“Calm down Reflection,” spoke Chalmers as he adjusted the changeling’s golden necklace so that the emerald set in the pendent was in the center of her chest. He had ordered the jewelry from one of the local jewelers as a gift for Reflection; the Emperor had hoped that the necklace would help ease the changeling’s concerns about the Gala. It hadn’t worked; since Nigel, Reflection and Sparkling had boarded the Equestrian chariot with their three guards the changeling had been growing increasingly nervous. Her wings fluttered and she constantly shifted in her dark green dress while Chalmers and Sparkling, the crystal mare in her own crimson dress, tried in vain to calm Reflection’s nerves.

“How can I calm down?” Reflection questioned as she tapped her front hooves together from where she laid on the red seat in-between the Emperor and Sparkling. “I’m about to trot into the palace that my race tried to invade a month ago, a palace filled with Equestrians who will hate me for what we did!” the advisor became more frantic, Chalmers sighing and pulling her close to him as he tried to banish her fears.

“This again,” he replied as he stroked her mane with a white-gloved hand, “look, nothing I can say can change what will happen. You won’t be alone though, I’ll be right next to you the entire time and Private Gilded over there,” Nigel nodded towards the golden-coated Crystal Guard stallion sitting opposite him receiving a nod in return, “is under orders to protect you from anything. Don’t forget that Private Chatter is also a changeling, so he’ll be under just as much scrutiny as you.”

Reflection rotated her head from its spot resting against the Emperor’s black-uniformed leg, the advisor looking at the changeling in his metal armour as he lay opposite Sparkling. The soldier met her stare with a re-assuring smile, Reflection’s frown lifting a little bit.

“Besides,” Nigel continued, “if the Equestrians get really carried away then I’ll just smack a noble on the rump or something which should divert attention from you.” The guards and Sparkling looked at the Emperor in shock at this; the scary thing was that they knew that he would do it to. Reflection however reacted differently, the changeling’s fear disappearing as she glared at Chalmers.

“Oh no you won’t, you’ve only done that to me once and you’re certainly not going to do it to some pony noble!” Reflection fumed, the changeling sitting up on her rump so she could poke the Emperor in the chest with both of her forelegs. Her attack was swiftly countered however when Chalmers wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug, Reflection squeaking in surprise before melting into the embrace. “I love you,” she mumbled through the black cloth of Nigel’s clothes.

“Am I the only one who is confused at that!?” Sparkling burst out as she tried to comprehend the sudden change of the mood that the human and changeling had gone through. The guard sitting in the middle, Sergeant Opel Blitz, was also looking at the pair strangely.

“At least you don’t have to guard the Emperor tonight,” Blitz commented only for her eyes to widen as she realized what that insinuated. “I mean the stress is pretty high with guarding the Emperor!” She added hastily, her sword’s scabbard clinking against her armour as she sat up on her rump and waved her front hooves in an attempt to diffuse the situation. The Emperor looked at her sternly, the guard beginning to sweat under her armour.

“Nice save,” Nigel suddenly complimented as he broke out in a grin, Blitz sighing in relief when the Emperor seemed not to mind her outburst. “How’s Flora doing?” Chalmers asked, the sudden topic change catching Opal off-guard.

“Uh, she’s doing fine,” Blitz replied as both of the Emperor’s advisors looked at her curiously, “she’s staying at one of her friend’s house, she’s talking normally to ponies now so I hope the worst is over.”

“Are you going to keep her?” Nigel replied, Blitz’s expression dropping.

“I’d love to, Flora’s a really good filly and I treat her like my own but I went down to the library the other day. I looked over the adoption laws and since I’m a single mare employed in the guard I can’t keep her in case I don’t come home, leaving her without a guardian.” Opal almost looked like she was going to cry, a chuckle from Chalmers causing her to look at the cheery Emperor.

“Guess what I remembered,” he asked, everyone gazing at him waiting for an answer. “I’m the Emperor,” he continued, “I decree that you shall be allowed to adopt Flora as in doing so you are technically preforming a service to the Empire. Also from now on ‘Bugger it, I’m the Emperor so I do what I want’ is my catchphrase, so there’s two reasons to celebrate.” Opal smiled a thankful grin at her ruler, the mare just managing to restrain herself from racing over and hugging the human partly because it would be unprofessional and also because Lady Reflection would most likely try to fight her because of it.

“Thank you Emperor, that means a lot to me and Flora as well,” Blitz acknowledged, Chalmers waving a gloved-hand in the air.
“What’s the point of having power if you don’t use it to better the lives of your subjects?” Nigel replied calmly, “besides it’s not a big ask and in the very unlikely and unwelcome event that you die in the immediate future then it’s not like we won’t be able to find her a place to stay, after all-“

“Yes, you are the Emperor and you do what you want,” Reflection interrupted from beside Nigel as she rolled her eyes. Nigel quickly moved a hand and playfully rubbed the changeling’s right ear, Reflection humming contentedly as the ear rub intensified.

“While Reflection may need to consider that mocking me when she’s aiming to get into my pants will probably not help her cause she is correct in that I can make it happen.” The changeling reluctantly pulled her head away as Nigel’s massaging increased.

“No more head rubs, you’ll mess up my mane,” she explained as she compensated by rubbing Chalmers’s thigh with a hoof. The Emperor ignored the contact as he looked at her with surprise.

“You, caring about how you look?” he questioned, the changeling flicking her head as she sat up with a straight back to mimic the human,

“if I must suffer through the indignity of sharing a room with such uncouth Equestrians then at the very least I aim to be more beautiful than them all,” Reflection stated in a mock posh accent as she raised her muzzle in the air,

“I must say my exquisite companion that I believe that you shall indeed be most visually stunning upon your entrance to this quaint little ball,” Chalmers continued the play in a nasally voice as he also raised his nose to the chariot roof, “such an enchanting grace is only fitting for a gentleman of my grand stature.” Both maintained their poses for a few seconds before bursting out into laughter at the same time, all tension gone from the chariot as the laughter continued.

“It’s like they’re made for each other…” Sparkling whispered in awe as the changeling paused laughing to nuzzle the Emperor who returned it to the best of his ability.

“Oh no, a female Nigel,” her guard, Chatter, replied worriedly. The couple being watched by Sparkling and the guards completely oblivious to the attention they were receiving. Sparkling wondered just how the guard knew the Emperor, looking back on the human’s casual banter with the changeling as he was selected to guard her she recalled that they seemed to have some prior history.

Everyone looked out the windows as the chariot started to descend, even the Emperor and Reflection stopping their affections to glance outside.

As she gazed out Sparkling could see rows of buildings in a city smaller than the Crystal City, a stone castle appearing to be their destination. The chariot soared over streets and alleys, a large crowd of ponies in fancy clothes growing larger as the chariot approached the front doors of the castle, the pegasi-pulled transport banking to land in a courtyard next to many other chariots all coloured white with gold trimming like theirs. A unicorn dressed like a butler approached, obviously intending to open the door to allow them out as two earth ponies rolled out a red carpet leading to the main doors.

“Showtime,” Chalmers muttered before glancing down at Reflection, “are you ready?” The changeling looked at him with a grin as she flicked her mane out one last time.

“Of course,” she answered confidently, the unicorn butler opening the chariot door.

“Thank you for coming, enjoy the Gala.”

The pair of unicorn nobles bowing in front of Celestia stood back up, their sugar-laden replies soaring over Celestia’s head. She was worried about Luna, glancing over to her sister next to her she saw that the blue alicorn was shifting constantly in her silver shoes. Luna had been sullen all week and had refused to tell Celestia what was wrong. She had heard however from a few palace staff that during the night court earlier in the week Luna had collapsed in her throne.

All Luna had said was that she had been surprised by someone’s bad dream, Celestia wondering if her Sister had attempted to access the slumbering human’s mind. The Sun Princess had dropped the issue, Luna would talk when she was ready and Celestia couldn’t be certain that the dream that she mentioned belonged to the Crystal Emperor. Luna’s apprehension did seem to have increased since a chariot was sent to the Crystal Empire though.

Celestia caught Luna’s eye and smiled re-assuredly, her sister giving a thankful look in return as she stood up a little taller. Celestia turned back to the ponies lined up at the stairs awaiting for her to welcome them. There were far more than the last Gala, after the mishaps caused partly by her student and her friends less of the nobility had opted to attend, allowing Celestia to invite far more of her ‘normal’ subjects like she had always wanted.

Twilight Sparkle and her friends were here once again, this time they had helped set up the party and while a few additions, notably the ones from the element of laughter, seemed a bit odd it was all in good fun. The dull nobility needed to cheer up a bit anyway in her opinion.

Celestia continued to greet the party goers before they entered the main ball area, Luna hanging back and merely nodding at the ponies, receiving cautious bows in return. A commotion from the main doors drew both princesses’ attention, one of the butlers charged with welcoming VIPs rushing up to the stairs before bowing before Celestia.

“Princess, the Emperor of the Crystal Empire and his retinue have arrived.” The grey stallion announced. Celestia and the butler failed to notice just how pale Luna had turned at the mention of the Emperor’s arrival.

“Very good,” Celestia replied with anxiety hidden behind a warm smile, “show them in, foreign leaders enter straight away remember?” The stallion looked up at her with brown eyes, the butler wearing an expression of concern.

“I would Princess, but it would seem as if the Emperor has only two tickets but has brought two guests including himself. We tried to reason with him but…”

“What happened?” Celestia sighed.

“He stated that, and I quote, ‘I am the Emperor of the Crystal Empire and I wish to bring both of my advisors, if you don’t like it then I’ll take my Nazi gold and leave’.”

“…What?” Celestia asked again, the alicorn narrowing her eyes in confusion before she shook her head. “Never mind, if he wants to bring both of his advisors then let him, it’s not worth the trouble to deny that.” The butler nodded at her suggestion. “Any more issues regarding the Emperor?”

“In addition the Emperor’s guards are well-armed.”

“That is expected from an Emperor,” Celestia began, ‘Especially one like him.’ “And he was given permission to bring his own security with him; I assure you that it is all approved. Please, bring him up to me immediately so I can welcome him straight away.”
“About that my Princess,” the stallion continued, “a few of his retinue are-“

“Changelings?” Celestia interrupted, the butler nodding his head. “The same applies to them,” the white alicorn responded, “their attendance was expected and there are adequate guards to ensure that nothing goes wrong, now if there is nothing else can you please escort the Emperor to me.” The stallion swallowed a lump in his throat, what he was about to say next would yield unpredictable responses.

“The thing is your Highness,” the butler continued, Celestia raising an eyebrow at him, what was the problem this time? “The Emperor… refused to cut in line.”

“…What?” Celestia questioned once again, the sheer unpredictability of the action ruffling her normally calm exterior.
“He claims that ‘it’s not polite’ and that he hates it when ‘Tossers’ do it to him. The Emperor stated that if he had to wait in line then that was okay with him.”

“Okay then,” the Princess replied as she returned to a motherly smile, “if that is what he wishes then we should take no action to change that, good work Welcome Mat, you may go now.”

“Thank you Princess,” the butler responded, giving one last quick bow before hurriedly moving into the crowd of waiting ponies. Celestia continued to greet her party guests, both Princesses awaiting the arrival of their Crystal Empire counterpart with differing levels of worry as the line grew shorter and shorter.

Reflection stood next to Nigel, the changeling leaning up against him as she anxiously tried to avoid the multiple stares and whispers that they were the subject of. What probably didn’t help was Nigel’s tall height compared to everyone else around him, the fact that there were two changelings and also the very intimidating halberds that each guard was carrying. The three guards had all remained still despite the many Equestrian Royal guard eying them with wary gazes. Sparkling was looking around at the many ponies in all of their different cloths with an almost child-like wonder.

Nigel had taken it upon himself to meet every concerned gaze and return fire with a disarming smile and wave. Reflection glanced up at him, slightly awed at how well he was coping with all of the attention. The reminder that he was right next to her enduring the same stares she was bolstered her confidence, the changeling attempting to do the same thing that the Emperor was doing but every time she smiled at an Equestrian they quickly turned away.

Eventually she gave up trying to smile; instead she just looked down at her silver-shoes and moved forward whenever the line moved. As she waited and walked she went over in her head all of the mis-haps that could happen that night, her previous confidence from back at the chariot having dissipated.

Soon however she found herself at the foot of the stairs, glancing up she found the studying stare of Princess Celestia focused firmly on her and Nigel. Princess Luna on the other hoof appeared to be trying to avoid looking at them, the midnight alicorn very uncomfortable. Reflection swallowed a lump in her throat as the group arrived at the two Princesses.

“Welcome Emperor Chalmers, I’m so glad that you could make it,” Celestia greeted with a smile, Reflection not detecting a trace of anything except warmth. Still, she doubted that the Alicorn was that happy to see them given her experiences when she had visited the Crystal Empire.

“Well I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a free party,” Nigel replied back with a smile, the human causing a small grin to show on Reflection’s face despite her anxiety. Celestia allowed herself a small chuckle as she lifted a white wing towards Princess Luna.

“Probably the best reason I’ve heard tonight,” the Princess responded, “I would like to introduce my Sister, Princess Luna.”

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance Princess,” Nigel said as he greeted Luna, the Princess appearing to struggle to meet his gaze.

“Likewise,” came the response, the Princess neglecting to say anything else. Chalmers kept up his grin but Reflection noticed a slight eyebrow twitch from the human. Celestia gave her sister a strange look before turning back to the group, Reflection finding the ruler’s gaze landing in her.

“Miss Reflection, it’s rather pleasant to see you again,” Celestia commented, “I must say that you look stunning, I see that the Emperor encourages his advisors to look their best.”

“Actually Princess,” Reflection started nervously as she struggled to maintain eye contact with the alicorn, “I’m not here as an advisor, I’m here… I’m here-“

“She’s here as my date,” Nigel interrupted to save Reflection from having to break the news. Celestia’s look was one that the changeling was unable to place, Reflection was unsure if the Princess was disturbed or just surprised. It mustn’t have been that much of a shock, after all the Princess had walked in on them with their mouths together during her visit to the Empire.

“Oh, I see,” Celestia responded, “I hope the night goes well for you.” The alicorn glanced towards Sparkling standing on Nigel’s left. “You as well Miss…?”

“Sparkling Scroll your Highness,” the second advisor answered, “I’m the Emperor’s personal assistant.”

“A great one as well,” Chalmers chipped in much to Sparkling’s embarrassment. The Emperor looked behind them through the halberds at the line of ponies extending out the door. “We should probably get going so most of your guests can get in, we should talk later.” With a final nod the human moved past the Princesses receiving nods in return, his retinue following him into a bustling ballroom.

The respectful quiet of the entryway changed to the bustle of a ball in full swing, there must have been close to two-hundred Equestrians already enjoying the party. All around the lavishly decorated area there were ponies in top hats, suits, flowing dresses and other beautiful clothing sampling assorted food from large tables, retrieving a multitude of drinks from the bar and waiters as well as dancing to the music provided by the orchestra set up in the back-left corner.

“Well then,” Nigel said as he glanced down at Reflection, “let us mingle.” The human began to walk towards the main area, however he stopped when he noticed that Reflection was not following him. Chalmers turned around and gave her a questioning look, the guards and Sparkling also waiting for the changeling.

Reflection was staring out at the other party-goers, so far the group had escaped their notice but it was only a matter of time. She was so caught up in worry that she jumped in surprise when she felt her left silver-clad forehoof lift up. Looking towards her side she saw that Nigel held it in his gloved-hand, the human once again giving her a reassuring smile. Reflection closed her eyes and took a breath, when she opened them she nodded.

“That sounds like a plan.”

With a hoof in Nigel’s hand she walked with him, the human aiding her as she trotted on three legs. Due to a combination of Nigel’s height, their armed guards and their species the two quickly drew looks and whispers. Chalmers either didn’t notice or care as he strolled towards the bar, ponies moving out of the way of the biped and changeling. The three guards and Sparkling followed behind, the heavily-armoured changeling in particular attracting looks of awe and fear with his armoured form and halberd attached to the side of his armour.

Upon reaching the bar the Emperor halted in front of a suddenly free bartender, the soft-pink unicorn mare incredibly nervous. Looking at her red and gold vest Nigel and Reflection saw that she was named ‘Chardonnay’, the Emperor towering over the bar counter.
“I’ll have just a… red wine thank you,” Nigel ordered after glancing at the list on the side of the bar before he squeezed Reflection’s hoof. “What do you want Reflection, the same?” Reflection had never really had much alcohol, she knew that it affected changelings just like ponies but she had never seen the appeal. Regardless, there was no time like the present and maybe a drink would help calm her nerves.

“Yes thank you, I’ll have one as well,” she answered, the bartender seemingly unable to decide which creature she was more afraid of. The unicorn quickly got to work when they ordered however, her pink magic pouring a bottle of red wine into two skinny glasses which seemed designed to be able to fit in the crock of a pony’s hoof. As she placed them before the pair Nigel reached into a pants pocket and withdrew something from inside. Reflection watched as he moved his hand to the mare’s vest pocket, the bartender frozen with fear as the hand moved closer to her. The changeling caught the brief image and flash of a small diamond before it was placed inside the vest pocket of the unicorn.

“Forgive me,” Chalmers commented as the mare looked down into her pocket in surprise at the very, very generous tip, “but I find coins so bothersome to carry around, don’t spend it all on booze now you hear.” He lifted his glass off the bar and went to grab Reflections for here but stopped when a dark-green glow grasped the wine glass and moved it over towards the changeling. He stared at Reflection as her horn glowed the same colour as the field around the stem of the glass, the changeling taking a small sip of the wine before noticing the look the human was giving her.

“Oh, I guess I never told you that I could do this, did I?” she asked, Nigel shrugging and taking a sip of his own wine.
“I knew that changelings could do ‘basic’ magic from what you told me, you just never have used it yourself so I guess I’m just a little surprised.” Reflection grinned and moved her hoof which the Emperor was gripping so that Nigel’s hand rested in the crook, the changeling pressing her hoof down in a grasp.

“It just means that I don’t have to let go to drink,” she replied light-heartedly, Chalmers chuckling softly.

“I wouldn’t want to change that for you. Come on, I want to see if these ponies do any good cheeses.” Reflection giggled at his priorities as she took another sip, the wine was actually pretty good. Chalmers searched for Sparkling, the mare was sitting down at the bar on a stool while Chatter stood guard by her side. Sparkling was sipping a brightly coloured drink in a tall glass, no pony coming within two metres of the armed changeling standing beside her.

“Sparkling?” Nigel questioned, gaining his advisor’s attention. “Is it okay with you if we head off towards the buffet?” The Crystal mare nodded as she finished a sip of her drink.

“That’s fine by me sir, I’ve got Private Chatter here with me after all.” The Emperor grinned at her, his mood incredibly relaxed tonight.
“Thanks and remember, don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do,” he replied before he walked off with Reflection and their two guards towards the crowded food tables. Sparkling considered her words as she turned back to her drink, the tropical cocktail one of the best drinks she’d tasted.

‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,’ she mused, ‘so does that mean that I’ve just been given free rein to do anything?’

“Hey Twilight, isn’t that critter the Emperor of the Crystal Empire over there?”

Twilight and her five friends turned away from their conversation as Applejack pointed a hoof towards a tall biped dressed in a black suit holding onto the ebony hoof of a pony in an emerald dress browsing the suddenly vacated food table. Twilight examined the creature, determining that it did indeed look like the Emperor that Princess Celestia had warned her not to talk to if she could avoid it.

Why the Princess had said such a thing Twilight couldn’t figure out, it wasn’t as if she was going to bombard him with questions about just why he thought that he could take the Empire away from Princess Cadence who was its rightful ruler.

Okay, so she may have wanted to ask a few, tiny questions but they also included ones about his species and culture so it wasn’t all bad, right?

Twilight refocused on the situation at hoof however as her ‘Rainbow Dash is about to do something Rash’ sense tingled, the cyan pegasus as she hovered in the air eying the pony holding the Emperor’s claw narrowing her eyes,

“That’s not a mare, that’s a changeling!” Dash proclaimed as she zoomed off towards the pair with her rainbow gala dress from last year fluttering behind her.

“Rainbow wait! Celestia already said that changelings live in the Crystal Empire!” Twilight called out to no avail, her friend already halfway towards the pair with no signs of stopping.

“Why do I keep coming to these?” Twilight mumbled before looking at the rest of her worried friends. “Come on girls, we better stop Dash before she starts an international incident. Wait, where’s Pinkie gone?” the four remaining ponies searched around for the party pony, Twilight eventually spotting the pink mare over by…

The buffet table.

“Oh no,” the unicorn said in a soft voice, galloping off towards the confrontation with her friends following behind her hastily. They arrived just in time to witness Dash put her face right in front of the changeling’s, the surprised bug jolting in fright before the Emperor noticed just what was going on. Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack stopped running and stared at the impending confrontation along with a vast number of surrounding ponies.

“Can we help you Miss?” the Emperor asked calmly, one claw holding onto the scared changeling while the other was holding onto a slice of cheese that he had just cut from a large wheel.

“Yeah,” Dash replied as her wings continued to beat while she maintained her close proximity to the changeling, “you can help by explaining just why there’s a changeling standing right next to you!” The statement drew more and more onlookers, Twilight not too sure what to do.

“Twilight dear,” Rarity whispered, “should we, well, do something?”

“I don’t know Rarity,” Applejack added, “While Dash is acting mighty rude I think that she has a point, however I’m more worried about that Emperor than that changeling. Something about him just doesn’t sit right with me.”

Fluttershy remained quiet, the pegasus watching Rainbow and hoping that her friend would calm down. The four, divided on what to do just continued to watch as the Emperor pulled the changeling a little closer.

“Reflection is standing next to me because she is my date for the evening,” the biped stated, the information drawing varying gasps of astonishment, curiosity and even some disgust from a few Equestrians. “I would very much appreciate it if you would back up a little bit and respect her personal space.” Rainbow narrowed her eyes before she moved back a metre, her wings folding to her sides as she stood on her hooves facing the pair.

“And just why are you with a changeling?” Dash leaned her head forward to squint at the biped, “are you a spy here to help her invade again!?” Twilight sighed; Rainbow’s insistence that everyone she hadn’t met were spies was getting pretty tiring. The Emperor popped the piece of cheese into his mouth, showing a flash of sharp white teeth before using his now free hand to rub the changeling’s back. Two guards armored in in Crystal armor and carrying long axe-tipped spears by their sides moved to step between Dash and the Emperor, however they were halted with a look from the human.

“I chose her as a date because I can, your misperceptions about her intentions here are a little insulting in fact. Also, it’s not like there is a plethora of human females on this planet so it was either her or a pony, and I’ll be honest I’m confident that I’ve made the right choice.” The changeling lost some of her terror at the human’s words, the creature looking up at him with a joyful smile. Dash appeared a little mollified; the Emperor was not done however.

“As for the ‘I’m a spy’ accusation you’re actually correct, I am a spy of sorts. However I highly doubt that my employers would stand to gain anything from depositing me on this planet to conduct espionage operations against a nation of sapient equines, I’d like to think that my time is worth more than that.”

“And just what is that supposed to mean?” Dash’s fire returned as she flew up to the Emperor’s face, her pink eyes meeting his blue ones as the changeling and ponies watched on with worry. “Are we not good enough for you to spy on; is that what you’re saying?” The human’s gaze didn’t waver, however a slight grin graced his alien face.

“Oh no, not at all. It’s just that your nation doesn’t pose a threat to the humans I work for, believe me, that’s something that you want.”

“Not a threat?” Rainbow raised her forelegs up and made a boxing motion to the side while looking at the Emperor.

The human didn’t batch an eye, instead he quickly picked up the cheese knife that was embedded into the wheel of cheese, flicking it over so that the blade was held in his claw before throwing it over the heads of everyone towards a wall where it impaled on a ‘pin-the-tail’ poster the Pinkie had been putting up. All onlookers stared at the flung knife, having landed right on the spot where the tail was supposed to go. Pinkie, having been preoccupied by trying to attach the game’s fluffy tail to her own behind looked to the tail in her hooves and back to the knife.

“Hey, that’s not a tail!” she gasped as if all of the laws of the universe had just collapsed. Rainbow slowly turned back to the Emperor with her prior bravado extinguished. The human smirked at her before picking up another slice of cheese. The changeling beside him was trying to stifle a giggle while the two guards watched their ruler warily as Equestrian royal guards attempted to push through the stunned crowd to reach the biped.

“Now,” the human continued smugly, “if you would kindly leave us be I would appreciate it greatly, it certainly would help to prevent any more unfortunate incidents.” The Emperor continued to stare at the pegasus, Twilight however finally snapped into action, the unicorn levitating Rainbow Dash away while grinning awkwardly at the human.

“Come on Dash, I need your help with… something,” she provided as she removed Dash from the human’s presence as the biped turned to placate the Royal Guards inquiring as to why he felt the need to throw a knife.

Twilight and her friends, Pinkie having joined them suddenly with a tail attached to the side of the dress, moved Dash way from the crowd still observing the human’s antics as the pegasus started to struggle in Twilight’s magical hold.

“Hey, let me down!”

Twilight let go of Dash, the pegasus landing on the ground.

“Rainbow Dash, what were you thinking!?” Twilight asked as she glanced at the human conversing with two Royal guards. “Why did you go and do that, do you not remember the Princess telling us that changelings live in the Crystal Empire and that is was likely that the Emperor would bring some!?” An embarrassed chuckle from Rainbow answered the question for her.

“Uh, well Twi, the Princess was getting pretty boring during her big speech so I kind of… zoned out half-way through.” Rainbow offered a wide grin in the hopes that Twilight would forgive her. Twilight however seemed to be doing deep breathing exercises, eventually calming down enough to reply.

“Alright, I guess I could have seen that coming. It still doesn’t change the fact that you almost started a fight with an Emperor! An Emperor who threw a knife into a target from a hundred hooves away and who Celestia said led an army to fight Diamond dogs!”

“Yeah!” Pinkie chipped in as she jumped into the conversation… literally. “I mean he didn’t even use the tail! Who doesn’t know how to play ‘pin the tail on the pony’? It’s the most fun-er-ific game in the history of fun! I know, I’ll go over and teach him how to play it as well!”
Pinkie made to bounce off towards the human before being halted by Applejack, the farm pony firmly holding Pinkie’s tail in her teeth.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea Pinkie,” Applejack said through clenched teeth as Pinkie stopped mid-air, drawing almost as much attention as the human did. “He don’t seem like the fellow to enjoy those sort of things. We should probably leave him alone for now.”

“Hmmmm,” Pinkie said as she rubbed her chin with a forehoof, “so he’s like a Cranky-Doody-Dandy then, okie-doki!” She landed upon all four hooves, Applejack letting go of her tail as Pinkie agreed to leave the biped alone.

“Your right there Pinkie,” Dash agreed as she ruffled her wings, “he’s cranky alright.”

“Rainbow Dash,” Rarity lectured after giving a few noblemares a polite nod, “you did insult his date, defending her was the expected reaction from that Gentlecolt he seems to be. I personally don’t like changelings either but he, and the Crystal Ponies I might add, obviously do like them. The changeling as well, ‘Reflection’ I think her name was, also has a stunning outfit. Did you see that lovely necklace she was wearing? Back to the Emperor however, judging from his attitude and actions towards you he was quite restrained -“

“Restrained!?” Rainbow spluttered in surprise. “He threw a knife at me!”

“Um, actually Rainbow, he threw the knife past you,” Fluttershy spoke up gaining the attention of her friends, “but I agree that he seems a bit strange. I mean, when Rainbow was arguing with him did you see his guards?” Everypony except Rainbow Dash thought back to the incident.

“Yeah,” Applejack answered, “they looked pretty worried about what Rainbow was going to do.”

“Not Rainbow,” Fluttershy responded quietly, “they were worried about what he was going to do.”

This revelation drew their gazes to the Emperor once more, the human was chatting with the changeling as they drank from their glasses. The two guards, a stallion and mare, had stepped closer to the pair and a wide circle was formed around them by the crowd. Everypony kept glancing at the two, especially when the Emperor said something that seemed to worry the changeling. The biped leant down on his long legs and gave the changeling a quick kiss on the lips, increasing the murmurs from the onlookers. He then stood up, took her empty glass and headed to the bar with the guardmare following him behind leaving the changeling and what they assumed to be her guard alone at the buffet table.

“You talk to her.”

“Why don’t you do it?”

“What, and go past that changeling? It’s got a spear-axe!”

“So it’s okay for me to do it!?”

Chatter sighed as yet another pair of stallions debated on approaching Sparkling Scroll, the mare so engrossed in the orchestra playing that she didn’t notice pretty much every stallion in the room eyeing her appraisingly. The guard shifted in his armour, thankfully the padded interior was quite comfortable so wearing it for so long was bearable.

His charge, the advisor watching the cello solo with awe, was almost as popular as the musicians themselves. Her shiny pearl coat and ruby mane drew stallions like bees to honey, Sparkling’s dress and golden shoes only enhancing her figure more. Chatter himself had fallen into the trap, the changeling finding himself watching his VIP with something more than just a professional interest.

The flowing mane was enchanting, the way that she walked and her fascination with everything around her really drew Chatter’s interest. He sighed a little as the music continued to play, all of the stallions too afraid to approach her due to his presence. The piece playing drew to a close, Sparkling sitting on her rump and tapping her hooves together like the Equestrians around them to show her approval. Chatter was so absorbed in his own thoughts that when the mare asked him a question he completely missed it.

“I’m sorry, what was that ma’am?” he asked, Sparkling smiling at him as she stood up.

“I asked whether you enjoyed the music,” Sparkling inquired, her voice sounding a little slurred. Chatter had noticed that she had been very keen to try all of the different Equestrian cocktails. “And don’t call me ma’am, just call me Sparkling.”

“Oh, it was very nice… Sparkling,” Chatter responded, rolling Sparkling’s name around on his tongue. The mare beamed at him and looked around, spotting the numerous Equestrians around them staring at them.

“Well, I guess we’re popular,” she whispered, the advisor beginning to walk over to the main dance floor. Chatter followed as was his duty, the changeling forming a cone of space as he followed Sparkling while she made her way through the crowd. The mare stopped at the edge, the square marked out by lines. Ponies, both in couples, groups and solitary were dancing in the square already, Sparkling moving out to join them. Chatter advanced and halted at the edge, the changeling making sure to keep eyes on the advisor at all times. He was given plenty of room by the party goers observing the dancers, more loos of fear and suspicion directed at him as she stood still.

Chatter wondered just how the Equestrians would react if they knew just what the Emperor was like when he was angry, would that change how they viewed changelings as well? He guessed that it wouldn’t matter, it had seemed that with the invasion they had destroyed any hope of co-existence with the equines. He smiled under his helmet, at least the Crystal ponies were really nice, it was a true boon for the changeling race that the Emperor had allowed them to stay.

Speaking of the Emperor Chatter spared a second to glance around for the human, while it wasn’t his direct responsibility to guard the human he still felt the need to check on the ruler’s wellbeing. Granted, after the show with the cheese-knife earlier the guard doubted that anyone would give Chalmers trouble.

He spotted the biped, his height and distinctive black cloths making him easy to see at the bar as he ordered more drinks. Chatter was a little surprised to not see Lady Reflection with him, after all at the rate that the Emperor and Reflection were going he wouldn’t be surprised if she became a lot more active in the ruling procedure. Turning back around to the dance floor the changeling guard felt his heart drop.

There was no sight of Sparkling at all.

Throwing caution to the wind the armoured guard rushed onto the dance floor with his armour clinking lightly. Ponies scrambled out of his way as he searched for his charge, every group of dancers was investigated and a swift evacuation from the floor resulted.

“Hey, watch it!”

Sparkling’s voice rang out from the center of the area, a mass of ponies fleeing as the changeling rushed over to investigate.
He found the mare on the ground, evidently having been knocked over during a pony’s rush to leave. Her tipsy state probably didn’t help matters.

“Are you okay?” Chatter inquired as he offered the mare a metal-clad hoof, the advisor grasping the limb and lifting herself up with the guard’s aid. While standing she tilted a little, Sparkling shaking her head to little effect.

“I guess, I feel a little dizzy though,” Sparkling replied. Chatter searched for somewhere to let the mare recover away from the stares. He spotted a padded bench at the back of the room, the lights hanging from the ceiling casting the area in shadows. He moved closer the Sparkling to steady her but when he did the mare threw a foreleg across his back as she used him for support.

Chatter’s face heated up, having to remind himself that he had to adhere to his duty and ensure her safety. Helping her walk, the two headed to the red-cushioned bench. They left the stares behind, the ponies moving back onto the dancing area with the incident already forgotten. As they reached the bench Sparkling sat down awkwardly, Chatter noticing that she had a silly grin on her face as she tried to imitate the way the Emperor sat.

“Heh, this isn’t that hard at all-“ she was proved wrong as she toppled onto her side, hitting the bench with a soft plop. She giggled as she righted herself, “I guess I’ve had a little bit to drink, haven’t I? I couldn’t help it, those cocktails were so yummy!” Sparkling almost toppled over again, Chatter reaching out a foreleg to steady her as she swayed on the spot.

“It’s okay, there’s a first time for everything after all!” Chatter replied with a chuckle, not noticing the mare studying him with lidded eyes.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Sparkling muttered, “why don’t you sit down, I still feel a bit woozy.” Chatter hesitated at the request; while unorthodox he guessed that it was within the scope of his orders from the Emperor. He sat down with care; the fact that he achieved it clad in his armour was testament to the skill of the Crystal Empire armorers. He felt Sparkling lean up against his left side as they looked out upon the ballroom, no-pony had noticed them in the secluded spot.

“So,” she continued, “you’ve got nice armour.” Chatter was a little confused at this, had she only just noticed or was it just the alcohol playing with her mind?

“Uh, thanks?” he answered unsurely, the mare moving one of her hooves to play with the grip of the halberd at his side.

“Does that helmet have a face thing that lets you open it up?” Sparkling asked, Chatter shaking his head.

“No, we have to remove the entire helmet,” he answered as he lifted it off to show her, the changeling placing it by his right side when it was fully removed. “You see, while a face-plate on hinges would be useful I was told th-“

Chatter was cut off by an obstruction in his open mouth, the changeling’s body freezing as the pony he was supposed to protect, one of the Emperor’s closest advisors and friends, kissed him passionately. He remained frozen for a few seconds before the mare pulled away, Sparkling giggling as his dumb-struck expression.

“Well, you did say ‘there’s a first time for everything’ so I thought that I’d try what a changeling’s like to kiss, after all Nigel seems to like it.” Chatter could only turn his head to stare at her, still unable to grasp what had just happened. “Don’t worry, it was my first kiss as well,” Sparkling giggled as she continued, her alcohol-addled mind assuming that the reason for the guards stunned reaction was because of that. “Here, let me change that,” she followed up as once again she kissed him, this time when she pulled away Chatter’s mind started to work again.

“Wha…?” Okay, so maybe it wasn’t all the way there.

“Mhmm, I actually like this. I guess some of Nigel’s personality is rubbing off on me, you lucky changeling.” Chatter still couldn’t believe that this was happening, he thought that Sparkling…

“I thought that you… you know, liked the Emperor?” he continued, Sparkling resting her head against his armoured shoulder as she sighed.

“I do, I mean as a close friend. He’s good looking, nice, harsh when he needs to be, loving to everyone around him, funny and I think there’s a very intelligent creature under the mask that I’m sure he wears, but I’m not in love with him. For one, Reflection would kill me in a heartbeat but it’s also because we don’t really mesh personality wise. I mean look at Reflection and him together, they work so well in a way that I never will. I’m happy to remain just a friend though, I still get head scratches so it’s not all bad.” Sparkling rubbed her head against the cool metal that she was resting on as she finished her speech.

“Oh…” Chatter began as he summed up the nerve to reply. “That makes sense; I can see where you’re coming from. Going of what I know about the Emperor you do seem to put more thought into your words and actions. I know it’s probably wrong for you to kiss me considering that I’m supposed to be guarding you but I want you to know that it was my first kiss and I’m overjoyed that it came from-“

Chatter was cut off by a snore from Sparkling, the mare drooling onto his armour as her head rested against it. Chatter looked at her and sighed, it looked like they would be here for a while.

“-you,” he finished, placing his helmet back on his head as he sat back and savored the after-taste of the mare’s gift.

Prince Blueblood, Nephew to Princess Celestia, swayed on his hooves as he finished off another glass of wine. This year’s Gala was intolerable, for some strange reason Celestia had let all the rabble in along with the nobility! He was used to noblemares chasing him for attention but now even peasants were attempting to lure him into a marriage, the nerve! The wine had helped with his displeasure, so much so that he decided that he needed more.

“Bartender!” Blueblood called, a young pink-coated mare in a red vest nodded at him.

“Yes sir, what can I-“

“Sir?” Blueblood slurred angrily, “I am Prince Blueblood, insolent servant! Fetch me more wine!” The unicorn mare folded her ears back and quickly got to work, a glass of wine transferring over to Blueblood’s light-blue magic field. Without a word the Prince walked off to find somepony else to harass.

He didn’t leave a tip.

Sipping his drink he made his way over to the buffet tables, not taking notice of the tall creature dressed in black that passed him on its way to the bar. Blueblood stumbled but caught himself, taking a second to flick his mane back over his head before continuing on.

He stopped however, his eyes falling upon a coal-coated mare in a flowing moss-green dress with a matching mane and tail. She was facing away from him, the pony seeming quite lonely by herself. Blueblood decided that he’d grace her with his majestic presence, the Prince trotting towards her with a smirk on his face. In his drunken state he failed to notice the gold Crystal guard standing nearby the mare.

As he drew closer Blueblood’s eyes traced the mare’s flank, most of it was hidden by her dress but the shapely curves and toned rump were still visible under the clothing. The Prince prepared to turn his charm on, at least this mare might make this dreary night worthwhile if he played his cards right. Oh, who was he kidding? He always played his cards right, he was the Prince after all.

“Why hello there,” Blueblood announced as he stopped behind the mare as the pony in question seemed to stiffen, “I’m sure you know who I am, I’m a Prince after all, I noticed you over here by yourself and I thought that a beautiful mare like you looked rather lonely.” The Prince kept his confident grin up as the mare started to turn around. Needless to say, when she did turn around the stallion was in for quite a shock.

“Excuse me?” Reflection, the changeling who was Emperor Chalmers’s advisor questioned as she stared at the Prince in surprise. Blueblood recognized just who he had been talking to, the Prince spluttering as he backpedaled away from her.

“You’re not a mare! You’re a changeling!” Blueblood’s alarmed cries drew everyone’s attention, the ballroom falling silent as the Prince’s panicked voice rang out. “Eugh!” he hacked as he looked at her, “to think that I actually thought that you were a noblemare! I cannot believe that my eyes graced your putrid flank with their gaze!” Reflection was withering under the barrage of slurred insults, the combination of the Prince’s harsh words and the stares from everyone shattered her sense of worth. While normally she would have gone over and hit him the stress of the night just reduced her to sadness, her fiery temper extinguished.

“Excuse me sir,” Gilded Gold, Reflection’s guard stepped in, “Refrain from saying any more thank you, in fact I believe an apology is in order to Lady Reflection.” Blueblood turned away from the changeling who was quickly tearing up to the guard that had spoken, the Prince narrowing his eyes.

“Apologize!? I do not take orders from commoners!” The guard frowned, the stallion having to remind himself that assaulting the Prince would not be a good idea. He tried to spot the Emperor however he could not find him, without support his hooves were tied.

Meanwhile, the Prince faced Reflection once more to continue his tirade. “If anyone should apologize it should be you changeling, why Auntie let you in I’ll never know!”

“Blueblood!” a shrill voice rang out, Rarity storming up to the Prince with fire in her eyes. “You are hardly acting like the prince that you are supposed to be, if anypony here is the ruffian then it is you!” Blueblood swayed a little, squinting his eyes at the unicorn that looked very familiar.

“Oh, it’s you,” he spat, “just when I thought this terrible Gala couldn’t get any worse you of all ponies show up.” Rarity’s frown turned to a snarl, the Prince deciding to end his rant there, but not before one final jab at the changeling who had insulted him. “The thing is, you’re still better than a filthy roach.”

His alcohol-addled mind figured the best way to finish the insults, his glass of wine flicking put to throw its contents through the air. Time slowed as the red liquid soared towards the upset changeling, set to impact upon her in a final humiliation. All eyes watched the wine close, almost about to hit its target. Reflection just had enough time to close her teary eyes before a loud splash and thump was heard, however the changeling didn’t feel wet at all so what happened? She opened her eyes and gasped at what she saw.

The Emperor pulled himself off the floor from where he had landed after his heroic dive to intercept the wine; having taken the liquid to the chest in lieu of Reflection much like a bodyguard would take a bullet. The room exploded with noise, everyone surprised at the Emperor’s un-expected arrival and action. The human stood fully up in front of his date to face the smirking Prince, his suit ruined from the wine.

“You better explain why you decided that assaulting a lady as well as a high-ranking political figure in service to my Empire was a good idea.” The human commented calmly, Blueblood rolling his eyes at the demand.

“I’d hardly call that a lady, though I suppose a monster as vile as you doesn’t have much of a choice.” Gasps of shock came from every one of the Equestrians watching, most of them were wary of the biped but he was still an Emperor. This was further enforced as the two guards, the mare that had accompanied the human moving with her fellow to step between the two arguing males. They were halted with a wave of a hand, Chalmers narrowing his eyes at the Prince in front of him.

“You truly are a most disgusting creature aren’t you?” The human responded coldly, “you must feel incredibly insecure to have to resort to such actions against someone who has done you no harm, insult me all you wish but I won’t tolerate insults against my companion.” The Princes mood turned dangerous at this. He was well past the point of tipsy and his normal unpleasant demeanor was amplified ten-fold. Disregarding the Emperor’s guards he stepped forward, the Emperor remaining still.

“Sergeant Blitz, Private Gilded, please escort Reflection away from the area.” Both guards obeyed without question, the changeling hurriedly moving with them to the back of the room as ponies cleared a path for the three. A circle was created around the Emperor and Prince, Blueblood pawing his hoof at the ground while the stood up straight with his hands behind his back.

“You think that a beast like you can best a stallion like me?” Blueblood raged.

“More than that,” Chalmers replied evenly, “I’m going to rip off your horn and shove it so far up your rump that whenever you want to use magic you’re going to have to open your mouth.” Royal guards had noticed the growing incident long before, however none seemed willing to interrupt the notorious Prince or the threatening human. There was still no sign of Celestia or Luna, the party had been going for a while but it was tradition for them to make an appearance later on in the night.

The two arguing royals squared off, Blueblood however was consumed by rage and alcohol. To the horrified shock of many the Prince brought his glass down upon a table edge, the top of the wine flute shattering to leave the sharp stem. This prompted action from the royal guards, Blueblood had gone too far this time. They found their way obscured by the mass of part-goes all too dumbstruck to move; despite their best efforts getting through the crow was slow going. Many cursed the decision to have all flight capable guards patrolling the exterior of the city, some pegasi right now would be very useful.

“What do you say now Monster!” Blueblood threatened as the glass stem waved in the air. Chalmers didn’t back an eye, he merely swept a hand over the front of his ruined shirt.

“You ruined my uniform,” he answered before swiftly grabbing both sides of the clothing with his hands.

A mighty rip sounded as the Emperor tore his shirt apart, discarding the clothing as he thrust his chest out and threw his arms out to the sides. With his bare skin exposed his morbid tattoo was visible to everyone, Blueblood even in his intoxicated state started to question if this was a good idea or not. Chalmers wasn’t done, placing one leg forward as he extended his right arm towards the Prince and made a ‘bring it on’ gesture with his hand.

“So, you going to use that bitch-stick or are you going to throw down like a Gentlecolt?” Nigel challenged, Blueblood snorting before his horn’s glow increased in intensity as the glass moved forward.

“That’s what I expected,” commented Chalmers as he dashed towards the Prince much to the shock of all the onlookers.

Blueblood sent his broken glass forward to meet the rapidly approaching human, a wet squelch sounding as the Emperor barreled into the Stallion. The guards arrived in time to witness the Emperor, having over-powered the Prince easily due to his inebriated state, lift the struggling unicorn over his head.

The human’s muscles bulged with strain, the guards watching on helplessly as the Emperor threw the Prince towards the buffet table.
Blueblood screamed as he flailed through the air before he was halted by the table, the unicorn crashing into a chocolate fondue fountain and causing the table to collapse under his weight bringing all manner of food down upon his once-spotless coat. Everypony stared at the table with baited breaths, the Prince groaning but not moving.

“Just like I said, he fought like a bitch.”

Ponies looked at the speaking Emperor only to turn away squeamishly or stare horrified.

Imbedded into the human’s right shoulder was the wine glass, the improvised weapon sunk deep into the flesh. Blood flowed copiously from the wound, splatters of crimson blood falling upon the ground as the royal guards finally spurred into action.

Deciding that helping the combatants was the top priority, the guards split up and made for the human and Prince. Chalmers waved off the equines much to their disappointment. “Tis but a flesh wound,” the Emperor joked while placing on hand upon a table still standing. The ponies still watching nearly lost their stomach contents when the biped clasped his hand around the glass and pulled, the human wincing slightly as he extracted the weapon from his shoulder. With a plop it came free, a stream of blood gushing out of the jagged hole.

“Huh,” Chalmers said through clenched teeth as he looked down at his wound, “now my pants are covered in blood and also ruined, nothing quite says ‘it was a rocking party’ like a glassing and ruined pants.” Dropping the glass on the floor he picked up his shirt rags, finding a dry spot to hold against his shoulder. Without another word he walked over to where his guards and Reflection had disappeared to, a large set of open doors leading further into the castle.

Leaving the stunned murmurs of the Equestrians behind he searched around for his companions, spotting a flash of crystal armour near a large stone staircase. He walked over, turned the corner and found two guards with a very upset changeling.

Reflection was bawling her eyes out in a mixture of both sadness and worry, the night had turned out just like she had feared. Opal Blitz was the first to spot the shirtless human, the mare galloping over to him immediately with her halberd clinking against her side.

“Nigel!” she yelled as she closed on the bloody human, all professionalism forgotten as she saw her ruler injured.

“It’s nothing,” Chalmers dismissed as he approached Reflection. The crying changeling had looked up at Opal’s yell; her eye’s fixed on Nigel’s blood-covered form with a terrified stare. The Emperor quickly crouched down beside her and grabbed her head with his free, un-bloodied hand and held her against his left side in an attempt to calm her down. Private Gilded was frozen on the spot; he was only a private and had no clue what to do.

“Are we… are we at war with Equestria?” he questioned, he wasn’t sure what had happened but considering that the Emperor had fought and been shanked by a Prince the prospect of war was not unlikely.

“No, it was just some drunken prince who stepped over the line,” Nigel answered as he stroked Reflection’s mane, the changeling’s sobs starting to die down. In truth he felt terrible for her, he shouldn’t have trusted the Equestrian’s to leave her in peace. He glanced at Gilded, the stallion also brimming with guilt because of his limited help in the situation.

“Gilded,” Chalmers called, the guard looking up, “it wasn’t your fault. You actually helped more by not attacking that Prince, I can take the heat that Celestia will no doubt bestow upon me for fighting her nephew or whatever he was.” The Private sighed but nodded his head, hearing it from his Emperor did make him feel a little better.

“Should we find Sparkling and Chatter?” Opel spoke up, the mare staring at Nigel with concern.

“They should be fine, I think I saw them over in the corner somewhere so they should not be noticed by the crowd. The royal guard will be in damage control mode so I’m sure they’ll be safe.” Chalmers looked down at his shoulder again, “Speaking of damage control…”

As he said this he removed the gory rags to examine his wound. Opel looked as did Gilded, the puncture having closed up with a patch of new pink flesh covering it.

“That was fast,” Gilded remarked, the information of the Emperor’s healing rate having found its way around the barracks.

“It was only a small wound; I’ve had far worse before.” Chalmers commented as Reflection moved her head to look at what the guards were talking about. She sniffled, feeling that it was her fault that he got hurt. Nigel noticed this and continued to rub her head, the human glancing back to the corner leading to the ballroom where the sounds of very angry yelling from Celestia could be heard. “We should probably find somewhere to hole up until she calms down, I don’t think that asking her for a lift back right now is a good idea.”

“You should probably get cleaned up as well,” Opel suggested, Chalmers nodding his head in agreement.

“A fine idea, I doubt that I look very regal now do I?” Nigel stood up, Reflection getting to her hooves with him with only the occasional sniffle. Chalmers continued to hold her hoof in his clean hand; right now the changeling was feeling terrible. Nigel had overhead some of the things that Blueblood had been saying to here and that’s why he had returned so quickly from the bar without their drink refills. He cursed inside, she had been doing so well confidence-wise before he had left and he hated seeing the normally fiery changeling reduced to this crying wreck.

He tugged on her hoof as he moved towards the stairs, the group of four assuming that a bathroom of some sort could be found on the upper floor if their own palace was anything to go off. As they climbed the grey stone steps the shouts from the ballroom reached a crescendo.

“What Blueblood, just what possessed you to start a barroom brawl with the Emperor of the Crystal Empire!?”

Luna winced as Celestia yelled the word ‘possessed’, the Prince’s detrimental influence was more benign but still the word exhumed sore memories. She was surprised that her normally freakishly-calm sister was currently shouting at Blueblood in the middle of a public ball but even Celestia had her limits. Stabbing a foreign ruler with a broken wine glass after humiliating his date evidently was one of those limits.

“But Auntie,” Blueblood squeaked out as he cowered under the barrage from the irate alicorn, “she is a changeling; she was the one that started it!” The healing spell that Celestia had used on Blueblood after his date with the buffet table had also cleared the effects of the wine that had caused the problem but had left the layer of food and chocolate on his once-clean coat. Celestia stood over him, her guards surrounding the circle area while all of the party guests were watching the lecture throughout the room. Blood splatters could still be seen over on one side, the blood only one of the stains on this year’s Gala.

“Don’t even try that!” Celestia retorted, “From what I know of Miss Reflection she is hardly the sort to insult ponies. Add to that what some witnesses have told me you said was incredibly vile and inexcusable!” Blueblood whimpered and caught sight of the Bearers of the Elements behind Celestia, Rarity giving him a death stare that was only rivaled by Celestia’s.

“Regardless of her race,” the Sun Princess continued, “she was a guest as well as an important political leader from another country and your actions towards her disgust me! I’m not even going to start on stabbing the Emperor; you should think yourself lucky that he didn’t kill you for what you did. You were there during the Diamond Dog attack on the Crystal Empire, how did you think a fight between you and him would turn out!?”

Luna was a little surprised that Celestia had let this information slip in public, the crowd of ponies already discussing what had just been said. The most Luna had been told was that there had been a ‘slight-hiccup’ with Celestia’s trip to the Empire, all of the guards that Luna had asked had replied that they had been sworn to silence. Celestia took a few deep breaths, the Prince groveling at her hooves trembling as he remembered how the human had danced over the body of his slain foe. Looking back, he had come incredibly close to receiving the same treatment.

“Get up,” Celestia ordered, much calmer than before, “go to your room, we’ll be discussing your punishments for your actions later. Get out of my sight.” Blueblood scrambled to his hooves and bolted out of the room heading for his quarters as if the denizens of Tartarus themselves were after him. Celestia put on a smile and turned around to address her subjects.

“My little ponies, I’m incredibly sorry for the incident that had occurred. I assure you that everything is being sorted out and the party can resume, thank you.” A few hesitant hoof-stomps grew into a strong applause as the Princess ordered the Gala to continue. They died out as ponies once again began to mingle, an occasional glance towards the blood and the ruined table the only reminders of the fight.
“Please have somepony clean up the mess,” Celestia ordered to her guards as she headed for the doors that the human had gone through. “I have to go and apologize to the Emperor for what happened as well as see that he gets medical attention whether he likes it or not.” Celestia was stopped as a blue wing flung out to block her path, Luna looking at her sister with a kind gaze.

“Sister, let me see to the Crystal Empire delegation, you should remain here to reassure our subjects. I’ll make sure that Emperor Chalmers is fine, you’re already under enough stress as it is.” Celestia’s smile was both unsure and thankful at the same time.
“I thought you didn’t like the Emperor Luna?” she asked, Luna nodding her head.

“I don’t,” Luna leaned in to whisper to her sister, “he scares me Tia; I’ve seen things about him that I shouldn’t have. Still, I will have to face him sometime and I might as well now.”

“That’s very brave of you Luna,” Celestia whispered back, “despite how he acts I don’t think he hates us, he’s just so different to anything we’ve encountered before. Good luck.”

With that Celestia pulled away, shooting Luna a final encouraging smile before she prepared for the thankless task of calming the fears of the ponies. The Princess of the Night found herself alone, with a final sigh Luna trotted out of the room to find the Emperor.

Opel and Gilded turned their heads as the door to the small servant bathroom opened, Nigel and Reflection walking out after having spent ten minutes in there.

The changeling had refused to let go of the Emperor and he himself had not forced her to leave, something that the guards could understand. Gilded had filled Opel in on the details of what the Prince had said to Reflection, the mare shocked that Gilded’s charge had received such abuse and her opinion of Equestrians had dropped heavily. As the human and changeling walked out the two soldiers saw that the Emperor’s wound had closed completely, the only remaining mark a small scar that if the rumors were true would fade soon enough.

“Let’s go find somewhere to rest,” Chalmers suggested, the two guards thankful for the decision. The four moved down hallway after hallway, passing numerous doors and closets. Eventually they found themselves on the floor that held a number of bedrooms, the four passing a ajar door with a love-heart symbol above it before a voice behind them stopped them.

“Emperor Chalmers!”

They turned around to find Princess Luna chasing after them, the alicorn stopping when she reached them. Gone was her nervousness from before, instead she was focused on her mission.

“I’m glad that I found you, I want to apologize on behalf of my sister, myself and Equestria as a whole for what our Prince did, I assure you that he will be punished accordingly.” The Emperor looked down at Reflection before looking back to Luna who was staring at his tattooed chest and the scar from the glass.

“We accept your apology,” he answered with a nod from Reflection who had cheered up a little, “I can’t hold you or Princess Celestia for what happened, the Prince had been drinking and things deteriorated from there.” Luna tore her eyes away from the small scar, the Emperor pointing at the star of skin. “Artificial fast healing, it’s gone so quickly because it was rather small. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine.”

“That is good to hear,” Luna replied before she locked eyes with the changeling who had a hoof in the Emperor’s hand. “Lady Reflection, are you okay? Considering what was said-“

“I’m fine thank you,” Reflection interrupted curtly, Luna letting the changeling’s rudeness slide as the creature had just gone through a lot.

“I understand, is there anything I can do for you until you leave? I’m afraid that the soonest available chariot is a few hours away.”

“If it’s not too much trouble,” the Emperor responded, “is there a small guest room we can possibly borrow? My guards and I are rather weary.”

“Of course,” Luna answered as she led them down another three doors, stopping at one with the sign ‘diplomat’ written above in gold. “This is reserved for ambassadors normally but you are more than welcome, you are an Emperor after all.” Luna opened the room, the mahogany door opening to reveal a large, generously furnished room with a large four poster bed in the middle. Forgive me for asking, but wasn’t there two more in your group? Would you like me to organize to find them for you?”

“No thank you Princess,” Nigel politely declined, “last I saw they were enjoying the party so I do not wish to disturb them.”

What Nigel did not tell Luna, or anyone for that matter was that when he left the ballroom he had spotted the pair in a secluded corner sitting on a bridge. Both the Chatter and Sparkling had been resting their heads against each other as they slept. He decided that he’d give Chatter a free pass with his actions, although he would have a very in depth discussion about the definition of ‘guarding’ with the guard when they returned to the Crystal Empire.

“Very well then.” The alicorn responded, “I shall organize for someone to inform you as to when a chariot is ready, I have a Prince to talk to.” Muttering the last part under her breath the Princess let the group be, the four watching her as she disappeared around a corner. Nigel looked into the room and gestured inside with a hand.

“Ladies first,” he offered to Opel as Reflection was still holding onto his hand. The sergeant walked into the room, her halberd fitting just under the door. Gilded was the next to enter at a prompt from the Emperor. Nigel started towards the room before he was halted by a tug by Reflection, the Emperor stopping to smile at her. “What is it?”

Reflection didn’t answer, the changeling looking at the two guards staring at her from within the room.

“Opel and Gilded, could you two please stay here and wait until we come back?”

The two looked to their ruler for confirmation, Nigel giving them a shrug in reply.

“I don’t know why either, I’m okay with it though. I doubt any Equestrians will come after us considering.”

“Take care sir,” Gilded said as he shut the door, before it closed Opel shot Reflection a knowing look that was missed by both males. Reflection started to trot back the way they had come, guiding Nigel along the hallway. She stopped at the love heart decorated door, peeking into the room through the slightly open door. Nigel kept quiet as the changeling opened the door and entered the room, Reflection waiting until he was inside before she closed the door. The room was completely dark however she was able to see thanks to a slightly better night-vision gained from living in underground caves.

Nigel was led blindly through the room before a bedside lamp was turned on, illuminating the room and revealing its contents.
There was pink everywhere, from the pink bed-sheets covered with red love-hearts, the walls lined with pictures of a certain Captain of the Guard, the ceiling and even the rug on the floor. A huge dresser with a mirror above it was also pink, a multitude of cosmetic products lined on the top. Nigel looked at Reflection curiously as the changeling let go of his hand and sat down on the side of the bed.

“Why do I get the feeling that I’ve just walked into a trap,” he joked, however the serious expression of Reflection’s face stopped his laughter. “Okay, what’s the deal?” Reflection kicked her hind legs against the bed as she looked down at her dress.

“Nigel, what you did for me back then was really great and I’m sorry that you got stabbed by that disgusting Prince.” Nigel didn’t reply, he could see that Reflection wanted to continue. The changeling looked back at him, her green eyes meeting his. “Do you know what I would have picked if I had won our bet a week ago?”

“I can make a guess,” Chalmers responded, the changeling wasn’t exactly subtle with her desires. Reflection ceased her kicking and stared into his eyes with confidence.

“Well, I would have picked for us to spend an entire night together, intimately.” Reflection didn’t waver as she held her gaze with Nigel. “I love you and I know you love me but we’ve been together for a while and after tonight with Blueblood I really need you to show me that you love me like I want you too, please?” Her two front hooves began to fidget, the changeling tapping the silver shoes together as she waited for Nigel’s answer. The Emperor sighed as sat down next to her, Reflection’s hopes of him agreeing dropping.

“Look, Reflection,” Nigel began, the changeling bracing for rejection, “I know that what Blueblood said was incredibly hurtful and I can understand why you feel like this, I just don’t think it’s time for that yet.” He must have seen that she was about to cry again, the human leaning forward and embracing her. “Please understand that it’s not because of how you look or what you are, I just feel like I need to settle in to this new job of mine before we can get really serious.” Reflection sighed sadly, she guessed that the explanation was better than nothing.

“Fine,” she mumbled into Nigel’s bare chest as she rested against it. Chalmers however was glancing around the room puzzled.
“Why did you bring me to this room in particular?” he asked, Reflection looking around with him.

“Well, that heart above the door when we came in looked like Princess Cadence’s cutie mark.” Nigel knew little about ‘cutie marks’, all he knew was that his Crystal pony subjects and Equestrians had marks on each flank, for instance Sparkling had a single shining scroll. He hadn’t been paying much attention to that detail, looking at someone’s behind while you’re introducing yourself never worked out for him in the past. “Seeing that, I figured that it meant that this is her room and I thought-“ Reflection continued on with her explanation before Nigel interrupted her.

“You thought?”

The changeling had a very faint blush as she replied.

“I thought that us making love in the bed of the Princess of Love who I happen to also hate would be fun and sexy.” Her blush intensified as she finished, it had sounded like such a great idea when she first had it. Nigel stared at her with an un-readable expression as he tried to find a way to voice his thoughts.

“So you led me to this room, a room which you believe to belong to Princess Cadence, purely because you felt bad about what Blueblood said and wanted to have sex with me in her bed to make you feel better about yourself?” Chalmers wasn’t too sure what to think about the changeling’s idea.

“Pretty much,” Reflection admitted, “but I’ve also been looking forward to the sex for a while, I’ve always wanted to go all the way.”

“You never have?” Nigel asked surprised earning him a love tap on the arm from a hoof.

“Thanks for acting surprised,” Reflection’s reply was accompanied by a small smile, “I’ve done some things of course, a changeling’s gotta eat after all, but never full on intercourse.”

“I didn’t mean to insinuate anything,” Chalmers responded, “it’s just that you’re very bold with your advances so I just assumed…”

“Or maybe you just make me feel like a pony mare in heat every time you’re around even with clothes on,” Reflection teased as she prodded his stomach. She started to rub her hoof around in circles, before she stopped to remove the shoe covering it and tossed it on the floor beside the bed. She resumed with her bare hoof instead, Nigel humming in thought.

“You know,” he started, “you do have some good points in your favor.” Reflection’s heart skipped a beat and the hoof stopped as she heard this. Was he really considering it? “You are right about the length of time; we have been pretty close over the last few weeks. There is also the point about the room, I doubt that we’d get a chance like this again.” Reflection’s heart was pounding in her ears, it almost seemed like a dream.

She let out a surprised squeak as she felt another one of her shoes be removed, Nigel slipping it off her other forehoof with delicate care. The other two hind ones followed, the silver metal placed haphazardly on the floor. Her heart skyrocketed however when the Emperor took a few moments to remove his own boots and pants, leaving him in just a plain set of white underpants.

Reflection let out a light moan as she felt a hand slip down the neck of her dress to undo the clasps holding it one, the changeling squirming out of the clothing as it too was placed on the floor. She and her lover leaned back onto the bed, one hand massaging her flank while the other reached for the light switch. Reflection moved her head towards Nigel’s, their mouths connecting as the light was turned off to once again plunge the room into darkness.

“How long are they going to be gone for?” Gilded asked as he paced the room, the stallion still wearing his full armour while Opel had taken her helmet off. “Just what are they doing that they need us to stay here?”

Opel couldn’t believe that her colleague was so naïve, she did acknowledge that he was only nineteen but surely he would have picked up on the changeling’s intentions.

Reflection was not very subtle when it came to her attraction to the Emperor.

“Really?” she responded as she laid back upon the bed, “you really don’t know what exactly two lovers who asked to be left alone until they return might be doing in a floor filled with empty bedrooms?” Gilded halted in his tracks, looking at his fellow guard in shock.

“You don’t mean…” his eyes darted to the door and back again as he lowered his voice, “… they’re having sex?” Opel couldn’t help it, the mare burst into laughter at his response.

“Of course, what else did you think it was?”

“Well it’s just that I can’t imagine what that would possibly look like. I mean changelings I can work out, they’re pretty much like ponies from what I’ve been told except for the shape shifting, now there’s an advantage.” Opel shook her head at the colt’s reply before he continued on. “It’s just the Emperor, I mean what would that look like?”

“I don’t want to know, I don’t think about that,” Opel answered with a grin, “unlike you it seems.”

“What- no! I like mares!” Gilded quickly defended, Opel raising an eyebrow at him which Gilded interpreted the wrong way. He furrowed his brows at her, the guard once again looking towards the door. “Are you suggesting…?” he trailed off leaving an implication that gained Opel’s attention.

He was close to her age, only three years younger than her and he was fairly decent looking. Actually now that she thought about it Crystal ponies all seemed to possess traits which would be considered beautiful. Still, everyone needed some excitement in their life.

“No, we’re on duty.”

But no excitement was needed now.

Gilded bowed his head slightly at the reply, trying to figure out if it was because of his looks or if he was too bold in his approach before he paused, a thought occurring as he looked back up at the mare.

“Wait, you said ‘No, we’re on duty’, does that mean then when we get off duty-“

“We’re on duty,” Opel interrupted enjoying how easy it was to toy with the young guard. Gilded stopped talking, Opel pointing a armour-clad hoof towards a fully stocked bookshelf against the wall. “Say, is there any good books in there? I think we’ll be waiting for a while."

Princess Cadence sighed as she walked up the stairs to her room, the young Princess having spent most her time down at the Gala in the outside gardens trying to convince Shining to move back in with her that night with little success. It had been a rough couple of weeks in their relationship, their visit to the Crystal Empire had caused many cracks to appear.

In retrospect she shouldn’t have treated him like she did, even though he was Captain of the Guard she did have a habit of controlling him. Hitting him probably didn’t help much either. She opened her door without thinking, taking a second to glance up at the heart above her door that represented her cutie mark. Instead of the pride that she normally felt the reminder of her mark and how she had not been living up to it left a sour taste in her mouth instead.

Walking into her dark room she neglected turning on the light and instead used her horn to light up the surrounding area as she kicked off her golden shoes and removed her tiara. She really needed a nice, hot shower to sooth both of her mental and psychical aches. Looking forward to the relaxing feeling of the water upon her back Cadence walked into her bathroom, turned on the light and entered the shower, the room quickly filling with steam.

As the Princess hummed a tune while she washed, the sheets on her bed moved in the dark as two heads peeked out from the covers to stare at the bathroom.

“Well,” Nigel whispered to his bed partner, “that was pretty close.”

“Yeah,” Reflection agreed, “but we’re not free yet, we better go.”

“I second that,” Nigel replied as he quickly left the bed, grabbing his discarded underpants that were hanging on the headboard and putting them on. Reflection got out and shakily began to gather up her dress and shoes, the changeling still affected by the debauchery that they had been partaking in before the Princess of Love had walked in.

Nigel managed to put his pants on and grabbed his shoes, Reflection having put on her shoes but not her dress as the changeling and human moved to the door leading outside. Checking to make sure that no servant would spot them leaving Princess Cadence’s chambers half-dressed the pair hastily ran back to their own room laughing all the while. Nigel knocked on the door three times, Gilded opening it and before he could even ask what was going on Chalmers and Reflection rushed past him and closed the door behind them.

“We did it, we got away!” Reflection joyfully stated as Nigel sat down to put his boots on.

“You two did something interesting then?” Opel questioned, Reflection sharing a look with the mare that translated to ‘I’ll tell you about later’.

“Yeah, we did some stuff like chess," the changeling replied as she again removed her shoes before walking towards the bathroom. “In fact the chess game was so fun that I think I need to take a shower.” As the bathroom door shut Opel turned to the seated Emperor, Gilded mouthing the word ‘chess’ in confusion.

“So what’s the plan?” she inquired, Nigel finishing tying his shoelaces.

“Well, I think a chariot should be ready soon, I was thinking that we get Sparkling and Chatter then leave. I think we’ve all had enough excitement for one night.” Both guards murmured agreements, the three waiting patiently for Reflection to finish her shower.

The shower shut off five minutes later, the changeling emerging from the bathroom with a damp mane and tail. Nigel helped her back into her shoes and dress before the four left the room, their destination the ballroom.

Nigel headed to where he last saw the guard and his advisor, the two still sleeping against each other in the shadows. The Gala was back in full swing, the orchestra had started up again and everyone was enjoying the dancing.

“Chatter, Sparkling,” Nigel whispered as he shook the two on the shoulders, Chatter waking up straight away while Sparking grumbled and groaned.

“Emperor Chalmers, “ Chatter started, alarmed that his commander had found him asleep next to the mare he was supposed to protect, “I was just- I mean I was only- well, you see Miss Sparkling has had a bit too much to drink and-“

“Relax Chatter, it’s all good,” the Emperor replied as Sparkling groggily woke up, the mare still resting happily on Chatter. “You may want to give her some help moving, thought. All we need to do is wait for a chariot and then we’re home free.”

As if summoned by the Emperor’s words a single royal guard trotted up, the unicorn to the group just as Chatter managed to get Sparkling to lean on him so that they could move.

“Emperor Chalmers,” the stallion began, “a chariot is ready to take you back to your empire and the Princesses wanted to see you before you left.” The human nodded, the guard returning it before disappearing back into the crowd.

“Well, you heard him,” Chalmers said, “let’s go home already.”

“Once again we’re incredibly sorry for what occurred, what my nephew did was inexcusable.”

“As I said to Princess Luna,” Nigel replied to Celestia as the ponies and changelings behind him boarded their chariot, “it’s okay, it would be a shame to let one incident to ruin our nations’ relations. Besides, I myself didn’t help matters but it would for the best if we just left this behind and continued on.” The Emperor joined his retinue inside the chariot, the four pegasi attached to the front ready to take them back to the Empire.

“I also believe that continuing on would be the best option,” Celestia responded with a smile, the Princess relieved that the human didn’t appear to hold a grudge against her nation. “May your journey back be pleasant and I hope that we can have that meeting sometime in the future.” The chariot door was shut, the Emperor sticking his head out of the window.

“Sure,” he answered, “we’ll arrange something in my palace next time, we’ll do tea and cakes or something.” Celestia beamed at this, tea and cakes we’re two of her favorite things, maybe her positive judgment of the human was solid after all. “Also,” the Emperor continued, “consider the Crystal Empire’s borders open to all Equestrians, just because a few of us have our disagreements doesn’t mean that our subjects should suffer for them.”

“The same shall apply to Equestria,” Celestia declared happily, even though the Gala was a disaster it had strangely ended in warmer diplomatic relations. Celestia looked at the human with thought as something came to her mind. “Emperor Chalmers, would that offer happen to apply to Princess Cadence as well? I understand that your subjects are not fond of her but being kept away is really having a detrimental effect on her.” The Emperor looked back into the chariot and appeared to converse with someone inside of it, the human turning back around after a few moments.

“I will allow her to visit, I owe her that much after what we did to her,” Celestia assumed that the Emperor was talking about when he ordered Cadence to be pelted with fruit. “It goes without saying that it would be wise for her to refrain from attacking my subjects though.”

“I can assure you that I myself will relay that to her,” Celestia agreed, the Emperor smiling before glancing up at the moon.

“Well, it’s getting late and we have a long flight ahead of us,” Chalmers observed, “I’ll let you know about a date for our meeting, goodbye Princess Celestia, Princess Luna.” Celestia nodded then waved a wing at the pegasi attached to the chariot. The four guards took off, the transport heading into the sky as the Alicorns watched it leave.

Cadence stepped into her bedroom, still a little damp from her invigorating shower. A quick glance to her dresser and the photo of her and Shining together caused her to sigh, she made a vow that she would go to his parent’s house tomorrow where he was staying and apologize until he came back. Flicking her bedroom light on she saw that her bed was messed up, did the maids not come in today?

Cadence shrugged mentally, with the Gala tonight maybe the servants hadn’t gotten around to it. She clambered into the welcoming embrace of the bed, the alicorn snuggling into the soft mattress and pillows.

The bed was very warm, feeling far more comfortable than usual. Cadence for some reason thought that she could smell the faint scent of wine, an oddity considering that she didn’t drink. She dismissed the smell as a trick of her mind and turned off the light, the very faint sounds of the ongoing Gala barely audible as she laid her head back on her pillows.

‘I wonder if it was as interesting as last year?’

Author's Notes:

Well, sorry for the extended time that this chapter took, I had to re-do a lot of the scenes.
A brief cameo from the EoH (I tend to shy away from writing them) and Blueblood glassed someone, over all a fairly tame party.

Reflection's revenge plan for Cadence may have been a bit extreme, still, at least for Cadence she'll be allowed back into the Crystal Empire. Hopefully next time she'll behave herself.

Luna has still not told Celestia exactly what she saw about the Emperor but it seems like both sisters keep certain things to themselves. At least it seems like Equestria and the Crystal Empire are starting to get along, let's just hope that peace can continue without someone messing it up.

Or should that be...

Someelk?