2482 = LOVE

The group surrounded Clunky and slowly led it out of Sweet Apple Acres without incident.

“Ponyville is just ahead… here is where it gets sticky. Keep your eyes wide open for any pony!” Twilight said giving instruction.

“Remember Clunky… not a single word, even if ponies ask you questions. We’ll do all the talkin’ for ya.” Applejack said reminding Clunky of the plan.

“Noted.” The robot said.

Soon, they reached their first hurdle… the creek bridge. As they approached the bridge, they could clearly see an Equestrian guard making their nightly post.

“Stay cool everyone…” Rainbow Dash whispered. As they approached closer, the guard quickly snapped to attention.

“Halt! State your business…” The guard shouted with a sharp spear in his hand.

“At ease Private!” Twilight said with an outstretched hoof.

“Prin… Princess Twilight! I am honored!” the guard stuttered.

“Yes… my entourage is escorting me to the castle. Continue your post Private!” Twilight said as they passed by. The guard again snapped to attention and resumed his post with a big smile on his face.

“Whew! that was close…” Applejack said as they walked out of the guard’s earshot.

“Hopefully, that’s all we see…” Twilight said in careful release.

“Sugar Cube Corner is just ahead… I’m sure you’re glad to see that Pinkie… HA!” Rainbow Dash said sarcastically with a laugh.

“Oh… oh… don’t remind me.” Pinkie said still woozy from her Cupcake over-over-over-indulgence.

“Quiet you two… I think I hear something ahead.” Twilight said sharply.

“I think… I think I hear it too. It don’t sound good.” Big McIntosh said quietly with a sense of fear.

As they walked, the sound grew and grew. As it got louder, everyone began to walk slower and slower.

“We’re gonna’ get caught… I just know it Twilight… I just know it!” Applejack said to Twilight, as she trembled in fear.

“I’m getting some bad Pinkie tingles…” Pinkie Pie said in fright.

Suddenly a darkened figure leaped in front of the group. It made everyone jump in fright with stifled screams.

“Hello every pony!” Fluttershy said.

“Fluttershy!” The group gasped in unison.

“I think it is so wonderful that you are all here for the celebration!” Fluttershy said in glee.

“Oh… that bird… um… star flying thing… you were telling me about?” Rainbow Dash said scratching her head.

“Yes! The annual watch of the Night Starling!” Fluttershy said in excitement. She then turned and looked up at the night sky.

Twilight quickly kicked Rainbow Dash hard in the flank.

“YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS AND DIDN’T TELL US!” Twilight said with anger, still trying to be quiet.

“Heh… heh… I uh… kinda forgot.” Rainbow said nervously, wanting to crawl under a rock.

“Yes! When the Night Starlings return from Vanhoover each year, they always greet everyone with beautiful music! I can’t wait! Come follow me… I know where the best place is to watch!” Fluttershy said ahead of the group, motioning them to follow.

“Oh this aughta be great!” Applejack said with a snort.

“I gotta a baaad feeling about this!” Pinkie Pie said.

“Hey… we could always run!” Spike said to Twilight nervously.

“Let’s just see what she wants and visit for a little while and leave… OK.” Twilight said trying to assess the situation.

As the group rounded the corner, they could suddenly see the source of the noise they had heard. Surrounding the gazebo in the center of town was at least 200 ponies! Many of them were dressed like birds, as well as wore organic materials. Several of the ponies had musical instruments, and wore beads and necklaces. Everyone was filled with happiness and looked to the sky in anticipation.

However, the group’s eyes suddenly swelled to the maximum, as they were now at the point of panic.

“Threat detected…” Clunky said.

“You ain’t kiddin’!” Applejack returned as she gazed upon the crowd.

“Oh… Hello there! Who’s your new friend?” Fluttershy said meekly, looking at Clunky’s costume unaware.

“Er… Um… That… That’s my cousin Snap… uh… Snapple Apple! He’s here from Appleloosa! Yeah…” Applejack said almost tripping over herself.

“Oh… hello there Snapple Apple sir. Welcome to Ponyville! Are you looking forward to the Starlings?” Flutter said with enthusiasm.

“Um… he doesn’t talk. I mean his voice is all messed up right now on account of hollering at Granny Smith. You… you know how ornery she can get. Heh… Heh…” Rainbow Dash said nervously.

“That… that’s why we are escorting him to the castle. So Twilight here can mix up a remedy… isn’t that right Twilight?” Rarity said nudging Twilight.

“Correct. Good old Twilight here is going to mix up some brew… and treat the sick.” Twilight said with a crooked smile.

“Oh… such a pity that you won’t see the Night Starlings. They are just wonderful!” Fluttershy said as she once again turned seemingly entranced, looking at the sky.

All of a sudden, other ponies surrounding them must have been privy to their conversation.

“The starlings return means that there will be peace in our valleys of life… man.” One of the ponies dressed like a bird said, as he reached for Rarity’s hoof. Rarity instantly backed away with a shriek.

“The starling knows what every pony needs… The starling is our oracle!” another pony said, trying to put their hooves around Rainbow Dash.

“HEY! BACK OFF PAL!” Rainbow said also with a shriek.

A pony with a tambourine grabbed Pinkie Pie and said, “Play a song for the Starlings… man!”

“Ummmm… NO!!!” Pinkie screamed as she quickly ran away in fright.

Another pony reached up to Spike as he clung to Twilight’s back. He had some sort of crude instrument.

“Play the love harmony beads and please the Starling kind!” The pony said.

“TWILIGHT! GET ME OUT OF HERE!” Spike said scared out of his mind.

Applejack and Big McIntosh were poised to strike as the ponies kept trying to touch them.

“Now ya’ll just back away and you won’t get hurt!” Applejack said nervously, trying to act tough.

“Uh… Eeyup! I hope…” Big Mac said with a shake.

“Don’t fight it man! Feel the love of the Starling! It loves you man!” several of the ponies repeated as they came closer to Applejack and Big Mac.

Suddenly… the night sky was filled with birds flying across.

“THE NIGHT STARLINGS! LET US PLEASE THEM!” Every pony suddenly turned and shouted towards the sky. They started walking closer to the gazebo, and singing, and playing their instruments.

With the crowd’s attention diverted the group quickly dashed away to safety, far from the crowd.

“OK! OK! THAT WAS JUST INSANE!” Pinkie Pie said trying to find her composure.

“EWWWWW! ONE OF THEM TOUCHED ME!” Rarity said almost jumping.

“THEY GRABBED ME TOO! UNCOOL! UNCOOL!” Rainbow Dash squealed.

“I THOUGHT I WAS GOIN’ TO WAR OR SOMETHIN’! THAT WAS A NIGHTMARE!” Applejack hollered.

“NNOPE! NNOPE! NNOPE! NNOPE! NNOPE! NNOPE! NNOPE!” Big Mac kept repeating.

Spike could only cry uncontrollably without a word, and Twilight tried her best to console him.

“VERY STRANGE… VERY, VERY STRANGE…” Clunky said trying to make sense of it all.

After a few moments of release, everyone slowly returned to normal.

“Should we go back and fill Fluttershy in about all that’s happened?” Twilight whispered with concern.

“Leave her to her birds and her bird-brained friends. Fluttershy has always been one WEIRD pony.” Rainbow Dash said quietly.

“…and she can sure pick some weirdos.” Applejack said hushed with a giggle.

“… and I thought that our metal friend here was strange. I never knew ponies LIKE THAT existed!” Rarity said softly with her eyes as large as saucers.

“Hippie dippie weirdy ponies… ha ha ha!” Big McIntosh said with a bellowing, mocking laugh.

“Pipe down Big Mac! We don’t need any of those strange fellers following us…” Applejack said nervously as she began to walk faster.

“I think Applejack has the right idea…” Twilight said as she too began to walk faster, with Spike tightly clinging to her back.

Soon… the entire group was standing in sight of Twilight’s castle.

“Whew! We made it! This has been absolutely dreadful!” Rarity said brushing her mane.

“For once I agree… that was plum nonsense!” Applejack said.

“Eeyup! And plum preposterous too!” Big Mac said.

“Now where in tarnation did you hear such a big word like that?” Applejack said with a snicker.

“Cause I can read… an I read about as much as Twilight does!” Big Mac said with agitation.

“You don’t neither!” Applejack hollered.

“I do too!” Big Mac returned.

“You don’t neither!” Applejack again hollered.

“I DO TOO!” Big Mac said raising his voice.

“ENOUGH!!!” Twilight yelled, breaking up their fight.

“I didn’t come this far, so you could wake up every pony with your SILLY SQUABBLES!” Twilight said, stomping her hooves on the ground.

“Yeah… this is pretty childish! In fact to settle this… I see Big Macintosh all the time from the clouds, under the apple trees with a book in his hands. You take him for a DUMB pony, but he can surprise you… that is of course, if you would only quit flapping your gums and LISTEN!” Rainbow Dash said to Applejack with a snarky attitude.

“Oh Really!” Applejack said getting up in Rainbow’s face.

“Yeah! REALLY!” Rainbow said almost an inch from Applejack’s face.

“Hmm… I think I want a cupcake.” Pinkie Pie said butting in on their confrontation.

“PINKIE!!!” They yelled with mean looks upon their faces.

“Halt! Halt! Quarrel is counter-productive! Ponies need rest. Copy?” Clunky said loudly, trying to make sense of everything.

“Clunky is right! Everyone needs to get in the castle and get some SLEEP! I know ALL about sleep, and you are ALL CRANKY!” Spike said with a breath of fire, while standing on Twilight’s back.

Every pony nodded and started walking without a word, knowing that Spike was absolutely right.

Soon… they crossed the threshold of the enormous castle gate. And with a few more steps they were all inside the shut and locked castle.

“Made it…” Twilight said in tired release, with her eyes drooping closed as she bolted the door.

The entire group was visibly frazzled and exhausted from their ordeal.

“Ok Clunky… you can take your costume off! We’re safe now. Over there is the library and down there is my bed.” Twilight said pointing the way and fighting off the urge to sleep.

After a few moments, Applejack’s face turned from a stern look into a tired look of regret.

“I’m uh… sorry Big Mac and every pony else for being rude.” Applejack said with her head hung low.

“…and I’m sorry too for being the same. That was very unladylike of me.” Rarity said looking at Clunky.

“I’m sorry guys… for being a butt.” Rainbow Dash said.

“…and I’m sorry for yelling at every pony.” Twilight said with tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry for not being neighborly.” Big Macintosh said crying.

“…and I’m sorry for WANTING CUPCAKES!” Pinkie cried out as great tears dropped from her eyes.

Now… the entire group was crying, holding each other, and apologizing.

After a few moments, Spike yelled with a disgusted look. “EVERY PONY GET SOME SLEEP!!! YOUR LACK OF SLEEP HAS MADE YOU INTO A BUNCH OF WHINING, CRYING BABIES!!!” Spike could only throw up his hands as he walked down the hallway towards the bedroom.

“…and they call me ‘baby’ …Sheesh!” Spike huffed as he went into the bedroom.

The entire group suddenly quit crying and awkwardly broke their release.

“Heh… Heh… that was cute.” Rainbow dash said sarcastically.

“That little whipper snapper is a hoot.” Applejack said with a laugh.

“Yes… I think Spike is right. We have had a loooong day and need some sleep. You all know where the spare bedrooms are. Goodnight.” Twilight said with a yawn, as she too trotted up the hallway towards her bed. The rest of the group, slowly did the same. And, one by one they collapsed into each snuggly bed on a sleep journey to meet Luna. Clunky could only stand in the entrance hall observing quietly, trying to understand all of their strange ritual.