Return of Dark Magic

After telling the good news to the others, Twilight, Starlight, Spike, and Ember were seeing the two princesses off as they took their leave beside the carriage outside. Celestia looked to her adopted son and the dragoness princess. "It was great meeting you Ember. I'm glad to know we'll be seeing you at the Gala."

Ember smiled to the princesses as she said, "I look forward to it Princes Celestia. So is there anything else you need to let me know?"

Luna spoke next, "Actually yes. We would like you to come to Canterlot a day before the Gala and let you see what our capital of Equestria is like. If that's not too much trouble."

"No problem at all. I'd be glad to see how other ponies are in Equestria."

Spike mumbled, "If only you knew."

Twilight silenced him with a elbow to the side. "Be a little more positive. We don't want her to change her mind."

Celestia then said, "And one more thing Ember. While Twilight has done a good job by herself, please help keep Spike out of trouble."

"Mom!"

Ember could only giggle at her drakefriend's embarrassment. "I'll do my best. But I can't make a promise that I will succeed."

Celestia smiled. "Thank you. And see you all in a week."

With that, the two princesses entered the carriage and it took off.

After the carriage was out of the group's site, Starlight looked to Ember and asked, "So Princess Ember? Do you have anything to wear to the Gala?"

"First off, you can just call me Ember. You're a friend of Twilight's so you're a friend of mine. Secondly, I never expected this so I don't know what I'm going to wear."

Twilight smiled and said, "I'm sure Rarity can make something for you. Let's go pay her a visit and see what she can come up with."

Starlight smiled as she said, "And maybe Trixie can throw something in to go with it."

After Trixie and Starlight became friends, the blue unicorn moved to Ponyville and along with using shows to earn money, she also worked as Rarity's assistant. After proving to be good at providing sketches of what the dress would look like, Rarity and Trixie got along just fine.

"Who's Trixie?"

"She was once somepony who held nothing but hate for all of us here in Ponyville. It started out when she was embarrassed by me when an Ursa Minor was led into town by two of our town's civilians: Snips and Snails. They brought it here so they could prove that she was as great and powerful as she kept saying she was by having her defeat it. I managed to stop it and then she ran away. She came again about a year later wearing a relic called the Alicorn Amulet. With it, she started doing powerful spells that no ordinary unicorn could ever do. She threw me out of Ponyville before putting a dome over the town. Without Spike, I had no way of contacting Princess Celestia for help. So I went to our friend Zecora to come up with a plan. And after the others tricked Trixie into letting Fluttershy out of the dome, she came to us and we learned that we needed to use the tricks our friendship gave us to stop her and make her give up the amulet. Then, not long after our return from the Dragon Lands after the Gauntlet of Fire, Starlight was assigned to make a new friend for Celestia to meet. To our shock, she crossed paths with Trixie and a friendship started. At first, Trixie was using their friendship as means to get back at me. But after seeing how hurt Starlight was, Trixie realized how much their friendship meant to her."

Starlight smiled as she spoke, "And to this day, we've been the best of friends."

"Wow. I never thought friendship could have so many difficulties."

"You'll learn a lot of things about friendship with us Ember."

The four headed toward the boutique as Twilight walked beside Ember and whispered into her ear, "Just in case you might feel awkward if you hear this, Spike used to have a crush on Rarity."

Ember became shocked as she looked ahead to see Spike talking with Starlight. "Really? What happened?"

"Well. Eventually Rarity told Spike she didn't feel the same way. Being a good pony, Rarity let him down gently. It took a while, but Spike eventually accepted it and he started doubting he'd meet the right girl. But then, like a miracle, you came here and took his heart."

Not much longer, the four found themselves at the Carousel Boutique. The door bell rang as they walked in to see Rarity and Trixie working on designs.

Rarity was the first to speak, "Hello everypony. What can Trixie and I do for you today?"

Twilight smiled to her friends. "Rarity, I'm sure you two know the Grand Galloping Gala is about a week from today. So this morning, Princesses Celestia and Luna came by the castle to invite Ember to the gathering so we could talk about peace between dragons and ponies. And she needs something to wear so we came to you."

The white unicorn smiled to her friends. "Of course darling. You, Spike, and Starlight have a seat for a moment. Ember, if you would be kind enough to follow me and Trixie for measurements."

Spike, Twilight, and Starlight took a seat in the waiting room while Ember followed the two unicorns to the dressing room. Ember stood on the miniature stage as Rarity began doing measurements and Trixie took out her sketch pad.

While taking Ember's measurements, Rarity decided to start a conversation. "So how are things? Are you enjoying your stay in Ponyville?"

The dragoness smiled to the fashionista. "I've enjoyed it here so far. I can see why Spike loves this place. It's very... eventful."

Rarity smiled. "I should say so. Especially considering how you won the heart of our group's favorite dragon."

A red blush shot onto Ember's face in shock. "H-how do you know about that?"

"Twilight sent a message to us about that earlier this morning. I for one am glad to know Spike has finally found someone to share his time and love with."

A thought came across Ember's mind and she hesitated before speaking, "On our way here today, Twilight told me Spike used to have a crush on you when he was younger."

Rarity stopped for a moment before continuing her work. "Indeed he did."

Silence filled the room for a moment before Ember broke it. "So?"

Rarity sighed before looking to the dragoness. "I'll admit I was flattered by Spike's feelings. He did so many things to show his love for me. From gem hunting to assisting me with work. But even after all of that, I couldn't return the same feelings to him. It took a while for me to tell him the truth in the right way but it did happen. In the end, we stayed friends and decided it would be better if he moved on. However, while I couldn't return the same love Spike had for me, he will always have a special place in my heart. Which is why I need you to do something for me Ember."

"And that would be?"

"Take care of him. Spike is like a brother to me and I want him to be happy. So I'm asking you as friend to give him the feelings he needs that I couldn't give him."

The dragoness smiled to her as she said, "You have my word as a dragon lord. I have the same love for Spike that he has for me. And I have no intention of losing those feelings."

Rarity smiled sincerely to the dragoness. "Thank you Ember. I know you will take good care of Spike. Now do you have any ideas of what you want for your dress."

"Well I'll be taking the Bloodstone Scepter with me so I thought something that involves the same shade of red as it. And maybe a little bit of the gold color as the armor I wore during the Gauntlet of Fire. You remember that shade of gold don't you?"

"Of course. Trixie, do you have a proposed design?"

"Yes. I think I have something." She smiled as she showed them a dress sketch. "What do you think?"

The two looked at the sketch before Rarity spoke, "I think it looks fantastic. Ember?"

"I like it. How soon can you have it ready?"

"Give us a few minutes and we'll have it ready in no time."

A while later in the waiting room, Twilight was reading a magazine while Spike and Starlight were playing cards. Spike broke the silence, "How much longer do you think it will take?"

Twilight looked from her magazine for a moment to her adopted brother. "Knowing Rarity, it shouldn't take too much longer. She's good a designing and making dresses all in one day. Knowing her, it could be done at any second."

Right after she said this, Rarity and Trixie walked in with smiles on their faces. "Allow us to introduce the Gala prepared Dragon Lord Ember."

Ember then walked out in a long dress gown that was the same shade of red as the gem of her Bloodstone Scepter while it also had golden highlights and shoulder straps that were the same shade of gold as the armor she wore two years ago during the Gauntlet of Fire. "Well? How do I look?"

Starlight spoke first, "You look great to me Ember. It really looks good with your scales along with matching the color of your scepter."

Twilight smiled to her dragoness friend. "You look fantastic Ember. I think you'll look perfect with your scepter in your hands during the Gala. What do you think Spike?"

The drake gave no response to her. "Spike?"

She looked to see the dragon looked at Ember open-mouthed with hypnotized eyes. She then noticed his wings were starting to unfurl, giving the alicorn a good idea of what was going through Spike's mind. Twilight chuckled and rolled her eyes before closing his mouth for him. "Spike!"

The drake came out of his stunned state before looking to his adoptive sister. "Sorry. What did you say?"

Twilight smiled. "I said Ember looks great in that dress. Don't you think so?"

"Absolutely. She looked beautiful before. But now she looks more beautiful than I've ever seen a mare look before."

The dragoness blushed heavily at her drakefriend's comment. "Thanks Spike. That means a lot. Do you think I'll look good at the Gala in this? I want to make a good first impression on the ponies of Equestria's capital."

Rarity said, "Trust me darling. The main ponies you need to worry about making a good impression for are the princesses. There are some ponies in Canterlot who are impossible to impress. Trust me, I've gone through it."

Twilight smiled to her friend. "Thanks Rarity. Now how much do we owe you?"

"Don't worry about it Twilight. Consider it on the house as a favor to a new friend."

Ember looked to the unicorn with a sincere smile. "Thank you Rarity."

Spike then asked, "Now why don't we drop that dress off at the castle and then go show you what our other friends do around town?"

"Sounds good to me."

With that, Ember left for the changing room to change back into her normal clothes before following Twilight, Spike, and Starlight out of the door.