It was a slow day for Applejack. Her little sister had run off with her friends, doubtlessly thinking up the newest, craziest scheme yet to obtain their cutie marks; her big brother had ran a delivery for apple pies, far beyond the Everfree Forest; and Granny Smith had already settled in for her afternoon nap.

The country pony had already done her chores (apple-bucking season was long over, and plowing season had yet to come): the barn cleaned, the pig-pen as clean as a pig-pen can be, and she had even begun to work her way into the house, itself, as she was currently leaned over the kitchen sink, furiously scrubbing away at a frying pan.

A long, melancholic sigh drew out of Applejack as she used her forehoof to wipe away the beading sweat. "Applejack, Ah reckon it might be time fer you to get ah hobby," she thought aloud. "Workin' just ain't cuttin' it, anymore." Looking up from the kitchen sink, she dropped the spotless frying pan into the water, shrugging off the half-finished work carelessly.

Just out the window stood Sweet Apple Acres in all its glory. Row upon row of apple trees spread out before the farmhouse, the farthest of which kissing the light-blue horizon. The sun stood high in the clear blue sky, spreading dwarfed shadows below each of the mighty trunks. It was apple trees as far as the eye could see, and Applejack wouldn't have it anyway. But right now? It just seemed so—eventless.

With a quick shake of her mane, Applejack returned back to the kitchen sink: "Ah'll just finish up this pan, n' then think of somethin'," she argued to herself. She couldn't just up and leave the chores half done! Even if they are extra work, they need to finished… or at least just not abandoned.

Just as Applejack was halfway through cleaning the pan, a bright light flashed through the window, blinding her. "What 'n tarnation?" she shouted, dropping the pan to bring her hoof over her eye. Peering back through the window, she blinked away the pain to try and make out the source of the blinding light, but it was no use. All that she could tell was that the light seemed to be coming from… somewhere between her own farm and Ponyville? Applejack knew that couldn't be right. Only one thing could be done: she would have to go investigate. "Well, AJ," the pony began, picking up a nearby towel and drying her hoofs, "Ah guess ya won't be needin' a hobby today after all."

~ . ~

It was only moments later that Applejack was trotting down the path toward Ponyville. The light continued to flash randomly, appearing for a few moments before quickly fading away. It seemed unreal, and entirely too bright to be anything she had encountered before. Yet what it was, she had absolutely no clue.

She would find out soon, however, as she was quickly approaching the light, shining full force, just off of the dirt path. Applejack had to bring up her hoof to shield her eyesight from the blinding light as she slowly approached the source. Her confusion only heightened as she realized a soft hum accompanied the light. It seemed almost musical, as the light's brightness kept in time with the soft, static noise. Although her curiosity piqued, she realized that she didn't quite have an idea of what to do next. Well, Ah probably didn't think this 'n through, did I? Applejack thought, not quite sure what to do now that she had gotten this far.

The light suddenly dimmed, however, answering Applejack's unspoken question. When she could finally bring her paw down, she had only one world to say: "Twilight?" she asked, her head tilted in utter disbelief as her friend stood before her, her back turned and head lowered in concentration.

The newest princess made a quick turn in order to face her country friend. "Applejack!" she shouted, her face brightening in pleasant surprise. "What brings you out here?" What with only a deadpanned look, the alicorn let out a small giggle. "Oh, right, the bright light probably had something to do with it."

Applejack nodded. "Just a little bit, Sugarcube," she confirmed. "That light blinded me all the way back in Sweet Apple Acres. Why in Equestria are you lightin' that spell off?"

In response, Twilight used her magic to bring a book to float just before Applejack. "Do you remember the spell Celestia sent me that swapped all of your cutie marks?" she began.

How could I forget? That was plum-awful! Ah've had trouble looking at Rarity's shop ever since, Applejack thought. But aloud, she only mentioned the first part of her thoughts: "How could Ah forget?"

Twilight continued, not skipping a beat: "Well up until now, I had only checked the ending of Star-Swirl the Bearded's journal. It turns out that there are so many more spells in here that I never even looked at!" The excitement was contagious, as Applejack found herself brimming with curiosity, herself. "The spell that I was practicing was written in the very beginning of the journal, it is said to hold the light of the sun, itself!"

Well that would explain why that light blinded me from all the way back home, she thought, her eyes still slightly sore. Despite the irritation, however, her mind quickly turned back to the floating journal before her. "Sounds fancy. Didja find anything else in this magical book 'o wonder?" she asked, reaching a hoof up to flip a few pages of her own.

Twilight trotted around the book to stand next to her friend, reading right along with her. "I've read it through three times, already! There are dozens of spells in here that I can't wait to try. There are age spells, portal spells, shapeshifting spells… I can't believe that these things haven't been documented somewhere else! You'd think with a discovery like this, it would have been shared with the world!"

"So how do ya reckon that ya do that?" Applejack questioned, looking up at the alicorn. Not quite sure of the question, Twilight only answered with a simple "What?"

"Well if ya think it needs to be shared with the world, and no one has dunnit yet, why don't ya do it, yourself? My granny always used to say: if somethin' needs done, ain't no one better to do it than yourself."

Twilight stood a moment, wondering how she would manage to pull such a thing off. She knew just the thing! "I could write a book! It could detail the spells, and their abilities, along with a—"

"Twi, it's already a book," Applejack interjected, interrupting the bookworm: "Ah don't think that writing a book about a book is quite what'll cut it. Ya need to actually show the world. Ya need a demonstration, or—or a show."

Twilight paused. A show? I can't do a show! A show is more suitable for ponies who like to perform, or like to show off. Shows need humor and music, and—Twilight paused in her brainstorming. Ponies who like to perform and show off. Ponies who can make people laugh and can sing… "I think we'll need friends."

Applejack let out a chuckle. "Ah think ah know just the ponies for the job, Twi."

~ . ~

A sharp gasp came through the room as the hyperactive pony jumped up and down, seemingly about to burst with excitement: "A show!? Can we have a party, too? I'm great at parties! We could have a magic show and an after-party with punch and ice-cream and cake—oh I love cake! My favorite cake is chocolate cake and vanilla cake and—we could have marble cake! It's like chocolate cake and vanilla cake mixed together with—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on, here." Rainbow flew up near Twilight, a clear sign of annoyance at Pinkie Pie (who was still continuing in the background) mixed with pure intrigue: "I get it, we got some magical mumbo-jumbo, and all. But what's the deal, Twilight? You've never really been much of a showgirl. Why the sudden change of heart? Couldn't you just—I don't know, write a book, or something?"

Twilight shook her head. "I couldn't, Rainbow Dash. I was going to, but Applejack convinced me: it's already in a book, and it's never been recognized. We have to think of something different, and you guys are the best I know at—well, everything. I'll need a little bit of something from each of you to make this work."

"Are you sure you want to do this? It kind of sounds a little bit too… public." The soft voice of Fluttershy permeated the room as the pony herself cowered just at the mention of being in a show.

Rarity rolled her eyes at the shy girl: "Oh, come on, darling, it will be fun! Just think: the lights, and the shows, and ohhh not to mention the wondrous applause from the audience."

"Audience?" Fluttershy repeated, the worst of situations flashing in her mind. Crowds laughing, mistakes anything but unescapable… in short: she was terrified.

"Relax, dear. Everything will be splendid. I am assuming that my contribution will be fashion?" Rarity questioned, lifting a hoof to her dangling scarf and tossing it back up, around her neck. "I could do our outfits. We'll need something bold, and dashing. Something that just screams 'look at me!' and—" she glanced over to Twilight, who was clearly unsure of Rarity's direction. "Very well, as you wish. It can have magic-y stuff too, I suppose."

"What about me, Twilight? What did you want me to do?" Twilight looked down at her faithful assistant, Spike the baby dragon. She smiled as she pondered just what she would want her longest friend to help with in this completely new experience. "Well Spike," she began, the perfect role forming in her mind. "Every show needs a host…"

The baby dragon formed the largest smile she had ever seen. "I have just the bowtie…"

~ . ~