Belonging Again

“Ok Lyra, you can do this. It’s no big deal...” Lyra sighed, trying to calm herself down, “...just give him back his tools.”

Lyra held a steady trot until she approached the run-down apartment complex. She paused to questionably scrutinize the building, but shrugged it off. She walked up to the front doors of the lobby, and totted gingerly inside up to the front desk.

“Um, excuse me?” Lyra peered over the counter at the snoozing grey Pegasus.

“Hm?” Daydream opened a single eye, then snapped to attention, wings flared. “Oh! Yes, how may I help you?”

“Well, there was a blue stallion that came through here not to long ago,” Lyra shuffled a hoof, “I was wondering if you could possibly tell me what room is his.”

“Oh, ok sure!” Daydream glanced down at the binder lay open on the desk, “Are you his marefriend or something?”

“What?’ Lyra jerked her head back, chucking nervously, “Uhh, no, I just want to return this to him.” She raised the tool box with her magic and levitated it aside her.

“Oh, ok. Sorry about that.” Daydream giggled as she raised a hoof in apology, “Room 15, dear.”

“Thanks.” Lyra scrunched her face in slight embarrassment and exited the lobby, carrying the toolbox behind her.

Room 11. Nope.

Room 13. Almost there.

Lyra took a deep breath as she came to a halt in front of room number 15. She set the toolbox on the ground aside the door and raised her hoof to knock, but hesitated.

“Oh, c’mon Lyra!” She grumbled to herself in account to her hesitation, stomping her hoof back to the ground.

She paused for a moment to muster up the courage. She again raised her hoof and rapped on the door.

Silence.

She knocked again.

Silence.

“Hmm, maybe he isn’t home.” Lyra bit the corner of her bottom lip and pondered whether to search for the blue unicorn, or leave the toolbox on the doorstep.

“Lookin’ fer somepony?” A tan earth pony with a cowboy hat stood next to the door, tipping his hat up. He wore a sly smile.

“Um, maybe,” Lyra cautiously studied the stallion, “What’s it to you?”

The stallion scoffed as he rolled his eyes and took a step forward, “Now ya best listen ta me, and listen ta me well.” He was mere centimeters from Lyra’s face, staring daggers into the mare’s eyes.

“Umm...” the mint colored unicorn mare bit her bottom lip and nervously tried to back up.

Braeburn didn’t let her keep her distance. “I’ve got important plans for this here town, and I ain’t goin’ ta let ya help ruin what I’ve set inta motion!” His eyes caught a ray of sunlight and reflected a hint of blue, hungering rage.

“What?!” Lyra fell to her flank, “What plans? What are you talking about?”

“Jus’ don’t be doin’ anythin’ ta help out that stallion, ya hear? I mean anythin’!” Braeburn backed off and left Lyra to ponder what in the wide world of Equestria he was talking about.

“I am so confused...” Lyra got back to her hooves, shaking her head and rubbing a temple with a hoof.

She let out a long sigh and again picked up the toolbox with her magic, starting off towards Sugarcube corner. A scowl grew on her face.

“I’ll help whoever I want, you jerk.” She hissed under her breath.

“Wrong answer.” The evilly spoken words startled Lyra enough to spin around, unfortunately again to face the stallion, freezing her in wide-eyed horror.

Braeburn delivered a hoof across Lyra’s face, knocking her out cold. The red toolbox crashed to the ground.

“Foolish ponies.” He evilly chuckled at the sight of Lyra’s limp and unconscious body, and headed for Rarity’s boutique.

I had to stop and catch my breath. It wasn’t much of a hike from my apartment to the center of Ponyville, but galloping as fast as I could the whole way, took a lot out of me.

“What’s yer rush Sugarcube?” called a familiar voice of a certain orange mare.

“Oh... hey AJ, ...just looking... for my toolbox.” I panted, barely managing to make eye contact with the mare.

“Yer toolbox?” She raised a brow.

“Yeah... I tripped... over there... this morning,” I pointed a hoof across the town circle, “I was just heading... over there, but just needed to... catch my breath!”

“Ah see,” Applejack chuckled, “well don’t go tirin’ yerself out before ya start on Monday, Sugarcube! We’re gunna need yer hoof makin’ sure all our ‘quipment is ready for Cider Season!”

Jeez, yeah no pressure or anything eh, AJ? Whatever, most of the equipment and machinery here was simple; best compared to 19th century mechanology back home. Simple machinery is clearly easy to work on, but simple thing after simple thing I can see getting rather boring, very quickly. I enjoy a good challenge every now and again. Lets say, you spend a month or so doing nothing but replacing brake pads and/or tires. You’ll go insane. Trust me. But then again, it’s not really much of a point knowing how to fix things without having any tools.

“Ha,” I clucked, “Yeah, I’ll try not to.” I said, finally catching my breath.

“Well alrighty then!” Applejack shrugged, “After y’all find yer tools, ya should go stoppin’ by Sugarcube Corner!” Applejack suddenly looked like she shouldn’t have said that.

“Um, alright?” I gave the orange earth pony a quizzical look, “What’s going on at Sugarcube Corner?”

“Ah dunno,” Applejack scrunched her face in what appeared to be a terrible poker face, “jus’ heard some ponies talkin’ ‘bout it, is all.”

Yeah, I don’t buy that. Whatever though.

“Well, if you say so AJ.” I shrugged, “I’ll see you around!”

I waved a hoof and started across the center of town to the opposite road, where I made a total fool of myself in front of those two mares.

“Um, alright then. See y’all later!” AJ shrugged a hoof and coolly returned my gesture of dismissal, “Ho, boy. That was a close ‘un.” She said under her breath, wiping her brow with a hoof.

I came to where I crashed onto the road, where the indentation of my face was still imprinted into the dirt, despite the hundreds of hoof prints. I looked up from the road and scanned the street up ahead for any sign of the toolbox.

Nothing. Perfect. Someone-- I-I mean, somepony actually stole my tools. Why the hell would somepony steal my tools?! God damnit!

Ok, I’m going take this opportunity to elaborate on a couple things. First of all, how difficult it actually is going my whole life, well... my whole old life, saying things like everyone and anyone, to trying to blend into this society of little ponies, saying everypony, somepony, and stuff like that. Just little things like that are going to take a while to get used to. Second of all, I’m going kick the crap out of whoever stole my tools. Ask any mechanic; stolen tools equals pissed-off technician and punches to the douche who stole them. Ugh, that shit just grinds my gears, man. Don’t steal tools; borrow if you must, but ask first.

“Ugh!” I threw my hooves into the air in frustration and sat on my flank, “Of course they’d be stolen. Of course they would!” I let out a long aggravated sigh and arose back to all fours, cursing my luck with these sort of circumstances.

I spent the next half-hour or so searching every nearby place for any clue of where my tools might have gone. It was useless. I searched the streets, around nearby alleyways, and even asked a few ponies if they had seen anything. None seemed to even want to have anything to do with me at all, and were rather dismissive. I faced my grief. My tools were gone for good.

What a waste!

I gave up the search and took a seat near a schoolyard, crossing my hooves in frustration.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Gavin.” The unmistakable voice of Rainbow Dash called from above.

“Ugh, that’s ‘Davin’, Rainbow ‘Crash’.” I grumbled. “What the hell do you want?”

I'm really not the mood for this. Go bother someone else, Rainbow Dash; I’m pissed off, and don’t have the patience for you right now.

The blue Pegasus huffed, “Well somepony’s in a nasty mood today.” She crossed her hooves as she hovered a few feet above the ground beside me.

“Yeah, well if you had your shit stolen you’d probably be in a shitty mood too.” I didn’t even hold back, not even making eye contact with the cyan pegasus.

“Stolen?” Rainbow jerked her head back, “What could you possibly have that somepony would want to steal?”

I glared at the Pegasus for a moment and growled angrily, before returning my blank gaze over the playground. “My tools were, I guess.”

Rainbow Dash seemed to be beginning to catch on to my frustration, because her confident enthusiasm dropped some. “Your tools? I thought Pinkie said Lyra was going to find you and bring you back your tools?” She raised a brow and shrugged.

“What?” I jerked my head around to face the mare, “Who the hell is Lyra?” I asked, more in the tone of a statement rather than a question.

I honestly didn’t care who she was, I really just wanted to know what she was doing with my tools, or rather, where the hell my tools were.

“Um, minty-green coat, green and white mane, cutie mark of a golden harp...” She trailed off.

“What is she doing with my tools?” I stepped up and looked Rainbow dead in the eye, demanding an answer.

I was quickly loosing patience having the blue Pegasus hover around me while I was left with questions unanswered.

“I don’t know!” Rainbow Dash shrugged, “but she probably took them to your apartment. Anyways, you should come with me to Sugarcube Corner.”

“No thanks!” I shook my head in refusal, leaving Rainbow Dash and the schoolyard behind. If they really were taken to my apartment, might as well go and check before somepony else goes and steals them from there, too!

“Oh, you want to do this the hard way?” Rainbow started after me, “We’ll do this the hard way!”

“Don’t even bother, Rainbow.” I glared over my shoulder.

She let out a long frustrated sigh, “Fine. Let me at least come with you. Then you have to come with me to Sugarcube Corner, ok?”

“Um,” I looked to the side for a moment in thought, “this isn’t a negotiation.”

Rainbow beamed me a flat convincing glare, “You’re coming with me, one way or another.” She flew up to have me face to face.

“I’m not going anywhere without finding my tools first.” I scowled back, then turning away and continuing my way to my apartment.

“We’re going to Sugarcube after,” She crossed her hooves, flying up next to me, “whether you like it or not; even if I have to drag you all the way there.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. She wasn’t going to give up. She was even more stubborn than I was, and I can be pretty damn stubborn at times.

“Ugh...” Lyra finally came out of her unconscious state and rubbed the side of her bruised and sore face with a hoof, stumbling to stand up.

She took a quick look around to see if that crazed stallion was anywhere in sight. Nope, no sign of him. She looked down to her side and noticed the toolbox lying upside down on the ground.

“Oh darn it! That’s right!” despite of her pain, she lifted the toolbox in an aura of magic and headed off towards Sugarcube Corner.

As Lyra approached the door, she heard Pinkie trying to hush everypony inside. “Great, he mustn’t have showed up yet.” Lyra rapped on the door. “Pinkie, it’s me.”

Pinkie opened up the door, “Hi Lyra!” Pinkie’s happy enthusiasm fell when she noticed Lyra still having the toolbox in her possession.

“Haven’t found him yet, have you?” Pinkie looked up to Lyra, and gasped. “What happened to your eye?! Are you ok?!” Pinkie held her with both her hooves.

“Yeah,” Lyra’s face dropped, “I’m fine.”

“What’s the problem darling?” Rarity asked from behind Pinkie, who also gasped when she noticed Lyra’s face, “Oh darling! What happened to you?” Rarity’s concern was beginning to turn into defensive anger, as she pointed a hoof to Lyra’s swollen and bruised eye.

“Um, nothing...” Lyra’s tone was both of disappointment and shame.

“Well nonetheless!” Rarity took side to the unicorn, “Let’s get you cleaned up. Pinkie, we’ll be back in a moment.”

Um, alright.” Lyra agreed with some skepticism, “Pinkie, would you mind if I left his toolbox here in case he shows up before we get back?”

“Well of course not, silly!” Pinkie smiled wide as Lyra and Rarity left Pinkie and Sugarcube Corner for Carousel Boutique.

“See you later Pinkie, Thanks.” Lyra dismissed.

“Oh, Pinkie dear,” Rarity paused and snapped around, “don’t let that stallion leave without letting me have a word with him first, alright?”

“Okie Dokey Loki!” Pinkie waved a hoof, then taking notice to the toolbox Lyra left behind. She smiled and brought it inside, shutting the door to Sugarcube Corner behind her.

“Ok everypony,” Pinkie set the toolbox down, “Davin will be here in a jiffy! We just gotta wait a little bit longer!” Many of the ponies groaned.

“Actually? That’s strange.” Lyra stated with some confusion as the two mares trotted through the late afternoon streets of Ponyville.

“It doesn’t even make any sense!” Rarity hung her head, “He came to my side when I bumped into that stallion the other day, I know he did.”

“Hmm,” Lyra thought for a moment, “Well maybe you’re just stressed? It’s possible that you are just under some strain and you’re just seeing things or something.”

“I’m not sure, Lyra.” Rarity shook her head, “Applejack even assured me that he was working on the orchard all morning as well.” Rarity shrugged, “Perhaps I’m just thinking into it a bit too much for my own good.”

“Maybe,” Lyra agreed, “but it is pretty weird. A pony can’t be two places at once.”

“That is exactly why it’s confusing me so much.” Rarity scowled at the ground.

“You sure that’s the only thing confusing you?” Lyra knelt down a bit, quizzing the white unicorn, “sounds like you’re holding something back.”

Rarity sighed, “I-It’s nothing.”

“Mhmm.” Lyra giggled, “Sure it isn’t.”

Rarity rolled her eyes, “D-Don’t tell Braeburn, ok?”

“Who’s Braeburn?” Lyra raised an eyebrow.

“My coltfriend.” Rarity stated rather coldly.

“Oh, o-ok. Well I don’t even know who he is, so you’re secret is safe with me.” Lyra smiled, playfully bumping Rarity’s side, “So you gunna tell me what’s actually bothering you?”

“Fine.” Rarity grumbled, “Well, the stallion I bumped into, just so happens to be the stallion Pinkie is throwing a party for.”

“That doesn’t seem like that big of a deal.” Lyra shrugged.

“No, that part isn’t the problem.” Rarity shook a hoof, “What’s bothering me is the fact that I made quite a poor impression on him.”

Lyra thought for a moment, “I still don’t see how that can bother somepony so much.”

Rarity sighed, “I’m not finished yet, darling. What’s really bothering me is that he generously offered to help me up and pick up my things and I bitterly shoved him off.”

“You like him don’t you?” Lyra teased, subtly holding back a mild bit of jealousy.

Rarity flopped to the ground, “Yes!” She sobbed, “I’m just so confused! I love Braeburn, but that stallion just has something I’ve never seen in a stallion before. N-Now he probably hates me!” Rarity covered her face with both her hooves.

Lyra jerked her head back, not actually expecting that magnitude of answer from the mare sobbing on the ground.

“You... What?!” Lyra was both shocked, and feeling a bit of envy.

“I’m so Pathetic!” Rarity cried.

Lyra rolled her eyes and offered the dramatic mare a hoof up. “C’mon Rarity. The sooner we get back to the boutique, the sooner we can get back to the party and you can apologize to him.”

Rarity’s eyes lit up, “Yes, you’re right, at least he’ll know my intent was not to come across as sour as I did.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you’ll feel better after that.” Lyra helped Rarity to her hooves and started off again for the boutique.

After a few minutes of Lyra effectively covering up her newly discovered rivalry, she managed to calm down Rarity enough to change the subject.

“Oh, that is quite the bruise my dear.” Rarity glanced over to Lyra as the door to the boutique swung open.

“Yeah I know... You really think you can cover it up?” Lyra looked up to Rarity with some concern.

“Well of course dear!” Rarity pawed a hoof convincingly, “But would you care to tell me what happened? Surely a bruise like that can’t just come from a stumble.”

“Well,” Lyra began with some hesitation, “I headed over to that old apartment complex on the side of town,” Lyra gestured a hoof in the direction, “I went to drop off those tools and this stallion came up to me and-” Lyra’s words were cut short by somepony catching her attention.

“Bout time ya got home.” Braeburn tipped up his hat as he lent up against a wall, with crossed hooves.

“Braeburn, I wasn’t expecting you back again so soon!” Rarity trotted up to the stallion, unbeknowingly leaving a horrified Lyra behind.

Rarity stopped in front of Braeburn expecting a warm hug or some sort of affection, but rather was met with the stallion beaming down at her with a grimace. Rarity’s smile was replaced with confusion and she took a step back.

“Braeburn, are you alright?” Rarity studied the stallion head to hoof.

Braeburn’s grimace shifted into an evil grin, “I’m jus’ fine Rarity. Everythin’ is goin’ to plan now.” He looked up from the confused Rarity to the green unicorn by the door and grinned without any sense of mercy.

“You actually live here?” Rainbow took a sweeping glance around as we entered the lobby of the apartment complex.

“Yeah I do.” I saw Daydream at the counter look up as me and Rainbow walked in. I waved to her and pushed the door out the left of the lobby open.

Rainbow Dash looked me in the eye, “Dang...” she bit her bottom lip in disgust.

“Whatever. It’s good enough for me.” I shrugged, brushing off her disapproval.

We trotted up to Room 15, where there was no sign of the toolbox outside. I sighed and flipped a pocket on my vest open and pulled out the key to my room with my teeth. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, flicking on the light. Might as well check, right? Rainbow waited outside the door while I took a quick glance through my apartment. I joined her back outside and locked the door.

“Nothing?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Nope.” I groaned, “Well, back to town I guess. I really don’t feel like being dragged, so I guess I’ll agree to go with you to Sugarcube Corner.”

“Finally!” rainbow tilted her head back in relief, “Lets go!”

Before I knew it, she had already flown out of the complex, leaving me and a faint trail of a rainbow behind. I will probably never understand why everyone is always in a rush. Both here, and back home.

After a long walk back to town, I finally met back up with Rainbow Dash out front of the decorative bakery. Like I said, it wasn’t far, but I took my extra time getting back to town. I was in no rush, so why run, right?

“What took you so long?” Rainbow greeted with a bit of annoyance.

“I don’t get why everypony is always in a rush.” I rolled my eyes.

She sighed and facehooved, “Just walk inside.” She pointed a hoof to the door.

I shook my head and walked up to the door. I thought for a moment if I should knock first, but considered that it was a place of business after all, so I walked inside. To my immediate concern, there were no lights on, and the whole place was dark.

Great.

I immediately began regretting walking inside. It was a trap, and I was probably going to be murdered or something.

I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to have Rainbow Dash drag me here! Might as well make a run for it, while I can!

I turned back for the door, but just as I lifted a hoof to push the door open, the lights flashed on, and a group of around 20 or so ponies screamed.

“SURPRISE!!” Pinkie was the loudest to holler of the crowd, which completely knocked me on my ass in shock.

Pinkie jumped up in front of me, “So were you surprised Davy-do?”

“Well I’m flat on my ass, so I’m gunna go with...” I put a hoof to my chin, making it look like I’m hard in thought, “yup, I’m surprised, alright.”

“Well good!” She hopped in excitement, “No point having a surprise party if nopony is surprised!”

“Yeah, I guess.” Pinkie offered me a hoof back up, “So what’s this all about anyways?” I took a look around the bakery, noticing a few familiar faces.

“Well you’re new to town after all!” Pinkie jabbed me with a hoof, “I thought it would be a super fantabulous idea to throw you a Welcome-to-Ponyville-congratulations-on-the-new-home Party!”

Ah great, now I feel like a total asshole! Pinkie went through all that trouble to gather everypony here just to make me feel welcome.

I sighed and placed a hoof to my forehead.

“You ok, Davy-do?” Pinkie trotted up next to me, patting my back in concern.

“Pinkie, you didn’t have to go through all this trouble just for me.”

“Well of course I did!” She nudged me reassuringly with a hoof, “Everypony should feel welcome, and everypony likes to feel welcome!” Pinkie jumped to face the room of ponies enjoying the party, “There’s nothing I like doing more than helping my friends feel happy!”

She leapt back to my side, “I wanted to throw you a party earlier, but we both were super-duper busy, so I decided to throw you one today, because you just got your very own place to stay!”

I let a thankful smile creep across my face, and I threw my hooves around the cheerful pink pony. “Thanks Pinkie. I needed to feel welcome here. Thank you.”

I let Pinkie go out of the embrace, and she giggled.

“Oh! There’s one more thing!” In a split second, Pinkie left my side, and returned to me carrying something in her mouth. It took me a moment to realize what it was, but I quickly recognized it.

“My toolbox!” I gasped, looking up to Pinkie who was wearing a smile through her teeth, “But how? Where’d you find it?” I tilted my head in question.

“Lyrr fundd ith!” She stated confidently, still holding the toolbox in her teeth.

“What?” I raised an eyebrow.

Pinkie set down the toolbox and giggled, “Lyra found it! She was going to bring it back to you herself, but she couldn’t find you I guess.” Pinkie shrugged, “She should be right back any moment with Rarity!”

“With Rarity? Ah, man...” I sighed.

“Yup! She told me she had something to say to you too, she didn’t say what it was about though.” Pinkie put a hoof to her chin in thought.

Oh I wonder what she would have to say to me. “You’re such a classless stallion.” “Loser!” “Go back to where you belong!” “You have no idea what you are doing!” “I’m out of your league!” “Stay away from me!” I could go all day assuming what she might have to say.

“Well, alright.” I shrugged, deciding to change the subject. “So did you like, invite the whole town to this thing?” I glanced around the crowded room.

“I invited everypony!” Pinkie stated with confidence, “But not everypony could make it because they were busy and had things to do.” She frowned for a moment, then resumed to that permanent smile of hers.

“Well I can’t thank you enough for this, Pinkie.”

“No need to thank me!” Pinkie trotted off into the crowd.

“Hey, Dav!” a stallion called from behind me; I stepped around to face him.

“Hey, Pin Stripe! How’s it goin’ bud?” I held out a hoof, in the same sort of way I would’ve greeted a friend for a high five or a fist bump.

Pin bumped his hoof to mine, “Oh, just heard Pinkie was throwing a party. When I heard who it was for, I had to stop by and make an appearance.” Pin Stripe turned his attention to a grey mare near a table full of muffins and tipped his head in greeting.

“Awesome dude. So you pumped for tonight?”

“Oh yeah! It’s Karaoke night.” Pin Stripe grinned sadistically.

“Oh, no.” I could only imagine what tonight will bring.

Shit-faced Davin, plus karaoke, equals hangover in the morning; and that's just the givens.

Pin laughed, “Oh, it’ll be fun! I’ll introduce ya to a few good buddies of mine. We always have a blast. Well, for the most part.” He poked me with a hoof, “Anyways, I better get going. Just wanted to make a quick appearance here after all!”

I chuckled, “Alright man. Catch ya later.”

I spent the next hour or so doing what I usually do at parties when I know pretty much no one; wander around aimlessly, saying ‘hey’ when I caught eye with somepony, occasionally making small talk with a few. Pinkie’s party was similar to parties I went to back home in a sense; music playing, drinks being drank and spilled, lots of snacks, and that one person, or in this case, that one pony who was just being ridiculous, doing the percolator dance on a table while wearing a lampshade on their face.

Lyra was speechless, and was frozen on the spot. She didn’t take a step forward nor back after making eye contact with the stallion who struck her down earlier.

Rarity didn’t parallel Lyra’s fear; “Braeburn, what in the world are you talking about?” she glared at the stallion. “You have been acting so strange lately!” She stomped a hoof.

The stallion shook his head and chuckled. Rarity scowled, despite her confusion.

“I’ve got plans fer this here town, and I ain’t ‘bout to have some little ponies come an’ ruin it.” He glanced at Lyra. “Ain’t that right?”

Lyra squeaked and cowered behind Rarity.

“What in Equestria are you on about?” Rarity noticed Lyra in her frightened state, then resumed her inquisition to Braeburn’s behavior.

The stallion chuckled mercilessly at the two mares. “Let’s jus’ say, y’all are in fer quite the surprise.” Braeburn glanced out the window towards Sweet Apple Acres.

Both Lyra and Rarity shared a confused glance and tuned their attention back to the stallion.

“Speaking of which, shouldn’t you be at Sweet Apple Acres right now?” Rarity raised a hoof in question, then pointed to the door in dismissal.

Braeburn’s grin was wiped off his face, and he headed for the door. Just as he was about to pass through, he turned to face Lyra. He gave her a long hard glare. Lyra just sat there, hoping that he wouldn’t strike her again. He turned away and left the boutique, Rarity slamming the door behind him with her magic.

Rarity helped Lyra up with a hoof, “Did he do that to you?”

Lyra didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to; Rarity knew the answer to that just by the look on Lyra’s face.

“I am having a nice word with that colt when he comes back from working the orchard tonight.” Rarity gritted her teeth at the stallion wearing the brown jacket and cowboy hat trotting away from the boutique.

The party was beginning to die down, and a few of the ponies had already left to go about their evening business. I yawned as I trotted over to the door to pick up my toolbox. I really didn’t want to exhaust myself already, the night was still young. I needed to save as much energy as I could for the bar. I trotted up to Pinkie who was now talking with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. I stood back for a moment to wait for the opportunity to speak.

I waited another moment.

And another.

Ok, I’ll just politely interrupt. Better than standing back looking like a dweeb, waiting for my turn to talk.

I cleared my throat, “Um, excuse me, Pinkie?”

“Hi!” she cheerfully greeted, Rainbow Dash sighed with annoyance.

I rolled my eyes at Rainbow then looked back to Pinkie and took a deep breath, “Just wanted to thank you for this awesome party.”

“Oh, you already thanked me for it!” She giggled.

I chuckled, “I know, but I just wanted to thank you again before I leave. I have plans tonight, and I have to get ready and stuff. I really wish I could stay longer, but I had already made plans with Pin Stripe.”

“Aww...” She frowned, “Well I’m happy that you liked it! There will be another time for us to party together soon!”

“Sounds good to me.” I smiled, “See you later Pinkie. Bye, Rainbow.”

Just as I reached out a hoof for the door, it swung open in a blue aura of magic.

“Whoa!” I jerked my head back out of the way of the swinging door, which just about clipped the end of my muzzle.

“Hey Rarity! Hey Lyra!” Pinkie hopped up next to me, greeting the two mares coming in from the darkening street.

Rarity greeted Pinkie with a smile, while Lyra shifted glances between Pinkie and I.

“You’re eye looks a lot better, Lyra!” Pinkie trotted up next to the green mare.

“It took us forever to cover it up, but I think it looks better.” Lyra spoke up, walking in with Rarity.

I gave the three mares each an equally confused look as I slowly knelt down and picked up my toolbox, and headed out the door. I made it about half-way into the street when Rarity trotted up after me.

“Um, pardon me...” she bit her bottom lip, not making eye contact.