The girls left the mess hall, full from breakfast.
"So what now," Twilight asked as the door shut behind her.
Applejack hummed. "I reckon whatever we do next should be low-key. We oughta conserve our energy for tonight." She was met with a chorus of agreement.
Everyone stopped mid-stride to think together.
"Say, Twi," Applejack said after a few moments. "Ever been fishing?"
Twilight blinked. "...No, actually."
"Wanna give it a try?"
Twilight mulled it over for a few moments, then shrugged. "Eh. Why not?"
Rarity sighed. "I suppose I'll join you. My father constantly swears by it, and I believe it's high time I see what all his fussing is about."
Pinkie grinned widely. "Sounds like fun! Count me in!"
"Ditto that," Sunset said.
"Same," Rainbow chimed in.
Everyone looked at Fluttershy, who simply shook her head. "You go on without me."
"Are you sure," Twilight asked. "We wouldn't want you to feel left out."
Fluttershy smiled sweetly. "I appreciate your concern, Twilight, but my answer is no."
Twilight tilted her head. "O-Okay then... I guess we'll see you later then."
Sunset gently put her arm around Twilight's shoulder. "Pretty sure she doesn't want to see worms or fish being impaled."
Twilight blushed furiously, then whirled around. "Sorry for being insensitive!"
Fluttershy giggled. "It's okay, Twilight."
"C'mon, Twi," Sunset said. "Those fish aren't gonna catch themselves!"
Twilight nodded.
The girls got into their canoes. Rarity, Applejack and Twilight share one while Pinkie, Sunset, and Rainbow shared the other. Only two fishing rods were available, so they had to share.
Applejack grinned. "Pinkie, didja bring the stuff?"
Pinkie returned the grin. "Sure did, AJ!" She reached into her hair and produced a green one gallon bucket with three apples painted onto it. She took the lid off with a barely audible popping sound, then laid it on the floor of the canoe as Sunset and Rainbow took a good look at its contents.
Rainbow's eyes widened in awe, and Sunset's jaw dropped.
"Whoa," the three said in awe.
"Right?" Applejack beamed with pride. "Twilight, could ya bring that bucket over here?"
Twilight nodded, then channeled her geode. Applejack's bucket became enveloped in a purple aura, then gently floated towards her.
The bucket landed safely in Twilight's lap, and she took a look inside. The bucket contained two sections separated by a bit of cardboard. One side contained tiny maggot-like creatures and the other side had nightcrawlers. "Tenebrio molitor larvae and Lumbricus terrestris," she said as she adjusted her glasses. "These are fine specimens."
Rarity blinked. "Ten-eh... Lumber..." She scratched her head, then leaned over to look inside the bucket.
Applejack laughed. "Twi's just usin' their fancy names. They're only-"
Rarity yelped. "Mealworms and earthworms! Ew, eww, eee-he-he-heeeewww!" She backed away to her original spot in the canoe with wide eyes and gritted teeth as the canoe rocked from her movement.
"Land's sake, Rarity, be careful!"
Rarity shuddered. "What in the world are those for," she asked, pointing to the bucket as soon as the boat stopped.
Applejack sputtered in disbelief. "Are y'all kiddin' me? Those're bait, Rarity!"
"Bait?"
Applejack sighed heavily as she put the palm of her hand to her face.
Rarity reached over to Applejack and gently put a hand on her shoulder. "Applejack, darling. We've been friends for years," she said softly. "It should come as no surprise to you that I don't even know the first thing about fishing."
Applejack lowered her hand and smiled. "Yer right, Rares." She chuckled. "Ya know how I can get with these kinda things."
"I do. Now, why don't you teach me?"
"Ya mean it?"
Rarity nodded.
"All right!" Applejack said as she grabbed a fishing rod and dipped her other hand in the bucket, taking a worm out.
For a brief moment, Rarity flashed Twilight an expression that all but shouted 'what have I gotten myself into?!'.
After barely managing to stifle a giggle, Twilight mouthed the words 'you'll be fine', then shot Rarity a thumbs-up and gave her an encouraging smile.
Rarity frowned, then smiled again as Applejack turned around to face her.
"Now, first thing you oughtta do," Applejack said. "Is make sure that the bait you've chosen stays on the hook. Like this." She brought the worm to very tip of the hook, then impaled it, much to Rarity's shock and horror.
Applejack continued until a majority of the worm had the hook inside it, then bent it so the hook's sharp end was sticking out. "This way you'll be able to snag a fish when it chomps down on the lil' critter."
Rarity swallowed, trying not to get sick. "I-I s-see."
Applejack paused, then smiled. "Don't worry, we're past the gross part."
Rarity heaved a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank heavens", she said as she wiped sweat off of her forehead.
Applejack held a small red and white sphere with a tiny cylinder sticking out, which was attached to the line.. "This here's a bobber. Where ya put it on the line determines how deep yer bait goes. More importantly, though, it also lets you know when a fish is bitin'."
Rarity nodded.
Applejack grabbed the bottom of the rod, then put her thumb on a button. "Now that ya know all that, I think it's time to show you how to cast." She raised both of her arms until they were behind her shoulder. With a deep breath and exhale, she pressed the button, then whipped the pole forward.
Everyone watched as Applejack's fishing line flew through the air, then landed in the water several meters away.
"Now all I gotta do is wait for the fish to bite."
Rarity blinked. "We wait?"
Applejack nodded.
Rarity folded her arms. "I fail to see the excitement here."
Applejack rolled her eyes, then sighed to calm herself down. "It's about the anticipation, Rarity."
"If you say so." Rarity picked up a rod, then turned to the bucket of bait. She hesitated.
"Let me help you with that, Rarity." Twilight took the rod from Rarity, then impaled the worm.
"Thank you, Twilight. I simply couldn't stomach doing that myself."
Twilight smiled as she returned the rod to Rarity, who raised her hands, then cast...
...only for the line to land just over a foot away from the boat.
Rarity made a sputtering noise.
"Aw, don't worry," Applejack said. "If'n ya get a bite, ya won't have to reel it in for long!"
Rarity sighed. "I suppose I'll take consolation in that."
"Hey, Sunset," Rainbow said. "What's fishing like in Equestria?"
Sunset cupped her chin. "Actually, I don't think I-"
Rarity yelped, cutting Sunset off. "Oh my goodness, I think I have a bite!"
"Yank your pole upward," Applejack said.
Rainbow grinned. "That's what she said."
Rarity did as she was told. "What now?"
"Let it swim away a bit to tucker it out, then reel it back in! Repeat that process until you feel less resistance!"
Rarity nodded, then waged war against the fish. She let it swim away a little, then reeled it in until it finally popped out of the water.
"You did it," Sunset cheered.
Pinkie grinned widely as she swiftly took a camera out of her hair and took a picture of the moment.
Rarity yelped as the fish flopped around on the boat.
"Not bad for a first catch there, Rares," Applejack said as she gave Twilight her rod. "Hold on to that for a sec, will ya?" She walked over to the fish, freed it from the hook, then threw it back in the water. "Now you can tell yer dad you went and caught a fish!"
"Indeed," Rarity said. "For the only time. I still fail to see the appeal of this."
"That's fair enough. Least ya gave it a try." Applejack took Rarity's rod and gave it to Twilight. "All right, y'all. How's this sound: we each catch at least one fish, then go from there."
Everyone agreed.
"All right then! Best of luck, Twi," Applejack said as she took her rod back.
A couple of hours had passed since everyone went fishing. Applejack had caught three, Rainbow caught two, and everyone else caught one.
Applejack wiped some sweat off of her forehead. "Hoo-wee! That was a blast!" She checked her phone. "Looks like it's about time for lunch. Y'all hungry?"
Everyone nodded.
"Well let's get goin' then!"
The girls headed back towards land, then to the mess hall.
After lunch, preparations for the Crystal Ball would begin.