After the train had rounded the bend, Applejack and her grandmother stopped waving and slowly moved away from the window. As they made their way to the luggage car to put their saddlebags away, Granny Smith asked A.J., "what would you like to do first?"
"Well, it's almost lunchtime... Maybe we could go to the dinin' car and get some grub?" She hadn't eaten much breakfast that morning, as she had been nervous- they were leaving that same morning, after all!
"Why, that sounds like a fine idea, Applejack! If we go now, we can avoid the crowd. Let's go!" They soon arrived at the dining car, where there where just a few ponies getting lunch. The car itself was spacious, and was decorated with fall-colored tablecloths and curtains with stylish leaf patterns that would make even Rarity proud. A.J. chose a booth by a window and she and Granny Smith made themselves comfortable.
"Hmmm... what are you thinkin' of gettin', Granny?" asked Applejack as she and her grandmother looked over the menus.
"I think I might get the dandelion salad... yep, that sounds pretty- hey! Isn't that Carrot Top over there?"
Applejack looked up and her eyes followed to where Granny was pointing with a hoof. She saw a familiar orange-maned mare with a carrot themed cutie mark, and a familiar tan colored stallion following her.
"Oh yeah, that is Carrot Top! And it looks like her brother Caramel is here, too! It also looks like their havin' trouble findin' a place to sit." A.J. noticed that the place had filled up pretty quickly. Ponies were occupying the tables and booths on either side of the train, and still more were coming in. The pair were walking up the middle, and it seemed like whenever they spotted an empty table, by the time they had gotten to it, ponies were already there. A couple of unicorns had even used a teleportation spell at the last second.
"Why... Granny! Did y'all see what them unicorns just did!? Why, I oughta go over there and-"
"Now, now, Applejack, we don't need to be startin' any trouble. Besides, I can fix this problem right quick!" Granny Smith started waving one hoof in the air and called out,
"Yoo-hoo! Carrot Top! Caramel! Over here!" The pair whipped their heads around to find where the oddly familiar voice was coming from. When they saw Granny Smith, they waved back and walked over to her table.
"Well now, dearies, y'all look like you need a place to sit. Well, don'tcha worry no more, 'cause y'all can sit with us!"
Oh, no no no... we would hate to be a bother... we'll just find another place to sit."
"Uh, sis? There is no other place." Carrot Top looked around and saw that her brother was right. All the tables and booths were completely filled with ponies.
"Nonsense! I insist! Applejack and I would love to have some company! Isn't that right A.J.?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah! We'd love to have you sit with us!" Applejack was a bit distracted, as she had been glaring at the table with the unicorns that had "cheated" with their magic.
"Well... as long as you don't mind... Caramel? This all right with you?"
"Hey now, I've always enjoyed bein' with good friends! It's fine with me!" replied Caramel. As soon as the four earth ponies were comfortably seated, Applejack started to speak: "I can't believe what them unicorns did to y'all! Sneakin' in to that table with their fancy magic the way they did! A cheap move, if you ask me."
"Oh, Applejack, it's okay! They were just a little faster than us, that's all! Besides, it's like my brother said, if we were sitting over there, we would have missed out on being with good friends!" 'Wow, she sure is takin' this well', Applejack thought. She then remembered when they were younger, and how laid back Carrot Top, Caramel, and her own brother all were. She, however, always had a little trouble letting things go, especially when it came to defending her friends. "Well, I'm still a little upset at what those unicorn's did, but you're right, it is always nice to be with good friends, and I am glad you could sit with us."
"So, how are you? Are you youngin's excited for the Royal Harvest Festival?" Granny Smith asked.
"Oh, we're doing well. And as for the R.H.F., I still can hardly believe we're going! I mean, the princesses actually sent us an invitation! It really is such an honor... "
"Heh, you should have seen her. When my sis' found out she was goin', she screamed like a fan-filly at a concert!"
"Caramel!"
"Aw, relax, C.T.! you know I'm only teasing," said Caramel, as he ruffled his sister's mane.
"Besides, you have every right to be excited. And what about you, Applejack? You must be excited, too?"
"Oh, I'm definitely excited, but I'm also a bit nervous," she replied.
"Hey, don't sweat it! Sweet Apple Acres has some of the best apples around! And we would know, right, Carrot Top?"
"Definitely, thanks to our family vacation last year!"
"Hey, I remember that! Didn't you guys go all over the place? You sure were gone a long time," Said A.J.
"Yup, we traveled all over Equestria! And we also tried many different foods, too! And I can assure you, your apples are definitely the best!" Carrot Top replied earnestly.
"Why, thank you! And your caramelized carrots are absolutely delicious! I do hope you'll be presenting them at the contest."
"Now Applejack, you know it's against the rules to have other competitors tell you what they'll be presenting," her grandmother chided.
"Oh, no worries, Mrs. Smith! We trust you! Right, Caramel?"
"Of course! The element of honesty wouldn't use our info against us, that would just go against her," replied Caramel to his sister.
"See, Granny? I would never try to impede anypony's ability to win, especially our friend's! I was just praising their delicious recipe," applejack defended.
"I understand A.J., you're a good mare, anyone can see that plain as day. Rules are rules, though, so why don't we talk about somethin' else? Or rather, I think our waiter is comin', so let's eat!" Said Granny Smith as the waiter brought their food to their table.
So they all ate and talked about other things, such as life on their respective farms and reminiscing about old times. There was even an amusing- yet significant story about how when they were younger, and Caramel was away at the dentist. The other three were trying to think of something to do, when Carrot Top decided to try and make caramel. They agreed and thought it would be fun to surprise her brother with the food he had been named after.
When they attempted to make some, however, something somewhere went wrong, and the three got stuck together. Just then, Caramel came back, and he stared at his friends in shock. Then, when he had finished laughing, he helped get rid of the sticky substance holding them together and showed them how to make the caramel without getting stuck. After the others praised him and told him how lucky they were when he had come home when he did, a bright flash appeared. They all looked around, and then they noticed it- Caramel had gotten his cutie mark!
All too soon, after their meals were finished and they realized they were some of the last few ponies in the dining car, they decided it would be best to wrap things up there. So, they said their goodbyes and wished each other well in the contest, and went back to their rooms to await arrival to their destination.