Planning
“So, has anyone met this new pony?” Twilight Sparkle looked expectantly around at her group of friends. Each shook their head in turn, even Pinkie Pie; that was a bit of a shock.
Spike had been the one to tell Twilight that there was a new pony in Ponyville. Not just a new pony, but a new mare and her foal.
“Applejack, has Applebloom mentioned there being a new filly at school?” Twilight asked.
“Nope, but the Cute Mark Crusaders have been mighty busy tryin’ to do….somethin’” Applejack replied.
“Busy indeed,” Rarity chimed in. “Sweetie Bell, hasn’t been home in time for dinner in days.” She looked at Applejack accusingly.
“Hey now, t’aint my fault their clubhouse is at Sweet Apple Acres. I’ll do better ‘bout sending Sweetie home for dinner though. Sorry, Rarity.”
“It’s quite alright, darling. Thank you for keeping an eye on her when she’s there.”
“Course.”
“Another friendship crisis averted,” Twilight said. “Now, back to the matter at hand.”
“I’m so sorry Twilight,” Pinkie blurted out. “I’m so sorry everypony. I’m supposed to be in charge of throwing the welcome parties, and there’s a new pony, there’s two new ponies, that I didn’t even know about . So, I haven’t thrown them a party, so they probably think nopony likes them, so they’ll probably leave Ponyville before we even get to be friends, and it’s all my fault!”
“Pinkie,” Twilight said. “I don’t think they’re going to leave just because they didn’t get a welcome party on their very first day in Ponyville. Once we’ve all been properly introduced, you can throw them a party. I’m sure it will be amazing.”
“Should we all go over to say hi?” Fluttershy asked. She sounded worried.
“Do you think that would be too overwhelming?” Twilight replied to the entire group. Flutter shy disappeared into her mane, of course she would find meeting 6 new ponies all at once intimidating. Twilight looked to the others. Rarity was pondering the idea,
“Personally, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. However, she does have a foal with her, and we don’t know the circumstances there. She may prefer not to explain the details to everypony.”
“Not to mention that we are all kinda famous now,” interjected Applejack. “Havin’ our whole group show up at her house may feel less like the welcome wagon and more like a parade through her living room.”
“A parade?!?!?!?” Pinkie bubbled.
“Not in a good way, Pinkie” AJ said, curbing Pinkie’s enthusiasm.
“Alright,” said Twilight. “I do think a few of us should go over their though. From what Spike said, nopony has said anything to them yet.”
“That’s weird,” Rainbow Dash chimed in. “Ponyville is friendliest town around. How’d they manage to avoid having anypony say hi? Maybe they’re avoiding everypony on purpose.”
“Maybe they just wanted to get settled in somewhere before meeting everypony,” Fluttershy said.
Twilight took a moment to consider this. “I still think two or three of us should go say hello. As the Princess of Friendship, I definitely feel like I should go.”
“Me too! As the Party Pony of Friendship!” said Pinkie.
“Pinkie, darling” Rarity said gently. “If we’re concerned that they are attempting to avoid drawing attention themselves…”
“Then perhaps it would be best for them to hold off meeting such a super party pony until their super pony party,” said Rainbow Dash.
“They’re super ponies? Planning this party just got more AWESOME!!!!” Pinkie said, and then bounced out of the castle.
“So, she’s not goin’, right?” Applejacked asked. All the ponies shared a brief giggle.
“Fluttershy, Rarity why don’t the two of you come with me?” Twilight said. Rarity’s generosity and willingness to be indulgent with other ponies special circumstances might prove helpful. She could put any pony at ease. Fluttershy, on the other hand, would be a quiet signal that the whole endeavor was non-threatening. Plus, she was great with little ponies.
“Of course, darling,” Rarity said, obviously pleased with having been chosen.
“Are you sure you want me?” Fluttershy asked from behind her mane.
“Yes, of course,” Twilight replied.
“Oh. Ok.”
“Applejack, Rainbow Dash you can plan on either meeting the pony at the party, or as an intermediate meeting between our first welcome and the party if it proves necessary.”
“Sounds alright to me,” said AJ.
“Aye, Aye Princess of Friendship.” Rainbow Dash gave a quick salute before flying off.
“How’s ‘bout y’all stop by Sweet Apple Acres before headin’ over there. I’ll get some apples and cider put together for ya to take.” Applejack suggested kindly.
“What a lovely idea, Applejack,” said Rarity. “I have a lovely basket at the boutique that would suit just nicely. Girls, I’ll take care of getting the welcome basket together then meet you back here.”
Applejack and Rarity left the castle together chatting.
“Umm, Twilight?” Fluttershy said so quietly that Twilight didn’t hear her at first. So, Fluttershy cleared her throat and tried again, only a little louder. “Twilight?”
“Oh, sorry. I was thinking about something,” Twilight said shaking her head. “What were you asking me Fluttershy?”
“Well….ummm….” Fluttershy hesitated. Then she asked, “Do we know this new pony’s name? Or her foals name? Or where she even lives?”
Twilight quite nearly smacked her face with her own hoof. How had they forgotten to discuss such basic details? She’d been so busy drafting an official “Welcome to Ponyville from the Princess of Frienship” speech that she’d totally forgotten the basics.
“No,” she said to Fluttershy. “We don’t know any of that.”
“Oh, well then perhaps we should go find out while Rarity is getting the basket,” Fluttershy suggested.
“Good idea.”
Twilight let Spike know they were leaving and that they would be back soon, then the two ponies set out toward the market hoping that somepony would have some information on the new comer.