“My dear student Sunlight, there is more to a young pony’s life then reading. So I’m trusting you to supervise the preparations for this year’s Summer Sun Celebration in this year’s location, Ponyville. But I have an even more important task for you to complete, make some friends!”
Sunlight was most certainly not amused!
The most feared villain in all Equastrian history was returning and her teacher wanted her to make friends! Sometimes he could be a real troll!”
“Look on the bright side Sunlight, the Prince arranged for you to stay in a library; doesn’t that make you happy?!”
A library? A library!
“Yes, yes it does! You know why? Because I’m right! I’ll speed through checking the preparations and get to the library to find proof of Nightmare Twilight’s return!”
“Then when will you make friends like the Prince asked?”
“He said to check on preparations; I am his student and I’ll gladly perform my royal duties, but please-- the fate of Equastria dosen’t rely on me making friends.”
At her words the golden sky carriage came in for a landing and Sunlight, followed by Phila, hopped out and thanked the kind stallions who had pulled the carriage.
“Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about!” Phila says while gesturing at a middle aged mare with three smiling flowers adorning her flank, who was trotting merrily in their direction.
“That was quite the entrance” the mare joked. “So, what brings you to the humble town of Ponyville?”
Sunlight, hesitant about meeting the cheery mare, shied away from her vast smile.
“Come on Sunlight, just try.”
Somewhat reassured by her friend’s words Sunlight tried to smile as well and stuttered a reply.
“I-I ‘m here t-to check on preparations for t-t-the Summer Sun Celebration, and then I-I’ll be s-staying in the local library.”
“The library? Ah, a fellow scholar I presume.”
This eased Sunlight’s fears about the happy mare. Another educated mare. Maybe she could help her in her search for evidence of Nightmare Twilight?
But the mare seemed to have other plans as she trotted cheerily away. She called “I’ll see you later” before trotting around the corner.
“Summer Sun Celebration official overseer’s checklist--Number one: banquet preparations, Sweet Apple Acres.”
As soon as she ended her sentence, Phila and Sunlight entered through an apple draped gateway into a yard next to a pristine red barn. All around them were miles of apple trees and Sunlight was just a bit overwhelmed.
Speaking of overwhelmed…
Out of nowhere a stallion appeared “Hey there! Welcome to SWEET APPLE ACRES!” he proclaimed while rearing up and flailing his front hooves.
“Um” She was momentarily at a loss for words. Where had the stallion come from?” Good afternoon! I’m Sunlight Shimmer and-“
“Well howdy Sunlight! Names Braeburn and I’m in charge here at SWEET APPLE ACRES.” He reared again.
“Uh yes, right well I’m her-“
“Allow me ta give you the grand tour of SWEET APPLE ACRES!”
Then the crazy stallion shoved Sunlight and Phila with his forehead until they were standing in front of the red barn.
“ Here’s the barn house were mah family and I stay.”
“That’s great but--“
And then he shoved them towards a grove of strange looking trees bare of any fruit.
“And this is where we grow zapapples to make our zapapple jam, I’m sure you’ve had some.”
“Oh yes I have and it--“
He then shoved them over to a large pasture.
“And this is where the cow family lives.”
“Oh I’ve never me- “
Then he shoved them up a small hill so they could see the miles and miles of apple trees.
“And here’s the most wonderful sight in all SWEET APPLE ACRES! Our apple trees.”
“Braeburn.”
“ Harvest will be any day now.”
“ Braeburn!”
“ Good thing too.”
“BRA-“
“Cause we need that grub to live on.”
“ BRAEBURN!”
That shut the yellow stallion up.
“Uh, yes M’am? What can I do ya for?”
”I am, in fact, here to supervise preparations for the Summer Sun Celebrations, and you’re in charge of the food.”
“We sure as shamrock are! Care tah sample some?”
If they were in charge of food then they were in charge of dessert and if they were in charge of dessert then…
“Yes! I mean-ahmen-yes.”
Then they were swept up in a herd of earth colored ponies and somehow ended up at a table with a worn table cloth.
“Now why don’t I introduce the Apple Family.” Then he listed off so many ponies, who each came forward and left one treat on the table, that there were too many to count.
When he nearly finished, there was a pile of plates and food so high that a pony could fit comfortably in the center.
“Big Mac”(A giant red stallion with kind green eyes).”AppleBloom”(an adorable cream filly with red hair and the cutest little bow in her mane).
“Aaaand, Granny Smith.” Granny Smith, an old green mare with a frazzled white mane kept up in a bun, sat rocking in a chair.
“Up and at um Granny, we got guests.”
The old mare snorted and creaked out of her chair before sloooooooowly making her way to the table.
“ Why I’d say they’re already part of the family!”
Enough talk! Time for eating!
Then the mare started grabbing for as much of it as she could carry. After all, she had other things to “supervise.”
‘Where ya goin miss?” Asked adorable Applebloom,” Aren’t ya gunna stay fer brunch?”
‘Oh I’d love to, but I have a lot of things to do…but this food looks deliceuse!”
But it was too late, the filly had busted out “the puppy dog eyes” and there was no way any pony, not even this shy unicorn, was ever going to refuse her.
“Fine” She responded, her good mood ruined by the overbearing family and the too cute filly, but the Apples seemed the opposite of her mood. Cheering like she was the gosh darned Princess!
Well, at least she could eat all this food! Was there such a thing as apple cake?