The headlines for today's edition of the Canterlot Chronicle was "Changelings and Dragons to Meet in First Exclusive Inter-Governmental Summit!" Several ponies in Ponyville—despite not being in Canterlot—were holding these newspapers alongside other newspaper-holding ponies who had other newspapers—most of them, nonetheless, proclaiming the same story in different words.
Sitting at a table just outside Sugarcube Corner, across each other on chairs, were Pinkie Pie and Lyra Heartstrings.
"I didn't know you were so updated on...politics?" Lyra asked with a rising tone of incredulity.
"You see, Lyra," Pinkie began, closing her eyes a little and forming an imaginary drawing with her hooves, speaking in a serious voice, "baking is not just another area of cooking. It's an art—a strategic art, a state-of-the-art art which also the art-of-the-state—but, if you take that literally, then that means that the Princesses themselves have declared that we are the only bakers allowed in all of Ponyville, which is not the case—I like myself some fair competition to push each other to higher standards."
"What?"
Pinkie pulled out a newspaper and pointed at the headlines. "You see this again?"
"Uh, yes, Pinkie."
"That means that there will be friendlier ties between the hive and the lands," Pinkie said, wearing a tie as she said those words. "You wanna know what happens when there are friendlier ties between changelings and dragons, Lyra?"
"Uh...what?"
"An opportunity to bake."
Lyra blinked. "So?"
"You know I bake, right?" Pinkie asked, smiling and upbeat. "Come on, Lyra! Don't be so silly that you forgot who I am!"
"I just said your name less than a minute ago!"
Pinkie sighed and brushed some sweat off of her face. "Phew! Glad we avoided a disaster on a scale of Ponyville!" A pause as she looke at Lyra with an even bigger smile. "I'm glad you never forgot me, especially after ponies started liking those knock-knock jokes again!"
"What?"
"Spike?" Twilight said as she sweeped the floor clean from dust by magically using her broom.
The baby dragon rushed his way into the room—double doors open and stopping right at the crystal table. "Yes, Twilight?"
"I'm sorry for the short notice, but I have to go to Canterlot right away."
"Now?" Spike asked, raising his eyebrows.
"In all my preparations for overseeing the entire changeling-dragon summit coming up, I forgot to tell the Princesses of my plans!" Twilight said.
"You could just teleport there, tell them, and be back in ten minutes, right?" Spike said in a snarky way.
"The contingencies, Spike! The contingencies!" She slapped herself with a hoof.
Spike sighed. "Twilight..."
"What I mean is," Twilight replied, pacing around the Cutie Map while keeping her gaze on Spike, "what if I'm not completely prepared. Talking about the plans I have with the Princesses—who know much more about the current state of things than I do—is going to help me a lot!"
"Aren't you the Princess of Friendship?" Spike said, leaning on the wall and still speaking with snark. "Aren't you supposed to know the summit so well because, well, this means friendship between—"
"I know!" Twilight yelled in panic as she raised her front hooves in the air. "Yet, I'm beginning to run out of precious time to have all possibilities accounted for!"
"Possibilities like what?"
"What if we don't have enough refreshments?"
Spike sighed once again. "Really, Twilight? You could always ask Pinkie Pie or—"
"According to my schedule," Twilight said, poofing the aforementioned schedule into view and then pointing at it, "Pinkie Pie would be busy with preparing several large cakes and pies—and cakepies!—for some birthday parties all of which she has to attend today and tomorrow!"
"Pinkie's not the only pony who cooks food, you know," Spike noted. "There's Applejack—"
"And drag her out of the family business for three days?!" Twilight interrupted. "The catastrophies that can arise from Applejack being away for three days!"
"Twilight, you're getting crazy over—"
Teleported a Starlight into view before saying, "Starlight, take care of Spike, bye!"
And she teleported away.
Starlight looked at Spike.
Spike looked at Starlight.
Both surprised.
"Another Twilight worry attack?" Starlight asked.
"Another Twilight worry attack," Spike replied.
They looked at each other and the room they stood in for a short while.
"Wanna...help me finish up a spell?"
"Why not? There's not much else to do for now—just waiting for Twilight to return."
Starlight tried to cover up a giggle.
"Fluffy Clouds?" Fluttershy asked as he stepped into her cottage which was slightly infested with animals. "What are you doing here? I wasn't expecting you—was it an appointment I forgot?"
The newcomer was a lanky blue pegasus stallion with fluffly mane and fluffy tail (both looking a lot like fluffy clouds). He wore an orange bowtie and a sincere smile; his cutie mark was three clouds.
"I heard that the dragons and changelings are coming to sum something up," Fluffy answered. "I think."
"But, that doesn't explain why you're here," Fluttershy said—accommodating. "Do you need a glass of water? Do you want me to take care of—"
"They're going to be summitting here in Ponyville for—how many, three days? So, a few want to sleep here during the time."
A gasp. "What?"
"The changelings, not the dragons!" Fluffy Clouds said, holding his hooves up and hovering a bit away from the surprised mare. "It's obvious that dragons won't want to sleep here because—uh, the bedrooms are tiny?"
King Thorax and Dragon Lord Ember flew together in the air over the rolling fields and hills of grass—over trees, over dirt roads and railways, over rivers and lakes and ponds as they and hundreds of creatures—either changeling or dragon—flew behind them.
"A-are you sure this is a good idea, Ember?" Thorax asked as they continued flying in the sky—nervous. "This isn't exactly what I had in mind when you said that we'll make an entrance!"
"It's a show of force, Thorax," Ember replied—a grin growing on her face. "It tells all the ponies there that this summit is no joke—we're not push-overs."
"Well, you're dragons! All of you are bigger than the average pony! I'm sure they won't be pushing any of you over!"
"Yeah—what about you?"
"I'm good friends with several ponies and, of course, Spike," Thorax answered. "I think I'll be OK with that."
"And, how many of those friends make up Ponyville, huh?"
"Uh...five percent?"
Ember poked Thorax on the shoulder. "You've gotta let them know who's the boss around here! Don't let them barge into the discussion!"
"But, this is a friendship summit," Thorax said. "Aren't ponies supposed to barge in at times? They're the ones with all the know-how about friendship."
"As long as they don't dictate to us a list of step-by-step instructions!"
"Uh, I don't think that's how ponies work—"
"Hey, Thorax!" Ember pointed a finger at him. "You want to make sure this works in our favors?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Then, we have to tell those ponies that they're not going to meddle into something that's between the two of us and the two of us only."
"But, friendship—"
"I'll let them suggest. I won't let them interfere."
"Don't you understand, Ember?" Thorax asked. "Ponies know what's best about friendship. Nothing less than that and that's the truth. We know parts about friendship, but only ponies know practically everything that can be known about friendship today. Even then, they're always ahead when it comes to finding out new things about how to stay best friends with your...uh, best friends."
"Like I said, Thorax—suggest, not interfere." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Do you have some issues with somepony?" Thorax asked, taking on a defensive tone—yet, attempting to keep it nice. "I hope that you're not saying that just because one pony—"
"It's not about one pony," Ember said. "It's about me being on the lookout for my kind, OK? I know we can stomp any pony village in mere minutes, but then what?"
"You're still thinking about trampling all those innocent ponies—"
"I'm not gonna do that, if that's what you're thinking," Ember said, feigning a smile.
And so went the two—behind them, that massive flock of changelings and dragons, mixing the up the air in glitter and wind, in fierceness and power.
A magenta unicorn levitated several chairs into position—helped by several other ponies both unicorn and not—set against the the town hall which itself was decorated and crowned with banners, streamers, flags, and a lovely painting standing on the porch: a painting that depicted, in no uncertain strokes, a changeling and a dragon holding hoof and claw as they walked into the sunset behind the pristine mountains.
"Amethyst Star?" Moon Dancer asked, tilting her head to the side. "Aren't you the—"
"Ponyville's has-been organizer?" she finished, raising an eyebrow. "I've caught a few breaks since the Bugbear incident."
"You mean the one with the wedding at the same day?" Moon Dancer asked.
"Yeah." Another raised eyebrow, then a gleeful smile. "Did Twilight or one of her friends tell you that?"
"I'm one of her friends back in Canterlot," Moon Dancer said. "I guess you've seen me before, haven't you?"
"Probably!" Amethyst Star answered—more enthusiastic this time. "You do look familiar."
Moon Dancer nodded. Then, she looked past her. "What's the occasion?"
"Twilight tasked me to prepare everything for the changeling-dragon summit today, specfically—" pulling out a watch "—twenty minutes from now if there have been no untoward events while they're en route."
"Ponyville's hosting a summit?" Moon Dancer somewhat repeated in slight curiosity.
"I know, right?" Amethyst blabbed, smiling. "The main figures aren't even ponies for that matter! What happens in this town today and for the next few days are going to chart the course of two thriving nations for hundreds of years! I'm doing my best with the rest of Ponyville to make this a memorable time for all involved."
"Wow. You've moved up from being a 'has-been,' huh?"
Amethyst grinned. "It's nice to meet one of Twilight's older friends."
The two shook hooves as both of them smiled.
Over there, Octavia sighed as she saw the wooden platform behind a nearby tree; it already had a few ponies wearing bowties and tuning their instruments with a prelude's prelude (with piano, harp, violin at the ready). Hoofsteps and words about—Octavia then went to the stage and, with a few nods and a few words of her own, she joined the group tuning, filling the air with unguided notes.
With the music being formed, several ponies gathered around—not bothering with any of the chairs at all as they just stood in front of the classical band. Among them was Mayor Mare standing beside Fancy Pants.
"I say, I believe that the musical accompaniment for the diplomatic convention will be splendid if we're having these"—oustretching a hoof at them—"at your employ!"
"It is uncommon for Ponyville to be the host to such an occassion," Mayor Mare answered. "For that, I'd certainly want all of Ponyville to be at their utmost best to show the visitors how kind and hospitable we can be."
Fancy Pants's face turned to a frown. "And, exactly how?"
Mayor Mare smiled at the chance. "As you can see, we have a schedule for the entire three-day experience. The first day will have—"
"I'm afraid I haven't clarified myself," Fancy Pants said. "What I mean is, did you implement any fancy perfumes or colognes?"
"Why, of course!" Mayor Mare said. "We had professionals do the job of sprucing up Ponyville with—"
Fancy Pants sniffed the air.
A frown into an aghast face.
"Mayor!" Fancy Pants exclaimed. "Have you forgotten that dragons are quite sensitive to these smells?!"
The mayor's eyes then opened wide.
Batches of vinegar were hauled down the fragrant streets of Ponyville—floral, actually. Rose, Lily, and Daisy—those three Earth pony florists with their baskets and bouquets of flowers just near them—watched the stallons pull the vinegar wagons at rapid speed.
"I wonder what's going on?" Daisy asked.
"What if there's a cooking disaster and one of the kitchens is on fire?!" Lily screamed, holding her head whose mane was graced with a lily.
"The utter disaster!" Rose shouted.
And the three ponies fainted on the ground.
"Come on, Starlight!" Spike said, waving a "POWER" comic book with a claw. "You can't knock it if you don't try it!"
Starlight—her head resting on a hoof—chuckled. "Oh, Spike! It's not like I have to be falling over every single comic you have in stock."
"But, you liked the first issue!"
Starlight chuckled again. "Doesn't mean I want to go to the next one."
"You said it was good!" Spike said (still smiling), striking a firm fist on the table.
"Doesn't mean I am obligated to read the next issue," Starlight said. "Besides, you have so many of them. I don't think I'm ready for a long night just reading all of 'POWER' and the Power Ponies."
"But, come on, Starlight! Please? Just for one more comic, Starlight!"
"My 'No' is a 'No.'" With that, Starlight shook her head.
Spike sighed.
The double doors slammed open.
"Spike!" Thorax yelled.
Spike brightened up. "Thorax!"
Starlight smiled. "Thorax!"
"Spike! Starlight!"
And the three went for a quick hug.
And then they let go.
"You're here!" Spike said.
"Yeah! I sure am!" Thorax said as he sat on one of the crystal thrones. "All that flying has made me tired. I can't wait to get to the end of the first day of activities."
"Don't you worry about—"
Spike's smile disappeared.
"Twilight's not back," he said fast.
"What was that?" Thorax asked, rising from his seat.
"Twilight's not back!" Spike said, clearer and with more panic.
"Not back from where?" Thorax pressed.
Starlight gasped. "She's not back from Canterlot!"
"Canterlot?!" Thorax shouted. "But, that's miles away! And, everyone's gonna be here in a few minutes! Everything's gonna start in a few minutes!"
"What are we gonna do?!" Spike yelled.
"I think you forgot that Twilight can teleport back here," Starlight said, adopting Spike's own snarky tone of before.
Spike blinked. "Yeah! Right! I almost forgot about that one!"
"Still, that doesn't explain why she's still not back!" Thorax noted with a hoof on his chin. "And, she's the one who's overseeing the ceremonies!" Then, with a regained vigor, he smiled and said, "But, she's Twilight—she must have a substitute somewhere."
"One teensy problem, Thorax," Spike said, raising a claw. "She doesn't."
"Oh, no."
"'Oh, no' indeed," Starlight commented, sounding worried. "I have a copy of Twilight's job list for the 'Overseer of Ceremonies.' I don't think handling a two-way conversation between two groups of creatures is going to be that hard, right?"
"I hope it's that easy," Thorax said. Then, turning to Spike, he said, "Uh, may I ask you one question?"
"What is it, Thorax?" Spike asked—dreading as could be seen by the clatter of his teeth.
"Why does Ponyville smell like vinegar? Is there going to be another cooking contest or something like that?"
"Vinegar?" Spike said out loud. "I didn't know Twilight wanted that."
"That doesn't sound like it's part of the plan," Starlight said, becoming even more worried.