Blaze the Pony Tale

by Wolven5


283. Party Pooped - Part 1

The Harmonic Twelve were all standing in the foyer of Midnight and Twilight's castle as the latter was pacing in front of them, clearly nervous but trying to hide it as she said to Pinkie Pie, "You look nervous. There's no reason to be nervous! Nothing to be worry about, everything's gonna be fine!"

The sweating and forced smile Twilight displayed made Pinkie giggle, "Twilight, tell those butterflies in your tummy to 'beat it'! Making friends is always fun!"

Twilight phew'd, not quite unwound but feeling slightly better. Then, her beau Midnight placed a comforting wing around her withers, saying with an understanding smile, "We're all here to help, Twily."

"Yeah! An' b'sides, you've been plannin' this shindig fer weeks," Applejack spoke up, "It's gonna be dandy."

"Eeyup," Big Mac agreed.

Midnight removed his wing and watched his Twilight do Cadance's calming technique before saying with a more confident smile, "You're right. But remember that Equestria and Yakyakistan haven't opened their borders for centuries! In fact, Yakyakistan is so far north of the Crystal Mountains, nopony's ever been there!"

Almost nopony, Midnight thought privately.

At this point, a little of Twilight's neurosis mixed into her confidence, causing her smile to look just slightly manic as she added, "Imagine the look on Princess Celestia's face when she finds out we made friends with a yak prince! Ha, ha! I'm calm, I'm calm..."

"Yeah, sure, you're calm," Midnight interjected, "and things will be fine just as long as you-"

A glorious fanfare interrupted Midnight and they looked towards the front doors of the castle, Spike standing to the side and sounding a clarion horn, only to get smacked in the face by the door as a red carpet rolled in. Everypony watched to see two large yaks wearing the garb of their homeland enter and part to reveal and even larger yak with reddish-brown hair and fur. Gold ornaments adorned his large horns , earrings hanging from his ears, a gold band tied the end of his beard, the covering on his back was colored a deep spring green, and his hat or helmet had designs that likened it to a crown.

"PONIES! GREETINGS, PONIES!" he spoke in a deep, rough, and shouty voice that was still amicable.

Grabbing her stallion, Twilight teleported herself and Midnight over to stand before their guest, Twilight bowing and Midnight quickly following suit as the former said, "Prince Rutherford, Your Majesty, on behalf of all of us I welcome you to Equestria."

"Me honored. Yaks hope for great friendship between Ponies and Yaks," Prince Rutherford replied, not shouting but maintaining his rough speech. His broken Equish indicated he hadn't completely mastered the language. Then he shouted in their faces, "FRIENDS FOR A THOUSAND YEARS!!"

Twilight rubbed her ears while Midnight managed to stifle a gag as he thought, I guess they don't have breath mints in Yakyakistan...

But then he heard Twilight say, "You must be hungry after your long journey-"

Already having an idea of where this was going, Midnight bumped Twilight aside, quickly saying, "So in that case! I would be honored, Prince Rutherford, to treat you to some of our local cuisine!"

Twilight got up and tried to maintain decorum as she said (through a smile with clenched teeth), "But Midnight... We already have something prepar-"

"NOWEDON'T!!!" Midnight saw the covered table Spike was beginning to wheel over and lit up his horn, making the table and everything on it disappear. He cleared his throat and said, "I'm sure, Prince Rutherford, you're looking forward to trying something new, something you... might never have had in Yakyakistan."

"Hmm, true, Yak Food good but something new sounds good too," Prince Rutherford considered, "TAKE US TO PONY FOOD!!"

"I know just the place! If you'll kindly wait outside, Your Highness," Midnight requested and Rutherford and his two attendants exited the castle, leaving Midngiht to face a vexed Twilight Sparkled.

"What was that all about?!" she demanded to know once the doors were closed, "I had an entire banquet of traditional Yak dishes all set up and prepared for the prince!"

"Twily, please listen to me..." Now Midnight looked nervous but it wasn't because his mare was annoyed with him (okay, maybe it was a little), "but I've met with Yaks before and believe me! They are absolutely tou....chee! They're extremely temperamental, easily offended, and the smallest slight, even where none was intended, whether it was real or imagined, can set them off and provoke a very violent reaction! And they are very proud of their culture.

"If something relating to their culture is presented to them and doesn't meet their standards, they - get - mad...!"

"But... I've already planned to show the Yaks examples of their culture while they're here for their visit!" Twilight wasn't sure what to think. She wasn't sure if Midnight was exaggerating, not to mention she'd already planned and prepared and now he was telling her that it would all likely backfire?!
"I studied seven volumes Yakyakistan history-"

"Really? And nowhere in that history you got an indication of how Yaks tend to be?" Midnight gave her a raised brow, "Were these volumes written by a pony?"

"Eh..." Twilight recalled the author's notes and the look on her face said 'yes'.

"I'm sorry, Twilight, but whatever plans you had prepared for the Yaks, anything involving their culture even slightly, it all has to be kiboshed," Midnight stated firmly and raised his hoof when Twilight almost protested, "All of it! If we're going to establish amicable relations with Yakyakistan, we're gonna have to improvise from here on out.

"Now, I gotta get out there and lead them to get something to eat. Pinkie, Cheese!"

Both Party Ponies popped up, wearing army helmets, "Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich, reporting for duty, sir!"

"Start putting together a party for the Yaks for this evening, something fun, something friendly, I don't care," Midnight instructed, "Just make sure to not include anything relating to Yak culture."

"You got it, pal!" Cheese responded boldly before bouncing away on his tail, "C'mon, Pinkie!"

"Right behind ya, Cheesie!" Pinkie hopped along after.

"But... I was..." Twilight was upset, this was all her idea, her project, her plan to gain a new ally for Equestria, and it was all being swept out from under her.

"I'm sorry, Twilight," Midnight sighed, feeling bad but knowing how Yaks are, "but we can still do this together! Think of something we can show the Yaks during their visit, something they could enjoy! As long as it isn't Yak-ish, that is. Now, I gotta go."

Midnight hurried out of the castle, leaving Twilight with their friends as the princess furrowed her brows and wondered, There has to be something I can do to show the Yaks how we respect their culture...

"Pony pizza good! MMM!!" Rutherford was absolutely loving the pizza of Pepper Pony's, and Chili Spice was still over the stars that a foreign prince was enjoying her food!
"Yaks must learn how make pizza! Take pizza to Yakyakistan!"

"Well, I can give you a few of my recipes, Your Majesty," Chili Spice smiled kindly as she brought over another pizza pie and offered, "Would you like some nice cold colt cola to wash that pizza down?"

"Try it, Prince!" Midnight chuckled as he accepted a cup, "Nothing goes better with Auntie Spice's pizza than ice-cold colt cola."

"Yaks try cola," Rutherford accepted and after enjoying a few more bites, he noticed Midnight hold up his cup.

"A toast, Prince Rutherford," Midnight offered and the Yaks held their cups too. "To friendship for all!"

"FRIENDSHIP FOR ALL!!" the Yaks bellowed and sucked on the straws of their cups, receiving a nice cold explosion of flavor that fizzed in their mouths and allowed the pizza to slide down their throats, and causing a strange feeling of bubbling in their bellies.

Then, Midnight threw his head back and BELCH'd a good one and sighed in content, "In some countries, belching after a good meal is a compliment. Especially a meal between friends!"

The Yaks liked this idea and did the same, sounding a cacophony of of burps and belches that rattled the chairs and dishes in the restaurant, and spurred a hearty laugh between them all.
"YAKS LOVE PIZZA AND YAKS LOVE COLA!!!"

Then the door to the restaurant opened and in walked Blueblood, and Midnight went over to him, "You're just in time, my friend, you know what you're gonna do?"

"Trust me, Midnight," Blueblood chuckled haughtily, "these Yaks will feel like they're in heaven."

"Alrighty then," Midnight said before clearing his throat and addressing their guests, "Prince Rutherford, when you and your attendants are finished with your meal, perhaps you would like a chance to relax after your long journey?"

"Yes, full belly makes Yaks lazy," Rutherford retorted, finally feeling the weariness of travel, "Pony princes have something in mind?"

"As a matter of fact, my good sirs," Blueblood spoke up, "as I understand it, you are strong and gritty warriors who pride yourselves on toughing out all sorts of hardships and coming out stronger for it. But that is exactly why, I would like to treat you all to an experience of rest and relaxation that will knock the weary aches in your joints clear out of your bodies."

"Hmm, what experience white Pony Prince talking about?"Rutherford asked.

"To the Spa, Yaks!" Blueblood declared as he turned for the door, "You won't be disappointed!"

"Spice Pony!" Rutherford looked to Auntie Spice, "Yaks come back for pizza recipes before trip is over!"

"I'll have some good ones ready for you, Prince Rutherford, as well as some samples to go," Auntie Spice smiled kindly and the Yaks followed Blueblood out the pizzeria with Midnight bringing up the rear when he heard an ahem and looked to see Auntie Spice giving him a smirk and raised brow while gesturing to the leftovers of the Yaks' meal.

He sighed and said, "Put it all on my tab..."