Buds stretch their fibers for the whisking clouds while crisp dewdrops paint their greens with a glimmering concerto of sunbeams. Each gust brushes this scape with rolling bursts, blending the spectacles into a unanimous foray of nature, accented with the sharp creaks of the new bark splitting the old, toned with the flush of sound emanating from within the forest. Some might awe in the wake of the flaunt of the earth beneath their feet.
A brook nearby enters our ears as a cue from a sonata of awareness; individual pops of bubbles from the sparkling stream fill the drums at their high frequencies, and the eroded stones that line the bank trail off into the perimeter of the busy town. The fall leaves that had survived the winter are the last black and soft remnants of the past to be brushed into sacks, as each to their own tidies up in the last of the cleaning efforts for the year. As part of a celebration in the second year running for an on-time semester of deadline cooperation, the organizer of the effort, Twilight Sparkle, has been given the last day off to catch up on her study sessions that have been shortened since the end of winter.
Pages had a certain aroma, especially towards the spine as your face buried in parchment. In a way, the fragrance of pulp had a stimulating effect on some lucky individuals; those who sought answers from these hardcovers would be further delved into their own happy addictions. This was precisely a day in which she could breathe in the words, and absorb their compositions as if by drive and magic. She could almost hear the history embed itself snug between her synapses, and as she slipped the remaining sentence in through her eyes, she realized that she had completed the library, exhausted the small collection within a matter of months.
The clock struck four, and the library door swung open to introduce an elated chatter between five good friends. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy all looked relieved and energized after a day of light, productive work, with the official notion that success had been realized. Twilight rose to replace her last book, eager to rejoin her friends.
Rainbow Dash was first to relate her efficiency. "The circle was formed and zoom! Everypony darted in all directions, knocking out tens of those clouds, and that's how we do it!"
Applejack conceded, "I reckon I saw that formation, Rainbow, not bad in the least!"
Pinkie was elated with the success and was pulling out balloons. "I'm so happy that spring is here so fast! I think I know what this needs!"
Rarity quickly interjected, "My, but Pinkie, you will have to ask Twilight--"
"The library really isn't a place to party, Pinkie."
Fluttershy carefully pardoned her way in, "Excuse me, but I think the gardens outside the town could work..."
"Shoot, Flutter! We could rev ourselves a fair!"
"Oh my gosh, a fair! I love fairs! Carnival rides and funnel cake! Fairs are so fun and happy and I have never planned one!"
"I'm actually surprised, Pinkie! I have some references on fairs if you would like to borrow some. Spike! I need--"
"-- Whee! Found it! Found it! It was under the F section!"
Spike heard commotion and hurried in. "Did you need me to get you something, Twilight?"
"Heh, no, Spike, it's fine, now, but I do need you to take a letter to the princess."
Spike was confused. "Really? You sent your report, already! You don't remember, or something?"
"Oh, I know that, but we've run out of books, so we will need to fill an order and pick them up."
"Oh my stars, you mean going to Canterlot?"
"Sorry, Rarity, I'm just going to fill this book order. Maybe another time."
"I have the pen ready, Twilight, let's record this thing."
"Sure thing, Spike."
Before Spike could let the parchment out of his sight, the sensation of heaving filled his lungs, and a comical caricature that represented Spike projectile-launched an unexpected letter from the princess herself. Twilight slapped his back as he sputtered in confusion. The scroll unwound and its ink blinked into reality. She lifted the letter and read aloud for her friends to hear.
My faithful student,
It has been several months since I have assigned you to study the harmonious benefits of friendship in Ponyville. As you now well know (I trust that you have completed the library as the lesson plans expected), the rule of Equestria is to fall to the next generation of capable princesses who will exercise the virtues of harmony. I will now await your return to Canterlot. Bring your friends along, for we are hosting a special party for all six of you to celebrate the successes that you have all made in exhibiting said virtues and proving worthiness to the kingdom.
With care and love,
Princess Celestia
Yes, bring Spike.
There was a long silence as they fought to comprehend what had been so conveniently requested of them.
"A party in Canterlot, the castle of Equestria, to celebrate... our friendship?"
"Sugarcube, what was all that about virtues of harmony and princesses?"
"She's referring to the hierarchy and inheritance of rule that Equestria follows."
Rarity was soon connecting dots. "It was the first thing she brought up. You don't suppose--"
"--Us? Princesses? This is crazy talk, I'm a flying lightning bolt, not a princess."
Fluttershy was uncertain. "Um, well, I would say that we're jumping to conclusions, here."
"Fluttershy's right. Celestia and I will discuss it later on. C'mon, girls, we gotta pack up."
Pinkie still had something important on her mind. "Are we going tonight? Do they have fairs in Canterlot? This will be amazing!"
"Celestia isn't usually this short notice, but we will all go, tomorrow morning, to sort things out."
The temperature seemed too perfect on that Thursday morning. Families of the girls crowded around Celestia's provided balloon; Twilight's balloon was simply too small to carry all of the ponies for such a long trip. Each of the ponies were prepared for a day's stay at Celestia's castle. They talked for hours, learning of the mannerisms of the castle faculty, the celebrations, the sights and the food, until they found themselves approaching the landing pad to Equestria.
