//------------------------------//
// The Friendship Festival 
// Story: My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic: Storm of Friendship 
// by SuperPinkBrony12 
//------------------------------//

The city of Canterlot was filling up with ponies from all walks of life, and even some non-ponies. Word had spread like wildfire about the first ever Friendship Festival, and with the one and only Songbird Serenade as the headlining attraction it promised to be an event like no other.

Two pegasi were even chatting among themselves as they arrived in the city. "Can you believe how utterly packed it is?" One mare asked another. "We almost couldn't book a stable, let alone a hotel."

"Well, when the number one pop artist in all of Equestria is the star attraction, who in their right mind is gonna pass up the opportunity?" The other mare replied. "I'm surprised that Prince Shining Armor's the one they say planned all of this. It doesn't seem like his style."

The first mare only laughed. "Oh please, this is the same prince who pulls double duty as captain of the Royal Guard. I'm sure he knows what he's doing. I mean, when has he ever not known?"

The two pegasi couldn't have known, but Shining Armor was more than a little concerned. He was pacing back and forth nervously outside the castle, eyeing the festival attendees as they arrived and occasionally glancing back to Flurry Heart who rested comfortably in her little basket.

"Is everything alright, Shining Armor?" Cadence asked her husband. "You seem... troubled for lack of a better term."

Shining shook his head. "I'm fine, just wondering where Songbird Serenade could be. She's supposed to be here by now and she's not. How can I ensure the festival runs smoothly if the star attraction is late?" Then he turned to his wife and asked her. "Plus, are you sure it was a good idea to bring Flurry Heart with us?"

"Flurry needs to get out and see the world," Cadence replied to Shining. "Besides, with Flash Sentry helping out on guard detail and even Sunburst otherwise occupied, we very well couldn't just book a foalsitter," Just then, Flurry let out a yawn, and started to close her eyes. "Well, I'd better go find Sunburst and set Flurry down for a nap. Aunt Celestia and Aunt Luna will be expecting me shortly, something to do with the concert I imagine."

Shining gave his wife and his daughter both a kiss on the forehead, then watched them slowly trot off into the distance. But he was not alone for very long. Soon, Flash Sentry came swooping down next to him. "Just checking in as requested, captain," He saluted. "Nothing to report. Everything is a-okay."

"What about Songbird Serenade? Have you seen her?" Shining questioned.

Flash shook his head. "I haven't, and neither have any of the other guards. Probably being fashionably late, I'd assume."

"Just my luck," The prince groaned in frustration. "The first festival I ever plan, and the singer shows up late. Like I don't have enough to deal with just managing security and everything else. I'm starting to think this is a sign of something."

"A sign of what? Everything's been peaceful, and it has been ever since that nasty Queen Chrysalis was deposed," Flash Sentry proudly boasted. "Wouldn't surprise me if she's still licking her wounds and sulking to herself in some far off corner of Equestria."

Shining sighed, hanging his head. "That's the thing, Flash. It's been too peaceful and quiet. I don't like it. The last time things were this peaceful, it all ended with Starlight trying to go back in time and rewrite history."

"No offense, captain, but you worry too much," Flash reassured the stallion with a gentle pat. "You've trained the royal guards very well, and taught me everything there is to know about running them. If anyone tries anything and I do mean anything, we'll be ready. And as for Songbird Serenade, I'm sure she'll turn up in due time. Things always have a tendency to work out for the best in the end."

"I suppose maybe you're right, Flash," The alicorn prince conceded. "All the same I can't help but worry, it's in my nature I suppose. My sister worries about all sorts of little details, and I worry about the big picture. My dad's pretty obsessed too from what I've been told, so I guess it runs in the family."

Flash couldn't help but chuckle in spite of himself. "Well you just try not to let those worries get you down. In fact, why don't you go check on the rest of the preparations? I'll let you know if anyone spots anything suspicious."





Taking the young lieutenant's advice, the prince and captain of the Royal Guard decided to take a walk through the crowded streets of Canterlot. He'd placed all of his friends into various activities to set up for the festival, including the Wonderbolts for extra security (and a small performance), and the Apple family to manage the food.

Yet the first ponies he happened to bump into while making his rounds, were Fancy Pants, Fleur, Rarity, and Soarin. Soarin was currently watching as the trio of fashion ponies arranged diamonds along the stage intended for the concert that night.

"Geez, you guys sure are taking your sweet time," Soarin impatiently grumbled. "At this rate the stage won't be even half done by the time the concert starts."

"Soarin, must you insist on rushing perfection?" Fancy Pants scolded. "These diamonds must be arranged just so if they're to truly shine."

Fleur arched an eyebrow up towards the pegasus stallion. "Shouldn't you be rehearsing for the Wonderbolts' show or something?"

"That's not until late tonight, after Songbird Serenade's concert," Soarin replied. "Spitfire hasn't even started practicing yet. So I just thought I'd stop by and see what's going on here. With Rainbow Dash clearing the clouds and Thunderlane off doing who knows what, I figured this was as good a place as any to survey."

"Well, why don't you kindly go find somewhere else to be helpful?" Rarity remarked. "You're making it difficult to concentrate."

Shining came upon the scene of the potential argument, quickly clearing his throat to attract everyone's attention. "Alright, that's enough. There's no time for petty squabbling amongst ourselves. Soarin, why don't you make yourself useful and check on Starlight and Trixie's fireworks display? Make sure they don't overdo it."

"Can do!" Soarin saluted and took to the skies a moment later.

"The rest of you can take as much time as you feel necessary to work on that stage," Shining informed the trio of fashion ponies. "Songbird Serenade is apparently going to be fashionably late for some reason."

"Oh dear, I hope everything's alright on her end." Fleur commented with concern.

"I do hope she's not sick or something. Although, if that was the case I suspect she would've sent a note." Rarity pondered.

Shining just shook his head. "It doesn't matter, I have a feeling she'll turn up in due time. Now, I'm off to go check on the food."





The stallion soon found the entire Apple Family (including Braeburn and Apple Bloom) hard at work near a booth, preparing all sorts of delicious apple treats. And from there he could see Pinkie Pie hard at work on her own confections, close to where Starlight and Trixie were assembling a varying assortment of fireworks.

Big Macintosh waved a hoof and invited his friend over. "Howdy, Shinin' Armor. Lovely day, ain't it?"

The prince smiled and nodded. "It sure is, not a cloud in the sky. Nice to see Rainbow Dash being useful for a change."

"Hey now," Applejack half scolded/half laughed. "Rainbow can be stubborn and lazy somethin' fierce, but even she's capable of surprising' ya when she's darn good and motivated. Probably helps I offered her a few free samples of cider when she's all done. Cloud bustin' like that, she's probably gonna work up quite the thirst."

"Don't go givin' her too much now, ya hear?" Granny Smith warned. "We only got so much of that cider to go 'round, and we wanna make sure we've got enough for everypony who wants some. This ain't cider season, ya know."

Applejack nodded, adjusting her stetson hat. "I know, Granny, I know."

"Say, where's Grand Pear? I thought he was living with you guys now." Shining questioned, as he looked all around but saw no traces of the elderly stallion.

Granny Smith waved a hoof. "Old Prickly Pear stayed behind to watch the farm for us while we're up here. Said he don't care much for the hustle and bustle of city life anymore, got more than his fill of it in Vanhoover."

"Were you hopin' to meet with him? He's actually a pretty nice guy now, nothin' like what Granny Smith used to make him out to be." Apple Bloom commented, cheerfully working on making an apple pie.

"Where are your friends?" Shining asked Apple Bloom.

"Cheerilee's busy watchin' 'em, part of a class field trip," Apple Bloom explained, giggling slightly as she whispered. "Though I think she wanted an excuse to see her special somepony. My brother's quite the hunk."

Big Mac appeared to blush, but it was hard to tell with how red his coat was. The stallion quickly changed the subject. "Say, you feelin' okay, Shinin'? You look like your mind's in 'bout half a dozen other places or so. What's eatin' ya?"

"What? Oh, it's nothing. Just some silly concerns that you needen't worry about." Shining protested with a shake of his head.

"Doesn't sound like nothin' to me," Braeburn commented as he trotted over. "Whatever is, you can tell us. We're friends, and friends are always there for each other. After all we've been through, you oughta know 'bout that."

The alicorn tried not to groan. Of all his friends, Braeburn and Big Macintosh were the ones who seemed to most often know what he was really feeling. He suspected it might have something to do with the fact that they were the first friends he'd made after arriving in Ponyville. "I just can't help but worry. I've been getting this nagging feeling that things are too peaceful, and that something bad's gonna happen," He confessed. "And then there's the fact that Songbird Serenade is running late, on top of the fact that I'm supposed to manage the festival and run security. All the stress is giving me a headache!"

"Well, you don't have to do it all alone. You've got friends to help ya out," Braeburn replied as he pulled Shining close. "You just the say word and we'll be there. We got this together," Then a grin formed on his face. "And I think I know just the thing to cheer you up."

Braeburn returned shortly with a huge cannon of some kind. Shining was more than a little concerned by it. "Braeburn, what is that thing?"

"Just a little somethin' I had Pinkie whip up for me," Braeburn explained. "She calls it the E-Z Bake Cannon. It can make a gigantic cake with the press of a button."

"Is it safe?" Shining gulped.

Braeburn nodded, leaning against the cannon. "Of course it's safe," But then he accidentally pressed a button. The cannon arched upward, and shot out a massive cake. "Whoops!" Was all the earth pony could say, before the cake landed layer by layer on top of Shining.

The alicorn prince quickly poked his head out from the top layer of the cake and groaned. "Braeburn!"

"It was an accident, I swear!" Braeburn immediately apologized. "Pinkie told she hasn't gotten all the bugs worked out just yet."

Shining sighed and took a deep breath to calm himself down. "Whatever, just keep that thing away from me, please. And be careful when you next to decide to use it. I don't want ponies getting crushed by giant cakes."





Just then, two audible grunts caught the prince's attention. Two unicorn stallions with black suits appeared, one of which had a dark grey coat, and a blackish-brown mane and tail styled into an afro. And the other had a lighter grey coat and a light brown mane and tail in mini curls. Their eyes were obscured by thick sunglasses. And between them stood a greenish-white coated pegasus mare with a pale gold mane and tail with light gamboge highlights. Her mane obscured her face, making it impossible to see her eyes. But her cutie mark depicted a white cloud with six heart shapes in a rainbow of colors circling around it. She also wore a pink bow and a black jacket.

Shining recognized the mare at once, emerging from the cake to greet her. "Ah, you must be Songbird Serenade. Please, excuse my current state of appearance."

"Hiya," Songbird Serenade cheerfully greeted. "I'm looking for the pony in charge. I was hoping to get set up for a sound check so I can start rehearsing."

"The pony in charge would be me," Shining greeted, stepping forward. As he did so, he accidentally flung a bit of pink frosting onto the singer's jacket. "Oh no! Oh my gosh, I am so sorry about that, really." He apologized.

Songbird Serenade just laughed. "It's alright, Jim and Jayson have it covered."

"You got a visual on the frosting?" The light grey coated stallion asked his partner.

"Roger that, going for clean-up." The dark grey coated stallion replied, and he moved over and quickly swiped off the frosting with a hoof. Then he took a hankerchief and cleaned the spot where the frosting had impacted.

Songbird Serenade didn't seem the least bit bothered by what had just happened. She simply said to the prince. "Jim's the light grey coated stallion, and Jayson is the dark grey coated stallion. They're my bodyguards, but you probably already guessed that. I never travel anywhere without 'em."

"Well, we're delighted to have you here. You and your bodyguards," Shining said to the singer. "A stage has been already been set up. I hope it's to your liking. It's probably not as glamorous as some of your other performing venues, but it's the best we could do with the budget given."

Songbird eyed the modest stage, and flashed a smile. "It's perfect!"

Shining breathed a sigh of relief. With the main attraction having safely arrived, hopefully the rest of the festival would go off without a hitch.