//------------------------------// // Honesty is always the Best Policy // Story: The Solar Steward // by kissfromarose2 //------------------------------// Twilight was currently regretting ignoring Shining when he told her keeping in shape was important. Running was hard when you were so out of shape. Especially with a rather heavy baby dragon on your back. It didn’t help that Spike seemed to be gravitating back towards the library. Coming to a stop at the town square, she took the opportunity to look around and see it properly. It was quite pleasant to look at. A selection of market stalls were set out in loose formation, clustered around a fountain at the centre which bore the image of an earth pony mare, with large cobblestones marking out the main square. Hesitating at the sight of so many ponies in one place Twilight looked back regretfully at the library. Rarity had seemed so nice. Clearly she wasn't any good at this making friends thing. She'd already run away, twice! She sighed. Ponies here were just so hard to talk to. This would never have happened in Canterlot. Back with the Princess and Shiny, and Spike.. And her books of course. Twilight sighed. Maybe she shouldn't have ignored the invitation to Moonprancer's party last week. She forced herself back on task. She only had to make it through today. Make one friend then report her observations to Princess Luna just before sunset. Then enjoy the Summer Sun Celebration. Who knows, maybe the Lost Princess would show up. Glancing back at the lovelorn dragon on her back she came to a conclusion. Evidently she had been trying the wrong approach before. Neither encounter had possessed the proper level of scientific organisation that usually ensured her success. All she needed was a proper checklist. She nudged Spike. Surely he would have the requisite materials on hand. The dragon, eyes still fixed on the library, nearly tumbled off her back. Quickly shifting to catch him Twilight rearranged him onto her back. No help from that quarter. She followed his line of vision. There were sure to be quills and parchment in the library. She had ensured no less than five bundles were packed along with the essential books. But what if Rarity was still in there with that tape measure? Twilight shuddered. There was nothing for it. She'd have to memorise. Mentally she planned out the steps, knowing a plan well planned was was a plan well executed. Step One: approach target. Step Two: make eye contact. Step Three: smile reassuringly. Step Four: Make introduction. Step Five: find and discuss a topic of mutual interest. Step Six: Ask question to establish mutual interest. Step Seven: establish a reasonable way to end the conversation. Step Eight: extend the hoof of friendship. Simple really. Her stomach rumbled. Food first. Her eyes lit upon a nearby apple cart. A brilliant thought lit her mind. Why didn't she just combine the two? Food was a perfectly acceptable topic of conversation after all. She could almost have jumped in excitement. Nervously she approached the merchant. "H-hello my name is Twilight Sparkle." The stall holder, an orange mare, stared back at her confusedly. "Well that's mighty nice Sugarcube but..." Twilight kicked herself. Of course. She had to order something. Desperately she glanced around. There were a selection of deserts that appeared to all be apple based, but none she could name under this kind of pressure. Carrots. Definitely part of the next stall over. She caught the eye of the auburn haired stallholder who looked back at her questioningly, before glaring at the orange mare who quickly returned the stare. Too much pressure! She looked wildly left and right looking for something. Anything. "Two of your finest apples please" she squeaked. In retrospect the High Canterlot accent was a mistake. Twilight blushed mauve. "Umm, I mean two apples please." The orange earth pony broke off the staring contest to grin back at her. "Well it's mighty fine to meet ya Twilight. I'm Applejack and this here ruffian's my little sister Applebloom. You can rest assured that here at Sweet Apple acres we only sell the finest apples in all Equestria. Why we deliver to the princess herself!" Twilight blinked. "Really? I hadn't heard of you." "Yup!" Applejack nodded emphatically. "We've been running this here farm for three generations now. The princess gave us the land herself! Mah granny was right there when the Princess herself signed over the land. Her pappy cared for it first. Then mah Granny and Gramps. Now I look after it. And one day, Luna willing, little Applebloom here'll follow in our hoofprints." Twilight tried to smile. It came out more like a grimace. The little yellow filly next to her puffed up her chest. "Ah'm here to get my cutie mark!" Despite herself Twilight found a genuine smile broadening across her face. "And what do you think its going to be?" "Well, every other Apple has some kinda Apple for their cutie Mark, but mine hasn't shown up yet, and I'm always around apples!" "I told ya Applebloom you just gotta be patient. It ain't all about the apples. It's about what goes into em." The pout on the filly's face told Twilight she had heard this one too many times before. "Well I didn't get my cutie Mark till I was much older than you, nearly eight. I just kept waiting and waiting and waiting, and one day BOOM, literally!" Applebloom giggled, her pink bow bobbing, as she laughed at Twilight's theatrics. Applejack picked out five apples, checking for bruises before holding them out to Twilight. "Here, no charge." "I couldn't possibly..." "You made my little sister smile about Cutie Marks for for the first time in two days. Also I'm pretty sure you've saved me from her crusading, at least for today." Giving in Twilight turned to offer one to Applebloom, only to find she had scampered round the booth and was now gazing at Twilight's cutie mark in awe. Looking up at Twilight like she hung the moon itself she leaned in close in barely contained excitement. "You got your Cutie Mark for exploding things? Cool! Maybe I could get an explodin' apple!" From what seemed like nowhere two other fillies appeared; an orange Pegasus and a white unicorn who looked worryingly like Rarity. "Cutie Mark Crusaders, Explosion Masters yay!" And with that the three of them scampered off into the bustling market. "APPLEBLOOM!" Quick as a whip, Applejack bolted after the fillies as they disappeared into the crowd. Blinking in bemusement at the chaos the three fillies had left in their wake Twilight looked back at the stall, finding a large red stallion with a green Apple for a cutie Mark had taken Apple Jack's place. "Is this a normal occurrence?" she asked concernedly. "Eyyup" the stallion nodded stoically. Shaken from his stupor by the commotion Spike looked around confused. "Twilight, what just happened?" Resisting the urge to laugh Twilight turned back towards the library. "Come on, Spike. Let's get back to the library. I need my number one assistant to help me research."