Another slow day at Ponyville’s premiere pastry shop, Sugarcube Corner, was drifting by especially slow for the bright pink pony tending the cash register. For Pinkie Pie, what with her combination of bright, exuberant energy, and her tendency to help herself to the plethora of treats that the Cakes baked each and every day, it wasn’t her style to simply stand around and watch the clock. She made this painfully obvious by constantly fidgeting, hopping from one hoof to another, and tapping rhythms not even Vinyl Scratch could hope to follow.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Pinkie (but was actually 10 minutes), Applejack nudged the door open to the bakery, the bell above the door tinkling merrily at the prospect of a sale. Pinkie Pie immediately lit up, a smile crossing her face as her orange apple-bucking friend made her way up to the counter.
“Well, howdy, Pinkie! Not used to seein’ you behind the counter!” Applejack said pleasantly, giving her friend a smile.
“Hi A.J.! Oh my gosh, I KNOW, right? I don’t think I’m out for this, I’ve just been standing here and I’ve been SOOOOOO bored and I keep telling myself I can’t eat any more of the treats because the Cake’s said I’d had enough and they’re right, I have, but they all just look so goooooooood an-“
“Ahmm… Pinkie?” Applejack said, her smile now one of awkward waiting.
“Oh, right… -ahem- Welcome to Sugarcube Corner!” Pinkie said in her best official-sounding voice. “What can I gethcha?”
“I’d like a cupcake, please. I’m bringin’ it home for Applebloom. It’s her birthday tomorrow and all, y’know.” Applejack said, smiling at her friend genuinely once again.
Pinkie Pie let out one of her signature gasps, rising a few feet in the air as she did so. “OHMIGOSH, IT IS!” Pinkie Pie said, unable to hold in her excitement. “OH, I NEED TO THROW HER A PARTY! THERE’LL BE CAKE AND BALLOONS AND ICE CREAM AND MUSIC AND ALL OF MY FRIENDS WILL BE THERE~!”
Applejack simply stood aside while Pinkie went through her mental checklist of things she’d need for Applebloom’s party. When Pinkie was finally done, Applejack simply glanced downward and said “Aw, that’s mighty nice of ya’, Pinkie, and normally, I’d be coming to you to throw little Applebloom a party any day, but times’ve been hard this season. We haven’t been turning quite the profit that we usually do during Applebuck Season.
Seeing her friend was down was enough to instantly bring Pinkie down, especially Applejack.
Wait, why especially Applejack? Pinkie thought to herself.
Pinkie took a look at the orange mare. She was idly standing there, her eyes focused on the floor, and thought for a moment. Finally, she simply dismissed the stray thought, and focused on the present again. Pinkie took Applejack’s hoof inbetween in her own, surprised by its warmth. Pinkie’s heart hopped, skipped, and jumped, and then went into overdrive, beating madly.
Now since when have I noticed a thing like that? And what happened to my heart…? It feels funny...
“Well, AJ, I’ll tell you what. Since it’s just for you…. I’ll do it for free!”
Applejack’s eyes widened, looking at the pink party pony with a mixture of shock and sudden happiness.
“Aw shucks, Pinkie… You don’ have to do that…” Applejack said, looking away from Pinkie Pie, a slight line of red appearing across her muzzle due to the fact that her friend had unexpectedly taken her hoof.
Pinkie Pie looked down, suddenly realizing what she had done, and quickly dropped Applejack’s hoof with a sheepish grin. Applejack let out a little chuckle.
“Well, maybe I don’t have to, but I WANT to. Especially for you, A.J.”
“Aw, well thank’ya kindly. Pinkie Pie. But what do you mean “Especially for you?”. Applejack asked, looking at the pink pony questioningly.
Yeah, what did you mean? Thought Pinkie’s traitorous mind.
“Oh, I uh… I just meant… ‘cause you’re my friend! You know I love to make my friends smile!” Pinkie Pie said quickly, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead above where her wild, untamed mane covered it. She begged Celestia that it not drop too low. Pinkie was feeling uncomfortably hot all of the sudden, and she wasn’t sure why.
“Ahhh. Well, that’s still might kind of ‘ya, Pinkie! Thank y’all."
Applejack suddenly wrapped her arms around her party-loving pal, pulling her into a hug. Pinkie’s temperature rose another 10 degrees and her heart started beating 10 times harder. She felt it soar up to her throat like a scared Pegasus, causing her to release a “hurck” sound as A.J. squeezed her. The apple-loving pony didn’t notice. Finally, Applejack released Pinkie, who didn’t understand how Applejack could be so nonchalant.
I’ll just be takin’ my cupcake now, if ‘ya don’t mind.” A.J. said to the stunned-to-silence pony, who took a moment to register what had just been said.
Pinkie breathed a mental sigh of relief, glad she wouldn’t have to mask her sudden discomfort much longer.
“Oh, right!” Pinkie Pie handed A.J. the cupcake she had requested, and A.J. plinked a shiny gold coin on the counter.
Pinkie Pie waved goodbye to her friend as she exited the pastry shop, collapsing onto the counter in a heap, panting, a bead of sweat streaking its way down her face.
What just happened to me?
Why A.J.?
Why now?
Why does my forehead hurt?
Pinkie Pie jerked up, and saw that the bit Applejack had used to pay for the cupcake was gone. Suddenly, something plinked onto the floor with a -ting-. Pinkie looked down and realized she had collapsed right onto the bit. She giggled to herself, snatching it up and tossing it into the cash register before returning to her vigilant post, not to receive another customer that night. She only thought of her friend occasionally.
Finally, it was closing time. Pinkie Pie was less tired than she normally would have been, and this only allowed her thoughts to race more as she mentally reviewed the events of her day while lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling of her bedroom.
She couldn’t stop thinking about her fellow earth pony friend, Applejack. For as long as she could remember, she had never felt anything for Applejack like what she felt today. She couldn’t remember ever bonding with A.J. that way, although of course she loved her friend very much. But not… at least, she thought not, in that way…
I wonder if I was just going crazy from having to stand still all day...
As if in a retaliating response, Pinkie’s ever-traitorous mind suddenly pulled up a vivid image of her grabbing A.J.’s hoof, and how warm it had felt, and how unexpectedly soft her fur was, for her being a hardworking pony.
Why am I thinking about this? Is there something wrong with me?
The normally exhuberant party pony was overcome with a feeling she couldn’t even begin to understand.
I’ve never felt this way. Not even that time I ate 30 cupcakes and I literally climbed the walls like a spider! My tummy feels hurty, like I ate too many sweets… But in a good way. Like I don’t mind if it hurts…
And then Pinkie remembered when A.J. had pulled her in the hug. Normally, it was Pinkie Pie who was being random and spontaneous, but in that situation, she’d felt completely switched around. Nopony had ever done that to Pinkie Pie… Why could Applejack in less than 30 minutes?
For a while, Pinkie simply laid, thinking about Applejack. She was honest, simple, hardworking… Every bit as kind as Fluttershy, as loyal as Dashie, as generous as Rarity, and as wise as Twilight, though maybe not as book-smart. When Pinkie stopped and thought about it, she realized that Applejack really would make a great… fillyfriend.
Fillyfriend? What am I even saying? And why would A.J. ever wanna be with me, anyhow? Stop being silly, Pinkie!
Pinkie rolled over and tried to get to sleep. Her head would have none of it, though.
But what if she did? It’s not like you’ve had much of a relationship with a colt before, and if every day with Applejack could feel like today…
Pinkie Pie thought about that… If every day could make her feel like what Applejack had made her feel today. It was that warm, fuzzy feeling that finally allowed her the comfort of sleep.
The next day was bright and beautiful as any other day, a perfect day for a little filly to have a party. And wasn’t it just Pinkie Pie’s luck, she’d be spending the day at Sweet Apple Acres, home of Applejack and the rest of the Apples, to prepare the party. Pinkie arrived early, her party cannon and several other things in tow.
Applejack opened the door upon the second knock, smiling when she saw it was her friend Pinkie.
“Well hi, Pinkie! Shucks, ah still can’t thank y’all enough fer doin’ this. Lil’ Applebloom-
“Ah AIN’T little, ah'm 13!” came a voice from the den.
Applejack let out a sigh, but the smile on her face suggested she didn’t really mind, as she turned back to Pinkie.
“… APPLEBLOOM couldn’t be more thankful. And ah couldn’t either. You’re great, Pinkie.”
“Awww, it’s nothing’, Applejack!” Pinkie said, thankful she was naturally pink, so light blushing didn’t affect her much. She did her best to stay like the Pinkie Pie everyone knew and loved, for all of their sakes.
Pinkie began setting up the decorations around the barn behind Sweet Apple Acres, her party cannon at full power as banners, balloons, streamers, and party favors flew amongst the hay and sunbeams, covering the rafters and makeshift tables. A large, rectangular table sat near the back, a punch bowl and a large, round cake with yellow frosting and red icing that proclaimed brightly “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, APPLEBLOOM!”. As always, it was promising to be another Pinkie Party to remember.
An hour later, the guests had arrived and the party was in full swing. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were dancing up a storm together, Applebloom wearing a specially designed party hat made by Pinkie herself, while Pinkie, Applejack, and their 4 other friends were gathered away from the mayhem the CMC were leaving behind.
“Great party, Pinkie!” Rainbow Dash said, taking a generous sip of punch from her glass.
“I agree, the décor is simply marvelous!” Rarity chimed in.
“Applebloom must be so happy you did all of this for her!” Twilight said, beaming at Pinkie, who was happily bouncing around to the music.
“Aw, you should’a seen her face last night, girls.” Applejack said fondly, watching her little sister cut a rug a little ways off. “’Pinkie Pie is the best pony ever!’ She said.”
All of the ponies a’wwed in unison, even Rainbow Dash, who normally wasn’t one to get sappy.
Fluttershy piped up “Oh my, Pinkie, I don’t know how you always manage to throw such great parties, even on such short notice.”
“It’s not so hard, especially when you’ve got a party cannon!” Pinkie said, motioning to her prized mobile discotheque.
Applejack trotted over to Pinkie Pie, her hoof reaching out for Pinkie’s. As soon as they touched, Pinkie jumped slightly, like she’d been shocked. Applejack, unnoticing as ever, lifted her hoof up, Pinkie growing more nervous by the minute.
“Really, though, Sugarcube. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.” Applejack whispered to her friend. “C’mere, let’s get away from the other girls for a minute, I have something I wanna give ‘ya fer yer troubles.”
Pinkie Pie’s heart was now going impossibly fast, jumping as hard as she had been only moments ago as she danced along with the music. She swallowed heavily, sweat once again forming on her, as she followed Applejack out of the barn and to the west side.
Oh, I wonder what A.J.’s gonna be giving me? Pinkie’s mind fluttered with vivid possibilities that seemed endless, but none of which seemed likely. Still, the pony couldn’t help but hope that at least one of her many fantasies would come true.
Applejack, once outside, turned back to face Pinkie, taking a moment to pause and examine her.
“You alright there, Sugarcube? You look.... Tense…”
“Oh, who, me? I’m fine! Just eager to partaaay, is all!” Pinkie said, trying her best to mask her true feelings, and doing a bad job.
“Alrighty, if you say so. Anyhow, Applebloom had something she wanted to give ya, and she entrusted me to give it to ya.” Applejack said, taking off her hat.
Pinkie couldn’t hide her feelings of disappointment very well, as she felt her heart sink to back where it belonged. She did her best to put on her mask for Applejack, for little Applebloom’s sake.
“Awww, that sure was nice of her! What’d she make me?”
Applejack handed Pinkie an envelope. Inside was a bright pink card, which, upon opening, revealed a crudely drawn picture of Applebloom, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack holding hands, with the words “Pinkie Pie: Honorary member of the Apple family!”, with the signatures of all four occupants of Sweet Apple Acres below.
Pinkie felt tears welling up in her eyes, and she looked up at Applejack, who just smiled.
“We thought you’d like it, Sugarcube.” She said, holding her hat against her chest. Reaching her hoof out, she placed her hat on Pinkie’s head. “Welcome to the family, Sugarcube.” A.J. chuckled. “Say, my hat looks pretty good on ya, Pinkie.”.
A million different thoughts bombarded Pinkie all at once, a thousand different calls to action urging her muscles forward, backward, upward, anywhere but exactly where she was. In then end, though, the call that won was the call to move closer.
So Pinkie did. She moved until her lips were against Applejack’s, and suddenly they were kissing, kissing even though they were just friends, even though mare’s weren’t supposed to kiss eachother, kissing even though… Even though Pinkie didn’t know if Applejack felt the same…
And then Pinkie broke away, the dam breaking as tears finally began streaking down her usually smiling face, her mouth tasting slightly of apples and her eyes stinging.
Applejack opened her mouth to try to speak, but before she could say anything, Pinkie was running, running away from the party, from her friends, from everything. Applejack’s hat stayed on her head the entire journey home to Sugarcube Corner, and teardrops lined the path behind her. When she first galloped away, she thought she heard a familiar voice yell to her “Pinkie, wait!”. She chose to ignore it.
Pinkie Pie sat alone in her darkened room at Sugarcube Corner. Applejack’s hat sat in her hooves, and Pinkie sat on her floor, caressing the hat, learning its every feel and fold while she could. She knew the hat was precious to A.J., and therefore, it was precious to her, too.
She didn’t know how much time had gone by before she heard the squeaking of the door downstairs. Once again, she chose blissful ignorance over curiosity, and stayed still in the dark, with only a memento of one of her best friends for company.
I messed up… She thought. Why did I do that? Why, of all the things I could have done, did I do that?
Because you wanted to She replied to herself.
Well, duh! But I shouldn’t have. I’ve ruined our friendship. Maybe… forever…
Pinkie thought that she had exhausted her reserve of tears, but even more somehow managed to fall and gently plop on her bedroom floor, leaving dark spots. Pinkie wallowed in her own misery for a few moments, until she heard footsteps coming up the stairs and down the hall.
“Pinkie?” She heard someone say in a familiar Southern drawl.
She sniffled a few times before gaining her composure.
“I-i-in here.” She said.
Applejack wandered in, looking at the dejected little pony sitting on the floor with a mixture of sadness and surprise.
“I guess you came back for your hat?” Pinkie said, holding it out in an attempt to give it back.
“No, ah didn’t. I came for something’ far more important than that.” Applejack said, sitting down next to Pinkie.
“If not that, what?”
“Ain’t it obvious, Pinkie? You!”
Pinkie Pie looked at Applejack with surprise.
“But why?”
“Because you’re mah best friend, you… you silly filly!” Applejack said, coaxing Pinkie to turn her frown upside down, like she knew Pinkie would do for her.
“Yeah, I know, but… but I… I did that thing…” Pinkie said, looking away from A.J.
Applejack just looked ahead, not trying to make eye contact, and said “Well… I told the other girls to keep an eye on Applebloom and the gang while I went after ‘ya. So I had plenty of time to think on my way here. Think about the fact that you and I are pretty much polar opposites. You love havin’ fun and bein’ carefree, and me… Well, I like the simple things and workin’ hard. I’ve been thinkin’ about that a lot lately. That’s why I randomly hugged ya’ yesterday. I know bein’ random is usually your thing. Another thing that makes us different.
But… I guess that sometimes two things that don’t seem like they’d go good together end up doin’ just that, ‘cause… They balance eachother out. Like…
“Like what?” Pinkie asked, now looking up and at Applejack’s face.
Applejack turned and gave Pinkie a smile.
“Like… Apple pie.”
Pinkie couldn’t help but giggle now.
“Hahahah! That’s like our two names together!” Pinkie said, her smile that everypony so loved finally returned to her face.
Applejack chuckled. “Heh… Yeah. Yeah, I suppose it is.”
Pinkie looked down at Applejack’s hat.
“I guess you’ll be wanting this back now?”
“Nah, you can hold on to it for a little while. I’ve got somethin’ even better.”
“And what’s that?” Pinkie asked curiously.
Applejack didn’t answer; instead, she simply set her hat on Pinkie’s head, and then kissed her with all the force she could muster. Pinkie was taken aback at first, but she wouldn’t even begin to think about fighting it. She simply enjoyed the few breathtaking moments she was spending with Applejack, right there, and right now.
Just the way Pinkie liked her apple pie.
