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Chapter 2
What Now?
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“So... you’re serious?” said Applejack. “You’re acting princess now.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” said Twilight. “But I have no idea what to do.”
“Say,” said Rarity, “where’s Spikey Wikey, anyway?”
“Right here, madam.” Spike walked into the room and bowed. “As Princess Twilight’s assistant, I hereby welcome you all to this magnificent throne room, where—”
“Nice to see you too, Spike.” Applejack was not impressed with Spike’s fancy talk.
“Aww but he’s so cute Applejack! Widdle Spikey Wikey is all dwessed up!”
“Rarity, are you okay?”
It was true, though. Spike had taken it upon himself to find the fanciest clothing that would fit him. And he did look quite dapper in regal Canterlot garb.
“Anyhow,” said Applejack, “the reason we came here is because the sun’s been in the same place for several hours now! We’re a little worried about what this-all could do to Equestrian climate and whatnot.”
“Yeah, that...” Twilight shook her head. “I have no clue how to move the sun. Or any celestial object. And it appears Celestia and Luna are neglecting their duties while on their ‘important business’.”
Twilight began dancing around mockingly. “‘No responsibility! No responsibility!’ I can’t believe those two would just leave like that!”
“Well,” said Applejack, “let’s find ’em.”
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“Mmm, this is delicious!”
“The deliciousness has been doubled!”
“We should get more of these. Mr. Cake!”
“Y-yes, Princess Celestia?”
“Can we have some more?”
“Of course! How much more would you like?”
The royal sisters thought about it briefly. “We’ll take your whole stock!” said Luna, knowing her sister’s appetite. (Seriously, she eats like a horse!)
“Well, okay...”
Carrot Cake went into the back to gather the day’s pastries and cakes.
Wow, he thought, I thought I’d be honored to serve Celestia and her sister here—
“Our name is LUNA!”
—oh man that was scary. Okay... just get the sweets. All of them. And hope this doesn’t set us back too far.
Carrot Cake returned with a large food cart containing all of Sugarcube Corner’s sweets. “Here you are, ladies.”
“Why thank you,” said Celestia. “These look fabulous.” Her horn glowed, and she pulled out a huge bag of bits. She dropped the whole thing in front of Carrot Cake.
“Will this cover it?”
“Well Princess, really, this can go on the house...”
“No no, we’re paying customers just like everypony else.”
“Are you sure, Princess? I mean—”
“Take the money, peasant!”
“Sister!” Celestia snapped. “He is not a peasant! He and his wife are hardworking small business owners.”
“Oh,” said Luna. “My apologies. Take the money, hardworking small business owner!”
“That’s... marginally better.”
Realizing this was going nowhere fast, Celestia did her best to explain.
“Mr. Cake, please don’t be hesitant to accept our payment. I don’t know who started the whole—” she rolled her eyes “‘—ooh pamper the royal family everywhere they go’ idea, but really, it’s unnecessary.”
“R-really?” Nopony could ever get used to Celestia acting like, well, a normal pony. “Thanks!”
“Though really, you have Luna to thank,” said Celestia. “She heard you worrying about us running you dry, so she made sure we wouldn’t just forget to pay you.”
Luna smiled at Carrot Cake.
“I mean really,” said Celesita, “do you know how embarrassing it is to forget to pay for something? And nopony ever tells us! It’s like they’re worried we’ll throw ’em in a dungeon or something!”
“We?” said Luna, a little too excitedly. “As in, the Royal We?”
Celestia couldn’t resist. “We’re referring to the two of us, so We suppose so!”
“We!” Shouted Luna.
“WE!” Shouted Celestia in turn.
“WEEEEEEE!!” they shouted together, causing the building to rattle.
“Is that a storm!?” shouted Cup Cake from the next room over.
“No honey, it’s the royal sisters!” replied Carrot Cake, covering his ears.
“Mr. Carrot Cake,” said Luna, “We must thank thee for thy delectable sweets!”
“And now,” said Celestia, “We must eat them!”
“O-okay. If you need me, I’ll just be in the back looking for some cotton to put in my ears.”
“WEEEEEEE!!”
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“So Twilight, where’d they go?”
Twilight looked at Applejack. “I think I know where they went, but...”
“Yes?”
“You won’t like the answer.”
“So where could they be?” Rainbow was excited at the prospect of adventure. “Did they go off into some distant jungle? Or maybe they’re at sea somewhere! Or maybe—” Rainbow gasped, her eyes wide “—maybe they went to the wasteland where the Changlings live! Ooooooo... or maybe—”
“No.”
“What?” Rainbow Dash was disappointed. “Then where?”
“Ponyville.”
“Really!?” Rainbow Dash facehoofed, then fell over. “So I dragged us all this way...”
“Pretty much.” Twilight gave a sheepish grin. “Sorry.”
“Okay, let’s get back to the cart, I’ll get us back to Ponyville (which it turns out we never should’ve left in the first place...) and then we can figure out what in Celestia’s name is going on here!”
“Good luck, girls,” said Twilight, “although I’ve got to stay here myself. Royal duties and all.”
“Wow,” said Rainbow Dash. “That sounds boring. See ya later, princess!”
And with that, the ponies left.
The ponies got back into their cart.
The ponies flew back to Ponyville.
“Okay,” said Applejack, once they’d landed. “So where do y’all reckon they are?”
“Mr. Carrot Cake, We must thank thee for thy delectable sweets!”
“And now, We must eat them!”
“My Pinkie Sense says they’re at Sugarcube Corner!”
“Does it now?” snarked Applejack.
“Yes it does! Let’s go!”
“WEEEEEEE!!”
I just hope we get there before they deafen the whole town, thought Applejack.
They made their way to Sugarcube Corner, ready to sort this mess out.
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