Being Brave part II

Winter Wrap Up had just ended, and springtime was now in full swing. The sky was as blue as it could be with the occasional wisp of clouds floating to the rhythm of Pegasi. The trees were blossoming with fresh new flowers, ready to fall onto the unspoiled ground. The grass had turned green and soft from early rain showers glistening in the suns rays like an emerald wave, and life, both flora and fauna was buzzing in all its glory. The town of Ponyville was especially alive with it's typical comings and goings of everyday routines. Flowers were being sold. Apples were taken to market, Cupcakes were baked by the pound, and dresses were cleaned and polished, ready to be displayed at the shop window.

It had been two months since Cory met Twilight's family for Hearts Warming Eve. That holiday weekend was one he treasured dearly. Activities included ice skating, decorating a tree, snowball fights, browsing through the shop windows, making gingerbread houses, attending the annual "Origin Of Equestria" play, etc. Sometimes, he even felt he was part of the family, as if he forgot where he really came from.

It was early morning, roughly 8-9 A.M, and Cory could be found studying in the barnyard of Sweet Apple Acres. He was getting a good head start for an upcoming history exam on the history of the Wonderbolts, a team he had already become acquainted with. In fact, he had just become pen pals with Soarin, a member of the team, which impressed Rainbow Dash as she was avid Wonderbolt fan.

He was reviewing his visual flashcards when suddenly in burst a pink blur, tearing hole in the wall in the process. It was Pinkie Pie with her customary enthusiasm.

"MOOOORNING APPLEJACK!!!" She shouted as her voice vibrated across the bookshelves. The very volume of it was enough to wake up twilight from her slumber.

"Oh. Howdy Pinkie." Yawned Applejack. "Thought it was an earthquake."

"MORNING CORY!!" Shouted PInkie Pie in almost earshot of Cory. The wind from her mouth flew Cory off his seat and against the bookshelf.

"Hey, PInkie. you know you don't have to yell at me like that." He said.

"Just wanted to let you know how happy I am to see you." She responded with a grin that covered half her face. "Watcha doin?"

"Oh, just studying for a history exam. What are you doing?"

"Oh, just swinging by to see if Applejack has those fruit punch samples for me yet."

"They're right downstairs in the cellar." Replied Applejack.

"Did you follow the handy dandy instructions?!" Pinkie replied sternly.

"Well, this punch is just the prototype so..."

"Prototype Schomotype!!!! Planning an emergency party is no picnic, even if it is a picnic party!! You never know who's birthday you might miss!"

Then Pinkie trotted downstairs Leaving Cory back to his studies.

It was at this moment Applejack noticed something different in Cory. He was looking outside the window admiring the display of springtime. Though he always struggled in the past when it came to understanding the material, it was the first time he was distracted.

"What's wrong Sugarcube?" Asked a concerned Applejack.

"Just uh...just awed by the scenery." replied Cory.

"GOOT EM!!" Shouted Pinkie Pie with a tray of punch samples in her hoof. She took one cup gulped it down as if it were nothing.

"Hmmm, needs more cider." She concluded.

"It is a very nice day." Commented Applejack "If you want to, you can go outside and study."

"It's not that." Said Cory "It's just my birthday today and...."

Upon hearing this, Pinkie spit out a mouth full of punch, almost like in a cartoon. Then she sped to Cory so fast, the friction of her hooves left a skid mark on the wooden floor.

"IT'S......YOUR.....BIRTHDAY!!!?" Pinkie shouted.

"Well yeah." Replied Cory. "It's no big deal.."

"No big deal? Th..Th..This changes everything!!!!"

Pinkie zoomed out of the house for a split second and zoomed back in wearing a party hat and carrying what looked like a large party cannon.

"We need to celebrate your birthday Cory!" Said Pinkie Pie "Good thing I had these fruit punch samples ready!"

Then she zoomed outside, leaving another skid mark in Twilight's library.

"Wooo wee! I'm surprised you didn't tell us this before." asked an enthusiastic Twilight. "How old are you today?"

"I'm...16." Answered a shy Cory.

"Well then, happy 16th birthday Cory." She replied.

But Cory just gave a smirk and continued to his studies.

"Aren't you excited?" Asked Applejack.

"It's just I haven't had a real birthday in awhile." he replied. "The last time I had a birthday party was with my friends back home and that was about 2 years ago."

Applejack thought for a moment.

"Why don't you go outside and get some fresh air." She replied.

Just as Cory predicted, everything around him was alive with activity. Children were playing in the streets, mares and stallions were carrying supplies and goods to their destination, and a elderly couple were seen in the background playing chess. It seemed as though nothing was out of place, or out of touch. Everypony was greeted with a tip of the hat or a simple hello, complimenting whatever craft or trick was presented to them. But despite these typical normalities, something felt a little different. It was as if all the attention was focused on him. This was no surprise since everypony he passed by today gave a friendly greeting and wave of the hoof. It was there that he saw Pinking who was standing on a flagpole and holding a megaphone to her mouth.

"ATTENTION EVERYPONY!!" shouted Pinkie to a crowd of citizens. "AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, TODAY IS CORY'S BIRTHDAY!!"

"You've already told us that 3 times this past hour." Said one of the onlookers.

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!!" replied Pinkie "WE GOT TO GIVE HIM THE BEST BIRTHDAY HE'S EVER HAD STAT! AND WHEN I SAY BEST, I MEAN THE FUNNEST, MOST STUPENDOUS, MOST SPLENDIFEROUS PARTY PONYVILLE HAS EVER SEEN!

Then, out of nowhere, she took out what looked like a blueprint for a humongous celebration of some sort.

"EVERYPONY SPLIT UP INTO TEAMS!!" She commanded as everyone frantically gathered into groups.

"NORTH TEAM, YOU DO THE TENT WORK, RIDES, GAMES AND ATTRACTIONS. SOUTH TEAM, YOU WILL HANDLE THE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT. WEST SIDE, YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF DECORATING EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY PONNYVILLE! EAST TEAM, YOU'RE THE FOOD AND DRINKS! AND I WANT THOSE CUPCAKES TO BE THE BEST HE'S EVER TASTED! THIS IS MY SUPER DUPER PARTY BLUEPRINT FOR YOU ALL TO FOLLOW! NOW, LETS DO THIS THING!!!

Everypony scattered to their assigned duties as Pinkie raced down the flagpole and zoomed up to Cory, almost nose to nose with him. If looks could kill for Pinkie, this would be now.

"Cory, you have my, ultimate, certified, non-breakable, or your money back guarantee pinkie party promise," To which she slammed a cupcake into her eye, "That you will have the best birthday party ever!!! Do I make myself clear?"

A bewildered Cory nodded back.

"Great" she responded as she changed in tone. "Now you get ready, cause this afternoon, you are gonna join the super duper party pony, for a super duper partay."

Then she zoomed away to check on everypony's progress. Meanwhile Cory walk back to Sweet Apple Acres and climbed up to his bedroom attic. By now, the room was filled with creations of his own, ranging from paintings and sculptures, to ceramics and ornaments. Cory took a moment of pride to admire his work, still awestruck with how far he came. It was impossible to believe less than a year ago, hardly anyone knew his name. Now, a whole town was planning a birthday party for him, as if he were a celebrity. Not to say that he wasn't. He had already made a name of himself a premiere artist in Equestria, not because he was a human, but because of the conventions he used: Junk and used items

He walked over to his dresser and picked out a casual button down shirt and pants. It was part of the stack of clothing Rarity made for him during his first week in Ponyville. Attached to it were suspenders and bowtie and included in it's texture was a beautiful pattern of blue, yellow and red. Then he took out a pair of polished shoes from underneath his bed. They were of a black and brown color scheme, perfectly matching the wooden floor. He quickly put this ensemble on and made his way downstairs and out the door.

It was now mid-afternoon, and hustle and bustle of Cory's birthday party was in full swing. The Town was decorated with streamers that spanned building after building, balloons of all colors and shapes that were as large as a small house, booths that displayed games as elaborate as their names, food stands with cupcakes of every flavor imaginable, and the occasional water slide that spun around every street and sidewalk. It was the most elaborate party he had ever laid eyes on, not to mention the fact that he could swear he saw a blimp in the shape of his head. From out of the crowd of dancing ponies and singing mares burst Pinkie Pie in her party mode as she raced toward her with a large grin.

"Hey Everypony!!" She shouted as she picked him up. "It's the Birthday Boy!!"

Everypony responded with a cheer and chant of "Cory! Cory! Cory!"

"Come on Cory!" Said Pinkie Pie "LEEEEETS PARTY!!"

And what a party it was. There was a smile on every face greeting and clapping Cory as he passed by. Music filled the air with every instrument known to exist, from trombones to ukeleles, from folk singing to DJ music. The savoring food was the most mouth watering he ever tasted, with treats spanning from ice cream to cupcakes to potato chips to a fruit punch that would satisfy the numbest of taste buds. He couldn't tell whether he was at some elaborate rave or Disney World, but he didn't seem to mind. Every ride he rode was more fun than the last, ranging from a broad collection of roller coasters, Ferris wheels and water slides. At the game booths, simple competitions as ring tossing, dart throwing and ring the bell were blown out of proportion, giving them the appearance of elaborate game shows.

But perhaps the most intriguing element was it's theme. Everything, down to to the last detail was centered around Cory, whether it was an ice sculpture of his face, or an assortment of puppets at the prize booth resembling his body. Not only was this his first real birthday party, it was a whole town dedicating the day to him. Even when he blew out his sixteen candles, everyone went into an uproarious applause.

By the time the day rolled into late afternoon, everypony was showering him with presents in the middle of a large field, especially the Mane 6.

"Happy 16th birthday boy!" Said Applejack as she gave him her gift.
"Happy birthday Cory." Said Fluttershy who did the same.
"You deserved it Cory dear." Said Rarity who gave him her present.
"Congrats Pal!" Said Rainbow Dash as she threw him her gift.
"INCOMING!!!" Shouted Pinkie before dropping a large present on him.

As he looked at his pile, something seemed to be missing.

"What's the matter sugarcube?" asked Applejack.

"Don't you get presents on your birthday?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"I'm just wondering where Twilight is?"

"Oh, she left for an important assignment." Replied Rarity.

"But she wanted me to give you this." Said Applejack as he gave him one more present.

"That reminds me," She continued "I gotta go back to some important duties on the farm. You just enjoy the rest of your party." And with that she trotted away.

Cory tore at the wrapping to reveal a hardcover book with his name engraved on the cover. As he opened it and skimmed through the pages, he noticed how the first half of them had a picture of him, a doodle or sketch he drew, or an essay he wrote with Twilight. As he reached the middle, he saw a small note written in purple ink:

To my faithful student Cory.
Just something to keep your memories in,
and to hold many many more.
Love
Twilight.

Earlier that day, Twilight could be found all the way back in the Everfree Forest. She was staring at the stone slab portal of which Cory came out of when he first arrived. On her back was a satchel full of bits, enough for several bus and plane rides, as well as nourishments. Delicately, she turned a stick into a boomerang and and tossed it at the slab, to which it promptly flew in and flew out of the stone material. Then, with one deep breath, she stepped through the portal.