A Life in Equestria

Chapters

The Party
The Mailpony
The Concert
Magic is a... Mare?
Lovey Dovey
Can't Tell Grace
After the Dragon
Magic Wakes
The Fighting Ends

The Party

"So Grace, did you find a place to live yet?” The two friendly ponies were laying down on the
seemingly comfortable sofas in Twilight`s library, waiting for the pouring rain to die down. There was Grace Note, the musical genius of Ponyville and her maroon colored associate Magic Sketch who was the artistic prodigy of the small town. Magic was currently living with Twilight as a second assistant which is why they chose to wait the storm out in there.

Fortunately, Grace was choosing to stay with her friend Lyra. The mint-colored mare was a good enough pony as a roommate and Grace didn't mind living with her, but she was definitely ready to find a place of her own. Living with Lyra had just been too much to deal with lately. The two mares were actually quite different when somepony disregards their musical abilities. Lyra was too obsessed with humans for Grace`s taste. Of course Grace wasn’t exactly a walk in the park either. Most of the time she was composing and playing music for one of her four instruments. These instruments varied from clarinet to cello to harpsichord and even to triangle. The non-stopping music annoyed Lyra quite a bit.

“Well, I was thinking of the one on the corner of Rainbow Road. It`s a good size, a quiet neighborhood, and most importantly, it's right by Sugarcube Corner so I won’t ever have to miss a party.” She smiled. More than once had she been the go-to music pony for various Pinkie Pie parties. She loved the work considering she got all the yummy cupcakes and muffins she could eat without having to be too social.

“That one looked nice.” Magic smiled at the light blue pegasus curled up in a bundle of fuzzy blankets. He shivered, remembering that she had taken his blanket. He didn’t really mind it though, he wanted her to be warm more than himself. “I was actually thinking about saving up my bits for the house right next door of here. That way I`ll have my own place but I’ll still be close enough to still help Twilight with organizing the books every day. Only 5,000 more bits to go!"

“Thats fantastic! Im sure it won't take you too long to raise the money.” She grinned and sipped on her cider. They made more small talk, catching up on each other's lives. Being friends with a music pony who travels a lot certainly leaves quite a bit of time between visits. During a rare moment of silence, the mare noticed something different than from when they had came in.

“Hey I think the rain stopped." Grace smiled wide. "Should we go to Sugarcube Corner for Pinkie`s ‘surprise’ party meant for us now?” Grace couldn't help but giggle as she remembered the incident with Pinkie the day before. She would never let the party pony live it down. Or at least anytime soon.

“Yep!” He laughed, “But how about we surprise her for once?” With a smirk, his horn started to glow, stopping the mare from asking the obvious question. Grace grinned and nodded in approval.

They transported into the kitchen of the pastry shop, making sure to be quiet. Luckily no one had noticed their sudden appearance. They peeked through the door and located their unsuspecting target. Quietly, they snuck up behind the pink pony and gave the each other a smile, shouting boo! The party pony jumped shocked, landing in Big Mac's arms.

"OHMYGOSH! You two scared me! But how'd you get past my Pinkie Sense? I always get an ear flop, twitchy hoof, and wiggly nose when ponies try to sneak up behind me!" She stared at them, willing them to spill their secrets. If only it worked on the musical pony.

"Silly Pinkie, we don't know why either." Grace laughed. This wasn't the first time that she had beat Pinkie`s legendary sense. “Oh and by the way, I loved that banana split you left me” Grace grinned.

"Oh uhm... Have fun!" Pinkie bounced away, desperately in search of a friend to cheer up.

"We will!" Magic yelled back at her as he laughed. "Grace, would you like some punch? I'll gladly get it for you."

"Oh why yes. Thank you Magic." She smiled and took the cup of punch levitating in front of her. A special magenta pony started to come up behind her, shushing everypony from letting Grace know of her presence. The secretive pony got closer and right before Grace could turn her head, smooch! the pony kissed her cheek. Grace smiled excitedly and hugged her tight, "Cheerilee! I thought you were on an overnight field trip with the little fillies and colts!"

Cheerilee managed to escape Grace`s grip and smiled, "Nope! That was moved to next week so I decided to surprise you. I'm guessing my plan worked."

"It definitely did." Grace kissed Cheerilee happily. The couple continued to talk for a while. Grace was having a wonderful time being able to see her marefriend for more than a few minutes for once. Unfortunately, Cheerilee had to leave after only an hour of fun and Grace was forced to hide her disappointment from the elementary school teacher. She never wanted her dear Cheerilee to feel bad about anything. Grace knew she wouldn’t be able to bear the guilt if she ever did make her shmoopy-doo feel awful in any way.

Three hours later, the party finally ended, so Magic and Grace decided to leave together. Of course Magic Sketch, being the gentlestallion that he was, offered to walk Grace all the way back to the home shared with the mint-colored pony. She didn't mind one bit, his company was always welcome. He was her best friend after all.

Before they reached their destination, Magic turned to the mare beside him. "So Grace, I wanted to ask you something." He paused for a moment, the tension grew. Grace couldn’t help but notice her heart was racing. "You know who Octavia Philharmonica is, right?"

"Know her? I practically worship her!" Grace sighed in relief and smiled wide. She thought of the many years she spent just listening to Octavia’s albums alone in her room. "Why do you ask Magic?"

"Well..." He grinned and looked away from the pegasus. "She asked if I knew anyone who would want to play with her at a concert in Cloudsdale. Naturally, I thought of my favorite pegasus pony who loves her music to death. But you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to..."He glanced back at her, smile vanishing.

"Well of course I'll do it! Do you know how long I've been wishing and hoping and doing whatever I can to have the chance of playing music with Octavia, the best cello player in all of Equestria?" Her voice got higher and higher with each word spoken due to her rising excitement.

"Well then I'll write the letter and tell her that she has the pony for the job. I'm sure she'll be happy to know my best mare will be the one to be aiding her." His warm grin returned to Grace`s pleasure.

"Thank you Magic.This really means a lot to me." She smiled sincerely and wrapped her hooves around his neck in a hug. It took the shocked unicorn a moment before embracing her back.

After a minute of undisturbed, peaceful hugging, the two ponies went back to standing on all four hooves, both with deep red blushes covering their cheeks. Magic broke the silence, "Ahem, so Derpy should be delivering the letter to you from Octavia soon. It should tell you what day and time to meet her."

"Are you sure that I'll actually get the letter? It is Derpy after all." She said concerned. She remembered the mess caused last time Derpy delivered an important letter to her. No way was she going to miss playing with her idol just because she didn't get the letter from the wall-eyed mare.

"Don't worry, she might not be the most careful but she gets all of her letters to the right pony. Besides, she never knows what goes wrong." Magic grinned. His attempt at reassuring the mare of the letter’s safety luckily succeeded.

"Well that's definitely good to hear." She smiled with a relieved laugh. They walked the rest of the way in happy silence. Sure enough, they arrived at Grace's current home within a few minutes time. "Well this is my place. Thank you again for- well you know." She blushed a little, just enough for the joyful stallion to notice.

"It's no problem, I'd do anything for a friend.” He stammered as he himself blushed. “I'll see you later Grace." He waited until she was safely in the house before walking back to the library.

Once he got back to his room in the library, Magic Sketch flopped onto his bed and let out a joyful sigh. Pondering over the day's events, he smiled wide. Making sure Twilight wouldn't be able to hear him, he whispered to himself, "Oh that mare. What am I to do about you?" Magic Sketch may be a gentlestallion and treats every mare like the lady they are, but he felt lonesome to the fact that Grace Note was dating Cherilee, the elementary school teacher. He sighed, “I just don't know how I can do it, I’m too scared to tell her.” He thought while drifting to sleep.

Grace tiptoed quietly into her room of the small house, careful that she not wake her roommate. She sighed in relief as the door shut behind her. Reminiscing about what had occurred that day, she squished a pillow to her face and let out a joyful squee. Seeing her special somepony, going to a Pinkie Pie party, the opportunity to perform with Octavia, and hanging out with her best friend in all of Equestria all day, how could this day get any better?

She started focusing her thoughts on the wonderful stallion and what they had done together earlier. She still couldn't believe how nice he had been to her lately. It was so… amazing… how he would make her feel like the only mare in the world. She sighed as she tried to figure out exactly how she felt about the dark red stallion. Were they just friends or did she want something more? She fell onto the bed as she thought harder, determined to figure it out. Eventually she drifted off to sleep, finally making up her mind.

Author's Note

This is something my boyfriend and I make in our spare time. Just saying. And yes, we do base somethings that we write off of movies/ books/ TV shoes/ etc. so please enjoy.

The Mailpony

A crash was heard as Grace walked out the door. She looked over to see the grey mailmare getting up from her fall. “Derpy, are you okay?” Grace rushed over to help the pegasus. Thankfully, the mare was perfectly fine.

“Grace Note! I have a letter for you, it came all the way from Canterlot!” Derpy smiled in her usual derpy way and handed over the bent letter.

“Yes! Thank you Derpy.” Grace handed the mare a few bits from her bag. “ Here. Go get a nice muffin from the Cakes` shop. You deserve it.”

“Thanks Grace! But are you sure? I did bend and beat up your letter.” The grey mare frowned slightly and went to give the bits back.

“No Derpy, I insist. You gave me the letter, that`s all that matters. Now go before I change my mind.” She grinned and waved as Derpy flew off towards Sugarcube Corner. The light blue pegasus went back into the house and sat on her favorite reading chair. Gleefully, she opened the envelope and read the much anticipated letter:

Dear Grace,

The location of our concert is to be located in Cloudsdale inside the ballroom of the cloudscastle at 9:00 pm on Thursday, the third of January. Please arrive at 3:15 pm in order for us to practice together before hand. I will have Magic Sketch cast a spell that will allow me to walk on the clouds so do not worry one bit about that small detail. I will wait to see you there. Oh and bring any instrument you wish.

From,

Octavia

“January third, that’s next Saturday! I better go tell Magic Sketch about this before I forget.” Grace rushed out the door, letter in her mouth. She certainly didn’t want the stallion to think she was lying about him being able to come along with the two. She had almost reached the library when a white blur raced right in front of the pegasus, knocking her down.

“Oh I’m terribly sorry darling!” A familiar voice called out. Grace looked over to see Rarity walking over to her. “I was just in such a hurry and- oh my what is this?” The mare had stepped onto the letter and began to read it.

“Rarity, you shouldn’t be re-” She was cut short as the fashionista put a hoof to her mouth.

“Darling, why didn’t you tell me?” She gasped. “This is a high class event! I must make you a dress. I won't take no for an answer! No no, there is no need to thank me.” Rarity walked off to her boutique, dragging the poor pegasus along with her.

After many measurements and re-measurements, Grace was finally allowed to leave, on the condition that she would come back later to pick a well suited style. Not wanting to offend the unicorn, Grace resisted the urge to dash out as soon as possible. She calmly walked out of the door and over to the library. Luckily, no other incidents happened between then and the time that she reached the door. She knocked out her favorite melody and a dark red aura surrounded the doorknob, opening the door for her. She entered and saw Magic Sketch with his nose deep in a thick, dusty-looking book. Not surprising considering he lived in the library.

“Hi Grace, how are you?” He looked up at the mare with a smile. “Did the letter come yet?”

“Yes! I have to be in Cloudsdale on the third.” Grace grinned excitedly.

“Cloudsdale? But isn’t Octavia an Earth pony?” He questioned with a puzzled look.

“Oh yeah, I guess I should have told you the other part." She blushed. "Because the concert is in the clouds, Octavia needs you to go with us and use a cloudwalking spell for her.” The mare looked inquisitively at the stallion in front of her. “So will you?”

“Of course I will! I wouldn’t want to miss it for the world!” He smiled wide. “It will be worth it just to see you obviously overjoyed as you play with Octavia.”

Grace giggled, “Sometimes I think you’re too sweet Magic.” She hugged the now blushing stallion which just made him blush more. After a few moments, she let go with a happy sigh. “It’s actually quite relieving to know my very best stallion will be there to support me. I’ve been worrying about making any really big mistakes in front of Octavia and just…. It's really good to know I’ll still have you there, you know?”

“I understand completely.” He chuckled softly. “I can’t believe that I, of all unicorns, get to go with you two. This is amazing!”

“Exactly!” She smiled. The two talked more about the upcoming event until Grace glanced at the clock for the first time that night. “Is it really that late? Sorry Magic, I have to go see Rarity about the dress she insisting on making for me. Talk to you later.”

“Bye Grace!” He shouted as she dashed out of the door. Once she exited his line of view, he went back to his book and let out a sigh. “Oh Grace, you wonderfully amazing mare.”

At the boutique, Grace narrowed down Rarity’s creative ideas to just one. It was the most simple option that the unicorn had given her, yet it was still very fashionable. “Are you sure you don’t want one of the other options darling?” Rarity asked for what seemed like the billionth time.

“Yes Rarity, I’m absolutely positive. I’m playing an instrument, not dancing with royalty. This dress is going to be amazing anyway, knowing you and your previous designs.” Grace reassured the fashionista. She wasn’t even planning on wearing a dress at all before bumping into Rarity earlier, so simple was always better in her opinion.

“Okay then darling, just know that it’s no problem if you want to add anything to it. I do want you to look your utmost best!” Rarity smiled as she got right to work on the dress. After a while, the busy unicorn noticed her pegasus friend still standing there, watching her attentively. “Oh darling, you can go ahead and leave whenever you like.”

“Just making sure Rarity.” Grace giggled. “Sometimes you can get pretty intimidating when you’re working.” She was rewarding with a gasp and startled look from the white mare.

“I do not! A lady would never elicit such titles as ‘intimidating’. What makes you think I’m like that at all?” Rarity adjusted her sewing glasses.

“Well… There was that one time with my first Gala dress. And the time you made me a dress for my first ever date. Not to mention the-” She would have gone on if not for the light blue aura currently keeping her lips closed.

“Ahem, that’s enough. Shouldn’t you be home practicing now? Don’t want to disappoint your idol now, do you?” Rarity grinned at her.

“I guess not.” Grace blushed and smiled slightly. “I’ll come over tomorrow to check on the dress then. Ta-ta for now.” She walked out the door and flew off to her home.

It wasn’t until she went into the music room that she realized she had no idea which instrument she would play. She looked at her four instruments, contemplating them all. Triangle? No, it wouldn’t work well and most likely wouldn’t be heard. Cello? No, Octavia was already playing the cello. Clarinet? No, That wouldn’t blend with the sound of the cello very well. Harpsichord? Perfect! It had the ability to play a melody, blends with other instruments well, and wasn’t already being played. For the rest of the evening, Grace improved her playing skills as best as she could. Long tones, chords, scales, anything she could do to better herself, she worked on it. She was so focused on her instrument that she didn’t notice Lyra entering the room.

“The harpsichord huh? Haven’t heard you play that in a while. you’ve been favoring your clarinet.” The lyrist grinned, waking Grace from her musical trance.

“Oh yeah, I guess Barney had been getting quite a bit of attention lately” She smiled and glanced over at her prized possession, the plum colored clarinet nicknamed Barney. “That might be one of the reasons I won’t be playing him on Saturday.”

“Saturday? Did you get another job from Pinkie?” Lyra questioned.

“Yes I got a job but it’s not from Pinkie!” She squealed happily. “Octavia has asked me to play with her in Cloudsdale! Octavia!”

“Wow, that’s wonderful! And to think I was just about to make you stop practicing.” The mare smiled. “So the harpsichord huh? I thought you would have chosen your cello.”

“No, I didn’t want to seem like I was copying her.” Grace shrugged, still grinning.

“Okay you crazy mare.” Lyra laughed and walked away, leaving Grace to go back to her playing.

Grace eventually put her music away and dragged herself into her room. She plopped onto the bed, exhausted. She glanced at the clock to see it was already past midnight. She sighed and buried her head into the pillow. Thoughts of the upcoming concert rushed throughout her head. The last thought she had before drifting off was of how happy Magic Sketch was when he found out the wonderful news that he would go along.

Meanwhile, Magic Sketch had finished Magic: Spells Every Unicorn Must Know and was now stretching his sore back. He laughed, “Maybe reading on the floor all day isn’t the best idea.” Finally noticing his growling stomach for the first time in hours, he wandered into the kitchen. Without thinking too hard about it, the stallion put together a daffodil sandwich. He took a bite and remembered Grace's obsession with the food, how she would always order a daffodil sandwich, no matter where they happened to be dining. He smiled and continued eating. He still had the blue mare on his mind as he cleaned up and proceeded to get ready for bed. Brushing his teeth? He thought of her smile. Combing his mane? He thought of how soft hers was. Actually getting into bed? He thought of how much he never wants to leave her when they must depart from each other's company, much like she hated leaving her bed in the mornings.

He sighed and closed his eyes, waiting for sleep to take him away from reality. It took a few tosses and turns but eventually the comforting thoughts of the Pegasus mare soothed him to sleep.

The Concert

Magic Sketch roused himself awake. Rubbing the gunk from his eyes, he glanced at the bedside clock. "Crap, it already past ten!" He rushed out of the bed and hurriedly got everything together. It was already Saturday, the day of the much awaited concert. He ran out of the library before he reminded himself of his magic. Embarrassed, he quickly teleported to Grace's room.

"Hey Magic!" Grace smiled at the stallion as he fell onto her bed. "Are you ready to go? I know I am!" She picked her bags up along with her precious Harpsichord.

"Yeah I'm ready!" He grinned. "Want me to get that for you Grace?" He pointed to the instrument.

"Well knowing you, you won’t let me carry it anyways, so go ahead." She laughed and made sure she had everything she may need. "You know, it is quite a big instrument and we have to raise it up into the clouds an-"

"It's ok Grace. It would be an honor to help you with such an important task as getting your harpsichord to where it needs to go." He smiled. "I only have to levitate it up with us."

Grace laughed softly, "Ok then Magic Sketch. Whatever you say. Come on, we still have to meet Octavia." After having to adjust the instrument around a few times to even get it out of the door, they were off and on their way to town.

The two ponies soon arrived in front of city hall where the grey earth pony was waiting. "There you two are. I was starting to worry you wouldn't come." She grinned.

"Of course we came, none of us would dare to not come. Right Grace?" The stallion turned to the music pony.

Remembering the blink and shut her gaping mouth, the blue mare smiled, "I wouldn't have missed it for the world!"

"Wonderful. Now shall we get going? We do have to get to our final destination before the practicing may start." Both Magic Sketch and Grace naturally agreed and they set off. Magic ended up just teleporting both himself, Octavia and the harpsichord up while Grace, being the pegasus she was, merely flew up into the clouds.

They wandered around the clouds for a while, lost. Apparently no pony was sure where to find the cloudscastle. Octavia spoke up as they passed the same flower shop for the fifth time. "Uhm… Grace, shouldn't you know where it is? You are a pegasus afterall."

"I am a pegasus but I was also born and raised in Canterlot. I've only visited Cloudsdale a few times." Grace confessed. "I really don't know the way to the castle."

Magic Sketch smiled slightly, "It's ok Grace, we don't blame y-"

"Hey, what are you three doing up here?" A deep, rough voice called out, interrupting the stallion from finishing his sentence. "The pegasus I can understand but what business do the earth pony and the unicorn have up here?" A dark grey stallion walked over to them. The shadows left him, light now glinting off of his armor.

"Musical business sir." Grace politely told him. "That's all."

"Then do you need any help finding something? I would love to help you three." The guard smiled at them.

Octavia was the first to speak, "Yes actually. Could you please direct us toward the cloudscastle? We seem to have been having trouble locating it."

"Cloudscastle, eh? That depends in which part of the castle you're looking for." The smile was now gone.

"But isn't it all put together?" Magic furrowed his eyes. “Shouldn’t it be?”

“It was. Until the monster came.” The stallion suddenly got very serious. “It killed so many ponies. There was so much destruction.”

“And why didn’t ponies from elsewhere find out about this? Surely somepony from Canterlot or Ponyville or somewhere else has to know.” Grace tilted her head slightly to the right, as if that would help her understand. She had friends and some family who lived in this city of the sky. She would know if they had been injured or… killed... right?

“It would be dangerous to let the disaster be known throughout the nation. Nopony would ever come here due to their fear and that would lead us to economic crisis. Not to mention how the others would demand to vacuate all of its citizens elsewhere.” The guard answered in his now neutral tone.

Magic Sketch spoke up, “Excuse me but, what is this monster that caused such havoc?”

“It was a great big dragon!” The stallion answered. The eyes of the grey earth pony widened as she gasped.

“A-a dr-dragon?” She stammered. “I-it won’t come back, right?”

“It shouldn’t. It seems to have taken what it wanted. Our best bet is that it won’t come back for a long long time.” He reassured her. To the right of them, Magic Sketch was muttering gibberish about dragons and Grace was just standing in place, shocked.

Forgetting the dragon problem, Octavia recovered and asked, “So where can we find the part of the castle with the stage for performances?” The trio received the needed directions and set off.

They didn’t arrive at the stage until 5:45 pm, two and a half hours late. Octavia sighed, “Oh well. We might as well practice with what little time we have left. Magic, you’re welcome to play with us if you like. Its always a pleasure to hear you play the piano.”

A blush crept onto the stallion’s face.“Well I wouldn’t want to intrude on your duet with Grace Note here…”

“And you really think I wouldn’t want you to play with us.” Grace smiled at the art pony. “I didn’t even know you could play the piano.”

“Yeah.” His cheeks got even redder. “I’ve been playing since I was just a tiny colt.”

“Now you have to play with us. As they say, the more the merrier.” Grace grinned, “And that’s an order Sketch.”

Magic grinned back, “Oh no, not the dreaded orders! Please, anything but those!” He laughed softly, “I’ll do it Grace. For you.” The three ponies went out and managed to find a piano Magic could use for the night. By the time they got back, the trio only had an hour of practice time left.

“Oh dear, I hope you’re as good as Magic tells me you are.” Octavia bit her lip nervously.

“Then I hope Magic doesn’t stretch the truth.” Grace glared jokingly at the red unicorn and continued to warm up on her instrument. The blue mare started to play The Perfect Stallion and soon Magic joined in, adding the countermelody. Octavia sat down as she listened to their improv duet. After a few minutes, the song came to its end. Grace sighed happily as the last chord was played to it’s full length and drifted off.

Octavia broke the new silence, “That was wonderful! If you both play like that tonight then this concert will be a total success!” The corners of her mouth were tugged up into a wide smile.

“Thanks Octavia!” Grace smiled back. “That means a lot to me, especially since its coming from you.”

“See Octavia, I told you I wasn’t joking when I said she was the best.” Magic smirked.

“I never doubted you dear Sketch. Now we must get everything all set up, the concert will be starting in a little bit.”

The blue mare’s eyes widened as she remembered one small detail. “Oh! I’ll be right back you two.” Grace flew off, returning a few moments later with a long black bag on a hanger. She hung it up and proceeded to help the other two put everything they needed into place.

Once they finished, Magic cleared his throat and turned to Grace. Unfortunately, he only saw her tail go by as she rushed into the next room with the bag. Soon after she peaked out from behind the door. “Uhm… Magic. Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course, what is it?” He turned back to look at her.

She came out of the room, revealing the dress she was now wearing. It was made of a dark blue, flowing silk with lace bordering the edge of the neckline. The color complimented the mare’s natural blue shades without making it look to cheesy. Simple, but elegant. “So, how do I look?” The mare finally spoke up after minutes of letting the stallion look her over.

Snapping out of his trance, Magic blushed, “You look beautiful Grace. Absolutely stunning! But…”

“But?” Grace frowned. “Is there something wrong with the dress?”

“No, no! I just feel as if it is missing something.” He thought for a minute before gasping happily. “I got it! Be right back.” He told the confused mare before teleporting away. A minute later, he was back, now with a bag of his own.

“What is with your bag?” Octavia inquired. She was already dressed into her usual concert attire, a simple black dress and her pink bowtie.

“I didn’t want to be the only pony not dressed up, so I got a tuxedo from Rarity. And something else.” He smiled and took a small box out from the bag. Turning to the blue pegasus, he opened it and revealed a silver necklace with a navy blue gem. “I got this for you to wear tonight. It would complete your outfit very well if I do say so myself.” He helped the mare put it on.

“Thank you Magic but you didn’t have to get this for me. No one in the audience will even care about my outfit.” Grace touched the gem, looking at it.

“It’s no problem. If I didn’t let you use it now, it would sit in my closet for another few years.” He laughed softly to himself.

“This is your necklace?” Her mouth dropped.

“Well it was mother’s. I can’t just let anypony wear it.” His response got the mare to grin and hug him tight.

“Magic, you surprise me everyday.” She let go of him and smoothed out the wrinkles of her dress.

“Is that such a bad thing?” The unicorn chuckled.

“With you, it never is.” She said as the trio was told to start their concert.

Grace couldn’t remember a happier time than when she was on stage in front of over a hundred ponies, playing music with her idol and best friend. The pegasus played with the other two for what seemed like only minutes, reality actually being two hours. The three did their bows and exited the stage. “That was amazing!” The pegasus plopped onto one of the couches in their waiting room.

“Good job, both of you. I can honestly say that was one of my best concerts in all of my career. Are you sure she isn’t a professional?” Octavia grinned.

“Nope, she hasn’t had a musical breakthrough yet.” He chuckled.

“Who knows, maybe tonight was that breakthrough.” Grace yawned. “But for now I just want to go home and sleep!”

“Yes, it is quite late. We shall change out of these fancy clothes and then be off. Is that alright with you Octavia?” Magic turned to the earth pony.

“Of course Magic.” She smiled. “You better hurry before she gets too deep into that sleep.”

“Huh?” He turned to see Grace was already snoring away. “Silly mare.” He laughed. Grace was immediately woken up and forced to take the gorgeous dress off. She was too tired to really care though, she was already lost into the world of dreams. Magic Sketch finished changing out of his tux and managed to lift the sleeping mare onto his back. He transported her instruments and her dress with them into the music room. He smiled and carried the mare up into her bedroom.

Grace started mumbling during her sleep, revealing the dream’s nature to the unicorn. “... shmoopy-doo… love you too… silly unicorn…” Magic would have thought she was dreaming of the magenta earth pony if it weren’t for the unicorn comment.

“Which unicorn though? It can’t possibly be me… could it?” He muttered to himself.

“... just like a stallion…” Grace mumbled as he set her down on the bed. Magic sighed and looked at the mare. She was beautiful even when she was face first into a pillow with her hair messily thrown around her.

The stallion smiled and kissed her forehead. “Goodnight darling Grace. We shall meet again soon.” He heard Grace say, “Oh my dear-” before teleporting out of the room, into the library. Magic Sketch entered his room and went to bed. He mentally cursed himself for not staying a moment longer to hear the end of Grace’s phrase. He brushed it off painfully, admitting to himself that it would never be him that she loved.

That night, he promised to himself that he would only love her from afar, as her best friend. Nothing more would he seek out unless absolutely positive that the mare loved him back. But that would never happen, he thought. After an hour of tossing and turning and fretting over the mare’s feelings, he finally slept peacefully.

Magic is a... Mare?

It had been two months since the concert. Magic Sketch was still getting visits from Grace Note at least three times a week. She seemed to never want to leave, but the unicorn never seemed to notice. With every visit, the pegasus arrived earlier and left later then when she started. They would sit around and talk or read their own books in silence. It never mattered what they did, Magic still kept to the promise. He didn’t press his luck by letting her borrow anymore necklaces, but he was always his usual gentlestallion self whenever he was with her.

After a night’s rest full of musical pony filled dreams, he yawned and got out of the warm bed. He ate breakfast and readied himself for the day without any surprises. The calm morning could only last so long. He was reading in the main room when the purple pony came in.

“Majestic Art, you’re up early.” The unicorn said.

Magic looked around, not seeing anypony else. “Uhm, who are you talking to Twi- Twilight? Are you a… stallion?” His eyes widened as his jaw dropped.

“Who’s Twilight?” The stallion looked around. “I’m Dusk Shine. Are you sure you’re okay Majestic?”

“My name isn’t Majestic Art! It’s Magic Sketch!” He worked on calming his breath as he looked for a mirror. “Don’t tell me I’m a… mare.” He gasped as he finally took a look at himself in the mirror.

“You’ve always been a mare. You didn’t stay up all night again did you?” Dusk cocked his head as he watched the dark red mare panic.He ran out of the door, catching glances at everypony.

Without thinking, the unicorn ran all the way to the home shared by his Grace and Lyra. He doubted that those two were still mares though. He knocked on the door, preparing himself for the worst. Moments after, the door was opened by a light blue stallion. “Oh, hi Majestic. What brings you here today?”

“Grace? Is that you?” Magic smiled. “You don’t know how glad I am to see you!”

“Wait, who’s Grace? I’m Fermatta. You of all ponies should know that.” He furrowed his brows and looked at the mare.

“No you’re not. You have to be Grace Note!” He looked down with a wide eyed stare. “I-I’m… a-a… mare. oh geez.”

“It’s ok Majestic, you probably just had a strange dream. It’s confusing you.”

“No I didn’t. Celestia, I need to figure out what is going on. I need to be a stallion again!” Magic paced back and forth.

“What do you mean again? You’ve always been a mare.” The unicorn ignored him as he muttered to himself about the male mane six.

He sighed, “At least that explains the light feeling between my legs… oh… I seem to have breasts now.” He blushed as he noticed the new anatomy for the first time that day. “I need a cider. Where’s Big Mac when you need him?”

“You mean Big Macerina, right?” It only took hearing those words to have the mare faint. Magic woke up half an hour later in Dusk’s library.

“Whew it must have been a dream.” He sat up.

“Hey are you okay?” Fermatta walked over.

“Oh great, you’re still a stallion.” He sighed.

“Well yeah, I’m supposed to be a stallion. Why wouldn’t I be?” The music pony asked the confused mare.

That’s when Magic lost it. “Because you aren’t! I’m a stallion, you’re a mare. You’re name is Grace Note and mine is Magic Sketch.”

“Maybe he was hit in the head when he fainted. This is just crazy.”

“I can’t believe this.” Magic started to hyperventilate. “My stomach is churning, I can’t breath.”

“Woah woah woah, just calm down. Tell us what happened when you woke up, from the very beginning.” Fermatta told the mare.

“Well last night I was working on my art when I felt sleepy all of a sudden. I woke up to find that all of the stallions are mares and the mares are stallions. Can I just speak to Twilight?” Magic pleaded.

“I’m pretty sure you meant Dusk.”

“Whatever.” The purple pony walked over to them. “Twi, I need your help.”

“It’s Dusk. Now what is wrong with you Majestic?”

“I need to find a book on something. Let me look through the library, please.” He got the approval from Dusk, “If I can’t find it, I talk to Discord or Zecora. Or whoever they are here. You know, god of chaos and the alchemist.”

Dusk furrowed his brow, “You mean Eris and Zecrona. Of course you can.”

Magic shuffled through the books for about five minutes before admitting defeat. “Damn it’s not here. Okay, where’s Eris?” Right after those words came out did the goddess of chaos pop in. Literally.

“I’m here! Who is it that needed me? Well if it isn’t Majestic Art. How’s the art coming along?” Eris smiled as she sipped on the cotton candy she had apparently decided to conjure up.

“Eris, do you know anything about the mares becoming stallions and stallions becoming mares?”

“Not a clue. It’s hilarious though.” Eris laughed.

“So there’s nothing I can do. It’s hopeless, I can’t go back to being a stallion.” He pouted. “Might as well get used to being a mare.”

A week later, Magic woke up to find himself still in his mare body. “I guess being a stallion was a long dream on a short night.”

Dusk walked in soon after, carrying a small, red book. “Majestic, I found a book on your research but I don’t understand it.”

Magic quickly took the book and started to read.“Through opposite genders one day, one will awaken. The only time you’ll be able to go back is through heart’s determination, bringing each one’s side back where they belong.”

“I’ll go get the others.” Dusk walked out and gathered the rest of the mane six.

Once they settled down, Magic began, “Listen you ponies, I have something to say…”

“That you’re like totally from another gender side of this universe and you wanted us all to come so you can get help if you hurt yourself while using the spell.” His jaw dropped as he looked over at Bubble Berry who was grinning away.

“Wait, so you really are a stallion in a mare’s body! That’s utterly awesome and… hilarious!” Rainbow Blitz fell to the ground in hysterics.

“Whatever, I’m going to try this spell and according to my reading, it will bring back both me and Majestic to ourselves. Back to where we belong.” The ponies said their final goodbyes as Magic readied himself. A beautiful stream of green light appears, making a magic door. Magic waved as he went through.

Moments later, the real Majestic walked through. “Hey everypony, I just had the weirdest dream that all of you were mares and I was a stallion!”

“Wait, so that one mare wasn’t crazy?” Fermatta spoke out.

“What mare?” Majestic asked the blue pegasus.

“Nothing. Nothing at all.” He told her with a laugh.

Meanwhile, Grace and the female mane six witnessed Magic’s return. “Magic… Magic!” Grace ran over and hugged the stallion.

“Huh… I’m back. It was all a dream. Me being a mare and you guys were stallions.” He laughed, dismissing the unusual occurrence.

“I guess that stallion was telling the truth when he said he was a mare.” Grace chuckled softly.

“So what happened all week?” Magic asked, getting the news of their visitor.

“What if I told you she was right? Here, I’ll show you something in the library. And make sure everypony is there.” Soon enough, they were all gathered in the library, waiting for Magic to explain.

“Everypony, you all have experienced a week of a Magic Sketch look-a-like. In a strange turn of events, I and the mare, Majestic Art, were switched. This caused the mare to have my stallion body and I to have her mare body. Luckily, we both found the solution in this book.” He held up the red book and handed it to Twilight. “Twilight, if you could please put this somewhere safe. We might need it again one of these days.”

“Of course Magic!” Twilight smiled and walked off to put the book away.

“So you were a mare huh?” Grace grinned. “Now that is hilarious.”

Magic laughed, “Whatever!”

“I missed you, you know. This place wasn’t the same without you here.” Grace blushed and turned her head down.

“I missed you too, Grace.” Magic smiled. The two chatted a bit longer until Magic got a sight of the clock. “How in Equestria is it already past ten?”

“Oh I should probably go home now. It’s getting late too fast.” Grace laughed and turned to the door.

“I’ll walk you home. Like you said, it’s getting dark too fast.” Magic walked over to her side.

“Oh you don’t have to do that Magic. It’s fine.”

“No, I insist. I can’t just let a pretty mare like yourself walk home alone.” He smiled.

“I can’t argue with that.” She blushed with a laugh. The two strolled over to her house, continuing their conversation.

"Do you need any help moving in?" The unicorn turned his head to the mare.

"Sure!" She smiled at him. "I'll even pay for lunch. My treat to you huh?"

He laughed happily, "Sounds good."

"So how many bits left until you are the proud owner of 3346 Library Lane?"

"I'll be in that house by next week! Once I finish helping Twilight re-re-organize the magical history section of the library, I'll have enough to finally buy it." He grinned.

"That's wonderful!" Grace beamed. "I'd be happy to help you move if you want."

"If you really want to, I won't stop ya." They finally reached Grace's current home. "Well I guess this is goodbye for now."

"No, only a see you later. No real goodbyes, please. If you remember, I hate goodbyes." Grace looked over at the red stallion.

"Right, sorry Grace. I forgot." He looked down, not wanting to look at the mare at that moment.

She hugged him tight. "It's ok Magic Sketch. It was only a slip in phrases." To the stallion's dismay, she noticed the blush that had creeped onto his cheeks. Luckily, she didn't call him out on it. "Goodnight Magic. I'll see you soon." She said as she let go.

"Goodnight Grace." He left as she entered the house. The stallion meandered back to the library, humming a happy tune the whole way. He walked back Twilight, still humming away.

"Symphony of the Flighted Romance by Octavia?" The purple pony looked up from the paper she had been writing. "I'm guessing you had a wonderful time with Grace today."

The blush was back as he stammered, "Well... Uhm... You see... I...."

"Nevermind. You should get some sleep, you look exhausted." She smiled, waving him away.

"Ok then. Goodnight Twi, see you in the morning." He took her advice and rolled into bed. The last though before going to sleep was of how oblivious the blue mare could be.

Meanwhile, Grace was starting to pack the rest of her things. The only items she hadn't packed already are her bed and sheets. She grinned as she finished putting the rest of her sheet music into the last box. Yawning, she finally went to bed. Before she slept, she thought of the incident from earlier. Why was he blushing? Could he... No, he couldn't possibly like her.

Lovey Dovey

“Last box!” Magic sighed happily. It had been a week since Magic got back from his incident. During that week, Grace had finished moving into her new home and started helping Magic pack his stuff. To Grace's dismay, Magic managed to pack all of his belongings in only one day due to his amazing magic skills. Now he just had to relocate all twenty-three boxes across the street to next door.

Twilight sighed, "I'm happy for you Magic. Really!"

Grace looked at the purple pony, "You're going to miss him, aren't you Twilight?"

The mare looked back at her, "Can we talk mare to mare Grace?"

"Of course. You don't mind, right Magic?"

"Not at all. I'll be outside." The red stallion walked out of the library. Twilight turned back to the music pony.

"Yes I'll miss him. It's just, Spike hasn't been around lately and Magic kept me company. It won't be easy to just let him go, you know?" Twilight frowned.

"It'll be ok Twilight, I'm sure Magic will still come over to help you around here. He loves coming here you know." Grace smiled at the pony.

"But- but I thought Magic Sketch likes you..."

"W-what?" She stammered. "I-I don't know what you're talking about. There's no way he could like me, of all ponies. I'm just a musical pegasus." A blush crept onto her face.

"I know you like him back, you can't deny it. I've noticed how close you two are and how much time you spend together. And you won't stop stuttering with that deep red blush just screams out that you love him. It's obvious."

"We're just friends. Ever since Cheerilee and I broke up... It's just." She sighed. "Besides Magic is a wonderful stallion who could have any mare he wants. He couldn't possibly like me b-" Grace looked away from the mare's sight.

"So you do like him? I knew it." Twilight grinned.

"Ok maybe... But that still doesn't mean that he could like me back. He only thinks of me as a friend. That's why I won't ruin our friendship..."

"Now wait a minute!" Magic burst in through the door.

"Magic! Y-you weren't listening to our conversation, were you?" Grace's eyes widened as she looked at the stallion.

"Well... I heard my name and... Have mercy" He blushed.

"So you know everything..." Grace blushed.

"Uhm..." Tears started to form in his eyes. "I was... Well uhm. Grace... I was scared. I thought Twi was telling you about how I feel... I'm sorry." He ran out, not waiting for the mare to respond.

"Magic wait! Twilight, you were right, you were absolutely right!"

"You can thank me later, I won't wait up." Twilight grinned as Grace ran off in search of the lonely stallion.

Magic was sitting at Snowy Rock, sitting quietly in one place since the unfortunate incident. He drew a heart in the snow as he exclaimed, "She doesn't feel the same way without a doubt." He sighed as a tear dropped into it.

"Magic!" He looked up and saw the blue pegasus flying towards him. She landed in front of him and caught her breath. Once able to, she exclaimed, "Magic, I'm so glad I found you. Twilight didn't tell me about your feelings at all."

"Isn't it obvious?" He looked down at the broken heart to avoid looking at her.

"I know, I know. I thought my feelings were obvious as well."

"I was scared, I have no other way to say it." His voice got softer and softer.

"Well maybe I do." Her eyes started to water. "I love you Magic Sketch. I have for a while now. I didn't admit it to myself until after the party Pinkie threw just for us.... I was scared that you didn't feel the same way so I made do with just being friends... I wanted to be more with you for so long... I just..." Grace trailed off, waiting for a reaction from the stallion.

"I'd love to be more than that because I... love you too Grace." He looked up and smiled faintly at the mare.

"R-really?" She smiled wide. They hugged tightly and Grace could feel her shoulder getting damp from his happy tears. She squeezed him tighter as she felt tears escaping her own eyes.

"I'm so happy that you feel the same way." He told the musical pony.

"I can honestly say that I've never been happier than being right here, right now with you."

Suddenly, they heard a loud noise and somepony shouting, "Love party cannon activate!" The couple was showered in heart shaped confetti as they looked over to see Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash watching them.

"How did she... Nevermind." She grinned at the two ponies.

"Good for you two. It's about time though." Rainbow smirked.

"How did you even know we were here?"

"A little thing called who cares! Go on you two."

"Oh my Celestia! You two are so adorable together! I call dibs on wedding plans!" Pinkie giggled.

"Uhm Pinkie.... We aren't getting married. And if we are in the distant future, you would be the only pony for that job." Grace smiled at the party pony.

"Okey dokey lokey! Just remember that you have to have mini-Sketches and mini-Graces running around afterwards!" The two onlookers were now on their way off, most likely to tell the others.

"Did Pinkie just-" Grace sighed with a laugh. "Oh that mare."

Magic smiled and gazed into his marefriend's eyes. "I love you Grace Note."

"I love you too Magic Sketch."

Two hours later, the two were lying on the couch together in Magic's home. They were covered in blankets and the fire from the fireplace burned brightly. Originally, they had laid there to warm up from the cold but now they were just enjoying how close they were. Grace smiled and put her head under Magic's chin.

"I can't believe this actually happened." She said, breaking the silence.

"You're telling me." Magic chuckled softly. "I'm pretty sure I'm the one who waited longer for this."

"Whatever, at least we're together now." The pegasus kissed his cheek, making the stallion blush a deep red.

"Yes, yes." He responded as he kissed the top of her head lovingly.

"I love you Grace."

"I love you too Magic Sketch."

They looked into each other's eyes. The light hinted off each other's faces, making the moment seem that much better. Their muzzles started to get closer...

And closer...

And closer....

And closer...

And closer....

"LOVE CANNON!" Just as the new couple was about to kiss for their first time, they were interrupted by Pinkie covering them in more heart confetti.

"Pinkie!" Grace sighed and looked over at the pony. "Did you have to do that now?"

"Yep!" Pinkie smiled, oblivious to what Grace had meant. "I had to tell you about the surprise party I'm throwing for you two to celebrate your lovey doveyness towards each other from now on out."

"Surprise party? Isn't it supposed to be a surprise then?" Magic asked.

"Oh yeah! Then just come to Sugar Cube Corner tomorrow to talk to me and not do anything involving parties." She smiled and bounced off.

"O-kaay... Well that's Pinkie for you." Grace grinned. "So where were we?"

"Right here." Magic placed his muzzle mere centimeters away from his marefriend's. Grace leaned forward and softly kissed him. They broke away a second later, both with deep red blushes.

"Wow..." Grace murmured, smiling goofily from the happiness that kiss made her.

"Yeah..." Magic grinned and kissed her again, this time making it last longer. "Now that was a kiss."

"Definitely." Grace giggled. "It was way better than I ever imagined."

"So you've fantasized about me?" Magic looked at his marefriend beside him.

"Maaayyybbe...."

"Silly Grace." He laughed and kissed her head once more. "It was better than I had imagined as my first kiss."

"Wait, was that your first kiss?"

"Well yeah." He blushed.

They sat looking at each other until the mare broke the silence. "Soooo, when did you admit to yourself that you loved me?"

"From the second I laid eyes on you those years ago."

"Awww that’s soooo sweeet!” Grace smiled and kissed him once more. "I wish mine was that romantic."

"It doesn't matter how romantic your realization was, only that you had that realization. And I couldn't be happier about it." Magic nuzzled her nose with his."Ok darling?"

"Ok dear." She smiled.

For the rest of the night, the couple spent their time in silence, only moving from their comfortable position to kiss or cuddle closer to the other.

Unable to stay awake any longer, Grace eventually fell asleep in each Magic Sketch's hooves, happily dreaming away. He smiled as he watched her. She looked so peaceful as she laid there. The corners of her mouth were pulled into a smile as she tried to get even closer to him. After a few minutes, he kissed her forehead. Yawning, he laid his head down by the mare's.

That night, the couple dreamed of each other. The dreams ranged from the excitement of that day to their future of having kids, marrying, growing old together, and all of that good stuff.

Can't Tell Grace

“What song was that?” Magic asked as he looked up at the cello playing mare from his book. "It's beautiful."

“My latest composition, Surprising Love Duet.” Grace blushed. “I’m still writing the other part though.”

“Surprising Love huh? Whatever gave you that inspiration?” He grinned.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Grace smiled and began writing the piano part down onto the blank sheet music laying in front of her. She sighed, “The harmony of the cello and the piano isn’t… right. They aren't going together just right. I need to figure out if it’s the chord or just the tone of both instruments. Hmmm…” she started to go into deep thought about the instruments.

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out darling.” He kissed her cheek, “You always do.”

“You’re probably right, once again. Justknow that I will make you play this with me as soon as I'm done.” Grace laughed and went back to playing her cello. Magic chuckled and began to read once more.

A few minutes later, an urgent sounding knock was heard from the front of Grace’s home. “I’ll get it.” Magic said as he walked to the front door. The unicorn opened it to find Twilight pacing back and forth and Rarity standing patiently.

“Oh good, you are here. Listen, we need to talk to you. Unicorns to unicorn.” Twilight said, her hoof digging into the ground underneath.

“Yes, yes, please come with us darling.” Rarity pleaded. If he wasn't mistaken, Magic could see how the makeup Rarity ever so careful put on everyday was starting to fade out and smear. He could clearly see the desperation in their eyes.

“Oh ok then.” He said to them. He then shouted into the house. “Grace, I have to go. I’ll see you later darling, love you!” He shut the door and followed the eager unicorn mares to the library.

Once they were safely inside the building, Twilight let out the breath she had been holding and exhaustively told him the reason of their meeting. “A dragon has attacked Cloudsdale again. You’re the dragon expert, we need your help to save the pegasi's cloud city.”

“Well of course I’ll help.” Magic told them with out having to ponder over it.

“Then what do we do first?” The fashionista asked, wide eyed. She was definitely losing control.

“We gather every unicorn in Ponyville to the town hall.” Magic grinned determined. “And don’t tell a single pegasus about this. They will just make this situation worse than it already is.”

“Alright, I’ll get the North. Rarity, you can take the South. Magic, can you get the unicorns in the East and West?” Twilight said, taking some charge.

“Most certainly. Meet you back in the center of town.” Magic shot off, taking the East side first. It didn't take him long to go through half the town and tell the unicorns.

Slowly but surely, unicorns from all over town began to fill the towns building. Due to the dangerous situation, the little unicorn fillies and colts were not allowed to be present. Soon enough, the small building was crowded with the ponies.

"Rose... Comet..." Magic checked off the present unicorns. "Tri- Where is Trixie?"

Rarity frowned and said, "She refused to come here. Told me something about not caring for anypony but herself."

Magic sighed, "I'll get her."

He then transported to the blue unicorn's home. The mare was snoring loudly as she tossed in her bed. Rolling his eyes, he pushed the mare out of the comfortable blankets and onto the floor.

"Hey!" Trixie raised her head. "Who dare disturb the Great and Powerful Trixie's slumber?"

"Me." The blue unicorn glared evilly at Magic.

"Why? I was having such a wonderful dream about how the Great and Powerful Trixie defeated an Ursa Major!"

"Yeah... Well you're needed at Townshall. Now."

"To help those wimpy little pegasi? No thank you." She climbed back into bed. "The Great and Powerful Trixie would much rather stay here and get her beauty sleep."

"They aren't wimpy little pegasi." Magic frowned. "They are fellow ponies who need help."

"And they do not concern my well being so the Great and Powerful Trixie refuses to go."

"Fine." Magic sighed. He soon grinned with his sudden idea. "Then I guess I'll have to eat these all by myself." He pulled out a pack of peanut butter crackers.

She quickly turned to him. "Y-You can't mearly use food as a bribe but.... The Great and Powerful Trixie..." She bit her lip anxiously. "Will do anything for peanut butter crackers."

"Good. Be at the towns hall for the meeting and then you may have the crackers." Magic grinned.

"Fine." Trixie huffed. "The Great and Powerful Trixie shall see you there then."

Soon after, Magic stood in front of the hall, glancing over the other ponies. He very quickly noticed the absence of the blue unicorn. "Where is Trixie now?"

Twilight walked up to him and huffingly said, "She still hasn't showed up."

With a sigh, the stallion transported the wanted mare from her bed to right in front of him. She looked around, "What is the Great and Powerful Trixie doing here?" Magic smiled and waved the crackers at her. "Oh right." She went and joined the others below the stage.

Once everypony had settled down, Magic Sketch went up to the podium. Thestallion cleared his the ought and started his explanation. "Unicorns, Cloudsdale has been attacked by a dragon once more."

Numerous gasps were heard from every direction. They started to panic, overexaggerating the predicament. "Calm down everypony. As unicorns, it is our job to aid the pegasi in their time of need from this danger of a dragon. We will be the ones to save the pegasi who are trapped up there." Magic said, calming them down.

One stallion spoke out, "Well why aren't the pegasi themselves getting involved? It's their home afterall."

"Simple. Think of how hectic they will be once they are told that their loved ones may be in terrible danger and the mess they will make for us. It's absolutely certain that they must not be told. I myself will have trouble keeping this secret." Magic explained, thinking of his marefriend back in her home. Hushed agreements were being passed around the room.

"And who made you leader? Shouldn't the alicorns lead us?" A mare was heard from the crowd.

It was Twilight who answered, "He is the best expert on dragons in all of Equestria, a good leader and the greatest unicorn at magic ever since I was turned into an alicorn princess." A simultaneous 'Oooooh!' was heard from the crowd.

"This will be a piece of cake. What is it we are dealing with? Maybe a dragon from the festival." Rarity asked, hoping the situation would be easy but still looking concerned.

"No, more like an evil black dragon from the north" Magic grimaced.

"And uhm what exactly are northern black dragons?" Rarity stammered. Every unicorn seemed to be shaking in one way or another.

"Well for one thing, they are very malicious. They will melt the flesh off your bones in an instant, no hesitation." Magic said, being brutally honest with the ponies.

"A-aren't we not supposed to be thinking about that?" A stallion stuttered. Rarity attempted to stop her frightened panting.

"I believe that it will benefit you to hear this. Think of a furnace with wings, flash of light, searing pain and poof you're nothing more than a pile of ash."

"What are we going to do?" The ponies shouted out as Rarity fainted.

"Unicorns! Listen, we can stop this dragon. Now first off, do any of you have children?" A few hooves were raised. "Keep them with the Cakes until we return. We will all leave to help Cloudsdale tomorrow.

Suddenly, a crash was heard as the ground shook violently. "What now?" Trixie rolled her eyes.

"W-what was that?" A stallion looked around.

Magic looked up sternly, "That... That my friends, was a dragon." Many of the unicorns present screamed in fright.

"Settle down! It's only trying to scare is away right now. Just be calm and it will do nothing."

"H-How would you know?" A stallion in the front questioned.

"I am the dragon expert. It kinda helps to know about dragons."

"Right, sorry." He was then silent for the rest of the meeting.

Finally finished calming them down, Magic Sketch instructed them, "Everypony head home and gather everypony outside of town tomorrow. Twilight, you stay with me."

The dragon roared as it flew past them. Twilight watched it soar, "What exactly is that?"

"A black thunderdrake. It's fast and with it's lightening breath..." The terrifying monster of a dragon attacked one of the nearby building with said breath. "... And never misses."

"Then we better hurry in getting rid of it." Twilight frowned.

"Definitely." The stallion sighed. "I just hope we can save as many pegasi as possible before having to fight it."

"Fight it huh? Damn..."

"We can't get rid of it without fighting. It's the only way." Magic sighed. "You should get some rest Twi. You'll need it for tomorrow."

"Alright. Be sure you get some sleep too tonight." She said before walking off.

"Yeah..." The stallion watched the darkened sky for a while before heading to his own home.

He thought of Grace that night. Would she miss him if he were to fall tomorrow? Would she even know that if he did, it would have been for her safety? Would she move on after she was done grieving? Would she even find out that he died? Would she just take him as missing forever and then move on to somepony else? Would anypony at all find out if the dragon did decide to attack and he died saving them?

He fell onto his bed and covered his face with the pillow. Taking advantage of his alignment, he let out a growl. He flipped over and sighed. Covering his eyes with his front leg and clearing his mind from all of his worries, he managed to sleep. That night, he did not dream of his love like usual. It was the nasty dragon that filled his thoughts that night.

After the Dragon

Magic looked out at the ruins of the darkened cloud city. After the very close call yesterday from the ferocious dragon, the scared unicorns seemed to cease questioning the red stallion. They quietly creeped upon the soft material, staying aloft by only the magic spells cast upon them by Twilight Sparkle only an hour ago.

The maroon stallion quickly but silently walked up next to the purple mare and whispered, “Twilight, you take the second squad and look for any pegasi who may have survived in the east and south parts. I’ll take the first squad and look west and north. Be sure not to make any unnecessary sounds. After yesterday’s harsh warning, the thunder drake won’t hesitate to attack.”

“Got it.” She replied back before going off to group her designated ponies together.

Magic sighed as his team carefully went off soon after. Their high hopes of finding all of the missing ponies alive and safe was soon crushed. Under the rummage from the destroyed buildings, the remaining clouds were stained with dark, dried blood. The unicorns did their best to not rest all of their attention on the long gone pegasi as they walked along. Unfortunately, the images of the torn and crushed bodies of the poor ponies would never truly leave them.

Magic couldn’t help but feel guilty for being grateful that they had died instead of his dear Grace Note. He was actually ecstatic to know that her beloved family lived in the safely guarded city of Canterlot and not this only-seemingly-safe cloud haven. She wouldn’t have to learn what the pain of losing someone dearly close feels like for hopefully a long while.

After helping a small pink filly escape from a heavy, fallen pillar, the unicorn looked to his left to see a dark grey stallion sprinting to where he was standing. “Silver, what’s with the rush? You should be helping anypony in need.” Magic uttered to the gasping unicorn.

“But-” Before he could even finish his sentence, a dreaded monstrous roar cut through the silence. Silver looked behind the other stallion where the dragon sounded to be, then turned his eyes back with pure fear in his eyes as his body shook uncontrollably. Magic turned around to see the black thunder drake rise high above the ruins. It’s red glowing eyes glared as it sought out any uncovered unicorns and pegasi, readying itself to attack at any moment.

“Silver, get everyone out of the city. No else else is going to suffer because of this heartless monster. ” Magic yelled before running towards the monster.

“Wait! Magic!” Silver tried unsuccessfully to rear back the stallion’s intentions.The dark red stallion ignored him and continued to run until wings magically appeared on his back. Now having the necessary parts, he flew up, making the large dragon and himself eye-to-eye.

Determined to rid Equestria of this pest, he repeatedly shot magical beams at the dragon’s stomach. Desperately, he sought for a weak spot beneath the thick scales. The dragon stayed still, smirking at the continuous failed attempts. Finally getting tired of the stallion, the thunder drake swung its large tail and smacked Magic into one of the still intact buildings. Magic quickly dusted himself off and shot back up into the sky, only to be hit back down into the cloud ground once more.

With neither party wanting to give up, the fight shifted away from Cloudsdale. Now there were now no soft clouds for Magic to land on if another blow were to hit him down. Luckily, the unicorn was being far more careful than he was before. The dragon had only been able to land small blows as Magic was continuously weaving in and out of it’s sight.

“Magic!” He thought he heard his darling Grace’s voice. He fought harder as he realized fully what was at risk if he were to lose. “Magic!” He heard her again, louder this time. He shook it off once more, believing it to be a figment of his overactive imagination. “Magic!” It was even louder this time. Magic turned his head to see the real life Grace racing towards him.

“Grace! No! Go away before y-” Suddenly, the unicorn was thrown down as the thunder drake took advantage at Magic’s careless letting of his guard down. He shot towards the hard ground like a bullet until his body made contact. Magic grunted as bones cracked and broke from the impact.

“No! Stop! Magic Sketch!” He looked up to see Grace being violently grabbed by the dragon. She struggled against the tight grip, calling out to her dearly beloved unicorn.

The thunder drake smirked, “My, my. Is she that big a deal to you? A pegasus?” He laughed as his grip tightened, making the frightened mare wince in pain.

“N-no… Stop..” Magic muttered.

“If you want her so badly, come and get her from me.” The dragon held Grace out by her abdomen with his thumb and pointer claws, making sure to keep her wings pinned to her sides. Magic tried his hardest to get up, summoning the willpower needed to accomplish the task. To get up and save the most important thing he’s ever had. but each time, he plopped back down, unable to conjure the energy needed to even stand.

“You can’t do it. Too bad though. She is quite nice.” He smirked evilly. “I guess I’ll just have to keep her then. Afterall, I’m the one who can protect her best.”

“No!” Magic yelled softly as he witnessed his love yelling for him as she was forcibly carried off to who’s knows where by the malicious, black dragon. “Damnit… Grace...” He muttered, tears falling from his eyes. Before she was flown out of his line of sight, he gave in to the excruciating pain and passed out.

“Hello? I-is anyone in here?” Grace looked around the musky room. The cold, hard floor was wet beneath her hooves. Old chains were still attached to the musty wall, clanking against the stone bricks. She heard the pitter patter of the fat rats living in the cracks of the building.

“Over here.” She heard a soft, raspy feminine voice coming from the darkest corner in the back of the small room. Grace slowly walked over to the voice, wanting to know what other poor soul got herself into the same mess. The meagre light available soon hit the mysterious mare. She saw the light blue coat and slicked back, messy golden mane of her only companion.

Recognizing the mare, Grace asked, “Lightning Dust?”

“Grace Note?” The mares looked at each other, not believing that the other had gotten into this horrific mess as well. The sudden silence built up, thickening around the two pegasi. “How did you get here?” Lightening said, finally getting rid of the unspoken tension.

“Well… I heard that Cloudsdale was attacked again… And the unicorns were off to save any remaining survivors in Cloudsdale. I was trying to help… But I ended up doing just the opposite.” She looked down to hide the tears that had started to slip out unwillingly. The image of Magic Sketch’s unconscious body haunted her mind.

“I know how you feel… I was trying to save my father from it... But well…” She looked over at the opposite corner where the lifeless corpse of the former General Dust lay.

“I-I’m so sorry about your loss Lightning... He was a great stallion to us all.” Grace tried to console the mare.

Lightning wiped her tears, “Its fine. He died honorably after all.” The blue-green pony sat straight, seeming as if she was carrying the weight of her dead father’s honored reputation on her shoulders.

“So, how long have you been here?” Grace sat to the right of her only companion.

“Days for all I know. I’ve lost count after around the fiftieth.” Lightning sighed.

“Wow..” Grace muttered to herself. “I’m already sick of this dank, dark place they call a room. To be in here for countless days and nights... I can’t even begin to imagine how you’re doing it.”

“...Neither do I…” She looked down in thought.

“What do you even do around here? There can’t possibly be anything to keep you busy here.” She asked, hoping to clear the dark, gloomy atmosphere.

“There isn’t. The whole time I’ve been here, its just been eat, sleep, and daydream about one day seeing the blue sky again.”

“That does sound quite boring.” Grace huffed. “I already feel as if I am going to grow old and die waiting for any freedom here.”

“It won’t be that bad. You’ll see. And once we get out, you and I will race each other around Equestria. We’ll enjoying being out in the wide open air again together.” Lighting smiled at the other pegasus.

“Well I guess we have a deal.” Grace smiled back. She yawned moments later. “I’m exhausted from all of this excitement. I think I should get to sleep. Maybe this is just some weird nightmare I’m having.” She laughed unconvincingly.

“One can only hope… I’ll do the same though.” The two mares lay next to each other, using each other as a source of warmth. The night chill was already nipping at their noses.

With her head in the crook of Lightning's neck, Grace couldn’t help but obsess over how Magic Sketch was doing. The mental picture of his almost lifeless body continuously crept into the back of her mind, keeping her from whatever kind of rest she may have slipped into. She hated herself for doubting his ability to save them. She knew that there was absolutely no way for him to have survived that horrific fall.

She growled softly to herself and shifted her position. Lightning Dust’s mane tickled her nose with each passing of the wind, but the desperate mare ignored it. She was too captivated at the ideas running through her head of how they could escape their prison. Unfortunately, their lack of furniture or utensils ruined each and every plan she came up with.

Finally giving up, she blanked her mind from almost any thought that came to her head. The only image she wanted to dream of was her special somepony. Seeing his smiling face once more, she managed to fall asleep peacefully.

Author's Note

Yeah this turned out to be way darker than I had planned :derpyderp1: and to think that this is only part two of this small adventure.

Sorry this took me forever to update but I unfortunately broke my left pinkie finger in a fight against dementors. :pinkiesick: Don't worry, I'm fine now :pinkiehappy:

I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Magic Wakes

“Ah!” Magic awoke to find Twilight looking down at him, tears streaming down her face. “Twi… What happened?”

“Magic, how do you feel?” She said, ignoring his question.

“That isn’t the point. I asked what happened?” He attempted to sit up, but pain quickly shot throughout his whole body, keeping him down. He looked around the room, the midday sun shining into his eyes. And where am I?”

“Magic, you don’t need to kn-”

“You broke five ribs, both of your hind legs, internally bled from over a dozen places, and if it weren’t for the unicorns and pegasi, you would be dead by now.” A mysterious voice called out. “You are in the Ponyville hospital due to those injuries. It will take quite a while for you to fully recover.”

“No, I have to get better now! I need to save Grace!” Magic shouted as he recounted the events that led him to his sick bed. “I’ll do whatever it takes!”

“Whatever it takes, you say?” The mysterious pony questioned as they walked into the light.

“Celestia…” Magic gasped “W-why are you here?”

“Princess, please.” Twilight begged as her true identity was revealed.

“To answer your question, I am here by the request of my number one student here. She told me what happened. I have to say Magic Sketch, you’ve gotten reckless.” Celestia walked over to the red stallion.

“I know Princess.” Magic sighed. “Its all my fault that the dragon is still in Cloudsdale, probably wreaking more havoc.”

“But what if you had a second chance against him?” Celestia catechized the stallion.

“Princess, do you really think this is a good idea?” Twilight looked up at the white alicorn.

“”I do. After all, Magic Sketch is determined to save the blue pegasus.” The alicorn grinned.

“Of course I will! Now what is the damn plan already!” Magic yelled at the two, stretching his neck to see them. Celestia looked back at him as her horn glowed. He felt an excruciating pain replaced with a warm tickling sensation as her magic washed over him. “W-what was that?”

“I have healed you of all your wounds. Unfortunately, due to the extremity of the damage done to you, my magic will only last for six hours.”

“That’s plenty of time. The dragon will be done for by sundown.” Magic said as he rose to his feet, already casting a spell to give him dragon-like wings. “Grace, I’m coming for you.”

“Grace! Grace, wake up!” She opened her eyes to see Lightening shaking her awake.

“What is it?” She yawned.

“Something is going to happen.” The blonde pegasus said excitedly.

“And how would you know? Its been three whole days since I’ve gotten here and this just feels like another one of those days.” Grace rolled back over.

“I can feel it! Oh come on, even you have to be hopeful at times.”

“I used to be like that. But not now. Not this time…” She trailed off, her voice unable to make a noise. Lightning Dust forced the mare up and hugged her tight, not saying a word. The tears that had caught in the musical pony’s eyes now freely fell as she clung onto her friend. “I-I just… It’s been almost four days since the incident happened. What if… What if Magic Sketch really did die because of me?”

“No he didn’t. He’s fine. Watch, soon he’ll save you and me, just you see.” Lightning said as she stroked Grace’s mane.

“O-okay. I’ll believe you…” She sniffled. “I’m just worried and well.. being in this place is kinda getting to me, you know?”

“I understand. I’m always here if you need to talk.” She smiled at the mare.

“Thank you Lightning.” Grace smiled back, regaining her faith in the stallion she loved.

Meanwhile, loud bangs were being heard from what seemed like miles away to the trapped mares. Then as their door slammed open, the mares gasped as he was revealed.

Magic didn’t stop flying since he left the hospital. He knew he needed to find the black thunder drake that had taken her. He wasn’t going to give up until it was destroyed forever.

He finally spotted an old castle-like structure deep in the Foal Mountains hours later. He landed close by to see that the overgrown vines that had resided on the outside walls of the building have recently been moved around.

“This has to be the place.” Magic said to himself. “It has to be.”

He carefully slipped inside the building from one of the many broken windows. He looked around to see what had probably been the main dining hall. He crept around the buildings, in search of either the dragon or its prisoner.

I’m almost there Grace. Just hang in there. He thought to himself.

The only noise heard by the unicorn were by his own hooves as he searched the space. With each step, the hoof step echoed against the old forgotten walls. As he went throughout, the artistic pony couldn’t help but notice the exquisite paintings and statues that cluttered the ancient space. Even though he so desperately wanted to stop and admire the artwork, he didn’t dare stop his search. He soon noticed a wooden door with a rusty handle that lay open, leading to a staircase going downwards.

A rustle was heard as Magic took the first step on his way down into the castle dungeon. He continued down, unknowingly walking into the living grave.

“Now…”

“What was that?” He pondered as the sound of a mare’s voice was faintly heard. “Huuu! Grace!” He raced down to find the answers to the many questions that ran through his brain.

Once he quickly reached the bottom of the long stairs, Magic looked around the dark hall to find more doors than he initially thought possible. “Damn it…” He went through each and every door, finding nothing but ancient, fractured skellingtons inside. Only halfway done searching the rooms, Magic started to lose hope that he would ever find the pony who had made that noise.

“Magic…” He heard again, louder. Deja vu, he thought to himself. “Save… You…” Quickly getting the hint, the stallion raced down the hall. For every room, he forcefully bucked open the locked doors.

“Believe… you…” He heard the voices again. It only made him more desperate to find the mysterious mare that sounded more and more like Grace with every word. Minutes later, he reached the last door, slamming it open. Magic Sketch gasped as he looked into the room.

What he saw was indescribable.

In that room, there was nothing.

Nothing but a dead corpse and a bloody message on the far wall that read: In order to save the mare, you must defeat me on top of Mt. Solaris.
“Grace Note!” Magic gasped as he finished reading. Without a thought, he ran back up the stairs and out of the castle. The second he exited the old building, he remade the magical dragon wings and raced toward the mountain where he may or may not lose his life and endanger many other’s.

“What are you doing with us?” The music pegasus mare shouted as she repeatedly struck one of the thunder drake’s claw with her right hoof. The dragon ignored her as he continued flying to the destination unknown to the two mares.

“Give it up Grace, he wouldn’t tell us anyways.” Lightning sighed.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. But still… It was worth a shot.” She ceased the unsuccessful violence, earning a smirk from their captor. “Oh that’s funny to you huh?” Grace humphed.

The trio soon arrived at the very top of the selected mountain. The charcoal colored dragon proceeded to tie the pegasi mares back to back together using a rusting chain which most likely came from their old prison. He soon after left, leaving the mare’s alone.

“Grace, you need to stop moving! You’re only going to chafe us.” Lightning scolded her companion.

“Sorry.” Grace replied, doing her best to stop her attempt at wiggling free from the captivity of the weakened metal. “I just want to be free again.”

“And so do I but…” The blonde slumped forward. “I think waiting it out is the best option right now.”

“So you think that simply sitting here and waiting for a hero to come along is going to work?” She gasped. “Sorry but that is not how I roll. No way am I going to wait here like some damsel in distress like in the story books.”

“But you kinda already are.” Lightning laughed. “Your red prince will soon come along on his trusty stead.”

“Yeah right. That’s only if he is alive, well, and isn’t mad enough to want me dead.” She looked down at the grass, watching her tears water the green plants.

“You know as well as I that Magic Sketch would never be mad at you and would never wish you to die.” She said, turning her head to see the weeping pegasus as best as possible.

“Yeah well you don’t know him as well as me.”

“But I do know you. You, my friend, would never date a stallion that didn’t care about you as much as you cared about him.”

“Maybe. Just maybe.” Grace Note sighed, her shoulders slumped down in defeat. The mare looked around as she heard a mysterious masculine voice shout out.

“Lightning, you heard that too, right?”

“No… Are you sure you’re ok?” Worry coated the mare’s question.

“I’m fine. I just…” She sighed. “I just thought I heard someone shout my name.”

“Maybe it was your prince charming come to save you.” Lightning smirked.

“No, no. I’m only hearing things. It’s not like it will be the only time.”

“Grace!” The voice shouted.

“See? I heard it again.” Grace said confident.

“No wait. I think I heard it too.” Lightning perked up.

“No, you’re only trying to get me to believe your silly stories.”

“Then what’s that?” The blonde mare pointed to the sky with her muzzle. Grace looked up to see a dark red blur shooting towards them.

“Could that be…”

“It has to be your hero. I told you.” She grinned.

“It’s Magic Sketch. He is alive.” More tears flowed from the mare’s eyes as he grew closer and closer to where the prisoners lay. Meare minutes later, said stallion landed in front of his beloved pegasus.

“Grace… I found you…” He smiled.

“You’re alive… And safe…” Grace grinned from ear to ear. “You’re not hurt either.”

“Well…” Before he was able to explain the situation, Magic was thrown into a nearby mountain by the black thunder drake.

“Magic!” Grace watched as the malicious dragon persisted to re-break every bone that Celestia had healed.

“Grace…” He muttered as he gazed at the one he loved.

“Magic! You need to fight back! Please!” She struggled against the chains harder than she had before in her best attempt at saving her beloved coltfriend.

“Grace…”

Author's Note

Yeah so I updated :pinkiehappy: but left with a cliffhanger because I felt evil :yay:

I hope you enjoy it though.

The Fighting Ends

“Fight back already dammit!” Grace shouted as her colt friend landed on the hard dirt in front of her, ignoring the blue-green pegasus bound to her. “You have to!”

The maroon stallion looked up painfully into her deep blue eyes, exposing the black eye from a strong tail swipe of the black thunder drake. He saw the sadness that had invaded the very essence of her soul in those blue orbs he adored so much. “I’m so sorry Grace. I’ll try harder… For you.” He smirked, revealing his new found confidence. He knew he couldn’t let her down. Not now.

With a determined push off of the ground, Magic Sketch shoot towards his dear Grace’s incarcerator. As he dodged the dragon’s flailing limbs and dangerous thunder breath, he struck the underside of its belly with magic beams time after time. Slowly, the dragon’s attacks started to decrease and grew slower in its timing. Magic knew that its time had almost come, only a few more minutes. The unicorn could already taste the bittersweet victory.

Magic had yet to notice the time of day, only that he had but one more hit and the enemy would be no more. His Grace was almost saved. He gathered up his magic, preparing to punish it. Before he could lash out, his side suddenly pained him and two legs went limp. He quickly turned to see that the sun was almost fully set. He knew that he needed to act fast or die from the inevitable fall waiting to happen.

The dragon managed to drive him into a nearby tree by smacking his uninjured side. The stallion winced in pain as he made the hard impact. The lower the sun went, the more pain he was inflicted upon. The black monster had seized its opportunity and proceeded to pummel Magic into a pulp. The weakened stallion began to lose both consciousness and all hope that he would live. As the dragon inhaled for its final strike, Magic closed his eyes and accepted his fate as best as he could.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…” He muttered to nopony in particular. What’s to live for anyways? He thought to himself.

Grace watched the two battle it out, captivated by how the light from the setting sun made every move by the stallion seem ever so much more passionate. She cheered him on, letting him know that she was there for him. He was going to defeat that horrible monster and save Lightning and her. They were going to live a happy life together.

She watched as Magic’s wounds returned, slowing him down. The mare looked away at that dark moment as she saw the worry take over in his usual carefree self. “I- I can’t watch..” She muttered to Lightning. “Can you do me a favor and tell me what happens?”

“Sure Grace.” Moments later, she heard the cracking of wood to her left, chilling her to the bone with fear. “Grace… Whatever you do, don’t look.” Lightning’s voice quavered.

“What? Why?” The musical mare looked over to see the stallion defeatingly close his eyes.

“Magic! Magic please! You have to move! You need to live dammit! Get up!” Grace yelled at the stallion. Tears unwillingly streamed down her face and fell to the dirt beneath her. “Please! Just get up!”

“Grace… I’m so sorry. He… He won’t make it now.” Lightning whispered to her hysterical bond-mate. Tears escaped her own eyes as she witnessed the evil crime.

“Magic…” Grace muttered softly as she looked away from the grizzly scene. Seconds later, dark blood splattered onto her back hooves. She couldn’t look at it, knowing what had to have happened. Grace wouldn’t bear to look upon the lifeless body. That damn dragon... She thought.

“Grace… I won…” She looked at the blood soaked stallion hovering in the air in front of her.

“Magic… I thought you had died!” Grace sobbed harder as she voiced her greatest fear aloud. “You’re badly hurt and the dragon was about to… How?”

“I couldn’t just leave you here to live without me, could I?” He smirked and broke the tight chains from the pegasi. Grace tilted her head up towards him, lightly brushing her lips against his in their first kiss in days. “All that matters is that I’m here now.” He whispered to her.

“Miss Note? Magic Sketch will see you now.” The nurse led her through the maze of halls, leading her to the room where her dear Magic was waiting.

“Grace.” Magic smiled as she walked into the hospital room. “It’s so good to see you again.”

“It’s only been three days you silly colt.” She laughed softly.

“Only three days? I guess you don’t care enough to make two days seem like torture.” He huffed and turned away with a sly smirk. He shifted his eyes from the bare wall to the mare walking over to him.

“At least you didn’t have to endure those four days that I spent in a dungeon. You were unconscious almost the whole time.” She recounted with a small pout.

“Okay, okay. You beat me there. Still, it is good to see your beautiful face here to brighten my day.” He smiled and grabbed her hoof as she sat in the chair to his right.

“Sweet talker. At least that hasn’t changed.” She carefully squeezed his hoof lovingly.

The doctor walked in a minute later, reading his clipboard. “Well it seems like your wounds are healing well Mr. Sketch. If this keeps up, you’ll be out of here by tomorrow evening.”

“That’s wonderful.” Grace smiled at the unicorn stallion.

“Thank you Doctor.” Magic told the light brown Earth pony as he went about checking his vital signs. The doctor wrote down the results before exiting the room, leaving the couple alone once again. Minutes passed as the two sat quietly, neither knowing what to say.

“I really missed you…” Grace said as she looked at the stallion. “You have no idea how bad it was there…”

“I’m sorry that you had to go through that…” Magic looked at his darling mare. “If I had done better than you never would have-”

“Don’t you dare say that.” The pegasus exclaimed as she cut him off mid sentence. “I never want to hear you blame yourself again for what transpired. It happened and there is nothing that you can do now that can change that. Please don’t think it’s your fault.”

Magic sighed, “Ok darling. I’ll stop doing that for you.” He looked into her eyes to see the happiness back in her. And who says the eyes aren’t the windows to the soul? He joked to himself.

“I love you. Whatever happens, I will always love you. Remember that.” She reminded him.

“I love you too… More than you may ever know.” He smiled and brought her hoof up to his muzzle, gently kissing the back.

“Oh dear, look how late it’s gotten. I have to get going dear. I’ll come visit again tomorrow.” She rose from the seat and kissed his cheek before leaving the hospital room.

“Until tomorrow then…” Magic said with a sigh to the empty room.

“This is going to be great!” Pinkie squee’d. “Does he know about it yet?”

“He has no clue.” Grace replied. “I feel bad for not telling him though. And he seemed so upset when I had to leave so early.”

“Don’t worry your little head about it. Your auntie Pinkie Pie is here to make it all better. He is going to love his surprise.” The party pony yelled from the other side of the room. “Can you start blowing up the balloons?”

“Sure Pinkie.” Grace shouted back. “But I’m pretty sure I’m older than you. You can’t be my auntie.” She smiled.

“Only by two months, twenty-five days, thirteen hours and fifty-two minutes!” Pinkie shot back.

“Sorry, my bad.” Grace chuckled. The pegasus proceeded to inflate the provided balloons with helium. She noticed the decorations on the rubber and laughed uncontrollably. “Pinkie, what did you do to these?”

“What? Don’t you like them?” Pinkie questioned.

“They’re fine. But don’t you think they go a bit overboard?” She held a dark red balloon with a depiction of a dead dragon covering half of the surface.

“Well…” The pink pony scratched her head with a hoof. “Not really.”

“At least you’re honest.” Grace inflated a light blue balloon to see a picture of her in chains. “Hey, that’s not what happened!”

“Oops. Sorry.” Pinkie giggled as the cake baked in the oven. More balloons of Magic Sketch, Grace, and dragons cluttered the front room of Magic Sketch’s home. Streamers were hung from the ceiling and a big banner hung on the wall read: Welcome back from kicking major booty!

“I can’t wait to see his reaction when he sees all of this tomorrow. He’ll be so excited to see all of his friends here to celebrate.” Grace smiled, filling the very last balloon.

“Yep!” Pinkie bounced to her side. “Now all we need to do is finish making the food and we will be all ready!”

“I just hope that he’ll like it.” She confessed.

Ba-dum smack. Ba-dum smack. Ba-dum smack.

The red and black ball bounced off of the wall as Magic hit it again and again with his left hoof. He sighed as the ball hit the bed post and rolled over to the side of the room. He turned his head to see the clock goe from 7:53 to 7:54 am.

“If only I had some company. Or at least something to do.” He said, voicing his thoughts aloud to the white room. Magic Sketch laid still in the bed, not able to even sleep to pass the time.

“Mr. Sketch, there’s someone here to see you.” A nurse exclaimed as she poked her head through the door.

“Oh, let them in please.” He replied, shifting his head to witness his visitor walk into the room.

“Hey, it’s good to see you awake.” Grace smiled as she walked to his side. “How did you sleep last night?”

“I slept well. How are you?” He inquired.

“I’m good, now that I get to see you again.” She smiled.

“And you say I’m the sweet talker.” He laughed.

“Maybe. So, are you excited to go home today?”

“You have no idea!” He smiled. “I can’t wait to go back to the comforts of my own home again.”

“What a simple request. Hey, how about before you go home, we go have lunch somewhere? Have some nice peaceful time between us.” She smiled.

“That sounds wonderful dear, I would love to have lunch with you.” He said, grabbing her hoof.

“Then it’s a date.” She giggled and softly kissed him.