//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: part 1 // Story: Royal Harvest Festival // by Featherdust418 //------------------------------// "Oh boy oh boy oh boy!" Pinkie Pie chirped, bouncing in circles around her friends. She, Applejack, A.J.'s family and the rest of her friends were all at the train station, waiting for the train to Canterlot to come in on this beautiful, cloudless morning. "Whew, I sure am excited, but I'm a might nervous, too," Applejack told her friends. "Hey, it doesn't matter what the turnout is," Twilight began, "just know that whatever happens, you will always be loved, respected, and appreciated by everypony here in Ponyville." A.J. stared at Twilight like she had just grown at least three hydra heads. "Twilight! Why, I know that! Why would you think that I… oh, right. The rodeo." Applejack looked at her friend with shame, while remembering how silly she had acted that day. She then steeled her gaze and said, "all right, maybe I was bein' stubborn then, but don't you worry! I won't let that happen again!" All her friends let out a sigh of relief. "So, uh, Pinkie Pie… I'm sorry you didn't get an invitation to the RHF. Y'all should have, 'cause your desserts are truly the best!" Applejack said to her friend. The energetic pink pony stopped bouncing and replied, "Oh, don't worry about me, Applejack! Princess Celestia and princess Luna already sent invites to you and Carrot Top. It wouldn't be very fair if three competitors all came from the same place! After all, there are only so many invitations, and they have to be evenly distributed throughout Equestria!" "Well, if you say so..." A.J. started, but then Pinkie appeared right in front of her muzzle and startled her. "Besides, if you win, it'll feel kind of like I won, too! I bet your samples will be a knock-out," she said as she reared up on her hind legs and lashed out with her front hooves. All of a sudden, she immediately jumped back on all fours as a worried look replaced her almost perpetual smile. "Oh, A.J! Just make sure your food isn't so good that it actually knocks-out the princesses!" cried Pinkie as she stuck her face in front of A.J.'s again. "Um… don't you fret none about that, sugarcube, I think the princesses can handle a little bit o' taste-testin'. If they couldn't, then they wouldn't even have the RHF!" "Well... I guess your right. Ooh, but promise me you'll be careful! No, wait... Pinkie promise me!" Applejack sighed and, while doing the motions, said, "Pinkie Pie, I promise I will not k.o. the princesses with my food samples. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." "Perfect!" cried the pink pony as she pulled her face away from Applejack's and started to bounce around again. "I can't believe you got invited to the RHF! That is so awesome!" A.J. heard a familiar voice from somewhere above her and she looked up. A sky-blue pegasus was hovering over her. "Well, hiya, Rainbow Dash! Thanks! It is pretty aweso"- "I mean, it's not as awesome as me, but it's still pretty awesome." 'I should've seen that one comin', A.J. thought as Rainbow landed in front of her. "So, what foods are you going to be showing off?" "Oh, well we're going to start with some apple pie, then we'll sample some apple cider"- "whoa! Apple cider!? If you show that off, you'll have this competition in the bag!" Rainbow cut A.J.off again as she licked her lips. Applejack sighed and responded, "well, maybe, but the real surprise comes after all that. 'Cause after that, the princesses are gonna be gettin' a taste o' zapapple jam!" "Oh ho, that is sweet! Yeah, there's no way you can lose," Rainbow Dash said to her friend. "I don't know, Rainbow. I mean, sure we've got some good stuff here, but I expect some pretty strong competition! I mean, what if we're not good enough? Ugh, I'm gettin' butterflies in my stomach just thinkin' about it..." "oh, um, hello Applejack..." A.J. could barely hear her yellow pegasus friend. "Huh? Oh, hi, Fluttershy! How are you? "Oh I- I'm fine, but I think, maybe, you are not fine," Fluttershy responded meekly. "Hmm? Oh... did you heard me say I had butterflies in my stomach?" A.J.asked her sheepishly. "Well, um... yes. but it's okay. You shouldn't be nervous. Maybe... maybe you shouldn't focus on the contest so much. You know, I bet if you focus a little bit on relaxing instead, you won't be so worried. Just think! your going to Canterlot! I remember going there as a little filly. My favorite memories were taking walks in the park. It was so calming, and there were pidgeons and ducks and..." Fluttershy stopped, realizing she had been talking about herself and the things she liked. "Oh, Applejack...I- I'm so sorry...I... "Heh, s'all right, sugar cube. But, you know what? that 'walk in the park' sounds like a really good idea. i bet it will be a perfect stress-reliever. Thanks for the advice!" "Oh, no problem. I'm just glad I could help," The shy pony replied. "Oh, darling, you are so very lucky!" As Fluttershy backed away, an all-white unicorn wearing sunglasses and a large floppy hat took her place. "Oh, hey, Rarity," said A.J. when she saw her fashionista friend. "Ah, Canterlot, such an absolutely wonderful place! So, Applejack… tell me, what sort of attire are you taking with you?" "Hmm? Oh, uh, well... just my hat, I guess," Applejack replied. "Oh dear, no! This won't do at all," Rarity cried out with a horrified look. "No offence to your hat, dear, but you can't possibly go to Canterlot without some sort of formal attire! Hmm … well, I suppose its too late to make something now... Oh! Applejack, would you do me the favor of at the very least taking your Gala dress with you?" "Well, I would, but I don't think you'll have time to go all the way to Carousel Boutique and back." "Oh, that will not be necessary," Rarity replied as she used a bit of magic to levitate a dress out of seemingly nowhere. "Wha-! How did… where… ah, never mind. Okay, you win, Rarity. Sure, I'll bring the dress along." "Oh, wonderful!" Exclaimed Rarity as she folded the dress neatly and put it away in A.J.'s saddlebag. "Just think of how useful it will be! You can wear it to parties- and who knows? Maybe you'll even use it to impress some stallion!" "Oh, yeah, sure, and maybe I'll win the trottery, too! C'mon, Rares, be serious!" "Oh, you think I'm joking?" "Well, uh… yeah? I mean, I'm not inter- "Applejack, darling, you don't really know what lies ahead. You can't really say whether or not you'll find a special somepony," Rarity interrupted. Applejack opened her mouth to argue, but then closed as she thought about what the chic unicorn had said. After thinking for a moment, she responded, "you know what, Rarity? You're right. Maybe I will meet a special somepony, maybe I won't. Maybe I'll win the contest, maybe I won't. I have no idea how things will turn out. So, I'm just gonna do what I can, and hope for the best." Rarity was surprised- she expected some sort of an argument from her cow-pony friend. "Why, Applejack! That's very commendable of you! And, whatever the turnout is from this trip, I hope you have a wonderful time." "Why, thanks, sugarcube! I hope so, too." "Hey Applejack!" A.J. spun around to see Spike running over. "Well, howdy Spike! How are you this fine mornin'?" "Oh, I'm fine. I wanted to say goodbye, and I also have a question." "Aw, Spike, you're so sweet! Well, go ahead." "How come you're going to this competition? After everyone failed majorly at the last GGG, I thought you'd never want to have anything to do with it again!" From somewhere in the background, they could here a certain lavender unicorn say in an irked tone, "Spiiike!" A.j. chuckled and said, "well you see Spike, the last time I tried to sell food at the GGG, it was sort of like an 'unofficial entry'. This time is different, because the princesses taste-test the food, and if the princesses like it, well, who can resist?" "Ohhh. Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up. Well, good luck, Applejack!" "No problem, Spike, and thanks for comin' to wish me well!" Said A.J. as Spike wave goodbye and went back over to Twilight. She then heard the sound of a train whistle, not far away. 'Well, she thought, looks like this is it.'