“Ow…” Starlight groaned as she fell on her face for the seventh time today. Bruises were forming all over her body.

The lilac unicorn began training to fight under Sophia’s tutelage a few days after the Void Luna incident after she decided that she wanted to train how to fight in order to show the Royal Guard how their current training regimen was woefully lacking.

When the first day of their training began, Sophia had Starlight sparring with Nova to see what she had to work with. Needless to say, Starlight had no hoof to hoof combat training whatsoever. Her magical prowess was still very impressive but Nova quickly discovered the weakness of unicorns and was able to counter that. Whenever Starlight tried attacking from a distance Nova closed the gap with her psionic abilities through the use of illusions and physical enhancements, much to the amazement of the unicorn.

“I’ve never seen an earth pony use that kind of magic before,” Starlight remarked as she shakily got back on her hooves.

“Any pony can do what I did if their psychic abilities were awakened,” Nova replied. “Psychic power doesn’t come from a pony’s magical wellspring but from their very minds. I’ve been training my abilities since I was a chi…foal. Tosh is similar to me except his own powers were enhanced by drugs.”

“Drugs?” Starlight questioned. “Like with zebra alchemy?”

“Not quite, it’s more like a substance extracted from another world made into a hallucinogenic drug made to enhance psychic abilities. It’s an illegal substance since it has a tendency to cause psychosis with highly aggressive behavior, making them a danger to themselves and everycreature around them; a psychotic timebomb.”

“But if Tosh uses that stuff why isn’t he going crazy?”

“Because he claims that he disciplines his mind to keep himself in control during the hallucinations. He instills strict discipline in others like him to keep them from going off the rails. Personally, I think he’s just a rare case since those like him have been known for being very eccentric.”

“Does that mean he outmatches you?”

Nova snorted, “He wishes. He may be a psychic powerhouse but my ways are more surgical and have better utility. Though he still finds a way to outwit me sometimes. I begrudgingly admit that Tosh and I are about evenly matched as our sparring records show. Two hundred thirty two wins, two hundred thirty losses and fifty draws from whenever our attacks knock both of us out or we collapse from exhaustion.”

“Wow, that’s quite the rivalry you two have going,” Starlight noted before she took up a combative stance. “I think this will be the last one for today, I’m already going to be sore in the morning so one more round isn’t going to change anything.”

Nova responded in kind to Starlight’s stance though both agreed to have this round be hooves only.

Two weeks after the Void Luna incident, Twilight was assisting Applejack with harvesting part of the orchard while Spike was on Twilight’s back examining apples. While the dragon helped himself to one of Applejack’s apples, he ended up belching out a letter from Celestia. Spike read the letter dramatically to announce the upcoming Grand Galloping Gala next spring. The letter also came with three golden tickets.

Applejack stared in awe at the three tickets. “Whoa, three? You and Spike, but who else are ya bringin’?”

“Probably Starlight since she’s my fellow student,” Twilight replied.

“Aww, but why do I have to go to such a frou-frou event?” Spike complained.

“Because you know you want to, no need to be all macho about it,” whispered a familiar voice an inch from the right side of Spike’s head, causing the dragon to scream and jump, nearly hitting his head on a tree branch. Sophia giggled at his reaction.

Applejack ignored the antics and sighed in disappointment, “So it’s gonna be you two and Starlight, huh? Darn shame, ah wanted to set up an apple stand there so ponies could be chowin’ our tasty vittles. Ah could drum up a lotta business for the farm that way.”

“Hate to burst your bubble Applejack, but I can’t imagine you would be able to sell much of anything at an event like that,” Sophia explained. “A formal event like the Gala is most likely to be catered by the high class chefs of Canterlot and funded by the crown. That means free food for the guests. Ponies will be drawn to the free food more than the food they have to buy, no matter the quality. Not to mention the nobility hate almost everything made by low class ponies. You would be lucky to sell anything.”

Applejack scowled at the rabbit. She knew Sophia was being honest about what she said, but it was still painful to hear. “And how would you know about how formal event’s work?”

“Because where I came from I’ve hosted my fair share of formal events and each one I paid a catering company to provide food for each one. You don’t draw in guests without the promise of free food.”

Applejack sighed in defeat, “Guess ah wouldn’t need the ticket after all.”

“I didn’t say that you couldn’t profit off of the event, I only pointed out the flaw in your delivery. If Twilight is willing, she can make a request to the Princess to add Sweet Apple Acres to the list of caterers where the crown will pay for the food you provide and the farm gets a hefty sum for the effort. It doesn’t guarantee that ponies will eat the apple products but you still get paid in the end.”

Applejack’s ears perked up as she heard Sophia’s idea. It intrigued her to say the least. “Ah didn’t think of it that way.” She looked at Twilight with a pleading expression. “Please Twi, mah farm needs this.”

Twilight gently smiled, “Of course I’ll help, Applejack.” She was then squeezed tight enough by the farm mare that she could hear her bones popping. “Painful…need air!”

She was quickly released with an apology from Applejack.

“What’s going on? Why is Applejack suddenly getting all huggy?” asked a scratchy voice from above. Rainbow had a confused look on her face as she asked that.

“Twi is gonna get the Princess to allow mah family to provide food for the Gala.” Applejack then frowned. “And quit nappin’ in mah trees!”

“The Gala? The Grand Galloping Gala?! The Wonderbolts perform at the Gala every year! This is the perfect chance for me to show my stuff to them.” Rainbow went on to voice her fantasy about the moves she would show off to impress her idols.

“Actually Rainbow, I’d recommend against causing a scene at the Gala,” Sophia warned. “The event is not the place to show off. Doing so will only make you look like an attention-seeking foal to them. Besides, I’ve met the Wonderbolts and they know me. Spitfire respects my ability and military acumen. I’ve dropped your name among others on her desk and given her my analysis of your strengths and weaknesses.”

“Psh! I have no weaknesses!” Rainbow scoffed.

“Because you blind yourself with your ego that you can’t recognize the areas where you need work,” Sophia countered. “A Wonderbolt is more than just a bunch of ponies who know fancy stunts, Rainbow. A Wonderbolt works to improve themselves every day and understands their limits. They are a team for a reason because they work together and use their strengths to make up for the weaknesses of their teammates. They are a unit that works with each other instead of trying to hold the spotlight. Before you can hope to be a Wonderbolt, you need to know yourself first.”

“Tch! Whatever.” Rainbow then flew off. Sophia rolled her eyes as she saw the pegasus leave. She would get the mare to listen to her soon enough.

Twilight sighed before turning to Applejack, “So are we finished here? The chores I mean.”

“Ah, yeah, ah can handle the rest from here. Go and get yourself somethin’ to eat.”

With a small smile, Twilight made sure Spike was on her back before leaving the farm. On her way to a nearby restaurant, she was stopped by Pinkie. “Hey Twilight, I heard Dashie say that you’re going to the Gala with Starlight?”

“Yeah, I take it that you have thoughts about it too?”

A vigorous nod answered that. This was followed by a song and dance number that featured her idea of what the Gala was: the biggest party of all with everything that Pinkie used for her parties and then some.

“I’m gonna have to stop you there, Pinkie.” Sophia interrupted. “The Gala is not that kind of party.”

“It’s not? Then what kind of party is it?”

“It’s a formal event that is intentionally stuffy because that’s how nobles like their parties. It’s no place for foals to play around and it’s also a place where the nobles get together to talk politics.”

Pinkie had a disturbed look on her face when she heard that, “That doesn’t sound fun at all. Maybe I could help jazz it up?”

“And wind up getting the nobles angry at you while treating you with contempt and condescension. The nobility don’t think like the ponies you’re used to catering to. They like their parties to be calm and stuffy because it makes them feel like they are flaunting their superiority over others.”

“That’s because they don’t know what a good party is.”

“Maybe, but with the way they were raised they aren’t about to show you any gratitude for causing chaos at one of their parties.” Sophia paused as she thought about something. “But then again, I don’t have a single ounce of respect for such ponies who are content to stick to their outdated traditions and the status quo they would fight hard to maintain is detrimental to my plans. My advice would be to attend the Gala and give them the shake up they desperately need.”

Pinkie gave a cartoonishly serious face as she considered the bunny’s words before an idea popped into her head and a broad smile on her face. “I’ve got it! I’m gonna do my best to make those boring, stuffy nobles smile. I have a lotta planning to do! Bye!” With that the crazy pink mare raced off and left a temporary dust cloud in the shape of herself in its place.

Twilight gave Sophia a confused look, “Did you just encourage Pinkie to cause chaos at the Gala?”

Sophia shrugged, “Part of bringing about change is to break apart the stagnation and Pinkie is good at that.”

Twilight would have thought more about that but was too hungry to do so at this time. Instead she continued her path toward the local restaurant. There she ordered a daisy and daffodil sandwich and Spike ordered hay fries, complaining that there needed to be a place that served gemstones to dragons.

“Mind if we sit with you?” Rarity and Fluttershy joined Twilight and Spike at the table, with the lavender mare’s permission, where the two newcomers quickly ordered what they usually ordered.

“So I heard from the grapevine that you and Starlight are going to the Gala next spring?” Rarity asked. Twilight nodded in affirmation. “I hope you make the most of your time there. I, personally, cannot stand Canterlot and their stubborn ways. Inventors like myself are seen as pariahs there.”

Twilight felt sorry for Rarity, partly because there weren’t any schools in Equestria that could have helped her to hone her skills and because she was right in how ponies in other cities in Equestria would treat somepony like her. Twilight was a forward-thinking pony herself but the only reason she could pursue her own scientific exploits was because she was protected by Princess Celestia. However, despite not having the same protections, Twilight couldn’t help but be awestruck by what her friend had accomplished. Between the refining process of turning gemstones to metal and creating a mechanical body for her sister, Twilight couldn’t help but be a bit jealous.

However, when Spike found out about the refining process and the fact that the product was inedible by dragons, he didn’t have a very good opinion of Rarity, who had created something that would turn his favorite food into an inedible material.

“By the way Spike, would you mind testing something for me?” Rarity asked.

“Huh? What is it?” Spike was then given a crucible that the mare held in her magic because it was too hot for her hooves to touch. Inside the container was what appeared to be a glittering blue substance that looked thick. Given his dragon nature, Spike could hold the crucible in his claws without worrying about the heat.

“It’s a byproduct of the gem refining process; something that was extracted when the gems were refined into metal. I want to know if it could be used for something.”

“Rarity, don’t give Spike waste material!” Twilight admonished. However, Spike was surprised when he smelled the appetizing aroma coming from it. He dipped a claw in it then stuck it in his mouth.

The moment the substance reached his tongue his eyes widened in shock. “What the hay!? This is amazing!” That was about the time when the food arrived. Spike quickly got the idea to dip the hay fries into the substance and tuned out the world while the mares stared at him. The substance made the fries taste much better like it was a condiment that was made just for him. “It tastes like gemstones but the flavor is ten times better than any gem I’ve ever tasted.”

“Really?” Twilight questioned. “Hmm…perhaps the process separated the ‘starship metal’, as Sophia called it, from the part dragons like, as if removing impurities.” As Spike considered chugging down the rest of the substance, Twilight took the crucible away from him with her magic. “I think we should be careful about how much you consume. It seems to be a liquid concentrated form of gemstones and could lead to excessive weight gain if you consume too much of it.”

“Aww…” Spike pouted.

Twilight gave a motherly smile in response. “Don’t worry Spike, I’ll work on a way to make this stuff healthier for you so you can put it on all of your food in the future.”

“Well, alright Twilight. If anypony can do it, I know you can.”

With that out of the way, Twilight turned her attention to the mare who hasn’t said anything the whole time. “So what are your thoughts on the Gala, Fluttershy?”

The mare in question was not paying attention to the conversation so she was startled when her name was called. “Uh um, me? W-well, I…I don’t really care about the Gala, though I would like to see the gated garden that surrounds the dance.” She then went on to talk about the flora that bloomed only on that night and fauna of the garden.

“I see, though if you could go, would you?”

“I…I don’t know. As nice as the gardens are, I don’t want to go there if any of my friends miss out.”

“Fluttershy, you shouldn’t deprive yourself of the experience simply because I’d rather not be there,” Rarity chided.

“I’m sorry Rarity, but the answer is no.”

Despite Fluttershy’s unwillingness to go to the Gala if given the opportunity Twilight had a feeling that she might change her mind some time between now and the Gala. Now that she had food in her belly she could see that her friends have their own desires to see the Gala.

After leaving the restaurant, Twilight had Spike send her latest friendship report and a request for more tickets for her friends and for the Apple family to provide some of the catering. Though she decided to hold on to the tickets until her friends were certain about going, locking them in her desk drawer while making Spike promise not to tell anypony about them.

After that she wrote a letter to Moondancer and the others about Starlight, Spike and herself going to the Gala along with an offer to ask the Princess to send them each a ticket if they wish to attend too.

Just as Twilight sent the last of her letters, Starlight came into the library looking like she just came back from a brawl. Numerous bruises could be seen through her fur and her lip was bleeding. “Starlight, what happened?”

“Sparring…with…Nova…is…painful!” she gasped. Right now it hurt to talk so she said no more as she limped over to the sofa and passed out once her body landed on it.

Twilight quickly ran a medical scan on her friend and was glad she didn’t get a concussion. Thankfully Nova was precise enough with her strikes that she spared Starlight of that issue. However it was still going to be a few days before she recovered from this.

Twilight could only hope that this wasn’t going to be a recurring theme for her.

Author's Note

Hope you enjoyed my redone version of The Ticket Master. Season 1 will not be in order of appearance because of the seasonal episodes and I felt gala preparations should take place near the event itself so don't fret if you notice that I seemingly skipped episodes.