The end of the school year was approaching rapidly, making way for a warm summer. The fillies and colts in the schoolhouse were becoming restless. The days warmed more and more, and many of them were reluctant to go back in the school when the bell rang. They had begun to approach Fluttershy, apologizing for their initial rudeness and offering friendship. Even Silver Spell had mumbled an awkward apology.
Applejack smiled. She was happy to see the shy pegasus getting along with the other fillies so well. Of course, she was still her best friend, but she had made some new friends as well.
They saw Rarity often, for she often came over to spend time with them. She always wore some frou-frou hat creation atop her head, one she said she designed herself. She was quite nice, and was very sweet with Fluttershy. She shared her lunch with her when she had forgotten one, or gave advice on her mane. The two seemed to be getting closer and closer.
"Darling, I would be absolutely thrilled if you would accompany me to the spa. I'm sure we would just have a marvelous time!" Rarity proposed. She turned to Applejack. "And Applejack, it would be lovely if you joined us."
"Er... I'm not one for the pamperin' and beautifyin'. But I bet y'all with have tons of fun. Thanks for the invite, though, Rares," she replied.
"Oh, that would be very nice. When will we go, Rarity?" the shy pegasus whispered.
"Hmm... Let me think." Rarity paused for a moment. "Tomorrow, after school, I would say. It is Friday tomorrow, I believe. I'll accompany you to the spa straight from school."
She smiled. "Okay. I'd like that."
The school day ticked by, and within what felt like only minutes the ivory filly and her shy companion exited the schoolhouse as the last bell rang. The pair walked towards the town, occupied with friendly chatter.
The orange filly followed slightly behind, then veered away from town and headed towards her home. Applejack's hooves idly thudded on the winding dirt path as she began her slow meander towards the farm.
She let out a melancholy sigh. It was strange and lonely to not walk Fluttershy home. "It'll be a real party all here by myself," she mumbled, sarcasm embroidered into her words.
"DID SOMEPONY SAY PARTY?!"
A pink, fluffy, cupcake scented mass suddenly materialized in front of Applejack. Suddenly, there was a loud boom, and confetti and balloons in multitudes of colors interwove themselves with the blurry flashes of rose and magenta. Music blared from nowhere, and Applejack found herself confused, disoriented, and sprawled every which way on the ground.
As Applejack recovered from her shock, the first thing she was aware of was the absence of her Stetson. She began searching frantically, and spotted it high up on a tree branch. She scrambled up on her hooves and began to climb the tree's rough bark, just as her brother had taught her. Hesitantly, she shimmied along the branch towards the hat. She grabbed it and plopped it on her head.
From high in the tree, Applejack had a better view of the pink blur, which revealed itself to be a young pink earth pony filly, not much younger than herself. The pony's softer pink coat stood in contrast to her puffy, curly, shockingly magenta mane, which made the orange filly think hungrily of cotton candy. A trio of blue and yellow balloons glowed on her flank, no doubt representing a talent to do with parties. Near the partying filly stood a metal cannon, the same color as the filly's coat. It seemed an odd thing to have at a party.
"The blast..." Applejack murmured. She slowly shimmied down the tree.
The strange pony noticed her at last. "Hi there! I'm Pinkie Pie!" she grabbed Applejack's hoof and shook it so enthusiastically she found herself swinging up and down in the air. "I live at Sugarcube Corner. Mrs. Cake said that you came by not too long ago and suggested I come by to meet you, but I couldn't possibly wait just one teensy weensy minute, so I hopped in this bush so I wouldn't have to walk all the way to your house. Then, my hooves started a-tapping, which means my Pinkie Sense was telling me the one I was 'sposed to meet was on their way! Then I saw you and your cutie mark, and knew it had to be you! I heard you say party, and those are my specialties, so I launched my party cannon. Doyoulikeitdoyoulikeitdoyoulikeit?!" Pinkie Pie smiled, not the tiniest bit out of breath from her long ramble. The infinite confetti continued to fall around them, as if it were raining from the clouds above them.
"Party cannon... So that explains that..." Applejack murmured as she gestured weakly towards the cannon. She snapped back to reality. "Pleased to meetcha. The name's Applejack Apple, but y'all can jus' call me Applejack."
"It was very nice to meet you, AJ! Can I call you AJ? Anyways, I go to your school now, so I'll see you there. I have to go home and put some cupcakes in the oven. Seeya later, alligator! Ooh, I've always wanted an alligator! But it couldn't have teeth..." Pinkie began to wonder out loud.
Applejack began to trek down the path after saying goodbye, leaving Pinkie Pie to discuss all the details of alligator ownership by herself.
"Well, that was certainly eventful," Applejack mumbled to herself as she walked down the meandering path. "She seems like a sweet pony, her heart is in the right place." The orange filly adjusted her Stetson as her lone shadow stretched and warped on the rocky ground as she walked towards a good night's sleep.