Chapter Sixty-One: The Invitation

"Oh, wow! Lookee!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, extending a hoof into the direction of a tall, overtly bulky earth pony colored a light gold with a long, clean mane and tail of a darker gold and brown with a short cut beard. "They've got a strong pony! Look at him go!"

"Whoa, nelly!" Applejack whistled, clearly impressed. "He looks like he could give Big Macintosh and Bulk Biceps a run fer their money!"

"That's pretty cool," said Rainbow Dash as they observed the hulk of a pony heft a two-thousand pound iron weight with their teeth.

"Ooh!" the pink mare squealed, her short attention span leading her to a unicorn as he set up a set of hoops during the proceeding, and set them on fire as a daredevil pegasus promptly performed tight loops and twists through them.

"Oh… my…" Fluttershy squeaked, clearly more concerned for the daredevil's safety than the impressive stunts.

"I could do that," piped the prismatic-maned pegasus.

Smokey's sea green eyes went wide at the sight of the flaming hoops, suddenly growing nervous. The urge to put out those flames mounted with each passing second, but he remained rooted in place.

"That… looks dangerous."

"Y-y-yeah…" Fluttershy stammered, shivering as she pressed her head against Smokey's neck, her large eyes shimmering with anxiety. "Can… can we go? I don't think I want to be here anymore."

Glad that Fluttershy wanted to leave, the dragon nodded with a relieved smile.

"Of course. Why don't we play with Chenoa in the flower field by the cottage? I saw a lot of butterflies there when we passed it."

The mare appeared far more unperturbed. Dispensing their goodbyes, the pair turned and left, not wasting any time in deserting the circus on wheels.

Fluttershy and Smokey - who was now free of the costume - relaxed in the plush comfort of the thick grass and flowers as they watched the baby griffon chase butterflies and stalk through the tall flowers in an almost predatory fashion. As she came particularly close to successfully pouncing one, the dragon gulped as worry graced his visage.

"Be careful, Chenoa. Don't harm the butterflies," he warned the child and stole a quick glance at the pegasus beside him. He took notice that she was currently weaving flower stems together to create a chain, his smile returning. "What are you making, Miss Fluttershy?"

Sitting out in the field had been far more relaxing than Fluttershy expected. Being with Smokey and Chenoa after a few minutes of watching the baby chase the winged insects had becalmed her quickly - even if she herself had to tell her to not hurt the poor creatures as well.

After a few minutes, she had decided to occupy her attention with something a little different while still keeping an eye on the little one. Hearing Smokey, she lifted her eyes up to him.

"Making a daisy chain," she replied, finishing the one she was working on. Fluttering up to his eye level, she reached out to drape it on his head and ear frills before returning to her haunches.

The winged reptile chuckled as the crown of flowers was placed upon his head. Verbally catching the child's attention, eager to witness her reaction, Chenoa laughed just as hard as she had when watching the clowns. Curious, she toddled right up to her father and attempted to climb up his belly.

Laughing a second time, the dragon picked her up and held her to his chest before bestowing a kiss to her cheek.

"Want to make one for Chenoa?"

Fluttershy smiled sweetly, her grin widening and heart melting upon hearing her laugh and squeal. Reaching over to pick a few more flowers, she proceeded to weave them together.

"Sure. That was actually supposed to be a necklace for her, but it fits so well on your head as a crown! You look so cuuute, Smokey!"

Giggling, she finished Chenoa's and placed it on top of the chick's head - it being a perfect fit.

Smokey felt his chest warm and his heart flutter at being dubbed as cute by the pegasus. The sight of the baby donning the flower crown was even more endearing to him.

"Nah. She is the cute one."

"Well, you're right. But, she's a baby. Most babies are already cute from the start, so she's got a natural advantage. Plus, she's a girl." Fluttershy winked at him. "So, that's another point in her favor.

"But you?" The mare snuggled against his side, nuzzling his scales. "You've got flowers on your head."

"So, that makes me cute, or is it not because of my charm?" he questioned, winking back with a wide, knowing grin. Unfolding his wing, he curled it around the pony to draw her in closer. "What ever the reason, the compliment is appreciated."

The pegasus blushed lightly, leaning her head against Smokey's side and raising a foreleg to rest it upon his leg.

"Well… It's actually a little of both," she admitted.

"You're the sweetest, Miss Fluttershy," he sighed as a dreamy expression stole over his face. "I can hardly wait for our date on Saturday…"

Fluttershy's blush deepened, closing her eyes partially and turned her gaze to Chenoa as she sank further into Smokey's side.

"Hmmm… Me neither."

She felt no shame or embarrassment in admitting it, either, truly looking forward to what that day held for them.

Little did the pair know that the owner of the circus was heading their way. He had asked a few of the locals where a yellow-coated and pink-maned pegasus resided. He had become interested in the young mare and her knowledge of animals. Once he spied her, he stopped in his tracks and froze as he acknowledged the presence of the dragon.

It took a few minutes for the image to sink in, and a smile crept onto his face. That dragon would be a perfect addition. Since he had planned on inviting Fluttershy to the party he was throwing that evening, he could also invite the dragon…

Yes… Already a scheme was beginning to pan out in his mind.

Putting on the friendliest grin he could muster, he approached the companions and their baby.

"Good day, you two!"

Not expecting any visitors, the draconic being jumped a little bit and swung his head around to meet the stallion.

"Oh, it's you."

Fluttershy had been blissfully unaware of the ringmaster, having been watching the baby. Her eyes closing, she was nearly asleep in Smokey's arms when his voice shocked her into alertness. Eyes snapping open and lifting herself from the dragon's lap, she turned to him.

"Um… Hi…" she murmured quietly, shying partially behind Smokey.

"I apooloogize foor disturbing you, but I 'aven't goot you're name. I wish to thank you prooperly foor brining the coonditioon oof my animals to my attentioon." It did not fail to escape the stallion's notice that this dragon's voice matched the large pony's that this mare was with earlier… It didn't take long for him to figure out it had been him in disguise. "My name is Pendulum."

The pegasus glanced off, her hair falling over her face.

"This… is Smokey. And I'm…" she attempted to speak her name, but half mumbled it out - the sound trailing off into inaudible nothingness.

"This is Fluttershy," Smokey said for her, not quite over the fact that Pendulum expressed no fear of him at all. He wasn't sure whether to be shocked or happy.

"It's a pleasure to meet you two. Really, it is." Deciding to cut to the reason why he was even there, Pendulum opened his mouth to speak again. "I'm throowing a large party tonight. I would be 'oonoored if you booth came. Bring your friends, too."

"A… party?"

Fluttershy tilted her head to Pendulum, then at Smokey. She looked like she had her misgivings. If the invitation had been sent by Pinkie Pie, she easily would have readily accepted.

However, this particular pony… This Pendulum. She wasn't certain at all.

As if on cue, the aforementioned pink party mare poked her head out from a nearby bush with excited, wide eyes and an exuberant grin.

"Did somepony say PAAARRRTTTTYYYY?"

"Gah!" Smokey gasped, jumping again.

"Eek!"

The yellow pegasus scrambled up the dragon's back, clutching onto him by wrapping her forelegs around his neck and her lower legs around his waist.

"Ack!" the stallion exclaimed, spinning around to meet the new arrival. "Lassie, ya gave us a scare."

"Hihihihi!" Pinkie Pie chirped, leaping out of the bush and bouncing up to Pendulum. "I'm Pinkie Pie! I'm Ponyville's party pony! Parties are my special talent! Say, you look familiar! Where have I seen you? I don't know you, and I know everypony, and I mean EVERYPONY in-"

She suddenly inhaled a tremendous gasp in realization.

"WAIT! You're that ringmaster from earlier! The one with the circus!"

"Aye, I am Pendulum," the stallion introduced himself, his heart still ramming against his chest in startled intervals. "So, you're specialty is parties. I'm 'oolding one tonight. Would you like to 'elp me, lass?"

"Oooh, yes!" the curly-maned equine burbled, hopping up and down. "What kind of party is it? Is it a birthday party? Who's birthday is it? Or is it a celebration? Maybe a wedding? A baby shower?!"

"Um, Pinkie?" Fluttershy softly spoke up, trying to attain her friend's attention. "I don't think it's any of those…"

"Fluttershy is right. It's just a party. We throow oone every time we arrive in a new toown," Pendulum clarified, throwing a foreleg around Pinkie Pie's shoulders.

"Oh! Kind of like a welcome party!" Pinkie Pie said, her features twisting into a confused expression.

"… Only in reverse… … I've never heard of anypony throwing THEMSELVES a welcome party." The mare's expression returned to it's usual excited countenance. "Don't worry! I'll throw you the biggest, bestest welcome bash you ever had!" Pulling herself away from Pendulum, she began springing off. "I need to get ready! So much to do, no time to waste!"

"I like your enthusiasm!" he stated with a wide berth as Pinkie Pie pronked off. Chuckling, he turned back to the pegasus, dragon, and baby griffon. "Noow… will you two coome noow that you're friend is 'elpin' me put this party together?"

"Well…"

Smokey gazed down at the squirming child before turning to Fluttershy for an answer as she slid down his back and positioned herself back on all four hooves.

She still seemed hesitant.

"If it's a PINKIE party…"

She glanced up at Smokey, as if conveying that it was all right. She trusted her friend - nothing truly bad ever happened at one of her parties. Anything remotely unfortunate that had happened was due to outside circumstances they had no control over… but that didn't mean anything bad could happen now, right?

Understanding the look on Fluttershy's face, the reptilian shifted his vision back to Pendulum with a small smile.

"We'll go. What time should we be there?"

"Noo later than eight oo' cloock, in the toown square," the frizzy-maned stallion answered.

"That is awfully late… Perhaps Spike can babysit…"

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind," said Fluttershy. "But, he is rather young, and he needs his sleep, too. I'd hate to ask Pinkie… Maybe the Cakes wouldn't mind looking after her? They've got their own babies to think of…"

"That's a good idea. It'll be a good opportunity to introduce Chenoa to their children. I'm certain she'll have fun playing with them," he agreed, nodding with a grin at the idea of Chenoa receiving the chance to socialize with other little ones.

"That was what I was thinking." Beaming, the mare flapped her wings to lift herself off of the ground and plucked the griffon from Smokey's one-armed hold to draw her into an embrace. "What do you think, sweetie? You want to make a couple of new friends?"

"Mama!" Chenoa chirped, her short forelegs reaching out to the pegasus to grasp her fur.

"Awwww," Fluttershy cooed, giving the baby a nuzzle.

"Let us get going. I'll make us some dinner. How does a hay loaf stuffed with spinach dip and covered in tomato sauce sound?"

Not bothering to say goodbye, Pendulum turned on his hooves and left into the direction from where he came, satisfied that he had convinced Fluttershy and Smokey into attending his party.

"Ooh!" The Pegasus's eyes brightened. "That sounds absolutely scrumptious!"

She, nor Smokey, hadn't even noticed the stallion left, Fluttershy turning her body to flutter off towards the cottage with her scaly friend at her side. She had not realized how hungry she was until he mentioned dinner.