The Midnight Zone

“Oh Angel, these are perfect!” Fluttershy carefully took the two golden pieces from her pet bunny, Angel. Fluttershy quickly put a length of thread through the holes in the end, and strung them up. Fluttershy's friend bear, Harry, had a birthday coming up.

Angel pointed to a spot on the wall that didn’t have any decorations on it yet. The rest of the room was decorated.

“Oh Angel you're right! That spot is looking a bit bare.”

The doorbell rang.

“Oh,” said Flutterhy. “That must be Pinkie.”

Fluttershy and Angel went over to the door.

“Hey Fluttershy,” said Twilight. “Have you, by any chance, seen two gold tickets?”

Angel nodded, and pulled them off the string.

“Oh nice!” said Twilight. “I found them!”

“What are the tickets for?” asked Fluttershy curiously.

“The Grand Galloping Gala,” said Twilight.

“Wow! I’ve always wanted to go to the Gala!” Fluttershy paused. “If it’s okay, I would just like to ask, I mean, if it would be all right, if you haven't given it to someone else...”

“You want to go to the Gala?”

“Oh, no. I mean, yes, or, actually, kind of. You see It's not so much the Grand Galloping Gala as it is the wondrous private garden that surrounds the dance. The flowers are said to be the most beautiful and fragrant in all of Equestria. For the night of the gala, and that night alone, would they all be in bloom... and that's just the flora! Don't get me started on the fauna. There's loons and toucans and bitterns, oh my! Hummingbirds that can really hum, and buzzards that can really buzz. White-blue jays, and red jays, and green jays, pink jays and pink flamingos!”

“Gee Fluttershy, that sounds beautiful.”

“Now wait just a second,” said Rainbow.

Twilight and Fluttershy jumped. “Rainbow, were you following me?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow grew flustered “No. I mean, yes. I mean, maybe. Look, it doesn't matter. I couldn't risk a goody-four-shoes like you giving that ticket away to just anypony.”

“Wait just another minute!” exclaimed Rarity.

“Rarity, you were following me too?”

“No,” Rarity replied. “I was following Rainbow to make sure she didn’t try anything crazy.”

“Well,” said Applejack, “I guess I’ll just reveal myself too.”

“How did you all sneak up on me without me knowing?”

“I can’t make a decision on an empty stomach,” Twilight repeated. “And I have the tickets, and I am going to Sugarcube Corner to get a snack. Or maybe a stack of snacks. Or a stack of snack stacks.”

“Can I tag along?” asked Fluttershy.

“Sure!” said Twilight, walking away.

“Noooooo!” The tickets flew out of Twilight’s hoofs, and into Sugarcube Corner, Twilight Right Behind.

The tickets flew into the shop, and hit Pinkie. “AHH!!” she yelled “Bats! Bats on my face! Help! Wait, these aren't... tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala?!”

“Uh–”

“It's the most amazing incredible tremendous super-fun wonderful terrifically humongous party in all of Equestria! I've always always always wanted to go!”

“Those aren’t your tickets!” said Rarity.

“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...”

Rainbow entered the shop. “Now hold it right there–”

Pinkie didn’t stop. “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!”

“Now hold on pardner!” called Applejack.

“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

Wheee!!”

“For Pinkie!”

“Oh thank you, Twilight, it's the most wonderful-est gift ever.”

“Well–”

“It’s my ticket!” yelled Rainbow.

“No, it’s mine!” called Rarity.

“I thought Twilight gave it to me!” Applejack said.

Twilight snatched the tickets and quickly ran out of the shop. The others were too busy fighting to notice.