Fallen Eagle

Chapter XVIII: Preparations

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(Sweet Apple Acres Cougar's POV)

"Soups on everypony!" Granny Smith passed out breakfast to all of us at the breakfast table. Today's menu was an assortment of chocolate chip pancakes, coffee, scrambled eggs with ketchup and hash browns.

"Perfect as always Granny," I complimented her with a hug. It had been several days since the incident with the dungeons in Canterlot, and I still felt the sting of that day for some time, but I had allowed all of my friends to coax me through the end of it. I didn't feel like turning myself in anymore, nor had I felt like I still had a jumbo jet parked on my shoulders. Instead, I just really didn't feel like talking so much.

"Why, thank ya Cougar, though ya still helped like always. Couldn't have done it this fast without ya," She patted my back and started to dig into her own food. Sipping my coffee, I had begun to think about what I was going to do after my chores were done. Granny had to go to a bridge game, Applebloom was going to try and get her cutie mark with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle by doing something with tennis rackets and banana peels, not going to ask. Big Mac was going to help Cheerilee fix up some broken window shutters at the school house and Applejack was going to Rarity's to have her look over her dress for the Grand Galloping Gala. After spending what seemed like a whole afternoon of Rarity measuring me and making me numerous sets of pants and shirts, I felt glad I rejected Luna's invitation for the Gala. I wasn't about to have Rarity measure me again for a tuxedo.

"Trust me Cougar," Applejack pointed her hoof at me while munching on her hash browns, "if it were up ta me, Ah wouldn't care 'bout gettin' my dress looked at, but Rarity kept on badgerin' me 'bout it; Ah had ta shut her up somehow," she explained. I set my empty mug down and went back to eating my pancakes. "Now, are ya sure ya don't wanna go? Ah have authority ta invite ya from the Princesses themselves," she offered. Nearly every single one of my friends that had tickets to the Gala kept trying to invite me, but I had provided the same answer every time.

"Thanks AJ, but no thanks," I wiped my mouth from the sticky chocolate, "I never even attended my high school dances; they were too boring and never really interested me," I replied.

"Well, the Gala does sound borin' on the surface ta some folks, it's actually much better ever since Twilight and us started goin' regularly for the past five years. We'd make sure you'd fit right in if that's what's got ya worried," she assured me.

"I'm not worried about not fitting in Applejack, I know I'm just going to be a boring stick in the mud not enjoying myself and I will NOT ruin my friends' evenings just because I'm not having fun. Don't worry about me AJ," I patted her hoof, "Bloomin' Onion and I will just watch movies on my iPad," I took another bite of my hash browns. Applejack grumbled and took another bite of her eggs and a swig of her coffee.

"Ah wish Ah could go to the Gala," Applebloom pushed her food around with her tongue, not even taking a bite.

"Sorry little sis, but yer just not old enough ta go yet," Applejack replied, "you wouldn't have any fun with nopony there your age," she explained. Slightly shoving her plate away, Applebloom propped her chin up on her hooves. Big Mac and I sensed a feeling of uncomfortableness coming on; we just started to pick at our food more and kept to ourselves.

"Ah could try ta have fun," Applebloom countered, "and Ah wouldn't get in the way, promise," she put on her puppy dog face. Thankfully to years of training, Applejack wasn't moved by the face, though if it had been up to me, I'd have let her go in a second. Never mess with the power of the puppy dog eyes and the quivering lip, unless you've had experience.

"Look Applebloom, Ah trust that you would be responsible and not get in the way, but these high class, snobby and uptight rich ponies would get on yer nerves. They get on my nerves every year 'n Ah can barely keep myself from givin' them a piece 'o my mind. Point is, you wouldn't have fun, at all," Applejack drilled the point in, "but Ah do know you can have fun with Cougar while the rest 'o us are busy," she gestured to me as I refilled my coffee mug.

"Yeah AB," I sipped my drink, "we can watch The Terminator or Halloween," I offered.

"Cougar, remember what I said about no horror movies or swearin'?" Applejack smacked her hoof in front of my hand, coming close to breaking all four of my fingers. I swallowed my coffee nervously in a big gulp.

"Just kidding AJ, just kidding," I moved my hand away from her hoof, "or how about Toy Story? Toys that secretly come to life when the owner isn't around and hang out together?" I offered.

"Eh, I guess," Applebloom took a slow bite of her eggs.

"Or I may have some Kung Fu movies on my iPad," I slyly smirked. "Like, the Kung Fu Panda trilogy," I added. Instantly, her eyes lit up and her demeanor changed from sad and sulky to hyper and happy.

"Kung Fu movies? Why didn't ya say so? I'm all fer that fancy butt kickin'!" She did a chop with her foreleg, only to smack her hot cocoa cup across the table and splatter all over Big Mac's face and food. After wiping the liquid from his face, his green eyes narrowed towards his youngest sibling as a growl emitted from his throat. "Hehe, oopsie," Applebloom blushed and went back to eating her food. A small snicker escaped my nose while I tried to eat my hash browns. Big Mac turned his growl and glare towards my direction. If looks could kill, I'd be in a coffin six feet under somewhere.

"Haha, very funny Cougar," the red stallion dried himself off with a dish towel and set his empty plate and mug in the sink. "Now if y'all will excuse me, Ah've got some haulin' ta do 'fore Ah go help Ms. Cheerliee with her broken windows," he exited the kitchen.

"I'd make a joke, but younger audience," I casually cut the last piece of my hash brown up and ate it. Applebloom cocked her head to the side, attempting to decipher what I meant while Applejack gave me a look that read she was happy I didn't make the joke, but she was miffed I thought of it. "And anyway, the lawn isn't going to stop growing anytime soon," I set my dirty dishes in the sink, ruffled Applebloom's mane and put on my sunglasses to go mow the lawn.

"Hey Cougar, wait up," Applejack called after me. I picked up my flight gloves from my duffel bag which I now used for some of the chores on the farm and stuffed them into my back pocket as I turned around to face Applejack.

"Do you need help with anything AJ?" I questioned, cracking my knuckles and adjusting my ball cap.

"No, nothin' like that," she waved her hoof, "Ah was just wonderin' if ya had any plans fer after the daily chores are done?" She asked. It was then I realized that I hadn't planned on anything to do in the afternoon.

"Actually, not really," I replied, "maybe I'll see if Vinyl Scratch is busy to jam or not," I suggested and pulled my gloves out of my pocket and put them on to pull the lawnmower out of the storage shed. "Why do you ask anyway?" I carried the mower over to the start of the field and began to push it. Getting used to an old fashioned push mower over a gas powered mower I grew up with was quite an adjustment, but I didn't mind it.

"Well, I was wonderin' if after you were done with jammin' out with Vinyl if ya wanted ta grab a bite at Hayburger or Sugarcube Corner?" She followed by me as I pushed the mower down a path on the grassy field.

"Uh, why? Is there something important we need to talk about?" I slowed the pace of my lawn mowing, but not too much to come to a complete stop.

"No, Ah just thought the two 'o us could have some nice dinner together 'n just hang out someplace other than the farm," she explained, still walking beside me. Now that made me stop mowing in my tracks, almost making me trip over mower itself.

"You mean, just the two of us? No Twilight, Fluttershy, Applebloom or Pinkie Pie?" I asked, unsure if she had ulterior motives or not.

"Yeah, if you want to 'o course, Ah'm not gonna force ya if ya don't want to. It's just two friends havin' dinner 'n spendin' time together," she repeated, trying to coax me into joining her. I leaned against the mower and thought about her proposal. Just two friends hanging out in town was something Reaper and I did on a regular basis when we had time in the Air Force, and I haven't really done that too much since I had arrived.

"Sure, but does the restaurant have food I can actually eat? You know I don't eat hay," I reminded her.

"Well, if ya take the hay off the sandwiches it's a ketchup, mustard, onion, lettuce, cheese 'n tomato sandwich," Applejack grimaced at what she considered to be the best part of the burger to disappear.

"I'd put that fake meat Luna and Celestia gave me on, but I'd prefer to do that amongst friends so I don't creep out or scare anypony, but I guess that sort of sandwich does sound good," I pondered. "And the fry situation, hay too?" I asked.

"Nope, hay and tater fries," Applejack grinned, "mixin' them together's pretty dern tasty," she licked her lips.

"All right sounds good AJ, but I'm paying," I stated, crossing my arms and raising an eyebrow above my sunglasses.

"No, Ah invited ya, Ah'll pay," she squinted her eyes at me. I took off my sunglasses and set them on top of my hat.

"Where I'm from AJ, the invitee always pays, especially if the inviter is a girl," I countered back. Finally, she rolled her emerald eyes and stamped her hoof on the ground, clearly upset at losing the debate.

"All right fine, you win," she admitted defeat, "Ah'll come find ya at Vinyl's shop when Ah'm done at Rarity's," she trotted away to do one of the last rounds of apple bucking for the season before Fall really hit and the trees would stop producing apples.

"See ya then AJ!" I called back and started pushing my mower again. I was about to connect my headphones to my phone when Applejack responded.

"It's a date!" She replied, "Or not!" She added with a chuckle and galloped away. I tensed up at her comment and stopped mowing again, thinking about what she had just told me. A date? But she said it was just friends hanging out, right?

"Ugh," I grumbled and resumed my mowing duties for the third time, "different dimension, different planet, and I still don't know jack-shit about how girls think."

(Several Hours Later, Cougar's POV)

After hours of mowing the lawn, bringing in eggs from the chicken coop, cleaning out the pig pen and helping Applebloom wash some of the pigs, my chores were done and I was ready to relax for the rest of the afternoon. "Have fun with, whatever your cutie mark plan is," I hugged Applebloom before she bounded off with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to their clubhouse.

"See ya Cougar!" Sweetie Belle replied.

"I've got a good feeling about today girls," Scootaloo pulled a tennis racket out as the three trotted away. I shook my head, not in disappointment, but in fear for how far the girls would go just to get a tattoo on their butts. Applejack and Big Mac had left already, so I only had to say goodbye to Granny before heading out to Vinyl's.

"Granny, I'm heading out to town, thought I'd just say goodbye," I poked my head into the kitchen door just as Granny was loading up her saddle bag with crackers and playing cards.

"Oh, well ain't that sweet?" Granny pinched my cheek with her hooves, "You go 'n have fun now Cougar, Ah'm gonna tear up that Bridge game!" She declared and exited the house, leaving me to grab a quick drink before heading out.

"Eh, a quick one won't hurt," I grabbed a bottle of Cider and left the house. Walking through the town, I waved hello to some ponies that I considered to be friends, like Lyra, Bon Bon, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Derpy, the Mayor and Rainbow Dash. "Hey Lyra, Bon Bon," I waved to the two mares that were sipping soda cups and hanging out outside Bon Bon's candy shop. Thankfully, word hadn't gotten out of my delusional descent, so nopony was afraid to talk to me.

"Hey Cougar, what's up?" Bon Bon waved back and lowered her sunglasses.

"Just heading to Vinyl's to relax after a day of chores," I replied and sat down at the table next to them, "so, is the candy business good Bon Bon?" I asked.

"Yes, especially since Pinkie Pie lives here and Pipsqueak and Button Mash always come by after school," Bon Bon replied. She reached into a bowl of candy and stuffed some into her mouth before sipping on her soda.

"Do you guys have any peanut butter cups?" I licked my lips. Lyra reached into the other bowl and tossed me one. "Thanks," I popped it into my mouth and ate it before taking a swig of cider. "Hey, are you two going to the Gala this weekend?" I set my bottle down on the table, "nopony will shut up about it," I added. Lyra took off her shades and set them atop her horn.

"No, unfortunately," She sipped her soda and glared, "I've always dreamed of going to see the Princesses and go into the castle with Bonnie on my foreleg as waves of classical music wash over the both of us," she said dreamily.

"Yep, you're the dude in this relationship aren't you?" I asked Bon Bon, taking another swig of cider.

"You said it Cougar," Bon Bon chuckled, "never been too fond of that nickname 'Bonnie,' but I do love Lyra," she held Lyra's hoof, "and I wouldn't mind going to the Gala too." Lyra leaned over and laid her head against Bon Bon's neck and nuzzled it.

"That's sweet you two," I threw my empty bottle in the trash and stood up. "So, is this the norm here?" I asked, "I mean, same sex relationships were around where I was from, but not too many people embraced it," I explained.

"A lot of things fly around here Cougar," Lyra replied, "same sex relationships, herds, unicorns marrying earth ponies, pegasi marrying unicorns and so on. You don't have a problem with that, do you?" She narrowed her eyes at me.

"Absolutely not," I put my hands up, "get together with whoever you love, that should be your decision, and if somepony doesn't like it, buck them," I said casually.

"Good boy," Bon Bon tossed me another peanut butter cup. "Hey let me ask you something," She took off her sunglasses and set her soda cup to the side.

"Shoot," I said, crossing my arms.

"Is there anything going on between you and Applejack? You two seem really friendly," Bon Bon asked as if she and I were discussing a sports team.

"W-w-what?!" I burst in reply, "No! Of course not! We're just friends, why would you think that?" I asked. "Besides, she's a pony and I'm a human, two completely different creatures!" I countered.

"Yeah, so?" Lyra asked, "just a minute ago, you said you didn't mind same sex and interspecies relationships."

"And I mean, you two really seem to click together. You both are honest and caring towards your friends and you both love to work hard. The only thing that's missing is the occasional kiss," Bon Bon agreed.

"Look, we're friends and that's it. I live on her farm to do chores for her and her family as payment for taking me in, I don't know HOW many times I've explained that, but it's getting old," I pointed out in an annoyed tone.

"Hey, just calling what I see," Bon Bon casually sipped her soda.

"Well, get yourself some glasses then," I replied in a huff and turned to head to Vinyl's. Before I left however, Lyra stood up from her chair and blocked my path. "Do you need something Lyra?"

"Uh, I was just wondering if I could uh hold your 'hands' I think you called them?" She asked and held up her hooves. Cocking up an eyebrow, my eyes darted up from her face to her hooves several times, completely caught off guard by this unusual request.

"Suuuuuure?" I replied and grasped her hooves with my hands. Her forelegs stiffened and then shook as she moved her hooves around in my hands.

"Hehe, thanks," she released my hands and stared at her hooves. I looked up at Bon Bon who just rolled her eyes and popped what looked like an M&M into her mouth and munched on the candy.

"Yeah, no problem Lyra," I replied and stuffed my hands into my pockets, "I'll see you girls later then," I gave them the two fingered wave and walked away from the candy shop. I wiggled my fingers around, trying comprehend why Lyra was so fascinated by them and my hands. Sure, the ponies here haven't really seen hands or fingers, but didn't Griffon and Discord's eagle talons count, or Spike's claws? I guess my fingers and hands were softer than either, whatever. After narrowly dodging a falling mail satchel and grey pegasus bomb, I arrived at Vinyl's music shop.

"Welcome to Vinyl Scratch's Studio, how can I-oh what's up Cougar?" Vinyl stopped her usual greeting as the deep bass store bell went off while I entered the store. We greeted each other with a quick one armed/leg hug.

"Hey Vinyl, I was just hoping you'd want to jam today for a bit," I replied when we released our hug, "I just got off of chores from Sweet Apple Acres and wanted to relax for a bit," I explained. Using her magic, Vinyl grabbed a guitar from the wall of her shop and flung it over to me. I caught it with one hand and threw the strap over my shoulder.

"You came over just in time Cougar," Vinyl floated her DJ headphones over and placed them on her head, "things tend to get a little slower around here when the Gala approaches," she added. "Now, you got the music right?" I reached into my pocket and tossed her my phone which she caught in her magic aura. Vinyl plugged my phone into her sound system and decoded the song to delete the guitar parts so I could play.

"Ready to be a hero?" I asked her with a wink as Vinyl pressed play and a bass drum and bass guitar began to play through her speakers. Vinyl twisted knobs and slid switches on her DJ stand, adjusting the equipment so the song would sound better. "Standin' in the rain, with his head hung low..."

(A few Songs Later)

"Livin' on a prayer! Take my hand, and we'll make it I swear, OH! Livin' on a prayer!" Vinyl and I sang as our fifth song came to a close. She clicked stop on my phone and took her headphones off of her hears. They were matted down a bit with some sweat forming on the outer edges.

"Phew, now that was a kick-ass jam session Cougar," Vinyl levitated a bottle of water over and took a nice long swig. Taking off the guitar and setting it off to the side, I grabbed my own bottle of water and downed almost the entire thing.

"I still can't believe how good you are mixing up tracks like that," I complimented, "I never really cared for DJ's back where I came from, but I've gained a whole new respect for them from you," I wiped my face with a towel.

"And I've never met somepony as insane as you on the guitar Cougar," Vinyl wiped herself with another towel. "We need to find a good place to have a gig," she threw her towel into the back room, "maybe the Barley Pit will take us on as an act?" She suggested. Before I could answer, her personalized deep bass store bell went off, letting us know potential customers had wandered into the store. Vinyl wiped the rest of the sweat off of her forehead with her hoof, sprang to her legs and wandered into the front of the store. "Oh, your highnesses, what can I do for you?" I heard Vinyl greet. Getting up from my seat, I rounded the corner of speakers and saw Vinyl bowing to none other than Luna and Celestia.

"Well, I knew Luna liked to party, but I didn't think this'd be your cup of tea Celestia," I shook their hooves.

"On the contrary Cougar," Celestia chuckled, "I do occasionally like to step away from classical music, but that's besides the point of us coming to Ms. Scratch's shop," the white alicorn explained and stretched her wings out a bit. Looking out the window of the shop, I saw Glock and another one of Celestia's guards standing as still as statues in front of the door.

"Would either of you like a drink?" Vinyl led the princesses into the break room of the place of business. In it was a small table with four chairs, a medium sized refrigerator, a microwave and a pantry full of snacks.

"You wouldn't happen to have chamomile tea by any chance Ms. Scratch?" Celestia sat down at the table next to her sister.

"Sorry, I've only got Colta-Cola, Coltweiser, Marewaukee Brew, Mareller, Sweet Apple Acres Cider and Smarenoff," Vinyl apologized and read off the available drinks in the refrigerator. I pulled out a chair for Luna before sitting down myself, waiting for Celestia to order a drink.

"Hmm, I guess I'll take a Colta-Cola please," Celestia ordered. Vinyl tossed the red can to Celestia with her magic.

"I'll take a Coltweiser," Luna grabbed the can with her magic and started to drink out of it right away. I asked for a Marewaukee Brew while Vinyl just took out a Smarenoff beer from the fridge. "Okay, now that we're settled in and have refreshments," Luna began and set her can down on the table, "you're both probably curious as to why we wanted to see you?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"What, you don't just want to hang with your citizens Princess?" Vinyl nudged Celestia's ribs with her elbow, garnering a short giggle from the white alicorn. Celestia cleared her throat and took a sip of her soda.

"Vinyl Scratch, you are friends with Octavia Melody correct?" She questioned.

"Yeah, and she's got a nasty case of the flu, sucks," Vinyl wiped her mouth from the foam of her Smarenoff. "And she was really lookin' forward to playing the Gala again this year," Vinyl added. I had never met Octavia before, but Vinyl told me she's cool for "an uptight Trottingham mare" as Vinyl put her.

"Well, that is specifically why we wanted to contact you Ms. Scratch," Luna replied, "and Cougar as well," she glanced over at me. My hand gripped tightly around my beer can, but not enough to crush or dent it. My eyes looked from Celestia to Luna, trying to decode why they wanted to talk to me about this issue. I cleared my throat and took another sip while drumming my fingers on the table top.

"Yes, and Luna informed me that both you and Cougar would make fantastic substitutes for the string quartet that normally plays the Gala," Celestia casually wiped her mouth with a napkin. Substitutes, us? Vinyl slowly lowered her shades from her eyes with her magic, her eyes as big as saucers. She then turned her can around and looked at the ingredient label on the back.

"Let me get this straight your highnesses," Vinyl slowly breathed, "you want us to play at the Grand Galloping Gala?" She asked, as if she were in a dream. I realized how much it must suck to not be able pinch yourself with no fingers.

"I know it's last minute, but the Gala has always had a musical presence, and we thought you two were talented enough to handle it," Luna explained. Vinyl rubbed her head with her right hoof, letting the news sink in. Finally, I decided to speak out about the proposal.

"Uh, forgive me Luna, but exactly why us?" I pointed to Vinyl and back to myself, "no offense Vinyl; you're awesome," I added. She sent a shrug my way, letting me know I wasn't trying to offend her.

"I've seen you two play your guitar and musical system together," Luna explained, "you're both extremely talented and there are no other musical acts in Canterlot or Ponyville that are available for the Gala."

"Well, ones that are talented enough anyway," Celestia chimed in and continued to politely sip her Colta-Cola while Luna chugged down the rest of her Coltweiser with a burp. Celesita gave her sister the stink-eye while Luna shrugged it off.

"Okay, but don't you think our music is a little too, uh?" Vinyl tried to think of a word to say.

"Intense?" I offered with a crack of my knuckles.

"Yeah, that'll do," Vinyl turned back to the princesses, "don't you think a good chunk of the Canterlot guests attending the Gala will find our music too intense and 'immature?'" Vinyl put on her Octavia voice.

"Honestly my little pony and Cougar," Celestia looked back and forth from us, "ever since Twilight and her friends have been allowed to attend the Gala, it has gotten much more exciting and interesting every year, and this year with the unfortunate circumstances regarding the usual string quartet, I feel this could be the wildest Gala of all time with you two hosting the musical accompaniment," she explained.

"Wild?" Vinyl asked, "the Princess Celestia wants a wild and crazy Gala?" She checked the ingredients label again on her beer.

"Yes, and I understand this is a little strange, but once in awhile I do like relax and let loose a little," Celestia slyly smirked, "not as much as my little sister though," she peered over at Luna whom was leaned back in her chair with her forelegs crossed.

"I've seen that side of her, it's fun," I joked back.

"So, anyway, do you two accept our proposal, or not?" Luna leaned her two forelegs on the table.

"It's up to you Cougar, you know I can't refuse a gig," Vinyl turned to me, "but you and I play good together and I'd like to have you on stage with that guitar of yours," she didn't beg nor plead, but gave me the friendship smile.

"And this isn't a ruse to get you to the Gala Cougar," Celestia assured me, "we really need a good band to play the Gala, no matter how extreme and intense," she admitted. I set my fists underneath my nose and breathed, contemplating the proposal. Did I want to go to the Gala? Hell no. Do I like playing the guitar especially with Vinyl? Hell yes. Plus I'd get to see my friends that night.

"I just hope you know that you're gonna get rocked ladies," I smiled, accepting the proposal.

"Excellent!" Celestia exclaimed with a smile.

"I'm glad you accepted Cougar and Ms. Scratch," Luna hoof bumped myself and Vinyl, "eh, you might want to start coming up with songs to play," she winked as she and Celestia stood up from the table, "and extra loud," she whispered.

"The Gala starts at 8:00. Just show up at 7:30 and set up your equipment. We'll begin the festivities after Twilight and I greet all of the guests," Celestia explained.

"We'll be there Princess C!" Vinyl raised her hoof in the air. Before the two left however, an idea popped inside my head and I stopped them from leaving.

"Wait a minute, can I get a favor from you Celestia?" I asked. She nodded, waiting for me to ask my favor, "could I possibly get seven tickets? There are some ponies who didn't get any this year," I asked.

"Oh, of course," Celestia conjured up seven fresh tickets and floated them over to me. "But, who are these for exactly?" She questioned.

"You'll see your highness," I winked and pocketed the tickets. Luna and Celestia bid farewell and left the music shop, leaving Vinyl and I to begin making our setlist for the Gala. We didn't get far however, as Rarity came bursting into the shop.

"Cougar, there you are! Oh, and good evening Vinyl," she said hello.

"Uh, wasn't Applejack going to come get me when you two were done?" I asked. Rarity yanked me away from Vinyl with her magic, sending a few pencils clattering to the table top.

"Yes, but we are in dire need of help or this could turn into the WORST POSSIBLE THING EVER!" She threw a foreleg over her forehead before yanking me out of the shop.

(At Carousel Boutique)

"Okay, okay, let go of my arm!" I ripped my arm away from Rarity's blue magical grip. She shoved me inside her house/business and slammed the door. "Now, what's this big emergency? Mouse? Fire? Cockroach?" I asked with my hands on my hips.

"Rarity, did ya foalnap Cougar?" I heard Applejack's country accent ask as she appeared out from behind the dressing room door. "Uh Cougar, we don't wear clothes, no need to cover yer eyes," she chuckled as my hand on instinct covered my eyes.

"Oh sorry," I blushed and put my hand down at my side. "Now why am I here again?" I asked.

"We need a stallion's opinion on choosing the perfect dress for Applejack at the Gala," Rarity explained and forcibly sat me down in front of the stage inside the boutique.

"What? I'm a human, why would my opinion matter?" I demanded.

"We needed a male's opinion and you were the only one available, now silence and Applejack, get into your first dress I made you five years ago!" Rarity ordered. Applejack mouthed an apology to me and went back behind the dressing room door.

"Hang on, if she already has a dress, why do you need my opinion?" I asked.

"She looks perfectly fine in her original Gala dress, but I saw a spare dress I had made awhile ago and thought it would look absolutely darling on her," Rarity explained, "and since she's going to try and impress stallions at the Gala, she needs to look her best," she added.

"Ah ain't tryin' to impress nopony!" Applejack shouted from the dressing room.

"Again, what does my opinion matter? I'm a human, I don't find ponies attractive!" I exclaimed. Before Rarity could answer me, Applejack stepped out of what apparently was her first Gala dress from the dressing room and appeared on stage.

"Haha," Rarity giggled, "come again Cougar?" She teased as I watched Applejack walk down the runway and pose in front of us.

"Well, what do ya think Cougar? It's just fine right?" Applejack asked and showed off pretty much all of her dress, like all of it. She had a different cowgirl hat with apples embroidered on the bill, a red apple bolo tie, red and green cowgirl boots for her forelegs, a saddle for some reason and the rest of her dress extended well beyond her back legs in a sea of green with brown clippings on the end. And her mane was now curled around her face and braided near the back.

"Uh, uh yeah, it looks great on you AJ," I looked away from the mare in front of me. "No need for trying on the other one," I stammered out, trying to keep my composure. Applejack smiled at my compliment and smirked at her friend.

"See Rarity, Ah told ya my first dress was just fine!" She exclaimed triumphantly.

"No matter Applejack, we're still trying on that second dress for you!" Rarity hovered another dress with her magic and dropped it on top of Applejack's back. "Now, come with me, we must fix your mane to compliment the look," Rarity tried to drag Applejack back into the dressing room.

"Uh-uh Rarity! All Ah wanted was fer ya to just double-check and make sure everythin' was fine with the dress which Cougar thinks is great," Applejack braced herself against the frame of the dressing room door.

"But I know this second dress will look gorgeous on you! You must try it!" Rarity pleaded.

"Ah said no!" Applejack fought back. Finally, Rarity started to sweat from trying to push Applejack into the dressing room and stopped her assault.

"Ew! I'm sweating! I need a towel, stat!" She rushed into the bathroom, leaving Applejack victorious.

"Phew, finally," Applejack breathed a sigh of relief, "about time she gave up," Applejack started to discard her dress. A few beads of sweat began to form on top of my eyebrows and my cheeks were warming up. "You alright there partner? Yer sweatin' like a caterpillar in an apple on cider makin' day," she asked and sat down next to me.

"Yeah, it's just a little warm in here," I lied, then realized who I was talking to.

"You ain't seen a girl in a dress in a long time haven't ya?" Applejack leaned close to me. I gulped and sighed.

"No, not since high school and I just never really knew how to talk to women," I admitted. Applejack threw her foreleg around me and hugged me.

"It's okay Cougar, ya do a fine job talkin' ta all 'o us 'n princess Luna," Applejack pointed out.

"I meant talking to women in dresses," I corrected, "regular clothes or in your situation, I do fine, but if it is at a dance setting and girls are in dresses, I lose my ability to talk and start sweating," I admitted.

"Well, that's normal Cougar, and don't worry, Ah don't think yer weird or sick fer likin' what Ah look like in my dress. Ah actually kinda find it flatterin'," she smiled.

"Flattering? But we're completely different-" I began when Applejack put her hoof to my mouth.

"Stop with that different species crap Cougar, if you find a mare 'round these parts attractive, well she's a damned lucky one to have a person like ya havin' feelins' fer her," Applejack released her hoof from my mouth.

"Th-thanks," I whispered as Rarity reappeared.

"I had to use a whole bottle of perfume, but the icky smell of sweat is gone, and I smell like a fresh field of flowers!" She announced.

"Awesome," I said sarcastically. "And oh by the way, I have some news you'll both like," I stood up from my seat. "Luna and Celestia invited me and Vinyl to be the musical guests for the Gala since the string quartet is out with a bad case of the flu," I announced.

"Well, ain't that a hoot!?" Applejack shook my hand, "do ya know what songs you two will play?" she asked.

"Oh dear Celestia, please don't say rock 'n roll!" Rarity begged, "that music has no place at the center of sophistication!" she whined.

"Only the best music ever created Rarity," I teased her and ruffled her mane, "Vinyl and I will dedicate the loudest and rowdiest song just to you," I grinned.

"I'll be sure to bring my ear plugs," Rarity hoofed over Applejack's dress which was now in a bag.

"Thank ya kindly Rarity, now before we leave, can Ah use yer bathroom?" Applejack asked. Rarity rolled her eyes and allowed her to go. I stood next to where AJ and I were sitting, holding Applejack's dress in the bag. It was then that I had remembered the Gala tickets Celestia had given me were still within my pocket.

"Oh and another thing Rarity, give this Gala ticket to Sweetie Belle," I handed her one of the seven tickets.

"WHAT? WHERE IN EQUESTRIA DID YOU GET THIS!?" Rarity shouted.

"From Celestia when she asked me and Vinyl to be the musical guests," I replied.

"I can't believe my little sister got a ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala. I MUST CREATE!" Rarity gasped at the idea of designing a dress for Sweetie Belle and put on her red glasses. "And by the way Cougar," she added, "not attracted to ponies hmm?" She teased me. I froze in place and for a brief moment I thought I heard the sound of glass breaking.

"W-w-what? No it was just hot in here!" I debated Rarity's accusations of my flushed cheeks and beads of sweat. The seamstress chuckled and lowered her read glasses to look down at me, despite the fact I was about two feet taller than her.

"Oh ho ho, do not play coy with moi Cougar," she said in a condescending tone, "I can see the way you look at her and how you act around her. And I think it's absolutely adorable that you have a crush on your friend that took you in, especially after you saved her from the timberwolf attack. You two are getting closer everyday and the Gala is perfect for you two to get even closer!"

"Hey, I can say if a mare looks good in a dress or not!" I defended, "it's a compliment and in no way shape or form means I love them!" I pointed my finger in her face. Rarity chuckled again and moved my finger with her magic.

"I was only talking about a crush Cougar, but if you think it is love..." she trailed off with an evil smirk on her face.

"J-just shut up!" I crossed my arms as Applejack reappeared.

"Alright, let's go grab somethin' ta eat Cougar," Applejack grabbed her bag in her mouth. Rarity winked at me and put her hooves together and made a kissy face as we left.

"I'll use your measurements to make you a tuxedo for the Gala Cougar!" Rarity shouted as the door shut behind us.

(At The Barley Pit)

"Ah thought we could go to more of an adult place fer dinner rather than the Hayburger," Applejack said as we sat down at the bar in the Pub.

"This doesn't bother me," I reached into a bowl of pretzels and popped some in my mouth. "Though, I've already had two cans of beer tonight," I added.

"Ah'm sure one more won't kill ya," Applejack joked as the barkeep placed two cans of Marewaukee Brew in front of us. "Hey, one Hayburger with tater fries 'n a double Hayburger with no hay," Applejack ordered. The chef behind the bar wrote down the order and began to prepare our food.

"So, hope you're not mad at me, but," I said to Applejack and pulled out the second of seven tickets from my pocket, "I got a present for Bloomin' Onion from Celestia," I handed AJ the ticket. Her emerald eyes bulged out of her socket as she held the ticket in her hooves.

"H-how did you get Celestia ta give ya an extra ticket?" She asked in astonishment.

"Actually, she gave me seven tickets, three for the Crusaders, two for Big Mac and Cheerilee and two for Bon Bon and Lyra," I explained. "And I already gave one to Rarity to give to Sweetie Belle," I ate some more pretzels.

"Well, if Celestia herself is okay with the Crusaders goin', Ah guess Ah don't have a problem," AJ put the ticket in her hat, "but you ask me next time," she gave me a stern look.

"Understood, ma'am," I winked and sipped my beer. Applejack sputtered and rested her chin on her hoof.

"So, Cougar, Ah'm glad you've started bein' a little more honest with us, but could ya at least tell me why you were so adamant 'bout skippin' the Gala?" She asked me and munched on her own bowl of pretzels. I groaned and set my beer can down next to the bowl of pretzels while a new song started to play on the jukebox and a couple of stallions began a game of pool.

"I've always hated dressing up in fancy clothes, putting on a fake persona and just not being able to be myself you know?" I asked her, "it's uncomfortable for me when I'm literally forced to act like someone I'm not." Applejack nodded while casually sipping her beer and munching on her pretzels.

"Yeah, Ah get what you mean Cougar. The only reason Ah went ta the first one was to hang out with my friends 'n ta raise money with my apple snack cart for the farm," she replied.

"That and I seriously cannot stand people who think they're better than everyone else and just act like it and demean ponies they believe are below them," I added. "The only time I've ever enjoyed dressing up in a suit and tie was for my Air Force Academy graduation ceremony and Reaper's wedding where I thought there was a good enough reason to dress up and I could be myself," I concluded and popped more pretzels in my mouth.

"Well, at least as the music act, you'll get ta act more like yerself right?" Applejack slid the now empty bowl of pretzels towards the barkeep for a refill.

"Yeah, except I don't know what the tuxedo will be for," I scratched my ear, "probably just for showing up in because I know it'll get hot and sweaty up on the stage," I tapped my chin, "maybe I can get Vinyl to cast a cooling spell on me so I won't sweat in the tux Rarity is making for me," I pondered.

"Possibly," Applejack agreed and dug in to the refilled bowl of pretzels. "So, why'd ya get tickets fer Bon Bon 'n Lyra?"

"Eh, besides you, your friends, the Crusaders, Big Mac, Cheerliee, Vinyl, Granny and Spike, only a handful of other ponies actually talk to me in town and those two are among those that talk to me. Plus I ran into them on my way to Vinyl's and they both talked about how much they wanted to go to the Gala, so I got tickets for them," I explained and tossed my empty can into the rubbish bin. Applejack nodded and looked back up to see if our food was ready yet. "So, do you guys bring dates to the Gala?" I asked.

"Only if we want to or have dates," Applejack explained, "no doubt Rainbow's gonna take Soarin', Fluttershy's gettin' really close to Caramel so she might take him, Twilight said she's gonna meet up with Flash at the Gala and Pinkie said Cheese Sandwich is comin' in just fer her to be her date," Applejack counted off the members of our circle that had dates. "As fer myself, Rarity 'n Spike, well, we're goin' as singles," Applejack said and fanned herself with her hat.

"Why doesn't Spike ask Rarity? I had a pretty good discussion with him about his feelings for her," I asked.

"He's still scared ta death of her reaction Cougar, 'n Ah don't blame him one bit. Ah couldn't imagine askin' somepony seven years older than me to somethin' as big as the Gala." The next issue was kind of hard for me to talk about, thanks to Rarity.

"And what about you? Are there any stallions in town you wanted to invite?" I questioned. AJ took a pretty long sip of her beer before tossing the empty can away and turned to me.

"Well, Ah tried, but he kept on refusing'," she replied.

"Oh, sorry," I apologized, "any reason why he refused?" I popped another pretzel in my mouth, worried she was talking about me refusing her invitations over and over again.

"He said somethin' 'bout Earth Ponies 'n Pegasi should stick ta their own species," Applejack bitterly said.

"What the fuck is this guy's name?" I immediately demanded.

"It don't matter Cougar, plus you said you were gonna work on yer anger when dealin' with ponies like that right?" She reminded me.

"You're right, sorry. That guy is a jerk Applejack, somepony like you doesn't deserve to have that happen to you," I patted her back.

"Eh, no harm Cougar, 'n it's certainly not yer fault," she said trying to sound chipper about the issue.

"Well, I do sort of feel bad. You tried to get me to go as your friend and I kept ignoring you, and that's why I'm sorry," I gave her a quick hug. "Vinyl and I are showing up at the castle early on the day of the Gala to get setup and then we head back to Ponyville," I started, "so would it be alright if I rode with you guys to the Gala and walked you in?" I asked and then took a long swig of beer.

"Ye-yeah, Ah guess that'd be fine," Applejack stammered just as our food arrived.

"Heh, let's dig in I guess," I smiled as we picked up our food and toasted it together before chowing down. I gulped hard, but not from eating the food, it was how I was going to be able to stomach the Grand Galloping Gala, even with all my friends there and being the music guest with Vinyl.

---

Next Chapter: The Grand Galloping Gala. I don't know how many chapters it will take, possibly two or three depending how long it will be. Just be prepared for some good 'ol Rock 'N Roll and some touching couples moments.

I do not own Juke Box Hero by Foreigner

I do not own Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi