The White Tail

-The next day, somewhere in Canterlot city -

“Uhhhhhh…” Sparks groaned as he woke up, his head pounding from a bad headache.  Groggily looking around he took in what was there. Party streamers and slices of cake were scattered everywhere in what looked like a golden foyer. He suddenly remembered something.

“By Celestia’s beard, HIGH TOWER, WHERE ARE YOU?!?”

He heard somepony groan as a pile of junk falls over, revealing the red Pegasus.

“I’m sleeping mommy… can I stay in bed for another couple o’ hours? Celestia won’t mind...”

Sparks got up and slowly made his way over to High Tower, making sure not to step on anything. Once he reached the sleeping Pegasus, he tried to wake him up.

“C’mon Tower, its half past noon already aaaaand we kinda need to get outta here… Ooomph!”

Sparks suddenly received a punch in the stomach, doubling back a little from the unexpected blow.

“I don’t wanna get up…” groaned High Tower, still in sleep mode.

Recovering quickly and now fully awake, Sparks knew what had to be done.

“Sorry Tower, but you forced my hoof.”

He stood above the unsuspecting Pegasus and rubbed his hooves together, until he got a ‘spark’. He felt all his hairs rise a little and then moved his hooves over his friend’s body, ready to strike, when he suddenly yelled, “CLEAR!” and put his hooves on High Tower, who jumped into the air with a combination of a squeak and anger.

Speaking words unknown to anypony he ran around the room as Sparks laughed at his attempt to get away from the electricity. Crashing back into the junk pile he pushed over earlier, High Tower glared at Sparks and said,

“You’re lucky that I, OW! …don’t breathe fire, Sparky, OW! …You’re a very lucky pony.” Then Sparks remembered why he woke the tyrant up in the first place.

“Tower we need to get going…NOW.”

“Wait, why?”

“Because if we don’t they will.”

He was cut off as the doors to the foyer opened and two Solace Guards trotted in, with serious business written all over their faces.

“Private Sparks of the Dwarf Stars Regiment?”

“Crap…” Sparks thought as he quickly stood at attention. “Present, sir!”

“Your highness requests an audience with you; she said it was muy importante.”

Sparks held his breath for two seconds. He knew if Princess Celestia was using the ancient Caballo language, she meant business.

High Tower suddenly got out of the pile, sat beside Sparks, and asked, “Since when did the Princess speak Cabolla?”

Everypony stared at him with a ‘really?’ look on their face.

“Ok, so it was a silly question…” High Tower sheepishly said.

Face-hoofing in embarrassment, Sparks trotted over and stood before the guards.

“Alright then, let’s not keep her majesty waiting, oh and High Tower…don’t follow me this time.”

High Tower was about to respond when Sparks gave him a look, so he quickly shut up and nodded.

Making their way up to the front gates of the inner castle, Sparks decided then to ask the guards what the problem was.

“So, what does she want anyway? Just curious, is all.”

The two guards looked at each other and back at him with honest looks, and the one on the left said, “We really have no idea, Private.”

Opening the doors the two guards waved him in and then closed them behind him as he walked up the steps into the main hall. He looked around the walls, observing the artistry in the stained-glass windows. One had six ponies and what looked like Nightmare Moon being zapped. He looked over to the end where her majesty sat, who was currently talking to one of her advisors.

“Well, it seems my Dwarf Star soldier has arrived.” Celestia declared nodding towards Sparks, glad that he had arrived at that exact moment. Her advisor left in respect as Celestia waited for Sparks to get close enough to address him.

Sparks kneeled before her, bowed his head, and asked, “What have you called me for, my Princess?”

Celestia smiled, and asked, “How have you been? Enjoying your little vacation?”

“Yes, my Princess, and the cake was very delicious!” Mortified at what he had just said, he glanced up the Princess to gauge her reaction.

Giggling, the goddess of the sun continued, “It was all made by a young mare in a small town called Ponyville, you should visit it sometime…but…” Her face got a little more serious. “That is not why I called you here today.”

Sparks stood at attention, waiting for whatever she was going to throw at him.

“Do you remember what happened when Discord broke free, Private Sparks?”

Sparks quickly answered, “Yes ma’am, I remember everything, from the looney creatures, to the floating islands, to the chocolate rain…which was my personal favorite.” Sparks blushed a little from admitting that he actually liked something Discord made.

“Was there anything else that you have seen Sparks, anything that would be out of place?” The princess was very serious now.

Sparks only got all the more concerned, and said, “No your majesty…”

The Princess sighed and said, “There is another problem, something that we all missed.  I have chosen you for this operation because you have what I look for, but now I must ask this of you…”

Sparks could only listen as she spoke.

“You are to follow the orders of my sister Luna, and do exactly what she says.”

“WHAAAAAAAT?!?”

Both Sparks and Celestia looked over to one of the columns where a red Pegasus had popped out in surprise.

Smiling, Celestia said, “I wondered if he was ever going to come out. A friend of yours, I presume?”

Sparks nodded, ears folded back, blushing madly in embarrassment.

“His name is High Tower. He’s my best friend.” Sparks declared.

Giggling, the wise Princess called out “You don’t have to hide behind that column anymore, High Tower. I already knew that you were hiding there.”

The wannabe ninja walked out, and slowly trotted over to stand beside Sparks, his ears also folded back.

“Sorry Sparky…”

“It’s ok, Tower.” Looking at them, the Princess smiled and was about to say something, when High Tower darted to stand before Princess Celestia.  He kneeled before her and begged, “Please oh please oh please oh please can I go with Private Sparks your Majesty? I have always wanted to meet Princess Luna!”

“TOWER, SHOW SOME RESPECT!” yelled Sparks.

Princess Celestia was slightly surprised at Private Sparks’ outburst, but she said with a smile, “Of course you can, as a matter of fact, you’re going to help Sparks with his mission.”

“WHAAAAT!?!” Sparks yelled in surprise as High Tower jumped up and down with glee.

“Yaaay! I get to see Woona! I get to see Wooooona~!” High Tower was jumping all around them as Sparks stood stunned.

“But your majesty, what if I need to…”  Sparks words died as the Goddess of the Sun merely looked at him with an innocent smile. This alone confirmed that he was doomed to work with High Tower. It’s not like he didn’t like High Tower, it was the fact that this is a serious mission, and he wasn't sure that he could handle it.

After High Tower had calmed down a bit, the Princess continued, “You’ll meet my sister in the observatory in the northern tower later this evening. She is currently asleep right now.”

“Yes, your majesty.” was all Sparks could say as the two stallions bowed to the Princess, and before they left, High Tower asked one more thing, “Hey Miss Princess of the bright light thingy, can I ask you a question?”

Celestia simply nodded slowly but gracefully, allowing him to continue.

“Exactly WHAT time of the evening are we seeing Woona?”

Sparks face-hoofed; he forgot that High Tower wasn’t military and didn’t know the protocol.

“You must like my sister to be so curious like THAT, my little pony.” Celestia giggled once more. “I believe it will be seven o’clock…sharp.”

“Thank you, Princess!”

High Tower quickly caught up with Sparks as they walked back out of the hall.

“Good luck, you two.” Celestia said out loud to herself. “You’re going to need it.”