Hitch leaned back in his desk chair, reading over his prepared announcement that he would be reading in a few minutes, hoping press releases like these weren't going to become too much of a regular thing. But the sooner everypony got the most up-to-date information, he was hoping Maretime Bay's everyday life would be a little bit closer to normal.

Sprout was currently heading up a small team of earth ponies who were gathering up overgrown crops that Maretime Bayans didn't have room to store them or get through them quickly enough, and had most impressively already found somepony to make use of everything.

Taking another deep breath, he pushed away from his desk, took his prepared statement, and headed for the entrance of the precinct, where the podium had already been set up again, and about a dozen ponies were standing by, waiting for what he would also be broadcasting to the rest of town. He set the paper on the podium, and adjusted the microphone as he cleared his throat.

"Good afternoon, citizens and visitors of Maretime Bay. Today, we woke up to quite the unexpected site; overgrown flora absolutely everywhere in and around town limits. And while we had a bit of a worry with a Filly Scouts camping trip on the outskirts of town, I believe we're lucky enough to not have any injuries. I've spent this morning investigating, and I believe I have seen enough evidence to have figured out the cause of this growth. Fillies and gentlecolts, I believe we are witnessing earth pony magic for the first time in recorded history."

That last sentence caused the murmurs and whispers to finally begin as a couple reporters began to try and get Hitch's attention for questions, but he merely held up his hoof for quiet.

"I won't be taking any questions, because this magic is clearly still in the infant stages. But I can reassure anyone who was worried that this is not being caused by unicorn magic. I was given a demonstration by one of our resident expert florists, Posey Bloom. Thanks to her, I can say that a great deal of this magic has to do with mental concentration. With enough focus, the growth can be reversed. Now I know that this revelation is surprising, and maybe a little scary, but just like pegasi have to learn how to fly for the first time in generations, and unicorns have to learn about the magic in their horns, the earth ponies have to now learn about the magic in our hooves. I'm encouraging all earth ponies to practice and learn about this new magic, in a safe manner. That means away from public thoroughfares, and away from where property damage is possible. I know the word has already gotten out, but if you have food that you don't believe you're going to be able to get through, then please get in touch with my deputy, Sprout Cloverleaf. He is accepting donations on behalf of the Maretime Bay School of Culinary Arts. Thank you, that is all for now."

With that, Hitch turned back to walk into the precinct, and the small crowd behind him started to disperse, some talking worriedly, some excitedly.

"Hope you're not exhausting yourself, Sprout. You've still got that leg to worry about..."

Author's Note