Love in Bloom

Knock knock knock.

A pink hoof knocked on the wooden door of the home of Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville.

The purple unicorn was visibly disturbed, and with good reason. She was busy working on a new study into the infamous poison joke plant, trying to figure out how it and other plants like it worked. Nevertheless she answered the door only to be greeted by her friend Pinkie Pie blowing a noisemaker. On her head, a basket of envelopes. Though startled at first, Twilight remained calm.

“Oh, hi Pinkie Pie.” Twilight greeted.

“Hey Twilight!” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully as usual. “Guess what? I’m having a party at Sugarcube Corner!”

“That sounds like fun.” said Twilight. “What’s the occasion?”

“Here’s your invitation.” Pinkie Pie said offering the basket to her friend. Using her unicorn magic, Twilight picked up and opened one of the envelopes. Twilight read:

“You are invited to a welcoming party at Sugarcube Corner. This afternoon at four o’clock.”

“Welcoming party?” Twilight asked.

“Uh huh.” said Pinkie Pie. "A new pony just moved to town! So I decided to throw one of my special Pinkie Pie parties to welcome her! There's gonna be cake and ice cream and a big lunch and fun fun fun fun fun!" She chattered loudly, hopping up and down as she did so. “So you gonna come? Huh? Huh? HUH?”

She lunged practically right into Twilight's face as she did so. Twilight was by now used to the hyperactive pink earth pony's mannerisms, but she still recoiled a bit. But it wasn't long before her face was split by a smile.

“Sure Pinkie.” Twilight said. “I’d love to come and meet the new pony.” Pinkie hopped around even more vigorously.

"Yipee!" She cheered. “Meet me at Sugarcube corner in one hour.”

"You got it." Twilight said. “Should I bring any food?”

“Sure.” said Pinkie. “The more goodies the goodier! I’m gonna go invite more ponies!”

Twilight giggled at her friend's exuberance. Pinkie Pie soon hopped away to go invite some more guests.

“What was that all about?” Twilight’s young draconic assistant, Spike asked. The youngster came downstairs, rubbing his eyes, apparently having been woken from a nap.

“Looks like it’s time for another one of Pinkie’s parties.” said Twilight.

“What’s the occasion?” Spike asked.

“There’s a new pony in Ponyville.” said Twilight. "So Pinkie took it upon herself to throw a welcoming party." Spike perked up immediately.

“Well I’m game for any party!” He said. “Thank you new pony!” Twilight just giggled.

Sugarcube Corner was abuzz with activity. Upbeat music played from sound system, courtesy of Vinyl Scratch. Ponies were conversing and enjoying themselves. Though there seemed to be a missing face.

“Wow Pinkie, you sure know how to throw a party.” said Twilight. “But where is the new pony?” Pinkie Pie giggled.

“Don’t worry.” She said. “She should be here soon. Rainbow Dash is keeping a lookout for her.”

Sure enough, the cyan Pegasus was sitting on the top of Sugarcube Corner's roof, binoculars in hoof.

“Let’s see.” said Rainbow Dash. She scanned the area for a pony as Pinkie described. A lavender blue mare with a long brown mane and tail, pale blue eyes, and a cutie mark of flowers arranged into a heart. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before Rainbow Dash spotted the said pony trotting down the path. “Aha.” said Dash. “Target sighted.”

“So what all did you say to the new pony?” Applejack asked. “You didn’t ask her to come by singing did you?” Twilight found herself snickering at the thought.

“Of course not Silly McSillypants.” said Pinkie. “I just asked if she wanted to come by for some cupcakes. And then she said “Um sure ok.” then I said “Great! I’ll see you in an hour!” And here we are.” She bounced up and down like she always did when happy.

“She’s coming!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed coming inside.

“Uh oh!” Pinkie yelped. “Red alert! Places, everypony!” Every pony hid in any and all of the available spots they could find. Rarity stuffed herself in the coat closet.

“Oh dear, this is so unseemly.” She said. Pinkie Pie shushed whoever was making noise.

The new pony soon walked in. Not seeing a single soul inside, she grew wary.

“Hello?” She asked. “Anypony here?” She took a look around. The place seemed deserted. “Hello?” She asked again. Suddenly…

“SURPRISE!” all the ponies cheered. She yelped and fell over on her haunch.

“Oh my gosh! What‘s going on?!” She shouted.

“It’s a party!” said Pinkie Pie as she hopped over. “For you! Do you like it? Do you? Do you?”

The pony flinched a bit.

“For me?” She asked.

“Yep!” Pinkie Pie said. She hopped up and down faster than ever. Twilight walked over to them.

“Are you alright?” She asked the newcomer. She looked around and nodded.

“Yeah, just surprised.” She said. Pinkie Pie giggled.

“Well that’s good. This is supposed to be a surprise party.” She said.

“Parties are Pinkie Pie’s specialty.” said Twilight. “She threw one for me when I first came to Ponyville.” The newcomer giggled. “My name is Twilight Sparkle.” said the violet unicorn.

“I’m Bloomeria.” said the new earth pony. She stood up and shook Twilight's hoof. “Nice to meet you.” She said.

“Likewise.” said Twilight. She saw her other friends approach them. “Oh there you are.” She said. “Bloomeria, this is Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, you’ve met Pinkie Pie, and of course, Spike.” They all greeted her.

“Well boy howdy!” Applejack said, vigorously shaking Bloomeria's hoof. “Welcome to Ponyville!”

“Thaa-aa-aa-nk yoo-oo-ou!” said Bloomeria, her voiced altered by Applejack vigorous hoofshake. When she finally let go, her leg was still shaking. Bloomeria laughed nervously as she finally got her leg to stop shaking. Rarity was next.

“Well hello darling It is a pleasure to meet you.” She said, adopting her usual regal tone. "Might I say, that you look absolutely divine."

“Oh?” Bloomeria asked. “Well why thank you. You look very pretty too.”

Rarity smiled. “Oh, but look at you. I simply love what you've done with your coiffure.”

“Oh, this is how I always have my mane.” said Bloomeria. “I don’t think it’s all that special.”

“Nonsense.” Rarity said, continuing to compliment her on her style. Bloomeria began to feel a bit embarrassed, and that's when Twilight finally put a stop to Rarity's praise.

“OK, Rarity, that's enough.” She said. Bloomeria inwardly thanked her. Next up was Fluttershy, who lived up to her name to a T. She was rather shy.

“Um, hi.” She said, moving her right forehoof in little circles and seemingly refusing to make eye contact. "I'm... I'm... Flutter...." The last bit trailed off so silently Bloomeria couldn't make it out. She smiled at her though. Bloomeria returned it, trying to make it as warm as possible. She didn't want to make the shy Pegasus any more nervous than she already was.

“It’s nice to meet you.” She said sweetly. Fluttershy only smiled further.

"Sorry, she's... well, shy." Twlight said.

"It's ok." Bloomeria said. "Truth be told, I'm shy myself sometimes." Next was Rainbow Dash.

"Hi there!" She said, flaring her wings and putting on her most winning smile.

"Uh, hi. You must be Rainbow Dash. Say, aren't you the one who pulled off the Sonic Rainboom?" Bloomeria asked.

“The one and only.” said Rainbow Dash. "Why, ya heard of me?" She asked excitedly.

“Yes I did, actually.” Bloomeria said. “An old friend of mine told me about you. Maybe you heard of him? His name is Soarin’.” Rainbow's eyes went as wide as saucers.

“You probably shouldn’t have said that sugarcube.” said Applejack. Rainbow began to squee.

“Stand back, she's gonna blow!” Twilight said with a laugh.

“You know a WONDERBOLT!?" Rainbow squealed. "AAAHHHHHH!!!"

“Correction.” Spike said, covering his ears. “You definitely shouldn’t have said that.”

"Spike." Twilight said with a laugh.

“Well gee, I’ve known him since I was a little filly.” Bloomeria said. "We went to school together. I even helped him with his homework.” She said with a snicker.

“Who wants a cupcake!?” Pinkie Pie asked holding a tray of cupcakes to Bloomeria’s face.

"Oh, thank you." She said.

"Pinkie Pie." Rainbow Dash grumbled. "She was telling me about Soarin's colthood."

“Don’t worry.” Bloomeria said. “I’ll tell you what, next time I see him, I’ll tell him you said hi.” She took a bite of cupcake.

“OHMYGOSHTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!” Rainbow Dash said, embracing Bloomeria.

"Erk!" She said. "You're welcome." She rasped. Rainbow Dash let go of her and spent the rest of her happy energy running circles around the ceiling and fangirl spazzing. Pinkie Pie giggled and spazzed along with her.

“This is fun!” She squealed. Bloomeria giggled.

“Is Pinkie Pie always so bouncy?” She asked.

“It’s when she’s not bouncy that worries me.” said Twilight.

Later into the party, everypony was having a good time eating, conversing and getting to know Bloomeria. Bloomeria herself had come out of her nervous shell and was happily conversing.

“You’re opening a new flower shop?” Fluttershy asked.

“Uh huh.” said Bloomeria. “I’ll be selling flower arrangements and garlands and stuff. Daisy‘s going to help me set up shop.”

"That's nice of her." Fluttershy said.

“It is.” Bloomeria said. “And I’m grateful to her. I’ll be right back. I’m going to get some more punch. Anypony want any more?”

“Oh, no thank you.” said Fluttershy.

“Would you fetch me some?” Rarity asked.

“Coming right up.” said Bloomeria. She left to go to the punchbowl. She was in high spirits after everything that had happened so far. So much in fact, that she didn't watch where she was going. As she backed up away from the punchbowl, tray with two punch glasses in mouth, her rump bumped into another.

"Yah!" She heard a yelp.

“Oh I’m sorry.” She said through her teeth, her voice obscured by the tray in her mouth. “Please excuse…me.” Her eyes widened as soon as she saw whom she bumped into. It was a male Pegasus. He bore a dark blue coat and a brown mane and tail. He even had fur around his muzzle that formed a sort of goatee. His eyes were brown and he wore glasses. His cutie mark was a gold and white shield with a blue emblem. Bloomeria felt like she couldn’t even move.

“Oh I’m sorry. Were you going this way?” the Pegasus asked. Bloomeria meeped. The Pegasus stepped out of the way. He smiled warmly. Bloomeria finally managed to get her four legs moving past the Pegasus back to the table where her new friends were.

"Y'all alright, sugarcube?" Applejack asked. "Y'all look like you've seen a ghost." Bloomeria set the tray down and looked back at the male Pegasus as he chatted with some other ponies.

“Who is that?” She asked.

"Oh him?" Pinkie said. "That's Blaze.”

“You know him?” Bloomeria asked.

“Pinkie Pie knows everypony.” said Rainbow Dash. “I know him too. He supervises cloud formations and where they go.”

“He’s also a Colt Scouts leader.” Pinkie Pie added. Bloomeria couldn’t stop looking at him.

Strangely though, none of the others noticed... except for Fluttershy, who always seemed to be in tune with everyone's feelings. Bloomeria sighed. But it wasn’t really a sad sigh. Fluttershy approached her cautiously.

“Um, Bloomeria? Are you all right?” She asked. Then she saw the look on the lavender pony’s face. A slight grin, eyes almost drooping, Fluttershy knew that look all to well. “Hey girls, look at how Bloomeria’s looking at Blaze.” She said to her friends.

"Eh, how?" Rainbow Dash asked. She wasn't the best at reading faces. “She looks almost sick.” She said.

Fluttershy shook her head. "Do you remember how all the fillies used to look at that handsome principal we had one year in flight school?"

“Oh yeah.” said Rainbow Dash. “Boy was he good looking. Meeow!”

“Why, I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s getting a crush on that Pegasus.” said Applejack.

Fluttershy smiled. Bloomeria didn’t even care to listen. All she could hear anyway was her own heart beating.

“Ooh I think you‘re right.” said Rarity. She tapped Bloomeria on the shoulder. Bloomeria gasped as she came out of her dream like trance.

“Huh? What? Who?” She noticed Fluttershy. “Uh…” Bloomeria said, searching in her head for something to say. “I love your hair.” Bloomeria blushed. Fluttershy was confused. Bloomeria just blushed and smiled at them. She had no idea what to do now.