Arianna

"Let's see here. Two thousand bits for new kitchen wares. Five hundred bits for the vase in Hall twenty-four D. Fifty thousand bits to replace the throne room doors. Another fifty thousand to refurbish Arianna's bed chambers and one hundred and fifty thousand bits to rebuild all five thrones." Twilight looked up at the four of us.

"Two hundred and two thousand, five hundred bits in total damages. To borrow a word that Vatore likes. What the fuck was the four of you THINKING? The four of you just maxed out the insurance for the next century."

"I'll admit to the vase, but I would still like to know who flooded our bedroom with cream cheese" I asked looking at Luna and Celestia. Both was looking anywhere but at the two of us.

"I don't care about that Vatore. You four wrecked half of the castle in three days. I don't think the CMC could do that kind of damage in a year."

At the moment Twilight was giving us a reaming for the damage we caused to the castle in our prank wars. When she turned around though I looked at Luna and mouthed whoopie while holding up four fingers. She started smirking and Tia was doing her best to hide her giggling behind a hoof. Ari just rolled her eyes.

"You're only making it worse" she hissed at me.

"So? She wanted to interject herself after the staff complained and now she shall reap the rewards" I said shrugging.

"What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing Twilight. It's just a issue that Ari and I have been trying to resolve."

"Nothing serious is it?"

"No, Twilight. It's a small matter with Midge" Ari answered with a smile. Poor girl didn't know she was being set up.

"Okay then." Walking back to her cushion, she plopped down like she normally does and FFFFLLLLLAAAAARRRRRPPPPP! OH man! If looks could kill I'd be dead ten times over, but the best part was yet to come. Moving the cushion to the side, Twilight levitated the whoopies up and.

SPLAT!

SPLAT!

SPLAT!

SPLAT!!

Four cream pies hit her. Have you ever seen a alicorn rage shift? I have and trust me. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE NEAR THEM!

"Scatter!" I don't know who shouted it, but we all ran out of the room and did our best to stay out of Twilight's sights for the rest of the day.

One week later

"I'm not even going to bother asking about what the five of you was thinking, but....was it fun?" All of us looked at Cadence in shock. I figured we would get reamed, but the look of excitement in her eyes was surprising.

"Like you wouldn't believe" Tia gushed. I was starting to wonder if Cadence was wanting to join.

"But I fear we have had enough fun. I haven't seen a staff member or guard in four days."

"That's why I'm here Auntie. They have been sending letters complaining about the condition of the castle."

"It can't be that bad? Can it" I asked a little timidly.

"My dear Uncle." We had to wait a minute as we watched Cadence squeal in joy and clap her forehooves. "I couldn't wait to say that."

At my look of confusion she explained.

"I've never had a uncle and being able to call you that is glorious to me." I had to laugh at her honest joy.

"I get it Niece. How is my daughter doing?"

"Oh, she's having a ball playing with little Flurry Heart. I'm glad she came for a visit, but we should get back to the problem at hoof. I can't believe I'm asking this, but... Who covered the West Tower in cream cheese?" We never figured out who did it.

After everything settled down from 'The Great Debacle' as the papers called it, life returned to normal at the castle. The staff and guards assigned to the castle got a raise and signed nondisclosure agreements to never reveal what happened. The five of us swore to never speak of the amount it cost to repair and replace what got broken or destroyed. (I'm not taking the blame for that Van Colt that got hit by a shrinking spell and I will neither confirm nor deny that I was standing in front of said painting when it got hit. The painting was worth five million bits!!)

A couple of months later.

Ah winter, my favorite time of year. Nothing real exciting has happened in the last few months other than since my arrival back in the spring, I had been getting used to being in Equestria and now their biggest holiday was coming up. Hearths Warming is what I believe they call it. After I had asked Ari about it she explained it was basically their version of Christmas. One of the bigger celebrations was a ball that was hosted every year by the Princesses and I had a idea on how to make it better for one particular alicorn.

After finding a particularly good jeweller(thank you Shining) I had the ring, now I just needed the right moment.

I was wearing a suit that Ari commissioned Rarity to make for me and I'll admit, I look damn good. Since this is the first one I've ever worn, I'm kinda biased, but it was pleasingly comfortable. Black shoes, jacket and pants. The shirt and tie was a darker blue to as Rarity put it 'set off your eyes darling'. I was waiting on Ari to get finished and when she stepped out of her dressing room, my jaw hit the floor. She was wearing a simple dress in the same shade of blue as my shirt, but the way it accentuated her figure was..."WOW" was all I could say. She giggled before gracing me with a kiss.

"Rarity said you would probably react this way."

"How could I not? The only thing that could possibly match your beauty right now would be Luna's sky, but it would be a distant second place." Her blush spoke volumes.

"Thank you my love" she squeaked out.

"I'm the one who's thankful. I have you" I truthfully told her. "Now. Shall we?"

"Lets."

Upon our arrival, we was announced as we entered the ball room. Everyone bowed to us briefly before going back to enjoying themselves. Making the rounds, we would stop and chat with various nobles and others that would engage us. After doing that for two hours, the dance floor opened up. Deciding to take advantage of it, I held my arm out towards Ari.

"Even though I have no clue as to what I'm doing, may I have this dance?" My mare smiled sweetly at me before answering.

"Of course you may. Just follow my lead" she whispered in my ear. Once on the dance floor, she bowed to me and I returned it, then surprisingly she reared up and placed both forehooves on my shoulders.

"Take my left foreleg with your right hand, then wrap your left arm as far around me as you can."

As it was, Ari was about a head taller than me in this position, but I felt we could make it work. Once the orchestra began, so did we. It was awkward at first until we found a rhythm and I found myself enjoying it. Once the dance ended, Ari smiled at me then turned to walk off the floor, but my hand on her shoulder stopped her. Turning back to me I felt I had found my moment so I put my hand in the right pocket of my jacket and closed my hand around the ring.

She gave me a look of confusion until I bent down onto my right knee and presented the ring to her.

"Do I even need to ask?" I watched tears spring up into her eyes while a wide smile adorned her muzzle.

"No and yes I will. Of course I will marry you."

When I slide the engagement ring onto her horn and we shared our first kiss as a engaged couple, the whole ball room started cheering and stomping their hooves. After a moment of accepting congratulations, I turned back to my future bride and kisses her again.

"I've been waiting for this moment for over a thousand years and now I can say I couldn't be happier."

"Wait till the wedding. Then I'll ask you about that" I said smiling.