As the summer of 1008ALB was ending, the clouds of a looming conflict gathered over an unsuspecting Equestria. Within a year the storm would break, but for now farmers brought in the harvest of their idyllic land as usual and Princess Twilight Sparkle, the recent recipient of a PhD in Thaumaturgy, was pondering her next move in life when a letter arrived from her old mentor. Enclosed were the details of a simple training mission: Host the annual Canterlot Land's Giving fair.

But being royal is never so simple as a smile and a wave, especially when Princess Celestia is making secret retirement plans.

This is a short story set in the Quenta Roccolië timeline, written for the The Sixth Annual Equestria at War Writing Contest with the prompt 'summer, warmth, light, and the sun'. This story however, also functions standalone if set shortly prior to series nine of FiM.
Thanks to Merk for betaing.
Cover art is a screencap