//------------------------------// // Awkward Meetings // Story: Kingdom Hearts 2.7: Friendship Is Magic // by KHXhero //------------------------------// Chapter 02: Awkward Meetings The trio kept walking down the street, this time they were a little out of town. Right up ahead was an open fence gate leading into a farm and a huge orchard full of all kinds of apples: Within the farm were barns, barrels, apples, hey bales, a well, apples, and so on and so forth, there were a lot of apples. Above the gate was a wooden board with an apple-shaped cutout. "Number one on the list is the Banquet Preparations." Spike said from the list. "Sweet Apple Acres." The group stopped at the fence, where they saw the view of the entire farm. "Wow... what a farm." Sora said, and glanced at the trees. All of them were apple trees, and he could tell because there were apples on all of them. "Gosh, that's a lot of apples." "Guess that's why it's called Sweet Apple Acres." Twilight said. "But where is everypony?" "YEEEE-HAAAA!!!" The heavily southern-accented voice nearly made the group jolt in surprise. Looking to the right of the apple trees, they saw a brilliant gamboge orange colored earth pony with a tousled blonde pale light olive mane and tail. She wore a cowboy hat and her eyes were sap green. There was also a small cluster of light freckles on her cheeks, though they could be birdcatcher spots. There was a trio of small red apples as her cutie mark. The cowgirl pony was racing up to one apple tree, which had several empty wooden tubs set around it's base. She then gives the trunk a solid kick, or buck, with her hind legs. The strike that shook the tree caused all the apples to fall loose to fill the tubs in seconds. She then moved to the next tree and bucks it again, shaking the tree and dropping the apples into the buck. Next tree, buck, drop apples. Next tree, buck, drop apples. After the trees in her area were all bucked and the apples in the tubs, she lifted her head proudly, crossing one foreleg over the other. "Whoa... that's one strong pony." Sora said. "Yeah." Spike said. "Sounds like another good chance to make a friend Twilight." Hearing that made the lavender unicorn sigh. "Let's get this over with." She said as she made her way to the earth pony with a polite smile, with the other two following. "Good afternoon." Twilight said, getting the cowpony's attention. "My name is Twilight Sparkle." Before she could say more, her face shifted in surprise and sudden pain, as the apple pony began shaking one of her front hooves vigorously. Despite that, the farmer pony was boisterous and friendly. "Well howdy do, Miss Twilight." The pony said. "A pleasure makin' your acquaintance! I'm Applejack. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure do like makin' new friends." "Friends?" Twilight asked vibrating. "Actually, I-" "Nice to meet you, Applejack." Sora said as he stepped forward. "And my name is Sora." "Pleasure mister." Applejack said with a wink, and released the unicorn's hand to shake Sora's more slowly than fast. "Like I said, we like makin' friends with anybody!" Twilight on the other hand, was shaking from Applejack's hoofshake. The baby dragon placed his hand on her hoof to help her stop shaking. "So, what can I do you for sugarcube?" Applejack asked. Despite shake, the unicorn clears her throats and keeps her cool. "Well, I am in fact here to supervise preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration." Twilight continued. "And you are in charge of the food?" "We sure are sugarcube." Applejack said. "Would you care to sample some?" "Well, as long as it doesn't take-" Twilight said, but Applejack zips away. "-too long?" Before there was any other words, the sound of an iron triangle began to ring as a meal summons. "SOUP'S ON EVERYPONY!!" Applejack called. Before they knew it, the ground began to rumble. Turning their heads, Twilight, Sora, and Spike saw a stampede of earth ponies running towards. The group was then lifted off the ground and swept up into the stampede. Twilight was nearly screaming, but Spike and Sora were laughing with surprise. Soon, the three were seated at a table, with Twilight becoming daze. Suddenly, Applejack pops up next to them. "Now, why don't I introduce y'all to the Apple Family?" The farmpony asked, revealing several and many faces around them. "Thanks, but I'm kinda in a hur-" Twilight said, right before Applejack tossed an whole apple pie right into Twilight's mouth, followed by a piece of desert thrust right in front of her, Spike, and Sora, with each family member introduced began placing an apple based food item on the table before rushing off. "This here's Apple Fritter, Apple Bumpkin, Red Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Baked Apples, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp." Applejack kept going on and on with the the names with the other ponies kept stacking the apple food and deserts on the table, growing into a massive stack of food. Twilight, still with her mouth full was surprised, but Spike and Sora were smiling. Before they knew it, they were then turned from the table. "And most importantly, meet my blood family!" Applejack said, showing two ponies in front of the group. One was a large stallion with birdcatcher spots of his own, sleepy sap green eyes. His coat was brilliant amaranth while his hooves were a yellowish grey. His mane was brilliant orange and shaggy. His cutie mark was a big half green apple. He was lifting a cupcake on one hoof. Next to him was a younger pale grayish olive filly with no cutie mark. Her mane and tail was brilliant amaranth, the mane kept up in a large pink bow, and her eyes were a brilliant gamboge orange. She was balancing a cake on her back. "This is Apple Bloom." Applejack said pointing to the small pony. "Howdy!" Apple Bloom said. "This is Big Macintosh!" Applejack said pointing to the taller stallion. "Yeeup." Big Mac said. "Annnnd... Granny Smith!" Applejack said, pointing toward the pony in the rocking chair. The mare was an old elderly light lime green mare whose mane and tail was light-gray and each tied in a bun. Her cutie mark was a fresh apple pie, and she was wearing an apple-decorated shawl around her neck. She was snoozing and rocking, like any elderly woman would. "Granny Smith, Up and at 'em!" Applejack called out. "We got guests!" The old pony began to wak up with a snort, opening her brilliant orange eyes. "Wha?" Granny Smith asked as she began shambling over and mumbling, her joints creak audibly as she moves forward, reaching the table. "Soup's On... I'm... here I come, I'm coming..." "Awwww, I love the elderly!" Sora said with a happy smile, while Twilight, her mouth still full of pie, rolled her eyes. "Why, I'd say you guys are already part of the family." Applejack said, patting Twilight on the back. The lavender unicorn, who couldn't take any more of this, swallowed the pie down whole, and moaned as it dropped down into her stomach. "Ok..." Twilight said. "Well, I see the food situation is handled, so we'll just be on our way." "Be on our way?" Spike asked. "But Twilight, we should try some more of these pies. They do look delicious." "Spike, we're on a time schedule." Twilight said. "Aren't you gonna stay for brunch?" Apple Bloom asked, showing big sad soulful eyes, with a puppy dog pout. Twilight could only cringe in a bit of guilt. "Sorry, but we have an awful lot to do." Twilight said. "And now's not the appropriate time to have brunch since it's afternoon." Her answer only received awwws of disappoint from the ponies. "Aww c'mon Twilight." Sora said, getting the pony's attention. "Why don't we stay for dinner? Besides, you can't say no to this little face..." The boy knelt down beside Apple Bloom and gave the same puppy dog pout to the unicorn. "And besides Twi." Spike said. "We haven't had lunch yet either." Twilight glanced at the boy, the dragon, and the entire Apple Family. Eventually, she gave a sigh. "Fine... I guess we can stay for a while." Twilight said. With that said, the apple family began to cheer in excitement. For Twilight however, this was probably gonna be a long while... It was a little later in the day, but the sun was still out and the sky was still blue. The group was making their way back to town for the next section on the list for the Summer Sun Celebration. "Wow, those Apple ponies knew how to throw a dinner party." Sora said, chewing on an apple he got from the orchard. "I know, right?" Spike asked. "Normally I'd eat gems, but any other food is fine by me." "Wait, you eat gems?" Sora asked. "Of course we do." Spike said. "What did you think we eat?" "Uhhhh... real life creatures?" Sora asked. "Nah, we don't usually do that... at least I think we don't." Spike said. "I take that you've never been around other dragons, have you." Sora said. "Not really." Spike said. "Besides, dragons can be mean. And I don't like mean." "Ooooooohhhh..." a loud moan of discomfort came from behind them. Turning around, they saw Twilight trailing behind by several steps. She didn't feel too good, as was the proof of her round tummy, so round it looked like she was with a full term foal... "I ate too much pie..." Twilight said, before puffing her cheeks up, as if she was about to vomit. Luckily, she swallowed it back down. "Awww, Twilight." Sora said. "You probably shouldn't have ate too much." "First off, I wasn't planning to eat that much." Twilight said. "Secondly, the ponies were pushing the food into my mouth and down my throat. And I didn't get a chance to tell them no than-" Her mouth puffed up again, but luckily she didn't vomit, she only let a belch. "Excuse me..." Twilight said. "Anyway, what's next on the list Spike?" Sora asked. "Next up is the weather." Spike said, who then glanced up at the sky. The boy glanced up too, seeing a couple of clouds in the sky. "The weather seems fine to me." Sora said. "Yeah, but we can't have clouds in the way." Spike said. "The pegasi are in charge of the weather, and they clear the weather in the sky. There's suppose to be a pegasus pony named Rainbow Dash clearing the clouds." Twilight stopped for a second, and sat down on the ground, her full tummy jiggling as she sat. She looked up at the sky, seeing several clouds and no pegasus named Rainbow Dash. "Well, she's not doing a very good job, is she?" She said..... -THUD- Without warning, a multicolored blur flashes through and plows Twilight away, with globs of mud splatterig from where they landed, surprising Sora and Spike. They then turned to see Twilight landing face first in the mud, groaning softly. On top of her was a light grayish cerulean pegasus whose unruly mane and tail were both striped with all the colors of the rainbow; consisting of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. The pegasus also had moderate cerise eyes, and her cutie mark was a thunder bolt striped in red, yellow, and blue, issuing from a cloud. The pegasus gets up and looks at who she crashed into, and gave a big goofy grin and chuckle with a raspy tomboyish voice. "Uh... 'scuse me?" She said, with Twilight groaning again as the pegasus lifted herself off the ground. "Here, let me help you." The rainbow maned pegasus said as she dashed off, with Twilight barely having enough time to stand up before the pegasus pushes a gray cloud over her head. She then floated on top of it, and she gave the cloud a few stomps on it's top to produce a quick shower that washes the mud and cleaning up Twilight. But the lavender unicorn is soaked from head to tail. "Oops!" The pegasus said with a giggle. "I guess I overdid it. Uh... Oh how about this?" The pegasus then began to fly aroud Twilight, and to her surprise, a striped whirlwind began to surround Twilight, and began blowing her hair, and drying up her body. "My very own patented... Rainblow-Dry!" The rainbow maned pegasus called out as she kept going. After a couple of seconds, the pegasus halted, dropping to the ground, and the whirlwind died away. "No, no, don't thank me." She said. "You're quite welcome." She then gets a good look at the finishing product she has done. Twilight's mane and tail were now a fizzed out mess. While she was not amused, the rainbow pegasus couldn't help but smile. "Bahahahaha!" She laughed as he voice got raspier, with Spike following suit. Twilight however only glare, and gave a snort. Sora approached the pegasus. "You must be Rainbow Dash, right?" Sora asked. The pegasus, Rainbow Dash, bolted right up, pitching Spike away. "The one and only." She said hovering in the air. "Why? You've heard of me?" "Well actually I'd figured because your mane and tail are the colors of the rainbow." Sora said smiling, his hands behind the back of his head. "Excuse me, Miss Dash." Twilight said, trying to keep her cool. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, and Princess Celestia sent me to check on the weather, which is what you're suppose to be doing." "Yeah yeah, that'll be a snap." Rainbow Dash said as she lounges on top of a cloud next to her. "I'll do it in a jiffy, just as soon as I'm done practicing." "Practicing?" Twilight asked. "For what?" "The Wonderbolts!" Rainbow Dash said, pointing to the poster on the wall. The poster depicted silhouettes of four pegasi streaking across a starry sky, while three more stand proudly below. All three of them wore goggles and blue-green jumpsuits that leave the snouts, ears, and manes exposed, and their manes were electric blue. Three thunderbolts were also displayed below them, with the center one having a pair of wings. "They're gonna perform at the Celebration tomorrow." Rainbow Dash said getting off the cloud and doing a loop to another cloud. "And I'm gonna show 'em my stuff." "The Wonderbolts?" Sora asked. "The most talented flyers in all of Equestria." Spike said. "They also help protect Equestria and save lives from all over." "Yep, those are them." Rainbow Dash said. Twilight only gave a smile. "Pfft!" She giggled. "Oh please, like they'd actually pick someone like you." Hearing that made Rainbow Dash's ears quirk up. "What'd you say?" She asked giving a glare at the unicorn. "The wonderbolts are flyers who fly with honor, courage, chivalry, and of course loyalty." Twilight said. "They'd never accept a pegasus who can't even keep the sky clear for one measly day." "Oh yeah?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I could clear the sky in ten seconds flat!" "Really?" Twilight asked. "Really." Rainbow Dash said. "Then prove it." Twilight said. "Ok then!" Rainbow Dash said, and she then took off at super sonic speed, flying all over, springing into action to kick apart one cloud after another. The wake of her movements made Twilight drop her jaw in surprise, as Sora and Spike watched. How is it possible that this Rainbow Dash is flying so fast? How is she this fast? Twilight has never seen a pegasus with this kind of speed. Not even the Wonderbolts can go this fast. "Loop-the-loop around, and WHAM!!!" Rainbow Dash shouted, kicking the last cloud in the sky, which was now empty. No cloud in sight, only the sun was visible. "See?" Rainbow Dash asked, dropping onto the bridge over the stream. "Ten seconds flat. I'd never leave Ponyville hanging." "Wow!" Sora said. "That was amazing! That was pretty cool!" "Thanks, though I'd prefer awesome." Rainbow Dash said. Twilight still stood in shock with her mouth hung down. "H... How are you able to go that fast?" Twilight asked. "Because, I'm a natural born flyer!" Rainbow Dash said as she flew toward Twilight. "You should've seen the look on your face. You're a laugh Twilight Sparkle. But hey, you're pretty cool too. Can't wait to hang out sometime." She gives Twilight a friendly nudge on the cheek, while the unicorn's brain was kicking back in gear by the pegasus' last sentence. "Anyway, see ya later!" Rainbow Dash said as she zipped away, leaving the group to their own devices. "Wow... she's amazing!" Spike said. Having seen the show, he was impressed. "She might be better than you, Twi." Hearing that made Twilight give a disapproving groan, and she walks away. "I was just kidding Twi! Plus, I think your mane is pretty once you get used to it!" Spike said as he ran after her, while Sora looked back at the direction Rainbow Dash went. "Man, this place is full of surprises." He said with a smile. "I wonder who else we'll meet next." Turning his head back, he saw Twilight and Spike heading off. He then followed after him, looking forward to who else they'll meet. Next stop was the Pavilion, where they were heading off too. As they headed inside the building, they stopped. What they saw was a beautiful scenery, where the entire single circular room was decorated so wonderfully, with such elaborate hangings, various artwork, and a plethora of adornments on the balcony railings. "Wow... this is so beautiful..." Sora said. "Yes." Twilight said as she saw the decorations. "The decorations seem to be coming along nicely. This oughta be quick. I'll be at the library in no time." "I wonder who's in charge of all this." Sora said. He looked to his right to see Spike walking forward. There was astonishment all over his face and in his eyes, something that the two noticed quickly. "Spike?" Twilight asked. Spike didn't say anything. He was staring ahead, but not at the decorations. He was staring at the unicorn pony who was examining the ribbons she was putting up. The unicorn was light gray, and her moderate indigo mane and tail were long, purple, done in loose elegant curls. Her eyes were azure as the ocean, and she wore a bluish gray eyeshadow over her eyes, and her cutie mark were three light blue lozenge-shaped jewels. Whoever this was, this pony was indeed beautiful. "No... no... no... Oh! goodness no... hmmmmm..." The unicorn said, turning her head, showing her beautiful face. Seeing her made Spike widen his eyes more, and his eyes began to change into hearts. One thing's for sure, this little dragon was developing a crush on her. "She's so beautiful..." He said. "I feel all mushy inside." "Spike?" Twilight asked more sternly. Brought out of his trance, he began to groom his spikes and spines. "How are my spines?" He asked. "Are they straight?" Twilight only rolled her eyes, while Sora couldn't help but smile at the dragon's crush at first sight. The group then approached the dais. "Good afternoon Miss." Twilight began. "In a moment please, I'm in the zone as 'twere." The unicorn said, examining a ribbon. "Ah yes!" The unicorn then began tightening a glittering red bow on the post. "Sparkle always does the trick, does it not? Why Rarity, you are a talent." "Yeah, you sure are..." Spike said as he smiled, with hearts still in his eyes. The unicorn, Rarity, turned her head, seeing the group. "Now, how can I help you all- WHOAHOHOW!!!" Rarity gasped with a cry of horror, seeing Twilight's poofed up mane and tail. "Uh... hi?" Twilight asked. "Oh my stars, darling!" Rarity said. "Whatever happened to your coiffure?" "Coiffure?" Sora asked. "Oh, you mean my mane?" Twilight asked, noticing that her mane was still a wreck. "Well, it's a long story. I'm just here to check on the decorations, and then I'll be out of your hair." "Out of my hair?!" Rarity asked. "What about your hair? Come along dear, let's get you fixed up." She then began to push Twilight along. "Wait!" Twilight shouted. "Where are we going? Sora, Spike, Help!" "She just wants to fix your mane up Twilight." Sora said. "No harm doing that." He then glanced down and to his surprise, Spike, the poor lovestruck dragon began to float after the pair, using his tail as a propeller. Sora watched with a bit of confusion. "I hope that's not contagious." Sora said as he followed the group. Next thing they knew, they were inside the Carousel Boutique, where the door is plit halfway up it's height into two sections, each with its own knob. They were inside the two story building, inside Rarity's fitting studio, where there were several life sized pony dolls were held up with different dresses and suits on them. They were mannequins... or ponyquins if they should say. Sora took a good look at the designs. They were amazing and beautiful. They may be dresses and suits for ponies, but they were indeed fabulous. "What beautiful dresses you have." Sora said. "Why thank you darling." Rarity said as she grabbed several different clothes and dresses. "Made them all myself. It's my talent you know, along with finding rare gems to make them with." "Oh, you're a miner?" Sora asked. "Oh goodness no." Rarity said. "Mining is... dirty." "Oh, makes sense." Sora said. "You like to do things... cleanly." "Yes, but it doesn't hurt to get a little dirty if it means helping ponies." Rarity said. "Now then, let's get started." She then moved to the large showroom, where Twilight was on a platform, wearing a new outfit, only to be switched out immediately after the fashionista found the dress inappropriate. "No... no... uh-uh." Rarity said as she began to suit Twilight in different dresses and clothing. The lavender unicorn's mane and tail were fixed up, but the stylist decided to fit her with a dress too. "Too green, too yellow, too poofy, not poofy enough, too frilly, too... shiny." She then lifted Twilight up on her hind legs, and noticed Twilight's stomach was still extended from all the pie she ate. "Hmmmm we'll have to do something about that.. pudgy tummy." Rarity said as she went to the back, leaving Twilight to stand on her hind legs. "Actually I don't really have time fo-" Before she could finish, a strap was placed around Twilight, and before she knew it, she was being squeezed around the waist while Rarity began pulling the straps with her teeth. Good news is Twilight's stomach was back to normal, but she could feel the pressure from the strap squeezing against her. "So, do tell me darling." Rarity asked. "What brings you here to Ponyville?" "I've... been... sent... from... Canterlot... to..." Twilight said as she was being strangled, but then suddenly, Rarity letted go in surprise, causing both of them to fly in opposite directions. Rarity was the first one to get up. "Canterlot?!" She asked rushing over to Twilight and picking her up. "Oh, I am so envious! The glamour, the sophistiation! I've always dreamed of living there!" She was spinning Twilight around like a ballot dancer, and until she then pulled her in close. "I can't wait to hear all about it! We're gonna be the best of friends, you and I." She then gasped. "Oh my what am I thinking?" Rarity said. "A Canterlot royalty like you should be dressed in the most finest of glamour! Let me get you some rubies!" She then dashes off to get some ruby gems. Seeing the opportunity, Twilight got up and galloped out of there, leaving the strap behind. "Quick!" Twilight shouted to Sora and the lovestruck Spike, who was then pulled by Twilight's magic. "Let's go before she decides to dye my coat a new color!" "Hey wait up!" Sora called out, and then glanced back. "Sorry Miss Rarity, we have to go!" "Oh, no trouble at all darling!" Rarity called out. "You're welcome to come back anytime!" The boy glanced back and gave a thumbs up. "Thanks!" He said, and then he headed out the door, following Twilight and Spike to their next objective. Another task was done and over with. But if anything, for Twilight, it was exhausting. First she meets a gasping pony, then eats too much pie, gets her mane dirty and messed up, and the dresses, well the dresses and the mane cleaning she can put up with, but this whole day has been very exhausting. But for Spike and Sora, it was actually quite fun. "Man, what a day, huh?" Sora asked. "Yeah." Spike said, still thinking about Rarity. "Wasn't she wonderful?" Twilight only sighed. "Focus you two." Twilight said. "We still have work to do." "Oh right." Sora said. "Spike, what's next on the list?" The little draik pulled out the list and examined it. "Oh, it's music." Spike said. "And it's the last one!" Hearing that made Twilight sigh in relief. "Thank goodness." Twilight said. "We'll be at the library in no time!" But then, the three stopped short, hearing something from afar. It sounded like music. A fanfare being whistled somewhere ahead of them. As Sora pointed forward, the three go up to the bushes and poke their heads out to see the source of the music. Before them were several birds perched in a tree, with a pale light gold pegasus hovering in front of them. Her long straight light grayish rose mane and tail that curled gently upwards at the end was floating as she hovered with her wings. Her eyes were a beautiful moderate cyan, and her cutie mark was of three pink butterflies. It appears that she's conducting the birds to sing, and they were singing beautiful. But one bird was out of sync with the rest of the group, something the pegasus noticed. "Oh my..." she said with a soft, gentle, and timid voice. "Um can we please stop everyone?" The birds quickly stopped singing as the pegasus flew up to the one out of sync. "Um... excuse me mister bird." She began. "I mean no offense, but your rhythm is just a teeny tiny bit off, ok?" the bird gave an understanding nod and reassured itself. Then the pegasus flew back and was ready to conduct again. Behind the bush, Twilight was quite impressed with the birds' singing, making her emerge from her hiding spot. "Ok, now all together please." The pegasus said. "A-one, a-two, a-one, two, three-" "Hello?" Twilight called up. The call quickly startled the conductor very greatly, and it scared her entire bird ensemble out of the tree. "Oh!" The pegasus said. "Oh my!" Twilight said, realizing what she had done. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten your birds. I'm just here to check up on the music and it's sounding beautifully." The yellow pegasus gently touched down onto the ground, looking at Twilight in a sidelong position, while fidgeting one hoof against the ground without saying anything. After a moment of silence, Twilight onl grinned nervously, while her eys flickered in the same way, before breaking that silence. "I'm Twilight Sparkle." The unicorn said. The pegasus didn't respond. "What's your name?" Twilight asked. "Um... I'm... Fluttershy..." The pegasus said, but it was too soft to hear. "I'm sorry what was that?" Twilight asked. "Um... my name is Fluttershy..." The pegasus, Fluttershy said, before backing away. "Didn't quite catch that." Twilight said, moving forward. The sudden movement made the meek pegasus make a tiny squeak and hide her face with her long mane. Behind her, the birds returned to the tree. "Well, it looks like your birds are back." Twilight said. "So, I guess everything's in order. Keep up the good work." Another nervous squeak came from the pegasus. "Oookay..." Twilight spoke as she backed off slowly. Sora emerged from his own hiding spot, approaching the unicorn. "Well that was easy." Twilight said. "Is she ok?" Sora asked. "I don't know." Twilight said looking back at the mare. "I just said that her birds were singing wonderfully and well... she couldn't tell me her name." The boy glanced at the pegasus, who's head was still hidden among her mane. Placing his hands on his hips, he began thinking. "Awww, she must be shy." Sora said. "I guess she is." Spike said as he emerged from his hiding spot, now in plain sight. Fluttershy moved her head, her eyes suddenly on Spike. She gasped and smile. "A Baby Dragon!!" Fluttershy spoke loudly, fluttering her wings up, which scares the birds off again. She then zips over to Spike, knocking Twilight away, and examined the little draik. "Oh my gosh!" The pegasus said with a smile. "I've never seen a baby dragon before! Oooh, he's so cute! Look at his adorable scales, and beautiful eyes!" "Well, looks like she isn't shy anymore." Spikes said as he gave a smile to Sora, who gave a nod back. "Oh my, he talks!" Fluttershy said, even more excited. "I didn't know dragons could talk. That's just incredibly wonderful, I... oh... I just don't know what to say." She was hovering in excitement. Seeing her happy brought a smile to Sora's face. After being sprawled out however, Twilight quickly lifts Spike off the ground with her magic and hoisted him on her back. "Well, sorry to leave in such a hurry, but we need to go." Twilight said as she went off with Spike. "C'mon Sora." She quickly nudged the boy to move. "Oh, well..." Sora began. "Wait, wait!" Fluttershy called as she hurried after them. "What's his name?" "I'm Sora." The boy said. "Hello Sora." Fluttershy said. "Is this your little dragon?" "Um, no." Sora said. "He's actually Twilight's dragon." "Ooooo, what's his name?" Fluttershy asked. "I'm Spike." The baby ragon replied. "Hi Spike!" Fluttershy said. "I'm Fluttershy. Wow, a talking dragon! How did you come to be?" "Well, what do you wanna know?" Spike asked. "Absolutely everything." The pegasus replied. "Well, I started out as a cute purple egg with green spots." Spike began. As the conversation began, Twilight's only groaned loudly in annoyance, knowing that this was not going end any time soon. Pretty soon, it was now almost evening, where the sun was just meeting the horizon. Luckily for Twilight, they finally made it to the library up ahead. Ponyville's Golden Oak Library, a large gnarled tree whose trunk and foliage are set with many windows, each one had a hanging lantern. There was also a outside balcony about halfway up, with the front door displaying a picture of a lit candle, and a sign outside next to it depicted an open book, showing that it was the library. "This must be the library." Sora said. "Finally." Twilight sighed, still hearing Spike and Fluttershy talking behind her. "And that's the story of my whole entire life." Spike said. "...well, up until today. Do you want to hear about today? "Oh yes please!" Fluttershy cheered. Twilight however, has had enough. She quickly turned around to face Fluttershy. "I am sorry..." Twilight said, trying to keep her tone in check. "But we really need to be checking in. My poor baby dragon needs his sleep." Spike and Sora looked with surprise. "Wha... No I don't." Spike said, only to be bucked off Twilight's back by herself, making him drop to the ground. "Oooohhh wookit that." Twilight said in baby talk. "He's so sweepy, he can't even keep his wittle bawance." The dragon gives her a glare while she gives phony grin. "Oh, you poor thing." Fluttershy said as she picked up the baby dragon with her hooves. "Dragons do need sleep. You simply must get him to bed. I'll stay and help." She was about to move toward the door, but Twilight quickly grabbed Spike, and pushes her away. "Yes, yes, I'm getting right on that." Twilight said. "Well, good night!" She quickly runs inside the library, leaving a very befuddled Fluttershy, with Sora watching a bit surprised. He glanced back at Fluttershy. "Um... see you around." He said, going into the library and closing the door behind him. He then turned forward to see Twilight giving a sigh of relief, and Spike only getting up from the ground. It was also pretty dim inside, much to their notice. "Well, that was nice..." Spike said as he got up. "Geez Twilight." Sora said. "Did you have to be so rude?" "I'm sorry Sora." Twilight said. "This has been very stressful for me. I have work to do. I need to convince the princess that Nightmare Moon is coming, and we're running out of time. I just need to be alone so I can study without a bunch of crazy ponies trying make friends all the time. Now, where's the light?" Before anyone could answer that question, the lights suddenly came on, revealing a large circular room, where the walls are lined with bookshelves, with volumes scattered around lofts set into the walls above them. But... that wasn't what caught their attention. What really caught their attention was the many many ponies inside the room, with many of them having noisemakers in their mouths. "SURPRISE!!!" They all called out, with confetti raining down from the ceiling, surprising Sora, Twilight, and Spike completely. "Whoa..." Sora said "WHAT?!" Twilight asked. "What are you all doing in here?!" Before she could say anything else, a pony stepped forward. To Twilight's surprise, it was actually the very first pony that Twilight had met when she and the others first arrived here! "SURPRISE!" She cheerfully called with a energetic and hyperactive voice. "Uhhh..." Twilight said. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie!" The pony said. "And I threw this party just for you! Were you surprised? Were you, were you? Huh? Huh? Huh?" She showed a very happy smile, though it looked a bit creepy. "I was surprised." Sora said with a smile. "Me too!" Spike said. "Very surprised..." Twilight gritted through her teeth. "Libraries are suppose to be quiet..!" "That's Silly!" Pinkie Pie giggled, leaning on Twilight and shaking her head. "What kind of welcome party would this be if it were quiet? I mean, duh! Boooring! You see, I saw you when you first got here, remember? You were like all Hello, and I was all GASP, remember? You see, I never saw you before, and if I never saw you before, that means you're new. 'Cause I know everypony, and I mean everypony, in Ponyville at least!" As Pinkie Pie went on and on, Twilight only groaned. "I need a drink." Twilight said, and she made her way to the table, picking up a red bottle and began shaking it into the waiting glass in front of her, not realizing that all the other liquid bottles on the table are green. "And if you're new, it meant you hadn't met anyone yet, and if you haven't met anyone yet, you must not have any friends. And if you don't have any friends, then you must be pretty lonely, and it makes me so saaaad! But then I had an idea and that's why I went GASP!" Twilight then places the red bottle down, which the label showed a picture of flames while the green ones had labels that said drinks on it. She then placed a straw in the glass in front of her and started zipping and drinking. Suddenly the taste was rather strange. Then Pinkie Pie appeared out of nowhere right in front of Twilight, making her jump back. How did that crazy pony do that? "I decided to throw you a great big ginormous, super-duper spectacular welcome party andinvite everyone in Ponyville! And the best part is, I invited ponies that you've met! She then pulled close to her Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy near Twilight. The lavender unicorn's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you all know each other?" Twilight asked. "Well not really, but we know Pinkie Pie." Rainbow Dash said. "She does throw the most magnificent parties." Rarity said. "Oh, I just came back inside because of the party." Fluttershy said. "See?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Now you have lots and lots of friends!" Twilight was about to say something, but then, her eyes widened as the size of dinner plates, and her entire face began to turn red, her cheeks began to bulge, and her eyes began to stream tears down, and there was smoke slowly emitting from her mouth. "Are you alright, sugarcube?" Applejack asked. Before anyone could guess, Twilight began to jump into the air, and open her mouth, showing flames coming out, while her mane and tail briefly turned into flames and her steam whistled from her ears. She zipped out of the room into the other one in top speed, leaving everyone surprise, even Sora and Spike. "I... think you guys broke her." Sora said, while Spike glanced down at the red bottle near Twilight's cup, and noticed what it was. "Ummm... I think it was the hot sauce actually." The little draik said. Appearing from his right, Pinkie Pie took the hot sause from him and began to dip some of the sauce on some of the cupcakes. She took a couple in her mouth and ate them with the sauce on them, happily chewing it down. She then glanced at the crowd, who watched with confusion. "What?" She asked. "It's good!" Seeing her act silly with her appetite, everyone in the room began to laugh. "Come On Everypony, Let's PARTY!!!"