When Two Worlds Collide

Epic Ace's POV

________________________________________________________________________________

I sighed heavily, staring at the ground in front of me with a heavy heart. "I know that I have to do good things with this power of mine which I have," I began, twiddling my hooves. "What am I talking about? I'm a bloody thief and I still am. What was Silver trying to tell me?" Again, I sighed, shaking my head slowly. "I hate to lose her and even the other two mares that tagged along and just simply go back to that miserable life I had lived..." my voice trailed off, leaving my thoughts to openly yell at me, calling me various names.

I looked up, seeing Silver's shoulders slump some as she was staring at the two mares. She started a slow conversation, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Sorry about making you roll around," she apologized with another sigh.

Octavia smiled warmly. "It's fine, love. You didn't mean to, you were just trying to keep us safe."

Vinyl nodded in agreement and Silver looked over her shoulder to have her eyes rest on me. "Yeah, you're welcome," she muttered, turning her head back to face the two musicians.

I returned my gaze back down to the floor, still thinking hard. "What do I do?" I asked myself, placing my hooves on the floor.

"I'll be right back," she told them as she stood, walking back into the house as the two stared at each other in utter confusion and concern. "I never gave you those donuts, did I, Ace?" She asked, sitting in front of me with the box of donuts enveloped in her magic and floating in front of me.

"Huh," I said, staring up at her with a confused expression. "No, you didn't."

Silver nods, putting the box in my lap and kissing my cheek. My cheeks were heating up as I felt a blush start appearing. With as much as I could, I kept it down.  "No matter what you do, I'll always be here for you, Ace. Please, never feel like I'll leave you," she whispered in my ear before pulling back.

I finally let my checks erupt into a fiery pit of a dark blush as I stared at her speechless. I swallowed hard, trying to get the dry feeling out of my throat.

She smiled, lifting a doughnut from the box in her magic and breaking it in half. "May I?" She asked, levitating one by me and the other near her.

I nodded slowly, completely confused on how I should respond. "Y-yeah," I stuttered as I took the half in my own hooves.

She bit into hers moments afterwards and then pulling it away, to reveal that she had a mustache made with sprinkles and chocolate on her muzzle, making her look like she has a mustache. "Ello, dear," she said, raising her head high like a Canterlot snob.

I shifted my gaze back down, smiling to myself before picking my head back up. She's adorable. I thought, my smile widening.

Silver licked her upper lip, ridding of the chocolate mustache she had attained. "Yay, I made you smile," she happily stated as she finished her half of the doughnut. She looked behind her at the sound of hoof-steps, only to have the two mares join us and our positions forming a diamond-like shape.

My muzzle stretched into an enormous yawn and my eyes closed. When I reopened them, the three mares were staring at me with small smiles. "I think I want to take a nap after all that power I had used."

Interrupting the few quiet moments that passed by, Twilight burst through the front door with various items enveloped in her magic. "Oh my Celestia, we have such little time!" She called out, racing up the stairs and disappearing.

"What was that?" Vinyl said, staring at the stairs with an awkward facial expression.

Silver shrugged and Octavia was just as confused as she was. "Uh, we might want to check that out," Silver whispered while standing slowly.

I stood up, repeating Vinyl's sentence. "What was that?"

Silver shrugged again, shaking her head slowly from side-to-side. "I have absolutely no idea." She walked passed me and up the staircase, peeking into Twilight's room. "Whatcha doin'?" She asked as I heard her hooves trot slowly into her room. She was immediately on her flank as the mare high tailed it out of there and down the stairs.

Within mere seconds, my voice echoed throughout the library, "Ahh!" I yelled out as my flank made contact with the floor. I shook my head slowly, looking down at the ground as I face-hoofed. "Why me?" I silently asked.

Twilight turned her head and looked over her shoulder before quickly apologizing. "My bad! Ugh, so much work before the Gala!"

Silver got up and flew down the stairs, staring at the mare with the rest of us in the room. "The what?" She asked curiously.

Twilight over dramatically gasped. "The Gala! It's held in and around Celestia and Luna's castle in Canterlot!"

"Oh," she said aloud.

"Why're you pushin' everypony down, Twilly?" Vinyl inquired.

"It's less than two nights away!" Twilight replied while gathering some necklaces.

"And those are?" Vinyl continued.

Twilight whipped around. "The Elements of Harmony."

I got up, shaking myself before I stared at the necklaces. "I've heard of those. They are very powerful if in the right hooves. Now I remember the Gala," I stated, chuckling softly. "I've been there before."

Silver looked at me with a sly grin. "And what'd you do, hm?" She asked jokingly before playfully hitting him on the shoulder. "Just kidding. Anyway, I have too, but I got kicked out for yelling at this stupid, uptight stallion who thought he was all that."

Octavia piped up. "That was you yelling at Prince Blueblood?"

Silver nodded with a smile. "Yeah, he was getting on my nerves!"

Vinyl smirked. "I thought I knew you from somewhere. You were that alicorn who kept thrashing about when Luna's guards kept trying to get you out!"

She blushed softly. "Oh...I-I didn't like him. I was about to pounce on him," she admitted.

Twilight shook her head. "For a musical mare, you're quite mischievous."

The tri-colored mane mare beamed. "Thank you!"

"Mhm," Twilight replied. "Ace, when did you last go to the Gala here in Ponyville?"

"The last time was my only time," I began, putting my laughter aside. "I found a ticket one day on the streets, thought I'd drop by and check out what all the fuss was about." I smiled, continuing on. "The day of the Gala, I put on my cloak and just went to get some food. I'll have you know I pigged out and my wonderful buffet came to an end when I got pestered by that no-good, spoiled-rotten prince. He told me," I coughed, clearing my throat and attempting to imitate what he had called me. "He said, 'You are a filthy, disgusting, putrid peasant who has no manner for high society. I mean, look at you! You look like you happened to come across that tattered old thing from a nearby trashcan!'" I laughed, letting the accent go. "You wanna know what I replied with?" ?

The three nodded eagerly. "What'd you say?" The mares said in unison.

I laughed. "Well, I said, 'At least I'm not an uptight stallion who thinks he can say anything he wishes and does nothing. Not to mention the mooching you do off your mommy and daddy. Who, if I may say, give you everything on a silver platter!' Then, after he seemed more offended, I got in his face and said, 'Now, if you don't want that pretty face of yours ruined, you better shut your mouth, or I'll do it for you!' He simply replied," I paused, breathing in deeply as I resisted the urge to bust out in hysterical laughter. I began imitating him again as I spoke. "'Why I never! You should have never crossed me!'"

"I simply slapped him and said, 'Just did.' and walked away. As expected, he called the guards, but knowing me, I lost them." I suppressed a small laugh as the three mares looked intently at me, waving their hooves in a gesture for me to continue. "I then went to the treasury, snuck in, and I failed. I was caught and I booked it out of there within minutes. I believe I left the Gala looking like a tornado came through it."

Vinyl shrugged. "I missed that snob getting smacked? Damn!"

Octavia giggled. "I would've smacked him if he did that to a lady."

Silver looked to him. "I think I saw you as I was being forced out the other direction!"

"You did? Well I did make quite a ruckus," I told her with a grin. "I went and pushed that snob called Blueblood into a puddle of mud while he was talking to a mare before I left. I must tell you that it was worth it."

"That was right before I was carried out after yelling at him!" Silver called. "I was dying of laughter as the guards stared at me, trying to figure out if I should be taken to the mental hospital!"

Octavia looked to Silver concerned. "Well, at least you didn't. It was quite a show though. He then went to Celestia and tattled, if you didn't know."

The DJ smirked. "That was so worth it. I was summoned after the fact and I only saw Silver being carried out!"

"How coincidental," Twilight interjected. "I was there too with my very best friends. I guess we've all met before but not formally," she added.

"Maybe. I never talked to anypony there though. I believe you all do recall the place going into havoc and the whole scene blowing up."

"I think we all saw Silver and Ace being thrown out though," Vinyl stated.

Silver nodded in agreement. "I am sure they even heard my hysterical laughter as well."

Twilight got off the subject. "Are you going to the Gala this year?"

The four of us looked at her with questionable facial expressions. "With what tickets?" Vinyl, Silver, and Octavia said in unison. I remained silent, trying to piece all of her kindness together.

"I'm a princess, I can get you some tickets."

Gasping and shaking her head frantically, Silver rejected the offer. "You barely know us. You don't have to spend bits on us."

"I'm Celestia's student, so it's free," Twilight assured her.

I brushed off what the others had said, almost ignoring them completely. Free. I thought. "Well, I say we take them. She's just being a wonderful host." I noticed my sentence had brought a smile to her face and I smiled back. "Thank you, Twilight."

Silver glared at me, shaking her head briefly. Free stuff is better than anything, everypony should know this. I thought with a shrug. Silver, being herself, she eventually nodded. "Thanks."

Twilight nodded. "Spike!" She called up the stairs.

The small dragon descended the stairs slowly, rubbing his eyes. "Yes, Twilight?"

"Take a note to Princess Celestia," she said. He took out a quill and paper and waited. "Dear Princess Celestia, I may need about ten tickets this year for the Gala. My new friends have agreed to join me this year and I would be overjoyed to introduce them to you. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

Spike nodded and rolled the paper up, holding it between his small talons before igniting it with green fire. "Alright Twilight, it was sent!"

"Now, we wait," she told us.

"Wait for what exactly?" Silver asked, staring at the dragon.

He burped up another letter and read it aloud, ten tickets held within the parchment. "My faithful student, please enjoy your tickets. I cannot wait to meet your new friends! Signed, Princess Celestia."

I could feel my pupils constricting at the mention of us meeting the princess. "W-we aren't really going to meet the princess are we?" I asked fearfully.

Silver looked at me and her eyes widened as she remembered. "Uh, Twilight, I don't think that's a good idea..." She said aloud, her voice trailing off.

Twilight looked at her. "Why so?" She asked.

"Uhh, I just don't," she responded although I could see she was looking rather nervous now. Oh, do I hope we don't have to meet the princess. I thought, my gaze shifting.

Vinyl and Octavia remembered the posters and looked at me, then whipped their heads towards Twilight. "Maybe it can wait for another time?" Vinyl suggested.

She cocked an eyebrow. "I guess it could. How about next week?"

Silver's body shook slightly. "How does that sound, Ace?" She asked, turning to me with sorry eyes.

"Silver, think logically. We're going to the Gala, where practically everypony knows me and I'll have to high-tail it out of there!" I stated in a panicked tone.

Twilight looked at me, her eyebrows pushed together. "What do you mean?"

"Celestia, give me strength," I heard Silver mutter on her breath. She was obviously trying to keep herself appear calm on the outside. "Nothing!" She blurted out hurriedly.

"It's nothing. Please, don't let it bother you," I assured Twilight with a sheepish smile.

The purple mare stared at them with a studying gaze. She shrugged and trotted passed us and to the door, Spike climbing on her back. "Let's go see Rarity to get you some proper clothing," she said to us while trotting out the door.

Vinyl shrugged and followed behind them, Octavia soon after them and Silver went out behind them. "C'mon Ace," she said, looking back at me as I stood there motionless. I am so going to regret this! I thought, looking down.

Sighing, I followed out the door, closing it behind me. "I was going to nap," I told Silver.

"Don't be such a sourstallion," she teased. "Cheer up."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered as I turned my head towards the sky, looking up at the clouds.

Silver walked in front of me, sliding her tail under my chin, gaining my attention once more as I looked at her. "Smile!" She said with a smile, looking over her shoulder at me. I gave in, smiling some as I trotted up to her side and nudging her some. She fell over slightly, catching herself before bumping into me. "Well then!" she tried saying in a disgusted tone, but failing.

I laughed softly as my smile faded a little. "Oops?" I smiled innocently, trying to appear like I was an angel-pony.

Silver giggled slightly, trotting ahead of me and sliding her tail under my chin again. "Trot faster!" She told me eagerly before breaking into a full on gallop down the street and passed the other mares.

"Hey!" I called out, galloping passed the others. Silver looked behind her, smiling widely at me before she unfolded her wings and took off into the sky, flying straight up as fast she could. I smirked, staying on the ground before taking off with a leap into the sky, passing her almost instantaneously.

"Damnit," she muttered under her breath, followed by a few inaudible curses. She sped up, now neck and neck with the me.

I didn't speed up or slow down as I could tell she wasn't as fast as I was, considering the fact she's from Equestria and not Equinox. I flew up above her and I got a questioning and confused gaze in response before I turned back around as she was beginning to fly downward. We were facing each other as I wrapped my hooves around her tightly, the both of us plummeting towards the ground at a quick speed.

Silver flailed slightly as if trying to get away, staring at me with a baffled expression that also contained horror. "What the hay are you doing?!" She yelled out to me over the sound of the wind.

I sheepishly smiled before laughing gently. "Have I ever told you how awesome you are?" I asked.

In response, the worried mare looked up, a cone forming around us. "Ace, we're gonna hit the ground!" She warned. Just then, the cone broke, flinging us through the air. Her wings spread out further, causing our fall to redirect and go at a ninety-degree angle. "Holy Luna!" She squealed, looking behind us to see a Lightning Music Streak.

We finally hit the ground with a thud, both of us rolling around before we came to a stop, Silver being on top of me and giving me a clear view of the thing we just made. "Well, that's pretty awesome!" I exclaimed in awe.

Silver looked at me with an expression of pure delight before looking behind her and staring at the streak. "That was," she paused, looking back at me with an astonished expression. "Awesome! Oh my gosh! That was amazing!" She told me with a happy but amused tone.

I continued staring at it, a smile beginning to form on my lips. "Yes, that was amazing."

She finally rolled off of me, laying on her back and staring at it. "That was worth risking our lives for!"

Laughing gently, I shook my head. "Oh, don't worry yourself. I wasn't going to let us die anyways."

She glared at me playfully. "Don't ruin it," she muttered and laughed slightly. "Still would've been worth it!"

I nodded my head in agreement as I let out a low laugh. "Agreed," I murmured. I slid my hoof closer to hers, taking it in mine for a moment. My cheeks roared with a fiery blush as I pulled my hoof back, looking away. Why am I so damn shy? I asked myself rhetorically.

Looking out of the corner of my eye, I saw Silver blush softly. She turned her head to face me before placing a gentle kiss on my cheek. I could feel them heating up more as my blush darkened, staring at the sky above with my red colored face contrasting to my pale white coat. Mist had got up and my ears twitched, hearing the familiar voices of our friends. "C'mon, they're probably worried," she whispered.

I got up, brushing my coat off. I attempted to speak, but all that came out was a raspy noise. Instead, I nodded my head in agreement as we began trotting towards Vinyl, Octavia, and Twilight. Silver smiled softly as she called out to them. "Hey! Over here!" she told them, waving her hoof in the air.

Octavia was the first to notice, galloping at a fast speed towards the other gray mare and tackling her down. I looked briefly at them only to have to hooves wrap around my neck and tackle me down. I felt a sharp pain impact the back of my head and I let out a yelp in pain. "Ow!"

Silver was close by me, Octavia pinning her down and Vinyl on top of me. "That Lightening Streak thing you two did was amazing!" Vinyl yelled.

"Quite," Octavia followed after.

The alicorn enveloped us all, helping us to our hooves. "Anyway, we're close to Carousel Boutique," she told us.

Silver looked at me and then to my neck, shaking her head. "Dummy, you hit your head."

I moved my hoof to the back of my head as a strange warm feeling left a damp spot on my hoof. I pulled it back and looked at it, a thick, red liquid staining my white hoof. "Oh, I'm bleeding," I stated.

Silver shook her head. "Hold on," she told him as her horn emitted a soft glow before the wound healed itself and she smiled, gently pressing her hoof to it. "You're good now."

I smiled sheepishly. "Thank you," I told her, pointing to the rock with my hoof. "I hit my head on that rock."

With a nod and a small smile, she said, "I know. You should be good though."

Twilight spoke up. "Come on, we have to hurry. It takes Rarity a few days to makes a dress and a vest." Vinyl quickly trotted after her, followed shortly by Octavia, Silver and myself.

"So," Octavia started, "how'd you two do that streak?" She asked, pointing to the now-fading Lightening Music Streak.

I looked over to the other gray mare in our party, raising an eyebrow as she was staring at the sky. "We flew down at the same time," I told the earth pony bluntly.

"I see," Octavia looked to Silver, a concerned expression on her face. "Did you get hurt?"

The mare had gained Silver's attention, shaking her head from side-to-side as if to clear her mind before looking at the black-maned mare. "Nope. It was actually really quite amazing!" she exclaimed.

Vinyl, who was trotting close to Twilight, slowed down and stayed near us. "So, whatcha gonna call it?"

"Call what?" Silver replied a tad confused

I looked up then back to the unicorn. "The streak thing?" I asked.

Vinyl nodded her head and Silver said, "Oh," she paused and turned to look at me. "How about Lightning Music Streak, or something?"

"I like it!" Vinyl declared.

"As do I," Octavia agreed after a moment.

"I don't mind," I smiled happily. Well, the two of us made something together. Not to mention it was awesome!

Silver smiled. "It's settled then! It will be called the Lightning Music Streak!" I nodded to signify I agree with the name. It was silent for a while as we closed in on the large boutique.

"Well, we're here," Twilight said, knocking on the door.

A cheerful voice called from inside, "I'll be there in just a moment darling, do come in!" I tilted my head in curiosity, staring intently at the door in front of us.

Twilight opened the door and stepped inside. The rest of us followed her in, standing in a line. "Rarity, do you mind making any extra dresses and one vest?" She asked.

"A vest? Oh, does somepony have a coltfriend?" She bellowed from upstairs before trotting into view. She had a few fabrics hovered in front her face. "Well, let's take a look," she said, pulling the fabrics away. Her eyes immediately drifted to Silver and then myself, resting there and looking me over. This is awkward. I thought, giving a small half-smile.

"Hey," Silver whispered.

"Hello, Ms. Rarity," Octavia greeted her.

Oh, it's my turn. I shook my head and cleared my throat. "A pleasure to meet you," I gave yet another half-smile, straightening myself up. In comparison, I was taller than the other mares and only about two inches taller than Silver but a good four or so to the others.

Rarity smiled. "O-oh, hello. I've never seen you before," the white fashionista said in a shy tone. Clearing her throat in a lady-like matter, she spoke with a more professional tone. "Who are you, darling?"

With a grin, Silver introduced us herself. "I'm Silver Mist, and he's Epic Ace," she motioned to me with a warm smile.

"I see." She shook her head and turned to Twilight. "What did you need again, dear?"

"Nine dresses and a vest."

A vest... I smiled and looked to her. "Hey, maybe you can do something for me!"

Rarity smiled warmly. "What would that would be?"

Silver looked at me, raising her eyebrows with curiosity. "Yeah, what would that be?"

I flew out of the boutique and teleported back to Twilight's home, quickly grabbing my cloak and teleporting back, my coat standing on end and sparking with black electricity. I trotted back inside, the cloak across my back. "Well, I've had this thing for the longest time and it's starting to become tattered," I said aloud, taking the cloak off my back with my teeth and holding up to Rarity to see.

The fancy white unicorn trotted up to me, examining the damage as she enveloped it in her magic. "I will fix this darling, if you model some pre-made vests." The three other mares in the room and turned, staring at me with wide eyes that shifted to approving glances and devious smirks.

I raised my eyebrows and shook my head, a smile of nervousness making its way onto my muzzle. "Okay, if you can fix it, I will model."

The mare smiled and trotted over to her a some shelves and enveloping some fabric and yarn in her magic and immediately went to work fixing the tattered and torn cloak. She was silent for Equinox knows how long and I don't think I've ever seen anypony more focused than she was in this very instant.

Twilight turned to me, breaking my train of thought.  "She's the one who makes almost everypony's outfits here in Ponyville," she told me as her gaze shifted back to the unicorn.

"I see," I murmured, watching her as she worked on my cloak. "So, she's good."

The purple mare nodded her head very slowly before turning her attention back to me. "She even had Celestia request her. So, I'd say she's amazing."

Silver nodded. "That suit I let you borrow, my father had her make it."

Vinyl looked at her. "How old was your father before he passed away?"

"About thirty-two," I heard Silver say with an ounce of recognizable sadness.

"I'm sorry," Twilight apologized.

I looked back over to the unicorn working with my cloak before her muzzle lifted and she looked straight at me. Rarity had finished, holding it up for me to see, the colors matching perfectly. "Here you are, darling. Good as new."

The gray alicorn smirked, nudging me. "Now you gotta model, pretty colt."

I smiled sincerely, a small blush coming on. "Thank you, Rarity," I said and I took the cloak from her and put it on a coat rack nearby.

Silver nudged me again as Rarity spoke up. "As you said, you may now model my line of vests. Whichever you like, you may have, unless you'd like a custom one." Vinyl smiled and nudged me too, forcing me on the stage

I groaned loudly and looked at both Silver and Vinyl with eyes that I swore could have shot out lasers if I wanted as I trotted onto the stage, instantly regretting this agreement. Silver Mist, I swear I will get you back for this!

Silver sat down, watching with curiosity as Rarity pulled the line out from behind the curtain. "Choose what you want to wear first, dear."

I moved towards a gray colored vest, slipping it over my head and sliding my forelegs through the holes before turning around, looking at the four mares in the room with a confused expression. They all looked at me, small smiles of amusement on each of their muzzles. "So, like this? Just grab and put on?"

Vinyl giggled softly before responding. "Yes, silly."

"Well then, this will be easy!" I exclaimed before trotting behind the curtain and taking off the vest with far more effort than I expected, getting caught in it for a moment. "Celestia damnit, why can't I be a damn unicorn sometimes?" I half-yelled at myself. I trotted out in a different color, one I believe that was a royal blue color. Silver was on the floor, rolling in a fit of hysterical laughter and I saw Rarity start giggling, her eyes travelling down the line of vests and resting on a pink one. I quickly shimmied out of the blue and trotted over to the pink, staring at it. "Well, isn't this a nice color!" I said as a mischievous smirk danced on my lips.

"Are you seriously gonna wear that?" Vinyl asked as calmly as she could although I could hear her small giggles.

I took that as a challenge and pulled it on, turning around and beaming a broad smile. "How do I look?"

Rarity smiled, withholding her own laughter. "Dashing, dear."

The earth pony smirked, looking away and covering her muzzle with a hoof before speaking. "Quite nice."

With huge smiles, Silver and Vinyl commented me. "You look fabulous!" They said in unison before bursting into a fit of hysterical laughter, rolling on the floor and holding their stomachs.

I joined in their laughter as I slipped the vest off, hanging it back up as best as I could. "Maybe I should wear that to the Gala, eh?" I looked back to see the DJ and Silver now regaining their composure as they wiped tears of mirth from their eyes as they released a few more giggles. "Did you two have your fun?"

Silver nodded. "That was worth a good laugh," and got up, trotting up the stage and hugging me tightly.

I confusedly looked at her, staring at her for a moment before speaking, licking my chapped lips. "What are you hugging me for?" I asked cautiously.

She looked at me with a smile of pure amusement. "Because you look smashing, darling."

I hugged her back slowly before pulling away. "Stop talking like that, it isn't like you."

She simply shrugged. "You can pick it up from high class ponies," she said as she motioned towards Octavia, who was conversing with Rarity near her sewing machine.

I nodded in agreement as we both released each other. "Ah yes, I happen to do that quite often as well," I told her with a grin.

She gently nudged me and said, "I've seen."

"I must now go on an adventure for a vest that is of my liking," I began before glancing at the fashionista. "Why am I modeling anyways? Is it just for your mares' pleasure?" I asked with curiosity seeping into my tone.

Rarity nodded as she glanced over at me, stopping her conversation with Octavia. "Yes, and I have never actually seen stallions try on my vests and such."

I chuckled wholeheartedly. "And why is that?"

"Well, not many wish to try on pink vests," the mare admitted with a soft blush.

I nodded my head in understanding. "There's not many stallions out there that are like me."

The white unicorn smiled as she responded with a slight hint of happiness in her voice. "Apparently so."

Vinyl got up and trotted over to Rarity, poking her. "When can we look for dresses?" She asked.

"Ms. Scratch is asking for a dress?" I was astonished as my mouth felt like it had just hit the floor, my eyes never leaving the mares small body.

She rolled her eyes once she had seen my reaction. "I have to look presentable."

Octavia nudged her and smiled. "So, we get to wear dresses?" Silver interjected from not too far away.

I trotted over to Vinyl and spoke up, "Is Octavia making you, Scratchie?"

Octavia over dramatically gasped. "How dare you assume this!" She exclaimed in horror. "But yes, I am," she giggled and directed her eyes to Silver.

"Shit," I heard Silver mutter under her breath as the mare trotted over to her.

"Now, let's see how I can get you to agree," she had whispered before I saw her head tilt back some as if she was directing her eyes towards the mare's horn.

Silver immediately teleported away from her as she spoke. "No, no, no! I'll wear a dress!"

I looked over at them as Silver appeared next to me, causing me to jump some. The gray alicorn stood next to Rarity, breathing out heavily. "So," She said over-enthusiastically, "let's get some dresses on!"

Mares these days. I thought as I trotted over to the line of vests and picked out a black one accompanied by a red tie. I smiled to myself and trotted over to the counter and put both on as I was waiting for the mares to come out in their dresses. Once I had finished putting on the attire, I looked my myself in the mirror for a while, making sure I wanted what I was wearing. I nodded to myself as I sat down in front of the stage with the low conversation of Rarity and Twilight nearby.

Vinyl stepped out first, a red dress around her body. "This is stupid," she had muttered under her breath before the earth pony hit her over the head, joining her in a light purple dress.

With a heavy sigh, the last mare zipped up her dress and peeked out. "How classy," Silver smirked as she stared at me, walking out from behind the curtain with a dark blue dress that almost looked identical to her eye color, along with some stud earrings. "I look ridiculous," she muttered, covering her face.

"I believe I have to disagree with you there," I said with a reassuring smile as my eyes drifted from Vinyl to Octavia and resting on Silver. "You look stunning. To look ridiculous is too look like that." I pointed out the window inside the boutique as the mares turned their heads in that direction only to see the party pony with various instruments on her.

Silver laughed softly as she turned her attention back to me. "Okay, I look awful," Silver said.

Vinyl nodded before quickly teleporting herself back behind the curtain, shortly followed after by Silver.

Octavia looked to Twilight. "Are you not going to try on a dress?" She asked.

Twilight shook her head in response. "Rarity makes new ones for our friends each year and they're all a very big deal and I couldn't ask for a better friend."

Rarity softly blushed. "Oh, don't say that darling!"

Octavia disappeared behind the curtain and the zippers of all three dresses came down. I looked to Rarity and Twilight and then idly to the curtain that held the three mares I've grown close to in the past few weeks of my life. "Friends," I said to myself in a hushed tone as a warm smile crept upon my lips and the thudding in my heart stopped for a moment.

Silver teleported in front of me and nuzzled my neck. "I heard you, and yes, you have friends," she whispered in me ear then looked at Rarity. "May we have these?"

"Of course dear!" She told her.

"How much?" Silver inquired as she and the other two mares trotted towards the door of the boutique.

"It's free. Any friend of Twilight's is a friend of mine. I'll ship them to Twilight's home but do remember to come again, dears!" Rarity told us as she lay each of their dresses across the counter. I slid out of my vest and took the tie off to have her put it in a bag and draped it across the counter near the mares' dresses. Vinyl smiled in return and trotted outside, holding the door open for me. How gentlecolt-ish. I thought with a snicker before grabbing my cloak from the coat rack and slipping it on and trotting out the door only to be tackled by a gray blur.

"Hah!" Silver's familiar voice chimed in.

"Huh?" I managed to say before I impacted the ground, knocking the wind out of me. "W-what's was that for!" I snarled as I inhaled deeply. "You caught me off guard! Unfair!" I whined softly.

Silver smirked in response. "It was worth it." She got off me, flapping her wings and hovering over me before helping me up with a surprisingly strong grip

I nodded my head slowly as I was lifted and dropped onto all four hooves again. "Right," I muttered in an unsure tone.

"Let's go, you two," Twilight said. "We're off to meet Rainbow Dash."

"Hmm?" I muttered as I followed after Twilight.

"Isn't she the one who did the Sonic Rainboom?" Silver asked curiously.

Twilight nodded. "Yes, she broke the myth."

"I wonder what a Sonic Music Streak would look like..." Silver thought aloud, her voice trailing off as the wind from her wings gave off soft gusts and rustling my mane some.

I looked over to her to see she had her hoof on her chin and appearing in deep thought. "Silver," I interrupted. She looked down at me, her eyes full of curiosity. "It was only possible between you and I because I possess powers nopony else does." I held my hoof up and a spark flew from it, landing on the ground. "I'm Impressed that this mare could do it. Therefore, she must be awfully good."

Silver nodded, tapping her chin with her hoof. "Perhaps you're right, but it wouldn't hurt to try, huh?" I chuckled gently as a kept walking. I then felt a strange presence seat itself on my back. "Woo! Pony back ride!" Silver bellowed out. I swear to Celestia, she is the most adorable mare I have ever met! I thought as my lips curled into a small smile. Silver had wrapped her forelegs around my neck as we approached a large cloud home. "Holy Luna," she muttered, her chin resting on my head.

I looked up, my eyes widening at the sight. "Oh my, that is one big cloud

The four of the five ponies looked up. "Well damn," Vinyl muttered. "How do you suggest Tavi and I stay up there?"

The other alicorn and Silver tapped their horns softly. "Magic," they had said in unison.

"I'm a pegasus so I don't necessarily have to have the magic to keep me up there," I noted.

Silver nipped my ear and I looked up at her even if I couldn't see her. "We all know this, Ace," she simply said. I shook my head slowly and looked to Twilight. She smiled then Silver and herself had teleported the group up to the cloud, the non-winged sitting firmly on one.

I blinked hard, clearing my blurry vision from the sudden teleportation and change in scenery as we were now standing in front of a closed door. Twilight knocked while I was adjusting. "Dash, are you in there?" she asked.

A groan came from the other side of the door. "Go away, I'm sleeping," the voice muttered.

I chuckled gently. "She seems like a friendly pony."

"If you call an egotistical pony friendly, sure," Twilight sarcastically said before she knocked again. "Dash, come out!"

I could feel Silver laughing from her place on my back before she spoke. "I've seen her trying to impress the Wonderbolts before."

"Oh, them," I rolled my eyes and shrugged.

Silver nodded as the door opened to a rather tired pegasus pony. "Hey, egghead," she said, looking at Twilight. "How in the hay is a unicorn and earth pony up here and who are those two?" She asked in a slow tone, pointing her hoof at Silver and I with her muzzle stretching wide in a yawn.

Twilight shook her head. "These two are Silver Mist and Epic Ace. The other question aside, I just wanted you to meet them."

"Yeah, yeah, I met them. You ruined my rest of pure awesomeness for this?" The mare asked.

"Awesomeness?" I laughed to myself as I looked at the sleepy pegasus in the doorway. "You call sleeping your awesomeness?"

The mare flapped her wings and flew unsteadily. "Well, an amazing mare like me can't just be staying up all night! I need to keep up to date with the Wonderbolts and keep my tricks new and practice!"

I felt Silver's breath in my ear as she spoke, the mare in front of us still rambling on about the Wonderbolts. "Well, she sure is full of herself."

I shook my head and whispered back to her, "I can see that."  I cleared my throat and took a step forward with an intimidating smirk on my muzzle. "Well, your so-called awesomeness, is nothing compared to the my epicness. I mean I'm so Epic, it's my first name!"

I felt Silver's teeth graze my ear and it flicked back in response as I stared at the mare who had landed back inside her home. "Oh, really? Well, if I weren't so tired, I'd–" she cut off mid-sentence, her muzzle stretching into a huge yawn. "Ah, never mind. I'll see you later, egghead. I'm going back to bed," she muttered, closing her door.

I shook my head and chuckled to myself. "She's so full of it."

"Duh," Twilight responded, Silver and her horn emitting a soft glow as the two alicorns teleported the group back down the ground.

"Haha, egghead," Vinyl smiled, giggling to herself as her hooves came in contact with the ground again.

"Uncouth," Octavia murmured, turning her head away.

I looked around aimlessly, clearing my mind before Silver's voice floated into my ear again. "Ace, you're an egghead," Silver told me in a low whisper..

"Says the one who read a spell book all night," I countered with a grin.

She growled in my ear and kicked my thigh with her hind hoof. "You're mean," she muttered.

I'm not sure if she even kicked me, considering the fact I can barely feel when she bites or hits me, so I ignored it, rolling my eyes. "I'm not mean," I simply told her.

Silver had pouted and huffed, blowing my mane out of its natural place. "Whatever."

Vinyl laughed and trotted ahead. "Twilight's the egghead here. All she does is go by the books," she said aloud.

"Oh, really?" The egghead asked her, trotting up to stand in front of her..

"Yep, I bet you couldn't even kiss right without reading a book," Vinyl declared, sitting down on the ground, the rest of the mares watching. I couldn't help it and I looked at them in awe. A DJ and an egghead are arguing, and one can fly and use magic! This gon' be good! I thought as I stood there, the weight of the mare on my back barely recognizable.

Twilight grunted and stared at the other mare for a moment before leaning in and planting her lips firmly on the DJ's, pulling away after a moment. "I did something without a book, you happy?" She growled, turning around and trotting away.

The white unicorn looked hazed. She looked at me and touched her lips, looking back down at the ground. "What the hay just happened?" She asked.

I could feel Silver laughing until a thud on the ground told me she had fallen off my back. I was right as I looked around to see the mare hysterically laughing and holding her stomach with her hooves as she rolled back and forth. I too started laughing and I sat down, chuckling still as I spoke. "She sure showed you!" I told her before erupting into another fit.

Vinyl's still sitting there, speechless. "No, seriously, what the hay just happened? I thought she wasn't into mares!"

Octavia shook her head. "Well, she proved she could do something without the book, so you have to give her some props."

Silver nodded in agreement as she raised herself from the ground, wiping her eyes. "Ooh, my sides hurt," she said with a giggle.

"Vinyl, she probably just wanted to prove you wrong," I told her as I got up and trotted over to her. "Besides you did antagonize her quite a bit," I noted.

The mare sighed, laying down in defeat. "It wasn't awful like I expected! Oh my gosh, my lips have been cursed!" She yelled aloud before standing and teleporting in front of us to where the purple mare was trotting off to, stopping Twilight and kissing her forcefully.

Silver's jaw had slacked when I looked back at her, her eyes going wide. "What the horsefeathers!" She yelled in surprise. Octavia's jaw too slacked, staring at the unicorn in disbelief.

I cringed slightly, tearing my eyes away as I trotted back to where Silver was. "Honestly, can I not get away from this for two seconds?" I muttered softly.

Silver looked up at me and raised an eyebrow. "Well, well," she whispered as the two mares trotted very slowly back to us, "does Ace-ey like Vinyl?"

I glared at her. I swear to Luna that if I could kill with just a simple glare, everypony would be dead by now. "I'm not meaning it like that."

She smiled and licked my cheek. "I'm kidding." She smiled wider and changed the subject. "Anyway, the look on your face was priceless!"

I felt my cheeks grow hot as I attained a small blush. "Why do you keep doing this?" I asked her.

"Doing what?" She asked, looking innocent with her wide eyes and her lower lip extending outward to form a rather cute pout.

Vinyl looked at Twilight, the tension within the atmosphere now reaching the rest of us. I paused for a moment, looking away to stop myself from giving in. No matter how adorable she is, I have to say it. I thought as my tongue darted out to wet my chapped lips. "You keep on nipping me, licking my cheek, and all that and being so unlike you. You have Tavi, Silver, and I don't even know what's going on anymore," I told her as I turned and began to trot away.

I heard the mare sigh and I looked over my shoulder to see her sitting there with all the sincerity in the world wrapped up in those deep ocean blue eyes of hers. "I'm sorry, Ace," she apologized.

I stopped myself from trotting any further, my hooves gluing themselves to the spot. "There's no need for apologies, Silver," I told her as I turned my head back around, my gaze forward now as I forced myself to walk again. "At least not towards me," I muttered to myself as I hung my head, trotting in the direction of the house.

The distance from Dash's home and Twilight's wasn't much, but it gave me time to think Was everything I said too harsh? Did I hurt her? What if I did hurt her? Oh, Silver, I'm so sorry. I thought and I looked up, seeing my wings had lifted me off the ground as I moped to myself, grief taking over as I realized I may have hurt the one who's done so much for me. I landed on the ground in front of the door, pushing it open to see Silver inside and sitting there, just waiting for me. I stopped dead in my tracks, my train of thought going right out of my ear. I sighed heavily, looking down. "I kind of want to be alone, Silv-" I was cut off as a set of tender lips were pressed against mine.

My eyes shot up and I noticed the mare had leaned in, cutting me off with a simple kiss. She pulled away, her cheeks red as a rose. I felt my cheeks flush and the tips of my ears grow hot as I sat there in bewilderment. "Shut up," she murmured as she looked away. "I never said I was with her and I never told her anything that happened to me. She forced herself upon me, and I don't want you to hate me for something I practically didn't do. I'm sorry," she apologized again, sitting down and turning her head away.

I blushed hard, staring directly at her. "I'm sorry," I managed with an almost inaudible squeak.

This made the mare look up and make eye contact with me. As I expected, she waved her hoof dismissively like she usually does. "You're not the one who should be sorry," she told me.

"No," I said in a firm tone, gaining her full attention. "I should be sorry. I probably just misunderstood. I just don't quite understand what love is and I don't know what I'm supposed to do." The mare was staring at me intently, her eyebrows raised. "Hey, I am not jealous of you and Octavia. What you do with her is none of my business."

"Mhm hm, whatever helps you sleep at night," she muttered, staring at me. "I never expected anything to turn out this way. I mean, I have a mare falling head over hooves for me, a stallion I've told everything to, and a DJ unicorn who just embarked on our adventure that practically adores you," she paused, facehoofing. "I never dreamed my life would ever be full of good things again."

"Neither did I," I began, inhaling deeply. "I mean, I was living on the streets and stealing to survive, and now I'm here," I looked deep into her eyes, searching them slowly. "with you and everypony else. You've helped me," I told her with a small smile.

I had made her blush with my comment and she gently hoofed my shoulder, nudging me gently. Heh, thanks to me," she said proudly. "If I didn't find your necklace, who knows where either of us would be."

Laughing gently, I looked away as I felt my blush fade. "You would have been doing shows with Vinyl while I would most likely be in a jail cell or possibly even sentenced to death for all the crimes I've committed."

Silver hit me hard over the head with her hoof and I winced just barely, ducking under it. "Don't say that," she said sternly with a hint of sorrow in her voice. "I would've helped you if I saw you dying in the streets, even if I knew you were wanted before hoof."

I looked up at her. "You're just saying that, aren't you?" I questioned with confusion.

"I really would've, Ace. Trust me, I know what it's like to feel alone," she smiled warmly and sat there for a moment before stepping forward and hugging me tightly. "I know what most of what you've gone through feels like. I would've helped you whether you liked it or not."

That got a smile out of me and I hugged her back. This mare has done so much for me to just make me smile and be happy again all because of a necklace. My necklace, and thanks to her, I can smile. I can have hope that maybe one day, we can rebuild my home and she can help me and so can our friends. Friends, I thought with a wide smile. I have friends now, some that I wouldn't trade for the world. I pulled away for a moment, getting a baffled look from Silver. "Thank you," I told her before embracing her again. "Thank you for everything you've done for me. Thank you for being my friend."

I felt her grip tighten around me. "You can't thank somepony for being who they are. Yet, you can thank them for many other things," she stopped herself, the room going quiet as we stood there in each other's embrace. "I'll tell you what those other things are another time," she whispered as we stood there in pure, beautiful silence hugging. You can thank somepony for being who they are because *you're** that somepony, Silver. You're that somepony who bothered to help me and make me realize there's so much more to life than just theft and running.* I thought as I tightened my hold. And I never want to lose you.