Pinkie Pie Rising

by PonyTom

First published 21st of March, 2013

Get a glimps into the past of Pinkie Pie, as she takes a journey that changes her life... FOREVEEEERRR!

Pinkie Pie's family has long lived in a community that has left itself stuck in the older ways of the world. In said community, however, everypony has a coming of age journey, a rite of passage, where they venture into Modern Equestria and are given the chance to decide for themselves who they want to be.

Venture into the past, to see how Pinkie met her friends, obtained her life, and became the Premier Party Pony of Ponyville!

Coming of Age

"Remember Pinkamena, this is your coming of age... everypony in our family has been through it, but it is something you must do on your own."

It was a warm and sunny day on the Rock Farm. The birds were chirping, the wind was blowing, and four ponies stood in waiting at the gate of the rock farm. An older stallion, whose coat was goldish brown, ember eyes, wearing a black hat, and his mane gray in color (sporting some mutton chops) gazed kindly, yet concernedly, upon his daughter.

"Your older sister went through this passage herself... bless her heart, she decided she preferred the modern world more than ours... as is her right... and now, it's your turn. Your turn to venture out into modern Equestria, to see the world our community shuns in favor of a simpler, less chaotic existence, less filled with temptation and carnage."

Pinkamena Diane Pie looked to her father and frowned a bit. "But papa, I-I-I don't know if... I don't know if I want to go... wh... what if something bad happens? I've heard so many stories about crime, a-a-and about witches, and... I'm scared..."

Father Pie smiled and wrapped his forelegs around his daughter. "Pinkamena, I know it's scary... but believe me, it's for the best." Releasing her, he looked her in the eyes, his smile never failing. "This is how the ponies of our community become adults. Believe me, if I could change it, you'd not leave... but..." He sighed a bit and shook his head. "But... as much as it pains me to say it... it is not my right to keep you here, to deny you your opportunity to see the world."

Pinkamena's mother stepped up and gave her daughter a hug as well. "Yes, Pinkamena. We've all been through it... all save your younger sister..." Pinkamena looked to her youngest sibling, who smiled at her nervously. Pinkamena knew what she was thinking; she feared her older sister would not return, just like their eldest sister hadn't. They both loved her, but she discovered the outside world offered more freedom than the life of their humble community did.

"Remember, Pinkamena, please come home... I don't want to lose another sister..." said Pinkamena's younger sibling. She was not much younger than Pinkamena, and would herself go through this passage in a year or two. Despite the fact she tried to ignore it, Pinkamena couldn't look past the sadness and fear in said sibling's eyes, so she gave the most comforting smile she could offer and leaned forward and gave her a hug.

"Oh sis, don't worry about me... I promise I'll be back home, okay?" said Pinkamena as she clutched her sister tight. The embrace broke, and the youngest Pie nodded. "I promise this won't be goodbye forever... I could never leave my baby sister behind..."

"P... promise...?"

Pinkamena Diane Pie smiled a bit. "I promise... just... promise me you'll look after ma and pa until I get home in return, okay?"

The younger Pie smiled. "I promise, Pinkamena..."

Pinkiamena giggled a bit and ruffled her younger sibling's hair. Just then, the sound of clopping caught everypony's attention to two stallions pulling a carriage. Pinkamena quickly gathered hugs from her family. "Alright everypony... I'm off on my adventure! Please don't forget me, and please remember I love you all!"

"Of course, Pinkamena..." said Father Pie.

"We'd never forget you, child." Said Mama Pie.

"Be sure to write us!" Said youngest sister Pie.

With that, Pinkamena climbed into the carriage, carrying a sack of the few things she had. She turned to wave once more to her family as the carriage began to move forward, pulled by two ponies with a job to do. Slowly, she watched as her family disappeared into the horizon. It was sad, really; she had never been so far from her family, and now she was going to experience a world without them? How could they expect this to be anything short of terrible!? Of course, maybe that was what the point was? To show ponies the value of family? With a soft, sorrowful sigh, she turned to the ponies pulling her carriage.

"So... where are we headed?"

One of the ponies pulling the carriage turned to face her. "Why, we're heading to Ponyville!"

*****************

Pinkamena could hardly believe her eyes as the carriage had pulled into town.

There were so many ponies! So many houses! There was so much hustle and bustle, there was life, there was energy... why, she had never seen so many ponies in one place at the same time! Sure, she had seen a lot of ponies come together to raise barns and crop fields, but never so many ponies just... moving around! She could see stalls, she could see benches, she could see all manners of social exchange that her humble home did not often employ itself.

It was scary.

"Well ma'am, do you know where you're headed?"

Pinkamena gasped and nodded, reaching into her bag and pulling out a note. "Yeah, uhhh... I'm looking for... this place." She handed the note to one of the carriage pulling ponies, who took it and squinted his eyes to read it. Maybe he needed glasses? Nah, Pinkamena would not pie. I mean pry.

"Hmm... according to this, you want to go...." He turned, and began to gaze about the town, searching until his eyes fell on a small house. "Ah! There it is!" The carriage pony pointed a hoof towards the little cottage not twenty feet from them. Pinkamena smiled a bit and nodded, grabbing her sack and jumping from the carriage.

"Thanks, mister! Have a nice day!" she said kindly. The stallion smiled and tipped the hat he wore on his head, and then the two took off.

Out of earshot, one of the two stallions looked at the other. "Do I feel like chopped liver..."

"Well, maybe ponies would talk to you more if you'd talk back?"

This would likely continue for a bit... but that's another story entirely.

Pinkamena trotted towards the small house that stood before her. She looked up at the imposing structure; it was no bigger than her own home, but somehow so much more intimidating. It seemed rather old, like it was receiving just the bare minimum of it's required maintenance, and she couldn't help but feel like there was... vibrations coming from it. Biting her lip, Pinkamena raised a hoof to the door and clutched her eyes shut and gently knocked it...

Nopony responded.

She blinked a few times and knocked again. Maybe she didn't knock loud enough?

Once more, nopony answered.

Pinkamena frowned and leaned her head against the door, pressing her ear against it. From inside, she could hear... music? Wait, that wasn't any kind of music she had heard before. It was... noise. It was strange, unusual noise that came together like music.

Suddenly, the door swung open and Pinkamena fell face first into the floor.

"Huh? Oh, hey! You must be Octi's lil' sis aint ya?"

Pinkamena rubbed her face and looked up to the sight before her. Standing above her was a white-coated mare, whose mane was electric blue, wearing a pair of glasses that obstructed the view of her eyes.

"Oh, uh,... Octi? You mean Octavia?"

The mare nodded. "Well yeah, who else would I mean?"

With that, the mare reached down and grabbed Pinkamena's hoof, pulling her up, who responded with a grateful smile. "Well, thank you, miss...."

"Oh, uh, just call me Vinyl! Enjoy it while you can, cause in a few years, everypony's only gonna know one name: DJ PON3, the greatest Disc Jockey in all of Equestra!"

Pinkamena quirked an eye brow. "Disc Jockey? What's a Disc Jockey? Do you ride discs? What's a disc!?"

Vinyl visibly quirked a brow of her own behind her shaded glasses. "What? ... Wow, Octi wasn't kidding, you girls really ARE separated from modern Equestria..."

Just then, Pinkamena let out a loud gasp before dropping to the floor, covering her head with her hooves and trembling. "D-DON'T PUT A CURSE ON ME OR EAT MY SOUL!"

Vinyl reeled a bit, looking around. "Wha-holy... what are you talkin' about, crazy lady!?"

Just then, the strange sounds that seemed to be filling the house stopped and the sound of hooves stomping on wood game from somewhere inside.

"Hold on! I'm here, Pinkamena!"

Pinkamena raised her head at the sound of a familiar voice. Suddenly, Vinyl was pushed aside by a grey hoof, and standing before her was none other than her eldest sister.

"O... Octavia...?"

Octavia smiled. "Pinkamena! You're here!"

Pinkamena was still trembling, fear obvious in her eyes. Octavia looked at her, confused a bit, then looked to Vinyl. Realization crossed her.

"Ohh... it's been so long I almost forgot..."

"Oh... yeah, me too..."

Octavia sighed. "Pinkamena, it's okay. Yes, Vinyl is a unicorn, but don't worry, the stories back home aren’t true..."

Pinkamena's pupils were pinpricks. "B-b-but Octavia, their accursed horns pierce the fabric of reality and pervert creation by casting hexes and spells and curses that shouldn't be! They're abominations!"

Vinyl smirked. "Nice to meet you too."

Octavia groaned. "Not now, Vinyl... this is serious..." the gray mare helped her sister up, holding her close. "You remember my reaction when I first met you, don't you? It would have gone so much easier if you hadn't been such a... a..."

Vinyl grinned. "Smart ass?"

"I was going to say ruffian, but that works too..." said Octavia, furrowing her brow. Pinkamena looked at her sister and at Vinyl. "... a... are you sure she didn't just brain wash you...?"

Octavia sighed. "Pinkamena, if I were brain washed, could I do this?" With that, she threw a hoof up and swatted Vinyl in the back of the head.

"OW! Hey! What was that for!?"

"For scaring my sister, for being rude, and for not doing the dishes! Last night was your turn, and you know it!"

"Psh, well, yeah, but once I get my new Dishwasher project finished, I'll make up for the difference! Even chores will be AWESOME!"

Pinkamena was still visibly nervous, though she had relaxed considerably. Octavia smiled. "Well, Pinkamena, allow me to show you to your room? Rather... our room..." Octavia lead Pinkamena into the house, and Vinyl shut the door behind them. Much to Pinkamena's surprise, the house seemed so very small, and visibly... bachelor?

There was a single couch with a table in front of it - the table itself littered in cans and having a pizza box on it. There were various bits of clothing scattered about, and a picture hanging from the wall of a mare in a rather sensual pose, lying over a couch. A strange table sat a short distance away, with various little knobs and buttons, and two discs on it - Pinkamena assumed this is whatever Vinyl Scratch must have rode on, which made her come to the assumption that a Disc Jockey was a mare of the evening. Next to it was a large... what did Octavia call it? Cello? Double Base? Pinkamena made a mental note to ask her later. It still surprised her that none of her sisters had discovered their cutie marks - it wasn't until Octavia actually left the farm that she found her own destiny.

Octavia led Pinkamena to a staircase, and up the stairs. A short distance later, they had passed a door that Octavia opened and showed Pinkamena into. The room was decorated with a single bed, a dresser, a closet, and on the walls, posters that seemed to be based on classical musicians. This room, in comparison with the rest of the house, was actually rather clean, with no clothing or cans on the floor... it was, perhaps, the single most well cared for part of the house she had seen thus far!

"This, dear sister, is my room. The humble little place I call mine!" said Octavia with no shortage of pride. "Since you are my guest, you will be sleeping in the bed. I've got a sleeping bag that I can sleep in on the floor, so think nothing of it!"

Pinkamena gasped. "What!? Octavia, you can't do that!"

Octavia waved her hoof. "It's no trouble, young sister. I've done it several times before."

The pinkest of the Sisters Pie quirked a curious brow. "What? Why?"

Octavia groaned. "Vinyl showed me the magic of hard cider... I'd really rather not talk about that story, if I can be so honest?"

Pinkamena gasped. "I knew it! She lulled you into sinfulness and evil! I'll grab the torch and--"

"NO PINKAMENA!" Octavia all but yelled. Putting her hoof to her mouth she reeled a bit. Sighing, and rubbing her forehead, Octavia continued. "No Pinkamena. She wasn't using actual magic. Truth be told, the cider was a product of a nearby Earth Pony farm, if I'm not mistaken..."

"Hey! I thought I heard something about torches! Are we burnin' somethin', Octi? Can I join?"

Octavia groaned once more in frustration. "Pinkamena, do me a few favors while you're here..." The older sister pulled her younger sister towards her. "Do not encourage Vinyl. Unicorns aren’t as bad as we've been led to believe, but Vinyl is... well, she likes to drink, she likes to cause destruction, and she likes to party--"

Just then, Pinkamena's eyes widened. "She likes to party...?"

Octavia nodded. "Yes, she-" just then, realization hit her. "Oh goodness no what have I done..."

Pinkamena hummed and tapped her hoof to her chin. "You mean... like the parties I threw for ma, pa, and you girls?"

Octavia bit her lip and looked around. "Uh, well, sort of, but, uh... she... likes to be noisy, and drink hard cider, and... and..."

Pinkamena shrugged. "Well... it doesn't sound like my kind of partying, but hey! I'm here to enjoy the world I won't get to enjoy when I go back home, right? If Vinyl likes to party, surely she can't be all bad, right?"

Octavia groaned. "No, but she's still the bane of my existence..."

Just then, Octavia turned around to see Vinyl levitating a lit match and a bottle of hard cider with a rag hanging out of it.

"... Are we still burning something?"

"Vinyl, you've already got charges of public drunkenness--"

"They were giving out samples..."

"-- Public disturbance --"

"Those noise laws are totally bogus and you know it!"

"-- Public intoxication from illegal substance --"

"I had a prescription for--okay, yeah, you got me there..."

"-- And, how you managed this in a town of ponies that never wears cloths I will never know, Indecent Exposure."

"Yeah, well, it takes greatness to break a law you didn't even know existed!"

"Do you REALLY want to throw arson and/or destruction of property on the list of growing reasons why you should probably be locked up for life?"

Vinyl didn't respond.

Oh dear heavens, she was actually thinking about it.

"Vinyl!"

"What? Oh, uh, sorry, no, yeah, you're right. I'll... uh... yeah."

Vinyl waved the match around, snuffing the fire out. She pulled the rag from the bottle of hard cider and took a large gulp of it before trotting off towards her room. "Hey! Mind if I turn the music back on?"

Octavia looked at Vinyl with death in her eyes. "I've been listening to that droll for three hours. If you turn it back on, I swear to you Vinyl, even Celestia will not be able to figure out what I've done to you."

Vinyl held her hooves up. "Whooooa, okay there, missy. Yeesh, no need to bite my head off..." With that, the unicorn mare trotted down the hall towards a door and stepped into the room, closing it behind her. Octavia let out a frustrated sigh and turned back to her sister.

"Yes, well, sorry about that Pinkamena. I'll give you some time to settle in... Later on, if you like, we can show you around town?"

Pinkamena nodded a little, still visibly nervous, but smiling. "I'd like that very much, Octi."

Octavia smiled a bit and hugged her sister tightly. The hug lingered before the two pulled apart. Octavia sighed as she remembered. "Also, so you know... if you hear strange noises coming from Vinyl's room... don't investigate..." Octavia gave a flat stare. "She's... adventurous sometimes..."

Pinkamena quirked a brow. "You mean she's a mare of the evening? That she rides tables?"

Octavia raised a hoof, but blinked. "... Wait... rides tables? What do you...." Octavia shook her head. "Ugh... no, I'll explain it to you some other time, Pinkamena."

------------------------------------------------
TO BE CONTINUED...

Pre-Pinkie Ponyville

"So... you... spin the records and it makes noises?"

Vinyl was nodding her head with a grin on her face as she stood across her own table from the pink pony. "Yup! But I don't JUST spin the records! I mix beats! I make noise! I make MUSIC!" She held a hoof in the air in triumph; a victory she awarded herself for her own proclamations.

"If you can call that earth cracking, mind numbing sound music."

Vinyl groaned and turned to face Octavia. "Hey, just because my music wasn't made two hundred years ago by some long dead pony doesn't make it any less music!" said the white unicorn mare, pointing at Octavia.

"No, what makes it any less music is that what you do is little more than remixing and vandalizing music made by somepony else."

Vinyl scowled at her friend.

"I'll have you know I do a LOT more than just 'mix music made by other ponies.' I can make my own sounds, with the push of buttons I can produce just about any noise I need, with the spin of a disc I can make that noise any pitch, give it rhythm..."

"All on borrowed sounds, by your own admittance."

Vinyl gritted her teeth. "It's using sounds made by an instrument! I'd think you'd be able to appreciate that!

Octavia laughed. "Please! At least my instrument requires musical knowledge; anypony can push buttons and turn discs!"

Vinyl growled and leaned over her own turntable. "Oh!? Well then why don't YOU try it, little miss superior?"

Octavia leaned over, shoving her face into Vinyl's. "I would NEVER befoul myself with your wretched, overly hyped piece of record destroying equipment!"

"GIRLS!"

The two ponies stopped and looked over to the pink pony standing a distance away. It was then Pinkamena realized that all eyes were on her, and she became a tad nervous. "Uh... I mean, I think both musics can be equally good, right? There's no reason somepony can't like BOTH of them? For their own special qualities? Can't we just agree to disagree?"

Octavia and Vinyl looked at each other, then back to Pinkamena, and said at the same time...

"No!"

Pinkamena shrank back as the two ponies continued to bicker and argue. The pink pony let out a defeated sigh and decided now was as good a time as any to explore town, so she turned and trotted towards the front door of the little cottage, opened it, and stepped out, being sure to gently close it behind her.

Once more, Pinkamena was face-to-face with Ponyville. She had, to be honest, hoped the next time she came out she would be in her sister's company, but she knew Octavia well enough to know that her sister would not stop arguing until either she got the point across (which, judging by the passion Vinyl obviously felt about her noise-making table, was not likely to happen anytime soon) or when her voice started to give out. If there was one thing she learned on the Rock Farm, it was that if you wanted to get something done, sometimes you had to take the initiative.

It was so much easier to do when you were farming rocks.

Pinkamena gulped nervously and began to trot down the street, ready to begin her adventure.

The sights were, by her own admittance, very interesting. Never had she seen so many ponies before! In fact... never had she seen so many none-earth ponies! It seemed for every earth pony she saw, she saw just as many unicorns and pegasai! There was a level of fear in her for this; her community had always regarded Unicorns as sinful, evil beings who corrupted and perverted reality with their wicked magic, changing things from their natural ways through unnatural means. The Pegasai were not quite as maligned, for they often proved helpful to the community (or at least those who grew crops and raised cattle) but still, she had never seen a pegasus up close before (it was rare any of the pegasai would turn their attention from cloud work to do anything beyond maybe talking with the community elder.)

As Pinkamena was on her merry way, she stopped when she felt her knee get pinchy, and her tail was twitching. "Wait... that... that's not a combo...."

Quickly, Pinkamena hopped to the side just in time to see a single cupcake fall from the sky and land on the floor.

"You hack! You couldn't make pastries if the perfect batch was sitting right in front of you and all you had to do was put on the icing!"

"If the perfect batch was right in front of me and I had no recollection of making it, I'd assume I made it in a drunken stupor before I assumed it came from YOUR crummy little shop of horrors, you bitch!"

Pinkamena's jaw dropped. Never before had she heard anypony fight like that! And why one of the ponies involved was referring to another pony as a breeding dog, she would never know... unless... can dogs bake? And talk for that matter? Curiosity lead the pink mare to turn her attention to realize that there were two ponies standing outside of two stores, arguing with each other.

One of them was a lanky stallion with yellow fur and an orange mane. From this distance, she could barely make out freckles on his face, and three pieces of cake on his flank. Across from him was a shorter, slightly pudgy blue mare with a spirally pink mane, her own flank adorned with three cupcakes.

"What!? I'll have you know my cupcakes and muffins are considered top-of-the-line! TOP! OF! THE! LINE! You halfwit!"

"Yeah!? Well I'll have YOU know that my cookies and my cakes have won competitions!"

"Mine too!"

"Only because mine weren’t there!"

The two ponies seemed ready to rip each other apart. Pinkamena couldn't help but notice a grey pegasus mare trotting out of one of the bakeries holding a box of muffins. Immediately, something that struck her as odd was the mare's eyes didn't seem to match up. Slowly, the mare poked at the other mare's flank.

"WHAT!?"

The blue mare's eyes softened and showed visible regret. "Oh! Oh, I'm so, SO sorry Derpy! I didn't mean to-- I mean, uh... what can I do for you?"

The other mare seemed a bit shaken, but she smiled. "Uh... I... I think I'd like to pay for my muffins now, Miss Cup?"

The so-called 'Cup' smiled. "Oh, sweety, please! It's on the house! Go ahead, take them with my blessing!"

Just then, the stallion leaned to the side. "Hey! I'll give you twice as many muffins with twice the quality! For free! I'll even throw in a cookie!"

Derpy bit her lip and galloped away. "Sorry! I don't want to be in the middle of this!"

The two watched her leave before turning on each other, the mare grinning. "See? She obviously likes MY muffins better!"

The stallion growled. "She only left because she didn't want YOU to flip your lid when she took my masterpieces! If you had been somewhere else, that filly of hers would be teething on muffins so delicious it can only be described as art! ART!"

The two continued to bicker, and Pinkamena decided she would not force herself to watch this monstrosity of a pastry battle anymore. Content to let those two crazy ponies fight out whatever little grudge match they had, she trotted forward, hoping to find something more pleasant. Just as she was turning a corner, however, she bumped into somepony and fell on her back.

"PLEASE DON'T HIT ME! I'M NOT FROM AROUND HERE!"

It took a few moments before Pinkamena realized she was the one who had screamed that sentence.

"What!? Hit ya!? Why in th' wide wide world would Ah do somethin' as rude as that?"

Pinkamena righted herself to see before her an orange coated mare. Her hair was blonde, hung in braids on either side of her head. Her face was adorned with freckles, her eyes emerald green, and she wore a red bandanna around her neck.

"Y'all alright? Sorry Ah bumped into ya, Ah wasn't payin' attention t' where Ah was goin'!"

Pinkamena sighed a breath of relief - FINALLY, somepony who wasn't fighting! She smiled a sincere smile (that she didn't notice was more like a massive grin) and nodded her head enthusiastically. "Oh yes, I'm fine! I've just been seeing a lot of ponies fighting and arguing, so it's good to see somepony being polite!"

The other pony quirked a brow. "Oh... you new in town or somethin'?"

Pinkamena nodded again. "Oh yes! I'm from a small community a short distance from here, we sell rocks and rock accessories, and I'm here on my coming of age rite of passage!"

The other pony smiled. "Oh! A rock farmer eh? Well, mah family owns a farm too! We sell apples n' apple accessories!"

"Yup?"

"Yup!"

"Eeyup."

The two ponies jumped around to see a stallion trotting up towards them. This stallion was perhaps the single largest specimen of male that Pinkamena had ever seen; his coat was apple red, his orange mane cut mid-length, he had a rather stoic expression on his face and a wheat stalk hung from his mouth. Around his neck hung a yoke that seemed to be rather worn, yet still quite sturdy.

"Oh sweet merciful geodes he's a biggun..." said Pinkamena.

The other mare quirked her brow. "What? Big McIntosh?" She grinned a bit. "Yeah, he's mah big brother! One'a th' biggest n' strongest ponies in Ponyville! Why, ya'd be hard pressed t' find a stallion quite as big OR as strong as Big Mac here! Right Big Mac?"

The stallion looked down at his sister. "Now Applejack, you remember what Granny told y'all about boastin'."

Applejack, as she was called, looked down at the ground. "Ah know, Ah know..." she turned her attention back to her brother. "But why not be proud? Y'all worked hard t' be th' stallion you are!"

Big McIntosh did not change his stoic expression. "Applejack, Ah do believe we've got some things to do for a certain family reunion? We've got durn near every relative within a hundred miles comin' here, an' Granny's been feelin' a mite down late, so Ah want it t' go over well, if that's alright with you?"

Applejack gasped. "Ah almost forgot!"

She turned about and shook Pinkamena's hoof. "Look, we'll catch up later if y'all like, but we got a schedule to keep up with! Don't be a stranger now, y'hear?"

With that, the two ponies continued their trot down the street. Pinkamena watched them until they turned a corner and disappeared.

"... F-Forgive me... for I think I am having impure thoughts..."

Quickly, she shook her head to clear her mind. There would be time to chastise herself for her hormones later. For now, she had a town to explore! So, onward she went, trotting back down the path she was headed before her impromptu fight with physics.

Once more, Pinkamena found herself just looking around, admiring the number of ponies and the general atmosphere. Somewhere in her head, she couldn't help but find herself thinking that town life was almost like a party in and of itself. Sure, there was no loud music, and no confetti, but ponies were enjoying each others' company still, talking, bartering, trading, exchanging laughs... it was all interrupted by the sound of her stomach growling. Pinkamena had realized that she hadn't eaten since breakfast, and it was almost late noon! Her new mission was clear; she needed to get a bite to eat!

"Oh sweet merciful Celestia, where is she!?"

Octavia and Vinyl Scratch were trotting side-by-side, looking around - Octavia a little more frantically so than Vinyl. "She's never been in Ponyville before! She doesn't know the town! What if she's lost!? What if she wandered out of town!? What if she--" Octavia's pupils shrank to pinpricks. "What if she wandered into the Everfree Forest!?"

Vinyl waved a hoof. "C'mon now, Octi. I doubt your sister is so scatterbrained that she'd wander into a spooky lookin' forest, right?"

Octavia grabbed Vinyl and pulled her very close. "Listen to me you hooligan! Pinkamena is NOT afraid of the dark! She's not afraid of scary trees! The only time she feels threatened is in the presence of clear and obvious danger! If she felt the need to explore, she would do so without a moment's hesitation!"

Vinyl's shades slid down, allowing her to stare Octavia in the eyes. "So... wait... she MIGHT be ditzy enough to go there?"

Octavia pushed Vinyl to the ground. "Of course she is! The only thing that kept her from leaving the community in the first place was knowing it would make daddy mad! But now she's on her rite of passage, and as far as she's been told, there IS no restrictions, no places she can't go! She doesn't know what half of the people of this town take for granted! Why, if somepony were to tell her they had food hidden in a dark and spooky alley, she'd go right with them none the wiser!"

"None the wiser of what?"

Both ponies leapt into each others' forelegs and turned to the source of their startling. Standing before them was none other than Pinkamena, a little dirtier than she was when she left.

"Pinkamena, what happened!?" shouted Octavia.

"Oh! Well, after you two were fighting about which was better between your classical music and Vinyl's table music, I decided I wasn't going to get anywhere with my town exploration waiting for you two, so I went on ahead on my own and saw a lot of ponies, and then I got a tail-a-twitcha-twitchin', so ducked before the cupcake hit my head, then I saw two ponies fighting each other, which explained why I felt a pinch-a-pinchin' in my knee, and then--"

"Pinkamena!" interrupted Octavia. "Please! Skip to the part where you tell us why you're so filthy!"

Pinkamena nodded. "Well, I got hungry after having impure thoughts about Big McIntosh and then I went to some kind of food place and ordered a big meal! I didn't even know you could have more than one dish! Well, anyway, after that they told me that I had to pay! Apparently you need bits to eat here, instead of trading services and stuff, so they had me wash dishes to make up the difference! I mean, if you say one thing and do the other, what's the point!? Well, anyway, I got REALLY messy cause I ate a lot of food and had to wash a lot of dishes to make up for it, and a lot of them were still pretty messy! I'm probably gonna need a bath when we get back home!"

Octavia had her hoof on her face since the statement about impure thoughts.

"Right... well... is everything okay Pinkamena? Nopony did anything did they? You didn't take any food from strangers or go into any dark alleys?"

Pinkamena shook her head. "Nope! I stuck to the streets until I smelled the delicious smell coming from that place!" She pointed a hoof towards a nearby cafe where a stallion was sticking his head out of the door. "And don't come back until ya have some money!"

Pinkamena shrugged. "Who knew?"

Octavia sighed a bit. "Well... I guess if you still feel like exploring, we can take you to a few more places? After all, it's the least I could do to make it up to you..."

Pinkamena gasped. "Really!? You'd do that for me!?"

Octavia smiled and nodded. "Of course, dear sister. Now, shall we away?"

Vinyl shrugged. "Should I tag along with you and Pinkie or you two wanna be alone and have some bonding time?"

Pinkamena quirked a brow. "Pinkie? Who's Pinkie?"

Vinyl looked towards Octavia with a concerned look on her face. "She's joking, right?"

Octavia rolled her eyes. "Pinkamena, she means you. She just took your name and shortened it... and then added the "ee" sound at the end because it's her way of 'endearing' ponies.

Pinkamena tapped a hoof to her chin. "Oh.... Pinkie! .... Pinkie Pie...." She stood upright. "Pinkie Pie!" She looked to Octavia. "Pinkie Pie!" A big grin spread across her face. "Pinkie Pie!" She burst into a fit of giggles and snorts. "I like it! It's so... so... me!"

This was met by mixed responses; Vinyl grinned triumphantly. "Pinkie Pie IS a pretty cool sounding name!"

Meanwhile, Octavia groaned and rubbed her forehead with her hoof. "Oh great, now she's taking ideas from Vinyl... these two will be the death of me yet..."

------------------------------------------------------
TO BE CONTINUED...

First Day Fun

In the horizon, the world was slowly brought to life as the sun slowly made its journey from behind the mounds and hills that formed the landscape. As its light shone down upon the world, animals began to exit their homes, creatures began to stir and awaken, while some more nocturnal beings returned to the shadows of their dens to catch a good day's rest.

As the rays of the sun fell upon Ponyville, beams snaked in between crevices of a shade that had been pulled over a window. These beams of light poured over a single eye that twitched and clenched in response as its owner grabbed a pillow and shoved it over her face.

"Ugh... stupid sun.... why Celestia... why?"

Octavia turned about in her sleeping bag towards the bed. It was just then she noticed it was empty.

"Rise and shine, sleepy head!"

Octavia groaned. "Pinkamena... I'm trying to sleep..."

Pinkie balked. "What!? At this hour!? Nopony is still asleep at this hour!"

Octavia huffed. "Maybe not back home... but here it's quite the opposite..."

Pinkie frowned. "Aww. I made breakfast and everything! Hay Bacon and Tofu Eggs!"

Octavia remained silent for several seconds. Truth be told, she didn't want to get up. She REALLY didn't want to get up. It had been years since she had to wake up at this hour, and it was only at this time that she began to realize how different she was from when she left her home; back then, she'd have been up forever ago, but now she cherished every extra hour of sleep she could grab.

Still, Pinkie had made breakfast. What kind of sister would she be to let that go to waste?

"Did you make some for Vinyl as well...?"

Pinkie nodded. "Yup! I wanna be a good guest, so I made food for everypony!"

Octavia couldn't help but grin. At least she wouldn't suffer alone, and if she knew Vinyl, her suffering would be far greater.

"Ugh... I have got the worst hangover..."

Octavia couldn't help but give a satisfied grin at hearing her roommate's words. "Well, Vinyl, seems your habits finally catch up with you?"

Vinyl groaned. "Stop talking so loud... I feel like my head's been stomped on by angry bison..."

Octavia took a sip of her tea. "Then drink something to hydrate yourself, Vinyl. It's a far cry better than hearing you complain about nature's way of telling you you've had too much alcohol."

Vinyl didn't respond verbally. She just reached a hoof forward and grabbed her cup of tea, taking a sip from it. Pinkie Pie trotted up to them and placed plates before each of them. "There you go, girls! Hay Bacon, Tofu Eggs, and just as a little something extra, some Prench Toast!"

Octavia felt her stomach growl at the sight of the food. Vinyl probably would be more enthusiastic once she was eating. "Oh my, this looks delicious, Pinkamena!"

Pinkie giggled. "Thanks! I had to borrow some bits from Vinyl's room because I didn't have any butter for the toast! I borrowed it from the neighbors and left the bits on their counter!"

Octavia's eyes widened as she processed what her sister had just informed her of. "Wait... you... you just waltzed into somepony's home... unannounced... and took something from them... without asking.....?" She had dearly hoped she had misheard something.

Pinkie nodded. "Yup! They had a thing on the floor in front of their house saying 'Welcome!', so I know it was okay! I mean, what pony would put that unless they wanted other ponies to feel welcome! And I learned from the cafe thing, so I gave them money! Everypony wins!"

Suddenly, reality hit Vinyl, and she shot up from her chair, hooves on the table. "Wait! You gave them my booze money!"

Pinkie nodded. "I didn't know there was different kinds of money, but sure, why not?" She stopped and gulped. "Is booze money as good as regular money?"

Vinyl's jaw fell. "There was... at least twenty bits... and you gave it to them for...."

Pinkie grinned. "One stick of butter!"

Vinyl did not respond immediately. Her brain was too busy piecing together many things, such as how many ponies would notice if Pinkie Pie mysteriously disappeared, and what she would need to hide the body. She was pretty certain she could convince Octavia she just went back home, but fooling the Pie family would be another matter entirely.

Octavia gulped, trying to keep herself calm in spite of the situation. "P-Pinkamena... we're going to eat this breakfast... we're going to enjoy it... and later... you are going to go next door and apologize to the neighbors and explain to them you're from the community outside of town, and that you have no idea that Welcome mats are not a constant reminder that it is okay to walk into the houses of ponies you don't know..."

Pinkie giggled. "Oh, it wasn't the next door neighbors, silly! It's some of the neighbors a little way from here in the bigger houses!"

Octavia felt herself go pale almost instantly as Vinyl growled. "And then you're gonna get my booze money back!"

Pinkie blinked. "What!? Who makes a pony feel welcomed when they don't want them to come into their homes?"

Octavia threw her hooves into the air. "Pinkamena Diane Pie! This is not back home where you can walk into any house so long as you have a reason to believe its okay! This isn't a place where ponies share everything they have without much in demand! This isn't a place where you can just take bits from others ponies' rooms without it being urgent! You're in Ponyville now! Ponies here have a system, a way of doing things far different than you're used to!"

Pinkie shrunk down a bit, ears flat against her head and tears welling in her eyes. Octavia tried - she really did - to stay mad, but the more she looked at her sad sister, the more she felt her stone heart soften.

"Uh... P... Pinkamena... look, it's not so bad... we'll just wait until everypony's awake, we'll talk to the neighbors and get everything sorted out, okay?" Pinkie looked up, a little hope playing into her features; something that made Octavia unable to help but smile. "Its okay sister, it was an honest mistake... mistakes happen..."

"Some mistakes leave others woefully absent of booze..." grumbled Vinyl.

Octavia didn't even look at her as she responded. "And some mistakes leave ponies with children they didn't expect."

Vinyl gasped. "I FORGOT TO TAKE THE PILL LAST NIGHT!" With that, she got up out of her chair and ran into the next room.

Pinkie sniffled a bit. "Pill? What pill? Is Vinyl sick?"

Octavia chuckled. "Nope. Just easy to mess with..."

Soon, Vinyl returned with a triumphant grin on her face. "No foals for me, thank you! Now, about that breakfast..."

Octavia, Pinkie, and Vinyl stood together in front of a door, looking up at the house in front of them. It was larger than their own home, and was a short distance away, set up with some nicer homes than their own little cottage. Pinkie looked to Octavia nervously, who gestured a hoof towards the door. The pink pony then turned her attention to Vinyl, who gave her a scowl that easily said 'where's mah money?' Pinkie gulped and gently knocked a hoof on the door.

There was a few seconds of silence before it gently opened.

Standing before her was a white unicorn mare, whose mane was purple and came down in a single, massive curl fashion. "Oh, hello, can I help you, darlings?"

Octavia nudged Pinkie. "Oh, uh... this morning, I entered your home without permission and took a stick of butter from you..."

At this, the mare seemed to quirk a brow.

"I-I-I wanted you to know that I'm from a little community a little ways from here a-a-and I didn't know this was improper... I hope you c-can forgive me?"

The unicorn hummed. "Well... hold a sec..." With that, she turned around and closed the door. A few seconds later she opened it, her expression more serious. "Did you at least wipe your hooves before you came in!?"

Pinkie blinked and looked down at her hooves. "Was I supposed to?"

Octavia grinned nervously. "Oh, it's okay, she bathed yesterday before she went to bed! Her hooves are no dirtier than the trot from our house to yours would have made them..."

The white-coated mare all but shrieked in response. "What BARBARISM is this!? You not only break into my house, but you do so with dirty hooves!?"

"What's all the commotion there, Rarity?"

The mare looked back into the house. "Nothing papa! Nothing at all, but apparently we're victims of three crimes; breaking and entering, grand theft butter, and improper guest mannerisms!"

The stallion pulled the door open. "Wait, somepony broke into our house?"

Octavia nodded. "My sister, Pinkamena, here came into your house early this morning. She's not from town, and thought your welcome mat was meant to literally welcome her into your home. She borrowed some butter and left a sum of bits as payment."

The stallion scratched his head under his hat, revealing that he wasn't a unicorn himself, rather an Earth pony. "Huh... so that's where all that money came from! I thought maybe the wife had left money lying around by accident!"

Vinyl looked at him pleadingly. "Please return my money to me? I need it to pay very important payments..." Octavia ignored the desire to remind Octavia that alcohol was not a need.

"Well, sure, though I hope ya don't mind if we take out some money for the cost of the butter, do ya?"

Vinyl was ready to say something when Octavia shoved a hoof in her mouth. "No! Not at all, that sounds perfectly reasonable, if you'd be so kind as to not involve the authorities?"

The stallion tapped his chin a few times then smiled. "Well hay, we all make mistakes! I'm sure this young mare won't do it again. Looks honest to me, so I don't see why we can't let this one slide."

"What!? Father, she broke into your house, took food from us, and did so with.... FILTHY hooves!"

The stallion smirked. "Come on now, Rarity, just look at her!" The stallion held his hoof out. Pinkie Pie was giving big, sad puppy dog eyes. "How can ya stare at that face and be angry? It's just so darn sad, doncha know?"

Rarity huffed. "Fine! Fine... just... fine!" She turned and trotted away. "I guess only ONE member of this family has any concern over common decency!"

The stallion chuckled. "Don't mind her. She's just gettin' antsy cause her dress makin' business isn't doin' as well as she'd hoped."

Octavia quirked a brow. "Wait... she makes dresses?"

The stallion nodded. "Oh my yes! Best dresses this side of Equestria! Canterlot quality, too! Thing is, not a lot of ponies know her, and while I do my part to help her get some work, there's only so much a hoofball champ can do to sell dresses! We don't quite connect with the canterlot elite crowd!" He chuckled a bit, shaking his head.

Vinyl gasped. "I knew you looked familiar! You're the hoofball player who retired from playing to become a coach after getting that leg injury!"

The stallion grinned. "Ah, sports fan I see?" He looked down at his leg. "Yeah, I'm still plenty tough, but some torn muscle is pretty hard to come back from, even with surgery. I can walk just fine but I can't run for jack!" He laughed a bit, shaking his head. "Just as well, I was thinking about retiring anyway. Wasn't right to keep endangering myself once my second daughter was born!"

Octavia nodded. "Say... your daughter... would she be willing to take a commission?"

With that, Rarity popped up in the door. "Commission!? For what!?"

Octavia smiled. "I'm trying to gain a seat in the Canterlot Orchestra, and I feel something that might work to my advantage is something to wear that fits their tastes... do you think you could produce such clothing?"

Rarity's expression notably beamed.

"Could I!? Why, I'd be insulted if you asked for anything less!"

Rarity grabbed the grey earth pony and yanked her into the house. "Follow me, we'll get you all sized and measured up! Oh this is going to put my dress making business on the map!"

The stallion blinked. ".... Wow... that was unexpected."

Vinyl nodded. "You're tellin' me..."

It fell silent. The three ponies stood there quietly.

"Well! This is cool and all, but I think Pinkie and I should be getting back home!"

The stallion nodded. "Oh! Sure! Now, y'all don't be strangers, ya hear?"

With that, Vinyl grabbed Pinkie's hoof and ran off, dragging the pink earth pony along for the ride.

"But wait! What about my sister!?"

"Hush! She's in the hooves of a celebrity child, if anything bad happens, we'll hear about it in a few hours!"

Octavia was trotting home, sighing about the way things had worked out. She had stood for an hour, posing and being measured by a mad mare, and had gotten no dress out of it (when she explained she didn't have much money to pay with that sort of put a damper on things) and, to add insult to injury, she knew that right now, Vinyl and Pinkie were somewhere. Alone. Doing who knows what.

"Oh please tell me Vinyl isn't telling Pinkie any of the embarrassing things she knows about me..." said the mare to herself under her breath. "Like... my feeble attempts at flirting when I first tried hard cider... or when I walked in on her a... 'companion' of hers and he invited me to join them.... and she didn't seem to dislike the idea..." She shuddered a bit, but quickly reminded herself she refused that offer, and that that was more something Vinyl would want to keep secret.

Then she remembered that this was Vinyl, and that she doesn't know what shame is. In the end, the only two ponies who'd possibly feel ashamed by that instance we herself and that stallion, assuming said stallion felt any shame himself.

Octavia pushed the door open, immediately greeted by the sounds that she dreaded most. Sounds that, over the past few years, she had grown to despise.

"... Wubs..."

The sounds of bass and treble filled the air as Vinyl Scratch (now in full on DJ PON3 mode) mixed and turned and pushed and twisted the various doodads on her table. Pinkie, meanwhile, was dancing rather clumsily but joyfully to the sounds, trying to dance as she felt the music made fitting; of course, this being Pinkie, her dance was no different than it would have been had she been listening to the Pony Pokey. Just then, Pinkie turned to Octavia and grinned, shouting over the noise.

"Oh hey Octi! Guess what? I love wubs!"

It was in this moment Octavia had realized she was crying. No longer was she with Pinkie and Vinyl; slowly, she was being forced to contend with TWO Vinyl Scratches.

Octavia grabbed the cord to Vinyl's table and yanked it from the wall, stopping all the noise.

"Whoa! Hey! What's the matter with you, Octi!? We was having fun!"

"Stop yelling!"

"What!?"

"I said stop yelling!"

"I can't hear you! I think the music blew my ear drums!"

Octavia groaned and grabbed a nearby chalkboard and a piece of chalk, writing on the green surface. She then holds it up.

'Stop Yelling"

"Oh! Who's yelling!?"

Octavia growled and shook her head, putting the chalkboard down. "Pinkamena, a word?"

Pinkie giggled. "Silly! That's not a bird! It's a chalkboard!"

Octavia simply grabbed Pinkie's hoof and dragged her into the next room. "Pinkamena Diane Pie! I know you like to party, and I'm really glad you and my roommate hit it off so well, but can you please, PLEASE not be so.... so... hectic!?"

Pinkie blinked. "But Octi, I'm just having fun!"

Octavia rubbed her forehead with her hooves. "Pinkie, look, I know you're having fun, but you have to be responsible!"

"But Octi, I'll only get to be so crazy for so long before I have to go back home! And when I do go back home, I'll never get to do this again! All I'll have to look forward to is the rock farm!"

Octavia sighed. "Pinkamena..."

The elder sister pondered in her head what she could respond with. She had a lot of potential responses, but none she felt would matter.

"Look... Pinkamena... just... try to ease up a little, please?"

Pinkie let out a soft, sad sigh of her own, one of relinquishment. "Alright, Octi... if you think I should I will..."

Octavia felt guilt run through her once more and, for not the first time today, let out a sigh. "... Pinkamena... I'm not trying to ruin your fun, I'm trying to protect you...." Octavia sat next to Pinkie and put a hoof over her shoulder. "... There are a lot of rules, a lot of... stigmas in society... and you don't want to have ponies looking at you like they do Vinyl..."

Pinkie tilted her head. "What? Why not? Vinyl seems pretty nice..."

"Well, yes, characteristically, she's a nice pony... at times..." Octavia looked about. "But she's hot-headed, stubborn, promiscuous, and she likes to party and drink..." She gave Pinkie a gentle hug. "I just don't want to see you fall into her bad habits..."

Surprisingly, Pinkamena pushed her away.

"Wait, are you saying you're worried I'll turn into a bad pony?"

Octavia shook her head. "What? No! No, Pinkamena! I'm just worried you'll take some bad habits that will make ponies form poor judgments without getting to know you!"

Pinkie let out a frustrated groan, resting her head on her hooves. "Ugh... Ponyville is such a confusing place! I have so much to learn..."

Octavia smiled a bit. It wasn't quite what she was hoping for, but it was a step in the right direction. "Well, that's alright, Pinkamena. That's why you're here, instead of commuting like I did. We want you to truly know what you're up against and to know what this world is like, so that you'll know if you want to stay out here or go back to the farm..."

Pinkie gasped. "What!? Are you nuts!? I couldn't NOT go back! The farm is my home, what kind of Pie would I be to never return home!?"

Octavia blinked in confusion. "... Surely you didn't think this was just to get all the crazy out of your system so you could be better prepared for life in that place..?"

Pinkie looked around, a mix of confusion and nervousness evident in her expression. "Well.... kinda?"

Octavia groaned a bit, putting her hooves to her temples to massage them. "Of course they would lead you to believe that... that is so like mother and father..." This visibly confused Pinkie. "Pinkamena, did they tell you that you had a choice? That you could stay out here?"

Pinkie shook her head. "No..."

Octavia felt a bit of anger. "Did they tell you that you'd have to come back?"

Pinkie shook her head once more. "No... but they kept talking to me like I would eventually come back..."

Octavia shook her head. "Of course... lying by omission... perfectly innocent in their eyes..." She turned to her sister. "Pinkie, the entire point of this thing is so that ponies can determine if they want to live the life they were born into. This is the point in everypony's life in that community where they decide if they want to stay in the community or if they want to go into the outside world..."

Pinkie seemed to be listening intently. This gave Octavia some hope.

"Sister... this is your life. You're here to find out which way is better for you... life on the rock farm, or life out in Equestria... You're not here to have some fun and then shed it off and go back to your old life. You're here to discover who you are, deep down inside."

Pinkie stared at her hooves. "... B... but they never said that... why wouldn't they tell me? They've never lied to us before..."

Octavia sighed. "Probably because they feared you wouldn't come back if you knew... I imagine they're still rather upset about me..." The elder sister looked aside, her expression becoming sad. "... I still remember how angry father was when I told him I wanted to leave... he hid it beneath his usual calm and politeness, but I could see the disappointment clear in his eyes..."

It fell quiet. Octavia looked to Pinkie once more. "Sister... please do me one more favor?"

Pinkie nodded. "Promise..."

Octavia took her sisters' hoof between her own and looked her in the eyes. "Whatever you do, sister... do NOT... and I repeat... do NOT let our family decide on if you want to stay here or go back... I don't care if you go back because you love them, but don't do it because you think they'd be disappointed if you didn't..."

Pinkie slowly let her view turn to the floor. Octavia hugged her sister once more. "You know what, sister? I think tomorrow, I would like to take you out for a girls' night. We'll have some fun, we'll see some sights, and who knows..." she pulled back and smiled. "Maybe we'll run into some cute colts?"

Pinkie rubbed her eyes, giggling a bit.

"WHOA! YEAH!"

The two ponies ran into the living room, with Vinyl standing triumphantly. "I just got a message from the club! They want me to DJ for them tomorrow night! You girls wanna come with?"

Octavia and Pinkie looked at each other. Octavia smiled a bit and looked to Vinyl. "I think that sounds great, Vinyl." Pinkie grinned a massive grin and almost squealed with joy, but she suppressed herself, lest she make her sister angry with more loud noises.

----------------------------------------------------
TO BE CONTINUED....

Sister Bonding Time

"And to your right is Carrot Cakes' Pastry Shop, as well as Miss Cup Cake's Cake Emporium!"

Pinkie oooed. "Oh! I think I saw those ponies fighting each other the other day! Are they related? Cause they have the same last name!"

Octavia shook her head. "I thought that very same thing, but apparently, the two aren’t related at all... they just both come from baking families." Octavia couldn't help but stare at the little shops. "They're both really good bakers... but they have so much bad blood between them that I think it sours their potential..."

Pinkie hummed a bit, staring at the shops as well. "Why do they hate each other so much?"

Octavia shrugged. "I've heard a lot of rumors. The most prevalent one seems to be that the two ponies simply started off as competitive rivals, but as time went on their rivalry turned into all out war."

Pinkie frowned a bit. "But why would they be rivals?"

Octavia shook her head. "Well... Pinkie, in Ponyville... and largely the rest of Equestria, really... there is only so much demand for one product. The fewer ponies selling that product, the more those who do stand to profit." The elder sister couldn't help but turn her attention to the little shops once more, imagining what their owners were doing. "When more than one pony sells a product, that demand is divided evenly between them, assuming of course that they are of equal quality and reputation..."

Pinkie seemed to be listening intently. Octavia was wondering if she really had to explain it more. "Uh... well, because two of them sell cupcakes, and because they're both really good bakers in their own right, neither one of them sells as much as they would be if the other wasn't there."

Pinkie hummed. "But is it so bad to split profits? I mean, I may not know about how money works as much as you do, but I can't see why ponies couldn't share?"

Octavia shook her head. "I don't think it's just the profits, to be honest. I think its one part profit, two parts pride... for every customer one shop gets, the others' owner feels it like stepping on a nail."

Pinkie shuddered at the feeling. "Ohh... I see..." The pink pony stared at the shops, tilting her head. "I just don't see why they couldn't be friends though. I mean, couldn't they sell a lot more and do a lot more if they worked together?"

Octavia sighed a bit, smiling at her sister's naiveté. "Oh Pinkamena... I'm afraid it doesn't work like that.... but it's the way it should be."

Pinkie shrugged a bit, turning to steal one last glance at the shop as they had passed it. "Maybe someday... doesn't hurt to hope!"

The two ponies continued on their trot. "And down that path, you'll see Sweet Apple Acres."

Pinkie looked down the path, her eyes widening at the sight before her. Apple trees as far as the eye could see! Why, Pinkie didn't think she had ever SEEN so many trees, let alone so many APPLE trees! Of course, she couldn't be entirely sure; she had never taken the time to count them, or find out if they were apple trees. It was then she wondered if it was fair for her to make this assumption without counting first?

Oh well, she could worry about that later.

"The Apple family lives there. They're the proprietors of all of Ponyville's apples and apple cider."

Pinkie nodded. "I see... is that the ponies who made the cider that taught you the magic of hard cider?"

Octavia scowled. "Yes... though I hardly hold it against them..." She looked behind them into what Pinkie assumed was the direction of their home. "More or less, I blame Vinyl for that, and for not telling me the difference between hard cider and normal cider."

Pinkie hummed. "Oh! Oh! Could I try hard cider?"

Octavia gasped. "Pinkie, what!? No! you're not old enough yet! I'm not technically old enough yet for another year! Vinyl is a few months younger than me, and can only get it because she has a fake ID!"

Pinkie's only response was to tilt her head in confusion. "Why do I have to be a certain age to drink hard cider?"

Octavia rubbed her temples. She could swear that somewhere in her head, she had a tumor with Pinkie's name on it. She had known her sister to always be curious, but it was not much of a problem before; now it seemed there was always another question.

Of course, she had to give Pinkie credit; she was adjusting far better to the outside than she herself did.

"Let's just say when you drink hard cider, you do things you wouldn't normally do, things you stop yourself from doing on a regular basis, either consciously or subconsciously..."

Pinkie hummed. "You mean like last night how you started moaning in your sleep and said something about something being so big and deep?"

Octavia shook her head. "No Pinkie, that's UNCONCIOUSLY, not--" She stopped herself as connections were made in her head, and her face turned a deep red. "... and I would appreciate if you never speak of that or anything like it again. If I say anything or do anything in my sleep, I would ask you to please please PLEASE wake me up, because I can be having a very very VERY bad nightmare."

Pinkie nodded. "Ohhh... was you dreaming somepony were hurting you? You was moving around a lot and seemed to be sweating a little, and you was moving your hind legs around like you were trying to run away from somepony on them and--"

"PINKAMENA!"

Pinkie stopped.

Octavia's face was a deeper red than the apples. "PLEASE. Please... never speak of this again. Ever. To anypony. Promise?"

Pinkie nodded. "Oh! Sure! I don't see why- OH! Because you're afraid ponies will think you're afraid of stuff?"

Octavia turned away from Pinkie. "Something like that. Now! Let's continue with our tour and forget we ever spoke of this!"

"But if I forget we spoke of it, how will I know that I'm not supposed to talk about it?"

"PINKAMENA!"

"Oooo! What a nice tree!"

Octavia rolled her eyes at Pinkie who had begun to bounce instead of walking. She had remembered Pinkie used to do that a lot after getting her cutie mark, but had stopped when the community had asked her to stop throwing so many parties.

"This, Pinkamena, is no ordinary tree. It is the Books and Branches Library. Center of knowledge in Ponyville, home of books and information galore... and my favorite place to pick up books for a nice little weekend."

Pinkie quirked her brow. "What kinds of books?"

Octavia smiled. "Why, my dear Pinkamena, any kind! All kinds! If you can imagine it, they have a book for it!"

"Oh! Oh! Do they have a book about a three headed serpent name Steve who sells cotton candy but secretly fights crime?"

"Uh, well Pinkamena, that's kind of too specific and-"

"Oh! What about a book that explains why my hair gets poofy when I'm happy but gets flat when I'm depressed?"

"Unless somepony's been watching you, I seriously doubt-"

"Oh! What about a book about a pegasus who goes on adventures and hunts ancient treasures?"

"I don't-- wait, I think a book like that actually does-"

"Let's go inside I can't wait anymore!"

Without another word, Pinkie dashed towards the library and pressed the door open.

Inside, it was very quiet. The linside seemed surprisingly big, considering it was not really so large a place. There were many books in the walls, which had, much like the rest of the tree, been hollowed out strategically to allow the tree itself to serve as bookshelves. Sitting at a nearby table that was close enough to the door to allow whoever was sitting there to notice newcomers was a purple coated earth pony mare with a lavender mane, tied back in a ponytail. She wore a single checkered legwarmer on her left hoof, and had her nose buried in a book. She turned up to see who had entered the library and smiled.

"Oh! Hi Octavia! Hi... uhh... other pony!"

"Cheerilee, how are you?"

Cheerilee shrugged. "Could be better. Just doing some studying... to think, I'm just months away from getting my teaching license!" Cheerilee beamed proudly. "I'll be a shaper of young minds! I'll be a pony that foals look up to! I'll be--"

Suddenly, Pinkie's body seemed to twitch, bloat, stretch, and vibrate at random intervals.

"Woo! That was a doozy!"

Cheerilee quirked a brow. "Is... is she alright?"

Octavia shook her head. "I... I honestly have no idea... though... Pinkamena, that wasn't your sixth sense was it?"

Pinkie shrugged. "I dunno! Maybe? The last time that happened was when you decided not to come back home! And that was also the first time it happened too! I wonder if they're related?"

Octavia looked around nervously. "Uhh... any idea what triggered it?"

Pinkie shrugged. "I dunno! But I got it when I looked at that poster behind Cheery!"

Cheerilee turned around to see a poster on the wall that depicted three fillies; one from each tribe, playing together. She had never considered the poster before, but now that she looked at it... she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of foreboding.

"... Anyone else have a full body shudder just now?"

"I did!"

Octavia sighed. "I don't think she meant your sixth sense Pinkamena-"

"I don't like that term anymore!"

Octavia quirked a brow. "What? But... that's what it is, isn't it? A sixth sense?"

Pinkie waved her hoof. "Yeah, but I don't like that name! I wanna call it the Pinkie Sense!"

There was a palpable silence.

"... Pinkie sense..."

"Yup!"

"... Are you serious?"

Pinkie nodded her head enthusiastically. Octavia was so tired of rubbing her forehead, of facehoofing, of sighing, that she did the only thing she felt could make sense at this point in time.

"Okay, yeah, whatever."

Pinkie beamed. "Pinkie sense it is then!"

Cheerilee squinted her eyes and looked at the two ponies. "What... what is this all about?"

Octavia rolled her eyes. "My sister has a sort of sixth sense--"

"Pinkie Sense!"

".... Pinkie sense.... in which her body exhibits strange spasms and convulsions... we used to think she was having seizures until our father realized each specific convulsion happened at about the same time as certain events, such as her tail twitching when something was going to fall..."

Pinkie nodded. "Yessir! Daddy said I was his special girl with a gift from above!"

Cheeriliee couldn't help but smile at the silly pony. "So Octavia, this is your sister?"

Octavia nodded. "Cheerilee, this is my little sister, Pinkamena Pie. Pinkamena, this is Cheerilee, local librarian and soon to be educator of young ponies."

Pinkie held out her hoof, smiling still. "Nice to meet ya, Cheerilee!"

Cheerilee took her hoof and shook it gently. "You too, Pinkamena! So, you're from that little community Octavia came from?" Pinkie nodded enthusiastically in response, her smile never fading.

Octavia smiled a bit; glad to see the two ponies getting along so well. "Yes, she's here for her coming of age, so we're trying to get her as immersed into society as we can to better help her decide what she wants to choose."

Cheerilee 'oh'ed and nodded. "Oh! I see! Well, you're in luck! The library has just about any information you could hope to find about Equestria AND beyond!" She stood up and trotted around her desk and back towards the two. "Is there anything in particular I can help you find?"

Pinkie hummed and tapped her chin with her hoof, pondering what she could ask for. So many choices, so many options, yet there wasn't much she wanted to know!

Although...

"Do you have any books on how to throw parties?"

Octavia seemed to freeze at this.

"Huh, well, I don't know... I could check the 'How To' section for you though! I'm sure we might have SOMETHING that you can use though, if it exists at all!"

Cheerilee trotted to the bookshelves and started to look about. Octavia turned to her sister. "Why do you need a book on how to throw parties? You're not planning on throwing any parties are you? Please tell me you don't intend to throw any parties..."

Pinkie hoof waved. "Of COURSE I'm gonna throw a party! I mean, I wanna throw at least a few of them before--" Pinkie stopped herself, noticing the look on her sister's face. "--er, before I go back, IF I go back... but I want to see how ponies party out here!"

Octavia sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, it's... not much different from how you partied back at home, save that there's more ponies.." The next thing she knew, Octavia's personal space was invaded by her sister, who was pressing her face right up into her own.

"Of course! I want to throw big parties! I wanna throw parties so great that even if I do go back home, I can say to myself, 'WOW! That party was WILD!"

Octavia didn't know what to say to this. On one hand, she wanted to stop Pinkie cold in her tracks; a party in this town would likely mean Pinkie would invite everypony she either knew, just met, or happened to see as she was planning it, etc. She didn't think their little home would be able to stand a party.

And yet... this was Pinkie. Her little sister, struggling to decide where she belonged. There was no way Octavia could deny her this.

So, she smiled to her sister.

"Alright Pinkamena... if you really want to throw a party I... I guess we can try to... accommodate everything and make sure we're ready to replace windows and--"

"Oh! I don't want to throw one JUST YET silly!"

Octavia almost balked she was so surprised by this statement. It was unlike Pinkie to be patient! "E-excuse me?"

Pinkie simply giggled and shorted in response. "I mean, I DO want to throw one, right now in fact, but I wanna learn a little bit first! I'll need time to read that book, maybe go to other parties and stuff, before I throw my super duper amazingtastic Pinkie Pie Ponyville Party! After all, it's gotta be a party everypony will wanna come to!"

"Oh! Here we go!"

The two ponies turned as Cheerilee came back with a book in her mouth, smiling as she put it into her hooves. "Everything you ever wanted to know about partying, but was too afraid to ask! It may not have literally EVERYTHING, so you know, but it should have a lot of really good material!"

She handed (hooved?) the tome to Pinkie Pie, who took it and hugged it tightly, smiling so big you'd swear she had just found an old friend.

"Well, Pinkie, is there anywhere else you'd like to go to?"

Pinkie shook her head. "Nope! I think I'm good for today!"

Octavia smiled and nodded a bit. "Right, let's go home then! I'm sure Vinyl is getting pretty hungry, and if we don't get home soon, she'll likely try to cook something herself and burn the house down..." The eldest sister turned to face Cheerilee and nodded. "Thanks for your help, Cheerilee. I'll be seeing you later, and hope you have a good day!"

Cheerilee smiled and waved. "Have a good day yourself, Octavia! And Pinkie? It's been a pleasure to meet you!"

"Vinyl! We're home!"

The two ponies stepped into the house. It was already early evening; Octavia hadn't realized she and her sister had been out for so long! She was fairly certain they had only been gone an hour or so... but the sun didn't lie (unless Celestia was playing one hell of a prank today) and the changing color of the sky showed that night was on its way.

"Well Pinkamena, I'm going to go start dinner. Could you go tell Vinyl we're home?" Pinkie nodded enthusiastically and, without another word, trotted upstairs. She made her way towards the door that lead to Vinyl's room. As she neared, she started hearing noises coming from her room, but not the usual wubs... it sounded more like moaning.

Pinkie pushed the door open. "Hey Vinnie, you okay in--"

Her mind had time to piece together that Vinyl was on her back and a stallion was standing on his hind legs, holding her own to either side of himself, before she turned around and closed the door quickly, yet gently, so as not to draw attention. Biting her lip, she hurriedly headed back downstairs and into the kitchen.

Octavia looked to Pinkie and quirked a brow. After a few seconds, her jaw fell open. "... Is she--"

"Yup."

"Did she--"

"Nope."

"... Do you want to ta-"

"Nope."

The two sisters sat in silence that seemed to permeate the entire house. It was just now the two could hear a faint creaking sound.

"Awwww yeah!"

....

"What say we go and eat something out tonight and bring back a doggie bag for Vinyl?"

Pinkie quickly nodded her head, her next word spoken as if she were faced with a horde of zombies on the other side of a fence. "Y-yeeah..."

Joy Meets Sorrow

"Good morning everypony..."

Another bright and shining morning shone over Ponyville; and, once more, Pinkie was already up and at 'em, hard at work with breakfast. Octavia had awoken earlier than usual, and had a newspaper in her hooves, scanning it over. Vinyl Scratch groggily trotted into the room and took a seat, a massive yawn escaping her.

"Mmh... what's for breakfast..." muttered the DJ, surprising herself that the words came together in a semi-intelligible manner.

"Pinkamena found the recipe for making waffles and decided she wanted to make some of those, so we're having waffles with a side of toast."

Pinkie turned around, wearing an apron with a big pink heart on it, grinning. "Yup! And this time, I didn't have to borrow anything from the neighbors!"

Octavia chuckled. "Yesterday she tried waffles for the very first time and demanded I help her make her own... so, we found a recipe, bought the necessary materials, and here we are."

Vinyl had, admittedly, tuned most everything out once she learned what she was eating. Her head hurt way too much to care about much of anything else right now. In fact, she felt like there was something important she was forgetting... her pill? No, she took that a few minutes before her company came over... chores? ... No, she rarely did those... what was...

Just then, her eyes snapped open and she beamed.

"HOLY COW TODAY I DJ!"

Pinkie almost dropped the knife she was using to butter the toast.

"Oh man yeah! Today's gonna rock SO hard you girls! I'm gonna get to DJ for the club, and my career's gonna skyrocket, just you wait and see! Aw, it's gonna be SO bitchin', I'm gonna fill that room with so many wubs and epic beats that ear drums will bleed, stomachs will burst, mares will get pregnant, and then stallions will become mares just so they can get pregnant!"

Octavia stared at Vinyl with a look of half confusion, half disgust on her face. "That.... is one of the most disturbing proclamations of the effects one's success would have on the world that I think I've ever heard..."

Pinkie put everypony's plates in front of them. "Soup's on!"

Octavia eyed the waffles carefully. She already knew her sister could make toast, but this was the absolute first time Pinkie had ever made waffles. Sure, they LOOKED okay, but just beneath their waffley exterior could lie any number of horrors; especially if Pinkie got creative with the recipe! Why, she could have filled it with hot sauce for extra flavor, or put soda into the mix, or cut a pony up and add them to the recipe-- no, wait, what? Where did that last one come from...?

She looked over to Pinkie, who was staring at her expectantly, grinning. She turned to face Vinyl, who seemed to be waiting for her to take the first bite; of course Vinyl would expect her to take the first bite. Octavia sighed and looked back to her sister, smiling as she took up a fork and knife, cut a single square off her waffle (how ponies could do this with their hooves, even the greatest minds of a generation could not determine, simply opting for the explanation of 'It's magic, I don't have to explain shit') and, slowly, painfully, clutched her eyes together as she pushed the little square into her mouth.

She chewed a few times.

She opened her eyes a little.

And chewed a bit more.

Then her eyes became wide.

And she swallowed.

Octavia blinked, still wide-eyed, as she stared down at the waffle, clearly in disbelief. She let her expression shift to gaze at her sister.

"... P-Pinkamena.... this has to be the single most delicious waffle I have ever eaten..."

Pinkie Pie's grin, somehow, seemed to brighten even more.

With a shrug, Octavia simply took her waffle onto her fork and took bites out of the entire thing, as opposed to cutting it up. Pinkie, without hesitation, took each waffle and ate them whole, one by one. Octavia, still pleasantly surprised by her sister's successful waffle endeavor, continued cutting pieces off and enjoying the savory delights.

****************

"Now, Pinkamena, are you sure you want to go into these stores? I mean, if you go into both of them on the same day, you might start a fight between their proprietors..."

Pinkie giggle-snorted as she turned to face her sister. "Of course, silly! If these two ponies fight so much, I bet they make really good food! I wanna try a cupcake from both shops to compare and contract!"

"That's contrast, Pinkie..."

"What? At this time of day? What would the neighbors think!? Anyway, I figure if baking is an art, and art is the window to the soul, then just by tasting each of their cupcakes I can get an idea of what kinda ponies they are deep deep down inside!"

"Pinkamena, I know that sounds reasonable to you, but I don't think--"

"What the hell is wrong with you!?"

The two ponies stopped a distance away to see that, once again, the stallion and the mare were barking at each other outside their shops.

"What's wrong with me!? What's wrong with you!?"

The stallion growled and pointed at some graffiti that had been sprayed on his shop that said 'Karot Kake Suks'. "I KNOW you had something to do with this!"

"What!? Do you think I'd stoop so low on YOUR behalf? Sure, maybe that up and coming Donut Joe in Canterlot, but YOU wouldn't be worth the time it took to step outside, let alone get close to the wall of your horrid little store!"

"I know you had something to do with this, and I'm gonna prove it! And when I do, you mark my words, there will be hell to pay!"

"Yeah? Well best of luck to you, you imbecile!"

"Bitch!"

"Moron!"

The two ponies immediately slammed their doors shut as they retreated back into their respective shops. Pinkie and Octavia stared, jaws agape, at the scene that had just unfurled before them. "Those two... have a lot of anger in them don't they?"

Octavia's eye twitched. "You only know the half of it. It gets worse during big events... bake offs, festivals... one year they actually started a food fight because somepony actually mistook one of the two bakers for the other..."

Pinkie shrugged. "Well, the path to happiness starts with a single step! Let's go inside!"

"Wha- Pinkie!"

Without another word, Pinkie bounced towards one of the two shops - the one the stallion had been in.

There was a jingle as the door opened. Pinkie took a moment to analyze the shop. It was brightly colored with white, yellow, and light blue colors befitting of a bakery. It wasn't very decorative, seeming like any other shop, really.

"Oh! Welcome to Carrot Cakes' Bakery, what'll ya have?"

Pinkie's attention diverted to the yellow-coated stallion. He smiled warmly at her, waiting for a response. The bell over the door jingled as Octavia entered, not particularly eager to follow her sister on this doomed endeavor.

Pinkie hummed. "Well, do you have... cupcakes?"

Carrot Cakes' eye twitched a bit at the word, but he shook his head and the sincere smile returned. "Why, yes! The best cupcakes in the town in fact! Why, I doubt you'd find a better cupcake within miles of here! Heck, I bet you'd be hard pressed to find anything named cupcake that's as good as my cupcakes!"

Pinkie smiled. "Right! Well, I'd like one cupcake, please?"

Carrot Cake blinked, obvious confusion on his face. "Wh... one? Just one cupcake?"

Pinkie nodded furiously. Carrot Cake could swear he heard a bell jingling as she did.

"... You... don't want a dozen?"

"Nope!"

"... Half a dozen?"

"Uh-uh!"

"... Four?"

"Nosiree!"

Carrot Cake hummed a bit, before shrugging. He reached into the counter, pulling a single cupcake out, and setting it on the counter. "Here you go. That'll be one bit, please."

Pinkie took the cupcake and, without another word, threw it into the air and caught it in her mouth, chewing happily. Octavia blinked a few times before remembering Pinkie didn't have any money. A sigh of defeat, she produced her bag and put a single bit on the counter.

"Mmm! That was tasty! Thanks Mr. Cake!"

"You're welcome, kid! Anything else I can get you?"

"Nope! I'm good! Bye now!"

With that, Pinkie left, and Octavia, still resigned to her defeat, trailed along behind her. The two ponies made their way directly towards the next shop over; Octavia silently hoping nopony would see and tell either of the stores' owners of the transfer.

Once more, a jingle as a door opened.

This store was considerably different from the previous. The walls were yellow, pink, and purple in color, with a lot of pastry themed decorations. It was no surprise, on retrospect, that the store's owner's hair itself looked like icing.

"Oh! Hello dears! How can I help you this fine day?"

Pinkie trotted to the counter. "Oh! Uhh... how about... one cupcake!"

Cup Cake stared, her mouth seeming to move wordlessly before she found her voice. "One Cupcake?"

Pinkie nodded furiously. Cup Cake was certain that she heard a rattling sound as she did.

"... You... don't want a dozen?"

"Nope!"

"... Half a dozen?"

"Uh-uh!"

"... Four?"

"Nosiree!"

Cup Cake stared for a few minutes before shrugging. "One Cupcake it is then!" Reaching into the counter, she pulled from it a single cupcake and handed it to Pinkie, who tossed it into the air and let it fall into her mouth, chewing happily. Octavia put a bit on the counter.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, girls?"

Pinkie hummed. "Oh! Do you sell carrot cakes!?"

Cup Cake's eye twitched a bit, but then she reasserted her sincerity. "Oh yes! Best Carrot Cakes in Ponyville! Probably better than most carrots! Or most cakes! Or ponies with those names!"

"... What...?"

Everypony turned their attention to a yellow-coated mare with an orange mane as she frowned. Cup Cake gasped and smiled nervously. "Oh! No no no, not you, Carrot Top!"

Carrot's lip trembled a bit and she ran out of the store sobbing. Cup Cake stared at the door. "Oh... oh dear... that's going to hurt business..."

Pinkie pursed her lips together. "Maybe if you give her free cupcakes she'll feel better? I know that'd cheer me up if you said you had the best pies in town that beat anything with pie in their name! Well, thank you, Mrs. Cake!"

Cup Cake giggled. "Oh, sweety, I'm not married."

Pinkie hummed. "Oh! ... Huh, sorry, I do that sometimes!"

With that, the sisters Pie left the bakery, leaving it's proprietress to sigh and pray that the damage caused by the distressed Carrot Top would be minimal.

The two ponies trotted down the street, Octavia averting her gaze to her sister. "Well... you annoyed two bakers and sent a carrot farmer home crying for this. I hope you got what you wanted?"

Pinkie nodded. "Yup! Both cupcakes taste equally tasty! I bet they could make really good cupcakes if they worked together, or at the VERY least stopped fighting each other all the time!"

Octavia rubbed her forehead. "Wait... you... had me buy you cupcakes just to come to that conclusion? No grand scheme?"

Pinkie smiled. "Nope!"

Octavia muttered some colorful and off-character phrases under her breath. Just then, the two ponies caught sight of two other ponies - what are the odds? Pinkie squinted her eyes as the familiar figures approached, then grinned wide.

"OH! Applejack! Big McIntosh!"

The two ponies stopped, a smile spreading on Applejack's face as she trotted towards the two. "Oh! Hi there ahh.... uhm.... " She brought a hoof to the back of her head and rubbed nervously. "Well this is embarrassin', Ah forgot yer name!"

Pinkie smiled. "That's okay! My name's Pinkie Pie!"

Applejack blinked, quirking a brow. "Pinkie Pie? ... That's an unusual name..."

"Says th' mare named Applejack Apple..."

"Says th' pony named Big McIntosh Apple... okay, yeah, that sounds slightly better, but you get mah point!"

Pinkie giggled. "Well, I AM an unusual pony! I think! I'm pretty sure!" She tapped her hoof to her chin. "Are there other Pinkie Pies? What if there's an entire heard of Pinkie Pies somewhere I don't know about?" She let out a loud gasp. "What if they try to conquer Ponyville and spread mayhem and make fingers on their hooves and make weird faces resembling ponies of generations past!?"

Everypony fell silent. Octavia smiled nervously. "Don't mind her... she does that sometimes..."

Applejack chuckled. "Salright, we got strange ponies in Ponyville... don't hurt t' have another one! So, what're y'all up to this fine day?"

Pinkie shrugged. "I'm trying to figure out why the bakers hate each other!"

Big Mac rolled his eyes. "Yer guess is as good as anypony else's at this point.

Pinkie nodded. "So yeah! What are you apples up to?"

Applejack shrugged. "Me n' Big McIntosh was just roamin' about town, lookin' fer some more stuff fer our upcomin' family reunion. It's at th' end of th' week, an' Ah'm plum excited!"

Octavia stepped forward. "Wait... you mean the Apple Family reunion? Where Apples and Apple relatives come from every corner of Equestria?"

Big Mac nodded. "Th' very one?"

Octavia tried to bite back a smile. "Y-you wouldn't happen to be able to use a cello player for entertainment... could you? I-I'll play for free!"

Big Mac and Applejack looked to each other, then back to Octavia, and Big Mac spoke up. "Nnnope."

Octavia deflated. "What...? Just... 'nope?'"

Applejack smiled nervously. "Aint nothin' personal, sugarcube, 'sjust that our family tends t' lean more towards its roots when it comes t' music, an' we've got plenty-a relatives who can play any instrument... so... it's not that we don' think yer good 'nuff, we don't even know how well you play, it's just that it's kinda redundant..."

Pinkie blinked. "Hey! Applejack! You're about my age, so why is it you do most of the talking? Why doesn't Big Mac talk much?"

Applejack smirked. "He aint much of a talker. You can get 'em goin' sometimes, but he don' like t' say more n' needs t' be said most times."

"Eeyup."

"Applejack! Big McIntosh!"

The four ponies turned around in time to see a familiar face rushing up to them.

One Carrot Top.

She reached the group, panting and heaving. Big Mac looked to his sister with concern etched on his features as Applejack trotted towards the mare. "Calm down Carrot Top, what's th' big hurry? Y'all look like somepony's been hurt!"

Carrot Top gulped a bit and looked into Applejack's eyes.

"I-it's your dad..."

Applejack and Big Mac looked to each other before taking off. Pinkie immediately gave chase, along with Carrot Top.

"P-Pinkie! This doesn't-- wait!"

The five ponies galloped through town, dodging and passing several ponies along the way. Thankfully, Sweet Apple Acres was not a great distance away from where they had been, so it wasn't too much in between them and their goal. Pinkie wanted to turn her attention to the various apple trees, but something was pulling her attention to the farm.

Eventually, they neared the farmhouse. Several guards were surrounding and patrolling the place. What drew everypony's attention, however, was two guards standing next to a red coated stallion with a blonde mane, wearing a stetson hat, as well as a green mare standing next to him, staring down at him with sadness in her eyes.

"PA!"

The voice shrieked as the orange mare rushed past everypony else to the stallion's side, with her brother tagging along behind her. Octavia put her hooves over her mouth, staring in horror at the sight before her, Pinkie's own expression blank as her mind tried to process what was going on.

"Search the area! We've got a suspect on the loose, and he is dangerous! Search everywhere, don't let him get away!"

As Pinkie focused more on the stallion, she noticed a massive injury in his chest, and some ponies frantically trying to put pressure on the injury. Applejack was weeping as she neared her father, getting close to him.

"Pa! Oh Pa, what happened!? How did--"

The stallion coughed a bit, his eyes obviously tired, weak... and his voice showed those same traits as he spoke.

"Applejack... sugar cube... h... how're Ma n' Applebloom...? What about that nice friend-a yours who came here... they okay?"

Applejack looked to Carrot Top, who frowned in response and was visibly fighting tears. She turned back to her father, unsure of anything, when the elder green mare spoke up.

"Me n' Applebloom're fine, Alex... don't y'all worry, that hooligan didn' lay a hoof on the lil' un..."

The stallion smiled weakly and coughed a bit to the side, a bit of blood splattering on the dirt before him. He turned back to Applejack and Big Mac, seeming to try to focus on them.

"... Ah.... Ah don' think Ah'm gonna make it..."

Applejack furrowed her brow. "Pa! Don't talk like that, yer gonna be okay! We already lost ma, we can't lose you! The paramedics'll be here soon-- Where the hay are the paramedics!?"

One of the guards looked to her. "We've already sent somepony to retrieve them but they're--"

Applejack shouted. "What the hell is wrong with y'all!? Don’t ya have some unicorns who can use some fancy healin' or blinkin' powers t' help mah pa!?"

Big Mac placed a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. She looked back to her brother to see his stoic expression betrayed by tears in his eyes.

"... Big McIntosh...?"

Pinkie had just noticed that Big McIntosh was actually larger than his father physically. "Yes pa?"

"... Ah.... Ah'm afraid yer th' stallion of th' house now... n'... Ah know you can do it... yer strong.... reliable... take care 'a yer sisters n' granny fer me...."

Big Mac nodded solemnly, his voice raspy as he spoke. "Ah will, pa..."

Alexander looked to Applejack and smiled still. "Applejack... Ah'm sorry... Ah know this mus' be hard fer ya... but..... Ah need ya t' help yer brother fer me... you two... Granny... Applebloom... y'all gotta watch each others' backs....... be there for each other...."

Applejack sniffled and shook her head, brushing her eyes with her hoof. She spoke with a voice mixed with a desire to deny what was happening, but trying to accept it. "... Ah will pa...."

He smiled a bit, and he gently reached a hoof up to her, brushing her face. He chuckled a bit, slowly closing his orange eyes. "... ya..... ya have her spirit..... an'.... Ah want you t' have her hat...." The stallion tilted his head, as if gesturing to the hat on his head. Applejack's jaw fell, and she gently took the hat from his head, slowly pulling it towards herself, staring at it like it was the single most important thing in her world.

For all Pinkie knew, it was.

Applejack sniffled more, and stared at her father with tear-drenched eyes and a trembling lip. The stallion frowned a bit at his daughter. "... Applejack...?" She didn't respond, just nodded to show she was listening. The stallion gave a weak grin. ".... Who's a silly pony...?"

Applejack tried not to, but she couldn't help but smile a bit and choke out a laugh - one of the saddest laughs Pinkie had heard in her life. "Ah am.."

The stallion smiled genuinely. "... There's my girl.... y'all......" He seemed to close his eyes more, his hoof drifting downward as gravity won its fight. ".... y'all.... 've made me...... so...... proud....."

His hoof hit the floor, and he gave a soft sigh.

"Dammit, we're losing him! Where the hell are those paramedics!?"

Applejack's jaw hung open, forming words that did not come out as she tried to speak. She slowly turned to her brother and hugged him tightly with one foreleg. Big McIntosh wrapped a foreleg around her, closing his overflowing eyes as his sister began to wail into his chest.

The elder mare simply bowed her head and closed her eyes, tears pouring down her aged face. The guards simply bowed their heads; one of them turned and walked away, swearing to himself, obviously disappointed in what he had likely interpreted as his own personal failure.

Pinkie slowly averted her gaze towards Octavia, who was hiding her mouth, but her eyes were pouring. The pink mare turned her gaze back at the family before her when she noticed something on her cheek, and that it was becoming harder to see. She put a hoof up to see what it was, and as she pulled it away, noticed that her hoof was wet.

Pinkie Pie was crying.

She looked at everypony again, as if trying to figure out what was going on. She had heard of ponies dying before, but she had never seen it happen. Nopony close to her had ever died before. Was that what was happening?

And why did her chest hurt so much?

Pinkie turned to her sister once more, and this time, Octavia looked back. The elder sister's own expression of sorrow deepened, and she moved towards Pinkie and wrapped her hooves around her sister. Pinkie didn't know why, but without even sending the command to her limbs, she returned the gesture.

And before she knew it, she was sobbing into her sister's shoulder.

She turned her attention once more to the family, to the orange mare hugging tightly against her brother with one foreleg, the other one keeping the stetson clutched tightly against her body.

--------------------------------------------------------------
TO BE CONTINUED...

Rainbows and Butterflies

Pinkie Pie simply stared out the window of her sister's room, into the distance. She didn't stare at anything in particular... she was just staring. She wasn't deep in thought... she was just staring.

So much had happened in such a short time... she didn't know what else to do.

Her mane lay flat against her head, pouring like a waterfall instead of reveling in a glorious myriad of curls and waves. Even her coloration seemed to be grayer, lacking in the bright and colorful nature that often defined who Pinkie Pie was. It was as if an important part of her was damaged... like she had been hurt deep.

And she had been, though she couldn't figure out why.

She barely knew the Apples. She didn't even know the stallion that died.

So why did she hurt so much?

There was a knock at the door, and Pinkie spoke, a slight rasp in her voice. "Come in..."

The door slowly creaked open, Octavia looking inside. Her expression betrayed concern for her younger sister, although she had stopped crying herself. This was not to say, of course, that she did not feel for the Apples' loss... but if one burdened themselves with everypony's problems, they'd never be happy.

"Pinkamena... are you okay...?"

Pinkie nodded slowly; she wasn't being truthful, and she wasn't fooling anypony.

"... Do you want to talk about it, Pinkamena...?"

Pinkie shook her head slowly.

Octavia slowly stepped into the room towards her sister, and sat on her haunches next to her. She stared out the window, trying to determine what Pinkie was staring at, but all she could see was that she might be staring at some trees. She looked back towards Pinkamena, only to see that her sister stared with an expression devoid of emotion; tired, worn... like the face of a pony who had seen years of turmoil and war.

And she had only been away from home for a few days.

The thought hurt her more than she wanted to let on. This was supposed to be a time of discovery for Pinkie, a time for her to learn who she was... and in such a short time, she had been forced to bear witness to one of the worst things that could occur, something, she admitted, was unheard of back in their community. There, ponies died of old age or sickness; never did one slay another with their own hooves.

"... Pinkie..."

If Pinkie heard her, she didn't acknowledge it.

"... I... I know that... what happened... what you saw today was horrible... I can't even begin to imagine how terrible this must be for you-"

"Why did it happen, Octavia?"

Octavia was taken by surprise. She hadn't expected Pinkie to say anything to her. She looked down to her hooves, thinking. "... I... I don't know... I didn't ask anypony... I'm not close with the Apple family, so I'm afraid I'm as oblivious to it as you are..."

"... Do you think... that maybe it was some sort of mistake? Maybe an accident?... Maybe somepony just... did something wrong and... poof?"

The elder Pie tried desperately to think of an answer. "... Like I said, Pinkie, I don't really-"

"How could it happen?"

"... Well... from what little I know... he was stabbed...."

"No, Octavia... "

Pinkie turned to face Octavia, her eyes threatening more tears as the corners of her mouth tugged down. "How could it happen...? How could something so bad happen...?"

Octavia looked to her hooves, as if the answer would be near them.

"... Pinkie... I know this might hurt to hear but.... some ponies... aren’t good ponies..."

Pinkie's lip trembled. "Mama and Papa always said... that everypony, no matter how wicked... had some level of goodness in them... that nopony is ever beyond redemption... so how could somepony who has good in them do that...?"

Octavia didn't know how to reply. She had several possible answers, but each one had risks of conclusions she didn't know if she wanted her sister to have instilled upon her. So, she said the only thing she felt she could; the thing that would deal the least damage.

"... Because while everypony is capable of good... not everypony chooses to be good..."

Silence fell on them as Pinkie continued to stare at her sister, as if pleading for her to say more, to give her a better answer. Octavia looked up to her sister and frowned; she didn't know what else she could say. Pinkie seemed to sense this, so she turned to look out the window again.

"... I think I want to go home..."

Octavia gasped. "Wha... but Pinkie, you can't go home just yet! You've only been here for a few days, and-"

"-And I've seen ponies fight, I've seen ponies kill... "

Pinkie's eyes welled up with tears again. "... How much does this happen if, in only three days, I've seen this much...?"

The eldest sister, once more, found herself unable to respond.

Pinkie climbed into the bed and rolled under the blankets. "... I want to go home..."

Octavia sighed, trying to think up something, anything to change her sister's mind. She didn't care if Pinkie went home eventually, but she didn't want her sister to leave because she viewed the world as evil.

"... Pinkamena... what about Vinyl's party? Don't you still want to go to that?"

"... What right do I have to party if there's ponies out there who get killed for reasons nopony knows?"

Octavia moved towards the bed. "Pinkie... please... just give it a chance... please..."

Pinkie slowly turned to face her sister, who stared at her with pleading eyes.

"... If not for Vinyl... if not for me... do it for yourself..."

Pinkie stared at her for several seconds before slowly turning around again.

"... Okay..."

Octavia smiled a tiny bit, a little glad that she had, at least, this opportunity to help cheer her sister up. She got up and walked towards the door, turning around. "Pinkamena... if you need to talk, I'll be downstairs... I'll come and get you thirty minutes before time to leave..."

No response from Pinkie. Octavia nodded gently, and closed the door behind her as she trotted out of the room. Standing beside the door was Vinyl, who looked towards Octavia. "Wow... she's takin' it pretty hard..."

Octavia sighed. "Pinkie... she's never witnessed death before... especially not death by pony hooves... furthermore, she truly cares about the joy of all ponies..." She stared back at the door. "When she saw all the heart ache, all the suffering, and understood the loss... she probably felt it as much as a pony who had known that stallion for years might have..."

Vinyl frowned. "Wow... that sucks..."

Octavia sighed. "... I just hope that club of yours can liven her spirits... I worry that this might scar her for life otherwise..."

Pinkamena stared at the wall of the bedroom, none the wiser of the conversation just outside its borders. She just wanted it to go away, to forget all the evils of this world, to forget that bad things happened.

She wanted to go back to her dull, boring life where everything was good.

She closed her eyes, and drifted into sleep.

Bright light.

There was light everywhere, save for in the grass, though it reflected off the grass. There was a lot of grass. A REALLY lot of grass. Grass as far as the eye can see.

Oh look, there's a tree.

One tree. Huh.

An apple tree.

Pinkie found herself drawn to trot towards the Apple Tree. As she approached, she noticed something strange.

Three foals, playing, running around, giggling and laughing. One red coated colt with an orange mane, an orange-coated filly with a blonde mane, and on her back was a smaller, butter-coated filly with a red mane.

All three of them wore wooden masks and white tunics.

She turned to look at the tree. It seemed to glow with life, with joy...

Just then, the sky began to cloud up. Dark clouds pulled together, accumulating until they turned into what seemed like a vortex. The foals stopped playing and looked up at the vortex.

And from it, a bolt of blood-red lightning struck the tree.

The massive apple-tree burst into splinters, branches, and flames, and the foals ran away screaming. Slowly, from the burnt and charred remains of the tree, the grass began to turn gray. The foals rushed towards Pinkie - she had no idea why, but they did. She didn't know why, but she felt compelled to do something. She looked back up to see the grayness getting closer to them. Looking back towards the foals, she felt weight in her heart. Without thought, she wrapped her hooves around all three of them, and held them close.

The grayness continued.

And then, it stopped.

The three foals turned to face the remains of the apple tree again. Pinkie couldn't see their faces, but somehow, she knew that they were still mourning the loss of the tree.

Then, she noticed something. More ponies - all wearing the same white tunics, all wearing wooden masks, seeming to come as if out of nowhere. They gathered around, and the grayness began to recede. The storms roared and howled as they slowly retreated. Pinkie looked towards the tree to notice it was no longer burning, and that in the remains of the trunk, a small sprout was growing.

"Pinkie..."

She turned around, hearing a familiar voice. So close, yet so far away.

"Wake up..."

Pinkie opened her eyes and noticed Octavia standing over her. "Pinkie?"

"Hunh...?"

"Pinkie... it's time to get ready to go."

Pinkie groaned a bit and sat up. She'd rather not go, but she did promise her sister she would. It would be wrong to go back on that promise just now. She removed herself from the bed and looked to her sister. Octavia smiled. "There you go... don't worry, I think you'll have fun..."

Pinkie nodded.

The two ponies then made their way downstairs, ready for a night out.

The sisters arrived at the club just in time to get into line.

A long, LONG line.

Oh boy this was going to take a while.

"Go figure... Vinyl invites us to a club we won't even be able to get into..."

Pinkie sighed a bit and looked around at all the ponies. Something that struck her as odd was that most ponies seemed to be older than her. It was somewhat intimidating, by her own admission.

"What're YOU doing in line?"

Octavia turned around, Pinkie following suit, to notice Vinyl. "Hey, you girls're my possie! You can go in right now!"

"Ohh... well, I guess that's convenient."

The three ponies removed themselves from the line and trotted towards the front. Along the way, Pinkie noticed that several ponies were staring at them with hateful glares. Why were they mad at her? She didn't do anything wrong, did she? She was just friends with somepony who, it seemed, was allowed in earlier than everypony else. She tried to ignore the glares, and as they neared the front, she heard voices...

"Hey! That's totally me! I'm totally old enough to get in!"

"Yeah right, nice try kid."

Pinkie looked to the sound of the voices. Standing there was a single bouncer - a large stallion with no mane, a beard, and a pair of sunglasses, as well as a black jacket. In front of him were two pegasus mares - obviously around Pinkie's age. One of them was butter yellow, with a pink mane and turquoise eyes, and a cutie-mark of three butterflies. She seemed to be desperately attempting to hide herself in her own wings and mane. The other was a cyan blue mare, with a scruffy, rainbow colored mane and tail, pink eyes, and a cutie mark of a cloud with a rainbow-colored bolt of lightning.

"First off, kid... this is a stallion, not you. Secondly, his eyes are golden brown, yours are pink. Thirdly, you've tried to get in here before. We still remember you.

"Oh come ON! This is a rip off! I'm TOTALLY cool! Come on just let us in!"

"Ah ah, kid. Come back in a few years when you can buy your own cigarettes."

Vinyl hissed a bit. "Ohhh yeah... is your sister old enough to get in..."

Octavia groaned. "Vinyl... I thought when you invited her to a club you knew something I didn't!"

Vinyl chuckled. "Ah... yeah... about that... I'm not used to this situation... we might have to sneak her in..."

Octavia shook her head. "No... no, that's okay, Vinyl. I don't want to break any rules. We'll just find something else to do..." The unicorn put a hoof on the back of her head and looked to Pinkie, clearly feeling a deal of guilt as she tried to come up with a plan.

"... Well... I guess I'll talk to you two later then... I've gotta do this, cause I dunno if I'll get another shot at this... some big name ponies in the gig tonight."

Octavia smiled and put a hoof on Vinyl's shoulder. "Vinyl, don't fret... we know. You go in there and... make your wubs..." Vinyl nodded slowly, turning around and heading inside.

"They not lettin' you two in either?"

Pinkie and Octavia looked towards the sound of the voice; standing there were the two teenage mares that had just been rejected entrance.

"Oh, well, yes and no-"

"It's lame, isn't it?" Said the rainbow maned mare. "I mean, we're not babies anymore! Why can't we just go in and have fun?"

Octavia quirked a brow. "... Because they serve alcoholic beverages, and host several shady figures and don't want to risk underage minors getting into any number of situations that might render them legally liable."

The rainbow-maned tomboy waved a hoof. "Pfft! We can take care of ourselves! Right Fluttershy?"

The butter yellow pegasus meeped.

Pinkie quirked her brow. "What's her problem?"

"What? Her? Oh, she's just Fluttershy. She's... well... shy! I'm Rainbow Dash, nice to meet ya!" Rainbow Dash held her hoof out, grinning. Pinkie slowly raised her hoof and took it, the rainbow maned pegasus shaking it vigorously.

"M-my name's Pinkie Pie... and this is my sister, Octavia.."

Octavia nodded. "Nice to meet you Rainbow Dash... Fluttershy..."

Rainbow hummed. "Well... I got nothin' better to do tonight. So, since you two can't get in, wanna hang out?"

Octavia quirked a brow. "Well... I don't know, I don't think I've ever met you before..."

Rainbow shrugged. "What about you, Pinks? You look kinda mopey but I bet you an' Fluttershy'll get along just fine."

Pinkie stared at the pegasus for a minute. Something about her was just... energetic. She just seemed to exude life. On a fundamental level, Pinkie couldn't help but feel that she and Rainbow Dash might have been kindred spirits.

"Sure, I'd like to hang out."

"What!?"

Octavia looked to Pinkie. "Sister, these hooli-- nice young mares... tried to sneak into a club with fake IDs! Surely you can't want to spend time around them..."

Pinkie looked towards her sister. "I'm sorry Octi... I guess we can just go back home, I can lay in bed, and wait until I can get the first carriage home tomorrow..."

Octavia stared at her sister. She tried to force it down, but she felt like her insides were twisting and turning. She wanted to ignore it, but alas, she could not. So, she buckled.

"... Alright... you can play with your friends..."

"Ew! Don't say it like that!" Shouted Rainbow Dash.

"BUT!... You have to be back by 10:00. And please... TRY to stay out of trouble..."

Pinkie smiled a bit and hugged Octavia. Her eldest sister let her go and looked down the street. "Remember you three. Don't tread alone, and don't take anything from strangers or follow ponies you don't know into unknown territory or dark alleys..."

Octavia began to walk away, staring back at Pinkie with no shortage of concern. As soon as she disappeared, she turned to her friends. "So... what do you girls want to do...?"

Rainbow grinned. "First things first! We're sneaking into that club!"

Joy Unbound

"Alright, here's the plan, girls!"

Three ponies barely into their mare years sat huddled around a corner, out of sight of the group that threatened their good times and club enjoyments. "That club is having one of the best nights ever! Not only is there some big music names there... there's one pony there that makes all the difference in the world! One pony that I know I can impress with my amazing awesomeness! One pony, the ONLY pony in there that matters right now?" Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy looked at each other, and then back to Dash, who grinned as she continued her 'pep talk.' "That pony is none other than new Wonderbolt recruit Soarin'!" The other two ponies nodded in understanding as Dash continued. "I'm gonna go in there, sweet talk him, wow him with my amazing stunts, and who knows, maybe end up Mrs. Soarin'!"

Pinkie blinked in confusion as she heard an unfamiliar voice speak up.

"Uh... Rainbow Dash... d-don't you think you're putting a little too much thought into this..?"

Rainbow shook her head. "No way! Besides, ending up Soarin's lady aint my real goal! Just a potential thing! Cause he... is freakin' hot."

"... B-but Rainbow... you're two... maybe three years younger than him? I don't think a relationship between you two is exactly legal right now..."

Rainbow waved her hoof, blowing a raspberry at her friend. "Details details, celebrities can date anypony they want. Besides, the REALY goal here is getting into the Wonderbolts' good graces! Just imagine it; Rainbow Dash, Champion flier, best in Equestria, first pony in generations to perform a sonic rainboom!"

Fluttershy put a hoof forward. "B-but Rainbow Dash, you haven't pulled off one of those since we were in flight school..."

Rainbow returned Fluttershy's comment with a glare. Clearly, this was something of a sore spot for the mare. The butter pegasus only pulled back, hiding behind her mane and mumbling apologies under her breath. Rainbow returned her gaze to a more central stage as if to be paying attention to both girls at once. "Alright! Clearly, we can't get in there with the muscle blocking our entry... but where there's a will, there's a way!" Rainbow drew a map in the dirt - map being a strong word as it was more or less a square. "This club is too big to have only one entry. I've scanned the place over before, and learned that it's got a side entry. Now, they'll probably have guards that we'll have to take out with sleeping darts-"

"-We don't have anything like that..."

Rainbow turned to glare at Fluttershy, who shrank back into her mane once more.

".... Fine. We'll get onto the roof and look for the air ducts. Surely there are patrols keeping their eyes open, so we'll have to utilize all our powers of stealth and-"

"But we're very brightly colored... stealth would be pretty-"

"Fluttershy!"

Fluttershy whimpered a bit. Rainbow Dash rubbed her forehead with her hoof, trying to ponder a move her long time friend would not burn.

"Why don't we just get somepony to get my friend inside to let us in?" The two ponies looked to Pinkie Pie. She smiled nervously. "I have a friend jockeying discs in here... she offered to help sneak me in earlier but my sister said no cause she didn't want to break any rules..."

Rainbow Dash stared wordlessly for a few seconds.

"I know we just met, but Pinks, I think I might be in love with you right now."

Pinkie blushed. "Wha--oh! I'm sorry Rainbow Dash, but I'm not that kinda mare!"

Rainbow Dash gave her a deadpan stare. "I was joking..."

"Do you think that pony'll take the note to her?"

Pinkie shrugged. "I don't know, Rainbow, but I think she looked pretty trustworthy... she had such shiny teeth..."

The three ponies waited by the rear exit. The door was locked from the inside, so there was no need to set up any further security measures to protect it. The biggest problem was that it was rather dark and unfamiliar, so Pinkie was feeling some level of guilt about being there; she had promised her sister she wouldn't go anywhere dark or unfamiliar. Still, she didn't know when she'd get another chance to go into a club. IF she'd get another chance to go into a club.

For some reason, she was drawn to it. Pinkie admitted quietly to herself that she didn't want to come at first; having witnessed a pony's untimely passing, well, that was enough to shake the pink pony to her very foundations. Pinkie didn't think that she would ever be able to forget that moment. And yet, when she had come close to the club, and she heard the noise inside? It was as if there was a voice inside, calling to her, telling her 'Pinkamena, come to us, we love you, we can make it all better.' Of course, Pinkie began to wonder if she might be going crazy at this point, but a disembodied voice told her to go inside. She was going to do it even if she had to come back later when nopony was there.

Just as that thought entered her mind, there was a click, and the three ponies turned to face the door as it swung open, and standing there was none other than Vinyl Scratch herself. "Heya Pinkie... uh.... who're these two?"

Pinkie nodded and gestured with a hoof. "These two ponies are Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy."

Rainbow waved. "'Sup?"

Fluttershy nodded her head, trying to shrink into the wall.

Vinyl waved back. "Hey girls... Pinkie, a moment?"

Vinyl took Pinkie a short distance from the other two ponies and pulled her close, looking back to be sure they weren’t listening in. "Pinkie, look, I'm glad you made some friends, but I'm not sure I feel cool about this. Sneaking you in alone would have been easy and, really, if I got caught, a smaller issue to deal with since I don't TECHNICALLY know how old you are... but sneaking THREE of you in? I could really get in trouble, Pinkie."

Pinkie frowned a bit. "Please, Vinyl? For me? Octavia said you break the rules a lot, so what's one more time...?"

Vinyl sighed, dragging her hoof across her mane to the back of her head. "Yeah, but Pinkie, breaking the rules in this club could be a bit harder. Ponies aren’t surprised when a DJ starts yelling drunken slurs in public, but when she's letting a bunch of underaged minors into clubs, they'll worry that that's gonna become a problem..." Pinkie stared at her, eyes pleading, becoming wet with tears. Vinyl bit her lip and looked around, hoping to draw strength from the walls of the dark alley way. "Fine... fine... I'll do it..." Pinkie grinned wide, as did Rainbow Dash, holding a hoof up for a hoof bump from Fluttershy, who gently and unenthusiastically gave it to her once she figured out what she wanted.

"HOWEVER..."

The three ponies turned to face Vinyl.

"You three have got to be on your best behavior. Do NOT draw attention to yourselves. Do NOT drink any of the drinks, and do NOT let anypony else in. Once you are all finished, come back out this way, and please, stay reasonably close to me so I can grab you if I have to." Pinkie smiled, nodding. Behind her, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy looked at each other, Rainbow bearing an obvious grimace. Fluttershy was smiling, clearly pleased by the guidelines, until she noticed Rainbow's expression, and her smile quickly turned into a frown and she looked away. Vinyl smiled a bit. "Remember Pinkie, you owe me for this. This is a pretty big risk I'm taking, and I hope you three can appreciate it."

Pinkie nodded. "Of course, Vinnie, I promise we'll be on our best behavior."

Vinyl smiled a bit, putting a hoof on Pinkie's withers. "Atta girl. I trust ya. Now, let's get in there and have some fun, alright?" Vinyl then turned around to face the door she had come from.

Which had closed.

"... As soon as I get back inside... hold on a second."

Pinkie's eyes were wide at what she was seeing.

Ponies all over the place. Bright colors filling the room, filling the air itself. Loud music, a beat that seemed to permeate her very core. Laughter, joy, pleasure, happiness... it was all here. This chaos, this madness before her, ponies who were letting their base natures come forth in an ecstasy of motion, of dancing, of smiling, and even ponies talking, just hanging together, enjoying one another’s' company as they yelled to speak above the music.

Pinkie Pie felt as if for the first time in her life, she was home.

Vinyl turned around and spoke to Pinkie, a little louder than she had been to make up for the difference brought on by the loud music. "Alright, Pinkie, I'm gonna go on out! That pre-made stuff can last all night, but if those ponies don't get a DJ to spice things up, they'll get bored pretty fast with this rave stuff! You three be good, alright? And if you're leaving, tell me before hoof!" Pinkie nodded in agreement towards the DJ, who turned to her friends. "And YOU two!"

Fluttershy and Rainbow looked to Vinyl.

"If you're caught, then I have never met you!" Rainbow rolled her eyes, Fluttershy's response being more along the lines of whimpering, even if it couldn't be heard. Vinyl nodded and, with that, took off towards the DJ table. Pinkie looked to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. "So! What do we do now!?"

Rainbow Dash grinned. "Now!? Now I'm finding Soarin'! You're free to do whatever you want!"

Pinkie Pie frowned a bit. "What!? But... I thought we were gonna hang out together!?"

The rainbow maned pegasus groaned. "Pinks, look, you're cool, and I'm glad you helped us get into this place, but why in the wide wide world would I spend my entire time here with you when I could be impressing a new recruit of the Wonderbolts!? I mean, that's totally mad!" Pinkie just stared at Rainbow Dash, her jaw hanging open a little. Fluttershy was looking between Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, clearly a little shocked by the current situation. Rainbow Dash, however, remained firm; sure, she wanted to have fun in this club, but she also wanted, more than anything else in the world, to impress a Wonderbolt. This was perhaps the best chance she would have at doing just that, and she was not about to waste it on a pony she had just met.

Pinkie bowed her head a bit. Without another word, she turned and started trotting into the crowd, off to do who knew what. Rainbow Dash looked to Fluttershy, grinning. "C'mon, Flutters! We've got a Wonderbolt to wow, and I don't want to keep him waiting!" Fluttershy, however, stared at Rainbow Dash with a look of clear disappointment. Rainbow's grin faltered a bit at this. "What!? What's wrong!? What did I do!?"

Fluttershy spoke, but every word was lost to the sound of music.

"What!?"

She spoke again, once more, if she made any sound, it was snuffed out.

"I can't hear you! You'll have to speak louder!"

She spoke once more, clearly talking quite loud for her own comfort, but even that was just enough that Rainbow Dash could only hear the faint tinge of her voice; not enough to hear words.

"Louder!!"

Fluttershy scowled and she looked around for a bit, seeing a napkin on the floor. She picked it up, grimaced at the filthy thing, then approached a nearby bar. Soon, she came back with the napkin, and written on it were a few words.

Rainbow Dash balked. "Abandon her!? She knew the plan! That's why I went over it outside! So nopony would get any wrong ideas! I'm clearly in the right here!"

Fluttershy frowned a bit, looking at Rainbow with an expression mixed of sadness and disappointment.

"What!? I'm not saying I'm not grateful! But I came here for something, and dammit 'Shy, I'm gonna do it!" Fluttershy sighed a bit, nodding her head, letting her eyes fall to her hooves. The butter yellow pegasus turned, and she trotted away from Rainbow Dash into the direction Pinkie Pie had gone. "Fluttershy, wait! C'mon, don't be like that!" Fluttershy didn't hear her, or if she did, she wasn't acknowledging it. She simply shoved past some ponies and disappeared into the crowd. Rainbow Dash bit her lip and looked at where her friend had gone, as well as towards the VIP doors.

Pinkie was sitting at a table that was surprisingly empty, staring at all the dancing ponies. They seemed to be having so much fun, dancing together, partying, and yet here she was, all alone, nopony to party with, nopony to have fun with.

Just then, the music stopped.

And then, a voice spoke on a mic.

"Hey everypony, we all havin' fun tonight!?"

A loud chorus of voices all cheered. "Yeeeah!"

"C'mon, you can do better than that!"

"Yeeeeeeah!"

"One more time, everypony!"

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!"

Everypony broke into a chorus of laughter and cheers. Just then, a bathroom door nearby burst open and a massive, muscular white pegasus with tiny wings hopped from the bathroom with toilet paper hanging from his hoof. "YEEEEEAAAH!!"

"Alright ponies! DJ PON3 is IN! THE! HOUSE!"

Once more, the room broke into cheers as the music changed. Was it? Yes, it was!

Wubs!

Pinkie listened to the music, and before she knew it, her head was bobbing a little. She felt the uncontrollable urge to jump from her seat and dance her little pink booty off. She sighed a bit, figuring a little dancing might cheer her up, and sat up from her seat. Just then, she noticed somepony moving towards her. Pinkie squinted her eyes. It was then she realized it was a butter yellow pegasus.

Fluttershy.

"Hi! Did you girls already find the wonderbolts!?" Fluttershy shook her head and said something. Whatever she said, though, Pinkie could not hear. "Sorry! Can't hear you over the music! Say it slower so I can read your lips!?" Fluttershy nodded and spoke again. Pinkie Pie stared at her mouth, trying to pick up the words best she could.

"... Friends...... don't.... abandon..... friends....?"

Pinkie stared at Fluttershy, slowly letting those words sink in. "You.... you think of me as a friend!?"

Fluttershy nodded, smiling at the pinke pony.

Pinkie stared at her for the longest time. Suddenly, her lip quivered a bit, and tears welled in her eyes. Fluttershy gasped a bit, saying something lost in the wubs. Pinkie also said something, but it, too, was too quiet to be heard. Had Fluttershy been able to hear it, she would know Pinkie Pie had said something she didn't think she would say before she had left.

'I have a friend.'

Pinkie lunged forward and grabbed Fluttershy into a hug. The shy pegasus had clearly been surprised by the act, but she returned it, gently putting her hooves around Pinkie and returning the hug.

"Hey! Room for one more!?"

The two ponies turned to see where the voice was coming from. Standing there, with an apologetic expression that seemed so foreign on her, was none other than Rainbow Dash, rubbing one of her forelegs with the other, trying not to look at the two ponies.

"I.... I want to impress the wonderbolts.... but I don't want ponies to be sad because of it!"

Pinkie and Fluttershy looked at each other for a minute. They then turned to look at Rainbow Dash. And both of them smiled, throwing their hooves open and pulling her into the hug.

"Ah! Wait! I didn't mean the hug! I meant to hang out! No! I.... I.... ah.... fine... just this once!"

Rainbow Dash hugged both girls.

The three ponies broke up the hug, and Rainbow and Fluttershy blinked in confusion as they noticed something odd about Pinkie.

"Hey, Pinks!"

"What!?"

"Was your hair all poofy and curly like that when you came in!? Or is there something in the air here!?"

Pinkie shrugged. "I don't know!"

Rainbow stared at Pinkie for a bit, before shrugging. The three ponies then made their way onto the dance floor, staying close to each other, and once they were convinced they were in the appropriate area, they did the only thing that made sense; they danced. Vinyl had noticed the three ponies dancing, and smiled a bit. She hadn't known Pinkie Pie very long, but she had already grown fond of the pink pony, and it filled her with no end of joy to see her dancing, smiling, poofy-maned and having fun. Indeed, Pinkie Pie was the physical embodiment of joy.

They say that at that party, the DJ had started off fairly mediocre. Then, at some point, for some reason, she seemed to become impassionate, and the quality of her music had jumped, as if fueled by some sort of energy she had lacked earlier that night.

Rebirth of Mirth

"Oh man, that party was EPIC!"

The door creaked open slowly as Vinyl pushed on it with her hoof, gently looking into the house. All the lights were already out; a fact that made sense, seeing as the day was over and almost everypony (save the late-nighters) was in bed right now. Truth be told, Pinkie couldn't recall the last time she had been up so late! There was a strange thrill to being awake when she should be sleeping! It was like seeing the world for the first time, like experiencing life! The two ponies stepped inside, Vinyl making sure to close the door once Pinkie had stepped in. They both spoke in hushed words, in case Octavia was asleep. Or awake. Or present. Or Octavia.

"I know, right? I mean, I was all 'awww' because of what happened earlier, and then I met those two other ponies, and then we went inside with your help, and then Rainbow Dash said she wanted to see a Wonderbolt, and then I was all 'awww' again, and then Fluttershy wanted to hang with me, and then we hugged, and then we hugged Rainbow Dash, and then-"

"Okay, okay Pinkie! I get it!" Vinyl chuckled a bit, shaking her head as she lit her horn, giving slight illumination to the house. She trotted towards a lamp and tugged on it, lighting the room a bit more. "Right. Good thing your friends waited for us. I'da felt bad letting them wander around town this late at night."

Pinkie tilted her head. "What? Why?"

Vinyl stopped herself. She could remind Pinkie that there was a killer on the loose, one so brazen he attacked a farming family in broad daylight, and bring her night down... but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Pinkie was so happy, so cheerful... tonight, she deserved to forget. Tonight, she deserved joy, happiness...

... a sly grin crossed her features as she realized the best way to end this night, AND finish up on the statement she had made.

"Oh... haven't you heard?"

Pinkie's reaction was expected. "Heard of what?"

Vinyl felt a smidge of evil deep inside of her. "Oh!... I thought Octavia would have told you... about the Headless Horse..." She looked back at the pink filly to be sure her story was taking effect; Pinkie certainly seemed curious and mortified.

"Headless Horse? How could a horse survive without a head? Are they like chickens?"

Vinyl shook her head. "Oh... oh no... the Headless Horse isn't really alive... but not quite dead, you see..." The DJ unicorn turned to face Pinkie. "They say it was once a member of the royal guard, who had been protecting this very village... when one day, he wandered too deep into the Everfree Forest..." Vinyl took a few steps towards Pinkie. "Nopony knows why he did... some say he was beckoned there by unknown forces... some say Nightmare Moon herself willed him there... others say he was just curious... but one constant was... that in that forest... he was attacked by a Manticore, who smashed his head with its powerful hoof!" Vinyl emphasized her point by stomping the floor with her front hoof, causing Pinkie to gasp loudly, throwing her hooves over her mouth to silence herself.

"... and nopony heard from him again. In fact, for fifty years, he was considered dead... forgotten even... until one night... a mare... much like you or I... was simply enjoying a late evening stroll..."

Vinyl trotted closer to Pinkie, who backed up a bit.

"... she heard a clopping noise.. 'clip clop, clip clop'... and when she turned around, she saw nopony. Thinking it was her imagination, she continued..." Vinyl stepped even closer. 'And so did the sound... clip clop... clip clop... she turned around again... once more, no sound, and no pony... and then, when she turned around... there stood a pony, with coat black as night, armor rusted and covered in dirt and grime, and in his hoof the spear he wielded upon his death... he reared up, whinnied out loud, swung his spear and--"

It was just then Vinyl noticed something. Pinkie was tearing up, her jaw hanging open, her hair seeming less poofy, though not entirely flat. She scolded herself internally; in an attempt to spare Pinkie the pain of knowing a killer pony was on the loose, she had unwittedly set upon the path of traumatizing her with a story about a ghost pony that chopped off ponies heads.

But then she had an idea... it was silly, stupid, and she would hate herself for it... but it was for Pinkie.

"... and then he slammed a pie into her face."

Pinkie's tears stopped, she blinked in obvious confusion, closing her mouth a bit, though still seeming a bit worried. Vinyl looked around with no shortage of awkwardness. "Uh... because... he was a prankster pony in life. Did I forget to mention that? Kinda important. He didn't get in one last prank, so he pranks Ponyville every night!"

Pinkie rubbed the tears away. "Th... that doesn't sound scary..."

"And they're mean pranks, and they make ponies feel bad, and he never apologizes!"

Pinkie tilted her head.

For what seemed like the longest time, the two ponies stood there in silence, staring at each other. Suddenly, Pinkie fell to her back, bursting into a fit of giggles and snorts. Vinyl smiled a little, feeling she might have to apologize to her kid cousin for ruining one of her favorite scary stories later; likely, she would have a book full of them shoved in her face, and a lecture be given to her by the admittedly smarter, younger unicorn.

"Twilight'd have a heart attack if she knew I just butchered that story..."

Pinkie was too busy laughing to hear the comment as she slowly got back to her hooves, her mirth winding down as she rubbed some (laughter) tears from her eyes. "That... that was the *smirk*... that was the greatest joke ever! You told it pretty good, Vinnie!" Vinyl couldn't help but tell herself in her head that that was nowhere near funny, or good. It was horrible, and any other pony would have rolled their eyes. But here, this pink filly was happy, laughing at the terrible, mutilated tale of a beheaded ghost pony.

And she was pretty happy about it.

"Right! Well, let's go to bed now, Pinks. Try to be careful, you don't want to wake Octi up." Pinkie nodded enthusiastically and turned to trot up the stairs. She suddenly stopped, however, doing an about face.

"Oh, Vinnie?"

"Yeah, Pinkie?"

Pinkie Pie smiled. "Thanks for cheering me up."

Vinyl could only return the smile. "Anytime, kid."

With that, Pinkie returned to her journey up the stairs. Vinyl turned around to look out a nearby window. There was some sort of strange sense welling up in her now... something she wasn't used to. Vinyl was a good pony, but she seldom had to go out of her way or comfort zone to do anything for anypony else, and yet tonight she had helped a sad Pinkie Pie get into a dance club, brighten up, and made her laugh.

It was a warm, fuzzy feeling, one she normally only associated with making good music.

She smiled a bit. She had no idea what that feeling was... but she liked it.

Vinyl's jaw stretched wide as she let out a very lengthy yawn. She hadn't even realized how tired she was! Deciding now was as good a time as any, Vinyl used her magic to turn off the lamp, trotting towards, then up the stairs herself, ready to throw herself to her bed and drift into dreamland.

****

Pinkie Pie slipped quietly into the bedroom, giving herself some time to allow her eyes to adjust to the darkness. The energetic pink pony looked about, barely being able to make out shapes in the small room. She did, however, notice Octavia's sleeping bag had a lump in it - the mare likely having fallen asleep a while ago. Pinkie gently tip-hoofed towards the bed, and climbed into it. As she did, ever slowly, the torturous sounds of the springs and material creaking under her weight dug into her like knives. It's not that she was afraid of her sister; she just didn't want to wake her from whatever amazing dreams she might be having! Once she was all the way in, she pulled the covers up and over herself, and laid her head onto the pillow.

"Hi Pinkamena."

Pinkie froze.

"H-hi, Octavia."

Octavia shifted around in her sleeping bag. Pinkie's eyes had adjusted just enough to see this much, as her elder sister turned to face her. "Did you have fun with your friends tonight?"

Pinkie nodded a bit. After a little silence, she realized Octavia may not have noticed. "Yeah. It was really fun."

Pinkie could swear she heard the smile in Octavia's voice. "That's good... so, what did you three do?"

Pinkie would love to tell her sister about the truth. About how they had gotten into that club, about the energy that seemed to fill the entire room, about the life, the carelessness, they passion and power of the party... but her sister followed rules. She loved her sister too much to tell her that her younger sibling had broken any rules to have fun, especially with two accomplices.

"Oh, we just hung out. Hanged out... is it hung or hanged?"

Octavia smirked. "Hung... and that's good." She could see well enough now to see that Octavia had sat herself up somewhat, on her elbow mostly, and was looking up at Pinkie. "I can't say I approve of your choice in friends... but considering my best friend is a major pain in my flank, I see no reason to complain." The two sisters had a fun little laugh at the comment.

"... They're really nice..." said Pinkie Pie. "... Rainbow Dash seemed a bit hard-headed, but she seemed pretty loyal to me. She gave up a chance to meet a wonderbolt just to hang out with me... and Fluttershy was super duper kind! She was really shy, and kinda the last pony I expected to speak up for a pony she had just met..."

Octavia nodded. "I see... sounds good.... so.... how was the club?"

Pinkie smiled. "It was fun...."

There was a silence for a few minutes. Slowly, the connections in Pinkie's mind were made, and she stared wide-eyed at her sister. "Uh... that is... I mean..."

Octavia chuckled a bit, shaking her head. "Its okay, Pinkie... its okay. I should be mad, yes, but I'm just glad you're feeling better and that you've made some friends..." Octavia looked up towards her sister. "You DO feel better... right?"

Pinkie nodded, looking at her hooves. "Yeah... I'll admit... I'm still very sad... I'm still very upset about what happened to that stallion and the Apple family... but..." Pinkie hummed a bit, trying to think about the words she wanted to use carefully. "... I... that party... there were so many ponies, who just didn't care... who were too busy having fun to care... and it made me realize..." Pinkie looked down at her sister, smiling. "... that... even though I'm sad... I shouldn't let that sadness hurt me as much as I was letting it..."

Octavia stood up from her sleeping bag and moved towards her sister, wrapping her forelegs around her into a hug, and Pinkie returned it happily. The two sisters held each other for a few seconds before breaking the hug. Pinkie wasn't sure, but she could have sworn she'd seen tears in her sister's eyes (which was weird considering it was still pretty dark) even though she was smiling at her.

"I'm glad you feel that way, sister.... so... do you still intend to go home tomorrow?"

Pinkie shook her head. "No... I mean, I'm not saying I'm sure I want to stay out here.... but I want to experience more of the world! I want to go to more parties, I want to meet more ponies... and... Maybe it's too much... but I'd like to make a difference in the lives of ponies..." Pinkie giggled some, smiling towards her sister once more. "If I could change one pony's life for the better... I think I'd be happy."

Octavia chuckled a bit, shaking her head. "Oh Pinkie... leave it to you to want to make a difference..."

Octavia laid back into her sleeping bag, pulling it over her. "Well, sister, I think we've both had a long day. What say we pay the Sand Stallion a visit?"

Pinkie blinked a bit. "Wha...? Can't we get some sleep and visit him tomorrow?"

Octavia smirked, shaking her head at her sister. "Oh, Pinkie..."

-----------------------------------------------
TO BE CONTINUED...

Pinkie Pie Solutions

A few weeks had passed since the murder of the Patriarch of the Apple Family. The whole town knew the news, and everypony mourned in their own ways. A lot of ponies had attended the funeral, and word has it the entire Apple family had attended to pay their last respects to the farm pony.

Pinkie felt obligated to attend herself, much to her sister's chagrin.

Since the day of the Funeral, however, Pinkie had made it a point to greet Big McIntosh every time he was in market. For the first two weeks, Applejack wouldn't bother showing up, locking herself in her room. As of late, however, she had begun to occasionally replace her brother when coming to the market (apparently, the two switched every once in a while, with the younger, less powerful Applejack favoring the stall while Big McIntosh favored harvesting.)

And, on that note, she had seen more ponies around the farm. According to Big McIntosh, some relatives were helping around the farm in this troubling time of transition. This allowed Mac to take the stall and, occasionally, take a break. Of course, Ponyville needed a familiar face to run the stall; it was the face of the Apple Family.

A face that had recently been laid to rest.

Pinkie found herself trotting towards the Apple Stand, ready to have a friendly conversation with the orange mare that ran it. As she approached, she took a moment to analyze Applejack; she looked largely the same as before, although her eyes were more distant, less focused on the world around her. She had worn the stetson her father had given her every day she had seen her so far; something that, Applejack had explained, makes her feel like her parents are right there with her, in spirit. Pinkie had learned that hat had belonged to her mother, who died giving birth to her younger sister, one Applebloom Apple. Her dad had worn it every day to honor her memory.

And Applejack claimed she was ready to do the same thing for the both of them.

Pinkie Pie approached the stall, smiling a little; she didn't want to come off as too happy in these times. One should spread joy and merriment, but one should also consider the feelings of others, and although Applejack was no longer crying and locking herself into her room, there was no denying she was just as sad as she was at the start of it all. She couldn't blame her of course. Losing a parent is a hard thing, especially so close to losing another one.

"Hi Applejack. How are you feeling today?"

Applejack looked to Pinkie Pie, offering a tired, mirthless smile. "Ah guess as good as can be expected, sugar cube... thanks fer askin'." Pinkie Pie nodded and sat on her haunches before the stall. "So, what can I get ya?"

Pinkie looked at the food for a moment, pulling out the bag of bits her sister had given her as an allowance; Octavia had suggested Pinkie look for work, or at least odd jobs to help make a little extra money. She was doing just that, of course, but so far the only luck she had been being offered an interview at a local restaurant; the one she had eaten at on her first day. Fortunatly, they said she did a good job of cleaning dishes (better, it seemed, than most of their actual employees) so she had high hopes!

"I'll take an Apple Fritter, please."

Applejack gave a silent nod, reaching under her stall and producing from it the desired Fritter. Pinkie took it, tossed it up into the air, and let it fall into her mouth, chewing joyfully on the treat. She stepped aside so that nopony would mistake her for being in the line (though it seemed like a slow day today) and sat next to Applejack.

"So, A.J... how is the family?"

Applejack sighed. "Big McIntosh is frustrated as buck... Pa had been trainin' him t' handle the farms taxes b'fore... " Applejack's face scrunched up, as if threatening to welcome emotions to the surface, but Applejack herself relented, reinstalling her more tired expression. "... well... he's doin' just fine... but he's not used t' doin' it so often, an' keepin' track of things is difficult... if we didn't have our family helpin' us with harvest, Ah don't think we'd be able t' keep th' farm..."

Pinkie frowned. "What would you do if you lost the farm..?"

Applejack shrugged a bit. "... We got family all over Equestria... Ah imagine we'd have t' move in with somepony who had th' space n' food t' spare... at least until we could get back on our feet..." Applejack suddenly shuddered. "Ah don't even wanna think of it... mah pa... my granny... upwards t' four or five generations of Apples have worked hard t' make Sweet Apple Acres what it is today... Ah'd hate t' be one of the ponies t' lose it..."

Pinkie shrugged a bit, looking around. "... Sorry if this brings up old feelings but... I was curious.... did they ever catch the pony who...."

Applejack scowled a bit, though not at Pinkie so much as at the very pony she could only wish she could get her hooves on. "No... they caught a pony they thought was him, but Granny n' Carrot Top said it weren’t th' case..."

Pinkie sighed a bit, looking at her hooves as if they could hold the answers to the questions the world had to ask.

"Your banana nut muffins are horrible! They taste like rocks!"

"Well your chocolate cupcakes have the displeasure of looking AND tasting like fertilizer!"

Applejack groaned. "Not those two again..."

Applejack had, in her absent-mindedness, accidentally set her stall up close enough to the pastry shops to listen to their proprietors fight each other.

"How DARE you! Princess Celestia herself has eaten my cupcakes! Can your stupid little muffins make that claim?" shouted Carrot, pointing an accusatory hoof at the pudgy blue mare.

Her response was to grin smugly. "As a matter of fact, they can, and she told me they were simply divine! Did she give YOU any praise, you hard-headed punk?" retorted Cup Cake.

Carrot gasped and growled. "Yes, she did! She told me my banana nut muffins were to die for! I remember cause when I said it, a guard stallion was giving me a dirty look and the Princess had to confirm that she had, in fact, not been poisoned!"

Their argument carried on as Pinkie Pie began to think. She felt like there was an answer to all of life's problems, simply lying in the ether, waiting for her to find it. It was then Pinkie noticed that a colt was approaching the stand; he seemed to be slightly younger than Big Mac himself, and was wearing a stetson hat and a vest. His coat was a butter yellow color, mane a mix of that and a slightly brownish gold, and his flank was graced by a single red apple.

"Heya cous. How're ya holdin' up?"

Applejack smiled. "Eh, business is slow... Ah imagine Ah got th' bakers over there t' thank fer that..." Braeburn turned to watch as the two continued to bicker like foals, exchanging accusations, claims of superiority, and colorful language.

"Wow... and they aint been kicked outta th' town?" asked Braeburn.

Applejack shook her head. "Ah don't get it either, cousin. Ah guess they are pretty good, so ponies like t' turn th' other cheek on 'em. Don't hide th' fact they're becomin' an ear sore in th' town."

Braeburn nodded a bit, then gasped. "Oh! Before Ah forget... this came in th' mail fer ya!" Braeburn reached under his hat and produced from it an envelope, passing it to Applejack, who looked at it cautiously.

To: Applejack
From: A Secret Admirer

"Huh... another one of these..."

Pinkie and Braeburn looked to each other, then back to Applejack. The apple filly sighed a bit. "Fer the past two months, every week or so Ah been gettin' letters from some secret admirer. Says he wishes he could tell me who he was, but he's much too shy t' express himself..." Applejack looked at the envelope. "... Then after pa.... he sent a letter sayin' he had heard about what happened... n' that he wished he could help, n' offer his condolences... Ah aint heard from 'em again. Ah dunno if he was givin' me time t' mourn er what, but maybe Ah'll find out when Ah read this."

Braeburn nodded. "Sounds mighty thoughtful... so, ya gonna read it?"

Applejack scowled. "Heck no. This is mah mail, an' it's private. Ah'll let ya in on th' details when an' if Ah'm ready!"

Applejack shoved the envelope under her stetson and sighed a bit. "Well... Ah don't think Ah'm gonna sell too much with those two fightin' as they are... Braeburn, y'all mind mindin' th' cart while Ah go use the lil' filly's room?" Braeburn simply nodded, and Applejack stepped from behind the cart, trotting towards a local shop to ask if she could borrow their restroom. Pinkie didn't follow, she was too busy rummaging through her thoughts and piecing things together. She felt like she was just at the edge of some great discovery or idea, but it was sitting just out of hoof's reach.

Shrugging, Pinkie turned to face Braeburn and smiled. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Mister Braeburn! I've gotta go!" Braeburn tilted his hat a bit as Pinkie turned around and bounced away.

She made her way towards Vinyl and Octavia's house and stopped just outside the door. She was about to open it when she heard a noise - the sound of voices. She trotted around the other side of the house to look inside a window. What she was was Vinyl Scratch and a stallion - not like she had seen when she had first gotten here, no. This stallion, a unicorn she noticed, seemed much older than Vinyl herself, his coat a sky blue, his mane the same shade of blue as Vinyl's, and his eyes a golden yellow color, and his cutie mark was that of three stars.

"Listen, Vinyl, you know your mother and I love you deeply, and that we want you to be happy, but this is just silly. You've been chasing this dream for years now, and has it paid off yet?"

Vinyl scowled at the stallion. "Dad, you aren’t listening! Every week for the past few weeks I've been DJing at the local club! They said they liked my music! They said that I was great, and that they might be hiring me more regularly! I just need a bit more time!"

"Time to what, Vinyl?"

Vinyl bit her lip. The unicorn that Pinkie now understood to be her father simply sat there, waiting. "... Vinyl, do you even have a plan?"

Vinyl Scratch sighed. "D-dad... a big name DJ was in the club a few weeks ago! I swear, I think I'm close! I just need a few more weeks! Just a few more?"

The stallion sighed, his expression shifting to one that was sterner, less 'nice stallion.'

"No."

Vinyl stared. "W.... no?"

The stallion's expression seemed almost upset, angry even. "No, Vinyl. No more. Your mother and I have been giving you money to help you live your life following this crazy... stupid dream of yours in the hopes that you would eventually come to your senses and do something meaningful with your life. You make just enough money on your own to allow us to have to give you slightly less money than we had to to start with... but no more."

Vinyl frowned. "D-dad, think about what you're saying here..."

"I am, Vinyl. I've had a lot of time to think of it, and I'm tired. Your younger cousin Twilight is the protégé of the Princess... THE PRINCESS, Vinyl! She's learning to be a magician from what is perhaps the best teacher in all of Equestria, while you dawdle away in this hovel, drinking, partying, and doing who KNOWS what else! Your mother and I will not be sending you money anymore! You can come home if you wish, and let us help you set your life straight, or you can waste away in this.... backwater little dirt town."

Vinyl growled. "Fine! You know what? I don't need you, dad! I don't need mom either! I'll get by on my own! I'll become an amazing DJ without your help!"

The stallion huffed. "Keep thinking that Vinyl. I'm staying at the Hoof's Home Inn tonight, and I'm boarding the train back to Canterlot tomorrow. If you come to your senses within that time, you know where to find me." Without another word, the stallion trotted towards the door. Pinkie heard it open and close, and watched as the unicorn made his way down the street.

Pinkie made her way to the door and opened it, closing it gently behind her. She was about to call out to Vinyl when she stopped herself. She heard a sound, but she couldn't quite make out what it was. She slowly moved towards the kitchen, and peaked around the corner, and her jaw dropped at what she saw.

Vinyl was laying on her stomach on the floor, her glasses next to her, and her face was buried in her forelegs. Her shoulders shook and shuddered, soft sniffling noises, chokes, and sobs associating the motions. Pinkie could not believe what she was seeing. She could not believe she was watching Vinyl Scratch, the single most problem free pony she had ever known, crying.

"Vinnie...?"

Vinyl jumped up immediately, grabbing her glasses and shoving them over her eyes. She sniffled some before speaking, her voice showing the obvious sighs of crying. "P-Pinkie, I... uh... I didn't expect you here... I was just..."

Pinkie trotted towards Vinyl and wrapped her forelegs around the older unicorn. Vinyl was a bit surprised, and did nothing at first, but slowly, Pinkie felt Vinyl return the gesture, hugging Pinkie back.

"I heard everything, Vinnie..."

Vinyl sniffled a bit, tightening her grip on Pinkie. "... I... I c-can't lose that money... we're just barely managing to get by... w... what do I tell Octi...?"

Pinkie shook her head. "I don't know..."

Vinyl broke the hug long enough to look Pinkie in the eyes, sniffling a bit. Her expression slowly grew more and more strong as she re-asserted herself. "No... no, this is not gonna happen, Pinkie." She let go of the pink filly and tapped her chin. "This.... this sucks... but you know what? I can make due. I'll just have to find a normal job, something part time, to hold us over until my success blossoms... maybe try to get more work at the club..."

Pinkie smiled a bit. "And I've got more interviews I could do! Plus, those ponies at the restaurant seemed to like me!"

Vinyl smiled a bit more, coughing again. "Ya know what, Pinkie? I think everything's gonna be okay... we just gotta get our hooves a bit dirtier is all..."

Pinkie grinned. "And me and Octavia are used to getting our hooves dirty! We worked on a rock farm, which was chalk FULL of dirt!" Pinkie put a foreleg around Vinyl's shoulder, and pulled her close, holding her other foreleg out as if establishing a setting in the mind's eye. "Dirt! Dirt everywhere!" The two ponies shared a good chuckle for a few minutes.

It was then inspiration hit Pinkie Pie.

"I JUST HAD THE BEST IDEA EVER!"

Vinyl quirked her brow as Pinkie stared at her. "WE SHOULD THROW A PARTY!"

Vinyl smirked. "Right now?"

Pinkie shook her head. "No! I mean, I got to thinking! You need to get noticed as a DJ, Applejack is sad, she has a secret admirer who wants to meet her, and I need to find a way to get the Cakes to work together or at LEAST stop fighting! The answer is so simple!"

Vinyl waited for a response.

Pinkie grinned. "I have some preparations to make!" With that, the pink pony stepped out of the house, leaving Vinyl confused. She sighed a bit, looking around. "Guess I should check those newspapers Octi always gets for work."

Pinkie Pie's Positively Perfect Party Plan

"So, tell me, sister, why did you decide to bother me at work?"

The two ponies sat just outside of a fancy restaurant; the place that Octavia was employed at, of course as a bus-filly. Much like Vinyl, Octavia required more mundane work as she waited for success to come her way, for a chance to be noticed, a chance to be seen... but unlike Vinyl, her success could not be found quite as easily. In fact, she had performed for a few ponies already; some of which were very decently placed... however, she had yet to receive calls for any of them.

Any day now.

Pinkie grinned big towards her sister. "A party!"

Octavia stared silently for a minute, as if registering that she had just been pulled away from her job to hear so simple a thing. "... A party."

Pinkie shook her head. "No no no! Not just -A- party! -THE- party! The biggest, bestest party in all of Ponyville! The party that brings this town together, and lightens the hearts of Ponyvillians, and makes everything end A-Okay!"

Octavia blinked a few times. "... Pinkamena... as... noble as your intentions sound, I don't think you understand how things work... "

Pinkie shook her head. "I really don't! I know that! But I do know this... there's a lot of angry, stressed ponies out there! The club showed me that ponies are happiest when they let the worries of the world go - even if only for a little bit!"

Octavia rolled her eyes. "Pinkie... you do know getting the entire town into a party is going to be difficult, if not impossible, right?"

Pinkie shook her head. "Maybe I can't get the whole town to party... I just need enough! I just need enough ponies to come to my party to make it count! If I can do that, then it succeeds!"

Octavia shrugged. "Well... whatever, Pinkamena... I'll be glad to help any way I can... but I hope you actually plan things out better... if your plan remains as simple as it is now--"

"Oh! My plan is simple, but I haven’t told you it yet!"

Octavia quirked a brow. "... And why not?"

Pinkie grinned. "'Cause, silly! This plan is for one pony to know, and everypony else to find out!"

Octavia felt that little hypothetical tumor with Pinkie's name on it grow in her brain. As she stopped imagining the imaginary lump, she shook her head. "Right. Of course. Can I get back to work now?"

Pinkie nodded. "Please do!" Without so much as another word, Pinkie began to bounce away, leaving Vinyl to return to her duties with a greater headache than she had anticipated.

Over the course of the next few days, Pinkie had continued to plot and plan and scheme her amazing party. It had to go just right; any little deviation from her positively positive party plan could potentially pop her preconceived planning potential for parties! ... Or something like that! Still, Pinkie was fairly convinced she was doing well enough. She had to get phase one dealt with first, however. Phase one was probably the most important phase of all phases!

And so, here she was. Staring at two bakeries. Each one holding a pony she wanted to see. Each one holding a pony happy to see her. And each one holding ponies who could go the rest of their lives without seeing one another.

She trotted into the first one.

"Hiya, Mister Cake!"

Carrot smiled. "Why hello, Pinkie! I haven't seen you for a week! How've you been? How's Octavia?"

Pinkie giggled. "Octi's fine, thanks! Also, Applejack probably didn't say anything to you, but the Apples are grateful for the treats you sent them!"

Carrot waved a hoof. "Ah, it was nothing... I was friends with the old farmer. Well... acquaintances, really, but he seemed nice enough!"

Pinkie nodded. "Yeah! Hey, I got a bit of an odd request, and I know you won't like it at first, but PLEASE hear me out?" Carrot seemed a bit unnerved at first, but he gestured for her to go on. Pinkie nodded. "You see... ever since I came to Ponyville, I had one dream; to throw the single biggest party this town has ever seen! For the past few weeks, I've been researching, I've been partying, and I've been talking to friends, and I think I can do it! Thing is, I need help..."

Carrot smiled. "I see! You need the best bakery in Ponyville's help? I'd be glad to--"

Pinkie held up a hoof. "Before you commit to anything, there's something you should know!" Carrot Cake stared as Pinkie took a deep breath... then released. "... Cup Cake is going to be there."

He almost seemed to fall back, practically rearing. "W-What!?"

Pinkie nodded. "Oh yes. She agreed to come there. Truth be told, I asked her cause I didn't think you'd be willing to help! I was desperate! But I'm too nice a pony to just tell her otherwise, so I can't un-ask her to come! Will you still do it?"

Carrot Cake seemed to mull it over. He really didn't want to be in the same space as that pompous, stupid, talentless witch... but a party was good publicity. If she was going to be there, he might be able to show her up, and prove once and for all that he was the superior baker. He could finally prove it, indisputably!

He grinned. "Of course, Pinkie... but only because you're one of my favorite customers!" It was a lie, of course; in fact, he barely knew more than Pinkie's name. Still, she didn't have to know that.

Pinkie smiled. "Oh thank you thank you THANK you, Mister Cake! You won't regret it! All I ask of you is that you not fight with Cup Cake, please?"

Carrot nodded. "Scout's honor, Pinkie. Though, if she does anything, I can't promise I won't act accordingly."

Pinkie nodded. "Of course!" With that, Pinkie merrily trotted out of the store and to the side. What nopony noticed was she had trotted in a circle; around the back of the two cupcake stores, and back to the front, and entering Cup Cake's bakery.

"Oh, hello Pinkie! Good day!"

Pinkie smiled. "Hiya Ms. Cake! The Apples send their regards! The Cup Cakes were delicious!"

Cup Cake blushed and giggled. "Oh, it was nothing... poor family, that poor stallion... it was the absolute least I could do!"

Pinkie grinned. "Say, I have an odd request, and I know you won't like it at first, but PLEASE hear me out...?"

Phase one was complete.

Pinkie was trotting down the street, her mind racing with possibility. Things were going so smoothly! She had both bakers committed to her cause (even if she had to be a little dishonest with them, it was for the greater good) and ready to force their rivalry down just long enough to realize how well they can work together. Phase two could go either way. She just had to hope the Apples were feeling charitable in this, their time of mourning. It was a long shot, but maybe the promise of a lightened mood would help? Besides, she knew Big Mac and Applejack well enough; maybe that could work?

She gently, carefully... knocked her head against the door.

And slowly, it opened, revealing a Big Mac, holding a tiny, yellow-coated baby filly. Judging by her age, Applebloom's mother hadn't passed away any longer than a year ago. "Oh, howdy Ms. Pinkie. What can Ah do ya for?"

"Free..."

Big Mac quirked his brow. Pinkie gasped and shook her head. "I mean, ah, is Applejack here? I really need to talk to her! It's SUPER important!" The elder stallion gave her a concerned, even slightly crept out look before edging back in the house. Soon, the door opened again, with Applejack stepping out.

"Oh, Hi there Pinkie... what do y'all want?"

Pinkie grinned. "Well, I had a super fun great idea! I know your family has been having a tough time lately, and I know the last thing you probably want to think about is parties, but I was hoping you might be up for hosting a party?"

Applejack stared, almost as if the pink filly before her was crazy. "... Pinkie... Ah reckon yer heart is in the right place... but Ah think yer crazy..."

Pinkie frowned. "Please, Applejack? I was doing this for you! Well, for a lot of ponies, but you're a big reason! I wanted to throw you a party so you could cheer up!"

Applejack sighed. "Pinkie... mah dad just died... Ah dunno if ya've ever lost family, but that aint somethin' a simple lil' party is gonna wash away... one of the most important ponies in mah life is gone forever, an' so short after we lost ma..."

Pinkie gave her her most pleading eyes. "I know, Applejack! It's terrible! It's the single most horrible thing I've ever witnessed, and I can't even imagine how you must feel!" She gently took Applejack's hoof between her own. "That's why I want to throw you a party... so I can take at least a little of that pain away... I don't expect to make it go away... I just want you to see how many ponies care..."

Applejack stared at Pinkie for a bit.

"Ah think it's a great idear m'self!"

The two fillies turned to face an elderly green mare, sitting in a rocking chair, smiling at them. "Ah think we've grieved long 'nuff, Applejack. Yer pa was a great stallion, n' the world is a worse place without 'em... but that's why Ah think y'all should do it! Show mah boy that th' Apples're strong, n' when we get knocked down, we get right back up again! Not only will it make y'all feel better, Ah suspect it'd be a kick in the nethers fer th' stallion what killed yer pa, knowin' his family aint lettin' him win!"

Applejack looked down at her hooves, deep in thought. She had so many reasons to say no... and really very few to say yes. But few as they were, the reasons to say yes seemed far more justified, even if she wasn't too comfortable with them herself. Applejack smiled a bit, shaking her head. "Fine... Ah guess we can... long as y' keep th' party in th' barn an' let ponies know th' house is off limits."

Pinkie's grin was so big, Applejack could swear her face would fall off if it grew any bigger. The pink pony hugged her with a great deal of strength. "Ohhhh thanks Applejack! Just you wait, you'll be happy and smiling in no time! It'll be the best part EVER!" Pinkie sat Applejack back down, who re-adjusted her hat on her head. "Ah.. eh... thanks Pinkie Pie... Ah guess..."

With that, Pinkie turned and trotted away, down the path out of Sweet Apple Acres.

"Wow... you really have THAT much done?"

Pinkie and Octavia were trotting down the street, towards home. Octavia had just gotten out of work, and was being regaled by Pinkie's tale. In just the span of a few hours, Pinkie had earned the help of the bakers AND of the Apples. It wasn't much at first glance, but it was still more than she had expected, what with the bakers hating each other and the Apples' recent loss.

"Yup! I didn't even have to break out the big guns and offer to pay them! They seemed willing to do it all for free!"

Octavia shook her head. If there's one thing she had to admit, her sister was surprisingly as resourceful as she was resilient. "Well Pinkie, color me impressed. I still think it's a crazy idea, but with the seeming ease you've pulled everything off so far, you might just be able to do it..."

Pinkie nodded, grinning. "There comes the next part! I'll need help from you and Vinny!"

Octavia quirked her brow at her sister. "Me? Why me?"

Pinkie hummed. "Well, I'll need tables, punch, cups for punch, a punch bowl, confetti, streamers, balloons, party stuff!"

Octavia grimaced some. "Pinkie... I don't know if we have the kind of money to pull all that off right now... until you and Vinyl find work, things will be tight until her father sends her next check..."

Pinkie scrunched her nose a bit. Octavia stared at her sister. "... Pinkie?"

Pinkie smiled sheepishly. "Uh... what if... he's no longer going to be sending her money...?"

Octavia's jaw fell. It was silent for a few minutes, before she shook her head. "P-Pinkie... those checks were the only thing holding us over. If Vinyl's father isn't funding her anymore, we won't be able to pay next month's rent... we'll be kicked out of our home and into the streets!"

Pinkie frowned. "Oh? Oh... huh... guess that is a bit of an issue..."

Octavia shook her head. "P-Pinkie... I don't think we can afford anything... I... I dare say, that commission I got from Rarity a few days ago may have been too much--"

Pinkie gasped. "Ooo! You bought something from Rarity!? What!? Can I see!?"

Octavia shook her head. "She hasn't finished it... truth is, I was going to go to her place to get a fitting once I was done with work... but..."

Pinkie shrugged. "Nevermind. I can make due! After all, a party doesn't NEED balloons and confetti - they're just nice to have! Besides, that gives me more time to make the invitations!"

With that, Pinkie zoomed off without so much as a goodbye. Octavia sighed, shaking her head at her younger sibling's impulsive, chaotic nature... and now she had a new fear to dread at night. Truth be told, the home she and Vinyl had now was a steal; if they couldn't afford it, then they might have to move out... and to where? Best case scenario, Vinyl's parents might agree to let Octavia stay with them for a bit... actually, that could work... but there would DEFINATLY be no way they'd take Pinkie, if half of what Vinyl said was true.

It was then she realized she was already at the front door of the home she had made her way to. Gently tapping her hoof against the door, Octavia waited until it was answered by the very mare she wanted to see. "Oh! Hello darling, glad to see you made it!"

Octavia smiled. "You said to come back here for a fitting?"

Rarity nodded. "Oh yes, dear, yes, do come in!" Rarity led Octavia into her home; it was a nice place. Obviously her family did not want for anything; the house was very tidy, neat, and very well built. On the wall was a painting of a unicorn with a long, silver mane, wearing a dress; no doubt related to Rarity herself. Below it were some photos, though they were much too distant for Octavia to identify. Just then, Rarity returned with a piece of paper.

"Alright, I wanted your opinion on this before I did anything. It's bold, in my own opinion... but.. it seems to fit what you wanted... at first, I thought of making you a nice, simple black dress... but when you said you had wanted to present yourself as a musician, I rethought my idea... and I came up with this."

Rarity handed the picture to Octavia, who simply looked over it.

"... It's... not much, I know, but it seems to fit you, from what you've told me. Simple... yet elegant, beautiful, and sophisticated. It draws attention, without outright begging for it, relying instead on grace and beauty."

Octavia stared, jaw hanging loosely at the picture. "... I.... I love it... oh my goodness, this is exactly what I need..."

Rarity visibly beamed and almost squealed in delight. "Oh YES! I knew you'd love it! It's simple enough that I can finish it in the next few days! Oh, do promise me you'll wear it often?"

Octavia smiled a bit. "... If you make this for me, I will probably wear it everywhere I go, Ms. Rarity." Rarity nodded. Her magic wrapped around the sketch, depicting a collar with a bow sketched on it. "I only need a few measurements to do this one, and I'll return to you some of the bits you offered since it's such a simple project!"

"... and.... you..... are..... the light..... in..... the..... night.... sky...."

A grey coated stallion with ice blue eyes and a white mane stared at a piece of paper as he wrote. He dipped his quill into an inkwell, resuming to his righting momentarily. Suddenly, he heard a knock on his door and jumped. Looking quickly to his letter, he was relieved to see he hadn't ruined it. He had to burn a few copies already; he didn't want to lose his perfect writing, his soul unleashed. He gently set the quill in the inkwell and trotted towards the door, peeping out of the peep hole.

Standing there was a pink filly with a poofy mane.

He opened it a bit, the door stopping when it was a crack open. "Yeah? What do you want?"

Pinkie tilted her head, looking into his eye. "Oh! Uh, I was just passin' out invites to a party to everypony in town, and everyone in Ponyville is appreciated, so everypony in Ponyville is invited!" With that, Pinkie reached behind her into a wagon that had piles of probable invites in it. She pulled up one and almost pushed it toward the door.

"No, no invites, I'm not going to your party. Beat it."

Pinkie frowned a bit. "Wh... what? B-but, everypony is invited..."

"I said no. Now get lost."

"B-But, the party is gonna be at Sweet Apple Acres, and the Cakes will be selling cakes, and, and--"

"Wait... Sweet Apple Acres?"

Pinkie grinned. She had a bite! "The one and only! My good friend, Applejack, will be hosting the best party in Ponyville history! Why, we're hoping everypony will be there! There'll be cakes, and music, and fun times to be had by all! What do you say?"

The pony on the other side of the door was quiet for a few minutes. "... Alright. Gimme an invite." Pinkie squealed in delight, and shoved an invited between the cracks, and it was quickly snatched from her.

"Well, we can't wait to see you there!"

"Yeah yeah... have a nice day."

With that, the door shut. The sound of various locks and latches could be heard. Pinkie blinked a few times, shrugged, and bounced on her marry way, dragging her wagon behind her.

Inside, the stallion stared at the invite. He blinked a few times, looking at it suspiciously. It could only be coincidence, right? Surely she couldn't know? He smiled a bit, returning to his desk. He took his quill from his inkwell, and resumed writing. Soon, he finished, and then he folded his letter, placing it in an envelope. Licking the edges, he sealed it, and turned it around, smiling proudly at the letters on the front.

To: Applejack
From: Your Secret Admirer

High Expectations

To say Pinkie Pie was ecstatic of her plan was the understatement of the year; she was positively thrilled. She never once grew tired of telling of ponies of the party at Sweet Apple Acres, of the co-operation between the Cakes during said party, of the music that the party would employ, and of the other ponies expected at that very same party! In fact, with each retelling of the party plan, she became more and more energized, almost wishing she could shut her eyes and the party just happen right then and there! Of course, the party wasn't until tomorrow. Most ponies might have given a bit more notice, but she wasn't patient enough to wait a week or a few days or anything. Heck, she was barely patient enough to wait for one day!

Still, the gears were in motion. Pinkie's plan was constantly under evolutionary potential; she wanted her party to be the best, and if she came up with new ideas along the way, she would put them into the scheme as well! Why, she dared to think of what she might do! So many possibilities just outside of her mind's eye...

It was then she saw her sister trotting out of Rarity's house.

"Oh hi 'Tavy! How are ya?"

Octavia quirked a brow. "Hi Pinkie... I... see you've come up with a new nickname for me?"

Pinkie nodded. "Yeah! I know that I used to like calling you Octi and Vinyl liked calling you Octi and I suspect we both did it cause it sounded funny cause it makes me think of octopuses... octopi? Octo-Pie! Get it, cause your name is Octavia Pie!"

"Pinkie."

"Oh yeah! So, I thought to myself, 'Octi sounds a bit weird' so I tried a few things! I thought of 'Octa' but that sounded like a bad villain name. I thought of 'Avia' but that made me think of birds! 'Tavy' came to me, and I was all 'OH YEAH THAT'S IT RIGHT THERE!' Now I'm calling you 'Tavy!"

Octavia sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I see... so... what is with the wagon?"

Pinkie grinned. "Invites! I'm passin' 'em to everypony in town! So far I have a few ponies already aboard! I was trying to come up with new ideas for my party too! What are YOU doing?"

Octavia smiled. "Well... after some consideration I bought something from Rarity. She's working on it as we speak..."

Pinkie hummed. ".... Do you think she does decorations?"

The elder sister quirked her brow, placing her hoof on the back of her head and stroking. "I don't know, Pinkamena... it might not be polite to just ask her to-"

"Nevermind, I'll ask her myself!" Without another word, Pinkie bounced towards Rarity's home. Octavia groaned a bit internally as she resumed her previous journey back home.

Her mind raced with information as she turned to a problem she knew was looming over the horizon. With Pinkie Pie unemployed, Octavia only getting the occasional bit from her DJ work, and Octavia herself only earning minimum wage, she had no idea how they could survive. They had already paid this month's rent, but they were sorely low on funds, so they would have to live with the bare minimum for a while. She dreaded to think of it, but they may even have to look for a roommate as well to help pay the money; something she knew Vinyl wouldn't be happy with as they barely had room for Pinkie in their two bedroom home.

Still, desperate times and all. Another option was always, of course, finding a new home. A cheaper one, perhaps... but any cheaper than their current home, they'd probably live in a one room apartment. Still... a small home is better than no home at all.

As she opened the door to their home and stepped in, she couldn't help but notice how silent it was. Too silent, really. Octavia trotted into the dining area and was shocked to see Vinyl, sitting at the table, with the Want Ads in front of her. "... Vinyl?"

Vinyl looked up at her. "Wha?" She turned her gaze back at the paper, then grinned back up at Octavia. "Oh yeah, this. Well, I figured if the old man was cutting me off, I better get a real job and pull my weight around here. After all, I always figured if I left this old place I'd be goin' to a better home. Preferably one that didn't belong to my parents."

Octavia felt conflicting emotions at the moment. For so long she had hoped that Vinyl would find a real job, get out there and do more, make more money, become self sufficient. She was proud to see her friend pulling herself towards work under the situation given to her, to see that Vinyl was a mare of resourcefulness, of action. And yet, she was angry. Angry at the stallion who would force her to this, to the halfway point of choosing between her dream and her father's dream for her.

Vinyl would not give in so easily. She would likely be a pauper if she were alone. She was doing this for her friends, more so than herself, and Octavia knew it.

Still, at this time, Octavia knew to say nothing. She smiled respectfully to the unicorn instead. "I see. Well, I shall be in my room, resting if you need me."

Vinyl nodded. "Alright, you deserve a rest. Take it easy, 'Tavy."

"... You too?"

"What can I say? The Octavia-puss joke wore on me, and 'Tavy sounds more like you." Octavia smirked, shaking her head a bit as she resumed her trip up the stairs, ready to take a well earned nap.

Pinkie was trotting home for the night. It had been hours, but she had finally passed out every invite, asked favors of every pony she felt the need to ask, and eaten every treat she felt the need to eat (not for the party, she just wanted to see what cup cakes tasted like with hot sauce in them!) She was finally ready to sleep, to hit the sack, and wait eagerly for the next day. If everything went well (and she had no reason to think it wouldn't) by this time next week, Applejack will be happy, the Cakes will be business partners, Vinyl would be a recognized DJ, and-- oh wait, look, door!

Pinkie opened the door and stepped into the house. Shutting it behind her, she trotted towards the kitchen to grab a snack, though she immediately noticed that Vinyl was passed out, face flat against the table, an empty mug next to her hoof, and the Want Ads in front of her with a few places circled. She glanced over them a minute - janitorial work, restaurant work, even bakery assistant. These didn't seem like the kind of jobs Vinyl liked! She really was serious about this whole one-upping her dad thing, wasn't she?

This made Pinkie think.

Fathers are supposed to be loving, caring, and supportive. Her own father had always supported her, no matter what she wanted - accept for when she wanted to be a cow. They had a nice, long talk about the difference between species that day.

It's funny. Despite most of the negative things Pinkie had learned about Equestria, she had never heard her own parents talk negatively of it. She had learned of the sinful nature of Unicorns from schooling, and had learned of the horrors of the world from friends. Now that she thought of it, her friends were all about her age, and those who had left for their journeys had yet to return.

Then that reminded her of something. Her parents had also been on the journey.

This put new questions in her head. Why hadn't her father warned her of unicorns? Why hadn't he tried more to convince her she would come home? Was Octavia right in thinking he was assured his subtle influence was secure enough to guarantee it? Or was it possible that he truly wanted what was best for her?

She found she had subconsciously wandered back to hers and Octavia's shared room. Opening the door, she slipped in and closed it gently behind her to find her sister sleeping. She had passed out in the bed, likely for a nap she had only expected to last a short while. Pinkie Pie smiled a bit, grabbing her sister's covers and making sure she was nice and snug in bed. With a yawn, Pinkie Pie herself pulled out Octavia's sleeping bag, setting it on the floor. Achieving the spare pillow, she huddled herself into the sleeping bag, hugged the pillow tightly, and shut her eyes.

Without any effort at all, Pinkie drifted into sleep.

That night, she dreamt of a strange new dream; she and five other ponies playing in an endless field of joy. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were hoof wrestling, and Rarity was putting Fluttershy in dresses. There was a fifth pony, however, laying in the grass, reading a book. She couldn't make out any defining features other than a horn on her head.

For some reason, this pony she had never seen before looked so... familiar...

The day had arrived.

Pinkie stepped outside of the house she had been sharing for the past few weeks with her sister and her friend and took a deep breath of the morning air.

It smelled fantastic.

As far as air goes.

Just as she took her first step from the house, however, she froze. Suddenly, her body began to twitch, stretch, spasm, swell, and then shrink back to its original state.

"Woo! That one was a doozy! Can't wait to find out what it means!"

A Party to Remember?

It was finally here!

After hours of waiting, last-minute planning, pastry testing, begging Octavia to attend, and general randomness, the hour was neigh. Nigh. You know what I mean. Pinkie watched as Rarity magically placed the last of the banners on the side of the barn. Truth be told, she would rather be anywhere other than a dirty, smelly, stinky old farm right now, but Rarity had felt that such a party might allow her the opportunity to get noticed by some of the ponies of Ponyville.

Applejack, Big McIntosh (carrying the baby foal, Applebloom), and Granny Smith sat on the sidelines, staring. Applejack hummed a bit in contemplation.

"... Ah reckon even this ol' barn can look like th' fancy ballrooms of Canterlot with enough dussyin' up..."

Big Mac nodded. "Eeyup."

Granny Smith simply grunted. "Yeah, if'n y'all are inta that sorta thing. Ah like it better as it normally is. Lets ponies know that it's not puttin' on no face for no pony."

Applebloom simply burbled and blew raspberries, giggling.

Pinkie grinned wide. "I know, right, Applebloom!? This IS gonna rock!"

The three Apples looked to each other, then to Applebloom, who herself seemed confused. They decided to simply ignore it for now. So long as Pinkie didn't start claiming Applebloom was trying to make her start fires, then everything was okay.

"Also, I had Rarity put up the decorations for good reason! But I can't tell you just yet, cause it's all a surprise! And what a surprise it is! I know surprises when I see them, let me tell ya, and I once met a pony named Surprise, although I think I was really dreaming about her, and I was her, so my name WAS Surprise, which was weird cause I was a Pegasus and--"

"Pinkie..."

"Yeah Applejack?"

"What now?"

Pinkie hummed and pulled up her hoof, looking at it as one might look at a watch. "Well, I think we've got an hour before the guests show up! But where is everypony.... oh! There you are!"

Mister Cake trotted into the barn, along with some other stallions, all carrying boxes full of a variety of sweets. Pinkie could feel the saliva running down the side of her mouth instantly, thinking of all the delicious tastiness they promised to hold... but she had to restrain herself. They were for the party guests. If she ate them now, how would her plan succeed? She watched as the stallions sat the boxes on a table, Carrot Cake waving as they left, thanking them for their help.

Not long after, Ms. Cake appeared, with a cart in tow, and moved behind a table right next to Carrot Cake. Opening various drawers, she produced sweets and pastries promising to be as sweet as those of her rival, and with less the need to bother other ponies to boot.

The two ponies looked at each other for a moment, and then turned their faces away, noses in the air, with a loud 'harrumph' each. Pinkie sighed a bit - hopefully, before the night was through, these two stubborn ponies would somehow find a way to be the best of friends! Of course, she was getting a bit ahead of herself right now.

"Yo, Pinkie, I'm here, where do ya want me?"

Pinkie turned around to see Vinyl Scratch, pulling her turntable with her. Pinkie grinned a bit; music was sure to do everypony good! Ponies would dance, get active, forget life's problems... she looked towards Applejack, smiling a bit. Deep down, she hoped her friend would be able to do as she had done; to take the music of life and let it wash away her troubles, if even only for an instant. Pinkie looked around, then pointed to the other end of the barn, where a stage had been set up. "Right on stage, Vinnie!"

Pinkie gave a once over to her own works now that she was sure everypony of importance was where they needed to be. She had a table with a bowl filled with punch, a few party games set up such as bobbing for apples, pin the tail on the pony, and some tofu dogs for a tofu dog eating contest later. Pinkie had even managed to get a Piñata for the party! Oh, she had put so much more planning into this, but she had to make do with what she had. Hopefully, it would be enough.

It was then that the first guest arrived.

"Uhh.. hey, is this where the party's being held?"

Everypony turned to face a cyan Pegasus with a rainbow mane. As soon as she had seen Pinkie, she grinned and trotted in. "Oh, hey Pinks! I heard you were throwing a party, decided I couldn't resist! Flutters came too of course!" Rainbow turned to see nopony there. She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Fluttershy..." Slowly, the yellow coated pony peaked in, her face barely visible through her pink mane. Rainbow gestured for her to come in, to which she complied, albeit with much reluctance. "C'mon, Shy, you've met Pinkie before."

Fluttershy nodded, and looked around; at the Apples, particularly. The moment she saw Applebloom, however her expression brightened and she trotted towards Big Mac. "Oooh! A foal! How cute!" Applebloom burbled and waved at Fluttershy, who looked at Big Mac. "Is she yours?"

Big Mac blinked, blushing a bit. "Eh... nope... Ah'm her big brother, not her pa..."

Fluttershy blushed a deep red herself. "Oh, uh, I-I-I'm sorry, I-I-I just thought... well, you were holding her and.... I think I'll be quiet now..."

Big Mac smiled and chuckled a bit. "Salright, Ms... 'Fluttershy' was it? Ah aint offended." At this, Fluttershy smiled, and looked towards the filly. She gently poked Applebloom on the nose, who responded by sneezing, then waggling her nose, and giggling.

An hour had passed, and more guests had arrived. In fact, the barn was half full of ponies! Pinkie had expected ponies to come, but she admitted that she hadn't expected so many! All she had done was pass out some invites, talk about how super amazing-tastic-awesome-duper the party was going to be, that they had none other than DJ PON3 playing music, and that for the first time ever, Cup Cake and Carrot Cake would be working side by side.

Then she went home and went to bed, because that all happened yesterday.

"Uhh, excuse me, miss?"

Pinkie turned to face a pink coated unicorn with a purple mane, carrying a small baby filly on her back; the filly herself having a mix of purple and pink in her curly mane. "Oh, you must be that pony who came over... uh.... Pie?"

Pinkie grinned. "Pinkie Pie! And I remember you, Mrs. Rarity's Mom!"

The mare giggled. "Well, that's not my name but we can deal with introductions later. I was wondering if you had somewhere for foals to play? I can't leave my little Sweetie Belle unsupervised, but Rarity so wanted me to see her decorations..."

Pinkie grinned, nodding enthusiastically. "Oh yeah! Go to the farmhouse; Granny Smith is watching over all the foals that are too little to play party games and hear loud music! They're a bunch of cuties, probably the cutest foals I've ever seen! Oh, not to say Sweetie Belle isn't cute! I've never seen a unicorn foal before! Well, accept for Dinkie, but I was surprised by that cause her mom's a pegasus and--"

The mare chuckled. "Uh, thanks, Pinkie... I think I will be going to that farmhouse now! Talk to you later!" The mare turned and hurried out of the barn, rushing to flee the talkative pink pony. Pinkie didn't see it like this, however. She just saw a mom wanting to let her baby play with other babies while she had fun herself with friends.

"Now, remember Sweetie Belle, you be good for mommy, okay?"

The small filly was sat inside a bedroom; the room that held Applebloom's cradle, along with a few other fillies. The mare smiled at her daughter. "Remember, mommy will be right back, and until then, Granny Smith will watch over you..."

Granny Smith smiled. "Aww, aint she a cute'n! Ah don't think th' Apples have had a unicorn in th' family fer years now... not sinse ol' Crab Apple up n' died after scammin' an entire town of ponies outta money n' gettin' thrown off a cliff..." She tapped a hoof to her chin. "Heard rumors he had to grandkids who're unicorns, but if'n it's true, they're probably illegitimate. Never heard of ol' Crab Apple gettin' hitched."

As the two mares continued to talk (with mostly the elder speaking) Sweetie Belle began to crawl around to explore. Almost immediately, however, she bumped into another filly. The two looked at each other for a minute; the other being an orange pegasus with a purple mane. They began to paw and poke at each other, giggling and babbling. Soon, they were joined by a third; little Applebloom herself. As the three giggled and screamed at each other, entertaining one another in a silly game, perhaps seeing who could scream the loudest, they managed to upset two other foals who were present; one of which was the daughter of one of the wealthiest ponies in town...

The party was in full swing now. Ponies were dancing, drinking punch, enjoying themselves, having fun in general. It was everything she could have hoped for! Well, the bakers were still not talking; they were tolerating each other, but the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Still, all things in time...

Pinkie trotted towards Big Mac, who had stood in the corner the whole time, and nudged him. "Hey, Big Mac! Why not go on ahead and dance?"

Big Mac shook his head. "Thanks, Ms. Pie, but Ah aint much fer dancin' t' this kinda music! Ah'm more used t' music with a bit more... Ah dunno..."

It was then Pinkie got an idea. She zipped off, faster than anypony could see, and within an instant, she returned with Octavia between her hooves, before Big McIntosh, who stared in awe at what had just transpired.

"Hey, 'Tavi! Remember how you said you'd like to play for the Apples?"

Octavia blinked. "Wha... Pinkie? I was just eating a snack in the kitchen..."

Pinkie grabbed a violin and gave it to Octavia, who stared at it. "Uh... P-Pinkie, this isn't my kind of instrument..."

Pinkie hoof waved. "C'mon! Violin, Bass, Cello, how different can they be!?"

Pushing Octavia on the stage, Pinkie rushed back down as Vinyl stopped playing her own music. Octavia stared at the many gaping, staring ponies before her. Taking a deep gulp, she brought the bow to the string, and started playing.

It sounded awful, and everypony cringed.

"What is THAT, 'Tavi!?"

Octavia glared to Vinyl, scowling at her. "I-I'm not used to playing without music... o-or with a violin..."

Octavia smirked. "You're just not used to making it up as you go... hey Pinks!"

Pinkie returned, giving a violin and bow to Vinyl, who put the two pieces in proper places, drew the bow on the string...

And began to play.

Everypony stared as Vinyl played almost expertly; the music itself very country, even if it was just one Violin. Vinyl looked to Octavia, grinning. "What? My parents tried everything to change my mind about what I wanted to do, including lessons in 'real music!' I also know how to play the Piano and the electric guitar!"

Octavia, feeling something new well up inside her, started playing along. At first, it was scratchy, but slowly, it evened out with Vinyl's. And then, it took on its own life as Octavia began winging it; something she had never done before, save for when trying to write music... but even then, it was controlled. Now it was... chaos. Pure, beautiful chaos.

As the two musicians played, everypony in the room gave a loud "Yaaaahoooo!" as hooves started to stomp in rhythm.

In the back, Big Mac and Applejack watched the events unfold, both very dumbfounded. Big Mac looked to his sister, and grinned a bit. She looked back, quirking an eyebrow. "What?"

Big Mac gestured toward the stage. "Go fer it."

Applejack huffed. "No thanks... Ah don't feel like it..."

"C'mon, sis. Y'all got a great singin' voice... an' you more n' anypony needs to cut loose..."

"Says th' farmpony who talks to as many ponies as he does trees..."

"Now Applejack, you know Ah don't mean it like that..." Big Mac turned to his sister. "... Every since Pa... you've done nothin' but mope... now you get on up there n' show 'em how we Apples do it."

"No, Ah aint doin' iiIIIAAAEEE!"

Big Mac had lifted Applejack up and trotted up to the stage, setting her down. The two musicians slowed and lowered the music, but did not stop outright. Applejack stared at all the faces; ponies just waiting, watching, and judging her. She felt very nervous, very afraid...

And then she looked over to a familiar pink face, who smiled up at her.

Applejack looked back to the crowd.

"Well... here goes nothin'...."

Applejack took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and simply let the words come to her...

.....

I know it's a lil' silly
But since I was a lil' filly
All I ever wanted was to see th' world
And I know it may seem crazy
But I dreamt of livin' lazy
Like any other lazy ol' girl

I know it don't seem right
But I dreamt every single night
Of bein' that pony on the magazine
But when I went to live it
I decided I could just forgive it
But that's never ever who I'd ever been

Cause all I know
Is my family
They lift me up
They set me free
All I know
Is the ones I love
Those standin' by my side...
Or smilin' at me from the stars above.

Everypony began to dance; grabbing elbows, spinning around to the beat, hooves stomping to keep a beat going.

I know it may seem strange
But I used to want some change
That came with big city life you see
But then I felt alone
And I sorely missed my home
And I decided that life simply wasn't me
I came back home one day
For so long I'd been away
And I tell you I saw the world in a new light
Every day that went by
Was like a new one for you and I
I learned to love and cherish every day and night

Cause all I know
Is my family
They lift me up
They set me free
All I know
Is the ones I love
Those standin' by my side...
Or smilin' at me from the stars above.

Suddenly, everypony else started to sing along.

Cause all I know
Is my family
They lift me up
They set me free
All I know
Is the ones I love
Those standin' by my side...
Or smilin' at me from the stars above!

Various cheers, yeehaws, and yahoos filled the room as ponies continued to dance, laugh, and enjoy the seemingly out of nowhere hoedown. Applejack was smiling, a bit red in the cheeks, but smiling. She felt her heart beating against her chest a hundred miles an hour, and looked back at the two musicians; Octavia smiled and nodded, and Vinyl offered a big ol' grin.

Pinkie herself grinned wide, and looked over to the side to see Big Mac staring up at his sister. Pinkie's expression fell when she noticed that the stallion was smiling... a real, genuine, happy smile... and had a single tear flowing down his cheek.

Everypony cheered, and Applejack bowed a few times, before trotting off the stage towards her brother. She hopped up, wrapped her forelegs around him, hugging him tightly; a gesture he did not hesitate to return.

"Thank you fer makin' me do that..."

"Yer welcome, Applejack..."

She then punched him in the shoulder. He grimaced a bit. "What was that for?"

"For makin' me do that!"

"But you had fun!"

"Yeah, but it still coulda been really embarassin'!"

The two stared at each other for a minute or two, before breaking into laughter. Big Mac sighed a bit. "Ah'ma go fetch some cupcakes. You want one?" Applejack nodded, and Big Mac turned and trotted away.

"Hello?"

Applejack turned around to see a stallion; an older looking stallion, whose coat was grey and mane was white, and his cutie mark was a single, golden horse shoe. "Hello... that was a lovely song you sang."

Applejack blushed, giggling. "Thanks... Ah jus' sorta let it flow..."

The stallion nodded. "Oh yes. And you did a perfect job for a pony who simply made it up as she went. Amazing talent, really."

There was an awkward silence before Applejack cleared her throat. "So... uh... do Ah know you?"

"Oh! How rude of me, I was an old friend of your father's... I had heard of his passing recently, and had come to pay my respects. I'm glad to see you're taking it so well?"

Applejack sighed a bit. "Don' let th' party fool ya. Ah'm sad... an' Ah've been doin' nothin' but mope fer the past few weeks..." Applejack looked to her hooves. "... Big Mac says Ah was hit th' hardest cause Ah was closest t' pa..."

The stallion nodded. "Don't worry, I'm not accusing you of not loving your father. That said, I had brought you a punch in case you wanted a drink after that song?"

Applejack tapped a hoof to her chin. "Huh... thanks. Ah guess Ah am a mite parched." She gently took the cup from him, and took a few gulps; she hadn't realized just how thirsty she was! "Uh... thanks. Ah needed that..."

The stallion grinned and nodded. "I know."

Things seemed to be slowing down.

Not many ponies had left, but the energy was fading. Pinkie did not yet know if this was good or bad... all she knew was that despite her best efforts to strike conversation between the two bakers, nothing came of it. Any time she tried to see if they had anything in common (which, they actually had a LOT in common!) they would just ignore one another. So much for that plan...

But at least Rarity was happy that her decorations were getting notice, and Applejack was feeling better.

Wait...

Where was Applejack?

Pinkie trotted around to where she had seen Applejack earlier to find the pony was gone. She figured she had probably just gone inside to use the bathroom or something before she was pulled to the side by a very fearful Big McIntosh, who stood with a very panicked looking Carrot Top.

"Pinkie! Have you seen Applejack!?"

Pinkie shook her head. "No... why?"

Carrot top almost yelled, as much as one can yell while whispering.

"Big Mac saw her talking with her father's killer!"

Saving Applejack

"What do you mean Applejack is with the killer!?"

The three ponies were running at a full gallop down the path leaving Sweet Apple Acres. Big Mac's expression shifted from determined to being filled with some level of guilt. "Ah saw 'em walkin' down th' road t'gether with Applejack holdin' a foreleg over 'is shoulder! Ah thought maybe they were friends, but..."

Carrot Top interrupted.

"I had seen them leaving myself and hid so he didn't recognize me, so when I thought I was safe, I ran inside the house and warned Granny Smith, who found Big McIntosh and told him, and here we are!"

Pinkie couldn't help but look at the two ponies. "... And neither of you thought to help her!?"

Carrot Top and Big Mac blushed, with Big Mac speaking first. "... Ah didn't know he was th' killer until Granny Smith told me... if Ah'da known Ah'da broken every bone in his crooked body..."

Carrot Top bit her lip a bit. "I-I was scared, okay? I know I should have helped but that day wasn't too long ago, and I saw him stab Alexander... I should have helped, yes, but I was afraid of..."

Big Mac shook his head. "Don't be ashamed, Carrot Top, y'all had it purdy hard this past month. This aint yer fault..." He turned his expression down the road. "Besides, we aint gonna fail. We'll save mah sister, n' we'll make sure justice is served."

The three ponies finally reached the end of the dirt path, and had arrived in Ponyville proper. They looked around a bit, trying to determine where the pony had gone. "Alright... here's th' plan. We're gonna split up an' look fer the rascal... he can't have gone too far... though Ah can't imagine fer the life-a me WHY Applejack'd follow a strange stallion into town this late at night..."

Carrot Top grimaced a bit. "She was acting strange... she seemed very tired or something, and he was carrying most of her weight on their way to town..."

Big Mac growled. "That varmint drugged mah sister!? Ah'm gonna split 'em from his nose to his plums!"

Carrot Top nodded. "That's good though, cause it means he's not moving very fast himself! We might still catch up to him!"

Pinkie nodded. "I'm more familiar with the central area of the town! Its kinda where me and my sister and friend live!

Carrot Top frowned. "I-I-I'll search the part closest to the farm... not to sound cowardly, but if I do find him, I want to be somewhere I know ponies will hear me..."

Big Mac nodded. "And Ah'll search around th' other end of town. Ah reckon Ah can get there faster than y'all..." He looked out, his determination growing. "Remember, he's movin' pretty slow, so we won't have t' be too thorough as t' eat up time he might be usin' t' get further. Now let's get a move on!"

With that, the three ponies split up in a frantic search for the lost Apple.

Octavia sighed, taking a sip of punch from her cup as she stared out at all the ponies. Vinyl had decided that since they had done everything else tonight that she could set up some slow-dancing music for the couples to enjoy, and so her presence was not exactly required at her turntable.

"Hey, 'Tavi!"

Octavia looked towards Vinyl as she approached, a concern etched on her face (her glasses had been shoved over her horn to allow sight of her eyes). "Yes, Vinyl?"

Vinyl looked out the door. "I just saw your sister, Big Mac, and that yellowish earth pony with the orange mane run into town. They looked pretty scared about something..." Octavia quirked her brow a bit, setting her cup down.

"Well... we best go check up and make sure everything is fine, shouldn't we?"

With that, the two ponies made their way from the barn, leaving the couples to enjoy their dance.

Pinkie trotted about the town, looking for some sign of life. Most ponies were getting in bed at this hour, so most of the homes' lights were out. Pinkie had made sure to check between, behind, and around houses, hoping to find the stallion and her new friend, but to no avail; it had been as if they had just vanished off the face of the planet.

It was then she had an idea, and quickly, she made her way towards a house that she had visited only once before.

The house the stallion had lived in.

She got ready to knock on the door, but stopped herself. If he was really in there, she might just be warning him. Pinkie looked around frantically, then steeled herself for what she knew was the only right thing to do.

And hurled a rock through one of the windows.

She jumped inside and looked around at the small house; it was smaller than most homes, really. There wasn't even much to it at all; it was as if nopony lived there at all. All that was there, really, was a single desk with several pieces of balled up paper next to it, and it was, itself, covered in photos of Applejack, with her family, friends, and even one shot that showed her while bucking apples, albeit they all seemed to be taken behind her back, save for one.

Pinkie looked to an envelope that lay on the table.

To: Applejack
From: Your Secret Admirer

Pinkie's pupils shrank to pinpricks as she ran out of the house. Frantically, she began to look back and forth between paths, wondering where to go next, what to do, what to...

To...

It was then she noticed something in the road, a good distance away. She made toward it at full gallop, and as she got closer, she recognized the object as none other than the hat that Applejack had been wearing.

The hat her father had left to her, that her mother had left to him.

She gently picked it up and looked up, seeing a door closing in the distance. She rushed towards where that door was, hoping that if it wasn't him it was at least a pony that had seen them. As Pinkie drew nearer, however, she had noticed something; the door that had closed was the door to Ms. Cake's bakery, and as she got closer, she recognized that part of the door was busted, as if it had been forced open.

She slowly pushed the door open, staring into the small, dark bakery. It was very quiet, very still... Pinkie Pie could feel a chill run up her spine as she slowly made her way into the house, trying her very best not to make a sound. She had been in here several times before, but never looked around. She had peeked into the kitchen, as well as the living room, to see nothing at all in either place. Turning her attention to the stairs, she gulped as she slowly made her way up each step, trying to be slow, gentle, and quiet.

And each time it squeaked, it was as if her flesh was being clawed at.

Eventually, she made it to the top. There weren’t very many doors; just three, really. She noticed one of the doors was ajar, and slowly, she moved towards it, and peaked through the crack. All she saw was the walls of the room, illuminated by what she assumed to be candle light. She slowly pushed the door open a little more, trying to see more. Eventually, Pinkie caught sight of a bed, and an orange hoof tied to one of the bedposts.

Quickly, she pushed it open the rest of the way, ready to scream at the top of her lungs, but froze.

All she saw was Applejack, lying in the bed, each hoof tied to one of the bed posts. The mare looked up to Pinkie with an unfocused gaze as if she were tired. Pinkie looked around the room, but saw nothing else. "Wh... where is..."

Applejack looked to Pinkie and said in a slightly lazy, slightly slurred voice.

"Behind you..."

It was then Pinkie felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, and everything went black.

Pain.

That was all she felt. Pain.

It was in her head, in particular. It was all she knew at the moment, really, was the pain.

Slowly, however, she felt other sensations. Something tugging around her body. Tightening. Restraining. And slowly, she came to hear; slightly muffled and hard to make out, she could hear a voice. It was masculine, but that was all she knew right now. Slowly, more focus came to her, and she could make out words.

"No no no, this wasn't supposed to happen! It was just supposed to be us, Applejack, my love! Just us! Nopony else! Nopony else at all! No no no noooo!" Pinkie dared not open her eyes for fear of what she'd see. After a while, the tugging stopped, and she heard the sound of hooves clopping away.

"We... we were going to be together! Forever! It was going to be beautiful, wonderful, a fairy tale ending! B-but ponies, they keep interfering with us! They keep getting in the way of our love!"

Pinkie dared to open an eye. The stallion was pacing back and forth, his attention almost entirely on his thoughts. As Pinkie looked down at herself, she had noticed that she was hog-tied, all four of her hooves tied together by a strong, sturdy rope. It was then the stallion noticed her.

"You! You ruined it! You ruined our love!"

Pinkie grimaced. "Love? You have Applejack drugged and tied to a bed!"

The stallion gasped, his expression that of someone who had just been insulted. "I had to do it! I had to, because otherwise she wouldn't readily accept my love! I had to show her I can be soft, I can be comforting, and I can be tender! All the things she needs in a stallion!"

Pinkie scowled. "And you do that by drugging her, tying her to a bed, and knocking her friend out!?"

The stallion huffed. "You wouldn't understand our love! I don't expect a silly little filly like you to get it! Love is... difficult..... Complicated! It's not always pretty or pleasant, but all that matters is that the pony feels for their lover, wants to PROTECT them!"

Pinkie looked to Applejack and the stallion. "For a pony who wants to protect Applejack, you're doing an excellent job going the other way, don't you think!?"

But this did not deter the stallion, he shook his head. "Sometimes, to protect the ones we love, we have to do things we don't like! Horrible, EVIL things! But it just shows that I love her that much! That I'm willing to give for that much! If her father would understand that, he would be alive today! It wasn't my fault I snuck into the wrong window! It wasn't my fault I knocked over the baby's crib by accident! The foal's fine! She's fine!"

Pinkie gasped. "You... you really ARE the murderer!"

The stallion frowned. "No! No, I'm not a murderer! I panicked, it was an accident! The crazy yellow mare showed up whining about someone making fun of her name or something, and then the stallion attacked me! I was defending myself!"

"You broke into his home and knocked over his filly's crib! What did you expect!?"

The stallion stomped his hooves, screaming out loud. "This wasn't supposed to happen! It was supposed to be Applejack's bedroom! I was supposed to finally confess my love to her! I was supposed to be her special somepony!"

Pinkie grimaced. "She's half your age! Look at you! You're old enough to be my papa, and you're acting like my little sister!"

The stallion gasped and shook his head. He picked up a knife and walked towards Pinkie. "No... no no, you don't get it, and now you never will. I had hoped to enlighten you, but that won't happen. I have to kill you now; it's the only mercy a stupid pony like you can know!" He looked to Applejack, a tired, dreamy look on his face. "And then... my special somepony and I... we can make love... and we can die in each others' embrace..."

Pinkie gasped. "What!? Are you NUTS!?"

The stallion looked at Pinkie, growling. "Of course not! I'm in LOVE!"

Just then, a violin struck the stallion in the side of the head, sending him tumbling to the side.

Pinkie stared wide eyed as Octavia came into view, holding the (now broken) violin in her grasp, staring at the stallion, almost as if in disbelief with what she had just done. Vinyl came in as well, gawking at the scene before her, and quickly rushing to Applejack, using her magic to untie her. Octavia herself began undoing the ropes on Pinkie's hooves; silently thanking the heavens that the crazy stallion did such a poor job with tying her up.

Suddenly, Octavia was pulled away, and a knife was held beneath her throat. Vinyl turned around, ready to throw some magic at her captor.

"STOP! IF I SEE SO MUCH AS A FLICKER FROM YOUR HORN, SHE GETS ANOTHER HOLE TO BREATHE OUT OF!"

Everypony stared wide-eyed as the stallion held Octavia firmly, his head just over her shoulder, holding a knife in his mouth. Octavia looked to the three mares, eyes wide, pleading for help, begging somepony to do something. The stallion, however, made sure he could see each of them as well.

"That's a good bunch of girls... now... everypony get out... and move slowly... go out the window... I don't care if you get hurt falling, better you have a broken leg than this little mare get a broken windpipe, right?"

Everypony looked at each other, save Applejack, who was still in a drug-induced daze.

"C-Cool it man... let's be reasonable here--"

"I'VE TRIED BEING REASONABLE, BUT NONE OF YOU ARE LETTING ME DO THIS! APPLEJACK AND I MUST BE TOGETHER!"

Vinyl held her hooves up, looking toward the window, then back at the stallion and Octavia. "A... Alright... j-just be cool..." Slowly, Vinyl made her way toward the window, everypony keeping their eyes on her.

Just then, the Stallion was thrown forward, his knife falling from his mouth, and he tumbled, knocking Octavia over, who slammed into the table, knocking the candle off of it. Big Mac stared down at the stallion, scowling. "Ah'd say that was fer pa, but if Ah was t' do 'em justice, you'd be dead."

Vinyl rushed to Octavia and lifted her up. The earth pony's eyes unfocused, a large gash on her forehead as she tried desperately to get her bearings. "'Tavi! Are you okay!? Can you see me!? How many horns do I have!?"

Octavia shook her head. "Uh... h-hi... Vinyl.... I... I think I'm fine..."

Big Mac frowned a bit, staring at the two. "Sorry 'bout that, Miss Octavia... Ah tried t' think of a way to do that without hurtin' ya but anything else Ah could think up woulda given him time t' do it himself..."

Octavia smiled a bit. "No, no, that's alright... I'm fine..." She slowly stood to her hooves. "Now... let's get this wretch tied up before--" Octavia stopped. She sniffed a bit, looking around. "Does anypony else smell smoke..."

Pinkie gasped and pointed. Where the candle had fallen off the table, it had begun to catch the sheets of the bed on fire. Big Mac was quick to react, running to Applejack and fumbling with the ropes. Vinyl was quick to react, wrapping her magic around the rope at the edge of the bed that was burning and untying the rope there. Eventually, they got her other hooves untied, and Big Mac lifted Applejack on his back. The three were about to leave when they all stared at the stallion on the floor.

Pinkie began to bounce in place. "What do we do!? Do we leave him or take him!?"

Big Mac looked at the stallion, deep in thought, trying to decide. A grimace crossed his features. "Get 'em. We'll let 'em face his justice in th' Ponyville Court System..." With that, Vinyl and Pinkie lifted the stallion, putting his hooves on each of their shoulders. The ponies quickly made their way out of the room as the flames continued to spread rapidly, already beyond their power to control, though not before Big Mac had the chance to grab the rope that had been used to tie Pinkie Pie up...

A few ponies had already gathered around, having heard the commotion inside the shop. As Pinkie Pie and friends (and one bad pony) made their way from the shop, ponies gasped and shouted, and the crowd began to grow. The ponies looked upward to see the bakery was already getting eaten by flames. Pinkie and Vinyl unceremoniously threw the stallion to the floor, and Big Mac approached with the roll of rope that had been used to tie up Pinkie Pie. He made quick work, hogtying the mystery stallion, and making sure he had done a far better job of it than the crooked stallion himself had done to Pinkie and his sister.

He sat Applejack down. "Can ya wait here fer me, sis?"

Applejack groggily, un-coordinately nodded. "Sure thing, Mac..."

With that, Big Mac turned to face the other ponies. "Ah'm gonna go fetch some Fire Ponies! Y'all keep an eye on mah sister an' this lump of manure. Don't let either of them out of yer sight!" Pinkie, Octavia, and Vinyl looked to each other, then back to Big Mac, and gave a nod. The red stallion gave a nod, and turned, taking off at a full gallop.

The ponies turned to see that the flames were spreading more and more, as the crowd itself grew. Pinkie held her hooves over her mouth, holding back the horror before her as the fire spread from one bakery to the next. Now, one bakery was half engulfed in flames, and the other was burning at one corner. It wasn't long before half of that was burning, and the other was almost completely filled with fire.

"MY BAKERY!"

Everypony turned to see a wide-eyed Cup Cake staring at the fire, horrified. She ran towards the front, but stopped just outside of the crowd. "No! M... My home!"

Not too far behind her was none other than Carrot Cake, staring at the sight before him. "SOMEPONY, PUT THE FIRE OUT, PUT IT OUT!"

As if on cue, a massive red carriage with a blaring siren came to a stop in front of the shops. The truck itself was equipped with a water cannon that fed into an onboard tank; a pegasus pony manning said water cannon began to unleash liquid salvation upon the burning shops, opting to stop the smaller fire before dealing with the one that had already done a lot of damage. Pegasai began to coral clouds together and feed them into a receptive area of the tank, squeezing as much water as they could to make sure they could deal with the fire.

After nearly an hour, the fires had been put out, but not before half of one bakery had been destroyed, and nearly the entirety of the other.

Ponies could only stare in shock as the fire ponies (and some guards) began to ask questions, an ambulance having arrived to deal with any potentially injured ponies. Big Mac was quick to alert the guards to the presence of the killer, and Carrot Top, having arrived halfway through the fire fight, had been sure to confirm the mystery stallion as the murderer of Alexander Apple. Two guards escorted him to an ambulance, much to Pinkie's dismay.

"Why are they taking him to a hospital! Isn't he the bad pony!?"

Big Mac gave a nod, sighing. "He is. But they're gonna make sure he's nice n' healthy b'fore sendin' him off t' jail. Once we get Granny Smith in t' confirm his identity, they'll likely get 'em a lawyer..." Big Mac shook his head. "Ah'll be in that court room of course... makin' sure justice for mah pa is seen."

Pinkie looked toward Octavia, who was being tended to by a stallion that was wrapping her head in bandages, while Vinyl sat next to her. "So 'Tavi, how's the head wound doin'? You alright?"

Octavia nodded a bit. "I'm fine, Vinyl... thanks for asking..."

The stallion smirked, finishing his job up. "Yeah, just a little gash... lucky you, just short of needing stitches. It shouldn't scar, and you seem to be doing fine, so don't worry about any permanent injury." It was then that Pinkie approached, looking with deep concern at her sister.

"Oh 'Tavi... are you alright?"

Octavia sighed. "Yes, Pinkie, I'm fine..." She motioned for Pinkie to come closer to her, to which her sister replied. Octavia took her into a hug; gentle, yet firm. It shocked Pinkie Pie, as usually SHE had to initiate the hugs, but she returned it still. Her sister sniffed a bit into her shoulder. "Pinkamena... I-I was scared... first, I was scared you might get hurt... and then, I was afraid I was going to die...."

Pinkie nuzzled her sister, clenching her eyes shut. "I'm so sorry, 'Tavi..."

Octavia shook her head, sniffling again. "No, no, it's okay... you're alright... we're all okay..." With that, the elder sister hugged her younger sibling tight, sniffling into her neck. After a minute or two, she let go and smiled at her sister, eyes still wet with tears. "... I... I don't think I realized until today how much everything means to me..." Pinkie smiled to her sister, nodding, before looking to the side.

"... 'Tavi, I'll get back to you in a minute..."

Pinkie moved at a brisk trot towards the remains of the bakeries. The first pony she noticed immediately was Carrot Cake, staring at his shop. She approached him slowly, trying to think of what to say, but nothing came to her. "... Mister Cake.... I..... I....."

"How did this happen...?"

Pinkie felt a pang of guilt run through her mind. "... Uh... a-a fire was started in Ms. Cake's bakery, and--"

"Wait, this started in her bakery...?" Pinkie Pie nodded. Carrot Cake looked towards Ms. Cake, who stared, lost at the destruction that lay before her. He started to trot towards her, and Pinkie, with a level of concern, made sure to follow.

"You... this... this started in your shop! This started in your bakery! This is your responsibility, look what you did to my.... my..."

Truth be told, right now, Carrot didn't have much fight in him to begin with. Whatever little fight he did have drained quickly as Cup Cake slowly turned to face him, and he saw her eyes wet with tears, staring at him with the saddest, most broken look he had ever seen on a pony's face.

"I... it's gone.... my life... my work... my home... all gone...." She choked a bit, turning to look back up at the shop. Carrot stared at her for a minute, then looked up to her shop; indeed, half of his shop was destroyed, but hers was almost completely lost. He had no idea what happened to buildings after this much damage had been done, but he was fairly certain that she could not afford to repair it.

"... I put my heart, my soul, everything I had into my store... and now it's gone..." Cup Cake sniffled a bit. Carrot tried hard to remain firm, to stay mad at her, but the more he looked at her, the more he felt his resolve fail.

And then, without another word, Cup Cake finally let loose and buried her face in her hooves, crying. Carrot's jaw hung open, and his mouth moved wordlessly, trying to think of something to say, torn between the rivalry the two bakers had had up to this point and the heart breaking scene before him right now. He stared at the bawling mare before him for a few minutes, and then, suddenly, the answer seemed so clear to him, he was surprised he hadn't noticed it sooner.

He wrapped his forelegs around her. She stopped crying long enough to look up at him, clearly taken by surprise. But instead of doing what he half expected her to do (throw him back and blame him) she wrapped her forelegs around him, holding him tight, and started to cry into his shoulder. Carrot started down at her as she unleashed the pain of her loss into him, and then started to gently stroke her mane, leaning his head down against her and closing his eyes, letting only a few tears roll down his cheeks.

After all, everypony deserved a sturdy platform to stand on when they were sad. He saw no reason why Cup Cake deserved any less.

Pinkie frowned at the sight before her. She had hoped to get those two ponies to be friends, but not like this. This was horrible... this was sad, terrible, and depressing. Pinkie's mane immediately deflated, and she slowly made her way back to her sister and friend. Octavia looked to Pinkie, frowning. "Pinkamena... are you alright?"

Pinkie shook her head. "N-no... I want to go home..."

Broken Joy

A few days had passed in Ponyville.

The remains of Cup Cake's Bakery had been picked, by a mix of authorities and Cup Cake herself, for anything remaining. All that was left undamaged were a few bits of silverware and china, but it had been determined that the remains of the building were not very stable and beyond restoration. Much to everypony's surprise, she and Carrot Cake were both staying over at the Apples' farm; Cup Cake was sleeping in the guest room, at the request of Carrot Cake who was just as happy to sleep on the couch in their living room.

The mystery stallion (identified as one Gold Hoof) was awaiting his court hearing, with charges of murder, kidnapping, attempted rape, and contemplating murder/suicide. He had spent much of his time since regaining consciousness screaming that he was innocent, and that he was being framed, however, completely unaware that enough evidence had been gathered to all but confirm he was the culprit.

The Apple family had spent much of that time being closer than ever; the passing of Alexander Apple had been tough, but nearly losing Applejack had been one of the scariest things to happen to any of them. Many ponies noticed that Big Mac became particularly of his little sister, much to her own irritation.

Pinkie, however...

"Pinkamena, it's dinner time!"

"Coming, mother!"

Pinkie turned from her work of digging stones from the ground to trot back towards home. That night was the single worst night in her life, far as she could tell. She had ruined the bakers, nearly killed Applejack, and in the process had endangered her sister and friend. The very next day, without telling anypony besides her sister, she had boarded a carriage to return home.

And there she had been for two weeks.

She stepped into the small farmhouse and sighed. Now that she was home, it was so... different. So dull, so empty, so...

Boring.

But it was home. It was the only place where she had not failed anypony. It was where she was born, and far as she was concerned, it was where she would die. That was the way it had to be. So, she sat at the table, with her father, mother, and little sister. They said grace, before gently eating into their meal; vegetable stew, with a side of potatoes. Nopony spoke, but Pinkie noticed that every once in a while, each member of her family would eye her; she pretended not to of course. Her sister would only smile, elated that her elder sister had come home, but her parents...

"Pinkamena?"

Pinkie looked up quietly. "Yes mother?"

"... Dear, have you been feeling alright?"

Pinkie smiled. "Yes, mother, I'm fine. Just a little tired after a hard day's work is all. Thanks for your concern."

Father Pie looked to his wife and grimaced some. The two knew something was wrong; her sudden decision to return home, her reserved, quiet attitude since... this was not their daughter. This was not Pinkamena Diane Pie.

"... Child... you can tell us..."

Pinkie set her silverware down and looked up to her family. "Did you know unicorns aren’t actually bad ponies? Well, not all of them?" The room fell silent. Pinkie's little sibling held her hooves over her mouth, eyes as big as saucers. Her parents, while seeming surprised, did not seem as surprised as said sister. "Yeah. I made friends with a unicorn, and she was just like us, accept she had a lot of money, and her dad was a real jerk, and--"

"Pinkamena Diane Pie! I will not have you talk like that at this table!"

Pinkie looked to her mother. "It's true! She was a really nice unicorn, and--"

"No, I mean talking about her father like that. I feel we did not teach you about gossip?"

Pinkie stopped herself and frowned a bit. "... And... you're not mad about me having had a unicorn friend...?"

The parents looked at Pinkie with utter confusion. “Pinkie... why would we be mad at that? The community doesn’t dislike Unicorns... just... unicorn magic...”

A knock at the door distracted them, causing Father Pie to look to his youngest daughter. "Sweety, be a dear and answer that?" The filly nodded, and hopped out of her chair, making her way to the front.

"... Pinkamena, what is this all about?" asked Father Pie, a look of both concern and confusion brought to his features.

"Octavia!?"

The entire family seemed to shift. The filly returned, beaming, trotting in place. "Eldest sister Octavia is home! She came home! She came home!" Octavia slowly stepped into the room, wearing a simple white collar with a pink bow on it. She let her gaze trail, taking in the sight of her entire family; she was clearly quite uncomfortable, an understandable situation given it had been years since she had seen them.

"Octavia" said Father Pie, almost coldly, but not quite...

"F... father..." Octavia's voice was clearly very nervous.

The tension in the room was so thick you could taste it. Mother Pie simply stared in utter disbelief. Pinkie let her attention shift between her eldest sister and her father, wondering what was going on. Why was Octavia here? Would there be a fight? Of course not; her family is peaceful... but that did not mean they had to be happy with her choices.

"... I'm... sorry to intrude, father... but I came here to speak with Pinkamena..." said Octavia, whose sudden determination showed she was trying to push back whatever emotions were threatening to ruin whatever she had planned. "... It's very important."

"Then do speak to her."

Octavia seemed a bit confused, but she simply nodded. "Pinkamena... can we speak in private?" Pinkie turned towards her father, who nodded approvingly towards her. With that, she stood from her seat and trotted towards her sister. The two sisters Pie made their way from the house, and around the back.

"... Nice Bow Tie... where did you get it?"

Octavia blinked and looked down, smiling. "It's a little something I got from Rarity... she had said it suited me... simple, yet elegant... I admit, I rather like it." Pinkie nodded, looking at her hooves. Octavia grimaced a bit. "Pinkamena... why did you take off so quickly?"

Pinkie did not bother turning her attention from her hooves. "... I'd rather not talk about it..."

Octavia furrowed her brow. "... Please Pinkie... I... I know things seemed hectic, but I didn't think it was any reason to leave... please, just give it one more chance to--"

"To what? To suffer as I nearly bring the whole town down!?" Octavia reeled some, staring at the angry, frustrated eyes of her youngest sibling. Pinkie placed her hooves over her mouth after realizing just how loud she had spoken, and sighed, shaking her head. "... No... no, I can't... I can't face everypony again..."

Octavia stared incredulously at Pinkie, her mouth moving to form silent words before she shook her head and gathered her wit. "What? Pinkie, you can't really blame yourself for--"

"Can't I?"

Pinkie looked her sister in the eyes as she spoke. "I'm the one who made Ms. Cake make that mean comment about things named 'Carrot.' That made Carrot run to talk to Applejack, only to end up scaring a crook into killing Applejack's dad... I set up the party where the killer would drug her and kidnap her from, and to top it all off, I burned down one and a half bakeries in the process!" Pinkie stomped her hoof at the end to emphasize her point, her aggravation slowly shifting to sadness. "I... I caused so much trouble... I ruined the lives of two bakers and a whole family..." Pinkie sniffled a bit, her lip trembling. Octavia stared at her younger sister, jaw hanging open, before gathering herself and grabbing Pinkie into a hug; her younger sister returning it, sniffling gently against her. "... I hurt so many ponies..."

"Pinkie... you really don't blame yourself for all of that, do you?" Pinkie nodded slowly, choking a bit into her sister's mane. Octavia stared at the wall for a minute, and then gently pushed her sister away. "Pinkie, you need to come with me, and I won't take 'no' for an answer... let's go back to Ponyville."

Pinkie shook her head. "But Octavia, I--"

"Pinkie, I already said I won't take no for an answer." Octavia stared at Pinkie with pleading eyes. "Please... for me.... just for one night. Then you can come home and I will never bother you again..."

Pinkie sighed a bit, looking at her hooves. "Fine... we should tell mother and father first..."

Octavia winced at this; she had just barely managed to scrape through the last encounter with her will intact. Still, she knew she couldn't just take Pinkie with her without explaining anything to her parents. Steeling herself, Octavia nodded, and the two ponies made their way inside.

The Pie family had sat back down to eat their meals, and looked up to Octavia and Pinkie. "So... will you be staying a while, Octavia? Or will you be returning to Ponyville?" Octavia steeled herself once more, opened her mouth, and...

"Father, I wanted to take Pinkamena back to Ponyville."

Silence hung in the room. Father Pie's expression was... hard to read. He did not look upset, or happy, or sad... and yet his expression was not flat either. "... Well, I'd be alright with it, if you'd tell me how long she was to be away?"

"Just for the night... assuming she didn't want to stay." Pinkie felt annoyed by that last part; of course, she was smart enough to know her sister was going to pull something like this. What other reason would she have to take her back?

"... Alright, Octavia. I'm fine with this, as long as you be sure to take care of her and keep her safe."

"Father, I know that... wait, really?" Octavia blinked, confused. "No arguments? No claims of me losing my ways? Nothing?"

Father Pie quirked a brow, taking his hat off to scratch his head. "What? Why would I do that, Octavia? When have I ever argued against you...?"

Octavia seemed to search the walls for answers. "But... but when I told you I was leaving... you said you were disappointed... and told me that you wished I would change my mind! And you never replied to any of my letters until Pinkie's journey came up..."

Father Pie stared at her confused. "... We... replied to every letter we got from you... you can't expect much when all you do is tell us where you're living..." Slowly, the youngest sister began to move from the room, looking extremely nervous.

"I wrote you every week for a year!" said Octavia, her emotions slowly getting the better of her, sadness, and frustration. "I... I wanted to let you know I thought of you all every day... and then I got tired... and.... and I stopped writing.... I was surprised you even wrote me for Pinkie..."

Father Pie, at this point, seemed lost. He scratched his chin with his hoof. "That.... is a mystery..."

Octavia's eyes began to water a bit. "... you said you were disappointed, and I thought you hated me... and.... and...." Suddenly, Father Pie trotted towards Octavia and placed a hoof on her shoulder, staring into her eyes with nothing but kindness.

"My dear, sweet daughter... I was disappointed, yes... but not because I hated you.... I was sad that my little girl was going away... I could never hate you..." Octavia stared at her father for a few seconds, and then turned to her mother, who was biting her lip. Pinkie seemed to be staring at the event, wide-eyed, as of on the edge of her seat. Slowly, Octavia turned to face her father.

Her lip quivered, and she threw her hooves around him, much to his surprise. She choked and sobbed a bit, but kept herself from crying too much. He gently returned the hug, patting her back. "There there... it's alright, child..."

"... I... I was so sad... for the longest time, I didn't... I couldn't..."

"... It's okay... you didn't know any better..."

"... S... so you're not ashamed of me...?"

Father Pie gently eased his daughter away, looking at her as if he was offended. "What? How could I be ashamed that my daughter wanted a new life? Why, if I were to be ashamed, I'd say it was a dumb idea to send you off on that little venture, wouldn't you agree?"

Octavia choked a small laugh, wiping a tear from her eye and nodding.

Father Pie hummed. "Though, that does leave to question what happened to all those letters... I mean, I could understand missing a few, but an entire year's worth...?"

"I'm so sorry..."

Everypony stopped and turned around towards the youngest Pie daughter, who gazed up at them with sorrowful eyes, carrying a bag that she had dragged along. A tear revealed a few envelopes had fallen from it. Everypony stared at the sight before them, confused, alarmed...

"... I... I missed Octavia so much that I wanted to k-keep her letters... I-I was afraid if anypony else read them, they'd throw them out, or dislike her, and make her stop sending or something..."

Father Pie moved towards his daughter. "But... but why? You had to know she would stop sending messages if she...."

"I... I didn't think of it like that... " she sniffled a bit and rubbed her face, cleaning it (relatively speaking) of the building of tears and snot. "I.... I just didn't want to forget her..." Octavia trotted towards her youngest sibling.

"... You really missed me that much...?" The filly nodded a few times, sniffing again. Octavia wanted to be angry. She wanted to be mad at her youngest sister; after all, she was the reason she had, for the past several years, thought her parents had given up on her, forgotten her, and forsaken her.

But the more she tried to muster up her anger, the more her heart sank at the sight of the sniffling filly before her. Octavia gently wrapped her forelegs around her youngest sister. "Oh... dear sister... I'm so sorry... I didn't know..."

The youngest Pie sibling began to gently sob into her sister's chest. "I'm so, so sorry, Octavia... I... I didn't mean--"

"Shhh... it's okay... you were just sad, little Photo..."

Pinkie watched the touching reunion when a thought crossed her mind that she was surprised had never done so before; where did her parents get the idea to call her 'Photo Finish?' They shunned technology (seeing it as little more than a replacement for unicorn magic) so it was always kind of odd they'd name their daughter something like that. She simply shrugged it off, and enjoyed what felt like the first happy moment in the Pie family in a long, long time.

Pinkie Pie could feel all the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as the carriage approached Ponyville.

She had left here just a couple weeks ago, and had believed she would never come back. To be proven wrong so soon was a lot; especially because it also meant that the wounds she had left were still fresh in the minds of everypony involved. The only thing keeping Pinkie Pie from abandoning the carriage and running back home herself was the presence of her sister, who she promised she would return for whatever it was she was pulling her back for.

It didn't mean she was comfortable though.

And the astounding silence that seemed to run through the town didn't help either.

It didn't become obvious until they had neared the center of town that Ponyville was surprisingly quiet. Ponies weren’t milling about, doing business and talking like they did normally. No, tonight they were all in their homes, or gone somewhere, or something; Pinkie wasn't sure which, all she knew was they weren’t doing what she was used to them doing.

Eventually, the carriage stopped, and Octavia stepped from it, turning to her sister and gesturing with a hoof for her to follow. Pinkie sighed and, uneasily, climbed from the carriage.

"Walk with me, Pinkie."

The two mares began their trot down the street in silence. The sun was nearing its exit on the horizon, welcoming the night. Pinkie's eyes stayed on her hooves for a bit, but she was growing nervous. She had to distract her mind, and after several minutes of walking, she figured her sister was not going to converse with her.

"... I talked to mom and dad today... about Unicorns... and they set something straight..."

"Hm?"

"... They said that our community doesn't hate unicorns... they just don't like unicorn magic... apparently, not all unicorns use it, even if they have it..."

Octavia quirked a brow. "Interesting..."

"Yeah... they said it trivializes hard labor and perverts the world... though, I don't know, I still think it's handy... "

Octavia chuckled. "Yes, it is... I dare say, unicorns view their magic in much the same way we do our hooves..." She grinned toward her sister. "Did you know that unicorns are more delicate than Earth Ponies by nature?"

Pinkie quirked a brow. "Really?"

"Mmhmm. Their bones and muscles aren’t as strong as ours. This doesn't mean they can't exercise to gain equal or greater endurance... but we're naturally born with more... in a similar fashion, I think I heard that Pegasai have hollow bones so that their wings can hold their body weight."

Pinkie was quite fascinated with all this; at least it was a pleasant distraction from the terrible silence that ruled the town. At this moment, however, she realized they had trotted into Sweet Apple Acres.

"Some ponies attribute it to magic... but a local doctor told me that the differences between the tribes are as much scientific as it was magical... I think a lot of it is the growing knowledge of ponykind. What was once magic is now becoming scientific fact..."

Pinkie hummed. "Does that mean unicorns aren’t really magical?"

"What? Oh, no, magic DOES exist; Pinkie... what I mean to say is that a lot of things we thought were the cause of magic are becoming more mundane..." Octavia chuckled. "I mean, the only ponies who might argue unicorn magic is not 'magic' might be some of the friends Vinyl hangs out with on weekends..."

"You mean the ones that play that game with the warriors and monks and stuff? The one where Vinnie's the only mare?"

Octavia smirked. "The very same...."

"And that one keeps getting drunk and telling you he'd like to show you his Plus 1 Rod of--"

"Okay, Pinkie, that's enough of that."

The two ponies stopped just short of the barn; the barn where it all began. "Why are we here, 'Tavi?"

Octavia nodded and gestured to the door. Pinkie looked at the barn door, more afraid than she had been in a long time (well, not as afraid as she was when she was tied up by a crazy pony... but yeah). Slowly, she reached a hoof forward, and pressed the door open.

"SURPRISE!"

Pinkie stood there, in utter disbelief.

The barn was packed full of ponies, staring at her, smiling.

There were games everywhere; pin the tail on the pony, bobbing for Apples, horse-shoe throwing, there were even ponies with a stick ready for playing limbo! Balloons littered both the floor and the ceiling, from which hung a banner that read 'We Love You, Pinkie Pie.'

Pinkie's mouth moved wordlessly, eyes wide as saucers as Octavia walked around in front of her.

"Pinkie Pie... are you okay?"

Pinkie shook her head, regaining her composure. "Bu.... but how... why?"

"Allow me t' explain."

Applejack stepped forward, smiling. "Y'all left so fast that nopony had any chance t' thank you for all you'd done fer us since you came t' Ponyville! We talked t' yer sister, 'Tavi, n' she told us ya jus' packed up n' went home without tellin' anypony! We thought it was plum shameful of us t' do nothin' fer ya in return fer all the brightenin' up ya did fer us!"

Pinkie frowned. "Brightening up...? I threw one party and nearly hurt a lot of ponies..."

Applejack furrowed her brow. "What? Yer party was th' best hoedown this here town has seen in a long time, missy!"

"Hootenanny."

"We're not gettin' into this argument again, Big Mac. Anyway, yeah, adding all that to the fact ya plum saved mah life, well, Ah figured that we all owed it to ya t' get ya back here an' throw you a party just as great!" Applejack looked behind her and then towards Pinkie again with a somewhat shameful smile. "Afraid it aint as good as th' one you threw... Ah gotta say, y'all have a natural sense about throwin' parties..."

Pinkie stared at all the ponies who were staring back at her; none of them seemed angry. They all seemed happy, hopeful, and joyful.

"... But... Applejack..." Pinkie looked to the orange mare and took a deep breath. She would have to tell her now; it wasn't fair for her not to know.

"... I'm the reason your dad died..."

Applejack blinked. Everypony began to chatter back and forth, wondering what this meant, and Pinkie noticed Big Mac seemingly becoming tense, which worried her.

"What...?"

Pinkie sniffled. "I... I'm the reason Ms. Cake made a mean statement about her carrot cakes being better than anything else with the name 'Carrot'... and... she ran away and ran to the farm, and scared the killer into killing him..."

Applejack seemed to try to piece the things together in her head, but smiled. "What? Pinkie! Y'all got that story all wrong! If anythin'... you saved somepony..."

Pinkie blinked, her eyes wet with tears that had just begun to build up, before Carrot Top approached.

"When I left the bakery, I was going towards Applejack's house to talk to her... our families are friends of sorts, and she and I have known each other since we were fillies..."

"We're practically sisters!" Said Applejack with some cheer.

"Well... when I stepped inside, I bumped into that pony and knocked something from his hooves... it happened so fast that I didn't notice that at that very moment, Alexander--"

"Mah pa!" said Applejack proudly.

"-- had leapt into action to save his filly! The killer had pinned me against a wall when Alexander attacked him, and he stabbed him and ran off!"

Pinkie stood there, trying to piece things together. Applejack smiled and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Pinkie Pie... th' killer had mah baby sister, Applebloom, intendin’ t’ foalnap her and threatened to hurt her if mah family ever said anythin'... Carrot Top showin' up may have saved her life..."

Pinkie Pie stared into nothingness. "B... but the bakers..."

"Brought a cake!"

Pinkie turned to see a sight she did not expect; ponies began to make a path as a cart wheeled past them, on it a big, pink cake, with a wax mare at the top smiling and rearing up on her hind legs, and it was being pushed by not one, but both of the local bakers. Pinkie slowly trotted towards the cake and looked at the words that had been written on the side.

Pinkie's lip quivered. "B... but I burned down your bakeries... your homes..."

The two Cakes looked to each other, then back to Pinkie. "You also gave us the best friends we could have ever had."

Pinkie seemed to be dumbfounded. "... I.... BURNT.... DOWN.... YOUR--"

"We know, dear..." said Cup Cake. "I... I admit it was jarring at first... but when we found out about the kidnapping and the struggle... we couldn't be mad."

Carrot smiled. "Yeah. The Apples were kind enough to repay us by letting us stay over at their house while we sort things out with insurance."

Pinkie let the wheels in her head turn as she tried to make sense of everything. This was all what she was trying to do, but it had gone totally wrong! She had.... she had.... what did she even do!?

"Yeah! And thanks to you, Fluttershy is almost 100% more outgoing!" shouted Rainbow Dash, who now hovered among the group, followed by Fluttershy, even though the pegasus was walking, hiding behind her mane and looked like she was trying to shrink away again. "She totally doesn't cry when she's in crowds anymore!"

"B-but Rainbow Dash... I never cried when I walked into crowds, and I haven’t been doing anything differently..."

"Psh! Details, details..."

Pinkie stared at everypony, words failing her. Octavia sighed. "Pinkie Pie... I know you love it here... and I know that on any given day, you'd choose Ponyville over the community... so please, forgive me if I'm being too blunt, but we rehearsed this and I'd hate to see all that effort go to waste..." With that, Octavia turned to face the crowd and threw a hoof up, and then, everypony in the room spoke all at once.

Pinkie continued to stare as if she were about to be hit by a truck, and her eyes began to water a bit. "... Y.... you really love me that much...?"

All at once, everypony shouted a loud "Yeah!" with one particular white Pegasus seeming to stick out a bit more than others.

Octavia turned to her sister, placing her hooves on her shoulders. "So... Pinkie... will you stay here? In Ponyville?" Pinkie only stared at the sight before her as it seemed she had still been failing to piece everything together. As tears continued to build up and pour down her cheeks, Octavia feared the worst.

And then Pinkie smiled.

"I... I will... I will, 'Tavi... I'm staying... I'm coming home..."

Suddenly, the entire room let out a collective cheer and hoofstomps of approval. As if on cue, lights illuminated the stage that had been set up again in the back, with none other than Vinyl Scratch at her turn tables.

"Well folks, let's wave goodbye to this mushy stuff and bring in some music!"

The music began to play, a fact that many ponies could respond to only with dance. Even Applejack seemed to be enjoying it, even if it was not her preferred music type! Pinkie immediately got to mingling; it wasn't hard, after all, she was being swarmed by ponies she didn't even know, telling her how great her party was, saying she was a hero, and asking her lots of questions, like what her favorite flavor of cupcake was. As she enjoyed the party, she couldn't help at one point seeing the two bakers outside of the crowd kissing.

Wait. They were KISSING?

Pinkie withheld any gasp she might have otherwise let loose; did that actually happen!? She couldn't help but grin inwardly; after all, she had only tried to make them friends! This was a success greater than anything she could have anticipated!

And so, Pinkie Pie partied with her friends, family, and acquaintances alike well into the night. Eventually, however, all good things must come to an end, and with that, Pinkie Pie, along with her sister, Octavia, and her best friend, Vinyl Scratch, returned home.

To her PONYVILLE, home.

And fell asleep with a smile on her face for the first time in weeks.

New Routine

"Well, Pinkamena... I guess this is bye for now, huh?"

The train station was packed as usual that day - at least, relatively speaking considering the population of Ponyville and the number of ponies who were mulling about. Many climbing off the train for a moment to get some fresh air, others boarding it, and so on...

Octavia stood with only a single, roll-along suit-case, as well as her cello in a casing that she had hanging on her back. Pinkie nodded a bit, smiling, although she was clearly a little sad. Octavia sighed and gave her a hug.

"Oh, Pinkamena... I know you're sad to see me go... but I've been noticed! I have to do this... I have to follow my dream..."

Pinkie shook her head, smiling wide and sniffling. "Oh no, don't be mistaken 'Tavi! I'm happy for you! I mean, sure, I'm super duperdy duper sad to see you leave, but I'm happy!" Pinkie returned the hug in earnest. "I want you to be the best musician you can, okay sis? Show the world you're the best violin player ever!"

"Cello."

"Bless you."

Octavia sighed and rolled her eyes, smiling and shaking her head. She couldn't help but let a single tear roll from her eye before backing up before the two sisters ended their hug, smiling at each other, both of their eyes wet with tears. "Pinkamena... I promise I'll write you every chance I get. Okay?" Pinkie nodded, sniffling a bit. "And stay out of trouble... be good to the Cakes, alright?"

Pinkie nodded. "I will 'Tavi."

Octavia smiled and hugged Pinkie again. "I'm going to miss you so much..." said Pinkie Pie. Octavia hugged tighter, fighting back more tears. "You too, kiddo..."

"Hey, you girls done makin' out over there?"

Octavia glared at Vinyl Scratch. "Could you BE any more rude?"

Vinyl grinned. "I could be. I could tell Pinkie Pie about that time that you got a little tipsy and decided you wanted to know what it felt like to--"

"OKAY I BELIEVE YOU!" shouted Octavia, louder than she realized, placing her hooves on her mouth. Regaining her composure, she cleared her throat a bit. "I mean... that will not be necessary, thank you." Octavia sighed a bit, turning to face Pinkie again. "Well... I guess this is goodbye for now, eh Pinkie?"

Pinkie nodded, sniffling a bit. Octavia gently wiped a tear from Pinkie's face, smiling. "Take care of yourself... and of Vinyl too, of course, when she gets back..." Octavia leaned in and whispered into Pinkie's ear, "She gets mopey when I'm not around sometimes." Pinkie giggled a bit and nodded.

"All aboard! Next train to Canterlot leaves in ten minutes!"

Octavia sighed. "Well, that's my cue. I'll see you later, Pinkamena." Octavia turned to Vinyl and smiled. "You too, Vinyl Scratch. Do make sure not to party TOO hard while I'm away?"

Vinyl hoof waved, blowing a raspberry at her friend. "Yeah yeah, I'll make sure I'm extra boring so everypony doesn't even notice you're gone!"

Octavia smirked, trying not to laugh at the joke made in her expense, and hugged Vinyl, who looked around a bit to make sure nopony was looking - save Pinkie, of course - and once certain no attention was on her, was not hesitant to wrap Octavia into a tight hug. "See ya later, 'Tavi."

The hug broke, and Octavia smiled at her friend and sister as she boarded the train. The two ponies watched until the train left, making sure to see her off; their efforts were rewarded in seeing her smiling at them from her window, waving, and they waved back, until they couldn't see her anymore, and watched the train move into the horizon.

Once it had gone, the two ponies sighed a bit.

Then, there was a sniffle.

Pinkie gasped and looked to Vinyl. "... Whoa... Vinnie... are you CRYING?"

Vinyl jumped and cleared her throat. "N-no... I've just got a cold is all. 'Snothin'..."

"But Vinnie, it's the middle of June!"

"Then I've got allergies."

"You sure? You look fine to me!"

"... I hate you, Pinkie..."

"But the other night while we were throwing that party in your place, you told me I was your bestest friend ever!" Vinyl groaned and trotted away. Pinkie blinked, and then giggled a bit. "Oh Vinnie, you're so silly!" Pinkie gasped. "I better get back to the shop! Mr. and Ms. Cake'll be worried if I'm not back soon!"

Vinyl laughed. "Alright, well, I better head home. I got a gig tonight, and I'd hate not to be ready. Take care of yourself, Pinkie!" With that, the DJ began her trot home.

"Later Vinnie! Have fun!"

Pinkie turned and began to bounce happily down the street.

A year had passed sinse she had made her debut in Ponyville, and what a year it has been! She had been officially dubbed the unofficial title of 'Premier Party Pony of Ponyville' much to her own joy. It wasn't a real office, and it didn't have any perks or anything, but she loved it all the same! Ponies seemed to recognize her, and by this time, she was certain she was familiar with at least 75% of the populous of the town; a fact that showed as most of the ponies waved to her as she passed by, granting familiar greetings. Pinkie expected that within the next month or two, she'd be familiar with the entire town and everypony in it.

She even made it a point to throw birthday parties for newborn foals - after all, what better familiarity than to be somepony somepony has known their whole liife?

She stopped upon noticing a familiar sight in the market; Applejack selling apples. However, the orange filly seemed a bit worn today. "Oh, hiya Applejack! How are ya?"

Applejack shrugged a bit, smiling a tired smile. "Ah'm doin' alright, Pinkie Pie. A bit tired from..." Applejack stopped to let out a long yawn, shaking her head. "... from all th' work Ah been doin'...."

Pinkie frowned some, a bit of sympathy for her friend expressed in the usual way Pinkie did things without becoming depressed. "Aww, poor Applejack! I bet you didn't expect it to be so much work when you were begging Big Mac to let you help on the farm!"

Applejack laughed a bit, nodding. "Yeah, I admit it's more stress than Ah thought it'd be, but Ah'm an Apple...." she tugged on her stetson, smiling proudly. "If Big Mac can take all of Pa's duties an' runnin' the farm n' doin' it's taxes, Ah can do this..."

The pink pony couldn't help but giggle. "Goodie for you! Just you watch, you'll be super good at it in no time! Well, I better go back to the Sugar Cube corner before the Cakes get worried!" Without another word, Pinkie bounced away, heading towards the place she called home.

A little place called Sugar Cube Corner.

After Pinkie had reached the shop, she placed a hoof on the door and pushed it open. Upon looking inside, she saw that a single pony was there waiting. She recognized it as Filthy Rich, the local rich pony. He turned to face her and smiled. "Why hello there ehh...."

"Pinkie Pie!"

"Yes, Pinkie Pie! I'm just here about some cup cakes I was getting for my daughter! She said her first word, you know?

Pinkie gasped. "Little Diamond Tiara can TALK already!? Oh my gosh, this is amazing! What'd she say! Was it 'cumquat'? What about 'pickle'? Maybe 'barrel?'

The stallion seemed confused and ready to correct the hyperactive pink pony when Ms. Cake stepped in. "Here you go! Two dozen cupcakes, with luster dust!" Ms. Cake stepped into the room, balancing two boxes on her back, and set them on the counter.

"Why thank you, Ms. Cake."

Filthy placed some bits on the counter (with a generous tip) and took the boxes onto his own back, trotting out of the store. Ms Cake sighed a bit, putting the bits in the register and then closing it. She seemed to take a minute to relax before noticing Pinkie Pie and smiling. "Pinkie, welcome home! How did seeing your sister off go?"

Pinkie smiled. "It was sad, but I'm excited for her! That mare'll do great things!"

Cup Cake nodded. "Indeed. She is quite talented..." She hummed to herself, as if pondering if she should say something. "Sorry to ask, because I know you've been helping out a lot, even outside of open hours, but Carrot Cake and I have recently come up with a project... it's... kind of a lot of work, a big project, and we'd really appreciate your help on it...?"

Pinkie smiled and giggled. "Of course I'll help you, silly! What is it?"

Ms. Cake smiled and sighed in relief. "Well, we call it the Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness... it's going to be a tall cake, lots of sweet stuff in it... we'd kinda have to go over the details later, but we think it's brilliant!"

Pinkie grinned. "Ohh! Sounds delicious! Especially the Marzipan! Oh, the Mascarpone too! Also, the Meringue! The Madness is probably a hoot too! Can I have a bite when it's done!?"

Ms. Cake laughed. "Well of course! We're going to serve it to customers though, so don't think we'll let you eat the entire cake!" Ms. Cake giggled. "I swear, sometimes I wonder where you put it all, Pinkie!"

Pinkie quirked her eyebrow. "In my mouth, silly! Where ELSE would I put it?"

Ms. Cake blinked. "Well, Pinkie, I meant.... that is...." She stared at the oblivious pink pony for a minute before breaking into laughter. "Pinkie Pie... never stop being you."

"Okay! I think I can do that easy peasy!"

Mr. Cake stepped out of the side room, covered in flour. "Hey sweet-cakes, is--Oh! Hi Pinkie! Your timing couldn't be better!"

"I know, Ms. Cake told me! Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness! Sounds yummilicious!"

Carrot blinked. "Well, that is part of it yes... but..." He looked towards Cup Cake and smiled nervously. "Want to tell her?"

Ms. Cake grinned and practically trotted in place. "At the same time, at the same time..."

"Alright, alright, here we go..."

"1..." said Mr. Cake.

"2..." said Ms. Cake.

"3!" said both.

"We're engaged!" Said both ponies at once.

Pinkie blinked, letting the wheels in her head spin for a second or two. Suddenly, she jumped into the air, gasping. "Oh my goodness! You--and you--- and you're gonna---" She fell to the floor, the Cakes long having gotten used to her ability to seemingly defy physics. "Wewt! That means I'm gonna be an aunt!"

The bakers blushed madly, with Carrot looking to the side and hyperventilating, and Ms. Cake staring at Pinkie. "Nononono, we're just getting married! No foals yet! No foals yet!"

Carrot spoke almost as if he were out of breath; which would make sense, what with the hyperventilating. "We're not ready to have foals just yet, it's too soon!"

Pinkie hummed. "Oh well... just a matter of time I guess! Especially with how often you two go at it! I mean, kudos to you Mr. Cake for all your stamina, but you gotta chill out!" Both of the bakers blushed an even deeper red as Pinkie giggled and trotted upstairs. "Lemme go write a letter first, and then I'll be down for work!"

The two waited in silence, looking to each other.

"... D-Do you think she was just p-pulling our leg...?"

"... Well, honeybun, you do tend to get quite vocal..."

Carrot gulped. "... I-I need to learn to stop being so noisy..."

Ms. Cake grinned. "Just lets me know you enjoy it."

Mr. Cake grinned stupidly in response. "Hehehe, I do."

"... Wanna..." said Ms. Cake, a glint of mischief in her eye.

Carrot blinked. "Wh... right now?"

"Mmhmm..."

".... Pinkie can work without us for a few minutes..."

Pinkie opened the door to her apartment above the shop. It was everything Pinkie could want in a home; a bunch of windows that let her peer out over Ponyville, a nice, comfy bed in the center, bright colors, and several items from her various parties and personal purchases, including a party cannon she built! (it was a personal project on making parties happen faster, in case of party emergency! She intended to store several around town if she could get the permit for it!)

She trotted to a small desk and sat down, pulling a piece of paper from a drawer, a feather from another, and dabbing the end of it in an inkwell, and then, she began to write.

Dear Octavia,

I know you just left and all, but already I miss you a superdy duper bunch! And already there's news! Little Diamond Tiara said her first words - that's Mr. Filthy Rich's daughter! I bet it was something like pickle or barrel or cumquat, but he didn't tell me! Oh well! Also, the Cakes are getting married! Isn't that great!? I guess that means they'll be sleeping in the same bedroom soon instead of sneaking into each others' rooms everytime they think I'm not paying attention! Those silly bakers!

I just wanted to write you and tell you everything, because you're the best oldest sister in the world, and I miss you.

Also, if you meet 'Vinnie’s cousin, tell her she needs to come to Ponyville and party with us! Vinnie doesn't speak about her often, but she sounds like she doesn't have lots of friends, and I think she deserves them! Did you know they say she's Celestia's apprentice! Crazy huh?

Oh well, I'm outta stuff to talk about! Love you Octavia, and I wish you the best of luck in getting into the Grand Canterlot Orchestra!

~Pinkie Pie

P.S. You were right! Vinnie is TOTALLY mopey now that you're gone! I think she cried a bit when you left! She said she was just sick, but I think she was crying!

P.S.S. I accidentally swallowed a bit this morning and didn't tell you. I was afraid you'd get mad. Should I be worried? I mean, it'll probably have run its course by the time you get this letter, but I figured I'd ask just in case!

P.S.S.S. What's a Hypotenuse?

Epilogue

"And THAT'S how Equestria was made!"

Pinkie Pie stood on a table, standing on her hind legs with her hooves up in the air, a massive grin spread on her face from ear to ear, while a small crowd of ponies listened to her tale; the crowd consisting of Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and the Cakes.

"... Pinkie, sweety, did you REALLY have to go into detail about our... uhm... 'personal affairs?" said Mrs. Cake, her face red as a tomato. Mr. Cake's jaw hung open, his expression blank and coat pale as his mouth moved to form wordless breaths.

"Yup! They make the story juicy and let everypony know just how far you came!"

Mr. Cake gathered his composure. "B-But... I know you heard about the stories of all the other ponies around town... but how did you... know of our conversation when you had gone to you room...?"

Pinkie Pie giggled. "I dunno! I thought it was weird I knew that too! But I do a lot of weird things, and even Twilight stopped asking questions for the most part!"

Twilight smiled, looking up at Pinkie like she was seeing her for the first time. "Wow, Pinkie Pie! I never knew you had such a big impact on Ponyville! I mean, I had always known you were well known, but I didn't know you had done so much!"

Applejack smiled. "Yup. Thanks t' her, lil' Bloom is safe n' sound, n' the monster who killed mah pa is in prison fer the rest-a his days..." She sighed and grimaced a bit. "Ah'd be lyin' if Ah said part-a me didn't wanna see him hang... but Ah suppose that would give him an easier way out than havin' t' spend th' rest-a his days knowin' what he did."

Rarity waved her hoof. "Just as well, sweety. You hear of those rumors about prison; with the crimes he committed, I wouldn't be surprised if his cellmates haven’t started using him as some barbaric form of currency."

Rainbow Dash shuddered. "Can we NOT talk about prison for now? I'm getting flashbacks to when I went to jail for a day for shoplifting..."

Twilight balked at this statement. "Rainbow Dash!? You stole!?"

Rainbow huffed. "I was a stupid kid and I was pretty sure I wouldn't get caught, let's just leave it at that..."

Fluttershy nodded. "Oh yes. Rainbow Dash used to do a lot of silly things... I mean, she still sort of does, but she used to be a lot worse when she was younger... not to imply she isn't young now! I... I... oh.... oh my..."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Cool it, Fluttershy, everypony knows what you meant."

"You know..." said Twilight Sparkle, "Now that I think of it, I do remember Cousin Vinyl talking about a 'really cool friend' she had made in Ponyville back when she came to visit us in Canterlot to see Octavia play her first concert! I hadn't figured that would be YOU, Pinkie Pie!"

Pinkie nodded enthusiastically. "Yup! Also, don't tell her I said this, but I used to think Vinnie had a crush on Octavia until I found out they were 'heterosexual life partners'!" Pinkie tapped a hoof to her chin. "Which is funny, because I'm pretty sure Vinyl is bisexual..."

Twilight grimaced. "Pinkie, can we please not discuss my cousin's sexual orientation behind her back? It's not a piece of conversation I'm comfortable with..."

"Then why not talk about it in front of me, Twi?"

Twilight groaned as the door closed behind the newcomer, none other than Vinyl Scratch, who was grinning widely. "Whats up everypony? We all talkin' about sex or something? Alright, alright, I got one... this one time, Twilight found a book called the Pony-Sutra, right? Well, she forgot to lock the door to her dorm once and—“

"VINYL SHUT UP!"

Twilight's face was a deep red, and she was biting her lip, eyes darting back and forth, while everypony looked to her with surprise... Fluttershy going the extra mile to redden her cheeks on behalf of her embarassed friend. Twilight quickly regained her composure, though her blush did not fully recede. "We were talking about Pinkie Pie coming to Ponyville! For the first time! Years ago! Not... that!"

Vinyl nodded, silently 'oooh'ing. Then, a grin popped up on her face. "Did ya tell them about the part where I totally got it on with a Wonderbolt?"

"WHAT!?" Shouted Rainbow Dash.

"Nope! I was gonna leave that out cause I figured Dashie would get jealous, but I guess the cat's out of the bag!"

Vinyl laughed. "Yeah, uh, officially it never happened, and I can't name any names... but Soarin' really knows how to bed a girl!"

Rainbow Dash stared at Vinyl, her jaw hanging wide open.

"Yeah. SO! Pinkie! You ready for the trip to Canterlot? We gotta get goin' soon or the train'll leave without us!"

Pinkie zipped away, and immediately returned with luggage that was bulging with various, no doubt party related items. "Yup! Let's go so I can visit my sisters!" Pinkie turned to everypony. "Well, I'll see you all later! Be good while I'm away, and say no to drugs!" With that, she was out the door. Vinyl looked to everypony in the bakery, shrugged, and smiled as she turned and trotted out of the establishment.

Twilight blinked a few times before letting loose a sigh of relief. "Well... I'm going to have to find a spell to erase the knowledge of my cousin's adventurous ways..."

Rainbow sighed. "I'm torn on if I want you to give me that too... on one hand, she slept with a Wonderbolt, which makes me totally jealous... on the other hand... this is a good opportunity to ask a lot of intrusive questions to a mare who seems to have no reserves..."

Twilight hummed to herself before something clicked in her head. "Wait.... did Pinkie say she was off to see her sisters? As in plural?"

"Und I told you, I vould not be caught DEAD in that trash heap you so mistakinkly call fashion! Now get it out of my sight before I vomit on ze floor!"

Photo Finish stepped away from a (very dejected) pony wearing a dress with several feathers hanging off the back of it in a very un-uniform manner. She sighed, trotting down the street with a lot in her thoughts. "Every day, I listen to ze ponies bitch and moan about their desires to be fashion kings und queens, und I am rewarded vith ponies who should be bitching about zis stuff sinking zey are ze very embodiment of ze fashion! Eet ees unbarable!"

She opened a door and stepped into her lavish Canterlot home; it was by no means small, and it had every luxury she could have possibly wanted. Fine furniture, pristine paintings, and a beautiful fountain right in her living room. Even she wondered if the fountain was a bit excessive... but she got it on a whim, and it was nice and calming!

Just then, she was approached by a stallion in a fancy black jacket with a bow tie, his coat a grayish brown color, eyes closed, and his cutie mark a tray with a teacup on it. "Miss Finish, there is a pony at the front gate who wishes to see you..."

Photo Finish groaned, waving her hoof. "No, no sank you, Teacup. I do not vish to be bothered by anymore wannabe fashionistas today!"

"I see. I shall tell Ms. Pinkie Pie at once."

Photo Finish froze. "Vait, vat vas that name?"

"Uhm... Pinkie Pie, I do believe?"

It wasn't even ten minutes later before Pinkie Pie trotted into the room, her eyes shifting around the place, taking in every inch of the home. "Ooo! You got yourself some nice digs here, Photo! I'da never figured you for the kinda pony to get all of THIS stuff!"

Photo Finish growled. "Vat do you vant, Pinkamena?"

Pinkie stopped, blinking a few times before giggling a bit, shaking her head. "What? Can't a girl come by her sister's place and say he--"

"No! No she can't!" said Photo finish as she stomped her hoof, silencing Pinkie immediately. "I sought I said I vould never speak to you again!"

Pinkie simply stared at Photo Finish in silence for a few minutes before tilting her head. "Why are you talking like that?"

Photo growled. "ZIS is how a fashionista speaks! ZIS is ze accent of a pony who is important, and I am FAR too important to vaste my time vith a... a... no-account, backstabbing, two-timing pony!"

Pinkie frowned. "Aww... Photo, are you still mad at me for not letting you stay with me in Ponyville? I told you it's not because I didn't want you to! The Cakes were having a hard time financially and they couldn't afford to have you around!"

Photo Finish stomped her hoof again. "Of COURSE I'm not mad about zat! I got over zat forever ago! Sings like zis do not concern me, now be on your way!" The room fell silent then, with Pinkie staring at Photo Finish for several seconds. Photo did not even seem to be bothered by this, until her sister spoke.

"Are you mad that I left you alone?"

Photo Finish balked a bit, looking at Pinkie. "Vat!? Don't be ridiculous!"

Pinkie smiled a bit, although her expression betrayed a mix of sadness and concern. "It's okay if that's the case, Photo... I know it was hard on you when Octavia left... and mom and dad even told me you were a lot grumpier then too..."

Photo Finish huffed, throwing her nose to the air.

"... And... Octavia told me that even though you made the same decision, she always felt you..." Pinkie seemed to have to brace herself, her ears folding back some. "... She told me she felt you still blamed me... because I was the last to leave you, so I was really the one to leave you alone... and... I know I haven't been the best sister, but I hope you can forgive me, and that you know I really tried for you! I tried my hardest!"

".... Well... she promised she would never tell you... and I've gotten over that forever ago..." said Photo Finish, the accent she always used having totally vanished. "... I... I don’t care about that anymore..."

Pinkie nodded solemnly, bowing her head. "I see... well... I'm sorry for bugging you..." She turned and began to trot away, but she stopped long enough to turn to face her sister. "... Also... I want you to know, that despite the circumstances..." Pinkie Pie smiled; it was a sad, but honest smile. "... It was nice seeing you.... and I never got to tell you, but without all the dirt in your coat, you look very beautiful... and... I want you to know, that I love you, and that if you ever want to talk... your big sister's always listening." Pinkie then turned her attention back to the path ahead of her and trotted out.

Photo Finish stared at nothing for the longest time. When she heard the front doors close, she simply fell to her haunches and let a rattled sigh escape her. Teacup approached her from the side. "Shall I fetch the Madam her stress ball? Perhaps a soothing tea? Maybe even a tacky vase she can destroy?"

Photo Finish simply stared silently, deep in thought, before climbing to her hooves. "No... No sank you, Teacup!... I sink I vill be taking a personal day...."

Teacup nodded. "I see... shall I fetch your coat and wig?"

Pinkie Pie sighed, lying on her stomach with her head laying on the lap of none other than her elder sister, Octavia, who gently stroked her mane.

Octavia's home was fairly descent; as a member of a band that was often commissioned to play for the elite of Canterlot, she made enough to buy a nice penthouse apartment, which was fairly comfortable, while not overly luxurious as the housing of her sister. (Not to mention one could get a lovely view of the city at sunset!)

"Pinkamena, sweetie... are you sure you're alright?" said Octavia gently, taking a minute to look over at Vinyl, who was laying on another nearby coach, her sunglasses over her horn and her own expression betraying concern for the pink mare.

"Yeah... " Pinkie sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know.... I.... I guess I had hoped that after all these years she would have finally gotten over it... I mean, I had just found out where she lived!"

Octavia sighed. "Yes... she was quite adamant that I not tell you where she lived... I admit I had hoped that breaking my promise would have turned out better..."

Pinkie sighed. "You're not supposed to break promises..." she said dejectedly.

Octavia grinned. "It wasn't a Pinkie Promise... so I'm not so worried..." Octavia then grimaced and shook her head. "Besides, she doesn't talk to me much anymore either... I fear she's becoming very... reclusive as of late..."

Pinkie looked up to her sister, frowning. "I'm so sorry, Octavia... maybe if I had tried to convince the Cakes a bit harder she would--"

Octavia put her hoof in Pinkie's mouth. "No, Pinkamena! Do NOT blame yourself! You did everything you could... it's not your fault..." Octavia shook her head once more, placing a hoof to her forehead. "It's mine... I had hoped that letting her live with me in my apartment in Canterlot would allow her to expand her mind... I had no idea that when she got into fashion she would become so... impassioned... let alone that she would rise to become one of the top players in the world of fashion in such a short time..."

Pinkie giggled mirthlessly. "I bet Rarity will be super jealous when she realizes one of the ponies she idolizes is my baby sister..."

The doorbell chimed. Vinyl stood up, holding her hooves up. "You all keep at it, I'll get it." With that, she trotted towards the door and opened it. Standing at the door was a mare with a sky-blue coat, a pair of black glasses, a black mane that hung about her head like a helmet, and a lavender trench coat.

"Excuse me... but may I come in?"

Vinyl quirked her brow. "Who're you?"

Octavia looked up and squinted a bit. "... Photo Finish?"

Photo Finish shut the door very quickly, sticking a hoof in front of her muzzle. "Shhh! Are you crazy? If the ponies around her know it's me, I'll have to burn ANOTHER disguise!"

Pinkie looked up, confused at the sight before her. Photo Finish bit her lip. "Uhm... h.... hello, Pinkie... I... I just wanted to say that.... that...."

Photo Finish did not get to finish her sentence before the pink blur closed in on her and forelegs wrapped around her, taking her into a tight hug. She was a bit startled at first, but then she gently wrapped her own forelegs around Pinkie Pie. A few seconds passed and she tightened her grip, squeezing her eyes shut as a few tears trickled to her sister's shoulders.

"I'm so sorry, Pinkie Pie..."

Pinkie smiled, her own cheeks stained with tears. "Don't be silly, filly... I'd already forgiven you..."

Photo Finish hugged tighter and openly sobbed. Octavia smiled, wiping tears from her own eyes. Vinyl was trying to look anywhere else but the sight in front of her; it wasn't that it wasn't touching of course, so much as it was just somewhat uncomfortable for her. Octavia, upon taking notice, couldn't help but smirk at her friend's discomfort; she would tease her for it mercilessly later.

The rest of the day, they would talk, catch up, and mend the gap that had formed between them over the years. Things would never go back to the way they were; everypony knew this. They had left home, left their parents, their community, the way of life they had known for their childhoods... but they had grown up. They had found their own place in the world, a world bigger than anything they would have known on the rock farm.

And maybe... just maybe... they could enjoy that world as sisters.