Episode 3: Plucky, The Ticket Master
It has been just two weeks after the events of the Summer Sun Celebration and Clover was relaxing on his day off while his brother was out with his weather team. Closing his eyes, Clover smiled as he started to daydream. All in all Ponyville hadn't really changed all that much but Clover didn't mind. He was happy living in his little town, everypony was neighborly and waved at him as he'd go about his mail route and it was a nice change that he and Spike could hang out when he wasn't busy with work. The little dragon was certainly a lot more mature than he let on. As Clover was laying on his comfy bed, daydreaming, the sudden ring of the house's doorbell rang through the house. Sighing, Clover, reluctantly got out of bed and trotted over to the front door. He grasped the knob with his hoof and swung the door open and there standing in the doorway was an eggshell-white pegasus stallion, he had a spiky-red mane and bright green eyes as well as a mail pony uniform. Clover smiled at the mail pony, holding his hoof out, "Well, hey there Stamper! I haven't seen you since your bachelor's party. How have you been?" asked Clover as he smiled at his old friend. Stamper smiled at the green clad stallion, shaking his hoof, "I've been well. Both me and Jazz Bell are. How have you been?" asked Stamper. "Heh, same as always. So what brings you here to Ponyville?" It was then that Stamper reached into his pack and pulled out a small scroll. "You got a letter from Canterlot, it doesn't say from who though. But it was nice catching up, we should get the guys together one of these days." said Stamper as he began to trot away, "We definitely will! Thanks, Stamper!" shouted Clover as he stepped back inside, holding the letter.
"I wonder who it's from? Maybe it's from my Uncle Rein?" said Clover, talking to himself. But upon opening the letter, Clover was met with two golden tickets, each one with writing on it, "Grand Galloping Gala." Taking a look at the letter, Clover began to read aloud, "Dear Clover, It has been almost 2 weeks since you helped me escape and rescue my little sister and as a token of my appreciation I, hereby, present you two tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. I do hope to see you there and once again, thank you for all that you and your friends have done. Sincerely Princess Celestia. Clover glanced at the two golden tickets, the Grand Galloping Gala was the dance of the century, only hosted at Canterlot Castle. Any and everypony of various backgrounds was going to be there and thanks to Princess Celestia, so was Clover. Clover began to daydream of how the Grand Galloping Gala would be like; He'd trot into the massive ballroom, everypony would be dazzling in their vests and dresses. Clover would be wearing a traditional black over coat, a white undershirt, and a bright green tie. He'd wear a special cologne he'd been saving for his first date. He'd trot along for an hour or so, chatting with many of the dignitary ponies and displaying his natural singing voice as the band plays classical music. When suddenly, the doors to the ballroom would shoot open and there, standing in all of her beautiful glory, would be Amethyst Star. They'd dance the night away and fall hopelessly in love. Clover kept daydreaming over and over, only stopping once he'd realize he was no long along in the house.
Trotting back into the living room, Clover smiled to see his brother, Zapper, returning from work. He was wearing his traditional weather team vest and his signature goggles, he looked extremely exhausted. "Dang, I'll tell ya, clearing those skies is not an easy task. Especially when every cloud has been filled with lightning. I swear I got electrocuted more times than the Cragadile Hunter." said Zapper, taking his weather vest off as he ruffled his feathers up. "Oh hey there Plucky. What's that you got there?" asked Zapper, looking at the letter. "It's a letter from Princess Celestia, inviting me to the Grand Galloping Gala." he said, smiling at his brother, who had a look of boredom on his face. "You mean that dance with all those prissy, stuck-up, Canterdolts? Count me out. I'd rather hang out at Apple Ale's bar and get shot down by country hotties that go to that." said Zapper as he trotted into the kitchen to get himself a snack. "Well that's good to hear because I was thinking of asking Amy if she'd like to go." said Clover with a bright green blush on his face. Zapper looked up from the counter and smirked at his brother, "Well, well, well. Clover, you charming SOB. You're planning on getting that little mare aren't you?" asked Zapper, wearing a smug look on his face. "What? N-No. I was just gonna see if she'd like to go as friends. That's all." said Clover, blushing even more. "Oh, bull manure. Face it dude, you got the hots for that purple mare." said Zapper as he bit into an egg salad sandwich. "Ok, so maybe I do but I don't want to lose a friend either." said Clover, placing the letter on the table. "Dude, do you realize how many mares would die to go to that dance? All of them. So use this to your advantage; Get a mare, take her to the dance, and then afterwards…." Zapper continued his statement by whispering into his brother's ear, who's face was getting greener by the second with each word his brother spoke. "I-I gotta go! See you later Zapper!" shouted the blushing stallion as he raced out of the house, leaving a smug Zapper. "He's so getting tail."
Clover trotted along the streets of Ponyville, passing by Sugar Cube Corner and the Carousel Boutique. Everypony looked right as rain as they went about their business, doing chores, cleaning up shops, cutting grass, or just hanging around the other ponies. All the while, Clover was still daydreaming of asking Amethyst Star to the dance. Maybe his brother was right and this could be a chance to get Amy. But was it really worth it if he'd lose a friend. It was then that Clover trotted by the Golden Oak Library. Glancing inside, Clover was surprised to see a light yellow pegasus mare with a lighter pink mane was inside, along with dozens of bunnies and birds cleaning. Stepping away from the window,Clover trotted along, wondering as to what that mare was doing in Spike's house. Maybe she was a friend of his? He'd have to ask Spike once he'd get the chance. Seeing that it was lunchtime, Clover decided to go to a local cafe to try out some of their food. As Clover sat down, he noticed that sitting across from him at another table was the new mare, Twilight Sparkle and Spike. Twilight seemed to be down about something and was laying her head on the table. Just then a waiter came by to give her a dandelion sandwich when it started to rain. Getting up from his hay chair, Clover sighed as the rain fell down on him, so much for clear skies. He'd have to have a talk with his brother. And as Clover trotted away to get out of the rain, he was completely unaware of a certain cyan pegasus mare keeping a certain purple unicorn mare dry in the rain.
Clover sighed as he trotted along the streets of the rainy town. He needed to get inside somewhere. Looking around, Clover smiled to himself as he trotted toward a familiar blue box. Knocking on it, Clover smiled to see his friend, the Doctor, standing in the open doorway. "Clover, what a pleasant surprise. Come in, come in." said the Doctor, standing aside. "What, pray tell, brings you here? I'd figure you'd be relaxing at home. What with the rain and what, not." said the Doctor as he brought Clover a towel and a cup of coffee. "Actually, I was on my way to Amy's house. I was planning on asking her to go the Grand Galloping Gala with me." said Clover, wrapping the towel around himself and taking a sip of his coffee. "Little Amy? Ditzy's daughter? Well, I must say that's a surprise. I had no clue you were interested in her." said the Doctor as he sat down on the couch. "Trust me, I'm just asking her as a friend." said Clover, sitting next to the Doctor. "Call it what you'd like but fact is fact." said the Doctor, smirking at his friend. "Ok ok. But I don't even know where to start. What if she says no?" asked Clover, holding his coffee in between his hooves. "What if she says yes?" asked the Doctor, smiling at Clover. Maybe Clover was making this a lot harder than it really was? Maybe she would say yes? And if she said no would it really change how he felt? Feeling a burst of confidence, Clover stood up on his hind legs, thrusting his hoof into the air, "You're right! I can't just sit here and waste my time worrying! I'm gonna go ask her right now!" shouted the green stallion as he charge out into the pouring rain, screaming at the top of his lung. The Doctor simply smiled, taking a sip of his coffee as he spoke to himself, "He's gonna get soaked."
Clover raced through the rainy streets of Ponyville to Amy's home. He ran through muddy puddles, dirty streets, and through crowded alleys. He ran as fast as his legs could go until he reached his destination. Clover stood there as he stared at the house. Gaining his courage, he trotted up to the house knocked on the door. At first, he was scared. What would he do if she said no? What would he do if she said yes? A million questions ran through his head as the door swung open and there in the doorway was Amethyst. Amy stared at the drenched stallion, "Um, hello Clover. What brings you here?" asked Amy, trying to sound casual. "A-Amethyst, w-will you…?" said Clover, tripping over his words. "Will I, what? Is something wrong?" Clover inhaled as much air as he could, holding his breath until he couldn't hold it anymore and spoke, "Will you go to the Grand Galloping Gala with me!?" shouted Clover as he held his eyes shut. Amethyst just stood there, a blush creeping onto her face. No stallion had ever asked her out before, not even to something as wonderful as the Grand Galloping Gala. She had to play her cards just right and as she opened her mouth to speak she knew exactly what she wanted to say, "No. Goodnight." This was not what she was thinking as she closed the door, leaving the green earth pony to stand alone in the rain. Meanwhile, the sound of glass breaking was all Clover could hear as he stood in the rain.
