Chapter One - Gathering the Group
It was a quiet, Spring morning on Ponyville's Main Street. Bon-Bon was walking out of Sugarcube Corner with Lyra in tow, as the sun shone overhead. Rainbow Dash soared around, pushing clouds away with large gusts of wind. The fruit stands were just beginning to open, and Mr. and Mrs. Cake had just put out the first batch of desserts in the window. Pinkie Pie bounced past the pair as they walked out, in her usual cheery demeanor.
"So, Lyra, I've been thinking," Bon-Bon began with a bit of trepidation, "What if we did something awesome today?" As her eyes lit up. the duo stopped in front of an empty cart, not too far away from the entrance to the renowned bakery.
"What do you mean, Bon-Bon?" Asked Lyra, holding a cupcake, her interest clearly piqued.
"Well, the ponies that wield the Elements of Harmony are always the talk of Pony-," Bon-Bon was interrupted as Rainbow Dash whipped up a wind to blow a couple of clouds away, and the breeze pushed her blue-and-pink mane in front of her face." Anyhow, they're always the talk of Ponyville! Equestria even! Why don't we get any limelight!?" She pouted, her lower lip poking out, as the pair started walking past all the shops, towards the edge of town.
As the two began down the dirt path towards the Everfree forest, Bon-Bon, spotting her destination, began to trot towards it at a quick pace. Lyra, holding a cupcake, beginning to trot too, stumbled over a small rock, and the pastry slipped out of her grasp, as she let out a small sigh.
"Bon-Bon, what about this spot is so great for thinking?" Lyra inquired, "I mean, there's a billion of these groves."
Staring at the curious formation of the large rock sitting under the trees in the grove, and disregarding Lyra's inquiry, Bon-Bon suddenly had an epiphany. her eyes had that same twinkle in them Lyra had seen earlier.
"Hey, Lyra, can you get Derpy, Carrot Top, Octavia, Vinyl Scratch and Cloudchaser for me? bring them all here. I have a grand idea!
"What's the idea?"
"I'll tell you when you get back!"
"Awesome. I'll be right back, Bon-Bon!"
and off Lyra ran excited to hear about Bon-Bon's plan, back towards town, as Bon-Bon sat on top of the large rock, in deep thought, birds chirping and flying about the small grove, Fluttershy flew by, chasing a sparrow.
Derpy Hooves, on break from her morning mail rounds, was sitting outside Le Hoover Cafe, enjoying a chocolate-chip muffin, the morning sun beaming down on her face as ponies passed by, all about their merry way. she could see the fruit stands bustling and a figure sprinting towards her. From down the dirt road leading to the Everfree Forest, Lyra came running towards her.
"Hey, Derpy! Bon-Bon wante-"
"Yeah, she wanted her mail, right? Here ya' go!" She interrupted, reaching into her mailbag. "And here's yours!" thrusting the envelopes into Lyra's face.
"That isn't what I was going to ask!", "I wanted to ask you-"
"For one of my homemade chocolate-chip muffins!? here!" Derpy said, pushing a muffin into Lyra's hooves.
"That's not it, either! Bon-Bon just wants you come down to the shady grove outside the Everfree Forest! It's important!" Replied Lyra quickly, before Derpy could take another guess.
"Oh boy! a surprise? Derpy looked excited," I'm there! I'll go tell Pinkie! She loves surpris-"
"No, Derpy," Lyra said coolly," don't tell Pinkie Pie, or Applejack, or anyone else, just go!"
"After I finish this muffin, and my rounds!" Derpy said, in her usual bubbly tone.
The morning sun still beamed down as Lyra began to walk away from the cafe. she waved to Pinkie Pie as she bounced around outside of the Sugarcube Corner.
"Cool, that's one down" Thought Lyra to herself, running towards Vinyl Scratch's club, The Hayfield. It was closed in the daytime, but Lyra knew Vinyl was probably inside, preparing for the evening, like she usually did.
upon reaching the door to The Hayfield, Lyra bumped into Vinyl, who was walking outside.
"Ouch! hey, Lyra! Watch it! Vinyl Scratch yelped.
"I didn't see you there, sorry" began Lyra, "but, it just so happens that you're just who I'm looking for!" as she helped Vinyl up.
"Uh, what's up?" Asked Scratch, still shaken from being knocked down.
"Bon-Bon wanted me to get you to come to that huge rock in the shady grove near the Everfree forest!" Lyra replied, excitedly.
"Well, what for?"
A bouncer pushed past Lyra, trying to go inside the club to help prepare it for the night. Lyra took a quick look around Vinyl to see what was going on. the club looked strange with all those fluorescent lights on.
"I don't know. Bon-Bon insists it'll be awesome, whatever it is."
"You know what? I'm bored getting The Hayfield ready for tonight. The rest of the employees can finish up, I think. I'll come along."
"Awesome!" Lyra replied, with a satisfied grin.
"I'll bring Octavia too! want to come with me to the Town Hall? She's practicing there.
"Uh, yeah, sure!" Lyra replied, as they began towards the center of town. It was getting close to noon, so the businesses filled with more people hustling and bustling down through the small town's streets and avenues. The birds chirped in harmony, as Fluttershy, who had clearly found the bird she was pursuing, led them in song. Pinkie Bounced from building to building, most likely to invite people to her next party.
Walking down the road past the fruit stands, Lyra spotted Derpy flying around clumsily, delivering the mail.
"Hey, Derpy! don't forget!" She yelled, distracting the blonde pony.
"Uh. yeah! I'll be-" Derpy's reply was cut short as she crashed into Mr. and Mrs. Cake's mailbox.
"Ouch..." Lyra and Vinyl said in unison, wincing. Fluttershy, startled by the loud noise, fled in the opposite direction, her birds following her. A couple of ponies gathered near the site of the crash, curious as to what had just taken place. A large cloud of dust had also enveloped the area, and it appeared Mr. and Mrs. Cake were outside, too.
As Lyra and Vinyl Scratch ran over to assist the clumsy pony, it appeared the calamity had also drawn the attention of a couple of Pegasi working in the sky. in particular, Rainbow Dash,who was pushing clouds, and Cloudchaser, who was helping her.
"Wha- Wh- What just happened here!?" Mr. Cake Yelled, trying to clear the dust by swiping his hoof back and forth.
"I just don't know what went wrong..." Groaned Derpy as the two Pegasi swooped down to see what was going on.
As the dust from the crash settled, Lyra and Vinyl could see well enough to help Derpy collect the spilled contents of her mailbag.
"Derpy, you should be more careful! Yelled Rainbow Dash.
"I'm sorry! I really don't know what went wrong! I was flying one second, and the next I crashed into something!"
"Derpy, don't mind Dashie, she's on edge because we're behind schedule on the weather for this week." Cloudchaser replied.
Derpy, having finished shaking off whatever injuries were caused by the crash, was as peppy as ever. "I'm done with my rounds!" Derpy began, getting up almost as quickly as she'd crashed," I'm going to go drop off my bag at the Post Office, and I'll see you in a sec, Lyra!" she concluded, zooming off before anyone could ask if she was okay, or respond.
"That Derpy..." Sighed Rainbow Dash, disappointed, as she flew back up to the clouds, Cloudchaser in tow.
"Cloudy! hey, Cloudchaser! come here!" Lyra called.
Hearing Lyra's beckon, Cloudchaser gave a signal to Rainbow Dash, who nodded, and went back to work, as Cloudchaser began descending towards the ground, stopping at a hover in front of Lyra, who was looking straight up at her, and Vinyl Scratch, who was still helping the Cakes clean up the front of their building. the crowd had dispersed.
"Hey, Lyra! What's up? I'm almost done clearing these clouds, so if it can wait-"
"It's just something fast. Bon-Bon said she thought of an awesome idea, and she wants you and a couple of other ponies to join us. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but she got that twinkle in her eye, so I have a feeling like it's gonna be good!" Lyra said, speaking almost too quickly.
"That does sound interesting. Where at?"
"The shady grove near the entrance to the Everfree Forest!" replied Lyra.
"I'll be there! just let me finish clearing the sky with Rainbow Dash!" she replied, her voice getting further away as she flew up higher.
"See ya' there!" The mint-colored Unicorn said, waving off Cloudchaser.
