Although Pinkie Pie’s eccentricity never took the form of deception, a national holiday purposefully centered on celebrating nothing of any intrinsic value was difficult to believe. Even still, Pinkie was adamant of National Random Holiday Party Day’s continuation through her and her friends. Pinkie gathered her four closest friends at Sugar Cube Corner to discuss preparations. Rainbow Dash, caught up in her latest action-adventure novel, had failed to arrive.

While confusion clouded the conversation throughout, the others eventually agreed to help Pinkie with the festivities. Twilight Sparkle offered the Golden Oak Library as a venue while the other ponies struggled to provide anything of any use due to the obscurity of the topic. Rarity vaguely suggested colorful decorations, Fluttershy elected to provide music of indefinite genre, Applejack afforded the opportunity for party goers to play games with equivocal themes, and Pinkie Pie informed them of the “Secret Punch” which would be provided in abundance.

Content with the rather unclear plan, they began to depart from Sugar Cube Corner when Twilight asked everypony to keep an eye out for Owlowiscious. She told them that her pet owl had flown away during the night and had not returned. Rarity empathetically offered her hope that Owlowiscious would return safe and Fluttershy gave a brief narrative of owl behavior which convinced Twilight not to worry about her feathered friend. Pinkie’s friends left the confectionary and went to their homes to begin their individual contributions to the party.

***

Rainbow Dash was airborne on her way to Sugar Cube Corner. She was hoping that she wasn’t too late for Pinkie’s “super-secret-meeting”. Twilight was entering her home, The Golden Oak Library, when Rainbow spotted her and quickly dove to meet with her. Rainbow Dash called for the recently coroneted alicorn princess’s attention, “Hey, egg-head!”

Twilight stopped in the doorway of the library and gave Rainbow a warm smile, “Hello, Rainbow Dash. We missed you at the meeting.”

Dash rolled her eyes with an entertained look, “I’m sure you did. What was that all about, anyway?”

Twilight searched her head for the right words as she stepped off the porch of the library, “It was about a party… I think… but, I still don’t know what for exactly.”

“So, typical Pinkie Pie stuff.” Dash chuckled at the thought of yet another Pinkie excuse to make cupcakes, mix punch, and hang streamers. That pony seemed to just make up reasons to party.

“More or less.” Twilight agreed with a laugh.

Rainbow Dash grabbed the Daring Do book from her shoulder bag and said through her teeth which were gripping the binder, “Here, you can have this back. The new one comes out tomorrow, and I’m going to be the first pony in Equestria to have it.”

Twilight’s horn began to glow a deep pink and the shimmer encapsulated the book as it levitated away from Rainbow Dash. “Thanks,” Twilight said as she expertly placed the book inside the library, “If you ever need it again, all you have to do is ask.”

Rainbow Dash was relished in the thought of reading the newest addition to the series for a moment when she remembered why she had stopped in the first place, “So, the way I have it figured,” She started, “A. K. Yearling has more than a few fans in Ponyville. If we get to the bookstore a bit earlier that it opens, we could be the first ponies to read the high-flying adventures of Daring Do!”

Twilight flashed a bright smile, “That’s a great idea! We could go together!”

“That’s what I was thinking!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Twilight raised a brow at the sporty pony, “Can you be here at 5 o’ clock in the morning? I don’t remember you ever getting up that early for anything.” She said with a sardonic inflection.

“Absolutely!” Rainbow paused, “Hold on… I’ve got an incredible idea.”

Twilight remained steadfast in anticipation of Rainbow Dash’s brilliance.

“We could have a sleep-over. I’ll dash back to the Cloudominium and grab some things, and then we can hang out until we go to the bookstore!” Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and hovered in her excitement.

“A sleep-over!” Twilight beamed, “We can spend all night reading dissertations and discussing chemical properties!” Twilight danced lightly as the grin on her face spread to her whole body. “I can’t wait to hear your informed take on the ecological effect of pony presence in the biosphere!”

Rainbow Dash set down on the ground and disapprovingly twisted her face at the proposed activities for the evening, “Well… on second thought…”

Twilight tilted her head, “What’s wrong, Rainbow?”

Rainbow shifted on her hooves, “I’m just thinking I should probably stay home tonight.”

Disappointment faded from Twilight’s demeanor as she recalled the proposal and realized what pony she was talking to. “That doesn’t sound like fun to you?” She laughed.

“Well, you know,” Rainbow began to explain with an enduring feigned interest, “We’ve got to rest the old eyes to be ready to dive into Daring Do tomorrow.” She gave Twilight the best reassuring smile that she could.

Twilight shrugged and chuckled again, “Alright, then I’ll see you here at 5?”

Rainbow Dash wrapped a wing around her friend, and she gave a warm squeeze, “I’ll be here.”

Twilight started toward the library and noted the sun making its way to the horizon, “Okay, let’s get to bed and rest up. I don’t know about you, but I have some serious reading to do in the morning.”

Rainbow Dash beamed and sprang off the ground, “Oh, yeah we do!” She took flight back to her Cloudominium and did all she could to forget the incredible moment of laying her hooves on the book she has anticipated for so many months, if only for a moment, to get a good night’s sleep.

Author's Note