actually. I don’t know why I came. But it is a bit easier with you here.”
“Likewise. Wonder what Shoeshine is up to?”
“Screw Loose! Come back here!” Shoeshine galloped after her sister as a mare screamed as Screw Loose knocked her over into a white unicorn stallion with a blonde mane.
“You two!” Blueblood snapped as they both skidded to a stop. “I don’t know who you are and I frankly don’t care. But get your mutt out of here.”
“Excuse me?” Shoeshine growled as she spun around furiously. “My sister is not a mutt, do I make myself clear mister? Who even are you?”
“Prince Blueblood. Nephew to Princess Celestia and Luna,” Blueblood answered as Shoeshine narrowed her eyes.
“I’ve met the Princess and I’m pretty sure neither of them would approve your rude attitude.”
“As if the Princess would ever met a country mare as yourself,” Blueblood said dismissively as Shoeshine inhaled slowly.
Breath Shoeshine, she told herself as Screw Loose watched warily, don’t murder the stallion. That’d be a bad look and there’s too many witnesses here.
“I’m the Element of Honesty so don’t try me boy. I have met Princess Celestia countless times and I work closely with her daughter Sunset. So yeah, I can confirm neither of them would approve of your attitude and Sunset has told me about you. Sunset despises you and I can see why. You’re rude, stuck up, elitist and a pain in my flank.”
Some of the ponies gasped as Blueblood turned red and Shoeshine watched him as she shifted her body weight and he paused nervously. Shoeshine seemed to have a lot more muscle than he did and seemed more stronger than he was.
This stallion is even more annoying than Twilight Twinkle is, Shoeshine rolled her eyes as she mused to herself.
“Well Sunset isn’t really family so.”
“What?” Shoeshine demanded as Screw Loose growled.
“She’s adopted so shes not family nor is she my blood. Therefore she has no proper position in the royal hierarchy,” Blueblood explained as Shoeshine bit back a rude remark.
“That’s not how it works actually. The Princess adopted Sunset therefore making her just as much family as Princess Luna, whether you like it or not. Plus, the courts legally recognize her adoption and she does technically have a role in the Equestrian as Ponyville’s representative so maybe get your facts straight before running your big ass mouth,” Shoeshine suggested as she gave him an unimpressed look and the ponies around them gasped once again as Screw Loose started scratching her ear with a hindleg. Shoeshine wasn’t entirely sure how her sister managed that one but she didn’t really want to know. She learned some questions are better left unsaid.
The fact that he was related to Celestia was mind-blowing to the mare having met Sunset and being the unicorns friend. Sunset wasn’t even like this before she became friends with the other girls.
“This conversation is boring me and I must go find better ponies to conversate with. Like Jet Set or maybe Fancy Pants if he and Fleur are in attendance this year. Sunset may be annoying and an orphan, but even she knows to not associate with the likes of you two,” Blueblood proclaimed as Shoeshine felt her blood start to boil again as she forced herself to breath in and out.
She jumped as Blueblood’s tail accidentally knocked a wine glass onto her mane, painting her light blue mane red as she glared angrily. She was internally grateful none of it got on her dress otherwise she’d be even more furious than she currently was.
“And take that dog away from the castle,” Blueblood called out as Shoeshine let out an unponylike snarl. Blueblood gave her a wary look as Shoeshine exhaled and exploded.
Silverspeed trotted into another room as she set down her wine glass to refill it as her ears flicked as she listened to sudden terrified screaming and a table falling over followed by shattering glass.
The scream sounded honestly like a female getting ran over by a train or a stallion, she didn’t decide which yet.
“What the buck was that?” Silverspeed demanded as she felt her wings flare out. “And why do I feel like I’m in heat all the sudden?”
“Guards!” Somepony screamed as Silverspeed examined the drink Trixie had given her before they left and she read the words “Trixie’s Magic Sex Drug Laced Potion To Get Her Turned On.”
“Oh that would explain it,” Silverspeed mused as she threw it away. “That would explain why Trixie suddenly was frantically looking under us all for a bottle. Anyways, time to go see why there’s a lot of screaming suddenly.”
Silverspeed forced her wings closed as she trotted after a few running Royal Guards and paused in time as Blueblood and Shoeshine rolled across the floor as Blueblood continued his feminine screaming.
“Never knew a stallion could produce a sound like that,” Silverspeed commented with a smile as Shoeshine punched him in the gut and looked up at her friend.
“Hey.”
“Hello. Care to tell me why you’re beating up Prince Blueblood?”
“He spilled wine on my mane. Oh and he’s a rude bitch to my sister and Sunset and a cunt in general,” Shoeshine explained as she punched him again until two guards yanked her off him. “Hey! I’m not done yet!”
“Yeah you are. Now come on,” the guard tugged on her as Screw Loose barked as another placed Shoeshine in cuffs.
“Is that seriously necessary? Did you see what started it?” Silverspeed commented as the two Guards hesitated.
“Well, no but...”
“My friend here said he was berating her and also got wine on her mane. It’s red right now instead of it’s normal light blue so technically that’s assault on his part if he did it on purpose,” Silverspeed commented as she circled the pair. “So why not arrest him too?”
“Because I wasn’t fighting back! Arrest this pyscho!”
“You shut up. I’m not talking to you,” Silverspeed snapped as she rolled her eyes. “End of the day, just either arrest both for creating a public scene or let her go.”
“I- I don’t know,” the other Guard muttered as he scratched his mane. “We can let you go this once I suppose but don’t do it again. Next time, I will take you to jail. Am I clear?”
“Yes sir,” Shoeshine nodded as Blueblood glared as her cuffs were taken off. “Let’s get the heck outta here and go find Sunset. Might be talking to her mom.”
The two hastily left the room before the guards could change their mind as Shoeshine sniffed the air and gave Silverspeed a wary look.
“Why do you smell like you’re in heat?” Shoeshine asked as Silverspeed trotted to a nearby trash can, digging out the bottle and tossed it to Shoeshine. “Ew. Trixie’s Magic Sex Drug Laced Potion To Get Her Turned On. Why do you have this?”
“Trixie accidentally gave me it when we left Ponyville. She meant to have gave me the bottle of whiskey she had hidden in her bag. Why does Trixie have one is a better question,” Silverspeed commented as she examined Shoeshine head to hooves. “Have I ever told you that you look hot?”
“Easy there Casanova,” Shoeshine snickered and gently pushed Silverspeed away. “I’m not really into mares. But thanks for the compliment, I appreciate it. I wanna find Trixie and ask her questions because I’m curious as buck about why she has one.”
After what seemed like forever, the two found Sunset, Trixie and Raindrops in the garden talking as Sunset tossed a empty bag into a trash can.
“Four points,” Sunset said as Shoeshine and Silverspeed approached from behind as Sunset sniffed the air. “Why does it smell weird all the sudden?”
“Yeah that’s me,” Silverspeed said sheepishly as she stopped next to the three. “Trixie, what the hell did you put in this potion?”
Silverspeed tossed the bottle on the ground as Trixie turned red and picked it up.
“So you’re the one Trixie accidentally gave her potion to. Just an aphrodisiac because Trixie had hoped to get laid tonight but well, she doesn’t think that’s gonna happen tonight,” Trixie sighed as the others blushed and Trixie rolled her eyes.
“Oh that’s uh a bit more information than I had intended to know,” Sunset muttered as Raindrops snickered into a hoof.
“Yeah me too but with Trixie, I’m used to her oversharing a lot. She’s quite open about her life like that,” the jasmine pegasus commented with a shrug. “You get used to it.”
“Well, that could still happen,” Silverspeed said as she placed a wing over Trixie’s back. “I’d never really sleep with a friend but well, I’m really drunk right now so.”
“Oh boy here we go,” Shoeshine muttered as she sat down on a bench. “Hey, have you girls seen Roseluck?”
“Let me out!” Roseluck wailed as she slammed her hooves on the cell bars of the drunk tank she and a few other drunk ponies the royal guards had arrested for public intoxication. “I’m too young to go to jail!”
“Lady, you were rolling around drunk off your plot in the royal garden and got seen peeing on a tree,” a bored looking guard said as he put down his book. “You’re not getting out till somepony comes to get you out so please quit screaming. You’re giving me a migraine.”
“Let me the fuck out!”
“Oh my days,” the guard slammed his head against the desk. “You’re not even going to jail, once you sober up or a friend comes to get you is when you can leave. Kay?”
“Let me out now!” Roseluck screamed as she kicked the bars. “Ow!”
“No, I haven’t,” Sunset answered with a shrug. “She’s probably out with Derpy or something.”
“I hope so. I haven’t seen either of them in four hours and we’re all supposed to meet up at that donut shop you said was in town,” Shoeshine said as she looked around. “What do you think Derpy is up too?”
“What is this?” Derpy asked as she poked a blue glowing ball of electricity and her hair stuck up. “Ooh tingly.”
“That is an electricity experiment I was working on to see if lightning could be used to power homes instead of magic but alas it is not going well,” Time Turner explained as he showed Derpy around his lab in Canterlot under the castle. “Princess Celestia allowed me to have an under ground lab so she can thoroughly examine my work. She surprisingly cares about her ponies a lot.”
“That’s cool. You travel a lot?”
“Oh yes. I’ve traveled all over Equestria and beyond,” Time explained as Derpy tilted her head.
“What’s beyond Equestria?”
“A lot. I’ll tell you one day.”
Derpy gave a nod as she stepped away from the glowing ball and examined a fish tank with a dozen fish swimming around.
“Pretty,” Derpy muttered as she walked around it. “I love fish.”
“As do I.”
“What kind of doctor are you? I thought you’d like work in a hospital or something,” Derpy said as she tore her gaze off the fish.
“Doctor can mean lots of things. From scientist like myself to actual hospital staff. Now come dear Derpy. I want to show you my airplane sketches for this world!”
Derpy rolled her eyes and smiled faintly as she galloped after him.
“Last time I saw Roseluck was introducing Derpy to some stallion,” Raindrops said as she glanced at Trixie sitting with Silverspeed. “Get a room already.”
“We’re not doing anything!” Silverspeed protested as she removed her wing. “We’re literally just sitting here.”
“Bullshit,” Shoeshine snorted and grinned. “I saw that hoof moving.”
“It was not for that!”
“And the sky is purple,” Sunset snarked as Silverspeed groaned.
“Don’t make me come over there and try to screw you three too,” Silverspeed threatened as the mares eyes widened. “I’m drunk off my ass and fucking Trixie gave me a aphrodisiac!”
Sunset and the other two bit back laughter as Trixie looked away sheepishly.
“My room is still in the castle if you and Trixie want some alone time,” Sunset commented casually as Silverspeed glared at her.
“I know where you sleep,” Silverspeed grumbled as Sunset smirked.
“What, you gonna try to fuck me too?”
Trixie laughed as Shoeshine and Raindrops giggled as Silverspeed turned red.
“I’m going to murder all of you,” Silverspeed muttered. “Honestly, why am I your friend?”
“Because you love us,” Shoeshine quipped as she kissed Silverspeed’s cheek and burst out laughing. “I guess Silverspeed gets homiesexual once she’s drunk.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means you get very hoovsy with your friends,” Trixie explained with a smirk. “Sorry for mixing up the drinks accidentally. Trixie’s fault.”
“You’re damn right it is!”
“Trixie said sorry!”
“Oh buck me,” Silverspeed muttered as she shifted her body weight. “This is the worst experience of my life. And I thought the time I broke my wing was bad.”
“Here, let’s go get water,” Trixie said as Silverspeed grumbled curse words as she followed her away.
“Bye!” Raindrops called out with a wave as she snickered.
“Thank Celestia I haven’t met Blueblood tonight,” Sunset said with a sigh as Shoeshine rolled her eyes.
“I did. Silverspeed interrupted me beating him up and I almost got arrested.”
“You did what?” Sunset shouted as the other two remaining mares cringed. “Oh my stars. Mom is gonna kill me so fast when she finds out.”
“He was being rude, spilled wine on me, called my sister a dog,” Shoeshine explained as she pointed a hoof at Screw Loose rolling in the dirt. “Insulted you too. Naturally I had to do something.”
“Makes sense. He’s a rude bitch,” Sunset said as she finished hyperventilating. “Let’s go find Derpy and get outta here before mom comes to hunt us down.”
Silverspeed and Trixie laid on the bed of a room they had found as they sighed as Silverspeed wiped some sweat off her mane.
“Hey Trixie,” Silverspeed said as Trixie drank from a nearby water bottle. “Before we leave to find our friends, just one thing.”
“Yes?”
“We are never speaking of this again,” Silverspeed said as she looked at Trixie. “And I mean it.”
Roseluck scrunched her muzzle up in disgust as a mare threw up into a toilet in the corner of the drunk tank she was stuck in.
“What time is it?” Roseluck asked tiredly as she looked away from the mare quickly.
“About one am,” the guard answered without looking up from his book.
“Joy. How long have I been in this hellhole?”
“About two hours, give or take.”
“I want out now,” Roseluck demanded as she rattled the bars angrily.
“No.”
Roseluck glared at him as she back on the bench.
“What’s that saying that green unicorn is always saying? Oh yeah. If I had fingers, I’d be showing you one!” Roseluck screamed as she shook a hoof angrily.
“What’s a finger?”
“Look it up dummy!” A drunk mare shouted as Berry Punch sat next to Roseluck. “Ay, Rosie. Didn’t know you were in here with me. How’s it hanging?”
“Pratty shit. What are you here for?”
“Public intoxication. Came to see Minuette but she was busy with her friends allegedly so I got drunk. Don’t be like Berry and get depressed drunk,” Berry sighed as she kicked her hindlegs back and forth.
Roseluck hugged the mare as a amber unicorn trotted into the room with a guard.
“Sunset!” Roseluck shot to her hooves as Sunset sighed.
“You here for her?” The guard at the desk asked.
“Yep,” Sunset sighed as she levitated a pen and signed the paperwork.
“Me too?” Berry said hopefully as she joined Roseluck at the bars. “Please? I gotta get home to Ruby.”
Sunset paused and examined the mare who looked on the verge of tears as Sunset rolled her eyes.
“Yeah Berry is with me too. Both of em are,” Sunset answered as the guard unlocked the door. “Let’s go you two. The others are waiting for us at a donut shop.”
Roseluck and Berry stumbled out of the cell as Sunset caught them both in her magic as the guard locked the cell behind them.
“You two smell awful,” Sunset grumbled as she levitated the two behind her. “Probably drank all the alcohol in Canterlot.”
“Damn right!” Berry cheered as Sunset kept her straight. “I wasn’t even here for the Gala but Minuette abandoned me. No bucking surprise there. Ungrateful little bi-”
“Berry!”
The three looked back as a blue unicorn came galloping up panting as Berry gave her a flat look.
“What do you want Minuette?” Berry snapped as Minuette gave her a confused look.
“I was looking for you. But uh why are you with Sunset Shimmer?” Minuette asked as she pointed a hoof. She admittedly didn’t have that many good memories of the unicorn so she was a bit nervous seeing Sunset again.
“With my friends. At least Sunset bailed me outta jail. Unlike you who decided her marefriend and the plans she made with her wasn’t important. Apparently your friends are more important than me and our daughter,” Berry glared as she swayed and Sunset gave Roseluck a nervous look.
“I had to make sure Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts got home safe. You know how much they are afraid of the dark.”
“Because Moondancer or Lyra or Twilight couldn’t have done that, right?” Berry shot back as Roseluck and Sunset backed away nervously. “Today was our anniversary. You left me waiting for an hour at a restaurant I specifically reserved for us. I was embarrassed. I spent almost damn near all my bits on tonight, even paying Junebug to watch over Ruby for me. And you couldn’t even show up.”
“This is awkward,” Roseluck whispered as Sunset nodded her agreement.
“You said it sister.”
“Berry-” Minuette started as she held out a hoof and Berry spun around.
“Don’t come home tonight,” Berry said as she flicked her tail and trotted away. “Let’s go. This mare needs more alcohol.”
“I think you’ve had enough,” Sunset interjected as she narrowly avoided Berry throwing up. “Ew!”
“Sorry,” Berry muttered as she dragged a protesting Sunset and Roseluck along, leaving behind a stunned Minuette.
“Where are they?” Trixie demanded as she ate another donut. “Trixie is bored!”
“They’ll be here. Sunset apparently found out Roseluck got arrested so she’s bailing her out,” Shoeshine answered as Silverspeed wiped her makeup off with a napkin.
“Sweet Celestia,” Derpy muttered as she stared at the table. “I should have stayed with her and not with her cousin.”
“Well, she did encourage you to hang out with him,” Silverspeed commented as she smiled slyly. “And based how you’ve been talking about him the past hour, seems to me you quite like him.”
Derpy blushed as the others laughed quietly as Raindrops drank from a hot chocolate mug.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Derpy said as she hastily bit a donut. “I have my daughters, I don’t have time for dating stallions girls.”
“Berry Punch has a daughter and is dating,” Trixie pointed out. “They make it work.”
“I know but they’ve known each other for a while. I just met Time Turner so we will see. But if my daughters don’t like him, then I say no,” Derpy stated as she pressed a hoof on the table. “And that’s final.”
The five looked at each other and nodded. When Sunset isn’t around, what Derpy says goes. Trixie had started the vote of Derpy becoming the group second in command in Sunset’s absence which the pegasus had argued had for hours against before reluctantly agreeing. Silverspeed had agreed mainly because Derpy already acted as the group mom.
Sunset had reluctantly accepted being the group leader as well after Trixie yet again brought it up, unanimously being voted.
“Hey,” Sunset pushed open the doors to Donut Joe’s as she trotted to the table with a drunk Roseluck and Berry giggling behind her. “Found Roseluck and her friend. She was screaming at a guard in an attempt to get out.”
Derpy and the others raises eyebrows as Roseluck sat down with Sunset and Berry as Screw Loose licked Roseluck’s cheek.
“Thank the stars mom hasn’t shown up,” Sunset grumbled as she levitated a glazed donut up to her mouth and opened her mouth. “This is the worst Gala ever. We most definitely ruined this year’s Gala. Shoeshine fighting Blueblood, Roseluck got arrested, Trixie accidentally starting a riot, me getting into a verbal fight with Twilight and-”
“Oh I wouldn’t say that,” Celestia said behind them as they spun around and stared to bow as Celestia stopped them with a hoof. “No need for that my little ponies.”
“What do you mean? This Gala was awful!” Sunset said as Celestia sat next to her. “We definitely ruined it.”
“Sunset, the Gala is always awful,” Celestia chuckled as the others gave her confused looks.
“Wait what?” Roseluck said as she lifted her head and Berry handed her a water. “Thanks. How is it always awful?”
“The same stuffy nobles trying to gain favor every year, Blueblood being annoying, me getting bored every year. I invited you and your friends to liven things up a bit and well, you didn’t disappoint. And I did hear about a certain fight with my nephew,” Celestia said as Shoeshine blushed and sheepishly looked away.
“Yeah sorry about that. I may have over reacted a tad,” Shoeshine admitted.
“A tad is an understatement,” Silverspeed snarked as Celestia shot her a smirk.
“I’d be careful. Some maids were telling me about hearing an odd amount of moaning and cursing coming from a bedroom,” Celestia said casually as Silverspeed turned bright red.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Uh huh.”
“So why not just tell us to liven things up?” Sunset asked as Celestia bit a donut. “Might have made that a bit easier.”
“What’s the fun in just telling you? This is more entertaining for me and you know I’m always a bit secretive,” Celestia explained. “Now shush and enjoy your donuts. And I expect a letter from you when you get to Ponyville what you learned about friendship tonight.”
“Yes Princess,” Sunset bowed her head slightly. “Hey, we’re friends?”
“Yeah,” Berry shrugged as she laid on the floor. “You got me outta jail so thanks for that. Anypony who does that is immediately my friend. Anything you need, I’m here for you. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
With a faint smile, Sunset turned to the rest of her friends and mentor to finish talking about the rest of their nights.
“Dear Princess Celestia,” Sunset said aloud as she sat tucked under a tree on a nearby hill overlooking Ponyville as she tapped a quill against her chin. “I learned a lot this week about friendship. Sometimes actions speak louder than words and a kind act like bailing somepony out of jail or helping a homeless pony can make you a friend you never even expected you’d be friends with. Those friends can sometimes help you learn more about yourself. Your faithful student, Sunset Shimmer.”
Sunset shot the scroll with her horn and watched it disappear in a blue cloud of smoke.
“Sunset! You coming?” Roseluck shouted up at the mare as Sunset glanced down the hill at her friends waiting patiently minus Trixie who was staring impatiently at Sunset, tapping her hoof on the ground.
“Yeah I’m coming!”
Minuette inhaled as she stopped at a rundown house before knocking gently on the door.
“Coming!” Ruby called out as a faint smile crossed Minuette’s face. The door opened and Minuette stared down at the small unicorn filly staring back at her. “Oh it’s you. Hang on. Mommy! Mom’s here!”
Minuette patiently and nervously waited as Berry appeared in front of her.
“Ruby, go to your room,” Berry steered Ruby back inside as she gave Minuette an unimpressed look. The two waited as Ruby trotted further into the house. “I thought I said not to-”
“I didn’t forget.”
“What?”
Berry and Minuette stared at each other as Minuette inhaled.
“Our anniversary. I didn’t forget and I lied about where I was.”
“So you were cheating on me. That’s even better,” Berry scoffed and turned to enter her house as she glowed a light blue as Minuette stopped her.
“Celestia, no! What kind of pony do you think I am? I despise cheaters especially after Twinkleshine got cheated on that one time,” Minuette snapped as Berry turned back and looked away for a second.
“That was a bit rude of me, yeah. Sorry.”
“A bit?”
“Okay, a lot,” Berry corrected as she rolled her eyes. “But where in Equestria were you then?”
“I was trying to get your gift. The place I had spent all my bits on burnt down over the weekend and I spent thirty minutes trying to barter with the owner to give me at least half my bits back so I could buy you something nice but he refused,” Minuette answered as she sighed. “So I had to hurry over to Lemon Hearts because her dragonfriend is good at framing pictures. By the time I looked at the clock, it was well past the time I was supposed to meet you at the restaurant. But you weren’t there so I searched all over Canterlot for hours. So here.”
Minuette levitated a present with blue wrapping and a matching bow with toothbrushes on it in front of Berry as Berry stared at it.
“Open it,” Minuette gestured as Berry bit the bow and opened it, staring down at picture of the two smiling with Ruby on Minuette’s back.
“I remember this,” Berry said finally as she picked up the picture. “That was the first time Ruby had ever called you mom.”
“Mhm. So no I didn’t stand you up.”
“Okay,” Berry said as she balanced the picture on her shelf inside next to the door. “But why the hay didn’t you tell me that the other night?”
“Well, for starters you were drunk and shouting at me in the street,” Minuette answered as she gave Berry a flat look. “And you wouldn’t give me a chance to speak. And secondly, you took off down the street with Sunset Shimmer and Roseluck before I could even explain my side. So I didn’t really get a chance to tell you anything.”
“That did happen as well. Sorry,” Berry rubbed the back of her head before spinning around and galloping inside.
“Well, that relationship is dead apparently,” Minuette sighed and turned to leave as Berry returned.
“Here,” Berry said as she tossed Minuette a key.
“A key?” Minuette said as she examined in in confusion. “Uh thanks? What am I supposed to do with a key?”
“What do you think? It’s a key to the house. I’m asking you to move in dummy,” Berry commented with a smirk as she tapped Minuette’s head with a hoof. “And you’re supposed to be the smart one.”
“You actually want me to move in?”
“Duh. I gave you it, didn’t I?” Berry snarked as Minuette stared with wide eyes. “You’re good with my daughter and I had already talked it over with her last week. I was going to give you the key at dinner but well, ya know.”
“Yes,” Minuette flung her forelegs around Berry’s neck and sighed. “It’ll take a while. Gotta sell a lot of my stuff because it can’t fit in here unfortunately.”
“Or you can just buy a storage unit,” Berry said as she glanced back at her small two bedroom house. “I wish I had a bigger house but these are the cards I was dealt. Always kinda wondered if you would have been a better mom for Ruby instead of me.”
“Don’t talk like that. You know I hate when you talk like that,” Minuette said sternly as she pressed a hoof to Berry’s mouth. “You’re a damn good mom. You and Derpy both remind me of my parents and if they were still alive today, Celestia rest my parents souls, they’d be saying the same damn thing. Am I clear?”
Berry nodded and Minuette removed her hoof.
“And I guess I could get a storage unit. Most of my belongings were passed down by my parents,” Minuette mused.
“Exactly now come inside to bed,” Berry said as she started tugging on Minuette with a grin.
“Ruby is home. We can’t,” Minuette responded as Berry rolled her eyes.
“Ruby Pinch! Go see if Pipsqueak and Sweetie Belle can play with you for a few hours.”
“Yes mommy!” Ruby called as she galloped out the door, only pausing fo hug the mares before running away as Berry slammed the door shut.
“So we have the house to ourselves,” Berry commented with a smirk as Minuette rolled her eyes.