Tricky trotted down Main St., on his way to visit each of his friends. His first stop was in the town square, where a cloud sat parked near the fountain. This cloud belonged to two of his pegasus friends. The pegasi were weather ponies who worked with Rainbow Dash to manage Ponyville's weather.

"Hello?" Tricky called out. His response was a splash of water flying at him from the entrance to the cloudhome. The water soaked his maroon mane and he stood there dripping wet, frowning.

"Oops, ha ha ha!"
A blue pegasus floated out of the cloud, kicking his hooves dry.
"I almost had it that time!"

Tricky shook himself off and glared at him.
"What were you trying to do, Rain? Get me drenched?"

Still laughing, Rain shook his head.
"Of course not! You just happened to be in the right place at the right time."

Without a sound, a purple pegasus with a water-logged pink mane floated out of the cloud behind Rain. She stood still for a moment, until the wind suddenly picked up and blew her mane dry. When this was finished, she looked to Tricky and gave a little smile.

"Did you let him get you too, Aria?" Tricky asked as he checked his mane with his hoof.

"Oh, we were practicing our trick for your show, and... Well, let's just say we've not perfected it yet."
Aria rubbed her shoulder and looked down at the ground.

"Don't worry, I'm sure it's going to be great!"
Tricky clapped his hooves together. He wasn't really upset about being drenched, as it's something you get used to hanging around a pony who specializes in downpour.
"I should check on the others. Don't forget: Rehearsal tonight at my place!"

"You got it, buddy!" Rain held out his leg for a hoof-bump.

"We'll be there." Aria raised her hoof.

"Awesome!" *clack*

Tricky continued his journey across Ponyville. Soon he came to a shop stall filled with gems of all colors, and various bits of jewelry made the same. A vibrantly yellow mare stood hunched underneath the stall, searching for something. Her earthy green tail swished back and forth as she muttered to herself about emeralds or some such.

"Ahem... Diamond?"

/Clank./
"Oof!"
Diamond rubbed a hoof where her head hit the stall.
"Ouch... Oh, Tricky! I was just preparing the necklaces for our show!"
She ducked briefly behind the stall again before coming up with a box. Opening the box, she revealed a set of necklaces adorned with each of their friends' cutie marks.

"Wow! Those look amazing!"
Tricky stared in awe, the light reflected from the gems dazzling his eyes.

"Thank you! They might even be my best works yet!"
Diamond closed the box and put her elbows on the stall.
"Is everyone ready for the rehearsal?"

Tricky blinked a few times, still getting over the sight.
"Um... Well, Rain and Aria are still working on some trick they wouldn't show me yet, and I haven't seen the others since this morning."

Diamond suddenly stood up straight, looking past Tricky. She stifled a chuckle and tried not to speak.

"What are you..."
Tricky watched her for a moment before he caught on. He quickly spun around.
"Gotcha!"

"AGH! Diamond! Why!?"
A fiery red unicorn held his head in disappointment.

"Tee hee, I'm sorry! You know I can't keep from giggling!"

Tricky chuckled.
"You almost had me that time, Red."

"Yeah, well, next time I WILL get you. Mark my words!"
The young Guard stood tall and held his chest out.

"Shouldn't you be... Practicing?" Tricky asked.

"Practicing what? Oh, the trick? Nah, I already got it down pat. Watch!"
Red suddenly dropped low, poised like a cat, and his horn glowed.
"Aha!"
He stood again as a wheel of flame burst from his horn and spun in the air in front of them. The two ponies shielded their eyes from the intense heat and other ponies around the stall cheered.

Tricky and Diamond clapped with the crowd as the fire dissipated. Red smiled and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"That one's tough, but it's going to blow them away!"

"Definitely!"
Tricky trotted in place.
"This is going to be great!"

Diamond looked at the sky.
"Shouldn't you get home? It's almost time for the rehearsal."

"You're right! See you there!"
Tricky dashed off toward his home.

The sun had nearly run its course by the time Tricky approached his house. He lived in a small house with his roommate, a mare he had called friend since their school days. As he entered the house, he found an empty brown bag lying on the floor. Good, she's home, he thought.

Tricky stepped into the main room to find the grey mare sprawled out on the sofa.

"Long day?"
Tricky sat next to her. She stretched her wings out and brushed her yellow mane from her eyes.

"Yeah... Everypony had a bunch of letters they wanted delivered before the Summer Sun Celebration! I've been flying across Ponyville since dawn!"
She rolled over to look at Tricky. Her eyes were slightly misaligned, unless she focused intently on something. Whether or not this had an effect on her vision, Tricky didn't know for sure. He loved his friend regardless, clumsiness and all.

"I'm sure the town is grateful to have such a dedicated mailpony as you, Ditzy,"
Tricky said as he rested his head on the sofa.

"Oh, you always say that," Ditzy replied and turned to pick at her feathers a bit.

Tricky raised a hoof.
"And I mean it every time!"

Ditzy smiled and reached out to bump hooves, then sat up.
"Isn't the rehearsal soon?"

"Yep, the others will be here any second. Are you ready, #1 Assistant?"

Ditzy twisted around and stretched her limbs again.
"As I'll ever be... I'm so glad I get the day off tomorrow to celebrate."

"We'll have tons of fun," Tricky smiled just as a knock came from the front door.
"They're here! Let's get started!"

Author's Note

This chapter coincides with the first part of Episode 1 of Season 1. The next chapter finishes up Episodes 1 and 2.
I haven't written anything like this since I was in school, which was quite some time ago. As such, I'm sure I'm breaking all kinds of rules and conventions. This is how I write, but if something is off, let me know! This will also mark the first time I publish anything where more than a few people will see it.