Ponyville Days

Ponyville Days is the eleventh story arc of IDW Publishing's, spanning issues #30 and #31. In the story, an argument over the founding of Ponyville splits the town into two disputing factions.

Issue #30
Ponyville is about to hold its annual Ponyville Days festival, commemorating the town's founding. However, Twilight Sparkle—the pony of ceremonies—has royal duties in Canterlot. Before she and Spike board the train, she ensures her friends that Mayor Mare will take care of the festival planning.

In front of town hall, the mayor announces Twilight's selected theme for Ponyville Days: "Moving Forward, Looking Back Together"—honoring the town's first building with a plaque. As part of this recognition, the youngest member of Ponyville's first family will be named festival princess. Applejack believes this honor belongs to Apple Bloom since the Apple family founded the town, but Filthy Rich believes the honor should go to Diamond Tiara because the town was built around Stinkin' Rich's first store.

An argument soon breaks out, and the town is divided as ponies start taking sides. Applejack leads the side that supports the Apple family, and the other side is led by Rarity, whose boutique was built on top of Stinkin' Rich's store and would become a prime spot for tourism. Rainbow Dash sides with Rarity, Pinkie Pie sides with the Apples, and Fluttershy remains neutral. With the mayor unable to satisfy either side, the two factions prepare for all-out war.

The next day, Granny Smith bakes dozens of pies to use as "ammo," and Applejack considers having Sweet Apple Acres secede from Ponyville. Apple Bloom meets with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, confiding in them that she doesn't care anymore about being princess and just wants the fighting to stop. Her friends encourage her to talk to Applejack about it, but by the time she returns to town, hostilities escalate. Rarity's side forces the other into founding period clothing, and Applejack's side retaliates by flinging pies.

Apple Bloom rushes to the train station just as Twilight returns and pleads for help. Using her magic, Twilight gets everyone to stop fighting. She tells them how Ponyville was founded on the belief that everyone is more than friends or neighbors—that they're family—but no one listens. The ponies leave to go about their own business, and it appears that Ponyville Days is cancelled.

As Twilight, Spike, Fluttershy, Apple Bloom, and Mayor Mare wonder what they're going to do, a letter from Princess Celestia arrives, stating that ponies from all over Equestria are on their way to Ponyville to join in the festival.

Quotes

 * Pinkie Pie: Soooooo what's the theme? Can you tell us?
 * Twilight Sparkle: No, Pinkie.
 * Pinkie Pie: Just a hint?
 * Twilight Sparkle: No.
 * Pinkie Pie: Not even the teeniest, tiniest, itty, bitty, baby hint?
 * Twilight Sparkle: No!


 * Diamond Tiara: Where do you think you're going, blank flank?
 * Apple Bloom: Why, I'm going up on stage to be crowned Ponyville Days princess. What are you doing?
 * Diamond Tiara: What do you think?
 * Apple Bloom: But the first structure in Ponyville was at Sweet Apple Acres.
 * Diamond Tiara: They said the first building in Ponyville, not Hicksville! This town was built around the shop my great-grand pony Stinkin' Rich built. So I should be the Ponyville Days princess!


 * Apple Family Supporters: The plaque should be at Sweet Apple Acres!
 * Stinkin' Rich Supporters: We should honor Stinkin' Rich!


 * Fluttershy: Well, I—um. I'm going to go home until this is all worked out.
 * Pinkie Pie: Does not siding with you mean I won't get first crack at the zap apple pies?
 * Applejack: Yes!
 * Pinkie Pie: Then Sweet Apple Acres homestead it is!


 * Applejack: Half the town does not appreciate the contributions the Apples have have [sic] made to this here town—which is why I am now proposin' that Sweet Apples [sic] Acres and the adjacent half of Ponyville secede!


 * Applejack: Granny—let them eat pie!


 * Rarity: OK, unicorns! Time for flying fabric!


 * Twilight Sparkle: I was gone for one day! All this is happening because of a commemorative plaque? I just spent the last day in Canterlot bragging about how Ponyville is special. How we all look out for each other. How we're more than just friends or neighbors. That we're family.
 * Applejack: What a bunch of nonsense!
 * Twilight Sparkle: Excuse me?
 * Applejack: The last day has shown me who my real friends and family are and half this town is not included!


 * Diamond Tiara: I don't want to be a stupid princess anyway.


 * Fluttershy: Oh, dear. It looks like the crowds are already on their way! What are we going to do?
 * Twilight Sparkle: Well, we can—or I can—I don't know what we're going to do!