I bring you the next chapter! Now, just today I noticed that this story is in a community, which made me overjoyed because it's the only one of my stories that is! So thank you. Now this is a filler chapter (basically, anyway) but it is important for feature chapters. Now we have this chapter, the Gala chapter, and then Discord and Chaos arrive. After that, some silly chapters and a Canterlot Wedding. So let's have fun.

Chapter 9: Preparation

Applebuck and Applejack had been overjoyed when they had received their tickets. "We'll raise a lot of money for the family!" They had said. The same had been for Rarity and Elusive. Rarity knew that a nephew of the Princesses would be there-his name was Prince Blueblood-he was Rarity's "Prince Charming" and she started to go on about how she would be a princess after she married him and they would live the fairytale marriage she always wanted. Fluttershy and Butterscotch wanted to see the garden, filled with rare and beautiful flowers and animals.

Rainbow Dash knew the Wonderbolts would be there, and she wanted to impress them with her flying moves, while Blitz would be going there to support his sister. It was the party of the year, so Pinkie Pie and Berry just had to go.

However, Dusk Shine and Twilight had different reasons for wanting to go.

"Hey Dusk Shine, there's something in here addressed to you." Twilight said, going over the writing on the letter with the royal seal. Inside, she felt fear. What if the Princess wanted to take on Dusk Shine as a personal student as well? Then Twilight would have nothing to separate her from Dusk Shine and she would be completely back in his shadow.

Dusk Shine took the letter from his sibling, and went over the words. "It's from the Princess' brother, Solaris!" He shouted.

"The Princess' brother?" Twilight questioned. Yes, she knew that the Princess had more than one sibling. She had a sister named Aphrodite, who was the mother of her old foalsitter Prince Armor, a brother named Artemis who was the god of the night and closer to Luna than he was to Celestia, and of course, Solaris, the god of the sun and closer to Celestia than Luna. There was also another brother, Zeus, who was the father of Prince Blueblood and Princess Bluebell.

"He said he wants to speak to me personally!" Twilight felt an instant wave of relief. At least then they would be both students of the royal family, and she wouldn't have to share her teacher with the pony who caused her such grief. "Twilight, we should go tell the others. And check up on Rarity and Elusive and see how they're coming along with our formalwear."

Twilight nodded, getting Spike and Barbara from the upper level and getting out the door. They headed to Rarity's shop, where Elusive was staying. Rarity and Elusive made an agreement; Rarity would do the dresses and Elusive the suits. They found bits of fabric and strings and tossed sketches all over the floor of the building when they arrived.

"Hey, Rarity, how's it going?" Twilight asked.

"Just splendid, darling," Rarity responded, needing the distraction. "I just need to finish up some stitches, make sure they all fit, and I'll send for you and the others either this evening, or early tomorrow." She responded, at her sewing machine.

"Great." Twilight responded. "Well, I guess we'll leave you to your work then." She said. "Come on, Dusk Shine."

"Wait, Dusk Shine," Elusive called. "I…need to speak with you for a moment…" He looked to his younger sister. He was still rather annoyed with her, after she nagged him incessantly about Miss Fluttershy. "Alone." He put some heavy emphasis on the word, getting a glare from Rarity. "Do you mind?"

Dusk Shine looked to his own younger sister. "Do you?"

Twilight shook her head. "Not at all," She smiled. "Take your time." He gave a smile and thanks, pleased with himself, and she closed the door behind her. "Ugh," She groaned. "Thank Celestia he's gone." She turned her head up to the clouds, looking for a pony with a rainbow mane, and she spotted him soaring through the clouds. Rainbow Dash was probably napping elsewhere. "Hey Blitz," She called. When he didn't seem to hear her, she yelled again, "Blitz!"

He turned his head and spotted her. He pulled on his wings and landed on the ground. "Hey Twi," He greeted. "What's up? Besides me."

She chuckled and said, "I was looking for you." She frowned when she thought of why she was looking for him. "I feel kind of bad though."

He raised a lightning-bolt-shaped eyebrow. "Why?"

She sat on the ground, and he laid down next to her. "Well, every time we talk, it ends up being just me ranting about Dusk Shine."

"It's okay." He said. "I know how Dusk can be, trust me. And besides Twilight, if it makes you feel better, you should rant."

She smiled. "Thanks Blitz, really."

He smiled. "So what's up?"

She groaned, lying down on her stomach. "In that letter that had the invites to the Gala, there was another letter to Dusk Shine about him meeting Celestia's brother, Solaris. If Solaris wants to take Dusk Shine on as a student, he'll never leave Ponyville!" She sighed. "And I'll be back in his shadow…where I always was." She rested her chin on her hooves, and Blitz patted her back.

"I'm sorry Twilight. But look at it this way-" Twilight looked up and met his eyes. "Twilight, you're the Element of Magic-the trickiest and most rare Element of Harmony there is! Dusk Shine will never have that, and nobody, not even Celestia can take that away from you."

That was true. Twilight felt better at that realization; she had something that Dusk Shine could never have, no matter how hard he studied, or who he was learning under, or how could good he got at magic. None of it would matter, because she had the Element of Magic. Not him. She was the one who battled Nightmare Moon and brought back Princess Luna, and no spell would change that. The weight on her chest lightened considerably when she remembered all of her accomplishments. She smiled. "Thanks Blitz. Really. Anytime you wanna talk about your problems, I'll be here to listen, I swear."

He smiled back. "Hey, Twilight, you want to…you know, go to the Gala with me…as my date?" She thought about this for a moment. Dusk Shine certainly wouldn't like it. No, wait-she had to get Dusk Shine out of her head. No, did she actually want to go on another date with Blitz because she liked him? Or was it because she just wanted to cause her brother grief?

No. She wanted to go because she very much enjoyed Blitz's company. "I would love to." She said.

"Great." He said.

Fluttershy was tending to her chickens when Applebuck called her name. "Oh, hello Applebuck. What can I do for you?"

Okay, Applebuck, he thought to himself. You can do this. Fluttershy's bravery and kindness and skill with animals had largely impressed him…and moved him. Fluttershy, having the Element of Kindness, was the sweetest pony he had ever met. She always tried her best, no matter how soft-spoken she was. There was a gentle air around her, and Applebuck knew-from Elusive-that there was competition. He knew if he wanted her, he would have to go and get her. "Well Miss Fluttershy, I was wondering if you would mind goin' to the Gala with me."

All the color immediately rushed to her face, flushing her cheeks. She suddenly felt very hot. Despite her appearance and personality, Fluttershy was not experienced in relationships. Everypony assumed she, being the shy pony that she was, would say no to any date so nopony had ever asked. Ever. "W-Well, I-I…well, you see, I've never…"

He chuckled a bit in response. "Miss Fluttershy, now you take your time. You don't have to answer me right away."

"I don't?"

"No, no. You take your sweet time. The Gala's not until the end of the week. How about you give your answer the day before?"

She smiled. "T-That would be okay."

He tipped his hat and bid her goodbye. When she was sure he was out of earshot, she rushed inside her home and squealed in excitement into one of the couch pillows.

Butterscotch was completely unaware of it all, and had been away-far from earshot-tending to the squirrels. He knew nothing of two of his best friends having romantic interest in his sister.

"I just don't know why Fluttershy, Fluttershy of all people-why did you have to pick one of my best friends?" Rarity asked, standing in her shop with Elusive, finishing up everyone's suits and dresses for the Gala. "You could've fallen for almost anypony else-why Fluttershy?"

Elusive gave a sigh. "Because Fluttershy is one of the most beautiful ponies I've ever seen! She rivals even you, Rarity. And she's so sweet…she's precious, the way she always whispers and keeps quiet, it's just adorable!" He gushed, stitching a pocket to Dusk Shine's vest. "I just have to have her!" Only then, did he remember Applebuck. Yes, Elusive did not like competition…ever. He muttered to himself. He would finish his part of their work, and then, he would go ask Fluttershy if she would be his date for the Gala. If she said no, then…she simply wasn't interested.

Rarity glared at her brother, thinking mean things about Fluttershy, but she knew she shouldn't feel that way. It wasn't Fluttershy's fault; and besides, she was the Element of Generosity. She was supposed to be the most generous pony in all of Equestria. But she simply didn't want to share Elusive...she never had to…she started to say awful things about herself.

In a few minutes, Elusive had finished up the last bit of Blitz's suit. He smiled to himself, putting away fabric, scissors, and needles in different drawers and baskets. "Well, I'm off!" He said. Rarity only gloomily nodded, still thinking bad thoughts about herself and Fluttershy and Elusive was too wrapped up in his love for Fluttershy and his quest to make her his to notice anything else.

Elusive headed up the road and spotted a giddy Fluttershy chatting with her rabbit, Angel. "Miss Fluttershy," Elusive called.

Thinking it was Applebuck again, Fluttershy raised her head. She saw a white coat and a royal purple mane. She smiled. "Oh, hello Elusive." She said.

"Miss Fluttershy, let us not 'bat around the bush' as they say. I want you to be my date for the Gala."

All the heat came back to her face.

And she had just regained her composure too!

However, it didn't seem like Elusive was aware that Applebuck had already asked her. She had to tell him. "Well, you see Elusive, Applebuck already asked me to the Gala."

Elusive felt a sensation in his chest for the first time in his life. It was horrible, painful, stinging, and though he knew it was emotional, it felt almost like a physical presence. It was heartbreak. He got the image of Applebuck, grinning evilly and stepping on his heart that was broken into pieces like glass and giving a jolly laugh like it was the funniest thing in the world. "And…what did you say?" Elusive asked.

"I told him I'd give him my answer the day before the Gala."

With those words, Elusive imagined himself kicking Applebuck right off his broken heart and then see his heart suddenly reassemble itself. He grinned. "So, will you think my question over? And I promise, I won't have any hard feelings towards you or Applebuck, no matter who you choose."

Fluttershy smiled. "Okay, I'll think it over."

He smiled. "That's all I wanted. Well, I must get back to Rarity. I'll see you later, my dear." She waved to him as he trotted off, happy that he at least had a chance.

However, Elusive was not going back to Rarity's shop. No, he was going to discuss the whole "Fluttershy ordeal" with Applebuck and get it all sorted out. He crossed over to Apple Acres, and spotted Applebuck working with his siblings, Big Mac and Applejack. "Applebuck," He called and the other colt turned his head.

"Well, hey there Elusive, what can I do for ya?" Applebuck asked.

"Applebuck, I spoke to Fluttershy." Elusive began. "I asked her if she wanted to be my date for the Gala." Applebuck stared for a moment and was about to speak before Elusive cut him off. "Let me finish. She told me you had already asked her, and she said she was going to give you her answer the day before the Gala. Today is Maneday and the Gala is this Fillyday. That means she'll pick between us this Horseday." Applebuck nodded. "I told her I would have no hard feelings at all if she picked you…and I meant it. I promise, no matter what happens, I want us to still be friends."

Applebuck smiled. "My thoughts exactly. No matter who she picks, we'll still be pals."

Elusive nodded and returned the smile. "Let us shake on it." They shook hooves, and the promise was sealed.

Yes, now the next chapter is the Gala! And we'll see who Fluttershy picks. And just like in the cartoon, the Gala is going to be a disaster! So let's have fun with that.

Just so you know, this story will be Rarity/Blueblood too. Why? BECAUSE I LOVE THEM. I DON'T KNOW WHY. AND ALSO DON'T KNOW WHY I'M SHOUTING.

Goodbye then.