Title: The Seventh Element
Rating: T
Chapter: Chapter 9 Pride
AN: Awesome! A whole bunch of reviews! YAY! Anyway, I’m stuck at home because I sprained my ankle and fractured the bone. So I get, ANOTHER, free pass from school. Yeah, I’m the type to say, I MISS SCHOOL!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!! I miss school! I’m even getting bored of PORN!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!
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Twilight took deep breaths as her heart beat returned to normal. A nearby Royal Guard had noticed her and he craned his head ever so slightly, “Miss Twilight Sparkle, are you alright?” Twilight jumped, her hand still over her heart.

“How do you know my name?”

The guard straightened again and kept his gaze forward, “You are Princess Celestia’s ward. Everypony in the palace knows you.” Twilight blushed, forgetting about that little fact. “Go and enjoy the party.”

Twilight nodded, “yes, I… I think I will.” She straightened herself and walked back into the party, where it was already in full swing. Twilight kept her hands folded, gazing around and watching as the party-goers all discussed the latest gossip, the weather, their past year and their upcoming year. Twilight smiled to herself as she saw the happy faces of the others, and somewhat amazed that the fashion designers actually had time to make these beautiful and extravagant outfits for everyone.

She vowed then to make sure she thanked Rarity for every piece of clothing she makes.

“Well, if it isn’t my little sister.” Twilight froze and scowled as she heard that bored drawl behind her. She didn’t even turn around to face him, he didn’t deserve it. “Oh? Too, high and mighty to even face your older sibling?”

Twilight growled lowly, “you are no sibling of mine.” She ground out with extra venom. She clenched her hands, “You are a disgrace on our name, species and magic itself.”

Venom mix narrowed his eyes, but his face betrayed no emotion, “funny that you say that when you claim that you live for friendship.” He took a sip from his drink, “perhaps you are the biggest hypocrite than any of these fools, who act like they give a damn about others.” He slowly walked until twilight had him in her vision, she turned away. “You act as if it is the right thing to do.”

“That’s because it is.” She lowered her voice, “leave my sight you vermin.”

Venom mix sneered, “You still do not understand.”

“I don’t want to understand! You are a disgrace!” Twilight pushed past him.

“Just because I was born from a pure blood family of Unicorns, and born with no horn?” Twilight stopped and turned to her, brother, her eyes shone with disdain.

“Exactly.”

She turned away and disappeared into the crowds. Venom mix sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, “why must you be so.” He then lurked back into the shadows, the light and music irritated him to no end.

Twilight was beyond angered, she was downright furious! How dare he just accuse me of being a hypocrite! He’s the one that just lives off the suffering of others! And he makes me out to be the bad guy! Twilight stopped her train of thought, no. He has never done that… my mind just… sees him as a terrible pony.

Twilight sat herself at a table, picking at a small bowl of peanuts, Who am I kidding? I was raised by my parents to see my brother as he is! A disgrace! An accident! Twilight tried to smile, but in her mind, one half was cheering her on to continue to be horrid to her brother, but the other half hates her for that. He’s her only living relative, and she treats him like this. A way of thinking is a very hard thing to do…

Back in the cavern…

The wall with the blood scriptures, the light had begun to dim. The word, spelled out in a green smoke raced through the tunnel.

Pride.

The word collided with the wall, making the crack widen. On the inside, the darkness swirled happily as the word then was consumed by the darkness. “Yes…”

At the gala…

Clockwork had greeted Celestia, “Ah! Princess!”

Celestia smiled and greeted him with, “Clockwork, it is a joy to see you.” Clockwork blushed slightly, “did you finish the time zone plans? You do know that leap year is upon us.”

Clockwork nodded, “yes princess, the plans are fixed and ready for next year’s schedules.” Celestia nodded, “would you like to walk princess? The noise is deafening.” Suddenly, as if on cue, the noises were much louder than before. He offered an arm and she took it as they walked down the halls, for a quieter atmosphere.

“Thank you Clockwork, sometimes in my age I forget how loud things can be.”

He responded with a darker blush, “Well you know me princess…” They continued to walk, in a companionable silence. He turned to her, but he couldn’t seem to get the words out. “Princess…” He stopped and sighed, “Celestia… Where did we go wrong?”

Celestia smiled sadly at him, she brought a hand up to his face and stroked it softly, “It is a forbidden act.”

He sighed, “I know… But… we share…” Celestia kissed him on the lips, deeply and full of compassion. He kissed back with as much enthusiasm as he could into the kiss, even going as far as wrapping his arms around her and bringing her as close to him as possible.

She couldn’t stop, she didn’t want to stop. But she should stop. She pulled away, her voice filled with desire, “we can’t… Clockwork, we can’t.” His eyes brimmed with tears, he opened his mouth, but she cut him off, “I want this as much as you do, but…”

Clockwork stopped her, “because I’m an earth pony. And you’re the princess.” He grasped her shoulders and stared her into the face, “we share a daughter Celestia!”

Celestia choked up, “I know! I raised her!”

“And because of the law of purity, I couldn’t meet my daughter! Not formally…” Tears fell from his face, “I’ve never held her. Never been there for her first steps… All I know is that she looks every bit like me.” Celestia nodded, “thank Solaris that due to code conduct I must live a hermit lifestyle.”

“Then why did you come out tonight?”

Clockwork smiled as the tears kept flowing, “I wanted to share this moment with the one who carried my child.”

Celestia hugged him close and rested her head on his shoulder, “your illegitimate child… Your child that is so brilliant… so… wonderful…” She cried as she spoke, remembering that her daughter was getting ready for the gala as they spoke. “You have to leave soon. You know she can’t meet you.”

“But in these forms-”

“I don’t want to chance it clockwork!!” She wailed as she gripped him tighter, “I can’t…” Clockwork ran a hand along her back, soothing her as best as he could. “And…” She sniffed, “Lunar wants to be with Twilight…”

He hugged her tighter, “I know, my love. I know. Try to break the news to him as best as you can. Stop it before it grows.” Celestia nodded and pulled herself from him.

She wiped her face and smiled, “I always seem to just, use you when I want and then just throw you aside.” Clockwork smiled and kissed her quickly.

“You know I would do it all over again.”

They parted and Clockwork walked down the lonely halls as Celestia arrived back to the party with her fake smiles and hidden pain. He sighed as he passed the lower potions lab and gagged. He brought himself away from the door and fanned himself. “Solaris, I can’t stand potion fumes.” He then disappeared into the west side of the castle where no one could find him. And so he could wallow in his pain.

Celestia was now back in the main hall, some of the party-goers started to spread rumors about the mysterious one who took the princess away on his arm, but she quickly dispelled the rumors with the ruse of courtly affairs. That’s what she said all the time when it concerned her mysterious behaviors for all these years.

Sometimes she just has to make excuses.

With everyone else…

Rarity huffed as she waited with her friends; no one had asked her to a dance. NO ONE!! And to make matters worse, everyone else didn’t really talk to her. Like as if they were cutting her out. But she knew that wasn’t the case, they had been through too much for them to just throw her away on a whim. She smiled to herself as she sipped on her cherry flavored drink.

Pinkie Pie was nearby, still writing away on the buzzing page. She giggled as she read the message, she and Braeburn had come up with their own little language on the page talk. LOL tht is funny Pinki! Pinkie wrote back: thnx! Anyway, Im at the gala. After a few seconds the message disappeared and to Braeburn’s end of the line.

Not a moment passed until the new message came on: Kk, wht is hpning? Pinkie lifted her head and saw that Rarity was just standing around, Apple Jack nearby trying to make conversation with Rarity who was trying her best to make the conversation last. Big Macintosh was nearby, but doing nothing, he felt out of place in his formal red cowboy-like suit and boots. Pinkie wrote in record time: Rarity is tlking wit AJ, BM is doing nothing. Again the message disappeared in a few seconds.

The new message came and Pinkie read it. She wrote: kk, I’ll do tht! Bye! The message disappeared and soon the message came and said: kk, I got work to do. Good lck! :)

Pinkie folded the paper and stuck it in her pocket, she quickly moved through the mass and found a youngster, “hey! Can you help me out?”

He shrugged and nodded.

Rarity was continuing to talk to Apple Jack; the conversation was getting awkward by the second when suddenly someone coughed behind her. She turned and was face to face with a slender young male in a black suit. He offered his hand, “Madam, will you grace me with a dance?”

Rarity blushed and giggled lowly, “oh! O-ok…” She placed her drink on a table and excused herself from her friends, she was then swooped into a very simple dance, being led and spun around the dance floor until she was out of sight from her friends.

Rainbow Dash smiled as she watched Rarity having a great time dancing, and she spared a glance at Apple Jack, who looked furious. Rainbow Dash was one of the few ponies Apple Jack told her affection towards Rarity to. For awhile Rainbow Dash had tried to get Apple Jacks attention in an intimate way, but Apple Jack just didn’t ever spare Rainbow a single moment. It was very heartbreaking for Rainbow, but now, she’s happy helping Apple Jack be happy.

Even if she knows Apple Jack won’t ever love her.

Rainbow felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Soarin there, “Soarin! You’re here!” She then noticed he was wearing a white tuxedo, “whoa! Where’d this colt come from? Soarin doesn’t like stuffy clothes.”

Soarin went agape, “what? I can’t wear something nice Rainbow? I’m appalled!” He placed a hand on his chest in mock hurt.

“When’d you get a bigger vocabulary?” Rainbow smirked playfully.

“When’d you learn, vocabulary?” Soarin smirked right on back.

Rainbow’s attention was caught, “uh… Where’s Spit fire?”

Soarin looped his arm around Rainbow’s arm, “she doesn’t really like this sort of thing. So I got you all to myself.” He then smiled a cheeky grin, “as my best buddy!” Rainbow smiled back, she wasn’t complaining. Soarin is a nice and cool guy, and she gets along with him easily. She turned to Apple Jack.

“Apple Jack, I’m gonna go ahead and go, you don’t mind?”

Apple Jack made a noise and waved a hand in goodbye. Rainbow’s eyes lowered slightly, and her face drooped a bit, “C-c’mon Soarin, let’s go.” Soarin noticed that Rainbow wasn’t herself, but he was prepared to make sure she doesn’t frown the entire night! He led her away and towards the gardens, where there weren’t many others out.

When they got outside, Soarin let go of her and stretched his white wings, “how about we go and race? A party isn’t any fun without one or two,” he brought his hands up and used his fingers for quotation, “improper, party-goers.” He fished out his goggles from his jacket and slipped them on. “And I’m usually that colt. Wanna?”

Rainbow grinned widely, her wings needed to just have fun and have a friendly race. “Just try and stop me!” She jumped and sped out into the sky with Soarin close behind.

The wind in their faces, the speed as they flew through the air and clouds, the moon giving natural light. To them it wasn’t anything special, it was two friends who both enjoy flying. Flying together in a competitive race pissing off the other party-goers.

Rainbow couldn’t stop the laugh escaping her lips as they turned past the tower, it was so much fun just flying around with Soarin, no responsibilities and no Apple Jack. She closed her eyes and smiled, No Apple Jack. No Apple Jack haunting my dreams. No Apple Jack tempting me to touch. No Apple Jack for me to comfort when she couldn’t get Rarity’s attention. Nothing.

“RAINBOW!!”

Her eyes shot open as she was about to fly head first into the palace walls. Another thing she learned about her new body, it wasn’t as strong as it was before. Soarin had grabbed her and held her to him, but neither of them noticed how close they were. Soarin soon questioned her, “Rainbow! What happened?”

She stayed still and closed her eyes and clung to him, “I don’t know…”

Soarin relaxed and held her closer as he flew them back to the gardens, “you okay? You wanna talk about it?”

Rainbow shook her head.

Soarin smiled and eased her off of him. Soarin wasn’t a complete dense fool, he knew Rainbow has feelings for Apple Jack, and he knew that these feelings were love. He couldn’t, shouldn’t, and wouldn’t come between them. “We’re on land again.”

Rainbow looked and saw her feet, in her golden roman sandals, touching the ground. “oh. I’m sorry Soarin, I didn’t mean-” Soarin just smiled and shook his head.

“Think nothing of it. I’m just here to be a friend when you really need one.” Rainbow had dusted off her blue toga and rainbow patterned sash, apparently clouds make a mess on you when you fly through them. Soarin helped her fix the golden wreath on her head and helped right her haphazard grape necklace.

They smiled again as they then started walking through the gardens, together, and talking about anything that wasn’t Apple Jack, the Wonderbolts, or their race. Just two friends walking together. Alone. Who here thinks that won’t last long?

On the inside of the palace, Rarity was now with a new dancing partner. She laughed as she was being twirled and led, it was a perfect way to get her feelings back in check.

Nearby, Pinkie was keeping an eye out on Rarity, making sure she didn’t wander off too far. Pinkie came up to Big Mac and grabbed his arm, “Hey Big Mac! Let’s dance!”

Big Mac smiled awkwardly, “Sorry Pinkie, ah got four left hooves!”

Pinkie giggled, “we don’t have hooves silly!” She pulled him onto the dance floor anyway and led him in a dance, that looked like he was a rag doll and she was murdering him. She drug him all over the dance floor as Apple Jack laughed at her brother’s misfortune.

“Hoo wee! Go Big Mac!” She called as another burst of laughter escaped her mouth.

Pinkie Pie then saw that Big Mac was dizzied enough, and just like Braeburn told her, her temporary partner in crime was now in arms length with Rarity. “Cut in!” Pinkie wedged herself between Rarity and the young fellow, leaving Big Mac steadying himself with Rarity in the middle of the dance floor.

Pinkie and the guy twirled away and made a wall around Big Mac and Rarity, keeping them away from Apple Jack.

Rarity placed her hands onto Big Mac’s arm, making sure he didn’t tumble down and make the palace shake. “Big Mac! Are you alright?” Rarity asked as he then stood himself upright.

“Ah… ah think so…” He looked down to Rarity and his eyes nearly bugged out. He had tried avoiding her all evening, ever since she asked him to accompany the others to the Gala. Her dress was a rose red hue that plunged down to her breasts, pushing them up was an intricate bodice that also helped the skirt poof out and hide her glass slippers. Her hair was in a stylish up-do with thin wisps of hair leaking out to frame her face. Big Mac tried to excuse himself and duck for cover, but he soon saw that there was a body-made wall around them.

“Big Mac?” He turned to Rarity, stopping himself from laughing nervously. His face flushed a deep red as her large light blue eyes bore into him, “would you like to dance?”

Big Mac couldn’t escape.

He brought them into position and she led them in a slow dance, accompanied by Octavia’s slow mantra that was being played. The lights seemed to dim around them as they danced together in a slow and close proximity, neither one of them saying a word. Big Mac’s mouth went dry and he tried to say something, but Rarity placed a gloved finger to his lips, “shhhh… Don’t say a word.” She whispered to him.

Big Mac didn’t know how he heard her soft voice from the music, the other couples… couples… AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! Big Mac screamed in his head, ah got to get away! His body didn’t listen to reason. Rarity looked so delicious… Stop it brain! Stop tempting me!

Without knowing, the countdown to the New Year had begun. The others were facing towards the windows that lead to Canterlot, but they were frozen in that spot.

“10!”

Rarity’s heart throbbed.

“9!”

Big Mac could barely hear anything that was going on.

“8!”

Apple Jack couldn’t find her brother or Rarity anywhere.

“7!”

She spotted them in the middle of the crowd and was now making her way to them.

“6!”

Rarity smiled as she gazed up at Big Mac as the others around them counted down to the New Year.

“5!”

Big Mac tried to desperately to get away before he did anything he might regret.

“4!”

Apple Jack was getting closer.

“3!”

Rarity blushed, feeling herself move upwards slightly.

“2!”

Big Mac didn’t move, and Apple Jack had just broken through the wall to them.

“1!”

The party-goers all yelled and threw their arms up in the air, cheering for the New Year. A few males were right behind Big Mac and when they threw their arms up, they accidentally pushed him forward, making his lips meet Rarity’s.
DONE!
CLIFFHANGER!!! MWAHAHAHA!! I’m sorry if this chapter was too fast paced with all the activity, but I hope that was okay with you guys. Shit is gonna go down! Now, I got to go. I’m hungry for some SOUP. Read, Rate, REVIEW!!! Subscribe and favorite! PEACE EVERYPONY!!!