Progress

by Andrew Joshua Talon


Luna versus Baseball

Progress:

Luna Versus Baseball

By Andrew J. Talon

Celestia walked through the halls of the palace with her usual grace and efficiency. Despite having gone through several meetings over the state of Equestria’s agriculture and commerce, she was still as outwardly serene as ever.

This changed once she reached the library, and she heaved a great sigh as she looked over the books, rows and tables of the great archives of Equestria.

“Luna? Luna?” She called softly. Her horn glowed for a moment, and she smiled as she located her quarry. Flapping her wings briefly, she rose up and came to a hover on the third level. A mass of blue hair and a horn poked out from over a stack of books on a table near the balcony. An abacus clicked away at a quick pace, as the sound of pages turning rapidly accompanied it.

“Enjoying yourself?” Celestia asked. The sounds stopped, and Luna poked her head out from over the stack of journals, textbooks, and articles. A pair of reading glasses decorated her nose. Celestia raised a hoof to her mouth, but was unable to smother her soft laughter entirely.

“I am, actually, and—What? Why are you laughing?” Luna asked. Celestia hovered over the balcony and landed in front of the table. She pointed her hoof at Luna’s glasses, and the younger alicorn’s mouth made an “o” of understanding.

“Oh! You mean the glasses. Well, um, I saw that the other librarians and others who do a great deal of reading wore them and as they enhance vision I thought it only proper I have the same,” Luna explained. Celestia laughed again, and Luna scowled.

“What?”

“Luna, you only wear glasses if you require them,” Celestia said gently. Luna nodded.

“Right. For reading.”

“If your eyes are already bad,” Celestia added. Luna blinked rapidly behind her large frames, then, comprehending, pulled the spectacles off. Celestia’s smile grew.

“On the other hoof, you do look adorable in them,” she teased. Luna flushed again and huffed.

“Yes, yes… Well? Are you going to hug me and give me candy then?”

“Not this time,” Celestia said. Luna frowned and looked back at her papers, and resumed her work, abacus clicking away happily.

“Well, then what? I have a great deal of work to do,” Luna said. “I’ve nearly finished with the trading history of Manehattan, then I am moving onto Phillydelphia, Baltimare-“

“You’re making work for yourself,” Celestia said with gentle admonishment. Luna flushed.

“I am not! ‘A wise princess is a learned princess’.”

“Yes, and you have learned much,” Celestia said. “Your notes helped me a great deal in today’s meetings.” She raised a hoof and rested it on Luna’s, stopping her page turning. Luna looked up with a frown as Celestia smiled at her.

“But did they not also say ‘A time for work, a time for play’?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“They wrote that about you,” Celestia teased. Luna huffed.

“They did not!”

“My dear little sister, they did,” Celestia said. “And now it’s time for some play.”

“All right… What sort of play?” Luna asked flatly. Celestia’s smile grew.

“Today is the first full day of spring, and you know what that means,” she said.

“… It’s the vernal equinox? Isn’t that your department?” Luna asked.

“Try again. Think socially,” Celestia suggested. Luna hummed, and thought it over.

“The… Equinox… Celebration… Ritual… Thing?” She asked with what Celestia thought was both the worst and most adorable bluff face she’d ever seen. She hugged her little sister, who pouted.

“In a manner of speaking, yes,” Celestia said. “It’s the first game of the Equestria Baseball Season. I am going to throw the opening pitch. And I would like you to come.”

“Me? Come?” Luna asked. “But-But I know nothing of sports!”

Celestia smiled. “Why, you are right! You don’t know anything about it! This is why I have arranged for the Apple family to accompany you to the game.”

“Apple Family?” Luna asked, screwing up her eyes in thought. They then widened. “Oh… You mean the… One of the—“

“Yes. Her,” Celestia said. “They have graciously offered to let you come with them. Incognito, if you wish.”

“Oh… Oh! Of course,” Luna said, smiling as she understood. She could slip in and out among the crowds, just another pony. It would allow her to relax while her big sister once more took the spotlight. Really, was there no end to her sister’s generosity?

“Well! This should be simple enough…” Luna pulled off her crown, her grieves and her chestplate, placing them upon the table. She beamed up at her sister. “Nobody will recognize me like this.”

Celestia covered her mouth and laughed again. Luna scowled. “What? I shall look like any other…” She looked back over her wings, and then back up at her horn. “Oh. Yes. Those…”

“I have the perfect solution, dear sister,” Celestia said. Luna blinked.

“Oh. Yes. Magic. I should have thought of that,” Luna said.

“In a sense,” Celestia allowed. Luna’s eyes narrowed.

“In what sense?”

- - - - - - - - - -

“Gosh Miss… Uh… Selene, I gotta say you do look mighty fetchin’ in those glasses of yours, if you don’t mind me sayin’ so,” Applejack Apple complimented Luna. The alicorn sighed as the bus bounced and shook over the road to Manehattan, and managed to nod in response.

“Thank you Miss Apple,” Luna replied dully. She took a moment to look over the rest of the occupants of the public bus, primarily focused upon the Apple family. Applejack was sitting next to her on the bus, all smiles. Over her freckled cheeks, she had drawn red marks and in place of the broad-brimmed hat she’d worn when she’d confronted Nightmare Moon she now wore a baseball cap with a bright red A on it.

“So, first baseball game huh?” Applejack asked. Luna nodded as she looked behind her. Big Macintosh, Applejack’s big brother, was carrying coolers and bags of supplies as well as a cap like Applejack’s. Next to him was their little sister, Applebloom, who wore a similar hat and carried a big foam hoof with “We’re Number One” emblazoned upon it. And next to her was Granny Smith, the grandmother of the family, who was wearing another cap but with drink containers attached to it and straws leading to her mouth.

“I remember mah first baseball game! The Apple family always comes every year to see the Applanta Mustangs opening game, and mah first time we drove up to watch in our relatives’, the Orange family’s, box seats. That was also the last time since mah pa got in an argument with mah uncle and well, there ain’t no more box seats, I’ll tell you what,” Applejack recited. She grinned over at Luna. “O’ course, it would’ve helped if mah uncle had just agreed that the call was bad…”

“Consargnit rutting rotten applesalsa,” Granny Smith huffed. Applebloom popped up over the back of the seat and smiled at Luna.

“So Miss Selene, you know the Princess, right? Right?” She asked. Luna nodded.

“Yes, yes I do…”

“Do ya think you could put in a good word for me, so I could get my cutie mark faster?” Applebloom asked sweetly. Applejack scowled.

“Now Applebloom! You know that’s not how it works!”

“But Applejack! Princess Celestia could do it, right Miss Selene? Pretty please?” Applebloom begged. Luna coughed.

“Well, um I’ll see what I can do… Urk!”

Applebloom was hugging her with surprising strength. In fact, Luna was having trouble breathing.

“Oh thank you thank you thank you!”

Everything’s… Going… Dark…!

“Applebloom, ah think she’s got the point… Applebloom! APPLEBLOOM!”

Too… Tight…!

“She’s turnin’ blue!”

“How can you tell? Miss Selene? MISS SELENE!”

Is that you Mother…? Tell Celestia to stop taking my toys…

- - - - - - - -

Luna came to later, staring up into several pairs of eyes. She was outside the bus, apparently on a bench of some sort. She sat up and looked around. They were just outside the stadium.

“Uh…?”

Applebloom looked on guiltily. “Um… Sorry Miss Selene, ah didn’t mean ta strangle you…”

“Really sorry Miss Selene, she didn’t mean no harm, honest!” Applejack apologized profusely. Luna groaned and slowly rolled over, standing up on shaking legs.

“I-I’m fine… Really…” She smiled weakly. “Don’t worry… I wouldn’t want to spoil your big day.”

The Apples looked relieved, especially Applebloom. Granny Smith huffed.

“Come on, the game’s starting! Give Miss Selene her tack, Big Mac,” the elder pony said. Big Macintosh nodded.

“Eeyup… Here. Hat,” he said, placing it on her head. Luna smiled as she looked up at it.

“Thank you.”

“Mitt. Hold up your hoof, miss,” he said. Luna did so obligingly and Big Mac slipped on a circular leather shoe that, if she focused, she could flex open or closed.

“Thank you.”

“Flag,” Applebloom said, hoofing it to Luna with a bright smile. Luna took it into her mouth, returning the smile as best she could.

“Thmmph hmph.”

“Flank packs!”

“Program!”

“Sunglasses!”

“Sunscreen!”

“Foam Hoof!”

“Jersey!”

“Autograph book!”

“Sittin’ pillow!”

“Pendant!”

“Foldy chair!”

“Cooler!”

“Peanuts!”

“Mmph!” Luna tried to speak through the flag she was holding in her mouth, her eyes growing wide at the great weight she was now bearing. Granny Smith nodded approvingly, even as Applejack, Big Mac and Applebloom looked concerned.

“Everything ya need… Come on! I’ve got the tickets,” she said, turning and trotting to the gates. Applejack coughed.

“Ah… Need any help there?”

“Mm mmph!” Luna said, shaking her head. They can handle this, so can I… I’m normal, normal, normal…

“Are you sure? Me an’ Big Mac can handle it,” Applejack said.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac said. “Wouldn’t be a problem at all.”

“Mmmngh mmph! Hnnph!” Luna protested. Applejack sighed and shook her head.

“All right… If you say so,” she said. She and Big Mac turned and headed for the gate, while Applebloom stayed at Luna’s side. Applebloom poked around in one of her saddle bags, before she smiled.

“Oh! I almost forgot! Here! A ball!” She grinned.

“Mmph? Nnph mmph!” Luna shook her head rapidly. Applebloom apparently missed this as she frowned at the overstuffed bags. She then smiled.

“Here you go!” Applebloom said, setting the game sphere on top of the overstuffed bags. Luna felt herself teetering, back and forth. “You can get it signed at the end of the game!”

“Mmngh! Nnph!”

“I wanna get Grey Marex’s autograph! He’s the best batter there ever was! We can get it together!” Applebloom said cheerfully, hugging her own autograph book with a dreamy sigh. “Ah can’t wait to see him in action!”

“Hmmmmmm!”

Luna fell over, slamming into the pavement. Applebloom blinked and looked over at the sprawled Luna, and bit her lip guiltily.

“Uh… Miss Selene, you okay?”

“Pfft,” Luna spat out the flag and sighed.

- - - - - - - - -

They found their seats easily enough after the tack and supplies had been more equally distributed, and Luna found herself managing to relax. She breathed deep, enjoying the smell of cut grass. She enjoyed the bright sunshine overhead and the clear blue sky, the murmur of the crowds, the colorful uniforms the teams wore…

“Oh this is going to be great, this is going to be great, this is going to be great!” Applebloom cheered, and Luna had to smile with her. The little filly’s enthusiasm was contagious, and the rest of the Apple family was just as eager. Luna smiled and nodded.

“This is gonna to be great. Applanta’s starting line up is gonna cream those uppity Mounts,” Applejack said with a grin, rubbing her hooves together.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac said.

“We’re gonna slaughter ‘em!” Another fan loudly proclaimed.

“Ah?” Luna blinked.

“YEAH!” The section cheered.

“We’re gonna smash em and crush ‘em and destroy them!” Applebloom cried, standing up on her seat. Luna stared at her in horror.

“YEAH!”

“What?! NO!” Luna spread her wings and flew up in front of the assorted ponies. She glared furiously through her glasses at the surprised fans. “You will do no such thing! I am the keeper of peace and balance in the heavens and… And…!”

Applejack was waving her hooves frantically above her head. Luna looked around, and felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment.

“And… You were all speaking figuratively,” she said. A number of nods and acknowledgements were thrown at her. “Right… Well… Um… Carry on,” she said, flying back to her seat. She pulled her program up over her face and focused intently on the statistics of the players. Luna smiled in relief.

Ah, comforting numbers… I shall add, subtract, divide, multiply, and so many other operations with you my darlings, as soon as I get my abacus. She rummaged around in her flank bag with a happy smile. Yes, you should be somewhere in here… Somewhere…

Luna took the bag off her flank and peered into it. I know it was in here somewhere… Where is it?!

“No… No… No…!”

“Whatcha lookin’ for, Miss Selene?” Applebloom asked. Luna looked up.

“My abacus.”

“Aba-what?” Applebloom asked.

“It’s a device for mathematical calculations involving the movement of beads to represent various sums…” She trailed off as the little filly stared at her uncomprehendingly. She sighed.

“It’s a wooden box with beads on wires.”

“Ooh! Don’t worry, ah’ll find it!” Applebloom said cheerfully. She grabbed the bag and turned it upside-down. “The best way to find it is to take everything out!” She grinned at the large pile that resulted and began digging through the various items. “Maybe I can get a ‘findin’ abacuses’ cutie mark!”

“Uh… Yes, sure,” Luna said, her eyes narrowing. She looked down at the VIP box where her sister was currently sitting.

Sister wouldn’t take it… Would she?

- - - - - - - - -

“Little sister loves her abacus, does she? Well, why don't I just... SEND IT TO THE MOON! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“No! Why would you do this Big Sister?” Sobbed Luna.

“Aw, is little baby sister going to cry? Going to cry, Little Luna?” Celestia mocked. “Maybe I’ll send you to the moon too, along with my toaster, my oven and my MICROWAVE!”

“NO! NOT THE MOON AGAIN!”

- - - - - - - - -

“Miss Selene? Ah, Miss Selene? The first pitch is about to be thrown,” Applejack spoke. Luna blinked, and looked down at the field. Her big sister was on top of the mound and was holding the ball in her mouth. Luna’s eyes narrowed.

“Right…”

That’s silly, sister wouldn’t take it… Really. Or send it to the moon.

Celestia threw the pitch, and the crowds cheered wildly. Luna joined in, and put the program away. She could just derive enjoyment from the game itself, like everypony else. Yes. Be perfectly normal and not make any more scenes…

The first batter up, one of the Mustangs, swung the bat in his teeth a few times. The pitcher sized him up, before throwing his ball with his tail rather than his mouth as Celestia had done. The batter swung, and connected. Over the roar of the crowd the ball sailed up into the sky and over the foul line, landing in the section directly to the right of theirs. Applebloom’s face fell.

“Aw…”

Another hit came, and it too headed near their section. Once again, Applebloom rose up with her glove, and was disappointed.

“Aw…!”

“Now calm down Applebloom, a ball’s gonna come this way sooner or later,” Applejack soothed. The ball was hit again and it flew right for them. Applebloom grinning and got up on top of her seat.

“Foul ball catchin’ cutie mark, foul ball catchin’ cutie mark…!” She muttered as she reached up. Unfortunately…

“Yee haa! Ah still got it!” Granny Smith said cheerfully as she lowered her shaking hoof and examined the ball she’d snagged. Applebloom pouted. Applejack smiled cheerfully.

“Don’t you worry none… There’s just a another-Ooh! Foul ball, it’s all mine!” She leaped up and held her mitt. She snagged it with a triumphant grin at Big Mac. “Ha! Gotcha!”

“Eeyup, sure did,” Big Mac rumbled, his eyes on the play below. Applebloom settled back in her seat and pouted. Luna frowned, and looked down at the play. She then brightened.

“Hey, Applebloom? Let me see your mitt for a second.”

“Oh? Okay…” She held it up to Luna’s face. Luna closed her eyes and concentrated, her horn glowing.

“Just don’t tell anypony I did this,” she murmured. Applebloom nodded.

“You can trust me!” The mitt glowed brightly for a second and then stopped with her horn. Just in time for another hit. Applebloom’s eyes brightened as she held up her hoof. Luna smiled back at her, and looked back at the incoming ball.

The attractor spell would just ensure that any balls that got close to them would go into Applebloom’s mitt. Very simple. It wouldn’t even alter the play of the game, since a ball would have to be foul to come within range in the first place.

“It’s all mine, all mine…!”

KONK.

“Awww…! Miss Selene, you caught it!” Applebloom pouted. “But you weren’t supposed to catch it with your head.”

- - - - - - -

“So, how are you enjoying the grub, Miss Selene?” Applejack asked, after they’d bandaged Luna’s head. Luna dug into her apple-based dishes with great relish.

“Mmm… These are wonderful,” she said honestly. She winced a bit as Applebloom poked the bandage.

“I’m sorry you got hit,” Applebloom said. Luna sighed.

“It’s my own fault, so don’t be upset,” Luna said. Applejack raised an eyebrow.

“Your own fault?”

“Oh… Yes… For not holding my mitt up in time,” she said quickly. Applejack slowly nodded.

“Right… Well! We’ve got plenty of snacks but if you’d like to go get some cotton candy, Big Mac is going to be heading that way. Along with nachos and cheese,” she said, giving him a disapproving look. Big Mac shrugged.

“What can ah say? I like cheese.”

“You have a problem with cuttin’ it,” Applejack accused. Big Mac looked away in some mild embarrassment.

“S-Sure,” Luna said, rising up. She trotted carefully to the aisle, followed by Big Mac. She stopped and smiled. “Please, lead the way.”

“This way,” Big Mac said, trotting to the entrance to the interior of the stadium. Following the big horse, Luna trotted carefully.

“I’m awful sorry about Applebloom,” Big Mac said. “She’s a bit overly excitable.”

“I-I don’t’ mind,” Luna said with a wince. “Ow…”

“Well, here we are,” Big Mac said as they reached the snack stand. He smiled at her. “You want anything?”

“Oh no, I-I couldn’t,” Luna said quickly. Big Mac shook his head and looked to the cashier.

“One cotton candy for her, please,” he asked. Luna sighed as Big Mac paid for it and the rest of the food he obtained, but nodded gratefully all the same.

“Thank you…” She studied the cotton candy carefully as Big Mac smiled wryly at her. Noticing this, she flushed.

“What?”

“You’re staring at it like you’ve never had it before,” Big Mac laughed softly. “It’s kind of cute, if you don’t mind me sayin’ so Miss Selene.” Luna huffed in order to cover up her blush.

“Well… I’m just studying it…” She poked it with her hoof and sniffed it. She then took a bite. She chewed and swallowed it.

“So, how is it?” Big Mac asked.

Luna finished it off in a few bites, gulping it down with speed a certain pink pony might envy. She licked the paper cone clean and looked intently at Big Mac, whose eyes had gotten wide.

“Uh… Like it?”

Luna nodded. She trotted to the stand. “How much cotton candy do you have?”

“Uh…” The cashier pointed to the rack. Luna smiled.

“I’ll take all of it.”

- - - - - - - -

“Oh wow that play was amazing! Doubleplay doubleplay doubleplay! Woohoo! Go go go go go!” Luna cried happily as she waved her hooves in the air. Applebloom was about the same, though she hadn’t had nearly as much cotton candy as Luna had.

“That was great yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!” Applebloom cheered next to her, jumping up and down on her seat.

“Big Mac,” Applejack said, glaring at her big brother. He shrugged.

“It was with her own money.”

“Yes, but hoowhee… That hangover’s gonna be mighty bad come the seventh inning,” Applejack said.

- - - - - - - -

“Ugh… Energy… Drop…” Luna groaned. Applebloom groaned next to her, rubbing her belly.

“Ah feel awful, Applejack,” Applebloom moaned. Applejack chuckled.

“Well, it serves you right for gobbling up all that candy. Who do you think you are, Pinkie Pie? Though, ah’m a mite confused as to why you’re feelin’ so bad, Miss Selene,” Applejack said. Luna moaned.

“Metabolism is still weird since I got back from… Um… Somewhere else,” she said with a little wink. Applejack nodded.

“Right, right...” Applejack said with a wink back.

“Ooh my! Seventh Inning stretch! Everypony up, up, up!” Granny Smith cried. All of them dutifully got up, and sang along with the song.

“Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd, buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks, I don’t care if I never get back so let’s root, root root for the home team! If they don’t win it’s a shame. For it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out at the old, ball, game!”

Much cheering ensued, and Luna’s headache and upset stomach seemed to fade away. She smiled brightly and clopped her hooves together.

“And now, to commemorate today’s game, please accept these autographed baseballs, to be hit into the stands by today’s starting batter, Mino Caballo!”

“Ooh! Baseballs! Autographed baseballs! They’re all mine!” Applebloom said, throwing off her upset stomach with both hooves up. Luna’s eyes widened.

“Baseballs?”

No, must undo the spell, must undo the spell-!

KONK.

- - - - - - - - - -

“Lands’ sake, Miss Selene! You have got the worst luck of any pony I have ever met, cept maybe fer Twilight,” Applejack said, as she yet again bandaged poor Luna’s head. She winced. The crowd had gotten rowdier, angrier, and most distressingly, louder as the game entered the bottom of the ninth.

“Oh-Oh?”

“Five baseballs, all slamming right into your noggin! However do you do it?” Applejack asked with a chuckle. Luna moaned.

“I have a knack for making bad decisions…”

“Lucky thing your glasses weren’t smashed,” Applejack said. Applebloom held up the six baseballs she’d managed to obtain with a bright smile.

“Thank you Miss Selene! Ah couldn’t’ve gotten all these balls without them hittin’ you!” She hugged Luna tightly, which the dazed Luna returned.

“N-No problem…”

“OI! GO BACK TO LLAMAVILLE YOU PUNK PONY!” Granny Smith bellowed. “YOU COULDN’T HIT THE BROADSIDE OF MAH BARN!”

“Eesh! Granny Smith, quiet down! Miss Selene’s been hit in the head so many times--“ Applejack tried, but Granny interrupted.

“But that Mount pitcher down there just beaned his fourth batter!” Granny protested. “He’s doing it on purpose!”

“Um… If he hit his fourth batter, doesn’t that mean we scored?” Luna asked. Applejack growled.

“Yeah! But it also means that further down in the season we’ll have more injured! YOU CHEATIN’ NO GOOD CUD MUNCHER!” Applejack bellowed. More booing followed, and Luna dazedly got up to see.

Indeed, the Mount pitcher had just nailed another pony, as the first runner staggered his way to home.

“COME ON UMP! THROW ‘EM OUT!” Applejack shouted. When the umpire simply called for a resume of play, the booing got louder.

“BOO! BOO! YOU ROTTEN NO GOOD UMPIRE!” Applebloom shouted. She grinned at Luna. “Come on Miss Selene! Shout with us!”

“Ohh…” Luna groaned. She focused her eyes on the field, and took a deep breath.

“Um… YOU! YOU PITCHER! NUMBER SEVENTY! YOU ARE… Uh… VERY POOR AT SPORTMANSHIP! YES! YOUR MANAGER SHOULD ADMONISH YOU! SEVERELY! MAYBE EVEN DOCK YOUR WAGES!”

The booing got quieter. Luna smiled and felt much better about shouting. She focused on the umpire next.

“AND YOU! UMPIRE! YOU ARE VERY POOR AT MAKING DECISIONS! You… YOU ARE VERY UNFAIRLY BIASED AND NOT ACTING AT ALL IN THE MANNER YOUR PROFESSION REQUIRES! YOU LACK HONOR AND DECORUM AS AN ARBITER OF EVENTS!”

The booing in their section had almost completely stopped, and Luna was acutely aware of many eyes on her. She coughed and smiled weakly.

“And uh… Uh… You should be fired?” She offered to the fans in a squeak. Big Mac coughed. Applejack cleared her throat.

“Uh, yeah! YEAH! FIRE HIM!” The holder of the Element of Honesty yelled.

“FIRE HIM!” Big Mac bellowed.

“ADMONISH SEVERELY! ARBITER OF EVENTS!” Applebloom cried.

“YEAH! FIRE HIM!” Their fellow spectators shouted.

Luna sighed in relief. Below, the next batter took his position, smirking confidently at the pitcher over the bat. Applebloom gasped and hugged Luna tightly.

“What, what?” Luna asked.

“It’s Gray Marex! It’s him it’s him it’s him!” Applebloom chanted. “Ooh, he’ll finish off that rotten pitcher once and for all!”

The pitcher threw the ball, hard, but the batter easily moved out of the way. A ball was called. The umpire gave the pitcher a hard glare, and the pitcher snorted. He caught the ball and eyed Gray seriously. Gray smirked. The pitcher threw hard, a screaming fast ball right through the strike zone. Gray didn’t swing, choosing instead to ignore it. A strike was called.

“No! Come on Gray, swing! What are you doin’?” Applebloom cried. Applejack patted Applebloom on the head.

“Now don’t you worry none, Applebloom. He’s just makin’ sure this pitcher knows he won’t take any of his guff.”

The pitcher threw a curve ball. Gray let it go past, even yawning at the smoke left behind by the pitch. He shot the crowds a wink at the call of “strike 2”, before he narrowed his eyes.

“Lookit his face! It’s grown stern and and cold! And his muscles are strained!” Applebloom sighed. “He won’t let that ball go by again!”

Gray pounded with cruel violence upon the plate, and swung it in fierce challenge. The pitcher reared back on his haunches and dropped down, the ball leaving his tail and shooting forth like a rocket. The sound of air shattering filled the stadium as Gray swung.

CRACK!

The ball was sent screaming for the fences. The crowds cheered loudly as the home run ball sailed out of the park, and Luna got caught up in it as well, bouncing and cheering loudly in turn.

“YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! TAKE THAT, MOUNTS! HAHAHAHAHA!” Applebloom laughed, hugging Luna tightly as the great stallion rounded the bases. Luna smiled and laughed with the filly, feeling wonderful despite her many bumps, bruises and her tummy ache.

“In honor of Gray Marex’s triumph, the Applanta Mustangs are pleased to send out another batch of autographed balls to the audience, via the automatic pitching cannon!” The announcer cried. Luna felt tears well up in her eyes.

“Not again…”

- - - - - - - - -

Outside the stadium, the happy crowds went their way to taxis, buses, trains or just by hoofing it. Applebloom bounced in an orbit around Applejack, Big Mac, Granny Smith, and the limping Luna, holding all of her balls in her hooves as happy as could be.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! This is so wonderful! Best first day ever!” She grinned happily at Applejack and Luna. “Can we go next week? Please? Pretty please?”

“Now now Applebloom, ah think Miss Selene’s had more than enough baseball for a while,” Applejack said. Luna wobbled, but managed a smile.

“N-No… I’m okay… This was a lot of fun…”

Applebloom looked down at the huge batch of baseballs she held, and then up at Luna. She frowned.

“Aw… Miss Selene… Are you sure you won’t take just one ball? Ah mean, it’s thanks to you I got so many!”

“I… Well… Um…” Luna tried very hard not to look at Applebloom’s wide, watery eyes, but she failed and with a sigh and pain-filled grin nodded. “Sure. I’d love one.”

“Okay! Catch!” Applebloom said cheerfully, tossing it to Luna.

“Applebloom, no-!” Big Mac tried, but the ball impacted Luna right in the glasses. It fell from them, leaving shattered plastic in their wake. Luna weakly smiled.

“Hahaha… Finally… Got the glasses… Huh…?” She asked. Applejack reached up and took them off, as Big Mac and Granny Smith both looked Luna over intently.

“Are you okay?”

“Did any get in your eyes?”

“Oh I’m so sorry sorry sorry!” Applebloom cried again, hugging Luna’s leg. “I’m so sorry I-!”

“Luna? Are you all right?”

The Apple family froze. Almost as one they looked over at Princess Celestia, who was standing by her chariot with a concerned look. With that same synchronization they looked back at Luna. Applejack looked down at the shattered glasses, and up at Luna, who had managed to cast a healing spell that got her eyes to look in the same direction.

“You mean… Miss Selene… Is Princess Luna?!” Applejack gasped. “Ah… Ah… I didn’t suspect it at all!”

Luna blinked several times, staring at Applejack in disbelief. “What?! But… I thought you were just playing along!” Angry now she got up in Applejack’s face. “How could you be fooled by a pair of glasses?!”

“… Well, in mah defense, I didn’t get a good look at you the last time we met,” Applejack pointed out. “And Big Mac, Granny Smith, an’ Applebloom ain’t never seen you before.”

“Oh. Right,” Luna said, backing away. “Um, sorry…”

“Think nothin’ of it!” Applejack said pleasantly.

“Uh, your Majesty,” Big Mac said with a bow. “About that cute comment-“

“It’s just fine, really,” Luna said. “I-I took it as a compliment, thank you.” She turned her attention to the entire Apple family now with a smile. “Thank you very much, all of you, for such a wonderful outing. I-I would love to do it again.”

“Well, we’d love to have you!” Applejack said with a smile.

“Yes! Whoever you are, it was wonderful,” Granny Smith said.

Big Mac smiled and nodded, as Luna blushed again. She looked over at the youngest Apple, feeling a bit concerned.

Applebloom was staring with big eyes at Luna, silent as a mouse. Luna gave her a little smile.

“Uh, and you too Applebloom. You were wonderful, thank you,” she said gratefully. Applebloom’s lower lip wobbled, and she jumped up to squeal happily.

“I MET PRINCESS LUNA! PRINCESS LUNA THINKS I’M WONDERFUL! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!” She hugged Luna again, knocking the wind out of her. The alicorn nevertheless hugged her back.

“Okay, okay now! Ah think she gets the point now, Applebloom,” Applejack said, before yanking Applebloom back by her tail. Celestia smiled and nodded.

“Well… Until next time, everypony. Thank you again so much. I’ll see you all later, and so will Luna,” she said.

“You’re welcome, your majesty!” Applejack said. “Hey, Princess Luna? Don’t forget this.” She hoofed the baseball to Luna, who took it gratefully.

“Thank you…”

“And these,” Applebloom said, handing her her busted pair of glasses with another guilty look. Luna smiled and nuzzled Applebloom comfortingly.

“Thank you…”

“And the rest of your tack will also be required!” Granny Smith declared. Luna coughed.

“Uh…”

“Ah think we can get that to her later,” Big Mac pointed out. “After all, there ain’t no room for it on the chariot.”

“Ah, of course,” Granny said. Luna shot Big Mac a grateful look.

Before the curious crowds could close on them, Celestia ushered Luna to the chariot and the pegasi pulling it took off, carrying them into the sky above. Luna sighed, holding the baseball with a smile. She looked up at her sister.

“So… You didn’t tell them who I was so they wouldn’t treat me any differently,” she said. Celestia smiled.

“It was the least I could do.”

“… Thank you,” Luna said.

“Think nothing of it,” Celestia said cheerfully. She then lowered her face close to Luna’s, and her smile became sly.

“So… He thought you were cute, huh?”

“Oh… Shut up,” Luna muttered, pulling the baseball cap off her bandaged head, and stuffing it into Celestia’s face. Her older sister just laughed as the chariot flew on.