//------------------------------// // Prelude // Story: Dog Days of Celestia // by Cloperella //------------------------------// Two wooden mugs tapped together gently, and the mares grasping the handles lifted them to their mouths. After taking hefty sips of the mug's contents, the mares exhaled happily as a bit of foam clung to their upper lips. Behind them, a line of ponies stood adjacent to a white picket fence along a wide expanse of apple trees. Each pony was eagerly facing toward the end of the line, where a young filly with a pink bow above her red mane sat behind a desk and accepted their payment of bits. For each hoof full of coins received, the little filly would dispense a cup of amber liquid for their enjoyment. Cider Season had once again graced Ponyville. Sweet Apple Acres was now on the third and final day of dispensing its intoxicating beverage to the town's residents. With cider season drawing to a close, the ponies who had waited until the last minute all seemed to rush in at once to get their fill before it was gone for good. Luckily, nopony needed to worry about the problem of the Apple family running out of the beverage before all in line were satisfied. If the family had learned anything at all during their scuffle with the Flim Flam brothers, it was that they were more than capable of making more than their usual amount if they put their minds to it. While they no longer had to exhaust themselves as they had before, the rest of the family worked consistently at keeping the process of making cider in motion. With a swift kick to a tree, Applejack would collect the falling apples into the bucket on her back, and take them to her Granny Smith. After thoroughly inspecting the apples for their quality, she would roll those in good condition down a slide and into their apple-pressing machine. Big Macintosh kept at a steady jog while moving on the treadmill that kept the machine in motion. His motion kept the large wheel spinning, crushing the selected apples into a fine mush. After undergoing a process kept from prying eyes, the spout at the end filled a large oak barrel with fresh squeezed cider. The pattern continued fluently, while the youngest of the family, Apple Bloom, was in charge of processing transactions and dispensing the drink for their thirsty customers. “Hey, Applejack!” A squeaky voice called out to the mare, who was just about to deliver a swift kick to an apple tree. Hearing her name caused her to stop in mid air, and she had to work to keep herself from falling over. Applejack pulled her stetson hat from her eyes to see her best friend Rainbow Dash in front of her, a bucket of apples between her wings resting on her back. “Mind if I take a cider break? I've kind of been working my tail off since the first cup was poured this morning.” “Y'all can take a water break if ya need it, but no cider until after we close shop today.” Applejack told her sternly. “Oh come on! You said I could have some cider if I helped you guys out.” “No, that ain't true. What happened was you came to me last night after being gone at Wonderbolts reserves duties for the week, begging me for some cider.” Applejack recounted as they walked towards the apple-pressing machine her brother was jogging on. “I told ya that we couldn't save any for ya if you didn't wait in line and pay for it like everypony else. But when you kept prodding me about it, I offered you a chance to earn two barrels all for yourself, IF you agreed to help us make the stuff on the last day.” “But why can't I have some of it now?” “Because, when you get a hold of some cider, working hard is the furthest thing from your mind.” “But-!” “No buts, Rainbow. Not unless it's yours working hard to make some cider, not drink it. You got me?” The rainbow maned pegasus rolled her eyes as she flew away from her friend, and dumped dropped her collection of apples in front of Granny Smith for quality inspection. Apple Bloom pressed down on the lever of the dispenser, squeezing out a helping of cider to fill the mug at the bottom of the opening. “Thank you, ma'am; enjoy!” she said to the mare with bright orange hair, who bit down on the top of it and carried it away. With the number of times she had pressed down on that lever reaching well past one hundred, Apple Bloom could feel the strain in her forelegs building. Mixed with the heat of the sun bearing down on her, the little filly had to take a moment to regain herself. She closed her eyes and pulled her large pink bow off of her mane, using it as a makeshift fan to cool herself down. “Hopefully it isn't TOO warm for you today, is it little Apple Bloom?” a warm, jovial voice said to her. “Nah, it ain't too hot” Apple Bloom said as she placed her bow back on her head. When she opened her eyes, she gasped at the image in front of her. Between two royal guards, there stood two alicorns of different height. She had to crane her neck to see the tallest one, but she immediately recognized the brilliant white coat and the friendly face smiling down at her. She had a large flowing mane, shimmering beautifully with shades of blue and turquoise. To her right was a shorter alicorn, with a rather vacant expression on her face. Her coat was a dark blue and her mane sapphire, flowing in a motion similar to her taller counterpart. “Oh my gosh!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “Princess Celestia! And Princess Luna!” At the mention of their names, the Apple family hard at work making cider stopped at once. Big Macintosh forgot that he was on a treadmill, and his back hit the grass as he rolled off of the moving surface. “The princess's are here!?” Applejack asked frantically as she galloped towards her little sister. “Sorry for making y'all wait, your majesty's. If we'd have known y'all were here, we would have let ya jump in front of the line.” “That's quite alright, Applejack.” Celestia replied with cheer. “Our thirst is no more pressing than our subjects. We're just fine waiting for our cider, like everypony else.” “Speak for yourself, sister. I'm usually asleep by now.” Luna said in an irate tone. Her horn lit up with blue magic as she levitated a large plastic thermos in front of her. “Were it not for this brew of liquidated coffee beans, I doubt I would have the strength to stand.” “I know you're tired Luna, I'm sorry.” Celestia apologized as her sister took an extended sip from the object in front of her. “It's just that you've never had their cider before, and the best way to enjoy it is straight from the tap. It just wouldn't do to have it shipped all the way to Canterlot.” Luna withdrew the cup from her mouth and smacked her lips as the warm bitter solvent traveled down her throat. “If you say so.” As the two princess sisters conversed, Apple Bloom had squeezed two wooden mugs full of cider for them. Celestia floated a pile of gold coins onto the counter. Each of them took a mug into their magical grasp, and drank from it. Celestia had chugged more than half the contents, while Luna took a very hesitant sip. “Mm, very refreshing.” Celestia gasped as she pulled the mug from her mouth, a froth mustache clinging to her upper lip. “Well Luna, what do you think?” Luna tilted the cup from her lips, and smacked her tongue a few times. With each movement, her eyes became more wide and bright. She took an even larger sip, and for the first time that morning, a smile appeared on her face. “That is most divine! A perfect blend of sweet and tart. Mm!” “Worth missing sleep over?” Luna opened her mouth to speak, then paused in thought. “I shall let you know once I finish a barrel for myself.” She said in haste. Celestia laughed heartily, while Big Macintosh left to fetch a barrel of cider for Luna. The sound of vicious barking rang through the air, catching the attention of the two princesses who looked about in confusion. Their sight came upon a border collie, standing on its hind legs as it rested its paws on the trunk of an apple tree. Its tail wagged while it barked at the top, and a cluster of dark winged creatures flew from its branches. “Atta' girl, Winona!” Applejack called after the animal, still barking at the tree in earnest. “You tell them fruit bats to stay on their side of the barn. These here apples ain't for them!” Luna raised an eyebrow as she looked at the creature who jumped away from the tree and ran towards her owners. “Tia, is it customary for families to keep wolves as pets these days?” Celestia fought to keep the cider she was drinking from spurting out of her nose. “No! No, Luna.” She replied, laughing. “She's not a wolf, she's a dog.” Luna's expression remained full of confusion. “Centuries ago ponies did begin to tame wolves for their own purposes. Then when they had pups, they were raised in civility and didn't behave as wolves anymore. Winona is domesticated.” At hearing her name, the Apple family's dog turned towards Celestia with her ears perked up. Celestia shot her an inviting smile, and the dog trotted over to inspect her more closely. “Isn't that right, little missy?” Celestia cooed in a childish voice to Winona as she rubbed her ears. Winona panted happily as she was petted, her tongue hanging out past her jaw and her eyes looking up at the princess.“Yes, you're a domesticated little doggy, yes you are!” Big Macintosh returned with a barrel on his back, and set it on the grass with a soft thud. While Luna gathered enough coins to pay for the transaction, Rainbow Dash stealthily crept to the cider dispenser. With everypony else's attention on the princess's at the moment, she had a chance to sneak some of the sweet nectar she craved. Rainbow craned her head underneath the spout with her mouth open as she fumbled with the knob. Even while she was being petted, Winona's ears perked up as a noise caught her attention. She turned all the way around and glared forward, barking at the pegasus underneath the barrel of cider. “Rain-bow Dash!” Applejack snapped at her. The mare was so startled by Applejack's harsh voice that she pushed the lever too hard. Instead of receiving a light trickle of cider, her entire face was covered in a harsh stream of the liquid. “I told ya no cider til later!” Dripping with cider, Rainbow Dash grumbled her displeasure at the situation. “Thanks a lot, Winona.” she muttered in a huff. As the dog in question sided up to her owner to receive more pets to her head, the ponies surrounding her burst into a chorus of laughter.