"SURPRISE!!!"

The words echo through Doug's head as he staggers to the floor, dropping the two bags he was carrying. His ears ring and his vision blurs from the firecracker that went off next to his head. He shakily rises back to his feet, leaving the bags on the floor and placing a hand on the wall to steady himself. He rubs his eyes, barely able to make out the decorations covering the transformed farmhouse.

Pinkie Pie pronks up to Doug, saying something towards him but the ringing in his ears prevents anything intelligible from being heard. At his louder than necessary, "What?" Pinkie hops closer.

The pink earth pony shouts into his ear, "Are you enjoying the party? I hope you're enjoying the party but we haven't started dancing yet but if you really really want to then we can start early!"

Doug massages his ear, barely able to make her out. He replies loudly, "No, Pinkie, that's okay. The party looks great, you must have gone all out!"

Pinkie Pie happily pronks about, her smile widening, "Yup! I'm glad you're enjoying it, I spared no expense! Ooh, have you seen the food yet? It's over this way!" She begins pronking towards the dining room as Doug is able to take a look around.

Fortunately the explosion merely woke the foals from their nap. The three are happily tolerating the procession of ponies there to see them - it looks like half the town has crammed themselves into the farmhouse. There are streamers decorating the ceiling and balloons draped along the windows. All of the decorations seem to be in one of three themes: there are apple shaped ones, rainbow colored ones, and more elegantly arranged purple ones.

Doug pushes away from the wall and briefly stumbles before making his way to the dining room. Fortunately the ponies are aware enough to get out of his way, many offering a muffled, "Congratulations!" as he walks by. Doug returns a smile and wave to each of them; while most wave back none are so bold as to reach out their hoof.

Doug enters the dining room, finding the table laden with sweets, cakes, and muffins in the same variety of themes as the decorations. He takes a rainbow muffin, a purple cake, and what he assumes to be orange chocolate before returning to the party, finding a chair, and sitting down.

Meanwhile, the mares of Herd Apple are busy introducing their newest members to the ponies of Ponyville. For about the thirtieth time, Applejack finds herself repeating, "Yes, this is my filly Apple Bloom. Yes, Doug is the sire. No, Ah'm sure. Yes, it's the same with Rarity and Rainbow Dash, you are free to ask them if you want the same answers." She shakes her head as Carrot Top moves on to talk to Rarity and Rainbow Dash, the smile on Applejack's muzzle becoming slightly more forced.

Seeing no more ponies waiting to introduce themselves to Apple Bloom she directs the fascinated filly to Doug before heading into the kitchen. Applejack glances over the table where Pinkie Pie set the spare sweets and opens the fridge. She grabs a container of apple cider, popping the cap off with her hoof. She drinks deeply, sighing as the slightly alcoholic beverage singes her throat.

An all-too familiar voice pipes up next to her, "Hey, I don't suppose you have a second one of those in there? I could go for a drink myself, it's been far too long." Rainbow is standing there, Scootaloo nowhere to be seen, a hopeful look on her muzzle. Applejack can see the look disguising the tiredness she knows Rainbow feels. The mare has had trouble sleeping the past two days, often kicking out in her nightmares.

Rainbow Dash takes the unopened bottle Applejack holds out to her, her smile finally starting to show some real light. She pops the cap off and takes a sip, her grin widening. When she tilts the bottle and starts chugging Applejack lightly taps her on the shoulder and shakes her head. Rainbow exaggerates a frown at her lead, before taking another sip. The smile returns to her muzzle as she grabs a second bottle for herself and sits down at the table.

Applejack finishes her bottle, setting the empty on the counter. She moves back to the main party area, spotting Apple Bloom and Scootaloo happily playing near Doug. A hoofful of mares are engaging the foals, though Applejack notes the mares have formed a semi-circle, each trying to stay as close to the foals while as far away from the human. Applejack forces a smile again, tired of having to deal with the mares' insecurities, and moves between the foals and Doug. She gives him a grin and turns back, encouraging her foals to play with the mares. The foals happily bound over, nuzzling the group in greeting while babbling away.

Rarity, meanwhile, has been in her element. She had been expecting some sort of Apple shindig at the house and is pleasantly surprised with how Pinkie's party is turning out. The mares so far are encouraging to talk to. She recalls how worried she has been about the outcome of herding with Doug and having Sweetie Belle and hopes this party helps convey that Doug isn't as monstrous as some of the ponies make him out to be.

A lull in the conversation allows Rarity a chance to wander around the room. She spots Applejack and Doug sitting in the corner while Rainbow is nowhere to be seen. A smile creeps over her muzzle; that is probably for the best. Anything that keeps the brash pegasus out of the way, especially with how she is feeling. Fluttershy is engaging in conversation with a single mare, which is exactly her pace. The decorations are still in place, the food seems to be going over well, now all she needs to do is avoid any unexpected surprises and she will be able to retire to her Boutique in peace.

Rarity freezes; she has just tempted Murpony! She gives a hurried look around the room; everything still seems to be going smoothly. When she looks around for Pinkie Pie, though, she is unable to find the mare. She hears conversation coming from the kitchen and makes her way over, giving Doug and Applejack a worried look.

Applejack follows behind as the two mares make their way into the kitchen. They stop at the doorway, seeing Pinkie Pie trying to engage Rainbow Dash. The pegasus is staring at the bottle in front of her, trying to ignore the earth pony chattering away. The bottles scattered around her suggest that, while Rainbow Dash isn't past her limit, the mare is drawing close. Pinkie either hasn't noticed or is trying to cheer Rainbow up in spite of it.

"Come on, Rainbow! I want to see you SMILE!" Pinkie exclaims, pronking around the table, a smile plastered on her muzzle. "You know it always makes my day! What do I need to make YOUR day?"

Rainbow mutters, "Just leave me alone, Pinkie. Please?" Her voice becomes more strained as she looks away, trying to control herself.

"But, Rainbow, this is supposed to be a PARTY! We're supposed to be celebrating!"

Rainbow sighs, "Pinkie."

Pinkie continues in a cheerful tone, "And you know why we are supposed to be partying?"

Rainbow deadpans, "Pinkie."

"It's the birth of your foals, silly! I know you knew the answer to that one, since you were there!"

Rainbow scowls, "Pinkie."

Pinkie pronks back and forth, "And just think of the things you can do together!"

Rainbow says in a loud voice, "PINKIE!"

Pinkie does a few cartwheels around the room, not acknowledging Rainbow, "Like flying together! And when Scootaloo joins you on the weather team!"

Rainbow turns on Pinkie, flying above her and shouting,"Don't you get it, Pinkie? There isn't going to be a future like that!" Rainbow counts with her hooves, "The foals have no magic! They aren't going to be able to fly, they won't join me on the weather team, and they never will!" She points a hoof at Pinkie, "If you bothered to stop talking somepony might have told you! But no! You have to keep on trying to cheer everypony up! Well, look how bucking well that worked!"

Pinkie Pie's poofy mane deflates, laying straight and limp on her head. She quivers, slowly crumpling to the floor. Her hooves cover her head as she starts sobbing, her cries quickly growing louder as tears flow from her eyes, quickly forming waterfalls.

Rainbow glares around the room before throwing her hooves in the air, flying out of the kitchen and leaving the house through the front door.