The Flame Prince

After we had paid for the new sofa's... or couches, whichever term you prefer. Myself, Blaze, and Lilith began to trot towards the cafe me, Delilah, and Fire ate at, or rather drank at during our first day in Ponyville.

The first time I came here I didn't have the time to appreciate pretty much anything this town had to offer, other than slightly sightsee perhaps, and since I was going to be living here for the foreseeable future I wanted to rectify that. In addition me now being seen with four different mares in public would hopefully demonstrate to the townsponies that I was taken, hopefully.

But I stopped worrying about that for now. It was a nice bright blue day, in near complete contrast to the gloomy, fiery, smoke filled Firelands. Everything seemed so calm, so serene, so peaceful. Without having to worry about politics, military affairs, wellbeing of subjects, tyrannical, egomaniacal, big, strong, attra... madmares! Yes madmares with far far too much power trying to hunt you down and... c-court you, um...

"Ponyville is really serene and pretty when you actually have the time to sit back and admire it without all that! Hehe..."

"Sire, are you okay?" Lilith asked me.

"Ah! Oh, uh... Y-yes, thank you Lilith... and please call me Night Storm when in public okay" I asked.

"Understood s... Night" she replied.

"Night, what is this... tavern, like exactly?" Blaze asked.

"Well it's called a cafe, and it's similar to Brandy's bar. Except you need to pay for the food and drink with bits... the Equestrian equivalent of reales unlike where back in Ashen everypony just gets a weekly limit on how much food and alcohol they can acquire" I explained.

"Really? Why do they have to pay for it?" she replied.

"Well from what I understand and have read over the years Equestria is big, like really big when compared to our kingdom. They're also not as centralized as us and due to their country's size means they will never achieve the same level of efficiency that we have".

"Therefore Celestia needed to create an incentive for ponies to get up and do things not just for themselves or their village, but for other ponies as well. Like farm, build things like bridges, roads, and just really to have a functioning society on a national level" I said, while at the same time looking around to make sure no nosy ponies we're eavesdropping.

"Sounds... weird. Inefficient, and highly complex. Why wouldn't everypony already be helping each other. If they're all on the same side anyway, wouldn't it make sense for them all to work together?" Lilith said.

"Yes, but Equestria wasn't very united when it was first founded. So ponies didn't really want to help others outside of their own communities. Though with time, crown incentives, and national projects that was eventually solved" I explained.

"Or so that's how the story goes. With over one thousand years between then and now who knows what's true or not" I added.

"Huh, that's... interesting I suppose" Lilith replied.

"So why don't we have to pay for things then back home s-Night" Blaze asked.

At first I was surprised by her question but then remembered that the more common ponies didn't really receive an education in their foalhoods like I or the nobles did, and even then mine was leagues ahead of theirs. The only other comparable ones we're those on the triumvirate and in other important government positions.

"Because the complications of economics and money in general became more of an obstacle and outright problem rather than a benefit when we fled Equestria. We didn't have time for merchants to be selling food or armorsmith's to charge reales for repairing necessary equipment to our survival. It was all hooves on deck, everypony had to do their part. Or we would have all died. Eventually Queen Vesta Blaze and her daughter Queen Elixa instituted reforms that did away with currency in general and established several more collectivist organizations and positions that suited ponies in our position much better" I explained.

"Wow, that's... wow" Blaze said.

"Anyway lets get to that cafe, I'm hungry and I'm sure you both are..." Rumble. I stopped suddenly, which both mares mirrored.

"Uh Night... what was that?" Lilith asked.

"I... I don't know" I replied.

Rumble

"There it is again, what could be making that..." But upon seeing the sky darken and the few Ponyville residents around us scarper into their homes realization began to set in. Living in the Firelands all my life I had only heard about these from either books or ancient accounts by long dead ponies. Storms of death... watery death.

"Rain Storm!" I gasped. Immediately Lilith casted a shield around us and Blaze grabbed and hugged me, shielding me from the rain with her own body. Though I knew Lilith's shield would easily hold against the water, and our disguise spells had a built in one I was still glad to have a pony shield. Though unfair as it may seem. But especially because I began to have a panic attack, and given how Blaze was slightly shaking as well I was certain she appreciated me hugging her back.

Lilith meanwhile sat on the ground next to us, dragging a hoof slowly across my withers while mostly focusing on maintaining her shield around us. In comparison she seemed to be fairing better, knowing that she couldn't be killed by the water. But I could still see the fear in her eyes plain as day. We'd all grown up with the old stories about the Death Storms, from times long since forgotten. From when we'd lived in our ancient homeland.

It was one of the very few places in those days that it did not rain and therefore made a perfect home for us, and sadly that was just a few of the little known facts and legends that had survived about that place and into the modern day.

"Shh, it's okay Night. You are safe, w-we are safe here" Blaze said, pulling me close into her chest.

I breathed deeply and let the mare's scent calm my nerves. Which after a few moments I began to feel less scared and more... happy. Then after a few more breaths I felt a smile begin to form across my face and felt elated enough to pull my self out from Blaze's chest.

"Hehe, you look like you ate way... way too much salt" she giggled.

"What..." was the sensical reply that I formulated.

Unsurprisingly both mare's responses we're knowing smirks and giggles, this was what happened to stallions that..." Crack.

Yelping I dove back into Blaze's chest, though this time I decided that I didn't want to let her pheromones wrack my brain and at least try to face my fear. So I looked up at the raindrops pelting the shield above us.

"Th-there's... so many" I shuddered. Once more recalling old legends of Flameponies getting caught out in these storms, it almost never ended well for them.

For a few moments we stayed like that. Me in Blaze's embrace and Lilith's hoof stroking my back, I thought about repaying the unicorns gesture when a female's voice called out to us.

"Night Storm... are you all right dear?"

Or more specifically me.

"Of course" I thought.

Lilith and Blaze looked towards the newcomers with slight annoyance, until they saw the baby dragon at Rarity and Twilight's side. Instantly Blaze pulled me under herself and Lilith charged her horn with a teleportation spell.

"Wait" I said, putting my own two front hooves on their withers. Calming them down and stopping Lilith's teleport.

"They're alright" I stated. Both mares nodded and Lilith let them enter her shield, though albeit hesitantly.

"Are you all right Night Storm, you look scared?" Twilight asked.

"What, no I am fine" I replied.

"Then why is... apologies darling but you're not Fire Strike are you?" Rarity asked Blaze.

"No, my name is Blazing Skies. Pleased to meet you miss..." she replied.

"Rarity, charmed, and this here is Twilight and her younger brother Spike. Now then Night, if you're fine then why is Blazing Skies comforting you?" Rarity reiterated.

My eyes widened, I had completely forgotten that Blaze was still comforting me.

"Uh, I just... slipped and fell on the wet stone" I lied and wiggled out of Blaze's embrace.

"Hmm... okay then. You didn't hurt yourself, did you?" Rarity replied.

"No no, I'm fine" I said. Crack

"Ahh!" Instinctually I dove once more right back into Blaze's fetlocks.

"Hehehe, all right then" Rarity chuckled. While the rest of the mares and dragon tittered, even my own.

"Traitors!"

"Well since I don't think you three want to be out in this weather even longer, and since we're already going there anyway would you like to come to my boutique?" Rarity asked.

"Boutique...? Isn't that like... a clothing store for stallions?" Spike asked. Twilight lightly thumped him on the back of the head for a reason I didn't understand. But if Rarity was supposed to be offended she didn't appear to be, instead offering a simple smile.

"That it is dear Spikey, but I also sell dresses and other garments for mares as well" Rarity smiled.

"Well, if it gets us out of this rain then I suppose we could come" Lilith said.

"Splendid, just follow me dears" Rarity replied and went to walk out of the shield when Lilith stopped her with a light tug on her tail.

"You don't have to leave the shield, I can move it with us. Just lead the way" she said.

"R-really? You can move the shield?" Rarity asked.

"Um... yes" Lilith replied, and demonstrated by moving it back and forth by about three hoofs.

Both Rarity and Twilight's eyes went wide.

"Is something wrong?" the pink unicorn asked.

"Um, no miss its just that... that's a pretty advanced feat" Twilight said. Now it was our turn to stare back, wondering what exactly she meant. Moving a shield was part of a unicorn legionnaires basic shield training, compared to other spells this wasn't that hard.

"Though perhaps to us it's not that hard".

"I have a brother who literally specializes in shields, and not even he can do that" Twilight added.

"Oh... well thank you Twilight" Lilith said.

"You're welcome, but seriously can you teach me how to do that. I would love to surprise him and my parents the next time I see him" Twilight replied.

"Maybe Lilith can show you another time Twilight. I would like to get out of the... r-rain if it's all right with the rest of you" I spoke up.

"Oh... sorry Night" Twilight smiled meekly.

"It's all right, we can" Crack "Yipe!" I jumped, while the mares and dragon laughed again.

"Grr, what even is that!?" I growled.

"You mean thunder?" Spike asked.

"...Thunder?" I replied.

"It's a natural phenomenon formed by electrostatic discharges through the atmosphere. First lightning occurs when frozen raindrops collide with each other in a thundercloud, creating an electrical charge. When the charge builds up enough, it overcomes the air's resistance and creates a plasma channel that rapidly heats the air. The heated air then expands and creates a shockwave that turns into thunder" Twilight explained.

"...Okay, that's... quite interesting Twilight" I said, way out of my depth.

"Thanks" she smiled.

"Anyway darling's, let's get to the boutique" Rarity said and began leading the way.

Thankfully not much happened after that. Other than Spike asking me how I could be afraid of thunder, and getting lightly smacked by Twilight again. We made good time and soon arrived at Rarity's boutique.

"All righty darling's, welcome to Carousel Boutique. Where everything is unique, chic, and magnific" she smiled.

I didn't understand the last two words she said nor what the word carousel meant, but the store was obviously designed with a stallion's taste in mind. With the exterior being painted in a ridiculous amount of pink and purple. Along with a bit of blue and golden highlights as well.

Trotting inside revealed the theme to be much the same. Though in comparison to the Royal Tailor Lord Mateo De La Pallium Rarity meanwhile looked to have far more tools and resources in this one room then the old colt would ever even see.

"What that stallion would give to have a room like this" I laughed. But then noticed something, they looked like ponies but we're clearly fake. I could've mistaken them for pebble filled sack practice targets back home if not for the burgundy tailcoat adorning it.

"Some sort of... fake pony to show off clothing" I thought.

"See something you like Night?" Rarity said, trotting up to me.

"It looks nice, did you make this yourself?" I asked.

"Indeed, this was actually the very first tailcoat I ever made. It was a commission for a play... or rather it was before they decided to go with a competitor of mine instead" she grimaced.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. It's really well done" I replied.

"Oh why thank you Night, that's very nice of you to say" Rarity smiled. I returned it and was about to reply when we we're suddenly accosted by water. In a blind panic I managed to jump back in time, though this put me straight atop of Blaze and Lilith. Rarity however was not so lucky. While she wasn't drenched her mane and fur we're very soggy and her expression was not amicable.

I meanwhile rapidly checked all over myself for water before realizing that I was in a rather compromising position between Blaze and Lilith, who both had grabbed me in an attempt to steady us before we fell, backwards. Which now left all three of us on the floor, me between the both of them, and their hooves wrapped around my barrel.

In addition due to my hasty look over I hadn't realized both of my hindlegs we're spread apart, giving not just Lilith and Blaze a view no sane mare would pass up but also basically presenting myself to Twilight and Rarity. Though thankfully one was facing away from me and angrily glaring at the other, who didn't seem to notice our little predicament due to the glare she was receiving.

Upon noticing this I immediately shut my legs and stood up but the damage was done, as both Lilith and Blaze we're looking away with heavy blushes on their faces. Looking around it seemed that Spike thankfully didn't notice us either, seemingly having been splashed as well by a sheepish looking Twilight.

Though I should have been mad at her, furious even. I couldn't bring myself to be angry at her. Especially at how sorry she looked.

"Ahehe... oops, sorry" she said while the three of us helped each other up.

"Oh no, it's quite all right... After all, we are the best of friends are we not" Rarity smiled at Twilight.

The three of us stared at the weird spectacle before us before Rarity spoke up again.

"And you know what the best of friends do..." she smiled.

"Uhh..." Twilight trailed off.

"Makeover-help each other look their best! Yes, help each other look their best" she coughed. Then quickly dragged a... the most coltish looking changing screen I had ever seen in my life over to Twilight and after a couple of seconds and several grunts of pain Twilight emerged in a quite nice green saddle with blue and pink highlights along with a blue and pink collar around her neck complete with a multicolored pearl necklace.

"There, oh you're simply darling" she smiled, and I had to agree that it complimented her coat quite nicely.

"Uh... yeah. It is kind of pretty isn't it?" Twilight smiled. Spike meanwhile simply pretended to gag on his claw at the spectacle before him, or at least until Rarity ran over and with her velocity accidentally slammed said claw into his mouth.

"And you, oh Spike. I have a dandy little outfit for the dashing drake" she added. Before lighting her horn and pulling both Spike and the changing screen over to her and repeating the same song and dance with him, which when it was over. Showed Spike with in the most ridiculous outfit I had ever seen.

A blue tunic covered him with a golden sash encompassing his waist along with two clasp buckles along his legs for some odd reason. But the most ridiculous feature of his outfit was the blond wig adorned atop his head.

"Oh Spike, now you just need a hat" Rarity said before adding the most gaudy looking hat I had ever seen in my life. Black with a golden feather adorning it.

Myself, Blaze, and Lilith tried our best but ultimately burst into giggles at the poor dragon before us.

"Ugh, I told you I don't want any part of this colty gala gunk. See ya back at the library" he said and took off, somehow managing to leave every single bit of his outfit behind at once.

I didn't know whether to be impressed or scared, but ultimately decided on the former when Rarity turned to us.

"Well if dear Spikey won't appreciate my work then perhaps the giggling three will instead" she smirked.

"Uhh... Rarity wait-ack!" I gasped as the three of us shot towards her and then... I don't even know what happened as we were pushed, prodded, stabbed, poked, measured, and for a second I thought groped, choked, and fondled before Rarity once again pushed the changing wall away and then pulled a mirror over for us.

I found myself wearing the same burgundy tailcoat I had been looking at earlier with a small rose in my mane. While Blaze sported an orange saddle with yellow highlights and a small red feather next to her left ear, and Lilith was given an actual light blue dress along with purple earrings.

"Oh darlings you look fabulous!" Rarity squealed, with Twilight nodding in the background.

"Ah, uh, thank you Rarity you uh... you did a very nice job" I replied.

"Thank you dear" she smiled.

"You all would look so fabulous at anything, even perhaps The Grand Galloping Gala" she added.

"Wait, The Grand..."

"Huh! And oh my goodness, what a coincidence. I happen to have an ensemble of my own that matches yours to a T" Rarity said, though more to Twilight than anypony else.

"We would be the belles of the ball you and I, everypony would be clamoring for our attention. All eyes would be on us, and then everypony would finally know the most beautiful, most talented, most sophisticated pony in all of Equestria is Rarity the Unicorn!" she shouted while hugging Twilight, and I swore I could see stars in her eyes as she winked at me.

"Wait, did she just wink at me!?"

But I would likely never know as now it seemed it was her turn to cower at Twilight's unamused expression this time, for whatever reason.

"Ah, hehe hehe, and Twilight Sparkle of course, hehehehe" she meekly smiled. Twilight however did not seem to care for what the white unicorn was trying to pull, whatever it was.

"I see what's going on, you're just buttering me up so I give you the extra ticket. Well it's not gonna work" she said, throwing her dress off and tossing it at Rarity.

"You're going to have to wait for my decision just like everypony else" she added, also throwing her necklace smack dab onto Rarity's horn.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. I've been trying all day just to get some lunch" she shouted.

"Did somepony say lunch" Applejack suddenly spoke up. Appearing in the front door before grabbing Twilight and yanking her out said door.

"What in billowing volcanoes?".

"...Um Rarity, excuse my language but what the buck was that?" I asked.

"Heh... You're fine darling" she sighed.

"...If you didn't know Twilight is the personal student of Princess Celestia herself, and so she received two tickets to The Grand Galloping Gala! The most sophisticated party of the year! Alas however she only received two tickets, one for herself and the second for a guest. I presume it was meant for Spike but since he doesn't want to go myself, Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and even Fluttershy all want to attend" she explained.

"Ah, that sounds like quite the predicament" I replied.

"Indeed... but I do enjoy the challenge, especially when the reward is so great! So if you three don't mind I need to get back to it. You can keep the outfits if you want. I haven't been able to sell them and they've just been collecting dust. Think of it as an apology for throwing them at you" she said.

"Oh, well thank you Rarity. That's quite generous of you" I said.

"Think nothing of it darling, I do represent the Element Of Generosity after all, ta ta" she replied as we walked out of her store, shutting the door behind us.

"Well that was certainly something" Lilith said as we trotted away.

"Welcome to my world, or at least the last week of it" I replied.

"Wow, um... I'm sorry if it helps" Blaze said.

"It's fine, but thanks. Now, since the rain's stopped and I'm still hungry lets get to that cafe" I added.

"Here here" Lilith smiled.

"By the way, Lilith, did you teleport our armor off?" I asked.

"Right before Rarity grabbed us yes" she replied.

"That explains why she didn't ask about cold metal when she grabbed us" I said.

"Indeed, I figured what was about to happen and so teleported it into my pocket dimension" she explained.

"Hm, good job" I commended.

"Thank you Night" she replied.

"Actually who do you two think is going to get the ticket?" she added a moment later.

"No idea but it sounds like it'll be an interesting afternoon" I replied.

"Heh, of course the stallion would say that" Blaze laughed.

"Oh, and what's that supposed to mean" I smirked as I rounded on the disguised Flamepony.

"Oh uh... well I, um... sorry" she squeaked.

"Pft hehe oh you should see your face" I laughed.

"Y-you're not mad?" she asked.

"Come now Blaze, I'm not one of those stuck up colts from the court that get upset when mares complain they gossip. Then proceed to do it anyway..." then remembering something that Brandy once said I smirked.

"I'm a big, strong, independent stallion who don't need no mare" I laughed, Lilith followed and Blaze soon joined in herself.

"Pinkie!"

"Hahaha... ah, no offense Night but why do I feel that saying fits some stallions down to a T?" Lilith laughed.

"Probably because it does" I smiled. I had missed this, some of my favorite memories had been made when in the field with mares. Of course I did have stallion friends growing up and still do. But for whatever reason me and mares had always just... clicked when it came to friendship. Excluding most of the noblemares.

"So what's this place called again Night" Lilith asked.

"Well it's - sorry guys but coming through" Twilight interrupted me as she tore past us, Spike hanging onto her her tail for dear life.

"Um, taking a page out of your book Night. What the buck was that" Lilith said. Though we wouldn't have long to wait to learn the cause of Twilight's quite honestly impressive speed. For chasing her seemed to be basically the entirety of Ponyville's young stallion population. As well as a few mares even, and they we're moving at a very high speed.

"Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking" Blaze asked as the stampede drew closer.

"More than likely" Lilith replied.

"Run!" I shouted.

Thankfully our superior athletic bodies let us put distance between the mob of ponies trailing after us, but not by much Whatever it was these ponies wanted they seemed to be buckbent on getting it.

"There" I called, gesturing towards a cart of food. Running up we dove into it headfirst after Lilith lit her horn and levitated a majority of the various apple products up and out in order to create a hole for us to fit in the small cart, and then deposited them overtop for us to hide under.

"Hah hah... hah... what the buck was that" I wheezed.

"I don't know, but Faust above what is wrong with those colts. They're acting like madmares" Blaze replied.

"Indeed, I feel bad for their mares having to deal with that whimsy... eh no offence Night!" Lilith smiled sheepishly.

"None taken..." I replied flatly.

"Whimsy or not this is highly irregular behavior in general... you two don't think we caused this right. They did look like they we're chasing Twilight and not us..." I added.

"Oh you didn't know, Twilight has an extra ticket to The Grand Galloping Gala, and that ticket will be mine!".

"...".

"...".

"...Who the buck are you!" I jumped at the stallion sitting behind us.

"And why are you in here!?" Lilith added.

"Well duh I'm trying to get close to Twilight... and my name's Meadow Song" he said. We just blinked at the absurd situation before us.

"Wait, you're that new stallion in town, aren't you!?" he asked, critically examining me before Blaze scooted over and put herself between us. "You are! Well let me tell you-"

"Yeah that's really nice, we've gotta go bye" I interrupted him, and we dashed out of our culinary concealment. Unfortunately ending up right behind Twilight and Spike with the stampede now directly behind us.

For what seemed like hours on end we ran. Trying everything in our power to get away, but no matter what we did. It seemed that either Twilight and Spike found us and therefore the stampede did as well. Or we somehow put ourselves back in-between Twilight and crazed colts. Eventually however I saw an opportunity.

"Into that alley!" I shouted and veered left hard.

Lilith and Blaze mirrored me while Twilight and Spike continued running straight. The alleyway was also thankfully deserted and had some crates for us to hide against, and so the herd of stallions raced past. Uncaring about us in any way. Though this time a smaller stampede of mares soon raced past as well.

"What is happening!?" Blaze cried.

"I don't know, but this is one of the most absurd situations in my entire life" I replied.

"Are they seriously doing all this for a, a... a ticket?" Lilith said, the word being unfamiliar to her.

"So it seems" I answered.

"But why though, what is so great about this... gala that warrants this kind of behavior?" she added.

"It sounds like a party for the wealthy and elite of Equestria, according to Rarity anyway. What brownsnouting and self-flattering stallion wouldn't want to go to that" I replied, looking at the ground in an effort to catch my breath.

Unbeknownst to me Lilith and Blaze shared a concerned expression behind my back. But that was about to be the least of our concerns as Twilight and Spike suddenly and without warning ran into our alleyway. While at the same time I turned around to address my guards.

"All right, let's just oof" I grunted as Spike ran into my backside, shortly followed by Twilight. As both of them had been looking behind themselves at the now parade of stallions crowding around us.

"Have I ever told you I think you're really attractive".

"I'll make you dinner... and wash the dishes".

"I'll let you into my herd!"

"I'll let you hit!"

"No, miss Twilight you wouldn't want a little colt like him, you want a stallion like me".

"What did you say!?".

"You heard me Caramel!"

"Quiet!" Lilith yelled, and instantly the once yappering herd of stallions ceased their talking.

"What in Faust's name has gotten into you all!?" she yelled.

"Running around like madmares, destroying everything in your path. Chasing a poor pony and her younger brother like a bunch of chan!... Ahem, that is to say, like a bunch of excited little foals. Not to mention acting like ones!" she added.

"Hey, where not acting like foals-".

"And to top all of that off. You all have chased around and frightened my stallion!" she growled, interrupting whomever had spoken up and scaring him into silence.

"Not to mention having probably frightened your mares with your reckless behavior as well" Blaze added.

"As well as exhibited behavior most unbecoming for a stallion" I chipped in. Though unlike when Lilith or Blaze scolded them where they showed remorse or fear when I spoke up their eyes instead widened in what seemed like surprise.

"They probably just see their fathers scolding them in me, I always was good with that disappointed father look after all" I thought.

"What is going on here!?" a new voice, a female's this time, echoed throughout the alleyway. I discovered it to be Mayor Mare pushing through the crowd of stallions towards us.

"Night Storm... what is going on here?" she asked.

"These lot we're apparently pursuing Twilight Sparkle for her remaining ticket to The Grand Galloping Gala, and we got caught up in the ensuing kerfuffle" I explained.

"I see..." she replied. Then looked towards the gathered stallions.

"Those of you with a mare, herd, or family member... return to them now. For those who are alone exit this alleyway and wait for me in the street" she ordered. Which ended with a collective grumbling of the stallions.

"Darn it".

"This is all your fault Meadow".

"How is this my fault!?".

"Who does that colt think he is, using words like "kerfuffle" and "pursuing"..."

"I know right, like fancy words would win over any mare of mine".

"I know that this question may sound dumb. But are you three all right?" Mayor Mare asked us.

"I believe so, unless there are any more of them hiding in our house then we should be fine, thank you miss mayor" I replied.

"Of course" she nodded. "And please don't think that this is how Ponyville normally acts, the stallions especially. I don't know what's gotten into them today" she added,

"They saw something they wanted, and wanted it they did" I replied.

"Indeed, though I thought you said that they we're chasing Twilight?" she asked.

"...Yes they we're" I answered.

"...Then where is Twilight?" she asked.

"...What do you mean, she's right..." we turned around, expecting to see both Twilight and Spike behind us. Instead all we we're greeted with was a wall along with a few crates.

"What... but she was right here" Blaze said.

"She probably teleported away with Spike, Spike is the dragon right?" Lilith theorized.

"Yes, and you are more than likely correct. I think I've seen her teleport before... maybe on the night of Nightmare Moon's return?" Mayor Mare theorized. Not noticing my slight shiver at the mention of that mare's name.

"Well I better go find them and have the stallions apologize as well, I'll see you three later" she added.

"Good day miss mayor" I replied, the mares nodding their own goodbyes. For a moment we just stood together in the alleyway, lost in the absurdity of the day's events. Or that was until our stomachs grumbled.

"Oh hehe... you guys still wanna go grab lunch?" Blaze asked.

"Might as well" I answered.

"I'm quite hungry myself" Lilith agreed.

"Very well" I said, and we started walking out of the alleyway.

"The others are probably wondering where we are as well" Blaze said.

"Eh, I don't think we're that behind schedule" I replied.

"I suppose not" Lilith said.

"Besides, if we we're then I'm sure it's night!" I gasped, pausing mid-trot.

Sure enough I managed to catch the last few rays of the setting sun before the stars revealed themselves above us, indicating that yes indeed. It was night.