As Janice trotted to Sweet Apple Acres, many citizens dwelling in the small town were out and about and greeting her. She realized that, since she'd arrived in the early morning, she didn't see many ponies while on her way to the Town Hall. But now, it seemed that the town was "waking up" in response to her visit with the mayor being over. Of course, that thought was absolutely ridiculous, so she put it out of her mind as she exchanged greetings with the next few ponies to cross her path. The ponies of this town were quite friendly, something Janice didn't quite expect. Then again, this was a small town, where everypony knew everypony. As long as none of them tries to forcibly become my 'best friend' I think I'll be fine. Janice thought to herself. She then felt her left ear twitch and roll, and she instinctively whirled around to face whomever was sneaking up behind her. She was not disappointed when she saw the pink earth pony mare with pink, cotton candy shaped mane and tail, blue eyes, and a trio of balloons for a cutie mark. The mare gasped and said: "How'd you catch me sneaking up on you to say hello? Nopony's been able to do that! Ever!"
Janice chuckled and pointed to her left ear, saying: "I've got really good hearing. No pony can sneak up on Janice Dazzle! Well, besides my half-brother Maestro Spectrum, that is. I still don't know how he does it..."
Maestro had always been somewhat of an enigma wrapped in a mystery to many ponies. Nopony could predict what he’d do and when, thus earning him a spot as “One of the most random ponies in Equestria”. Even Janice couldn’t quite get an exact bead on his thought processes, and she was related to him! Maestro did, however, have a few quirks that Janice noticed he never abandoned. He never used what he considered “pony superlatives,” such as everypony, somepony, nopony, or anypony, and he often talked to that dragon that followed him around like she was his daughter, and treated her as such. Other than that, Janice didn't know all too much about him, even though they shared the same father along with Servo, Chessmaster, and his full-blooded siblings Aurora and Story. At least she could understand the way the others thought; after all, Servo had been a programmer, Chessmaster was a strategist, Aurora was a dancer, and Story was a writer. Janice was knocked out her musings when the pink mare said: "Well, maybe he's got a sixth sense! But anywho, be at Sugar Cube Corner at 5 PM, okay? It's gonna be a blast!" She paused for a moment. “Oh, and by the way, I’m Pinkie Pie! Nice to meet you!” And with that, Pinkie zipped away. Janice shook her head and chuckled before heading to Sweet Apple Acres.
As Janice entered Sweet Apple Acres, a light gray, zebra mare with hazel eyes, several gold rings on her neck as well as matching gold earrings, a black and white mane and tail, and a cutie mark of a stylized spiral sun walked up to her. Janice then said to the zebra: “Hello! I’m Janice Dazzle! Do you work with the Ponyville Farmer’s Union?”
The zebra turned to Janice and said: “No, for farming skills I lack. However, I can get you on the right track.” The zebra then started to walk to the barn that was nearby, and Janice decided to follow. They reached the barn swiftly, and heard an argument going on. “For now we should stand back, they still opine with fair Applejack.”
Janice then asked: “So, who are you, anyway? Why are you here?”
The zebra then replied: “Zecora is my name, to trade wares is why I came.”
Then Janice and Zecora backed up as the doors opened. An orange mare with green eyes and blonde mane wearing a tan stetson poked her head out. “Now jus’ let me check iffn’ she’s here yet.” She turned her head towards Janice. “Ah reckon yer Janice then?”
Janice smiled at the mare. “Why, of course! You do know why I’m here, right?
“Yer here t’ give us the news on how much we’ll be gettin to spend to prepare fer the Extravaganza, am ah right?” Janice nodded to confirm. “Well then! C’mon in! It’d be best to have the entire union be able to put their two trots in ‘bout what ta do with the money.” The mare then ducked her head back in.
Zecora answered Janice’s silent question: “Indeed, that was fair Applejack, truly so. However, I’m afraid I must go. I am off now to trade, with one excellent in things homemade.” Janice waved farewell to Zecora, and then entered the barn.
Upon entering, she could see a semi-circular, wooden table, and at the head of it was the mare Zecora identified as Applejack. On either side of Applejack, there were five ponies, making the total number of ponies at the table eleven. Each farmer held a banner that showed their prized crop. On Applejack’s left there were the onion, potato, rice, grape, and melon farms. Over on her right, there were the carrot, pumpkin, lettuce, bean, and pepper farms. Applejack then pointed a hoof towards Janice. “Alright, ya’ll! Janice here’s got somthin’ ta say!”
Then, suddenly, eleven pairs of piercing eyes drifted to look at her. Janice gulped. She’d never been good with having attention thrown on her out of the blue. It didn’t matter if she expected it or not; she would probably never get used to it. However, she couldn’t let the pressure get to her. She breathed deeply, and then went for it. “The Farmer’s Union of Ponyville has been granted access to 600 bits worth of Equestrian currency to be used for preparing the dishes for the Extravaganza.”
Then, as she opened her eyes, the room exploded in a cacophony of voices.
“I say we provide more carrot dishes!”
“Oh, not this again, Carrot Top.”
“Hush, Red Onion! Golden Harvest Farms needs the extra income!”
“I say let the carrot farmer have her way. Her farm wouldn’t survive the rest of the winter otherwise.”
“Green Grape does have a point, Red Onion.”
“Oh, hush Spud Sprout, don’t harass Red Onion like that.”
“Thanks for the save, Melon Medley.”
“Can I-”
“HUSH, SWEET RICE!”
At that point, Janice decided to hightail it outta there. As the door shut, the last thing she heard was Applejack’s voice. “Session adjourned!”