The Canterlot party invitation came the evening on the same day the crazy chaos had vanished. The white, dragonfly-winged horned pegasus figured she would go and ask the princess of Canterlot the 'who, what, where, when, how and why' of the sudden onslaught of randomness from the fabled Discord; Entity of Disharmony. The purple and blue maned, pony once again glanced at the box that held a result of the random events. It shimmered in the sunlight; gleaming with its fuchsia colored gem.
The others said it was an Element of Harmony, and it should be returned to Canterlot where it belonged. The Element, a fuchsia colored jewel carved in the shape of a pegasus wing sat within its casing on the shiny band of silver. The tiara now sat within a velvet purple box, awaiting its fate.
"What am I going to do now?" the pony, Fairydust, muttered to herself as she used her pristine white horn's magic to re-roll the scroll that her familiar – a two-foot long dragon-cat – had puked into existence.
Having passed the Magic School final test, Fairydust had used her magic to hatch the offered egg. It had surprised her instructors with what had laid within. Normally, unicorns magic-hatched something like an owl, a cat, a dragon, a dog or even a lizard; but she had magicked into birth a dragon-cat. She was proud to have her cragon; and named it Shly. The cragon had been with her ever since; and was Mystic Isle's receiving connection to Canterlot. The cragon used its own special powers to send and receive written messages from her mentor; Professor Hoof.
"Hiss-meow." Shly burped. He had delivered the message and was now playing with his custom-made banana toy.
"I suppose I should go ask the princess for her opinion, right, Shly?"
"Ffffffffffffffffrrrttt." The cragon answered; rolling onto his scaly back.
"You're right. I should take the Element of…whatever it is and ask." Fairydust kicked the used scroll under the table and trotted over to the velvet box, closing its lid with her horn magic. "I'll go tell my sister where I'm going and then you and I can go to Canterlot to figure things out!"
"Mrrrrrowww." Shly looked supremely bored and didn't care.
"DRAGONFLY!" Fairydust shouted aloud. "I'M GOING TO CANTERLOT, DO YOU WANNA COME WITH SHLY AND I?"
Elsewhere in their natural tree-palace, another voice came:
"Uh, sure! Why not!" The voice warbled from the sixth tier of pathway that spiraled around in the circumference of the hollow tree. "Should we go tell the girls?"
"NO! They'd all wanna go, and I don't wanna hear them whine the whole way." Fairydust latched shut the velvet box and stuffed it into a saddlebag that draped itself over her equine back. "Some of them are gonna follow us anyway."
"Yea, whatever." Dragonfly, Fairydust's twin, fluttered down on the first tier and tossed her purple and teal mane. "Hi there, Shly."
"Mrrrrrrrrr." The cragon oozed boredom as he glared mournfully at the white haired and dragonfly marked twin.
"Oh come now, Shly, I'm sure the Canterlot princess will explain how Discord managed to get loose and changed your naner toy into a flower." The second white horned pegasus laughed. "She must have done something to stem the tide of Discord; because your toy changed back."
"Well, then, let's get going." The black and white cragon rolled onto his furry, clawed paws. "I have to tell that snooty princess just how bad it really was."
"Will you two get it in gear!" Fairydust snorted from the tree's entrance. "It's only ten minutes until the party starts."
"PARTY!" Shly yowled and zoomed out the door. "I LOVE PARTIES!"
"Oh brother, does he even know the direction we're taking?" Dragonfly muttered as her sister shut the door behind them.
"Nope. But if we fly, and scoop him up in transit, we'll be there before you know it!"
"Then let's get going!" Dragonfly giggled; working her dragonfly-isque wings to lift her into the air.
"Yes, let's." Fairydust agreed.
AtCanterlotCastle:
Glittermind didn't know what to make of the ceremony an hour ago. She, the Mane Six, Color Jam and Butterpond had all received recognition for their valiant efforts in defeating Discord. Hordes of brightly colored ponies; both colt and filly, had cheered them on as the gorgeous princess Celestia had rewarded the Ponyville heroes.
Color Jam and Butterpond had introduced themselves moments before the ceremony and Glittermind finally was able to tell them her name. Color Jam thought it was a unique name, and had whispered a piece of critical advice: 'Never say the word: b – u – t – t – e – r around Butterpond.' Glittermind still didn't understand why Color Jam said this.
It was now a natural evening and things were in full swing. Glittermind had her hooves full of ponies getting in her long face, asking many questions. Some ponies inquired about where she came from, since she was a new face – the newest – and thus the center of that dreaded crowd's attention. Other mentioned of her lack of Cutie-mark, leaving her feeling rather embarrassed.
The crowd that gathered around her was becoming overwhelming. Apparently, Glittermind went from hero to oddity; her lack of a Cutie-mark became the focus of conversations. Looking on the high dais, where Princess Celestia was standing, STILL talking to Twilight Sparkle, Glittermind farted when Pinkie-Pie came to her rescue. The pink pony shoved her way through the throng of stuffy, up-tight-wads of sophisticated ponies.
"Wow, that wasn't what I expected." The pink pony looked askew at Glittermind. "You must be really, really nervous."
"Uhh…" Glittermind's brain froze from the horror of an absolute social blunder. However, the natural reaction proved to be a solution – the fart drove away the crown of ponies. It seems they couldn't handle such crudeness.
"Pinkie, Pie right?" Glittermind twisted her ears against her skull; completely embarrassed.
"Yup! That's my name, it won't ever wear out!" The balloon-marked pony smiled.
"Why am I still here? I don't know why I'm even here to begin with."
"Well, duh!" Pinkie-Pie looked serious. "You're here to because our newest friend! As soon as Twilight Sparkle finishes her report to the princess, the princess wants to talk to you."
"Uh, ok, I guess. My mind is spinning in confusion…" Glittermind followed after Pinkie-Pie as the bubbly pony trotted towards the table of sweets closest to them."
"I'll bet!" Pinkie Pie laughed, picking out a pink and black decorated cupcake. "Here, eat this first and then tell your new friend Pinkie-Pie all about yourself!"
Glittermind opened her mouth only to have Pinkie Pie shove the cupcake into it.
"Agggghhhhh…"
"I mean, I couldn't throw you a party since we were all busy fighting Discord and stuff, and I was grey when I first met you, so I wasn't quite myself. But I hope this celebration party can count as your welcoming party, because I haven't had the time to set one up just for you!" the pink pony's voice ran at a nice clip as she spouted off her words. "Rainbow Dash says her friend Color Jam says your name it Glittermind, right?"
"Yea." Glittermind managed to answer amidst her mouth full of tongue-watering cupcake.
"Well, that's cool. I was afraid I would have to call you something like 'Hay You' or 'New Pony' or even ' pony' or something like that. But that wouldn't be nice. Here try this cake, its SOOOO good!" Pinkie-Pie pointed to a three-tiered, circular white cake sitting in the middle of the table.
"Uh, ok." Glittermind's mind was rather low-key numb; so she was susceptible to Pinkie Pie's suggestions. She watched as the pink pony dug right in, slamming her face into the cake and chomping off a huge bite.
"Hwere, ywo gotta twie thiw, it'w wwwoooo gooood!"
For the lack of thinking up anything better, Glittermind followed Pinkie's lead and glomped her own face into the cake; biting off a mouthful of heaven.
"Uoooooooo!" Glittermind's mouth exploded with the sugary confection.
"Sweeet! That was soo cool!" Pinkie looked at her with eyes of pure adoration. "No pony has even mimicked me like that before! You are going to be super awesome to hang out with!"
"Tch, Pinkie Pie, you are so random!" the happy voice of none other than Rainbow Dash cut into their conversation. "Don't get so crazy that you scare off the new pony."
"Awh, Dashie, I would never scare off a new friend!" Pinkie leaned her equine body against Glittermind's and giggled. "I rescued her from the other scary-scary ponies that were gonna tease her for being a blank flank."
If one pony thought about it, it was uncannily scary how acute Pinkie Pie's intuition was. The snooty crowd of Canterlot-nobles were certainly leaning towards that line of bullying.
"Uh, look, I….um…don't really know why I don't have a Cutie-mark or why I'm a pony or even how I got here." Glittermind's ears went back once again, as the overwhelming presence of Rainbow Dash got to her.
"Pffft, of course you wouldn't, the princess said you weren't a real pony." R.D. stated fact. "That's why Twilight S. is still talking with the princess."
"What? Not a real pony!" Pinkie Pie sounded outraged on Glittermind's behalf. "Of COURSE she's a REAL pony. What other thing WOULD she be?"
"Wai-wait Pinkie Pie, that's not what I meant…" Dash took a step back and the pink-party master glared at her. "What I meant was that Glittermind is wrapped up in a mystery."
"Oh, well, why didn't you SAY so in the first place." P.P. looked relieved and went back to G.M.'s side; releasing a giggle. "Whew, for a second there, I thought Dashie was being mean to my new friend!"
"Uh, I guess because…uh…" G.M.'s mind had official checked out for the party and the teal and cyan pony didn't know what to say.
"So why DON'T you have a cutie-mark, I mean, all fillies and colts get them when they are younger; and you look like a grown up pony." P-Pie asked innocently. "Did that nasty old Discord steal your Cutie-mark?"
"No, I…"
"Rainbow Dash, Pinkie-Pie, Glittermind; there you ponies are." The purple and green face of the previously seen dragon, Spike, appeared next to them. "Twilight Sparkle sent me to get you guys. The princess finally can talk to you about your – your…" Spike became dreamy eyed as he continued to stare at Glittermind. "You're so beautiful…"
"Uh, thanks?" G.M. looked abashed as the foot long dragon made oogly eyes at her.
"Awh, Spike has another crush!" P-Pie giggled again. "Isn't that so cute?"
"What!" Spike snapped out of it. "I do not have a crush on Glittermind…"
"Uh-huh, sure ya don't." R. D. chuckled along with Pie. "Look at Glitters again and say that."
"I don't have a crush on Glitter-…" Spike's eyes flew off into Loveland once more and he fluttered his reptilian wings to bring him closer to Glittermind's face. "Glittermind…"
"SPIKE!" Twilight's voice rang from further away. "We haven't got all day here."
"Oh, right!" Spike snapped out of it again and turned towards the voice of his mentor, Twilight Sparkle. "The princess wants to talk to you about your appearance here and how you managed to make the newer Elements of Harmony appear."
"Uh, ok, I guess I'll tell my side of the story, but I don't see how that will help things." Glittermind looked at Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, then the used cake. Stepping forward to nom another huge bite of the creamy delight, Glittermind smiled shyly as Pinkie Pie fell on the floor laughing in joy. "I'm ready now."
Walking into the throne room was very unlike the cartoon. This was the real deal; using real materials. The pink-swirled marble echoed their hooves sounds elegantly as Twilight Sparkle led the Mane 5 plus 3 to the throne of Princess Celestia. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Butterpond, Color Jam, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Spike, Pinkie Pie and Glittermind all walked down that velvety red carpet that was as long as the twelve stained-glass windowed hall – twelve on each side made a total of twenty four. The carpet ran up the steps – five white-marbled steps – and under the humanoid sitting throne of gold.
Golden armored white ponies stood at intervals; six on each side of the length of the long hallway. Glittermind was impressed. If she still has her human body, it would take twice the amount of steps to get to the beautiful full-grown mare at the end. As it were, she was now presented to the mare with the mane of sunrise colors to tell her story.
"Welcome, my little ponies." The regally gold-tiara-ed Celestia turned to face them. The whiteness of her horse hair nearly matched Shadowfax; the king of horses in the dimension of Middle Earth – where she came from three dimensions prior.
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight Sparkle smiled with her pony lips and bowed. Her friends, Color Jam and Butterpond followed suit; leaving Glittermind alone and feeling awkward in her skin.
"Uh, I'm kind of…NEW…here, so forgive me if I don't bow, Celestia-hime-sama." Glittermind lowered her ears in nervousness. "I'm afraid I'd fall over with my pony body."
"What kind of talk is that?" Applejack looked oddly at the teal and cyan unicorn. "If you wanna be calling the princess names, then…"
"Relax, A.J." T-P cleared her throat. "This only proves that Miss Glittermind is more than what she seems."
"Indeed." Celestia stepped down off the dais and smiled brightly. "My student is right. Miss Glittermind isn't all pony."
"Well that's silly!" interrupted. "She looks all pony…unicorn…to me!"
"Well, you see, Pie-chan…" Glittermind turned to the Mane Sixth pony that she felt most comfortable with. "I'm a spy; an alien spy. I've been sent here to steal your brains for mysterious research."
Pinkie Pie screamed in shock; which sent poor Fluttershy into a quivering mess on the floor behind Rarity. A.J. and Color Jam gave G.M. a dirty look while Butterpond and Dash fell on the floor laughing at the joke.
"Oh please!" Sparkle rolled her equine eyes and stamped a hoof. "Pinkie-Pie, would you STOP screaming and be quiet for a moment. "Miss Glittermind was only joking."
"Yea I kind of was…sorry. I was trying to break the ice socially." G.M. gave a weak laugh.
"I knew that. I was playing along." Pie smiled at G.M. "I know you're not a pony; but you are, but you're a pony who is not a pony."
Glittermind was absolutely exhausted; and that caused her to run her mouth and say something stupid like being an alien spy. It was the bad choice to take in first speaking in front of such a lovely specimen of mare. Even worse, was the fact she had nothing to eat except a cupcake and half a white cake. Finally, the crippling factor, Glittermind was in a new situation; the center of attention of a strange group of ponies. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and fall asleep.
"Look, I know…" An awkward pause. "You want to know my story, but cant this wait until tomorrow. Being a talking pony is something I've never done before and I've been running on adrenaline and sugar since Discord woke me up."
"Hay, you can't talk to the princess like that!" Dash snorted. "That's rude."
"Rainbow Dash, it's ok." The princess calmed the rainbow pegasus.
Color Jam and Butterpond stepped up next to their new friend.
"Rainbow Dash, relax. We don't wanna fight over this, ok?" C.J. intoned lightly. "I'm sure Glittermind is really tired after helping you ponies defeat Discord. How about I tell you how I came upon Glittermind and how she was near Discord?"
"Sounds like a deal to me." Dash jumped to agree.
"Great, Butterpond, can you take Glittermind to our Canterlot room for the night?"
"Ok." Butterpond's voice was silky smooth; like butter. "Don't let these ponies bully you, ok, Color?"
"Yea, ok." The black pegasus answered back.
Twilight Sparkle was surprised to see the two newer ponies jumping in to defend the mysterious unicorn. But the pegasus was right, Glittermind did look about ready to drop asleep on her hooves.
"Yea, that sounds like a better idea." T.P. turned to her princess. "Princess, Color Jam is right, Miss Glittermind needs to sleep, and eat a healthy morning meal before telling us her story."
"Very well, Twilight Sparkle. You and your friends can spend the night here, at Canterlot and we will meet again in the morning." Celestia smiled in agreement; pleased her student read the situation well and acted accordingly. "We have many things to talk about, Glittermind. I hope to get to know you better so you can feel welcome here on Equestria."
"Niiice." Glittermind nodded heavily. "Not to be rude or anything, I am tired and I wanna go to bed."
"As you want, Stella, if you may, could you show these ponies to their rooms for the night?"
The closest white-pony guard snapped to attention and nodded in compliance.
"Splendid! We will all meet again in the morning. Have a good night." The princess called to the retreating backs of Glittermind, Color Jam and Butterpond. The Mane six looked at each other and followed suit; all of them excited that they would sleep at Canterlot!