Episode 6: The Ticket Masters, Part 1

My Little Pony: The Mane 12 Adventures

Season 1, Episode 6: "The Ticket Masters, Part 1"

Two days after they defeated Nightmare Moon and Twilight and Sunny moved in Maretime Bay, everything was pretty normal. That day, Applejack asked for Twilight and Sunny's help, bucking apples at Sweet Apple Acres, as Rainbow couldn't come.

Twilight, Applejack, and Sunny were walking back to the barn, carrying apples in baskets on their back. Spike was busy inspecting apples, throwing the ones he didn't like on the floor. "No, nope, never, no..."

"Ah'd have to say, ya did pretty well for a first timer." Applejack complimented. "Usually, it takes round' three weeks before ya get good."

"Thank you, Applejack." Twilight replied. "It wasn't that hard, you just have to calculate the amount of force, distance, speed... I'm rambling."

"Ah bet Big Macintosh ah could get all these Golden Delicious in the barn by lunchtime." Applejack said. "If ah win, he's gonna walk down Stirrup Street in one a' Granny's old girdles."

"We're glad to help, we didn't have anything else to do today anyway." Sunny said. "But maybe we need lunch. Applebucking is surprisingly easy, but really tiring and hunger-inducing."

"You said it," Spike said, grabbing an apple before throwing it away. "Hard work."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Hard work for us! You've just been sitting or relaxing all day while we did all the work!"

"Exactly! You took so long, I missed snack time!" Spike said. "I'm a growing dragon, I need food!"

Sunny groaned. "I need lunch... or food, snacks work."

Just then, Spike pulled out a bright red apple from the basket, the group's reflection shining on it. "Oh... my... that's beautiful! Spike, give it here." Sunny said.

But Spike ignored Sunny and ate the apple in one bite. "Mm! That was good."

Sunny glared at Spike, "Spike! Ugh, just forget it."

Applejack chuckled. "Why don't yall stay for lunch? We got some leftovers from the Summer Sun Celebration."

"With a family big as yours, I'd have a hard time believing that." Sunny said. "But you're the Element of Honesty, so it's true."

Just then, Spike burped out a scroll, surprising the cowgirl. "Uh, is that normal?" Applejack asked.

Twilight nodded. "Yeah, Spike could do that since birth. We still don't know why, but it's a big help."

"So, what's in the scroll?" Sunny asked.

Spike unfurled the scroll, clearing his throat before reading aloud. "Hear ye, hear ye. Her Grand Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is pleased to announce the Grand Galloping Gala, to be held in the magnificent capital city of Canterlot on the twenty-first day of…" He trailed off. "...we cordially invite the "Elements of Harmony" to this wonderful event. The ponies Twilight Sparkle and Sunny Starscout will receive an extra ticket to give to who they want as their plus one."

Spike held out twelve tickets, "The Grand Galloping Gala!?" The three mares exclaimed.

"I've never been to the Gala before, even as Princess Celestia's personal student. Isn't this exciting?" Twilight said.

Sunny grabbed the tickets, "I never thought I'd go to the Grand Galloping Gala! Wait, what am I going to wear?! And who will I bring as my plus one?"

"Count me out of the list, I don't want anything to do with that "girly frilly frou-frou" nonsense." Spike said, rolling his eyes.

"Why not? A dance would be nice, y'know!" Twilight said.

"Nice? It's a heap more than just nice!" Applejack said. "Why, ah can't thank Princess Celestia enough fer inviting me."

"Sounds like you really like this dance," Sunny laughed.

"Course' ah do! The Gala is fer those fancy, rich ponies. Everyone in Maretime Bay would go in an instant!" Applejack said. "The first thing ah'm gonna do there, is set up an apple stand. But not mah regular apple stand, an extra fancy one! Those elitists will be chewin' on our apples till' the cows came home!"

Applejack sighed. "With all that money, we could fix the barn again! No more soggy roof, no more old plow, no more saggy old hip for Granny, and Apple Bloom could go ta university!" Applejack said. "This gala could change mah life!"

That sounds like an exaggeration, but anything could happen... Sunny thought. She grabbed the tickets and handed Applejack's to her, "Well, here's your ticket."

"Ah can't wait to tell Granny n' Big Macintosh ah'm goin' to the gala!" Applejack said.

Suddenly, a rainbow blur crashed into her. "Did you say gala!? Like the Grand Galloping Gala!?"

"What in tarnation- Rainbow?!" Applejack exclaimed. "What are you doin' here? You said you were busy today!"

"Uh... I was! I was busy napping!" Rainbow said, pointing to a cloud which had a pillow and a blanket on it. "I just happened to hear you talking about the Grand Galloping Gala!"

"Let me guess, you're going to want your ticket?" Sunny asked.

"Duh, I can see it now!" Rainbow said, grinning. "You know how every year, the Wonderbolts perform at the gala? Well, this year, I finally have my chance!"

"Chance? You're not going to sneak in the V.I.P, are you?" Twilight asked.

"Maybe, maybe not, but anyways.." Rainbow's eyes widened, almost glimmering. "During their performance, everypony's eyes will be on them. That's when I'll make my move!"

"Your.. move?" Sunny asked.

"My Super Speed Strut! I'll fly in their performance, and everypony's eyes will be on me! I'll do some of my other moves too, I'm not a one trick pony. Everypony there will want to get my autograph, and that's when they'll ask me to join their team! My moves probably stunned them, so of course that'll happen!" Rainbow said. "This gala could change my life!"

"Do you really think that'll work?" Sunny whispered to Twilight, who shook her head. "Yeah, thought so."

Twilight levitated Rainbow's ticket to her. "Here's your ticket, me and Sunny will be going."

"What? Why?" Sunny asked. "Applejack's offering lunch! Free lunch!"

"We'll get smoothies from your smoothie cart, we need to give these tickets to our friends!" Twilight reminded.

"Right." Sunny said. "Bye, Applejack! Bye, Rainbow!"

Twilight and Sunny put their apple baskets down before walking away. Once they were out of eyesight, Rainbow nervously chuckled.

"So... I'm going to go." Rainbow said. "See ya!" She was about to take off before Applejack pulled the rainbow mare close to her.

"Not so fast." Applejack sternly said. "Your comin' with me."

Twilight and Sunny arrived at the sheriff's station, "We still haven't gotten those smoothies..." Sunny grumbled.

"Sweet Apple Acres was closer to the station, than the cart! It's practical!" Twilight said, "Come on." She entered the station and Sunny followed.

"Sunny, Twilight! What's up?" Hitch said, noticing the two enter. "Is anything wrong?"

"Nope, we're just here to give you this!" Sunny pulled out a ticket, surprising Hitch.

"Is that a ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala?! Sunny, how did you get this?!" Hitch said, shocked.

"Remember when we saved Equestria from eternal night? Well, the Princess wants to congratulate us by inviting us to the gala! Isn't it exciting!?" Sunny said.

"Very!" Hitch said, taking his ticket. "Only... one?"

"Yes...? Why?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, it's nothing, it's just..." Hitch started. "I wanted to bring Sparky with me! He's always wanted to go to the gala! He's always wanted to go there, the gems, the food, the party! That's everything he's ever wanted! So when I get a ticket, and he doesn't... it just makes me feel sad that I won't get to spend the night with my favorite dragon son."

Sunny thought it over before she thought of something, she gave her plus one ticket to Hitch, who looked surprised. "My plus one ticket! Me and Twilight got plus one tickets, and I didn't really know who I would've invited... you should have it! So you and Sparky can go enjoy the gala together!"

"I... I can't believe it, thank you, Sunny." Hitch thanked.

"It was nothing, really!" Sunny said. "Also, where is Sparky? I haven't met him yet."

"He's in Bridlewood with Izzy, she said she was going to teach him how to make stuff." Hitch said.

"Alright," Sunny said. "We're going to go now, because I need food and because we still need to deliver the other tickets."

Hitch grabbed a paper bag, inside was couple of macaroons. "Why don't you take this, I'm not going to eat it."

"Ooh. macaroons!" Sunny said, taking the paper bag. "I haven't had this since I was in Canterlot!"

"Good luck!" Hitch said. Sunny ate a macaroon before she and Twilight exited the station. He put the two tickets in an envelope and labeled it as "surprise".

"Who's next?" Sunny asked Twilight. "Wait, where's Spike?"

Realization dawned on Twilight, "He's still at the barn! How did I forget him!?" Twilight groaned. "Why didn't he speak up?!"

"To be fair, he wouldn't miss free lunch." Sunny chimed.

"Right, that must be the reason, he did like the food there." Twilight said. "Let's hope Applejack doesn't let him off on his own, without supervision..."

Sunny noticed Mane Boutique open, "Mane Boutique! Rarity or Pipp must be inside."

"Yeah," Twilight said. She and Sunny walked inside the boutique, which was packed with ponies. Each seat was taken, and ponies were busy taking selfies or buying dresses.

"It's so... busy!" Sunny noticed. "Not like the last time we were here, it's much more packed."

"You said it, how are we going to find Rarity or Pipp in a crowd this big!" Twilight said.

"Hey!" A light blue pony said, walking up to the two. She had an orange mane with a purple fade, and her cutie mark was a horse shoe with a nail-polish brush passing through it. "You're looking for Rarity, right?"

"Yeah, who are you?" Sunny asked.

"I'm Jazz Hooves, I work at Mane Boutique as the mane stylist slash pedicurist. You're Sunny Starscout and Twilight Sparkle, right?" Jazz asked.

Twilight nodded, "Yes, we are. Can you take us to Rarity?"

"She's in her design room, follow me." Jazz said. She walked over to the stairs, "Just go up, it has her cutie mark on the door."

"Thanks, Jazz." Sunny thanked. She and Twilight went up, and went into the room with the three diamonds on them.

Inside the room were loads of fabric and pony mannequins, Rarity was at her sewing table. "Rar...ity? It's us! Twilight and Sunny."

Rarity turned off her sewing machine before turning around smiling. "Girls! Isn't this a nice surprise! Though, I'm afraid you caught me at the wrong time."

"What's wrong?" Twilight asked.

"Ever since word got out that we defeated Nightmare Moon, well, business has been booming! I've got dozens of orders, all for my dresses!" Rarity explained, squealing. "This is a dream come true for me! But it's taking a toll on my schedule, I have ten more orders for today, and seven more tomorrow. I hate to ask you to leave, but bills don't pay themselves."

"This won't take long, we just wanted to give you something." Twilight said, levitating Rarity's ticket to her. "Princess Celestia invited us to the Grand Galloping Gala for returning her sister and saving Equestria. If today is good, then it became better!"

"Better? Better!? This made today the best day of my life! Never would I thought I'd finally have a chance to see... him!" Rarity gushed.

"Him?" Sunny asked. "Who's him?"

"Him!" Rarity said. "Princess Celestia's nephew, Prince Blue Blood!"

Twilight grimaced, but Rarity didn't notice. "I'll stroll through the gala in a stunning dress which would make everyone wonder, "Who is that mysterious mare?". They would never guess that I, Rarity, was just a simple pony in the tourist town of Maretime Bay."

Rarity turned around, grabbing a mannequin with a stylish dress on it. "Why, I would cause such a sensation that I would be invited for an audience with Princess Celestia herself. And the Princess would be so taken with the style and elegance that she would introduce me to him, her nephew."

Rarity wrapped light purple fabric around her, as if it was a dress. "The most handsome, eligible unicorn stallion in Canterlot! Our eyes would meet, our hearts would melt, our courtship would be magnificent. He would ask for my hoof in marriage, and of course I would say YES!!"

"Marriage?! You're only... seventeen?" Twilight said, not sure about her friend's age.

"I'm of legal age, and the age gap between us is only by three years!" Rarity said. "We would have a royal wedding befitting a princess, which is what I would become upon marrying him! The stallion of my dreams."

Twilight rolled her eyes, "Don't get your hopes up, Rarity. Prince Blue Blood isn't exactly as you'd describe him."

"Everypony has their flaws, even someone as perfect as... him." Rarity fainted, falling on the floor.

"Rarity!" Sunny said. She crouched next to her friend, inspecting her. "Well, she just fainted. Should be back up in ten minutes, we should... go."

"Agreed." Twilight said, leaving the design room.

Sunny and Twilight were walking, seemingly lost in the their thoughts. The gala can't really be this good! I mean, it's just the best event in history! Sunny thought, ...Maybe it is really that good.

Twilight however, was paranoid. Oh, Rarity! You're going to be crushed when you find out about how Blue Blood acts! I can't bring myself to tell you either, that would make your best day into the worst day! Hopefully, she'll take it good when she finds out..

Twilight unknowingly bumped into Pinkie, which caused her to fall on the ground. Twilight, who was brought back to reality, accidentally let go of her hold on the tickets, which fell on Pinkie's nose.

When the tickets landed, Pinkie screamed. "Bats! Bats on my face!"

Sunny snapped out of thought as well, hearing her friend's screams. "Ack! Pinkie! Those aren't bats, those are tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala!"

Pinkie paused, "Tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala? Why didn't you say so! It was about time we got to this part in the story."

"Story? Pinkie, are you alright?" Twilight asked, pulling her friend up along with the tickets. "Now that I think about it, it's probably normal for you."

"Yep!" Pinkie giggled. "The gala! I can't wait for the gala! It's just the most amazing, incredible, tremendous, super-fun, wonderful, terrifically humongous party in all of Equestria!"

"So we've heard..." Sunny chuckled. "Okay, what's your reason to go? All the others have reasons, so what's yours?"

"To party! What else?!" Pinkie said. Just then, music started playing in the backround. "Musical number!"

"Musical number?" Twilight asked, but was instantly cut off by Pinkie, who started singing.

Pinkie's Gala Fantasy Song

"Oh, the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me!
Oh, the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me!
Hip hip, Hooray!
It's the best place for me- for Pinkie-e-e-e!

With decorations like streamers and fairy-lights and pinwheels and piñatas and pin-cushions. With goodies like sugar cubes and sugar canes and sundaes and sun-beams and sarsaparilla. And I get to play my favorite-est of favorite fantabulous games like Pin the Tail on the Pony!

Oh, the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me!
Oh, the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me!
'Cause it's the most galarrific superly-terrific gala ever-
In the whole galaxy-y-y!
Wheee!!"

The song ended, and Pinkie happily took her ticket. "Eee! This is the best-est day ever! Even better than that one time I found not one- but two cupcakes on the table, still fresh!"

"Uh... is bursting into musical numbers... normal?" Twilight asked.

"Maybe! Anyway, I've got to go! Good luck on your ticket giving! See ya, Twilight! Sunny!" Pinkie said before she bounced away.

"...I have a feeling we're going to have more musical numbers in the future, aren't we?" Sunny said.

"Let's focus on giving our friends their tickets." Twilight said.

Author's Note

Hi! Didn't expect this chapter to be out this early, did you? Technically, it says on the site I published Episode 5 on June 29 (on ACCIDENT), but the full release was July 5... or 6? Anyway, I didn't want to keep you all waiting, so I decided to split this chapter into two!

I don't know how to write Sparky Hopefully, I can publish weekly chapters now Anyways, next time, we're going to Zephyr Heights and Bridlewood because I want to introduce them early. Will we see Spike? And what has Spike been doing with Applejack? Is Rainbow okay? And more importantly, where is Sprout Cloverleaf?

If you're wondering why I mentioned Sprout, wait until next week (hopefully)! If there is any errors or if there is anything I should change, please comment so I can work to become a better writer!!

Someone get Comickook back in my comments, I need a person who'll theorize.