Author's Notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnj7YhKRa3w

It was a beautiful morning in Ponyville, just like any other—except for the fact that there was a giant stone Object sticking up from the ground in the centre of Town Square. Yet the ponies didn’t let it bother them. At the crack of dawn, when the sun rays were just barely over the horizon, Applejack and Carrot Top were already on the fringes of the square, setting up their stalls so as to be prepared for the early morning market rush. And once they were finished setting up their stalls, they stood and waited, each with a bleary-eyed younger assistant in tow.

That’s not to say they didn’t notice the gigantic, blocky protrusions that seemed to reach so desperately from the soil. Apple Bloom in particular was very interested in the way the rough surface had pushed aside the dirt and clay as if it were nothing, extending what appeared to be fingertips towards the heavens. But she dared not abandon her position at the stall, lest she face a verbal lashing from her sister.

As the morning rolled around, other ponies started to make their way out of their houses and notice the anomaly. Nopony made a huge fuss, or ran around shouting about it; rather, there was just a hushed murmuring that filled the air, as friends turned to each other to discuss the Object. It wasn’t until a purple alicorn finally emerged from her castle sometime not long before noon that anypony decided to truly ask about it.

As she trotted down the path from her castle into town, Twilight Sparkle could see a small crowd had gathered in Town Square. It was perhaps a bit larger than usual, but the oddest thing about it wasn’t its size; it was that the ponies remained motionless, all staring at… something. Twilight flapped her wings, lifting up to get a better look.

And that was the first time she saw the Object. Her mouth hung open and her wings stopped beating for just a moment—yet that was all the excuse gravity needed to bring the princess back down to the ground, tumbling onto her face. Twilight picked herself up, shook the dirt off, and then galloped up to the edge of the crowd.

“Hey!” Cloud Kicker exclaimed as Twilight stepped on her tail.

Daisy winced, falling to the side as Twilight’s wing rammed into her. “Watch it!”

“Sorry, sorry!” Twilight hastily apologised, though she didn’t slow down. “Princess coming through! I need to see this up close!”

A wave of groaning washed through the crowd, but eventually Twilight made it to the front and everypony could stop getting injured by her clumsiness. However, as Twilight soon discovered, getting a closer look at the Object didn’t immediately reveal anything that a glance from far away didn’t: it was a massive monument made of inky black stone, and it looked like it had just gone and erupted from the earth that night. The surface of the thing was rough, not smooth; although the shape was obviously unnatural by the contours of the rock, it didn’t look like much care had been put into hewing or finishing it.

Twilight blinked, and then she turned around. “Do any of you have any idea what this is?” She waited a few moments, but there were only noncommittal grunts in reply. Sighing, she went on: “Okay, who were the first ponies out here, then?”

“It was me ’n’ Applejack, Your Grace,” came Carrot Top’s voice from the back.

“Just Twilight will do,” Twilight said, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice. “Alright, thank you. Could the rest of you ponies please clear out, unless you have information relating to this… this thing? I’ve got important work to do here.”

Only a few ponies in the crowd even budged, and most of those that did try to move could not on account of the fact that the ponies around them remained still. Barely anypony had even been looking when Twilight had made her decree; they were still too focused on the Object. “Please!” Twilight almost shouted, but only a few more ponies jerked their heads towards her. The edges of the crowd began to thin—much like Twilight’s patience.

“Don’t make me use the Royal Canterlot Voice!” she shouted, even louder, in a tone that verged on the very one she had threatened to use. This seemed to get most of the ponies’ attention, luckily, as the crowd suddenly dispersed, even more quickly than it had coalesced but an hour or two earlier.

“It’s a good thing ya showed these folks not ta incur yer wrath,” Applejack said with a grin as she approached through the now-empty square. “Can’t say I’ve ever seen a crowd clear that quick.”

“Definitely impressive work,” Carrot Top added. She was right behind Applejack, but her expression was more glum. “I guess that’s why you’re a princess and stuff.”

Twilight cleared her throat.

Applejack rolled her eyes. “If Celestia wanted a princess all boisterous-like, she’d’a just picked Rainbow Dash.”

“Ahem,” Twilight said, frowning.

“What d’ya want us for?” Applejack eyed the alicorn carefully. “Something ’bout this big hunk a’ rock here?”

“It was already here when we got here,” Carrot Top mumbled.

“Is that true?” Twilight eyed each farmpony carefully, leaning in and squinting as if that could somehow allow her to better see through any untruths they might tell.

“Sure as sun-up, sugarcube.” Applejack trotted over to the side of the Object and, letting her hat slide to the ground, leaned against it with her shoulder. “It’s a bit strange, but I think it makes a mighty fine monument, don’t you?”

“D-Don’t touch it!” Twilight exclaimed, her eyes wide in horror. “You don’t know what could happen! We don’t know where it came from, or how it got here!”

Carrot Top coughed. “Um, she’s already touching it. Wouldn’t something have happened by now?”

“You never know!” Twilight exclaimed. “It could be slow-acting! Quick, let’s get you under quarantine back at the castle!”

Applejack looked confused, but shrugged. “If you insist. Apple Bloom, watch the stand for me!” Once the red-maned filly shot her a salute, Applejack started after Twilight, who was already halfway across the square.

“Oh, and Carrot Top?” Twilight called, just as she was rounding the hill. “Can you watch the rock… thingie for me?”

“Uhhh…” Carrot Top uhhh’d.

“Thanks! Knew I could count on you! Just don’t let anypony touch it!”

Carrot Top gulped, and duly nodded—even though Twilight Sparkle was already out of sight. “Can’t be too hard… right?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she suddenly felt dozens of pairs of eyes settle on her—and the Object she was guarding. A bead of sweat formed on her forehead and, as she stood there, Carrot Top trembled in her horseshoes. The eyes blinked.

Less than a dozen metres away, one such pair of eyes—golden, like honey—watched the scene from out a shop window. They moved back and forth from Carrot Top to the other ponies, and even over to the hill Twilight had just disappeared over.

“Do you think it’s still called the Royal Canterlot Voice if we’re in Ponyville?” A pause. “I guess it could be the Royal Ponyville Voice, but that doesn’t have the same ring to it. Maybe—”

Lyra was interrupted by the blinds shuttering down and snapping closed, almost in one fluid motion. She jerked her head back, surprised. “Hey! I was watching that!”

“It’s no use—we already know Twilight’s probably closing the square again,” Bon Bon grumbled. “Just like when the dryads flooded the streets when Fluttershy was in Fillydelphia. And that was for days...”

“That doesn’t mean you had to close the blinds,” Lyra complained, her face turned down in a fuzzy mint-green pout. “I could be missing stuff…”

“Honestly, it’s like that pony doesn’t have any idea what closing down the town does to local businesses around here!” Bon Bon went on, ignoring Lyra as usual. “Even one day means a loss of more than a hundred bits, and that’s not even to mention the goods I have to throw out because they go stale!”

“If you need help with the extra, I think I know somepony who could help with that.” Lyra waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Bon Bon shot her an angry look, but said nothing.

“It’s m—” Lyra started, but was cut off by a stamp of Bon Bon’s hoof.

“I know it’s you!” the earth pony shouted. “And I don’t give a flying feather! This is serious!”

Lyra stepped back nervously. “Whoa, whoa… I know it is, babe. I’m really sorry. You know how I am—I just try and make jokes to lighten the mood a little…”

Bon Bon put a hoof to her forehead. “Yes, yes… I’m sorry, Lyra. I know I’ve got a bit of a temper, and some... bad stuff is going on, but that’s no excuse to be short with you like that. I’m just… I’m just worried, that’s all.”

“I know you are,” Lyra said, nodding. She stepped up to Bon Bon’s side, and wrapped her in a big hug. “But we’re going to get through this, okay? Even if Twilight closes the square for a day, a week, or a month.”

“A month?!” Bon Bon was bug-eyed. “Oh, Celestia… do you think she would do such a thing?”

“N-No,” Lyra quickly stammered. “No way!”

Bon Bon nodded, but this didn’t look to have allayed any of her concerns. “You’re probably right… oh, but what if she does? Lyra… I hate to say this, but you might actually have to get a job.”

Lyra blinked. “Wh-what? But I have a job!”

“No, a real job,” Bon Bon replied with a sigh. “You helping me here isn’t going to be much help if nopony’s coming by to buy things.”

Lyra went pale. “I… I could work more with Vinyl, and maybe we could make a record…?”

Bon Bon hummed. “I was thinking more something like the music store. You know, with Noteworthy? I bet with your experience, you could—”

“Look, Bonnie,” Lyra interrupted. Her expression was panicked, and her eyes seemed like they couldn’t settle on any one thing. “Twilight’s a reasonable pony, and we’ve known each other since we were fillies. If it comes down to her shutting down the square for more than a day, then I will personally go talk with her and make sure she realises the impact that that’d have.”

Bon Bon smirked. “Thanks, honey. I’d really appreciate it.”

“Yeah, sure,” Lyra grumbled in reply. “Anything for my Bonnie.”

“I’m going to go to the back room and figure out what I can salvage from today’s stock,” Bon Bon announced, gesturing towards the door in the back of the shop. “I don’t think anypony’s gonna come in today, so I can close the shop and you can come help me.” She paused, appearing to be mulling something over. “And if there’s anything I can’t save… well, you can choose a few things.”

Lyra grinned. “Huzzah!”

“I want to save something for Vinyl and Tavi, though,” Bon Bon continued. “The flowers they brought over the other night were absolutely marvellous, and I’d love to be able to do something for them in return. Anyway…” The mare stepped towards the door. “You coming?”

“Yeah, definitely,” Lyra said. “I’ll catch up with you, and I’ll flip the sign on my way.”

Bon Bon nodded. “Thanks, dear. See you in a moment.”

Once her marefriend was out of the room and the door was shut, Lyra’s neutral expression slid into a mischievous grin. She waited a few moments before slinking back over to the windows and putting her eyes up to the blinds. “Nopony tells me what to do,” Lyra whispered to herself, and though she knew she was being silly, she proceeded to lift a blind up with her hooftip…

...and came face to face with a lavender muzzle, squinting in. Lyra jumped back in surprise, landing with a loud thump on the floor.

“Everything alright in there?” Bon Bon’s called from the other room.

“Erm… yeah, I’m fine,” Lyra grunted. “Just… slipped.” Wincing, the unicorn stood up and stepped over to the door. With a burst of her magic, the handle turned and the door swung open.

Standing in the doorway was a confused-looking Cloud Kicker, eyeing Lyra as if she didn’t know what else to do.

“...Can I help you?” Lyra asked.

“Um… you guys are open, right?” Cloud Kicker asked. “It says so on the sign, but the blinds are closed and it looks deader than a dodo in here.”

Lyra sighed, and threw her head over her shoulder. “Bon Bon! Customer!”

“What?!” Bon Bon shouted. “Really?!”

Lyra put her head in her hooves. “I’m not messing with you, I swear! Are we open, or—?”

The door in the back burst open, cutting Lyra off. Before the unicorn could blink, a cream flash bounded through the room, sending the blinds up to the ceiling and flicking on the light switch.

“O-of course we are,” Bon Bon managed between breaths, having skidded to a halt in the centre of the shop. “Why wouldn’t we be? It’s a Friday morning, for Cookie’s sake!”

Lyra just grinned, and stepped back to allow Cloud Kicker to enter the store. She shimmied off to a corner, watching the pegasus as she stepped up to the counter and selected a doughnut—for breakfast, no doubt. Once Cloud Kicker had paid and left, Lyra let out a sigh of relief. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“Lyra! Get your lazy butt to the back room and get the next batch out of the oven!” Bon Bon barked. “I’ve got to work the counter, so I need your help.”

“Aw, but Bonnie… I’m your marefriend,” Lyra pleaded. “Can’t I… take a break?”

“Before you’ve even started?” Bon Bon countered, raising an eyebrow. “You may be my marefriend, but you’re also my assistant—and a particularly inept one at that. Please.”

Lyra sighed, and sauntered off towards the door on the back wall. Bon Bon glared at her the whole way but said nothing more, and by the time Lyra was out of the room, a few more ponies had already entered the shop.

“And what’ll you be having on this fine morning?”

It was after noon by the time Twilight Sparkle made it back to the market square. She was pulling a large cart harnessed to her back, and though its contents were neatly covered by a blue plastic tarp, anypony walking by would have noticed that there was a loud jostling and clanging with every step she took. All she could do was hope that nopony was there to notice.

And, of course, there were ponies all around her, for it was the centre of town and, on top of that, there was a new and mysterious Object looming over them all. As Twilight trotted up through the ponies milling about, the air filled with a quiet murmuring. All of them had the same question in mind, but only one was brave enough to voice it.

“Hey Twilight!” Rainbow Dash’s voice called from above. Twilight looked up to see the pegasus reclining on a fluffy white cloud, lackadaisically splayed out across its surface.

“Uh… hi, Rainbow!” Twilight replied. “How are you today?”

“Pretty snazzy!” Rainbow rolled over, and her face became visible. “So… what’s up with the big claw thingie?”

Twilight blinked. “Claw?”

“Yeah, you know.” Rainbow Dash pointed to the Object. “Kinda hard to miss.”

“Oh, the Object,” Twilight said with a nod. “I’m… not sure yet. That’s where I’m headed with all this stuff, though. I’m determined to find out.”

“Cool beans.” Rainbow shrugged. “Well, okay. Just wanted to make sure you knew about it, I guess. Lemme know if you find anything cool.”

Twilight was about to reply, but Rainbow’s wings were already abuzz and she sped through the sky away from the square, leaving a faint rainbow-coloured trail in her wake. Twilight sighed, and turned back to the Object.

“Carrot Top!” Twilight exclaimed, upon seeing the orange-maned earth pony standing there. “I forgot I told you to guard for me!”

“...Yeah, I kind of figured,” Carrot replied, rolling her eyes. “You didn’t tell me this was going to take hours. I mean, Potato Peel’s doing a fine job managing the stand, but I’m worried that she and Apple Bloom might be up to no good.”

Twilight glanced over at Applejack’s and Carrot Top’s stands just in time to see the two fillies standing in front. They both spat on their hooves before shaking them, determinedly. “I see what you mean,” Twilight said, turning back to Carrot. “Don’t worry, though—I can take it from here. You made sure nopony else touched it, though, right?”

“It was pretty hard, but yeah,” Carrot said. “Well, okay. Good luck with… um… whatever it is you’re doing.”

“Thanks!” Twilight replied cheerily, and she watched Carrot Top walk off. Then, with aplomb and no further hesitation, she unharnessed the cart from her back and began the arduous task of unloading its contents out onto the dirt—all the while doing her best to ignore the small audience she had accrued.