//------------------------------// // Checking Preparations (Food and Weather) // Story: The Magic Within // by Night--Mist //------------------------------// Checking Preparations (Food and Weather) Later that afternoon, while the Twilight and Spike argued about Twilight making friends, Ponyville came into view. As the town was preparing for the Summer Sun Celebration, they caught a glimpse of the youngest Princess as the pegasi pulling her carriage finally landed. Twilight and Spike soon stepped off and Twilight thanked the two Stallions for the ride. Spike then said, "Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about." Soon a pink earth pony started to walk up to them. "Come on Twilight, just try," the baby dragon pleaded. The young princess looked at the pink pony and said, "Uh, Hello." The pony with the balloons on her flank gasped and dashed off at an unknown speed making Twilight and Spike duck in the nick of time. As Twilight straightened out her crown she said, "Well, that was certainly new. Don't usually get that reaction when subjects see me. Usually they bow and then run off." "I'll say, she nearly knocked your crown clean off," Spike replied. "Well onto the preparations," Twilight said. They were soon off and were greeted by many ponies bowing in respect, with a few giving a shy response to her. Twilight kindly gestured back and walked on once they had gotten near the outskirts, Spike said, "Aright, time to take care of the first item to the check list: Food Preparations at Sweet Apple Acres." "Well, this should be a treat. Maybe we'll see Granny Smith while we're here," Twilight said as they walked onto a farm that had many Apple trees planted on it. "Yeah, Granny Smith is always nice when she visits Canterlot," Spike adds. "Yeeeee ha," said a voice. Twilight and Spike look in the direction they had heard the voice to see an orange earth mare with a western style hat bucking apple trees. "Well, guess there's no Granny Smith today. Let's get this over with," Twilight says. They headed over to the orange pony, who bowed in respect and Twilight said, "Good afternoon, I am Princess Twilight Sparkle." The next thing that happened had taken her by surprise as the pony took her hoof and shook it very fast as she said, "Well how do ya do Princess. A pleasure makin your aquantence. Ah'm Applejack, we here at Sweet Apple Acres, sure do like makin new friends." Twilight replied in a shacky voice, "Friends? Actually I..." "Oh forgive me your highness. Ah sometimes get carried away when meeting new ponies, Ah shouldn't of done that," AppleJack said as she stopped shaking Twilight's hoof realizing her mistake in the presence of royalty and Spike stopped Twilight from shaking it like crazy. "It's okay, I'll say that was quite a firm hoof shake you have," Twilight says, trying not to embarrass the apple farmer. "So, what can Ah do ya for, your majesty?" Applejack asked. Twilight took a breath, cleared her throat and said, "Well I am in fact here to supervise preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. And you're in charge of the food?" "We sure as sugar are. Would ya care ta sample some your highness?" Applejack asks. "Well as long as it doesn't take too long," Twilight replies. "Thank you your highness, now if you'll kindly excuse me for a moment," Applejack said. "Go right ahead," Twilight said wanting to get it over with. Soon Apple jack sped off towards the barn and Twilight and Spike heard her ring a triangular bell as she yelled, "Soup's on everypony!" Twilight had just enough time to spread her wings and fly up as she saw ponies running in her direction, but just as she cleared them, Spike grabbed a hold of her tail. Spike however, didn't make it clear of the ponies and was dragged forward, taking Twilight with him. Soon they land next to and outdoor table, both feeling a little dazed by the stampede that had taken them by surprise. "Sorry bout that your highness, a lot of mouths ta feed today," Applejack said. "Well, I can certainly say you have an exciting lifestyle down here," Twilight commented still trying to gain her barrings. Once Twilight's and Spike's senses came back into focus, Applejack introduces them to the Apple family. There was a long list of ponies and she finished off as she said, "Big Mackintosh, Apple Bloom, Aaannd...." "Granny Smith," Twilight said, as she spotted the tired old pony. "Huh, who, wha?" Granny replied as she wakes up. "Wait, you know my Granny, your highness?" Applejack asked. "Yes as a matter of fact I do. It's a bit hard to ignore the only mare who sells zap apple jam every time she's in Canterlot. She saves my family and I a special batch each visit," Twilight said. "Darn tootin, Howdy your majesty," Granny Smith said. "Good afternoon Granny Smith, pleasure to see you again," Twilight said. "Well Ah'll be, and here Ah thought Ah was the only Apple Family member in Ponyville who knew important people. Ah suppose that makes you an honorary member of the family Princess," Applejack said. Twilight laughed nervously and said, "Well, I see that the food situation is handled, so Spike and I will be on our way." "Aren'tcha gonna stay fur brunch, your majesty?" Apple Bloom asked, putting on her pleading face. Twilight replied as apologetically as she could, "Sorry, but we have an awful lot to do." "Awwwwwwwwwww," the Apple family says in unison. Twilight felt she would regret leaving now, for she didn't want to make her subjects feel down and said, "Oh, alright, we'll stay." The Apple family immediately cheered and the feasting began. It took Twilight and Spike a good while to finish with the food and soon they were on their way to check on the next thing on the list after the Apple Family gave them a polite farewell. "Alright, food's all taken care of, next on the check list is weather," Spike said. As they walked Twilight said, feeling a little stuffed, "Oh, I ate too much pie." Spike said as he looked at the sky, "There's supposed to be a pegasus pony named Rainbow Dash clearing the clouds." Twilight looked up at the sky and said, "Well it looks to me that she isn't doing a very good job." Out of no where, a flash of rainbow hits the princess landing her in mud. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Please forgive me your highness, I didn't mean to, I'm sorry," the pegasus said. "It's okay, really," Twilight said. "I was trying to pull of an air maneuver, but it didn't quite work. I honestly didn't know you were here in Ponyville your highness," Rainbow Dash said. "Well concerning your flying, all I can say is keep practicing like I do, on another note, seems you have something you were in a hurry for," Twilight said. "I was, but here, let me help you your highness," the pegasus says. "I don't think that's," was all Twilight said once she walked out of the mud and the pegesus brought a rain cloud and started bouncing on it to release the water right over the lavender princess. By the time the cloud became white, Twilight was drenched. "Oops, I guess I overdid it. Sorry your highness, um." "Before you do any thing else, I'll just shake it off," Twilight said. She removed her crown and started shaking her body off. By the time she had finished, her mane became very frizzy as she place her crown back on. As Rainbow Dash looked at her, she said, "Forgive me your highness, but, (snicker), but, you may need (snicker) to go to the mane salon here in Ponyville," Rainbow Dash said trying to keep herself from laughing at the princess's presence, but spike couldn't help but laugh. "Well I'll keep that in mind. Let me guess, you're Rainbow Dash," Twilight said. The pegasus corrects her stance and said with pride, "The one and only. Why, ya hearda me your highness?" "I heard you were supposed to be keeping the skies clear. My mother has sent me here to check on the weather for the celebration," Twilight said, with some annoyance. "Oh the weather, that'll be a snap your highness. I'll do it in a jiffy, right after I'm done practicing," Rainbow Dash said. "Practicing for what?" Twilight asked. "The Wonderbolts. They're going to be performing at the Summer Sun Celebration tomorrow, and I'm gonna show em my stuff your highness," Rainbow Dash said with enthusiasm in her voice. "The Wonderbolts?" Twilight said getting an idea. "Yep," Rainbow Dash replies. "The most talented fliers in all of Equestria?" Twilight asked. "That's them, your highness" Rainbow Dash said. "Pfft, please, they'd never except a pegasus that can't even keep the sky clear for one measly day. I should know, I know Spitfire and Soarin'," Twilight said. "You know their captain and her right wing pony your majesty?" Rainbow Dash asked, interested and shocked at the same time. "Yes, they visit Canterlot Castle from time to time and I know Spitfire would not be too impressed by a whole bunch of clouds sitting in the sky during their flight," Twilight said. "I don't mean to brag your highness, but I can clear this sky in ten seconds flat," Rainbow Dash said defending herself. "Prove it," Twilight demanded with a sly smile on her face. Rainbow Dash didn't want to disobey direct orders and also didn't want to damage her pride, so she took off at speeds that Twilight had never seen. Twilight and spike watched in awe as Rainbow Dash went left, right, up, down and all around clearing every cloud she could. Like she said she could, she finished in ten seconds flat. Twilight was jaw dropped, and Rainbow Dash said, "What'd I say? Ten seconds flat. I'd never leave Ponyville hangin your majesty. (She looks at Twilight's expression) No offence your highness, but you should see the look on your face. You're almost as funny as Pinkie Pie, Princess Twilight, and that's a compliment to point out, I can't wait to hang out some more." Rainbow Dash soon took off and Spike said, "Wow, she's amazing." He looked at Twilight's frizzy mane and snickers. Twilight soon walked off towards their next destination annoyed and Spike said, "Wait, it's kinda pretty once you get used to it." Soon they were approaching the town hall and were preparing to take care of the next item on the list.