With Twilight’s help Rarity was soon finished with her cleaning. The Carousal boutique shined and everything was in order. Rarity smiled over at her friend, gratitude gleaming in her crystal blue eyes.
“Twilight, darling, however can I thank you? The boutique hasn’t been this nice and shiny in a while.” Twilight smiled and opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by the slamming of Rarity’s front door as somepony entered. The two mares turned to look, both with confusion in their eyes. Upon the sight greeting them Rarity’s expression turned once again to panic. Much to their surprise, and Rarity’s dismay, Pinkie Pie had kicked the door open and was now dragging not only her party cannon but also the welcome wagon in as well. To be exact she was walking backwards pushing the welcome wagon in with her hindquarters while dragging the party cannon in with her front hooves. The look on her face held nothing but happy determination, with a set smile and her eyes narrowed as she focused on her task ahead: throwing the biggest Ponyville welcome party this boutique had ever seen.
“Ah… Pinkie” Twilight said with a raised eyebrow “what are you doing?” Rarity was still frozen in shock, though Twilight had to admit the look on her face was rather humorous with her wide eyes and gaping mouth.
“Oh Twilight isn’t it obvious?” Pinkie Pie giggled “I’m gonna throw the biggest, bestest, bounciest, boutique bananazaa ever!” She exclaimed joyously. Twilight tilted her head slightly.
“Uh, don’t you mean bonanza?” she asked.
“Whatever! “ Pinkie giggled “and it’s all for Rarity’s cousin! Isn’t that awesome?!” she asked, taking aim with the party cannon before she started firing balloons and streamers everywhere. Rarity’s eyes followed the decorations as they seemingly magically set themselves up. In no time at all the entire boutique would be covered in brightly colored streamers, confetti, and balloons. Of all the things that could happen this was without question The! Worst! Possible! Thing!
“Pinkie!” Rarity cried rushing over to her friend. The pink pony just smiled.
“Oh no need to thank me Rarity, I’m sure your cousin will have loads of fun and make so many friends” she said happily. Rarity trotted in place nervously, looking around in a panicked state of shock and utter horror.
“How did you find out?” she asked her voice taking on the faster and slightly raspy tone she got when she was upset.
“Oh I met them just outside the train station, they were looking for directions to get here and his really weird friend with the funny colors asked me where the carousal boutique was and I was all wellll duhh!!!!! Cause you know you own the Carousal Boutique and you’re one of my bestest bestest friends so I got all excited and asked ‘em why and then I thought they might be jewel thieves but the tall one with the blue hair said no he was your cousin and so I got so so so excited I rushed over here so we could have a super duper party for them and it’s a good thing I did cause looking around here you musta forgot he was coming today cause this place sure doesn’t look ready for a party, at least not yet. It will now that Pinkie’s on the job!” she rambled her voice changing its pitch either high or lower in the appropriate places along with facial expressions to match until she finished her little speech and resumed her cheerful expression while she finished up firing her party cannon.
Rarity wasn’t sure what to say or do, as she looked around her once spotless boutique a feeling very similar to the feeling she had when Sweetie Bell cleaned her room took over. She gritted her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut before opening them wide with a small smile as she regained her composure. Pinkie pie chuckled at the sight.
“Oh Rarity, you’re so wacky sometimes.” Pinkie said cheerfully now pouring cake batter into a pan before sticking it in the oven on the welcome wagon. Rarity opened her mouth to speak but then the sound of hoof steps were suddenly heard as A.J. and Fluttershy walked in, a second later Rainbow Dash swooped in and landed beside twilight.
Rarity looked about at their smiling faces before exclaiming “What are you all doing here?!” she asked, earning her some confused looks from A.J and Fluttershy as they approached the other mares.
“Beg ya pardon? Pinkie said you were having some sort of party, something ‘bout a relative visiting?” A.J. said with Fluttershy and Dash nodding in agreement.
Rarity opened her mouth to speak but was once again cut off by the overzealous pink pony.
“You’re darn tootin we’re havin a party!” she exclaimed happily. “And look, some more guests have arrived!” she cried happily as most, if not all of Ponyville showed up at the boutique’s doors. Rarity and Twilight watched in shock (and for Rarity horror) as Lyra, Bonbon, Dr. Whooves, Carrot top, Davenport, Caramel, Emerald, Cheerilee, Derpy, Snips, Snails, Twist, Ace, Aloe, Lotus, Roxie, Candy Mane, Rose, Baritone, Daisy, Berry Punch, Goldengrape, Hugh Jelly, Pip, Junebug, Melilot, Noteworthy, Blossomforth, Cloudchaser, Flitter, Silverspeed, Snowflake, Thunderlane, Rumble, DJ Pon-3, Strike, Mr. and Mrs. Cake with the twins, Zecora, and just about every other pony trotted, soared, and galloped into the carousal boutique until it was full from wall to wall with candy colored ponies and the air filled with music courtesy the equipment DJ Pon-3 had brought with her. Somewhere in the crowd Snowflake let out a loud and excited “yeah!” while flexing. Rarity looked around not knowing what to say or do, she looked at Twilight who just gave Rarity a nervous smile.
“Rarity?” a small voice chimed up. The white unicorn looked down to see Sweetie Bell and her friends Scootaloo and Apple Bloom staring up at her. “What’s going on?” she asked looking around obviously confused by the day’s events. Rarity took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
“Well Sweetie Bell” she said with a sigh, “It would seem pinkie pie has meet our dear cousin near the train station and now she is… throwing a party…” the uneasiness in Rarity’s voice was made very clear with those three words “to welcome said cousin.” Sweetie bell however perked up at Rarity’s words.
“Oh well I’m sure cousin Ballet won’t mind some company, and she loves music and dancing.” Sweetie Bell said with a smile. Rarity shook her head.
“It’s not Dear cousin Ballet I’m referring to” Rarity said with a very set frown.
“But, if it’s not cousin Ballet, then who…?” Sweetie Bell asked looking confused; Ballet was the only relative Sweetie Bell could think of that would come down for a visit.
“Cousin Literary” Rarity said with as much drama shoved into those two words as possible.
Sweetie Bell’s eyes widened and her face dropped. “Wh-what?! Why would he come here?! He hates leaving his home in Fillydelphia!” Her small voice squeaking slightly as she raised it.
“Well…” Rarity began looking around, “He wanted to escape the noise of Fillydelphia to finish his last book and well, he thought it’d be nice to get peace and quiet here in Ponyville”
Sweetie Bell looked around the boutique at all the ponies and party decorations. “I think the last thing he’ll find here is peace and quiet.” As if on cue the door opened and two stallions walked in.