//------------------------------// // Meet and Greet // Story: Canvas // by jozeether //------------------------------// "Rise and shine everypony!" Applejack shouted while ringing a triangle, "We got lotsa work to do if we wanna be ready for the Summer Sun Celebration!" Lumen groaned as he rolled off his comfy pile of hay. I haven't woken up this early since I worked on that cherry orchard. He walked to the barn door where Applejack was waiting for him. "We need ya to run into town and run some errands for us." "Where am I going and what am I doing?" Lumen asked drowsily. "Ah need you to take some tablecloths to mah friend Rarity at city hall, and pick up some flour from Sugarcube Corner," Applejack explained, "Don't worry about money, the flour's already paid for." "Alright, when's breakfast?" Lumen yawned as he asked. "We're havin' brunch in a little bit, just enough time to run your errands." "You have brunch?" Lumen tilted his head. "Not usually, but ah let everypony sleep in this mornin'." THIS IS SLEEPING IN?! "Ah have the tablecloths in this here saddle bag," she said as set the bag down by the door, Might wanna get goin' so ya don't miss brunch." Lumen strapped on the saddle bag and started toward town. He looked at his flank. Here's to hoping the ponies in Ponyville are as understanding as the Apples. Lumen had just entered Ponyville when he heard a loud scream. He looked around, but couldn't find the source. Suddenly he was struck over the head. When Lumen came to a Cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane was standing over him. "Are you ok?" she asked. "I'm fine. You only hit my head," Lumen sarcastically responded. "Well Mr. Sass, you must be fine. My name's Rainbow Dash by the way." "I'm Lumen. Quite an impression you make there," he said as he pointed to his head. "Right... Sorry about that." "What were you doing before you crashed?" Lumen asked. "Practicing to join the Wonderbolts!" she yelled as she stuck a hoof in the air. "Good luck with that then," he said while rolling his eyes. The streets of Ponyville were incredibly busy, so it wasn't hard to get directions around town.Lumen was very surprised that nopony asked about his lack of a cutie mark. He looked around and saw that everypony was working really hard to make sure every nook and cranny in Ponyville was decorated. They sure take the Summer Sun Celebration seriously here. It wasn't long before he reached his destination. "Hello? Anypony here?" "One second! I'll be out in a minute!" came the sweet voice. A beautiful white unicorn came out from behind a curtain, "What is it you need?" "I'm uh... I'm here to drop off these tablecloths." "Oh. You must be the Apple's new farm hand. I'm Rarity." "Lumen" "Pleasure to meet you. If you could be a dear and drop those off over there please, that would be wonderful." Rarity motioned to a stack of fabrics in the corner. "Yes Ma'am!" "Thank you so much, I only hope the decorations are good enough for the celebration," she said as she was looking at several options for banners. "If that's all, I kind of need to get going." Lumen said regretfully. "Of course, don't let me keep you." Lumen left the City Hall and made his way to Sugarcube Corner. On his way he looked around and saw everypony checking and double-checking all the decorations. Geez. These ponies are acting like the princess is gonna be here. When he arrived at Sugarcube Corner, he wasn't ready for what was there. "Excuse me. I'm here about Applejack's flour." Lumen stated as he walked up to the counter. "Okey Dokey Lokey! One sec while I finish up here!" came a voice from the kitchen. A pink pony came out of the kitchen carrying two bags of flour. "Let's see, here's the flour and... OOOOOOOOOHHHHH! Another one!" The pony ran up the stairs and slammed a door. Lumen looked around and picked up the bags of flour. They ARE already paid for. He left wondering what could have possibly been wrong with that pony. On his way back Lumen couldn't help but wonder why everypony seemed so stressed. It was just the Summer Sun Celebration. "Ya just missed the pony the princess sent to check on the festivities," Applejack said as Lumen walked up, "We still got plenty of food for ya in the house." "Why would the princess send a pony here to check on us?" "Didn't ya hear? Princess Celestia is coming to Ponyville this year!" "WHAT?!" "I thought you would have known. It's all anypony can talk about." "I haven't exactly been in a position to talk to many ponies here before today." "Right," Applejack started to blush, "Anyways, Ah got an invite to a party tonight. Ya might want to come too." "A party sounds like fun." When Lumen and Applejack made it to the library he saw a couple of familiar faces. They didn't have any time to socialize because they were getting ready for a surprise party. After everypony took their positions, the waiting began. "Huh, rude much?" said a small purple dragon "Sorry Spike, but I have to convince the princess that Nightmare Moon is coming, and we're running out of time," replied a purple unicorn,"I just need to be alone so I can study without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time. Now where's the light?" "SURPRISE!" yelled everypony. Lumen couldn't help but feel embarrassed for the unicorn. Even Rainbow Dash made a better first impression. The party got started and Lumen walked over to introduce himself. "Well, that was quite the entrance." "I don't want to talk about it," groaned the mare, "It wasn't exactly my finest moment." "I gathered that, my names Lumen by the way." "Lumen huh? Sounds like a unicorn name." "Not like I had much of a choice." "Right, sorry. My name is Twilight Sparkle." "Nice to meet you Twilight. I wonder if..." Lumen was interrupted by the crazy pink pony. "Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! When I saw you two today I knew you were both new cause I know everypony in Ponyville and if you were new that means you didn't know anypony and if you didn't know anypony that means you didn't have any friends and that made me sad so I threw a party for you both and invited everypony in Ponyville but I saw Twilight first so the party is kind of for her but it can be for you too and now you both have lots and lots of friends!" It took a moment for everything Pinkie said to sink in, but when it did Twilight and Lumen had very different responses. Twilight hung her head in annoyance while Lumen was overcome with joy. "Really? I've never had that many friends before." "Of course! Nopony should have to go around without any friends!" Pinkie shouted enthusiastically. "Ah heard you already met Rainbow Dash and Rarity," started Applejack, "There's just one more pony I need to introduce you to. Lumen, meet Fluttershy." "Hello Fluttershy. I'm Lumen." "Hello," she almost whispered. "Nice party, eh?" "Were you doing something? I'll just let you get back to that." "But I..." Lumen began, "Ok." "Thank you," she said as she slid off to the side of the party. I guesss there's nothing to do but party until the ceremony. When the ceremony started Lumen settled down in the back. He had done enough socializing for one day. Fluttershy's bird choir started singing and the mayor began her introduction. "And now, it is my great pleasure 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, Princess Celestia!" Rarity opened the curtains on the balcony, and nopony was there. Something's wrong here. The princess wouldn't be a no-show. It didn't help matters when a dark blue mist formed into what looked like a dark version of Celestia. "Oh my beloved subjects," the black mare began, "It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces." "What did you do with our Princess?!" shouted Rainbow Dash before she took off after the mare. "Whoa there nelly," said Applejack while grabbing Rainbow Dash's tail. "Why? Am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?" "Let me guess!" yelled Pinkie Pie, "Pokey Smokes? How about, Queen Meanie! No, Black Snooty! Black Snooty!" Applejack shoved an apple into Pinkie's mouth. The evil princess started moving around the crowd, who were still paralyzed with fear. "Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legends? Did you not see the signs?" "I did! And I know who you are! You're the Mare in the Moon, Nightmare Moon!" Twilight took a step forward "Well well well, it seems somepony remembers me.Then you also know why I'm here?" Nightmare Moon looked directly at Twilight. "You're here to... to..." "Mwahahahaha. Remember this day little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth the night will last forever!" "Seize her!" shouted the mayor, "Only she knows where the princess is!" Several royal guards charged at Nightmare Moon and were beaten with little effort. She turned back into a blue mist and flew out the door. Rainbow Dash broke free of Applejack's grip and flew after Nightmare Moon. Applejack ran over to where Lumen was sitting. "Ah need you to calm everypony down while ah go see what Twilight knows about all this." "But I.." "No buts! Ah'm your boss, and you'll do as I say! Find a way to calm these ponies down!" "Yes Ma'am" Lumen relented. He ran up to the stage and shouted, "EVERYPONY QUIET!" The entire hall fell silent. "I know you are all scared, but we can get through this! Right now..." "Why should we trust you?!" shouted one pony. "Yeah! You just came to town yesterday! How do we know that you aren't behind all this?!" accused another. This is going nowhere quickly. I need to get somepony else to talk to them. Lumen looked around the hall. After a short search he finally found the pony he was looking for. "Mayor Mare, I need you to calm everypony down." "Why? There's no way anypony can beat Nightmare Moon!" said the mayor hysterically. Lumen reached his breaking point. It's always like this. The ponies that look down on me do nothing when times get tough. I made a promise to my friend. I'll never give up. NEVER AGAIN! He brought his hoof across her face with a loud smack. "You're the mayor damn it! Get it together and do your job!" "Right right. But how can I get them calm?" "Give them something to believe in. Give them hope," Lumen started walking towards the door, "Now if you'll excuse me, Twilight needs all the help she can get." The ponies of Ponyville watched in shame and embarrassment as a blank flank walked out to do what they were too scared to do.