> Isla Divina > by Bluestone > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter One: The Party > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Twilight will be so thrilled! Rarity, I can't believe you thought of this!" "Fluttershy, my dear, Twilight deserves the absolute best! After all she did just become a princess!" All of Twilight Sparkle's friends are crammed into the library. Pegasi peek through windows near the ceiling, while unicorns finish stringing up last minute decorations for her congratulatory party. Applejack and the rest of the earth ponies finish setting out the food. Vinyl Scratch plugs in her stereo system and Octavia checks sound levels. Suddenly Fluttershy squeaks, sending Rainbowdash diving for the lightswitch and everypony else hiding... everypony, except Fluttershy. "Um. You can all come out, I mean if you want to." "But what about Twilight?" "Wh- what about her? I don't see her coming. No one told me she was here" "Then why in tarnation did you squeak? Applejack calls out from a closet. "Oh, one of Rainbow Dash's feathers brushed against my leg and it startled me." Fluttershy explained softly "I'm terribly sorry." Spike stands and knocks over the chair he was under. "You here that everypony? he yells "False alarm! Twilight isn't here!" Ponies grumble, revealing themselves to the room. Rarity side steps away from a drawn curtain that blends perfectly into the fancy crimson cloak she is wearing. Others squeeze out of tight spaces between the walls and bookshelves, and just behind the wall that separates Twilight Sparkle's room from the rest of the house. The light is switched back on, and everyone resumes their previous jobs. Applejack turns to Big Macintosh "It's a good thing she isn't here! The food isn't all out yet. Go get the Crusaders to help us bring everything else out." "Yup." After Cupcake and Carrot Cake finish setting up the dessert table, they help the Apple family set up the last of the food. Everything is set up and Rarity calls out "Well done everypony! Give yourself a tiny hoof-stomp!" Rarity looks around and does a double-take when she sees Pinkie-Pie. "Pinkie, stay away from the Cake until the party starts! Do you have your Party Cannon ready?" "Yes indeedy!" "Good! Does anypony not have a noise maker or a party hat? ... No? No? No. Okay then, excellent! Let's all hide, and let Rainbow, Snowflake, and Flash Sentry watch for Twi. Snowflake lets out one of his typical shouts and flies to a window. A minute or two goes by and Flash sees a purple dot in the near Town Hall that is headed towards the library. "Rainbow. Snowflake. I think I see her. The mystery pony's features become more defined, and then they realize it is Zecora in a purple cloak. Rainbow Dash quickly lets her in. "I simply adore your new cloak Zecora!" "Thank you Rarity. It is a cloak of celebration." “Well it really is marvelous!” A bang outside the door startles the four exposed ponies. "Hide!" and they scramble to a hiding place. "The light!" Rainbow whispers, and makes a split-second decision to bolt over to the light switch and hide again, right before Twilight's hoof hits the floor. Twilight slips off her saddlebag and hangs it on a rack. She gently flips the light on and ponies pop out of every nook and cranny screaming "SURPRISE!!!" Pinkie Pie fires the Party Cannon, sending confetti and streamers everywhere. The boom was nearly lost in the cacophony of noise makers. "Twilight you're a princess! I can't believe you're a princess! When do you wear your crown? Do you get your crown shined? Oooh does the shiny stuff come in a bottle? Is the bottle shiny?? "Everypony, you are so kind, and uh Pinkie Pie: I'll get back to you on that. I can't believe you would do this for me!" Twilight said laughing. "You are the best friends a pony princess could ask for!” "LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!!!" Pinkie screamed. With that, deep bass notes resonated through the tree. Leaves rustled and twigs fell. For the next hour or so, ponies laughed and danced and ate. They joked and drank punch too. Rarity stood on a chair and tried to get everypony's attention. "Ahem... Ahem!!... EXCUSE ME!!!" Ponies stopped what they were doing at looked towards the white mare. "Thank you! Now on behalf of all of Equestria, I want to congratulate Twilight on becoming a princess." Hoof-stomps echoed through the house. "Yes, now, we have a gift for you Twilight! Since you will not be performing any royal actions for the next month, you are going on a trip to Isla Divina!" Cheers from the ponies accompany another round of hoof-stomps. "That is all. Twilight, dear, would you like to say anything?" “I’m not very good at coming up with things to say, unless I am lecturing ponies, so thank you all very much.” and with that she bowed her head quickly and hopped off the chair she had spoken from. The party continued and after another forty-five minutes, guests started to leave. After all, they have lives of their own. Soon the party is down to Twilight, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Vinyl Scratch, Octavia, and Applejack. The music was turned off since Vinyl and Octavia were packing all of the equipment up. Once they had gone, Twilight began talking with Rarity. "So I am really going to the Divine Island?" "Not I, darling, we." "We?" "Why of course! I've always wanted to go there as well, so I thought we could make it a vacation getaway!" "Who else is going, Rarity? Is it a huge thing?" "It is definitely huge! The list is rather long, but here goes: You, me, Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Big Mac, Granny Smith, Flash Sentry, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and of course little Spikey-Wikey! There will be some ponies on the ship we are sailing on. I think there were four of them, though I only remember two of their names... Oceanwave and Torpedo Jet." "Well I am thrilled by your thoughtfulness. When do we leave?" "Two days time. The train takes us to the Lopian Ocean, and from there we take an old boat." > Chapter 2: Train Time > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Spike! Are all the books I wanted in my suitcase?" I yell up the stairs. "Yes! Now let me finish packing my stuff!" "Fine! But hurry, the train leaves in twenty minutes!" Spike and I are almost finished packing for our trip to Isla Divina, the Elegant Spa Getaway. Rarity generously planned a vacation in honor of me becoming a princess, with all of my closest friends. Only problem is, I can't relax. Not for one second. I have been nervous about everything from royal duties to running out of books to read for days. Sunset Shimmer is on my mind too. I hope the girls in the 'human' world are doing alright. At least I don't have to deal with fingers anymore. I am more of a hoof-and-magic kind of girl. "Fifteen minutes, Spike!" I practically scream, while all around me papers, ink, pens, and other assorted objects fly into my five neat suitcases. Every object glows pink with my magic. "I'm all ready! Let's head out!" he yells back. Seconds later that green and purple dragon runs down the stairs with his white sack. "Wait why are you locking the door? No, don't use your magic! Twilight, you know I-" BANG "don't like it when..." Spike trails off. "Yes, I know you don't like my magic teleporting you places. Yes, I know it hurts your ears and makes for eyes feel like their bugging out of their sockets. Yes, I know you never land on your feet when I do that, but we would have been late walking." I say. Whiny dragon. At least he'll forget about it once we walk over to Rarity. Of course she is already here. I wouldn't blame her though, since Isla Divina is number one on 'Rarity's Destination Dream List'. "Twilight! I am overjoyed that this has become a reality! Bring your bags and settle down in coach car number six. I got a car all to our own party!" Rarity beams. For being nothing but glamorous and somewhat haughty, that pony sure knows how to dote upon others. That's the element of generosity for you. Spike bolts to coach six, drops his stuff on the floor, and races back to Rarity. Of course. Coach six is a little patch of heaven on steel wheels and iron rails. Lavish beds, and articulate carvings bring to life an antique tribute to the dawn of fancy railroading. A mini snack bar and comfy chairs are near the back, with the bathroom in the very back. Ritzy lamps and aristocratic silverware are on the tables in the middle of the car. "Whoa" I breathe. I could spend the length of the trip in this train. I'm not sure if Twilight is happy about this trip! She's very good at giving mixed signals. But it does seem as if she likes the train car I reserved. Everypony else got here about five or ten minutes after Twi, and Rainbow Dash almost had to chase the train down she was so late. The locomotive started moving and just when we thought she had forgotten, she flies in the door like nothing happened. I must say I am surprised she decided to join. Rainbow's idea of being pampered is flying around. Sweaty. Gross. Now though, we've all chosen a bed and eaten some magnificent salad. The Crusaders are in the corner, probably up to no good. Sweetie Belle continuously glances at me and turns back as quickly as she can. Should I go see what they're up to? No! This getaway is dedicated to Twilight Sparkle. "Well, I'm beat! See ya'll in the morning'" and with that Apple Jack walks over to her bed, and is asleep within minutes. Fluttershy goes to bed. Then Big Mac. Pinkie, Granny Smith, Flash Sentry and Twllight. Soon just the Crusaders and Rainbow Dash are up, besides me. They are at the snack bar munching on trail mix, while I'm reading the Daring Do series for the third time. It's very calm with just two pinkish lights on. One with me curled up under it, and one at the snack area. "Okay girls, it's time for me to hit the sack" I hear the rainbow ringleader say. The three little Crusaders protest a little, but are overcome with yawns and head to bed. Great, now I can sleep. The next morning an extraordinary buffet style breakfast greets us in the morning. The smell is bliss. Pinkie Pie was the first up in the morning and woke us all up. "Everypony look at the food! Ooh it smells so good! Let's eat! Yay food! I see the ocean outside! Are we almost there? Where is there? Oh yeah, the ocean! "PINKIE BE QUIET!" I scream. Doesn't that pony know I need my beauty rest? But apparently no pony knows, because Apple Jack comes by me and eats the cucumbers that were on my eyes. "Excuse me?" "No thanks. Rise and shine Rarity, 'cause Mr. Conductor says we're almost there." Apple Jack. More like Apple Jerk. But I get up and walk to the bathroom to wash off my overnight facemask. Ahhh, the cool water feels so nice. I open the door and everypony is either in line for food or already eating. Or in the case of Pinkie Pie, in line and eating. Fluttershy walks over to a window on the coastal side of the train, and I think she says something, but I am really hungry so I stay in line. Then Pinkie gets out of line and goes to the window. "IT'S THE SHIP! EVERYPONY, IT'S THE SHIP!" Most everyone in the line leaves to go to the window, allowing me to get my food. But I do glance out the window, and the wooden ship out there is massive. Only three days until Divina!