Beep beep! Beep beep!

Hm? I open my eyes, and take around myself. That’s funny… Wasn’t I just in the Crystal Palace, surrounded by all of my friends, being crowned a Princess by Cadenza?

Beep beep! Beep beep!

The food was delicious, the wine was rich in flavour, and the turnout was great.

Beep beep! Beep beep!

I no longer have my wings? And my horn… is the same as it was before I became a Princess. What’s going on?

Beep beep! Beep beep!

And what is that incessant beeping? I turn my head to find out… Oh. It’s my alarm clock… Oh.

Oooooh. It was a dream. Well, that’s depressing.

Beep beep! Beep beep!

Shut it, already.

Bee-

There, much better. Seriously, why did I even bother setting that thing? Today’s a Saturday, but I decided to have the day off today. I don’t have a performance later, so I can’t see why I would need to get up early.

… Unless I had something else planned. Did I have something else planned? Let’s see… Appletini? Something to do with Appletini and Azure? And Astral and Stitch and Mist…

“AH!” That’s it! I just remembered! The six of us are supposed to be meeting up at the park this morning for a picnic! Darn it! I’d better get ready! Let’s see… my cape is just thrown across the floor, and my hat is lying on its side on my nearby desk… Awww, my lava lamp must have fallen over at some point. Now it’s broken, and I’ve gotta buy a new one. That’s just lame.

Anyway, I’ve got my magical attire on, and I’ve got the tin of crystal chocolate chip cookies that I baked last night. Excellent! Park, here I come!

I quickly brush my teeth at my sink, and then make my way out of my trailer. I lock the door, and make my way towards the park.

“Good morning, Will-o-Wisp.”

“Good morning.” Some ponies still call me by that name… Well, guess I can’t really fault them for it. After all, there are ponies here whose names I can’t remember at all. At least they know me by some name.

“Good morning, Wi- Trixie!”

“Morning, Starlight, Sweet Heart.”

The weather team’s doing a good job today. Looks like we’ll have clear skies all day. Yay.

“Hey, Trixie!” Appletini calls out to me as I approach her in the park. She’s already laid out the blanket for everypony, but it seems that we are the first two here. “Good morning. You sleep well?”

“Well enough. That trailer is pretty snug, and plenty warm.”

“That’s good. Sorry we couldn’t make it any bigger, but-”

I shake my head. “It’s fine, Tini. Really.”

“So, what district you planning on visiting first?”

“Whatever you do,” a voice behind me says, “Steer clear of the 13th District. That’s Crimson’s district.”

I turn around, and find Azure approaching us, carrying a white box on his back. “I thought I could safely approach Crimson now.”

“You can.” Azure places the box down, and opens it up to reveal several canned drinks surrounded by ice. “Want one?” He offers me a drink, and I accept it. “Legally, there’s not a thing he can do, now that you’re a citizen here. Still, he’s not overly fond of Equestrians, and I don’t really want him chewing my ear out about it.”

“Well, can’t really fault him there.” I open the can of crystal orangeade, and take a sip. “But then, I’m no longer an Equestrian, now am I?”

“Now now, Trixie,” Appletini says, reaching over and taking a drink for herself, “If it wasn’t for Equestria, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now, or even know each other, for that matter.”

“… Tch. Whose side are you on?”

“Just laying all the facts down. In any case, don’t worry about Crimson. I’m sure he’ll warm up to you.”

“Right. Just, not any time soon.”

“Hey! You guys started without us!” I look to my side to find Astral running towards us, wearing the red costume that I gave him before. “Trixie, check it out! I got a D- in my latest Math test!”

… It’s amazing how he can say that with such a cheery face. “You realise that that’s less than what you got last time, right?”

His smile doesn’t falter. “Well, there was nothing on the line this time! And a D- is still a pass!”

“Meanwhile, I got a C+,” Mist says. Suddenly, Astral’s smile turns to a frown. So Mist is the only thing that can upset this kid, huh? “Looks like Trixie’s ‘number one pupil’, still has a long way to go, before she can compete against the Amazing Mist Veil.”

“And? How is your magic coming along?”

“… I’m thirsty.” She completely dodges my question, and reaches over towards the icebox. Honestly, this filly… I’d love to teach her some magic, really I would, but she’s just so stubborn. She won’t train under me as long as Astral is also my pupil.

Instead, she just watches from a distance, thinking that her illusions are keeping her hidden. From Astral, maybe, but definitely not from me.

Stitch is also here, now, meaning that the whole group is together. “Good morning, everypony. A fine day today, isn’t it?”

Appletini nods. “How’s work going?”

“Pretty well, actually. The quarantine around the Empire will be lifting soon, so I’m preparing many ‘exotic’ costumes for the swarms of Equestrians that are sure to flood into the Empire.”

I shudder at the thought of such a thing. I’m really not looking forward to this happening at all, but it’s not like I can do anything about it. “Well, don’t milk them of all their bits, or else they won’t be able to leave.”

Azure and Stitch both laugh. I’m being quite serious, here. “I’ll keep that in mind. And how about you, Appletini? I hear the Princess was quite pleased with your cooking, and had offered you a position in the Royal Kitchen.”

She did? “Ah, yeah, but… That would require me moving to the Palace, and… I don’t wanna do that. If it means not being able to hang out with you guys as often, it’s not worth it.”

“I see. And you, Trixie? You’re going to be leaving this district soon, aren’t you?”

“Only for two days,” I tell him. “I want to visit more of the Empire, now that the Royal Guard isn’t after me. I’m going to check out the neighbouring districts, and maybe put on a show or two.”

“Any chance of some souvenirs?” Astral asks.

I laugh and shake my head. “Sorry, but I’m not quite that loaded.”

“Well,” Stitch starts, “I hope you have a good time. There is much to see here in the Empire, and even more things to do.”

“Looking forward to it.” And I am. I truly am. But right now, just being here with my friends, is satisfying enough. And the thing I’m looking forward to most, isn’t touring the remaining fifty-one districts, or spreading my show to every corner of the Empire, or holding a special show during a Crystal Fair… It’s spending more days like this one. Just forgetting everything for one day, and simply hanging out, and having fun with all of my friends.

I’m sure they’ll come soon, but I just can’t wait for them. And when they get here, I don’t ever want them to end. But I know that they will, and that’s why, I’m going to make the most out of all of them.