A New Lord of Chaos

My plans had gone off without a hitch. Of all the problems I could have had that was not one of them I had a plan for, I should have taken Dash from the gala. I could have let Spike see me leaving after taking the elements. I could never have realized this problem until this point

Grand Galloping Gala T minus 4:45

Little less than five hours until the gala starts. Then I have to wait for me to grab Celestia. The girls are all going to be freaking out because the elements are gone. “Yeah this is a cluster fuck on my part.”

Grand Galloping Gala T minus 1:45

I had decided to remake my pony avatar this time it was just me. No playing the puppet master to a hollow shell of flesh via remote senses. I was going live and in person.

First things first transforming back and forth between forms. I needed to get used to doing this. I did not want to be caught with my pants down. Both figuratively and literally. After trying two or three times, I realized several things. First, transforming my body is a very disturbing sensation worse than healing; I felt every bone and muscle move shift and reshape. Second, both forms wore the same garments they just altered themselves to suit the body.

If I could hide, my discomfort when I revealed myself what I saw in the mirror would definitely make a good show. ‘Speaking of shows I wonder if Dash would like to see tonight’s events.’

Grand Galloping Gala T minus 0:35

I started getting ready. Humming masquerade I began flashing through several different outfits. Vermilion, white, navy, and several other color schemes before settling on black opera attire; with a few tweaks. I opted for a tri-corn hat over a top hat, adding silver lace to the edging. I was really playing off the black and gray color scheme I had chosen. My coat had tails, which just made me smile a tailcoat on a body with a tail.

Grand Galloping Gala T minus 0:20

I was ready. Dressed like Arsene Lupin, the only real differences being a different hat, and no monocle. It fit in my mind, playing the gentleman thief and dressing the greatest fictional thief to come out of France.

‘My humor is lost on these damn ponies.’

I walked into my main hall and forced Rainbow Dash to appear in front of me. Apparently, she was sleeping in her room. Furthermore, much to my pleasure she apparently still sleeps in the buff. I got a good look at, well the goods before she rolled over off the carpet. It was rather funny when she did this because; well bare breasts meets cold marble.

She woke up with a yelp and a shiver. She sat up and looked around clearly surprised when her eyes settled on me. She covered herself with her wings and gave me a look that could have frozen water.

“Yes, yes your mad I get it.” I told her in an exhausted tone. “I was wondering if you would like to watch the opening of the games at the gala in the theater.”

She blinked at that, and then asked. “How?”

I sighed. “You don’t remember your first morning here? It’s not too much of a stretch to project what I see on to the screen in there.”

She just nodded. Clearly not happy about being reminded about our first morning together.

“Very well, enjoy the show I will see you later.” With that, I slammed my cane down and down and disappeared from the hall.

I reconstituted myself in an alley not far from the palace. I stretched for a minute getting ready for spending several hours on all fours or at least until I appear and take Celestia to the past. With a groan and a final movement, I bring my cane up to my head.

Tapping the handle to the center of my fore head were it sticks. My body shifts and pops. Two minutes later my pony self walks out of the backstreet. I briskly trot towards the castle. Feeling for a hint of my own magical presence in the card, I gave Fluttershy. ‘Interesting its approaching me at a near perpendicular angle. It’s amazing how much I can steal from fiction with these powers.’

I kept moving towards the palace. As I got closer more and more ponies started appearing in finery. It looked like a cross between a Venetian masquerade and a state dinner. So many different styles and colors, I stood out not because of how I was dressed but rather for the somber tones, I had clad myself in.

I could feel the card getting closer now it was almost directly behind me. I slowed down a bit watching the rest of the crowd. ‘Need to see a few invitations so I can fake one.’ Oddly, they looked to me like the golden tickets from Willy Wonka. Easy enough for me to fake but even easier to steal and modify. Watching the crowd around me no one was looking at me for more than a glance save a few mares here and there. ‘Need to do this quick and quiet.’ One point-to-point teleportation later, I had an invite in my breast pocket. I got in line to enter and pulled the ticket out of my coat the aura around it was silver I looked it over checking for parts I would need to doctor. Pitifully enough, these ponies did not even think to individualize invitations to an event hosted by royalty. ‘These things don’t even have a serial number or an area stating who the invitation was sent to or by. To trusting for their own good.’

Something caught my attention as I neared the front of the line. I could feel the card was moving quickly towards the entrance. Looking over the crowd, I saw all five of the girls making their way up to the entrance skipping the line. ‘Guess being a princess has its perks. Oh boy does she look anxious.’

While Twilight was looking like she was trying to bluff her way out of a bad poker hand the others looked rather normal. ‘Guess she doesn’t like the gala, or she noticed the theft.’ They quickly were waved through the entrance and I lost sight of them. It took me another ten minutes or so to get through the line.

As I entered, I couldn’t help but notice all the little differences. Things a human event of this magnitude would have that were missing from the ongoing party. Such as there was no coat-check; granted when you control the weather and can give a 100% accurate forecast who would wear a coat. Looking around the room, I skipped out on the line to be greeted by the Princess I didn’t need to risk meeting myself.

As I entered the main area of the party, I could feel the card across the room. I had all the time I wanted to do this. ‘A true hunter has the patience to wait for the prey to come to him when he is near.’ Waiting for any of them to find me, I went over to the bar. ‘Damn it’s a guy oh well.’ I was happy to see it was an open bar and got myself a vodka martini. From there I moved over to some tables and sat at an empty one waiting.