//------------------------------// // The Chase Chickens (Except it's a turkey) // Story: The search for the not-meat turkey, or: The Story of Equestria's First Thanksgiving // by TheEighthDayofNight //------------------------------// James jolted awake as a pair of giggling alicorns prodded his side, or was it a trio? He couldn’t tell due to the infernal blindfold over his eyes, which Fluttershy still refused to let him take off. Since she was still technically “leading” him to the source of the turkey plant, she had claimed she didn’t want to break her Pinkie Promise by letting him see. So the flight had been blind, and now he was being dragged from the chariot and into the hooves of three fluffy pony princesses. “Well well well,” Cadence said with a smile. “I didn’t think it was Wednesday yet, what’s the occasion?” Luna scoffed. “Perhaps our drinking buddy came to visit us, rather than you. Have you considered about that dear niece?” The two alicorns growled, then yelped as Celestia swatted at them with her wings. “Enough of your hug-gression, the two of you, I believe James has come with a question for us, and I believe, an invitation?” James frowned. “The first part is right, but I don’t think…” He felt somepony slip a quartet of what felt like envelopes into his hands. Pinkie whispered in his ear. “See you in a few Jamie!” Then she vanished like a whisper in the wind. James chuckled nervously and held up the envelopes. “I guess these are for you?” The alicorns all chuckled and took an envelope each, leaving one in his hand. James frowned and looked back to where he imagined Fluttershy was. “Flutters, did you get an invitation yet?” “That I did James,” she responded softly. “Pinkie gave me mine before she left.” “Then who’s is…?” “Mine!” Shining Armor shouted as he pounced into the circle of mares. The stallion drove James to the ground, seizing the invitation from his hand. He then did a little dance on James’ chest while everyone watched with smiles. Save for James, who sat in blind silence as the stallion perched upon his chest. “Shining?” “Yep?” “What are you doing?” James could almost hear the stallion blink as he thought about his sudden, out of the blue actions, then he felt the stallion creep backward. “Heh, see you at dinner?” James sighed as he sat up. “If I can get this dang turkey plant. Princess, do you…?” Celestia chuckled as she passed him a large bundle. “Already ahead of you James.” It felt incredibly leafy, but it shuffled in his arms. One of its… stalks? Seemed to act like a neck as it gobbled. James looked with blind confusion to the alicorns around him. “This is a plant?” Celestia sighed. “Indeed it is. One created by Discord in fact. He planted it in the Everfree, then slipped them into the population. Quite soon, most ponies had acquired a taste, and when we finally found the bird plant, we were too late.” Luna matched her sister’s sigh. “Twas a shame too, they are so delectable. It is likely that only your “Thanksgiving” will find use for such rare plants. Otherwise they will stay here, safe from the hungry ponies of Equestria.” James frowned and stroked what he thought was the plant’s back. “Well now I kind of feel bad that I’m getting special treatment.” James felt himself lift into the air, turkey plant in hand, and float back toward Fluttershy. “Do not feel bad James,” Celestia said as she set him back in the chariot. “You have made more than a few sacrifices concerning your diet to live among ponies, and we would be remiss if we didn’t give you the opportunity to relive a human holiday that you think the world of. Besides, you are a special human, it is quite alright to give you a special treat every once in awhile.” The other alicorns (and Shining Armor) filed into the carriage, leaning against James and his barely earned prize. It was clear that this had all been planned, and that he had been baited away from the castle so that Twilight could prep the meal, but he didn’t mind overly much. He just really hoped everyone would be there to celebrate. Thanksgiving was nothing if not about being surrounded by family and friends. The turkey plant gobbled again as somepony rubbed against his back. Taking the silent cue, James leaned into their chest fluff and looked toward who he thought was Celestia. “So Princess, how bad do you think Twilight’s doing right now?” Celestia smiled. “I am sure she is doing just fine.” ***** “Rainbow, how did you set the water on fire?!?” Twilight screamed as she scrambled to find a pot lid. The pegasus kicked the rain cloud she had flown into the kitchen. A lightning bolt ricocheted off the stovetop and lit the carpet in the hallway aflame. “I don’t know! Why is this thing so bucking wild? It’s supposed to be producing rain, rain!” “Stop kicking it!” Twilight cried as another bolt zipped over her head, threatening to set her mane alight. At that moment, the kitchen doors opened to reveal Applejack and Granny Smith. The orange farm pony’s mouth dropped open. “What in tarnation is goin’ on in here? I’ve been gone fer ten minutes!” Rainbow Dash moved the cloud, finally producing rain, toward the nearest open door. It swiftly drenched both Applejack and Granny Smith, and as the blue pegasus kicked it to make it cease its water production, another bolt of lightning sprang free. Twilight groaned as the third lightning bolt finally struck, and her tail vanished in a bright flare of fire. ***** Celestia felt a nervous twitch, a motion that wasn’t lost on anyone. “Just fine.” James chuckled and shook his head. “If I know her, something’s on fire, one of the dishes is in another dimension, and the rest is actually really good, she just believes it isn’t. Ah Twilight, you silly pony.” Cadence saddled up to his side, and the human imagined she was wiggling her eyebrows at him. “My offer still stands James.” “I know Cadence,” he replied, “but I’ve already got a plan in place. Trust me, if things go awry, you will be the first to know. Now, are we going to get going or what?” “Indeed!” Luna called. “Away guards! The bird plant needs cooked, and I for one wish to feast upon its planty goodness!” A small cheer went up from the other ponies. Surprisingly, the turkey plant agreed. As they took off, the thing escaped, and a wild scramble broke out to catch it as it leapt from the chariot.