In the front car of the train coming down the mountain, four unicorn mares sat around each other, laughing and conversing with each other enthusiastically.
"I'm so excited you all decided to join me in going to Ponyville today!" Lyra, the sea green unicorn among them, gushed. "I can't wait to introduce you all to Bon Bon, and vice-versa!"
"Who's Bon Bon?" asked Lemon Hearts.
"My hometown penpal!" Lyra explained. "We've been writing to each other since we were little fillies. She runs this little confectionery down in Ponyville. She's my best friend outside of school. I see her just about every weekend and holiday nowadays if only for the free sweets!"
Meanwhile, another unicorn sat off closer to the corner, nose deep in a book, and one was off on the opposite side with a small dragon, hooves folded against the sill of the window and silently grumbling to herself.
"We could have been there more than an hour ago if I could have taken the chariot like we were supposed to. I am way behind schedule now!"
"Look on the bright side Twilight," Spike said to her as he pulled himself up to her height by the window. "Least you've made some progress on the friend part of your assignment. Plus, the Princess arranged for you to stay in a library while we're there. Doesn't that make you happy?"
Twilight turned to her assistant. "Yes, yes it does. You know why? Because I'm right! I'll check on the preparations as fast as I can, then get to the library to find some proof of Nightmare Moon's return."
"What about your friends? Didn't they want you to join them for the celebration?" he asked back.
Twilight almost facehooved. "She said to check on preparations. I am her student, and I'll do my royal duty, but the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends." She gestured back to the group behind her. "Danger is imminent, and time is of the essence. These ponies are only going to slow me down."
A small lurch and the train's whistle signaled to the group that they had pulled into the station.
"We're here!" Minuette bounced up from her seat. "Come on girls, I wanna be the first one off this train and into this new place!"
"Hmm?" Moondancer looked up from her book and glanced out the window. "Oh, we're here."
The group exited the train, some of their members more excited than others.
"Welcome to Ponyville, everyone!" Lyra announced.
"Oh, isn't this such the cutest little village you've ever seen?" Minuette said with glee. "Oh, what should we do here first?"
First, check off all the preparations as quickly as possible, and then it's off to the-
Twilight was yanked right back into the circle of mares by Twinkleshine's aura. "Oh, oh! Photo op, photo op! Everypony get together, I brought my grandfather's camera with me!"
With her and Lemon Hearts squeezing the group together at the edge of the station's steps, she brought the camera out of her saddlebags and levitated it in the air so she could get in the shot as well. "Everypony say 'pretty breezies'!"
"Pretty breezieeees!!" Minuette, Lemon Hearts, Lyra, and even Spike said with their widest pearly whites as the bulb flashed.
"Another one for the scrapbook!" Twinkleshine said as she put the camera back in her bags. "Oh, I hope I brought enough film for this!"
Twilight decided to hurry themselves along before they wondered if this station had a gift shop.
"Oh hey! It's a local. Let's say hi!" Lemon Hearts pointed out as they exited the platform.
Twilight really didn't want to be held up by even more ponies than she already had delaying her. "Uh, I really should get started checking on those preparations..."
"Come on Twilight, it'll be just a sec," Twinkleshine insisted. "Besides, maybe she'll know where you need to go."
"Just give it a try Twilight," Spike suggested. "Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about."
Twilight logically deduced that the fastest way to get through this was to comply to the peer pressure presented before her. She stepped within a hoof's distance of the bright pink and curly earth pony and tried to put on her most non-awkward smile ever.
"Um...hello?"
The pink pony just took one good look at the entire group, and then sprung up with a huge prolonged gasp and bolted away at a breakneck speed.
Twilight turned back to the other mares and Spike with a deadpan look. "Well, that was interesting all right."
Lyra however, just giggled. "Oh, that's just Pinkie Pie," she explained. "Don't worry, we'll all see her again soon enough."
"Do you know something about her, Lyra?" Moondancer asked.
Lyra's eyes just rolled to a corner of their sockets as she gave a faraway grin. "Oh, you'll see..."
She then leaped away from the gang in earnest. "Anyways, I'm going to see if I can find Bon Bon. Catch you all later!"
"I think I'll check out the town hall, that's where the big event's going to be," Twinkleshine said.
"I'm think I'll get a snack first," Minuette decided. "I wonder if this town has a doughnut shop?"
"I'm going to walk around and see if I can get some fresh air. That train ride was a bit stuffy," Lemon Hearts said.
"I'm going to the library," Moondancer simply stated.
"Okay then, split and meet at 5, shall we?" Minuette declared. "Go!"
Twilight sighed with relief as they all trotted off in different directions.
"Finally, no more distractions. Nothing can keep me from getting through this menial task and then stopping Nightmare Moon as soon as possible now."
"Summer Sun Celebration official overseer's checklist. Number one, banquet preparations: Sweet Apple Acres," Spike read from his list as the two of them walked into the more rural area outside of the town.
They soon happened upon a large farmyard, with orchards of apples as far as the eye could see.
Well, it's obvious how the place got it's name. Twilight thought to herself.
"Yeehaw!"
Twilight and Spike saw a strong orange earth pony gallop head on towards a nearby tree, and with a swift buck knocked all the apples hanging from it into the baskets below.
Sighing, Twilight approached. "Let's get this over with..." She put on her most professional face and began to speak. "Good afternoon. My name is Twilight Sparkle-agh!"
She suddenly found herself being shaken all over by a very vigorous hoofshake.
"Well, howdy-doo, Miss Twilight, a pleasure makin' your acquaintance," the mare said. "Ah'm Applejack. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure do like making new friends!"
Twilight tried desperately to pull herself free from the farmer's grip. "Friends? Actually, I-"
"Twilight Sparkle!"
Twilight looked to her left and saw Lemon Hearts trotting up from the fields. "Hey Twilight, you checking out the farm life too?"
"Lemon Hearts? What are you doing here?" Twilight asked.
"Well, I was out and about, getting some of that fresh country air I keep hearing about, when I stumbled upon this charming little, metaphorically of course, this place is huge, farm and bumped right into Applejack here. The mare's jaw almost touched the ground when I told her I'd never seen an actual apple tree in my whole life, and practically insisted I take the full Sweet Apple Acres tour to get in touch with my *giggle* inner apple! How could I say no to a hearty invitation like that?"
"You know this here pony?" Applejack asked Lemon Hearts.
"Well sure! Remember those friends I told you I came here with? These are two of them! That's Spike, and over there is Twilight Sparkle!"
"Well sugar mah coat!" Applejack hugged Twilight's neck up close with a playful noogie. "That practically makes us friends already, don't it?"
Spike couldn't help but snicker at the sight of Twilight's discomfort.
"A-actually..." Twilight tried but she couldn't break out of the hold this time. "I'm just here to supervise preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. You're in charge of the food?"
"We sure as sugar are!" the orange mare answered proudly.
"Oh! Oh! You're serving the banquet? Can I try some?" Lemon Hearts asked eagerly.
Applejack's grin widened. "Heck, you can all try some! Ah was 'bout to call the family to eat anyhow!"
"Thanks, but I should really-"
Before Twilight could finish, Applejack rang a triangle and hollered out at the top of her lungs. "SOUP'S ON EVERYPONY!"
Twilight, Spike, and Lemon Hearts quickly found themselves overrun by a stampede of ponies, and when the dust cleared, the three of them were sitting at a small table set just for them.
Applejack popped right over next to them and waved to the crowd surrounding them, each with a plate piled high with different apple dishes. "Now, why don't Ah introduce y'all to the Apple family?"
"Well, I really need to hurry-"
"Yes please!" Lemon Hearts cut Twilight off.
"Delighted! This here's Apple Fritter. Apple Bumpkin. Red Gala. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious..."
Twilight mentally groaned. So much for her 'friends' not holding her up anymore!
"...Big McIntosh, Apple Bloom and Granny Smith. Up'n'attem, Granny Smith, we got guests."
"Wha..? Soup's on? Ah'm up, here Ah come, Ah'm comin'..."
Lemon Hearts just looked at the huge stack of goodies that now towered on the table. "Wow, Applejack. Does your family cater? Cause I'm actually training as an event planner myself back home, and a spread like this would definitely cover some of my bigger stuff!"
"Ain't no problem at all. Why, Ah'd say you three are already part of the family!"
A heavy backslap on Twilight's withers made her spit out the apple she had forcibly stuffed into her mouth.
"Heh heh...okay, well, I can see the food situation is handled, so we'll be on our way."
She only manged a single step back before Lemon Hearts pulled her back into her seat. "Oh come on, Twilight. Don't be rude, we're guests here! Stay a while! Besides, it's practically a free lunch, who can turn that down?"
"Sorry, but I really have a lot to..."
Twilight then noticed a lot of expectant eyes were directly upon her, including an adorable wide-eyed cream-yellow filly with a red bow.
"...fine."
The family cheered.
"Food's all taken care of." Spike made a check on the list as the two of them walked back into town. "Next is weather."
Twilight moved at a somewhat slower pace than her assistant, her distended belly pulling her down. "Ugh...I ate too much pie..."
"That's not even half of what Lemon Hearts ate," Spike mentioned. "Either she skipped her last three breakfasts, or she sampled one of everything just to be nice."
"Lucky for us, she decided stay behind and help clean the dishes, and even luckier I managed to get myself and Spike out of there before she roped us into joining yet again..." Twilight muttered to herself.
Yet another hour had been lost thanks to her self-invited tagalongs. Well, the law of averages did say turn of events always had a habit of evening themselves out, so maybe things would go her way from here on out and no more ponies would end up delaying her research.
"Oh, Twilight! Hey! There you are!"
Then again, Marephy's law always did have a nasty habit of biting her in the flank.
She looked up to see Lyra approaching her. Paired by her side was a cream white earth pony mare that had pink and blue curls.
"Good timing on your part," Lyra said.
Bad timing on yours... Twilight thought to herself.
"I just found my penpal, and we were going to go around introducing her to you all." She hung a hoof around the mare next to her. "Meet Bon Bon, she and I have been friends since we were five!"
"Best friends," Bon Bon said with a grin. And the pair gave each other a playful bump of their rumps.
"Okay then, nice to meet you. I should really be going now."
Twilight moved to step around them, but an outstretched green hoof blocked her way.
"Woah, slow down there Sparks. What's the hurry?"
"I'm a bit behind schedule," she hastily explained,"and need to find the pony in charge of weather as soon as possible if you don't mind."
"You mean Rainbow Dash?" Bon Bon chuckled. "Good luck with that. She's probably napping on one of her private clouds over who knows where around here."
"What?!" Twilight scanned the skies to see it full of clouds, any one of which could be hiding the pegasus she was supposed to check up on. "But the skies are supposed to be clear for the celebration! What kind of pony just shirks their duty until the last-"
"Twi! Look out!"
Lyra tackled her away just in time to avoid a rainbow blur that crashed right into a mud puddle nearby.
"Well, speak of Tartarus, hello Rainbow Dash," Bon Bon said to the muddy blue pegasus.
"Mmmph." With a shluping sound, the mentioned mare yanked her head out of the gooey muck. "Hey Bons. You catch that triple twisting somersault I did at the end there?"
"No, but the mud puddle certainly did." Bon Bon giggled at her own joke as Rainbow Dash wiped the grime off her face.
"Yeah, I...meant to do that," she hastily defended her ego.
Then, like a dog, she shook the remaining gunk off her body and wings, stopping only after a quick 'Agggh!'.
"Betcha didn't mean to do that one," Bon Bon said as Rainbow Dash looked over to the splattered unicorns and dragon.
"Oh, hey Lyra. Didn't know you were back in town. Who're your friends?"
"Oh, this is Spike, and this here is Twilight Sparkle." Lyra grinned and leaned over with a cupped hoof. "She's the Princess' protege, you know."
"Oh, 'cuse me," Rainbow Dash said with a chuckle. "Sorry 'bout the mess. Lemme help you there."
Lyra quickly raised a hoof though. "I got it." With a quick wink of her horn the three of them were clean. "Little clean up spell I learned for occasions like this. Sometimes when I'm over at Bon Bon's we have a little too much fun in her kitchen if you know what I mean."
Twilight dusted herself off while Spike rubbed a smudge off the checklist he was holding. "Thanks Lyra," he said.
"No problem," she replied. "You're lucky I was here. You do not want the Rainbow Dash method of cleaning up, trust me."
"Hey, everything I do has to match my own level of awesomeness," the rainbow maned pegasus bragged. "Whether it's eating ice cream, making my bed, or cleaning myself. Not my fault some ponies can't handle the full extremeness of the Rainbow Dash way."
"Yeah, who would've guessed dumping an entire raincloud on somepony would actually make them angry instead of appreciative?" Lyra snarked playfully.
"Ha ha," Rainbow Dash dryly remarked in return. "Now if you'll excuse me I gotta get back to practicing."
She turned to zoom off into the distance, but before she could streamline her wings, a magical yank on the tail pulled her right in front of a frowning unicorn.
"Hold on! You're not excused! You're the head weather pony in charge here right?"
"Got that right." Rainbow Dash folded her forelegs around her chest to Twilight Sparkle. "I'm the best of the best."
Twilight just motioned to sky above them. "The best of the best wouldn't just go darting about when the skies are supposed to be kept clear today!"
Rainbow just waved a dismissive hoof as she leaned back on one of the aforementioned clouds in a relaxed position. "Yeah, yeah, that'll be a snap. I'll do it in a jiffy. Just as soon as I'm done practicing."
"Practicing for what?" Twilight asked.
"Oh no, don't get her started..." warned Bon Bon. "She'll never stop."
"What's her current record for a Wonderbolt hype-up?" Lyra asked her friend. "Three hours?"
"And thirty-seven minutes."
"Hey, this is different!" Rainbow Dash stated with defiance. "This is a golden opportunity. The Wonderbolts are actually going to be here to perform at the celebration tomorrow. I can actually show 'em my stuff in pony. They'll be sure to let me in then!"
"Actually, recruitment is done through a selection process from a pool of qualified candidates with the proper credentials. Even if you do impress them, which I doubt given your work ethic, their superiors and sponsors won't allow them to just pick up some random mare they just met and induct them into their squadron if she doesn't have documented proof she's passed any of their preset standards," Twilight lectured. "You'd have a better chance of getting in if you just registered for one of their official training camps like every other pegasus who wants to join them."
Rainbow Dash looked completely dumbfounded for a minute there. "Wait...really?"
"Yes! Didn't you study the Wonderbolt recruitment processes and requirements beforehoof if you want to join them so badly? There's an entire textbook and manual for it in every local library!"
Lyra and Bon Bon just giggled to each other at Twilight's explanation.
"Gee, Rainbow Dash studying to be a Wonderbolt?" Bon Bon mock pondered.
"Wonder why she never tried that before..." Lyra mirrored her friend.
Rainbow Dash scrunched her face into a pout as the pair burst into another fit at their inside joke. "Alright, fine. I'll look up when their next course is..."
"Good, now that you see that practicing for an impromptu performance that won't raise your chances of achieving your goals is pointless, how about doing something actually productive and clearing those skies for the Summer Sun Celebration?" Twilight suggested.
"Yeah, yeah. Like I said, later." Rainbow Dash settled onto one of clouds to grouse her dashed expectations off.
"But...but that's the only other thing left to do in this situation..." Twilight reasoned, baffled by the illogical behavior the weather pony was giving her. "It's your job and-"
"I don't feel like doing it right now!" Rainbow Dash shouted back in a grump. "Stupid rules and regulations..."
"But-but-"
As Twilight continued to stammer, Lyra whispered something into Bon Bon's ear. With a silent nod, she gazed up nonchalantly to nothing in particular.
"Oh gee, guess I'm going to have to wait until later to open up that batch of Cloudy Puffs I made the other day."
Rainbow Dash suddenly sat straight up. "Huh? What's that? Somepony say Cloudy Puffs?"
"Oh yeah, that's right. That's your favorite candy isn't it?" Lyra tapped her chin, looking as if she just remembered that fact. "Few sweet shops outside Cloudsdale and Las Pegasus ever carry it, so you don't come by them that often do you?"
The pegasus flipped over and leaned over her cloud to look at the two of them like a puppy expecting a treat. "Boy, have you got that right. I haven't tasted one those things in months!"
"Well, I was planning on sharing a few with Lyra here for the celebration since, you know the saying, they're most enjoyable on the sunniest of days. And no day's more sunny than the Summer Sun Celebration. But...with all these clouds here it doesn't really feel that sunny-"
"Ten seconds, give me ten seconds!"
And with that, Rainbow Dash suddenly flapped into overdrive, kicking clouds left and right. "Hyah! Pow! Loop the loop around, and wham!"
With the skies clear and half a second to spare, she landed right in front of the confectioner. "So...feel like having those Cloudy Puffs now?"
"You know, I do feel like the weather's more appropriate for them now." Bon Bon made a cursory glance out of the corner of her eye to Rainbow Dash's, glistening with hope. "I don't suppose you'd like some too, would you?"
"Oh no no, I couldn't possibly- well if you insist!" Rainbow Dash replied with a wide, gleeful smile.
As she began to follow Bon Bon back to her shop, Lyra turned her head back to Twilight, still in a slightly disoriented stupor of trying to process what just happened, and gave a knowing wink.
"Got your back, Sparks!" And then she ran off to catch up.
Twilight and Spike entered the town hall, which was fabulously done up in enough banners and ribbons to stretch all the way to Canterlot and back.
"Decorations. Beautiful..."
"Yes, Spike. The decor is coming along nicely. This ought to be quick. I'll be at the library in no time. Beautiful indeed."
"Not the decor." Spike pointed with a raised claw and hearts in his eyes. "Her!"
He pointed to a pristine white unicorn with elegant purple curls switching ribbons about. "No, no, no, oh! Goodness no."
"How are my spines? Are they straight?" he asked while adjusting them.
Twilight just shook her head and approached the decorator. "Good afternoon-"
"Just a moment, please!" the mare said with a raised hoof. "I'm 'in the zone', as it were."
With one last tug, she fastened a glittering red bow to pole next to her. "Oh, yes! Sparkle always does the trick, does it not? Why, Rarity, you are a talent."
It looked like she was just about finished, so Twilight opened her mouth to address her again...and got an eyeful of flash.
"Picture perfect, Rarity! Another golden moment for the album!"
Twilight rubbed the spots in her eyes away, and as her vision came back, the image of a tourist by the name of Twinkleshine focused into her view.
"You're a whiz at this, Rarity. I mean, this hall looked so bare when I first came in here, and now look at it!" It was only then that she noticed the other company around her. "Oh, Twilight. You here to check out the site too? Can you believe only one pony did all this? She's a natural! I've even considered asking her if she could remodel my home after all this!"
"Oh, Twinkleshine dearie, you know this mare?" Rarity had turned around from admiring her own work to finally look over the newcomer for the first time.
"Oh, yes. Rarity, Twilight. Twilight, Rarity. This is one of the friends I was telling you about."
"Twinkleshine's friend?" Rarity eyes widened and glimmered. "Then...you're from Canterlot too?" she ventured in a soft voice.
"Well, yes. I was actually sent here to-"
A happy squeal cut her off as Rarity saddled up close to her side. "Well! Any friend of my dear Twinkleshine is a very good friend of mine too! Oh, I just can't wait to hear everything about you and that wonderful city you live in!"
Twinkleshine just giggled, seeing Twilight's uneasy expression. "Wouldn't you know it? Only half a minute after I chanced upon her, I give one little mention I'm from Canterlot and she's all over me like a bee to honeysuckle!"
Rarity broke away from her affectionate state of welcoming. "Well, how could I not? I mean, you're only from the most marvelous place in all of Equestria, Canterlot! The glamor, the sophistication! I have always dreamed of living there! Oooh, I'm just so envious of you both!"
She then pulled the two of them together to give them both a friendly nuzzle. Of which Twinkleshine gratuitously returned, Twilight...not so much. "I daresay, we all are going to be the best of friends, you and I!"
Twilight did her best to hide her wince. "Well, friends might be a little strong a word-"
"Ooh, ooh! Selfie with our new BFF!" Twinkleshine's camera floated over on her magical command as she squeezed them all even together together, and even pulled the still lovestruck Spike into the frame.
Rarity turned her face to the side and primped her curls a bit. "Be sure to get my good side," she said with a bat of her eyelashes.
Several poses later, Twilight was finally released from their grips. "Okay, everything looks like it's in order here. I'll just be moving on-"
"Say Rarity, I've told you a lot about myself, but I still don't know that much about you yet."
"Oh, do pardon me, Twinkleshine. Where are my manners? *Ahem* I am none other than the proprietor of Ponyville's premiere fashion store, Carousel Boutique, where everything is neat, chic, and magnifique!"
"Oh wow! No wonder you're so good at decorating! You run your own dress shop! I was just thinking about what kind of souvenirs I could bring back from here! A dress would be perfect! I could even wear it to the celebration tonight! Hey! Twilight! There's an idea! Why don't I get you all new outfits for the festivities? The six of us will be the belle's of the celebration!"
"Fantastic! Darling, I was just thinking the same thing! You and I are definitely going to get along quite well!"
Twilight suddenly found herself being pushed along by a very insistent fashionista.
"Come now darlings! Fabulosity waits for no mare!"
"Wait! Where are we going?! Help!"
"No, no, uh-uh. Too green. Too yellow. Too poofy. Not poofy enough. Too frilly. Too...shiny."
Twilight stood miserably in front of the mirror, thinking only of how she could already be in that library by now as Rarity continued to swap her through a dozen or so outfits. The fashion forward pony finally settled on a beautiful baby blue, jewel embroidered saddle with an emerald collared brooch.
"There we go, now don't you just look smashing?"
Twilight looked again in the mirror, and had to admit it did look rather pretty on her. Although she really didn't see much of a point to dressing up, especially since all it did was waste more time with these ponies when she could be researching on finding a way to stop Nightmare Moon!
"I guess- urp!"
"Now, just give me a moment to tighten those corset lines for you."
Twilight reared up as Rarity leaned back with the straps being pulled strongly with her teeth, her hind legs planted firmly against Twilight's backside for leverage and body nearly parallel to the ground. The poor mare winced and a tear welled in her eye as she could feel her organs squishing into each other as her waistline slowly but surely narrowed into a supermodel-like figure.
"Hgggh! R-r-rarity...t-too tight...can't...breathe!" she wheezed under the sound of stretching fabric.
"Oh Rarity, could you help zip my back up over here?" Twinkleshine called from the changing stall she was in.
"Huh?" Rarity's grip on the laces loosened for but a fraction of a second, and that was all it took for them to snap away, sending her flying back and Twilight flying forward.
"Oh, be right there, darling!" As Rarity picked herself up and headed back behind the curtains, Twilight scrambled with the saddle's corset and gulped down five breaths of air for each lung in one go in full relief.
Before she could even do anything else though, Twinkleshine paraded out of the dressing rooms in a fanciful purple frock and glittering topaz shoes. "How do I look Twilight? Rarity says this color really bring out my eyes! That looks good on you by the way."
"Looks fine," Twilight said hurriedly. "Now if we're done fitting ourselves until we suffocate, I think I'll just pay for this and be on my way."
"Oh no no no. Please, allow me to treat you. This was my idea, after all. How much do I owe you Rarity?"
Rarity shook her head at Twinkleshine. "The first one's on me. A gift for my new Canterlot friends! Just be sure to tell everypony you meet back there where you got your fabulous new ensemble from!"
"Oh, thank you so much!" Twinkleshine marched back to the line of ponyequins, motioning for Rarity to follow. "By the way, for Lemon Hearts, I was thinking a matching outfit in a different color, what do you think looks better? The red or the blue?"
Rarity soon disappeared after her into the back. "Well, Twinkleshine, if you ask me..."
"Quick!" Twilight rounded up the still smitten Spike. "Before those two decide to dye my coat a new color!"
Spike continued to smile dreamily on Twilight's back as she headed out towards the edge of town again. "Wasn't she wonderful?"
"Focus, Casanova. What's next on the list?"
Spike cleared his throat as he brought the checklist back up again. "Oh, uh, music! It's the last one!"
Perfect. The end to this menial task is in sight, thought Twilight to herself. And then I can finally get to- woah!
She tripped over an unsuspecting leg lying on the path. Pulling herself and Spike up, she looked back to find the leg belonged to Moondancer. Her back leaned against a tree on the edge of the path and a large tome took up nearly her entire upper body.
The bookish mare looked up from her reading to Twilight. "Oh, hello Twilight."
"Moondancer?" Twilight looked to her studious peer in surprise. "I thought you were at the library." Where I should have been the whole time...
"I was," she said curtly. "It got too noisy and crowded in there. This area was the next best thing."
"Noisy in a library?" Twilight was about the question that absurd concept further, when a chorus of chirping drew their attention past the bushes.
Poking their heads through the shrubs, they found a yellow pegasus directing a flock of many different birds in their song.
"Oh my. Um, stop please, everyone, umm." She addressed the blue jay in the fourth branch down. "Excuse me, sir? I mean, no offense, but your rhythm is just a teeny-tiny bit off." She then pulled back to her directing position. "Now, follow me, please. A-one, a-two, a-one two three-"
"Hello!" Twilight called out.
The pegasus squeaked in surprise, scattering her flock away.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry," Twilight backpedaled a bit. After all the aggravation she had to deal with lately, she realized that last one may have been a little too forceful. "I didn't mean to frighten your birds. I'm just here to check up on the music and it's sounding beautiful."
The pegasus just dropped to the ground and rubbed a hoof against the dirt, her eyes never making contact with Twilight's.
After an awkward silence, Twilight ventured forward again. "I'm Twilight Sparkle."
Another round of silence was all that answered her.
"What's your name?" she tried again.
The pegagus turned her head away, as if to hide behind the long silky pink mane of hers. "Um...I'm Fluttershy."
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Twilight started to lean in closer to get a better hearing, but fortunately, the other unicorn in the group had more astute ears used to listening for more faint noises.
"She said her name was Fluttershy," Moondancer answered for her.
In response to being called by her name, the pegasus seemed to retreat a bit further.
"Oh, okay. Well, nice meeting you Fluttershy. I'll...just let you get back to conducting your birds..." Twilight looked around, with her ears flattened. "Which are no longer here..."
Moondancer looked between the two of them, then lit her horn's magic around the tree. The tree suddenly emitted a various series of chirps and warbles. One by one, each of the flock that Fluttershy directed soon flew back to the tree's branches.
"Can we go now?" she asked Twilight.
"How did you do that?" Twilight asked after staring agape for ten full seconds.
"Calling Card's bird call spell, remember? Page 83 of The Avian Enthusiast's guide to Bird Watching? It was a little tricky since I had to vary the signal frequencies for so many different species, but doable."
Twilight thought back and remembered she had read that book with Moondancer before during one of their biology classes. Of course the idea of that spell hadn't even come to her until Moondancer mentioned it. Well, problem solved anyways. Now she could get to the library and-
"Um...did you say Calling Card?"
Fluttershy seemed to creep a little closer to Moondancer, although her head was still low to the ground defensively.
"Yes, are you familiar with him?"
The pegasus seemed to grow a little bolder as enthusiasm began to fill her. "Oh, um, yes. He's my favorite zoologist. He's written five volumes documenting his research on animal communications and behavior, and cataloged 2,578 sets of languages for various species."
"2,579. His latest article in the Canterlot Times confirmed his finished work with narwhals."
All shyness seemed to disappear from Fluttershy now as this new revelation hit. "He did?! Oh my goodness, that's so fascinating! What did it say? WhatDidItSay?"
Warning bells seemed to go off in Twilight's head as this exchange seemed to follow a very distinct pattern she kept getting herself caught up in a lot today. "Okay then," she said to nopony in particular, "I'll just leave you two to your riveting conversation that doesn't need to involve me in any way possible and be on my way."
She moved over to her assistant, whispering to him. "Come on, Spike. The library awaits."
Fate seemed to rope her yet again as Fluttershy broke eye contact with Moondancer for just a second to see who Twilight was talking to. "A baby dragon!"
Poor Twilight was knocked aside as she rushed up to him. "Oh, I've never seen a baby dragon before. He's sooo cute!"
"Well well well..." Spike puffed up his chest proudly and spared a smug glance at Twilight. "Looks like we're important to the conversation after all."
"Oh my, he talks. I didn't know dragons could talk." Fluttershy was now so excited her wings unfurled and lifted her above the ground. "That's just so incredibly wonderful I, I just don't even know what to say!"
"Well, in that case we'd better be going." Twilight said, hoping to cut the conversation short as she lifted Spike back onto her backside.
"Wait, wait!"
Twilight inwardly groaned as she found herself being tailed by the pegasus.
"What's his name?" asked Fluttershy.
"I'm Spike," the dragon in question answered.
"Hi Spike, I'm Fluttershy. Wow, a talking dragon!"
"You'd think a pony meeting a dragon would be a monumental event the way she talks..." Twilight muttered to herself.
"Actually, it is a pretty rare occurrence," Moondancer chimed up from beside Fluttershy. "Aside from the Dragon Town settlement in Fillydelphia, which by itself is relatively isolated, ponies have virtually no direct interactions with dragons. The most informational reference there is about dragons is Bold Brave's book of Exotic Explorations, and the one chapter that covers it only tells about diets, migrations patterns, and other basic behaviors, nothing cultural."
"Ooo...mysterious. So what do dragons talk about?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, what do you wanna know?" Spike asked.
"Absolutely everything."
Twilight groaned out loud this time. This was going to be a long walk to the library.
Twenty-six minutes, thirty-two seconds, and one thousand, four hundred, and fifty-three steps.
The mental counting had been all Twilight could do to drown out the non-stop chatter from the three behind her. Fluttershy's constant questioning, Spike's narrative autobiography, and Moondancer's endless trivia bits in between each sentence. At last her harrowing journey had an end in sight as her eyes picked up the giant tree that could only be the library she was staying at.
"Wait, you actually have a copy of Gentle Breeze's Language guide to Breezies? I've been looking for one for weeks in every bookstore in Canterlot!" Moondancer professed to Fluttershy.
"Oh, well, if you like, you can have mine," she offered. "I'm already quite fluent in it. One day, I hope to be able to talk to a breezie for real."
"Well, you've already talked to a dragon for real," Spike pointed out. "Maybe you'll get lucky twice-"
"I am so sorry, how did we get here so fast?" Twilight announced out loud for the three of them to hear. "This is where I'm staying while in Ponyville and my poor baby dragon needs his sleep."
"No I don't- whoa!"
Twilight sort of subtly shook him off her backside. "Aww, wook at dat, he's so sweepy he can't even keep his widdle bawance!"
"Actually, one of Bold Brave's excerpts confirmed that dragons can stay awake for as long as-"
"Yes well, I think I know a little better on how to take care of my dragon than some obscure reference from a pony who lived fifty years ago since I've been doing that ever since I hatched him," Twilight cut Moondancer off through her clenched teeth as she entered the library and proceeded close the door on them both.
Fluttershy intercepted in excitement however. "You hatched your dragon? You never told me that! Oh, how'd you do it? What did you feed him? Did you read him stories at night? What toys did you give him?"
Twilight rubbed a temple as Moondancer closed the door behind her. "Look, I really just need to be alone for a while, please? I'm sorry if I'm coming off rude, but there's something important I need to study and quick, and I can't do with a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time." She rolled her eyes both ways as to emphasize her point. "Now, where's the light?"
"Uh, Twilight, I think I should warn you-" Moondancer started.
Too late.
"SURPRISE!!!"
Twilight jumped as the moment she switched the lights on, she found herself surrounded by streamers, confetti, and a huge crowd of ponies.
The first to bound up to her was none other than Minuette. "Hey, Twilight! About time you got here! Oh, and thanks for bringing back Moondancer. We can really get this party started now that the whole gang's here!"
"The whole gang?" Twilight looked around, and noted to her dismay that Minuette was right. There among the gaggle of partying ponies were Twinkleshine, Lyra Heartstrings, Lemon Hearts and, oh joy, all their new friends were here as well.
Twilight then recalled Moondancer words about the library getting to be too loud and crowded. "Did you do this?" she asked Minuette without a hint of humor in her voice.
"Nah! I mean I was there and all, but the real credit goes to her!"
A familiar pink earth pony bounced right up to Minuette's side. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie, and I threw this party just for you six! Were you surprised? Were ya? Were ya? Huh huh huh?"
"Very surprised. Libraries are supposed to be quiet," Twilight grumbled.
"Well, that's silly!" Pinkie Pie ducked around and came up to Twilight's side this time. "What kind of welcome party would this be if it were quiet? I mean, duh! Booooooring!"
Twilight tried to walk away but Minuette stood in front, sandwiching her.
"Wouldn't you know it? I actually caught up to her! It was a totally crazy coincidence. Remember when I went to get us some snacks for later? Well I walked into this cute gingerbread bakery for a cupcake, and who should I find coming down the stairs with a boatload of party supplies but her?! And when she saw me she went all *GAAAAAASP* again!"
Pinkie Pie then picked up without even catching a breath. "Yeah! Y'see I've never saw you all before and if I've never saw you before that means you're new, 'cause I know everypony, and I mean everypony in Ponyville! I mean, meeting a new pony in Ponyville is one thing, but six new ponies? Well, okay, actually five since I already knew Lyra, but you know what I mean!"
I need a drink... thought Twilight. Something to take away this non-stop headache I've developed ever since I got off that train!
As she finally managed to squeeze out from the party pair and make her way to the punch bowl, the two of them followed behind, their babbling never ceasing for a second.
"So I always throw a great big ginormous super-duper spectacular welcome party for new ponies in Ponyville, and invite everyone in Ponyville so they can know everypony just like I do! And this party had to be extra special super-duper since I wasn't welcoming one new pony, but six new ponies! Well again, I already knew Lyra, but since she's part of your little friend circle, I didn't want her to feel left out!"
"And then I told her we were already planning to have a party here for Moondancer sake, and we got this crazy idea. Let's take Moondancer's party and this welcome party, and combine them together to make a double party!"
Twilight's ears folded to block out as much chatter as possible as she grabbed the nearest bottle on the table and poured into a cup.
"Yepper doonie roonie! A double party! Double the cake, double the games, double the laughs, double the FUN! So Minuette told me here that Moondancer was currently at the library annnnnnd you were staying here, so I thought, let's have the party here!"
"So I went around and gathered everypony up while Pinkie here got the library ready-"
"-and now you all have bunch of new friends, so none of you have to feel lonely like a bunch of strangers, see?"
Her little group of Ponyville and Canterlot acquaintances stood at attention next to her. Twilight just said nothing a took a big gulp of her drink. If only I had some aspirin as well...
Suddenly her cheek bulged as a fiery sensation traveled down her tongue and up to her brain.
"Uh, Twilight? You okay?" Lemon Hearts asked.
Twilight just jumped up screaming, and ran up the stairs away from the party, breathing fire as she went. Spike then took a look at the bottle she had emptied for her drink.
"Hot sauce. Ooh..." he winced.
Pinkie Pie just emptied another bottle onto one of the cupcakes she was going to eat. "What?" she asked innocently to the others staring at her. "It's like chocolate, it goes better with everything!"
Twilight moaned from live-in bedroom with a pillow over her head as the music continued to blast from the floor beneath. No way she was getting any research done before the celebration now.
The noise intensified a bit as Spike entered the room and let the music through. He lifted the lampshade hat he was wearing off his head to address Twilight.
"Hey Twilight! Pinkie Pie and Minuette are starting pin the tail on the pony! Moondancer's already scored a bullseye! Wanna play?"
Twilight just about erupted now as she ripped off her pillow muffler. "NO! All the ponies in this town are crazy! And my so called 'friends' are only making them even MORE crazy! Do you know what time it is?!"
"It's the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration," Spike stated obviously. "Everypony has to stay up, or they'll miss the Princess raise the sun."
He started to turn back to rejoin the fun downstairs. "You really should lighten up, Twilight. It's a party!"
He closed the door behind him, prompting Twilight to turn over with a fresh wave of grumbles.
"YoureallyshouldlightenupTwilightit'saparty."
With her nasally mocking over, she stared up at the ceiling and vented some more.
"Ugh, here I thought I'd have time to learn about the Elements of Harmony but, silly me, all this ridiculous friend-making has kept me from it! Make some friends, Twilight. It's an essential task, Twilight. Well guess what, Princess Celestia? Turns out I already have friends, and they are the absolute last thing I need right now!!"
Yes, after all, all her 'friends' did was get in the way of what was really important in her assignment. She could have had an extensive report and a full counterattack plan written up for the Princess to utilize when Nightmare Moon returned. But noooo, she had to be stuffed full of apples, drenched in mud, choked on by a choker, have her ears talked off about irrelevant animal facts, and poisoned with fermented peppers...and it was all because of her 'friends'!
She silently swore to herself if this situation ever blew over without Equestria in ruins, she would be cutting all ties to these ponies the minute she got back to Canterlot. Friends couldn't stop Nightmare Moon. Friends couldn't save the world. Friends...weren't important.
She then looked out the window to the night sky. The Mare in the Moon could easily be seen from her position.
"Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about everlasting night."
And I have no idea how to stop it if it happens...
"I hope the Princess was right...I hope it really is just an old ponytale..."