A Warm Welcome

Vahkii follows Pinkie Pie down the street, that loud noise from earlier is growing. He saw ponies outside partying before, but now there were a lot more, and he assumes that what he saw before was when his party started.

"Now that I think about it, I've never been able to call a party my own before. I've never even been to a party. There's so many ponies here too. This just doesn't seem right..."

The doors to the bakery were held open, and Vahkii could see that there were even more ponies inside. The music was loud enough to be heard halfway down the street, but getting up closer he's surprised he can still hear himself talk. As the two approach the front yard area, some ponies that were outside cheer and wave at him.

Pinkie runs up and into the bakery, yelling "Hey everypony! I found him!"

Pinkie turns around and sees that he's still waiting outside, like he's too shy to come into the party. She runs back and starts pulling him around. She pulls him up to just about everypony that was outside, introducing them and then pulling him around again.

"This is Carrot Top! Now come here! This is Octavia and this is Lyra. Oo! Over here! This is Cheerilee!" She is kind of yelling, even though she doesn't have to.

"Hold on Pinkie! You're telling me their names for them and not telling them mine?"

"Well we all already know your name silly! That's why we're here!"

"Okay, well that seems like a fast introduction to get to know somepony."

"Oh well we have a lot of people to meet and their all my friends so you'll see them quite often. You should come meet my best friends! They'll love to meet you!"

"Who?" Vahkii barely starts his sentence when Pinkie pulls him off to the side of the party, where five other mares are sitting at a table.

"And these are my best friends Vahkii! This is Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack!"

"Umm, nice to meet you." Vahkii gets that out before blushing. He's never had to do anything like this before, and to a bunch of cute mares he's never met. Pinkie Pie pushes him into a seat, and then sits down herself.

"It's nice to meet you Vahkii. That's quite an interesting name. I'm Twilight! I run the library here. If you ever need a book come see me."

"Umm, well. I'm Fluttershy. I just take care of all my pets and animals."

"Yeah, she's the shy one. I'm the cool one. Name's Rainbow Dash. I control the weather around here, but I can do just about anything twenty percent better than other pegasi. You need something? I can do it."

"My name is Rarity. And I must agree with Twilight, I've never heard of a name like that before. Dash is quite the boaster, but she's good at what she does. I run the most popular fashion boutique here. If you ever need something made just let me know."

"And I'm Applejack. I run my farm, Sweet Apple Acres down the road. If you're looking for good food, come see me or come here and see Pinkie Pie."

"They introduce themselves, and ask me if I need any favors? Why? What have I done for them? I thought Pinkie was crazy, but they're taking being nice really far. Can I say no? Would that offend them? I'm even more confused. It went from one word greetings to this,.. what do I do?"

They were all looking at him, as if waiting for answers. Pinkie Pie broke the silence, "He likes to think to himself, just give him a minute. He kept doing this when I went to grab him."

Vahkii decided he had to say something, "No it's fine. I've just never had any friends, so I've never introduced myself. And I just got here and you're asking if I need anything from you already. I'm just confused. I make music, and I have my stuff at my house. My name is unique and my parents never told me why they gave it to me."

Fluttershy looked out from her bangs for the first time so far, "No,.. friends?"

"Well, I'm sorry about that. But now you got us right? We're all your friends now!" Rainbow Dash interrupted her.

"Yeah. I've never had a friend. Or been to a party. This all seems so new and it doesn't seem right. It's making me nervous. I didn't know I could learn your names and call you my friends just like that."

"Well, why not? We don' really have enemies, so what do you want us to call you sugarcube? We just make it a habit to be friends with everypony 'round here. Why not avoid conflicts? Nopony wants to deal with things like that."

"No, enemies? You mean like bullies? I'm sorry, I'm just confused. There's too much going on at once." Vahkii said, now tilting his head down.

"Would you rather go someplace quieter than this? I don't really enjoy music this loud or crowded myself. We could go to Horsia's for some wine and have a more peaceful environment." Rarity said.

"Umm, yeah. That would be better. Less crowded..." Vahkii mumbled.

"No, bullies? No enemies? Just everypony is everyponies friend? That doesn't make sense. That's unheard of! How can that be right? They only knew my name and they are asking me to have favors ready for them? Something can't be right here..."

Pinkie Pie blurts out, as she watches Vahkii's face become even more confused, "I think we broke him.."

"But we do this for everypony. When you did this for me, yes I thought you were crazy, but I didn't change. We're all friends now right?" Twilight added.

"Yeah, I'm fine don't worry. I get lost in thought all the time. I never talk out loud cause I havn't had any friends. We should go to that quieter place."

They all get up and head outside, heading back towards where his house is. But they lead him across the road to the bar, they called Horsia's. Inside is a big room, with a bar along the wall, and a dining area full of tables on the other. The middle was a dance floor with a small DJ stage, empty. Everypony was at the party, only ponies here were the ones that worked here.

All of them besides Rainbow Dash sit down at a larger table. Rainbow Dash comes back floating over with a tray of full shotglasses, two wine glasses, and one bottle of wine.

"If you've never partied, then you've never gone to a bar I take it. So, I'll start you off with this. Try one of these shots. The wine's for Rarity and Fluttershy but they'll probably share if you prefer that. Just try to relax and take it slow."

"And honey, just so that you understand," Rarity started. "Pinkie Pie really is that outgoing, and a bit crazy. There are times when we don't understand her, or even each other. It just happens that way. It's not just you Vahkii. It wouldn't be possible to agree with everypony on everything."

Twilight brought herself into the conversation, "Indeed. But sometimes you just need to take it slow and relax. It really does help. That's why I started going to the spa with Rarity and Fluttershy."

Pinkie Pie put on a fake sad face, "Now you're making me sound like the bad pony!"

"No we ain't sugarcube," Applejack butted in, "You know we all love you. You just don't always explain yourself."

Vahkii just sat there and listened to them. "Is this what having friends is like? You can just sit here and talk and laugh? This is wonderful. I've only had one drink, so that's not why my nervousness is leaving. I can feel it though, the panic from confusion is leaving. This feels great. Why did everypony bully me before? Wouldn't this feel better?"

"I, just have a question for you all. Why would you be so nice to somepony you don't know? I just got here and already had Pinkie waiting for me in my own house. It just seems to good to make so many friends in two hours."

The six all share a glance between themselves, and burst out laughing.

Twilight breaks the laugh and answers him. "You must have had a real bad time where you came from, or it was just unlucky to meet only mean ponies. All of us are welcoming and friendly here. It took me awhile to believe it too. I had hardly any friends before I came here, except Spike and the princess. I would always be studying. But to conclude the last conversation, Pinkie doesn't always make sense, but her intentions are well and things have always ended up working out. You just gotta go out of your comfort zone for awhile and it will change you."

"Okay, you all seem to be telling the truth. I did come from an unlucky bunch of ponies to have been around. I never had any friends in Las Pegasus, and my parents never did anything special for me, just cook my food and give me a roof over my head. They never spent time with me or anything. Everypony was a bully to me, but friends like this with each other. My teacher didn't even like me, and tried to make me drop out of school. I had the law on my side, but it still upsets me that even a teacher tried to do that. That's why when I got here it felt the same when nopony was outside and about, I was alone at lunch. But then Pinkie was in my own house, and then this started. It's all so new to me. But you all are just so nice, I had found it unbelievable. I'm sorry that I just went into a story of my life, but I don't know what else to say. You guys really have changed how I can see ponies now. Thanks."

"It's really no big deal sugarcube, we've done this for every new pony that moves here. It's just, none have had such bad luck in their life before. Your welcome, helpin' ponies is what we try to do." Applejack cut off his story unintentionally, because he seemed to be wrapping it up anyway.

"But we meant what we said darling," Rarity added. "If you need us for anything, we'll be here for you as friends. If you need to learn the magic of friendship, you're not too far behind Twilight here. That's why she moved into Ponyville. You could ask to read some of her letters that she sends to Princess Celestia."

"If you wanted to come by sometime, I have most of them in my room. I could ask Celestia to send some of the more recent ones back if you really wanted to. I've learned a lot since I got here, and you should try to as well. It really is rewarding."

"Yeah! We totally understand if that's what you need." Rainbow Dash came in, "And I'm sorry to hear about your experience growing up in Las Pegasus, I've been there before several times, and it was a good experience for me. But we have been kinda all over you today. Do you want to be left alone to think all this over? It's a lot in one day when Pinkie throws you a party. We could try to  pull you into our group slower if it would make you feel better."

"Thanks, all of you. I've never had anypony care about my feelings this much before. It was a lot at once, but now that I've gotten to know a bit more of you and your personalities, it's easier. I was just suspicious that you were all being too nice to try and hide something from me. Using the unusual kindness to cover it up, I mean."

Once again they all share a look with each other and laugh, but shorter this time.

"Well I'm out of wine now we've been sitting here so long," Rarity added, her voice had a slightly intoxicated feel, but not too much. "I mean, it was worth it and the conversation was wonderful, but do you want to stay here? Go back to the party? Just go home?"

"If I went back to meet ponies, I would do it for a real introduction and not just getting the name and being pulled around again."

"Sorry about that." Pinkie said. "I was just so excited, I had no idea you just got out of going through that kind of life. I wanted to make you happy and feel welcome here. You could have more of a chance now. If you're too shy to meet somepony on your own, I can still help you."

The mood was more mellow now, as Pinkie didn't seem sugar-high before like she did. Either it was the alcohol or his story, it felt more relaxed.

"Some ponies have probably gone home anyway, it will be less crazy now. I have to start cleaning up for my parents so that we won't have a mess for baking in the morning. I'm gonna go back, but you don't all have to come back if you don't want to." Pinkie got up from the table, and hopped over to the door, instead of walking.

"Well," Vahkii started, "I am quite tired, and it's only dinner time. I should go home and set up my house before I pass out. So that tomorrow I can just get to do what I want instead of worrying about unpacking. I feel quite euphoric, so that should overwhelm the sleepyness for now. I'll see you all sometime soon then?"

"Yup, you know where to find us all, or you can ask somepony for directions. Everypony in town knows us by now, so it shouldn't be too hard for yah." Applejack said. "We'll see you soon then Vahkii." She got up and left the table.

Rainbow Dash followed her. "It was nice meeting you, I hope you can enjoy being here compared to Las Pegasus now. See ya!"

"Fluttershy and I are going to go to the spa, and Twilight if you want to come. Being in Sugarcube Corner with that many ponies made me sweaty just sitting around. I need to go for a bit."

"Yeah, I'll come. Have a nice night Vahkii. Remember, you know where to find us if you need us." Twilight added as she got up and proceeded to follow Fluttershy and Rarity out.

He gets up himself, his suspicions and worries gone. He actually has friends now! Outside, he sees the mares each going different ways, and he just heads across the road to his house. Inside, the lights are still on, and his bags on the floor next to him. Not too much to unpack anyway, just need to set up my mixing table and my bed. After setting up his music station he heads to the only room upstairs; his bedroom. He can finally explore his house with no Pinkie Pie pushing him out the door.

"Only one worry left. I hope that they weren't just friendly on the first day 'cause I moved in. I hope they stay friends with me as days pass. I'm tired though. I didn't realize I only had one thing to unpack, and my bed looks pretty comfy..."

Vahkii climbs onto his bed, and lays down. The sun is only just about to set. He decides he'll go to bed early so that he can wake up early and get started sooner in the morning, as he's a heavy sleeper. It's not that difficult to pass out, it was quiet, and his window was open. The small breezes felt nice, and weren't too cold. He passes out peacefully, and sleeps until morning.

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