"Nope, nope…. nope-"

"Can you stop that? We've been picking apples all morning while all you did was sit on my back. The least you can do is not throw half of them away."

The young drake mumbled something to himself and stopped. He didn't like being lectured by his older brother.

"Easy there Comet." Said Braeburn "We still have to separate fresh apples from the rotten ones. Little guy's not doing anything wrong."

"You're the best judge of everything apple-related, so I'll trust you." Replied Comet chuckling.

"Thank you kindly,Comet, for helping me out. I bet Big McIntosh I could get all these Golden Delicious in the barn by lunchtime. If I win, he's gonna walk down Stirrup Street in one of Granny's girdles." Said the apple farmer

"I'd pay a bit or two to see that." Said Comet.

Their conversation was interrupted by a loud belch released by Spike. The green fire released from the reptile's mouth formed into a scroll.

Spike picked it from the ground and opened it

"Hear ye, hear ye. Her Grand Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is pleased to announce the Grand Galloping Gala to be held in the magnificent capital city of Canterlot, on the 21st day of, eh, yadda yadda yadda, cordially extends an invitation to Comet Tale plus one guest." Young dragon read aloud and took out two golden tickets.

"Oh no." Said Comet

Braeburn gasped. " As in the Grand Galloping Gala?"

The unicorn looked at him weirdly. "You're a fan? I wouldn't have thought so."

"Fan of the event? No not really my thing. I'm more interested in the ponies attending."

"Trust me it's not worth it. Canterlot is home to the worst snobs in all of Equestria. I could name maybe five decent ponies among the nobility of the capital."

"Perhaps, but all of them like to eat. And what better way to satisfy the hunger than baked goods? Preferably the ones containing the best apples in all of Equestria."

Braeburn smiled dreamily. "You know what I could do with all that money? We could replace that saggy old roof, and Big McIntosh could replace that saggy old plow, and Granny Smith could replace that saggy old hip. Who knows? Maybe we would be able to save enough money to financially aid my own folks in Appleoosa. I know that dad keeps complaining about the crumbling walls in our granary."

Comet needed to take all of that in. "That is… quite a noble goal." He smiled. "And what kind of friend would I be if-"

All of a sudden something hit the ground next to them with such force that it raised a cloud of dust.

The two ponies started coughing profusely.

"Did somepony said Grand Galloping Gala?"

They rubbed their eyes to see Soarin grinning from ear to ear.

Braeburn's muzzle soured immediately. "Yeah, what of it?"

"Well I was just flying by and happened to hear that Comet has an extra ticket to spare."

"It doesn't matter what you heard, because this place is already taken by me." Braeburn said defensively.

"Hold on a minute." Comet interrupted. "I didn't promise you anything yet."

Braeburn seemed slightly hurt by the remark but Comet turned his head to Soarin "Why do you want to attend?"

"Who said anything about me?"

Comet looked at him confused. "I don't think I follow."

"Don't get me wrong I'd love to have a chance to mingle with the wonderbolts but… there is somepony who would like to go way more than me."

"Who?" Asked Comet curiously.

"Why, mom of course. She always had a fascination with everything high class. Music, etiquette, clothing. That's probably why she gets on with Rarity so well. That kind of trip would probably be a dream come true for her."

Comet rubbed his chin. "That's… really admirable of you, actually."

Both stallions looked at him intensely, clearly expecting answers but before the unicorn could respond his stomach made a growling noise. He chuckled nervously.

"Listen to that, I am starving. I don't know about you, but I can't make important decisions on an empty stomach, so I'll, uh, think about it over lunch and get back to you two, okay?"

Both of them nodded.

"Don't make any rash decisions." Said Braeburn.

"We'll wait patiently." Added Soarin

Comet walked away while still feeling their eyes drilling him.

"Both of them seem to have equally important reasons to go." Said Spike while sitting on his brother's back.

"Tell me about it." Sighed Comet. "There's no way to please them both."

The unicorn stopped in a standstill.

"Unless…"

"Unless what?" Asked Spike.

"I don't really enjoy the Gala so, if I just… give my ticket to one of them, I'd please them both."

Comet chuckled. "And I have good enough reason not to attend myself. Look at me Spike, a master problem - solver."

The drake rolled his eyes.

"Heyyy there Comet!"

Unicorn turned his head to see nopony else but Cheese Sandwich.

"What's up Cheese?" Asked Comet. The party planner threw his hoof over the unicorn's shoulder.

"Nothing substantial, just wanted to check out on my number one royal protege and best friend."

Comet found the whole situation weird. Cheese Sandwich was one of the friendliest ponies he's ever know but even for him this type of flattery was rare.

Unless this was about something else.

"You don't happen to have any hidden intentions do you?" Comet asked sensing where this was going.

"Me? Pfft! Nooo…" He let out a nervous chuckle. "But You haven't decided who you're going to give that ticket to, have you?"

Unicorn's mood has been spoiled. "Are you interested in this by any chance?"

Cheese nodded his head.

"You see, in the event such as the gala there are a lot of influential ponies. Only the creme de la creme of our society. While I'm Equestria's best entertainer, not everypony knows of my existence on the market. I want to change that. The connections made there could help me greatly in developing my career."

The earth pony looked at him pleading. Comet had to admit it was also solid reason.

"Listen Cheese, I'm still kind of hungry and when I'm hungry I don't think straight. I will consider your words over lunch, okay?"

The party planner nodded his head. "As you wish. Just keep in mind that Soarin has a long tongue and I probably won't be the only one approaching you about the matter."

Comet sighed. "That's just… peachy."

With that unicorn went to the closest restaurant to finally fill his stomach.

Both him and Spike sat down waiting for the waiter.

"Maybe you should decide with a dice roll?" Suggested Spike.

"Naah." Replied Comet. "This would be fleeing from responsibility. I need to make the choice myself.

They relayed to the waiter what they want and waited for their orders, pondering what they're gonna do next.

After a few minutes the waiter arrived with their orders.

"Em, sir? Are you going to eat your food in ze rain?" Asked the waiter.

"W-what? There is no-" But before Comet could finish rain came pouring down.

That is except the small area where Comet and Spike sat. Unicorn raised his head to see a circular hole where they sat. Grinning Thunderlane was looking at them.

"What are you doing?" Comet asked deadpan.

"Whaddya mean? I just saw the smartest, most generous pony about to get rained on, so I thought I'd kick a hole in the clouds to keep him dry so he could dine in peace, that's all." Stallion replied.

"You're not doing it win any extra favors, do you?"

"Ehhh…"

"Maybe a ticket to a particular event?"

"I…" The pegasus sighed. "With that ticket I would be able to talk with Restless Cloud."

"As in the regulated atmospheric phenomena minister?"

Thunderlane nodded. "When I talk to him I could probably convince him to transfer more money to our local department of weather patrol. We are understaffed and underfunded . With his help our sector could develop significantly."

Another good reason. Faust is clearly playing some kind of game with him.

"Listen I am not comfortable accepting unwanted favors, so I'd appreciate it if you close up that rain cloud right now. I'll consider your words, okay?"

Comet could tell his friend's mood soured immediately.

"Fine." He mumbled and did as he was told.

Water immediately destroyed Comet's mane and his order.

"Maybe we actually should eat inside?" Suggested Spike.

After the storm both of them went to Time Turner's workshop as Comet's wristwatch should've been fixed by now.

Upon entering they were greeted by the eccentric stallion.

"Greetings Comet!"

"Hi Time! I take it my watch is already."

"It's as good as new." The earth pony gave the unicorn the item in question.

Comet couldn't help but notice there was something different about it. Mainely some new buttons at the sides.

"Ehhh, why does it look different now?" Asked the unicorn.

"Oh, I'm so sorry for that. I thought I would improve your watch a little. It can now show time in all Equestrian time zones."

Comet looked at him questioningly.

"It's free of charge of course." Added Time Turner.

"And you did that because…" Asked the unicorn.

"You're my friend?" The inventor said unconvincingly.

Comet cocked his eyebrow and the earth pony sighed.

"That and I'm also interested in going to the Gala."

The unicorn groaned. "Of course you do. May I ask why?"

"Steel Cog, the head of Technology and Innovation Department will be there. With his help I could show my ideas to the whole of Equestria. Maybe I'll even be able to find somepony willing to fund my projects."

Why did all of his friends had to have such good reasons to go? Comet didn't like this state of affairs at all.

"I'll think about this okay?" Said The unicorn.

"Take your time." Replied his friend

After that they parted ways.

Comet lied in his bed. No matter how long he thought, He couldn't justify putting the needs of one friend over the others.

That's when it struck him.

He doesn't have to choose at all.

The next day all the element holders gathered at the Golden Oak library. Except for Comet none of them had the idea what will come next.

"You probably guessed why I gathered all five of you here."

"To announce which one of us is getting the ticket?" Guessed Soarin.

Comet nodded.

"I just want to say that I won't be angry if you don't choose me." Said Braeburn. "Choose as your conscience dictates."

"Same thing with me." Added Cheese Sandwich.

The rest of the stallions verbally declared that they share the same sentiment.

The royal protege took a deep breath.

"Spike, take down a note."

The little drake took out the quill and parchment.

"Dear Princess Celestia,

I've learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala."

"What?!" His friends exclaimed in unison.

"Did you hit your head on something before you came here?" Asked Soarin

"No." Replied the unicorn. "If my friends can't all go then I don't wanna go either."

He turned his gaze to Spike. "You can send it." Comet said.

The dragon did just that.

"Now you can't go to the gala either." Noted Thunderlane.

"Trust me I've been there when I was ten. There's not really much to loose, just a bunch of snobs talking about the most mundane of things."

"How did you even get there as a ten year old?" Asked Braeburn.

"Lord Night Light received an extra ticket and gave it to me as a sign of respect."

Soarin raised his eyebrow. "You went to the gala with some older stallion that wasn't your dad? Kinda creepy."

Comet rolled his eyes "I accompanied him and the rest of his family. I believe he gave me the invite because I was friends with his daughter."

The blue-maned pegasus giggled. "Regular friends or friends-friends?"

"I-I…" Comet didn't really expect this kind of question.

"That's none of your concern." Said Thunderlane coming to Comet's rescue.

Suddenly Spike burped loudly, materializing another scroll. Dragon rolled it open.

"My faithful student, why didn't you say so earlier? Here's the tickets for you, your friends, Spike and one extra because I'm feeling particularly generous today."

"Wow." Cheese said looking at the abundance of tickets.

"Look out, Turner. Looks like your position of element of generosity is being threatened." Said Braeburn teasingly.

Everypony except Time Turner chuckled at the remark.

Comet's stomach grumbled loudly. "I was so eager about the announcement that I forgot to eat breakfast." He confessed.

"I think it's time for us to head to Golden Hour for some eggs and haybacon with beans. All on me of course." Announced Braeburn.

"I'll gladly take up your offer." Said Comet grinning.

And with that all of them went for a heart breakfast.