What can I say? I like collabs, and it looks like Impressionsguy may be my most frequently worked with author. Sue me. XD

This chapter is centered more on the younger generation, aka children, of the gang so far. And Zach finally brings up a topic that's long overdue.

Please enjoy!

Zach relaxed on a cloud just above Ponyville as he stared off at the horizon. A lot was on his mind today; some of his thoughts were pleasant, others were more concerned. And it was no wonder. For he felt that the most important decision of his life was about to be made...

"Excuse me, Zach," a voice said from behind him. Turning, he saw a Changeling looking at him. "May I ask you to move please? We have to get rid of this cloud. It's blocking some of the sunlight shining on the nursery."

For Zach happened to be near the Changeling hive of Chuck and Pinkie Pie. And currently, a lot of drones were seen going about their duties. If Chuck and Pinkie were around, Zach couldn't see them yet.

"Oh, sorry!" Zach apologized, as he flapped his wings and floated a few feet above the cloud. The Changeling nodded, then with a single strike of its hoof, the cloud disappeared. Across the way, the three Pie siblings were hanging out. As foals they were always together, a quality that didn't change as they grew. "Pies from the womb to the tomb," is how Sterling, the technical middle child, described the bond. Zach noticed them and called down from his perch.

"Hey you guys!" he called.

"Hey, what's up?" Sweet Tooth asked. She was a Changeling from birth, like her mother.

"Up until now, I was thinking about some things," Zach said, not wanting to get into any specific details yet.

"Sometimes I think about things too!" Sterling announced.

"We put a mark on the calendar when he does. His last thought was last Wednesday," Sugar Plum explained.

"I'm down to two thoughts a month! And this time, I'll keep it off!" He said happily.

"That's cool," Zach stated. Just then, something hit his nose and he looked up, then flew out of the way of the barrage of objects that followed. They so happened to be coins.

"Hey, heads up down there!" he called.

"Money!" Sweet Tooth exclaimed, quickly shoving coins into her purse.

"Guess Dad's reenacting Toy Story again," Zach muttered before flying down to the ground so he could be at the level of the Pies. His purple draconic eyes gave a questioning expression. "So, what are you three up to today?"

"Just hanging out before my shift at MY bar starts," Sterling said, emphasizing it was his bar.

"We get it, Sterling. You don't have to rub it in," Sweet Tooth said.

"I can always make you go permanently out of business," Zach stated with a smirk, "But lucky for you, I'm not that cruel."

"Please don't. I don't need my dad to be reminded he can do nothing about your family's threats to the well being of the business he poured his heart into again," Sugar Plum said.

"Like I said, I'm not that cruel," Zach replied, "And relax! I love the tavern. Why would I want it destroyed? After all, that's the place I first met you at. I doubt that I'd have ever met you if that place wasn't still running."

"And I never would have been able to start my gumball ball," Sterling said.

"How many is it on now?" Sweet Tooth asked.

"Four hundred fifty seven," Sterling said.

Zach looked at Sterling for a few seconds, then shook his head vigorously a few times.

"I'm not even gonna bother to ask," he said with a hint of disgust.

"It's actually kind of impressive, in a weird way," Sugar Plum said.

"More colors that Aunt Rainbow Dash's tail," Sweet Tooth put in.

"More flavor too," Sterling added.

"If you have Chaos magic that allows you to get away with what it tastes like, maybe," Zach stated. "I doubt it would taste too good."

"You don't need chaos magic, just a pair of scissors and enough curiosity," Sterling boasted.

"And a good hiding spot when she sees a chunk of her tail missing; you did not pick the right one," Sweet Tooth remarked.

"How was I to know she'd check under Dad's office desk?" Sterling asked.

This made Zach laugh. "I wish I could've seen that. Wait...maybe I can. Wait one second..."

Zach disappeared in a cloud of feathers, then reappeared almost instantly, laughing harder.

"That. Was. Priceless!" He chuckled.

"My dad said where he came from there used to be a thing called 'home movies,' that probably would have been a good one," Sugar Plum said.

"Oh they are," Zach answered. "Dad showed me a couple himself. They're really nice. Maybe I can show you guys a few sometime."

"No, I meant, that experience would have made for a good home movie." Sugar Plum explained.

"Oh...I agree," Zach corrected himself.

Just then, they heard piano music playing nearby. Zach gave a small chuckle.

"Guess Dad's at it again," he said as he looked towards where TD was standing nearby. He was on top of a hill of some kind that he obviously summoned with his magic. His image was a pig man of some kind with a helmet and white shirt.

"Dad says that they haven't been able to make a topographically accurate map of Equestria in years since he does stuff like that," Sweet Tooth mentioned.

"What's he doing?" Sugar Plum asked.

"Watch," Zach said, as TD began his scene:

[Totally not a GMod scene recorded by a YouTuber]

"Dear heavenly Father, please...please answer my prayers and bring me a second oven mitt. Every time I make a pizza, I end up burning my left hand-"

Suddenly, an explosion occurred underneath his feet and flung him in the air, followed by a loud voice that said, "REJECTED!"

TD fell to the ground, then suddenly appeared back in his original position, repeating the plea but to someone else.

"Dear Santa Claus, this year for Christmas, I really hope that you bring me a second oven mitt-"

*Boom!* "I DON'T THINK SO!"

"Dear Easter Bunny-"

"DENIED!"

"Dear mom and dad-"

"DENIED!"

"Dradle dradle, this year for Hanukkah-"

"DENIED!"

"Juanga?"

"DENIED!"

"Coming back down," TD called, as his limp pig-like body fell to the floor in front of them and the hill disappeared.

[End scene]

"That's Dad for you," Zach stated.

"Yep, and I doubt that'll ever change," TD replied as his image changed back into his normal human form and he stood to his feet. "I'm not interrupting you guys, am I?"

"Kind of, but Zach wasn't all that interested in my gumball ball anyway," Sterling said.

"We moved on from that," Sweet Tooth told him.

"Really? I must have spaced out," He remarked.

"Gumball ball?" TD asked. He then added, "Well, I guess it makes more sense than a ball made up of a thousand people scrunched together."

"It's just like that, but with gumballs," Sterling said, "My dad says it's good, but it will never beat the biggest ball of twine. I guess that was a thing where he came from."

"Because some people are weirder than I am," TD remarked. "Well, don't let me crash your party. I'll leave you be then."

TD pulled out a tiny propeller and held onto it as it carried him away from the group. Zach watched him leave, then chuckled again.

"So, what do we do now?" Sweet Tooth asked.

"Um... nothin!" Sterling suggested.

"You are a genius!" Sweet Tooth remarked.

"I'm willing to bet that's a Veggie Tales reference," Zach muttered, then louder, "Actually, Screwy and Tracker are planning a 'next gen only' night and she invited us all, and then some. Wanna come?"

"I like the sound of that." Sugar Plum said.

"It sure beats not doing anything, kinda." Sterling said.

"I'm down." Sweet Tooth nodded.

"Great!" Zach said, "I'll see you there then. But just a heads up warning..." He leaned closer and whispered, "She may try to play matchmaker with you."

"Happily taken, thank you." Sterling said with closed eyes.

"Who?" His sisters asked in disbelief.

"Well, not yet, but there's this one mare I bumped into at the Brown Brick Java Hut. I asked for her name, she left without saying anything. I think we're headed somewhere," He explained.

"He means 'not taken' then," Sweet Tooth said.

"That explains it," Zach giggled, "See you there! Oh, but one more warning. Dad kinda put the castle on lockdown after an experiment gone wrong. So, avoid that place for now."

"Dang, that's where I was JUST headed!" Sweet Tooth said, a ring of sarcasm in her voice.

"You sound like dad," Sugar Plum remarked.

Zach shook his head in amusement. "Goodbye, you three."

He disappeared in a cloud of feathers, leaving the Pies to talk among themselves.

"Shouldn't he be bald by now?" a nearby Changeling asked. "That's a lot of feathers."

"More feathers flying than a stick of dynamite going off in a hen house!" Another Changeling said.

"Someone sounds like they hang around Aunt Applejack too much," Sweet Tooth remarked.

"Welcome to your worst nightmare!" a playful Tracker greeted in a spooky voice at the front door of the Castle of Chaos, aka Screwball's house. He was in his vampiric form and was hanging upside down above the doorway.

"No one told me this was a Nightmare Night thing," Sterling remarked.

"I wasn't banking on a Nightmare Night thing in May," Sweet Tooth added.

"It's not," Tracker said reassuringly, "I just wanted to mess with you." He dropped down from the ceiling and looked up at them. Due to the age he had been when he was turned into a vampire, he looked much younger than the Pies, but his eyes said otherwise if you looked hard enough.

"Come on in!" he said more joyously, "The party's just getting started!"

"Thanks," Sugar Plum said. "So why a Next-Generation get together?"

"Screwy, much like your mother, is always looking for something to celebrate," Tracker said, "She decided to do this in celebration of our generation, as well as a kind of reunion party, in case we don't get to see each other as often in the future. After all, we are all grown up... Well, most of us."

"Mom says grown up is an exterior thing, it never has to be an interior thing!" Sterling said.

"And he took that WAY too seriously," Sweet Tooth mumbled.

Tracker chuckled, then ushered them inside. The inside room was unrealistically huge, but it wasn't too surprising considering that it was where Discord lived as well. There were plenty of games, food tables, drinks, and more. In the center of the room was a large dance floor. It was stunning.

"Maybe a bit overkill," a female voice said nearby, "but it's great for a party."

The figure in question stepped forward, revealing a pink female alicorn. Flurry Heart gave a warm smile and added, "It sure beats the palace in the Crystal Empire."

"Whoa, royalty! Should we be bowing?" Sterling asked.

"Mom and Dad are royalty, do we bow whenever we see them?" Sweet Tooth asked sharply.

"Dad told me to do that, did he not tell you guys?" Sterling said.

Flurry giggled. "There's no need for the formalities, my friends. I'd actually prefer that you didn't bow. It makes me forget about being a Princess and the stress that comes with it."

"A penthouse suite sized bedroom in a palace made of crystal sounds real stressful." Sweet Tooth said flatly.

"Don't be rude." Sugar Plum scolded.

Flurry Heart chuckled. "It's not as great as it sounds. It gets boring after a while."

"Now you guys know why Diana and I don't like being treated like royalty," another voice replied. Soon after, Zach flew down form the ceiling above to join in.

"Hey everyone," he said, "Glad you could make it."

"We almost couldn't. Sterling took forever deciding what tie to wear," Sweet Tooth said. What was ironic was that Sterling wasn't even wearing a tie.

"I then remembered I don't own any ties and I just wasted our time!" He laughed.

"How can someone forget that they don't own a tie?" Flurry asked.

"Knowing the Pies Cousin Flurry, that's probably a pointless question to ask," Zach answered.

"Well, here's the thing, I thought I owned a tie because I remembered wearing one. Then I remembered that was a dream I had where I became the world renowned inventor of the licorice tie," Sterling explained.

"Maybe you could work with Daddy!" Screwball called from across the room, "Your dreams alone sound chaotic enough for him to give you a good place to work with!"

"Hmmm, I see the licorice tie more as a pipe dream to get at later on. My current work is pretty stable," Sterling said. "But I'd be happy to have a business partner, like Simon and Garfield."

"I don't think you got that right," Sweet Tooth said.

"Dad definitely said Simon and Garfield," Sterling shook his head.

Zach just shook his head in amusement, then added, "Well, all that aside, who's ready for a good night of fun?"

"I'll take you on at Twister!" Screwball challenged.

"Ha! In your sleep!" Zach retaliated.

"Twister? As I always say: "Bippity Boppity Bring it on!" Sweet Tooth exclaimed.

"You never say that," Sugar Plum said.

"I always say, that starting now," she replied.

And with that, the party started getting into full swing. Turned out, even with Sweet Tooth's Changeling powers or Zach's own Chaos, Screwball was the undefeated champion at Twister. However, on the dance floor, surprisingly, Flurry proved to be the best of the group.

"I took lessons outside of the Crystal Empire now and then," she explained, "I almost thought that I'd get my Cutie Mark from it once."

"I once got dance lessons from Dad. I thought they were dance lessons, but turns out a bug flew in his ear and he was trying to get it out," Sterling explained, "Probably why he kept screaming."

"I learned three new cuss words that day, and two of them were the really good ones," Sweet Tooth added.

"The more you know," Flurry muttered. Just then, something flew past them at a wicked fast pace and perched on top of one of the loud speakers in the room. It so happened to be Tracker.

"Alright everypony, listen up!" Tracker called from his perch, "It's time for a bit of a slow dance. Grab yourself a partner and sway in time with the music. Or whatever you guys do; in all honesty, this is my first time saying something like this, but Screwy insisted."

"Don't be shy!" Screwball added, teleporting next to him in a cloud of confetti, "I see plenty of young couples out there, some of which have been around since kindergarten. No excuses this time, boys!"

"Should've seen that coming," a nearby unicorn colt said with a chuckle. He was about seventeen years old.

"Partners dance? Aww, nopony told me, I could have brought the gumball ball!" Sterling whined.

"I told dad to throw that thing out," Sweet Tooth whispered to her sister. "His obsession is becoming creepy."

"Not that kind of partner, Sterling," Flurry giggled. "They mean with actual ponies. Or Changelings for some of you."

As if on cue, somepony tapped Flurry on the shoulder and she turned to the pony in question. It happened to be Pound Cake, the pegasus son of Mr and Mrs. Cake.

"Excuse me, but may I have this next dance?" the pegasus asked. Flurry smiled and took his hoof.

"You most certainly may."

Zach watched as the two of them walked out to join some of the couples who were already out on the dance floor.

"I knew those two were a thing," he said aloud.

Sterling gulped and stammered, approaching the pale yellow earth pony, Applebloom.

"Um, hey, Ms... Um... Bloom, I was wondering, if... maybe I could kind of..." He stammered.

"Sure," she said dimply with a smile.

"Huh, who knew?" Zach stated aloud as the two marched out onto the dance floor. He then looked around and noticed his sister off in a corner of the room. If she had a partner, he hadn't shown up yet. It didn't seem to be bothering her for the time being, thankfully, but in a sense Zach still felt sorry for his sister. Sweet Tooth sympathized with her too, for she didn't have a partner either. She walked over to have a chat with her, if anything, by exchanging notes. She smiled as if to say hello as she approached her. Diana didn't notice her at first until she was a few feet away. But considering that she was deaf, it wasn't too surprising.

"Oh, hello Sweet Tooth," Diana greeted the Changeling, "How are you?"

"Not bad," Sweet Tooth replied. She was using her Changeling magic to communicate telepathically. "How are you?"

"I'm doing fine," Diana replied. She then giggled and said, "You don't have to communicate telepathically, you know. You're close enough for Zach's spell to pick you up."

"Thank Celestia, that spell always gives me a migraine." She said with a sigh of relief. "What's up?"

Diana looked out at the couples and smiled. "Guess you don't have a partner either, huh?"

"Nope. Even Sterling has one, and his best friend is a fifty pound ball of gum," She sighed.

"Well, I could probably understand myself, but you?" Diana looked to Sweet Tooth. "Changeling or not, you are beautiful. As my dad would probably put it, you're knockout-gorgeous. I'm surprised nopony's asked you out yet."

"Might be my abrasive personality. My dad says it's a good quality, but it seems to scare most colts and male Changelings off." She mumbled.

Diana gave a laugh. "Didn't seem to scare your friends off even as children," she replied, "Otherwise, we wouldn't be here." She sighed as she looked out at the dancing couples. "You know, as a filly, I think the closest I ever got to a coltfriend was Plank. I always looked up to him almost like my best friend, next to you guys of course. I mean, how could you not like him? He's the nicest Timberwolf around, one of a kind."

"Why don't you come to singles night at the bar? There's always eligible young stallions there." She suggested. Diana shook her head.

"As much as I like the tavern, that's not really my thing." She closed her eyes and seemed to be listening to something far away, a sweet tone that only she could hear, ironic though that seemed. "I'd take the outdoors any day. The cool summer breeze, the warmth of the sun on your skin, the softness of the grass..."

Diana sighed again as a smile crossed her face. Sometimes, it was hard to believe that she was very much like a nature-lover.

"You really like plants huh?" Sweet Tooth asked.

"Plants, animals, nature itself," Diana answered, "I've always seemed to be more at ease in the great outdoors. I don't believe I ever told you this before, but when I was only three years old, I remember sneaking out at night to sleep in the Everfree forest. Of course, I wasn't as sneaky as I thought. Mom and Dad figured it out quickly, but they never went after me. I soon figured out why when I met Plank for the first time." Diana opened her eyes to look into the Changeling's own eyes. "Even when I thought I was alone, he was always nearby, watching over me, protecting me... as if I was his own cub. I guess that explains why I have such an emotional attachment to him. He's the best friend I could've asked for..."

Diana trailed off as she said this and looked out a nearby window as she finished.

"It's nights like this when I miss him the most."

"Oh... I'm sorry." Sweet Tooth said apologetically.

"Sorry?" Diana looked at her in confusion. "What are you sorry for? You haven't done anything wrong."

"Yeah but I mean, it's gotta suck, the only death in my family I had to deal with is Grandpa Hornet, and I didn't even know he was my grandpa until he died," She explained.

"Wait..." Diana realized what was happening and broke into a laugh. "Plank's not dead, if that's what you're implying Sweet Tooth! He's alive and well, last I checked on him! Timberwolves can live forever if they choose."

"I was talking about your parents, your birth parents," She said bluntly.

"Oh..." Diana's smile fell for a moment. "I never knew my birth parents. They died when I was still an infant. From what I heard, they were killed by a group of creatures that leave no trace of their victims. Fog Lurkers, is what they were called. I was spared only due to my disability. They don't harm creatures who are deaf or blind." Diana's smile returned and she chuckled again. "You know, it wasn't very long at all before I learned the truth. But I didn't care when I did find out."

"That's a good thing I guess," She said.

"So, what do you suppose we do now?" Diana asked. "I mean, unless you want to help my brother win over your sister, I've got nothing. Also, last I checked, interfering with those kind of things is usually not a smart idea."

"I don't think much help is needed. All he really needs do is ask, she'll say yes," Sweet Tooth said.

"That's the problem though," Diana noted, "He's scared. You must understand, he's the son of a being who tried to conquer all of Equestria and beyond. A being who would've succeeded too, if Mom hadn't changed his heart. As such, Zach's scared of what he might do to her. He doesn't want to give the wrong impression either." Diana looked towards her brother, who was staring in Sugar Plum's direction. "You probably don't remember, for you and Sterling were still foals at the time... but Zach sometimes feels like he has a great burden to bear: making amends for Dad's past mistakes. THAT is why he's afraid."

"Like how I had to apologize to all the colts and fillies on the playground when Dad passed out there after binge drinking that one time?" Sweet Tooth asked.

"Something like that," Diana nodded. "Only, with a higher bar set in place."

"Well, regardless, I doubt Sugar Plum really cares about all of that," Sweet Tooth shrugged.

Diana giggled. "That's what he can't seem to get into that skull of his."

Diana then stood up and looked to Sweet Tooth.

"Well, I guess I'm off," she said, then gave a wink, "If Screwball asks, tell her I found somepony to be my partner."

"Oh, well, okay. See ya!" Sweet Tooth waved.

Diana waved back, then phased through the walls nearby as if she was a ghost.

Seriously, you'd almost think she WAS a ghost. Right Sweet Tooth? Or, can you not hear me like TD and your mother can?

"AAAUGH! Who said that!?" Sterling cried out, earning a look from his dance partner.

"Sorry Sterling!" a booming voice said out of nowhere that everyone could hear, "Should've figured. Apologies everypony. Go back to your lovely evening. Forget I was ever here."

"Kinda hard to do that in my case," Zach muttered.

Not cool, Zachary.

"I don't know, it was kind of cool," Sterling shrugged.

Zach just chuckled, then lost his smile for a moment. He trotted outside the doors, but not to leave. However, it caught the attention of a few individuals who knew what his problem was.

"Go to him," Tracker said to Sugar Plum, suddenly appearing by her side. He had come over to her so silently, she hadn't noticed him at first.

"Agh!" She remarked in surprise. "Oh, yeah, I will."

Tracker smiled as he watched her leave in the direction of the chaotic pegasus, then returned to Screwball's side.

"Do you think it'll work out?" he asked her.

"It better," Screwball said playfully, "Otherwise I bet my soul for nothing."

"You...huh?"

"Just kidding! Now, let's go! Somepony owes me a dance..."

"Uh, hey." Sugar Plum said as she approached him.

"Oh, hey Sugar Plum," Zach said, a small smile forming on his face upon noticing her. "What brings you out here?"

"My legs, I guess," She said. "You?"

Zach laughed, then sighed. "I was thinking. I've... had a lot on my mind."

He seemed sad, maybe slightly fearful too.

"Like what?" She asked.

"Like..." Zach paused hesitantly. How was he supposed to tell her? "Like... us..."

"Oh?" She asked.

"Yes, but... that's what scares me." Zach looked Sugar Plum in the eyes, giving her his full attention. In the night air, his draconic eyes glowed brightly, giving off his caring expression in them.

"Sugar Plum... what am I to you?" He asked. "Like, what's my worth to you..?"

"I mean, I've known you for almost twenty years, so you're like my closest friend ever. But I mean... wait, what am I to you?" She asked.

Zach sighed. "A treasure beyond compare, one which I could only dream to be a reality..."

He looked down at the ground, and a tear ran down his cheek.

"One that I could never claim as my own... because of what I am..."

"What do you mean?" She asked slowly. "Never claim?"

"I... am... a monster," Zach said tearfully, "The power I possess... it's meant to destroy. Much like my father, I could destroy this entire world in the blink of an eye... and nothing could stop me. I may be caring and gentle by nature, but I also have a darker side to me too, one that you've seen before. It surprises me sometimes that none of you have run away in fear of me... knowing what I'm capable of..." Zach closed his eyes and turned his head away slightly. "That's why I could never hope... to be with anyone... like you..."

"You aren't a monster..." She said sympathetically.

"How can you know that?" Zach asked her. "How come you haven't feared me yet? My powers-"

"Who cares about powers? Just because you can do something doesn't mean you will. Technically I can set fire to the Everfree Forest. Doesn't mean I will," She said.

"But it's different for me," he countered, "I have to bear the burden of keeping true to my father's reputation. Do you know how hard it is to try and prove that you're not like your father was before?"

Sugar Plum thought back to one time twelve years earlier, when her dad, Chuck, stumbled in drunkenly to "career day" at school.

"I know the feeling," She mumbled.

Zach was silent. He didn't know how to reply to that. He didn't realize how much in common she shared such a task.

"I- I never realized-" He sighed, "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Oh well, I love my dad. I really do!" She stammered quickly. "He's a really great guy, he just does really stupid things sometimes. To be fair, he didn't know it was career day until that morning. If he had known, he wouldn't have been... y'know."

Zach nodded, then looked out at the night sky.

"I guess I could say the same about my dad," he said, "It's true he made mistakes in the past, and he still does make mistakes, but at least he is sorry for them. I once heard him tell Mom that if it was possible, he'd take it all back just for her..."

"I know my dad feels sorry; it actually makes me feel sad. He dwells on his mistakes. It took him until I was ten before he considered himself to be a good parent," She said.

"Yikes," Zach muttered. "I don't think my dad's truly gotten over his past deeds. I just hope that... I can be strong enough to not make the same choices."

"Sometimes, all you can do is hope," Sugar Plum said.

"Yeah..." Zach looked to her, then looked away again. A cricket was heard chirping nearby, but as soon as it did, Zach smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, magic reaction," he said, "I'm feeling a little awkward right now."

He spread his wings and they glowed, a few seconds later the cricket chirps stopped.

"Why?" She asked. "Why are you feeling awkward?"

"Because I... want to ask you something, and... I don't know how you'll take it," Zach explained.

I think I know what it is...

"Author, for once, just stop," Zach said, while looking at the screen you guys are reading.

Alright, fine! But I'll be watching you...

"You'll never know what I'll say until you tell me," Sugar Plum said.

"True," Zach said, and took a deep breath.

Here goes nothing, he thought to himself.

"Sugar Plum, in the twenty or so years I've known you, you have remained my closest of friends. The night I first met you as a colt..." He blushed a bit, "I thought you were the prettiest filly I had ever met. And considering how many I had seen before at the orphanage or in the neighborhood, that's saying a lot."

"Well, thank you Zach," She smiled.

"There's more to it than that," he said, "When I learned about your fear of being sold or given up because you were adopted, I... felt obligated to essentially... care for your welfare. I guess it's part of my nature as the gentler side of Chaos. But... eventually..."

Zach blushed a bit, the red in his face contrasting with the blue and green stripes in his coat.

"...I felt more than just an obligation to protect you. It was... something more. I tried to shrug it off, thought it wasn't possible. But... well, you know what eventually happened: I realized the truth. And that's something I wanted to ask you."

Zach looked her in the eyes again, his own glowing eyes asking the question he was thinking before it was voiced: "Do you love me?"

"Y-y-yes," She blushed softly. "I do."

"How long?" he asked gently.

"The night Grandpa Hornet died is when I knew. His death was unrelated to that. Obviously."

"I thought so," Zach chuckled, then sighed. "For me... I believe it was the night I gave you that first dance, high above the heads of your parents." He blushed himself. "Kinda ridiculous, at that age. I guess that's one flaw about having a power that makes you more mature mentally than you are physically."

"Tell me about it..." Sugar Plum chuckled a little. "So... does that make us..?"

"Together?" He asked.

"I'd say it does," She nodded.

Zach smiled. "I... guess this has been long overdue... but..."

He stopped, as if stumbling over his words.

"Yeah?" She asked.

"Will you be... my special somepony?"

Zach felt as if a looming pressure had been removed and another presence had replaced it, waiting for an answer.

"Yes, absolutely yes," She smiled warmly.

Zach smiled as well.

"So, what now? Do we hug? Kiss? I'm kinda new to this..."

Without answering, Sugar Plum kissed him on the cheek and giggled.

Zach was surprised for a second, then smiled again.

"Guess that answers my question," he said aloud. He looked back inside the castle behind him, then to Sugar Plum.

"It looks like they've still got time before they close up the party, so... may I have this next dance?"

"Yes, you may." She smiled.

Taking her hoof in his own, Zach and Sugar Plum both walked back into the castle to join the other couples, unaware that they had been watched from a distance.

"About time you came clean, brother," Diana said with a chuckle from behind a tree. "I'd say that confession was over ten years overdue. But nevertheless, I wish only the best for you both."

As soon as she finished saying that however, she felt somewhat sad. She didn't have anypony to share such feelings with herself... or at least none that she could recollect. And the same went with Sweet Tooth. Would she ever find a special somepony? Diana sighed. Only time would tell... however long it would take.

"Look who grew the guts," Sweet Tooth chuckled upon seeing them.

"I know, right?" Screwball joined in with her, Tracker beside her. "I mean, no offense, but it was pretty obvious that he liked her from the start. I'm just glad that he decided to finally talk about it."

"So, when do you ladies predict the wedding to come around?" Tracker asked.

"I give them a few more months," Screwball bet, "What about you Sweet Tooth?"

"Till the wedding? It took mom and dad a year of dating before they got married, but who knows with these crazy kids," Sterling remarked.

"We wasn't talking to you," Tracker said in an impressive Gollum voice.

"Tracky, don't be rude," Screwball warned.

"Sterling's got a point. If Sugar Plum is anything like mom and dad, it might take a while," Sweet Tooth said.

"True, and Aunt Twilight didn't marry Uncle for almost just as long as well," Screwball noted, "But hey! Times change. You never know how things might turn up for us."

"That, and a huge chunk of marriages end in-" Sterling was cut off by Sweet Tooth shoving a muffin in his mouth.

"Death usually," She said. Screwball laughed, then noticed that most of the ponies present seemed to be either passed out or leaving. A megaphone appeared in her front hoof and she spoke into it.

"Thank you everypony for coming! I hope you had a wonderful evening. Good night, and go find a private spot to be with your partner if you're that desperate!" She then made the megaphone disappear. "All that's left now is cleanup duty. And that's easily taken care of here."

"With magic right? I'm not all that hard a worker," Sterling said.

"It's true; once he went seventy two hours without moving," Sweet Tooth said.

"Even without magic, I wouldn't ask you to help me," Screwball said. Suddenly, in a flash of light, several clones of Screwball with hard hats appeared.

"Okay girls!" the original Screwball ordered, "I want this place cleaned from top to bottom before Mommy and Daddy get home! That means not even a single strand of confetti on the floors! Now, move!"

The clones took off in different directions, causing a large cloud of dust to appear in the room. Nobody could see what was happening, but the sound of hammers, drills, and other tools were heard several times through the cloud. When the dust cleared, the clones had disappeared, but so had any trace of the previous party. Zach, who was standing roughly in the center of the room with Sugar Plum, chuckled.

"I'm a being of Chaos myself, yet I have no idea what just happened," he answered honestly.

"I had a bean of chaos once. That was a terrible experience," Sterling remarked.

"He said being, Sterling," Sweet Tooth said flatly.

Ignore him children, for he knows not what he says.

"Are you bored Author?" Zach asked.

No. Why?

"Because barging in out of the blue for no reason equals 'bored' for a lot of ponies here."

"Or suspicious. One time, dad was suspicious of, like, everyone in our family and he kept kicking in doors whenever he would enter a room. He thought we were all taking money from the bar, but turns out it was him offering discounts," Sweet Tooth said.

Chuck can be pretty paranoid at times-

"Okay, we get it," Zach interrupted, "Besides, you should be careful. Remember, Sterling can hear you too, and Aunt Pinkie Pie."

Right. Forgot about that. Well, then I guess...bye? Question mark?

"The guy gets so paranoid!" Sterling laughed. "Once I told him his mother was here in Equestria and he hid us all in the storm cellar for a week!"

"Seriously?" Tracker looked at Sterling. "Wow. And I thought growing up on a rock farm was bad, No offense."

"Mommy issues." Sugar Plum said. "We've met grandpa on his side, but nobody else that I can remember. He's told us about them though."

"He tells those stories on two occasions: Nightmare Night at spooky story sharing, or after he spends more than an hour in his lounge." Sweet Tooth said.

"By then, all the bourbon makes him a really sad open book," Sugar Plum said.

"I hear you on that," Zach said. A watch suddenly appeared on his foreleg and he looked to Sugar Plum.

"That's Dad telling me that I don't have much longer."

"Wanna walk me home first?" Sugar Plum asked.

Zach smiled as he took her hoof. "It would be my pleasure. And this time, we're taking the long way home."

"I'm guessing that means no teleportation, right?" Tracker inquired. Zach's answer was a nod.

"I remember the last time I took the long way home," Sterling said. "I ended up on the train to Manehattan."

"How'd you end up on a train to Manehattan?" Sweet Tooth asked.

"I was following somepony who kind of looked like dad, but then it turned out she was a mare," Sterling said.

"Dad does have a kind of feminine walk," Sugar Plum remarked.

Zach laughed. "Well, cya around Screwy! Thanks for the party."

"No problem, Zachy," she said with a smile. She gave him a hoofbump, then Zach looked back to Sugar Plum.

"You ready?" he asked.

"Yeah, don't wait up you two!" She said to her little siblings.

"C'mon sis, we'll have an afterparty in dad's lounge." Sterling said.

"We're stealing his cigars?" Sweet Tooth asked.

"No! But all the good jazz records are there," Sterling explained as they walked off.

Screwball and Tracker laughed as they watched them leave.

"He probably should've offered to fly her home," Tracker suggested.

"Who knows? It's quite a ways to Ponyville," Screwball stated. "She may ask him or he ask her."

"Maybe..." Tracker looked to Screwball as he suddenly realized something.

"Uh...we're alone now..."

"Oh..." Screwball looked around and blushed. "Guess they won't be the only ones having a night out."

"Fine by me," the vampire said, "So long as you don't ask to do more than five rounds of Twister."

Screwball giggled as they got out the Twister mat.

"It's a deal."

Yay! I love doing collabs!

Big thanks to Impressionsguy for the help in this one! You're a real help!

Edit: I'm looking for some coverart for this story or any of my other stories. If you feel like you've got something, let me know through a PM along with a username to go to if possible. I prefer DeviantArt, but feel free to use any other means if you can't do that.

Keep up the good work! I'll see you next time!