In the meantime, Parasol lounges in the sun a little ways away from the Waterfall, unaware of the hubbub at Dream Castle. The drops of water trickling down the rocks make a pleasant dripping sound as they land in the azure pool beneath the rocky ledge that Parasol rests on. The pink pony stretches lazily in the sun, watching a pair of birds squabbling by the water's edge. Stretching, Parasol rises and trots along the edge of the river, enjoying the fine mist spraying up from it. Soon she sees an aqua pony leaning far over the bank at some fish swimming along the river. He doesn't notice her.
Parasol (slightly bored):
Hi Sunlight.
Sunlight (looking up suddenly):
Oh! Parasol!
In his surprise, Sunlight loses his balance and tumbles into the river. He quickly grabs the bank and drags himself out before Parasol can react.
Sunlight (blushing):
Uh . . . h-hi Parasol. I didn't get you wet, did I?
Parasol (raising an eyebrow):
No . . . you only got you wet.
Sunlight:
Oh good! I mean . . . uh . . . it's a nice day today, isn't it?
He blushes harder than ever.
Parasol (without interest):
Uh huh. Well, see you later.
Sunlight:
I hope so!
Sunlight sighs sappily, staring wistfully after Parasol.
Parasol trots up the bank towards Dream Castle. Before reaching the castle, she pauses, recognizing the powder blue unicorn in front of her.
Parasol:
Hey Sparkler, what's up?
Sparkler:
Hi Par! Ummm, there've been some . . . interesting things going on.
Parasol:
Yeah? Did Skydancer put salt in the sugar again or what?
Sparkler:
Welllll . . . not exactly.
Suddenly, another figure materializes out of the shadows. It's Moonstone, now decked out in a tux. He carries a bouquet of red roses in his mouth.
Parasol (sneering):
Well, if it isn't Prince Charming off to the ball!
Moonstone (dropping the bouquet by his feet and looking uncomfortable):
Uh . . . hi Parasol. I . . . I wanted to ask you something.
Parasol:
What--directions? Have you been in that smelly old workshop of yours so long you've forgotten
your way around Dream Valley?
For a minute Moonstone looks like he's going to explode, but he closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths. Then he picks up the roses and shoves them at Parasol.
Moonstone:
Here, these are for you.
Parasol (taking a step backwards and eyeing the roses suspiciously):
Okay, what's the trick? Did you mix poison ivy in with them?
Moonstone (taking a deep breath):
Parasol . . . Parasol . . . will you . . .
He trails off.
Parasol (sarcastically):
Houston, we have a problem! Transmission intercepted! Message incomplete!
Moonstone:
Parasol . . . will you marry me??
Parasol:
WHAT???
Sparkler:
Ohhhhh dear!
Moonstone (pathetically):
Pleeeeeease?
Parasol:
Maybe we should take him to the castle infirmary . . . because he's crazy if he thinks I'd
EVER marry him!!
Moonstone:
I was afraid you'd say that. Then again, I was also kind of hoping you'd say that.
Parasol (growling):
What are you playing at, Moonstone?
Sparkler:
Uh, Par . . . I REALLY think you should know about what the meeting at Dream Castle was about!
Parasol:
Meeting? What meeting?
Moonstone:
Um . . . goodbye!
Moonstone rushes off, leaving the roses behind.
Parasol (watching him leave):
What's WRONG with that unicorn??
Sparkler:
Well, I don't know for sure, but it might have somethin' to do with . . .
Suddenly, Quarterback trots out of the shadows with a bouquet of pink roses in his mouth.
Quarterback (brightly):
Hey Par! These are for you!
He drops the roses in front of her.
Parasol (frigidly):
That's Parasol. Only my friends call me Par.
Quarterback:
Whatever. Y'know, Parasol, you're a really pretty little mare.
Parasol (bristling at being called "little"):
Well, yippy skippy for me.
Quarterback:
And you have spirit, too. I like that.
Parasol (dangerously):
In a minute, your spirit's going to be separated from your body.
Quarterback (ignoring all the signs):
. . . so will you marry me, Parasol?
The look on Parasol's face defies description . . . it's somewhere between fury and disbelief.
Sparkler (indignantly):
Of course she doesn't want to marry you, you lunk!
Quarterback (looking hopefully at Parasol):
Are you sure?
Parasol (speaking slowly and carefully as she stalks towards Quarterback):
I . . . am going . . . to kill you.
Quarterback whimpers as the pink earth pony approaches him, then gives a shout of panic and bolts off into the distance, abandoning the roses.
Parasol:
WHAT is going ON???
Sparkler:
I tried to warn you, Par! Have you heard about the stranger in town?
Parasol (frowning):
Omen? Yeah, Quackers babbled something about him before I went to the waterfall.
Said he'd been here an hour or two and kept sighing sappily about how he's "so handsome".
Parasol rolls her eyes.
Parasol:
You'd never know that pony's mated to listen to her. Why? What does he have to do with any of
this? It sounds more like one of Skydancer's pranks to me.
Sparkler:
Well, it turns out Omen can see the future--and he predicted that Dream Valley would be
destroyed unless you got a mate!
Parasol:
WHAT???
Steamer (popping out of the undergrowth):
Hi Parasol! Wanna get married?
Parasol begins hyperventilating. Death shines in her eyes.
Steamer (hurrying away):
Guess not . . .
Parasol (her voice barely under control):
When I get through with that stranger . . .
Sparkler (shrugging helplessly):
But . . .
What if his prediction's true?
He predicted the collapse of the downstairs, too!
What if we all face doom
Unless you consent to find a groom?
Parasol (sarcastically):
Then there'll be a sale on graves and tombs!
Sparkler:
But what if he's genuine
And you have to fulfill this sign?
Or what if the thing is fate,
And you're destined to find a mate?
Parasol (haughtily sticking her nose in the air):
I'm not even going to join this debate!
Sparkler:
But Par!
What if--
Parasol:
Enough!
She stamps a hoof emphatically.
Parasol:
What if I'd eat a louse
Before becoming Steamer's spouse?
What if I'd rather run and hide
Than risk becoming Moonstone's bride?
Sparkler:
Well, yes, but the field of stallions is wide . . .
Parasol:
Oh? Well, what if I'd suffer on the rack
Before I married Quarterback?
Why, there's not a pony in all the land
I'm really certain I could stand!
Sparkler:
But Parasol, Majesty might demand . . .
Parasol:
HA! Majesty, with all her riches,
Can't force me against my wishes!
Let her argue long and shrill;
I know the law, and I'll quote it still:
"None shall marry against her will."
Sparkler sighs.
Sparkler:
I had a feeling you'd say that . . .
With a flash of yellow, Skydancer suddenly lands beside them.
Skydancer:
Hello, hello! Sparkler's been telling you the news, then, Parasol?
Parasol (very sourly):
Such as it is . . . yes.
Skydancer (eyeing the large pile of roses at Parasol's feet):
Yes, news does get around fast, doesn't it? (casually)
You haven't seen Moonstone around, have you?
Parasol (snorting):
Did I see him? Ohhhh yes, I saw him. Would you believe that he PROPOSED to me?
Skydancer (raising an eyebrow and becoming the picture of incredulity):
NO!
Parasol (disgusted):
Yes! I still can't believe it.
Skydancer (without much hope):
You didn't say yes, did you?
Parasol (indignant):
NO! I most certainly did NOT!
Skydancer (nodding):
As I suspected. And yet . . . well, never mind.
Parasol:
What?
Skydancer:
It's nothing, really, except . . .
Skydancer frowns thoughtfully at the sky.
Parasol (curious and impatient):
Except what?
Skydancer:
Well, you'll have to marry somebody; Majesty will probably insist.
Parasol snorts derisively.
Parasol:
I'd like to see her try. You know the law, Sky: "None shall marry against her will."
Skydancer:
But if it's a matter of public interest . . .
Parasol:
The law still stands and I'm standing by the law.
Skydancer (persisting):
But supposing the High Queen issues an edict?
Parasol (skeptically raising an eyebrow):
High Queen Tiffany? An edict forcing me to marry based on some bizarre prophecy? I just can't
picture that.
Sparkler:
But Par, some of Omen's predictions have already come true!
Parasol frowns.
Skydancer (seeing his chance):
Unlikely though it is, I just thought you might want to keep an open mind about
Moonstone--just in case.
Parasol (doubtfully):
Hmph.
Skydancer:
There are worse!
Parasol (suspiciously):
You seem very certain.
Skydancer (very thoughtfully):
Well, I wasn't thinking of anyone in particular . . . it's just that I thought I saw Tex
talking to Love Token about . . .
Sparkler:
About what?
Skydancer:
About a ring.
Parasol (exploding):
WHAT?? TEX?? That blithering idiot of a pony??? That ignorant moron???
Skydancer (hiding a grin):
That's the one! And you know, I could be wrong, but I seem to remember seeing him chatting
with Steamer and Quarterback recently, too.
Parasol (wrathfully):
Why, that two-faced son of a donkey! I see his trick! He thinks he can send his little
minions to "soften me up"! That manipulative bastard!
Skydancer:
Yes, how shocking!
Parasol:
It would serve him right if I did marry Moonstone. That would burst his little bubble,
wouldn't it?
Skydancer (enthusiastically):
It certainly would!
Sparkler:
But you hate Moonstone!
Parasol:
Ye-es . . . I wouldn't really marry him . . .
Skydancer:
But imagine the look on Tex's face!
Parasol (chuckling evilly):
Oh, I'm imagining it!
Skydancer:
I'll bet Tex would get a turn even if he just heard you were engaged--
Parasol (suddenly suspicious):
You're taking a very personal interest in this, Skydancer. What's your scheme?
Skydancer (innocently):
Scheme? Moi?
Sparkler (with a smile):
You're not fooling anyone. We remember who doused Wind Whistler with glow-in-the-dark paint
last week.
Parasol:
And tied Tex and 4-Speed together by the tail at breakfast the week before that.
Skydancer (ruffling his wings indignantly):
Well, really! I'm shocked that you--who know me so well--think that I might have an ulterior
motive!
Parasol (drily):
I'm looking for an ulterior motive because I know you so well. Why are you so keen on
getting me mated to Moonstone?
Skydancer:
Promised, not mated.
Parasol:
Whatever!
Skydancer:
Now, what possible reason would I have for wanting such a thing . . . unless it was in your best
interest?
Parasol:
The mind boggles.
Skydancer (reproachfully):
Parasol, Parasol! Such a cynic! Believe it or not, there are still ponies who only act
out of the goodness of their heart!
Parasol:
Yes, but are you one of them?
Skydancer:
What could I possibly gain from such atrocious manipulation?
Parasol:
Well . . .
Skydancer:
Do you really think I could have anything but your best interest in
mind?
Parasol (cautiously):
I suppose not. But sometimes that's more than enough.
Skydancer (grinning):
Just remember . . . Skydancer knows best!
He dodges a playful blow from Parasol.
Parasol:
Go on, you! Go torment someone else for a while!
Skydancer (flourishing his wings):
Your wish is my command!
This time he leaps into the air to avoid the blow. With a chuckle, he soars high into the sky, far beyond the little glen where the conversation took place, before doubling back and gliding in low and silently. He lands behind a copse of trees and bushes, close to the clearing, but out of sight. Applejack, Bubbles, and the rest of the smooth hooved conspirators crouch uncomfortably in the bushes, scratched by jagged branches and thistles. They are intently focused on the little clearing beyond them, and they peer cautiously through the lattice of branches and leaves.
Skydancer (creeping up behind them):
Pssst!
Bubbles:
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Sparkler (lifting her head and looking quizzically at the bushes):
What was that?
Skydancer (whispering):
Quick, back to Dream Castle! Stragety session!
With a flit of his wings he wheels off again, being careful to fly low, out of sight. The other males make a hasty exodus, running, flying, or winking away before Sparkler or Parasol spot them.
Back at Dream Castle, the stallions shake the leaves and dirt our of their fur.
Applejack (picking out brambles):
Ow! I'm going to be sore for weeks.
Bubbles (rubbing his ears):
Yeah, well at least Steamer didn't step on your HEAD!
Moonstone (futiley trying to brush the dust off his tux):
That was ridiculous! Of course Parasol would never marry me! And light knows I'd never WANT
her
to marry me! What was I THINKING?
Skydancer:
The plan is going perfectly, Moonie!
Moonstone:
My name's MOONSTONE, you birdbrained pegasus!
Skydancer:
Anyway, you don't have to get mated to her . . . you just has to get engaged to her.
Sprinkles:
What do you mean? The bet was . . .
Skydancer (grinning):
. . . that she'd accept a proposal from one of us before a proposal from one of them.
Nothing was said about actually getting married.
All the ponies pause a minute, mentally replaying the conversation.
Sunbeam:
Hey, you're right! You crafty old devil!
Skydancer (bowing):
Thank you, thank you!
Bubbles:
Mentioning Love Token was a stroke of genius . . . everyone knows she's the best ringmaker
in Dream Valley.
Scoops (skeptically):
Yes, but what if Parasol checks up on your little fib?
Skydancer (grinning):
Fib? Fib??? Surely you don't think an honorable pegasus like me would lie, do you?
All the stallions (without hesitation):
Yes!
Skydancer (shaking his head):
My, my, someone must have been dragging my name through the mud! For your information, fellows,
I did not utter one lie!
General snorts of disbelief greet this statement.
Skydancer:
It's true! And if I bend the truth a little . . . well, that's not my fault!
(sings) I just tell them what they want to hear!
Moonstone:
You said he asked about a ring!
Skydancer:
Well, that is a funny thing . . .
His grand-sire's ring needed resetting,
And that's the ring that he was getting . . .
But tell them what they want to hear!
Bubbles:
You said he talked to Steamer, too!
Skydancer:
Why, he did, it's perfectly true!
Of course, he also chatted with 4-Speed and Chief
(And Slugger, too, it's my belief) . . .
But tell them what they want to hear!
Sunbeam:
Yeah, but it's quite misleading . . .
Skydancer (laughing heartily):
Well, yes!
But when a rumor needs some feeding,
When the truth just won't quite do,
The best course of action--yes it's true!
--Is to tell them what they want to hear!
Oh yes! Tell them what they want to hear!
Sprinkles (muttering):
How come Sky always gets the most lines?
Skydancer (grinning):
I wrote the script.
Scoops:
So what next?
Skydancer:
Next we clean up Moonstone's tux so he'll be ready to go courting again tomorrow.
More flowers wouldn't hurt either . . .
Sunbeam:
Well, don't get them from Moondancer's garden unless you want to end up as a lawn ornament
until spring.
Sprinkles:
I just hope Blossom doesn't notice how quickly her roses are disappearing.
Moonstone (groaning):
You mean I have to get into this thing again tomorrow?
He plucks unhappily at his tuxedo.
Bubbles:
You have to look your best for the ladies, Moonstone! Ho ho ho!
Scoops:
Better look out! If Windy sees you all dressed up, we'll probably have to pry her
off with a crowbar!
Moonstone glares at Bubbles and Scoops.
Skydancer (hovering):
We'll meet tomorrow at dusk. See you then!
The stallions quickly disperse, thinking about tomorrow . . .