There are a lot of ways to describe Ponyville. Colorful, friendly, maybe a little chaotic. All of these would be sufficient terms, but on this particular day, all inhabitants of Ponyville would probably use the exact same word.
Hot.
Simmering, boiling, scorching even. Granted it was summer, but it seemed that Celestia’s brilliant sun had turned up the heat on the tiny town, cooking all those unfortunate enough to be caught under its glow.
And nopony felt more unfortunate than one of Ponyville’s premiere cutiemark specialists, Apple Bloom. Even the bow in her mane appeared to melt as she rested her head on her family’s apple stand. By her side was Applejack, who fanned herself with her hat, intermittently whistling before muttering a country colloquialism to describe the intense heat.
Aside from the other vendors, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were also present at the market. By the looks of the goggles secured on Scootaloo’s head and floaties adjourning Sweetie Belle’s hooves, any passersby could gauge that the fillies were looking to go for a swim and were waiting for Apple Bloom to join them.
Scootaloo sighed impatiently, flopping onto her back while Sweetie Belle kept herself busy with a side project. The unicorn filly’s pristine white hooves were dirtied as she dug a small hole into the ground before eagerly using her water bottle to fill the gap.
Scootaloo looked at her curiously. “Whatcha doing?”
“I dunno,” Sweetie Belle mused. “I was just thinking about Saddle Lake I guess.”
“Well, it doesn’t look like that!” Scootaloo announced with a point. "You made it too round, and you need a tree for the rope swing!”
Scootaloo added a stick to the lake’s side before joining the excavation. By the time Apple Bloom skipped over to meet them, the hole was big enough for one of them to lay in. Apple Bloom gave her friends a curious look.
“You know,” Apple Bloom began while tapping her chin. “The right side is supposed to be the steeper end. Scooch over Scoots, let me show y’all how it's done.”
“Applejack! Want some of the most thirst-quenchiest lemonade in all Equestria!”
Despite bouncing on her hooves, Pinkie still managed to balance a pitcher of lemonade on her head. Applejack had watched her hop from vendor to vendor, offering cold drinks.
“Pinkie. Really think about what you’re asking here, sugarcube.”
Pinkie blew a raspberry dismissively. “Aw, c’mon. Apple juice is fantastic, but lemonade was made for hot days like this!”
“Fine,” Applejack relented with an eyeroll. “But only because it's hotter than Tartarus out here.”
“Absolutely! Tartarus is definitely at more of a room temperature,” Pinkie agreed, pouring Applejack a cup. “Ooh I bet the Crusaders would like some lemonade!”
“What do yo- Woah, what are y’all doing digging up the market!” Applejack shouted, bewildered that she hadn't noticed them digging a stallion sized hole in the street.
“We dunno,” Scootaloo answered with a shrug. “We’re just making a little Saddle Lake I guess.”
Applejack wiped sweat from her forehead, and tried to quell her growing frustration. “Well y’all can’t dig a lake in the middle of Ponyville. Do it somewhere else.”
“Applejack’s right,” Pinkie agreed seriously. “You can’t dig a lake in the middle of Ponyville…without proper equipment!”
“Pinkie!” Applejack scolded as Pinkie distributed plastic shovels and buckets to the fillies.
The fillies cheered, collecting their shovels while Applejack rubbed her temple. Pinkie ignored Applejack’s irritation in favor of Fluttershy, who was waiting patiently at Applejack’s stand with a cohort of animals.
“Oh Applejack! It's Fluttershy! Hiya Fluttershy!” Pinkie greeted, already pulling Applejack away from the Crusaders.
Fluttershy waved demurely at the earthponies as they approached. Applejack tried to focus on getting Fluttershy’s order, but even the yellow pegasus found her gaze drifting to the three fillies.
“Oh my, what’s going on?” Fluttershy questioned
“Don’t fret about it. They’re building a lake, but I’m gonna pu- Woah nelly!” Applejack hollered as a mob of squirrels, chipmunks, and badgers ran past her.
Applejack, Pinkie, and Fluttershy watched incredulously as the animals swarmed the Crusaders' hole, and began digging alongside them. Bystanders dodged wayward dirt as the hole rapidly expanded.
“Fluttershy! What the hay are they doing!”
“I-I-I’m so sorry! They’ve been so hot, a-a-and then you mentioned Saddle Lake…so they want to help,” Fluttershy explained.
Pinkie clapped her hooves and pranced about. “Lake party in the middle of Ponyville! Lake party in the middle of Ponyville!”
Applejack face hoofed before spotting Rarity coming down the street levitating several bolts of fabric. Applejack waved the unicorn over and was pleased to see the growing look of horror on Rarity’s face.
“Rarity, give me a hoof here,” Applejack pleaded.
“And do what? Tell them to stop and have Sweetie Belle track dirt into my perfect boutique? I need to prepare!” Rarity shouted before galloping away.
“I need somepony sane here. Where’s Twilight?” Applejack questioned.
“At the optometrist, getting her eyeballs dilated by Dr. Look-see!” Pinkie cheered, covering her eyes with her hooves.
“Right," Applejack grumbled. "This couldn’t get any worse."
“Oh! Hiya Dashie!”
Applejack sighed and looked up to see Rainbow Dash lazily drifting atop of several storm clouds. The blue pegasus remained silent and smirked down at them. It was clear what was on her mind.
“Rainbow Dash! Don’t you dare!” Applejack warned.
There was the thunderous crackle of lightning, followed by a deluge of pouring rain. Applejack’s drenched hat lay limply on her head as Rainbow Dash chuckled above.
“Spike? Where are we? I thought we were going home, why do I hear splashing?” Twilight questioned frantically, unable to see her surroundings clearly.
“Don’t worry Twi, I figure y’all are heading the right way,” Applejack reassured as she floated by on a piece of plywood.
Twilight squinted at the familiar noise, allowing Spike to guide her closer. “Applejack! What’s happening? Why are Pinkie and Rainbow screaming about ‘cannonballs?'”
“I dunno Twi,” Applejack muttered with a sigh, sipping her lemonade. “We’re enjoying Ponyville’s new lake I guess.”
