Pinkie's Pride
Night's POV
Today was apparently big for Ponyville. Night was just flying around when he saw Pinkie running around gathering supplies. "What are you up to Pinkie?" Night asked as he flew up to her.
"You'll see. Come on!" Pinkie answered before hopping off. Pinkie eventually stopped in front of Sugar Cube Corner and pulled out a banner. She then pulled out all the colors of the rainbow and painted something on the banner.
"How does she do that, I'll never know," Twilight said as she and the rest of her friends came up to watch.
Pinkie then finished and hung up the banner. "Ooh, I am so, so, SO excited because today I'm planning the birthday bash of... Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie shouted, pointing to the banner which had a very realistic looking Rainbow on it.
"Yeah!" Rainbow shouted, pulling away from the banner to reveal the actual painting, which she was in front of. Night then remembered the day and felt a bit guilty for forgetting it.
Rainbow Dash then flew down to Pinkie how grabbed her hoof immediately. "Rainbow Dash," she said seriously.
"Yes, Pinkie?" Rainbow asked.
"You realize that, by enlisting me as your party planner, I guarantee that this is going to be the funnest, most fantabulous, superbial party in Ponyville?" Pinkie asked her, moving forward that forced Rainbow onto her back.
"Uh, yeah? I guess," Rainbow answered, not seeing why Pinkie was being so serious about this.
"No guesses! Parties are no picnic," Pinkie told her.
"Oh, I like a nice picnic party," Fluttershy said. Pinkie growled at her.
"Parties. Are. Serious! And you have my certified Pinkie Party Promise," Pinkie started, crossing her heart before taking a cupcake and putting it in her eye, "that you will have the best birthday party ever!
"Okay," Rainbow said.
"Great! Now, who's ready to join this super-duper party pony to plan this super-duper par-rty?" Pinkie asked her friends.
"I am," a low voice said. Everypony turned to look and saw a yellow-brown stallion with brown mane wearing clothing that reminded Night of Mexico and a rubber chicken on his back. The pony then blew a noisemaker.
"Who are you, stranger?" Pinkie asked cheerfully.
The stranger spat out the noisemaker. "Name's Cheese Sandwich. I plan parties," he answered.
"What an amazing coincidence! I'm Pinkie Pie and I'm planning a party!" Pinkie told him.
"Oh, it's no coincidence, my little pony. My cheesy sense was a-tingling, telling me a party was in the works," Cheese Sandwich said, lifting his head to reveal his green eyes.
"A cheesy sense? Ah! Double amazing! I have a Pinkie Sense!" Pinkie told him, getting in his face.
"Yes. I sensed you did. And I happen to be the premiere party planner in all of Equestria. If there's a party in need, there I'll be. Be it wingding, hoedown, hootenanny, or shindig, I'm your pony," Cheese Sandwich stated.
"A pair of party pony planners in Ponyville?! What can be more perfect?!" Pinkie asked in excitement. Cheese Sandwich didn't look impressed with her.
"I'll tell you what! Making this party epic! 'Cause this isn't just any birthday. It's also the anniversary of when I moved to Ponyville!" Rainbow stated.
"So, you're birth-aversary?" Night asked.
"Yeah, that works. So what do you say, party planners?" Rainbow asked them.
"Oh, I think we can do it!" Pinkie said cheerfully.
"Oh, I don't think so," Cheese Sandwich said, getting Night worried that there would be a fight between the two. "I know so!" he shouted, raising his voice which was probably his normal one and throwing off his attire to reveal a bright yellow shirt underneath. Cheese then started talking about all his parties and told his story about how he was always big on parties.
"Come on everypony! Let's go party with Cheese!" Rainbow shouted. Ponies swarmed Cheese and Night was a bit impressed.
"You're really a certified party pony?" Fluttershy asked.
"That's right! That's my guarantee!" Cheese declared.
He then led everyone away while finishing up his tales. "Yeah! Hah, now that's what I'm talking about! I'm so stoked you're here, Cheese Sandwich!" Rainbow told him.
"Yeah. You sure did come on the right day," Applejack noted.
"Your party sounds simply divine," Rarity said, sounding impressed with what sounded like a mixture of something Discord and Pinkie would do. That surprised Night.
"We're so lucky to have you here," Twilight added.
"Just doing my job, little fillies," Cheese said, putting on a hat.
"I mean, Pinkie Pie's parties are fun and sweet and all, but now this party's gonna be-" Rainbow started.
"Epic," Cheese finished.
"You said it! Oh, yeah!" Rainbow said, giving Cheese a high-hoof. Night then saw Pinkie behind the group, looking a bit down. He wasn't the only one. "Uh, heh, no offense, Pinkie," Rainbow told her.
"Uh, n-none taken," Pinkie told her before putting a smile on that seemed forced.
Night then went over to her. "You alright?" Night asked.
"Oh, yeah. Don't worry about me," Pinkie answered, heading off before Night could say anything else. Night sighed.
Pinkie's POV
After running away from the things Cheese was doing, Pinkie sat under the banner she made, sad and slightly annoyed at what transpired. "Pinkie!" Twilight shouted, coming up with Night. Pinkie didn't want her friends to see her moping so she grabbed a watering can and started letting the water pour out, not caring if it touched the plants. "Aren't you gonna help Cheese Sandwich plan the party?" she asked.
"That's okay," Pinkie said before chuckling nervously. "He obviously has what it takes to do it all by himself. Heh," she added.
"Really?" the alicorns asked.
"Yes, indeedy!" Pinkie answered before chuckling nervously again. Night and Twilight looked concerned, but they left looking surprised. "After all, if Cheese really is the super duperiest partying-est pony of them all, maybe that means... I'm... not," Pinkie said out loud after they left, letting everything sink in. She wandered home, noticing that ponies were talking about how special Cheese Sandwich's party would be.
When she arrived, she looked in her room and saw all the party supplies scattered around. She was tempted to put everything away when she saw a photo on her table. She looked and saw the picture she took that was the first party she planned. She looked at more photos around the house and saw more of her parties, focusing on all the happiness and joy those parties brought the ponies and herself. "No. I'm not giving up. I can't let Cheese Sandwich beat me at my own game," Pinkie told herself grabbing all her party supplies. She put a present box around her body, red sunglasses, and balloons on her head and flippers on her feet.
She stepped outside and went to find Cheese Sandwich and heard Rarity talking. "I must say I marvel at your superior party planning expertise, Cheese Sandwich," she said before giggling.
"Well, they don't call him the super-duper party planner for nothin'," Applejack pointed out.
"That's it! This pony has gotta get her title back! And I know just what to do!" Pinkie said. She lost track of Cheese Sandwich briefly but found him where the main event would take place. "Freeze, Cheese!" Pinkie shouted, getting everyponies attention. "I challenge you... to a goof-off!" Pinkie declared. Everypony except Night gasped.
"Uh, silly question, but what's a goof-off?" he asked.
Both party planners ignored Night's question. "This Cheese has stood alone a long time, Pinkie Pie. You think you can out-goof me?" Cheese asked her seriously, putting on a fez.
"Oh, I don't think so. I know so! And the stakes are high, Cheese Sandwich. Whoever wins will be dubbed the ultimate super duper party pony and headline the Rainbow Dash birth-aversary bash!" Pinkie declared.
"And the loser?" Twilight asked.
"Doesn't," Pinkie answered seriously. "So, are you in, Cheese? Or are you… boneless?" Pinkie asked him.
Cheese's mouth dropped. "No pony calls me boneless. Right Boneless?" he asked his rubber chicken which was laying on his back.
"Then the goof off is on for high noon!" Pinkie declared.
"Uh, Pinkie, it's three o'clock," Twilight said, pointing to the bell tower.
"Oh. Oh, well then. Make it 3:10 to goof off!" Pinkie stated.
3:10 came around and Pinkie and Cheese approached each other in what others would consider to be odd outfits. Twilight then stepped in between them. "All right, everypony. According to my official goof off rulebook…" Twilight started but Rainbow interrupted.
"Wait, you have a goof off rulebook?" she asked.
"Yep. The library is sometimes more magical than the two of us," Night commented.
"The two competitors have free range to goof about - be it by singing, dancing, playing, prancing, joking, or performing - to make the judge chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, hoot and holler, whoop it up, and party down. The funnier, sillier, wilder, and goofier, the better," Twilight continued. As she was talking, Pinkie and Cheese were making silly faces at each other, and at one point Cheese opened his mouth to reveal a mouse blowing a tuba. "Rainbow Dash, since the winner will be headlining your party, you are the judge," Twilight added.
"Heh. Big tense competition on my birth-iversary. What could be better?" Rainbow asked.
"Cheese Sandwich, Pinkie Pie, are you ready?" Twilight asked the two.
"I was born ready!" Pinkie answered.
"I was ready before I was born!" Cheese answered.
"Then... Let the goofing begin!" Twilight declared.
Cheese and Pinkie slowly approached each other, ponies waiting to see who would make the first move. Cheese then pulled out an accordion and started playing while dancing, but Pinkie used the music to her advantage.
[It's your birthday party, a very special day
I've got a song, it won't take long, I just wanted to say
Happy, happy, happy, happy
Happy, happy, happy, happy
Happy, happy, happy, happy birthday to you!]
Pinkie sang this while wearing a fake mustache, and a helicopter cap. She was also balancing on a ball while juggling cupcakes and throwing them into Rainbow's mouth. Cheese then rolled in on a massive cheese roll while playing the accordion.
[If you wanna be the life of the party
But you're feeling just a little uptight
Call the doctor, beg and plead
"Doctor, tell me what I need"
Try to put a little cheese in your knees!]
While Cheese was doing that, Pinkie got in the balloon she had prepared in case she needed it and used a fishing hook to bring Rainbow off the ground and up to her.
[Bubbles and balloons, bubbles and balloons
What's a birthday party without bubbles and balloons?
Star-shaped or trapezoid, look what I can do
Only Pinkie Pie can make a bubble-shaped like you!]
Cheese then pulled Rainbow way using the roof of a building.
[Just let yourself go floppy, for now this is your chance
Pretend you have no bones and do the rubber chicken dance!]
"Hit it Boneless!" Cheese then shouted and Boneless started flopping around. Pinkie got out of the balloon and grabbed the trampoline.
[Cooler than a rubber chicken and tastier than cake
Come on, you, let's party down and do the Gummy shake!]
"Hit it, Gummy! Uh-huh! You know it! Shake it!" Pinkie said, pointing to Gummy. Cheese then put Rainbow on a cheese throne.
['Cause I like to make you smile, smile, smile
Yes I do
It fills my heart with sunshine all the while
Yes it does
'Cause all I really need's a smile, smile, smile
From these happy friends of mine]
"That's my song!" Pinkie shouted at Cheese.
"What do you mean? I have no idea what you're talking about," Cheese said.
"THAT'S IT!" Pinkie shouted. Now she was really getting serious.
[Roll out the party cannon
When you hear the party cannon song
Ka-BOOM!]
[Why should you compromise? Try this one on for size
'Cause nothing quite says cheer like the ringing in your ear
Of the cheese supreme cannonball surprise!]
Cheese sang while pulling out a giant tank with a party cannon on it. Pinkie then brought out a large pinata cake.
[¡Dale, dale, dale
No pierdas el tino!
Porque si lo pierdes
¡Pierdes el camino!]
The pinata then fell off the hook it was on and fell onto Rainbow. Seeing Rainbow struggle trying to get out of it, Pinkie felt something click inside her. She gasped. "Rainbow's not having the best party ever! I... I broke the Pinkie Party Promise!" Pinkie realized. "Stop! The goof-off is off!" Pinkie declared. The ponies watching looked confused and said things to each other.
"But I haven't named a winner," Rainbow pointed out.
"You don't have to. I forfeit. Which means… Cheese Sandwich wins," Pinkie stated, forcing out every word out of guilt.
Cheese Sandwich's first response was to laugh in like it was a joke, then realized that Pinkie was being serious. "...I do?" he asked.
"Yes. You get to headline Rainbow Dash's party," Pinkie told him, Pinkie promising.
"But, what about you, Pinkie?" Twilight asked.
"I… don't," Pinkie answered sadly, feeling the tears in her eyes.
Once Pinkie left, she realized it would be easier if she went to another town, so she packed up her things. She didn't even start to leave when her friends intercepted her. "Pinkie, wait! I'm sorry I got all swept away by Cheese Sandwich," Rainbow told her.
"We all are," Twilight added and the others agreed.
"No. I'm sorry I let my pride get in the way of you having the best birth-aversary ever. Cheese Sandwich really is a super-duper party planner, and he'll be a terrific headliner. I should've been a big enough pony to admit that and let you have your day," Pinkie stated.
"But don't you get it? You're both super-duper party ponies. Sure, Cheese Sandwich is a great guest party pony, but you're Ponyville's permanent party pony. Nopony could ever take your place, and we could never have a party without you," Rainbow told her.
"Rainbow Dash is right," Cheese said, making himself known. "I never meant to take your place in Ponyville. I just wanted to show you what a great party pony I am, Pinkie," he admitted.
"Why me?" Pinkie asked, confused.
"Well… I may have fibbed a bit about my past. Truth is, I was extremely shy as a foal and left my town. Nopony even knew who I was. One day, I stumbled into Ponyville and found a huge party going on. When I saw all the smiles there I realized that was what I wanted to do. I traveled across Equestria and everypony knew my name. But… that wouldn't have happened without that party. The one that you threw," Cheese explained.
"Me?!" Pinkie asked in shock.
"Yes!" Cheese answered.
"Really?"
"Ha! Really!"
"So I was the pony that threw the awesomely spectacular party that inspired you to become an awesome spectacular party thrower?" Pinkie asked in conformation.
"Swear on Camembert!" Cheese answered.
"Enough with the warm fuzzy stuff, you two. It's my birth-aversary, and you gotta throw me a bash!" Rainbow said.
"Yeah!" Pinkie shouted.
"Let's go!" Cheese added.
The two spent most of the remaining afternoon planning everything and by sunset, the party was beginning. "All right, everypony! We are here to celebrate the birthday…" Cheese started.
"...and anniversary…" Pinkie added.
"...of Rainbow Dash!" the two finished.
"Hey, everypony! Who's ready to get their party on?!" Rainbow asked the crowd. "Hit it!" Pinkie then started the song.
[Get your hooves up, party's starting out right now
Everypony, everypony get down
Time to make a wish, better make it right now
It's been a year and today is your birthday party
Make a wish, it's your birthday
Make a wish, it's your birthday party
Make a wish, it's your birthday
Make a wish, it's your birthday party]
Once the celebrations calmed down a bit, Pinkie saw Cheese under a tree eating a cupcake as she wrote in the journal. Rainbow then flew up to him. " Cheese Sandwich! Oh, I gotta tell ya, you and Pinkie have totally made this the best birthday/anniversary super combo ever! Hah, it's totally-" Rainbow started.
"Epic?" Cheese finished.
"Yeah, it is!" Rainbow answered.
"That's all I needed to hear, little filly," Cheese told her. Cheese then put a box in front of Pinkie. "Just a little memento of my visit," he said.
"You're giving me your special rubber chicken friend?" Pinkie asked in surprise.
"Oh, he's not the only one," Cheese answered, pulling out a second rubber chicken with a big red '2' on its belly. "Well, Boneless Two, another job well done. But it's time we mosey along. Another town, another party," Cheese said as he left.
"I never did get that pony's name," Pinkie said.
"Cheese Sandwich!" her friends shouted at her.
"Oh yeah!" Pinkie said then giggled.