In Ponyville, there were ways to tell when Pinkie Pie was the host of a party. Aardvark in a tuxedo? Pinkie party. Cotton candy streamers? Pinkie party. Someone being rushed to the bathroom, breathing flames? Pinkie party.

Thus, while Dusk and a few worried party goers might end up in the bathroom, those gathered in the library were hardly going anywhere. Though, one thoughtful mare had slipped out to call on the clinic’s on-duty staff, and thanks to that thoughtful action, Nurse Redheart quickly arrived. With some rather forceful vocabulary from the nurse, the five concerned mares that were collected in the overly-large bathroom, and one worried dragoness, were ordered outside, and the bathroom door was bolted closed.

With some calm returning to their group, the mares who had spent the day with Dusk now gathered about the fidgeting form of Barb instead, each offering their respective attempts to comfort the lass. With her tail clutched in one hand, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the spade, little Barb continued to glance back at the bathroom door, worriedly fixating upon every pained noise that escaped from within. Pinkie, ever her helpful self, somehow managed to appear exiting the bathroom, an empty bucket of ice in her hands, and called back inside, "And I left some drinks for when he feels better! Glad you could come after all, Redheart!" Slackjawed, the little dragon's gaze was unmoving from the party pony, still trying to figure out how she had slipped back into the bathroom with the door locked... until the soft touch of a hand on her shoulder stole her attention.

"Don't worry about Dusk. Nurse Redheart is used to taking care of Pinkie's super-happy hot sauce victims." The sweet tones that danced in that voice could only belong to Fluttershy, who was currently crouched at Barb's side, allowing them to see eye to eye while she tried to comfort the uneasy dragon. "It was only just last month when she hosted a Super-Sweet Treat Hot Sauce Chugging Challenge. I think half of Ponyville wound up in the clinic that night, and poor Nurse Redheart was working all alone."

Of course, Pinkie couldn't hear that without a joyful grin spreading over her lips. One hand shot into the air as she proudly proclaimed, "It was the hottest event in town. Even Rarity had to admit it!" The bouncy bundle of energy turned the full force of her biggest smile and those huge blue eyes on the older mare. Showing just how eager she had become, Pinkie began shifting swiftly from foot to foot as she awaited confirmation to her statement. Her tail even got into the action, the pink and puffy cloud dancing behind her with every hop.

Rarity had been standing with the rest, though unlike the others, she had a wine glass in one hand and was sipping quietly. With her weight resting back against a bookshelf, the classy woman had been relaxing, and attempting to pretend she didn't notice the harsh stink-eye AJ bad been leveling her way since the moment the lights turned on and revealed her deep kiss to the very surprised guest of honour. Shifting to face the beaming Pinkie, she gave a small smile along with a quiet nod, her silky voice heard only when it was clear nothing less was going to be enough to satisfy her friend. "Of course, darling. In fact, it's still on the tip of my tongue."

While the others gave a gentle chuckle to Rarity's jest, Applejack stomped a foot in frustration against the floor while pinning the older mare with a look of outright distaste, even open hostility, which showed in her harsh glare. She spoke up at last and made it clear to her friends how much this situation was bothering her. "You’re all jokes tonight, ain't you Rarity? But tell me the truth, what's your game with Dusk? Why’re you acting so innocent after what everypony in the room saw you doing to 'im? I've been wanting to ask just why y’all are plucking him like a harp. It’s clear we might as well settle all of this here and now."

Clearly aware of the two mares’ confrontational mood, the rest of that night's party crowd shifted to move away, while at the same time, Fluttershy and the others attempted to cluster around Barb and draw her away from a conversation with which it was clear the tiny dragoness might not be comfortable. Rarity shifted her weight to stand with more aggressive confidence. She brought her glass swiftly brought up, emptied it and then settled it upon an empty space on the bookshelf at her side. Her lush lashes danced once or twice as she blinked and stepped forward, lifting the ponytail off AJ's shoulder and dropping it down her back. She leaned in close, voice rich with scorn at the question of her virtue. "My, Applejack! You’re not one to be jealous of other peoples’ relationships." She turned, rolling her shoulders as she began moving to walk back over to the others still gathered about Barb. Before going more than a few feet, she glanced over her shoulder at AJ once again, halting in her stride and dropping the harsh tone, instead putting on a false voice of woeful concern. "Wait, don't tell me you don't know...?"

When Applejack drew back from the suddenly aggressive response, Rarity took another stride closer. Her eyes were wide, even as she gave the younger mare the full weight of a first pitying gaze, which quickly grew into a firmer, condescending glare. "He is Dusk Shine, darling. Have you never heard of him? The youngest stallion to ever graduate from Star Swirl University? He is also apparently considered to be the strongest unicorn since Star Swirl himself, with many rumors of him challenging his older brother." Her voice dropped several degrees before she continued in an icy-cold whisper. "The Guard Captain Shining Armor, head of Princess Celestia's personal honour guard. Surely you've heard of him, at least?" She offered a pause as she waited to see if AJ had anything to offer more substantial than the already-dumbfounded slow nod she had managed to pull together. When it was clear nothing more was coming, the grin spread, and Rarity took yet another step closer to her towering... friend. At the same time, her voice was returning to a softer, more sympathetic tone.

"Yes, him. It's said in a recent display of the Captain's specialty, a shield spell, the thing for which he had earned his cutie mark, very reliable sources say that Dusk nearly broke said shield. Can you picture it? He nearly overwhelmed a stallion five years his elder using magic connected to his special talent." Her last sauntering stride drew her closer still to AJ, shoulder resting lightly on the taller filly’s side. She lifted a hand to lightly tap her chin, voice far warmer now as she cooed with quiet delight, even as her weight rested against the powerful Earth pony. "Oh, what else is important about Dusk?... Well it could also have to do with the fact that by all apparent and publicly known information, he is Princess Celestia's heir apparent, after Princess Cadance of course... and maybe Prince Blueblood. Then of course, last but not least, did you see him? He may not be as large as your brother Mac, but he is just as handsome, maybe more so. With all those reasons, do you understand my motives well enough now?" Her point well-made, the mare smiled to AJ before wandering off, sauntering to the far side of the room, clearly going to get herself a new drink and letting the air clear.

"She’s wrong you know." The four mares who remained in their quiet social group all looked down at Barb, who was far calmer now than when she had gotten carried away and locked into watching the conversation between AJ and Rarity. As they all turned their attention to her, more than a little shocked at the words from the dragoness correcting the ultra-confident Rarity, the mare now far enough away she wouldn't be able to hear Barb's voice. "It's just... Dusk is only the youngest stallion to graduate, but a mare did it almost a year younger than him." Under the kind attention the others were giving to her, Barb took to standing a little taller inside the tight circle they formed formed as the others gathered ever closer around, offering her still more smiles and soft motions to encourage her to go on with further details. "And, well... umm he didn't break Shining's Shield. But he nearly passed out from trying to find a way to crack, it you see." The pressure of a hand upon her shoulder made Barb look up, quickly realizing it was AJ, who was still more than a little shamed by Rarity's rough words.

Taking the small dragon's feelings into consideration, she was soft-spoken but encouraging. "Yes? And... the other things?" AJ's face was still deep red with the dark blush, a bold reminder of how embarrassed she still was from the recent verbal assault she had just endured, but she wanted to know the rest of the truth.

Barb smiled, releasing her tail as well as a shrug. "Well, I don't know really Applejack. I know that he is the Princess’ favorite student... And it's true that other than Princess Cadance or her nephew Blueblood, she often has Dusk do things that could be considered major affairs of state, but heir? No way. He doesn’t want that kind of responsibility! If I didn’t make him take me out for dinner once a week, we’d never leave the observatory, except for groceries and visiting the library!" The tiny dragoness gave a little sigh looking around as Rarity returned, blushing a little and stepping out past the others and offering her a shy smile. "But, she was right as well. He is strong; younger than almost anyone with his level of skill in magic, and often granted duties reserved only for Celestia's closest kin." With a nod, she blushed and dropped her gaze, still trying to smile towards the fashionable diva who stood so near.

How much that Rarity might have heard was not questioned, however the gorgeous mare slipped a hand under Barb's chin and lifted it with soft ease, presenting her little friend with a deep grin, voice smokey. "And his looks?" she asked, her voice a teasingly low and warm coo to prompt the little dragon to continue. Barb gazed up into those icy azure eyes with deep embarrassment, finally simply nodding, unable to voice herself on that topic. As Rarity turned her gaze to AJ, the mare stepped forward, tone softer as she looked up at her towering friend. "I'm sorry for going off on you, darling. I shouldn't be so aggressive when you’re just protecting the young man from getting his feelings hurt. I promise I'm not just playing with a new toy." A pause as her hand lightly gripped the taller woman's free hand and squeezed it softly. "You of all people should know when I'm being serious, right?"

Whatever the others must have wondered about this personal affirmation of friendship, Applejack's response was to relax, and let her shoulders droop a little, nodding warmly. "Yes, I understand sugarcube. You've got your reasons and I shouldn't have been so worried. It's just after having him an' Barb at the orchard and the whole clan meeting 'im... I guess I just started getting protective of the fella. He seems like such a good natured stallion, I don't wanna to see such an innocent young buck hurt."

Dusk was doing exactly what he wanted at this moment, there was no question of that. It felt like it had been hours since the bottle of hot sauce had dropped from his hands, and currently all he really saw of the world around him was the bathtub full of ice water. Plunging his face deep into the chilly depths and trying to turn off his mind, Dusk's mouth began to calm down, and the growing chill spreading through his mind slowed down the chaotic thoughts that had been screaming moments before. As the cold got too much for him to stand, his weight fell back to the floor once more, his head lifting from the ice, and freezing water poured down from his soaked mane, drenching his upper body.

A towel was suddenly thrust in his face, soft yet firm tones from a new voice calling him back to the world. He looked up into the eyes of a short but firm mare. Accepting the towel and working it into the mass of his hair, his voice was still quavering, but more confident now. "Thank you, I take it you are Nurse Redheart?" The easy nod to her medical bag, not to mention the tight, white uniform she wore really made the question superfluous, but with the day he’d just had, he was taking no chances.

"I am, Dusk. It’s good to see you've already gotten some of your senses back again. Pinkie's parties can often leave the uninitiated in the clinic for a day or two." Her smile was tender, yet she hardly bothered to wait for his reply, as a hand was pushed under the towel and against his forehead, the other free hand moving to grip his wrist, counting to herself as she took his pulse.

Dusk blushed darkly as the woman suddenly assaulted him, breath drawn back in a sharp gasp. Yet, where before, any mare grabbing him like this so swiftly had followed up with a kiss and then distracting words about his body or compliments about his recent classes, this nurse drew back from his forehead, though still held his wrist tightly, and smiled warmly, head tilting a little to the side. "Well it's clear you’re stressed out over something, but I don't think you'll be burning down the library with your fire breath again." There was a flash of a grin before her stance shifted a little, her voice smooth and low, "Wanna talk about it? Just because you’re the Princess’ student doesn't mean you can't ask others for advice."

A dark blush spread over Dusk's cheeks as he realized the mare was the innocent one in this situation. He tried to clear his mind, voice lowered as he spoke with soft ease. "You are good. You got all that from my pulse and a headache?" When the soft, pink-haired mare simply smiled at his question, he sighed, and at last relented. "Well... it all started with a question on the graduate exam..."

Outside the bathroom, the party was still in full action. Pinkie was currently leading a moderately-intoxicated cluster of mares in the night’s second limbo contest. Barb had been politely banned from competition this time, as being easily a foot shorter than anyone else at the party, she had stolen the first contest without any effort. Now she sat in Fluttershy's lap, her spines being stroked with tender fingers, eyes half-slitted shut, she stared off at the far wall, not really seeing anything. Rainbow Dash wandered over, having just finished her turn in the game and lifted the little dragon's muzzle grinning warmly. "Sorry squirt, but I'm so taking this round! I hope Fluttershy is keeping you company at least."

Shocked at the suddenly fresh attention, Barb looked up at her, but a grin was all she really had to offer to the competitive mare. "Well when you're the best at limbo like me, you have to sit out to give others a chance." With a warm grin, she crossed her arms and sat up taller, flashing a smile up at the shy mare whose lap she occupied. "’Shy was telling me about her animal clinic and her vet work. It's really nice to hear about just how much goes on in a small town like Ponyville."

Fluttershy blushed, yet offered a nod to Barb as she spoke, her voice almost a murmur underneath the others’ conversation. "Dash, do you think Dusk's going to stay in town after the Summer Sun Celebration? He seems so lonely, and Barb was telling me he spends most of his time in study. Don't you think the town could use someone like him to take over the library?"

Dash was shocked to hear Fluttershy speak so boldly, and twisted her gaze up to look into the eyes of the blushing mare. Releasing Barb and shifting to cross her arms across her small chest, she grinned slightly. "Well, well, well. It's good to hear that you might just be coming out of your shell, Fluttershy. Next thing we know, you'll have a special somepony and won't need me and Pinkie to drag you out in public." She paused to watch as a blush crossed the other pegasus’ cheeks, the quiet meep and whimpering noises that she made really reinforced for Dash just how easy it still was to tease her easily-embarrassed friend. "Oh come on, Fluttershy! Of course I agree. After all, you should have seen him after I accidentally knocked him over in the mud. I'd love to find out how a bookworm like him stays in such great shape!"

Fluttershy had buried her face in Barb's shoulder, but the spines did a poor job of hiding the blush. Glad that she could hide behind her hair until Dash started letting up on her teasing, she finally began to relax again, if only a little. Voice still weak, she offered up her disagreement. "Dash, it’s clear he is Rarity's special somepony. You saw how she claimed him when the lights turned on, and you know once she sets her mind on something, she never gives up."

Barb felt a sigh ripple through the ample pillows her head rested upon. A blush crossed the tiny dragon's face, at last deciding to speak up again, clearly wanting to help the embarrassed woman out in some way. A hand stroking the soft, pink hair of the shivering mare whose lap she occupied, her voice sounded excited by the funny topic she was able to bring up to soothe the frightened mare. "Don't worry Fluttershy, while Rarity isn't the first mare to try and seduce Dusk, he rarely ever really notices. Just yesterday three mares tried to offer him themselves as a ready-made herd just for him. I think that was the first time he ever even noticed the three of them."

Suddenly realizing those around her had gone silent, Barb looked up, eyes wide as the five mares rushed to cluster around her again, their eyes all wide with excitement. Blushing darkly, Barb turned to look at Fluttershy, realizing that even she wanted to know more about this story. Voice a little shaky, Barb recounted what she had learned of the day’s events after talking to Dusk the night before. Finally, she repeated Dusk’s final words on the matter before telling her to drop it.

"In the end, while I was cleaning up after dinner, he told me he was glad his brother had saved him. He said he wasn't sure what he really felt about those three mares and he thought it might not be so horrible to find out weeks after agreeing to such a thing that he didn't get along with some of them. I think he likes the idea of having a very special somepony, maybe even a herd but he likes his study and his quiet time more. I don't even know if he could put up with a mare who couldn't give him his privacy and a chance to continue his studies."

While the quiet murmurs from the other four mares were a mixture of respect and embarrassment, Rarity smiled, her voice low and warm. "You see?! A perfect gentleman, Even when being seduced by harlots, he’d rather think of their feelings first!"

"And that is when the Princess sent me here to Ponyville, leaving me so busy I have had no time to work on my research for some solution to this mystery. Why would she tease me with the danger of Nightmare Moon, and then push my help away at so critical a day?" Dusk gave a heavy sigh, looking at the nurse, who now sat on the counter across from him. His shirt lay across his lap now, and an ice pack from her bag was held against his brow. He was leaning back against the edge of the bathtub, enjoying the cold that radiated from the ice water it held. He was visibly more relaxed now that he had learned of the pleasure that came with simply sharing one’s thoughts and the stressful things in life with another. Quietly, he added psychology to the list of skills Redheart possessed... as well as topics he clearly needed to research in greater detail.

No longer worried for his health, Nurse Redheart herself had relaxed, the bun holding her hair up undone and laughing at his story. "Well, when you think about it Dusk, doesn't it make sense? She wanted you to be warned, so you could be ready. She probably has some plans for the threat of Nightmare Moon if you're right about the danger. Maybe her plans relate to having you here, now." She offered up a shrug and smiled warmly.

"Maybe she was just jealous of all the mares hitting on you at school. You said you were done with your normal studies, and while we are a small town, we are still very close to Canterlot. She has spent so much money on improvements to our town as well, she could have been planning this for years. Keep her favorite boy-toy somewhere comfortable." A wicked grin spread over her lips at his blush. "What? You never thought of her that way? Look it up, book boy. Where do you think Prince Blueblood came from? She had a lover a few decades ago. Their daughter is Blueblood’s mother. It's rare for her to do it, maybe once every hundred years or so, but it has happened."

Dusk blushed, but as she went on, he realized that she had a point. As he relaxed, his hand lifted, stroking at his chin with quiet care while a smile spread over his lips. "I remember Princess Cadance telling me stories about her childhood. Back when she was my foalsitter, the rumors were still around that she was Celestia's secret daughter. The truth, of course, is that she isn't, but sometimes people still suggest the idea. When I asked her about it years ago she laughed and told me her grandfather was rumored to be the Princess’ nephew, but I don't think she has any such intentions for me. I've never told Barb about this, but years ago when I first started noticing the mares at school and their seasonal heat, well...” He paused, a deep blush radiating over his cheeks, but at Redheart’s gestures to continue he pressed on. “Princess Celestia jokingly suggested to one of my old classmates that I might be able to help get the mare over her distractions. She said that she would never want to take the Princess’ property, yet Celestia's only response was to tell her I was my own pony, and she wouldn't mind seeing her two favorite students happy."

Redheart shook with laughter, while she took a drink from a group of them that Pinkie had left on a plate by the door for the two. Sipping with care, she let her voice tease him, even while her fingers stroked his still wet hair. "And so you and this mare became very special someponies?" The warm but relaxed grin she gave him continued to help Dusk feel far more relaxed than he had been in ages. Reaching for a drink, only to have her push his hand from the alcoholic glasses towards the fruit juice, she spoke with quiet care but level authority. "You've had two. That's enough for someone who hasn't eaten in hours, young man."

Dusk couldn’t help but blush and laugh at her words, nodding and taking an apple juice, drinking thoughtfully for a moment before he at last gave her his answer. "No, we did not even date... well, never anything really serious. See, she and I were paired together to study for a few years, and eventually she started to visit me at my observatory. As time passed, however, and her heats came and went, nothing ever came from it. Eventually, she began to study different topics from my research, and we quickly fell out of touch. It has been almost five years since I heard from her." He paused, emptying the last of the glass. His thoughts wandered as his mind tried to keep up with his tongue. "I wonder what she is studying now. Maybe I should ask the Princess someday. We used to be such good friends years ago."

"So tell me, Nurse Redheart. Are all the ponies crazy in Ponyville or is it a sign of the season?" Dusk's question was really more a joke, but her knowing glance had him sit up a little, laughing to himself. "Surely you are not going to imply it is clearly me who is the crazy one."

As the night continued, some of the less energetic ponies had found quieter places to relax, some even catching small naps. While tradition called for all to be up for the sunrise first thing in the morning, there really wasn't any rule about staying up all night. A much calmer collection of mares sat around, recounting stories for little Barb, and laughing warmly. Pinkie now sat with her shirt off, a headband over her breasts for some measure of modesty and a large glass snuggled between her breasts, filled with ice water to help her cool off. Her bright eyes lifted to gaze around the room, a little pout spreading. "I wish Dusk was feeling better. This party was meant to help him get to know the other ponies in town better. Now, the only person he’s getting to know is Nurse Redheart, and while she is a good friend to have, she shouldn't have him all to herself."

As the others laughed, Pinkie's pout only grew deeper, arms lifting to cross over her chest and her wineglass was brought up and drained again. Rarity was quick to pour her a refill, even as she spoke with care. "Don't worry, darling. If he is well-rested from today, I'm sure we will have lots of time to introduce him around town during tomorrow's party. And with you hosting, then Dusk will assuredly have a great time making up for how much of today was wasted." Again, the others laughed at the odd conversation.

Applejack stood a few feet away looking out the window, occasionally checking her pocket watch. Turning at last, she drew her hair back up from hanging back around her shoulders to place it once more into a ponytail, grinning a little as she spoke. "Pinkie, I think we ought’a get everypony over to the city hall. It's nearly time for the Celebration to start." Of course, nobody disputed the farmer's sense of time. She had an internal clock that was unquestionable. With groans and sighs, the cluster broke up to start speaking with others about the room.

Barb went alone to the bathroom door, and knocked softly. "Dusk. It's almost time for the Celebration to start. Do you feel up to joining us for Celestia's arrival?"

Author's Notes:

And here you go! With interlude 1 done and reedited by myself I hope you guys all get a kick out of it. I can't make any promase's on my release date for Chapter 2 - The Rise of Nightmare Moon. Without the aid of a prereader or editor, I am going to be taking things slower to avoid making any silly mistakes. Thank you all for all the attention and support so far and I will continue to post blogs to keep you all updated on my progress and to tease with some foreshadowing!

Version 1.1 uploaded on November 8th, 2014 @ 6:30 pm. Huge thanks to Wrabbit!

Version 2.0 posted April 29th, 2016. Focused on removing improper use of 'own' and 'would', as well as major formatting changes that have happened across the series.