Author's Note

I don't expect anyone to actually read this story, but after struggling to write a thousand different, serious stories, I'm putting this one out - unfinished and unpolished - as a reminder to myself that not everything I put out has to be perfect, finished, or serious and deep.

Think of it like putting a scratch into your new car so you'll stop being paranoid and protective about it's pristineness. In this case, the car is my library of stories.

Will I come back at some point and finish and polish it? Hopefully. Until then, this is it. Enjoy or not, it's up to you.

Chapter 1

Cherry Pop walked eagerly down one of Ponyville's many streets. Ever since his arrival, he had yet to get over the sights and sounds of such an active and friendly town. Where he came from, ponies tended to keep to themselves - and more importantly, he had stayed inside most of the time.

Ever since that fateful day a week or two ago forced him and his friend to get out of their comfort zones, he'd be constantly amazed by the many new experiences that laid before him. Just seeing ponies out and about, watching them go about their day, and interacting with them excited him to no end, it was so unusual, so exciting and comforting at the same time!

All-in-all, he had Twilight and her friends to thank for that. Were it not for their kindness, he would've found himself keeping to himself and trying to stay out of other ponies' way. That's why he's out today, on his way to the market with a saddle-bag full of bits. he was going to buy each one of them - Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy... maybe even Rainbow Dash, a gift to thank them for what, he felt at the time, had been a very unusual willingness to make him comfortable here in Ponyville.

Once he arrived in the center of town, booths set up all along the street, ponies of all varieties perusing their wares, he began to look around, being careful not to touch anypony else doing the same thing - an act he would've done out of nervousness before, but now did purely out of respect. He knew ponies here wouldn't get that upset if he accidentally bumped into them, after all. He didn't know as much about his new friends as he probably should, but he knew enough to get them something they'd enjoy, so he set to work looking.

Once he saw it, Twilight's gift was easy. A really neat set comprised of a small notebook, a bookmark, and pencil - all featuring a pattern of constellations on them. Twilight likes books, and Twilight likes constellations, it's the perfect combination!

Fluttershy's gift seemed a bit difficult at first. He knew she would feel obligated to say she liked whatever he gave her, but also that she wasn't picky. All he really knew about her is that she liked animals, and tea. ...But maybe she would appreciate something... a bit hand-made. That's what prompted him to buy a couple of paints as well as a teapot that you would attempt to paint later.

But then he hit a wall. He hadn't really interacted with Rarity much, and wasn't entirely sure what she'd like. He could go ask one of the others about it, but then he might miss something here at the market! So instead he walked the length of the road back and forth, eyeing everything, looking for anything that he knew Rarity would like - which was admittedly limited. Fabric, gems, anything pretty... or something like that, anyway.

That's when something caught his eye. There was a new booth here, one that displayed a multitude of small potions. Being where he was from, he didn't often get to see potions or magic all that much, which is why he approached the booth with a curious interest, undeterred by the old, disheveled-looking light-brown stallion manning it. There were a lot of simpler potions, although even those caught his interest. Potions to enhance memory and focus, potions to numb pain, even potions that promise to temporarily change eye color. Wow!

As he looked further along the display, the potions got smaller, and the prices increased. Strength enhancement, love potions, the like. He wasn't entirely sure how Equestria wasn't run amuck with seemingly risky potions like these readily available, but he chalked it up to the general kindness of everypony. What caught his eye, most interestingly of all, was a de-aging potion. A potion that, according to it's label, promised to turn any stallion or mare into a colt or filly for up to a day.

He had always been curious about foals. It hasn't been that long since he was one, yet he already forgot what it felt like to be one. Now-a-days, they make him uncomfortable, even nervous. Wondering if the large pricetag is worth a bit of liquid-nostalgia, he started to dig around in his saddle-bag, feeling the bits he had left. This was a pretty rare opportunity, but if he bought the potion, he surely wouldn't have enough bits left to buy the rest of his friends gifts.

That's when an idea struck him. It surged across his mind as though it was the greatest inspiration he'd had in a decade. If he bought this potion, he could use it to play a harmless, innocent prank on his friends, giving each of them quite a laugh in the aftermath. He always did enjoy entertaining others, after all, and what better gift than a bit of entertainment? He already had it all figured out in his head.

With an optimistic grin, he dug out the necessary bits and placed them on the counter, looking at the stallion. "I'll take one of those de-aging potions, please!" The stallion looked over to the shelf where they were contained with a satisfied, content grunt. Once he spoke, Cherry heard just how deep, raspy, and old his voice was - weighed down by wisdom... or senility, one of the two. "...Which one would'ya like, hm..? Got an hour, six hours, twelve hours, hay, even an entire day if ya' can afford it." Hm... if he was going to manage to play a prank on each of them,he might need a full day. It was going to cost, but mare would it be worth it. "Full day!", Cherry replied eagerly, sliding the bits forward along the counter a bit.

The old stallion took the potion down from the shelf and sat it on the counter. With a contented expression, the stallion spoke up as he began to slide the bits into a bag he had behind the counter. "No questions asked. Have fun, good day." Cherry took the bottle into his teeth and placed it in his saddlebag. "Thank you, you too!" He turned and trotted away from the stall, a small, mischievous little laugh escaping his mouth as he began to think about the plan. He was glad that went well, he still wasn't quite good at interacting with other ponies in that manner, and it helped all the more that that stallion didn't seem particularly judgemental.

With that, he stepped just outside of town, sat against a tree, and dug the bottle out of his saddle-bag. Let the games begin.