It was a bright early morning in the town of Ponyville. The sun brought up once again by Princess Celestia, while her younger sister, Princess Luna brought down the moon from the night.
Twilight Sparkle, a purple unicorn who was a practitioner of magic, slept in her library filled with books of magic and other unlimited knowledge. She had rested her head on a small pile of books on the desk. She tossed and turned her head, quietly groaning.
"Must continue research…" she murmured in her sleep. Without warning, her horn lit. Above her was a book caught in the magic's grasp. It slid away from the shelf, hovering high above the snoozing unicorn. The horn's glow then faded. The book plummeted down. It's hard covers opening up and flapping while the thin pages shook with the falling breeze. It bashed itself onto her head. Twilight raised her head in a cry of pain, her eyes tightened. She rubbed her head with her front hooves. She opened her eyes and looked around as the pain faded away. "Oh my, I must've dozed off last night." She let out a yawn and wiped her eyes. Her horn lit, levitating the book that had fallen on her. She slid it back to the high shelf where it belonged. She put away the rest of the books that she on her desk. "Well," she sighed. "time to start a new day." She climbed the round stairs to greet her little assistant.
In her room, the purple baby dragon Spike slept soundly in a little cushioned basket. With every quiet snore, small whiffs of smoke exited from his tiny nostrils.
Twilight found him curled in his bed like a cat. "Aww, he's so cute when he sleeps…" She gently tapped his head. "Spike, wake up. It's morning."
His eyes twitched for a moment before letting them up. He opened his mouth wide to let a big yawn out. Rows of his little sharp teeth exposed before closing. "Good morning Twilight."
"I see you slept well."
Spike nodded, standing on all fours and curling his back. The spines on his back stood up straight. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"
"Well, we should go out for breakfast. How about that?"
"You can always count me in for that!" He leaped out from his basket, following her downstairs and out the door.
Coming into town, various colors and kinds of ponies were out clamoring with one another: earth ponies, unicorns, and Pegasi.
Twilight and Spike strolled through town already observing a normal weekday in Ponyville. The streets were filled with ponies who have come to purchase, sell, and socialize.
"It's always so busy here in Ponyville." said Spike, holding onto Twilight's tail as they worked their way through traffic.
"Yes." Twilight replied. "But you get used to it soon enough."
Near the town square, they came across their farming friend, Applejack, and orange pony with a mane and tail as golden as wheat. She was bringing in the daily supply of apples from her home, Sweet Apple Acres. The red and green apples sit still in barrels as Applejack pulled the cart. Salty sweat dripped from her chin as she felt the harness around her belly tighten with each straining pull. The cart was on a slight hill. The weight of the cart was pulling her back. She paused for a moment to catch her breath.
"Whew! This cart gets heavier every time Ah pull it into town." She took off her hat for a moment to pat down her forehead with a handkerchief.
Twilight and Spike approached her without hesitation. "Need any help there, Applejack?" Spike asked. "It looks like you gotta get over a little hill."
"Nah." she replied. "Ah almost got it." She tried pulling the cart again, only for the cart to budge an inch forward and pull an inch back. Her muscles strained and lost their boost of strength. She paused once more, lifting an eye to Twilight. "Ya know what? Ah could really use the help."
Twilight smiled. "Okay." She walked to the back of the cart and pushed as much as she could. With her help plus Applejack, the cart rolled past the little hill. Now it was easier for Applejack to pull it herself.
"Thanks for helpin' me there, Twilight." Applejack said. "My back was killin' me a mile before getting' here."
"Anything to help a friend!" Twilight replied.
"Hey Applejack, you mind if Twilight and I take a couple of apples?" asked Spike. "We were coming out to get some breakfast."
"Go ahead." Applejack smiled. "I have plenty more for everypony else."
'Thanks!" He jumped into the cart, grabbed the two best looking and sunk his teeth into one. His mouth met with a perfect crunch followed by a filling of a sweet juicy flavor. "Here's one for you, Twilight!" He tossed the apple to her, seeing her eat it in one bite. "So what else is on our agenda today?"
"Well, we're going to be head to Fluttershy's cottage to practice some animal magic." Twilight replied. "She was kind enough to let us see her animals."
"Y'all go on ahead then." Applejack said. "Ah'll take care of the rest with this thang."
"Are you sure you can continue on without us?"
"Ah'll be fine. I'm as strong as a bull. See y'all later."
"Hope to meet up with you again later, Applejack." Spike waved. He jumped from the cart, following Twilight out of town.
. . .
Out of the town of Ponyville, there was a cottage covered in plants and surrounded by trees and bushes. There lived Fluttershy. She was a very beautiful pony; her coat was light yellow with her mane and tail long and pink. She showed kindness to everyone, including the animal friends she took care of. But everypony knew she had a strong weakness. She was very shy, almost afraid of everything, even her own shadow.
She appeared outside of her home, dragging out a basket of vegetables, fruit, and fish. "Time for breakfast." she said in a soft gentle voice. She gave the animals around her the food she brought for them: worms for the birds, fruits and vegetables for the critters, especially for her pet white bunny Angel, and fish for the beavers that lived under her bridge. "Fill yourselves up with energy." Her ear twitched, a twig snapped from behind her. She let out a high squeal and fell on her back. She shut her eyes tight with her front hooves under her chin.
"Fluttershy?" a voice said.
She cracked open her eyes and saw Twilight and Spike looking down at her. "Oh… hi Twilight..." she said. She rolled over and stood back up. Her long mane covered one side of her eye. "I'm glad you two could make it. I told the animals what you're going to do today."
"We are grateful that you'll let us do some magic with them." Twilight said. "Shall we get started, Spike?" she asked. She heard no response. She turned to her side, only to find no one standing next to her. "Spike?"
"Hey! Let go!" he exclaimed.
Fluttershy and Twilight looked and saw Spike trying to take back a book from Angel. Spike pried it out of Angel's unusually strong tiny paws, only to receive a kick in the shin. Spike let out a painful yelp grasping his leg and hopping on the other.
"Angel…! That wasn't very nice...!" Fluttershy said.
Angel retreated back into the cottage.
"FLUTTERSHY! FLUTTERSHY!" a voice in the distance screamed.
They all looked up and saw a blue Pegasus pony with rainbow streaks in her mane and tail flying straight down to them. But the pony lost control of her wings. She was falling down in spirals, screaming. "Whoa! Whoa! WHOOAAA!" She dove into a tree, smashing into branches coming down. "Ow! Ow! OW!" From the concealing leaves, she fell to the ground head first.
"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight cried. She and Fluttershy rushed to aid their fallen companion. "Are you okay?!"
Rainbow Dash groaned, rubbing her head. "Man… that has to be the worst crash-landing I've had in months…" she said. She flapped her wings and stood up. "But I think I'm alright."
Twilight and Fluttershy sighed with relief.
"You really had us worried there…" Twilight implied.
"What did you call me for by the way?" Fluttershy asked.
She shook her head. "I just got word that everypony needs to come to the town square immediately. I think something big is going on."
"Oh really?" Twilight asked. "What is it?"
"I'm not sure, but we'll have to find out. Come on!" Rainbow Dash galloped off to Ponyville.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Fluttershy exclaimed, following her.
"Spike," Twilight said. "could you watch over the animals for a while?"
"Hey! Why is it always me that has to watch over things for you?!" Spike protested.
"Please Spike?" She widened her eyes, her irises glistening like the stars in the night sky, puckering up her lower lip.
He groaned, unable to refuse her puppy eyes. "Oh alright…"
"Thank you Spike! We'll be back later!" She galloped off to follow the others.
Once she was out of sight, he let out a long depressing sigh, left to fend for himself against the animals.
. . .
Returning to town, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy saw the community gathering in the town square in front of the mayor's building. The air was filled with mixed clamoring.
"Wow…" Fluttershy spoke. "It must be something big."
"Of course it's big." Rainbow Dash said. "Every time we have a gathering like this, it's always something big."
"Let's try to find out what's going on." Twilight suggested.
"Hey guys!" shouted a high voice.
They turned and saw a pink pony with a long, curly dark pink mane and tail hopping to them all hyper with a large grin across her face. Following her was a unicorn pony with a coat of azure grey, and a mane and tail that was darkish purple and Applejack.
"Pinkie Pie! Rarity! Do you know what's going on?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Nope! Not a thing!" Pinkie Pie replied, still hopping like mad.
"What could be so important that they had to call for everypony?" Rarity asked. "I was in the middle of making a new dress for the Summer Ball next year."
"Oh, will ya stop complainin' for a minute please?" Applejack groaned. "I swear, you complain every time we have these meetings."
"That's because I happen to be working on pieces of art for important ponies, my dear." she scoffed, turning away. "What could it possibly be this time?"
Applejack rolled her eyes. "From what Ah heard, a few gals told me that a group of knights are comin' to town."
Rarity's ear perked up towards Applejack. She turned back with a big smile and large sparkling eyes. "Did you say… knights?!"
"Uh… yeah…"
Rarity let out a delightful squeal, standing on her hind hooves and shaking her front hooves into her chest. "I just adore knights: their bravery, their strength, and their handsome good looks! Not to mention their costumes and armor!"
"Knights? As in knights that fight in battles?" Twilight asked
"Oh yes! I've been dying to meet one my entire life! Mother used to tell me stories about brave knights who save ladies in peril!" Rarity let out a deep soothing sigh. "I've always dreamed of marrying a knight."
The Ponyville community quieted down their personal chats with each other as the town hall doors opened up. Mayor Mare stepped forward from inside, only to be greeted by the townsfolk in cheers and applause. She raised a hoof, and everyone immediately went into silence.
"Good afternoon, my fellow citizens of Ponyville!" the mayor announced, receiving another round of applause. "I have just received word from Princess Celestia that six knights who have just been through a great battle are coming here to stay for a while as they travel to Canterlot! Let's all give them a warm welcome when they arrive!"
The town was filled with loud cheers that could be heard from miles.
Fluttershy's legs shook as she bit her lip. Her eyes grew pale and her pupils shrunk. "Oh my… A great battle…? That sounds really scary…"
"You never heard about it?" Rainbow Dash asked. "There was a war going on south of the Macintosh Hills!"
Twilight shuddered. "Yes… Thank goodness it was nowhere near here… Princess Celestia mentioned only a little bit, but not enough for me to know the whole thing."
"The poor things must be exhausted!" Rarity frowned. "They need a very good place to stay so they can get proper treatment and care!"
"If they need a place to rest, they can sleep in barn back at mah place! It's got plenty of space!"
"That's a good idea!" Rainbow Dash nodded.
Rarity's covered her mouth as she let out a horrified gasp. "Of all the places to think of, you think that smelly old barn of yours! They deserve a place more sophisticated and sanitary!"
"And Ah suppose you would want them to stay with ya?" Applejack replied as her brows lowered and tapped her hoof against the gravel. "Ya can't exactly keep six grown stallions in a small place like yer boutique. Mah place is big enough for all of 'em."
"Oh, I see what you're doing…" Rarity growled, glaring at Applejack. "You're trying to keep them all to yourself…"
The cowpony scoffed. "Like Ah would wanna mangle 'round with some sweaty stallions in rusty armor."
Rarity scoffed back. "Well I never!"
Applejack walked through the crowd and approached the Mayor on the town hall steps. "Excuse me, ma'am? May Ah make a suggestion?"
Mayor Mare looked down to the orange pony and smiled. "You may, Applejack."
"Ah have an empty barn back at Sweet Apple Acres. Maybe we could let the knights stay there to rest. There's plenty of room."
Mayor Mare placed a hoof under her chin, processing the idea. Once she had made up her mind, she gave Applejack a simple nod. "That sounds like splendid idea!" she said. "Please escort them to Sweet Apple Acres once they arrive."
"Will so, ma'am!" Applejack replied, tipping her hat.
Rainbow Dash flew up in the sky to view the road that stretched towards the horizon. With her accurate vision, she spotted six ponies approaching the town. She smiled big and dove down back into the town square. She hovered right above the ponies. "They're coming!" she cried.
All of the ponies gathered around the border, leaving a spacious path through Ponyville. They all stood, waiting for any sign of the knights' approach. Anticipation and excitement built up inside each and every one of them.
"There they are!" a young filly cried.
Everyone could see six knights closer to town. As soon as all of them got a better view of them approaching, they began clapping their hooves against the ground altogether. The applause plus the cheering amplified, so that it was all that could be heard. The knights entered Ponyville, now walking through the paved street. The first five, matching in broadness and height, stood tall with all eyes forward.
They were led by a strong built red stallion. On top of his head and behind his rump was long straight brown hair. He also bore a small mustache and beard. His eyes were a deep dark blue, locking onto the building of town hall. On his flanks were two crossing short swords.
Following him was a stallion with a coat shading of leaf green. His mane and tail were light olive drab, curled with split ends. On his flanks was an archer's bow. His hazel eyes glanced towards the crowds split by the path between them.
The third was in an orange coat. Rugged and gold were his mane and tail. His cutie mark was a battle axe with a pendulum shaped blade. His eyes were a light shade of violet.
The fourth stallion was colored in a light yellow and his spiky mane and tail in a rough jet black. Upon his flank was a mace as his cutie mark. His eyes glimmered like the brightest turquoise under the sun.
And the fifth was blessed with a shade of blue. His purple mane and tail were shown as if they were constantly combed. His weapons of choice on his flank were crossing lances. His eyes were a deep bloody red. This certain trait made him the more intimidating member of the group.
Each carried a sword on one side and a small sack on the other. Their tails were wrapped in bandages, hanging and swinging back and forth as they strolled on through. On their bodies were other bandages and patches: on their legs, on their feet, on their faces. Their armor dented and pierced. The knights behind the red stallion couldn't help but observe both sides of the crowd. They decided to smile and wave to the spectators. Mares and fillies giggled and squealed, waving handkerchiefs and other pieces of cloth. The stallions cheered and rooted for them, but some grew jealous, noticing them getting all the mares' attention.
Rarity let out a deep heavy sigh with a big grin. Her eyelashes fluttered with a shade of red filling her cheeks. "Aren't they just handsome?" she asked.
"I-I guess..." Fluttershy replied, shrugging her head into her shoulders.
Pinkie Pie suddenly let out a loud squeal, jumping as high as she could, startling everyone below her.
"Jeez! What is it?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, massaging her ringing ears.
She landed perfectly on her feet. "Look at the last one!" Pinkie Pie shouted, pointing out.
They turned their heads. So did everyone else who heard Pinkie Pie's loud squealing voice. Further behind the knights was another, trotting silently with them. The knight looked much younger than the others. His coat was a light gray, his mane and tail in blonde. His mane was cut short with a flat round top like a Trojan horse. His tail was also wrapped with bandages; the end of his tail was also cut flat. He too carried a sword and sack on his side. On his flank, he bore a shield with a red cross as his mark.
All of the mares locked their eyes onto the young knight. Some sighed deeply, some blushed. Some even fainted from the sight of him. The Mane Six stared at the young colt with their jaws dropped with great surprise.
"Mah stars!" Applejack said with a mesmerized gaze. "He is the most adorable knight I've ever seen!"
Twilight giggled. "I've got to admit, he is pretty cute."
The young knight looked around in the crowd, seeing all the mares and fillies look at him, even noticing the waving handkerchiefs to him. He smiled to them and bowed his head. His light green eyes glanced at one side, but paused for a moment. His eyes widened as he spotted a yellow Pegasus pony with long flowing pink hair. The longer he stared, the more his heart began beating faster. His legs trembled underneath. He let out a quiet sigh followed by a smile.
Pinkie Pie saw his affectionate gaze. She pointed her hoof towards his eyes and turned carefully at their angle. Following his glance, she gasped as her hoof pointed to Fluttershy. She let out a quiet squeal and a giggle. "Hey Fluttershy…! I think you have an admirer…!" she whispered.
Fluttershy cheeks hinted with a light pink. "R-really? Who?" She turned to the knights, and discovered that the youngest knight had his eyes locked on her. She her pink blush turned darker. All she could do for the moment was stare back at the young knight. Her breath shortened and her long pink tail frizzled up. With her ears folded back and her head shrugging into her shoulders, she gave him a small nervous smile followed by a quiet squee.
The knight continued looking at the mare with half closed eyes. His head turned back as he walked further away. The gaze was broken off as his hoof got caught in a small pothole. He fell over, letting out an abrupt yell. He tumbled over on the pavement, landing on his rump. His head jerked forward and pulled it back. His pupils spun in the white of his eyes, seeing stars in his delusion
The ponies around him gasped altogether and remained silent.
Fluttershy joined in the worried gasp. "Oh dear…!" she exclaimed.
The knights ahead heard a blunt thud and the gasp, halting in place. They turned back to their young fallen comrade.
The young knight shook his head, finally out of the delusion and the dizziness. He looked up only to find other knights staring down at him. All he did was smile as his face turned red.
The blue knight who was walking in front of him shook his head. "There's no time for fooling around." he growled. "Get back on your feet and come along." He returned forward and went off with the others.
"Yes sir…" The young knight sighed. He picked himself up and followed close behind. He hung his head, avoiding any other kind of eye contact for the rest of the walk down.
"The poor thing…" Twilight whimpered. "That must've been really embarrassing…"
Rarity giggled. "I did find it a little humorous."
"Aw, shut yer yap, Rarity!" Applejack snapped. "Ah'm gonna go on ahead in case the mayor wants me to take 'em to my barn in a while." She hurried off to Town Hall.
"Ugh! Who does she think she is talking to me like that?" Rarity growled, gritting her teeth.
"Rarity, it wasn't that funny." Rainbow Dash implied. "How would you like it if you were to fall into a puddle of mud in front of a bunch of guys?"
She gasped, hugging herself tight. "I would be so embarrassed! I would just die, knowing I was covered in filth!"
"Well that's probably how that knight felt when he tripped in front of all of those ponies," Said Twilight. "right Fluttershy?" She heard no response. "Fluttershy?" She turned to Fluttershy whose head was hung low with her cheeks with a flush of pink. Her eyes spaced out. "Uh… Fluttershy…?" she asked again, tapping her shoulder.
"Eep!" Fluttershy shrieked. She looked to Twilight. "Yes…?"
"Are you alright?"
Fluttershy nodded. "I'm fine. But I feel so sorry for the knight that fell."
"We all do, Fluttershy. I feel sorry for him too. There isn't much we can do for him now. What's done is done." Twilight said, patting her back. "Let's go back to your place so that we can start animal magic."
"Okay…" She followed Twilight back to the cottage. On the way back, all she could think about was that young knight with those gentle green eyes and his unusually comforting smile.
. . .
Applejack brought the knights to the empty barn in Sweet Apple Acres. She opened the large doors to let them in.
The barn was completely empty; nothing but hay on the floor and piles of more hay by the walls. There was little light in the barn besides rays from the sun seeping through slits and knotholes in the walls.
"Will this do, sir?" Applejack asked the red knight.
The red stallion looked around. "This will do very well." he replied. "We thank you for your generous hospitality."
"Shucks, y'all are most welcome. We don't get many strangers here in Ponyville. Is there anythin' else Ah can do for y'all before Ah head out?"
"Well…"
Applejack's ear opened to a stomach growl. She glanced the youngest knight's stomach. "Ah see you have a famished one here. Ah can get a couple baskets of apples for y'all to chow down on."
"That would be nice of you…" the young knight replied, smiling one side of his face.
"Very well." the red knight said. "You may get some apples for us. But before you leave, we must introduce ourselves."
She chuckled. "Oh alright then. Ah'm Applejack."
"Gentlecolts!" he exclaimed.
They knights all lined up in the same order they came into Ponyville.
"Knighton!"
"Llanfair!"
"Penarth!"
"Rhayader!"
"Tregaron!"
Applejack raised her brows and nodded. "Wow! Ah have never heard of such interestin' names before!" She looked to the youngest knight who was last in line. She approached and compared herself to him, both in equal height. "Ya have a name too Ah trust, sugar cube?" she asked with a grin.
The young knight smiled. "I am Yorkshire."
"It's very nice to meet y'all! Ah do hope y'all enjoy your stay here Ponyville. Ah'll be right back with them apples." She slipped through the opened doors, only to pop her head back in. "Oh! Ah almost forgot! Mayor Mare set up an appointment for y'all to go over to the Day Spa in town tomorrow afternoon! Aloe and Lotus will get y'all cleaned up by the time they're done!" With that, she left.
"Now then boys, unpack your things." Knighton said. The knights unbuckled their belts, dropping their swords and sacks onto the ground. "Claim a pile of hay to sleep on." He added. The knights easily found their own piles of hay for them to rest on throughout their stay.
Yorkshire found a small pile of hay by one corner of the barn. He nestled into his pile, rustling his coat against the comfort of dry and warm hay. As he stared up to the tall ceiling of the barn, his mind was clouded by the beautiful Pegasus pony he saw in the crowd earlier. He felt a quickened but strong pace in his chest. "My heart beats so fast…" he thought. "There's something about her that makes her the most beautiful girl in all of Equestria." His heart's pace grew more frequent as individual drops of sweat ran down from his brows. "I hope I see her again soon…"