It was another beautiful day in Ponyville… more or less. Even with the prep work, the storm had still caused some damage, but that was nothing compared to days when something skulked out of the Everfree. As far as Applejack was concerned, the slumber party had been the worst part of the whole night, and even that had led to some good.
But for right now, other ponies had the loose branches and occasional broken window well in hoof. All she had to focus on was selling her pride and joy.
And as if summoned by the thought, a friend came trotting up to the stand, a smile on her face. “Hi, Applejack!”
“Howdy, Twi,” Applejack said with a tip of the hat and a grin of her own.
And without shifting that expression one inch, Twilight said, “The three-eyed owl need not turn its head.”
Applejack blinked, then rubbed her head in case she’d managed to hit it on a branch while trotting into town. “Beg pardon?”
“Oh! Sorry.” Twilight cleared her throat and said “The Great Mystery consumes us all” as though that were any more reasonable.
“Ain’t sure where yer goin’ with this, sugarcube, ‘cause I ain’t followin’.”
Twilight ears drooped, panic starting to creep into her expression. “Um… Oh, what was it? The mob at the gates does not know the back entrance?”
Applejack took a look around. No pranksters snickering at the two of them, but Rainbow Dash might be directly overhead. She sighed and said, “Twilight, this here’s a farmer’s market. If ya wanna buy somethin’, alls you gotta say is ‘Howdy, AJ, I’d like some Pippins,’ an’ then I’ll say, ‘Sure thing, Twi, they’re three fer five bits.’”
“That’s it?” Twilight took a step back and looked over the stall like she’d never seen it before. “Really?”
“Normally I’d haggle a little, but I ain’t sure yer ready for that kinda thing. The hay was that?”
Twilight’s head drooped as one hooftip dragged in the dirt. “Well, when I was at Celestia’s School, I mostly just ate whatever they were serving at the dining halls. Or whatever Spike put under my muzzle. But he’s still back home on royal business and I haven’t done much grocery shopping since I was a filly.” She shrugged. “Mom always said all the stores with the best deals have a passphrase. And to not buy any nonperishables, because those are cursed more often than not.”
“You don’t say.” Applejack looked to the Canterhorn and the city thereon. “That sorta thing normal up in Canterlot?”
“It was in my neighborhood.” After a moment, Twilight frowned and added, “I think. Moondancer’s mother always did look at me funny when I asked for bitter truth and sweetest lies in my sandwich.”
That got the eyebrow. “You pullin’ my tail right now?”
“No, but I think I may need to write to Mom when I get back to the library.” Twilight offered a sheepish grin. “So, about those Pippins…”
Twilight Velvet always appreciated letters from her foals. For one, it made for amazing gossip. For another, it was nice to know that they hadn’t forgotten their poor, sweet mother as they went on to do amazing things. But this one did make her sigh a little.
Night Light looked up from his latest star chart. “Something wrong, dear?”
“Nothing, Nighty. I know Sparkle will be eating right thanks to those earth pony friends of hers.” Velvet couldn’t keep the frown off her face. “Still, a mother can’t help but worry.”
“Dear, we’ve been over this,” Night Light said in the monotone he used when his mind was focused elsewhere. “Food can be nutritious without bathing in the unfathomable energy of the cosmos.”
She gave him a sharp glare. “So you’re saying you don’t want the Casserole Unfathomable?”
Night flinched without even turning his head, very nearly marking a celestial convergence several years early. “Every day, I don’t know whether I should thank or curse that roommate of yours.”
Velvet giggled at that. “You have to admit, dear, if it weren’t for A. K. Yearling, our meals would be a lot more boring.”