Boss_Hoss1

The twins smiled and sat down with the Duke "Thank you Polaris, this has been a busy day for us indeed." Shanna nodded "Yes, thank you Polaris. I am the one who did the Cloud Dive for the family since I have practiced. I just hope my score isnt' as dismal as I fear after Rainbow Dash's effort. She did a Sonic Rainboom into the lake..." Hoss noodded "So she did, but you still managed to make a cloud shoot rainbow lightning so you definitely wont be last." The twins turned to Duke Polaris at his offer "We would be honored to join you, Polaris." "Yes, and we will certainly bring our appetites later. There are more events to compete in." Hoss and Shanna soon noticed a pony with a thick Stalliongrad accent hug Gilda in welcome. Hoss chuckled "I wonder what she will think of that?" Just then, a unicorn in sunglasses that had entered the tent challenged Gilda to a friendly bout. Shanna ohhhed "Sweet Luna, I wonder what she is going to think of that!"

Ooops, my bad as well. Sorry I was delayed in making corrections, my net was down until a few minutes ago from last nights storm.

Amber edged closer to the Doctor, hoping to help him get back to the TARDIS. She also tried not to let on to Zilena that the Earth pony he faced was a force to be reckoned with "I hope you've got something planned, Doctor."

Since she knew where she was going, Candy Catch-em landed at the staging area at the air ship docks first, with Dunder close behind. Belatedly she remembered she had forgotten to introduce herself and turned to Willow Wing and Wild Gambit. "Oh by the way, I am the Candy Catch-em named in the poster, and I welcome you all to the Orca." Before she could fill them in on the details, another pony, a Unicorn at that, approached while many of the other ponies who had arrived earlier were now gone or flying away, while the Unicorn captain was busy rallying his small crew. She turned to this stallion with a raised eyebrow "I am Candy Catch-em, Critter Wrangler and the go-to mare for the Royal Canterlot Zoological Society when they need help. How may I help you?"

The Bay colored pegasi twins, bounced happily on their hooves at the generous offer of free apple cinnamon bread for being the second customers. They chorused "Thank you, Miss Pink Lady!" and gratefully took the bread. Hoss and Shanna ambled over to join Duke Polaris. "Good day, your Grace. Might we join you?" Hoss smiled "I am afraid we may not look our best, we have been participating in the events here and there." The twins cheered when Pink Lady tossed the price sign and said everything was free. "May we donate some bits for more lemonade?" "I think you will need to be resupplied soon as good as this is." Shanna looked over to Gilda and raised her glass in salute "I'll cheer if you win with the same good sportsmanship you showed at the Tug-of-War. Way to go, Gilda!"

The Skybright Twins decided that only one of the pegasi would try this event, and that would be Sky, or "Hoss". Shanna would be doing the dive event at the lake instead since she was the lighter of the pair. Both were suitably impressed and amazed at the elderly and very sturdy pony and Shanna had gasped when two young fillies each had tottered around under the load. Finally Hoss took his turn to prepare for the race, and grunted when his wings were tied down like Rainbow Dash's had been last year. Before he could ask why it had to be so tight, he saw the pack slip on one contestant who had also complained and asked for a lighter knot. With a sigh, he bore the tight ropes and slid under a pack of potatos, letting them be tied on as well. Finally, he wobbled to the starting line and the starting whistle blew. The bay stallion set off at a steady pace, having seen what happened to the ones who tried to sprint the first half of the race. He hoped his long distance flying would give him a leg up on this race since endurance seemed to count more than actual speed, since by the end everyone was nearly crawling. Hoss groaned as his leg muscles were burning by the time he trotted around the flag. "Come on... *pant* little fillies were doing this... *Pant* Dont' let little fillies out-do you..." He gritted his teeth as he pounded his hooves to the ground, slower and slower. Each step was growing agony. The finish line was getting nearer, his eyes burned with sweat running into them while his legs burned from the strain. he had not even realized he had crossed the line untill the whistle blew. After he stumbled to a stop, Hoss looked behind him to see he had gone several body lengths past the line. With a grateful sigh, the stallion slowly let his shaking legs slide apart in a controlled fall to his belly to rest while ponies came up to untie the pack and his wings. Even after he was untied, he lay there for a while until he felt up to standing again. "Who knew potatos could be so heavy..."

The Skybright twins wandered through the Open Air Ring between events to cool off and hopefully catch up with friends and watch the bearers of the Elements of Harmony play in some of the events. Hoss especially wanted to catch up with Jubilee, while Shanna hoped to catch the eye of a likely stallion. One sign suddenly got their attention. "Free" "Lemonade!" Already tired and thirsty, the twins made a beeline right to the tent, filled with the smells of delicious foods. "Hello, we would each like a glass please." "And we'll stay for some of that apple cinnamon bread I smell..."

Shanna watched as well when Gilda was dunked. She clopped the ground in applause as the griffon actually reacted with style to the fall into the mud. She figured a little positive reinforcement would help her sportsmanship "Great work, Gilda!" Her brother was soon locked in battle with the rope and soon dragged in. At least he lasted longer than she thought he would. She trotted up and took her place at the starting line. The burly puller laughed "Whats this? Are we seeing double? Oh wait, the other one is covered in mud so they dont' match anymore. Lets make them a matching set again!" Shanna snorted "I might surprise you! Lets go!" With that, the Bay Pegasus mare grabbed the rope and started pulling. The tug back was sudden and nearly threw her off her hooves. Frantically she scrambled and pushed with her hooves, but she was not quite as strong as Hoss and soon went over the edge with a splat. The unicorn of the trio chuckled "Well that was a good effort, Miss. Wash tubs are over there..." Shanna quickly found her brother with the other contestants and joined him in a tub beside his. "I didnt' do so well..." Hoss chuckled and reached over to scruffle her matted mane "You did well enough, sis." She smiled "Then that will do. Thanks Hoss."

..............................................................................................................................................................................................*This post submitted for judging* The Skybright twins were really excited about their first Iron Pony competition, not the least was that they could even compete against each other in some events, so they were both quick to wave their hooves in the air when the challenge went out to the crowd. Star, or "Hoss" to everypony, puffed his chest out and strutted ahead of his sister in line. Being a stallion, he was naturally a bit bigger than his sister and was sure he would do well at the tug of war compared to his sister, Shanna. He especially hoped to impress his special somepony, Jubilee Flyer who he was sure would be watching. Which events would she join in on? The Bay colored Pegasus trotted up to the line after the notorious Gilda Griffon had been pulled in and dragged herself out of the muck with surprising calm. One of the three across the pit called out to him "At least the mud will be less noticeable on you with that hide color." Hoss snorted "We'll see, you three have to wear out sometime..." With that, he picked up the rope in his teeth and dug in his hooves. The first yank nearly pulled him in. While pound for pound, long distance flyers like himself were as strong or stronger that the average plow pony, they were far, far lighter. Hoss frantically scrambled and pushed back with all four legs, striving with all his will to keep his wings clapped tight to his back. The edge came closer and closer, maybe if he.... Suddenly he took a step forward to put them off balance, then jumped backward to tug them forward a step. While he took the three pullers by surprise, they were not going to be defeated that easily. They waited and watched as they steadily pulled him forward again. Hoss frantically tried the same trick again and they yanked hard right when he jumped again. The stallion yelped when he was jerked out of mid air and over the edge, falling right into the mud. Above him, the unicorn in the trio barked a laugh and pointed with his hoof "Good try, tricky pony. There is washtubs that way. Set up for this event." Hoss pulled himself out of the mud, his wings dragging behind him as he wiped the gunk out of his eyes with a hoof "Um, thanks!" As Hoss dragged himself to a tub, he hoped his sister would do well too...

Hoss felt his ears twitch and point toward where the rock he had kicked had landed, a voice called out from near that bush. "Man that felt wierd, but cool...." The bay unicorn stallion snorted and smirked as he was volenteered to look. "I would rather search by long stick, poking it ahead of me." Fortunately Silver Swirl suggested they all go look. "Yes, that sounds much better." Hoss moved off to the right, angling in to flank the mysterious bushes "Excuse me, are you a local, or.. did you have a bad night too?" In a tall tree overlooking the scene, a raven perched and kept a wary eye on these strange ponies...

(OOC: Since Ciraxis wants Swift Squall to meet Candy face to face before he continues, I'll go ahead and post to get everypony moving to the staging area where the yacht is docked.) Candy smiled as she untangled herself from Dunder, but stayed close to him. She liked how enthusiastic he greeted her, to say the least. The mare straightened out her bush hat on her head and smiled at the other stallion "Good morning, Wilow Wing. Thanks for the offer, and I accept. This will need plenty of hooves to accomplish." She turned back to Dudner when he volenteered as well and gave him a nuzzle "Aw that's so sweet. Thank for volenteering, Dunder." Just then a brown pegasus arrived as if drawn by a magnet and even bowed to her "Welcome, Wild Gambit. If you dont' mind it being a standard day's wage, you are in." She rubbed her hooves together at finding three ponies willing to help so quickly. "Unless anypony needs to finish something right now, I think we had better head off to the staging area. If you get lost along the way, look for the yacht with a lift bag made to look like a killer whale. It's name is the Orca." With that, she flapped her wings and lifted off. She tapped Dunder on the shoulder with a hoof. "Tag! You are it!" and zipped ahead with a giggle, heading to the staging area.

Candy, the pegasus mare eagerly joined Dunder in trying a square dance. She listened to the dance calls and did her best to follow them, and so was Dunder. After a few near misses of her own in the dance, she was finally getting into the swing of it by the time the first set was over. Dunder looked nervous as they got back together after the dance, so the mare smiled to put him at ease "That was fun! We were all over the place werent' we? At least we werent the only ponies out of practice like that." She widened an eye meanicingly, then closed it with a smirk "At least I didnt have to give you...the STARE... to calm you down."

Madam Bistro smiled as she watched the effect her words were having on the unicorn stallion. That put an extra bounce in her trot seeing that she could do that to a famous pony. It also looked cute on him too. She heard the sudden flood of words from him and gave a bow "It was my pleasure to help out, Maximilian. I am glad things are working out between you and Braeburn now, and I really hope the same can be said between him and Miss Snowfall." She sidled up alongside the elegant unicorn, setting the pace toward the famous apple tree. "Oh my, this is a really pleasent orchard to trot through with good company, dont you think?"

The twins nodded 'He is still going strong, and very, very loud." "We are considering checking with a Zebra herbalist near the Everfree to see if she has anything to ease his fears." "Yes, so he will stay calm and quiet when we fly him around." Lightning Horn bellowed in excitement and continued "That was amazing! Yes, Thank you all! My father, the herd shaman will hear of how well the ponies have treated me this day and that I got to be up in the sky where the lightning comes from." The twins bowed "We were glad to do our part, Lightning Horn." Meanwhile, the smooth-lipped half of the tall, cream colored World Famous Flim Flam Brothers, Flim suddenly stood in thought for a moment. "...Unless it rains..." He shook his head "No, It sounds far quicker to build telescopes than for you to possibly rig a weather machine in the time we have until sunset. We also have pegasi present to undo any weather we make, drat it..." Flim levitated lengths of copper and brass tubes from their repair stock and passed them over to Flam, then sent green beams of magic into glass they could spare, to melt them enough for Flam to do the final shaping to match the spare lenses for their telescope. "Ready Flam? Then lets Bing Bang Zam!"

Thorn found Applejack leaning forward to kiss him almost before he knew it, giving him a graceful, apple scented kiss. He blushed and grinned, noting in passing she also blushed. She quickly got his attention again for the name and address. "Oh! Its Thorn Donkey, C/O Bistros Bed and Breakfast, Appleoosa." Thorn was pretty jazzed from the kiss, barely feeling the three bushels as she set them on his back, and waved goodbye with a long ear. "I..I will, thank you Miss Applejack..." He trotted lightly on his hooves, heading to Double M's cart for his shoeing... (aaaaand, Exit Thorn Donkey...)

(OOC: sorry delays, had to think out my response. the latest post s a great leg up in that.) The twins chuckled at the comment by Masala about getting revenge on the spot, especially since Shanna was given to doing pranks on their superior at the Canterlot Observatory. They then looked at each other as Masala made the joking comment about coming up with something awesome or heart stopping. They both heard a tone that apparently meant she was joking and chuckled together. "Sure thing. As long as we get a full refund if we die..." they chorus teasingly. After a moment, the energetic Earth pony ducks into the back room, leaving the customers alone with each other. The twins turn their attention to Duke Polaris as he spoke to them about Princess Luna. They eagerly listened as he spoke of how reclusive she has been, then Shanna nodded "I remember that mare! She was so fortunate to meet her, then. I wish her better luck with other Canterlot citizens..." Hoss sighed sheepishly "We have not written to her. We thought she would be soon out meeting her subjects and hoped to attend those events." Shanna sighed "Yes, but its happened sporadically and spur of the moment, like Nightmare Night at Ponyville. We should correct our oversight immediately!" Hoss whnnied happily "Thank you for the advise, Duke Polaris! Our letters will be in the mail before we hit the hay." Just then, Masala returned from the back rooms, letting a great swirl of interesting smells in with her. The twins perked their ears as she pointed out trays of treats. "Thank you Miss Chai!" "Yes, this will do nicely!" Hoss smiled and motioned for Jubilee to take first choice on the treats. "Go right ahead, hon."

Amber saw the guards, Spike And Rainbow Dash enter the Tardis safely, and the Doctor coming to help her. She gave ground to Zilean's attacks to keep his attention on her, giving a frightened squeal to lead him on. She waived her wand and shield trying to stop the rain of blows coming at her. "If Discord turns you all one color -or plaid *pant*, I'm going to laugh, if I still can... *Huff*

Thorn nodded and gave a soft bray as he thought it over for a moment. "That sounds very fine, Miss Applejack. I live in Appleoosa working for Madam Bistro's B&B, where Miss Granny Smith over there stays when she is visiting your relatives. I'll leave my address with a note to send word several days before that crop is ready." His ear lopped aside again "If I cannot make the trip from Appleoosa at that time to visit my parents again, I'll send Bits for mailing the apples to Canterlot. Will that be acceptable?" The donkey leaned forward a little in eagerness to hear her reply...

The russet jack looked at the bushel eagerly as Applejack presented it. Those were certainly the right features he needed in apples! He was about to remind her he had asked for two bushels when she stumbled a bit in speaking to him. Thorn blinked in surprise for a moment at Applejack's panicked correction, then chuckled. "It is all right Miss Applejack, I understand. You are not the first to be tongue-tied by Modern Equestrian around me." He dipped his head to fish out Bits from his saddlebag. "Here is 10 Bits, I would like two bushels of Coltland apples if they are available, please."

Madam Caramel Bistro nodded to High Roller "You are quite welcome. Oh my, yes, I would love to see those others on the train." Her attention was caught by the sudden wooshing of Yuki as he moved all the nautical items the high strung sounding young mare had selected. Bistro watched in surprise as the pile grew upward as well as outward. She hoped nothing would fall and be damaged and held her breath until the task was done. She giggled and applauded a bit when the mare faked preparing for a kiss, then brought out 5 Bits like a magic trick instead. Bistro turned back to the Princess "Hopefully the trip to the station will be more sedate, Princess Cadence."

Thorn flopped an ear to the side curiously as the great heroine seemed to be flustered and even a little surprised at encountering a donkey. He smiled as she rambled her question about apple choice, apparently trying not to sound like she was describing apples and oranges, or ponies and donkeys for that matter. Her nervousness helped ease his own as he cleared his throat while he thought "Well, Miss Applejack, I am on my way to visit my parents in Canterlot. They work in one of the great kitchens there. When she is making treats on her own time, Mother loves to make pies, fritters, tarts and the like, as well as eat the apples as they are. Does that help narrow things down any?" Thorn leaned to the side a bit and relaxed into a casual pose, hoping to help the heroine realx as well "I..i will accept any kiss you feel comfortable with bestowing on me, Miss."

(OOC oops, forgot to check if this updated. might as well give it a bump...) Candy looked at Pony Joe looking sad and embarrased. She understood since she was feeling much the same way. Here she was, a tamer of wild beasts, stymied by a little foal. The pegasus looked back over her shoulder at her stuck-together wings "Dont feel bad Pony Joe, Apparently foal watching is not a knack one gets untill they have one of their own." She giggled "It will be a relief now to spend the day with that Manticore. No offense, Mr. Cake." Candy beeps Pumpkin Cake on the nose. "Silly filly..."

Snails watched as Ruby Pinch, Reno and Haywire formed a bunny care squad when Cheerilee teamed them up. He half expected them to give a Cutie Mark Crusaders type cheer. Maybe that comes later?... Then Cheerilee teamed Reno up with him and his best bud Snips. The red pegasus trotted up, still looking a little punchy and asked what they were doing now. The orangy foal scratched his chin for a moment in thought "Umm ya just helped out a bit on feedin' th' chicks, eh. Now We're gonna help make apple juice. That is going ta be so cool! ...I like apple Juice..."

Candy Catch-em turned with a smile to the new voice "Why yes. In fact it was myself. I was checking up on the poster while I was out here on.. last minute business." as she flexed her still-damp wings. "If you are interested, Im afraid I can only offer a standard day's wage, unless you wish to volenteer." Before she could continue the pitch, she heard a familiar voice that made her ears perk upright a moment before she was tackled. Her mane came free of her bush hat as a stallion nuzzled her. She giggled and gave him a wing hung "Dunder! So good to see you here! I just got through getting sticky gunk out of my wings at the spa and was checking up on this poster I put up..." She pointed a wingtip at the ad hanging on the wall. "I'm preparing to take a Manticore back to the wild in the Everfree today. As I was telling this nice colt; I'm paying standard days wage or taking volenteers. Either will get free food and a trip in a sky yacht." She looked to Willow Wing "I'm sorry, I didnt' get your name?" At the other end of the city where the applicants were to meet, the unicorn captain of the yacht, waited nervously for Candy since she was the only one who could control the beast if it woke up. Several ponies were already there, some curious and wanting to see the loading, some bored, and several eager ponies waiting to join up.

(OOC: I was hoping Inkwell would answer by now, but I will go ahead and post after being asked) Madam Bistro smiled and nodded, noticing she is feeling thirsty after that workout. "Why thank you Braeburn, I would be delighted." She trotted on over with the energetic stallion and took a cup of punch. "Well, I have been meeting a lot of unusual ponies since I have been here. Those twin pegasi here to see a comet, those twin unicorn stallions out to con everypony in town with their fancy machine wagon, that huge bandit, Dusty, And even Mr. Rockefilly there. These are a greater variety of ponies than I've seen in a year back in Manehattan. This is the most amazing place for such a new town." She smiled at Braeburn. "Thank you for asking me to the hoedown, Braeburn." Across the crowd, Candy Catch-em smiled at Dunder "Thank you, kind sir Yes, lets dance and give us both some practice at this kind of dancing."