Chapters Outside in the waiting area for the school, a unicorn filly sat with her parents. She had a pure white coat and was fiddling with her cutesy curled indigo mane as a means of distraction. She had watched the other unicorn fillies leave before her, more often than sporting a look of disappointment. Even despite the filly before her who bounded out in a state of bliss, Rarity felt butterflies in her stomach.
She didn't want to be here, she thought to herself, she had planned to do other things like designing the costumes for the school play, which was today! But instead, her parents decided to whisk her away on a surprise trip to Canterlot to apply for some kind of school that they had apparently applied for months prior.
Yes, she had become particularly skilled with levitation through her rudimentary design projects, but no more than any other unicorn.
Still, they were both so enthusiastic, and Rarity would never want to let them down.
All these thoughts only came out as a muted sigh as Rarity glanced up to her dad, who was sitting next to her.
"So, Rarity," Hondo Flanks said to his daughter, "You think Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns has a sports program?"
Rarity didn't answer, instead turning to look down the hallway to the testing room. She didn't inherit her father's enthusiasm for sports or her mother's love for baking. In fact, she hadn't found any calling at all so far, her white blank flank standing out from its own lack of a cutie mark. Rarity had expressed some interest in design, or maybe gemstones, but nothing had given her that cutie mark click.
"Up next, Hondo Flanks, Cookies Crumbles and filly," echoed the bored voice of a teacher through the halls, using some kind of advanced amplification spell undoubtably taught at the school, "Please report to the testing chamber."
Cookie clapped her hooves, "Oh my little Rarity's getting into magic school!"
Despite Cookie's premature statement, the trio filed down the hall and entered the chamber. Rows of seats laid in front of the presentation area. An area that was currently completely empty except for a cart with some kind of purple egg. In the uppermost room sat four unicorns who looked extremely bored.
"Welcome to the entrance exam for Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, Miss Rarity," announced one of the judges. He motioned at Rarity's parents as they walked over to the corner to sit and watch. "Now for this entrance exam, you must use magic to hatch this... egg," he droned as he motioned to the purple egg, "Failure to do so is an automatic disqualification."
That statement wrung up strings of panic within Rarity. This isn't what she expected! She had expected to levitate some plates, not this!
"Well Miss Rarity?" Asked one of the judges, raising an eyebrow.
Rarity nervously laughed to herself as she approached the egg.
Rarity concentrated to herself. This performance had to be great. No, not great, exemplary! Perfect!
She firmly planted her hooves on the ground and breathed in and out. Beads of sweat began to roll down her face as she concentrated on the egg. Dapples of light began to sparkle at the tip of her horn as the egg began to glow and vibrate. Now breathing heavily, Rarity clenched her teeth as she put all of her energy onto the egg and...
Nothing. The light faded from her horn and the egg. The spell, her magic, had failed.
No sound came out as her eyes began to well up with tears. The teacher judges merely grumbled amongst themselves, prudently scribbling at their notes. Rarity hung her head as she began to silently cry. She was a disappointment.
"Miss Rarity," said the first judge, "It seems that-"
BOOM!
A loud sound crackled from outside shaking the school at its foundations and making every pony in the room jump. The sound knocked the wind into Rarity, causing something to happen to her. A new feeling that radiated within her, that charged her inside!
White light began to emanate from her horn once again, only more powerful, with crackling sparks and beams of light shooting out. Rarity began to hover in the air as white light enveloped the egg as well. A creative surge of energy flowed into the egg, causing it turn red, blue, pink, green; faster and faster until it was rapidly shifting across the entire color spectrum.
The judges' eyes widened in amazement as the egg began to change not only in color, but in shape! Spots formed as it shifted into a griffon egg, then lumps formed as it turned into a serpent egg, then it turned into a cuboid egg nopony even recognized, and so on. Everypony was staring at the color changing and shape changing egg, not noticing as beams from Rarity's horn began to shoot out elsewhere.
It was noticed when a beam of light hit Hondo Flanks turning the stallion's coat into a shade of blue. Another stray beam hit one of the judges, turning her a shade of yellow with pink polka-dots. The ferocity of the beams escalated as more shot out, changing the shades and patterns of every object and everypony in the room.
The glowing filly Rarity was unaware as objects began to float and change their forms as well. The floating judges began to shout in distress and flail helplessly as a chair turned into stone and a potted plant turned into diamond, not wanting to be transfigured themselves. Their cries did nothing to stop the filly at the center of the magical maelstrom.
Celestia stood on one of the balconies of Canterlot Castle. She was curiously observing a rainbow halo stretch it way across the sky.
Suddenly, the loud sound of a magical transfiguration redirected her attention to below. The school, her school, was still standing, but beams of rainbow light emanated from one of the lecture halls. A pulsing magic was making tiles from the roof float up in the air, several of which had changed to various objects.
Could it be?
Crying from teachers and parents did little to deter the filly who was surging with uncontrollable magic. Rarity's eyes glowed white as the magic flowed around her.
Suddenly, a hoof was placed on her shoulder. Snapping back to reality, Rarity gasped as she fell to the ground. Standing before was the large white Alicorn with the flowing rainbow mane, Princess Celestia.
Celestia looked around the room. It was a mess fit only for the spirit of chaos. Floating objects, multicolored ponies, random debris floating about, and what could only be described as an egg rapidly changing like roulette wheel. She looked down to see a filly pleading at her hooves.
"Princess! I'm so so so sorry! I- I don't know what happened! Please don't punish me!"
Celestia smiled, "Why would I punish you my little pony? I've never seen this kind of raw magic from a filly before." With a flash of her horn, Celestia returned the room to normal. The shaken judges, now in their original shades, slowly floated back down, all of them staring at the egg which had stopped shifting.
With a pop, the egg settled onto a black lumpy form.
"And it looks like you made a new friend as well," said Celestia as she and everypony else watched as the "egg" began to crack. Out emerged a small black insect-like creature. It chirruped as it fell onto the ground, flittering its shiny black wings.
"Now you won't be learning in my school," stated Celestia, making Rarity hang her head in shame, "Instead, I'm offering to take you as my personal protégé and teach you how to hone in your magical abilities."
Rarity stepped back in shock. A student of the princess herself?
She looked over to her parents, who nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, Princess!" They both said.
Recomposing her little self, Rarity firmly answered. "Of course, Princess Celestia, I shall be honored to be your personal student!"
Celestia lightly laughed, "I am pleased you made your choice Rarity, and it looks like someone just got her cutie mark!"
Rarity gasped as she turned quickly to her flank. Her eyes widened as a cutie mark appeared. It showed a dark blue diamond-shaped star, surrounded by six smaller diamonds in clockwise positions.
"Thank you, princess!" she cried, losing all sense of formality and hugging the Alicorn tightly, "I'll never forget this day!"
And never forget it she did, for who knows what would have happened if Rarity had never gone to the school?
Friendship is Magic, Part 2
A hushed silence blanketed the Ponyville town hall as blue fog began to magically appear on the balcony. It began to swirl, coalescing into a shadowy form. With a flash of darkness, a large alicorn, as black as night, appeared on the balcony. Her midnight blue mane flowed with the same energy as Celestia, revealing a canvas of stars. Her wings were borne, and her eyes were little more than carnivorous slits.
She stared down with disdain to shocked crowd of ponies, "Oh, my beloved subjects," she announced with mock sincerity, "It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces."
Pegasi royal guard swooped in to attack the mysterious disrupter, only to be swat aside by her magic. Twilight and several other guards on the balconies shot magic beams at the alicorn, who merely absorbed the spells, shooting back her own array of magic that destroyed the balconies, scattering its occupants.
The remainder of the Canterlot officials held back, angrily staring at their assailant.
Rainbow Dash flew out from the crowd. "What did you do with our Princess?" She attempted to attack the alicorn, only to be held back by the lasso of Applejack.
The alicorn smiled, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth, "Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?"
Pinkie Pie bounced up again, "Oo, oo, more guessing games! Um, Hokey Smokes! How about Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty, Black Snooty-"
The pony was silenced as Rarity's magic shut her mouth. She took a step forward, standing tall to the alicorn looming over everpony. "I know who you are," she shouted, "You're the Mare in the Moon – Nightmare Moon!"
Nightmare Moon sinisterly chuckled, "Well well well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here." She took a step forward, a beam of dark energy shot out from her horn, exploding in a magical expansion in the sky. The moon rose to its full height as a purple shade of twilight spread across the entire sky.
"Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever !" With a laugh, the blue fog swirled around the alicorn, crackling and shooting out bolts of lightning. The crowd scattered as Nightmare Moon vanished from sight.
Rarity frantically searched through her books and papers. Thankfully, Big Mac and the Apples had been kind enough to unpack her suitcases for her when they brought them over earlier. Not to her specific liking of course, though redecorating would have to wait till later. As of now, Rarity was making a mess of the previously pristine quarters. The Predictions and Prophecies book lay open on the ground slowly being covered by the papers flung into the air with magic. Spike, meanwhile, was slumped on the ground nearby.
"Elements, elements, where are they?" Rarity muttered, searching through her mostly unused collection of books, "I knew I had a book on them!"
"Book on what ?" asked a voice. It came from Rainbow Dash, who had entered Carousel Boutique along with the other ponies from earlier, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash pointed an accusatory hoof at Rarity, "And just what are those Elements? And how did you know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you a spy? Huh?"
"She's not a spy," added a new voice. In entered two unicorns, Twilight Sparkle and the white stallion from the town hall. She quickly turned to her compatriot, "Shining Armor, take the royal guard and maintain the peace around town," she looked back to Rarity and the other ponies, "I'll handle it here."
With a salute, Shining Armor left the Boutique, leaving just the six ponies and Spike.
"So," Twilight turned to Rarity, with a serious but not angry expression on her face, "how do you know about Nightmare Moon?"
"I just read about her," Rarity stammered, motioning a hoof to mess of books around the room, "For my magical studies, for Princess Celestia, because I'm her personal student," she made sure to include Celestia to lessen the suspicion, "I read about a way to stop her. I swear I had a book, about the Elements of Harmony, but I can't find it."
Pinkie Pie poked her head out from a pile of books, "You mean The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide ?" A hoof followed, holding said book.
The astonished unicorn ran up and snatched the book, "Yes! This is it! Thank you! thank you! thank you!" With zero haste, she plopped the book on the ground and began to rapidly page through it with magic. "Aha! It says there are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Wisdom, Honesty and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It says the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now the Everfree forest!"
Applejack stomped a hoof, "What are we waitin' for fellers? Let's go!"
"Wait," Rarity said, "I have to do this alone. If I want to help anypony, I can't let any of you get hurt."
"Sorry Rarity," Twilight said with a smile, "It's my royal duty to do this. And," she looked at the rest of the group, "we're not going to let any friends of ours do this alone!" They all nodded in agreement.
Rarity reluctantly accepted, "Oh alright," she said before looking a tad embarrassed, "Perhaps one you could lead the way? I don't know where the forest is."
The Everfree forest loomed at the edge of Ponyville, looking even more disheartening than usual underneath the eternal night. It seemed nearly endless, it's thick dark trees clouding sight and judgement. It was said that the place was unnatural, and that everypony who's ever came in never come out. And currently, a group of six ponies were walking right into it.
They were all nervous as they trod amongst the gnarled trunks, except for Pinkie Pie of course. The branches above nearly blocked out the purple sky, leaving the only light the white glow emanating from Rarity's horn.
Fluttershy whimpered, "Are you sure Spike couldn't come with us?" The pegasus was fluttering closely behind Rarity, practically curled up into a ball. She had asked the question twice already.
"Yes, I'm certain darling," Rarity answered again matter-of-factly, "All of the shapeshifting from today- er- tonight exhausted his energy. He'll need some time to recharge."
Twilight coughed, "So... Rarity," she asked to try to stir up same conversation, "First time in Ponyville? I know it's mine!" She laughed nervously.
"Good gracious, not at all," answered Rarity, "Ponyville's my hometown, or at least it was before I moved to Canterlot. Still, it was a long time ago, I can hardly remember it myself."
"Cut the small talk," Rainbow Dash cut in from above, "How about we get a move on?"
Silently agreeing, they all picked up the pace a little, unaware that a dark blue smoke was following them.
The dark blue fog angrily swirled around the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters. It's attempts to prevent the arrival of a certain group of ponies had failed. Though it did create challenges for them.
First it had tried to make the ground beneath their hooves collapse. Unfortunately, the two pegasi were able to fly and save their compatriots while Applejack caught Rarity. Applejack was able to gain Rarity's trust at the moment, instructing her to let go. After much reluctance, she did let go, only promptly caught by the pegasi.
Next, the fog had changed into a thorn that embedded itself in the paw of a manticore. The manticore obviously became angered by this and blocked the path of the ponies. After a brief struggle, Fluttershy managed to make the others stand down. Instead, Fluttershy had walked up to the manticore to talk to it and remove the thorn, successfully calming it down.
The fog zoomed away into a denser part of the forest, embedding itself into the trees. The wood creaked and groaned as it warped, forming faces meant to scare the ponies off. This worked at first, with the intruders being terrified by the monstrous faces. Pinkie Pie, however, was unperturbed, instead laughing at them. She began to sing a song about laughter, lightening the mood and making the group erupt in a fit of giggles. The laughter dissipated the fog, making it flee across the river ahead.
In its next attempt, the fog swooped across the river, slicing right through the mustache of a purple sea serpent lounging at the riverbank. The river would prove to be an obstacle for the ponies, especially if it was blocked by a sea serpent in despair. When the group of ponies encountered the serpent, they were largely confused by the creatures fits of misery. But in the moment, Twilight thought of an idea. Using her magic, she pulled and harvested nearby plants, using a spell to synthesize them into a fine thread, which she then threaded with the remnants of the sea serpent's mustache, creating a makeshift mustached wig. Though not matching, the grateful serpent was overjoyed, and gave the ponies a lift across the river.
As a last-ditch attempt to stop the ensuing group of friends, the fog lurked in the darkness on the other side of a chasm by the ruins of the castle. With the bridge broken and no other way to cross, Rainbow Dash had to fly to the other side to repair the bridge. The dark blue fog took the opportunity to change its form to that of the Shadowbolts, an elite team of aerial pegasi. They tried to convince the pegasus to become the captain of the team, but when Rainbow Dash learned that she had abandon her friends to join the Shadowbolts, they were shot down. The dark fog retreated as the ponies walked up to the ruins.
The dark fog began to contort, merging into its true form, Nightmare Moon. She watched from the tower of the castle as the six entered the castle. Luckily, Nightmare Moon had one more trick up her sleeve, one that would surely stop the ponies once and for all.
The main entrance to the castle of the two sisters was dim, the eternal night outside preventing any sunlight that might have shine through the long-shattered windows. Hoof-crafted stone archways lined the long hall, leading to chamber with some kind of pedestal. The pedestal held stone orbs on its extended arms.
Pinkie Pie hopped on forward, "Lookie lookie! It's the elements!"
"C'mon y'all," Applejack said as the rest cautiously approached the pedestal, "Be careful now, you don't wanna break these."
Slowly and carefully, the ponies removed the stone orbs from the pedestal. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash slowly hovering two to the ground while Twilight and Rarity carefully hovered the remaining three to ground. Pinkie Pie popped her hoof out to count the orbs.
"One... two... three.. four.. five! There's only five!"
"Five ?" Rainbow asked, "Isn't there supposed to be six?"
Rarity stood in place and pondered, "Let me remember, the book said when the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed. "
"What in the hay is that supposed to mean?" Applejack asked.
"I'll be honest darling, I have no idea," Rarity flatly answered before jumping up suddenly, "Wait! I got it! Stay back, I'm going to try something."
The rest of the group filed out of the chamber as Rarity planted her hooves on the ground. She shut her eyes began to concentrate. Concetrate, you have to do this . White glitters started to sparkle off of her horn.
Unbeknownst to Rarity and the ponies waiting outside the chamber, a familiar dark blue fog had snaked itself from the upper terraces of the ruins. It extended itself, slithering across ground and circling around Rarity and the five stones. Slowly but surely, the stones began to spin in a circular fashion. Faster and faster the fog spun the stones, until they had blurred into a blue whirlwind of light.
Rarity opened her eyes, that wasn't right. Faced with a whirlwind of magic she yelled out loud. "The Elements!" The other five quickly rushed into the chamber to see Rarity leap into the shining whirlwind and vanish from sight.
"Rarity!"
Coughing and sputtering, Rarity stood up as her eyes adjusted. She had been transported into a whole new chamber with stone pillars and floor to ceiling length windows. The cries of her friends could be faintly heard, they were somewhere else in the castle.
Standing over her was Nightmare Moon, the five elements orbiting her like the sun. Nightmare Moon smiled wickedly at the unicorn, who was miniscule in comparison.
Rarity shook her head; it can't end this way. It wouldn't! She breathed in and out, cleared her mind, and stamped a hoof forward. She glared at Nightmare Moon, who simply laughed.
"You're kidding. You're kidding, right?"
Rarities hooves pawed the ground, her horn shimmering to life with white beams of light. And she dashed forward at the alicorn. Taking it as a challenge, Nightmare Moon leapt off the platform, charging the offending unicorn. Her elongated horn crackled with black magic and her sharp wings fully extended.
The two magic users closed the ground between them. Gritting her teeth, Rarity made contact. A white ball of light eclipsed the two ponies, flashing with magical ripples before disappearing within a second.
A second later, the confused alicorn skidded to a halt at the other end of the room. She looked around in confusion, "Wha? Where is she?"
Turning her head with ferocious vigor, Nightmare Moon saw Rarity at the other end of the room. The unicorn, panting and exhausted, stood with the elements.
Rarity grimaced as she concentrated on the elements, "Come on! Just one spark. Come on, come on!" The stones began to faintly shimmer, but the spell was cut short as Nightmare Moon appeared in a flurry of fog and stars. The alicorn stomped down, immediately breaking Rarity's spell and throwing her back.
Rarity rolled on the ground and wearily stood up. She watched in horror as the alicorn madly cackled and reared back. With a stomp and a crunch, the stone orbs were crushed, their crystals scattering across the ground.
Nightmare Moon laughed yet again, her mane swirling into a star-studded maelstrom, "You little foal! Thinking you could defeat me ? Now you will never see your princess, or your sun! The night will last forever !"
"Don't worry Rarity!" Twilight yelled as she galloped into the room, followed by the rest of six, "We're here for you!" The rest of them shouted in agreement. Applejack, Rainbow, Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie all stood their ground behind Rarity, sternly facing down the raging alicorn.
It was at this moment that it clicked inside Rarity's mind. The answer, the elements, it was all standing before her!
Rarity regained her footing and turned to Nightmare Moon. She brushed her frizzled mane out of her face, "You think you can destroy The Elements of Harmony just like that? Well, you're wrong darling, because The Elements of Harmony are right here !"
She smiled at the alicorn's confusion, "What?"
Nightmare Moon watched in a panic as crystal remnants of the orbs at the alicorn's hooves began to shake and glow. Slowly floating up, the crystals began to combine with each other.
Rarity smiled back at her friends, "Applejack , who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of... honesty !" Shards surrounded and orbited the orange earth pony.
"Fluttershy , who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of... kindness !" The shards surrounded and orbited the yellow pegasus.
"Pinkie Pie , who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of... laughter !" The shards surrounded and orbited the pink earth pony.
"Twilight Sparkle , who calmed a sorrowful serpent using her knowledge to help others, represents the spirit of... wisdom !" The shards surrounded and orbited the purple unicorn.
"And Rainbow Dash , who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire represents the spirit of... loyalty !" The shards surrounded and orbited around the cyan pegasus with the rainbow mane.
The five ponies began to hover midair behind Rarity, who continued, "The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us! No matter how stressful or difficult it may have been!"
Nightmare Moon, who was now noticeably distressed, smirked slightly, "You still don't have the sixth Element! The spark didn't work!"
"But it did! A different kind of spark," Rarity turned to the ponies standing with her, "I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you all. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you're, you're my friends!" Rarity turned to face Nightmare Moon, "You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the element of... magic !" Rarity finished her speech as shards began to combine overhead, forming into a sixth stone element.
Magic glows encompassed the ponies, the crystal shards spinning faster until they glowed in a rainbow spectacle of color. Gold formed around their necks, creating necklaces that held crystals that matched each pony's cutie mark.
An orange apple for Applejack, a crimson lightning bolt for Rainbow Dash, a violet spark of knowledge for Twilight Sparkle, a pink butterfly for Fluttershy, and a sky-blue balloon for Pinkie Pie. Finally, as the ponies were magically lifted into the air, the elements coalesced on Rarity, creating a gold crown embedded with a dark blue crystalline diamond.
Beams of concentrated magic shot out off each pony, joining each other into a rainbow that spiraled around the terrified Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon could hardly scream as blinding light filled enveloped the room and everything went white.
The ponies eventually woke up on the cold, hard ground. Rainbow Dash was the first to stand back up, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof.
"Ugh, my head. Wha- what happened?"
"I dunno," answered Applejack, "but is everypony okay?"
Despite having just been passed out, Rarity was more than okay. She blossomed on the inside, the surge of magical energy filling her with a newfound spirit. She could only assume the rest of her friends felt the same.
Fluttershy looked over to her, pointing a hoof out. "Why Rarity, it's so lovely," she stated.
Rarity primed her mane with a sense of pride, "Why I know my mane's lovely darling. Might I ask why you're pointing it out?"
"No, not your mane," Fluttershy giggled, "your crown!"
Rarity looked up, suddenly noticing the golden crown on her head. The crown was lightweight enough to be barely noticeable on her head and it displayed an elegant dark blue crystalline diamond that matched her cutie mark. Rarity then noticed the rest of the group had similarly styled gold necklaces, each displaying a crystal matching their wearer's cutie mark.
The ponies oohed and awed as they looked down at their new additions.
"Fascinating," Twilight said whilst closely examining her violet jewel, "So Rarity, we really do represent the elements of friendship. How'd you know it?"
"Well, the obstacles in the Everfree made me realize when each of you displayed one of the elements through your actions," she blushed, "Though I'm certain you all heard me during my little speech back there."
"I'm certain they did Rarity," said a voice. The ponies all gasped as the Celestia appeared in a window, her form silhouetted by the rising sun.
Rarity and Twilight gasped in unison, "Your highness!" The six ponies hurriedly bowed to the white alicorn.
"I'm so so sorry Princess!" Twilight pleaded to the alicorn, "I know I wasn't supposed to leave and abandoned my post, but something had to be done and-"
"All is forgiven my loyal advisor," Celestia lightly laughed, "You and the rest of these ponies all helped my faithful student in a time peril, and Rarity," she turned to gaze upon the unicorn, "I knew you could do it."
"But I was behind on all my studies, and you told me I needed to calm down," Rarity stammered.
"Yes, I told you that, but I also said you needed to make some friends and look what they helped you to accomplish. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return, and I knew it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her, but you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart." Rarity turned to the other end of the room, where the ponies only just noticed a small dark blue pony curled up on the ground, "Now if only another will as well, Princess Luna."
The uncorrupted alicorn shamefully looked up to Celestia, who smiled down, "It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister."
Rarity and the rest of her friends gasped, "Sister ?"
Celestia extended a hoof, which was taken by the smaller blue alicorn. "I'm so sorry!" Luna sniffled, "I missed you so much, big sister!"
The two alicorns hugged each other, "I've missed you, too."
The rest of the ponies happily watched the cheerful reunion. Pinkie Pie in particular was openly sobbing. Blowing her nose, the pink pony bounced up, "Such an important occasion! And you know what that calls for? A party !"
The way back to Ponyville had felt much shorter than the way there, though perhaps it was due to the fact that they had traveled in the two sisters' royal chariot. In what seemed like only a minute, Pinkie Pie had put together a smaller scale version of the Summer Sun Celebration, festooning the town with decorations and gathering everypony in the main square.
The crowd of equines cheered as they saw the chariot approach. Fillys throwing flowers and confetti at the newly restored Princess Luna. Spike had recovered and was out and about in his pony form. He ran up and hugged Rarity, who returned the embrace.
Everypony was happy and cheered on the two alicorns, everypony except for Rarity that is, who stood still away from the throng of ponies. Rarity crept up to Celestia. The unicorn bashfully looked up to the Princess, "So I guess my 'vacation' is extended now your highness?"
Celestia looked down to her student, "Why so glum, my faithful student? Are you not happy that your quest is complete, and you can have an extended break with your new friends?"
"That's just it," Rarity pointedly said, "I am grateful to have new friends, but the casual lifestyle just isn't for me Princess."
Celestia laughed, "I am fully aware of your work ethic Rarity, and that my previous methods may not have suited you," she turned to Spike, "Spike, take a note, please." The changeling immediately pulled out a roll of parchment.
Princess Celestia stood up straight and announced, "I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn Rarity, shall take on a new mission for Equestria. She will continue to study the magic of friendship. She must report to me her findings from her new home in Ponyville. "
"Oh, thank you, Princess Celestia!" Rarity happily responded, " I'll be sure to work harder than ever before!" Celestia laughed as Rarity's new friends cheered and hugged their new neighbor.
This was the start of a new beginning for Princess Celestia's student. And the first of many adventures to come...
It was a bright and sunny morning at Sweet Apple Acres. Princess Celestia had already raised the sun, which was nearing its peak in the sky. The moon had also been rising on time, indicating that the recently rediscovered Princess Luna had already become acclimated to the task.
However, the sunshine and the weather didn't matter to two ponies in particular who were working among the apple orchards. Applejack had gotten herself in a bet with her brother Big Mac, in particular, a bet on picking apples. Rarity had generously offered a hoof and the pair had spent all morning harvesting apples.
Rarity used her magic to float a baker's dozen of apples into a wooden barrel, which then levitated onto the wooden cart that was already nearly full. Applejack in meanwhile, was bucking another apple tree, knocking off all of the apples in one hit.
The orange earth pony wiped her brow, "Thank you kindly Rarity, for helping me out. I bet Big McIntosh I could get all these Golden Delicious in the barn by lunchtime. If I win, he's gonna walk down Stirrup Street in one of Granny's girdles." She chuckled imagining the sight.
"Why it's no problem at all darling," Rarity replied courteously, "There's nothing I like more than helping a pony in need."
A upside down blue fruit bat poked its head out from a nearby apple tree, "What about design? Or maybe magic? Oh! Don't forget those fine Canterlot salads!" It was Spike, who had taken the form of a fruit bat and was "helping" by taste-testing random apples.
"By the way," Spike took a bite out of another apple, "When's lunch? All this hard work is making me hungry."
Rarity rolled her eyes, "Really Spike, you've been eating this whole time while we did the work."
The fruit bat looked offended, "I've been making sure these apples are safe for consumption! You don't want any parasites in your apples, do you?"
Applejack looked up at the bat and smirked, "Why, I'd say yer the parasite 'round here. You've eaten nearly as many apples as one of them vampire fruit bats!"
"You want me to turn into one?"
"Spike, if you turn into a vampire fruit bat, I'll personally buck ya straight back to Canterlot."
"So, a maybe then..."
Without warning, the changeling shapeshifted back into his original insectoid form, falling face-first onto the ground. His horn began to glow, and with spark of blue light, a scroll appeared mid-air.
Rarity looked at the scroll in surprise, "Why, it's a letter from Princess Celestia!"
Rubbing his head, the changeling grabbed the floating parchment and cleared his throat, "Hear ye, hear ye. Her Grand Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is pleased to announce that the ugh, Grand Galloping Gala to be held in the magnificent capital city of Canterlot, on the 21st day of , yadda yadda yadda, cordially extends an invitation to her personal student Rarity plus one guest. "
"The Grand Galloping Gala!" Rarity squeed. Spike fiddled through the letter, pulling out two golden tickets which were immediately snatched up by Rarity's magic.
Applejack was wide-eyed, "You got a personal invitation to the Grand Galloping Gala ?"
"Oh of course darling," Rarity braggingly stated, "I've been several times."
"Yep," Spike groaned in agreement, "several times."
"It is simply to die for Applejack! You have all of the fanciest and famous ponies in all of Equestria under one roof! The food is divine and the decor," she kissed her hoof, "utterly magnificent ."
"It's utterly one thing alright," Spike had taken back his form of fruit bat and flown back up into an apple tree.
"Don't mind him, he's always been a bit cross with the gala," Rarity stopped for a second and looked at Applejack, "I suppose that leaves me with an extra ticket, and I don't suppose you would want Applejack?"
"Want it? Shoot! I'd give my left hind leg to go to that gala," Applejack enthusiastically replied, "Just think of it, if I had an apple stand set up, ponies would be chowin' our tasty apples 'til the cows came home. Do you have any idea how much business I could drum up for Sweet Apple Acres? Why, with all that money, we could do a heap of fixin' up 'round here. We could replace that saggy old roof, and Big McIntosh could replace that saggy old plow, and Granny Smith could replace that saggy old hip."
Rarity looked around and shrugged, "Well, I guess I could-"
"Watch out!"
Out of nowhere, Rainbow Dash crashed into a barrel, sending apples flying. Rainbow Dash playfully chuckled, "So, we talking about the Grand Galloping Gala?"
Applejack gave the rainbow-maned pegasus the stink eye, "Rainbow Dash. You told me you were too busy to help me harvest apples. What were you busy doing? Spyin' ?"
"Well, I was busy , I was busy napping," she pointed out with smirk, "And I just happened to hear that you have an extra ticket?"
She looked at Rarity expectingly, who stood still in response, "Well I do but-"
Rainbow Dash flew up into the air before she could fully respond, "Yes! This is so awesome. The Wonderbolts perform at the Grand Galloping Gala every year! I can see it now, everypony would be watching the sky. Their eyes riveted on the Wonderbolts, but then in would fly Rainbow Dash! " The pegasus looped through the air as she prattled about her routine, "I would wow them! Mesmerize them! The Wonderbolts would insist that my signature moves be incorporated into their routine, and then welcome me as their newest member." Rainbow flew up and put a hoof on Rarity's shoulder, "Can't you see it, Rarity? This could be my one chance to show them my stuff. You gotta take me!"
Rarity pulled away as Applejack butt in. "Hold on just one pony pickin' minute here. I asked for that ticket first."
"So what?" Rainbow countered, "That doesn't mean you own it."
"Oh, yeah? Well, I challenge you to a hoof-wrestle. Winner gets the ticket."
"You're on!"
Both of ponies plopped themselves aside a nearby tree stump and began to hoof-wrestle. They grunted and strained against one another until Rarity loudly cleared her throat.
"Ahem! These are my tickets, and I shall be the one to decide which pony gets it. So, whoever has the better reason should get to go, fair?"
Applejack raised her hoof, "Drummin' up business for the farm?"
Rainbow Dash raised her hoof as well, "A chance to audition for the Wonderbolts?"
"Money to fix Granny's hip?"
"An opportunity to live out my dream?"
Rarity tapped her chin, "Oh my, those were all pretty good reasons, weren't they? I'm afraid I can't make a decision at the moment, especially on an empty stomach, so how about I go and have a quick meal and think this over?"
The two ponies groaned and nodded, letting Rarity leave with Spike flying after her. Rarity yelled out behind her, "Now you two don't keep biting at each other like a pack of diamond dogs while I'm gone!"
Applejack and Rainbow Dash rolled their eyes, and quickly resumed their hoof-wrestling once Rarity was out of sight.
Rarity thought to herself as she walked through the main section of Ponyville, the tickets magically float beside her. Who could she give the tickets to? Maybe she could skip the gala this year and give them both the tickets...
"So, who you gonna give the ticket to, Rarity?" Spike asked, flying closely behind the unicorn.
"Thats the thing Spike," answered Rarity, "I don't know! Maybe I should get some lunch and think this over."
Spike opened his mouth to respond, only to careen straight into the face of a pink pony.
"Gah! Bats on my face! Bats on my face! Help!" Pinkie Pie yelled as she pawed at the blue bat wrapped around her muzzle. In a moment's notice Spike had plopped onto the ground. Pinkie Pie stopped her panicking, "Wait, your Spike, aren't you? Sorry Spiky! I shoulda- are those tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala?" She became transfixed by the floating gold tickets.
Rarity tilted her head, "Oh, you know about it?"
Pinkie Pie bounced in place in her usual manner, "Of course! It's only the most amazing incredible tremendous super-fun wonderful terrifically humongous party in all of Equestria! I've always always always wanted to go!" She began to elastically bounce around Rarity, singing a little tune to herself. "Theres decorations like streamers and fairy-lights and pinwheels and piñatas and pin-cushions, with goodies like sugar cubes and sugar canes and sundaes and sun-beams and sarsaparilla. And I get to play my favorite-est of favorite fantabulous games like Pin the Tail on the Pony!"
Rarity was troubled by this, another choice for the extra ticket. So, she attempted to make the pink pony loose interest in the matter, "Um Pinkie? You know the gala isn't that kind of party."
Pinkie stopped her singing and blew a raspberry, "Psshaw, I'm the bestest Ponyville party planner! I definitely can handle any kind of party! Thank you thank you thank you Rarity! It's the most wonderful-est gift ever!" She hopped at the tickets, them floating out of her grasp. "Hey!"
Rarity gulped, "Well actually Pinkie Pie-"
"She hasn't decided Pinkie Pie," Spike inducted, balancing his little bat body on Rarity's head.
Pinkie Pie gasped, "What?"
"Decided what?" Fluttershy came into view, being trailed by her small, white, perpetually peeved pet, Angel.
Spike turned to the yellow pegasus, "Rarity needs to decide which of her friends gets her extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala."
"Aren't you going Spike?" Fluttershy asked.
Spike scoffed, "No way! I'm not going back to that place again."
"Well then," Fluttershy timidly turned to Rarity, who had continued to lift the tickets away from Pinkie Pie, "I would just like to ask, I mean, if it would be all right, if you haven't given it to somepony else,"
"You too? You want to go to the gala?" Rarity exclaimed, yet another friend who wanted to go, and yet another additional option.
"Oh yes, I mean, yes, or kind of..." She trailed off before suddenly opening up, "It's not so much the Grand Galloping Gala as it is the wondrous private gated garden that surrounds the dance. The flowers are said to be the most beautiful and fragrant in all of Equestria. For the night of the gala, and that night alone, would they all be in bloom and that's just the flora! Don't get me started on the fauna. There's loons and toucans and bitterns, oh my! Hummingbirds that can really hum, and buzzards that can really buzz. White-blue jays, and red jays, and green jays, pink jays and pink flamingos!"
Rarity had been to the gardens before, and Fluttershy might have been a tad bit exaggerating their glamour, "I'm sure it will be beautiful Fluttershy," she replied.
"Wait wait wait! Stop a sec!" Rainbow Dash had swooped down to join the fray.
Rarity turned to her friend surprised, "Rainbow Dash! Were you following me?"
"No ," Rainbow Dash responded, "I mean maybe, kind of. It doesn't matter! What does matter is who you give the ticket to! And I'm not going to let some fancypants like you to give it to any old mare."
"Now just hold on!" Applejack had entered the scene.
Rarity looked at the new face, "Applejack! Were you following me too?"
"No," Applejack stated pointing an accusatory hoof at Rainbow Dash, "Ah was followin' her to make sure she didn't try any funny business and steal my ticket!"
Rainbow Dash glared at the orange pony, "Your ticket?"
Pinkie butted in, "Wait wait! Rarity's taking me!"
"I thought I was going," Fluttershy chimed in a barely audible whisper.
The four ponies began to openly argue with each other over the owner of the extra ticket. Rarity's eye twitched, she couldn't stand it any longer.
"QUIET!"
The ponies hushed; Pinkie Pie last because she was babbling something about oatmeal.
Rarity angrily sighed, "Listen, there's no point in arguing about this," she stamped her hoof to make the point clear, "This is my own decision and I'm going to make it on my own. But I can't make my decision with your yapping and arguing! So, scatter, and I'll think of something."
Rarity shooed away the four ponies, who grumbled as they left.
"Somehow I'll think of something..."
Rarity buried her face in her hooves, "Spike darling, what is a lady to do? They all have good reasons to go, but I still want to go! But I have to give it to somepony! Applejack, or Rainbow Dash? Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy? Oh, who should go with me?"
"So, what is your choice madame?"
"I don't know!" Rarity sobbed.
"Rarity, he just wants to take your order," stated Spike.
Rarity opened her eyes. Her emotional outburst had certainly not gone unnoticed. The waiter, and the other ponies eating their food, stared at her.
"Oh, um," she laughed nervously, "I'll have a carrot a la crêpe!"
Spike looked at the menu, still in his fruit bat form, "I got a craving for apples at the moment, you got any?"
The waiter nodded, ignoring that Spike was a bat, and trotted away.
Rarity turned to the small bat across the table, "So Spike, what do you think?"
"Well," Spike looked around, his little blue head could barely reach the top of the table, "I guess the decor a bit blasé, but that's probably your taste rubbing off of me."
Rarity looked at him, "No I mean about the Gala and the ticket and who I should give the ticket to."
Spike groaned, "Your still on that? Just use a random selection spell or something! That is a thing, right?"
Rarity ignored his remark and slumped her head on the table. If only Twilight was here! She would surely have figured this exact situation in a cinch! Of course, right now she was back in Canterlot, some kind of "royal business", something special she said. Unless, what if she wanted a ticket as well? Wouldn't she already have one due to her position? Maybe... she didn't seem like a party type.
The waiter approached, his mane looking a bit more moppy, "Your food madame."
"Thank you serveur ! I shall certainly enjoy this meal."
The waiter had a quizzical expression, "Pardon me, but in the rain?"
"The wha?"
Thunder clapped, making Rarity look around. All around her the air was thick with rain, and the rest of the outdoor patrons had already galloped away. She peered up, seeing a perfectly round hole in the clouds above her table.
Rainbow Dash's head poked from over the cloudbank. "Hiya there my bestest friend forever! Enjoying the weather?"
Rarity glared up at the pegasus, "Just what in Equestria do you think you are doing Rainbow Dash?"
Rainbow Dash bore an expression of confusion, "What do you mean? I just saw that you were enjoying a little meal, and I wasn't about to let a pesky scheduled storm rain upon my best pals. So, I just kicked a hole and your welcome."
Rarity rolled her eyes, "Rainbow, you're not trying to get extra consideration for the extra ticket by doing me special favors, are you?"
Rainbow feigned an expression of shock, "What? Me ? Phh, of course not! Never ever!" Rarity raised an eyebrow, "I'd do it for anypony, seriously!"
"Well Rainbow Dash," Rarity turned up her nose, "I'm not a lady that can be bribed, so I'd appreciate it if you close up that rain cloud right now."
Rainbow Dash groaned, "Fine, have it your way..." She shut the clouds, causing Rarity's mane and food to be immediately drenched in the rain. Spike, in the meantime, continued to completely ignore the weather, happily munching away at his apple.
The rain outside made a continuous pattering against the windows of the Carousel Boutique. The door opened, ringing the old bell Rarity had yet to remove. She stepped in, bat Spike on her back and her mane absolutely soaked with rain.
It was then Rarity noticed that the common area was full of animals. Squirrels scurried among the bookcases, dusting them with their tails. Birds flitted along the upper terraces, scratching away cobwebs and hanging decorations. Most noticeably of all was the cheery-eyed bear carrying old mannequins and boxes about. And at the center of it all was Fluttershy humming to herself as she dusted Rarity's practice mirrors.
"Not you too Fluttershy," Rarity whined.
The pegasus then noticed the wet unicorn, "Oh hello Rarity! Hi Spike! I hope you don't mind, but we're all doing a little spring cleaning for you."
"It's summer," Rarity commented, but this comment was ignored.
Fluttershy flew in close, "Oh, let me help you with that," she motioned over a trio of hummingbirds, who spiraled around Rarity's mane until it was perfectly and pompously styled once again, "And here you go," Fluttershy timidly added, pulling out an apple for Spike. The fruit bat changeling, despite having eaten approximately sixty-three apples already, joyously took the gift and sank his fangs into it.
Rarity narrowed her eyes at the pegasus, "You're not doing this for the ticket, are you?"
Fluttershy shook her head, "Oh no, this was a little gift for my very best friend. It was all Angel's idea. Wasn't it Angel?"
The rabbit stomped nearby, throwing down a stack of papers to stare daggers at Rarity and Spike.
Fluttershy sputtered and hung her head in shame, no longer able to keep up the lie, "Yes, we are just doing this for the ticket."
Rarity sighed and turned to the door, "This was all very nice of you and Angel, darling, but I'm not accepting any extra favors until I've made my final decision. And now that the rain's stopped, I am making my leave." She stamped her hoof once and left the Carousel Boutique.
Standing right outside the door, Rarity's stomach grumbled. She really hadn't eaten anything all day.
"Did I hear a pony's stomach grumble?" Applejack stepped out from behind a nearby tree.
Rarity rolled her head back, "Oh what now ?"
Applejack leaned forward, balancing a plate of apple crumble cake on her head, "Don' mean to intrude on ya, but do I hear that you have a hankerin' for a meal?"
Rarity gently pushed the plate aside, "I'm not in the mood for apple crumble at the moment darling."
"Don'chu worry!" Applejack cheerfully said as she pulled out a cart of various apple products, "I got apple pie, apple fritters, apple tarts, apple dumplings, apple crisps, apple crumblers, and apple Brown Betty. Uh, the dessert, not my auntie. What do you say, best friend?"
"No," Rarity started, "I mean no, I don't know who I'm giving the ticket to, and all these favors aren't going to make me choose you! In fact, I'm less sure now than I was this morning!"
"So that's a maybe?"
"That's a yes from me!" Spike interrupted, before flying up and diving into an apple pie.
Rarity had stormed away, leaving Applejack and Spike in his continuous barrage of apples. She had fled into a park-like area of Ponyville plentiful with trees and bushes. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure she wasn't being followed.
"Surprise!" Confetti fell around her as ponies jumped out the nearby bushes.
A party horn blew in her face. "Happy super duper looper bestest best friend surprise party!" Pinkie Pie hollered, dancing around with noise makers.
"What," the shocked Rarity said.
"Rare-it-tee the-best-pony!" Pinkie Pie began to sing, "She's-the-bestest friend-friend-friend!"
"Pinkie Pie!"
"What is it Rarity my super-duper party pony pal? I'm just throwing a surprise party, so you'll give me the ticket!"
Rarity facepalmed, "I appreciate the party and your bluntness, but really Pinkie, no number of favors will make me give away the ticket to the gala."
"Ticket? What ticket?" A nearby pony asked.
Pinkie Pie swirled around to face the assembled ponies for the party. She laughed, "Why Rarity's extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala silly!"
In a moment's notice, Rarity felt as all eyes shifted to her. She slowly backed away from the throng of ponies, "Now listen," she nervously laughed, "Let's not gallop to conclusions!"
"Don't worry Rarity," said one unicorn, "Say, have I ever told you how much I love your name?"
A pegasus yelled, "You have the best magic in Equestria!"
"I'll skin my coat for that ticket!"
"I'll give you, my colts!"
"Right right," Rarity stammered over the ever-increasing amounts of suggestions, "I just have to do... a thing."
With that, Rarity dashed off. After a moment of confusion, the crowd of ponies followed. Throughout Ponyville, Rarity was pursued. Pegasi flew from overhead and tossed gifts, nearly causing her to stumble and fall. She had to continuously move away from approaching ponies, trying to hide several times. At one point, Rarity even tried to use a spell to change her appearance. The searching mob was stumped for only a moment when a blue unicorn behind them shimmered and turned white once again.
As she began to become exhausted, Rarity frantically searched for a means to escape. Then she remembered something. In the Castle of the Two Sisters when facing Nightmare Moon, Rarity had pulled off a spell she had never done before, a spell that she didn't even understand. Maybe... just maybe she could do it again.
Focusing on her horn while running, she strained her energy into her magic. Magical white light traveled down horn as it began to glow. It worked! An orb of white light surrounded her, vanishing in a flash of white light, leaving a confused crowd of ponies to skid to a halt.
It was nearing dusk. The Carousel Boutique was quiet; clean, but quiet. Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash stood around, an awkward silence permeating between them. They each had the individual idea to go to Rarity's place, to apologize or maybe get the ticket.
Spike lay passed out on the ground; the engorged fruit bat surrounded by the crumbs of apple fritters.
Suddenly, a hum began to emanate on one side of the room. White light rippled through the air. A bright light flashed and suddenly Rarity dashed out of thin air, running straight into a stack of books.
"Ow! What happened?" Rarity said as she emerged from the books, rubbing her temple, "Wait! I have to hide!" In a second, magic shut the windows and locked the door. Rarity let out a sigh of relief, only then noticing her friends looking at her.
Rarity jumped up in panic, "Gah! No no no! No more favors, no more arguments, no more chasing! I can't decide, I just can't decide! It's important to all of you and I just couldn't handle disappointing any of you because you're all my friends and I want you to all be happy and nothing I do- I can't, I just can't !" She buried her face in her hooves.
A moment of silence passed with the only sound being Rarity's whimpering.
Applejack was the first to speak up, "Actually Rarity, I came here personally to apologize. I didn't mean to put so much pressure on you, and if it helps, I don't want the ticket anymore. You can give it to somepony else. I won't feel bad, I promise."
Fluttershy nodded, "Me too. I feel just awful that I made you feel so torn."
"Yeah, me too," said Pinkie Pie, "I might have come across a wee bit intrusive, and I'd never want to make a friend sad!"
"Well actually-" Rainbow Dash looked at her friends, "If they don't want it, I don't want it either. Besides, I haven't perfected my signature moves for the Wonderbolts anyway."
"We all got so excited about the gala, we forgot how it made you feel," Fluttershy said, "We're sorry."
The rest of the ponies agreed. Wiping her eyes and getting up, Rarity exhaled. She turned to the bat on the ground. "Spike, I need you to take a note."
The fruit bat groaned, shapeshifting back into his insectoid changeling form. He burped, "I'm never going to eat another apple as long as I live." Without lifting a claw, he reached over and grabbed an empty parchment from a nearby pile.
"Make sure you get this down Spike," Rarity started, "Dear Princess Celestia, In my early days as a full-fledged friend, I have learned that one of the many qualities of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel awfully, torn. So, though I appreciate your invitation, I shall be returning both tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. "
The four ponies gasped, "What?"
"If my friends can't go, that I shan't go," Rarity declared punctually.
"Are you sure?" Applejack asked.
Rarity nodded once, "Yes, send the letter Spike." The changeling grimaced as he shot magic out of his horn, making the letter evaporate. "Besides darling," Rarity added, "I've been before, and I'll miss it once if it means spending time with my friends!" They all embraced each other with a hug.
"Urgh," Spike gagged.
"Well bless my saddle Spike," Applejack slyly said to the changeling, "Isn't that just like a boy? Can't handle the least bit of sentiment."
"No," he gagged, "I think it's your apple dumplings coming back up." With a burp, his horn flashed blue, and an unusually thick bounded letter magically appeared.
"Well, that was fast," Rarity commented.
Spike grunted as he opened the letter and began to read. "My dear student Rarity, Why didn't you just say so in the first place ?" He unfolded the letter a bit more making six golden tickets fall out.
They all gasped, "Now we can all go!" The girls cheered and jumped before being interrupted by a low growling.
Rarity blushed, "That might be because I haven't had a thing to eat all day."
"Yep, I can see that. And I'm all outta apples," Applejack replied, casting a sly eye at the encumbered changeling.
"How 'bout we all get some dinner," Pinkie Pie suggested, "Cupcakes are on me!"
"I can get behind that!" Rainbow Dash cheered.
The ponies left the boutique cheering and laughing, but Rarity stopped for a second. Celestia had given her six tickets, but Twilight was in Canterlot at the moment. Then she remembered.
She approached the changeling, still laying on the ground, "Spike? Would you?"
"Yeah whatever," he tiredly groaned, "I'll take it."
Rarity giggled as she placed the golden ticket on his forehead and trotted out of the Carousel Boutique. Leaving Spike alone to deal with his indigestion.
"This is what I get," he mumbled to himself, "for trying out food."
It was the beginning of another apple bucking season at Sweet Apple Acres, and two ponies stood at the top of a hill, surveying the work that lay before them. Hundreds of trees all full of fresh, ripe apples spread out across the farm.
"Boy howdy!" Applejack said, "I got my work cut out for me. That there is the biggest bumper crop of apples I ever laid eyes on."
"Eyup," replied Big Mac, "Too big for you to handle on your own." The large red stallion had his midsection bandaged up, having been injured in a farming incident two days prior.
Applejack scoffed, "Come on, big brother! You need to rest up and get yourself better. I haven't met an apple orchard yet that I can't handle," she playfully punched her brother on the shoulder, forgetting his injury, "Oops, sorry, I'll take a bite out of this job by day's end."
Big Mac wore a flat expression, "Biting off more than you can chew is just what I'm afraid of."
Applejack raised an eyebrow, "Are you sayin' my mouth is makin' promises my legs can't keep?"
Big Mac nodded, "Eyup."
At the remark, Applejack sniffed, "Why- This is your sister Applejack, remember? The loyalest of friends and the most dependable of ponies?"
"But still only one pony, and one pony plus hundreds of apple trees just don't add up to..."
She straightened her hat with a stern expression, "Don't you use your fancy mathematics to muddy the issue! I said I could handle this harvest and I'm gonna prove it to you. I'm gonna get every last apple out of those trees this applebuck season all by myself ."
Big Mac shook his head and began to walk away, knowing there was no arguing with the orange mare once her mind was made up.
Applejack turned back to the apple orchards and sighed. She had a lot of work cut out for her.
With a mighty buck, the apple tree shuddered and dropped its arrangement of apples. Applejack wiped her brow with her hat, yet another tree taken care of. She looked around at the reaping of her labor, she had already done who knows how many trees and it wasn't even noon! Yep, she would get this done in a jiffy.
Then, Applejack heard a familiar bouncing noise. Pinkie Pie, the pink party pony had hopped on over to Applejack. "Wow AJ! That's sure a lot of apples!"
"Shucks Pinkie," Applejack replied, "I haven't even gotten started!" She turned and spread her back legs to buck two evenly spread trees, causing a rain of apples in the buckets below.
"Wowee zowie! You must have done-" Pinkie Pie paused and silently counted the empty trees, poking her hoof out, "A bajillion trees already!"
"I appreciate yer praise an' all," Applejack modestly answered, "But why exactly are you here Pinkie?"
"Huh?" The pink pony bore an expression of confusion before one of realization clicked on her face, "Oh yeah! AJ AJ AJ! "We need you right away! It's super-duper important!"
"What issit?" Applejack asked in alarm, but Pinkie Pie ignored her, frantically dashing away as Applejack followed.
With a hop and a skip, Pinkie Pie snapped to a stop. Applejack did the same, panting as she looked around. She was in Ponyville by the train station. The train station? That's when Applejack realized what she had forgot.
Pinkie playfully saluted to the ponies at the station, "Applejack retrieved as requested!"
Standing at the platform was all of her friends, including Rarity who bore an expression of annoyance. Rarity did not like it when a pony was late. "You're late Applejack."
Embarrassed, Applejack rubbed the back of her head, "I'm sorry y'all, I was busy with apple bucking season and all, and I guess I forgot."
"Apple bucking season?"
Applejack sniffed, "It's what the Apple family calls harvestin' time. We gather all the apples from the trees so we can sell 'em."
"And you're doing it alone? What about all those relatives I've met when I first came to Ponyville? Can't they help?"
"They were just here for the Apple family reunion. They actually live all over Equestria and are busy harvestin' their own orchards. An' Big Mac hurt himself, so I'm on my own."
With the explanation for Applejack's lateness, Rarity's expression softened immediately, "Well, your excuse is valid darling, though I did specifically tell you all at what precise time to come to the station."
"Well, I'm here now," Applejack said. She blinked, "For... for what exactly?"
Rarity gasped, "Honestly Applejack! Have forgotten that today is the day your friend Twilight Sparkle returns to Ponyville?"
Applejacks eyes popped open, "Oh, oh yeah!" She chuckled nervously, "I was jus' kiddin', I didn't forget about nothin'!"
She looked over and saw Twilight, standing beside a luggage cart and watching their conversation. Twilight's number of cases was noticeably smaller than Rarity's when she first arrived in Ponyville.
"May I begin?" Twilight asked.
Rarity turned her head, "Oh, of course darling!"
Twilight nodded and cleared her throat, "So, I told you all that I'm visiting Ponyville, but I may have asked a few favors and pulled a few strings, and..." She crouched down in anticipation and jumped up, "I'm moving to Ponyville!"
Her friends cheered and clapped their hooves in response.
Pinkie raised a hood, "But how? Why? Who ?"
Twilight smiled, "Back in Canterlot, it was no secret that I was kind of withdrawn. So, after the whole Nightmare Moon affair, I personally requested to Celestia to move to long-term arrangements in Ponyville and she agreed!"
Pinkie Pie happily danced around, "Yippee! Now all my bestest friends are in Ponyville and we can hang out forever!"
"The Princess set me up with a living arrangement in the Golden Oak Library," Twilight continued, "it was the perfect choice cause I'm kind of a book pony."
Rainbow Dash flew overhead, reaching the luggage cart and beginning to push it, "Don'tcha worry Twilight! I'll have your stuff in the library in a flash!"
The ponies left the station to the library, before Applejack paused mid-step.
"What's the matter Applejack?" Rarity asked, "Aren't you going to come help Twilight unpack?"
"Sorry girls, but I can't. I have apple bucking to do and I've already spent enough time away from the orchard as is."
"Why don't you let us help you? Then you could have more free time to spend with your friends."
"No! I mean, I won't let ya. I'm a capable earth pony," she firmly stated, accentuating each word with a stamp of her hoof, "And I'm not gonna let any pony down!"
Rarity reluctantly turned tail and joined the rest of her friends. Applejack yelled after her, "And I'm not going to forget anything else this week!"
With grunt, another tree shuddered, and its apples fell. It was midday through day two of apple bucking season, and Applejack and hadn't stopped since she returned from the train station.
"An' that's tree number seventy-eleven somethin'..." she murmured. She had actually lost track of the number the day prior; but that didn't matter as her brain was becoming cloudy from sleep deprivation.
Tiredly, she pushed another barrel of apples to the cart. "Another cart, another barrel..." she said in sleepy whisper, her head bowing and her eyes closing.
Applejack suddenly jumped awake as her chin hit the wood of the cart, "Rainbow Dash! Rainbow needed me for something!"
"There you are!" Rainbow Dash called out as Applejack slowly walked over.
"I'm a mite sorry, Rainbow. I was busy applebuckin' and I guess ah, I closed my eyes for a second and, when I woke up, I was late. Now, what's this new trick a' yours?" She looked up, the pegasus was standing on the end of wooden catpault-like contraption with a platform looming overhead.
"Woah AJ, you don't look so good," Rainbow asked with concern upon noticing the orange pony's condition, "You sure you want to do this?"
Applejack nodded, "Of course Dash! Anything for a friend."
Rainbow Dash broke her gaze at the pony. "Well, if you say so," she motioned to the catapult she was standing on, "I'm gonna stand on one end, then you're gonna jump down from that platform, launching me into the air faster than I can take off on my own. Once I'm in the air, I'm gonna do some brand-new flips and spins that are sure to impress the Wonderbolts. You got that?"
"Yep. Sure. Jump off the platform." Applejack climbed up the ladder to the platform above.
"Ready AJ? One, two, three!"
With a splat , Applejack pancaked on the ground, missing her side of the see-saw entirely.
Rainbow Dash grimaced, "Woah! Now I know even that wasn't okay."
Standing up with one hoof at a time, Applejack peeled herself off the ground and turned back to the ladder, waving off the pegasi's remark, "Naw! I'm a dependable earth pony, I can handle whatever y'all dish at me!" She grunted as she ascended the ladder again.
"But I don't want to dish out anything!" Rainbow Dash yelled up, "I don't want you to get hurt!"
Applejack walked to the edge of the platform again. Strangely, everything looked blurry to her. "Ready Dash? I'm a gonna jump!" She ran up to the edge of the platform before her knees buckled, making her fall flat on her stomach.
"Okay that's it !" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she began to climb off the catapult, "I'm not going to let you hurt yourself like this!"
"I'm okay. Just watch!"
Applejack leapt off the platform, catching the pegasus below off guard. Before Rainbow Dash could do anything, the orange mare had landed on the other side of the see-saw, catapulting the unprepared Rainbow high into the sky.
"Wait, Applejaaaaack!"
"You're welcome!" Applejack called after her. Another successful job done.
At the Carousel Boutique, Rarity stood in front of her full-body mirror and happily hummed to herself as she straightened the hem of her robe. Indeed, it was that bi-weekly time again, magic practice time, and Applejack had already volunteered to help. She needed the most capable and fastest mare she knew for the job, and Rainbow claimed she had something else to do at the time.
Spike in the meanwhile, toddled by pushing another mirror, they needed plenty of mirrors for today's exercise, and luckily the boutique had plenty of them lying around. "Ready to start Rarity?" Spike asked.
"Not at all darling, Applejack still needs to arrive," Rarity said not looking away from her mirror, "Besides, I have more preparations to make on my practice robe." Whenever Rarity wore one of her elaborate magic robes, she always took extra care in looking perfect, which in the end delayed magical practice half of the time.
SMACK!
A loud sound came from the nearby window. Rarity and Spike turned to see a familiar cyan pegasus flattened against the glass. With a whining sound, Rainbow Dash slid off the glass and to the ground below.
Rarity opened the window and poked her head outside, "Rainbow Dash? What in Equestria are you doing out here?" Rarity asked, making sure her practice hat wasn't getting wrinkled.
The pegasus sprawled below on the ground barely opened her eyes and whimpered, "Ughhhh"
Rarity furrowed her brow at the lack of a response, instead turning her gaze forward to see Applejack hurriedly trotting over in the distance. "Oh! Applejack's here!"
After two uneven knocks, Rarity opened the door for Applejack, who nearly tripped over her hooves while entering. Rarity's eyes widened; the pony looked awful. Her knees were wobbly, there was dark bags under her eyes, and worse of all, her mane was all frazzled!
"Sorry ah'm late," Applejack tiredly said upon entering.
"Actually darling," Rarity said to the exhausted pony, "You're fifteen minutes early."
Applejack's eyes closed with her attempting to put on a grin, "See Rarity, I can be early," she turned her head to Rarity's practice robe, "And I like that there rodeo clown outfit."
Rarity clutched her chest, "Rodeo clown ? I'll have you know this is my self-made, hoof-crafted specialized magical practice gown-er robe !"
"One of five," Spike added, plodding down the stairs.
"Oh, is it?" Applejack replied while squinting her already narrow eyes, "I'm sorry, things have been a bit blurry for me lately," she shrugged, "No clue why."
"I might have an answer," Spike offered before being shushed by Rarity.
"Anyways Applejack," Rarity said correspondingly, "Let's proceed with practice upstairs, shall we?"
The orange pony sleepily nodded, "Of course."
Rarity led Applejack upstairs to her practice room, which at the moment was full of mirrors. Applejack continuously flitted in and out of consciousness, the lack of sleep must have been taking a toll, but that's not anything she couldn't handle.
"-And don't forget Applejack, do not turn them at an acute angle. I repeat, an acute angle," Rarity finished, "Got that Applejack?"
Applejack looked up, "Hmm? Oh, oh yeah. Of course! Angle! Got it."
The two ponies walked into the center of the room. They were surrounded by twelve mirrors arranged in a circular pattern. "Okay, I'll begin, get the mirrors ready Applejack."
Applejack nodded absentmindingly, what was she supposed to do? The room darkened as Rarity powered up her horn. The air began to build up, billowing everyponies mane in the wind. Applejack simply stood still and watched the spectacle. She looked over to see Spike, wearing a frying pan on his head. He returned the look motioned his head to a shelf on the right side of the room.
Applejack didn't understand what that meant until Rarity responded. Hers eyes clenched shut, Rarity yelled out loud, "The mirrors, Applejack! The mirrors!"
With burst of realization, Applejack remembered what she was supposed to do. With the speed of a rampaging herd, Applejack dashed about the room, rotating and turning each mirror to face Rarity, making sure each mirror was at an acute angle.
She had barely finished when twelve beams shot out in each direction from Rarity's horn. The beams spread out, hitting each mirror. The mirrors of course, weren't in the right position, causing the beams to bounce off randomly. Rarity screamed and ducked as a beam flew right over her head, turning the nearest wall from light pink to a shade of pecan. Spike ducked as a beam hit the pan on his head, turning it cobalt blue. This continued until two beams collided mid-air in the center of the room, creating an explosion of color.
When the magical dust settled, Applejack, her coat now light gray in color, looked around, "Was the spell supposed to do that."
Spike sighed, the changeling a shade of red, "It was supposed to make a rainbow orb, and I guess we check off Mistmane's Spell of Rejuvenating Color as a failure."
"I suppose that spell might have been too advanced for me," Rarity said, failing to hide her frustration as her coat, mane, and robe had been turned a sickly shade of chartreuse.
Applejack grunted as she hit another tree.
Another day, another tree, another buck, another barrel. This was the third day straight she had been working on the apple bucking harvest. The incidents the day prior slowed her progress some, but she had to, her friends took equal priority to her farm work.
However, this tree wasn't offering its apples for some reason, so she hit it again.
Rarity had come by earlier, despite her, irritation, at being turned the color of throwup, she offered her and her friends to help the earth pony with her harvest. Again, Applejack had refused, explaining that it was her duty, and she didn't need help.
The tree shuddered as it was bucked again.
"Why... won't... this... tree..." Applejack grunted before looking up. She blinked, seeing that the tree was very clearly dead and bare. "Ah... I suppose that works."
Applejack began to walk away before her legs gave way and planted her on the ground. Standing had been getting more difficult for her.
She leaned against the wooden cart, which had been placed askew in a rut. Applejack's eye shut and she dozed off momentarily before waking up again. She slapped her face with a hoof, "C'mon AJ, you can do this," she told herself, "You just have one extra thing t'do. I just need to help Fluttershy with one thing. Shoot! And one thing for Twilight!"
Twilight settled down in her chair with a happy sigh. The bookshelves were full, the fireplace was lit, and her schedule was planned out. And what could be better than spending some time catching up on her reading?
She had moved over to Ponyville two days prior; for "long-term friendship arrangements" as the Princess had put it in her official letter on matter. Of course, Twilight had spent a good portion of her time in the Golden Oak Library, having a Canterlot official move somewhere else did create a lot of paperwork, and Twilight still had her duties to attend to.
But for now, Twilight was content for a bit of light reading. She opened up her copy A Brief History of Cutie Marks when her owl hooted overhead. This owl, Owlowiscious as he was named, had come with Twilight to Ponyville. Fluttershy of course had adored the little bird.
Twilight looked up to the owl, who had spun his head to the door, "Hoo!"
As if on command, the door slammed open, and Applejack stumbled in. The orange mare was looking more haggard than ever, barely even managing to keep her eyes open.
"Don'chya worry Twilight," Applejack mumbled, "I didn't forget to help ya!"
"Forget what?" Twilight leaned over her chair, gasping at the sight of Applejack, "Applejack! You look awful!"
"Why," Applejack blurredly grinned, "To help ya move in to Ponyville, 'member? Earlier today at the train station."
"Applejack, that was two days ago."
"Wuzzit?" Applejack puzzledly questioned, "I've just been so busy with apple bucking season."
Twilight stood up and approached Applejack, who had tiredly collided with a bookshelf several times, "I think you need some help Applejack, doing all that work alone must be exhausting."
Applejack jumped out, "No no no! That's jus' what everypony says, but I don't need help !" She began to back away to the door, "Now, if y'all don't need my help, I'm gonna go help Fluttershy." The earth pony turned up her nose and exited the library, after colliding with the door several times.
Twilight sighed, there was no way this was going to end well.
"Oh Applejack! Thank you so much for offering your herding skills for the annual rabbit roundup," Fluttershy happily said.
Applejack stood still and yawned, "Yeah yeah, that's why I'm here, to help! Why are we doing this again?" She was at Fluttershy's cottage, and anypony could easily see the abundance of bunnies hopping about the premises.
"Well, lots of new baby bunnies have been born," Spike answered. He had come over to help as well, the changeling taking his gray bunny form. Right now, Spike hopped nearby Winona, Applejack's dog that she had luckily remembered to bring with her, practicing little bunny jumping jacks.
"It's my job to get a count of all the new families," Fluttershy stated, "but remember, these are bunnies we're dealing with, not cows. They're a timid bunch and need to be treated gently."
"Please Fluttershy," Applejack said after stretching her back, "I do not need any direction on corrallin' critters. Right, Winona?"
Winona stopped her sniffing of Spike and barked in agreement.
"That's right! Let's get this started!" Spike announced after finishing his stretching exercises.
"Okay, little bunnies! I need you to all gather here in the middle," Fluttershy did her best to announce.
"That's right! Let's go, bunnies," intercut Applejack. She and Winona ran at the bunnies, scattering them eastward. The pony chased the bunnies from behind while Winona barked at them from the side to keep them on route.
"In the center. Hop to it! Put 'em up, Winona!" The dog made a sharp left turn, closing off the route for the bunnies with a dust cloud. In a moment's notice, the terrified bunnies had all gathered into a quivering mass of fur.
Fluttershy flew up to the crowd of bunnies, "Applejack! Winona! Stop! You're scaring them!"
Applejack rolled her tired eyes, "We know what we're doin' Fluttershy. Get along, little bunnies!" She stomped her hooves, causing the bunnies to squeak in terror. A second later, the bunnies fled in between the earth pony's hooves, rushing away from Applejack. Winona chased after the cutesy stampede, her barks doing nothing to heed the swarm of fur.
Bunny Spike jogged up to the bewildered Fluttershy, out of breath from the running, "What happened?"
The wide-eyed pegasus simply pointed to the dust cloud shrinking in the direction of central Ponyville.
The event that followed could only be described as a disaster. There had been stampedes in Ponyville before, but usually Applejack was on hoof to prevent any damage. That wasn't the case this time as a stampede of raging bunnies swarmed through Ponyville. Ponies fled in terror, some fainted, others barricaded themselves indoors as the provoked puffballs descended upon the gardens of Ponyville.
When the bunnies eventually calmed down, most of the gardens in Ponyville had been destroyed. All of the flower stand's wares had been devoured. And bunnies had scattered across all four corners of the town. Fluttershy flew about, attempting to control the situation in vain.
Meanwhile, Applejack had already turned tail back to the apple orchards.
Applejack tiredly bucked another tree. Yes, it had been a bit bumpy along the way, but she was almost finished ! Only a few more apple trees to buck!
"C'mon... almost... finished," she gasped in between bucks.
Some ponies approached her. It was Twilight flanked by Big Mac, so another one of her friends coming to offer help, not that it mattered any more.
"Applejack-" Twilight began, before the orange pony interjected.
"Did Rarity send you this time?"
"What? No. I came on my own accord Applejack," she had a look of concern on her face, "I'm worried about you. We're all worried about you. Your applebucking hasn't just caused you problems, it's over-propelled pegasus', it's turned a unicorn's coat chartreuse, and terrorized bushels of brand-new bouncing baby bunnies. I don't care what you say, you need help."
Applejack didn't answer at first, weakly bucking one more apple tree. As the apples fell below and were collected, Applejack laughed, "No I don't! Look, I did it," she pointed out the acres of bare apple trees behind her, "I harvested the entire Sweet Apple Acres without your help. How d'ya like them apples?"
Big Mac, his expression unchanging, lifted a hoof, "Um, how do you like them apples?"
Walking to the crest of the hill, Applejack gasped. Acres of apple trees, hundreds of more trees to be harvested. She had barely done a third of the apples. Applejack mumbled incoherently to herself before fainting from exhaustion.
Applejack awoke on the ground to somepony calling her name.
"Wha... Huh?"
She slowly opened her eyes to see that Twilight was still there, but she had joined by the rest of her friends.
"Applejack."
It was Rarity, who had brought her a face a bit too close to Applejack's.
"Rare- Rarity?"
Rarity smiled, "Oh good darling, when Twilight told us you fainted, we just had to get on over right away! Now Applejack, I completely respect your family ways. You're always there to help anypony in need, and that is something I agree with. But you should also let us do the same, so maybe you can put a little of your stubborn pride aside and allow your friends to help you."
Applejack nodded, "Okay."
Rarity continued, "This time, I am not taking no for an answer-- wait did you say okay ?"
Applejack meekly nodded, "Yeah. Rarity, Twilight, all of you... I could really use your help."
Applejack, with the help of her friends, were able to finish the apple bucking harvest within the afternoon. The unicorns were of heavy help, plucking out the apples with their magic. As were the pegasi, who were able to swoop around in the air harvesting the apples directly from the trees. Even Pinkie Pie was of surprising help, her manic energy making her surprisingly capable of bucking down the apples. Applejack continued to do what she did best, bucking trees and carrying apples.
By harvest's end, all the ponies were thoroughly exhausted, and had gathered at the Sweet Apple Acres barn for some refreshments. As the girls sat around, drinking the freshly squeezed apple-juice, Applejack clinked her glass to get their attention.
Applejack stood up and gave her announcement, "Girls, I can't thank you enough for this help. I was acting a bit stubborn."
Twilight smirked, "A bit stubborn?"
Applejack blushed and shrugged, "Okay. A mite stubborn, and I'm awful sorry. But y'all stood with me no matter how stubborn I was and taught me a lesson. Though being a friend is about giving of yerself to anypony in need, it's also about accepting our friends when we need help, and you five have been a real doggone help."
She raised her glass of juice in a toast, "To friendship, and all the help a friend can give and receive!"
The other glasses clinked, "To friendship!"
It was a quiet evening in Ponyville, except in the Carousel Boutique. Flashes of light emanated from the darkened windows of the store turned study. Inside, Rarity strained herself as she focused on a spell. Spike watched nearby; the changeling having taken his pony form.
He cheered, "Come on, Rarity. You can do it!"
With a grunt, the unicorn shot a pink oval of magic out of her horn. The magic flew out and squarely hit a potted plant that had been set in the center of the room. Pink magic rippled throughout the plant, making it shudder and... after a moment, brilliant pink flowers blossomed from the plant's green stem.
"Yes!" Spike laughed crossing off a spell on his list, "Blossoming spell, that's number sixteen. Sixteen different types of spells and counting. And I think this is the best trick so far." He picked up the pot and danced around with it before playfully asking, "Isn't she pretty?"
Rarity, who had sat down to recover, smiled, "She certainly is darling, though honestly, the green doesn't really work with the blossom."
Spike pet the plant and put it aside. "Quite a critic, aren't you?" Spike chuckled.
Rarity adjusted her mane, "It just comes naturally I guess."
Picking up his checklist again, Spike flipped through the pages, "Kidding aside, that's spell sixteen Rarity. Sixteen different kinds of spells and counting. I thought unicorns were only supposed to have a little magic that matches their special talents!"
Rarity waved a hoof, "Thats true, for ponies who cook or sew or something like that. But what if a unicorn's special talent is magic?"
"Like you Rarity? I'd say magic's your special talent."
"I wouldn't say that Spike," Rarity dismissively stated, "Most of my spells are mere party tricks."
"Really good party tricks."
"I'm not going to repeat myself again," Rarity said to Spike as the two walked through central Ponyville, "Though my magical skills are marvelous , they're not really anything useful and I'm certain there are plenty of unicorn's that are better than me, like Twilight for example."
"Eh," Spike replied, "I'd say you and Twilight are like evenly matched."
Suddenly, two unicorn colts shoved themselves past Rarity, "Gangway! Comin' through!"
Regaining his footing, Spike regarded the two colts, "Snips? Snails? What's goin' on?"
"What, haven't you heard? There's a new unicorn in town!" Snails exclaimed, the gangly orange unicorn craning his long neck at the changeling.
"Yeah! They say that she's got more magical powers than any other unicorn ever!" Snips interjected, the chubby opal unicorn hopping up and down.
Rarity was curious about this, "Really?"
"Please," Spike scoffed, "No unicorns better than Rarity here!"
Rarity shot a glance at the changeling's bragging before turning back to Snips and Snails, "Where is this unicorn?"
Snails blinked, "Oh, she's in the town square. Come on!"
"Yeah!" Snips laughed, "follow us!" The duo of colts left with Rarity and Spike following closely behind.
Before the Ponyville town hall, an elaborately decorated trailer had been parked. With snap and an extra bit of extra pizzazz, a makeshift wooden stage with dark blue curtains unfolded before the growing crowd of curious observers.
A voice echoed out from the stage, "Come one, come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie !"
The audience oohed as a unicorn appeared in a flash of sparkling blue smoke. She had a blue coat and a silver-blue mane. Most apparent of all was her purple, pointed, mage hat adorned with a pattern of silver and gold stars with a matching purple cape.
"Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by pony eyes!" The pony finished her announcement with a flair, before fireworks launched out from the stage. The audience cheered as colorful spirals and sparkles appeared in the air.
This Trixie pony had definitely impressed Rarity, but it seemed her friends, who were watching nearby, were not enthralled with the showcase.
"Come on," Spike complained, "No pony's as magical as Rarity!"
"I don't see any problem with this," Rarity admitted, "after all, a pony who uses their special talents to make other ponies happy is a good thing. And there nothing wrong with that is there?"
"Nothin' at all wrong with that," Applejack responded, "'cept when somepony goes around actin' like she's better than the rest of us."
"She is quite boastful," Twilight observed. The purple unicorn seemed less negatively inclined as the others, like she was mentally taking notes rather than watching the show itself.
"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash chimed in, "Just because I can't use magic doesn't mean I can't be awesome! And we all know how awesome I am."
"Yeah, magic schmagic," Spike added, "there's only enough room in this town for one magical adept, and that's Rarity!" He directed his voice to stage, "Boo!"
Trixie overhead the jeers, pausing midway through her trick. With a bouquet of flowers hovering beside her, Trixie flamboyantly swept her gaze upon the audience. "Well, well, well, it seems we have some neigh sayers in the audience," she sneered, "Who is so ignorant as to challenge the magical ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie ? Do they not know that they're in the presence of the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria?"
"She's quite rude as well," Twilight noted, furrowing her brow.
"Yeah!" Spike stomped his transformed hooves, "Rarity here could do-"
He was caught off mid-sentence as Rarity shut his mouth with a hoof, "Shush Spike!" But Spike had had it with Trixie. He batted her hoof away and stomped up to the stage much to the dismay of Rarity.
"You're not so impressive Trixie ," Spike yelled out to the magician, "Rarity here could do twice the amount of tricks as you!" Just like that, all heads in the audience turned to Rarity.
"Oh, really little colt?" Trixie smirked, "You really think this Rarity has the magic to match the Great and Powerful Trixie ?"
"I know it!"
"Well then," Trixie raised her hooves into the air, "I challenge this Rarity to come forth to challenge the Great and Powerful Trixie !" Given no other choice, Rarity sighed and stepped forward to the stage.
"So Rarity ," Trixie remarked, her voice having dropped for a close-up conversation, "You say you have the magical skills to challenge the Great and Powerful Trixie ?"
Rarity plastered a smile to hide her nervousness from standing before the peeved off Trixie in front of a crowd. "This is all just a misunderstanding darling," she said, "I didn't mean to or want to challenge you, I am simply here to watch your show like everypony else."
Trixie raised an eyebrow, "Really, you concede already and admit that Trixie the Great and Powerful is the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria?"
"I wouldn't say that" Rarity stammered, "I know a fair bit of magic myself. In fact, we're both similar in that way. By that I mean we both perform with our talents to inspire joy in other ponies." Rarity shut herself up, she was yammering again, which she did when she was nervous.
Trixie stared at Rarity in silence for a solid three seconds, "You don't look like a magician."
Rarity gulped, "I'm not a magician persay, but I'm perform my magic tricks at parties and social gatherings."
Trixie laughed once, "Trixie doubts that your tricks compare to that of the Great and Powerful Trixie's ."
"Well, I'm sure there both marvelous, um Trixie, but if you excuse me, I must take my leave." Rarity crept backwards in an attempt to get offstage. This attempt was immediately thwarted as Trixie dragged her back into the spotlight with her magic.
With a sweep of her cape, Trixie raised her voice and announced to the audience, "Ladymares and stallions! The magical spectacle of the Great and Powerful Trixie shall continue with a magical duel!"
Rarity gasped, her friends gasped, the audience gasped.
Trixie curved to Rarity, who had frozen onstage, "The rules are simple, we take turns performing tricks, and pony with the best tricks gets to say that their the greatest and most powerful unicorn in... let's say Ponyville."
Rarity harrumphed, "I never said anything about this! You can't just force me into a competition out of nowhere!"
Trixie leaned in close, "Let's get this straight Rarity , the way Trixie sees it; it's a win-win situation. You win, get to claim the title as greatest and most powerful unicorn in Ponyville and Trixie leaves your mane and never bothers you again. You lose, and you still get to entertain the entire town with our spectacular magic act, and you help to support Trixie's trade. And from what Trixie can gather, you don't seem to consider the title anyways."
Rarity groaned; Trixie had made it seem like a win-win. And she didn't really care about what other ponies thought of her, at least regarding her magic. Appearance wise was a whole other matter.
"Tick-tock Rarity, the crowd's waiting."
Rarity thought for a minute, then meekly grinned, "Trixie, please give Rarity a minute."
Rarity ran to the edge of the stage, where Spike looked up to her. "What'd you two talk about up there? A magic competition?"
Rarity waved off the questions, "Doesn't matter darling. Now quickly Spike, run back to the Boutique and fetch my azure-violet performance robe."
The crowd murmured amongst themselves; it had been nearly three minutes with nothing happening. But nopony dared to leave, for they all wanted to see the event. Think of that, a magic competition right in Ponyville!
"Ugh, this is taking forever," Rainbow Dash whined, "What's going on up there?"
"I don't know," Applejack responded, "But I bet my right hoof that that Trixie gal's up to no good."
The group feel into a silence until Rainbow popped up again, "Oh I know! We make Twilight go up there! Trixie can't compete with the two most magical unicorns in Ponyville!"
Applejack laughed in agreement, "Yeah yeah! I bet they both can zap that boastful bronco all the way to Appleloosa!"
Twilight, who had been silent the whole time, turned to give a dirty look at the duo, "Really girls, that would be gross misuse of magic. Trixie may be boastful, she may be rude, but she's also innocent at the moment, and 'zapping' an innocent pony goes against both my personal code and my official duty as a Canterlot representative."
Applejack and Rainbow Dash exchanged glances as Twilight went back into her deep thinking.
"Hey AJ," Rainbow asked, "What do you think Twilight's even thinking about over there?"
However, before Applejack could respond, magical lights appeared on the stage as Trixie's announcing voice rang out. "Ponies of Ponyville! Right before you, your eyes shall lay witness to a magical demonstration of the likes which you've never seen! A magical competition between the Great and Powerful Trixie against Ponyville's own beacon of excellence, Rarity !"
Rainbow's jaw dropped, "What ? Rarity's willingly performing with her ?"
The audience cheered as both of the unicorns stepped out from behind the curtains. Trixie still had on her purple hat and cape and bore a self-expression of certainty. Rarity, however, had on a brilliant violet robe that sparkled with jewels attached to the trailing ends.
Trixie paused for a second to study Rarity's overly extravagant robe before flexing her hooves, "Prepare to be amazed Rarity ! For the Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't hold back on her magic!"
Rarity stretched her legs, "Remember darling, I'm not doing this to show off, it's simply a friendly competition."
"Ha," Trixie answered with determination, "The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't believe you!"
"Then shall I go first?"
Trixie shrugged, "Trixie will let you go first, only because Trixie knows she will win."
Rarity rolled her eyes, the unicorn's penchant for referring to herself in third person was getting old. She shook her head, that didn't matter, she needed to do this. She concentrated; this was far from her first public performance. So, she mentally tracked back through her previous magic shows, choosing one of sixteen tricks to start with. Something simple, she chose, create a nice flow for the performance.
With minimal effort, Rarity shot a white spark that spiraled up from her horn, exploding into a pink and blue firework up above. Magical sparks floated down to the awestruck audience before sparkling and vanishing.
"Cute," Trixie smirked, "but the Great and Powerful Trixie can do better." She jumped in place, sending out three blue spiraling sparks that wildly spun about. In the air above the crowd, the sparks curved and collided, creating a firework explosion that sent out a glowing halo.
Rarity was surprised, it turned out Trixie was not all talk. But that was only her starter.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie shall go next," Trixie said proudly, before her horn sparked to life. She spun her horn until a large bouquet of blue roses appeared in an implosion of glitters. Trixie posed as she worked her magic, making the blooming roses fold up and shrink down into bulbs as the audience cheered.
How relevant, Rarity thought. She adjusted herself to be in the same position as earlier. After a moment of concentration, the unicorn shot a purple orb of magic out of her horn that collided with the floating bouquet. Purple magic rippled throughout the flowers. In a moment, the blue melted away into a deep violet as the roses bloomed to twice the size as before.
Trixie's eyes widened only for a moment, "Impressive trick Rarity ," she conceded, "but the Great and Powerful Trixie has only just started!"
The back and forth between the two magic users continued as each unicorn exhausted her own batch of tricks. But somehow, they each always found a way to one up each other. When Rarity used a spell to embroider a depiction of Canterlot Castle onto the curtains, Trixie used a spell to animate a sewn Celestia raising the sun. When Trixie pulled out a seemingly endless handkerchief, Rarity made it change color and spin, until it made a vibrant rainbow.
By the time each of the unicorn's tricks had been exhausted, the audience was on the edge of their hooves. Cards, rings, and other various stage magic equipment lay scattered around Trixie's hooves; Rarity's spells had been able the counter her illusions. It was the same with Rarity, who's spells, most of which were admittedly simple color-changing spells, had been countered by Trixie's magic and advanced slight-of-hoof.
"So, Rarity of Ponyville," Trixie said with a falter, "Do you admit defeat to the Great and Powerful Trixie ?"
Rarity mentally searched for a retort but could find none. She had already done fourteen of the sixteen spells she knew, and the remaining two, Mistmane's Spell of Rejuvenating Color and the unknown warping spell were simply impossible to recreate at the moment.
Rarity smiled, "I guess I do Trixie."
The audience gasped as Trixie let out a cheer of jubilation. "Ha! You admit defeat to the Great and Powerful Trixie ! That means that Trixie is the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria! Or Ponyville at least."
"Not so fast Trixie!"
Trixie twisted her head in surprise to see Twilight emerge and step to the forefront of the audience.
"You must not know there's a second magically gifted unicorn in Ponyville!"
Trixie scoffed, "Really? Two unicorns with a special talent in magic?"
"Mine's more like in the study of magic," Twilight corrected.
"Yeah, and Trixie's is in stage magic, what your point?"
"Well, you claim to be the most magical unicorn in Equestria, or at least Ponyville, yet you have only 'defeated' one of the unicorns, so therefore you can at most only be the second most magical," as Twilight finished, she cast a smug look at Trixie, who steamed at the purple unicorn's statement.
"Well then Trixie the Great and Powerful challenges you to a magic competition!" Trixie yelled down to Twilight, who shook her head.
"I'd rather not want to compete in a competition. After all, I wouldn't want to be a showoff."
Trixie, having been denied another test of her talent, gritted her teeth in anger. "How dare you say that Trixie isn't worth her talent?" She had completely lost her cool, yelling into Twilight's face. "The Great and Powerful Trixie will show you talent! She'll show magic! She'll show you worth! You will rue the day you crossed into the bad will of the Great and Powerful Trixie !"
With a stomp of her hoof, the stage disassembled itself, folding back into the wooden trailer. Rarity hopped off the stage as it came apart, turning to see the seriously peeved Trixie storm away pulling the cart behind her.
"Rarity! Rarity! Are you okay?" Rarity's friends ran up to the white unicorn, who stood frozen in place.
"That was... abrupt," Rarity flatly commented.
"Meh, good riddance!" Rainbow Dash remarked, watching as the crowd dispersed.
Applejack nodded in agreement, "You said it Rainbow, that unicorn was just a bad apple."
A few minutes later, the group of friends had sat down at the nearby diner for an evening snack. Spike sat down with his usual enormous plate of food unfitting for a changeling who didn't need physical nutrients.
"So, how do you feel?" Spike looked over to Rarity, who sat in front of a plate with single sad, soggy carrot, "About the competition I mean."
Rarity sighed, "Really Spike, it's fine. Just a little bit of showboating."
"What?" Rainbow Dash slammed her hoof on the table, causing some of Spike's food to spill, "Trixie humiliated you out there!"
"Humiliated is such a strong term darling," Rarity replied, "and just because I lost doesn't mean I was embarrassed."
"I don't even think you lost," said Twilight, "I watched the whole thing and let me say, only five of Trixie's 'spells' actually met the official qualifications for a magic spell. The rest were just slight-of-hoof and parlor tricks."
"Of course they were, it was part of the show Twilight," Rarity said, "misleading and illusions are a vital part of the art of performance."
Applejack raised an eyebrow, "Are you implyin' that you lost it on purpose ?"
Rarity laughed, "Of course not! I'm just saying Trixie has more experience in showmanship and performance than me. She knows what she's doing onstage."
"Why are you defending her?" Spike asked through a mouthful of food, "She was rude."
"Though her methods are, abrasive ," Rarity sighed, "Trixie reminded me of myself. A pony who wanted to make joy for others with her talent, just less, egocentric."
Twilight looked over to apologetically, "Look Rarity, I didn't know you felt like that, I'm sorry if I messed things up back there."
"No need to apologize darling, her outburst at you was completely unwarranted. Now if you excuse me," she stood from the table, "All that spellcasting has left me utterly exhausted. I'd better head home to get some well-needed beauty sleep."
The others nodded and went into their own conversations. Rarity motioned to Spike who, in his pony form, toddled tight after her.
After the two had left the diner, Spike looked up to Rarity, "I guess you're not that impressive after all, right?"
Rarity laughed, "I never said that Spike! I only mean that Trixie was better at showcasing her talent. I'm, of course, still the superior in regards to fashion ."
Hours later, it was the middle of the night at the Carousel Boutique, and Spike had settled into his makeshift nest whilst Rarity was getting some well needed rest.
That is, until a sound at the window woke her up. The sleepy eyed Rarity walked up and opened the window and looked down. On the ground below stood Trixie with a hoovefull of pebbles.
"Came back to gloat Trixie?" Rarity sleepily accused.
"No," Trixie hissed up, "Just come down!"
A minute later, Rarity had come down, tightly wrapped up in her sleeping gown. "It's far too late for a do-over Trixie," yawned Rarity.
"That's not why Trixie's here," Trixie said in an unusually humbled manner, "Trixie... I came here to apologize."
That certainly woke Rarity up. "Excuse me?"
Trixie took off her hat and clutched it with a hoof, "Trixie thinks that her anger earlier might have been, unjustified."
Rarity nodded, "Yes, I would certainly say so."
"It's just that, Rarity's the first pony to be accepting of Trixie."
"What, you've never had a yelling match or magic competition before?"
"Normally Trixie distracts the audience with her tricks and her highly thought out Ursa Major story. But you, Rarity, made the typically unbending Trixie want to compete."
"What are you saying Trixie?"
Trixie sputtered and put her hat back on, her fragility vanishing in an instant, "Just that the Great and Powerful Trixie harbors no ill will towards Rarity of Ponyville ." With one last flourish and a bow, Trixie turned and walked away. "The Great and Powerful Trixie looks forward to meeting you again, if only to showcase her superior magical talent!"
With Trixie having left, Rarity returned to the Boutique. She smiled to herself, though Trixie may have been boastful and brash, deep inside she was a fragile pony, and perhaps, just maybe, a new friend.
It was a normal day in the Fluttershy's cottage and a regular part of a regular day was feeding time. All the normally chattering animal inhabitants had finished their jumpng about and ate their food in a subdued manner. All except one that is.
"Not too fast now, Angel Bunny. You don't wanna get a tummy ache," Fluttershy cooed to her pet, who had handily begun devouring it in a voracious manner. In response to her suggestion, the bunny shot an angry eye and promptly tossed the carrot he had been devouring across the room.
"You really should eat more than that, don't you think? It's not play time yet," the yellow pegasus said to Angel, who had hopped to the front door, "I know you want to run, but... just three more bites. Two more bites? One more bite? Pretty please?" Angel glared at her and kicked the door open, promptly hopping outside. However, the surly bunny didn't go far when he began to cough.
"Oh, goodness!" Fluttershy cried as she flew up to Angel, "Are you okay? Are you coughing because there's a carrot stuck in your throat? Because you need some water?"
Angel stopped and looked up at her with his beady eyes, then pointed up with an ear. Looking up, Fluttershy saw that he was pointing at a thick cloud of black smoke billowing across the sky.
Fluttershy gasped, "Because of that giant cloud of scary black smoke?" Angel nodded before continuing his coughing. "I'll take that as a yes."
Fluttershy fearfully hurried to central Ponyville, wanting to warn everyone else about the scary cloud of smoke in the sky. As it was a normal day for Ponyville, various ponies bustled about and conversed like normal.
"Help. Help! Please? Help?" Fluttershy called out as loud as she could, which wasn't very loud at all, "There's- there's a horrible cloud of smoke. It's headed this way and-"
The pegasus yelped as a rainbow blur flew past. She turned her head, seeing that a small crowd had gathered to watch Rainbow Dash attempt to break the Equestrian ball-bouncing record.
"Oh excuse me..." Fluttershy said, attempting to raise her voice, "There's- there's smoke. And- and where there's smoke, there's fire. And-"
"This calls for a celebration!" Pinkie Pie unknowingly interrupted, bouncing up and down as she watched Rainbow Dash.
"Oh, no, Pinkie Pie, this is no time for celebration," Fluttershy said worriedly, "This is a time for panic, for-"
Pinkie Pie didn't hear Fluttershy's hushed worries, instead beginning to count out the number of balloons she would need for the party.
"Pinkie Pie!" yelled Rainbow Dash, having lost her concentration due to Pinkie Pie, "Now I have to start over!"
"Oh, please," Fluttershy cried, "this is an emergency. I-I need everypony to-"
Pinkie Pie looked up and let out an exaggerated gasp, "Wait! What's that?!" Soon enough, everyone else looked up as well, letting out gasps and exclamations of horror.
"That's right!" Announced a new voice. It was Rarity, who stood floating a letter beside her. "Smoke is spreading over all of Equestria." She paused to let the crowd of ponies finish their gasps, "But not to worry, I've just received a letter from Princess Celestia informing me that it is not coming from a fire." Fluttershy sighed with relief. "It is in fact coming from a dragon!"
This information did little to settle Fluttershy's fears, in fact, it made them even worse.
"What in the name of all things cinnamon swirled is a full-grown dragon doing here in Equestria?" Applejack questioned. She stood with the other members of their group, who had gathered within the Carousel Boutique.
"He's sleeping darling," Rarity answered, reading over Princess Celestia's letter once more. She glanced up following the expressions of confusion from her friends, "According to Princess Celestia, he's taking a nap. His snoring is what's causing all this smoke."
"He should really see a doctor." Pinkie Pie commented, "That doesn't sound healthy at all."
"Well," Twilight Sparkle replied, "At least it's dragon smoke and not dragon fire. But what are we supposed to do about it?"
"I'll tell you what we're meant to do," Rainbow Dash stated assertively, "Give him the boot!" She kicked the air with her hoof, "Take that!" She punched the air again, "And that!" The pegasus flew forward, colliding into the wall during her pretend fight with a crash.
"Not exactly like that Rainbow," Rarity chuckled, "The Princess wants us to encourage him to take his nap somewhere else or else Equestria will be covered in smoke!"
"And dragon naps last on average one hundred years," Twilight returned affirmatively, inciting a rasp gasp from Fluttershy.
"No matter how much he needs his beauty sleep, we can't fail," Rarity finished, "So I need you ladies to gather supplies quickly. We've got a long journey ahead of us. Let's meet back here in less than an hour."
"You heard her!" Rainbow Dash shouted enthusiastically, "The fate of Equestria is in our hooves! Do you think we have what it takes?" All the ponies responded with affirmative shout before leaving, all of them except for Fluttershy.
Sure enough, an hour later, the ponies regrouped outside the boutique. They had packed their gear for their quest, though Pinkie had stuffed at least three balloons into her own saddlebag. Rarity had on her purple mission robe and was well equipped with her magical quest gear pack, which Spike had assembled beforehand.
"Twilight here made a map of our route to the dragon. Show it, won't you darling?" Rarity asked to Twilight.
Twilight nodded and magically pulled out a parchment from underneath her helmet. "Right girls," Twilight stated, "I've mapped us the fastest path up the mountain, but we're going to have to keep a good pace if we want to reach the cave by nightfall."
"M-m-mountain?" Fluttershy squeaked with panic, her head retracting into the pillow shell she had made around herself.
"Yes," Twilight answered without looking back, "The dragon is in that cave at the very top."
"But- but that's so high up, and cold..." Fluttershy whimpered to herself.
"Right ladies!" Rarity announced, elegantly sweeping a hoof towards the mountain, "Lets get moving!"
With Twilight leading the way, the group set off towards the mountain. Fluttershy lagged behind, slowly creeping up to Rarity, "Um, excuse me, Rarity? I know you're busy, but..."
"Fluttershy, darling, what is it?"
Fluttershy pulled a hoof through her mane, "So, um, I was thinking that, um, maybe I should just stay here in Ponyville."
Rarity wrinkled her snout in response, "Certainly not Fluttershy! We need you up there! Why, your expertise with animals will be invaluable to our mission!"
"Oh I don't think that- I mean. Couldn't Spike just come instead? He can change into animals."
"Well, Spike's morphing trick only works with small animals, not full grown dragons darling. Besides, he already volunteered to take care of your cottage while we're gone. He said you would be a valuable part of the team."
Fluttershy squeaked, "He did? But I... I don't think that-"
She yelped as Rainbow Dash swooped in from overhead, "Are you sure you want Fluttershy to come along? I mean, that pony's afraid of her own shadow. She's just going to slow us down."
Rarity waved a hoof, "She's just a little nervous darling. Once we get going, I'm sure she'll be fine."
Rainbow gave a wary glance to the cowering pegasus on the ground, "Fine. Then can we get moving?"
Rarity nodded, "Yes yes, let's move out!"
A short while later, the group of ponies had arrived at the mountain. Looking up the steep rock face, the six saw that they had quite a climb ahead of them. Suddenly, a loud roar echoed down the cliff, making Fluttershy yelp in fear.
"Whoa," exclaimed Rainbow Dash, "What was that?"
"That is what it sounds like when a dragon snores." Twilight answered nonchalantly.
Rainbow flexed her wings, "Well, I'm going to fly up there and check it out!" In a flash, the pegasus flew up the cliff and up the mountain, only to come flying back down coughing. "Nevermind," she said, shaking the soot out of her mane, "The smoke's too thick for flying, we'll have to go up the long way."
"Luckily that's exactly what I planned for!" Twilight said proudly, whipping out her map. She studied her map, then pointed a hoof in the right direction.
Soon enough, the ponies had approached the cliffs face, and they needed to climb up. One by one the ponies took to the rock wall, and began to scale up, meanwhile, Fluttershy stood still and whimpered.
"It's so... so steep ," She quietly commented, anxiously looking up.
"Well, it is a cliff," Rainbow Dash irascibly replied mid-air, "You could just, oh, I don't know, fly up here?" She motioned a hoof at Fluttershy's wings, which had been robustly locked to her side the entire while.
"Come on, Fluttershy, you can do it!" Pinkie Pie said encouragingly while waving her hooves, "Flap those wings!"
"Oh okay," Fluttershy said timidly. She grunted as she unfolded her yellow wings and slowly waved them up and down. Rainbow Dash could only groan as she watched the pegasus fruitlessly flap her wings. Just then, another dragon snore roared down the mountain, making Fluttershy squeal with terror, locking her wings in place once again. Applejack gave a heavy sigh before sliding down the rockface and walking up to Fluttershy. With a heavy grunt, Applejack hoisted the frozen pegasi onto her back.
"Might I ask what exactly are you doing?" Rarity asked from above.
"I'll need this if I'm going to take her around the mountain another way," said Applejack, securely tying Fluttershy's tail around her waist.
Rainbow Dash gave a cry of dismay, "Around the mountain? That's going to take forever. "
"Don't you worry girls," Applejack replied assuredly, "We'll be there lickety-split."
At the top of the cliff, Rarity paced back and forth impatiently. Meanwhile, Twilight used her hoof to draw another x in the dirt. Three x's in a row. "Ha! I win again!" She triumphantly proclaimed to Pinkie Pie, who cheered as well.
"Wow Twilight!" Pinkie Pie happily exclaimed, "that's thirty-five games in a row! Best of seventy-one?"
All heads turned as a sound emanated from around the behind. Up and around crawled Applejack with Fluttershy on her back. "We... made... it!" Applejack grunted before collapsing on the ground, making Fluttershy roll off her back and sprawl her limbs across the dirt.
Rainbow Dash shook her head, "Told you it was going to take them forever."
Further along they went, until they reached a crevasse that split the path. One by one, every pony jumped across the gap, leaving of course, Fluttershy for last. The pony whimpered as she stood her ground at the cliff's edge.
"Your turn, Fluttershy," Rarity called out, waving her over, "We should be much further along by now."
"But..." Fluttershy said quietly, "Its- its so... wide."
Applejack motioned her over, "You could just leap on over."
Fluttershy shuddered as another dragon snore rattled the mountain, "I- I don't know."
Pinkie Pie called over next, "There's nothing to be afraid of. It's just a hop, skip and a jump!" She provided an example, giving a hop, a skip, and quickly jumping across the hole. "See?" Fluttershy didn't budge, eyeing the crevice.
Immediately Pinkie erupted into an impromptu song about hopping, skipping, and jumping, making Rainbow facehoof, "Can we just move this along already?"
Fluttershy nodded, encouraged by Pinkie's song, "O-okay. I can do this, here I go."
With shouts of encouragement from her friends, Fluttershy readied herself, clenched her eyes shut, gave a little hop, a skip and... nothing else. She opened her eyes, seeing that her skip had easily cleared the crevice, which was only about a foot wide. "Oh," Fluttershy softly exclaimed, "I guess I forgot to jump."
Rainbow Dash merely groaned, flying behind and gently pushing Fluttershy along to keep up her pace with the rest of the group. But it wasn't far until Twilight halted in place, making every pony behind her stop as well.
"Wait," Twilight whispered, holding up a hoof, "Let's keep it down. According to my map, we're entering an avalanche zone. The smallest peep could cause a huge rockslide."
The idea made Fluttershy shiver in place, completely unaware of a vagrant leaf floating down overhead, "An... an ava.. ava..."
Then, the leaf made contact.
"AVALANCHE?!!"
Fluttershy clapped a hoof over her mouth, but it was too late. The other ponies could only sigh as the mountainside began to rumble and pebbles began to clatter down on their heads. A boulder smashed down into the dirt, scattering dust and ponies. The six ponies ran back as the rockslide tumbled, the boulders and rocks smashing into the path and covering it. Applejack specifically made split-second decision and leapt to the left, pushing Twilight out of the way of a boulder that would have crushed her.
Applejack stopped, watching as that last boulder rolled across the path and tumbled down the mountain. She breathed a sigh of relief, shaking the dust off her hat, "Is everypony okay?"
Twilight, out of breath, smiled at Applejack, "Thanks to you I am. Now we just have to get over... that ."
Rarity moaned at her state of dirtiness, quickly casting a spell to restore her disheveled mane before turning to the rock pile that now blocked the path. She sighed, "I guess we have to climb over it."
Embarrassed, Fluttershy hid behind her mane, "Sorry."
Applejack waved her off, "Aw, no big whoop, sugarcube. But this looks a might tougher than before."
"Luckily, this unicorn is always prepared," Twilight stated before pulling various pieces of climbing gear that she proceeded to give out to the others.
"Oo! This is gonna be fun!" Pinkie Pie grinned as she began to bounce up the rock pile.
"Oh, this... this looks like its scary," Fluttershy murmured.
"Well, we don't exactly have a choice," Rainbow Dash said as she flew the rock pile. The going was tougher; Fluttershy in particular had to practically be carried up and over the remains of the rockslide. Rainbow Dash flew to the top and held out her hooves, helping her friends clamber over the top. She looked Rarity in the eyes as she helped her up, "Still think it was a good idea to bring Fluttershy along?"
Rarity sighed with uncertainty, "Well um... we're about to find out. We're here."
There the six ponies stood, standing in front of the entrance to the dragon's cave. The darkness of the cave loomed before them, the rumbling snores echoing out from within while the black smoke surged out from the top.
With her magic, Rarity pulled out a parchment from her saddlebag, the procedure she had planned earlier. After reading it over once more, she turned to the group, announcing the order of action, "Rainbow Dash, you'll use your wings to clear the smoke. Twilight and Pinkie Pie, you shall create a diversion to distract the dragon if things get a little... messy in there. Applejack, you be ready with the apples in case he decides to attack. But of course, it shouldn't come to that, because Fluttershy will do what she needs to do to wake him up, and between the two of us, we should be able to get him to understand why he needs to go. Is everypony ready?"
All the other ponies nodded, except for Fluttershy, who remained silent. Rarity waved at the pegasus before turning to the cave entrance, "Right darling, time to go in. Say, what is the best way to wake up a sleeping dragon without upsetting him? Fluttershy?" She turned around to sees that Fluttershy hadn't moved. Furrowing her brow, Rarity trotted up to her and lightly tugged on her wings, "Really Fluttershy, we have to do this! Every second we wait is another second that dreadful smoke covers Equestria!"
"I'm sorry," Fluttershy stammered, "I- I- I can't go in the cave."
Rainbow Dash groaned, "Oh, great. She's scared of caves now, too."
Fluttershy shook her head vigorously, "It's not the cave I'm scared of, I'm scared of dragons. "
The ponies held a blank expression. None of them heard her. "What's that sugarcube?" Applejack asked.
"I'm scared of dragons."
"What?"
"I'm scared of DRAGONS!"
"But Fluttershy," the confused Rarity asked, "You have a wonderful talent dealing with all kinds of animals."
"Yes, because they're not dragons ."
"Oh come on," the exasperated Rainbow Dash yelled, "We've seen you walk right up to a horrible manticore like it was nothing."
"Yes, because he wasn't a dragon ."
"What about Spike?" the bemused Pinkie Pie questioned, "Hasn't he turned into a dragon around you before?"
"Yes, because he turns into a tiny drake, not a huge, gigantic, terrifying, enormous, teeth-gnashing, sharp-scale having, horn-wearing, smoke-snoring, could eat a pony in one bite, totally all grown-up dragon !"
Rarity looked at Fluttershy reassuredly, "Really darling, if you're so afraid of dragons, why didn't you say something before we came all the way up here?"
Fluttershy rubbed her hooves, "I was afraid to."
"All of us are scared of that dragon-" Applejack said, trying to raise Fluttershy's spirits.
"I'm not!" Rainbow interjected.
"Almost all of us are scared of that dragon, but we've got a job to do. So, get in there with Rarity and show her what you're made of."
"I'm afraid I- I... just can't," Fluttershy said shamefully.
"It's okay ladies," Rarity announced to the group, "We shan't make Fluttershy here uncomfortable. I shall go in by myself. He probably doesn't realize what he's doing, and all he needs is a little picker upper from my 'pony charm'".
As she finished, Rarity turned with a sweep of her robe and marched straight into the cave. As she walked in deeper, Rarity the darkness of the cave and smoke gave way to the luminous shine of mammoth pile of various gold, jewels, and other valuables. She nearly came to a halt when she noticed a particularly enticing bright blue diamond, but shook her head, she had a job to do.
Another dragon snore rumbled out, shaking Rarity down to her hooves. Of course, the source wasn't hard to notice. Right on the top of the pile of gold lay the dragon. The gargantuan creature's crimson scales shined in the golden light of the treasure horde, and an orange glow shined through his nostrils, out of which bellowed the dreaded cloud of smoke.
Rarity came stop in front of the sleeping beast. "Um, pardon me Mr. Dragon?"
The dragon rumbled as his yellow eyes slightly opened. "Oh, good, you're awake. Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rarity and-"
The dragon yawned and rolled away from the pony.
Unflustered, Rarity cleared her throat and continued, "and my friends and I are residents from Ponyville. It's a nearby town, you might've heard of it. We've come here to ask that you find another spot to take your nap. For you see, your snoring creates a terrible black smoke, and we simply can't go on with this dark cloud looming over us."
The dragon rumbled and he slowly raised his head, looking down at Rarity.
"So, you'll find another place to sleep?"
The dragon barely opened an eye before blew a raspberry and waved the pony off.
"Well! I would never!" scoffed Rarity before turning tail and leaving.
Outside the cave the ponies watched as Rarity left the cave. "Seems like persuading him won't work," she said grouchily.
"So now what?" Applejack asked.
Twilight cleared her throat, "What you're missing girls is he doesn't need charm, he needs the cold-hard facts. So, allow me to handle this," Without another word, Twilight moved herself into the cave.
Walking up to the sleeping dragon, Twilight pulled out a parchment of paper, "Attention Mr. Dragon," she yelled up, "Might I bother you to pay attention to this?"
The dragon grumbled and raised his head.
"Thank you." With her magic, Twilight pulled out a quill and began to draw a diagram onto the parchment, which only made the dragon squint with confusion. "You see, you decided to sleep here ... and we live down here ... the smoke you make goes up and covers all of up there . If you continue to stay up here , the smoke there , blocks the sunlight here . Without the sunlight, we can't grow crops, meaning all the ponies here will starve. Now, if you consider the wider ramifications of all of Equestria, you could possibly starve thousands of ponies. You get where I'm going with this?"
Slowly the dragon lowered his head to Twilight's level. And then he snorted.
Outside the cave, the others watched as Twilight silently walkled out, her face and mane covered with black soot, "I really thought I was getting to him," she commented before sitting down.
"Well somepony has to get to him," said Applejack, "I think we're going a bit stark crazy out here." She motioned a hoof to Pinkie Pie, who had put on some sort of getup made out of various random pieces of party goods.
Twilight looked over to the party pony, "Pinkie, you look ridiculous."
Pinkie Pie happily tooted a horn in response, "Exactly! Sharing a laugh is a sure-fire way to get someone on your side!" She turned and bounced into the cave.
Only a moment went by before a crash sound echoed out from the cave and Pinkie Pie bounced back out, her "outfit" in tatters. "Apparently he doesn't like laughing," she commented, "Or sharing."
Rainbow Dash stood up, "All right, that's it! We tried charm, the facts, whatever it is Pinkie Pie does. It's time to stop wasting time! I'm going in!" Before any pony could stop her, Rainbow flew right into the cave.
Inside, the dragon was sleeping once again, or at least he was trying to. "Hey! You!" He opened his eyes once more to see a cyan pegasus looking at him in the eyes. "Yeah you! Get out!" She flew right at him, hitting him directly in the snout. Taken by surprise, the dragon wriggled his snout before looking right back at Rainbow Dash. He narrowed his eyes. Suddenly faced with the sight of an angry dragon, Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her head, "Um... sorry?"
Outside the cave, a deafening roar rang out. Fluttershy, who had been hiding behind an errant rock the entire time, looked up to see Rainbow fly out the cave and crash into the ground. The other ponies yelled with alarm as they were hit by the pegasi projectile and were quickly knocked off their hooves. Fluttershy watched with horror as the dragon exited the cave, looming over her helpless friends.
The dragon growled with anger, orange flame flickering out of his mouth before he was suddenly stopped by a yellow pegasus who flew up into his face.
"How dare you... how dare you!" Fluttershy yelled, raising her voice, "Listen here, mister. Just because you're big doesn't mean you get to be a bully! You may have huge teeth, and sharp scales, and snore smoke, and breathe fire. But you do not—I repeat—you do not! Hurt! My! Friends ! You got that?"
She opened her eyes, giving a stare at the dragon who whimpered and recoiled back. "Well?" Fluttershy demanded.
"But the rainbow one kicked me," the dragon whined.
"And I am very sorry about that," Fluttershy said, "But you're bigger than she is, and you should know better. You should also know better than to take a nap where your snoring can become a health hazard to other creatures."
"But I-"
"Don't you 'but I' me, mister. Now what do you have to say for yourself? I said, what do you have to say for yourself?"
The dragon whimpered, tears welling up in his eyes, "I'm dreadfully sorry! I- I didn't know what I was doing was so bad!"
Fluttershy hugged the dragon's head, "There, there. No need to cry. You're not a bad dragon, you just made a bad decision. Now go pack your things. You just need to find a new place to sleep. That's all."
"Yes yes," the dragon sniffed, "I'll do that right away. I'm terribly sorry for any distress I may have caused you." Without another word, the dragon retreated back into his cave.
Fluttershy let out a breath of relief as her friends got up and cheered. "You did it! I knew you could do it!" Rarity exclaimed.
Back at the Carousel Boutique, an exhausted Spike happily handed an angry and anxious Angel back to Fluttershy. He winced, examining the various scratched and bruises on his shell, "Yeah Fluttershy," he said, "I'm really sure that Angel doesn't like me."
"Oh, Angel does get like that sometimes," Fluttershy admitted, hugging her bunny, "But don't worry, I still like you Spike." Spike began to say something but was interrupted.
"Spike!" Rarity's voice came from behind him, "Come take a letter!"
"Of course!" Spike said, leaving Fluttershy and running over to take the letter.
"Dear Princess Celestia, " RarityI am please to report that the dragon situation has been taken care of, and that it was my good friend, Fluttershy, who convinced him to go. This event has taught me to never lose faith in your friends. They can be an amazing source of strength and can help you overcome even your greatest fears. As always, your student Rarity. "
Outside, Fluttershy sighed happily, much to the chagrin of Angel, "I'm just glad this whole thing is over with."
"Yeah!" Rainbow yelled from nearby, "And now you can watch me finally break this record!" She continued to bounce the ball on her hooves, "Three hundred forty-seven, three hundred forty-eight..."
A sudden roar made Rainbow yelp and drop the ball. On the ground, Rainbow glared at Pinkie Pie, who giggled from her prank. "Pinkie Pie, you scared me! I mean, uh, you... broke my concentration."
Fluttershy giggled as well, "It's okay, Rainbow Dash. Not everypony can be as brave as me."
Suddenly, something touched her back, making Fluttershy yelp and freeze up. With the pegasus frozen with fear, Angel stopped tickling her back with his ear and pried himself out from her hooves. With a smug look, Angel turned and hopped away as the ponies laughed.
It was entrance exam day at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, and various fillies and colts were being tested for entrance into the prestigious school. The guidelines were strict but did nothing to prevent dozens of families with their wide-eyed children from attempting to get in. This was all to the despair of the judges.
They had been forced to sit through tens, dozens, maybe even over a hundred magical "demonstrations" over the course of the day. All the unicorn fillies and colts displayed magical skill at varying degrees of inadequacy, and by noon, they were already tired with only three actual admissions to the school so far.
Currently they were judging a certain purple-colored filly named Twilight Sparkle. She displayed mid-level levitation capabilities, certainly at a higher level than her peers, but showed little promise elsewhere. Once the clearly nervous filly finished her demonstration, the judges discussed amongst themselves.
"She shows promise, but not at a high enough level for this school," yawned one judge, Top Marks, using magic to scratch away at his notepad with a pencil.
"Adequate levitation skills," murmured Crystal Clear, another judge, "I suggest low level courses for a semester. Then we reassess her." The other two teacher judges nodded in agreement.
"It's decided then," said Top Marks. He turned to the filly and her parents watching with bated breath below. "We have decided to consider your enrollment in the school miss Sparkle ," he sneered. This mere statement was enough to send the filly and her family into whoops of joy along with an assortment of hugs. "Yes," Top Marks grumbled, eyeing the celebration, "You will be contacted within the next month with the proper information. You may leave." He clasped his hooves together while saying this, attempting to sound sincere. This "sincerity" vanished the moment the sparkles left the room.
Just then an earth pony entered the room, pushing a cart with an egg of some kind.
"Sorry I'm late," he announced, "Princess Celestia herself requested this be delivered here for the next test. For a miss Sparkle?"
This statement raised eyebrows.
"I'm afraid miss Sparkle just left," replied Crystal Clear.
The earth pony swore under his breath, "Okay okay. Just use it with the next one," he stammered, "Just don't tell the Princess I was late alright? The last thing I need to do is lose my job!" He looked at the judges, who displayed no response beyond boredom. Sweating, he backed up to the door, and immediately dashed out.
"Who do we have next?" asked Arpeggio, one of the other judges, unenthused.
Top Marks sighed and glanced at his list of applicants, "Two unicorns, Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles," he eyed the egg while he spoke, "and their filly Rarity."
Friendship is Magic, Part 1
Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria
There were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night.
Thus, the two sisters-maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful.
The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day-
Rarity sighed, shutting the book. She didn't care for studying, she preferred a more hooves on approach to her training, preferably something more stylish. And right now, she could do neither because of her lack of concentration.
The unicorn stood up from under the tree, using magic to pick up the stack of books before her and place them on her back. Celestia had assigned reading for her magic studies, and Rarity thought that the book titles The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide would prove interesting.
It was not.
Instead, the book was full of what seemed to be old pony-tales.
She flipped her indigo curls back and began the walk back to Canterlot Castle, where she lived in a suite with her personal assistant Spike. She stopped short before a trio of unicorns who were walking the opposite direction.
"Hey," called out the blue one, "Rarity, is it?"
Rarity looked at them while attempting to balance the books, "Yes?"
"Well, there's a party going on later, and we were wondering if you could make it?"
Rarity didn't know these unicorns personally, but she was well known around Canterlot for her presence at parties, where Celestia let her practice her magic by decorating and putting on light shows.
"Sorry," Rarity sighed, looking back at the workload on her back, "I can't make it, Celestia will end me if I miss another one these deadlines!"
The trio of unicorns nodded as Rarity walked away, nearly loosing balance several times.
"That pony always seems to have a workload on her hooves," said the blue unicorn with pity, "She must be stressed all the time!"
Rarity's suite in the castle used to be a study, but the prestigious student had transformed it into a workshop. Despite the posh Canterlot attitude of the unicorn, the room itself was a mess of creative ambiguity. Books, scrolls, and art supplies were scattered haphazardly about. In front of the wall-sized window were several mannequins, each displaying extravagant robes Rarity used for ceremonies and social gatherings. Curiously of all was one corner, covered in what seemed to be black slime. The remaining exposed wood around makeshift nest was pinned up with various papers, depicting drawings of a pink and purple maned filly alongside various other creatures. Sleeping inside the nest was a small creature with a black shell and jointed limbs, a changeling.
Suddenly Rarity burst into the room, "Spike, darling!" Rarity called out before yelping as she lost balance.
The noise startled the sleeping changeling, who leapt out his nook changing forms to a purple pony. He looked over to see Rarity collapsed on the floor with books and papers scattered around her.
"Rarity?" Asked Spike, "Your supposed be studying!"
"Well, Spike," Rarity started before stopping to look over at the purple pony, "You know Spike, that you don't have to hide from me."
"You startled me!" Spike said, embarrassed, as he changed back to his original form. Revealed was a small pony-shaped insectoid with a black shell, except for the bright green eyes and glittering diamond-colored wings.
Rarity shrugged off the changeling's shame, "It's alright Spike, everypony-er creature, gets scared sometimes!" Rarity and Spike began to pick up the books. "I was wondering," asked Rarity, "If you could help me with my studying?"
Spike waved his claws, "Sorry I can't Rarity! Celestia said you need to do some things on your own!"
"But I have some things to do later," Rarity said while side-eyeing her ornate party robe in the corner, "important things."
Spike would have raised an eyebrow if he could, "You mean doing some more of your party favors?"
"No," Rarity laughed.
"I know you Rarity," said Spike carrying the books, "And I know that you're generous. I know that you want to go help with a party or assist the royal guard or babysit some foals or-" he stopped mid-sentence as he looked at Rarity. She was giving him the eyes .
Staring at the big pouty things, Spike finally relented. "Fine, what do need?" he grumbled.
"I need to take notes on some books," Rarity gleefully said. She tossed The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide to Spike's feet, "Here! Do this one first."
Rarity hummed to herself as she sorted through her robes while Spike changed form to a being with more articulation and began to read the book. Reading something about two sisters, Spike thought to himself.
Of course, he would do anything for Rarity, she was like a sister to him, and he was a part of her family despite being non-pony. He always had fun when they visited Canterlot, especially with Rarity's little sister Sweetie Belle, who adored his shape changing abilities. But Rarity was seriously neglecting her studies, having accomplished little over the past few moons, study or otherwise.
Spike had reached a part of the book about the mare on the moon. But wasn't that just an old ponies' tale?
"Rarity?" He asked, "How come you didn't read anything?"
Rarity scoffed, "I did read something! I just couldn't concentrate, that's all."
"How come?"
"I don't know, stress from the celebration tomorrow, something just at the back of my mind."
"What part did you read up to? I don't want to take notes on something you already read."
"Just the part about the mare on the moon," Rarity cited, "wait." Something clicked inside her head, a connection! She galloped over to Spike. "Quick! What's that book on predictions?"
"Predictions and Prophecies ?" He sighed and hopped down from his stool, walking over to Rarity's hastily built mound of books. He eventually found Predictions and Prophecies and handed it over to Rarity, who began to furiously page through the book.
"Aha!" She eventually shouted after a few minutes of reading, "Right here Spike!" She pointed to the page labeled The Mare on the Moon as Spike read it aloud.
"The Mare in the Moon, myth from olden pony times. A powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal "
"You know what this means Spike?"
"That you found a connection between two books that you were supposed to study and now you'll get another question right, so you'll get a passing score in a history test?"
"What? No darling, this means... well," Rarity stammered, trying to word out what she was saying. Eventually she harrumphed, "Spike, take a note!"
The changeling already had a scroll and quill in claw, anticipating such an event.
Rarity began to pace as she worded out the letter,My dearest teacher Celestia, upon continuing your advised magical studies despite personally believing them as dreadfully dull, I believe I have found a connection to prophecy that could spell peril for Equestria! I have the assumption that one of the two sisters, Nightmare Moon, is in fact the Mare on the Moon and she could return shortly! I believe that something should be done about this. As your faithful student, I shall await your response. Yours truly, Rarity. "
"Aaaand done," said Spike as he finished penning the letter. The changeling proceeded to blast the note with changeling magic from his horn, magically transporting it directly to Celestia.
"Now Spike," Rarity said, searching through the books, "Help me find a book on protection spells, I need to learn them immediately!"
"Honestly Rarity," admitted Spike, "I think the stress might be getting to your head. I mean, I may have sent the letter, but it was based on a random connection between two old tall tales, I doubt Celestia will answer your-" Spike was interrupted the second time that day as a note magically appeared from his horn. He grabbed it and began to read.
"Dear Rarity, I have heard your concerns and I'm afraid that stress may be getting to you. As such, your current magical assignments are canceled. Instead, you shall attend tomorrow's Summer Sun Celebration in this year's location: Ponyville. You will accompany the royal squad there and take a vacation. However, I have one task for you to complete: make some friends! "
Rarity groaned, "A break? Friends?"
It was true, despite Rarity's extroverted nature and magical skills, she had yet to become closely acquainted with anypony besides Spike. She was simply too busy to make time for bonding.
Spike looked around at the mess of a room, "I guess we leave now?"
Spike and Rarity rode a chariot through the skies of Equestria. Spike had taken up his pony form and was squished against the wall of suitcases that took up half the chariot. There were two other chariots flying alongside them, each of which held various other officials from Canterlot.
Spike finished reading over the list Celestia gave them. Spike chuckled, "Don't you worry Rarity! Celestia set up somewhere for us to stay, a place you can relax and mellow out."
Rarity nodded, "Yes you're right! I've been so stressed with studying and helping others; I haven't had time to for myself!"
"Not just yourself," Spike pointed out, "Maybe a few new friends as well."
"Right right," Rarity said rolling her eyes, "I guess that's my royal responsibility." She sighed to herself, being friendly wasn't the same as being a friend, especially when one had other things to do.
She peered over the sides of the chariot and looked down to the town below. It was a charming little place. It wasn't dirty, which Rarity hated, it was rustic. The main town was made up of thirty or so buildings nestled against a large forest and what appeared to be an apple orchard to the east.
As the pegasi royal guard pulling the chariots made contact, Rarity's chariot jostled to a stop. Rarity daintily stepped out, with the cube of suitcases hovering behind her through levitation. Spike followed her, waving to the pegasi guards.
"Thank you gentlecolts," Rarity said courteously. The guards silently nodded in response and flew away.
"Okay Rarity," said Spike, looking over the list, "Our lodging should be that way."
"No Spike," she curtly responded, "I would like to help with the preparations for the festival. It would be the helpful thing to do."
Spike frowned, "But Rarity, you're supposed to be on vacation! How about instead you chill out and make some friends," Spike pointed to a pink earth pony with a poofy mane passing nearby, "Why not go and talk to her? I'm sure the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about."
Rarity sighed and approached the pink pony, "Why hello darling!" In response the pink pony leapt up in the air in surprise with an extended gasp before dashing off to somewhere. Rarity watched the pony's dust, "My, you were certainly right Spike, that was interesting. Now, where does the festival need help for its preparations?"
Spike simply sighed in response.
Spike and Rarity walked down a dirt path to Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity had assumed that would be a good place to get food for the Summer Sun Festival.
"I don't think you should be doing this," grunted Spike, moving at a crawl behind Rarity, "Celestia gave you specific instructions to not take every matter in your own hooves. Y'know, to relax?". The changeling had taken the form of a buff earth pony but was still struggling to pull the dainty wagon which held the precariously balanced mound of suitcases.
"Yes darling," responded Rarity, "I know that, but Celestia also tasked me with making some new friends, and what better way to do that than helping someponies?"
Spike didn't respond, instead tripping as the wagon went over a bump. Suitcases began to fall off, but were caught mid-air with Rarity's magic.
Spike looked over at her plaintively while she restacked the suitcases with her magic, "Could we at least bring your packing over to the lodging next?"
"Certainly Spike."
As the duo entered underneath the wooden sign labeled Sweet Apple Acres , they looked around. In the distance was a small, classic country-farm. But most noteworthy of all was the orchard that surrounded them. All around the trail and farm were hundreds if not thousands of apple trees, each covered in juicy apples that glistened like rubies in the sun.
"I like the aesthetic," Rarity mused to no one in particular, "very rustic."
"Yeehaw!"
An earth pony galloped into view. She had a light orange coat and a brown hat upon her head. With one hearty THUMP! She had bucked against an apple tree, causing all of the apples to fall into wooden buckets placed below.
Rarity cleared her throat, getting the pony's attention, "Greetings, my name is Rarity and-"
Rarity was interrupted as the pony pulled her into a vigorous hoof-shake, "Well, howdy-doo, Miss Rarity, a pleasure makin' yer' acquaintance. I'm Applejack. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure do like makin' new friends!"
Rarity adjusted her newly disheveled mane, "Well about that-"
"So, what can I do you for?" Asked Applejack.
Rarity continued, attempting to maintain a smidge of grace, "Well, I am in fact here to generously help with the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. And I presume you and your family are in charge of the food?"
Applejack looked surprised, "Sorry Miss but we don't need any help. In fact, the royal official just left a few minutes ago!"
Spike gave Rarity his I told you so look while she thought of a response, "You don't need any help? At all? Nothing in the kitchen perhaps?"
Applejack thought for a moment, "Well, we certainly do have somethin' in the kitchen." She looked over Rarity's shoulder to the stack of suitcases towering behind her, "Y'all certain you don't need help?"
Spike jumped in before Rarity could scoff the question away, "Yes yes yes!"
The sound of a ringing triangle echoed out over the farm. "Soups on everypony!"
As if summoned, the area round the barn was filled with ponies. They were various shades shapes, but all shared cutie marks related to apples. Rarity looked around at the ponies and food arranged about. It certainly did look tasty.
Applejack walked up with a large red stallion who stopped to stare at the cube of cases. "Now my brother Big McIntosh here will help y'all with yer cases. That won't be problem will it Big Mac?"
He shook his head, "Nope."
Applejack leaned over to the exhausted pony on the ground, "Say, where does it need'ta go?" The changeling limply held up his list to the earth pony.
Big Mac looked it over and nodded, "Eyup."
In a few seconds, he had attached himself to the wagon and pulled it away in much more ease than even Spike's buff pony form.
"Just give me something, anything," Spike whimpered, still on the ground. He grasped the air like a baby as Applejack brought over a tray full of various apple-related products and poured them into the changeling's mouth.
Applejack returned to the unicorn, who was still observing the various socializing ponies. "Though the food is as sure as sugar, we still have plenty to go 'round. Would you care to sample some?"
"I'd love to darling, but I'm sure somepony else might need my help," Rarity flipped her mane, "Because of my natural magic experience."
Her bragging was interrupted as an apple tart was shoved into her mouth. "Nonsense!" Laughed Applejack, "How 'bout y'all meet the Apple family!"
Applejack did a little dance as she hopped about and pointed out various ponies. "This here's Apple Fritter. Apple Bumpkin. Red Gala. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Baked Apples, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp," she stopped a second to breathe, "Y'all already met Big McIntosh, but there's also Apple Bloom and Granny Smith. Up'n'attem, Granny Smith! We got guests."
The old green mare sleeping in the rocking chair snorted awake, "Wha? Soup's on? I'm up, here I come, I'ma comin!"
Applejack chuckled, "Why, I'd say you're already part of the family!"
Rarity glanced over to Spike, who was still on the ground gorging himself with food. He was happy at the moment, and she couldn't take away that. And anyways, the food did look delicious.
"I guess we could stay for a little bit," she sighed, earning cheers from the entirety of the Apple family.
Rarity's stomach grumbled as she and Spike, now suitcaseless, left the farm and back to main area of Ponyville. It had felt like hours to her, though in actuality, it was only thirty minutes.
"Ugh, I never want to see an apple again," she whimpered, turning her head away from the apple trees in disgust.
Spike, who had taken the form of a small purple parasprite and perched on her head, belched a satisfied burp. "That's what you say," he chuckled, "I'm pretty sure I saw a certain unicorn loose her Canterlot manners to some pie."
Rarity scoffed, "Well I- I mean," she bowed her head admittance, "Yes it was the best pies I've ever tasted." It was true for Rarity, for even the most well-regarded of foods and eateries back in Canterlot were known for the smallness and tastelessness elsewhere in Equestria, and Rarity had never found the time to eat out somewhere with more, palatable food.
"I think they liked you too," Spike smugly cited in response.
Rarity rolled her eyes in response and looked up to the sky to distract herself. The sky was cloudy. Wasn't somepony supposed to clearing the skies? Maybe she could help out and clear with her magic.
As if in response to Rarity's own thoughts a flash of rainbow appeared in the sky. This rainbow zoomed around, breaking apart every cloud in the sky. In a mere ten seconds, the sky shone bright blue as it was made clear.
A cyan-colored pegasus with a uniquely rainbow-colored mane landed nearby Rarity and Spike. "And that, that is how you do it!" The pegasus hoofpumped to herself. She turned, noticing the unicorn with a parasprite on her head. "Oh! Sorry, didn't notice ya! What's your name?"
The pegasus was certainly energetic. Rarity cleared her throat and responded, "I'm Rarity, and I'm- on a trip in town."
The pegasus laughed, "Sweet! Takin' time to chillax eh?"
"Not. At. All." Spike quietly mumbled so nopony would hear him.
Rarity looked back up to the clear sky, "So, I take you're the one in charge of the weather for the festival?"
"Yep, that's me! The name's Rainbow Dash!" She took up to the air again, performing a small loop-de loop.
"Darling, I couldn't help but notice that your clearing of the weather was a tad, delayed . Do you perhaps need any help? I have the magic you need."
Rainbow Dash waved off the unicorn's request while laughing, "Me? Ha! No way!" She zipped around in the air some more, performing some twirls, "I'm the fastest pony in Ponyville! Why, I'm fast enough for the Wonderbolts!"
Rainbow Dash ignored the looks of confusion and continued, "They're the bestest, fastest flyers in Equestria. And when they see these moves tomorrow, they get a good look at my stuff! Watch this!"
Rainbow began to perform tricks in the air. She looped around, zoomed around town weaving through buildings, and as finishing move, spiraled around Rarity and Spike in a gust of whirlwind. Upon finishing, Rainbow Dash roughly landed with her hooves outstretched.
"Ta-dah!"
She opened her eyes to see the shocked Rarity, her mane made completely disheveled and poofy by Rainbow's miniature tornado. This sight, of course, was hilarious, prompting Rainbow and the fluttersprite Spike to burst out laughing at the sight.
"You should see the look on your face. Ha! You're a laugh, Rarity! I can't wait to hang out some more."
Rarity made a false smile. "Of course," she said through gritted teeth, "Say darling, where are the royal Canterlot officials?"
Rainbow stopped laughing and wiped the tears from her eyes, "They're at the town hall! Anyways, smell ya later!" Rainbow Dash waved them goodbye and flew off in a burst of color.
"Wow! She's a riot!" Spike said, still chuckling to himself. Rarity simply grunted in response and turned to the Ponyville town hall. Spike quickly fluttered after her, "Don't worry Rarity, your mane looks kind of pretty once you get used to it!"
Rarity was beginning to feel peeved off. First nopony needed help, causing her to practically waste her day, then she nearly ate herself into stupor, and then that pegasus had the gall to make her mane into a fashion disaster! She hoped that the Canterlot officials at the town hall could give her something, literally anything to do.
Rarity entered the town hall with Spike sitting on her back. The place was the main location for the Summer Sun Celebration, so it had been garnished with decorations all over. Rarity observed the decor, not bad, but some areas could use some improvement, especially the mahogany railings. Silver was just too much! Sky blue ribbon would fit the color pallet and festival much better.
Rarity redirected her attention from the decor to the staff. Various ponies milled about, many of whom were certainly from Canterlot. Royal guards stood at attention at doorways and the like, Rarity recognized Fancy Pants, who stood in one corner presiding over a checklist. She also recognized the captain of the royal guard, a white unicorn who she didn't know the name of. He stood talking to who she assumed was the mayor of Ponyville. Finally, one more Canterlot official was stood underneath the balconies, focused on applying decorations. The purple unicorn was garbed in royal armor ornately styled in a manner not unlike Rarity's own ceremonious robes.
Rarity walked up to the pony, who was densely focused on her telekinesis, hanging several decorations at once.
"Excuse me, um, madam?" Rarity's question broke the concentration of the unicorn, who turned to look at Rarity.
"Rarity, I presume?" She asked as a large silver banner covered her head.
"Oh, you know me?" Rarity asked.
The unicorn lifted the banner off her head and put it aside, "Of course! Everypony in Canterlot knows you," she smiled, "Especially with fine taste and sense of style."
Rarity blushed, "I can't say the same thing about you, what's your name?"
The unicorn held out a hoof, "Twilight Sparkle, accomplished mage and official magical advisor for Princess Celestia."
They shook hooves, "Pleasure to meet you Miss Sparkle."
"You can call me just Twilight," she confided, "Say, I know you're supposed to be on vacation, but could lend a bit of your stylish expertise? I'm in charge of setting up the celebration and I want it to be perfect."
Rarity nodded, "Certainly darling! Let me try something out," Rarity concentrated and focused on the banners around the hall. Her horn began to glow white and with a sparkle and a pop, the banners all shifted from silver to sky blue. "There we go!" Rarity said, looking up at her handiwork.
Twilight nodded to the display, "Impressive, that's a higher-level spell right there!"
"Oh, it's sort of my special talent," Rarity affirmed whilst fluttering her eyelashes, "Do you have anything else that I could help with? Its dreadfully difficult doing nothing!"
Twilight laughed in response, "Tell me about it! I guess you could say that I'm kind of a busybody!" She then pulled up a checklist with her magic, looking it over, "Anyways, there is one last thing we need to do before the celebration, and I guess you could do it."
"Thank you, Twilight Sparkle!" Rarity giggled in response before snatching the checklist and trotting out of the town hall.
Twilight waved her off, "One more thing," she jokingly called out, "Try to fix that disaster of a mane before the celebration!"
Rarity looked up at her mane, having completely forgotten how it was a complete mess.
"So where do we need to go?" Spike sighed, finally speaking out now they weren't around anypony else, and he didn't have to hide himself.
"Last thing is to check the music!" Rarity affirmed, "With somepony named Fluttershy."
Rarity was nearly galloping in her hurry to proceed to her next destination. So much time wasted! So much time wasted that the event organizer, Twilight Sparkle, was only able to give her one job! One! It was outrageous!
Spike, who had taken his pony form once again, hurried after her, "Calm down Rarity! Don't forget! This is your time off; your only job is to make some friends!"
Rarity stopped for a second and looked back at him. Spike had been repeating that kind of mantra all day. Rarity's experiences with socializing with the local townsfolks had been... mixed to say the least. She had gotten along with splendidly with Twilight, a fellow magic student. Less so could be said about Rainbow Dash, who messed up her mane to the point where it took twenty minutes of various styling spells to fix it. She had no strong opinions on Applejack, though perhaps she was too busy eating at the moment to form one.
"We've got to do something, darling!" Rarity reaffirmed to Spike, "I'm not built for slowing down , I'm the kind of pony who needs my hooves full at all times!"
Spike sighed, "I know," he looked at the scroll Rarity was magically hovering next to her, "Check on the music and that's it for me."
The two had left the more populous town center and entered a more natural section of Ponyville. The sounds of birds singing could be heard as they approached a cottage that seemed to be built into a hill and adorned with a variety of birdhouses.
Rarity and Spike stopped in their hooves when they saw a yellow pegasus with a flowing pink mane who seemed to be conducting an arrangement of birds on a nearby tree. They began to whistle a tinny version of the royal fanfare until a blue jay sang a note that was noticeably off-key.
"Oh my," whispered the pegasus, stopping the birds' practice, "Um, stop please, everyone, umm. Excuse me, sir?" She flew up to the blue jay, "I mean no offense, but your rhythm is just a teeny-tiny bit off. Now, follow me, please. A-one, a-two, a-one two three-"
Rarity leapt in, "You must be Fluttershy!"
The pegasus yelped and leapt up in the air in fright, subsequently scattering the birds.
"Oh my! I'm dreadfully sorry," apologized Rarity, "I'm just a bit off kilter today! You know how a lady gets when she's bored!" Rarity laughed at her own remark, pausing to an awkward silence. She cleared her throat, "Anyways, I'm a representative for Canterlot and here to check on the music for the festival."
"Oh... right," Fluttershy timidly whispered, "It's going fine."
Rarity tilted her head, "Excuse me?"
"It's going fine..."
"Sorry darling, but I can't quite hear you."
Fluttershy's whimper was near silent.
Spike interrupted, "Okay okay, step aside Rarity," he lightly pushed her aside and approached the pegasus who was hiding behind her mane. "Sorry about her Miss Fluttershy, Rarity's a bit- overwhelmed? Or underwhelmed, I can't really tell with her today."
Fluttershy giggled immediately opening up a little, "Oh, I don't mind, I have... trouble talking with other ponies."
Spike smirked, "Oh really? Perhaps may I be of assistance?"
Fluttershy gasped as the pony standing before her vanished in a flash of green light, with a small dark blue bird replacing him.
"Let me help you with this," he said, extending his wings in a bow.
The bluebird flew up to the tree where the rest of the birds had gathered. Within a minute, after an exchange of whistles, the offending blue jay began to whistle the proper notes for the performance perfectly in tune.
"There you go!" Spike announced, morphing back into his pony form after he flew back down.
Both Fluttershy's and Rarity's jaws were dropped.
"You're a changeling?"
"You revealed you're a changeling?"
Spike shrugged, "She needed help Rarity, and I know that you can't communicate with animals."
Before Rarity could answer, the changeling was embraced by the pegasus who bombarded him with an onslaught of statements. "You're really a changeling! I never thought I would meet one in real life! Is it true you feed off of love?"
Spike smugly grinned to Rarity, "Yep, the one and only friendly changeling in Equestria! And I did feed off of love, but that was a while ago, before I got these." In a flash of light, he morphed back into his original insectoid form, flittering his shiny diamond-colored wings.
Fluttershy clapped her hooves, "Wow wow wow! Can you morph into other things?"
Spike nodded, "Of course! I've had plenty of practice!"
A flash of green light appeared, and he was a small purple drake with emerald-green spikes. "Dragon!"
Another flash, and he was blue griffon with green patterns on his wings. "Griffon!"
Another flash, and he was bipedal cat with gray fur. "Abyssinian!"
He changed form several more times, a dark gray yak, a beady-eyed purple bufogren, and a purple pegasnail with a blue shell. The entire time Fluttershy watched him in astonishment and cheered him on.
"Spike darling," Rarity intervened, "I think you've done enough changing for now."
"No! I could watch him all day," Fluttershy suggested.
"She's right Fluttershy," Spike reluctantly added, morphing back into his pony form, "Anyways, we ought to be going, we're supposed to be doing nothing."
Fluttershy looked down at the ground, "Oh, I understand; but could you answer just one more question?"
"I guess I could answer one."
"Well, what's your story? Why are you friendly?"
"Well, that's a lonnng story!" Spike playfully said. Rarity groaned and rolled her eyes, picking up the changeling with her magic and carrying him behind her like a balloon as she left. Meanwhile, Fluttershy followed closely behind, listening intently to his story.
"Now this all began back when I was in an egg, at least that's what Celestia says. Anyways it all started when Rarity came around-"
"And then I showcased some of my shapeshifting to you, and here we are now!" Spike finished with a flair, upon which he was promptly dropped by Rarity. They had reached their destination; it was rather large in size.
"Oh Spike, your story is wonderful," Fluttershy said, "No wonder you have such good friends!"
Spike looked over to Rarity, "Really, her? She's social and all, but-"
"I mean me silly!" Fluttershy laughed, "I mean, if you want to be my friend."
"Of course, Fluttershy! Two friends are always better than one!"
"Well, if that's the case," she added timidly, "feel free to come over to my cottage at any time, your shapeshifting could be useful in my work..."
"Enough!" Rarity had listened to their conversation, and she needed some sleep, perhaps it would get in a better mood than a whole day of doing nothing. "Excuse me Fluttershy, but it's about time we headed in for our beauty rest," she said with insincere smile, "Isn't that right Spike?"
"It's not really that late-" Spike began before he was shoved in through the open door.
Inside the entrance, it was pitch black.
"This is where we're staying? It's rather dark," Rarity asked incredulously.
"I think you were a bit rude back there," Spike said, rubbing his backside.
"It's just, I've had a, I'm just in a bad mood at the moment!"
"Right. Anyways it called the Carousel Boutique, an old clothing store or something. Let me just find a light-"
The lights flicked on, revealing a room full of ponies.
"SURPRISE!"
Rarity clutched her chest in surprise. Spike on the other hand, the surprised changeling yelped, changing form several times before plopping to the ground in the form of an opossum, inciting a chorus of gasps.
"Don't worry everypony! He just does that when he's startled," announced Rarity, "He's just playing dead."
A moment of silence passed before everypony lit up again with cheers and woops. After a second, the opossum opened his eyes and changed back into a pony.
"Aw man!" Spike moaned, "Now everypony knows!"
Rarity looked around. The room was festooned with streamers and party decor, a far cry from the formal gatherings she was acquainted to. The previous ponies she met were there too, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, some of the Canterlot officials, and even Fluttershy had peeked her head in.
A party horn blew in her ear.
Rarity turned to see the pink pony from when she first entered Ponyville. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie," she said in a bubbly tone, "and I threw this party just for you! Were you surprised? Were ya? Were ya? Huh huh huh?"
"You certainly did," stammered Rarity, "Especially him ," she motioned to Spike, who had retreated to the food table.
Pinkie bounced up and down, "Oh! I didn't mean to scare him, and I didn't know he had so many costumes! Y'see, I saw you when you first got here, remember? You were all hello darling and I was all gasp! Remember? Y'see I've never saw you before and if I've never saw you before that means you're new, 'cause I know everypony, and I mean everypony in Ponyville!"
Rarity nodded along, walking over to the punch table.
"And if you're new, that meant you haven't met anyone yet, and if you haven't met anyone yet, you must not have any friends, and if you don't have any friends then you must be busy, and that made me so sad, then I had an idea, and that's why I went all gasp! I must throw a great big ginormous super-duper spectacular welcome party and invite everyone in Ponyville! See? And now you have lots and lots of friends!"
Rarity harrumphed, "Sad," she spooned herself some punch, "Sad?"
A heat built up inside her, a feeling deep inside that echoed through her core up to her horn.
"Aw look," Pinkie Pie said with a hint of pity, "She's so happy she's crying!"
Tears were indeed forming in her eyes, but not from emotion. Her face turned red as she flew and screamed. An involuntary bolt of light erupted from her horn, exploding in a massive indoor firework that incited cheers from everypony inside. Spike in his pony form ran over to see Rarity dash upstairs. He looked at the punch table, to see a bottle.
"Hot sauce," he read.
An hour later, everypony else was still up, wanting to stay awake for the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration. They were all gathered in the Carousel Boutique, except for one.
Rarity was flumped over her bed in the, admittedly ornate, room. Whatever tears she cried had dried up long ago, now she was simply morose.
Spike poked his head inside the room, "Hey Rarity, you sure you don't want to come on down? They have cake!" He held up a plate of oat cakes.
Rarity didn't turn, simply waving him away, "There's no point Spike, I'm just going to stay in here for the rest of my vacation ."
"Why would say that? I think everypony down there likes you."
A hint of a smile graced Rarity's mouth for a second, "Everypony likes me darling. But that's beside the point," she flopped back down, "Nopony needs help, and when I try to socialize, I just mess it all up. I mean, for Celestia's sake, you've been doing better and you're a changeling!"
Spike shrugged, "They're surprisingly accepting of me."
"That's not what I mean! It's just, I'm supposed to be on a break, but also make some friends, but I want to help others, but nopony needs help, not to mention the whole Nightmare Moon thing! Which I don't even know if it's true!" Rarity sighed and wiped her eyes. "I just don't know what I'm doing or what I'm supposed to do."
"It'll be okay Rarity," Spike reassured before leaving, "Just take things one day at a time, and it'll be alright."
"But that's the thing, isn't it?" Rarity whispered to herself once she was alone, "What if there's no tomorrow?"
Rarity was unsure how much time had passed moping in her room, but she had to get up eventually. She stood in front of one of the multiple full-length mirrors in the room; at least the Carousel Boutique had plenty of spare items she could use. She made herself look presentable once again, using magic to straighten her mane, curl her eyelashes, and touch up her hooves.
Spike poked his head in, "C'mon, Rarity, it's time to watch the sunrise!"
"Give me a moment darling!" Rarity called back.
Spike noticed that the unicorn was already sounding much more chipper than before, though he was unsure if it was genuine. "Rarity," he said with concern, "If you're feeling better, maybe you can go and talk Celestia in-pony after the ceremony?"
"Nonsense darling!" Rarity laughed, "I'm not going to interfere with anything. Yes, I will simply go down and watch the ceremony as a casual observer."
Spike knew he couldn't argue against this, especially when Rarity was working through things in her own glamorous way.
The Ponyville town hall still had the decorations from earlier. Rarity couldn't help but smile as she saw her handiwork with the sky-blue banners. It certainly did look better for the festival.
The town hall was of course, packed with ponies attending the Summer Sun Celebration. Everypony from Pinkie Pie's party was there, along with even more ponies, tourists most likely. The Canterlot officials and guard stood watch on the balconies higher up above the crowd. Rarity tried her best to blend in with the crowd, a difficult task for sure, but she wanted to keep a low profile after the debacle at the party earlier.
Of course, a low profile would be hard to keep if the bounciest pony in the room hadn't bounced up to her.
"Isn't this exciting? Are you excited, 'cause I'm excited, I've never been so excited— well, except for the time that I saw you walking into town, and I went gasp but I mean really, who can top that?" Pinkie Pie yammered.
Rarity poorly hid both her amusement and annoyance with the pink pony. Didn't she ever get tired?
She had little opportunity to reflect on this as the lights dimmed and the crowd hushed.
Fluttershy flew in from above, beginning to conduct a choir of birds perched in the windows. They tweeted out a whistled version of the royal fanfare. A brown pony with gray mane, the mayor of Ponyville, walked out as cheers rang out from the crowd.
"In just a few moments," the mayor began, "Our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria," she beckoned aside, "Princess Celestia!"
The crowd cheered as the spotlights shone onto... nothing.
Rarity gasped to herself, "Huh?" There was no way the princess could be late. The crowd seemed to agree, as hushed murmurings began to spread amongst the ponies.
The mayor attempted to calm down the crowd, "Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!" She gave a pointed look at Twilight, who sat in a nearby balcony. She shook her head as she was evidently just as confused.
Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie bounced next to Rarity, "Oo, oo, I love guessing games!" Pondering with a hoof on her chin for second, "Is she hiding? Oo! Is this a prank?"
A royal guard emerged from behind the mayor in a panic. "She's gone!"
