Part 1- A namby-pamby exposition

The sun was setting over all of Equestria and the golden skies slowly fell asleep as another day concluded. Ponies everywhere put on their nightgowns and nightcaps, brushed their manes, cleaned up their hooves, and slowly dozed off to sleep.

The Pegasus ponies on the night shift moved the darkening clouds out of the night sky. The stars danced in the celestial heavens as the gentle crescent moon watched over the majestic lands, sending the winds to sing a lullaby that quieted the entire land. In time, everypony would be fast asleep and…

“Twilight, just what kind of namby-pamby story is this?!”

Rainbow Dash’s sudden interruption brought Twilight Sparkle’s out of her dreamy state and back into reality. She looked back at her five friends: Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie, each looking at her with a strange expression on their faces.

“Rainbow Dash, I think you’ve been spending too much time with Scootaloo lately… and just what do you mean by a ‘namby-pamby’ story?” Twilight said.

“Well Twi’,” Applejack began, sitting in front of the campfire, “I think what Rainbow meant to say is, it’s just that, well…” Applejack fell silent as she searched for a word to describe Twilight’s introduction. She waved her hoof in the air, waiting for one of her friends to help her find the right word.

The sun was indeed setting over all of Equestria and the golden skies over the campgrounds. Canterlot was indeed slowly falling asleep as another day slowly ended. A warm bonfire crackled in the cool evening, casting dancing shadows on the faces of the six ponies.

The makeshift camp was a nicely fashioned circle of bedrolls, one for each pony. Applejack added some extra wood to the fire to keep it going a little longer and sat next to Pinkie Pie who was squirming with eagerness.

Rarity, lying on her sleeping bag in velvet pajamas, tried to contribute to the conversation. “I think it’s a fabulous story, Twilight,” Rarity said eloquently. “I just think, well, we just think that it could be a little bit more exciting?”

“Come on girls! I’ve only just got started!” Twilight said with a smile, defending her story.

“Oh, don’t worry Twilight! I know for sure you’re going to come up with a super-duper-awesomely good story!” Pinkie Pie said, pausing only to stuff her face more with marshmallows.

“I personally don’t mind. I kind of like this story, Twilight,” Fluttershy said gently.

“Well, this story is boring, Twilight. There, I’m sorry, but it’s true!” Rainbow Dash said.

“But we haven’t even pased the exposition! The introduction isn’t even over! I’m only on chapter 1 and you guys are already complaining?” Twilight said.

“I personally don’t mind this story…” Fluttershy said, brushing her mane and settling into her sleeping bag.

“Fine, fine; let me see… What kind of story would you guys like?” Twilight asked.

“An action packed, heart racing story?” Rainbow Dash said with a bright smile on her face.

“Perhaps a tragic romance?” Rarity wondered.

“A story filled with all kinds of cake and candies?” Pinkie Pie said.

“A good ole’ tale with a nice Western feel to it, that’s what I’d like,” Applejack suggested.

“I really don’t mind this story, Twilight,” Fluttershy said, hiding half of her face from the fire under her sleeping bag.

The fire crackled as the symphony of the pasture around them started. Crickets began to chirp in the tall grass and the wind danced in the air, bringing a cool breeze on the mild summer night.

Twilight Sparkle took into consideration the suggestion her friends had just made. Racking her brains, she around for any source of inspiration.

“Well…” Twilight Sparkle began, drawing the eyes and ears of her five friends closer. “I do know this one story…”

Twilight Sparkle’s friends learned forward and fell silent as their wordsmith cleared her throat.

The bonfire crackled again as the symphony of crickets played; the stars and wind twinkled and danced around the six friends as the tall-tale began…

Next Chapter: Part 2- Moving Hills Estimated time remaining: 15 Minutes