CH.5-Meanwhile, In Equestria...

Back in Ponyville, moments after Rainbow’s 'departure'…

Applejack lay with her forelegs crossed and her head tilted towards the sky, losing herself in Luna’s bewitching heavens. She had gone all out for her nephew's date-night and it showed in every moon-bright, twinkling star.

As she took in the spectacular sight, a claw wrapped around her hoof and she turned her gaze upon the creature next to her. Beside her was a young dragon, looking devilishly handsome in his tuxedo…it was Spike. He moved a claw towards the side of her muzzle, forcing a bright pink into the fine, orange fur coating her cheek.

"All these stars out tonight, shining brighter than they ever have been before,” he whispered, injecting a sense of cheesy romance into the atmosphere between them, “but not one of them could hold a candle to you.”

Then, Applejack’s heart raced as he leaned in to kiss her…she puckered her lips, awaiting his and...

THUMP!
“What the hay?”

She had fallen out of bed.

The earth pony groaned and climbed strenuously to her hooves, feeling drained. Being dragged from such a wonderful dream was enough to suck the life out of anypony. Sighing, she glanced outside and immediately did a double-take. The sun was high in the sky, making it nearly noon. She’d slept in…a horrible thing for a farmpony to do.

"Oh horseapples.”

She rushed down the stairs at a speed which could have rivaled Rainbow Dash before bumping into a giant red thing. There stood Big Mac, scowling unnervingly at her as he whistled for Granny Smith, who presented her with an even harsher glare.

Applejack offered them her most innocent smile, but the other Apples only continued to glower. After what felt like hours, Granny Smith spoke up.

"Well, young’un," she began, "you got some splainin' to do! You bin sleepin’ in every day this whole week... Mind tellin' us why?" Big Mac's glare only intensified, making Applejack gulp fearfully. “A-ah can't tell ‘em! They'd say it's just a schoolpony crush and that ah need ta get over it! Oh...why'd ah have t’be the element of honesty!?

Beads of sweat dripped down her face as she cowered before the two apple farmers. Granny Smith impatiently tapped an imaginary watch on her foreleg.

"C'mon now, we ain't got all day! The apples ain't harvistin' themselves, y’know.” Big Mac nodded in agreement…just as Applejack noticed a gap between him and Granny Smith. A gap which would allow her into the outer world. A gap which was was looking almost as attractive as Spike in a tuxedo.

She instantly took the chance.

"Ah'm-just-gonna-go-get-right-ta-that-a'right-bye!" she stammered. Then, she rocketed through the gap, leaving the other Apples dumbfounded. Granny glanced at Big Mac, unamused.

"Reckon we're gonna get 'er ta talk tonight?"

“Eeyup." Granny just shrugged and trotted into the kitchen.

"Well, let's just hope she don't do nothin' she'll regret about that li'l ol' crush o' hers. Now would you go help yer sis wit' the applebuckin’?" Big Mac glanced worriedly at her.
"What 'bout you?"

Granny gave him a sweet, toothy smile.
"Ah'll be fine, ah'm just makin' some fritters. You go ahead and continue wit' yer chores, Mac."

Big Mac considered saying something profound before sighing, deciding against it, and trotting out the door with a characteristic “Eeyup.”
______

Applejack cautiously watched her brother emerge from the farmhouse, waiting with baited breath. She released a sigh of relief as he set course for a faraway apple tree; now she could do her applebucking in peace. Sighing exhaustively, she turned her back to her own apple tree and-

"Wait just a darn minute! wasn't ah supposed ta do sumthin' today? She glanced nervously up at the sun. It was jerking through the sky at an alarming rate and Applejack swore she could even hear the sound of a clock ticking. "Oh horseapples! Ah gotta get a party fer Spike ready! And it's almost noon!

Easily forgetting everything but Spike, Applejack set off at a gallop for Pinkie Pie’s home…but not without her brother noticing her valiant escape. He instantly growled in disapproval.
“Applejack!"

Unsurprisingly, she took no notice.
______

The earth pony stopped at Sugarcube Corner to catch her breath, searching frantically for an angry red stallion. Upon realizing that she hadn’t been followed (to the best of her knowledge), she released a breath she didn’t know she had been holding and trudged into the shop.

"Thank Celestia.”

The bell rang as she opened the door and was instantly thrown to the ground in a bone-crushing hug. Applejack swore the pink mare broke her back in seven places before she jumped to her hooves, tossing confetti into the air and blowing a party horn as she did so.

“Hi Applejack!” she gasped. “It's soooo great to see you! And you get a mini party for being Sugarcube Corner’s four million and fifty-five thousand nine hundred and sixty-first customer! she exclaimed, beaming from ear-to-ear. Applejack simply blinked twice in confusion before chuckling.

"Pinkie, don't ever change,” she said affectionately. Pinkie stared at her in confusion.

"Why would I ever change? Is it the disguises?” She gasped again. “I knew I shouldn't have adopted the alter-ego of Baron-von-Meanypants!" Applejack winced in confusion, then tapped Pinkie urgently on the shoulder to get her attention.

“Pinkie! Listen, ah need a huge favor from ‘ya. Could you get a small party ready fer Spike? Nothin’ fancy. Ah told 'im it'd be 'round noon and we’re almost outta time! Please - I really yer help.” Pinkie grinned cheerily, losing her “Baron-von-Meanypants” glare.

"Sure thing!” she sang. “I was about to close up shop anyway; good ol’ Gummy needs a bath!” She pulled her tail into Applejack’s line of vision, revealing the blank-eyed alligator gnawing on it as he stared into space.

"Why does this mare's mane taste like cotton candy? Is the constant partying finally taking its toll? Or could it be an abnormality, a genetic mutation…something which forces her to be different to every other pony…a diamond in the rough if you will.

Unaware of the gator’s philosophical ramblings, Pinkie waved everyone out of the store before flipping the “open” sign on the door so that it displayed the word “closed”. Then, Applejack rubbed her eyes tiredly as the ecstatic mare zoomed around the shop, decorating tables and spraying confetti with a party cannon she had pulled out of thin air.

As her friend sang and danced while she worked, Applejack couldn’t help but sigh. Pinkie’s energy could be exhausting sometimes.

“Well, whattaya think?” AJ’s eyes snapped open fully to find the entire cafe covered in streamers, party food, and banners. She breathed a sigh of relief.

“It’s great,” she replied thankfully. “Ah don’t know how ta repay ‘ya.” Pinkie squealed happily in response before inhaling a nearby cake in excitement. Applejack shot her a glare that said “really?” but the party pony didn't seem to notice.

"So, any reason we're giving a party to Spike?” she asked. “I mean, I love throwing parties, but why Spike and where”- Applejack shoved a hoof into her mouth, stopping the flood of Pinkie-ness.

“Ah get it, Pinkie. Ah just…kinda told 'im that you were planning a party fer 'im." Pinkie snorted.
“Heheheh throwing a party for someone for no reason? If anyone other than me did that I'd say they have a crush!" AJ blushed profusely and sunk down in her chair in an attempt to hide it. This somehow went unnoticed by Pinkie, who was playing with a pair of strange, spherical earrings.

Applejack frowned as the heat stopped flowing to her cheeks. “Wait,” she asked worriedly. “Didja get any any o’ the others ta come?" Pinkie nodded happily.

"Yepperdoodles! I gave invites to Fluttershy, Spike, Starlight, Discord, the crusaders, and Rarity!" AJ scowled in response to the last name before shaking her head distractedly.

“What about Twilight ‘n Rainbow?"

"Twilight's asleep and for some reason, Rainbow wasn't home,” Pinkie answered instantly. AJ chuckled.
"She's probably off snoozin' on a cloud or summin'. Twilight kinda kept 'er up past 'er bedtime." Pinkie giggled manically before going back to normal…or as normal as Pinkie Pie could get.

“Okie-Dokie-Loki, then! I'll just wait ‘till she's done sleeping and tell her she missed out on some…apple cider." The party pony grinned expectantly, then frowned when nothing happened.

"Huh. Usually, when anypony says that she comes zooming right in! I guess she must be reaally tired." AJ smirked lightly before getting back on topic. "So when's everypony s'posed ta get 'ere?" Pinkie looked at the clock on the wall, "Right... about... NOW!"

CRASH.

Pinkie and AJ whirled around…and began laughing their flanks off. Well, Pinkie did at least.

There was Spike, Starlight, the three crusaders and Rarity all stuck in the doorway, trying -and failing - to get into the cafe. AJ smirked and glanced sideways at Pinkie.

"Ya made 'em Pinkie Promise ta come asap didn't 'cha?" Pinkie somehow managed to nod amidst her fit of laughter.

”Heh, typical Pinkie.”

As six ponies and a dragon squeezed themselves through the doorway, a bright flash erupted in the center of the room. AJ yelped as the brightness died down to reveal Discord, holding Fluttershy’s hoof in his paw.

Fluttershy immediately gasped and…er…flutteredover to Pinkie while Discord chuckled.

"I presume this was Pinkie's doing?" Everypony nodded in affirmation, including Pinkie, who had emerged from her laughing seizure. "Ha! I bet if you used that Pinkie promise of yours correctly, you could wreak chaos almost as well as I could!”

Pinkie offered Discord a wide, possibly evil smile as Rarity scoffed and padded up to Applejack. Spike wasn’t lagging too far behind. "Well, dah-ling,” she proclaimed. “I, for one, don't particularly like the idea of dealing with more chaos than we already do.” She glanced expectantly at Spike, "Don't you agree with me, Spikey?”

"Of course, Rarity. I agree with whatever you say..." Spike slurred dreamily. Rarity giggled,

"Why thank you, Spikey-Wikey."

AJ growled under her breath and stuck her head between the two.

"Alrighty then!” she yelled, forcing cheer into her voice. “Glad we straightened that out! Let’s party, ya'll!" Pinkie squealed before racing up to Starlight and Applebloom. The two ponies yelped as she hefted them into the air with one hoof and sent them soaring into a couple of random chairs.

Scootaloo grabbed Sweetie Belle by the hoof before darting inside, eager to avoid the same treatment.

“So… who’s this party for?” she asked. She gasped. “Ooh! Ooh! is there a new holiday?!" Sweetie Belle looked up then tilted Scootaloo's face upwards with one hoof.

“I don't think so. Look at the huge sign right in front of you, it says “Spike’s Welcome Back from Work Party!”

Apple Bloom leapt eagerly out of her chair. "Forget that, girls! C’mon, there's cake ta be eaten!”
“Yeah!”
“Woohoo!”

And with that, the CMC went on to inhale nearly all the pastries on the nearby table.

Spike threw Pinkie a sideways grin. "Oh yeah! I forgot this party was for me!” He frowned. “Wait, why'd you throw a party for me again?" Pinkie opened her mouth to explain but was cut off by AJ.

“Well, sugarcube…you’ve so been cooped up in that li'l castle o’ Twilight's an’ you’ve been workin' twenty-four/seven…so Pinkie wanted ta throw ya a party!” Starlight sat up in her seat, frowning.

"Wait, so why didn't I get a party for not destroying Equestria?”

“Um, S-starlight?’ Fluttershy stammered softly. “I don't think it works that way-" Starlight whirled around and glared menacingly at her before Discord teleported in front of Fluttershy, growling defensively. Starlight glowered darkly at him before backing down reluctantly, stubborn composure neatly back in place. “Pfft, whatever."

And with that, she left the party without a second thought, leaving an awkward silence behind her.

Spike sighed. "She's gonna be a lot harder to reform, isn't she?" Everypony winced.

“Yep.”

Gradually, conversations started to fill the room again; albeit the atmosphere was a little uneasy as Spike turned to Applejack and Pinkie with a goofy grin and AJ’s cheeks colored in response.

“Well, thanks, girls, I didn't know you cared that much about me!" AJ blushed a little more, something which did not slip the eye of a certain pink mare.

"Aw shucks. Thank ya' kindly Spike." Spike glanced up at Rarity.

"Did you help make this party for me too, Rarity?" Rarity, who was casually checking her hoof for any impurities, shot him a vague glance. "Of course, I did Spikey,” she droned monotonously. “I care about you like all the other girls!”

"Lies!"

She smiled shamelessly. “By the way, Spikey, you wouldn't mind coming over to my boutique after the party and being my pincushion, would you? I'm afraid I'm all out at the moment." Spike smiled back. "Of course Rarity! Anything for you..." AJ’s eye twitched a few times and she ground her teeth.

“That Rarity!”

It was a while before she could calm herself fully and get back into the spirit of things.

By late evening, everyone had started to leave and soon, Rarity, Applejack, Spike and Pinkie Pie were the only ones remaining. Applejack took a deep breath. Now was her chance…

“So, Spike,” she began. “Ah was wonderin' if yah'd like ta help with the applebuckin' tomorrah’…i-if yer schedules open, ‘o course.” Spike nodded eagerly, grinning, and was about to say something before Rarity cut him off.

"Oh, Spikey! Could you be a dear and carry these boxes of pastries home for me? I think we should get started on the dress-making right away!" Spike waved hurriedly to Applejack before scurrying over to Rarity as fast as his little legs could carry him.

Applejack tensed up and glared angrily at Rarity as she set off for the boutique, Spike hot on her heels. Then, the fury faded from her features to be replaced with a distinct sadness…she couldn’t blame Rarity for Spike’s crush on her.

She sighed in melancholy, lowering her gaze to the cafe floor. Why did she even bother? Pinkie, who had finished cleaning up, padded slowly up to her and sat down. When she spoke, her words were calm, rational and lucid.

"You really do have a crush on him, don't you?" she asked quietly. AJ smiled hollowly.

"Many times it feels like more than a crush,” she replied. Pinkie bit her lip, then frowned at her in confusion.

“Okay, I gotta ask…how did you get a crush on Spike of all poni - er - dragons?" AJ rolled her eyes annoyedly.

"And what in the hay is that s'posed ta mean?" Pinkie waved her forelegs frantically.

"I didn't mean it like that! It’s just…I thought that you'd go for someone more…hardworking and manly, y’know?” AJ grimaced.

“It’s kind of a long story…” She sighed as Pinkie stared expectantly at her. “It sorta started before the timberwolf incident. I mean, he was always hardworkin’, helpin' Twilight and bein' Rarity’s slave ’n all. Even goin' against his own nature ta be around us ponies! Ah guess ah can respect that.” She paused, but Pinkie twirled her hoof impatiently, motioning for her to go on. “The timberwolf thing was really bad, though. And Rarity was actually over-reactin’ 'bout the pie he made - it was pretty darn delicious! I mean, everypony has an off day from time to time so ah cut him some slack for that one. He probably woulda kept workin’ on the farm if Twilight didn't double the work he had ta do.” She sighed. “During that time, though, ah got ta know him better. We shared a few laughs and ah noticed he’s a lot stronger than he lets on. Ah ain't kiddin' when ah say he could buck a tree right down just by kickin' it! Even with his short li'l legs. Ah'd go tell him right now that ah…” she flinched and swallowed, not used to saying the words out loud “… that ah love 'im but there’s just one thing that stands in mah way…"

Pinkie instantly knew what - or who, in this case - she was talking about. “Rarity,” she said.

AJ nodded solemnly in confirmation. “Yep.” She yelped as Pinkie grabbed her face between her hooves and shook her up and down.

“Well, that just doesn't seem right!” she exclaimed. “I am Pinkamena Diane Pie: love-expert-extraordinaire! And I'm going to help you get Spike if its the last thing I do!"

AJ perked up and her eyes grew wide with hope. "Really?" Pinkie nodded happily.

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" AJ smiled gratefully and hugged her before drawing away, frowning.

“Wait…” she said. “Ya ain’t gonna do nothin’ crazy now, right?” Pinkie giggled before scooting her out the door.

“Oh, Applejack,” she grinned. “Just trust me!”

“Ya didn’t answer ma question,” Applejack noted nervously, turning on her hoof as Pinkie shut the door. Sighing dubiously, she trotted back to Sweet Apple Acres, making sure to use the back door so that she could get to her room without having to see her grandmother or Big Mac.

Back at Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie turned to Gummy who was sitting on a nearby table. In his left nostril hung one of the strange earrings Pinkie had been playing with before the party. Said Pinkie smirked before pulling her own earring out of who-knows-where and clipping it onto her right ear.

"You ready, Gummy?" she asked.
“I’m always ready, Pinkie.”

Then, Pinkie rushed towards Gummy and the two started to perform a bizarre dance which would have thoroughly confused any onlookers. However, what happened next would have left them completely astounded. Pinkie touched her hoof to Gummy’s claw, screaming “Fusion, HAH!" as she did so and a bright light enveloped mare and gator, bathing the room in a brilliant flash. When the glow faded, all that was left was a sleeping mare.

Her face could not be seen in the darkness of the closed cafe.

Fluttershy trotted up the steps to Rainbow's bedroom. She knew she was intruding but if Rainbow was asleep, she would need to feed Tank.
“I’ll just wake her up politely…I hope she won’t be mad.” She winced, knowing that Rainbow hated missing out on parties.

When she got to the room, however, she couldn’t hold back a gasp of shock. The entire bed had been shattered to smithereens and a circular burn mark peeked out between the wreckage.

"Oh... my... I think I…fluttered.”

And with that, Fluttershy collapsed on the floor in a dead faint.