The Night of Lights

by Kipakuta

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Original Character
Length: 5076

A community tradition may have to find a new location, unless somepony has a change of heart

The Night of Lanterns is a transplanted Neighponese tradition that many Equestrian communities participate in, including Lower Canterlot. The festival involves children, and some adults, creating paper lanterns, writing their hopes and dreams for the coming year on them, then sailing them on a large body of water on the first New Moon after Hearth's Warmth Day. But this year, Upper Canterlot has other plans...

Part of a shared fanon with Gabriel Lavedier.

Published 2013-01-12 03:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-01-12 03:20:02 UTC

The Night of Lights

A light gray unicorn read over a two-tone mottled green slip of paper. He looked to the letter it came with, then back to the paper. "We only made five thousand on the Rockhoofia Bank stock." He muttered.

"That little, Jet honey?" A vanilla-colored unicorn asked. "That's only a quarter of what we need." She leaned over his shoulder. "We won't be able to rent out the Palace Gardens this year."

"I know." Jet Set lamented. "If only somepony on the board of directors hadn't mouthed off about Roani in front of Princess Luna. Not only would they have her account, but they could have also provided financial support for rebuilding her city." He set the papers on a table. "What really hurts is that all of the palace servants transferred their accounts to DD Granite Boulder Bank."

"It was Profit Margin, wasn't it." Upper Crust declared. "How a pony like him ever got promoted out of accounting and bookkeeping is beyond me. He lacks essential social skills."

"Up honey, let's not go assigning blame." Jet Set replied. "We can still find a venue to host the New Moon party, it's just not going to be as classy."

The unicorn mare flopped out on the couch next to her husband. "But we need Fancy's approval so we get the balcony seats this year at the Joust. And if we have that, the other families might be more inclined to listen to us."

Jet Set rubbed behind one of her ears. "I can still salvage this. We may have to wait out this year, but we can still maintain our reputation." He stood up and began pacing a section of the floor. "Ok, So Prince Blueblood has access to pretty much the whole palace and first tier area. We won't go for those venues. King Minos will be hosting his anniversary at the Four Seasons Hotel ballroom, so we can't do something too similar, or we'll look like imitators."

"And Porcelain Shine's hosting a Zeppelin cruise around Equestria this year. How can we possibly top that?" Upper Crust added. "There is going to be a stopover in every Duchy, Jet." She stood up. "Even the Western ones. We've got to make a good impression on the locals."

"I've got it!" Jet Set declared. "There's a botanical garden on the 5th terrace."

"Flowers?" Upper Crust deadpanned. "That's your solution, to host a party in a flower garden? And it's so low."

"Up my dear," Jet grinned. "These aren't just any flowers. There are plants from Zebrica, Neighpon, Beanna Arda, Ejderhakara and Oneiraterra." *

Upper Crust chuckled. "Of course you would know. Exotic cuisine being one of your interests."

Jet Set came over and nuzzled the mare. "How much can you really know about another culture, if you don't sample some of their food?"

"Then I leave it in your capable hooves. Just tell me the address and I'll write out the invitations."

"Deal." Jet Set replied, before kissing her cheek.

A group of young ponies and zebras wearing hoofskates or riding wheeled boards, sped through the streets of the 7th terrace. The group stopped in a large lot shared by three bungalows. The lot was enclosed by a low brick wall, with a gap in front of each house that allowed access to a tamped earth path that branched to each house. The one-story houses, though built to be individual homes a century earlier, had been bought by a benefactor and converted for use as a public community center.

As the youths gathered on the porch of the center house, a peach-colored pegasus stallion with a pink mane stepped out to greet them. "Hey kids, what brings you down this way on this fine, fine day?" He wore clothing that looked a size too big for him, and resembled the height of fashion from several decades earlier.

"Sup, Patchwork?" One of the zebra colts replied while removing his skating gear. "We was jus' in the neighborhood, and stopped by to see what was good."

The pegasus balanced on his front hooves and walked over to the group. "So idle curiosity then. It's not because you know that we start passing out box lunches around this time every day, hmmm?" He finished by going into a forward roll, bringing him alongside the colt.

The colt chuckled. "Hey, no need to blow your top. We could've gone to a salad shop." He and Patchwork tapped hooves.

"I know, I'm just clowning ya." Patchwork replied as he got up. "Go on in. Thistle's getting the boxes sorted, but I think she'll welcome a few helping hooves." He winked.

"Ok, Mr Whistle." An earth pony filly replied as the youths headed inside.

Inside, A blue pegasus with a yellow stripe in her pink mane and tail, was busy taking small boxes from a cart, and placing them on a long table in the kitchen. The brown boxes had small holes along the top, which allowed steam to waft from the food within. Letters drawn on the sides of the boxes indicated the contents. The pegasus whistled along with the tune coming from a radio on a windowsill. >

"Yo Big T!" The zebra colt called out. "How you be?"

The pegasus mare looked over. "I was just thinking about you kids." She stated with a certain smugness. "With all this food, I need a few hungry mouths."

The zebra colt trotted over and started moving boxes onto the table, while the other youths staked out their seats among the chairs and couch in the main room, with a couple of ponies getting a checkers game started. "It's healthy, tasty, and only costs a bit. If we went anywhere else for lunch, our parents would have a fit." The colt teased.

Thistle chuckled. "Now Skauti, we gotta make sure that you all stay out of trouble." She made stacks of five from the boxes that the zebra colt put on the table. "And this is gonna be a busy week for us."

Skauti nodded. "The Lantern Festival, I know. We make lantern boats for the moon, and sail them at the lake soon. It'll be quite a show."

"We've already got our usual spot reserved." Patchwork added as he entered the kitchen. He walked over the the radio. "Oh, here's my favorite part." He said while turning the volume knob up a few notches. "Thanks to having a run of sold-out shows this summer, I've got some money saved up. We can tour the rest of the gardens this year."

"That's great news." Thistle replied. "A garden tour sounds like a good opportunity for these kids."

"So what kind of plants will we see?" Skauti asked. "And why do they charge a fee?"

Patchwork took a pamphlet from the pocket of his coat. "They have the plants arranged in sections depending on where they're from: Neighpon, The griffon and dragon kingdoms, Zebrica and Oneiraterra." He handed the pamphlet to Skauti.

The colt opened the pamphlet and looked at the map. "Looks like it's a short trot from the lake-side. They even offer a tour guide."

Thistle unlocked and opened a cashbox that sat at one end of the table. "Ok, The lunchroom is open for business."

Skauti retrieved a bit coin from his saddlebag and passed it to Thistle Whistle. "I'll take a roast beet on cracked wheat."

"Allow me to tell you a little about our Arboretum, Mr. Set." The earth pony slid a map over to the unicorn. "Our plants are grouped according to the region of the world that they come from." She indicated various sections. "And we have an onsite lake to water them all."

Jet Set traced a route through the garden sections. "It's my understanding that all the plants are safe for pony consumption."

"Indeed, though we do charge -B- 30 per pony if you want a buffet tour. The money funds the gardeners who tend the plants."

Jet Set tapped his chin in thought. "Any problems with a party of fifty?"

"The plants would need about a day or two for recovery, but it's manageable. We do have spaces available on the shores of the lake if you're planning an event." The garden manager reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a ledger and another map. "We've hosted many weddings and business retreats for Middle and Lower Canterlot."

"How much to rent the whole lake?"

The earth pony raised an eyebrow. "Planning something big? We normally rent out spaces to individual parties. For all twelve spaces, you're talking -B-1200.

"That's it?" Jet Set gasped. "Deal! I want to make a reservation for the night of January 11." He said while writing a check with telekinesis.

"The 11th? Oh dear. We can't give you the whole lake on that night."

"Why not?" Jet paused his writing.

"These two spaces here are already reserved for that night." The earth pony replied.

"I can reimburse them. It's not like they need those spaces." Jet Set finished the check, then presented it to the garden manager. He then wrote out a second check.

"Sir, please, you must understand that it's part of a tradition they've been doing for twenty years."

"Tradition can go hang for one night." Jet Set replied. "Just tell me who rented those spaces, and where I can find them."

"The reservation is for Mr. and Mrs. Whistle. Here's their address." The pony hooved him a card. "Are you sure you don't want the 10th or the 12th?"

"Nope. I need the 11th. It's the New Moon, and one of my peers will be out of town on the 12th."

"I just hope the Whistles will be understanding."

Jet Set flashed her a grin. "Everypony understands money."

Just as the 4th terrace served as the transition between Upper and Middle Canterlot, the 7th served as the transition between Middle and Lower Canterlot. While Pegasi had wings, unicorns and earth ponies had devised various means of rapid transportation to get around quickly. Unicorn nobles and most 2nd and 3rd terrace residents had a team of carriage-pulling earth ponies on staff, while the non-noble but wealthy 1st terrace residents owned thaumically-powered vehicles. The rest of Canterlot had two transportation options. A low priced public transportation system that consisted of powered carriages that ran along certain routes, or hailing a cab from one of the three businesses that offered door to curbside service. Jet Set had chosen the second option, since he didn't know the public carriage routes and didn't want to get lost in unfamiliar territory.

The house before him looked typical of early 900s architecture: Single story, brick and board walls, main room and kitchen up front, bedroom and washroom in back, a workshop and two yards, one in front, and one behind. Unlike most of the other houses on this terrace, Jet Set noticed that the property lines with the adjoining two houses had been obscured. The bluegrass lawn was spread out across the three lots, interrupted by a tamped dirt path that forked and lead to the front steps of each house. The yard was shaded with a few large maple trees.

The light gray unicorn walked up to the front door of the first house, and found it open. "Hello?" Jet Set called. "Anypony here?"

"Coming." A mare called out from within. A moment later, a blue pegasus mare with a yellow stripe in rose colored mane, greeted the unicorn. "Welcome to Bronzewood Community center. How may we help you?" Jet noticed that her speech shifted to whistling whenever a word required a forced sound.

"I'm looking for a Mr. or Mrs. Whistle." Jet Set stated.

"I'm Mrs. Whistle." The pegasus replied. "What can I do for you?"

"Mrs Whistle, My name is Jet Set." The unicorn introduced himself. "I stopped by at the botanical garden earlier to make a reservation for a party, and I've been informed that you have a reservation for the night of January 11th. Is that correct?"

"Yes, that's right." Thistle replied. Jet Set was beginning to find the whistling a little irritating

"I'm also hosting a party at the lake on that night, and I-"

"Oh wonderful, I look forward to seeing you there." Thistle smiled.

"Actually, I'm entertaining some very important ponies, and I need your space as well."

"What?!" Thistle sputtered. "But we always reserve that space. Every year for the last twenty years."

Jet Set presented a check for the sum of two spaces' rent. "This year, you and your husband can do something different."

Thistle took the check and looked at it. "You're kicking us out?"

"I'm buying your reservation from you." Jet Set replied. "And you can use the money on a private dinner or to go shopping." He turned and left.

"Mr Set, please reconsider!" Thistle called as he trotted back down the walkway.

"It's just for this year." Jet called back. "Next year, you can have the whole lake if you want."

The pegasus leaned against the doorframe and sighed. "What am I gonna tell the kids?"

= = =

"You know how silly I feel?" A lithe white pegasus said to his equally white partner, as they glided amongst the taller buildings of Canterlot. "To have been halfway around the world, but never to have seen all of my own city?"

The buff white pegasus chuckled. "Rosy, you're gonna like it. It may be a little rough around the edges, but the residents have their own charm." He turned and followed one of the main roads of the 7th terrace. "C'mon, this way." Rosy Cranberry turned and followed after the other pegasus.

The pair landed in front of a glass and steel diner with a broad angled roof that resembled the spread wings of a butterfly, and painted a pastel blue. A tall steel pole with a neon light-rimmed oval mounted on the top, served as the signpost bearing the name of the diner 'Ginger's Cafe' in yellow-orange letters.

As they entered the cafe, Rosy Cranberry looked around, taking in all the details: The black and white checkered floor, the curved aluminum counter with a row of red cushion-topped stools along one side, a neon-lit jukebox at one end of the central walkway, the tables and booths placed next to the outside windows, and the mostly donkey and zebra customers that flirted with the kitchen staff. The smell of fried hay, beans, nutmeats, melted cheese, and toasted rolls mixed together in an enticing odor, and Rosy noticed the accent of ginger spice. The jukebox' speakers blared with distorted electrothaumic sounds that followed a rhythm common to zebra-produced music. > Golden took a couple of menus from a rack near the front door then led Rosy to one of the empty booths. A few of the patrons glanced in their direction, then began talking amongst themselves in hushed conversations. Rosy blushed and looked to Golden. "I'm not sure we should be here, sweetie."

"Relax." Golden replied, opening his menu and browsing it. "They know me here."

One of the donkeys got up from his seat and walked over to the pair. He leaned on their table. "We don't take kindly to your type around here." He said.

"You're breaking my heart, Barnaby." Golden Stare replied without looking away from the menu. "Have you decided on anything yet, Rosy?" He asked the other pegasus.

Rosy Cranberry looked away from the donkey and scanned the menu. "I-I'm not sure where to begin. How about if I just order what you do."

Barnaby suddenly yanked Rosy's menu away. "You jus' watch yourself. I have 99 warrants all over Equestria." Rosy gulped.

"Wanna make it a nice even 100?" Golden Stare replied. He and the donkey glared at each-other.

Two seconds later, Barnaby blinked, lowered his head and drooped his ears. "Jus' joking around, Golden." he replied in a much less intimidating manner.

"Sounds familiar." Golden Stare replied. "Reminds me of my first day as a constable."

"If I recall, It was first day, first call." A zebra replied, coming up alongside Barnaby.

Rosy looked from Golden Stare to the donkey, then back to Golden. "Friends of yours', Goldie?"

"Nah, more like frequent annoyances." Golden Stare replied.

"That's all we was to you? Awww, you're breaking my heart, officer." Barnaby said.

"How did one ticket turn into 99 outstanding warrants over the last fifteen years, Barnes?" Golden asked.

The zebra chuckled. "Hey, you never caught us doing anything since that day, right?"

Golden Stare gave a brief smile, then resumed his normal stern expression. "I've had a few complaints about you two, but nothing major. As far as I'm concerned, you're public nuisances, but not criminals. That good enough for you, Strekver?"

Rosy risked a small laugh. "So when you said you don't take kindly to us, you actually meant Royal guards."

"Yeah yeah." Barnaby replied. "What, you thought we hated you for being cuddlers?" The donkey turned and nuzzled up to the zebra.

Strekver shoved the donkey away. "Dude, I don't swing that way. And even if I did, it wouldn't be with you." Barnaby guffawed.

"Well you did have that attitude." Rosy replied, the blush fading from his skin. "So how exactly did you all meet?"

"Ah, you don't want to hear this, Rosy honey." Golden Stare said while picking up his menu again. "Let's just order our food, then we can be on our way."

"Wait, you mean you never told him?" Strekver asked. The zebra snickered. A light shade of red accented Golden Stare's coat. The donkey turned and waved over one of the servers.

The pony took out a pen and a pad of paper. "What can I get for you?"

"I'll take the pistachio strips and chips." Golden Stare said through gritted teeth

"Same for me." Rosy added.

"Two pish and chips. Anything to drink?"

"A ginger ale for each of us." Golden added.

"Alright." The server wrote this down, took the menus, then left.

"So tell me about this first call." Rosy prodded.

"I get dispatched on a public nuisance call on the east end of of the 8th terrace, I find these two." Golden Stare pointed his hoof to Strekvar and Barnaby. "Smoking poison joke and making loud comments to the nearby mares, about what they'd like to do with them."

"And after we insult his badge, he starts going through the rulebook to find stuff to charge us with." Barnaby finished. "Did you know that there's a law that prohibits non-pegasi from owning any weather-handling gear? And that the list of weather handling gear can include anything that has ever been used to manipulate weather?"

Rosy chuckled. "Oh my, so how exactly did that apply to you?"

"Simple." Golden replied. "I used the ordnance to cite them for 'Using a device to divert rainwater.' I wrote them up for owning umbrellas."

"And from then on, we stayed on our best behavior around him." Barnaby finished. The server arrived with Golden and Rosy's order. "Anyways, We'll let you eat now." The zebra and donkey duo departed.

"Weren't you worried about abusing the law like that?" Rosy asked before taking a bite of the fried batter filled with chopped pistachios.

"It was a rookie mistake." Golden replied. "The courts threw it out and let me off with a warning. But if you've ever wondered how my stare works. It's backed by my knowledge of the law."

"Oh, so it doesn't work on other law enforcers, the Princesses, or-"

Golden held up a hoof to stop Rosy. "Lets just say that it doesn't work on anypony who knows the law as well, or better than I do."

A short while later, Golden and Rosy were out touring the streets of the 7th terrace. They spied a peach-colored pegasus with a pink mane, slumped on one of the public benches. "I know we're off duty." Rosy began. "But can we still try to help other ponies?"

Golden landed in front of the pegasus, who wore a graphic shirt bearing the likeness of a 980's celebrity. The cutie mark on his flank was a pink pinstriped patch of cloth "Good day Citizen." Golden greeted. "What seems to be troubling you?"

The pegasus looked to Golden Stare. "I've been trying to find a location for tonight's lantern festival." He replied. "And I haven't had much luck."

Golden Stare rubbed the back of his neck. "The Lantern festival? You still doing that?"

"Yes indeedy." The pegasus replied. "Except that this year, some hornhead from Upper Canterlot took over the botanical garden's lake."

Rosy approached the pegasus. "I understand that unicorns can be aggravating at times, but please refrain from using epithets."

"Sorry." The other pegasus replied.

"Another friend of yours?" Rosy asked.

"Yeah. Rosy, meet Patchwork. He's a local community organizer for this tier."

"Wish we could've met in happier times." Patchwork offered a hoof. Rosy shook the hoof, blushing a little.

"Nice to meet you. Now, can you fill us in on what happened."

"This stallion, Jet Set, bought out our usual reservation." Patchwork began. "And no other place in Canterlot is offering a lake where we can host the lantern festival."

"Jet Set? I think I can persuade him to change his mind." Golden Stare offered. "If I recall, the community center is at 172, Raccoon road, right?"

"172, 174, and 176, to be precise." Patchwork replied.

"Right, It's actually three lots connected. I remember now." Golden Stare offered a smile. "You go back and tell the children that Golden Stare is taking care of things."

"Wait, you're part of the Princesses guards, aren't you?"

"That's correct." Rosy replied. "You probably recognize us from the coverage of the assault on Vault's Vale."

Patchwork reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. "Here, take this." Golden Stare took the card it looked it over.

"Wow, so you're a comedian now. Good for you. I remember you telling me that you were trying to get into that line of work."

"Been doing the opening acts for the County fair the last few years. Been working the nightclub circuit as well. And I have an interview coming up on 1.R.O.A. next week."

"Oh, that's Princess Luna's favorite radio station." Rosy stated.

Golden Stare elbowed his partner. "We're not supposed to discuss the Princesses' activities or preferences." He hissed.

"Oh, right." Rosy blushed even more. "Forget that then, you heard nothing."

Patchwork waved a hoof. "S'okay. I'm not telling or selling any of the tabloids."

"We better be off then." Rosy said, taking to the air.

"We'll be back down to the community center after we finish speaking to Mr. Set." Golden stated.

"I'll be waiting for you." Patchwork replied as the pair flew to Upper Canterlot.

A light gray unicorn answered the door after somepony had rung the chimes. "Salutati-oh! Cavalier Stare and Miles Cranberry." Jet Set stepped aside and motioned for them to come in. "This is rather unexpected. What can I do for you gentlecolts?"

"Mr Set, we came by to have a friendly conversation." Golden Stare began. "What's available to drink?"

"I can make some pina coladas." Upper Crust offered as she entered from a side room.

"I suppose one wouldn't hurt." Rosy replied. Jet Set lead the pair to an arrangement of chairs around a low table, while Upper Crust went to the kitchen to prepare the drinks.

"So." Jet Set began, as he settled in his seat. "What brings you to our humble home?"

"Since today was our day off. Rosy and I decided to go sightseeing around the city, maybe make friends with some of the citizens that we're sworn to protect."

Jet Set grinned. "Friends are good to have."

Golden Stare nodded. "And during our outing, we heard about a party to be hosted in the Botanical Gardens."

"That's correct." Upper Crust declared as she arrived and passed out the drinks. "We've decided to branch out a little this year, and host a soiree someplace new."

The pegasi each took a sip from the glasses. "This is delightful. Fresh juice, I'm guessing." Golden said. "Most of the time, soldiers have to make do with frozen concentrate."

"It's always better if you buy the pineapple and juice it at home." Jet Set declared. "Though if somepony would invent a machine to do the work for you, we'd buy one."

"Right right." Rosy Cranberry added. "It also helps to know where to get the best pineapples too."

"So, you heard about our party." Jet set his glass down. "I apologize, but invitations have already been sent out. Otherwise, I'd add your names to the list of V.I.P.s."

"I appreciate that." Golden replied. "If I may ask, who is invited?"

"Fancypants and Fleur, Porcelain Shine, Chromium Steel, Hoity Toity, Photo Finish..." Jet Set rattled off a few names.

"Sounds like a rather important group." Golden stated. "And what's their opinion of children?"

"Well um, some of them are indifferent. Some of them like and adore children." Upper Crust replied, feeling a little uncomfortable about the turn of discussion.

"And what would they say about disrupting a children's party?" Golden said with a smirk.

"WHAT!?" Jet Set and Upper Crust looked to each other, then back to the pegasi.

"Whoever would do such a thing?" Jet said incredulously. "If it was anypony we know, they'd have their reputations eviscerated. There's no coming back from that sort of disgrace."

"Tell me, what should be done with them." Rosy inquired, feeling bold.

"They would be mocked and ridiculed without mercy." Upper Crust offered. "Probably have to move to another city entirely, because they'd never be welcomed back into polite society."

Golden Stare stood up. "Mrs Crust. We can avoid that. The Whistles, the ponies whose reservation you acquired. Every year on this day, they've hosted a festival for the children of Lower Canterlot. The Night of Lights."

"Yes, We've seen such festivals during a vacation in Neighpon." Jet replied. "I didn't know that they did one here as well."

"But what does that have to do with us?" Upper Crust inquired.

"The festival's been hosted at the Botanical Gardens every year since they started working at the community center. Until tonight, that is. Seems somepony took their spot."

"Here's what I would do." Rosy began. "I'd allow the Whistles to have their little space. All those floating lanterns would make a nice backdrop for photo opportunities."

"Ok." Jet began. "You go back to the Whistles and you tell them to bring the children to the Botanical Gardens. And if anypony raises an objection, We'll be first in line to eviscerate them. Verbally, I mean"

"I'm glad we could come to an arrangement." Golden said before chugging the rest of his drink. Rosy managed to gulp down about half of his before having to set his glass down to avoid being left behind.

A cream-colored, blue maned unicorn led a white, pinked maned unicorn over to the edge of the lake. "Dear Fleur, seeing the children happy and engaged in such a ritual, has inspired me."

"Oh, that you want to offer your patronage to disadvantaged youths?"

"No, that I would like a foal of my own." He replied. Fleur's heart felt like it skipped a beat. "But of course I cannot raise one by myself. I need somepony special to act as my gentler half." He smiled while reaching into one of the upper pockets of his vest.

"Do you have anypony in mind, Fancy?" Fleur asked, anticipating the answer.

Fancypants removed a small velvet-covered box, and opened it. Inside was a gold band bearing a star sapphire surrounded by a ring of small diamonds. "Fleur. Would you do me the honor of being my better half?"

Fleur De Lis held a hoof to her chest while gasping.

*CLICK*

Fleur and Fancy turned to see a blue, white-maned pony stepping back from a camera on a tripod. "Ooh, That vill make such a great full page shot, I-Photo Finish-will surely set this years trend in jewelry."

Fancypants blushed and chuckled. "You are quite the go-getter." He offered. Fleur leaned over to Fancypants and whispered an affirmation. The stallion grinned widely, then reached into another pocket. "Just one more thing to take care of then we can leave." He whispered to her. Fancypants trotted over to where Jet Set. The gray unicorn turned as he approached. "Mr Set. I just want to thank you. This is a splendid idea you came up with."

"Well, I did what I could with what I had." Jet replied, lowering his muzzle a bit. "And to be honest, perhaps we shouldn't have such a big divide between the districts of our city."

Fancypants gripped one of Jet's hooves, turned it frog up, then placed an object on it. "You've earned this. Congratulations." He said before leaving. Jet looked at the object resting on his frog.

It was a key with a small chain looped though the hole in the head. Also attached to the chain as a laminated card with an address on it. Upper Crust trotted over and peered over his shoulder. "Jet?"

"It's the key to his private clubhouse." Jet exclaimed. "But I don't deserve such a high honor." He pocketed the key then ran over to the north shore. "Mr and Mrs Whistle!"

The pegasi couple looked over. "How is, neighbor?" Patchwork greeted.

"Listen, I much apologize for my earlier behavior." Jet began. He reached into his pocket and presented the key. "You deserve this more than I do."

"What's it go to?" Thistle asked.

"It's the key to Fancy Pant's private clubhouse."

"Will you be wanting your check back then?" Patchwork asked, waving the piece of paper.

"Keep it. Consider it a donation to your orphanage." Jet replied.

"Community center." Thistle replied.

With one swift move, Patchwork covered the key with a pair of tickets. "I got a show tomorrow night, bring a friend."

Upper Crust had finally caught up to her husband, and watched Patchwork's gesture. "What are these for?"

"It's my comedy act." Patchwork replied. "I figure if I can impress a pair of ponies like you, I can start getting A-list bookings."

Jet grinned. "Deal."

* Zebra lands, China, Griffon lands (High Peaks), Dragon kingdom, and Australia.