The residents of Ponyville were going about their daily duties when a covered wagon slowly made its way into town. Guided by invisible forces, the wagon rolled through the streets, finally resting in front of Sugar Cube Corner. Several ponies crowded around it while others scoffed and kept their distance.
“What now?” one disgruntled mare asked loudly. “This better not be another Great and Powerful Trixie.”
“Or another Flim Flam brothers,” a unicorn stallion added.
The wagon shook slightly as the occupant moved around inside, causing the bells and ornaments hanging from the sides to chime. After a few moments, the chiming stopped and the crowd looked on in curiosity.
Rainbow Dash just happened to be flying by, and swooped down upon seeing the gathering. “Hey, what’s going on?” the blue pegasus asked, landing next to one of the onlookers.
“Nothing yet. It just showed up a few minutes ago,” the pony replied.
Again the wagon shook, but neither pony nor creature emerged. “I’m gonna check it out,” Rainbow said, pushing through the crowd. When she got up to the wagon, she rapped her hoof against the door loudly. Flakes of the wagon’s red paint chipped off and something creaked loudly. Rainbow Dash took a few steps back, fearing the wagon would collapse on top of her.
Her fears were well founded, for the wagon began shaking violently. Steam poured out from beneath it as mechanisms within sprung to life. Several other members of the crowd stepped back as the side of the wagon expanded outward, forming a stage. A red unicorn stallion walked out of the wagon and onto the stage, smiling at his audience.
“Greetings, one and all! I have traveled here to change your lives!” the unicorn shouted in a deep voice. He removed his top hat and took a bow. “I am Nighty Night!” he shouted, placing the top hat back over his black mane.
“What are you selling?” a member of the audience asked impatiently. The rest of the audience mumbled, wondering the same thing.
Nighty looked around and sized up the audience, his eyes stopping on Rainbow Dash. “You there!” he shouted, pointing at the pegasus. “Would you like to be recognized for everything you’ve ever accomplished?”
“I already am,” Rainbow Dash scoffed, and several members of the crowd laughed.
“Ah, but how well recognized are you? Does everypony in Canterlot know of your exploits? Or what about Manehatten? Trottingham?”
“Well, maybe not that recognized,” Rainbow replied, shifting her hooves.
“What if I told you that I have created a device that will showcase you for everypony to see?” Nighty asked, grinning slyly. He pulled from thin air a small, glowing box, and held it in his hoof. “I call this, The Feature Box!”
A murmur went through the crowd as the unicorn displayed the device. “What does it do?” several audience members asked.
“It’s very simple,” Nighty said, setting the box down. He tapped on it with his hoof and it expanded to twenty times its size. An image of a unicorn mare appeared with a wall of text beside it. “My associates and I strive to find the most interesting individuals and get them the attention they deserve! If you make the cut, we feature you in The Box!”
“I want to be featured!”
“Me too!”
Soon, the whole crowd was pushed up against the stage. Nighty smiled and held the box just out of the ponies’ reach.