The crowd outside the castle of friendship was restless with excitement. Ponies from every corner of Equestria were gathered at the foot of the towering palace, all there to see the newly crowned Princess Twilight be recognized as the world's most foremost scholar in the field of amazingness. Standing proudly on the balcony, hovering above the celebrating crowd, was the epicenter of their attention. Smiling ear to ear and standing with utmost face, Twilight was next to her family, friends, and the bowing princesses of the fellow kingdoms, along with a unicorn stallion with a wizard hat and bushy beard.

"Twilight Sparkle, for your amazing contributions in the field of being amazing, you are hereby granted the M.I.Ks highest academic honor in the field of amazingness, the right to have Celestia be your second mother, all the books in the universe, and a hug from yours truly," said Starswirl the Bearded while stroking his beard at the sight of the blushing princess. The crowd below stamped and clapped loudly.

“Thank you, Sir Starswirl," said Princess Twilight with a nod to the elderly wizard.

"And furthermore, we have good news for you,” Starswirl announced, “Princesses Celestia and Luna are announcing their retirement and we are giving you control of all of Equestria, my queen!" He took a low bow, and as he did, the crowd followed suit, along with her friends, her family, and the princesses, with smiles on their faces. Twilight was dumbfounded and could only express the emotions tumbling in her in one way.

"Squee! Thank you so much everypony! My first rule as queen of Equestria is to make it illegal to mishandle books!"

"YAY!" shouted the crowd.

“And it will be punishable by six months in Tartarus,” said a grinning Twilight.

“Yay! Again!” shouted the crowd.

Waving at the crowd, Twilight felt the hooves and claws of her friends and family, picking up her and throwing her into the air while chanting her name.

“Twilight! Twilight!”

“Thank you everypony, thank you. Yes, I do deserve this!”

“Twilight! Twilight! Twilight!”

“Twilight!” shouted an average (if possible) Pinkie Pie to a still sleeping Twilight Sparkle.

“Thank you everypony, now let me tell you about my plans for the new library system…”

“TWILIGHT!” shouted Pinkie through a megaphone, causing Twilight to spill over from her bed in a tumble of sheets and pillows.

“What the-” asked a sleepy-eyed Twilight from beneath the pile of linen sheets. “Pinkie? What are you doing in my room? How did you even get in here?”

“Well, you don’t have any windows anymore, except those fancy ones--speaking of which, you should get those cleaned--but that’s not the reason why I’m here. The reason I'm here is super duper important! My unkie’s visiting me today!”

“That's great Pinkie, but why did you have to come tell me at..” Twilight glanced at a nearby royal clock. “Five-thirty-five a.m?”

“Oh! Well, that's simple, silly. Rainbow Dash is coming here, and I wanted to be first.”

“Wait, Rainbow Dash is coming here?” asked Twilight with a puzzled look.

“Nope,” replied Pinkie turning her attention to a bouncy bed.

“But, you just said-huh?!” Twilight would have continued if not for a blue spark in the sky heading towards her room from outside. It was pointed directly at her bedroom balcony. “What the...ahh!” screamed Twilight as she was picked up and thrown to the other side of the room.

“I overslept, I overslept, I overslept!” yelled a frantic Rainbow Dash as she madly shook Twilight, “I overslept!”

“Wwwwwhhhhaaaattttt ddddddiiiiiidddddd yyyyyyoooouuuuu oooooovvvvveeeerrrr sssssslllllllleeeeeppppppp fffffffoooooorrrrr?!” said a shaking Twilight.

“Oh! I know, I know!” said Pinkie doing a perfect flip from the bed. “Daring Do is coming to Ponyville!”

“Yes!” screamed a joyful Rainbow Dash, throwing her hooves up and dropping Twilight to the floor. “Daring Do is coming here, here to Ponyville!” she shrieked in a clear ‘fanfilly’ fashion.

“Oh yeah, I forgot A.K.Yearling’s coming here to do a book signing for her new novel,” said Twilight, picking herself up and taking off the blankets still on her.

“How could you forget!” shouted a distraught Rainbow Dash.

"Well, I am a Princess, I have a lot of responsibilities-wait, what day is it?" asked Twilight rubbing the leftover sleepiness out of her eyes.

“It's my uncle’s visiting day, Twilight,” said Pinkie as she backflipped on the bed.

“No, I meant what is today, Saturday?”

“No, egghead, it’s Friday!” shouted Rainbow Dash.

“But wait, Daring doesn’t doesn’t arrive till Saturday. Why are you saying you overslept, Rainbow Dash?” asked TwIlight.

“Well duh, to get in line first for tomorrow!” said Rainbow Dash, rolling her eyes.

Facehoofing at the reply, Twilight said‚ “Well, why did you come to tell me, then?”

“Well, I kind of need you to, umm, get me to the front of the line,” said Rainbow Dash with a blush and nervous chuckle.

Pinkie gasped as she hopped out of the bed, “You can’t do that, Dashie! Other people want to see her too, and it wouldn’t be fair if you got to cut to the front just because Twilight's a princess!”

“She's right Rainbow Dash, it just wouldn’t be right of me or you to head to the front just because I’m a princess and your friend,” stated Twilight with a hoof to her chest.

“Ugh! Fine, I guess I’ll just have to head down there now and get a good spot,” said Rainbow Dash, turning to leave.

“Wait, Rainbow Dash,” said Twilight, “Since you're here, how about I make you and Pinkie some eggs before you go. I mean, you’ll need some food If you're gonna stay in line all day and night.”

“Yeah, and you’ve got to meet my uncle first, too!” said Pinkie as she donned a chef’s toque.

“Are you kidding me?! I don’t have time fo-” Just then Rainbow's stomach growled violently. “Ehhh, well I suppose I could have a bite,” she said with a blush.

“But what about my uncle?” asked Pinkie with puppy eyes.

“Fine, Pinkie, I will say hi to your uncle,” said a grinning Rainbow with a roll of her eyes.

“Yay!” shouted Pinkie lunging into Rainbow Dash and causing them both to fall. “Owie.”

All of a sudden, the room’s front door flew open, turning their heads to see who it was, they were greeted by the sight of a sleepy Spike.

“What's going on?” said Spike with a fast yawn, “I heard banging sounds.”

“Oh, that was us,” said Twilight heading over to her assistant, “Sorry Spike, did we wake you?”

“Actually I was just heading to the bathroom when I heard the noise-wait we?” asked Spike before noticing Pinkie and Rainbow. “What are you guys doing here?”

Twilight then explained to Spike that Pinkie had come here to tell her that her uncle was coming here before Rainbow had come crashing in to see if Twilight could get them at the front of the line for the Daring Do book signing. At the mention of Twilight’s offer to make eggs, Spike had one thing to say:

“Can I have a gem omelet!?”

“Okay,” giggled Twilight at the dragon’s appetite.

After getting ready for the day, Twilight headed down to the castle's kitchen, where she was greeted to the sight of Pinkie muzzle-deep in a bowl of oats and milk, Rainbow Dash reading “Daring Do and the River of Gloom”, and finally Spike making a gem-filled omelet. Seeing Twilight, Spike asked her what kind of eggs she would like.

“I’ll just have a hay omelet, please, Spike,” she said before sitting down at the kitchen table with her friends. “So Pinkie,” she asked her as she chewed on her oats, “What's your uncle like? Is he anything like Maud?” Remembering Pinkie’s unusual sister made Twilight chuckle nervously.

Looking up from her bowl before licking oats and milk residue from her coat, Pinkie smiled a huge smile at Twilight, “Of course not, silly! He's the best uncle ever, not the best sister ever!"

"Which side of the family is he on?" asked Twilight.

"My mom's," replied Pinkie as she made a napkin swan.

"Oh, he's your mother's brother?"

“Yep, and only sibling,  younger by thirteen years,” said Pinkie, pausing long enough to blow bubbles into the milk, “He's also a writer!”

“What kind of stories does he write?”

“Oh, you know, adventures and funny stories,” said Pinkie with a prideful tone in her voice before turning gloom. “But he doesn’t let me read them.”

“Why not?” asked Twilight with a puzzled look.

“I don’t know, he says they aren’t for fillies,” replied Pinkie with a sigh. “Said they were too boring for a mare like me.”

“Huh,” replied Twilight, turning her attention to Rainbow Dash, who was ear deep into her book. “So, Rainbow Dash, what chapter are you on?”

“What?” said Rainbow looking up from the book. “Oh, I’m on chapter fifteen, where Daring is escaping her bonds from the evil mad Dr. Glass. Here I’ll read you a bit,” Clearing her throat, Rainbow began.

“Struggling against her bonds, Daring saw that she was in a tight knot.

“Huh, seems Glass knows how to tighten his ropes better than last time, dang it,” thought Daring to herself. “Still though, none the wiser about the problems of leaving a bound pegasus with her wings open.” Moving around, Daring eventually was able to stretch her wing and bring the tip to her mouth. “Okay, this is gonna sting,” she said before plucking a feather from her wings. “Ousch!” said a muffled Daring looking to see if anypony heard her. “Ohay, ow I o I haw it aroun here..ere it ih!” Her sight fell on a toolbox with a padlock on it.

“Bet there's something sharp in that toolbox,” said Daring to herself, hopping over to the toolbox, “Okay, here I go!” She proceeded to rock side to side in the chair, causing it to fall over on Daring’s right side. A muffled sound of pain aside, Daring saw that luck was on her side for this lockpicking. Taking the feather Daring adjusted the tip till she was able to pick the lock.

“Wait, how does a feather pick a lock?” asked Spike, bringing the omelets to the table.

“Oh, Spike, thats just artistic license. I’m sure what really happened was different,” said Twilight cutting up her omelet.

“Shush, you two!” said Rainbow, “Now, where was I? Oh yeah!”

Having succeeded at picking the lock, Daring used her head to push open the toolbox, and fortunately for her, there was a cutting tool just in the right position. Moving the chair around, she was able to set the blade against the rope, rubbing one against the other for a while. Soon, she was able to cut the rope, releasing her hooves and enabling her to untie her other bonds. Getting up from the floor, Daring was about to sneak out when she heard a stallion from outside about to come in. She suddenly thought of a better plan.

“Hey, what's with all the noise?!” said the mook charging into the cabin. He saw the sight of Daring groaning in her seat with her hooves behind her back. “Heh, looks like the little girl's tired. How about a little kiss girly?” chuckled the mook as he leaned in close.

“How about a kick?” said Daring with a smirk, throwing her hooves on the pony’s shoulder before kicking him under the torso.

“Owww!” said the mook wincing in pain on the ground.

“And one the forehead?!” shouted Daring before knocking the mook out. “Now to find the key.” She rushed outside.

“End of chapter fifteen,” said Rainbow closing the book with an awed expression. “Wasn’t that awesome?!”

“I agree, that was amazing‚” said Twilight from the edge of her seat.

“Me too!” said Pinkie as she helped Spike gather the dishes.

“Me three, if a little unbelievable,” said Spike while getting a bottle of apple juice.

“Artistic license, Spike,” Twilight reminded him.

“Yeah, yeah.”

Looking at the clock, Pinkie shrieked, “Oh my gosh! It's already eight! Uncle Humble’s train arrives in ten minutes!”  said Pinkie running to gather the dishes.

“Wait!” shouted Twilight, “Your uncle’s name is Humble? As in Humble Pie?”

“You know him?” asked Rainbow, wondering why Twilight was showing the same display of fanfillying Rainbow herself had hours earlier.

“Are you kidding? Next to A. K. Yearling, Humble Pie is Twilight’s favorite modern author!” said Spike.

“I love his book, ‘The Adventures of Con Colt’!” said Twilight in excitement, “Rainbow, Spike get cleaned up! I’m gonna head out to go get Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity!”

“Rarity said that Applejack and Fluttershy were helping at the boutique today,” stated Spike.

“Okay, I’ll head there, then. Pinkie, are you coming?” asked Twilight to a Pinkie-shaped dust cloud. “Pinkie? Where’d she go?”

“I’m telling you, dear, it looks fabulous on you,” said a smiling Rarity turning to face a purple-faced Fluttershy.

“Can’t breathe,” choked out Fluttershy as she fell down before Rarity. Applejack rushed to her aid by ripping off the corset.

“Are ya alright, sugarcube?!” asked a concerned Applejack.

“I-I think so,” replied Fluttershy.

“Sorry about that Fluttershy, but Applejack did you really have to tear the corset?” asked Rarity levitating the ripped clothing.

“It was choking her,” Applejack said flatly, helping Fluttershy up.

“Well, fashion is never easy,” replied Rarity, putting on her glasses to start sewing up the tears in the cloth. “Sorry again, Fluttershy.”

“Oh, it’s alright, I was happy to do it,” said Fluttershy with a smile.

“Thank you, now Applejack, take that box with my new fashion style and go try it on, please.”

“Remind me why I’m helping y’all with your dresses?” said Applejack.

“Because, you’re my friend, you silly mare, and the clothes must be made for an agile person such as yourself,” replied Rarity trying to sew the last thread in. “Now head to the kitchen, I want to be surprised by your appearance.”

“Fine,” grumbled Applejack before heading off to the kitchen.

“Ding-dong,” rung the front door.

“Oh, I wonder who that could be?” said Fluttershy, her attention focusing on the front door.

“Would you mind getting that dear? This last thread is a bit tough,” asked Rarity  squinting her eyes to focus on the needle.

“Okay,” Fluttershy flew to the front door. Cracking it open, she greeted the visitor, “Umm, hello can I help-ahhhhh!” Fluttershy squealed as she whirled around on the spot. The cause: a pink blur rushing inside.

“Fluttershy! Rarity! Applejack! I have somthing to tell you!” screamed Pinkie in the center of the boutique.

“Pinkie! You scared poor Fluttershy and pushed her out of the way! Say you're sorry,” scolded Rarity as she put down the finished thread.

“I did?” said Pinkie turning around to a dizzy Fluttershy. “Oh, I did! I’m sorry Fluttershy, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, but was the boutique always pink?” replied Fluttershy, her head shaking side to side.

“Well, other than the curtains, no. But that’s not what I’m here to tell you. I have something big to tell you, it's abou-”

“What is with all the darn noise? I’m trying to put on this old thing,” said a voice that belonged to Applejack.

“Applejack, it's just Pinkie. Are you done putting the outfit on?” asked Rarity.

“I’m almost done, hold your carts...okay, coming in,” said Applejack trotting back to the room. Before the three mares stood Applejack in a white, black-buttoned shirt; upon it was a light peach-colored long coat with a dark blue hood.

Fluttershy, having recovered by this time, looked awestruck, “Wow.”

“It’s so peachy!” said a giddy Pinkie.

“Applejack, you look amazing!” said Rarity with a tone of pride in her voice.

“It ain’t something I’d wear for farming, but I’ll admit, it’s more comfortable than I expected,” said Applejack. “Still, who would wear this? I get that them Canterlot folks like odd clothes. But why this?”

“Applejack,” said Rarity, “I just make the outfits. I don’t know what they're for, besides I don’t even know if it is for a Canterlot citizen. All I got was a letter saying that it was to be dropped in the town's post office, and that I would receive payment then. Now please take it off and put it carefully back in the box, if you would.”

After Applejack put the shirt and cloak away, everypony’s focus was now on Pinkie.

“So Pinkie, what did you have to say?” asked Applejack.

“It’s my unkie Humble’s visiting day!” shouted Pink throwing confetti in the air.

“You have an uncle named Humble?” asked Fluttershy meekly.

Borrowing Applejack’s brother’s word of wisdom, Pinkie replied, “Eeyup, my uncle Humble Pie!”

“Wait!” shouted Rarity, pushing Fluttershy and Applejack away and shoving her muzzle against Pinkie’s, “Your uncle is Hu-Humble Pie!?”

“You know him?” grumbled Applejack, annoyed at being pushed.

“Why of course I do! I love his book, “The Mind of an Artist”! And of course, “The Wood Stallion's A-,” stopping herself, Rarity quickly remembered that particular book was for  more mature audiences.  She continued with a heavy blush, “Ehhh, well the point is I love his books. And you say he's coming today?”

“I believe so,” said Pinkie with blank expression before giggling, “My uncle taught me that.”

“When's he arriving?” asked Fluttershy.

“Oh, in five minutes,” replied Pinkie, relaxing. After a few seconds, realization finally hit her, causing her to scream, “Everypony, head to the train station!”

“Pinkie, I’m sure your uncle will arrive when you get there. Right Rarity?” asked Applejack to a Rarity-shaped cloud of dust. “Rarity? Pinkie did you see where Ra-” Applejack stopped asking when she saw the remnants of a Pinkie-shaped dust cloud. “Come on, Fluttershy. Let’s head out,” grumbled Applejack.

“Oh, I’m just so excited, I could burst!” said Pinkie before exploding--her cannon of confetti seemed ready for her uncle’s arrival. She and Rarity stood at the train station’s platform.

“I know how you feel darling. Your uncle is a fantastic writer,” said Rarity putting makeup on, “I love his description of Captain Star’s rugged fetlocks, his gentlecolt’s mane, his golden spyglass--,” Rarity stopped herself when she saw ponies looking at her. Blushing intensely, she tried to move the attention to somewhere else. Fortunately for her, Twilight, Rainbow Dash and, Spike were trotting to the platform. Everypony turned their focus to the newly crowned princess and proceeded to bow.

“Thank you everypony, but it’s really not necessary to bow. Just go about your business,” said Twilight causing everypony to stand upright again. “There you are Pinkie, and good morning Rarity.”

“Good morning, girls,” said Rarity.

Spike coughed slightly.

“Oh, don’t think I could forget you, Spikey-wikey‚” said Rarity, pinching Spike’s cheeks causing him to blush.

“Mo-morning Rarity,” stuttered Spike.

“So Pinkie, where's this uncle Humble of yours, anyway?” asked Rainbow, still reading her book.

"Hmmm," said Pinkie before gasping. “There he is!” she shouted and pointed at a locomotive heading towards the platform.

“Come on Slit, I know you had a hard time back there but you can’t plot revenge on Miss Railrunner, she was just doing her job,” said Humble to Slit’s blank face. “Look, I understand that a cage is no place for a sentient creature like yourself to be trapped in, but in fairness, they did say you got a little rowdy.” The alligator just licked his eye while standing. “Besides, Miss Railrunner was nice enough to let you out early.” There was a sudden ringing sound, and looking out the window Humble saw the town of Ponyville past the train platform and on it was his niece speeding around the platform along with her friends.

“Well, would you look at that Slit? We got a royal welcome from Princess Twilight. How’s my mane?”

The alligator just looked at him, expressionless.

“Good, let’s head out.”

Behind him, Stale and Lemon watched him get his luggage. “Yes, let’s,” said Stale.

“You watch too many projecto films,” grumbled Lemon.

Next Chapter: Unkie Humble Estimated time remaining: 6 Hours, 44 Minutes