Author's Note

Gonna call it a day here and make the next chapter a full-fledged chapter instead of another part to this one.

~Dragon

Chapter LIII, Part IV- Something New

Rarity marveled at her latest outfits, which now adorned the bodies of the five clients involved, with holes through which wings could fit through and enable flight.

Koto had a dress which covered her entire front section, while it kept her forelegs relatively uncovered. Around her neck was a blue collar, attached to the dress itself, and it was studded with rhombus-shaped amethysts cut to wicked perfection. The rest of the dress had a vast array of colors that blended in to create a blurred effect, making it look like a vivid sunset of yellow and crimson before fading into a dark blue that had a grey, snow-dotted bottom.

The young unicorn also had shoes that extended to her front knees, and they were a dark blue that ended in the same snow-dotted pattern as her dress. Her mane had also been braided at the back, held in place by a simple green bauble at the end.

Yuuki had a dress with a collar and it covered much of her front quarters, silver rings at the sides just wide enough for her to fit her wings through and not be uncomfortable about it. The collar, a color somewhere between yellow and off-white, seemed to add further compliment to the blues and greens adorning her midsection. The dress had a blended effect as well, only it consisted of blues, yellows, and subtle hints of magenta. They swirled about meticulously, somehow giving the dress a vibrant shine.

Adorning her front hooves were horseshoes that had a silvery sheen, and her mane had been held up in a high ponytail by a crimson bauble.

Tenmei had a simple kimono, dull sea green with a dark purple obi. He had horseshoes of a golden color, and a simple copper chain had been added to his glasses, attached directly to the outfit should they fall off his face suddenly.

Nagare had an obi of shimmering sunset gold, his kimono a blurred mix of cyan and navy with some noticeable tints of violet here and there in the form of autumn leaves. His tail poked out at the end, but it had been tied into a few small braids here and there. His horseshoes were a light sea green in color.

Rekka had an obi somewhere between cyan and blue, a dull color to compliment a brighter shade of yellow-green that had a bottom patterned with fire-like colors. His horseshoes were a color between orange and vermillion. His mane (save the bangs) and tail were braided to the end, baubles of blue holding the hair together.

Each pony had their respective weapons, but Rarity had added magically-enchanted gemstones to the outfits so as to render the weapons invisible until absolutely needed. This made them pass off as mere passerby that were suited up to attend the Gala.

“Now, I’d normally charge a hefty few bits for custom designs, but since this is a prestigious event, I’ll be generous and give the outfits free.” Rarity stated, smiling faintly. Her mane was losing its curl, favoring a more wavy look, but that was only because she’d been stressed. “The first time I attended the Gala, it was nothing like I’d expected. I do hope the same doesn’t happen to you.”

The group nodded, but Koto had an arched brow upon hearing the words ‘nothing like I’d expected’ fly out of Rarity’s mouth.

The white unicorn saw the arched brow. “I tried impressing Prince Blueblood, thinking he was sweet as can be, and...he’s the exact opposite of what I’d dreamed of. If you can, avoid him, but that’s merely my two cents.” She replied, getting an understanding nod from Koto.

“What’s he look like?” Nagare asked, a brow of his own arched. “We can’t avoid him if we don’t know what he looks like.”

“White coat, blond sleek mane, blue eyes. He’s a unicorn.” Rarity answered quickly.

“Alright.” Nagare replied with a nod of his own. The group then smiled and thanked Rarity for providing them her dressmaking services before trotting out the door and entering the snow-covered world. The five made their way to Canterlot, with the help of a royal guard carriage line that was gathering ponies to take to the castle.

They were dropped off at the drawbridge, and everyone stood glancing at everything the castle had to offer with widening eyes (with Nagare as the sole exception).

“Nobody told me it’d be this...this…” Yuuki trailed off, awe-stricken by the sight presented before her.

“I believe the word you’re looking for is ‘spectacular’?” Nagare chimed, smiling warmly. Yuuki hastily nodded in response before shooting the green pegasus a wide-eyed look.

“Wait...since this is a castle...I assume Celestia and Luna are here?” Koto inquired, blinking.

“Yes. There’s even a throne room for them.” Nagare answered again, still smiling faintly.

“Where should we go first?” Rekka asked, brow arched. He was looking at the green pegasus as if he knew everything.

“I only know the way to the throne room, and I’m pretty sure it’s off limits tonight.” Nagare replied quickly, sighing afterwards.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s try to find the princesses!” Tenmei chimed, smiling wide. This was when a royal guard or two approached them, though neither had spears or swords present anywhere near them.

“The princesses have been expecting you five. Follow us.” The guards said in unison, turning around and trotting away. The group exchanged brief glances amongst themselves before obeying the guards, trotting to the identical duo in sync.

“I’m starting to think they personally sent that invitation to us…” Yuuki whispered in Koto’s ear as they continued to trot for what seemed like forever after the guards. The blue unicorn nodded back.

“‘Humble and unusual’...I guess they weren’t trying to sound offensive.” Koto whispered back.

The group stopped, since their impromptu guides had done the same. The identical duo then parted to let the five trot beyond the door they stood at the sides of.

This room had a great sparkling golden chandelier, and it was large enough to hold three entire galleries oft found in theaters and whatnot. There were grand stairs to one side, and they ended before two grand chairs where the princesses sat observing the ongoings below.

On the ground that unfurled at the beginning of the long flight were dozens upon dozens of unicorn ponies, some dressed well and others having saddles on their backs for whatever reason. There were some pegasi in striking blue and yellow jumpsuits here and there, one of which had a familiar two-toned orange mane that served as a dead giveaway to her identity.

The makeshift hallway the group stood in was parted from the floor below via rails. The carpets were cobalt and gold, patterned with suns and moons and constellations. There was a similar hall on the other side of the room, and as they rounded the corners and neared the great big flight of stairs, they curved sharply downwards to basically merge into the flight of stairs.

“Ponies of Equestria!” Bellowed Celestia, her voice hushing all of the ongoing clamor of the crowd going on below in an instant. Everyone, save Luna and the guards present, looked at her intently. “I thank you all for attending the Grand Galloping Gala to celebrate spring’s arrival. Please, enjoy yourselves, enjoy this last night of winter as it melts into spring, and enjoy the company in which you have in this castle and beyond.”

With that, the crowd erupted into a brief but loud cheer of joyous unison before resuming their clamoring.

Rekka leaned close to Tenmei, nudging him with a hoof to get his attention. “She sure makes a helluva impression.” He whispered.

“She rules the whole country with her sister. That’s a must for those with her position of power.” Tenmei whispered back.

“I think I see an alicorn in the crowd.” Koto stated, looking down at the crowd. The group looked at the crowd as well, and by golly, the mare was right--there was indeed an alicorn amongst the lot. She had a bright pink body, wings fading into lavender at the tips, and a curled mane sporting a darker pink, purple, and a striking shade of yellow. Her eye color and cutie mark, though, were too far away to see properly.

This makeshift black sheep was making her way to the princesses, and the nobles let her through without so much as a fuss. The group of five watched intently, unsure of who this alicorn was, or what she could do.

“Princess Cadance? What brings you here to the Gala?” Luna asked once the pink alicorn stopped in front of the two.

“Well, I rarely get to spend time with my aunties. Since this is the Grand Galloping Gala, I figured ‘why not?’ I also brought Shiney here for the same reason.” Cadance, the pink alicorn, explained. Trotting up the stairs was a white unicorn stallion, blue mane in two distinct tones, and his hooves had ended in blue. Like Cadence, his eyes and cutie mark were too far away to be discerned properly.

“A third princess...and niece of Celestia and Luna?” Nagare mumbled, brow arched at the scenario currently at play. “Well, ya learn something new every day…” He added with a sigh.

“If that’s enough reason for you, nopony can stop you. Even we need a break now and again.” Celestia agreed with a nod and warm smile adorning her muzzle. “But...I’d like you to meet a pony, or a few if he brought friends with, if he did accept my invitation at all.” She added.

“And who would that be?” Cadance inquired, wings shifting a bit as she spoke.