On a clear and bright day in the capital of Equestria a brown-coated unicorn mare strode from Canterlot Castle's front gate and into Canterlot proper, her maroon mane tied up into a tight bun and a stylish pair of spectacles resting low on the bridge of her nose. Around her neck she wore a yellow scarf and had on a small black vest situated above a pair of saddlebags. As she traversed the cobbled streets a small voice caught her attention and she turned to address the group of 4 children that had ran to catch up to her.
"Miss Syrup!" A green colt with a soft shade of rose pink for his short mane and brown eyes cried out, visibly pleased with being the first to greet her. "Ha! I win slowpokes!"
"Missus Maple!" The first filly to arrive shouted as she skidded to a stop next to the colt, her rose pink coat and long green mane spattered with different colored dyes ranging from white to red to blue to yellow to purple and even black! Her brown eyes a mirror of her brother's own gleamed with the same mischievous light. She glared at him before sticking out her tongue at her twin. "Cheater."
"H-Hi..." Said the second colt of the group, this one having a yellow coat and shaggy orange mane. He came up behind the last filly of the quartet, shyly looking down at his hooves.
"Hello Ms. Syrup." Said filly with identical coloring to Stamen tossed back her short mane leaned over to nudge her twin's hair out from in front of his eyes. "how can you even see with all this?"
"I can see just fine, Sis."
The now named Maple Syrup smiled warmly at the enthusiastic greeting from her little entourage and took the time to greet each one of them individually, levitating out a pastry box from her saddlebag for each one of them in a warm brown aura. "Hello to you too Leaf," Maple greeted as she gave the green-coated colt a cinnamon roll who took it happily. "And you Petal," The rainbow dyed filly accepted the offered chocolate tart and leaned over to give maple a hug before stepping off to the side with Leaf, the two of them jostling each other back and forth. The antics of the two causing those around them to swerve or sidestep with either fondness or disgruntlement.
"Those two, I swear..." With a shake of her head Maple turned to the other two, much calmer, pair before her. "Good morning you two. Stamen, how are your confidence lessons with Carpel going? She has more than enough to share." Maple asked as she gave them both cherry strudels.
"I-I think I'm getting better. Kinda. Sis has been a huge help when I get discouraged or too caught up in my own thoughts." Stamen answered, taking the treat and looking at his sister for confirmation, his green eyes large and hopeful for words of praise from the pony he looked up to most.
"Yeah, he's doing great! just can't seem to speak any louder in crowds yet. it's a work in progress. And like dad always tells us, 'Let the plants grow on their own-" Carpel answered, looking to her brother to finish the quote.
"-Nature doesn't rush and neither should you." Stamen finished and leaned against Carpel.
"Well this IS a lovely sentiment." Maple said with a smile, pointing a hoof at where the other children had run off too. "We should go and keep an eye on them, hm?" Carpel took her strudel with a small "thank you" and followed Maple to a nearby table where the troublemakers had run off to, nudging Stamen to move out of the path of other ponies on the street as they walked.
After the group of five had spent a while talking (in the case of Maple, Carpel, and Stamen) or playing, (in the case of Leaf and Petal) Leaf, having just finished his roll, licked his lips and looked into a nearby shops window to check the time, letting out a yelp upon seeing it. "Oh shoot! We're gonna miss the movie! Flower Squad, we gotta go!" Once the rest of the children heard Leaf's call to action they all began to slightly panic, hastily saying goodbye to Maple before taking off down the street.
"Oh dear, children these days just have to keep moving, don't they?" With a shake of her head, Maple Syrup put away the box of treats and continued on her way toward Canterlot train station, making sure to wave and greet others on the streets that she passed. and almost before she knew it Maple was standing before the ticket booth.
"Heading to Ponyville again Maple?" Asked the conductor inside the booth, already printing out the required ticket.
"Correct my dear, round trip as well." Maple floated forward the required payment and took her ticket, moving aside to wait for her train. Maple cast her gaze over the other ponies at the station and rechecked that the spell was still holding strong. A small smirk grew on her muzzle as the train' whistle called for boarding. "Oh Maple Syrup you've done it again, gotten me out of both the castle and city so easily!" 'Maple' chuckled to herself under her breath as she took a window seat to watch the countryside fly by.
"... I hope Luna is doing ok, times have changed far more than I think she realizes." With a small sigh at the disparaging thoughts 'Maple' opened one of her saddlebags and lifted one of the many baked goods containers she was carrying up to her face, breathing in deeply with a satisfied smile at the slice of pie it contained. "On the other hoof, she is no doubt reveling in driving those poor nobles up the walls. I almost feel bad for them."
As 'Maple' proceeded to dig into her tasty treat on the train to Ponyville, Princess Luna was sitting in her sister's throne. Bored to death. With a deep, groaning wail Luna inelegantly slumped out of the throne and dragged herself to her hooves, and plodded over to one of the stained glass windows, attempting to look through the patterned and colored glass for ANYTHING to distract her from this unending torment.
And it was right at that moment Twilight Sparkle walked in.