//------------------------------//
// Summer Sun Preparation 
// Story: Fear Me, for My Name is Twaith! 
// by Michael Hudson 
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	Sunset fidgeted with her saddlebags for about the twenty-seventh time during their chariot ride, causing Twilight to put a hoof against her shoulder. “Why are you so nervous? I thought this is what you wanted.”

A checklist floated in front of Sunset’s eyes for a moment as she memorized it again. “It is, and that is why I’m terrified. Out of the blue, Celestia entrusts me to be her royal representative in Ponyville for their Summer Sun Celebration, and even on the year that they get a visit from the princess. I’ve never had to leave Canterlot, let alone go to a small village like this.”

Twilight let out a content sigh as she thought about how nice it was going to be to be in a small town again, instead of the terrifying monstrosity that Canterlot felt like at times. “Don’t worry so much. Small towns breed nice ponies, like me, and I don’t know anypony who is more determined in their work than you. They’ll at least be able to respect that.”

Sunset smiled slightly, but the blush and embarrassment stopped it from growing more. She liked just about any compliment from Twilight, and to hear such a vote of confidence after the short time they’d spent together was more then she could have asked for. Then again, I’m one of the only ponies she has met in over a thousand years. One of her forehooves came hard against her forehead as she smacked the thought away. Just take the compliment.

Twilight shrunk herself somewhat and nestled into the insulated bag on Sunset’s side. It was meant to make her able to accompany Sunset, but not let her aura of cold give her away. “So, the first pony we see, you’ll try talking to?”

“I don’t know…”

“Consider it practice for both of us in talking to strangers. It’ll help when you actually talk to the people you have to.”

Sunset swallowed hard as they came closer and closer to the ground and let her eyes set upon a pink pony with a large smile on her face. She looks friendly enough I suppose. “Alright, I will.”

As they approached the new pony, Twilight stuck her head out of the bag and watched. She was tense herself, as she hadn’t made too many attempts to actually talk to others, and especially for no reason. Sunset swallowed hard and extended a hoof. “Hello, my name is Sunset Shimmer, and I am here to–“

“Ghost!”

Both mare’s eyes were wide open as the pink pony ran away as fast as she could. Sunset sighed. “Fuck.”

Twilight blinked a few times. “Well, I guess the least you have to do is say that she was wrong.”

Sunset bit into her cheek for a moment and nodded. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Come on, lets get going.”

And with that, they set off down the road. Their first stop would take them to Sweet Apple Acres, and with the succulent scent of fresh apples in the air, Sunset found her stomach beginning to growl just as an orange mare trotted up to greet her.

“Hello there. My name is Applejack, and I don’t believe we’ve met.”

Sunset steeled herself, now having a real chance to prove herself as a diplomat. She opened her mouth, but was cut off by her stomach.

Grumble.

Her face went flushed and she swallowed hard. “My apologies. I haven’t had lunch yet.”

Applejack only grinned at the sound and put a hoof on the new mare’s shoulder. “Well, we have so much family here today that I know we’ll make far more food then we’ll need, and we always like having guests. What do you say, sugarcube?”

Sunset frowned for a moment, but then shrugged, seeing no real problem with it. “Seeing as I would need to try your food anyways, I see no problem with it being a little less formally.”

Applejack tucked that piece of information back in her mind and took in a deep breath while she got ready to ring the dinner bell. “Soups on!”

It almost floored Sunset just how fast the family members seemed to appear out of thin air. She had watched guards mobilizing for threats slower then the Apple Family got ready for lunch. And then came the food. Oh the food. Twilight’s mouth watered as she smelled the fritters, pies, and other assorted pastries be laid out for all to enjoy. Applejack grinned as she sat next Sunset. “Well, are you going to try something?”

Sunset gave a slight chuckle as she was still trying to process it all, but soon was inhaling the delicious treats, only pausing to answer questions Applejack had for her, and when her curiosity grew too much, questions she had for Applejack. Twilight tried following her friend’s example, but was soon reminded that she was indeed still ethereal as a pie was where her brain should have been, and an apple fritter replaced her kidneys.

It only took minutes for Twilight’s curiosity to grow to almost unbearable levels. She simply had to try all of it. Her eyes searched the crowd for the one she thought best suited for the job and saw a large, red stallion who was just about to dig in. She floated over and whispered, “Sorry,” to him just before diving into the body.

The rest of the Apple Family watched in silence as Big Mac jumped onto the table. An industrial strength vacuum would have had a hard time keeping up with the pace the eldest Apple heir kept up. No matter how much he knocked down or devoured, his pace kept constant. It was only when Sunset noticed a black glow that anyone had a clue as to what was going on. While no one was watching her, she focused her magic and grabbed the ghost from within the body, quickly evicting her.

Big Mac stood on the table for a few moments, stunned, before bending over and letting out a low groan. Applejack glared at him. “You know we had guests, right?”

“E-eeyup.”

“You didn’t mean to, right?”

“Eeyup.”

Applejack let out a sigh and turned towards Sunset to apologize, only to find her gone. She was, in fact, already down the road to check on the weather pony for the celebration, blushing madly while scolding Twilight on how what she did was wrong,