Page 656 – The Blue Standard

The second panel’s dialogue has its roots in a creator in-joke I might as well explain…

When I grab screencaps, I use a file-naming scheme that involves an abbreviated subject, a one-word description, and a number. For most of the mane six, this is pretty simple (TS, AJ, RD, PP, FS)… but from pretty much the beginning, I’ve always written the full “Rarity” whenever I grab a screencap of her.

As though she’d find the abbreviation tacky and thus would not stand for it.

Twilight Sparkle: You mean there’s an in-game reason Applejack is gone? Is it important?

DM: Well, yes and no…

Pinkie Pie: C’mon, tell us! Is AJ having a secret side adventure like RT was??

Rarity: “RT“…?

DM:

<sigh> Alright. Applejack left Ponyville to enter the Equestria Rodeo Competition, in order to earn enough fame for a Gala ticket without taking up any more of your time.<br/>
Rainbow Dash: Nice! And since she wasn’t going up against me, that means she cleaned house, right? Got a bunch of gold medals?<br/>
DM: They’re blue ribbons. But you can’t find out yet. Applejack hasn’t returned.<br/>
Fluttershy: Is the rodeo still ongoing?<br/>
DM: Um… You don’t know.<br/>
Pinkie Pie: I roll History to see if I know anything about this rodeo! Like how long it’s supposed to take!<br/>
DM: …Fine, you can make ONE knowledge check, but then we’re going back to the rainwater hurricane.