Autumn signifies the start of many things. For the critters, it's a time to store as much food as they can find, ready to hibernate and save up for the long, cold winter months. For the earth ponies, it's when the harvest season is at its peak, their magic to work the land coming into play as they dig up the literal fruits of their labour. Many are looking forward to the annual Running of the Leaves, a chance to improve their position in the long-awaited race, maybe even bet if Rainbow Dash and Applejack will finally break their tie. Foals, in particular, are looking forward to the chance of grabbing some free candy at Nightmare Night. Maybe, if they're extra lucky, Princess Luna could visit again to give some proper scares.
However, there is one thing everypony in the town of Ponyville are particularly looking forward to. One of the earliest signs of Autumn is when the Apple Family of Sweet Apple Acres announce that Cider Season has officially started. the smell of pressed apples coming from the barn drifts its way to the citizens of the town, letting them know that soon the taste of warm liquid gold could enter that mouth and warm them up as they prepare for winter. This year's cider season promised to be the most bountiful yet. The town agreed after a certain fiasco that patience is key to delivering not the number of barrels, but the quality of cider produced. They were willing, though maybe not a certain rainbow-maned pegasus, that they will wait patiently in line to buy the best cider in town.
However, this year there is a newcomer to cider season. Not just the creatures at the School of Friendship, but a certain farm-pony has invited a different creature to try some of the best treats Ponyville has to offer. That certain farm-pony was currently waiting at Ponyville's train station, eagerly waiting for her new friend's arrival. Eventually, the train arrived on the platform with a hiss, and the doors opened. Even though the citizens of Ponyville were used to seeing new creatures pop up randomly in their normal town, it didn't stop them from gawking at a certain new creature, bumbling merrily out of the carriage with a smile that could rival Pinkie Pie when she breaks into random song.
"Welcome to Ponyville, Autumn," Applejack tipped her hat and gave a friendly smile to her new kirin friend, "How was the train ride?"
"Trains are amazing!" Autumn Blaze, the most talkative kirin of the Peaks of Peril, exclaimed, "Who knew train stations are places where one embarks and disembarks from compartments on wheels, drawn along these rails by a steam engine."
"What?" Applejack tilted her head in confusion.
"We don't have anything like those at the Peaks!" Autumn's smile somehow grew wider. A pony, Minuette, if Applejack's memory served her correctly, leaned in and whispered in the farm-pony's ear.
"She stuck her head out of the window and got her tongue out."
Applejack suppressed the urge to laugh, imagining Autumn acting like Winona on the train.
"Well, glad you can make it, and I'm looking forward to showing around this humble town," Applejack smiled warmly.
"Thank you for the invitation," Autumn jumped on the spot, "Now lead the way, Applejack and don't leave out any details." The two of them left the train station and Applejack began pointing out the different attractions of Ponyville, Autumn taking it all in her stride. Occasionally, they got sidetracked and had to stop, like Autumn seeing her first griffon and hippogriff (Gallus and Silverstream wanting a bit more personal space after that encounter), and stopping to buy some pranking equipment at the local joke shop. Autumn said that these will be perfect for her upcoming comedy shows now that she was warmly welcomed back to her village.
Occasionally they would talk about Autumn's village now that every kirin has embraced that it was okay to show emotions. Things were looking up to the place, and now hearing about Equestria and what friendship has to offer. There were some ideas of contacting Canterlot and having a proper diplomatic relationship going on between the two kingdoms. Twilight would be up for such an idea. Applejack entertained the idea of having kirins in the School of Friendship.
Eventually, they made it to the white-painted gates that lead to the orchard field. Upon seeing an actual green and fresh orchard for the first time, Autumn sprinted up the dirt path and leaned over the fence to get a better view. She breathed in the air of apples in the treetops and sighed. It was a lot more greener than the barren lands of the Peaks.
"This is beautiful," Autumn complimented, "Back at the Peaks, it was just orange and dry green shrubs. But here, it's simply breath-taking."
"Shucks, thank you kindly," Applejack blushed, "It ain't much, but it's what helps get food on the table and the bits rolling in. Now, how about I introduce you to my friends and then we can all dig into some of the finest cider in all of Equestria?"
"You can count me in!" Autumn leapt in the air and began bounding off in the opposite direction of the sale stall.
"Er, Sugarcube," Applejack chuckled, "The cider selling is the other way." Autumn turned around and began pronking down the dirt path that led to the growing line of ponies wanting to get in early for a taste of some cider.
Applejack's friends weren't hard to miss, busy chatting amongst themselves. Fluttershy was the first to notice the two coming closer. Smiling, the yellow pegasus motioned for the others to turn around and beckoned for Applejack and Autumn to hurry up.
"Everypony," Applejack introduced, "This is Autumn Blaze. Autumn, you already met Fluttershy, but let me introduce you to Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie." Applejack introduced her friends in turn, which Autumn shook hooves with vigorously. Twilight was the first to welcome her.
"We heard a lot about you from Applejack and Fluttershy's friendship mission," Twilight said, "I have so many questions about you as creatures and culture. Can you actually turn yourself on fire? It seems there are gaps and misinformation about kirin culture." Autumn chuckled at Twilight's curiosity.
Applejack and Fluttershy told Twilight and the others about their new friend once they got back from. Twilight encouraged them to invite her to Ponyville, something Pinkie vouched for. Pinkie wanted to through her a special creature welcome party, whatever she meant in Pinkie's world. Rarity was also intrigued
"To answer your first question, yes we can turn into niriks," Autumn smiled mischievously, "I can give you a demonstration if you want?"
"That would be so awesome!" Rainbow exclaimed, hovering from up above.
"Definitely not!" Applejack quickly butted in, "I would prefer if you set fire to yourself away from the orchard." Autumn shrugged, but Rainbow Dash glared at AJ.
"You're no fun," Rainbow Dash crossed her forelegs.
"A pity," Rarity sighed, "A spectacle like that would definitely help me with new ideas for my Fall Fashion Collection."
"Yeah, I wanted to see a proper light show!" Pinkie squeezed herself in-between Twilight and Rarity who was next to her, "And I still haven't treated you to an official 'Welcome to Ponyville Party'. You just arrived, after all. How was the train ride here?"
"Oh, it was great!" Autumn answered with equal excitement back at Pinkie.
"Did you stick your head out of the window like a dog? Feeling the wind rush through your mane?"
"Oh, absolutely. I've never been on a train before! It was something!"
The two continued to go back and forth, causing Rainbow Dash to cover her ears in annoyance.
"Great," Rainbow muttered, "Now there's two of them!"
"Two of who?" Pinkie and Autumn said at the same time. Rainbow face-hoofed hard.
"Alright y'all," Applejack interjected smoothly, "Apple cider season is here, so let's get this season off to a good start." The ponies and one kirin cheered as the line moved. As usual, the whole town had arrived, much to Rainbow's growing impatience. However, they did manage to drop their bits in the Apple Family's bit bag and get themselves a good warm mug of cider. Autumn was like a bug to a lamp, content to just staring at the foam on the top of her mug.
"Keep, staring at it like that and Rainbow Dash will steal it in a blink of an eye," Applejack noted as she drank her own mug.
"Hey!" The prismatic pegasus said in annoyance. Applejack gave her friend a knowing look.
"Okay, maybe just a sip."
"Go on," Applejack urged her, "Bet you'll like it."
Autumn turned to Applejack, then back to her mug. Shrugging, she downed the mug. Her eyes went wide and let up as the warm liquid entered her mouth and assaulted her tastebuds with sweetness and heat. Applejack smiled at her friend's look.
"Told you so," She smiled. Autumn lulled her tongue out after she drank her mug, a rosy blush on her face.
"Applejack, this is delicious!" Autumn smiled, "The sweetness and the offset of the burning sensation really balance each other out. The foam adds a surprising texture and a whole different dimension to the drink. It's just so good!" Applejack chuckled at Autumn's long description.
It was then Autumn's stomach gave a not so pleasant-sounding rumble, causing the other ponies to look at her in surprise. Applejack looked at her friend in shock, then confusion and then finally worry as Autumn's face went a shade of red and began sweating. The others took notice and were giving their new friend a concerned look.
"Sugarcube?" Applejack asked hesitantly, "You don't look too good."
"Is it me or is it getting hot outside?" Autumn asked, fanning herself with a hoof.
"It's Autumn, Darling," Rarity came in, "It's not the middle of Summer."
It was then that Applejack noticed that some smoke was coming from the kirin's back. Alarm bells rang inside the pony's head.
"Everypony take cover!" Applejack shouted.
Cider was left abandoned as Applejack's friends took ducked as Autumn burst into her nirik form of blue, red and white flames. Everypony stood back and watched the display in wonderment and a slight hint of fire. Her flames began to spit and smother the grass, causing them to take another step back to not get burnt. The flames on her back skyrocketed upwards. Everypony panicked and ducked behind the stall. The only pony who was enjoying the 'show' was Pinkie. She somehow managed to get out some marshmallows and began roasting them on the fire, randomly wearing what appears to be a heat-proof gear volcanologist would wear when collecting lava samples.
"Big Mac!" Applejack shouted above the roaring of the flames, "Get the hose!" Her brother was already on it, Attaching one end to the tap and turning the faucet on. A jet of water came out of the nuzzle and Applejack took it in her hooves. She rushed over to her flaming friend, keeping a safe distance from the flames, and doused her with the water. steam hissed outwards as her friends began coughing and fanning their watering eyes, the unpleasant smell of burnt grass filling their noses. Coughing and fanning away the smoke with her hat, Applejack could just make out the silhouette of the kirin. She walked carefully.
"Howdy partner," Autumn slurred, "Did you see the fire show? I did an oopsie!" Autumn tried to walk in a straight line but was very unbalanced.
"Twinkle, twinkle little sparkle," Autumn sang dizzily, "How I wonder how friendship found her."
Twilight gave the kirin a confused look.
"And I want to taste rainbows..."
"...Okay, that's getting creepy," Rainbow added. Autumn almost hit the ground, but Applejack was there to catch her before she hit the ground.
"Woah, Nelly," Applejack held her up, "I think you had enough excitement for today. Why don't you come inside the barn have a lie-down?"
"You think that's a good idea, Applejack?" Twilight hesitated, "Your barn isn't the best place for a creature who can set itself on fire."
"She's had enough fun for one day and I'll never forgive myself if she's out in the cold," Applejack interjected. Autumn was dozing off, causing Applejack to have to carry her friend on her back.
"Another perfectly good mug of cider ruined," Rainbow looked longingly at her now empty mug of evaporated cider, "Why cruel fate? Why?!"
"Well, I think the Fall Formal Line will definitely have a touch of fire after watching that display," Rarity fanned her hoof to calm herself, "I've never seen anything like it, and that's saying something after everything we've faced."
The others nodded silently in agreement.
"Aww," Pinkie sighed, "I can always throw her a party tomorrow. Besides, kirin-roasted marshmallows are way better than a campfire."
Her friends shot her a hard glare.
"What?" Pinkie shrugged, "It's true!" She tucked into her kirin-roasted marshmallows merrily.
Applejack rolled her eyes and opened the doors to the barn. She took out a blanket tucked her friend in.
"Rainbows," Autumn sighed in her sleep, "Lots and lots of cotton rainbows?"
Applejack had no idea what she meant. She was going to need some strong coffee in the morning.
However, now that she thought about it, giving strong coffee to a talkative kirin may not be a good idea after all.
She came out of the barn and sighed, turning to her concerned friends.
"She'll be fine and currently dreaming about cotton rainbows," Applejack sighed, she then turned and walked towards their home.
"Where are you going?" Rarity asked.
"To get the proper strong stuff for me," Applejack sighed, "And I figured out what my next class at the School of Friendship is."
"What is that?" Twilight raised an eyebrow.
"Why you should never give a kirin cider," Applejack stated plainly.
