[COMPLETE] Courting Shynon

 

 

Part One:

>Evening has once again descended upon Ponyville

>A rare quiet one at that, beyond the sounds of birds chirping away in the trees, the sounds of hooves clip-clopping as Ponies make their way home or to the various restaurants and such to while away the hours, work blissfully in the proverbial rear view mirror

>You would be joining them usually - the karaoke bar that recently opened on Whitetail Road has been calling your name, but the week's just been far too busy to make an appearance

>Unfortunately, your saddlebags have just a teensy bit too much weight for that just yet

>One more delivery to be made before it's time for fun

>Speaking of calling your name, what is it, anyway?

>Why, (You)'re the Sultan of Soirees

>The Countess of Celebrations

>The Dame of Disco

>That's right, (You) are Pinkie Pie

>With a pronk in your step and a content smile on your face, you make your way to the last destination on your delivery route

>The Carousel Boutique!

>Rarity specifically prefers her order of blueberry eclairs to be delivered late like this

>One part that generous nature of hers letting everyone else get their treats first

>Another part claiming that something sweet just perfectly hits the spot after a long day of sewing

>A sentiment you can absolutely agree with!

>You've got several cupcakes waiting to reward you for your own hard work waiting at Sugarcube Corner

>But again, first, seeing to your friend

>It wouldn't be much of a faux paus to barge right into Rarity's home slash place of business, given your relationship

>But you are here on business yourself, so you dutifully rap your hoof on the door to announce yourself

>You're just so excited to see Rarity though you can't help but shriek and toss some confetti stashed in your mane into the air when she opens the door

"ECLAIR DELIVERY!"

>To your dear friend's credit she's only momentarily stunned by the burst of noise before composing herself

>"Excellent timing, darling! I had just powered down my sewing machine and put my needles up for the night. Please, do come in."

>Rarity opens the door wider and steps aside to allow you entry, which you oblige

"Mhm! Sugarcube Delivery prides itself on our timing! That and our quality baked goods!"

>To be honest you kind of just wandered around town aimlessly throughout the past few hours

>Your patented Pinkie Sense gave you a good drumming whenever it felt it was about the right time to lighten your saddlebags load

>It all seemed to work out though, so you weren't going to complain!

>Digging your nose into your saddlebag, you balance the paper box on your snout before setting it down on Rarity's kitchen counter

"Ta-da! One batch of super yummyrific eclairs!"

>Rarity joins you in the kitchen, using her magic to open the box and take one of the treats to daintily nibble on. True to form, she offers you one as well, and it would just be rude to say no!

>The expression of delight on your friend's face is enough to get you grinning ear to ear before you take a bite yourself

>You baked them yourself, after all, and knowing they're adored is almost as filling as eating them yourself

>"Divine as always, Pinkie! You never disappoint. By the by, if you don't mind me asking, are you doing something new with your mane?"

>Unceremoniously, you toss the offered eclair into the air and catch it with your mouth, where it vanishes almost immediately

>You get a brief taste of blueberry before it's banished to the void that is your tummy

>At Rarity's question, you take a brief peek at your reflection in one of the unicorn's many conveniently placed mirrors

>Your reflection tips you a playful wink as you reach with your hooves to tease at your mane

>It is a bit different

>The big poofy curls are almost completely deflated

>Normally a cause for concern, but it still bends in wild directions at the ends

>Not full on depression-mode, though you can't fault others for assuming such

>Just... relaxed

>Calm

>It's usually a foreign feeling, something you only really engage with for a few minutes in the morning before you fully wake up and remember all the super fun and fantastic things you have planned for the day

>But the entire town's been feeling a welcome malaise for the past week

"I wouldn't say I'm doing anything specific! It's just... kind of happening."

>"Oh, just a natural phenomenon, then? Nothing to do with a certain stallion?"

>You toy with your at ease mane, coiling some of it around your hoof as you consider the cause:

>One Pegasi whose calming vibes were so strong that even an entire village wasn't safe from chilling out:

>Gale Incognito, Fluttershy's younger brother (Anon to his friends, which you're pleased as punch to count yourself as!)

>The Pegasus had come to town to visit family after several years of estrangment

>Though certain... complications regarding her coltfriend(?) had swiftly made it go from a family visit to a vacation in the Chaos Capital of Equestria

>As the Premier Party Pony of the town and a One-Pony Welcoming Committee, you were happy to introduce Gale to your beloved town

>Introducing him to the best Sugarcube had to offer

>A tour of the eclectic shops (he took to the idea of Quills and Sofas a lot quicker than the usual visitor)

>Even a walkthrough of Twilight's shiny new castle, where you only got lost eight times! A new record!

>Circumstances led to you chaperoning Gale for most of the week

>It was fascinating to see how his vibe radiated through the town

>Just a few days in and the hustle and bustle of Ponyville had calmed down entirely

>A bugbear had broken into the Town Square around Day Four and was so taken with everyone not screaming and panicking that it just... chilled out

>By the time it eventually returned to the forest, Daisy, Roseluck, and Lily had braided its' fur with several dozen of their flowers

>You wondered briefly if it let them do that because half of it was a bee and bees loved flowers

>Before you could get too lost in thought (or even moreso), you felt eyes on you and realized Rarity was staring at you with the most coy expression she could muster

>Apparently you had been reminiscing about Anon for way too long (over 1500 characters, wow!) without answering her

>And that had given her ideas

>"My my my, darling, I think that's the longest I'd heard you gone without a peep. Was I on the money about you perhaps being taken with our latest visitor?"

>An exaggerated scoff erupted from your muzzle

>"Rarity, hey, come on now. Gale's been real fun to hang out with, but... geez..."

>You really hadn't met many ponies like Gale before

>The closest comparison you could make was your beloved sister Maud

>Though Gale wasn't quite as stoic as her

>He had a quiet, unshakeable confidence

>Not concerned with being the center of attention but with a passion that made it easy to get eyes on him if he wanted

>Even boring things like listening to him and Twilight discuss cloud maintenance and identification had kept your attention just through the sheer magnetism of his passion for the subject

>Granted, you could absolutely listen to Maud talk about geology for hours for the same reason

>"Don't protest too much now, dear. He is a fine young stallion, after all. And pickings are slim in this little town, aren't they?"

>That was true...

>Most of the stallions in Ponyville were either taken, like Time Turner or Mr. Cake

>Or simply not really your type like Caramel or Big Mac

"Why not pursue him yourself then? You seem pretty keen on him, y'know!"

>Rarity simply tittered at that

>"Why darling, it would be uncouth to just butt in like that! After all, I'm not the one who spent the past week attached to him by the hip, am I? It's polite to let you have your turn."

>As you consider her take, you can't help but feel the tips of your ears starting to radiate heat

>You don't need to peek at yourself in the mirror to know that your face is starting to turn red

"I... I think you've given me a bit to think about, Rarity. Enjoy your eclairs, okay?"

>"Ta ta, dear! Remember, don't hesitate too much - a handsome bachelor like that doesn't stay a bachelor long in Ponyville, after all!"

>With an awkward laugh you retreat from the Boutique

>You do your best thinking down in your Party Cave

 

 

>With a strawberry colored mane, a buttery coat, and the worst case of anxiety this side of Applewood, (You) couldn't be anyone else but Fluttershy

>And with a deep sigh, you plop down on your favorite couch

>The past week has been a bit hectic to say the least

>You've enjoyed seeing your baby brother again

>But you haven't enjoyed seeing this side of your potential beau, Discord

>He's been trying to convince you some nonsense about how your brother isn't "canon"

>Whatever that means

>And it's made sharing time with him and your family difficult

>You think you've made some headway with the Draconequus though

>He certainly seemed to agree to ease off with the argument, if only to let you enjoy the last few days of Gale's visit

>So long as nothing else gets in the way, you should be able to happily see him off with a nice picnic

>Naturally, it's at this point that Pinkie Pie's head erupts out of one of your cabinets

>Eyes wide, expression manic

>You share a moment of awkward silence with your friend before she suddenly screeches

>"FLUTTERSHY I THINK I WANT TO KISS YOUR BROTHER"

>Oh, crumbs

 

Part Two:

>It's unfortunate, but every so often traffic in the candy shop is low

>Sometimes Ponies just aren't in the mood for gumdrops and taffy

>And that's fine, sometimes it's just like that

>The slow pace of customers is enough to get your marefriend whining in your ear about taking the rest of the afternoon off though

>And as always, Lyra is persistent enough to wear you down

>(You) are Bon Bon

>At the moment anyway, there hasn't been much noise from S.M.I.L.E that requires your alter ego's attention

>And Ponyville has been blissfully content for the past week

>That's enough to get you outdoors and enjoying a lovely stroll around the village with Lyra

>Trading gossip and playful boops when there aren't any foals around to witness you being coy

>Your flirting pauses though as you notice a bit of a commotion up ahead

>A sizeable crowd of ponies has amassed around the entrance to Princess Twilight's castle

>Very peculiar, normally the resident Alicorn leaves her doors unlocked for just about anypony to trot on in

>You and your marefriend approach the crowd, parting the equine sea with ease to get to the front of the throng

"What's going on here?"

>One of the other ponies at the front of the mass acknowledges you - Time Turner, you're pretty sure

>"Well, it's just the oddest thing. There's supposed to be a tour of the Castle at this time of day - apparently Twilight managed to recuperate another section of the Golden Oaks Library's old stock and she's quite keen to show it off - but when the group arrived, they found... this."

>Time Turner gestures to the sign plastered over the great golden doors

>Paired with a massive chain and a comically sized padlock

>You read over the sign, which bears the following:

>'CLOSED FOR EMERGENCY ELEMENT MEETING'

>The simple message is enough to get a shock of concern lancing down your withers

>What could possibly be important or dire enough that the Elements need to convene like this in private?

>You can't remember them ever doing something like this for anything short of a disaster like Discord's initial return, or Tirek

>You can't help but wonder if the Princesses are in there too, strategizing with those six heroes

>Glancing around you notice the looks of unease and worry spreading on the villagepony's faces

"Well... that is concerning, but lets not get too worked up, now. Those mares have never steered us wrong when it's come to times of trouble, so there's no cause to think they will now. We should leave them to it, and hope for the best."

>Your sentiment ripples through the crowd, seeming to mollify those gathered

>'That's right...' 'Twilight will know what to do.' 'The Elements can handle it!'

>With some help from Time Turner and Lyra you're able to convince the throng to disperse and carry on with their day

>But as you and Lyra retreat from the Castle you can't help but look back at it with worry

>Maybe you should contact S.M.I.L.E

>See if they have any idea what's going on

 

>Meanwhile, inside the Map Room

>Pinkie Pie urgently raps a crystal gavel on the crystal table to get you and the rest of the girls' attention

>Not that she really needed to do that, given that the five of you were already staring at her with various levels of impatience

>She'd gathered you all together quite urgently

>Literally leapt out of the bushes and foalnapped Rarity while she was having her afternoon constitution around the market

>But now that she had everyone gathered she had been sitting in her marked throne

>Seemingly waiting for something

>"Sorry girls, I was waiting for that Bon Bon opener to wrap up!"

>And we're out of the gate with nonsense

>Great

>You rest your cheek in the frog of one of your foreleg's hooves, sagging

>(You) are Twilight Sparkle, and you were supposed to be giving a guided tour of the new wing of the Library today

>The effort to find new copies of everything the Golden Oaks had once held has been a process

>Frustrating, fascinating, and especially cathartic

>You feel like a bit of your soul is being pieced back together every time you manage to reacquire one of your lost tomes

>And you had finally reconstructed the entire collection of Encyclopedias that were lost!

>You should be wowing a crowd of ponies with your array of Seapony Biology manuals

>But here we are, instead

>"Now, I'm sure you all are dying to know why I gathered you here today"

>Pinkie starts, but Rainbow Dash interrupts

>"We were dying to know about half an hour ago, Pinks, now I'm just thinking about all the flying I'm losing out on. Can we get this going?"

>You're annoyed by the sentiment but you do privately agree

>Pinkie just continues on

>"The truth is... I need your help. I've hosted hundreds of parties, dozens of Cute-ceanaras, and so many birthday bashes, but..."

>Pinkie sets down the gavel, and nervously taps her hooves together

>You can't help but sit up a bit straighter, you've never seen your friend like this before

>"I need your help to plan the perfect date for Gale. I've never planned one before! I've decided I want to kiss his face and it's gotta go just right if I want that to happen!"

>All five of you stare at Pinkie with mixed expressions

>You're taken off guard, but happy for Pinkie - you've only met Gale a few times during his stay but he seems like a solid stallion, definitely knows his way around a cumulus cloud

>Rarity is, perhaps unsurprisingly, delighted by this, clapping her own hooves together excitedly and letting out a shrill squeak

>Fluttershy can't seem to decide if she's pleased with this declaration or nervous

>Applejack shoots Pinkie a pleased little grin and lets out a folksy 'Well I'll be!'

>And Rainbow...

>"Alright, I'm out."

>The Pegasus makes a beeline for one of the doors but is stopped short by, surprisingly

>Not Applejack's lasso or your own magic (you were a bit slow on the draw)

>But Rarity's own blue magical aura, demonstrating a surprising level of strength, overpowering Rainbow as it is

>"Now Rainbow darling, please. Our dear friend Pinkie here is asking for our help! Are you really just going to abandon her in her time of need?"

>"Well, I mean, I was, but you're kind of getting in the way of that."

>Your ears twitch as you distinctly hear Applejack murmur 'Element of Loyalty my hide' under her breath

>Rainbow Dash apparently heard it too because she throws a venomous stare her way

>"I don't do dates, Applejack! What am I possibly going to add to this?"

>Rarity carts Rainbow back to her throne and rather pointedly sets her down in it

>"Now dear, just because your romantic life is shriveled up and nonexistent -"

>The unicorn pointedly ignores Rainbow's furious sputtering

>"- Doesn't mean you have nothing of value to add to these proceedings. You were foalhood friends with Fluttershy and her family, were you not? Your insight could prove invaluable!"

>Rainbow simply sags at that, conceding the point

>"Fine, but we have Fluttershy here, it's not like she couldn't make most of the same observations."

>"Perhaps, but I think you'll find that how one behaves amongst family and how one behaves around ones' friends can be quite different. Now, Pinkie, I do hate to take over this meeting of yours, but do you have any ideas of your own, to start?"

>Pinkie jolts and tugs at her loose-hanging mane, considering

>"Well... I was thinking of inviting him to bake with me, but I don't know. Does that feel like too much work? Baking can be fun, but I don't want him to feel like I just volunteered him to help me do my job."

>"Excellently reasoned, darling. Now, lets open the floor, shall we?"

>And from there the meeting truly begins

>Each mare sharing their own ideas

>Some vetoed down hard, some given real consideration

>You still think your idea of taking turns reading a romance novel wasn't really fairly considered

>And was way better than Applejack's offer of a cart ride around the Acres

>But as the night whiles on a plan is formed

>Now it's just a matter of making it happen

 

Part Three:

>Afternoon is in full swing in Ponyville

>You pause briefly to let the wind pass through your half-inflated mane

>Once again, (You) are Pinkie Pie

>"I'm sure the others would appreciate it, but I don't think randomly stopping is going to make anypony show up, Pinkie."

>And (You)'re a bit of a coward

>The planning session with the girls went well

>You're confident in the itinerary you all put together

>But when it came to actually asking Anon out...

>You couldn't do it

>Properly, at any rate

>So!

>This isn't a date

>It's...

>A "Traveling Party"

>(It's rare that you cringe, but you swear you felt something inside you shrivel up and die when you painstakingly described the concept of a date while avoiding the word as hard as possible)

>To your twin shock and relief though, Anon accepted your invitation to the 'party'

>And when the appointed time came, and all the girls failed to show, he didn't object to continuing with the party anyway

>Even it was just the two of you

>"It's a shame, but we'll just have to party with them twice as hard at the next event they can make, right?"

>That sort of easygoing attitude should be putting you at ease

>But internally you're sweating bullets

>You don't know why, even

>This is far from the first time you've hung out one-on-one with Gale this week

>And as far as he knows it isn't even a date, but...

>The stress of making everything go perfectly is getting to you in a major way already

>Sweet Celestia, is this how Twilight feels all the time?

>You need to do something nice for her after this

>Maybe find the World's Biggest Book and give it to her

>Something like that

>But for now!

>You force a chuckle that you hope doesn't sound too nervous as you trot to match Anon's pace at his side

>The path to Sweet Apple Acres is quiet, serene even

>The soundtrack the soft rustle of branches as the breeze passes through them

>The crunch of dried up leaves underhoof

>Various songbirds Fluttershy would probably be able to immediately identify warbling to each other

>Autumn's in full swing

>The Running of The Leaves should be soon

>But for now it's just a brisk walk to the farm for two

>You're not sure how Applejack got Big Mac to agree to a cart ride slash tour of the farm so quickly

>But you appreciate your possible fourth cousins twice removed more than ever

>After all, it's a Traveling Party, right?

>Getting carted around the farm makes sense for that... probably

>(You can get pretty esoteric with your themes but even you can see how thin this one is)

>Regardless, you meet with the stallion himself

>Despite not having been to the farm yet during his visit, Big Mac and Anon share a simultaneous nodding of the head immediately upon making eye contact

>Perhaps some form of unspoken bond from being emotionally mature brothers of adventurous mares?

>It keeps the introductions from being awkward at least, allowing you to go ahead and climb on board the cart and get this tour going

>At first, this seems like it might've been a misstep

>Gale's polite nature leads to him paying rapt attention to Big Mac as he points out spots around the orchards

>Discussing the nature of various breeds of apple they've come to nurture, the first day he met the cow herd, things of that nature

>And, while a lot of that honestly is interesting

>It's left your stallion crush paying attention to that instead of you

>Big Mac's seemingly endless list of stories does eventually lead to dividends though

>Completely relaxed and intent on listening to the tour, Gale subconsciously reached out and wrapped one of his forelegs around your shoulder

>Bringing you in just a bit closer as he shuffled to get more comfortable in the seat of the cart

>Okay, never mind, keep talking about Zap Apples, Big Mac

>Almost as if waiting for the content sigh that you exhale as a cue however

>It isn't long before you hear a great rustling in the nearby Everfree Forest that borders the outer edge of the farm

>No one pays it any mind at first

>So that's when the culprit behind it decides to make itself known

>A bugbear roars in fury as it breaks out of the treeline

>You immediately identify it as the same one from a few days ago by the various sprigs of roses and daisies still braided into its' fur

>A cute gesture that seems to have had unfortunate consequences

>Bees are flocking all over the bugbear, drawn in by the flowers that, if your understanding of the Everfree's unpredictable seasons is correct, would be hard to come by at this time of year without pony intervention

>The sensation of the insects crawling all over him likely riled the bear up, and when he tried to swat at them, they went from curious little guys to a defensive position, swarming the great half-mammal half-insect

>Leading him on a collision course with Sweet Apple Acres as it attempts to flee the swarm

>All three of you scream as the bugbear's path leads towards the cart

>And just as it's about to crash into it

>The beast is diverted by a lasso wrapping around one of its' arms, dragging it off course from crushing you all

>Applejack comes bounding in, hooting and hollering as one does in these sorts of situations

>"Big Mac! Get yerself out of that harness and help me corral this critter! You two get going!"

>You're caught between wanting to help and wanting to get out of dodge

>But Gale makes that decision for you

>"Absolutely not, that poor thing's going wild. Lets do this together."

>Before anypony can interject, Gale leaps right out of the cart and takes to the sky, buzzing the Bugbear as Big Mac and Applejack work to use her lasso to pin it down

>You're taken aback by Gale's willingness to get so close to the danger that you don't even realize his own gameplan: snatching up the tied up bundles of flowers and pulling them free of their braids

>With your own speed and Pinkie Sense, you're able to easily join him and dodge all six of the Bugbear's limbs as it flails

>Before long the beast is fully subdued and that makes the job easier

>You and Gale toss the flowers into the treeline, which diverts the swarm of bees into chasing after their precious pollen and finally leaving the poor thing alone

>"Alright there, fella, we got ya. Ah don't mean t'rub salt in the wound but ah hope you take this as a lesson about keepin' t'yer territory and leavin' Ponyville alone, y'hear?"

>Applejack unties the creature after you're good and done cleaning it off, and it certainly seems abashed by the whole ordeal

>With a noncommittal grunt, it doesn't even take a swipe at any of you as it trundles back off into the Everfree to lick its' wounds (and probably find a nice deep cave to hide in as it grows its' fur back from the spots you unfortunately ripped out more than just flowers)

>"Hoo-ee! That was somethin', huh?"

>"Shame about the cart, though"

>Big Mac gestures over to the crushed wooden vehicle

>While Applejack was able to hold off the initial crash and keep the three of you from getting seriously injured, the resulting struggle still managed to do some serious damage to it

>"Sorry you two, but ah think ah'm gonna have t'end the tour early."

>"That's a real shame. I'm going to have to come out here another time and hear the rest of it, you're a damn fine storyteller, Macintosh."

>Gale turns to land his gaze on you

>"But for now this party's still got other places to travel to, right? If you're still up for it."

>You're a bit frazzled to be honest

>Also pretty confident that the makeup Rarity did up for you has been smudged in a major way

>And a little concerned that the first item on the docket you planned for tonight has ended in disaster

>But you still put on your best smile and nod excitedly at Gale

"Yepperonee! Sorry about your cart AJ, I Pinkie Promise to come help fix it as soon as I can!"

>You quickly go through the motions of your patented promise, though Applejack insists she and Big Mac can handle it

"For now though, we gotta make tracks! This ended early but we're pretty far out on the farm, it's gonna be a bit of a canter..."

>And so with that, you and Gale race off back to Ponyville

>Things can only go up from here, right?

 

Part Four:

>The bright blues of the afternoon sky have already begun tipping towards the golds of evening by the time (You) and Gale make it to Ponyville

>Even with the cart ride ending early you're cutting it a bit fine

>Bit of a total freak accident, but that's the norm for Ponyville, even if the chill groove of the past week made them less frequent

>(You)'ve always prided yourself on your ability to go with the flow, and that's not about to change now

>As is quickly becoming common, (You) are Pinkie Pie

>And this Date/"Traveling Party" is still on a roll, if a bit of a rocky one

>In the least, Gale seems to be in good spirits

>While most ponies would be trembling and wanting to go home already, that encounter with the bugbear seems to have been exciting for him

>For somepony like Gale, it's probably a novelty

>Not a lot of bugbear attacks when running the Weather Inspection circuit, surely

>That hectic roaming schedule of his is what inspired you to call this a "Traveling Party", in fact

>Fluttershy and Rainbow had told you all about how often the stallion was on the road, in the sky, or even out at sea making sure the various cities, villages, and hamlets of Equestria were up to task for the various weathers they were requesting

>So, with the cart around the farm attempting to represent land-travel, that leads you to your next destination...

"And here we are! Just in time, I hope you aren't too tired after that gallop!"

>Saddle Lake isn't the biggest lake in Equestria

>But it'll serve just fine for your planned boat ride, representing sea travel!

>The pony who so generously lent you his rowboat, Sea Salt, waves enthusiastically towards you as you approach

>"Right on time, Pinkie! You two have fun, now!"

>Sharing a smile with Anon, you get on the cute little rowboat and push off

>Saddle Lake has just enough space to let you drift in circles

>You had initially insisted on rowing the boat yourself, given that this was your idea and all, but Anon had talked you into trading off so that both of you could get the chance to relax and enjoy the ride

>Time passes just like that, nothing but the sound of the waves, birds conversing in the nearby trees, the distant sounds of society

>It all feels very far away

>This kind of silence...

>In a way it reminds you of the Rock Farm before your first party

>Quiet, orderly

>Rarely a word spoken that wasn't 'good morning', 'you're working this field today', 'pass the butter'

>The sort of quiet that you simply grew to be unable to stand until that Rainboom caused something inside of you to explode, too

>Despite the familiarity, you don't feel the urge to make an outburst

>Or pull something silly out of your mane and rend the quiet with noise

>You're... comfortable, in a way you didn't think you could be

>Anon catches your eye and flashes you a small grin, before his lips part to speak

>"So, what brought this on?"

>You're a bit thrown by the question

"What do you mean?"

>"Well, I'm no expert in pattern recognition, but I will admit I was prepared for a surprise party or something like that to see me off when this week is through. This... doesn't feel like it was meant to be that. It was initially going to just be me and the rest of Fluttershy's friends, after all. Pretty small guest list - I like to think I made a few more friends than that during my time here, after all."

>Right, you still have that squirreled away for a few days from now

>Anon's "Thank You For Reconnecting With Your Older Sister Please Don't Be Such A Stranger From Now On" party

>You've got that one set to go, from streamers to who to invite to what you plan to bake

>But with these new feelings, you're honestly not keen on actually thinking about that party too much

>A weight settles in your barrel at the idea of Gale leaving already

>But before you can dwell on it you realize the stallion is staring at you

>Smiling patiently, as he often is, but still waiting for you to respond

>Time for something off the cuff

"Well, duh! Of course you made a bunch of friends, silly! But... uh, Fluttershy and Rainbow had some time to hang out yesterday, and they told me all about your job! And I thought, that sounds really lonely! I mean, you do get to meet all sorts of ponies, and that sounds fun, but you go to meet them alone! But what you do is really important, and even if you have to go from place to place by yourself, I wanted to celebrate it! I wanted to..."

>The full head of steam you had going suddenly peters out as the words slip out of your mouth, not fully considered until just after they leapt past your teeth so you couldn't take them back

"I... wanted to celebrate you."

>Your foreleg's hooves tap together a bit nervously as you admit that, the tips of your ears tinging a red that's sure to be making its' way down to your face

>You hesitate to make eye contact with Anon, but when you do, you can see a warmth radiating in his eyes as well, and his smile seems just a bit wider

>... You don't know why, but you're suddenly feeling brave

>Maybe you should just go ahead and admit to Anon what all this all really is

>State your feelings like the big grown up mare that you are

>Puffing out your chest a bit, you sit up a bit straighter

"Gale, I-"

>KERTHUNK

>The rowboat shudders and threatens to capsize as something heavy collides with it

>Startled, both of you lean over to inspect the damage

>And 'damage' is certainly right, there's a massive hole in the side of the boat!

>You're taking on water, fast!

>Panic briefly settles on your face before a pair of forelegs wrap around you

>Lifting you out of the boat and into the air

>Oh yeah, Anon's a Pegasus

>Somehow you briefly forgot about that

>The stallion flies you over to the shore of the Lake before, without waiting a beat, heads back out to try and save the boat before it sinks under the water

>While you watch him, a hoofful of shrill little voices are getting closer

>"Oh stars!"

>"Gosh!"

>"We're mighty sorry, Pinkie Pie! Are ya okay?"

>The Cutie Mark Crusaders bound up to you, with a fourth little colt taking up the rear

>All four look abashed, but the colt especially appears stricken

"I'm fine, girls. Just a little shook up. Did you see what happened?"

>Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo look away from your face, rubbing at their forelegs

>But Apple Bloom manages to find the courage

>"Ah'm afraid, um. That was us, Pinkie Pie. Me and the Crusaders-"

>"-The Crusaders and I."

>Apple Bloom shoots Sweetie a look before continuing

>"'The Crusaders and ah' were out here with a colt tryin' to figure out their Cutie Mark! We figured being away from all th' buildings and ponies was a good idea for thissun."

>The Crusaders back away to present the colt

>The little unicorn looks terrified, but he still turns to present his flank

>Bearing what appears to be a complicated slingshot firing off a rock

>"We're pretty sure it's got somethin' do with sling shots!"

>Scootaloo butts in from here

>"So we put together a really big slingshot for him to fire to see if it felt right!"

>All three fillies give each other that familiar triple high-hoof, and like clockwork

>"""CUTIE MARK CRUSADER SIEGE ENGINEERS, YAY!"""

>Around this time Anon flies back, pushing the damaged rowboat to shore

>He tips it over to let some of the water pooling in the bottom out

>"I'm guessing you young folks didn't consider wind resistance, right? I noticed you had a target placed... about fifty degrees to the left."

>Scootaloo's enthusiasm dies down about as fast as it erupted

>"We, uh. May have forgotten to factor in a few details."

>Anon simply shakes his head at that

>"I admire your efforts to help other foals out, girls, but this was incredibly dangerous. You could have hit either one of us if your aim was off even a little more. Perhaps this is one you should have a full-grown pony supervising."

>He pauses, considers

>"Not Rainbow Dash."

>Scootaloo groans while Anon flashes you a small 'what can you do?' sort of smile

>Which is nice because it's just the thing to cool down the frustration rumbling in your throat

>"What's say you and I find Sea Salt, apologize, and carry on with our night?"

"Yeah, that's... that's probably for the best."

>Parting ways with another round of apologies from the Crusaders and their client, you shoulder the boat with Anon and begin to trot off back to Ponyville to return Sea Salt's property and deliver another repair-relevant Pinkie Promise

>You only have one more activity planned for this party

>And honestly...

>You're starting to get a bad feeling about the rest of the night

 

Part Five:

>You've got a fluffy pink coat, a strong urge to consume the Stress Cupcakes hidden in the depths of your mane, and -

>Yes, yes, (You)'re Pinkie Pie, and you're a little too anxious to do the whole cute little (You) intro right now, writefriend

>The golden rays of evening have faded, along with most of your confidence in this date

>Being with Anon all day has been a delight, of course

>But you feel - owing to your Pinkie Sense and, y'know, the ability to see with your eyes - that you're on the precipice of something disastrous here

>It's like...

>All the chaos that Anon's chill groove had been holding off with his presence had burst like a dam

>You both noticed it as you trotted back into the city proper

>Whatever was going on wasn't unique to your pair

>Divots that weren't there this morning dotted the road, tripping up the formerly relaxed villagers

>Some were arguing about the weirdest things, like what to do if the Elements couldn't deal with the current crisis

>(You made a mental note to ask Twilight about that tomorrow, you weren't aware you and the girls were supposed to be dealing with one of those)

>Still, nothing was on fire, and it didn't look like it wouldn't take more than a surprise fiesta or two to calm down everypony

>So you kept on task

>First off, Sea Salt was incredibly understanding about the damage done to his rowboat

>He'd lived in Ponyville for some time now and was well acquainted with the Crusaders

>So when you brought them up in conversation he went from being upset to completely understanding of the whole situation

>You still Promised to help him repair the boat

>Or at least try

>Despite your assurances to Applejack and Sea Salt, you didn't actually have any carpentry skills

>And you're pretty sure if you try and patch their respective vehicles with cupcake batter they might get a teensy eensy beetsy upset

>Maybe you can hoof them their tools?

>You'll figure it out when the time comes, surely

>Right now it's time to put a bow on this "Traveling Party"

>You shared a cart ride with Anon, that's land travel taken care of

>Your boat ride wasn't nearly as long as you'd like, but it still counts as sea travel

>That just leaves...

"Air Travel!"

>Anon jolts at that, given that you two were trotting in companionable silence

>"I'm sorry?"

>You gigglesnort

"Sorry, I'm just a little excited for this last bit! Our last wing of this party's theme is 'Air Travel'. I was just thinking about it, and then my thoughts kiiinda slipped past my teeth."

>Anon gives you a questioning look, but lets that one go

>Just as well, you've reached your destination

>Cherry Berry sits on the dock, rubbing away at her eyes and letting out an adorable yawn before she catches sight of you

>With a scrunch in her muzzle she approaches, adjusting her flight goggles

>"Well it's about time, I was just about to fall asleep here. Thanks for picking Air Berry, and all that. I know you got your license renewed recently, Pinkie, but I'm still gonna ask you to be careful up there. Ponyville's been acting up since this afternoon and I bet some of that chaos is gonna catch the wind soon enough."

>You nod in agreement with that

>Part of you is worried about just that, but you're fairly confident that once you get off the ground things should be fine

>The night sky is perfectly clear, the stars are out in force

>And the weather management team has made sure any weird weather the Everfree might want to share is being kept to itself

>You dip your head down to pick up the picnic basket being offered by Cherry and effortlessly toss it onto your back

>Zero spillage!

>Tossing a smile Anon's way, you both trot into the basket, and it's off into the sky

>Just you, a dinner you put together in advance, and Gale Incognito alone about 2000 hooves off of the ground

>Perfect

>It takes some time to get to that height but not much effort on your part

>Anon, being a Pegasus and all, doesn't have much experience with hot air balloons

>He seems quite taken with the novelty of it though, peeking his head out of the basket to look down on the world below, and admire the stars

>"You know... I can see the appeal. Normally when I'm off in the sky under my own power, I have to keep track of everything around me, maintain a glide... in this basket, I can really take it all in. This is really nice, Pinkie."

>Anon perks up an eyebrow and grins at you

>"I'm curious how we and the rest of the girls were all going to fit in this balloon, though. It's awfully cozy."

>That it is, Anon

>Absolutely not by design, no sir!

>There's room enough in the basket for both of you and the picnic basket, but even a third Pony would've been quite the ask

>Perfect for accidental fetlock brushes and shoulder bumps

>The sensation of his fur brushing against your own as you set the balloon to just cruise on the breeze causes shocks of excitement to lance down your shoulder

>It's got you grinning like an idiot, and it's distracting enough that you almost didn't catch what he actually said

>Brain! Quick! Whip up something!

"Ahaha... well, initially we were going to rent one or two more and just try to coordinate a flight! But when the girls progressively told me they couldn't make it, I had enough foresight to let Cherry know we only need to prepare one!"

>Good enough, brain, you can go back to melting

"Honestly that might've been hard, these balloons really don't like too close proximity. We'd totally have to shout real loud to hear each other!"

>Anon nods, agreeing with the sentiment

>"That would be a real pain... maybe it's for the best it's just you and I tonight. This has been a really great party, Pinkie - even if things haven't gone entirely to plan, I had a lot of fun."

>A warm smile stretches across your muzzle

>It's not quite 'I love you Pinkie, lets kiss each others faces a whole bunch'

>But it's... nice

>And maybe it's the start of something that can lead to that

>With a deep inhale, you nod right back at the stallion

"I'm really glad, Anon! I've had a great time, too. We should totally do another one of these one-on-one parties!"

>Oof, lets not partyzone ourselves here

>You never thought you'd hear yourself think that, but jeez

>With a forced laugh you tip your eyes towards the picnic basket

"But before we plan one, how about dinner? I hope you like this, I made some daffodil sandwiches, and Mrs. Cake and I tried our hooves at making an upside down cloud cake!"

>Bless Mrs. Cake

>She caught you in the midst of trying to get that recipe just perfect and clocked you immediately

>She'd immediately praised you for identifying the best way to a stallion's heart, and was all too happy to help you with the baking

>The fact that you were trying to create a confection she'd never even heard of was a nice bonus

>Mrs. Cake was a romantic, but she also was thrilled at the challenge of complicated recipes like this

>Cooking with actual clouds was incredibly difficult

>Twilight had to cast the Cloudwalking spell on you just so you could actually manipulate some like a Pegasus

>In the end you're not sure if it'll be as good as Mrs. Shy's own work

>But you're confident your combined effort created something pretty good!

>You're already licking your lips in anticipation as you reach out and open the basket

>But instead of a bunch of wrapped sandwiches and cake staring at you

>Or even a blanket that would've been way too big for the floor of the basket

>A blob of tan and a pair of red eyes staring at you is what you're met with

>Red eyes with... yellow sclera

>Wait a minute

"Discord? What're you doing in there? You're not food. I think."

>With his hiding spot revealed, the draconequus erupts out of the picnic basket, coiling around the outer edges of the basket and flashing you both a snaggletoothed grin

>His eyes land on Anon and glint with a malice that he doesn't even attempt to hide

>"Ah, Pinkie Pie! My chaotic sister from another mister. I do hope you don't mind, but I was just dying to know how this little personal 'soiree' of yours was going!"

>Now, don't get it wrong, you don't dislike Discord

>He's pretty fun when he isn't going too overboard with his pranks

>You'd probably be even better friends, if he wasn't pretty zeroed in on Fluttershy

>At best you've been able to get him to come to a few of your parties by himself

>But he's usually Fluttershy's plus one, in which case he's paying attention to her and little else

>Either way though the last time you saw him and Anon in the same room it was when the Chaos God was in the midst of trying to embarrass him (and accidentally Fluttershy in the process)

>So you had a bad feeling...

>"Well, pleasure to see you again, Discord. I hope you and Fluttershy aren't still quarreling about me."

>The mention of his older sister may have been a poor choice, because Discord's eyes flash with anger before he schools himself

>"Oh not at all, my dear boy. We've had our little tiff, but she promises our friendship remains true... so long as I don't make myself too much of a nuisance. So! Relax, please. We're ALL friends here."

>Discord moves in an instant, sitting in the basket fully and wrapping his mismatched arms around you

>"Now do tell, how has this party found you PAIR, mm?"

>You're not quite you liked how he emphasized that word

>There's no doubt that Discord is fully aware of the circumstances around this party, regardless if he was told personally or not

>You really hope he doesn't blab...

>Anon tenses up when Discord touches him, but he relaxes as much as he can

>"It's been a lovely day with Pinkie here. We enjoyed a cart ride around Sweet Apple Acres, then a brief tour around Saddle Lake in a boat. I believe we were just about to enjoy dinner here in the sky. I'd offer you some of our faire, but I'm not the host, and I don't think we have enough for a third party."

>Discord nods along, looking for all the world like he could not possibly care what Anon is saying. At his attempt to tee up an offer for you to field, though, the draconequus simply laughs

>"Oh, definitely not - though I will say that that upside down cloud cake was just delicious! Definitely in my top five cakes, you really outdid yourself Pinkie."

>Your eyes shrink to pinpricks as you register what Discord said

>You pull away from his grasp to grab at the picnic basket, flipping it open to look inside, sticking your whole head in there in your haste

>... Nothing but some paper wrappers in crumbs

>No

>No no no!

>As you pull your head out of the basket, your face starting to turn red from anger, you observe that while Anon is also glaring at Discord, the Chaos God doesn't care at all

>Instead smiling, he reaches behind his back and produces a tray with a cloche over it

>"Now now, I'm not so gauche as to enjoy somepony else's dinner and not offer something in return. In return for your Upside Down Cloud Cake, I offer you..."

>With a dramatic flair, Discord removes the cloche to reveal what looks to be some sort of pie

>The latticework on the crust is beautifully done, the sort of thing you'd see in storefront displays for the finest bakeries in Canterlot

>You know at a glance it'd take you another hundred years of baking to get that kind of detailing down

>There's slits in the top, both for aesthetic taste and to prevent the filling from erupting

>And

>You have no idea what's inside it

>The coloration is some sort of golden yellow, but you can't identify any fruit pulp or the like

>It's... solid

"That looks, um, interesting. What kind of pie is that exactly, Discord?"

>You're still not thrilled with this turn of events, but your curiosity is stronger than your outrage at the moment

>With a chortle, Discord looks at you

>"Why my dear Pinkie Pie, this is one of my favorite confections. It's a-"

>Suddenly, he turns his head to make direct eye contact with Anon, his eyes glinting with malice

>"A Cheese Pie."

>You aren't entirely sure why, but when Discord says that Anon's expression turns into a sharp glare at the Draconequus, who simply smiles at him

>Truthfully you don't think it sounds great either

>Like a grilled cheese but... baked?

>But that reaction seems a bit more that you'd expect

>"Now, bon appétit you two! Also, I had one of the sandwiches, but then I remembered I hate flowers so I spat it out and threw all of them overboard. Ta ta!"

>With that last cruel chuckle the Chaos God leaps out of the basket and into the night sky

>A parachute harness has found its' way around his torso, and before long he pulls it

>And on his parachute

>Oh, stars

>Emblazoned across the chute, with letters big enough that it starts at one end of it to the other

>'FUCK YOU, GALE'

>That's... a bit much, even for Discord

>You both slide away from the edge of the basket

>The picnic basket, with the cheese pie on top sits between you

>You stare at the pie

>Gale stares at the pie

>You stare at Gale

>Gale stares at you

>After a few more moments of awkward silence, and full knowledge that neither of you are eating that thing, you let out a defeated sigh

"I'll start turning us back to Cherry's."

>Naturally, this night couldn't end in any other way

>Abject failure

 

Part Six:

>The flight back to Cherry Berry's platform is one done in complete silence

>The mare almost says something to you both as you dock, mouth going so far as parting before she catches sight of your face and seems to think better of it, quickly trotting over to secure her balloon

>You simply walk right past her, gaze kept squarely on the ground

>Despite herself, Cherry can't help but call out

>"Hey, you guys left a pie in here!"

>That upgrades your miserable walk to a full on canter

>You really don't need a reminder for what Discord just pulled

>"So, can I have it? ... Wait, is this cheese? Gross, Pinkie!"

>Yes, as you probably already guessed, (You) are Pinkie Pie

>And you're almost impressed at how this party went from one misstep to another in such quick succession

>You can feel your mane hanging limply around your withers, not even the residual curls from relaxation able to maintain themselves anymore

>You know deep down that none of the things that happened tonight were your fault

>The Bugbear attack was poor timing, the Crusaders sinking your boat was poor aim, and Discord was just poor manners

>But at the same time you feel like such a fool

>Trying to show Anon a good night, and all you did was waste his time

>As you slow down to a stop, you simply hang your head

>Biting down on your lower lip to try and hold back the cry of frustration welling up in your throat

>Just as you're about to let it out anyway a wing wraps around your barrel

>Comforting, warm, green

>Gale Incognito's got you in his grasp

>"Hey, now. Night's not over yet. I don't know about you, but I'm still hungry - and that pie somehow managed to not kill my appetite."

>You wipe at your eyes to quell the pinpricks of tears threatening them before looking back at Anon

"I... you still want to keep partying with me, Anon? I could try and whip us up something at Sugarcube Corner, though the storefront's closed at this time of night, so we'd have to be super duper quiet..."

>Anon simply smiles at you

>"Of course I do, Pinkie. But, tell you what. How about you let me take the lead on this one?"

>After the three gutterballs you just rolled, you're not in much of a state to argue with the pegasus, so you nod

>Anon carefully wraps his forelegs around your withers and takes off into the night sky, eliciting a cry of surprise from you

>Now it's your turn to experience the sky from a Pegasus's perspective

>Even grasping you Gale is significantly faster than the hot air balloon

>You almost can't register the surrounding countryside and landmarks of Ponyville as you fly past them

>You were pretty sure he was supposed to be Fluttershy's baby brother, not Rainbow Dash's!

>Parentage questions aside, Anon grips you tight as you make your way over the village

>Before finally landing, not at Sugarcube Corner, or even at Fluttershy's cottage

>But the local guesthouse

>The Hearthbreak Hotel has seen some significant changes in the past few years

>Before Twilight moved in it barely got any visitors, to the point that you wondered how it even stayed open when you remembered it existed at all

>But between the prestige of housing the Personal Student of the Princess

>Your friend group going from relative unknowns to the Elements of Harmony

>And last but not least Twilight's eventual ascension to Alicornhood

>Ponyville's popularity has boomed, and with it, the need to house way more tourists

>What started as a simple cottage has ballooned into a bit of an eyesore, if you were being honest

>Several floors with basic rooms

>But needs must be met, you suppose

>Gale sets you down at the entryway, gesturing with his head for you to follow him inside

"I kind of thought you had been staying with your sister, Anon."

>"Initially, yes. Her couch was good enough for me, and I liked being under the same roof as Fluttershy. It felt very nostalgic. But... well, I think you can guess why I had to relocate."

>Your mouth clamps shut after that

>Of course Discord would run Anon out of the house, and you just had to bring it up

>Stupid Pinkie

>"It's fine, though. As much as I love my sister, it was a bit crowded in her home. Plus I think some of her critters were getting a bit territorial over that couch - the first few nights I stayed I kept waking up to my blanket and pillow being stolen and thrown outside."

>Shaking his head, Anon leads you to his room on the second floor

>1BDI

>Stepping inside you can instantly tell that this room is just the same as every other one on the block

>Lively yellow wallpaper that says nothing about the occupant

>A singular, Princess-sized bed, a dinky little couch

>A nightstand by it, and a dining table with three chairs, not even enough for all sides

>Anon's left his suitcase on the couch, zipped up tight

>Your impulses tell you to open it up and comment on anything and everything inside, but you just... don't feel like indulging them right now

>Anon starts to move into the next 'room', though calling it that seems generous

>A small kitchenette

>"You just rest your hooves, and I'll..."

>The Pegasus pauses, looking over at you

>His bright green eyes land on yours and you suddenly feel scrutinized

>After a noticeable pause that smile of his draws across his snout

>"... Actually, what do you say we make something, together?"

>And despite the way the evening's gone, you're capable of returning that smile easily

"I'd like that."

>The next hour sees a return to silence, though unlike the latter half of the balloon ride, it's much less oppressive

>You and Anon agree on something simple, both on the merits of not having the energy to make something elaborate nor the resources

>Standing side-by-side, playfully bumping shoulders as you conjure up some hayburgers that, even if they were lacking in size, you think Twilight would be all-too-happy to wolf down, dignity be damned

>Paired with some hay fries and some cold Colt-a Cola, it's not exactly the most romantic dinner

>But it's something you made with him

>And that makes it better

>For a time you simply enjoy the hoofcrafted food

>Sharing some small trash talk about Discord, complimenting each others culinary skills

>There's a tentative promise made for Anon to show you and Mrs. Cake his own hoof at making Upside Down Cloud Cake, with the chance to enjoy it, all three of you

>It's quiet, and calm

>You can even see some of your mane starting to perk up around the ends as the chill atmosphere finally locks back into place after this hectic day

>Seeing Anon across the table from you, content and beaming

>You feel brave again

"... I want to say I'm sorry, again."

>"You know you don't have to do that, Pinkie. Everything going sideways wasn't remotely your fault."

"I know, but it's not just that. Anon... that whole party? It was a total sham. It's not what I wanted to invite you to, but I got scared at the last second."

>Anon sets the remains of his hayburger down, eyeing you curiously

"This whole week has been a lot of fun! Even the parts I thought wouldn't be, like you and Twilight discussing cloud care for hours, I was able to get into just because of how passionate you were about the whole thing! I enjoyed showing you around Ponyville, introducing you to all the townsponies - and it was really interesting seeing your own way of putting smiles on their faces when we came across somepony with a problem."

>Your throat feels rather dry, all of the sudden

>You tilt your head back and instantly down what's left of your Colt-a Cola

>With a loud gasp, you get right back to it

"I liked spending time with you. And I wanted to be brave and ask you out on a real date, but... when I was staring you in the face, about to do it, I chickened out. This whole 'Traveling Party' was a sham - and the fact that it was a total failure makes it even worse!"

>You dip your head down, ears wilting as your hair deflates again just thinking about it all

>Anon seems taken off guard, because he doesn't respond right away

>"I'm... you wanted to go on a date with me? I didn't think you looked at me that way, Pinkie. I'm quiet and a bit of a bore. I do my best to be there for people, but ponies don't really call me 'fun'. You want to go out with somepony like that?"

>At that your head snaps up, and you slide out of your chair

"I don't care about that!"

>You stomp your hooves on over to Anon, staring him right in the eyes as something in your chest (fortunately metaphorically) bursts

"I like you, Anon! I like how passionate you get about the things that matter to you, and I want to be one of those things! I like how when you're around I can stand the quiet moments. I have so many harmonicas and stuff stashed in my mane and around Ponyville just because I can't STAND silence, but you? You keep me steady and make it bearable. You might not be loud and brash but you're still pretty funny - and if you don't believe that, that's fine. I'll be enough fun for both of us. But most of all, I like your drive to make ponies smile when they're feeling down, even if it's not the way I do it. I want to make ponies smile WITH you."

>You reach out with both forelegs and grasp at his cheeks with your hooves

>Keep that gaze focused on you

"I'm sorry this date went so bad, but please. I want to try again. Will you let me?"

>Your own baby blues stare directly into his acidic greens, pleading, and...

 

 

>... And you got an olive green coat, a considerable mane of darkest black, and a pink party pony on your hooves that looks like she's one wrong move away from bursting into tears

>(You) are Gale Incognito, Anon to your friends

>And wow, it's been a bit, hasn't it?

>At least a month or two since you were last in the driver's seat like this

>Normally you'd be happy to take the reins but you're a bit off balance at the moment

>While you had a fairly good feeling that this "Traveling Party" wasn't all it was cracked up to be on the surface the fact that Pinkie was treating it like a date's a blindside, to say the least

>You've never known this mare to show fear, especially for something so simple

>Then again, her courtship with Cheese Sandwich was pretty much entirely offscreen, so who knows how that went

>Dueling nonsense and helping him get his groove back was one thing, but the actual process of going from 'friendly rivals' to 'family unit' is a big ole question mark

>And speaking of Weird Al, that's got you shocked all the more

>You know exactly what Pinkie Pie's type is when it comes to stallions

>Summarized?

>'Herself, but yellow'

>So that intense confession is surprising, to say the least

>Still, you should probably do something

>Again, those are absolutely tears brimming in her eyes and either she's going to cry so comically hard she floods your hotel room and make you lose your deposit

>Or she's going to cry for real and it's going to completely break your heart, knowing it's over you

>Carefully, you reach out, grasping at her hooves currently smushing your face, and take them into your own

>Leaving you both partially bipedal as you hold each other up, simply staring at each other

>You have to really consider your past week with the mare

>She's been your shadow for pretty much the entire time, and you can honestly say you wouldn't have had half the good time you had if it wasn't for her

>Pinkie could turn over any rock in Ponyville and have an interesting story to tell about whatever she found for you

>Introductions to the townsponies were smooth as could be with her leading the way

>And she knew all the best spots in Ponyville and out

>From that new karaoke bar on Whitetail Road that opened up this week

>To beautiful spots out in the woods where you could just relax and while away the hours

>You would've been significantly worse off without this party pony by your side, and you know it

>This... feels like a Hell of a commitment, though

>Pairing up with a Pony as important as Pinkie was never in the cards for you

>For some time you were worried about throwing a wrench in the canon, but you're clearly over that now

>You're finally visiting Fluttershy, and all

>The butterfly is fully flapping its' wings, consequences be damned

>So... why not?

>Even if the future refuses to fully change and you end up having to stand aside for Cheese Sandwich

>Who's to say you can't enjoy being by her side until that day comes, in the meantime?

>Finally, you regard Pinkie

"Pinkie... I'm really touched you think so highly of me. And if I'm being honest? Even if I almost got clawed by a bugbear, nearly sank in a boat, and had to deal with Discord being... Discord, this is still easily the best date I've ever been on. I'm already looking forward to seeing how you're going to top it."

>Pinkie lets out a noise caught somewhere between a squeak and a shrill scream as she suddenly lunges forward, wrapping her hooves around your neck and planting an excited kiss on your snout

>You close your eyes, take a deep inhale through your nose, and...

 

EPILOGUE

>... And after what feels like a years long intake, let out an audible exhale through your mouth

>Your acid green eyes flit open as you glance around and observe the chapel

>It's impressive how well Ponyville's Town Hall can clean itself up for events like these

>Though with the sheer amount of streamers and confetti blowing in the wind, 'clean up' seems like a bit of a misnomer

>Still, everypony's in high spirits

>The stands are full with your respective friends and families

>Marble Pie offers you a timid but happy little wave when you make eye contact

>Limestone... mashes her front hooves together in a familiar threatening way

>Maud does not give a shit, but that's kind of her deal

>Cloudy Quartz and Igneous Rock Pie are as stoic as ever, though they crack in their own little ways

>The barest ghost of a smile graces the mare's face, and Igneous offers you the sharpest, most miniscule nod ever beheld in Equestria

>The stallion is a complete professional

>On the other side, Zephyr Breeze is caught between pride and envy

>Two sides of the same bit, but that's not too surprising

>Sorry big brother, maybe Rainbow will come around in a few years... or you'll finally set your sights on somepony else

>Mom and Dad have already fainted a few times from the excitement of the day, but they seem to be getting their second wind

>Fluttershy, bolstered by the rest of her friends, is doing her best to keep them upright

>Discord outright glowers, but with one of Fluttershy's wings wrapped tightly around him he's proving capable of behaving, at least for now

>You make a mental note to check anything you eat before putting it in your mouth at the reception

>Both sides of the stands are littered with acquaintances, close friends, distant friends, and a few from the throng that snuck in from the massive tourist surge that proved to be polite enough to not get kicked out

>Part of you wonders if you and Pinkie should have humored Rarity and tried to have done this whole ceremony at Canterlot Castle like she suggested

>'Darlings, the idea of an Element of Harmony making their vows at anywhere less is just dreadful!'

>You both agreed that it was a bit much, but now in the present you admit that Canterlot Castle would have come with much better security

>Still, nothing for it now

>As you continue searching the stands, the organ suddenly erupts into some lively attempts at polka while the doors to the town hall open

>And there she is

>Radiant in a Rarity original of purest white with hot pink highlights stands your fiancé

>Pinkie Pie

>Perfectly timed, too

>You'd just finished your sweep of the room before your eyes were glued to the party pony of the hour

>And just as you feared, he wasn't here

>You were hoping Cheese Sandwich would be able to leave the past in the past and at least be happy for Pinkie, but...

>That seems to have been too much of an ask

>Still, as Pinkie pronks down the aisle up to your side

>And blasts you full in the face with the cutest smile on the whole planet

>You can't find it in your heart to feel bad for him

>Sorry, Weird Al

>You're not sure how you got this lucky either