Hi, everypony, and welcome to another episode of Twilight Tries!

In today’s episode, I’ll be trying to…make a tourism video! More specifically, trying to make a tourism video for the town of Ponyville. And if you’re wondering why it is I’ll be trying this the simple answer is that I was asked to by Ponyville’s mayor Mayor Mare.

‘Mayor Mayor Mare’. That feels kind of weird to say.

Anywhoo, I’m guessing the simple answer isn’t going to be enough to satiate the curiosity of some of you out there, so I’ll elaborate. You see, the other day Mayor Mare came over to my castle and said that she wanted to talk to me about Ponyville’s declining tourism rate over the last few years. And needless to say, I was caught a little off-guard by this - both by the fact that she wanted to talk to me about this and by the fact that Ponyville has been seeing a decline in tourism as of late.

Well, and the fact that Ponyville’s tourism rate is such a seemingly important issue too.

But anyways, Mayor Mare said that she thought an official tourism video might help bring more visitors to Ponyville, and that since I’m Ponyville’s resident princess I should be the pony to star in that video. I was, of course, flattered by the commendation and agreed to do the video on the spot. But I want to make it clear that Mayor Mare’s flattery wasn’t the primary reason I agreed to do this! I agreed first-and-foremost because I want to help Ponyville and not because I’m some easily-manipulated mare who can undoubtedly be exploited after receiving a few laudatory words! No matter what Starlight says!

.

.

No, Starlight, I didn’t call for you. I was just doing some recording for my vlog and your name came up.

.

.

Don’t worry, I remember. Once I’m done with all this I’ll help you make some desserts for your upcoming party at Maud's.

.

.

Awww, thanks! That’s so sweet of you to say!

You’re such an encomiastic friend.

But if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my vlog now.

.

.

Yep. See you later!

Now, where was I?

.

Ah, right.

So, yeah, that’s why I’m doing this. Now as to what exactly it is I’ll be doing in this episode, it’s all pretty simple; I’ll be going around to interesting sites in Ponyville and talking about them for a bit. And I know that that doesn’t sound very interesting, but once you see all the sites and hear all of the fascinating facts about them that I’ve written down on these 117 notecards I guarantee you yourself will be clamoring to come visit us.

But enough explaining things, let’s get to the video!

Okay, where’s the notecard with my introduction on it?

.

Ah, here it is.

Ahem.

.

Hello there! I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle, and on behalf of the Ponyville Board of Tourism I’d like to thank you for watching this video about our fair town! Ponyville may be a small community compared to a number of other townships throughout Equestria but we have no small amount of vibrant sites, businesses, and other amenities that we’re sure you’ll love!

So follow me, if you will, and I’ll show you all that Ponyville has to offer!

All right, so our first stop is perhaps one of Ponyville’s most famous locations: Sweet Apple Acres! This apple farm has been in Ponyville for three generations and is arguably the reason Ponyville even exists. Many of the apples that ponies throughout Equestria consume are grown here, and it’s the only known orchard in the world where zap apple trees can be found. Now unfortunately, zap apple season is still a ways off so we can’t show you any of them right now, but you can still see all of the regular, scrumdiddlyumptious apples that are here!

Why did I just say ‘scrumdiddlyumptious’? I don’t think I’ve ever said that word before in my life.

.

Hmm?

Hello?! Is somepony else out here?! Applejack?! Big Mac?!

.

.

Huh?

Trixie? What are you doing here? You weren’t sleeping in the orchard again, were you?

Because I distinctly remember Applejack saying she didn’t want you – or anypony – sleeping out here anymore.

.

.

You weren’t sleeping you were…napping?

*SIGH*

Trixie, those are the same thing.

.

.

What am I doing here? Oh, I getting some footage of Sweet Apple Acres for a Ponyville tourism video Mayor Mare asked me to make.

.

.

Oh dear, I shouldn’t have just said that.

Um, t-thanks for volunteering to do a magic show for the video, Trixie. That’s very generous of you but I don’t think we can include that because, uh…there isn’t enough time! Yeah! Mayor Mare said she wanted this right away and I don’t think you’d have enough time to get everything ready for your show before I have to deliver it to her.

.

.

What?! Sorry, I can’t hear you, I gotta go, bye!

.

Phew.

Well, that was close. I know Trixie isn’t quiet the showboat she used to be but I think she’s still a little too…bombastic to include in the tourism video.

Okay, so the next stop on our tour is the ever-fashionable Carousel Boutique! This clothing emporium attracts customers from all over Equestria, and is known for its high-quality dresses and dernier cri. And if you’re wondering what exactly ‘dernier cri’ is I’m sorry to say I have no idea. It’s something my friend Rarity - Carousel Boutique’s owner - once used to describe her business and when I asked her what it meant she said, ‘If you don’t already know, darling, my telling you won’t help any’. So I guess it’s just a term used exclusively within the fashion industry.

Or something Rarity simply made up. Both are possible.

But anyways, why don’t we head inside and see if we can get a few words from the owner herself about why it is ponies come to Ponyville from far-and-wide to get their dresses from this shop?!

.

Hello? Rarity? Do you have a minut – oh my.

Swaths of fabric strewn about; sewing thread hanging from the ceiling; Opalescence’s food dish completely empty?

Um, so from the look of things around here it would seem that Rarity is, uh…too deep in the creative process of making a new dress to talk right now. But don’t worry, despite appearances everything’s fine.

Probably.

This sort of thing happens from time-to-time, usually whenever Rarity experiences a creative block or gets backed up with orders. The best thing to do at times like this is to give her as much space as possible and not bother her, so we’re just going to leave and head off to our next destination.

Though not before I quickly and quietly get Opalescence some food first.

.

Huh? Did I just see Trixie hiding in the bushes outside the window?

All right, so out next stop is a fairly new addition to Ponyville: the School of Friendship! This amiable institution – founded by yours truly and the other Elements of Harmony – is the only one of its kind in Equestria and is home to a variety of creatures from all across the world who want to learn about the magic of friendship.

*SNIFF*

Sorry, I told myself I wasn’t going to get emotional covering this place for the video but…I’m just so proud of it and all its students.

*SNIFF*

Ah…Achoo!

Excuse me.

Okay, maybe it’s more allergies than emotions that are getting to me right now.

Of course the wind has to be blowing all these irritants around right now.

.

Wait a minute? Are those…dragon sneeze leaves I see blowing in the wind?

Oh no. Not again.

.

Yep, right on cue; Smolder’s sneezing up a firestorm.

.

Correction: Smolder and Spike.

Welp, it looks like the time I spent learning that fire extinguishing spell last month wasn’t for not.

Pardon me for one teensy moment.

*HUFF*

Okay…so sorry for that interruption. I’m honestly not sure how that…that incident even occurred since there aren’t any dragon…sneeze trees near the school, but regardless the situation is…under control now.

*HUFF*

.

.

Oh, thank you, Trixie. I really could go for some water right now.

.

Wait.

Trixie?! Have you been following me since Sweet Apple Acres?!

I knew I saw you outside Rarity’s window.

.

.

You just…wanted to watch me film my tourism video? Um, okay.

That’s not creepy at all.

.

.

Oh, well, yeah, I guess that might be true. I have recorded a lot of episodes for my vlog, so I suppose that could be part of the reason why Mayor Mare asked me to make the video.

.

.

Oh, stop. I’m not that good with this camera. I mean I’d like to think that after all this time making vlog episodes I know a thing or two about cinematography, but it’s not like I’m an expert at it or anything.

.

.

You want me to record you doing your magic act? I mean, I suppose I could do that if you really want me to.

.

.

Yeah, I guess I could put it into the tourism video as well. I’m a little low on useable material for it anyways due to various…unforeseen circumstances.

Just give me a quick second to wrap-up my vlog before we get started.

.

Well, everypony, it looks like we’ve reached the end of another episode. So as always, thanks for watching, and I’ll see you next time on Twilight Tries!

Okay, Trixie, ready when you are!

.

Hold on a minute. I told Trixie earlier that she couldn’t be in the tourism video, but just now I agreed that she could be after she said some nice things about me.

.

Yeah, I’m starting to think Starlight might have been onto something.

Author's Note

If there's something you'd like to see Twilight try, please let me know in the comments!