Chapter 31: Harvest and Hugs Headache
In the middle of the Brighthouse, it was a nice and sunny day while the Mane 8 were inside while going through some supplies of groceries they just bought before they saw Twilight coming in front of them with a frantic look. "Did you ponies get all the food we need?" She asked in slight worry.
"Got everything from your list, Twilight." Sunset said while levitating a few bags of groceries.
"And a few drinks." Sunny said while sipping some smoothies as she and her friends had some while giving one for Twilight. "We even got some for you."
"Thanks." Twilight said as she took a sip herself.
"But I wanted to ask, why do you need this many crystals?" Hitch asked while holding a few crystals. "I thought we were getting food for Harvest and Hugs Day."
"Is it so we can make the room a bit more glamor?" Pipp asked with a smile. "Because I am so in on that."
"Actually, no. Those crystals are food also." Twilight said, which made them, except Sunset, look at her in confusion.
"Uh, say what now?" Pipp questioned.
"Uh, Twilight, crystals are not edible for us." Misty pointed out with a confused look.
"No, ponies. She meant for our honor guests." Sunset said, knowing what Twilight meant by that.
"Guests?" Zipp asked. "You mean Mom, Flurry Heart, and Alpahabittle?"
"Not them. More like dragon cases." Twilight specifies.
"Dragons?" Sunny asked before she smiled in realization. "Wait, Spike is coming over?!" She asked excitedly.
"With a couple of other dragons, yes." Twilight said with a smile. "I thought that if this is the first Harvest and Hugs Day we have together since my return and so, I thought I invited Spike and Discord along as well. After all, they are family."
"Okay, Spike, I get, but Discord, heh, never thought you would invite him as well." Sunset said with a chuckle.
"Hey, he wouldn't stop begging me to be invited as well." Twilight said with a shrug and a smirk. "And also, he was an old friend, so I can't shun him. Fluttershy would disapprove of that."
"Ain't that the truth." Zipp said with a chuckle.
"But, I specifically and firmly told him no chaos business." Twilight quickly assured.
"Good call." Misty said.
"Now, how about we all start baking these goods before our guests arrive!" Izzy said cheerfully.
"Agreed. And also, Pipp, try not to make it like what happened last year." Zipp said to her sister with a teasing smirk.
"Yeah, I get it." Pipp assured.
"And Hitch, let's make sure Sparky doesn't use the trumpet again like last year." Sunny suggested to her coltfriend.
"Agreed." Hitch said with a smile as Sparky giggled cheerfully.
"Come on, let's hurry ponies!" Twilight urged them. "We have much cooking to do before our guests arrived! And I wanted this to be special for my niece!"
"Okay, okay, Twi." Sunset said with a hoof raised. "We got the whole day before the afternoon before our guests arrive."
"Not fast enough! I have to make Spike and Flurry's favorite meals before they get here!" Twilight said as she levitated some food over. "Now, let's hurry!" She called as she rushed into the kitchen to begin cooking.
"Wow, Twilight seems to be in a hurry." Misty commented with a brow.
"I wonder what got her in such a hurry." Hitch said in confusion.
"This is the first Harvest and Hugs day that Twilight can actually be in." Sunset said to them as they walked into the kitchen and placed the groceries down as they saw Twilight bringing out some kitchen equipment and some cookbooks, some also involving dragons and memories she managed to write down. "The last one we had didn't count since Twilight was in the amulet at the time and that was before Spike and Flurry were brought back or founded. She's been wanting to make this day extra special for those she still has."
"I can understand that." Misty spoke up. "Like Twilight, this is the first Harvest and Hugs Day I get to spend with my friends and my actual family."
"You got that right, Misty! And you're gonna enjoy it!" Izzy cheerfully said as she gave Misty a side hug.
"Assuming Twilight can slow down for a minute so we can enjoy it." Hitch said as Twilight was still preparing like crazy.
"That's… just how Twilight be." Sunset said with a sheepish look.
"Something tells me that she won't be needing our help, right?" Zipp asked.
"If Sunny was too quick on the apple treats during Nightmare Night, I doubt it." Sunset said while giving Sunny a smirk, who gave a sheepish giggle from that reminder.
"Yeah, um, sorry about that." Sunny apologized sheepishly.
"But, let's be sure to keep Sparky from blowing a trumpet. Agreed?" Sunset asked as they all chattered and nodded in agreement as they watched Twilight still preparing.
A bit later, Twilight was still cooking like crazy as she moved back and forth between each cooking set while some of the food already finished were put on the counter as Twilight kept trying to do many things at once.
"Wow, Twilight." Sunset's voice spoke up while Twilight turned and saw her from a corner. "You sure can give Pinkie a run of her bits for trying to make many things at once." She joked with a smile.
"Well, I was always known of preparing thing quickly." Twilight said as she put some frosting on a desert cake. "And I'm trying to make up for lost times after I got my body back when I spent most of those in an amulet."
"I can tell." Sunset said with a chuckle. "But uh, Twilight, Spike, and his dragons are big. I doubt they'll enjoy a feat inside since the Brighthouse is combat enough to even enter the room."
"I remember. But that is why I set up a gathering area for us all to enjoy our Harvest and Hugs Day outside." Twilight said while pointing outside to see a tarp over a set of tables and a couple of ones outside. "I don't want them to miss out, so I set it up during the cooking."
"Still, don't you think this is a bit much?" Sunset asked her.
"Can't say it can't be too much." Twilight said while stirring a bowl of carrot soup. "With a group this big, and dragons, and not to mention Discord, you can't be too careful." She said before she heard a ding. "Oh! The crystal cake is done!" She called as she rushed to the over and took out a three stack cake with some crystals on it. "Oh, Spike is gonna love this!" She said with a smile as she placed the cake on the counter.
"Heh, I bet he will." Sunset said with a chuckle. "But, Twilight. You know we had this before last year. Haven said it's not about the food or decorations, or even the Carrot Cakes. It's about having friends and family together."
"I know. But this time, I'm gonna make sure of it!" Twilight said as she chopped some more carrots. "And I won't let this slide."
"Twilight, you know very well that completely perfect holiday is impossible, especially with us ponies, right?" Sunset asked, knowing that every holiday something always went wrong.
"True." Twilight said, seeing Sunset's point. "But this time, it won't happen! I assure it!" She said as she went back to work as Sunset sighed and left to leave Twilight with her work.
"This is gonna end in disaster," Sunset told herself.
Soon, the rest of the Mane 8 were putting the final preparations by setting up the table with dishes, utensils, and some decorations around the area as they placed some leaves and rippons around. "Okay, ponies. Is everything ready?" Sunny asked with a smile.
"Plates are all set." Hitch said with a smile.
"Decorations, gorgeous." Pipp said as she placed the ribbon on.
"And the tarp is looking extra tarpy!" Izzy cheerfully said while adjusting the tarp.
"Food all line up and ready to chow down," Zipp told them while seeing the food Twilight brought out stack onto the table.
"And just to be on the safe side, did anypony got rid of the trumpets to prevent Sparky from using it?" Sunset asked the group.
"I got it covered." Misty said with her hooves raised. "They're locked up tight in the basement."
"And Pipp, Zipp, did either of you tell Queen Haven to not bring one this time?" Sunny asked the two sisters.
"Don't worry, I called her to not let Sparky use the trumpet." Zipp assured.
"Then everything should be all set." Sunset said with a smile.
"You know, I'm surprised Twilight is still cooking." Pipp said as she turned to the Brighthouse. "I mean, there's already enough food for all of us and our friends and family. But why is she still in the kitchen?"
"I think she's putting the final touches on something," Sunset said with a shrug. "She didn't say what."
"How long will that take?" Sunny asked them.
"Finish!" Twilight's voice yelled out from inside, which surprised the group.
"I think 10 seconds if you're Twilight." Sunset quipped as a purple flash appeared, which showed Twilight with a 12 stack cake, which shocked the Mane 8 as they saw the cake was rainbow colored with Twilight's Cutie Mark symbol on top of it.
"So, what do you ponies think?" Twilight asked with a smile.
"Holy, Celestia, Twilight!" Sunset said in awed. "That is one big cake!"
"Yep. It's for the final touch to end a Harvest and Hugs Day special!" Twilight said with a smile. "So that we can all enjoy a nice desert."
"It sure looks tasty!" Izzy said with sparkles eyes as they all looked at the cake in awed.
Sparky giggled as he eyed the cake and was about to reach it if Hitch and Sunny didn't hold him back with their hooves. "Nice try, you little sneak." Sunny said with a smirk.
"You're not touching this cake till after dinner." Hitch added as Sparky groaned and blew a raspberry at his adoptive parents, who gave small chuckles from that.
"Now, is everything ready, ponies?!" Twilight said with an anxious look.
"Everything is all set, Twilight." Sunset said while gesturing to the set up. "And I think you deserve a break now."
"And the guests will be here any second now." Misty said with a smile. "I say, you succeed."
"I supposed." Twilight said before she then quickly ran up to the table. "After inspecting the final set up." She said as Sunset groaned.
"Twilight, please, give it a rest." Sunset muttered.
"Yeah, everything is fine, Twilight." Sunny assured as she walked up and placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "You planned this out perfectly. It will be fine."
"Yeah, seriously, chill. Everything is fine." Zipp said with a smile.
"Sorry, sorry." Twilight said while shaking her head. "Sometimes when I prepare something, I can get a little anxious."
"Heh, you and Pipp should take notes." Zipp joked as Pipp gave her sister a look.
"Twilight, everything is gonna be fine." Sunset said with a smile. "You planned this out. I mean, no need to over do it. What's the worst that could happen?"
Twilight's eyes widened from that. "Please tell me you didn't just say that." She pleaded.
"Why?" Sunset asked with a brow.
Just then, they heard flapping sounds as they turned and saw Spike and the other dragons flying in with Discord beside them as they floated above them. "Hello, hello, hello, ponies!" Discord cheered with a smile. "And Happy Harvest and Hugs Day!"
"Hi, Discord! Hi Spike! Hi dragon friends!" Izzy said cheerfully with a wave.
"Huh, I see you ponies set up everyone." Spike said with a smirk at the setup around them. "Twilight's hoof work?"
"You know it, Spike." Sunset said with a smirk as Twilight gave a sheepish chuckle.
"Sweet!" Tumble said with a smile. "So, let's get this party started!" He said as he landed on the ground, which caused a massive shake that caused the tent tarp to loose up.
"Nononono!" Twilight cried out as the tent tarp to tilt and crashed into the table of food, which caused some to go flying, tilt and fall on the ground as everyone cringed as Spike, Discord, and the other dragons landed as they all cringed as some of the good got ruined and the tarp tilted as they looked in silent while Twilight had her jaw dropped in complete shock.
"Uh, oops." Tumble said sheepishly.
"Nice one, Tumble." Lava said with a brow.
Twilight stood in complete shock with her jaw dropped while her left eye twitched as she froze in place. "Uh oh. Twilight's broken." Sunset muttered in concern, as were the others.
"Well, look on the bright side." Izzy spoke up with a nervous smile. "At least there's still some food left and Queen Haven, Princess Flurry Heart, and Alphabittle hasn't arrived yet."
Just then, they heard trumpet sounds as they turned and saw Alphabittle and Queen Haven arriving from chariots while Princess Flurry Heart landed close by, each with their own personal guards beside them as the entire group looked in shock.
"Izz, when have you learned not to say things out loud?" Pipp questioned with a brow.
"Okay, that's on me." Izzy said with a casual smile.
"Hello, darlings!" Haven called out with a wave as Alphabittle and Flurry Heart walked up to the group.
"Whatarewegonnado! Whatarewegonnado! Whatarewegonnado!" Twilight frantically called out while Sunset started patting her on her back to try and calm her down.
"And now Twilight's in her freak out mode." Spike said with an amused look. "Never miss it."
"Hello ponies! And how are things wit-" Alphabittle tried to say before they saw the mess. "Whoa!" He said in surprise as they looked at the mess.
"My, what interesting, decoration choice," Haven admitted.
"Trust us, mom." Zipp said with a sigh. "Compared to last year, this is actually better."
"What happened here?" Flurry Heart asked before she saw her aunt panting like crazy. "Aunty?" She asked as she rushed up to her in concern. "Are you okay?"
Twilight kept twitching before she cried out. "This is a disaster!" She cried out while her wings started flapping like crazy. "Why didn't I account for the hard landings the dragons will make?! Why!?"
"Twilight, calm down." Sunset told her old friend, holding her shoulder, "It's not the end of Equestria."
"But today was gonna be a perfect Harvest and Hugs Day and it all got ruined after two point five seconds!" Twilight cried out.
"Again, my bad." Tumble said sheepishly.
"We understand, big guy." Alphabittle said to Tumble.
"Twilight, don't you remember? A perfect Harvest and Hugs day isn't something measured, it's something that's enjoyed." Sunset said with a smile.
"B-But this was the perfect Harvest and Hugs day for you, the ponies, Discord, Flurry, the Dragons, and Spike." Twilight said while gesturing to the mess. "It was supposed to be a perfect day for us to really enjoy. And now it's ruined."
"Princess Twilight, here's something I've told my daughters and their friends about Harvest and Hugs Day last year." Haven spoke up with a smile. "Harvest and Hugs day isn't about the food or decorations. It's the one time of year where we get all of the families together."
"B-But…" Twilight tried to say.
"Aunty." Flurry Heart said with a smile as she wrapped a wing around Twilight. "It's alright. Don't you remember what you told me when I was young? You told me that not everything can turn out the way it is planned. And even if it's a disaster, we can still make it work."
"And I know you, Twilight. That even if something hasn't gone as planned, we improvise." Spike said with a smirk.
"Well, I can't disagree." Discord said with a shrug. "I mean, I've seen how successful you have been even if things go bad."
"The point is, that even with all this, we can still have a great time together." Alphabittle said with a smile. "I mean, from experience, not everything goes as planned. So this is nothing new to us. But, at least I get to spend my first Harvest and Hugs day with my daughter." He said as he gave Misty a hug, which she giggled.
"And as I've always believed, as long as family is together, any Harvests and Hugs day is a perfect day." Haven said, hugging her daughter.
"And as long as we get to spend time together, it's already perfect enough." Spike said with a smile to Twilight. "Just, try not to overthink things again." He added with a chuckle.
Twilight looked at her friends as they smiled before she looked at the messed up party and she smiled, "Thanks guys," She said with a soft tone. "I guess, I was a bit over dramatic, huh?"
"Happens to the best of us." Pipp said with a smirk as they all shared a laugh.
"Now, how about we salvage what's left of the food and enjoy our time together?" Flurry Heart suggested with a smirk.
"Just as I was thinking." Discord siad with a smile.
"And look on the bright side, at least the cake you made is still intact." Sunny said while gesturing to the ten stack cake Twilight made. "So, at least that's a win."
"Yeah, it is." Twilight said with a smile. "Now, let's get started." She said as everyone smiled.
No sooner, everyone then started cleaning the table and salvaging the food that remained intact and un-damage from the mess as everyone gathered around the table set while also leaving some for the dragons, who were eating on the sideline as they looked at the food with the cake placed in the center of it.
"So, Twilight, you think it's perfect as it is?" Sunset asked with a smirk.
Twilight then gave a smile. "It's perfect the way it should be." She said with a smile. "Now, let's eat."
"Ooh! Thank goodness! I'm famished!" DIscord said as they all sat by the table as they all started enjoying their meal as they all sat close to each other while some also sat with their respective lovers, family, or friends close by.
Twilight was enjoying her meal before she felt a tap to the shoulder as she turned and saw Spike behind her as he showed a homemade cake of his own that has a picture of them together since they were young. "I made this for you, Twilight. Discord brought the ingredients, and a bit of his magic to bake it, to share with the whole group." Spike said with a smile. "Do you like it?"
"I love it." Twilight said with a fond smile as she hugged Spike's muzzle as best she could as he smiled and nuzzled her back as the group were enjoying a peaceful Harvest and Hugs Day together.
End of Chapter 31.