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Groom of Eris Chapter 2

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Groom of Eris

Chapter 2: The Gala

3 Years Later…

Dusk Shine summoned his friends to help prepare for a special night that only came once every few years; the Grand Galloping Gala.  Dusk Shine and his friends attended the Gala once before. It wasn’t a worthwhile experience for them.

The stallions that were traveling on the train were Elusive, Bubble Berry, Applejack, and Butterscotch. They couldn't hold their excitement for this event as it was going to be the biggest Grand Galloping Gala celebration that Canterlot has ever had. Each one of them would have a job in preparation for the big night.

Elusive would make the suits and dresses for all the guests that were attending, Bubble Berry was to help set up and decorate the main ballroom and most of the rooms within the castle, Applejack is in charge of the food, and Butterscotch gathered the songbirds to sing a little song.

The reason Rainbow Blitz wasn't with the group was because he was performing tricks with the Wonderbolts. They were made the entertainment and would come the night of the Gala, due to their hectic schedule.

After the four stallions got off the train they started to talk amongst themselves before approaching the gates of Prince Solaris’s castle.

"I’m so nervouscited. I’m so glad we get to see Dusk again, it's been a long time since we have seen him." Blueberry was both excited and nervous at the chance of seeing Dusk Shine again. It had been months since they had seen him last.

"Well, he has been rather busy with his royal duties,”  Elusive smiled, "We get to help prepare for the Grand Galloping Gala. Isn't this exciting? This chance doesn’t come too often."

"It's almost hard to believe after the last catastrophe." Applejack hoping to forget the events of the last Gala they went to.

"But, this is going to be so fun you guys," Bubbleberry spoke, "Everyone will taste Applejack's food, and don't forget your suits and dress, Elusive."

"Not to mention Butterscotch's birds will be singing." Elusive smiled at his timid friend.

"Yeah," he said unenthusiastically but he hid this fact from every pony.

"Yea, and also we get to see Rainbow Blitz. I know we barely see him anymore. He's off living the dream; flying with the Wonderbolts." Bubbleberry wiped a tear from his eye.

"Oh, you have barely seen him, huh?" Applejack smirks at the fact that Bubbleberry would say such a thing after he’d seen Bubbleberry go to every one of Rainbow Blitz's shows.

Each of the stallions laughed as they neared the gates. Two guards blocked the path of four of the six wielders of the Elements of Harmony.

"Halt, who goes there," one of the guards said as he stared down the four colts.

"Why, excuse us?”  Elusive was baffled by the guard’s question.  “We are Elusive, Bubbleberry, Applejack, and Butterscotch kind sir."

"It's okay, you can let them through," a voice called from behind the two guards. Elusive recognized the mare immediately.

"Gleaming Shield." Elusive was thankful Gleaming came to save them.  The guards sidestepped as their captain presented herself right in between them.  Gleaming Shield was the older sister of Dusk Shine and one of the rulers of the Crystal Empire.

"Hey guys, Dusky is glad that you four could make it," Gleaming Shield grinned. "He is having dinner with the princes in the dining hall. He asked me to escort you all over there."

The four followed Gleaming Shield down the well lit hallway. There was hardly a shadow in the halls.  The four stallion’s stomachs were empty from the trip.  They couldn’t wait until they reached the dining hall. It felt like they were journeying to Canterlot on hoof.  Butterscotch sensed something felt unusual with Gleaming Shield, but didn't suspect anything at the moment.

Upon opening the large doors, each of the stallions inspected the large table as if it was a crime scene.  It was decorated with edible foods, candles, and a lemon scented table cloth.  The stallions hid their mouths not to show how much saliva was filling them up from sniffing the food.

"Guys, you made it." Dusk Shine cheered. He jumped out of his chair in a rush and charged over to his friends to greet them properly.

The four friends hugged the purple alicorn. It had been so long since they last met Dusk Shine. The trip was well worth this little reunion. The hug could have been longer, but the four saw that Dusk Shine needed to breathe, so the hug was broken.

"You look just like a prince, which is a good thing since you are one." Elusive joked.

"I am so happy." Bubbleberry started to cry for joy.

"You made it," Barbara called out. She jumped out of her chair and ran towards the group.

Applejack stared at the dragon running towards him. His heart was beating fast. He wasn’t sure of what to say to her or even how he would speak to her. Applejack started off seeing Barbara rushing towards him. It felt like Barbara was running on a field of flowers. Applejack pretended to pick some and waited for Barbara to come towards him.

"Oh Barbara, it's been…." Applejack waiting for his hug from her as a couple of seconds goes by.

"How have you been Elusive?" Barbara was bedazzled by her crush.  Applejack turned to see Barbara standing in front of the colorless stallion.

"Oh you know, the usual." Elusive told of his train ride from Ponyville to Canterlot in front of the female dragon.  Of course, Barbara barely heard any of it, but she collected her claws and stared at the colt as if he was a shiny star.

The heart of the orange stallion grimed as he stared at the dragoness and stallion talking. He took a heavy breath and sighed. He then spoke in a sad tone "Never bothered asking how I've been,"

"You ok Applejack?" Dusk Shine asked with great concern.

"What, umm, yea." Applejack tried hard not to make the others notice of his current attitude. "Well, what are we all waiting for? Let's sit down and chow down."

Applejack sat down noticing Barbara sitting next to Elusive as his heart sank more.

"Honey, you don't have to worry about me I am fine." Gleaming Shield looked at her husband, Prince Tempo pulling a chair for her. Gleaming Shield felt embarrassed.  "I can take care of myself."

“I know,” Prince Tempo chuckled for a moment, “But, I want to make sure my wife is comfortable.”  
As they were eating, the stallions were discussing their plans for the Gala.  From the sound of things, it sounded like the Princes had only started preparing for the Gala.  During the planning, Applejack was raising a question that needed to bring to the attention to the group.

"Can the orphans attend the Gala? They don't get out much you see and I feel the Gala would impact their lives." Applejack knew the orphans constantly asked about the Gala.  Applejack didn’t want to promise them something he couldn’t deliver.  So, he thought he might ask given a chance he could promise them entry into the Gala.

"Of course they can. Dusk Shine has been telling me of your contributions to them. I feel they would be a great addition to the Gala." Prince Solaris smiled gleefully.

"But brother, I don't think that is a wise idea. We have never had children attend the Gala before." Artemis was concerned of the changes that Solaris was making of the old custom.

"This is an era of change, my brother. It's high time that we change certain rules as well. Besides, I know how you adore the young ones." Solaris nodded as Artemis couldn’t deny his brother’s words.

"Oh, speaking of foals. Should we tell them Gleam?" Prince Tempo looked toward his wife.

"I guess so." Gleaming Shield saw her husband’s excitement on the news that will impact both of their lives.  

"We are having a baby," they both announced.  The sudden announcement made all of the colts and Barbara drop their food and gasp.

"That is wonderful news," Prince Solaris smiled at them, "Congratulations are in order."

"I am going to be an uncle," Dusk Shine stood from his chair.  He kept thinking about the possibilities of being an uncle to his niece or nephew.  The very thought almost made him fall out of his chair.

"This sounds like a great time to celebrate," Bubble Berry was overjoyed by the news that he wanted to bring out his party cannon.

"Congratulations," every other pony told the happy couple.  Tempo and Gleaming Shield felt overwhelmed by all of the support they were getting.

"Thanks." Tempo and Gleaming Shield stood next to each other and smiled.  They knew that everypony in the room was happy for them.

"When are you due?" Elusive asked the couple.

"Ten months," Gleam smiled as she felt her husband's hoof on her.

"Well, a toast to the new prince or princess." Prince Solaris used his magic to raise the glass in celebration; everyone else raised their glasses and drank to the toast.

"I am not going to be changing the diapers, am I?" Barbara feared what her duties might be when the foal is born. This received laughter from everypony.

Everyone was excited for the happy couple; however Applejack noticed that Butterscotch wasn’t really focused on the happiness of the couple.

Butterscotch was still frightened by the return of Eris.  As much as he wanted to be happy for Gleaming Shield and Prince Tempo, he was afraid of what Eris might do to Equestria and what if the baby was born in Eris’s chaotic world?  There was no way that foal would survive.

Butterscotch sat there sampling his plate. Applejack grew more suspicious of him.
________________________________________
"Ok now, let's try again," Butterscotch tried to get the birds in line for the Gala. He was practicing in the gardens as it was the only place in the castle that there was a sense of peace and quietness that Butterscotch needed for the birds.  He didn’t want them flying away in the middle of the performance.

The orange stallion stared at the Pegasus. He was still distracted despite his preparations for the Gala.

"That's not right either," He ruffled his mane trying to get the sound just right. He tried to think clearly of how he wanted the song of the birds to sound.  He didn’t want any pony getting upset with him over the music.

"Ok then, a one and a two," Butterscotch breathed in and prepared to perform again.

"Howdy Butterscotch," Applejack appeared from the bushes frightening the birds and Butterscotch. "Whoops, sorry."

"It's ok." Butterscotch took a breath in and exhaled.  He told his birds to take a few minutes break while he talks to Applejack.

"So, what's on your mind, buddy?" Applejack smiled at his friend

"Oh, it's nothing." he shyly told Applejack

"It's those nightmares again." Applejack saw through his friend’s worry.

"It's been three years, Butterscotch.  Eris is gone. You have got to move on like the rest of us have," Applejack told him "Besides, when was the last time you actually smiled?"

"I know I should, but they keep getting worse. You may all think that it's over, but I can't help but feel that it isn't." Butterscotch told his friend. "I just feel, I just…"

Butterscotch broke down, crashing on the floor in a deep sadness that had Applejack rushed over to him. Applejack wanted to tell him Eris would never return, yet his words didn’t hold any water.  He didn’t know if Eris was truly gone.

"I can’t promise you she won’t come back, but you have to learn to let go and move on,” Applejack told him.

“Okay, I will try to see that,” Butterscotch said before trying to tell himself that Eris isn’t going to come back.  
________________________________________
"Oh my goodness, this is just too much." A voice was laughing out in a cave watching the scene of Butterscotch and Applejack. Her villainous laugh couldn't contain itself anymore. Eris smirked as she looked over at the two stallions.

"Oh my, it's Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, run away while we still have the chance." She imitated a pony or stallion as that would be their exact reaction to her return.

A spitting image of the draconequus appeared in the mirror looking at her still mocking how the ponies and stallions would react to her return. The mirror image rubbed her eyes with her fingers.
"And the reason we are in this cave hiding out and not relaxing on a beach is because…" the reflection wanted to know the point of hiding out in a cave.

"It's because I wanted to leave them in a state of false security. They all think I am gone for good. But, when I come out, it will be a big surprise. Like a birthday party." Eris grinned evilly while invoking a bit of humor.

"What about the wimpy Pegasus?" the mirror materialized an image of Butterscotch.

"Oh, he is of no threat to us; no one listens to him anyways," Eris said nonchalantly about Butterscotch.

"So, what's the plan this time? You going to turn them into their opposites again?" the mirror asked

"Oh, because that worked so much better the last time," Eris spoke in a sarcastic tone "We can't do something that will be easily undone. No, what we need is something more….permanent."

"The problem is those Elements of Harmony. As long as they are willing to use them, thus we can't touch them. Also, we will be turned back to stone and we all know what that is like." The reflection looked at Eris.  Both of them shivered at the very thought of returning to that state.

"Don't remind me." Eris glared as the very thought of being turned to stone felt like a spider crawling up her spine.  Escaping its grasp was frightening enough for the goddess of Chaos.

Suddenly, an idea popped into her mind. The idea alone sent a wicked smirk upon her face.

"What if they weren't willing to use them?" Eris winked at her reflection.

"OOOOO, what an ingenious idea; what's the plan?" The reflection was eager to hear the idea Eris had in that brain of hers.

"I will tell you later, for now, those stallions won't know what hit them with the latest touch of my newest plan," She smirked.

"MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Eris uproared in a maniacal laugh that outstretched the outer limits of the cave; her reflection had disappeared as she continued her laugh until she stopped herself in the awkward silence and looked around.

"Note to self: I have really got to stop talking to myself!" Eris told herself writing a mental memo of what to do when taking over Equestria.
________________________________________
"So, you’re going to ask her to dance with you?" Prince Tempo smirked at Dusk Shine, who gave him a confusing look.

"What now?" Dusk Shine looked to his brother-in-law, who had a sly smirk on his face.

"You know who I am talking about?" Prince Tempo laughed.

"Ummm, I don't follow," Duskshine was baffled by his brother-in-law's intentions.

"Flare Warden," Prince Tempo pointed to the female guard, who was standing at her position a ways away.  Dusk Shine looked at her gentle smile.  She looked like a mysterious mare in the swamp. Her eyes always held a gentle glow to them.  She even helped decorate the castle in places that only pegasi could reach.  

Dusk Shine grew nervous.  He wanted to talk to her, but something inside him felt too afraid to even look at her.  “Umm, I have to make sure the guards are at their posts.”

Prince Tempo shook his head as he watched his brother-in-law use an excuse to escape the situation.  “You’re going to have to talk to her eventually.”
________________________________________
Preparations were still underway for the Gala when a note burped itself out of Barbara's mouth.

She suddenly blushed at the public outburst of her burp.  She ran over to deliver the note to Prince Solaris.

"There's a crisis in Saddle Arabia," Prince Solaris was reading the parchment carefully.

"What is the crisis?" Artemis asked his brother hoping to see the note.

"It lacks that detail, but they say it needs Artemis and myself to look into the situation. It seems it requires greater magic than an average unicorn." Solaris spoke
"Wait, why doesn't it ask for me or Prince Tempo?" Dusk Shine was confused

"It probably does, but just to be sure, I am leaving Dusk Shine and Prince Tempo to assist in charge of everything, including the Gala, until our return." Solaris looked down at his pupil.

"What? I'm in charge of everything? The Gala? Are you sure I am ready?" Dusk Shine stuttered.  Being in charge of a whole event such as the Gala was a big responsibility. He wasn’t even sure if he could handle such a task.

"I know you are ready." Solaris put a hoof to Dusk Shine.  He believed in the smaller alicorn and knew that he would be capable of handling the Gala on his own.  Besides, the stallion had his friends along.

"Then, i am going with you." Gleaming Shield said.  

Prince Tempo was confident in his wife, but he stopped her for a moment, "Don't you think it's dangerous.  What if something happens to..."

“It will be alright, my love,” She told him, “I shall return before you know it.  Besides, i've taken bigger scrapes before.”

Every pony wasn't exactly taking the news of Solaris, Artemis, and Gleaming Shield's departure to Saddle Arabia very well.

"And I just finished making their outfits," Elusive pouted and feeling bummed out about the effort he wasted upon making the outfits.

"Oh dear, what will we do?" Butterscotch was afraid of celebrating the Gala without the two Princes "I think I am going to…"

"I got him," Elusive caught Butterscotch before he hit the floor.

"Don't sweat it you guys, we have handled big parties before." Bubbleberry rallied the group together.

"Yes, so lets follow my lead and everything will be just fine." Dusk Shine tried to remain hopeful. Prince Tempo put a hoof on his shoulder in support.

Butterscotch looked to all of his friends and sighed, "I will go and practice with the birds."
The four stallions were confused by Butterscotch's words as they watched him galloping outside to the birds.  They were perplexed by the stallion’s attitude.

"What's wrong with Butters? He should be happy about performing at the Gala. Why isn't he happy?" Bubbleberry raised a brow.

"You know Butterscotch and social events." Elusive shook his head.

"I have never seen him like that before," Dusk Shine was worried of his friend.

"I guess it's those nightmares again," Applejack told the others. The others turned to Applejack.
"How long has he been this way?"

"For a while now, I can't even remember the last time Butterscotch laughed or smiled or had any joy or fun," Applejack said.  All of the ponies and Barbara looked outside seeing Butterscotch’s facial expression.  He felt like a sorrowful clown trying to perform.

"I noticed it too. His smiles seem forced." Bubbleberry looked to the others.

"From what I have noticed, an enormous amount of mares have been crawling to his attention, but he rejects them all. I would take advantage of such a situation." Elusive felt jealous of Butterscotch.

"Wait, he is having nightmares? You don't mean the ones involving…"Dusk Shine feared.

"Yes and they're getting worse," Applejack replied with a nod, "He can't seem to get that monster out of his head."

"What's he so afraid of? That temptress has been gone for three years." Elusive stared up at the sky.

"We have to turn that frown upside down." Bubbleberry rubbed his cheeks with his hoof for ideas "But, how?"

"What he would need is a huge social boost. He should sing a song," Elusive suggested

"That's a brilliant idea. He has an amazing singing voice," Bubbleberry cheered.

"That's an excellent idea, but we have to ask him about it first." Dusk Shine felt a hint of concern as Butterscotch returned.

So, they asked the stallion for his thoughts of it. At first, Butterscotch said he couldn't do it. Yet, he knew his friends would keep asking him about it. He couldn't say no forever and finally gave in.

"I will sing a song," Butterscotch sighed

‘I hope the princes come back soon,’ Butterscotch thought to himself.
________________________________________
"We are almost to our destination, sir," one of the guards told Prince Solaris.

"Thank you," Solaris nods slowly. The guard left the two Princes alone along with Gleaming Shield.

"I hope Dusk Shine will be ok with being in charge of everything," Artemis worried. He couldn’t image having control of everything Dusk Shine is.

"If there was anypony I could trust with leading Canterlot and the Gala, it would be Dusk Shine." Solaris knew the stallion wouldn’t let him down.

"Besides, he is a tough stallion and a prince as well.  You two have taught him well.  Plus, his friends and my husband will support him if anything goes wrong." Gleaming Shield held great faith for her brother.

"My princes, we have encountered a slight problem with the engines.  It’s going to take a few days to fix the train. I am really sorry about this, but it seems you need to make the journey on hoof.” The guard hesitated for a moment. He didn’t want to upset the princes by telling them the problems with the train.

"It is alright," Solaris nodded as the two alicorns journeyed through the sandy area.  They took Gleaming Shield with them as protection.

Due to the sand blowing in the wind like leaves, it was hard to see anything.  The two stallions and the one mare put on protective eye gear in order to see through it.

"Brother, this weather is looking awful.  Do you think that is the cause of this mess?" Artemis asked him kindly.

"We won't know until we arrive," Solaris noted.  He looked up in the sky seeing the clouds looked rather different in Equestria. Instead of it being white, it was pink like cotton candy.

"Well, the clouds look rather peculiar. I mean, pink clouds?" Gleaming Shield raised a brow of suspicion.

The mention of pink clouds turned Solaris and Artemis' faces from determined to worried. Solaris looked closer at the raindrops.  They were more colored than regular raindrops. The rain produced a couple of puddles that were out of the ordinary. Prince Solaris drew near to one of them.  He put his hoof in it and stirred it around.  He hovers his hoof over his mouth to taste just a drop of the strange liquid.

"Chocolate milk?" Solaris pondered wondering why chocolate milk would be pouring out of pink clouds.

"Only one creature could ever make pink clouds and chocolate rain," Artemis looked at him.  Suddenly, this whole situation’s true colors revealed themselves.  "Brother, we have to turn back now!"

"TOO LATE…" a voice called from within the pink clouds.  Like a bolt of lightning, the two stallions and the mare disappeared without any pony able to do something about it.

End of Chapter two.  
Disclaimer:  I don't own the rights to My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic.  My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro.  Groom of Eris is based on Bride of Discord by DisneyFanatic2364.

It is so good to be back again.  Sorry about the long period of time.  I needed to think things out.  I can't promise anything, but i will try to get these out by the end of the month.  

Chapter 2 was really fun to do.  My favorite part about it was the moment between Applejack/Barbara/Elusive love triangle.  I pay more attention on that sideplot because i really like Applejack/Spike.  While there aren't enough pictures of Applejack/Barbara, i hope there will be some pictures someday.  

*Orignially, Prince Tempo was to go with them.  However, when speaking to my fans on feedback, they liked the idea of Gleaming Shield going with since she is pregnant.  It adds more conflict to the story and possibly bigger stakes.  So, i switched Prince Tempo out with Gleaming Shield*

But, if you have anything to say about this chapter, feel free to express it in the comments below.  Also, two special shoutouts for today.  

1. Is for the Daughter of Discord crew for a job well done on the recent Daughter of Discord episode.  I haven't seen it yet due to my busy schedule, but I assume it is good.  I'll watch it at some point, but you guys probably did a good job.  

2. My second shoutout is to Midnight Sonata and DaWillstanator/Thespio on their engagement.  I wish you two the best of luck, eternal happiness and just lots of love between the two of you.  

With that being said, Until next time, 
© 2017 - 2024 Swarley180
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PrincessRainbow123's avatar
Where is chapter 3?!