White Zinfandel

Inside of the Royal Palace of Canterlot, guards line the halls of the palace as they await the return of their princess for the aftermath strategy meeting. As they waited, Shining Armor stood in full uniform while he watched the royal chariot come in from it's deployment. As the four stallions landed their princess, many of the guards in the area bowed before her, including their captain.

"Good evening Princess Celestia. How did the operations go in Ponyville and Fillydelphia?"

Celestia signaled for the guards to rise before she dismissed them to have a private conversation with her captain. "A well-wished evening to you as well, Captain. It seems that the parasprite infestation was resolved upon my arrival in Ponyville. As for Fillydelphia, we managed to get there before it had even begun. Though in short, the operation was a resounding success."

"Well that's good to hear, your highness."

The princess hummed as she started to make her way to the large doors that led deeper into the palace. "Captain, a question."

"Yes, princess."

"Would you stop being so formal every time you deal with me?"

Shining almost jumped at the request. It would seem that he started to place her on a pedestal as of late, and he remembered that she didn't exactly took much appreciation to that kind of treatment. "Uh... Okay. So what's poppin'?"

Celestia smiled as she heard a more informal statement come from her captain's mouth, placing her more at ease. "Well, I was thinking about Twilight and her success in her friendship studies. Now I do wish to reward her for her diligence. What would be a good thing to get her?"

Shining took a moment to think as he walked side by side with the princess. "Um... Another spell book. Twily love those things."

"Yes... or perhaps I intended for something that would get her social juices flowing." Celestia suggested as she decided that the last thing her shut-in student needed was another vice for her to stay locked up inside of the library.

"Oh! Well I know that the big Fall Formal in Manehattan is coming up in three months. But isn't that a little far?" Shining asked as he thought about the party that he and Cadance went to in the past two years.

Celestia nodded her head as she thought about the distance from Ponyville to the metropolis. But it wasn't just the distance that plagued her mind. It was also a matter of her safety. "Yes and it would be out of my jurisdiction. If Twilight was to go to Manehattan, there would be stallions there willing to take a chance and... well you can fill the blanks."

Shining knew what kind of riff-raff resided in the town. He remembered how many of them didn't respect those with a title and instead respected those with a large bag of money. But he knew exactly what could happen to his sister if she was to so happen to walk into a bad sector of town. And keeping in mind that she didn't have very much social experience or street smarts, he immediately took back his suggestion. "...Bad idea."

"Yeah." Celestia whispered. "And I intended for her to be in an environment that not only I could survey, but one that she could easily find herself having fun. Safe fun of course, but it will be an enjoyable experience nonetheless. I also intend for her to get the opportunity to enjoy herself as soon as possible."

"Oh... I know where you're getting at."

"And not only I will be able to spend time with her, but providing that you will be one of the VIP's, you would easily be able to spend some time with her as well."

Shining was on board with the idea of having his little sister here in the city once more. It would give him a chance to spend some quality time with her. "Agreed. The Grand Galloping Gala is a great idea! Twily would love it."

Celestia felt a sudden firecracker go off in her mind as she heard the word love. "Oh! And in speaking of love, I ran into your foalhood crushee today."

Shining stopped walking as he looked at the princess who mentioned the filly he once wrote letters to. "Come again?"

"Oh you know, the pure-white unicorn filly with the indigo mane. If I'm not mistaken, her name is Rarity."

"Oh yeah... her." Shining said as the reminder of her name brought a bad taste to his mouth.

"She's an element bearer now, though I'm sure you knew."

Shining sped up his walk as he tried to make his way down the hall quickly, trying to avoid the subject. "That's nice."

"And might I say that she has grown to become a very beautiful mare."

"I'm sure she has." He said with a bemused tone.

"And not to mention she's into fashion. I'm more than certain that she'll be designing your sister's dress for the Grand Galloping Gala. I even hear that sh-"

Shining immediately performed an about-face and looked the princess square in the eye, wanting her to stop talking about the subject. "I get it! She's beautiful, she's wonderful, and she's successful! Can we move on!?"

Celestia backed away in response to the sudden change in Shining's tone. Though she was used to politicians and nobles staring her down and shouting words at her, it still surprised her to see that her captain would do the same. She answered him in an apologetic tone. "I... just thought that you should know."

"It's okay, princess. With all due respect, that's in the past. I can't bring myself to remember the fact that I was the sole reason that her life is what it is now because of my mistakes. Mistakes that ended up costing me something I wanted for myself."

Celestia remembered how painful it was to watch him cry into her chest eight years ago as he heard the news of his unborn foal being taken away by the distinctionless grips of death. But she also knew that this wasn't something that was of his control. He was a victim to fate no different from everypony else who was involved. "Shining Armor, it's okay to remember. You would even be surprised of what has all come to pass since that day. You are not at fault. This was meant to be."

Shining hiccuped at the words that left the princess' mouth. He felt angry that she would be so blunt. "It was meant to be that... Pearl got hurt? That she lost a foal that she carried, that was mine to begin with? I even had a name for her! It was S-"

"Sweetie Belle." Celestia whispered, causing Shining to trot backwards.

"...How did you know?" He whimpered.

The white alacorn princess took a deep breath as she finally disclosed the closure to the dark chapter of his life. "Symphonia Wenda Belle, shortened to the common name of Sweetie Belle, now attends the Ponyville Schoolhouse under the instruction of your fellow classmate, Cherilee. Her current age transitioned to seven since last month. Her mother is Pearl and her father is the retired Hall-of-Famer Magnus Belle. She has an older sibling by the name of Rarity Andalusia Belle, who bears the Element of Generosity."

Shining could not find the words to express how he was feeling. He was happy that Pearl's marriage was apparently sustained and salvaged. He was content that Rarity was doing well. But he was deeply saddened that the name that he thought was going to be tied to him was that of another. His mind was racked with confusion as he struggled to put everything together. "But... I don't understand. I thought-"

Celestia placed a hoof over his mouth as she interrupted him. "Fate can be cruel at times. I know this because of my own shortcomings. But if there is anything that is unfortunate for some, it will be fortunate for others. Fate is a fickle thing. Sometimes the only thing you can do is watch."

"Coming from the mare that can control the sun?" Shining asked as he thought about all of the power she has and her inability to make miracles happen. Though Celestia took offense to his statement. She was not some sort of savior to be herald as a god.

...Her mother was enough of that.

"Coming from a mare, period. My talents do not define who I am as a being. And as a pony, I am susceptible to all that fate has to offer; I am no different from you." Celestia said enraged that he would assume that she was a higher being than him.

"I'm sorry. I only... misjudged." Shining's ears folded as he sunk his head, not wanting to look at the mare he offended. But he found himself looking at two large pools of lavender as the princess lifted his face to hers and spoke in a gentle tone.

"Shining Armor, I know that the past was difficult to swallow. But you above all others should know that what happens in the past can follow you into the future, but only if you allow it to."

Celestia released the smaller pony as he turned away, still not wanting to look her directly in the eye. "...Okay. But I still rather not hear about Rarity for the time being. I can't face a mare who's heart I broke at an age so young."

Celestia sighed as she realized that he was still essentially running away from his problems. "I'll give you the time."

"Thanks for understanding." Shining said softly.

"You are most welcome. Now come, we have a meeting to attend to."

"Right." He agreed as the two started to make their way down the halls once more. But before they could get a solid pace going, he had one more question to ask. "Hey princess."

"Yes." Answered the princess as she turned around to look at Shining.

"How did Ponyville get rid of the parasprites all by themselves?"

"They had a parade. It seems like the little creatures just wanted to dance."

"...What?"

Two Month's Later...
Saturday, September 6th, 1000 C.D.V., 0 S.R.

"Captain?"

"Yes, princess?"

"I have a question to ask."

"Shoot."

Princess Celestia remains seated on her throne as Shining Armor stands before her, holding a large schedule. As he levitates the large schedule to the side and teleporting it to a different location, he turns his attention to the princess.

"As you know, I intend to send Twilight a ticket to the Gala. Though I started to think on whether I should send her two for a pony that she may want to bring along."

"That seems... wait a minute, what do you mean for a pony she wants to bring along?" Shining asked with curious flames stoked in the back of his mind.

"Well I started thinking. Twilight is a mare now and she's had a full two months to develop a social life in Ponyville. And with a social life, comes social interaction. And comes social interaction, comes the interest in the opposite sex."

"So you would think that Twily is seeing somepony?"

"But of course. After all, she has a lot to work with in Ponyville. The town just so happens to have one of the better female to male ratios. The only candidate that has more males is the city of Manehattan and stallions are the majority in that city. Ponyville would be the perfect place for her to find a date."

Shining took a seat as he gestured to the princess to continue. "Explain further."

"Ponyville has a female-to-male ratio of three to one. That means that the selection of the town is very diverse despite the mares outnumbering the stallions. And most of the stallions there are humble workers who seek nothing but the simple things in life. Things such as getting a job, finding a mare, getting married, having foals, so on and so forth."

As the princess finished her opening arguments, it was Shining's turn to provide his own. "Well princess, I can only say that I know my little sister more than anypony. So trust me when I say this: she has no interest in stallions whatsoever."

"Oh dear..."

"What's wrong?"

"I just didn't know that she was like that. But if she should pursue love by those means, then I will not judge her for it."

Shining felt his jaw land on the floor as he tried to clear up her false impressions. "Wait, are you implying that my sister is a mare-muncher?"

"Oh... dear. Um, did I go too far?" Celestia asked as she felt guilty of putting Twilight's business in the open.

"No, you just made a wrong guess. What I'm saying is that Twily has no interest in mares or stallions because of reasons I can't say."

"Oh..." It took a moment for the solar princess to think about the statement that Shining provided. After a few seconds, it finally dawned on her that he was simply stating that her interests were indeed with a stallion. It just so happen to cross past the borders of taboo. "OH DEAR ME!"

"Yeah... just between us, princess." Shining whispered as he motioned that the princess keep her voice low.

"I do not recall what we were conversing about and therefore have no comment at this time." Celestia said nervously, finally realizing why she never went after other colts when Celestia made a push for her to introduce herself over the past few years.

"Nice. Now why are you sending Twilight two tickets again?"

"Don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure that she'll find somepony to go with her. And besides, I already sent the tickets."

"You what!?" Shining exclaimed.

"I sent them in earlier this morning. I had to since I had a long list of VIP's. And in speaking of which, you and Azure will be attending as well as Cadance."

Shining was about to question her on why she needed to send off the tickets without his notice but found interest in another matter. "Wait, what about Princess Luna?"

"She declined for matters of a... *ahem* public issue."

"Public speaking?" Shining deadpanned.

"Bingo." Celestia said flatly as she remembered that Luna tended to get very excited when speaking in front of a large group of ponies, using the Royal 'We', old Equish and even going as far as speaking the the Royal Canterlot Voice. She was often nicknamed Princess Capslock for her means of summoning Azure to whatever room she was in.

"Well that's all I needed to hear. So back to the matter of the tickets, why not send Poindexter and Longshot some?"

"Well... Longshot denied for taking his day off to spend with his family in Ponyville. And Poindexter declined under the impression that it would be, and I quote, a large heaping mess of uppity ponies with entire tree branches rooted deeply in their asses."

"Oh wow." Shining felt his jaw drill into the floor as he wondered if he heard the princess correctly.

"And ultimately, I agre-"

"You actually cursed." Shining said as he started to giggle a bit, finding amusement that his princess made a swear.

"Forgive my rude language, as I was merely quoting your fr-."

"No you're fine. I just can't believe how fluently it left your lips. Do it again!" Shining commanded as if he was a colt in a candy shop with all the bits he could have.

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"Please."

"Fuck off."

Shining squeed openly while Celestia rolled her eyes. "I am soooo going to pay Poindexter his fifty bits. This is worth every penny."

"Captain..." Celestia urged as she wanted him to snap out of his schoolgirl mode.

"My apologies, princess." Shining mumbled as he blushed a light tone of pink.

"Remember that I am held to a different standard, and though I may not like it, I do it for the image. So my colorful language stays with you, otherwise the palace will be getting a front row seat to an opera of profane obscenities directed to you and only you." The princess warned, not quite letting the sun come out but giving enough indication that it will if it has to.

"I really want to hear the words she screams out in bed now. Cadie, can we pleeease have a threesome with Princess Celestia? Her swearing is so hot." Shining thought to himself as he found the extended vocabulary quite arousing. Though he ignored his thoughts and gave the princess a wink. "Your secret is safe with me, princess. Though my concern for the moment lies with my sister getting those tickets."

"Oh Shining," Celestia chimed with a smile. "Twilight is more than capable of deciding who she will bring with her. Besides, they're tickets. What could possibly happen?"

"Are these what I think they are?"

It was yet another lovely day in the town of Ponyville. Though in Twilight's case, that day was now soiled with the fact that she had more friends than tickets to the hottest party of all of Equestria: The Grand Galloping Gala. It was bad enough that Applejack and Rainbow Dash had already got into an argument over who would go. Now Pinkie started to assume that she would be going. And it didn't help that Rarity now found the tickets also.

"Uh-" Twilight didn't get a chance to finish as Pinkie Pie interrupted her.

"Yes, yes, yes! Twilight's taking me to The Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot."

Rarity interjected her own view as she didn't want to pass up on the opportunity to go. "The gala? I design ensembles for the gala every year, but I've never had the opportunity to attend. Oh, the society, the culture, the glamour! It's where I truly belong, and where I'm destined to meet... him."

"Him... who?" Pinkie asked as she never heard of this Him before.

Though Rarity struggled to recall his name, she very much recalled some of his appearance. The main thing she remembered that he was a tall and well built stallion with a coat of pure white. The image of his face often eluded her in her dreams, but she knew that he lived in Canterlot. Though the details of him being a literal prince started to distort her visions a bit.

"Him. I would stroll through the gala, and everyone would wonder, 'Who is that mysterious mare?' They would never guess that I was just a simple pony from little old Ponyville. Why, I would cause such a sensation that I would be invited for an audience with Princess Celestia herself, and the princess would be so taken with the style and elegance that she would introduce me to him, her nephew: the most handsome, eligible unicorn stallion in Canterlot. Our eyes would meet, our hearts would melt. Our courtship would be magnificent. He would ask for my hoof in marriage, and of course I would say, 'Yes!' We would have a royal wedding, befitting a princess, which is what I would become upon marrying him, the stallion of my dreams."

Rarity sighed deeply and let her romantic fantasy play out in her head. She allowed for her vision to subside as her mind drifted from the heavens above back to the world below. Realizing that Twilight was on the verge of giving away that ticket, she felt anger swell within her heart.

"Twilight, I simply cannot believe you would invite Pinkie Pie so she can... party, and prevent me from meeting my true love. How could you?"

As Rarity tooted her nose to the air in anger, she heard a voice scream out.

"Hey!"

As the three ponies turned around to see what all the commotion was, they noticed that Spike stood angrily as he watch the tickets he held carried away by a bunny that climbed on top of a mare's head, presenting the tickets to her.

"Angel, these are perfect." The yellow pegasus praised the rabbit.

Meanwhile, Twilight was still trying to get things cleared up. "Uh... listen guys, I haven't decided who to give the extra ticket to."

"You haven't?" Both Rarity and Pinkie asks, unknowingly giving Fluttershy an initiative.

Fluttershy knew that it would be rude to ask for something out of the blue, but this provided her with an opportunity to see the animals of Canterlot. She wouldn't allow it to pass her by. Angel, the bunny, would be her guide to assert herself. "Um, excuse me, Twilight. I would just like to ask, I mean, if it would be all right, if you haven't given it to someone else-"

"You!? You want to go to the gala?" Rarity asked in disbelief; she knew that Fluttershy wasn't one who was comfortable with crowds.

"Oh, no." She said, feeling nervous that her friends were so aggressive on the issue. Angel Bunny corrected her as he tapped a foot into her foreleg, urging her to speak her mind. "I mean, yes, or, actually, kind of. You see, it's not so much The Grand Galloping Gala as it is the wondrous private gated garden that surrounds the dance. The flowers are said to be the most beautiful and fragrant in all of Equestria. For the night of the gala, and that night alone, would they all be in bloom... and that's just the flora! Don't get me started on the fauna. There's loons and toucans and bitterns, oh my! Hummingbirds that can really hum, and buzzards that can really buzz. White-blue jays, and red jays, and green jays, pink jays and pink flamingos!"

Twilight tried to see what was so interesting about her pursuit over the others. At least with the others, they were more outstanding reasons. Applejack's was to make a profit for the sake of her farm and to get it placed on the map. Rainbow Dash was to spend time with her lifelong idols, The Wonderbolts, in pursuit of becoming one of them. Pinkie Pie solely wanted to enjoy herself. And Rarity sought the love of her life. To go to a party to see animals was a rather strange argument to make.

"Gee, Fluttershy. It sounds... beautiful?" Twilight tried to sound interested but found herself startled by a familiar voice.

"Wait just a minute!" The rainbow pegasus shouted as she leapt from the top of a house down to the ground in front of the lavender mare.

"Rainbow Dash, were you following me?" Twilight asked sounding annoyed.

"No. I mean, yes. I mean, maybe." Rainbow didn't know how she answered that question, but she knew that she had to persuade her to give her the ticket. "Look, it doesn't matter. I couldn't risk a goody-four-shoes like you giving that ticket away to just anybody."

"Wait just another minute!" Another voice rang out. The purple mare saw that yet another one of her friends had come to sway her into giving her the ticket. Twilight was far from amused.

"Applejack, were you following me too?"

"No. Ah was followin' this one to make sure she didn't try any funny business. Still trying to take mah ticket." Applejack answered as she pointed to the rainbow pegasus.

"Your ticket?" Rainbow called out trying to correct the farm pony.

"But Twilight's taking me!" Pinkie shouted out to the both of them starting a large argument between the five mares.

Twilight held her ears as she heard the various arguments fill her head.

"But this is a chance for me to fulfill my lifelong dream!Your lifelong dream? Mine is way more important than yours! MUST... But what about my dream, girls? It wouldn't be fair to-Your's isn't even a valid reason! At least Ah can say that Ah have a legitimate reason.Legitimate my ass! You can't even beat me in a hoof wrestling contest! HAVE... And of course I told her that peanut butter would be a great addition to her recipe.Fluttershy dear, wouldn't you rather allow me to find you a picture book of all the animals? PEACE... Rarity, seeing the animals would be far more enjoyable than you trying to pursue a stallion who might not even like you.*Gasp* How rude!And of course I had to tell her that wasabi sauce on her cupcakes was a bad idea. AND... Ah'll bet ya ten bits that ya won't even be able to win this time!Why not the tickets, cowpony!?Then she told me about a new ingredient to add into the cookies!I will have true love!But the animals, I have to see them."

"QUIIIIEEEEET!!!"

As Twilight managed to silence most of the other ponies, Pinkie continued her statement.

"And then I said: Oatmeal? Are you craz-" Pinkie stopped shortly after she realized that she was the only one talking. "...oh."

"Girls, there's no use in arguing."

Rarity stepped forward to further plead her case. "But Twilight-"

"Eh!" Twilight shushed the fashionista with a hoof and politely pushed her away. "This is my decision, and I'm gonna make it on my own, and I certainly can't think straight with all this noise..." As she continued her tirade, she was reminded by her body to eat something. "...Not to mention hunger. Now go on, shoo."

All the other mares sank their heads as they walked away in disappointment. Twilight continued to speak to them as they made off to their separate ways.

"And don't worry, I'll figure this out... somehow."

"I cannot believe the nerve of those other mares!"

Rarity sat at her sewing machine as she stitched up various patterns and shapes in order to make her dress. As she fitted the cloths into place, she grumbled on how the other mares tried to take her opportunity at love away from her.

"And to think that these girls would all try to go to the Gala for their own reasons. At least mine will benefit the interest of another."

Rarity stopped herself from fixing up her dresses as she took a moment to think about the stallion of her dreams.

"Oh how I long to see him again. I can't believe I forgot his address. Arrgh, this is so frustrating... Why did I ever send that mean and disrespectful letter to him? If only he could see who I've managed to become, what he could still have."

Rarity walked away from her desk and made her way to the large mirror in front of her modeling stage.

"If you could see what you do to me, my dear prince. My cheeks swell with a rosy tint when I think about you. My legs shake in anticipation of your touch. Your fragrant musk would fill my nostrils and send me ever so close to your lips. Why I doubt that I would be so strong as to even get that far before melting into your hooves."

She imagined that the stallion was the image within the looking glass as her heart started to shoot pain throughout her body. Her body falls forward as she crashes herself against the mirage of the stallion she can only see in her dreams. The knight in the shining armor that stood before her urged her to grovel at the foot of the mirror. She raises herself to meet the figure face to face as a hoof slowly makes it's way from the nape of his neck to the peak of his chest. Her eyes closes as she whispers to him.

"Will you touch me... after all these years? I am old enough for you to have your way with now. I care not that you have committed sins against my family. I forgive you for the pain that you brought to me. I can't bear to keep myself away from you any longer, my sweet."

Her lips presses lightly against the glass, the skin of her lips latching on to the phantom image. After a second of imagined bliss, her lips part from the glass, leaving a print of her puckered flesh. As her eyes open, she can only see the image of herself. Her heart continues to ache once more as the bitter and cruel reality of her being separated from him rains on her life once more.

"Of course we will find each other... I know we will."

She makes her way to the window as she watches the clouds go by. The sky continued to get darker as the sadness in her heart started to settle in.

"Though it is only a matter of when and how long. I cannot wait to see your face again."

While she started to look at the sky above, something caught her attention. She noticed that there was a large hole in the dark clouds that floated over the town. And in the center of that hole was a cyan pegasus placing clouds in strategic areas. Normally, pegasi would bunch the clouds together rather than building them in a ring. As she looked to the ground below, she noticed the one thing that confirmed her suspicion.

"That Rainbow ruffian. Why, she would think that her antics would go unnoticed? How dare she start a rainstorm and leave a sunny day out for Twilight. She... trying to win her favor!"

Rarity jumped away from her window as she ran back to her sewing machine, quickly working up a sweat as she breezed through her designs and made a dress in seemingly no time at all.

"If Rainbow Dash wants to play this game, then I will do my best to outshine her. She will rue the day she ever thought to challenge Rarity Andalusia Belle!"

As the snow-white unicorn ran down the stairs, she grabbed an umbrella from beside the door and made her way outside into the pouring rain. While Rarity trotted to the restaurant across the street, she saw her purple friend drenched in rainwater. Spike stood beside her as she held a pouting disposition.

"Twilight, it's raining." Rarity called out as she made a gallop to the lavender unicorn.

"No, really." Twilight mumbled before Rarity grabbed her off of her seat.

"Come with me before you catch a cold!"

As they ran back into the Boutique, Twilight shook herself dry. As she finished, she realized that she had ultimately left Rarity completely soaked from her shaking off the rainwater. Twilight giggled lightly as she saw the look on the fashionista's face.

"Heh heh, oops, sorry."

"Oh no, it's quite all right. After all, we are the best of friends, are we not? And you know what the best of friends do?" Rarity asked as she snuggled up to her purple friend.

"Uh..."

"♪Makeovers!♫" Rarity sang-sung as she levitated a large curtain over to the confused mare.

The boutique became a symphonic cacophony of yelps and hums as the fashionista tried to measure up the purple mare for the dress she recently made. The only problem was that she had to make some last minute adjustments. Many last minute adjustments.

"Ugh-Rarity-ow-this really isn't fixing it. I mean, thank you but-ooh-that's too tight."

"I-nnngh-know it's a little-arrgh-tight, but believe me-nngh-when I say that you'll be just fine. Now suck in your gut."

"Suck in my wha-HOOOOOooo... can't... breathe..."

"Okay... now let me loosen this, annnnnnd voila!"

As the fashionista pulled the curtain back, the purple unicorn wore a blue saddle and collar ensemble with accents of green and white. Rarity secretly applauded herself as she complimented the mare on her appearance.

"There. Oh, you're simply darling."

"Uh, yeah. It is kinda pretty, isn't it?" Twilight said as she spun around to get a better look at herself.

Rarity made a devilish grin as she looked at the younger assistant. Before the young drake could finish his gesture of disgust, he found himself as the seamstress' next victim.

"And you. Oh Spike, I have a dandy little outfit for the dashing gent."

Spike tried to make a break for the door but found the curtain on one side and the wall on the other. Rarity held him with her magic as she dragged him in. Upon capturing the dragon, she started her work immediately.

"D-ah! Ow! Oh, hey! Ouch. Watch it! whoa!"

"Don't move-nnngh-for one more second. Annnnnd presto!"

With the curtain removed, Spike stood embarrassed as he saw that he was dressed in a frilly blue blouse and wearing a blonde wig. Twilight laughed as she saw the young dragon dressed in the unusual attire.

"Oh Spike!"

Rarity walked towards him as he didn't react in time to avoid her. "Now you just need a hat."

Feeling the hat land on his head, Spike asserted himself on the matter of his appearance. "I told you, I don't want any part of this girly gala gunk. See you back at the library."

Spike broke into a dash as he ran for the door, leaving the absurd outfit all over the floor. He also left a laughing Rarity as she refocused her attention back to the matter at hoof.

"Oh, who needs him anyway. This is all about you, and how fabulous you'll look at The Grand Galloping Gala."

Twilight instantly knew something was up at the mention of the prestigious event. "Wait, The Grand-"

"And oh my goodness, what a coincidence. I happen to have an ensemble of my own that matches yours to a T. We would be the belles of the ball, you and I. Everyone would be clamoring for our attention. All eyes would be on us, and then everyone would finally know, the most beautiful, most talented, most sophisticated pony in all of Equestria is Rarity the unicorn!"

Rarity ended her little speech as she suddenly remembered who she was speaking with. With a nervous laugh, she tried to minimize the damage she already caused. "...and Twilight Sparkle, of course."

Twilight wore an angry look as she started to unlatch the ensemble she wore. "I see what's going on. You're just buttering me up so I give you the extra ticket. Well it's not gonna work. You're going to have to wait for my decision just like everyone else."

Finally freeing herself from the ensemble, Twilight made a trot to the front door. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've been trying all day just to get some lunch."

"Did somepony say lunch?" A third voice with a twangy southern accent called out from outside, causing Rarity to feel even more upset. She cursed herself in silence as she picked up the ensemble off of the floor.

"Damn... so close."

As the sun moved below the horizon, signalling the end of the day, Celestia's horn shut off it's magic as she turned to the next door balcony to her right. As she watched her younger sister flare her horn, she watched as the moon took to the sky. Luna cheerfully raised the moon and started to paint the sky with black. With a wave of her hoof, she drew the many constellations that littered the night sky. Celestia smiled as she watched her sister do the thing she was best known for, and took much joy that her night was as appreciated as her own day. In the distance, a voice calls her to the door.

"Princess Celestia."

She knew who's voice it was and walked to the door. "Yes, captain."

"I was wondering about something..." Shining said as the door opened before him. Celestia allowed him to enter into the room as she allowed him to continue with his question.

"...Speak."

"Have you ever had a dream that kept coming back?" Shining asked as the princess closed the door behind him.

"Several, many of those pertaining to my little sister. Why do you ask?"

"Well..." Shining wanted to tell her what was going on, but he changed his mind out of fear that she would disapprove. "Nevermind, forget I said anything about it."

"Well I wouldn't be the one you should talk to. That's Luna's department." Celestia said as she pointed to the wall that separated her and the lunar princess.

"Luna is with Azure for the night and she ordered that they would not be disturbed." Shining recalled, not wanting to disobey orders.

"Oh. Well then it will have to wait until tomorrow."

Shining looked at the wall, knowing that both Luna and Azure was holed up inside of the room. Curiosity filled his mind as he felt the need to know about their relationship. "Does Princess Luna have a thing for Azure?"

"And who would I be to disclose her personal matters to one whom she has not allowed to know on her own terms?" Celestia asked, pretty much telling the captain to mind his own business.

"Oh... So that's a yes?"

"If that is what you think, then I will not change your mind."

Shining sighed and shook his head at the princess' response. "Boo! You're no fun."

The princess quirked an eyebrow as she turned away from the captain. "And you've been trying to get Cadance to do a threesome."

Shining felt his body grow cold. He remembered asking her for one, but he didn't remember telling anyone else aside from his friends about it. He stuttered as he tried to find out her reason of knowing that aspect of his and Cadance's relationship. "H..bu...she... How did you-"

"Cadance shares everything with me, Shining Armor. And sometimes, she does go into detail." Celestia said as she chuckled softly.

"Wait... that means-"

Celestia turned around to see the expression of pure horror come across the captain's face with each step she took, closing the distance between them. "I know your kinks, length, girth and even that reoccurring dream that she hears you speak about every now and then."

"So... you knew everything... about me?" Shining questioned as he felt his legs go numb as the ivory alacorn princess tower above him, close enough to whisper words of mockery. As she raised her hoof, he closed his eyes, not wanting to see what was coming.

"Well just the dream part. She doesn't tell me about your nightly activities with her." Celestia admitted, booping the captain on the nose. He opened his eyes to see if his body registered the correct feeling. Indeed, it did as he watched the solar princess trot off happily.

"That was a low blow, princess." Shining said as he felt a bit of embarrassment for falling for her bluff.

"And you're the one saying that I'm no fun?" Celestia asked as she turned around, poking her tongue out at the captain while winking an eye.

"Well played." Shining said as he watched a green cloud of smoke enter the room and drop a letter in front of the princess.

"It would appear that a letter has come from Ponyville." She spoke while enveloping the letter in her magic. She read the letter aloud.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I've learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to The Grand Galloping Gala.

Thank you for your generosity, and I'm sorry to reject such an offer.

Your faithful student,

~Twilight Sparkle

"...Twily." Shining droned as he heard the bad news.

"Well that is most unfortunate. It would seem that our reunion with Twilight will be withheld to a later date."

Shining saw a bit of disappointment come across the princess' face. He thought to himself on how he could find a way to get his little sister to reconsider her choice. He knew that she wanted to go, but not without her friends. He thought to himself of a way to get another ticket to her, as a means to rectify the situation. Then he came up with a solution that started with him; he would give up his ticket.

"Princess, I give up my ticket to send to her."

"Well that's generous, but that still leaves three others who would still not be able to go. And the guest list has already been finalized, so I cannot order for more tickets to be made." Celestia explained while she collected the ticket.

"If I don't go, then Cadance wouldn't want to go either. She never really took an interest in formal engagements anyhow." He said as he surrendered her ticket as well.

"That still leaves two."

Shining pointed to two envelopes on her nightstand, addressed to two of his friends. "And you still have the tickets that Poindexter and Longshot rejected. So two tickets, plus Cadie's, plus mine, plus the two that Twily sent back-"

The princess instantly levitated a quill and a sheet of paper to her side and started scribbling words on the parchment. "I'm writing a letter now. Shining Armor, you are absolutely amazing!"

My faithful student Twilight,

Why didn't you just say so in the first place? Had I known that you would vouch for your friends to attend the Gala with you, I would have made provisions to do so. Though there is some bad news; I cannot request that there would be more tickets made at this time, as the guest list has been finalized.

Though there is a silver lining in this situation. The good news, there is approximately four others on the guest list that would be unable to attend. So enclosed are the original two tickets that I sent to you earlier, plus the four tickets of the guests that will pass on their tickets to you.

I am very proud of you. You have learned a most valuable lesson today. And not only that, you can see the seeds of selflessness that you have sown become a blessing that you are more than able to share with your friends. Well done, my most faithful student. I will see you, and your friends, at the Gala this upcoming weekend.

Your loving mentor,

~Celeste Delanise Valkyrie

"Yeah I a... Oh wait... Spike." Shining said with a bit of concern; he didn't want the little guy to feel left out of anything. Celestia sympathized with the captain and went over to one of the voice pipes on the wall.

"I'll ask Inkwell if there is a pony on the list who still desires not to attend."

"Okay." Shining said the princess lifted a lid on one of the tubes that lead to the floors below.

"Inkwell, is there anypony who is unable to attend the Gala?"

The princess waited a few seconds before there was an answer. A mare's voice filled the pipe and resonated throughout the room. "Well... There is one... Princess Luna. She said that she wishes not to attend for private reasons."

"Princess Celestia." Shining said with concern for his ruler as she wore a heartbreaking frown on her face. The both of them knew that the princess was not going to attend out of recommendation. But hearing that Luna declined out of her own free will sent waves of concern to the older royal sibling. She felt that Luna was rejecting the occasion out of envy that ponies would rather speak to her older sister than her. Luna was always a jealous one, but Celestia was often one who tried to look for another reason on why she would reject her ticket. She shook her head and wore a light, yet painful smile.

"It's only a night without her. I can bear it. It's not like she's going away afterwards. After all, she's home now."

"...Princess." Shining whispered as he watched the princess walk over to her bathroom. It seemed as if she needed some time alone. It was obvious that the pain of being rejected by her younger sister was getting to her. Realizing that she was in no mood to speak, Shining took the pipe and spoke.

"Delegate that ticket to Spike, Twilight's assistant. He would surely appreciate it."

The night was home to many things. It was home to an array of animals that crept in the darkness of the shadows. Some of them were dangerous while others were harmless. Though in some cases, there would be cases of promiscuous activities going on in the darkness of the shadows. And ponies were no different.

In the darkness of the room, a nightstand silently squeaked and creaked as a bright gold ticket laid across the surface. The glowing tickets shook slightly as the stand rocked back and forth. And to the edge of the nightstand was a shadow of a pony. The shadow slowly took it's time as it grind it's hips into a smooth corner of the wood. Soft whispers fill the air as unsteady breaths trickle into the melody of the squeaking wood.

The pace intensifies as the shadow figure gasps silently for air. The sharp bolts of pleasure rattles through the shadow of the pony as the wood continues to moan against the shifting weight.

"Ah~"

A feminine voice sounds out as she focuses on the ticket on the nightstand. Her hoof eagerly grabs at her chest as her squeaks join with that of the table. She coos with soft ooh's and ah's as her hips rock back and forth against the wood of the nightstand. Her mouth opens as she falters out of weakness and lands on the surface of the wood. She presses herself harder against the wooden surface as a puddle of juices accumulate on the top of the nightstand with some even falling to the carpet floor below.

The vapor of her breath creates a large abstract figure on the top of the wooden surface, disappearing as soon as it appeared. Her lips parted as she kissed the ticket that lied before her. Visions of the object of her desire gilds itself on the laminate surface of the glowing golden ticket. Her kisses are tender and soft as her ministrations become harsher and more assertive.

"My... my..."

She struggles to finish her phrase as she rocks her body back and forth. As one of her hooves clasps against the tuft of fur on her chest, another snakes its way down her abdomen, past her teats and against the leaking folds that she continues to distribute the abuse to. With a few pats against her marehood, she pulls back her secretion-lathered hoof and allows her tongue to cleanse the mess she created. The taste of her own juices filled her tastebuds with a bitter sorrow, yet a sweet reminder laid before her.

"It is all for you... my~"

Her mind is distorted by visions of her stallion taking her then and there. His stallionhood plunging into her virgin depths. She could feel the painful bliss of her building climax approach as he pulls her tail, aggressively forcing her to stay on him. Her lips parting with multiple clouds of vaporous clouds as she feels the sweat of her body pour onto the wooden stand. His sweat becomes her shower as his body rocks in and out, grinding his hips in a circular motion. Her eyes lock to him, despite her being unable to see him from behind. Her pace increases as his does.

"Abuse me. Defile me, foul beast. Destroy my precious flower with your throbbing ram. Crush me. Impale me. Send me to the heavens above and plunge me to the sinful flames below... Love me... my~"

Her climax approaches as her speed doubles, her hips crushes the wood below her as she jackhammers her clit into the corner of the nightstand. Her eyes closes as she slowly throws her head back. She tries to stifle her cries with a hoof, but she finds her self-control in lacking as she pulls herself against the stand. She sees the tickets glowing in the darkness as her horn also provides it's own source of light. Her magic slowly oozes from the tip of her horn as she rides to her orgasm.

"I am yours, take me... my prince~"

Her body seizes up as she hurries up to clean up any and all evidence of her wrongdoing. A soft knock on the door sounds through the room, causing the mare to end her orgasm in the weakest way possible, finding herself rather frustrated after such a monumental build-up. The door cracks open to reveal a small filly.

"Nnnnn-Rarity... I heard crying... Are you okay?"

The older unicorn cleared her nightstand as he answered her younger sister's question. "Yes dearie. There's nothing to worry about."

"Oh okay. I though I heard you crying, so I thought I could check up on you."

Rarity stayed in the darkness where her little sister could not see the state she was in. She thought of a quick lie to tell so that she couldn't see what was going on. "I'm quite alright. You've... had a bad dream."

"Maybe... Goodnight." Sweetie Belle whispered as she groggily trotted down the hall. "I love you, big sister."

Rarity gently smiled as she remembered how wonderful the little filly could be at times. Though she had a knack for destroying the kitchen, she often did it to show her heartfelt affection.

"Goodnight, Sweetie Belle. I love you too."

As the older mare magically closed the door, she flopped into her bed as she stared at the ticket on the nightstand. The golden glow reminded her that her hour of reunion with her prince was indeed at hoof. Her eyelids grew heavy from the fatigue of the physical experience she underwent prior to it's interruption. It was a feeling that took entirely too long to replicate and would be too difficult to get herself back in that zone now that Sweetie Belle had heard her. She took a mental note to hold off her lustful activities when the young filly was with her parents. Closing her eyes, she saw the dream that would rile her to her usual nightly passions. She mumbled as she let the dream take her.

"My prince... take me to a faraway land. The land of eternal pleasures."