The Iron Pony competition. A festival. Hard cider.

For Marble Pie, all of them are foreign, as strange as towns with houses built into trees or shaped like giant candy.

When her parents finally decided to go visit her eldest sister, she wasn't prepared for the fesitivities going on in Ponyville. And when she met her cousin Applejack? Well... she wasn't prepared for the feelings that surfaced either.

Many thanks to Karrakaz for prereading and idea storming.

Cover art by the talented Myandra

When yet another unsuccessful attempt at getting Cutie Marks results in Apple Bloom having too much time on her hooves, she turns to books in the hope of hatching a plan that definitely cannot possibly fail. However, one book in particular—an inconspicuous little thing concerning old history and something called a "golem"—catches her attention and becomes the object for her boundless energy, much to her sister's concern.

Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo have their own problems to deal with, consisting of a fussy, overbearing older sister and an undeniably awesome yet slightly oblivious role model. On top of that, they soon have to contend with their best friend's zealous conviction that the answer to their troubles lies well beyond the safety of home.