Gilzia/ Celestia
Pyre/ Luna
Etpinego/ Applejack
Vivmay/ Rarity
Vemsa Hewl/ Rainbow Dash
Xamspona Tevopi/ Twilight Sparkle

'Who was that?' I thought to myself, perplexed by the strange incident, as I heard the footsteps grow steadily closer behind me.

'Who was who?' I heard the Princess of the Day's familiar voice curiously ring out in my head.

'Some stra-,' I started as I turned around to face Gilzia. All thought processes stopped as soon as I laid eyes on her.

Gilzia had ditched her normal royal appearance for something more formal, which I had expected her to do, being a Princess and all. I wasn't prepared, however, for what I saw her wearing as she stood before me now. Her dress added an exotic flair to her, with it's plunging cowl neckline and waterfall skirt, like a tempting flamenco dancer in some dark Spanish cabaret. The color of the dress was the same light blue color of my vest, that of a clear summer sky. Said dress's tailored fit was made specifically for her as I followed well defined curves downward, till it reached her hips where it transformed into a long flowing train. Her neckline was made up of loosely bunched up cloth that hung low in both the front and back and left most of her shoulders bare. This gave her wings room to move in the back, while in the front displayed just a hint of cleavage at the top of her impressive bust. Her sleeves continued the fitted theme up until her elbow, where it opened up into a bell bottom that hung down to her wrist. As she took a step forward, my eyes were drawn to her long legs. Legs that were in plain view as my eyes followed those shapely towers of ivory white till they reached the front hem of her dress mid-thigh. The dress's double-layered asymmetric hemline had a light ruffle with it that went along well with the bell bottomed sleeves, and I could plainly see the white underlayer as it hung just a few inches lower than the top layer. Both layers cascaded down the back of her legs, only to pool on the floor behind her feet.

Looking at the floor, I had a perfect view of her golden heels, which would explain why she now stood a couple of inches taller than my six foot frame, not counting the horn of course. She still wore the same crown atop her head, her shining symbol of authority and might, but gone was the golden necklace that usually hung from her neck and the bracelets that had adorned her forearms. In their place was only a jeweled choker around her neck, made up of white and blue diamonds with a single large amethyst adorning the middle, holding the whole thing together. Her mane and tail were left untouched, which took nothing away from her allure, as it flowed with the ruffled design points of her dress.

So lost was I in admiring Gilzia, that I had to be knocked out of my trance by her voice ringing out in my head again.

'Well, it seems that you approve of my selection for tonight,' I heard her voice say in my head, heavily laced with mirth.

It was only after regaining my composure that I noticed the two gilded Royal Guards standing at attention behind her, and remembered Gilzia's desire to not publicly declare our courtship. Not just yet, for fear of Etpinego and myself being harassed by the media and the other members of nobility. So, bringing myself to attention, I slid the sole of my right foot back along the plush runner that ran the hallway, while simultaneously bringing my right hand across my abdomen while I bent at the waist and extended my left arm back, away from my body. Formally bowing to one of the reigning Princesses of the land as all the scenes from those old movies dictated that I should do when I greeted them and we had an audience.

"Your Majesty," I said as I lowered my eyes.

"Please rise, Eric Broussard of Earth," she said as she extended her hand to me, which I gently took in my own and lightly kissed the back of it before I stood back up. As I looked upon her again I saw her smiling down at me with that calm smile firmly in place, before she looked back to address one of the guards. "You may leave me now guards, I shall be in good hands from here."

With a quick bow of their heads in acknowledgment to their regent, the two guards did an about-face and headed back down the hallway that they had come from. After they left, I saw Gilzia visibly relax ever so slightly as I tucked her hand in the crook of my arm and began to guide her down the hall arm in arm.

'You look very beautiful tonight,' I told her through our link, just in case there were any prying ears around.

'You flatter me, sir. I should let you know though that flattery will get you everywhere with me,' she said as she gave me a quick wink, once again getting my blood going. 'And might I add, such a handsome gentlestallion you make. Miss Vivmay should be very proud of her work. After seeing you, I can not wait to see what she has done for Etpinego's dress.'

'Now who's flattering whom?' I asked teasingly, as I used my free hand to smooth out the front of my coat.

Gilzia just laughed as she snuggled a little closer to my arm, 'Eric, before I found you, you were thinking about something. What was it?'

'Oh yes, I almost forgot,' I said through the bond, remembering the mysterious mare, 'There was a strange mare I ran into while roaming the halls.'

'Oh,' the day alicorn said as she tilted her head curiously. 'Strange as in how?'

'Well for starters, I think she was an alicorn.'

'An alicorn?' I heard her surprisingly state in my mind. 'But how can that be? There are only four alicorns left in the world. Myself, Pyre, Xamspona and Gehluli.'

'Yeah, I thought that it might have been Princess Gehluli at first, being as she's the only one I haven't met yet. But I didn't think that she would be traipsing around the castle disguised as a zebra mare. Plus, I saw the same mare yesterday in the crowd at the demonstration right before you and the others showed up, and I remember Xam telling me that Gehluli was not able to make it,' I told her as I saw her looking straight ahead, deep in thought, 'Gilzia, are you okay?'

Breaking her out of her trance she turned her head to face me and gave me a reassuring smile. 'Yes I am fine Eric. Just that this is quite troubling news. Do you mind if I take a look at your memories?'

'My memories? Sure, go ahead,' I said as we stopped in the middle of the hallway and she turned to face me.

'I promise not to look into anything that you do not want me to.' She tried to reassure me, but I just had to chuckle finding her worrying cute.

'It's alright Gilzia, I trust you.'

With a warm smile she gave me a slight nod in understanding before continuing. 'Now, because of your resistance to magic, I shall have to create a physical connection with you.'

'Just do what you have to,' I told her as I felt her hands cup my face before she kissed me.

The initial surprise of her kissing me in the middle of her castle for everypony to see didn't last long, as I slowly felt myself drift into kind of a daze. My surroundings became foggy and it felt like we were floating underwater, with my only source of oxygen coming from the lips of this beautiful angel who held my life in her hands. The only thing I could make out was the steady noise of her breathing and the pounding of my heartbeat in my ears as it steadily slowed to match her breaths. Yet, when it felt like I was on the brink of succumbing to the inky darkness of unconsciousness, I slowly felt myself coming back to as the haze over my mind began to lift. Upwards my body continued on, till I felt myself break the surface back to reality, back to the hallway with my guide.

After a few more moments, I felt Gilzia slowly end the kiss, pulling away from me, and her eyes fluttered open again, presenting me with those purplish-red colored eyes.

'Wow,' I thought, flabbergasted, as I tried to regain control of my thought processes. 'That was... well it was... I've never experienced anything like that before.'

Gilzia blushed slightly as I struggled to put the experience into words. 'I found what I needed almost right away, being as it was still a fresh memory. The rest was more for me.'

'Really? Wow,' was all I could manage. 'I guess it's true what they say. Nothing beats experience.'

'Again with the flattery, Mr. Broussard,' Gilzia's voice rang out in my mind as she lightly tittered and we continued on down the hall. 'But this news of an unknown alicorn is slightly concerning. I have no recollection of her, and the only one who might have had any information regarding this is my mother. However, neither my sister or I have any knowledge of the location where she sealed herself may be.'

'Well that's disconcerting,' I said as I felt her lightly tugging on my arm. When she stopped walking, I turned to face her, wondering what was the matter.

"Eric, I want you to be on your guard,' she spoke aloud to me as I saw the seriousness in her eyes. "The fact that she is obviously trying to hide herself and appears to be able to get in and out of the castle freely is concerning enough, but what worries me the most is why she is seemingly interested it you and what her plans involving you could be.'

"Are we jealous?" I inquired as I leaned closer to nuzzle her cheek, but was surprised when she pulled back, still giving me that stern look.

"I am serious Eric. We do not know anything about her or her intentions regarding you. As an alicorn, she is no doubt very powerful, and even if she can not use magic on you, she could still be dangerous," she said trying to warrant her need for concern as she finally leaned in and lovingly began to nuzzle my cheek. 'I just do not want to see you get hurt."

"I know," I reassured her softly as I returned the gesture. "I'll be careful, and keep an eye out."

"Thank you," she breathed in my ear as I felt the relief roll off of her through our bond.

For a few moments we just stood there in the hall, silently reconfirming our bond with one another, before we finally pulled away from one another and once again continued on our way. The two of us slowly made our way through the halls as we resumed talking through our bond. Not really heading in any particular direction, nor talking about anything in particular, instead just enjoying each others company as we continued along. Yet, as we walked down one hall towards an intersection with a perpendicular hallway, something against the far wall in the crossing hallway made me pause. Gilzia paused as well and looked at me inquisitively as I continued to stare at the intersection up ahead. There, lined up against the wall standing proudly and unmistakably amongst a congregation of other flags representing the nations that would be attending tonight, was Old Glory herself.

In awe, I silently walked up to the flag, unbelieving that it was truly there. A familiar symbol from my home world ,and more importantly, my home country was here standing before me in a foreign country on a foreign world that was only God knows where. I reached my hand out slowly and ran my hand across the raised surface of the embroidered stars on the field of blue. Confirming that it was real and not just some figment of my imagination.

'I hope that you approve,' I heard my lead mare say as she came up and stood beside me.

'How?' was all I could say as I acknowledged her presence.

'From one of our earlier conversations, shortly after you had arrived here. When you showed my sister and I those pictures from your world out of that electrical folder of yours, this flag was in a few of the pictures displayed on the back of your aircraft. When we asked you about it, you told us it was the flag of your country, and we felt the need for the default ambassador of Earth to have his nation represented among the others. Even more so, given the fact that this celebration is being held in your honor.' she said as I felt her fingers gently clasp around mine.

'I appreciate it Gilzia, I really do. It means a lot to me to see this ol' girl again,' I said as I gave her hand a light squeeze, 'But unfortunately, if you remember, the United States doesn't represent all of humanity, only a small portion of them, and I'm not sure if it is the best symbol for Earth as a whole.'

"Actually we remember quite well, Ambassador Broussard," I heard another familiar voice say aloud, directing my attention to the left to see Pyre standing there in her dress with two of her Royal Lunar Guards as escorts.

"Your Highness," I greeted her with a bow, although this time just bowing at the waist due to the fact I was still in Gilzia's company, Pyre's equal in authority.

"Ambassador," she replied with a curt nod of her head before dismissing her escorts, as I slowly soaked in the sight of her in her dress.

Pyre's dress was just as elegant as her sister's, if not more so, and made her look absolutely stunning. While sharing some similar features with Gilzia's dress, such as an assemetrical style hemline, they couldn't have been any different. Where Gilzia's dress was a rich sky blue in color, Pyre's dress was the same dark reddish-purple of my cravat. The elder’s dress hung off her shoulders while the younger sister's dress completely forwent that detail, instead exposing her neck and shoulders in a very decollete fashion. The top half of her dress could only best be described as a bustier, as it hugged close to her slender torso and ended at the top of her bust. Around her waist and along the top of the dress's neckline ran a ribbon of the same golden color as my pants. Sitting between this golden border, the center of attention, was an elaborate design of silver embroidery. It spread across the whole of her bust before tapering into a point at her waist, and as she moved in the afternoon sunlight I saw the sparkle of diamonds embedded into the design, each one shining like the stars in her hair. The bottom of the dress was of an asymmetrical cut like Gilzia's, the front hemline being higher than the back. However, unlike her sister's, it came to a stop in the front at her knees as opposed to mid-thigh like that of the day alicorn's, and was also only single-layered and lacking the ruffles found on Gilzia's.

Pyre's choice of footwear, like Gilzia's, was a set of high heels, although silver in color. Also, like her older sister, she to decided to do without her everyday accessories, deciding instead on more dainty choices. The shiny black tiara that she normally wore on her head had been replaced with one that was silver. Gone also was her normal necklace, a small silver pendant that hung from a slender silver chain having taken its place. While a pair of light gold colored elbow-length gloves were substituted for the silver bracelets that she usually wore.

As she looked at me with those scintillating eyes of hers, all I wanted to do was to continue to drink in the sight of her beauty I didn't know that I had been caught staring again, until I felt a nudge from the solar alicorn at my side.

'Well Eric, aren't you going to say anything?' I heard Gilzia playfully ask me through our link.

"Oh, yes," I said aloud, not even realizing I had done so as the two mares shared a laugh at my bumbling. Not paying them a mind, I crossed the few steps distance between myself and Pyre as the night alicorn gave me a loving smile. Taking her hand in mine I brought the back of it to my lips, never breaking eye contact with her, "You look very alluring this afternoon, Pyre."

"You were right, sister, in your judgment from earlier," Pyre addressed to Gilzia as she watched me finish kissing her hand. "Our stallion is quite the flatterer."

"Indeed he is," Gilzia agreed with her sister as she came to stand beside us. "Perhaps he has somehow charmed us with some kind of human spell."

"It's not flattery when it's the truth, my mares," I said as I flashed them a dashing smile.

"Well thank you all the same, it means a lot to a mare to hear that their courter approves of their selection," Pyre said as she nuzzled her cheek lightly against my own, much like her sister had done. After she had finished her greeting, she addressed me once again. "Anyways, as I was saying when I arrived, my sister and I have not forgotten when you told us that your country was not the sole voice of your world. If memory serves me correctly you said that that task belonged to a council of nations that you called the United Nations, if I am correct?"

I nodded to her, confirming what she had said as she continued. "Of which your United States is a founding member?" Again, I nod in approval. "Now you did not have a picture of their flag in that electronic folder of yours, but you were able to draw it out and describe it to us." Another nod. "From that drawing and your description, we had this flag commissioned and had it placed here, next to the flags of Equestria and the Equus Council for all to see."

I looked to where Pyre was motioning and saw that she was indeed pointing to a light bluish-gray flag that stood to the right of the other two in a display all by themselves. Looking at the flag, I could see that it wasn't an exact copy of the real U.N. flag because I wasn't an artist of any kind, but it was close enough to where I instantly recognized it as the flag of the peacekeeping organization. As I stood there, I slowly began to recall the conversation that they were referring to from all those months ago.

It was actually only a couple of nights after my first initial meeting with the Princesses, wanting to show them some of the pictures I had of my home world before the battery on my laptop finally gave out. I didn't think much of it at the time as I showed them pictures of all the different places I had visited in my ten year career with the Air Force, although it was the highly censored and family safe version. Figuring the questions that they were asking were due to the fact that they had never seen anything like a computer before. But now, I thought that maybe they had done it so as to give me some kind of connection with a symbol that I held dear from my home world. Perhaps so that I never forgot where I had come from during my stay on this alien world of Equus. Or maybe it was all just a figment of my imagination. Whatever the true reason may have been, I was just grateful for them having the flags made.

"Thank you, both of you, for doing this," I told them sincerely. "I don't know if you'll every really know how much this means to me."

"You are most welcome," Gilzia said as I felt them both softly kiss my cheeks.

Not wanting to remain in this reminiscent funk any longer, I tried changing the subject.

"Well, shall we be heading back, Princesses? I believe it's time to meet up with the others," I asked them with a smile as they each hooked an arm with mine and I let them guide me back towards my room.

Along the short walk back to my room, Gilzia and I informed Pyre of the news about there being a new alicorn somewhere about and could possibly have intentions involving me. Needless to say, I had to reassure another of my mares that I would take extra precautions involving my safety, just in case. I even had to dissuade the Princess of the Night from assigning a permanent guard detail to me for my own protection, telling her that with my strength and magic neutralizing ability, I should be able to handle myself against one mare. Alicorn or not. Plus, there was the fact that whoever she was, she had disappeared, and, because if none of them knew that she had existed before now, then she must not want to be found. Pyre didn't seem too convinced by this, but trusted me anyways and left it at that, much to my relief.

Once we reached the hallway that me and the other girls were staying in, I made a quick detour into my room to grab the gloves that I had forgotten before. Though briefly, I did wonder if it would be better to leave the gloves in the room in case I did actually meet up with this mysterious mare again. However the thought of explaining to Vivmay on why I didn't have the gloves was a more frightening idea than any danger that could come from the unknown alicorn.

"Well, I finally got everything, and we can g-," I started to say but for the third time in under an hour this afternoon, I found myself at a loss for words as I saw Xamspona and the other girls waiting out in the hall with Gilzia and Pyre. All of them stunningly beautiful, but my attention was solely on the farm mare who nervously stood with the others.

Gone was the down to earth farm mare who could always be found working on her family's farm with her trademark stetson firmly atop her head. Glistening with sweat in the noonday sun as she tolled away on her daily chores. In her place now stood a refined mare, who looked like the belle of the ball from some fairytale story, and just like those princes when they first laid eyes on such angelic beauty, I felt my whole world come to a stop. I feared that even my slightest movement could scare this heavenly creature away.

Her mermaid style dress looked like it was straight off of some high fashion show's runway, but this was to be expected with such a master as Vivmay. Yet, unlike the underweight supermodels of my world, the curvy farm mare had no problem filling out the dress as it hugged tight to her, almost like a second skin. Its deep navy and black coloring contrasting well with her tanned coat, as the dress only came up into a bustier and left her upper chest and shoulders bare. Her bust was even more accentuated by a ribbon embedded with some unknown black gems that followed the neckline around the back of the dress before dipping down to nestle itself comfortably under her full bust. Down, I followed her womanly curves until I reached the satiny black ruffled tiers that started at her knees and continued down to the ground.

Due to the length of the dress I could not make out what type of footwear she was wearing, but by judging by her slightly higher stature I could only assume it was some sort of heels. Gone was her ever present brown cowboy hat that could always be found resting on her head. Instead, her long, sun-bleached hair was pulled back into a tight bun. Her tail was left to hang, although with a wavy curl set into the hairs now as it lazily spiraled down to the ground. Like I would expect from the simple mare, she didn't bother with decking herself out in jewelry or other flashy things, only having her golden Element of Honesty hanging proudly around her slender neck.

Even though it had only been a couple of seconds, it felt like hours as I tried desperately to get my mind to start working again. It wasn't until I heard Etpinego speak uncomfortably to Vivmay that I was able to pull myself together.

"Ah feel ridiculous all gussied up like this," she said to the stylist who just dismissed her friend's complaints as she primped over the farm mare's dress.

"Nonsense dear, you look absolutely magnifique. Would you not agree Eric darling?" she said as I saw her look towards me, and it was then that I realized that everyone in the group was waiting for my response.

Not wanting them to realize that I had been struck dumb for the third time this afternoon, I pulled myself together as best as I could and calmly walked the couple of steps to Etpinego as Vivmay stepped out of the way. Leaning towards her, I lightly kissed her cheek before nuzzling it with my own, feeling her warmth against my skin from the blush that I was sure graced her face now.

"I think you look amazing, Etpinego," I whispered into her ear, just low enough so that only she could hear it.

"Y'ah really think so?" the usually strong willed mare asked me timidly.

"Of course," I reassured her as I pulled back and gave her a smile and she hesitantly gave me a small one back.

"There, you see Etpinego, like I told you. It's the perfect dress for you," the white unicorn said proudly as she and her friends gave her a hug.

"Indeed, Vivmay, you have truly outdone yourself," Gilzia congratulated the white unicorn as she greeted her newest herd-sister with a nuzzle on the cheek.

Etpinego continued to blush, not used to being the center of so much attention and still adjusting to her new position in the herd. But you could never blame the headstrong mare for not giving every goal she set her mind on her full devotion. For as Gilzia stepped out of the way and Pyre came forward to greet her, it was Etpinego who initiated the gesture as she leaned up and lightly brushed her cheek against the taller Night Princess's. Pyre gave her a warm smile in approval after they parted. As I offered my arm to the still demure mare, she accepted the offer and I heard a suppressed cough come from the purple-haired modiste.

Turning to Vivmay, I saw her raising her thin eyebrows at me ever so slightly, like I was expected to say or do something. It was then that I realized that I was the only male in a group of females who all had gotten dressed up in their Sunday best, so to speak, and none of them were pulling any punches tonight. All of them were looking so good that stallion's would be looking for them in the daytime with a flashlight, and it was only expected that as the sole representative of the masculine sex, that I was to recognize their efforts to impress. Even more so, considering that it was for an event where I was the guest of honor. So, giving the mares a deep bow, I tried to be as honest and sincere as I could be in my thanks to them, and maybe ham it up a little.

"Please forgive me my ladies. I was at a loss for words at the sheer brightness of your beauty, and you honor this poor man by gracing me with such sights. I am truly blessed to be given the chance just to be able to share the same room as you lovely ladies."

"You flatter us with your genteel manners and praises dear sir," Vivmay graciously said, all the while, enjoying the treatment she was receiving.

"All right, enough of this hoity-toity stuff," Vemsa Hewl boisterously interrupted as she stepped in between me and the others. "We have a ball to get to."

"Vemsa Hewl is correct, we should be going. The guest will be arriving soon," Xam said as she took her position next to Gilzia and Pyre.

"Well then shall we go?" I asked to the group as Etpinego and I fell in behind the Princesses, and the rest of the Element Bearers brought up the rear.

'I feel like I should apologize for us having to hide the fact that Etpinego and I are courting both of you,' I told the sisters through our bond.

'There is no need to worry Eric. It was, after all, our idea to begin with,' Gilzia reassured me.

'Indeed, and it is not like you shall be spending the night with an unknown partner. You shall have the pleasure of escorting the beautiful Etpinego for the evening. If anything, my sister and I should be jealous of your opportunity to get to know our newest herd member better,' I heard Pyre add as we came to a closed pair of double doors at the end of the hall.

"Are you ready for this?" I heard Xam ask me as she gave me one final glance back in my direction.

I took a breath to steady myself as I gave her an unsure smile in return. "Not really, but let's do this."

Author's Notes:

Hey everyone,

Sorry for not getting this posted up sooner, but just got back from my deployment yesterday and was busy spending some much needed time with my family. Anyways here's the next chapter and hope to be done with Chapter 21 sometime this week off and would like to be done with the Ball chapters before I'm done with my CTO days.

That reminds me. Now that I am home from this deployment you might see the chapters coming at a slightly slower pace, but do not worry I have not forgotten this story and will be here till the end on it. I shall just be busy with work, studying for Technical Sergant, going back to college, working on my A&P liscence, enjoying the summer with my family, and welcoming the newest addition to my family! So... basically life as usual.

As always thanks go out to my proofreader/editor AidanPryde for doing such an amazing job.