Chapter Seven: The Problem
You guys, I felt so bad about revealing Cheese early I decided to give you two updates today.
I know how Pinkie overreacts in this chap, but that's kind of how she is in the show. Hope you like it!
"An' that's when Ah told her she was overreactin'. An' then she looked at me like Ah'd grown an extra tail!"
The rock farmers laughed. "That's hilarious! She might as well have been from Canterlot!"
"Eh, well...she's still got a bit o' Ponyville in her, that Rarity," replied Applejack. After going to Appleoosa, where she remembered Pinkie mentioning her family's rock farm bordered, and asking around where she could find a decent rock farm, they had pointed her to a nice family that lived nearby. Unlike most rock farmers, they had said, who were gloomy and depressed, these ponies were happy and energetic. They seemed to like their job fine.
Applejack then went to see them. After asking about their being Pinkie's family, she received an answer in the affirmative. She told then about the party, and they were happy to attend. Applejack was going to leave but they had invited her to have lunch with them. "After all," Pinkie's father, Igneous Rock, had said, "our apples always begin at an Apple farm, somehow."
And now lunch was winding down. Applejack had also met Limestone Pie and Marble Pie, Pinkie's sisters, and Cloudy Quartz, Pinkie's mother. They were, true to others' words, very happy ponies. Applejack already knew the story of Pinkie's cutie mark, but she hadn't realized that the pink ball of energy had impacted her family's lives in such a way. It made her respect Pinkie more.
"Thank ya'll for this," Applejack said, handing her plate to Cloudy Quartz. The older mare had been taking everypony's plates as they were all finishing up. "It was delicious."
"Anything for a friend of Pinkie's," replied Igneous. "Or any daughter's."
"So when are ya'll heading out? All Ah really came to do was talk to ya'll and that's done, so Ah'm heading back home."
Cloudy responded as she was washing the dishes, "I was thinking we could leave tonight. Close the farm for a few days to meet up with Pinkie, probably. What do you think, Igneous?"
"That sounds like a fine idea," replied the stallion. "I think we'll do that."
Applejack nodded. "Sounds like a plan, then! I'll see ya'll tomorrow. Thanks again!" She left, feeling swell.
"I told you that Pinkie wasn't supposed to find out that you were planning the party!" exclaimed Twilight angrily. Pinkie tipped her head.
"You were hiding it from me?" she asked. "Why?"
Cheese sighed. "It was going to be a surprise...Listen, Twilight, I really had no idea. I went to ask you something but I found Pinkie instead."
Pinkie blushed with embarrassment as she laughed nervously, "Maaaybe I was looking through the library for clues about my party..."
"Pinkie...!" Twilight rubbed her temples frustratedly. "Okay...that disrupts some of our plans..." She and Cheese had overseen the construction of a giant spectacle in which Cheese was to ride down and greet Pinkie, and it had taken a lot of work. Now it was gone.
"Hey, I usually wing it," commented Cheese, "I think I can fit this in..."
"Wing it? Wing it?! How are we supposed to wing it?! This is Pinkie's birthday, for pony's sake!"
Pinkie looked ashamed. "Man, discovering surprises sure isn't as rewarding as I'd thought it'd be..." she muttered. "I'm sorry."
Twilight sighed and put a hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. "It's all right, Pinkie. This was probably inevitable, anyway. I'm sure Cheese and I will figure something else out. Cheese, come with me." Twilight had a stern look on her face as she swished around and began to walk away.
Hanging his head, Cheese followed Twilight as she walked in the direction of the library. Pinkie sagged as she watched them go.
"Oh, no..." she said sadly. "What have I done?"
Pinkie walked on home, alone, her mane sagging as she did so. Had she gotten Cheese into big, huge, terrible trouble? What if Twilight made him go home before her party? She had only had a few minutes with him! During Rainbow's party she had had hours to talk to him while they finished the preparations. But now, they had had not even thirty minutes to hang out.
"Why does this bother me so much?" she asked to herself. "I mean, sure, he's my friend and all...but this bothers me even more than normal. I didn't realize how happy I was to see him until he left."
Was it possible that she might have liked him more than she previously thought? She had thought him handsome when they first met but didn't let that stop her from opposing him when his party style ruined her pride. It didn't make her act like a lovestruck filly when she talked to him. Perhaps she just hadn't realized.
Pinkie sighed. "What's wrong with you, Pinkie?" Then she shook her head. "No. Twilight wouldn't do that. She's a reasonable mare," she snapped. "Stop being such a dummy."
...But what if the damage had been so catastrophic that Twilight was beyond furious with him? What if...Pinkie couldn't stop all of the scenarios of Cheese being forced to leave as they played in her head. She felt worse as each one did.
Looking up at the sky, it registered in her mind that it was past noon and she still hadn't eaten lunch yet. She sadly trotted home to fix something for herself and Gummy.
Twilight, of course, never even considered sending Cheese away. She had been quite upset at first, but she calmed down when they got to work. "In retrospect, it isn't that much of a change," she admitted, "but now we have a big mechanism that we can't use for the surprise factor."
"How about you teleport her up to the top, blindfolded," commented Cheese idly, "and let that be the thing she rides down to see the party for the first time?"
Twilight's mouth dropped open. "That's...even better than the last idea."
"Hey, I am a super duper party pony," laughed Cheese, "I know what I'm doing."
Twilight jotted it down. "Can you alter it so that it'll work for Pinkie's grand entrance?"
"Sure! I'll just need to make a few minor adjustments, and I'll be done in a jiffy! Then I'll tell Pinkie that there was no harm done," added Cheese.
Twilight snickered. "I see."
Cheese blushed. "I—I just don't want her to worry, is all!"
"Riiight. Okay, go make your adjustments," giggled Twilight, waving him along. Cheese frowned and stalked out. "That's so sweet," Twilight commented when he was out of earshot, "Fluttershy was right about them."
Sooo...well, their troubles are far from over, at least. Trust me; the party will still be awesome!
Technically, this one was also pretty short, hehehe, but technically longer in story wordies than Chapter 6. :)
Here are the replies:
FruitySheep: Well, I hope you liked the reaction, I know it wasn't severely funny...DX
Shadougelover14: You know, for once, I really am. Thank you, about the interaction thing! :3
CrazyNutBob: BOOM! Maybe not much of a boom...hehe. Well, there will be a reveal, just not of Cheese's being there...it'll be something else.
AwkwardTurtle13: You just made it on the replies, haha! I'm so happy you're happy! I hope Twi's reaction was satisfactory. Yeah, I didn't want to go into Rarity's exploits since it isn't a major plot point. Thanks!
Keep writing and God bless!
Shippings