Equestria's New Comedian

Hi! This is a revised version of an older fic I wrote, hopefully this will be continued, this will have a different opening, but the same story outcome as the previous story, please enjoy!

Chapter One: Meet Gareth

Hi, I'm Gareth "Chuckles" Murphy, most folks just call me Chuck though. This is the story of how I left my life as a bar comedian going nowhere behind in favor of a new life, new friends, and even a special someone. I suppose it all starts one cold November night. I was walking home from a show I had put on, decent crowd, all drunk though. It seemed as if I was putting on comedy for babbling toddlers, no, I've put on more successful comedy shows for toddlers. I sighed and put on some music.

Why are there so many songs about rainbows, and what's on the other side?

Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide

So we've been told and some choose to believe it,

I know they're wrong, wait and see…

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers,

And me… I sang to myself before a heavy sigh, as a kid, all I wanted was to make it big making people laugh, smile, or anything. Now all it seemed I could do was make someone cough awkwardly every now and then. I guess I couldn't bellyache too much, my grandparents were kind enough to give me a place to stay when I couldn't keep up with my bills, sure, I had my friends, kind of.. My best friend had recently went off and got married, barely seen him since.

"It'll get better, Murphy" I told myself. Soon enough I got to my grandparent's place.

"Oh hi Gareth, how was your day?" My grandmother asked with a hug.

"It was fine" I replied.

"Oh Hello Gareth, oh geez! They sure feed you well at that bar you work at!" My grandfather remarked as he walked in the room.

"Hahahaha, I guess they do." I said, holding a facetious reply in. He can't talk honestly, he and Santa Claus could enter a Santa Claus lookalike contest and he'd win. Whatever, I've gotten used to his remarks, besides, I'm 6'2, if I wasn't a little hefty I'd look like a flagpole.

After a quick drink of coffee, I resorted to my room. My room was as if an eight year old lived there, action figures and vinyl figurines covered the shelves, posters of Transformers, Disney, Muppets, and of course, My Little Pony covered the walls, it wasn't how many would expect (or approve for that matter) a 19 year old to live like, but I didn't care, Buzz Lightyear was my hero when I was 5, didn't see how it had to be any different now. It did put a damper on my dating life, and I can understand, not many girls are really turned on by a giant The Muppet Show poster looking over the bed, or a guy who spends his pay checks on the latest Pinkie Pie plush Hasbro had to offer, but I didn't let it get to me. I was happy for the most part. But something was definitely missing, you can put as many distractions up as you can, but a lonely night is a lonely night. I sighed and grabbed a root beer from my mini fridge, I wasn't much of a drinker, soda was always more my speed. I grabbed my laptop and opened Netflix.

"Family Guy… Nah, Brickleberry… Not in the mood, ah, here we are." I said as I clicked on My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. The episode started and I contently watched, but soon enough, I must've fell asleep, but what happened next was no dream.

I woke up, my body felt like I fell a hundred feet, I had a pounding headache. I opened my eyes.

"What the hell?" I muttered to myself, I was in a field, near a pond, surrounded by trees and a familiar yet alien looking cottage in the distance. I walked over to the pond, or at least tried to, as soon as I got up I fell flat on my face, like my two legs couldn't hold me, I looked down at myself, no hands, no feet, just… hooves? I got on all fours and trotted to the pond, and there I saw a crimson red stallion with a puffy auburn mane, freckles, and big blue eyes.

I screamed in shock. This must have startled someone, because I heard another scream right after, I turned around to see a faded yellow Pegasus hovering above me, looking at me with slight fear.

"Who are you?" She said, seemingly afraid.

"Name's Chuck, you can come down, I won't hurt you, I only want to know what's going on... How I got here."

"Oh I'm sorry…" the Pegasus replied, "I don't know, all I know is you fell and landed there in the middle of the night, I was worried and wanted to see if you were okay." Fluttershy replied.

"Great". I said dryly. "I'm here with no memory of how I got here, I don't have any money, I can't even call a cab…" I started rambling on about my situation until Fluttershy cut me off.

"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting, but I know someone who might be able to help, I'm Fluttershy by the way." She said.

"Great!" I said as I followed her into town.

Castle of Friendship

"So let me get this straight.." Twilight Sparkle said "You claim you woke up in a field… with no recollection of how you got there?" She ended.

"That's the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but." I said, while a bit of a lie, as I omitted the part about remembering being from another dimension.

"Odd…. My books don't say anything about that happening in the past…" Twilight said, leafing through what seemed to be a hundred books a minute.

"Guess I'm just special." I said with fake pride.

"Well maybe I could see Princess Celestia and ask her if she's seen anything like this before…" Twilight said, though cut off by another voice. Pinkie Pie to be exact.

"Twilight! Guess what! I was stirring cake batter and suddenly a bug flew in it! I tried asking him to leave but he wouldn't listen to me- heyyyy, who are you?" Pinkie Pie said looking at me.

"I'm Gareth, but call me Chuck. Pleased to meet you." I said.

"You're new here!? You know what that means? A welcome party! Oh boy! First I'll give you a tour around Ponyville and invite everyone else, then tonight we'll party! Come with me!" She said grabbing my leg excitedly.

And off we went, Twilight and Fluttershy exchanged looks.

"Does he seem kind of funny to you?" Twilight asked.

"He told a pretty funny joke on the way over." Fluttershy said.

"That's not what I meant, as in suspicious." Twilight said dryly.

"A little… I guess". Fluttershy replied.

And that's the end of the chapter, chapter two is already underway. Hope you enjoyed! Please follow and favorite if you want to keep up with the story! Until next time!

Chapter Two: So This Is My New Home?

Second chapter, hopefully people actually like this story, if you do please review and such. Enjoy the second chapter.

"And so my new life begins." I thought, as long as I had no idea how I actually got here, there was no way I was going back home, and to be honest, living in Ponyville was starting to seem like it'd be pretty good. Of course I'd still need a place to live, and a sustainable income, and here I thought it was too early into my new life to start worrying about that, but I've been wrong before.

While Pinkie Pie was giving me a tour around, I had decided for the time being that I wasn't going to bring up my past as a human. I felt it'd just be too much to explain, instead, I was going to say I came from a land called Canterda, pretty clever I thought.

"So, where'd you live before you came here?" Pinkie Pie asked. Right on cue.

"Canterda." I replied. "So tell me, is there any vacant homes around here I could stay, 'Cause I don't really have a place to live, and it seems I'll be staying here." I said looking around.

"Hmmm, I don't think so, hey! Why don't you stay with me? I'd be happy to let you stay with me till you find somewhere to stay!" She said bouncing up and down with that big signature smile. I thought about it, or at least pretended to. I mean come on, this is a free place to stay in a place I'm definitely not leaving. Why? One, I had no idea how I could. Two, This is a chance to start over, make everything the way I want it to be. Be the man- er… now, pony I've always wanted to be.

"Ohh that'd be wonderful." I sighed, acting of course. "Your hospitality is so generous, You know… such kindness is pretty rare where I came from." I said with a frown. Give it up please, for the power of one short acting class.

"Oh really? I always thought Canternadians were really nice!" She said suddenly. I swear I almost choked. I thought I made Canterda up.

"Oh yeah, what else did you think about them? Always apologizing? Lots of maple trees? An arguably superior political system?" I said with a dry chuckle.

"Yes, yes, and what?" She said, a little confused at the last part of my joke.

"Err.. Never mind. Anyway, no. Not all Canternadians are nice, That's like saying all Cloudsdale residents are Wonderbolts, or every citizen of Canterlot has a unicorn horn up their… never mind." I replied.

"Okayyyy, So this is Sugar Cube Corner, I live up on the top floor! This is also where we're throwing your welcome party! It's gonna be so much fun!" She said jumping. As much as I wish I could have like… 12 Tylenol for the migraine I still had from everything that happened last night, or this morning, I had to admit a party for me had a nice ring to it.

"I can't wait!" I said smiling. "So what's next on the tour?" I said looking around at the bustling streets, well, as bustling as Ponyville gets.

"Well, since I also have invitations to give out for your welcome party, let's go visit Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres!" She said.

"Works for me, lead the way." I replied as we went on.

Later, Sweet Apple Acres

"That's a new one for sure Pinkie Pie." Applejack said in response to her telling the story of how I fell right out of the sky. "I can't say I believe it, but it's a new one."

"Mind if I interrupt?" I interjected. "Hi, Name's Chuck. Anyway, I can definitely testify to that story as it was me who fell from the sky, but, if you've fallen out of the sky before and you've had a more real experience with it, please, call my bluff." Granted, I sounded like a dick. But I had a bad migraine and that's how I get.

"Alright then." She replied dryly. "Anyway, Pinkie Pie, is there anything else? I do have work to do ya know."

"Oh yeah! You, Big Mac, Granny Smith, and Applebloom are all invited to Chuck's welcome party!" She said happily.

"Well alright, I'm sure we can make it, see ya then." She said happily, to Pinkie Pie anyway, not to me, she didn't seem to like me, in all fairness I was kind of an ass, wait, donkeys live in Ponyville as well, is using ass as a derogatory term racist here?

"Awesome! Come Chuckie, let's go see Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie Pie said turning towards town, I followed her, after waving a hoof to Applejack, who reluctantly returned the wave.

As we walked, I felt a bit down, I really did want everyone to like me, but I seemed to be doing a poor job at that, I mean it was kinda my fault. I decided from now on I'd try harder to get them all to like me. Yeah... Yeah I could do enough, we saw Rainbow Dash up in the air, upon seeing her, Pinkie Pie ran up to her, and I had to keep up, let me tell ya, running on four legs can be tough, especially when you weren't great when you only had two.

"RAINBOW DASH! DOWN HERE!" Pinkie Pie yelled. Hearing her, Rainbow Dash came down.

"Hey Pinkie Pie, what's up?" Rainbow Dash asked, I was still running behind Pinkie Pie, and came to a crashing and gasping hault. "Uhh Who's this guy?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"This is Chuck, he fell out of the sky!" She replied.

"-gasp- That's… -wheeze- right. Ugh. –ahem- Hello is this on? Testing, testing, okay my breath is back. Yep, that's right, used to live in Canterda." I said, glad I got my breath back.

"Okay then, hey Chuck, I'm Rainbow Dash." She said. We hoof shaked.

"Charmed." I replied. Huh, who'd have thought all it took to get someone to like you was to not be a dick.

"You wanna come to Chuck's welcome party?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Sure, why not?" She said. Well, this was going better than meeting Applejack, but in my defense my migraine was getting better. Still, I probably should apologize to Applejack later on.

"Alrighty! See ya there!" Pinkie Pie said, and we were off.

Meeting Rarity went well too, Twillight and Spike seemed happy to come, and I'm pretty sure Fluttershy said yes, in all honesty I was too busy wondering how the bear she looked after hadn't mangled Angel yet. Anyway, sooner or later we talked to everyone on her guest list.

Later, party time!

Finally my headache was all gone, and just in time to, it was party time! Everybody was there, there was music, food, all the necessities of a Perfect Pinkie Pie Party, How's that for alliteration?

"Great party Pinkie Pie, honestly I really appreciate everything your doing for me." I said, and I wasn't even acting, this was really turning into a great night.

"Aww shucks! Don't mention it!" She said. Soon, Twillight, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash came over.

"Hey Pinkie Pie, great party as usual." Rainbow Dash said as the others nodded in agreement.

"Thanks! Glad you're all having a good time." Pinkie Pie responded. Everyone seemed quite happy indeed. I still felt a bit guilty about how I acted earlier towards Applejack though.

"Hey Applejack." I said, "Can I talk to you for a second?" I asked.

"Uh, sure I guess." She said, and we walked to where nobody else was.

"Look, I just want to apologize for how I acted earlier, I'm really a nice guy, I'm just a bit moody, especially when I have a headache, how about we put that behind us and start over?" I asked. I could have worded it better, but I'm not good at that when I'm stressed.

"You know what?" She said, "Sure. I'm Applejack, pleased to meet ya." She said, extending her hoof as if we just met now.

I smiled. "And I'm Gareth, but my friends call me Chuck, so just call me Chick." I said shaking her hoof. Meanwhile, the others were having their own conversation.

"You're letting him stay with you? You barely know him!" Twilight said.

"So? He's nice! He just needs a place to stay for a while, that's all." She said, staring at me.

"He could be a serial killer!" Rainbow Dash said.

"I eat a big bowl of Oaty O's every morning, guess that makes me a cereal killer too!" Pinkie Pie replied.

"I don't think you understand Pinkie Pie… Pinkie pie!" Twilight said, but Pinkie Pie wasn't listening, she was busy staring me from across the room.

"Oh merciful heavens!" Rarity exclaimed. "You don't… like this Stallion do you?" She asked Pinkie Pie, getting her attention.

"WHAT!? Hahahaha… no! What?" Pinkie Pie said nervously.

"And that's why shes the element of laughter and not of honesty." Rainbow Dash whispered to Fluttershy, who then giggled.

"I'm telling you guys, I don't!" She said bashfully.

"Oh really?" Rainbow Dash said, "Prove it. Pinkie promise that you don't like him."

"Well… Uhh… About that…" Pinkie Pie hesitated. "Fine! Okay? I like him." She admitted.

"Knew it." Rainbow Dash said. They then all looked towards Pinkie Pie, who was blushing redder than a tomato in a bucket of red acrylic paint.

"It's true. He's a funny guy, He's charming, and kinda cute." Pinkie Pie said finally. "But if you guys don't like him, I'll tell him he has to find somewhere else to stay…" she said sadly.

The four exchanged looks. "Maybe I was a bit too harsh." Twilight admitted.

"So was I." Rarity said.

"To be honest, I think he's a nice guy too." Fluttershy added.

"You know? I think he's a stand up guy." Rainbow Dash said.

"Really? Oh thank you! Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!" Pinkie Pie said jumping with joy and hugging them.

"Whats all this about?" Applejack said as we were walking back over.

"Nothing!" Pinkie pie said as nonchalant as she could.

"Okay… anyway, This was a great party, But I think Applebloom's getting tired, we'd best head home." Applejack said.

"And Spike and I should get back to the castle" Twilight added. Soon enough, the guests started leaving.

After everyone left, I was helping Pinkie Pie with cleanup. It was a great party, I got pretty well acquainted with everyone, even Discord, hilarious guy! I still don't really get why everyone took a long time to like him, sure there's the fact he made them hate each other, the other time he teamed up with Tirek... But we all make mistakes.

"Thanks again for everything Pinkie Pie." I said as I swept confetti. She was silent, until she finally spoke up.

"Are you a serial killer?" She asked suddenly.

"What?" I turned to face her.

"Uhh… Nothing." She said bashfully.

I chuckled. "Well, I love a good bowl of cereal at breakfast if that answers your question." That seemed to make her laugh.

"Hey! I've made that joke too!" She said.

"Aww drat. Ol' Chucks gotta get some new material then." I said with a smile. She smiled back. There was a bit of a silence. Pinkie Pie soon broke said silence.

"Anyway, do you think you'd like to maybe hang out tomorrow? I know a really nice picnic spot." She said, I could feel a tinge of nervousness in her voice.

"Well, I'd best see if I'm available…" I pretended to check an invisible appointment book, "Hey what do you know? I'm free, I'd love to!" I said. I swear I heard a small squeal of joy.

"Great! I can't wait!" She said.

"Likewise." I said, suddenly, I felt a yawn creep up on me. "I'm starting to feel kind of sleepy, I think I'm gonna hit the hay." I said.

"Silly, you don't hit the hay, you eat the hay!" she said with a giggle. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Goodnight Pinkie Pie, see you in the morning." I said going into the spare room.

"Goodnight Chuckie!" She said. The moment I closed the door she started quietly pumping her hooves and whispering "Yes! Yes ! Yes!"

I smiled settling into bed. I knew I was going to like it here in Ponyville, and I couldn't wait for the next day.

And that's the second chapter, I even made it longer, go me right? Anyway, if you like it, please fav and follow. Till next chapter!

Chapter Three: Picnic Pie

Hahaha! Get it? Picnic Pie? A play on Pinkie in Pinkie Pie and Picnic as in what's happening this chapter? Ah forget it. Lights! Camera! Action!

Sugarcube Corner. My room.

One essential part in the Murphy morning routine is mirror talk, whether human or otherwise. Note that mirror talk works on your confidence when someone else doesn't hear you.

"Oh Yeahhh, Mhmm, Look at that, Groovy baby! Alright alright alright!" I exclaimed in various impressions. I do a good Matthew Mcconaughey. I was in the middle of putting false confidence in my mind when the door burst open.

"Good morning!" Pinkie Pie said bursting through. I almost hit the ceiling in surprise.

"Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick! Knock next time, I could have been naked…" I looked at myself. "Oh yeah." I said with an embarrassed smile.

"Sorry about that." She said with a giggle. "I just heard you talking and thought I'd say good morning!" She said smiling.

"Oh, oh... OH." My eyes widened and my cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "You umm… Heard all that, did you?" I said shyly.

"Yeah." She said, barely containing her laughter.

"It's alright, I suppose it is pretty funny." I said blushing. "So anyway, about that picnic." I said, changing the subject. "What time are we meeting?"

"Welllllll, I promised the cakes I'd handle their deliveries for them this morning, hmm, get that to the Ponyville school… um... Carry the two… Let's say noon?" She said.

"Noon works great for me!" I said, honestly any time would have worked, I had no plans.

"Great! See ya then!" She said with a sweet smile. She had a nice smile, sweet, kind, with such nice eyes to compliment it.

"God dammit Murphy, I know that ramble. You sound like you have a crush on her- Ohhh, you do, don't you?" I thought to myself. Pinkie soon realized I definitely had something on my mind. I awkwardly looked at her. "Wonderful! See you soon!" I said with a shy smile

"Alrighty!" She said as she left the room.

I sighed, I did have a crush, didn't I? Or I had "Fall in Love with the First One to be Nice to Me in a New Dimension" syndrome. My family has a history of that. What was I going to do? She probably thought I was a weirdo anyway, now I'm going to be acting like a moron around her because of a crush? And on top of that I have no idea how I got here? Oy! I decided I should go for a walk, take my mind off everything.

Later. Ponyville Streets

As I mentioned earlier, I decided I'd go for a walk, and I'm glad I decided to, it was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining, birds were singing, it was like that picture perfect morning you always imagine but never see. I already felt better, and I hadn't even been walking for two minutes, I started humming, and soon enough I was singing to myself.

"Somewhere, beyond the sea.

Somewhere, waiting for me.

My lover stands on golden sands,

And watches the ships, that go sailing..." WHAP!

My singing was cut off be a small orange object crashing into my face. My initial reaction was "What the Hell?" Then I noticed the object looking into my eyes. Still attached to my face.

"Ow." I said dryly and somewhat irritated. The small object turned out to be familiar filly Scootaloo.

"Sorry about that…" She said.

"It's okay," I said. "Just remove yourself from my face." I ended, and she jumped down.

"I can explain, see, I've always wanted to fly, and I can't so, well, you see that giant slingshot? Well me and the other Crusaders set it up and tried to see if I could get a good start from that and, well, yeah." She said.

"Hey, look, anything that involves giant slingshots is cool, mind if I take a look at it?" I asked.

"Sure, I- Hey wait a second, Hey girls! Come look at this!" She said pointing at me, at first, I was confused, then I looked at my flank and it all made sense. Blank as my mind during my grade 11 pre-calculous exam, and that was real blank. Anyway, at her call, Applebloom and Sweetie Bell ran over.

"What is it, Scootaloo?" Applebloom asked.

"Chuck doesn't have a cutie mark!" Scootaloo said.

"No cutie mark? But he's a grown up!" Sweetie Bell added.

I flushed red. I didn't know how to explain being an adult without a cutie mark without bringing up the fact that this is only my third day living as a pony.

"About that… uhhh… um…" I started, but was quickly cut off.

"Come on girls! Let's help Chuck get his cutie mark!" Applebloom exclaimed.

"Oh boy." I said somewhat dryly. The others seemed enthusiastic about the idea, considering that they followed Applebloom's lead with a cheer and soon were dragging me by the tail to the clubhouse.

Later, at the clubhouse, Applebloom was standing at her podium while the other two were seated, I was still figuring out how to sit on my ass. Hey, it's hard to figure those things out when you suddenly switch anatomy.

"Now girls, we may be taking on a challenge with Chuck here, but I bet we can figure it out! He'll have his cutie mark in no time." Applebloom stated.

"So, Chuck, do you have any talents? That might give us a good place to start." Sweetie Bell said.

"Well, I'm no Rich Little, but I have a way with impressions." I said somewhat pridefully. It's true, I know my way around a voice, those were always hits at my school's talent shows.

"Who's Rich Little?" All three of them said simultaneously.

"What? How could you not know who Rich Little is? He's the…" I cut myself off. "Oh wait… Never mind." I said acknowledging that these fillies wouldn't know any comedians from other dimensions.

"Right…. Anyway, any other talents?" Scootaloo asked.

"Back where I came from, I was a celebrated entertainer." I said, it's not a lie. I was celebrated! By me.

"Well that sounds like a good place to start." Applebloom said. Suddenly she was cut off by Granny Smith calling that it was time for lunch.

"Lunch time!" The girls chanted.

" Ahh, lunch time, one of my personal favorite parts of the day, lunch… wait… lunch time? Am I forgetting something?" I asked myself. My eyes widened. "Yes I am forgetting something!" I exclaimed as I ran off, thanking the girls for their help. They exchanged confused glances, then left the clubhouse.

I eventually got to Sugar Cube Corner, just in the nick of time too, the moment I got to the steps, I could see Pinkie coming down the road with her cart. I took a moment to catch my breath so it didn't seem like I had forgot about our little rendez vous.

"Hi Chuck!" She said upon seeing me.

"Hiya." I replied. "How were the deliveries?"

"They went good! Except I had this cake I was supposed to deliver to Octavia… but she wasn't answering the door, and I waited for about an hour with no answer. So I figured we'll just take the cake on out picnic and not tell anyone." She said with a wink.

"Sounds good to me!" I said.

Meanwhile…

"Vinyl! For the last time, turn the music down! I'm expecting a delivery and I want to hear the door when Pinkie gets here!" Octavia yelled to Vinyl over the blaring music, warranting no response.

Back at Sugar Cube Corner…

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Pinkie said happily. And with that, we set out for lunch.

Picnic spot

It was a pretty little spot. lake, tree, yeah you know the spot. The sun was shining nice and bright, singing birds... couldn't ask for a better picnic ambiance. There was only one issue. I was being awkward and quiet, luckily for me she broke the silence.

"So I still don't know you well, tell me about yourself." She said.

"Well, lemme see. I'm an entertainer, I spent most of my younger years practicing acting, I sing, dance, tell jokes... oh! check this out!" I took a breather and did my impression of Discord. "Well hello Pinkie Pie, does this voice sound familiar?" My impersonation made her giggle.

"Wow! That was really good! Can you do more?" She asked.

"Eeyup!" I said doing my impression of Big Mac. She laughed in response.

"Wow! Those are really good!" She said though laughter, but suddenly stopped. "Wait, you aren't a changeling, are you?" She asked.

"I can assure you I am not." I said. "I'm just an entertainer."

"Okie Dokie." She said. "How do you like the food?"

"Oh it's great! Best food I've had in a while." I said. It was true, everything tasted just as good as it looked.

"Great! I love picnics, and getting to know new friends!" She said happily.

"Likewise." I said.

"So now that the foods done, want to take a walk?" She asked.

"Of course!" I said getting up.

Ponyville streets

"So then I said "If you want the mustard, you're gonna have to ketchup!" I said laughing. She laughed with me, after all it was a good joke.

"You're hilarious!" She said still gasping from laughter.

"I'm not hilarious, I'm Chuck!" I joked.

"Stop!" She said in laughter.

"Okay okay, wait one more, what do you call a-" I stopped when I saw a building I had never seen before. "Hey Pinkie, do you know anything about a torn up building, broken windows, cobwebs, the whole fixer upper package?"

"I don't know what do you call a- Oh wait, that wasn't a joke was it? Oh that place! I don't really know, it was like that long before I came to Ponyville, I think said it used to be some kind of bar." She said.

"Interesting, you know what it's going for?" I asked.

"Who knows, who wants it?" She asked.

"I do, I've always kind of wanted my own little shack to serve and entertain, y'know?" I said.

"Oh I see- HEY! What the.. You're a blank flank?" She said in surprise.

"What? Oh... yeah.. You shoulda seen the look on The CMC's faces when they saw that, imagine that, a grown stallion with a blank flank..." I said, kind of embarrassed.

"I'm sure it'll come to you, don't worry!" She said happily.

"I know... incoming!" I said noticing a certain mailmare moments from crashing into us. I jumped and pushed Pinkie out of the way.

"Oh, hi Derpy!" Pinkie said sticking her head up.

"Hi! I have a letter for you Pinkie!" Derpy said giving her a letter.

"Thanks! Have a great day!" Pinkie said.

"You too Pinkie." She replied as she flew off. Pinkie opened the letter and read.

"You are invited to attend and participate in the open mic night at The Apple Family Farm, tomorrow night, 8pm, hey! we should go!" She said to me.

"That sounds great!" I said happily.

"Yeah! Hey, maybe you could even perform!" she said.

"I just may." I replied. Was I ready for a show? It's pretty late notice, would ponies even find my comedy funny? Well they worked on Pinkie.. Maybe I will! Yeah, I will.

And that's the end of that chapter, follow, fav, and review! Next chapter: Showtime in Sweet Apple Acres.

Chapter four: Showtime

Will Chuck get his cutiemark? If so what will it be? Where do fillies come from? Does this rash look serious to you? These questions might be answered this chapter.

Sugarcube Corner: My room

"Alright, let's see. did you hear the one about the stallion who threw his alarm clock out the window? He wanted to see time fly! Nope. Okay.. Um.. Boy are today's prices bad, yesterday I bought a bag of carrots and I had to get a cosigner!.. Nuh uh... geez this is tough." I lamented, showtime for the Sweet Apple Acres Open Mic Night was just a few hours away, and in classic Murphy fashion I've barely rehearsed. Oi... What was I gonna do? Suddenly I heard a knock.

"Knock knock." I heard Pinkie Pie say as she entered.

"Oh, hey Pinkie." I said, a bit down that I wasn't quite ready.

"What's the matter? You look a bit down." She said, noticing I wasn't entirely myself.

"I'll have you know I don't look down, that's how you bump into walls. I always look straight ahead." I said in a joking manner.

"That's funny, but honestly, what's eating you?" She asked.

"Well, the shows in a few hours and I'm nowhere near ready." I said.

"That's what you're worried about?" She said, almost laughing.

"Umm… Yes?" I said, confused about her laughter.

"Nobody is ever ready for it!" She said laughing. "I don't know what these things are like where you come from, but this is really an excuse for a bunch of friends to get together and drink cider!" She said.

"Really? Damn. Can't say I'm surprised, I do have a tendency to make something out of nothing." I said with a bit of a chuckle.

"Just relax, They're gonna love you no matter how prepared you are, especially if you're up after everypony has a few mugs of cider in them." She winked. I couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"Thanks Pinkie, Anyway, what do you have planned for today?" I asked.

"I actually have to head to Sweet Apple Acres to help with some baking for tonight. Stay outta trouble while I'm gone." She laughed as she left.

"Will do!" I called after her. Yeah right, a Murphy getting into trouble. I only got in trouble once, and it was for swiping someone's pizza in 5th grade, what can I say? I was hungry. Speaking of hungry, it was nearing lunch time, I'd better grab a bite to eat.

Ponyville streets

Twillight, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity were sitting together outside one of the street's restaurants sipping drinks and talking, what about? The Economy? Weather? Recent film leaks? Nope. They we're talking about your's truly.

"Oh lighten up you two, if was that bad he would've done something already." Rarity said sipping her drink.

"She does have a point Twilight, nothing happened, nothings been stolen, it isn't raining chocolate, it's safe to say we're okay with this guy around." Rainbow Dash commented.

"I know.. I know. Something still seems off about him, and you two know that Pinkie has a crush on him, do you two want him to hurt her?" Twilight asked concerned.

"Of course not darling! Oh be quiet! there he is!" Rarity said noticing me coming around the corner.

The best time to wear a striped sweater

Is all the tiiiiiime

One with a collar, turtleneck

That't the kiiiiiind

'Cause when you're weearriiing that-

I stopped singing once I saw Twilight, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash staring at me. I was a tad embarrassed.

"You heard all that didn't you?" I flushed red when they nodded.

"It was a fine song darling, a lovely sentiment about sweaters." Rarity commented.

"Well... Okay mind if I sit with you guys?" I asked.

"Sure." Rainbow Dash said, warranting a slight glare from Twilight.

"So... We still don't know you much, tell us about yourself." Rarity said.

"I'm an entertainer, songs, comedy, acting. Also used to do bar tending before I moved." I said.

"Yes.. and where did you move from?" Twilight asked.

"Canada- Err Canterda." I said.

"You sure that's where you're from?" Rainbow Dash said. "You seemed to second guess yourself." She squinted her eyes.

"Subtle." Twilight said bitterly.

"What? I.. I don't know what you mean?" I started to become pretty see-through. Not literally of course, that would be a neat talent though.

Twilight sighed. "Listen, I don't understand much about you, where you come from, you're personality. But something isn't right. You're a grown stallion with no cutie mark, you show up in a field in the middle of the night, and last night Sweetie Bell wouldn't stop asking who 'Rich Little' is." She sighed again. "And also, you didn't hear this from me, but.. Pinkie Pie has... feelings for you, and I don't want you to hurt her." She said firmly. "So come clean, about everything." She said.

I sighed, it was great to hear that Pinkie Pie was into me don't get me wrong, but explaining my past? Oh boy..

"I guess I haven't been a hundred percent honest." I started. "I don't come from here, not Ponyville, not even Equestria..." I began to explain my life as a human, Rarity and Rainbow Dash were in slight disbelief, but Twilight looked like she understood on some level. "So I guess to sum it all up, I'm a nice guy who just wanted something better for himself, the last thing I want to do is hurt anyone, I hope you understand." I finished.

Twilight nodded. "I believe you, I've been to a place quite similar to what you've described." It's not like I didn't know that, at least she got it.

"I guess it's not the weirdest story I've heard." Rainbow Dash commented.

"Thank you for understanding." I said.

"You're welcome Chuck, just promise me one thing." Twilight said. "Tell Pinkie Pie the truth." She said. I nodded.

"I will, you have my word." I said with a hoof to my chest.

"Good." Twilight said.

I had had enough of the recent found awkwardness, so in Murphy fashion I changed the subject.

"You all going to the open mic thing at Sweet Apple Acres?" I asked.

"Ha! What kind of question is that? Of course I am!" Rainbow Dash replied. "Cider there, I'm there."

I chuckled. "My sentiments exactly. Well, I'd better get going, I have an act to rehears, see ya around." I said leaving.

After I'm gone Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked at Twilight.

"Happy now? He's not evil, just a loser from another dimension." Rainbow Dash said.

"Now Rainbow Dash, he was down on his luck, not a loser." Rarity added.

"To answer your question, yes I am happy, he may not be evil but I knew something was odd." Twilight said.

"Congratulations." Rainbow Dash said sarcastically. "I'm pretty sure everyone knew that, even Derpy!"

Derpy looked at them from another table and nodded.

Meanwhile, Sweet Apple Acres.

Pinkie was placing a batch of apple fritters in the oven to bake, and Applejack was pressing apples for cider. Pinkie was humming along, happy as a horse (Is that the expression? no, I think it's healthy as a horse... whatever). Applejack was a bit concerned though.

"So Pinkie Pie, Twilight tells me you've got a bit of a crush." Applejack said. Pinkie nearly dropped the pan on the floor.

"Oh yeah? Twilight tells me you've got a bit of a crush." Pinkie Pie said defensively.

"Does she?" Applejack replied.

"Well, no. But what you said isn't true either!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Uh huh, listen Pinkie Pie, I don't care if you do, in fact, I'd be happy for you. I just don't know about your choice."

"Like I said, there is no crush! I'm telling you, would the element of honesty lie to you?" Pinkie replied with a hoof to her chest.

"You're the element of honesty? Huh, I must have missed the memo." Applejack said dryly.

"I meant magic." Pinkie said.

"Nope."

"Kindness?"

"Nope."

"Generosity?"

"Try again."

"Loyalty?"

"Wrong."

"Ice cream?"

"That's not even an element."

"Laughter?"

"There you go." Applejack said.

There was a bit of a pause, Pinkie Pie was getting redder by the second, Applejack noticed but said nothing, she knew when she'd burst.

"3... 2... 1..." She said to herself.

"Okay fine! I do have a crush!" Pinkie Pie blurted.

"There we go." Applejack said. "It's okay Pinkie Pie, Like I said, it's fine to have a crush, but you don't know much of anything about him!"

"Sure I do, he's a stallion, he's red, his inspirations include Seth MacFarlane, Rich Little, and Weird Al Yankovic... whoever they are." Pinkie Pie said.

"That's not enough Pinkie Pie, if you're gonna keep liking this colt, you have to really get to know him. What makes him angry, his favorite things, what he looks for in a mare. Do you understand?" Applejack said.

"Yeah." Pinkie Pie said. "But Applejack, I felt something when I saw him, kinda love at first sight, You know?" Pinkie continued.

"Well, I don't believe in love at first sight really, but I do know you are a good judge of character." Applejack said with a smile. "Just.. Take my advice, okay? You're my friend, and I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I will, Applejack." Pinkie said.

"Good." Applejack said. "well, looks like we're just about done here. Whaddya say we start cleaning up then help Big Mac set things up in the barn?"

"Okie Dokie Loki!" Pinkie said.

That evening: Sweet Apple Acres Barn

It was toward the end of the show, everyone was full of cider and having a good time, and it was time to close the show. Applejack went up on the stage to introduce me.

"And now, to close off the show, we have a newcomer to around these parts, fillies and gentlecolts put your hooves together for Gareth "Chuck" Murphy!" and with that, I made my way on.

"Good evening everyone." I started. "You know I didn't find out about this till yesterday, of course when I was asked if I'd like to perform I just had to say..." I paused, then continued in my impression of Big Mac. "Eeyup!" They seemed to enjoy that, got a good chuckle out of them.

"Oh you like that? How about this one then?" and then, as Discord I did a monologue. "All I'm saying is, why did it take SO long for Twilight and her friends to trust me? Starlight did far worse than me and everything was cleared up in a song?" That one really cracked them up.

"Thank you very much." I started with. "And now, to close the show, here's an old classic where I come from. Hit it!" And with the music, I started singing.

Just a small town mare!

Livin' in a lonely world!

She took the midnight train going anywhere..

Just a city colt

born and raised a manehatten foal

he took the midnight train going anywhere...

A singer in a smokey room,

The smell of wine and cheap perfume

For a smile the can share the night

It goes on and on and on and on!

Strangers waiting

Up and down the boulevard!

Shadows searching in the night!

Streetlight ponies!

Living just to find emotion

Hiding somewhere in the night!

Don't stop believin'!

Hold on to the feeling!

Streetlight Ponies!

And with that, I whipped my head down in a bow, and the crowd erupted, they loved it! I mean, I'm not surprised, I've never met a crowd who didn't love Journey. Suddenly, as I was about to get off the stage, I felt the weirdest sensation on my backside, and that's saying something as I've owned a vibrating recliner chair. A weird glow shone and I felt a bit like I was having an out of body experience, until I hit the floor. But then, I turned my head and saw my own cutie mark! It resembled a microphone.

"Freakin' sweet!" I said getting up. Getting off the stage I received plenty of compliments on the song and voices, even Discord thought it was funny.

"It's actually nice to be the one being imitated for a change." Were his words.

Afterwards everyone was leaving, and we were helping Applejack clean up.

"Great time as usual, Applejack!" Pinkie said.

"Thank you kindly Pinkie Pie." Applejack replied.

"We had a great time Applejack." Twilight added. "Pinkie, you head back home, we've got everything here covered, and I believe somepony has to tell you something." She concluded.

"Ummm Okay!" She said leaving, and I followed.

Ponyville streets

"That was a totally awesome song Chuck!" Pinkie said to me.

"Thanks Pinkie." I said back. There was a bit of a silence afterwards, Pinkie broke it before long.

"So... Twilight said you have something to tell me."

"Yeah..." I sighed. "You might want to sit down for this." I said going towards a nearby bench. We both sat down as I began.

"Let me start off by saying, I honestly really do appreciate everything you've done for me, taking me in, giving me kindness and hospitality... But I have to come clean, I'm not from here." I said.

"Well I know that, you told me that already." She said.

"No.. I'm not from Equestria, Hell, I'm pretty sure I'm not from any planet near here. I'm from another universe, a universe where you walk on two legs and have arms, and no tail, and there's politics. It's not great. I was leading a bad life, I had no friends, I was working a dead end job, and I wanted away from all that, and I don't know how exactly, be it magic, work of some high power, or some mishap of science, but I ended up here. And that's where you came along, you showed me kindness and hospitality I never gotten before. And I can't thank you enough. I'm sorry that I lied to you, but I didn't know how well you'd take finding out I'm from a different universe. So that's the end of my story, and I understand if you don't want to be friends anymore or anything like that." I concluded putting my head down.

There was a long pause, it was really awkward and nerve wracking at the same time. but after about a minute, Pinkie spoke up.

"Thank you for telling me." She said. "I can imagine something like that is hard to explain. And I still want to be your friend!" She smiled.

"You do? That's great!" I said.

"Whaddya say we go home now?" She said.

"I'd like nothing more, I'm exhausted." And with that, we went home, said goodnight, and went to bed.

And that's the latest chapter! Hope you liked it! Songs used are listed below.

Striped sweater: watch?v=Qyxex3s9HoY

Don't stop believin': watch?v=KCy7lLQwToI

Chapter five: Pulled.

All the best things come in threes, but that has nothing to do with this chapter. Hope you enjoy the most recent chapter, Pulled. Named after a song from my favorite musical. 5 points go to whoever can tell me where its from without looking it up. And maybe my Pizza Hut card with 57 cents on it.

Ponyville spa

"So, how goes your first crush?" Rarity asked Pinkie, they were having a gals afternoon out, does anyone still say "gals"?

"Psssshhh, "First crush"? Please! I've had plenty of crushes before." Pinkie protested.

"Listen Pinkie, you've been acting completely different for the past three weeks, completely different than we've ever seen. And you're saying that it has nothing to do with that certain stallion?" Rarity questioned.

"She's got a point." Rainbow Dash added. "You haven't been yourself at all."

"I think I have Hoofinstien's flu." Pinkie said nervously. "New virus going around... heh heh."

"More like Liar's Shingles." Applejack commented.

"HA! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! HA-HA-HA!" Pinkie laughed nervously. "You girls are really over analyzing this."

"Are we?" Twilight asked. "Pinkie, you've never liked somepony like that before, and we don't want you to get hurt that's all."

"Exactly, darling." Rarity said. "Besides, you don't have much of a... Romantic flair..." That remark earned stern looks from the others.

"No offense." Rarity added.

Pinkie sighed. "None taken, you're right, all of this is new to me... He makes me want to laugh and cry, and everything feels right and wrong at the same time!"

I don't a lovey disposition

I've never been romantically amused.

My romance life's always in one position

All to one. Never twos

Suddenly however I've been puzzled,

and I think I know why...

I'm being pulled in a new direction.

But I think I like it,

I think I like it.

I'm being pulled in a new direction

Through my party pursuit

Somehow romance took root.

What I never payed mind to

Impossibly cute... God!

What do I do...?

Rainbow interrupted. "Hahahaha! Wow! You've got some real issues!"

"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity said angrily.

"Geez, Sorry." She said dryly.

"Listen Pinkie. I know what you're feeling" Twilight said.

"Daring Do ship fanfiction doesn't count..." Rainbow murmured.

"What was that?" Twilight responded.

"Oh nothin." Rainbow whistled innocently.

"Yeah... I better go. I have some deliveries to make in an hour." Pinkie said leaving.

"Good work Rainbow Dash." Rarity said dryly.

"Hey! It wasn't my fault she left!" Rainbow retaliated.

Ever watch Spongebob? There's this french narrator, right? Just imagine him saying "Meanwhile" here.

I had decided to spend the day looking at the old building I saw the other day, no owner around to tell me no after all. It definitely used to be one happening place. Wait, "Happening" is still used like that right? All of a sudden I hear a voice behind me.

"I must say, you do entertaining impersonations." It was Discord.

"Oh, thanks." I chuckled a bit. "Glad to know you're a good sport about it." I replied.

"Well of course I am, why- ... Say, what are you doing in this dump anyway?" He asked.

"Must be something interesting if an all power full entity cares." I joked.

"Nothing says "Chaos" like breaking and entering." Touche.

"Well, I saw this old dump a couple days ago. Figure I could fix it up and run a nice little bar, after all, if this is my new home I'd best make a worker out of me." I explained.

"I agree, by the way, your backstory is most interesting." He said.

"Oh you heard all that huh?"

"Well Fluttershy and I have to talk about something at our tea parties."

"Glad to know I'm a good topic." I said.

"Well, believe it or not life does get slow sometimes, and any news can be big news." He replied.

"That knocked me down a peg." I joked.

"Good, there is nothing more poisonous than too big an ego." He replied. Like he should talk...

"Anyway, as long as you're here, you mind helping me clean this dump up?" I asked.

"You're asking me to help with such a mundane task?" He asked. With a sigh he said "Fine." And in Discord fashion the place was clean with the snap of his fingers, and surprisingly nothing was on the ceiling, no stools were running around and barking like puppies, it actually looked nice, all it needed was new furniture and a supplier.

"Not what I expected, not going to lie." I said surprised.

"First favor is chaos free by order of Celestia." He grumbled. "You used your freebie, remember that."

"I will." I said with a laugh. "Thank you." I said.

"Well, I showed up, belittled your self image, and cleaned up your 'bar', I suppose I should be off." Discord said.

"Now hold on a minute..." I said. "I don't have anything else to do now.. "What do you say we cause some chaos?" I said.

An immediate grin spread on Discord's face. "I knew I'd like you! What first? replace all running water with custard? have it rain octopus?"

"Umm... Less chaotic, how about some simple pranks?" I asked.

His grin got smaller. "Meh, good enough. Lets make some magic!"

For the next couple of hours we went around town having a grand old time, pulling pranks and playing jokes, we laughed and laughed. It was one great time. After what I consider to be our best prank, replacing Octavia's sheet music with the sheet music to a string rendition of Weird Al's Dare to be Stupid. It slowed down, and Discord went silent.

"So what should we do next? butter on the schoolhouse swingset? life sized baking soda volcano?" I asked, happy as a clam. Why are clams so happy anyway?

"No more pranks for the moment." He said seriously.

"What?" I asked.

"I want to talk to you about something important."

"Oh... Okay, lay it on me." I said awkwardly.

"I understand you are interested in a close friend of mine romantically." He said.

"Pinkie Pie? Yeah... How did you know tha- Tea party chatter." I replied. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"What? Oh heavens no." He said. "I just want you to know something, Pinkie and her friends are quite important to me, after all they were the only ones who ever gave me a chance at first. And I would hate to see anyone hurt any one of them." He said.

"Discord, you don't have to worry about me hurting anyone, let alone Pinkie Pie. I would never dream of it." I said. I mean, I might but it wouldn't be my fault since you can't really choose what you dream at night, but I wouldn't feel good waking up.

"I know, you seem like a good guy, I just worry sometimes." He said, I was touched, this was a side of him I never thought I'd see.

"Don't worry, I'll do you proud." I said.

"I know you will. Now, how about that baking soda volcano?" He said enthusiastically.

"I thought you'd never ask." I said gleefully.

After a grand finale prank, and a quick and easy cleanup thanks to Discord's magic, I decided to call it a day on pranking, before I left Discord told me something.

"If you really like her, don't be afraid to tell her." He said.

Meanwhile...

"Pinkie Pie, I need you to send this cake to Octavia, apparently she never got her first one." said.

"Aye aye cap'n!" Pinkie said hooking up to her cart. And on she went.

When she arrived, she knocked on the door and Octavia shouted at her to let herself in, so she did.

"Oh Octaaaaaviaaaa! Your cake is here!" Pinkie announced over the weird sounding song Octavia played.

"About time." Octavia said coming over to Pinkie.

"Say, that was a really funny sounding song you were playing." Pinkie said.

"Yes.. I don't seem to know where my other music went." She said taking a look at the music. "Dare to be Stupid? originally written by... yadda yadda, whats this? replaced Octavia's music courtesy of Discord and Gareth "Chuck" Murphy?" She got red.

"Oooooooh looks like you got pranked!" Pinkie laughed.

"Say, you're rooming with this mischievous red stallion, correct?" Octavia asked.

"Absolutely Correctilutely!" She said.

"Good, you tell him he's lucky I got this cake, or else I'd find him and shove my baton so far up his... Oh, never mind. I found my old music." She started to calm down.

"Oh, hehe, okay then, byyyyyyye!" Pinkie sang as she left.

Pinkie Pie hummed along strolling through town, that one delivery to Octavia was all there was for today so she was off free for the rest of the afternoon. All was well until she heard a familiar southern pony's voice.

"There y'are!" Applejack called. Pinkie started running.

"Pinkie Pie! Wait, Ah just want t talk to you!" She called running after her. Eventually she slowed down letting her catch up.

"It's just me Pinkie, Ah just want to talk, one on one, okay?" She said running alongside her. Pinkie stopped.

"Listen, Ah wanted to apologize on behalf of everypony earlier, if you like this stallion, we're all happy for you." Applejack said kindly.

"That's okay A.J!" Pinkie said enthusiastically. "But can I ask you something?"

"Of course Sugarcube." obligatory use of "sugarcube" in Applejack's dialogue.

"What do I do!?" She blurted out.

"Figured you'd ask that, listen. I can't say Ah've had a lot of experience with romance, but I do know this, it never hurts to tell the truth. you know what Ah mean?"

"You mean I should tell him he was off key some parts during the open mic night?" Pinkie asked.

"No! Tell him how you feel." Applejack moaned.

"Ooohhhhhhhh. Now I get it." Pinkie smiled. "Thanks Applejack!"

"You're welcome Sugarcube." 2 for 2. "Now what do you say we stroll away the afternoon?"

"I'd like that." Pinkie smiled.

---

So that's the end of this chapter, the next picks up in the upcoming evening, it will actually come soon too. Total songfic and a shorter chapter. Thanks for everypony's patience!

Chapter 6: Confessions.

These are my confessions, just when i thought I'd said all I could say... Anyone remember that song?

After a long afternoon of pranks with Discord I settled in back at the Sugarcube Corner. God that was fun, I don't recall the last time I'd have that much fun. I retired to the couch in the common area in the loft Pinkie and I shared.

"Okay, just because Discord said it was a good idea doesn't mean I should do it immediately... Right?" I thought. That's right Gareth, don't bring it up now, wait for her to make the first move! "Thanks voice in my head, always could count on you!" I decided that was the right thing to do. Whether it took 6 months or 6 minutes, I wasn't making the first move. God I'm smart.

"Room for one more on that couch?" A voice said. It was Pinkie. Oh boy, here come the awkward sweats.

"Of course!" I grinned awkwardly... Oh boy.

You ever have an awkward pause so long you can figure out what tempo your heart is beating at? Yeah, this was one of those times. I decided to try to break the silence.

"So, how about politics?"

"What?"

"Nevermind... How was your day?"

"Pretty good!" She said. "Had a morning at the spa, had a really fun chat with my friends, made a delivery to Octavia, then had a really nice walk with Applejack!" She said smiling.

"Oh, you saw Octavia huh?" I said blushing, remembering the prank we pulled.

"Yeah! Wow!" She started laughing. "She was not happy with you!" She laughed more.

I chuckled slightly. "That just means the prank was good." I grinned, I was starting to relax. "So you said you went out on a walk."

"Yeah! With Applejack! We had a really good talk." She was still smiling, and looking at me with those beautiful crystal blue pools for eyes. And that's the best I get with poetic sweet talk.

"About what?" I asked. Silence. She got real red in the face, she looked like a tomato with a face.

"Wouldn't you like to know!" That was followed by loud hysterical laughter. It was cute, it an odd way. But frankly considering how I found anything cute about who I like maybe it wasn't, but it was cute to me.

"If you don't wanna tell that's okay." I said.

"Yeaaaaahhh, lets talk about something else, how was your day?" She asked.

"Well, thanks to Discord I got that bar cleaned up in no time! Hoping to start up a little business soon, since I had a free afternoon Discord and I had a little fun with some pranks." I said, starting to chuckle remembering all the pranks we pulled.

"Fun! Of course I kind of already knew about the pranks." She said.

"Oh?"

"Yeah! Octavia wanted to take her bow and... Well she never finished that part but I doubt it was pleasant." She started laughing about the prank too.

"Hehe, Yeah.. Funny stuff." I said.

"So, You gonna tell her?" I heard a voice. it was an angel on my shoulder.

"I dunno. Waiting seems like a good idea." I turned to see a shoulder devil. Dammit, this should be interesting.

"Come off it." The angel said.

"You."

"No you."

"No! You!"

"You infinity." The devil smirked. "Listen up big guy, I've got three good reasons why you gotta leave this be. Number one, look at that guy." He motioned to the angel. "He's got that sissy stringy music thing."

"We've been through this, it's a harp, and you know it." The angel said in an irritated voice.

"Right, that's a harp, and that's a dress." The angel sneered. "Reason number two, look what I can do." The devil leaped down and did a hoofstand.

"But.. What does that have to do with any-" I started,

"No no, he's got a point." The angel said.

"Who are you talking to?" Pinkie asked, and suddenly they disappeared.

"Umm, No one." I said awkwardly. I gulpped, I realized what I had to do.

"Um... Pinkie..." I started awkwardly.

"Yeah?"

Me: I really wanna stop but I just got a taste for it

I feel like I could fly like a colt on the moon

So Pinkie take my hoof cause I just got to tell you this

I feel like I could die if I don't tell you soon.

Oh yeah

Late night staring at the ceiling

Thinkin' 'bout just what I'm feeling

It's way to soon I know this isn't love

But I need to tell you something.

I really really really really really really like you

and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?

I really really really really really really like you

and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?

Oh, did I say too much

I'm out of my head

really losing touch

I really really really really really really like you

and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?

Pinkie stared. "Oh Chuckie... Where do I begin?"

Pinkie: It's like everything you've said is a sweet revalation

All I wanna do get into your head

Just you and me together in this sweet relation

Holding to your hooves holding on like a thread, Oh yeah

Late night staring at the ceiling

Thinkin' bout just what I'm feeling.

It's still too soon, who knows? This could be love

But I need to tell you something.

I really really really really really really like you

and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?

I really really really really really really like you

and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?

Oh, did I say too much

I'm out of my head

really losing touch

I really really really really really really like you

and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?

Me: Who gave you eyes like that, Said you could keep them?

I don't know how to act, or if I should be leavin'

Pinkie: I'm running out of time

going out of my mind...

Me: I need to tell you something

Pinkie: I need to tell you something

Pinkie and I: I really really really really really really like you

and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?

I really really really really really really like you

and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?

Oh, did I say too much

I'm out of my head

really losing touch

I really really really really really really like you

and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?

I really really really really really really like you

and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?

I really really really really really really like you

and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?

As the song ended, we looked into eachothers eyes and closed them, and that's when we kissed.

"Goodnight Chuckie." She said.

"Sweet dreams." I said.

In the comfort of my room, I was about the happiest I'd ever been, I couldn't believe I did that! Everything was coming up Gareth for me.

"You did it Murphy. You did it." I said to myself falling asleep.

---

Aaaaaaand that's the end of that chapter! And not 4 months after the last one this time! If you like the story, please follow and fav!

Chapter 7: New neigh-bors

So, little known fact about me and some backstory for this chapter. I am a huge fan of Weird Al Yankovic and Patton Oswalt. And when they lent their voices to MLP it was a dream come true for me, and I've always wondered what those characters together would be like.

---

Manehatten

In a large apartment complex in the bustling city lived two stallions, one silly, one serious. One loved to party, one would rather stay home and read. Despite theses polar opposite personalities the two were good friends as long as one lifestyle didn't interfere with the other. But the serious pony was about to have his world thrown out of whack for the sake of the silly one. And it all started one early morning.

The serious stallion known as Quibble Pants was awake sipping coffee and rereading Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone for the 539th time.

"You know, there are just some things you only catch the 539th time." He said to himself. Suddenly, the door to the apartment opened. The silly pony, known around Equestria as Cheese Sandwich groggily walked through.

"Well look at the super duper party pony. Even he has a weakness, all nighters." Quibble laughed to himself.

"Shove it 'Pants." Cheese grumbled. It was true, nopony is invulnerable to the effects of an all night party. CHeese grabbed the still nearly full coffee pot and chugged the whole thing out of the pot.

"3... 2... 1..." Quibble said quietly.

"Good morning Quibble ol' buddy!" Cheese bounced enthusiastically.

"Morning Cheese." Quibble smiled. The two had met not too long after Quibble's tangle up with Daring Do and Rainbow Dash, Quibble took Cheese in once he found out Cheese didn't actually have an actual home, Quibble had never really intended on making friends with him, but his enthusiasm and kindness was infectious. Sadly though, Quibble had been offered an opportunity on the other side of Equestria that meant he'd be moving out, and Cheese couldn't come. He couldn't quite figure out how he'd break the news yet, but the moving date was in just a week so he'd have to think of something, and it had to be quick.

"So, what do you have planned for today?" Quibble queried.

"Well, there's no parties going on that I know about, and believe me, I'd know! So I thought we could spend the day together! Two pals, compadres! Les dos amigos!"

"Oh... What? I.. I mean, I was gonna do some reading, maybe get a little writing done..." Quibble started.

"You know nobody reads your fanfiction!" Cheese said. Damn his brutal honesty.

"I'll have you know PrincessofFriendshipTS10 frequently checks in on Daring Do and the Romantic Cavern. And leaves reviews on every chapter." Quibble stated.

"Oh come on! It'll be fun!" Cheese grinned widely. Quibble sort of winced, they really didn't share the same concept of fun, but he knew he owed it to him if he was soon going to be completely moving away from him.

"You... Got it buddy!" He said with a big fake grin.

---

Ponyville

I was happy as a clam, walking on air, too happy for another cliche to add here. Damn things were looking good for me, Pinkie and I had officially got together! I mean we're still early on and everything... But all good stories begin somewhere. Anyway, I was out on a pleasant morning stroll, I normally do that when I'm in a good mood. Do I wish I had my phone with all my favorite songs on it? Well yeah, but if I liked the songs I knew all the words anyway.

Me: I'm super!

Thanks for asking

All things considered I couldn't be better I must say!

I'm feeling super

No nothing bugs me!

Everything is super when you're-

I was cut off by the sound of someone calling me, It was Scootaloo.

"See, this is nice." I said. "Us meeting together without you getting slingshotted into my face." I said.

"We heard about you and Pinkie Pie!" Applebloom said.

"Yeah, congratulations!" Sweetie Belle said.

"Thanks girls." I blushed, back home all my folks said was "I'm just glad you aren't gay." Just to set the record straight my dad was a homophobe, I am not.

"Soooo what do you have planned?" Scootaloo asked.

"What?" I was confused.

"You know.. For the party!" She continued.

"What.. party-Oh my God." I said. I've never been wonderful with math but I can put two and two together. Pinkie Pie's birthday was coming up.

"Yes! The party! Well, It's... It's big! It's huge! It'll be the greatest! Terrific!" They could see my lie. Oh boy.

"You didn't know did you?" They all said in unison.

"Cut me some slack! I've been here for a month! A month!" I cried out. What was I supposed to do? She was like the first one to even consider trusting me and being nice to me when I first got here, I needed a hero, or an act of God, any God, I'll take what I can get as long as it's good.

---

Back in Manehatten

"So, what should we do first? Catch a movie? Go to an all-you-can-eat buffet? Maybe both at the same time?" Cheese asked as they walked down the sidewalks of the bustling city.

"Why not claim ownership of the nearest brothel?" Quibble said sarcastically.

"What?"

"Never mind." Quibble didn't dislike Cheese, he was just so energetic and cheery while Quibble was slow and mellow, he was polka while Quibble was smooth jazz.

"Oh! I've got an idea! why don't we-" Cheese was interrupted by a series of twitching and bouncing, he looked somewhat like Tigger had taken speed.

"Am I witnessing a seizure? Should I do something?" Quibble thought. "Ummm Cheese-" He started.

"Hold that thought, Quibble me boy! My cheesy sense is trying to tell me something!" Cheese exclaimed.

"Your... What?"

"Party... In danger... Very important.. Ponyville."

"Ponyville? That's pretty far from here, if he went on his way there even this minute I'd probably be gone before he got back.." Quibble thought.

Cheese gasped. "Quibble! I had a great idea! You should come with me!" Cheese exclaimed.

"What? No way- err... but parties are your thing and I wouldn't want to get in the way..." Quibble said.

"Nonsense! There's always room for one more at a party!"

"Look, Cheese. I can't, I really, really, really can't."

"Hmm, sounds more like you're saying 'I really can't come out of my shell and have a little fun and I need you to help me.' I'd be glad to help!" Cheese said.

"That really isn't what I meant." Quibble groaned.

"Don't worry buddy! The Super Duper Party Pony is here to help! And it all starts by going to Ponyville!" Cheese grabbed Quibble by the leg and started dragging him off.

"Damn it, what am I going to do now?" Quibble thought to himself.

---

Not to long after: Just outside of Manehatten

Cheese had rigged up a cart full of all the party necessities and Quibble sat in the cart with it, regretting so many recent decisions. Meanwhile cheese was happily pulling the cart along.

"Isn't this nice old buddy? Just you and me, together out on the open road!"

"Yep. Great." Quibble moaned.

Cheese bounced along happily, soon the bounce of the cart made a beat, and Cheese started to whistle.

"If you start singing, I'm gonna puke." Quibble muttered.

Cheese: Do you need a break from modern living?

Do you long to shed your weary load?

If your nerves are raw and your brain is fried

Just grab a friend and take a ride together upon the open road

"Come on Quibble!"

Quibble: I would rather my assets in suspension

All in all I'd rather eat a toad

And this maniac drives like such a clutz

That I'm about to hurl my guts directly upon the open road.

Cheese: There's nothing can upset me, cause now we're on our way

Our trusty map will guide us straight and true

Quibble: Manehatten don't forget me, I will return someday

Though I may be in traction when I do!

Cheese: Me and Quibble relaxing like the old days

Quibble: (This is worse than dragon breath and acne)

Cheese: In a buddy-buddy kind of mode

Quibble: (I'm so mad I think I may explode)

Cheese: When I see that highway I could cry

Quibble: You know that's funny so could I

Quibble and Cheese: Just being out on the open road.

As they kept driving, they began to encounter others on the road.

Saloon performer ponies: Howdy boys, is this the way Nashville?

Towpony: Watch it mac! Or you'll be gettin' towed!

Jailed Pony: I'm in no hurry to arrive, cause I'll be turnin' 65 the next time I see the open road!

Small stallion and his large wife: Just a week of rest and relaxation

Yeah!

And the odd romantic episode

"Very odd." Quibble commented

Hitchhiker: And it's Seaward Shores for me or bust!

Elderly Mare: Look out you dirtbags eat my dust!

From now on, I'm on the open road!

Cheese: Just me and my pal Quibble my pony pioneer

Cart of nuns: They're partners forever Ponyville ho, Yee ha!

Quibble: Could someone flag a taxi and get me out of here

To Califoalnia 90210

All (Bar Quibble): Oh! Every day another new adventure

Every mile another new zip code!

And the cares we had are gone for good

Quibble: And I'd go with them if I could

All (Bar Quibble): I've got no strings on me

I'm feelin' fancy free

How wonderful to be...

On the open roooooaaaaad!

---

Ponyville: 3 days later

So I talked to Twilight she said Pinkie Pie's birthday was just next week, it still gave me time to prepare, but a lot to get done in one week. I couldn't talk to Discord because I used my 'one chaos-free favor' and I felt too much chaos at her party wouldn't be that great. I'm sorry, just so everyone knows, I am the main character of this story, I don't know why but for some reason I feel like something very not related to me has been going on a lot recently. Anyway, back to what's at hand- er.. hoof. I had to get something ready and quick, but it had to be grand. And I didn't know who could help me.

I was on a walk and I was just at the edge of town, when I saw someone coming with a cart, they looked familiar... When I realized just who I saw I knew my worries about the situation were over.

---

And that's the end of that chapter!

Songs used were:

I'm Super by Trey Parker and Marc Saiman

On the Open Road by Jack Fieldman

Chapter 8: Let's get this party rolling!

I wish I really was in Equestria now, schools a bummer! Oh well, such is life. On with the show! Or chapter...

---

Ponyville: Just where we left off last chapter

I couldn't believe how lucky I was to see none other than Cheese Sandwich riding in over the horizon. He was just the pony I needed, but who was that I saw with him? I couldn't quite put my hoof on it but he looked very familiar. I decided I'd run over to meet him.

"Oh sweet Celestia! Am I glad to see you!" I called out. I received a confused look.

"Who are you?" Cheese asked.

"I'm just a stallion who needs help with a party and I... heard so much about the parties you throw." I lied. What was I supposed to say? 'I watched you on a cartoon from my home world?'

"Let me guess, you're 'stallion in Ponyville who will never forgive himself if he doesn't have a great birthday party for his mare-friend?'." He queried.

"Well... That about sums it up... How did you know those other details?" I said.

"It's my perfectly patented bonafide and ponified cheese sense!" He said proudly.

"I need one of those..." I muttered. It would really come in handy, Especially for events I need to remember...

"Oh, so you're the reason I got drug out here?" A voice asked, I suddenly realized who the other stallion was, obviously I couldn't pretend I knew who he was.

"Yes I guess I am." I said.

"So, well, it was nice to meet you. But I'm going to be on my merry way, good day Cheese, and good day whoever you are." Quibble said sourly.

"Nonsense buddy! You gotta stick around!" Cheese then started rambling on about the importance of this party like some sort of super duper party pony. Oh wait, he is.

"Okay, there's no hope for you. You, walk with me." Quibble said to me, so we did.

"Listen Loofah mane, I really can't stay here, I have a business opportunity somewhere very far away from here, and frankly, I've heard about this place. And It seems to be full of 1 dimensional personalized weirdos." He said. I guess he doesn't know that a friend of his lives here. And also, Loofah mane? I thought it looked nice...

"Come on, it's not that bad." I said. "Believe it or not, I'm still a little out of my element here too, but it's a real nice place. But if you want to leave, you have to tell Cheese, this has nothing to do with me."

"Oh no, no no no no no, it does. Your relationship issues drug him out here, who in return drug me out here." He replied snidely, damn you butterfly effect.

"Hey guys! Whatcha talking about?" Cheese jumped in out of the blue.

"Yes loofah mane, what were we talking about?" This Quibble guy is turning out to be a bit of an ass.

"Well uhh, we... We... We were just talking about the perfect place to throw this party." I grinned, check-mate.

"Oh great! Where is it?" Cheese asked. I wasn't lying when I said that, okay technically I was, but I already knew the place.

---

Chuck's Root Beer Tavern

I took Cheese who had drug Quibble with him down to the old shack I had fixed up with the help of Discord, the sign wasn't up yet but that was the title I had decided on.

"I hear bar parties are very classy." Quibble muttered.

"It's great!" Cheese exclaimed.

"I'm glad someone agrees, come on, I'll take you inside." I led them in.

"Yep... Decent space... I assume the jukebox works?" Cheese asked, I could tell he was planning something.

"Luckily." I said. "About the only thing that still worked well about this place when I took over, just had to replace the glass."

"Great, every party needs music." Cheese said.

"Now Cheese." I started. "This party is very important, first of all, this mare is quite special to me, and secondly, because this mare already has quite an extensive knowledge on parties." I continued.

"Who is she?" He asked.

"I assume you're familiar with the mare Pinkie Pie?" I said with kind of a debonair tone, I wasn't coming on to him, just trying it out.

His eyes widened. "Sweet Celestia! You're absolutely positively right, this has got to be big! Huge!" he exclaimed.

"I'm glad you understand the importance, now, you're the expert, what have you got?" I asked.

"I've got an idea..." He said.

"I'm going for a walk." Quibble said quite annoyed, what else is new?

---

Ponyville

"I can't believe that pony sometimes!" Quibble muttered to himself. "It's always whatever that hyperactive cotton head wants, he never asks, 'Gee Quibble, what do you want to do today?' Oh no! It's just-" Quibble was suddenly awestruck by something he saw in the sky. A rainbow blur went by, he had to blink a few times to make sure his eyes were still working. Suddenly the cause of that image in the sky landed not too far from him.

"So close that time!" Rainbow Dash said to herself. "Gonna have to try that Sonic Rainboom again!"

"Sweet Celestia... Rainbow Dash?" Quibble asked. Rainbow Dash immediately turned around.

"Quibble? What are you doing here!?" She asked.

"It's... A long story." He groaned. "Nice that I ran into you though, still stuck on the newer books?" He joked.

"Still devoted to puzzle solving over action?" She joked back.

"Touche, so I take it you must live out here?" Quibble asked.

"How long did it take you to figure that one out?" Rainbow Dash quipped.

"Alright, alright." Quibble said. "It's great running into you, so far everyone I've talked to today has been a complete cotton head."

"Like who?" Rainbow asked.

"Well, my travel partner/captor Cheese Sandwich, and the loofah mane he came here to help.. Chuck or something." Quibble said.

"Cheese Sandwich?" Rainbow asked. "What's he doing back- Ohhhhh." Rainbow Dash realized what day was approaching.

"Heard of him I take it?" Quibble asked.

"Doy, where is he? I wanna say hi." Rainbow said.

"Down the street, I was just there." Quibble moaned.

"What's the matter with you?"

"Let's just say he and I have been having our differences." Quibble said.

"You having differences with somepony? What else is new? Come on!" Rainbow said.

"I'm just going to keep on my walk." Quibble said.

"Fine party pooper, see ya later!" Rainbow said.

"Well, I guess there's a bit of a silver lining on this never ending storm cloud called the past 2 days..." Quibble said walking off.

---

Castle of Friendship

"I'm glad you and Chuck are doing well Pinkie." Twilight said as they strolled down a hall in the castle.

"Thanks Twilight! I'm really excited about the whole thing but also really nervous too! You know what I mean like kind of a-"

"Yes Pinkie, Nervouscited, I know." Twilight laughed slightly. "So are you excited for your birthday?" Twilight asked.

"Of course Twilight! Silly!" She said bouncing up and down.

"Does Chuck have any special plans?" Twilight asked. The tone in her voice meant something else though.

"He hasn't said a thing! I bet it's a great big surprise party!" She replied.

"Okay, maybe I should rephrase, does he know?" Twilight asked.

"Of course he- ...maybe... Ooh.." Pinkie said in response.

"Yeah, listen, maybe try and mention it to him and you two can celebrate together, but after all, it has only been a little more than a week since you started dating, don't expect too much." Twilight said.

"Okay Twilight." She said.

---

Chuck's Root Beer Tavern

"Look, Rainbow Dash, I just need this, ALL of this.." I motioned at Cheese Sandwich. "A secret, M'kay?" I pleaded.

"Of course." She said. Suddenly, Quibble came running through the doors.

"You gotta hide me!" He said, out of breath and neurotic, almost like he was being chased by an angry draconequus or something.

"Where is he!?" An angry voice yelled from outside the bar. Oh boy. Discord burst through the door. Does insurance cover an act of a demi-god?

"What did you do?" Rainbow Dash interrogated.

"Go on, what did you do?" Discord said with fury in his voice.

"Fine, So, I may have accidentally said 'you look like something that walked out of the decoration section of a nightmare night store.' Happy?" Quibble groaned.

"No actually, quite the opposite." He was furious. "I can handle using my powers for good, I can handle tedious musical numbers, But I do not appreciate being insulted." Discord seemed to be getting ready to turn this horse into school glue. Was that joke out of taste?

"Okay now listen!" I spoke up. "If you're going to do anything that could inure anypony take it far away from here!" I yelled. "Otherwise, Quibble! If you don't have anything nice to say, keep your fricken yap shut! Discord, please don't kill anypony, that'll cause unwanted attention and any second we'll have civilian casualties and we'll have the U.N crawling all over the place!" My rant was followed by a couple of disgruntled murmurs.

"Listen Pants, apologize to Discord, and Discord, apologize to Quibble." Rainbow said.

"I apologize." They muttered. I could tell neither of them meant it, so long as no murder happened in my bar I couldn't care less.

"Now, I'm very sorry about the interruption Cheese, let's get back to business, what's your scope on various types of cakes and sweets?" I asked him as we walked in a different direction.

"Sorry about him Discord, he can be a bit of a pain." Rainbow Dash said.

"You know I'm standing right here right?" Quibble said.

"I couldn't help but notice that, Rainbow Dash." Discord said with no acknowledgment to Quibble. "Anyway, I should be off, I have better things to do than mill about around here." And like that he was off.

"Don't mind him, he can overreact to things." Rainbow said to Quibble. "He once yelled at a butterfly, called it a son of a bitch, told it to get off his lawn." She continued, Quibble cracked up at the idea.

"That doesn't really surprise me." Quibble said.

"For what it's worth, what you said was funny." She said.

"You have no idea how long it's been since anyone has said that. I haven't been around many ponies who share my sense of humor..." Quibble said.

"C'mon, let's get outta here." Rainbow said.

"Sounds goood." Quibble said as they walked off.

"Finally. Some peace and quiet, and now, ironically, let's discuss music." I said to Cheese as we were alone to get back to work at last.

---

Ponyville streets, late afternoon

"So anyway, that's why I've got to get out of here, this is really a once in a lifetime opportunity." Quibble said as he and Rainbow were walking.

"I get it." She replied. "Know anypony in Califoalnia?" She asked.

"Well, no. But that's not really a deciding factor, the enormous paycheck is." He said.

"Well yeah I'm sure it is, but I mean, are bits more important than your friend?" She asked. Quibble went silent

"Just some food for thought, I'll see you around!" She flew off.

"Damn it." He said. This decision could've been a lot easier if Cheese had drug him into any other town. But it had to be somepony he had history with, and somepony who knew just how to get to him, he thought.

"Not to mention somepony with a cute flank." He said to himself. Hey, his words.

---

Sugarcube Corner, that evening

I was lounging on the couch, quite exhausted after the day I had, I haven't had to plan anything in months. Suddenly Pinkie came in, a little quieter than usual.

"Hey Cupcake." I said, trying out a cutsie nickname.

"Huh?" She asked.

"Never mind." I brushed that off with an awkward chuckle.

"So..." She started.

"Yeah?" I asked gently.

"Just lettin' you know, a certain day is coming up." She said.

"Oh is it?" Acting like I just found out. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind." I smiled at her.

"It's my birthday just so ya know." She said back to the way you'd expect her to with that signature smile.

"I'm no mathematician but I can put 2 and 2 together." I grinned and gave her a peck on the cheek. She flushed red.

"Missed a spot." She giggled and puckered her muzzle, I then gave her a kiss on the muzzle. I yawned afterwards.

"I'm gettin' beat, think I'm gonna get some sleep." I said. "Goodnight Cupcake." I said, she cocked an eyebrow.

"No on Cupcake?" I asked.

"Hey, maybe it'll grow on me." She said. "I know you did." I blushed an even deeper red than my coat.

"Heh.. heh heh... G-g-g-goodnight." I giggled.

"Goodnight you." She said as we kissed once more and went for our separate rooms.

---

One more loose end in this chapter. Cheese's wagon

Cheese had fashioned a nice tenting area for him and Quibble at his wagon area, Quibble was now returning from his walk.

"Hiya pal! What kept ya?" Cheese asked.

"Meh, I was just strollin'." Quibble said in a nicer tone than earlier.

"That's great buddy, well, we better get some shuteye, big day tomorrow, and the next day too!" Cheese said getting into his tent.

"Sure is..." Quibble sighed. "What am I gonna do?" He said to himself resigning to his tent.

---

The end! Well, not "The" The end, but the end of this chapter! let me know what you thought of it in the reviews and make sure to tune in for the next chapter!

Chapter 9: The Birthday Eve Mishap Part 1

Ever watch that episode of The Simpsons where nobody knows who shot Mister Burns and you had to wait until the next episode to find out who it was? Or any other example would work too, The Simpsons is just iconic. Anyway that's what we're doing here. Except for the fact that nobody get's shot and not everyone is yellow.

---

Chuck's Tavern

"Oh man, oh man, oh man oh man oh man." I thought to myself In the back office of my bar. It wasn't the fact that Nothing was ready, no, Cheese Sandwich had done an absolutely marvelous job getting the party ready, what I was sweatin' and frettin' about was the fact that everything had to go right tomorrow. I'm still a Murphy after all, and us people have a law named after us for a reason. Nothing had gone awry so far though so I suppose that's a good thing... Let's just hope it stays that way. I was thinking about all this while watching this little toy bird dip into a cup of water over an over. That little bastard doesn't know how simple he gets it. Suddenly I hear a knock on the door.

I say "Who is it?"

"It's Quibble." The voice said.

"How do I know for sure?" I asked.

"I hate you." He said dryly.

"That'll do." I said. "Come on in." He entered, with saddlebags strapped to his back.

"Look, loofah mane, I just wanted to tell you I'm leaving." He said. "I thought about it, but I think it's for the best that I mosey on out of here."

"Why are you telling me?" I asked.

"Simply because Cheese wouldn't understand if I told him, time has proved that over and over again. So I just need you to tell him for me, It's nothing personal against anypony, it's business." He concluded. I arched my eyebrow ever so slightly.

"You intend to ditch one of the few ponies who've treated you like not only a friend, but a best friend without even telling him yourself?" I asked. "Where I come from, that is considered a 'dick move'." I say.

"Foul language isn't exclusive to where you're from, loofah mane." He said. "And don't think this isn't difficult for me, trust me, it is." He said, I could tell he was actually being sincere there.

"I can tell you meant that..." I started. "I'll let him know. And for the love of any and every possible Deity out there my name is Chuck." I said.

"Alright Chuck. Thanks." He walked out the door. I don't blame him completely, a job opportunity is a job opportunity. But I know Cheese won't take this very well, he had told me he was excited to finally spend some time with his supposed 'best friend'. Maybe this is all the Murphy's Law that will affect me, here's hoping.

"Can't get much worse from here." I said to myself, maybe I knew that that was gonna be comedic irony, maybe I didn't.

---

Ponyville: Noon

Pinkie Pie and the rest of the Mane 6 were walking through the streets, everypony (bar Pinkie of course) already knew about the plan for the party.

"So then he says 'I'll keep that in mind cupcake.' and I'm thinking 'Cupcake? I mean I understand what he's going for with the sweets and baked goods thing, but that's not all there is to me right? I happen to be a very big classical art fan'." Pinkie Pie said as they were walking.

"When have you ever taken an interest in art?" Applejack asked.

"Oh, I haven't, but I'm not telling him I liked it when he first came up with it. You gotta make him work for it." She said with a wink.

"I don't know about that... maybe the honesty would have been appreciated." Fluttershy said.

"But hey, at least he has some sort of plan right?" Rainbow Dash said.

"I guess, I mean I haven't actually seen him since that night!" She said.

"Well that just means he's busy making the party great!" Twilight said.

"Or he up and left town with his tail between his legs." Rainbow joked. Applejack slugged her in the shoulder for that remark. "Hey!" She said in pain.

"Don't worry about a thing Sugarcube, I'm sure tomorrow will be perfect." Applejack said. (Sugarcube counter: 3? Lets see how many more show up...)

"I hope you're right." Pinkie said. The others exchanged winks.

---

Chuck's Tavern

Cheese walked into the bar, oh boy, I had to tell him, and I had a feeling this wasn't going to be easy. But hey, what is? Well, plenty of things, just not this.

"Hey Cheese." I said.

"Hiya Chuck! You ready to get everything finalized?" He asked.

"I sure am..." I said.

"Say, have you seen Quibble? He was already up and at it by the time I woke up." He said, oh brother.

"Yeah.. He stopped by, look, Cheese, I don't know how to tell you this... But..."

"What?"

"He left." He arched a eyebrow.

"Whadyya mean?" He asked.

"He left for Califoalnia. I wish I was joking, really." His face drooped like that half of Popeye's face, but on both sides.

"And he didn't tell me huh?" He asked.

"Yeah.. He told me to say he was sorry." That was a lie I know, but I thought it would help.

"Oh... I see."

"Do you need a moment?" I asked.

"No... but I do need an ah, C please." He said.

Me: Ahhh ahh ahh ahhhh ahhhh ahhh ah

Ahh ahh ah ah ah oooh ooh oooh doo wop

Cheese: Well I heard that you're leavin'

Me: Leavin...

Cheese: Gonna leave me far behind.

Me: So far behind

Cheese: This new life is more impotant

You decided it's the best you can find

So I pulled your name out of my roller decks

And I tore all your pictures in two

And I burned down the malt shoppe where we used to go

Just because it reminds me of you!

Me: doopity doopity doo. You.

Cheese: That's right

You ain't gonna see me crying

I'm glad, you've found somethin' else to do

Cause I'd rather spend eternity eating shards of broken glass

Than spend one more minute

With you.

Me: Ah ah ah ahh

Cheese: I guess I might seem kind of bitter.

To be fair, I wish you all the best

You coulda just spoken up any time you needed

Didn't mean to cause ya all of this stress!

Oh so Quibble

Let me help you with that suitcase

You ain't gonna break my heart in two

Cause I'd rather get a hundred thousand papercuts on my face

Than spend one more minute with you.

/

I'd rather be a gem on a hungry dragon's plate

Than see your dirty muzzle here again

Me: Oh Ohh oh

Cheese: I'd rather slam my hooves right in a door

Again and again and again and again and again

"Oh can't you see what I'm trynna say here buddy?"

I'd rather have my blood sucked out by leeches

shove an ice pick under a hoof or two

I'd rather clean all the bathrooms in Canterlot Castle with my tongue

Than spend one more minute with you.

Yes! I'd rather jump naked on a huge pile of thumbtacks

Or stick my nostrils together with crazy glue

I'd rather dive into a swimming pool filled with double edged razor blades

Than spend one more minute with you-oo-ooh

I'd rather rip my heart out of my rib cage with my bare hooves and throw it on the floor and stomp on till I died...

Than spend one more minute...

With you...

Me: Ooooh...

---

"You gonna be okay?" I asked.

"I guess... I mean, I always knew we were different, but I had always hoped that maybe he would have at least stuck around, I never made a lot of real friends." He said sadly.

"Look, if it's any consolation, I'll be your friend." I said.

"Mean it?" He asked.

"Of course! You're one of the funniest ponies I've ever met, and we made a pretty good duet there huh?" I said.

"Thanks Chuck." He said, starting to feel a bit better, but I could tell deep down he was still really upset.

---

Will Quibble get the stick out of his ass and come back? Or is his new job that I never specified more important? Find out on the nice considerably entertaining chapter!

Song used was "One More Minute" By Cheese Sandwich's VA himself, Weird Al Yankovic.

Chapter 10: The Birthday Eve Mishap Part 2

Who shot Mister Burns? Who killed Kenny? What's the capital of Albania? None of these questions will be answered in this chapter.

---

Chuck's Tavern

Quibble had up and left that morning, I guess he had decided that unspecified job opportunity was more important than his friends, how did Cheese take this you may ask? Not well, not well at all, I offered my friendship to him and he seemed grateful, but still quite upset, and I worried that might affect the performance of tomorrow's grand event.

"You feelin' better?" I asked.

"Yeah... I gotta say, the song helped." He said. It's true, a good musical number is the best medicine. But he was still down, and I felt bad about stressing him at this point, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do.

"Uh huh..." I said. Suddenly I saw Applejack walking outside the bar, so I went out to talk to her.

"Hey Applejack." I said.

"Howdy Sugarcube, how goes it?" (Sugarcube Counter: 4)

"Well, frankly, not the best. Cheese Sandwich's friend Quibble up and left this morning, and it was really important to Cheese that he'd stick around, and now Cheese is upset and I'd feel bad if I kept working him on the surprise party... So I'm in a bit of a knot right now." I said. She gave me a sympathetic look.

"Tell ya what, why don't I help?" She said.

"You'd do that?"

"Of course! I'd be more than happy to lend a hoof for a friend, and I'm sure Twilight and the others would too!" She smiled.

"Wow. You are a lifesaver, thanks a billion!" I said.

"No problem Sugarcube." (5) "Now let's round up the others."

"I'm with ya!" I said.

---

Chuck's Tavern: About 25 minutes later

"In conclusion, that is why you were all called here, many hooves make light work." I said to Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Cheese Sandwich from behind the counter.

"We're here to help Chuck, just let us know what you want and we'll do it." Twilight said.

"I was hoping you'd say that. Twilight, your job is this, take this bag of bits and place orders from the Cakes for as many ponies in town as you can, that should keep Pinkie Pie busy for the rest of the day." I gave her the bag.

"Affirmative." She said as she left.

"Rarity, Spike, I need the place decorated to a tee, designer streamers, bows, lights, all the stops pulled, comprende?"

"You got it!" Spike said.

"Don't worry about a thing darling." Rarity said.

"Rainbow Dash, Applejack, I need the two of you to tell everypony in town about this, I trust the two of you can handle this?" I said.

"You got it! Come on A.J!" Rainbow Dash charged out the door with Applejack behind her.

"Now, Fluttershy, your job is to keep Pinkie Pie company all day, and if she wants to know what's going on, remember, you're not the element of honesty." I winked.

"I won't let you down... hopefully." She left.

"Now Cheese, you and I will stay here and work on a few of the other details like music, and of course the cake, how are you with baking?" I asked.

"Baking is a pretty important skill when you're in my field." He winked.

"Great, let's do this!"

---

Meanwhile, Manehatten

Quibble got off the train at his home city, he just needed to pack a few things from his apartment and he could make it to Califoalnia on time. He took a taxi to his apartment building and went to his room. Immediately he seemed to be flooded by memories, he did feel bad about the whole thing, every second he sat and remembered he felt worse.

"Damn it!" He yelled aloud. He resigned to his room and started to violently throw clothing into a suitcase. In his fit, a picture frame fell over. He stopped to pick it up. The picture was of him and Cheese, out at a nearby park.

"This was from the day we first met..." He said to himself, he remembered that day quite well, It had been a pretty rough day for him,Quibble was on his commute home from work trying to forget about it and Cheese ran into him, literally.

---

Flashback Sequence

"Ow." Quibble said in quite an annoyed fashion. Cheese looked at him.

"Hiya! Sorry about running into you there buddy!" Cheese smiled.

"Don't mention it." Quibble said. "My fault for looking down."

"I'm Cheese Sandwich! The Super Duper Party Pony!"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Quibble, Quibble Pants."

The two started talking, eventually Quibble forgot about the bad day he had earlier. Before he knew it it was night time.

"I'd better get home." Quibble said.

"Oh, okay. See ya later then pal!" Cheese said, suddenly he whipped out a blanket and lied down.

"Wait." Quibble said. Do you have anywhere to go?

"Oh... Uhhhh no, no not really no." Cheese said.

"Oh.. Well, I've got a spare room, if you want I guess you could..."

"Okay! Great! I'd love to!" Cheese didn't even let him finish.

And then the rest was history.

---

Back to reality

Quibble sighed. He didn't mean to let anypony down, Cheese especially. But he made up his mind. He was Califoalnia bound. He finished packing and went for the train station.

"One please." Quibble said.

"You got it, where to pal?" The station master asked.

"Cali... Califoal..." Quibble was lost for words. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice.

"Nonsense buddy! You gotta stick around!" It was Cheese's voice in his head.

"Are bits more important than your friend?" Rainbow Dashes voice asked.

"Where I come from, that is considered a 'dick move'." My voice said. The voices started swirling around in his head.

"Enough!" He yelled aloud, causing many ponies to look at him. Quibble then looked the station master straight in the eyes.

"Ponyville." He said.

---

Ponyville: A few hours later.

Trains travel faster than Cheese with a cart, that's why the ride took a few hours and not a couple days. Anyway, Cheese and I were working hard at the cake, and it was looking great! it stood 6 feet high, 6 layers each a different flavor, pink frosting covered in chocolate hearts, I'd say it was perfect.

"Looks good Cheese, I'd say this whole thing was, shall I say 'a piece of cake'?" I joked, he laughed.

"I'll say! I'd say we could 'dough' it all again in record time!" He joked back. We shared a laugh together, Suddenly the doors swung open.

"We've got a stellar guest list!" Rainbow Dash announced.

"Yep! Just about every pony in towns comin'!" Applejack added.

"Oh that's wonderful!" I said. "I knew I could count on you two." Spike and Rarity came through.

"We've decorations fit for a coronation!" Rarity said happily, Spike followed holding them all, the two started setting them up.

"That's great, thanks a million." I said. Twilight followed,

"Pinkie and Fluttershy should be out the rest of the day!" She said.

"Thank you so much, all of you, I couldn't thank you all enough for the work you've done today." Suddenly I was met with a big hug... from Cheese.

"Come on everypony! Bring it in!" He said, the rest came into the hug. Suddenly, another figure walked through the door. We turned and looked.

"Is this a bad time?" Quibble asked.

"Quibble?" Cheese asked.

"Yeah... it's me... Cheese look, I'm sorry, I'm sorry for every-" Cheese cut him off.

"Don't want to hear it." He said.

"What? But... but Cheese.." Quibble said.

"Outside." He said. So the two went out.

---

Outside

"Cheese look, I messed up... It wasn't right of me to leave you like that... And it definitely wasn't right of me to leave somepony else to tell you." He said.

"You think?" Cheese asked sarcastically. Quibble was taken aback, nopony said anything for a little while.

"I'm going inside." Cheese said angrily.

"Cheese wait!" Quibble said.

"What." He was pretty upset with him at this point.

Quibble: There are times you drive me, shall we say, bananas

And your mind is missin', no offence, a screw

Cheese Looked at him. "None taken..."

Quibble: Still, whatever mess I land in

Who is always understandin'?

Nopony else but you.

Cheese looked at him for a second, and sighed.

Cheese: Oh, your moodiness is now and then bewilderin'

And your values may be, so to speak, askew

Who deserves a hero's trophy as we face each "catastro-phee"?

Nopony else but you.

Both: Nopony else but you

It's just our luck

We're stuck together

Nopony else but you

Is crazy enough to believe we'll come through

Quibble: So your jokes are all, let's face it, prehistoric

Cheese: And your music sounds like monkeys in a zoo

Both: But when life becomes distressin'

Who will I be S.O.S'in?

Quibble: If you're havin' trouble guessing, here's a clue

Though he seems intoxicated

He's just highly animated

And he's nobody else but

Both: Nopony else but you

We've turned into a true-blue duo

Hard times we've had a few

Cheese: Like we're thrown in the drink

Quibble: Like we're tossed out of town

Both: But when I start to sink, hey, I'd rather go down

With nopony else but

Y-O-U!

---

"What do you say? Friends?" Quibble asked.

"Friends!" Cheese started to tear up and he embraced Quibble with a big hug.

The rest of us exchanged smiles as we watched from the front window, I had a feeling everything would be A-Okay.

---

Meanwhile

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy strolled through town, at this point Pinkie Pie had pretty much wrapped up the colossal size delivery she had for the day.

"Oh boy Fluttershy! I had no idea I'd have that many deliveries today, a lot of ponies must have wanted cake huh?" She laughed.

"Mhm.." Fluttershy said.

"Thanks for spending time with me today Fluttershy!" She said. "But, no offence but I was hoping Chuckie could spend some time with me today... I haven't seen him in a few days, you know?"

"I guess..." Fluttershy said quietly.

"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Pinkie asked.

"Ummm... no." She said quietly.

"If you did know, you'd tell me?" Pinkie asked.

"Of course Pinkie..." Fluttershy blushed, her lie was visible and Pinkie could tell.

"Are you suuuuuure? Because I think you knoooooooow." She was eating at her. Fluttershy started getting nervous.

"He's... He's... Planning something." She said.

"Planning what?" Pinkie asked.

"Oh no..." FLuttershy thought. "She can't know about the party." She thought to herself.

"For the grand opening of his bar tomorrow. He wants it to be big and important, probably keep him busy the whole day." Fluttershy said.

"Oh... Okay.. WHAT!?" Pinkie flipped. "But... But... But my birth... my birthday..." She ran off.

"Oh dear..." Fluttershy said to herself.

---

Pinkie Pie's Room

Pinkie laid in her bed curled up with a pillow, on the verge of tears. "I thought he cared..." She thought to herself. "I didn't think he'd completely forget.."

"Twilight told me.. -sniff- Not to expect much... not to -sniff- Get my hopes up... But... But... -sniff- I didn't think it would hurt to... Expect anything..." A tear ran down her face as she went to sleep.

---

That concludes this chapter! Will everything work out in the next chapter? We'll have to find out won't we? Until next time!

Song used was "Nobody Else But You" from "A Goofy Movie".

Chapter 11: The Day After The Birthday Eve Mishap... Or More Appropriately, The Birthday.

Last time on "Equestria's New Comedian"... There were lasers, sharks, and laser sharks... Just kidding, last time, Cheese and Quibble rekindled their friendship, but not all was sunshine and rainbows in the land that is primarily sunshine and rainbows ... Pinkie Pie now believes I don't care at all about her birthday and completely forgot, what's gonna happen? Let's find out shall we?

---

Chuck's Tavern

"And... And then... -sniff- She ran off and... And... Started crying... -sniff-... I..I know my job was important and I'm so sorry I ruined it!" Fluttershy told me as she began crying. Was I mad? No, not at all.

"Hey, come on..." I started sympathetically. "I know that wasn't your fault." I said while consoling her. "You did your best, maybe a lie wasn't the greatest route but that's on me, this is my fault." I said, I knew how to fix this anyway. At least I had a somewhat decent idea anyway on how I was going to.

"Thank you." She said.

"Hey, don't mention it." I said with a small sympathetic smile (Like alliteration?).

"So, what are you going to do?" She asked.

"I've got a plan." I said, well, honestly I had about 12 percent of a a plan. Better than 0 percent right?

"Now if you don't mind..." I began. "Could you get Twilight and the others together? We've got some setting up to do." I asked.

"You can count on me." She said.

"Great, see you in a bit, if I'm not in the bar area when you get back, come back and wake me from my nap." I said flopping back to get a little sleep.

10 minutes later

"Chuck... Chuuuuck... CHUCK!" A voice yelled at me.

"Hello and welcome back! I'm your host Casey Kasem!" I yelled as I shot up.

"What?" Twilight asked, apparently everypony decided to gather in my cramped back office.

"Casey Kasem, radio host, American Top 40, it's Earth stuff, I'll bore you with it all later." I brushed it off, those words hurt me to say considering my love for 70's and 80's music and for Casey Kasem.

"Anyway." I continued. "Glad to see you all here, as we all know today is a big day. You all did an absolutely amazing job yesterday, and today, it all pays off. I won't forget how you all came through, and now, in return I have to say, as per custom of my land, 'I owe you one'." I said.

"Who's gonna tell him that's not exclusive to 'his land'?" Rainbow Dash murmured to the others.

"We have two hours until the party is meant to begin, all that needs to be done now is things like snacks and refreshments for the party, and of course, the delivery of the guest of honor. As per the first item, the Cakes have graciously agreed to cater and the Apples have been so kind as to offer their cider for drinks, thanks again Applejack."

"Don't mention it Sugarcuge." (Say it with me! Sugarcube counter: 6!)

"So here's what I'm thinking, if you all could do me one last favor, half of us go to the cakes and help them out, and the other half help the Apple family with cider prep, that work for everypony?" I ask.

"Fine, but then you'll owe me two." Rainbow Dash joked.

"I'll take that as a yes then. Let's do this!" I announced.

---

Pinkie Pie's Room

"Why!? Why would he lie to me like that?" Pinkie cried to herself. Don't go to bed sad, you just wake up sad and angry.

"I thought he cared! He.. He seemed like he cared! I just don't understand..." She said to herself looking through the window sadly. Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

"Come in..." Pinkie said sadly. Mrs Cake and her two children, Pound Cake and Pumpkin cake came in with a large tray.

"Happy birthday sweetheart." She said sweetly. "We made you some breakfast, you'll see there's two plates of eggs here, you can just pretend to eat the ones the kids made, they don't exactly understand how to keep the shells out." She laughed.

Pinkie Pie just looked at her silently, then after about 10 seconds of silence, she broke out crying. This shocked Mrs Cake so much she dropped the juice for the breakfast, immediately she set down the tray and went to comfort her.

"Sweetheart... what's wrong?" Mrs Cake asked.

"He... He... FORGOT ABOUT MY BIRTHDAAAAYYYY!" She cried. Now, Mrs Cake knew the truth of the matter, but she couldn't tell her anything as not to ruin the surprise.

"Oh sweetheart... I'm sorry." She started.

"How... How... How could he!?" She cried.

"Hold on sweetheart, maybe he didn't forget." Mrs Cake said.

"What... What do you mean?" She asked.

"What if he actually has a plan?" Mrs Cake decided to answer a question with a question.

"But... But Fluttershy told me-"

"Would Fluttershy want to spoil the surprise?" Pinkie Pie stopped and thought for a second.

"You do have a point..." Pinkie thought.

"But that's not necessarily true..." Mrs Cake winked. "You'll just have to wait and see, but don't think he forgot about you." She finished.

"Okay." Pinkie said, feeling a little better.

"Enjoy your breakfast hon, I'll get you some more juice." Mrs Cake said leaving the room, Pumpkin and Pound followed behind her.

"Maybe she's right, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions so quick like that." Pinkie said to herself.

"Or you should have." She heard a voice, and saw a little devil on her shoulder. (I know, the gag might be getting tired.)

"What are you doing here?" She asked the little devil.

"I'm here simply to help you, and I'm helping by telling you to stay mad!" The little devil said.

"Well I dunno..." Pinkie said, then looked to her other shoulder. "Hey, Where's the other one?" She asked.

---

Meanwhile

There was a heavy traffic jam, horns were honking and voices were cussing at other voices, in one car sat Pinkie's shoulder angel.

"Come on you bastards I'm late for work!" She yelled honking her horn. She went to take a drink of coffee and spilled it on her robe. "Of perfect, just perfect." She muttered.

---

Back in reality...

"So what'll it be?" The little devil asked.

"Look, I just don't think it's a good idea..." Pinkie said.

"Fine, fine." The devil disappeared. Suddenly the angel appeared.

"Hey what did I miss?" She asked.

"Oh thank Celestia you're here what do I do?" Suddenly an even smaller devil appeared on the shoulder of the angel.

"Tell her to stay mad! Don't turn back now!"

"I dunno about that..." The angel said, then turned to her shoulder. "Hey, where's the other one?"

---

Meanwhile

"Oh this is unbelievable!" The smaller angel Pinkie Pie yelled out, caught in yet another traffic jam.

---

Back again.

"Look, even I can agree this gags getting old." Pinkie said.

"Fair enough." Her angel said disappearing. She sighed. She knew Mrs Cake was probably right, but there was still that sense that told her she wasn't.

(From here on out I promise there will be no more angel/devil shoulder jokes)

Suddenly out of her window she saw Twilight, Spike, Rarity, and Fluttershy leaving Sugarcube Corner with ample boxes of sweets with them. Pinkie opened her window.

"Hey guuuuyyyys!" She called out, which warranted no response, in fact, they went faster afterwards.\

"What was that about? Maybe they didn't hear me, right?" She said to herself watching them, suddenly she saw them head for the tavern down the street, my tavern down the street.

"What? But... But... But they're my best friends!" She said to herself in shock, "First Chuck, now them?" She thought.

"That's it!" She said, slamming her door shut. "If nopony wants to see me today, I don't want to see anypony else!"

---

Sweet Apple Acres

"So that's barrel what? 53?" I asked.

"Eeyup!" Big Mac said as we were loading barrels onto carts.

"Great, only two more to go then, thank you kindly for doing this." I said.

"Lookin' good fellas!" Applejack came over. "Shouldn't be too long till it's out of the barrels and into the mugs!"

"Don't remind me..." Rainbow Dash drooled.

"Chuck!" I heard Spike call. I turned and looked

"What's up?" I asked.

"The sweets have been delivered." He said.

"Oh that's great, thanks you guys." I said.

"And, apparently Mrs Cake talked things over with Pinkie Pie, and she's not upset anymore!" Fluttershy said.

"Well that definitely makes my day easier. Thank you all very much." I said.

"So what now?" Quibble asked. (Oh yeah, him and Cheese are here too).

"Now, mi amigo, we get this cider train a-movin!" Cheese exclaimed.

"Very right my friend, let's get going!" I said as we started pulling carts.

---

Chuck's tavern

"Alrighty, it's almost time for the guests to start arriving, I'm going to get drinks ready." I said. "Cheese, I have a special job for you."

"What is it?" He asked.

"I need you to go and deliver our guest of honor, can you handle that?"

"Aye aye cap'n!" He announced.

"Great, okay, here come our first guests!" I say as Octavia and Vinyl walked in.

"Octavia! Vinyl!" Great to see the two of you!" I said.

"I'm here for Pinkie Pie's party, not because I'm ready to like you." Octavia was cold, little mad about that prank hm?

"Great to have you here regardless, Vinyl! What do you say we get the sound system ready? Come on, I'll lead you to the back." I walked with her.

"Well, I'll be on my way!" Cheese said prancing out the door.

---

Sugarcube Corner

Cheese pranced through the doors bouncing energetically.

"Hiya Cakes!" He said happily.

"Hello Cheese Sandwich, nice to see you again." Mrs Cake said.

"Looking for Pinkie Pie?" Mr Cake asked.

"Indeedereeno!" Cheese said.

"She's just upstairs, we're gonna be on our way now, see you two at the party." Mr Cake said.

"Will do!" Cheese said bouncing upstairs.

Cheese looked through the hallway and saw a door brightly decorated in pink and balloons with a piece of paper that said 'Pinkie's Room' with a little smiley face drawn under the writing.

"This must be it." Cheese thought, "Ooh! maybe to keep it a surprise, I should change my voice a little, then he saw a chest with dress up items, presumably for when Pinkie Pie would entertain the two Cake foals.

"Perfect!" cheese said to himself.

After gathering a costume together, Cheese knocked on the door and entered.

"Hello?" Pinkie asked.

"Ma'am. I'm Officer Wiggum from the PVPD (Ponyville Police Department), You gotta come back to the station, it seems you've been charged for smuggling illegal confetti into the region. That's a serious crime ma'am, I for one hope you're not guilty, as if you are you're gonna be goin' away for a real long time." Pinkie looked very tense, and leaped from the window.

"You'll never take me alive!" She yelled running away.

"What? Oh... Oh no... This is bad... Wait!" Cheese yelled running after her.

---

Meanwhile

"What is taking him so long? Pretty much all the guests have arrived..." I muttered to myself serving drinks to Lyra and Bonbon.

---

Ponyville streets

"Ma'am wait!" Cheese yelled chasing Pinkie Pie. He was beginning to gain distance on her.

"For the record, this has been a pretty bad day for me! Can't this wait!?" She yelled back at him.

"You don't understand! That was just a-" Cheese was cut off by Pinkie crashing into a fruit cart extremely hard.

Cheese walked up to the scene. "Oh no... Oh No oh no oh no oh no... I may have messed up here... Don't be dead please don't be dead, I'll lose my "No lives will be lost in the making of any of my parties" guarantee!" He could see that she was still breathing, she had been knocked unconscious.

"What do I do from here..." He muttered to himself. He hoisted Pinkie Pie onto the now empty cart and left a sack of bits where the cart was.

"Better than nothing." He said while pushing the cart.

---

Chucks' Tavern

"No offense, I'm sure there's a method to this madness, but I was really hoping you'd deliver her... I don't know... conscious!?" I exclaimed at the scene.

"Is that my cart?" I heard a pony mutter in the crowd.

"It isn't my fault, she started running, and then she crashed and then.." Cheese started.

"It's fine, it's fine." I said, we'll make do. I poured a glass of water and dripped it on her head, instantly she sprang up.

"NO OFFICER I SWEAR- Huh?" She looked around and saw everypony gathered around in my newly furnished bar with big mugs of cider.

"SO! This is about your bar! I... I... I thought you cared about me!" She broke down crying. I just let out a slight nose sigh. I was getting a little sick of everypony assuming I was so bad.

"Hon, hon." I took her by the hoof and showed her the banner over the door, which read 'Happy Birthday Pinkie!'.

She looked back at me, with tears in her eyes, but different than the tears from before.

"You... You remembered!" She wrapped me in a comparable to an anaconda type hug.

"Of course I remembered!" I wheezed. I smiled. "you mean way more to me than to just forget or brush off your birthday!" I kissed her on the forehead, and everypony in the bar 'Awwwed'.

"Ohhh Chuckie..." She flushed red. "You're embarrassing me..." She smiled.

"Let's get this party rolling!" I announced, and the music started up.

---

"So you really planned all this for me?" She asked me a bit later.

"Well, honestly, not completely, I had a bit of help." I said, motioning to Twilight and the others. "And of course another pony you may recognize." Cheese Sandwich popped up from behind the counter.

"Cheese!" Pinkie said excitedly.

"Hiya Pinkie! Great to see you again." Cheese said. "Sorry about that whole chase thing back there by the way."

"No problem, just a little bump on the noggin." Pinkie smiled. I looked at the time, and I backed away, making my way to the stage in the back area.

"All set up?" I asked Vinyl. She gave me a nod.

"Great, thanks." I made my way onto the platform and tapped the mic.

"Attention everypony, at this point I'd like to say a few words to the birthday mare, and my darling, Pinkie Pie." I flashed a smile at her. "Or, more appropriately, I'd like to say these words through the timeless form of song. Hit it!" I exclaimed.

Me: You make me feel so young

You make me feel so spring has sprung!

And when I see your smiling face

I'm such a happy... individual

And every time you speak

I wanna go play hide-and-seek

I wanna go and bounce the moon

Just like a toy balloon

/

You and I

Are just like a couple of foals

Runnin' across the meadows

pickin' up lots of daisys gold

/

You make me feel so young

You make me feel there are songs to be sung!

Bells to be rung!

Wonderful fling to be flung!

And even when I'm old and gray

I'm gonna feel the way I do today

Cause you! You make me feel so young!

/

You make me feel so young

You make me feel so spring has sprung!

And every time I see you grin

I'm such a happy... individual

And every time you speak

I wanna go play hide-and-seek

I wanna go and bounce the moon

Just like a toy balloon.

/

You and I

Are just like a couple of foals

Runnin' across the meadows

Pickin' up lots of daiys gold!

/

You make me feel so young

You make me feel there are song to be sung!

Bells to be rung!

And a wonderful fling to be flung!

And even when I'm old and gray..

I'm gonna feel the way I do today!

'Cause you! You make me feel so young!

You make me feel so young!

You make me feel so young!

Oooooh You make me feel...

Soooo young!

---

They cheered as I made my way down from the stage. I went back over to Pinkie Pie.

"I love it!" She said to me.

"Thanks hon." I gave her a big hug. "Happy birthday." I said to her.

"Now everyone! The cake! I announced.

---

After the party

I was cleaning up the confetti from the floor, Pinkie, Cheese, and Quibble agreed to stay and help me clean up.

"Thanks for helping me clean up, everypony." I said.

"No problem." Quibble said sweeping the floor.

"So now that the parties over... You two are gonna be on your way?" Pinkie asked them. They went silent.

"Well... I sort of gave up what I would've been leaving for." Quibble said.

"And.. And I could still travel around throwing parties from here." Cheese said.

"We, we made friends here, more friends than either of us have made before... We haven't talked it over but.." Quibble began.

"I think we'll be staying here." Cheese said.

"Ooooh! That's great! That's awesome!" Pinkie got excited by the news. I smiled at the two of them.

"I look forward to seeing you two around." I nodded at them. "well, that's about the last of cleaning, what say we retire now?"

"Here here!" they said.

---

Streets of Ponyville

"Remind me to return that pony's cart tomorrow." I said to Pinkie as we walked home together.

"No problem!" Pinkie said. We were silent for a moment.

"I'm... Sorry I thought you didn't care." Pinkie said. I looked at her.

"Hey, it was an honest mistake, don't beat yourself up over it." I said with a grin.

She giggled slightly "Okay." She said.

"Oh, by the way, before I forget..." I pulled out a box from the newly found space in my large 'loofah mane'. "Your birthday gift!"

"Oooooh what is it?" She asked.

"Why don't you open it up and see?" I asked back. She then opened the box to reveal a smaller scale cake, on top, there was a little fondant sculpture of her and I, under a tree from the first little picnic we had, with small hearts lining the cake. She looked at me with big wide eyes.

"I love it!" She said enthusiastically. "I love it so much I almost can't even eat it!" She said.

"I'm glad you like it, but, please do eat it. It'll rot and start to smell if you don't, sorry to kill the mood with that." I said. "Oh! Don't forget to read the card." I said. She tore the envelope and read the card.

Though we've only known each other for a little while

I'll be right by you for every mile

Of this road we walk together

And I'll be yours, for now and forever.

Yours, Chuck. With a couple of small hearts drawn around the poem.

Pinkie looked at me with tears in her eyes and gave me another hug. I wrapped my front legs around her to hug back.

"Thank you.." She said to me sweetly.

"Happy birthday." I said back. "Hey, while we're still out here, I think I hear something."

"What's that?" She asked.

"Another musical cue!" I exclaimed.

Me: Don't you turn your back on me

Don't you walk away

Don't you tell me I don't care, cause I do

Don't you tell me I'm not the one

Don't you tell me I ain't no fun

Just tell me you like me like I like you, you know you do

When we're together, gray skies clear up

And I cheer up, to where I'm less depressed

And sincerely, from the bottom of my heart

I just can't take when we're apart

We belong together

We belong together! Yes we do,

You'll be mine forever

We belong together

We belong together

Oh, it's true

It's gonna stay this way forever

Me and you

Pinkie: If I could really talk to you

If I could find a way

I'm not shy, there's a whole lot I wanna say

Of course there is

Talk about friendship and loyalty

Talk about how much you mean to me

And I promise to always be be your side

Whenever you need me

Me: The day I met you, was the luckiest day of my life

Yeah I bet you feel the same, at least I hope you do!

Pinkie: So don't forget me, if the future should take you away

'Casue you'll always be... Part of me!

Both of us: We belong together

We belong together, yes we do!

Me: It's gonna be this way, forever!

Both of us: We belong together

We belong together, oh it's true!

Pinkie: We'll go on this way, forever! Me and you!

Me: You and me!

/

We embraced in a big hug under a lamppost as the song ended, only for the mood to be ruined by somepony yelling at us.

"Do you two know how late it is? The only place you two belong is asleep in bed!" They yelled. We laughed for a second.

"We'd better do as he says, he sounds reeeal serious." I joked.

"Race ya home!" She said galloping off.

"No fair! You had a head start!" I galloped after her.

---

I guess that puts an end to the birthday arc! As always, follows, favs, and reviews are appreciated! Until next time.

Songs used

"You make me feel so young". By Frank Sinatra.

"We belong together". By Randy Newman.

Chapter 12: The 'L' Word

There are words that go down in infamy and get officially recognized by the letter they begin with so as not to offend or startle someone with the full word, like: The 'F' word or The 'S' word, but there is one word that has the power to churn a stomach or send you flying on wings of glory, and that's The 'L' Word.

---

Chuck's Tavern

"You know this place hasn't even officially opened, right?" I ask Quibble and Cheese, who were for whatever reason seated at the bar counter. "I don't even have a primary supplier yet." I gritted holding a broom in my mouth, I must say one of the most difficult things to get used to is having your mouth perform jobs your hands once did.

"Yeahhhhh... But at the moment, both of us are sort of... How shall we say... 'Housingly Challenged'." Cheese said.

"Not a real term Cheese." Quibble said. "What he means is we don't have a place to live at the moment, and you don't know this, but we've been living in the storage room for the past couple nights." He finished.

I put my hoof to my face. "You've been living in a storage room!?"

"Yep." They replied.

"I can't believe this." I sighed. "You realize there's probably apartments or even a hotel here, right?" I ask.

"Yeah, but free housing is so hard to pass up." Cheese said.

"He's got a point." Quibble nodded.

"Well, let me tell you fellas, now that I know, housing might not be as free as it was before." I said slyly. They gulped.

"But, since I'm so kind." I began. "I'll let you have some of my business loan, I didn't need a lot of it as I got the building for nothing and had it repaired for free. Now go house hunting, it won't last too long so jobs might help." I winked tossing Quibble a bag.

"Gee... Thanks!" He said.

"I'll go fetch our things out of that storage room!" Cheese said.

"Well, that felt good." I said to myself, it always feels good to do something kind. Hey, after you finish reading this chapter, go out and do something nice huh?

Suddenly, Applejack and Rainbow Dash came trotting in.

"Oh don't tell me you two are living in the storage room too?" I joked.

"You finally found out about that huh?" Rainbow asked. "Quibble told me about that."

"Mhm. I have them set out finding a new living situation. You two want anything?" I ask. "I don't have much to offer right now, a bit of leftover cider and the finest tap water available." I said.

"Two ciders." Rainbow said. "And what'll you have Applejack?" She continued.

"Ah'll have one a the ciders Rainbow Dash gets." She said with a smirk.

"Comin' right up!" I said. As I gave the two their ciders I remarked. "You're lucky, technically I'm not allowed to charge yet."

"Good. Consider it a part of that 'one' you owe us." Applejack said.

"Heh, alrighty then." I said leaning onto the counter. "So what brings you two here anyway?"

"We just thought we'd stop by and see how things are going." Applejack said sipping on her cider.

"Well, I'm doing quite well." I said while wiping the counter off.

"Not you. Well, yes you, but we meant things between you and Pinkie." Rainbow said.

"Oh! Well, things are doing great between us actually." I said with a slight grin.

"That's great sugarcube." Applejack said.

"Thanks Applejack."

"Must be nice." She continued. "The two of y'all in love like that." My eyes widened.

I chuckled nervously. "Yeah..." They seemed to catch how awkward I got hearing the word 'love'.

"Have you even... Said it yet?" Rainbow asked.

"I am absolutely sure I've said 'it' many times before." I said, I knew what she meant, but I was brushing it off. "It's one of those words that nopony goes without saying on a daily basis."

"That ain't what she meant." Applejack said.

"I don't think he has, Applejack!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. I flushed red.

"I know what you're talking about. and no, no I haven't!" I yelled out.

"Okay, simmer down sugarcube... It's not that big a deal." Applejack said.

"Thank you. I just... I don't want to feel like I'm rushing anything. Know what I mean?" I ask.

"Of course." Applejack smiled.

"Sorry if it felt I was eggin' you on there." Rainbow said. "I was just curious."

" 'Course." I nodded.

"But, I'm gonna be honest sugarcube, if the feelings there, what's the point of keeping it hidden?" Applejack said. I thought about what she said for a moment.

"Well, I'd better fly." Rainbow Dash said as she zipped out. Applejack soon followed, leaving 2 bits on the counter.

"Oh, Applejack! You didn't have to pay for that!" I called after her. She turned back.

"Ah wasn't paying ya, ah was leavin' a tip." She smiled.

"Oh... Well thank you for the tip, or should I say tips." I said considering the advice she also gave me today. I was going to have to think more about that.

---

Fluttershy's Cottage

"Thanks again for coming Pinkie." Fluttershy said pouring Pinkie Pie some tea.

"No problem!" Pinkie exclaimed. "It feels like forever since we've done this."

"Well it hasn't been forever..." Discord said. "Fluttershy and I had one just last week. You haven't been a guest in forever."

"Discord. Be nice." Fluttershy told him in a slightly more abrasive tone than normal. "So anyway, Pinkie, how have you been? We haven't really been able to catch up since your birthday party."

"I've been great! Pinkie exclaimed.

"That's good, how have things with Chuck been going?" Fluttershy asked.

"Oh yes. I am just dying to know." Discord said with a tinge... Well, not a tinge, more like a heavy load of sarcasm. Fluttershy shot him a stern look. He rolled his eyes. "Proceed Pinkie."

"Things have been swell! He gave me the sweetest gift for my birthday! But you wouldn't have known since you weren't there when he gave it to me! And when I say sweetest, I mean literally the sweetest! It was this super cute little cake! With me and him sculpted onto it..." Pinkie kept talking, Discord began to get bored and he plucked off his ears similar to that of a Mr. Potato Head. (Remember those? Damn those were fun.) "Piece and quiet..." he muttered to himself.

Pinkie and Fluttershy kept talking.

"I'm so happy for you Pinkie, I'm glad you've found somepony, everypony deserves somepony to love." Fluttershy said. She thought about what she said and got a little excited. "Ooh, has he said it yet?" She asked.

"Well, I mean... No." Pinkie said while looking down at her tea.

"Oh.. Oh dear, that's not... A bad thing though." Fluttershy said.

"Is it? I mean honestly I never even thought about it until now, now, now I'm worried!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"No, no it's not bad at all, right Discord?" Fluttershy asked. Of course Discord didn't hear her. He had been resting his eyes the whole time, suddenly there was a rather annoying tapping. He opened his eyes to see Angel knocking on his head. He groaned and flicked him off while putting his ears back in.

"Yes?"

"Is it a bad thing?" Fluttershy asked again. Discord looked at her.

"Is what a bad thing?" Discord seemed to scoff.

"Chuck hasn't said "I love you" yet." Fluttershy said.

"So?" Discord didn't care.

"I'm trying to tell Pinkie that she shouldn't worry." Fluttershy continued.

"Why is this our problem?" Discord rolled his eyes.

"It's what friends do." Fluttershy looked into his eyes with a bit of anger. Discord brushed it off.

"Not a bad thing at all." He said. "Not really important either." He muttered.

"I dunno... It seems like it's a big deal." Pinkie still wasn't reassured.

"Oh it is a big deal." Fluttershy said.

"What!? But you said it wasn't a bad thing if he hasn't said it yet!" She yelled.

"Well, in all fairness, it really doesn't matter at all, what you two consider 'love' is just an imbalance that forces animals to mate." Discord said in an annoyed tone.

"Don't listen to him Pinkie." Fluttershy said after a sharp glare at Discord.

"Yeahhh... Okay." Pinkie said. "I'd better be on my way..." Pinkie said excusing herself.

After she left Fluttershy glared at Discord. "It wouldn't hurt to be nice you know."

"She was interrupting teatime, our teatime is sacred!" He defended himself.

"I invited her!" Fluttershy moaned.

---

Later. Chuck's Tavern

"Love... Love... Love lovitty love love love." I muttered, I had been thinking about all that Applejack had told me, she was right, but honestly, I was worried I might be moving too fast, I never know how to do these things... Suddenly somepony burst through the door, guess these thought's would have to wait.

"Hey Loofah Mane."

"Hello Quibble. I see you've forgotten my name again." I said slightly sarcastically. "What can I do you for? If it's about the toothbrush I threw it out."

"No no... Not that, I just wanted to stop by and say thanks again for the bits, and in return, I think I can help you with something." He said.

"And what could that be?" I asked.

"Well, I know a pony up in Manehatten who could supply the drinks for your bar, good prices too!" He said.

"Are you pullin' my leg or something?" I asked.

"Nope. Here's his mailing address, name's Barstool." He said slipping me a sheet of paper.

"Wow... Thanks!" I said looking at the address.

"Hey, least I can do, and sort of an apology for being rude to you before." He said.

"It's all in the past." I said with a smile.

"Great, thanks." He said walking out. Well that was kind of him, I'd have to send Barstool a letter then, get my business up and running. But that thought was still burning in my head. Suddenly I heard a big 'poof' noise. Guess I wasn't alone with my thoughts anymore yet again. I turned around to see Discord.

"Why hello, what brings you here?" I ask.

"I'm here because Fluttershy told me to come here. Well, not here, but she wanted time to herself." He said.

"And you chose here? Of all the places and dimensions, I'm flattered." I said. I knew there was an insult coming on, 3... 2...

"No, no. Oh no, I didn't want to come here, I just thought I'd let you know about a little conversation Fluttershy and I had with Pinkie."

"Oh yeah? What about?" I said sipping a drink.

"Oh she's all freaked out about 'love' and all that..." He began.

"Love? Love huh? What about love is... Is she so freaked out about?"

"Oh she's all worried and neurotic because you never said anything about love, silly huh?" He cracked up, it may have been funny for him, but I nearly spit out my drink.

"Yeah..." I gulped. "Silly."

"Well, I'd better be off, I'll probably die of boredom sticking around here much longer." And like that he was gone.

"Dick." I muttered. Well this is perfect isn't it? Apparently now I'm a chicken about this and shes nervous!

---

Sweet Apple Acres

Applejack and Big Mac were hard at work harvesting apples out in the orchard, because what else? Rainbow Dash was there because she promised to help, but so far the only help she'd put in was eating the apples.

"Ya know..." Applejack said as she bucked at a tree. "These apples ain't gonna last long if ya keep eatin' 'em." She said rather annoyed.

"Hey! I'm just doing some quality control." Rainbow defended herself before taking a bite of another apple.

"You'd be lucky if Ah don't charge ya for eating all those." Applejack muttered.

"Eeyup." Big Mac said in agreeance. Suddenly Pinkie came walking onto the orchard. Rainbow Dash flew over to meet her.

"Hey Pinkie! Wanna test some apples with me?" She asked.

"She ain't testin' 'em, she's just eatin' 'em!" Applejack yelled over.

"Not really Rainbow, thanks anyway." Pinkie said kind of glumly.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Nothin..." Pinkie said.

"Come on Pinkie, you can tell me." Rainbow Dash said.

"Now don't torment her Rainbow Dash." Applejack came over. "If she don't wanna tell ya, she don't wanna tell ya." Applejack suddenly looked at Pinkie. "Somethin' is definitely wrong though." She said to Rainbow Dash.

"Duh!" Rainbow said to her.

"Look you guys... I don't know if you can help me with this." She said.

"We can try, can't we Rainbow?" Applejack said.

"Sure!" Rainbow nodded.

"I dunno..." She looked down.

"If ya don't wanna tell us, that's fine, just know we do want to help ya." Applejack said. Pinkie looked at her.

"Do you think Chuck... loves me?" She asked. The two exchanged a silent look, suddenly Rainbow Dash cracked up, soon Applejack started laughing too. "This isn't funny!" Pinkie pleaded.

"Oh, it is! It really, really is!" Rainbow laughed falling backwards.

"Sugarcube, is that really all ya were worried about?" Applejack asked wiping away tears of laughter.

"Yes!" She exclaimed.

"Look Pinkie..." Rainbow started getting up. "It's not really that big a mystery." She said.

"She's right." Applejack agreed. "You shoulda seen him getting ready for your party, he got all tense and queasy with anxiety, all neurotic and such."

"Remember how tired he was the morning of the party?" Applejack asked Rainbow. "I don't think he slept a wink all night!"

"Really?" Pinkie asked.

"You bet he was." Rainbow said. "Trust me, he's head over hooves for you!"

"Definitely." Applejack nodded.

"You mean it?" Pinkie beamed.

"Oh yeah. Anypony who get's that annoying has got to be in love." Rainbow said. Applejack laughed. Pinkie started to feel better as she let out a little laugh.

"Thanks you guys!" She gave the two a hug.

---

That Evening: Sugarcube Corner loft.

Pinkie was sitting down on the couch in the upstairs loft of Sugarcube Corner looking out the window at the stars in the sky when I walked through the door.

"Hiya hon." I said with a smile.

"Hey Chuckie." She said back. I sat down next to her.

"How was your day?" I asked, pretending not to know about the tea party.

"It was fun! Spent some time with Fluttershy, and I even visited with Rainbow Dash and Applejack!" She said.

"No kidding!" I said lounging back.

"What about you?" She asked.

"Meh, just tidied up the bar... Should be able to open not too long from now." I said slightly awkwardly.

"Fun... Fun." She said, catching how awkward I was being. I sat up a bit and put my front leg around her. She looked at me for a moment, then relaxed onto me. I sat there silently for a moment feeling her breathe on my chest, I sighed happily, but with a bit of frustration with myself. I had everything that I had wanted in life, and I couldn't say a damn three words? I could feel her nuzzle her face against my neck, which seemed to calm me down a bit. I couldn't hold back anymore, I had to say something, but what? Suddenly I could feel a familiar song coming on...

Me: Wise folks say... Only fools rush in..

"What?" She asked.

"Hm?" I ask.

"What do they say?" She asked. I gulped, I guess this is it, I played it cooler than I felt at the moment.

"Well, if you wanna know..."

Me: Wise folks say... Only fools rush in.

But I... Can't help, falling in love with you.

I smiled at her, she beamed at me, which made me feel 10 feet tall.

Me: Shall I stay? Would it be a sin?

If I... Can't help, falling in love with you?

She looked at me with such joy, I grinned at her.

"I love you." I said. She wrapped me in such a tight hug.

"I love you too." She said into my shoulder.

Me: Like a river flows

Surely to the sea...

Darling so it goes,

Somethings... Are meant to be..

Take my hoof,

Take my whole life too.

For I... Can't help, falling in love with you.

Pinkie: Like a river flows

Me: Surely to the sea...

Pinkie: Chuckie, so it goes,

Me: Somethings... Are meant to be..

Pinkie: Take my hoof,

Me: Take my whole life too..

Both of us: For I... Can't help, falling in love with you...

No I... Can't help... Falling in love... With... You...

/

We embraced in a tight hug. A single tear rolled down both our faces.

"I love you.." She said.

"I love you too." I gave her a kiss, she smiled at me for a moment before kissing me back. After that, we didn't go to bed yet, we just spent hours cuddled next to each other, neither of us said a word, we just sat there together, and all was at peace for us.

---

That's the end of another one! Hope you enjoyed it, hope to see you again the next chapter!

Song used

"Can't help falling in love with you". By Elvis Presley.

Chapter 13: Pinkie & Chuck's Day Off

Day of: The day an important event is. Day old: Donuts you can get for free if you're early enough. Day off: A day to get away from it all with that special pony in your life.

---

Sugarcube Corner: Upstairs loft

"Isn't this exciting?" I asked Pinkie as we were heading down the stairs to the main level of Sugarcube Corner.

"Sure is!" Pinkie grinned ear to ear as we got to the bottom, you see, I had decided to take a break from setting things up at my bar and the Cakes let Pinkie have the day off of deliveries, so Pinkie and I planned to take a 'daycation' to Manehatten.

"We'd better get to the station, our train leaves soon." I said heading for the door, I held it open for her, like any good gentlecolt would do.

"M'lady." I nodded my head as she walked through, my sign off affection was met with a giggle, honestly it made me giggle a bit too.

"Come on Chuckie! Let's go!" She grabbed me by the leg pulling me along.

"I'm comin' I'm comin'... We still got the whole day ahead y'know." I smiled catching up. I was quite excited to spend the day away from it all with Pinkie. I couldn't remember the last time I could have a day without any stress. So it was no question that I was looking forward to the day with her. When we got to the train station Twilight and the others were waiting for us to say goodbye.

"Oh hey everypony!" Pinkie exclaimed as we walked onto the platform.

"Hi Pinkie, we just wanted to say have fun today." Twilight said.

"Yeeaaah but don't have too much fun." Rainbow Dash snorted with laughter.

"Inappropriate." Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash, I thought she was serious until they both started laughing.

"Thanks everypony." I said. "Quibble, I'm leaving you in charge of the bar while I'm gone, make sure nothing crazy happens huh? And Discord, do your best to make this day miserable for him." I winked at the two of them.

"What was that for?" Quibble groaned while Discord laughed maniacally.

"Ready to go hon?" I asked.

"Sure am!" She smiled. "See ya gals! Oh, and colts! Oh.. and Discord!" She said saying goodbye to everyone as we boarded the train. We got to our seats, two seats facing each other with a table in between, we both sat down in our seats and smiled.

"To The Day Off!" I exclaimed.

"To us!" She said back. You might say the two of us were still in that 'honeymoon' type phase where primarily everything was a cutesy little toast to our love. We sat together chatting for a little while as the train began, after a little bit we just looked out the window, I saw a highway going the same route as the train and I chuckled a bit seeing a large cluster of ponies hauling large wooden wagons, it reminded me of seeing big rigs on the highway back on, well, Earth. I chuckled to myself.

"Mercy sakes alive, looks like we've got us a convoy..." I smiled.

"Huh?" Pinkie asked.

"Oh nothin', just reminded me of something from where I'm from." I said.

"What was it?" She asked.

"Well back where I'm from, on highways like the one over there, there would be these big groups of trucks, large metal vehicles that would haul things, we'd call them convoys." I said.

"Cool!" She said. She must have been a little fascinated with Earth culture, and I'll admit, Earth culture did have some nice things.

"I can tell you more about them if you like." I said.

"Oooh okay!" She said.

"Well, this is a bit of a story... It didn't really happen, well, to me anyway, but it's a fun story regardless. Ready?" I asked already feeling the beat.

"Yep!" She said. I grabbed a small suitcase and imagined it was one of those old C.B radios you'd see in a truck.

"Yeah breaker 1-9, this here's The Rubber Duck, you got a copy on me Pigpen come on? Uh 10-4 Pigpen for sure, for sure, it's clean clear to flag town come on. Yeah, that's a big 10-4 there, Pig Pen, yeah, we definitely got the front door, good buddy. Mercy sakes alive, looks like we got us a convoy..." I said stomping one of my legs to keep a beat. Pinkie bobbed her head back and forth watching.

Me: Was the dark of the moon on the sixth of June

In a Kenworth pullin' logs

Cab-over Pete with a reefer on

And a Jimmy haulin' hogs

We is headin' for bear on I-one-oh

'Bout a mile outta Shaky Town

I says, "Pig Pen, this here's the Rubber Duck.

"And I'm about to put the hammer down."

'Cause we got a little convoy

Rockin' through the night.

Yeah, we got a little convoy,

Ain't she a beautiful sight?

Come on and join our convoy

Ain't nothin' gonna get in our way.

We gonna roll this truckin' convoy

'Cross the U-S-A.

Convoy!

I pretended to use the suitcase as a radio again between the singing. "Yeah breaker Pig Pen this is the Duck and you wanna back off them hogs? 10-4 about 5 miles or so 10 roger then hogs are getting intense up here."

Me: By the time we got into Tulsa Town,

We had eighty-five trucks in all.

But they's a roadblock up on the cloverleaf,

And them bears was wall-to-wall.

Yeah, them smokies is thick as bugs on a bumper;

They even had a bear in the air!

I says, "Callin' all trucks, this here's the Duck.

"We about to go a-huntin' bear."

'Cause we got a great big convoy

Rockin' through the night.

Yeah, we got a great big convoy,

Ain't she a beautiful sight?

Come on and join our convoy

Ain't nothin' gonna get in our way.

We gonna roll this truckin' convoy

'Cross the U-S-A.

Convoy!

"Yeah you wanna give a 10-9 on that Pig Pen? Negatory Pig Pen you're still too close yeah them hogs are startin' to close up my sinuses, mercy sakes you'd better back off another ten!"

Me: Well, we rolled up Interstate 44

Like a rocket sled on rails.

We tore up all of our swindle sheets,

And left 'em settin' on the scales.

By the time we hit that Chi-town,

Them bears was a-gettin' smart:

They'd brought up some reinforcements

From the Illinois National Guard.

There's armored cars, and tanks, and jeeps,

And rigs of ev'ry size.

Yeah, them chicken coops was full'a bears

And choppers filled the skies.

Well, we shot the line and we went for broke

With a thousand screamin' trucks

An' eleven long-haired Friends o' Jesus

In a chartreuse micra-bus.

"Ah, Rubber Duck to Sodbuster, come over. Yeah, 10-4, Sodbuster? Lissen, you wanna put that Microbus in behind that suicide jockey? Yeah, he's haulin' dynamite, and he needs all the help he can get."

Me: Well, we laid a strip for the Jersey shore

And prepared to cross the line

I could see the bridge was lined with bears

But I didn't have a dog-goned dime.

I says, "Pig Pen, this here's the Rubber Duck.

"We just ain't a-gonna pay no toll."

So we crashed the gate doing ninety-eight

I says "Let them truckers roll, 10-4."

'Cause we got a mighty convoy

Rockin' through the night.

Yeah, we got a mighty convoy,

Ain't she a beautiful sight?

Come on and join our convoy

Ain't nothin' gonna get in our way.

We gonna roll this truckin' convoy

'Cross the U-S-A.

Convoy!

As I finished singing I bowed my head dramatically, I never considered myself a fan of country music but I had a few exceptions. Pinkie clapped her hooves together.

"Bravo!" She exclaimed. I blushed.

"You liked that?" I asked.

"You bet! I don't even know what the heck a 'Smokey' is and I liked it! 'yeah we got a great big convoy!' she sang deepening her voice and giggling. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it." I said. "I may have to tell you more about Earth sometime."

"I'd like that." She said as the train kept moving. I didn't expect her to be so interested in Earth culture honestly.

---

A few hours later

The train finally arrived and we made our way off the train, I got a look at the busy and bustling city, I had grown used to the quietness and tranquility of Ponyville that it was almost overwhelming, well, not almost, it was overwhelming.

"Wow..." I said to myself! Pinkie took me by the leg.

"Come on! Let's get some brunch!" She pulled me along, I was feeling pretty hungry at that moment so brunch was definitely a welcome idea.

"Sounds good to me." I said. We found a nice little cafe in the city, we decided to check that out. There was a nice large couch with a couple chairs around it, we decided to take the couch.

"This is nice." I said.

"Sure is!" She said. Suddenly three stallions and three mares came into the cafe and looked at us.

"Excuse me." The one with a short and slicked black mane said. "This is sort of our spot." He said.

"Oh man, sorry about that." I said getting up.

"Sorry about that." Pinkie said as she got up.

"Jerks." I muttered to Pinkie as we found another spot. "This is sort of our spot. Blah blah blah." I mocked, she laughed.

"Could they have been any more finicky?" Pinkie laughed.

"Don't think I missed one of those stallions checking you out." I said sipping a coffee.

"What?" She blushed.

"Totally, I could see the look on his face, he had a total 'how you doin?' look going. I've seen it a million times before." I said as we shared a laugh together.

"So what do you wanna do after brunch?" I asked.

"I dunno." She said. "We could see the sights... See what Bridleway might have to offer..."

"That sounds like fun." I said.

"What would you want to do?" She asked me.

"Hey, I'm game for whatever you want to do." I said finishing off my coffee and biting into my omelette.

"We'll just have to see when it happens." Pinkie said.

"We sure will." I nodded.

---

After brunch

After brunch we had just started walking to see what caught our eyes. the wind blew gently and the sun shined down, it was a cool fall morning, it seemed to sadden me that a lot of ponies here didn't seem to take the beautiful morning here, suddenly I saw a small kiosk up ahead and went to see what the vendor was selling.

"Kites! Get yer kites here!" He said.

"Kites huh?" I asked.

"Yep! No better day then today too, feel that breeze through your mane huh? Can I interest you in a kite?" He asked me. I glanced at Pinkie, who seemed to like the idea.

"I'll take two actually." I said handing the bits.

"Here you go sir!" He handed me the kites, I took them, wished him farewell, and Pinkie and I went on our way to a park nearby.

"Ready?" I asked before we set our kites to fly.

"Yep!" She grinned.

"3... 2... 1!" We said setting them into motion, watching them fly up into the air, holding on to them from the ground.

"Wow!" Pinkie exclaimed watching the two kites soar.

"Pretty nice huh?" I asked.

"It's beautiful!" She said. We started running with the kites tied to our front legs.

Me: With two bits for paper and strings

You can have your own set of wings

With your feet on the ground

You're a bird in flight

With your hoof holding tight

To the string of your kite

Oh, oh, oh!

Let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest height!

Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

Oh, let's go fly a kite!

Pinkie: When you send it flying up there

All at once you're lighter than air

You can dance on the breeze

Over houses and trees

With your hoof holding tight

To the string of your kite!

Pinkie and I: Oh, oh, oh!

Let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest height!

Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

Let's go fly a kite!

As we kept running I tripped and started tumbling down a hill, Pinkie came bouncing after me down the hill, in the commotion our kites got tangled up and she leaped into me, we both fell down and started laughing and nuzzled our faces against each other. Not that we noticed this, but our tangled kites had fallen into the shape of a heart.

---

Later on

"What do you want to do now?" I asked.

"Hmmm I dunno!" She said. "What do you wanna do?"

"No, no, nononononono. The kite thing was my idea, now it's your turn." I said.

"Well, why don't we look around the shops?" She suggested.

"Sounds good to me!" I nodded. We entered a nearby mall to check it out. There were plenty of stores as far as the eye could see, and kiosks galore. It was a dream come true for someone who's wallet was burning a hole in their pocket. "Damn..." I said in bewilderment, even where I was from I never saw a mall quite like this.

"Come on! Let's check it out!" Pinkie said leading me through the mall. There were stores for just about everything, and often more than one store for one thing, but hey, a little competition can be good for business.

"Marecy's? J.C Pony?" I said to myself looking at the stores passing by. I must admit the pony puns were quite amusing.

"Hey, what about that one?" Pinkie asked.

"F.A.O Colts?" I asked reading the sign.

"Sure!" She said.

"What is it?" I asked as we walked toward it.

"It's a big toy store!" She said.

"Cool!" I exclaimed. "Wait...You wanted to go here?" I ask.

"Sure!" She said bouncing into the store. "Why not?" She asked.

"Oh no reason, honestly I'm just a bit surprised, that's all. I've never actually been with anyone who shares this interest with me, that's all." I said as we walked through the store.

"Well, I'm not anyone you've been with before, am I?" She asked rhetorically. I was taken aback slightly, she had a point.

"You've got a point there." I said. "Well, whaddya say? Let's look around!" I say.

After a long while of looking around at various toys, small and large, plastic and plush, we decided it was time to move on, as we were walking out I caught something out of the corner of my eye, it was a large plush bear, about the size I used to be as a human. (6 foot).

"Hey, why don't you go on ahead?" I said. "I've got to.. uh... Use the restroom. I'll catch up." I said.

"Alrighty!" She bounced along. As soon as I saw she was out of my vision I turned to a pony at the counter. "How much for big bear over there?" I asked. The clerk nodded and punched up a receipt. "Throw shipping on there too." I said sliding him a small sack. "Great. Thanks." I said walking out the door. Now to catch up with Pinkie. I looked around for her, you'd think somepony like her would be pretty easy to find. I suddenly saw her from across the food court, I galloped over to meet her.

"Hey hon! Sorry about that." She just looked at me.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"What? But... But... What the..." Suddenly Pinkie over to me.

"Hiya Chuckie! There you are!" She said.

"What... But... But..." I muttered to myself, suddenly I remembered season 3 episode 3 and it all made sense. (If you didn't figure it out already, just look it up. I don't just give references away.) "Oh. Right." I said to myself.

"Wanna get going?" Pinkie asked me.

"Yes. Yes definitely." We should probably get out of here before I get confused.

---

After the mall

At this point, I could see the sun start to make it's way down, I'd say at this point all we needed was a bit of dinner before heading towards home. The only question was where...

"So how about dinner?" I brought up as we walked down the streets.

"How about it?" She said.

"Not what I meant." I said as she started giggling.

"I know, how about there?" She motioned towards what looked like an Italian restaurant.

"Sounds good to me." I said. "I'm famished."

"Hi famished! I'm Pinkie!" She laughed.

"Oh Lord..." I chuckled as we entered.

"How many in your party?" The Maître D' asked.

"Just the two." I said.

"Come right this way you two." He said leading us to out table, it was a booth near front of the restaurant, looking out the window.

"Hello! And welcome to The Saucy Stir-spoon, how can I help you two this evening?" Our waiter asked.

"I'll have the spaghetti, with a side of a garlic bread basket please." I said.

"Would you like it for two? Or would this pretty mare prefer something different?" The waiter asked Pinkie.

"Spaghetti works!" She said.

"Coming right up you two lovebirds." Our waiter took our menus. We just sat there looking at the beautiful sky.

"What a beautiful night huh?" I said looking out the window that overlooked the city.

"Sure is." She said.

"You know what else is beautiful?" I asked.

"What?" She asked.

"You." I said smoothly. She blushed red.

"Oh you..." She giggled.

"I know, cheesy." I said.

"Yeah, but sweet." She leaned over the table and pecked me on the cheek. I giggled a bit. The waiter then arrived with our meal.

"For the two on this Bella Notte." The waiter said handing us our meal.

"Thank you very much." I said.

"Let's dig in, shall we?" I suggest.

"Let's do it!" She smiled as we started eating. I didn't realize how difficult eating spaghetti was with hooves, I had to resort to slurping one of my noodles. Doing so embarrassed me a bit, I didn't want to look sloppy at our dinner.

"Hey, it's okay." She said to me seeing my embarrassment as she slurped back a couple. "See?" She said. I couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks." I smiled. In the distance I could hear the sound of accordion playing in a traditional Italian fashion. Pinkie and I turned to see our waiter playing the accordion softly to create ambiance.

Waiter pony: This is the night

It's a beautiful night

And we call it bella notte

/

Look at the skies

They have stars in their eyes

On this lovely bella notte

/

Side by side with your loved one

You'll find enchantment here

The night will weave its magic spell

When the one you love is near

/

For this is the night

And the heavens are right

On this lovely bella notte

/

This is the night

It's a beautiful night

And we call it bella notte

/

Look at the skies

They have stars in their eyes

On this lovely bella notte

/

Side by side with your loved one

You'll find enchantment here

The night will weave its magic spell

When the one you love is near

/

For this is the night

And the heavens are right

On this lovely bella notte

We both exchanged a loving glance with each other as we embraced in a kiss. "Bella Notte indeed." I smiled at her.

---

The train back home

"Have a good time today?" I asked Pinkie as we sat back on the train.

"Yeah." She smiled relaxing into my shoulder.

"What was your favorite part?" I asked.

"Spending it with you." She said. I couldn't help but blush at that.

"No kidding." I said. "Because my favorite part was spending the day with you."

"Aww Chuckie..." She yawned. It was pretty late at this point, maybe a nap would do us some good.

"Let's get a little shuteye before we get back home, sound like a good plan?" I asked. But she was already asleep.

"Yep. Sounds good." I said to myself shutting my eyes for a quick nap.

---

Back home

"Wake up... Wake up..." I heard Pinkie say as I opened my eyes. "We're home." She said.

I yawned. "Already? Wonderful." I said as we got off the train.

"That was a great day." She said.

"I couldn't agree more." I nodded as we walked home. "Hold on..." I said. "I have to check on something first. I'll meet you back home." I said.

"Alright Chuckie." She said giving me a kiss. With that I walked towards my bar to see how Quibble was holding up. I opened the door and saw just about what I suspected. Bar stools were running around like puppies, drinks were pouring upwards, and Quibble was hanging from the ceiling in a cage, all while Discord was laughing maniacally.

"Alright Discord, fun's over." I said. He looked at me and sighed.

"Fine..." He snapped his fingers and it all returned to normal, which made Quibble fall to his face.

"How'd it go pal?" I asked Quibble.

"Ohhhhh... Ohhhh You owe me. Big time!" He growled in a very exhausted tone.

"Sounds like it went well, see ya tomorrow." I said leaving for home. By the time I got home Pinkie was upstairs in the living room.

"Hiya hon, I'm home." I said. She just looked at a big box.

"What's this?" She asked.

"Why don't you look at the card?" I say.

"It says 'from Chuckie'. Awww Chuckie!" She said excitedly. Damn they deliver quick.

"Open it up." I say with a smile, she opens it to reveal a giant teddy bear holding a heart shaped pillow.

"I love it!" She exclaims.

"And I love you." I say giving her a hug. And so, our beautiful day off came to a close. Honestly I wished every day could be like this, you know how they say there's no such thing as perfect? Well, this day proved me wrong in thinking that.

---

That's the end of that chapter! Next chapter won't be a continuation, but rather the same day, but from another point of view, who? We'll see!

Songs used

Convoy. By: CW McCall

Let's go fly a kite. By: Richard and Robert Sherman

Bella Notte. By: Peggy Lee

Chapter 14: One Day At Discord's

This is not a continuation of the story, but rather the same day as the previous chapter, but another pony's much less perfect day.

---

Ponyville train station. 8:30 AM

"Thanks everypony." Chuck said. "Quibble, I'm leaving you in charge of the bar while I'm gone, make sure nothing crazy happens huh? And Discord, do your best to make this day miserable for him." He said with a wink. What!?

"What was that for?" I muttered while that crazy demon Discord just laughed menacingly. "Oh boy..." I groaned, I knew I was in for a rough day, but I had no idea it was going to be as rough as it was. My name is Quibble Pants, if you're reading this, you've found my journal recording what could possibly be my last day alive.

---

Chuck's Tavern: 9:30 AM

Nothing yet, I'm not even nervous, no, definitely not nervous. How bad could this possibly be? Maybe a small prank or two. I've survived those, yeah, yeah I've survived those. After all I have been living with possibly one of the craziest and most spontaneous ponies alive, Cheese Sandwich. Who had had a history of pranking along with his partying 'business'. Honestly having him here would have been convenient. Somepony around to keep me sane, but guess who had a party to throw in Baltimare! So it was just me and my journal. Hold that thought, somepony just walked in.

"Pardon me sir, but this place hasn't opened." I said to the pony, he was an older looking unicorn with a gray goatee and the strangest looking cutie mark I've ever seen.

"Oh, I'm not here to drink." He said. That voice. I know that voice. Oh sweet Celestia. I looked up at him.

"Look pal, I don't need this." I said. He seemed to disregard my comment, and my existence, he just stood there with wide eyes and a closed mouth. But the voice continued.

"What's the matter?" He said without even moving his mouth. "You seem tense... On edge..."

"What? No. No. Nonononono." I brushed off. "You're messing with me. Stop the charade, I know who you are." I said, trying to conceal any fear in my voice.

"Fine." Suddenly his cutie mark leaped from his body. It was Discord, he had taken the form of a cutie mark. Creative I must say if I were to attempt to put this in a positive light. The small Discord, about 6 inches tall, walked down the counter.

"So... Running a tight little ship here while your friends away?" He said. "No nonsense, making sure nothing crazy happens... Missed a spot there by the way." He pointed to a stain on the counter. "But then that little dream gets shattered, doesn't it? When your pal Discord shows up."

"You're not my pal." I said.

"Awww come on, can't you just loosen up a little?" He said flying up to meet my eyes. "Who's to say I'm going to do anything to make today a miserable hell for you?"

"Chuck, for whatever reason told you too... And those seem like instructions you'd never pass up." I said.

"Oh come on! I just want to keep you company while you do this... bland, mundane task." He said hovering around my head.

"Look. I like the bland and mundane. Predictability in life can be a pony's best friend." I said sternly. He just laughed.

"Well, I'm not a pony, I'm a draconequus! I can't handle the bland and mundane. Oh, why am I still talking to you? I can do whatever I want. Why would I need permission from you to do what I plan on doing?" He laughed.

"And... What is that?" I asked nervously.

"Do you like games?" He asked.

"I... don't mind them." I said. "But I can't help but feel like I'll still hate what you have in mind..."

"You'll never know if you don't try!" He exclaimed. Before I could respond he snapped his fingers and I lost my sight and hearing, everything was black. except the word 'Loading' in big bold white letters, and along that 'The end is never the end' in gray.

---

The game: 9:45 AM

When my eyes opened I was in an office, I honestly found it quite eerie as it looked close to the office I worked at before moving here.

"What!? Where's the bar!?" I yelled out. I couldn't move, I was just looking at a barren office building. Suddenly a voice started speaking in my head, it was Discord, but he payed no attention to what I just said.

"This is the story of a stallion named Quibble. Quibble worked for a company in a big building where he was Employee #427. Employee #427's job was simple: he sat at his desk in room 427 and he pushed buttons on a keyboard. Orders came to him through a monitor on his desk, telling him what buttons to push, how long to push them, and in what order. This is what Employee #427 did every day of every month of every year, and although others might have considered it soul rending, Quibble relished every moment the orders came in, as though he had been made exactly for this job. And Quibble was happy. And then one day, something very peculiar happened. Something that would forever change Quibble; something he would never quite forget. He had been at his desk for nearly an hour when he realized that not one single order had arrived on the monitor for him to follow. Nopony had shown up to give him instructions, call a meeting, or even say 'hi.' Never in all his years at the company had this happened, this complete isolation. Something was very clearly wrong. Shocked, frozen solid, Quibble found himself unable to move for the longest time. But as he came to his wits and regained his senses, he got up from his desk and stepped out of his office." The voice said.

I finally regained movement and immediately started looking around the abandoned office. Suddenly Discord spoke up.

"All of his coworkers were gone. What could it mean? Quibble decided to go to the meeting room. Perhaps he had simply missed a memo." I looked around, the voice echoed in my head, but Discord himself was nowhere to be seen... I looked around the office poking around. Suddenly Discord spoke up again.

"Quibble went around touching every little thing in the office. But it didn't make a single difference... Nor did it advance the story in any way." Discord concluded in an irritated tone. Fine. I guess I had to play along with this. I started walking through the abandoned rooms and hallways. finally I came to a room that ended in two doors.

"When Quibble came to a set of two open doors, he entered the door on his left." Discord said.

"Oh did I?" I said slyly. "I dunno, that door on the right looks tempting, I think I'll go through that one." I said walking through the door on the right. Discord spoke up.

"This was not the correct way to the meeting room, and Quibble knew it perfectly well. Perhaps he wanted to stop by the employee lounge first, just to admire it." This was getting weird.

"I don't like this..." I muttered walking down the hallway. I suddenly came to a large blue room.

"Ah yes, this was truly a room worth admiring." I could hear a bit of passive aggression in his voice. "It had really been worth the detour after all, just to spend a few moments here in this immaculate, beautifully constructed room. Quibble simply stood here, drinking it all in." He finished. I looked around curiously.

"Yeeesss, really, really worth it being here in the room. A room so utterly captivating that even though all your co-workers have mysteriously vanished, here you sit looking at these chairs and some paintings. Really worth it." He said sarcastically. Okay fine, I get the point. I sighed continuing my terrible journey.

"But eager to get back to business, Quibble took the first open door on his left." Discord said closing the door behind me. Oh boy... This time I followed instructions and took the door on the left.

"Oh look." I groaned looking around the meeting room. "Empty, like everywhere else in here."

"Yet there was not a single pony here either." Discord agreed. "Feeling a wave of disbelief, Quibble decided to go up to his boss's office, hoping he might find an answer there." Ugh. I walked towards a stairwell. "Coming to a staircase, Quibble walked upstairs to his boss's office."

"Nope. Screw you, I'm going downstairs." I thought if I angered him enough I might get out, so I stepped down the stairs.

"But Quibble just couldn't do it. He considered the possibility of facing his boss, admitting he had left his post during work hours, he might be fired for that. And in such a competitive economy, why had he taken that risk? All because he believed everyone had vanished? His boss would think he was crazy."

"Hey!" I yelled out.

"And then something occurred to Quibble: Maybe, he thought to himself, maybe I am crazy. All of my coworkers blinking mysteriously out of existence in a single moment for no reason at all?" Discord continued. What? I kept walking forward, trying to ignore the voice.

"None of it made any logical sense. And as Quibble pondered this he began to make other strange observations. For example, why couldn't he see his hooves when he looked down?"

"What!?" I exclaimed, suddenly I looked down and saw nothing, he was right!

"Why did doors close automatically behind him wherever he went?" Well that ones easy, you were closing them. I kept trudging forward.

"And for that matter, these rooms were starting to look pretty familiar, were they simply repeating? No, Quibble said to himself."

"No I didn't!" I exclaimed. He was right though, the rooms all looked the same as I trotted forward.

"This is all too strange, this can't be real, and at last he came to the conclusion that had been on the tip of his tongue, he just hadn't found the words for it."

"And what was that?" I groaned.

"I'm dreaming! he yelled, This is all a dream!" Discord exclaimed. What!? No. None of this is me!

"Now, you've officially dragged this too far!" I yelled, but no answer. Discord just continued his dialogue.

"What a relief Quibble felt to have finally found an answer, an explanation. His coworkers weren't actually gone, he wasn't going to lose his job, he wasn't crazy after all!" I wish this was a dream, this was a nightmare! But sadly this was real too.

"And he thought to himself, I suppose I'll wake up soon, I'll have to go back to my boring real life job pushing buttons, I may as well enjoy this while i'm still lucid. So he imagined himself flying, and began to gently float above the ground." He said. Suddenly I involuntarily floated upwards.

"AGH!" I cried out.

"Then he imagined himself soaring through space on a magical star field, and it too appeared!"

"What!?" I yelled. Suddenly stars surrounded me.

"It was so much fun, and Quibble marveled that he had still not woken up. How was he remaining so lucid?" Discord said. Fun!? Fun!? "And then perhaps the strangest question of them all entered Quibble's head, one he was amazed he hadn't asked himself sooner: Why is there a voice in my head, dictating everything that I'm doing and thinking?"

"I know why!" I yelled. No answer.

"Now the voice was describing itself being considered by Quibble, who found it particularly strange. I'm dreaming about a voice describing me thinking about how it's describing my thoughts, he thought! And while he thought it all very odd and wondered if this voice spoke to all people in their dreams, the truth was that of course this was not a dream. How could it be?"

"Discord!" I yelled out, he was winning, I was starting to snap.

"Was Quibble simply deceiving himself? Believing that if he's asleep he doesn't have to take responsibility for himself? Quibble is as awake right now as he's ever been in his life. Now hearing the voice speak these words was quite a shock to Quibble. After all, he knew for certain beyond a doubt that this was, in fact, a dream! Did the voice not see him float and make the magical stars just a moment ago? How else would the voice explain all that? This voice was a part of himself too, surely, surely if he could just... He would prove it. He would prove that he was in control, that this was a dream."

"Knock it off!" I cried out running faster.

"So he closed his eyes gently, and he invited himself to wake up." Suddenly my eyes closed. "He felt the cool weight of the blanket on his fur, the press of the mattress on his back, the fresh air of a world outside this one. Let me wake up, he thought to himself."

"No I didn't!" I yelled.

"I'm through with this dream, I wish it to be over. Let me go back to my job, let me continue pushing the buttons, please, it's all I want. I want my apartment, and my wife, and my job. All I want is my life exactly the way it's always been. My life is normal, I am normal. Everything will be fine." Discord said.

"Let me out of here!" I yelled angrily, I couldn't see a thing.

"I am okay." No I'm not!

"Quibble began screaming. Please someone wake me up! My name is Quibble! I have a boss! I have an office! I am real! Please just someone tell me I'm real! I must be real! I must be! Can anyone hear my voice?! Who am I? Who am I?! And everything went black." Discord said as everything went dark, somehow even darker than before.

After a long pause, Discord finally spoke up.

"This is the story of a mare named Mariella."

"What!?" I tried to yell out.

"Mariella woke up on a day like any other. She arose, got dressed, gathered her belongings, and walked to her place of work."

Suddenly I saw from a bird's eye a mare on a sidewalk looking at a body of a stallion laying on the ground. Wait... That stallion.. Looks like me!

"But on this particular day, her walk was interrupted by the body of a stallion who had stumbled through town talking and screaming to himself and then collapsed dead on the sidewalk. And although she would soon turn to go call for an ambulance, for just a few, brief moments, she considered the strange pony. He was obviously crazy; this much she knew. Everyone knows what crazy ponies look like. And in that moment, she thought to herself how lucky she was to be normal. I am sane. I am in control of my mind. I know what is real, and what isn't. It was comforting to think this, and in a certain way, seeing this stallion made her feel better. But then she remembered the meeting she had scheduled for that day, the very important ponies whose impressions of her would affect her career, and, by extension, the rest of her life. She had no time for this, so it was only a moment that she stood there, staring down at the body. And then she turned and ran." Suddenly everything went black.

---

Chuck's Tavern. 5:30 PM

"Let me out!" I came to my senses screaming.

"Ahh, I see my new concept was a success!" Discord exclaimed.

"What concept?" I demanded.

"I was starting to get bored of causing chaos in the physical realm, so I decided to experiment with the psychological! And I must say, from my gatherings, it worked quite well..." He said, I was still shaking.

"Worked? Worked!?" I yelled. "I was terrified!" I yelled out.

"Great!" He exclaimed.

"How... How long has it been?" I asked.

"It's about dinner time, time goes faster in the psyche." Discord said.

"I know how that works." I moaned. At least the day was almost over. my hooves were still shaking. "Look. I'm flattered, truly I am. But it's time for you to leave." I said firmly, but he didn't care.

"Do you like dogs?" He asked.

"What?" I said.

"Do you like dogs?" He said again.

"I guess?" I arched an eyebrow.

"Great! This will be fun!" He snapped his fingers, uh oh. I braced myself for another terrible simulation, but nothing happened. I opened my eyes and I was still here.

"Huh?" I asked.

"What? Did you think I was going to try that again? Those simulations drain my energy! I was just doing something enough to annoy you this time." He said. Suddenly the stools bounced to life and started running around barking.

"No!" I shouted. "None of that!" I tried pouncing on the stools to catch them, they ran about crashing into the walls and knocking things down. Discord just sat there laughing watching me struggle.

"This is such fun!" He laughed.

"No!" I groaned. "No it isn't!" I leaped onto one of the stools. I actually caught it! My moment of triumph quickly deflated as it scurried away. "Dammit."

"Look, Discord. Stop. I'm really getting pissed off here." I said.

"Why do I care?" He asked. He had a point. Suddenly, I had an idea.

"What if I call that friend of yours down here... What's her name again? Shutterfly or something?" I said slyly.

"Fluttershy? You wouldn't." He glared.

"Oh, oh.." I laughed a little. "Ohhhh but I would."

"Don't you dare!" He said.

"And she'll be all 'Oh Discord, stop being such a jerk, myah myah myah.!' And you'll be a little pushover! 'Oh Fluttershy, please forgive me! Myah myah myah!" Maybe I was pushing this too far, but I didn't care.

"In fact, I think I'll be on my way right now!" I said prancing towards the door. Suddenly the door swung shut in my face.

"Don't even think about it!" Suddenly I lost movement in my legs and fell forward onto my face. I could feel myself getting drug backwards. "I'm sorry, but I just can't have that. So I'm afraid I'll have to ensure you don't go anywhere." Suddenly a cage appeared and I was tossed inside.

"Oh come on!" I exclaimed.

"Nope. You're stuck here until your little friend gets back." He said. "You'd better hope he comes and checks in tonight, or else you'll be in here until morning.

"Oh for the love of..." I sighed. Not in a defeated way, but angrily. I was going to kill that loofah mane.

---

Chuck's Tavern. 1:30 AM

Luckily I still had my journal on me to write all this down for when I take Chuck to court, I don't know what I can accuse him of yet but I know there's something. Discord had continued to play around with the bar, the stools were running like dogs, the furniture was either flying around or on the ceiling, and the jukebox was playing polka! And get this, he didn't make it like that, polka was already on there! I was jsut about to lay down to accept I'd be here overnight when the door opened. It was Chuck! I'd never been so happy yet so angry to see somepony before.

"Alright Discord, fun's over." He said. Discord looked at me and sighed.

"Fine..." He snapped his fingers and it all returned to normal, the cage suddenly disappeared and I fell to my face. Ouch.

"How'd it go pal?" He asked. That little bastard...

"Ohhhhh... Ohhhh You owe me. Big time!" I growled at him as I made my way out of the building.

"Sounds like it went well, see ya tomorrow." I could hear him shout to me. Screw you.

So that was my day, my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Miraculously I survived it though, if anyone ever reads this, give Chuck a slap to the face, tell him it's from Quibble.

---

The end! Next chapter will continue the story from Chuck's point of view. Hope you enjoyed!

Discord's "game" sequence was taken from the video game The Stanley Parable, created by Davey Wreden.

Chapter 15: Something definitely there

I tried for about 20 minutes to think of something for the opener for this chapter, but I've got nothing.

---

Sugarcube corner

"Mail call!" Mr. Cake announced one morning. Mrs. Cake and Pinkie gathered around him, I didn't expect anything so I stayed on the couch.

"Ooh! What is it this time?" Pinkie asked.

"Well, let's see... Mrs. Cake, here's a letter from your friend Vanilla Twist... Pinkie, I'm assuming I can place this jury duty summons with the rest of them? Oh! Chuck! Looks like there's one for you!" He said. I looked up curiously.

"Really?" I asked getting off the couch.

"Yep, says it's from Barstool Collins of Manehatten." He said.

"Great!" I took the letter and opened it up. "Says he'll be here to discuss my starter set for opening my bar this afternoon!"

"Oh that's great!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Sure is, I should be able to open soon!" I said.

"Ooooh! You know what that means?" Pinkie asked.

"I don't know, what does it mean?" I pretended not to know.

"A 'Grand opening' party!" Pinkie exclaimed hugging me, I smiled.

"I can't wait hon." I said. I was excited for what she had in store, and I was also excited to finally get my bar up and running.

---

My Tavern, about a half hour later

"Counter clean-up, counter clean-up..." I hummed to myself in the style of the song Winter Wrap-up. I was really hoping Quibble would've at least kept the place clean while I was away, but there was this spot on the counter that was definitely there even before I left! and over the time it sat it dried up on the counter. So that's just great. Suddenly Cheese walks into the bar.

"Hey Cheese! How's it going?" I ask. He says nothing and slaps me hard in the face.

"That was from Quibble." He said.

"Why did he tell you to do that?" I asked. "Why couldn't he just do it himself?" I knew why he wanted to anyway, Discord filled me in on everything, sounded like a blast.

"Well, he didn't really tell me, I read it in his journal! Except I didn't know at first it was his journal, I just thought it was a sad, sad hoof-written book." Cheese said.

"Oh really huh?" I groaned rubbing my face. He has an impressive swing I must say. "How was that thing up in Baltimare?" I ask.

"Spectacular!" He exclaimed. "It was a beautiful wedding! But let me tell you, those ponies ate like you wouldn't believe!"

"Trust me, I believe." I happened to be known for gluttony being a big one on my 'seven deadly sins' list.

"Whaddya doing here anyway?" He asked.

"I own this place. What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Well I just wanted to stop by and say 'hi.' and I tried the Sugarcube corner because you live there but Pinkie told me I'd find you here and well, here I am." He said.

"Well that's interesting." I said. "If you're still wondering why I'm here I'm just getting ready, my supplier to be is coming down to make a business deal. I should be opening soon if all goes well." I explain.

"Oh cool!" He exclaimed. "What do you want me to do?" He asked.

"Huh?" I arched my eyebrow.

"To help out!" He said.

"Oh... Well honestly I don't really need much help with this, it's really just looking over the size, possible patron base so as not to overstock. I mean if you want I suppose.. Wait, what were you thinking?" I asked.

"A host!" He said.

"Are you asking for a job?" I asked.

"Well I guess when you put it that way... Yes I was definitely asking for a job." He nodded.

"Well, I could use the help... I don't see why not." I said. "Put 'er there." I extended my hoof to shake his. He took it, he took it hard. He shook harder and faster than anyone that I've ever met.

"I just need really flexible hours, and days off without notice." He grinned.

"You're lucky you came to me with that pitch, I don't think anypony else would've hired you with that." I said wiping at the counter.

"When do I start?" He asked.

"Barstool will be here in a couple hours." I said.

"Oooooohhhh about that, I think I need that time off for a personal reflection day." He said. I looked at him with a blank stare.

"Don't expect pay for the day then." I grinned slightly.

"That is a sacrifice I am willing to make." He said with a hoof to his chest. "See ya!" He bolted out the door.

"Alrighty then." I said with a bit of a laugh.

---

A couple hours later

After wiping away at that same spot for quite some time I finally got it. But that wasn't why I changed the scene or anything.

"There!" I said feeling fulfilled seeing the stain had vanished. Suddenly I heard a knock on the door.

"C'mon in!" I welcome whoever was behind the door. A unicorn pony a little shorter than me but heavier walked in, he had an orange puffy mane and beard with a gray flat cap not too unlike the one I used to wear back on Earth.

"Welcome!" I say. "I assume your Barstool?" I asked.

"Aye, that be me!" He said, he had a very heavy Irish accent. "What's the craic?"

"I'm doing quite well." I reply. "Come, we can talk in my office."

"I'd rather do it out here thank you." He said while looking around the place. "Like what you've got going on here, who's your decorator?" He asked.

"Well, most of the furniture came with the place when I got it, course it had to be completely repaired and cleaned, I had a friend of mine help me out with that." I explained.

"Very interesting.." He said examining the bar, suddenly, Pinkie came bouncing in.

"Hiya Chuckie!" She exclaimed. Startling both me and Barstool. "I was talking to Cheese and he said you gave him a job! And I just wanted to say that was really nice of you and-" She stopped suddenly. "Who's this?" She asked motioning to Barstool.

"Pinkie, hon, this is Barstool, we talked about him earlier?" I said.

"Oh hi!" She jumped up and ran up to him. "I'm Pinkie Pie! It's so great to meet you!" She said with a big grin. Barstool smiled nervously.

"Top o' the... uh... mornin' to ya." He said shyly. "Who might this be?" Barstool asked me.

"Ah, Barstool, this is my marefriend, Pinkie Pie, Pinkie, this is Barstool." I say introducing the two.

"Oh lookie here, you've got a lady friend huh?" Barstool chuckled to me.

"I sure do." I smiled wrapping one of my front legs around Pinkie. "We're still early on, but something's definitely there." I smile at her giving her a kiss. Barstool smiled at the two of us.

"Young love. Sure is sweet." He smiled. "Now, what do you say we get back to business?"

"Couldn't agree more." I said.

---

Later

"Well that's the last of the details." Barstool said. "I'll have your supplies sent to you first thing tomorrow mornin'."

"That's wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Here you go." I gave him a pouch all that was left of the business loan. "Should cover it. Feel free to come back whenever you want."

"I just may." He smiled. "Feel free to drop by whenever your up to Manehatten!"

"We will!" Pinkie said for me.

"I'll see you around." I said as he left. "Well what do you think of that? I've got my own little business." I asked Pinkie. She wrapped me in a big hug.

"Good job Chuckie." She said.

"Thanks hon." I hugged her back. "It's still pretty early in the afternoon, what do you say to a nice lunch?"

"Sounds like a plan!" She exclaimed.

---

Lunchtime

"So tell me about yourself." Pinkie said as we were eating.

"What?" I cocked my head. "I don't follow, you know me."

"Tell me about you before you came to Ponyville!" She said.

"What do you wanna know?" I asked sipping on my drink.

"I dunno, just tell me about when you were a colt!" She said.

"Well, first of all.." I chuckled a bit. "We called our young ones children, or kids. Let's see... My childhood..." I said. "Well, I had a mom and a dad, and two siblings, an older brother and a sister... They were real cards..." I muttered. "When I was around 8 my parents separated and my dad remarried, and I got 4 new step-siblings. Who were all better than me in just about every single way. I know, imagine that, right?" I quipped. "I'm sorry, you asked about my childhood, not my family."

"That's okay!" She said. "I just wanna know some more about you!"

"Well, when I was young, my dad would tell stories, often based on other stories, about big robots from space, or toys that came to life, and he was quite good at it. I like to imagine that I got it from him, but I don't know. Oh! I did a lot of acting in musical theater when I was a teenager, and I was quite well at too, I specialized in comic relief."

"I can see that!" She giggled.

"I also used to draw, I would entertain my friends with little comics I'd draw, oh! And impressions." I said.

"You'd draw?" She asked.

"Of course! I loved to draw, ever since I was really young it was a gift I had, along with entertaining, but of course that ones a given." I motioned to my cutie mark.

"Would you entertain pon- uhhh.. People from your world?" She asked.

"Well, yeah I'd entertain my friends with voices and jokes, and I tried to do it when I grew up, but I never really found my place doing it." I said. She could tell thinking about it made me feel sad, she walked over to me and gave me a hug.

"You found a place in my heart." She said.

"And you found one in mine." I smiled hugging back.

"I'll have to tell you a few more stories some time." I said.

"Why not one right now?" She asked.

"I don't see the harm in that." I said thinking up a story from when I was younger.

---

The story

"What the hell did you do?" Ross exclaimed. We were rooming on a school trip in a relatively nice hotel in Quebec the french part of Canada, just me and a couple of, well I'll call them acquaintances, and of course my childhood best friend, who's wedding I mentioned earlier on, and what happened was the toilet kind of, blew up a little, and this three to four star hotel room was getting flooded with toilet water.

"Hey. Screw you pal. None of this is my fault! This is circumstance! Somebody up there is schadenfreuding the hell out of this moment right now! And you bitching isn't helping a bit!" I gritted my teeth.

"Well, we have to do something!" Kenny said feeling neurotic.

"Everyone, grab a pillow." I said concocting a plan. "They're hotel pillows, they've seen more semen than a navy submarine, this won't be the worst thing to happen to them." I said tossing a pillow at the crease between the door and the floor to try and stop water from seeping through.

"That's disgusting." Ross groaned at my analogy.

"They've seen more creamy white goo than a smore, is that better princess!?" I growled. "Kenny! try and get water from the toilet into the bathtub, Ross, keep doing what I'm doing, I'm gonna call for maintenance." I said picking up the hotel phone.

"Allo?" The person who answered asked.

"Um... Uh... Bonjour, nous avons un... Ummm probleme dans notre chambre..." I mumbled trying to speak French.

"You can speak English." he said to me. Oh thank God.

"We have a flooding problem in our room!" I cried out.

"We will have maintenance up right away.' He said.

"Thank you!" I said hanging up.

"What are we gonna do!?" Kenny said. "We're going to be paying this off till we're 40!"

"I'm not paying off a single penny!" Ross whined. Ohhhh man.

"Ross! Shut up!" Kenny yelled.

Now at this point, you should know there was one other person in our room. But this person had been sleeping through all of this.

"Could you guys quiet down? I'm trying to sleep." Tyler said. We all looked at him angrily.

"Have you been asleep this whole time!?" I yelled at him.

"Yeah... What's going on?" He asked sitting up.

"Look at the floor!" Kenny growled.

"Oh geez guys, what happened?" He said. Now two people in the room were pissing me off.

"The rooms flooded!" I yelled flailing my arms like Kermit the Frog. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I said frantically.

"Maintenance." The worker said. "What is the problem?"

"The toilet." Kenny said. "Pretty sure it's the valve."

"Yes it is." He said looking at the toilet.

To make a long story short, the worker found the problem, it had nothing to do with us though! We were moved to a nicer room free of charge too, ever since then Kenny and I looked at the story fondly and laugh, and Ross always groans when it's brought up. and Tyler doesn't remember.

---

After the story

"Wow! That's crazy!" She said.

"Yeah, I know." I said laughing about it. "I'll tell you a few more another time." I said.

---

That night

After the day had passed, Pinkie and I were relaxing together on the couch looking out the window at the stars. Neither of us had said a word in a little while. Suddenly Pinkie spoke up.

"Remember when you were talking to Barstool earlier?" She asked.

"Yeah." I said.

"What did you mean when you said 'something is definitely there'?" She asked.

"Well..." I said. "I can see that we're definitely headed somewhere." I said stroking her shoulder.

"Where?" She asked.

"Now normally I'd say it's about the journey, not the destination." I began. "But I have a feeling we're gonna be together for a long, long time." I said.

"Awww, Chuckie, I love you." She said.

"I love you too." I said kissing her forehead.

Me: Well I met someone who touched my soul

And made my world brand new

There's part of me, a place inside, that now belong to you...

The love we've found

The love we've found

We carry with us, so we're never quite alone.

Pinkie and I: The love we've found

The love we've found

The sweetest dream that we have ever known,

The love we've found

The love we've found

We carry with us, so we're never quite alone.

"Goodnight Pinkie." I said giving her a hug.

"Goodnight Chuckie." She replied.

"See you in the morning." I said.

"I can't wait." She smiled.

---

The next morning

As I opened up my bar the next morning, I saw that the back door was unlocked, at first I was worried that somepony had broken in, but then I saw a big pile of barrels in the storage room.

"He delivered already? Great!" I exclaimed. Walking out to the main room, I saw a note on the counter. It was from Barstool.

"I wish you luck with your business..." It said. "I'll make sure to stop by and visit. I also wish you luck with your marefriend, you two seem to be good together, love in a precious thing. Make sure to cherish it for all your days. -Barstool." I finished.

"What a nice guy.." I said. I took his letter and pinned it to a board in my office. "I will." I said reading the last sentence again.

---

And that's the chapter! Hope you enjoyed it, as always if you want to read more please feel free to follow, please review too!

Song used

"When love is found." Written by: Paul Williams

Chapter 16: The Grand Opening

The bar opening plot finally finishes in this chapter!

---

Chuck's tavern

"Is the banner ready?" I asked Pinkie as we were making preparations for the grand opening party for my bar. We were all set. Good thing too, we kick it off in an hour.

"All set!" She said holding it up.

"Great! barrels set up?" I asked Cheese.

"All hooked up and ready to go! I only had to mop up the floor four times!" He smiled.

"Four times?" I asked. "Good grief... But that can wait, thank you to both of you for your help. Honestly I don't know where this bar would be right now without you."

"Same place as always, it's never moved." Pinkie said.

"You know what I meant." I said with a grin.

"Bring it in!" Cheese exclaimed wrapping us in a hug.

"Ach... Ach... Wind pipe... Wind pipe!" I croaked at the tight hug. He eventually released the hug, breathing has never felt so good.

"Alright team. Good work, we can all meet back here for opening in one hour." I said. "See you then."

"Sounds good!" Cheese bounced out the door. Pinkie however stayed behind.

"Not that I'm complaining, but what are you still doing here?" I asked her.

"Just thought I'd spend a little time with my special somepony." She smiled.

"Well, I don't have anything else to do, what do you say we get out of here for a while?" I asked.

"Sounds fun!" She said as we walked out.

---

Ponyville streets

"So how have you been? I'm sorry but it seems I've been really busy lately." I said as we walked down the street.

"I've been good! I got a letter from my sister Maud this morning!" She said. Ah yes, Maud.

"Ooooh I just had such a great idea!" She jumped. "You've got to meet her some time!" She squealed. "I just had an even better idea! You should meet my whole family!" She beamed. I looked at her for a second, then smiled.

"I'd like that." I nodded. Suddenly she jumped up again. Looks like this idea just got another layer added to it.

"We should visit them for Hearthswarming!" She exclaimed. That was only a little while away...

"Sounds good to me." Oh goody! I'm great at first impressions! Just kidding, I crack up and fail miserably.

"Oooooooh I can't wait! This is gonna be so much fun!" She hugged me tightly.

"It sure will." I said. Looks like my holiday plans have just been made, sounds like it'll be a good time! Despite of course my terrible way of making a first impression, I was actually looking forward to it. Now, come to think of it, Hearthswarming shopping needed to be done. It's to early to stress out about this... It isn't even pony-thanksgiving yet! Is that even a thing?

"Up for lunch?" I asked after I realized I'd been silent for a little bit now and it started getting awkward.

"Sure!" She exclaimed.

"Great." I said as we walked toward one of the little cafe shops around town, we entered and sat down at a table, honestly I was a bit worried about adapting to a pony diet, but it's grown on me, I've missed meat a little though I won't lie, but considering how amazing my life has been recently, it's an even trade.

"One sandwich please." I ordered. "Oooh! And an ice tea too." I add.

"I'm gonna skip to desert and have chocolate cake please!" Pinkie said folding her menu.

"Comin' right up." Our waitress said taking our menus.

"This is nice." I began. "A nice little lunch, together."

"Yeah." She smiled stirring the ice in her water with a straw.

"Yeah." I smiled back.

"Here you go you two." Our waitress said handing us our food.

"Thank you!" We both said simultaneously. We both sat there silently with our food for a moment. I looked up at her and smiled.

"See, you were smart and skipped to desert, wish I had of thought of that." I said.

"Thinkin' like Pinkies a real skill!" She said tapping her head. This made my smile.

"Sure is." I said before taking a bite of my sandwich. It was pretty good, sourdough bread was a nice touch.

"So you remember those guys you talked about in that story you told me?" She asked.

"Yeah, what about 'em?" I replied.

"Who were they?" She asked.

"Oh, well one of them, Kenny, he was my best friend back when I was younger. met him when I was just starting out in school. Ross, God love him, he's a great guy, anal as hell though." I laughed. "Tyler was another pal of mine, but we faded apart not too long after that story... Kenny and I eventually faded apart too." I said.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Some would put it like this. He moved on, got a life. Started growing up, and I simply didn't." I said.

"You moved on." She said.

"How do you figure- Oh yeah, I really moved on." I said looking down at my hooves.

"Besides, I'm glad things turned out the way they did." She said.

"So am I." I smiled. We didn't say anything for a moment, until I spoke up.

"That looks amazing, can I try a bite of that?" I asked.

"PINKIE DOESN'T SHARE CAKE!" She exclaimed tensely as it was written in bold.

"Completely understandable. Pardon me? ma'am?" I call for the waitress, well it was quite understandable. Cake is sacred.

---

Chuck's tavern

"Huh. I expected a bigger turnout." I said as the party 'started'. Pinkie, Cheese, and I were the only ones here.

"This might have something to do with the fact I never told anypony about it." Cheese said to us.

"That was your job." Pinkie nodded.

"Yes. Yes that's probably why." I said to Cheese dryly. "Why not do that, oh I don't know, now?" I continued.

"You can count on me!" He bolted through the door.

"That should help, huh?" I said to Pinkie.

"Yep!" We laughed.

"Oh!" She started. "Before I forget, something for your grand opening." She pulled a small box from her mane. I opened it up to see a beautiful black bow tie.

"Oh Pinkie... I love it!" I beamed at the gift. "It's perfect, I love you!" I gave her a big hug.

"I love you too, glad you like it." She said.

"I'll definitely wear this everyday, thanks Cutiepie." I said, she looked at me in silence.

"That one didn't work either?" I asked.

"Now that one, I like." She gave me a kiss on the cheek. I smiled as I tied the bow tie around my neck and straightened it out.

"Looks perfect." She said.

"Thanks." I blushed. Suddenly there was a loud knock at the door. I peeked my head out to look. Cheese had gathered just about everypony together and they were waiting outside.

"Now that's a guest list!" Pinkie said looking out.

"Good work Cheese. Keep 'em stalled for a second so I can come out and make a little opening announcement." I told him.

"Yes sir!" He nodded. I turned to Pinkie before heading out the door.

"It's party time." I grinned opening the door.

"Hello everypony." I addressed the crowd. "I'd like to welcome you all to the official grand opening of Ponyville's first primary source of inebriation! I jest, soft drinks are also an option, a mixture of both is also available, and my personal favorite. And now, let's kick this thing off! Pinkie?" I gesture to her. She then cut the ribbon in front of the doors. "Come on in everypony!" I welcome everypony in.

"Let's get this party started!" Pinkie exclaimed as we entered once everypony else came in. I went behind the counter and quickly started taking orders. Pinkie, Quibble, Applejack, and Rainbow came over to the counter.

"What'll it be?" I ask them.

"Something soft." Rainbow said. "I'm flying tonight." (Don't drink and fly.)

"Comin' right up. and the rest of you?"

"Cream soda! soft or hard, don't really care! In fact gimme one of each!" Pinkie said.

"You've got it, those will be on the house." I told her.

"No fair!" Quibble said.

"Tell you what, I'll let you have a free drink too, consider an apology for that day with Discord." I told him.

"I want a whole night of free drinks for that." He glared.

"I'll give you a whole night half off. take it or leave it."

"Fine." He said. "I'll start with a 'rye of the tiger'?"

"It's actually rye whiskey with a dash of orange and lemon juice. I thought the name was fun." I said.

"I'll take that." He said.

"And Applejack?"

"Surprise me." She said.

"Alrighty then." I said jotting down their orders of a piece of paper and started pouring their various drinks.

"Here you go." I slid their drinks to them down the counter in traditional bartender fashion. "Enjoy."

"Wow! These are delicious! I can't even tell the difference between the two!" Pinkie exclaimed testing her drinks.

"After enough of one you sure would." I quipped.

"This is pretty good!" Applejack said. "What is it?"

"That's a favorite of your's truly. Spiked root beer. All the taste of the world's greatest soft drink, with that warm and tingly feeling in the tummy." I said.

"I'll take another!" She said.

"Alright." I said. "But you'd better pace yourself. The downfall of the drink is you don't quite know when you've hit too much till it's too late." I advised from personal experience while sliding her another one.

"Hey, where's the music?" Pinkie asked.

"Yeah! Where is the music?" I agreed. "Ay Cheese!" I called to him. "Give the jukebox a kick!"

"Now you're talking." He gave the jukebox a literal kick, not exactly what I meant, but miraculously, that somehow worked! Like on Happy Days how Fonzie would punch the jukebox and somehow not get a fistful of broken glass. Music starting up was met with a positive reaction to just about everypony.

"Aw, what a classic!" I listened to the song.

Me: We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

/

Say you don't know me, or recognize my face

Say you don't care who goes to that kind of place

Knee deep in the hoopla, sinking in your fight

Too many runaways eating up the night

/

Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don't you remember

We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

/

Cheese: Someone's always playing corporation games

Who cares they're always changing corporation names

We just want to dance here, someone stole the stage

They call us irresponsible, write us off the page

/

Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don't you remember

We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

/

Quibble: It's just another Sunday, in a tired old street

Police have got the choke hold, oh, then we just lost the beat

/

Rainbow Dash: Who counts the money underneath the bar

Who rides the wrecking ball into our guitars

Applejack: Don't tell us you need us, 'cause we're just simple fools

Looking for Equestria, coming through your schools

/

"I'm looking out over that Golden Gate bridge out on a gorgeous sunny Saturday and I'm seeing that bumper to bumper traffic." I say.

Everypony: Don't you remember (remember)

"Here's your favorite radio station, in your favorite radio city the city by the bay, the city that rocks, the city that never sleeps."

/

Pinkie: Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don't you remember

We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll!

Me: We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll

Everypony: Built this city!

Pinkie: Ooooh-Ah-Ah-Ooooh

Everypony: we built this city on rock an' roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll!

(We built, we built this city) built this city (we built, we built this city)

---

"Yeeeahhh! Rock and roll!" Bulk Biceps exclaimed. (Bulk Biceps happens to be one of my favorite minor characters, it was about time I tossed him a line.)

"Next round's on the house!" I yelled. Why did I yell that out? Great. Now I have to keep that promise.

"Say Chuck." Applejack told me. "I'm lookin' at your menu, and it seems to be missin' something." She said.

"Yeah! That's right!" Rainbow nodded. I had a feeling I knew what they were talking about.

"Oh yeah? What's that?" I asked.

"The cider!" They both said simultaneously.

"Well, the thing about that is, if I were to serve it, I would want only the best available... I tried some of what Barstool had to offer, and it was good, but it paled in comparison to cider I've had before... If you catch what I mean." I said to Applejack.

"If y'all wants to talk business, take it up with Big Mac. He's the numbers one in the family." She told me. Really? Huh, never would have figured.

"Will do." I nodded.

---

Later that evening.

Everypony had an amazing time, most even stayed right till closing, it was a fun afternoon of laughter, songs, and dancing, and of course a bit of inebriation. What? it helps you come out of your shell! Or get brawly, luckily nopony seemed to be in the mood for a brawl. Once it was about time to close, I made my way up to the karaoke stage.

"This thing on?" I tapped the mic. "I want to thank everypony for coming, it was a great opener, I hope to see you all as regulars. I'd also like to thank Cheese Sandwich for gathering you all here, albeit a bit late." I shot a look at him. "And most of all, I'd like to thank my very... very special somepony, Pinkie Pie for setting this party up. So, before we close up. I'd like to put on one more classic. This one's for you Cutiepie, c'mon up here!" I called her up. As she made her way to me I gave the jukebox a kick and it started up.

Me: Don't go breaking my heart

Pinkie: I couldn't if I tried

Me: Oh Honey if I get restless

Pinkie: Baby you're not that kind

Me: Don't go breaking my heart

Pinkie: You take the weight off me

Me: Oh honey when you knocked on my door

Pinkie: I gave you my key

Both of us: Nopony knows it

Me: When I was down

Pinkie: I was your clown

Both of us: Nopony knows it

Me: Right from the start

Pinkie: I gave you my heart

Both of us: Ooooh-ohhh I gave you my heart

Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-doo!

Me: So don't go breaking my heart

Pinkie: I won't go breaking your heart

Both of us: Don't go breaking my heart

/

Me: And nopony told us

Pinkie: 'Cause nopony showed us

Me: And now it's up to us babe

Pinkie: I think we can make it

Me: So don't misunderstand me

Pinkie: You put the light in my life

Me: Oh you put the sparks to the flame

Pinkie: I've got your heart in my sights

/

Both of us: Nopony knows it

Me: When I was down

Pinkie: I was your clown

Both of us: Nopony knows it

Me: Right from the start

Pinkie: I gave you my heart

Both of us: Ooooh-ohhh I gave you my heart

Me: So don't go breaking my heart

Pinkie: I won't go breaking your heart

Both of us: Don't go breaking my heart

Both of us: Nopony knows it

Me: When I was down

Pinkie: I was your clown

Me: Right from the start

Pinkie: I gave you my heart

Both of us: Ooooh-ohhh I gave you my heart

Me: Don't go breaking my heart

Pinkie: I won't go breaking your heart

Both of us: Don't go breaking my

Don't go breaking my

Don't go breaking my heart

Don't go breaking my

Don't go breaking my

I won't go breaking your heart!

---

Pinkie and I exchanged a long kiss as the song came to an end.

"Alright, now get outta here! You don't have to go home but you can't stay here!" I called out. I would dare say I had a very good opening day.

---

That's another chapter! Hope that you enjoyed it! Hearthswarming with the Pie family huh? How's that gonna go? Tune in, because that will be the next arc!

Songs used

"We built this city" by: Starship.

"Don't go breaking my heart" by: Elton John.

Chapter 17: Nightmare Night

Just a short little chapter about a nightmare night party

---

Chuck's Tavern

"And then, when she picked up the phone, the operator said. 'we've traced the call... and it's coming from... inside the house!" I finished my story. Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Cheese Sandwich, Quibble, and I had gotten together mid afternoon on Nightmare Night before the across town festivities had begun for a small Nightmare Night party.

"That's nothing!" Quibble scoffed at my story. "I've got a better one, and get this, it really happened."

"We've all already read that journal you kept." Rainbow Dash laughed.

"Yeah!" Pinkie laughed with her.

"Personally the only fright y'all could give me is that ridiculous costume your wearing." Applejack told him remarking his ridiculous costume. "What the heck are you even supposed to be?" She asked.

"I'm The Pigeon! From Bat-Stallion?" He said. (Shameless parody, I know.) We all head our costumes ready, I donned a costume resembling Gomez Addams, I even went so far as to slick and dye my mane. Pinkie was a jester, who slightly resembled Harley Quinn from the Batman franchise. Cheese was wearing a costume that resembled the band DEVO's plastic yellow uniforms. Applejack had a quite Piratey costume, and Rainbow Dash was wearing a Daring Do costume, you would not believe how long Quibble and her debated over how accurate it was. As my way of helping myself get through listening to them, I poured myself two drinks and put the cost on their tabs.

"Anypony else have a story?" I asked. I was met with shaking heads. "Well, I've got one more. It's a classic." I grinned.

"Can't be worse than your last one..." Quibble said. I brushed off the comment and gave the jukebox a kick. I raised a sly grin on my face as the music began I turned all the lights out but one dim hanging bulb. I stepped under it and revealed my face just before the beat of the song kicked off.

Me: It's close to midnight

Something evil's lurking from the dark

Under the moonlight

You see a sight that almost stops your heart

You try to scream

But terror takes the sound before you make it

You start to freeze

As horror looks you right between your eyes

You're paralyzed

'Cause this is thriller

Thriller night

And no one's gonna save you

From the beast about to strike

You know it's thriller

Thriller night

You're fighting for your life

Inside a killer thriller tonight, yeah

Ooooh

/

You hear the door slam

And realize there's nowhere left to run

You feel the cold hoof

As I sang that lyric I placed my hoof on Quibble's shoulder, it absolutely terrified him, it was pretty difficult to keep from laughing.

And wonder if you'll ever see the sun

You close your eyes

And hope that this is just imagination

But all the while

You hear a creature creeping up behind

You're out of time

Cause this is thriller, thriller night

There ain't no second chance against the thing with the forty eyes, no

Thriller, thriller night

You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight

/

Night creatures call

And the dead start to walk in their masquerade

There's no escaping the jaws of the alien this time

This is the end of your life

/

They're out to get you, there's demons closing in on every side

They will possess you unless you change that number on your dial

Now is the time for you and I to cuddle close together

I slid in next to Pinkie for the next couple lines

All through the night I'll save you from the terror on the screen,

I'll make you see

I gave Pinkie a quick kiss on the cheek before jumping in front of everypony again.

That this is thriller, thriller night

'Cause I can thrill you more than any ghoul could ever dare try

Thriller, thriller night

So let me hold you tight and share a killer, thriller, chiller

Thriller here tonight

'Cause this is thriller, thriller night

I can thrill you more than any ghoul could ever dare try

Thriller, thriller night

So let me hold you tight and share a killer, thriller

I then slipped into the darkness and disguised my voice for the next part.

"Darkness falls across the land

The midnight hour is close at hand

Creatures crawl in search of blood

To terrorize y'all's neighborhood

And whomsoever shall be found

Without the soul for getting down

Must stand and face the hounds of hell

And rot inside a corpse's shell

The foulest stench is in the air

The funk of forty thousand years

And grisly ghouls from every tomb

Are closing in to seal your doom

And though you fight to stay alive

Your body starts to shiver

For no mere mortal can resist

The evil of the thriller..."

As the music ended I laughed maniacally, that is definitely what sealed the deal on making this frightening. I flicked on the lights to see everypony's eyes quite wide.

"And that's a little classic from where I come from for this time of year." I grinned getting back behind the counter.

"Wow." Quibble said with wide eyes. "I'd be lying if I said I underestimated that, so, wow."

"Yeah. It is pretty wow." I said smugly wiping at a dirty mug. "So anyway, you can say that I really know this stuff. I have a passion for a few times of year, this is one of them." I stroked my fake mustache.

"I gotta admit, that was pretty good." Rainbow Dash said.

"Here here." Applejack nodded.

"Thank you, thank you very much." I bowed.

"I didn't take you as the type who enjoyed this kinda stuff." Cheese said.

"It's fun! Sometimes, fun and fear can go quite well together." I replied.

"It's true!" Pinkie nodded. "That little chill that shivers down your spine is sometimes what lets you know: 'Hey! Hey you! You're alive!' Ya know?"

"See! She gets it." I told the others. "In fact, one of my favorite fictional characters found their fun in the frightening."

"Who's that?" Cheese asked.

"Why, Gomez Addams and his whole family!" I motioned at my costume.

"Never heard of him." Quibble said.

"Maybe because I'm from another dimension, c'mon I must've told you at some point!" I told him. "Anyway, his family would delight in the dark and more... macabre side of things, perhaps an example is in order."

"You're not going to sing again, are you?" Quibble asked as the music on the jukebox began playing.

Me: When you're an Addams

You need to have a little moonlight

When you're an Addams

You need to feel a little chill

You have to see the world in shades of gray

You have to put some poison in your day

Pinkie got up next to me and started dancing along with me.

Pinkie: That's the way

Pinkie and I: When you're an Addams

Me: You need to have a sense of humor

When you're an Addams

Pinkie: You need to have a taste for death

Pinkie and I: Who cares about the world outside

And what it wants from you

When you're and Addams

You do what Addams always do!

When you're an Addams

Me: You gotta have a lotta passion

Pinkie and I: When you're an Addams

Pinkie: You need to really love your mare

Me (Spoken):Several times a day

Pinkie and I: You're happy when your hooves are in the mud

Rainbow and Applejack exchanged looks and grinned.

Applejack and Rainbow: You smile a bit the moment you smell blood

AA-OOOH!

Me/Pinkie/Applejack/Rainbow: When you're an Addams

Pinkie:You need to grab a bow and arrow

Me/Pinkie/Applejack/Rainbow: When you're an Addams

Me: You need a moment to explode

Applejack: Just pour a potion

Rainbow: Flip the switch

Rainbow/Applejack: And wait till things get hot!

Me/Pinkie/Applejack/Rainbow: When you're an Addams

You have to really stir the pot

Rainbow: So keep your sunshine

And keep your glee

Me: Country music and Tennessee

Pinkie: Keep you laughter

Applejack: And MTV

Me/Pinkie/Applejack/Rainbow: And all will be all right

Give us shadows and give us gloom

Broken glass in a motel room

Something fun we can all exhume

And give it all tonight!

After an instrumental break and doing a bit of dancing, Cheese and Quibble looked at each other, Quibble sighed.

"Fine." He said with a slight grin.

Me/Pinkie/Applejack/Rainbow: When you're an Addams

Cheese/Quibble: That's right!

When you're an Addams

Me/Pinkie/Applejack/Rainbow: You have a very special duty

Cheese/Quibble: Late night! Out with the Addams!

Me/Pinkie/Applejack/Rainbow: When you're an Addams

Cheese/Quibble: With one bite

All: You're obligated to the clan

It's family first and family last

And family by and by

When you're an Addams

The standard answers don't apply

When you're and Addams

You do what Addams do or...

Die!

---

We all laughed a little as the song ended. "See? Isn't that fun?"

"Sure is!" Pinkie chuckled.

"Alright y'all, I've got to get this place ready for tonight, I promised I'd set up a couple of activities for the foals tonight." I told them.

"Well alright Chuck, it was fun, see ya tonight!" Applejack said as they left. Pinkie stayed behind with me.

"Want to help me set up?" I asked.

"No, but I know you don't want to set up either so I thought I'd keep you company and help out!" She winked.

"Oh, you know me so well." I said as I started getting things ready.

---

Ponyville streets: That night

"Come and step in, if you dare! To 'Haunted Hell's Tavern!'" I announced with a maniacal laugh at the door when some foals came to the door. "Nah, I'm just kidding around. C'mon in." I recognized the little fillies to be the cutiemark crusaders.

"Welcome!" Pinkie announced jumping out from behind the counter.

"Hi Pinkie!" The all said in unison.

"Awwww you all look so cute! What are your costumes?" She asked.

"I'm a sheep dog!" Applebloom said.

"I'm a Wonderbolt!" Scootaloo said.

"And I'm a... bee. It would make more sense if Rarity were here. She's a flower. This was her idea." Sweetie Belle said in an annoyed tone.

"Well, I think it's a Bee-utiful costume." I joked stepping behind the counter. "I can only assume you're here for candy?" I asked.

"We certainly weren't here for that joke." Scootaloo murmured to her friends.

"Ha. Ha." I said getting the candy bowl. "Here you go." I placed some candy in each of their little buckets. "Happy Nightmare Night." I smiled.

"Happy Nightmare Night!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Thanks!" They said as they left.

"Foals. Huh?" I said to Pinkie as they left.

"Whoa, whoa, I think it's a little early to think about that huh?" She joked.

"Absolutely." I grinned taking a drink. It was soft after all, I was dealing with young ones. I walked to the door ad looked out.

"You know, I think every foal in town has already hit here, you know what that means..." I said with a grin.

"We eat all the left over candy ourselves?" Pinkie smiled.

"We have a winner!" I smiled unwrapping a candy. "To Nightmare Night!"

"To Nightmare Night!" Pinkie said before tossing her candy into her mouth.

---

That's my little Nightmare Night chapter! Just a fun little chapter to get you in a spooky mood for this time of year that will have absolutely no effect any other month of the year. Until next time!

Songs used

"Thriller". By: Michael Jackson.

"When You're An Addams". From "The Addams Family" Broadway musical.

Chapter 18: The wingless wing man

Look who's back at it again with another chapter!

---

"Alright thanks Big Mac!" I called out to him as he left the bar, just arranged for a cider business deal, prices were quite fair too! But that's not what this chapter is about. (That would be even more boring than what I had in mind.)

"Eeyup!" He called back. I could tell he was in a rush, I think it was something about making a delivery Starlight's old village he told me, I dunno. Suddenly I could see Cheese and Quibble walking towards the bar.

"Well if it isn't my favorite customer!" I called to Quibble.

"Oh you probably say that to everypony." He said.

"As a matter of fact, I do." I said. "Cheese you're lucky it's a slow day." I told Cheese as he walked in with Quibble.

"Oh that's right! I work here!" He said.

"Yeah. You do." I said getting behind the counter.

"Ooh! Do I get a cool bow tie like you have?" He asked.

"If you owned the place and had the best mare-friend in the world you would." I said back. My bow tie, and that best mare-friend in the whole world was out of town on a friendship problem today. Having her around to keep me company would've been nice, but duty calls.

"Allllrighty then!" He said.

"So what can I get you two?" I asked.

"Scotch. Nothing added. Just scotch. This Cheese-head has been driving me up the wall all day." Quibble said.

"All day? It's hardly lunchtime! Don't worry, drinking before noon makes you a pirate, not an alcoholic." I slid him his drink. He looked down at his drink, he looked exhausted, and something else was clearly bothering him.

"You're just saying that because you make money off of ponies drinking." He said.

"God, you're a downer." I scoffed. "But you are right. And Cheese?" I asked.

"None for me thanks!" He said.

"Good answer. I need you completely sober for your shift." I said grabbing his apron.

"Oooooh... You see, about that... I already made arrangements with a... Uhh...' He began looking frantically around the room. "Mr. Jukebox... Uh... Bar-rag! Yeah! Mr. Jukebox bar-rag!" He exclaimed.

"Yeah right." I laughed. "Whatever, it's a slow day anyway."

"You're the best boss ever!" He said bouncing out the door.

"Yeah yeah, don't you forget it!" I called out. "You roomed with him for how long?" I asked Quibble.

"A few years now, I met him roughly after he visited Ponyville." He said.

"Oh yeah?" I wiped at a mug.

"Yeah. He made sure to tell me all about that. Along with every single other detail of his life within the same day I met him." He laughed a little.

"I believe it." I said. Suddenly a big cloud appeared in the bar. "What the hell!?" I exclaimed.

"Why hello!" Discord bellowed. Quibble sighed.

"Hey Discord. What brings you here?" I asked.

"Probably the ass-hat express..." Quibble muttered.

"Quiet you." Discord snapped his fingers and a muzzle appeared on Quibble's mouth.

"Hey, Discord, I can't just have you doing that to paying customers." I sneered. "But a drink, then maybe I'll let it slide."

"Fine. I'll have a cinnamon whiskey on the rocks. Hold the glass." He said.

"You want me pour it out, drop ice in it, and not put it in a glass?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, I'll do it myself." All of a sudden whiskey started pouring and ice cubes started floating, it looked almost like a twisty straw going through the air, he gulped the whole thing down.

"Weirdo." I said wiping the counter.

"Here you go." He slid me the money.

"This is a little short. What's the deal?" I queried.

"I read somewhere part of the cost is the usage of the glass. Anyway, Good day!" Before I could tell him that wasn't true he disappeared. The muzzle on Quibble went with him and he started gasping for air.

"There was no air in there!" He wheezed.

"Thank God you're okay though, I can't imagine how bad it would be if you died here, that is paperwork I don't wanna do." I breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was your concern?" He exclaimed.

"Kinda, paperwork is so boring."

"You should ban him from the premises." He sneered.

"I can't do that! He's a paying customer!"

"He's a public menace!"

"You're overreacting, besides, I can't ban someone without cause." I told him.

"I have cause, it is because I hate him!" He whined.

"Cute wordplay. But that doesn't work." I grinned. "Now, what's got you down?" I asked him.

"Wouldn't you like to know."

"That is why I asked, c'mon, you can always trust a bartender, we're like therapists, but better because drinks are cheaper than therapy!" I said.

"Look, I just don't know if I feel comfortable sharing it with you."

"Oh my God..." I acted. "Do you... Love me? Oh Quibble..."

"Shut up." He groaned.

"Let's run off and get married! And it'll be just you and me, Chuck and Quibble, forever, Chuck and Quibble forever a hundred years!"

"Stop!" He said angrily.

"Alright alright, fine." I laughed. "So what's bothering you?"

"Why should I tell you?" He asked.

"We're friends aren't we?"

"We are? I never really got that impression." He arched his eyebrow.

"What!? Aw come on!" I knew he didn't, probably mostly because of that Discord incident. "Look, I like you, you're not like some a lot of the other ponies here, I feel like I can be far more crass and tormenting with you. And frankly I expect the same back from you." I told him.

"You could've just said that." He said dryly.

"Yeah probably." We both sat there quietly for a moment.

"I guess if you want to know, it might be good for me to tell somepony." He began.

"Oh. My. Gawd. Tell me! Tell me! C'mon c'mon c'mon!" I squealed. I secretly love secrets and gossip.

"Fine, I... I have a crush on somepony, and I don't know what to do about it." He told me. I just stared blankly at him.

"That's it? I was hoping you'd committed a murder and you were confiding in me about it."

"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm boring." He sighed.

"Well which is it, are you sorry or are you boring?" I joked. He just sighed.

"Hey, look, I can tell that for whatever reason this is stressing you out. How about I help you?" I offered.

"How so?"

"Well, I could give you advice, I could talk you up to this certain mare, or stallion, I don't judge, and make you look good." I explained.

"Why would I want your help?" He said snidely.

"Maybe because I know this stuff, I'm the one out of the two of us currently in a relationship, and I'm an amazing wingman." I boasted, it was true, I did have a knack for it, I was kind of like Hitch. Ever watch that movie Hitch?

"You know what?" He looked at me. "Let's do it." I smiled.

"Great. You won't regret this." I shook hooves with him.

"I'd better not." He laughed.

---

Quibble's house

"So who is she? Or is it a he?" I asked when we met back at his house, it was pretty well decorated. As a fellow nerd culture enthusiast I liked his sense of decor.

"It's a she. And She's-" Suddenly his door swung open.

"Hey Quibble! Applejack wants me to help with harvesting, I'm hanging out with you instead!" The voice said, it was Rainbow Dash.

"Oh... Hey!" He smiled awkwardly. Now I knew...

"Oh hey Chuck." She said to me. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Helping with fall cleaning." I lied.

"Oh, lame." She said.

"It is, it really is." I... You know what, I was going to put "lied" there, but I don't like that word, I'm an actor, I act and pretend. So to make a long ramble short. "It is, it really is." I acted.

"Well we can handle that some other time." Quibble acted with me. "No sense boring you with that when you came here to get out of work." He told Rainbow, I could sense a bit of a stutter in his voice. I looked at him and raised a long Cheshire grin.

"Yes. Mhm. Yes. Now shut up." He growled frantically at me.

"So what do you wanna do to pass the time?" She asked.

"I don't... I don't know. What do you want to do?" He replied.

"I don't know if I speak for anypony else, but I am just famished. What do you two say to lunch?" I asked trying to move this conversation along.

"Sounds good to me." Quibble nodded. "What say you, Rainbow Dash?"

"I say I'm starving! Let's go!" She bolted through the door.

"After you, you love struck fool." I told Quibble as he walked through the door

"Screw. Off." He said dryly. I had forgotten the funnest thing about being a wing man, tormenting!

"You guys coming?" Rainbow Dash called.

"We'll be right with you!" I called back as we went to meet her.

"So when did all this develop?" I asked Quibble as we were catching up.

"Can't this wait until we aren't in an earshot of her?"

"That's a good point." I nodded.

---

Greasy Spoon's Diner

(What an unfortunate name! Anyway, on with the story...)

"So then, just when I was flying as fast as I thought possible, Bam! I get this giant speed boost and a giant rainbow just explodes!" Rainbow Dash finishes her story about how she got her cutie mark.

"Wow! That's amazing!" Quibble remarked.

"How'd you get yours?" She asked.

"Oh, well, I just sort of... Picked up a comic book one day when I was young." He said.

"And you loved it it so much that they became your calling?" She asked.

"Not exactly..." Quibble said remembering the event

---

Quibble's childhood

"There is no way that is at all possible. They are completely ignoring the continuity of issue #5! Ugh. Worst. Comic. Ever." A young Quibble said in disgust at the comic.

---

Present day

"So... Complaining became your defining attribute?" I muttered.

"Hey! I call it analyzing." He said.

"Emphasis on anal, am I right?" I chuckled to myself.

"Shut up." He told me.

"You know I'm just kidding around." I laughed.

"I think it's cool." Rainbow said. "Everypony should have standards, even if they are way higher than others." She winked.

"Ain't that the truth, we love ya buddy." I wrapped my leg around his shoulder, which he quickly brushed off.

"Well thank you Rainbow Dash, and no comment for Chuck." Quibble and Rainbow Dash laughed. In my own little way, I think I was doing alright. I spilled my waterglass over accidentally on purpose.

"Oh damn! Clumsy me! I'd better go dry off, looks like some got on you too Quibble, better come with." I told him, he sighed. Once we got to the bathroom I grinned.

"Going pretty well huh?"

"Is it?" He asked brushing himself off with a paper towel.

"I brought lunch up to see what I had to work with, and so far I'd say we're doing well. She seems interested." I said.

"How do you know-" Before he could finish, we were cut off by a toilet flushing. The pony walked out of the stall and looked at us.

"G'd afternoon." I nodded.

"Good afternoon." He said going for the door. "Weirdos..." He muttered.

"Oh I'm the weirdo? Says the guy who didn't even wash his hooves." I laughed.

"Now, as I was saying, how do you know?" He asked me.

"She didn't laugh at my jokes. Normally if you really like somepony, you'll defend them when somepony takes a jab at 'em." I explained.

"That makes some sense, wait, so you said those things intentionally to see what the reaction would be?" He asked.

"Isn't that why we say anything my friend?" I asked in reply. "Let's get back out there huh?"

---

Afterwards

The rest of lunch was quite enjoyable, all three of us had a good time. I could definitely tell I had something to work with here. And I was happy to be able to help.

"There you are!" We heard a voice call out. We turned to see Applejack.

"Hey, Applejack!" Rainbow started.

"I don't care that you didn't show up, but it wouldn't have hurt to tell me." She said.

"Oh... Sorry about that." Rainbow Dash said.

"Hey, jokes on you, we just ended up making sweets anyway." Applejack laughed."

"Aw man, I could have been making sweets instead of hanging out with these losers?" She laughed.

"Hey!" I retorted.

"I'm just kidding." She turned to us.

"What are y'all up to?" Applejack asked us.

"We were just heading out for some lunch." I told her. "I'm probably going to head back to my bar, Lord only knows I might actually have a customer." I said going on my merry way.

"I think I might join you!" Quibble told me following me. "See you later Rainbow Dash!" He called out.

"See you later, you little weirdo..." Rainbow Dash grinned.

"Don't think I didn't see that." Applejack teased.

"See what?" Rainbow commented.

---

My bar

(The fact I'm the narrator yet I've been referring to the bar in 3rd person is ridiculous, why didn't someone tell me?)

"So what made you decide to come back with me?" I asked him as we entered the bar.

"I dunno, I just felt like it." He told me, I could tell there was a lie in there.

"If you want more advice on what to do about your crush, here's your advice, these things take time. Don't expect to be a happily married stallion tomorrow or anything." I told him getting back behind the counter.

"What makes you think I followed you back here just for advice?" He asked.

"I know these things, seen 'em a million times before, when someone likes someone else, they will blow off everything else to be with them, so needless to say, it was a shock... Unless the Rainbow Dash thing was a lie and you actually like me, which, I mean, I'm flattered, but I'm quite happily taken."

"I can see your point, and for Celestia's sake! I am not into you, bring it up one more time and I'll..." He started.

"Watch it, I'm the only pony who can get you drunk and help you with your love life. Two aids for the price of one." I grinned.

"You've got another point." He sighed.

"Hey, look, I'll do what I can to lend a hoof huh? You have my word." I told him sincerely.

"Thanks, now how about a drink?" He said.

"You best rephrase that with please to it, or you can bet your flank it'll have a shot of my spit in it." I said dryly.

"Now how about a drink, please?" He said.

"Now was that so hard?" I laughed.

"Yeah yeah." We shared a laugh as I slid him his drink.

---

Later that night.

I was up late reading a furniture catalogue, no particular reason, I just love looking at nice furniture. It was quite quiet, which was honestly at this point an unwelcome change, if you had of asked me 4 months ago I would've told you I loved quiet moments, I don't entirely know what changed about me. Suddenly, among the quiet night, I heard a door creak open and close, and hooves coming up the stairs. The door opened and Pinkie walked through.

"Hiya Cutiepie." I smiled at her.

"Hi Chuckie!" She wrapped a large hug around me.

"How was it? Solve the problem?" I asked.

"I wouldn't be back if I didn't!" She laughed.

"That's true." I yawned setting my book down.

"Miss me while I was gone?" She asked.

"What kind of question is that? I miss you even you aren't in my line of vision." I smiled at her.

"Aww Chuckie, you always know what to say." She hugged me.

"Well, I have a way with words." I smiled.

"What did you do all day?" She asked.

"Well, I was handling a bit of a problem too." I told her.

"Yeah? What was that?" She asked.

"Tell you what." I told her. "I'll tell you tomorrow."

"But I wanna know!" She begged.

"Okay..." I began. "But this is kind of big..."

"I'm okay with big." That's what she said. No really, that's what she said at that point.

"Well, you know Quibble right?" I began.

"Yeah?"

"Well, I'm sort of... Helping him out with something, see, he likes somepony, and he wants me to help him out." I told her.

"That's not too big at all!" Pinkie told me.

"It gets bigger." I said. "I haven't told you who it is."

"Is it you? You'd better have told him you were taken." She said.

"I told him I was quite happily taken." I smiled smugly.

"Good, continue." She said.

"Okay, now promise not to flip when I tell you who it is?"

"I'll try!" She nodded.

"Okay." I leaned in and whispered the name.

"WHAT!?" She exclaimed.

---

There's another chapter! What say you? Will sparks fly? Or will sparks... fry? I dunno. See you next time!

Author's note: The wing man plot will continue into next year, but will be put on the back burner for the Hearthswarming arc that will start later in November. The author would also like to thank Saria Skye and clef jumper for their support of the story, you two rock!

---

Chapter 19: Up all night. (But not in that way)

(The is just a fun little chapter that doesn't really advance the plot in any way. It picks up exactly where we left off, so go back and read the last part if it isn't fresh in your mind)

"I can't believe it!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

"You promised you wouldn't flip out..." I yawned, I was still quite tired.

"Well yeah! But that was before you told me he liked Rainbow Dash!" She bounced.

"No sleep tonight I suppose." I wasn't upset, I love those nights where you're just up all night talking or chatting or just hanging out, and seeing how excited the news made her, I think tonight might be one of those.

"C'mon." I yawned grabbing a scarf and wrapping it around my neck.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"The bar. I wanna fill you in on everything and not wake up the neighborhood." I said as we went out the door.

We walked down the what looked to be abandoned streets, the lanterns were the only lights on this chilly fall evening, clouds covered the sky, no visible stars or moon, and as I looked around I couldn't help but think: 'Princess Luna must be pissed!'. We both were silent as we walked through the night, I've always enjoyed taking walks at night, I never understood why. It was either late at night or the first few hours of the day that I'd go for a walk, long before anyone had woken up, just me and my thoughts, but on this walk, me and my thoughts were joined by somepony else. And it was a welcome change. I turned the key to the door as we approached the bar. I turned the lights on as we entered.

"Care for some coffee?" I asked.

"Sure!" She said as I put of a pot.

"Good, I'll put on two pots." I laughed. "So anyway, why don't you tell me about your day?" I asked.

"My day? Oh yeah! Well I went all the way to Fillydelphia! You would not believe the crazy things going on up there! So there was this one stallion who's old friend moved back to town, but they just didn't get along anymore!" She told me.

"Then what happened?"

"Well then, Once I got the two to look past their differences, and remember back when they were colts they started to become friends again!"

"That's great!" I told her while stirring two spoons of sugar and some cream into my mug. I took the second pot off the element and slid it over to Pinkie along with the cream and sugar.

"Here you go sweetheart, enjoy." I smiled.

"Thanks Chuckie!" She chugged down the whole pot.

"It's still pretty hot- oh... Never mind." I noticed she already finished the pot. I chuckled a bit and sipped on my coffee.

"So anyway..." I started. "You want me to fill you in on a bit more of that whole thing with Quibble?" I asked starting to wake up a bit more.

"Yeah!" She nodded rapidly, must be the 12 cups of coffee kicking in.

"Alrighty. Where were we... Ah yes. There isn't honestly that much to tell. Quibble likes Rainbow Dash see? And I agreed to help him out, see what I can do. I was real good at that sort of thing back where I came from,and now I'm just seeing what I can do, course I can't do squat if she isn't interested in him, but we're gonna see what happens." I told her.

"How could this not be a big deal to you!?" She exclaimed.

"I dunno, I've done this before I guess..." Something suddenly occurred to me. "You wanna know what's real weird?" I asked.

"Whats that?" She asked.

"Well, I know all the steps for this sort of thing, I've helped many people back on Earth with it, but when I fell for you, I had no idea what to do, I was a nervous wreck half the time." I chuckled nervously.

"Well..." She trotted over to me. "You may have had no idea what you were doing, but I think you did okay." She winked and kissed me on the cheek.

"Did okay? I'm not sure if you know this, but I'd very well say you're the best thing that's ever happened to me!" I told her.

"You really mean it?" She asked.

"You beat that time I was mistaken for Seth Rogen at a restaurant, just by a hair though." I joked. "I jest, you are by far, far superior to any other previous event of my life." I hugged her.

"I don't know who that is." She said as we hugged.

"I'll tell you about him some other time." I told her.

"Okay!" She said. "So what now?" She asked.

"Well, you've drank an entire pot of coffee, I've still got some to go, fair to say we'll be up for the night, what have you always wanted to do when you have the town pretty much to yourself?" I asked.

"Let's streak across town!" She suggested.

"How? You're not wearing any clothes, and I'm just wearing a scarf." I asked. (It was a nice scarf, not that you, the reader can see it).

"Want to go eat at an all night diner when nopony else is there?" She asked. I looked at the clock.

"Well, 1 AM is still late enough for dinner and early enough for breakfast! Let's do it!" I said grabbing the key to lock up the bar.

"Where to?" I asked.

"I know a place." Pinkie said.

---

Sunny Side's All Night Diner

(Author's note: I love coming up with diner names.)

We walked into the diner not too far outside of town, from afar is lit up like a beacon because of the walls being primarily windows, like that diner from that old painting. You know the one I'm talking about, it's called Nighthawks. Look it up and you'll probably recognize it instantly. Sorry for the ramble, on with the story.

"Hi you two, welcome to Sunny Side's All Night Diner." The mare behind the counter welcomed us as we sat down. "What can I do you two for?" She asked.

"I'll have..." I looked at the menu. "The eggs and haycon please." I said. (haycon: hay strands made into inch and a half wide and five to six inch long strips that are fried, like bacon).

"Comin' right up." She turned to Pinkie. "And what'll you have dear? The usual?"

"The ususal! Pancakes and stack 'em high please!" Pinkie said enthusiastically.

"Sure thing doll. Coffee?" She asked.

"Yes please!" We both said. Sure we already had coffee, but nothing goes better with breakfast foods than coffee.

"Here you go you two." She handed us our plates.

"Thanks!" We said as I seasoned my eggs and Pinkie started pouring syrup on her mountain of pancakes.

"So what brings the two of you out here tonight? Or this morning? Sorry, during these late shifts when nopony's around, time has no meaning, you know?" She laughed.

"I've been there!" I laughed recalling back when I worked the occasional late shift as a waiter back at the bar I'd do comedy for.

"We're just out for the night." Pinkie said.

"Little late night date on the town huh? Cute." Sunny Side remarked.

"Is this a date?" I thought out loud. I mean, we're together, we're out, we're having a good time, yeah I guess it is.

"Yeah we are." I smiled at Pinkie.

"So when'd you find him Pinkie?" Sunny Side asked.

"Sunny, this is Chuck! We met a few months ago when he fell from the sky!" Pinkie explained.

"I need me a stallion to fall from the sky..." Sunny Side laughed.

"So, I take it you two know each other?" I asked.

"You kidding? Pinkie an' I go way back!" Sunny Side told me. "We used to be roommates!"

"That's right!" Pinkie said to me.

"Way back when we used to bus tables for old Table Scraps, remember him?" Sunny Side asked.

"Oh old Table Scraps!" Pinkie laughed at old memories. "Is he even still alive?" Pinkie asked.

"He is actually!" Sunny smiled. "He pops in from time to time to ask how we're doing."

"That's good!" Pinkie smiled.

"I never knew that about you." I told Pinkie.

"I'm sure I must have brought it up!" Pinkie said.

"Nope!" I shook my head.

"Well cats out of the bag now!" Pinkie laughed. "I used to bus tables with Sunny Side here back when this place was Table Scraps', of course Table Scraps always seemed to like Sunny more."

"Well Pinkie, maybe that's because the customers preferred their meals without bites taken out of them." Sunny Side laughed.

"I couldn't help it!" Pinkie defended herself. "The food was so yummy!"

"I remember he once said..." Sunny Side put on her best old stallion voice. "Pinkie, yer lucky the customers think yer cute. Otherwise you'd be out the door like a day old doughnut!" They laughed.

"They thought you were cute huh?" I remarked with a tinge of playful jealousy.

"Oh Chuck, don't sound so surprised!" Sunny Side said. "All the customers would flirt with Pinkie here, course she never paid mind to 'em, Celestia only knows why, some of those colts who came in were cute!"

"I never cared to flirt around, I was waiting for the right one, the one who'd stick." She said sincerely.

"I guess she's talking about you." Sunny Side said to me.

"Sunny! Be nice!" Pinkie told her.

"He knows I'm just kidding around, I can tell." I knew, Sunny Side seemed nice, I wondered why this was the first I'd ever seen her.

"Yeah I know." I said before taking another bite of my meal. "Great eggs by the way."

"Sunny Side makes great breakfast!" Pinkie said taking a large bite of her syrupy pancakes.

"That I do, I may not do much, but I sure am good with a grill." She said.

"So what'll it be?" I asked reaching for my wallet.

"For an old friend and her new coltfriend? It's on the house." She smiled. "But just this once, after this it'll be about 10.50."

"Thanks Sunny!" Pinkie smiled.

"Don't mention it doll." Sunny grinned.

"Here you go." I slid her a hefty tip. I always leave a good tip for a kind server.

"Thanks Chuck, you might not be so bad for her after all." She winked.

"Be nice!" Pinkie told her.

"I'm kidding around!" Sunny Side laughed. "I'll see you two later huh?"

"We'll be around!" Pinkie said opening the door.

"See ya later Sunny Side." I told her wrapping up my scarf.

"Have a good night - uhh... Morning!" She said from behind the counter. After we left we walked through town under the glow of the lamps.

"So what do you want to do?" Pinkie asked.

"It is my turn to think of something, isn't it?" I remarked. "Hmmm, oh I know..."

---

Castle of Friendship

"I still can't believe you actually had these." I told Pinkie as we sneaked through the castle with a wagon full of empty prop books.

"You think this is my first book related prank?" Pinkie whispered.

"Touche." I said as we made our way through the castle quietly. We crept up to the library room.

"So what's our lie if she's in there?" I asked her.

"Pizza delivery." She hoisted up a couple of pizza boxes.

"Fake pizza boxes, nice." I said.

"Who said anything about fake?" She opened up one of the boxes to reveal a pizza.

"Even better." I smiled.

"Nothing goes better with pranks than pizza." Pinkie smiled.

"You've got a point." I nodded before I slowly opened the door. I peaked my head inside.

"Coast is clear." I told Pinkie as we crept into the room.

"Great!" Pinkie chuckled to herself.

"Let's start replacing books." I said.

"What do we do with the real books?" She asked.

"I've got a plan." I told her while piling books. "That it?" I asked her as I places the last fake book on the shelf.

"Just one more thing!" Pinkie placed a book on a reading stand in the middle of the room.

"That's it!" I grinned wickedly. "Lets gather these real books up."

Ever read the Edgar Allan Poe story "The Cask of Amontillado?" Spoiler alert, a guy gets sealed up in a wall. Anyway, let's just say we used the real books as a surprise for Spike. When he woke up, he'd find that his room was sealed up by books, like in Cask of Amontillado, but with books instead of bricks. This was all in good fun keep in mind, as compensation I was ready to offer free drinks to the two of them. As Pinkie and I walked away from the castle, we laughed sharing a pizza.

"You think they'll take this okay?" She asked me.

"Oh sure, it's not like we caused an permanent property damage." I reassured her. "So what now? It's your turn."

"I don't know... We ate a meal when nopony else eats, we pulled a hilarious prank, now we're eating another meal... Hmm." She thought.

"How about that?" I pointed at a cliff over looking the town. "Want to climb up a peak and watch the sun rise? It's almost that time." I suggested.

"I like that idea!" She said as we made our way for the hill.

---

Ponyville Peak

It's funny, I don't jog or run, I have poor upper body strength, and normally I dislike heights, but I've always been fond of climbing peaks and mountains. That's not to say I was good at climbing, I was terrible. We were just about half way up the mountain at this point and we were beat.

"Great morning for a climb ain't it?" I wheezed.

"Why'd I agree to this?" She sputtered.

"I don't know, why'd I... -cough- bring it up?" I asked while climbing.

"You're lucky... -wheeze- you said I was the -cough- best thing that ever happened to you... Becuase otherwise... -groan- this climb is grounds for me -cough- ...leaving you." She groaned while climbing.

"I completely understand..." I coughed. "But it'll all be worth it in a moment."

"It better be!" She groaned as we flopped over onto the level part of the cliff. We both just laid there gasping for air like fish on a beach. We slowly stood up while gasping for air.

"C'mon, there's a bench over there." I motioned toward a bench overlooking the town and we slowly made our way to it and sat down. "This better be good." I muttered to myself. I could feel Pinkie lean on my shoulder and rest her head against mine.

"Coming down from the caffeine?" I asked.

"Nope, just love you." She smiled.

"Love you too." I kissed her on the forehead. We had a real fun night I must say, but I was looking forward to spending the day in bed. Suddenly, I could see a golden glow peak over the horizon.

"Wow... Look at that..." I remarked at the sunrise.

"Wow..." Pinkie gazed. "It's beautiful."

"You sure are... Oh yeah, a sunrise is there too." I said flirtatiously.

"Oh stop." Pinkie blushed.

"I really mean it." I said.

"I know you do." She kissed me. "Let's watch the sunrise now huh?" She said.

"Sounds good." I said as we both turned and watched. Just Pinkie and I taking it all in, the crisp fall air blowing through the town, the dew glistening on the meadows, it was prettier than a Hallmark card, and definitely something I'd remember for a long time. After about 10 minutes of just sitting there, we got up off the bench and made our way down the hill. We walked through town and watched the town slowly come back to life from it's previous comatose state. Ponies were now out and starting their day, shops were opening up, and the school bell rang through the town.

"Nice morning huh?" I asked Pinkie.

"Kinda loses it's luster when you've seen two mornings since you last slept." Pinkie said.

"I couldn't agree more honestly." I said as we turned in to the Sugarcube Corner and made our way upstairs.

"Quick all morning nap?" I asked.

"Sounds good!" Pinkie exclaimed. Before she could say anything else I had crashed on the couch and started snoring quite loudly, she just looked at me and laughed. She grabbed a blanket and curled up next to me.

---

Meanwhile: Castle of Friendship.

"Where is it?" Twilight said while looking through books in her library. "I don't even know these books!" She said feeling frustrated.

"Twilight!" Spike called from his room. Twilight went to see what was going on. She opened the door and saw a barricade of books.

"Hey... There it is!" She pulled a book out from the barrier. Soon the rest came toppling down.

"When did this happen?" Spike asked.

"It must've happened while we were sleeping... But who?" Twilight said as they reentered the library.

"Twilight, I might have an idea." Spike held up a book from the stand. Twilight looked at the cover.

"What to do when on the receiving end of a hilarious prank. A self help book by: Pinkamena Diane Pie!? Illustrations by Gareth 'Chuck' Murphy!?" She groaned.

"It was pretty funny when you think about it." Spike said.

"I've seen funnier. At least this gives us a chance to reorganize the shelves!" Twilight smiled.

"Oohhh That reminds me... I think I have uh... That thing with Big Mac today... See ya!" Spike bolted off.

"He's never all that much help anyway." Twilight said to herself. "I'll talk to Starlight, maybe she'll be interested."

---

There's another chapter! This was just meant for a fun little story that didn't necessarily advance anything, Sunny Side may return for later chapters and we may delve into Pinkie's waitress background. If anyone is interested in knowing the design concepts for Sunny Side, I've thought about making a sketch of Sunny Side and Barstool from a few chapters back and posting them on my DeviantArt page. If you want to see them I'll be sure to send a link! Hope you enjoyed the chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! Until next time!

Author's note: We haven't had a song in a while have we? I guess I just haven't thought of one that would work, I may toss one into this chapter for kicks. But have no fear, once we kick into the Hearthswarming plot there will be songs a plenty! Wow, I'm really making this Hearthswarming arc sound amazing, hope you aren't disappointed when it's nowhere near as good as I made it sound... Anyway, in a way this is sort of the first part of the arc as I, the narrator, am introduced to Maud, the first of the relatives I'll meet. In other news ENC is 20 chapters strong! I'd like to personally yet not individually thank everyone who's followed and/or favorited so far! I didn't think I'd have the perseverance to even write 7 chapters, here's to another 20 and even more! Sorry this chapter took a bit longer than you've been accustomed to, I honestly got a bit of writer's block with it because I can't write some characters all that well, Maud and Starlight to name a few. How convenient that they're important to this chapter? Oh, whoops, spoiler alert.

---

Chapter 20: Rock and Roll without the roll

"You're clear kid, now let's blow this thing and go home!" I heard the voice from my headset say, it sounded like Rainbow Dash. I focused on my target through the cross hairs on my ship's blasters, and fired, the beams flew out nearly as fast as the speed on light and went clear into the target, the exhaust port of the giant space station of the Imperial army. The space station will not be named however for copyright reasons. But it rhymes with "Breath Tar". We bolted away from the large moon-like space station. Nothing happened for a few moments, when suddenly a massive explosion erupted from the space station, the mission was complete and we had won.

"Great shot kid, that was one in a million!" Rainbow Dash told me. I suddenly heard another voice in my head. It sounded like Discord.

"Remember, the Force will be with you... always." Suddenly my ship started shaking, or was it just me? I suddenly heard another voice in my head, this time it was Pinkie's.

"Chuck! Wake up! C'mooooonnnnn!" Ah. Now this makes sense.

---

Back in reality

"I wasn't asleep..." I yawned opening up my eyes to see her standing over me.

"Yeah right!" Pinkie jumped on me. "Did you know you talk in your sleep? You were all like 'pew! Pew pew! Boom!" She imitated sound effects from a sci fi spaceship.

"Okay maybe I was a little asleep." I grinned getting up out of bed. I yawned loudly and stretched out. "How long have you been trying to wake me up?" I asked.

"You've been asleep for years, I've had several affairs and your bar has been sold." Pinkie said, I could tell she was joking because she could hardly keep a straight face.

"I don't believe you." I smirked.

"I'm serious!" She chuckled.

"Yeah, right. Okay, who owns the bar now?" I asked.

"Uhh... Quibble! Yeah, Quibble!" She nodded unconvincingly.

"Okay, and who have you had these 'affairs' with?" I asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"Um... Uh..." She thought. "Big Mac?" She said.

"You said that like a question." I said dryly.

"Well it's hard to think of this stuff on the spot!" She defended herself.

"But hey, congrats, Big Mac is twice the stallion I am." I joked, well, not about him being twice the stallion I am, but about the congrats.

"No he's noooot." Pinkie said trying to boost my somewhat nonexistent self esteem.

"I didn't say it like it's a bad thing, I'm proud to be a wimp."

"Yeah, but you're my wimp." She hugged me. Maybe wimp wasn't the right word, but I was definitely no Ron Swanson.

"So what's on the agenda today?" I asked.

"Well, your bar should probably open soon." She said.

"Nopony drinks until at least lunch time." I said. Mornings were usually slow, usually morning would go like this: I open, nopony shows up, Cheese and Quibble show up, I remind Cheese he works here, he asks for the day off, and Quibble morning drinks... Which was I cycle I decided I should probably break for his health.

"Excuses excuses, c'mon, you've gotta go open up. I'll even stick with you for a while, I don't have anything for today!" She smiled.

"Thank Celestia." I smiled. "I get cabin fever when I'm there all by myself." I said putting on the bow tie she gave me. "How do I look?" I asked.

"Like a million bits!" She smiled.

"Please, I'm a two out of three lotto ticket at best." I joked, self deprecation was a form of humor I excelled at.

"Quiet you." She laughed as we went out the door.

---

My bar

"Maybe I should start offering food, then more ponies would show up through out the whole day." I said looking through the window.

"But there are like, a million places that already sell food!" Pinkie said swinging around in circles on one of the stools.

"You've got a good point." I turned to see what she was doing. "Ah, I figured you'd like that, I oiled that one up especially, just for you."

"Thanks a million!" A very blurred version of her said as she was spinning rapidly.

"No problem, it's the little things, huh?" I smiled getting back behind the counter. Suddenly the door opened. "Hi, Welcome to Chuck's, what can I get ya?" I asked without seeing who came in as I was looking for a spider under the counter, I swear the little bastard is here somewhere... Suddenly a loud shriek from Pinkie caused me to jolt upwards and whack my head off the counter. "Son of a bitch!" I cried in pain as I raised my head up. "What was that about?" I asked Pinkie. She just looked at me with a mile-wide grin pointing frantically at who walked in. I turned and saw Starlight Glimmer and Maud, ah.

"Chuckie! It's Maud! Remember we were talking about her! Huh? Here she is!" Pinkie jumped. "What are you two doing here?" Pinkie asked excitedly.

"I was stopping by to visit Starlight. She told me we should go here. I have no idea why." Maud said.

"I didn't tell her about.. Well, you two." Starlight whispered to us.

"About what?" Maud asked.

"Well Maaaauuuud..." Pinkie walked over to her. "This is Chuuuuck... And well, he's my special somepony!" Pinkie said motioning to me. I smiled awkwardly and waved a little.

"Hiya." I smiled. There was a long pause, nopony said anything for about 30 seconds. Pinkie just seemed to look at Maud with absolutely humongous eyes. After the pause Maud finally spoke up.

"Okay." She just said. Okay? I was better than 'okay'... I mean, I'm no 'that's amazing news' but I'm at least a 'hey, cool'.

"So anyway. Starlight, what was that thing you were saying?" Maud pretended the past 45 seconds just didn't really happen.

"Maud!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Don't you want to get to know him?" Maud turned and looked at me.

"Earth pony. Bartender. Big poofy hair, like yours. Mediocre filter when it comes to coarse language. Odd smirk. I think I've got it." She said. That about summed it up.

"But there's so much more to know! Ooh! I've got an idea! Let's all spend the day together! Ooh! Starlight! Wanna join?" Pinkie asked.

"I can see a train wreck waiting to happen..." I could hear her mutter. "But yes, mostly for Maud, but yes."

"Yay! This is gonna be so much fun! I'm so excited!" Pinkie wrapped us all in a group hug, an exchange of murmurs came from the Starlight and I, Maud however said nothing.

"Oh boy!" I grinned, masking the anxiety that has came over me.

---

Ponyville streets

Pinkie Pie was dragging Maud along with her up in front of the group, whereas Starlight and I lagged behind.

"So what made you decide to join in on this 'train wreck' so to speak?" I asked.

"Helping somepony learn to like her sister's coltfriend? friendship problem gold. I won't have to file a report for Twilight for weeks if I can tackle this, oh, and because Maud is my friend of course." She said. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Finding a benefit in somepony else's problem, I like the way you think." I laughed.

"Just doing what I can to get by." She said as we kept walking, Pinkie eventually slowed down so we were all walking together. She eventually pulled me aside from the two and told them we'd catch up.

"What's up?" I asked her.

"I just want to say I'm sorry for what she said earlier. About how you were just those things, you're more than that." She sounded a little upset about it.

"Why?" I asked. "I'm not upset."

"I was just hoping it would go better, that's why I came up with this idea, I know it may not seem the the funnest idea but, this is important, for me." She said far more seriously than I expected.

"I'll make sure it goes well." I smiled at her. She started to smile again.

"For what it's worth, I don't think your smirk is that odd..." We laughed.

"Well thanks." I said. "I understand how much this would mean to you, family matters." I said.

"Thanks Chuckie!" She kissed me on the cheek. "So since you said family matters, when am I gonna meet your family?" She asked.

"Let's stick with this story arc for now, huh?" I brushed the question off, that arc won't come until at least the wing man arc is over or near completion. Ooh, foreshadowing, that's right, don't quit the story yet, I've got plot devices for a long time coming.

"Story arc? Never mind." Pinkie shrugged off what I said as we caught up with Maud and Starlight.

---

Ponyville Nature Park

Pinkie's plan to make Maud and I friends consisted of what seemed to be a pretty concise plan which seemed to consist of activities for the whole entire day, how on Earth did she come up with a plan so quickly? She probably didn't and she's just had this plan ready just in case for months now. Step one was a picnic. Which was funny to me as a picnic was the first time Pinkie and I actually spent time together, just the two of us. (See chapter 3. Or don't, the story kind of sucks until about chapter 6 or 7). So far, everything was going well, if Pinkie, Starlight and I being the only ones to talk means 'well'.

"So Maud, Pinkie tells me you have a rocktorate in rock science, pretty neat huh?" I say. "Bet it really, shall I say, rocks." I joked.

"Ha. Rock joke." Maud spoke up.

"If you liked that one he's got millions more! Chuckie's hilarious!" Pinkie talked me up to her sister.

"Oh. That's interesting." Maud replied to her.

"Why don't we... hear another one! Only a matter of time until he tells a good one..." Starlight suggested. Hey!

"But seriously though..." I transitioned into another joke. "We need more ponies who do that sort of thing, Celestia knows that field of knowledge is taken for granite!" Ba dum Tss. (The author is not responsible for the murderous rage you may feel after reading that joke or any other joke that may ever be used in this story).

"Ha! Ha-Ha-Ha! Wasn't that hilarious!" Pinkie supported me.

"It was okay." Maud said. Pinkie and I exchanged glances.

"Why don't you tell Maud about yourself? I'm sure she'd find your backstory really interesting!" Pinkie suggested.

"I'd love to!" I grinned. I went on to explain my whole backstory of how I came to be living in a completely different dimension, because when you meet someone for the first time, the first thing you should definitely do is tell them your life story. I expected a long pause afterwards, I've gotten that before, in fact, it normally always results in a long pause. But normally that pause you can tell the pony you're talking to is breathing it all in. This time? Nothing. Eventually she did speak up.

"Cool." She said dully. Meanwhile, Starlight, who had never heard my backstory until now just stared with a wide open jaw which I couldn't help but laugh at.

"There's no way that's possible." She said.

"You callin' me a liar?" I arched my eyebrow.

"He's telling the truth." Maud said. We all looked at her, I mean, I knew I was telling the truth, but nopony expected her to speak up.

"What do you mean?" Starlight asked.

"You could tell by his facial expressions throughout the story. Eye contact and the amount of included details are also factors. He's either telling the truth or is a very talented liar." Maud explained.

"Which couldn't possibly be true!" Pinkie continued. "Chuckie can't tell a lie to save his life!" It was true, I really couldn't. I am a terrible liar.

"That's true." I nodded and turned to Starlight. "That is check-and-mate. King me." I grinned.

"Two different games. The reference is albeit humorous." Maud said seeming to accept my somewhat goofy personality a bit more than before.

"You're starting to get allooo-ooong!" Pinkie hummed to me. I chuckled a little bit and turned to her.

"I'd say we're doing well." I nodded. I generally have no problem liking others, but interestingly enough, it doesn't often work the same way in reverse, so I was happy to see progress.

"How's everypony like the food?" Pinkie brought up.

"It's great!" I said. Starlight nodded in accordance.

"Mmhmm." Maud said.

---

Ponyville streets

After lunch, the four of us started strolling through town.

"So Maud, why don't you tell Chuck about yourself!" Pinkie suggested to her.

"I like rocks. But you already knew that." She said. That I did.

"Aw come on Maud! There's more than that!" Pinkie led her on.

"I enjoy fine art." She said. "Of rocks. Nature too. But mostly rocks."

"Well that's neat!" I say. "I've always enjoyed art, nature paintings are definitely amazing to look at, almost as good as the real thing!" I laughed. I did actually enjoy art, I always enjoyed admiring paintings and sculptures at museums, wow, I'm boring!

"That's nice." Maud said.

"Since when do you enjoy art?" Pinkie asked me.

"I never said it was my biggest passion." I told her. "I just never really brought it up I guess."

"Is there anything else I don't know about you?" Pinkie asked.

"Yes. I used to be a tap dancer, until I had four legs to look after instead of two." I joked. Me, a tap dancer? Yeah right.

"I can tell that was a lie." Maud spoke up.

"Yeah, it was." I laughed. Starlight and Pinkie looked at each other.

"So things seem to be going alright between Maud and Chuck." Starlight said to her. Pinkie nodded happily.

"Sure are!"

"Just wondering really, but why does this matter so much to you?" Starlight asked.

"I always thought it that it would be important." Pinkie replied.

"Important that he likes your family?" Starlight asked.

"The other way around, I mean, it would be great if Chuck likes them, but I'm more concerned that they like him." Pinkie explained.

"Why's that?" Starlight asked.

"Well ya see, I've always been real different from them, and in a way I always felt like an outsider because of it." She explained. "And I love Chuck, and it would be nice if they could like him."

"So you're gonna dump him if they don't?" Starlight asked.

"What!? No of course not!" Pinkie laughed. "Why would you even say that?"

"Yeah. Why would you?" I looked at her.

"I wasn't meaning to offend you, either of you, I was just wondering." She said. "Sorry if I offended you, which I seemed to have."

"It's cool." I brushed it off.

"I don't really know how they're going to take it really, that's why I was glad Maud showed up! I'll be glad if at least one of them like him." Pinkie told Starlight.

"What's to say they won't all like me?" I asked.

"They probably won't." Maud spoke up. "Definitely not dad."

"Oh Maud, don't be ridiculous!" Pinkie laughed brushing what she said off, but I could tell that Pinkie probably felt the same way.

"I'm sure it'll be fine." I smiled at Pinkie.

"You'd better be sure, or I may do what Starlight suggested!" She joked, we both shared a laugh.

"It wasn't an actual suggestion!" Starlight interjected.

"She was clearly kidding." Maud smirked at Starlight.

---

Afterwards. My bar

After the visit had came to a close, we said farewell back at my bar. Pinkie and I stood and watched Maud and Starlight walk off.

"Well that was fun huh?" I asked.

"I guess so.." Pinkie looked down.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked.

"I dunno, I just couldn't really tell if it worked that's all..." She told me.

"I'm sure it worked, tell you what, why don't I prepare a root beer float for you?" I offer. She instantly sprang up.

"Really? Yay!"

"I'll make it in a second, head on inside." Before I could finish, she had bolted in, I quickly ran off to catch up with Maud and Starlight.

"Hey! You guys! Wait up!" I called after them, the turned around to see me.

"Oh, hey Chuck." Starlight said.

"Hey..." I wheezed catching my breath after catching up to them. "Can I just talk to Maud for a second?" I asked.

"Okay?" Starlight said questioningly as Maud and I walked to the side.

"I know why you ran back here." Maud said.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah. Pinkie was worried that you didn't like me so you came to clear things up with me." Maud said. I cocked my eyebrow a little.

"Yes... Yes that is it exactly." I nodded, she was close, but wrong. "I do like you." I told her, and I did, so unlike my previous statement, I was telling the truth.

"Okay. You seem to make my sister happy. You also seem like a nice pony. You two suit each other well. I love my sister and I'm glad to see her happy, with you. She could definitely do far worse, so for what it's worth, yes, I like you too." She told me.

"That's great." I smiled. "I look forward to seeing you around."

"Likewise. I still have to introduce you to my pet, boulder. I have a feeling he'll like you as well." She said.

"I look forward to it." I nodded bidding her farewell as I ran off back to the bar. "Who wants a root beer float?" I asked entering the bar.

"This gal!" Pinkie excitedly motioned to herself.

"Coming right up cutie pie." I smiled getting behind the counter gathering the ingredients.

---

So another chapter comes to a close, I'm sorry if this chapter comes off as a bit boring or not as good as other chapters, you can blame me not knowing how to write half the featured characters for that, stay tuned for the next chapter!

Author's Note: The bane of a writer's existence is writer's block, the bane of a fisherman's existence catching quantity laws, the bane of a performer's existence is a bad crowd, what's the bane of a boyfriend- or in this case coltfriend's first Hearthswarming celebration with his marefriend? The answer to that my dear readers, is shopping.

---

Chapter 21: Gone Shoppin'

"No Cheese, for the last time, you can't take today off." I told him wiping at the counter in my bar.

"Why not?" He asked.

"Do I have to tell you for the hundredth time?"

"I just have the feeling someone else who could be listening or even reading this might want to know why." He explained.

"Hey. I'm the one who breaks the fourth wall, not you." I glared at him. "But yes, for the reader's sake, I'll explain it again. I have to leave early today, Pinkie and I are going to the city to get shopping done, and closing makes me lose money, so I need you to be here to tend the bar."

"Can I keep what I make?"

"If you make tips yes, the cost of drinks you cannot keep." I explained. He nodded. "I want you to repeat that back to me."

"I can keep tips but the bits for the drinks go in the register." He said.

"He can be taught!" I smirked.

"You can count on me!" He saluted me as I went for my scarf that was hanging on the coat rack.

"I'd better be able to, I'm not paying you to pluck your eyebrows." I turned to see him doing exactly that. "What did I just say?"

"Something about eyebrows?"

"Good enough. I'll see you later." I went out the door to meet up with Pinkie at the train station.

"Hiya Chuckie!" She greeted me with a hug when I arrived at the train station.

"Hey Cutie Pie." I hugged her back, the warmth of a hug felt quite nice, it was quite a chilly morning and there was about an inch tall blanket of snow on the ground.

"Ready for the big shopping trip?" She asked.

"Absolutely!" I nodded. "Now remember, after the train ride, same rules as a wedding day, we don't see each other until we meet back at the train station." I said.

"Just like we talked about!" She nodded.

"That's right. Sweet Celestia, a whole afternoon without seeing you? How will I manage?" I say dramatically.

"You'll get by." She kissed me on the cheek.

"Yeah, I may, but it'll be terrible." I say as we boarded the train.

"Oh hush, you'll be okay, just don't flirt with too many mares without me around." She snickered.

"I'd never!" I said. "Try not to stare at too many cute stallions, no matter how much more attractive than me they are." '

"I'll try." She joked. We shared a laugh as we sat at our seats.

"So what do you want anyway?" I asked her, trying to get a clue as to what to get for her.

"I'm sure whatever you pick out will be perfect." She smiled. No. No. No no no. I actually have no idea what to get you. This is the part where you were supposed to say something specific. Dammit. I try and hide my part frustration and part anxiety with a simple smile

"What do you want?" She asked me.

"I'm not sure... I'm sure whatever you think of will be perfect." I smiled using the same excuse as her. Thinking of this sort of thing was tough, it always was tough foe me, I never liked to seem like a demanding person- err.. Pony.

"Aw come on, you must want something!" She said. I loved that she was more assertive than me.

"Well, this might seem silly, but I love toys and collectibles." I suggested.

"Hey, I can't believe you haven't figured this out, but with me, the silly is always welcome!" She said holding my hooves from across the table we were sitting at.

"Okay, I told you what I would like, it's your turn." I spoke up.

"I don't really know! But I trust you." She said. Really? Bad idea.

"Alrighty, beige socks it is." I joked, I figured if I made a bad suggestion as a joke I'd get a ballpark to shoot for. Ooh! Maybe a ballpark? Nope, too tough to wrap.

"That better be joke." She said.

"Of course it is!" I laughed. "I know you better than that!" Truthfully, not much better. Oh wonderful. Looks like we're in for one heck of an adventure gang! Let's see how this unfurls, huh?

"Alright! Next stop: Manehatten!" The conductor called from the engine. I could feel the train slowly start moving, interestingly enough, this is the second time I've ever taken a train in my life, before coming to Equestria I had never rode a train. I watched trees, houses, and ponies going about their business as we passed them.

"Lookit that..." I mumbled. Pinkie looked up at me.

"Hm?" She asked.

"Oh, just watching life go by, not mine, but everypony else's. It's fun to watch sometimes, usually from afar. You never quite sure what's going on, but it's fun to guess and make things up. Take them for example." I motioned at a couple of elderly stallions riding a few booths ahead of us. "I wonder what their saying to eachother..."

"You know what Jacob said?" I talked like an old stallion to what one of them was saying. "Jacob said old Barnboard Hoovesworth was killed in a cart crash. Cleared his cart straight off the bridge into the Maressissippi."

"Lucky bastard." Pinkie said like an old stallion as the other one spoke up.

"You bet." I added.

"Hey, how is he, anyway?" Pinkie spoke as the other.

"Dead! Died on impact!" I added holding back laughter.

"Jacob, moron, Jacob!" She laughed. Suddenly the two looked back at us. We quickly regained our composure and whistled innocently. The two returned to their conversation.

"Who are they?" One asked.

"I dunno, couple of jackasses." The other commented. Their comment was met with an angry glare from a donkey sitting across the aisle to them. Because in a world where everyone's an equine, that's probably racist.

"I forgot to mention," I began. "Sometimes the ponies you're doing it do don't always appreciate it." We shared another laugh as the train kept on moving.

---

Manehatten Train Station

"Alright! See you in a few hours!" I said to Pinkie as we got off the train.

"Who are you?" She winked. Ahhh.

"I don't believe I know you." I went with it as we parted ways. "Alright Murphy, let's think here. I'm sure we can find something." I encouraged myself as I walked through the streets of Manehatten. Oh who was I kidding? I'm terrible at this sort of thing. "Let's just go into every store we see, there's bound to be something." I told myself for whatever reason with plural pronouns. I started walking through the many shops around Manehatten in some sort of musical montage that you'll have to make up in your head.

Me: Gotta find it

Gotta find it

Gotta find it

Gotta find it

Yeah, I've been searchin'

A-a searchin'

Oh, yeah, searchin' every which a-way

Yeah, yeah

Oh, yeah, searchin'

I'm searchin'

Searchin' every which a-way

Yeah, yeah

But I'm like the Northwest Mounties

You know I'll bring it in today

Gotta find it,

Gotta find it,

Well, now, if I have to trek a big mall

You know I will

And if I have to pay a fortune

You know I will

And a if it's hiding up

On the highest shelf

Am I gonna find it, baby

You know I will

'Cause I've been searchin'

Oh, yeah, searchin'

My goodness, searchin' every which a-way

Yeah, yeah

But I'm like the Northwest Mounties

You know I'll bring it in today

Gotta find it

Gotta find it

Well, Sherlock Holmes

Sam Spade got nothin', child, on me

Sergeant Friday, Charlie Chan

And Boston Blackie

No matter where it's hiding

It's gonna hear me comin'

Gonna walk right down that street

Like Bulldog Drummond

'Cause I've been searchin'

Oooh, Lord, searchin',

Searchin' every which a-way

Yeah, yeah

But I'm like the Northwest Mounties

You know I'll bring it in today

Gotta find it

Gotta find it!

But alas, as my little number came to an end, I was still giftless, what was I gonna do? Perhaps I am not the Northwest Mounties of gift finding, it wasn't that I wasn't trying, Celestia, The Lord, Hell even Morgan Freeman knows I have been searching relentlessly. Nothing suited her well though, I tried every shop I could find, nut nothing seemed to do the trick, I was tired, upset, and exhausted. I only had one more little shop to go, I didn't have high hopes, but trying was better than, well, not trying.

---

Many, many, many shops later

"Well, here we go, last shop..." I sighed to myself feeling quite pessimistic. As I opened the door I looked around, strange objects decorated the store and the place smelled of incense. Oh boy... Suddenly before I could turn around, run home and pack my things and leave the country, the shop keep popped up from behind the counter.

"Hi! Welcome to Oddity's Oddities! Let me know if I can help you with something!" She said enthusiastically. Her enthusiasm couldn't help but brighten my mood a little bit.

"Sure will." I nodded looking around, the store lived up to it's name let me tell you, strange things big, small, and everywhere in between. "Where do you find these things?" I asked Oddity.

"Everywhere!" She said. "I travel all over Equestria finding things I find interesting, sometimes I buy them from vendors, or flea markets, or I find them in the wilderness!" She said.

"You seem to really enjoy what you do." I remarked while looking around.

"I sure do! Of course sometimes it's not too fun. Not the collecting, that's always fun! But trying to make a business out of it, I don't get many customers... That's why I was so excited to see somepony come in, first customer of the week! Could be one of my last though, if i don't make ends meet I'll have to close up shop." She explained. When should I tell her I'm just looking? Oh Celestia, I can't tell her that.

"Oh my..." I said sympathetically.

"Anyway, what did you come here for anyway?" She asked.

"Well, I came here looking for something for my marefriend for Hearthswarming." I explained.

"Oh how precious! You came to my shop for something for that special somepony in your life! And I thought just having business was good!" She beamed.

"Glad I brightened your day." I chuckled looking around, everything looked interesting, but would Pinkie enjoy any of it?

"What's she like?" Oddity asked.

"Well, she's very energetic, happy, fun loving, bubbly..." I continued describing Pinkie to Oddity. "All in all, she's an amazing pony and I just want to find the best thing I can find for her."

"Hmmm..." Oddity thought. "Hold on! I think I know just the thing!" She bolted into the back room.

"Alrighty then." I said to myself now alone in this shop. It was a cute little shop, I kind of felt bad for Oddity, she was clearly quite passionate about her work and I felt sad to see that her business was clearly struggling. Even if I didn't necessarily care for anything in the shop, I thought I'd definitely pick up something, just to help out a little. Suddenly she ran excitedly out of the back room with a small box.

"Take a look! I think it'll do the trick." She smiled.

"Alrighty." I opened the box to reveal a charm necklace. the necklace charms were very cute and fun, balloons, cake, cupcakes, and in the center was a big baby blue gem heart.

"Oh sweet Celestia..." I stammered, I wasn't expecting to truthfully think anything here was a good idea, but wow! "I'll definitely take it!" I smiled.

"Wonderful! Let me ring that up for you! Want it gift wrapped? No additional cost!" She smiled.

"Absolutely!" I nodded happily. "What'll it be?" I asked about the cost.

"Well, with the current Hearthswarming discount special, it'll be 40 bits, half off." She said.

"Alrighty." I said reaching for my very many change purse. Stop snickering, I know you're snickering. I laid the money on the counter.

"Um, sir, I said 40, this is 80." She corrected me.

"I know. Worth every cent." I smiled. She smiled at me from across the counter.

"Thank you. Happy Hearthswarming." She smiled warmly.

"Happy Hearthswarming to you too." I nodded taking the now wrapped and bagged box.

"Feel free to come back any time!" She yelled to me as I left.

"I'll make sure of it!" I wasn't sure if it was true, but if I was ever in the area, I'd say 'hi' for sure.

"Ha! Ha ha! Aha!" I cried happily as I went out the door, I had finally found the perfect gift. I couldn't help but run with joy. I was ecstatic to know I wasn't going to be a major disappointment, it felt really good knowing that really. Suddenly however, my run was cut off suddenly by crashing hard into something.

"Ow." The stallion I crashed into said feeling rather annoyed. I sprang up to my hooves.

"Oh Celestia, I'm so sorry, are you hurt? I didn't see you there." I apologized.

"No harm done to me, I don't recall that mark on my jacket until now though..." He looked at his jacket. "No matter, it was out of style anyway." He said. He had a very high class type of personality, sort of urban finesse with a bit of a 'holier than thou' vibe. Suddenly, he looked down and gasped.

"What in Equestria is that?" He asked. It seemed in the crash the box had opened and the necklace was out. I frantically addressed it to make sure it didn't break, luckily it was still in mint condition.

"This? It's a charm necklace, I got it for my marefriend for Hearthswarming." I told him.

"It's stunning! Where did you get it?" He asked.

"Got it a little shop called Oddity's Oddities, just down the street." I told him

"Hmm, I don't believe I've visited there before, that might be interesting..." He whipped out a notepad and pen.

"Who are you again?" I asked.

"You don't know me? You must be an out-of-towner. I'm Chester Quill, I write for the Manehatten Press, and I believe you've given me a great idea for my next column!"

"What's that?" I asked.

"Local shops to shop at for Hearthswarming! Providing I like what I see in the shop I'll definitely do a write up!" He said as he trotted off toward the shop.

"Huh, neat. Hope it all goes well." I said to myself as I walked back toward the train station.

After I arrived at the train station, I noticed Pinkie still wasn't there yet, so I took this opportunity to do what I wanted to do for a little while now, nap. When I woke up I immediately saw a pair of big blue eyes staring at me.

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" She said.

"Really?" I asked with a yawn.

"No I'm just kiddin', I knew I'd meet you back here!" She laughed. I smiled as I stood up.

"Train almost here?" I asked with yet another yawn.

"Should be here in a couple minutes!" She said sitting down on the bench I was napping on. "Still warm." She commented.

"Well it that's so, move over." I laughed a little sitting down next to her.

"Have fun?" I asked her.

"Yep! I think you're gonna like what I picked out for you!" She smiled. "How about you?"

"I have a feeling you'll like it." I said warmly as I relaxed next to her.

---

Back home

After we got off the train I went back to my bar to see how Cheese had done running the place, I must say when I first walked in I was pleasantly surprised. It was packed! Ponies I hadn't seen since the grand opening party were here and they all seemed to have been here a while too.

"Cheese!" I said excitedly. "What happened?"

"I don't know!" He said. "I started offering free samples to boost popularity and all of a sudden business is booming!"

"Wait. Free samples?" I asked.

"Yeah! Everypony came once I started offering free samples!" He said.

"Hey Cheese!" A pony called. "Another free sample!"

"Comin' right up!" Cheese then poured a full mug and slid it to the pony who ordered it.

"Has anypony ordered anything that wasn't a free sample?" I asked.

"Ummmmmmm... No." He said. WHAT!?

"That's not how business works!" I cried. "Attention everypony!" I called out. "From here on, we will NOT be offering free samples!" My announcement was met with angry mumbles and soon the crowd cleared out. I sighed feeling frustrated about what just happened.

"Cheese. next time I do this, if I ever let you do this, I want you to remember never offer anything for free. Got it?" I said a bit angrily.

"Yes sir!" he said still enthusiastically.

"Alright, your shift is over, I've got to clean this place up." I told him, but before I could finish, he was gone. I sighed once again started cleaning up.

After I finished cleaning, I decided I'd write to Barstool to place a new order on my stocks.

"Dear Barstool, how have you been? I hope you're doing well. I need to restock on my supplies as my employee decided to start offering free non sample sized samples. One more thing, I understand this favor is a bit odd, but I know you happen to live in that area so I'll ask, do you get the Manehatten Press? if so, would you mind telling me if you see a piece regarding a store called Oddity's Oddities? Thank you, Chuck." The letter read. After I placed in the mailbox I retired to home. Pinkie was already fast asleep by the time I got home so I didn't bother disturbing her. I did however, decide to do the same as her and get some rest.

---

Manehatten. 3 days later

"I don't understand it!" Oddity said to herself upon seeing her store now crowded with shopping ponies. "What in all of Equestria could've happened?"

"I for one," one of the shopping ponies spoke up upon hearing her, "heard about this place from Chester Quill's review! I'm glad I did too, this will be perfect for my niece." he finished while picking up a porcelain cat figurine.

"Newspaper review?" Oddity asked.

"Don't you read the news? Take a look for yourself." he said giving her a newspaper.

"This shop: Oddity's Oddities, wasn't particularly on my list to visit, but after running into an albeit rather strange colt who said that this is where he found his Hearthswarming gift for his marefriend, an absolutely stunning necklace, I just had to look for myself! Once I entered, I was immediately greeted with a very welcoming hello from the shop keep who was eager to help me to find something, she opened up my eyes to many, while some a bit strange, amazing and interesting objects from all around Equestria, eventually, I came upon a lovely music box that I purchased for my sister. With friendly service, and incredibly unique things for the unique ponies in your life, Oddity's oddities is a highly recommended visit for your Hearthswarming shopping." She finished.

"Wow!" She smiled. "And I thought I was lucky to get two shoppers in the same day!"

"Bet you sure are glad he ran into the first guy, huh?" The shopper asked.

"I sure am." She smiled gratefully. "Now, would you like that gift wrapped?"

---

Another chapter done! Hope you enjoyed it! I'm gonna ask a question for those who want to reply, and please do reply to it, out of Barstool, Sunny Side, or Oddity, who would you most like to see return? all of them will more than likely be featured again, but if you, the reader, like one more, they may be featured more prominently.

Song used

"Searchin'". By: The Coasters.

Author's Note: I'm sorry if this chapter takes a while, I'm quite busy between now and December 2nd, of course this only applies if this chapter is new as you're reading it. Anyway, here's the next chapter!

---

Chapter 22: Sarcasm and Christmas Music

I woke up to the sound of the store bell beneath me ringing as somepony entered. Damn shoppers, don't they know some ponies are still sleeping? Before I could get my first morning yawn out, my bedroom door burst open and Pinkie Pie fully dressed in a winter coat and hat that made her look like she walked right out of a South Park episode.

"Mornin' Cutie Pie." I said mid yawn.

"Cuckie haven't you looked outside!?" She bounced excitedly.

"There's only two things I've looked at so far this morning, the ceiling when I woke up, and your beautiful face." I smiled. It's never too early to flirt.

"Well let me make this the third thing!" She said as she jerked my head to the window. As I looked out, I could see why she was so excited. It had snowed quite heavily overnight, about 3 feet of snow covered the ground and it was still gently falling down.

"Wow!" I said excitedly. I always share Pinkie's enthusiasm with most things, not quite to the same extent, but this time, I was extremely excited over this.

"I know! Isn't it great!? C'mon! Get your coat on!" She grabbed me excitedly. Before I could even get a drop of caffeine in my system I was outside with Pinkie.

"Isn't this fun!?" She asked. "I've been so excited to get to spend a snow day with you! What do you wanna do first?" She asked.

"Don't you mean you've been snow excited?" (Get it? Get it? Get it!?) I asked. My pun was met with a snowball to the face. "I suppose I deserved that." I said as Pinkie giggled.

"You know I love you, but that was terrible." She said.

"I know, I know, I love you too... But all the love in the world couldn't stop me from doing this!" I said as I counterattacked with a snowball. We shared a laugh as we ran through Ponyville having a one on one snowball fight.

"I'm gonna get ya!" I yelled ducking behind a fruit stand making as many snowballs as I could. I popped my head up to immediately be met with a bombardment of snowballs from Pinkie. Who laughed border lining onto maniacally as she pelted me with snow.

"Oh come on! That's snow fair!" I yelled. She didn't like that one either considering I was hit with a quite large snowball after I said that.

"Another pun and I'm leaving you!" She yelled across the street.

"Oh come on! Don't be so cold!" I called.

"Boo!" She replied hurling more snow at me.

"You loved it!" I said tossing snowballs back at her, our little snowball fight had started to annoy ponies travelling down the street. Suddenly, both of us heard a familiar voice yelling for us in the heat of out battle. We both turned our heads to see Applejack.

"What in the hay are you two doing!?" She snarled at us.

"C'mon Applejack!" Pinkie defended out little fight. "We're just having a little fun!"

"Ah can see that. But there's a time and a place for everything." She said seriously.

"I'm sorry Applejack." I spoke up.

"You didn't let me finish." She said. "There's a time and a place for everything... and that time is... NOW!" She yelled out looking up.

"What?" Pinkie and I said. Suddenly two large piles of snow fell from the sky covering us both. Through the snow I could hear the muffled laughter of Applejack and her partner in prank, Rainbow Dash. I dug myself out of the snow like and Pinkie soon emerged from her's.

"Good job A.J!" Rainbow Dash laughed. "I didn't think you could get 'em to stop!"

"Well you did good lining up those clouds!" Applejack replied as they hoof bumped.

"Good job to both of you." I nodded. "You got us good."

"You sure did!" Pinkie laughed, I couldn't help but laugh too, it was a good prank, looking past the ability to fly being a severely unfair advantage for a prank.

"What are you two lovebirds up to today?" Rainbow asked.

"We're having a snow day!" Pinkie jumped enthusiastically.

"That's right." I nodded. "How about you two?" I asked.

"Nothing much, just got word that practice is cancelled today with the Wonderbolts." Rainbow Dash said.

"And there's never much of anything to do on the farm once the snow falls." Applejack added.

"So what you two mean is: Nothing." I smirked.

"I suppose that's a way you could describe it." Rainbow nodded.

"Well, you could always hang out with us... If that's okay with you Pinkie." I turned to her.

"Of course! The more the merrier!" She smiled.

"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash said.

"As long as the next time you pull a prank you let us help with it." I said.

"Yeah!" Pinkie nodded.

"You drive a hard bargain... What say you A.J?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Fine by me." She nodded with a smile.

"Alrighty then." I said shaking their hooves. "Pleasure doing business with you." I take pranks and pranking very seriously.

---

Ponyville pond

"Looks like we've been beat to it." I said as the four of us overlooked the pond seeing many ponies already skating around. Not that company ruined anything, but that feeling of having a public area to yourself you know? It feels so good, like when you're the only one in a movie theater.

"So? Let's get down there anyway!" Rainbow Dash replied.

"Last one to the bottom is a rotten egg!" Pinkie yelled bolting down, the rest of us immediately started following, if you're wondering who was last, it was me. I am a terrible runner, snow didn't help that either. As we got down to the bottom of the hill we rented four sets of skates, which was four skates per pony, oh boy. Ever watch that old Disney cartoon where they're all ice skating and Donald decides to be an asshole and tied the skates to Mickey's dog Pluto? I had a feeling I'd look about as foolish as Pluto did in that short, if you haven't watched that however, you should definitely do it now. Or later, I don't really care. It's called "On Ice". Where was I? Kind of lost my train of thought... Oh yeah! Anyway, as we made our way onto the ice, I felt pretty awkward, I was hardly good on two skates, let alone four.

"Here we go. Focus." I said to myself. "One... Two... Three... Go!" I said as I slid half gracefully onto the ice. "Ha! Haha! There we go!" But alas, like most cautionary tales go, my confidence bit me in the ass, by how else, but me falling on it. I turned to see Applejack and Pinkie hiding their laughter, Rainbow Dash however, left nothing hidden.

"Hahahahahahahahaha!" She laughed. "Having a little difficulty?"

"Laughing at somepony's difficulties. Real nice." I sneered jokingly at her standing back up.

"Not used to using four legs huh?" Applejack asked.

"Give the mare a prize! We have a winner!" I replied.

"Let me give you a helping hoof hon." Pinkie said to me, now, the part of me that takes after my father is telling me to sigh and say I can do it on my own, and the other part of me know's saying that would be a lie.

"Thanks Cutie Pie." I said accepting her help. She took me by the hoof and helped me step by step.

"It's exactly like walking, but with a lot more balance!" She said as I crept forward.

"I'm doing it!" I said channeling my inner 5-year-old who just learned how to ride a bike. Eventually, after falling on my ass and getting back up a couple times, I managed to start skating efficiently.

"Wa-hoo! Watch me!" I said excitedly skating around like Tonya Harding, don't know who that is? Look her up, it's a fun story.

"Congrats. You can do something I could do when I was a filly." Rainbow Dash remarked, her remark was met with a dirty look from Applejack.

"Good job Chuckie." Pinkie congratulated me.

"Thank you, thank you, hold your applause thank you." I bowed sarcastically.

"So now that we've taught him how to skate," Rainbow Dash said. "can we start skating now?"

"We nothing." I said. "And there was nothing stopping you before."

"I thought it would be more fun to watch." She teased.

"What are we waiting around for? Let's get skating!" Applejack interrupted us.

"I couldn't agree more!" Pinkie nodded. And with that we began our skating. I skated around doing figure eights, Pinkie soon skated by my side.

"Morning ma'am, beautiful day isn't it?" I said is a suave kind of fashion.

"Hello good sir! Beautiful day indeed!" She played along.

"I must say I just love this time of year!" I said in my lame sophisticated voice.

"I must agree, there is just nothing like it!" She said.

"The only thing more beautiful than this time of year is the beautiful mare I'm talking to." I flirted.

"Oh stop sir..." She blushed.

"I mean it." I grinned.

"Well I must say you are one handsome devil yourself." She said to me.

"Why thank you ma'am." I bowed my head.

"Your flirting is gross!" Rainbow Dash said flying over us. I sighed a little bit.

"She's just kidding around." Pinkie said. "It wasn't gross."

"I know." I smiled.

"But seriously though, it's quite beautiful out today."

"Sure is." Pinkie nodded as we skated along.

Me: It's the most wonderful time of the year

With the foals jingle belling

And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Pinkie: It's the hap-happiest season of all

With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings

When friends come to call

It's the hap-happiest season of all!

There'll be parties for hosting

Marshmallows for toasting

And caroling out in the snow...

Me: There'll be scary ghost stories

And tales of the glories of the

Hearthswarmings long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be much mistltoeing

Pinkie and I: And hearts will be glowing

When love ones are near

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Pinkie: There'll be parties for hosting

Marshmallows for toasting

Me: And caroling out in the snow

There'll be scary ghost stories

Pinkie: And tales of the glories of the Hearthswarmings long, long ago

Pinkie and I: It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be much mistltoeing

And hearts will be glowing

When love ones are near

It's the most wonderful time

Yes the most wonderful time

Oh the most wonderful time

Of the year!

We laughed together as we finished our song skating along the ice.

"You've got to admit, they are a little cute together." Applejack said to Rainbow Dash as they watched us.

"They're alright." Rainbow Dash replied to which Applejack snickered at the stubbornness of her friend.

---

Ponyville streets

As the four of us walked through the street, one of the primarily noticeable things was that there was an abundance of colts and fillies around town for the time, then it dawned on me, it was one of the best days for them in the history of school days, a snow day. I remembered the good old days of waking up to hear I could stay home from school, who doesn't love that feeling?

"What an amazing feeling that is." I said to myself. Now, a lot of my memories the others can't relate to, but this on the other hand, no matter where you come from, everyone knows the feeling of a snow day.

"Ain't that the truth." Rainbow Dash nodded hearing what I said.

"Amen." Applejack nodded.

"You can say that again!" Pinkie said in agreeance.

"Hey Chuck!" I heard a voice call, and who else came prancing through the snow but yet another main character in this story, Cheese Sandwich.

"Hey Cheese, how's it going?" I asked as he approached us.

"Great! I was so excited to see the snow outside today! I couldn't wait to get outside and enjoy the day! Oh wait, can I have today off?" He asked.

"I wasn't even gonna open today. You're off the hook." I told him.

"Oh thank Celestia." He brushed his head.

"Where's your buddy at? Quibble?" I asked.

"Oh he should be along! There he is now!" He said turning his head. And then came, well, ever watch South Park? Ever see what the main characters of South Park look like? Well, along came a pony version of Kenny from South Park trotting down the street, who possibly under that giant orange parka could be Quibble.

"Quibble!?" Rainbow Dash sputtered between giggles before resorting into a full on laughter.

"Laugh it up." At least that's what I think he said, you couldn't really tell. "At least I'm staying warm."

"What was that? Couldn't hear you." Rainbow Dash said.

"I said..." He removed the hood. "Laugh it up, at least I'm saying warm."

"Oh, the hood over the mouth was for warmth, I thought you had herpes or something." To inappropriate? Oh well.

"Ha. Ha." He glared at me. "I don't need this you know." He said.

"Aw come on, you're our friend, well, my friend at least. It's playful banter between friends." I explained.

"Uh huh." Quibble said.

"Quit your whining, join us huh?" Applejack spoke up. This might be the first time that they've ever spoke.

"Alright alright, don't have much better to do." He said with his eyes fixed on Rainbow Dash. Hey, not till this arc is over pal, I use too much meta humor don't I?

"Watch it pal." I whispered to him as Cheese and him joined the group. His reply was nothing more than a dramatic nose sigh.

---

Sunny Side's Diner

Oh look at where we are! A place that conveniently brings back an original character from an earlier chapter!

"Hi Sunny!" Pinkie said as our group entered the diner.

"Pinkie! Great to see you again!" Sunny Side said. "Good to see you too Buck." She said to me.

"It's Chuck." I corrected.

"I knew that, I just wanted to do that. It's my right as her friend to bug you sometimes." She winked.

"Thank you!" Rainbow Dash blurted out. "Finally somepony gets it!"

"Big group of you today, huh?" Sunny remarked. "What can I get you all?" She asked.

"I'll have a coffee please, I don't mean a cup, I mean a pot with cream and sugar stirred into it." I said. What? I could be addicted to worse things than caffeine couldn't I?

"Alright, just know you'll be paying the same as you would for 12 cups of coffee." She told me.

"That's fine by me." I said as I sat down.

"Everypony else?" She asked.

"Chili looks good, I'll have some of that please." Rainbow Dash said.

"Club sandwich please." Quibble said. (Note: A club sandwich probably doesn't include chicken breast and bacon in this world, probably anyway.)

"Hayburger and fries please!" Pinkie said.

"Grilled cheese please!" Who do you think ordered it?

"Soup of the day for me please." Applejack said.

"Comin' right up!" Sunny Side smiled. "What brings you all here today?"

"Thought it would be fun to drop by and visit!" Pinkie said.

"Thank Celestia you did, kind of a lull today I guess, I don't know, dinner rush will probably be better." Sunny Side said as she brought us our food and my drink.

"Thank you very much." I said before gulping down about half the pot.

"You sure like your coffee don't you?" She asked.

"You don't know the half of it sister." I said wiping my lips off. I do have a pretty heavy addiction to it, I love the taste and get severe migraines without it, it works out well for me because I love coffee.

"Smart move though if I do say so, coffee gives you energy, Celestia knows you need a whole lot of it with her around." Sunny Side winked at Pinkie. "And that, I do know the half of."

"We put up with each other." I joked wrapping a leg around Pinkie.

"Oh stop..." Pinkie blushed.

"Yes. Please do." Sunny Side said dryly.

"Thank you!" Both Quibble and Rainbow Dash said at the same time.

"Mighty good soup Sunny!" Applejack spoke up, changing the subject intentionally or not.

"Thanks! Made it myself." Sunny Side said, flattered by the compliment, compliments really mean something when the element of honesty is giving you one.

"Yeah, foods great Sunny." Rainbow Dash nodded.

"Thanks Rainbow Dash." Sunny Side said. "You folks excited for Hearthswarming?"

"Of course we are! It's one of the best times of the year!" Pinkie Pie said excitedly.

"We're all excited at the Apple family too!" Applejack nodded.

"I'm definitely excited, this is my first Hearthswarming ever!" I said.

"Really?" Sunny Side asked.

"Don't you remember Sunny? I told you he fell from the sky!" Pinkie said. "Before he came here, he used to live somewhere wayyyy different!"

"Well, very different, but in many ways similar." I added. Sunny Side just looked at us with a strange look.

"If I'm gonna be honest, I though when you said he fell from the sky that is was some sort of saying I'd never heard of, I didn't think he actually did." She said.

"Nope, I actually fell from the sky, it's a miracle my rib cage broke my fall, or else something important might have gotten hurt." I said. (Stay tuned for the prequel chapter 1.5, Chuck goes to the hospital to find out the fall shattered all his ribs, coming never.)

"Huh. So what were things like where you were from?" She asked.

"Well, we had a lot of the same things here has, but different, because where I'm from, I stood on two legs, and my front legs were called arms, and I had hands, which are like movable pitchforks made of flesh." I explained.

"I didn't ask for an anatomy lesson pal, what did you do around the holidays?" She asked.

"Oh, well, there were many different holidays where I came from, it all depended on your culture, I celebrated a holiday called Christmas." I explained. Remembering that made me think back on Christmases I had spent with my family, I hadn't really missed Earth at all since I came here, but for some reason, I did feel a bit sad thinking this would be my first December without my family.

"Chuckie, you okay?" Pinkie asked seeing my face droop slightly. I quickly regained my composure.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I smiled. "Anyway, Christmas and Hearthswarming share some similarities and have their differences, but all in all I'm definitely looking forward to my first Hearthswarming." I concluded.

"Uh huh. That's real neat Chuck, wanna tell me how guys from your planet get sent here and become Stallions? Because Momma could use a stallion for herself." Sunny Side said.

"I wish I could tell you about that, but I have no idea how it happened, just my luck I guess." I shrugged.

"Damn." She said.

"But hey, there's somepony out there for everypony." I smiled.

"Like I haven't heard that before." She said with a smirk. "That'll be 10 bits for the pot of coffee."

"10 bits well spent." I said sliding over the bits and an extra for a tip.

"You know, that was originally what I was gonna call this place. '10 Bits Well Spent'." She teased.

"Alright, you've done enough of your marefriend's friend coltfriend tormenting now." I laughed.

"You know I like you Chuck." She laughed with me as the others payed their bills.

"Thanks again Sunny! See you soon!" Pinkie said as we were leaving.

"You'd better!" She called after her playfully.

---

Sugarcube Corner: That evening

"See ya!" I called out to Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Cheese, and Quibble as Pinkie and I retired for the night. The snow had picked up now and there were flurries blowing about, maybe Quibble wasn't wrong to have that giant coat on after all...

"That was a fun day, huh?" I asked Pinkie as we snuggled up together in front of the fireplace in the loft.

"Sure was." She smiled nuzzling into my neck as we relaxed.

"Any day I get to spend with you is a great day in my books." I smiled kissing her forehead.

"Oh stop." Pinkie laughed.

"I mean it." I told her.

"Well, I always love spending the day with you too Chuckie." She kissed me back. Suddenly, she looked at me more seriously. "About earlier... When you were talking about your holiday from Earth.. You seemed a little sad."

"Well, I mean, there's a lot of things about my old life I don't miss at all." I told her. "But I must admit, this is the first time I'm spending the holidays from my family..." I explained. "But, I wouldn't give spending Hearthswarming with you for a thousand Christmas mornings." I smiled.

"Mean it?" She asked.

"Of course." I smiled.

"I do understand missing your family around this time of year, just so you know." She said to me.

"Thanks. I love you Pinkie Pie." I said.

"I love you too, Chuck... Murray?"

"It's Murphy." I chuckled. I looked out the window to see the snow storm. "Weather sure got crazy."

"You can say that again." Pinkie nodded.

"You might say..." I said shifting into a song.

Me: Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we've no place to go

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Pinkie: It doesn't show signs of stopping

And I've brought some corn for popping

The lights are turned way down low

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Me: When we finally kiss goodnight

How I hate going out in the storm

But if you really hold me tight

All the way home I'll be warm

"Why would you be going out? You live here." Pinkie asked.

"Just roll with it." I smiled.

Pinkie and I: The fire is slowly dying

And my dear we're still goodnight-ing

As long as you love me so

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Me: Oh, it doesn't show signs of stopping

Pinkie: And I've brought some corn for popping

Me: and the lights are turned way down low

Pinkie and I: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

The fire is slowly dying

And my dear we're still goodbye-ing

As long you love me so

Let it snow, Let it Snow, Let it snow

We shared a nice cozy hug and a kiss before realizing we should probably get some rest for the night.

"Goodnight Cutie Pie, I love you." I said.

"I love you too Chuckie, goodnight." She smiled before we shared one more goodnight kiss and retired to our rooms.

---

One more chapter is complete! Hope you enjoyed reading it! Like I stated earlier, next week is quite busy for me so an update may not happen, but we will wrap this story up in time for Hearthswarming!

Songs used

"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year". By: Eddie Pola / George Wyle

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow". By: Jule Styne / Sammy Cahn

Author's note: You know a funny movie for the holidays? The Night Before. If you like Seth Rogen flicks and enjoy hilarious boundary pushing humor it's definitely worth checking out. However, I should warn it is rated R, so if the regular contents of an R rated film isn't your scene, don't watch it. Wait, these author's notes are supposed to talk about the chapter. Whoops. Anyway, we're approaching the actual Hearthwarming chapters themselves, until then however, the writing staff at ENC (Me) decided to give you, (The Reader) a chapter showing another way to celebrate, with a party a week before the holiday itself.

---

Chapter 23: Why Not A Party?

Hearthswarming was now just one week away, in 5 days Pinkie and I would be boarding the train to the Pie Family Rock Farm for me to find out I'm nowhere near good enough to be with Pinkie. Maybe I'm wrong to be so pessimistic, but I mean, I just had a feeling it wasn't going to go well. All this anxiety was floating around my head as I tended my bar. Ponies came in, drank, and left. I wasn't in a chatty mood so I didn't strike up much conversation with my customers. Like usual, Cheese needed the day off. I wasn't sure what Quibble was up to. Rainbow popped in earlier, but only to ask where Applejack was. And Pinkie was out on deliveries. Now I knew how Sunny Side felt when she was all cooped up in her diner with nopony around.

Me: I think I'm alone now

There doesn't seem to be anyone around

I think I'm alone now

The beating of my heart is the only sound...

I love that song so much, real ear worm too. Tiffany's "I think we're alone now" still works just fine if you change the plural pronouns to singular. Especially if you are alone. Which I was.

"Looks like it's just you and me, bar rag." I said to the inanimate object. I did have a history of striking up chats with inanimate objects when I was bored, I answered for them of course, but it passed the time, and a conversation is a lot more fun when you have control over both sides of it.

"I like when it's just you and me, you're wonderful company Chuck." I said as the bar rag in a high pitched voice.

"Thanks Rag." I said. "Oh, Goblet, didn't see you there." I looked at an empty drinking goblet that was sitting on the counter.

"It's all good man." I deepened my voice to talk as the goblet. "Rags right. You're the best."

"You guys are good company too." I told them. Oh Lord, I'm going nuts.

"No Chuck, you aren't going nuts." I reassured myself as Goblet. "You know what we should do?"

"I don't know Goblet, what?" I asked.

"Let's kill your friends!" Okay, that's it.

"No. No Goblet, we aren't killing anyone." I said.

"What are you doing?" A voice asked me.

"Nothing!" I tossed the rag and goblet aside to see who caught me being weird. "Oh, hey Sunny Side. What's up?" I asked.

"Reevaluating my approval of Pinkie dating you after what I just witnessed." She said. "I'm just kidding, I don't even know how many times I've done the same with the salt and pepper shakers and the napkin dispenser." She said as she sat down at one of the stools.

"Speaking of which, shouldn't you be running the diner now?"

"Hired some part time staff, it might benefit you to do the same." She said.

"I did." I said dryly. "Remember that pony who ordered the grilled cheese? He's my part timer, who takes part time way too seriously."

"Yeah, I may talk to somepony else for some help." I said.

"Might be a smart plan." She said. "Where's Pinkie and your friends anyway?"

"Cheese is probably off throwing a party in Celsetia knows where, Pinkie is making deliveries, and I'm not sure about the others." I told her.

"You're missing somepony..." She said.

"Oh. And of course one of my very best friends is sitting right here." I said dryly.

"That's right." She said smugly.

"So anyway, you said Pinkie and you were once roommates?" I asked.

"Yep! Back when she first moved to Ponyville actually. Table Scraps was kind enough to offer her a job, and I gave her a place to live, believe it or not, the spontaneously throwing parties business doesn't pay as much as you think."

"Oh I can only imagine." I said sarcastically.

"She'd get into trouble every now and then too, like when she'd take bites out the customer's food. Not to mention forgetting to clock in or out, Table Scraps was not happy that time you better believe it." Sunny laughed.

"I can't imagine he would be." I chuckled cleaning a mug. "Can I get you something?" I asked.

"Just something soft. Never been a big drinker." She said.

"I need something more than that, I don't say 'something fried' when I order food do I?" I said.

"Alright I get your point. Hit me with a root beer float." She said.

"One root beer float coming right up." I nodded preparing the drink. Once I was finished I slid it down to her.

"Here you go. One root beer float." I said.

"Thanks Chuck. What's the damage?" She asked.

"For stopping me from killing everypony in the name of Goblet, it's free." I grinned. "But that's it, for future reference its 2 bits."

"Pretty fair." She nodded. Suddenly we were joined by somepony else.

"Hi Chuckie!" Pinkie said bouncing in.

"Cutie Pie! Good to see you." I said giving her a kiss as she came over.

"Chuckie? Cutie Pie? Blech!" Sunny Side gagged at us. Pinkie looked over at her.

"Sunny! Good to see you! What are you doing here?"

"Gave myself the day off." She said.

"Awesome!" Pinkie smiled.

"Of course, after hearing those nicknames I wish I hadn't." She pretended to vomit.

"Come to think of it, 2 bits plus a hefty tip." I sneered.

"Hey come on, I'm only kidding!" She defended herself.

"Fine." I chuckled.

"You shoulda seen him when I came in." Sunny Side said to Pinkie. "He looked like he was going nuts! Guy was talking to the bar rag!" She laughed.

"Oh lookit that, price went back up again." I said dryly as they laughed.

"Come off it!" Sunny laughed. "It was hilarious!"

"It is pretty funny!" Pinkie agreed.

"What was that you were saying? Something about not killing them?" I heard Goblet's voice say.

"Not now." I muttered. I'm not insane, really. Eager to get back to not coming off as insane, I struck up some conversation.

"Glad to see your deliveries are done hon, anything else planned today?" I asked.

"Nope!" She smiled.

"Thank Celestia, I mean, no offense Sunny, you're terrific company." I said.

"Hey none taken, I'd rather hang out with somepony I can get with too." She said.

"That is definitely not what I meant." I said.

"Inappropriate, there could be young ones reading this!" Pinkie nodded.

"What did I say about breaking the fourth wall?" I said. Sunny Side just looked at us.

"Yeah, you two are perfect for each other." She nodded slowly. "Not sure if that's a good thing or not."

"We're good for each other." I said smiling at Pinkie.

"For the rest of Equestria though?" Sunny Side smirked.

"I am the element of laughter I'll have you know!" Pinkie said in a jokingly serious tone.

"And I am the element of booze!" I joked along. "I don't know if a better combo than laughter and booze exists!"

"You're the element of booze? What's that got to do with harmony?" Pinkie asked.

"Best I could come up with on the spot."

"Bet that won't be the last time he tells you that." Sunny Side winked.

"Gross." I said. "Gross and mean."

"Come on Chuck, I'm just kidding around." She said.

"Yeah yeah, save it, it's cool." I dismissed the excuse.

"Aw, the forgiving type. Now I know what you saw in him." Sunny said in a mock sweet tone to Pinkie.

"One of many things." She said kissing me on the cheek.

"One more stunt like that and I'm out of here." Sunny Side remarked.

"Fine, fine." I sighed. "Let's change the subject. Hearthswarmings coming up huh?"

"That's the new subject?" Sunny Side remarked.

"Sure is!" Pinkie replied to me.

"It is a pretty fun time of year." Sunny Side nodded.

"Snow days, songs..." I said.

"Parties..." Pinkie added to the list.

"Ooh, parties, another good one." I nodded.

"Now those, those are fun." Sunny Side agreed.

"Hey, I've got an idea." I said.

"That's a first." Sunny joked.

"Be nice!" Pinkie said.

"My idea, why don't we have a Hearthswarming party here? Today? All our friends are still in town, it's close to the Hearthswarming, it would be fun!" I said.

"I'll give credit where it's due, I like it." Sunny Side said.

"Me too! Let's do it!" Pinkie said happily.

"Alright, I'll decorate the place up. Can I leave you two to gather up a crowd?" I asked.

"You can count on me Chuckie!" Pinkie kissed my cheek.

"Love you Cutie Pie." I smiled.

"Love you too!" She hugged me.

"I'm going too, where's mine?" Sunny Side asked.

"Watch it! He's mine!" Pinkie winked as they went off, leaving me alone to decorate, which was a passion of mine that I never liked to tell most folks. I could've been an interior decorator if I wanted to. Especially around the holidays.

---

3 hours later

"Lookin' good." I said looking around the now decorated bar, there was just one part missing, a tree. I had asked Applejack about bringing one over and she was more than happy to. I then heard a knock on the door. "Must be Applejack." I said. As I opened the door I found out that I was right.

"Hey Applejack, thanks for doing this." I said.

"Thank Big Mac, he's done most the labor." She said motioning to her older brother.

"Thanks Big Mac, you, Discord, and Spike still meeting here tomorrow night for Oubliettes & Ogres?" I asked.

"Eeyup!" He said.

"I'll have the refreshments ready, now let's bring her in." I said motioning them inside.

"Now careful Big Mac, careful." Applejack said leading him in with the tree. The tree shook somewhat on his back.

"The needles are gonna break!" She hollered getting him to straighten it out, just before is slumped the other way hitting a table.

"The table's gonna break!" She said again. "The lamp's gonna break!"

"I'm taking a break!" He hollered setting it down on the floor and sitting down.

"You can't just leave it laying down on the floor." Applejack said.

"Easier to decorate that way." I defended his actions.

"The Apples aren't about 'easier', are we Big Mac?" She asked. Big Mac just sighed getting back up.

"Nope." He said reluctantly.

After the three of us got the tree all stood up and decorated, ponies started to show up gradually, first were Pinkie and Sunny with Starlight, Trixie, and Maud.

"Welcome to the party!" I welcomed them. "Make yourselves at home, drink of the day is "It's the most wonderful time for a beer", It's just beer really."

"I expected something more clever. You've disappointed me." Maud commented.

"I may have, but today's prices won't. In the spirit of Hearthswarming, everything is on a buy one get one free discount." I said.

"Self advertising at it's finest, the great and powerful Trixie approves!" Trixie said. Oh Lord.

"I've got another drink too..." I murmured to Pinkie. "It's named after her, claims to be a hard drink, but it's just some cream soda with blue food dye." She snickered at what I said.

"Be nice!" She said between snickers.

"Hey, truth hurts." I said sipping at a drink I had poured for myself. Before long, others started to show up and soon a full fledged party was on our hands, or hooves. After Starlight, Maud, and Trixie Cheese showed up, dragging Quibble by the ear with Rainbow Dash laughing at Quibble's situation, Twilight and Spike came not long after, Fluttershy and Discord, which didn't aid Quibble's mood. Rarity brought the Cutie Mark Crusaders with her, this party wasn't going to get too out-of-hoof after all so young ones could come if they wanted. More ponies came too, the Cakes, Vinyl and Octavia... And just about any other pony you'd spot in a background scene. I'm too lazy to list them all one by one.

"Great party Chuck!" Rainbow Dash told me over the noise.

"Wasn't too tough." I said. "Just invited some ponies and played some music, music and booze go pretty well."

"Amen to that! Woo hoo!" Exclaimed Applejack, who had really been enjoying the buy one get one free deal.

"Somepony should tell Applejack to ease off a little bit." I said.

"Aren't you the owner of this place? 'Somepony' is you." Sunny Side said.

"Fine." I sighed. "Applejack, take a bit of a break huh? I'm only serving you soft stuff for as little while now."

"No, no... -hic-. I swear to fine I'm Celestia... -hic-!" Applejack defended herself.

"Don't you mean I swear to Celestia I'm fine?" I asked.

"That's what I said wasn't it?"

"Nope. Soft stuff from here on out." I said, which resulted in an angry glare that I couldn't quite take seriously considering her current state.

"Cheese!" I called for him. "Put something on huh? I've got some angry customers who need to dance until they forget why they were mad."

"You've got it boss!" He said kicking the jukebox. That things gonna have some real dents by the time this story is done, (which isn't any time soon so don't worry...).

"Here you go grumpy, get up and dance, huh?" I said to Applejack.

"Fine. But not because you told me to." She glared, honestly it was so hard not to laugh at her attempt at being an angry drunk. I could tell however the music was shifting her mood, as music for this time of year does of course.

"Ooh this is a good one. Classic." I commented on the song that started playing.

Jukebox: Rocking around the Hearthswarming Tree

at the Hearthswarming party hop

A mistletoe hung where you can see

Every couple tries to stop

Rocking around the Hearthswarming Tree

Let Hearthswarming spirit ring

Later we'll have some pumpkin pie

and we'll do some caroling

You will get a sentimental feeling

When you hear, voices singing

"Let's be jolly; Deck the halls with boughs of holly"

Rocking around the Hearthswarming Tree

Have a happy holiday

Everyone dancing merrily

In a new old fashioned way

You will get a sentimental feeling

When you hear voices singing

"Let's be jolly; Deck the halls with boughs of holly"

Rocking around the Hearthswarming tree

Have a happy holiday

Everyone dancing merrily

In the new old fashioned way!

Turns out if you replace Christmas with Hearthswarming the song works in the story, who would have guessed?

"Wasn't that great?" I said as the song finished.

"That was alright, but I think I've got a better one." Rainbow Dash boasted.

"Whoa ho ho, are you challenging me to a karaoke off?" I asked with squinted eyes. The crowed stopped and gasped at my statement.

"Bring it." Rainbow Dash grinned.

---

In a kind of flash Rainbow Dash and I were on the karaoke platform and Cheese stood between us.

"Alright! We're gonna have a fair karaoke off! Keep the heckling clean, no prerecordings, and no cussing! Or at least not a lot of it. Now, pick your partner!" He announced.

"Pinkie!" I called. "Come on up here Cutie Pie!" I blew her a kiss as she came up next to me.

"Team name?" Cheese asked.

"Team Gingerbread." We nodded. A good couple has these things ready beforehand.

"Alright! We have team Gingerbread! Rainbow Dash! Pick your partner!" She scanned the crowd, Applejack was still down for the count. She stopped and eyes Quibble, who immediately shook his head frantically.

"No, no no. No." He said, but it seemed Rainbow Dash had other plans.

"Quibble!" She called. Quibble awkwardly made his way onto the stage.

"Alright! Rainbow Dash and Quibble! Team name?" Cheese asked.

"Anypony else want to do this?" Quibble said into the mic.

"Alright! Team Gingerbread against Team Anypony else want to do this! Or Team A.P.E.W.T.D.T!" Cheese announced. "Alright! Team A.P.E.W.T.D.T presented the challenge, so they go first!"

"Rainbow Dash, this is a terrible idea." Quibble whispered to her.

"Relax. We've got this." She said.

"No, you've got this. I don't sing!" He said.

"You've sang before, you've done this at Chuck's other parties."

"Not in front of a bunch of ponies, I have no interest in that kind of humiliation!"

"Who cares what they think of you?" Rainbow Dash countered. Before Quibble could answer, Cheese cut him off.

"Pick your song!" He said.

"Punch in G-7!" Rainbow Dash said. One tends to know the jukebox off by heart if they visit a bar long enough, and Rainbow was one of my best customers.

"Alrighty! Okay everypony! Here's Team A.P.E.W.T.D.T with "Little Saint Nick!" Break a leg you two!" Cheese announced.

"Try and keep up huh?" Rainbow said to her partner as the music began.

Rainbow: Oooooooo

Happy Hearthswarming Saint Nick

Quibble: (Hearthswarming comes this time each year)

Rainbow: Well way up north where the air gets cold

There's a tale of Hearthswarming

That you've all been told

And a real famous cat all dressed up in red

And he spends all year workin' out on his sled

It's the little Saint Nick

Quibble: (little Saint Nick)

Rainbow: It's the little Saint Nick

Quibble: (little Saint Nick)

I could tell Quibble gained a little more confidence as he led the second verse.

Just a little bobsled we call the old Saint Nick

But she'll walk a toboggan with a four speed stick

She's candy apple red with a ski for a wheel

And when Santa hits the gas man just watch her peel

It's the little Saint Nick

Rainbow: (little Saint Nick)

Quibble: It's the little Saint Nick

Rainbow: (little Saint Nick)

Run run reindeer

Run run reindeer, whoaa

Run run reindeer

Run run reindeer

Quibble: (he don't miss no one)

Rainbow: And haulin' through the snow at a frightening speed

With a half a dozen deer with Rudy to lead

He's got to wear his goggles 'cause the snow really flies

And he's cruisin' every path with a little surprise

It's the little Saint Nick

Quibble: (little Saint Nick)

Rainbow: It's the little Saint Nick

Quibble: (little Saint Nick)

Rainbow: Oooooooo

Happy Hearthswarming Saint Nick

Quibble: (Hearthswarming comes this time each year)

Rainbow: Oooooooo

happy Hearthswarming Saint Nick

Quibble: (Hearhswarming comes this time each year)

Rainbow: Oooooooo

Happy Hearthswarming Saint Nick

Quibble: (Hearthswarming comes this time each year)

Damn. That is a good one, that might be tougher an act to follow than I had imagined.

"I think it's safe to say nopony was expecting such a good opener! Let's see if Team Gingerbread can counter!" Cheese announced.

"What do you think?" I asked Pinkie smugly.

"We definitely can. B-3 Cheese!" She said. Damn, these ponies know the jukebox better than me!

Pinkie: I really can't stay

Me: (Baby, it's cold outside)

Pinkie: I've got to go away

Me: (Baby, it's cold outside)

Pinkie: This evening has been

Me: (Been hoping that you'd drop in)

Pinkie: So very nice

Me: (I'll hold your hooves, they're just like ice)

Pinkie: My mother will start to worry

Me: (Beautiful, what's your hurry?)

Pinkie: My father will be pacing the floor

Me: (Listen to the fireplace roar)

Pinkie: So really I'd better scurry

Me: (Beautiful, please don't hurry)

Pinkie: But maybe just have a drink more

Me: (Put some records on while I pour)

Pinkie: The neighbors might think

Me: (Baby, it's bad out there)

Pinkie: Say, what's in this drink?

Me: (No cabs to be had out there)

Pinkie: I wish I knew how

Me: (Your eyes are like starlight)

Pinkie: To break this spell

Me: (I'll take your hat, your mane looks swell)

Pinkie: I ought to say no, no, no, sir

Me: (Mind if I move in closer?)

Pinkie: At least I'm gonna say that I tried

Me: (What's the sense in hurting my pride?)

Pinkie: I really can't say

Me: (Baby, don't hold out)

Together: Baby, it's cold outside

Pinkie: I simply must go

Me: (Baby, it's cold outside)

Pinkie: The answer is no

Me: (But baby, it's cold outside)

Pinkie: The welcome has been

Me: (How lucky that you dropped in)

Pinkie: So nice and warm

Me: (Look out the window at that storm)

Pinkie: My sister will be suspicious

Me: (Gosh, your lips look delicious)

Pinkie: My brother will be there at the door

Me: (Waves upon a tropical shore)

Pinkie: My maid and aunt's mind is vicious

Me: (Gosh, your lips are delicious)

Pinkie: But maybe just a root beer float more

Me: (Never such a blizzard before)

Pinkie: I've got to get home

Me: (Baby, you'll freeze out there)

Pinkie: Say, lend me your comb

Me: (It's up to your knees out there)

Pinkie: Been better than good

Me: (I thrill when you touch my hoof)

Pinkie: But don't you see

Me: (How can you do this thing to me?)

Pinkie: There's bound to be talk tomorrow

Me: (Think of my life long sorrow)

Pinkie: At least there will be plenty implied

Me: (If you caught pneumonia and died)

Pinkie: I really can't stay

Me: (Get over that hold out)

Together: Baby, it's cold

Baby it's cold outside!

The classic romantic duet that proves that clearly being a little too forward was more appropriate about 50 years ago still works like a charm for karaoke duets. The audience applauded as we finished our song and bowed on the stage.

"Now I hate to judge prematurely, but I think it's easy to tell who the winner is." I said smugly.

"Yep! Looks like they've got us beat. It's been a pleasure but I'll be on my way now." Quibble said making his way off the stage.

"Not so fast!" Rainbow Dash said grabbing him. "I'm not losing that easily!"

"Oh brother..." Quibble muttered.

"Fillies and Gentlecolts! Looks like we have a round 2!" Cheese said enthusiastically.

"Wait just a minute!" A voice called from the audience, we all turned to see Rarity. "Both teams were all well and good, but I do believe my team can outdo both of them!" She called, soon Big Mac, Toe Tapper, and Torch Song appeared behind her.

"Looks like we have a new team entering! A team of four! Fillies and Gentlecolts... The Ponytones!" Cheese announced. Mine and Rainbow's team exchanged glances. I motioned the two of them to come over to Pinkie and I.

"Look. I don't think we could win against them separate, and I don't think your pride or mine can handle that." I said to Rainbow Dash.

"What are you suggesting?" She asked.

"Maybe, if our teams join together we'd have a chance!" I said.

"That does sound like a good idea..." Rainbow Dash nodded. "But if we win, does that mean-"

"It means we both win." I cut her off. "Can you live with that?"

"I'll try. Deal." She said shaking my hoof.

"An interesting development here folks! Team Gingerbread and Team A.P.E.W.T.D.T are joining together!" Cheese announced. "New team name?"

"Team You're Going Down!" Rainbow Dash said proudly.

"Fine by me." I nodded at her choice.

"Alright Fillies and Gentlecolts! Get ready for the ultimate Hearthswarming karaoke-off between The PonyTones and Team You're Going Down!" Cheese announced loudly. "Team You're Going Down! Pick your song!"

"D-25 work for you all?" I asked my team, they all nodded. "D-25!" I called to Cheese. He pressed the button on the jukebox and the music started with a hip-hop version of jingle bells that shifted into it's own rift.

Me: It was December 24th on Hollis ave in the dark

When I see a colt chilling with his dog in the park

I approached very slowly with my heart full of fear

Looked at his dog, oh my god, an ill reindeer

But then I was illin because the colt had a beard

And a bag full of goodies, 12 o'clock had neared

So I turned my head a second and the colt had gone

But he left his driver's wallet smack dead on the lawn

I picket the wallet up then I took a pause

Took out the license and it cold said "Santa Claus"

A million bits in it, cold hundreds of g's

Enough to buy a boat and matching car with ease

But I'd never steal from Santa, cause that ain't right

So I'm going home to mail it back to him that night

But when I got home I bugged, cause under the tree

Was a letter from Santa and all the dough was for me!

Rainbow Dash: It's Hearthswarming time in Hollis queens

Mom's cooking chicken and collard greens

Rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese

And Santa put gifts under Christmas trees

Quibble: Decorate the house with lights at night

Snow's on the ground, snow white so bright

In the fireplace is the yule log

Beneath the mistletoe as we drink egg nog

The rhymes you hear are the rhymes of darryl's

But each and every year we bust Hearthswarming carols!

Pinkie: Rhymes so loud and proud you hear it

It's Hearthswarming time and we got the spirit

Jack frost chillin, the orchas out

And that's what Hearthswarming is all about

The time is now, the place is here

And the whole wide world is filled with cheer

My name's Pinkie Pie with the mic in my hoof

And I'm chilling and coolin just like a snowmare!

So open your eyes, lend us an ear

We want to say

All 4 of us: happy Hearthswarming and happy new year!

We posed in a hip-hop manner as the song finished and we received tremendous applause. "Oh yeah, in the bag." I winked at our team.

"That's definitely going to be a tough act to follow! PonyTones! Pick your song!" Cheese called.

"We don't need the Jukebox Cheese." Rarity said in a classy fashion. "Alright PonyTones, just like we've practiced. 1... 2... 3..."

Big Mac, Toe Tapper, Torch Song: (Ooooooo)

Rarity:I don't want a lot for Hearthswarming

There is just one thing I need

I don't care about the presents

Underneath the Hearthswarming tree

I just want you for my own

More than you could ever know

Make my wish come true

All I want for Hearthswarming is you...

Toe Tapper: I don't want a lot for Hearthswarming

There is just one thing I need

And I don't care about the presents

Underneath the Hearthswarming tree

I don't need to hang my stocking

There upon the fireplace

Santa Claus won't make me happy

With a toy on Hearthswarming Day

I just want you for my own

More than you could ever know

Make my wish come true

All I want for Hearthswarming is you

You, baby!

Torch Song: Oh, I won't ask for much this Hearthswarming

I won't even wish for snow

And I'm just gonna keep on waiting

Underneath the mistletoe

I won't make a list and send it

To the North Pole for Saint Nick

I won't even stay awake to

Hear those magic reindeer click

'Cause I just want you here tonight

Holding on to me so tight

What more can I do?

Baby, all I want for Hearthswarming is you

You, baby

Rarity: Oh, all the lights are shining so brightly everywhere

And the sound of children's laughter fills the air

And everyone is singing

I hear those sleigh bells ringing

Santa, won't you bring me the one I really need?

Won't you please bring my baby to me?

Big Mac: Oh, I don't want a lot for Hearthswarming

This is all I'm asking for

I just wanna see my baby

Standing right outside my door

Oh, I just want you for my own

More than you could ever know

Make my wish come true

Baby, all I want for hearthswarming is you

You, baby

Eeyup!

As the audience applauded my jaw hung, I wasn't expecting that. It was anypony's win now. Cheese walked up to the mic.

"How about that, huh?" He said. "Alright folks, let's decide on a winner! Who votes for Team You're Going Down?" After that, a selection of the audience cheered. "And the PonyTones?" The rest cheered. Both sides seemed about equal. "Gee! I don't think there is a definite winner here tonight!" He said. "I guess the winner is all of us for this great show huh? Give 'em a hoof huh?" He said as the audience applauded all of us. I stepped up to the mic.

"I'm glad you all had a good time, but I think we're gonna wrap this up now folks, last call for drinks then we're rolling out of here!" I said.

---

After the party

It was just Pinkie and I left to clean up the bar after the party, our spirits were lifted from the good times we'd had today and we were sharing laughs about the whole day. Then a thought crept back in my head, about the anxiety I was feeling over Hearthswarming itself, which made me quiet down drastically.

"Everything okay hon?" Pinkie asked.

"Yeah, for the most part." I replied.

"What's got you down?" She asked.

"Nothing too much... Just nerves."

"Nerves about?" She asked.

"I'm just... I'm really nervous about meeting your family, what if they don't like me?" I asked finally revealing my anxiety. She looked at me for a second silently, then burst into laughter. "Is this funny to you?" I asked.

"Yeah!" She said between laughs.

"What's so funny about it?" I asked.

"You're not the only one!" She laughed giving me a hug. "I'm nervous out of my mind!" She laughed.

"Really?" I asked.

"Of course I am!"

"Glad to know I'm not alone here." I said. "But... What are we gonna do if they don't like me?"

"Let's cross that bridge if we come to it, okay?" She said.

"Works for me." I smiled giving her a hug. "I love you Cutie Pie."

"I love you too Chuckie." She smiled giving me a kiss.

---

Another chapter done and out! Hope you enjoyed it, as always, follow, fav, and review!

Songs used

"I think we're alone now" by: Tiffany

"Rocking around the Christmas tree" by: Brenda Lee

"Little St. Nick" by: The Beach Boys

"Baby it's cold outside" in the style of: Idina Menzel and Michael Buble

"Christmas is Hollis" by: Run-D.M.C

"All I want for Christmas is you" by: Mariah Carey

Author's Note: This is more a question I'm asking my readers for fun, what is your favorite movie or special to watch around the holidays? For me it would be "A Muppet Christmas Carol" for movie and for special or holiday episode of a T.V show is probably "A Hearth's Warming Tail" from season 6 of MLP. Can you tell I love "A Christmas Carol"? It's true, I'm so excited to watch "The Man Who Invented Christmas" soon, it looks like it will be really interesting. Anyway, here is the first part of the long awaited actual Hearthswarming story.

---

Chapter 24: Happy Hearthswarming Part 1: Meeting the family

"Good morniiiiiiiiiing!" Pinkie sang to me bursting into my room. This was a daily occurrence in my life for the past little while, and I must say, I enjoyed the ritual. I've never considered myself a morning person at all, but when Pinkie came to make sure I was awake I always felt happy, maybe it was the fact I was madly in love and anything she did made me happy. I was always awake whenever she did come in, some days I'd be up and out of bed, other days I'd be lying back staring at the ceiling. This morning was the latter.

"Good morning Cutie Pie." I said still in bed. She immediately bounced on me similar to that of a kid on Christmas morning wanting their parents to wake up.

"Come on Chuckie! It's time to get up! We've got a train to catch!" She bounced on me excitedly, today was the big day, the day I'd make a complete and utter ass of myself in front of Pinkie's family.

"The train doesn't show up until lunch time... Besides, I think I've got a fever..." This was a routine I enjoyed playing.

"Oh yeah? What kind of fever?" She asked playing along.

"I've got cuddle fever, the only cure is cuddle time." I fake pouted beneath my blankets.

"Well, alright, if you absolutely insist it's the only cure..." She said in a fake hesitant way before snuggling in next to me. I wrapped my front legs around her and held her close. feeling her warm breath against my neck and feeling her nuzzle her face against mine.

"Remind me why we can't just cuddle all day every day." I said holding her close.

"I honestly don't know." She said.

"Write your folks, tell them you've got a fever of 109 or something so we can just stay here like this for the next few days." I joked. She gigged and bopped me on the muzzle.

"Fat chance mister." She smiled. I smiled back at her.

"Fine, fine. But the moment we get back, nopony sees us until New Year's Eve." I bargained.

"Deal." She gave me a kiss. I kissed her back and smiled at her.

"Honestly, you have like, the most beautiful eyes, I'm not even kidding." I said.

"Wow, so poetic." She smirked.

"I just woke up, cut me some slack." I smirked back.

"I guess I can let it slide, just this once though." She winked kissing my forehead.

"I knew you'd understand." I smiled kissing her forehead back.

"Let me know when we have to go." She said snuggling into me.

"Trusting me with that job, not wise, but I'll do my best." I smiled holding her close to me and nestling my face into her mane, her mane doubled as the world's most comfortable pillow. I wasn't quite sure if she was asleep or not, neither of us said anything, we just soaked in the moment. It's moments like this that make all the hardships in life worthwhile. Those moments where you stop and forget all your anxieties and fears, anything bad going on ceases to exist and it's just you and the one you love.

"I love you." She whispered to me.

"I love you too... So much." I hugged her tightly. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

"Aww... Chuckie..." She smiled at me.

"I mean it. Pinkie, you mean so much to me."

"You mean a lot to me too Chuckie." She kissed me tenderly. I kissed her back and ran my hoof through her mane and tickled her neck, she started giggling and wriggled around.

"Stop it!" She giggled.

"Make me." I grinned tickling her.

"That's it!" She exclaimed and started tickling me back. "Tickle fight!" We bounced around tickling each other until I fell out of bed and hit the floor with Pinkie tumbling on top of me. We both laughed together on the floor. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Mrs. Cake walked in.

"I'm not interrupting anything am I?" She asked.

"No no, nothing at all." I said standing up.

"Good morning Mrs. Cake!" Pinkie smiled getting up.

"Good morning Pinkie, good morning to you too Chuck." She smiled at us.

"Good morning." I smiled back at her.

"I just wanted to give you two your Hearthswarming presents now since you won't be here for the day itself." She told us reaching for a pair of bags.

"Oh that's so thoughtful, you didn't have to do that." I said to her.

"Oh nonsense, Pinkie is like our own family, and I've seen how well you treat her and how much you two love each other. I just thought I'd let you know I think you're every bit a part of the family as Pinkie is." She said giving me the bag.

"Thank you so much." I smiled getting a little teary eyed, I'm not used to this kind of acceptance so this was quite unexpected. I opened the bag to reveal a very nice black snap button overcoat. "Wow... I love it!" I smiled. "Thank you so much!"

"Don't mention it hon." Mrs. Cake smiled. "Bring it here." She offered up a hug to which I accepted. "Pinkie, why don't you open up your's now." Before she could even finish, tissue paper from the bag flew across the room. Pinkie's gift was an overcoat similar to mine in a baby blue color.

"I love it! It's so cute!" She smiled holding the coat up.

"Why don't you two try them on?" Mrs. Cake asked. We soon slipped our coats on and Mrs. Cake smiled. "They look perfect! get close together, let me take a picture!" She said setting up a camera. "3...2...1... Say cheese!" She said.

"Cheese!" We both smiled as she took the picture.

"There! Oh! You two look great!" She smiled. "Before I forget..." She said pulling out a card. "The twins insisted on making a card for you two." Mrs. Cake smiled handing Pinkie the construction paper card. Across the top said "Happy Hearthswarming Aunt Pinkie" with a couple of the letter backwards in little kid fashion, but what caught me off guard was what was underneath. "...and Uncle Chuck". I don't consider myself too sentimental, but I'll admit that did choke me up reading that. In the card was a little crude crayon drawing of Pinkie, The Cakes, the twins, and I around a Hearthswarming tree. The whole thing was honestly really sweet. Unexpected however since I haven't been here all that long.

"Awww" Pinkie smiled reading the card.

"Cute isn't it?" Mrs. Cake asked.

"Sure is!" Pinkie beamed. "Don't you think Chuckie?" She asked me. I sniffed a little bit.

"It sure is." I smiled.

"Oh Chuck, I had no idea you were such a softy." Mrs. Cake remarked. I quickly dismissed the notion.

"Softy? Me? No way, just a little dust in the eye that's all." I said. Mrs. Cake and Pinkie could both see through me.

"Yeah sure Chuckie, I'll let you believe that." Pinkie giggled giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"I won't tell anypony. Don't worry Chuck." Mrs. Cake winked. "Now don't you two have a train to catch?" She asked.

"We sure do. We'd better get on our way." I said turning to Pinkie.

"That's right!" Pinkie nodded as we went on our way. "Tell the twins we loved the card!" Pinkie said as we went out the door.

"I will!" Mrs. Cake called as we left with our luggage.

"You ready for the trip?" Pinkie asked me.

"I sure am." I nodded.

---

On the train

After saying goodbye to all our friends we boarded the train, we were the only ones headed that way so having the whole car and pretty much train to ourselves was really fun. We set our luggage in one set of seats and roamed around the car mostly. We'd race the aisles up and down, race fruit down the aisle, orange beat apple every time for those who keep track. We'd pretend to be fancy delegates from other nations riding a train and puffing big cigars. The hours passed and eventually we were lounging back in our seats.

"Hey, Chuck?" Pinkie said to me as we laid back, I knew whatever it was it was serious, she barely ever called me just Chuck.

"Yeah Pinkie?" I turned and looked at her.

"I just wanted to say thank you, for agreeing to do this, I know you're scared to do this, and honestly so am I." She said. "I'm just really happy that you're so willing to do this with me."

"Of course I'd agree to it." I smiled at her. "I love you and I want to get to know your family." I held her hoof. "And who knows? Maybe this whole thing will just go really well!" I said with enthusiasm.

"Here's hoping." She smiled.

"Regardless, we have each other, right?" I smiled.

"Right." She smiled at me. "What did I ever do to deserve you?" She said hugging me.

"I don't know, but whatever it was, I'm glad you did it." I hugged back.

"I love you Chuckie." She said.

"I love you too." I held her close as our train ride continued, there was still another couple hours to go, a nap might help.

"Want to grab a little shut eye before we arrive?" I asked.

"That sounds good to me." She said leaning into me and closing her eyes. I wrapped one of my front legs around her and shut my eyes for a nap.

---

The arrival

"Chuck... Chuck... Chuckie wake up!" I opened my eyes to see Pinkie looking over me. I yawned feeling my sense coming back to me as I got up and stretched.

"We're here huh?" I asked.

"Yup!" She smiled.

"Is your family right outside the train?" I asked wiping at an eye.

"They sure are!" She nodded.

"We still going to do the box plan?" I asked.

"If you're okay with that!" Pinkie said.

"Let's do it." I say grabbing the large box. What was the box plan? Well, as a surprise, I'm going to hide in a large box and Pinkie will "open" it up as a way of telling the family. Here's hoping it would all go well.

Pinkie exited the train pulling behind her luggage and the large box behind her, which had my luggage and myself in it.

"Pinkamena, it is quite excellent to see thee once more my daughter." Her father, Igneous Rock Pie welcomed her.

"Hi dad!" Pinkie wrapped a large hug around him.

"Yes yes, we are so glad to see you. It was wonderful that thee could come home for Hearthswarming." Her mother Cloudy Quartz welcomed her.

"I'm so happy to be back! I've got a great surprise for you all this year!" Pinkie grinned widely.

"Pinkamena, surely thee must know how much thine father hates surprises." Her mother said.

"Quite true. For they are bad for my heart." He nodded.

"Don't worry, I bet you'll all love this surprise!" Pinkie grinned from ear to ear. I sure hope they were going to love this surprise, considering it was me.

"Well, surprises can wait. Let's get you home." Her father said as they made their way toward the farm. You know that feeling when you're watching a small animal cross a highway and you're absolutely sure the outcome is going to be terrible? Well, that was how I was feeling. Thank Celestia I could still breath from a couple of holes poked into the top, I was impressed Pinkie could pull her luggage and her coltfriend and his luggage in a giant box. I could hare Maud, Limestone, and Marble talking with Pinkie behind their parents.

"What's in the box?" Limestone sneered. "It better not be better than my gift for mom and dad. I hate it when you do that!"

"I know what it is." Maud said.

"No fair! Why does she get to know and not me?" Limestone asked.

"She saw hi- it before she should have." Pinkie laughed slightly.

"It's not that big and grand. A little boring if you ask me." Maud winked at Pinkie with about as big a smile she can muster, which is a slight grin.

"I like to imagine I'd be an alright surprise." I muttered at the comment.

"Did that box just... talk?" Limestone asked.

"What!? I- I didn't hear anything!" Pinkie said, after saying that she kicked the box with her hind leg. I guess that was her way of telling me to shut up, I had probably better do as I was told.

"Uh huh..." Limestone said. "I think you're lying."

"I swear! Honest!" Pinkie defended herself.

"I heard a voice! It was deep too, like a criminal! Are you harboring a criminal? Because if you think you can hide a criminal on my farm so help me Celestia-" Limestone was cut off by Maud.

"She's telling the truth. Clearly you were just hearing things." She said. Limestone exchanged looks between the two of them, then at the box.

"Alright. If you insist." She said with an annoyed tone.

"She is not going to be happy when she finds out you were lying." Maud said quietly to Pinkie.

"It's not lying! It's bending the truth for the sake of a surprise!" Pinkie said defending her actions.

"Come to think of it, she'd probably be mad regardless." Maud said. Her statement made Pinkie laugh loudly.

"What's so funny?" Limestone asked sharply.

"Nothin'." Pinkie said with a little laugh.

---

Pie Family Rock Farm

"Welcome home Pinkamena." Igneous welcomed her as they arrived.

"Thanks pa!" She gave him another big hug coming through the door. "I'll just take my things to my room and I'll be down in a bit!" Pinkie winked pushing everything up the stairs. Once she got into her room, she tapped on the box. "Coast is clear." She whispered. I immediately tossed the lid of the box off and jumped out.

"Hallelujah! I was beginning to feel trapped in there." I said stretching my legs. She quickly shushed me.

"Keep it down, the house isn't all that sound proof." She whispered pressing her hoof against my mouth.

"Got it." I whispered taking her hoof off my mouth.

"Thanks again for agreeing to do this." She smiled.

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't have said no for anything!" I said.

"That's what I love about ya." Pinkie hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Glad to know that's the only thing you love about me." I joked.

"Lemme rephrase that, one of many things I love about you." She smiled.

"That works." I gave her a kiss.

"Am I interrupting anything?" A flat voice asked. We both turned and looked at Maud. "You're lucky it was me. Mom was originally coming to check on you, but you know I can be very persuasive."

"Thanks Maud! You're a lifesaver!" Pinkie wiped sweat from her head.

"Definitely, and I'll have you know I'm not boring." I said.

"I was just joking. I thought you could tell." She said. "I was using my joke voice."

"You know, come to think of it, there was definitely a different tone in your voice." I lied.

"There you go. Anyway. You'd best not take too long up here. Mom and Dad will get suspicious." Maud warned.

"I won't!" Pinkie called as Maud left. "Well, you'd better get back in the box. Ready?" She asked.

"We're doing this now huh? Guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be." I said crawling into the box. "Are you ready?" I asked.

"Of course I am! I was born ready." She said confidently.

"Alright then, let's do this." I said shutting the lid on the box. I could feel each step as Pinkie lead the box down the stairs. "Okay. Here we go. focus. "Hi there, my name is Chuck, it's a pleasure to meet you all!" I whispered to myself.

"Hi everyponyyyy." Pinkie started setting the box down in the common area where her family was.

"Must thine surprise be for this very moment?" Her father asked.

"Trust me, it's better now than later." Pinkie winked.

"If it absolutely cannot wait. Very well." Igneous nodded.

"Okay! Well, this is mostly for meee but it's only right that you all get to see it too!" She said.

"Oh how very interesting." Limestone huffed.

"Limestone! Thine kin is trying to share something with us." Igneous scolded.

"Well, I'd like to introduce you all to my surprise... Chuck!" She said lifting up the lid, I climbed out of the box and stood next to her.

"Pinkamena, for what reason is thine surprise a colt hiding within a box?" Her father asked. Oh boy.

"Dad, Mom, Limestone, Marble... Chuck is, well, my special somepony!" She said putting one front leg around me. There was a long pause for a moment, I wasn't quite sure what was going to happen at this point.

"I beg your pardon?" Her mother finally spoke up.

"Chuck and I have been... together for a little while now? In a romantic fashion?" Pinkie said trying to make them understand.

"Ah yes, now I understand." Her father nodded, and then all of a sudden his eyes widened to an extreme that was almost frightening. "WHAT!?" He bellowed. Here we go...

"This is gonna be fun to watch." Limestone grinned.

"Sir, um.. Mr. Pie, I... Um.." I began.

"I will speak to thee in a moment young colt!" He said to me.

"Igneous, doth thou not think that thou art overreacting a little?" Cloudy Quartz.

"Did thou not just hear what our daughter just said?" He asked.

"Yes Igneous, however, perhaps this colt is suitable for Pinkamena." She suggested. Igneous stared at me with an angry expression.

"Very well. Thy name is Chuck, be it not?" He asked.

"Yes indeed sir." I nodded respectfully.

"Chuck. Please, do share thine story to myself and my kin." He said gritting his teeth slightly.

"Tell you about myself?" I asked. Pinkie looked at me and seemed to mouth "Go on." Here goes nothing... "Well, I am an entertainer of sorts. I sing, tell jokes, I even used to do a little bit of acting. When I'm not doing any of that, which is quite often, I run my own business." I said.

"What kind of business, do tell?" He said.

"A tavern." I said.

"Oh Celestia..." He put his hoof to his face. "My daughters run off with a boozer..."

"Daaaad, there's more to Chuck than that!" Pinkie defended me.

"Very well. Continue." He said.

"Tell them about where your from." Pinkie whispered to me.

"Worth a shot." I whispered back. "Let me tell you this, this is an interesting story." I began. "I'm not from Equestria you see. I am from a place far away from here." I told my story to her family. I was met with strange, questioning looks the entire story. Of course, I was used to looks like that when explaining myself, Hell I was used to those looks whenever I said anything really. As I finished my story, Cloudy Quartz, Limestone, Marble just stared at me with hanging jaws. Igneous' eyes just narrowed.

"Thine origins are of a completely different realm?" He asked.

"Well, well yes I guess they are." I said. "But I mean, I'm still technically 100% pony now, at least I think I am." I said. "So you wouldn't have to worry about any complications genetically or anything."

"Complications genetically? Why would that be an issue?" He asked. "Hast thine been... fornicating?" He said with shock.

"What!? No, no no no no no. That isn't what I meant!" I said. "I simply meant, I mean, come on, everypony wants grandfoals someday..."

"Chuck. Mayday! Mayday!" Pinkie murmured to me.

"Grandfoals!?" He exclaimed.

"Not, not anytime soon anyway heheh..." I said nervously.

"Igneous! Come with me, let me brew thee some tea." Cloudy Quartz said leading a sputtering Igneous into the kitchen.

"Nice, bravo! Great show! You sure know how to pick 'em sis!" Limestone smirked.

"Limestone. Try and be nice." Maud said to her.

"Pinkie, I'm sorry my first impression didn't go well..." I said feeling sorry for the little disaster that just happened.

"Chuckie, it's okay." She said. "We still have a couple of days, then who knows? I'm sure you two will be the bestest of friends!" She smiled hopefully.

"Here's hoping." I smiled, suddenly, Cloudy Quartz came through the door.

"That should calm his old bones down." She said.

"I'm sorry Ma." Pinkie said to her mother as she came in.

"Why? It is not thine fault, it is thine father. If this helps, young colt, Chuck, was it? I hath no problems with thee. Thy seemeth to be a fine colt."

"Thank you ma'am." I smiled.

"However, I must admit, thine origins did confuse me a little, doth thou know how you cameth to be here?" She asked.

"That's just it, I have no idea." I shrugged.

"Perhaps the Choosing Stone took favor to thee." She suggested.

"It's a possibility." I nodded.

"The Choosing Stone worketh in mysterious ways." She said.

"I'm sure it does, who knows, could be the Choosing Stone." I shrugged.

"Either or, I'm just happy you came!" Pinkie kissed my cheek.

"So am I." I smiled.

"Worry not for how Igneous feels. Surely time will change his mind." Cloudy encouraged me.

"Here's hoping." I said.

"Now, Let me show thee to a guest room." She said leading me up the stairs. "I may like thee, but thy and Pinkamena will not be sharing a room."

"Thank you Mrs. Pie." I said following her.

"Thou art welcome, Chuck." She said.

---

Later that night

I was settling into my bed (which was quite comfortable actually, I would have to ask later what the mattress was made from...), thinking about how I could make myself appear worthy, respectable even, to Pinkie's father, when suddenly I heard a knock on the door. "C'mon in." I said.

"Hi Chuckie." Pinkie said walking in, I sat up to talk to her.

"Hi Cutie Pie, what brings you here?" I asked.

"Just thought that I'd pop in to say goodnight, that's all." She said sitting down next to me.

"Well, that is always welcome." I smiled.

"Also, don't worry about Pa, he'll come around." She said. "He wasn't too happy when he got word Maud was friends with a Unicorn either."

"Isn't that a little racist?" I asked.

"It was about the magic, not the horn." She said. Yeah, but I mean, still...

"Ah, I see." I nodded.

"Like I said, we've still got a couple of days, just be yourself!" She said.

"My booze selling, lousy comedian, dimensional immigrant self." I cocked an eyebrow.

"Hey, he never said anything about you being a comedian!" She slugged my shoulder playfully.

"That's true, Goodnight Cutie Pie." I said giving her a kiss.

"Goodnight Chuckie." She kissed me back. "See you in the morning." She said as she got up.

"I can't wait." I smiled as she shut the door behind her. Another day, another start, but not another story, this will definitely take a few chapters to wrap up.

---

Ooh wee! What a chapter! Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed the arthritis I get from typing! Until the next time in "Meeting the family part 2!" Probably not the real title.

Author's note: So we've Chuck and Pinkie's Hearthswarming that's going quite crazy, but who else is having a holiday most hazy? Let's talk of this pony, Mr. Quibble Pants, who's finding out his Hearthswarming ain't the same song-and-dance. What can we expect from this book reading fellow? Just keep reading, and... something something... Yellow. I tried to rhyme this author's note, but sometimes that ship is a hard one to float, something I should share for this chapter ahead, the action is being seen from within Quibble's head. Now let's get to the story and read what unfurls, maybe there will even be something that... swirls.

---

A Quibbling Hearthswarming

December 23rd. Ponyville.

I walked through Ponyville this morning, I don't normally take morning walks, but I thought it would be a good idea. I soon regretted the idea when I saw that everypony had busied themselves with Hearthswarming activities, wait, that makes me sound like a real Snowfall Frost, let me make something clear, I love Hearthswarming, wonderful time of year! The thing was, this year was a bit different, you see, every year I spent Hearthswarming with my Mom and Dad, but this was my first Hearthswarming away from home, and as much as everything looked similar, it was so, so different.

Me: The streets are filled with Hearthswarming cheer

At least its only once a year

Perfect parcels tied with perfect bows

And carols ringing in my ear

Bundled up against the cold

Lines wherever gifts are sold

Each shop window displays a Hearthswarming scene

For everypony young and old

Icicles on eavesdrops

And tinsel on the trees

But it's a green Hearthswarming for me

Couples skating on the pond

Making angels on the lawn

Five red mittens drying on the rack

And needles shedding tannenbaums

Red bows on the railings

And snowflakes on the ground

But it's a green Hearthswarming in this town

Green

Cause of everything I miss

All this mistletoe no kiss

And with every Hearthswarming wish

There would be no greater gift

Than to have this envy lift...

I retired to my house after walking through town, after settling into my chair with some hot cocoa, I heard a sound coming from outside my door.

Carolers are at my door... I slammed the door shut.

Don't want to hear them anymore

Stockings on the mantle

It snows here everyday

But it's a green Hearthswarming anyway

Red nose on the reindeer

And tinsel on the tree

But it's a green Hearthswarming for me

So anyway, that was how I felt. Kind of alone in the world, Chuck had been drug off with Pinkie to visit her family for Heathswarming, and Rainbow Dash was visiting her family as well. Hearthswarming was Cheese's busiest time of the year, I was half convinced he was Santa Hooves. The guy disappears from the 23rd to the 26th pretty much every year, which doesn't normally bug me, but somepony's company would be great. I'd even take Discord at this point, wait, no. I take that back. Not Discord, anypony but Discord. Suddenly, I heard a knock at my door. I walked to my door and opened it up.

"Quibble Pants?" The gray mailmare asked. I had to take a minute to pick an eye to make contact with.

"Yes, that's me." I nodded. She reached into her bag and gave me a letter.

"Letter for you!" She said cheerfully. "Happy Hearthswarming!"

"Likewise." I nodded. "Thanks for the letter." I said shutting the door.

"Quibble Pants... 539 Croup Lane... From: Grouchy and Bossy Pants." I read, it was a letter from Mom and Dad! I opened the letter and read.

"Dear Quibble, I hope all is well in... Where do you live again? Ponytown or something? Anyway, we just wanted to wish you a happy Hearthswarming. With love from Mom and Dad." I read. That was definitely my Dad's writing. Formal writing was never his forte, the sentiment was still kind. I was glad to hear from my parents. Suddenly, I had an idea. A great idea, I immediately went to my room and packed a bag.

---

One train ride later...

I never realized how bad the air smelled in Manehatten until I started living in a small town. Wow, there is a gigantic difference between the air in Ponyville and in Manehatten. But really, none of that mattered much, I was happy to be back in my home town. I hopped in the first taxi cart I could find and went straight for my parent's house.

---

Meanwhile at the Quibble family home

"Geez this tree smells good." Grouchy, my Dad remarked. "Smells so real!"

"Real trees have a tendency to do that." My Mom, Bossy replied sarcastically. "I'm glad we're trying something new this year." She said.

"Me too. About time for a change." My dad nodded.

---

My arrival

Everything was just as I remembered in my old neighborhood, the old tree in my backyard with my tree house where I used to hang out and read comics was still standing, my neighbor's lawn still cluttered with terrible tacky lawn ornaments, the gutter on the roof was still broken from a roofing accident from 6 years ago. Thousands of memories flooded back as I approached the steps of my old house. I knocked on the door as I stepped onto the "Welcome" mat. My mother came to the door.

"Quibble!?" She asked feeling surprised to see me.

"Hi Mom!" I smiled.

"Oh Quibble!" She wrapped me in a tight hug. "It's so good to see you! Grouchy! Get over here!" She called to my dad.

"Quibble! Son! Good to see you lad!" He said embracing me. "What the heck are you doing here?" He asked.

"Sorry about the sudden drop in." I said. "Just missed home I guess, wanted to have a good old fashioned Hearthswarming at home." As I said that I couldn't help but notice them exchange looks.

"Ah. Well then. You've come to the right place!" Mom smiled.

"Yep! C'mon in son, your room should just how you left it." Dad nodded. And he was right, when I opened the door to my room, it was like I never went off to college. Or the ten years after that didn't happen for that matter. Comics were still stacked high, my old Power Ponies collectibles were on the shelf, and even my old Mareilyn Monroe poster was up.

"Wow... Really is like I never left." I said to myself picking up a comic. I remembered this one! First appearance of Spider Colt! I wasn't around when this was printed, I traded a pack of gum for it from a colt who stole it from his older brother, guess neither of them knew it'd be worth something someday. I couldn't help myself but to revisit the old piece of childhood memorabilia. The dialogue was tacky and the illustrations were crude in comparison to the comics of the modern day, but there's always room to appreciate the classics. Before long, half of one of the stacks had been cleared and re-read after sitting dormant for the past decade. I looked at the clock, a whole hour had passed since I got here. I decided I'd better go back downstairs.

"There he is!" My dad said. "Beginning to think you had a mare up there with you!"

"Speaking of which, grandfoals would be appreciated." My mom added.

"I'm not discussing this!" I groaned. I turned and looked at the Hearthswarming tree, I didn't get to look when I came in. Suddenly I noticed something was wrong, definitely wrong.

"Whoa! Whoa!" I gasped. "What are you doing here!?" I exclaimed.

"Building a haunted house for Nightmare Night." Mom said sarcastically.

"Where's our real tree!?" I asked.

"This is real." My dad said going up to it. "Give it a sniff!"

"I mean our old one!" You see, ever since I was a young colt, we put up a silver aluminum tree, lights came preattached so there was no stress of untangling lights every year, no needles on the floor, easy to tuck away, it was perfect!

"That aluminum thing? I got tired of it." Mom told me. "We're going to have a traditional Hearthswarming for once this year." This is ludicrous.

"Tradition!? That's been our tree for more than 20 years, if that isn't tradition I don't know what is!" I blurted.

"Hearthswarming predates Saturday Morning Cartoons you know." Mom gave me a look.

"I know, it goes all the way back to Jimmy Stifle." I said remembering his old Hearthswarming specials. "Why are you trying to wreck Hearthswarming? That's Dad's thing!" I said.

"I never wrecked Hearthswarming!" He said grouchily.

Hearthswarming Eve, Age: 7

"Careful, those knives are sharp." My mom warned dad as he was about to carve the meal.

"Don't worry!" He brushed her off.

-ambulance-

One year later

"This eggnog seems a little off." Mom said.

"Just drink it!" Dad scoffed.

-ambulance-

One year after that

"Careful, remember what happened a couple of years ago." Mom warned Dad as he was about to carve the meal again.

"You're right..." He nodded. "Here Quibble!" He gave me the knives.

-ambulance-

Back to the present

"Good times." My mom said sarcastically to my Dad.

"this new tree doesn't sit well with me at all." I sneered at it. "You two can have your traditional Hearthswarming but don't expect me to participate... I mean I'll open the presents, and eat the big dinner... Have a couple pieces of pie and all, but my heart will be in the basement with a certain forgotten piece of aluminum!"

"Pretty high and mighty for a colt who can't even handle a knife!" Dad scoffed at me.

---

Later on

I decided to go for a short walk to clear my head, my second walk in the same day, I thought the health kick was meant for after New Years! I was walking through my old neighborhood, the familiarity was nice, especially after the heart attack from my mother's crazy Hearthswarmings plan. I come all the way from Ponyville for familiarity and this happens!? Maybe they should've brought it up in the letter, no maybe about it! They absolutely should have! I know I sounded kind of selfish, but I didn't think it was too much to ask for. All of a sudden I heard a voice calling for me.

"Quibble? Quibble Pants? Is that you!?" I turned and saw a stallion approaching me. I squinted for a second but suddenly I recognized my foalhood best friend, Penny Candy.

"Penny Candy! I can't believe it!" I said running up to him.

"What're you doing back here? I thought you moved deep city!" He said.

"I did." I explained. "Then I moved to a small town, Ponyville. Thought I'd come back and visit the old neighborhood for Hearthswarming."

"Well I'm glad I ran into you then, I was just on my way into town for an early dinner, care to join me?" He asked.

"Sure!" I nodded. Once we got into town we dropped into the first pub we could find. After we sat down and got our meals we started to catch up, and did we have a lot to catch up on! It had been at least five years since I last saw him.

"So what have you been up to?" I asked.

"Took over my dad's candy shop." He told me. "Of course that was kind of a given." His dad's candy shop, let me tell you this, his dad's candy shop was probably the best place to go as a young colt. He had every type of candy known to pony kind, stools you could just sit at like a bar and eat candy till your heart was beating faster than a caffeine infused hummingbird. The best part was, Penny Candy and I got discounts, on account of being the owner's son and the owner's son's best friend.

"Really? Wait, your dad didn't..." I started.

"Die? No, no he's alive and well." Penny reassured me. "He just decided to retire, that's all. I couldn't stand the idea of that shop going to some other business, so I took over, still doing strong too, as long as foals love candy I'd say I'll do fine." He explained. "What about you?"

"Well, let's see, since we've past seen each other... I've only..." I smirked a little. "Met the real Daring Do."

"You're kidding." He said. "Everypony knows Daring Do is made up."

"I'm not kidding, here, let me tell you about it." I proceeded to tell him the story of when I met Rainbow Dash at that Daring Do convention. His eyes were buldged and his jaw hung by the time I was done.

"Dude!" He remarked.

"I know." I grinned.

"That sounds almost like the crazy adventures we'd plan out back when we were little colts!" He said.

"I know!" I nodded. "Come to think of it, I think I still have a map we drew up somewhere in my closet!"

"Oh Celestia..." He said thinking back upon our foalhood.

"But I mean, that can wait." I said. "What else has been new?" I asked.

"Well, remember Sugar Cane from school?" He asked.

"Yeah, what about her?" I asked. He suddenly pulled out a golden ring."You two got married!?"

"Not yet exactly, we're to be married." He said. "We started dating about two years ago, would have told you but you were never around."

"Congratulations!" I smiled. "Happy for you two!"

"Why don't you come back for the wedding? I'm sure she'd be happy to see you too." Penny told me.

"I'd love too!" I said.

"Great, I'll have your invitation with the details sent soon once we decide on a date." He told me.

"Wonderful!" I said.

"How about you?" He asked.

"What?"

"Any mares? or colts, you know I don't judge." He asked.

"Why does everypony add the second part? Is it the shirt? The mane?" I sighed. "Nope, not really though." I said.

"Not a single one? Pants, I'm telling you, you don't know what you're missing." He said.

"You don't think I know that?" I asked. "I've tried, just no luck yet. But, there's this one mare..." I started.

"Oh? C'mon, tell me more!" He pleaded.

"Well she's the one I met at the convention." I explained. "She just so happened to live in the town I moved to."

"It's fate!" Penny exclaimed. "You can't just write this stuff!" (Yes, yes you can).

"She's great." I explained. "Gives me a kick in the flank when I need it too."

"Glad to know somepony took up that job, Celestia knows you've needed it for a long time coming." Penny joked.

"Hey!" I blurted before nodding a little. "Yeah, seems more small town ponies are more apt to give you a kick in the flank when you need it, not only do I've got her, but her friend too, she's always hanging around this apple farmer pony, apparently her big shtick is honesty, then the bar keep in town, don't get me started, once, he pretty much locked me up in the bar with a cracked draconequus." (See chapter 14).

"Wow, why'd you even move there?" He asked.

"Well, I dunno, the sense of community was kind of nice, after all in Manehatten everypony sticks to themselves really." I said.

"That and I'm sure half of your decision was you thinking with your-"

"Shut up." I cut him off.

"Well, anyhow, we'd probably best head back now, well, I'd better anyway." He said getting up.

"Already?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's 'to be married' life for you, she wants us to go visit her parents tonight."

"Ah well yeah I get it, best not keep her then." I said getting up with him. "Tell her I said 'hi'."

"I sure will." He nodded. "Great seeing you again pal, hope to see you again before you leave!"

"Likewise." I nodded.

---

Back home

"Try this." My mom said with a pot and wooden spoon. I took the wooden spoon and almost put it in my mouth until she said. "Homemade cranberry sauce." I looked at her with a cocked eyebrow.

"Homemade cranberries?" I asked. "What kind of food network voodoo is that?" She just looked at me blankly.

"Cranberry sauce comes from a tin! That's the way it's always been!" I explained. "Don't you miss the traditional cranking open of the can? That warm giggly cylinder sliding out onto the plate? That 'blurt' sound? That's the sound of Hearthswarming!"

"Right now the sound of Hearthswarming is you whining." She said dryly. "Let me plug that whiny mouth of yours with some food, dinner time." She said. Now, I may not like this new kick my mom is on, but hearing this news pleased me greatly, I missed home meals for a long time now.

"Thank Celestia!" I said running up to the table.

"Made one of your favorite's since your home, a five cheese lasagna." She said.

"Great!" I stopped. "You didn't use one of the cheeses twice did you?" I asked.

"Five different cheeses." She smiled.

"You know those cheeses are bad for my arteries!" My dad said.

"I've seen those disgusting sandwiches you make yourself, you shouldn't be that worried." She replied. "Now let's dig in." As we dug into our food, my glance couldn't help but catch the tree, it standing there, all, real, all... nontraditional yet traditional.

"I still can't believe that you aren't using the old tree, the old tree was tradition." I said.

"Before artificial trees the tradition was non artificial trees." Mom said.

"Yeah, we used to call 'em 'trees'." Dad nodded.

"Well at least the old stand-by didn't get pine needles all over the floor and ooze pine gum." I said.

"We don't mind, it's Hearthswarming ooze." She said.

"Well it stinks." I said. "Not the tree actually it smells quite nice, but the rest of this stinks."

"Don't be such a crap apple." My mom dismissed me.

"I'm just glad I'm not the one wrecking Hearthswarming..." My dad said quietly.

"Give it time..." Mom said.

"Well, thanks for dinner Ma." I said finishing my lasagna. "Need any help with the dishes?" I asked.

"That's what your fathers for." She said.

"What!?" Dad blurted out.

"Alright, thanks again Ma!" I said retreating upstairs.

"Come on old bones, let's get these dishes done." Mom said as Dad grouchily got up and cleared the table.

"I thought the purpose of having a son was getting him to do all the work." He grumbled.

"That was when he was a colt, you realize he has grown since then right?" Mom asked.

"Physically, sure, gets fatter every year." He said.

"Oh hush." Mom ordered as they started doing the dishes. He did as he was told for a short while, then he eventually broke those orders.

"Boy, Quibble is really wrecking Hearthswarming this year huh?" He asked.

"Did you water the tree?" Mom asked, but he wasn't listening.

"Normally you'd think it'd be me wrecking Hearthswarming, but it's him." He continued.

"And the cranberry sauce needs to go in the jars I left out." Mom said ignoring him.

"Yep, he is really on the way to wrecking Hearthswarming." He nodded

"More like his father every day." Mom said.

"Yep." He nodded, then he realized what he agreed to. "Hey! I'm on your side here!"

---

The next day

I was eating breakfast with Mom when Dad walked in from going out into town, cranky as ever.

"Well there he is, the colt who's wrecking Hearthswarming." He said looking at me.

"Did you pick up the ingredients for the pot pie?" Mom asked.

"Too busy doing other stuff, I'll get it later." He said.

"Tis the season of miracles." Mom muttered. I looked over at the tree and saw it starting to look shriveled.

"Geez, your tree isn't looking too good, you know there's a nice shiny silver one downstairs I could bring up." I suggested.

"Didn't you water it?" Mom asked my dad.

"I had a lot on my mind!" He defended himself.

"Doesn't take much." She sneered. "Now go get those ingredients before I stuff you full of bread." She said.

"Geez." I heard him mutter. "Is it just me, or is your mother wrecking Hearthswarming?" He asked.

"No, it's just you." I grinned.

"Jackass." He muttered.

"Alright alright Dad." I siad getting up. "Tell you what, I'll go get those things." I offered.

"Finally you're speaking my language!" He said reclining. I chuckled a little as I walked out the door with the list.

I arrived at the supermarket to pick out the ingredients, it wasn't too hard, they always stock up more on the big ticket food items around Hearthswarming. As I was shopping, I heard somepony else almost frantically reciting a list.

"Okay... eggs check, potatoes... potatoes..." She said, she was a pink mare with red thick glasses.

"Left dinner for last minute huh?" I asked.

"Heh! Sure did, I guess I just got so busy I almost forgot what day it was." She chuckled.

"That's what my old colt did, now I'm out shopping for him." I said.

"Aww how kind! Warms my heart to see ponies being nice, especially this time of year!" She smiled widely.

"Sweet." I said. "See, my parent's names are Bossy and Grouchy, so there's definitely a whole lot of that around the holidays."

"Ha!" She laughed, then she looked at me. "Oh, you're not kidding."

"Not kidding at all." I shook my head. "Name's Quibble Pants." I extended my hoof.

"I'm Oddity." She smiled. "Oddity Trinkets."

"Happy to meet you." I nodded.

"Likewise." She smiled. "With your family for Hearthswarming you said huh?"

"Sure am, back home for the first time since I moved." I said. "Moved to this small town, Ponyville."

"I've heard of that place." She said.

"But yeah, decided I'd come back, one of my friends I have no idea where he went off to, my other... acquaintance, I wouldn't say we're friends went with his marefriend to meet her family, then my only other friend in the area was with her family so I decided to come home." I explained. "What about you? Visiting?"

"Nope! Lived here my whole life." She said. "Just me though, parents moved down to Califoalnia for their retirement, train tickets are just a bit too pricey, maybe next year though." She shrugged.

"Sorry to hear that, I hope you get to see them next year." I said sympathetically. "If it helps, I'll let you swap places with me, I came up for a traditional Hearthswarming and got the rug thrown out from under me."

"How so?" She asked. I proceeded to explain all the ways Hearthswarming had been changed for me. As I finished she just looked at me.

"Really?" She asked.

"I know! I come up hoping just for familiarity, and this happens!" I say.

"No, no that's not what I meant." She shook her head. "I mean, really? I'm sorry but I can't quite understand why you have such a big problem with them trying something new."

"What?" I asked.

"You've got family, friends, you're home, I just don't understand why what's not there is such a big deal compared to what is there." She said. I was taken aback by what she said. I said nothing for a moment.

"Just food for thought." She said. "Anyway, Happy Hearthswarming Quibble!" She said as she left.

"Happy... Hearthswarming." I said to myself as she left. Maybe she was right, maybe I was being kind of an ass about this whole thing.

---

Getting home

"I'm back!" I said walking through the door.

"Look who it is, mister Snowfall Frost!" My dad said.

"Hush dear." Mom told him.

"I'm back with all the items." I said hauling in the groceries.

"Oh thank you Quibble." Mom said. "How much were they? I can pay in just a second, let me get my purse." She said.

"No need." I said.

"Pardon?" She asked.

"You don't need to, dinner is on me this year." I said.

"Well thank you Quibble." Mom said gathering the ingredients. "What changed your attitude?" She asked.

"Got some sense knocked into me." I shrugged.

"About damn time!" Dad called from the living room.

"Quiet Grouchy!" Mom called. "He does have a point though."

"I know, I'm sorry I was kind of a stick in the mud before." I apologized.

"We all get that, you more than others, but not as much as your father, but that will come as you get older." She said.

"Don't remind me!" I chuckled.

A few hours later we had our Hearthswarming Eve dinner, and a good time was had by all, after dinner Penny Candy and Sugar Cane even came over for a visit. It was nice to catch up with Sugar again. She used to be in mine and Penny's friend group in school so we were pretty close. As the night came to a close and things were winding down, I was saying goodbye to them at the door.

"Thanks again for dropping by!" I said.

"Of course pal!" Penny smiled. "Had to see you before you went back to Ponyville." Sugar Cane nodded. Suddenly she looked up at the decoration above the doorway.

"That sure is pretty mistletoe." She said.

"Sure is." Penny nodded.

"Yep." I said. "But it's gonna die pretty soon, I'd better take it down." I said grabbing a step ladder.

"Are you sure? Looks like a high reach." Penny said.

"I've got it!" I said stubbornly.

-ambulance-

"Same damn thing every year." My mother remarked looking at the ambulance cart go off.

---

Wasn't that fun? Don't worry, next chapter will be back to Chuck and Pinkie, I just it would be fun to show some other holiday stories.

Most of Grouchy and Bossy's dialogue and character was based off of Oscar and Emma Leroy from CBC's Corner Gas.

Song used

"Green Christmas" by: The Barenaked Ladies

Author's Note: Anyone know where to hide the body of an Elvis impersonator who just wouldn't sing the song you requested? Asking for a friend. But really, what Elvis impersonator doesn't sing Heartbreak Hotel? This guy apparently, but now he doesn't sing anything, kind of like the real Elvis. Oh well right?

---

Chapter 26: Happy Hearthswarming Part 2: Team Friends Forever

Dateline: Pie Family Rock Farm, December 24th, Hearthswarming Eve. Precisely 6:32-ish. I was just getting up from my sleep at this point, my room was conveniently placed so that the sun could shine incredibly bright when it rises, because you know what's fun to do during vacation? Rising at 6:32. Just kidding of course.

"Yeesh." I yawned stretching my legs. I couldn't hear a sound coming from the house, I must be the first one up. "Now what? I'm up, nopony else is." Every sleepover anxiety came crawling back, everyone who's had a sleepover can relate can't they? That awkward moment when you wake up at someone else's house first? No? Okayyyy. Suddenly, my door burst open.

"Thought I heard hooves clopping in here! It's about time too! We've been up for hours!" Pinkie said excitedly. Guess I was wrong, not the first time, absolutely not the last.

"Oh have you? You could've woken me up you know." I yawned.

"Thought you'd wanna sleep in." She smiled. Because on the farm, 6:30 is sleeping in.

"Well that was very thoughtful." I nodded. "What's on the agenda today?" I asked.

"It's Hearthswarming Eve silly! That's what!" She said messing up my mane with her hoof.

"That didn't answer my question, this is my first Hearthswarming. A run down would be nice." I said dryly.

"Well, most the traditions don't happen till the evening." She explained. "We have dinner, then we'll do our Hearthswarming dolls, ooh! You get to make yours this year! Then we do the flag finding mission!" It was all coming back to me now, season 5 episode 20 was coming back to me to be exact. But still, I nodded like this was new information to me.

"Neat!" I smiled, unlike my response to her explanation of the traditions, I was being truthful in my enthusiasm, I was really looking forward to this, even the rock soup aspect. You know? Something you can at least say you tried huh?

"But until then, we all spend time together as a happy family!" She smiled.

"A happy family plus one." I pointed to myself.

"Aw Chuck, c'mon, you may feel a bit distanced now, but tonight it'll be like you've been one of the family for years." She smiled reassuringly.

"I'm sure you're right." I said.

"Of course I am!" She winked. "There's more in my noggin that just cotton candy y'know!" She pointed at her head.

"I knew that." I smirked.

"Never underestimate Pinkie." She winked.

"Chuck will make sure of it." I referred to myself in third person as she did. In Equestria is it called third pony?

"Now come on down, there's still some breakfast left for you." She said leading me downstairs.

"Sounds good to me." I grinned As we went down the stairs, when we came to the floor, the house was much alive.

"Good morning Chuck." Maud said to me as I walked into the room.

"Good morning Maud, and a good morning to everypony." I smiled warmly, it was met with smiles from Cloudy and Marble, a sneer from Limestone, but I didn't take it personally, and nothing, sweet F.A from Igneous.

"Igneous?" Cloudy Quartz coughed.

"Hm? Oh, yes, good morning." He murmured barely looking up from his paper.

"I believe what Igneous means to say is 'good morning Chuck, I trust that thine slumber was well.'" Cloudy said for him.

"Nope." He murmured.

"I do hope that thee are hungry, porridge is ready." Cloudy said. "Help thyself to coffee, freshly perked."

"Thank you!" I said pouring myself some coffee and getting some porridge, I sat down at the table and started eating. "Mighty good porridge." I commented.

"Thank you Chuck. Product of an old Pie family recipe." Cloudy told me.

"Bowl full of childhood right there!" Pinkie said before inhaling her bowlful. "Just as good as ever Ma!"

"Thank you dear." She said. Marble sat across the table from Pinkie and I.

"Chuckie! I never got to introduce you to my baby sister by eight minutes! Chuckie, meet Marble, Marble, meet Chuckie." She said.

"How do you do?" I asked. My question was met with a small smile and a nod.

"Don't mind her, she's a little shy, but what she means to say is 'I'm fantastic! Thanks for asking!'." Pinkie said for her, she simply nodded.

"Pleased to meet you." I smiled.

"Mmhmm." She said shyly.

"Limestone, you and Chuckie were never properly introduced, Limestone, Chuckie! Chuckie, Limestone!" Pinkie introduced us.

"I'm great. Conversation over." She said to me.

"Alrighty then." I said awkwardly.

"You've already met Maud, Ma, and Pa, so there! Now you know everypony!" Pinkie smiled.

"Glad to." I nodded.

"We're happy to have you here Chuck. As you can see I'm absolutely ecstatic." Maud said.

"Glad to know you feel that way despite our, how shall we say, rocky start?" I quipped.

"Ha. Another rock joke." Maud replied.

"Lame." Limestone groaned. She wasn't wrong, it was pretty lame. "At least now I can kinda see why you were into this colt. You always enjoyed terrible jokes." She said to Pinkie.

"That is one hundred percent all she saw in me. It's true." I said with a bit of sarcasm.

"More than that!" Pinkie interjected.

"Please. I don't need or want to know any more about why who fell for who." Limestone gagged.

"Suit yourself then!" Pinkie smiled sipping her coffee.

"So, what are you reading about... Sir?" I asked.

"Tho shalt refer to me as Sir." I don't think he heard me.

"Igneous, he did." Cloudy said.

"Ah, Well then." He said. "I am reading the editorials."

"He likes to read about what's ruining Equestria this week, it's always something new." Maud said.

"Ah, I never took you for a 'Viva La Resistance' type of stallion." I said. He looked at me angrily.

"Resistance!?" He said angrily. "I abhor revolutionaries!"

"So do I!" I said. Do I really? I don't know, I've never met many resistance fighters.

"Ah. I see." His mood went back to a more calm setting.

"So much in common!" Pinkie said trying to help the conversation. There was a long pause, Igneous suddenly stood up.

"The days wasting. It may be Hearthswarming Eve, but there is still work to be done." He said.

"That's Pa! Ain't no labor like an honest day's labor!" Pinkie said. "I've got a great idea! Why don't you bring Chuck with you Pa?" He turned and eyed me.

"Hm. Strong looking legs, perhaps. Chuck, hath thee experience with manual labor?" He asked reluctantly.

"I sure do!" I said, I used to do a lot of manual labor with my grandfather, who was a lot like Igneous in some ways, but he liked me.

"Very well. Care to join me?" He sighed. I glanced at Pinkie, she really thought it was a good idea, I could tell Igneous didn't, but maybe I could prove myself with some honest work.

"I do care to." I smiled getting up.

"Wonderful." He said to himself as we went for the door.

"Five bits says we find Chuck with a pickaxe through his head in fifteen minutes." Limestone said. Pinkie turned to her and gasped.

"Limestone Pie!" Cloudy scolded.

---

Out in the quarry

"Doth thou know how to use a pickaxe?" He asked.

"Yes indeed." I nodded.

"Good. Take this." He handed me a pickaxe.

"Alrighty, what are we doing?" I asked.

"We mine from here, then we take our yield up to the farmland." He motioned up the the house. "From there, we plant the crystals into the soil, by Summer they will triple in size." He explained. In a world of talking ponies I couldn't really have a say in what's realistic or not, so I simply nodded at his explanation.

"Alrighty!" I said picking up the pickaxe.

"And one rule that I forgot to mention, talking stays at a minimum."

"I can live with that." I nodded as we got to work.

We worked pretty well together for a few minutes, I had a feeling that he definitely didn't expect me to be as good a laborer as I turned out to be. I'm pretty sure once I even saw him smile, which wasn't something I thought I'd see. After about 15 minutes of work, I swung into the quarry just as any other time, but this time, a rack formed, have you ever watched the Ice Age movies? The first on specifically, where the squirrel thing sticks his acorn in the ice and a crack starts? Well, that's what happened here. I watched the crack grow up the cliff side, one large chunk of rock sticking out in particular started trembling. Igneous was oblivious to all this, I have no idea how though. Suddenly, the piece of rock became unattached to the cliff and started to fall. Igneous was tossing some of his yield into the cart, I could see if I didn't act fast, I'd have an accidental murder on my hooves.

"Igneous! Look out!" I called lunging forward to knock him out of the way, mere seconds after I tackled him to the ground, the large piece of rock crushed the cart with a loud crash.

"What in Celestia's name just happened!?" He said getting up to examine the scene.

"It was my fault sir, I was just mining like you said when all of a sudden a giant crack merged." I said.

"Thou must hath mined into a fault line." He said.

"I'm sorry about the cart." I said.

"Surely thou doth not think this hath not happened before?" He said. "There are plenty of other carts up the hill. Go and fetch another." He instructed.

"I will." I nodded running up the path to get another cart, when I returned with the cart a good portion of the piece that had fallen had been chipped away at.

"Thank you." He said. "I no longer hath need for thine services." He told me in a kind of suppressed form of anger.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"I am certain." He said. "Enough trouble hath been cause by thou already." I could hear him mutter.

"Oh, well, okay then." I said, pretending not to hear the last part. "Thank you sir." I said resigning back to the farm house.

"How did it go?" Pinkie asked me when I walked inside.

"Not wonderfully." I said.

"How so?" She asked.

"Well, I almost killed your father to start." I said. "Accidentally of course."

"How did that happen?" She asked.

"I picked into a fault line." I said.

"Oh no..." She said. "I'm sure he knew it was an accident." She said.

"Maybe, he seemed pretty angry with me when I came back with a new cart." I explained. "To think I was pretty sure all was well until that happened."

"A near death experience can do things to a pony." She advised. "Don't take it too personally."

"Thanks." I said. "What are you up to?" I asked.

"Just about to help Ma and Marble decorate the house." She said.

"Sounds fun, I'm sure there isn't a risk of death in that job." I said.

"What did I tell you?" She asked.

"To stop dwelling on when I mess up?" I replied.

"Exactly." She smiled. "He's okay right?" She asked.

"Of course he is. I did get him out of the way." I said. "Real heroic like too, you should have seen it."

"Alright alright, save it for later Mr. Hero." She chuckled.

"Okay okay." I smirked a little at the nickname.

---

Later that day

After a couple hours of letting the fact I almost committed murder settle down inside me, I was ready to make myself visible to the family again. The house by this point was completely decorated as festive as any other house I've ever seen, lights strewn about, a Hearthswarming tree set up in the living room, even a small scale village carved from stone on a large shelf. I smiled looking at it, it reminded me of the village my grandmother would set up around Christmas time.

"Hey you!" A voice suddenly said behind me, startling me. I turned and saw Pinkie Pie.

"Geez." I said catching my breath. "Almost gave me a heart attack."

"No way!" She said. "If I did you'd be on the floor yelling in pain!" She explained. I looked at her for a moment, I chuckled with laughter and nodded.

"You've got a point." I chuckled.

"Lookin' at the little village?" She asked.

"Sure am." I said. "Looks real nice." I said.

"That village has been passed on for generations!" She explained. "Hoof carved by great-great granny Pie!"

"Wonderful craftsmanship." I remarked. "I just got caught up in looking at it, reminded me of a village like this my grandma would set up around the holidays." I said.

"Really?" Pinkie asked. "No kidding! I had no clue we shared so many traditions!"

"The village was more our family specifically, but a fun coincidence yours does it too." I smiled.

"Any other traditions you'd celebrate?" She asked.

"Well, The day after Christmas, which was the holiday I celebrated, a whole lot of my relatives would get together and we'd have brunch, there'd be lots of food, folks would play guitar, of course I'd always be out with my cousins having snowball fights or exploring the old abandoned barn on our homestead." I said recounting my old Boxing Day tradition.

"Sounds like an Apple Family reunion!" Pinkie said. "But y'know, with a creepy abandoned barn instead of a standing, non creepy one!"

"I never said it was creepy." It was. "We had a good time though." I concluded.

"Miss it?" She asked.

"Yeah, a little." I admitted. "But, I like to imagine all the great things in my life I have now were an even trade."

"Aww Chuckie... You always know the right thing to say." She blushed.

"I have a knack for that." I smirked, then I glanced up. "You know, there's another tradition that I haven't told you about."

"What's that?" She asked.

"Well, back on Earth, it was customary that when two met under the mistletoe, they shared a kiss." I said.

"Well..." She said glancing up. "It would be rude to disrespect tradition, your world or not."

"Happy Hearthswarming." I said giving her a kiss.

"Merry Christmas." She smiled giving me a kiss back.

"I surely do not hope that I am interrupting anything." Cloudy said as she walked in.

"Surely you are not." I replied trying to speak in an amish esque voice.

"Close. But just talk like yourself." Pinkie whispered to me.

"10-4." I nodded.

"I happened to hear there was an accident in the quarry." Cloudy said.

"Yeah..." I started. "Sorry about that, nopony got hurt though!"

"I know that. Accidents happen. I just wanted to tell thou not to worry." She said.

"Thank you." I said. At this point the incident had blown over in my head, but confirmation from somepony else that it was okay was nice admittedly.

"Igneous however, does not forgive as easily." She said.

"What a breaking news report." I thought to myself.

"He'll come around Ma! He knows it would just an accident!" Pinkie brushed her words off. "Chuckie would never hurt a fly! Except for that fly family he sat on once... but he didn't do that on purpose!"

"You didn't have to share that part." I murmured.

"Perhaps." Cloudy said.

"Am I the only one who thinks everythings gonna be fine?" Pinkie asked.

"What?" I asked. "No way, I totally think it'll be fine." I said.

"Honesty would be fitting quality to look for in your next coltfriend." I could hear Limestone mutter. The one thing I miss about having hands is being able to flip people off.

"I am being honest." I said. "Don't worry hon, it'll be fine." I reassured Pinkie.

---

Later on

After Igneous came in from the quarry, he and Cloudy began to talk alone in their room.

"Surely I do understand thine sentiments toward the colt. But he isn't all bad." Cloudy told him.

"Correct, he could have destroyed the wagon and killed me." He said.

"For Celestia's sake..." She groaned. "It was an accident!"

"Accidents are acts of incompetence!" He growled.

"Surely thou art the most cantankerous old stone as ever born!" She sighed.

"Cloudy, listen." He sighed. "I want to like Chalk, I do." He said.

"Chuck dear." She said.

"Whatever." He said. "The point is, he just seems so... Mediocre." Cloudy just looked at him.

"So?" She asked. "Thee is Pinkamena's special somepony, not thine."

"If it were up to me, Thee wouldst be nopony's special somepony!" He said.

"But it is not, is it Igneous?" She asked rhetorically. He sighed feeling frustrated.

"Happy Hearthswarming indeed." He muttered.

"Thou art in no position to act in such a manner, perhaps if thou were more kind to Pinkamena's choice..." She began.

"More kind? I didn't nearly kill Pinkamena's choice!" He said.

"It was an accident!" She groaned once more.

"Fine." He said angrily. "On the condition that any time I am with that colt is within fifteen minute increments, I will be more kind." Cloudy paused for a moment.

"If that is what it is going to take to have a peaceful Hearthswarming, I'll take it." She agreed.

---

Even later on

I can testify to very few things in my life, one of them being that rock soup isn't as bad as you'd think. Once you get passed the fact that your teeth will hurt incredibly bad after trying to bite the rock. I guess you're just supposed to let the broth lube the rock down your throat. Biting the rock was a mistake I only made once by the way, because like my grandmother used to say: "Bite a rock once, shame on you. Bite a rock twice..." I'm sorry, I really thought I could come up with something there. But now that dinner was all over, it was time to start the evening traditions. First up, Hearthswarming dolls.

"Now, you don't know how to carve I take it?" Maud asked me.

"Negatory." I shook my head.

"Well, let me show you." She said helping me with the pick and mallet. "Like this, now, you have an odd mane, so that might be difficult." She said as if I wasn't already aware.

"Thanks, I think I've got it." I said picking away, eventually I was able to make a pretty decent representation of myself from stone, if only my real figure was chiseled from stone. I'm a man of the night, a real ladies delight, see my figure was chiseled from stone... What a good song.

"Lookin' good Chuckie!" Pinkie encouraged me as I finished up the small carving.

"Thanks hon. Not too bad a representation if I do say so myself, though I think I'm not quite as thin as the sculpture suggests." I smirk.

"Eh, gives me something to snuggle with." She said, keep in mind, I'm not like John Candy or Drake and Josh era Josh Peck, I'm more Parks and Rec era Chris Pratt or kind of like Seth Rogen. But enough about my size, back to the story.

"You definitely did good for your first try." Maud told me. "Your eyebrows look more like dents in your head, but that can happen."

"You're just missin' one thing!" Pinkie said picking up the tools, she then took a chip out of one of the figures shoulders. "That's for all those mornings when you're a big mister grumpy pants!" She then began imitating the few, I stress few, times I've been kind of grumpy in the morning.

"Blah blah blah, I need coffee, I hate everything! Where's the coffee! Blah blah blah!" She said in a mock angry voice. I chuckled at her portrayal of me.

"Alright, alright, that's enough." I said. "I doubt I ever said 'I hate everything'." I added.

"I've seen the look in your eyes those mornings, colder than a glacier!" She shivered.

"That's a bit of an overstatement." I said.

"I have never overstated a single thing in the history of the planet!" She said, proving my point.

"Uh huh. Okay hon." I chuckled.

"We can talk about this later." She smiled. "Time to set it up with everypony else's!" She said. I soon realized I had zilch to be proud of looking at the other's carvings.

"Damn." I said in amazement at the sculptures.

"That's what years of practice will do." Cloudy said in response to my amazement. "Except for Igneous, thee's very first Hearthswarming carving was perfect."

"It is true, I have always had a knack for carvings." He admitted.

"Neat!" I said admiring his work.

"Indeed." He nodded.

"Wish I was good at carving, instead all I'm good at is craving, and that's how I got this!" I stood on my hind legs and shook my stomach. My physical comedy made Pinkie laugh, but that was about it.

"Ha!" She laughed. "Get it? Because craving is close to carving!?" She laughed more.

"Alright alright." I said. "It wasn't that funny."

"That we can agree on." I heard Igneous mumble.

"Now that that's all wrapped up, time for the flag finding mission!" Pinkie sang.

---

Outside

Alright! Time for the teams! Limestone will be the judge, I'll stick with Marble, that's team one! Maud can be with Ma, team two! which just leave two more..." Pinkie looked at Igneous and I. "Then, Chuckie and Pa! Team Best Friends Forever!" She smiled. Oh boy, I've never wanted to ask someone what the hell they were thinking more than right then and there.

"Cloudy. fifteen minute rule..." Igneous said with wide eyes to his wife.

"Perfect selections Pinkamena." Cloudy nodded in approval with an almost sly smile.

"Looks like it's you and me sir!" I said.

"Mhm." He said in a disgruntled fashion. "Perfect."

"Nothing is perfect need I remind you." I said. "But my company is as close as it gets." I quipped.

"Now I wish that rock killed me." He groaned. At least I was trying to make the best of the situation.

"Off to a terrific start." I sighed to myself. Here we go I guess.

So I had a bit more on an advantage than Applejack and her family had in season 5, I knew I was looking for a picture instead of a real rock. Maybe finding it would help me prove myself to not be the pony equivalent of Jeffrey Dahmer or Charles Manson in Igneous' eyes, I don't know, at this point any idea is a good one.

"Oh there's no rock like this rock, Find it 'cuz we're on the clock." I hummed looking around.

"What art thou singing?" Igneous asked.

"No rock like this rock?" I asked. "Eh, just something I came up with on the spot, I do that a lot." What he does not know is that it's a parody of something that is far too inappropriate for the T rating of this story, but hey, what he doesn't know can't hurt him.

"Interesting." He simply said. Deep down he started to realize that with traits like that, while I may not be his idea of a stallion you bring home to dad, I did suit his daughter well.

"So what kinda rock are we on the hunt for?" I asked, mostly to make conversation, don't tell her family I said this, Maud especially, but all rocks look the same to me.

"Mylonite." He replied.

"Outta sight, mylonite. Got it." I nodded. After a little while longer of searching, Igneous actually spoke up first.

"What about Pinkamena did thou take romantic interest in?" He asked.

"What drew me to her?" I asked. "Well, I mean, an easier question would be what didn't! First day I met her she showed more kindness to me than most folks ever gave me over years of knowing them, she even took me in since I had no other place to live, she made me happy when I never considered myself all that happy at all, and after all that, I don't know, I guess we clicked."

"Guess?" He asked.

"I can't explain how it happened." I said shrugging my shoulders. "I was drawn to her, who knows what drew her to me, then we became, well, an item."

"I see." He said.

"How about you and your wife, Cloudy?" I asked.

"Pairing stone." He said. "The pairing stone decreed 'thou shalt love each other' and thus, it became so." He explained. And I thought my world's arranged marriages were odd.

"Romantic." I said. "Hey, what's mylonite look like anyway?"

"Mylonite is fine grained, often gray." He told me.

"Kinda like this?" I asked holding up a drawing of what he described.

"Exactly." He said impatiently, all of a sudden his eyes widened. "Egad lad!" He exclaimed.

"Nice poetry." I said.

"Thou hast found the hidden stone!" He said excitedly.

"I did? Neato!" I said happily.

"Come lad, to Holder's Boulder!" He said snatching the paper and leading me on enthusiastically. Well this took an interesting turn, I thought finding it might help, but this is nuts.

"Limestone!" He called as we approached her. "I've found it!" What!? My jaw dropped and I cocked my eyebrow.

"Congratulations." She said unenthusiastically. "Team one and two! Get back here!" She called loudly.

"What is it?" Pinkie asked happily as the teams approached the boulder.

"This year's winner, I am proud to announce." Limestone said. "Is team 3, but mostly Dad." Excuse me!?

"Woo hoo! Way to go Pa!" Pinkie cheered. Igneous grinned almost slyly at me.

"Good work Igneous." Cloudy applauded him. "And Chuck, of course."

"But mostly me." He boasted. Oh I know what this is, Sheriff Woody Syndrome.

---

Sheriff Woody Syndrome: Sheriff Woody Syndrome, or SWS, derives from acting immaturely and competitively towards a newcomer in over to regain or keep favor in the eyes of your peers. Name for SWS derives from the character Sheriff Woody, who acted in such a manner in Pixar's 1995 film "Toy Story" starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. This absolutely sound and scientific fact is taken from Chuck's Big Book of Syndromes Based on Pop-Culture.

---

Definitely that going on here. I've seen it a million times before, part of me was flattered albeit to be the Buzz Lightyear in someone's case of SWS, but at the same time rather angered by his actions.

"Excuse me sir, but I believe you're slightly mistaken." I whispered to him.

"Hush thine lips, Potsie." He whispered back. Potsie? Wow.

"Dad will raise the flag upon the highest point tomorrow morning." Maud said. "And now, onto gift hiding."

---

After I hid my gift I simply strolled around the farm land, taking a stroll helped with the disbelief and resentment I felt toward's Igneous' actions. I mean come on, I get not liking somepony, you know how many people disliked me on Earth? I was fine with it, but spiting me like that just to look like a hero is just rude. Suddenly, I saw somepony familiar in the distance, it was Pinkie, finally somepony who liked me.

"Pinkie!" I called running over, as I ran, suddenly I was hit by what felt like a fluffy pink rocket, I guess she saw me too.

"Chuckie! Glad I ran into you! I feel like it's been forever since we were together!" She said happily.

"It's been an hour and a half." I said. "Which is only forty five seconds shy of forever, so close." I smirked.

"Smarty Pants." She smirked.

"You know you love me." I replied.

"Guilty as charged." She kissed me. I kissed her back and sighed.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Your dad still dislikes me." I said.

"How? He seemed happy when you two won!" She said.

"Wanna know who found it?" I asked. "Me. He grabbed it from me and claimed he found it." Her resting face went to a big grin with nervous eyes.

"What!? That's ridiculous!" She stammered.

"I'm being serious." I said. Her mane suddenly deflated for a second as her face dropped.

"I know. Pa, well... He get's kind of jealous." She explained.

"Kind of? I thought things were going along great, then this happens!" I said.

"Chuck, it isn't your fault." She told me.

"Yeah, it is." I said. "I'm not good enough for him." I said sadly.

"Now you listen to me Gary Murray!" She said slapping me across the face. "You are too good enough! Chuck, I love you! And in the end, isn't that what really matters?" She asked. My face lifted a little, she still hasn't got my real name right.

"You've got a point." I said starting to smile a little.

"Tell you what, why don't I talk to him?" She asked.

"Maybe that's a good idea." I said.

---

Three hours later

"Things got real crazy on the Pie family rock farm this evening when proprietor Igneous Rock snapped after accusations of jealousy." A handsome newspony said in his studio. "We now go live to Chuck Marley."

"It's Murphy actually." I said as I appeared on the air.

"Whatever, Chuck, what can you tell us about the incident that took place?"

"Well..." I began. "After a rock finding mission Igneous claimed to win the beans were spilled to the rest of the family I actually found it, things got a little out of hand so to speak, a family feud sort of arose, and well to make a long story short, I'm the only one alive."

---

"That's not what's going to happen!" Pinkie told me back in reality.

"I know, but it sounded funny." I said.

"Besides, if that were the case, it'd be me as the only one alive." She winked. You know? That's probably true.

---

Inside

"How dare thou accuse me of such slander!?" Igneous yelled. Oh no.

"Dear, hold on." Cloudy said trying to calm him down. "Why not a little tea? Tea and the paper?"

"Not now dear." He growled.

"Pa, hold on a second." Pinkie pleaded to him.

"This colt has been nothing but a pain since he arrived!" He pointed at me in anger. Oh no, I've seen this in the movies, my limbs, head and body are about to be scattered across the homestead.

"He has not!" Pinkie said.

"With all due respect, sir..." I started.

"Quiet!" He hollered.

"Why do you hate him so much!?" Pinkie asked.

"An easier question would be what I do not hate about thee!" He yelled. Ouch.

"There's no need to be mean!" She replied.

"There was no need for that colt to nearly kill me!" He exclaimed.

"It was an accident Igneous!" Cloudy yelled.

"Enough!" I hollered, everypony quieted down after I spoke up.

"I'm sorry, okay!? I'm sorry, that I'm not a big manual worker, I'm sorry that I sell booze, I'm sorry, I'm sorry that I tried to get you to like me when ultimately I guess I'm just that unlikable a fella huh!?" I exclaimed. "I'm sorry I ruined Hearthswarming Eve for you all, I never meant to be such a hassle. You don't have to worry about me ruining anything else, I'll be on my way. I'm sorry." I said angrily heading for the door.

"Says sorry to much, must be Canternadian." Limestone said.

"That's because I am!" I called back before shutting the door.

There was a long, long silence after that door shut. Nopony knew what to do or say, nopony was happy, it definitely didn't feel like Hearthswarming Eve anymore, Pinkie was on the verge of tears, Cloudy was angry with Igneous, Marble was extremely uncomfortable, Limestone was just angry about me being Canternadian, damn Canternadians. And Maud, well, Maud was extremely upset, or happy, you can't tell really.

"Goodnight everypony. Happy Hearthswarming Eve." Igneous sighed retiring to his room.

---

What a cliffhanger! Isn't that crazy! What's gonna happen next? We'll just have to find out.

Author's note How about that last chapter huh? Bet you wish we'd get back to that story huh? Too bad, here's a cheap but hopefully fun nod to one of my favorite Christmas movies, taken from the point of view of Applejack some parts, and Applebloom for others.

---

Bloom Alone

Applebloom's POV

Ponyville streets, December 22rd. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and I were happily playing through town, Hearthswarmings a little filly's favorite time of year you know, This year though, Sweetie Belle was goin' with Rarity and their parents to Canterlot on vacation and Scootaloo, after enough beggin' and pleadin' got to spend Hearthswarming with Rainbow Dash and her folks. But that didn't leave me alone or anythin', us Apples were headed to Appleloosa for Hearthswarming and I couldn't be more excited, but for now, me an' the girls were having fun together before we had to part ways for the holidays, ha! That rhymed!

Me: Ah can't believe its Hearthswarming!

The dinners, flags, and all the giving

Can't believe it's Hearthswarming!

My favorite time of year!

Sweetie Belle: I can't believe it's Heartjswarming!

Been dreaming of a sugarplum-thing

Can't believe it's Hearthswarming!

Oh boy it's finally here!

The 3 of us: Ho, ho! Away we go!

With rosey cheeks and hearts aglowin'

Hey, hey! Our favorite day!

It makes us want to cheer!

Scootaloo: Yo, ho! We love the snow!

At least we know we won't be mowing!

The 3 of us: Yeah, hey! We're glad to say

Hearthswarming time is here!

We can't believe it's Heartshwarming!

Been waiting for a million hours

Can't believe it's Hearthswarming,

Oh what a nifty day!

We can't believe it's Hearthswarming!

Scootaloo: Took 14,018 showers!

The 3 of us: Can't believe it's Hearthswarming!

And now it's time to play!

We can't believe it's Hearthswarming!

The dinner, flags and all the giving!

Can't believe it's Hearthswarming,

Our favorite time of year!

We can't believe it's Hearthswarming!

Been dreaming of a sugar-plum thing

Can't believe it's Hearthswarming,

Oh, boy! It's finally...

So divinely!

Boy, it's finally here!

We laughed collapsing in the snow as we finished our song.

"Y'know, I still can't believe this is the last we'll see of each other until after Hearthswarming." Scootaloo said.

"I know, we always spend Hearthswarming in Ponyville." Sweetie Belle nodded.

"Aw come on girls, it's only a couple of days, besides, it'll be fun gettin' to see each other again afterwards!" I said happily.

"You're right Applebloom." Sweetie Belle agreed.

"There you are!" I heard a voice call, I turned and saw my big sis, Applejack.

"Hey Applejack!" I said getting up.

"Hey can wait little sis, we gotta get a move on, we don't want to miss the train!" She said.

"Applejack, the train doesn't leave until tomorrow morning!" I said.

"We've got packing to do! Come on!" She said dragging me off. I waved goodbye to my friends as I was drug off.

"Bye girls! See ya in a couple days!" I called to them as they waved goodbye.

"Have you even packed up yet?" Applejack asked.

"Aw c'mon sis, it'll only take a few minutes to pack my suitcase." I said.

"I didn't ask how long it'd take, I asked if you've done it." She said, oh boy. I love my sister an' all, but whenever we travel anywhere she get's all high strung and such, it can be a real pain to deal with.

"I'll pack it when we get home sis." I groaned.

"You're darn right you will, I don't want you gettin' distracted because most the family's there already. There'll be plenty of time to fraternize when we get to Appleloosa." She ordered.

"Yep." I said feeling frustrated. I had a feeling this drill sergeant attitude was gonna last for a little while longer.

---

That evening

The family was running around the farm house getting things ready for taking off tomorrow morning, like how whenever the Apples get together, it was loud, nopony was paying attention to much other than their current task, what's the word? Oh yeah, hectic. I was up in my room packing things up, but downstairs there was a police officer pony standing in the door.

"Excuse me? Hello?" He said trying to get anypony's attention as they passed by him. Nopony seemed to notice him as they went about their business. "Pardon me ma'am..." He sighed. Cousin Babs crossed in front of him, he grabbed her as she crossed by.

"Excuse me young filly, are your parents home?" He asked her.

"Yeah but they don't live 'ere." She replied before walking off.

"Of course! All kids, no parents!" He sighed. "Must be a fancy orphanage..."

"Oh my goodness, I'm sorry officer." Applejack said seeing the officer. "Hope you weren't waitin' around too long, what can I do you for?" She asked.

"You're the parent here?" He asked.

"Well no, but I'm pretty well the caretaker of the farm." She said. "Cepting of course Big Mac an' Granny Smith."

"Ah." He said. "Well we're just doin' a routine checkup, y'know it's the holidays and everything, wanted to make sure everypony had proper security before going out on vacation." He explained.

"Well the farm has never had all that high security, 'cepting for Winona, my dog." She explained.

"I see, you know you really should have higher security measures, what with I'm sure this place is stocked with, oh I don't know, family heirlooms or valuable items." He suggested.

"I understand your concern officer, but we really have no need for those types of things." She said. "I trust everypony in this town, nopony would steal from the farm." She said.

"I wouldn't be too sure, I'm sure you of all ponies are more than familiar with the saying: "Bad apples in every bunch"?" He asked. "I'm sure you're probably right." He nodded.

"Big sis, think you could come upstairs and tell me if I've got everythin' I need?" I asked from the top of the stairs. She looked at me with a frustrated expression.

"Applebloom, I'm a bit busy right now." She said. "I'm trying to talk to this officer."

"Officer Lock." He said. "Don't worry about it, I've heard all I needed to hear. Happy Hearthswarming." He said as he flashed a toothy grin, a gold tooth shimmered when he smiled. I couldn't help but stop and stare for a second.

"Okay, thank you officer. Happy Hearthswarming!" Applejack said closing the door as he left.

"Now, Applebloom, what do you need help with?" She asked.

"All I want is to know if what I packed is enough." I said.

"I'm sure you did fine, now I've got a hundred other things to do, go play with your cousin or something, okay?" She asked.

"Well... okay." I said sulking away, I had been really hoping that this Hearthswarming I could spend more time with my big sis, guess this ain't the case. Up in my room, as I was explaining my problems to Babs, she was offering me advice, or at least trying to.

"So?" She asked. "I never knew my sister." She said.

"Do you have a sister?" I asked.

"Well no." She said. "But, never the less, I don't know 'er."

"It's not the same Babs." I said. "Applejack normally always makes time for me, but then a couple relatives show up and I'm like a stale apple fritter to her."

"Sorry that I'm back to this but, so?" She asked once again. "All I'm sayin' is that I don't see why it's such a big deal."

"It's a big deal because she's my big sis! I look up to her!" I said.

"Find somepony else to look up to then. Like me." She smirked. I just shook my head and sighed.

"You just don't understand Babs." I said sadly.

"Yeah, no kiddin'." She said. "Listen cuz, just because your big sis is too busy for you don't mean it's the end of the world, cheer up huh? It is Hearthswarming after all." She tried to make me feel better.

"Yeah you've got a point, I'll try and cheer up a little." I said.

"That's the spirit. Now come on, there's eggnog downstairs." She said leading me out of my room.

"Alright alright, I'm comin'!" I said following her downstairs. But when we got downstairs, no such luck.

"Sorry gals! Eggnogs fresh out!" Applejack told us.

"You gotta be kiddin'!" Babs whined.

"Fraid not." She said. "Now girls,try an' stay out of the way, I've still got a lot to tend to." She said pressuring us out of the room.

"Aw sis..." I began.

"None of that!" She shook her head. "Please try and keep to yourselves." She said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I'm busy Applebloom!" She said with a frustrated tone.

"What could possibly be keepin' you so busy?" I asked. She just stared at me.

"What could be keepin' me busy? Oh I dunno, maybe just trying to make sure an entire family of ponies is ready to leave tomorrow morning and making sure nothing get's left behind!?" She said angrily.

"Couldn't you get Big Mac to help?" I asked.

"Maybe I would if he wasn't on his way home from Starlight's village gettin' Sugar Belle!" She was getting annoyed.

"Alright alright!" I sighed.

"Just, please. Quit being a pain." She said walking off.

"A pain!?" I hollered back. She stopped for a second.

"Wait..." She said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that-" She began.

"Aw save it!" I hollered feeling frustrated. "Glad to know that I'm such a pain to you! I'm goin' to bed." I said angrily.

"Applebloom wait!" She hollered at me as I went up the stairs.

"If I'm such a hassle maybe you'd just be better off with out me!" I yelled angrily. "Or better yet, I'd be better off alone!"

"Now you don't mean that." Applejack said. "I have a feeling you'd be pretty sad if you woke up one day and you didn't have a family."

"Sorry sis, but I have to disagree with you on that." I sneered as I retired to my room, slamming my door behind me. As I stared angrily at the ceiling I sighed and said: "I wish my family would just disappear." And with that, I settled down to sleep.

---

Later that night

Applejack's POV

"And that's what happened Big Mac, I'm sorry to pester you with all of this, but I'm really busy making sure everything's ready." I said. "I understand if you're not up to it, I'm sure you're exhausted, but if you could try an' talk to her..." I told him as we talked that evening.

"Eeyup." He said as he made his way upstairs, leaving Sugar Belle and I in the living room alone, which was nice, but a little awkward since we haven't actually talked since everything that went down in Starlight's Village a couple of years ago.

"Had a fight with your sister hm?" She asked. "That's not good, I feel just terrible for you."

"Not a good feelin'." I admitted. "How have you been?" I asked.

"Well, business has been great! Everypony in the village loves... Well... baking with actual flavor." She chuckled. "It sure was kind of Big Mac to invite me to come along with you guys."

"Aw now, there's always room for one more with the Apples!" I say welcoming her.

"Well thank you very much Applejack. Big Mac has told me so much about you." She said. Knowing Big Mac, I highly doubt that.

"Uh huh." I say cocking my eyebrow.

"Okay, well, he's written about you in his letters, he's a lot more vocal with pen and paper." She added, now I got it.

"That makes more sense." I chuckled slightly. "Big Mac sure seems head over hooves for you, glad to see him so happy."

"We're happy together." She smiled sipping at some tea.

"Happy for you." I said. After I said that, Big Mac came back down the stairs.

"Any luck?" I asked.

"Nope." He said.

"Why not? Is she asleep?" I asked.

"Eeyup." He nodded.

"Guess I'll have to try in the morning." I sighed. "Speakin' of which, how're the carts?" I asked. He gulped a little at the question.

"What's that about?" I asked. "Are the carts good?" I asked.

"N-N-Nope." He said.

"Wheels?" I asked.

"Eeyup." He nodded. I sighed.

"Alright fine, the Cakes might not have left yet, ask if they have some carts to spare." I said.

"Eeyup." He sighed heading for the door.

"Let me come with you Big Mac." Sugar Belle said getting up and following him, leaving me alone.

"Guess I'd better settle in." I sighed heading for my room. I truly felt bad about everything that had happened with Applebloom, hopefully everything would have blown over tomorrow morning.

That morning I woke up to hear a knock at my door. The sun was shining, birds singing, and Big Mac was calling my name telling me I overslept. Just a normal day on the- Overslept!?

Before I knew it, the house was up and alive, everypony was running around grabbing luggage and scarfing down breakfast. I ordered everypony outside to the carts, luckily the Cakes were kind enough to let us borrow theirs. I had told Granny Smith to do a headcount at the carts as I grabbed my luggage.

"Three... Four..." She said as she was going down the line. Meanwhile, Babs was looking for a place to set Applebloom's luggage.

"Right here will do the trick!" She set it next to a bag of assorted golden delicious and red delicious apples, when she set the suitcase down one of Applebloom's bows slipped out and landed on the clear bag.

"Seventeen... Eighteen... And Nineteen!" Granny Smith said counting the bag as Applebloom. Hey, her eyes aren't what they used to be.

"Count heads Granny?" I asked as I came to the carts.

"Sure did! Nineteen plus you." She nodded.

"Okay good, thank you very much." I said. "Everypony to your carts!" I yelled. As I got to my cart, I noticed Applebloom wasn't with us. I guess she was riding with Babs, I'm sure she wasn't still mad. Meanwhile, Babs was in her cart.

"Hm, guess Applebloom, patched things up with her sis and is ridin' with her." She remarked at the fact Applebloom wasn't there either.

And with that, we were on our way.

---

Applebloom's POV

"Hello?" I asked as I came out of my room. The house was eerily quiet, which was odd. Normally it was loud no matter how many ponies were there. I had learned to sleep through the noise, I'll admit it was a skill that came in handy.

"Applejack?" I asked as I walked through the house. "Big Mac? Granny Smith?" I looked everywhere yet there wasn't a soul around. Suddenly a thought occurred to me. I bolted outside to see if they had left without me.

"The carts are still there! They didn't leave." I said when I saw the carts. Suddenly, another thought came into my head.

"I made my family disappear..." I grinned. My wish had come true! Now I could finally do all the things I wanted to do all by myself! And so, I ran off to do all the things I always wanted to do alone!

---

Apple Orchards

"Are we almost there Lock Pick?" A tall and lanky crook, Crow Bar asked as the two snuck through the orchard.

"Yeah Crow Bar, this is the place I was telling you about." Lock Pick, the shorter and stouter of the two pointed at the farm house.

"You drug me out here for a farm house?" Crow Bar asked.

"I was inside there Bar, they've got valuables in there, antiques! We can make a fortune off of this place!" Lock Pick told his partner.

"Wait, doesn't a pretty big family live there?" He asked.

"Bar, didn't I tell you!? They're on vacation, gone, nopony around!" Lock explained.

"Oh." Crow Bar nodded. "So when're we hitting it?" He asked.

"Tomorrow night." Lock Pick told him. "We go in, grab what we can, then we're straight to Manehatten."

"Sounds like a good plan." Crow Bar nodded as they grinned looking at their next target.

"Now lets get outta here before somepony sees us." Lock Pick said as they snuck off.

---

Appleloosa, the next morning

Applejack's POV

"What!?" I yelled. "What do you mean she wasn't in your cart!?" I question Babs when we arrived and Applebloom was nowhere to be found.

"I thought she was with you!" She said.

"Well that's just great!" I groaned. "Granny, I thought you counted heads!"

"Well I did!" She said. "But of course, my eyes ain't what they used to be."

"Oh no..." I looked down. "This is terrible."

"What's the problem?" Sugar Belle asked,

"Appleblooms home alone!" I said.

"Oh no!" She gasped. "That's just terrible!"

"Eeyup!" Big Mac nodded.

"This is all my fault..." I moaned. "I should've checked to make sure she was up."

"No it ain't Applejack." Big Mac spoke up.

"Yes it is Big Mac! I drove her away last night, I was so caught up in everything I didn't think about her, then she got all upset with me, didn't want to speak to me, and now we've left her all alone!" I said feeling upset.

"Well howdy all!" My cousin Braeburn welcomed us.

"Howdy Braeburn." I said glumly.

"What's wrong A.J?" He asked.

"Applebloom is home alone!" I said. "I left her there all alone!"

"What?" He asked. "Oh no.." He said.

"Why not write somepony in town?" Sugar Belle suggested.

"No use in that." I said. "Just about everypony is off on vacation."

"She'll be fine!" Granny Smith spoke up. "I did my fair share of stayin' home alone when I was her age!"

"For three days? With no food stocked?" I asked.

"You've got a point." She said.

"I'm going home." I said. "Y'all can stay behind, this is my fault, I'm taking care of this." I said going toward the train station.

When I got to the train station, I got the bad news from the ticket master.

"Sorry ma'am, tracks to Ponyville's damaged." He said. "New tracks ought to come in next week."

"I can't wait a week! I've got to get home!" I said.

"Sorry ma'am, it's just not possible." He sighed.

"Is there anything you can do?" I asked.

"Well..." He said thinking. "I can get you a train to Canterlot maybe, yeah Canterlot... Then from there you should be able to get to ponyville." He said shuffling through tickets.

"I'll take it." I nodded. "Thank you sir."

"Not a problem. Train should be back in two hours." He said.

"Alright." I said taking my ticket and waiting at the station.

---

Meanwhile

Applebloom's POV

After a day had gone by, I had to admit being all alone was losing it's luster. And I'll admit, I was starting to feel a little lonely. I couldn't fix much for breakfast lunch or dinner, so I had to dip into the cellar's apple storage, and that place is creepy! Ropes hanging around, something that looked like an old bear trap, I thought there was somepony down there too! Turns out it was just paint cans though. But anyway, I was starting to get a little lonely, I tried taking a walk around town, but all my friends were off somewhere, even all Applejack's friends were off. On my way home, I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched.

"What!?" Crow Bar said from behind a bush. "I thought you said nopony was home!"

"I thought there was!" Lock Pick said.

"What're we gonna do now?" He asked.

"I don't know!" Lock Pick muttered. "Follow me." He said as he snuck out of the bush. They started to follow me towards the house. As I went inside, they started peaking around the windows.

"I'm telling you Bar, I'm here the other night, more ponies than you can shake a stick at. Now there's just this filly." Lock said looking in a window.

"Maybe she's a house sitter." Crow Bar suggested.

"Couldn't of been. Called the mare I was talking to 'big sis'." Lock Pick said.

"Well then what's she doing here all alone?" Crow Bar asked. At this point, I has opened the window upstairs and could overhear the two strange stallions.

"Who cares!?" Lock Pick said. "She's just a filly, and she's home alone! We come back around 9 o'clock, take all that we can carry and split."

"9 o'clock, it'll be dark." Crow Bar grinned. "Foals are scared of the dark."

"You're scared if the dark!" Lock Pick slugged him on the shoulders.

"I am not!" He said.

"Are too!" Lock Pick sneered as he started to walk away. "Now c'mon before somepony sees us." He said leading Crow Bar along. Now I was in trouble, I had crooks to deal with! What was I gonna do? I couldn't get any help, there was nopony around to help! Oh no... I wish Applejack was here, she'd know what to do...

"I've got to do something..." I told myself as I paced around in my room. "But what?" Suddenly, I had an idea, a crazy idea, but it might just save my flank and the farm.

I ran down to the cellar to see what I could scrummage together, luckily I still had plenty of time.

---

Canterlot Train Station, a few hours later

Applejack's POV

"But... but I need to get to Ponyville!" I said to the mare behind the booth.

"I'm sorry, but the train is all booked, what with it being Hearthswarming." She said.

"What about the evening train?" I asked.

"We're booked to Ponyville all through the week hon." She said. "Quite frankly, I can't imagine why you'd want to vacation there for Hearthswarming anyway, it's so... quaint and small town like. It looks like something that somepony the likes of you would deal with all year around."

"That's because I live there!" I said angrily. "My little sister is home all alone!" I felt quite angry with what she had just said.

"My apologies miss. But hostility is not going to make a difference." She said blankly. "You're holding up the line."

"Listen lady!" I said slamming my hoof on the counter. "I'm about to be holding your hind legs so far above yer head that yer spine 'll tie up!"

"Ma'am, back away now or I will call security." She said.

"Why I ought to..." I began, suddenly somepony tapped me on the shoulder. "I'll be out of yer way in a second pal!" I said with hostility turning to see who tapped me on the shoulder, he was a plump tan unicorn with a yellow jacket, he had a shocked expression on his face.

"That's not what this is about ma'am." He said. "I just heard you're having a problem and wanted to see if I can lend a hoof."

"Really?" I asked.

"Oh sure! See, we're having a bit of trouble ourselves, see we needed to get to Fillydelphia, but of course with the holidays and everything..." He shrugged and shook his head. "Anyway, one of our guys is over there renting a cart, you can ride with us if you like, we'll be passing through Ponyville on our way, should be room enough for you!"

"Thank you so much." I said. "I really need to get home."

"Yeah, I heard." He said. "I'm Ligature, in case you didn't know." I stared at him blankly, why would I know that?

"Okay?" I said.

"Really? Clarinet player in the Polka Pals? biggest polka band this side of Marennesota?" He asked. I shook my head.

"We had a couple of hits,'5 Card Polka' was my personal favorite, but of course, 'Polka? I Just Met Her' was our best commercially and-" I cut him off.

"I'll take the ride." I said. "Thank you kindly, I'm Applejack."

"No problem Applejack, season of giving right?" He chuckled.

Before long, we were all on the road and the cart was bouncing with what apparently is considered music. If only Pinkie, Chuck, or even Cheese were here, they'd love this, me however? No so much. But I mean, I doubt Pinkie or them would ever get into a bind like this, just my luck I suppose.

"So you left your little sis behind?" Ligature asked as we rode along once the music stopped.

"Yeah... Poor little Applebloom, she just got her cutie mark a few years ago." I said.

"Still pretty young huh?" He asked. "Gosh that's tough, I haven't been home in years, none of us really have."

"I'd have sent somepony to check in, but everypony was out somewhere, Twilight's off in Canterlot... Pinkie Pie went home to visit her family.." I began, he cut me off.

"Pinkie Pie?" He asked.

"Yeah." I nodded. "Why's that name matter so much?"

"Same Pinkie I'm thinkin' of? Bubbly, big ol' Pink puffy mane? Voice like helium?" He asked.

"Yeah?" I said, feeling confused.

"That's crazy! What a small world!" He laughed. "Ol' Pinks used to be our trombone player!" He showed me an old photo of the band with her all in the same yellow jacket.

"What?" I asked. "That's crazy..."

"How's she been?" Ligature asked. "We write from time to time but it's been a while since I've seen her."

"She's been good." I proceeded to tell him all about the past few years, from becoming an Element of Harmony to her meeting Chuck.

"No kidding! I'll have to send her my congratulations." He said.

"I never knew Pinkie had such an interesting past." I told him.

"It's interesting, the gal sure is an enigma." He chuckled. "Think after she left the band, she worked at a diner or something." He shrugged. "Always something interesting going on with her too, got me interested in shower curtain rings of all things, she always sends me one from places she visits."

"That sure sounds like Pinkie Pie." I chuckled.

"Crazy world for sure." He laughed. "You never believe who you're gonna meet, like for instance, once I met this guy, trying to get home for the holidays, and let me tell you, he had the darnedest luck! Well really, we had the darnedest luck..." He laughed looking back. "You know, he even said, 'one day we'll look back and laugh about this', guess he was right!" He chuckled.

"Sure is interesting." I said. "Look, I'm gonna rest my eyes for a little bit, hope that's okay."

"Oh sure, go right ahead." He nodded. "I'll wake you when we get there."

---

Sweet Apple Acres, 8:30 PM

Applebloom's POV

"Okay Applebloom, you can do this." I said pacing through the kitchen. "Let's go over the plan." I said unfurling the sheet of paper with the plans drawn up. One little filly wasn't enough to fend off two grown stallions physically, but you can be smarter, and that's what I was tryin' to do. My plan was traps I've set around the house, and I'd say I was pretty well set. "Outer steps are iced, marbles on the floor, paint cans..." I said going over the plan. Oh this was too good, these two won't know what hit them!

"This is my house." I said. "I have to protect it."

As the last half hour before they were set to arrive I made sure all the traps were ready, at the clock struck 9, I knew I was ready. Meanwhile, outside, Lock Pick and Crow Bar were sneaking up to the front door.

"Ready?" Lock Pick asked.

"Sure am." Crow Bar nodded.

"Crowbars." Lock Pick said as they clanked their crowbars together. They made their way for the back door and jiggled the doorknob, locked. Unbeknownst to them I aimed my slingshot through the dog door and shot Lock Pick in the leg.

"Check the dog door!" Lock Pick told Crow Bar jumping in pain.

"On it." Crow Bar nodded getting down and poking his head through the dog door. As his head emerged from the dog door, I came eye to eye with him.

"Hi! I'm Applebloom!" I said happily aiming my slingshot. I let go and the stone clocked him right between the eyes. He screamed in pain jerking back and out the dog door.

"Ow!" He jumped up and down.

"I'm gonna kill her!" Lock Pick said. "You go through the basement, I'll go out front!"

"Got it!" Crow Bar nodded. As Lock Pick made his way around front he went to the front steps and angrily started stomping up, suddenly he slipped and fell backwards, landing hard on his back. As Crow Bar made his way down to the cellar door, he slipped on the stairs and crashed headfirst into the door. I could hear both of them curse in pain outside, which, in a way I'm not proud of, made me chuckle. I heard Lock Pick slip again out front, but then, I heard him get to the welcome mat, so I ran up the stairs. Outside, as Lock Pick placed his hoof on the doorknob, he screamed in pain and agony as the doorknob was extremely hot from the brander I had held against the other side. Meanwhile, downstairs, Crow Bar kicked open the cellar door and made his way through the basement, when he reached for the pull cord on the lights and yanked, an iron fell from the ceiling. "What?" He asked hearing the noise looking up, when suddenly the iron crashed into his forehead. "Agh!" He cried in pain falling down. As he came to his hooves, he stumbled toward the stairs. as he stepped onto the stairs, his hooves got stuck, he looked down and saw that tar covered the steps. Something he did not see was the bear trap I had situated on the steps. As he slowly made his way up, one of his hooves stepped on the trigger, the trap clamped shut. His eyes widened as he screamed in pain and jumped back, landing on hos back with the trap still clamping onto his leg. He struggled around like a fish on a dock trying to break it off, which eventually he did. "I'm going to kill you!" I could hear him yell.

Outside, Lock Pick made his way to the back door, which I had unlocked now. He giggled the knob to make sure it wasn't too hot, as he cranked it open he peaked his head in, the knob turning open triggered a blowtorch which set his hat aflame. "AAAAAAAAGGGHHH!" He screamed in pain jumping off the steps and emerging his head in snow. As he got up and went through the door leaning downwards so as not to be set on fire, he yelled to me. "I'm in the house kid! You're in for it now!"

"You'd best come and get me!" I yelled. He stormed through the door to the living room and through the door his face was trapped in cellophane with glue lathered onto it. He tore it off in anger and kept forward, triggering a fan blowing feathers into his face. He growled in anger spitting feathers out of his mouth. Meanwhile, Crow Bar snuck through the window and limped through the house meeting with Lock Pick.

"Lock?" He asked.

"Bar!" Lock Pick said. "Why the hell are your legs covered in tar?"

"Why the hell are you dressed as a chicken?" Crow Bar asked.

"Never mind!" Lock said angrily. "We're in the house you little devil! We're gonna get you!" He yelled.

"Oh no! I'm really scared!" I yelled from the top of the stairs. As they made their way toward the stairs they both failed to see the marbles on the floor and they blew back and hit the floor hard. They groaned getting up and started climbing the stairs. As they climbed the stairs, I sent a paint can down swinging.

"Heads up!" Lock Pick ducked, Crow Bar wasn't as lucky. The can sent him flying down the stairs onto his back. When Lock Pick turned to keep going, he was hit with the other and was sent down on top of him. They got up once again and climbed the stairs. I had locked myself away in my room, preparing to grapple out the window and escape to the Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse. I could hear them climb the stairs and make their way to each door, kicking them in.

"C'mon... C'mon..." I said tying sheets together. Before I could toss it down, my door swung open. "Oh no..." I said. The two angry stallions approached me and grabbed me, they pinned me to the wall and glared at me.

"What are we gonna do to her, Lock?" Crow Bar asked.

"The same thing this little twerp did to us!" Lock Pick grinned menacingly. "I'm gonna fry her mane with a blowtorch!"

"Smash her face with an iron!" Crow Bar added. What was I gonna do? I was all out of ideas, and all out of luck...

---

Outside the farm

Applejack's POV

"Thanks again Mr. Ligature! I'll be sure to tell Pinkie you said hi!" I called back as they went off. I turned and saw he farm house and ran toward the door, when I got there, the door was wide open, I grabbed a snow shovel and snuck inside, ready to face whatever was inside.

"Applebloom?" I called. I could hear two stallions talking upstairs, I crept up the stairs and looked around, through Applebloom's doorway I could see them.

"I'm gonna stick her leg in a bear trap!" Crow Bar laughed.

"Then, I'm gonna take a pair of pliers, and yank all yer teeth out, one by one!" Lock Pick grinned. I snuck up behind the two and whacked Crow Bar in the back of the head with a shovel, knocking him out, Lock Pick looked around and received the same hit, but to the face.

"Keep the change, you filthy animal." I sneered at the two.

"Applejack!" Applebloom smiled. "I thought I'd never see you again!" She hugged me as I set her down.

"What happened!?" I asked looking around. Applebloom proceeded to tell em the whole story.

"Oh Applebloom, I'm so... so sorry I left you behind, and I'm sorry for everything I said." I said as I hugged her.

"I'm sorry too..." Applebloom said. "I don't actually wish you'd disappear, I was wrong!" She said holding back tears.

"I know Sugarcube." I held her close. "I'm so glad you're okay, this will never happen again, I promise."

"I'm just happy to see you again." She said.

The next morning, we woke up and started to clean the house after the night before, but then, as we were nearly down, the door opened up and in came Big Mac and Sugar Belle, followed by the rest of the family!

"What!?" I remarked. "How'd y'all get here?" I asked.

"Took the train to Starlight's village, no outgoing there, the ride to Ponyville was easy!" Sugar Belle said.

"That's wonderful!" I said welcoming my family back.

"Hey Applebloom." Babs said to Applebloom as she came in. "Glad to see you didn't burn the place down."

"It was a piece of cake." She said smugly. I laughed at what she said, the rest of the day was spent in the warm embrace of family, it was still a happy Hearthswarming after all.

---

Fun stuff huh? Hope you like Home Alone because this was clearly a spoof of it! Final Happy Hearthswarming should be out soon so stay tuned!

Song used

"Can't Believe it's Christmas", By: Phil Vischer and Kurt Heinecke

Author's note: After the crazy cliffhanger from the main Hearthswarming story, and the probable disappointment that was Bloom Alone, maybe it wasn't, I don't know, I'm writing this and Bloom Alone at the same time... Anyway, after all that, time for the epic conclusion to Happy Hearthswarming! This chapter will feature music, sentiment, and multiple usages of the word "Banana Slug".

---

Chapter 28: Happy Hearthswarming Part 3: Happy/Sad

"Pinkamena... I'm sorry..." Pinkie's mother, Cloudy tried to comfort her after all that just happened. Wait, you don't remember? Recap time!

---

So here's whatcha need to know, Chuck was an ordinary loser from Earth when one morning he woke up in Equestria where he met the mane six and was drawn towards Pinkie Pie until the point he developed a crush, little did he know that she had a crush on him too, until one night thanks to a Carly Rae Jepsen song they came clean towards each other and a relationship blossomed, then Cheese Sandwich and Quibble moved to town after Cheese drug Quibble kicking and screaming to celebrate Pinkie Pie's birthday! After a bunch of fluff chapters Pinkie gave Chuck the idea that they'd visit the Pie family rock farm for Hearthswarming, and upon arrival, things didn't quite go as planned, especially when a big argument took place on Hearthswarming Eve! Now Chucks gone, Pinkie's a wreck, and Igneous is doing the one thing you should never do, go to bed angry. All caught up? Now back to the story.

---

"It's... It's not your fault." Pinkie said sadly. "It's mine." She said leaving the room.

"She's right." Limestone said. "I'll give her that."

"Limestone, stop or I will get confrontational." Maud said blankly.

"Woudst thou stop arguing?" Cloudy asked sharply. "I have to speak with thine father." When she got to their room she opened the door to find him laying down, staring angrily at the ceiling.

"Perhaps thou would like to explain the disaster that just happened?" She asked him.

"What's to explain?" He asked.

"Why thou let petty jealousy during a game overcome thou? Then proceed to accuse thine daughter of slanderous accusations? Then perhaps upsetting the entire family until the point that Chuck left?

"That last part I considered a favor." He said.

"Igneous Rock Pie..." She groaned.

"Cloudy, I did not raise my daughter to be kidnapped by some slick talking, right brained, booze hound!"

"Thou hardly ever raised any of our children! I did, thou were always working!" Cloudy bursted.

"I was working for thou, for the family!" He countered.

"Pinkamena is in love, Igneous! Let her follow her heart." She said.

"Follow her heart! That's crazy!" He said.

"Perhaps you might not realize this, but crazy suits her well!" Igneous sat there silently for a minute, realizing that he was losing this argument.

"Well, thou had better some to thine senses, or I'm going to be forced to take steps." He declared.

"Good idea." She said sounding frustrated. "Perhaps thou should start by taking some steps outside."

"What?"

"Thou wants to act like that of a tool? Go and sleep in the shed." She said tossing a folded blanket at him.

"Fine." He growled leaving the room. Upon settling down somewhere else, he settled for the couch in the living room, not the shed. He looked back upon everything in the past couple of days.

"Thou hast really messed up greatly Igneous." He mumbled to himself. He quickly quieted himself down when he heard somepony coming.

"You really messed up this time Pinkie!" Pinkie said to herself walking into the kitchen, which was separated from the living room only by a wall with a large archway to the living room. "Oh yeah! This'll be great! Bring ol' Chuck home, their gonna love him!" She mocked the plans she had made as she poured herself a glass of milk. "Oh yeah! Chuck'll fit right in! Real colt to bring home to the folks! Why'd you fall for the weirdo Pinkie? The weird past, the voices, those weird jokes and references! Now you don't even know where he is! He could be halfway to Ponyville by now..." She sighed to herself before chugging the glass of milk back. "Twilight told me not to move too fast, was this too fast?" She stopped and asked herself. "Oh no... I probably scared him away with this, that's why he left!"

"That is not the case Pinkamena." Igneous couldn't help but say, revealing that he had heard all of what she said.

"Oh... You heard all that huh?" She asked.

"Yes." He said standing up off the couch. "It is not thine fault." He said.

"What? It's his? Is that what you're trying to say?" She asked with resentment.

"No Pinkamena, it is mine." He admitted. "It was my own fault." She looked at him silently for a minute, before asking:

"Why?" She asked. "Why did you do it? Why do you hate him?"

"I..." He began.

"Forget it." She sighed. "He's gone anyway." She said as she left for the door.

"Wait!" He called. She stopped.

"Yeah?" She said.

"I... I don't hate him." He said.

"Are you sure? Because for the past two days I've got no other feeling off of you." She asked.

"Pinkamena..." He sighed. "It's simply... I see thou on thine own, independent, and now thou hast a coltfriend and... it happens so fast."

"What?" She asked.

"When thou left the farm, it was hard, I knew it was bound to happen, but it was tough, afterwards when Maud left it was the same feeling, and no seeing thou with somepony else, somepony else who loves you... it's simply... difficult for me." He explained.

"It is?" She asked.

"Of course." He said. "And I suppose, I let jealousy and pride overcome me."

"You suppose?" Pinkie asked him.

"I did. I definitely let jealousy and pride overcome me." He admitted.

"Dad I'm... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you with bringing him." She said.

"It didn't upset me, well, it did. But, I felt happy to see thee in love." He sighed.

"Huh?" Pinkie asked.

"I felt happy, I felt sad. Such a feeling is possible, Pinkamena." He explained.

Igneous: Right and wrong, who's to say which we should refuse.

All we know, love survives either way we choose.

Here thou art at the edge, go ahead and fall.

Don't resist, I insist.

Love still conquers all.

"It even conquered thou, my little Pinkamena. Thou art growing up." He said.

"And you're cool with that?" Pinkie asked.

"Yes, and no." He said.

Igneous: I'm feeling happy, I'm feeling sad.

A little childish, a little Dad.

I think of all the days thy've known.

All the ways thy've grown.

See thou on thine own, and then

I'm feeling happy and sad again.

I think I'm rested, but then I'm tired.

Today requested, tomorrow fired.

And now a colt says he adores

she who once was yours.

How can I ignore such news?

I'm sad and happy, why should I choose?

/

Life is full of contradictions, every inch a mile.

And the moment we start weeping,

that's when we should smile...

/

In every Heaven, you'll find some Hell.

And there's a welcome in each farewell.

Life can be harsh, the future strict

Oh, what they'll predict.

And the colt thy've picked, not bad.

So let's be happy

Forever happy

Completely happy

And a tiny bit

Saaaaad...

He looked down and sighed. "I just wish that I could've expressed the happy part of my feelings before, well, before it was too late."

"Dad..." Pinkie said almost starting to cry before hugging him tightly.

"I'm sorry Pinkamena, I put too much strain on you and Chuck, it wasn't fair, so, for what it's worth, I truly am sorry." He apologized.

"I forgive you Pa..." She said before she started to cry.

"Thank you." He said. "Please don't cry though." He said trying to comfort her.

"I'm sorry... It's just... WHAT AM I GONNA DO!?" She wailed as she cried.

"I... I don't know dear." He told her. "But I have an idea." He said standing up. "Follow me." He told her heading for the door and throwing on a coat.

---

5 miles from the Rock Farm

So I wasn't half way to Ponyville, I was half way to the middle of nowhere! You know, storming out late at night was a heat of the moment decision, and a bad heat of the moment decision, it was dark, cold, and visibility was at a near minimum thanks to a storm blowing through. What was I gonna do? I hoped to spend the night at the train station then catch a train to Ponyville in the morning, and I coulda sworn this was the way to the train station, after all it was one road, I had two choices on what direction to take, I guess I chose the wrong way. Now, I was cold, alone, and tired, which was frankly how I pictured I'd die, and feeling how you'd imagined you felt you'd feel at death was not a pleasant feeling. Anyway, at this point I had pretty much accepted I would be walking until I died of hypothermia, fatigue, or dehydration at this point, the whole thing really settled in well honestly, at the point I was even able to hum a little tune.

Me: Once there was this colt who

tried to appear likable

to his marefriend's freakin' dad

and when he finally left for home

He... died... of hypothermia and fatigue

He said that it was from when the cold had hit him so hard...

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

What a great song, Grammy worthy! Ha! Ha ha! They like me! They really, really like me! I'd like to accept this Grammy for best parody work, I'd like to thank all the little people who's names I can't remember! I doubt I'll ever forget this day as long as I live, which is about 8 minutes! Ha! Ha ha ha! Hardy Har Har! I am going mad aren't I?

"This is where it ends for you Chuck old boy." I sighed to myself.

Me: I'm a pitiful sight

And I ain't all that bright,

An' I'm definitely not chiseled from stone...

I'm cheat, and a liar,

No woman's desire

I'll pro'bly die cold an' alone...

I sighed before collapsing into a snowbank. I could feel the crisp snow melt against my cheeks and feel the water from the melted snow freeze over into a layer of ice on my face. The falling snow landed on my mane settling in, my legs started getting covered up next, yep. This was it. I can see the obituary now: CHUCK MORLEY, we hardly knew him, not that we cared to know much of him. When asked about her relations with the young stallion, Pinkamena Diane Pie stated: "He was alright, but so easy to forget, moving on won't be too tough." Rest in peace you little bastard. I could feel my eyelids droop shut and I couldn't feel my legs anymore, yep, this was it.

Oh Shenandoah,

I'm bound to leave you...

Bound to leave your rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah,

I'll not deceive you... Away...

I'm bound away...

Across the wide Missouri...

To be continued...

/

/

/

/

/

/

Immediately.

"What's that over there!?" I could almost hear a high female voice say, I could feel my head getting brushed off but I couldn't manage open my eyes.

"Sweet Celestia..." Another voice, more grizzled and manly said.

"No... Oh no no no!" The first voice said.

"Quick, get that colt into the wagon!" The second voice ordered. I could feel my body being lifted up like a potato sack and placed in a wagon, soon the wagon started moving quickly, was this me being delivered to Heaven? No way, probably Hell. I was definitely going to Hell.

---

A little while after

"Hot water! Now!" The second voice said as I was laid back in a chair. "And a cloth too! Get this colt some soup!" He ordered.

"Ma?" My cracking voice asked as my consciousnesses slowly came back to me.

"Egad! Th'art alive! Son, speak to me!" The gruff, male voice demanded.

"Where am I...? Who... Who are you? Am I in Heaven?" I asked slowly, my eyes still weren't opening.

"For Celestia's sake! Chuck! it is Igneous Rock Pie!" He growled. "Pinkamena, the soup and hot water!"

"Coming!" She said darting into the room. "Is he okay?" She asked.

"Alive, but hardly." He said glumly. "Open thine mouth son." No response, I could feel him jerk my mouth open. "Pour in the soup, nourishment might help, lay the cloth on thee's eyes." He ordered. I could feel the soup slide down my throat, there come the rocks. Uh oh, this rock was too big, can't breathe, can't breathe! I coughed and spat out the rock jerking to life.

"-wheeze- Holy... -cough- macaroni!" I sputtered. My eyelids lifted open, my vision, blurred as it was, made out a pink blob and a light brown blob with a hat.

"Chuck, canst thou see me?" The brown blob asked.

"Well, I mean, I can see a brown blob with a hat. A devilishly handsome brown blob in a hat." I said, I was still a little loopy.

"Chuck! Snap outta it!" The pink blob hollered at me.

"Pink blobs kinda mean." I sneered. "So, is there a Mrs. Brown blob in a hat?" I stammered.

"Darn it Chuck!" The mean pink blob growled. "RE-MEM-BER!" She hollered. "Pa, don't look." She instructed before bringing my big dumb face in and kissing me passionately. Suddenly, a whole lot more came flooding back.

"I see that familiar face comin' back to me like an old familiar song." I smiled as my vision came back.

"Chuckie! You're back you're back you're back!" She smiled hugging me tightly.

"Yes, I'm back." I nodded with what little air was left in me after the hug. As she released and I could start breathing again, more memories of the past evening had came back to me, and I realized exactly why I was back.

"Oh Celestia..." I stammered. "Gosh, I sure am sorry Pinkie, I shouldn't of stormed out like that. And, and sir, I'm sorry about what I said, I didn't mean to blow my top and-" He raised his hoof to stop me.

"Chuck, Thou should not be sorry, it was my own doing, and lo, I apologize." He said sincerely.

"Oh Lord I am dead, aren't I?" I said feeling worried.

"Thou art alive." He said sternly. "It was wrong of me to judge thou, thou art a fine suitor for Pinkamena, by no means art thou conventional, traditional, or the slightest bit normal, and thou hast the worst disposition as ever I've seen, and-"

"Daaaaad." Pinkie said.

"Alright, alright. But, th'art a perfect match for Pinkamena." He smiled at me.

"Wow..." I blushed. "Aw geez you're gettin' me all sentimental. Sir, it is an honor to hear those words. I promise to be the best damn suitor for Pinkie as ever born." I promised.

"Chuck." He said. "Promise me one thing." He said.

"Yes sir?" I asked.

"Do away with such a title as sir for me, I am known as Igneous Rock Pie, thou shalt refer to me as Igneous from hence forth." He said.

"Yes si-... Yes Igneous." I nodded with a smile.

"Aww isn't this precious? You two finally became friends!" Pinkie beamed. "C'mon! Bring 'er in!" She smiled bringing us both in for a group hug.

"Still a little short for air hon..." I wheezed in the hug.

"And my lungs aren't what they used to be." Igneous nodded. She eventually released us.

"Alright alright." Pinkie smiled. "I'm just happy you two are gettin' along."

"Indeed." Igneous nodded. "Now, we should get some rest. It is getting late, and if we don't get any sleep we're going to be beat tomorrow."a

"Couldn't agree more." I nodded with a yawn. "Thanks again for savin' my life." I thanked them both.

"Just returning the favor." Igneous nodded with a smile.

"Goodnight Pa!" Pinkie gave him another hug.

"Goodnight Pinkamena." Igneous smiled as we both went up the stairs. "Separate rooms remember!" He called.

"No need to worry!" I called back. As the two of us came to the hall that separated our rooms, we turned and looked at each other. Before I could say a word, Pinkie hugged me once more, this time, not excitedly, not tightly, just a calm, loving hug.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yeah, I just... I don't know what I woulda did if I lost you..." She said into my shoulder.

"Ah you'd forget about me in a heartbeat, I ain't that special." I said.

"No I wouldn't." She said seriously. "I love you... so much." She said.

"I love you too." I smiled. "But you don't have to worry anymore. I'm here now, and I'm okay, we're okay."

"Best Hearthswarming gift I could get." She said.

"That is until you see the real gift I got you." I winked.

"Ooooh I'm excited!" She grinned.

"Tomorrow morning." I told her. "Now, goodnight Cutie Pie, I love you."

"I love you too Chuckie." She said kissing me goodnight.

Now alone, Igneous sighed, feeling glad that his daughter was happy again, but upset remembering the current state between him and his wife. He wasn't sure what he was going to do, what to say, how to make it up to her. Her gradually made his way up the stairs and approached the door to his room, under the door, he noticed, that light was shining from under the door. He gulped and knocked. As he waited for a response, the door opened. Cloudy stood in the door and looked at him.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Cloudy..." He began. "I was wrong, what I said-" He was interrupted.

"I heard what happened." She said.

"What? Um, how much did you-" He began.

"Since thou slammed the door on the way out." She said. "Thou couldst never close a door quietly to save thy own life."

"Oh... I see." He said.

"I want to tell you that was a very kind thing thou did for Pinkamena, and for Chuck." She said. "That, that right there, that's the old stone that the Choosing Stone put me with." She smiled.

"Oh Cloudy..." He blushed slightly. "I love thou."

"I holdst a strong love for thou too, now come to bed." She said.

"Sounds perfect." He said as he closed the door behind him, but this time, quietly.

---

Hearthswarming Day

I slept great! A whole 45 minutes. Yep, a grand old 45 minutes after I shut my eyes to sleep, an excited blur of pink burst into my room and started jumping all over me, the blur I soon recognized to be Pinkie.

"ChuckieChuckiewakeupwakeupit'sHearthswarmingmorningcanyoubelieveitI'msosososososoexcited!" Pinkie said happily while bouncing up and down on me.

"No... Ow... No kidding." I yawned waking up as she jumped up and down on me, okay, I feel like my message of her jumping on me isn't clear, she was not jumping by me on the bed, no no, actually on me. I can testify to the fact, that four hooves were indeed jumping on my back, I've always been a stomach side sleeper.

"Wake up!" She said shaking me.

"I am awake!" I said moaning into my pillow. "I believe what you mean is get up."

"Whatever!" She said. "Just get up!"

"Babe. It's only..." I looked for an alarm clock that wasn't there. Force of habit. "Well I don't know what time it is but I'm pretty sure it's too early. What time is it?" I asked.

"Ummmm..." She said. "Well I just kinda woke up in my sleep and kinda assumed it was Hearthswarming Morning..."

"Well, your assumption is probably correct, I'll give you that. But nopony else is up yet, why not give it another couple hours?" I suggested rubbing my eyes.

"Awww..." She said sounding disappointed. I looked at her sympathetically.

"Or, if you don't want to go back to bed, you can stay here with me, as long as, y'know, no horsing around." I said.

"I don't care if there's no horsing around, monkeying around, or wallabying around, I'm taking you up on that offer!" She smiled hugging me. Lord only knows what wallabying around is.

"Let's try not to fall asleep." I suggested. "It seems like I haven't got much time to just talk with you recently." I said.

"It's been a crazy couple of days for sure!" She agreed. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke up again.

"Chuckie?" She asked.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"I know I've said this over and over again, but thank you." She said.

"Thanks for what?" I asked.

"Thanks for coming with me, to meet my family, I know this might seem silly to me, but a good relationship between you and my family was important to me." She said seriously.

"Oh, hon, that's not silly at all." I said. "Can you only imagine how difficult things might have gotten if we didn't establish this early on? I mean, picture this, our wedding reception, we're at a table, and all we're getting is a glare from them." I chuckled. "I mean wouldn't that be awkward?"

"Wedding reception?" She asked with wide eyes. Oh boy.

"Well, I mean..." I began. "Eventually speaking." I said collecting my thoughts.

"I'd wait a lifetime for that day." She smiled.

"But, you won't have to wait a lifetime... Just a little while, I don't wanna move along too fast." I said.

"I know. Take all the time you need Chuckie, I'll be here with you the whole time." She snuggled up against me.

"Damnit I love you." I said happily.

"I love you too Chuckie." She hugged me. "Chuck?" She asked, oh boy, she didn't call me Chuckie, here comes something serious.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"About what you said earlier... when you said I'd forget you in a heartbeat, did you really think that?" She asked.

"Why? I dunno..." I said. "It's just, I'm not really that special, I'm just a normal, ordinary colt who's got a couple jokes up his sleeve."

"Chuck... You're more than that." She said. "You're, well..."

"You're right, I am more than that, I'm also a loser." I smirked.

"You didn't let me finish." She said. "You just have this way of reminding me that even when I've had a bad day, when I'm in the grumpiest of moods that there's somepony out there who still loves me when I come home tired or sad, somepony who's gonna make me fell better when I've had a bad day, Chuckie, I love you so much, more than you can imagine!" She said.

"I dunno..." I grinned. "I have a pretty active imagination."

"More than you can imagine. I'm right, we're leavin' it at that." She said with a hoof against my muzzle.

"Fine." My muffled voice said.

"What about you?" She asked.

"Huh?"

"Would you forget about me? Like, if I was gone?" She asked.

"What? No!" I said. "No, no no no, Pinkie, listen. I haven't told you much about me before you, but I'll tell you this, he was was one miserable sonuva bitch." I told her. (sonuva: son of a rolled into one word.) "You know that 'grumpy me' act you did yesterday?" I asked. She nodded. "That was me all day every day pretty much... But then, then I met you! And your happiness and kindness, well it just became more infectious then the flu." I chuckled. "Pinkie Pie, you've done so damn much for me, I would never forget about you." I hugged her tightly. She hugged me back.

"I didn't know I really meant that much to you." She said.

"Are you kiddin'? You mean the world and more to me, literally, if I had the option to go back to my old world, and even have all the riches known to man, have everything I could take, I wouldn't take it. I'd rather be here, here and happy, with you." I said holding her close.

"Aw..." She said. "I'm so glad I found you."

"I like to imagine I found you." I said in a joking fashion.

"Let's settle, we found each other." She rebuttaled.

"Deal." I smiled.

"Regardless, glad we found each other." She hugged me.

"I'm glad too." I kissed her on the forehead. As we laid together in silence, I began to hum a little tune.

"What's that song?" Pinkie asked. "It sounded pretty."

"Oh it is, especially out of the mouth of Frank Sinatra, but instead, you're stuck hearing it from me." I chuckled as I began to sing.

Me: Have yourself a merry little Hearthswarming

Let your heart be light

From now on, all our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Hearthswarming

Make the yule-tide gay

From now on, our troubles will be miles away

Here were are as in olden days

Happy golden days of yore

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more

Through the years we all will be together

If the fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough

And have yourself a merry little Hearthswarming now

I finished the song and kissed her on the forehead. "You know?" I said. "You, you are the best gift I've ever received." Geez that was corny. She started laughing.

"Chuckie..." She managed to say between giggles. "You know I love you, but that is the corniest thing you've ever said." She chuckled.

"It's not the corniest..." I defended myself. "But I'll admit, it is up there." I said.

"You're lucky I love you." She said.

"No, you're lucky I love you." I smirked.

"No, you're lucky!" She said.

"How about this, we're both lucky." I suggested.

"Works for me." She said snuggling into me. I looked out the window and saw a sliver of shining gold peak up over the horizon.

"Pinkie, look!" I whispered. She turned and looked out the window. "The sun is rising."

"Ooooohhhh..." She said in awe at the beautiful sunrise. The quiet moment dashed off when she realized something.

"Y'know what this means!?" She said grabbing my face. "It's Hearthswarming morning! I've gotta wake everypony up!" She bounced up excitedly. "Love ya!" She said kissing me on the cheek before bolting out of the room. As I yawned and came to my senses standing up I could overhear her waking everypony else.

"LimestoneMarbleLimestoneMarblewakeupwakeupwakeupit'sHearthswarmingmorningcomeoncomeonwakeupwakeup!" She bolted out of their room. "MaPaMaPaMaPawakeupwakeupcomeonecomeonit'sHearthswarmingmrningcomeoncomeoncomeon!" I heard her say before bolting to Maud's room. "MaudMaudMaud-"

"I'm awake. I've been awake for hours, I'm ecstatic, can't you tell?" I heard her say. A chorus of yawning and mumbling arose from the other rooms as the Pie family home came to life after a night of slumber.

"Is it actually the morning of Hearthswarming?" Igneous asked Cloudy with a yawn as they left their room.

"Technically I suppose." She yawned.

"Good morning Igneous, good morning Cloudy." I said leaving the room.

"Good morning Chuck, surely thy slept well?" Igneous asked.

"Surely I did." I nodded. "And you?" I asked.

"I did actually." He nodded.

"I as well." Cloudy nodded with him.

"Glad to hear it, I assume you had the same alarm clock I did?" I asked with a smirk.

"The kind of which there is no 'snooze' button? Indeed." Igneous yawned.

"But hey, you say that like it's a bad thing, what's five more minutes of sleep on Hearthswarming huh?" I quipped.

"Possibly the best gift one could receive..." He muttered.

"Oh hush thine old bones Igneous, thy just need a little coffee." Cloudy told him as the three of us walked down the stairs.

"Make that thy plus me." I yawned.

"Aw isn't that cute! Our two grumpy old colts need some coffee!" Pinkie said popping in between us.

"Grumpy!?" Igneous blurted.

"Old!?" I added.

"Maybe not grumpy and old, but, cantankerous and not necessarily young!" She smiled.

"No no, I'm still pretty young hon." I said.

"Whatever! Let's get these old souls some coffee!" She said. Now I will admit, that I am an old soul while relatively young physically.

"Old soul work for you?" I asked Igneous.

"Indeed." He nodded. Before I knew it, Igneous and I were sitting at the kitchen table, slippers on our hooves, reading the paper, and sipping piping hot coffee. Good Lord I am a grumpy old colt.

"Oh, lookit this." I pointed at an article. "Stocks on RCK are up. However, ROK on the other hoof... yikes..." I said.

"Thy read the stocks?" He asked. "Thou art an older soul than I!" He laughed. Happy Hearthswarming to me, thanks Pa-in-Law.

"I'm only lookin' at the stocks cause you haven't flipped the page to the funnies yet." I said.

"Thy read the funnies?" He asked. "Thou art a perfect suit for Pinkamena indeed. Thou won't find them here, Pinkamnea hast already taken them, fight with her for them."

"Will do." I said getting up with my mug. "It's been a pleasure reading with you." I saluted him with a smirk.

"Likewise Buck." He said.

"It's Chuck." I said dryly.

"I know, it was merely a joke, surely I thought thy of all ponies would understand that." He smirked.

"You got me." I chuckled as I approached Pinkie Pie. "Hey hon, mind sharing those papers?" I asked.

"You're lucky!" She said. "I don't normally do this for anypony else." She said scooching over on the couch for me to read them with her.

"So here's the scoop, this one is really funny." She said pointing to one comic. "Now this one over here, they've done better but it's okay." She pointed to another. "This one, I don't really get." She pointed to the crossword puzzle.

"That's because it's a crossword hon." I said.

"Oh." She said. "Corkscrew is 1 across, Windigo 2 down, Puddinghead 3 across, Unicorn 5 down, aaaaaand Flagpole 4 down." She said. "Then we've got Hearth for 6 across, Pegasi 7 across, then there's got Earth for 7 down. I mean lookit these clues, '3 across, chancellor of the Earth Pony tribe during the very first Hearthswarming.' I mean how could it get any easier!" She said.

"I don't know!" I chuckled. Eventually Maud, Limestone, and Marble came down the stairs.

"Yay! The whole family is up and at it! Time for the Hearthswarming morning festivities!" Pinkie jumped up excitedly.

"You're back?" Limestone asked me noticing that I was back after storming out the night before.

"No, I died a slow and terrible death last night. Now I'm back to eternally haunt your family." I sneered. She looked at me in silence with squinted eyes.

"Nopony has spoken to me like that before." She sneered. "Not bad. You might not be half as terrible as I thought."

"Glad to know I'm tolerable." I said.

"Well I never said that." She replied.

"Alright you two!" Pinkie stopped us. "This can wait huh? Time for the festivities!" She beamed.

---

Flag raising

"And now, as is tradition, the raising of the flag." Cloudy announced as we gathered outside. The whole family applauded at the announcement. I turned and eyed Igneous.

"You goin' on up?" I asked. "You are the winner."

"Surely I am not. It was thy." He said with a leg outstretched.

"I appreciate that, but, we were a team, what say we do it together, huh?" I asked.

"If thy insists." He nodded with a smile.

"I sure do." I nodded, now let's raise a flag huh?" I asked.

"As thy would say, 'Sounds good.'" He said.

The flag raising went well, I mean, even when we placed the flag upon that infamous Holders Boulder, I could see Limestone refraining her urges to yell at us to get off, so I didn't doddle up there too long, well that's a lie, I did to a little interpretative dance, but seeing it would be so offensively horrible it would probably make your grandma cry. Lord knows when I started practicing it made mine do it. But that's besides the point. As we raised the flag, the rest of the family applauded and cheered, as is tradition I suppose. It felt nice, but it really felt nice that Igneous actually liked me. After that tradition was over and we had a small breakfast, rock compote, delicious. And now, the day long tradition, that was present searching. Now, I know what you're thinking: "How's Pinkie gonna find the present you got her in chapter 21?" Don't worry, I had a plan.

"Oh dang hon, I don't know if you're gonna find it..." I said as we walked around the farm land.

"Sure hope I do!" She said as we roamed. "Wanna give me a hint?" She asked.

"Fine, way you're currently going? Cold." I said.

"That way?" She asked.

"Also cold." I shook my head.

"East?" She asked.

"Nay."

"West?"

"Negatory."

"Weast?" She asked.

"Not a thing, and if it was, cold."

"Up? Down? Chuckie! Where is it?" She whined.

"Well..." I stroked the back of my neck. "Say, what's that in your mane?" I asked.

"Huh?" She asked. "Where?"

"Right... uh... Oh! There it is!" I said plucking a package from her mane. "Now how could that have gotten there?" I asked remarking the present I got her being hidden in her mane.

"How'd you hide it in there!?" She asked.

"Well..." I remembered.

The day before

"What's that?" She asked looking up at the mistletoe I pointed at when bringing up an Earth tradition.

"Well, back on Earth, it was customary that when two met under the mistletoe, they shared a kiss." I said.

"Well..." She said glancing up. "It would be rude to disrespect tradition, your world or not."

"Happy Hearthswarming." I said giving her a kiss.

"Merry Christmas." She smiled giving me a kiss back, and I kissed her, I snuck one leg with the gift by her as her eyes were close and gently slid it into her mane. The prefect crime.

Back in the present

"Oooooohhhhh!" She said.

"I figured you of all ponies would appreciate the spontaneousness, unpredictability, and over all craziness behind it." I smiled.

"You know me so well." She hugged me.

"I sure do." I grinned. "Aren't you gonna open it?" I asked.

"I was hoping you'd ask!" She said before furiously tearing up wrapping paper. When she opened the box she took out the card and opened it.

"With love to my favorite mare in the whole world, Happy Hearthsawrming Cutie Pie, here's to many more. Love, Chuck." Was what was written in it with a little sketch of me kissing her on the cheek. She blushed red when she read the card.

"Aw, I love you..." She said sweetly.

"Keep going." I pointed to the box. She looked in the box.

"Tissue paper?" She asked.

"It's in the tissue paper hon." I chuckled.

"Oh!" She said opening the tissue paper up. She gasped even more upon seeing the real gift. "Oh Celestia!" She gasped at the beautiful gemstone charm necklace.

"You like it?" I asked.

"It's... It's beautiful..." She said in awe at the gift.

"Saw it and I thought of you." I said happily.

"I love it!" She hugged me tightly

"I'm glad." I hugged her back. "Wanted to make sure I got the prefect gift for the perfect mare."

"I love you so much." She said into my shoulder.

"I love you too." I hugged her warmly.

"Speaking of which, I think there's something for you around here too..." She said.

"Care to offer me a hint?" I asked.

"Heads?" She asked.

"What?" I asked.

"Or?" She continued.

"I have no idea what you're doing." I said. "Heads.. Or... Heads or..." I turned my head. "Tails?" She nodded.

"Is it... In my... Tail?" I asked.

"Correct!" She smiled.

"How did you ever..." I began.

"Well, I don't often share these things, but...

Earlier that morning

"Pinkie Pie, you've done so damn much for me, I would never forget about you." I hugged her tightly. She hugged me back.

"I didn't know I really meant that much to you." She said.

"Are you kiddin'? You mean the world and more to me, literally, if I had the option to go back to my old world, and even have all the riches known to man, have everything I could take, I wouldn't take it. I'd rather be here, here and happy, with you." I said holding her close.

"Aw..." She said. "I'm so glad I found you." At that point, she carefully slipped the present into my large and fluffy tail.

The present

"Ahh, clever." I smiled.

"Come on! Open it!" She said seizing the box from my tail and giving it to me. I opened the box and pulled out a beautiful red and black plaid bathrobe with C embroidered on it.

"Wow!" I said. "I love it!"

"There's more, look inside it." She said, I opened up the robe and looked inside. Inside was a ceramic mug that had "Good morning? Yeah right!" printed on it. And taped to it was a card. I tore open the envelope and read the card.

"Thank you for making every day all the more fun, I love you more than you could ever know... Even when you're grumpy." I read. "Gee, thanks." I smirked before continuing. "You're the sunshine of my day and the comfort of my night. Long story short, I love you! -Pinkie Pie." I blushed and a silly grin spread across my face. "I love you so much." I hugged her. "Thank you Cutie Pie."

"Glad you like it!" She smiled. "The mug especially made me think of you, mostly because..." She began.

"Yeah yeah I get it, I get grumpy sometimes." I said dryly.

"Yeah!" She chuckled. "But I still love you anyway." She noogied my head.

"And I still love you, even when I'm grumpy." I said giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"What did I ever do to deserve you?" She asked.

"Something terrible, because capital punishment is a better reward than I am." I said dryly.

"Oh hush." She said. "Don't ruin the moment." I'm glad she finally called me out on that, because I have a tendency to do that.

---

That evening

After a long and tearful (on some accounts, not me though, no matter what Pinkie might tell you) goodbye to the family, Pinkie and I were on our way back home. It was pretty late at this point and the train was peacefully quiet, the train traffic from the Rock Farm to just about anywhere is often, well, nil. It was only the two of us on the train once again. The privacy was nice, not that we were taking advantage of that. Nope, it was just the two of us, enjoying each other's company for the evening.

"Okay I've got one." I said. "Would you rather have two tongues or an extra leg?"

"Hmmm..." She thought. "I'll take the second tongue."

"Why?" I asked.

"Uh, duh! Double the flavor on cake and ice cream, pies, eclairs, the list goes on but you get the picture." She explained.

"Good point." I nodded. "Your turn."

"Hmmm... Would you rather go without coffee for the rest of your life, or go without ice cream?" She asked.

"Oh that's an easy one, ice cream. I don't get migraines from going without ice cream" I explained.

"Ah." She nodded. "Your turn!" She said.

"Here's a good one." I said. "Would you rather listen to Quibble rant and rave about a book for all eternity? Or have to live with me being eternally grumpy?" I asked.

"That's a toughy..." She said. "I'll definitely take you."

"I'm flattered." I said.

"Because with you," She began. "Normally if I give you a kiss it quiets you down." She winked.

"That is normally the case." I nodded. "Your turn."

"Here's a tough one." She said. "Would you rather I wake you up in the middle of the night every night, or only drink decaf?" She asked.

"Easy." I said. "Have you wake me up in the middle of the night for sure." I decided. "That way, I get even more time to spend with you." I said.

"You always know the right thing to say." She smiled.

"I'm good like that." I said. "I've got another game. Ask me 20 questions to see what I'm thinking about."

"Is it a vegetable?" She asked.

"Nope." I shook my head.

"Animal?" She asked.

"Technically yes." I nodded.

"A wanted creature?" She asked.

"Most definitely." I nodded.

"Is it something specific?" She asked.

"It is somepony specific." I nodded.

"Is it that stallion who buys drinks every night and always pays his tab?" She asked.

"The perfect customer." I said. "But alas, no."

"How do you feel about the pony?" She asked.

"That's not a fair question." I said.

"All is fair in love and war. And in these games." She said.

"That is not true." I said. "But fine, I''ll answer anyway, I do have a fondness for this pony."

"Is this somepony cute?" She asked. Okay, she's figured it out and now she's stringing me along.

"Yes." I nodded.

"Somepony who you love very very much?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Somepony who obviously knows the answer?" She asked.

"Yes." I said dryly.

"Oh I don't know, is it..." She pretended to think about it. "Me?"

"And give the mare a prize, we have a winner!" I said like a gameshow host.

"Yay! What do I win?" She asked.

"Let me tell you what you won, pretty mare..." I began in the same voice as before. "You've won the love of a stallion who does not offer all that much for looks and says the corniest things in the world but most definitely will cherish you forever and ever!" I announced. "Or, a check for a hundred thousand bits! What's it gonna be? Coltfriend? Or bits?" I asked holding up an invisible microphone and humming the jeopardy theme.

"Hmmm, I dunno... I could finally buy that Jacuzzi I wanted..." She thought. "I'll take the coltfriend."

"Good answer." I said giving her a kiss.

"Happy Hearthswarming Cutie Pie." I said to her warmly.

"Happy Hearthswarming Chuckie, here's to a million more." She kissed my cheek.

"Here here." I nodded kissing her cheek.

Yep, it was a happy Hearthswarming indeed.

---

What a conclusion! Hope you all liked it! I had a great time with this chapter, can't wait to keep writing for you guys! I hope you all have a great holiday season!

Songs Used

"Happy Sad" by: Andrew Lippa

"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by: Crash Test Dummies

"Kiss me, I'm Shitfaced" by: The Dropkick Murphys

"Oh Shenandoah" by: Nobody really knows.

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas" by: Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane