Clyde sat in between two groups of new friends, Spike and the stallions getting along well and the mares chatting away, except for Persephone. He knew that Dawn would take up well with Applejack and Fluttershy; she was gentle and kind, and shared A.J.’s southern blood.

Clyde leaned into the crystalline mare, and inconspicuously whispered, “Have the princesses said anything to you about what’s going on after tonight?”

“We already know,” Persephone replied in an icy voice, “Celestia presented a plan to us before you arrived; if they find anything, we’ll be the first response. Hopefully this doesn’t turn into another Canterbury Cove.”

“You do think it’s changelings then?”

“What else could it be?”

“But there haven’t been any foalnappings, no raids, nothing; all Luna said they know of is a presence of evil.” he tried to explain.

“That doesn’t mean they won’t come,” her fierce yellow eyes exemplified her belief that war was near, “After tonight, we are all to return to our regions and await the results of the princesses’ search.”

Clyde took a drink of sparkling cider, hoping its burn would ease his mind. As he swallowed, he looked up to see the rest of his guests standing on the other side of the table, obliviously smiling at him.

“Hey,” began Twilight cheerfully, “we just wanted to thank you for inviting us; this is so great!”

“So you’re with him too?” asked Persephone, her cold voice finding a smidgeon of kindness from deep within.

Four vigorous nods responded, until a thunderous voice caused all present to jump.

“These are the others?” asked Brutus, leaning forward.

Clyde leapt from his chair, hovered over the table, alighted next to his friends and introduced them. They each raised a hoof or nodded as her name was called, except for Rarity, who gave a very elegant bow.

“We just wanted to come over and meet you all,” explained Pinkie Pie, grinning from ear to ear.

Sebastian opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, a blur shot from the scene, leaving a cloud of dust behind; Pinkie had gone off to continue partying, and she was now downing punch on the far side of the room.

“Well then, come over and meet us,” requested Sebastian as he arose from the table and chivalrously pulled out a chair on the opposite side of his; Brutus and Clyde did the same, and everypony present ended up shifting seats to sit around the circular table.

Clyde ended up in the middle, essentially sitting between his guests and his comrades, who had involuntarily sat in segregated groups. Small talk ensued, mostly about the party, and Clyde couldn’t help but notice Sebastian’s eyes repeatedly falling on Rarity.

“So, where are y’all from?” asked Dawn softly.

“Ponyville,” was the unanimous response.

“How about you? Where are you from?” asked Twilight, thirsty for knowledge, as usual.

“I was born in the Crystal Empire, but I moved to Detrot when I moved out on my own,” answered Persephone.

“Born and raised in Appleloosa,” said Brutus, puffing out his already expansive chest.

“I was born in Fillydelphia, but I was a drifter until I joined the military. I don’t really have a home,” said the orange unicorn as he ran his hoof through his mane.

“My family’s from Hoofington,” explained Dawn, “but I’ve lived in Stableside for eight years now. It’s where I watch over my region.”

“So you all do that too?” began Rainbow Dash, excitedly leaning forward onto the table, “I mean, I know you protect your regions but do you watch over them like Clyde does, with the gift of sight thing?”

“You told them?!” exploded Persephone, turning on Clyde with a frightening glare, “Civilians aren’t supposed to know about our abilities!”

“Well, they’re not really civilians,” he tried to explain, “Do you remember why the princesses assigned me to the Central region in the first place?”

“She thought you were most fit to watch over the bearers of the elements of harmony,” recalled Brutus, stroking his facial hairs in recollection.

Clyde responded by nodding towards the six mares opposite them.

“Ah,” Persephone replied.

“I saw it fit to tell them; after she caught me, that is,” he looked playfully at Dash with an eyebrow raised; she returned the look.

“So,” started Spike, a presence of curiosity in his voice, “What are your gifts?”

The Guardians were hesitant.

“Oh, come on, please,” pleaded Dash, “We already know about you guys. Why keep secrets?”

“Oh alright,” began Dawn, “My gift,” suddenly, a voice perfectly matching the unicorn’s sweet tone spoke from behind the mares, “is this.”

They whipped around, and the mahogany unicorn was behind them. They turned back, but she was still in her chair across the table as well.

“I can bi-locate,” explained a third voice, coming from a third copy of the Guardian standing in front of a stained glass window. The two clones meandered to the sides of the original, three identical mares oriented shoulder to shoulder. Seven dumbstruck faces gazed upon the spectacle.

"I know, it’s weird,” said three melodious voices in unison. The two clones grew transparent, and were absorbed into the real Dawn.

“Ho-ho, that’s…somethin’, Ms. Dawn,” commented Applejack, mystified.

The brown unicorn only smiled humbly, and turned to her comrades.

“I’ll go next,” started Brutus as he stood. He placed his left hoof beneath the dense oak table and lifted it over his head with ease, not even a vague sign of effort showing anywhere in his body. Amazingly, he oriented the airborne piece so that not a single glass fell from its balanced platform. He set it back down, easily controlling the massive table.

“That’s nothin’” Rainbow Dash got up to replicate his feat, and positioned her shoulders beneath the table. She tried to lift the wooden platform, but couldn’t even get the edge of the table to budge. She pushed against the ground with all her might, but it was like it was sealed in concrete, and wouldn’t move an inch.

“Hang on, almost got it,” she lied, her face turning red from strain.

As she tried in vain, Rarity asked, “So it’s strength then, Brutus?” to which she received a silent nod.

“My turn,” said Sebastian confidently. Suddenly, he vanished, the feel and sound of static electricity filling the air. As quickly as he disappeared, he popped up next to Persephone. The stunt caused all to gasp, even making Rainbow Dash stop trying to lift the massive table and focus on the bizarre feat.

“You can teleport? That’s awesome!” exclaimed Dash.

“Yep,” then he was gone again, leaving the skin of all present tingling.

He reappeared leaning up against the wall, a few feet from the table.

“Celestia gave me it to me to be more effective in a fight, and to get around quicker,” he vanished, materializing next to Rarity’s cheek, and whispered, “but it’s good for other things too.”

She tried to slap him in rebuttal for his arrogance, but her hoof hit only air as he disappeared, coming back into view in his original seat, smiling confidently at the white equine. Rarity only glared, her eye shadow amplifying her discontent, but the orange unicorn only stared back grinning and slowly took a drink of cider, holding the gaze as he did.

“Ahem,” said Persephone, interrupting the stare-down, “looks like I’m up. Brutus, hit me with that chair.”

Eyes widened in fearful anticipation of her demise. The crystalline Guardian stood, and the black giant nonchalantly lifted a wooden chair with cumbersome strength, and swung with incredible force. The chair broke over Persephone’s head, and she took her seat again, unfazed.

“Luna hardened me, made me impenetrable. I suppose she saw it fit seeing how I’m practically kin to diamond, being crystalline and all.”

Dawn very courteously levitated the wooden shards of the chair into a wastebasket while the other’s tried to rid themselves of awestruck expressions.

“There’s just one thing I’m not understandin’,” began A.J. after a short silence, “Why don’t the princesses just give ya all the gifts and make ya invincible?”

“They tried that,” explained Dawn, “but the load of all the magic on one normal pony is too much; you’ve got to be an alicorn to support more than one of the spells. The magic the princesses used on us is so powerful that it can kill normal ponies if they aren’t strong enough, which is why Guardians are hand-picked from the strongest in Equestria.”

“By mixing and matching abilities,” continued Persephone, “we get a blend of strengths to compensate for each other’s’ weaknesses.”

Many questions ensued, mostly from Spike but several from Twilight as well. Clyde leaned back in his chair, perfectly content with watching his two worlds meet in conversation before him. He enjoyed seeing his friends’ interest in his other life, and laughed at how critically Twilight was interrogating the other Guardians about their abilities, trying to determine the nature of the magic behind their power or the history, however opaque it was, of the Guardians.

It didn’t take him long to notice that Sebastian and Rarity kept exchanging looks; the orange pony glancing at the mare seductively, the chiseled lines in his face drawing up tighter with each turn of his eyes. She looked back with only angry contempt at first, but as the night progressed, she turned with less frustration and more content, but Clyde could see the gears turning in her head.

“She’s planning something,”he thought,"She either wants him or she’s going to pull some stunt. She probably likes him; geez, how’d he pull that off after she tried to smack him. He’s always had a way with mares. Maybe it’s the haircut?”

He was neither jealous nor upset, but he felt a bit concerned for Rarity’s sake; Sebastian wasn’t exactly the best companion. He was more the love ‘em and leave ‘em type.

Just then, the band switched keys from the melodious lounge music they had been playing to an upbeat rhythm, and the mares’ ears perked up.

“Finally, something to dance to,” rejoiced Rarity, flicking her curled mane as she turned away from the table and towards the dance floor.

As she spoke, Brutus rose and bowed to Applejack, extending his hoof towards her as he did. She blushed, then smiled, took his hoof in hers, and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor.

Seemingly out of nowhere, three other stallions did the same to the others. A dark red unicorn from the Magic Brigade bowed in front of Twilight and asked her to dance; she accepted. One of the Wonderbolts, a blue pegasus stallion with a swept back mane, did the same to Dash, and she too agreed, smiling from ear to ear. Another stallion, a white pegasus with the 11th Calvary insignia on his shoulder, asked Fluttershy to accompany him, but she timidly declined.

Another stallion was approaching Rarity, but he was repelled by a fierce glare burning holes in his skull from the orange Guardian. Sebastian disappeared from Clyde’s side, leaving his hair tingling, and materialized next to Rarity.

“Shall we?” he proposed, moving in close to her cheek, blatant confidence permeating his demeanor.

“No, we shan’t,” she replied giving an impertinent smile back.

She flicked her mane across his face as she turned away, leaving the wordsmith speechless.

She strolled up to Clyde, swinging her hips as she did, and mocking Sebastian’s tone, asked, “Shall we?”

Clyde looked over her at his comrade’s dumbstruck face and couldn’t help but laugh. His jaw was hanging on its hinges and one eye twitched.

“Of course,” he replied.

She led him by his hoof to the center of the dance floor and turned to face him. She began to sway to the melodious harmony of the strings as Clyde let the rhythm flow through his body. He took her left hoof in his, and wrapped his other forelimb around her, and they began to waltz, spinning slowly around and around their section of the floor.
Rarity stole a quick look at Sebastian, still back at the table; he was blatantly pissed. He sat, his wide chest huffing, holding his glass but not drinking, and glaring. His cheeks turned red in rage when she winked at him, pulsating veins surfacing on his forehead.

The song continued playing, loud enough for all to hear but quiet enough to talk.

“All to show him up?” asked Clyde.

"Not all,” she replied, her dainty accent adding feminine quality to her voice.

Clyde knew what she was trying to say from the look on her face. The few words she spoke meant nothing next to the volumes contained within her sapphire eyes.

Clyde anticipated a rise in the music, and in perfect synchronization with the roar of the cello, he spun Rarity around, catching her and leaning forward, holding her swooning figure close to the ground. When the strings sang again, he spun his partner back upright, her mane and gown twirling behind her.

He advanced on her, a hoof around her and another joined at the end of her forelimb, as she retreated, matching his every step until the cello stopped and the violin took its place. She then took her turn, gaining ground on the tall grey stallion as he stepped back in perfect rhythm.

They spun around and around together, until again, Clyde anticipated the shift in the music, and as the cymbal rang, he took hold of his partner, lifted her off the ground, and spun a semicircle with her in his hooves. He set her down and she swooned back, catching her a few inches from the ground and leaning in close.

He was just about to continue when the music suddenly stopped. He looked around; everypony, including his friends, was gathered around the perimeter of the dance floor, watching as the two of them moved to the music. He hadn’t even noticed they had the floor to themselves. Apparently it had been quite the performance, as an ovation began. Clyde helped the white mare upright, and she curtsied a bit, relishing in her brief fame as he gave a slight bow.

The band slowly began to play again, and Rarity looked up to Clyde with a big splendid smile. She was out of breath, but regardless, she spoke.

“Thank you Clyde; that was amazing! I don’t think I’ve ever danced quite like that.”

“Any time; and I’m sorry about Sebastian. He’s a good guy. He’s just a bit…”

She stopped him with a hoof over his mouth, smiling as she did.

“I don’t care about him dear; I’ve grown used to brazen colts like him,” she explained, “But I’ve waited for a dance with a stallion like you forever.”

She began to sway again, and he realized she wasn’t ready to stop yet.

As the band began to gain vigor, he and Rarity began to sway again. Her head rested on his chest, and he began to scan the room. A.J. was dancing with Brutus again, Twilight and Dash with the same stallions as before, Pinkie Pie with an aqua colt from the Infantry, Sebastian, looking less frustrated than before, with a mare from the Intelligence Regiment, Persephone and Dawn with stallions from the 11th, and even Spike with a mare from the Royal Guard.

The music switched, as did the dancers. Rarity moved on, purposely avoiding a certain orange unicorn, but not before giving Clyde a quick tight hug.

Clyde found himself in front of a pink pegasus smiling up at him hopefully. He bowed, and the two began to sway to the melody of the strings. Again the song changed, and Clyde now found himself across from Applejack, who humorously tipped her hat to him. Again he bowed, chuckling a bit as he did, and the two began to twist to the beat.

He looked around again and spotted Spike moving back and forth with his hands around Rarity’s neck. Clyde nodded towards the sight, and A.J. giggled.

Again, the beat changed pace, and the pegasus and the farm pony moved to new partners. Clyde made his way through the crowd of ball goers, dancing with Dash, Twilight, Pinkie, the female Guardians and several others who were strangers to him. Each dance was unique, as each partner was different; modest, exuberant, lively, refined, bold, fun, simple, casual, but something seemed to be lacking.

As he tried to teach a very young green mare with three left hooves to dance, the music abruptly shifted into a slower melody, characterized by the gentle notes of a flute with soft strings harmonizing with its graceful melody. Clyde moved to the next closest mare, and was shocked to see who his next partner was; Fluttershy.

She stood coyly, smiling gently. Her mane was pulled back, showing the world her often concealed, yet beautiful face. Behind her ear was tucked a yellow rose from the bouquet he had bestowed the day prior.

Clyde smiled, both proud and pleasantly surprised that she had mustered the courage to venture onto the floor to dance with him. He bowed, and she very properly returned the gesture. He placed a hoof around her as she wrapped a forelimb around his neck, and they began to move and sway gracefully to the melody of the gentle music.

Clyde was taken aback when he realized that she was leading; she beckoned this way and that as they moved, pulling him into a surprisingly elegant promenade around the dance floor. She held a very rare confidence, and Clyde smiled knowing that he was most likely the cause.

This dance was unique from the others; something about the improbability of it gave it a sweetness that eluded those that came before. And that was just how this dance felt; not bold or fun or refined, but sweet. Fluttershy, who had declined to dance minutes earlier, had approached him for a brief moment of companionship, and he felt honored.

The music began to slowly die, and as the sweet notes of the flute began to float through the air, she hugged him tightly. He held her in his forelimbs, and brought his head so it rested on the back of her shoulder. The last note rang through the air, and several ponies began to clap, but they held the tender embrace through the applause.

Eventually, she pulled away from him, smiling, and they returned to the table exchanging somewhat awkward smiles. All in the original party, save Sebastian, sat down; the orange unicorn had posted up as far away from the previous holder of his affection.

“Ah always forget how much fun dancin’ is,” said Applejack as she fixed her hat, happiness spread across her face.

“I told you this would be fun,” said the grey pegasus, his wings fluttering slightly as the shrill notes of a violin invaded his ears.

“Well,” began Brutus, “thank you for the dance Ms. Applejack, but I think I’ll need to catch up with some old friends of mine from the Infantry.”

“I think I might do the same,” added Clyde.

The two stallions made their way to the other side of the room, leaving the table to the mares.

Author's Notes:

Hey guys! Thanks for reading this story. I hope you're enjoying it. Please leave a comment on what you did and didn't like. Thanks again.