Response to Reviews:
Vinyl Beat: Well, he is supposed to be shy…wonder why he'd be so snippy with her? Read more and you'll see…
The J.A.M. a.k.a. Numbah i: Well, she was upset, I'm sure she was exaggerating when she said she had no idea how to plan a refined party. At Candace's wedding, Queen Chrysalis even said the reception looked fit for a young foal. Pinkie Pie knows the general setup of a "refined" party, but her instincts still urge her to act like…well, Pinkie.
Asaf: Yeah, I liked the title of Pies and Prejudice; I thought it would fit nicely with the story :D

TWO- OCTAVIA AND HORSESHOE

When Pinkie Pie went to the Grand Hall the next day to set up, her five friends tagged along. She wouldn't mind, not usually—she craved her friends' company, but she predicted there would be a lot of talking. Somehow she was still recovering from Horseshoe's snippy speech, which made her feel strange. Who got worked up over such things, anyway? She didn't much feel accustomed to answer everyone's questions. The magical plinkity-plink of piano shimmered through her mind every minute. She wanted that sort of solitude. She didn't want to be quite so Pinkie today. Not quite so flouncy. Just cheery.

Walking there, the five insisted they walk in a circle around her, with her walking in the middle like some head figure. They wanted to protect her, she knew. From what? Horseshoe's calm-but-sharp words, afraid they might cut through her pink coat like a knife through butter? She had evidently worried them. But they should be over that now. Ponyville was full of interesting things; every day an adventure…they had to have something more beneficial to do. And still, here they were, acting like her personal ward of bodyguards.

She cleared her throat once they got to the doorway, hoping they'd get the hint, but they didn't. They moved in a slow amoeba from the rocky pathway into the silky-smooth ballroom. There the band was, practicing as usual. The piano sounded especially distinctive, sharp high notes slicing through the sweet song.

As the group ambled past, they split up and went in different directions, talking amongst themselves. Octavia paused to give them a friendly nod, but besides that none of the other players even seemed to know the six entering ponies existed. Frederick Horseshoe was especially ignorant. Pinkie Pie felt herself tense when she looked at him—not out of anger, but out of reflexive bracing. Yesterday a hardy impression had been made. Now every time she looked at him she felt like she had to fashion an artificial, invisible armor over herself to ensure that his words didn't cut her. She wasn't even angry at him, like she had been with Gilda. In the back of her mind, she had that instinctive notion to "turn that frown upside-down", but mostly she just felt ashamed. And why? It was a scary feeling. She felt like she wasn't mature enough to be around any of them. Which was not something Pinkie had ever even thought of thinking. She felt her forehead briefly with a hoof, checking to see if she had a fever.

Rainbow Dash, being Rainbow Dash, swaggered up to Horseshoe, hovering above him with a smirk on her face. "So…I heard you were being rude to Pinkie yesterday," the blue mare said matter-of-factly. Pinkie Pie's heart lurched. Why couldn't they just drop it? She wished she hadn't made such a big deal of it; now she felt silly. She stared hard at the back of Horseshoe's head, willing him to hear her thoughts. I didn't tell on you! It's not my fault! They're being silly! Luckily, Horseshoe either didn't hear or pretended not to, and she was pretty sure it was the latter. She couldn't blame him, though…how did you answer something like that? Swallowing, Pinkie trotted over to Twilight, who was glaring at Horseshoe with violet eyes.

"No, I'm fine, really," she said in her brightest voice. "I'm good now, see? It's nothing to worry about." She waved her front legs and smiled wide to show them, but it didn't look like anyone was listening. When Horseshoe didn't answer, Rainbow Dash growled, muttered something under her breath, and flew back down to the ground. She hissed in Pinkie's ear. "Can I please punch him now?" she snarled.

Pinkie Pie rolled her eyes, grinning at Rainbow Dash's protectiveness. "Don't be so mean, Dashie. I'm over it now. I'm sure he was having a bad day. Maybe he spilled his coffee. Or his piano wasn't tuned. Or he played a wrong note." She bounced around, feeling giddy all of a sudden. "Or he dropped his birthday cake!"

Rarity, meanwhile, was leaning on Horseshoe's piano with both her front hooves planted on her cheeks. "So," she said in a syrupy voice, staring at Horseshoe's grass green eyes. "Frederick…I heard you won first place in the Annual Equestria Music Competition, if I'm not mistaken?" She batted her eyelashes, which were extra-thick today.

Horseshoe looked rattled that someone had used his first name. "Er…thank…you?"

Rarity giggled and turned to Applejack, who was standing behind her. "See…what did I tell you? He's shy as a mouse." She tossed her mane. "I'm always right about these things. He was probably just miffed that Pinkie was interrupting his piano playing or something of the like." She resumed her gushing, latching on to Horseshoe like a leech.

Pinkie ignored them all, wishing she could crumple yesterday's event into one big clump and throw it away, so they'd all stop being so ridiculous. Had they always been so defensive, like first-foal mothers? Maybe her constant happiness had covered it up. Maybe she never realized any of this stuff, and the thin film of depression glazed over her served as an eye-opener. That was the good, and daunting, thing about being depressed.

It wasn't that she still felt the same sting she'd felt yesterday, but his words echoed in her mind. Suddenly it was like a veil had been lifted up. She noticed everything now. Looking back into her memories, she vaguely remembered laughing at everything anyone said, or misinterpreting it, or pretending like it was all some big game. That was her. But now, she felt like everything she'd ever done had been so…immature. Un-refined! Just once, she wanted to feel what it was like to be fancy. After that everything would go back to normal. She could be Pinkie again.

Mixed feelings came over her. Anger, suddenly. So quickly had she snapped back into reality, waken up from a lifelong dream. She wanted to fall back asleep, be trapped in the never-ending cycle of laughter that had sheltered her before. Ponies had said insults to her before, but none of them had shattered her shield like Horseshoe's words had. What made him so special? She thought for a while, and settled on the hypothesis that his innocent piano-playing had softened her expectations, making it more of a shock when he turned out to be rude. What still confused her, though, is that everyone said he was supposed to be shy. He certainly seemed that way now, avoiding everyone's eyes and acting as if nothing had happened the day before.

Octavia seemed a little uncomfortable, like all the ponies were making her claustrophobic. She drew her bow swiftly across the strings of her cello, ceasing the playing on a high note. "Well," she said stridently, causing every pony to look at her. "I suppose I should leave now. If it's my celebration, I mean…it should probably be a surprise." Her voice sounded strained.

Pinkie Pie looked at the gray mare in wonder. What had happened to her composure? She looked bothered, maybe even a little flustered. Looking deep into the pony's violet eyes, she still couldn't read which emotion it was, only that it was negative. And why would she suggest that she leave? Octavia was the sort of pony who would stay and help, even if it were to set up a party meant for her.

All the ponies watched Octavia as she packed up her stuff hurriedly. The six friends looked at her, bewildered, but the rest of the band ensemble just looked at Octavia, uninterested and indifferent. Like her sudden behavior change was completely normal. All except for Horseshoe, who played on regardless of the sudden lack of instruments. He was playing Flight of the Pegasus in D Minor, his hooves moving so fast that Pinkie couldn't keep up with them.

Rarity was the only one still concentrated on Horseshoe. She watched him in embellished awe. "My goodness! That really is marvelous, Frederick." Pinkie Pie, still without her laughing shield, noticed that Octavia's ears twitched when Rarity said "Frederick". "That's honestly the most amazing thing I've ever seen in my entire life! You're truly talented, aren't you!"

That seemed to set Octavia off. "Yes! Well! That's all very good and fine…but we really must be going!" She shut her cello case with a snap and grabbed onto Horseshoe's collar, nearly choking him as she tugged him along. "Come on, Sallow, Chordial! We should leave these ponies in peace so they can set up the party decorations." The two rapidly packed up their instruments and followed Octavia in hot pursuit, their eyes still half-lidded and bored. Horseshoe, still being pulled along by his collar, looked very, very confused.

When they had gone, Applejack snorted. "What was that all about?"

Fluttershy fluttered her wings. "She seemed…upset."

Rainbow Dash flicked her tail. "Who cares? At least she took the creep-o with her. Now we won't have to deal with his snarky remarks while we're here."

Pinkie Pie wanted to point out that he had been quiet the whole time, but with her veil still lifted, she felt that wouldn't be the right thing to say.

Rarity sniffed, still leaned against the grand piano. "Oh, I know what it was. She was jealous that Frederick and I were getting along so well." She giggled. "I think we really hit it off! We have something special, Frederick and I. I wouldn't be surprised if he's fallen head over hooves for me already. By the way Octavia acted, I'm sure she saw it too."

Pinkie Pie looked at Rarity. A new veil had been lifted, lighting up everything. Jealous. She knew what the emotion on Octavia's face had been now.

Sorry for the short chapter, but I wanted to wrap things up.