More Than She Could Dream Of
Chapter 4
Introductions
Pinkie trotted through the streets of Ponyville, on her way to the park. The previous day with the Cakes had been fun, and the twins were always a joy to be around. However, her mind had been elsewhere the entire time, instead planning the next date with Surprise.
Despite having been away from the pegasus for only two days, Pinkie had found herself pining for Surprise soon after they had parted, the words of her new marefriend’s confession burning in her chest. Even after all her fantasising, Pinkie was taken aback by how deep her feelings ran for Surprise.
Sure, Pinkie had admired the pegasus on their dates and enjoyed the time spent with her, but it hadn’t been until that wonderful conclusion to their previous date that she had really begun to see Surprise as a pony she genuinely could be together with. And, if there was a chance Surprise was going to be a part of Pinkie’s life, then all the better that she was introduced to the other most important ponies to Pinkie.
Still, Pinkie found herself swallowing a certain amount of anxiety. She was still reeling from Fluttershy’s chilly reaction at the marketplace, and she was uncertain whether bringing Surprise to Rainbow Dash would open up the wound that’d barely healed. Not to mention how everypony else had reacted when she’d first mentioned she had a date...
No! Nonono. Everything was fine: Dashie had forgiven her, Fluttershy was probably just busy, and everypony had been worried sick about her when she’d arrived in Sugarcube Corner. Now that things were cleared up, there was no reason for her special somepony not to meet her best friends.
Surprise was waiting for her, sitting in the shadow of her cloud home, and smiled when she saw Pinkie approaching. “Heeey~!” she called, fluttering over to Pinkie and hugging her. “How are you?”
“I’m good! Mr. and Mrs. Cake had been planning to take a daytrip to Canterlot, and they asked me to come as well! They figured I’d been there enough to guide them around it.” Pinkie tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Although, it looks so much different when there’s not changelings running around everywhere, trying to take over Equestria.”
The pegasus giggled. “Yeah, I guess a changeling invasion would make sightseeing a bit difficult.” She looked at Pinkie expectantly. “So! You’re introducing me to your friends today?”
“Yeah...” Pinkie rubbed the back of her head, thinking about where to take Surprise first. She settled upon the mare who had brought her friends together in the first place. “I’ll take you to Twilight! She’s the town librarian; the one who lives inside a tree!” She giggled at the pegasus’ incredulous face. “She’s also Princess Celestia’s personal student!”
“Okay, now you gotta be kidding me,” Surprise said, following Pinkie as she began to walk toward the town centre. When Pinkie grinned and shook her head, the white mare poked her tongue out. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
The pair of ponies arrived in the town centre shortly after, Pinkie bouncing along happily, with Surprise in tow, flying with slow, lazy flaps of her white wings. The pegasus’ eyes widened slightly as she saw the library.
“Whoa, it actually is a tree? How does it stay alive if the inside’s been carved out?” she asked, pointing to the bright green leaves atop the branches.
“Magic,” Pinkie said with a shrug. “You’re gonna like Twilight, I’m sure! She’s basically the calmest, most level-headed, rational pony I know! And really smart!”
“‘Rational’? I guess opposites attract, huh?” Surprise said, nudging Pinkie’s shoulder.
“She’s not boring...” Pinkie replied. She knocked vigorously upon the door. When there was no answer, Pinkie laid an ear to the wood. She could hear some commotion from within, some muffled shouting and a weird swirling noise. “Well, I guess this is a public library.” She pushed the door open.
In the centre of the room, with her back to them, was Twilight. She looked distressed, her eyes bloodshot, her horn blazing and a multitude of books flying around her in a tornado of literature. Her head whipped back and forth as she inspected the books. “Oh, no no no... it has to be here somewhere! Spike!”
“I’m right here!” Spike called from atop a ladder. He was pushing books apart, peering intently amongst the shelves.
“Uh... hey, Twilight!” Pinkie called, poking her head though the crack in the door. Twilight spun around, staring hard, her disheveled mane falling about her face. “I have my special somepony here and I wanted you to see her...”
“Pinkie? Now’s really, really not a good time for you two to be here,” Twilight said in a weary tone.
“But... but...” Pinkie realised Twilight had already returned to her frantic searching, tuning out her comments. She carried on awkwardly waiting at the door, in case the errant book was found, and the panic averted.
“Can you remember where you last left it?” Spike asked. He cringed as Twilight’s furious gaze locked onto him.
“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be doing this!” she screeched.
“Okay! Okay! It’s just a book—” Spike stopped as Twilight slammed her forehooves into the first rung of the ladder.
“‘Just a book’? Just. A. Book?!” She began to climb the ladder, mounting a rung with every staccato word she spoke. “This is a first edition print of Supernatural Spirits, on loan from the Royal Canterlot Library!”
“What’s it about? Maybe we can help!” Pinkie piped up.
“It’s about curses that can trap ponies’ souls,” Twilight said without turning around. “Genies, Djinn, Love Spirits, Elementals...” She nosed through a bookcase. “Celestia wanted me to study how King Sombra came to be.”
Surprise nudged Pinkie. “That sounds like a scary book...” she murmured.
“Probably best if you come back later once we’ve cleaned up,” Spike said. “All this mess for a book, huh?”
“Spike, this book is incredibly rare, incredibly valuable, and I’ve lost it! Do you realise what this means?” Twilight snapped.
“You might be overreacting a bit, Twi...” Spike gasped as the books fell to the floor and he was seized up in the magical aura instead.
“Spike... if I’ve lost this book, I am finished,” she said quietly, levitating him in front of her.
The little dragon spread his arms in a pacifying gesture. “Twilight, Celestia’s not gonna kill you. I mean, she was pretty reasonable, even after the Smarty Pants Incident!”
Twilight gave a stressed sigh. “Not Celestia. The Royal Archivist! She’s merciless! I’m doomed!”
All the while, Pinkie and Surprise had been watching, horrified, through the half-open door. “Calm and level-headed, huh?” the pegasus murmured.
“She’s not always like this...” Pinkie replied.
“What’s the Smarty Pants Incident, anyway?”
“Oh! That was the time Twilight was panicking over not having a friendship report to give to Princess Celestia, so she tried to make a friendship problem to solve!” Pinkie explained cheerfully. “Except everypony was just fine that day, so she got more and more desperate and eventually accidentally hypnotised half the town into wanting her raggedy old Smarty Pants doll more than anything else in the whole wide world! Then Celestia had to come and sort the whole thing out!”
Surprise looked at Pinkie in horror. “She... did that?” she said uncertainly.
“Yep! She’s basically the most powerful unicorn in the whole world!”
“Ah...” Surprise peeked through the door again at the chaotic scene. “Um, no offence, Pinkie, but could we come back at a less... crazy time?”
“Aw... I really wanted to introduce you.” Her blue eyes swiveled to the side, seeing Twilight accidentally sweep the ladder to the floor, burying Spike beneath an avalanche of books.
“I’m okay! I think,” the dragon called out, as Twilight seized up the books, apologising.
“Yeah... maybe you’re right. She’s a little stressed.” Pinkie quietly closed the door. A regretful look crossed her face. “I guess we’re going to need to do a bit of backtracking later.”
“Why’s that a bad thing? I get to spend more time with you!” Surprise said happily, hugging the earth pony.
“Great! And don’t you worry! My next friend will be much less stressed out and crazy!”
“Ooh! Fancy!” Surprise’s eyes lit up as she saw the heavily stylised architecture of the Carousel Boutique. “Wow! You really have some amazing buildings down in Ponyville, Pinkie.”
Pinkie turned back to the pegasus. “But... you come from a city made of clouds! With liquid rainbows!”
Surprise flapped her hoof in a dismissive gesture. “Pfft. Exactly. All clouds, all the time. Only so much you can do with them. Earth ponies have it way better for buildings.”
Pinkie nodded. “I guess so. Anyway! This is the Carousel Boutique, and my friend Rarity lives here. She’s a dressmaker!” She rolled her eyes upward in thought. “Oh, um, if she suddenly starts saying ‘Oh my! What grace!’ or something like that, and starts dressing you up, just submit and accept it. It’ll all be over soon enough!”
“Wait, what—” Loud knocking on the boutique’s door cut Surprise off.
“Hey, Rarity!” Pinkie called.
“What? Oh, um, give me a moment, please!” came a muffled cry from inside. “Actually, several moments!”
Pinkie looked at Surprise, who shrugged in response. “Busy as well?” the pegasus asked.
“Well, Rarity makes her dresses in the front room, and it sounds like she’s upstairs...” Pinkie said thoughtfully. “She must be up to something else!”
“Let’s see...” Surprise flapped her wings, flying up to the second storey.
Pinkie’s eyes widened as she looked up. “Wait, Surprise! Don’t look through the windows, that’s super rude!”
“Okay, fine... I’ll just look at the carvings,” the white mare said, pointing at the building.
“Oh! Okay, then.” Pinkie figured there was no harm in indulging her special somepony a closer look at the boutique. Surprise flew around the top spire of the building, cooing in delight at intervals.
After a minute, the door opened to show a flustered Rarity, her usually pristine mane tangled up and full of bows, ribbons and gems. A comb was also hanging from the indigo strands, caught in a particularly bad snarl. Behind her stood a beaming Sweetie Belle, with her own curly two-tone mane in a similar state of disarray. “Ah! Hello, Pinkie Pie!” Rarity said.
“Hi, Rarity! And Sweetie Belle!” Pinkie replied. “How are you?”
“Just great!” Sweetie exclaimed. “I was just trying my hoof at mane styling again with Rarity! I was trying to go for a Crystal Empire style, like in one of her magazines. What do you think?” she asked, pointing at the disaster zone atop the older unicorn’s head.
“Well...” Pinkie gazed intently at Rarity’s mane. She grimaced and flicked her blue eyes frantically toward Sweetie. “It looks great! You’ve totally put a new twist on it!”
Sweetie Belle giggled and bounced up and down. “I knew it!” A sudden, astonished look appeared on her face. “Wait, can you smell something? Maybe I should go check on the salad we were making...” The filly dashed off into the Boutique.
“Oh, the sacrifices I make for a little sisterly bonding,” Rarity said, her tone cheerful, but exhausted. “So, what brings you here, Pinkie?” She gave a reproachful glance to the ‘Closed’ sign on the door.
“I came to introduce you to my special somepony!”
Rarity’s eyes sprang wide open, and she jumped backwards. “Introduce me? Like this?!” She pushed a forehoof through her mane, scattering a few gems upon the floor. “No no no! Pinkie, I beg you, don’t do this to me!”
“I’m sure she won’t mind...” Pinkie said, crossing one foreleg over the other.
“Well, I’d have to clean up my mane, but that should be the work of a moment, I suppose.” Rarity’s eyes lit up. “So, the date was a success, then?”
“Yepperoony! We hit it off really well! I wanted you to meet her!” Pinkie craned her head upward and called, “Surprise!” The pegasus poked her head out from around the spire of the building, with an expectant expression on her face. She began to fly down from the roof.
“Uh... hi,” Surprise said, landing just behind Pinkie. Her greeting was lost as a sudden commotion caused Rarity’s head to whip around.
“Rarityyy! We have a problem!” cried Sweetie Belle. Thick black smoke was beginning to pour through the doorway.
“How in Celestia’s name did she burn a salad?!” Rarity cried. She began to trot briskly toward the kitchen, saying, “Pinkie, I do appreciate this, but could you possibly come back later?”
Pinkie nodded reluctantly. “Um... sure!” she called after the fleeing unicorn.
“Thank you!” Rarity flicked her head back to the pair. “So sorry I’m busy right now, you two!” She closed the door telekinetically, and the sound of thrumming hoofsteps came from inside as she dashed to fix her sister’s latest culinary disaster.
Pinkie’s shoulders drooped slightly, and she let out a small sigh. A white hoof rubbed across her back. “Did she have a bit too much on her plate, too?” Surprise asked.
“Yeah... something like that,” Pinkie said. Her head jerked back as a crash and a wail came from inside, along with a few wisps of smoke from an open window. She turned back to her special somepony. “I’m sorry, Surprise! I didn’t realise my friends would be so busy today... Normally, they’re kinda open to me just turning up!”
Surprise wrapped her forelegs around Pinkie’s neck. “Really, Pinkie, you don’t have to insist on doing this today. I mean, if your friends are busy, then why don’t we spend some time together, instead? Meet up with them another day?”
Pinkie shook her head. “C’mon! I can introduce you to at least one friend today, can’t I?”
Surprise frowned. “I guess... Just so long as we’re not distracting them too much. I hate being a bother; I learned the hard way not to disturb ponies who don’t want disturbing.”
Pinkie giggled. “Don’t you worry! I’m gonna take you to Applejack next; she’s always happy to see visitors!”
A little while later, the pair stood at the edge of Sweet Apple Acres, staring out onto the sea of green leaves before them. Surprise’s eyes were as wide as dishes as she looked around.
“Whoa... How far does this go on for?” she asked breathlessly.
“Well, pretty much as far as the eye can see aaaaall across here...” Pinkie swept her forehoof in an arc in front of her. “But you must’ve seen all this from up above, right?”
Surprise scrubbed the back of her head with a hoof. “Kinda. I mean, sure, you can see the farms and the forests from the clouds. But when you spend all your time up there, it’s easy to forget this is more than just green fuzz. Most fresh fruit and vegetables are delicacies up in Cloudsdale, apart from the few adapted to grow in clouds.” She gestured to one of the apple trees. “Can I, um...” She hopped from hoof to hoof, inching herself forward, gaze fixed on the trees.
“Wait, Surprise, don’t take an apple, they’re—”
With a mirthful giggle, the white mare dashed past Pinkie and leapt up, flying to the nearest tree and landing amongst the branches with a happy squeal. Perching on a woody limb, Surprise nuzzled the leaves and sniffed at the apples in the boughs.
The pink pony walked up to the tree and laughed. “What are you doing, you silly filly?”
“Just... experiencing it! I’m sorry, it’s just that apples are my favourite fruit, and you usually can’t find them anywhere back home. At least not for the money I have,” Surprise explained. She looked hungrily at one of the round red fruits. “Could I...”
“Surprise! No! These apples belong to the Apple family—you need to ask one of them first!” Pinkie said, frantically waving a hoof.
The pegasus shrank back slightly. “Oh, yeah... sorry. So, wanna go looking for your friend?”
“Yeah! Let’s go!” Pinkie turned around and began to walk away. As she did so, she heard a loud crunch behind her. Her head whipped around to see Surprise still perched in the tree, her cheeks bulging, juice running down her cheeks, and a shiny red apple clutching in her forehoof, a large lump missing out of it.
“Surprise!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“M’m s’rry...” The pegasus swallowed her mouthful. “I’m sorry, it just looked so amazing and smelled so delicious and I hadn’t had an apple in so long and—”
“It’s fine, I’ll just owe Applejack a cookie next time she’s in town,” Pinkie said with a shrug. “Just don’t do it again, okay? It’s not fair to keep eating their crop!”
“Sure.” Surprise flapped along behind her, munching on her filched apple. “So, where is everypony?”
Pinkie bounced along the path. “Applejack and Big Mac—he’s her big brother—are probably out applebucking, but Granny Smith should be around and know where they are.”
Even as they walked the winding path to the farmhouse, Pinkie could sense the distance growing between her and Surprise, the pegasus hanging back to check out more of the apple trees.
Contrary to Pinkie’s statement, they found the oldest Apple sibling before reaching the house. Big Mac was pulling a large cart full of cut timber, thatch, nails and tools. Despite the apparent weight of the cargo, the red stallion pulled the vehicle without visible strain.
“Hey, Big Mac!” Pinkie said, bouncing up to him and smiling. “How ya doing?”
“Just fine, Pinkie Pie,” he grunted. “What brings you to the Acres?”
“Oh! I have a special somepony now, and I was showing her ‘round the town and introducing her to my friends!” Pinkie replied.
“Ah, your ‘special somepony’, huh?” Big Mac nodded in appreciation. “Where is she, then?”
“Uh...” Pinkie cast her eyes about the trees behind her. She couldn’t see the white pegasus for a moment, before one of the apple trees rustled, and Surprise poked her head out. Another, green apple was clutched in her hooves, a big bite taken out of it. Her purple eyes went wide as she realised that Pinkie was glaring at the stolen fruit. “She’s a pegasus, so she’s kinda never seen a farm like this before. She’s, um, checking it out!” Pinkie said quickly.
“Ah! Well, that’s good to hear.” The short sentence carried a good deal of sincerity, causing Pinkie to smile slightly. Worried Big Mac was going to turn around and see Surprise’s theft, she whipped her head around and made throat-cutting motions with her hoof. The pegasus waved a hoof dismissively and shrugged. When Pinkie shook her head vehemently, Surprise frowned and rolled her eyes. She dropped the apple and ducked into the tree just as the stallion turned his head to see what was going on. “Somethin’ the matter?”
“Nope! Nothing! Just waving to her!” Pinkie said desperately.
“Really? Ah don’t see her...” he said uncertainly.
“She’s, um, really getting back to nature!” Pinkie exclaimed. She couldn’t let him know about the apples! She didn’t want anypony to hate Surprise; maybe she could just slip Applebloom a few free cupcakes... Pinkie realised she was standing still, and scampered back to the side of the cart. “S-so, where is Applejack, anyway?”
“‘S what the supplies are for,” Big Mac said, nodding his head back to the cart. “We’re fixin’ a hole in the barn, ready for the big Apple Family Reunion next week. Mighty busy with the preparations.”
“Oh! Okay! Well, I’ll just go and get Surprise, and I guess we—”
“Ah’m sorry, Pinkie Pie, but we’re up t’ the eyeballs in work... Ah mean, we certainly don’t begrudge you droppin’ by, but Ah doubt yer gonna get more th’n a ‘Hello’ outta AJ,” the stallion said.
“Well, well... I could help!” Pinkie piped up. “Maybe we could—”
“Pretty back-breakin’ work, Pinkie Pie,” Big Mac said with a rare smile. “And really, we got ev’rything on schedule. Ah’d rather have it done slow and proper, rather than rush it and have the barn come down in t’ middle of t’ reunion.” He nodded to himself, chewing upon his straw.
“Awww... but I wanna help out you and AJ, and introduce you to Surprise!” Pinkie pleaded.
“Spend some time with yer love, Pinkie. We’ll do alright.” Pinkie sat down, startled at the gentle rejection of her help and company. She opened her mouth to respond as the cart trundled away, when a pair of white forelegs wrapped around her torso, and a pair of lips nuzzled her neck. Big Mac looked back at the pair, giving them a nod and a smile.
“He’s right. C’mon, we’re not gonna spend the whole day working on a barn!” Surprise said.
Pinkie turned her head back to make eye contact. “You stole how many apples?!” she whispered. “You don’t wanna give something back?”
“Um... four?” Surprise said. “I’m sorry! I just couldn’t resist! I can repay them, right?”
“Sure...” Pinkie sighed, pulled herself out of the hug, and turned around. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Pinkie, you weren’t serious about the working on our date, were you? You know I don’t like disturbing ponies when they’re happy left to themselves,” Surprise said reproachfully.
“I just thought you’d like Applejack if you met her,” Pinkie explained. She looked at the apple juice staining the fur around Surprise’s mouth and forehooves. “You liked her apples enough!” she said with a small giggle.
Surprise flinched back slightly, looking hurt. “I thought you said not to worry about it!”
“Oh, I meant it as a...” Pinkie realised her jape had gone awry, and swiftly abandoned it. “Never mind. I’m sure Fluttershy will be happy to see us.”
“Can we just...not?” Surprise asked awkwardly. “Not today? I’m getting a little worn out, going from place to place, then it turns out we can’t see your friends anyway. I mean... the last two dates were so much fun, because I was with you, and only you. Can’t we just make the most of today?”
Pinkie looked contemplative. “Really? Is that what you think? Didn’t you have fun coming here, or looking at Rarity’s boutique?”
“Well...”
“Just one more friend? I promise Fluttershy will be in a better mood than at the market. She’s always so nice. J-just a cup of tea, then we can go away together?” Pinkie pleaded.
Surprise gave her a little apple-scented kiss on the cheek. “Okay, Miss Persuadey-Pants. One more. Lead the way!”
The pair of ponies bounced along the path leading from Sweet Apple Acres to the edge of the Everfree Forest, a shortcut to Fluttershy’s cottage. Even in the middle of the afternoon, the sunlight barely penetrated the gloom of the forest, giving the thoroughfare a dark, ominous backdrop. Pinkie could see her special somepony giving the wooded area a nervous glance every time the wind caused the leaves to rustle, or a denizen of the forest gave a cry.
“Something the matter?” Pinkie asked cheerfully.
“This place just feels a bit... wrong,” Surprise said. “It’s like it’s threatening us.” She peered up into the sky. “Also, the clouds are all messed up over the forest.”
“Oh, come on! You’ve heard all the stories about the Everfree Forest, haven’t you?”
“Doesn’t mean they were completely believeable,” the pegasus said uncertainly.
“Well, there are timberwolves and cockatrices and manticores in there, not to mention the old castle where Nightmare Moon used to live...” Pinkie stopped as Surprise squeaked.
The pegasus wrapped her forelegs around Pinkie, placing her between the forest and herself. “And you’re crazy enough to build a town right next to it?!”
Pinkie giggled, giving Surprise a reassuring nuzzle and removing her from the tight hug. “It’s okay, you silly filly! All those things stay inside the forest, anyway!” She looked up thoughtfully. “Well, most of the time, anyway.”
“If you say so...” Surprise looked unconvinced. “I think I’m starting to remember why I live up in the clouds.”
“Awwww, c’mon! You liked Sweet Apple Acres, didn’t you?” Pinkie asked. “It’s pretty much the same thing!”
“Except the out-of-control weather, the dangerous creatures, the kooky plants, the whole place running without anypony to control it, and the fact there’s no apples there,” the pegasus deadpanned. “Why does one of your friends live so near here, anyway?”
“Well, Fluttershy takes care of a lot of animals, so she can’t really live in the centre of town. When we bumped into her at the market, she was probably buying all the supplies she needed. she just prefers being out in the wild!” Pinkie waved a hoof at the overgrown forest.
“I hope she’s a bit more cheerful than at the market.” Surprise looked a little remorseful. “I mean, if Fluttershy’s the one friend of yours I do meet today, I’d rather not cause another falling out.”
“Oh, she’ll be just fine! Just... don’t be too loud, okay? She’s really shy, and if you startle her, she gets scared and won’t talk,” Pinkie said, grimacing slightly.
“You shouldn’t startle her? But Pinkie, aren’t you bringing a big Surprise to her door?”
The earth pony looked up at Surprise, who was grinning and biting her lip. She sniggered, and then both mares burst out laughing. “Oh, that was awful!” Pinkie was still giggling, wiping tears of laughter out of her eyes.
“Admit it, you’d never be able to come up with a pun that bad, that fast!” Surprise was smiling widely, all traces of anxiety gone. She hopped up and began hovering, floating over to plant a sweet little kiss upon Pinkie’s cheek. “Now come on. Let’s get going before we end up getting eaten up by a timberwolf or something.”
Pinkie grabbed Surprise’s forehoof and bounced along on three legs, tugging the pegasus like a living balloon.
Surprise piped up, “Hey, Pinkie, what kind of animals does Fluttershy take care of? Are they all, like, her pets or something?”
“No, not exactly... I mean, her cutie mark talent is caring for animals, and I swear Fluttershy can talk to the animals, sort of, but most critters just rely on her for food and care. They come and go. Except—” Pinkie looked about furtively. “Angel.”
Surprise raised her eyebrows. “What’s so bad about Angel?” she asked. “And what is he, for that matter? A snake?”
“No, he’s a bunny, but he’s completely evil!” Pinkie waved her forehooves above her head. “He hurts her and is mean to her and she takes care of everything for him! He’s such an ungrateful little... ugh...”
“Riiight...” The pegasus rolled her eyes. “Evil bunny.” They carried on down the path, until Fluttershy’s cottage came into view. Surprise was stopped as her foreleg tugged against Pinkie’s. The earth pony had stopped stock still. “Uh, Pinkie?”
“Shhh!”
“Pinkie, is something the matter?” Surprise asked anxiously. “It’s not a timberwolf or something, is it?”
“No, look there!” She pointed forward. On the path in front of them stood Angel, an angry look on his face and a carrot in his paws, held like a Royal Guard would hold a spear.
Surprise rolled her eyes. “What, behind the rabbit?” She flew up a little higher, theatrically craning her head to see.
“It is the rabbit!” Pinkie hissed.
There was a pregnant pause as Surprise puffed out her cheeks, before she burst out laughing. Once she’d calmed down, she said, in a voice heavy with sarcasm, “You silly filly! You got me all worked up!”
“That’s no ordinary rabbit! That’s the most foul, cruel and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on!” Pinkie insisted. “That’s... Angel.”
“Oh come on, I’m sure he’s harmless.” As Surprise spoke, Angel pointed his carrot at her, waving it like a sword and squeaking angrily. He began thumping his foot against the ground, and then used the carrot to draw a line in the dirt.
“Look! He’s not gonna let us by!” Pinkie exclaimed.
Surprise gave her marefriend a withering glance through half-lidded eyes. “Pinkie, it’s a rabbit. What’s the worst he can do? Poke us with the carrot?” She sighed. “C’mon, you insisted on bringing me to your friends, and we’re zero for three so far. You’re not gonna let one critter make that four, are you?”
Pinkie ground her hoof in the dirt awkwardly. “Well, I guess not...” She took a couple of steps forward, and got a carrot bouncing off her nose for her trouble. “Ow! See?”
“Ah, he must be grumpy.” A glint appeared in Surprise’s eyes, and she let go of Pinkie to spread her forelegs wide. “C’mon, do you need a hug? You look like you need a hug,” she said to Angel.
He took a step back, adopting a defensive stance. As the pegasus came closer, his aggressive expression turned to one of fear. Just before Surprise swept him up, Angel squealed and fled, scampering back to the cottage. “Eh, all bark and no bite,” she said dismissively. “Or whatever the rabbit equivalent is.” She turned back to Pinkie, smiling. “Coming?”
Pinkie blinked a couple of times, before following Surprise across the little bridge in front of the cottage. Normally, Fluttershy’s house was a place of tranquility and peace, but today, the various sounds of the creatures seemed foreboding to the earth pony, not calming. She wondered how welcoming they would be after scaring off Fluttershy’s beloved rabbit.
Pinkie knocked upon the wooden door, with Surprise hovering not far behind. The door opened an inch, and a single cyan eye looked out through the crack. “Hey, Fluttershy!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“Pinkie.” Fluttershy’s tone was neutral. “What brings you here?”
“W-well...” The coolness of her friend’s voice threw Pinkie off-kilter. “I just thought you might want to meet my new special somepony! You know, the one I was showing around the market the other day?”
“Oh, I see.” Fluttershy looked behind her at the various animals in the cottage. “Well, I’m very, um, flattered you brought her here, Pinkie, but I’m really rather busy right now and—”
“But you’d be fine with a break, right?” Pinkie’s voice carried a hint of desperation, and she shifted a hoof to stop Fluttershy shutting the door. “Maybe just a cup of tea?”
“That’s... not really possible right now.” Fluttershy gazed down to where Angel was clinging to her rear hoof. “Also, something spooked Angel. The poor dear’s terrified! You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
“I... I... he was trying to stop us! And Surprise just tried to hug him, and he got scared and ran away!” Pinkie protested. She looked down, unsure what to say.
“Oh, Pinkie, you didn’t! Your special somepony scared him!” The pegasus gathered up Angel with her forelegs. “Pinkie, now’s really not a good time.”
“No!” The exclamation caused Fluttershy to squeak and jump backward, her wings unfurling. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you!” Pinkie reached her forehoof through the door to the retreating pegasus. “It’s just that I’ve tried showing Surprise to Twilight and Rarity and Applejack and they’ve all been too busy and I didn’t want to waste her entire day if she hasn’t met any of my friends and... and...”
Fluttershy stared at the pink forehoof reaching through the door. “Pinkie, please don’t shout like that again,” she said reproachfully. “I understand you haven’t had much luck meeting the others today, but that doesn’t mean I can just drop everything.” She let out a remorseful sigh. “Look, I’m sorry I can’t do today either, but there’s a lot of animals that need my help right now.”
“But I...” Pinkie’s mouth drooped downward.
Fluttershy carefully pushed Pinkie’s forehoof back through the doorway. “L-look, you could try Rainbow Dash, couldn’t you?”
“Rainbow Dash? But she... I... we’re... that’s...” Pinkie suddenly had a brainwave. She was over Dashie, right? And what better way to show that than showing off that she had a marefriend now? She could make sure Dashie was clear they were just friends, Pinkie would no longer look like a lonely, mopey-dopey pony, and Surprise would get to meet the pegasus who made the Sonic Rainboom! Everypony wins! “That’s a great idea! Thanks, Fluttershy!”
Fluttershy smiled timidly. “Um... no problem, Pinkie. You have fun, now.” She moved to close the door.
“Wait! Fluttershy! When are you free to meet Surprise?” Pinkie suddenly exclaimed.
“Well... how about a week’s time? I-I mean, you should probably see how things go... it’s going to be a bit unpredictable...” She blushed and hid behind her mane.
“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie bounced away as the door closed.
“Well, that was a bust,” Surprise said morosely, landing beside her. “Another busy friend, huh?”
“Yeah...” Pinkie caught Surprise’s eye, but the pegasus looked away. “But, y’know, we could try—”
“No.” The force of the statement made Pinkie flinch. “You said one more friend, we tried one more friend, and she couldn’t see us.” Surprise huffed, and ground her hoof into the dirt. “Why are you so desperate for everypony to see me today?”
“I... I was just excited to show you to them,” Pinkie said uncertainly. “They’re my friends, Surprise! They’re the most important ponies in my life, and, well... I wanted them to get to be your friends too. I mean, if we are going to b-be special someponies...” She began to blush.
“Yeah, I get that, Pinkie. But it isn’t the end of the world if I don’t see them today, is it?” Surprise said with a sigh. “I mean, I did ask you not to parade me around like I was in a fashion show, but I can’t help but feel that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
Pinkie’s shoulders slumped, and she gave Surprise a hug. “I’m not! I’m really, really not! Please, Surprise, I didn’t mean to hurt you!”
Surprise returned the hug, and nuzzled Pinkie gently. “I never thought you did mean to hurt me. And I’ll admit, it’s been fun seeing more of the town, and being around you.” She broke away and stared into Pinkie’s eyes. “It’s just... I don’t know if you feel the same way about me now. Like you prefer being seen with me than actually, y’know, being with me.”
“T-that’s not true, Surprise! Don’t say that!” Pinkie blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears of hurt prickling at her eyes. “I was going to show you to my friends because I wanted them to know I really like you, because they’re special to me too.” Her head drooped. “Don’t make me choose between you and them.”
She let out a startled snort as Surprise took her forehooves up and clutched them against her chest. She looked up into the purple eyes again. “Pinkie... There’s nothing I would hate more than to make you have to choose between me and your friends,” Surprise said with a small smile. “I was just afraid you were losing sight of what was important.” She leaned in, and gave Pinkie a little kiss upon the lips. “I just want to make this work.”
“Me too!” Pinkie smiled again. “Do you wanna do something else today? I mean... if I’m making you mad, maybe you should tell me what to do.”
“Oh, don’t be like that, Pinkie! I didn’t mean you’re not allowed to suggest anything!” Surprise shook her head, smiling morosely. “I think I’m being a bit unfair here, too,” she said quietly.
Pinkie’s eyes lit up, and she smiled. “S-so, one more friend?” As the purple eyes flashed slightly, Pinkie began to talk faster. “She’s the last one, I promise, and you’ll love her, it’s Rainbow Dash!” Surprise bit her lip. “I mean, you said a-about the whole Sonic Rainboom thing, and she’s really special to me and... and... well, she’s usually in the park anyway about now, and if she’s not there, we can just play in the park, and how about it?” She let out a short gasp as she finished her tsunami of words, looking at Surprise expectantly.
“I... I guess? I mean, ‘last friend’, huh?” Surprise’s mouth twitched downward. “I dunno, Pinkie...”
“Pleeease?” Pinkie leaned toward her, but Surprise backed away slightly. “I promise, I promise, I promise, if this doesn’t work out, I won’t do it ever again!”
Surprise looked at her with a frown. “Pinkie...”
“You said you wouldn’t make me choose!”
The pegasus blinked a couple of times, and then stared at her coolly. “You’re seriously gonna pull that on me?”
Pinkie nodded, a confused frown upon her face. “Well, yeah, silly! I mean, you wouldn’t say that if you didn’t mean it, would you?” She squeezed on Surprise’s forehooves. “C-can’t you see? There’s nothing more important to me than friends, I’ve kept telling you that!”
Surprise opened her mouth, before closing it again, and shook her head. “I don’t doubt that, Pinkie... But how important am I?” Before Pinkie could reply, Surprise let go of the pink forehooves, and hovered in the air, flapping the very tips of her wings. She turned her head back to look at Pinkie. “C’mon, then. Let’s go.”
Pinkie hopped along behind Surprise, uncertainty and fear roiling in her stomach. “L-look, I didn’t mean to force you into doing this!” The pegasus stopped again. “I guess you’re not feeling so super-duper special right now... I’m sorry, I don’t know how having a special somepony is really meant to work. I thought your special somepony was your friend as well, and I know I’ve messed up trying to make new friends before, and...” She sat down, and sighed wretchedly.
“Pinkie.” Surprise was hovering in front of her. “You are my friend as well. And I think we both understand one another now. I’m not mad at you.” She gave a weak smile. “Let’s just go to the park, and what happens, happens, okay?” She reached out with a hoof.
Pinkie smiled, and held the proffered hoof. “Okie dokie lokie!” she said happily. The pair moved off again down the path. Whatever happens, happens. She liked the sound of that. Because with her special somepony, nothing bad could happen at all.