Aster trotted along the street, his hooves skipping lightly on the paving stones as he darted around other ponies, past vendor stalls festooned with colorful toys and trinkets, banners flying and paper lanterns twirling in the breeze. He skidded to a stop when his eye was caught by the pony he sought; Amy was standing on her hind legs, front hooves propped up on the edge of a table as she nosed at some bright feathers in front of a stall, while a couple of other ponies giggled by her side. “Hey Amy!” he called as he approached.

She dropped to all fours and turned to look, and smiled. “Hey Aster, what’s up?” He saw that she already had a dozen bead necklaces draped around her neck.

He took a breath and blurted, “Bitsy said some of the vendors are giving out rare coins in change when you buy stuff. They’re worth a lot. I think it’s like a contest or something. She said you’d help us.”

She squinted at him. “Say what? You mean all we have to do is buy stuff? I’m already doing that.”

He nodded. Then he pointed with a hoof. “How about those necklaces? Did you get change when you bought ‘em? Let’s go through the coins and see if there’s anything good!”

One of Amy’s companions chimed in, “That sounds fun. Can we help too?”

“Okay,” Aster said. “But don’t tell anypony else!”

As the children moved away from the vendor’s stall, a young mare turned to her boyfriend and nosed at him to get his attention. “Hey, did you hear that? That colt said ponies are finding special coins in their pocket change. Maybe you should check yours.”

Off to the side of the fair grounds was an area not visited by the festival crowd, but where large tents were arrayed and some ponies moved about, carrying tools and supplies to and fro. Sounds of hammering or sawing or other work came from some of these tents.

Within one such tent, a young mare named Olive was sorting bags of candy while listening with an ear cocked to a small tirade unfolding.

A portly earth pony named Big Cheese was grinding his teeth with rage. “Those donkeys!” he fumed. “Those—those provincials! How dare they?”

“Relax! It won’t give them any advantage,” said Flim, grinning. He was one of a pair of identical twin unicorns, and nothing ever seemed to deflate his manic cheeriness.

“What’ll they gain by telling everyone they’re Canterlot’s only all-unicorn entry, anyway?” said Flam, the other twin, distinguishable only by a red mustache on the end of his muzzle. He nudged Big Cheese in a friendly way. “Everyone will think they’re nasty bigots, won’t they? And there are two earth ponies and a pegasus on the Judging Committee this year!”

“I suppose you’re right,” grumbled Big Cheese, as his anger calmed somewhat. “I suppose someone might give some thought to spreading an effective rumor or two about such vicious enemies…?” The vicious enemies he referred to were the Harness District Player’s Guild, rivals of some years’ rancorous standing to Big Cheese’s own festival group, the Comestible District Phantasists.

Olive frowned, but the twins looked at each other, their grins widening. “Hmmm,” said Flim, and Olive knew he and Flam were communicating somehow, in that unspoken way they had.

“Could always go to a few taverns and imply that actually they’ve hired on a few changelings who only look like unicorns,” said Flam, bright-eyed.

“Splendid idea!” Big Cheese gave an enthusiastic tromp with his front hooves. “I knew I could rely on you.”

“All we need now is a crown for expenses,” said Flim. Big Cheese made a face, but dug into his purse.

“Well worth it,” he said, and flipped Flim a crown piece to catch with his magic. “Go forth and blacken their names!”

“Do you want to come along, Olive?” Flam turned to her.

“No, thanks.” Olive shook her head. She disapproved of such tactics. “But wait! The Master of the Revels will be here to inspect the float soon. I saw him going into the tent of the Olde Towne Fools not fifteen minutes ago.”

Flam tossed his head. “Right! We should be here when he comes in for the inspection.”

Flim waggled his eyebrows and said, “Or at least one of us should be. You can catch up with me after the Master is done.” He turned and darted out of the tent, with the crown piece still floating along with him.”

Flam called after him, “You’re incorrigible!”

“I know!” came the reply from outside.

“I love that about him!” Flam turned to Olive and said, “Well, you can have the pleasure of dazzling the Master with your sparkling conversation. I’ll trail after Flim and harass him.”

“You need to harass him more often,” Olive said with a grin. “But no, I can't explain all this stuff you've built. You need to be here. It won't be long, OK?"

He grumbled but waited, impatiently.

Indeed, it wasn’t long before Olive heard the sound of hooves on the cobbles outside, and in came a tall, dignified unicorn with a finely trimmed beard and dapper top hat perched atop his head. He was announced as The Master of Revels by an attendant who followed at his heels, and he stepped inside the tent, looking around with an air of mild disapproval. "Entry number eleven? Comestible District Phantasists? I trust your Entertainment is ready for inspection."

Big Cheese came over and said, "We are indeed. Big Cheese, at your service." He gave a modest bow.

"By the authority vested in me by the power of the Crown and the Ruling Council of Canterlot, I will inspect your entry."

"Of course you shall," agreed Big Cheese. "It awaits your approval." He indicated the obvious.

The Master nodded, then lifted his eyes to the float they had constructed, depicting Nightmare Moon rearing up against her foes atop a chariot made from broken swords and spears, and pulled by two armored bat-ponies. The Master raised an eyebrow skeptically as he examined it. “I must say,” he began slowly, “I thought I was here to inspect a Summer Sun Celebration float. Is this one not more suited for some other occasion?”

Big Cheese answered, "Very perceptive, Sir! It was, in fact, created for Nightmare Night. It was a huge success, if I may say so, and we felt compelled to bring it back due to popular demand—an encore appearance, as it were."

"A recycled float? Most irregular. Rather a large shortcut, I should say." His attendant opened a scroll and readied a stylus, while the Master walked slowly around the float. "Hmmm. This references the unfortunate events of the Great Treason. Is this quite a respectful subject, sirs? You must know that Princess Luna is in attendance at this year's festival."

"Of course it's respectful," Big Cheese insisted. "It was accepted without concern during Nightmare Night, and surely the very same work cannot be inoffensive to the crown at one time of the year, and disrespectful at another."

Olive added, "Staying up all night is a big part of the Summer Sun Celebration. It's become just as important as the day that follows. It's only right that Princess Luna get a nod of acknowledgement."

"Acknowledgement, perhaps, but the tone… Are you the artificer?"

"Heavens no! But Flam is here to answer any questions about the workings."

Taking his cue, Flam stepped forward with an easy smile. "At your service, of course. And if I may demonstrate?" His horn lit up with magic, and the mechanisms of the float sprang to life. The figure of Nightmare Moon reared and flared her wings threateningly while her mane billowed as though in a breeze. Her companion figures upon the float, faceless night-gaunts, whipped their ropy tails and reached outward with spindly arms as if longing to grab spectators and carry them away. The illusion was perfect and unsettling. The Master gaped at it, then cleared his throat so violently a collar stud popped.

"That'll do," he muttered. "What are those tubes at the back?"

"Originally, mounts for fireworks," Flam replied. "Those were used during the Nightmare Night presentation, but we won't be using them tomorrow."

"Indeed I should think not," The Master agreed.

The Master asked to see the bags of candies and other treats that were meant to be distributed to spectators as the float passed by. These Olive presented for his approval.

Next he pointed to smaller gargoyles perched near the feet of Nightmare Moon and her night-gaunts. He'd spotted tubes inside their open maws. "What do these do?"

"They exhale smoke, sir!"

"I see." The assistant continued scribbling notes. The Master frowned and asked, "Incendiary devices?"

"No, something better!" Flam was grinning from ear to ear as he unearthed a colossal glass container from a box. Inside was something as dark as night. "It's one of our own creations: a special blend! It goes into the tank beneath the float and interacts with the air, creating a black cloud of smoke that comes out of the gargoyle's mouths!" he explained excitedly. "It'll give Nightmare Moon her own rolling cloud of nightmares."

"I beg your pardon? Am I to understand you are incorporating an unapproved substance in an entertainment for public display?"

"That's right!" Flam said, completely unruffled. Olive groaned inwardly and brought her hoof to cover her face. How many times had she reminded them to register the formula?

"A substance that has not been submitted to the Guild of Alchemists for testing?"

"But it's perfectly safe!"

Olive added, "The float only uses a small amount. Barely a cupful for its entire run."

"Unacceptable! Assistant, take note of this! The rules clearly state—"

"We will be happy to submit a sample," said Big Cheese.

"Pointless! The Guild offices are closed and will not reopen until after the festival."

"But it dissipates quickly," Big Cheese said, a wheedling tone coming into his voice. "Harmlessly. I saw it tested myself."

"Irrelevant! This substance cannot be used."

Star Catcher eventually coaxed Minty and Pinkie Pie away from the lava lamp. As they left the store she ventured, “It’s getting close to supper time, isn’t it?”

“Hey, we got candy!” said Minty.

Star Catcher snorted. “That’s not supper. If you eat nothing but sugar, you’ll make yourselves sick.”

Minty’s ears drooped. “What, do you think you’re my mom now?”

Pinkie Pie chimed in, “This is party time! We can eat right the rest of the year.”

Star Catcher blinked, then turned contrite. “I’m sorry. You’re right, I’m not your mother, and you’re not little foals. I shouldn’t tell you what to eat. I just had some jelly beans myself, but they only whetted my appetite for something more solid. I’m going back to the food court. You don’t have to follow if you don’t want to; I can find you later.”

Minty and Pinkie glanced at one another. Then Pinkie said, “Of course we’ll come with you, Star Catcher. Maybe we’ll find something we’d all like.”

Their walk back to the food court was relatively quiet. It had been a long day, and even Pinkie Pie’s natural exuberance was beginning to wane. Star Catcher was particularly quiet as she pondered her recent experiences. Making their way around the food vendors and the various types of carnival fare, they ended up with bowls of apple slices lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon.

As they ate, Star Catcher’s mind was in turmoil. She thought about all the homes and farms she’d seen during the balloon flight, where she had expected only wilderness. She thought about the unicorn who’d said Minty’s balloon belonged in a museum. She thought about all the strange reactions she’d gotten at the jousting competition. She thought about an airship powered—somehow—by steam.

Most of all she thought about what the earth pony at the candy counter had said. She’d grown up here, in the unicorn city. “It was a unicorn city way back, even before Equestria was founded.” Star Catcher was sure she’d heard that clearly. A noxious lump grew in her belly as she wondered just how long ago that was.

“Did we somehow drift through the sky in dreamless sleep for a hundred years or more?” she silently wondered. It didn’t seem possible. However, Star Catcher had seen mickle magic in her time—enough to know that anything just might be possible.

“Star Catcher!”

Startled by the sound of her name, she blinked at Pinkie Pie. “What?”

Pinkie squinted suspiciously at her. “I just asked where you wanted to go next. Are you okay? You seemed sort of blanked out there for a minute.”

“I’m sorry, I was really lost in thought. I’m sure I’ll be happy to follow you two around.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? You look worried.”

Star Catcher quirked a smile and said, “I’m always worried about something, Pinkie Pie. It’s a hobby of mine. I’m just not happy unless I’m imagining something going wrong.”

Pinkie brought her hooves to her mouth, overcome for a moment. Then she suddenly laughed. “My granny is just like that too! Well, whatever makes you happy is okay with me.”

Author's Note

This was supposed to be the conclusion of Chapter 5, but I couldn't simply edit it into that chapter, because then nobody would be notified.