The sun shined in Twilight Sparkle's house, as she sprang out of her bed, anticipated for Princess Celestia's upcoming arrival.
"Come on, Spike!" She chanted, as she pushed and tugged at the sound-asleep baby dragon. Twilight Sparkle then gave one hard shove.
Plop!
Spike fell right out of his bed, as he let out a small yelp of alarm.
"What's your problem?!" He said, raising his voice, rubbing his aching head.
Twilight Sparkle took a deep breath.
"Princess Celestia is visiting Ponyville soon, and I'm making an arrival party for her. Everyone in Ponyville is going to be helping," she paused for a moment, as her eyes widened, and her frantic mouth slowly turned into a grin, "even baby dragons."
The words echoed through Spike's head. He did not want to spend his Saturday, helping out. Saturday and Sunday were weekends, but in the pale green and purple dragon's head, it was his day off.
The room was silent for a while, as he gave a look of disgust and a hard stare at the purple unicorn, her eyes shimmering. She sighed, and with no hesitation, she grabbed Spike's arm, and tugged him out of the doorway.
I must be asleep. This is probably all of a dream–or in this case, a nightmare. Spike thought, as he watched as the ample tree house faded into the bright sunlight. His thoughts drifted off.
"Oh, lighten up, Spike," Twilight Sparkle giggled, not knowing she had interrupted Spike's thoughts of peace, "it really isn't that bad. All you have to do is... blah, blah, blah. Blah, blah, blah, blee, bloo, blah!"
Spike had zoned out the bossy mare, and only heard a bit of her voice, which then turned into mumbles, in his wild imagination. Yes, mumbles even softer than Fluttershy! When Spike had ran out of interesting things to think about, he admired the beautiful scenery. As Twilight Sparkle pranced upon the dirt path, he heard the peaceful sounds of birds chirping. It was relaxing. He felt the warm rays of the sun on his back, and a cool breeze. He sniffed the air. Spring was officially here.
Now I know why Fluttershy loves nature so much... it's beautiful. Why can't Twilight just stop with her constant caring about school, and enjoy life? Spike wondered.
Twilight then jerked to a stop, and Spike fell off her back. He let out a groan of disapprovement, as he landed in a meadow, full of flowers of all kinds and colors. The purple unicorn blushed, and let out a nervous laugh, knowing that she had made the baby dragon fall twice today, within 25 minutes.
"You okay, Spike?" Twilight heard a familiar voice say. She glanced behind her, only to reveal a curious Applejack. Her bright red apple cutie mark shined in the sun, and her sunflower blonde mane blowed a bit in the cool breeze, creeping in Ponyville.
"Hi, Applejack! How are the healthy snacks coming along?" Twilight Sparkle asked, greeting her friend.
"Uh, ah'm workin' on 'em." The pale pumpkin orange pony nervously said, glancing in back of her, and then back at Twilight Sparkle, whom she didn't want to disappoint.
Twilight used her keen knowledge on friendship, and knew something was wrong right away.
"What happened?" Twilight Sparkle asked, like if she were a concerned teacher, asking if little Billy had tripped little Susy at the playground.
"Ah was off to a good start. But mah lil' sis' is so involved in figurin' out her special talent, that ah just couldn't say no. Ah didn't want to hurt her feelin's, y'know?" Applejack said, a little scared that Twilight Sparkle might explode. She was an erupting volcano from time-to-time, during special events, especially events as special as this one.
"As a good friend," the intelligent unicorn began, not noticing Applejack rolling her eyes, as a sign that she didn't want an hour long lecture on friendship, "I understand your problems, and what happened. But you do need to do your job. I don't want the princess to think you're a slacker. She might shut down Sweet Apple Acres if she finds out. Then, your family would be out of business. How would you make bits then?"
"Aw, hush there now, sugar cube! Princess Celestia ain't gonna shut down Sweet Apple Acres, just 'cause of one little job undone! Y'all just gettin' a lil' bit nervous, just like ah get before a competition! It'll all be fine, you'll see. The princess will appreciate this, she's an understandin' kind of mare." The Earth pony replied, her emerald green eyes, sparkling within in the sun.
"Well, I suppose so..." Twilight Sparkle said. Her ears stood up taller than usual. She could hear a nearby argument.
"I'll be back in a second, AJ!" Twilight Sparkle cried, zooming to the scene of the crime–err... argument.
"No, Silver Spoon, that goes there!" Twilight Sparkle heard a frustrated young voice shout.
"Can't hear you! I hear the wind. Whoosh!" She heard another young voice cry out. Twilight Sparkle then dashed in between the two fillies.
"Stop it, both of you!" She sternly said, but not too stern. They were just kindergarteners, after all.
"She started it." A bright cotton-candy pink filly said, pointing her right hoof towards a grey filly, with sky-blue glasses and pearls.
"Ooh, did you hear something? Must be the wind. Whoosh!" The grey filly loudly and obnoxiously said.
"I'm not the wind, I am a pony!" The pink filly shouted out.
"Hey, I hear a pony... BUT NOT DIAMOND TIARA!" The grey filly laughed.
Diamond Tiara gave a look of frustration.
"See what I have to work with?" She complained, pointing to her obnoxious friend, who kept claiming that she heard the wind.
"I don't care who started it. You're both acting very immature, and should stop." Twilight Sparkle proudly stated, then trotted away, to go check on the Weather Patrol.
"Diamond Tiara, there's a wall here." Twilight Sparkle heard the grey filly's voice fade away.
"Shut up, Silver Spoon..." Diamond Tiara softly said, giving out a long sigh at the end.
Diamond then turned away, snout held up high, as she walked as if she were royalty to the decorations. She carefully picked up one in between her mouth, and climbed up a ladder. They both didn't get why they had to decorate, of all the things, a tree.
What really bothered Diamond Tiara is the way Silver Spoon was acting. They were best friends, but now, Silver Spoon is pretending that there is a wall in the middle of them and that Diamond Tiara is the wind.
"Be careful up there, pink cloud of dust!" Silver Spoon called out, to her miffed friend, on top of the ladder.
A snow white filly then walked towards Silver Spoon. Diamond Tiara could easily recognize that pony... it was Sweetie Belle, Rarity's little sister, and one of the members of The Cutie Mark Crusaders, in Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's heads, "The Blank Flanks."
Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon were whispering to each other. The foal on top of the ladder could barely make out what they were saying. She leaned toward the ground, trying not to be noticed. She then fell, right in the middle of the two.
"Pink cloud of dust, you aren't Super-Mare! Quit trying to fly." Silver Spoon said, looking down at Diamond Tiara.
"That is it! What is your problem, lately? First off, I am not a bee. I don't live in a bee hive, and I don't live in YOUR bee hive. Will you just shut up and help me with the decorations?" She scolded Silver Spoon.
"Fine, sorry. Ai yi yi, you are such a picky goose AND a picky bee!" Silver Spoon clearly said, then mumbled the rest, but Sweetie Belle and Diamond Tiara could still hear.
This is going to be a long day... Diamond Tiara thought, watching the decorations fall off the recent tree she put them on.
*
Meanwhile, Twilight Sparkle had just arrived at the Weather Patrol area. She looked all around. Where was Rainbow Dash? She then noticed a sparkly, bright, colorful rainbow spread across the sky, and something faster than lightning dash past it, pushing a dark cloud.
"Almost there!" The familiar-looking pony shouted. She also had a familiar voice. Who else would it be, but Rainbow Dash?
"Rainbow Dash! Hey! Rainbow Dash!" Twilight Sparkle shouted, run-pacing back and forth, trying to keep up with the fast sky-blue pegasus, with the multi-colored mane.
"Rainbow Dash!" She yelled as high as her voice could go. Rainbow Dash still didn't look down. Neither did any of the other members of the Weather Patrol. She looked up at the sky, at all the pegasi's mouths dropped in awe as the rainbow pony dashed before their eyes. Someone was missing. She looked at all of the ponies, carefully. The pegasus clearing the sky right now was obviously Rainbow Dash. She remembered the list of members of the Weather Patrol. The missing pegasus was no pony other than Fluttershy!
Rainbow Dash finally looked down, to see who had been shouting her name so loud. But, Twilight Sparkle left too quick.
Must've been a fan cheering me on! She proudly thought, with pride.
Twilight galloped throughout the entire place. No sign of Fluttershy. Twilight Sparkle approached a spot where no ponies were. It was a quiet, peaceful, relaxing and colorful meadow, full of long grass, and lots of dazzling flowers.
She noticed a creamy-yellow pegasus with a long, pale pink mane. She was tucked in a corner, full of lots of woodland creatures. Squirrels, birds, chipmunks, rabbits, foxes, deer, mostly every animal in the forest!
Twilight Sparkle slowly approached the pegasus, knowing how easily startled Fluttershy is.
"Um... hello? Fluttershy?" Twilight Sparkle smoothly said. Fluttershy jumped, and gave a tiny scream. The animals all ran away. Twilight seen the look on the calm pony's face. She didn't look too happy. She then turned around, and seen the face of a friend. Fluttershy gave a warm, gentle smile, as she sniffed the flowers, and leaned against a minuscule tree.
"Oh, um... h-hello, Twilight..." Fluttershy's soft voice trailed off as soon as she said "Twilight." Even around her friends, she was still a bit shy. That's just the way Fluttershy is.
"How is your morning going so far?" Twilight Sparkle asked. Her friends' needs came first, even before a huge event that her future could depend on.
"Uh... um... er... g-g-good so f-far. So, w-what brings you here?" The creamy-yellow pegasus responded, her grassy green eyes gazing at Twilight.
"To see what happened. Why aren't you at Weather Patrol? Every pegasus I've assigned is there!" Twilight Sparkle responded, with an interesting look on her face.
"Oh, I... um..." Fluttershy responded, her voice trembling and shrinking. She let out a small cry, and curled up on the cool, meadow, her Repunzel-long tail covering her shy, grassy green eyes.
"Fluttershy, it's okay if you don't want to do Weather Patrol. You would do much better training animals to greet the princess. I know how much you love animals and nature..." She paused, and her voice broke, "please forgive me."
Fluttershy was very forgiving, yet open-minded when friends are in danger. She came back into her normal position, and stood up.
"I-it's okay. I, um, can do that..." Fluttershy said, with a wide grin.
"Good. If you could get started now, that would be nice." Twilight Sparkle said, her voice back to a rushy tone.
Fluttershy nodded, and Twilight Sparkle trotted away.
Instead of Fluttershy, Diamond Tiara and Rainbow Dash, I should really be checking on Pinkie Pie. She's one to worry about... Twilight Sparkle thought, as she walked down the same path, but what seemed like an endless path of doubt and wonder.
She soon found herself in front of a dancing Pinkie Pie–who actually was dancing on the table tops to Starships by Nicki Mare-aj.
"Pinkie Pie!" Twilight Sparkle sharply said, her voice cutting through the popular song. Pinkie Pie jumped, and fell off the table, right on her flank. She rose up, and turned off the booming music.
"WHAT are you doing?! You're supposed to be working on the snacks, not dancing like an out-of-control party animal!" The frustrated purple unicorn snapped.
"Okie-dokey-lokey, Twilight! I would, but I already did! I was just dancing out of boredom, plus, I love to dance and party! It's just so fun to unwind." Pinkie Pie chuckled. Twilight Sparkle's eye twitched.
"Oh, continue on, then." Twilight Sparkle said, giving Pinkie Pie a short chuckle of embarrassment. Pinkie Pie put on a new song, which was Paparazzi by Photo Finish.
*
As Twilight Sparkle casually galloped along, she felt guilty for doubting the energetic, bright pink, party pony. She seen Apple Bloom and her two friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, playing together. She waved to them. Only determined Apple Bloom noticed at first. Then, delicate Sweetie Belle and daring Scootaloo waved back.
"You're it!" Sweetie Belle said, lightly pressing her hoof against Scootaloo's shoulder.
"Hey, I wasn't ready!" Scootaloo scolded. Sweetie Belle just stared for a moment.
"Just kidding with you, Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo laughed, as she approached Apple Bloom, like a snake advancing on its prey.
Twilight Sparkle smiled, and remembered her life back in kindergarten. She wished she was as social as these three fillies. Instead of playing on the playground with the other fillies, young and wise Twilight Sparkle sat on a nearby bench. Whether it was coloring a picture, studying a song or memorizing the alphabet, Twilight Sparkle never interacted with other fillies. She would often get teased, but she didn't care. She knew that she had a fascinating future ahead of her. Unlike other fillies, Twilight Sparkle never cried when the school bully snapped her crayons. She just gave him a lecture on kindness, and went back to practicing magic. Many fillies looked up to Twilight, but there was no way to talk to her. Whenever a class mate said something to her, she just went "I'm busy!" or "I'm studying!"
No matter how many times the intelligent young pony said stuff like that, her class mates still looked up to her, including the teacher.
Bump!
Twilight Sparkle had accidentally bumped into another pony. Her head ached, as well as her back. Twilight tried her best to stand up, and succeeded, although her legs were wobbling and shaking. Her vision was still a bit blurry. All that Twilight could make out was a snow white figure, with a gracious, shiny purple mane. Finally, her vision cleared up.
"Dreadfully sorry, Twilight!" The pony apologized, as she picked up some fabric and the banner. It was Twilight Sparkle's friend, Rarity!
"No, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going, Rarity. It isn't your fault. Here, let me help you." Twilight Sparkle kindly responded, lifting up the dropped banner with her horn. Twilight's magic wasn't strong enough for the large banner. It went up, then down, up, then down. "Upsy-daisy! Downsy-wownsy," as Pinkie Pie would say. Rarity's magic wasn't strong enough for a banner that heavy.
"How about we carry that gargantuan banner together?" Rarity suggested, as she used her magic to make a light bulb appear over her head.
"Oh, wow, so smart." Twilight mumbled under her breath.
"What was that?" Rarity called out from behind, as she helped the unicorn lift the banner.
"I just said "I love helping my friends! Go, friendship!" Twilight Sparkle said, trying to sound like a cheerleader.
"Give me an F!"
"F?" Rarity responded, wondering if her friend had gone completely senile.
"Give me an R!" Twilight chanted.
"R?" The fashionable unicorn responded once more. The two did all the letters, soon enough.
"What's that spell?!" Twilight shouted, as she leaped from one bottom hoof to another. She didn't mind that other ponies were staring, like they do at Pinkie Pie. Just like her party animal of a friend, she was young and wild and free.
"Nopony cares!" Diamond Tiara chimed in, out of nowhere.
"Where did you come from?" Twilight Sparkle wondered, as a mean look appeared on her face. She didn't appreciate the young pony's tone.
"The sky." Diamond Tiara replied, trying hard not to yawn.
"No, seriously, where?" Twilight Sparkle demanded her to answer.
"You okay, Diamond Tiara?" Derpy Hooves called out.
"Maybe you should get Rainbow Dash to hold the ladder for me!" Diamond Tiara called back, sternly at the unintelligent grey pony, with the banana yellow mane.
"Nah, it's okay! I got it!" Derpy Hooves said. Diamond Tiara did a face hoof, then stalked Derpy back to the ladder.
"So, anyways, are you done designing the outfits, and the banner?" Twilight Sparkle asked, with a look of concern on her face. She felt a tad bit stupid asking this. Rarity was never late with designing stuff. Why would she be late now?
"Darling, your question shall be answered in a second." Rarity said, making catwalk-like lights appear, each one a color of the rainbow. She put all her power into lifting this heavy banner, and she managed to hang it up. The text was all the colors of the rainbow, and it was covered in glitter. Rarity also tricked it out a little more.
Twilight Sparkle gasped in awe, mouth wide open.
"Oh, Rarity..." Twilight Sparkle began, about to cry from its passion and beauty, "it's gorgeous!"
"Why, thank-you." Giggled the confident Rarity. Lots of ponies who surrounded the two were in shock, as well. They loved it, and knew the princess was going to love it, too.
"Apple Bloom!" Applejack called out, still in search for her younger sister. She looked in front of her, only to discover three fillies playing Tag. Not just any fillies–it was Applejack's little sister, Apple Bloom, Rarity's little sister, Sweetie Belle, and Rainbow Dash's number one fan, Scootaloo.
"Howdy, y'all!" Applejack greeted.
"Howdy, big sis'." Apple Bloom cheerfully responsed.
"Hiya!" Said Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in unison, as they both let out friendly waves to Apple Bloom's honest big sister.
"Howdy, y'all! Yippee-ki-yay!" The four heard a taunting voice, and two high-pitched giggles. Who else would it be, but Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon?
"Like my Apple Bloom impression?" Diamond Tiara laughed.
"Yeah, girl!" Silver Spoon energetically replied to Diamond Tiara, who has annoyed Apple Bloom since the first day of school, along with Silver Spoon. Luckily, Apple Bloom found two friends that stick up for her. All three girls sighed, and Applejack looked furious. Applejack whistled, and the eldest sibling in the family, Big Macintosh, appeared quicker than lightning. He looked furious, just like his so much younger sister. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon both jumped, making it quite obvious that they were frightened.
"Well, uh, gotta go! See ya!" Diamond Tiara said, fear trembling in her voice, as she quickly galloped out of sight.
"I follow Diamond Tiara everywhere, so...um...I have to go? Goodbye!" Silver Spoon raced through her sentence, and gave a cowardly, tiny wave, as she darted after Diamond Tiara. The three siblings began the laughter, then joined in the other two Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"Thanks, y'all, for doin' that for me." Apple Bloom thankfully smirked.
"Yeah, thanks! You saved us all!" Sweetie Belle beamed.
"That was awesome! You two should do this more." Suggested Scootaloo, who, by the way, was very thankful that Apple Bloom had such caring siblings.
Today was just a perfect day. What could go wrong?
