I have no idea what to call thisby PegaStruckByLightningChaptersChapter I – A Guest from the WestChapter II – The Ponies of the Forest TownChapter III – The Warrior of the EastChapter IV – Cousin in the NorthChapter I – A Guest from the WestThe weather patrol had announced the week before of an impending thunder and windstorm. In response to that, the populace of the little forestside town Ponyville had prepared for all and then some. Each household had a different approach to spending the storm. The Cakes on one hand kept their pastries for safe keeping from two storms: the one outside and the resident Pinkie Pie. Other than that, it was the new parents Carrot and Cup Cake with their baby twins, who for some reason were not earth ponies like their parents, but a pegasus Pound Cake and a unicorn Pumpkin Cake, all blanketed together. All the while Pinkie Pie being on the ceiling for no sensible reason. The two mares Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops were cuddling tightly despite the overkill of blankets piled on top of them, a sight which any mundane pony would assume that the two mares in question were copulating under the sheets. Still, whatever method they had on the progress, is working just fine to keep their minds off the storm. Carousel Boutique had the two sisters Rarity and Sweetie Belle enjoying a couple of drinks, a hot cocoa for the filly Sweetie Belle and an overly-intricate blend of a triple-shot Espresso based drink involving apple cider of Apple family origins for the older unicorn respectively. How she managed to balance two contrasting flavors in a mug is beyond any mundane pony. Speaking of the Apple family, the three-generation family consisting of the elderly Granny Smith, her firstborn grandson Big Macintosh, her firstborn granddaughter Applejack, her youngest grandfoal Apple Bloom, and the family canine Winona, are all huddled up to their homestead’s fireplace, each eating a slice of their family’s proud heirloom; their sweet apple pie recipe. On the other side of the town, near the edge of the Everfree forest, the cottage of the creature cuddler Fluttershy contained the usual resident animals: the mouse family enjoying a slice of cheese, the owl who always keeps watch during nighttime, a honey badger, and the white lagomorph Angel, eating the food he so frequently demands, and Fluttershy so frequently spoils him, carrot cake with carrots selected by the pretentious rabbit himself. Also present in the cottage are Tank the tortoise and her owner Rainbow Dash, as the obvious effects of a storm on a cloud house which can involve electric discharge, are substantially lethal to the shelled reptile and his winged mare owner, if given, Rainbow Dash could go on about how she and Tank got electrocuted during the previous storm and survived with extreme bravado. The tortoise, Tank, chose to hide in his shell for the sake of convenience, as he does this ninety percent of the time of day, according to his very impatient owner, while said owner lay down on the couch along with the resident Fluttershy, their wings acting as warmth nets for each other, especially for the canary mare, as the cyan mare had a history of protecting her foalhood friend. Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy as the timid mare nuzzled up at Dash. Twilight Sparkle, resident of the library Golden Oaks, chose to spend her time experimenting with various alchemic agents, and scribbling down notes with her quill, while the barely eager baby dragon Spike tidies up the mess of books and notes of the purple unicorn. “And I thought the sight of her brother and her old foalsitter getting married would make her focus less on this…” the dragon muttered out of the borderline-mad unicorn’s earshot. “Sure wish a distraction would arrive.” And lo, the door swung open, but in a different manner than how the storm should have swung it. Twilight, after slipping and applying 35 milligrams of sodium acetate on the mix instead of 3.5 milligrams, and screwing up the intended balance of the mixture she was attempting to make, grunted and approached, more like stomped toward, the hooded figure responsible for opening the door and riling her up. “Who do you think you are, barging--” The figure collapsed on the floor, hood out, revealing a dark gray stallion with pitch black hair. He had a circular apparatus grafted to his chest, with three exposed beams of cable connected to pinnately-organized branching of smaller cable. Twilight Sparkle examined the stallion, carefully removing his coat with her magic, and discovered the stallion having gryphon-size wings. This piqued the mare’s curiosity. A metal apparatus, and gryphon-size wings, and as she was wondering, the stallion had carnivorous teeth! “Is that a skull with tears as a cutie mark?” she wondered. “Am I… back home… my motherland… Thrace…” the stallion said, before passing out. After tending to the mysterious visitor in his unconscious state, Twilight rested her head upon the bedside, slowly muttering out, “Spike… I’ll finish… the potion…tomorrow… ” and fell asleep. Moments later, the stallion awoke. “By Maverick, whose home is this?” he wondered. Noticing a sleeping purple Unicorn on his left, he carefully slid out of the bed. “Nah. I won’t carry her. Physically, that is.” He rolled down the blankets, aimed his chest at the sleeping mare, and with a heavy breath, the fixture on his chest released a beam of red magic. With it, he levitated the slumbering mare onto the bed, and afterwards rolled up the blankets to her chin level. The bed; and the mare in it; were released from the red magic, as the chest fixture ran out of the energy needed to continue operating, as elected by the stallion to whom it was grafted to. “Goodnight,” he whispered. After going downstairs to proceed to leave, he was stopped by an interruption by Spike. “Yes, dragon boy?” he asked without bothering to turn around. The startled Spike replied, “A-uh, mister? I had made tea for you as requested by Twilight Sparkle.” The gray stallion merely gestured with his hoof; for the dragon to proceed. “What brings you here?” Spike hesitantly asked. The stallion smiled. “I am Icarus, a Thracian. I differ from Equestrian ponies in several ways.” “Good question.” He took a couple of seconds for him to form his explanations. “First of all, we are carnivorous. As per our teeth which are made to rend flesh and meat. Similar to how a bear eats fish or a dog eats steak. Thracians eat sky wyrms, land wyrms, sea wyrms. But a Thracian village can only make a wyrm carcass last for a year.” Noticing the confusion in the dragon’s eyes, he said, “Wyrms are very large dragons. Steer clear of those; unlike you, they do not eat gems, but rather, dragons like your kind, the gem-eaters.” Spike’s confusion turned into instant fright. “I think I’ll need the tea more.” Icarus continued on. “Another difference is that a Thracian’s racial skill is ten times as innate and involuntary as an Equestrian’s. Thracians were pushed to the limit when the nations were established by Equestria,” Icarus said to Spike, making a tornado shape from a napkin. “Imagine ten Equestrian pegasi you know closely, attempting to make this tornado spin. Now imagine weather manipulation with one Thracian pegasus.” Spike could not believe his ears. One Thracian? As good as ten Equestrians? Spike’s mind rattled on with intrigue. What other thing are Thracians different from Equestrians? Icarus thought and said, “Lastly, Thrace is home to a large number of zebras and llamas.” With that, Spike had painted an image of Thrace in his head. “What creatures live in Thrace aside from ponykind and wildlife?” the dragon asked, hoping for more information on the lands of the stranger’s origin. The Thracian smiled. “I think it’s best for you to see Thrace with your own eyes.” The sound of hoofsteps approached the table. “Good morning,” Twilight said with a yawn. “May I ask you something?” Icarus, seemingly understanding the mare’s question, replied. “Icarus. I am from Thrace.” Twilight’s eyes immediately widened. “You, are a Thracian?” Icarus smiled, showing his sharp teeth. “Wow, the carnivore ponies are real! I only saw a Thracian emissary arriving to Canterlot when I was starting out my magic training as a filly, but I heard him ask for a bowl of grasshoppers and frogs.” Icarus simply smiled sheepishly. “Oh, you mean Thracian trail mix? That fool must have eaten his rations then, the glutton.” “What brings a Thracian to Ponyville?” Twilight asked. Icarus replied, “I am moving here. Ponyville is renowned for its relative peacefulness over other towns in the whole planet. It is in first place, with Edō and Irkutsk as close second and third respectively. But there appears to be a problem.” “Oh, the storm. Well, you can stay here for the moment.” Twilight said. Twilight showed Icarus the spare room, saying he would sleep there for the moment. The next day, Spike awoke to a conundrum. “Twilight? I have a problem. I don’t know where to find food for our guest.” A half-woken Twilight said to him, “I don’t know either. Something big but not a woodland critter, as Fluttershy would not stand for that.” “I can hear you perfectly. I have my supply of wyrm meat, it is in my rain cloak. Also, do you have berries in these lands? Those are the only plants we can eat.” Icarus said, while browsing for a book on botanical fruit classification. “I may possibly eat some fruits, most are poisonous to Thracians.” Twilight, having understood the Thracian, asked, “How about fungi? Can Thracians eat fungi?” Icarus nodded. “Depends on which isn’t poisonous, other than that, I don’t really see any problem with them.” “Are you planning to go back to Thrace despite your plan on staying in Ponyville?” Twilight said. “I want to see Thracian wonder in its purest.” “In Thrace we have several innovations, some of which were shared with Equestria in development and usage. You’ll see when I take you there, among other innovations Thrace has made, let alone shared with the world. I trust you are not seasick, no?” She shook her head. “Uh, yes. No. Actually, I don’t know.” Icarus chuckled. “It matters not. Thrace has air and sea transport, the likes of which will leave the steamboats here in the sandbars.” Icarus waved his hoof to tell the mare to follow him. Twilight said to Spike, “You heard him, take a slab of wyrm meat from his rain cloak, and,” she paused to check if the stallion is within earshot, and made her voice a whisper, “it’s egg day today. Prep him that accident we discovered, okay?” Spike smirked and gave his mentor/sister a thumbs up. Chapter II – The Ponies of the Forest TownTwilight trotted towards Icarus and showed him the exit, to which he replied, “I remember the exit just fine,” in a playful manner. Twilight thought to herself, ‘Are Thracians this relaxed and friendly? Usually, foreigners are more guarded than what he is exhibiting. Those camels from Dromedaria were surely refraining from even looking at the pony visitors. Heck, even Canterlot denizens look down on Ponyville folk.’ But she shook her suspicions out of her head as two earth ponies approached them, one carrying a bale of hay and the other carrying two tubs of milk. The one carrying the milk was a large stocky crimson stallion with a tan mane and green eyes. His cutie mark was half an apple, and he wore a large yoke. The other one, who was carrying the bale of hay, was a mare, smaller than the first pony, freckled and tan with a sunny gold mane of hair, tied up and covered by a seasoned ten-gallon Stetson, and just as strong as her company. She sported a cutie mark of three shiny red apples. “If it isn’t the Apple family doing their morning chores,” Twilight said. “I see that Apple Bloom isn’t with you.” The red stallion nodded. “Yeah, sugarcube.” The tan mare said. “She scurried on her way when Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle passed by, on their way to school.” The two farmers turned their attention to Icarus. “Nice to meet the members of the Apple Family,” Icarus started off, talking to the tan mare. “You must be--” “Applejack, kind sir, owner an’ proprietor of Sweet Apple Acres, best darn apples in the whole of Equestria!” She said in one breath as she tipped her Stetson. “This here is mah big brother, Big Macintosh! He’s the family’s silent draft horse.” “Eeyup.” Said the large stallion, affirming his sister’s introduction. “Okay, these apples might be worth a try.” Icarus pondered. “Mind if I ask, Applejack, but is Apple Bloom your daughter?” The southern belle immediately turned red, as red as her brother’s fur coat. “NO SHE AIN’T!” Twilight interrupted Applejack’s flustered rage and said, “Apple Bloom is Applejack’s little sister.” Applejack turned to Icarus and said, “Aww yeah? Who in ‘tarnation are ‘ya anyway?” Icarus hoofed his face, in realization of forgetting to introduce himself. “That’s what I forgot. Stupid Irkutsk name tags and getting used to them…Icarus is me ‘in ‘tarnation’. I am from the Federation of Thrace.” He said with a sheepish smile. “Pardon for the assumption. In Thrace, siblings about at least as large as you and Apple Bloom in terms of age gaps is very, very rare. And it always means that there are a lot of them in between.” He tapped his snout for a moment. “Like, say Applejack, there are usually two or three others between one as old as you and one as old as Apple Bloom.” Applejack’s jaw dropped. “Wait just an applebuckin’ sec.” She said as she shook her head. “Y’all said ya were from Thrace?” Icarus nodded. “Then what was up with this here group?” She said, pulling out a newspaper from her saddlebag. It contained the picture of the Flim Flam brothers and their machine, Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. “Oh Maverick, not those two.” Icarus said. “They tried to scam the entire Northeast coast of Thrace, but they're Equestrian descent, as with their teeth not being sharp," He flashed his teeth, proving Thracians had sharp teeth, "where, the bulk of the Thracian apples are grown.” He pulled out a torn page that had the picture of seed packets. “These were bad seeds apparently, and they were selling them under the premise that they were miracle seeds.” Icarus pulled out another torn page, and look surprised. “Your relative, I presume?” Applejack took the torn page and looked at the photo of a farmer earth pony in the midst of throwing the bad seeds away and exposing the game of the Flim Flam brothers. “Local farmer exposes sham seeds, seed peddlers ran out of the city proper.” She said, reading the headline. The photo showed a farmer earth pony with a bright red apple on his flank. “Darn tootin’, this be mah uncle, Red Delicious Sr.” Applejack exclaimed. “See that hat? He gave that to mah Pa when he was still a colt, and then” she tipped her Stetson again. “Just how old are ya, ya mystery colt you?” Before Icarus could answer, a loud shriek came from the direction Big Macintosh was facing. “Aw, crud.” Said his sister. “It’s her.” A marble white unicorn with vibrant violet hair styled in a mane and tail that only proud ladies would wear, and a cutie mark of three sapphire gems that match her own sapphire eyes, was approaching the group. “What in Equestria are YOU wearing?” she asked. Icarus sheepishly replied, “It’s my traveling cloak. See, it’s got my journal, my pen, my--” “This simply CANNOT do!” she said, interrupting the Thracian. Twilight, attempted to ask the Westerner “What’s a pen?” Icarus, however, leaned closer to Applejack and asked in a whisper, “Now who is she?” Applejack interpreted Icarus’s question as a prospect for asking the white unicorn out. “Now, that be Rarity, the most ladylike of all them mares in Ponyville. And it’d be a huge controversy if she’s seen with a stranger like what y’all are.” “So…” Icarus said, turning to the white unicorn who was taking his measurements. “Who might you be?” “My name is Rarity, and I am a lady.” She replied coldly. “And please take your cloak off.” Icarus unlatched the buttons and unfurled his wings, taking the cloak off. “So, the name’s Icarus. And are you free this Friday?” “And why would a—OH MY GOODNESS THOSE ARE ENORMOUS WINGS.” Said the unicorn as her jaw dropped slightly at the sight of Icarus’ wings. “Now I just want a dear lady such as you to,” Icarus said as he tapped his hoof on his chin momentarily. “I don’t know… show a lowly Thracian wanderer such as me around this lovely forestside town?” Rarity looked at the gray pegasus with a deadpan look. “Really now? That’s all you got?” “Too bad,” Icarus answered. “And I was going to tell you about the beautiful treasures of Thrace we uncovered in the westward parts of the nation…” “Now I’m listening,” Rarity said. “Be at the Carousel Boutique, Friday, at four.” ”Worked like a charm. Why am I so crafty?” he thought. Chapter III – The Warrior of the EastThe unicorn sheathed his sword back into the scabbard. He finished up his last rice ball – he will need to choose the next town as his place to stay or else he will starve. “Ponyville. 4 leagues way.” He said to himself. He had a strong Japanese accent. “Good thing I still have my sake with me.” The unicorn was wearing a straw hat, one that the farmers from his city, Edō, usually wear. His hair was a messy hay blonde, matching his eyes. His coat was a steely silver hidden under his traveling cloak, which had a tattered material making up most of it. Inside his cloak was a rucksack for a bowl, a scoop, a pot, a pair of chopsticks, and a heater; and another rucksack for some rice. His cutie mark although mostly hidden by the cloak, was a dark misty pagoda tower. He neared the entrance to the town, and saw three mares talking to a bouncy pink pony. The bouncy pink pony noticed his arrival and sped off. “What was that all about?” he asked, directed to no one in particular. One of the mares spoke up. She had a lily tucked in her ear, her coat was purple, and her eyes matched her blonde mane. “Greetings, traveler.” She said with much hospitality. The second mare added, “Welcome to Ponyville.” She had green hair along with her eyes. Her coat was pink. “Daisy, Lily, he’s cute,” the third mare said. She was the one who stood out of her two companions, as her coat was light cream and her hair was in vibrant red shades. “Seriously, Rose?” the purple one said. “Excuse me please,” the stallion said with his thick accent “I must ask about the fourth one I noticed, she was bouncy and pink. Why did she run away?” “We’re not telling you,” the red haired one said. “But I’ll tell you, my name is Roseluck. What’s yours?” “Hmm… My name is Haru, but may I choose a name to fit with this society you have?” he requested. “I’ll choose the name Jack. Just like from the playing cards I encountered from an Equestrian merchant.” He, using his magic, pulled out a deck of cards and cut the deck to reveal a Jack of Pikes. “All my victories involve the Jack cards, in a funny way.” “Why are you in Ponyville?” Roseluck asked. “Looking to move in? We don’t usually get visitors from far-flung places.” “Am I the first Kihei who went to Ponyville?” Jack wondered. He turned to Roseluck and said, “Unfortunately, I do not have the appropriate money, Roseluck-san.” Lily spoke up. “But you want to stay in Ponyville?” “At least for the meantime, Lily-san.” Jack replied. “My first step would be to work for the money of your lands.” He picked up his items and looked around. He sighed. “Looks like this will be a difficult task.” As he sighed, a pink paper airplane flew and crashed on Daisy’s head. She picked it up and read the content, and nodded to Lily and Rose. “Daisy-san, you are awfully quiet.” Jack said in wonder. “Don’t worry, Jack.” Lily shrugged. “She just told us of an important event we need to do later.” Rose added, “I really would like you to come,” she smiled. The Kihei gladly nodded. Chapter IV – Cousin in the NorthPinkie Pie had received the letter last week. Her eyes smiled like tomorrow will come and be providing paradise to all; in her case that would be candy. She felt happy that she was going to make a really big party for multiple Ponyville arrivals. First was the Thracian who immediately had his eyes set on Rarity; which according to Twilight, will be over by the time he sees another mare who contests to Rarity’s way of presentation. Next up is the Eastern pony with the rice, as he had clearly smitten Roseluck with his, ‘foreign charm’, as the pony in question said so herself. And then her cousin Magenta is arriving any minute soon. Pinkie Pie opened up her chest of cherishables and took out a photo. It had six foals in it, they looked about as old as the Cutie Mark Crusaders the time the photo was taken, except for one who was still in the starting stages of being reared. One pony was pink all over, clearly Pinkie Pie, and two; a filly and the baby, were blessed with vibrant red manes and pinkish-red coats. The other three were fillies in shades of grey, and along with Pinkie, had the drape-like straight long manes iconic of the Pie family. The two red ponies also had straight hair, but their hair was more flare-like, with a curve to the strands than being completely straight. She gave the part of the photo that had the red foals a light kiss and then said, “Welcome to Ponyville, cousin.” And she trotted off downstairs to the kitchen. Two older ponies were managing the store of Sugarcube Corner, both Ponyville’s bakery and confectionery. The stallion had a yellow coat and orange hair and he looked like he could need a refreshing round of sleep. The mare had a cyan coat and a mane as pink as Pinkie Pie’s, and she too, could use a nap. These were the owners of Sugarcube Corner, Carrot Cake and his wife Cup Cake. It looked like they spent all night tending to their foals once again. “Good morning…” Pinkie chirped, but upon opening her eyes, her emotion switched from cheer to dread. “Mr. and Mrs. Cake? You don’t look so good.” “It’s all right, Pinkie,” the stallion, Mr. Carrot Cake said, stifling a yawn. “Dear old Pound here had a bad dream,” Mrs. Cup Cake added, “but he’s fine now.” ‘From the looks of it, the Cakes need more help.’ Pinkie Pie thought. She tapped her hoof on her head and then exclaimed, “Ohh!” She turned to the weathered Cake parents and said, “My cousin is coming over to Ponyville, she’s moving! I could ask her to be another set of helping hooves for us!” “Pinkie, dear, we’ll think about it.” Cup Cake said. Carrot cake added, “What if your cousin isn’t good at baking or making sweets like you are?” “Maybe she’ll take watch of Pound and Pumpkin!” the pink pony beamed, and then her body started to zip off in a frantic farewell of “Okie-dokie-lokie! TTFN! Ta-ta for now!” The Cakes stared at bewilderment. “I don’t think we’ll ever get used to that.” Carrot Cake said. Pinkie had zipped to the mills of Ponyville and bought a sack of flour, and zipped away to Sweet Apple Acres to buy apples, eggs, and hay. She zipped to Golden Oaks Library and found Spike, asking him if she could set up her Triple Partéy there. She then zipped to Twilight looking up the sky, bewildered at a dark grey Pegasus with a ragged trench coat. “Twilight! Twilight! I need you to--” Pinkie said, in a whisper, as she knew that one of her surprise celebrants was nearby. Twilight nodded and Pinkie zipped off. She halted in front of Everfree Cottage and knocked. A soft voice said, “Coming!” and opened the door. A cream yellow pegasus answered the door. “Hey Fluttershy, could I ask for your help?” Pinkie said. “Um, a lot of your help?” Fluttershy knew what Pinkie meant, that Pinkie also needs her woodland friends to help too. A carrot was thrown at her face, clear from the assailant’s outright denial. “Oh, sorry about that, Angel’s in his moods, because Rainbow Dash and Tank are going to end their sleepover tomorrow.” Fluttershy said. “He grows on the idea of a sleepover after the first night and then gets mad when the last night comes.” The rabbit was approached by a tortoise with flight goggles who tapped his back and shook his head upon seeing the inquring look on the rabbit’s face. The tortoise pointed at Pinkie and the rabbit sighed. Angel hopped on to Fluttershy and gave her his nod of approval. “Oh, really? Why thank you Angel!” Fluttershy beamed. She turned to the tortoise and smiled, “And thank you too, Tank! It looks like you know how to get Angel bunny here to be a little bit nicer, is it?” “Looks like Tanky here had to learn from how Dashie acts, huh?” Pinkie added. Fluttershy chuckled. “Well, I guess we will all be helping out. And I will have a word with Dashie too…” she said, with her cheeks turning slightly pink. The bouncy pink mare noticed her friend blush at her own mention of the cerulean bullet of a friend they share, but Pinkie paid no heed to it for now. Fluttershy whistled for the birds, rodents and the ‘crawling fuzzies’ as Scootaloo called them, to assemble. “Come now, everyone, we need to help our friend Pinkie Pie set up.” The woodland animals all followed Fluttershy, who had Angel and Tank nested on her back. Fluttershy and Pinkie went on to Twilight’s library. Fluttershy looked to see Twilight and Applejack watching in confusion at Rarity demanding that the fourth pony, a dark grey pegasus, take off his cloak. She too, looked confused. Pinkie Pie nudged Fluttershy and said, “Look, look! Spike’s opened the door!” as the dragon waited by the door. Just as they were going to proceed inside, a loud crackle in the sky snapped loudly. “Uh oh.” Spike said. He turned to a lever that said PULL IN CASE OF RAINBOW DASH and yanked it hard. A window sprung out of the nearby ground and two barrels rose from behind it. Fluttershy’s smile turned into a mad frown. Just in time too, Rainbow Dash was speeding forth and she was careening to the emergency trap. “Well, Twilight thought that she may have some gravitation towards things shielded by windows.” He sheepishly explained to the irked yellow mare. The speedster had indeed crashed into the window and barrels. But she stood up unharmed, as if windows were her own form of cushion. That did not stop Fluttershy from fussing all over her friend to check for injuries. Rainbow looked irritated at her friend but she glanced at Pinkie Pie teasingly looking at her. “Dashie, I didn’t know you and Fluttershy have become this!” she remarked. Fluttershy turned red. Rainbow backed up and shielded herself with her wings, with a red splash of blush on her cheeks. “So, um,” Fluttershy coughed. “We’re going to set up a triple party for the three new arrivals, I was going to fly to you and ask for your help, if that’s okay.” Rainbow grinned. “Well what are we waiting for?” The party was ready. Pinkie Pie rallied the townsfolk except for Daisy, Lily and Rose, who were accompanying the Eastern arrival, and Twilight, Applejack and Rarity, who were with the Western one. The bouncy pony herself waited for her cousin to arrive. Pinkie heard a holler from Rainbow Dash to hustle already when the sound of hoofsteps crept towards the pink pony, who was on her way to the library. A pony with a fur cloak, hood and mufflers, a large rucksack, and a windbreaker mask walked beside the pink mare. She was spooked beyond description. “AAAAAH!” The pony in question put her hooves forward and hugged Pinkie. “You don’t remember me?” she said in an alluring voice. Pinkie took off the hood and mask to reveal a pink earth mare, whose shade of pink is more reddish than Pinkie’s, and with a vibrant red mane which was short and flared. Her eyes were similar to Pinkie’s with the cool cyan colored irises, but her eyes had a sharp gritty stare compared to Pinkie’s jovial and energetic stare. The redder mare also sported a red metal heart, for a cutie mark. “COUSIN! IT’S YOU! Nice Meryl look going on there!” she exclaimed. “Come, let’s go to the library, I have prepared something!” “All this time,” she replied, “and you still fall for my tricks.” Rarity had seen Pinkie and a cloaked mare approach the library, and also Daisy, Lily and Rose who was tugging along a unicorn with a straw hat, cloak and rice pot, headed to the library as well. “Ughh, these foreigners and their shoddy styles!” She said, galloping off to the library. “Rarity, that was very mean!” Applejack said, following the alabaster unicorn. The purple apprentice rolled her eyes and chased after the two. Icarus grinned, his sharp teeth showing. “Hey, hey, wait!” he said as he took altitude. Roseluck whispered to Lily and Daisy and they giggled. Jack tilted his head and asked, “What is the matter, ladies?” They started galloping to the library without warning, with Roseluck telling Jack “Come get us, you ninja!” Jack, confused, followed them, thinking, “How do they know I am a ninja?” All three celebrants went in the library, and it had no lights. Icarus’ chest fixture had begun to glow enough for him to see that in front of his hooves. “Isn’t that convenient?” said the red Pie mare. “Truly a machine of awe.” Added the Kihei. “So…” Icarus said with an awkward drag, “Real estate worth it in Ponyville?” With a snap, the lights were flicked on. “SURPRISE!” yelled everyone in Ponyville. The Triple Partéy was underway. “The banner says something.” Jack wondered. “I can’t read Equestrian.” The Pie mare added. Icarus rolled his eyes. “A Heartfelt Welcome to Icarus of Thrace, Haru of Kihei, and Magenta of Gryphonia.” Icarus read. “Wait, GRYPHONIA?” He was so surprised that he forgot to read the rest. Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened. “PINKIE! Your cousin is from the gryphon lands?” “Well, it seems that a gryphon may have rubbed off on you folk as negative.” Magenta said. “You should have seen it, cousin!” Pinkie replied. “Her name was Gilda and she was a meanie!” “For some reason she went sour,” Rainbow added. “I swear, she was a different gryphon back in the day!” “She didn’t remember me,” Fluttershy said. “She practiced a play with me one time and she didn’t tell me that the script said it was a kissing scene. She… um…” the yellow mare blushed. “But now she just shrieked at me to go away and I got so hurt…” she continued as tears welled in her eyes, only to be held close by Rainbow who soothed her from crying. The mare from Gryphonia tapped her chin with a hoof, trying to recall a similar phenomenon she may have witnessed while living with her family in a land full of gryphons. “There is an explanation to that,” Magenta said, matter-of-factly. “This gryphon, Gilda, is at that moment going through puberty! Gryphons have a longer stage of puberty, and are very very susceptible to it. Also, they tend to be territorial and aggressive during the ordeal! Especially the females, in which it is common for a female to pin and enslave a male who… desires her.” The pony said with a suggestive tone to her voice. Jack shook his head. “Where are my manners?” the Kihei unicorn said, interrupting the conversation. “I am Haru Takeda, from Edō, a city in the land of Kihei.” Icarus’s red eyes met gaze with the cerulean eyes of Magenta Pie. “If I hadn’t read out loud that you were from Gryphonia, I could’ve mistaken you for a Thracian. Icarus Maverickson.” “Magenta Pie. And, nope.” She grinned, showing teeth that are indeed non-Thracian. From the punch table, Rarity was pouring punch into two cups, one for Applejack and one for her. “Applejack, dear, I could just say I am relieved that the Thracian is not flirting with me,” she said as she pushed a glass to Applejack via magic. “Huh boy,” the farm mare replied. “Those two better not go hittin’ the hay if ya know what Ah mean.” She said taking a swig of the punch. “Dangnabbit, Berry!” she yelled. “Ah told’ya not ta put mah family cider in Pinkie’s punch! It gets stronger that way!” “Well that explains the two prospective couples there.” Daisy remarked, pointing at Icarus and Magenta, who are now starting to dance to some soul music Icarus had play. “And those two as well, just a reminder.” The Kihei unicorn was being taught by Roseluck on what he called ‘Western dancing’, which was basically dancing, to the Kihei, as they barely dance. “Dashie, what are you--” Fluttershy exclaimed, being cut off by Rainbow breathing gusts on her feathers. “That’s… uhh… not now…” “Preening time, my dear… for I am the king of preening in all of Cloudsdale…” The cerulean speedster had drunk too much of the cider-spiked punch, and was once again lost in her own fantasy. The party had finished, and Pinkie double-tasked herself by being the headrest of her now-dead-drunk cousin and at the same time greeting everyone goodnight. Everyone found their own ways home which was not that bad as most ponies heard Applejack’s outburst at Berry about the cider, and kept their eyes peeled for how much cider-spiked punch they were drinking. Icarus had commandeered a solo cloud to sleep on, and Rainbow and Fluttershy, carted the cloud to the Everfree Cottage. Jack had already entered a meditative sleep in the library, and despite the drunk Roseluck crying about how she must leave the static Kihei behind, was dragged away home by Daisy and Lily. Applejack was waited upon by Big McIntosh and Granny Smith, who both were disappointed in the farm mare for letting their recipe mix with another drink. “Ah told ‘em all,” said Granny Smith, “mixin’ Apple Family Cider with any ol’ drink other than mountain spring water’s gonna make one hell of a bad mornin’. Ah’m already old and Ah got ta stop more ponies from it than ya did, dear granddaughter, y’all have much to learn.” She told the mare as she passed out on her big brother’s back. Rarity was assisted by Berry Punch to Carousel Boutique, as Berry’s house was the closest to Rarity’s. Pinkie hoisted her cousin up, and then trotted to Sugarcube Corner.
Chapter I – A Guest from the WestThe weather patrol had announced the week before of an impending thunder and windstorm. In response to that, the populace of the little forestside town Ponyville had prepared for all and then some. Each household had a different approach to spending the storm. The Cakes on one hand kept their pastries for safe keeping from two storms: the one outside and the resident Pinkie Pie. Other than that, it was the new parents Carrot and Cup Cake with their baby twins, who for some reason were not earth ponies like their parents, but a pegasus Pound Cake and a unicorn Pumpkin Cake, all blanketed together. All the while Pinkie Pie being on the ceiling for no sensible reason. The two mares Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops were cuddling tightly despite the overkill of blankets piled on top of them, a sight which any mundane pony would assume that the two mares in question were copulating under the sheets. Still, whatever method they had on the progress, is working just fine to keep their minds off the storm. Carousel Boutique had the two sisters Rarity and Sweetie Belle enjoying a couple of drinks, a hot cocoa for the filly Sweetie Belle and an overly-intricate blend of a triple-shot Espresso based drink involving apple cider of Apple family origins for the older unicorn respectively. How she managed to balance two contrasting flavors in a mug is beyond any mundane pony. Speaking of the Apple family, the three-generation family consisting of the elderly Granny Smith, her firstborn grandson Big Macintosh, her firstborn granddaughter Applejack, her youngest grandfoal Apple Bloom, and the family canine Winona, are all huddled up to their homestead’s fireplace, each eating a slice of their family’s proud heirloom; their sweet apple pie recipe. On the other side of the town, near the edge of the Everfree forest, the cottage of the creature cuddler Fluttershy contained the usual resident animals: the mouse family enjoying a slice of cheese, the owl who always keeps watch during nighttime, a honey badger, and the white lagomorph Angel, eating the food he so frequently demands, and Fluttershy so frequently spoils him, carrot cake with carrots selected by the pretentious rabbit himself. Also present in the cottage are Tank the tortoise and her owner Rainbow Dash, as the obvious effects of a storm on a cloud house which can involve electric discharge, are substantially lethal to the shelled reptile and his winged mare owner, if given, Rainbow Dash could go on about how she and Tank got electrocuted during the previous storm and survived with extreme bravado. The tortoise, Tank, chose to hide in his shell for the sake of convenience, as he does this ninety percent of the time of day, according to his very impatient owner, while said owner lay down on the couch along with the resident Fluttershy, their wings acting as warmth nets for each other, especially for the canary mare, as the cyan mare had a history of protecting her foalhood friend. Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy as the timid mare nuzzled up at Dash. Twilight Sparkle, resident of the library Golden Oaks, chose to spend her time experimenting with various alchemic agents, and scribbling down notes with her quill, while the barely eager baby dragon Spike tidies up the mess of books and notes of the purple unicorn. “And I thought the sight of her brother and her old foalsitter getting married would make her focus less on this…” the dragon muttered out of the borderline-mad unicorn’s earshot. “Sure wish a distraction would arrive.” And lo, the door swung open, but in a different manner than how the storm should have swung it. Twilight, after slipping and applying 35 milligrams of sodium acetate on the mix instead of 3.5 milligrams, and screwing up the intended balance of the mixture she was attempting to make, grunted and approached, more like stomped toward, the hooded figure responsible for opening the door and riling her up. “Who do you think you are, barging--” The figure collapsed on the floor, hood out, revealing a dark gray stallion with pitch black hair. He had a circular apparatus grafted to his chest, with three exposed beams of cable connected to pinnately-organized branching of smaller cable. Twilight Sparkle examined the stallion, carefully removing his coat with her magic, and discovered the stallion having gryphon-size wings. This piqued the mare’s curiosity. A metal apparatus, and gryphon-size wings, and as she was wondering, the stallion had carnivorous teeth! “Is that a skull with tears as a cutie mark?” she wondered. “Am I… back home… my motherland… Thrace…” the stallion said, before passing out. After tending to the mysterious visitor in his unconscious state, Twilight rested her head upon the bedside, slowly muttering out, “Spike… I’ll finish… the potion…tomorrow… ” and fell asleep. Moments later, the stallion awoke. “By Maverick, whose home is this?” he wondered. Noticing a sleeping purple Unicorn on his left, he carefully slid out of the bed. “Nah. I won’t carry her. Physically, that is.” He rolled down the blankets, aimed his chest at the sleeping mare, and with a heavy breath, the fixture on his chest released a beam of red magic. With it, he levitated the slumbering mare onto the bed, and afterwards rolled up the blankets to her chin level. The bed; and the mare in it; were released from the red magic, as the chest fixture ran out of the energy needed to continue operating, as elected by the stallion to whom it was grafted to. “Goodnight,” he whispered. After going downstairs to proceed to leave, he was stopped by an interruption by Spike. “Yes, dragon boy?” he asked without bothering to turn around. The startled Spike replied, “A-uh, mister? I had made tea for you as requested by Twilight Sparkle.” The gray stallion merely gestured with his hoof; for the dragon to proceed. “What brings you here?” Spike hesitantly asked. The stallion smiled. “I am Icarus, a Thracian. I differ from Equestrian ponies in several ways.” “Good question.” He took a couple of seconds for him to form his explanations. “First of all, we are carnivorous. As per our teeth which are made to rend flesh and meat. Similar to how a bear eats fish or a dog eats steak. Thracians eat sky wyrms, land wyrms, sea wyrms. But a Thracian village can only make a wyrm carcass last for a year.” Noticing the confusion in the dragon’s eyes, he said, “Wyrms are very large dragons. Steer clear of those; unlike you, they do not eat gems, but rather, dragons like your kind, the gem-eaters.” Spike’s confusion turned into instant fright. “I think I’ll need the tea more.” Icarus continued on. “Another difference is that a Thracian’s racial skill is ten times as innate and involuntary as an Equestrian’s. Thracians were pushed to the limit when the nations were established by Equestria,” Icarus said to Spike, making a tornado shape from a napkin. “Imagine ten Equestrian pegasi you know closely, attempting to make this tornado spin. Now imagine weather manipulation with one Thracian pegasus.” Spike could not believe his ears. One Thracian? As good as ten Equestrians? Spike’s mind rattled on with intrigue. What other thing are Thracians different from Equestrians? Icarus thought and said, “Lastly, Thrace is home to a large number of zebras and llamas.” With that, Spike had painted an image of Thrace in his head. “What creatures live in Thrace aside from ponykind and wildlife?” the dragon asked, hoping for more information on the lands of the stranger’s origin. The Thracian smiled. “I think it’s best for you to see Thrace with your own eyes.” The sound of hoofsteps approached the table. “Good morning,” Twilight said with a yawn. “May I ask you something?” Icarus, seemingly understanding the mare’s question, replied. “Icarus. I am from Thrace.” Twilight’s eyes immediately widened. “You, are a Thracian?” Icarus smiled, showing his sharp teeth. “Wow, the carnivore ponies are real! I only saw a Thracian emissary arriving to Canterlot when I was starting out my magic training as a filly, but I heard him ask for a bowl of grasshoppers and frogs.” Icarus simply smiled sheepishly. “Oh, you mean Thracian trail mix? That fool must have eaten his rations then, the glutton.” “What brings a Thracian to Ponyville?” Twilight asked. Icarus replied, “I am moving here. Ponyville is renowned for its relative peacefulness over other towns in the whole planet. It is in first place, with Edō and Irkutsk as close second and third respectively. But there appears to be a problem.” “Oh, the storm. Well, you can stay here for the moment.” Twilight said. Twilight showed Icarus the spare room, saying he would sleep there for the moment. The next day, Spike awoke to a conundrum. “Twilight? I have a problem. I don’t know where to find food for our guest.” A half-woken Twilight said to him, “I don’t know either. Something big but not a woodland critter, as Fluttershy would not stand for that.” “I can hear you perfectly. I have my supply of wyrm meat, it is in my rain cloak. Also, do you have berries in these lands? Those are the only plants we can eat.” Icarus said, while browsing for a book on botanical fruit classification. “I may possibly eat some fruits, most are poisonous to Thracians.” Twilight, having understood the Thracian, asked, “How about fungi? Can Thracians eat fungi?” Icarus nodded. “Depends on which isn’t poisonous, other than that, I don’t really see any problem with them.” “Are you planning to go back to Thrace despite your plan on staying in Ponyville?” Twilight said. “I want to see Thracian wonder in its purest.” “In Thrace we have several innovations, some of which were shared with Equestria in development and usage. You’ll see when I take you there, among other innovations Thrace has made, let alone shared with the world. I trust you are not seasick, no?” She shook her head. “Uh, yes. No. Actually, I don’t know.” Icarus chuckled. “It matters not. Thrace has air and sea transport, the likes of which will leave the steamboats here in the sandbars.” Icarus waved his hoof to tell the mare to follow him. Twilight said to Spike, “You heard him, take a slab of wyrm meat from his rain cloak, and,” she paused to check if the stallion is within earshot, and made her voice a whisper, “it’s egg day today. Prep him that accident we discovered, okay?” Spike smirked and gave his mentor/sister a thumbs up.
Chapter II – The Ponies of the Forest TownTwilight trotted towards Icarus and showed him the exit, to which he replied, “I remember the exit just fine,” in a playful manner. Twilight thought to herself, ‘Are Thracians this relaxed and friendly? Usually, foreigners are more guarded than what he is exhibiting. Those camels from Dromedaria were surely refraining from even looking at the pony visitors. Heck, even Canterlot denizens look down on Ponyville folk.’ But she shook her suspicions out of her head as two earth ponies approached them, one carrying a bale of hay and the other carrying two tubs of milk. The one carrying the milk was a large stocky crimson stallion with a tan mane and green eyes. His cutie mark was half an apple, and he wore a large yoke. The other one, who was carrying the bale of hay, was a mare, smaller than the first pony, freckled and tan with a sunny gold mane of hair, tied up and covered by a seasoned ten-gallon Stetson, and just as strong as her company. She sported a cutie mark of three shiny red apples. “If it isn’t the Apple family doing their morning chores,” Twilight said. “I see that Apple Bloom isn’t with you.” The red stallion nodded. “Yeah, sugarcube.” The tan mare said. “She scurried on her way when Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle passed by, on their way to school.” The two farmers turned their attention to Icarus. “Nice to meet the members of the Apple Family,” Icarus started off, talking to the tan mare. “You must be--” “Applejack, kind sir, owner an’ proprietor of Sweet Apple Acres, best darn apples in the whole of Equestria!” She said in one breath as she tipped her Stetson. “This here is mah big brother, Big Macintosh! He’s the family’s silent draft horse.” “Eeyup.” Said the large stallion, affirming his sister’s introduction. “Okay, these apples might be worth a try.” Icarus pondered. “Mind if I ask, Applejack, but is Apple Bloom your daughter?” The southern belle immediately turned red, as red as her brother’s fur coat. “NO SHE AIN’T!” Twilight interrupted Applejack’s flustered rage and said, “Apple Bloom is Applejack’s little sister.” Applejack turned to Icarus and said, “Aww yeah? Who in ‘tarnation are ‘ya anyway?” Icarus hoofed his face, in realization of forgetting to introduce himself. “That’s what I forgot. Stupid Irkutsk name tags and getting used to them…Icarus is me ‘in ‘tarnation’. I am from the Federation of Thrace.” He said with a sheepish smile. “Pardon for the assumption. In Thrace, siblings about at least as large as you and Apple Bloom in terms of age gaps is very, very rare. And it always means that there are a lot of them in between.” He tapped his snout for a moment. “Like, say Applejack, there are usually two or three others between one as old as you and one as old as Apple Bloom.” Applejack’s jaw dropped. “Wait just an applebuckin’ sec.” She said as she shook her head. “Y’all said ya were from Thrace?” Icarus nodded. “Then what was up with this here group?” She said, pulling out a newspaper from her saddlebag. It contained the picture of the Flim Flam brothers and their machine, Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. “Oh Maverick, not those two.” Icarus said. “They tried to scam the entire Northeast coast of Thrace, but they're Equestrian descent, as with their teeth not being sharp," He flashed his teeth, proving Thracians had sharp teeth, "where, the bulk of the Thracian apples are grown.” He pulled out a torn page that had the picture of seed packets. “These were bad seeds apparently, and they were selling them under the premise that they were miracle seeds.” Icarus pulled out another torn page, and look surprised. “Your relative, I presume?” Applejack took the torn page and looked at the photo of a farmer earth pony in the midst of throwing the bad seeds away and exposing the game of the Flim Flam brothers. “Local farmer exposes sham seeds, seed peddlers ran out of the city proper.” She said, reading the headline. The photo showed a farmer earth pony with a bright red apple on his flank. “Darn tootin’, this be mah uncle, Red Delicious Sr.” Applejack exclaimed. “See that hat? He gave that to mah Pa when he was still a colt, and then” she tipped her Stetson again. “Just how old are ya, ya mystery colt you?” Before Icarus could answer, a loud shriek came from the direction Big Macintosh was facing. “Aw, crud.” Said his sister. “It’s her.” A marble white unicorn with vibrant violet hair styled in a mane and tail that only proud ladies would wear, and a cutie mark of three sapphire gems that match her own sapphire eyes, was approaching the group. “What in Equestria are YOU wearing?” she asked. Icarus sheepishly replied, “It’s my traveling cloak. See, it’s got my journal, my pen, my--” “This simply CANNOT do!” she said, interrupting the Thracian. Twilight, attempted to ask the Westerner “What’s a pen?” Icarus, however, leaned closer to Applejack and asked in a whisper, “Now who is she?” Applejack interpreted Icarus’s question as a prospect for asking the white unicorn out. “Now, that be Rarity, the most ladylike of all them mares in Ponyville. And it’d be a huge controversy if she’s seen with a stranger like what y’all are.” “So…” Icarus said, turning to the white unicorn who was taking his measurements. “Who might you be?” “My name is Rarity, and I am a lady.” She replied coldly. “And please take your cloak off.” Icarus unlatched the buttons and unfurled his wings, taking the cloak off. “So, the name’s Icarus. And are you free this Friday?” “And why would a—OH MY GOODNESS THOSE ARE ENORMOUS WINGS.” Said the unicorn as her jaw dropped slightly at the sight of Icarus’ wings. “Now I just want a dear lady such as you to,” Icarus said as he tapped his hoof on his chin momentarily. “I don’t know… show a lowly Thracian wanderer such as me around this lovely forestside town?” Rarity looked at the gray pegasus with a deadpan look. “Really now? That’s all you got?” “Too bad,” Icarus answered. “And I was going to tell you about the beautiful treasures of Thrace we uncovered in the westward parts of the nation…” “Now I’m listening,” Rarity said. “Be at the Carousel Boutique, Friday, at four.” ”Worked like a charm. Why am I so crafty?” he thought.
Chapter III – The Warrior of the EastThe unicorn sheathed his sword back into the scabbard. He finished up his last rice ball – he will need to choose the next town as his place to stay or else he will starve. “Ponyville. 4 leagues way.” He said to himself. He had a strong Japanese accent. “Good thing I still have my sake with me.” The unicorn was wearing a straw hat, one that the farmers from his city, Edō, usually wear. His hair was a messy hay blonde, matching his eyes. His coat was a steely silver hidden under his traveling cloak, which had a tattered material making up most of it. Inside his cloak was a rucksack for a bowl, a scoop, a pot, a pair of chopsticks, and a heater; and another rucksack for some rice. His cutie mark although mostly hidden by the cloak, was a dark misty pagoda tower. He neared the entrance to the town, and saw three mares talking to a bouncy pink pony. The bouncy pink pony noticed his arrival and sped off. “What was that all about?” he asked, directed to no one in particular. One of the mares spoke up. She had a lily tucked in her ear, her coat was purple, and her eyes matched her blonde mane. “Greetings, traveler.” She said with much hospitality. The second mare added, “Welcome to Ponyville.” She had green hair along with her eyes. Her coat was pink. “Daisy, Lily, he’s cute,” the third mare said. She was the one who stood out of her two companions, as her coat was light cream and her hair was in vibrant red shades. “Seriously, Rose?” the purple one said. “Excuse me please,” the stallion said with his thick accent “I must ask about the fourth one I noticed, she was bouncy and pink. Why did she run away?” “We’re not telling you,” the red haired one said. “But I’ll tell you, my name is Roseluck. What’s yours?” “Hmm… My name is Haru, but may I choose a name to fit with this society you have?” he requested. “I’ll choose the name Jack. Just like from the playing cards I encountered from an Equestrian merchant.” He, using his magic, pulled out a deck of cards and cut the deck to reveal a Jack of Pikes. “All my victories involve the Jack cards, in a funny way.” “Why are you in Ponyville?” Roseluck asked. “Looking to move in? We don’t usually get visitors from far-flung places.” “Am I the first Kihei who went to Ponyville?” Jack wondered. He turned to Roseluck and said, “Unfortunately, I do not have the appropriate money, Roseluck-san.” Lily spoke up. “But you want to stay in Ponyville?” “At least for the meantime, Lily-san.” Jack replied. “My first step would be to work for the money of your lands.” He picked up his items and looked around. He sighed. “Looks like this will be a difficult task.” As he sighed, a pink paper airplane flew and crashed on Daisy’s head. She picked it up and read the content, and nodded to Lily and Rose. “Daisy-san, you are awfully quiet.” Jack said in wonder. “Don’t worry, Jack.” Lily shrugged. “She just told us of an important event we need to do later.” Rose added, “I really would like you to come,” she smiled. The Kihei gladly nodded.
Chapter IV – Cousin in the NorthPinkie Pie had received the letter last week. Her eyes smiled like tomorrow will come and be providing paradise to all; in her case that would be candy. She felt happy that she was going to make a really big party for multiple Ponyville arrivals. First was the Thracian who immediately had his eyes set on Rarity; which according to Twilight, will be over by the time he sees another mare who contests to Rarity’s way of presentation. Next up is the Eastern pony with the rice, as he had clearly smitten Roseluck with his, ‘foreign charm’, as the pony in question said so herself. And then her cousin Magenta is arriving any minute soon. Pinkie Pie opened up her chest of cherishables and took out a photo. It had six foals in it, they looked about as old as the Cutie Mark Crusaders the time the photo was taken, except for one who was still in the starting stages of being reared. One pony was pink all over, clearly Pinkie Pie, and two; a filly and the baby, were blessed with vibrant red manes and pinkish-red coats. The other three were fillies in shades of grey, and along with Pinkie, had the drape-like straight long manes iconic of the Pie family. The two red ponies also had straight hair, but their hair was more flare-like, with a curve to the strands than being completely straight. She gave the part of the photo that had the red foals a light kiss and then said, “Welcome to Ponyville, cousin.” And she trotted off downstairs to the kitchen. Two older ponies were managing the store of Sugarcube Corner, both Ponyville’s bakery and confectionery. The stallion had a yellow coat and orange hair and he looked like he could need a refreshing round of sleep. The mare had a cyan coat and a mane as pink as Pinkie Pie’s, and she too, could use a nap. These were the owners of Sugarcube Corner, Carrot Cake and his wife Cup Cake. It looked like they spent all night tending to their foals once again. “Good morning…” Pinkie chirped, but upon opening her eyes, her emotion switched from cheer to dread. “Mr. and Mrs. Cake? You don’t look so good.” “It’s all right, Pinkie,” the stallion, Mr. Carrot Cake said, stifling a yawn. “Dear old Pound here had a bad dream,” Mrs. Cup Cake added, “but he’s fine now.” ‘From the looks of it, the Cakes need more help.’ Pinkie Pie thought. She tapped her hoof on her head and then exclaimed, “Ohh!” She turned to the weathered Cake parents and said, “My cousin is coming over to Ponyville, she’s moving! I could ask her to be another set of helping hooves for us!” “Pinkie, dear, we’ll think about it.” Cup Cake said. Carrot cake added, “What if your cousin isn’t good at baking or making sweets like you are?” “Maybe she’ll take watch of Pound and Pumpkin!” the pink pony beamed, and then her body started to zip off in a frantic farewell of “Okie-dokie-lokie! TTFN! Ta-ta for now!” The Cakes stared at bewilderment. “I don’t think we’ll ever get used to that.” Carrot Cake said. Pinkie had zipped to the mills of Ponyville and bought a sack of flour, and zipped away to Sweet Apple Acres to buy apples, eggs, and hay. She zipped to Golden Oaks Library and found Spike, asking him if she could set up her Triple Partéy there. She then zipped to Twilight looking up the sky, bewildered at a dark grey Pegasus with a ragged trench coat. “Twilight! Twilight! I need you to--” Pinkie said, in a whisper, as she knew that one of her surprise celebrants was nearby. Twilight nodded and Pinkie zipped off. She halted in front of Everfree Cottage and knocked. A soft voice said, “Coming!” and opened the door. A cream yellow pegasus answered the door. “Hey Fluttershy, could I ask for your help?” Pinkie said. “Um, a lot of your help?” Fluttershy knew what Pinkie meant, that Pinkie also needs her woodland friends to help too. A carrot was thrown at her face, clear from the assailant’s outright denial. “Oh, sorry about that, Angel’s in his moods, because Rainbow Dash and Tank are going to end their sleepover tomorrow.” Fluttershy said. “He grows on the idea of a sleepover after the first night and then gets mad when the last night comes.” The rabbit was approached by a tortoise with flight goggles who tapped his back and shook his head upon seeing the inquring look on the rabbit’s face. The tortoise pointed at Pinkie and the rabbit sighed. Angel hopped on to Fluttershy and gave her his nod of approval. “Oh, really? Why thank you Angel!” Fluttershy beamed. She turned to the tortoise and smiled, “And thank you too, Tank! It looks like you know how to get Angel bunny here to be a little bit nicer, is it?” “Looks like Tanky here had to learn from how Dashie acts, huh?” Pinkie added. Fluttershy chuckled. “Well, I guess we will all be helping out. And I will have a word with Dashie too…” she said, with her cheeks turning slightly pink. The bouncy pink mare noticed her friend blush at her own mention of the cerulean bullet of a friend they share, but Pinkie paid no heed to it for now. Fluttershy whistled for the birds, rodents and the ‘crawling fuzzies’ as Scootaloo called them, to assemble. “Come now, everyone, we need to help our friend Pinkie Pie set up.” The woodland animals all followed Fluttershy, who had Angel and Tank nested on her back. Fluttershy and Pinkie went on to Twilight’s library. Fluttershy looked to see Twilight and Applejack watching in confusion at Rarity demanding that the fourth pony, a dark grey pegasus, take off his cloak. She too, looked confused. Pinkie Pie nudged Fluttershy and said, “Look, look! Spike’s opened the door!” as the dragon waited by the door. Just as they were going to proceed inside, a loud crackle in the sky snapped loudly. “Uh oh.” Spike said. He turned to a lever that said PULL IN CASE OF RAINBOW DASH and yanked it hard. A window sprung out of the nearby ground and two barrels rose from behind it. Fluttershy’s smile turned into a mad frown. Just in time too, Rainbow Dash was speeding forth and she was careening to the emergency trap. “Well, Twilight thought that she may have some gravitation towards things shielded by windows.” He sheepishly explained to the irked yellow mare. The speedster had indeed crashed into the window and barrels. But she stood up unharmed, as if windows were her own form of cushion. That did not stop Fluttershy from fussing all over her friend to check for injuries. Rainbow looked irritated at her friend but she glanced at Pinkie Pie teasingly looking at her. “Dashie, I didn’t know you and Fluttershy have become this!” she remarked. Fluttershy turned red. Rainbow backed up and shielded herself with her wings, with a red splash of blush on her cheeks. “So, um,” Fluttershy coughed. “We’re going to set up a triple party for the three new arrivals, I was going to fly to you and ask for your help, if that’s okay.” Rainbow grinned. “Well what are we waiting for?” The party was ready. Pinkie Pie rallied the townsfolk except for Daisy, Lily and Rose, who were accompanying the Eastern arrival, and Twilight, Applejack and Rarity, who were with the Western one. The bouncy pony herself waited for her cousin to arrive. Pinkie heard a holler from Rainbow Dash to hustle already when the sound of hoofsteps crept towards the pink pony, who was on her way to the library. A pony with a fur cloak, hood and mufflers, a large rucksack, and a windbreaker mask walked beside the pink mare. She was spooked beyond description. “AAAAAH!” The pony in question put her hooves forward and hugged Pinkie. “You don’t remember me?” she said in an alluring voice. Pinkie took off the hood and mask to reveal a pink earth mare, whose shade of pink is more reddish than Pinkie’s, and with a vibrant red mane which was short and flared. Her eyes were similar to Pinkie’s with the cool cyan colored irises, but her eyes had a sharp gritty stare compared to Pinkie’s jovial and energetic stare. The redder mare also sported a red metal heart, for a cutie mark. “COUSIN! IT’S YOU! Nice Meryl look going on there!” she exclaimed. “Come, let’s go to the library, I have prepared something!” “All this time,” she replied, “and you still fall for my tricks.” Rarity had seen Pinkie and a cloaked mare approach the library, and also Daisy, Lily and Rose who was tugging along a unicorn with a straw hat, cloak and rice pot, headed to the library as well. “Ughh, these foreigners and their shoddy styles!” She said, galloping off to the library. “Rarity, that was very mean!” Applejack said, following the alabaster unicorn. The purple apprentice rolled her eyes and chased after the two. Icarus grinned, his sharp teeth showing. “Hey, hey, wait!” he said as he took altitude. Roseluck whispered to Lily and Daisy and they giggled. Jack tilted his head and asked, “What is the matter, ladies?” They started galloping to the library without warning, with Roseluck telling Jack “Come get us, you ninja!” Jack, confused, followed them, thinking, “How do they know I am a ninja?” All three celebrants went in the library, and it had no lights. Icarus’ chest fixture had begun to glow enough for him to see that in front of his hooves. “Isn’t that convenient?” said the red Pie mare. “Truly a machine of awe.” Added the Kihei. “So…” Icarus said with an awkward drag, “Real estate worth it in Ponyville?” With a snap, the lights were flicked on. “SURPRISE!” yelled everyone in Ponyville. The Triple Partéy was underway. “The banner says something.” Jack wondered. “I can’t read Equestrian.” The Pie mare added. Icarus rolled his eyes. “A Heartfelt Welcome to Icarus of Thrace, Haru of Kihei, and Magenta of Gryphonia.” Icarus read. “Wait, GRYPHONIA?” He was so surprised that he forgot to read the rest. Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened. “PINKIE! Your cousin is from the gryphon lands?” “Well, it seems that a gryphon may have rubbed off on you folk as negative.” Magenta said. “You should have seen it, cousin!” Pinkie replied. “Her name was Gilda and she was a meanie!” “For some reason she went sour,” Rainbow added. “I swear, she was a different gryphon back in the day!” “She didn’t remember me,” Fluttershy said. “She practiced a play with me one time and she didn’t tell me that the script said it was a kissing scene. She… um…” the yellow mare blushed. “But now she just shrieked at me to go away and I got so hurt…” she continued as tears welled in her eyes, only to be held close by Rainbow who soothed her from crying. The mare from Gryphonia tapped her chin with a hoof, trying to recall a similar phenomenon she may have witnessed while living with her family in a land full of gryphons. “There is an explanation to that,” Magenta said, matter-of-factly. “This gryphon, Gilda, is at that moment going through puberty! Gryphons have a longer stage of puberty, and are very very susceptible to it. Also, they tend to be territorial and aggressive during the ordeal! Especially the females, in which it is common for a female to pin and enslave a male who… desires her.” The pony said with a suggestive tone to her voice. Jack shook his head. “Where are my manners?” the Kihei unicorn said, interrupting the conversation. “I am Haru Takeda, from Edō, a city in the land of Kihei.” Icarus’s red eyes met gaze with the cerulean eyes of Magenta Pie. “If I hadn’t read out loud that you were from Gryphonia, I could’ve mistaken you for a Thracian. Icarus Maverickson.” “Magenta Pie. And, nope.” She grinned, showing teeth that are indeed non-Thracian. From the punch table, Rarity was pouring punch into two cups, one for Applejack and one for her. “Applejack, dear, I could just say I am relieved that the Thracian is not flirting with me,” she said as she pushed a glass to Applejack via magic. “Huh boy,” the farm mare replied. “Those two better not go hittin’ the hay if ya know what Ah mean.” She said taking a swig of the punch. “Dangnabbit, Berry!” she yelled. “Ah told’ya not ta put mah family cider in Pinkie’s punch! It gets stronger that way!” “Well that explains the two prospective couples there.” Daisy remarked, pointing at Icarus and Magenta, who are now starting to dance to some soul music Icarus had play. “And those two as well, just a reminder.” The Kihei unicorn was being taught by Roseluck on what he called ‘Western dancing’, which was basically dancing, to the Kihei, as they barely dance. “Dashie, what are you--” Fluttershy exclaimed, being cut off by Rainbow breathing gusts on her feathers. “That’s… uhh… not now…” “Preening time, my dear… for I am the king of preening in all of Cloudsdale…” The cerulean speedster had drunk too much of the cider-spiked punch, and was once again lost in her own fantasy. The party had finished, and Pinkie double-tasked herself by being the headrest of her now-dead-drunk cousin and at the same time greeting everyone goodnight. Everyone found their own ways home which was not that bad as most ponies heard Applejack’s outburst at Berry about the cider, and kept their eyes peeled for how much cider-spiked punch they were drinking. Icarus had commandeered a solo cloud to sleep on, and Rainbow and Fluttershy, carted the cloud to the Everfree Cottage. Jack had already entered a meditative sleep in the library, and despite the drunk Roseluck crying about how she must leave the static Kihei behind, was dragged away home by Daisy and Lily. Applejack was waited upon by Big McIntosh and Granny Smith, who both were disappointed in the farm mare for letting their recipe mix with another drink. “Ah told ‘em all,” said Granny Smith, “mixin’ Apple Family Cider with any ol’ drink other than mountain spring water’s gonna make one hell of a bad mornin’. Ah’m already old and Ah got ta stop more ponies from it than ya did, dear granddaughter, y’all have much to learn.” She told the mare as she passed out on her big brother’s back. Rarity was assisted by Berry Punch to Carousel Boutique, as Berry’s house was the closest to Rarity’s. Pinkie hoisted her cousin up, and then trotted to Sugarcube Corner.
