It was the middle of the day in Ponyville, and Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Spike were on the outskirts of town, having a relaxing day out. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were bouncing a ball back and forth to each other, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Spike were lying back against an apple tree, and Rarity and Twilight were busy conversing with one another.
"Ahhh," Spike sighed. "I don't think I've ever had a day where I didn't feel like I had to do anything."
"Well, how often does Twilight not have work for you to do?" Rainbow Dash laughed.
"Yeah, I know!" Spike replied, laughing.
Twilight turned her head back towards Spike and Rainbow, as she overheard what they said, and she looked a bit irritated by it.
Rarity saw Twilight looking upset. “Oh, dearie, don’t be bothered by them. A little hard work doesn't hurt anyone. Whatever chores Spike has to do, I'm sure they are quite fair."
"Thank you, Rarity. Besides, I know those two are just joking. I just need to work on my sense of humor."
"Well, I hope that's working well for you, Twilight," Rarity kindly replied.
"Oh, it certainly has!" Twilight brightly exclaimed. I've been reading this great book that teaches ponies how to understand humor! I think I am learning quite a lot from it!"
Rarity's face looked blank for a moment. "Well..." she said with a nervous smile on her face. "I'm glad it could help you, Twilight."
"As am I," Twilight replied, smiling cheerfully.
While that was going on, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were still playing with the ball. "Okay, Fluttershy," Pinkie said as she bounded the ball up and down on her head. "Get ready to catch the ball!"
"Okay; Just please make sure not to throw it too hard," Fluttershy said shyly.
"Don't worry! I'll toss it so lightly that even a Fluttershy half your size could catch it!” Pinkie then tossed the ball lightly, Fluttershy flew up into the air to catch it, and when she caught the ball, the force of the ball caused Fluttershy to fall backwards onto the ground, landing on her back. Pinkie then ran up to Fluttershy. “Are you okay??”
Fluttershy lifted her head up, looking a bit dazed. “I guess not being half my size makes me less strong," she said in a slightly dizzy voice.
"But that can't be!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in worry. "You're twice as much as half your size! Doesn't that mean you would be stronger??"
"Oh! I don't know!" Fluttershy said after she got back up on her hooves, starting to get worried herself.
"Hey!" Rainbow Dash shouted, causing Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy to turn in her direction. Rainbow was still lying against the tree, and she lifted herself up to talk. "I think you guys are getting a bit too worried about Fluttershy not being able to catch the ball."
"She's right," Applejack added. "Why don't ya'll take a break and come relax by the tree with us?"
"Well...that does sound relaxing," Fluttershy said.
"I have to admit," Pinkie also said. "It does sound better than trying to figure out how strong half a Fluttershy is!"
"I'm sure it is," Rainbow Dash responded in a slightly joking and condescending way.
"Alrighty then!" Pinkie replied. She and Fluttershy then walked over to the tree and lie down against it.
Rainbow Dash then turned her head towards Twilight and Rarity. "What about you two?"
"Thank you, Rainbow Dash," Rarity replied. "But I'm rather enjoying talking to Twilight."
"Actually, Rarity," Twilight said. "I think it would be great for all of us to relax against the tree, since we'll all be doing the same thing as friends."
Rarity looked surprised by Twilight's response. "Are you sure about that, Twilight?"
"Aww, come on, Rarity!" Applejack said in a frustrated tone. "Why don't yah just try it? After all, relaxin' doesn't mean havin' to be in some hoity-toity spa, yah know."
"Hmph," Rarity angrily grunted. She then looked at the tree, where Twilight had joined the others in lying against it. Rarity then sighed, knowing she didn't want to disappoint her friends. Rarity then walked up to the tree and looked down at the ground. She looked a bit repulsed. "Do I really have to lie down on the grass?"
Applejack then groaned and slapped her face with her hoof.
"Oh, all right!" Rarity exclaimed frustratingly. She then turned around and very slowly laid herself against the trunk of the tree, feeling repulsed the more she touched the ground.
"Now that Rarity's decided to join us," Applejack said. "Let's all just spend a bit of time relaxin' in the calm, peacefulness of nature." The others all agreed with Applejack, and they all lie against the tree, being quiet so as not to disturb the calmness around them. Suddenly, the calmness was disturbed by the sound of grumbling, and it was coming from Spike's stomach.
"Spike," Twilight asked, still having her eyes shut to keep with being tranquil. "Do you think you can keep your stomach quiet for a little while longer so we can enjoy the serenity?"
"Sorry, everyone," Spike said, feeling his stomach. "I didn't eat much today, so I'm feeling a bit hungry. But I'll try to keep my stomach quiet."
"Thank you, Spike," Twilight said, feeling contented. Everyone stayed quiet for a little while, with no noises or distractions to bother them from their nice tranquility. But then, Twilight hears a low rumbling noise, and she gets very frustrated. "Spike! I thought I told you to keep your stomach quiet!" she shouted in aggravation.
"But I am keeping my stomach quiet! I haven't been thinking about eating since you told me to be quiet before!"
"But...I thought I heard a rumbling noise," Twilight asked, feeling perplexed.
"It was probably just your imagination, Twilight," Rainbow Dash said, still leaning against the tree with her eyes closed. "After all, I didn't hear anything," suddenly, another rumbling sound was heard, and Rainbow opened her eyes instantly. "But I did hear that."
"Ah heard it, too!" Applejack said. The others said that they also heard the rumbling.
"It sounded louder than before," Twilight said as she got up on all four hooves. "But where is it coming from??" The other ponies got up as well, and they all looked around to see anything that may be the cause of the rumbling noise.
Another rumbling noise was heard, which was also louder than the previous one. Rainbow Dash flew up above the tree and looked around. She placed her hoof over her eyes to block out the sunlight as she looked in every direction. Rainbow kept looking around, and then something caught her eye, which made her turn her head back in the direction where she had seen something. Far off in the distance, something that looked round and gray was moving in Rainbow's direction. She moved closer to get a better look at whatever it is that was in the distance.
"Hey, Rainbow Dash!! Do you see anything??" Pinkie Pie loudly shouted, totally freaking Rainbow Dash out.
Rainbow angrily turned towards Pinkie Pie. "Yes! I see something, Pinkie Pie!!" she shouted back.
"Oh; all righty, then!" Pinkie Pie cheerfully replied, to which Rainbow Dash grumbled and rolled her eyes in frustration.
"What is it you see?" Twilight asked.
Another rumbling was heard, and Rainbow turned back in the direction of the sound. She could now make out the shape of the gray object coming towards her. "It looks like a...cloud."
"A cloud?" Spike asked, sounding very disinterested. "Is that all?"
"But this cloud is hovering right above the trees. Why would it be doing that?" Rainbow asked, scratching her head in bafflement.
That is strange,” Twilight said, also sounding confused. “What could be the cause of this?” She and the others all exchanged confused looks, with none of them knowing what was going on with this cloud. They all then turned their heads back towards the cloud as it floated ever closer to them seven of them.