Author's response

To Buddy Keith:

You wanna talk to me, find some other way, heck get an account even

EPISODE TWENTY

In the magical kingdom of Equestria, it was that time of the year for the Grand Galloping Gala ball, and this year, Twilight Sparkle and her friends promised to have a much better time. "I don't think I'd like to go." Fluttershy said timidly.

"WHA-AAT…?" cried Pinkie Pie "But you can't bail out! It would be like a party without cake or a pool party without water or, or song without singers…"

"Calm down, Pinkie!" said Twilight. "Fluttershy, why don't you want to go?"

Fluttershy trembled nervously and tried to hide her face inside her mane. "Dang it, girl." snapped Applejack "You gonna tell us, or do we have to sit and guess?"

Fluttershy explained that after the mess she made last year, she wanted try fresh and maybe ask to dance with a colt. "Oh you must! You simply must!" cried Rarity "I myself have already been asked to the ball by several of the colts, and I promised I'd dance with each and every one of them at least once. To think, that neglecting one would break his poor heart."

"I wish I was one of those boys." muttered Spike.

Fluttershy just didn't have the courage to even think of asking a colt. That didn't surprise anyone in the least bit. "Ah, come on. You just need better confidence, like me." said Rainbow Dash as she zipped up and down and every way around "What kind of colt would resist this?"

The others honestly didn't know how to answer that.

"You could always just come with us." said Twilight "At least you'd be with your friends."

Fluttershy peeked through her mane. "Um… gee… that would be nice." Still, she just lost her nerves all over again, and ran for home as it was getting late, and the ball was tomorrow night. Rarity just realize "Oh, my! I have so much to do. Ball gowns to sew, tuxedos to stitch, or I must remember to look my best for each of the colts I promised to dance with. One must always look her out most glamorous no matter who she dances with." then she ran off.

"Same old Rarity…" Twilight sighed

Spike just kept gazing heavenly at Rarity's empty seat "Yeah… same old Rarity." He sighed with hearts in his eyes.

"Spike…!" snapped Twilight.

"What…?"

The others just sighed in dismay. Poor Spike never gave up.

…

Fluttershy was lying on the ground outside her house with her animal friends all around. Playing with the animals always cheered her up when she felt sad and nervous, but so did looking at the stars. "They're so beautiful." she said "You could almost reach out and touch them."

Then, she saw a glowing star, and she wasted no time in making a wish. "Oh great wishing star, I wish I could have the courage to show myself at the Grand Galloping Gala."

The star continued to glow, and it seemed to be coming in closer. "Huh…?" Fluttershy began to realize it wasn't a star at all. "S…So… Something's up there!" she cried. Her animal friends all scattered and hid. "Great idea…" she exclaimed as she hid herself too.

The glowing was coming from the horn of a winged unicorn, one that Fluttershy had never seen before. He seemed to be following the glow of his horn right to her house, and he landed in the front and Fluttershy got a look at him.

He was a yellow unicorn, exactly the same color as she was. His yellow mane was very short, and he wore a matching suit of armor across his body with matching boots on his hinds legs, and he white pants. The stranger could see Fluttershy peeking through the shrubs, he stood upright on his hind legs, and bowed to her, and then he said…

"In friendship and goodwill, I come.

Unicornicopia is where I'm from.

I'm searching for a long lost treasure

Take me, stranger, to you leader."

Fluttershy, shaking with nerves, slowly came out from behind the shrubs, and much to this, and the stranger almost fell. He had never seen such a pretty pegasi before.

"Forgive me if must stare.

You seem pretty and very fare."

Fluttershy blushed, "Me… really?" she asked still feeling a little timid. "Um… do you… well I… just want to know… do you always speak like that… in rhyme

"Yes I do… all the time." rhymed the stranger.

"My name is XL7Z,

But if you like, just call me Rhymey.

I'm pleased to greet you,

It's nice to meet you."

Fluttered shy approached him on all fours and extended her hove. "Hi… I…I'm Fluttershy."

Rhymey tenderly kissed her hoof, and Fluttershy's face turned bright red. "Oh, my…! Oh…!" she was at a loss of what to say or do. Rhymey almost felt the same.

"There's history right before my face.

I've met new life in Dimensional Space.

And all because of my expedition,

To find the rainbow stone, that is my mission."

Fluttershy seemed curious. "What's a rainbow stone?" she asked.

"It's rather difficult to explain.

But I have flown far, and my wings are in pain." said Rhymey. Then he let out a yawn.

"Oh, you poor thing." said Fluttershy and she wasted no time at inviting him in for the night. Rhymey didn't want to impose, but Fluttershy insisted.

As he walked inside her house, his horn began to glow, which startled Fluttershy. "What's going on?" she cried nervously.

"My horn is shining bright,

For the rainbow stone is somewhere insight."

That's when he noticed a small shining object hanging over the fireplace. It was half the rainbow stone that he had been looking for- the yellow part. Rhymey gazed in awe as he dashed over to take it. "Excuse me…?" asked Fluttershy.

Rhymey held the stone and cried…

"My mission has been a success,

The rainbow stone I now possess."

Fluttershy was still confused, but when Rhymey yawned again. She insisted that he rest. Luckily she had an extra cot when she had visitors, usually animals. "Here you go…" she said "I hope you'll be comfy."

Rhymey yawned again and said…

"Oh thank you, you are very kind,

And right now, it you don't mind.

I'll count the stars, or maybe sheep,

And slowly… fall… fast… a…sleep." Then he was sleeping very peacefully.

Fluttershy left him alone, and was still hardly able to believe this; a strange unicorn just dropped down from the sky and was now sleeping in her house. Did her wish come true…? Her animal friends seemed to agree it had. "Oh… I just have to tell someone."

She got her chance when a knock at the door startled her. It was Applejack. "What up, partner. You left in such a hurry you forgot to pay for your milkshake. Just thought I'd tell ya, ya owe me a little favor now, ya hear?"

"Applejack… you won't believe this!" squeaked Fluttershy, and she kept going off in so many sentences. "Whoa there, racehorse…! Slow down at the pasture and tell me."

"Oh…!" pepped Fluttershy. "Too bad Rhymey's asleep."

"Rhymey…? Who's Rhymey…?"

Fluttershy tried to explain about the stranger who dropped from the sky, but Applejack just giggled and laughed. "I think you're a little more confused than a mouse in a catty corner."

"No! It's the truth." Cried Fluttershy, but Applejack didn't believe her and merely dismissed that she had been up too late and her mind was playing tricks on her because of the ball. "Look you just go catch some Z's, and I'll see ya tomorrow." And she left still laughing, "Rhymey…? Unicornicopia…?"

Fluttershy felt a little upset.

…

In the gardens of Canterlot, near the hedge maze, The guards stood watch, when suddenly, from above in the starry skies, a pair of red and sinister looking eyes gazed down at the statues, preferable the one of the chaos god, Discord. They eyes glowed brighter, and the statue suddenly faded into thin air, but the guards didn't notice a thing.

…

Discord was brought back to life and found he was floating in the void of dimensional space. "Where am I?" he wondered. "Ooh… but this sure looks like fun."

That's when two large red eyes appeared before him and he heard a dark and sinister voice call to him. "I have released you to do my bidding! I am your master now."

Discord felt confused. "Excuse me, but have you any idea who you are addressing? I am Discord, the god of chaos. The only one who gives orders is me!" and he tried to zap magic on the two eyes, but to no effect. "What's this?" he cried in disbelief.

"Your powers are as feeble as your attitude." hissed the voice "Still… they will serve well with what I am about to grant you."

Again, Discord insisted, "Look… I'm very flattered that you freed me from that prison, and I'd love to make it up to you, but I really must be- AA-AAAH…!" He was being shrouded by powerful magic, "What is this…? What are you doing to me?" he demanded to know.

The evil voice sniggered wickedly. "Yes…! This will do nicely."

When the magic had faded, Discord felt completely different, and his voice was much deeper too. He laughed hard ad evilly, "What is your wish, my master?" he asked.

The evil voice behind the eyes laughed again.

…

The next day, all over Equestria, everyone was busy preparing for the ball. Pinkie just couldn't keep still. "It's tonight! It's really tonight!" she squeaked. She was so excited that she almost ruined Spike and Twilight's new carriage when she ran by. "That Pinkie…" said Twilight "Do you think she'll ever learn?"

"Not as much as you." said Spike "Great idea using a banana this year instead of an apple. It'll fit more of you inside."

Twilight had been practicing the spell for a while. "Yeah… I think it is a nice coach."

That's when they heard someone touchdown on the roof.

"It really is a comfy car…

…for getting to places near and far."

Twilight and Spike looked up. "Hey, Fluttershy…" then she and spiked gazed at what they thought was Fluttershy. What happened to you? Is that what you're wearing tonight?"

"Where'd you get that weird armor?" asked Spike.

Rhymey felt annoyed…

"This armor, sir, belongs to me.

Now… who might you two strangers be?"

"Strangers…?" asked Twilight "Yeah… get real, Fluttershy."

Rhymey raised an eyebrow in confusion. They thought he was Fluttershy?

"XL7Z is my name.

Call me Rhymey, it's all the same."

Spike and Twilight felt Fluttershy was really off her string, and she probably had a unicorn perform a spell on her to change her into this, whatever it was, to help her be brave for the ball. They decided to just humor who they thought her.

"Okay…Rhymey. I'm Twilight Sparkle, and that's Spike."

"Oh, tell us… Rhymey, what brings you to Equestria. Where did you come from?"

"Unicornicopia is where I am from

I've found the treasure for which I have come."

"Oh they have treasures in Unicornicopia?" Spike asked teasingly "and they all wear outfits like yours?"

"Well can't you hear?

It should be clear." answered Rhymey.

Twilight and Spike began to take their teasing a little too far by saying things like "Unicornicopian's love to play tricks on others?" or even, "And they disguise themselves to cover up how shy and timid they are…?" This made them laugh, but Rhymey was not amused, he felt rather insulted.

"Honestly! This isn't fair.

When did you two visit there?"

Twilight and Spike didn't bother to answer and went off to get some decorations for the coach. Rhymey decided to fly off as he was exploring Ponyville a little before he would leave. It was really was a beautiful place.

"Stop right there!" hollered a voice.

"Wha…?

Huh?"

Rarity approached Rhymey. "What in the world? This will not do…?" she said as she eyed him from head to hooves. Then she dragged Rhymey to her salon, much to his confusion.

"Who are you, what are you doing?

Tell me what it is you're brewing?"

Before he knew it, Rarity was giving him a makeover and stripped him of his armor and clothes, and when all was done. Rhymey has his suit back, but he looked like a dashing prince- doublets, a cape, and his mane was all slick down.

"Oh, don't you look the handsomest." chirped Rarity "You're really going to standout at the ball, Fluttershy; even you want be a male for the evening."

Now this frilly thought he was Fluttershy too, and what was all this talk of a ball? Rhymey tried to protest to all this, but Rarity insisted, "No need to thank me, I'm pleased to help everyone look their best. Off you go now."

She pushed him out of the salon, much to his annoyance.

"I must say, she's generous all right,

But the way she acted, she doesn't seem polite."

He decided to head back to Fluttershy's before someone else saw him.

…

Fluttershy was nervous and panicking like crazy when she found Rhymey was gone, but she was delighted when he showed back up, and was dressed in formal attire. He had a rough time in Ponyville. Fluttershy fixed him a quick lunch.

"This food you've made is so delightful,

I think I'll have another bite full."

"I always say… a good hearty meal always makes you happy and well." said Fluttershy. Rhymey thought she was very nice, they spent the time they ate getting know each other. Fluttershy told Rhymey lots of things about Equestria, even her friends which made them seem not so bad after all. Rhymey even learned about the adventures they had, the Elements of Harmony, and even the Grand Galloping Gala.

"Um… if you don't mind…" she asked "Could you tell me all about your home? Unitopia… er… Unicornica… or… whatever it's called."

Rhymey cleared his throat…

"Unicornicopia is far away.

In another dimension, you might say.

We love and work and play, you see,

And all are winged-unicorns, like me."

Through his rhymes he explained how he and his fellow creatures evolved as a warrior-race, protecting the dimensional universe from evil forces. Their powers and magic were used mainly for combat, but they did possess regular magic too, they just preferred not to use it and rely on it so heavily and preferred to believe in their own skills and talent. The rainbow stone was important treasure needed because the evil they had been facing were growing stronger, unlike anything any Equestrian had seen… their magic and Elements of Harmony seemed very mystical, but it was possible that even they would not be strong enough to wart of this type of magic.

"But remember this, please do,

Believe in the magic, and there's nothing you can't do."

Fluttershy felt amazed, but then she noticed Rhymey seemed a little upset. "What's the matter?" she asked.

Rhymey sighed and said…

"I must return soon, as you know."

He then gazed at her almost lovingly, "I wish you could come with me when I go."

Fluttershy raised a hoof to her heart. "Rhymey…? You mean it?" Of course she knew that wasn't possible and very dangerous as well for her. Still, saying such a thing like that made her speechless, it was as if a colt had just proposed marriage to her.

"When do you have to leave?" she asked "Do you think maybe you'd have time to… well… if you could stay… would you… would you…" she hesitated "Would you dance with me at the Grand Galloping Gala?"

Rhymey blushed, and thought that would've been lovely, but alas, he felt he wasted enough time already; he also didn't have a ticket. Besides, the ball wouldn't begin until well after nightfall, and by that time he'd be gone.

"But I suppose, just for a chance,

I will save you, one little dance."

Fluttershy stuttered and stammered in excitement, and then realized she hadn't picked up her gown from Rarity yet. "I'll meet you the roof of Canterlot castle at sunset." she promised.

…

It was already late afternoon, and a lot of the ponies had gone home to have a long rest for the ball. Twilight and Spike were still laughing about what they thought was a joke. When they met up with most of the others "What everyone laughing at?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"It's the funniest thing…" giggled Twilight, "Fluttershy's so nervous about the ball, she's pretending to be a creature from another dimension."

"Yeah…" chuckled Spike "Oh… named Rhymey."

Pinkie kept leaping feeling all giddy "I just love when a practical joke is played. Maybe we should do something to humor her."

Rarity came along, and said she just gave Fluttershy her gown, she looked normal though, not like when she was in her supposed unicorn disguise. "I think she's really taking this seriously. She said her… friend… Rhymey actually offered her to go back with him." Everyone laughed.

Then Rarity had an idea. There was still time for her to make some extra costumes so they'd all look like winged unicorns, even Spike. "You'll look adorable in that."

Spike turned to face her, "What did you say…?" he asked. That's when he pictured Rarity standing in a flowery field and her voice was heavenly. "I said you'd be adorable."

Poor Spike was so dazed that he fell out of his seat. Twilight rolled her eyes. Still, everyone decided to get in on the joke.

…

By sundown, everyone headed to Canterlot, for the ball was ready to begin. Twilight and friends were there, all looking like winged unicorns, much to other's confusion, even Princess Celestia. When Twilight explained, the princess wasn't very keen on them humoring Fluttershy with a joke, but felt Twilight would learn something from this, so they decided to let them all go with it. After all, the Gala was usually pretty boring.

…

Rhymey was standing up on the roof, in the outfit that Rarity gave to him. It was almost dark and he would have to leave soon, when he really should had left last night the moment he found the stone. He couldn't get his mind of Fluttershy though, he never felt like this before towards anyone.

Suddenly, he could see her far, far below in the castle ground she was there in a beautiful green, leafy-like gown, but staring up at the roof and she seemed to be talking to herself for she was nervously and shy.

"What do I do…?" she cried "Rhymey's up there expecting me… oh!" She had to think fast, or else Rhymey would be gone soon and she wouldn't be able to dance with him even if she wanted, but she just didn't find the courage, but then one of the bunnies began to motion behind her. "What is it…?" she asked.

Then she heard someone clear their throat. It was Rhymey. She got down flat on the floor and whimpered while covering her eyes, "Oh, Rhymey… I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to keep waiting… I'm sorry I'm sorry…!"

Rhymey thought it was rather cute the way she acted shy, but when the music began to play, and they both heard it, Rhymey gracefully helped her up, and they started dancing. Fluttershy never felt so nervous in her life but, she slowly began to feel less timid.

"I told you I would save a dance for you,

You dance very wonderfully too."

Fluttershy didn't know whether to feel flattered or embarrassed, yet here she was, dancing with a colt, and she was very good at standing and moving on her hind legs too. Rhymey almost wished they had balls like this back home, but they didn't have as many because of the evil that always showed up to ruin everything. Being a warrior was not always easy… but still… for the first time in long time, he felt warm and soft as Fluttershy felt to him.

As the song ended, Fluttershy actually curtsied to Rhymey and he bowed to her and tenderly kissed her hoof again. The other animals applauded for them both. "That was wonderful." said Fluttershy.

Rhymey agreed with her…

"But now I must fly.

Fluttershy… this is goodbye."

A sad expression appeared on Fluttershy's face, but she knew this was the right thing to do. "I… I want to give you something." she said "Something… you know… like a gift."

"A gift for me…?

What is it? Please hurry!

Fluttershy searched through her gown, and realized she had left it the coach which she came in. She decided to run and get and meet him on the roof of the castle. Then she dashed off.

No sooner had she gone, did Twilight and friends, who hadn't seen her, approached Rhymey wearing odd getups like his, and Twilight used a cover up spell to make them all look like winged unicorns, even spike, although the was only in a costume

"What do you think, Fluttershy…? I mean, Rhymey." Twilight asked teasingly, but Rhymey looked at them all feeling insulted again.

"What is with all you folk?

Is this some trick or a silly joke?"

The others just chuckled. "Nah… it's just our way of saying we want to be like you now. So we're all unicopians… or whatever it is you are." laughed Spike.

Rainbow came soaring and dashing across overhead. "Woo…!" she cried when she touched down, "And we figured we'd all come to this magical dream world of yours." she said.

Pinkie kept bouncing with excitement, almost forgetting that this was supposedly a joke. "I'm so excited, I can't wait to go!"

"Do be a lady… uh… I mean gentlemen." said Rarity "When is our departure time?"

"Yeah, we gonna go or what?" added Applejack, but Rhymey had officially had enough of their mocking him and said almost sternly…

"I'm opening the portal in just a minute,

But when I do… you won't be in it! Huh!"

"Oh, how come…?" the others all asked in a teasing manner.

As Rhymey flapped his wings and headed to the roof, he explained…

"First: You're just too many a-crowd,

And second: Only winged unicorns allowed!"

The others just watched him fly up to the roof, but were still laughing at him, and exchanged funny sayings. "Watch out…!" cried Fluttershy as she came dashing through.

"Hey, Fluttershy?" asked Spike

"Sorry! Can't talk now…" she called back as she headed to the roof. That's when the others stopped laughing, "Wait a minute…!" said Spike "If that was Fluttershy just now… who was that up there?"

Pinkie gasped "There must really be a Rhymey!"

The others all gasped, and Applejack remembered what Fluttershy had told her, "Crumblin' crackers! Ya don't reckon she's really goin' with him?"

"We've got to get up there!" cried Spike "Twilight, quick!"

"All right!" cried Twilight "Everyone ready…? Here we go!" and she used her magic to teleport everyone to the roof of the castle quickly just in time a bright tube of light came down from the skies. They didn't see clearly, but assumed Fluttershy was inside it. "Fluttershy!" cried Rainbow.

"Don't go…!" shouted Pinkie, but the tube of light already began to rise up into the sky. Pinkie burst into tears. The others felt depressed. She was telling the truth all the time, and no one believed her.

"Pinkie Pie, don't cry." called a voice.

"FLUTTERSHY…!" everyone cried. "Ye-Ha!" cried Applejack.

Pinkie pie still didn't stop crying, but at least she was happier now. Fluttershy forgave everyone for not believing her. She had fun that night anyway, and Rhymey even gave her a golden quill as a token of their new friendship, and she gave him one of her spare butterfly clips too.

The others were all happy for her, and they all just kept watching the sky until the beam of light was totally gone.

…

Rhymey returned to Unicornicopia with the yellow stone in hand and joined it with the green half to make a whole Rainbow Stone again. Grand Ruler was very proud of him, and pleased that he had learned so much, made a new friend. The others couldn't wait to hear his story.

"It really is a lovely tale…" but then he noticed,

"Your majesty, you look a little pale!"

The Grand Ruler, indeed, smiled sadly, "I will be fine. If you will excuse me." he said and then he headed off. Rhymey was confused, but Krysta and Lightning knew what was up with Grand Ruler…

Grand Ruler had gone to his private sanctuary and sat down sadly while gazing at the statue of Princess Celestia. At least he knew she was alive.

…

Back in Equestria, Fluttershy was busy repeating her story about Rhymey, to a lot of the ponies and creatures who asked, and when Celesetia had heard the part about Rhymey's ruler being an Alicorn with three golden horns and golden wings, she hadn't been seen for the rest of the night.

Twilight demanded the guards tell her, and it was revealed that princess had spent most of the night in her bedroom, weeping, but exactly why, no one knew. This made Twilight and the others feel terrible, and they wished there was something they could do… when suddenly…

The castle began to rumble and shake as the windows shattered and the chandlers fell from the ceiling. "What's happening…?" cried Spike. Then suddenly, they all heard a scream coming from way up. "The princess…!" cried Twilight, and she and her friends all raced upstairs, but found the door to Celestia's bed chamber knocked down, the guards were all unconscious, and the whole room was a mess with a huge hole smashed right through the wall…

Some of the ponies fell in in heartbreak and shock, and Spike examined a small note on the princess' bed. "We have your princess now. You will never see her again. Ha, ha, ha! Night Mare Moon and friends…!"

"Princess…!" peeped Twilight as she felt tears falling down her cheek and her anger building up… all she could do was let out a scream of woe!