“Eeeeee! I can’t believe I’m finally going to the gala this year!” Exclaimed a light pink alicorn wearing a mint green dress with silver glitter all over it. She had a matching bow atop her head to go with it. Her sky blue and lavender mane was styled in beautiful curls, she wore silver shoes and eyeshadow with a touch of smoke black eyeliner. A pale blue stallion with a blown back navy blue mane, who was in the carriage with her, chuckled. He said, “Calm down, Squirt.” she pouted, “You’re still calling me that?” “Yup! You’re still my little sister.” the mare rolled her eyes, wearing an annoyed look which soon turned to a smug one as she changed the subject, “ Say, Soarin,” She started, her smug expression not changing, “Are you going to talk to Rainbow Dash?” A bright red blush crossed Soarin’s face, “What’re you talking about?” Such a horrible liar the pink mare thought. “Well, what about you, Melody? Are you seeing someone?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. Alas, Soarin was one of those overprotective brothers. He needed to know if his little sister was in a relationship, for she had been left heartbroken once already and he didn’t want it to happen again. Melody rolled her eyes once again, “Of course not. Besides, how could I get something like that past you?” Soarin nodded, “Good.” Then, the carriage stopped. Melody’s expression changed back to an excited one. She squealed, “We’re here!!!” Soarin covered his ears to save his eardrums from her high pitched squeal. The Grand Galloping Gala wasn’t much of a big deal to Soarin, all that happened for him was getting mobbed by fans. Soarin quickly zoomed out of the carriage and into the sky. This confused Melody. She looked up at her big brother with a confused expression, “Why’d you- AH!” she exclaimed as she got mobbed by ponies. She wondered why at first but then remembered she was an alicorn princess. Soarin quickly flew down and brought her up with him. “Hey! Watch the dress! Took forever to make, y’know.” Soarin rolled his eyes, “Alright, don’t get your tail in a bunch.”
As Soarin set the pink mare down gently, a grey mare with a brown and blue mane with a simple but elegant dress and a stallion with the colors of a lovely Autumn day ran up to her. It was her best friends, Sparkle Wing and Lock Step. Melody grinned widely, “Oh my Celestia! Sparkle! Lock!” She hugged them both tightly. Sparkle Wing, growing used to the pink mare’s tight hugs, gently squeezed back while Lock Step looked a bit annoyed, not fully used to the mare getting into his space. “I’m so glad you guys are here!” “Yeah. Me too. The princess is going to make me greet the guests soon and I need somepony I can actually talk to. No offense Lock.” The stallion gave no reaction but Melody was smirking, “Are you telling me you haven’t talked to Thunder Storm yet?” Sparkle Wing blushed, trying to change the subject, she asked, “Well, what about Sketcher? Talked to him lately?” Melody blushed this time. At this point, Soarin flew off somewhere else so he didn’t hear what she asked. “You know it’s not like that and I haven’t seen him since I moved to Cloudsdale for the summer!.... But is he here?” she added that last bit quietly. Both Sparkle Wing and Lock Step’s ears dropped at this. Melody wasn’t there in Canterlot when the changelings attacked. They didn’t know if Game-Sketcher was a part of it, but that didn’t matter to Soarin, who blew up at him after the wedding and told him to stay away from his sister. The two ponies didn’t know how to tell Melody this. “What’s wrong?” The pink mare asked, noticing how her friend’s ears had suddenly dropped. Lock looked at Sparkle, hoping she would explain since the stallion could never really say what was on his mind. “Well… Mel… We need t-” She was cut off by her mentor, Princess Luna, “Sparkle Wing. It’s time for you to greet the guests.” She nodded and trotted inside, actually happy to avoid the topic about Sketcher. Melody looked at Lock but he averted her gaze and trotted off to who knows where. Melody, now extremely confused, trotted into the castle to invade the snack table.
Sketch sighed, wondering why he even considered coming to the gala. He had only come once, with his friend, a well known artist, Blu Beauti, but after that, they had pretty much lost contact. Sketch was disguised, of course, as an orange unicorn stallion with a messy light purple mane and eyes. He trotted over to the snack table for some punch as a very familiar looking pink pony left, but being in the not so happy mood he was in, he didn’t care at the moment. He sat down at a table near the gardens, which was where they he familiar mare was going. He sat down and drank his punch in silence. Well, not complete silence, of course, there was chatter and laughter about. He didn’t like it. There was always only one pony he actually enjoyed being around, but he hadn’t seen her since the beginning of last summer. I wonder if she knows… He thought. He wouldn’t lie, he was part of the changeling attack in Canterlot for the royal wedding, but he didn’t really do anything but watch. Sketch wasn’t one for violence unless it was absolutely necessary. He sighed and went out into the gardens to get these thoughts out of his head. Meanwhile, Melody was flying around the gardens, admiring the beautiful plants and amazing animals. She sat down and watched the animals from a distance to not scare them away. Sketch was now out in the gardens as well. Finally, he noticed the pink mare sitting, watching the animals. Her mane and coat were very familiar and he managed to catch a glimpse of her cutie mark. He finally realized who she was and felt stupid for not noticing before. His expression finally changed to a bright smile and he was thinking of a way to approach her.
Soarin was bored. Extremely bored. The crowd of fans had finally died down and his hoof was hurting from signing so many autographs. He was sitting by himself before a cyan mare with a rainbow colored mane joined him, grinning wide and probably fangirling internally. It was the one and only Rainbow Dash. Soarin smiled as well, happy to see a familiar face. “Hey, Clipper.” She said, calling him by his Wonderbolt nickname. Of course, he replied, “Hey Crash.” “Bored?” “Yup.” “Didn’t know it would get so boring for a Wonderbolt.” Soarin chuckled, “Not as fun as you thought, huh?” “Not even close. Hey, wanna hang out?” Phew. Soarin thought he would have to be the one to ask. “Sure.” Rainbow Dash smiled, getting up and heading to the entrance of the gardens, “Race ya!” she yelled before taking off, a rainbow trail behind her. “Hey!” He raced after her. Might be a fun night after all.
Sketch looked around before changing to his changeling form. He was going to do something he did all the time when the two were foals. He fluttered up to a tree branch right above Melody and hung upside down from it, his face in front of hers, “Boo.” he said while booping her nose. Melody’s eyes widened in surprise as she took in the familiar face now in front of hers, taking in the messy purple mane, sapphire eyes and the fangs sticking out. She gasped and smiled wide, “Sketch!!!” “The one and only.” He let go of the branch and sat down beside her. Then, she hugged him tightly, “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you! I missed you!” Sketch hugged back just as tightly, “I missed you too, Melody,” He rested his head on her shoulder, “More than you could imagine.” He squeezed her lightly. After what seemed like ages, he pulled back, a soft smile on his face, “Hey, wanna dance?” The mare blushed, “Sure. Why not?” He smiled brightly, “Really!?” He cleared his throat, “I mean, really?” Melody only nodded. Sketch stood up and offered out a hoof to Melody, on his hind legs,which she happily took and he pulled her up and right onto him, so close that their muzzles were touching. Neither of them bothered to move until Sketch wrapped his hoof around her waist and Melody placed one on his shoulder, their other hooves were occupied holding each other. “Hey, um…” Sketch started while leading the dance, “You look beautiful.” The pink mare blushed at the comment and replied, “You don't look too bad yourself.” Sketch smiled and twirled her around, then brought her back into a warm embrace as they continued dancing.
Soarin had finally caught up with Rainbow Dash and they were flying alongside each other. They were above the gardens when Rainbow spotted something ‘peculiar’. She pointed a hoof down at the dancing pair, “Ummm… Soarin? Is that your sister with a changeling?” “WHAT?!” He exclaimed. It seemed like he couldn't get any angrier but when Soarin saw that the changeling was Sketcher, he did. He had told him to stay away from his little sister and now he was dancing with her. Melody didn't know about the changeling attack, but she would know soon enough.
“Melody?” Sketch called her name, “Hm?” Said pony replied. Sketch sighed, “I need to tell you something.” He looked straight into her light brown eyes and she stared back into his sapphire ones, “What is it?” Before he could say anything, Soarin flew in and tackled Sketch to the ground, “I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER!!!” Both Sketch and Melody’s eyes were wide, Sketch’s from fear and Melody’s from shock and confusion. “Soarin! What're you doing?!” “I'm protecting you! I'll explain later. Right now, go to Dash!” Rainbow was standing near the entrance to the gardens, but Melody wouldn't move. She couldn't. She didn't understand why her brother was ‘protecting’ her from one of her best friends. Soarin glared at Sketch, speaking to him in a dangerously low voice which Melody couldn’t make out, but it must’ve been something terrible, for Sketch’s pupils had shrunk and he was shaking. Soarin glared at the changeling one last time and turned back to his little sister, his expression softening just a tad. “Come on, Melody, we’re leaving.” Said mare could only nod, not being able to say anything.
Melody and Soarin were now back home. They were both sitting in the living room, Soarin finally explaining to Melody why he exploded earlier. By the end of it, the pink mare couldn’t speak, she couldn’t believe her best friend was a part of something so horrible. Finally she stood, “I’m..gonna head to bed now. Good night.” With that, she stood and headed upstairs to bed.
Sketch had just entered his own home, turning back to his regular form. Sighing, he flopped onto his couch, thinking about what Soarin had threateningly told him. He couldn’t think too much of it. He didn’t think he’d see her after tonight. He was also tired. A few minutes passed and he was fast asleep on his couch
