//------------------------------// // The announcement // Story: Stuck In A Ship // by Fluttertreetop //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle sat upright, eagerly waiting for the arrival of her least punctual friend for this so-called important meeting. She had been preparing for this a long time and the young princess just knew that this try would not fail. She had run multiple computations of the possible results and they always ended up as a square. The alicorn could not contain the excitement anymore, as she felt her wings twitching. “Where is she? Where. Is. She?” Twilight snapped her head from left to right, frantically looking at her present friends. Applejack, Twilight’s most punctual friend, placed both of her hooves on the princess’ shoulder after standing up to calm the purple mare. “Get a hold o’ yourself, Twi. She's gonna come ‘ere in a moment.” The alicorn sprung her wings and gripped the farmer’s arms, which almost took the latter’s heart away in surprise. “I know you can't wait as well, right, Applejack?!” She said in a hoarse voice, narrowing her eyes at her friend. Applejack glanced sideways, as she scrunched her nose. “Uh, sure. Sure I can't!” She beamed unusually, as she looked at Rarity for rescue. “Look at me, AJ. Look. At. Me!” Twilight whined like a filly, shaking her poor friend. “I've prepared real hard for this. You must not let this fail! Okay?!” She panted. The orange mare had enough of it. She frowned and rolled her eyes, as she released a tired sigh. “Look, Twi,” she pulled herself out of the other mare’s grip. “Ya know that we ain't lettin’ you down, so don't be tad crazy ‘bout it. To be honest, I have no idea what's this here meetin’s all about,” Applejack snorted and looked at her messed best friend. “Jus’...calm your horses down an’-” “I'm here!” The doors slammed open, which made Fluttershy jump off her seat in surprise. Applejack turned her head to the door and glared at the newcomer. “So much for the fastest flyer in Equestria,” the mare in a hat released her half-crazed friend and sat back on her seat. Rainbow Dash, among her friends, always came late in their gatherings. It irritated the orange farm mare the most. “Oh, thank Celestia you came!” Twilight exclaimed, as she flapped her wings in excitement. The cyan pegasus smiled a bit at her alicorn friend’s reaction, but scoffed at Applejack’s remark. The latter scoffed back and rolled her eyes, frowning slightly. “Soooo…” Rainbow rolled her eyes and hovered to her throne, marked by her cutie mark. “What's this all about?” Her voice squeaked slightly at the end of her sentence, as she sat on her seat, securing the place of her prismatic tail around her flank. Rarity raised her hoof, raising her nose a little as well. “I am also quite involved with...how should we call this…” the unicorn tapped the table with a hoof. “...arrangement. I request dear Applejack to take Twilight’s seat for once, please,” she turned to the farm mare and batted her eyelashes. “Uh, for what?” Applejack raised a brow, uncertain from the request. She glanced at Twilight Sparkle, who nodded her head with a smile. The white unicorn straightened her posture. “I have to be by Twilight’s side and explain the arrangement with her,” she looked at the orange pony. Applejack sighed. “Alright,” she stood up and exchanged seat with Twilight. Once both were set, Rainbow Dash shifted nearer to left, while Applejack to her right, lessening the distance between the two. Twilight and Rarity noticed this and smirked devilishly at both of them. The alicorn cleared her throat and leaned on the table. “I know that most of us don't even know why I called all of you for a meeting in this time of the day, despite all of you having a busy schedule,” she declared happily. “Yes, but it is really fine with me. I don't have much to do anyway,” The yellow pegasus said softly, with a smile. Twilight smiled back and resumed to her posture. She could notice that Pinkie Pie was scribbling something on a notepad, but she thought that she must not disturb her. The pink pony seemed to be caught up on what she was doing. “This, I tell you, is very important. As I've said a while ago, I prepared, or rather, we prepared for this a long time,” she winked at Rarity. “I know for sure that you are all hyped to know what is this we're planning to have. To tell you, so am I!” She beamed. Rainbow Dash grew impatient, as she groaned. “Get into the point already!” She stretched out her arms and crossed them, creasing her brows. Twilight looked at the cyan pegasus and rolled her eyes. “So, without further ado, Rarity,” she beamed at the unicorn. Rarity nodded. “A big event is coming before winter ends. I know that all of you is well informed, aren't you?” Multiple uh-huh’s and yes echoed in the throne room simultaneously. The white unicorn was about to speak when Rainbow started to talk. “Let me guess: Fluttershy’s tea party?” The yellow pegasus slumped slightly and smiled sheepishly. Rarity shook her head. “No, Rainbow Dash. But… I am really looking forward to it,” she looked at Fluttershy and smiled. Dash raised a brow and hovered in air. “The official chicken coop cleaning day at Sweet Apple Acres?” With that, Applejack flinched. “No,” Rarity once again shook her head. “Uhm. The third anniversary of Daring Do series?” “No.” “Golden delicious harvesting day?” “No.” “Plowing day?” “No.” “Water-the-East-orchard day?” “No.” “Hey, that's today,” Applejack cut in, placing a hoof on her chin. “Uhm. Well…” Dash swallowed and tried to think of any more events. Rarity flashed a smug look. “What else is the day you're looking forward to?” Rainbow’s face painted a “huh?” look. “Many, of course! Like the horseshoe game, a heavy downpour on Saturday, AJ’s promised tour at Cloudsdale, and-” “Whoa, nelly. My promised tour at Cloudsdale? When is that?” Applejack raised her head to look at the hovering pegasus. “I know nothin’ ‘bout no plan.” Rainbow Dash gulped and glanced side by side, trying to find a believable excuse. “Maybe you weren't listening when I told you that.” “What?” The farm mare gritted her teeth. Rainbow flipped her bangs. “At least now I told you...again,” she smiked. Applejack rolled her eyes and faced the table top. “Whatever.” The white unicorn gasped and leaned on Twilight’s ear. “Did you get that?” She whispered. Twilight lifted the notepad and quill that were hidden under he table and chuckled. “What do you know?” Rarity cleared her throat. “All of those that you mentioned were wrong. Can you not think of anything larger than that?” Rainbow Dash flattened her eyelids. “Winter Wrap-Up?” “No~” Rarity sung. “Then what the buck it it?!” Rainbow Dash yelled, as she flapped her wings wildly, blowing off Applejack’s hat. She seemed to notice it, but she was so angry to pick it. Instead, Applejack stood up, frowning deeply, as she grabbed her hat. Rarity sucked in air, closing her eyes. “Hearth’s and Hooves Day!” She squeaked and beamed brightly. Rainbow Dash hung her mouth open, as Applejack almost stumbled from her seat. “That's it. I'm outta here,” Dash voice became raspy than usual, as she headed to the door. “Oh, no you don't,” Twilight cloaked her horn with magic, then around Rainbow Dash. She dragged the glaring pegasus back to her seat, who looked away annoyed. “I'm not yet done, darling. So, Ponyville is going to hold some special events for this day. One of those is a ‘couple race’,” Rarity nodded once, as she flicked her mane. “Y’all think we're gonna go join that contest jus’ because of the embossed race word in it?” Applejack said with a frown, with her hat slightly nearer to her eyes. Both Twilight’s and Rarity’s ears drooped, as they stared at each other with forlorn expressions, in which the others pair, AJ and Dash rolled their eyes at. “But listen, darling. That race does not include any necessary romance. In fact, I am going with Fluttershy…” She looked at the yellow pegasus. “...if that is, fine with you dear.” Fluttershy sat upright and nodded her head. “Of course, Rarity. It sounds fun,” she smiled. “Fun?! Who says anything about fun?!” Pinkie Pie pulled her stare from the paper she was busy with. Twilight smiled at Pinke and continued Rarity’s statement. “Everypony already has a partner, based on the registration form, well, at least…” She levitated a scroll and scanned it, as she gasped shortly. “...at least not Pinkie,” the princess turned to the pink pony. “Pinkie, who is the pony you want to take with you in the race?” She tilted her head. “Huh? What race?” The pink mare raised a brow. “Uhm. Well. For the Hearth’s and Hooves Day. It doesn't have to be a mare or a stallion. You can choose a close friend.” “Ohhh…” Pinkie leaned on her seat. “Does a sister count?” She said, hope glimmering in her baby blue eyes. Twilight nodded with a smile. “Yes! That's not a problem at all!” Pinkie Pie sighed. “Phew. Thank goodness!” “Is there anythin’ that bothers you, Pinkie Pie?” Applejack asked with concern. “Uhm. It's just…” The cheerful pony looked at her notepad. “Maud is gonna take a stop here in Ponyville, exactly on the Hearth’s and Hooves day. I can't just think of anything to amuse her on that day…” She shook her head. “But luckily…” She suddenly popped in front of Twilight. “Twilight here said something about that race thingie!” Pinkie shrieked. “Isn't it great?!” She bolted towards her seat and beamed. The other ponies in the room smiled at Pinkie. It was Twilight’s turn to get sone concern. She sighed deeply and drooped her ears, looking at Applejack with the pleading eyes. “You promised to me, Applejack.” The farm pony choked and narrowed her eyes. “Huh?” “That you wouldn't fail me,” she pouted. Rainbow growled and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I know I did, but-” “But I worked hard for this. I organized this. I need all my friends with this,” she looked carefully at the stunned orange pony. “But… but…” Applejack stuttered, but finally gave up by sighing. She turned to Rainbow Dash and wore a stern gaze. “Dash. Listen. You know I don't even want this ‘ere race. But… ya know. I ain't lettin’ Twi down. So are you,” she looked at the pegasus in the eye, retaining the stern gaze. Rainbow Dash glanced sideways to share a look with the farm pony. “Yeah, whatever,” she turned her head up and breathed out through her nostrils. Applejack cracked a taunting smirk. “I thought ya wouldn't dare.” The rainbow maned pegasus blinked. “What do you mean, huh?” She creased her brow and snapped her head to AJ’s direction. “Nothin’. Do you think I do?” Applejack craned her neck up with her smug look, tormenting the hovering pegasus. “Oh,” Rainbow Dash bumped her head against Applejack’s. “You think you can beat me in that race?” The farm pony scoffed. “No. ‘cause I know so,” she pushed her head. Rainbow smirked and pulled away, spitting on her right forehoof which earned a cringe from Rarity. “Bring it on,” she stretched out her hoof to Applejack. Applejack smirked back and soitted on her hoof as well. But before they bumped-hooves, Twilight cleared her throat. Both the orange pony and the cyan pegasus turned to meet the alicorn’s gaze. “There's something you two, don't understand,” Twilight earned a short nod from Rarity. “You're not going against each other. You must form a team to win over the other pairs,” she explained. Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked at each other with raised brows. “Wait. Is this serious? Having me and AJ to race,” Dash frowned slightly and pointed her dry hoof at Twilight. “...all of you?” She snorted. “You got to be kidding,” she suppressed laughter. Twilight’s sarcasm detector wasn't activated. “Technically, I will not join the race. I'll be one of the judges, together with Mayor Mare and Princess Celestia,” she said with a smile. Rainbow Dash swallowed and shrugged, as she turned back to the hat-wearing mare. “We still got this, right?” “Bet your apples, we do!” Applejack tipped her hat, as they sealed the deal with a hoof-bump. “Great!” The young princess exclaimed, clapping her hooves together. “Hearth’s and Hooves Day is on next Friday, which is about, eight days from now. Prepare yourselves, everypony!” She beamed and scribbled something on her notepad beneath the table. “I must say, that this is an incredible progress, don't you think?” Rarity whispered to Twilight. “Indeed, Rarity,” the alicorn looked up. “This will be really unforgettable…” Both of the horned ponies looked at the orange farm pony and the weather pegasus with smiles that totally meant something rather than happiness.