//------------------------------//
// Act I, Scene 6: Down on the Farm 
// Story: Summer Sun, Dawning Chaos 
// by CTVulpin 
//------------------------------//

	As the lunchtime hours flowed along, Stella Moon and her entourage were meandering toward the agricultural corner of Ponyville as their tour guide Spike regaled them with an account of the previous year’s Celebration and Nightmare Moon’s return.  “I’ve got to say it was a little weird,” he said from his spot riding on Soul Mage’s back, “When I fell asleep – which I tried so hard not to do, but after the partying and staying up so long… anyway, when I fell asleep we were facing eternal night at the whim of a crazy scary night pony, but when I woke up the sun was up and there’s a celebration and I find out that Nightmare Moon was Princess Celestia’s sister!  I honestly wasn’t sure what to think.”
“Yes,” Stella muttered sardonically, “that was made quite clear when- oof!” Gold Heart had hopped up and poked the dark lavender pony in the ribs, giving her a warning look.  “Er, that is,” Stella said, raising her voice a little, “I could well guess how confusing it must have been for everypony.”  Spike didn’t show any signs of noticing the disguised princess’s near slip-up, but Stella decided to play it safe by changing the subject.  “I’m feeling a bit hungry,” she declared, “perhaps we should find some place to have lunch.”
“I know just the place,” Spike said, “Sweet Apple Acres isn’t too far from here, and if things are like they were last year, they’ll have plenty of food to spare.”
“Lead on young dragon,” Stella said with a nod.  Spike gave Soul a light kick in the sides and the unicorn obligingly trotted ahead on the path leading to Applejack’s farm, giving a playful whinny and snort as he did so.  Heart rolled her eyes and smirked at the display.
“The Apple family holds a large family reunion during the Summer Sun Celebration,” Spike explained as the group approached the entrance to the farm, “They try to have it wherever Princess Celestia is, but Applejack said the farm near Fillydelphia isn’t big enough to support the whole clan, so they’re gathering here this year.”
“So where are they?” Soul asked, looking around the seemingly empty fields and apple orchard he could see from the gate.
“Check the house, check the barns, search the orchard,” Heart said, taking the lead, “Unless you’ve got a better plan?”
About halfway down the path, the sound of hooves impacting a tree off to the right grabbed the group’s attention.  Going to investigate, Soul nearly bumped noses with Applejack as the farm pony came trotting toward the path with a pair of apple baskets strapped to her back.  “Well, I’ll be,” Applejack said, smiling, “Soul Mage, I ain’t seen you in well over a season.  In town fer the Celebration I take it?”
“Indeed we are,” Soul said with a nod, gesturing with his head at Heart and Stella, “Ashen Blaze and Gale are elsewhere in town, probably getting into mischief, but I’d like you to meet a new friend of ours, Stella Moon.”
AJ ran over to the tall unicorn and grabbed a leg with both hooves, shaking it vigorously.  “Well howdy there Ms. Moon, I’m Applejack,” she said, “pleased to meet you.”
“Charmed,” Stella said, taken aback by the earth pony’s enthusiasm.
“Now,” Applejack said, releasing the other pony’s hoof and taking a step back, “what can I do y’all fer?”
Stella just stared blankly for a second until Heart gave her a light nudge.  “I’m from Canterlot,” she said, “A reporter for a newspaper.  Er, I mean I’d like to be one.  I’m writing a piece on Ponyville’s Summer Sun traditions.  I heard from the dragon there that you’re an important pony to know when it comes to the food.”
“You got that right,” AJ said proudly, giving Spike a brief smile, “Sweet Apple Acres is the biggest producer of apples, and other assorted crops, round these parts.  I’m also noted fer being one of the best bakers in town.  Speakin’ of food, y’all are just in time for taste-testing the first round of the Apple Family’s Summer bake-off.  Come on.”  She began trotting away toward the farmhouse without waiting to see if anypony was following her.
“She’s… energetic,” Stella said as she and her escort began to follow Applejack.  Quite unlike her behavior around the real me, she added to herself.
“She’s doing pretty much the same thing she did when Twilight and I first met her,” Spike said, “She’s quite proud of her apples.”  Applejack led them to a long table in the yard in front of the farmhouse and placed Stella at the head with Heart and Soul on either side and Spike next to the golden-yellow unicorn.  As she left them there to go ring the triangle on the porch and drop her baskets, Spike leaned in and cautioned, “Prepare yourselves; there’s going to be a lot of ponies in-”  He was cut off as the triangle clanged loudly and rapidly.
“Bring ‘em in everypony!  We got guests!” Applejack shouted.  The ground rumbled under the impact of innumerable hooves as ponies colored in just about every conceivable combination of reds, yellows, oranges, and greens emerged from the farmhouse and various paths leading into the orchard.  Many were bearing pans, plates, or bowls filled with food on their backs or in their mouths.  The controlled stampede came to a stop, leaving the table and its occupants at the focus of a semi-circular crowd of ponies.  “Everypony,” Applejack said, stepping up behind Stella Moon and rearing back with a hoof on the chair for balance, “This here’s Stella Moon, Soul Mage, and Gold Heart.  Let’s give them an Apple Family welcome!”  That announcement set off another flurry of movement as the food-bearing ponies ran up one by one to the table to deposit their offering while AJ rattled off names.  In a matter of seconds the table was covered in apple-based foods of all kinds and the guests were reeling in bewilderment, except for Spike who was looking quite amused at the show.
“Merciful…” Stella muttered, eyes rolling as she swayed slightly in her seat.
“Uh…” Soul said, at a loss for words until his gaze swept across the table.  His confusion fled as his logical mind made a few connections and then readied a good-natured quip for him to use: “I’m sorry, were you introducing the clan or laying out the menu?”  His words snapped Heart out of her daze and she started to lift a wing before realizing she couldn’t reach him from across the table, so she settled for rolling her eyes and smirking.  AJ and her relatives chuckled appreciatively.  “Seriously though,” Soul said, grinning at the orange farmpony, “This all looks great.  I don’t know where to start.”
“Well I do,” Spike declared, grabbing several caramel apples off a plate and taking a huge bite out of one.  With that, the meal officially began.



“Hoo-wee,” Spike said, leaning back in his seat, “That’s the best apple pie I’ve ever had Applejack.”  The majority of the Apples had gone back to their business after eating their share of the food, leaving only Applejack and Big Macintosh to entertain the visitors.
“Thanks sugarcube,” Applejack replied dryly, “but I didn’t make that one.  Heck, I’ve been so busy makin’ sure there’s enough apples for everypony else’s projects that ain’t had time ta start bakin’ anything myself.”
“It was a most satisfactory meal,” Stella said, “Although I must say I’m surprised at just how many apples you’ve used.  Apples normally ripen around autumn, do they not?  Summer has not even officially begun, so where did all this come from?”
Applejack and Macintosh chuckled and the farm-mare titled her hat back as she explained, “Well, a fair amount comes from the leftovers of our winter storage, but we’ve got a little section of the orchard where the apples grow and ripen in no time flat just so we can have fresh apples fer the summer.”
“That’s…. amazing,” Gold Heart said, “How did you manage that, if you don’t mind me asking?  Are they bespelled to mature faster?”
AJ snorted disdainfully.  “You’ve been livin’ round those Canterlot unicorns too long,” she said.  Macintosh gave her a look and she cleared her throat and smiled apologetically at Stella.  “Er, no offense ma’am,” she said, “but us Apples have a long tradition of relyin’ on our own earth pony ingenuity rather than magic to solve our problems.”
“I understand,” the dark lavender unicorn said, “I would hope most earth ponies have similar convictions.”
“Strength in diversity,” Soul said with a nod.
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said, nodding sagely.
“The early ripening apples are something my family’s developed over generations of careful cultivation,” Applejack said.  She glanced up at the sky and blinked in surprise.  “Speakin’ of apples-”
“That’s all we’ve been talking about,” Soul muttered with a smirk.
“I need ta deliver a basket to Fluttershy,” the orange earth pony continued, ignoring the unicorn, “Sorry to skedaddle, but-”
“May we join you?” Stella asked, “I was really hoping I would get to meet this Fluttershy.”
“That so?” Applejack said, giving Stella a curious look, “Not that she’s a nice pony and friend of mine, but what’s got you so eager to meet her?  Is it ‘cuz of her modeling career?”
“Uh… yes,” Stella said, grinning broadly.
“Well alright then,” AJ said, “Meet me out by the gate in a few minutes.”  She got up from the table and walked to the porch where she’d left her apple baskets.  The group got up as well, made their good-byes to Macintosh, and headed for the gate.  Applejack caught up to them a minute later, her back laden with apples again, and took the lead as they started down the road toward Fluttershy’s cottage.  When the tree-covered hills of the farm began to fade into the background and the four ponies and single dragon were alone, AJ slowed down until she was walking next to Stella and asked, “So what’s the real reason you’re in town?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Yer not a reporter,” AJ said, coming to a stop, “I’ve met my share of newsponies, and even those from Canterlot don’t talk as fancy as you do.  And you two,” she shifted her gaze to Heart and Soul, “Y’all should know better than ta try and get a lie past me of all ponies.”
“Honesty…” Soul muttered, facehoofing.  Stella opened her mouth to try and reply, but Soul shook his head at her and fixed his gaze on Applejack’s eyes.  “AJ,” he said in a serious tone, “We’re here to experience the Summer Sun Celebration and have fun.  Sure, ‘Stella’ has some secrets she doesn’t want to share, but don’t we all?”
The suspicion drained from Applejack’s face and she pulled her hat down over her eyes.  “You’re right,” she said with a sigh, “I shouldn’t be pryin’ into business that ain’t mine, and if y’all trust her, that’s good enough fer me.  My apologies Ms. Moon.”
“I…” the tall unicorn said hesitantly as Applejack started walking again, with Soul and Spike right behind her.  Heart started to follow as well, but Stella stopped her with a hoof on her shoulder and leaned in to confer with the golden-yellow pegasus.  “I am starting to feel guilty about this deception,” she said quietly, “Applejack is a pony who knows the real me, so why should I hide from her?”
“The point of this is to see the Celebration like a normal pony, remember?” Heart replied softly, “But I know how you feel, you’re caught between achieving your goal and being honest.  Personally, I’d-”
“Hey, what’s keeping you two?” Soul called out.  The mares glanced up to see him and AJ standing at a bend in the road, looking back at them.
“Short version,” Heart whispered to the disguised princess, “Think of a compromise between the two.  We’re coming,” she called back to Soul as she trotted toward him.
Compromise? Stella thought as she started walking, How?  I could ask questions about myself, drop hints, but what do I do if somepony actually figures it out?  No, I can’t keep this masquerade up.  Applejack’s been treating me like any other pony, more or less, since Nightmare Night.  I can trust her to keep a secret, right?  But then there’s Twilight Sparkle’s little dragon…  She shook her head and moved from a walk to a canter to catch up with the group.  I can deal with him, she concluded.  “Fair Applejack,” she started to say as she pulled up even with the farm pony, only to be interrupted by a shout from farther down the road.
“Heart!  Soul!”  Two earth pony mares were racing up to the group.  The one in the lead was brown with a darker brown mane and tail and the other was a dark purplish-grey with a straight light grey mane and tail.
“Gale?” Soul said in surprise as the pair came to a stop in front of them, “What’s up?  Isn’t Ash supposed to be with you?”
“He was, yeah,” Gale said grumpily, “He disappeared a while ago and I have had no luck finding him.  You haven’t seen him by chance?”  She looked hopeful for a second, but then shook her head sadly.  “No, he’d be with you if you had…  Oh, this is Susan Pie, Pinkie’s sister,” she added, waving a hoof at the pony beside her half-heartedly.
“Good to meet you,” Heart said pleasantly, “Call me Gold Heart, Heart for short.  This is Soul Mage, Stella Moon, and… do you know Applejack already?”
“I’m sure Pinkie’s told her about me,” AJ said, “but we ain’t had the pleasure of meeting before.  Howdy.”  She went over and shook Susan’s hoof and then gave Gale a serious look.  “Now what was that about Ashen Blaze going missin’?”
“We went to Sugar Cube Corner,” Gale explained, “just so Ash could bum an oven and ingredients to make rolls with this batch of stinim he suddenly had.”
“Stinim? How?” Heart and Soul exclaimed simultaneously.
“No idea,” Gale said, “Anyway, just a few minutes later he’s gone without a trace and he left the stinim sticks behind.”
“That does not bode well,” Soul said, “Where have you looked?”
“Just about everywhere,” Gale said, “We’ve got Rarity trying to get a trace on his Artificial Element necklace on the chance he’s slipped past us and Susan here can see personal auras, so she’s been helping me in lieu of using PC.  Oh, did I mention Ash took PC with him?  Ugh…”  She sank to her haunches in mild despair.  “Well, we can probably skip Sweet Apple now,” she said after a moment, “so if he’s not back in town he must have… Argh, I don’t know!  He can teleport.  He could be anywhere between Zecora’s hut and Canterlot!  Why me?!”  She dropped fully onto her belly, breathing raggedly through clenched teeth as her irises slowly shrank.
“Is she… trancing?” Soul asked worriedly as Heart leaned down to look into Gale’s eyes, “Has she seriously sent herself over the edge over Ash?”
“Are you not concerned about his well-being?” Stella asked, giving the golden-yellow unicorn a hard look.
“I am concerned,” Soul snapped, “But Gale usually trips out over machines, not people, er, ponies.”
“Gale,” Heart said, patting the earth pony’s cheek gently, “stay with us girl.  Slow breaths.  Don’t make me sic Soul’s faulty logic on you.”
“I’d take offense to that if I weren’t trying to think of an appropriate paradox,” Soul said.
“No,” Gale moaned, thrusting a hoof into the air in surrender, “No idiotic whatevers.  I’m functioning, I’m… good.”  She heaved herself to her feet and tried to give the ponies around her a smile, but her wobbly, pin-point eyes made it look less than reassuring.
“Oh, you are definitely not alright sugar,” Applejack said, walking over to lean supportively against Gale, “You look like me after five days of non-stop apple-bucking.  You need to take a break and get yer marbles sorted back out.  Why don’t you come with us ta Fluttershy’s?  She’s probably got some tea ta help you relax a little.”
“We still haven’t checked around there,” Susan pointed out as Gale began to protest.
“Fine,” the brown earth pony said dejectedly, “let’s go.”  Head hanging low, she plodded down the road.
When the meadow around Fluttershy’s little hill-cottage came into view, Gale was still in a dour mood despite her friends’s attempts to distract her.  “So,” Soul Mage said, abruptly shifting his focus to Spike, who was now riding on Applejack’s back, “does Fluttershy normally have a role for the Summer Sun Celebration?”
“I think so,” the dragon said, “Last year she was in charge of music.  She’s got this little choir of songbirds that perform at parties and big events, and I’m pretty sure they were on Twilight’s list of possible entertainment.”  Soul nodded and was about to suggest to Gale that they ask to listen in on a rehearsal when he noticed Susan had slowed down and was gazing intently in the direction of the Everfree Forest.
“I think I sense your friend,” the dark-grey earth pony said.  Gale’s head shot up and turned to look hopefully at Susan.  “There’s another strange aura alongside it,” Susan said, “but I’m pretty sure it’s him, and he’s headed in our general direction.”
“Finally,” Gale said with a snarl, “he’s going to suffer for the trouble he’s caused me.”
“Easy there magebane girl,” Soul said as he and Heart followed the earth pony as she stalked toward the forest, “At least make sure he’ll be able to explain himself afterward.”  Heart cast a sideways look at her brother but didn’t comment.  Stella, Susan, and Applejack followed the Order-naries at a distance, concern over many things crossing their faces.  When they reached the point where the path split between Fluttershy’s yard and the Forest entrance, they saw an equine shape walking out of the misty woods.  Once she entered the sunlight, the figure’s stripes and golden jewelry became recognizable, as did the ash-grey pony she was dragging on a makeshift stretcher behind her.
“Ah,” Zecora said, “I am glad to see you all here.  Poor Ashen Blaze is not well I fear.”
“What happened?” Heart asked as she, Soul, and Gale ran over to check on their friend.  He didn’t appear wounded and his gemstone necklace was present, but his eyes were nearly closed and unfocused and his horn bore a faint shimmer of magic.  PC lay beside his head, a single yellow light indicating that it was operational but asleep.
“The full story is a mystery to me,” the zebra said, shrugging out of the stretcher, “I found him like this in a dangerous part of Everfree.  His horn glows as if casting a spell, and he was muttering, but about what I could not tell.”
“Ash, you awake?” Soul asked, giving the unicorn a gentle shove.  Ash grimaced and mumbled incoherently before going still again.  Soul put a hoof to Ash’s forehead and frowned.  “Too warm.  I think he’s either catching something or straining his magic too much.  Heart, let’s douse him.”  Heart nodded and Soul began to channel his spirit magic toward her.
“Wait.”  Everypony turned to see Fluttershy standing behind them in the gateway to her property.  The shy pegasus shrank back under the attention but then steeled her nerves and said, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but if you need water, you could use some from my stream.  If you want to that is.”
“Thanks,” Soul said, completing the link between him and his sister, “but we’ve got this covered.  Give Heart some room folks.”  The two golden-yellow ponies became wreathed in ethereal blue flames as Gold Heart jumped into a low hover and pointed her front hooves toward Ash.  The flames around the pegasus began to flow into the space between her hooves and formed into a spinning blue disk of energy.  
When the disk reached the proper size, Heart pulled one hoof back and then thrust it toward Ash with a shout, “Element Wheel, Water!”  The energy flew toward the dopey unicorn and exploded wetly over him, dousing him with water and snapping him out of his daze.
“What’s the-” Ash exclaimed, sitting up suddenly and looking around.  “Order-naries present, one zebra, other ponies and I’m…”  His gaze slid up to his horn and he groaned.  “Ah skvetch,” he swore, standing up and shaking the water from his coat, “not to sound unappreciative, but you guys just made me drop the barrier I was holding.”
“What barrier?” Gale asked, giving Ash a suspicious look.
“A barrier to try and hold back…  Uh where’s– oh there you are.”  He picked and switched on PC before settling the computer on his head.
“Hold back what Ash?” Soul prompted, “What’s in there?”  As if in answer, a pair of small round fuzzy creatures, one blue and one brown, came buzzing out of the forest, their large compound eyes and silly smiles making them look oddly adorable.  Applejack, Fluttershy, and Susan Pie stared at the bug with horror ranging from mild to paralyzing.
“Parasprites!” the purplish-grey earth pony exclaimed.  She and AJ both leaped forward, grabbed a parasprite each, and flung them unceremoniously back into the trees.
“Yeah,” Ash said dully, rubbing his head, “Those are just the forerunners.  When my barrier collapses in… a minute or so, we’ll up to our knees the little meepers.”
Susan Fidelity Pie stared in open-mouthed shock at Ashen Blaze, an expression that was shared by Applejack and Fluttershy, and to a lesser extent Zecora.  “Tell me yer jokin’ Ash,” Applejack said after a second, her voice weak and pleading.  The grey, fire-maned unicorn shook his head sadly.  “Shoot!” the farmpony exclaimed, “I gotta protect the apples!”  She spun around and galloped away at full speed.  Fluttershy also fled, heading into her house and starting to barricade everything.
“They’re that bad are they?” Soul Mage asked dryly.
“A single parasprite can spell a town’s doom,” Zecora said, “Ponyville must be warned, lest their stores be consumed.”
“Ugh,” Ash grunted, shaking his head again, “We’ll barely be ahead of the wave if we run, but I’m near to burnt out on magic.  No teleports for a while.”
“You’re not the only pony with such a spell Ashen Blaze,” Stella Moon said, power beginning to radiate from her whole being, “gather close my little ponies.”