On The Wings of Wind

Rainbow Dash was heading home after a good day of cloud-busting, training and hanging out with friends. While she had hoped to go on a date with Zephyr the day before her birthday, he had to turn it down because he had plans made already, though he said he'll do his best to keep his schedule open for her going forward. While it did sadden her, it wasn't like he couldn't hang out with her for a good chunk of the day.

Shaking her head, she lands in front of her Cloudsdale-inspired home and opened the door.

"Surprise!"

That definitely surprised Rainbow as she recoiled before seeing Fluttershy, Zephyr, Scootaloo, and her parents all there. "You guys, you were waiting here for me?"

"Of course! We wouldn't want to miss our daughter's 20th birthday!" Windy piped up with a smile full of joyful tears.

"Wait... don't get me wrong, I'm happy you threw this for me, but... my birthday's tomorrow!"

Zephyr wraps a wing around his girlfriend. "We know and Pinkie has quite the extravagant party to throw you. However, we wanted to give you a smaller, more private party before it got overshadowed by hers. Just you and us for this one. Is that alright?"

"Of course it's alright! Wait, this is what you meant by 'plans' earlier, you dork!"

Rainbow jabs Zephyr a few times playfully, earning a laugh. "Sorry, but at least I was able to spend time with you before-hoof!"

"You're still hurting from your last birthday..." Due to the wording, Rainbow realized what her boyfriend was subtly referring to. Distracting a surprise-party recipient by spending time with them was one way she and her friends realized they could've done 'that' day better.

Zephyr sighs sadly. "Sorry, but... some wounds just refuse to heal sometimes. The best I can do is keep them stitched up with good memories, but the pain still gets through." Shaking his head, he smiles. "But let's not go there. This is your time and I'd rather not ruin it with my baggage!"

"Come on, Rainbow Dash! blow the candles out!" Scootaloo called out excitably. The couple smile at each other before rejoining the party. Zephyr made sure to sit Tank on his head, not minding the weight. The tortoise was very fond of the Falconite after Rainbow had him in Zephyr's house for pet-sitting a few times.

Rainbow opened her presents, including aerolite ear cuffs from Zephyr, a custom cape with her Cutie Mark on it from Scootaloo, a present combo of tortoise care supplies and a new hair brush from Fluttershy, and a set of Daring Do merchandise from her parents. She loved it all.

As the party began to unwind and both Windy and Bow had to leave for the night, Rainbow felt satisfied. "While I AM looking forward to what Pinkie has planned for me tomorrow, I really loved tonight. In the past, I always wanted my birthday parties to be larger than life. I never would have thought... smaller parties like this could be so enjoyable."

Fluttershy giggles at that. "You've definitely mellowed out from last year, Rainbow Dash! Even so, no harm in having large parties as long as we don't go too wild!"

"I'm just glad I was able to celebrate this more personally with you this time!" Scootaloo piped up with a big smile, earning a light noogie.

Zepher chuckles. "Just be sure to rest up for tomorrow. You know how seriously Pinkie takes her parties."

Rainbow touches one of the ear cuffs she has on fondly. "I swear, this'll be the best birth-iversary ever!"

In front of Sugar Cube Corner the next day, Pinkie had reaffirmed her oath to make Rainbow Dash's birth-iversary a roaring success. Even Zephyr had to admit he, somehow, vastly underestimated Pinkie's dedication to her craft. "Alright! Who's ready to join the super-duper party pony to plan this super-duper party?!"

"I am." Everypony looked over in surprise to see a stallion in a poncho and hat. "My name is Cheese Sandwich, and I am Equestria's premier party planner."

"Wow! I'm Pinkie Pie and I'm Ponyville's Premiere party pony! What a coincidence!"

"It's no coincidence, my little pony. I could sense a party was in the works here... and it is my intention make it one of the best."

Pinkie had an idea from that. "Ooh! So now we have a pair of premiere pony party planners?! This is going to be EVEN BETTER!"

"You'd better believe it! Because not only is today my birthday, but also the day I moved to Ponyville. Hence, it's my birth-iversary!" Rainbow made sure to announce with gusto.

Zephyr smiled, now that he knew how special of a day it was to his girlfriend. "So two special days in one, huh? Then it makes sense to have two party planners on the job--" Cheese Sandwich gives him a glare which, due to it's intensity, made Zephyr back off a bit.

Rarity giggled at the whole thing. "So it's like that. You know what this means, party planners?"

"You kidding? I think this'll be the best party in a LONG time!" Pinkie was excited to get started.

"No, I don't think so..." Everypony was shocked until Cheese Sandwich threw off his hat and poncho to reveal a bright yellow shirt. "I KNOW so!" With that, he launches into a song about his ability to plan parties.

But despite the joy and cheer, two things felt wrong throughout. One, Cheese Sandwich clearly had some level of animosity towards Zephyr, which led to the Falconite being excluded from a good amount of the fun. The other was Pinkie eventually getting shafted in favor of this new party planner, this time done unknowingly by the townsponies.

Despite the enmity Zephyr still hung around, wanting to help plan his girlfriend's birth-iversary party. Not too long after Cheese Sandwich's song was over and the party platform with Rainbow's face was built, Cheese decided to cut the thread now and dragged him into a back alley. "Would you kindly go anywhere else? Some of us are planning a party right now."

"I-I can help in some way because--"

"I don't want your excuses." Cheese glares at Zephyr who wilted. "I meet a lot of individuals on the road... but I remember you in particular. The way you treated me with contempt when I tried to throw a birthday bash for you, that you thought I was some kind of con-pony. The vitriol you threw at me... and now you have the spine to try and "help" me all of a sudden? You can do so by shoving off. Party crashers like yourself aren't welcome."

With that, he quickly returns to the stage to keep planning, leaving Zephyr behind with a re-opened wound in his heart. Glancing one last time at Rainbow Dash, who looked gleeful over the party being developed, Zephyr chose not to ruin the day any further for her by leaving.

Despite his mindset, he ended up wandering towards Sugar Cube Corner. This... is where I had my very first party... thanks to Pinkie... The Falconite, remembering how he was back then, so desperately wanted to prove he had changed from the bitter Pegasus he once was but had no idea how to go about it. He didn't want to ruin Rainbow Dash's party for something so selfish.

When he turned around to head home, he saw Pinkie trudging towards the building sadly as well. "Pinkie... are you alright?"

"Zephy..? Why aren't you planning your girlfriend's party with Cheese Sandwich?"

"I'm... not wanted there." The hurt in Zephyr's voice was something Pinkie hadn't heard in a long time. Not since he first realized just how badly he screwed up after his botched birthday party. "I'm more curious as to why you aren't there."

"Cheese Sandwich is... already doing better than I am. At this point... I might just put away my party cannon and--"

That shocked Zephyr, who could hear the pain her voice as well, as the two entered Sugar Cube Corner. "What..? You're telling me that you're quitting being a party pony?! Did all the fun parties you've thrown in the past mean nothing to you now?"

Pinkie was about to respond when the pictures on the wall leading upstairs caught her eye. "Oh... this is the very first party I ever threw! Boy was my family surprised when I got my Cutie Mark for it!"

Zephyr looked at the photo and managed a smile. "You mentioned once that your family works a rock farm. I'm sure you managed to inject quite a bit of color into their lives with that." That got a happier smile from the party pony.

After a trip down memory lane for Pinkie, she slowly regained her determination.

I've got to get back out there, have to show them that I've tried
For there's only one great party pony -- that is Pinkie Pie
Won't let Cheese Sandwich beat me, won't let him get me down
For I am Pinkie, the bestest party pony around!

As happy as he should be for Pinkie reigniting her spirit, Zephyr noticed something off. "That's great and all, but uh... shouldn't you throw a party for Rainbow Dash and not--"

"Quiet! This is something I need to do and I'm going to do it bigly!" With that, she rushes towards where Cheese Sandwich was planning his party. Despite being warned away, Zephyr followed with a bad feeling in his gut.

When he managed to arrive back at the party site, he witnessed Pinkie challenge Cheese to a "Goof Off" in order to determine who'll be the one to actually throw Rainbow Dash her party. Blending in with the crowd, Zephyr got as close as he could without getting recognized as the rules were set: whoever makes Rainbow Dash laugh the most wins.

As the Goof Off commenced, the two party ponies did their best to entertain Rainbow while singing. While both started out benign, Zephyr quickly saw the breakdown of their motivations and was doing his best to either interrupt or get them back on track. However, he was beginning to despair when the two were seemingly set in their ways for the competition.

I understand a lot of pride is on for what is wrought
A lot of cheer in the works to be brought
But couldn't you both just spare a thought?

You don't understand that this is war!
Party crashers like you should be shown the door!
... Has everypony forgotten who this is actually for?

When the two began ramping up their 'attacks', one nasty glare from Cheese Sandwich had Zephyr backing away with a pained look. When he bumped into one of the statues Cheese had made earlier, it set off a disaster dominoes that ended up crashing the whole venue, interrupting the contest. "What the-- Look at what you done! The way things are going now, there won't BE a party because of ponies like you!"

The disaster, plus Cheese's harsh words, triggered something in Zephyr's mind.

"Save it, I'm not interested in any further deceit. With friends like you,who needs e̵̹̚ṅ̷̩e̷̡̚m̶͔͑i̸̻͌ẽ̵͕s̵͖̊?"

Rainbow immediately saw the sheer trauma in Zephyr's eyes and, knowing exactly what was going on in his mind, hugged him. "Zephyr?! I'm here, you're fine!"

"I... was... no... this... isn't.. what... I... wanted..."

Consumed by the thoughts that he had ruined yet another birthday party, a tear fell from his eye. It glinted a rainbow light which reflected in Pinkie's eyes. It was in that exact moment, plus looking at Rainbow's frustrated face, she realized she had broken every single value she had as a party planner. This isn't... why I became a party pony...

Rainbow, no longer enjoying the Goof Off, glares at the contestants. "I think I've heard enough. I've made my decision and it's--"

"I forfeit..." Everypony, including Rainbow and Zephyr, looked at Pinkie in shock. "No need to announce your decision, Dashie, because Cheese Sandwich is the winner..."

"What..? But I... you..." Cheese was shocked by Pinkie suddenly giving up. "Y-you could have waited a few more seconds to--"

"I didn't need to hear it..." Pinkie started walking back to Sugar Cube Corner.

"Wait!" Rainbow managed to catch up to Pinkie with Zephyr in tow. "Why did you give up?! Was it because..?"

Pinkie nods at that. "I had forgotten the reason why I threw parties to begin with. All I focused on was my pride as a planner, not the happiness of the one I'm planning for. Zephy... tried to get me to see that, but all I did was remind him of 'that' day... the one that he's tried so hard to recover from but continues to haunt him. The day a party causes tears of sorrow instead of joy... is the day I retire my life's work..."

"P-Pinkie, please... don't quit on account of me..."

"That's not even the whole of it." Twilight approached with her own sad face. "We put you in that position because we were swept away by everything 'new' Cheese was doing. But the truth... while he's a great guest party planner, you're Ponyville's party planner and... it just wouldn't feel the same without you."

"And that's ignoring everything I've done as well..." Cheese Sandwich, having finally realized just how out of line he was, approached with a sad look. "I was being harsh on Zephyr in particular because of what he did to me in the past. Yet... in doing so, I became bitter towards him despite the fact that... ponies can change for the better. I ignored that truth just to nurse a grudge that should've been left behind... and that's not even getting into why I feel I should've lost the contest..."

"Wait... you felt like you were losing?"

"Remember what the contest was? 'Whoever makes Rainbow Dash laugh the most wins'. Not only did you make her laugh more, I was ultimately the one who caused her to no longer find fun in it. Plus... just like how you lost sight of why you threw parties, I lost sight of that in trying to prove myself to you..."

That surprised Pinkie. "To... me?"

With that, Cheese explains his foalhood and the fact that it was Pinkie who threw the party that changed his life. "I finally found my calling in life, yet while my interaction with the Zephyr of the past did push me to be better, I was also more willing to abandon what makes parties worthwhile."

"I'm... sorry, Cheese..."

"No, I'M sorry. You very clearly aren't the bitter pony I had a run-in with so long ago." Cheese Sandwich gives Zephyr a smile. "And that is why... I want to wipe the slate clean of Zephyr the Pegasus and start anew with Zephyr the Falconite. Think we can do that?" All Zephyr did was shake his hoof was a small smile of his own.

"Glad you're no longer bitter towards my boyfriend!" That surprised Cheese when he heard that detail. "Now enough with the sappy stuff, I still have a birth-iversary to celebrate. And for the record, I'm not celebrating it without Zephyr OR my friends!"

Pinkie and Cheese grin at each other over that. "Then let's PARTY!"

With one last musical number, Rainbow was happy that she celebrated the best birth-iversary ever. After the party was over at the end of the day, Cheese Sandwich gave Pinkie his rubber chicken Boneless. "As a memento of my visit... and as a reminder of why we throw parties."

"You're leaving already? Perhaps you could stay another few nights?"

When Pinkie got a confused look at that, she whispered something into Cheese's ear. He grins at her. "Perhaps staying put a little longer might not be a bad idea, considering..."

"Alright, no rest for the premiere pony party planners!"

A couple days later, after Zephyr returned from an errand to Cloudsdale, he was surprised to see the streets empty despite it not being night-time. "Where... is everypony?"

As he wandered through the desolate streets, wondering if he was stuck in a nightmare, he saw Scootaloo dash across the street on her scooter. "Scoots?! What are you doing?" When he didn't get an answer, he started running after her in the alleyways.

When he exited one, party horns blared around him, severely surprising him. "What the--"

"Surprise! It's your first anniversary of coming to Ponyville!" Both Pinkie and Cheese Sandwich shouted out with glee with their respective rubber chickens at their sides. The plaza was now set-up in celebration of Zephyr instead of Rainbow Dash this time.

Rainbow flew down to Zephyr as Scootaloo hugged her brother. "Yeah, imagine my surprise when I heard that our anniversaries were so close together!"

"I... I wasn't even thinking about that..."

Cheese approached with a small smile. "Consider this my apology for being so harsh with you. I learned in full about how much you tried to change after you came here and it really does feel like a journey worth celebrating!"

"You really didn't have to... but thank you!" Cheese felt vindicated by Zephyr's genuine smile, finally feeling the scowl that marked his memories beginning to fade.

And as the celebrations continued on, Pinkie's rubber chicken gave off a glint of rainbow light.