Chapters The door slammed open with the merry jingle of a door shim. That much had been expected.
Inside, there is a single pink pony, tending the counter. Cakes and cookies lining the small store.
Ofhorse, there is the small room, where one could sit and enjoy the pastries, while enjoying a chat.
I could see a whole section of Cup Cakes. The next was lined with Muffins. Just as my eyes hit the line, I could see Dinkies eyes light up. Something told me she enjoyed them, when ever she had the chance. I guess I had enjoyed a few in my day, even if I couldn't recall most of the times, just as I can't for my life recall which one I had preferred. Not even if my life had depended on it.
“Hi, Pinkie!” Dinkie exclaimed, the moment their eyes met.
“Hi, Dinkie!” Pinkie replied.
“I brought a new friend with me today, Pinkie. I wanted for the two of you to meet. If for nothing but the reason, I know how you love to meet everyone. A new pony should come your way?” Dinkie chimed.
“Who's your new friend? Pinkie responded, with a thrilled tone of her voice, as the statement sank in.
“Hi, Pinkie. I'm Hoof Shine! I moved over her with my parents, after Hearths Warming Eve!” I responded.
“Hi, Hoof Shine, nice to meet you!” Pinkie exploded, and a bright smile all over her face.
“You're the pony who helped stop both Nightmare and Discord?” I uttered.
It's just somewhat strange to find a hero like Pinkie Pie working in such a simple place, when she was such a famous historical figure, even in her youth. You never saw heroes among common ponies, for all I knew.
“That would be me, even if I did not stop either of them all by myself, I had help from my friends, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Apple Jack and Flutter Shy. I couldn't have done it without them. Not even with the Elements of Harmony!” Pinkie pie pointed out.
“I'm still impressed to see a hero before me!” I told her.
“I guess I shouldn't complain. I work here, because of my Element; Laughter. Here I can get to know everypony. From here, I plan all the parties. I spread joy to all and everypony!” she just responded.
“Parties, for everyone?” I asked.
“In this case, the next party would be the welcoming party for you, and your family, since you just arrived!” Pinkie informed me.
“That sounds like fun!” Dinkie and I responded in chorus.
Then again, how about the two of you pick a muffin, I feel in the mood to spread the joy. I know you'll enjoy yours, Dinkie!” Pinkie stated.
I took the time, going over all the muffins waiting for somepony to enjoy it. There were so many, too many by my perspective, but I kept it to myself. In the end, I picked a blueberry. Dinkie had already picked hers, and pinkie had placed it on a small plate for her.
We both left her to go back to her work, and planning for the party. There is a nice table by the window. That's where we landed.
I had been born in Manehattan, but after the boom in the economy in Ponyville, my parents had apparently chosen to go there, at first, it was merely a vacation.
Rumours had it, the weather is at least as good as it was here where we live, in Ponyville. The life there seems ideal for a vacation. They spoke of how everything was readily available there, even sophisticated clothes, like the once we were used to here.
Now, if you had all the comfort and sophistication of home, in the quiet corner of Ponyville, it could as well be a place for a vacation, all we need, is to have the house built, and we could be there. The trip apparently wasn't all that bad.
The house intended as our home for the vacation, and the coming once had been planned, and then erected. Eager hooves had worked with great efficiency, more than anypony had dared to expect, from our end of society.
Coming into town, and it felt almost as if it had been a 'Ghost Town'. Quiet, the tranquillity. I could hear the birds sing, on the slight breeze. I feel the scent of grasses, flowers and fruit trees. We had had the good fortune of coming that way?
I guess my parents had been shocked, as they were told the house had been completed, well in advance of our planned vacation. Ponyville was after ll known as little more than a farming village, back then. There was no haste, the building would be completed, and that's that, right? How wrong we were, in the assumption. I guess this is why we were going, after all.
The day of our vacation came, and we set off, intent to enjoy the few weeks of calm rest away from the large city. I guess it was, just as relaxed as we had expected, and what we found, just as convenient?
Maybe I should call this the smallest city in all of Equestria,. More than just another farmer village? It's Ponyville. Then we learned of some of the history we apparently had missed up on. Ponyville isn't just a farming village, the way it looked like, if you live in Manehattan. This is a garrison of Celestia's design. We're basically on cantering distance from the Everfree forest, for Celestia's sake.
Furthermore, this is the home of Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Flutter Shy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Apple Jack, the ponies that stopped Nightmare moon, Discord, Crystalis and King Sombra. Just to be in their presence? Even if the pony I'm the most interested in, is Pinkie Pie, the café and her parties. Going to Sugar-Cube Corner and see her was something I could boast of, when I got home as planned.
What little fillie wouldn't dream of seeing Pinkie Pie, be in her café, and attend a party she threw? There is no party, like a Pinkie Pie party, just as it had been said, over and over, again and again.
As we finally did arrive, the town is already up and about. The trip had been long, and we're not quite up for much. Maybe just a visit at the Sugar-Cube Corner? It had sounded pretty convenient and pleasant, as the few things we originally brought with us had been stuffed in the house.
”You can see the Café and the pink mare tomorrow. It isn't as if she is going anyway?” Mom had stated.
“Aw, but I want to see her, and right now!” I had responded.
“It's our first day here, we need to unpack enough to make it decent here before we could have any fun. Go up and unpack your stuff, then we can talk of what is fun. Besides, she promised to have a welcoming part for us. You don't want to live out of a suit case, go up and get your stuff out, we'll help you later!” dad pointed out in no uncertain terms, in the way he does, when he means business.
“Okay, I guess you are right. I still will need help with making my bed, you know!” I conceded.
“I will have all our beds made well before bedtime, I promise!” Mom stated.
“You will see all the nice foals, both fillies and colts, even if you wouldn't go to school with them, since we are here on vacation!” Dad suggested with a sly grin.
“We will be back here on several occasions on vacation, though. I like the more laid-back feeling on town!” Mom added.
I had been given a small room on the second floor on the north side of the house, I guess that is all right by me. There is a bed on the right and a pile of boxes on the left side of the room. I guess it isn't feeling much like a home, right now.
They were serious about buying the house, before we left our old home. The word had reached even as far as to us about how the village of Ponyville had changed and developed into a nice place. It isn't the garrison on the rim of the Everfree forest it once had been, even if the forest still remain where it was and just as dangerous a place to be. I had promised not to go there.
We had read about Ponyville on history class. Now I am about to see how it is now. I expect to have quite the tale to tell, when I get back home after we go home. Maybe it is even worth all the effort of the fuzz of unpacking all my stuff here?
Funny thing, I had noticed that Ponies doesn't wear clothes. Just the few, like Rarity. I kind of felt strange about this detail. Back home where I came from, everypony always wore clothes. I just have to get used to see Ponies unclothed here now. Just as I have to get used to not wearing clothes myself, I want to blend in with the crowd, after all.
Now I noticed, I don't even have a wardrobe, I guess I will just have to leave the few clothes in the box and move to the next one.
Then I found the box containing my toys. I managed to open it without ripping it or destroying it completely. I guess that is an accomplishment on my part. The sun still did shine in, into my room and inside of the freshly opened box, telling a bright story about joys to have in the coming days.
In the end I just turned the box on its side, looking at the things pour out and onto the wooden floor. Then I noticed the ball bounce towards the green wall. Apparently they had chosen a new and fresh wallpaper for my room.
Lifting my head up to the window, I could clearly see the garden outside with the freshly cut grass and a wooden fence.
I could only see two red roses in full bloom, by the side of the porch, when we came. There had not been much else to see, beside the grasses. Red stone plates covering the path to the front door did look good. I guess Dad had chosen them himself. He usually did like to put his hoof into decorating his home. Just as I know Mom must have chosen the roses, that was more of her department.
Once I had unpacked my few belongings, it was apparently time to go to the party the pink mare had prepared for us. Little did I know what she had planned for us, or what the word Party meant to her. The one thing I knew of her is that she is called Pinkie Pie.
Every Pony love her, but now I was about to learn why. Not only did she work in the best Café a foal could imagine, where she bakes the most sweet and delicious Pastries, she throws the best parties a fillie like me could dream up.
The first thing I noticed as I entered the room where she threw our party, is that there are numerous ponies in the room. It isn't empty. Naturally she had to be there, since she is throwing the party for us. Naturally she couldn't have all her friends in the room, it is way too small for that. There could be no room, large enough to fit all her friends, considering she was a friend of every pony in Ponyville, aside from countless ponies throughout Equestria. This includes important ponies, like the Princesses Luna and Cadence. As great a shock as it is to a little fillie like myself.
The next thing hitting home is the scent of pastries finding my nostrils, just before I actually did see the pastries, that is. It isn't a party, if there is neither pastries, cakes or pies? The one Pie you can't dispense here, is the one throwing the party.
Naturally, there is the one detail she couldn't leave out; the Piñata. I had no idea as to just how serious throwing parties could be to a pony, throwing parties left and right, for what ever reason she may pick up on, at the drop of a hat. I guess I am just a fillie, how am I to know. As if even her friends knew.
“Surprise!” she squealed from somewhere within the crowd, still behind us all of a sudden.
“No. You don't say?” dad put forth in an uncommon voice, a moment after the squeal.
“I knew it, I knew it!” she just exclaimed, looking at us from yet another corner.
“I sure am happy she is my friend, with a personality like hers!” Mom pondered.
“Right this way, the table in the middle!” the pink mare, otherwise known as Pinkie Pie and the Party Pony pointed out, leading us to the table she had intended for us.
“Thanks!” Mom responded as she followed her to where she had indicated for us to sit.
To my surprise, there are already four fillies sitting by the table, opposite side of where I was to sit. There are signs with the names of ponies. I read 'Apple Bloom', 'Sweetie Belle', Scootaloo' and 'Dinkie Doo' on the signs by their seats. Apparently a grey Pegasus mare sit by the side of the fillie named Dinkie. Then I noticed the mares eyes were aimed at odd angles, left and right, up and down.
There is a plate on each place, intended for the pastries. The pastries themselves lay on a larger plate in the middle of the table, where else.
“There are more than enough pastries for all. The problem is to leave room for the cake!” Pinkie Pie teased.
“I slipped a muffin on to my plate, then the plate was passed around, leaving each pony the opportunity to pick the pastries of their choice.
I noticed Dinkie and Ditzy chose Muffins as well. Just as I clearly could see the smile on their faces grow as they ate the Muffins. Maybe I shouldn't blame them, the Muffins are delicious, just like Pinkie promised.
“If you like it, there will be more, if not, just try the next. I have been baking them myself. Ofhorse, there will be cake too, before you can leave!” she pointed out.
“You mean I can have more then one Muffin?” I enquired in an embarrassed voice in order to express my curiosity.
“Don't be silly, now. You can have as many as you like. Or as many as you could swallow, at least!” she teased in a giggling voice.
Then I noticed Dinkie giggling, as she overheard what I was talking to Pinkie Pie about. This was what I had been looking forwards to so eagerly, never realising just how fun it possibly could be.
“Then I must try your other pastries as well, before I have the next?” I responded.
“Try as many as you like, but make sure to enjoy yourself too!” she pointed out.
“She has the best Muffins!” Dinkie interjected, looking lustfully at one on the large plate, before she made up her mind and snatched yet another one.
“Pinkie made sure there are enough for all of us!” Ditzy put forth.
“She did?” Mom enquired.
“How graceful and generous of her!” Dad continued.
“You are new here. It is Pinkie Pie, this is what she does. She lives to see every pony smile and being happy. Baking a few Muffins to that end is as easy as breathing to her!” Dinkie put forth.
“If only there was a Pony like her, where we came from!” Mom responded.
“There can only be one Pinkie Pie. You could as well with for another Celestia and Luna, it isn't going to happen!” Ditzy suggested, just giving herself an inward smile at the thought of a second pair of Princesses.
“If you ask her, she may even bake your favourite Muffins, or what ever other pastries you like from back home. All she ask in return is a happy smile!” Dinkie filled in.
“Then I will just have to try to recall what ever pastries we used to have!” I responded with a silly grin as I tried to recall pastries our of my past.
Then I picked yet another of the Muffins on the plate. I just had to try them all. This did sound kind of like an old catchphrase, but I couldn't recall the words, or where it came from, but I was sure I had heard it somewhere.
“Time for a little game. Pin the tail on the Pony!” Pinkie Pie pronounced with giggling glee in her voice.
“Isn't she a fully grown mare? I thought it was a foals game!” I enquired.
“She certainly is. Yes, it is a foals game!” Sweetie Belle responded.
“Pinkie is too cool, not to like it, I guess!” Scootaloo suggested.
“I'll go first, just to let our new fillie see how the game is supposed to be played!” she announced, slipping a blind fold over her eyes, then quickly spin numerous times, before she moves towards where she remembered the Pony to be, slapping the tail, to where the rear end of said Pony was, before she managed to slip the cloth of off her face.
“Aww!” she exclaimed, as she saw where she had placed the tail, looking sillier than ever.
“Next!” she then continued, only for the first foal stepping forwards.
Snips and Snails trodded forth and Pinkie placed a smaller blind fold on Snips face, then spun him around vigorously, before sending him in the general direction of where the Pony is.
Then I noticed a stack of envelopes with the name of the foals stacking up, apparently containing the score of the respective Pony. Apparently, Twilight Sparkle was managing the score. Only the envelopes were sealed. I guessed they were to be opened, only after the game was concluded.
Snails took Snips place with the blind fold, and was spun around, before he was sent off to the Pony.
Foal by foal stepped up, approaching Pinkie Pie, then got blind folded, spun and off to the Pony. One by one they were placing the tail on the Pony. Some did better, others made it worse. I think Pinkie made a pretty good score.
In the end, it is my turn, maybe I could have refused, but why? Missing out on the fun. Maybe I never was good at this, where I came from, but it is a foals game and I am one of them. I could as well enjoy the game.
I think I hit the rear of the Pony, but I will not know before the score was announced, though I could guess by the cheers from the others. It wasn't so much a laughter as a genuine cheer, at least to me.
Since I am not the last Pony on the line, I moved back to my seat, enjoying a Muffin in company of Dinkie. I had started to like her. Maybe it is her optimistic view on life, even despite the reputation her Mom had picked up, even if I am oblivious of this problem. Not that I could miss the detail that may have started it off. I just saw the cheer in their attitude, why bother with the history, I may be told later, though. I still choose to ignore that, at least for now.
The last Pony was placing the tail on the Pony and all cheers. Then the room is back to quiet, while we enjoy the pastries. At least until the next announcement hit the crowd.
“Time for the Piñata. Come forth, Piñateer. This is your scene and your party!” Pinkie called out.
Since I am the only new foal at the party, it had to be me she called out for, so I slipped out beside her.
Funny, she once more blind folded me, before spinning me around and hoofed me the bat to beat the Piñata with.
What ever was in the colourful Piñata, it was up to me to beat it out of it.
I was sent off towards the target and gave it a good swing, expecting to miss. Only to feel a shower of candy flowing over me, before I hear the roar of cheers. Cheerful voices from all the fillies and colts in the room. So many happy foals all around.
Pinkie Pie soon had the cloth off of my head and I could see the candy where it lay, though some lazy bits still were falling down from the broken remains.
“Scoop up your candy. You have the first bid on what fell out!” Pinkie Pie told me cheerfully.
“But. But, but. There are way too much for me?” I stammered.
“Ofhorse, the rest is for the others. They are eagerly waiting for you!” she then continued.
“Oh!” I just mumbled in response, before I continued scooping up as much of the candy I could catch.
Though I left a few where they lay, imagining I did not like them, but got more than enough to carry to my table. Then all the other fillies and colts stormed the floor under the Piñata I so recently had slain. Loudly cheering, as they got to the spoils I had left them.
For several years I had been carrying all these strange memories. They could make no sense to me since I'm a pony who lives in Equestria, ruled by Celestia and Luna. For all I could see, they were doing a good job at it. Our community is still thriving, what more could I ask for, I'm just a fillie.
Most of what I know, our teacher had told us and explained in her crisp manner. I guess this is how a teacher is, or she couldn't have bene a teacher in the first place. I like her, she's nice. I had figured, most of us liked her, it's part of who she was in the first place.
Then we moved from the village into Ponyville, just after Hearths Warming Eve. I sure enjoyed the Winters Wrap Up, but had not picked up any new friends so I was a bit lonely. I guess this was expected?
The first pony I actually met is Dinky hooves. Quite the nice fillie, just like myself. With that, at least I had somepony to talk to, from time to time.
On the other hoof, this was still just a few weeks before the school started, which I'm ever so grateful for. I learned that my new teacher, Cheerlie, is just as nice as the old teacher was. Ofhorse I can't compare, since I can't see them side by side and thus the comparison isn't fair. I'm not old enough to make the comparison, but I still like the both of them.
I guess I had been lucky to be born into such a loving family? Living in a small and quiet community, and graced with the fortune of having a good teacher.
Once at the school, I soon learned that there are some foals, not quite as nice, nor friendly as I had hoped for. I just never allowed it to get in the way.
Short of the two fillies, it had been a great day. I chose to follow Dinkie Hooves from school. I already like her, so it made sense to me. Even if it may not to you?
“Class dismissed!” Cheerlie pronounced in her usual cheerful voice, as the bell called for us to leave.
“Could I follow you along the way from school!” I asked.
“Sure, why not. I guess I don't have anyone else over!” she just blurted out, not a thought of what came next, just enjoying the moment.
“Great!” I responded.
“You're the new fillie, right?” she enquired.
“Yeah, that's me!” I responded, since it was true, no point in lying.
I really do need a few friends, and starting up, on the good side never should hurt, and if it did, they wouldn't be good friends in the end, I knew.
“You don't know anyone in town, then?” she asked.
“No, not a one!” I told her.
“You need somepony to show you the sites, introduce you to the once you should know, and the celebrities!” she pointed out.
“That would be most helpful. I don't like to get lost. Just as I wouldn't enjoy to mix with the wrong crowd, so to say!” I responded.
“There is this one pony you just have to meet. She's called Pinkie Pie. Everyone in town know her. Mainly for her parties, since there can be no party, like a 'Pinkie Pie Party'. Everyone know it. Then many of us know of her, from all she has done for us, and not just in person or Ponyville, but for the entire of Equestria!” Dinkie pointed out, stopping, in part because she found herself out of breath.
“Pinkie Pie?” I just uttered, as if the name actually did mean something to me, but I just couldn't place it.
“Yes, ofhorse you just have to see her. Maybe we should go see her right away. It isn't all that much of a detour!” Dinkie responded.
Then it hit me, as my mind finally managed to draw in something. She had been mentioned in our Equestrian history. She had been mentioned in connection to both Nightmare Luna and Discord. She had apparently been able to stop the both of them, as they had been bent on wrecking havoc on all of Ponykind.
“Besides, you need to know where Sugar Cube Corner is!” Dinkie continued.
“What's that?” I asked flatly in surprise.
I had been lost in thought for a moment, as the recollection of the history class hit me.
“It's where Pinkie Pie lives, and works. She's an apprentice for Mr. and Mr's Cake, at their Café. It's a natural hang out, for fillies and colts the like, even if numerous Mares and Stallions do love to go there. I guess you can't blame them, in part because Pinkie work there!” Dinkie pointed out.
“Is she anything like you just said, I guess I can understand why ponies would like to see her. Besides, a good place to hang out is always nice too!” I responded.
“Here you are. Time to see the one and only, the most festive of all ponies!” she just blurted out, just as we reached the door of the Sugar-Cube Corner.