Under Cover of the Night

[twilightpony]

Pinkie's hay feast was a good idea. After stuffing myself silly last night, I haven't been hungry all day. I did make a fresh batch of mint iced tea and I nibbled a few carrot sticks, but for the most part, I didn't eat. The smell of the fresh cut hay from the surrounding fields isn't as alluring as it was yesterday.

I bet there are foals out there now, in the fields under the cover of darkness, rolling in the sweet smell and eating great mouthfuls. I know I'd be tempted. The farmers are going to be vexed.

Comments

[flareblitzfury]

Mmmmmm, sounds like a delicious time!

[twilightpony]

Especially for the foalish.

[flareblitzfury]

Indeed.

[algernon97]

I take it the farmers are rather cranky this time of year?

[twilightpony]

Oh yes, some are quite cranky. There was an article about that in the Ponyville Express. The hay farmers had a long list of complaints, like bunnies running off with their mouths stuffed with cut timothy grass and alfalfa, hiding it and coming back for more. Older foals sneaking into the fields after dark and not only eating the hay but making "hay princesses" everywhere, building hay forts, hay tunnels and carving trails through the hay as they galloped about chasing each other. The hay doesn't dry properly when it gets bunched up by this activity, and the gaps make baling more difficult too. At least there haven't been any stampedes. Yet.

I think someponies are exaggerating a bit. Pinkie thinks they're just grumpy gusses from working long hours without a break. Rainbow Dash thinks that it's just the prima donna farmers fussing. Rarity sympathizes with them -- laying the grass out in patterns to dry right is _an art_. Running about on that tableau is _vandalism_. (Her emphasis.) Applejack didn't comment, she was on the farm, hard at work weeding and hoeing. And probably chasing varmints.