the toy maker and the fashionista

~Golden Oaks Library The Next Day~

As Twilight was reading, Spike was placing books that she had finished reading back on the shelves. When all of a sudden a familiar fire began to form in the pit of his stomach. What happened next was unexpected, eleven golden tickets came out of the green flame he belched up. After another belch a scroll appeared but it was not from Celestia, it was from Luna.

Spike ran up the stairs shouting "Twilight! You got a letter and eleven tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala from Luna!"

Twilight blinked. "What Luna never sends letters by dragon fire." She opened the scroll and read it aloud.

Dear Twilight Sparkle. You are invited to the Grand Galloping Gala and MUST come. You must also bring the following ponies to the Gala. Spike, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Applebloom, Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo, and Ponyville's newest arrival Patchwork. I hope you and your friends enjoy your time at the Gala Sincerely, The goddess of the moon, Princess Luna.

Twilight sighed, marked the spot she was at in her book, closed it, and went off to deliver the tickets. After a few hours the mane six, spike, and the CMC started looking for patchwork and they found him at the least expected place, the edge of the Everfree forest. Little did they know that they were being watched by the ponies, dragons, and griffon from yesterday. There were some new additions to the group of creatures, a minotaur wearing a black cloak and a knuckle duster (brass knuckles) that had three claws made of bronze coming out of it, and some diamond dogs who held spears, swords, and clubs.

Sweetie saw him and smiled. "Mister Patchwork!" She ran over and tackled him.

Patchwork not expecting to be tackled, freaked out "HUH!? WHAT!? WHO!? WHY!?"

Sweetie got off of Patchwork, gave him his ticket, and smiled.  "Do you know what this is?"

He looked at it for a second before responding. "That Sweetie Bell, if I am not mistaken, is a ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala."

She smiled and nodded. "That's right and its your ticket Luna sent Spike, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Applejack, Scootaloo, Applebloom, me, and you tickets." There were no words to which he could use to respond to this.

"Um... OK?" except that one. She quickly levitated the ticket over to him. Patchwork looked at the fillies, the mares, and the dragon. "I guess ill see you all there." They all nodded and with that they took off. Except Rarity who quietly snuck back and watched what he was doing. Then the group who had been watching them came out of the bushes.

The only thing she could understand being said was by the minotaur. "Why do you get to go in without trouble while we all have to sneak in?"

She heard Patch laugh and then say "Somepony has to keep a cool head, Gold fist."

"Fine! We will await you near the castle on the night of the gala!" And with that they all left except for Patchwork

"You can come out now Rarity. Don't try and fool me into thinking your not there. Also spying is not very ladylike."

Rarity emerged from her hiding place. "Who were they, and what did they mean they have to sneak in?"

"Those were my subjects. I have a title and they serve under it. I am not just a regular unicorn Rarity, I am Patchwork the King of Thieves."

"YOUR A THIEF!?"

He nodded. "Yes but I am a good thief."

"Thieves are bad no matter what!"

"That is were you are wrong Rarity." He pulled a few newspapers out of his saddlebags. After he levitated them over to her he said. "Read the headlines."

She did just that. Pony pays for repairs of Manehatten orphanage and general hospitals, Pony pays for repairs of hospitals and orphanages in Stalliongrad, Pony pays for repairs to Appleoosa hospital and orphanage, Pony pays for repairs to Canterlot orphanages and hospital's before Celestia and Luna do. The last one got her attention the most. Patchwork a new arrival in town pays Ponyville orphanage three million bits telling the orphanage director Miss White Sun "Use this to fix up the orphanage and get better beds and food for the foals." She claims he did this after giving each foal a free toy doll that looked exactly like them.

Rarity was shocked. Against all logic, a thief had been responsible for the repairs of all of those orphanages and hospitals over the years. "Why? Why are you helping ponies your a thief you are supposed to be bad. So why?"

He frowned. "Because I know the pain of those ponies. I was an orphan as well, when I became the leader I had my group steal all those valuable things so that we could sell them, and make enough bits to help equestria when Celestia would not."

"Are you saying you would do a better job than princess Celestia?"

He blinked, then he mumbled. "..."

"What was that?"

He sighed. "I said 'I would be better at fixing hospitals and orphanages than her!'"

"Well I cant argue with you there."

Patchwork looked at her nervously. "Hey um Rarity I have a question."

"What is it darling?"

He gulped. "Would you be my date to the gala?"

Rarity was shocked he had the gall to ask her that right after telling her that he was the king of thieves. Even so she said. "I would love for you to accompany me to the gala."

He smiled at that. "Yes! What time and where would you like me to pick you up? Also when is the gala?"

"The girls will be meeting at the train station at 8:00. So you an pick me up at 7:45 at the boutique. The gala is tomorrow night. Um... do you have a suit for the gala?"

He nodded. "Yes, would you like to see it?"

"Well of course I do." When she said those word his horn was suddenly aglow. Before her eyes rarity saw his outfit for the gala materialize. It was a dark blue coat that covered everything but his muzzle and eyes. Around his was a golden amulet the had japaneighs symbol on it. With another flash of his horn ten more amulets exactly like that one appeared. He levitated them over to Rarity.

"Have your friends the crusaders and spike wear one of these on the night of the gala I wont say why now. You will see why on the night of the gala. Ok?"

"Very well."

"Then Rarity for now I bid you adieu." His horn lit up once more and with that he vanished.