The Incantation

Applejack really overworked me.

Fluttershy had convinced me to help out at Sweet Apple Acres the following day for a delicious meal and a few bits.

But dear Celestia that was hard work.

I sat at the table with Fluttershy, Applejack, Big McIntosh, her big brother, and Applebloom, her younger sister, and Granny Smith, their grandma. We ate a meal the Apple family prepared in the evening hours after a long (literally) hard day's work planting new young apple trees and harvesting from existing ones. I had no idea how hard it was to do farm until now.

"I can't stress it enough that I appreciate y'alls help taday." Applejack finished up a slice of apple pie from heaven and regarded me and Fluttershy with a delighted smile. "Ya did a great job."

"Eeyup," Big Mac agreed, tenderly rubbing his plump stomach. He eyed the remaining bite of pie on his plate, but left it alone.

I sat back in my chair. "Of course, it was just me and Fluttershy helping out. I'd help out again anytime if you needed it." I regretted those words as soon as they spewed from my maw.

"Well, sure," Granny Smith said jovially. "Y'all are welcome to come help anytime. In fact, come by nex' week, we'll surely have somethin' fer y'all."

The filly, Applebloom, was staring noticeably at me and occasionally Fluttershy, but hadn't said so much as a word to either of us. It was unsettling, so I initiated a conversation to break the ice.

"Hello, Applebloom is it? I'm concerned about your gawking. Do I have something stuck in my teeth?"

She shook her head violently, as if snapping out of a trance. "Oh - sorry. I was jus' noticin' somethin'. It's no big deal."

"So...no food in my teeth?"

"No, sir," she replied adamantly.

"Oh!" Fluttershy burst excitedly. She sat in a chair to my right. "Applebloom, how is your club going?"

Applebloom shrugged. "I dunno. Sweetie Belle an' Scootaloo are busy a lot lately."

"They were jus' over yesterday," Applejack pointed out, frowning at her.

Applebloom smiled innocently. "Uh...yeah. Besides yesterday."

I took a drink of apple cider, savoring the taste as it flowed down my throat like a sweet golden waterfall. "So," I began, wiping my mouth with the back of my hoof. "You have a club? What's it about?"

"Well, it's called, uh, the...Cutie Mark Crusaders."

"Really? What do you fillies do in the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders'?" I asked, amused.

She looked around the room nervously. "Well...we try an' git our...cutie marks."

"Adorable," Fluttershy whispered in my ear.

I leaned over to hers and replied, "Agreed." She giggled with a hoof over her mouth.

Again, I noticed Applebloom's gaze on me and Fluttershy.

I was about to say something, but Applebloom called Applejack over to her. She whispered something in Applejack's ear, to which Applejack whispered back audibly, "No, I don't think so, an' it's none of are business if they are."

I shifted uncomfortably. Gossip?

The two sisters noticed me watching their conversation and smiled over at me.

"Uh, Emerald?" Applejack asked hesitantly.

"Yes?"

"Can I talk to ya in the kitchen real quick? I just gotta quick question fer ya."

"...Okay..." I stood up, seeing Fluttershy's questioning look. I returned it.

Applejack led me into the kitchen and turned to face me. "So, uh, whaddaya think of ma sister Applebloom? A real cutie, huh?"

"This isn't the question you brought me in here to ask me, is it?" I asked, getting to the point and hoping she would as well.

"Well...no." She glanced over my shoulder at somepony, probably Applebloom, then back at me and sighed, lowering her voice. "I know Applebloom can be a bit nosy sometimes, but she also makes good points, so I have to humor her."

I waited for more, and when it didn't come, "And?"

She cleared her throat and continued. "Are, uh...you an' Fluttershy...ya know..."

"No," I cut her off. Why does everypony keep assuming we're a couple? "Me and Fluttershy are just friends. Strictly platonic."

"Oh!" She looked down, embarrassed. "Sorry 'bout that. I jus' thought..."

"Yes, I know what it looks like, but no, we aren't together. I mean, it I'm not her coltfriend, even though I...flirt...but, you know, like I said, strictly platonic." I sounded defensive, and I didn't know why.

She looked back up at me, apparently surprised by the way I sounded. "I'm not tellin' ya that ya can't date her, I'm jus' sayin' that I thought ya already were." She smiled. "Do you like her?"

That question caught me totally off guard. "Oh - well, uh...I, um...might think she's...pretty...but we're just friends, rest assured."

Her grin grew wider. "Ya jus' think she's pretty, huh? Sure partner. You look pretty nice for the gala. You wearin' a suit with that do?" She was referring to my mane - I'd been to Rarity's earlier that evening, getting my green dye and trim. Fluttershy loved it, but Rarity did not.

"Well, I had to look nice, you know. The gala is kind of a big deal," I said calmly. "And yes, I'm going to wear a tuxedo."

Applejack nodded. "An' Fluttershy likes the tuxedo, too?"

"Actually, she hasn't seen it."

"Why not?"

I swallowed, wishing I could get a swig of my apple cider at the table. "I haven't seen her gown, either. We aren't going to the gala on the same ride. We'll be seeing each others' outfits at the gala."

She raised an eyebrow, still smiling. "Ah, I git it."

"Get what?"

She walked past me back into the living room. "Nothin'. Let's clean up this mess so y'all can git ready to leave fer the gala an' I can too."

I shrugged and helped her bring all the plates and mugs into the kitchen to be washed. Big Mac did that, while me and Fluttershy said our goodbyes and parted ways so we could get dressed and ready for the gala. Fluttershy went home, while I went to Rarity's and left for Canterlot straight from there.

As I put the suit on and received appraisal from Rarity, the nervous nagging feeling I got when I was stealing in Canterlot started up.

I hope this goes well.

Orion decided to stake his post out in view of that night's Grand Galloping Gala, where there would be hundreds in a attendance, hopefully one being Emerald Rain.

The high-up ledge on part of Celestia's castle that he'd flown up and landed on had a great view of the entrance, where Emerald would likely be seen first.

It was already an hour after sundown, and guests to the gala were arriving in bigger and bigger groups, none of which contained Emerald. So Orion sat patiently with his bow at the ready, in case one of the princesses nosy guards caught him up there.

He was busily combing through faces when a noise behind him prompted him to spin around, his bow-and-arrow aimed precisely.

The figure held up his hooves and pulled back his hood. "Careful," Steelwing warned him. "Dark Storm won't take insubordination very well."

Orion lowered  his bow. "What in Equestria are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Ponyville."

Steel grinned wryly.  "I have news for you. On Emerald."

Orion doubted it. "Oh? And what might that be?"

"Emerald is coming to the gala," Steel confirmed Orion's hopes. "He also has a marefriend. With her, I'm sure we can manage to lure our friend in right to us."

"How can you be so sure about this?" Orion asked. "How do you know Emerald will be here tonight?"

Steel's smile faded. "I came across him and a yellow and pink mare pegasus walking together and talking in Ponyville." He cocked an eyebrow. "You don't think I'm lying to you, do you?"

"I wouldn't put it past you, because it wouldn't be the first time. You've diverted my attention elsewhere so you could bring in the bounty and take all the credit."

"Listen...I'm fully sincere about this," Steel said. "I'm going to Appleloosa to inform Dark Storm on the situation. I just thought I'd drop by and let you know about it before him...you know, to give you a head start?" He turned and prepared to fly off. "Get the girl, you get Emerald, and you get the crown. I'll leave the choice up to you." Then he flew away for the train station.

Orion silently turned back to the entryway. He'd made his decision.

I got to the gala after dark that night, having ridden the train.

Fluttershy and the others took a horsedrawn carriage, and would be here later. I was actually early.

And nervous.

Although I'd made to the castle, the site of the gala, without notice, I was still afraid of somepony somewhere somehow recognizing me.

It was relatively quiet for now, as everypony arrived from all over, some coming from as far as places like Baltimare, but a majority were from Canterlot.

I followed everypony else up the stairs and into the big double-door entrance to the castle.

I had a lump in my throat as I entered the castle past two armed Royal Guards. They didn't give me so much as a glance.

Inside, it was pretty much a line waiting to see Princess Celestia, something I had no desire to do. But the more I tried to find a way around her, the more I realized - it wasn't going to happen.

As I waited in line, thoughts of capture flooded my mind. Will she recognize me? Will she have me tossed into the dungeon on the spot? Will she have me...executed? I shivered violently. Stop scaring yourself.

The line went fast, and soon I was only a few ponies away from the ruler of Equestria.

I gulped as the pony in front of me greeted the princess and moved on.

My turn.

I plastered on the cheesiest smile in history and faced her with a near heart attack. "Hello, Your Highness!" I bowed.

"Glad you could make it," she replied, actually sounding friendly.

I started past her, and was almost clear, when I heard her say sternly, "Stop."

I did so and spun around, beginning to sweat. "Y-yes, Princess?"

She regarded me with a blank look. "That's a nice suit."

I breathed for the first time in ages. "Oh...thank you."

She smiled and turned back to the next guest. "How are you?"

I sighed and made my way into the castle.

Everypony was well dressed. Not that that was uncommon in Canterlot, but these gowns and suits were dazzling. I was glad Rarity made me a suit, otherwise I would have looked out of place in one of my other suits from my limited wardrobe.

I found what appeared to be a ballroom and seen a table with food and drinks on it.

The drink was champagne, to my surprise, and some high-class grab-n-go foods I couldn't identify.

As I taste tested the foods and filled a glass with some pinkish champagne, I nearly fainted when I seen Fluttershy come in.

She was beautiful, stunning, out-of-this-world...

She noticed me, smiled, and came trotting over. "Hey Emerald..."

I was at a loss for words. "H-hey..." I trembled slightly. Her dress was a perfect match to herself, and I couldn't tell you how good it made her look. Her mane was also done up, likely by Rarity, with little bows and some pearl earrings on. She wore some high-heels as well. Her overall appearance was jaw-dropping, for lack of better terms.

"Um...I like your suit," she complimented me, sounding like her usual easily shy self.

I cleared my throat and smiled nervously. "I, uh, you look nice...pretty..."

She blushed lightly. "Thanks..."

As my heart pitter-pattered away, I thought of something to avoid awkward silence. "Would you like a glass of champagne?"

"Well, I usually don't drink...but I'll have one with you."

I filled her up a glass and handed it to her. She sipped it and made a face.

I tried not to laugh. "So...you want to go, uh, out to the garden?" I asked.

She suddenly seemed a little less tense. "I'd love to."

I smiled. "Great. You'll just have to show me where it is..."

She giggled quietly. "Sure."

Orion had seen her.

She'd come in with a group of friends, all dressed up - but Emerald was not with her or among them.

He cursed under his breath, believing that Steelwing had lied to him.

The mare was just as Steel had described, though, which didn't make sense to him if he was lying about Emerald coming here with her. Perhaps he really was telling the truth, and Emerald was just smart enough to not be seen coming in with her.

Orion flew from his elevated stone rooftop to one higher up. At these heights, all of the castle's exits and entrances were visible. A much better advantage.

The moon was also conveniently full, allowing Orion to see even in the darkest of places. If Emerald tried to leave, Orion would know.

But Orion had a different plan: capture the mare.

If Steel was right about her being in contact with Emerald, than his goal was to get the mare to talk.

Orion pulled a small vial out of his saddlebag. It was a poison to put somepony to sleep within seconds of being administered. Put it on the tip of an arrow, and you had a very effective weapon.

Orion grinned.

Just a bit.