Four Cupcakes; video

[sailorlaughter]

Guys! GuysguysguysguysGUYS!

[The camera swings up to what is clearly the orchard just outside of Ponyville, just in time to catch a treeful of teal blossoms turning into tiny gray apples.]

LOOK at THIS! Do you guys know what this MEANS?

It's ZAPAPPLE SEASON!!! I'm TOTALLY gonna make zapapple jam all by myself, JUST so you can all see how good it tastes! I think I know most of the rules and signs and stuff - Rarity, do you know any of them? Or Princesses? Oh, and if anyone else wants to help me make jam, just show up after the giant storm with a bunny suit and anything pink polka-dotted!

Comments

[letteropener]

You've seen how my visits to Ponyville go. I don't think it would be nearly as comfortable or as fun for anypony as you might imagine, with guards all about and everypony on their best behavior.

[sailorlaughter]

You could leave the guards! And dye your mane or something! [Headtilt] I bet you'd look nice in green!

[letteropener]

I do wish it were that simple. But, especially given recent events, other ponies do get upset when the Princess mysteriously disappears.

[sailorlaughter]

Too bad you and Luna aren't twins. You could do like in all the movies! With the switching twins!

[letteropener]

Luna hasn't angered me nearly enough that I'd force my duties on her just for a sleepover. [Not like Celestia views her job as onerous or anything, y'know!]

[sailorlaughter]

I don't think you can dye magic star manes, either...AND it wouldn't be as fun if both of you didn't come. You could just take an afternoon off or something!

[letteropener]

[Ah, Pinkie. So delightfully incapable of seeing everything that could go wrong with a party. It's as charming as it is frustrating.]

And your friends wouldn't feel at all awkward or concerned about the presence of the rulers of Equestria?

[sailorlaughter]

They weren't when Princess Luna came over for Nightmare Night!

...welllllll. Maybe for a little bit. But then it got better and we all played spiders!

[letteropener]

And everypony was so relaxed and at ease when I visited with Philomeena that one time, as well. I think your friend Applejack was about to faint from hunger at one point...

[sailorlaughter]

Aw, you just gotta give 'em a little time. They totally DO like you!

[letteropener]

I should hope they do. [Though it is less because she is a likable pony, and more because she is a good and kind princess. As opposed to her sister, who she quietly envies...] Though I'm not sure time is the only solution. After all, Twilight Sparkle spent years as my student, and yet she still misunderstands me and fears what I represent in many ways.

[sailorlaughter]

She talks about you all the time, y'know.

Anyway, Twilight freaks out about pretty much everything. Like, the first time she had to miss one of my parties, she was totally scared I'd hate her for it! I was like, pfffft! Don't be a silly filly, nopony can go to EVERY single party! I mean, except me! And I think it turned out she was studying for some thing, or maybe sciencing, I don't really know, but YOU know! Twilight stuff!

[letteropener]

She has always been a little bit high-strung, it's true. [Celestia regrets that, even blames herself just a bit for it, but there was no way to take Twilight under her wing without putting on her the immense pressure that came with being personal student of Equestria's ruler. And it's only going to get worse...] But you have never really had somepony you look up to, as a teacher, or a -- a superior, in that respect, have you?

[sailorlaughter]

I guess not. I just babysit the twins.

[letteropener]

Then it is hard for you to imagine what it must be like to fear letting down that somepony whose approval and acceptance you want most.

[sailorlaughter]

I guess. But Twilight does all of that already! And neither of you are ever gonna be very happy if all you ever do is worry about letting each other down.

[Pinkie's just sorta confused. She never knew the Princess thought about things like that. She always seemed to enjoy her visits and have fun and stuff!]

[letteropener]

Oh, I don't intend to use myself as an example. I think, in my time, I have served Equestria very well indeed. I only wanted you to see that what is very simple to you can be very hard for her.

[Oh, Pinkie. Don't you think a thousand years is very good practice for a social smile? Celestia's real enjoyment and happiness don't come in those formal visits, but in the stolen casual moments like the donut shop after the Gala.]

[Actually... Celestia smiles, and it's mischievous.] Maybe what I ought to do is arrange a visit, then sneak off for the evening.

[sailorlaughter]

[Oh, Celestia. Do you think Pinkie understands the concept of a social smile? She always means it when she smiles - why wouldn't other people?]

Oooooh! You should TOTALLY do that! I'll cover for you, I'm great at covering!

[letteropener]

But if you were covering, how could you come to the party?

[sailorlaughter]

Gummy can cover for me!

[letteropener]

Then it seems you have everything thought out. We'll have to try it.

[At the worst, her plan fails and Pinkie learns something from the experience, at only the cost of an unpleasant night for Celestia herself... and 'unpleasant' is really too heavy a word, when you compare the night to the past thousand years raising a moon alone. Why not?]