//------------------------------//
// Only the Best [Slice of Life] 
// Story: Short Stories Collection, vol. I 
// by fallen starr 
//------------------------------//

The towns speaker system hadn’t been used in years. It was only used in the most extreme emergencies. Some ponies would have thought the Cerberus that had wondered into town would have counted as an emergency, but that was tame next to the forest the town was built next to. Some would have said the night Celestia went missing from the Summer Sun Celebration would have been the perfect time to use it, but then who hadn’t attended the celebration that year? No, the speakers had only been used once since the town had installed them, when a freak tornado had came from the Everfree.
So, when the speakers crackled, every pony stopped what they were doing and listened. Only small foals like Pumpkin and Pound Cake seemed to pay no mind to the noise, in stead continuing to play with their toys.

“Citizens of Ponyville,” came Mayor Mare’s voice over the speaker system, “Every pony whose coat is of a primary color is required to come to town hall immediately . I am sorry for the disruption of your day.” With that, the speakers crackled once again before falling as silent as they had ever been.

The laughter of two foals brought Cup Cake out of her reverie. With her mouth hanging slightly open, she looked over to her husband. Out of their family, she was the only one with a coat the primary colors. Still, she couldn’t find it within her to move. What could possibly be going on that required ponies to be sorted by coat color, of all things?

Thankful that her husband and children would be left out of whatever this was, she took a deep breath and moved toward the door of the bakery.

“Cuppy,” Carrot said, “don’t go. We can pretend we didn’t hear…I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

Cup walked over to her husband and put a hoof to his face. ” It’ll be okay, dearie. Don’t ya worry. Watch, I’ll be back quicker than Pinkie eating a chocolate cake, eh.” She pressed her lips to his before turning to the door, squaring her shoulders, and walking out.

The streets were virtually empty. She wasn’t sure where everyone had gone, as it had been a sunny market Thursday, but everyone had disappeared. Only the ponies going to town all were out.

It didn’t take long for Cup to arrive at town hall. She looked around, surprised at the small number of ponies. She saw Pinkie’s friend, Rainbow Dash, fluttering nervously. Macintosh looked as calm as ever, a stark contrast to Fluttershy, who seemed to be trying to both cling to Rainbow, and burry herself in the ground.

The doors of town hall opened, and the small group of ponies cautiously moved forward. In the circular room stood a blue unicorn with a smug smirk on her face. “Oh, no, no. This won’t do at all. Trixie needs only the best servants.”