Mind-Space Equestria

1.1

It was almost too beautiful, the sphere high above the horizon with its shades of green and blue surrounded by the emptiness of space. Applejack’s ears twitched as she shifted the weight on her hooves. The lack of a breeze rustling her tail and the absence of a cricket’s night song was… unsettling. It just wasn’t natural. Maybe the shimmering magical dome surrounding them had something to do with it.

‘Where are we?’ asked Twilight.

‘Well umm I’d say the moon, going by the grey dust covering the ground and the rather large planet in the night’s sky. But umm I could be wrong,’ mumbled Fluttershy.

‘We’ve been banished!’ cried Twilight.

‘Here we go,’ said Rainbow.

‘It was the Changeling invasion wasn’t it? Our failure to obtain the Elements?’

‘Is she always like this?’ asked Scootaloo, the filly’s eyes following Twilight as she paced back and forth.

‘Every day,’ sighed Spike.

‘Really?’ squeaked Sweetie Belle.

‘Well, every second day.’

‘Do you feel that I am no longer taking my studies in friendship seriously? Did you find out that I skipped a spa date with Rarity to study that fascinating specimen of mildew I discovered under the kitchen sink?’

Spike sent little puffs of moon dust into the air as he skipped towards Rarity. ‘I would have gladly taken her place but Twilight wouldn’t let me.’ Rarity gave Spike a small smile and a quick pat on the head.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack glanced at each other as Twilight’s pacing began chipping away at the moon rock.

‘Teeth, Tail, Horseshoe?’ suggested Applejack.

‘You’re on.’

‘Close your eyes and no peeking.’

‘I know the rules.’

‘Just making sure, wouldn’t want ya claiming I never said nothing. I don’t want a repeat of the Iron Pony competition.’

‘Would you like to tie up my wings too?’

‘Already would have but I ain’t got my rope,’ said Applejack with a grin. ‘Ready in three…two…one.’

Rainbow shut her eyes tight and lifted up her right hoof.

‘Open.’

AJ’s flank was right up in Rainbow’s face, her tail swishing back and forth.

‘Ah pony feathers.’

‘Now don’t feel too bad,’ said Applejack turning around, ‘but it might help if you didn’t pick the same thing every time.’

‘Stupid tail beating horseshoe.’

‘Look on the bright side, now you get to be the first pegasus to fly on the moon.’

Rainbow smirked; she wouldn’t need flight to take care of Twilight. Dash crouched down and allowed the dramatic tension to build while she contemplated the effects of a low gravity environment on the amount of kinetic energy required to not over jump her target.

‘Please Princess, tell me what I did wrong. Are you mad that I sorted the books in the Ponyville Library by their Equestrian Standard Book Number? Oomph.’ Twilight spat the dust from her mouth before glancing over her shoulder at a grinning Rainbow Dash perched on her flank.

‘Chill egghead. I’m pretty sure we haven’t been banished.’

‘Yes, the Princess would never do something so uncouth…’

BURP!

‘Apple Bloom!’

‘… as to banish us without so much as an explanation darling. Besides, none of us has done anything to warrant such a harsh response.’

‘Well Derpy did destroy the Ponyville Town Hall…,’ said Rainbow.

‘My bad,’ responded Derpy sending the Cutie Mark Crusaders into a fit of giggles.

‘… but that’s hardly a reason to banish anypony.’

‘Rainbow Dash is indeed correct my faithful student.’

‘Princess, you’re looking rather transparent this evening.’

‘It is a consequence of entering a pony’s dream while still being awake.’

‘This is a dream?’

‘Don’t be silly Twilight. We haven’t even gone to bed yet. I mean…’ Pinkie’s voice faded away as she tried to remember how they had all ended up on that giant cheese ball in the night’s sky.

‘This is going to be the most awesome, most stupendous party in Equestrian history which is saying something cause it isn’t one of mine and everypony knows that I’m the best at parties but it’s a Princess party so it’s bound to be really really good.’

‘Well I think that it is a tremendous honour that Princess Celestia has invited us all to a private soiree at the castle. The Canterlot elite must be turning a delightful shade of green. It’s a shame though that we couldn’t find a foalsitter on such short notice,’ said Rarity as she polished the fire ruby necklace dangling around her neck.

‘I don’t see why we can’t go to the party,’ grumbled Apple Bloom.

‘We promise to be good,’ pleaded Sweetie Belle.

‘We’ll even Pinkie Promise,’ said Scootaloo.

‘I’m sorry girls. It’s not that we don’t want you to go but the invitation clearly states that only invited guests may attend. No exceptions.’

‘It really says that?’ asked Apple Bloom.

‘Take a look,’ said Spike.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders glanced down at the scroll in Spike’s claws.

Hear ye, hear ye. Her Grand Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is pleased to announce The Elements of Harmony Gala to be held in the magnificent capital of Canterlot. Her Grand Royal Highness cordially invites Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Twilight Sparkle to this private celebration.

Please note that due to the nature of the celebration baby dragons and other uninvited guests will not be able to attend.

‘See even I’m not allowed to go.’

‘That didn’t stop you trying to add your name to the list,’ scolded Twilight.

‘Would have worked too if the Princess hadn’t cast a protective spell over it,’ Spike mumbled out the side of his mouth as the train shuddered to a stop.

‘Yay party time,’ cheered Pinkie whipping out her party cannon and lighting the fuse.

‘Pinkie Pie please, at least save the celebration until everypony has gotten off the train,’ said Rarity.

‘Oki doki loki,’ grinned Pinkie as she shoved the cannon through the door.

Streamers and balloons rained down on the ponies waiting patiently on the platform. Pinkie Pie met their expressions of displeasure with a huge grin as she stepped off the train.

‘HALT!’

Several unicorn guards rushed forward and seized the earth pony in their magical grip.

‘Such uncouth behaviour,’ grumbled an elderly pony as she cleaned the confetti from her glasses.

‘Don’t even think about it,’ whispered Applejack as she clamped Apple Bloom’s lips shut.

‘Excuse me sirs, is there a problem?’ asked Twilight.

‘Name?’

‘Hi I’m Pinkie Pie.’

The guards turned to each other and nodded, releasing Pinkie from the spell.

‘You’re expected at the Palace. Please make your way there with great haste. We also strongly advise against firing your eh cannon in public spaces.’

‘That was odd,’ said Twilight as the guards returned to their stations.

‘We’re missing valuable party time,’ bounced Pinkie as she herded her friends towards the exit. ‘Move it, move it, move it!’

‘We’re moving as fast as we can sugar cube.’

‘Mmm sugar, do you think the Princess will have lots of cake at her party?’

‘Eh Pinkie, Celestia, just like us,’ grinned Scootaloo recalling the headline.

‘You know girls, you could use this opportunity to apologize to the Princess,’ said Twilight.

Scootaloo glanced at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle before dropping her eyes to the pavement. She had completely forgotten that while they had printed an apology letter to the ponies of Ponyville, they kind-of-sort-of conveniently forgot to send one to the Princess. Just how did one go about apologizing to royalty?

‘Oomph.’

‘Smooth move squirt,’ retorted Rainbow Dash.

Scootaloo found herself suddenly sitting on her flank and staring at a couple of grey coloured hooves.

‘Sorry Ma’am.’

‘Ma’am,’ the pony giggled, ‘that’s what ponies call my mother.’

‘Derpy, whatcha doing here in Canterlot?’ asked Pinkie.

‘Visiting family,’ said Derpy quietly. ‘What about you guys?’

‘We’re here to party!’

‘A Muffin party?’

‘Wouldn’t be much of a party without muffins,’ scoffed Pinkie.

‘We’d invite you to join us but there is a strict guest list. In fact we still need to find a foalsitter for these four,’ said Twilight.

‘What about your parents?’ suggested Rarity. ‘They live close by.’

‘They’re usually pretty busy. It’s why I spent so much time with Princess Cadance as a filly.’

‘I could watch them for you Twilight,’ said Derpy as everypony stared at the cross-eyed mare.

‘Gee thanks Derpy,’ said Pinkie.

‘Didn’t you mention something about family? We wouldn’t want to impose such a burden onto them.’

Derpy gave Rarity a small smile, ‘I’d much rather hang out with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Hey, maybe I can help you guys get your cutie marks.’

‘I’d rather they were kept out of everypony’s way,’ said Twilight.

‘I can do that,’ said Derpy.

Twilight glanced at Rarity and Applejack. It was really their decision. Spike could look after himself and Scootaloo… why wasn’t she at home with her parents? Maybe they could have watched Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom too. Wonder why none of us thought of that? Twilight had the excuse of never having met Scootaloo’s parents but surely the others should have thought of asking.

‘We’re missing valuable party time you guys,’ grumbled Pinkie pointing at a hoof-watch that Twilight was sure hadn’t been there a moment ago.

‘Thank you Derpy, you’re an absolute life saver,’ said Rarity.

‘No problem, I like helping ponies.’

‘Is that what you call it,’ mumbled Rainbow.

‘Time’s a-wasting,’ said Pinkie as she once again started herding her friends, Derpy included, down the main street towards the castle.

‘Sure are a lot of guards about,’ mumbled Twilight, more to herself than to her friends. ‘I’ve never noticed them on every street corner before, not even during the wedding.’

‘Hey it’s the Wonderbolts!’

Every pony glanced up as several pegasi in snug-fitting uniforms flew in tight formation overhead.

‘Drat, I was hoping they’d at least do a barrel role,’ said Dash.

The familiar conical spires with their twisting stripes of purple and gold glistened in the light of the setting sun. To Twilight, entering the castle felt like coming home. After all, the number of hours spent browsing the shelves of Princess Celestia’s personal library far exceed those spent with Shining Armor. As a filly, Twilight used to imagine that the sunflower etched into the centre of the golden arch was smiling down at her as she trotted across the drawbridge. Despite the absurdity of the notion, Twilight couldn’t help but glance up. The symbolic flower’s illusory eyes greeted her like an old friend but the welcoming smile had disappeared, hidden beneath wooden planks.

Pinkie Pie bounced head first into Twilight’s behind. ‘Oops, sorry Twilight. You stopped awfully suddenly and I couldn’t decide if I had enough time to screech to a halt or if I should try to dodge. Guess your flank decided for me huh? Hey why did you stop?’ Gasp! ‘What a brilliant idea Twilight. Everypony, conga line across the moat.’

‘Ah, that’s going to be little hard with the drawbridge being up and all,’ counted Applejack.

‘But the drawbridge is never up. Never.’ Twilight shivered. It was as if her family had sold the house and moved to Los Pegasus without telling her or as if a certain brother had forgotten to tell his sister that he was getting married.

‘Looks like the Princess is taking the idea of a private party a little too seriously,’ said Rainbow.

‘I doubt that this has anything to do with our little soiree with the Princess. Canterlot guards are more than capable of keeping out a few nosy nobles,’ said Rarity.

‘Maybe the Princess has changed her mind,’ added Fluttershy, ‘We should just head back to Ponyville.’

‘If Equestria is in danger then it is our duty as the Elements of Harmony to assist in whatever way we can,’ replied Twilight trotting up to the edge of the moat. ‘EXCUSE ME SIRS, WE REQUIRE ENTRANCE TO THE CASTLE!’

A stallion wearing a gold plated helmet with a blue striped plume appeared in the gap between the merlons. A pale blue light flowed along the torus-shaped links that held the drawbridge in place, the chains straining against the shifting weight with an escalating groan until silenced by the earth. Once the dust had settled and much to Pinkie Pie’s disappointment, they walked, not congaed, their way into the gatehouse.

Rarity had only walked the red velvet carpet leading up to the enormous gold doors maybe, a dozen times in her life. Each time she couldn’t help but purr a little as she felt the lush fibres under hoof. If it weren’t for the cost, Rarity would have every square centimetre of Carousel Boutique covered with it. Well, maybe in a different colour. That much red would be too obtrusive for any pony to handle, even Pinkie Pie.

Fluttershy let out a soft short squeal as the rattling chains dragged the drawbridge back into the sky, blocking out the fading sunlight and entombing the ponies within the castle walls. She crept up closer to her friends as Twilight nodded to the guards as they passed through the doors into the grand entrance hall.

‘Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student. It is good to see you again,’ said Princess Celestia as she floated majestically down the stem of the Y-shaped stairs. The smile on her lips faltered somewhat when Celestia noticed the number of ponies standing before her. ‘I didn’t realise that I would be greeting so many of my subjects this evening.’

‘Please forgive us your highness but Big Mac and Granny Smith are visiting family and there weren’t any other available foal-sitters in Ponyville,’ said Applejack, briefly removing her hat while addressing the Princess.

‘But don’t worry Princess. We bumped into Derpy and she has offered to watch Spike and the girls while we attend the party. That will be alright I hope?’ stammered Twilight.

‘Of course Twilight, it is a pleasure to see you again Miss Hooves. Your family is doing well I hope?’

‘They are Princess,’ replied Derpy with a bow.

‘That’s good. Guards would one of you please escort Miss Hooves and her wards to the castle gardens.’

Princess Celestia watched as the guard standing to the right of the staircase trotted towards Derpy and flicked his mane towards the eastern passage. With a light push from Derpy’s wings, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle started following the guard as Scootaloo glanced around at the banners hanging on the walls.

‘Hey Princess, can we please get this party started. Just the thought of playing the bestest game ever just makes me wanna explode. And eating all those delicious cakes mmm…’

‘Certainly Pinkie, it is definitely time for cake. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the room I have prepared for this special occasion.’

Out of the corner of her eyes, Scootaloo watched as Rainbow Dash and the other invited guests followed the Princess up the stem and along the western branch of the Y-shaped steps.

‘Umm Princess, is anything wrong?’ asked Twilight. Princess Celestia was moving unusually quickly and while Pinkie Pie had no trouble, Twilight and the others had to trot just to keep up.

‘Of course not Twilight, why do you ask?’

‘Well the drawbridge for one thing and the guards on every street corner?’

‘Always the studious observer,’ laughed Celestia. ‘Well, since the wedding, Princess Luna has felt that an increase in palace security is warranted. I’m just humouring her, the palace is still the safest place in all of Equestria.’

Princess Luna had a point thought Twilight as she glanced down the passage, but she wasn’t about to say that to her mentor.

‘Ah where’d the Princess go?’ asked Applejack.

‘Huh?’

Twilight twirled around as Rainbow Dash hovered above them, her hoof covering her brow as she scanned the far reaches of the corridor while Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy searched for a side passage or a door they may have missed.

‘Found you!’ called Pinkie as she poked her head out of the narrow gap between two sculptures representing the sun and the moon.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever been down this passage before,’ said Twilight as Pinkie led the way down the rather snug corridor.

‘Well it is a dead end,’ pointed out Rainbow as she trotted beside Twilight.

Up ahead, Princess Celestia pawed at the carpet with her hoof as the guards, outfitted in blue armour with gold lightning bolts on their chests, stood to attention.

‘That must be one fancy wall if it needs guards to protect it,’ said Applejack.

‘And I find it rather odd that Princess Celestia would allow her guards to personalise their uniforms in such a conspicuous manner,’ added Rarity.

‘Hey with uniforms this cool maybe I’ll sign up,’ said Rainbow.

A small smirk spread across Twilight’s lips. As much as she wanted to tell her friends the truth, the Princess had sworn her to secrecy. As good a friend as Rainbow was, the information that the guards weren’t wearing personalised armour was not worth the penalty of banishment. Nor the fact that there was more to the elite group of pegasi known as the Wonder Bolts than Dash realised.

‘I found them,’ giggled Pinkie, ‘it was easy. Let’s play again. This time you guys might wanna find better hiding spots. I mean you were really easy to find just standing there in the middle of the corridor.’

‘Perhaps we should enjoy some refreshments before we start playing any more party games,’ suggested the Princess.

‘MMM Cider.’

‘Pinkie, it isn’t cider season,’ said Applejack.

‘I’m afraid that there is only punch to drink,’ said Princess Celestia as one of the unicorn guards inserted his horn into the small hole dug into the mortar. ‘But it’s a special recipe I’ve been just itching to try.’

‘MMM Punch.’

The guard’s horn started to glow and a streak of light flowed along the mortar joints. The bricks dissolved, revealing a landing and a narrow staircase twisting its way into the darkness.

‘The room’s at the top of the tower. The balcony has a simply gorgeous view of the surrounding countryside,’ said the Princess as she trotted up the steps.

‘Hey Twi, do you get the feeling that something odd is going on here?’ whispered Rainbow.

Twilight gave Dash a small nod. She had felt that way since Spike had delivered the invitation. In all the years of study with the Princess, Twilight could not recall a single party where there were less than a hundred nobles on the guest list. Twilight sighed. She was probably just over analysing the situation. Maybe the Princess wanted a small party so that everypony, including Fluttershy, would feel comfortable. Of course, that didn’t explain why the Princess was leading them into an old forgotten part of the castle.

‘It don’t look like no-pony has been up here in a long time,’ said Applejack as they followed the Princess down a cobweb-encrusted corridor that twisted its way around the tower.

‘If I had known that it would be so dusty I would have worn boots,’ mumbled Rarity.

Dash rolled her eyes as she stepped through the door at the far end of the corridor. The phrase welcome to Creepyville was the only thought her mind was able to grab hold of as she surveyed the room. Everypony turned to look at the Princess.

‘Please, won’t you have some punch?’

‘So bored,’ yawned Scootaloo as she lay beneath a tree in the castle gardens.

‘But we’ve only been here less than a minute,’ said Sweetie Belle.

‘I know but I just can’t stop thinking about the party.’

‘Yeah, why can’t we go? What are they trying to hide?’ asked Apple Bloom.

‘Well, we’re not going to find out if we stay here.’

‘Hang on a second Scootaloo, the Princess wants us to stay in the garden.’

‘Derpy’s right,’ said Spike. ‘Besides we don’t want to make Twilight mad, trust me.’

‘I thought you were a dragon, not a chicken,’ said Scootaloo.

‘Takes one to know one,’ Spike muttered under his breath.

’I bet at the party the Princess has trays and trays of muffins just waiting to be eaten. Chocolate cheesecake muffins, Lemon muffins with sprinkles, pineapple muffins, chocolate banana muffins, cinnamon and apple muffins, blueberry muffins…’ said Apple Bloom as Derpy started to drool.

‘But how do we get passed the guards?’ asked Sweetie Belle.

‘Leave everything to me,’ said Scootaloo with a grin. ‘So what do you say Derpy, you in?’

Derpy looked down at the three fillies with huge grins on their faces and halos above their heads. If she said no, Derpy had the feeling that the Cutie Mark Crusaders would sneak off anyway. At least if she went with them she would be able to make sure that they didn’t get into too much trouble.

‘Spike?’

‘Do I have a choice?’

‘Nope. First thing we have to do is get back inside the castle.’

Spike climbed onto Derpy’s flank and sat there with arms crossed as Scootaloo led the way slowly down the gravel path. Taking her time, Scootaloo swung her head in wide arcs as she glanced from the tulips and poppies on one side to the roses and lilies on the other.

After feeling a nudge to her flank, Sweetie Belle glanced inquisitively at Apple Bloom who was also swinging her head from side to side. Sweetie Belle felt the urge to roll her eyes but decided to just go with the flow, performing her own version of the overly enthusiastic gesturing that was bound to get them caught.

Derpy just followed behind the fillies with a silly grin on her face. She had forgotten about the feeling of ambivalence, the fear and excitement the twisting and churning in her stomach that came from sneaking down to the kitchen in the middle of the night to steal a muffin, or two, or the entire tin and whisk them back up to her room before her parents caught her with her hoof in the tin.

Scootaloo watched the guards out of the corner of her eye as they neared a doorway. Always two there are, no more, no less, thought Scootaloo as she pawed through the mulch with her hoof. Striking on the cold roughly textured object she was looking for, Scootaloo flicked it out onto the path.

‘Hey Apple Bloom,’ she whispered. ‘See that rock?’

‘Ah ha.’

‘When I give the signal I want you to buck it as hard as you can. See if you can hit that wall over there.’

‘Can do.’

Positioning herself so that the guards could see as little of Apple Bloom as possible, Scootaloo returned to looking at the flowers while keeping the guards in her peripheral vision.

Despite Noteworthy’s best attempts, the yawn pushed passed his defences to display his boredom for all to see. Maybe Star Bright still had his attention focused on those fillies and hadn’t… he had. Noteworthy sighed. Star Bright’s furrowed brow said it all. Looks like he’d be getting that lecture from Shining Armor again; guards must stand perfectly still, they must not talk and above all else, they must not yawn.

‘Now,’ hissed Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom flicked the rock into the air and with her back hooves, sent it flying across the garden, straight into the side of a large decorative pot. For a moment after impact, the ceramic fragments hovered in place before falling to the ground and shattering into a thousand pieces. ‘Umm whoops,’ mumbled Apple Bloom.

‘Move, move, move,’ hissed Scootaloo as she cut through the lilies and galloped across the grass as the guards cantered towards what was left of the decorative pot.

As soon as Scootaloo was safely back inside the corridor leading to the grand entrance hall, she skidded to a stop only to have Apple Bloom, then Sweetie Belle slam into her backside. Instinct and an unusual amount dexterity from Derpy’s wings managed to get her and Spike into the air before they too joined the twisted wreckage that was the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

‘Would you mind getting off me,’ Scootaloo grumbled, her nose squished up against the tiles.

‘Look at the bright side,’ said Apple Bloom as she untangled herself, ‘at least we’re not covered in tree sap.’

‘Or mud and bits of soggy newspaper,’ added Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo climbed back onto her hooves, turning her thoughts towards the guards waiting for them in the grand entrance hall.

‘So, what are we going to break next?’

Scootaloo glared at the dragon, ‘Quite worrying about getting in trouble. We’ll tell Twilight it was all our idea.’

‘It was all your idea.’

‘Besides we have bigger problems than just the guards to worry about.’

‘Such as?’ asked Apple Bloom.

‘Like figuring out where we’re going. I know Rainbow and the others headed up the stairs and to the left but.’

‘Perhaps she dropped some feathers we could follow,’ suggested Sweetie Belle. ‘Rarity is always complaining that Rainbow never bothers to preen and that you can find her feathers all over Ponyville.’

‘There wouldn’t be a constant trail to follow even if Rainbow was malting, which she isn’t. Good idea though.’

‘How do you know she isn’t?’ asked Spike.

‘I just do,’ said Scootaloo her cheeks turning slightly red. ‘Anyway, speaking of Rarity, Sweetie Belle didn’t she teach you that gem finding spell.’

‘Um… I’m not very good.’

‘I thought Twilight had been giving you lessons?’ said Applebloom.

‘A lesson,’ admitted Sweetie Belle. ‘It didn’t go so well.’

‘I’ll say, you dropped a book on my head,’ grumbled Spike.

‘Hey, levitating a book in your first lesson is really impressive,’ said Scootaloo.

‘Impressive yes, if Sweetie Belle had used magic instead of just knocking it off the shelf with her hoof.’

‘I said I was sorry.’

‘It would be really helpful if you could sense gems,’ said Scootaloo.

‘Well I can sort of do the gem-finding spell. Since the Sisterhooves Social, Rarity takes me with her whenever she goes gem hunting. I think it’s just because she wants somepony else to pull the cart. The gems have to be humongously huge though, I can’t cast a strong enough spell to find normal sized ones.’

‘Humongously huge like the fire ruby currently dangling from your sister’s neck,’ suggested Scootaloo.

A big grin spread across Sweetie Belle’s face.

‘Well that’s one problem solved, now for the guards. Hmm… hey Derpy, how much weight can you handle while flying?’

‘I can carry heaps Scootaloo,’ said Derpy excitedly, ‘I am a mail mare after all.’

‘Think you can carry three fillies and a dragon?’

‘Well sure but I don’t know if my butt’s quite big enough,’ said Derpy looking back over her shoulder as she wiggled her flank.

‘Hey watch it,’ called Spike tightening his grip, ‘it’s a long way down.’

‘Well what about if Sweetie Belle sits between your wings and hangs onto your neck. Apple Bloom can lie across your back leaving Spike where he is.’

‘And where are you going to sit? Don’t tell me, you’re going to fly.’

‘Derpy can carry me in her hoofs,’ replied Scootaloo, deciding to ignore Spike’s quip because… well just because.

‘Sure I can do that,’ said Derpy returning to the ground so that Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom could climb onto her back.

‘What about the guards, don’t you think that they’re going to see us flying about?’

‘Haven’t you noticed that all the guards on duty this evening seem to be either unicorn or earth ponies?’

‘Yeah so,’ said Spike who had noticed no such thing.

Scootaloo sighed, ‘Rule one of the Rainbow Dash Guide to Successful Pranking: earth and unicorn ponies never and I repeat never look up.’

Derpy climbed back onto her hooves as Scootaloo slipped between her front legs.

‘Where to Fearless Leader?’

‘To the grand entrance hall then follow the stairs up and to the left,’ replied Scootaloo as she felt Derpy’s hooves grip tightly around her chest.

Okay Derpy, keep it level and smooth. No bumping into anything. With a puff of breath, Derpy moved aside the part of her mane dangling in front of her eyes then inched her way along the corridor with slow steady beats of her wings.

Scootaloo smiled as two by two, the guards shrank beneath them as Derpy floated up towards the high ceiling of the grand entrance hall. Not one of the guards so much as raised their nose, leaving Derpy and her passengers unmolested as they followed the stairs and banked to the left. It was a different world up here, one that Scootaloo wished she could experience without the aid of a fellow pegasus. She felt Derpy slow to a halt as they approached the first branch in the maze of corridors leading to Rainbow Dash.

‘Okay Sweetie Belle you’re up,’ whispered Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle closed her eyes, squeezing them tighter and tighter as beads of sweat started to seep through the furrows in her brow. A soft green glow enveloped her small horn as Sweetie Belle felt her mind drifting through the corridors and rooms closest to them. Rarity might be able to see the gems while keeping her eyes open but Sweetie Belle found it easier in darkness. The gems only ever appeared to her as dots of light. Sweetie Belle was seeing more of them than she had been expecting, but then they were in the palace. Almost every room was likely to be teeming with gems and Sweetie Belle knew that she was only detecting a tiny fraction of those present. None of them was the fire ruby though. That gem would stick out like the moon in a star filled night. Focusing harder, Sweetie Belle willed more energy into her horn, growing the spell’s circumference but all that got her was a couple more dots of light. With each passing second Sweetie Belle’s confidence dripped away, lessening the strength of the spell until all she could do was open her tear-filled eyes. ‘I’m so sorry guys. I’m just no good at magic. I guess I won’t be getting a gem finding cutie mark.’

‘Don’t cry Sweetie Belle,’ said Derpy as she felt the tiny droplets dampening her mane. ‘We know you gave it your very best. You should be proud.’

Apple Bloom rubbed her hoof gently between her friend’s shoulder blades, ‘Ah don’t feel bad Sweetie Belle you did real good.’

Scootaloo hated it when her friends cried. What she wanted to do was give Sweetie Belle a hug but that was a little hard considering her current position. All she could do from Derpy’s hooves was to try comforting her with words. ‘Don’t worry about it Sweetie Belle, they’re probably too far away by now. I doubt even Rarity could locate her necklace from here.’

‘And I bet Scootaloo has already come up with another way to track them down,’ said Derpy.

‘Really?’

‘Sure… umm what we need to do is…’

‘I can’t believe we lost them,’ grumbled Noteworthy as he trotted along the corridor. ‘And of course Star Bright says that I have to be the one to inform the Princess except no pony knows where she is. Lucky I bumped into one of those weirdo guards in their Wonderbolts getup otherwise I’d be wandering around this blasted palace for the rest of eternity.’

Scootaloo watched as the earth pony guard from the garden passed beneath them. She couldn’t believe that he hadn’t seen them. That was one distracted pony. A distracted pony that was going to lead them straight to Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo was about to give Derpy a nudge when the mare started following the guard of her own accord. Things were working out better than Scootaloo could have hoped. They’d be at the party in no time.

Twilight stared at the six beds lining the wall of the circular tower. Her eyes lingering on the bed covered in a quilt featuring five small stars surrounding a large pink star that rested upon a white star. Part of her was touched, most of her was wondering just what sort of party Princess Celestia had in mind.

In the centre of the room stood a solitary table. A crystal punch bowl sat behind six cider mugs already overflowing with punch. The rest of the table was as barren as the San Palomino Desert. Where were the party snacks, the balloons, the streamers…?

Boom!

Okay now there were balloons and streamers, thanks to the party cannon, but the atmosphere at the top of the tower felt like it belonged to nightmare night and not a private gathering with the Princess. A gathering that included Zecora, whose name Twilight knew was not on the invitation.

‘Zecora, what a pleasant surprise?’

‘The Princess asked for my help to create the perfect brew. One that would make all your dreams come true.’

Pinkie skipped her way over to the table and dived into the bowl, ‘Tastes like punch to me.’

‘Yes, punch I have brewed for your evening do.’

Hoof-steps echoed down the corridor as everypony turned to see one of Celestia’s guards stumbling through the door.

‘Sorry to interrupt your highness but ah… we felt that you should be made aware of the fact that the three fillies, mare and baby dragon you asked us to keep an eye on have umm… kinda… disappeared.’

‘May I ask if you tried looking up?’ inquired the Princess.

Noteworthy felt his mouth go dry as he tried to swallow. He really didn’t want to glance up, maybe if he gave the Princess his resignation he could get out of Canterlot before Shining Armor got hold of his flank. Knowing but still feeling the need to look anyway, Noteworthy lifted his head to see an overloaded mare hovering overhead.

‘Trusty old rule number one, it never fails,’ smiled Rainbow Dash as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle leapt to the ground the instant Derpy’s hooves touched the floor.

‘Please don’t be angry Twilight, I begged them not to but nopony would listen,’ pleaded Spike, throwing himself at her feet.

Princess Celestia turned her attention to the uninvited guests who were doing their best to avoid making eye contact. On one hoof, she was rather impressed that they had managed to infiltrate one of the most secure areas of the palace. However, now she had to come up with a way to keep the three fillies, who still worked for the Foal Free Press, from spilling their guts to the rest of Equestria. ‘I need a drink. You three,’ she said glaring at the Cutie Mark Crusaders, ‘don’t move an inch.’

‘I wonder what that punch tastes like,’ whispered Scootaloo as Princess Celestia led the invited guests over to the table.

‘I don’t think we should find out,’ replied Sweetie Belle. ‘The Princess told us not to move, she seemed kinda mad.’

‘Actually she said don’t move an inch,’ countered Scootaloo, ‘when clearly the table is several metres away.’

‘Ya really think she’ll buy that excuse?’ said Apple Bloom with a smirk.

‘Only one way to find out. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen? It’s not like we’ll be banished to the moon or anything.’

Scootaloo cowered under Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle’s glare.

‘It was the punch wasn’t it?’ said Twilight as she squirmed under Dash’s hooves. ‘Ah Rainbow, you can get off me now.’

‘Nah I’m good,’ grinned Rainbow Dash.

‘And here I was thinking that the Princess didn’t want us drinking the punch cause it was spiked,’ mumbled Scootaloo.

‘Ah Princess, I don’t mean to question your judgment and all,’ said Applejack as Princess Celestia glanced in her direction, ‘but wouldn’t it have been better to give the fillies the antidote straight away?’

Princess Celestia’s eyes turned away from Applejack’s questioning glaze.

‘There’s no antidote is there?’ said Twilight.

‘No there is, it just has a few rather unpleasant side effects that Zecora is working on as we speak. I’m sure that it won’t be too long until we can wake them up and return them safely to Ponyville.’

‘Aww, why can’t we tag along?’ asked Scootaloo.

‘Because the moon is no place for a filly.’

‘Technically if this is really a dream then we’re not on the moon, our bodies would still be in the tower,’ said Twilight, cringing under Applejack’s version of The Stare.

‘Twilight is correct. Your bodies are lying in the beds you saw in the tower.’

‘If this isn’t really the moon then where the hay are we?’ asked Rainbow Dash.

‘You’re currently in the mind-space of my sister, Princess Luna.’