I was walking alongside Moonshine to a place where the party will be held. Since it was rather cold, I was wearing my pants and hoodie. I decided to bring nothing but fifty bits with me. What if we need to buy something? Money will come in handy. Besides, I don't want to be the star of the show — and with a guitar, I would be one without a doubt. Hey, I'm not bragging or anything, it's truth. Well, there are better guitar players, but it seems I'm the best among foals.

Anyway, I'm not taking any instruments with me. I don't feel like playing anyway. I just want to see how the party will go... I've never been to a child party before, actually. Well, not counting my birthdays, but those were pretty boring celebrations for a number of reasons I don't want to even remember.

Also, I'm leaving Molniya all alone tonight. I think she'll be fine: I made accessing food easy for her and cleaned the litter box. I will return tomorrow, and I'm sure Molniya will still be where I left her.

"So... where is it?" I asked Moonshine. I totally forgot to do it before.

"Not far." she replied. "Um, we need to buy snacks first... It's along the way."

Snacks? What kind of snacks? So far I haven't seen any chips... Yeah, this world has neither Lays nor Pringles, my favorite kind of chips. I could go with bacon-flavored... And actual bacon. Yeah, and I still haven't had anything meaty. I gotta ask Luna about it someday.

Alright, here's the store. It just states "Snacks". It makes sense, but why isn't there anything special about the store's name? It's so different from what I've seen on Earth.

We entered the shop, and—

Okay, they have some chips. Why haven't I seen any before? Let's see... Wait, what do we need to buy?

"What do we need?" I asked Moonshine.

"Um, some chips, hay fries, a few soda cans... That's all, I think." she replied.

Well, let's see what is to our taste... Also, I need hot sauce. Spicy stuff is good!

The first time I've tasted spicy stuff wasn't good, though... I remember it clear — I was eight years old. My parents were away and I was alone at home. I wanted something to eat, and I searched for the food in the fridge. I looked there and saw chili pepper. Well, I didn't know it was chili pepper then, I thought it was just very small ball pepper. I washed it, bit it, and... I felt like I've bitten off a chunk of hell itself. That sensation was... something I don't think I can describe with words. Well, imagine the hottest fire burning your mouth. What I felt was even worse. Uh... Anyway, since then I can tolerate anything spicy a lot more better. It is still spicy but I think my tongue was burned to the point when I could no longer tell something very spicy from just a little bit spicy. Yeah...

***

After buying everything we needed, we went to the party place. The shopkeeper gave us a paper saddlebag. Well, it seems they don't have polyethylene yet, seeing that all bags of chips are made from paper, too. Actually, that's rather ecological, as polyethylene bags rot for a few hundred years, which is a fucking lot. It can be recycled, but people tend to just throw the bag out if it becomes bad. Littering, this is one of those thing I hate the most. Seeing how the streets are clean, I assume ponies understand that littering is a very bad thing. Oh, I remember one town I've been to, and it had rubbish all over the streets. Ugh...

Alright, enough ranting. I shouldn't waste my mood by thinking about unnecessary things. Party's ahead, after all! Fun, games, that kind of stuff. Well, if my understanding of a party held by children is right. What kind of a child would want a calm tea party anyway?

So, a whole night of fun... That's a good thing, considering that there's a whole week of freedom from school. I can do all sorts of stuff during this! Well, if I find out what that stuff is first. I would just go gaming but there are no games to play... Ugh.

I've just noticed that we came to the outskirts of the city. Closer to the mountain and there are less and less buildings... Actually, there's something resembling a small forest. Kinda nice place to live in. Or maybe it's just a park? I haven't been to this part of the city before... Which reminds me, I should go out more often. I was, like, in one fifth of the city if not less. Yes, it's large, but I should be able to navigate through it no problem.

I'm definitely going to explore the city during this week. I better not forget it.

Alright, it seems we came to the place. It's a two-storey wooden house at the edge of the forest. It looks rather old but still not old enough to fall apart nor does it look abandoned. Though... the house looks like it wasn't build by a professional.
It kinda reminds me of Russian village log cabins called "izba". They look really... inviting. Like the owners are ready to welcome you with open arms and offer a stay for the night. Yeah, something like that.

"Um, this is where my friends and I meet sometimes." Moonshine explained to me while we walked up to the cabin. "This cabin was built by my grandparents for our family to have a nice day there from time to time. It's, um, barely used anymore... I haven't been there for a few months."

"It looks nice." I commented on the building. "So... we go in?"

"Uh-huh." she nodded, and then opened the door. It was dark on the inside. "We're first here... Um, can you help me with something?"

"Sure." I nodded.

"It's cold... Please, light a fire. There are, um, some logs... somewhere... toss them into the fireplace and, um, find the matches to light it up."

"On it." I replied, starting to search for the needed stuff. So, logs and matches. Finding those shouldn't be too hard.

Especially logs. They're just lying by the fireplace, which is near one of the walls. The fireplace is made of bricks and looks rather simple, by the way. It is also big enough for at least two ponies to lie on it. There's an actual bed on it... I don't remember how it's in English, but such contruction's name is "Russkaya pehch" in Russian. Yeah, this house is totally izba.

So, where might the matches be? Should be in those drawers I see near the window. Let's see...

...

No, not here. There are some plates, forks and spoons, even a couple of knives, a bag of some kind of herbs, and yet no matches. Okay, maybe it's in those boxes under the beds... Also, I hope the beds are comfortable. I'm not planning to sleep on the floor, after all. Well, if I get any sleep tonight at all.

So, the boxes... There are various building instruments such as hammers, saws, axes. Nothing that can help me light the fire.

By the way, to light one we need some paper first. Logs just don't burn right away, after all.

...

I see Moonshine unpacking the snacks and putting the paper bags into the fireplace. Well, that solves the problem.

I still need matches, though. Where the heck are they?

"Moonshine, I can't find the matches." I said. "Where do you store them anyway?"

"Um, you didn't find them in the places you've looked in?" she looked surprised. "Uh, stupid me!" she facehoofed. "I forgot that all matches were used!" her face turned red in embarrassment.

Hm, what if I can light the fire using my magic? Basically, it's energy, and energy is warmth. Enough energy will be able to set paper on fire. I still remember some physics from my school years, yay!

"Maybe I can help." I replied, walking to the fireplace. Focusing my energy, I directed it towards the paper. A few moments later it began to burn. "Here it is!"

"Um, thanks." Moonshine smiled at me. "I... I don't know what I'd do without you."

She could just go and buy some matches. Although, the words she's just said are nice.

"Everypony's coming in half an hour." she told me. "Can you help me with another few things, please?"

Well, why not. I'm looking forward to the party, after all. Helping her do the stuff will be a right thing to do.

***

After everything was set and done, the both of us just sat by the fire, waiting for Moonshine's friends to arrive. We were sitting in silence... Well, there was nothing we could talk about right now, I suppose.

...

Uh, that kind of awkward silence when you're sitting with your friend and have nothing to talk about. Yeah...

*knock knock*

It seems there's the first one. Moonshine went to open the door.

...

Her friend is a earth pony filly with white coat, long pink mane and tail, and azure eyes. She seems to be a bit older than Moonshine. As they saw each-other, they hugged happily.

"Moonshine! I've not seen you for months!" that filly said. "I was happy to know that there's a party!"

And I just stood there awkwardly, waiting to be introduced.

"Good to see you, Coral!" Moonshine replied, and the two fillies parted. Then, Coral noticed me. "Oh, and allow me to introduce my new friend — Flame Metal."

Coral walked to me, extended her hoof, smiling, and said, "Hi, Flame."

"Uh, hi." I bumped my hoof with hers. "Nice to meet you, um, Coral."

"Uh-huh." she nodded, then turned to Moonshine. "Azure Wave won't be here tonight, she got sick with feather flu."

"Oh, I so hoped she'd come..." Moonshine frowned. A few seconds later, she asked: "So, Cor, how's it going?"

"Okay, I guess..." Coral replied, and the two fillies sat on one of the beds. "I've taken a musical school, by the way."

"Oh, that's great! What're you playing?" Moonshine asked.

"I've not started yet, but I plan to learn how to play all sorts of stuff with keys... First, piano, and I will move forward towards the pipe organ. And y'know what inspired me? Have you been to the Nightmare Night yesterday in Canterlot Primary School?"

Oh, I think I know why Coral wants to play the organ.

"Uh-huh." Moonshine nodded.

"So, you know who won the costumes competition, right? I've seen and heard one of them playing the pipe organ, and it really inspired me to learn! It sounds so beautiful!"

Moonshine and I exchanged glances. And her mouth's corners were a little bit up. It seems she's happy to know that I inspired someone to start playing.

"I wanna meet him someday and find out how and where he learned this!" Coral said, and then suddenly stood up. "Uh, excuse me, gotta use the filly's room." she trotted out of the house and went somewhere... I guess the toilet's external. It's not going to work well in the winter.

Also, there's one thing I need to ask Moonshine.

"Should we tell her?" I asked.

"Um, I don't know..." Moonshine looked at the floor. "I... I don't want to be the center of attention..."

"But she's your friend." I said. "Why would you hide it from a friend?"

Even if I have some trust issues, I still don't think it's right to hide anything from you friends. They're friends for a reason, right?

"I... I just... Uh... She... she likes rumors and spreading them. I... I don't want this to get out of hoof and go like a wildfire. I... I don't know what to do."

Actually, now that I think of it, I don't know either. Well, if Coral likes spreading rumors, telling her that Moonshine's kinda famous will result in something not really good. But friends should be trusted, right?

"And what if you ask her not to spread it? Tell her it's a secret for the closest friends only." I suggested.

"...I think you're right." she nodded. "Cor's never revealed any of my secrets she knows. I trust her. Uh, thanks for encouraging, Flame." her cheeks reddened a little.

With whatever I do to help Moonshine, she's growing closer and closer to me. I... I honestly don't know how will I react if she suddenly tells me she loves me. Assuming she does, of course... I fucking hate assuming. It's rarely right, ugh... Why am I having such thoughts anyway? Stupid brain doesn't know what to do with itself, duh!

Fuck me and my stupid brain...

And Coral returned. Well...

"Cor," Moonshine addressed her friend. "Um, I want to tell you something."

"I'm listening." she sat near Moonshine and looked at her.

"Um, those winners... are us." Moonshine pointed at me and then herself. "And... another colt, and, um, he's not here right now..."

"You're the winner?" Coral's eyes widened. "That's great! Congratulations!" she hugged Moonshine. "Wow... The costumes you had were great!" she turned to me. "And was that you who played the organ?"

I nodded.

"Wow, you're so talented!" she smiled. "And I suppose you inspired me... Where did you learn to play this good?"

"Uh, Cor?" Moonshine said. "Can I ask you not to tell anypony this? It's, um, kinda secret."

"Of course I won't!" Coral replied. "I understand why you don't want others to know it... Well, congratulations anyway!"

"Thanks..."

"So, where did you learn it?" Coral asked me again.

What should I answer? Hm...

"Um, before I moved to Canterlot, I used to learn from one of my... neighbors." I replied. "Back at home with mom and dad, that is. Um, the neighbors were kind and trusted me with the organ... I can say I grew up with it. Um... That's kinda all."

"Can they teach me?"

"I don't think so." I shook my head. "They let me do that because I was their friends' son. Uh, I don't think they'll teach a stranger, sorry."

"Oh..." Coral frowned. "But... maybe you can teach me?" she asked.

"Mmmh, I don't think I can." I replied. I'm not a good teacher, after all. I still remember that failure I had when I tried to teach a filly how to play a guitar. Her name's Apple Bloom, if I remember correctly. So, nope, not going to teach. "I.... I won't be able to explain... stuff." I made a circling motion with my hoof. "Lots of stuff."

"Okay, but maybe you can tell me where to start?"

"From piano, and then you just go up." I answered. And, well, I think I'm at least partly right. A piano has keys and a few pedals that change the sound, the pipe organ has a few rows of keys and a row of pedal... The size is the difference. Meh, I'm not into the technical part of, uh, any istrument. Well, I know basics, but I mostly just know how to play.

"Thanks for the advice, then!" Coral smiled. "I hope I'll be as good as you someday!"

So much for not being a star of attention... Fuck.

*knock knock*

And another one!

...

It's a unicorn filly with light brown fur, black mane, and brown eyes. There are also... freckles? And I think she's at least thirteen.

"Hi, Moonshine!" that filly said, hugging the party holder. "So great seeing you again!"

"Great seeing you, too, Choc!" Moonshine replied with a smile. "Cor's already here, and we've a new friend!" she turned me. "Chocolate Chips, meet Flame Metal."

Chocolate... Chips? Ponies, your names are ridiculous. Way too ridiculous.

"Hi!" Chocolate walked to me, and suddenly hugged me. Um, is that her way of getting to know ponies? "It's great having a new friend! Moonshine's talked about you a lot, and I just couldn't wait to meet you! From her words, you're a great person!"

Actually, I'm not surprised by the fact Moonshine talked about me. She, on the other hand, didn't want that information to meet my ears, seeing how her cheeks became red as a tomato.

"Also," Coral said. "Moonshine was the winner of yesterday's competition!"

"Is it so?" Chocolate parted from me and turned to Moonshine. "Then it's great! Congrats, Moonshine!"

"Um, thanks..."

"Oh, I forgot to mention, my sister won't be here. She's at Manehattan with my pa — she's getting, uh, "additional education", I think. Well, that's what pa said to me last time I saw him."

"So, it's just four of us tonight." Moonshine said. "Okay, let's play something! As a tradition, we all start with hide-n-seek." it seems that statement was addressed to me. "So, who'll be it?"

"Flame can be one. He doesn't yet know the secret places!" Coral giggled.

"Yes, Flame, please!" Chocolate added.

"It's fine, I suppose..." I replied.

"Okay, now close your eyes and count to sixty!" Moonshine told me.

I closed my eyes, sat, and put my front hooves to cover my eyes, and started counting.

"Count aloud!" I heard my friend saying.

Okay....

***

"...Sixty!" I stated and opened my eyes. "Ready or not, I'm coming for you!"

Well, time to search for these fillies. Where are they hiding? I haven't played hide-n-seek for a long while, and now I need to remember how to search for small children.

Oh, wait, there's a note right in front of me. Is it a clue?

Let's see...

No magic

Alright, I suppose that's fair. I think there are tracking spells, and they would destroy everything about the game, making it absolutely not interesting. Yeah, I get the point.

So... I'm on the first floor of the house. There are various places the fillies might be hiding at: a wardrobe that stands near the exit, behind the curtains, under the bed, on the fireplace... That must be everything.

A wardrobe... Let's see inside that thing. Alright, I open it, and... there's nopony inside. I guess this pretty obvious choice of hiding place isn't considered a hiding place. That's logical, I suppose...

I don't think there's anyone behind the curtains as I don't see any silhouettes that would be seen. Better check that anyway.

...

Nope, not there either.

What about that sleeping place on the fireplace? Let's see there.

I climbed atop the fireplace, and saw no one. Yet I think I can hear breathing... Hm, it seems the fireplace and the wall has some space between them. Could it be?..

...

"Oh!" Coral gasped as I saw her. She was in a very small place between the fireplace and the wall, out of anyone's sight. Actually, that is a good place, considering that no one will look there.

"Gotcha!" I grinned.

"Yeah." she chuckled, and then tried to get up. "Um... I'm stuck. Can you help me?"

Helping her out by levitating her up and setting her down on the floor, I got her out of that narrow space.

She sneezed, and then said: "Ugh, it's dusty in there... Anyway, go find others." she smiled at me. "I'll just—" she looked at her dust-stained fur "take care of my coat."

Alright, where others might be hiding? I've not checked under the beds yet. Let's see...

...

Spiders, dust, some dry pieces of food... Nothing unusual. And no ponies either.

I haven't played hide-n-seek for years, and it is so refreshing to be able to play it again. I'm small again and can fit in various places, and people won't call me an idiot for that. Huh, that's a plus of being a child. No one's gonna blame me for the dumb stuff I do!

Anyway, there are no more ponies on the first floor. I should go up and look there.

Here's a ladder that leads to a hatch. Why would ponies build a vertical ladder? It's kinda hard to get up without fingers.

...

Oh my, there's a lot of stuff here! Many wooden planks, some boxes, a few bunk beds, sturdy-looking tables, some cloths hanging from the wooden beams... Hoo-wee, that's a messy place! No wonder the two fillies decided to hide here.

And I already see one of them. Shamefully, somepony forgot to hide their tail which is sticking out of one of the boxes. Let's see who's there...

Aha, here she is! Moonshine!

"Gotcha!" I said, my sudden appearance making her gasp.

"Oh, you scared me!" she chuckled, getting out of the box. "Oh, I forgot how dusty it's here..." she shook her body, getting a lot of dust in the air.

"Aaah..." oh fuck no. "CHOO!" I sneezed, and heard a muffled bump from downstairs. What the heck was that?

"Un, sorry..." Moonshine said, and then sneezed much quieter. "Um, you have one more to find."

I gotta check that sound. Maybe I missed something on the first floor?

...

After getting downstairs, I looked around. There was an armchair in front of the fireplace, and it seems it's in different position than before. What moved it?

Let's see... There can be no one inside the armchair, there's not enough place. Underneath it? There's too little space for even a kitten.

Huh, strange... it seems there's a hatch. Why would anyone need a hatch there? There's a basement? Maybe a storage of some kind... Anyway, Chocolate Chips is there.

...

Really, who decided it was a good idea to give ponies such names?

...

Anyway, I still need to find that filly. I carefully opened the hatch and looked under it — and here she is!

"Gotcha!" I said with a smile.

"Your sneeze made me jump and hit my head!" Chocolate rubbed the back of her head. "Oww... You wouldn't have found me if not that!"

"Still found you." I replied, opening the hatch wider for the filly to get out of there.

Well, this was fun.

"Coral, now you're it!" Moonshine said.

Oh, we are doing another round. That's actually great! Where will I hide?

"Okay." Coral said, sat, and closed her eyes. "One..."

Crap, where will I hide? Certainly not on the first floor, that place is too open. I need something more private... Like the second floor which is messy as hell.

"Five..."

Better get going.

***

As I got up to the second floor, I started looking around. Chocolate was with me and was searching for a hiding place, too.

Well... I'm not going to hide in the boxes nor in the wardrobe. Those places are obvious for the seeker to see first. Instead, I need something more reliable...

I see that there are wooden beams above my head. And there are some planks that connect them, and a few mattresses are lying there. That will be a comfortable and secure place. The thing is, I need to get there first.

The easiest way would be to just fly up. I cannot do that, obviously. Instead, I have to climb. Ugh...

Alright, here I go. Putting a hoof here, another there, pull myself up... I'm trying hard not to fall. Ugh, it would be so much easier if I had fingers.

Actually... what if I use magic to create fingers on my hooves? Would that work?

...

It works, great! Now I look weird. I don't care, now the climbing is much easier as I can hold on to the beams more securely.

And... ugh, mm... Here I am! Now I just need to get comfortable and make sure no one sees anything suspicious. I won't let my tail nor my mane dangle from here.

Right, now I'm ready. Now I just lie here and wait until I'm found.

***

"Sixty!" I heard Coral yelling. "Ready or not, here I come!"

I'm ready. And Chocolate's ready, too. She's hidden in one of the boxes, and covered herself by a piece of fabric she found lying around. If I didn't know she was there I would think there's no one in that box.

So, the party's going rather well. It's not like those parties teenagers host. I've been to one of them and there was just excessive drinking, smoking pot, and, well, someone got lucky to get laid. Though, I left halfway through the party. Everyone's was drunk by that point and I just wasn't having much fun. I've never gone to such parties ever again. They are... not my thing.

This, however, is fun. Playing games, just being with friends who aren't there just because they need to drink... This is great! Though, the party hasn't properly started yet, I suppose. I just got acquainted with two fillies and we started playing hide-n-seek. I think there'll be more.

"Gotcha!" I heard Coral catching Moonshine downstairs. She's going to be it next round.

Here's she, getting up here. Better hide!

I just hope I don't give away my position. Every time I played the game I started to giggle when the it was around searching for me. I don't know what was so funny, maybe the fact that they couldn't find me brought me joy. So, nope, not gonna giggle now.

...

Coral hasn't looked up yet. She's just looked into the wardrobe. Now, she's searching under the tables... And in the boxes. She uncovered Chocolate.

"Gotcha!" Coral said.

"Aw, no!" Chocolate pouted, getting out of the box.

It's a good thing I've chosen this position I have — it is amazing at hiding me. Though, Coral now knows I'm the last one, and she's going to search hard for me. At least she's not looking up. She wouldn't notice me right away anyway.

***

"Flame, I give up, come out!" Coral said with disappointment in her voice after twenty minutes of searching.

Seeing that she wasn't watching in my direction, I silently jumped off from my spot. I landed behind her, and she turned around.

"Hey, where were you?" she asked.

"In my secret spot I've found." I replied. "I'm not going to show it." I grinned.

"Preserving good spots for yourself?" she smiled at me. "I doubt I'll find you next time we play."

"Alright, everypony!" Moonshine yelled from downstairs. "Come here!"

Hm, what will we four be doing? It's not like we're going to play video games or watch films. Anyway, it might be something interesting.