"To Applejack and Rainbow Dash!"

Most of Ponyville raised their various drinks with a cheer for the newly engaged couple, then drank and hesitantly carried on doing whatever they had been doing before Pinkie and Discord had made the toast.

The two fiancées beamed at each other and hugged. "Look me in the eye and tell me this don't make you feel amazin'," Applejack said, caressing Dash's cheek.

"This doesn't make me feel amazing," the pegasus grinned cheekily, "but then again I could be lying; honesty's your thing." She pecked her on the lips.

"Aww!" Pinkie cooed. "Hey, you guys! Enjoying the party?"

"Eeyup."

Rainbow embraced Pinkie briefly. Before she pulled away, she whispered, "Guess what? You're gonna be AJ's best mare."

Pinkie cocked her head at the two. It took her what seemed like an age to figure out what Rainbow had said, much to the cyan mare's badly hidden irritation. "Ohhhhhhh. So you're gonna be the bride!" She pointed at Rainbow.

Dash pursed her lips. Even Applejack had to stop herself from face-hoofing right then and there.

Luckily for them, Discord cut in, "What Pinkie meant was that you will be the one walking down the aisle, correct?" The couple nodded simultaneously, though at significantly different speeds. "Now, Miss Pinkster: I spy an argument going on!"

"What?" Pinkie surveyed the room in a split second. "There's no --"

"Oh, sure there is." Discord snapped his tail feathers, and Raindrop and Thunderlane immediately started snapping at each other.

"Oh! So there is! Silly me," she snorted, bounding over. "Hey! No fighting you guys, please!"

A cunning smile crept onto Discord's face. "Hey, dude, what was that?!" Rainbow demanded.

The draconequus stared at her, debating over how he should reply. "I just saved your flank from causing another friendship of yours to crack. You're welcome."

Applejack arched an eyebrow. "Do I even need to ask how ya know about that?"

"You kidding? I've been feeling like I've overdosed on caffeine for almost the entire day, thanks to Rarity and Spike. It feels great." He grinned.

Rainbow's brow creased. "They were fighting for that long?"

The draconequus nodded. "Why else would only Spike be here? The guy loves her to pieces; he knows she wouldn't dare come to a public place and risk upsetting herself and her friends!" Discord's smile gradually became unsettling.

Dash blinked. "That made waaay too much sense. I'm not going insane, am I?" She turned to her fiancée. "That did make sense in your head too, didn't it?"

Applejack nodded. "Yeah. Discord, why aren't ya messin' with us like ya normally are?"

Discord craned his neck to look over their heads, his faux-joyful expression slipping. "Oh, would you look at that: guys, Fluttershy wants to talk to you but she doesn't want to interrupt because she's too polite oh how sweet of her bye!" A flash of light later and he was gone.

The buttercream pegasus glanced guiltily at the ground before approaching the two mares with a smile she found surprisingly easy to fake. "I love you guys, y'know that? I'm so happy for you." She embraced them both. She could feel relief mingling with the mirth in her heart; she had just talked to Twilight, and it seemed that everything was going to be alright, and soon, too.

Then she could get to work with rebuilding her relationship with Discord. She wasn't sure how much more she could take.

But, for now, she had her musical contribution to her friends' wedding to attend to.

"Fifty-eight layers?! Pinkie, are you crazy?!"

"A little bit!" the mare snorted. "But I think I can manage. I'm gonna get every single flavour apple and every single flavour berry into that wedding cake, you hear me?!" Pinkie giggled. "You're welcome to help, if you want!"

Twilight smiled and shook her head. "I can't, but if you wanna come by Golden Oaks later I can lend you some books on berries and apples."

"Okie-dokie-loki!"

There was a knock on the door.

Pinkie set her drink down. "I'll be right back!"

It was Muffin at the door. "Hiya Pinkie! I've got a letter for ya!"

Pinkie's heart stopped.

"Oh, look! It's from your coltfriend!"

Pinkie snatched it greedily from her hooves. She instantly recognised the mouthwriting. Yes, yes, yes! It is from Cheese! The mare hugged it to her chest and squealed. When she opened her eyes, she saw that Muffin was looking slightly longingly into the room behind her.

"Um, Pinkie, I'm sorry to ask, but...can I...?"

"Come in? Sure!" She opened the door wider and stepped aside. "Drinks and snacks and stuff are over there, and our beloved betrothed babies are over there, if you wanna congratulate them."

The pegasus smiled. "Thanks!"

The moment she had entered, Pinkie slammed the door shut and raced to her bedroom. She simultaneously ripped open the envelope and bounced onto her bed, hastily unfolding the paper inside as she expertly found her centre of balance on the soft mattress.

Dear Pinkie,

How are ya, girl? I miss you. Badly. I wish you had come with me, but I get that you wanted to stay with your buddies in Ponyville.

You need to tell me everything that's been happening with you while I've been gone. Romping around Equestria and throwing parties everywhere is awesome, but I kinda feel like something's missing. You might know of her: pink, beautiful, reliable, enthusiastic...

Hint hint: it's you.

So much has happened these past few months! I can't wait to tell you all about it. Well, I can wait: I'll have to wait until the 28th. Meet me at Ponyville train station at sundown then, will you?

I lov I love you, Pinkie

Bubbles and snorts of giddy laughter erupted from the massive grin on Pinkie's lips as she skipped around the room.

Eventually, she collapsed onto her balloon-embroidered quilt with a sigh consisting of the purest of joy. And, as she lay there, she reached the epiphany she had been anxiously awaiting for a very, very long time.

This realisation brought her even more happiness, though that seemed impossible. She could tell him. She could tell him and mean it. She was in love with Cheese Sandwich. She could tell him and have not a seed of doubt in her mind that it was false or mislead.

She no longer felt the need to abstain from her hopes for her future -- their future. For the rest of the evening, she lay there and indulged herself with every dream she knew one day would come true.

Author's Note

Just a short chapter this time.