Dreaming of gentle lavender fragrances

"I'm sure you're excited, just like everyone else is. Just fill out your form and then get in line for the presentation when the time is right at six o' clock tonight."

"I sure will. Thank you very much." Artcraft then filled out his form and then skipped down the hall to the early pre-festival show.

"That kid's got a lot of positive spunk. I like him. Hope you win, buddy." The maid said then regressing back to her boredom as Artcraft made his way to the Main Castle Atrium.

"Look at everybody gathering Luna. They're all here for you today. Isn't that incredible?"

"Yes it is, Tia. I'll admit it is. Mayhaps today might not be so bad after all. Thank you for accompanying me, sister." Just then, leaving from the Canterlot Summit was Silverblood as he approached Luna with the cheesiest and worst smile he could muster. Her look soured as soon as she saw him.

"Why hello there, Princess. Such a lovely surprise to see you here tonight."

"Why yes it is.. a surprise.. to see me at a festival that's all about me and my night. Quite a surprise." Her look was slowly turning more down and irritated the longer she had to be around him.

"The winner of this presentation gets to have a medal presented by you to them and a single request of anything of their choosing that's within your power to grant, is that right?"

"Y-Yes. That is correct." 'Please, for the love of Faustia, do not be implying what I think you are. You've got a lot of nerve.'

"That's right. I see that look in your eyes, you're into me. I can tell."

"U-Uhh... I do not know how to respond to this." She leaned to her sister, "Help me, Tia, please."

"Maybe leave your request until after the presentation. I do hope you'll win, Silverblood." This seemed to satisfy his expectations for the time being as he just looked toward Luna with a lecherous glare that was practically violating her body as she felt shivers running down her back.

"Sure thing. Just you watch me, I'll smoke this performance tonight and then I'll have a kiss from you. The best trophy that a noble like myself could ever be honored with." This made Luna internally wretch on the inside. This foul, disgusting, pompous, piece of filth was seriously going to kiss her?! There's no way in Tartarus that she would want that.

"Tia.. please, there must be some other way for me to get out of doing this? Please tell me that there is." Luna turned to her sister after Silverblood left, she felt panicked and scared.

"I am sorry, Luna. But unfortunately you must, this is your celebration. You represent the night itself so it is required that you attend this. My deepest apologies, sister. I know you're scared."

"I do not want that scumbag winning me. I do not deserve that."

"Then I pray for your sake that someone else win this instead. There seems to be an altercation in the works, too. Look, sister." Celestia geatured towards the end of the hallway to see Silverblood arguing with someone as they both went over to check it out.

"Grr... not you again! I ran into you at that Coffee Joint earlier today. Why, do you seriously think you got what it takes to win this thing? You've got to be kidding me. And with those scrolls? Forget it, pal. Why don't you hit the road and never come back. Better still, move out of Canterlot. A noble city has no room for such a useless peasant like you."

"Well, the flyer did say that anypony could try out for this event, so I'm taking that at face value. It wasn't very specific in its requirements other than having something to present."

"Well... you're still going to lose this. You're in a lot of trouble, buddy. Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into here? Let me enlighten you then. This is a talented nobleman presentation event. Even if it did say that anybody could attend, this is where the big boys rock. Get the hint?"

"I sure do and I love the challenge, too."

"Why you-" He was moving towards Artcraft as Celestia raised her voice to put Silverblood's advance to an abrupt halt.

"Duke Silverblood of Trottingham! You will not raise any harm to anypony in here, for any reason, whatsoever. Do I make myself clear?" He shriveled up and backed off like an obedient puppy being scolded by its mother.

"Y-Yes, ma'am. Abundantly clear."

"Good. I'm glad we have an understanding here. Do not let me see you trying anything like that ever again. Or so help me, I'll see to it personally that you'll be stripped of your title as a Duke. It'll be by legal and royal decree as the ruler of Equestria that can override any decision if necessary. So do not push me."

"B-But.. y-you cannot do that to me. It's in my blood to be a noble. It's in my heritage as a long lasting family of nobles that have spanned for longer than six-hundred years."

"Oh yes I can, Silverblood. You may be a noble by blood, but you're far from immune from the wrath of royalty, I can assure you that." He whimpered which only added to Luna's distaste of him.

"Y-Yes. I understand completely."

"Good. Be sure to present your best tonight. And remember, you're on thin ice right now." As he walked off, he glared hatefully towards Artcraft before making his way off for the festivities. Her focus was then set onto Artcraft himself, "and who're you, my little pony?"

"I'm Artcraft, princess. Wow. Meeting the royal sisters themselves. This is not something that you experience every day, that's for sure." Luna immediately had her gaze fixed onto Artcraft. For whatever reason, she liked him. His kindness, calm and cheerful demeanor, his shyness. Best of all, his humility as a pony. She found all of these traits to be most desirable. "I'm happy to present my best for this event tonight."

"I hope you win instead of Silverblood..." Luna let that spill before correcting herself and straightening her posture.

"Gee.. thanks, princess. I hope to not let you down then. I kinda always loved the night as it's peaceful, so I designed something that would represent that best. It'll have to be done at night in order to truly enjoy it."

"Oh, I shall enjoy your work, indeed, fair Artcraft."

"Luna believes that you got this and so do I. There's something... special about you. I have a good feeling about you in particular."

"I'm glad. Woo yeah! I'm actually here for this. After three years of mulling over failure after failure. I've made it this far and I'm so happy."

"Then we shall see you tonight." Luna said with a legitimate smile on her face as Artcraft bowed in respect and made his way to build his machine.

"Grr... how dare that little twerp. He embarrassed me in front of both royal sisters and my beloved Luna. I will find a way to triumph as a strong and successful noble of the Blood Family Line. I will not be made a fool out of on stage. But how to beat him?"

Silverblood was in deep contemplation, "I got it. I'll wait until he's finished making that thing and then I'll steal his scrolls detailing his schematics and then patent them as my own. Genius move, Silverblood. He'll never see it coming." Silverblood was patient enough to wait things out until his associate arrived to do the patenting of Artcraft's invention.

"You wanted to see me, Silverblood?'

"Ah yes, Script Change, My best associate. I'm glad to see you here and on time, too."

"What is it you need? You're usually this happy when you've got a favor to ask me."

"I do have a favor. Now it might sound a little... morally compromising. But I assure you that it's for the greater good of the noble families that I succeed."

"Name your problem."

"I need you to patent something for me, legally. Yes, it belongs to someone else. But you can do this, right?"

"Woah now, Silverblood. This is a very harsh and low blow, you know. You sound desperate to win to me."

"Can you do this or not?"

"I can, but that depends. Is his work already patented? If it is then there's nothing I could do for you. If it's not, then you're in luck."

"Is there a way for you to validate that? To see if it is? I hope it's not."

"Let me take a look real quick then." He set to work on his laptop to browse through the patented claims of the all contenders of this event to narrow things down. To Silverblood's fortune, it wasn't.

"I can see that it isn't. You're lucky. Just a minute.. and.. done. The name popped up and everything. All the information is on it, too. So it's called the Crescent Cannon, huh? Impressive." Script whistled in astonishment at its designs. "I certainly wouldn't mind having that at my home."

"You did it?! Incredible! I'll see to it that your pay is extra for this, Script. Your services to the Blood Family will not be forgotten."

"When this is done, I get that cannon as my bonus."

"Consider it done. I just want that twerp to be canceled out of this event. That's what he gets for crossing me and by extension, the Blood Family Line."

"You're a cruel and calculating pony, you know that, right?"

"The ends justify the means, Script. I'll be willing to do whatever it takes for nobility to win, no matter what."

"Well, at the end, we'll see how all this plays out. I did my part. After this, I wash my hands of any involvement, understand?"

"But of course, my friend. Leave everything else to me. Your pay shall be processed after this event. I'll see to it personally."

"I trust you fully and unequivocally, Silverblood. Pleasure doing business with you."

"The pleasure's all mine."

Script Change then got up and left after his work was done. "Sorry, kid. I was only just doing my job, it's nothing personal." he lamented to himself briefly before exiting.

Before the official event, Artcraft was finished with his invention as it was functioning thoroughly and completely. "Everything is working out, nicely. Awesome. It's fully tested and ready for its presentation." He was then approached by Silverblood.

"Hey there, Artcraft. I know we got off on the wrong foot before and I wanted to apologize to you. It was wrong of me to act the way I did as a noble. I just wanted to wish you luck tonight at the event as an equal."

"Sure thing. Thanks, man. I really appreciate it." Then four guards came in and grabbed the cannon by its wheels and moved it out of the room without saying a word. Silverblood had a very smug and victorious look on his face. "W-What's going on here. Where are they going with my invention?"

"I'm sorry, but by legal decree, this is my invention now so it belongs to me."

"W-What?! Why would you stoop this low? Pretty unbecoming for a noble, don't you think? I was always told that nobles were above such foul deeds. I can see that this isn't the truth with you."

"Consider this as a good hard lesson, Artcraft. In order to really succeed, you must be willing to do whatever it takes to go far in the big leagues. I'm actually doing you a favor by opening up your eyes as far as I'm concerned. You should be grateful that I did this. Innocence doesn't get you very far in this city."

"You big stinker. You knew you were no match for me, so you cheated to win instead. That's pathetic."