//------------------------------// // Three: Their First Night in Applewood // Story: A Night at the Movies // by Mr Movie Magic //------------------------------// It was evening when they got to Applewood. What a sight it was! The lights, the energy, the rush! Two pairs of white spotlights waved back and forth, crisscrossing above in the purple night sky. “Whudda ya think’s goin’ on?” Applejack asked rhetorically. “I bet it’s a premier!” exclaimed Scootaloo. “It’s Saddle Song’s premier!” Apple Bloom announced with excitement. Up ahead was the famous Palatial Movie Palace – a theater far from being haunted or abandoned, mind you. They all decided to swing by to see what was going on before continuing on to the hotel. There was a big crowd of ponies outside the theater where the red carpet had been rolled out. On the glistening marquee above the entrance, the bold letters read, “Saddle Song the Singing Cowpony in ‘The Rodeo Rustlers’” The crowds began to cheer and cameras began to flash. “What’s goin’ on? Ah cain’t see,” cried Apple Bloom, bouncing up and down, trying to see over the crowd. “Ah gotcha!” Applejack picked her up so she could see. “There ya go, sugar cube.” Apple Bloom’s eyes lit up when she saw an Earth pony stallion dressed in a red gunfighter shirt adorned with a blue yoke and cuffs. Around his neck was a white scarf tie, and atop his head was a white ten gallon hat. “Apples, peaches, pumpkin pie!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “It’s Saddle Song! Look, Applejack, it’s Saddle Song the Singing Cowpony!” As the Singing Cowpony walked along the red carpet, he paused to sign his autograph and take pictures with his fans. Apple Bloom gasped. “Applejack, he’s signin’ autographs. Can we get his autograph, too? Please, please, please?” “It’s a mighty big crowd,” said Applejack. “But if it’s his autograph you want, then by golly it’s his autograph you’ll get. Now hold tight, lil’ sis, we’re goin’ in!” With Apple Bloom riding on her back, Applejack weaved her way through the crowd. “‘Scuse us. Pardon. Comin’ through.” Apple Bloom desperately searched her bag for a pen and a piece of paper. She knew she had packed one in case they did meet up with somepony famous. They were so close to the front of the crowd and Saddle Song was right there! The little filly was afraid that she would miss her chance to see the movie star. It seemed as though they would never make it to the front, but they finally made it. And there was the Singing Cowpony himself! “Saddle Song, over here!” Apple Bloom called out. Her heart pounded. Would he hear her? She wanted so much to say “hi” to him, to be able to say that she met him. As he made his was along the red carpet, he looked into the crowd. His eyes met hers. He turned and walked right up to her and Applejack. Time seemed to have momentarily stopped. “Howdy, friends,” Saddle Song greeted. “Oh my gosh! It’s really you!” Apple Bloom said in amazement. “My big brother and sister and I have seen all your movies. We know all your songs. We listen to you sing on our Granny Smith’s radio.” “Well, thank you very much,” Saddle Song replied. “Mr. Saddle Song, sir, could Ah please get your autograph?” “Why, of course,” the Singing Cowpony answered. “Who am I makin’ this out to?” “To Apple Bloom, and Applejack, and Big Mac, and Granny Smith!” Saddle Song signed his name. “There ya go, lil’ darlin’.” He tipped his hat and continued down the red carpet towards the theater lobby. Applejack and Apple Bloom returned to their friends. Apple Bloom proudly showed them Saddle Song’s autograph. “Our first celebrity sighting!” exclaimed Scootaloo. “How great is that?” “It’s too bad the movie’s sold out,” said Sweetie Belle. “We could see the movie anytime, but how often would we get the opportunity to actually run into Saddle Song?” “Ya know what? You’re right,” said Apple Bloom. “This autograph sure is special. C’mon! Let’s get to the hotel. Ah don’t want anything tuh happen to this.” She put the autograph into her bag for safe keeping. “Come on, y’all,” said Applejack. “It was a long train ride over here. Reckon we oughtta check into the hotel and settle down. We’ve got a big day ahead of us. Better make sure we’re all rested.” “Indeed,” Rarity agreed. “Every mare needs her beauty sleep.” Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes. They hailed a couple of taxi carriages and were taken to the five-star hotel. After checking in, they unpacked and settled down for the night. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were excited to have a room all to themselves, saying it was like having a sleepover. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack stayed together in the room next door. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom had picked up some brochures. Before they went to bed, they stayed up planning what they would do the next day. “If we go to the haunted movie palace first thing in the morning, we'll have that ghost caught in no time, especially with all our ghost hunting stuff,” said Sweetie Belle. “Then that'll give us the whole day to see and do whatever we want.” They named all the interesting things they wanted to do. Knock, knock, knock! Somepony was at the door. Scootaloo answered the door. “Hello, girls,” said Rarity. “I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing.” “Just fine, Rarity,” Sweetie Belle informed. “Okay. Remember: don’t stay up too late. We’ll have a bit of an early start tomorrow. We’ll get some breakfast first and then we’ll go shopping and sight-seeing on our way to the haunted movie palace.” “Sounds like a plan, Rarity,” said Apple Bloom. Rarity smiled. “All right then. Have a good night, you three.” “Good night, Rarity,” the Cutie Mark Crusaders said in unison. Rarity closed the door and returned to her room. Applejack was getting ready for bed and Rainbow Dash was catching up on her reading. She had recently gone to the bookstore with Twilight back in Ponyville to get a copy of A. K. Yearling’s latest book, Daring Do and the Sands of Time. “It’s light’s out when you’re finished with that chapter,” said Rarity. Rainbow Dash didn’t say anything. “When you’re through with that chapter, darling, we must get to sleep,” Rarity spoke again. Still, Rainbow Dash didn’t say a word. Her eyes were wide and glued to the page. “What? No!” Rainbow Dash said aloud, so involved with her book. Applejack chuckled. “Ah reckon if Ah didn’t know better, Ah’d say y’all were livin’ inside that book.” Rainbow Dash looked up from her book. “Did you say something?” she asked. “It’s time to get to bed,” said Rarity. “Never!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed in a heroic voice. “There’s no pausing the great adventure. When the going gets tough, the world doesn’t stop for you. You gotta charge through!” Rarity and Applejack stood silently. Heh, heh, Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously. “Guess I’m a little excited about the new Daring Do book, huh?” “A little?” questioned Applejack. “It’s like when I’m reading it, I’m actually there” – her voice grew louder with excitement – “venturing into the unknown and kicking tail. Hi-ya! Take that! You wanna piece of me? Ha!” “Settle down, missy,” said Applejack. “We best be gettin’ some shut-eye. We got our own adventure awaitin’ us tomorrow.” Rainbow Dash set her book aside. “To be continued,” she said. They each said their good night’s, turned out the lights, and drifted off to sleep.