"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?