Author's Note

This was originally going to be the last scene for Same-Day Deliberation and has spoilers for it. I highly recommend reading that first.

The reason for cutting was simple: After spending the whole story talking about the big party, I never would have shown said party. Thankfully, I realized that oversight with plenty of time to correct. Still, it seemed a shame to throw out a perfectly good bit of silliness when I have an anthology made for such curiosities.

Same-Day Deliberation: Distribution Error

Officially, Jet Set was relaxing in his luxuriously appointed manor. He certainly had no reason to skulk about anywhere in a nondescript cloak, much less in the vicinity of Midnight Crescent. That neighborhood, practically touching the mountain slopes, had been built around a scurrilous sinkhole into the depths of the Canterhorn. But there were certain… items that one could only acquire in such parts of the city, and trusting somepony to acquire it for him meant sharing a secret with one more pony than necessary.

Thus a stallion who happened to resemble Jet Set made his careful way towards the depths of the undercity, wary of any bats who thought he'd make for an easy mark. But this wasn't his first time in the deep shadows of the Crescent. It would be a quick acquisition. No muss, no fuss, and certainly no—

"Princess Twilight!?" He couldn't help the exclamation. Seeing any alicorn here was unexpected, much less the ruler of the nation.

His eyes bugged out further as she turned her attention away from the leather-winged trio of urchins that had cornered her. Details began to filter in: Her own featherless wings, the red eyes, the fangs in her smiling muzzle. Even her very cutie mark had been warped into...

Well, it had an apple imposed over the central star. Which was still a disturbing shift in the princess's personal iconography, but more as a symbol of supporting the peasantry.

"Jet Set?" The princess's voice refocused his racing thoughts. "You do know cloaks aren't that inconspicuous with gold trim, right?"

"I-I have no idea what you're talking about," said the unidentifiable stallion, only a tasteful amount of gold embroidery brushing the cobblestones as he took a few steps back. "I'm just here to acquire certain cargo for an anonymous client."

"His wife's gonna have a foal!" squeaked one of the bat foals.

"She wants durian," added another.

"Lots of durian," concluded the last.

The warped princess gasped. "Congratulations! Give Upper Crust my best. Will either of you be able to make the celebration at the castle?"

"Y-yes, she's not due for another six months." After a moment, he turned away. "I mean, uh, never heard of her. Must dash." He galloped for his life, back prickling as he expected the whole cursed lot to pounce on him and infect him with whatever had afflicted the princess.

Another flawless exfiltration.