Coming Attractions

by Rouis

Rating: teen
Tags: Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy, Adventure
Length: 52216

Two ponies find themselves at the center of an equestrian entertainment revolution.

Silver Screen and Long Haul are two friends that find themselves in the bustling town of Trottingham with no home, money or plan. They will have to face their silly surroundings, personal faults, one really angry mare, and even censorship committee called C.L.O.P. but just what does all this have to do with the founding of Equestria's first traveling movie theater? Join them on the road as they uncover more about themselves, the world they live in, and a conspiracy that may just hold the fate of Equestria in it's balance.

Aaaaaannnnnd we're back! I'm going to re-instate my promise of weekly updates! Interested in helping the story improve while getting a shot at reading the next chapters before everypony else? Apply to be a Pre-Reader by sending me a message!

Also cover art! The beautiful cover picture was made by Jacob Martin AKA DocWario on Deviantart.

Published 2012-04-24 23:44:01 UTC
Last updated 2014-04-07 23:27:20 UTC

Chapter One: Pony-Normal Activity

Coming Attractions
A MLP:FIM Fanfiction by Rouis
Edited By GaintGamer

Chapter 1: Pony-normal Activity

Long Haul shifted his gaze around town, he and Silver Screen had come out of the woods only to find themselves in the bustling town of Trottingham. Looking down at his all but passed out companion, he extended a hoof and gave the forest colored pony a poke. “Get off your blank flank and look at this!”

“Woah,” Silver Screen was awestruck as he shifted into an upright sit, looking around the market square they seemed to have landed in. Ponies of all shapes and sizes hurried about, minding their own business, and completely unaware that the two newcomers even existed. Silver’s gaze drifted downward at his stomach as a very unflattering growl emanated its depths. “So, about lunch” He stated with a sheepish grin.

“We will need bits if we're going to be buying anything” Long Haul quipped in. Looking around the area he saw various ponies selling their wares, that was when the idea struck him. “Let’s Split”

“Have I really annoyed you that much?” Silver asked as if he had just taken an arrow to the chest. “I mean I tend to whine a lot, and don’t even get me started on my inferiority complex but I can change!”

Long Haul gave Silver a look of confusion before realizing the other’s interpretation of his idea, then promptly gave him a whap to the back of the head with a hoof. “No you plot-head I meant let’s split up and try to make some bits!” He pointed a hoof to the clock tower, which indicated the time was currently twelve in the afternoon. “We will meet back here at three with what we have, and go from there.” What’s the worst that can happen he thought.

“Allright then!” Silver chirped, realizing that he wasn’t unwanted company after all .The verdant stallion quickly got up and trotted off towards the right, humming what sounded to be crude version of the Flim Flam brother’s song.

His crimson counterpart decided on going to opposite way, hoofing it over to what appeared to be the pony version of a farmer’s market. Various sales-ponies lined up their stalls either selling their goods or setting up for the day ahead. “I guess a society based primarily on a vegetarian diet would need a huge quantity of produce.” He reflected while taking in the various sights and smells of the area. He then noticed two ponies one colt and an younger mare fighting a losing battle against some lumber. “Everything all right here?” he asked, approaching the commotion.

“We’re just having some trouble setting up sir!” Chirped the mare in the group, her coat was a bright yellow, while her mane and tail were a few shades darker, almost the color of butter. He noticed her cutie mark was a Lemon slice hanging out of a cup. “The name is Lemon Drop, of the Trottingham Lemon family sir, my younger brother and I are trying to sell our family’s lemonade here at the market to make a few bits, but we don’t know the first thing about building a stand”

The adorable is strong in this one Long Haul thought as he resisted the urge to hug the smaller pony and tell her everything would be okay. “Here let me have a go” He then grabbed the large piece of wood with his mouth, which was surprisingly easier than he thought it would be, setting it down on top of the other two. “Do you have any nails?” He asked the small ones before looking at a cup of nails next to their amateur construction. Carefully taking one in mouth he drove it slightly into the wood with a little force, then brought a hoof down on top of the nail, driving it into the wood. A few minutes later along with some swearing he hoped they would never repeat again, they had what looked like a small stall that anypony would be proud of.

“Wow, this is great!” A wide eyed Lemon Drop happily cheered, her brother just as ecstatic. “We don’t have much to give, but If you come back later, I’m sure we could give you a few bits of our profit”

Long Haul contemplated the ethics of taking some of the profit from the children, but his stomach’s lament reminded him that there were little alternatives at hoof. “Sounds good, I’ll be back in a little while to check up on how things are going.” Maybe I’ll go see how Silver is faring. he thought over the clip clop of his hooves on the cobble stone as he trotted off to look for Silver Screen. Passing the area by the clock tower where they first came into town he trotted down the right path he last saw Silver venture on. Letting the soothing sounds of the pony folk enter his ears he pleasantly continued on his merry way, it wasn't long before he heard a familiar voice over the crowd. Rounding a corner he gazed out onto the sight that fell before him, there was a crowd of ponies gathered around wall where the image of a small unicorn colt in glasses gazed upon giant earth pony, the sound he heard next would be one that once uttered, would set a motion of events forth that very well would revolutionize equestrian entertainment for a long time to come.

“You're a unicorn Harry” Said the large earth pony projected upon the wall, the sound however emanated not from the picture, but from a dark green unicorn seated behind the crowd watching the spectacle. His mouth hanging agape, various voices coming out timed to the events unfolding in the picture. The image itself seemed to be coming from the horn perched on his head.

“Umm Silver?” Long Haul approached his friend and gave him a poke, startling the unicorn and disrupting the picture on the wall. A collective “Awww” coming from the crowd as they then dispersed and resumed their daily activities, a few staying behind to watch the scene that followed.

“Woah!” The Unicorn hollered as he came out of his trance, looking around in a panic then noticing Long Haul. “Oh hey! How did it go?” Silver asked in his usual happy-go-lucky manner.

“How did it go?” He replied. “What were you doing, What was that?” he asked, a look of pure puzzlement as to what the buck was going on crept across his face.

Silver Screen opened his mouth and all in one breath told Long Haul the story of his afternoon. “Oh well I was walking along looking for something to do, and then I got bored so I went and thought about something exciting, so that thing happened again where my horn glows and pictures appear. So I was all like that's cool! Then everypony started watching the pictures I made so I thought I would tell them a story using them. So they all started giving me money see!” The green pony turned his head over to his side and lifted up a bag of coins in his mouth.

“Where’s the rest of the story!” shouted a couple of children as they trotted up to Silver Screen. “Yeah we want to see the end!” they demanded, a mob of small disappointed foals starting to form.

“Oh sure let me just start it again!” Silver happily replied. Concentrating on the thought of the story he was displaying earlier he focused the energy in his horn to match it, unfortunately the only thing that happened was a small fizzle of sparks from the point on his head. “Hmm I guess I'm all out of juice.”

“Oh look he’s just a blank flank, figures he can’t do it.” said a blue filly in the crowd. “Yeah, What a loser. Who doesn't have their talent still as an adult?” Added another child. The crowd left then dispersed, going their own way while laughing at Silver’s failed attempt.

Long Haul frowned disapprovingly at the mocking of the children, then noticed a familiar yellow pony trotting up to them. “Oh hey Lemon Drop, How did the lemonade go?” He asked.

Lemon Drop frowned and looked up at him. “We only sold two glasses” She said dully, then looked over at Silver, who did not appear to be taking the criticism well. “Is your friend okay?”

Silver’s lip quivered for a bit as his eyes teared up, looking at the mare, then at Long Haul.”Fillies are so mean!” he sobbed as he grabbed Lemon Drop in a self initiated sympathy hug!

“I think I need an adult.” Lemon Drop stated, half of her was frightened, while the rest of her just felt sorry for the whimpering pony.

“I am an adult!” Silver Screen sobbed out crying like a little foal. He let go of the pony and fell onto his back, curling up into a pony-ball.

Long Haul sighed at the sight, then looked to Lemon Drop “I’m sorry you have to see him like this, he has this thing where he wants everyone to like him.” He then ran his hoof across Silver’s back, and started to comfort them with the a face of almost pure annoyance. “There-there big guy, the big bad fillies are gone. Now why don’t you get up and we can go get some food huh?” He looked over to Lemon Drop, who had an expression that showed one struggling very hard not to laugh at the sight they were witnessing. “Thanks for the offer earlier Drop, but I’’ll decline, keep the bits for yourself.” Long Haul helped up his companion and the two walked off to find some food.

Lemon Drop sat there bewildered at what she had just witnessed. “What did I just watch” The young mare asked herself before falling over in a fit of laughter.

Chapter Two: Equestrian Pie

Coming Attractions
A MLP:FIM Fanfiction by Rouis
Edited By GaintGamer

Chapter Two: Equestrian Pie

Stack’s Diner is the type of place that most ponies would avoid, in fact anypony with common sense and a general care of their innards would stay the buck away from that place even if their life depended on it. Hunger can make a pony do some crazy things, and so Silver Screen and Long Hall entered the door of Stack’s Diner, located in the less friendly side of Trottingham. Looking around they noticed every table and booth in the place seemed to be devoid of anypony in general. “Maybe the staff is out on break?” Silver Screen suggested with a hint of hungry sadness in his voice.

“Take a seat, ‘ll be there ‘n a bit” A gruff voice shouted from behind the counter.

Long Haul looked around the dingy diner, then at the cushioned seats in front of the counters, trotting over he had a seat and looked over to Silver, who did the same. “I’m having a bad feeling about this place, I swear if anything on the menu says soylent I’m getting the buck out of here.”

“I don’t know, this place has kind of a friendly vibe if you know where to look” Silver added to the comment.

“Exactly” A soft feminine voice added from behind the two, making practically every hair on their coats stand straight up. They turned their heads around slowly and simultaneously to see the source. She was a tall pegasus pony with a soft cocoa coat and jet black mane. “The name is Java Chip, and I’ll be your server today.” She set down a menu next to each startled pony along with a tray holding two cups filled with a dark brown liquid. “A little of the house brew to start you off then!” She excitedly added before turning off to go back to the kitchen.

Silver Screen sniffed the liquid for a moment before exclaiming:“Sweet Celestia, is that what I think that is” Carefully reaching out he took the cup in his jaw and drank a little. “It is! Coffee!” Silver Screen’s let out a little sigh of pleasure at the taste of the brewed beverage.

“You need a minute alone?” Long Haul jokingly asked before taking a sip of his own cup. “It’s okay, I'm not much of a coffee per-” He had to stop himself for a moment. “Not much of a coffee pony though”

The gruff voice from before spoke up again “You make up your mind yet? I can’t just Stand ‘ere in front of you all day now.”

“I think the voice is on the other side of the counter” Silver Screen quietly said to Long Haul, cautiously leaning forward to see where it’s origin was. That was when the small pony leapt on top of the counter from the other side making Silver Screen fall onto his back, wide eyed, screaming.

Long Haul looked at the small pony, then back to Silver Screen, then around the rest of the diner. There’s no way that colt is here unattended, but the only other pony here is the waitress. Long haul contemplated the pony’s origin before finally speaking up. “Well hello there little guy, looking for your momma?” What he was not expecting as a reply however, was the buck to the face. “Ow!” He screamed, falling backwards next to Silver.

Silver came out of his comatose trance of playing dead and looked over to Long Hall. “Oh hi! What brings you down here? The counter is up there you know.” Silver added.

The colt sized pony looked over the counter at the two on the ground. His coat was the color of syrup and his mane looked like someone had made it out of butter. He looked at the two with eyes that seemed like they had been around the block a few times, before spitting out a small coffee spoon he had in his mouth. Speaking much clearer than before, he addressed them. “The name is Short Stack” He then shifted his gaze to Long Haul. “I’m no colt either, this stallion happens to be thirty-four years of age, just never got my growth spurt is all.” He then pointed a hoof at his own flank. “Besides, at least I’ve got my cutie mark” The Image of two golden brown discs in a frying pan sat on the pony’s flank.

“What’s good?” Silver Screen asked Short Stack, still reclining in his fallen over position.

“Haycakes it is then, for you and your big red friend.” He replied, hopping back over the counter and into the kitchen.

Long Haul got himself back up and went back to the coffee, looking down he noticed Silver was still happily laying on the floor. With a sigh he reached down and hoisted Silver back up. “Well I guess this place Isn’t all that bad then.” He said simply just to break the silence in the room.

“Yeah, the staff sure is friendly too!” Silver added before staring intently at his cup closing his eyes and attempting to raise the cup. Shakily at first the cup rose into the air, until it was just in front of his mouth.

“Your first time doing magic?” Java said, once again managing to sneak up behind the duo.

The break in peace gave Silver a bit of a start, causing him to lose control of the cup, and sending it flying straight at Long Haul’s unsuspecting head. “Duck!” Was all Silver had time to shout before the cup impacted with the side of Long Haul’s head, sending the crimson pony to the floor in pain. “Haul! Are you okay?” Silver said, poking his friend in the side with a concerned hoof.

Long Haul looked up at Silver Screen and with a grimace “Sometimes, it’s just not worth it.” He said before passing out.

“Oh my gosh I’m sorry!” Java Chip apologized then looked down at the passed out pony. “Should we take him to a hospital?” She asked, obviously concerned about the situation.

Then came Short Stack’s shout from the kitchen “Order Up!” as two plates stacked high with haycakes covered in syrup floated over to the counter in a brown glow.

Silver looked at Long Haul, then at the haycakes, then back at Long Haul again. “Well, No sense in letting good haycakes go to waste” Silver said with a smile as he looked upon his plate with evil intent. Then using his magic, he tried grabbing a fork, raising it into the air cautiously. Satisfied with the results he tried extending the magic out towards the knife, sweating a little as if this were an intricate surgery being performed. Once again satisfied, he carefully cut into the stack, spearing it with the fork and levitating it with a little more confidence into his waiting mouth. Eyes widening at the burst of pure unadulterated flavor, he slammed a hoof down on the table in satisfaction before swallowing. “Sweet Celestia, that pony deserves the royal medal in haycakes. Is there a royal medal in haycakes? There should be.” Looking over to the still stunned Java Chip He asked. “So how long have you worked here?”

She moved a hoof across the floor nervously before replying. “Well, Short Stack and I went to school together as foals, one Hearts and Hooves Day, he asked me to be his special somepony.” She blushed a little at the fond retelling of the memory. “After we graduated, he invited me to enter into business with him. We started out running shop in a caravan cart which we still keep out back to this day, one day after looking at the numbers, we decided to set up shop here and opened the diner.” She let out a happy sigh before adding one last comment. “Well, the rest has been history since then.”

Silver lifted his head up from the plate that used to contain a high stack of haycakes, there were no survivors. He then turned back to Java Chip. “That’s so sweet” He then looked on the counter to see Short Stack smiling back at Java Chip.

“Oh your friend is waking up!” Java Chip exclaimed at the sight of Long Haul moving slightly before opening one of his eyes.

“What the hay happened?” Long Haul asked, glancing around the room. The crimson pony slowly raised himself up, stretched his body out, then sat back down looking at his stack of haycakes. “Oh well, food’s here.” He said sleepily, as he leaned forward and took a bite. “Wow! these are great!” Haul exclaimed before like his companion, beginning a feeding frenzy.

“You probably shouldn’t eat all those haycakes so fast after experiencing serious head trauma.” Java Chip shyly added, looking over the Crimson Stallion’s shoulder at the horror unfolding.

“I’ll Show you I can’t!” Long haul exclaimed in response to the challenge, increasing his intake significantly before stopping and looking up at the waitress. “Wait, did you say head trauma?”

At the end of the most glorious feast to grace Stack’s Diner in years, Java Chip brought out the bill while the two discussed what to do next. “Here’s your bill for when you are done.” She said before happily trotting back to the kitchen.

“So where do we go from here?” Silver Screen asked, while working on fine tuning his magical grip on the coffee cup. “We can’t just keep doing odd jobs forever, plus, we're kind of just a little bit homeless”.
.

“My vote is for hiding in the bathroom and feeding off of the leavings in the kitchen at the end of the night, they can’t find us if we just stand behind some stuff and yell: You can’t see me!” Long Haul added in between devouring his seventh stack of haycakes that evening.

Silver reached for his freshly acquired bag of bits from earlier ventures placed it on the table, taking out thirty two bits along with a few more to tip the staff. “Oh yeah, we should probably count out how many bits I earned from that impromptu show earlier.” Quipped the forest green pony, as he passed the bag over to Long Haul.

Long Haul tipped the bag out onto the table and watched as his jaw hit the floor, a pile of small golden coins flooded out. “Silver Screen, theres gotta be at least three-hundred bits here.” He turned his head to look at the pony next to him. “You got all this from one show?”

Silver Screen, not aware of the significance. “Yeah why? I didn’t even get to finish the story either.”

“You're a nerd!” Long Haul happily proclaimed looking at Silver Screen,

Silver Screen nervously replied. “Yeah but I don’t see what that has to do with everything.”

“You don’t get it, you have seen thousands of movies back home right?” He looked Silver Screen in the eyes, then gazed at his horn like it was the essence of life incarnate. “You read all those books?” He added.

“Yeah, I still don’t see where this is go-” Realization struck Silver Screen as he realized where the conversation was going. “I could retell them. Like I did today. Just add ponies.” He slowly said. “That still does not solve our housing problem.” Silver added that back to the discussion.

“Actually maybe we could help with that.” Java Chip added from behind them, once again having stumbled upon the two completely unnoticed. “We could rent the empty space in the caravan to you gentle colts for about fifty bits a month, how does that sound? It doesn't have the wheels anymore so it’s more of a guest house anyway.”

Short Stack then hopped off of Java Chip’s back and added to the exchange, “You two seem like alright ponies to me, just keep the food orders coming as well and I don’t have a problem with it.”

“That would be great!” The duo chimed in for completely separate reasons. Silver Screen then looked out the windows of the diner, gazing upon the streets of Trottingham. Luna’s moon was rising into the sky as the twilight hour ended. “Just think, I can bring happiness to all those ponies out there with all the stories I’ve read and watched.” It was then in a bright flash that briefly blinded those around him that something special happened, the image of a beam of light shining a tree onto a blank canvas appeared on Silver Screen’s flank. Silver Screen had earned his cutie mark, and it was glorious.

Chapter Three: Haulcules

Coming Attractions
A MLP:FIM FanFiction by Rouis
Edited By GaintGamer

Chapter Three: Haulcules

“Well, here it is.” Java Chip reached out a foreleg and patted the side of the ancient looking caravan. The brown paint was chipped off in several spots, The roof was missing a few shingles, and it was sitting on top of two large wooden blocks due to the lack of wheels. “She’s taken a bit of a beating, but I think she will serve your housing needs just fine, we gutted all the supplies and stoves out for the diner when we first opened, So all you have in there are two bed and a bookshelf.” Reaching out she grasped the doorknob gently in her mouth and delicately moved the door open, an act although carefully performed, caused the old door to fall right off of the main structure. “Feel free to make any repairs or additions you see fit! I’ll be letting you two get acquainted now, Don’t be a stranger neighbor!” She added before lifting off with a flap of her wings, flying the short distance away back to the building attached to the rear of the diner.

“I call that bed!” Silver Screen hollered as he bolted inside, and proceeded to flop onto a bed located in the right corner of the trailer. “It’s actually pretty nice in here.” He commented, squirming around on the mattress trying to find the perfect spot to lay on. The green pony let a smile of satisfaction creep on his face as he relaxed on the bed.

Long Haul trotted inside and looked around the caravans innermost portion. As promised there were two beds, one on either side of the caravan, with a bookshelf and some cabinets spacing in between. The hardwood floors creaked slightly under the weight of his hoofsteps as he made his way over to the other bed opposite the smugly satisfied Silver Screen. Testing the beds capacity to hold him by slowly stepping onto the mattress and accepting its risk of collapse by laying himself down. Thankfully the bed did not break into a pile of splinters underneath the large crimson stallion. “Tomorrow we begin to get our name out there, you should go do another performance somewhere different this time. Don’t set a price of admission yet either, we want to hook people in slowly.”

“We also may want to get some basic pony supplies, saddlebags are a must of course.” Silver Screen added to the discussion, looking over at their bag of bits, sitting all by itself on one of the empty shelves. “I wonder what I should show tomorrow, nothing too complicated of course.” He contemplated while shifting his gaze back up the ceiling. Silver then briefly turned to Long Haul. “Good night Long Haul.” He said before closing his eyes and drifting off.

Long Haul sighed at the thought of the day ahead of them before replying. “Good night Silver Screen.” Long Haul looked out the open door frame at the little bit of night sky that could be seen. What have I gotten myself into. He thought, before letting the much needed sleep take him as well.

< The next day >

Celestia’s sun rose, shining its warm light across the rooftops of Trottingham. The light peaked through the open door-frame hitting Silver Screen’s side of the caravan first. The green pony kicked in his sleep. “Not now mom, maybe later.” He mumbled before slowly opening his eyes and looking around. For a moment old instincts kicked in causing him to try to stand up on his rear legs, causing him to lose balance and fall to the floor with a crash. “Ow” he whined before looking across the room at the still slumbering behemoth that was Long Haul. Rolling over so he was right side up, Silver lifted himself onto his legs and gently trotted over to his crimson companion. Poking Haul with a hoof to wake him up, Silver tested his vocal cords. “Long Haul, Long Haul it’s Silver, Wake up!”

“Leave me alone, I’m the queen of france.” The clearly still dreaming pony mumbled as he rolled away from the prying hoof.

Silver Screen recognized he was clearly losing this battle, and did the best version of a shrug that a pony could. He then went on his merry way, shakily lifting the door up on the ground and placing it over the hole with his magic on the way out. Moving away from the diner he waved a hoof in greetings to Java Chip and Short Stack as they made their way to the diner to open for the day. Carrying on with his journey, Silver made his way into the market. Recognizing a few familiar faces from the previous days impromptu performance, he gave a nod here and there in salutations. “How much for an apple?” He asked one of the salesponys lined up in the plaza.

“That’ll be three bits sir.” The mare answered.

Noticing her cutie mark consisting of an apple slice wedged between some ice cream, Silver struck up a small conversation. “That sounds fair.” Silver noted as he levitated the necessary bits over to her, then lifting an apple over to himself. “I couldn’t help but notice the apple cutie mark, any relation to the apple family?”

“Indeed sir, my name is Apple A La Mode.” She responded.

“Huh, small world.” Silver remarked before once again setting off, taking a bite of the newly owned apple. “Why does everything taste so wonderful!” he exclaimed before bumping into a familiar mare. “Oh hey, you’re the mare from yesterday.” He remarked.

Lemon Drop lifted herself up off the ground and looked up at Silver Screen. “Yeah about that, you're not going to grab me again are you?” the mare nervously asked, while taking a few steps away from him.

Silver Screen’s face grew worried. “Oh no I wouldn't do anything to hurt you!” He rebuked before dropping his ears in sadness. “Hey do you know anywhere around here that sells saddlebags?” He asked, trying to steer away from depressing topics.

Lemon Drop remembered his saddened reaction from the day before, and quickly jumped on the new question to keep from causing a scene. “Oh! You should go see Stallion Stan, He has a booth usually over there.” With the mention of the salespony she pointed away towards a large stall set in the corner of the market area. “Well I better get off to the stand then, good luck with stuff!” Drop hollered as she did her best to get away as quick as possible. “That is one strange pony.” She said to herself, once she was sure that he could not hear her.

Silver waved a hoof of goodbye at the departing filly before hollering.“Okay thanks!” He then hurried off to the stall she had mentioned. As he approached the stall he took note of the various goods hung from every inch of the shop. Helming a sewing machine in the rear corner, was a sky blue unicorn which Silver presumed to be the aforementioned Stallion Stan. The unicorn’s red mane was tucked under a stetson style hat, while a dark brown vest adorned his front. Silver Screen looked down at the bell labeled Ring for Service and cheerfully tapped it with a hoof, giving a simple grin at the ding his action caused.

The unicorn lifted up his head from the task at hoof and looked to the newcomer at his shop. “Hello there, The names Stallion Stan how can I help you today?” He asked, moving closer to the storefront where Silver sat.

“Well, I was looking to purchase some saddlebags, and oh my gosh!” Silver stopped and gazed upon a black pinstripe vest sitting on the counter. Using his magic, he attempted to grab about fifty bits from his bag and slammed them on the counter shouting “Shut up and take my bits!”

Stan gave a laugh at Silver’s enthusiasm and levitated the vest over to the happy green pony. “So about those saddlebags, any idea what type of work you're looking for?” He asked with just a hint of a southern drawl in his voice.

“Well something to match my mane color with my cutie mark on it would be nice.” Silver said before tapping a hoof on his chin in contemplation. Long Haul doesn't have his cutie mark yet, I know I'll guess at what it will be, he’ll be so surprised! Silver Screen happily thought. “For the second one, I know just what to order!” He said with a grin.

< Back at the caravan >

Long Haul’s eyes slowly fluttered open as he was met with the dusty sight that was the inside of the caravan. “Hmm? I wonder what time it is.” He asked himself while rising up off of the bed and up on his hooves. Turning to Silver Screen’s side of the one room abode he noticed a lack of that particular pony. I guess he went out already. The still sleepy pony thought, while moving towards the door. “Oh hey, I guess he fixed the door.” Haul said to himself, this statement proved false however as the second he tapped the door with his hoof it fell outwards hitting the ground with a resounding thump. Better get some supplies to fix that at the market then. He thought to himself, continuing on he also noticed a few customers actually eating at Stack’s diner. With a glance upward to the sky he could tell by the positioning of the sun it was already late in the afternoon. “I must of slept a lot longer than I thought.” Long Haul quipped, noticing the clock tower in the distance, he adjusted his course and continued on his merry way.

A loud crash followed by a resounding cry. “Help!” A voice hollered off in the direction of the market. followed by the audible sound of a crowd gasping.

The noise of the commotion woke Haul out of his sleepy stupor. “What has he done now?” He asked himself, assuming that a certain green unicorn was the cause of the commotion. Galloping off at high speeds he noticed a crowd of ponies gathered around what appeared to be the remains of a collapsed stall under which one could see the struggling shape of a Stetson topped unicorn attempting to get out at any cost.

“Somepony help me! Why are you all just watching?” He screamed at the crowd, his voice obviously strained from the full extent of his injuries. With a small grunt he closed his eyes and slumped forward, it appeared the pony had passed out under the stress.

Long Haul did not even bother thinking, he simply acted. Galloping through the plaza, he pushed ponies aside trying to get to the middle, finally breaking through the crowd and approaching the remains of the stall that had the unicorn pinned down. Ducking his head low, he wedged himself under one of the beams keeping the pony in place. With a grunt, he gritted his teeth and summoned up all the strength he had, slowly the beam began to rise with the crimson pony’s efforts. After almost falling under the weight of the heavy beam once, he was able to raise it just enough for someone to be able to access the buried unicorn. “Somepony grab him, I can’t hold this much longer.” He yelled out onto the crowd, finally after it seemed like nopony would even help someone did.

A hulking lime green earth pony ran through the crowd and pulled the unconscious unicorn out from the rest of the mess that used to be a shopfront. He then turned around and helped move the beam off the clearly exhausted crimson pony. “The name’s Lemon Lime, mayor of Trottingham, you sir just helped save this pony's life, and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Long Haul caught his breath and watched as a medical team hoisted the unconscious stallion onto a stretcher. He then scraped a hoof across the ground. “It was nothing sir, anypony would have helped.” He looked at the crowd quickly dispersing, no one else had even bothered to help the trapped stallion. A few ponies could have easily gotten him out of there, maybe Equestria is not so different after all. Long Haul pondered what had just happened, then looked down at his hooves. “Sir, I do have a question. You didn’t just help save that pony, you helped save me.” Long Haul started to formulate a way to use these events to work in his favor, a small smirk dancing across his face as he looked up to the mayor taking notice of his yellow mane and most strikingly: his yellow goatee. Pony goatees, I love it! Haul thought before humbling himself again. “That beam was crazy heavy, I couldn't have kept that up much longer before ending up just like him. I owe you big time, and I have just the idea of how to repay you.” He chuckled slightly and did his best to play the part of the grateful citizen, even though the perfect way to gain exposure now presented itself unto him. “My friend and I are performers of sorts, would you grace us with your presence at our abode. Perhaps three days from now, for a private performance of course.” The bait was out, now all he needed was to wait for a nibble on his line.

Lemon Lime contemplated the idea for a moment, then gave an answer. “That sounds like a splendid idea, could my family come?” He asked the crimson showpony.

Exposure, even better! Long Haul thought before trying on his best humble smile. “Of course, of course” he answered.

“Wonderful!” Lemon Lime replied. “Now if you will excuse me, I need to get going” The mayor began to trot away, then turned around and called over to Long Haul one more time. “Congratulations on the cutie mark by the way!”

Long Haul stood completely still for a moment before looking at the departing mayor and speaking to himself. “What?” Looking at his flank, he saw that the image of a simple wooden cart sat on his hindquarters. “What!” He shouted before snapping out of it and leaving the plaza, he needed to find Silver Screen. There was planning to be done.

< Trottingham town park >

In the park a vest clad unicorn sat horn aglow, his mouth agape and making sound effects. A moving picture shone out of his horn and projected onto a large canvas he had tied between two trees. The picture itself was a curious sight: An earth pony clad in rags sat on a ruined beach, crying at the sight of a half submerged statue of Princess Celestia. “You maniacs, you really did it! You blew it all to tartarus! Damn you!” The image faded to black, and Silver Screen snapped back into reality. “I really hoped you all enjoyed this presentation of Planet of the Diamond Dogs this evening. I also thank everyone who tipped very generously. Your contributions help keep these events going!”

“You dapper bastard!” Long Haul shouted through the dispersing ponies. He trotted up to Silver Screen and rubbed a hoof in his mane. “Nice vest by the way, You went shopping?”

Silver put on a smug grin. “Sure did” He chirped. Silver then levitated a brown box tied with a red ribbon over towards Long Haul, letting it drop to the ground at his hooves. “ I got you a present too, while I went and picked these up!” Silver Screen then pointed to the brown saddlebags sitting on his haunches, the surface adorned with Silver’s cutie mark. “Go on, open it!” Silver Screen happily suggested.

Long Haul grabbed at a loose strand of the ribbon with his mouth and pulled to untie the ribbon around the box, nudging the lid off with a hoof revealed a crimson set of saddlebags adorned with what appeared to be an intricate version of the letter A printed on each one. “Well I love them, but what the buck does the A stand for?” Haul asked with a very confused expression.

Silver smiled and began his explanation. “Well you didn’t have your cutie mark this morning so I had to guess what your special talent would be. Congratulations on that by the way! What does it mean?” Silver tilted his head to side to express his confusion.

Long Haul gazed back at his new plot marking, then launched into a little exposition of his own. “Well it all appeared while I was saving this unicorn at the market about an hour ago. I hefted the beam off of him, and next thing I know it was there!”

“So what you're saying is, Your butt gives you super strength?” Silver quipped into Long Haul’s story.

Haul did the best he could to pony-shrug. “I guess so, but something else also happened while I was there.” The signs of a business-pony’s smirk crept across his face during this next line. “We have our first gig, it’s with a VIP too. The mayor and his family will be paying us a visit in three days for a special performance, and I will need you to be in top condition. We will also need to fix up the caravan and set up a nicer more permanent local for you to do your little magickey thing.” Long Haul picked himself up and turned to leave, stopping to wait for Silver Screen. “Were going to take this town by storm yet Silver. Oh and grab your earnings from today too, were going to need every last bit to fix up and make preparations. Not to mention getting some of those wonderful sweet delicious haycakes.”

Silver Screen levitated the sizable pile of bits sitting around him into the air, then distributed them between his saddlebags and Long Haul’s. The projector pony lifted himself up and trotted over to his friend, they began to make their way back to Stack’s Diner and eventually home.

< Further down the road >

“Oh and that's not an A on your saddlebags L.H.” Silver half sang some time later into their trek.

“What is it then?” The now confused stallion asked.

“Well Stallion Stan did his best to follow the design I gave him, It’s the Eiffel Tower Silly” He then sped up, booped Long Haul’s nose and galloped away, their destination now within sight. Turning around one last time he gave another shout towards Long Haul “You are the Queen of France after all!”

Chapter Five: Guess Hooves Coming to Dinner

Coming Attractions
A MLP:FIM-Fic By Rouis
Edited By Gaint Gamer

Chapter Five: Guess Hooves Coming to Dinner

After the sun-rising ceremony Long Haul and Silver Screen made their way back to the caravan in silence, neither pony spoke about what they had seen. The crowd’s ever growing celebration could be heard all throughout the town, and they had to change their course multiple times to simply make their way through all the ponies gathered there. Eventually though the two found the crowd to be thinning as they made their way further back into town.

Finally the two stepped through the threshold of the caravan and went to sit on their respective beds, Silver Screen laid down and was the first to speak up. “So unfair!” The green pony said before throwing his hooves up in frustration.

Long Haul turned over to look at Silver Screen. “What?” He simply asked.

“She’s that pony who I met in the market, the one who was super jerky to me.” Silver threw his hooves up in the air in frustration for a moment again before falling over. “She’s so mean, I mean really mean.” Silver Screen sighed then turned to face Long Haul. “How can somepony so unspeakably mean be married to the mayor, even be Lemon Drop’s mom.” Silver got up off of his bed and trotted in place for a moment, stopping yet again to speak. “How am I supposed to show someone so mean, so despicably mean one of my stories!”

Long Haul simply got up, trotted over to the perplexed Silver Screen and with quite possibly the most annoyed face that ever crossed a pony before: He booped Silver’s nose. “Calm the buck down, it’s only for one night that you’ll have to deal with her.”

Silver looked down at the floor and quietly replied in a flat tone. “Fine, all in the name of a few bits then.” The green pony then went back to his bed and laid down. “I’m exhausted, going to get some sleep.”

Long Haul looked at the obviously upset Silver Screen. I don't think i have ever seen him this down. The crimson giant decided to try his own hooves at going to bed for the night, sleep however was not an easy an easy task, he quickly gave up and decided to head back out.

Moving back outside revealed that the town was still pretty much shut down for the actual festival. “I might as well go back into town and score some free haycakes.” The crimson pony grumbled to himself, before heading back down the road that lead into the market square. It did not take long for him to once again hit the crowds, still as loud and rambunctious as ever, but for some reason Long Haul could not bring himself into the festival mindset. He finally made it back into town and gazed upon the glorious buffet consisting of most of Stack’s breakfast menu. Haul made his way towards the beginnings of the table and took a tray down to the haycakes piled up high on the far end. He then dropped his tray once he was started by the small stallion standing on the table wearing an expression made of granite.

“Hey kid, what’s wrong?” Short Stack shouted over the noise at the clearly upset pony. “You seem in a bit of a stupor. What happened to your usual attitiude, you know the one where you assume that your going to get everythin- Ow!.” The tiny pony screamed as his wife whapped him in the back of the head with a wing, once again coming from absolutely nowhere.

“Honey be nice, are you okay Long Haul? Where’s your pal?” She asked before landing gracefully on the ground next to the moping crimson stallion.

“Silver Screen was not feeling up to the festival mindset right now, he went to bed.” Long Haul then contemplated telling them the true reason behind Silver’s absence from the festivities. “That and well, have you two ever met the mayor’s wife? He had a encounter with her in the market, and well she was a total jerk.” He looked across the plaza at Lemon Tree, who was chatting with some townies.

Short Stack looked at Haul with a completely blank face before he replied. “Well duh, she has always been mean spirited and just a horrible pony to be around in general.” Stack glanced over at the chatting unicorn as well before he continued. “I’ll never know what she did to get her hooves wrapped around Limey like that.”

“I have to agree with my little Stackiekins there” Java Chip added.

The mention of her nickname for him made both Short Stack and Long Haul cringe in every way possible. Stack then swallowed his pride and continued the happy exchange. “Now now Chippy, do we have to use our nicknames in public-wublic?” The gruff little unicorn looked like he could not take this type of talk in public much longer and hopped down from the table. “If you need to appeal to the beast that beds with Limey, just go with something she likes. Last time we had them over for dinner she would not stop talking about some book called Dusk.”

Java Chip’s face then soured intensely at the mention of the book title. “Stackiekins, I thought we were never going to mention that accursed pile of pages ever again?” After muttering something about the book being complete vam-pony garbage Chip glanced across the crowd at Lemon Tree and hissed.

Long Haul did not know whether to laugh his plot off at the Celestia-awful nicknames, or wet himself in fear of the angry Java Chip. After gaining some courage to speak again the pony looked to Short Stack and whispered in his ear. “Hey Stack, any idea where a pony could purchase a copy of that accursed pile of pages?”

“I do, just promise me you will not bring it near my wife. It took me almost four weeks to get her to stop stomping on that book.” Short Stack then looked up to the sky and shouted to a group of fluttering pegasi having a chat. “Hey Page! Can you come down for a moment?”

A white coated pegasus then dove down from the group, her cyan mane and tail flapping behind her as she descended. She slowed herself as she neared the ground then gently touched down next to the Java Chip and used a hoof to push a pair of round black framed glasses back up to her eyes. “Hey there Stack, hey Chip, and what would your name be stranger?”

Java Chip’s expression then softened as she interrupted the newcomer. “Oh hey there Page, Long Haul this is our good friend Page Bound.” Java Chip then turned to look at the buffet and began to leave. “Looks like I need to restock the coffee, You three have fun now!”

“Hey Page, I don’t suppose you could take my friend down to your shop and reopen for a minute so he could make a purchase?” He then mouthed the words big spender at Page Bound.

Page Bound sat unsure for a moment, then the full weight of Short Stack’s unspoken comment hit her. “Sure! I can swing by, follow me Mr. Haul.” The now cheerful pegasus said before trotting off towards a store on the far side of the market.

Long Haul did his best to not trample anypony in the crowd, keeping up with the speedy pegasus leading the way. He saw her stop to unlock the door of a quite interesting building, The actual width of the building could not have been wider than the inside of the caravan. The height of the building however was intriguing, he noticed that the building itself was actually part of the clock tower that he and Silver had been using to navigate around town at first. “You work out of the clocktower?” Long Haul stated, the surprise in his voice was very evident. Moving inside he noticed a small counter, and that each of the four walls were covered in bookshelves that ran as far up as Long Haul could see. The other permeating feature was the constant loud ticking of the town’s giant clock.

Page turned around and looked at the astonished stallion. “The mayor actually lets me rent the inside of the clock tower due to the ticking of the clock itself, Nopony wanted to be in here due to the noise but I just find it relaxing. I’m more than just a bookseller in fact, I want to be an author someday.” The Pegasus then flew up a few feet before posing a question to Long Haul. “So what can I grab for you?”

Long Haul then looked up at her and simply stated. “I’m looking for a book called Dusk.”

Page then gave a cringe almost as strong as the one Java Chip had given at the mention of the book. Why would a grown stallion want to read that piece of vam-pony filly garbage! She thought before returning to her professional demeanor. “Sure thing I’ll just have to go to the top of the shelving units I like to keep it up there to prevent any arguments interrupting in the store between non-fans and fans.” Not to mention that book is the worst thing I have ever read since that one about the ponies being turned into spiders. She thought.

Page then flew up to the highest point the store, and used a key tied around her neck to unlock a case containing the out of sight books. Gripping a copy in her mouth the pony fluttered in a circle back down to the shop floor. The pony then sat the book on the counter behind her treating it with the utmost care. “I like to keep every book in the most pristine condition, it is books after all that earned me this baby when I was just a filly.” She then motioned towards her cutie mark, three book stacked up. “So will you be buying anything else today? I don’t just sell books, I also carry diaries and writing supplies ” The white pegasus asked.

Long Haul tried to think if anything else would be of use to him then spoke up. “Actually yes, I’ll take a diary along with some quills and ink.” Long Haul figured it was better to be safe than sorry.

Page Bound then flew back up, retrieved the rest of the order and added them next to the book on the counter. “Just give me a second to do the math.” The pegasus then trotted over to an abacus on the counter and moved the beads for a second before turning around. “Okay all together that will come to thirty two bits. Are you an author? I just love reading stories, I think I’ve read just about every book that has come in here. There’s nothing better than a good tale to keep boredom at bay!” The pegasus happily added.

Long Haul was surprised at the previously tame mare’s sudden chatty streak. “If I didn’t know better I would ask if you were related to friend of mine.” He quipped before reaching into his saddlebags and pulling out enough bits to cover the bill. Long Haul carefully placed his order inside of the saddlebags and turned to leave before speaking to her one more time. “If it’s a good story you like, then be sure to come to the lot across from Stack’s Diner sometime next week, my friend and I run a storytelling troupe of sorts be sure to tell all your friends too!” He then trotted out the door of the shop and back through the crowds to try and take one last shot at some free haycakes. Long Haul noticed a few of the golden brown discs left on a platter and slowly moved in on his prey, his fortune however was quick to change when yellow magic levitated the cakes onto the waiting plate of a certain green maned mare.

The mare then looked up from her plate over towards the crimson stallion with the crushed expression. “I was here first trash. Even a pony as grand as I enjoy this greasy commoner’s fare every once in awhile.” The snobby unicorn said to the obviously hurting Long Haul, before trotting off to rejoin her circle of so called friends over near the stage.

“So mean.” Was all Long Haul said before he decided to leave the festival for the last time that day. Haul made his way through the crowds once again on his journey back to the caravan, now truly tired and ready to get some much deserved rest.

Once the crimson earth pony had made his way back to the caravan, he carefully opened the door trying not to wake his roommate and friend. Long Haul however was met with the sight of a sitting sad Silver Screen right in the door frame

Silver Screen sniffed for a moment before wrapping his hooves around Long Haul and letting the waterworks fly. “I was so mean!” Silver shouted while sobbing on the shoulder of his friend. “I’m sorry I was so cold earlier, I let that meanie get to me.”

Long Haul sighed then rubbed the crying pony’s back with a hoof. “It’s okay bud, if that was you at your worst I think we can take anything this world is going to throw at us.” He then let go of the still sniffling unicorn and made his way to the middle of the caravan’s floor, taking out the newly acquired copy of Dusk and setting it on the floor. “You may have been a little cold earlier, but I have seen the enemy and she is a cruel pony indeed. This however!” He then placed a hoof on top of the book. “Is our battle plan, if you can finish reading this and turn it into our next big hit, we will have her right in our hooves!” He then attempted his infamous victory pose, this time however the crimson pony was successful. Long Haul laughed maniacally all the while, thinking of how they would turn this situation against her.

Silver Screen then trotted forward and gazed at the cover of the book, which was the image of two hooves extending towards a lemon. The unicorn than said something to himself. “Hmm, how bad could one little book be?”

And it was awful.

Chapter Six: The Dusk Saga: New Woona

Coming Attractions
A MLP:FIM-fic by Rouis
Edited by GaintGamer

Chapter Six: The Dusk Saga- New Woona

Silver Screen sat on the corner of his bed he kept repeating the same sentence over and over again. “I won’t do it nopony deserves to see something that bad, even her!” The unicorn shuddered at thought of the book he had just finished reading.

The actual book was sitting on Long Haul’s bed, the crimson pony was reading it for himself. “No matter how horrible, this is what Lemon Tree likes, and that is our gateway to some good word of mouth buzz in this town!” Long Haul carefully closed the book and sat it on the shelf next to his bed. “You just need to show this story this once, then you can forget about it forever!” Long Haul had only read the first chapter of the book, and he could not take anymore of it. “Just remember to show the story exactly as you read it, and we will be fine.”

“I hope so, the last thing I want is for anypony to hate my stories.” Silver Screen said with just a hint of sadness. “So what do we have left to do before the performance?” He asked while tilting his head to the side for emphasis.

Long Haul got out of bed and made his way over to a piece of paper he had stuck to the wall it simple read:

Plan of Attack

Repair Caravan

Secure food plans

Pick a Story

Show Story

?????

Profit!

“Later today they will arrive. It will be then that we sit them down for a meal inside the diner, and then once the meal is over we will sit them down outside where we will show the story.” Long Haul stomped a hoof on the floor and grinned like a madman. “We will succeed, and when this is over and done we will have so many bits we won’t know what to do with ourselves.”

Silver Screen lifted his head off of a pillow, and looked over at the scheming crimson pony. “I just hope this all goes okay, maybe Lemon Tree will be so happy with the story that she will actually start treating everypony like ponies instead garbage.” Silver shuddered at the thought of Lemon Tree actually acting nice towards somepony. Silver Screen got up off of the bed and reached out with his magic, taking hold of a folded sheet he had Stallion Stan make. “I’ll go set up the screen if you go check on the food!” The green unicorn said while trotting out the door.

Long Haul perked up and shouted back. “No fair, I don’t wanna go see Stackiekins that pony scares me!” After a few minutes of waiting, Long Haul realized that he was doomed to go over to the diner. The pony hoisted himself up and took himself outside. Looking to his left he saw that Silver Screen was struggling to get the sheet to cooperate, and stay between the poles set up to keep it in place. In front of the sheet a few cushions had been placed so that a pony could sit and relax while watching something on the screen itself.

Finally with the jingle of two bells hung over the diner’s door he found himself looking at the inside of Stack’s Diner. He could see that Java Chip was keeping herself busy and waiting tables as usual. “Hey Chip, Have you seen Short Stack around here?”

The coffee coated pegasus turned her head to face Long Haul and gave a reply. “He is in the back, feel free to go say hello!”

“Thanks Chip!” Long Haul replied while trotting towards the back, soon he found himself in front of the swinging doors that led back into the inner workings of the diner. “Now that I think about it I don’t think I have ever been back here.” He said to himself before taking a deep breath and stepping into the back.

The kitchen of Stack’s Diner was relatively clean, the most intriguing part about it however was the fact that the floor where the cooking instrument’s were had a raised floor to compliment Short Stack’s lack of any height whatsoever. A small set of steps helped short stack make the transition between the regular floor and the kitchen’s raised floor, and on top of this floor was the stallion himself. Short Stack moved with a certain grace in his natural environment. The tiny unicorn used his horn to levitate spatulas, ladles and other things about the space.

Short Stack himself had heard the hoofsteps of somepony else entering the kitchen and began to set the utensils down, and turned to face the newcomer. “Oh hey kid, come to check on the feast you ordered?” The tiny unicorn then levitated a small pair of glasses onto his face, and looked at the large order ticket he had pinned to the wall. “Everything should be ready in about an hour.” He said before taking the glasses off and setting them back on the counter.

Long Haul breathed a sigh of relief before giving a reply to the tiny unicorn. “Sound’s good Stack. I just have a quick question though.” He took a pause to think of how to phrase the question correctly. “Just how did you meet Lemon Lime in the first place?” He asked before sitting on his haunches.
Short Stack contemplated on whether he wanted to divulge the full story or not before decided to let Long Haul know a bit more about his past. “Well I guess I could tell you, but you will have to let me cook while I do. I like to keep on schedule kid.”

< Trottingham, 27 years earlier >

Twenty foals sat in school, watching as their teacher lectured them on the history of equestria starting with the reign of discord. As the teacher rambled on about the lesson, two fillies in the front row of desks giggled to themselves.

“Oh I can’t believe he asked you to be his special somepony! Your going to say no right?” The yellow coated unicorn filly with a green mane said, her flank as blank as the uncovered portions of the chalkboard.

The pegasus sitting next to her blushed slightly at the mention of her secret admirer. “I dunno Tree, he seems like a nice colt.”

“So Java Chip the beauty queen is going to go on a date with Shortie the loser?” The filly known as Tree then placed a hoof in front of her mouth and made a gagging noise.

In the back row of the class a chubby colt who was a little small for his age sat scribbling notes away in his journal, using magic to levitate the quill across the partially blank surface of the pages. His eyes dashed back and forth between glancing at the chalkboard and his own notes.

“-And that class is how equestria was made.” The teacher said before putting the chalk back down on his desk. “I expect to see everypony’s notes on today’s lecture in the inbox tomorrow along with the homework.”

“Yes Mr. Tweed.” The class replied before the army of school-foals got up out of their seats and slowly started to leave. Eventually the only one left was was the smaller brown colt still furiously writing down the rest of the day’s notes.

Two colts entered the classroom one more time, first a taller pegasus spoke up. “See I told you Short Stuff would still be in here.”

The other colt simply laughed at his friend’s poor excuse for schoolyard humor.

The taller of the two colts stepped up to the unicorn’s desk and placed a hoof over the notes he had been writing. “I’m going to need these for tonight Short Stuff, I have better things to do than sit around writing all night. One of these days I’m be famous, and I won’t get there by sitting around writing history reports all the time.”

The chubby colt then spoke up. “My name is Short Stack, and I need those so I can do my homework!”

“I don’t give a buck if you need this to do your work. I’ve got some flying practice tonight.” The pegasus colt then grabbed the journal off of the desk and placed it under his wing.

“Hey! Give that back!” Short Stack demanded, and got up out of his chair.

An earth pony then entered the room and saw the scene unfolding. “Hey, why don’t you leave him alone.” The green coated colt yelled before running up to the pegasus and snatching the book back.

The pegasus colt looked at the earth pony with a shocked expression before resuming his grumpy demeanor. “Fine, It’s probably all the wrong answers anyway. Let’s get out of here!” The two colts then left grumbling the whole way.

The green coated earth pony then placed the journal back down on the desk. “You really should learn to stick up for yourself kid, otherwise ponies are going to take advantage of you for the rest of your life.”

Short Stack looked up to the earth pony that had gotten his journal back. He had seen him in the class before but had never said anything to him. “Thanks for the help, My name is Short Stack by the way.”

The tall earth pony grinned before giving a reply. “The name is Lemon Lime, you better remember that name too. One day, I’m going to run this place.” With that the two colts turned and left the schoolhouse for the day.

< Present Day>

Short Stack smiled a bit at reflecting on his own past. “After that day Limey and I kept hanging out. It’s been that way ever since.” The small unicorn then finished plating the food for that evening. “You better go out and wait for them, It’s almost dusk!” He reminded.

Long Haul got up off his plot and walked out of the kitchen reflecting on the tidbit of his landlord’s past. “Man, why did it have to be schoolyard bullies that's so cliche! Why can’t they be like old army buddies or something.” He said to himself while trotting out to see what was going on.

In the lot across the way from the diner, Silver Screen was wearing the fakest smile of all time as he watched the family of four approach from down the street. “Hello there Lemon family! Welcome to our humble abode.” The green unicorn said while looking around nervously for Long Haul.

Lemon Lime was the first to step forward. “Well Hi there I’m guessing you're part of Long Haul’s performance group then?” He asked quizzically. Behind the mayor his son and daughter smiled happily at the situation while Lemon Tree wore a face of pure annoyance. Her expression however changed the second her daughter glanced over at her, instead looking happy and complacent.

“Yes sir,and if you would follow me into the diner we have some food for you and your family before the show.” Silver Screen nervously said while trotting into the diner.

Long Haul sat just inside and greeted the family as they entered. “Lemon Lime, good to see you again.” He said as the just as large mayor of Trottingham came in. Haul pointed over towards a table set at one end of the diner then spoke. “There’s a table set up over there with some lite fare if you're interested, and I’m guessing you must be the lovely Lemon Tree I have heard so much about.” Long Haul’s mouth burned from the lies he spoke as the icy eyed mare entered the diner.

Lemon Tree waited until her husband was out of auditory range and spat spoken venom at the stallion. “What are you talking about you're the ignorant buffoon who tried to steal my brunch at the festival” She then smugly trotted off to join her husband.

Long Haul simply sat there for a moment asking himself why he voluntarily put himself in front of non-literal trains all the time. He was then brought back to reality by the young mare and her brother walking past.

“Here there Mister! Don’t let my mom get you down. Why don’t you go ahead Juice, I’m going to catch up with our friend from the market.” Lemon Drop said before hurrying her brother ahead.

The little colt happily bounded after his mother and father who were busy picking at the h’orderves. “Save some for me!” He chirped mid-stride.

Lemon Drop then leaned in and whispered into Long Haul’s ear, she had to stand on the tips of her hooves just to barely reach the pony’s large height. “Between you and me, my mom has always had a tree up her plot.” She snickered at her own wisecrack and trotted off to be with the rest of her family.

Silver Screen was the last to enter the diner. He looked as though he had seen five hundred ghosts, and was shaking wildly. “So mean” Was all the pony could say.

Long Haul nodded to his friends comment “I couldn't agree more, which is why we are going to get over there, and socialize the buck outta that family.”

The two ponies then trotted over to the Lemon family ,and had a seat across from them in the booth they had chosen. Long Haul could not take the silence anymore and spoke up. “So what is it like being the family of the mayor?” He asked the Lemons.

Lemon Tree of course was the first to reply. “It is a privilege and an honor to assist my husband and support him in running this town.” She then leaned over and nuzzled Lemon Lime’s neck before resuming picking over the spread. Then her eyes lit up slightly as she posed a question of her own. “Come to think of it, I have never seen you two around this town before. Where are you from exactly?” She posed the question as if she were in the middle of an interrogation.

Silver Screen and Long Haul looked at each other nervously before each spoke at the exact same time.

“Baltimare” Long Haul said.
“Elkridge” Silver Screen nervously yelled.

Long Haul hoofed Silver Screen in the side.

Silver yelped at the touch of the probing hoof and spoke. “I meant Baltimare of course!” Silver then let his eyes shift from side to side, he couldn't have seemed any less suspicious.

Lemon Tree innocently sipped at some of her coffee while her eyes showed signs of someone making cold calculations in their mind, she then spoke again. “Really now, you two are street performers from the slums of Baltimare?” She coldly asked before being interrupted by her husband.

“Now honey I’m sure these two are splendid ponies, Long Haul has certainly left a mark on me. Why just the other day he helped save Stallion Stan from the collapsed rubble of his shop!” Lemon Lime added, all Silver Screen could focus on however was the mayor’s yellow goatee which bobbed up and down as he spoke.

Lemon Juice then interrupted his father’s story. “Yeah Mom, Long Haul is cool. He helped Drop and I construct our stand in the market!”

Lemon Tree then grinned as if she had been handed the keys to a mansion before speaking. “So Long Haul you're always there when something goes wrong, but you love hanging out with little foals.”

Lemon Drop practically launched herself in front of her mother’s disguised insult to save Long Haul. “Mom I am almost seventeen, and a fully grown mare. He was just passing by when he helped us out.”

The rest of the meal could not have gone more awkwardly. Lemon Tree kept taking cheap shots at the duo while her family kept making their own opinions known. Eventually they all made their way outside once the sun had gone down enough for the performance to begin. Lemon Tree sat next to her husband in the front, while Lemon Drop and her brother Juice sat behind them. All the way in back behind them sat Short Stack on a pile of cushions enabling him to see, while he had drawn the blinds at the diner to ensure that Java Chip could not see the performance of Dusk.

Long Haul stepped out in front of the small crowd and prepared himself to make the pre show introductions. He cleared his throat with a cough then spoke out to the crowd. “I would like to welcome you all to the first official performance of the coming attractions theater. We are a different type of performance group as some of you may have noticed from the word of mouth buzzing around town. I sincerely hope you all enjoy tonight’s performance of Dusk.” Long Haul then trotted back to where Silver Screen sat behind the rest of the crowd, and whispered in his ear. “Remember show it exactly as you read it.” He then sat down next to Silver Screen and watched the show begin.

Silver Screen’s horn flickered to life as the beam of light extended from the tip, the beam of light starting as a speck of light before growing to fill the screen. He let his mouth hang open as sound and music began to fill the area. The pictures on the screen slowly came to life and moved on their own. It was magic in its most pure form, bringing happiness to ponies.

Lemon Drop sat with her jaw practically on the ground, in her time in school she had barely learned any useful spells besides basic levitation. This magic she witnessed was something she had never seen before, and it made every fiber of her being happy. Her brother and father were also dumbstruck by the show that unfolded on the screen before them, but being more enraptured by the story than the act itself.

Long Haul watched as the small group before him gasped in awe, and laughed along with the story. He could imagine them all galloping home and telling all their friends what they had seen. This business venture may work after all, He also could not help but feel a little jealous of the unicorn at that moment. In the time that they had been in Trottingham silver Screen had practiced his magic daily, but Long Haul had not once tried to search out what exactly it meant to be an earth pony. He silently vowed to himself that he would eventually seek out a way to learn exactly what he could do besides the heavy lifting.

Everything was going well, and everypony sat transfixed by the performance. That is until an enraged Lemon Tree stood up and screamed at the halfway point. “Turn it off!” She screamed while stomping angrily back towards Silver Screen, who was incapacitated by the spell. She then reared up and used her front hooves to shove the unaware unicorn over, disrupting the spell and sending him back into reality.

Silver Screen woke up from his trance with a start and looked up at the raging mare before him. “I- I’m sorry I was just telling the story, what was wrong?”

Lemon Tree looked as though he had struck back at her violently when all the stallion did was ask an innocent question. “What was wrong? You took one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read and turned it into that dirty smut! You have ruined a timeless classic, how dare you!” The raging green maned unicorn raised a hoof to strike at Silver Screen before it was caught in the yellow magic of her daughter.

Lemon Lime galloped up to the scene and looked his wife sternly in the eyes. “Honey, I think it’s time we go home. Silver Screen and Long Haul, I thank you for your performance and the lovely food we will be heading home now . Come along kids.” The mayor said before leading his out of control wife along with him, Lemon Juice was the first to follow suit while Lemon Drop stayed behind for a moment.

Lemon Drop carefully trotted up to the bewildered and saddened Silver Screen, and ran a hoof through the sobbing pony’s mane. “It’s okay big guy, what you did was amazing. My mom was just being an intolerable plot-head.” She then gave Long Haul a nod of farewell before galloping off to join the rest of her family.

Long Haul looked down at his crushed friend and helped hoist Silver get back up. “I know Silver, she’s so mean.” Was all he could say before he noticed Short Stack hopping down from his perch and trotting over to the duo.

Short Stack looked at Silver Screen and Long Haul, before adding his own opinion on the situation. “Well I don’t know what you two unintentionally did to get under her coat like that, but I can tell you one thing. This is far from over you two have just unintentionally set the biggest drama queen of the town off, she’s probably going to do everything in her power to ruin your time here.” He then looked down the road where the family was last spotted, then looked up to Long Haul to finish his warning. “There’s a storm coming, and you two better be ready when it does. Chip and I will do everything we can to help you out, but once she gets her sights set on something she isn't one to give up easily. You two have a good night now!” The pint-sized stallion said before heading off to his home.

The two friends then made their own way home, taking a short trot into the caravan before shutting the door and going to bed in silence.

Lemon Lime paced in his study, the bill his wife had suggested on the way home laid out before him. “Honey I just don’t see why this is necessary.” Lemon Lime thought that the evening had been quite nice until his wife had her outburst.

Lemon Tree then trotted over and rubbed a hoof in her husband’s back. “Now honey, they turned a perfectly wonderful book into such smut and garbage. What if the kids in town had town had picked up some of that awful behavior. What If Drop or Juice had picked up that awful behavior.” She cooed, all the while continuing her massage. “It’s not just them either, all of these performers have been a blight on our town, the clowns, street musicians, and worst of all mimes. All of them have been leaving a blightful stain on our perfect town, your perfect town."

“Well, if it’s good for the kids.” Was all Lemon Lime said before taking the quill in his mouth and placing a signature on the parchment before him.

From the Desk of Lemon Lime
Mayor of The Equestrian township of Trottingham

I, Lemon Lime hereby sign into effect that street performances although being cultural and splendid are becoming a lewd blight on our township. I hereby pass into order a committee to regulate and approve all public and private performances of any kind from henceforth taking place within the Trottingham limits. The first appointed head of this committee shall be the pony Lemon Tree. I have a firm belief that this is the best course of action to take, and will lead to a better and brighter Trottingham for us and our youth.

This law shall forever be known as the :
Committee
Limiting
Outsider
Performances
act.

Chapter Seven: Trottingham: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut

Rouis Presents:

Long Haul sat inside the caravan his gaze fixed upon the door. The crowds’ cries outside unnerved him deeply, and the fact that Silver Screen was preoccupied with keeping them in line as is showed how well the plan was going. “How the buck did things get this bad?” He asked himself. The crimson pony lifted himself up and paced around the inside of the caravan. From the sound of what was going on outside things were only going from bad to worse. He trotted over to the safe which was left open by Silver. Its contents were nothing more than their accumulated bits, and a muffin kept for a very special moment.

An MLP:FIM-fic

Silver Screen burst in the door the caravan panting and out of breath. “The purchase went through, You ready to blow this place?” The green unicorn asked while he placed a brown paper bag within their safe, and closed the door.

Edited by Gaintgamer

“Yeah, let’s kick this thing off!” Long Haul said before trotting over to the door. What the earth pony was not counting on however, were the hoofcuffs immediately slapped around his forelegs by the law enforcement ponies outside.

Starring Ponies

A unicorn mare stepped out from the crowd of law-ponies that had gathered around the caravan. Her Icy blue eyes flashed pure hatred as she spoke out. “Long Haul, you and your partner Silver Screen are hereby placed under arrest for violation of C.L.O.P.’s orders.”

Featuring Silver Screen

What Long Haul was also not expecting was for Silver Screen to leap out of the door, and tackle Lemon Tree to the ground. He was also not expecting that Silver Screen to scream “Buck the police!” Long Haul was expecting what followed those actions, and had he not have his movement restricted at the moment he would have facehoofed at the sight of Silver Screen being tackled by half the law enforcement of Trottingham.

And Long Haul

Silver Screen writhed and bucked from under the pile of law ponies trying to subdue him. He looked at a madly grinning Lemon Tree, who was picking herself up off of the ground. Silver Screen shouted “You won’t get away with this!” before screaming in pain as the mare used her magic to lift him up by his mane.

Coming Attractions:

Lemon Tree brought the pained unicorn up to her line of sight and simply grinned.“I already have.” The mare calmly stated before grabbing the stallion before her, and flinging Silver Screen against the side of the caravan. His cry of agony echoed through the orange sky.

Trottingham: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut.

“He is so late. He is so dead!” Long Haul shouted to himself while pacing around the inside of the caravan. He could hear the crowd chanting outside, and by the sound of it they were growing restless.

“I’m back!” Silver Screen yelled while trotting into the caravan. Behind him a small safe floated along suspended in the telltale green glow of the unicorn’s magic. “I bought us a safe at the market! I figured if we are going to be making anymore bits then we should have a place to keep them instead of just letting them sit there for all of equestria to see!” The safe then set down on the floor of the caravan. Silver trotted over towards it and pointed to a cone shaped indent on the safe. “It’s attuned to open to my horn!” He happily stated.

Long Haul looked at the safe, then looked back at the wildly grinning Silver Screen before speaking up. “So what you're saying is, if anything were ever to happen to you or your horn all our worldly possessions are forfeit?”

Silver Screen tilted his head to the side for a moment in contemplation before giving an answer. “Pretty much” Was all he said.

Long Haul then lightly bonked his friend on the head with a hoof. “Having a safe means nothing if we don’t have any bits to fill it with. Are you ready?” He asked.

“As i'll ever be!” The cheerful unicorn replied.

The duo then trotted out the door to the sight of a large group seated in front of a large white sheet hung between two poles stuck in the ground. Had the duo not known what all of this was for the sight would have looked rather silly.

Long Haul trotted towards the front of the crowd and coughed a little to prepare his voice. Once he was ready he raised a hoof to try and get the crowd’s attention. “Fillies and Gentlecolts, Mares and Stallions! Welcome to Coming Attractions theater.” He then scanned the crowd noting familiar faces. Among them he spotted Java Chip with her husband Short Stack sitting on her back. In a group of idly chatting mares he spotted Page Bound the pegasus in charge of the town’s only bookstore. Down in front amongst a group of schoolfoals he spotted Lemon Juice, and his sister Lemon Drop who seemed to be acting as the evenings chaperone.

I’m surprised to see their mother let them anywhere near us after the scene she caused last week. Haul thought before he spoke to the crowd one more time. “My name is Long Haul, and I’ll be acting as the master of ceremonies tonight. My good friend and partner Silver Screen will be providing the entertainment itself, but enough about us please enjoy tonight's presentation of: The Amazing Spidermane!” Long Haul then trotted out of the way before giving his partner the go ahead nod.

Silver Screen took a deep breath to calm his nerves and let the spell fly loose from his horn. The world around him began to fade away as he could only focus on what lay in his mind which in turn lead to the images sprouting from his horn. The story itself was not that hard to present, but there was an occasional plot point Silver would come across that required some modification to suit the audience. Silver Screen always tried to work in some kind of lesson about personal values into the stories he told, but luckily for him the story already carried a message about using the abilities you have wisely. At the end of the tale he let his eyes flutter open. “What did I miss?” He asked Long Haul. Silver Screen had heard the large earth pony sit down next to him just before he went under the spell’s influence.

Long Haul gave a madman’s grin before replying. “Only the most cliche end movie fight in the entire history of equestrian cinema, but the history of equestrian cinema started two weeks ago so I’ll let it slide.” Long Haul then dodged a hoof intended for his side and moved himself back in front of the crowd. “I hope you all enjoyed the show, we will be putting another on the same time next week.” He watched as the crowd began to disperse, half of the leaving ponies were headed over towards Stack’s Diner for what seemed to be an aftershow snack. He took a moment to gaze up at Luna’s moon and the stars that accompanied the large silvery orb.

“Sure is a great night huh?” Asked a voice that made Long Haul leap into the air out of shock.

The large crimson pony looked over from the source of the noise to see a smiling pair of lemons, or rather Lemon Drop and her brother Lemon Juice. “Geez kid you scared the cutie mark right off my flank!” Long Haul chided.

Lemon Drop let her jaw drop in response before she stomped a hoof into the ground, and responded. “I am not a kid! I am almost seventeen, and a fully grown mare.”

Long Haul backed away a few hoofsteps from the somewhat angry mare. “Sorry, was not trying to set you off. So how did your mother let you come back here after her little episode last week?” Haul asked.

Lemon Drop sheepishly grinned, and looked to her brother before quietly she replied. “Easy, she thinks we’re over at the place doing stuff.” Her eyes widened as her excuse became vague and confusing.

A sharp and commanding yell echoed in her direction as a yellow unicorn mare with a leaf green mane approached. “Young filly what do you think you are doing here at this awful place? I thought I expressly forbade you from socialising with the likes of these lowlifes ever again?” Lemon Tree asked her daughter, before giving a look of total loathing towards Long Haul while levitating a small slip of parchment over to him. “Nevermind that it seems you ponies have no regard for the law of this town, so as chief of the committee it falls on my responsibility to fine you for your transgressions.”

Long Haul looked at the parchment as it left the unicorns magic and fluttered to the ground in front of him. “You’re charging us seventy bits for unapproved performances? What do you mean unapproved? What committee?” The earth pony hysterically asked as his partner trotted over to the scene.

“What’s going on he-” Silver Screen said before he was cut off by Lemon Tree’s ranting.

Lemon Tree flashed a malicious grin before launching herself into an explanation. “You’re little abomination of a show last week showed my husband the error of his judgement. He decided he has let you little pieces of garbage spew your corrupt performances around town without regulation for too long.” Lemon Tree then pulled a larger piece of parchment out of her saddlebags and levitated it in front of the duo before she once again spoke. “Thanks to this bill he passed any and all performers hoping to publicly spew their garbage about town have to go through myself and the committee it establishes. You are looking at the head of the Equestria's first C.L.O.P. committee!”

Silver Screen and Long Haul looked at each other for a moment then burst into hysterical laughter both of them falling on the ground.

Lemon Drop also looked away before snickering slightly at her mother’s outburst.

Lemon Tree looked flabbergasted at the taunting laughter, and demanded an answer. “Why do you laugh at C.L.O.P.? We are not to be trifled with! Once you find yourself violating C.L.O.P.’s will you will find you have entered quite the sticky situation.” Lemon Tree was clearly unaware of the situation’s humor.

Long Haul took a break from dying of laughter to pose a question. “So what you’re saying is that once C.L.O.P. grabs on to something, they don’t let go until the job is done?” The earth pony’s voice cracked at the end of his sentence as he once more resumed dying of laughter, his eyes tearing up from the act.

Lemon Tree let a high and mighty laugh alongside the other ponies, albeit for a completely separate understanding. “Yes now you weep before the power I was given, just know that C.L.O.P. will always finish first no matter what you do!” The unicorn then looked to her daughter and son. “Come with me, we are leaving here now.” she ordered as the three of them began to canter back home. Lemon Tree turned one final time before issuing a warning. “Remember, C.L.O.P. is the law! Should you continue defy us, we will take much more severe actions!” She shouted as she made her way home.

After the one pony scream machine left with her family Silver Screen and Long Haul found themselves calm enough to stand. Silver Screen was the first to break the chuckle filled atmosphere. “If we can’t perform then how are we going to make ends meet?” The green pony
asked as his expression went from being jovial to one of worry.

Long Haul answered flatly. “You don’t need to worry did you see how many bits we made tonight? I counted over two thousand in admission before you came back from the market. We are set for a little while as long as you don’t make any huge purchases, and I don’t think this whole C.L.O.P. thing is really going to be that big.” Long Haul looked down at the citation that sat still on the ground before him. “We just need to go to this committee thing and make our case is all.” The crimson pony then looked over to Stack’s Diner. “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry as a hors- Ow!” Long Haul yelled as he received a hoof of retaliation for the bad attempt at humor.

Silver Screen grabbed the citation in his magic and placed it within his saddlebags, then with a spring in his step the pony ventured off towards the diner with his friend.

The inside of Stack’s Diner was teeming with life for once, it seemed that with the performance being right across the way that ponies would actually venture into stack’s diner at night.

“Oh hey! Nice show tonight guys!” Java Chip said from behind the two stallions as they looked around the interior of the diner. “Just have a seat somewhere, and I’ll be by when I can. We are actually busy for once!” The coffee colored pegasus said before hoofing her way over to another table.

The duo hoofed their way over to the main counter, and had a seat in their usual spot. “Maybe we should have just went to bed.” Silver Screen suggested while glancing at the multitudes of ponies eating.

“Haycakes take priority over sleep.” Long Haul stated. The large pony looked down at the menus placed before him. It then occurred to him that he had never had anything off the menu other than the haycakes. “Besides Silver, you need to relax. We should be celebrating because as of tonight Coming Attractions Theater is open for business!” Shouted Long Haul. This prompted a cheer from those around them who had been at the performance just a little while earlier.

Silver Screen smiled at his friend’s attempt to cheer him up. “I guess I am letting it
get to me a little bit too much.” He then lifted a cup to his mouth and had a sip of some coffee. “Still is the best coffee in equestria.” Silver let a small groan of pleasure escape his mouth as he eagerly downed the coffee.

“I still say you get too happy over coffee.” Long Haul stated. “You know, that makes me think of something.” He said before taking a small sip of cider that he had been given. After enough meals at the diner, the staff had learned he did not care for coffee.

Silver Screen cracked a small grin. “You mean you think?” Silver Screen faked a gasp then braced for a retaliation that did not come. “What, no physical injury?” The unicorn asked.

Long Haul then replied in a serious tone. “No I’m serious. I was thinking about this the other night. Out of this whole land we have only been in one town this entire time, and look how far we have come!” Long Haul placed his forelegs on Silver Screen’s shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Imagine how much is out there! How much have we been missing this entire time?”

Silver Screen gave a nod to his friend’s wanderlust. “I have to agree with you there, and It would be nice to travel around and see Equestria.” Silver Screen paused for a moment to down some more of the coffee which was keeping him going at the moment. “But think about how well things are going here in Trottingham for the most part!” Silver said before vocalizing his order. “I wonder how the hayburger is.”

“Oh it’s wonderful!” Said the stealthy as always Java Chip from behind the two chatting ponies.

Silver Screen gave a loud “Eep!” of shock before falling over and looking up at the pegasus waitress. “Yeah the hayburger sounds good then!” He said from his now upside down position.

Long Haul turned to face Java Chip and gave his order. “I’ll take the usual Chip,and tell Stack we said Hi.” The earth pony then looked down at Silver Screen and helped him up. “You really have something with laying on this place’s floor huh?” He asked the now upright unicorn.

“It’s comfy!” Silver said with a moronic grin. “Besides Mr. Head Trauma you have no room to talk on that one!” The unicorn made a point by tapping a hoof on Long Haul’s head.

Long Haul brushed the hoof off quickly. “Ow stop that! I still insist you made a crack in my skull or something.”

“Excuse me gentlecolts, but I do have a question. ” A voice said from behind them. They turned around to see a peculiar brown stallion possessing an hourglass cutie mark. “I couldn't help myself from enjoying your performance a short while ago, and believe me when I say it was the most riveting tale.” The stallion put a hoof to his chin contemplation for a moment before he spoke again. “You see the tale simply seemed familiar to one that I have heard in quite the different venue. Where do you draw your influences from?”

Silver Screen’s eyes widened as he realized the full implications of the stallion’s words. “Well you see-”

Long Haul interrupted Silver’s panicked explanation with his own counter. “I don’t exactly know what you're implying sir, but if you’re insisting that somepony among us three happens to not be whom they appear to be. Perhaps some kind of cross-dimensional traveler of sorts.” Long Haul then narrowed his stare to drive the point home. “Well I guess that would seem silly huh? Especially if they did not want their cover blown.”

“Touche” Was all the stallion said before walking out of the diner. He then vanished amongst the crowd almost as rapidly as he appeared.

Silver Screen was flabbergasted at what had just happened he stammered out a question while wracking his brain for answers. “Was that-”

“Yeah” Long Haul simply replied.

“And He?” Silver simply asked.

“Yeah” Long Haul answered.

“So He’s?” Silver Screen asked.

“Definitely real” Long Haul said before giving a grin of personal victory. “At least here he is real.” Long Haul added before looking down at his cider.

“Order up!” Java Chip answered out of nowhere before sliding two plates off of her outstretched wings onto the counter. “You two enjoy, because tonight it’s on the house.” Java Chip cheerfully quipped before vanishing off almost as quickly as the strange stallion had before her.

Silver Screen mumbled something about time lords being so mean before looking down at his hayburger. “There are flower petals on it.” The unicorn said to himself before lifting one up in the green glow of his magic. Silver Screen gave the petal a sniff before allowing it to flutter down onto his waiting tongue. He let himself taste the new food before eagerly finishing off the bite. “Not bad.” Silver happily stated then moved to attack the rest of his plate.

Long Haul watched his hungry friend descend upon his food without magic not unlike he had the first time they had tried Stack’s famous haycakes. “So then I guess tomorrow we will go to town hall and sort this whole mess out then?”

Silver looked up from the demolished remains of his food. “Sounds good to me, but dude how do you eat like that? You know: Just slamming your face onto what lies in front of you.” The curious unicorn asked whilst using his magic to dab his face with a napkin.

Long Haul smiled before preparing himself for mass consumption. “Like this!” He then proudly slammed his face onto the stack of haycakes like a moron. This of course caused several looks of disgust from the various ponies just trying to eat their meals in peace. Long Haul lifted a haycake, and syrup covered face from the plate and simply laughed. The two friends then sat there, and laughed together at the absurdity of the situation.

< C.L.O.P. Approval Meeting, Town Hall, The Next Day>

The inside of town hall was a fairly simple space littered with benches neatly lined up before a grand podium which all together looked quite like a courtroom. Ponies sat all around the room waiting for their names to be called while up on top of the whole scene sat Lemon Tree. At the moment she appeared to be addressing a rather angry blue unicorn mare.

“So you see miss, Lulamoon is it?” Lemon Tree looked up from the stack of documents before her to the unicorn mare that sat in front of her desk. “I can not let your show be put on in this town, it provides no educational elements or benefits to the foals of Trottingham, nor does it interest me at all. Good day.”

The unicorn’s blue coat was flush the colour of embarrassment at her denial. “So what you are saying is that our show is not good enough for your podunk little hovel, and you’re not even going to give us the courtesy of running us out of town?” The mare was absolutely furious with the answer she had been given and delivered a warning. “You will rue the day you messed with the Great and Powerful Lulamoon!” Her eyes then widened at the realization of her mistake. “We mean Trixie! You will rue the day you messed with the Great and Powerful Trixie!” The blue unicorn fumed at her rejection, and then vanished in a flurry of her own magically conjured fireworks.

Lemon Tree hollered at the no longer present mare. “You’re lucky I’m not fining you just for that little display miss Lulamoon!” The also angered unicorn let herself calm down through a few deep breaths before using her magic to pull the next page for review out of the inbox stationed next to her. She let a small smirk cross her face when she noticed the names on top of the page. “C.L.O.P. on behalf of the town of Trottingham recognizes Mr. Screen, and Mr. Haul.”

Silver Screen, and Long Haul approached where the mare before them had stood while awaiting the verdict on her performance. Long Haul of course was the first to speak. “We represent the Coming Attractions Theater, and we would like you to approve this saturday’s performance of Star Wars: The Cantering Menace.”

Lemon Tree gave a bored sigh before speaking. “The records here state that you have not paid a previous violation fee. This unfortunately blocks you from submitting an approval at this time.”

Silver Screen lowered his ears in disappointment at the verdict, and found himself unable to speak in front of the mare that had caused him so much trouble up to this moment.

Long Haul simply narrowed his eyes out of anger before snapping at the mare. “Are you serious?”

Lemon Tree narrowed her own stare as if egging the crimson pony on. “C.L.O.P. takes itself very seriously if you want to submit yourselves for approval again you can do so once you have paid your fees.”

< C.L.O.P. Approval Meeting, Town Hall, The Next Next Day >

“The answer is no.” Lemon Tree flatly stated before stamping the approval form that sat before her with an X. This time the room was a little emptier than the previous day however; this time they were joined by Lemon Tree’s daughter who sat in the back of the room and watched.

Long Haul was losing his patience with the unicorn that seemed to be their only obstacle at the moment. “Why? We played by your rules, submitted an approval form, and we even paid the fees you slapped on us out of nowhere the other day. What else could possible be wrong with our intentions? We just want to entertain.” Long Haul reared up on his hind legs, and slammed his forelegs into the ground out of anger.

Lemon Tree sighed before she got up out of her seat and hoofed her way down to their level. She spoke while she strode down the steps towards the duo in front of her. “It is because I have seen your drivel that you call a show first hoof, it is because I have seen the false delusions your so called show produced in the mind of this town’s fine ponies, and quite frankly it is because I don’t like you.”

Long Haul struggled to keep himself contained and calm during the mare’s tirade. “Miss I have had enough of your hatred towards my friend and I, and I deman-”

Lemon Drop interrupted Long Haul’s response to add her own opinion into the mix. “Mom I think you are being unfair to these ponies.” The young mare then made her way up the aisle, and stopped as she stood in between Long Haul and her mother. “You always do this whenever anypony who does not fit in your perfect plan, and it never used to be this bad.” Tears streamed down from her eyes as she let her opinions fly loose. “You’re not even my mom anymore, You’re a monster!”

“And you’re not my daughter!” Lemon Tree shrieked as she stomped one of her forelegs in anger, her horn bristled with bolts of green magic let loose by the emotion running through the room.

“STOP THIS!” Silver Screen’s voice cried out in the in room as the green unicorn’s eyes darted between his friend, the mare who seemed to have sworn to make their lives miserable, and her daughter. “Why are we fighting? I thought the ponies of this land were supposed to love and tolerate each other.” He screamed at everypony in the room.

Lemon Tree let a haughty laugh loose. “Your ideals are that of a little foal. Obviously you and your trashy earth pony associate cannot change so you have forced my hoof. You, and your associate have four days to remove yourself the town of Trottingham before I will have you both arrested for your intention to violate our laws! Welcome to the real world Silver Screen.”

Long Haul stood still due to the shock of what she had commanded until the reality of the situation hit him. “You have no right to make such orders! I want to see the mayor! Where is Lemon Lime?” He yelled at the mare before him.

Lemon Tree stood perfectly still for a moment before she locked eyes with Long Haul. “My husband is indisposed as he has been for the past three nights, and by his own orders I am to act in his stead while he cannot. My orders are to be taken very seriously Mr. Haul you should be thankful that I’m giving you the chance to leave without atoning for your crimes beforehand.” With that said Lemon Tree turned around, and made her exit through the doors behind the main podium.

Silver Screen turned around to look at Lemon Drop who simply stood there with a look of horror on her face. “Lemon Drop what she said about your father. Is it true?” Silver inquired.

Lemon Drop stood catatonic for a moment, her eyes lost in the depths of the battle of words she just had with her mother. After what seemed like an eternity of silence she finally spoke. “Juice, and I haven’t seen our father for three days. Mom said that he was really sick.” Silence then returned for a moment as they all sat there soaking in the reality of the evening.

Long Haul broke the silence with a cough he then spoke. “Well I guess that’s it then let’s go home.” He then motioned to leave.

Lemon Drop interrupted them before they could reach the door. “Can I come with you, back to your caravan I mean. I don’t really want to go home just yet.”

“I don’t see why not, but don’t hang around us too long. I wouldn’t want to hurt things between you and your mother any worse than we already have.” Silver answered. The three ponies then left town hall together, and walked back to a spot two of them could call home only a while longer.

< Stack’s Diner: That Evening >

Five ponies sat huddled around a table inside of the diner two sat with horrified expressions, two sat and wondered what would come next, and one sat frozen in her own mind.

“It just does not seem fair!” Java Chip shouted into the air. “She doesn't have that authority. Does she?” She asked to the colt-sized stallion that sat next to her on top of some books.

Short Stack’s eyes darted from page to page as he read the book in front of him titled Trottingham Law Registrate. “Unfortunately she does, and she could throw these two in jail for quite a while if they don’t vacate in time.” He sighed before glancing over to Lemon Drop. “Your father would be livid if he found out what your mother was trying to do.”

Long Haul slammed his forelegs on the table, and shouted. “Who cares! She won, and we have to leave. Silver we should go pack up now, and just get out of here.”

“No.” Silver Screen murmured to himself.

“I just don’t see what you two did wrong. You both are total gentlecolts!” Java Chip yelled, the pegasus was absolutely furious at the temporary mayor's decision.

“No.” Silver Screen said again.

“You know for right price you two could by the ca-” Short Stack tried to suggest before he was interrupted.

“No!” Silver Screen yelled, and then looked upon the ponies around. “We are not leaving, or not yet at least.” He turned to face Long Haul and placed his forehooves on the giant pony’s shoulders. “Lemon Tree is mean, but we can’t let her get away with this. I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of an easy win. We need to buck back, and for once Long Haul I have a plan!” Silver turned to face the diner’s owners to explain his scheme. “Chip, Stack do you still have the caravan’s wheels? I’ll also need to show you something Short Stack.” Before the two could answer however; he turned to face Lemon Drop. “Drop your part of the plan is crucial I’ll need you to go into market and see that tailor stallion you directed me to, place an order, and finally go see a pegasus by the name of Page Bound. You are going to be mine and Long Haul’s eyes and ears for this since I’m sure your mother is going to have someone making sure we aren’t up to anything.” Silver Screen reached into his saddlebags with a flash of magic, and began to jot down every last detail of his plan.

Long Haul glanced at the page as it filled with the details of Silver Screen’s plan. He was a little scared of how focused the usually carefree and aloof unicorn acted. “Okay Serious Screen, what's next?” He asked with a laugh. “This might just work.”

< Present Day: Trottingham Criminal Detention Center >

Lawful Aim hated his job, but that didn’t mean he was not good at it. The earth pony stallion’s short cut black mane was tucked underneath a blue officer’s cap. His dark blue coat practically shone back at him from from the mirror that met his gaze. “Time to go take in the latest dirt-bags.” He said to himself before trotting out of the locker room, and into the main lobby of the detention center. Waiting at the entrance gate were a gaggle of officers, the mayor’s wife, the largest earth pony he had ever encountered, and an unconscious green unicorn laid across the latter’s back. “Ma'am” Lawful Aim said as he gave a salute to Lemon Tree. The law pony then posed a question. “What are these two in for?”

Lemon Tree gave a winner’s smirk before she answered. “These two are dangerous criminals who violated an order of exile. Treat them with extreme prejudice.” The mayor’s wife then left the detention center while two officers followed as an escort.

Lawful Aim looked at the crimson pony before him. “Give me any trouble and I won’t hesitate to have you two thrown in the deepest darkest cell we have. Now follow me.” He said while prodding Long Haul forward.

Long Haul slowly hoofed forward as he was led further into the detention center, the cuffs around his forelegs prevented him from moving any faster than a slow gait. The weight of his unconscious friend put a small strain on the very tired ponies back. Eventually they made their way to a series of small cells.

“Stop.” Lawful Aim commanded as two guard ponies stepped up to Long Haul, released the hoofcuffs, and shoved the large pony into an empty cell. This caused Long Haul’s passanger to fall off of his back, and hit the floor with a resounding thud. The lawpony stifled a laugh, and rattled off the standard speech he gave day in, and day out as the cell door was shut. “You are to remain here until the time of your appointed trial, any misbehavior or misconduct will be reported to your judge, and should you be convicted guilty you will be returned here to carry out the remainder of your sentence.” Lawful Aim gave the guards a nod before they all went to leave the cell hallway, and head back into the lobby.

Long Haul turned around and listened for the sound of the guard’s hoofsteps to diminish before leaning down and whispering in Silver Screen’s ear. “It’s now or never, do it.” The large pony then made sure he faced away from the outer wall and bucked as hard as he could, trying to make as much noise as possible.

As the other two guards left the cell hallway Lawful Aim heard the loud bang of a pony’s hooves smashing against the brick wall the building was made of. He galloped back to the recently closed cell at top speed, and gasped at what he saw: The huge crimson pony he had just placed in the cell standing in front of a gaping hole in the wall, and his small green friend still laying on the ground where he had fallen. “Stop right there criminal scum!” Lawful aim yelled as he opened the cell door and charged at the large stallion who simply hoofed out of the way, and left the lawpony to fall out of the hole. What Lawful Aim was not suspecting however; was to hit the hole to suddenly vanish, and for him to hit the wall with a resounding smack. They do not pay me enough for this shift The lawpony thought as he slipped into unconsciousness’ waiting hooves.

“I can’t believe somepony actually fell for that!” Silver Screen said as he got up off of the floor. Hoofed over to the unconcious officer and spoke. “Meep Meep.”

“Did I ever tell you that you’re a nerd?” Long Haul said.

“The biggest!” Silver Screen proudly answered.

Long Haul looked out into the hall and saw that they were clear to begin the next step of the plan. “According to Short Stack’s description of the place we are in the western cell hall, and we need to just go through the door down there to get into the laundry room.” Long Haul said while looking over to Silver Screen who was picking up the lawpony’s keys using his magic. The two ponies quickly galloped out of the cell hall, and down into the laundry room. “Nice hit on Lemon Tree back at the caravan by the way.” Long Haul complimented.

The laundry room had a washing station in one corner, and carts filled with lawpony’s uniforms all around. “Let’s get dapper!” Silver Screen shouted as the two began to look through the bins of clothes to find something that would fit them. After a few minutes of sorting the two were both wearing the blue hats and shirts that made a pony of the law easily recognizable. Once they both finished making the final touches to their disguises the two made their way out into the main lobby. The duo moved as uniformly as possible to not designate any attention to themselves. It was once they were just in front of the door leading outside that a voice called out to them.

“The chief needs to see us in the meeting room asap, and that includes you two clowns! Something about an escape.” Shouted a pink lawpony from across the lobby which caused the two to freeze in place.

Long Haul simply stood there next to Silver Screen for a moment before he spoke. “Sure thing we’ll be right there after we go get some uh-”

“Doughnuts!” Silver Screen said as he finished Long Haul’s excuse. The duo then trotted out the door at an even faster pace. Once they had made it outside of the detention center the two trotted towards the market square until they stood about one block away from their destination. “Okay let’s stick to the plan.” The determined unicorn said as he ditched the lawpony’s uniform in a crate on the side of the street. Silver Screen glanced over towards the market clock ever-present as always in the town, and then looked back to Long Haul. “It’s seven at night, we’re wanted by the police, I’ve got a half empty stomach, and we’re on a mission from Celestia.”

“Right, hit it!” Was all Long Haul said before he galloped off towards his destination. The large pony turned his head back once to wish his friend luck. “You better pull this off Silver! I won’t be able to sweet talk you out of this one if you mess up!”

Silver Screen watched his friend shrink into a tiny shape down the street before he turned out of sight. Silver simply sat there, and counted off in his head until thought he had heard something touch down on the surface next to him. The unicorn looked over to see a familiar pegasus sitting happily on the street with her usual grin. “Hey Chip, and thanks for bringing my saddlebags.”

She trotted forward and let the green saddlebags slide off of her body and on the ground next to the unicorn. “It’s not going to be the same without you two around here you know.” Java Chip said as she nuzzled the unicorn’s neck. “Stackiekins, and I really think of you two as the foals we haven't had had.” She then smiled shyly. “Not yet anyway.”

Silver’s eyes widened as the full meaning of Java Chip’s comment hit him. The unicorn lifted the saddlebags onto himself while he trotted down the street, and turned back to face the mare that had acted as a second mother to the duo during their time in Trottingham. “Well then make sure you tell the dad-to-be that I said congratulations.” He laughed a little at the thought of the tiny stallion raising a foal which would probably outgrow him, and spoke one last time. “Thank you Chip for everything. I promise one day when this has all blown over that we are going to come back.” Silver Screen then galloped down the road headed towards the market square where his journey had begun.

Java Chip sighed as she flapped her wings, and took gracefully to the air. The wind moved seamlessly around her as she took to the skies over Trottingham. From her point of view the town seemed almost like a lit diorama with Luna’s pale silver moon hanging above. “It’s up to you two now, and I have no doubt in my mind that if anypony can do it that it will be you.” She said to the now distant unicorn.

Silver emerged from the side street he was on right into the market. The early night sky stopped nopony from going about their business, although the type of business had changed. Ponies sat at various restaurants having their evening meals together. The street lamp lit ambiance of the market at night was quite the site to see, but Silver Screen had no time to stop and enjoy it for he was on a mission. Once he had made his way to the center of the plaza he looked to the clock tower. “It’s time.” He said to himself before an audible gasp escaped the mouths of several ponies in the crowd.

A large white sheet was draped over the side of a building, and Silver Screen took this as his cue. The unicorn sat down and performed his usual spell this time however instead of telling stories: Silver chose to show is memories. Moments of time from his point of view since the duo had arrived at Trottingham played for everypony to see. The good, the bad, the happy, and the strange alike.

Ponies all around the market stopped to look at the sight unfolding before them. Everypony in the market simply watched as through brief glimpses the crowd was shown it all. The show stopped abruptly, and as the picture faded away they looked to the center of the market where the source of the light lay on his side, with a yellow hoof on top of his head.

“You little piece of trash.” Lemon Tree snarled as she held the weak stallion down. She leaned in until her face was just in front of his. “You’re here alone I see. Did your little friend get sick of your loathsome company and vanish? What did you hope to accomplish by doing this? Giving your location away to me? Was this little act of defiance really worth it? ” The mare asked.

Silver Screen grinned and looked at the mare in front of him. For a second he thought her icy blue eyes flashed into something evil, something much more sinister, but he let that slip him as through the pain of her hooves forcing him down he choked out a response. “I did this to show you something. To show you that you can’t stifle a pony’s creativity just because it clashes against your ideals. Look up again, and tell me how alone I am. This is cinema, and It’s my gift to Equestria!”

Another beam of light struck the screen this time, the images that flowed out onto the screen were the memories of another pony. This one showed them the story of a foalhood romance blossoming into something more grand, and more deep than anypony on the outside could comprehend without having experienced it firsthoof.

Lemon Tree snarled as she let pressure off of the green unicorn and galloped towards the source of the light. This time it was a small unicorn anyone on the south side of town would recognize. “Short Stack, you are Lemon Lime’s best friend! Why would you violate his command just to help out a couple of criminal simpletons!” She shrieked.

Short Stack spat at the mare’s hooves. “You really think I would believe that Limey would pass a bill just to spite some entertainers? You really play me for a fool, but you’re the fool Tree not me, not Long Haul, and not even Silver Screen. You really need to pay attention too, cause you’re letting your so called enemies get away.”

“What!” Lemon Tree shouted as she turned around to see Silver Screen hop into the door of a moving caravan cart pulled by Long Haul. The Mare turned to give chase, and galloped after the caravan that barreled down the main road. “You won’t escape me, No one escapes C.L.O.P. untouched. The only way you’re leaving is if C.L.O.P. beats you first!” Hollered the furious green maned mare.

“Still funny!” Silver Screen hollered as he watched the unicorn chasing after them fade into the distance. Silver Screen used his magic to shut the door to the caravan and carefully trotted up to the front while he tried not to lose his balance in the now moving caravan. The green unicorn opened a window on the front end of the caravan and poked his head out to look at the galloping stallion. “You should have seen her face Haul! I’ll have to show it to you sometime, and I think we’re clear of Trottingham so pull over.” The eager green unicorn shouted as the caravan came to a stop.

Long Haul unhitched himself from the caravan and made his way around it, and up inside of their newly owned home. “I can’t believe we just did that!” Long Haul said while grinning like a madpony. “So now what? Where do we go from here?” He asked his friend.

Silver Screen laughed a little before he tapped Long Haul on the head with a hoof, and spoke. “So for once the always planning Long Haul does not have a plan?” Silver asked. “I say we travel, go town to town and do our performance!” He suggested before trotting over to the wardrobe. “I just hope my vest is still in here.” There was something in the wardrobe, or rather somepony. “What!?!” Silver Screen shouted at the sight before them.

Looking back at the duo was a familiar young unicorn, her yellow mane was a little frazzled from being hidden in the wardrobe for so long. “Hi Guys I’m coming with you!” Lemon Drop happily announced before coming out of the wardrobe.

Silver Screen shook his head .“No, absolutely not. This is foal-napping. Besides what are you like twelve?” Silver Screen asked.

Lemon Drop pouted and looked at the duo, her eyes wide. “I’m almost a full grown mare!” she whined.

Long Haul hopped in front of Silver Screen, and pouted as well. “Please Silver Screen? I’ll feed her, and clean up after her, and brush her mane!” The large crimson earth pony begged.

Silver Screen introduced his face to his hoof and relented. “Fine, but if she’s traveling with us, then she’s going to work!”

Lemon Drop shouted happily then hugged the duo. “I promise you won’t regret this! In fact I’ll help you out now. I heard you wanted to travel around, well there’s a town not far from here called Hoofington we would just need to keep following this road!”

Long Haul smiled and looked at the group down in front of him. Him and Silver had participated in what might be the most interesting few weeks of their lives. He laughed a little and spoke. “Sounds like a plan then.”

< Trottingham Town Limits >

Lemon Tree ran for her life, the group that chased after her closed in with every misstep she made. “Stay away you vile ponies!” She shouted in vain as she dodged another bolt of magic that exploded in a flurry of lights.

The mob behind her was composed of clowns, street musicians, even a mime, but at the lead was a certain blue mare with a light blue mane. The mare kept firing bolt after bolt of pyrotechnic magic at Lemon Tree while laughing. “At least we are giving you the dignity of being run out of town!” She shouted. “You know this is actually quite fun. We could get used to being on the other side of the mob, yes this pleases us indeed! I warned you that you would rue the day you messed with The Great and Powerful Lulamoon!” She shouted before firing yet another bolt of pyrotechnics, but this time her eyes widened at the realization of what she had said. “Once again we mean Trixie! We are The Great and Powerful Trixie!”

Coming Attractions:
Trottingham: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut

Starring:

Silver Screen as Himself

Long Haul as Himself

Lemon Tree as Herself

Danny Devito as Short Stack

Java Chip as Herself

Lemon Drop as Herself

Lemon Lime as Himself

Page Bound as Herself

David Tennant as Doctor Whooves

Trixie Lulamoon as The Great and Powerful Trixie

Lawful Aim as Himself

Written by Rouis

Edited by Gaintgamer

My Little Pony and all associated assets are property of Hasbro Inc.

No ponies were hurt in the making of this fanfiction

Thank You for Reading!

Silver Screen, Long Haul, And Lemon Drop will return in The Hayvengers.... Just Kidding
They’ll be back in: Chapter Eight

< Stack’s Diner: The next day >

Java Chip trotted up from behind her husband and nuzzled his back affectionately. “So then I guess we will need to paint the nursery both pink, and blue then!” She happily cheered. Her husband remained still though, and deep in thought as he read the day’s issue of the Trottingham Gazette.

“This makes no sense” Short Stack said to himself as he read over the words in front of him again.

Mayor and His Wife Found in Basement!

Mayor Lemon Lime, and his wife Lemon Tree were found yesterday evening around eleven o’clock locked in the basement of their estate in uptown Trottingham. The two ponies were found tied together in a mysterious substance, and awoke when an officer shined his light on them. When asked what had happened the two simply replied that they were attacked by an unknown assailant in their home. Trottingham police are still investigating into the incident.

Chapter Eight: The Ponies: An Unexpected Journey

Coming Attractions
A MLP: FIM fic
By Rouis & Gaintgamer

Chapter Eight: The Pony: An Unexpected Journey

A bump in the road shook the caravan, knocking Silver Screen from the arms of blissful sleep right into the hard forceful fists of the floor. Hoisting himself up, the forest green unicorn let his mind come back to the land of the waking. “Haul must of got an early start this morning.” The still sleepy pony said to himself. Reaching out with his magic Silver got a lock onto his usual vestments, and pulled his only piece of the clothing out of the quite unnecessary wardrobe dressing himself in the usual pinstripe black vest that always adorned him. Finally placing on his glasses, the unicorn surveyed himself in the long mirror. Same Brown mane, Same short tail, and same old inferiority complex! Silver thought to himself before he surveyed the situation inside of the caravan just to make sure everything was okay.

In a corner on Long Haul’s designated side of the caravan the shape of a unicorn mare was visible underneath a pile of bedding, her form shifted slightly in a restless tumble. Her identity was that of Lemon Drop of the Trottingham lemon family. She had been traveling with them since they had left Trottingham three days ago. A head topped with a pale yellow mane peaked out from under the sheets, and two blue eyes fluttered open looking upon Silver Screen. “Morning.” The mare said groggily.

“Oh hey Lemon Drop.” Silver Screen said as he went over a window that let one look out the front end of the caravan. With a small pop the window came open to the command of Silver Screen’s magic, and the vest clad stallion looked out the window to see what was going on outside.

Long Haul as he had been for the past three days was hitched up to the front of the caravan, and at a casual pace pulled it towards their first destination: Hoofington. His ears swiveled back at the noise of the window coming open, and came to a stop. “Morning Sleepy Screen.” He said while unhitching himself from the caravan. “I guess now is a good a time as any to take a break.” Haul added as he hoofed around to the rear of the caravan and stepped up into the innards of their literally mobile home. The crimson giant noticed Lemon Drop rising from her slumber. “Oh good morning Drop, you get any sleep?”

Lemon Drop got up onto her hooves, and made her way over to the caravans only mirror. The sight before her showed a pure disaster area, also known as any mare’s worst morning enemy: Bed-Mane. “Eep!” She shrieked before quickly snapping up a brush in her magic to comb her mane back into something socially acceptable. “Don’t look at me!” The mare yelled while furiously styling her mane. “Oh no.”

“Oh no?” Long Haul asked.

“YEAH!” Screamed a masculine voice from outside the caravan as a hulking white pegasus burst in through the door, knocking it off the hinges. The pegasus dropped a brown package on the floor of the caravan, and then just as quickly as he appeared he flew away on two tiny wings that seemed way too small to support his large frame.

“Oh Silver it seems we have mail!” Long Haul announced as he turned around to see Silver Screen lying on the floor frightened.

“Is he gone?” The semi-catatonic unicorn asked.

Lemon Drop gave a heavy sigh, and went over to help her new boss back up. “You really need to work on being just a bit braver. I think my brother has more nerve than you do sometimes.”

Silver Screen made it back onto his hooves and looked at the newly acquired parcel wrapped in a simple brown paper. “Lemon Drop, you never did tell us what you told your family. Did you say anything to your brother before you left?”

Lemon Drop made her way over to a window, and looked out at the blue skies ahead of them. “I told him that he needed to be brave. I told him that I couldn’t stay at home anymore after seeing what mom was capable of, and I told him that if he does not feel comfortable he could go stay with Short Stack and his wife for a little. Kind of selfish of me huh?” She gave a heavy sigh as a single tear left her eyes. She resumed her composure, and made her way back over to the duo who stood silent while staring at the box. “Well go on then, open it!” Lemon Drop said.

Long Haul bent down and bit on a bit of the paper. He then tore it off piece by piece until the box underneath the wrappings was made available. “Don’t go helping me now.” He sarcastically remarked to the two unicorns in the room.

“Fine I was having fun watching you bite the box, but I’ll spoil the fun and use magic.” Silver Screen opened the box and levitated out three books, a letter, and some haycakes on a plain plate.

“Sweet Celestia, they sent haycakes!” Shouted a starving Long Haul who proceeded to lunge onto the plate while shouting. “Mine!”

Silver Screen resisted the urge to separate his friend from the beloved haycakes provided from their package and opened the letter. The forest colored unicorn squinted for a moment before reading the letter out loud.

Dear Silver Screen, Long Haul, and presumably Lemon Drop,

I hope this package finds you in the best of health, and spirits. (And if my new pegasus friend was correct: quickly as well) Enclosed in this package you should find three novels I have written in my spare time at the bookstore. I do hope they make up for that piece of vam-pony garbage you had to read last time. I wish you the best of luck in your travels wherever you may go, or happen to be going at the moment.

- Page Bound

P.S. I have included my address in case you wish to let me know your feedback on my novels.

“Aww she sent us some books!” Silver happily said after he finished reading the letter.

Lemon Drop looked at Long Haul who was just about done eating the former stack of haycakes which now resembled piles of dough scattered on a plate. “That still does not account for Long Haul’s,” She paused to consider how to phrase the rest of her curious statement. “Haul.” Almost on cue a second piece of paper slid out from behind the one Silver Screen had been reading.

“Haycakes.” Long Haul happily said.

Silver Screen gently set the first letter down, and grabbed out with his magic for the newly noticed parchment. “Well this appears to answer that question.” Silver Screen said before clearing his throat and resuming narration.

Hey Silver Screen, and Long Haul!

It’s Java Chip here! Stackiekins and I just wanted to once again wish you a safe trip. Things at the diner have never been better, although we do miss having our neighbors across the way. We have used the bits you paid us with for the caravan to begin making a nursery for the little ones at home. I’m still going to hold you to your promise, and expect to see you both here in one piece soon! Please keep safe!

- Your other parents, Java Chip & Short Stack

P.S. This is Short Stack here, I hope you enjoy the enclosed haycakes. ( Page Bound has ensured us that her tiny winged friend will be able to get them to you by the end of today.) P.S.S I know how fond you two are of my haycakes ( Long Haul moreso) so as a present to my two best customers I’m going to tell you the secret to my haycakes: I add cider to mix.

Lemon Drop was surprised at the admission of Short Stack’s fabled secret ingredient. “Huh, who knew one ingredient made the difference.” She commented.

“It makes all the difference!” Long Haul shouted. “Well then, I shall leave you two to your books, and bed-mane respectively.” With that said the large pony stepped over the broken door, and outside to hitch himself back up to continue the day’s journey.

Back inside the caravan Silver Screen trotted over to his bed and sat down. He took a quill and an empty book over with him, and began to write something down within its pages. While focusing on the task at hoof he asked a favor of the other unicorn in the room. “Lemon Drop could you please set those books and the letter on the shelf? Consider it your first official task as an employee.”

Lemon simply nodded, and once she had finally finished taming the beast that was bed-mane she got to work: A task that took all of twelve seconds. The idle unicorn sat bored for a minute before she snuck up on the focused Silver Screen. “What are you writing down?” She asked.

“Little things about what has happened today, and some ideas for what to show next.” He replied while remaining focused on the task at hoof.

Lemon Drop looked let down that the answer was not something more interesting. “So what exactly will I be doing?” She asked.

Silver Screen chuckled slightly. “Pretty much you’ll be doing everything that Long Haul, or I can’t. We have gotten by on just showing the performance and charging admission, but now our expenses have doubled due to being on the road. We have just the plan to help us get by.” And then some. Silver Screen thought to himself. “It’s simple really. We already provide the entertainment, and now we will also provide the food. Concessions is our ticket to living the traveler’s lifestyle comfortably.” Silver Screen grinned at the thought of their new plan.

“Sounds interesting enough I guess.” Lemon Drop said before she got up and made her way over to the door. “I’m gonna go out and check on Long Haul.” She announced. Lemon Drop hopped out of the caravan and adjusted her speed to match that of the caravan while she made her way around to the front. “Hi Long Haul! What are you doing?”

“Pulling.” Long Haul replied.

“Anything else?” Lemon Drop asked with a hint of desperation in her voice.

“Nope.” Long Haul answered.

“Oh.” Lemon Drop said as she shifted her gaze downwards. Well, this has gone boring faster than you can say lemon meringue. She thought.

After a few minutes of silent trotting Long Haul spoke up. “Hey Drop I do have one question. Have you ever been to Hoofington?”

Lemon Drop perked up immediately at the prospect of conversation. “Well just once when I was a little filly, my Uncle Cave lives there. My mom wouldn’t let us visit him after something involving exploding lemons.” Lemon Drop tried picturing her Uncle Cave, but found the passage of time to have taken a toll on her memories of that side of her family. “It’s a nice little town although it’s smaller than Trottingham, and last I heard they were having some problem with little bugs that ate most of the food.”

Almost as if on cue, out of nowhere the sound of polka music erupted into their ears. Out from the woods on the side of the road erupted a pink earth pony mare with a poofy cotton candy like mane. Long Haul’s mouth dropped open as his internal suspicions were confirmed upon noticing the mare’s cutie mark of three balloons. Various musical instruments covered the mare’s body as she performed a one pony polka polka band routine, and then when the scene could not get any weirder a flurry of fuzzy insects erupted from the woods. The small buzzing creatures happily fluttered across the road, and into the woodlands on the other side. Once the cavalcade of insects had finished their crossing the mare gave a wink to the audience, and continued leading the creatures on their march leaving a trail of confetti in her wake.

The two ponies sat there in front of the stopped caravan for a few minutes before Silver Screen came out to look at the two flabbergasted ponies. “Did I miss something?” He asked.

Long Haul simply stood with his mouth still open, while Lemon Drop answered Silver Screen’s question. “You wouldn’t believe us if we told you.” She stated. Lemon Drop then shook her head, and went back to go inside of the caravan.

Silver Screen looked at the confetti and spied a peculiar piece which seemed to have something written on it. “Huh, that’s odd.”

Long Haul snapped out of his surprised trance, and looked at a peculiar roadsign ahead of him. “Oh Silver when did you get out here?” He asked before squinting his eyes to read the sign before them. “Hey! We are only a short bit away from town according to the sign” Long Haul announced as he noticed his companion reading something on a piece of the dropped confetti. “What does it say?” Long Haul asked.

“That’s the strangest thing. I can read it, but it does not make any sense at all.” Silver Screen levitated the confetti piece over to his friend.

Long Haul looked at the piece of confetti with an expression almost as puzzled as Silver Screen’s had been. “Huh, that is strange.” He agreed.

“Oh well, I’m gonna head back inside. Let’s get this show on the road buddy, We’ve got ponies to entertain!” Silver Screen said as he made his way back inside of the caravan. Once inside he was greeted to the sight of Lemon Drop prancing about while singing a song to herself. “Am I interrupting something?” He asked.

Lemon Drop’s eyes widened in horror at the fact that she had been seen dancing by herself. “No! Not at all!” She shouted as she went back to her bed and sat down. Lemon Drop noticed the piece of confetti floating about Silver Screen, and used this opportunity to change the subject of the conversation. “What’s that?” She asked.

Silver Screen floated the confetti over to her. “It’s the strangest thing, there is a message on it but I have no idea what it’s supposed to mean.”

Lemon Drop wracked her mind for a moment before she read the odd message out loud. She could have sworn she heard a faint feminine giggle off in the distance as she read it.

“Heya Brain Buddy! See you next arc!”

Chapter Nine: Mystery Pony Theater 3000

Coming Attractions
A MLP:FIM Fic
By Rouis & GaintGamer

Chapter Nine: Mystery Pony Theater 3000

Hoofington was a usually quiet town today however; was a different situation entirely. The town had just undergone the process of ridding itself of a certain infestation of hungry insects known as parasprites. The little gifts from tartarus had taken quite the toll on the town, and as such ponies scurried about repairing various damages to the towns foodstores. So it was nothing but absolute perfect timing for the caravan to roll up.

Long Haul slowed his gait as he brought the caravan to a halt just inside the town gates. Hoofington seemed like a less densely constructed version of Trottingham to him. Houses, buildings, and other structures had some space apart from each other as opposed to being conjoined at the sides. After unhitching himself from the harness of the caravan he found quite the peculiar scene on the inside.

“Are we there yet?” Lemon Drop shouted at a reading Silver Screen.

Silver Screen threw his hooves up in frustration, and returned verbal fire. “For the last time I don’t know, and don’t make me politely ask Long Haul to consider turning this caravan around!”

Long Haul cantered up in between the feuding ponies to break things up. “That’s enough children, and Lemon Drop we are infact here.”

“Finally!” Lemon Drop cheered at the prospect of being able to explore the town she had not visited since she was small. The yellow mare moved to head out into the town when a voice stopped her.

“Hold it missy, where do you think your going?” Silver Screen asked.

“To fun, and merriment of course!” Lemon Drop tried to innocently answer.

“If by fun and or merriment you mean work and or labor then yes!” Long Haul chipped in.

“He’s right you know. You are an official employee of the Coming Attractions traveling theater, and that means helping set up for our next performance.” Silver Screen said while looking to his saddlebags which sat against the side of his bed. He levitated a scroll out and set it at Lemon Drop’s hooves. “I’ll need to set up the screen for today’s performance, and do a practice run of tonight’s presentation. While I’m doing this you and Long Haul are going to go into town and procure everything on that list.” He explained.

“Fun, and merriment commence afterwards?” Lemon Drop asked hopefully.

Once again it was up to Long Haul to be the spoiler of hopes and dreams. “Nope! Then you go into town and advertise the performance!” He and Silver Screen grinned trying to cheer up the now disappointed mare that sat before them. Long Haul thought about the situation for a moment before he relented. “I guess there’s no reason that we all can’t go have fun after the performance?” He asked the group before him.

Lemon Drop perked up immediately at the mention of something not involving work. “Well what are we waiting for then! To market!” She then nudged Long Haul out the door, and followed suit.

Silver Screen stood in the caravan and blinked. “They left me already with a broken door, set up duties, and one hell of an inferiority complex. Awww.” He whined before picking up the remains of the door, and started on his work.

< Hoofington Town Center >

Long Haul did his best to keep up with the happy bouncing mare in front of him. He had barely put on his Eiffel tower embroidered saddlebags before he was shoved out the door by Lemon Drop. Long Haul called ahead to the happy yellow unicorn. “So Miss I have fancy magic, and can easily look at a scroll while walking easier than the pony whose special talent is picking things up, and putting them down.”

Lemon Drop got the hint quickly, and levitated the scroll out of her own saddlebags. She made a confused expression at the jotted down items Silver Screen required. “Does your friend have any sane level of measurements? He asked for three barrels of fruit punch, and a giant pile of corn.”

He contemplated the strange amounts for a minute before nodding his head in acceptance. “Nope, that pretty much sounds like something that he would write down. We better get to finding something close to that anyway.”

The two made their way further into town, and eventually they made their way into the market. Just like in Trottingham ponies were everywhere making their daily purchases. It seemed even though the parasprites had eaten half of the towns food, the ponies of Hoofington would make it even though everything was now about twice the normal price.

Long Haul trotted over to a vintner’s stand, and tapped the ring for service bell with a forehoof. He watched as a dark purple earth pony with a light blue mane came out from behind a group of barrels, and trotted over to the side of the counter opposite from Long Haul.

The pony cleared his throat before introducing himself to the new customer. “Good afternoon sir, I am Vintage Cask the owner of this stall. May I be of service to you today?”

“This may be something you don’t normally get but would you happen to have three barrels of punch?” Long Haul nervously asked.

Vintage Cask’s eyes went wide with delight at the large order. “I do not, but I could make that for you in three hours, and I’ll even have it delivered to wherever you need it! How does one hundred and thirty bits sound? I’ll even throw in cups!”

Long Haul’s eyes glinted at the opportunity to haggle a price down. Time to lay on the tourist act! He thought to himself before putting his plan into action. “I don’t know I mean I probably should shop around a little since I’m not from here.”

The shop owner quickly fell for the lure and lowered his price to secure the new customer. “One hundred bits?”

Long Haul let out a fake sigh. “I don’t know I’m just so confused by my new surroundings. I feel so insecure I may just go back home, not spend any bits at all. Why won’t somepony just shut up and take my money?”

Cask grew frantic at the thought of losing a sale, and hastily made his last offer. “Seventy-five bits!” The stallion yelled in desperation.

“You have yourself a deal, and you’ll find a caravan parked just inside the town’s main gate that is where I need them delivered.” Long Haul said as he motioned Lemon Drop to come over. “Drop if you would please present this fine gentlecolt with seventy-five bits. I’m going to go to purchase some produce.”

Lemon Drop watched her boss head over to a produce stand, and levitated the necessary bits out of her saddlebags onto the counter. “Thank you!” She said before she trotted off to see who Long Haul was now haggling with.

Long Haul approached the section of the market that dealt with all things grown. He noticed that unlike the previous row of the market, this one was much more somber.

Ponies sat trying to sell the little produce that was left from the pesky parasprite pandemonium. “My cabbages!” Shouted a green pony running the local cabbage stall whose entire stock was left in shreds. Further down the lined up stalls sat a shopfront shaped like a giant ear of corn, and this was Long Haul’s next destination.

Yet again he was able to get the shopkeeper to lower their prices just a bit, and score another free delivery back to the caravan. “Hey Lemon Drop, I’m going to go get the rest of the items on the list. I need you to go around, and advertise tonight's performance okay?” Rather than waiting for Lemon Drop to give him an answer he simply went off to finish his purchases.

Lemon Drop sat on her haunches blinking in confusion at her orders. “How the hay am I supposed to get ponies to come to a performance?” She asked herself. Lemon Drop looked around the market before she attempted her first advertisement pitch. “Anybody want to come watch my boss shoot moving pictures out of his head?” She asked the ponies that passed her by, most of them looked at her like she was insane. That's it! Now it’s a challenge. If my dad can do this whole public speaking thing then so can I. She thought as she prepared herself for the next attempt. “Ponies of Hoofington if I could have your attention for a moment. Clearly this town has experienced trials, and tribulations as of late. Why sit around moping? You should be enjoying life! So why not come to the Coming Attractions traveling theater this evening where for a small fee you could enjoy a method of entertainment unlike anything Equestria has seen thus far!” Her attempts at gaining the crowds interest however; did not go swimmingly as planned.

The ponies of the market still either outright ignored her, or made judgemental comments regarding the outsider’s chipper manner. Lemon Drop grew frustrated at an alarming rate, and she was ready to pack it in for the day. That was when a familiar hoof tapped on her shoulder. She looked up from her own aggravation to see Long Haul smiling at her. “What’s so funny? I stink at this.” She grumbled.

The taller pony chuckled a little before offering some advice. “It’s not what’s funny. It’s about how you’re going about this. They don’t want to be told what they should do. It’s about letting ponies know what you can do for them.” He nodded as if to give her the go ahead.

Lemon Drop thought about his advice for a moment, and tried her best to put it to use. “Hey everypony! One night only we are offering you an opportunity to see the stuff of your dreams come true! Come this evening to the Coming Attractions traveling theater where for a small price you too could go on an amazing journey without ever leaving town!” Lemon Drop watched as ponies stopped to listen to her speak about the theater. She could tell that she had them eating out of her hoof, and she would just need to finish her speech with enough gusto to ensure that everypony listening would drop by the caravan that night. “And because the farmers of this town have taken such a hard hit from the parasprite infestation half of tonight’s admission will be donated to the families who were impacted!”

On her last line the ponies of Hoofington broke out into a cheer. Several ponies stopped to ask Lemon Drop for directions to the theater which she happily gave, and once the crowds had died down she turned to Long Haul. “So how did I do?” She asked while beaming with pride in herself.

Long Haul who had been standing there wide eyed since she promised half their admissions snapped out of his shock, and looked at the prideful mare. “You did good, but then again you also promised half of our profits to the town. I just hope your little gambit works, or we may be cutting back on eating expenses completely.” Long Haul watching in his mind as his fabled haycakes slipped from his grasp and flew away. “I guess we should get back, and see what Silver Screen is up to then.” He said as the two went to head back to the caravan.

< Meanwhile back at the Coming Attractions caravan >

Silver Screen thanked the ponies who had just dropped off the supplies for the shows, and opened up one of the two crates of corn that had been delivered. Silver used his magic to float some of the corn over a kettle that he had prepared during the set up that morning. He used a chef’s knife to cut the kernels off the corn letting them fall into the kettle once separate from cobb. Once he had done this enough to fill a quarter of the kettle he noticed Lemon Drop skipping towards the caravan with Long Haul in tow. “Well I see how the shopping went, but should we be ready for some actual crowds?” He asked the two returning ponies.

“I think it went awesomely!” Lemon Drop chirped as she looked into the kettle Silver Screen had been adding to.

“Awesome, especially the part where she promised half our admissions to charity” Long Haul grumbled as he joined the ecstatic mare in looking at the kettle. “What are you cooking up exactly? Because if this is what I think it is: Then you’re crazier than I thought.” He said.

“Of course it is!” Silver excitedly answered. “There are two things that make a theater successful: good product, and concessions. So I need to make sure that we have both good product showing, and of course concessions. So if we make a profit off of selling food at the shows, then I don’t see a problem donating some of the profit.” He explained while nodding his head furiously at his plan.

Long Haul gulped at the thought of Silver Screen’s little experiment in cooking, but swallowed his fears for the sake of progress, and possible haycakes that may come in his future. “So how exactly are you going to make it?” Long Haul asked as he took a few hoofsteps away from the kettle.

Lemon Drop nodded her head to Long Haul’s question. “I’m curious on that too!”

Silver Screen pointed his horn at the kettle, and explained his plan. “To be honest, I was just going to zap it with magic. I figured the worst thing that could happen is that I accidentaly summon the Krakken or something.”

Long Haul’s face grew pale at the thought of unintended magical consequences. “What if you give life to a giant mutant corn monster that you can’t hit because it keeps diving underground, and every time you hit it just moves faster!” His face then resumed its normal composure, and he gave some cautionary advice. “Nah, seriously though I don’t want to see anypony get blown up. Please be careful where you're sticking that thing.”

Lemon Drop shuffled away from the kettle, and looked at the ready to fire Silver Screen. She hid herself behind Long Haul, and shouted at her other boss. “I don’t want to die Silver Screen!”

“If you two like safe magic so much, why don’t you both marry it!” Silver shouted as he concentrated on the bottom of the kettle. A green beam shot from his horn to the kettle causing the bottom of the kettle to turn red from the heat being applied. “I think it’s working!” He shouted before resuming concentration. With a small pop the corn began blow piece by piece, and eventually the kettle was overflowing with magic popped popcorn. Silver cut off the flow of magic to the kettle, and looked at his result. The green coated unicorn let a victorious smirk cross his face as he levitated a few pieces out of the kettle letting them hover in front of Long Haul, and Lemon Drop. “Well? Tell me what you think!” Silver demanded.

Long Haul stuck his tongue out, and tasted a piece of the popcorn before letting himself consume that which hovered in front of him. The earth pony swallowed his sample, and smiled. “It’s actually not that bad. Congratulations buddy you did great, and you didn’t even mess up and summon a corn based horror.” He said to the now beaming Silver Screen.

After she had seen that Long Haul did not immediately drop dead from Silver’s magic based corn product she let herself taste her sample. “You’re right it is good!” She commented before she grabbed a few more pieces from the kettle, and tried to begin snacking.

The corn however was snatched from her mid-air by Silver Screen. “Okay that’s enough sampling for now, we need to get ready for the show tonight!”

Lemon Drop gave a defeated sigh. “Fine, and what will I be doing per-say?” She asked.

Long Haul looked at her for a second, and came up with an idea. “Well since Silver Screen is pretty much out of commision during the show, and I will be collecting admission while acting as the master of ceremonies. You my dear will be stationed at concessions, and provide the snackage.”

With that said the three ponies went to make the final preparations before they were ready for the attendees to start showing up. Slowly but surely ponies started to show up to the caravan with bits ready to be spent.

Long Haul collected admission from everypony who showed up at the gate, and made sure to let each guest know about the new concession stand located in front of the caravan. “Thank you, and enjoy the show tonight.” He remarked to a pair of purple ponies who immediately made their way towards the snack line where Lemon Drop was doing her best to stay ahead of the customer orders.

Once the crowd had finished entering, Long Haul stopped by the impromptu concession stand, where Lemon Drop was giving the last call on food before it was showtime. “How did it go over here?” Long Haul asked the now exhausted mare.

Lemon Drop looked up from her empty table. There was a bit of punch in her mane, and she seemed completely exhausted, but instead of complaining about the amount of business she simply smiled. “It went great actually. I had a rough start, but I got the hang of it after a few orders.”

The crimson earth pony smiled back at his employee, and he then tapped her on the head with a hoof. “You did good Drop, and as a reward for all your work today I think Silver, and I can take it from here. Why don’t you just sit back, and enjoy the show.” He said before he went over to the caravans entrance and peeked inside. “Hey Silver Screen are you ready?” He asked.

Silver Screen who was sitting on his bed turned to look at Long Haul, and replied. “Just a moment! Why don’t you go make the introductions?” He said before turning back to his current distraction: An open book in front of him.

Long Haul sighed at his occupied friend. “Fine, but you better get out there soon!” He chided, and headed off to welcome the crowd. He trotted over to stand in front of the large sheet which acted as their impromptu screen, and began his speech. “Fillies and Gentlecolts of Hoofington if I could have your attention for just a moment. On behalf of the Coming Attractions traveling theater I would like to welcome you to our first road performance. I would also like to thank everyone for attending tonight because the rumors are true. We will be giving half of tonight’s attendance to the families affected by the parasprites!”

The crowd went wild at the reminder of the promised donation. Ponies stomped their hooves in approval until the large crimson pony raised a hoof to continue his opening speech. As he spoke Silver Screen moved through the crowd, and sat down behind the crowd.

Long Haul took note of Silver’s readiness, and went to end the introduction. “Without any further interruption I would like to present: Fetlock Holmes.” Long Haul ducked out of the way of the screen as his friend’s spell hit the surface, and the performance began. I think I’ll sit this one out. He thought to himself as he ascended the steps that led inside of the caravan.

Lemon Drop sat watching the performance from just outside of the caravan. She always enjoyed watching Silver’s strange way of storytelling, and the crowd seemed to be enjoying itself equally as much as she did. It was one pony in particular however; that brought her mind out of the show, and back to reality. This pony moved back through the audience almost gliding through the preoccupied ponies. The pony’s form mostly hidden from view by a tattered gray cloak, but there was one feature Lemon Drop recognized. Two ice blue eyes seethed from underneath the cloak, two eyes that she remembered looking back at her from her foalhood. “Mom?” She asked herself before noticing that the familiar shape was headed towards the spell-incapacitated Silver Screen. Lemon Drop quickly moved around the crowd, and placed herself between the intruder and her boss. She narrowed her eyes, and simply gave one command to the mare who had raised her. “Leave now.”

The pony laughed at her command. “I’ll go for now, but you can never escape me.” The cloaked pony rasped, and then glared at her for a moment before it simply walked away leaving a bewildered Lemon Drop blinking in confusion.

“That was it?” She asked herself just as she felt a hoof tap her on the back. She turned to see a worried Long Haul.

“What was all that about?” He asked while glancing at the parting figure.

Lemon Drop weighed her options at this point. If I tell him my mom was here, they could think she’s following them for me, and they might not let me travel with them anymore. “Oh it was just somepony who was too tired to stay for the end of the show.” She felt horrible for lying to one of the ponies who had let her join them on the road so easily.

Long Haul simply thought about her explanation for a moment. “Ah, well I guess this is one of Silver Screen’s longer shows.” He rationalized as the crowd exploded into a flurry of hoofstomping

The performance had ended, and with that Silver Screen sat up from his seated position to notice his friends were chatting away next to him. “Oh hey did I miss anything important?” He asked.

Lemon Drop quickly took initiative to steer the conversation away from what had just unfolded a moment ago. “Not really, though by the sound of it everypony really like it!”

Silver Screen looked around at the dissipating audience. Once every few moments a pony would come up to thank them for the opportunity to attend, and just like everyone else they left immediately after. After Long Haul presented the mayor of town with the promised donation for that night another pony trotted up the the trio of traveling performers.

This pony had a beige suit covering his brown coat, and a cutie mark consisting of three cards in a ball of fire. “Evening ponies the name is Aces High, owner of the Celestia’s Palace casino in Las Haygas. I have a very interesting proposition for you.” Said the tycoon who had introduced himself to everypony.

Silver Screen and Long Haul looked at each other in confusion for a moment before Long Haul looked back to Aces High. “What exactly would this proposition be?” He asked while trying to get a judge of character from the casino owner.

Aces High laughed for a moment before launching himself into an explanation. “I pride myself in having the absolute peak in Equestrian entertainment, and what you three put on tonight was certainly the first time I’ve witnessed,” The wealthy stallion paused for a moment while trying to think of a way to phrase what he had seen. “What do you call this?” He asked while gesturing from Silver’s horn to the screen.

“Cinema.” Silver Screen answered.

Aces High nodded his head to the green unicorn’s answer. “Right cinema. If you would be willing I would like for you all to come to Las Haygas, and put on a show like you did tonight. Who knows? Maybe if it goes well enough I could offer you a more permanent position if you get my drift there?”

“We’ll do it!” Long Haul immediately shouted with stars in his eyes.

“Perfect, I’ll be seeing you soon then, and I’ll go ahead and make the preparations for you. So just worry about getting there, and putting on one heck of a show.” With that said the suited pony left leaving the trio to ponder what was to come.

Silver Screen scraped a hoof across the ground nervously. “Are you sure we should have accepted that deal so quickly?” He asked.

“Yeah I mean my dad said nothing good comes that easily.” Lemon Drop added.

Long Haul looked up at the moon, and tried to ease their worries. “He offered us a gig with the potential of more to come I call that worth it, and besides: How hard could it be to get to Las Haygas?”

Chapter Ten: Fear and Loathing in Las Haygas

Coming Attractions
A MLP:FIM Fic
By Rouis & GaintGamer

Chapter Ten : Fear and Loathing in Las Haygas

“How far could Las Haygas be?” Silver Screen mocked as his hooves scraped through the sand, his body covered in sweat from the heat. He was hitched up to the caravan with Long Haul to help ease the load of pulling their home and business.

< The Neighvada Desert - One week after the Hoofington performance >

“Shut up, and keep pulling.” Long Haul replied, too exhausted to bicker with Silver Screen at the moment.

“But it feels like we have been lost in the desert for almost 8 months now.” Silver Screen whined back as his hooves slipped in the desert sands for a moment which caused the unicorn to fall onto the heated ground. “Long Haul! I see it, the lost sand city of Sarlanta!”

The crimson pony grumbled for a moment then picked his friend up onto his hooves. “Silver you’re obviously hallucinating, and that has got to be the worst named hallucination I have ever heard of.” He looked on at what seemed to be miles of desert all around them, and lowered his head with a sigh. “We survived jail, and we will survive a desert.” He then reared back on his hind legs and shouted unto the heavens. “Do you hear me Celestia? Do your worst, because there is nothing that will stop me from making to Las Haygas!”

< The Neighvada Desert - Three days after the wrath of Celestia was invoked >

“I surrender!” Long Haul screamed from the inside of the caravan over the roar of a sandstorm which had battered the caravan for the past three days. He was curled up in the middle of the room rocking back and forth.

Silver Screen, and Lemon Drop sat a few feet away from their defeated comrade with no clue as to what would be appropriate to say in the current situation. Lemon Drop looked to the safe which sat in it’s usual position, and posed a question. “Why don’t we eat that muffin you two keep in the safe?” She asked innocently.

Long Haul snapped out of his misery and shot a glare in her direction. “No one is eating that muffin. It is a very special muffin, and I would rather eat each and every one of you before so much as a hoof touches that muffin!” Suddenly the occupants of the caravan were jerked forward, an act which rolled Silver Screen forward and left him on his back.

Silver’s eyes widened. and he began to panic. “It’s the Sarlantan warriors! Their going to eat us, and we’ll never get to Las Haygas, and then they’ll raise Lemon Drop to be their princess, and she’ll be all evil and--”

“We’re here!” Lemon Drop interrupted after poking her head outside of the now stopped caravan.

The ponies spilled out of their mobile domicile, and first looked at what their caravan had run into. The front of the caravan had knocked into a large gaudy sign bearing the words Welcome to Las Haygas home of the thirteenth annual Cloudsdale Weather Convention. The city itself rose out of the harsh desert landscape like a jewel among the wastes. Tall buildings, and brightly lit advertisements seared their visage in the minds the traveling group. Above the whole city sat a sprawling cloud layer comprising what seemed to be a city on it’s own. Pools of liquid rainbow cascaded down from the cloud layer into the city below falling into fountains which created a fantastic lighting effect that had never seen before.

Lemon Drop looked at her befuddled companions and smirked. “What’s wrong? Never heard of the twin cities before?” She asked.

“Twin cities?” Silver Screen replied as his confusion multiplied.”Isn’t this all Las Haygas?”

“Hardly, but because I’m such a good friend I will explain it all to you.” She gestured towards the lower city, and continued. “When they first build Las Haygas as an entertainment paradise there was an oversight in their location: It’s kind of a desert out here. So the pegasi of Cloudsdale came up with a solution, they built a cloud city above Las Haygas which doubles as a weather facility for the area, so it’s a win-win for everypony!. They call the upper city Los Pegasus, and the lower city of course is Las Haygas.”

“Thank you Professor Drop, now where is the Celestia’s Palace casino? We still need to check in, and let them know that we are here.” Long Haul furrowed his brow and looked around the buildings that comprised what he could see of the main strip. Out of them all stood a castle looking one that seemed to take after Canterlot architecture with a glaring sign that read Celestia’s Palace “Well I guess that answers itself.”

The group made their way towards the casino with caravan in tow, and parked the their mobile base in the adjoining alley. The lobby of the casino itself was no less grand if not grander than the exterior of the building. Marble pillars, and gold woven cushions adorned the large circular room, while a fountain of Celestia sat in the middle with a stream of liquid rainbow spouting from her horn into the pool below. Royal looking tapestries were hung from pillar to pillar giving the whole lobby the illusion of actually being in a royal court. The group was once again snapped out of their wonder though, when a beige suited stallion hollered from near the main desk.

“Yeehaw!” He cried. “I was wondering when you three would show up, you didn’t get lost did you?” He asked as he sauntered over to greet the hired performers.

Long Haul met the owner halfway in a hug. “Aces High, it’s truly been too long.” He greeted while completely dodging the previous question. “So when do we get started?” Long Haul quizzed while he switched his mindset over to a business mentality.

Aces High dragged a tan hoof across the marble flooring, and chuckled to himself. “That’s actually the thing I was just about to let you know.”

Long Haul’s heart dropped for a moment as he feared the words that could be uttered next. Oh no, this is terrible what if he says “We don’t want you performing here anymore.” or even worse: late fees!

“Actually I was just going to say I won’t be needing your services until tomorrow night, when I have some important clients coming in that I’m sure your brand of entertainment would leave a lasting impression on. As a token of my humble apologies I would like to offer you room, and board in one of our fine entertainer’s penthouse suites that are going unused due to my last act getting wooed over to the Neighlagio over across the strip.” With that said Aces looked through the windows, and gave a thousand yard stare of hatred towards the brightly lit rival casino across the street. “You hear me Fancy Pants? You may have gotten my last act, but this one will show who the true king of Haygas hospitality is!” He then gestured over to a glowing blue platform. “That over there is the teleportation rune we use to get our guests to their rooms. Simply stand on it, say your name, and it will take you to the room we designated for you. Now if you excuse me, I have preparations to make, and at least an hour of angry stares to give the neighbors.”

Once the three ponies had loaded their belongings up on one of the bellhops carts they made their way over to the daunting teleportation rune. Silver Screen looked down at the visible magic energies swirling over the surface of the rune and gulped. “Are you sure this is safe? I’m saying this coming from the Stallion who zapped a cauldron full of corn hoping for the best.”

Lemon Drop also stood shakily on her legs as she braced for them to activate the magic device. “Yeah shouldn’t we wait a little or something? I ate twenty minutes ago, and dad always said to wait an hour after eating to teleport or you may get a cramp and drown.”

Long Haul sighed and gave his rebuttal. “Come on that’s swimming, and not using magical teleportation runes to take you up several stories into the air.” He then turned to the older of the two quivering unicorns. “Furthermore Silver Scre---” He was cut off as their surroundings blurred into a flurry of colors that swirled all around them before suddenly they were on a smaller rune in the corner of an expansive suite no less lavish than the lobby. “--en you shouldn't worry so much.” He finished as the realisation of what had just transpired hit him.

Silver Screen jumped off the platform and looked at the suite itself. the corner they were in opened up into larger room complete with cushions to lay on, a kitchen complete with miniature bar, and.three doors which lead into three spectacular bedrooms each one adorned with linens matching their coats. “Sweet Celestia he wasn’t kidding when he said an entertainer’s suite. This is amazing!.” He excitedly shouted.

“Guys, you need to come see this.” Lemon Drop hollered from the other side of a sliding glass door that lead to the balcony.

Long Haul trotted outside only for his jaw to once again go slack in amazement. The building of the casino itself extended up above the cloud layer giving them a view of the streets of Los Pegasus like no other. Pegasi of all colors, and sizes flew about on their business while the setting sun gave the sky an orange glow which added a serene feeling to the whole view. A huge well lit cloud building sat on the edge of their vision which crowds of ponies seemed to stream towards. “That must be the Los Pegasus Convention Center, I saw a banner earlier saying there was some big weather convention going on there.” He mused while noticing a lavish hot tub on the other side of the balcony.

“Some convention? the Cloudsdale Weather Convention is only the biggest gathering of pegasi weather enthusiasts in all of Equestria! It’s so much more though in recent years it’s also become a meeting of minds on all things with wings from planning for the pegasi events for the Equestria Games, to the latest stunts by the Wonderbolts themselves!” Lemon Drop gushed as she practically melted out of admiration.

“Easy there kiddo.” Long Haul said as he attempted to calm the younger mare down. “I didn’t know a unicorn like you would be such a fan of all this pegasus stuff.” He joked

“Long Haul!” Silver Screen gasped. “I didn’t expect you of all ponies to be” He gulped. “a racist”

The crimson stallion seemed taken aback “Hey that isn’t what I meant at all. Some of my best friends are unicorns afterall.” Long Haul stammered out as he attempted to defend himself. “Anyway I want to set some ground rules before we do anything else.” He cleared his throat and began to elaborate. “Lemon Drop, I don’t want you to go out alone into the city, and I mean both of them.” He corrected. “That’s the only rule now that I think about it. The casino is going to take care of all the promoting so all we need to do is be ready for the event tomorrow night. Now if you excuse me I’m going to go relax over in my room.” With that he turned to go to his room for the evening. “Good night everypony, I expect to see you all bright, and early tomorrow.”

“Good Night” Silver Screen replied in unison with Lemon Drop, as they too went for their own rooms. As Silver Screen laid himself down ready for possibly one of the best nights of sleep of his pony life, he levitated over a small wrapped parcel and laid it down on the bed rest next to him. “You stay nice and safe while I get some rest tonight okay?” He asked the small inanimate box before slowly drifting off into the arms of unconsciousness.

Meanwhile in one of the adjacent rooms Lemon Drop huffed to herself as she reflected on Long Haul’s warnings. “I can’t believe the gall of that stallion, who does he think he is. I’ll show him, because tomorrow is going to be the best day ever!” She mused to herself as her eyes fluttered shut.

Over in Long Haul’s room the stallion himself had already fallen asleep, while muttering loudly in his slumber. “It’s all uphill from here, nothing but easy living.”

Unbeknownst to the three now slumbering ponies a pair of vespid wings buzzed outside of their suite. A pair of ice cold blue eyes looking on in malice. "Soon."

Author's Note

Sweet Celestia it updated!
First of all I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to all the readers for the severe lack of updates on this story. I let you guys down, and I hope you can find it to forgive me, and hopefully welcome the story of Silver Screen and his friends back into your hearts. This chapter is short on account of the next three chapters providing a narrative of each of the "Mane Three" of the story. If you would like a further explanation on the future of this story, and to find out what I have been up to there will be a blog post up within a few hours of me uploading this.

Here's to ponies! -Rouis

Chapter Eleven: Haygas Vacation Part One - Long Side

Coming Attractions
A MLP:FIM Fic
By Rouis & GaintGamer

Chapter Eleven Part One : Haygas Vacation- Long Side

Long Haul was having the greatest day ever. He had just met Princess Celestia, and she had appointed him as the new royal treasurer. It was going to be easy living from here on out, and nothing could get in his way. Not one of Silver Screen’s panic attacks, or one of Lemon Drop’s infamous pouty faces. He was good to go, if it wasn’t for the fact that all of this was obviously a dream. This was made even more obvious when the loud screaming from Silver Screen’s room brought Long Haul immediately back to the world of the waking.

“Aww come on.” Long Haul groaned as he lifted himself upright. He dashed out into the main room and slammed open the door to gently inquire about what was going on just as a vast light seemed to fade from the interior of Silver Screen’s lodgings. “What in the name of tartarus is going on it is three in the morning!” He yelled as the sight of what was going on entered his vision.

Silver Screen stood upright on his bed with the sheets thrown in various spots around the room. His horn gently glowing from an apparent light spell that had just been shot into space around him. “I thought I heard somepony coming into my room, so I kind of freaked out.” Long Haul watched as Silver Screen frantically searched the room looking for some kind of proof to back up his story, just as he saw Silver’s gaze slide upon the partially opened window the panicked pony spoke again. “I guess maybe it was just a weird dream, so go back to bed buddy. I think we all need the rest.”

With that Long Haul found himself being swept back into his room, and before he could protest he was back in his room with the door shut behind him. “Well that was weird, but in the scheme of things I think it could have been much weirder.” He cantered back over to his bed, and once again tried to embrace the waiting hooves of sleep. As he lay there still waiting for sleep to come Long Haul found that he thought he was forgetting something, and it was something important. “Ugh what am I forgetting, I checked in to the casino, and I remembered to feed Lemon Drop, but what for love of haycakes am I forgetting?” The large pony lay there tossing and turning as he wracked his brain for any hint of what knowledge lurked just outside of his grasp. Minutes turned to hours as he lay there, and tried to scrounge his memory. “Well I did kind of just spend the most exhausting few days of my life wandering the desert. So maybe I’m just exhausted. I’ll just get some sleep.” Unfortunately just as Long Haul found himself drift back into unconsciousness the door to his room slammed open. He snapped upright to to the sight of Silver Screen, and Lemon Drop grinning at him from the doorway.

“If you two are staging a coup d'etat this is wierdest beginning to one I have ever seen.” Long Haul groaned at his friends.

“Happy Birthday!” Silver Screen, and Lemon Drop happily cried in unison.

“And actually I believe it would be you three” Added a familiar white pegasus mare who slipped in between the two unicorns at the door.

“That’s right it is my birthday isn’t it?” Long Haul realized before noticing the third pony to enter the room. “Page Bound!” Long Haul said surprised by the sight of a friend from Trottingham. “What brings you out to Las Haygas?” He asked.

Page giggled at the question before answering him. “Well back when you three were in Hoofington our friend Silver here sent me a letter saying that he remembered your birthday would be approaching, and that it would be great if Java Chip, Short Stack, and I could make it to Haygas to celebrate it with you. Unfortunately Short Stack didn’t want Chip to travel with the foals on the way, and I was on the way here anyway for the Weather Convention.” The excited pegasus then grinned at the thought of the convention. “I’ve been coming ever since they started holding it here in the twin cities area, and not to mention that the guest list is huge! Can you believe they booked the author of the Daring Doo series? She’s only the most famous pegasus author in existence since Comet Cloud!” She gushed about meeting her idol until Silver Screen tapped on her back gently.

“Don’t you want to give him the package?” Silver suggested to the nerdy pegasus.

Page’s eyes lit up as she remembered her parcel, and nodded to Silver Screen before exiting the bedroom, and re-entering while she pushed in a large brown package bearing a tag that read:

To Big Red,
Happy Birthday!
-From your family in trottingham.

Page looked at the tag sentimentally before turning back to Haul. “It’s for you of course.” She said as she hefted the parcel up onto his bed. “They really do think of you two as their surrogate children. Java, and her husband I mean.” She then reached into one of her saddlebags, pulled out another envelope. This one was in a yellow envelope emblazoned with the seal of the mayor of Trottingham: A circle comprised of a lemon wedge, and a lime wedge. She passed the envelope to Lemon Drop who gulped at the sight of the seal.

“Well it was fun while it lasted guys.” Lemon Drop said with a sigh as she took the envelope in her magic. “I’m sure pops want’s me back home as soon as possible.”

“Actually” Page interrupted. “Your father is completely fine with you traveling. He said something about you finding your own way in life.” She said the last part with a deep voiced imitation of the mayor. She turned back to Long Haul and prodded him on. “Aren’t you going to open it?” She then gestured to the big brown box.

Long Haul nodded, then after two minutes of awkward ripping, and tearing at the wrappings it finally came undone. Long Haul’s eyes watered at the sight that met him in the box. “Guys, it’s beautiful.” Inside the box lay two things. A framed picture of Short Stack, and his Wife Java Chip outside of their diner back in trottingham, and finally a stack of his famous haycakes complete with syrup on the side. “This has got to be the greatest birthday ever!” He celebrated before he noticed a wrapped book at the bottom of the box. He carefully pulled the book out, and gingerly peeled off the ribbon before reading the title aloud. “Accounting, and You. The Common-Pony’s Guide to Bits: You Too Can Achieve a Hoard Worthy of a Dragon.”

Page ruffled her wings at hearing the title of the book. “That one is from me. I figured since you do most of the accounting for your group that you could use a bit of a helper.” She said before using a hoof to push her glasses back up the bridge of her face.

Suddenly a box suspended in a green field of magic made it’s way across the room, and over to Long Haul’s bed. “This one is from Lemon Drop, and I.” Silver Screen said before noticing the vast amount of items that now surrounded his friend. “Whoops, allow me.” Silver said as he unwrapped the box and levitated out a black tie with Long Haul’s cutie mark embroidered on it. He tied the tie around his friends neck before speaking again. “Happy birthday buddy sorry it’s not much, but I figured I can’t be the only suavely dressed stallion around here.” He said with a smile.

Long Haul smiled while looking down at the tie, which matched his coat, and mane perfectly. “Thanks Silver, and thank you Lemon Drop.” He then turned his gaze to Page Bound who seemed to be lost in thought. “Thank you as well Page. Go enjoy the convention.”

Page snapped back into the conversation. “Of course, and I’ll see you three at the performance tonight. I wouldn’t miss it for all the riches in Equestria.” With that she did a small bow before she turned around, and cantered out onto the balcony spread her wings, and launched herself off into Los Pegasus skyline making her way towards the convention center.

Lemon Drop carefully made her way out of the room giving a farewell. “Now if you two excuse me I’m going to go towards my room where I will obviously remain for the rest of the day, and not go on any exciting adventures in either city like you told me to. Nope, I’m just going to sit in my room all day, and wait for the performance.”

Once she was out of sight Long Haul turned to Silver Screen. “Why don’t you go out, and explore the city a little. I may join you later, but right now I just want to sit here and enjoy my company here.” With that said he looked down at the plate of haycakes, his eyes consumed with a burning desire.

Silver chuckled at the suggestion and nodded. “Alright maybe I will go exploring. I’ll see you later buddy.” With that he left the room, and a short while later the sound of the teleport rune being used rang through the room.

Long Haul looked back down at his birthday haycakes. “Alright now it’s just you, and me.” With that the second greatest haycake massacre in the history of Equestria began. He raised himself off the bed, and slid off onto his hooves making his way into the hotels bathroom. “I really need to be a less messy eater.” His muzzle was covered in bits of haycake, and sticky syrup. He gently wiped his face off, and went into the main room of their suite. “Well what now?” He asked himself as he looked around the room. “Lemon Drop is probably reading or something since she’s such a good girl. I guess I could go into the city.” It was then that he turned to the teleportation rune in their room, and noticed the large chest full of bits sitting open on it. “Sweet mother of Celestia this day gets better, and better!.” Long Haul screamed as he ran over to the chest, and read aloud the note sitting on top of the comically large pile of bits.

“Long Haul, this is the first half of the casino’s payment to you for your performance tonight. Depending on how things go, I may be looking to make you the new nightly performance at Celestia’s Palace. - Aces High. P.S. I can pay you double whatever the Neighlagio offers if they have said anything. I won’t let Fancy Pants get another!”

Between the thoughts of a potential contract, and Aces’ odd grudge against Fancy Pants Long Haul looked over the pile of bits. “There has to be at least ten thousand bits here.” He ran his hooves through the currency, and placed a few hoof-fulls into his saddlebags. “Comically oversized pile of bits, you are perhaps one of the best presents I’ve gotten so far today, don’t change.” He nudged the chest off of the teleportation rune and carefully trotted onto the glowing blue surface. “You know, he never did say how to use this thing to get back down. Do I just say something like Main Lobb-”

“--y” He finished as he found himself down the grand main lobby from the day before. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.” He said before trotting off the rune and out into the busy midday streets of Las Haygas. If the city was bustling during the twilight hours, than during the day it was even more so. Taxi carts lined the cobbled streets, and ponies were going every which way on their daily business. Due to presence of the cloud city overhead the entire city maintained the appearance of being in the early evening hours due to the shadows casted by the clouds. The fountains of liquid rainbow seemed to shimmer brightly as they cascaded down below. “Hmm where to now.” The crimson stallion pondered to himself as he looked at the buildings surrounding him. His eyes fell on one sign in particular though. “Sapphire Shores live in concert.” The sign itself depicted Ms. Shores beckoning the viewer over the the concert hall located under it. Before Long Haul knew what was going on he found himself waiting in line at the Neighlagio’s ticket booth purchasing one the concert.

The concert itself was a feat unto it’s own right. The multi-song performance involved at least twelve different costume changes with each outfit being more fabulous, and gem encrusted than the last. Ms. Shores herself hit all the right notes, and the light show along side the concert was great in an oddly familiar fashion. One that Long Haul just couldn’t place a hoof on as he pondered why the light show struck him as familiar. Once the show had ended he found himself standing near the front of the stage watching as the roadie-ponies moved various set pieces about getting ready for the next act.

One pegasus pony in particular noticed Long Haul standing there, and made his way over. This pony had a beige coat, and long flowing black mane that dwarfed Long Haul’s own in comparison. The only other stand out features he could see were the large black metal studded bracelets around each of the pony’s legs, and the flaming guitar he had for a cutie mark. “Sup” He greeted.

Long Haul noticed the member of the roadie crew and nodded in greeting. “Not much, The name is Long Haul, and yours?” He asked.

“Riggs” He replied. “Light Riggs would be my full name, and you’re looking at the lead tech director slash roadie for the Neighlagio Casino, and hotel.” Riggs gestured to Long Haul’s size. “You seem to have the right physique for the roadie life. Ever consider applying?” He asked while looking back at his crew to make sure everything was going okay.

Haul chuckled at pegasus stallion’s question. “Actually my talent does involve heavy lifting, but I’m already managing an act of my own. Two good friends, and I comprise our own traveling show. We actually have a performance tonight over at the Celestia’s Palace.” He said proudly. “It’s our Haygas debut.”

Riggs laughed in return. “Well then we have a big shot here don’t we? Well I better get back to work before the foreman comes down here, but you come back and tell me how it went okay? From one showpony to another.”

Just the pegasus finished speaking, a sultry voice called from one of the stage’s side wings. “Oh Riggs, I hope you aren’t lollygagging on the clock again.”

Riggs quickly spread his wings in surprise. “Yes Ms. De Lis!” He shouted before giving a nod to Long Haul, and zooming up into the rafters saying something about “untying the new guy”.

Haul simply tilted his head to the side before he made his way out of the building. “I hope I never become quite that whipped.” He said as he made his way back across the main street of the Haygas strip. Once he was back inside of the Celestia’s Palace lobby he was greeted by a waiting Lemon Drop.

“I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to make it back here.” She said while tapping a hoof impatiently on the tile.

“I must confess I was also starting to get a little worried as to your location.” Aces High added as he trotted up from behind.

Long Haul raised an eyebrow at Aces’ demeanor. “Aces buddy are you alright? You sound a little different.” He stated as he watched the tycoon approach.

“I feel no different than I usually do.” Answered the suited pony as he looked Long Haul in the eye. “Now I feel that you understand the terms of our engagement today no? I need you two to provide a sort of distraction for our guests, and especially the VIP that will be attending tonight’s event. While that is going on I will propose my venue, and hopefully things will go for the better.”

Silver Screen ran in through the main doors, and huffed as he tried to catch his breath. “Sorry I’m late everypony. You would not believe the day I’ve had. Those ponies over at the Neighlagio are crazy!” He yelled.

Aces High shrugged. “I don’t know about that, I always thought the Neighlagio was a respectable place.” Replied Aces, who did a short bow before he trotted away.

Long Haul shook his head, and turned to whisper at Silver Screen. “I thought something was off about that pony, and now I know it!.” He then turned, and called out at the exiting tycoon. “Hey Aces!”

Aces High turned back around. “Long Haul is there something else I can do for you? I’m a very busy pony.”

Long Haul smirked before he laid his metaphorical cards on the table. “Yeah I want to know who you really are, because you damn sure aren’t Aces High.” He shouted as the various ponies in the lobby stopped what they were doing, and all turned to look at the exchange of words. “I may not know him that well, but I do know that he can’t stand anything about the Neighlagio. So I’ll ask you one more time. Who the buck are you?”

Silver Screen gasped at Long Haul’s sudden outburst. “Hey buddy I don’t think that’s any way to talk to our employer.”

The pony who claimed to be Aces High flashed a mad grin that bore not the normal teeth of a pony, but a jagged set of fangs. “Well played Long Haul, I must confess that for a moment I actually thought you had fallen for my ruse. When my subordinate reported that she had failed to subdue you, and the rest of your party in the night I feared briefly that my plans would falter, but I digress. We shall simply have to do away with you here, and now.” With that, the thing that claimed to be Aces High raised a hoof into the air and brought it down twice on the ground.

Long Haul looked at the ponies surrounding them, who now seemed to be giving them the same hateful glare that whatever the entity that claimed to be Aces High was giving them. “This can’t be good.” He said as the lights went out, and the sound of a harsh insectile hiss filled the lobby.

Author's Note

Welcome to part one of the "Haygas Vacation" Mega Chapter. Excited to find out what's going to happen to them next? Well first we get to find out what happened to Silver Screen, and Lemon Drop throughout the day in Haygas. A big thanks to GaintGamer once again for editing this chapter. The chapter itself actually is dedicated to him as his birthday just passed by this week.

We are actually now looking for some Pre-Readers to help improve the quality of the story as well. You would get to read the chapter early on the condition that you can provide constructive feedback on the quality of the chapter, and the story therein. If you are interested just send me a PM on the site.

Chapter Eleven: Haygas Vacation Part Two - Silver Side

Coming Attractions
A MLP:FIM Fic
By Rouis & GaintGamer

Chapter Eleven Part Two: Haygas Vacation-Silver Side

Silver Screen’s eyes opened as he thought he heard the door to his room shutting. Instinct and panic took over as the forest green pony jumped to attention. An act which threw the bed sheets off of him as he screamed. “I don’t know who you are, and most likely you already have the jump on me, but you forgot something. I’m a unicorn, and I may not be able to do much magic, but I can blind the dickens out of you!” With that said he reached into his subconscious, and illuminated the whole room with his visual memory spell.

“My dickens!” Cried a shrill yet gravelly voice near one of the room’s windows.

Silver Screen could've sworn he saw a black shape lunge out a partially opened window into the night sky outside. Before he could go to look out of it however; Long Haul burst into the room, and gently inquired what had happened.

“What in the name of tartarus is going on it is three in the morning!” Shouted the recently woken up Long Haul who didn’t seem too pleased.

“I thought I heard somepony coming into my room, so I kind of freaked out.” Silver Screen scanned the room looking for any sign that the intruder left anything behind, but to his dismay the only thing that seemed to point to that idea was the partially open window that he thought he saw the intruder dash through. Silver Screen flattened his ears in confusion. “I guess maybe it was just a weird dream, so go back to bed buddy. I think we all need the rest.” With that said Silver Screen escorted Long Haul back to his room, and once he was sure his large friend was back in the grasp of slumber he snuck off to the main room of the suite and snuck over to the ever glowing teleportation rune that sat in the corner. “Main Lobby.” Silver said as the rune did it’s work.

Silver happily trotted off of the rune, and out into the lobby. The lobby itself seemed much as it did when they checked in the previous day, with ponies going every which way due to the ever waking nature of the city. Once he was out into the streets he happily made his way over into the alley in which their caravan home was parked. “Just got to be careful with the door.” He said, as he cautiously used his magic to open the door. An act which as usual caused it to fall off of it’s hinges. “I swear that door is going to catch on fire one day.” He said with a sigh.

Silver sat down at the desk, and looked down at his journal. He had filled quite a few pages of it since they had left Trottingham at the beginning of their journey. Some pages were nothing on ideas of what to show at their next performance, but some were also reflections on life in Equestria. He slipped out a small letter bearing the symbol of their friend Page Bound’s cutie mark, and read through the short message a few times until a knock at the once again doorless threshold made him jump a little. He craned his neck around to be greeted with the visage of the same pony whose letter he was reading. “Page Bound! It’s been far too long.” He greeted as he closed the distance between them and met the cyan maned pegasus in a short hug.

The flight weary Page smiled as she returned his greeting. “That it has Silver Screen. I guess Long Haul is still asleep?” She asked as she turned to check on her burden: a decent sized parcel which lay on the ground just outside of the caravan.

Silver Screen laughed at her question. “Of course he is. If that pony isn’t sleeping than he’s just scheming about ways for us to make more from our performances.” He then perked up when a thought popped in his head. “Speaking of work, I finished the first of those books you sent us in your last parcel. It was really good! Are you selling them at the shop?”

Page smiled at the review. “No, not yet anyway. Which one did you read first?” She asked. “Oh! I bet you read Splicebolt the Mad didn’t you?” She shivered in the chilly night air.

“Wow you know me too well. I can’t believe you were able to pull off ninety six chapters, but if anypony I know could it would be you” He noticed her shivers, and made a suggestion. “Why don’t we get out of the open, and go upstairs. I’m sure Lemon Drop would be happy to see you.”

She simply nodded, and gave her reply. “Sounds good to me, I flew almost nonstop after my last pit stop in Hoofington.” With that she went to make her way into the hotel’s large lobby, but was stopped by Silver Screen before she could get more than a few hoofsteps from the caravan.

“Hold on, I need to fix the door.” He reasoned as he floated the door over to the doorframe, and simply leaned it against the open threshold. “I’ll have to actually fix it later.” He said as he made his way into the grand lobby once more with company in tow. “You’ll love this part Page. They have this cool teleporting rune thingy that takes you all the way to your room.” He said just as they stopped on top of the aforementioned rune.

Her eyes widened at the mention of the device. “I don’t know Silver Scre--”

“--en it just seems a little dangerous. I think I could fly up there much easier.” She finished before coming to a realization that she was already in the room. She frantically looked around, and tackled Silver Screen in a nervous fit pinning him to the ground. “Why didn’t you warn me that it was activated by speech!” She hastily spoke as her breath came out sputtered, and heavy.

“Am I interrupting something? I think I need an adult.” Said the very confused Lemon Drop who had walked onto the scene.

Page quickly realized the implications of her positioning, and removed herself from holding Silver Screen down. “It’s not like that at all!” Page Bound yelled as her face flushed bright red in embarrassment. She ruffled her wings nervously, and attempted to regain composure. “I’m sorry about slamming you to the ground.” She apologized. “It’s just that there was an accident involving magic when I was just a filly that left my wings on backwards for a whole week. I’ve been a little nervous around magic ever since.”

Lemon Drop shook her head at the story. “That’s what they all say. Remember to send me a wedding invitation.”

Silver Screen stood up, and turned his head sideways in confusion. “There is going to be a wedding? I want to go!” He said, completely oblivious to Drop’s insinuations. “Well before you two tell me about the wedding I think we should go ahead, and wake the birthday pony.”

Page Bound rolled her eyes at Silver’s obliviousness. “Agreed.” She said, eager to get away from the previous topic. “You two go ahead in front of me. I want to surprise him that I’m here.”

“Sounds good.” Lemon Drop chimed in as she took her place at the door to Long Haul’s door.

The two grinned as they shoved the door open. The sight of Long Haul snapping up from what appeared to be peaceful sleep greeted them.

“If you two are staging a coup d’etat this is the weirdest beginning to one I have ever seen.” The birthday pony himself groaned.

“Happy birthday!” Silver Screen, and Lemon Drop yelled.

The party itself went well. Long Haul was surprised by Page’s presence, and by the presents that she brought with her. When it came time to open Silver’s present he was happy to see that it went well with the his friend’s colors, and as the small soiree began to wrap up everypony made their way out. Page left to enjoy the weather convention, Lemon Drop to her room, and Silver Screen left to enjoy the sights of Las Haygas while Long Haul enjoyed his birthday breakfast.

Silver Screen packed his saddlebags lightly, and went down to the lobby only to be stopped by Aces High.

“Silver Screen, I was just about to have the bellhops bring up the first half of your payment for tonight.” Aces High excitedly greeted as he gestured to two earth pony bellhops who struggled with the weight of a large chest stuffed to the brim with bits.

“Neat!” Silver Screen said while he transferred a small amount of bits from the chest into his saddlebags. “Thanks for the little stipend for today too. I was just about to go check out the sights before the show tonight. Could you just have them leave the chest in the room upstairs?” He asked their current employer.

Aces lightly chuckled at the request. “Of course we can. Take it up boys.” He asked the staff, who began shuffling towards the rune while they struggled under the weight of the chest. “One more thing actually! There are plenty of wonderful things to do in both cities while you’re here, but I would recommend staying away from some of the more un-fun parts of the city. Especially the Neighlagio.” He warned as he watched Silver Screen exit the main doors of the lobby.

“Excuse me sir, I have a few questions about the establishment that my family, and I would like answered before we check in.” A new voice asked the tycoon. It’s owner was a gray coated stallion bearing a tragedy mask cutie mark. His darker mane was slicked back, and his voice contained hints of disdain for those around him. The aforementioned family he spoke of consisted of an array of ponies whose coats mismatched, and didn’t seem to be related in the slightest.

“Why of course. I would be happy to take your bits.” Aces caught his slip. “I mean answer your questions.” He said while focusing on the large group.

The patriarch of the group grinned at the pony’s answer, and gave his reply. “That’s good, Let’s speak in private then.”

Once again Silver Screen found himself on the Haygas strip looking for something to do. “This city sure is boring.” He sighed as he once again found himself passing one of the many liquid rainbow fountains. “Maybe I’m just not doing this right.” He mused as he looked for an activity to pass the time with.

“Thirty one black, you win again sir!” The peppy unicorn mare who worked the roulette table enthused as she levitated even more chips across the betting table, to where an ecstatic Silver Screen was celebrating another win surrounded by the ponies who had gathered to watch the lucky streak unfold.

“Viva Las Haygas!” He yelled in excitement at the win before regaining his composure. “Let it ride.” He confidently uttered as the mare nodded in agreement, and gave the wheel another spin.

The area of the casino floor they were located in seemed to freeze in time as everypony looked at the wheel awaiting luck’s answer. As the wheel began to slow everyone seemed to inhale sharply until the ivory marble inside came to a rest. Everypony looked on in bewilderment as the results were called out.

The table mare nearly choked on her words as she called the results. “F-f-for the fourteenth time in a row it is thirty one black!” She nodded to a large golden coated stallion who had made his way behind Silver Screen during the last spin.

The floor manager spoke in a heavy toned voice that commanded everypony’s attention. “Congratulations sir, on behalf of the Neighlagio I would like to present you with three diamond chips.”

Silver Screen watched as the pile of sparkling chips he had won was replaced with three ravishing diamond chips bearing the Neighlagio’s symbol engraved in the center of each one. “Neat! I got cooler shinies!” Silver mused as he obviously placed the priceless objects into the front pocket of his vest before getting up, and shooting off a flash of light from his horn in celebration.

The flash of the spell caught the eye of a white unicorn mare with an electric blue mane. She galloped over to the source and gazed into the eyes of the pony who had just shot off the light spell from behind her violet shades. “You are amazing!” She shouted. “You have to help me with my show. Can you do more flashes like that? Do you know any more effect spells?” She screamed, oblivious to the normal volume of the world around her due to her headphones pumping out loud beats straight into her ears.

Silver Screen didn’t know whether to cry, answer her questions, or both as the mare’s loud tone reverberated across his ear drums. “It’s just a spell I know.” He shyly said as he slowly backed away from the mare.

She quickly closed the gap between them, and extended a hoof. “The name is Vinyl Scratch, but most ponies know me by my stage name: DJ PON-3! I’m a performer here, and I think your effects are just the thing my show needs to kick it up another notch. Please tell me you can help me out?” She asked in the same ear shattering volume.

Silver Screen reluctantly shook her hoof, and nodded. “Whatever you want lady! Just please stop screaming at me.” He begged as he began to follow her towards a door leading into one of the many staff only hallways that ran through the Neighlagio. In the quiet of the halls he could clearly hear the music she was listening to due to it’s sheer volume. Finally they emerged from another door into the concert hall itself. “So what do I do?” Silver Screen asked while bracing his ears for Vinyl’s loud speaking.

The normally loud performer removed her headphones, and waved over to a beige stallion. “Hey Riggs!” She called out before turning back to Silver Screen. “That pony is Riggs, he’s the head techie around here, and he will be helping you with your part. What is your part exactly? You my new green friend are going to crank this show up to eleven! Just use your light spells to make my performance look awesome okay?” She smiled at Silver Screen waiting for an answer.

Silver mused on the fact that when Vinyl wasn’t screaming she actually sounded kind of cute. “Sounds good to me then.”

“Cool, I’m going to go finish getting ready.” She said before happily trotting off to a grey mare waiting on the other side of the stage, calling out to her as she approached. “Tavi! Wait till you see the stuff this pony can do. He is the coolest!”

“Sup” The pony introduced as Riggs said before he walked Silver over to the edge of the stage. “So Miss Scratch thinks your kind of a big deal or something. So I wouldn’t let her down if I were you.”

“So what do I just stand on the catwalks and use my spell, or will I be backstage?” Silver Screen asked.

Riggs let out a hearty laugh. “Not exactly.”

The next thing Silver Screen knew was that he was suspended in a harness above the concert hall. The second thing Silver Screen knew was that he may be afraid of heights. He watched as ponies flooded the space below, and waited for the show to start. A thick fog erupted from the stage, and once he saw the shape of DJ PON-3 herself appear from within the fog he cast a beam of light down on her.

The crowd went wild as she began playing some of the loudest beats known in Equestria at the time. Once she had ended her first song she moved up to the microphone. “Las Haygas! I wanna hear you scream!” It was moments like these that Vinyl lived for. The roar of the crowd reminded her of the real reason she enjoyed making good music.

The third think Silver Screen knew was that he was now a fan of electronica. As the beats made their way into his ear drums he got more, and more into the act of providing a light show. Before he even knew it the show was over, but no pony came to let him down. “Hello? Anypony?” He called out to the various roadies moving around pieces of the stage. The fourth thing that Silver Screen knew was the next show was starting, and he was providing light effects out of futility. He could have sworn that he had spotted Long Haul among the ponies listening to the cheery pop music below, but among his own light effects, and the tacky outfits being worn on stage he could not focus. After what seemed like an eternity he noticed the familiar sight of Riggs flapping his way up to where he was suspended.

“Sorry about that dude, we kind of had a bit of an after party.” He apologized while he grabbed the rope that held Silver Screen in the air in his mouth, and gently lowered him to the ground.

Silver Screen sighed. “It’s fine, I was just hoping to get out of here a little sooner. I hope you didn’t make me late. I kind of have a performance coming up tonight.”

“You don’t say. Would you happen to be performing with a pony by the name of Long Haul?” The black maned pegasus asked.

Silver Screen perked up. “Actually yes, he’s my partner.”

Riggs pointed a hoof towards the main exit. “Well he actually just left here. So if you hurry you should be able to catch up to him in no time.”

Silver nodded, and galloped off towards the entrance. “Thanks Riggs!” He shouted before bursting into the Haygas streets.

“Good luck kid!” Riggs shouted back.

Silver Screen made his way across the strip, and burst into the lobby of the Celestia’s Palace casino to the sight of Long Haul, Lemon Drop, and Aces High already in a conversation “Sorry I’m late everypony. You would not believe the day I’ve had. Those ponies over at the Neighlagio are crazy!” He yelled.

Aces High shrugged. “I don’t know about that, I always thought the Neighlagio was a respectable place.” Replied Aces, who did a short bow before he trotted away.

Long Haul shook his head, and turned to whisper at Silver Screen. “I thought something was off about that pony, and now I know it!.” He then turned, and called out at the exiting tycoon. “Hey Aces!”

Aces High turned back around. “Long Haul is there something else I can do for you? I’m a very busy pony.”

Long Haul smirked before he laid his metaphorical cards on the table. “Yeah I want to know who you really are, because you damn sure aren’t Aces High.” He shouted as the various ponies in the lobby stopped what they were doing, and all turned to look at the exchange of words. “I may not know him that well, but I do know that he can’t stand anything about the Neighlagio. So I’ll ask you one more time. Who the buck are you?”

Silver Screen gasped at Long Haul’s sudden outburst. “Hey buddy I don’t think that’s any way to talk to our employer.”

The pony who claimed to be Aces High flashed a mad grin that bore not the normal teeth of a pony, but a jagged set of fangs. “Well played Long Haul, I must confess that for a moment I actually thought you had fallen for my ruse. When my subordinate reported that she had failed to subdue you, and the rest of your party in the night I feared briefly that my plans would falter, but I digress. We shall simply have to do away with you here, and now.” With that, the thing that claimed to be Aces High raised a hoof into the air and brought it down twice on the ground.

Silver Screen watched, or rather did not as the lights went out. He then heard a loud hiss that vaguely familiar to something he had heard on the edges of sleep that night. “Long Haul, I want you to close your eyes, you too Lemon Drop.” He said as the hiss grew louder. He reached into the pits of his consciousness, and grasped at the light spell he had used when he heard the supposed intruder. What he did not expect however; was only a shower of sparks to sputter out of his horn. “Oops”

Author's Note

And so some light is shed on the situation at hoof, or rather not shed. Next up is Lemon Drop's day in Haygas, or rather Los Pegasus. As always be sure to leave a comment on the story, and tell me what you liked, or did not like. It's your readership, and feedback that keeps me going. So let me know what you think! - Rouis

Chapter Eleven: Haygas Vacation Part Three - Lemon Side

It crept over the carpet, it’s hoof like appendages barely making a sound as it slowly made it’s way towards the slumbering figure on the bed. A chitinous hole filled foreleg lifted up towards the sleeping pony, but stopped just shy of touching the pale yellow mane that belonged to said sleeper. “Not yet my sweet, but soon it will be time for us to reunite.” It said before creeping back out of the room, and gently closing the door behind it. Leaving no trace that it had ever been there.

Lemon Drop shuddered in her sleep, rolling over to cry only one word. “Mom”

Coming Attractions
A MLP:FIM Fic
By Rouis & GaintGamer

Chapter Eleven Part Three : Haygas Vacation- Lemon Side

Lemon Drop awoke with a start. A cold sweat ran through her coat, and when she looked over to the large mirror that ran along one of the walls of her room in the suite she observed the second worst case of bed-mane to hit Equestria. “Just another morning in paradise.” She mumbled as she went into the washroom, and began her morning routine. “Step one: make that coat shine!” She said while under the hot steaming water of the shower. She used one of the hotel’s washcloths to dry her coat from head to hoof making sure not to miss a single patch of fur. “Step two: dazzle the mane!” She cheered while gently brushing her mane. She always made sure not to pull too hard lest she start causing damage. After all, what self respecting mare would let herself walk around not looking her absolute best! “And finally step three: a smile that dazzles.” She used her magic to attack any, and all signs of scum present in her teeth. After gargling some water, and spitting it into the sink she observed the mare that now stared back at her. She turned an ear towards a sudden outburst that seemed to come from the common area of the suite.

“Why didn’t you warn me that it was activated by speech!” A familiar voice screamed as a thump signaled something, or somepony thrown to the floor.

Lemon Drop quickly cantered out into the common room to be greeted to the sight of an out of breath pegasus holding Silver Screen to the ground. “Am I interrupting something? I think I need an adult.” She nervously said at the sight of the two in front of her. She recognized the pegasus as her friend Page Bound from Trottingham.

“It’s not like that at all!” Page Bound yelled as her face flushed bright red in embarrassment. She ruffled her wings nervously, and attempted to regain composure. “I’m sorry about slamming you to the ground.” She apologized. “It’s just that there was an accident involving magic when I was just a filly that left my wings on backwards for a whole week. I’ve been a little nervous around magic ever since.”

Lemon Drop shook her head at the story. “That’s what they all say. Remember to send me a wedding invitation.”

Silver Screen stood up, and turned his head sideways in confusion. “There is going to be a wedding? I want to go!” He said, completely oblivious to Drop’s insinuations. “Well before you two tell me about the wedding I think we should go ahead, and wake the birthday pony.”

Page Bound rolled her eyes at Silver’s obliviousness. “Agreed.” She said,seemingly eager to get away from the previous topic. “You two go ahead in front of me. I want to surprise him that I’m here.”

“Sounds good.” Lemon Drop chimed in as she took her place at the door to Long Haul’s door.

The two grinned as they shoved the door open. The sight of Long Haul snapping up from what appeared to be peaceful sleep greeted them.

“If you two are staging a coup d’etat this is the weirdest beginning to one I have ever seen.” The birthday pony himself groaned.

“Happy birthday!” Silver Screen, and Lemon Drop yelled.

In Lemon Drop’s opinion the party could have been much more exciting. Long Haul seemed happy enough with the gifts they had given him, but had it been her in his place she would have yearned for a little more celebration instead of an awakening to free stuff. The one important thing that came from the party was a sealed letter from home. Once Page left, Lemon took that has her opportunity to make an escape. “Now if you two excuse me I’m going to go towards my room where I will obviously remain for the rest of the day, and not go on any exciting adventures in either city like you told me to. Nope, I’m just going to sit in my room all day, and wait for the performance.” Once she was out of sight she slowly crept back into her room, and gently broke the seal on the envelope she had been given. She watched as a letter slid out of the envelope, and levitated it up to read it.

To Lemon Drop my dearest and only daughter,

We are writing to inform you of how proud we are of you. While we would have liked a little more notice on the fact that you planned to leave home. Events as we are told did not give you much time to do such. Know that we have such confidence that your presence will show Equestria just how far the Lemon family has come in recent years, and that we will always keep your room ready should you come back to visit. We are however; writing with another purpose as well. Your mother, and I only remember so much about the events that occurred in the weeks before you left. We awoke in the basement of our home bound together, and the officers told us it was odd that your mother was there with me because she was apparently run out of town for the unsavory behavior she supposedly took part in. It is with this knowledge that I believe somepony was impersonating your mother. If you remember anything that could help us piece together the missing time from our memories it would be very helpful. Stay safe my dear, we wish only the best for you.

-Your Parents: Lemon Lime, and Lemon Tree

Lemon Drop reflected on the harsh words she, and her mother had shared with each other leading up to her decision to leave Trottingham to travel with Silver Screen, and Long Haul. The fact that somepony else could have been masquerading as her mother changed everything, but why would somepony else want to impersonate her mother? There was little to be gained from impersonating the mayor’s wife other than some extra sway around the town. Lemon Drop banished the thought from her mind, and placed the letter safely in her saddlebags for later. There was a plan to follow! She crept out of her room, and stepped onto the rune that would take her on an adventure. “Sky Lobby” She confidently said as the rune did it’s work, and took her to the secondary lobby that served as a entrance to the cloud layer, and her ticket to Los Pegasus.

The door’s unicorn valet noticed the yellow unicorn heading towards her. “Excuse me miss, but will you be needing the hotel’s complimentary cloud walking spell?”

Lemon Drop froze in her tracks, and looked up at the valet. “Of course! Los Pegasus is a cloud city. How could I be so stupid.” She then realized what the valet had asked. “Oh of course I’ll need the spell.”

The Valet nodded, and set to work on casting the spell. Once she was finished she spoke once more. “All right then, it should wear off after twenty four hours. Just make sure you are back on solid ground by then. Although I don’t know why you would be staying out there that long anyway.”

“Thanks!” The smaller of the two said as she ran out of the door, but stopped just when floor met cloud. “Calm down Lemon Drop, it’s only a huge drop to the ground if the spell does not work.” She said to herself while placing one hoof just over the cloud surface, and gently placing it down. At first the cloud gave a little, but before it sunk into the cloud any more than an inch she felt the surface harden. One hoof at a time she made her way out onto the cloud until she was standing out entirely on the cloud streets. “I’m actually doing this. I’m walking on a cloud!” She shouted as she ran towards the Convention center that loomed in the distance.

Los Pegasus was a completely different affair from Las Haygas below. If below was a city of pleasure then the city above was a location for business. The air was positively filled with pegasi flying from building to building on their daily errands. The sun shone down from above creating a much warmer climate than down below. Few ponies used the cloud surface as a street, and as such Lemon Drop encountered almost no crowding on the pseudo ground while she hopped along towards the convention.

“Lemon Drop?” A voice asked from above.

She looked upwards to see Page Bound waving a hoof before descending down onto the cloud layer. “Oh hey Page!”

Page touched down with ease, folded in her wings, and looked at the younger pony. “Shouldn’t you be back at the hotel?” She asked.

Lemon Drop quickly assembled an excuse. “Nope! Long Haul actually told me to go enjoy the convention.”

“Really?” Page picked up on the lie immediately. “Well what he doesn't know won't hurt him. Plus you have me here to watch after you.” Before Page could justify her actions any further she found herself on the receiving end of a hug.

“Thank you Page! You’re the best!” Lemon Drop cheered as she untangled herself from the taller mare. The two made their way towards the convention center. Lemon Drop happily hopped around on the spongy cloud making plans for the day. “So where do we go first? I’ve heard so many awesome things about this convention!”

“Before we even get in we’re going to have to get in line.” Page said as they arrived in front of the convention center.

Lines of pegasi stretched from what appeared to be the main entrances to the gigantic cloud building. “We’re going to be here for a while aren’t we?” Lemon Drop asked.

“I think so.” Page agreed as they took their place in line.

“Welcome to the weather convention.” The obviously exhausted mare who was working the door greeted as ponies shuffled into the center.

“Thanks!” Lemon Drop cheered as the mare passed her a bag filled to the brim with advertisements, a program, and a complimentary bottled cloud. “Why do they give out clouds?” Lemon Drop asked.

Page chuckled. “It’s kind of a pegasus thing. A while ago some pegasi started keeping sections of cloud as a souvenir of where they went, and it kind of became a problem when they started taking off small chunks of the convention center itself.”

Drop’s eyes widened at the thought of large holes in the floor of the convention center. She was fine to walk on clouds, but falling down was another story entirely. “That does sound a little concerning, so where to first?” She asked while carefully unfolding the program. Most of the panels, and events were scheduled against each other to avoid overcrowding.

“How about the Daring Do panel? If we go get in line now we should get a good seat in the room.” Page suggested as she looked at Lemon Drop’s schedule.

“Sounds good to me! Lead the way oh wise chaperone.” Lemon Drop said before trotting ahead to catch up with Page.

The two sat in line waiting for the panel room to open up when another pegasus in line tried to spark up a conversation.

“Oh-my-gosh! I can’t believe we are about to see the actual author of the Daring Do series!” The pegasus in question was a cyan coated mare with a multicolored rainbow mane. The tan pith helmet, and beige overshirt indicated that she was obviously attempting to dress up as the titular character of the series. “How many of the books have you read? I think I must have read the entire series of books at least twenty times.”

Lemon Drop was caught off guard by the eager pegasus. “I’ve only read the first three actually.”

Page looked at Lemon Drop in shock. “Really? I could loan you the others if you like.”

“Really? That would be cool.” Lemon Drop looked at the cyan mare who had brought up the books. “That’s a cool costume by the way. My name is Lemon Drop, and this is my friend Page Bound.”

“I’m Rainbow Dash, and this pony back here is my good friend Fluttershy.” She gestured to the yellow coated quivering ball of pegasus that was obviously trying to hide behind her.

Under a long pink mane two blue eyes peeked out at the group observing her. “Hello” She said in a hushed tone.

Rainbow Dash shook her head at the timid nature of her friend. “Fluttershy come on! This is only one of the biggest events short of the Equestria Games, and we have been waiting for ages to get the chance to go. You can’t just spend all of it hiding from the rest of the ponies here.”

“We’re not so bad, and none of us want to hurt you.” Lemon Drop added in her attempt to get the trembling pony to relax.

“O-okay” Fluttershy replied as she straightened out her posture, and did her best to remain calm in the crowded line. “So what brings you to the convention?” She asked in a shaky tone doing her best to keep conversation going.

Page Bound perked up at the question. “I try to come to the convention every year, and when I heard about the guests they booked this year I knew it couldn’t skip it. I know a lot of pegasi miss when the convention was just about the weather, but seeing it flourish into a full blown celebration of culture has changed it for the better in my opinion.”

“I’m here to stave off boredom.” Lemon Drop butted in. “I’m part of a traveling theater, and we’re doing a show down in Las Haygas. Our show isn’t until tonight though.”

A tall pegasus wearing a staff vest shouted over the idle conversations of the line. “Seating for the panel will now begin.”

The line jumped into motion as everypony piled into the panel room. Rows of seating lined up in front of a small stage upon which one seat was present in behind a table, and microphone.

The now chattering group of pegasi, and one unicorn sat down together in the next available row to them which sat them a few rows back from the front, and just shy of the middle of the room.

Rainbow Dash looked around the room. “Not bad seats if I say so myself, though I think we would have gotten in line sooner if somepony hadn’t spent fifteen minutes listening to that exhibit on animal assisted preening.” She said while giving Fluttershy a stare.

Fluttershy blushed at the accusation. “It just seemed so interesting.” The yellow pegasus remarked before turning her attention to Lemon Drop. “You said you travel in a theater group? I can’t imagine what it must be like to travel around all the time. What type of performances do you do?”

Lemon Drop laughed at the question. “Well my friend Silver Screen does most of the performance. He tells stories using moving pictures, and sounds he makes with his magic. My other friend Long Haul handles the position of master of ceremonies, and I kind of just do whatever else needs done.”

“You mean like a movie theater?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Lemon Drop, and Page Bound tilted their heads in response. “We don’t have any of those back in Trottingham. So maybe it is like that.” Drop replied.

“Well in a movie theater they show movies which are recorded images of ponies doing things. They usually tell a story, and the actors in them get pretty well known. I think a few of them are even at this convention.” Fluttershy explained.

Lemon Drop nodded at the explanation. “Well then I guess it is kind of like that, except there are no ponies being recorded. Silver Screen explained it to me as imagining a story in his head, and simply showing it to ponies with magic. It’s really something to see, but I may have to check out one of these movie theaters to see if we really are doing something similar.”

“Count me in on that too.” Page Bound added.

A thunderous stomping of hooves ran through the room, along with a loud cheer. “It’s starting!” Rainbow Dash yelled as everypony’s attention turned to the front of the room.

A cream coated pegasus with a red mane tied back mane trotted her way up to the only seat on the stage, and raised a hoof to quiet the room as she sat down. A few streaks of gray made their way through her mane as an evident sign of time taking its toll, and her cutie mark consisted of a quill overlaid on a cloud. “Hello everypony! As a few of you may know my name is Cloudy Quill, and I’m the author of such books as The Celestia Algorithm, and of course the Daring Do series.

The room once again erupted into cheers as Page whispered to Lemon Drop. “Remind me to loan you The Celestia Algorithm sometime. It’s a classic.”

Cloudy Quill raised a hoof once again to try to quiet the excited crowd. “As many of you may know today’s panel is in the format of a question and answer session. So if we can get some hooves in the air we will get started.”

Almost everypony in the room raised a hoof in the room was raised in response.

The older author laughed in response to the room-wide gesture. “Well then I suppose we will start with-” She paused as she scanned the room. “You” She finished as she pointed to Page Bound.

Page sat in shock for a moment. The realization that her question would be heard only became real when a staff member flew down from the top of the ceiling, and held a microphone for her to speak into right in front of her. “Oh my gosh!’ She said startled, as she tried to regain her composure. “First of all thank you Miss Quill for picking me. Second of all: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors like myself?”

Cloudy Quill pondered on the question for a moment before responding. “Well first of all I would say congratulations for taking a hoofstep towards the career path that has brought me so much joy for these past few years. Next I would have to say that you just need to keep at it, and remember that as long as you love the story that you're telling, then you’re doing what’s best for your characters. Never let somepony else compromise your integrity as an author. Unless it’s your editor of course. My editor has helped me through some of my best works, but also some of my worst. I remember what happened once when I tried writing a chapter on two night’s lack of sleep.”

The entire room chuckled at her story of the good times and the bad. Once the realization that the question had been answered hit everypony in the audience a flurry of hooves raised into the air.

Lemon Drop could have sworn she saw some ponies laying on their back so that they could raise all four hooves into the air in an attempt to get themselves picked. “How cool was that!” She said to Page before listening for the next question.

A teal hoof lowered as the pony that owned it prepared to ask her question. “What are your major inspirations in writing?”

Cloudy Quill jumped on the question. “I actually base most of my books of current events in Equestria’s history as I’m writing them. Of course there are fictional twists added to spice things up, but I feel that it’s good to keep a hoof planted in reality to even things out.”

The audience once again applauded at the response, and jumped back on the hoof raising spree to get chosen. The next few questions ranged from topics such as favorite foods, to even other preferred authors. Each time Rainbow Dash was passed over for another pony in the audience, and hope seemed to fade from the costumed pegasus as a staff member informed Cloudy Quill that they only had time for one more question.

Cloudy Quill scanned the audience searching for a pony to pick until she pointed at the only pony in the room dressed as one of her characters. “Why not that fine pony dressed as Daring Do herself?”

Rainbow Dash quickly met the microphone holding pony halfway in the air. “Miss Quill thank you so much for picking me!” She squealed. “It’s been almost five years since the last Daring Do book was published and I’ve only been reading them for a few months now, but I know I can’t be the only one one wondering: Do you have another book in the works?” Dash asked as the sound seemed to drain out of the room while everypony waited for a response.

A smirk crossed Cloudy Quill’s face as she thought about the repercussions of her next statement. “Well I suppose this is a question that ponies have seemed to be prone to avoid asking me lately, and given where I am I suppose I can answer it now for everypony to hear. I mentioned earlier that I like to write my books around historic events, and so I can confidently say that I have begun work on the next Daring Do novel!” She listened to the crowds applause, and raised a hoof to quiet them down once more. “I also can say that I have based the book around recent events involving a brave group of six mares, and the return of two evil forces Equestria had long since thought itself safe from. It is with this that I am going to reveal to you the title of the next novel: Daring Do and The Pillars of Harmony! With that said I will leave you all to enjoy the rest of the convention, and thank you all for joining me here today.” Cloudy Quill left to the cheers of the crowd which then quieted down, and began to file out into the convention center’s hallways to continue on their day.

Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy, and shook her friend in celebration. “Fluttershy did you hear that? I think she’s writing the book about what we did!”

Lemon Drop realized the implications of Rainbow’s joy, and her eyes grew wide at the realization. “You mean you two are part of the group that stopped Discord? I can’t believe I not only got to meet a famous author today, but I also got to meet two of the fabled elements of harmony that saved Equestria! You are real life heroes!”

Rainbow Dash stood tall, and puffed out her chest in pride. “You would be correct Lemon Drop. You are looking at the elements of loyalty and kindness.”

Page Bound seemed just as shocked by the turn of events. “Small world” Was all she said.

“We have to go now, there’s a wonderbolts signing in five hours that I want to make sure I’m at the front of the line for. It’s been awesome meeting you two, and if you're ever in Ponyville make sure to give us a ring.” The chromatic maned mare said before grabbing Fluttershy, and hastily leaving the room to secure her place in another line.

“Will do!” Lemon Drop shouted as she watched the two mares disappear in the crowd of pegasi leaving the room. “I better get going too Page. I don’t want to get in too much trouble for going out.”

Page nodded. “Alright kiddo, I’ll see you at the big performance tonight.”

Lemon Drop quickly made her way back into the halls, out of the convention center, and back to the Celestia’s Palace where she quickly used the rune to get back up to the penthouse. “Hello! Is anypony up here?” She hollered as she went from room to room checking for any sign of Silver Screen, or Long Haul. When she was sure she was alone up in the room she decided to go down to the main lobby, and wait for either of them to return. As she stood upon the rune getting ready to leave she could have sworn she felt like she was being watched.

Once down in the oddly inactive main lobby she tapped a hoof impatiently while she waited. Finally she saw Long Haul canter into the lobby. “I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to make it back here.”

“I must confess I was also starting to get a little worried as to your location.” Aces High added as he trotted up from behind.

Long Haul raised an eyebrow at Aces’ demeanor. “Aces buddy are you alright? You sound a little different.” He stated as he watched the tycoon approach.

“I feel no different than I usually do.” Answered the suited pony as he looked Long Haul in the eye. “Now I feel that you understand the terms of our engagement today no? I need you two to provide a sort of distraction for our guests, and especially the VIP that will be attending tonight’s event. While that is going on I will propose my venue, and hopefully things will go for the better.”

Silver Screen ran in through the main doors, and huffed as he tried to catch his breath. “Sorry I’m late everypony. You would not believe the day I’ve had. Those ponies over at the Neighlagio are crazy!” He yelled.

Aces High shrugged. “I don’t know about that, I always thought the Neighlagio was a respectable place.” Replied Aces, who did a short bow before he trotted away.

Long Haul shook his head, and turned to whisper at Silver Screen. “I thought something was off about that pony, and now I know it!.” He then turned, and called out at the exiting tycoon. “Hey Aces!”

Aces High turned back around. “Long Haul is there something else I can do for you? I’m a very busy pony.”

Long Haul smirked before he laid his metaphorical cards on the table. “Yeah I want to know who you really are, because you damn sure aren’t Aces High.” He shouted as the various ponies in the lobby stopped what they were doing, and all turned to look at the exchange of words. “I may not know him that well, but I do know that he can’t stand anything about the Neighlagio. So I’ll ask you one more time. Who the buck are you?”

Silver Screen gasped at Long Haul’s sudden outburst. “Hey buddy I don’t think that’s any way to talk to our employer.”

The pony who claimed to be Aces High flashed a mad grin that bore not the normal teeth of a pony, but a jagged set of fangs. “Well played Long Haul, I must confess that for a moment I actually thought you had fallen for my ruse. When my subordinate reported that she had failed to subdue you, and the rest of your party in the night I feared briefly that my plans would falter, but I digress. We shall simply have to do away with you here, and now.” With that, the thing that claimed to be Aces High raised a hoof into the air and brought it down twice on the ground.

Lemon Drop heard Silver Screen tell everypony to shut their eyes, and then heard him say “Oops” before hearing an oddly familiar buzzing noise behind her.

“Hello my sweet daughter. I’ve missed you so much.” A familiar voice said.

Author's Note

And with that we are finally out of the beast that is chapter eleven. I had a lot of fun writing about the convention, and including another cameo from some "Mane Cast" characters. As always be sure to leave a comment, and let me know what you thought.

Chapter Twelve: Luna's Twelve

Coming Attractions
An MLP:FiM-fic by:
The Rouis & Gaint Gamer

Chapter Twelve: Luna’s Twelve

Darkness flooded the lobby of the of the Celestia’s Palace Casino and Hotel, and to make things worse it seemed that Silver Screen was out of magic in his reserves for the time being. Come on brain, you have to have some kind of plan in there, Long Haul thought to himself as the hissing noises grew louder. He could have sworn he felt something brush along his side before he took a sharp blow to the side knocking the wind out of him. He knew that whatever the things that pretended to be ponies needed something from him and his friends. I can’t just stand here, and do nothing. He thought as he once again felt something brush by him. “Actually, maybe I can!” He said aloud as he turned, and bucked in the direction of where he felt the enigma. His reward was the solid feeling of his hooves making an impact, and sending the assailant flying away from him causing a shower of a luminous blue substance to coat his rear hooves, and wall which his assailant hit with a sickening crunch.

“Stand back. I want to take him down myself.” A raspy but powerful voice said as its owner cast a small lighting spell that illuminated the rest of its figure. The creature was covered in a black hardened carapace with a quadruped stance reminiscent of a pony. A jagged and sharp horn extended from its head, and instead of the flat teeth of a pony, it possessed the sharpened fangs of a predator. Two insectile wings ran along its back, and its hoof-like limbs were filled with holes that seemed not due to damage to the creature itself. Two entirely blue glowing eyes stared at Long Haul filled with nothing but a deep contempt.

“Damn you’re ugly.” Long Haul said as he observed the thing that had declared him a target. “You already seem to know who I am. So who, and what exactly are you?” He asked before glancing back to see two similar creatures holding Silver Screen, and Lemon Drop down.

“We are superior is what we are, but you may call me by the name bestowed to me by my glorious mother, Queen Chrysalis, the future ruler of this land and all to come. You may call me Filiform Ichor. I am the thirteenth admiral of her infiltration team.” The hideous insect made his way towards the prey he had been planning to capture, and began circling the large crimson stallion.

Long Haul carefully watched Filiform’s every movement. “So, how exactly do you go around pretending to be other ponies? It’s a rather interesting ability.”

In a burst of what appeared to be green fire where Filiform once stood, now stood what appeared to be Silver Screen minus his vest pacing around Long Haul all the while. “Every member of my species knows the art of skillful deception.” In another burst of the green fire, he shifted to the shape of Lemon Drop. “We can use it to get close to our prey.” He shifted to the guise of Aces High. “To confuse our enemies.” He finally shifted to the guise of Long Haul himself. “To eliminate our targets.” He said before lunging at the real Long Haul.

Long Haul dipped to the side, and dodged the mockery of him sending a rear kick at Filiform, the blow only met air..

Filiform shifted back to his true form. “You’re going to have to try harder than that I’m afraid.” He said as he leapt into the crowd of his brethren that surrounded him masking his presence in the process. “I can see into your mind Long Haul, and I know your weaknesses.” Filiform called out as his shape burst from the crowd hoping to catch Long Haul unaware.

Long Haul barely was able to dodge the attack this time, and felt his blow glance as he leapt back into the crowd. “Why bother toying with me if you can strike me down now, and be done with it?” He said as he dodged another attack.

“I suppose mother always did tell me I had a nasty habit of playing with my food.” Filiform said as Long Haul dodged another attack. “Very well, lets end this now shall we? Let me hit you, or I break your friend’s neck.”

The changeling that held Silver Screen placed his leg over the pinned pony’s neck ready to go for the kill.

“Help us Long Haul!” Silver Screen choked out.

“Don’t let us die!” Lemon Drop cried.

Long Haul braced himself for the hit that was about to come, but realized something a moment into holding still, and preparing for the inevitable. “You know besides going on the whole villainous rant, and explaining how your gross insect pony abomination body works. Also thank you for sparing me the inevitable train top fight scene that I’m sure you had planned just after you strapped me to the laser table, but you forgot something.”

“Do tell!” Filiform shouted as he burst from crowd ready to attack.

Long Haul turned, charged forward, and rammed his shoulder hard as he could at the approaching enemy. This hit connected, and sent the attacker flying back into the crowd of his brethren.

The group gasped at the attack, and the creature that was poised to execute Silver Screen spoke. “Should I go ahead, and kill this waste of breath boss?”

“That won’t be necessary.” Long Haul answered as he galloped at the creature and hit not him, but Silver Screen. “Sorry if I’m wrong buddy.” He murmured as the hit connected, and the shape of Silver Screen changed to that of one of Filiform’s kin. Its jaw bled a sickly blue blood that seemed to glow in the darkened space. “Yeah, last time I checked, Silver Screen does not bleed blue radioactive goop.”

“Over Here!” Silver shouted from across the lobby, he and Lemon Drop were surrounded by more of the creatures. “I’m surrounded by these things Long Haul! I think I’ll call them Doppelchangers!”

“First of all, we are not called Doppelchangers! Second of all, that is the worst name for something I have ever heard!” Filiform shouted as he emerged from the guise of the Lemon Drop that was pinned down.

“I know right? You should hear some of the other names he comes up with for things. Oh, and thank you ever so kindly for giving away your position.” Long Haul said as he slammed a hoof into Filiform’s face, which caused the creature to fall unconscious. “Now to just deal with the multitudes of creatures that are probably just as strong.”

Half the creatures panicked at the sight of their leader’s defeat, and skittered away into the evening through the lobby’s doors. The remainder that were left looked at each other unsure of what to do.

“Seriously?” Silver Screen shouted. “Let’s try this again. Haul, Drop, close your eyes!” He concentrated on the scraps of magic still left in his reserves and fired off one last light spell flooding the lobby with a blinding flash. When the light burst returned to normal levels the view was clearly one of victory.

The remnants of the creatures that had stayed lay dazed on the floor from the burst of light.

“Lemon Drop go check the front desk for anything we can use to tie these things up!” Long Haul shouted.

“Got it,” Lemon Drop acknowledged as she galloped over to the front desk, and gasped at what she saw. Under the open space of the counter lay Aces High, and the bellhops who appeared to be bound and gagged in some sort of sticky green substance. Lemon Drop peeled the substance off the mouth of Aces High.

“Ouch! Watch the mane!” The casino tycoon exclaimed as soon as he was free to speak. “What in tarnation is going on around here? One minute I’m helping a customer, and the next thing I know I’m tied up like some kind of present.”

“Sorry Mister High” Lemon Drop apologized as she untied the bindings on the rest of the hotel staff.

“I think you were attacked by these things.” Silver Screen yelled as galloped over to the now free Aces High. “Should we contact the local police?” He asked.

Aces High nodded to the now freed bellhops. “Boys take these things downstairs to the holding cells, and we will show them what happens when you mess with the Celestia’s Palace staff.” He commanded as the bellhops began rounding up the chitinous intruders, and taking them over to the teleportation rune.

“Remind me never to make Aces High angry,” Long Haul said as he cantered up to the group. “So why not report the attack to the authorities?” He asked.

Aces High placed a hoof on one of Long Haul’s shoulders “The last thing I want ponies thinking is that if they stay here they are going to be captured, hog-tied, and replaced by some of these-”

“Doppelchangers” Silver Screen corrected.

Aces nodded in agreement. “Yes those things. Anyway, I want to make sure that ponies feel safe here, and do not think they have to go somewhere else like the Neighlagio to feel safe. Just keep what happened here between us, and I’ll take care of the rest.” The tycoon sighed at the situation before resuming his usual friendly demeanor. “Now, I believe you three have a performance to get ready for, correct? I think the V.I.P. will be here soon, and I’ll need to get ready to intercept them.” He looked at the lobby of the hotel itself, which showed the signs of the struggle that had just happened. The floor tiles were chipped and coated with the creature’s glowing blood. “I also think I’ll have to keep them out of this lobby.” He said while pointing a hoof at an archway leading out of the lobby. “Head down that way, and across the casino floor to the main auditorium. I’ll check in with you one last time before the show starts.” He said before resuming the act of shouting orders at his workers.

The now safe group of ponies quietly made their way out of the lobby, and onto the casino floor. It seemed none of them wanted to talk about what had just happened until Lemon Drop broke the silence.

“One of them talked to me.”

“What are you talking about?” Long Haul asked.

“One of those things spoke to me when the lights went out. It called me its daughter.” She shivered in remembrance of the voice. “The letter my parents sent said something about my mom having no memory of antagonizing you two before we left. What if one of those things was pretending to be her? What if it’s still following us?” Her eyes began to tear up. “I’m scared.”

Long Haul stepped in front Lemon Drop, and raised her head to meet his gaze. “Lemon Drop, stop that.” He said firmly. “As long as you are with us I promise that we will keep you safe.” He pointed a hoof across the casino floor where the various ways to part with one’s bits ended, and the entrance to the Celestia’s Palace auditorium began. “Sweet Luna on a stick, check it out!” He shouted as he galloped up to the entrance. Flyers for their performance hung in the poster cases that lined the wall, and the name of their group was inlaid on the marquee. “We really have hit the big-time huh?”

“No kidding” Silver Screen said at the sight of their ads hung up.

“I’ll admit it is kind of impressive.” Lemon Drop agreed.

“Well then, what are we waiting for?” Long Haul asked before pushing open the doors of the auditorium.

The group once again sat slack jawed at the space before them. The ornate performance space featured what appeared to be deluxe seating for what seemed to be at least two thousand ponies with two V.I.P. balconies on either side of the stage, and a massive screen setup for the night’s performance.

“I see you’re my next act to set up. So what will you be needing?” Asked a familiar voice that came from an even more familiar beige coated pegasus.

“Light Riggs?” Silver Screen and Long Haul both asked simultaneously.

He did a small bow. “In the flesh. You were expecting somepony else?” He asked.

“You three don’t honestly think I got this far in the Haygas casino business without a little corporate espionage?” Aces High added while he cantered up from behind the chatting ponies. “Riggs has been my best informant on finding out what that dang Fancy Pants has been planning for the past five years. I picked him up after he quit touring with his band, and he’s been working for me since then.” The crafty tycoon turned to Riggs. “Our V.I.P. is here, and I want her seated up in the left balcony so make sure the area is presentable okay?” He used a hoof to adjust his Stetson before turning back to Silver Screen, Long Haul, and Lemon Drop. “I need to get back to making sure our guest is kept happy. She’s already frightened off half of the staff I sent to help her, and she has quite the demanding voice.” He placed a hoof on Silver’s back. “I’m sure if anypony can pull this show off it will be you three.” Aces High turned around, and left the three performers, and the tech director to their own devices.

Light Riggs smirked as he pointed to the gargantuan screen hung on the stage, and a small platform at the rear of the auditorium with one microphone. “I hope the screen is enough to suffice for the performance, and that platform back there is where we are going to have Silver Screen setup.”

“I’m right here you know.” Silver Screen said in a deadpan tone.

“Moving on then.” Riggs steered away from the topic as he called over two stage helpers. “Mic him up.” He commanded.

“Whoa there!” Long Haul exclaimed as one of the ponies clipped a small device to his tie. “What’s this?” He asked before recoiling as he heard his voice echo loudly through the auditorium.

“That would be one of the latest compact wireless microphones straight from Hooftech Industries in Baltimare. We only use the best, and newest tech over here at the Celestia’s Palace.” Light Riggs explained.

“What do I get to do?” Lemon Drop asked as she tried to pull off her best pouty face.

“What do you usually do?” Riggs said as he completely ignored the power of the pouty face.

Lemon Drop had to use all of her composure to ignore the crushing feeling of somepony being immune to her pouty face. “Well I usually collect admission, or sell concessions. My special talent is in food preparation, and hospitality after all.” She said proudly.

“Why don’t you go see if the kitchen staff needs any help? I know they have a lot of food to prepare. It’s through that door.” He said as he pointed to a service door on the opposite side of the auditorium.

“Can do! I’ll see you all after the show.” Lemon Drop hollered as she galloped off into the kitchens.

“She’s a little ball of sunshine.” Riggs quipped before he returned to the task at hoof. “Okay we’re all mic’ed up, and ready to go. Do you two need any more prep?” He asked.

“I think so.” Long Haul answered before one question bubbled up through his mind. “What movie are we showing tonight anyway?” He asked.

Silver Screen’s world flipped as the question posed at him finally sunk in. “I actually kind of didn’t think of that part.” He admitted while a cold sweat of panic began to sit in. “I failed us, and I didn’t plan ahead. What if the guest hates us, and Aces High gets mad? He’ll throw us in the underground jail place where he’s keeping the Doppelchangers! Doppelchangers are mean Long Haul! I can’t go back to jail again! You know what they’ll do to a stallion like me!” He began hyperventilating until Long Haul’s hoof clocked him in the side of the muzzle, and sent him to the ground.

Long Haul placed a hoof down firmly on the carpeted floor, and began to shout. “Snap out of it! You are my friend, and a big nerd, and if anypony I know can think of one heck of a movie to show it will be you!”

Light Riggs watched the exchange, and backed away to avoid the torrent of feelings. “I’ll just see you two after the show then. Good Luck!” He shouted as he galloped off towards the stage.

Silver Screen’s breathing resumed a normal rate as he looked up from the floor at Long Haul. “Thanks buddy. I think I needed that.” He said as he lay upside down, and closed his eyes.

“What in the name of Celestia’s curly moustache are you doing now?” Long Haul asked the now upside down pony.

The inverted pony opened one eye at his friend briefly, and spoke. “You know I do some of my best thinking when I’m either scared out of my mind, on my back, or both.” He laid there for a few moments before he quickly jumped back onto his hooves. “I’ve got it! The perfect story, and it’s sure to knock the socks off anypony who watches it. As long as they are wearing socks anyway.”

“If you say so, but can I at least get a title?” Long Haul asked the suddenly re-invigorated unicorn in front of him.

“If I have to. It’s a little something called-” He then leaned in to whisper the title to Long Haul.

Long Haul’s eyes grew wide at the mention of their soon to be shown performance. “You better be right about this.” He started to head up to the stage, but stopped to look at Silver Screen one last time before they went they took their positions. “I would wish you good luck, but you have the easy job.” He smiled, and trotted off.

Silver Screen smirked, and shouted at his partner. “If that’s what you have to tell yourself.” The vest clad unicorn then made his way onto the platform overlooking the auditorium. “It’s better than being hung up in the rafters I guess.” He commented before he sat down, and started to watch the ponies lucky enough to get tickets, or an invitation to the performance file into the auditorium. “No sense in letting them just sit there. How about I give them a little pre-show?” He said to himself before taking a deep breath, and tapping into his magic to use the memory spell. As the light of his horn graced the screen images of their journey so far began to dance across its surface. He omitted certain details here and there such as their arrival in Equestria, a majority of the C.L.O.P. incident, and of course the attack from earlier in the day, showing nothing more than a simple history of their group.

Long Haul looked up at the screen, and sighed. “That sentimental jerk.” He commented as a lone tear fell from his eyes.

“You okay there?” Riggs asked as he stopped right next to Long Haul.

The two of them stood in silence for a moment watching the highlights from the sidelines. “Just Thinking.” Long Haul answered before giving a long drawn out sigh. “Let’s get this thing started.” He said before slowly hoofing his way out onto the stage, and giving Riggs the nod to turn his microphone on. He gazed out into the filled auditorium, and the crowd eagerly awaiting the performance returned his gaze. “Greetings everypony.” He said slightly fumbling over his words before he regained composure. “Welcome to the first, and hopefully not last-” He took a moment to noticeably wink at Aces High in the guest balcony, which the crowd chuckled at in response. “Performance of the Coming Attractions traveling theater in beautiful Las Haygas.” During the thunderous applause that followed he took a moment to glance out at the guest balcony, and had to restrain himself from doing a double take when he noticed the big guest they had been expecting. Haul raised a hoof in recognition as the applause finally dialed down before continuing. “It is our pleasure tonight to present a story to you very unlike anything told in Equestria, and this world itself before. I present to you the tale that proves that within all of us lies the makings of a hero, and we call this tale: Captain Equestria.” He gave a nod to Silver signaling him that it was okay to start, and then made his way off the stage, and waited for confirmation that he was off mic.

Riggs gave a nod, and spoke first. “That wasn’t too shabby out there, let’s see if sparky can live up to your introduction.”

Long Haul spat out his reply with a tone of worry. “First I’m going to assume that by sparky you mean Silver Screen, and second: the guest that Aces is entertaining is that-”

“Yep.” Riggs confirmed

“Why didn’t anyone tell us that?.” Long Haul sat on his haunches and placed a hoof on his forehead then groaned. “Do you realise the repercussions that could fall on us if we mess anything up?”

The beige pegasus glossed over the question “I thought panicking is the other guy’s thing?” He pointed a hoof towards the presentation in progress. “Things seem to be quiet on the repercussion front out there. So why don’t you relax and go watch your show.” He suggested while trotting off into one of the branching corridors leading to the audience end of the auditorium.

Long Haul decided to take his suggestion and snuck out into the crowd to observe the reactions of those in attendance. Things seemed to go off without a hitch as the crowd laughed, gasped, and even teared up during the right moments. Satisfied that things were apparently going off without a hitch he decided to check on Lemon Drop in the kitchens. As soon as he opened the door he heard a familiar voice shouting over the busy prep-work.

“You call this food? This isn’t even fit for a dog!” Lemon Drop shouted while a sous chef scrambled to make her desired changes. “Speaking of which the diamond dogs in section three have been waiting for their meal for twenty minutes so let’s speed it up okay?” She ordered while pointing at a nervous server.

“Yes M’am!” The entire kitchen shouted in unison.

“Sweet Celestia-on-a-stick you have militarized the entire kitchen.” Long Haul groaned while he watched the sight unfold.

Lemon Drop hopped off of the countertops, and stepped literally on the backs of the kitchen staff as they formed a living staircase under her hooves. With a satisfied smirk she made her way over to her dumbstruck friend. “I know right! I’ve tuned up this ragtag bunch of chefs, servers, and waiters into a complete flank-bucking, and food making machine!” Lemon noticed the young server return with a tray of shattered glasses gripped in her magic.

“It’s horrible, completely horrible!” The mare exclaimed as she laid the tray down on the counter.

“Those glasses are so coming out of your pay.” Lemon Drop said as she surveyed the damage.

“You don’t pay her.” Long Haul countered.

“That’s besides the point.” Lemon Drop retorted.

“Don’t you even want to know what happened?” The server asked,

“Fine.” They both replied.

The server straightened herself and fixed her mane before speaking. “It’s just horrible, the guest that Mr. High has with him is just so weird. Every time we bring her a drink she exclaims that she wants another and smashes the glass on the ground. We’ve gone through seventeen separate glasses already.”

“So she doesn't like her drinks?” She asked before shooting a menacing glare at the pony responsible for preparing the beverages that night.

“Quite the opposite actually. She seems to be enjoying all her food, and drinks this evening. She’s just so loud and scary.” The server complained as she scraped a hoof at the ground.

Lemon Drop took a drink off of the counter in her magic and floated it over to the server. “Here drink this to calm your nerves.” She offered.

“Thank you Miss Drop.” The server uttered before downing the drink in quick greedy gulps.

“Phew that was spectacular my boy, wherever did you come up with that one?” Aces High shouted in triumph as he and Silver Screen came into the kitchen. The stench of spirits emitting from his breath.

“Just a skosh of creativity sir.” The green pony answered as he pried himself away from the intoxicated casino baron. “They all loved it Long Haul!”

“Really?” Long Haul asked.

“You bet your crimson flank they did!” Aces answered before trotting close to the duo as if to tell them a secret.

“I’m here too you know.” Lemon Drop pouted.

“Shush honey the grown ups are doing business.” Aces resumed as he placed a hoof around Long Haul’s neck to bring him in closer. “I want to offer y’all something big. A one year contract at the new casino I’m building down the strip from here. If you can deliver me more nights like this I can take you places you would never believe.” His gaze swept between the two as he waited for an answer.

Silver Screen broke the silence first. “What do you think L.H. should we settle down for a bit?”

Long Haul furrowed his brow, and turned to Lemon Drop. “What do you think Drop?”

Lemon Drop turned to Silver Screen. “Silver Screen I’m leaving this one up to you.” She stated.

The three went back, and forth for a few minutes until somepony broke the silence. The voice however; did not belong to anyone who was involved in the debate.

Hooves shod in platinum armor made their way across the floor of the kitchen area, their owners charcoal gray coat seemed to almost suck the light out of the room as she opened her mouth to speak. “Good evening gentlecolts.” The newcomer spoke as they ruffled their two leathery almost bat like wings. “My mistress would like to speak with these two.” She motioned to Silver Screen, and Long Haul. “In private.” She added.

Silver screen looked into the mare’s piercing golden eyes before speaking. “Are you a vampony?”

The accused vampony narrowed her gaze before answering in a tone that reeked of disdain. “My name sir is Echo Call, and I belong to the Thestrals. We are a race that serves her royal majesty Princess Luna exclusively.” She motioned to the door. “Now if you two would please follow me.”

“Wait here Lemon Drop we’ll be back soon.” Long Haul said as the duo made their way out the door and followed Echo through the hallways of the casino-hotel. “I hope so at least.” He gulped as the thought of them incurring any sort of royal wrath crossed their minds.

“Long Haul why didnt you tell me that the Princess was here?” Silver asked at a bare whisper.

“I didn’t know until I finished my introduction.” Long Haul whispered back. “What did you want me to stop the performance point blank, and tell you so you could panic the entire time?”

“A little yeah.” Silver answered.

“I can hear you both you know.” Echo stated as she flicked one of her tufted ears in their direction. “Strong hearing is one of my race’s traits.” She explained before stopping in front of a set of double doors. Temporary banners showing the symbol of the night princess had been draped over them for the occasion. “Wait here please.” She spoke before slipping between the two.

“What did we do now Long Haul?” Silver asked as he glanced about the space surrounding them. “What if she knows?” He asked in a voice fraught with worry. “Knows about where we are from.” He added.

Long Haul sighed as the thought crossed his mind. “We just need to act as though we have nothing to hide, and we will be just fine buddy.”

Echo’s form once again stepped out and motioned for the two to enter. “She is ready to see you now.” She opened her mouth to speak once more as the duo entered the room. “Your highness I present this evenings entertainers Silver Screen, and Long Haul as requested.” She then took her place on the other side of the door guarding the entryway alongside another thestral.

Long Haul quickly let his gaze sweep across the room. The normal hotel suite had been quickly transformed into a night themed sanctum for the casino’s honored guest. Dark blues, and lavenders graced almost every aspect of the rooms decor, while an enchantment had been added to the ceiling to give it the aspect of a night sky complete with starry scape. At the far end of the room behind a desk sat the monarchy of the night herself. She had been much taller than either of the duo had expected. Her mane glittered in a formless ethereal nightscape, and her dark blue coat made her somewhat camouflaged in the room’s muted lighting.

The ruler of the night paused for a moment as if giving thought on how to choose her next words before finally speaking. “We find this theater presentation of yours to be most splendid.” Her voice seemed to carry a thunder of its own that assaulted the ears of the ill prepared.

Silver Screen reacted in the only manner acceptable when meeting scary monarchs with booming voices, and fainted onto the floor with hooves on the air in submission.

“Coward.” Echo Call stated quietly from her post. The guard next to her chuckled in agreement.

“Is your companion okay?” The diarch of the night thundered. “Do we need to notify the medical practitioners of this facility?”

Long Haul gulped. “He is fine your highness. This is actually the normal response for him when meeting someone of your station, or when getting startled.” In this case both. He thought. “If I may be so bold as to ask: Why are we here exactly? We’re simply performers.” He stated.

“We- That is-” The princess cleared her throat before speaking once more. “I apologize for any inconvenience my mannerisms may pose.” This time her voice still showed the power that came with her station, but on a softer and more sincere level. “I enjoyed the performance you two put on tonight.” She stated before bringing a hoof to her mouth in careful pondering. “The story your friend told tonight simply struck me as odd as I’ve never heard anything like it, and even though I have been long absent from this land due to certain circumstances I know when something just does not fit.”

Long Haul had to quickly evaluate how he would answer Luna. Once he was satisfied he spoke. “Silver Screen although as odd as may seem simply has a sort of creativity on another level.” He gestured to his unconscious friend. “He surprises even me sometimes with the stuff he thinks of.”

Luna frowned for a moment as if disappointed with the answer before putting on a smile. “I suppose that will suffice then.” She then floated a envelope in the same shade of blue as her coat over to Long Haul. “I want to extend an invitation to you, and your friend to come to the castle in Canterlot at some point in the near future to perform for me again.” She seemed finished but then interjected once more. “Do not think however that you need to rush straight to Canterlot, take all the time you need before setting on your way. The contents of that envelop contain directions, and a missive from myself should any guards have questions regarding your destination.” She then motioned towards Echo, and the door. “This has been most pleasant. I wish you both well in the days to come.”

Long Haul gave a small bow before draping Silver across his back and slipping the envelope in Silver Screen’s vest. “Thank you Princess for your hospitality.” He then made his way out the door, and was almost back to the kitchen hall when he felt Silver Screen rouse from his self induced nap, and make his way off of his friends back.

“Hey buddy. What did I miss?” Silver Screen said after a deep yawn as he followed Long Haul.

Haul chuckled. “We met Princess Luna.” He gulped before continuing. “She want’s us to come to Canterlot at some point soon and perform for her.”

Silver’s eyes went wide at that statement. “Golly, but have you given any more thought on Aces High’s offer?” Silver asked as they passed through the staff doors back into the kitchen.

Long Haul rushed in, and immediately shook the hoof of a confused Aces High. “Mister High, You have yourself a deal.”

< Royal Offices, Canterlot Castle- A few hours later. >

Princess Celestia sat at her desk gazing across the clutter caused by numerous scrolls submitted to her by the house of nobles. The troublemaking, and privileged few who seemed to only have the goal of causing the sun princess to require more tea to soothe her migraines from hearing their complaints. On this day however; there was once scroll she was waiting to read. A midnight blue scroll that popped into existence a few feet from her horn and settled on top of the pile of deed disputes, proposals, and even worse: tax forms. Celestia undid the seal of her sister, and unfurled the report sent from her mission in Las Haygas.

Dearest Sister,

As I am writing this I have just finished meeting with the two curious ponies you told me you sensed in our kingdom, and while I fear your suspicions may be true; I sense no malintent in their actions. Thusly I have invited them to our doorstep under the guise of a performance, and told them to not bother themselves with rushing on their way. I am prepared to take full responsibilities for any repercussions that may from from this. You must trust me on this sister. I do however have other news to bring. While here I cannot help but shake the sense that something much bigger than our initial concerns in play. To avoid any chance of my suspicions becoming known outside of our circles I shall deliver you the news once I arrive back in canterlot this week.

Your Sister,

Princess Luna

Celestia furrowed her brow at the news Luna wrote of at the end of her letter. “For Equestria’s sake Luna I hope you know what you are doing.”

Author's Note

Holy cow an update!

I'm starting to get more time to writing since I graduated last year, but no promises on super regular updates. I'll keep trying to crank out updates as much as possible. -Rouis

P.S. Love you all for sticking with me thusfar.

Prologue: Dances with Hooves

Two shapes were huddled in the dark community college A/V room, unaware of the consequences of their actions. The wider of the two spoke up. “There’s no way you should do it dude. Too much for your system to handle on its own, you saw how it processed with two-thousand three hundred and twenty four of them.”

Rouis Presents:

The Taller of the two rebuked his warning. “Yes why don’t we just give up? No! We did not come this far just to turn around on the threshold of a new discovery. This could change everything!” He then pointed a finger towards the Wider shape. "This is history in the making my friend, history in the making."

A Rouis Fan Fiction

The Wider one let loose a sigh as he watched the pastel pink shapes dance across the projected monitor. “Approaching eight-thousand” announced the Tallest one.

“Your CPU’s funeral” The Wider one chided in, using a sing-song tone to express his disinterest. The image on the monitor froze for a moment then stabilized; a veritable sea of pink swam in his vision.

“We’ve done it! Approximately nine-thousand Pinkie Pies, oh I love desktop ponies!” The Taller got out of his seated position to do what most would refer to as a victory thrust before stopping completely.“What are you doing?” He asked the Widest, noticing his hand motioning towards the control.

“What’s the harm in just one more?” The Wider asked before clicking the mouse. They had time to hear the strange whoosh of air but no more as the sea of pink in their screen shed a blinding light upon them. By the time the light vanished, the computer laid smoking and dead, the room empty. Four lost ones unwittingly setting out on a new adventure.

Starring Ponies

Two ponies were huddled around a small scorch mark in the woods, now aware of the consequences to their actions. One was a unicorn of deep green coat with a dark brown mane and tail spoke up. “I told you it was too much for the computer to handle!” He sighed and poked at the ground with one of his forelegs. “Are we in even in Equestria?"

His companion spoke up while standing up, a little shaky at first, but gaining his balance with ease in the end. “I have no clue, but who cares. This is the best experiment gone wrong ever!" He leapt straight up trying to balance on his rear legs as if to form a crude victory pose, this of course failed as he fell on his back. This pony sported a crimson red coat, along with a charcoal black mane and tail.

The green pony laughed at his friends failed flaunting then stood up. “As cool as this may be, I think your misunderstanding something. We have no money, no food, and no idea where we are! ” He extended a hoof to the bridge of his muzzle to push a silver pair of glasses up to his eyes. “The only thing that came here with us was my glasses.” Looking around, seeing nothing but trees and growth he turned his attention back to the crimson stallion next to him. “What’s the plan?” He asked the flopped over one.

Standing up and shaking himself off the crimson pony held a hoof under his chin as if trying to seem contemplative before suggesting a plan. “We could just hoof it in a random direction until we find something?”
The green coated pony trotted up beside him. “Lead away” He sarcastically remarked.

Introducing….

“No way this blows!” Shouted Mr. Green looking at himself in the reflections of a stream, a pair of green eyes staring at a cleanly blank hindquarter before turning to his companion and whining. “Yeah we get to be ponies and all, but were lost in the middle of who knows where, no money, and we’re fully grown blank flanks.”

The crimson pony turned to his friend and retorted. “At least you’re a unicorn” Taking his friend’s small green horn into account, and then looking down at himself. “I’m just an earth pony, no special powers or anything.”

The green pony trotted over to him. “First of all dude, your huge I mean look at you!.” He poked his friend in the side, before adding. “Also earth ponies are special, remember? I’m sure you have the ability to cultivate something fierce if you set your mind to it.” He then gazed into the reflection in the stream looking at the strange new appendage on top of his cranium, reaching out with a hoof; he gently tapped it, feeling about the equivalent of licking a battery at the touch. “I don’t even know how to use this thing anyway.” Hearing his stomach grumble, he began to complain. “Dude I’m hungry, I can’t stop thinking about food, maybe some tacos.”

The Crimson pony looked out, his mouth agape. “Um dude, I think your magic-ing or something.” He pointed to the image of two hard shell tacos, floating on the surface of the stream, a small beam of verdant light leading from their image to his friends horn. Reaching out with a hoof, he almost fell in to the stream as the image gave way at his touch. “Just an illusion then, your like some kind of hum-“ He stopped himself at the mention of a word which no longer applied to the two ponies. “Pony projector, Oh dude I have the perfect pony name for you!” He pointed a hoof at his friend and shouted. “Silver Screen, besides it’s not like our old names would matter wherever we are, hopefully Equestria.”

Silver Screen

The green pony mulled the thought over in his head before accepting the new name. “I like it, only fair that I get to come up with your name then” Silver Screen threw a few out in his brain, contemplating them all for effect. “Oh well I’ll think of one for you eventually, let’s keep going on, we need to find food or civilization or something.”

And….

The Crimson pony increased his speed galloping towards the light ahead of them. “Dear sweet Celestia a clearing! Civilization, maybe even food!” He shouted as he burst through the brush and out into the open, his eyes darting back and forth has he noticed the hustle and bustle going on before him. Ponies of all shapes and sizes wandered about cobbled streets. They may have woken up in a forest, but that forest was right next to a population hub.

Silver Screen huffed and heaved as he struggled to catch up to his friend, panting from being out of breath. “Jeez, even for a pony I’m out of shape” he wheezed as he dropped down next to his awestruck friend. “You can really haul it huh; I think you’re going to have to go with Long Haul for a name.” He inhaled the sweet air greedily before looking at what had his friend so hypnotized. “Oh look, people.” He said before laying his head back and closing his eyes.

Long Haul in….

The newly named Long Haul carefully stepped over his resting friend and looked about. In the show they had seen back where they came from, it seemed like straw huts and peaceful small town constructions were the norm, unless you were in Canterlot that is. But here he saw cobbled roads, brick buildings; it was like ponies had watched a few too many hours of the BBC and tried to re-create London in their own way. Trotting forward, he hollered at a lilac pegasus fluttering through the air. “Excuse me miss, where are we?”

She looked at him like he was insane, and then answered in what would pass as a British accent back home. “Are you daft now? You’re in Trottingham!”

Coming Attractions

Chapter Four: I Know What You Did Last Summer Sun Festival

Coming Attractions
A MLP:FIM FanFiction by Rouis
Edited By GaintGamer

Chapter Four: I Know What You Did Last Summer Sun Festival

Long Haul sat down at the counter inside of Short Stack’s diner, his eyes slightly glazed over from exhaustion. “Haycakes.” He moaned, looking down at the empty coffee cup in front of him.

“Sure thing!” Java Chip chirped at him, filling the coffee cup then gently hoofing over to a booth filled to the brim with a hungry family. A tray of various foods balancing on each wing, trotting over carefully she tilted each forward slightly on the brim of the table letting the trays gently slide over towards the salivating ponies. “You folks enjoy those!” She happily said before trotting back over to towards the sleepy crimson pony. “So how is the old caravan treating you?”
Chip asked.

The still sleepy giant turned his head to face Java Chip before half talking, and half groaning. “It’s pretty good so far, there has been some repair work here and there, but I think Silver Screen and I can take care of that.”

“Great to hear! If you two ever need anything don’t be afraid to ask.” Chip reminded before heading off towards the kitchen.

Haul wondered how things were going for the green unicorn he had sent to the market earlier that morning. I’m sure he can't mess things up that badly. Haul thought. Hearing a bit of a clatter he looked down at the newly arrived stack of haycakes. The usual syrup and butter covered discs were different, instead having an intricate sun design using fruits. “Why the fancy treatment today?” He asked no one in particular.

“Well duh, Happy Summer Sun Festival! I mean the actual holiday isn’t until dawn tomorrow, but we kind of get a head start on things here.” No one answered in the form of an unusually stealthy Java Chip.

Long Haul lifted his syrup covered face up from the half annihilated plate of haycakes to give a pleasant reply. “Oh that’s nice, I just sent an easily offended hyperactive unicorn into the market on what sounds like the busiest day of the year.” The realization of the situation then made Long Haul almost choke on his breakfast. “What!” He screamed.

< Trottingham market square >

Silver Screen happily hummed to himself while making his way through the market, it hadn’t taken a genius to figure out that some kind of great festivity was going on today. Purple and gold sun banners adorned every shop front, while fillies and colts happily pranced about enjoying various festival foods. He looked back to make sure that all his purchases were still nice and secure, Short Stack and Java Chip had been kind enough to let them borrow their cart when they needed it. The cart was bristling full of wood, nails and other supplies to help get the caravan back into a condition that did not make the two ponies worry about their personal safety at night. Silver then spotted his final destination in the market, a small store whose front looked somepony let several cans of paint explode all over it. Pulling the list Long Haul had given him out of his saddlebags Silver had a look at the final items needed for work to begin. “Just need four cans of brown paint and I am outta here! I’ll have to ask long haul if we can come back and enjoy the festival just like everypony else.” Silver happily unhitched himself from the cart and looked back at it to make sure it was not going to roll away while he ventured inside, satisfied with what he saw it was time to open the door and check out the paint shop.

Once inside Silver noticed how many different types of paint there actually were for sale, thankfully for the easily distracted unicorn the paints in the shop were organized into rows divided by general shades. Silver spotted somepony who appeared to be familiar with the store, slowly he hoofed over to the yellow unicorn mare and asked a question. “Excuse me miss but-” Before he could finish however; the mare looked at him with a state of pure contempt her leafy green mane and piercing ice blue eyes only intensified her frightful visage.

“Do I look like I work here?” She snapped, causing the stallion in front of her to back away.

Silver tried to apologize to the strangely offended mare. “I-I’m sorry miss, if I distur-” Once again he was interrupted by the angry mare.

“Don’t even bother apologizing to me. It’s ignorant folk like you that place a stain on this perfect town. Ponies like you should Just. Get. Out!” She screamed before stomping her way out of the store. Other ponies in the store who had simply happened on the scene simply continued on in their business, as if this was some sort of regular occurrence.

Silver screen simply sat there on his haunches, looking like someone had told him the saddest secret in the entire world.

“I’m going to regret asking this, but are you okay?” A familiar yellow mare asked, as she trotted up to the shaking stallion.

“Y-your Long Haul’s friend Lemon Drop right?” Silver asked in a plain dead tone.

Drop had no time to escape from the sadness hug that followed. “Gah!” She yelled as the now wildly sobbing adult wrapped his forelegs around her, and mumbled something about mares being so mean in between the sniffing and sobbing. Lemon Drop tried to remember for the life of her what the large crimson stallion had done to his friend to get him to calm down. “Umm, there there?” She half consoled the pony, and half gagged on her own words.

Silver Screen calmed down slightly then let go of the young mare. “Thanks Lemon Drop I needed that. I see why Haul considers you a friend.” He said, then stood up and used a hoof to dust himself off. Before he could say anything else however; an angelic voice rang through the store.

“Lemon Drop! It’s time leave.” The sweet voice sang, its origin somewhere outside the store's front doors.

“Coming Mom!” Drop hollered back before looking back at Silver Screen. “Well, I’ve got to go. I’m sure you're not all that bad of a pony, you're just a little easily offended is all.” The yellow mare then turned around and left the store.

“Mares are so nice?” Silver asked himself before returning to the task at hoof.

< Meanwhile across town >

Long Haul sat inside where he and Silver never dared to tread, all he could do was observe his surroundings as he let fate take its course. “Nice place you have here.” He nervously said to the two ponies sitting in front of him.

“Thanks for the compliment neighbor.” Java Chip said before she shuffled her wings nervously. “Now what was it you wanted to ask us?” She replied.

“Yeah kid make with the explanations here, I don’t just take a 30 minute break the night before the Summer Sun Festival for nothing.” Short Stack added from his chair, one that sat raised so he could converse eye to eye with everypony involved.

Long Haul struggled not to make some kind of comment about the chair that would earn him another buck to the face, finally moving on he decided it was do or die time. “Oh yeah the proposition. I happened to meet the mayor during my trip to market yesterday, and Silver Screen and I are trying to start a performance troupe of sorts in town.” Long Haul paused for a moment to carefully word his next sentence, otherwise the whole plan was for naught. “I was hoping to give the mayor and his family a private performance in two days, and well I was also hoping you would provide some food which Silver and I will happily pay for.” Long Haul then looked to Java Chip and Short Stack, searching for some kind of sign that would indicate which way this was going to go.

The couple looked at each other and both smiled before Short Stack turned back to the obviously nervous crimson pony and spoke. “The Mayor huh, Is that it? Sounds fine to me.” He then jumped down from his chair and moved to head back to work. “Geez kid, thought you were going to tell me you had a bomb under the diner or something.” The small stallion then left the room, mumbling something about needed to prepare for a feast.

“Well I better get going then, preparations to make and all. Thanks for the time.” Long Haul said before giving a nod to Java Chip and exiting their house. “Phase two accomplished, now time for the easy work to begin.” He said to himself, rounding the corner of the diner to see Silver Screen trotting up to the caravan with a cart full of goods. “Hey Silver, Happy Summer Sun Festival apparently.” He greeted the pony before inspecting the cartload of goods. “Wow, looks like you got everything too, any problems in the market?” He asked.

Silver looked over to Long Haul and stared him down. “Just one thing, I ran into the most mean, evil pony ever at the paint shop! She snapped at me for no reason then left and was all like you need to get out of my town! The nerve of her, its like she thinks she’s best friends with the mayor or something and can do whatever she wants.”

“Don’t let her get to you, she isn’t anypony important anyway. Besides what are the odds you're going to see her again?” Long Haul tried to take Silver’s mind off of any depressing topic at all costs. “I’ll tell you what, we get most of the work done and maybe we can go into town and enjoy the holiday like everypony else.”

Silver perked up immediately at the promise of fun and merriment. “Sounds great to me, Let's get started!” The now eager unicorn replied before unhitching himself from the cart and using his magic to take out the first supplies needed.

Most of the repairs for the caravan went swimmingly. While the two ponies worked Celestia’s sun dipped down into the sky, while Luna’s moon raised up, giving a glow to everything, making it just light enough outside for the two to work. The first thing to get fixed was the door which never quite enjoyed staying attached to the rest of the structure. Next came patching up various spots in the roof which were missing the full amount of tiling here and there. Construction went by quickly and easily thanks to the combination of Silver Screen holding parts in place while Long Haul went to town with his hooves or various tools. It surprised Long Haul specifically how easy it was to grip certain things in the mouth. Long Haul then realised how horrible that would sound out of context and continued his work, hoping that Silver Hadn’t taken notice of his shocked expression.

Next came the painting, a task that Silver Screen was more suited to thanks to his budding use of magic. The brush streaked across the caravan’s exterior contained in a green glow leaving behind a touch up coat of brown paint, and finally once the paint had begun to dry Silver walked over to the cart ready to add the last purchase he had made after the paint store, one that had not been on the list. “Hold up Long Haul there’s one more thing I want to do. Close your eyes.”

Long Haul then closed his eyes and hoped that this next step did not involve any serious head trauma, hearing the noise of nails going into wood caused him to jerk slightly at each bang of what sounded like a hammer. After what felt like an eternity of waiting he was finally given the all clear to open his eyes back up.

“Okay you can open your eyes now!” Silver said with glee, hoping that this panic purchase would be approved.

Long Haul glanced up to where the hammering seemed to be coming from and noticed an etched sign now hanging from the side of the caravan. It displayed what looked like a reel of film unraveling, over and under the film were the words Coming Attractions. Long Haul contemplated the name for a moment before looking to Silver Screen and voicing his opinion. “I like the sign, but the name is just not growing on me. It kind of makes it sound like we are some kind of match making service.”

Silver screen pouted slightly before giving his rebuttal. “But, but the sign cost like a bunch of bits, and I really meant well with the name, and most of the other names I thought of sounded too sexual, here I can fix it!” Silver Screen then reached out with his magic and grabbed a brush then dipped it in a little bit of the black paint. Concentrating hard with his tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth, he then carefully added one word to the end of the sign. The finished project had the name changed to Coming Attractions Theater however; one could tell if glancing for more than just a second at the sign that the Theater portion was hastily added on. Silver once again looked over at Long Haul waiting for approval, widening his eyes and pouting his lips.

Long Haul facehoofed at the addition, but he still gave a nod to Silver Screen. “That’ll do pony, That’ll do.” He then gave Silver Screen a pat on the head before trotting over to the road. “Come on, if we hurry we might be able to get a good spot in the square for the ceremony.” The two ponies then began to make their way into town to try and enjoy the festivities.

< Trottingham town square >

Once the two were able to squeeze far enough into main square of Trottingham, they noticed just how many ponies had come out to watch the sun rising together. Ponies of all colors, sizes, and types watched as Mayor Lemon Lime trotted onto the stage, the whole square bathed in the orange glow of lanterns hung about.

Lemon Lime stepped towards the podium and microphone and cleared his throat before preparing his speech. “Ponies of Trottingham, today we come together to celebrate another year of togetherness, survival and prosperity. This year we saw not only the return our beloved Princess Luna, but also not long ago the return and subsequent defeat of none other than Discord. While his brief reign of chaos may have not affected us as badly as our friends closer to the capitol, we must always remember that for ponies to succeed as a whole, we must care for each other. That being said, I thank everypony for the contributions made this year to the Ponyville restoration fund, may their rebuilding be swift and safe.”

The crowd cheered and stomped their hooves for their mayor’s words, it was clear that he was a pony who could easily move a crowd. Silver Screen and Long Haul joined in cheers and stomps but then quieted down with the rest of the group when the mayor motioned to speak again.

“Yes we do indeed have alot to be thankful for this Summer Sun Festival, which is why I would like to also welcome my family on stage, I believe you all know my daughter and son Lemon Drop, and Lemon Juice.” The nervous mare that was Lemon Drop blushed as her father dragged her out in front of the entire town, her brother however was excited and happily bounced up after his reluctant sister.

Long Haul simply shouted “What!” at the revelation. His surprise however was drowned out by the cheers of the crowd.

Lemon Lime then pointed a hoof at the new mare trotting up on the stage, her ice blue eyes and green mane flowing as she trotted up and stood next to the sea of yellow that was her family. “Who could forget my lovely wife Lemon Tree” The mayor said as his wife waved a hoof at the crowd.

“What!” Silver Screen shouted before his face flushed red as he noticed the mare who had given him the cold reaction earlier in town. Once again however the crowd muffled any surprise in the stallions shout.

“Finally I would also like to extend a hoof of thanks to the gracious ponies who have prepared this year’s dawn brunch. Fillies and gentle colts give a round stomps for my great friend Short Stack and his wife Java Chip of Stack’s Diner!”

“What!” Both Silver Screen and Long Haul screamed in unison as they watched their landlord and landlady take the stage next to the beaming family. Both ponies sat in the crowd, their hearts racing from surprise while the sun peaked over the horizon, the crowds roaring growing to epic proportions. All across Equestria ponies were celebrating the previous year’s accomplishments. Silver Screen and Long Haul simply stared in awe of what little they had done since their arrival. This would be an interesting year indeed.