When Pokey met Pinkie
by Chappy Hooves
Pinkie Pie was a quiet and forlorn filly, that was until last week. It was Monday morning at Ponyville Elementary School, and the pink pony walked in a changed filly.
Her pink hair was no longer straight, it was now very curly and poofed up in a springy fashion. She was carrying a set of balloons in to class with her, along with treats to celebrate her cute-ceañera. On her flank was her new cutie mark, a set of three balloons all with bright colors. Her greatest of new features, that seemed to take everyone by surprise, was her radiant smile.
"Pinkie," her teacher Mrs. Sharpener exclaimed. "You look wonderful with your new cutie mark. I see you brought cupcakes to share with the class."
"Yeah, parties are made to be shared!" Pinkie said happily as she reached for the plate of cupcakes she was carrying on her back and placed them on the teacher's desk.
“How did you get your cutie mark Pinkie?” One of the little fillies asked her.
“Yeah, what happened to your hair.” A little green colt asked.
"Well last Saturday I was working on the rock farm, when I heard this giant boom and saw this beautiful rainbow streak across the sky." Pinkie said excitedly.
POP
Pinkie stopped and turned around just in time to see the green remains of one of the balloons she was holding wither to the floor. Standing next to it with a proud look on his face was one of her classmates Pokey Pierce.
"But," Pinkie said with a hurt look. "Why? I wanted to have fun with everyone!"
"This is fun!" Pokey said with a mean glance and reached his horn up to pop another balloon.
Pinkie erupted in to a fountain of tears and wails as Pokey pushed his horn deeper in to the red balloon he was about to pop.
Mrs. Sharpener, grabbed Pokey by the mane on his neck just as the second balloon popped.
"Pokey, you are going to sit in the corner and think about how you hurt Pinkie's feelings during her cute-ceañera." She scolded at Pokey.
Pinkie continued to cry. Eventually her teacher came up to her with a box of tissues and started wiping her eyes.
"He's a big meanie!" Pinkie wailed to her. "I hate him! I wish he never went to this school!"
“There there, Pinkie,” Her teacher said to her. “I think it would be wise to stay away from Pokey and just leave him alone.”
~~~~~
Pokey stood in his graduation cap and gown.
"Finally done with school," He said to himself.
The graduates were all standing in a line waiting to get their diploma as the principal read off their names.
"Cherry Berry... Golden Harvest... Pinkamina Dianna Pie-"
"Pinkamina!?" Pokey said in a half taunting and half surprised voice before Pinkie stepped on the stage.
He and Pinkie Pie never liked each other ever since their cute-ceañera many years back. Pinkie mostly ignored Pokey and avoided talking to him. Most of the things that Pinkie did do was plan parties and gatherings. Pokey for obvious reasons was never invited to her parties. Pokey, in turn, took Pinkie's actions as personal and chose to avoid her as well.
Pinkie waked across the stage, received her diploma and walked off the opposite side.
"Pokey Pierce," the principal read off his name, snapping Pokey back to the ceremony at hand.
Pokey walked across the stage all thoughts about Pinkie and funny names completely abandoned.
"Congratulations," an administrator said to him as he handed Pokey his diploma.
"Thank you," Pokey said back with pride.
Pokey shook hooves with the stallion and walked across the stage with a look of accomplishment on his face.
"Hey Pokey," Pinkie said up to Pokey as he stepped down from the stage. "Congratulations!"
Pinkie held out her hoof to him, Pokey was still caught in the euphoria of the ceremony and reached his hoof out to hers without a second thought.
Pokey was hit by a sudden jolt of electricity.
"Gotcha!" Pinkie Pie squealed with delight, holding up a joke buzzer in her hoof.
“Hey," Pokey said holding his sore arm. "That was mean!"
"No it's not, it's fun!" Pinkie said with a slight smirk.
Pokey glared at Pinkie as the pink filly pranced away.
~~~~
Pinkie bounced up and down in the decorated library.
"Now everypony be quiet when she comes in and then we'll turn on the light and all shout surprise." Pinkie called out to all the ponies gathered in the room.
Pinkie looked around and saw all the faces around her. A white mane and blue horn in the crowd grabbed Pinkie's eye.
"Pokey," Pinkie said in a low voice through gritted teeth.
Pinkie quickly made her way through the crowd of ponies to the blue horn that stuck out like a beacon.
"Pokey!" Pinkie said again to the blue pony in a loud stern voice.
"Oh, hi Pinkie." Pokey dead panned.
"Pokey!" Pinkie's curly mane immediately straightened and drooped down eerily over her face. "You're not gonna ruin this party for our new neighbor."
"Pinkie?" Pokey asked looking at her with an almost horrified look. "Are you feeling okay?
A few ponies around them also looked at Pinkie with expressions of concern.
"NO. POPPING. BALLOONS. GOT. IT?" Pinkie said prodding her hoof in to Pokey's chest on every word.
"Okay," Pokey said in a small voice, his face turning white.
"She coming!" A blue winged pegasus with a rainbow colored mane shouted from one of the upper windows.
Pinkie's mane poofed back up to its natural curl.
"She's here! She's here!" Pinkie bounced up and down with an instantaneous, bipolar change of character. "Shhhhhh! Quiet everypony, turn off the lights!"
The lights were shut off and the room became silent.
The front door opened and a Purple unicorn with a baby dragon riding on her back walked in.
"Sorry Spike,” The unicorn said to the dragon. “But I have to convince the Princess that Nightmare Moon is coming and we're running out of time. I just need to be alone so I can study without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time. Now where's the light?”
The lights clicked on.
"SURPRISE!" Everypony shouted.
The purple pony gave a sigh and Pinkie Pie immediately jumped up to her and started talking to her at a mile a minute.
Caramel, a brown colored earth pony, walked up to Pokey who was still standing flabbergasted in the corner.
"Hey Pokey," Caramel said to him. "What's with Pinkie? I've never seen her act that way before."
"I don't know," Pokey responded. "I was told to come here by Mr. and Mrs Cake, they said everyone was invited. I guess Pinkie didn't invite me and was mad I came."
"I wouldn't call that being mad, I'd call it more like going crazy."
"Yeah," Pokey said realizing he was still sweating.
"I know you two have a history of never really liking each other, but I never seen Pinkie give the death glare to anypony. She must have it in for you."
Pokey wasn't listening, he was distracted by a sudden outburst from the new purple unicorn. The unicorn's face had suddenly turned bright red before she dashed up stairs with water streaming out of her eyes.
"What's got her worked all up?" Pokey asked Caramel. "Pinkie didn't upset another pony, did she?"
Caramel tapped Pokey on the shoulder and pointed to Pinkie at the snack table, who was pouring hot sauce on to a cupcake.
Pinkie shoved the whole cupcake in her mouth and looked up at her friends who were staring at her with disgusted looks on their faces.
"What?" Pinkie asked with a mouth full of hot sauced cupcake. "It's good!"
Pinkie then looked around at everyone at the party and shouted, "Quit being tarty, let's start this party!"
"YAY!" All the ponies shouted back to her.
The music started up and everyone started dancing and having a good time.
Pokey felt his nerves settle, Pinkie was no longer looking crazy and was in to the full swing of the party. He decide to stay at a table in the corner and enjoy some food and drink, resisting the urge to pop any balloons, and most importantly not cross paths with Pinkie.
A few hours ticked away and Pokey honestly started enjoying himself. He discovered that though he was technically at a Pinkie party, there were many more ponies there that he could socialize with, while Pinkie was quite occupied with the other things there to take notice of him again. Pokey could honestly get used to parties like this, though he would feel a lot more comfortable if Pinkie wasn't there.
"Hi," a voice said to Pokey out of nowhere.
Pokey turned around and saw a lampshade with scaly purple legs looking back at him. That is, he was sure it was the lampshade just spoke to him, if lampshades were capable of looking and speaking to ponies.
"Uh, hello?" Pokey said confused.
The voice gave a giggle and a clawed hand lifted the lampshade up to show the face of the baby dragon Pokey saw riding the unicorn from earlier.
"I'm Spike," the little dragon said holding a hand out. "What's your name?"
Pokey smiled at the playful dragon.
"Pokey Pierce," he replied shaking the dragon's hand. "Pleased to meet you."
"Like wise," Spike said. "I'm kinda glad to see there are other guys around, I was staring to wonder if this town only had girls living in it."
"Hmmm," Pokey thought to himself. "Now that you mention it, there are more mares in town than stallions."
"But it's okay, I'm cool with that." Spike said eyeing a white unicorn that was getting a drink from the punch bowl across the room.
"Uh yeah," Pokey said finding the dragon's infatuation with the mare a little disturbing.
"So what do you do for fun around here?" Spike asked Pokey.
"Well," Pokey said hesitantly looking around. "I personally like popping balloons, it's kinda my specialty."
Pokey turned his body so Spike can get a better look at the safety pin cutie on his flank.
Spike just blinked a couple of times at him. Pokey felt a bit apprehensive at the dragon's stare.
"That's... " Spike started.
Pokey started feeling embarrassed.
"That's," Spike stuttered. "That's awesome!"
Pokey felt a wave of relief cross his face.
"I like doing that at parties too!" Spike continued.
"Really!?" Pokey asked flabbergasted.
"Heck yeah, they don't called me Spike for nothing." The little dragon cheered. "Check this out."
Spike hopped up on the table with the lampshade still on his head. In a impressive spinning motion, Spike flipped his tail up and slashed it across the bunch of balloons that was floating above him.
POP
POP
POP
An orange earth pony standing next to table wearing a cowboy hat gave a jump and acidently spilled punch over the front of herself.
"Oops sorry, Applejack," Spike said handing her a napkin off the table. "Pokey and I were just having a little fun."
Applejack gave a chuckle.
"It's alright Spike, ah know it's all in good fun. You sure gave me a start though." Applejack said taking the napkin Spike was offered her and cleaned herself off.
Pokey started grinning at Spike. Spike grinned back at Pokey.
"Pretty cool, huh Pokey?" Spike said.
"POKEY!!" A voice erupted from the crowd.
Pokey felt like he was just doused with a bucket of ice water. He quickly turned in the direction of where her heard the voice coming from expecting to see a pink mane making a b-line towards him.
"WHAT DID I TELL YOU!?" The voice made Pokey jump, Pinkie now miraculously stood behind Pokey in the exact spot he was looking before he turned around.
"NO. POPPING. BALLOONS!" Pinkie's mane was straight again and her body seemed to quake on every word she breathed.
Pokey stood now legitimately horrified at the fuming party pony before him.
"Whoa simmer there, Sally!" Applejack said to Pinkie.
"Yeah calm down, Pinkie Pie. He didn't pop them, I did." The still lampshaded Spike behind her said.
Pinkie turned around to face Spike.
"It was you!?" Her face was perplexed.
"Yeah, Pokey was telling me how he has fun at parties when he pops balloons, I agree with him."
"But that's mean!" Pinkie said sharply, whipping her tail at Pokey.
"Well it can be I guess. But no one here has a problem with it. Like Applejack said, it's all in good fun."
"Come on Pinkie, you're one who loves practical jokes at parties. Popping a balloon is perfect way to startle someone unsuspectin'." Applejack said putting a causal arm over her shoulder. "In fact, you were popping balloons just last month at Fluttershy's birthday party, as ah remember."
"But that was different, I was... I mean... It was only... Pokey is-" Pinkie tried to say.
"But nothing," Applejack said cutting her off with a stern look on her face. "Ah heard the rumors that you and Pokey weren’t on the best of terms and ah always ignored 'em. Ah thought the reason Pokey was never on your party lists was because you forgot or something. But now ah have seen it for myself, the rumors are true, you honestly hate the colt.”
Pinkie gasped at Applejack’s accusation.
“Pinkie Pie,” Applejack continued. “The most accepting and fun loving pony in Ponyville, hates a pony! And all because of what? It's not because of that whole business at your cute-ceañera all those years ago at school is it? For Celestia's sake bury the hatchet already, hon!"
Pinkie blinked a couple times at Applejack, her words had hit home. Pinkie started realizing it herself, her little grudge against Pokey had become out right bigotry towards him over the years.
Pinkie's straight hairs drooped even lower, but rather than making her look crazy it made her look sad. She turned her head back to where Pokey was.
"I'm sorry Pokey," she started, but her apology fell only to empty space.
"Where did he go?" Pinkie asked.
"Wow, he just ran out the door the moment you turned to face Applejack, Pinkie." Spike said amazed looking off at the now open door of the Library. "You must have scared him real bad, Pinkie Pie. I've never seen a stallion run that fast, and I have seen an actual racehorse run to the bathroom."
Applejack gave a chuckle at Spike's joke.
"Oh," Pinkie said sadly, the curl slowly returning to her mane. "I wanted to talk to him."
"Hey cheer up, Pinkie." Applejack said to her. "We'll most likely see Pokey at the Solar Sun Celebration at the town hall. You can mend some fences then. In the mean time, how bout a game of pin the tail on the pony?"
After a pause Pinkie finally looked up with a forced smile and said, "Okay, I'll go set it up."
"That sounds like fun!" Spike cheered. "I'll go up stairs and see if Twilight wants to join us."
~~~~
Pokey woke up with his head under his pillow. He blinked a couple of times as his mind pieced together the events of the previous night.
The previous night had actually lasted for the time of nearly two complete days. Nightmare Moon, a villainous character who up until now only existed in old pony tales, had escaped her prison in the moon and covered all of Equestria in endless night.
Nightmare Moon might have succeeded in her conquest, but she was beaten by group of ponies. Six mares through overcoming hardships became good friends, discovered the Elements of Harmony, and used them to destroy the evil that was Nightmare Moon and bring back the long lost princess Luna to her sister Celestia.
To Pokey's surprise one of the mares who now carried one of the Elements of Harmony was Pinkie Pie. Pokey wasn't jealous, or angry of it, if anything he was confused. In the very evening Pokey ran for his life from Pinkie Pie, Pinkie became the bearer of the element of laughter.
Pokey's mind rolled over the news all yesterday. At first he wondered if the mare he saw at the Library party wasn’t actually Pinkie Pie, but another pink pony who broke out from the psych ward. His thoughts then raced to questions surrounding his relationship with the now hero of Equestria: if Pinkie did not like him would that mean all the rest of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony not like him as well? What about the princess, or should he say princesses? Was he blacklisted to all parties in Equestria for the rest of his life?
Pokey's mind did not stop with its constant worrying yesterday, until Berry Punch handed him a drink and told him to stop looking all frustrated.
"Ponyville," Berry said. "Heck all of Equestria is celebrating a new era of harmony, Pokey. You should be partying."
Pokey, took her advice, and drowned his restless thoughts in punch and cider for the rest of the night. He had a vague recollection of being lead home by Caramel and retreating to the darkness of his bed.
Pokey walked to in to the kitchen of his measly flat and filled his coffee maker with water. This was not the first time ever had a hangover, he had suffered from worse in the past honestly. This hangover only gave him a mild headache.
The only thing that made this morning that was making his hangover bothersome was the brightly colored balloons that were sharply reflecting the light from his window. Wait! Balloons!?
Bobbing along the ceiling of his kitchen was about two dozen balloons all tied together in a collective strand that was attached to a pink card.
Pokey snatched the card with his mouth, he was not foolish to attempt to use his horn magic. The effect of hangovers and their reaction when using magic was a harsh lesson many unicorns experienced the morning after they came of drinking age.
With the aid of his forehooves Pokey opened up the pink envelope and read the loopy hoofwriting on the note inside.
Dear Pokey,
I am writing you this letter to say I am sorry for how I treated you last night -or whatever you call that long night time Nightmare Moon made. After having a heart to heart talk with my friend Applejack,-you remember Applejack right? The one Spike startled with popping the balloons? Yeah her- So after having a heart to heart with her, I realized that I have been just a down right meanie-meanie-lemon-squeezy with you. I should be more nicer to you, and after realizing that your interest in popping balloons is not being mean but having fun, just like Spike said, I want to make it up to you.
Here are some balloons left over from the party last night, all for you. Please I want you to pop them, its the least I can do for taking away the fun you should have been having then. I also want to say that you are always welcome to any open party at Sugar Cube Corner, and I will be sending you invitations to my parties in the future.
I'm really, really, REEEEEAAAALLLYYY, sorry for being a big meanie,
- Pinkie
P.S: I'm sorry I let myself in to your house. Caramel told me that you a bit too much to drink last night and I didn't think I would wake you if I just ducked in and out. Also Caramel told me on the way home you were upset, saying weird things like the princesses hate you now, and how you were an enemy of the Elements of Harmony. Well that’s just silly and untrue, I think it was the cider talking, But if you are still feeling that way in the morning I can honestly say to you, as an Element of Harmony, that you are not my enemy and the Princesses have no reason to hate you.
Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.
Pokey gave a small smile after he finished the last lines of the card, he and Pinkie were no longer enemies. At least that was what the note said. Pokey looked fondly up at the balloons above him and gave one of them a jab with his horn.
POP
Pokey let out a pained groan, he forgot that he was still coming off a hangover, and the massive sound within close proximity to his ears made his headache get much worse.
~~~~
Pinkie ran quickly through the saloon doors from the kitchen in Sugar Cube Corner.
“Pumpkin?” She called out in to the empty storefront. “Where did you go?”
It was Pinkie’s third time babysitting the Cake twins. She gotten a good handle on how to care for them, except for a few things.
“No fair! Why is it when I see your parents change you two, you and Pound just lie there a giggle. But when I change you, you think its a good time to practice your magic?”
Pinkie heard the noise of a tiny foal giggle from out the open window. She let out a gasp, this was the first time that any of the two of them dared adventure outside.
Pinkie rushed to the window and poked her face out of it.
“Pumpkin!?” She called outside.
Pinkie saw the market square was empty for a late Sunday afternoon. The only pony Pinkie saw was Pokey Pierce who was trotting towards Sugar Cube Corner, floating in his horn magic was-
“Pumpkin!” Pinkie called again relieved to see her safe.
“Come on little one you should be safe in your home.” Pokey said sweetly to the little filly bobbing in his telekinetic magic.
“Pokey, oh thank you for finding her.” Pinkie said to him. “Just wait a sec, I’ll unlock the door for you.”
“Okay,” Pokey responded as continued to rock Pumpkin playfully. “You’re quite the ambitious little unicorn, Pumpkin. You’re gonna be upset when you get bigger and this spike in your magic disappears.”
Pinkie opened the front door for Pokey, and he carried Pumpkin in to the store with him.
Pokey tried to hand Pumpkin to her, but Pumpkin fussed and reached back to Pokey.
Pinkie let out a little giggle.
“It looks like you have a new friend, Pokey.” Pinkie said to him when he gave a perplexed look.
“Po-po-Pokey?” Pumpkin said holding her little forehooves out to him.
Pokey floated her closer to him, and her tiny arms latched around his neck. Pumpkin gave a little sigh, satisfied to be with him.
Pinkie watched the two and had a sudden idea.
“Hey Pokey?” She asked him.
“Yeah?”
“Are you really busy right now?”
“Not really, why do you ask?”
It had been nearly two years since Pinkie had made amends with Pokey, but he was still a little cautious around her, though he was getting more sociable as time went by.
“Pumpkin seems to be a little calmer around you. Could you help me for just a sec while I finish changing both her diaper and Pound's?” Pinkie asked nicely.
“I don’t see a problem in that I suppose,” Pokey said. He then asked the little filly clutched to him, “What do you think, little unicorn?”
“Uni,” Pumpkin said pointing to Pokey’s horn.
“That’s right,” Pokey said with a smile. “I am a unicorn.”
Pinkie lead Pokey to the babies’ room, while he continued to talk to Pumpkin.
“What is Pound?” Pokey asked Pumpkin, testing the filly’s vocabulary.
“Peggabe,” Pumpkin said back to him.
“Close enough,” Pokey said shrugging to Pinkie.
The three of them entered the bedroom and, to Pinkie Pie’s relief, found Pound was standing in his crib, anticipating the return of his sister with Pinkie. He let out a coo of excitement when he saw his sister with a new pony.
“Okay,” Pinkie said approaching the changing table. “Let’s try this again.”
“Hey, Pinkie?” Pokey asked.
“Yeah?”
“Can I try?”
Pinkie looked at him surprised, with the exception of Mr. Cake, Pinkie had yet met a stallion who was even remotely interested in changing diapers.
“Well,” Pinkie scratched her chin with her hoof. “Okay, you do that and I’ll run defense.”
Pinkie quickly sped to the door, slammed it shut, locked it, and made a dash towards the windows.
Pinkie stopped in mid stride, she stood in awe at Pokey with the babies.
Pokey had both babies in his magic, and was changing them both at once. He had a mechanical precision to his process: old diaper off, wrapped, placed in diaper bin, clean backsides in four passes with the wipe, powder, new diapers on, folded snugly, finish with the small clicks of the safety pins.
The entire time the babies just giggled at the flashing blue colors of Pokey’s magic while he worked.
“Done,” Pokey said proudly. “How did I do?”
Pinkie just stood frozen at the scene she just witnessed.
“Did I forget something?” Pokey asked looking at the two babies gurgling up at him.
“N-no,” Pinkie said breaking out of her awe. “You were perfect, you must have a special talent with kids. I guess that's how you got your cutie mark.”
Pokey looked at Pinkie with surprise and then back at his flank realizing the connection.
“No,” Pokey said. “I mean, that's not how I got my cutie mark.”
“Oh,” Pinkie responded. “How did you get your cutie mark then?”
“Well,” Pokey said hesitantly rubbing his shoulder. “I don’t want to talk about it. It’s kind of a sensitive topic.”
“Oh, okay.” Pinkie said meekly now feeling even more regretful of alienating Pokey in the past.
“Hey Pinkie, thanks for letting me help with the kids.” Pokey said quickly. “I never knew my magic could be this helpful. Anyways, I got to get going. See you around, okay?”
“Yeah,” Pinkie said walking up to the babies and picking them up in her forehooves. “Say good bye to Pokey, Pumpkin and Pound.”
“Ba ba,” the two babies said.
Pokey showed himself out of the store. Pinkie watched him walk down the street through the window.
“Whoa!” Pinkie said suddenly breaking out in to one of her Pinkie senses. “Left eye flutter, back hooves stiff, nose twitch. That means someone just had a bad memory. Was it... Pokey?”
Pinkie gazed down at the street and saw Pokey slightly hanging his head as he walked.
~~~~
Pokey laid on the park bench feeling the warm summer wind blow through his fur. He was enjoying the quiet day to himself, just lounging, breathing in the smell of the fresh cut grass.
Pokey felt like he was about to doze off when suddenly a loud noise behind him startled him.
“Surprise!” A high voice shouted out at him. “Happy Birthday!”
BOOM
The voice behind him belonged to Pinkie and the loud noise that followed was the sound of her firing a canon.
Before Pokey could react, thousands of pieces of confetti and streamers flew out of the muzzle of the big gun and over Pokey’s head. A single party hat followed after and landed squarely on his head.
Pinkie rushed up to Pokey, threw a cape over his withers, and started singing.
“I wish you a a happy birthday, hope today is just the best,
Today is for your party, its for you, your not just a guest,
So make this day a happy one, the start of your next year
in making it a better one, filled with achievements and lots of cheer.
Oh, have fun today, call friends today, eat cake today, make today your day today.
Dance around to what music you want, whether it be posh or something folky
Because today is your day, its all for you; Happy Birthday my friend Pokey!“
Pinkie then gave him a big hug. Pokey was speechless.
“Did you like my Birthday song?” Pinkie energetically asked as she pulled away. “Did ya? Did ya? Did ya?”
“Yeah,” Pokey said realizing, he was experiencing his first Pinkie celebration in his honor. “I didn’t think you would do something like this. In fact I didn’t think you knew when my birthday was at all.”
“Oh yes,” Pinkie said giving him a leery eye. “You thought you could hide your birthday from me, the best party pony in Ponyville, did you?”
“Well I wasn’t necessarily hiding it from you-” Pokey started.
“It was tough to figure it out,” Pinkie cut him off. “But I did a little detective work and found out you're not planning on partying tonight. The only thing you had planned to do was go bowling with a few guys, am I right?”
“Well, yeah,” Pokey responded. “I like bowling.”
“And you’ll like it even more, when the whole alley will be full of a bunch of ponies, with streamers, and soda, and even a big cake I baked just for you.”
“You baked me a cake?” Pokey was still shocked Pinkie was doing so much for him.
“Of course, silly,” Pinkie responded gleefully. “You haven't had a real party till you’ve had a Pinkie Pie party. Come on, everypony is waiting for us!”
Pinkie grabbed him by the hoof and rushed off towards the bowling alley.
*****
Pokey walked through the nearly empty bowling alley popping the last of the few balloons. It was the end of a perfect birthday. Pinkie had made good on her word, all of the ponies she invited were at the bowling alley, and everyone had a great time with plenty to eat.
Pokey was helping clean up, doing one of the tasks he loved best, popping the balloons.
Pinkie was sitting on one of the benches watching him, her expression seemed to get brighter the more she saw Pokey having fun with the balloons. Pokey noticed her watching him, he grabbed the last few balloons and brought them over to her.
“Here,” Pokey said giving her a green and a red balloon.
“What are these for?” Pinkie asked looking confused up at the balloons.
“These are to make up for the time when we were young and I popped your balloons during your cute-ceañera.” Pokey said sitting down in the seat next to her.
Pinkie thought back realizing she had nearly forgotten that day. She also realized Pokey had even remembered to give her the same color of balloons he popped.
“Pokey?” Pinkie asked scooting a little closer to him.
“Yes?”
“I know I’ve asked you this before, you didn't feel like sharing at the time, and I am really interested, how did you get your cutie mark?”
“Well...” Pokey sounded uncertain.
Pinkie placed her hoof on top of his and gave him a look of sincerely.
Over the past year, Pinkie had realized that she didn’t want to just make up her past actions to Pokey, or that she wanted Pokey to just like her, she wanted Pokey to trust her.
“Please,” Pinkie said in an honest, non-pleading voice.
"Okay," Pokey sighed, and started his story.
*****
Pokey was a young blank flanked colt, celebrating a birthday at friends house one Saturday. In his excitement during a game of Blind Buck's Bluff, he accidentally ran his horn in to a bunch of balloons and popped one.
The noise was so loud that all the colts in the room gave a shout. Pokey took off the blindfold he was wearing, and rather than seeing the friend who invited him to his party angry or sad with him, he was laughing.
“Do it again, Pokey! Do it again!” The birthday colt cheered to him.
Pokey noticed the other colts joined in asking him to pop more balloons too, forgetting all about their game of Blind Buck's Bluff.
Pokey readied his horn and jabbed at another balloon in the bundle.
POP
The other colts whooped and hollered at the noise and started grabbing other balloons in the room and started popping them. A few of the other unicorns tried popping them using their own horns, but they were disappointed to find their horns were not sharp enough to do it. Only Pokey was able to do it with his horn, others envied him for it, but still encouraged him to keep going.
Later that evening, when his mother picked him up from the party, she pointed out that his cutie mark had appeared. Sure enough on his flank the image of a safety pin had showed up.
The following Monday Pokey walked in to the school building expecting recognition for his cutie mark, but nopony took notice of it.
That very morning Pinkie Pie had walked in with her own cutie mark, a new hair style, some bright balloons, and even treats to celebrate. The entire class, including the teacher, was interested in Pinkie, and not him.
Pokey stood in the back jealous. He wanted to bring in treats too for his cute-ceañera but his mother told him it was improper, and here this little pink filly was getting all the fun and attention.
Pokey walked up to Pinkie who was busy sharing with the others how she got her cutie mark.
"And then I heard this giant boom and saw a beautiful rainbow streak across the sky." Pinkie said excitedly.
Even her story about her cutie mark was better than his.
Pokey felt his envy bubble and so he reached his horn up to a green balloon in the bundle Pinkie was holding and gave it a sharp jab.
POP
Pinkie stopped in the middle of her story and turned around in time to see the green remains of one of the balloons she was holding wither to the floor.
"But," Pinkie said with a hurt look. "Why? I wanted to have fun with everyone!"
"This is fun!" Pokey said with a mean look on his face and reached his horn up to pop another balloon.
Pinkie erupted in to a fountain of tears and wails as Pokey pushed his horn deeper in to the red balloon he was about to pop.
Mrs. Sharpener grabbed Pokey by the mane on his neck as the second balloon popped.
"Pokey, you are going to sit in the corner and think about how you hurt Pinkie's feelings during her cute-ceañera in class." Mrs. Sharpener said as she dragged him to the corner of the room.
Pokey scowled.
"It should have been my cute-ceañera." Pokey mumbled to himself.
"I will not hear any of your grumblings young man," His teacher said to him unaware of what he said. "I will call you back when I think you are ready to be nice to others."
Pokey slouched in the stool facing the corner as he heard the teacher trot up to Pinkie to comfort her.
"He's a big meanie!" Pinkie wailed. "I hate him! I wish he never went to this school!"
"I wished you never came to this school either, you dumb pink pony!" Pokey said through gritted teeth.
*****
Pokey finished his story, during the last part when he talked about popping the balloons, he could not bring himself to look at Pinkie, so he just stared down the empty bowling lane.
Pokey eventually turned to face Pinkie, and saw her looking at him, eyes full of tears, and her lip trembling.
“What-” Pokey started to say, but his voice was cut off by a deep sob from Pinkie as she threw her forehooves over him.
Pinkie held on to him and buried her face in to the side of his neck and sobbed.
“I’m sorry!” She said between sobs and breaths. “I’m so sorry.”
Pokey was too caught in the moment to say anything. He fumbled with his hooves and eventually place them around Pinkie in an awkward way to try and make her feel better.
“Pinkie it’s okay,” Pokey said to her. “It was a long time ago.”
“But,’ Pinkie said still sobbing in to his chest now. “It was your cute-ceañera too, I should known better.”
“I no longer blame you Pinkie.” Pokey said feeling out of place with her in his arms.
“But, if I had just paid more attention, rather than showing off, we could have shared our cute-ceañera and had and even bigger party. Of course you were jealous, I would have been too! I’m so sorry, Pokey! I’m so sorry!”
“Pinkie you don’t need to apologize, this birthday alone has made up even more for what happened that day.”
Pinkie kept crying.
“Pinkie,” Pokey’s voice sounded more strained. “Please stop crying, I feel sorry for making you cry back then, I feel even worse that I’m making you cry now. I like you better when you smile. I like you when you share your smile with others. I... I... like you...” Pokey’s voice trailed off as he rubbed the crying pony in his forehooves.
Pinkie blinked away tears and looked up at him.
Pinkie felt her face rise up to meet his, her brain unable to really process what she was physically doing.
“I mean it,” Pokey said to her wiping a tear away from her cheek. “I like you.”
Pinkie felt her own body moved as if by instinct. Her face drifted forward and her lips met Pokey’s.
Pokey looked back at her in disbelief, and then felt himself pull her in closer.
The two held the kiss for a moment, Pokey felt another urge reach his hoof up to touch Pinkie’s mane but his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a loud noise.
Chu-Chunk
The lights on half of the bowling lanes turned off and the alley got darker.
Chu-Chunk
The rest of the lights on the lanes shut off, now the only lights on were the lights of the front foyer and the ones above the shoe counter.
“Ooops!” Pinkie said blushing. “I guess the alley is closing."
“Yeah,” Pokey said feeling his cheeks turning red as well. “I guess that ends the prefect day. Uh, thanks, Pinkie, I had a, uh great time.”
“Oh, uh good,” Pinkie said getting up quickly. “I had a good time as well.” Her words started moving faster.
“Well, um, yeah” Pokey said feeling awkward. “We’ll see each other tomorrow, maybe?”
“Yeah!” Pinkie said a bit too quickly. “Bye!”
With that the two of them parted ways.
Pinkie sat at the table at the cafe, high strung, devouring her waffles. Her nerves were uneasy from last night. In her attempt to gain Pokey’s trust she had ended up in his arms kissing him like some hormonal teenager after the prom.
She didn’t know what came over her, she was upset by Pokey’s story, but when he said the words “I like you” she seemed to loose control. It wasn’t a confession of love, or a flirtatious gesture. The two of them weren't even in a romantic place, they were sitting in bowling alley for crying out loud.
He liked her, liked her. Using the word like meant friend zone. Pinkie and her friend Rarity used the word like to let down clingy, obsessive guys easily. Pokey said he liked her, and she went overboard did something stupid and kissed him.
She needed to go to Pokey, set the record straight, secure things are okay between the two of them, and put it behind her.
Pinkie placed her fork down on her empty plate, and reached for her orange juice to wash down the last of her breakfast.
“Hey, uh Pinkie?”
Pokey’s sudden voice behind her made orange juice shoot out her nose.
“Oh my,” Pokey exclaimed. “I’m really sorry I startled you.”
Pinkie frantically grabbed a couple of napkins and started wiping down her face.
“Wow,” Pokey said grabbing the glass half full juice Pinkie had place dangerously close to the edge of the table. “I think that makes me the first pony in history to ever catch Pinkie Pie off guard.”
Pinkie let out a weak chuckle as she continued to cough
“Is it alright if I sit here?” Pokey asked as he gestured to the empty seat in front of her.
Pinkie nodded approval as she was still clearing her throat and coughing.
Pokey sat down uneasily and tried to look nonchalant as he rapped his hoofs on the table glancing around.
Pinkie was still settling herself, though she was intentionally stalling, taking her time cleaning up.
The waitress came up to Pokey and asked him if he wanted anything.
“Um, I’ll have what she’s having.” Pokey said quickly.
“So...” Pokey said finally making eye contact with Pinkie. “Uh, hi.”
“Hi,” Pinkie said blinking a couple of times at Pokey.
Pinkie looked at him, and found herself really looking at him for the first time. Pokey looked a little silly with his forced grin, it was kind of cute too. His eyes were a bright yellow, like two great golden sunrises. The curly white hair on his mane and tail kinda looked like frosting on a cake. Pinkie wondered what Pokey would say if she told him that. Did his hair taste anything like frosting? Wait! What was she thinking! She needed to stop staring at him and set things straight.
“About last night,” the two of them immediately said at the same time.
Pokey cleared his throat.
“You go first,” He said.
“No, its quite alright,” Pinkie replied. “You go first, I’m, uh really interested in the, uh stuff you, err need to say.”
Smooth words Pinkie, she mentally thought to herself.
“Okay,” Pokey said biting his lip and giving a bit of a cough. “So I understand that yesterday was kind of a strange day, and both of us were uh... overstimulated? With the day?”
Pokey’s pitch went up as he tried to find his words.
“Yeah,” Pinkie said uncertain. “We both had a lot of party yesterday.”
“Yeah a bit too much partying in fact,” Pokey said looking like he was choosing his words carefully. “So at the end of the day we both were most likely just tired, and kinda in a weak state of mind.”
“Right,” Pinkie said feeling Pokey was going down a right path.
“So how about we just put that evening behind us, so we can be friends and just have fun at parties and stuff.”
“That sounds good,” Pinkie said with a smile. “I completely agree!”
“Good,” Pokey responded.
The two of them sat again in an awkward moment of silence.
“By the way,” Pokey started.
“Yes?” Pinkie asked feeling her heart give a slight jump.
“What were you eating?” Pokey asked looking down at her empty plate. “I realized I just ordered without bothering to look at what you had.”
“Oh,” Pinkie said a bit off guard. She thought Pokey was going to ask her something about last night. Her face then lit up with a smile when she saw Pokey’s expression as he looked at Pinkie's plate. “I had two jumbo waffles with strawberries.”
“Waffles,” Pokey said to himself. “I was kind of craving waffles when I was walking here.”
The two of them shared a laugh.
~~~~~
Pokey glanced at Pinkie as they walked down one of the main streets of Ponyville together. The two of them had become closer friends since that breakfast they shared together seven months ago.
Everyone in Ponyville first though they were dating, but as time went on the town realized the two of them were more partners in throwing surprise parties, then partners of love. Pokey was thankful that their kiss was never witnessed by anypony and they were honestly able to put it behind them.
“Have you got them set up?” Pinkie asked him in a hushed whisper.
“You bet,” Pokey said in a enthusiastic tone. “I can set them off at a moments notice.”
“Okay you wait for my signal.”
Pinkie quickly ducked behind a trash can and disappeared completely from view.
Pokey focused his glance to the far fountain in the center of the town square, waiting for Pinkie to give the signal from there.
Pokey saw the target walk up to the fountain with his pegasus fillyfriend next to him.
Sure enough Pinkie Pie’s curly tail appeared from the opposite side of the fountain, it quickly swished back and forth like a flag.
That was the signal.
Pokey quickly lit up his horn to trigger the party cannon he had expertly hidden on the rooftop adjacent to him.
BOOM
Both the two ponies standing next to the fountain jumped at the noise and the sudden appearance of confetti. Both Pokey and Pinkie sprung out in front of them with their top hats and canes in position. They both took a deep breath and broke in to their rehearsed song.
“Happy Birthday our dear friend Caramel we hope your having fun,
today is perfect weather with no clouds and lots of sun,”
Pokey reached over and placed a party hat on Caramel as Pinkie did the same to his fillyfriend Wind Whistler.
“We just want you to know we’re thinking of you, and for celebration's sake,
We wanted to tell you take up our offer for ice cream and some cake!”
Pokey gave another glow of his horn and the second party cannon they had hidden went off and shot out streamers followed by two coupons for free cake and ice cream from Sugar Cube Corner.
“So that's it for this happy song dear Caramel, for now it is the end
Wind Whistler, please join us in saying happy birthday to your coltfriend.”
Both Pinkie and Pokey ended their song in a quick pose, with Pokey holding Pinkie in his forehooves and Pinkie holding a little banner up that read in gold letters, Happy Birthday!
The two ponies clopped their hooves at the performance. Wind Whistler gave a little nicker, and then reached over and placed an affectionate kiss on Caramel’s cheek.
Caramel’s face immediately turned a bright red, and he looked at Whistler.
“You didn’t plan this with them did you?” Caramel ask her.
The pegasus gave a small laugh as she brushed some confetti out of Caramel’s mane.
“Oh, no I’m just as surprised as you, dear. This was all Pinkie and Pokey’s doing. But it did give me a good opportunity to kiss you. To be honest, I was kinda looking for a good moment today to do it.”
Pinkie beamed at Pokey, approving another job well done.
“So you were planning on kissing me today?” Caramel said with a slight grin on his face.
“Yeah, you want to go get some of this cake and ice cream at Sugar Cube Corner?” Wind Whistler asked him looking at the voucher in her hoof.
Pinkie gestured with her head for Pokey to follow her and leave the two lovers to continue their talk.
“Well actually,” Caramel spoke to his fillyfriend as Pokey and Pinkie slipped away. “I’m wondering if just one kiss was the only thing you had in mind today.”
Pinkie and Pokey quickly picked up the cannons from their hiding places and made way their way back to Pinkie’s place.
“So, dinner?” Pokey asked her. He and Pinkie nearly always had victory hay fries after a well done party surprise.
“Not tonight,” Pinkie said. “I got a date.”
“Oh really?” Pokey asked. “Like a date, date?”
“Yeah, Noteworthy asked me out last week.” Pinkie said with a bounce.
“Well, that’s... Great. I hope things go well.” Pokey said.
“Thanks Pokey.” Pinkie said as they approached the front doors of Sugar Cube Corner. “I can take care of the cannons from here. Thanks with all the help today. See you later.”
“Yeah,” Pokey said back to her. “Have a good time tonight.”
As Pokey walked back to his house, a strange feeling overcame him.
He was a happy that Pinkie was going out, at least it meant that people would stop whispering behind their backs that they were a couple. He and Pinkie were never mad to set the record straight when ponies asked them if they were dating. Pokey did find it annoying when ponies, especially his friends, pressured him to try and ask Pinkie out.
Pokey was comfortable with his new friendship with Pinkie. He found they had much in common when it came to spontaneity and just having fun, but that was as far as he went.
Personally, Pokey had pushed any and all romantic thoughts of Pinkie out of his mind over the last few months. During the times he was with Pinkie, planning or performing flash parties (as she called them), he didn’t have any feelings for her other than being friends.
Publicly, Pokey told his friends she was still Pinkie Pie, the filly who annoyed him from school, and was borderline crazy. He still haven't forgotten the time he witnessed Pinkie’s hairs go straight and her personalty do that psycho thing. He wasn’t going to date that, no way.
Strangely on occasion though, before he fell asleep late at night, his thoughts would drift towards her when his mind was in that relaxed the state between dreaming and awake. He would vividly recall that night they were in the bowling alley and the warmth he felt from Pinkie in his arms. His mind would bring up images of the affectionate look Pinkie had on her face before she placed her lips on his. By the time Pokey fell asleep and woke up the next morning, the images and feelings were already reduced to a tiny feeling of deja vu.
Those reasons made Pokey unsure of the odd feelings that came over him when Pinkie mentioned Noteworthy’s name.
Pokey also realized on his walk home, that since he and Pinkie had became better friends, this was the first time that Pokey had really imagined Pinkie dating other colts. He concluded his odd feelings was a logical reaction any friend would feel for another, when they just found out the other was in a new relationship. Noteworthy was a nice stallion and all, but a bit of a jock in Pokey’s opinion.
“Hmm,” Pokey thought to himself as he unlocked his front door. “Maybe I should find a fillyfriend too. It might help me sort things out.”
*****
Pinkie walked with Noteworthy out of the cinema. The two of them had just enjoyed a Buck Norris movie, an idea Noteworthy suggested to celebrate their now three month anniversary of going out.
"Is your eye okay?" Pinkie asked him.
Pinkie had gotten a bit too excited during the show. During one part of the film Pinkie started acting out the fight scene herself and accidentally punched him in the face.
"It feels a little better now," Noteworthy, her blue earth pony coltfriend said removing the slushy cup he was using as a cold pack for his face.
"Oh," Pinkie said trying to hide her smile.
Noteworthy now had a fantastically huge black eye from where Pinkie clocked him
"What?" Noteworthy asked annoyed. "It didn't leave a mark did it?"
Pinkie covered her mussel with both hooves to keep from laughing.
"Oh come on!" Noteworthy said through gritted teeth when he caught his reflection in a store window.
"No," Pinkie said laughing. "You look fine! Ha ha ha, really. Ha ha ha!"
Noteworthy grabbed Pinkie by the hoof and led her away before anypony would notice his eye.
Pinkie could not stop her giggling as Noteworthy steered them further away from the theater.
"Well I'll be," Noteworthy said as he stopped suddenly. "Lily."
Pinkie ceased her laughing at the name of Noteworthy's ex-fillyfriend.
"What about her?" Pinkie asked sternly at Noteworthy.
"She right over there," Noteworthy said pointing a hoof at a table in the fancy outdoor restaurant across the street from the two of them. "And she with-"
"Pokey?" Pinkie said looking over at the table too.
Sitting at the table was Pokey with a pink earth filly with a blond mane in a very fashionable dress. Judging by the vase with a rose in it, and the lit candle standing in the middle of their table, you would have guessed they were more than just friends.
"Let's go say hi." Pinkie said happily as she bounced towards them.
"I don't think that is a good idea, Pinkie." Noteworthy said.
“Oh, nonsense. Pokey and I are friends, in fact we have been so busy the last couple of weeks we haven't seen each other for a while. Come on we can all catch up!”
“No Pinkie, I think-” Noteworthy started to say but it was too late, Pinkie had already bounced off.
"Hi Pokey," Pinkie said smiling at the two of them. "Long time now see. Look at you, having a date with a pretty mare. You even bought her a flower to put in her hair."
"Pinkie," Noteworthy said quietly, approaching the table nervously. "Lily always wears her hair like that."
"Oh, hiya Pinkie." Pokey said cheerfully.
Lily did not look impressed.
"Pinkie," she said curtly. "And Noteworthy."
Noteworthy cleared his throat.
"Hello, Lily," he said quickly. "Okay Pinkie we really shouldn't be bothering the two of them."
“What? It’s just Pokey and your ex.” Pinkie said.
Lily gave her a dagger glare.
"Whoa, Noteworthy." Pokey said looking up at his face. "Where did you get the shiner?"
Lily looked up at Noteworthy's face.
"OH MY!" Lily exclaimed noticing the black eye. "WHAT HAPPENED!?"
"Sheesh, Lily." Noteworthy said embarrassed. "You don't have to be dramatic about it."
"What happened to you?" Lily said pulling Noteworthy closer so she could see his black eye better in the light of the candle. "OH NOTEY! This bruise is fresh!"
"Notey?" Pinkie Pie asked quietly to Pokey.
Pokey hid a nicker.
"Well if you want to know," Noteworthy said with an annoyed tone. "Pinkie gave this to me, in the movie theater."
"We saw the new Buck Norris flick." Pinkie chimed in.
"You saw Firetrotter!?" Pokey said excitedly. "How was it?"
"It was awesome!" Pinkie said bouncing up and down.
"A bit too awesome for Pinkie." Noteworthy told the group. “She couldn't sit still during the movie, and that's how I got this."
"Oh Pokey, you should have seen it." Pinkie went on, not taking notice of Noteworthy's comment. "There was this one scene where he throws the bad guy, who’s a unicorn, in to a wall and his horn gets stuck in it, and he just hangs there. There was also this other scene, when Buck does this big chop-”
Pinkie, who was narrating using large gestures with her forehoves, gave a swing with her right hoof and hit the table hard.
The candle and the vase flew up in the air. Pokey seeing the fire hazard, quickly grabbed the candle in the air with his magic. Sadly the vase fell forward, broke upon impact with the table, and covered Lily with the murky water that was inside of it.
“Ah!” Lily cried out in disgust. “Eck, no no no no!”
The mare stood up appalled at the stain that was now on her dress.
“Ooops,” Pinkie said embarrassed. “Sorry about that.”
“You!” Lily said with her face reddening. “You are a walking catastrophe!”
Lily jabbed a hoof at Pinkie.
“You are a danger to yourself and others,” Lily continued. "You’ve hurt Notey and now you've come to ruin our date."
“Now, Lily, that was an accident.” Pokey said putting the candle down and handing her a napkin.
Lily let out a dramatic gasp.
“You!” Lily said fuming now at Pokey. “You are defending her!?"
“What!?” Pokey responded.
“I should have known better!” Lily was now glaring at the two of them with anger, her whole body now had become the same red as her face. “You told me the two of you were just friends, and when I found out she was dating Noteworthy I believed you. But I see now this is some sort of elaborate joke the two of you have been planning. This is just another one of your party pranks, isn't it Pinkie?.”
“No! Its not!” Both Pokey and Pinkie said.
Lily stood up unconvinced.
“Good night Pokey! I hope you enjoyed your laugh!”
With a whip of her mane, Lily marched out of the cafe.
“Come on, Pinkie.” Noteworthy said dragging her away in the opposite direction. “We have done enough damage for the night.”
Pinkie wanted to argue with him, but she realized that Noteworthy was right, and so she followed quietly. The last thing Pinkie saw before she left was Pokey, sitting very much alone at the table, and blowing out the candle in front of him with a sad sigh.
*****
Pinkie sat in the gazebo of the Ponyville park, feeling the heavy burden that was now on her heart from the recent events of the night.
“Pinkie, I just don’t get you.” Noteworthy said pacing back and forth. “You are an amazingly attractive mare. And you certainly know how to have a good time with large groups. But one on one, how can I put this? ... YOU. ARE. CREEPY!”
Since Noteworthy forcefully dragged her to the gazebo, he had gone off on her. He didn’t seem at all upset that she had ruined Pokey’s date, he was more angry she had ruined Lily’s dress and given him a black eye.
“Look at me I have a physical injury from going out with you!” Noteworthy said pointing to his eye. “I thought going to a movie would be good for us. Most ponies take movie watching as a passive activity, you just sit there and enjoy. But look at me, I tried to sit next to you and you made me looked like I've gone five rounds in a boxing match.”
“Hey, I said I was sorry,” Pinkie said now feeling flustered. “What was that whole business between you and Lily, huh? Oh my poor little Notey, you planning on getting back together with her?”
Noteworthy glared back at her.
“She broke up with me, I have no clue what she was doing using her old pet name for me.”
“Well, maybe you should go ask her, cause I’m obviously a bad fillyfriend.” Pinkie said indignantly.
Noteworthy glared at her and gave a huff.
“I’m sorry Pinkie this relationship cannot work.” Noteworthy finally said. “You are crazy! I don’t get you, and Lily was right, you are dangerous.”
Noteworthy pointed at his injured eye again to accent a point.
“Good night Pinkie.” Noteworthy said stepping out of the gazebo.
Pinkie choose to go home by way of the cafe she had last seen Pokey sitting at alone. When she walked passed it, the table she had last seen him at was empty. She deeply wished Pokey was still there, she wanted to apologize, and to make sure he was OK and to... just be with him.
Pinkie felt even more heartbroken as she continued home, filled with more remorse for Pokey’s hurt feelings than anger at Noteworthy for dumping her.
*****
Pokey sat on a bench in the bowling alley. He thought it slightly odd he chose to come here alone on a Friday night of all places. But something about the place made him feel mildly better.
His original plans for the night was to go with Lily to see a concert, but after the break up at the restaurant last Tuesday night, Pokey was not in the mood to go by himself. He sold the tickets to Caramel, who in turn took Whisper Wind.
Pokey felt really bad about the last week. He and Lily were hitting it off really well. Their last date was only their third one. Amazingly Lily was showing signs of actual interest in him as her coltfriend. Their conversation that night was drifting towards the subject when Pinkie showed up.
Pinkie had made a mess of things, Pokey was angry at her for it. At the same time Pokey felt another mix of strange emotions.
It took three days to sort it out, but he came to the conclusion the feeling he felt was a combination of things: jealously that Noteworthy got to see a cool movie with Pinkie (even if he did get a black-eye from it), sadness that Lily left him without letting him explain, and anger at Noteworthy for being disrespectful of Pinkie by dragging her around like she was some young bad filly.
That morning, when Caramel bought the concert tickets from him, he asked Pokey if he was going to talk to Pinkie about. Pokey said no, he wasn’t ready yet. He still couldn’t get over Pinkie’s foolishness that night. Caramel then informed him that Noteworthy had broken up with Pinkie the same night after they left, which made Pokey even more angry at Noteworthy for hurting her.
“If you’re that angry at Noteworthy for treating Pinkie that way, how can you stay mad at her when it sounds like you are on her side?” Caramel asked him
“Because,” Pokey started but couldn’t find a good reason. He eventually settled with, “because you just don’t understand the whole thing, Caramel.”
The situation was just a mess, on one hoof Pinkie was no longer going out with that jerk Noteworthy, but on the other hoof he was still mad that Pinkie had ruined his relationship with Lily.
He laid on the bench milling over his thoughts, when a bright pink mane at the other end of the alley caught his eye, it was Pinkie. She had found him out and was making her way straight towards him.
Pokey’s first thought was to storm out of the alley, but he knew Pinkie would just follow after him. She was stubborn that way, he knew that about her. Pokey then figured to just let Pinkie walk over and try to convince her to leave him alone.
"Pokey?" Pinkie asked him plopping down in front of his bench.
"How did you find me here?" He asked her plainly, looking away from her.
"Well," Pinkie said in a voice that was not a joyful as her typical self. "I just heard the news this morning from Wind Whistler, Lily left you, as in left you left you Tuesday night. I've been trying to find you since, Noteworthy broke up with me as well.”
Pokey shifted his weight on the bench.
“You weren't home when I started looking for you.” Pinkie continued. “I though to myself what are the things you would do when not popping balloons and sharing parties with me? I remembered once you told me you like bowling. So, it was a long shot, I decided to check here."
Pokey gave an impatient snort. Pinkie could be annoying, and completely crazy, but the mare was not stupid he’d give her that.
“I also remembered that one time we were here and-”
Pokey cut her off with and angry growl.
"Pokey?" Pinkie asked in a hurt tone.
Pokey immediately felt guilty for being coarse with her. The sound of the hurt in her voice made something ache in his chest and made him bite his lip. He turned to face her, her head was down.
"You have every right to be angry at me, It was my fault. I'm really sorry." Pinkie said lowering her gaze further.
There was a moment of silence. Pokey took a deep breath.
"I know your sorry," Pokey said. "But I'm still trying to work out my feelings about this. I really don't want talk about it right now, especially to you."
Pinkie gave a wince at his last few words and Pokey felt even more regretful of his anger
"Okay," Pinkie said weakly. "Can I just tell you what's going on with me? You don't have to say anything, I just need somepony to listen, and I'd like it to be you."
Pokey closed his eyes. He wanted to tell her no, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything that might hurt her more. She was only asking for him to listen, that's not hard. Maybe hearing Pinkie's side of things could help him get his feelings back in order.
“Alright,” Pokey said softly.
"Pokey, I know I have a reputation of being fun and easy going. I can also get annoying at times, and have problems knowing when things have gone too far. But I just wanted to tell you the times I have spent with you babysitting the Cake twins, having fun, and throwing parties have been very memorable for me."
Pinkie let out a sigh, her curly bangs covered her face as she continued to look at floor.
"The last few weeks both of us have been a bit too busy with our lives that we haven't gotten to talk or do the fun stuff we normally do. I've realized the reason I've been acting this way is because I have been hiding things from you. I've been hiding them for a long time. I though if I found someone else to distract me, I would be able to ignore them but it didn't work as well as I thought."
Pokey was not sure what he was hearing. He wanted to see Pinkie's face, to get a better understanding what she was feeling, but her gaze was still at the floor and her mane was covering her eyes.
"Pokey," Pinkie's voice sounded slightly weak. "The past year I've gotten to know you has been one of the best. That morning you sat down and had breakfast with me, I couldn't stop staring at you. Your eyes, they looked like the warm sun. Your hair looks like frosting on a cake. You are an amazing pony. You are wonderful and kind with babies, Pumpkin and Pound love it you whenever you babysit with me. You like to throw parties, the kind that I like. When Noteworthy left me he said he just didn't get me, and he’s right, he doesn't. But I think you get me, Pokey. Better than any stallion in Ponyville."
Pinkie reached a hoof out and placed it on Pokey's, her gaze still on the floor.
"They miss you, Pokey, the babies. They were asking about you last night when I was taking care of them. It took two whole bags of flour dumped on my head to get Pumpkin to smile when she realized you were not coming. Gummy misses you too."
"Gummy?" Pokey asked skeptically.
Gummy was Pinkie's toothless pet alligator. Pokey never completely understood him, but he got that Gummy was a nice companion and pet for Pinkie.
"Okay, no he doesn't" Pinkie said still not looking up, though he now wanted her to do so. "Gummy is, well still Gummy. But I miss you most of all."
The words hit him like a dart, Pokey couldn't say anything.
"I miss you Pokey. I miss your magic. I miss your frosting hair. I miss singing and dancing with you. I miss that look of joy you get when you pop a balloon. I miss it all."
"We can still hang out, Pinkie." Pokey said feeling a little touched by her words. "I may be mad now but I'll get over it."
"No," Pinkie said defiantly. "I don't want to just hangout and be silly with you, Pokey."
Pinkie finally looked up at him, her wet eyes had grown to the size do sand dollars, her lips trembled, and her nose gave a slight twitch that made Pokey feel a strange flutter in his chest.
"I want you. I... I... I love you."
Pinkie closed her eyes and leaned forward to kiss him.
Pokey panicked but his body had frozen to the spot in shock, of all the things Pinkie could say and do to him now, this was the least he was prepared for.
Pinkie's lips got closer and closer. At the last moment Pokey flinched and looked away. Pinkie's lips made contact with his nose.
Pinkie's eyes shot open and Pokey felt another wave of panic. He could see it in Pinkie's expression, she looked rejected and hurt.
Pokey snapped his body back so quickly that he fell off the bench and in to a rack of bowling balls. One ball jostled loose and fell squarely on Pokey's back leg, landing with a unsettling crunch.
Pokey let out a howl of pain, and his vision was immediately blinded blinded by tears.
"No! No! No!" Pokey heard Pinkie say hurt. "I can't do anything right. Lily was right I am a walking catastrophe."
Pokey heard her hoof steps gallop away as a whole crowd of other ponies gathered around him to help.
"We need to call an ambulance, man." A voice next to Pokey said.
"It’s it taken care of, Dude." Said another voice that sounded more grizzled.
"Okay, just be careful with him. He's fragile, man! He's very fragile!"
*****
Pinkie laid in her bed alone in the dark. It had been two nights since the disaster in the bowling alley. She was still deeply upset with it and the whole week.
She had not eaten anything or talked to anyone, with the exception of her friend Twilight Sparkle who visited her earlier in the morning.
Twilight had come to see her after finding out what happened.
"Pinkie are you Okay?" Twilight asked her while Pinkie laid bundled up in her blankets.
"No, just leave me alone." Pinkie said through her mane that hung straight across her face.
"I know you're upset, maybe we could throw Pokey a get well party?" Twilight offered nicely.
"No," Pinkie said burying her face in to her pillow. "Pokey doesn't want to see me. He was avoiding me last night, so I tracked him down, and look what happened."
"Oh, Pinkie, you can't blame yourself for that. It was an accident." Twilight said trying to be comforting.
Twilight did not know of everything that happened last night. She wasn’t aware of how much a screw up Pinkie had made the entire week.
"No, it was," Pinkie said still muffled by her pillow. "Please, Twilight. Leave me alone."
“Okay, Pinkie.” She said softy. “We’re here for you when you need us.”
Pinkie laid in her bed exhausted. She had cried herself to sleep the night before, and her mood did not change when she woke up.
Eventually hunger drove her to pull herself out of bed. Pinkie dragged her hooves across the the floor as she made her way to the kitchen. As she walked past the mirror by the window, she saw her reflection and stopped.
She barely recognized the pony staring back at her. She had the same cutie mark as her, and pink fur, but her mane was straight and it covered half her face. And the pony in the mirror she looked so sad and hurt.
Pinkie took a few steps closer, almost scared at the sight before her.
"So this is what ponies see in me," she said out loud to herself. "Pokey, Noteworthy, and even my friends have seen it too, when I thought they abandoned me."
Pinkie reached a hoof up to the glass.
"Pokey should hate me. I stole his cute-ceañera as a filly. I was mean to him in school. I kicked him out of the welcome party I threw for Twilight. I ruined his date with Lily, and last night I broke his leg."
Pinkie felt a tear roll down her cheek. She felt like breaking down and crying again but she did not have the strength to do it, she had already done so much of it already.
Pinkie leaned her head against the mirror, lost in her own grief.
“I’m such a screw up. I’m terrible pony.” She kept saying over and over to herself.
"Pinkie?" A soft familiar male voice said to her. She felt a hoof gently touch her withers.
She squeezed her already closed eyes tightly, she was imagining it. Her mind had finally gone completely off the deep end and was imagining things that weren't there.
She felt a set of forehooves pull her in to an embrace, her face was now touched warm fur of the chest on another pony.
"It's okay," she heard the voice of Pokey whisper from the pony holding her. "I'm alright."
Pinkie took in a gasp, realizing Pokey was actually actually there, actually holding her. The smell of his fur against her nose confirmed it beyond any reason of doubt.
“I have seen you this way before, Pinkie, but its alright. We all have our bad days now and then. Please don’t say anything, just let me talk this time." Pokey said gently.
Pinkie pulled in tighter in to his grip, she wanted to scream out, apologize, and run away, but the longer he held her the less she felt she had the power to do so.
"That morning when we shared breakfast, I couldn't stop staring at you either, Pinkie Pie. The color of your eyes reminded me of a beautiful cloudless sky, and your mane made me think of cotton candy. And that night at the cafe, I was angry, but not as much as I was jealous that I didn't get to see that movie with you, it should have been me with that black eye. I know sounds stupid doesn’t it?"
Pinkie wanted to say something but her body had now completely surrendered to his embrace. All she was only able to listen and give a little whimper between breaths.
"I know what you are thinking, last night you broke my leg."
Pinkie let out a small cry in to his chest, Pokey softly hushed her and gave her a slight rock.
"But you’re wrong, Pinkie Pie. You did nothing of the sort, all you did last night was tell the truth and say you loved me," Pokey said pulling her up to his face. "I was the stupid one, I got nervous, and it was my hesitation, and my ignorance to my own feelings that broke my own leg."
Pinkie's eyes were still closed, but she felt Pokey breath on her nose.
"I love you too Pinkie Pie.” He said placing his forehead on hers. “And I deserve a broken leg if I'm going to try to hide that from myself or you again."
Pinkie finally opened her eyes and saw Pokey's tearful, beautiful, yellow as the rising sun, eyes looking back at her.
"I love you.” He said with a deeper earnest in his voice. “I love you more than balloons, or fancy restaurants, or waffles, or bowling, or every party in Equestria combined. I love you."
"Y-y-you mean it?" Pinkie stuttered, finally feeling her voice returning.
Pokey reached to her side and pulled a red balloon up between them. Pokey then let it go and let it drift straight up towards the ceiling. Something sparkly immediately caught Pinkie’s eye.
Tied to the end of the string was an engagement earring, with the diamond in the shape of Pokey cutie mark, a safety pin.
"Every word of it and more. Please forgive me for hesitating last night. I have no more doubts now" Pokey said kneeling down to the best of his abilities with the new cast on his back leg. "Pinkamina Diane Pie, I want to wake up to your smile for the rest of my life. Please would you be my wife?"
Pinkie felt a joy she had never felt before bubble up from deep inside of her. Her mane and tail sprung up in it curliness as she felt a different wave of tears of joy fall from her eyes.
"Yes!" She said with a gasp and flung her forearms over Pokey nearly tackling him.
"Easy, sweetheart," Pokey said with a slightly pained tone. "I only have three legs to stand on at the moment."
Pinkie let out a laugh, she felt like a dam inside her had burst as she broke in to wave upon wave of laughter. Pokey look like he would have joined in laughing with her too, but he was too busy covering every inch of her neck and face with kisses.
Pinkie finally calmed down when she heard the sounds of hooves clopping the room.
She and Pokey looked up and saw, now crowded around the now open doorway to her room, the Cake family, and all of her friends, clopping their hooves in applause at the scene they were eavesdropping on.
"Well," Rarity said to Applejack. "It sure took them long enough."
"You're tellin' me." Applejack said back to her.
The rest of the ponies nodded in agreement.
Pinkie just held Pokey closer, still in the euphoria that he had not only had forgiven her, but he had just asked to spend the rest of his life to love her.
"We are in for one hell of a party at the wedding." Pokey whispered in to her ear, as he still held her.
Pinkie let out another laugh.
"You have no idea." Pinkie said back to him and then buried her face in to his neck.
The End
