//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Applejack Balances Her Books 
// by sparklepeep 
//------------------------------//

"Has anypony seen Applejack in the last two days?" Twilight Sparkle asked as she sat down at an empty seat next to her friends in Sugarcube Corner. She was met with a chorus of "nope"s and a "not a clue".

"She just disappears at the beginning of every winter," Rainbow Dash said as she took a sip of her hot chocolate, "some farm stuff, probably."

"It's a most beautiful time of the year, she should be enjoying it," Rarity remarked, "especially since she enjoys the outdoors so much. Even I am out and about in this delightful snow."

"Yeah, only because it's an excuse for you to wear your scarf!"

"Oh, Rainbow Dash, of course you of all ponies doesn't understand how important it is to take every opportunity to be fabulous."

"Well, duh, that's because I take every opportunity to be awesome. And being awesome is waaaay better than being fabulous."

As Rainbow Dash and Rarity debated the relative merits of awesomeness and fabulocity, Twilight Sparkle drank her tea silently and looked out the window. The first snow of winter was falling, and all the ponies in Ponyville were out and about. Some of them played in the delightful fluff, while others like herself sat and watched with a cup of delicious hot beverage. With the exception of Fluttershy, who was hushing the last of the hibernating animals to sleep, the whole town was just relaxing and enjoying the weather.

"Maybe she's planning a surprise party," Pinkie Pie interjected despite Twilight not being in a conversation. Pinkie Pie was the only pony who can interject into something where, by definition, into which you cannot interject.

"I doubt that, Pinkie," Twilight mused.

"But everypony likes a party," Pinkie Pie insisted, "and if they aren't partying right now they are planning a party!"

"So are you planning a party right now, Pinkie?"

"Of course! I mean, duh, I'm not partying! I'm planning Lyra's next performance right now! I mean, I'm in Sugarcube Corner, and I'm not eating cupcakes, so that means I'm working! Oh wait, I'm working! I can't talk to you now, Twilight, got a party to plan!"

With that, Pinkie Pie bounced back to her table. With hooves working in a panic, she filled pages with diagrams and seating charts. Stacks of performance notes and set lists flew everywhere, though they were mostly stuck together since Pinkie insisted on writing with frosting instead of ink.

Shaking her head, Twilight went back to drinking her tea and looking out into the calming flurry. Maybe I'll visit Applejack this afternoon, she thought, she'll probably need help with whatever farm chores they have to do to prepare for winter.