Making the Best of it
Success
Even though Anthony had a harsh day yesterday, he was up bright and early this morning. After his experiment last night was a success he was sure that these ponies would pay good bits to see the movies he had, and he had to get everything ready if he wanted to make those bits. After breakfast, the first place he went that bright a sunny morning was Sweet Apple Acres to talk some business with Applejack.
When Anthony got past the gate he saw Applejack walking out of the barn rubbing her eyes with her forearm, it was either that it was a lot earlier than Anthony thought it was, or she was still tired from the party from the night before, he decided on the latter.
Anthony walk on over to Applejack and asked, "Good morning Applejack, you still tired from the party last night?"
"Just a bit." Applejack said still rubbing her eyes. "So what brings ya here this morning?"
"I just came over to talk to you about a business proposition."
"Business proposition? What ya talking about Anthony."
"Well after the movie last night I noticed that everypony loved it. So I decided to make it into a business and the only place that would work is well... your barn." Anthony looked up at the big barn."
"Well Ah'm glad you found something ya could do, but Ah can't just give ya the barn. We use it for our apples."
"That's just it Applejack, I thought it all out. You guys use the barn until your done with the apple harvesting for the day, then I set up for the movie. I'll move everything then put it all back just how you left it. I'll even pay rent."
"Ah don't know..."
"Tell you what, if it doesn't work out then I'll try and find a new place."
"Hmm... fine, but how are ya going to set this up?"
"There should at least one outlet in here right?"
"Yeah, its right over there." Applejack points to the corner of the barn.
"And I see you got some bundles of hay."
"Yeah but why do ya need those?"
"You'll see. Well if were done here I need to get to Rarity's and get some white cloth."
"Sure, Ah'll just get back ta work."
"See ya." Anthony starts walking away then turns around and waves to his new business partner.
As Anthony walked to Rarity's, everypony that saw him stared and he stated to feel out of place again, it wasn't until a couple ran over and asked him a question that he knew why, "Hey Anthony, we LOVED the movie last night and we were wondering...uhm." the other spoke up, "When is the next one?" the first pony stared at the second, "What? How else are we going to find out?"
Anthony just looked at the two and smiled, "Well if everything works out, then it should be tonight."
The two snapped their heads back to Anthony wide eyed, "Really tonight?" the first asked. "Where at?" asked the second.
"Sweet Apple Acres in the barn but still, it might not be ready by then so don't get to excited and if it does then it will start at around sun down. Oh, and remember to bring some bits."
"Okay we'll be there!"
The two left and Anthony started again on his journey to the Carousel Boutique, by the time he got there it was about midday and he was getting hungry, but he had business to do now and his hunger had to wait. Anthony walked into the boutique and the bell rang as he did. Rarity was no where to be seen so he yelled her name, "RARITY!"
"In the kitchen dear, come on back." Rarity yelled back.
Anthony did what he was told and went into the kitchen and saw that Rarity was baking a pie. "Good afternoon Rarity, you making lunch?"
"Why yes I am Anthony, would you like slice?"
"Sure, I was just thinking about getting some lunch."
"Good, so what brings you here this fine day?"
"Oh well, I was going to ask you to make something for me-"
Rarity shot up into the air and almost as quick as Rainbow Dash was at Anthony's side. "Oh I've been waiting for this day! I have have endless designs planed out! Come come, we have a lot of work to do and-." Rarity was interrupted by Anthony who placed his hand over her mouth.
"Sorry Rarity, maybe next time. Right now all I need is a 10 by 10 white sheet with a hole in each corner." He removed his hand from Rarity's mouth which relieved a frown.
"I-I see... if that's all you want then I'll be happy to oblige." Rarity said with a weak voice.
"Don't worry Rarity, I'll come by some other time to try out your designs but I'm on a tight schedule and have no time for that today."
"Oh alright, but can I ask why do you need this?"
"Its a surprise."
The two talked a little more and the pie was done baking, Rarity set it by the window to let it cool off and went into the front room to start working on Anthony's sheet. About halfway done they went back into the kitchen and ate their pie, then went back to work. When Rarity was all done she folded it up with her magic and floated it to Anthony, who then put it under his arm and left the boutique and went straight to the library to grab his bags, but not after telling Rarity to stop by Sweet Apple Acres when the sun went down.
When Anthony got to the library Twilight asked what he’s been doing all day. Anthony told her everything and asked her if she could make it, she nodded and levitated his bags over to him. Anthony got everything together and left for Sweet Apple Acres to get ready for tonight.
When he got to Sweet Apple Acres no one was around so he let himself inside the barn and scouted out what needed to be done. Not long after that Applejack and Big Mac came by.
"Hello there Applejack, Big Mac."
"Howdy Anthony, ya ready to set up?"
"Yeah I got everything I need." he looked over at Big Mac, "So Big Mac, has Applejack told you about the plan?"
"Eeyup."
"Do you got any problems with it?"
"Eenope."
"Well anyways, we just got done getting the last of the apples, do ya need any help?" Applejack asked.
"Sure do, you have anything I can use to hang this sheet with?"
"Yeah hold on, I'll get the rope."
Anthony turned around to look into the barn but then suddenly he felt a tug on his pants, he looked done and saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders, "Hello you three." he turned and bent down on one knee, "What brings you here?"
Apple Bloom started off, "Hi there Mr. Anthony, Ah heard from Applejack that yer' starting a movie house in the barn-"
"And we were kind of wondering-" Scootaloo cutted in
"If you would let us help so that we can get our cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle said last.
Anthony looked at them, "Well I don't know..." the three put on the biggest cutest smiles they could make, "Awwwww NO... don't let them win that easily." Anthony thought, then he asked them, "Do you guys have school tomorrow?" the three shook their heads, "Okay fine." the three jumped in unison, "But only if you get permission for your families." Somehow deifying gravity, they slowly fall down on the ground.
"Okay that's fair." Apple Bloom said, "See ya later Mr. Anthony." the three ran off.
And so, with the help of Applejack and Big Mac they got everything ready. The bushels of apples to the side, raising the white sheet over head, and putting the bundles of hay in a rows to form the seats, its was then that the Cutie Mark Crusaders ran up to Anthony with their capes on.
"Hey Anthony, I got the OK from my mom!" Scootaloo said excitedly.
"Yeah and I got permission from Rarity!" Sweetie Belle said with the same excitement.
"Hey Applejack! Can I help Anthony with the movie house?" Apple Bloom yelled to her sister.
Applejack walked over, "Sure sugercube, just don't get under his feet now."
Apple Bloom ran over and hugged Applejack's forearm, "Thanks Sis!" Applejack patted Apple Bloom's head and she let go and got next to the other crusaders.
Anthony got on one knee and addressed their mission, "Okay troops, tonight's mission is to lead the customers to an available seat. If they are in a group then try to keep them together but if must, then break them up into other seats, got it?" the three crusaders stood on their hind legs and saluted, "Good, move out." the three ran into the barn giggling.
Applejack stared at him, "Yer' good with those filly's." she let out
"It’s easy if you now how to treat them."
It was about sunset and some ponies were already coming, Anthony was sitting at a table that they put out in front of the barn. "Guess word got out somehow."
They walked over to Anthony and asked him, "So how much are you charging? Knowing the normal prices this must cost a fortune."
Anthony smiled and told the group, "Five bits for mares and stallions and three bits for colts and filly's."
The group looked at him stunned, "That's... that's all?
Anthony still smiling, "Yep, why should I rip ponies off on their entertainment?" They just smiled and happily paid the cheap price. Once they walked into the barn they where jumped by the crusaders and showed to their seats.
Once the sun was fully set Anthony got up and went inside, he made his way to the upper floor of the barn and started his speech.
"Thank you all for coming to the first real Ponyville movie premiere. The movie your about to watch is about a boy who has his future compromised and is tricked to go to the future to keep it intact, mare's and gentle stallion's I present to you, Meet the Robinsons."
The lights go off, the projector starts, and the movie begins. Just like with Wall-E, the ponies loved it. They wanted an to watch it again but Anthony laughed and reminded them that it was getting late, the big group of ponies nodded and left for their homes, all but the mane 6 and the little crusaders and Spike, who where now huddled together sleeping. "AWWWWWW" Anthony thought to himself while the others did it openly.
Twilight levitated Spike on to her back and said in a hushed tone, "Thanks for the movie Anthony, but I think now we should get home, its getting late."
Anthony says in an equally hushed tone, "Actually Twilight, I was thinking about just staying in the barn tonight, besides I still have to clean up in here. If that's Okay with you Applejack."
"Sure it is, Ah'll bring ya pillow and blanket after Ah tuck little Apple Bloom in bed." she said matching their tone
"Well good night eveypony, I'll just take Sweetie Belle and get her in bed." Rarity said, "And Anthony, that was a lovely movie, very inspirational." she levitates Sweetie Belle onto her back and leaves the barn.
"Yeah we should get going to, see you tomorrow Anthony." Twilight follows Rarity.
"Great movie Anthony especially that part with the T-Rex, that was hilarious." Rainbow Dash laughed, stopping herself when she almost waked Scootaloo up, "I think I should get her home before her parents start to worry." Anthony nodes and she lifts Scootaloo onto her back and leaves. With Pinkie Pie going with her for some reason...
"Umm... that movie was great Anthony... but that part with the hats was kind of... scarey." Fluttershy said very low pitched.
"Thanks Fluttershy, how about you go home and try forget that part then."
"Good idea." Fluttershy flies out the barn and then Applejack picks up Apple Bloom and heads out to.
Anthony as tired as he was, still needed to stack all the hay up and to the side of the barn, 30 minutes later Applejack comes back with the pillow and blanket only to find Anthony asleep on the stack of hay. She smiles and puts the blanket over him and lifts his head and slides the pillow under.
Today was a big success but sadly, not everyday can be and Anthony was about to find out the hard way.