A few days later it was time for the grand opening of the new Zephyr Heights Crystal Tearoom. After a quick group shower the herd (barring Hitch) were in the bedroom of the Brighthouse getting ready. Misty had changed into the light blue dress she had bought the other day and was currently looking herself up and down in the mirror.

“You look wonderful, Misty.” Izzy complimented as she walked up behind her friend and placed her hands on Misty’s shoulders. The other Unicorn was wearing a dark blue dress to contrast with Misty’s light blue one.

“Thanks.” Misty smiled nervously. “I know this is a big moment for my dad, and I want to be there for him. Goodness knows, we’ve been absent from each other’s lives for long enough. But, at the same time…”

“I know, large crowds aren’t your favourite thing in the world.” Izzy pulled Misty into a hug from behind. “That’s where we come in. If you feel overwhelmed at any point, just say something. We’ll get you away to someplace quiet. Your dad will understand.”

Misty turned around and kissed Izzy on the cheek. “What would I do without you guys?”

“That’s not something any of us want to think about.” Pipp said. She was standing nearby, trying and failing to zip the back of her dress shut. Eventually she gave up. “Can someone give me a hand here?”
Izzy ran over and zipped it for her. “Thanks.”

“Do you always have to stand out?” Misty asked as she joined them, gesturing to Pipp’s sparkly purple dress.

“Honey, I’m a pop star and a princess. It’s my job to stand out.” She replied.

Misty smirked. “Well, at least I can look at you this time without my eyes stinging.” I’m pretty sure that golden dress she wore to the Manesquerade Ball briefly blinded me during our performance of the unity shuffle. “It’s a shame to have such a stunning sight that hurts to look at.”

Pipp rolled her eyes before leaning up and giving Misty a quick kiss. “Charmer.” She muttered.

“Do my eyes deceive me?” Sunny called from the other side of the room. “Zipp Storm is wearing a dress!”

“What?” Izzy and Misty both said at the same time, looking over. Sunny was standing on the other side of the room wearing a bright red dress, and sure enough, standing next to her was Zipp wearing a sparkly silver dress. It was a far cry from the ripped jeans wearing tomboy they were used to seeing.

“Why are you three acting so surprised?” Zipp asked.

“You can hardly blame them, sis. All the times you’ve gone with them to a formal event previously you’ve worn a tuxedo.” Pipp pointed out.

“Yeah, I usually wear tuxedos for these occasions, I just find them more comfortable. That doesn’t mean I’m opposed to wearing dresses.” Zipp responded.

“You say that, yet this is the first time I’ve ever seen you wearing something that has a skirt.” Sunny countered.

Zipp sighed. “Alright, I admit I don’t wear them often. That doesn’t mean I never do.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. “That you, Hitch?” Sunny called down.

“Yeah. You girls ready to go?” He called back up.

“I think we are.” Misty said.

“Come on, ponies. Let’s roll.” Izzy declared.

One downside of using the marestream to get around was that since no one else had a similar mode of transport it meant there were no designated landing pads anywhere. This meant the group sometimes had to land in the best available space and then walk to their destination. Such was the case this time, as they landed at the Zephyr Heights castle then began the ten minute walk to the new tearoom. Sparky was clearly excited, running circles around the group as they walked.

“I just thought of something.” Pipp said suddenly.

“What?” Her sister asked.

“Mom suggested that Alphabittle should open a tearoom in Zephyr Heights so they could be closer together because she doesn’t always have the time to visit Bridlewood, right?”

“Right.” Zipp confirmed.

“Well, that’s actually happening now.” Pipp turned to Misty. “Did your dad say which tearoom he would be running personally?”

Misty blinked. “No, he didn’t. Hold that thought.” She pulled out her phone and sent her father a text asking that very question. A few seconds later he responded. “The new one here in Zephyr Heights,” she said. “He says he’s moving into the castle with your mother.”

Hitch stared at Pipp, eyebrows raised. “So Haven and Alphabittle are moving in together. And? I thought you and your sister were over the fact that your mom was dating again.”

“We are,” Pipp answered. “That’s not what I’m getting at.”

“Then what are you getting at?” Sunny asked.

“Alphabittle made a joke about proposals a few days ago when we told him we were a herd, remember? What if he said that because proposals were on his mind.”

There was silence as that sunk in. “I think she might be right.” Izzy said finally.

“Hey, it’s just a thought. I’m not saying that’s what’s happening.” Pipp reminded her.

“Yeah, let’s not jump to any conclusions.” Sunny agreed.

At that point loud music started to reach their ears, and it only grew louder as they neared their destination. When they reached the street the tearoom was on they found that the music was coming from inside the tearoom itself.

“Okay. Showtime, ponies.” Pipp said.

The group all started walking forward, except for Misty who was rooted to the spot. Izzy was the first to notice.

“Misty, are you alright?” She asked. The others all turned to look back at her.

Misty gave a nervous laugh. “I give myself half an hour at best.”

Once they were inside they discovered the music was coming from a DJ whose setup included a pair of speakers larger than the ones Pipp had at Mane Melody. No wonder it was so loud. So loud in fact that they had to shout to be able to hear each other.

“I hate this already.” Misty yelled as she huddled next to Izzy, covering her ears with her hands.

“Why is this like a bloody disco?” Sunny yelled.

“Evidently Alphabittle decided to put mom in charge of planning the grand opening.” Zipp yelled back.

“Hey guys.” Jazz greeted as she and Rocky walked over. “Haven sure has an interesting idea of what constitutes a grand opening, doesn’t she?” She nodded over to the Pegasus queen, who was currently serving behind the bar with Alphabittle.

“Wait, mom’s working the bar?” Pipp couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“Apparently so.” Jazz answered.

“She must have picked a few tricks of the trade from Alphabittle.” Rocky added.

Just then a jazz song started playing.

“Is that jazz music playing?” Jazz wondered.

“Huh. Must be fate.” Rocky smirked before pulling his marefriend onto the dance floor. She let out a yelp of surprise, but it quickly turned to joyful laughter as they started dancing.

“Hey. You and I both like jazz. Want to dance?” Sunny asked Izzy, offering her hand to the Unicorn.

Izzy broke into a wide smile before taking Sunny’s hand and guiding her onto the dance floor. Hitch and the sisters elected to stay behind with Misty.

“Well, might as well make the most of it while we’re here.” Pipp said, helping herself to refreshments.

Unnoticed by everyone except Sparky, Misty let out a small whimper. Concerned, the baby dragon started tugging on her dress to get her attention. “Mama Misty?” He asked.

Misty bent down and tried to give him a reassuring smile, but she could tell it wasn’t convincing. “I’m alright, Sparky. It’s just a little loud, is all.” Well, it’s very loud, actually. Okay, extremely loud, but he doesn’t need to know that.

After that, Misty decided to just sit on the floor with Sparky in her lap. After the jazz song ended a hip hop song that Zipp liked started playing so she and Hitch took to the dance floor while Sunny and Izzy returned. Following that there was a pop song that Pipp started to dance along to before she and Zipp traded places. Once the song ended they returned to the others. Then the next song started playing, and Misty recognised it. For a brief instant she was transported back to the past during her time in Opaline’s castle, and one of the few pleasant memories she had of the fire Alicorn. She uncovered her ears and stood up, clutching Sparky in her arms. “Is that tango music?”

Her friends were surprised by her change in attitude. She seemed excited now. “Um, yes.” Zipp answered. “Do you know it, Misty?”

“It was Opaline’s favourite type of music. She taught me how to dance to it.”

“I’m sorry, she what now?” Pipp asked.

“Well, ‘taught’ is a bit generous.” Misty clarified. “It’s more accurate to say that she dragged me around with the music playing in the background until I worked out how to dance to it.”

“But you can dance to it?” Pipp sounded hopeful.

“Yes. Why?”

Pipp let out a small shriek of excitement as she began hopping on the spot.

“Why’s she so giddy all of a sudden?” Misty asked.

“She’s been trying to teach the rest of us how to tango dance with no luck,” Zipp explained, sounding amused. “I think she’s just excited that she finally has a dance partner who knows how to tango.”

Pipp held out a hand to Misty. “Shall we show them how it’s done?”

Misty placed Sparky back on the ground before taking Pipp’s hand and following her onto the dance floor. The Unicorn was slightly nervous that since she hadn’t done this in ages she would be a little rusty, but to her surprise she was able to keep up with Pipp just fine. And the Pegasus was good. Better than good, she was brilliant. In fact, Misty felt sure that Opaline would have been jealous of Pipp.

Soon the two were joined by Sunny and Izzy, followed shortly by Zipp and Hitch. The other four evidently had no idea what they were doing, electing to try and copy what Pipp and Misty were doing. At least they had the sense to not attempt any of the more difficult moves.

“Huh, they’re actually starting to get the hang of it.” Pipp muttered to herself.

“Maybe your lessons are finally paying off.” Misty suggested.

Pipp giggled. “Maybe.”

By the time the song finished Misty was starting to really enjoy herself. That was until a rock song started blasting out of the speakers so loud that she yelped and leapt into the air in fright before running off the dance floor and hiding under one of the refreshment tables, covering her ears and curling up into a ball. After a few seconds Izzy crawled under the table and began shaking Misty.

“Misty? MISTY!”

Sunny joined them under the table. “Are you alright?” She asked.

“Why does it have to be so stupidly loud?” Misty shouted.

Sunny’s gaze hardened before her Alicorn form materialised. “Right then. Enough’s enough.”

She crawled out from under the table and walked away. Moments later the music cut out abruptly. Hesitantly Misty removed her hands from her ears and uncurled from her ball.

“What happened to the music?” Izzy asked.

“Sunny pulled the plug on the DJ’s setup.” Zipp answered from somewhere nearby.

“Literally.” Pipp added.

“Hey. What do you think you’re doing?” The DJ yelled.

“Shutting you down before you deafen someone.” Sunny replied, a cold fury in her voice. “You’ve already scared my friend.”

“Well that’s their fault for coming here if they can’t handle my music, then.” The DJ said dismissively.

“She’s the owner’s daughter. Why wouldn’t she be here for the grand opening.” Sunny growled back.

Izzy and Misty crawled out from under the table, Zipp and Pipp helping them to their feet. Sunny was staring down the DJ, who had a look of fear spreading across his face. Haven approached the pair.

“I’d listen to her if I was you,” she told the stallion, glaring at him. “After all, she is an Alicorn. It would be a good idea not to make her angrier than she already is.”

Under the combined stares of a queen and an Alicorn, the DJ relented and nodded before adjusting several settings on his setup. Reluctantly, Sunny plugged the speakers back in. The music started playing again, albeit not nearly as loud as it was before. Sunny’s Alicorn form vanished as she walked back to the others while Haven returned to the bar.

“Thank goodness,” Hitch commented. “I can hear myself think again.”

“How are you feeling?” Sunny asked Misty.

“I’m feeling a bit better now.” Misty managed a small smile.

Later after everyone else had left Misty and her friends stayed behind to help Haven and Alphabittle clean up. Jazz and Rocky were also still there, entertaining Sparky so he didn’t accidentally transform something with his dragon breath.

“Well aside from the DJ, I’d say this grand opening was a success.” Alphabittle said as he wiped down one side of the bar.

“Yes, he wasn’t my first choice but he was the only one available for tonight.” Haven admitted as she wiped down the other side of the bar.

“I don’t know how he isn’t deaf yet if that’s the volume he always plays his music at.” Sunny muttered angrily.

“Sunny, are you okay?” Izzy asked. “You seem very angry.”

“Of course I am. That jerk scared Misty.”

“Are you being protective of her as a friend or a herdmate?” Jazz asked teasingly. Pipp had told her and Rocky that Haven and Alphabittle knew about the herd now, so she could talk about it in front of them.

“Both.” Sunny replied.

Pipp was browsing on her phone. “According to social media, that DJ has a reputation for being a… something I can’t say in front of Sparky.”

Zipp glanced over her sister’s shoulder before mouthing the word “asshole” to the others.

“Being careful not to swear in front of the kid? You’re really starting to sound like a mother, Pipp.” Rocky said, amused.

Hitch snorted. “She and her sister weren’t very careful at the beach the other day.”

Both sisters looked embarrassed.

“Oh, I just remembered.” Haven reached into her bag and pulled out an old and slightly tattered looking book.

“What book is that, mom?” Zipp asked as she flew over.

“It’s the book about herds that I read when I was younger,” Haven explained as she handed the book to her daughter. “I went through the library and found it. I thought you might like to read it yourself.”

Zipp examined the faded cover, a look of wonder on her face. “Woah. Cool.”

After that the group worked in relative silence until they finished cleaning up.

“Are you sure you lot don’t want to spend the night at the castle?” Haven asked as they all began to leave.

“No thanks, mom. We need to get back to Maretime Bay because several of us have work in the morning.” Pipp replied. “By the way, do you two want a lift back on the marestream?” She asked Jazz and Rocky.

“Sure.” Jazz answered.

The others walked out the door, leaving Misty and Alphabittle to finish locking up.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” The stallion asked his daughter as he began switching the lights off. “That was quite a yelp you gave on the dance floor.”

Misty was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. “I’m fine now.” She reassured him. He didn’t look entirely convinced. She rolled her eyes. “Look, I know I was a bit of a nervous wreck when we reunited. Heck, I’m still a bit of a nervous wreck and at this point I’m pretty sure I always will be. But I’m doing better now. I have a support system. I have friends and family who care about me.” She smiled. “I’m part of a herd that loves me.”

Alphabittle sighed. “Perhaps, but that doesn’t stop a father from worrying sometimes, especially after you went missing for so many years.”

“I know, dad.” Misty said patiently. “But you have to trust that I can look after myself, and that my friends will have my back whenever I get stuck.”

Alphabittle smiled before leaning over and kissing Misty on the forehead. “My little girl’s all grown up.”

He turned off the last light before the two exited the tearoom, locking the door behind them.

Author's Note

Well, this story took a lot longer to complete than I expected. Like, several months longer. Whoops.

Anyway, while this is the end of this first book if you’ve read the description then you know that this is part one of a series. I have a sequel and a few shorter stories planned, but I’m not sure when they’ll come out. In the meantime I hope you enjoyed this story, and let me know what you think.