//------------------------------// // Bonus: Summit in the Valley // Story: Letters from an Irritated Princess // by Tired Old Man //------------------------------// Mayor Mare, When I received your invitation to Ponyville's Local Summit just one day after the Summit here in Canterlot had ended, I wasn't sure what to...get from it. I mean, we just finished up a big unity celebration for towns all across Equestria and how it was all about them doing their part. I thought that was enough, personally, but I guess Ponyville wanted to spread that sort of unity within the town as well. Which made this invitation odd, because I'm from Canterlot. Canterlot. Mayor, you know I'm a good friend, and good friends point out oversights like this every now and then. But beyond that, turning down this invitation really seemed like a terrible option, especially when I had the time and... ahem, 'resources' to be able to commit to that decision. More importantly, I came to see just what you were on when you thought of this. And let me tell you, I was truly impressed. I didn't even know how you copied the idea of the unity statue--you weren't even there, so either somepony told you and you threw this together quickly, or this was a curious coincidence in your planning--but that mockup of yours with something from every pony in Ponyville was... something to behold in shock and awe. Mostly shock. I still can't believe all the contributions I saw. No way could I have foreseen a sofa as the base, with a Marequin perched on top and allowing everypony to plant something on it that represents them. A small choker bowtie. A hat so frilly a filly could wear it as a school prom dress. A tail I think is actually an unwound game controller doohickey, or whatever the little foals play these days. Various cutie mark sketches all over the flank from schoolchildren that clearly had an argument over which one was best cutie mark. A garter that I recognize from a little while ago. Granny's teeth--that one's QUITE unmistakable. And the proceedings were surprisingly handled well enough. Party favors made their rounds, the music was cranked as everyone got their groove on, and the catering was handled by none other than the Cakes and Apples themselves. Speaking of which, everypony that attended this was lucky to walk away without gaining ten pounds from their sweet cuisine. As for me, you know I gained ten times that, and I honestly felt bad for my golden boys on the way home last night. Not that they complained--they've seen me through my worst, and this was far, FAR away from that incident in terms of both scale and destructive potential. Overall, I'd say your unity party was a crazy, if slightly ill-timed success. If I were to make a suggestion, space it out at least a week or so from the nationwide one, preferably after--I have to get the castle cleaned and ready after my own big bash, you know. Friends Forever, Princess Celestia What? No, I haven't seen the other me, Luna. Wasn't the other you supposed to be watching her? You lost BOTH of them?! Gods, can we not keep track of ourselves?! That was rhetorical! Come on, we need to find them before they discover Hayburgers, or else we'll have to lug back our very personal wrecking balls!