Luna Won't You Cry For Me

It had been a few days, or nights as Blue Star was counting them, since Twilight and Spike had returned to Ponyville. He was aware that Princess Celestia had told the younger alicorn to tell her friends about him and help him adjust. Suffice is to say, Blue was skeptical at first, until it was explained that these friends were the former bearers of the Elements of Harmony.

And it just so happened that right now, he was casually eating breakfast with Luna and Celestia, waiting for the arrival of one of them. He knew it was probably a mistake to have stayed up all night, but he served Princess Luna, and whatever she wanted, she got.

Without warning, the doors to the dining hall burst open. A few miscellaneous streamers and colorful balloons were produced, followed by a single pony. It didn't take Blue Star a second to recognize her, though he had only seen her once before.

"Good morning, Pinkie," Celestia greeted, "I'm glad you arrived in time for breakfast."

"Of course, princess," the pink mare said, taking a seat at the table with nary a bow to either royal in the room, "Had to get up real early to catch the train, but it's worth it."

"You," Blue said, catching the new mare's attention, "I know you."

Pinkie gasped in realization, "And I know you. You're that weird pony who came out of the Everfree Forest looking for Celestia. And obviously you found her."

"You were the one who told me where to find Twilight."

"That's right."

"You are one of the Elements of Harmony?"

"Element of Laughter."

"Huh. OK. And what exactly are you doing here? OK, I know why you're here, but what exactly do you intend to do?"

"Well I could tell you, but that'd be boring, and Pinkie Pie doesn't do boring. I'm going to show you. But first, breakfast."

The four ponies finished their breakfast. Blue was astounded by just how much this pink friend of Twilight's could eat. She seemed to have the appetite of an alicorn, but even when she declared herself full, she didn't seem the worse for it. With the most important meal of the day over with, Celestia went off to do her royal duties, and Luna went to bed, but not without a so-called "good day" kiss first.

Blue and Pinkie walked out of the castle, Pinkie doing more hopping than walking. Blue had no idea what this obviously fun-loving, silly pony could help him with, so he decided to cut to the chase.

"So are you going to tell me what we're doing," he asked, "or am I going to have to guess?"

"It's easy," Pinkie replied, "You've been gone for a thousand years, that's a long time. And, except for Luna, and maybe Celestia, I don't know if she counts, you don't have any friends at all. And nopony can live a happy, fulfilled life without lots of friends."

"I don't need friends," Blue scoffed, "I have Luna, that's all I need."

"Oh come on, didn't you have friends before?"

"I wouldn't really call them 'friends'. You see, back in my day, nobles such as myself made acquaintances, we made political alliances, and we made business partnerships. We did not made friendships. It was a rare occurrence if a husband and wife truly loved each other. Everything was political. When I began consorting with Luna, I began to run on her schedule, that is to say, I was awake during the night and asleep during the day. As such, I never met new ponies."

"Well no worries," Pinkie threw a hoof around Blue's shoulder, "I'm going to teach you how to make friends, it's going to be fun, fun, fun."

"It is too early in the morning for this."

*--*--*--*--*

Pinkie led Blue down onto the main street of Canterlot proper. She had this big grin on her face and waved hello to everypony they passed, regardless of whether or not that pony returned the sentiment.

"Are you looking for anypony in particular," Blue asked, "or is this normal for you?"

"If you're going to be a happy, friend-having, pony, you need to learn to show it. If you smile and wave at enough ponies, eventually they are going to start smiling and waving back."

"I have many years experience as both a royal consort and an ambassador, I know how to be pleasant, even if I have to fake it."

"I hope you don't have to fake it."

"Everything is so different," Blue mused, stopping in his tracks, "When I was here last, Canterlot was a city, surely, but nothing like this. You can't walk five paces without almost knocking into somepony."

"You don't really like other ponies, do you," Pinkie said with a sad inflection.

"It's not that, per say, it's just that I do better in one-on-one situations. Did I seem anti-social when I met you the first time?"

"No, you seemed like you were in a hurry."

"Precisely. I like getting my business accomplished as efficiently as possible, with as few other ponies involved as possible. If that makes me anti-social, then I'm anti-social, I call it picking your companions accordingly."

"You don't mind me, right? Or Twilight?"

"Of course not. Celestia is right, I need to adjust to this new world. Luna can only help me so much in that regard. You, Twilight, and the others, I do need your help, and I am accepting of it. There are just certain boundaries that I prefer to keep."

"Note to self: don't throw you a surprise party."

"Now you get the idea."

The two ponies continued on their way. Pinkie had calmed down somewhat, which Blue was appreciative of. Soon, however, Pinkie stopped dead in front of a little shop.

"C'mon," the party pony called, "one of my friends runs this place. Let's say hello."

She bounced inside with Blue on her tail.

"Hey Pinkie," the large beige stallion standing behind the counter greeted, "who's your friend?"

"You'll have to be more specific Joe," Pinkie responded, "You know that everypony is my friend."

"That I do, but the question still stands."

"My name is Blue Star van der Dusk," he answered.

"Heh," the pony named Joe quipped, "you sound like a noblepony."

"That's because I am."

"Oh, I don't get too many nobles in here, what can I do for ya."

"A bear claw for me," Pinkie ordered, "do you want a doughnut, Blue, Joe's are the best."

"They don't call me Doughnut Joe for nothing."

"No, I'm fine," Blue answered, "but, perhaps, tell me Joe, do you serve coffee?"

"Sure do, how do you take it?"

"Black, and not too strong."

"Got it, one bear claw and one large cup of joe," he laughed, as he always did whenever he, or anypony, called it that.

Not a minute later, the two ponies were exiting Joe's doughnut shop, Pinkie having eaten her bear claw in one bite and Blue delicately sipping on his coffee, holding the cup in his magic. The black brew was doing its job, the caffeine steadily making him more awake and more aware.

"So what's next on our agenda," Blue asked as they again made their way down the street.

"Don't know," was the response, "At times like these, I usually just wait, something interesting usually happens."

"That doesn't seem very organized. Here I thought you had some grand plan to introduce me to the magic of friendship."

"If you're looking for organized, look for Twilight. I am a pony who goes with the flow. Oh, look over there, there's a pony you should meet."

She was actually pointing to a pair of ponies, both white unicorns. From behind, Blue could only assume that the lithe one with the pink mane was a mare and the slightly stockier one with the combed blue mane was a stallion. When they reached them, Pinkie had no qualms about tapping the presumed stallion on the shoulder. Both of the new ponies turned around, confirming Blue's suspicions.

"I say, who," the stallion began, but then paused as realization crossed his face, "I remember you, you're one of Rarity's good friends, are you not?"

"Absotutetly-loutely," Pinkie exclaimed, "I met you at the Canterlot Garden Party."

"Ah yes, I remember now. And who is this other pony?"

"Oh, right," Pinkie sprung backwards and looped an hoof around Blue's shoulder, "this is Blue Star. Don't ask me how I know him, it's a long story. Blue this is Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis."

"A pleasure meeting you, sir," Fancy and Blue shook hooves.

"Yes, a pleasure," Fleur said, which allowed Blue to hear the distinctive accent in her voice.

"Le plaisir est pour moi, monsieur et mademoiselle," Blue said in a perfect Prench accent.

"Vous êtes à l'aise en prançais?"

"I wouldn't say fluent, exactly. But I was ambassador to Prance for a year, and I picked up things here and there."

"When were you ambassador to Prance," Fancy asked, "I've never heard of you before."

"Oh that would have been around a thousand years ago."

Both Fancy and Fleur's jaws were hung about a foot off the ground.

"A thousand years ago," Fancy uttered as he tried to regain his composure.

"It's a long story. But suffice is to say, I am back in Equestria and am adjusting accordingly."

"Are you an immortal," Fleur asked.

"No, only ageless. Like I said, it's a long story which I would rather not tell at this time."

"Of course," Fancy said, "but am I to presume that you are somepony of importance?"

"Well I am a noble, of the house van der Dusk. My many-great grandnephew is apparently an adopted prince, and I am an adviser to Princess Luna," Blue didn't want to have to explain his personal relationship with Luna to ponies he barely knew.

"At any rate, it's good to see that you have returned from wherever you were. I hope that we can cross paths again in the future. Come, Fleur, we wouldn't want to be late."

"Adieu," Fleur said as they began to walk away.

"Au revoir," Blue called after them.

"See," Pinkie said once the other two ponies were out of sight, "you know exactly how to make friends. My work here is done."

"I told you that in the first place, but you didn't believe me."

*--*--*--*--*

That night at dinner, it was Celestia, Luna, Blue, and Pinkie, who had been offered a night's stay in the first place.

"Tell me, Blue Star," Celestia asked, "what has Pinkie taught you?"

"Nothing that I didn't already know. Although apparently my Prench accent is still good."

"Oh really," Luna said with a expanded eyes.

"Yes, Luna, but you know I only break out the foreign languages on special occasions."

"You're no fun."

"I beg to disagree, right Pinkie? Pinkie?

Pinkie Pie wasn't listening, as she was seemed too intent on out-eating Celestia.

"Hey, you were going to back me up."

The alicorn sisters laughed.