It was the day! That night; the most special, most anticipated night of the year was finally upon them! Everyone had butterflies in their stomachs, all for vastly different reasons. Kamina personally was afflicted with an incredible sense of trepidation.

His mother would come clean with his friends. He was going to meet his cousin Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadence, for the first time, and hope she could give him some pointers to avoid further issues with his abilities. His cousin Nyx was likely going to be on constant guard since the assassination attempt, so he might not get to have fun with her. Luna would more than likely be hovering over Nyx like a mother hen, ready to peck out the eyes of any who dared approach. Lastly; there was the fact that all of his friends, and his mares, all had plans of their own for the Gala.

Rarity was going to spend the event with Spike; planning to have a romantic evening together.

Applejack was going to try selling her apples, no treats, since the base ingredient was still considered “acceptable” to the snooty upper-class ponies of Canterlot. She was hoping to garner interest in investors or business deals.

Twilight planned to spend the night chatting with Celestia, beings she hardly ever sees her mentor any more than her own family; which was about once a month. He hoped she didn't regret it later....

Blitz actually decided to trash his original plan to try and woo the Wonderbolts; figuring that it'd be stupid to try something so bull-headed at such a prestigious party. Instead; he was going to just try and chat them up. Gilda planned to tag along to try and see about talking to Spitfire herself again; she enjoyed hanging out with her after the Best Young Fliers competition with Blitz.

Fluttershy was still going to see the royal gardens, but she was also planning on spending the evening with Big Mac; who was also interested in seeing how the gardens themselves were maintained.

Pinkie was originally disheartened to be told by Kamina that the Gala was a snooze-fest for business ponies to basically meet and try to make business deals, but she affirmed she was going to try and bring some fun into it. Game was all for it; beings he used to be an event planner for the royal family of the Empire, and he never let it sound so utterly boring. So; they decided to team up in the hopes of brightening up the dreary affair.

Trixie and Zecora didn't really have any plans, and figured they would mingle, maybe even hang out with their other friends.

Finally; Kamina had little plans aside from meeting up with Cadence, maybe spending time with everyone, and his likely expected duties as a prince to interact with the...ugh...noble ponies. 'I just know I'm going to catch no end of bullshit from them for my body.' {Eh, fuck em. We're dead sexy to nearly everyone, we can rip their heads off with barely any effort, we can fly, use magic, and ultimately get better in any way we can manage.} 'Which, oddly; doesn't include that Game pony.' {I told you; he's living crystal. Even I'm having a hard time deciphering these DNA strands. If we go for it; we're not going to be able to change back, not until we know more about the guy's genetic structure.}

'Doesn't change the fact that we can't get a smexy shiny gemstone body...I mean; he's the only guy besides me that draws almost everyone's eyes.' {Are you turning green?} 'No...I just...yeah, fine, I am. Living crystal? Fucking awesome.' {Agreed.}

“Kamina!” The prince turned his attention to the new stallion in town beaming at him from inside a nearby bookshelf, his shiny body seeming to melt out of the darkness behind the surrounding books. Game had the same uncanny ability as Pinkie to defy logic, make nearly impossible things happen, and also appear out of nowhere or from places that have no conceivable entry point due to either construction or lack of space. “Were you thinking of using my DNA again? That's a no, no for a whole season~!”

Ugh...also, he's about as chipper and upbeat as her too. Pinkie said he was so much more subdued than even the average pony before her love brought him to life, something cheesy like that. “Could you get out of my head please?” Also he'd been constantly nagging him about his thoughts whenever they related to him.

“Aw~ but your thoughts are so interesting!” Game beamed at Kamina, before a beeping sound came from his mane, and he reached into his curtain of a mane, but his hoof didn't appear out the other side, and pulled out a small digital alarm clock. “Oop! Dressing time! Gotta go! You'd better get all snazzy soon or we'll be late!” Game suddenly retreated back into the bookshelf; leaving not even dust as a trace.

“Ugh....” Kamina slammed his face into the book he'd been reading, his horn retreating into his head instinctively to make the most suitable impact. “Why are there two of them? One was bad enough....”

“What was bad enough?” Kamina heard Trixie ask, and he looked up to gape in awe at Trixie wearing an elegant dress robe designed to look like a dark purple veil of ether was draped over her, and her mane was pulled back into an elegant bob. She also wore silver horseshoes that complimented both her natural color and the dress, as well as silver snowflake earrings that hung from her ears.

“Um...uh....” Kamina shook himself. 'WOO! Trixie dresses up nicely!' {The robe was made by Rarity, after all.} “Um...you look...like a constellation that was pulled from the skies.” Kamina wasn't trying very hard to make that compliment, and Trixie bashfully tittered at the praise.

“Oh thank you Kamina! I was debating going as I am, or wearing a suit and going as Trickster, but your reaction has settled it for me.” Trixie trotted next to him and sat. “So what's bothering you?”

“Too much, and too much of it I shouldn't say right now. But as of this moment? Game Junkie.” Kamina's comment made Trixie shiver.

“Oh~...him. He is an eye-catcher, but his personality is just so bubbly. Trixie can't take him seriously.” She blushed, and sighed. “You'd think after nearly a year out of the business that'd I'd stop speaking in third.” Kamina caressed her chin with his talon to get her to look at him, and he could feel her shudder as she blushed. “You KNOW how I feel about your talons....”

“Well don't get randy on me; we have a classy party to go to tonight. As for your tick; I find it cute. Since you don't seem to be improving any further; I'd suggest just letting it go. I love your tick of speaking in third, and Zecora's occasional habitual rhyming.” Trixie smiled lovingly at his words, and nuzzled into his talon's knuckles with a sigh.

“You lady killer. It's no wonder you have so many of us.” Trixie looked over his side, and Kamina bristled at feeling a powerful mare's forelegs wrap around his barrel to hug him as she nuzzled into his feathers.

“Indeed, for it is because of you we have a creed. Should you need us, simply seek us out. For with you we are complete, and never are we without, such is the potency of your clout.” Zecora hummed as she took a deep whiff of his scent, she loved his pheromones.

“Zecora, not now...we have something important to get to....” 'Damn it, she KNOWS what wing-play does to me....' Kamina perked up as her hooves wandered lower...MUCH lower, and his wings sprang out, hard as rocks. {And plot-play...oh~ that's a good spot....}

“Zecora! Stop playing with his flanks; he has to get dressed!” Trixie chided her fellow mare, and used her telekinesis to remove the lecherous zebra from his zebra haunches, making him sigh in relief.

“Zecora we...we....” Kamina's wings couldn't get any harder.

“Yes?” Zecora asked slyly as she posed from her place in Trixie's levitation. She wore an elegant heavily-jeweled saddle along with a vibrantly dyed skirt, all of natural earthy tones that made the gold, silver, and topaz stand out even more.

“...You Stupid...Sexy...Zebra!” Kamina managed to pull his wings in, and grumbled as he averted his eyes. 'How am I supposed to go all night without gawking at them?!' {Just be glad our suit is designed to hide our privates.} 'How ironic; that I appreciate it now after complaining about it for so long.' “I'm going to get dressed.” Kamina stood up, and yelped at feeling a spank on both flanks, and whirled his head around to glare at the two mares, who were both holding out a hoof, and winked. “...You're lucky you're too sexy for me to be angry at for too long.”

“We know, that's why Trixie and Zecora did so~.” She wagged her eyebrows. “Now hurry up! The sooner this night is over, the sooner we can tap that plot.” Kamina sighed as he went upstairs.

'And I thought I was the perverted one....'

===//////>

Kamina was all spiffed up now, following a shower he got into his wine red full tux, that had a slightly poofy white undershirt that ran from his neck to his groin for obvious intentions, at least to the practical. For some reason; he felt like a prosecution attorney, wherever this sensation came from, he had the obscene desire to point at himself in the mirror and shout “OBJECTION!” Kamina shouted at himself, a confident and victorious sneer on his face. “For some reason; that felt REALLY cool.”

“Hey, we compliment each other!” Kamina turned to the door to see Spike entering. He was wearing a simple and proper blue tux. “For some reason...I feel like getting into an ethical debate for no apparent reason....”

“It's got to be the suits. Making us feel all official.” Kamina took a moment to straighten Spike's tie, which embarrassed the kirin. “We haven't even gotten there and your suit is falling out of order.”

“Stupid tie...I told Rarity I should've gone without.” Spike and Kamina then went downstairs to see everyone gathering. The girls all wore their dresses, even Gilda had a flowing simple red cocktail dress, while all the stallions were wearing tuxes. Well, save Game. Rarity had a very hard time finding something she felt wouldn't diminish his natural allure of his shiny crystal body, and finally gave up and threw a puffy long-sleeve white shirt on him. It complimented his diamond-like body, and contrasted great with his jet-like hair and his diamond eyes.

{Oh~...if only he swung that way....} 'Cut it out! Friend-zoned! Besides; he's off limits. Pinkie's coltfriend remember?'

“Please stop having perverted thoughts about me. It's distracting.” Game suddenly stated, getting Kamina to blush as everyone else all laughed a little. Save Pinkie.

“MINE!” Pinkie shouted in anger as she hugged her coltfriend to her body, glaring at Kamina who nervously backed off.

“Sorry! He's just such eye candy....” Kamina then cleared his throat. “Well now; have the arrangements been made?” Kamina asked Twilight; beings she was the one who took it upon herself to arrange formal transport to Canterlot.

“Yes. Thanks to The Living Body, I was able to adapt a spell that transformed six mice into full-fledged horses. Y'know, the kind that existed in ancient times?” Twilight asked for clarification, and Kamina nodded.

“Yeah; Pre-Discordian. After Discord first appeared in history, a LOT of Equus' original species went extinct from him tampering with their bodies.” The horses of Saddle Arabia were actually the descendents of the original horse species, but because of Discord's cruel manipulations; they became slightly smaller, smarter, and more pony-like as punishment when one of them bucked him in the face. At least that's what history said; not even Celestia was that old to confirm it.

The very THOUGHT of it; of forcing a species to change their evolutionary path against their Will sickened him. But, Kamina could reason that they might be better off for Discord's meddling; for if it weren't for him, most of the magnificent species of Equus wouldn't even exist today. Like cragadiles, timber wolves, minotaurs, centaurs, even satyrs and many more are the result of what history described as Discord's debut reign of terror that lasted thousands of years.

“So remember; they're not very intelligent, little more than normal animals. We have to be gentle with them.” Twilight affirmed to everyone, and looked to Fluttershy, who's dress smelled of lilac from her perfuming the silk flowers. “Fluttershy; I entrust them to you, since they are your little mouse friends.”

“Oh yes, of course. I wouldn't dream of letting the little dears get scared.” Fluttershy's concept of little must have been skewed, considering those horses were easily as big as Kamina. “I hope you don't mind being our chauffeur Macintosh.”

“Nope. It's fine. It'll be easier than herding cows or sheep I reckon.” Mac wore a simple black suit vest, not seeing the need for a full suit like the more overly virile stallions, and for once he went without his wooden yoke.

“Well then everyone; we've got to get going if we're going to make it.” Kamina then led them out to the large carriage that was originally a pumpkin, and was enchanted to be bigger on the inside.

===//////>

'I can't...believe this....' {Get over it. We've had our own moments.} Kamina and Animak were referring to the sudden, massive flash mob that overtook everyone the moment Twilight burst into song upon arrival. Even the snooty and uptight nobles were getting into it; providing glorious chorus. 'This isn't my kind of music.' {Then don't join in; simple.} 'But I like to....' {You're just upset because our voice isn't right for such harmonic tones.} 'We still can't fix that?' {Our voice is part of who we are, changing that's a bit too far for now.}

Kamina ignored the singing and dancing, as much as he was loathe to, and entered the palace. “Welcome Prince Kamina the Great. It is a pleasure to see you again.” Kamina smiled softly at the uptight and proper snooty tone leveled at him, and turned to the white unicorn stallion with faded gray hair and mustache looking up at him with a fairly even expression.

“Proper Manners, it has been too long.” Kamina bowed lightly, getting an approving nod from Celestia's personal butler. “They put you on door duty tonight?”

“Not at all; such a droll task is suited to the lower attendants, not the head butler. I am here to guide you to the balcony reserved for yourself and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. If you would follow me.” It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Proper had clout, a lot of it. He might be an old butler; but not even most of the nobles had the nerve to question or belittle him. He'd been Celestia's personal butler most his life, and the head butler for over a decade. That was seniority and clout you didn't mess with unless you had the resources to avoid a brutal humiliation that a single word uttered by Proper could level upon you. “We're here.”

Kamina found himself entering one of the jutting balconies over the main ballroom, sectioned off from the upper halls by merely a large red curtain. There were several seats out around a large round table. Odd. “Am I to expect more company than my cousin Proper?”

“Yes. Should things go well; their Majesties Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Nyx should be joining you for a family meal later this evening, and did not wish to impede the events of the gala just to use the dining hall.” Proper then looked around, and when he noticed nopony would be close enough to hear, he leaned in. “And that right git Blueblood should be along shortly.”

“Argh! No!” Kamina face-clawed and rubbed his face as Proper looked apologetic; nopony liked Blueblood. Nopony. “Thanks for the warning. Get out of here before that ass decides to show up early to torment me.” Proper nodded, and trotted out of the balcony, as Kamina took a seat closest to the ledge, both for a potential quick-getaway, and so that he's in the position of most risk for assassination. He wasn't about to let anypony else in his family take that risk if he could help it. Kamina wasn't kept waiting long, as a line of maids...including Morning Glory~, entered and began leaving trays of appetizers, some were even meat based for him, how thoughtful. “Ah, Glory, it's good to see you again.”

The red pegasus mare flushed. It wasn't much of a secret that she laid with him in bed during his first few months here. In fact; he was a virgin before she more-or-less had her way with him. The only reason she wasn't in trouble for that was because Kamina wrote it off as her helping him with his “studies”, because before her; he had absolutely no idea how to please a mare. “Y-yes, it is sire. How are you?”

Kamina waited until the other maids left in a hurry; clearly getting the hint he wished to speak with her in private as a friend as he gestured for her to sit, and she complied. “Very well. I'm quite thankful for your lessons Glory. I've been having to put them to good use.” Kamina wasn't kidding about his gratitude, and Glory smiled sheepishly as she squirmed in her seat, trying not to giggle.

“You're welcome my Prince, but really it is I who am thankful for your participation. I was in a dry spell for a good while before you.” Glory then looked around, before leaning in excitedly to whisper. “I'm engaged!”

Kamina beamed at her of the great news. “Wonderful! Who is the lucky stallion?” Kamina asked when she pulled up her uniform's sleeve to show the golden hoof-ring.

“A glorious unicorn by the name of Keen Sentry. Oh~ he was so sweet, and shy about it, but I eventually won his eye.” Glory preened, and Kamina's face fell. “W-what is it my lord?”

“N-nothing! Nothing...um...I need to tell you-.”

“He's my son.” Kamina's nervousness exploded, as his heart stopped. He'd forgotten. “Hello...Kamina.” Kamina turned to see a shocking sight; a spitting image of himself when he first arrived here. Keen Sentry was donned in his full suit of Royal Armor, which was different from the standard Solar Guard armor what with it's purple accents and sun emblems. Not many knew this; but the Guard did have multiple divisions.

The Solar Guard patrolled at day, while the Lunar Guard patrolled at night. It was simply due to their ubiquity that the Solar Guard were often mislabeled as the Royal Guard, when the Royal Guard were the ones specifically charged with the protection of the royalty, selected for their skill, sense of duty, and loyalty. Keen Sentry was a lieutenant of the Royal Guard, and aside from the Captains; was the highest ranked, often given the duty of directly overseeing Celestia or Luna's safety.

Keen trotted over and only hesitated upon final approach, and he actually tensed a bit when Kamina looked him directly in the eyes. “You...you have my father's face...there's no doubt.” Keen sighed, and sat on the other side of Glory, who felt put on the spot. “He is my son Glory. I was...misinformed of the Cycle almost two decades ago, and I was...well....” Keen blushed at the very thought of Celestia having her way with him. “I was on Celestia's door that day....”

Glory blushed, and looked between them, feeling very awkward. “Oh dear...I feel so ashamed....” She was referring to the fact that she'd bedded both of them; father and son. “I feel like such a whore....”

“Don't you DARE say that!” Kamina demanded, and got an affirming snort from Keen on the matter. “Look; you helped me, whether you understand that or not. And you love my father do you not?” He asked seriously, getting a happy smile and a nod from her. “Then there's nothing wrong here. My only question is when did this happen? Vinyl didn't say anything about you getting engaged dad.” Kamina blushed and cleared his throat, that slipped out.

Keen smiled and waved it off. “It's fine. You can call me dad. I'm hoping for more children anyway.” Keen held Glory's hoof, and she tittered at the thought of having his foals. “I might be middle-aged, but I know Record would have wanted me to move on. She was wonderful like that; so kind and understanding.” Keen kissed her hoof, getting Glory to beam at him even more. “You reminded me what love was like Glory. Never doubt our feelings about you.”

“What is this?!” They turned to see Blueblood sneering at them, and he scoffed at the sight. “What are these COMMONERS doing here? Get out!”

“You will not begrudge my family being with us, will you cousin?” Kamina asked dangerously. “Need I remind you that I too had a sire? I was not spawned from my mother like some clone.” Blueblood seethed, and snorted as he took the seat furthest from them, next to the curtain, which was the safest seat since there were guards stationed just outside it, and began to peruse the appetizers.

“Ugh, repulsive. Why did you have to become a carnivore?” Blueblood referred to the strips of meat that were cooked to various levels of preparedness, and he even sniffed one, turning a little green. “Ulg...it smells like death.”

“Omnivore! Hippogriffs are omnivores you racist prat!” Kamina barely withheld his voice from a screech, and took all the meat trays in his magic, and moved them towards him. “I'll be taking those, since your weak palate can't handle the succulence of meat.” Kamina had the audacity to pick up a strip of beef in a talon, lick all along it, and slowly nibble on it, even sucking on it to get some “juice”. Making it look sensual the whole time.

“You vulgar creature! How you were spawned from Auntie's loins I'll never know!” Blueblood went about gathering a small salad, and grumbled as he set about ignoring his cousin, knowing that trying to argue with him further would get him nothing.

“I think I'd best go dears; I still have my duties.” Glory whispered to them, and kissed Kamina on the cheek, and Keen on the lips before fluttering off out of the curtain.

“She is a special mare dad. You really found somepony.” Kamina complimented as he got himself some more meat, and moaned as he chewed on a few strips. 'Oh~ Kami in heaven...I don't get meat this good in Ponyville....' {We should take up hunting like Gilda.} 'Agreed.'

“So son, how have you been?”

===//////>

Kamina spent about 30 minutes bonding with his dad over chatting, and occasionally trading venomous barbs with Blueblood, before Keen excused himself; he still had his duties. He said he wanted to keep in contact though, so now Kamina had a new pen-pal besides his mom and aunt. Shortly after, Blueblood decided he wanted to join the festivities downstairs, thankfully leaving Kamina to get some peace, as he looked down over the gala with a content smile.

“Hello?” Kamina turned to the voice, and he smiled at seeing who must be Cadence. She was a regal and elegant pink alicorn of nearly average size, with strawberry and lemon colored hair. But what confused Kamina and made him frown was the fact that Captain Armor entered with her. “Are you Prince Kamina?”

“Yes, I am, in spite of my unusual ascension and abilities.” Kamina bowed to her, and took his seat at the table again. Cadence smiled and trotted to sit near him, while Armor begrudgingly remained neutral and sat between her and Kamina. “Oh come now Armor. It's been nearly a year since I started dating Twilight. I'm not about to leave her.”

“That has nothing to do with it.” Armor replied with steel in his tone, making Kamina sigh, and Cadence glared at Armor.

“Honey~...what have I said?” Kamina quirked his eyebrow, but then smiled knowingly when Armor crumpled like a sheet of paper before a gale.

“To let you handle relationship matters....” Grumbled the whipped stallion, and Kamina surprisingly patted him on the back with an understanding expression.

“You'll get used to it. I'm whipped four-ways about it.” Kamina chuckled and Cadence beamed at him. “What?”

“You really love them so much. I can feel it just from looking at you.” Cadence tittered and leaned into Shining Armor, who finally let his guard down, and nuzzled her, which she returned. “I'm glad. I know you'll treat them all right just from meeting you.”

“So you govern Love then? I was told about it, but only in respect to that it's an abstract and hard to grasp concept. Mine's Will, and it resulted in...this.” Kamina gestured to himself, and flexed his talons for emphasis. “I have the power to gain the most efficient traits of any species I encounter. I have alicorn, unicorn, pegasi, earth pony, griffin, manticore, dragon, buffalo, the list goes on. I can't avoid it even though I can transform, because what you see now; my body considers my true form.”

“My...it doesn't sound like I can help you. I'm sorry cousin, but you've already gone through the worst of it.” Cadence sighed in exasperation. “Auntie should've let me visit you right away. You've been through the worst of it already, so there's not much more from here aside from learning as you go.” Cadence shrugged. “But, I'm glad I got to meet you anyway; you seem like the fun sort.” Cadence leaned in. “So; how's the sex?”

“Cadence!” Armor chided his fiancee, that was one thing he didn't think he'd get used to; her complete shameless approach to sex.

Kamina laughed at her bold question. “Clearly Lust is a part of Love. Well, I have four mares. Twilight's extremely creative, and constantly exploring new things. Trixie swaps genders between being a mare and a stallion regularly. Zecora is a zebra shaman with both experience, and enhancement potions. Lastly; Applejack is a feisty farm mare with a fetish for rope and BDSM.” Kamina rubbed his wrists at the last one. “I hardly have time to breathe between them. Especially when they decide to all jump me at once, it gets pretty hectic.”

“Can we PLEASE not talk about you humping my sister?” Armor pleaded, getting a playful gleam from both Cadence and Kamina, and he groaned as he rubbed his temples. “Two of them...why are there two of them?”

Kamina turned into a queen, and pouted at him. “Oh~ stop that! You know you love us~!” She and Cadence burst into laughter, as Armor proceeded to acquaint his face with the table.

===//////>

It was about 15 minutes later, of Kamina continuing to tease Shining along with Cadence as a queen, until Luna and Nyx entered the balcony, the little filly sprinting at Kamina. “Cousin K!” She leaped at her, and hugged her neck as Kamina caught her. “I missed you! Have you lost weight?”

“Nyx dear, you know I'm usually a king right?” Kamina turned back into a king, and was glad he and Animak refined their technique so that they didn't grotesquely burst into exposed sinew when they changed minor things like gender.

“Yep! I was just complimenting your girly form.” Nyx giggled as Kamina promptly began tickling her with his talons. “Ah~! Mom! The tickle talons have me!”

“Unhand her vile tickling terror! En-guard!” Luna couldn't withhold a laugh as she pounced at Kamina, and he promptly took flight to fly around the table as she chased him, everypony laughing at his antics as his face split with a brilliant grin. “Gotcha!” Luna teleported into his path, and tackled him into a pin onto the floor. “Victory is mine! What do I win?”

“A revenge tickle!” Kamina let Nyx go to begin tickling his aunt around the pits, making her laugh and try to escape, but he easily pinned her with his greater size and strength.

“No! Stop-ha, ha, ha! We surrender~!” Luna pleaded with tears in her eyes and when he did, she jumped to her hooves and hugged him, and he hugged back. “Oh, it is so good to see you again Nephew.”

“I missed you too Auntie.” Kamina released her from the hug, and they finally all settled down as the main course was brought in. “So where's m-Celestia?” Kamina couldn't let it slip yet; he didn't know if she'd held her word yet.

Luna shrugged. “I haven't a clue. Sister insisted on gathering the Bearers and having a private word with all of them.”

“Good. It's been long, long overdue for her to come clean.” Kamina's words confused them, and he shook his head. “I won't speak of it. Not unless she keeps to her word, and she cannot bring herself to admit it to you as well.” Before more could be said, a depressing sight entered the curtain.

Celestia in tears.

“Aunt Tia! What's wrong?” Nyx asked as she jumped down from her high seat, and hugged her aunt's foreleg.

“Yes Sister...what is it that distresses you?” Luna got up to hug her, but she waved her off.

“I...I don't deserve a hug right now.” She lowered her head to Nyx, and nuzzled her. “Thank you sweetie, but I have to pay for what I've done.” She levitated the worried Nyx back to her high seat, and Celestia took a seat at the table furthest from Kamina; again at the safest seat in the balcony, only unlike Blueblood, this time it was solely to distance herself from Kamina. “I've done it. It is...done.”

“They didn't take it well; did they?” Kamina asked rhetorically, and Celestia sniffed as a few tears dripped onto the table, and she sadly shook her head.

“Twilight's demanded that I don't speak to her for a while. Applejack about stormed out of the room. Blitz was horrified that I was so manipulative.” Celestia sighed, and took a deep breath to calm down. “But Rarity admitted she would have been miserable in a big city. Pinkie thanked me for getting her off the farm. And Fluttershy forgave me instantly. She's too Kind...no wonder she's the Element of Kindness....”

“I'm proud of you mom.” Celestia perked up at Kamina finally calling her mom again. “It was hard on you; I know that. I'm glad you were able to be brave and do something that could have completely destroyed your Friendships with them.”

“It is better they know now, than it is find out much later, and it be all the worse for it.” Everypony else looked between them in confusion, and Celestia sighed. “I shall tell you all; of one of the most terrible things I've ever done....”

===//////>

By the time Celestia had finished, Armor could do little more than storm out. He'd basically been told his sister's tutelage was only because she was the Element of Magic; not because she was special for who she was. Cadence was also taken aback at the thought; considering she loved Twilight like a sister already, and left after her fiance to look for Twilight and console her.

This left the depressed Celestia alone with her sister, niece, and son. Who all understood her reasoning, but all still could not forget what she'd done, even if they'd forgiven her. “Well mom, unless you want me to stay; it's getting late. I've already met dad, I've already done everything I wanted to tonight. And frankly...I'm full, and tired.” Kamina patted his belly through his shirt, it was noticeably bulging from his overindulging in the array of meat that was available.

“I've kept you long enough son. I believe your friends might all be ready to leave too.” Celestia stood and trotted over to the balcony edge, and gestured down, making the others all get up and join her, and laugh.

The gala was a shambles! The band had somehow ended up turning into a big jazz number, playing sexy saxophones, trumpets, and fast drums as numerous ponies all boogied, Pinkie and Game leading the dance number. “Who is that?” Luna asked in bewilderment and...an odd sense of familiarity.

Celestia saw Game too, and her eyes widened. “No...it couldn't be! Is that Game Junkie?!”

“You know him?” Kamina asked in surprise, and the sisters both nodded. “How?”

“He's almost as old as us, if younger by a few centuries. He was the royal event planner for the...the....” Luna became confused, and couldn't remember. She rubbed her head, and looked like she was having a headache. “I...I can't remember.... Do you recall sister? We know him, but the details of where he hails escapes me.”

Celestia cringed and her eyes clenched shut in pain. “N-no...I can't remember either.” Celestia and Luna looked to each other, and became worried. “What does this mean sister? What have we forgotten? And why does trying to remember hurt?”

“I COULD answer that~!” Game suddenly popped up from behind them, startling the royals into yelping. “But~ it wouldn't help. If anything it'd just give you seizures.”

“G-Game Junkie! Why? Why would it do so?” Luna asked in confusion, and Game sighed.

“It's a curse. I'm not affected for obvious reasons, but you two; and everypony from back then, you all forgot. It was wiped from knowledge; my home.” Game shuddered, and let out a tear as his body began to dull a bit, but then he thought of Pinkie, and his luster returned. “You CAN'T know. I can inform anypony from this generation, anypony that wasn't alive that doomed night. But sadly I can't inform you.”

“But how can we help then? If we don't know what happened back then, how can we help you?” Celestia asked, and Game simply shrugged.

“Just inform your captains, set a watch. It WILL return. IT. Will. Return. In the North. They'll know it when they see it.” Game then beamed and hugged Luna to everyone's surprise. “I missed you Woona~!” Luna blushed at the childish nickname, and everyone chuckled.

“I-I haven't been Woona in over a thousand years!” Luna's resolve shattered at the combined might of both Game's and Nyx's puppy eyes; as Nyx loved the idea of calling her mom Woona. “A-alright...I'm Woona if you want me to be....” Game squeed and hugged her tighter, getting a warm smile from the alicorn. “I missed you too Game.”

“Game~! It's time for the trot~!” Pinkie called out below, and suddenly Game launched off Luna who didn't feel it, and fell off the balcony to their worry, and they rushed to jump after him since they could fly, but were relieved instead to see Pinkie catch him, and go into a spin before starting the next dance number.

“Tonight has been wild down there huh?” Kamina chuckled. “Well. I'm going now. Love ya.” Kamina kissed his family all on the cheeks, and flew down to the main doors, where he saw Trixie and Zecora waiting.

===//////>

They were all groaning as they entered the library. Tired, full, fulfilled. Aside from Twilight; the assembled had a wonderful night. Trixie was complimented by many ponies, and even offered some dates by a couple noble stallions, only for her to let them down in that she was already in a relationship with Prince Kamina. Zecora got a more mixed experience, what with most of the nobles being racist and refusing to even acknowledge her existence, but several were more than excited to speak to her about her culture. Surprisingly, Blueblood had flirted with her; stating that her exotic beauty was alluring. She told him about Kamina, and he cursed his name; swearing that now he had to find someone worthy of him if “that beast” could get a herd already.

He was SO~ lucky there were guards nearby, lest Zecora relieve the ponce of some of his teeth.

“At least I know now why you were so mad at Princess Celestia for so long....” Twilight reflected sadly, and sighed. “How? How could she do this to us?” She and her friends had kept quiet about it on the ride back, deciding they'd vent and discuss it later.

“Desperation does scary things to people Twilight.” 'I would know....' {Yes, you would, wouldn't you?} Kamina remembered those first fleeting days on the surface, of struggling to get something substantial together. Sure, he just went with the flow, but he had to really push his charisma, he had to make his presence explode to even get any of the surfacers to go along with him, even though he was just as scared as they were.

“Still, what she did was deplorable. Know this Twilight; that we're always with you, whatever you choose to do.” Trixie supported with a kiss to her cheek, and Twilight smiled softly at her mare.

“Yes, we shall follow you without dread. But we are all tired, shall we go to bed?” Zecora asked, and lead the way upstairs. Nobody disputed it, and they all got to their rooms; Trixie opting to sleep with Zecora in her room tonight, what with them being all bloated and unable to share a bed between too many, and they all stripped nude and cuddled to sleep.

“I love you Kamina.” Twilight whispered as she spooned his big, strong back.

“I love you too Twilight.” Kamina buried his face into the pillow, and drifted off. 'Tonight...was great.'

Author's Notes:

There it is! The Gala! All, of course; from Kamina's POV. If you wanted a song; too bad. Kamina's voice can't harmonize for the tone "At The Gala" sets, and that'd just be awkward if he tried to sing it.

Anyway...I'm SO excited! Are you excited? Cause I'm excited, I'veneverbeensoexcitedbeforeinmylifeexceptforwhenIwent*GASP*and-WHOA! Channeled Pinkie and Game too much. Gotta calm down...but Dissy's next~!