The group trotted down the red carpet and entered the main ballroom where the festivities were being held. Turquoise noticed that most of the ponies gathered looked a lot like some of her friends and acquaintances back home. A few of them made Turquoise feel nervous until she spotted Sapphire and her date.

“Turquoise glad you and the others made it here safely,” Sapphire said.

“Why wouldn’t we?” Turquoise asked.

“Because lately there have been reports of dragons attacking carriages and robbing them,” Sapphire said.

“And not the teenage ones,” The pegasus mare next to Sapphire said.

“This is my mare friend Zaria,” Sapphire said.

“A pleasure to meet you two,” Zaria said.

“So about these dragons what exactly do they do,” Haruka asked.

“Dragons are known for eating gems and sleeping on hoards of treasure but other than that we don,t know much else,” Twilight said. As they were talking a white unicorn stallion with a blond mane with blue eyes approached the group and began to hit on Turquoise.

“Well, you look like a mare of refined taste care to join me in the Canterlot Gardens?” The stallion said before Haruka cut in.

“Back off pal, This lady is spoken for,” Haruka said.

“How dare you speak to me that way you lowly commoner, Do you know who I am?” The stallion said.

“Don,t know and to be honest I really don't care,” Haruka said.

“I’m Prince Blueblood the nephew of Princess Celestia and clearly more superior to some lowly street urchin who could not afford a proper dress for this gala,” Blueblood said mockingly thus making Haruka’s blood boil.

“That’s it if it's a fight you want then bring it, pretty boy,” Haruka said about to attack Blueblood only for Turquoise to stop her.

“Haruka don,t do it let's just go somewhere else,” Turquoise said.

“You're right he is not worth it,” Haruka said. As soon as Princess Celestia heard the commotion she came down to see what was going on.

“What is going on here? It sounded like somepony was about to start a fight,” Celestia asked.

“There was, Prince Blueblood tried hitting on one of our new friends and tried to eg her date into a fight,” Twilight said.

“Is that so, Blueblood I thought I told you not to mess with Twilight and her friends,” Celestia said in a disappointed tone.

“How was I supposed to know those two were her friends, especially that regal-looking pegasus mare whose mane glistens brighter than the blood moon?” Blueblood asked.

“Either way I think you owe them an apology,” Twilight said.

“Fine, where are they?” Blueblood asked.

“I believe they left for the garden for some alone time,” Rarity said.

Meanwhile, in the Royal Canterlot Garden, Turquoise and Haruka were sitting on a bench together admiring Luna’s beautiful night sky reflected off of the pond in front of them.

“You know this may be the most beautiful thing we ever saw,” Turquoise said.

“Agreed, it’s like Vincent Vengo’s painting of the Night Sky but much better,” Haruka said.

“My sister would be extremely overjoyed to hear you two say that” Celestia said as she and Blueblood approached them.

“What is he doing here?” Haruka said.

“Calm down miss we did not come to cause more conflict, Blueblood is there something you wish to say,” Celestia said before bumping Blueblood.

“Sorry for hitting on your mare friend,” Blueblood said.

“And?” Celestia added.

“Sorry for calling you a lowly commoner, now can I go back to the Gala now?” Blueblood said. As they were about to wrap things up a dragon with shining white scales and piercing yellow eyes snatched Turquoise up.

“Help someone get this overgrown lizard to release me,” Turquoise shouted desperately. Everyone heard Turquoise’s shout for help and arrived to see the dragon fly away with Turquoise.

“Any idea where that overgrown lizard took her?” Haruka asked.

“Based on the direction it is going I would have to say, Mt Glacia,” Twilight speculated.

“Is it dangerous,” Haruka asked.

“Not really but it does get extremely cold the higher up you go,” Fluttershy said, still remembering the time Twilight accidentally teleported her there when she was sick.

“This is bad if we don't hurry. Turquoise might freeze to death,” Haruka said.

After a long flight, the dragon that captured Turquoise dropped her on top of a gigantic pile of gold, gems, and various other treasures like the angel on top of a Christmas tree. The dragon looked like he was about to unleash his fire breath on her only for it to light a bunch of torches that were inside the cave.

“That’s better, don't you think my precious?” The dragon asked. Turquoise looked very confused by what was going on until the dragon explained himself. You’re going to be my bride and provide me with many offspring.

“Uh no offense but I’m a Pegasus pony, not a dragon,” Turquoise said.

“Who cares what species you are, you're the mare I choose to mate with now take that dress off before I burn it off,” The dragon said. Turquoise was about to comply until a creme colored blur blasted into the cave and sent the dragon crashing into the wall. Turquoise was relieved to see Haruka come to save her from interspecies breeding.

“No one tries to mate with my mare but me,” Haruka said while getting Turquoise off the pile of treasure carefully. As soon as they were on the ground Haruka began to feel the ground shaking.

“No one busts into my cave and steals my bride-to-be, prepared to burn,” The dragon said. Right before the dragon could unleash its fire the cave suddenly began to collapse. Turquoise and Haruka hurried to the exit and as soon as they made it out the entrance to the cave was completely buried by the rocks and snow.

“Shall we head back to the Gala my lady,” Haruka said.

“Let’s go,” Turquoise said. Before Twilight teleported them back.

The rest of the night went smoothly and as soon as the Gala ended Twilight teleported Turquoise and Haruka back to the Castle of Friendship with her to check on the status of the portal. As soon as they arrived, they were surprised to see the apparatus looking good as new and functioning again.

“Turns out parts were not buried as deep as Axle thought,” Axle said.

“Thank you, Axle,” Twilight said before opening the portal again. Turquoise and Haruka changed out of their gala outfits before coming back to the library.

“Ready to go home love?” Haruka asked.

“I sure am,” Turquoise said.

“You two are free to visit anytime, just let Sunset know ahead of time please,” Twilight said. Turquoise and Haruka went through the portal and hoped they would make it out safely.

Meanwhile, by the other side of the portal, everyone was waiting for Turquoise and Haruka to return. Suddenly they came out of the portal wearing the exact clothes they had on before entering.

“How long were we gone for?” Turquoise asked.

“Almost twelve hours for you and about six for Haruka,” Twilight said.

“Strange it felt like an entire day in Equestria,” Turquoise said.

“In any case, glad your home now,” Lemon said before hugging them. As soon as the reunion was over everyone went their separate ways.

12/9/24

A few days went by and by this point Sapphire was now made a part of the team as an alternate.

“Thank you for filling in for me, and welcome to the team Sapphire, “Sylvia said.

“It was a lot of fun,” Sapphire said.

“So, what do we do about the spots our former subs left vacant?” Turquoise asked.

“We leave them that way for now,” Ursula said. Weeks went by and soon it was New Year's Eve. Turquoise and Haruka decided to spend the day together just the two of them.

“So where to first love? “Haruka asked.

“Let’s go to our favorite restaurant first,” Turquoise said.

“You got it, " Haruka said. The two of them spent the whole day going places and soon the sun was beginning to set. They decided to head to their special spot to watch the sun set and see the fireworks that were set to go off at precisely midnight. Once they were at the shrine they laid back and watched the sky.

“Hey Haruka, what plans do you have for the future?” Turquoise asked.

“What brought this on?” Haruka asked.

“Well, I just remembered that High school is the time when people decide what kind of career they want, I'm sure you already know what my path is,” Turquoise said.

“Of course, you're going to become the new CEO of Silver Corp and take the gaming industry with your nerve gear,” Haruka said.

“That’s my path, but with all that has happened, I forgot to ask, what are your goals for the future?” Turquoise asked.

“Besides marrying you, my dream is to open my own restaurant someday,” Haruka said.

“So, you want to become a chef?” Turquoise asked.

“Exactly,” Haruka said.

“I believe you can do it,” Turquoise said.

“Thank you, love,” Haruka said. “How long has it been since we were able to just lay back like this?

“Six years, and despite all the chaos and how many lives were ruined, I'm glad we made it here,” Turquoise said. “Say, do you think those people are looking back on it like we are?

“You may be right, but in all honesty, them coming back worries me,” Haruka said.

“Not all of them, Lance and Upper crust didn't seem to bear any ill will when I visited them for the last time.

“But that’s because you took the time to see them whereas for the others you could not see them since either the police or their parents made that impossible,” Haruka said.

“Well either way I hope the new year will bring them a new beginning,” Turquoise said. Soon the countdown began and once it reached zero the night sky was full of fireworks. “This is the best place to view fireworks.

“It sure is and we have it all to ourselves,” Haruka said.

“So, what plans do you have for this land?” Turquoise asked.

“My dad plans to build us our own mansion on it with the shrine behind it, “Haruka said.

“Us?” Turquoise asked.

“That’s right, he plans to begin once we are married,” Haruka said.

“I can’t wait to see it,” Turquoise said. Soon the two of them returned home for the night.

Author's Note

i know i already posted a chapter today but this is going to be a mad dash to the finish.