Having cried out all her built up emotion, and bid her father farewell, Rainbow Dash set about her second important task of the day. One she looked forward to rather a lot. Her task to keep Pinkie Pie from finding out about the party that was being set up in her honour at Sweet Apple Acres on the coming evening. Spend the day with Pinkie, she thought to herself, walking towards the exit of the weather factory office complex, What could be better?

Despite her slight fatigue due to getting up early for the meeting, she decided not to take a nap. The position of Celestia's Sun was high over Equestria, showing that it was either noon, fairly close, or just after. Besides, since the apple trees at Sweet Apple Acres offered her prime afternoon nap position, it was off limits. Her friends would be there, and she had a task from those friends. One that she kept reminding herself was the best possible task.

In one swift motion, Rainbow Dash took off, heading towards the destination she had in mind; Sugarcube Corner.

***

On landing outside Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow Dash saw a familiar face. Or rather, an angry familiar face. Twilight Sparkle. The purple alicorn was levitating a stack of four large square boxes, each box getting a little smaller as the stack got higher.

"Rainbow Dash! You were meant to be keeping Pinkie Pie distracted. Where were you? Napping I've no doubt."

"Heh, sorry Twilight, I had to see my dad about..." No Rainbow Awesome Dash. It's Pinkie's business to tell, not yours, "...something important."

"Well it's a good job Pinkie is still asleep then. The Cakes said she would probably be awake any minute now."

"Sooo, you got yourself all upset about her finding out, and she's still asleep anyway?"

"Well, yes. This is an elaborate procedure, every pony must play their roles. Since it seemed quite urgent that you saw your father, it is understandable, and Pinkie Pie is asleep, so I guess there is no damage done. But may I ask what you needed to speak with your father about?"

Not my business to tell, "Urmmmm, just things...Look, I know I'm getting far to ahead of myself here, but I love Pinkie Pie. I just wanted my dad to know before anything happens, if it's going to." Partly true...

"Oh," replied Twilight, "I'm sure everything will work out fine between you and Pinkie Pie. Maybe you just need a bit of time alone...to bond. How did your father take it?"

Rarity said we needed time alone to bond, now Twilight's saying it? Do they know? "It went ok, I'll tell you more later. Standing outside Pinkie Pie's home with boxes that clearly have cake in them isn't really your best bet for keeping this a secret from her."

Shock lit up Twilight's face. "You're right. I must get going, see you later Rainbow, about eight o'clock?"

"We will be there."

With that, Twilight trotted off to her destination, just as Rainbow Dash entered hers.

"Good morning, Rainbow Dash. Are you after Pinkie Pie?" Mr. Cake asked.

"Yeah," replied Rainbow Dash. "She around?"

Almost as if by coincidence, Pinkie Pie came walking down the stairs from the accommodation floor to the business floor. "Morning Mr Cake," she greeted her surrogate father. Upon a second glance, she noticed her friend, "Oh hey Dashie, what brings you by so early?"

"I came to see you. There are a few things I need to tell you. Are you working today?"

"No. Would you like to come upstairs with me?"

"Urmm...yeah sure."

With that, the two companions ascended towards Pinkie Pie's bedroom, entered the bedroom, and shut the door behind them.

"So Dashie, you ready to go to Rockopolis? I was looking at leaving this afternoon."

This afternoon? We can't leave this afternoon. The party, thought Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash just stood, starring into space, remaining silent.

Pinkie Pie's head dropped a bit, her still-flat mane covering her left eye. "You're having second thoughts aren't you?"

This snapped Rainbow Dash back to reality. "No. No. Not at all. It's just, I'm not ready yet. I haven't packed, and I need to get my shifts changed. I went to see my dad about it on my way here, but it needs to be cleared over a day period. Besides, have you told the girls yet?"

"No," replied Pinkie Pie, "haven't you?"

"Well I thought maybe you'd want to."

"I haven't seen anypony apart from you and Mr Cake up to yet. Though saying that, I'm sure I heard Twilight earlier. Pretty soon before you arrived. Did you see her?"

Rainbow Dash froze. Think of something quick, just...In fact, just improvise. "Yeah, she came by to see you, but Mr Cake said he thought you were asleep. Twilight said she was busy today, so she couldn't wait around. I could, but urrmm you were kinda awake after all." Please buy it.

"Ohh...Never mind, maybe she will drop by later on. And maybe we could tell her about the holiday."

"Honestly Pinkie, I'd feel more comfortable with you telling them. After all, it is your parents, and even though your taking me....You know, maybe I just consider it your holiday."

"Ohh don't be silly Dashie. I'm taking you, yes, but it's your holiday as much as mine. It's more of a home coming for me." Pinkie Pie then pouted slightly.

"What's wrong Pinkie?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Just something that's bothering me. It's nothing."

"It is something Pinkie Pie. Please speak to me about it."

"Just a few things. I want it to go super-well. I want my parents to get on with you, I want you to get on with my parents. I want my elder and younger sister to get on with you, and I want you to get on with my sisters. I may not yet love you in the way you love me, but I really want to. I guess the main thing I really want is for this to be a good bonding experience. Not one of those cliché ones the humans see where someone finds out they love someone else after that someone else was gone. I want it to be a happy bonding experience and I'm worried something will go wrong."

What the buck are humans?...Never mind... "Pinkie, I'm also worried about this. I just want to make you happy. I'm sure every pony will get on and all, and I know you already know, but I want it to work in that way as well."

"That's just it. What if it doesn't? Would we still be friends? Even if we were, I know the pain it causes. Even if I shouldn't really be thinking about that, I can't help it."

Rainbow Dash was now lost for words. There was, however, one question she could answer. "Pinkie Pie, we will always be friends. I love you. It doesn't always work like that. I mean, look at Spike with Rarity and Fluttershy. Sure it might have hurt him a little, but they're still good friends. Also, look at you and AJ now. You two are friends again. I know you have your doubts, I have mine too. But if there is one thing I'm sure of, it is that you and I will always be friends."

In an instant, Pinkie Pie's mood changed again. "So, which one of us is telling the girls huh?"

Author's Notes:

I always write some weird stuff here, but this time, I have an idea to credit. I'd like to thank randomsurprise for unintentionally giving me an idea I used. The idea that both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie thought it was the other's right to tell the rest of the mane six about the holiday came from a comment he/she (sorry I don't know) posted. So thankyou for that.

Also, the next chapter is going to be a party scene, which means lots of dialogue. I'm terrible for writing dialogue between large groups, so it may take a while to post, due to me wanting it to be all good and everything.