(Ponyville, Armor Household)

Waking up gently is a blessing that every male should cherish in life. Especially when the means of the gentle wake up is either a perfect smelling breakfast or a good back rub and maybe a smooch from a spouse (I’m straight, but I don’t judge males with male spouses). Waking up suddenly or getting scared awake is a different story.

Such is the case when I was slightly stirred awake from the sound of a mob near our place. It was only a few seconds after that I heard the door open and close hard, which is what scared me awake. Within a few seconds of the door slamming closed, I grabbed my collapsable sword and was in the front entryway before the intruder could have a chance to react. Thankfully, I kept myself from stabbing the intruder, who happened to be my sister.

“Twily, what are you doing?” I asked tiredly. “It’s just before seven am. and I could have killed you with the way you got inside.”

Twilight, holding onto the look of terror she had on her face, quickly ran behind my legs and hid like a scared puppy. “I don’t know why the entire town is going crazy over one ticket!” She exclaimed.

“What ticket are you talking about?” I asked as I collapsed my sword into its compact form.

Twilight came out from behind my legs with a slight deadpan look mixed with her fear. “The Golden Ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!” She said, but then quickly covered her mouth with a hoof, her terror seeming to escalate. “You want the ticket too?”

I sighed and rubbed my eyes in slight frustration. “Twilight, did you forget that ever since I married Cadance, I’ve attended that Gala each year.” I told her. It took her a few seconds, but when it dawned on her that I have been attending the Gala each year, I continued talking. “So what use is a ticket to the Gala when I already go to it?” I asked.

“Oh, you have a point, but I need to hide here until the mob is gone.” She said.

“Okay.” I said. “Give me a moment to get Cadance up and get started on breakfast.”

“It’s breakfast already?” She asked as I stumbled my way to the master bedroom.

“What time did you wake up and what were you doing to think that it was later in the day?” I asked with a hint of confusion in my voice.

“I woke up around 5 am to help Applejack with some of her harvest. Princess Luna sent two tickets near the end of it and ever since, I’ve been hounded for the second ticket for most of the morning, according to the time you mentioned.” She explained. She then sheepishly smiled. “I also could have sworn that it was darker than normal.”

“Either Luna is a prankster, or she didn’t mean to get your times confused and it turns out that some of your insanity is acting up.” I said. Twilight frowned slightly at what I said, causing me to quickly try to fix her assumption. “I meant no offense when I said that. As a matter of fact, I’ll see if Luna can visit so I can discuss what just happened and how to prevent it from happening again.”

“Thank you.” She said, taking a seat on the couch and started to doze off. I got to the master bedroom, giving Cadance a few rubs to wake her before I searched for the fire mail lantern I was given for such purposes like today.

“Honey, who was at the door?” Cadance asked tiredly as she sat up on the bed and stretched.

“Twilight.” I said, finally finding the lantern and grabbing two scrolls and a pencil. “She’s been hounded by a mob most of the morning to the point of confusing time.”

“Oh, in that case, I’ll head down and get started on breakfast.” She said, getting up and putting on a pink and fuzzy pair of pyjama pants and a white tank tank top with her cutie mark on it.

I nodded in agreement as I went to my office and sat at my desk. I then quickly wrote out two letters, one for Luna, the other for the Ponyville Doctor, both detailing a need to talk at my place to determine the best ways to prevent mental breakdowns or confusion moments like this morning. Burning the letters with the lantern flames and waiting a few minutes, I got responses. Both responses detailing the best times for them to have a meeting. I chose a time and sent them the time of the meeting.

Moving to the dining room just as Cadance placed a plate of pancakes and fruit in front of Twily and setting my morning protein and gravy biscuits. “You doing a little better, Twily?” I asked, taking my seat as Cadance retrieved her breakfast and took a seat next to me at the table.

“Yeah, a little. Sorry for getting you scared?” She apologized.

“It’s okay, LSBFF.” I said, using the funny acronym system we had between each other. “I’m already working on speaking with your doctor and Luna about how this day came to be, and how to keep you from freaking out or misplacing time.”

“I’m starting to think that until we have actual children, this is going to be the closest we’ll get to caring for a child.” Cadance joked.

“Hey!” Twilight shot at her, acting upset. This got us all to laugh a bit and lighten up the morning for all of us.

(Couple Hours Later)

The Doctor arrived at my place just as Luna’s chariot landed in the street in front of my house. “Doctor Clinician, Princess Luna, do come in. Cadance is barely finishing up making some tea and I’ve got some snack sized sandwiches left from my housewarming party a few days ago.” I called out to them, and holding the door open for the two ponies. Once they were in and was served tea, the doctor got right to business.

“So, you messaged us about an incident where Twilight was harrassed for some tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala?” He asked. “Forgive me if I sound insensitive, but that shouldn’t be that big of a deal.”

“Well, knowing my sister, she probably was starting to get pressured to give it to someone, causing her mind to make a mountain out of a molehill, and she briefly lost her sense of reality.” I commented. “So, there is no offence towards me about Twilight.”

“And I think I’m partially to blame for what happened.” Luna admitted, getting mine and Clinician’s attention. “I found a “friendship curriculum” from Daybreaker’s former study and I decided to try it with Twilight, as it seemed designed for her...only remembering who made the curriculum after I sent the two tickets. I rectified that a few hours after you messaged me.”

I looked between her and Clinician. “That’s one way to do things, but I think it’s best if we go over Daybreaker’s curriculum and revise them so they don’t provoke her in the wrong ways.” I suggested.

“It would probably would be for the best.” Luna and Clinician agreed. Luna then summoned the book with it’s insane curriculum and we began to look through it.

Author's Note

took me a bit to figure this out.