Princess Celestia awoke with a start, suffering an instant headache as her head jerked up. She cradled her head in her hooves, letting out a sigh. However, her mind cleared and focused on one thing.

“…What a vivid dream…” Celestia looked around, spotting her paperwork all around her. She must have fallen asleep with her work, as usual. She let out another sigh. “The Celebration must have been a blur… I suppose my assumptions were wrong, if I am able to sleep so soundly. But… I remember it so clearly.” The princess shrugged her oddly specific dream off, and returned to her work.

Or she would have, if she hadn't heard the distinct sounds of laughter. Familiar-yet-unfamiliar laughter. Her gaze flicked to a corridor, where rooms were plentiful. With her royal and life-times long honed senses, she easily made out the door yielding such laughter, and lifted a brow in confusion. That was the room that was always upkept and cleared, for the day when…

Celestia's eyes went wide. Was it not a dream after all?

Not musing on it any longer, the princess nearly sprinted to the door and opened it slowly. What she saw was shocking, to say the least.

The saiyan Kai was seated on the bed against the room's walls, grinning at a blue coated mare sitting across from him, smiling back. With the door opening, the duo was alerted to the presence of Celestia, so they glanced over with their smiles remaining.

“Yo, Celestia!”

“Hello, dear sister!”

“L…Luna…?” Celestia tried her hardest to shake off the stunning realisation of her longtime dreams being a reality. After truly realising such, she couldn't help the smile that took over her features.

“Of course. We have missed living peacefully so very much.” Luna spoke, calm and happy.

“I've missed you, Lulu.”

“And I, you, Tia.” Even after all of this time, Luna could still notice the smallest things. Including her sister's quick and curious glance to Kai. “Kai has been assisting in getting us accustomed to this world new to us.”

“Really?” The older alicorn gave Kai a look, brows raised.

“Yeah. I figured she could use the company, if she'd have me.”

“And we do.” Luna spared Kai a short nuzzle of affection, which he returned. Celestia found herself shocked at the display. One day had passed since Kai returned from a three-year training session, and Luna returned from her thousand-year banishment. Yet, the two looked like they had been friends for ages. “Oh, that's right. Kai was speaking of a… Gala, was it?” Kai nodded. “He said it would be most fun to attend, given the opportunity. But, being that it is a prestigious event, he's never even seen a ticket.” Luna smiled hopefully at her sister. “Does our royal stature still apply? May we gift Kai a ticket please?”

Celestia nearly frowned, but kept up her smile.

“Sister, you are always the Princess of the Moon. I would not wish to rule with anypony else.” Luna's smile grew, as she and Kai watched Celestia's horn glow, summoning two golden tickets. “Here you are, Kai. And one for a friend.” Kai graciously accepted the tickets, looking to them in a calm awe.

“Wow… These must be expensive… I could sell this for a mint…” He heard Luna clear her throat, causing him to look to her sheepishly. “Just kidding!”

“Besides, if thou requires financial aid, simply ask us.”

“Nah, I've already mooched your time and these tickets. I'll be fine.”

“Our time was well-spent, Kai. Feel free to drop by once again.” Luna replied with a truly happy expression. Kai returned it simply, taking a moment to pat Luna's head.

“Whenever I can.” Kai gave Celestia a look, and waved shortly. “See you soon, too, Celestia.”

“Take care, Kai.” Celestia's brows rose when Kai suddenly vanished. She looked to Luna, who looked unruffled by that sudden show. “…Huh. Kai is very… interesting.”

“Indeed. He is a very kind individual. I truly hope to see more of him.” Luna closed her eyes, and promptly laid her head down onto her pillows. “Well, the morning is early, so we shall retire.”

Now, Celestia frowned. She had wanted to spend some time with Luna. Well, she wagered there would be plenty more time for that later. As such, she gave a small peck to her little sister's forehead, her smile returning.

“Pleasant dreams, Lulu.”

“Always pleasant, Tia.”

Chapter 12

That's the ticket.

Kai flipped the page of a coffee-related book as he listened to Rarity scold and nag him for worrying her for so long. She was pacing wall to wall, repeating herself and yelling—it sounded more like an upset wife to a neglegent husband. Still, Kai read.

“…and I was sitting, sewing beautiful dresses, just thinking ‘I wonder what Kai would think?’ all day, everyday! You didn't even come by to say ‘hi’! I can't believe you, Kai! Are you even listening!?”

“I'm always listening.”

“Then how are you going to make it up to me?” Kai reached in his newest black trenchcoat's pocket, and pulled out a normal slip of paper, placing it between the opened pages of his book. He closed the book and pocketed it, before reaching in his other pocket to pull out a dazzling, golden ticket. Rarity gasped at the sight of it, rendered speechless. Kai dropped to a knee for a better angle, and held the ticket out to her.

“Will you… go to the Grand Galloping Gala with me?” Kai was immediately under the crushing grip of a hug.

“Of course! Oh, of course! I love you, Kai!” Kai chuckled, hugging the mare back.

“I love you, too, Rarity.” For a brief moment, the two mutually realised that this looked alot like a proposal. However, they shrugged that off instantly, harboring no romantic feelings towards one-another. Right after, they noticed just how much they had missed each other, and hugged tighter.

Breaking the embrace, Rarity gave Kai a curious look, smiling brightly.

“Where did you ever find tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala?” Kai thought about telling her just where he had received them… but he decided against it.

“Let's just say, I've made friends in high places.”

“…Kami?”

“Wha—no. You're taking that too literally.” Rarity let out a short giggle.

“I suppose Pinkie is rubbing off on me.”

“I'm guessing the pink one is Pinkie?” Rarity nodded in response. “She seems nice.”

“Oh, she is. If a bit… hyper.” That made Kai chuckle.

“Hyper. Remember when we raided the cookies back when we were kids, and tried not to bounce off the walls when mom asked about it?”

“Oh, I remember that! We didn't get in trouble, but I think she knew.” Shaking her head, Rarity thought of something. “You know something, Kai?”

“What's that?”

“Wouldn't it be grand if we could go to the Gala with our friends?” Kai blinked. Plans went through his mind immediately. He shortly realised that, while he only knew her, Fluttershy and Twilight, surely Rarity had been refering to all of her friends. That was five more tickets, six to include Twilight's assistant Spike. He didn't plan to mooch off of Luna any further… but where did one find six tickets to an extravagant Gala? After all, it was only after he became connected with royalty that he had so much as seen a ticket.

“I'll find us all tickets. It'll be fun.” Despite having no clue how, Kai assured his sister he could do this.

Rarity smiled, already convinced.

“Just be careful.”

With a wave, Kai started towards the door, thinking of how to go about this…

“…And your plan is… to have me make counterfeit tickets?” Kami lifted Kai by his collar and held him over the edge of his lookout. “Goodbye, Kai.” He dropped him.

“Some god you are!”

“Ahahahahaha!! Kid, if I knew where to get tickets to that, do you really think YOU could afford them?” There was one vendor in a back alley Kai had known long ago, who had the saying, ‘If your coin is real, I don't care what you are’.

But… hearing that gave Kai an idea.

“Huh? What in the name of Shenron is a Gala?” Dragon Lord Torch claimed to have loot for Kai after his quest was completed. He thought that a ticket might be something he had. “Do you want your treasure or not?”

“I do, but I'll be back for it another time.” Kai slumped away.

Kai was running short on ideas. Rather, he had no more ideas, and was trying to form any. Then, he saw Twilight.

“She knows alot. Maybe…” Kai ran to the unicorn, calling out to her. “Twilight!”

The mare turned, brows rising when she saw who called her.

“Kai! It's good to see you after so long.”

“Agreed—say, do you know where to find tickets for the Grand Galloping Gala?” Him getting straight to the point seemed to irritate Twilight.

“No, not you, too! What do YOU want them for?”

“You have tickets?”

“Just one spare, and I haven't decided who to give it to.”

“Just one…” Kai put a finger to his head. “I wonder… Who'd you get it from?”

“Princess Celestia. Why?”

“Duh!” Kai smacked his forehead, sticking out his tongue to excuse his stupidity. “I haven't mooched off of Celestia in years! Thanks, Twilight! Hi, Spike!” With that, he vanished.

“I was waiting for him to notice me.” Twilight glared back at Spike. “What? I don't get to be noticed?”

“Celestia!”

“Gah!” The princess jumped, disrupting all of her paperwork. She gave Kai a look of waning patience.

“I know it's only been a few hours, but I need four tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala.” Now, Celestia quirked a brow.

“That makes six, adding your two. Why so many?”

“Well, Twilight told me you gave her two, and Rarity thought it would be great if everyone could go.” The princess held back a blush, embarrassed to have forgotten to gift an adequate amount of tickets for her student and her friends.

“Very well.” With a flash of light, she summoned forth four tickets to the Gala. Kai took them gratefully.

“Thanks!” Celestia smiled back and nodded. “Hey, can I have some money, too? I saw this great satchel, and…” Celestia stared blankly. “Aha! Hahaha…! Just kiddin'!” Kai waved and vanished from sight.

“…Troublesome.”

Rarity half focussed on this newest design of hers. Something about the dress was just… lacking, and that made her lose motivation. But she was used to this kind of thing by now. Just finish up, and move on to the next design.

A certain scent made her head perk up.

“Welcome home, Kai. How did your search go?” She wouldn't say the question was sarcastic, per se, but she had known well enough that procuring more tickets to such a prestegious event would be—

“Got all we need, already gave 'em to the others.” Now, Rarity looked over at Kai, who was scrutinizing her work. “Plain scarlet? Please tell me you're adding glitter to that?”

“Glitter! Of course! Why didn't I think of that?”

“Sometimes, glitter goes over the heads of the even the best.”

“Aww, aren't you sweet!” Rarity returned her attention to her work, adding on some glitter. It truly made the dress, a dress.

Kai smiled and took a seat on the nearby couch.

“…Hmm… Seems awfully soon to end it off here…” He mused to himself.

“It's not even noon. Why don't you go… I don't know, play with Sweetie Belle. Or clean your room. Or something productive.” Rarity threw out, only to receive a grunt. “You really need a hobby. Even before all of this, you never did much other than train.”

“I can't do much because everypony is still scared of me. And I can't do anything about that.” Kai let out a long hum of thought. “Do you need anything?”

“I don't think…” Rarity almost answered reflexively. She realised Kai was without anything to do, so she decided to force herself to want something, if just to give him something to do. “I never had my morning coffee.”

“Gotcha.” With that, the saiyan slid into the kitchen to make his sister a cup.

Author's Note

Took a while, I know, but we're still going all the way to the end!