//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Ants in the Laundry // Story: Foalhood Friendship: Stella's Story // by Princess Estrella //------------------------------// It was 2:00 PM. Almost time for Stella’s friends to arrive at her house. Ever since Luna left to pick up her friends almost a half hour ago, Stella had been running back and forth from the front door to the other parts of the castle that she wanted to show to her friends. The anticipation was practically killing her every time she saw that nopony had arrived. The final time she looked out the door, her face lit up at the sight of a golden carriage descending from the sky. They're here! The pegasi flying the carriage touched down, just as Stella rushed out to greet them. “Wow. What a trip!” This was Silver's first flight. She stumbled around a bit, trying to lose her sea legs. Copper flexed his wings. “It’s not so bad once you get used to it.” “Easy for a pegasus to say!” Luna opened the door. “Foals, please. Stella is waiting for us.” That was enough to make the foals excitedly pour out of the carriage. To their delight, there was their new friend waiting for them mere hooves away. They all greeted her at once. “Stella!” Stella practically bounced over to greet her friends. From where she stood, Luna could barely make out the fast-paced, mishmashed greeting her daughter was giving to her friends. In seconds, the entire group rushed inside to begin their play day. The carriage flew off. “I have a feeling today is going to be eventful.” Within seconds of their arrival, Stella was giving her friends the grand tour. She brought them all by the throne room, where she showed her friends where Celestia works for most of the day. The three other foals all marveled at the decorations in the room, taking in every detail of the polished floors and colorful windows. Next was the dining hall, where Stella showed her friends where she and her family sometimes ate their meals. “What’s this?” Silver Light pointed to a large platter on the table that was covered with a silver lid. Stella scratched her head with her hoof. “I don’t know. This wasn’t here earlier.” “Let’s see what it is.” Copper Flame reached to lift the lid. “Copper, don’t! It’s not polite to look without asking.” Star Song was always reproaching Copper for his various wrong doings. It was too late. Copper had already lifted the lid with his teeth, and the sight beneath delighted the foals. There was a freshly baked, perfectly prepared cheese pizza, although it was missing a slice. “Alright! Lunch!” Copper picked up a slice with his wing. Star stomped her hoof. “Copper!” “It’s alright. That’s for us. And it looks like the taste testers already made sure it wasn't poisoned.” Stella divided the slices onto the plates near by. Silver’s mouth dropped open. “Poisoned?!” “It’s ok. I don't see any dead bodies, do you?” “No…” “Then let’s eat!” Copper’s mouth was already stuffed with pizza. They all sat down and dug into the pizza. Stella made a mental note to thank her aunt later. After the pizza was eaten, the tour continued through the palace. Stella didn’t show much else that was interesting: a broom closet, a trash can. But then, the tour took a more interesting turn after they climbed the stairs to the third floor.  “...and this is my room.” Stella opened up a blue door with a grey crescent moon painted on it. The foals all entered the room, bright-eyed and smiling, hoping that their new friend’s room was just as wondrous as the rest of her home. How disappointed they were. “Stella, it’s a mess in here.” Silver Light waved her hoof at the mess. “It’s not so bad.” Stella liked her mess. It was like having a room full of friends. On her first step into the room, Star Song tripped over a stuffed tiger and fell face-first into an overturned blue laundry basket. “I’m not sure even ants could live in here.” Star yelped and jumped out of the laundry. “Nevermind!”  “How are we even supposed to play in here?” Copper pointed at the messy floor. Stella turned her head to look at him. “We could move some stuff.” “How? If we so much as touch something, everything will come crashing down on us.” Star raised a hoof, as if answering a question in school. “I’ve got an idea! We could clean the room. Then we can play!” “I guess so.” Stella was reluctant to clean, even if it did mean more space to play. “If it means we can play.” “Ugh.” Copper groaned. “Homework. Like I need any more of that.” “Don’t be such a whiner, Copper. We can do something to make it more fun.” Silver tossed her mane. The four friends started cleaning, and Star Song started to sing.    “If you just sing a little song Then the work will come along Oh so much faster If you just him a little tune Then the job will be done soon You’ll be a master If you just have to clean your room Then the work will be done soon It’s no disaster” Star's song helped the work go along and soon they were playing happily in a clean room.