Applejack put down the last of the crates and paused to take a few breaths. It was still early, but the huge plaza bustled with folks who were setting up stalls of their own. There were some locals, but a lot of Equestrians, too, and Applejack even spotted a group of Saddle-Arabians. Grand festivals attract ponies from all around, she thought, and the 25th anniversary of the unity of Germaneigh surely would be grand.

Her gaze locked onto the archway at the edge of the plaza that loomed over the whole scene. It seemed ancient, and monumental in a way that made even the castle in Canterlot look cute in comparison. On top of it were four brass stallions, one of them holding a battle standard with two eagle wings. Applejack made a mental note to ask Twilight what it meant.

“That’s because Germaneigh was part of the Griffon Empire a looong, long time ago,” a voice chirped from behind her.

Applejack jumped, and whirled around to a grinning Pinkie Pie. “Wha… how… how did you know?”

“Know what?” Pinkie asked, blinking.

“About… the standard.”

“Oh, Twilight told me.”

“But… oh, never mind,” Applejack said, shaking her head. She turned back to her crates.

“Need a helping hoof setting up?” Pinkie asked. Applejack turned back to the mare who’d started bouncing on the spot, a big grin on her face.

“Already finished with your stand?”

Pinkie nodded.

“Alright then, I actually could. Back before Germaneigh reunited, this city and country were divided in two, with a wall and all. So they couldn’t go from one side to the other, right?”

Pinkie nodded again.

“So, this festival, it’s about freedom, right?”

Pinkie stopped bouncing.

“So I thought I’d give them folks the freedom of choice. I brought a whole range of apple goods, and even brought along some orange and peach things from me aunts and uncles.”

Pinkie cocked her head to one side, her brow furrowed. “Well, Twilight said it was also about unity.”

One of Applejack’s eyebrows went up. “So?”

“Never mind,” Pinkie chirped, regained her grin, and went to help Applejack unpack.

---

With the stall all set up, there were a exactly twenty-five different items on display at Applejack’s stand. She’d listed them all on a blackboard, so everypony could see at a glance what she had to offer. She beamed at the first would-be customers: an elderly couple. However, after having a quick look, they left again.

One cheerful mare bought ‘one of everything’, but the phenomenon of leaving customers repeated itself. A lot of ponies stopped and stared at the blackboard. Some left after a short glance. Some stood there for a long time; They’d bite their lip and ponder. Applejack could’ve sworn one stallion even broke a sweat and started shaking. None of them seemed happy at the large variety she was offering.

At noon, Applejack was frustrated. She closed the stand for lunch break and decided to go and look for Pinkie Pie. When she got to the area Pinkie was supposed to be though, she found the place packed with ponies, apparently waiting in a long line that blocked sight of the Pinkie’s stand.

Then, a shrill voice cut through the murmur: “We’re sold out!”

A collective sigh of disappointment rose from the crowd, and in unison, they broke out into a trot, their backs straight but their heads held low. When they’d gone, Applejack saw Pinkie’s stand. It didn’t have a blackboard; all it had was a large sign on top of it that read:

Ice cream: any flavour you want, as long as it’s chocolate!

Applejack went up to Pinkie: “You’re sold out?!”

Pinkie, grinned, nodded, and started bouncing.

“But… you’re selling ice cream… in October!”

One of Pinkie’s eyebrows went up. “So?”

Applejack shook her head. “Never mind. Why are you selling chocolate only, though? You usually invent new flavours by the minute!”

Pinkie got out from behind her stall. “I told you I talked to Twilight, right? About unity, and freedom, and all that.”

Applejack shook her head.“I don't follow.”

Pinkie dropped her grin and the bouncing, and got closer to Applejack. “It still makes my head hurt a bit. My head doesn’t like it, but I think it’s true. Twilight said so. Freedom means you can choose what you want, but you can’t choose what you want.”

“Huh?” Applejack remarked.

Pinkie took another step towards her, and whispered in her ear: “Everypony wants chocolate.”