twilightpony | Food, Friends and Fun

Game night began around sundown. We were seven ponies, one zebra and a dragon. Pinkie invited Zecora and Lyra too! I'd already helped Spike lug down lots of cushions, a few tables, all the games, and the cookies we'd bought. Also some third cut hay, as a digestif. Then everypony began to arrive, carrying food.

Zecora arrived early. She decided to travel light and bring dried ingredients for a spicy stew. We set her up in the kitchen with a big pot and I helped stir while she dropped things one after the other into the boiling water. Spike took care of the door and making our guests welcome downstairs. I'm not sure what all Zecora put in that stew, but it was delicious! I recognized dried dandelion, sugar beet pulp (as a thickener), sesame seeds, dried rough bedstraw and sweet potato. There were hot and savory spices I couldn't identify, but they really gave that stew some zing! By the time it was ready, everypony else had arrived.

They were helping themselves at the food table, lounging on the cushions and chatting. I felt a surge of warmth. These were my friends! Spike dashed off to get bowls for the stew and Zecora and I went to see what surprises were to be found at the food bar. Carrot pies, dried celery sticks and sesame silage dip, punch, raisin bread and apple butter, baked hay casserole and chocolate cupcakes. We filled our plates and found ourselves some cushions.

I suggested Piaffle, but there were no takers. Anyway, the runes reminded me of the final gift of Epona and I let it drop. I challenged Rainbow Dash to Ring Fling instead. I had been reading about strategy and I wanted to try it out. Dash had to pick herself up off the floor, she was laughing so hard. I lost anyway. Getting those rings to slide and stop where you want them is hard. Running is easier.

I played a few rounds of Bulls and Cows with Lyra while I waited for the next game of Bundle of Sticks to start. Zecora won that again and Rarity challenged Lyra to Rope Rings. So I got in with Zecora, Pinkie, Applejack and Fluttershy in a game of Bundle of Sticks. We got to talking about Winter Wrap Up, which is the day after tomorrow! Hello spring! At least in most of Equestria. In the Everfree, it's been raining already.

Pinkie has been sharpening all the skates in Ponyville. She started with the Winter Wrap Up supply at Town Hall, but ponies just kept bringing her more. They're all sharp sharp sharp when she's finished with them. She said she'd danced with them on over a pile of carrots and made diced carrot salad in no time. Watch out ice!

Zecora will be there to lend her hooves, helping ponies push snow off the roofs... helping remove snow. Applejack has been getting everything ready, seeds, watering cans, snow plows, carts. Making sure everything is quick to find and in good repair. Everything should be ready tomorrow and I'll be able to go round and tick them off my checklist. Maybe I'll buy a few more quills too. And ink and scrolls. Just in case.

Zecora won again. I came in dead last.

We chatted and ate some more and cheered on the ponies playing Tangle (Pinkie is unbeatable at Tangle) until it got late and everypony went home. We'll pick up the hall and clean the dishes tomorrow.