//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Royal Harvest Festival // by Featherdust418 //------------------------------// As the train pulled into the Canterlot train station, A.J. and her grandmother made ready to get off. "Whew, here we are, Canterlot! This place seems bigger every time I come here," said A.J. as she stepped off the train. As she looked around, she saw the large buildings and, in the distance, the Royal Castle. She didn't notice a royal guard walking over to them, and she jumped a little when he spoke. "Excuse me, you wouldn't happen to be a Miss Applejack and a Mrs. Granny Smith, would you?" "Why yes, that's us," replied Granny. "Very good. If you will you now follow me, and I shall escort you to your accommodations." Applejack and her Grandmother exchanged glances, and then nodded to the guard. As they followed him, he explained what was going on. "My name is Sturdy Hoof, and the reason for this escort is because there's a problem with the Canterlot weather factory. Clouds have backed up the system, but it's going to be fixed this afternoon. As a result, however, once it's fixed, the clouds are going to all come out at once. There's going to be a major storm, and the Canterlot weather team is going to take control of the clouds, and force the lightning to strike in the streets. Now, I know it sounds dangerous, but as long as everypony stays inside, everything should go smoothly. The unicorn regime has been putting lightning-safe spells on almost everything, so the electricity should run straight underground should it hit anything, the earth-pony regime is escorting ponies back to their homes, and the pegasi regime are doing an aerial sweep to quickly locate anypony who may not have been found yet. The royal guard and the Canterlot weather team is doing their part to ensure everypony's safety, and as long as the civilians cooperate, everything should be fine. The storm will be long over by the time the festival starts, so there's no need to worry about that, either." Granny Smith nodded and replied, "I understand." Applejack then spoke up and said, "So how long do we have before everypony has to clear the streets entirely, and how long do we have to stay inside?" Sturdy Hoof hesitated, then responded, "Well, you'll have a half hour before everypony is ordered to stay indoors and the streets be completely cleared, and after that, it is advised that everypony not come out till tomorrow morning. I'm sorry that your first day here won't likely be what you expected." He smiled sheepishly at them, and A.J. groaned inwardly. This was definitely not part of the plan- she and her grandmother had decided to do some window shopping before they retired to there hotel room. Why were they not warned about this sooner? At least it would only last one night though, and the princesses were probably very busy making final preparations to the festival. 'Mine as well try to make the best of this situation,' she thought. "Well, here we are. I hope you have a nice stay in Canterlot, ladies, and good luck in the competition!" Said Sturdy as he led them to a large pair of bronze-framed glass double doors. "Why, thank you, Sturdy! And good luck finding the other ponies!" Granny replied as she and Applejack waved goodbye. Then they went inside, and looked around. The hotel lobby was quite something- there were fine oriental rugs from Saddle Arabia, and a large, gleaming chandelier was hanging high in the center of the room. "Whoo-wee, this is one fancy-schmansy humdinger of a hotel!" Granny Smith exclaimed, and her voice echoed off the walls of the lobby. A few ponies looked their way, and A.J. winced. "Uh-huh. Well, why don't we get checked in and go to our room." "Sounds good, Applejack!" They walked up to the desk, and the receptionist smiled at them. "Welcome to the Royal Rainbow Hotel. My name is Sky Light, how may I help you?" "Hello, were here for the Royal Harvest Festival- Granny Smith and Applejack?" A.J. asked. Sky Light checked the hotel book and trailed her hoof down the page. "Hmm... ah! Here it is- one Granny Smith and one Applejack. Here are your keys, you'll be staying in room 103, and"- she paused as she tapped a small bell- "a bellcolt will be here shortly to take your bags. We hope you enjoy your stay at the Royal Rainbow Hotel," she finished, as she smiled at the two. "Why, thank you kindly! I'm sure we will!" Granny Smith said, giving a grin in return. "Yes, thank you very much! Well, Let's go check out our room, Granny!" As A.J. said this, a stallion in uniform trotted up to them and said, "I can take your bags now, if you'd like." "Whew, the service is quick here, too! Well, alright then, here you go!" Applejack responded as she and her grandmother put their few bags of luggage across the stallions' back. Soon, the three of them were walking up the stairs, and the bellcolt asked, "So, your going to be in the R.H.F.'s big contest? May I ask which division your in: fruit, vegetable, or bakery?" Applejack turned her head to look at him and gave him an amused smile. "Well, if our cutie marks don't give it away, I don't know what will." The bellcolt then saw her trio-apple cutie mark, and an embarrassed look took over his features. "Ah, I see... my apologies. So, the fruit division then. Are you excited?" "S'all right, sugarcube! And yes, I'm very excited! Although, I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous, too." "Hey, I bet you'll do great! After all, if your cutie marks are all about apples, then you must know a lot about them, and I bet that means you know how to bring out the true flavor and crispness out of them!" "Why, thank you very much! Your encouragement is greatly appreciated!" "Your welcome! Well, here we are, room 103! Were would you like your luggage?" The bellcolt asked. "Oh, just leave it on the bed there, and we'll take care of the rest!" Granny Smith answered. "Very good. Well, We hope you enjoy your stay at the Royal Rainbow Hotel!" he replied as he deposited the luggage onto the bed. After he had been tipped, he left them, and A.J. and Granny looked about their room. It was far more simple than the big lobby, with a small hallway leading to a room with some chairs, and two small beds next to each other. Another part of the room had a table with chairs around it, so that they could eat. And, of course, connecting to the bedroom was a small washroom. There was also a large window, with a beautiful view of the Canterlot Castle in the distance. "Nice place! Much more homier than the lobby! What do you think, Granny?" "Oh, I have to agree, Applejack! And that view of the castle is just magnificent!" Granny replied as she looked out the window. "It certainly is nice! Well, I guess I'll start putting our luggage away." Said A.J. as she walked over to the bed. When she got there, she saw her grandmother right next to her. "What, y'all didn't think that I wasn't gonna help, did you? Now, let's put this stuff away together!" Applejack smiled and replied, "all right, Granny." When they had finished, Applejack asked her grandmother, "I think we may need a few supplies before the storm comes, and room service can be pretty expensive. How about I go out and pick up a few essentials?" "Well, I don't know Applejack. This storm sounds pretty dangerous, what if you don't make it back in time before it starts? Why, I would be devastated!" "Don't worry, Granny, it's just a few items. Won't take long at all, I promise! Besides I have about a half hour, and didn't that guard, uh... Sturdy Hoof! Didn't he say there were guards all over the place? I'll just get one's attention, and I bet I'll get another escort, if need be." "Well... alright, Applejack. But do be careful, and hurry back!" Granny responded with a hint of worry in her voice. "Don't you worry Granny, I'll be back in a jiffy!" And with that, A.J. galloped off. Soon, she found herself on the streets of Canterlot, and she said to herself, 'Alright, just down this street and there should be a little shop with everything that we need, at least while the storm is here.' As she trotted down the street, she found it was rather busy, despite the big storm that was coming. Because of this, she bumped into a few ponies, and there response was none to pleased. "Watch were your going!" "I say!" "Good grief!" "Out of my way, filth! Humph!" "Oh, sorry." "Pardon." "My mistake." "I'm so- wait, what!?" At that last comment, A.J. whipped her head around to find that extremely rude pony to give him a stern lesson in manners, but he was already gone. She then sighed, shook her head, and decided to try and be more careful. Soon, she made it to the store without any more trouble, bought a few necessities, and was making her way back to the hotel, still trying to be very careful. As she turned a corner, however, she collided with another pony, fell, and spilled a few contents. 'Whew boy, am I going to get it now,' she thought, as she squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself. Instead of a volley of insults, however, her ears were met with a young stallions voice, and it said, "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! Here, let me help you!" As A.J. opened her eyes, she saw a hoof in front of her. After a second of realizing it was being offered to help, she grabbed it and pulled herself up. She shook her head, and then looked at the stallion before her. He was an earth pony, and his coat was a vibrant reddish-orange, while his mane and tail were a deeper red-orange. She couldn't see his cutie mark, though. After they had gathered up the few dropped supplies from the ground, she spoke, "Thank you for all your help! Most ponies probably wouldn't have been to happy with me and just left me sitting on the ground. I'm Applejack, by the way. What's your name?" "Well, most ponies around here are usually pretty concerned with themselves and there own well-being, unfortunately. Plus, this storm doesn't quite help their attitude much. Anyways, nice to meet you, Applejack! I'm- whoosh! At that moment, a large gust of wind came blowing in, and A.J couldn't here a thing. She braced herself and squinted, while holding her hat close to her head with one hoof, as it flapped wildly in protest. "I'm sorry, could you say that again?" She cried out as the gust died down. "This storm's gonna be a doozy! Anyways, my name is-" "HEY! What are you two doing, everypony is supposed to be off the streets in ten minutes," An earth pony guard shouted while running over to them. Applejack felt that there was something familiar about the guard, but she just figured it was probably because the illusion spell makes them all look so similar. "Hey, Sturdy! How goes the search?" The guardspony stopped for a moment, then a smile of recognition appeared on his face. "Hey, Buck, how are you! What are you doing out here, you should be at home!" Said Sturdy, and A.J. realized that this was the same pony who had escorted her before. He then looked over to her, and said, "And what are you doing out here? Didn't I already escort you to the hotel?" "Uh, well, yes, but I bought a few necessities, and then I was going straight back, honest." "Well, alright then, I'll take you back now. And Buck, you should get back, too! I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to you!" "Hey, don't worry about me, I'll be home before the storm starts! Just make sure my new friend gets back safely!" "Will do!" Sturdy replied, then, he turned and faced A.J. "All right, are you ready, miss Applejack?" "You can just call me Applejack, and yes, I'm ready." "Let's go, then! Bye, Buck!" Said Sturdy as he and A.J. turned to leave, and they both waved goodbye. "Bye, Sturdy! Bye, Applejack! Oh, and nice cutie mark, Applejack!" And with that, he was gone. A.J. blushed and, while walking back, asked Sturdy, "why did he say that?" Sturdy chuckled and replied, "don't worry, he didn't mean to embarrass you, Applejack. I think he just said that because your cutie marks are so similar." A.J. pondered this for a bit, then asked, "I actually didn't see his cutie mark. What is it?" And Sturdy responded, "It's an apple tree."