Can't guarantee that I'll squeeze in some time to do this story, what with my university work in the way and all. I'll try, everyone. I still want to do this.

One week and four days since I've left Germane. It's been exactly that. And it's been one week since I've stayed here in Ponyville. The town's sights and sounds have been ingrained into my mind. Every little nitpick, from the stone bridge to Sugarcube Corner, have all become second nature to me. As a soldier, be it an infantrypony or a fillybuster, one must become familiar with his or her surroundings and every aspect involved. Tiring as it may be, and is, it's an inevitable necessity.

Ponyville Town Hall was probably the busiest I've seen it. Its interior and exterior were given that decorative touch. Ribbons, balloons, streamers and banners fastened and tied on from one end of each balcony to another. We have a very special guest coming today, it seems. I'll find out very soon.

Nopony is exempt from this workload. Nopony except for the fillies and colts, that is. Twilight's inspecting everything, and I mean everything. Applejack's taking care of the food. Rainbow Dash is up there in the skies clearing the clouds out. Fluttershy has a chorus of birds rounded up to sing. Rarity's prepared these decorations. Her style is all too easy to distinguish.

Must be a very special guest of honor if all this effort is to be sunk in.

By the side of the buffet table, I'm holding a really long, delicately-woven cloth with a nighttime pattern studded on, the fabric teasing my skin, my hooves.. The other side of the cloth is held by the always-giddy master caterer slash organizer, Pinkamena Diane Pie…or Pinkie Pie. Apparently she has some degree of contempt for her own name. I could tell. And I could also tell that she knew that I was sympathizing for her.

"Careful now, Melpomene," Pinkie mentions, mane and tail dangling down. "On the count of three, we toss it on the table."

"Got it."

"One. Two. Three!"

The cloth careens wildly in our grasps, both of us nearly losing our balance and grips. On the count of three, it leaps off of our hooves. A sense of accomplishment possesses me, but I suppress it.

"That should do it," I say and smile, proceeding to observe the other decorations. Their designs were the same – a deep violet night sky complete with the twinkling stars and a crescent moon. I near Twilight with another query. I must be sure. "So this guest of honor."

"Yes?" She returns, her horn brimming with a light-colored glow and tying the strings of multiple balloons around the balconies and the other higher places of the hall.

"Must be someone real important for everypony to throw this big shindig. Who is it exactly?"

"It's—"

Pinkie giggles and interjects with her typical flair and high spirits. "Oh, Melpomene. Can't you tell? Look at the decorations. Princess Luna's coming for a visit." Upon finishing the last sentence, she lunges her head down to the rows of pies on the nearby banquet table, her face accumulating crusted and multi-flavored stains. Never have I met someone with such a ravenous urge.

One of the two Royal Pony Sisters? Princess Luna…? She's coming for a visit? Maybe I can receive the answers sooner than I thought. If the day flows accordingly, if I act right, she can fill me in exactly on everything. All of Equestria, the rule that she and Celestia share, Germane, everything… I'll understand whether or not they have incorporated a flawed law, whether or not their leadership is unjust.

"Pinkie‼" Rarity declared, attending to the filling and crumbs on her mane and face. I even concluded this nitpicking as a disorder at one point, only to discard the hypothesis on the grounds of trying to be more sensitive with everypony's flaws and quirks.

"What? It's just a taste test." A quick excuse from Pinkie Pie.

"Taste test or not, you're making quite the mess out of yourself. You cannot certainly think of presenting yourself to Princess Luna like that!"

"Not a biggie. I've got that covered." She proceeds to the front door, still staying within our eyesight. As though she's some kind of canine, she shakes her entire self in place, splattering the traces from her body. Probably dirtying others within her radius. Finishing, she leaps back in and cries out cheerfully, "Ta-da‼"

"Riiiiiight," Rarity speaks impassively, wearing a poker face of a mask to match. "Just…please stay out of trouble." It sounded as if she were talking to her little sister. With nothing else to comment, she returns to her bundle of minerals and fine stones, studding them on the décor.

That bubbly and devil-may-care nature, that uplifting smile. Is there ever a moment when she isn't like this? Has there ever been one instance where she's been unhappy? Could she even make a Germane pony outside of myself, let alone all of Germane, smile for even one second?

"Pinkie, if you don't mind my asking," I near her cautiously.

"Yes, Melpomene?" She returns as she carries over a platter full of greenery and egg-filled sandwiches to the table.

"You always seem…" I pause, thinking that the word happy isn't accurate enough. "…carefree."

"Why would you say that? That is so not like me!"

"Huh?"

"I care about everything and everypony." It's like talking to a mailbox. Control, Melpomene. Control.

"No no, I meant you're always smiling. You act like all's well with Equestria. Doesn't it bother you at all?"

"Not exactly." Off from her back slides the platter and on the table it lands.

"Well…why?"

"Come with me."

Her smile gradually wears off. She walks out of Town Hall and out into the Town Square, trotting along the stone bridge. Very close by, I match her gait to keep up with her.

With intricacy, Pinkie explains to me her cheery, devil-may-care attitude. Her bright approach to life and why. As if it were a lesson. She tells me the power and significance of breaking out a smile towards a fellow equine. Beaming at one another makes us feel good and optimistic, that our day will turn out well. One grimace is all it takes to lift anypony, cold or bitter or plainly indifferent, back on their feet. It's all it takes to restore their hope, lift their spirits and urge them to continue living. Pinkie Pie has made it her personal mission to make sure everypony feels complete bliss and happiness, make all that she can smile even for just a brief moment. Throwing parties and elaborate festivities is her way to do that.

Upon finishing her explanation, I grin slightly. Nopony from Germane that I've known has had such a…vibrant take on life. My expression may not be as wide as hers, but it's enough; she realizes that I'm happy.

I explain this to her myself.

"Wow," I say, sitting against the bridge and leaning on it. "No wonder why everypony feels so at home around this part of Equestria." My head wanders around and looks at the industrious and united population of Ponyville. Again, I'm faced with these question. Can Germane ever be bright like Ponyville? Will my home ever learn how to smile? And if they've happened before, can they happen again?

I turn to Pinkie and pick up on her sudden changed mood. The pink and energetic mare is replaced by one of a more contemplative and somber haze, her head lowered and her eyes closed. The downward crescent on her lips now turned upward.

"Hm?" I utter, approaching her while passing by a surely-increasing group of Unicorn and Earth ponies making their merry way to the round building. "Pinkie. What's the matter?"

I rub her back with my left hoof and ease whatever discomfort she may be feeling.

She sighs. There must be more to her story.

"There's actually more to that." My suspicions are reaffirmed again.

"What is it?"

Pinkie's tone starts shifting. "It's, uh…kinda hard to say, but I'll try. My parties…aren't just for the guest. I throw my parties because…well, it's because it's the only way I can really introduce myself. I don't want to be just somepony who shows others around. I also want to be that pony who wants to stick out and show everyone a good time. If nopony likes my parties, then…" She stops herself cold with a desire to stop from finishing the rest of it.

"Then what?"

Swallowing, she finishes the last sentence. "Then that means nopony likes me."

If nopony likes her parties, then that also means nopony likes her. Period. That can't be right. There can't really be any need to do all this for a mare or stallion that's passing by. All to gain his or her approval. Being the kind of pony who wants to show others a good time and make them feel good is more than enough. And even if it's not, it's still enough.

"Oh, Pinkie," I pat her back and decide on my words with much consideration. "That can't really be true."

"Yeah, it is."

"No, it's not. Trust me. You're unlike anypony I've ever met. You're always trying your dardnest to bring a smile. And even if a few stallions and mares don't really like your parties, at least they know that you're doing something nice for them. That's all anypony should really know."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Matter of fact, that's what I felt at first, then I eased up a little." She raises her head and looks up at me upon hearing these words, her smile recovered.

"Thanks, Mel."

Again, I choose my next set of words with great awareness, not revealing too much, or any at all, information about my mission. "Come on, let's get back to Town Hall. We're the only ones out here, and I don't wanna miss this."

With that I proceed to the opposite direction.

"Hey, Melpomene," Pinkie halts me.

I turn around and ready myself for whatever she might ask. "Yeah?"

"You, uh…you liked the party I threw for you. Right?"

This question would otherwise be sycophantic, but she asked this with obviously less esteem and more humility.

"Yeah. Yeah, I did." I nod to her, cueing her into moving.

From behind her, the clouds were gathering and darkening. A storm must be coming. The sun, its warmth and its radiance was being concealed from our sight. Winds whistling. Thunder and lightning both rumbled and tumbled, rolling like a small ball on a roulette wheel in some grand casino. No raindrops yet, but they were going to come. We knew we had to hurry, lest we end up soaked and soiled.

But something was amiss: there are no Pegasi in the skies commanding the clouds and the weather. Nopony was pushing these vapor masses; Rainbow Dash wasn't up there. She must have gone inside the building already.

The gales were becoming stronger. Leaves forced off of their brances and a few of these branches themselves were forced off of their trees. Autumn might've come early. At least, that's what these forces could be mistaken for.

"Pinkie!" I yell to her, protecting my eyes with my hoof and squinting to preserve my view. My words spoken slowly and as audible as possible.

"What is it!" She yells back at me.

"Doesn't something look strange to you!"

"What!"

"Look up!" I point up high, closing my eyes immediately to shield them from any flying specks of dirt. "Don't you see it!"

"Yeah! It's very cloudy and very windy!"

"No, not that! There's no Pegasi! What do you think's happening!" My guess is what it is: a guess. And it's as good as anyone's.

"I don't know! But whatever it is, we can't stay here! We'll get blown all the way to Canterlot if we do! We better keep moving!"

I go about with Pinkie's suggestion, and we begin inching our way to Town Hall. Slow and sure, but still better than standing around.

With harsh winds like this, it's hard to know where you are, let alone maneuver around. It's even harder to try to communicate. The wind's whispers and whipping have become feral shouts. I've encountered different kinds of unwieldy weather more times than I can count, some of them even more unwieldier than this one and some even more unwieldier than each other. Ranging from pebble-like hail to heavy rains to intense heat waves to even earthquakes.

This heck of a current isn't too troublesome, but it's still annoying to deal with.

"Hey, Melpomene!" Pinkie calls back to me.

I keep my eyes squinted, trying to respond to her "Yeah!"

"Is it always like this in Germane! Is it always cold, lonely, windy and cloudy there!" She's hit the nail on the head with that description. But there is not a trace of shame on my part. No shame for my home's miserable conditions. It is what it is. It'll change for the better.

I respond without a shift in my mood. "Kinda! It's real crazy there!" Although I don't know if crazy is the right word to describe it. Sounds too…exaggerated. Nonetheless… "This is nothing compared to what we usually see and—"

Before I could end, an unexpected sight quiets me and prompts me to gasp. From where I was looking, a flash of lightning strikes, ripping past the clouds and crashing down on the Equestrian soil. And passing through the blast of light was a flying silhouette descending from the gray masses. The figure neared closer to the ground, and it looked like a royal chariot with a complex design ridden by what looked like a horned and winged mare and pulled by four Pegasus ponies.

For the first time in quite a while, I've never felt this scared. This unnerved, enfeebled. There's something about this mare that I can't explain, that's beyond explanation. Some invisible force that humbles me, not that I really place myself on a pedestal. Unless my general cockiness and arrogance counts.

The chariot touched solid ground. The four Pegasus ponies were wearing dark and gleaming armors, their backs plated with expertly-smithed chain mail suits and their heads protected by tough yet elegant helmets. All of them settled down after four or five clops. While the clouds stayed shaded, the winds simmer down. Both lightning and thunder have halted.

Pinkie and I slowly open our eyes fully and witness and gasp at a…rather rare sight. From the chariot, a violet shape steps down with grace in its movement – a darkened slender mare with a unicorn horn and a pair of wings. Her hair lucid and twinkling like the stars of a night sky, which is exactly what the cutie mark on her flank is.

This pony. It must be…

"Princess Luna…!" Pinkie Pie greets and bows before her with overpowering reverence. Just as the tapestry back in Germane Town Hall and the stories I've heard and read described her. A regal equine who has complete affinity over the night, its pure white moon, its numerous stars and the constellations and patterns they form.

"This is Princess Luna?" My voice trembles. I'm still baffled. But I don't know exactly what I'm baffled at. I don't know if I'm baffled at the fact that she really is standing before me, the very low odds of this happening at all, how the Royal Sisters really do exist – I was actually skeptical about it, I'll be honest right now – or all three of these.

"The very same, my little pony," Luna confirms.

I return the answer with a bowing posture of my own.

"I-it is an honor…your majesty." It's really happening.

"Likewise, Pinkie Pie and…"

I raise my head and make my name known to her. "Melpomene. Please call me Melpomene, Princess."

"Very well. 'Tis an honor, Pinkie Pie and Melpomene."

My head lowers again. Both me and Pinkie hear hooves stepping forward, and the sound of Luna's voice as the walking stops.

"I must ask you, Melpomene. You are not of Ponyville folk," she notices with a keen eye. "Where dost thou hail from?"

"I come from—"

She stops me abruptly. "Please, my subjects. Please rise. This is a…rather embarrassing sight."

The two of us do so, and I clear my throat, apologizing for any undue awkwardness. "Sorry. I come from the city of Germane, in the Southern Hemisphere of Equestria. I am a soldier in the Army Division of its Military; I'm the Colonel, actually. It's very far from here."

"Germane…" The name intrigues her. Then again, outsiders from that forsaken place will find it interesting. It's hardly talked about, but when it's mentioned, it'll grab everypony's attention like flies.

An equally-intrigued Pinkie asks, stunned. "You're a soldier?" My only response is a few meek and slow nods.

"How quaint. My sister has mentioned that name several times." That means that they know a thing or two about Germane, or maybe have a history with it that nopony is aware of.

"Do you know much about Germane, your highness?"

"I cannot say that I do. You will have to request an audience from my sister Celestia back in Canterlot. Only she knows all about it."

Celestia is the only one who really knows… Gosh darn it!

"I see."

Pinkie inquires about my curiosity. "Why're you asking all of a sudden, Mel?"

The Kaiser sprouts up in my brain. I can't give myself away entirely. "Let's just say that Germane's leader…doesn't exactly have a lot of faith in the Princesses."

"What is the name of your leader, Colonel Melpomene?"

"Hoofler. Kaiser Hoofler."

Luna retreats her head and strokes her chin. She's also familiar with the name, or at least heard of it at some point. She faces me again to speak. "That is another name my older sister has mentioned. I am sorry if I am of no help to you, Colonel Melpomene. You will have to address my sister about all of this."

I lower my head, crestfallen. I'll have to wait a little longer to gain the information I seek.

"I see," I conclude, lifting my head back up and seeing Pinkie staring at me with eyes of concern and worry.

"But I assure you, Melpomene. There is no flaw in our law. Our care for all of Equestria is genuine and purely unbiased. The wellbeing of our subjects is of our greatest interest and of top priority."

How could she just say that? If that is true, then why is Germane suffering? Why do these outer cities get to live such perfect lives while there is turmoil in every corner we cross?

Celestia has not disclosed her knowledge to all of Equestria, not even her own sister. All she gives out are clues and teases. This hypothesis spurs me to resort to force, but I don't want to sink that low. If all goes accordingly, I'll be filled in without anypony getting hurt. If everything goes smoothly, Celestia can tell me most, if not all, of what she knows about my city.

"I suppose so," I half-reaffirm what Luna has said and continue on my way to Town Hall. "Come, Princess."

"Call me Luna. No need for formalities." She grins.

And I grin back. Pinkie Pie joins my side. "Alright, then. Come…Luna. The banquet's this way."

The pink filly jumps in place; she's back in full Pinkie mode. "Letsgoletsgoletsgo, LET'S GO‼ You're missing your own party, Luna."

I chortle lightly. "We'll just give everypony that same old 'fashionably late' excuse. That'll work."

"Right. Come, guards. You are invited, too." Luna giggles, and it's off to the honorary banquet. With each step I take, I formulate my report to the Kaiser word by word.

Feel free to tell me your two cents, guys. Your two cents about Melpomene, Germane, anything.

Peace out. ^_^