Knock knock knock.
Pinkie Pie bounced to her door, swinging it open. Before her, was no pony other than Rainbow Dash. The Pegasus smiled at her in greeting, and without a thought, Pinkie backed away to allow her inside.
"Hey, Pinks. Thanks." Rainbow Dash quickly trotted into Sugarcube Corner.
"Dashie!" Pinkie sang, leaping up and down in sheer joy. "What brings you here today? Wanna buy some brownies? We have a reeeeeeally great special going on right now!"
Dash chuckled and shook her head. "Heh, nah, sorry. No sweets today. I actually stopped in to ask you for a favor--"
"OF COURSE!!!" The party pony shrieked, a certain octave that made Dash's ears ring. "You've got it! I'm on the case! Anything! ANYTHING!"
Rainbow Dash cocked an eyebrow, her eyes following Pinkie's leaps and bounds. "But, uh...I haven't even told you what I need yet."
Pinkie's bounces came to a halt, and her ears flattened, a blush sweeping across her muzzle. "Oh...right..." She regained her composure. "Well, what is it? Hmm? Tell me tell me! OOH! WAIT! Let me guess. I'm sooooo good at guessing games! Is it a song? Do I gotta sing?"
Rainbow's facial expression was blank.
"No?" Pinkie continued. "Okay, well...is it line dancing again? Because, I told Applejack that a line dance doesn't just have to be--"
"No, Pinkie." Dash smiled. "But...I guess you could say it may involve those things."
"Is it a shin-dig?"
"Well..."
"A hoedown?"
"Bleh!"
"Is it a--"
"Pinkie Pie!" Dash cut her off, placing a hoof to her mouth. "I need a party."
Pinkie pushed the hoof away, rolling her eyes. "Ugh, Daaaaashiiiiiiie...that's what I was just about to say! Hmph." the pink pony turned her back to Rainbow Dash, before, after a moment, it registered.
"A PARTY!!"
She began bouncing again, leaping over the front counter, only her tail being visible. Items such as streamers began being thrown every which way. Dash jumped out of the way a few times as all sorts of things were being tossed about.
"Okay, so we'll need the essentials. Streamers, balloons, noisemakers...and I'll have to bake a cake, and..." she stopped for a moment, and decorations stopped flying. Pinkie's head reappeared over the counter, a roll of streamers stuck in her poofy mane. "What's the party for?"
"See, that's the hard part." Dash replied. "I want it to be a surprise for everypony, and that includes you too. So...I can't really give you much to go on. Let's just say it's a celebration for me being awesome." she spread her wings far and struck a pose.
Pinkie's eyes sparkled in awe and delight, and she nodded her head. "I can work with that! After all, we've had that kinda party, like, a bazillion times!" She returned to her work and fussed about for a bit, before rising up again with a box of supplies on her back, and now many more things stuck in her mane. She turned to Rainbow Dash and stared at her.
"Well? Well well well?! You can't just be here while I'm preparing!"
Dash blinked, caught off guard. “But…the party isn’t a surprise for me, it’s for you guys.”
“I know that, silly! I want it to be a surprise for everypony.”
Dash blinked again.
Pinkie smoothed her mane down to look like Rainbow Dash’s and mocked her voice. “And that includes you, too!”
Rainbow Dash laughed and shook her head. “Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll be back in a little while with the girls. Don’t take too long! You know I won’t!” she took flight, and raced out the door.
Pinkie ran out the door and watched her. “Oh, don’t worry!” she called to her. “Your favorite party planner is always on time!!!”
~~~~~~~~
Later that evening, Dash entered Sugarcube Corner again, this time with Twilight, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity. They were all having their own little topics, until they saw the decor. Pinkie Pie had, as always, outdone herself, making the place look perfect with streamers, balloons, and that old Pinkie Pie touch. She bounced in the room, covered in flour, and wearing a chef’s hat.
“Just a sec, girls! The cake’s almost done! Go ahead and make yourselves comfy!” And with that, she danced back into the kitchen, humming along the way.
Applejack chuckled. “Y’know, Pinkie is always doin’ all the work fer us.”
Twilight nodded in agreement. “Yes, we’ll have to thank her somehow.”
“Are you kidding?” Dash groaned. “Remember what happened last time we tried to throw her a party instead? She went CRAZY!”
“Indeed.” said Rarity. “Besides, I think she likes doing this. Nopony else can really pull it off like her!”
Fluttershy agreed with a nod.
Pinkie quickly came back into the room, carrying plates with slices of cake on it, one for each of her friends, including herself. “I’m back!” she said through gritted teeth, sitting each plate down on a table. “There! All set! You see, Dashie? I told you I’d be on time!”
Rainbow Dash smiled. “Yep, and I didn’t doubt ya for a second.”
Pinkie grinned graciously, a light rosy color filling her cheeks.
“We all really appreciate ya throwin’ a party fer us, Pinkie.” said Applejack. “We always enjoy em’.”
“Ooh! You’re welcome!” Pinkie cheered. “But, this wasn’t my idea. I just did the planning! Rainbow Dash wanted me to throw it!”
“Oh, did you?” Rarity asked, turning to the cyan Pegasus. “How splendid. Many thanks, Rainbow.”
“It’s nothin’.” Dash replied. “I did it for a good reason anyway.” she leaped gracefully into the air, perching herself on one of the empty tables. “Everypony, I’ve called you all here tonight, because I have an announcement to make!”
“Announcement?” cooed Fluttershy, who took a sip of punch. “What sort of announcement?”
“Only the best announcement anypony could make!” Dash exclaimed, flexing her wings and pulling a slip of paper from her mane. The paper had a holder on it, with a pair of goggles attached to it.
“Are those Wonderbolt goggles?” Asked Rarity, taking a closer look at them.
“They sure are!” Dash declared proudly, opening the letter. She cleared her throat.
“Miss Rainbow Dash,
It is with great honor that we congratulate you on becoming an honorary member of the high-flying team The Wonderbolts.”
Gasps filled the room, and Dash raised a hoof to allow her to continue:
“Inside are your very own pair of goggles, marked with The Wonderbolts logo. We have already made a full-body jumpsuit for you, and you will receive it the morning you arrive on Cloudsdale grounds.”
“Oh, Cloudsdale.” said Fluttershy dreamily. “It’ll be nice for you to be home again…”
“I know, right?” Rainbow Dash grinned, thinking fondly of her home in the sky. She looked back to her letter.
“We expect to see you tomorrow morning, ten a.m. sharp. Congratulations again,
Spitfire
Wonderbolts Captain”
“Wait…” said Pinkie, who approached the table, looking up into Dash’s magenta eyes. “Tomorrow? Morning?”
“Yep. I wanted this party to be a celebration! And you can all see me off in the morning.”
“Why, this is just wonderful Rainbow Dash!” cheered Rarity. “You’re finally achieving your dreams!”
“Yes, Rainbow, we’re all very proud of you.” added Twilight. “Let’s make this celebration a great one.”
“Aaaand how!” hollered Applejack, who tossed her hat into the air. “Way to go, Dash!”
Fluttershy joined Rainbow Dash on the table, hugging her close with a wing.
“Yay.”
Dash smiled at her friends, and snatched a bite of cake off of her plate. “Thanks, everypony! I knew you guys would be thrilled for me! Are you, Pinkie Pie?”
Pinkie was silent, staring off into an unknown place.
“Pinkie Pie?”
She shook her head quickly. “Huh? Oh! Yes!” Her smile was wide. “I’m sooooo happy for you, Dashie! You must feel amazing!”
“I do!” Dash said, pulling her up on the table with her and Fluttershy. “Come on! Let’s party until we can’t anymore!”
The other ponies cheered, save for Pinkie, and the night went on. Dances, songs, lights, snacks, and laughter filled Sugarcube Corner as the six friends had a massive celebration for Rainbow Dash’s success. A few hours past, and as the clock struck midnight, the party died down.
“Well, I’d best be gettin’ back to the farm.” Applejack sighed, putting a bottle of cider in her saddlebag for the road. “Congrats again, Dash. I knew you could do it.”
“Hey, thanks, AJ.” Dash smiled, patting her on the back. “You’ll be here in the morning, right?”
“Well, shoot, ‘course ah will. You can count on it.” And with a light ‘Night ya’ll.’, she was out the door. Fluttershy soon followed, needing to return to her animals, and giving everypony a quiet farewell. Next was Rarity, putting on her stylish trench coat and being on her way. And lastly, Twilight left.
“Best wishes on your trip, Rainbow Dash. But I’m sorry, I won’t be able to make it tomorrow morning. I’m afraid I have some business to attend to in Canterlot.” she sighed, a regretful frown etched on her face.
“Hey, don’t sweat it, Twi.” Dash assured her. “You just keep those new wings of yours broken in, ya hear me? Practice everyday.”
Twilight brightened up, and giggled. “You know that I will.” And with that, she was gone.
Dash turned around, and eyes fell on Pinkie Pie, who was sniffing her plate of cake crumbs thoughtfully.
“Pinks.”
Pinkie Pie looked up, realizing everypony else was gone, and quickly bounced to Rainbow Dash.
They touched muzzles. “Thanks for makin’ this night perfect.” Dash whispered, smiling gently.
Pinkie giggled nervously. “Heehee, no problem, Dashie! The night just had to be perfect. You’re gonna be a Wonderbolt!”
Dash retuned the nervous laugh. “Yeah, I know… can I be honest with you?”
“Of course!”
“I’m…nervous.”
Pinkie smiled knowingly and pulled Dash into a warm embrace. “Hey, we’ve all been there. There’s nothing to it! You’ll be the best flyer there!”
“Heh, thanks…” she said, touching noses with her. The two stared at each other for a moment, thinking. Things had been like this for a while, seeing each other time to time. Pinkie most obviously had feelings for her, and Dash knew that she did too. And had for a while. Dash could tell better than anypony else that Pinkie had mixed feelings about her departure. Maybe she did, too.
Dash gave Pinkie a quick kiss, and nuzzled her. “It’ll be okay, you know.”
Pinkie nodded. “I know…” her voice rather flat.
“Just think of it. Me, as a Wonderbolt! I’ve wanted this ever since I was a filly. I can barely believe it’s actually happening.”
“Well,duuuuuh! Of course it is! We all knew it would eventually!” Pinkie cheered, planting a kiss on her cheek. “And I’m so happy for you!” Dash looked into Pinkie’s bright blue eyes, looking for truth. Sure enough, the happiness was genuine, but there was something else in there, too. A longing? Sadness? She wasn’t sure.
An idea hit her.
“Hey…” she said, yawning suddenly. “Y’know, it’s my last night, and I’m feelin’ pretty tired out after all that partying.”
Pinkie Pie nodded.
“Ya mind if I crash here for tonight?”
Pinkie bounced up and down and quickly ran upstairs, and Dash followed.
They hopped into Pinkie’s bed together, scooting close together. Dash unfolded her wings and wrapped them around Pinkie, sighing gently, feeling her marefriend’s warmth against her.
Pinkie looked up and kissed the base of her chin. “Nighty night, Wonderbolt.”
Dash hid her blush as she nestled into Pinkie’s cotton candy mane. “Night, party animal.”